《The Billionaire鈥檚 Secret Quartet》


 Chapter 1

    Chapter 1


    ¡°Boom¡­¡±


    Thunder rumbled in the sky, and Thssa jumped,nding on her butt and in total shock


    She was at her old family home in the countryside, an old house surrounded by stacks of firewood and


    overgrown weeds. The room was pitch ck, and she could hardly see a thing


    Thssa had been scared of the dark since she was a kid. Trying to keep her fear at bay, she fumbled


    her way towards the door, banging on it with all her might 1s anyone there? Open the door!¡±


    All she could hear was the sound of the rain pouring down outside. No other sound. No response. She


    hade to fetch some firewood and had somehow ended up getting locked in!


    The old house waspletely sealed off with walls on all sides. The roof tiles were old and worn out,


    some even falling off from time to time. There was only one wooden door to get out, but try as she


    might, she just couldn¡¯t push it open.


    ¡°Kaboom. ¡°Another p of thunder, splitting the sky.


    ¡°Thud¡± Suddenly, something fell from above, crashing through the roof, causing a loud noise.


    ¡°Ahhi Thssa screamed in fright.


    The roof now had a gaping hole, and the rain was pouring in, lighting up the dark room with every sh


    of lightning.


    Thssa watched in horror as a many on the ground. It was him who had fallen through the roof!


    From the way he was curled up, it was clear he was in


    pain


    ¡°Are you okay?¡± she asked, keeping her distance.


    The man didn¡¯t respond. Had he died?


    Thssa¡¯s heart started to race. She slowly moved closer, trying to check if the man was breathing. All


    of a sudden, the man grabbed her hand.


    Before she could scream, he had mped his hand over her mouth. He held her from behind. The


    hand over her mouth felt a bit wet and smelled of blood


    ¡°Don¡¯t worry. I won¡¯t kill you¡± the man¡¯s voice was deep, filled with raw, primal power, and a hint of


    control he seemed to be losing. It even sounded a bit breathless.


    Thssa¡¯s eyes grew wide with fear. She nodded, signaling that she wouldn¡¯t scream. The man then


    moved his hand away from her mouth. The next thing she knew, he copsed on the ground.


    Thssa acted quickly, catching him. But she also lost her bnce and fell on top of him.


    Content from N?velDr(a)ma.Org.


    The next second-


    Her lips identally brushed against his.


    The man grunted, and his hot breath fanned her nose, filling the cold night with warmth.


    ¡°Save me, and I¡¯ll give you anything you want.¡± The man¡¯s voice was rough, almost hoarse, as he


    whispered into Thssa¡¯s ear.


    1¡­uh¡­¡± Before Thssa could respond, his lips were on hers


    The sky was filled with shes of lightning, illuminating their tangled bodies, casting shadows, and


    filling the air with raw passion.


    After a while, Thssa passed out


    There was a loud noise from above. A helicopter was flying low. The man looked up at the sky. He


    knew the helicopter was here for him. Using the sh of lightning, he gently touched the woman¡¯s face


    next to him.


    The light was weak, so he couldn¡¯t make out her face, but he could feel the warmth and softness of her


    skin. He took off the emerald pendant he was wearing around his neck and ced it in her hand. It was


    a family heirloom. ¡°This is our token. You can find me with this.¡±


    He had to leave


    Thssa was still unconscious, and he was climbing up thedder that dropped from the helicopter,


    leaving her behind.


    When dawn broke. Thssa woke up with a start. The events of the previous night shed through her


    mind. The man¡¯s heavy, passionate breath echoed in her ears, making her cheeks burn.


    Was she dreaming of such a risqu¨¦ scenario?


    She moved slightly, feeling sore all over. Looking at herself, her clothes were in disarray, barely


    covering her body.


    That was when it hit her it wasn¡¯t a dream. It was real!


    She looked around, but there was no one else. The man was gone!


    She got up and dressed properly. There was a pool of blood on the straw floor; she wasn¡¯t sure if it was


    hers or his. The man had been hurtst night, and drugged. She could feel it. But she had lost her


    virginity in such a confusing and abrupt way.


    She felt her eyes well up with tears. She looked up at the sky through the hole in the roof, trying to hold


    back her tears.


    The sky was gradually getting brighter. The rain¨Cwashed sky was clear and cloudless, and the dawn


    was breaking, signaling a fresh start. But her mind was still stuck on the previous night, dark and


    stormy


    She clenched her fist and felt something in her hand. It was an emerald pendant. Was this what the


    man left behind?


    She threw the pendant on the ground angrily. He had taken her virginity and thought he could make up


    for it with a piece of jewelry?


    A mix of anger and sadness filled her, giving her a sudden surge of strength. She picked up arge


    rock from the room and smashed the wooden door open. Her house was just a few meters away from


    the old house. She trudged through the muddy ground to get back home.


    She pushed open the door, and what she saw made her head throb. Her boyfriend was in bed with her


    cousin!


    Clothes were strewn all over the floor, and their arms were sticking out from under the covers. Her


    heart ached as if it had been sliced with a knife.


    bleeding.


    Her boyfriend, Leopold, whom she had been dating for two years in college, had suggested they visited


    her hometown during their summer break to meet her mother


    She and Leopold were nning to get married, so she had agreed to bring him home. But she hadn¡¯t


    expected her mother would go visit a distant rtive that very morning and wouldn¡¯t return until the


    next day. So, she had to entertain Leopold on her own. Her cousin had heard about Leopold¡¯s visit and


    hade over to help with the cooking.


    After dinner, her cousin had insisted that she go fetch some firewood for a bath.


    In the underdeveloped countryside, many families still used straw and firewood to heat water for


    bathing. She hadn¡¯t expected that the moment she stepped into the old house, where the firewood was


    stored, the door would be locked from the outside.


    It was already dark, and she couldn¡¯t see anything after the door was closed. She also didn¡¯t have her


    phone with her. It started to rain heavily, and she couldn¡¯t get out


    She had been mysteriously imprisoned, a stranger had taken her virginity, she was already physically


    and emotionally traumatized, and she had hoped to find constion in Leopold¡¯s embrace. She might


    even cry a few tears. Who would¡¯ve thought that he¡¯d deal her a deathblow when she was at her most


    fragile!


    Isabe was the first to wake up, screaming in surprise. ¡°What the hell! Thssa, let me exin. We


    got drunkst night, and I thought he was my boyfriend I just¡­¡±


    Leopold was also jolted awake. He quickly took in the situation, seeing Thssa in disarray next to


    him. He hurriedly threw on his clothes and stammered. Thssa, I thought it was youst night¡­¡±


    ¡°Shut up!¡± Thssa growled, tears streaming down her face like a faucet. ¡°Let¡¯s break up!¡±


    With that, she spun around and bolted out of the room. Leopold hastily got dressed and chased after


    her.


    Thssa ran towards the old house, intending to find the pendant and the man who needed to answer


    for this! But just as she entered the old house, which had been worn down by years of neglect and was


    washed out byst night¡¯s rain, it copsed with a mighty ¡°crash, bringing the neighboring old house


    down with it.


    ¡°Thssa Leopold called out hoarsely.

 Chapter 2

    Chapter 2


    Five yearster.


    At the train station in Starhaven.


    Thssa, with several packages of all sizes slung over her shoulder, was in a hurry.


    Right behind her were four adorable children who waddled along like little penguins. The children were


    so good¨Clooking that they attracted a lot of


    attention


    Thssa¡¯s mother, Evelyn, grumbled, ¡°I¡¯m running ragged chasing after you all day, and I can¡¯t


    remember thest time I had a real rest. You sure do pop out babies like rabbits, giving me four


    grandkids in one go. I¡¯m stuck babysitting all the time, with no time for fun. Just look at my clothes,


    they¡¯re all worn out. Who wears stuff like this nowadays?¡±


    Five years ago, even the sow they used to keep wouldn¡¯t have been able to produce this many piglets.


    Thssa, weighed down by her luggage and panting with exertion, responded, ¡°Mom, I appreciate it.


    I¡¯ll buy you new clothes as soon as I have some money¡±


    Thssa¡¯s trip back to Starhaven was to find a better¨Cpaying job. Supporting four kids was a heavy


    task for the two of them.


    Five years ago, she lost her innocence on a stormy night. She wanted to retrieve the pendant and find


    him, but the old house copsed suddenly. She narrowly escaped death as she was standing right


    under a hole in the roof. Three monthster, she was shocked to find out that she was pregnant.


    Her life was in shambles, and she wanted to find the man and hold him ountable. But the pendant


    he left behind was smashed under the rubble, probably reduced to dust. She searched for a long time


    but found nothing. Without no clues and being unable to remember the maris face, finding him was like


    looking for a needle in a haystack.


    She was heartbroken and wanted to abort the baby, but in the end, she chose to keep it, quit school,


    and went home to have the baby.


    Since then, she¡¯d been blessed with four adorable children. Although her life was tough, it was also


    filled with joy and she had given up on finding the


    man


    In apetitive city like Starhaven, without a degree, making money was hard.


    Evelyn looked very unhappy. ¡°You can¡¯t even earn enough for the kids¡® meals, how are you going to


    afford stuff for me? Look at me, taking care of four kids and lugging around luggage I¡¯m beat!¡±


    ¡°Granny, I¡¯ll help you with the bags, Atticus said.


    Atticus was a handsome little boy. He looked cool but was considerate when it was needed. He took


    the water bottle from Evelyn¡¯s bag and shared it with his siblings This could lighten granny¡¯s load.


    ¡°Granny, thank you. I¡¯ll give you a back rub when we get home,¡± Dorian said gently.


    Dorian was a very attractive boy with shining eyes and delicate skin. Although he was a boy, he looked


    like a cute girl.


    ¡°Granny, I¡¯ll give you a massage. Elowen also joined in. She had big eyes with long eyshes. Her


    pudgy cheeks made her look very cute, like a doll.


    ¡°Granny, I want to cook for you,¡± Sophia¡¯s clear eyes were full of positivity. She wore a baseball cap,


    looking very cool.


    The words of the four little ones were filled with childlike innocence. Hearing all this, Thssa felt as if


    her heart was being melted by these little ones. Her fatigue disappeared instantly, leaving only


    motivation.


    Her four children were Atticus, Dorian, Elowen, and Sophia.


    Their names were all meaningful.


    Atticus and Dorian were boys; Elowen and Sophia were girls. Over the years, every time Thssa saw


    the innocent smiles of her children, all her fatigue instantly disappeared.


    The children¡¯s chatter attracted the attention of passersby, who cast curious and joyful nces at


    Thssa¡¯s four children.


    Content ? N?velDrama.Org 2024.


    These kids are wonderful, they can cook and give massages. You¡¯re a lucky grandma.¡± A passerby


    praised Evelyn,


    ¡°These children are so nice and sensible, their parents must be great people.¡± A sophisticated¨Clooking


    womanplimented.


    Everyone was full of praises for the four children.


    Hearing these words, Evelyn grinned from ear to ear and told the passersby, I¡¯m their granny. They are


    my daughter¡¯s children, quadruplets.¡±


    As she spoke, her eyes were full of pride and satisfaction, as if she couldn¡¯t wait to show off that these


    adorable children were her daughter¡¯s.


    ¡°They are like angels sent from heaven, always smiling and very sensible,¡± Evelyn told the onlookers.


    Thssa didn¡¯t interrupt her. Evelyn was rarely this happy, and she didn¡¯t want to spoil her moment.


    After a while, they finally arrived at their living quarters


    Over the years, Thssa had been renting a ce in Starhaven, where the wages were higher than


    elsewhere. Her mother, Evelyn, would be at home taking care of the children.


    This time, Thssa had to go back home for a week due to some family matters, and now she was


    back in Starhaven.


    Thssa was carrying bags of all sizes, most of which belonged to the four children.


    After tidying up the room, Thssa told Evelyn, ¡°Mom, I have a part¨Ctime job tonight. I need to leave


    now. I¡¯ve fried eggs and made toast, so just heat up


    some milk for the kids.¡±


    ¡°Alright, I got it. You go ahead and be careful on the road. Evelyn seemed a little impatient, but still


    reminded Thssa to be cautious.


    Thssa applied some light makeup and left. This part¨Ctime job was something she secured while on


    the train. She joined a part¨Ctime job group that posted job information and daily wages from time to


    time.


    This time, the job was to work as a waitress in a nightclub for one night, serving drinks to customers


    and promoting the nightclub¡¯s signature cocktails.


    At Sapphire Skyline in Starhaven, Thssa was asked to put on the nightclub¡¯s uniform.


    The work uniform was a short ck skirt, so short you could almost see her inner thighs. It had a V¨C


    neck design, which if not careful, could expose a bit of cleavage.


    Thssa was not used to this. She had never worn this kind of outfit before. But, this part¨Ctime gig


    could rake in two hundred bucks a night, and if she was able to sell a few bottles of alcohol, there was


    extramission on top!


    Even if she couldn¡¯t sell any booze, the two hundred bucks from the part¨Ctime job was enough to buy


    new clothes for her four kids, since they¡¯d grown out ofst year¡¯s clothes. Now it was fall, and the kids


    still didn¡¯t have enough clothes to fend off the cold. With this paycheck, she had to try her best to


    adjust, even if she found it ufortable.


    ¡°Thssa, someone in the V8 VIP room ordered premium cigarettes. You deliver them, and take this


    tray with you. Don¡¯t underestimate these two bottles of alcohol on it, they¡¯re 20k a pop, and if you can


    sell one, that¡¯s a thousand bucks inmission.¡± The nightclub manager stopped Thssa and


    handed her the tray.


    Thssa nodded her head repeatedly. ¡°Okay, I¡¯ll try my best.¡±


    ¡°Hey, just a heads up, the people in V8 are high rollers, you need to tread lightly around them, or you


    might offend them, the manager warned.

 Chapter 3

    Chapter 3


    Thssa gingerly bnced a tray, making her way towards VB. She was petrified that she might


    identally smash the expensive booze.


    ¡°Ah!¡± Suddenly, someone emerged from the intersection, bumping into Thssa and letting out a


    startled yelp-


    Thssa nearly jumped out of her skin, hastily clutching the unstable bottles on the tray. Phew, thank


    God, the bottles didn¡¯t break


    ¡°What¡¯s your problem, can¡¯t you apologize after bumping into someone¡± A sharp, biting voice echoed in


    the air.


    Thssa looked at the neer, spotting a face full of hostility It wasn¡¯t her fault, but clients came


    first. She was about to apologize, but the animosity from the woman made her change her mind


    ¡°You!¡±


    ¡°Your¡± They both eximed in surprise.


    Isabe eyed Thssa up and down, snickering. ¡°Well, well, I didn¡¯t expect to see you slumming it in a


    nightclub. If you¡¯re really struggling, you should havee to me. I could have found you some decent


    work. After all, I¡¯m a hotshot now, and I own my ownpany. We¡¯re family. We¡¯re supposed to help


    each other out.¡±


    From the moment Isabe first saw Thssa¡¯s boyfriend, Leopold, she waspletely smitten. He


    was just too good¨Clooking, way more attractive than her own boyfriend! Her mind started spinning with


    wicked ideas. She offered to help Thssa cook and during the meal, she kept finding excuses to get


    Leopold to drink.


    Until he passed out.


    Using the excuse that Thssa and Leopold needed to bathe, she asked Thssa to fetch firewood


    for heating water. Then she locked Thssa in the woodshed, and tricked Leopold to have sex with


    her.


    Afterwards, despite her relentless pursuit, Leopold showed zero interest in her. Eventually, she had to


    give up.


    Thssa shot her a dirty look. ¡°Move, you¡¯re in my way!¡±


    Thssa was no fool. After the incident, she suspected that it was Isabe who had locked her in the


    shed and shamelessly seduced Leopold!


    Isabe ruined her bright future! This woman was conniving and shameless


    Unfortunately, life wasn¡¯t always fair. Somehow, Isabe came into arge sum of money, started a


    business, and even hooked up with a rich boyfriend.


    After what happened five years ago, Thssa cut off allmunication with Isabe. But she couldn¡¯t


    avoid hearing others sing Isabe¡¯s praises, about how sessful she was now, how blissful her life


    was.


    Hearing this, Isabe lost her cool. ¡°You dare to talk to me like that?¡±


    She rolled up her sleeves, ready for a fight. She had always disliked Thssa. With her alluring face


    and seductive charm, men were easily ensnared by her Leopold was the prime example!


    Before she could confront Thssa, the door to the VIP room swung open, and a man with an


    aristocratic air stepped out. ¡°What¡¯s all the noise? Aren¡¯t you going to deliver the order?¡±


    Isabe nced at him and recognized ric, the infamous heir to the Falconer group. She knew who


    she could mess with and who she couldn¡¯t. Falconer definitely fell into thetter category. She gave


    ric a polite nod and a curtsey, then, still bowing, she led her friends away. She was here to have


    fun, not to pick a fight with an insignificant woman and offend such an important figure.


    After Isabe left, Thssa took a deep breath and checked the room number. This was V8.


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry. I¡¯ll deliver it right away,¡± she responded quickly.


    ¡°Hurry up,¡± the man urged.


    Thssa entered the room, cing the cigarettes they had ordered on the table. She looked around


    the room, noting the four men. Each had two beautiful women at their sides. They were all sweet and


    gentle, some fed the men fruit, while others lit their cigarettes. Except for one man sitting alone with no


    women by his side.


    This man was incredibly handsome, with a dark, daunting aura, full of nobility, and an intimidating


    presence.


    Every other man was either flirting with the girls or singing, but this man was busy on his phone,


    seemingly working.


    Thssa was new to the nightclub scene and naturally wanted to sell drinks to earnmission. One


    bottle would earn her a thousand dors, enough for the kids¡® meal for two months. At the moment, her


    best bet was this man, since he was the only one who seemed to have the time to entertain her But


    she was new to sales, and the man¡¯s aura was quite intimidating. She didn¡¯t know how to start the


    conversation and could only stare at him, wanting to speak but not knowing how


    Seeing her hesitation, the man who had opened the door earlier, ric, sneered after taking a bite of


    the fruit a woman had offered him. ¡°What¡¯s the matter, darling? Are you aiming for a seat next to our


    Lysander?¡±


    ¡°Another fearless one trying to seduce Lysander. Don¡¯t bother, love. Lysander only has eyes for one,


    and it¡¯s not you,¡± Richard, the CEO of the Draven group. leased


    ¡°Lysander could have any woman he wants, but his heart is already taken by a woman who¡¯s no longer


    with us. He has no interest in anyone else, Ethan Crawley of the Crawley Group joked


    Turned out this hunky guy¡¯s love had passed away, so he was sworn off women, and devoted all his


    feelings to the woman who was no longer with us Such a loyal guy Wonder whichdy was so lucky to


    have this devoted man¡¯s love.


    Through the banter of these three guys, Thssa got the scoop on why this guy named Lysander was


    so chill. But she didn¡¯t want any misunderstandings. She wasn¡¯t trying to make a move on this hunky


    guy. She was a mom of four, and life had already worn down all her romantic notions ¨C who had time


    for that?


    She rified, ¡°Gentlemen, you got it all wrong. I just wanted to ask if anyone is up for a drink? Our


    booze here is pretty good¡±


    The young guys were just messing around, and Lysander didn¡¯t even look up But when Thssa


    spoke, he was drawn to her. His eyes, deep as the night sky, were fixed on her.


    Her voice was like a bolt of lightning, unlocking something deep within him, a feeling long buried. Why


    did this woman¡¯s voice sound so familiar?


    is the booze really good? Have you tried it?¡± ric switched the topic


    Thssa honestly replied, ¡°Nope¡±


    Then crack open a bottle, give it a try, and tell us what it¡¯s like If it¡¯s good, we¡¯ll buy it. If not, sorry, we


    don¡¯t do bad booze Richard looked on expectantly They could¡¯ve dismissed her, but Lysander actually


    looked at her, didn¡¯t get mad, and didn¡¯t ask her to leave! Weird!


    For the first time, Lysander didn¡¯t send away a woman who seemed to be making a move on him.


    Could it be that Lysander was interested in this woman? How could they miss this golden opportunity to


    tease Lysander?


    Thssa felt caught in a bind. How would she know what kind of booze they liked?


    N?velDrama.Org ? content.


    If she opened a bottle and they didn¡¯t like it, would the cost be on her? These guys were so cunning;


    they were just messing with her


    If she left now, she would offend them, and they¡¯d think she was disrespecting them.


    Thssa was really stuck between a rock and a hard ce. But she could handle it.


    ¡°How about this, I¡¯ll pour a ss for each of yourdies, let them taste it and tell you what it¡¯s like. This


    way, you won¡¯t think I¡¯m overselling it. How¡¯s that?¡± Thssa cleverly passed the buck to them.

 Chapter 4

    Chapter 4


    A bottle of booze was worth 20 grand Even if she had the guts to give it a shot, she didn¡¯t have the


    money to handle the fallout of a failure


    ¡°Good suggestion, start pouring ric made the call for the crew-


    Just to double check, Thssa asked, ¡°Gentlemen, are you really sure?¡±


    ¡°Absolutely! Quit yapping and pour the drinks!¡± ric rushed her


    Thssa then confidently popped a bottle First heading towards Richard, who was sandwiched


    between two hotties. She brought two sses, ced them in front of them, and leaned over to pour


    Unbeknownst to her, as she poured, her neckline plunged and her dress hiked up, giving off some


    serious visual feast


    Lysander caught sight of this view. His eyebrows furrowed almost imperceptibly.


    Thssa then went on to pour for Richard, Ethan, and ric¡¯sdy friends. Next, she stood up straight,


    maintaining her professional smile ¡°Ladies, please enjoy.¡±


    Content ? N?velDrama.Org 2024.


    Upon receiving the green light from their gentlemen, thedies took a sip from their sses and


    unanimously appreciated it. ¡°Delicious!¡±


    In this kind of setting, all the women knew how to butter up these wealthy dudes. Who¡¯d be crazy


    enough to risk saying the wine sucked?


    In such a situation, everyone knew not to rock the boat.


    ¡°Hear that? They all said it¡¯s good, aren¡¯t you going to pour one for Lysander? He¡¯s the man of the hour


    tonight. If you overlook him, you can¡¯t handle the repercussions, ricmanded Thssa, raising


    his eyebrows.


    Tonight, the four notorious young masters of Starhaven, gathered because Lysander just got back.


    They were here to celebrate for him.


    Thssa got the message, promptly grabbed the bottle, and leaned over to pour for Lysander. She


    was careful with the pour, oblivious to the man¡¯s fiery gaze on her plunging neckline. Once she had


    finished pouring, she looked up, speaking respectfully and politely, ¡°Sir, enjoy¡±


    At a nce, she saw the man¡¯s eyes, dark as an abyss, and sharp as a sword, which scared the


    bejesus out of her. She quickly reflected on whether she had done something wrong to piss him off.


    Otherwise, why would he be giving her such a piercing look?


    ¡°Sir, is something wrong?¡± Thssa, thinking she might have messed up, spoke in a cautious whisper.


    To Lysander¡¯s ears, it sounded like a woman¡¯s low moan. Just like the woman from five years ago!


    That night, the woman¡¯s voice sounded sweet and helpless. It was like a drunken kitten. Why did this


    woman¡¯s voice sound so.


    Five years ago, he was fighting his enemy on a helicopter. He was drugged and fell from the helicopter


    after getting injured. He met a woman and then went abroad for treatment. He had been abroad ever


    since, and only returned today.


    Five years ago, he sent a female secretary to find that woman, only to be told that the woman had


    been crushed to death by a copsed building.


    Could he have misheard, or was it just a simr voice. Was the woman in front of him not her?


    Thssa was scared by his beast¨Clike gaze


    She quickly stood up, intending to step back, and put some distance between them.


    She got up too hastily, felt some numbness in her legs, lost her bnce and fell forward,nding in his


    arms. Even more embarrassingly, her face was pressed against his The man¡¯s skin was tense and hot,


    transmitting from Thssa¡¯s cheek to her heart, making her heart race.


    The other three, seeing this, started teasing excitedly, ¡°Whoa, Lysander, love¡¯s knocking on your


    door.¡±


    ¡°Hey, miss, what¡¯s your name? You¡¯ve got guts.¡±


    ¡°Did I just see Lysander being taken down by a woman? OMG, I¡¯m gonna remember this for the rest of


    my life¡±


    Thssa was extremely panicked. She quickly stood up, supporting herself on his chest, but in her


    hurry, she slipped and fell on him again, her face bumping against his She was even more flustered.


    I¡¯m sorry, I didn¡¯t mean to..


    She was so scared that she had no strength to get up and was ready to roll onto the sofa. Just as she


    was about to push herself up. grabbed by the wrist. His eyes were cold, his face was calm but with a


    hint of excitement. ¡°What¡¯s your name?¡±


    she was tightly


    He was still doubting whether she was the woman from that night, but her face, soft and sweet to the


    touch, stirred up his deep desires. He didn¡¯t see the woman¡¯s face that night, but when he left, he


    purposely touched her face to remember the feel of her cheeks, that unique sweetness that moved


    him. How could there be another woman that made him feel the same?


    With years of training, his strength was beyond ordinary, and with his emotions fluctuating, Lysander


    didn¡¯t realize he was holding her too tightly. Thssa¡¯s wrist was hurting from his grip. She was in pain


    and scared.


    It was a mess, she identally fell on him, and must have pissed him off. She quickly exined, ¡°Sir,


    I¡¯m just a waitress here to serve you and promote the wine I had no intention of seducing you, I really


    just lost my bnce, and I¡¯m sorry if I caused you any trouble.¡±


    She tried to pull her hand out, but Lysander wouldn¡¯t let go, her eyes watering from the pain.


    Lysander¡¯s icy gaze was fixed on her. ¡°Answer my question, what¡¯s your name!¡±


    ¡°Evelyn, Thssa answered She was using her mother¡¯s ID card for part¨Ctime jobs, so the money


    would go directly to her mother¡¯s card, making it easier for her to buy things for the kids


    Lysander¡¯s eyes twitched, and he let go of her hand. The entire vige where he fell from the helicopter


    had the samest name, but hers didn¡¯t match. Thssa, now free and her heart still pounding, bowed


    to him. ¡°Sir, please enjoy your drink, I¡¯ll be leaving now¡±


    Having said that, she turned around and rushed out. Fearing the big shot in Box VB woulde after


    her, Thssa quickly found the supervisor. collected hermission for selling the wine and her


    hourly pay, and left Sapphire Skyline.


    1/2


    Inside Box V8, ric noticed that Lysander¡¯s attitude towards that woman was markedly different He


    teased, Lysander, need us to drag her over here For you?¡±


    Lysander shot him a look. ¡°Seems like you¡¯ve got plenty of free time. I¡¯ve got a project down in


    Antarctica that¡¯scking a suitable person in charge Maybe.¡±


    ¡°Alright, alright, I¡¯ll shut my trap. Didn¡¯t say a thing Lysander, this red wine is truly top¨Cnotch, you


    should give it a try ric knew when to hit the brakes, so he dropped the topic


    Lysander didn¡¯t touch the wine, instead he stepped out of the box and made a phone call to his chief


    bodyguard


    That woman I asked you to look for five years ago, are you sure she¡¯s dead?¡± Lysander¡¯s voice was


    cold and hard, even carrying a hint of anticipation


    212

 Chapter 5

    Chapter 5


    I¡¯m sure that woman is dead, the bodyguard captain said, with utter certainty.


    Remember when we went to Hollowbrook? That family was having a funeral. I asked thedy of the


    house, she was heartbroken, and told me her precious one was crushed to death¡± The captain started


    to recall the situation.


    He didn¡¯t pry further as she was too devastated. He asked around the vige and found out that the


    family had just one daughter


    And given the funeral, the mother crying her heart out, and telling them her precious one was killed by


    a copsing old house. It could only mean her daughter was dead, right?


    ¡°Ok¡± Lysander hung up the call, the glimmer of hope he felt quickly plummeted. He had known the


    oue already. Why was he still hoping?


    Back then, Lysander sent his female secretary to find that woman, intending to bring her to him so he


    could negotiatepensation personally. The secretary was chosen because being a woman, she


    might find it easier tomunicate with her. But she came back and told him that the woman had died


    and was crushed under an old house battered by heavy rain.


    Lysander couldn¡¯t believe it, so he sent the bodyguard captain to confirm. He went along too, but he


    was too injured to leave the car, so he just watched from afar


    The vige folk had all gathered at the family¡¯s door, and the mournful atmosphere of the funeral was


    heavy. Faced with the stark reality, what was there


    to doubt?


    Thssa got home around ten at night.


    The children¡¯s room doors were closed, so they must have been asleep. Evelyn was in the living room,


    scrolling through short videos.


    ¡°You¡¯re back early. Did you get fired?¡± Evelyn was both surprised and worried when she saw Thssa.


    Wasn¡¯t it said that this part¨Ctime jobsted tillte? It was still early, and she was already back.


    Evelyn¡¯s gaze was intense, and Thssa replied a bit guiltily, ¡°No, I chose to quit, so I came back


    early.¡±


    ¡°What gives you the right to quit working! We have four kids to take care of. Don¡¯t you know our


    situation at home? How could you just quit on a whim!¡± Evelyn stormed up to her, fuming.


    ¡°I might have pissed someone off. If I kept working I was worried it would cause trouble.¡± Thssa


    couldn¡¯t hide it from her forceful mother.


    ¡°What?¡±


    Evelyn felt like the sky was falling. She poked Thssa¡¯s forehead with her finger. ¡°How did I end up


    with such an unlucky kid. Why do you always give me a headache? You¡¯re even worse than that pig I


    used to have! My beloved pig also got crushed by the copsing house, ah, my precious one! Why is


    life so hard on me!¡±


    Evelyn began to cry as she spoke. She still missed the sow, which she had treated like a treasure,


    expecting that it would give birth to piglets and she could continue raising pigs. Unfortunately, the rain


    had ruined the firewood shed and the pigsty next to it, her beloved sow was crushed to death. At that


    moment, Evelyn was utterly heartbroken, she insisted on giving the pig a funeral like a human¡¯s


    funeral.


    At times like this. Thssa always felt extremely guilty. She knew she was the one who caused her


    mother¡¯s pain. She gently nudged Evelyn¡¯s arm, trying to cate her. ¡°Mom, don¡¯t be mad. I only


    worked half a day today, but I¡¯ve earned as much as I usually do in a month. Check your bank ount,


    did you receive a transfer of over a thousand dors?¡±


    Evelyn took out her phone, saw the ount bnce, and felt a thrill of excitement. But then thought of


    something, and immediately became serious and heartbroken.


    ¡°You¡¯re such a jinx. Didn¡¯t I tell you before? No matter how hard or tiring, you can¡¯t sacrifice your


    dignity! Did you do something unsavory?¡± She gave


    Thssa¡¯s head a hard shove


    Just a few hours outside and she had earned a big chunk of money? Was there such easy money in


    this world?


    The misunderstanding was huge, so Thssa quickly exined, ¡°Mom, you¡¯re overthinking. I sold a


    bottle of wine worth twenty grand, got amission of a thousand dors, and I worked an extra hour.


    The manager gave me a bonus because I did well.¡±


    Evelyn stopped her hand, realizing she had misunderstood, but felt embarrassed to admit her mistake,


    so she didn¡¯t apologize. ¡°If your sales ability is so good, why not keep it up? Isnit good to earn more


    money? Who did you offend? Can¡¯t you apologize and make peace?¡±


    ¡°He¡¯s a big shot. I heard others calling him Lysander. The manager also said he¡¯s some hotshot from


    Starhaven. I did apologize, but it didn¡¯t work, so I¡¯m afraid he¡¯lle after me! Thssa¡¯s voice was full


    of grievance. She didn¡¯t hide her fear in front of her mother. She didn¡¯t want to quit her job at the


    nightclub, because making money was hard these days. A thousand dors for a day, how could she


    not be happy?


    But that man was terrifying.


    ¡°Ah, life is tough¡± Evelyn sighed. Although money was important, she didn¡¯t want her daughter to risk


    her safety for it.


    There were a lot of rich people in Starhaven. Those with money and power were always a handful;


    offending them was like asking for trouble. Evelyn knew this very well.


    ¡°Since you¡¯re free, you take care of the kids at home. I need to go out.¡± Evelyn carefully put her phone


    into her pocket, her expression a bit secretive


    N?velDrama.Org owns this text.


    ¡°It¡¯s sote, where are you going?¡± Thssa was worried about her


    ¡°Don¡¯t worry about me. Just take care of yourself!¡± Evelyn was adamant.


    Evelyn gave Thssa a quick nce, then left.


    Thssa sighed softly but didn¡¯t say anything.


    She walked to the bedroom door, intending to check on the four kids, but thought that it was already


    late, and they must have been fast asleep. If she


    went in, she would disturb them, so she decided against it and went to take a shower instead


    What she didn¡¯t know was that two of the kids were actually still awake That was her eldest son Atticus


    and second son Dorian They had overheard Thssa and Evelyn¡¯s conversation


    In the dark, their innocent eyes twinkled Huddling together, they started to whisper. Atticus said. ¡°Mom


    pissed off Lysander She¡¯s so freaked out she doesn¡¯t even dare to step outside¡± That was the


    conclusion Atticus came to after hearing what mom said


    Dorian asked, ¡°Who is Lysander? Is he really that badass? Our mom is so sweet and pretty, but she¡¯s


    scared shitless by him That¡¯s just sad¡± Although Atticus also felt for mom, he was more of a cool


    cucumber, not much for sweet talk, but he was all about action.


    He picked up his tablet from the bedside table. His small fingers began tapping quickly on it. Soon,


    there was a profile of a man on the screen.


    ¡°Got it, this is Lysander, Atticus said.


    Dorian leaned in to look at the photo on the screen, which showed a man in a crisp suit, handsome,


    with sharp eyes and a strong aura


    His name was Lysander, one of the notorious four young guys of Starhaven, the CEO of the premier


    Sinir Group. No one dared to mess with him, or they¡¯d face serious consequences


    ¡°No wonder moms scared out of her wits by him.¡± Dorian pouted.


    Let¡¯s go find him tomorrow and apologize. We¡¯ll see if we can get him to forgive mom, Atticus


    suggested.

 Chapter 6

    Chapter 6


    A new day was on the roll.


    The sun streamed in through the curtains, casting a cozy warmth on Thssa¡¯s face as she slowly


    woke up Peeking her eyes open, she found her adorable little munchkins sprawled all over the ce


    next to her.


    Atticus, being the cool cat he was, slept in military precision, t on his back with his little hands folded


    neatly under his pillow


    Dorian, on the other hand, was a ball of energy even in sleep. He was sprawled out, and his chubby


    little feet were resting on Atticus, with one foot effectively blocking Atticus nostrils.


    Clearly, Atticus was having a rough time even while sleeping. His young brows furrowed and looking


    none too pleased, breathing through his mouth.


    Thssa chuckled at the sight, gently moving Dorian¡¯s foot off of Atticus.


    Dorian¡¯s lips moved slightly, as if aware of the disturbance, but he just shifted positions and continued


    his snooze, undeterred.


    Content ? N?velDrama.Org 2024.


    Turning her gaze to the side, she spotted Sophia lying at the edge of the bed. Her short hair was


    boyish, her cherubic face was squished by the bedsheet, and her rosy cheeks were sticking out,


    smooth as a silk.


    Thssa couldn¡¯t help butugh out loud.


    Sophia was the youngest of the bunch and one of the two girls. Normally the youngest kid got the most


    attention, was the most pampered, and knew all the tricks to be cute. But in her household, it was quite


    the opposite. Clowen, the older of the two girls, was the one who was all sugar and spice and


    everything nice


    Sophia, though, was more of a tomboy. She loved ying it cool, hated braiding her hair, and preferred


    rocking a short hairdo with a baseball cap, just like her brothers.


    Suddenly, Thssa had a mini heart attack. Oh crap, where was the fourth one?


    She hurriedly got off the bed to look around, when a soft little body on the floor caught her attention.


    Who else could it be but Elowen?


    She was wrapped in a nket. She had fallen off the bed, slept like a little kitten, and was drooling on


    the wooden floor, asionally moving her mouth.


    Thssaughed and walked over, gently picking Elowen up and carefully cing her back on the


    bed. Elowen rolled a bit on the bed, then continued her dreand journey. This little girl was just too


    cute; her cheeks were round and soft. Thssa was dying to give her a big smooch.


    Unable to resist the urge, she leaned down, intending to nt a big one, but worried about waking her,


    she just lightly kissed each of her little ones Elowen, Sophia, Dorian, and Atticus.


    Their cheeks were soft and sweet, smelling almost milky.


    Ah¡­ waking up every day to see her four little treasures, their adorable sleeping faces¡­ was pure


    bliss!


    Life had its ups and downs, but the happiness these four brought could conquer any obstacle.


    Thssa turned her face towards the sun. Her face was beaming, as she silently cheering herself on.


    Life was beautiful. Another day full of zest!


    After freshening up, she headed to the kitchen to make breakfast.


    ¡°Wow, that smell is making my mouth water. Thssa, what are you cooking that smells so good?¡±


    When Evelyn walked in, she nced at the kitchen and saw Thssa prepping pasta, so she walked


    over to help.


    ¡°Wow, are we having pasta today? It smells amazing.¡± Evelyn grinned, her favorite was the scent of


    beef Bolognese.


    Thssa nced at her, noting the dark circles under her eyes. Clearly, she was up all night.


    With concern, she said, ¡°Mom, where were youst night? You can¡¯t keep doing this. You¡¯re not getting


    any younger. What if you damage your health by staying upte?¡±


    ¡°Okay, okay, I got it. You¡¯re just a kid, and you¡¯re already nagging like an old grandma.¡± Evelyn avoided


    her gaze, looking annoyed on the surface, but actually feeling a bit guilty.


    She carried a te over to the dining table.


    ¡°Mommy, I¡¯m hungry.¡± Elowen, who just woke up, mumbled sleepily at the bedroom door.


    Thssa just stepped out of the kitchen and saw Elowen in her diaper with her chubby little legs,


    rubbing her sleepy eyes.


    Seeing this, Thal¨¢ssa¡¯s heart was filled with love. Her daughter was just too adorable, like a little angel


    ¡°Elowen, you¡¯re awake, it¡¯s time for breakfast, Evelyn called out and started eating.


    Thssa put down the te, walked quickly over to her daughter and picked her up. ¡°Let¡¯s get dressed


    and clean up first, then we can have breakfast.¡±


    ¡°Mommy, did you make pasta? The smell was so good, I couldn¡¯t sleep. The little girl¡¯s sparkling eyes


    looked at Thssa, full of anticipation.


    Thssa was both amused and amazed at her daughter¡¯s love for food. Just by the smell, she could


    guess what it was.


    Thssa affectionately pinched her face. ¡°Sweetie, your nose is really sharp. You guessed it right.¡±


    ¡°Mommy, I want to get dressed quickly. I really want to eat Elowen eagerly started dressing herself.


    The other kids woke up too. Thssa handed them their clothes and let them dress themselves.


    Soon, all four kids were seated at the dining table, digging into their pasta


    Elowen ate quickly ¡°Mommy, I want another one!¡±


    Thssaughed and went to serve her more.


    The family of six sat at the dining table, enjoying their delicious breakfast.


    Thssa looked at the jackets the kids were wearing and said, ¡°Mom, transfer me $500. I¡¯m taking the


    kids to a clothing store to buy them each a new thick jacket. Fall is right around the corner, and it¡¯s


    going to get cold


    ¡®Aren¡¯tst year¡¯s jackets still wearable?¡± Evelyn didn¡¯t look up from her food.


    ¡°Last year¡¯s jackels were bought the year before. They were already a bit smallst year, and we just


    squeezed by This year, they definitely won¡¯t fit.¡± Thssa knew her mom was frugal, but that didn¡¯t


    mean she had to skimp on the kids¡® clothes.


    Evelyn hesitated. ¡°Well, it hasn¡¯t gotten cold yet. You could find a job and buy them after you get your


    paycheck¡±


    Seeing her evasive demeanor, Thssa understood what she meant. She put down her fork and


    asked sternly. ¡°Mom, did you go gamblingst night?¡±


    Evelyn silently continued eating her pasta, not saying a word.


    Thssa suddenly felt an overwhelming sense of dread, ¡°Did you lose all the money I made


    yesterday?¡±


    Even though she asked, she already knew the answer. She sure did!


    ¡°Thssa, I¡¯m really sorry I saw how hard our family was struggling and thought I could make a quick


    buck to lighten the load. I didn¡¯t expect to lose it all


    She lost it all! Thssa felt like she¡¯d been hit in the chest by a rock, leaving her breathless. That was


    the money she had nned to use to buy clothes and food for the kids!


    All of it was gone in one night!


    What was she supposed to do? Were her kids going to go hungry?


    Just as Thssa felt lost and helpless, the phone rang.


    ¡°Hello, this is the HR manager from the Sinir Group. I was wondering if you would be avable for an


    interview today?¡± said a formal female voice on the other end of the line.

 Chapter 7

    Chapter 7


    11l be there.¡± Thssa hurriedly pronilsed.


    After a few more words with the head of HR, she hung up the phone. Her annoyance seemed to have


    eased a bit. After all, there was no such thing as a dead end. When one door closed, another door


    would open for you


    She just casually sent her resume to the Sinir group on the train yesterday, just giving it a shot She


    didn¡¯t expect to actually get an interview invitation The Sinir group was the biggest and richest


    corporation in Starhaven If she could work there, the sry and benefits would definitely be good After


    dinner, she said to Evelyn. ¡°Mom, I¡¯m going for an interview. You stay home and take care of the kids.


    Don¡¯t go gambling again. We need to be realistic. We earn what we earn, no need to be greedy Being


    greedy will only lead to bad oues.¡±


    ¡°Ohe on, I got it Do you think it¡¯s okay to talk to your mom like this? I just want to help you ease off


    some pressure. How did that be greed?¡± Evelyn refused to admit she was wrong, responding


    firmly.


    Thank you for thinking about me, but we need to do the right thing. Gambling is wrong. If you get


    addicted, what will happen to me and the kids?¡± Thssa knew Evelyn meant well, but her approach


    could lead to big trouble. She had a responsibility to steer Evelyn in the right direction, to keep her from


    going astray


    ¡°Alright, I got it. Just go, Evelyn urged impatiently.


    Thssa hugged each of her kids and then left.


    A while after Thssa left, Atticus and Dorian exchanged nces, and a silent agreement was


    reached.


    Atticus said to Evelyn, ¡°Grandma, I want some milk.¡±


    Dorian chimed in, ¡°Me too.¡±


    Content ? N?velDrama.Org 2024.


    ¡°You little stinkers Wasn¡¯t the pasta enough?¡± Evelyn was hoping to save some baby form.


    Tears immediately filled Dorian¡¯s pretty eyes, and he said in a pitiful voice, ¡°I¡¯m not full. I want milk, I¡¯m


    so hungry¡±


    Seeing Dorian like that, so pitiful and innocently crying, was heartbreaking. Evelyn couldn¡¯t bear it.


    ¡°Alright, don¡¯t cry, I¡¯ll go make you some form¡± Atticus whispered to his sisters, ¡°Stay here. Drink the


    two bottles of milk grandma made. We¡¯re going out. Don¡¯t tell grandma where we went.¡± Elowen and


    Sophia obediently nodded. Atticus put on his backpack, which he had prepared earlier, and snuck out


    with Dorian.


    The Sinir group, HR on the 28th floor.


    Thssa finished her interview, and it went very well. She got hired as a cleaner for the Sinir group


    and was responsible for cleaning the top floor of the Sinr building


    The HR manager asked her to familiarize herself with the structure and environment of the top floor


    after the interview, so she could start working the next day


    She took the elevator to the top floor. A little to the left of the elevator was the CEO¡¯s office, a little


    further in was the conference room, and then the lounge.


    A little to the right was a storeroom. Even the storeroom was luxuriously decorated. This storeroom


    would probably be where she¡¯d store her brooms, mops, carts, and other frequently used items while


    cleaning.


    She nned to go in and familiarize herself with theyout, to determine where to ce things, so she


    could get to work straight away the next day.


    In the storeroom, one wall divided the space into two. There was some noiseing from the left.


    Thssa was curious and walked towards it. In front of her, a man, his tall silhouette stood there. He


    was wearing a ck suit, straight pants that fit his long legs perfectly, without a single wrinkle. His suit


    jacket fit perfectly, not a hair out of ce. His aura was cold and intimidating.


    Thssa suddenly realized something and was shocked.


    This. This was a bathroom?


    Thssa was stunned and frozen in ce, a chill running down her spine. She had assumed it was a


    storeroom from the start, so she thought the faucet was leaking and didn¡¯t consider any other


    possibilities. So, everything she did was just a misunderstanding.


    Her body was stiff in ce. At that moment, the man turned around. Her startled gaze met the man¡¯s


    sharp, dark eyes.


    For a moment their eyes met.


    This man, he looked so familiar! Oh my God! Wasn¡¯t this the same Lysander from Box V8st night?


    Thssa bit her lip. Her heart was pounding like a drum, and cold sweat was running down her back.


    ¡°Who am I, where am 17¡±


    ¡°Oh God, let me disappear!¡±


    Lysander quickly fixed his clothes, his sharp eyes like ice daggers looking at her, ¡°What are you doing


    here!¡±


    Seeing his dark handsome face, Thssa quickly raised her hands, admitting her mistake Her face


    was flushed, and her words slurred, as she stammered in exnation, ¡°Misunderstanding, I didn¡¯t


    mean to peep at you. I mean, I didn¡¯t see anything! I thought this was a storeroom. I thought the faucet


    was leaking


    Oh god, this was a huge misunderstanding. How could she have thought this was a bathroom, let


    alone a men¡¯s bathroom!


    Lysander¡¯s icy eyes stared at her. He grabbed her cor and turned her against the wal, his handsome


    face was darker than a rainy day.


    Do you really think I¡¯d believe such ame excuse? if you want to reduce me, you should see if you¡¯re


    up to ar


    She phowed up at Sapphire Skyline yesterday, disguised as a waitress to get close to him. She even


    deliberately humped into him. Now she came to the Sinir group and ran into the men¡¯s room to peep


    at him!


    This woman was really bold!


    Thssa was flustered and eager, quickly preparing to exin 1 really didn¡¯t meanto seduce you.


    There¡¯s no sign on this bathroom and it¡¯s my first time here, so I didn¡¯t know this was a bathroom I


    came in out of good intentions to save water I¡¯m ent tying I didn¡¯t see anything, I swear


    Thssa hurriedly expressed her sincere apology trying to exin clearly. She really didn¡¯t see


    anything Everything happened to suddenly, and the was too flustered to see anything


    Lysander shoved her away 11 there¡¯s a next time I¡¯ll make you regret #


    7 pet it. I won¡¯t do it again I¡¯m leaving right now! Thssa didn¡¯t even finish her sentence before the


    bolted out of the restroom


    She made a beeline for the elevator, when suddenly two little figures appeared in her night. Two


    adorable kids just came out of a room, the CEO¡¯s offica no less And those two cute kids were her very


    own sons, Atticus and Doriant


    What on earth were they doing here?


    Just as Thssa was about to run towards them, the sound of the man¡¯s footstepsing out of the


    restroom got closer and closer

 Chapter 8

    Chapter 8


    Thssa was making a beeline for the two kids, but the little rascals beat her to the elevator. The doors


    were just about to close.


    ¡°Hold up!¡± Thssa called out hastily


    She bolted into the elevator, frantically hitting the close door button, not even having time to press the


    floor number. She saw the maning and was worried he might cause a scene with her


    The elevator doors slowly closed, and Thssa caught sight of Lysander approaching from the gap,


    his icy gaze fixed on her. Her heart pounded faster as she locked eyes with him, her breath hitched


    Luckily, it was a brief exchange of looks. The elevator doors quickly closedpletely, blocking her


    from the man.


    Thssa¡¯s tense shoulders finally rxed. Turning around, she saw the curious eyes of the two kids.


    ¡°Mom, why are you here?¡± Her younger son, Dorian, blinked his big eyes, asking in a childish voice.


    He had long eyshes, fluttery like butterfly wings. His skin was delicate and smooth, and though he


    was a boy, people often mistook him for a girl. Some even thought he was prettier than girls.


    Thssa suddenly thought, didn¡¯t Dorian¡¯s eyes look a bit like the man¡¯s from earlier?


    1 came here for an interview, I¡¯ll be working here starting tomorrow. What are you guys doing here?


    Where¡¯s your grandmother?¡± Her face turned serious, worried about what might happen if they got lost


    without an adult. Normally she was lenient with their mischief, but when it came to safety, she had to be


    strict


    Dorian felt guilty under his mom¡¯s stern gaze. He hung his head, not knowing how to exin. He knew


    better than to lie to his mom.


    Atticus piped up. ¡°Mom, we came to find Lysander. You offended him yesterday, so we wanted to


    apologize and ask for his forgiveness.¡±


    Thssa nced at Atticus¡® serious young face. His childish yet dark eyes resembled the man¡¯s she


    had run into in the men¡¯s restroom!


    What the hell was going on? Was she seeing things because of that man? Why did both her precious


    boys resemble that man?


    Right, she must have been imagining things because that man had scared her. Shaking off her


    ridiculous thoughts, Thssa looked at Atticus then at Dorian. ¡°Did you guys overhear my conversation


    with your grandmother yesterday?¡±


    ¡°Mhm¡± Dorian nodded ¡°Mom, you sounded really scared yesterday, and it made us sad. Mom, I don¡¯t


    want you to work so hard¡±


    Dorian¡¯s eyes were glistening with empathy.


    Thssa was deeply moved, her eyes welled up with tears. She crouched down and pulled the two


    kids into a hug, and her warm voice said, ¡°Thank you, having you guys makes everything worth it. But


    you have to promise me, no more running off on your own. If you got lost, I would never see you


    again.¡±


    She was on the verge of tears, her heart warmed by her children¡¯s concern.


    ¡°Mhm, we promise we won¡¯t run off Dorian obediently nodded, exchanging a nce with his brother


    Atticus. They winked at each other mischievously.


    Phew, they were off the hook! And they didn¡¯t even have to lie


    Overwhelmed with emotion, Thssa momentarily forgot to question why the two boys knew the man¡¯s


    name was Lysander after hearing only a single sentence from her, and how they found the Sinir


    group¡¯s building.


    Lysander withdrew his chilly gaze from the elevator, thinking, that woman sure knew how to make a run


    for it! She kept appearing in front of him and teasing him. She sure had guts!


    Back in his office, his assistant David was waiting for him.


    ¡°Sir, there were two¡­¡± David was about to say, two kids were looking for you.


    But he was interrupted by Lysander, ¡°Has my schedule been leaked?¡±


    ¡°Rest assured, Sir, I personally handle your schedule. There¡¯s no way it could¡¯ve been leaked.¡± David


    assured.


    Lysander shot him a skeptical look. Seeing David¡¯s serious expression, he turned away. True, his


    bathroom schedule was not part of his itinerary.


    That woman managed to barge into the men¡¯s room and saw what she shouldn¡¯t have. That had


    nothing to do with a leaked schedule,


    Lysander sat in his executive chair, picked up his pen, then put it down again. His deep gazended on


    David, ¡°What were you saying?¡±


    ¡°Oh, I was saying, two people were looking for you¡­¡± David replied respectfully


    ¡°Anything important?¡± Lysander asked. N?velDrama.Org ? content.


    ¡°They wanted to apologize to you¡± David had recognized the kids and asked a few questions, but since


    Lysander wasn¡¯t in the office then, he told the kids to go home and he would ry the message.


    Probably just kids fooling around. David kept his promise, nheless.


    Lysander uncapped his pen and started working, not caring about it anymore. ¡°In the future, don¡¯t let


    irrelevant people in.¡±


    Especially not in the restroom!


    David bowed slightly ¡°Understood, I¡¯ll inform the secretary right away¡±


    ¡°Hold on Lysander lifted his head.


    David stopped. ¡°Yes, Sir?¡±


    ¡°Put a sign on the restroom door, [Men¡¯s Room. CEO only] Lysander said, his expression stern.


    The top floor was his private area. All Sinir group employees knew that the restroom on the top floor


    was his private restroom, and others were not allowed in But there were always some clueless people


    who would barge in


    David nodded ¡°Right away, Sir¡±


    Thssa headed home with Atticus and Dorian in tow. Just as they reached the door, they heard wails


    echoing from inside the house.


    ¡°Oh my gosh, where should I even start looking? What am I gonna do Atticus, Dorian, where are you


    guys?¡±


    Thssa quickly unlocked the door Evelyn was sitting on the floor, crying, and pounding her fists on


    the ground. She looked so upset and helpless, like she didn¡¯t know what to do


    Elowen and Sophia were standing in front of her. Their innocent eyes locked onto Evelyn, and their


    little lips were pouting, looking rather upset. When they heard the door open, the two little ones¡® eyes


    light up as they saw who¡¯d walked in. They rushed towards Thssa


    ¡°Mommy!¡±


    ¡°Mommy! Atticus. Dorian!¡±


    The two girls flung themselves into Thssa¡¯s arms, and she gently ruffled their hair. Evelyn turned her


    head to see who had arrived. Her tear¨Cblurred vision took in the people at the door. She counted them


    off on her fingers. ¡°One, two, three, four, five¡­


    Four kids, one adult. Not a single one was missing


    Evelyn quickly wiped away her tears, got up from the ground, and stomped over to Thssa. She


    grabbed Thssa¡¯s ear. ¡°You little rascal, you took the kids without even telling me! What are you


    trying to do, make headlines or something?¡±

 Chapter 9

    Chapter 9


    ¡°Ouch, Mom, can you let go?¡± Thssa winced, leaning towards the hand that Evelyn had mped on


    her ear.


    Evelyn had been scared out of her wits, thinking that the kids had gotten lost. Still shaken, she


    channeled her fear into anger, pouring it all on Thssa.


    ¡°You know it hurts! Do you know how worned I was? Evelyn barked at Thssa, her face red and voice


    hoarse.


    ¡°Granny, don¡¯t me Mom. It¡¯s our fault. We ran off. Mom only bumped into us halfway¡±


    Dorian and Atticus stood by Evelyn¡¯s legs Their little heads were raised in defense of their mom.


    Evelyn snorted, let go of Thssa¡¯s car, and looked down at Atticus and Dorian, still sternly saying,


    ¡°You two, no more running off! If I catch you running off again, there will be consequences!¡±


    Dorian hung his head, his voice was weak and helpless. I know. I¡¯m sorry, Granny


    His remorseful look tugged at Evelyn¡¯s heartstrings, so she forgave him. Then she coldly asked Atticus,


    ¡°And you?¡±


    Atticus¡® little face was expressionless, and he still answered Evelyn, ¡°I understand.¡±


    ¡°Hmm, I¡¯ll let you off this time¡± Evelyn picked up a tissue and wiped away her tears.


    Thssa said, Tll go cook, Mom, you rest a bit¡± She quickly headed to the kitchen.


    Her mother was right. This time was a close call, but luckily everything ended well. If there was a next


    time, she would not have been so lucky to bump into Atticus and Dorian and bring them home. If theyN?velDrama.Org owns this text.


    ran into bad guys, the consequences would be unthinkable.


    The next day, Thssa arrived at the Sinir group bright and early.


    It was her first day at work, and she wanted to make a good impression on her boss. Although it was


    only a cleaning job, the pay was high. Sixty dors a day, that was one thousand eight hundred dors


    a month!


    With a sry this high for a cleaning job, she was satisfied and treasured it.


    She had to support four children, and as long as she worked honestly and earned money with her own


    hands, she didn¡¯t mind what kind of job it was.


    Thssa mopped the marble floor of the top floor of the building. Even though the floor was already


    bright and looked clean, she still made sure to mop it meticulously. This was the turf of the Sinir


    group¡¯s big boss. The Sinir group was the most luxurious, top¨Cnotchpany in Starhaven.


    Naturally. as the president of the Sinir group, Lysander was a man who stood at the pinnacle, and


    only a luxurious, noble, spotless environment suited him.


    Thssa remembered these words the HR manager told her, so she mopped even harder.


    Suddenly, she heard the ¡°ck, ck¡± of high heels behind her. Thssa didn¡¯t pay it any mind, and


    just continued mopping. Suddenly, her mop was stepped on by a high heel. The heel was thin and


    high.


    Following the heel upwards, she saw ady¡¯s long legs, a red dress, and exquisite makeup. Her eyes


    were arrogantly fixed on Thssa. It was Isabe¡®


    Seeing her, Thssa¡¯s expression turned serious. ¡°Please move your foot!¡±


    Just her luck, running into this scheming woman, Isabe, here.


    Isabe looked at her and suddenly sneered. ¡°I¡¯m not mistaken, so it really is you. Thssa, you


    couldn¡¯t handle the night club job, so you ran to the Sinir group to find work?¡±


    Such nasty words! Thssa knew she wouldn¡¯t say anything good, and angrily yanked her mop free.


    Isabe almost fell, but she steadied herself in time. The smile on her face disappeared, and her sleek


    hair became messy from the sudden movement. Her hair fell over her face, looking like a mess. She


    red at Thssa. ¡°Thssa, you just wait. Next time, I won¡¯t let you off so easily


    After saying that, she flipped her hair and stalked off in her high heels.


    Thssa nced at Isabe¡¯s retreating figure and saw her walk into the secretary¡¯s office. What was


    going on? Did Isabe have business with the Sinir group? Why would she go to the president¡¯s


    secretary? Thssa was just curious for a moment, then went back to mopping.


    In the secretary¡¯s office.


    Isabe stood in front of a beautiful woman¡¯s desk. The woman was dressed in a professional suit, her


    tight skirt disying her ample hips. Her legs were long, her waist slim, but her chest was full.


    A figure that men would love.


    Her makeup was understated, giving her an elegant andpetent look. She was Lysander¡¯s


    secretary, Faye.


    Isabe was arrogant and spoke bluntly. ¡°My boyfriend¡¯spany has some problems, the money is


    running out and he needs two hundred thousand. When can you transfer it to my ount?¡±


    Five years ago, Isabe had a one¨Cnight stand with Thssa¡¯s boyfriend Leopold, but Leopold didn¡¯t


    like her at all. Faced with her clinginess, Leopold disappeared, and hadn¡¯t shown up for five years.


    Isabe had no choice but to stick with her previous boyfriend.


    Her boyfriend¡¯s family had some money, they were a nouveau riche family. Her boyfriend knew about


    her one¨Cnight stand with another man but didn¡¯t kick her out. Over the years, she¡¯d stuck with her


    boyfriend.


    Faye was typing on her keyboard. She suddenly stopped and stared at Isabe with authoritative eyes.


    ¡°How many times have youe to me for money over the years? People need to know when to be


    content, or there will be serious consequences!¡±


    Faye¡¯s gaze was intimidating. Most people would definitely be overwhelmed by her authority. But


    Isabe was shameless to the core. Plus, she had


    ¡®something on Faye, so she wasn¡¯t afraid at all.


    ¡°You can refuse to give me the money. But the secret you asked me to keep, I can¡¯t quarantee I can


    keep it Isabe chuckled lightly.


    ¡°You know what? Five years ago, you asked me to keep that person a secret for you, saying she was


    dead. But she¡¯s right there at the Sinir group. mopping the floor in front of the CEO¡¯s office. If I step


    out now, I tell the CEO she¡¯s the one he¡¯s looking for, and all your ns will go down the drain¡± Isabe


    continued


    A hint of tension appeared on Faye¡¯s elegant face. What kind of nonsense are you talking about?¡±


    ¡°I ain¡¯t bluffing. The woman who had a one¨Cnight stand with Mr. Sinir when he turned up out of the


    blue all those years ago, that¡¯s my cousin Thssa. We grew up together, how could I not recognize


    her? I saw her just outside when I came in,¡± Isabe emphasized again. Thssa was right there by


    the CEO¡¯s side


    Once Isabe spilled the beans, the CEO would recognize Thssa and all of Faye¡¯s actions would be


    exposed.


    Faye clenched her fists. Tll transfer the money to your ount. Leave now!


    Isabe smiled in satisfaction ¡°If you had cooperated earlier, wouldn¡¯t that have been better? Don¡¯t


    worry, we¡¯re partners in crime. I won¡¯t spill any secrets you don¡¯t want me to¡±


    ¡°Get out!¡± Faye¡¯s face was filled with tolerance and anger.

 Chapter 10

    Chapter 10


    ¡°Babe, don¡¯t be pissed. You¡¯re so beautiful and you¡¯re Mr. Sinir¡¯s personal secretary You clearly


    have the advantage. I¡¯m sure one day you¡¯ll win Mr. Sinir¡¯s heart and be his woman. If you age


    faster because of anger and lose your advantage, that¡¯ll be a real bummer.¡±


    Isabe spoke gently, a smile on her face, pretending to care about Faye.


    In reality, Isabe was mocking her.


    Content ? N?velDrama.Org.


    Faye had worked beside Lysander for many years, being his secretary, but he never gave her a


    second nce. No matter how hard she tried, she probably wouldn¡¯t win Lysander¡¯s affection.


    Why would Lysander prefer Thssa, a one¨Cnight stand, over her?


    Years ago, isabe was going to find Leopold at Thssa¡¯s house, but identally overheard Faye¡¯s


    call to Lysander. Faye lied to Lysander that Thssa was dead, using the fact that Thssa¡¯s house


    had been washed away by heavy rain.


    When Faye found out Isabe had eavesdropped, she bribed her to keep quiet. Not wanting Thssa


    to be ady of leisure, Isabe agreed to Faye¡¯s request and even helped her cover up the truth.


    In order to make things appear real, she even persuaded Thssa¡¯s mother, Evelyn, to hold a funeral


    for the pig that was killed that night. Evelyn had raised the sow like a precious baby, and surprisingly,


    she agreed to the suggestion and organized a funeral for the pig. The whole vige ended up attending


    the pig¡¯s funeral, causing quite amotion.


    Isabe knew that Faye didn¡¯t want Lysander to find Thssa because she liked Lysander and didn¡¯t


    want other women to get near him. Using this weakness, Isabe had been sponging off Faye for the


    past five years.


    Faye, seething with rage, picked up a document from the table and threw it at Isabe ¡°Get lost!¡±


    Isabe turned tail and left the office, snorting scornfully at Faye before she left. When she exited the


    office, she saw Thssa sweeping the hallway. She walked over and deliberately stepped on


    Thssa¡¯s mop.


    ¡°Are you a bull? Always blocking people¡¯s way?¡± Thssa red angrily at Isabe


    Isabe reached out to grab Thssa¡¯s hair. ¡°You rude woman, if I don¡¯t teach you a lesson, you won¡¯t


    know your ce!¡±


    Seething with anger, she decided to take it out on Thssa.


    Thssa quickly dodged and started swinging her mop at Isabe. Seeing Thssa armed, Isabe


    knew she was outmatched, so she made a quick getaway into the elevator, swearing at Thssa as


    the doors closed.


    Fire seemed to ze in Thssa¡¯s heart, and she couldn¡¯t calm down. ¡°Isabe, you better not cross


    paths with me again, or I¡¯ll ruin your face!¡±


    Suddenly, a pair of shiny ck shoes appeared in front of her. They were so polished they almost


    kicked her mop. Another one came to bully her!


    ¡°Out of the way, can¡¯t you see I¡¯m cleaning?¡± Thssa swept her mop at the shoes in anger.


    Suddenly, she was lifted off the ground, like a chick.


    ¡°Hey, hey, hey, what are you doing, let go of me!¡± Thssa shouted, kicking her legs helplessly in the


    air.


    Just then, a handsome face appeared in front of her. He was a man in a tailor¨Cmade ck suit, tall and


    dignified, with sharp features, and deep eyes.


    Thssa was surprised and didn¡¯t know whether to back down or apologize. Why this man again?


    ¡°Why are you always causing trouble?¡± Lysander red at her, radiating a cold aura.


    He was really angry! Thssa could feel his fury. His face was dark and his aura was intimidating. This


    kind of presence was truly terrifying.


    I¡¯m sorry, I thought someone was messing with me. I wasn¡¯t targeting you,¡± Thssa quickly


    apologized.


    ¡°You¡¯re ying tricks again? Trying to get my attention? Seduce me?¡± Lysander moved closer, looking


    at her coldly.


    Thssa backed away, amused, and annoyed by his words, pointing to her nose in surprise. ¡°Me?


    Seduce you? You¡¯re a big boss, know your worth, okay?¡±


    Thssa backed up against the wall, with Lysander holding one of her hands and the other braced


    against the wall, trapping her between him and the


    wall


    ¡°You¡¯re so freaking clueless, trying to pull a fast one on me!¡± Lysander¡¯s deep eyes were locked on


    her.


    Although her out was old, faded jeans and a slightly yellowed white t¨Cshirt, it was very clean and tidy.


    Her rose¨Ccolored lips, perky nose, and small face had no makeup yet her skin was delicate and


    smooth. A pair of bright eyes with amber pupils was sparkling, full of vignce and panic, staring at


    him.


    Thssa was in disbelief, was he calling himself arrogant, not her? She was genuinely worried about


    hisprehension skills.


    The man¡¯s strong aura was oppressive, exuding a strong masculine charm. Being stared down and


    approached by him, Thssa was a little breathless. her breathing bing rushed.


    She pushed against his chest, pushing him hard. ¡°Okay, okay, I¡¯m the one who¡¯s too full of myself. Can


    you please move? Let me get out of your sight and I¡¯ll fix my arrogance¡±


    Lysander snorted coldly and let her go.


    Thssa quickly left, almost bumping into the womaning out of the secretary¡¯s office.


    Faye saw Thssa, then looked at Lysander by the elevator, and she felt a sinking feeling in her heart.


    This was bad, Mr. Sinir had seen this woman!

 Chapter 11

    Chapter 11


    Faye was freaking out, her heart pounding like a drum. Had Mr. Sinir recognized Thssa? Would


    he call her out on her lies, confront her? Faye¡¯s face turned pale, and her body was tense and stiff,


    eyes fixed on Thssa She tried to initiate a conversation but found herself speechless. Fear, panic,


    indignation, dread, all sorts of emotions tortured her, making her feel awful


    ¡°Miss, I¡¯m sorry if I disturbed you I¡¯ll get back to work right away and promise not to make any more


    noise, Thssa bowed apologetically to Faye. She had been warned during the interview that the top


    floor was upied by VIPs and she should remain quiet while cleaning. Any disturbances and she¡¯d be


    in hot water. Her argument with Isabe and entanglement with Lysander must have disturbed Faye..


    After saying her piece, Thssa grabbed her mop and went off. Faye didn¡¯t stop her, unsure of how to


    handle the situation. How should she interact with the CEO?


    She called out tentatively, ¡°Good morning. Mr. Sinir.*


    ¡°Hm.¡± Lysander¡¯s reply was monosybic, his emotions unreadable. But his icy gaze was enough to


    send shivers down anyone¡¯s spine.


    Faye was on edge, her heart pounding, ready to face any consequences of her lies.


    Thssa quickly headed to the storeroom, overhearing Faye addressing the man. She stiffened,


    feeling as if she¡¯d been electrocuted.


    Oh crap! How could she not have realized that this so¨Ccalled Lysander was the CEO of the Sinir


    group?


    The nightclub manager had said he was a big shot. She had even bumped into him in the restroom on


    the top floor yesterday. And again, at the elevator today. And she remembered, her darling Dorian had


    said he wanted to apologize to Lysander!


    She hadn¡¯t paid much attention to the name then. Why didn¡¯t she connect the dots that this big shot


    was the CEO of the Sinir group?


    What an airhead she was. Thssa smacked her forehead in regret.


    She had twice offended Lysander on his territory, no wonder he thought she was purposely trying to


    seduce him. What a huge misunderstanding. Thssa dashed into the storeroom like she was running


    for her life. She decided to steer clear of Lysander to avoid any more trouble.


    Lysander watched her retreat, then turned his cold gaze to Faye. That made Faye¡¯s heart beat even


    faster.


    ¡°I told you yesterday not to allow irrelevant people on this floor. Why didn¡¯t you enforce it? Lysander¡¯s


    voice was deep, authoritative, andmanding. He was always condescending and used to talking in


    such a tone.


    Faye froze, realizing he was referring to the cleaner and not her deception. She quickly replied, ¡°I¡¯ll


    tighten up management. This won¡¯t happen again.¡± ¡°Won¡¯t happen again? Howe you didn¡¯t handle


    the woman named Evelyn who just walked past you?¡± Lysander strode towards his office, clearly


    displeased.


    Evelyn? Upon hearing this name, Faye was both shocked and relieved.


    So, Lysander hadn¡¯t recognized Thssa, the woman he had been involved with. He just mistook her


    for Evelyn. Faye¡¯s anxiety subsided. ¡°I¡¯ll look into it right away¡± Faye quickly followed him into his


    office.


    After a phone call, the situation became clear.


    Thssa hadn¡¯t used her real name but went by the name Evelyn. She reported to Lysander, ¡°Mr.


    Sinir, Evelyn is a new cleaner hired by HR. It¡¯s her first day and she failed to finish cleaning before


    you arrived and even offended you. I¡¯ll fire her right away.¡±


    Just as Faye was about to call HR, Lysander interrupted, ¡°No need.¡±


    Faye looked up curiously ¡°What do you mean, sir?¡±


    ¡°She¡¯s just a cleaner. No need to make a mountain out of a molehill.¡± Lysander sat down, opened his


    pen, picked up a document, and started reading. ¡°You can leave now.¡±


    Faye nodded and left.


    Back in her office, Faye was still on edge, restless. Thssa was the girl she had seen in Hollowbrook


    five years ago!


    Who would have thought that a country girl would not only retain her beauty but be even more


    stunning and alluring over the years? And now she had even appeared next to Lysander! The truth


    would eventuallye out. Sooner orter, Lysander would learn her real name and expose all of


    Faye¡¯s lies! She had to find a way to get Thssa out of the Sinir group!


    If she had fired her now, everything would have been fine. But now Lysander knew she was part of the


    cleaning staff and had said not to fire her. If she went against Lysander¡¯s orders and rashly fired


    Thssa, it would raise his suspicions and he might think she disrespected his decision.


    Now her only option was to make Thssa quit voluntarily. Faye wracked her brain and made a call to


    security..


    After three hours of hard work, Thssa finally finished cleaning the top floor. She headed to the 10th


    floor, where the cleaning staff hung out, rest, and held meetings. The office on the 10th floor was


    deserted; everyone else was still busy. Only she had finished her tasks early and came to take a


    breather


    Thssa was sweaty and exhausted. Her clothes were wet and sticking to her body, her hair damp


    and clinging to her face, making her skin look even


    more delicate


    She grabbed a fan and started fanning herself while sitting down.


    ¡°Girl, you¡¯re so young. Why choose to be a cleaner?¡± a middle¨Caged man¡¯s voice rang out.


    Thssa turned around and saw a guy with a rough face, a beer belly, and a bald head, dressed in a


    security guard uniform. He had a wicked grin on his


    face and was strutting towards her on his stubby legs.


    Thssa stood up, her expression cool. What can I do for you?¡±


    1 saw you sitting here all alone, thought I¡¯d keep youpany¡± The guy, John, moved closer to her.


    He reached out his thick hand, almost touching Thssa¡¯s face


    His hand was chubby and shiny with sweat Just the sight of it swinging by her face made Thssa feel


    nauseous. Her stomach churned, and she felt


    Content ? N?velDrama.Org.


    like puking


    She immediately stepped back to avoid his touch. Her body was on high alert. Her bright eyes were


    fashing with danger ¡°What the hell are you doing? If you try anything like that again, I¡¯m gonna use


    you of sexual harassment!¡±


    ¡°Oh, seems like you¡¯re really freaked out. I was just messing with you, why so serious?¡± Johnughed


    nonchntly


    1 need someone to clean up the first floor Someone puked there and it¡¯s really nasty You¡¯re the only


    one who¡¯s not very busy in the cleaning department, so you do it¡± John continued to smile, his eyes still


    full of bad intentions when looking at Thssa.


    This woman was really beautiful. She had the charm of a real woman. The cleaning department hadn¡¯t


    seen such an attractive woman in a long time.


    The first floor isn¡¯t my responsibility! Go find the person in charge! Thssa refused!

 Chapter 12

    Chapter 12


    ¡°Did HR mention during your interview that the cleaning crew has to report to security?¡± John suddenly


    spoke in a tone that screamed security officer¡®. ¡°Or are you not interested in keeping this job


    anymore?¡±


    Indeed, during her interview, HR did mention that the security team would asionally call upon the


    cleaners for some work, and they would need to


    cooperate


    Thssa had just started working, and the pay was not bad. If she lost the job, she wouldn¡¯t be able to


    find a new one anytime soon With four kids at home and the cost of form still fluctuating she needed


    to earn money to buy winter coats.


    The money she had earned with difficulty the day before, was gambled away by her mother overnight!


    Now they were t broke. Without money, her kids would have to go hungry and shiver in the cold.


    Thinking of her four adorable children, her heart filled with warmth. She had to swallow her anger. She


    didn¡¯t have the luxury to act up. She had to stomach any grievances and focus on keeping her job.


    11 just get on with the job, no funny business!¡± Thssa impatiently told John, deliberately keeping her


    distance before leaving the office.


    In the first¨Cfloor restroom, someone had vomited. Just from looking at the vomit, you could tell what the


    person had eaten. The chewed food was mixed with stomach acid, releasing a nauseating smell.


    When Thssa saw the mess, her stomach churned and she almost threw up, but she held it in.


    Bearing the difort, she cleaned up the mess. In no time, the floor was spotless, the smell of soap


    masking the previous odors.


    Thssa put down her mop, and washed her hands meticulously until they were fragrant with soap.


    Being a cleaner was tough, and the high pay was hard¨Cearned


    With no education, she had to endure the hardships of life. She was determined to properly educate


    her four children, to make sure they got a good education, and at least a university degree. If not,


    they¡¯d end up struggling like her, earning barely enough to survive.


    Because she was aware of this, she started educating her children as soon as they started talking.


    Now at only four years old, they knew many words Compared to their peers, their knowledge was much


    wider.


    As Thssa was about to take the elevator up to the 10th floor, John blocked her way. ¡°Evelyn, if


    you¡¯re with me, I¡¯ll take care of you. I won¡¯t make you do such dirty, tiring work. I¡¯ll get others to do it.


    You can easily earn eighteen hundred a month. With such good treatment, I think, you wouldn¡¯t be


    ungrateful, would you?¡±


    Thssa used Evelyn on her ID card while working at the Sinir group.


    Looking at his disgusting face. Thssa could no longer hold back the anger that had been building


    up, she blurted out. ¡°Your face is more disgusting than the vomit! Have you looked at yourself in the


    mirror? Fat and greasy, I bet your penis is rotten and stink to high heaven! And you have the audacity


    to harass women here. Have some self¨Cawareness, will you?¡±


    After saying this, Thssa red at him, stepped into the elevator, and pressed the close door button.


    John stood outside the elevator, his face a mix of disbelief and humiliation. It took him a moment to


    realize he¡¯d been snubbed and verballyshed by this woman. He stormed off in a huff.


    At this moment, Lysander and his secretary Faye just walked in Lysander, who was tall and imposing


    with deep¨Cset eyes, had seen everything.


    Faye quickly said, ¡°Mr. Sinir, I¡¯ll contact HR right away to fire Evelyn. She¡¯s arrogant and speaks


    rudely¡±


    She was about to make a call when Lysander said coldly, ¡°No need, she¡¯s unimportant, don¡¯t bother


    with what she does.¡±


    After saying this, he walked into the elevator


    Faye was taken aback but quickly followed. She thought this was a good opportunity to fire Thssa,


    but it didn¡¯t happen.


    In the afternoon.


    Thssa was taking a nap in her chair when she received a call from the cleaning department.


    ¡°Evelyn, the CEO¡¯s meeting room needs cleaning.¡±


    ¡°Understood, on my way¡± Thssa wiped the drool from the corner of her mouth, got up, and quickly


    headed to the top floor.


    The top floor.


    The door to the meeting room was closed. She knocked on the door.


    ¡°Come in ¡°A voice from inside said.


    Thssa entered with her cleaning supplies. The meeting room was elegant with a group of executives


    in ck suits sitting around the conference table, each with a ceramic cup filled with aromatic coffee.


    They were holding stacks of documents.


    Lysander sat at the head of the long conference table, a position of supreme status. His ck suit was


    immacte, without a single wrinkle. His long legs were casually crossed, and his face was calm and


    sharp. He was clearly a social elite.


    Standing next to him was a man in a crisp suit. His face looked kind, with a professional smile; he was


    clearly Lysander¡¯s assistant.


    The entire meeting room was serious, oppressive, yet filled with an elegant schrly atmosphere. This


    atmosphere made Thssa subconsciously feel


    serious and noble


    Keeping her head down, trying to minimize her presence, she silently walked in and started picking up


    the crumpled wastepaper from the floor.


    See, only those who were sessful and educated could work in such ces. And her, without an


    education, had to do the most basic work.


    Her life and white¨Ccor work passed each other by, and she would never have the chance to be


    a white¨Ccor worker.


    Content ? N?velDrama.Org.


    She had gone to university until her third year, and while she could¡¯ve done some white¨Ccor jobs, not


    having a degree was a threshold she couldn¡¯t cross. She didn¡¯t even have the chance to get interviews.


    Without any connections, she could only find jobs that didn¡¯t require an education. But most of


    these jobs were hard work.


    Even so, she had no regrets. She might have lost her university degree, but she gained four adorable


    children. She was the happiest person in the world. No matter what job she did, she faced each day


    with optimism and cheerfulness.


    Thssa swept the floor carefully and meticulously


    One of the executives proposed a n Lysander was dissatisfied, so he tore the page of the n,


    crumpled it into a ball, threw it on the floor, and said in a low voice, ¡°Trash Redo it!¡±


    The crumpled paper hit Thssa¡¯s head and fell to the ground.


    Thssa could feel the heavy tension in the room, as well as the icy vibe radiating off Lysander She


    kept her head down, clearing up the crumpled papers before moving on to clean other areas


    Man, this Lysander guy was seriously all work and no y


    Every employee was walking on eggshells, too scared to even breathe. Thssa suddenly felt sorry for


    them. Working under Lysander was no walk in the park


    One by one, proposals were put forward. However, they were all shot down by Lysander. The pile of


    crumpled papers on the floor grewrger Thssa cleaned up, one by one


    After a while, the meeting finally ended. The employees packed up their stuff and beat it out of the


    meeting room like bats out of hell.


    Thssa came over to clean up the coffee cups, while Lysander sat there, his deep and piercing gaze


    fixed on her. His stare made her skin crawl, feeling her hairs were standing on end. All she could do


    was to try her best to keep her breathing low and focus on cleaning the cups. Once she was done, che


    could make a beeline out of the meeting room, and no longer be under this man¡¯s thumb.


    She finished collecting the cups and was about to scram. But in her haste, she dropped a cup on the


    floor, which smashed into pieces with a loud crash


    Thssa felt a wave of anxiety. She knew Lysander was not gonna let this slide.

 Chapter 13

    Chapter 13


    Chaos only lead to more mess¨Cups, and the more Thssa tried to avoid crossing Lysander, the more


    stuff seemed to hit the fan. Feeling a cold sweat down her back, she quickly bent down to pick up the


    shattered cup


    ¡°Ah¡­¡± The sharp porcin cut Thssa¡¯s hand, making her wince in pain. She was about to lick her


    finger when¡­..


    A chill swept over her, her wrist was grabbed by a big hand and yanked, pulling her upright


    Looking up. Thssa met the man¡¯s deep eyes. Her heart jumped. His aura was intense, even his


    gaze was deep and powerful. Just looking into his eyes, Thssa felt her whole body on high alert.


    Lysander looked at her finger, and a droplet of blood quickly swelled into a stream, snaking down her


    slender finger like a little red snake.


    Feeling a touch of sympathy, he grabbed a tissue from the conference table and expertly wrapped her


    wound.


    He reprimanded, ¡°How could you screw up like this? If you can¡¯t even do a cleaning job right, just quit!¡±


    Frightened, Thssa quickly withdrew her hand and apologized, ¡°I¡¯m so sorry. I¡¯ll be careful next time. I


    can do a good job cleaning.¡±


    She then squatted down to continue picking up the broken pieces on the floor.


    The stern image of Lysander from the meeting was deeply imprinted in her mind. The executives were


    all very careful, not daring to make a sound. Thssa was influenced by Lysander¡¯s authority and did


    not want to get fired..


    David rushed over, anxiously asking. ¡°Mr. Sinir, are you alright?¡±


    Everything happened so fast. Lysander swiftly walked over to the cleaner, and David didn¡¯t have time


    to react. He never expected the usually cold and indifferent Lysander to suddenly care about a female


    cleaner¡¯s hand injury.


    David¡¯s words revealed a hint of surprise that was hard to hide.


    I¡¯m fine Lysander¡¯s calm and authoritative voice fell, and he turned and left the meeting room.


    Lysander himself didn¡¯t understand why he went over to hold the woman back. She was about to lick


    her wound which could lead to infection, didn¡¯t she know that?


    Maybe it was because she reminded him of the woman who saved him that night five years ago. It was


    this familiar feeling that made him go and help


    her


    Back in his office, Lysander instructed David, ¡°Rece the coffee cups in the meeting room with stic


    ones.¡±


    David was stunned for a moment, then nodded. ¡°Alright, I got it. Mr. Sinir, the fall fashion show is


    next week, but ourpany hasn¡¯t finalized the n yet. I¡¯m worried we won¡¯t make it in time. Should


    we postpone the show?¡±


    During the meeting, Mr. Sinir had rejected so many proposals and was clearly unsatisfied.


    Lysander said, ¡°It¡¯s okay If there¡¯s no rush, will they really give their all?¡± With that, he waved his hand,


    indicating for David to leave.


    David bowed slightly and left the office.


    Thssa was just tidying up the meeting room and saw David. She smiled and nodded as a greeting


    and walked past him.


    David also slightly nodded and watched her leaving. Her figure was slim, bnced, delicate yet full of


    femininity. Her face was clear and pure, like a movie star. Did Mr. Sinir approach her because he


    was interested in her?


    David was curious but dared not guess his boss thoughts casually.


    After throwing away the trash, Thssa passed the ce she mistakenly thought was a storeroom


    yesterday and saw a sign for the men¡¯s restroom. The sign was not there yesterday. Was it put up


    because she identally walked in yesterday?


    Wow, she was having quite an impact


    They should have marked the door properly, otherwise, who would¡¯ve known what it was? What if


    someone else made the same mistake and offended the big boss?


    Seeing the sign put up because of her, Thssa felt great. It made her feel important in this world, like


    she was needed, and she had value.


    Work was over


    Humming a tune, she left the Sinir group. But she was stopped at the door by John. He was angry at


    Thssa¡¯s attitude towards him, looking gloomy and threatening. Evelyn, don¡¯t push it! My kindness is


    a blessing for you! Come with me!¡±


    He grabbed Thssa¡¯s wrist and forcefully pulled her.


    Thssa struggled, trying to pull her hand out, but couldn¡¯t break free. Her other hand grabbed the wall


    to stabilize herself, preventing him from dragging her away


    She cried out in fear, ¡°Is anyone there, help! The Sinir group¡¯s security guard is openly harassing a


    woman. If this gets out, the Sinir group¡¯s reputation will be ruined!¡±


    John quickly turned around, trying to cover her mouth to stop her from shouting.


    Just as his hand was about to reach Thssa¡¯s mouth, it was fiercely pulled away and thrown to the


    side.


    N?velDrama.Org ? content.


    Enraged, John was about to curse back, but when he saw who was standing next to Thssa, he


    immediately panicked and changed his attitude. ¡°David,


    she seduced me first I just wanted to teach her a lesson, make her feel ashamed, but she started


    screaming¡±


    David was Mr. Sinir¡¯s chief assistant. All employees of the Sinir group knew him


    Thssa was both angry and amused, he was actually ming her.


    You were the one harassing me, threatening me that if I didn¡¯t listen to you, I wouldn¡¯t be able to stay in


    the Sinir group!¡± Thssa angrily retorted.


    You¡¯re lying. Why would I be interested in someone like you?¡± John defended himself,s face turning


    red


    ¡°Do you need me to y the recording of you saying that to me?¡± Thssa took out her phone,


    pretending to y the recording


    John immediately panicked, rushing over to snatch her phone David didn¡¯t even get close before he


    kicked John to the ground ¡°Enough, John! This is the


    Sinir group, not your yground. You¡¯re from the security department, right? Don¡¯t bother showing


    up tomorrow!¡±


    John, having been kicked in the stomach, was kneeling on the ground His face was distorted in pain.


    Hearing David¡¯s words, he was even more heartbroken and on the verge of tears.


    Thssa felt satisfied. It seemed that the Sinir group was a reasonable ce that valued humanity.


    She said to David, ¡°David, thank you¡±


    ¡°Handling internal issues is just part of my job, no need for thanks,¡± David replied with a smile, then


    turned and walked away


    Thssa quickly followed him, unable to resist striking up more conversation. ¡°Don¡¯t you leave work


    with your boss?¡±


    ¡°Mr. Sinir is working overtime.¡± David replied.


    ¡°What? The boss voluntarily works overtime?¡± Thssa was surprised. What was even more


    unbelievable to her was that while the boss was working overtime, his assistant was off duty.


    Yeah Mr. Sinir has a lot to handle every day I¡¯m going to get lunch for him, David said, ncing back


    at her.


    This was the woman Mr. Sinir cared about. How could David not care about her? She seemed so


    concerned about Mr. Sinir. Was there something special going on between her and Mr. Sinir?

 Chapter 14

    Chapter 14


    ¡°Well, I see. You should get back to your things. I¡¯m off* Thssa waved to him and then walked to the


    other side of the road to wait for the bus.


    Man, she almost thought David was ck in work, talk about a facepalm moment.


    Thssa got home, pushed the door open and a cozy family scene greeted her.


    There was a young woman sitting on the sofa She was petite, with a round face and a pair of lively big


    eyes. Her dark hair was tied in a ponytail and she looked downright bubbly


    Thisdy was Thssa¡¯s good friend. Hertha. Four kids were huddled around Hertha, hanging on


    every word of her story. Their eyes were filled with curiosity, fixated on her, listening to her tell the tale


    of the little bunny and the big bad wolf in her yful voice.


    ¡°The bunny thought its mom was back and opened the door. But surprise, the person outside removed


    the mask to reveal the fierce fangs of the big bad wolf and, Grrrr, it lunged at the bunny.¡± Hertha¡¯s voice


    was sometimes high, sometimes low, and she spoke in an animated and interesting manner. She even


    opened her mouth wide, imitating the appearance of the big bad wolf


    ¡°Don¡¯t eat me. Don¡¯t eat me!¡± Elowen, who was closest to her, buried her head in her arms, her voice


    trembling with fear.


    Their oldest, Atticus, said aloofly. ¡°This is so childish and boring. That¡¯s not how a wolf howls¡±


    Their second son, Dorian, had teary eyes and clenched fists in front of his chest, looking helpless and


    pitiful. He pouted and said, ¡°Poor little bunny¡±


    Their little daughter, Sophia¡¯s eyes sparkled with determination as she waved her tiny fists, ¡°If the big


    bad wolfes, I¡¯ll beat it!¡±


    Hearing the innocent words of the four kids, Hertha wasughing her head off.


    Thssa walked in with a bright smile, ¡°Hertha, howe you have time to drop by today?¡±


    Upon seeing her mom, Elowen quickly covered her face with her hands. The big bad wolf is pretending


    to be mom. If I can¡¯t see her, she can¡¯t see me¡­¡±


    Her reaction sent Hertha into another fit ofughter. She removed Elowen¡¯s hands and pinched her


    cheeks, ¡°You¡¯re so cute, I could just eat you up. That¡¯s your mom, not the big bad wolf I was just telling


    a story¡±


    Elowen¡¯s eyes lit up and she immediately ran into Thssa¡¯s arms, ¡°Mom, I was so scared.¡±


    Thssa gently hugged her and patted her back, ¡°Don¡¯t be scared, mom and your brothers will protect


    you.¡±


    ¡°Okay¡± Elowen nodded


    The other kids also came over wanting a hug from Thssa. Her smile was warm as she hugged each


    of them, feeling their softness and baby smell. At that moment, she felt like the luckiest woman in the


    world.


    ¡°Thssa, I missed the kids. I had some free time today, so I thought I¡¯de by,¡± Hertha told


    Thssa.


    ¡°Let¡¯s have dinner together tonight. It¡¯s been a while since west had a meal together, Thssa said.


    ¡°Sure, I¡¯d love to. By the way. I heard from Evelyn that you¡¯re now working at the Sinir Group. That¡¯s


    the bestpany in our city. You must be pretty kick¨Cass to get in Hertha¡¯s eyes were sparkling with


    joy as she felt happy for her friend.


    Thssa smiled, ¡°Yes, I worked hard I don¡¯t want anyone looking down on me.¡±


    A confident woman was the most beautifull Thssa¡¯s pretty face seemed to glow.


    ¡°Yes, our Thssa is very strong. Raising four kids on her own, she¡¯s a very brave woman. How could


    she be anything less? The key point is that she¡¯s been supporting four kids single¨Chandedly, without


    everining about being tired. This great achievement is enough to surpass many people,¡± Hertha


    praised her from the bottom of her heart.


    She and Thssa were friends from college. They used to live and eat together. Their friendship was


    rock solid.


    ¡°Yes, her achievements are indeedmendable, but I¡¯m about to drop dead, Evelyn emerged from


    the kitchen and plopped the te heavily on the table, giving Thssa a slight frown, ¡°Please eat this


    popcorn chicken quickly. Your kids might not finish it.¡±


    With that, Evelyn went back to the kitchen to get busy.


    Thssa and Hertha exchanged nces, and she yfully stuck her tongue out, sitting down to eat


    the freshly made popcorn chicken.


    The smell was mouthwatepng, and the popcorn chicken was crunchy and delicious. Thssa had


    missed lunch, so she was feeling pretty hungry. This was perfect for filling her stomach


    ¡°Mom, I¡¯ll help you eat. Elowen, the foodie, climbed onto the chair to help her mom solve the


    ¡°problem¡°.


    With the joint effort of Thssa and Elowen, the te of popcorn chicken was quickly wiped clean.


    Elowen had oil stains at the corners of her mouth, and she looked up at Thssa with a smile, her


    eyes curved into crescents, ¡°Mom, I love you the most, can I get a kiss?¡±


    The little one had her mouth full of food, her cheeks puffed out and lips puckered, looking like a little


    goldfish.


    Thssa¡¯s heart was melting. ¡°Of course, my Elowen is the best.¡± She nted a kiss on the little girl¡¯s


    face.


    Elowen ran off satisfied to y


    Hertha was sitting across from her, her face held in her hands, watching her with envy.


    People thought that Thssa, raising four kids on her own, would be worn out and may look forty


    before she even turned thirty. But in reality, it was the exact opposite


    Thssa was 27 this year, but she looked young and beautiful, just like a girl who had just turned


    twenty. This was not only because she took care of herself, but also because she had a positive


    mindset, always optimistic and full of energy


    Also, she was living a happy life every day, which made her look particrly young. Her four kids were


    also very well¨Cbehaved, which made her feel very


    relieved. Having these four little treasures was like having the world¡¯s treasures.


    ¡°Why are you looking at me like that, do I have something on my face?¡± Thssa was curious about


    Hertha¡¯s gaze and touched her face.


    1 envy you, being loved by four adorable kids every day What a bliss, Hertha said, wishing for the


    same happiness


    Haha, you could pop out a bunch of kiddos after you get hitched too, Thssa chuckled, weing


    her admiration.


    ¡°Why do you have to get married before having children? I can be like you Wait until the kids are four or


    five years old and still not tell them who their dad Is, as long as they don¡¯t need their dad around


    Hertha said something shocking


    Thssa quickly mped her mouth shut, casting a wary nce towards the kitchen, worried that


    Evelyn might overhear. She lowered her voice. ¡°Shush it,dy It¡¯s not like I¡¯m purposely keeping it


    under wraps I genuinely have no clue who their dad is.¡±


    She had thought about tracking down the guy before, but how was she supposed to do that? There


    were so many people in the whole wide world, she can¡¯t possibly go around asking every single one,


    can she?


    N?velDrama.Org owns this text.


    ¡°Seriously, not a single clue?¡® Hertha leaned in closer, her eyes brimming with curiosity.


    The four kids are so cute, they don¡¯t particrly resemble Thssa, they must have gotten their good


    looks from their old man. Hertha was dying to see. just what kind of guy was the father of these little


    munchkins.


    As Hertha was grilling Thssa, the four little ones sneaked to the wall, poking their heads out,


    eavesdropping on their conversation.


    They too, wanted to know, who their daddy was.

 Chapter 15

    Chapter 15


    ¡°He once gave me an emerald pendant. I should be able to track him down through this pendant, but I


    lost it five years ago I have no clues, so how am! supposed to find him?¡± Thssa spilled her guts to


    Hertha Between them, there were no secrets.


    ¡°Do you remember what the pendant looked like?¡± Hertha asked


    1have a vague memory, but I carit recall the details. It had been so many years, and she was so upset


    and angry back then, she didn¡¯t pay much attention to the pendant. How could she remember it


    clearly?


    ¡°Why don¡¯t you try to draw the pendan? Let me see Hertha suggested. Being a jewelry designer, she


    might be able to help.


    Dipping her finger in water. Thssa drew the shape of the pendant on the table- it was shaped like a


    cloud.


    Hertha scratched her head and stumped ¡°Seems like I¡¯m out of my depth here, I have no idea where to


    find this pendant¡±


    At that moment, the four kids saw the pendant¡¯s shape on the table. They quickly retreated to their


    rooms.


    Atticus grabbed his tablet and started to operate it quickly, the screen filled with images of emerald


    pendants shaped like clouds.


    Sharp¨Ceyed Sophia pointed at one of them: This one was once a royal collection. The rest are modern


    knock¨Coffs.¡±


    Sophia had a knack for studying jewelry and antiques. She could tell real from fake just by looking at a


    picture. She was a whiz at this.


    Thssa made sure to educate her children well. In their free time, she often took them to the


    bookstore to read and learn. The kids would always find their favorite books to read. Thssa thought


    they were reading fairy tales, so she didn¡¯t interfere much. But in reality, the books they were reading


    had nothing to do with fairy tales.


    Hearing Sophia¡¯s remark, Atticus quickly did a search on the emerald pendant. Soon, he had all the


    details about the pendant¡¯s origin and history.


    The pendant was indeed part of the royal collection and then ended up with the Sinir family,


    bing their heirloom.


    The Sinir family!


    ¡°Lysander!¡± Atticus eximed, his young voice filled with surprise. That was the man their mother had


    offended.


    ¡°Is he our father?¡± Elowen asked softly.


    Sophia shook her head. ¡°Not sure, if the pendant we found isn¡¯t the one mom had, we may be barking


    up the wrong tree.¡±


    ¡°Right, if the pendant dad gave mom was just a regr emerald pendant with his name or special


    marking on it, we might be on the wrong track.¡± Dorian, usually a crybaby, was now stroking his chin


    thoughtfully, looking all serious.


    ¡°The only way is to find Lysander and ask him if he¡¯s our dad: Atticus was always the one toe up


    with solutions when they disagreed.


    ¡°Okay, good idea¡± Dorian agreed


    Just then, the door was pushed open and Thssa walked in. Atticus quickly closed the tablet and put


    it on the bed, feigning innocence. Thssa saw it andughed, ¡°Atticus, you¡¯re still young. You can¡¯t


    y electronic games with your siblings. It¡¯s bad for your eyes¡±


    ¡°Mom, I won¡¯t y anymore¡± Atticus replied obediently.


    Each time he used the tablet to research, Thssa thought he was ying games. He once exined


    that he was doing something important, but she justughed, saying what important things could a kid


    do with a tablet?


    He was worried telling her the truth about his tech savvy might scare her, so he kept it to himself. Now,


    they had decided to find their father, and if he spilled the beans, she would definitely stop them and be


    worried about their safety But they just really wanted to find their dad.


    ¡°Alright,e out and y with toys. It¡¯s almost dinner time.¡± Thssa¡¯s voice was gentle and warm.


    She never raised her voice at the kids, since they were very understanding


    The kids all came out and started to y with their toys. Thssa sat back at the table, continuing her


    chat with Hertha


    ¡°How was your first day at work?¡± Hertha asked with concern.


    ¡°It was okay, except for this one guy who¡¯s a real pain in the neck. He keeps harassing me and saying


    disgusting things. I was scared out of my wits.¡± Thssa said angrily as she mentioned a guy named


    John. She fanned herself, trying to calm down.


    ¡°Oh my, I thought the Sinr group had more ss than this.¡± Hertha was shocked.


    The Sinir group is a big corporation, and you¡¯d expect everyone there to be top¨Cnotch. Who knew


    they¡¯d have people like this?¡±


    ¡°No matter where you are, people are a mixed bag. Some people might seem nice on the outside, but


    who knows what they¡¯re hiding inside?¡± Thssa usually had a positive outlook, but she knew to stay


    alert. She¡¯d have to be extra careful at the office.


    ¡°Yes, keeping yourself safe means keeping your family safe. Be careful¡± Hertha agreed.


    The next morning was gloomy The sky was overcast, looking like it would rain any moment.


    Thssa didn¡¯t like this kind of weather, but she still had to go to work. She hailed a cab and headed to


    the office.


    She waste yesterday, so she didn¡¯t manage to clean the top floor before the president started his


    day. Today, she came in really early, and boy, she cleaned like a whirlwind. By 9 am, she was done


    with the top floor. She hit the elevator button, ready to head down to the 10th floor for a breather.


    Unbeknownst to her, Faye slithered out of the secretary¡¯s office, her eyes like storm clouds, glowering


    at her retreating figure.


    This Thssa, in just one day, had David wrapped around her little finger and even got John sacked.


    She really had underestimated her. This woman was slick. How else would she have Mr. Sinir hung


    up on her?


    Content ? N?velDrama.Org.


    Thssa had a bad feeling, and she turned around to face the source of her unease, only to find no


    one there Maybe it was just her imagination. Shaking her head, Thssa stepped into the elevator, the


    gloomy weather always made her feel all kinds of h


    As she settled into a chair on the 10th floor, a shrill voice pierced the silence of the break room Evelyn,


    you get your ass out here right now!


    Thssa shot up, a woman with a pinched face and skinny figure stormed in, fuming


    Feeling a little panicked. Thssa asked. ¡°Ma am, can I help you with something?¡±


    Evelyn that bitch Couldn¡¯t snag my husband John, so she had someone break his legs I wont rest until


    I give her a taste of her own medicina, the woman bellowed, her eyes popping out of her skull


    Thssa was dumbfounded When had she made a move on John? And when had she broken his


    legs?


    ¡°Evelyn, go tidy up the conference room The cleaning department head walked in and instructed her


    ¡°So you¡¯re Evelyn I¡¯m gonna whoop your ass ¡°The woman¡¯s face twisted with rage as she raised her


    hand and lunged at Thssa

 Chapter 16

    Chapter 16


    The middle¨Cageddy was making a scene, her face twisted in rage and her hair flying around due to


    her excessive agitation Her eyes were bulging out, her arm thin as a de, swinging towards


    Thssa¡¯s face.


    Thssa felt the icy chill of the wind hitting her face, the pain cutting like a knife. She held her breath,


    watching the woman¡¯s hand swing down rapidly. Al a distance of just a centimeter from her face, she


    managed to grab it urately


    ¡°You dare to resist. You lowly woman, you¡¯re asking for it¡± The woman was arrogant and violent, raising


    her other hand.


    Thssa kicked at her hand, pushing her away with force. The middle¨Cageddy was strong, so


    Thssa had to use all her strength just to counter her. After this series of movements, she was totally


    drained. Thedy took a step back, steadied herself and charged at Thssa more fiercely.


    Thssa¡¯s pupils dted, she had no strength left to fight How could this woman be so difficult,


    attacking without reason.


    Thssa took a few steps back, trying to create sorne distance, but the woman was determined to hit


    her, relentlessly pursuing. Just as Thssa was about to be cornered and be hit by the woman¡¯s fist,


    the supervisor from the cleaning department stepped in, stopping the woman¡¯s actions.


    Lady, this is the Sinir group, not a ce where you can cause a ruckus. Watch your behavior.¡± The


    supervisor spoke formally, representing the authority of the Sinir group.


    Thedy was taken aback by the supervisor¡¯s stern attitude. No matter how arrogant she was, she


    dared not challenge the authority of the Sinir group. She ranted, exaggerating the story to the


    supervisor of how Thssa had seduced her husband, and when rejected, had hired someone to beat


    him up


    Thssa couldn¡¯t stand it; this was clearly nder. She retorted breathlessly, ¡°Get your facts straight. It


    was your husband who harassed me. Despite being rejected numerous times, he still wouldn¡¯t leave


    me alone. The CEO¡¯s assistant saw it and fired him. Your husband¡¯s broken leg has nothing to do with


    me, and I had no idea what happened.¡±


    ¡°You dare to refute me. I¡¯m going to call the police on you Let¡¯s see if you can still deny it.¡± The middle¨C


    ageddy was sputtering, looking repulsive.


    Thssa stood her ground. ¡°Go ahead and call the police. I¡¯m going to sue your husband for


    harassment.¡±


    Thedy was furious, pulling out her phone and started dialing the police, cursing all the while.


    The supervisor didn¡¯t pay much attention to the matter. He said to Thssa in a leader¡¯s tone, ¡°You go


    clean the conference room first. I¡¯ll call you when the police arrive.¡±


    ¡°Alright.¡± Thssaplied and left.


    Thedy continued swearing, trying to stop her, but was blocked by the supervisor.


    Only her second day at work and she had already run into such annoying problems. Thssa felt


    frustrated. While cleaning the conference room, she was distracted, without any energy. She picked up


    the trash around Lysander¡¯s area, identally bumping into him.


    The employees in the conference room, seeing Thssa¡¯s body making contact with Lysander¡¯s neat


    suit, were all shocked. The already solemn atmosphere turned even more oppressive, silence ensued.


    Faye, standing in front of the projector, was disying the design materials of each employee. Seeing


    Thssa getting close to Lysander, her face darkened. The blue light of the projector shone on her


    face, and coupled with her gloomy expression, she looked cold and intimidating. Was this Thssa


    trying to catch Mr. Sinir¡¯s attention on purpose?


    Thssa, the person involved, was lost in her thoughts,pletely unaware of the severity of the


    situation. She swept the floor casually with a broom, sweeping over Lysander¡¯s shiny, spotless leather


    shoes. There was a collective gasp from the room, everyone feeling nervous for Thssa.


    Faye saw Thssa¡¯s actions and was so angry that she gripped the projector¡¯s remote control tightly.


    The design materials on the big screen started jumping around because she was pressing the buttons


    on the remote, but she didn¡¯t even notice.


    Lysander¡¯s deep gaze, full of pressure, was fixed on the woman in front of him. She was sweeping


    around his feet haphazardly, as if they had a grudge or something. Was she trying to catch his


    attention on purpose? Lysander sneered in his heart, filled with contempt.


    After Thssa finished sweeping up the crumpled paper, she picked up the broom and walked to the


    coffee table to pour some coffee. She was so distracted that she spilled the coffee over the edge of the


    cup, burning her hand. She winced, pping her hand, and knocked over an empty cup beside her.


    The cup bounced twice on the wooden floor, emitting a dull noise.


    The entire room fell silent. Thssa was startled and widened her eyes in shock. As the cup settled,


    she breathed a sigh of relief. Thankfully, the cup was still intact and hadn¡¯t broken.


    She thought, howe yesterday it was a porcin cup, and today it was stic? She quickly picked


    up the cup.


    At this time, on the conference table side, the meeting was proceeding normally, someone was


    presenting a n, and Faye had adjusted the projector to project the design images onto the big


    screen.


    Lysander, who should have been listening to the n, had his eyes locked on Thssa, observing her


    every move, his gaze deepening.


    The employee who had just finished presenting her n carefully sat down. It was as if she had spoken


    in vain. The CEO didn¡¯t seem to have heard a


    thing


    Where did this janitore from, and how did she manage to capture the attention of everyone in the


    meeting room? Even Mr. Sinir found his gaze drawn to her. This was the first time he hadn¡¯t


    immediately rejected a proposal due to distraction. Everyone seated around the conference table was


    on edge, their nerves taut, beads of sweat forming on their brows.


    Lysander stared at Thssa, seeing her pick up the cup and wipe her burned, reddened hand with a


    napkin. This scene seemed to touch a nerve. He hated people who were disorganized, who didn¡¯t even


    know how to treat their injuries. Was she an idiot?


    His brows knitted together, full of displeasure, his gaze returned to the conference table, and he said,


    ¡°The n just now is approved. Meeting- adjourned.¡±


    Everyone looked at each other, feeling both surprised and incredulous. The clothing design n that


    had been rejected by the CEO for almost half a month was suddenly approved


    N?velDrama.Org ? content.


    The employee who had just presented the n felt even more incredulous, both ted and nervous.


    She held her design n and excitedly left the conference room. The other employees left one after


    another.


    Thssa dried her hands, and in a daze, she realized the meeting had already concluded. She turned


    her head and saw Lysander¡¯s dark and indifferent gaze, which was as cold as ice


    Her heartbeat quickened. This man, with just one look, could strike fear into anyone. Surely, he must


    be displeased with the way she had been handling things.


    Thssa tensed her back and lowered her head, trying to make herself as inconspicuous as possible.


    She quickly tidied up her desk and poured the coffee she had just made back into the sink.


    After finishing her tasks, she turned to leave, passing by Lysander. She identally stumbled over his


    shoe, letting out a cry of surprise as her body leaned forward, as if about to make contact with the


    ground


    A strong hand suddenly wrapped around her waist and yanked her back upright. She found herself


    crashing into a broad and sturdy chest.


    Staring into Lysander¡¯s handsome face, her heart pounded with surprise. Hastily, she pushed him


    away, stood up, and blurted out in a state of panic and fear. You tripped me on purpose.¡±

 Chapter 17

    Chapter 17


    Thssa was already in a crappy mood, and now the CEO was going out of his way to make things


    worse for her.


    Faye, seeing Thssa acting all high and mighty, was about to give her a piece of her mind when a


    single nce from Lysander shut her up.


    ¡°Are you blind or something? Can¡¯t you see my foot here?¡± Lysander stood up and walked towards her,


    his tall figure casting a gigantic shadow over her, his icy aura following him.


    Wasn¡¯t she trying to get his attention? Rubbing against his suit, sweeping his shoes with her broom.


    Let¡¯s see what else she¡¯s got!


    Thssa took a step back under his intimidating presence and finally noticed the white dust on his


    shiny ck shoes. It wasn¡¯t a footprint, but a mark left by the broom His shoes were so shiny that the


    fine line of dust seemed ringly obvious.


    Thssa suddenly realized she might have identally swept his shoes. No wonder he used her of


    not using her eyes.


    This was him picking a fight. He was a big deal, not someone she could afford to piss off.


    She looked up at him, a nervous smile on her face. ¡°Yeah, Mr. Sinir, you¡¯re right, my bad. I¡¯ll clean it


    up for you, don¡¯t be mad.¡±


    She quickly took out a cloth from her waist and squatted down, giving his shoes a quick wipe.


    Just then, her phone rang. It was the head of the Cleaning Department. She hurriedly answered,


    ¡®Okay, I¡¯m on my way¡±


    She only managed to clean one shoe when she had to leave, still in her squatting position, looking up


    at his handsome face with its sharp features. From this angle, his face seemed to glow under the lights,


    making him look divine.


    Thssa was so taken aback, her heart beating fast. She quickly said, ¡°John needs me, I have to go,


    bye, Mr. Sinir Without waiting for his response, she threw the cloth down and ran out of the meeting


    room like a scared rabbit.


    Watching Thssa run off like a bunny, Lysander¡¯s face became icy, his mood sour. He couldn¡¯t


    believe a woman had the guts to leave him with only one shoe cleaned. She was bold!


    Lysander asked Faye coldly, ¡°Who¡¯s John?¡± The man made Thssa leave without even cleaning both


    his shoes. Was that man more important to her than him?!


    Used to being worshipped and prioritized, Lysander¡¯s mood worsened.


    Faye answered, ¡°He¡¯s the security guard who confessed to her at the elevator yesterday.¡±


    Faye was pissed at Thssa¡¯s constant attempts to attract Mr. Sinir¡¯s attention and allure him.


    Exaggerating, she said, ¡°I heard from the head of cleaning, she turned down John at first, but when he


    said he has two houses here in the city, she agreed to be with him. She¡¯s probably meeting him now.¡±


    Yesterday, Lysander saw Thssa being pursued at the elevator, but she firmly rejected the guy, so he


    didn¡¯t think much of it.


    How could a cleaner catch his attention? But hearing Faye¡¯s report now, a wave of anger surged in


    him, his face darkening further. She was nothing more than a pleasure¨Cseeking, cunning, and frivolous


    woman! She must have been trying to seduce him for money! Disgusted by such a mercenary woman,


    he said, ¡°The Sinir Group doesn¡¯t allow office romance! Fire both of them!¡±


    Faye was overjoyed and agreed, ¡°Yes, I¡¯ll do it right away¡±


    Just then, Lysander received a message from David, who had chosen a venue for a fashion show and


    wanted Lysander to take a look. So, Lysander left.


    for the venue.


    After leaving the meeting room, Thssa immediately took the elevator to the 10th floor. The head told


    her the police were here and she needed to handle it. It was about John and his wife.


    Thssa couldn¡¯t exin the situation to Lysander in a few words, and she didn¡¯t want him to know


    that she, a mere cleaner, brought the police to the Sinir Group. It would make him think she was a


    trouble, not a benefit, and he might fire her!


    So, she simply said John needed her. After all, she was dealing with John¨Crted matters, so it wasn¡¯t


    exactly a lie.


    When she arrived at the Cleaning Department on the 10th floor, she walked into the room to hear


    John¡¯s wife spewing venom at the cops, twisting the truth. Her mood instantly sank, and all the anger


    from the meeting room exploded. She approached the police with a polite smile, calmly saying, ¡°Sir,


    don¡¯t listen to her nonsense. She¡¯s framing me, and there¡¯s no evidence.¡±


    ¡°The fact that my Husband¡¯s leg is broken is the evidence! You shameless woman, still denying it!¡±


    John¡¯s wife cursed Thssa.


    Maintaining a fake smile, Thssa calmly responded, ¡°You only heard your husband¡¯s side of the story


    I have a recording here, want to listen?¡±


    Thssa had recorded what John said to her yesterday at lunch. She wasn¡¯t bluffing.


    Having worked in factories, delivered food, washed dishes, waited tables, and recently worked as a


    salesperson at a nightclub, she had seen all sorts of people. Life at the bottom was tough, and she


    learned to protect herself. The first time John harassed her, she thought to turn on her phone¡¯s


    recording function it was her proof for self¨Cdefense!


    John¡¯s nasty and arrogant threats came through the phone. He said that as long as Evelyn agreed to


    sleep with him, he would no longer make life difficult for her. She wouldn¡¯t have to do the dirty, tiring


    jobs anymore, just the easy stuff. But Evelyn shot back at this proposal with fury and sharpness.


    While working at the Sinir group. Thssa used Evelyn¡¯s name and ID card, and her sry was


    directly deposited into Evelyn¡¯s ount. Therefore, everyone in thepany called her Evelyn,


    including John


    When John¡¯s rough voice came through the phone, John¡¯s wife instantly turned pale. But she still


    insisted that it was Evelyn¡¯s fault, that she was the one who seduced John first


    Thssa snorted and said, ¡°The current situation isn¡¯t about you suing me, it¡¯s about me suing you,


    using John of harassment and your verbal abuse


    towards me. All of this has caused me great mental harm!


    Content ? N?velDrama.Org 2024.


    John¡¯s wife didn¡¯t expect Thssa, who seemed soft and easy to bully, to keep a clear mind at the


    critical moment and show a strong momentum. A hint of panic shed in her eyes, but it was quickly


    concealed. She pointed at Thssa and yelled. ¡°You lowlife, what tricks did you use to bewitch John


    into saying those things¡±


    Her expression was fierce, as if she was mocking Thssa, looking extremely ugly


    She wanted to prove that the recording in Thssa¡¯s hand was fake


    ¡°Sir, you see, she physically attacked me, another charge to add to her list Thssa held back her


    anger from the insults, using this woman of causing her harm

 Chapter 18

    Chapter 18


    The police gave John¡¯s wife a stern warning, reminding her to watch her manners.


    Thssa couldn¡¯t tolerate anyone bad mouthing her, especially with an irrational attitude, so she


    decided to seek justice.


    I¡¯ve got tangible proof and an eyewitness, Thssa said firmly, locking eyes with John¡¯s wife, then


    turned to the police, ¡°Just give me a second, I¡¯m going to bring a witness who can testify that John was


    harassing me


    The police nodded and Thssa went to find David, who was around when John was harassing her.


    He had helped her stand up for her rights before To Thssa, David was a fair assistant, so she


    decided to ask him to testify.


    The weather was cloudy, and the air was oppressive. It looked like a heavy rain was about to fall,


    matching Thssa¡¯s gloomy mood.


    Faye had just returned to the secretary¡¯s office and was about to call the head of Cleaning Department


    to fire Thssa.


    Just then, a call came in from the reception, saying that Mr. Sinir¡¯s nieces and nephews were


    looking for him and they were at the front desk.


    ¡°Mr. Sinir¡¯s nieces and nephews?¡± Faye asked in surprise.


    ¡°Yes, they¡¯re four adorable kids,¡± the receptionist replied.


    Faye, clueless about the situation, asked the receptionist to hold on while she called Mr. Sinir to


    confirm.


    ¡°They¡¯ve already stepped in the elevator and should be on the top floor soon,¡± the receptionist informed


    her.


    Normally, the reception wouldn¡¯t have let them go up, but one of the boys, Dorian, who looked like a


    pretty doll, was crying his heart out. He looked like a lost child searching for his parents


    Dorian sobbed, ¡°Our parents don¡¯t want us anymore. Mr. Sinir is our uncle. I want him to help us find


    our parents. Please, beautifuldy, let us in to meet our uncle.¡±


    Moved by Dorian¡¯s crying and their looks, and seeing that two of the boys bore some resemnce to


    Mr. Sinir, the receptionist believed them and let them go up


    Faye immediately hung up the phone and headed towards Mr. Sinir¡¯s office.


    At that moment in Mr. Sinir¡¯s office, the four kids were looking at each other. They were actually


    looking for Lysander, but he wasn¡¯t there. They had nned since yesterday toe looking for


    Lysander today, to ask him face¨Cto¨Cface if he was their father.


    Their grandmother¡¯s emerald pendant was a family heirloom of the Sinir family, and as Lysander


    was the head of the Sinir family, he could probably be their father.


    When Faye arrived and saw the four kids, she was taken aback and asked in surprise, ¡®Are you Mr.


    Sinir¡¯s nephews?


    Dorian nodded and said, ¡°Yes.¡±


    ¡°What are your parents¡® names?¡± Faye asked, puzzled, as she had never heard of Mr. Sinir having


    such young nephews. N?velDrama.Org ? content.


    ¡°My mom is Thssa,¡± Elowen quickly answered


    Dorian was also very active, ¡°We don¡¯t know who our father is, so we¡¯re here to ask if Lysander is our


    father.¡±


    The innocence and honesty of the children shocked Faye.


    Their mother is Thssa? They came here to find Lysander and ask if he¡¯s their father?


    Faye was so shocked that she swayed. Thssa had four children! And could these four children


    potentially be Lysander¡¯s?


    The answer came quickly as one of the boys looked strikingly simr to Lysander! Even if not all four


    children were Lysander¡¯s, at least one of them was! Thssa¡¯s children had found their way here! No,


    she couldn¡¯t let Lysander see them. She immediately put on a stern face and snapped, ¡°I don¡¯t know


    this name! Kids can¡¯t lie like this! Get outta here, stop causing trouble!¡±


    After saying that, she went to grab them to throw them out.


    ¡°Thatdy is so mean,¡± Elowen, her face flushed from fear, muttered before quickly running off.


    Faye went after the other kids. They scattered, not letting Faye catch them.


    Faye became even more desperate and drove them away, resulting in a mess. One kid hid under the


    table, another climbed onto the executive chair, knocking over the ink bottle on the table and spilling ink


    everywhere. Another climbed onto the pristine white down sofa, smearing dirt from his shoes all over it.


    Thest one opened the bookcase and hurriedly crawled inside, knocking down the trophies on top,


    which fell to the ground with a loud


    tter


    Faye gasped in shock, trembling all over. Good heavens, what had just happened!


    Outside Mr. Sinir¡¯s office, Thssa had reached the door. She didn¡¯t know where David¡¯s office was,


    so she had toe to Mr. Sinir¡¯s office to find him.


    She gently knocked on the door and found that it wasn¡¯t fully closed. She pushed it slightly open and


    peeked inside. Immediately, she saw a child lying on Mr. Sinir¡¯s desk Wasn¡¯t that her son Dorian?


    Inside the office, papers were scattered all over the marble floor, and ck ink was spilled


    everywhere!


    Thssa was so nervous she almost stopped breathing. Had the kid done all this? Oh no, if Mr.


    Sinir found out, they were done for!


    Just as she was about to go in and take Dorian away, she saw a tall figure approaching from afar.


    Oh no! Lysander was back!


    Thssa quickly closed the door and greeted Lysander with a smile, ¡°Mr. Sinir, let me shine your


    shoes. Let¡¯s go to the lounge¡±


    Disgusted, Lysander shook off her hand, ¡°Get off!¡±


    She had seduced others and now wanted to seduce him. What a disgusting woman.


    His eyes, cold and filled with disgust, red at Thssa before he strode towards his office


    He was almost at his office door Thssa, panic¨Cstricken, quickly ran to block his path, ¡°Mr.


    Sinir¡­¡±


    ¡°Boom!¡±


    Suddenly, a thunderp sounded from the sky, and lightning illuminated the whole room through the


    window.


    ¡°Ah!¡± Thssa was scared out of her wits, her heart racing. She instinctively jumped on Lysander,


    wrapping her arms tightly around his neck. Her head snuggled into the crook of his neck, her voice


    weak and trembling. The thunder¡¯s lightning I¡¯m scared.¡±


    Her delicate smooth skin against Lysander¡¯s neck was sweetly fragrant and soft. Even her breath was


    hurried, carrying the scent of magnolia


    This felt just like that woman from five years ago.


    The skin¨Cto¨Cskin contact was like the lightning outside, shing in Lysander¡¯s mind, sparking an


    intense thrill, ovepping with the scene in the dpidated house five years ago


    Anger, excitement, impatience, stimtion. In a blink, all these emotions came rushing in.


    Was she really that woman from five years ago?


    Lysander was both excited and annoyed. He reached out, gripping Thssa¡¯s chin tightly, forcing her


    to look at him. Her eyes were filled with tears, like the lightning outside, tearing open his internal


    impulses.


    His throat tightened, and without thought, he fiercely kissed her red lips.


    ¡°It¡¯s too scary!¡±


    At this moment, the door to the CEO¡¯s office suddenly opened, and a child ran out. Thssa¡¯s heart


    raced, oh no, which kid hade out? If Lysander saw, that would be trouble!


    Just as she was freaking out, Lysander¡¯s deep gaze shifted towards the child.


    Thssa¡¯s heart raced.

 Chapter 19

    Chapter 19


    Just at the nick of time, Thssa took the lead, cupping Lysander¡¯s face with both hands, squashing


    her cheek against his, and blocking his vision with the side of her hand.


    Then, the second, third, fourth kid all bolted out of the office!


    They hustled past Thssa and Lysander in the corridor. Lysander couldn¡¯t see anything because of


    their intense embrace and Thssa¡¯s deliberate blocking The kids had no clue their mom was right in


    front of them. They dashed into the elevator, mmed the door shut, and were gone.


    Faye came storming out. Seeing the smooching couple, she felt like she was hit by a bolt of lightning.


    Pain, shock, unbearable. The man kissing the woman was Lysander, the one she loved for ten years!


    She stood there, frozen, her eyes filled with anger and envy.


    Thssa was panicking, her heart was racing. His passionate and intense breath sprayed between her


    nostrils, full of possessiveness. His lips were hot, pulsating with her heartbeat.


    Thssa was so scared she forgot to react. A few secondster, her brain was kissed into a daze,


    feeling dizzy and weak. If it wasn¡¯t for his arm supporting her, she would have slid off him.


    In her daze, his other hand found its way into her clothes, stirring a current on her smooth back.


    Thssa snapped back to reality, realizing what they were doing. She pushed him away in a panic,


    stammering, ¡°Lysander, what the hell are you doing?¡±


    Her clear eyes were watery and her reddened lips were moistened with saliva, looking like a ripe rose


    waiting to be plucked.


    Lysander looked deep into her eyes, his voice hoarse, ¡°Isn¡¯t this what you want? Stop pretending. You


    were enjoying it, even held my face to deepen the


    kiss


    Thssa took a sharp breath, realizing herpse. She quickly jumped off him. She had jumped on him


    out of fright when she heard thunder, clinging to his neck. Ever since that stormy night five years ago,


    when a man took her virginity in an abandoned house, she had been terrified of thunderstorms. Any


    thunderp felt like it was echoing in her heart, making her scared and stiff, wanting to hide


    somewhere warm.


    She used to hide under her nkets at home. She tried to ovee this fear, but that didn¡¯t work.


    Today was an exception since she instinctively jumped


    on the man


    Feeling awkward and a little guilty, Thssa scratched her head, forcing a smile, ¡°Mr. Sinir, I¡¯m


    sorry. I¡¯m scared of thunder, and I didn¡¯t mean to offend


    you


    Thssa, petite and short, was standing before him. He looked down at her, her longshes trembling


    due to nerves, looking helpless and pitiful.


    Lysander wiped the corner of his mouth, his deep voice hiding his anger, asking, ¡°Where are you


    from?¡±


    The touch of her skin, the sweetness of her lips, all reminded him of a woman from five years ago. He


    couldn¡¯t help suspecting her identity. If she were that woman and was messing with John, he wouldn¡¯t


    let her off!


    He even kissed her just now.


    Although all evidence indicated that the woman at that night had died in that dpidated house, she felt


    too familiar to him.


    N?velDrama.Org ? content.


    7. 7.


    ¡°Mr. Sinir!¡± Faye hurriedly approached, her eyes full of disgust, she gave Thssa a warning


    nce.


    Then, as a subordinate, she reported to Lysander, ¡°I¡¯ve checked with HR. Evelyn is from Pinecrest,


    Rivertown, Eldoria.¡±

 Chapter 20

    Chapter 20


    Faye stepped in for Thssa to introduce her hometown.


    After finding out Thssa was working at the Sinir group under the name Evelyn, Faye dug up all


    her dirt, even memorizing her ID card info.


    She couldn¡¯t let Lysander find out Thssa was actually from Hollowbrook. Otherwise, all secrets


    would be blown wide open. If the lie was exposed. she¡¯d never get another chance to get close to


    Lysander.


    Thssa chuckled awkwardly, admitting, Faye¡¯s got it right.¡±


    Thssa¡¯s mom, Evelyn, was indeed from Eldoria, while Thssa lived in Hollowbrook because her


    aunt Astrid Pendleton married Ryan Everhart. As a kid, her mom brought her to live with Astrid. She¡¯d


    been daddy¨Cless since birth, and when she asked her mom about her father, her mom snapped,


    ¡°You¡¯re my kid, and you have no father!¡±


    Knowing that asking about her father would make her mom mad, Thssa stopped asking.


    And Isabe¡¯s dad? Turns out he was Ryan¡¯s brother.


    Lysander¡¯s gaze turned cold. From Eldoria? Not Hollowbrook. Seems like he got it wrong again.


    Disappointment welled up in Lysander, his anticipation fading. Looking at Thssa, his gaze hardened,


    his tone icy, ¡°What are you doing blocking my office door? Looking for trouble?¡±


    He¡¯d let himself be tempted by her, even kissed this sly fox woman. Lysander was filled with regret and


    anger at her actions.


    Suddenly. Thssa remembered her kid, Dorian, had earlier messed up his office. She went pale,


    nervously stuttering, ¡°I, I was looking for assistant David, I need something¡±


    Looking for David? Hearing this, Lysander got even angrier. She was not only trying to seduce him but


    also get close to his assistant David!


    Lysander scoffed, his eyes ring with anger. He shot Thssa a look before heading to his office.


    Thssa and Faye hurriedly followed, trying to stop Lysander, but he was faster and pushed open the


    office door.


    Thssa¡¯s heart pounded in fear of Dorian being discovered. Faye held her breath, worried that


    Lysander would blow a gasket when he saw the state of his office


    As the door opened, the chaotic state of the office revealed itself. Thssa quickly scanned the room,


    not seeing any sign of the kid. She then remembered hearing the sound of a child passing by when


    Lysander was kissing her. Dorian must have left then, and she hadn¡¯t noticed.


    The room was a total mess. Seeing Lysander¡¯s stern expression, Faye guiltily lowered her head.


    Lysander was a neat freak, the disorder in his office was a p in the face. His temples throbbed with


    anger, Walking in, his gaze fell on his beloved goose down sofa, now marked with kid¡¯s dirty shoe¨C


    prints. Dark mud on pristine white fabric, it was a sight to behold.


    N?velDrama.Org ? content.


    Lysander¡¯s face turned red, veins popping out on his forehead.


    Walking over to his desk, he found it covered in ink, white documents soaked ck, the words drowned


    out by the ink, rendering them unrecognizable.


    A trophy from his bookshelfy broken on the floor, shattered into two.


    His anger sparked, burning like a volcanic eruption. Lysander gritted his teeth, angrily demanding,


    ¡°Faye! Who did this?¡±

 Chapter 21

    Chapter 21


    Faye, a career woman, couldn¡¯t help but feel frightened and uneasy when Lysander lost his temper.


    She quiltily and cautiously replied, ¡°Mr. Sinir, four kids just barged into the office and made a huge


    mess¡±


    As she responded, she dared not meet Lysander¡¯s gaze, her heart pounding in fear that he would


    probe into the matter of the four children More than the office being messed up, what Faye feared most


    was Mr. Sinir finding out that the four kids came looking for him, asking if he was their father.


    Upon hearing Faye¡¯s words, Thssa next to her held her breath in shock. Not only did Doriane,


    Content ? N?velDrama.Org 2024.


    but the other three kids too? They were the ones who messed up Lysander¡¯s office? If Lysander caught


    them, would they be punished?


    Thssa bowed her head, trying to make herself unnoticeable, daring not to make a sound.


    Lysander rubbed his forehead, too angry for words. His stern face was even gloomier than the outside


    sky. ¡°I don¡¯t care how you do it. Find those pesky kids, notify their parents. These damages must be


    uncontrobly kissed her.


    The chaos in the office only added fuel to his anger, making him irritable.


    What? Those pesky kids? Hearing Lysander describe her adorable four children that way, Thssa,


    their mother, felt upset. Her four children were sensible and wouldn¡¯t mess up his office for no reason.


    There must have been something that scared them, causing them to run around and identally make


    a mess.


    Although she was ufortable, Thssa still kept her head down, not daring to utter a word.


    Lysander was angry and demandingpensation from the parents. As a parent, she felt distressed.


    She only hoped Lysander couldn¡¯t find the children and wouldn¡¯t make herpensate. She was


    already living hand to mouth, struggling to afford three meals a day, let alonepensation.


    Faye red at Thssa with anger and hostility. Just now, Lysander had ordered her to find those kids


    and notify their parents topensate. She was worried that Thssa would step forward and im to


    be the children¡¯s mother. If she brought the children to apologize to Lysander, then Lysander would


    know he was the children¡¯s father, and the truth would be out. Lysander would also know that Thssa


    was the woman he had been looking for and that she was not dead.


    However, Thssa didn¡¯t step forward but kept her head down pretending to be uninvolved. It seemed


    that Thssa didn¡¯t know that Mr. Sinir was the father of her children. Otherwise, she would have


    spoken the truth in front of Lysander long ago, instead of keeping her head down in such a timid


    manner.


    After quickly analyzing the situation, Faye, feeling guilty and uneasy, nodded and responded, ¡°Alright,


    Mr. Sinir, I¡¯ll find a way to locate those kids.¡± Lysander, who was a stickler for cleanliness, could not


    tolerate the mess in his office. He shot Thssa a cold nce and strode out of the room.


    Faye followed closely, and Thssa also prepared to follow.


    Faye stopped and stared at Thssa with a strict and disgusted gaze, ¡°Where do you think you¡¯re


    going? Clean up the office!¡±


    ¡°But I¡­¡± Thssa attempted to speak.

 Chapter 22

    Chapter 22


    She¡¯s got more stuff on her te, with the police waiting for her to bring in a witness.


    Plus, she needs to ring up Evelyn to check if her kids made it to the Sinir group, and if she¡¯s hanging


    around there. If not, she needs to go find the munchkins. Four kids, none of them older than five,


    wandering around is like ying with fire


    ¡°What¡¯s with the ¡®you? This is your responsibility! Trying to ck off?¡± Faye snapped, her words


    dripping with warning.


    Thssa rolled her eyes. ¡°Alright, alright¡±


    Then Faye chased after Lysander in a hurry. Outside the office corridors, Faye was following


    Lysander¡¯s steps. His aura was overwhelming, his male allure was off the charts, his regal demeanor,


    and his handsome face all had Faye hooked. Lysander was the man of her dreams.


    ¡°Faye, you seem preupiedtely? Even making such rookie mistakes? Lysander stopped in his


    tracks, his icy gaze fixed on her.


    He had warned her yesterday, to not let irrelevant people onto the executive floor. She had agreed


    verbally but today, she let four naughty kids into his office, making aplete mess out of it. Besides


    holding the kids responsible, he also needed to hold Faye ountable for her negligence.


    Faye quickly bowed her head in admission of her fault, ¡°I screwed up, please punish me, Mr. Sinir.


    ¡°Since you can¡¯t focus on your work then¡­¡± Lysander began.


    Before he could utter the word ¡®fired, Faye quickly looked up, anxiously blurting out, ¡°Mr. Sinir, I


    promise to improve, please don¡¯t fire me¡±


    She had been by Lysander¡¯s side for a decade, what would she do without him?


    Lysander scrutinized her coldly for a few seconds, she was as stubborn as ever, unwilling to leave her


    position as a secretary


    ¡°Take an extended leave. Don¡¯t bothering to thepany for the next three months.¡± Lysander


    dered, turning to leave.


    Faye hurried after him, trying to negotiate, ¡°Mr. Sinir, three months is too long, three days will do. I


    promise to work diligently and not neglect my duties. Whatever youmand, I¡¯ll do right away. I¡¯ll


    inform HR now to fire Evelyn.¡±


    Faye remembered that Mr. Sinir had instructed her to fire Thssa, but she almost forgot about it


    due to the kids¡® debacle. This Thssa needs to be fired, as long as she¡¯s in the Sinir group, Faye


    can¡¯t find peace. She was about to call HR.


    Lysander suddenly interjected, ¡°Don¡¯t bother, if we fire her, we¡¯ll have to hire another cleaner. It¡¯s the


    same either way, why go through the trouble.¡±


    What irked Lysander was that he felt the same emotions with the second woman as he did with a


    woman five years ago, and he even lost his control and


    kissed that woman!


    He was always able to keep hisposure, never losing control over someone. But this woman made


    him break his rule!


    He decided to keep her around, to test his self¨Ccontrol. He can¡¯t lose control anymore! This time was


    an exception, but he can¡¯t let it happen again!


    If he wanted to withstand the test, he had to let the woman who made him lose control once stay by his


    side.


    ¡°Also, during your leave, you can head to Hollowbrook to check if that woman is dead, or if she has any


    Content ? N?velDrama.Org 2024.


    sisters.¡± Lysander added.


    Faye stopped in her tracks, watching Lysander¡¯s retreating figure.

 Chapter 23

    Chapter 23


    Faye thought, ¡°Lysander wants Thssa to stick around? He also hopes she can dig up whether the


    woman from five years back is truly dead. Why? Because of that single kiss between them? This made


    Lysander wonder if Evelyn, the current janitor at the Sinir group, is Thssa?¡±


    Faye clenched her fists, her sense of crisis intensifying, bing increasingly intolerable.


    Lysander approached the private elevator reserved for the president. Two cops stepped out from the


    elevator that just arrived.


    Seeing Lysander, the two cops showed respect, ¡°Mr. Sinir, we¡¯re looking for Evelyn.¡±


    Lysander¡¯s deep eyes, cold as the winter sea, fix on them. Evelyn again. This woman not only annoyed


    John, tried to allure his assistant David, but even the cops are after her now?


    Seeing Lysander¡¯s grim face, the police thought they disturbed him, exining. ¡°There¡¯s a case that


    requires Evelyn¡¯s attention. She said she needs David as a witness, we are here to see how their


    discussion went.¡±


    ¡°What case?¡± Lysander¡¯s handsome face became colder.


    This woman only joined the Sinir group two days ago and already she had caused so much trouble


    that the cops had to show up personally. She sure had guts


    Remembering the uncontroble kiss he gave her, Lysander became more agitated. How could he lose


    control over a woman who always caused trouble?


    It was right to keep her in the Sinir group. He had to face her temptations calmly and collectedly, not


    impulsively and uncontrobly. Not until he developed immunity to her, truly felt disgusted, then she


    could leave the Sinir group.


    He had gone through all sorts of trials since he was young, handled each one well. He never lost


    control. This time wouldn¡¯t be an exception, he absolutely wouldn¡¯t allow any hidden dangers, it must


    bepletely resolved. His life couldn¡¯t have any blemishes.


    ¡°Here¡¯s the thing, regarding John¡¯s leg injury incident, John¡¯s wife is suing Evelyn for intervening in their


    marriage, ruining their family, and even using her of breaking John¡¯s leg out of spite when she failed


    Content ? N?velDrama.Org 2024.


    to seduce him.¡± The other cop slowly and politely exined to Lysander.


    Evelyn was Lysander¡¯s employee, so he should know about the case. Also it would facilitate their


    investigation.


    Faye, not far ahead, saw the two cops talking to Lysander and overheard their conversation, she was


    very nervous


    If Lysander knew she lied about Evelyn epting John¡¯s pursuit and bing his girlfriend, he would


    definitely be furious and would further investigate Evelyn¡¯s background. He already had suspicions


    about Evelyn.


    No, she couldn¡¯t let Lysander know the specifics of this case.


    Faye nervously walked forward, trying to take responsibility for the situation.


    Hearing the cop¡¯s exnation, Lysander¡¯s brow furrowed slightly. So that John guy had a wife! That


    woman, she even wrecked someone else¡¯s family. totally uneptable!


    ¡°You can take her straight to the police station for questioning, no need to be considerate.¡± Lysander


    said, then walked into the president¡¯s private elevator and closed the door behind him.


    Faye¡¯s nervousness finally eased.


    Mr. Sinir¡¯s attitude towards Evelyn was so indifferent, without any emotional trace, which indicated


    that he did not have any feelings for her.

 Chapter 24

    Chapter 24


    It became easy to handle now. Only, she felt a pang of regret for missing out on a golden chance to fire


    Thssa. She quicklyposed herself and politely said to the police, ¡°Sir, please follow me. Evelyn is


    right over here¡±


    In the office. Thssa was halfway through tidying up, deeply troubled about her four children. She


    called Evelyn, ¡°Mom, the kids showed up at my workce just now. Are you around?¡± Her biggest fear


    was the kids running lost.


    ¡°I found them! These little rascals came back to me on their own! I just brought them out for some fresh


    air and to broaden their horizons, but these little devils ran off and nearly scared me half to death! What


    did I do to deserve this kind of torture! Evelyn roared, her voice high pitched and filled with panic from


    crying


    Thssa held the phone a bit further from her ear, else she¡¯d be deafened by the yelling. Though


    Evelyn wasining, Thssa caught the main point -the kids were back with her. That was a


    relief.


    ¡°Mom, thanks, we all love you. Take good care of the little ones, I¡¯ll bring some treats home after work,


    Thssa said softly, trying to soothe Evelyn.


    At that moment, the office door was opened and several people walked in. Thssa spun around in


    rm and saw Faye and two police officers at the door. She hurriedly said into the phone, ¡°Mom, I¡¯ve


    got some stuff to deal with now, I¡¯ll talk to youter.¡± And with that, she hung up and quickly pocketed


    her phone.


    Seeing Thssa¡¯s reaction, Faye¡¯s anger and hostility grew. She had heard Thssa¡¯s phone call


    when she walked in. Those four children were definitely Thssa¡¯s! And one of them was Mr. Sinir¡¯s


    child!


    Faye felt like she was on the verge of a breakdown from jealousy, but she had to keep her calm and


    deal with the situation in a polite manner.


    ¡°Evelyn, you¡¯ve stirred up trouble. You¡¯ll have to sort it out at the police station, despite her best efforts


    to remainposed, Faye¡¯s tone was sharp and noticeably hostile when she spoke to Thssa.


    Thssa gave Faye a slight nod in acknowledgment. She walked up to the police officers and said,


    N?velDrama.Org ? content.


    ¡°Could you please wait a moment? I haven¡¯t found David yet. I¡¯ll get his contact info and give him a


    call.


    ¡°Sure.¡±


    Thssa was about to head out to the Human Resources Department to get David¡¯s contact info, but


    then she paused. Faye was Lysander¡¯s secretary so she should have David¡¯s number. Why go through


    all that trouble? She politely asked Faye, ¡°Faye, could you please give me David¡¯s number? I need to


    give


    him a call.¡±


    Faye was reluctant. She was wishing Thssa would end up in jail, why would she want to give her


    David¡¯s number to help prove her innocence? But with the police standing there, if she refused, it would


    be too obvious. A CEO¡¯s secretary not having the assistant¡¯s phone number would be totally


    uneptable.


    Suppressing her resentment, Faye gave Thssa the number.


    Thanks,¡± Thssa expressed her gratitude and dialed the number.


    After two rings, the call was picked up and a formal male voice came through, ¡°Hello, this is David.


    Who am I speaking to?¡±


    ¡°David, this is Evelyn. I need your help with something.¡± Thssa spoke with respect and courtesy.


    At that moment, David was with Lysander. The volume on his phone was loud enough for the


    conversation to be heard by those nearby.


    Lysander¡¯s eyes showed a flicker of thought before he turned to David.

 Chapter 25

    Chapter 25


    Mr. Sinir¡¯s gaze was intense, making David feel edgy. It seemed like this chick, Evelyn, had some


    kind of connection with Mr. Sinir. Otherwise, why would he be so bothered by a simple phone call?


    ¡°What¡¯s up, speak.¡± David said in a friendly tone.


    Thssa spelled the whole thing out for him


    David said in a rxed way. ¡°Tll fix this issue for you in a jiffy.¡±


    After hanging up, he saw Lysander with a face darker than storm clouds, his eyes sharp as a knife.


    David quickly exined, ¡°Mr. Sinir, I saw John harassing Evelyn in the lobby yesterday afternoon. It


    was seriously messing up thepany vibe, so I gave him a piece of my mind and fired him. But I


    have no clue how his leg got broken. Now his wife wants to sue Evelyn for breaking up their home and


    intentional harm. I was asked to testify as a witness.


    David gave Lysander a brief on the whole situation.


    Mr. Sinir¡¯s lovedy was about to be investigated, and David had to spill the beans to Mr. Sinir to


    avoid any misunderstanding that he and Evelyn were up to no good.


    As Lysander¡¯s right¨Chand man, David always kept his image squeaky clean, not wanting Mr. Sinir to


    get the wrong idea about him.


    He needed not only his skills but also a mouth that could clear up misunderstandings at any moment.


    If misconceptions weren¡¯t rified, they would only get deeper.


    Lysander realized why Evelyn had sought out David. He had been misunderstanding.


    This woman didn¡¯t have the guts to flirt with his assistant.


    ¡°Drive straight to the police station and let the cops handle everything.¡± Lysander leaned on his


    wheelchair, his tone rxed but firm.


    Such a petty issue causing such a stir in the Sinir group wasughable.


    ¡°Roger that.¡± David epted the order and started the car.


    At the police station, Lysander and David walked in together.


    Lysander saw a woman sitting to one side. She was downcast, her face full of despair. Her red lips


    slightly parted, her breath rising and falling rhythmically, her eyes filled with injustice.


    She seemed drained.


    Seeing her like this, Lysander¡¯s brow furrowed.


    Thssa had been arguing with John¡¯s wife the whole way and felt like she was about to blow a


    gasket.


    She¡¯d run into an unreasonable jerk. What a bad luck..


    She looked up and saw the formidable Lysander. He had such a strong presence that everything


    around him seemed to fade into insignificance. He was impossible to miss.


    Seeing Lysander¡¯s handsome, cold face, Thssa¡¯s heart sank, and she felt a pang of panic.


    Why was Mr. Sinir here?


    The next second, she saw David next to Lysander, immediately standing up and greeting him, ¡°David,


    you¡¯re here, thank goodness.¡±


    Her eyes lit up, and she stole a nce at Lysander.


    Every time she saw him, she would remember the unexpected kiss in the office corridor and that


    tingling sensation all over her body. This made her heartbeat irregr and she felt very nervous.


    Lysander¡¯s deep gaze also fell on her. For a moment, their eyes met..


    Thssa¡¯s heart skipped a beat, quickly shifting her gaze away, pretending she was just casually


    looking around and hadn¡¯t noticed him.


    ¡°Evelyn,e and register The police called.


    ¡°Okay¡± Thssa immediately walked to the registration desk, taking out Evelyn¡¯s ID card.


    Content ? N?velDrama.Org.


    Her heart was pounding with anxiety, fearful that her use of her mother¡¯s ID card would be discovered.


    The cop nced at the information on the ID card, then looked at her again, clearly skeptical, ¡°You look


    a lot younger than the age on this ID card.¡±


    Mr. Sinir¡¯s gaze was intense, making David feel edgy. It seemed like this chick, Evelyn, had some


    kind of connection with Mr. Sinir. Otherwise, why would he be so bothered by a simple phone call?


    ¡°What¡¯s up, speak.¡± David said in a friendly tone.


    Thssa spelled the whole thing out for him


    David said in a rxed way. ¡°Tll fix this issue for you in a jiffy.¡±


    After hanging up, he saw Lysander with a face darker than storm clouds, his eyes sharp as a knife.


    David quickly exined, ¡°Mr. Sinir, I saw John harassing Evelyn in the lobby yesterday afternoon. It


    was seriously messing up thepany vibe, so I gave him a piece of my mind and fired him. But I


    have no clue how his leg got broken. Now his wife wants to sue Evelyn for breaking up their home and


    intentional harm. I was asked to testify as a witness.


    David gave Lysander a brief on the whole situation.


    Mr. Sinir¡¯s lovedy was about to be investigated, and David had to spill the beans to Mr. Sinir to


    avoid any misunderstanding that he and Evelyn were up to no good.


    As Lysander¡¯s right¨Chand man, David always kept his image squeaky clean, not wanting Mr. Sinir to


    get the wrong idea about him.


    He needed not only his skills but also a mouth that could clear up misunderstandings at any moment.


    If misconceptions weren¡¯t rified, they would only get deeper.


    Lysander realized why Evelyn had sought out David. He had been misunderstanding.


    This woman didn¡¯t have the guts to flirt with his assistant.


    ¡°Drive straight to the police station and let the cops handle everything.¡± Lysander leaned on his


    wheelchair, his tone rxed but firm.


    Such a petty issue causing such a stir in the Sinir group wasughable.


    ¡°Roger that.¡± David epted the order and started the car.


    At the police station, Lysander and David walked in together.


    Lysander saw a woman sitting to one side. She was downcast, her face full of despair. Her red lips


    slightly parted, her breath rising and falling rhythmically, her eyes filled with injustice.


    She seemed drained.


    Seeing her like this, Lysander¡¯s brow furrowed.


    Thssa had been arguing with John¡¯s wife the whole way and felt like she was about to blow a


    gasket.


    She¡¯d run into an unreasonable jerk. What a bad luck..


    She looked up and saw the formidable Lysander. He had such a strong presence that everything


    around him seemed to fade into insignificance. He was impossible to miss.


    Seeing Lysander¡¯s handsome, cold face, Thssa¡¯s heart sank, and she felt a pang of panic.


    Why was Mr. Sinir here?


    The next second, she saw David next to Lysander, immediately standing up and greeting him, ¡°David,


    you¡¯re here, thank goodness.¡±


    Her eyes lit up, and she stole a nce at Lysander.


    Every time she saw him, she would remember the unexpected kiss in the office corridor and that


    tingling sensation all over her body. This made her heartbeat irregr and she felt very nervous.


    Lysander¡¯s deep gaze also fell on her. For a moment, their eyes met..


    Thssa¡¯s heart skipped a beat, quickly shifting her gaze away, pretending she was just casually


    looking around and hadn¡¯t noticed him.


    ¡°Evelyn,e and register The police called.


    ¡°Okay¡± Thssa immediately walked to the registration desk, taking out Evelyn¡¯s ID card.


    Her heart was pounding with anxiety, fearful that her use of her mother¡¯s ID card would be discovered.


    The cop nced at the information on the ID card, then looked at her again, clearly skeptical, ¡°You look


    a lot younger than the age on this ID card.¡±

 Chapter 26

    Chapter 26


    Her ID card showed she was 45, but the woman in front of the cop just couldn¡¯t match in appearance.


    Thssa¡¯s heart skipped a beat. Just as feared, the inevitable happened.


    Thankfully, the photo on the ID card was of her mom when she was young, and she and Evelyn looked


    strikingly alike.


    People always said she was the spitting image of a young Evelyn.


    Awkwardly, she chuckled and said. ¡°Well, I do a lot of cosmetic treatments, even had some facelift


    surgeries, so I might look a bit younger than my age.¡±


    The officer gave her another puzzled look, but didn¡¯t dwell on it and just proceeded with the


    registration.


    Facelift surgeries were prettymonce. It wasn¡¯t a big deal to see someone in their 40s looking


    like they were in their 20s.


    Content ? N?velDrama.Org.


    Thssa let out a sigh of relief. Thank god she wasn¡¯t busted, or she could kiss her job at the Sinir


    group goodbye.


    She had a big family to support. If she lost her job, they¡¯d have no money and would be in serious


    trouble.


    Just as her nerves started to rx, Thssa felt a cold gaze on her.


    She turned around and found Lysander¡¯s icy eyes staring at her.


    The intensity of his gaze sent shivers down her spine. Holy crap, it was terrifying What had she done


    wrong?


    A mocking smirk appeared on Lysander¡¯s face. He looked away in disdain,


    This woman¡­ no wonder she was so desperate, hooking up with random men. Because she was dirt


    poor yet obsessed with beauty treatments and addicted to facelift surgeries,


    Her face was full of chemical fillers.


    The thought of him touching her, even finding her skin soft and famuliar, sent chills down Lysander¡¯s


    spine.


    How could he be interested in a woman who¡¯s had facelift surgeries?


    The case was moving forward smoothly, supported by David¡¯s testimony and the recorded evidence.


    The usations from John¡¯s wife that Thssa seduced her husband were unfounded. Plus, there


    was no evidence tying the broken leg incident to Thssa


    So, the police let Thssa go.


    John¡¯s wife wouldn¡¯t let it go, but Thssa wasn¡¯t a pushover. She filed a counterim against John for


    harassment, and against his wife for nder. causing her emotional distress.


    -The police took the case and held John¡¯s wife for further investigation.


    Thssa was satisfied with the oue.


    Seeing Lysander and David walking out of the police station, she hurried to catch up, ¡°Mr. David.¡±


    David stopped and turned to her, ¡°What¡¯s up?


    ?


    Gratefully. Thssa said, Thank you. If it weren¡¯t for you, things wouldn¡¯t have gone so smoothly


    today.¡±


    David replied, ¡°No problem. You should be thanking Mr. Sinir.¡±


    After saying this, David hurried to catch up with Lysander.


    In fact, the smooth progress of the case was also due to the respect the police had for Lysander.


    Seeing Lysander and David together, they assumed he was on their side and weighed the evidence


    more heavily, which worked in Thssa¡¯s favor.


    Thank Lysander? Why should she thank him?


    Thssa blinked in confusion.


    But, as long as the matter was resolved, she was d.


    Thssa hailed a taxi from the roadside. She wanted to go home and check on her kids first.


    Lysander returned to the Sinir group


    Faye immediately approached him, reporting as they walked, ¡°Mr. Sinir, we¡¯ve found the families of


    the four children. I was just about to discusspensation issues with them¡±


    As Lysander strade towards his office, his voice was stern and resolute, ¡°Pass these documents to


    David. Let him handle it. You go to Hollowbrook and investigate that woman.¡±

 Chapter 27

    Chapter 27


    Lysander figured he needed to get the full scoop on that woman from five years ago and all her family


    members.


    Lately, he had been mistaking other chicks for the woman from his past.


    Maybe it was because time flown by, his memory of her had gotten a bit wobbly.


    Even someone who had nothing to do with her showed up, he thought they were simr.


    And this constant searching for familiarity is totally bankers


    He couldn¡¯t keep going like this.


    Content ? N?velDrama.Org 2024.


    Knowing the lowdown about this woman and her family will help him tell the difference between her kin


    and randomers.


    If he ran into her family, he would be all sunshine and rainbows. But for those who were unrted but


    still wanted get chummy, he would deal with ¡¯em sternly!


    Hearing Lysanders words, Faye held her tongue and followed him into his office, watching him settle


    into the big boss chair.


    She was jittery and flustered, but she tried to keep her cool, not wanting to give herself away.


    David strolled over, nced at the documents she was holding, and said, ¡°Faye, hand ¡¯em over to me.¡±


    Startled, Faye realized she was clutching the files about those four kids¡¯ families.


    She¡¯d held onto them so tightly out of nerves that the edges were all crumpled.


    If she could deal with them personally, maybe she could keep Lysander in the dark about who the kids


    parents were.


    But now that David was stepping in, she was freaking out¡­


    David plucked the files from her grasp, saying, ¡°Faye, you look beat. Didn¡¯t get enough shut-eye, did


    you?¡±


    He was genuinely caring because Faye looked bad.


    But Faye hastily replied, ¡°I¡¯m not tired at all, I don¡¯t need a break. Mr. Sinir, I¡¯ve gotta step out.


    With that, she spun around and left the office.


    She didn¡¯t want time off. Lysander had initially wanted her to take a three-month break, but she¡¯d only


    managed to cut down to three days, and she couldn¡¯t afford more.


    She couldn¡¯t imagine what might happen if Thssa was around Lysander every day while she was on


    leave.


    David watched Faye retreat, puzzled, and asked Mr. Sinir, ¡°What¡¯s up with Faye?¡±


    He¡¯d only shown a little concern, and she¡¯d overreacted.


    Lysander shot him a stern look and didn¡¯t respond


    He couldn¡¯t make heads or tails of what women were thinking


    With the brunt of Lysander¡¯s re, David didn¡¯t press further and got down to business with the files.


    Thssa came home, opened the door, and was greeted by four adorable munchkins munching on


    fries at the dinner table.


    Dorian was the first to spot her, his eyes lighting up as he cheered, ¡°Mommy, you¡¯re back!¡±


    ¡°Mommy!¡± the other three chimed in.


    Thssa felt her heart melt.


    All her exhaustion and troubles were forgotten; she was filled with love.


    ¡°Hey, my little darlings! Mommy¡¯s home.¡± Thssa¡¯s voice was full of tenderness and her face was all


    smiles.


    Dorian scrambled down from his chair, ran over to Thssa, and hugged her legs, ¡®Mommy, I want a


    hug¡±


    Thssa bent over, her face close to his, feeling the softness of his youthful features, her heart full of


    love and warmth, ¡°Come here, give me a kiss.¡±


    Elowen reached out her chubby little hand, pushed Dorian aside, and burrowed into Thssa¡¯s arms,


    her fluffy head nuzzling against her chest, ¡®Mommy. I want a kiss too. I¡¯m Mommy¡¯s little darling. I want


    a kiss too.¡±


    Thssa bent down and kissed Elowen¡¯s plump little face, it was soft and youthful and smelled of milk.


    Thssa couldn¡¯t resist kissing her chubby little face again, ¡®Oh yes, my Elowen darling, you¡¯re so soft


    and sweet.¡±


    ¡°Mommy, I want a kiss too Donan eagerly wed for affection.


    Thssa smiled and patted his head, giving him a kiss.

 Chapter 28

    Chapter 28


    The other two kids. Atticus and Sophia, saw Dorian and Elowen being all cute in their mom¡¯s arms, but


    they just kept munching on their fries, not bothering to join in.


    Out of the four adorable kids. Dorian and Elowen are the softies, always acting cute and cuddly.


    Atticus and Sophia are more of the cold and distant type, not really the clingy ones.


    Everyone¡¯s got their own personality, right?


    Evelyn came out of the kitchen holding a te of food, mmed it on the table, and said to Thssa


    with a straight face, ¡°Just now you¡¯reing back? Did you get sacked again? We¡¯re t broke. Can


    you work harder?¡±


    Looking after four kids every day was no joke. The minute she took her eyes off them, they were gone!


    It scared the life out of her. If she had enough dough, she could hire a nanny to help her out, and she


    wouldn¡¯t be this worn out.


    Sadly, her daughter hadn¡¯t really hit her stride yet and was still grinding at the bottom, barely making


    ends meet every month.


    Evelyn was tired


    Thssa, holding the hands of two kids, stood up and said to Evelyn, Moin, I wasn¡¯t sacked. I just


    came to check in.¡±


    Thssa¡¯s back.¡± The bathroom door opened and out came Hertha


    Thssa, with a smile, said. ¡°Hertha, you¡¯re here too¡±


    ¡°Yep, came to help your mom watch the kids,¡± Hertha said


    To which Evelyn grumbled, ¡°If it wasn¡¯t for Hertha, we¡¯d be starving today!¡±


    After that, she shot Thssa a disapproving look and headed back into the kitchen.


    Thssa scratched her head and kept silent.


    She thought, if it weren¡¯t for that wad of cash her mom blew they couldve made it till payday.


    ¡°Hertha, thank you.¡± Thssa expressed her gratitude


    Hertha waved it off and said, ¡°We go way back, you don¡¯t have to stand on ceremony with me. Plus, I¡¯m


    their godmother, so it¡¯s kind of my job too, right?¡±


    Hertha¡¯s words warmed Thssa¡¯s heart, and her eyes welled up.


    ¡°Once I start making money, the first thing I¡¯ll do is treating you to a p-up meal Thssa said, her


    fighting spirit ignited.


    ¡°Ha ha, can¡¯t wait for yourvish feast,¡± Herthaughed heartily


    -Just then, a phone on the table rang


    It was Herthas, and an unknown number was calling


    Hertha was about to answer it when a little hand reached out and picked up the phone.


    Hertha nced over and saw that Dorian had taken the phone and answered it expertly. ¡°Hello, who is


    this?¡± N?velDrama.Org ? content.


    Dorian loved answering calls. It was his chance to show off his acting chops.


    Hertha knew Dorian¡¯s style, and figured from the unknown number it was probably a scammer.


    So she let Dorian have his fun with the person on the other end


    ¡°Hello little one, can you put your mommy on the phone?¡± a man¡¯s voice came from the other end.


    ¡°Before I let my mom talk to you, can you tell me who you are?¡± Dorian asked as he turned on the


    speakerphone, trying to fish for information about this


    stranger.


    Thinking you can fool his mom or Hertha? Not on his watch. He snickered.


    Thssa and Hertha shared a smile and a head shake at his smooth talk


    This stranger must be a scammer


    ¡°1 am David, the personal assistant to the CEO of the Sinir group, the man introduced himself.


    Hearing this, Thssa¡¯s smile froze.


    Just as she was about to take the phone, Dorian said, ¡°Sir, I happen to be the son of the CEO of the


    Sinir group. Are you aware you¡¯re pretending to be my dad¡¯s certant?¡±


    Dorian was clearly using his anti-scammer tone of voice.


    Thssa sucked in a breath and quickly reached for the phone.

 Chapter 29

    Chapter 29


    Thssa was about to grab the phone when David¡¯s familiar voice rang out from the other end


    ¡°Kid, I¡¯m not joking around, tell your mom that you guys showed up at the Sinir group CEO¡¯s office


    and caused some damage, totaling $23,000. She better get ready to pay up¡±


    This stopped Thssa in her tracks, her hand hovering over the phone. Her eyes were wide open and


    her heart was racing.


    She had heard Lysander mentionpensation from the parents, but she didn¡¯t think he was serious!


    And such a hefty sum!


    As Thssa panicked, Dorian, dead serious, said into the phone, ¡°You re a fraud! I¡¯m going to tell my


    dad that you¡¯re impersonating him and scared me. My delicate little heart is damaged. You owe me


    $23,000 for emotional distress.


    Dorian was a natural performer from a young age. His acting was so good that it was hard to tell if he


    was lying.


    David began to doubt when he heard the child¡¯s words. Could it be that Mr. Sinir had a secret child


    that he didn¡¯t know about?


    He couldn¡¯t help but worry. He gripped the phone tighter, turning to Lysander, ¡°Mr. Sinir, a child


    picked up the phone. He said you¡¯re his dad, Are you..¡±


    He didn¡¯t get to finish his question. Lysander¡¯s icy cold re shut him up instantly.


    It stroke him that he had actually believed the words of a child and doubted Mr. Sinir.


    This was a blemish on his sharp and savvy career.


    He¡¯d been around the block, seen it all, and was almost duped by a child.


    David immediately became serious, ¡°Kid, I don¡¯t have time for games. I¡¯m not a fraud. Get your mom on


    the phone.¡±


    Dorian was ready to continue his act when Thssa, her heart in her throat, snatched the phone from


    him. But then it hit her. She worked at the Sinir group and had spoken to David¡¯s assistant before.


    He would recognize her voice.


    And since David was about to talk to the kids guardian, that meant he should talk to Hertha


    Due to certain circumstances, Thssa couldn¡¯t be the children¡¯s legal guardian on their birth


    certificates, so her friend Hertha was listed as the guardian


    Back in the day, her mother didn¡¯t have the necessary documents to register her birth, so it was already


    a struggle.


    Her grandparents passed away early and her mother was unmarried when she had her. Her mother


    couldn¡¯t prepare all the necessary documents to register her birth


    So, her mother took her all the way to Hollowbrook where her aunt¡¯s family was listed as her legal


    guardians on her birth certificate.


    Simrly, Thssa was unmarried and had four kids. She couldn¡¯t get the documents needed to


    register their births in Hollowbrook


    She had to ask Hertha for help. Luckily, Hertha¡¯s parents pulled some strings and Hertha became the


    kids¡¯ legal guardian.


    N?velDrama.Org owns this text.


    From then on, Hertha was their legal guardian.


    If her identity as the kids mother was exposed, she would surely get fired, lose her sry, and possibly


    have to pay a huge sum


    Money was already tight at home, where would she find the extra cash?


    With that in mind, Thssa quickly passed the phone to Hertha, gesturing for her to answer


    Hertha was clueless but she could tell from Thssa¡¯s anxious expression that this was serious


    The gravity of the situation made her nervous too. She brought the phone up to her ear, her voice


    shaky. ¡°Hello, hello.

 Chapter 30

    Chapter 30


    When Thssa saw Hertha answering the phone, her stomach was in knots.


    ¡°You¡¯re the mother of those four kids, right?¡± David¡¯s voice echoed through the phone again.


    Hertha shot Thssa a pleading look


    Thssa nodded like a madwoman.


    Hertha got the hint, so she nodded back, only to realize that the other party couldn¡¯t see her. So she


    said, ¡°Yes, I am¡±


    This time, David¡¯s tone was totally formal, void of any emotion. Your kids made a mess in the Sinir


    group CEO¡¯s office this morning. They broke the CEO¡¯s trophy, dirtied the sofa, and scratched the


    table. We want charge you for cleaning, but you need topensate for the damages¡±


    At the mention of no cleaning charges, Thssa was both anxious and pissed.


    ¨C


    She was the one who cleaned the CEO¡¯s office how could she do it for free?


    As the call was on speaker, the four kids also heard David¡¯s words. They exchanged uneasy nces.


    They realized that the other party wasnt a fraud, but Lysander¡¯s real assistant


    They did visit the Sinir group this morning and even ended up in the CEO¡¯s office.


    Dorian looked particrly baffled and apprehensive, fearing he had done something wrong. He had


    mistaken the real assistant for a fraud and even blurted out that the Sinir group¡¯s CEO was his dad.


    He was getting panicky, rubbing his little head, his eyes filled with unease


    Before Hertha could say anything, David started to o calcte thepensation, ¡°We won¡¯t charge


    you for Mr Sinir¡¯s trophy. The costs are for the damages to the desk and sofa. Mr. Sinir¡¯s sofa


    originally cost $100,000, but due to use, we¡¯ll give you a discount. You¡¯ll need to pay $20,000. Also, Mr.


    Sinir¡¯s desk originally cost $200,000. Considering its age and the two scratches, you only need to


    pay $3,000. So, the total is $23,000. Would you prefer to pay by card or cash?¡±


    Each fee was clearly justified.


    Hertha was shocked on hearing this. She didnt know what to do and looked to Thssa for help.


    Thssa was equally frantic, urgently making a crying gesture to Hertha.


    Hertha immediately got the gist. She needed to put on a pitiful act. So she forced out a couple of tears


    and said in a miserable tone, I¡¯m sorry, I didn¡¯t discipline the kids properly. I know I messed up. But this


    amount of money. I¡¯m a single mother, how can I afford it? We can barely put food on the table I¡¯m


    already exhausted trying to make ends meet, the kids are starving. I don¡¯t have this kind of money.


    Why don¡¯t I just give you my life instead?¡±


    When Hertha got to the end, she was crying and sniffling. She looked truly desperate.


    Thssa joined in the crying, truly feeling sorry for herself.


    Property of N?)(velDr(a)ma.Org.


    Evelyn, who was in the kitchen, got the gist of the situation. She was quick-tempered, so she plopped


    down onto the floor and started wailing. ¡°Good grief, I we had such a hard life! I¡¯m starving every day,


    and that¡¯s not enough, these kids keep getting into trouble. I¡¯m so old, instead of enjoying a peaceful


    life, I¡¯m suffering because of my daughter¡¯s issues. My daughter is about to give up her life for others,


    what am I supposed to do after that¡­


    Evelyn was sobbing and pounding her chest


    The four kids also realized their mistake. Elowen was scared. Her bright, big eyes were immediately


    filled with tears. Her childlike voice was helpless and fragile.


    ¡°Oh, grandma, I¡¯m so sorry. I know I messed up. I promise I¡¯ll never do it again, waa¡­¡±


    Lysander and David were both speechless.

 Chapter 31

    Chapter 31


    Elowen started to sob, and Dorian couldn¡¯t hold back anymore. He knew he¡¯d messed up. With a


    downturned mouth and tears swirling in his eyes, he couldn¡¯t hold it back anymore and burst into tears,


    ¡°Mom, grandma, I won¡¯t do it again, I know I was wrong. Mom, you can¡¯t leave me. I can¡¯t be without


    you¡­


    Even the usually stone-cold Atticus and Sophia felt scared, they shared a nce with each other, their


    little faces turning red with worry, their eyes also starting to redden.


    They knew they¡¯d messed up.


    Hertha also broke down crying, ¡°Oh, what are we gonna do¡­¡±


    Thssa quietly wiped her tears at the side, not just because she was moved by their emotions, but


    also because her heart ached. Over the years, her mother, Evelyn, had been helping her take care of


    the children, and though sheined often, part of it was genuine.


    Thssa had been busy outside for these years, she also suffered a lot during her work, to say she


    wasnt tired or stressed was a lie.


    Seeing the kids and Evelyn crying their hearts out, everyone in the room seemed to fall apart, even her


    usually strong nerves couldn¡¯t hold up and she started to cry


    David¡¯s phone was loud, even without the speaker on, the voices from the other end could be heard by


    others.


    Especially when the family¡¯s voices were heart-wrenching, it was hard not to let Lysander hear.


    David could tell that the family was pitiful, his heart softened a bit and he looked at Lysander


    questioningly.


    But Lysander¡¯s face was gloomy, his eyes cold as ice.


    Even so, David held the receiver and tentatively asked, ¡°Mr. Sinir, do you think we can cut them


    some ck?¡±


    Lysanders voice was cold, ¡°If they knew the consequences, they shouldn¡¯t have acted rashly. Everyone


    has to pay for their mistakes.¡±


    Just because they were pitiful, they could get away with their actions?


    If they had behaved properly, how could they have let four children barge into someone else¡¯s office


    and damage private property?


    Lysander was never a phnthropist, and he had no obligation to sympathize with the pitiful.


    Besides, there¡¯s always something hateful about people who are pitiful.


    He was not short of money, but he wanted to teach this family a lesson, otherwise they would never


    learn.


    Getting Mr. Sinir¡¯s attitude, David said into the phone, ¡°Alright, crying isn¡¯t going to help. Your kids


    just said their dad is Mr. Sinir from the Sinir Group, how could you possibly be a single parent?¡±


    -David Intentionally used this to refute them.


    Hearing this, Lysander¡¯s eyes got colder, his face darker.


    This kid was trying to pass off as his son, what a joke!


    This was unforgivable.


    Hertha was still crying uncontrobly, she kept apologizing. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, the kid thought it was a scam,


    that¡¯s why he said that. He was just worried about being cheated, scammers are very brazen nowadays


    and they dare to say anything. The kid helped me block many scam calls, what he said was not true.


    N?velDrama.Org holds this content.


    They really don¡¯t have a dad¡­¡±


    David paused for a moment, then asked, ¡°So, where¡¯s their dad?¡±


    On the other end of the phone, Hertha was choked up, she didn¡¯t know how to answer, her vision


    blurred by tears. She looked to Thssa, hoping to hear her exnation,


    Thssa looked very anxious and made a jumping gesture.


    Hertha caught on to her meaning, she sobbed, filled with sorrow, and said, ¡°The kids are quadruplets,


    their father couldn¡¯t handle the pressure of raising four children, so he chose to jump off a cliff. He¡¯s


    already dead.


    ¡°Dead?¡± David was somewhat surprised.


    Hertha cried and confirmed, ¡°Yes, he¡¯s dead.¡±


    On this end, David with the phone in hand turned to Lysander again, Lysander¡¯s brow furrowed slightly


    On the other hand, Thssa rolled up her sleeve, revealing a section of her arm, and made an


    injection gesture on her arm with her other hand. -Hertha bit her lip and said weakly, ¡°I don¡¯t have


    money, but I have blood, can I sell my blood to pay off the debt?¡±


    Lysander was silent.

 Chapter 32

    Chapter 32


    He held his forehead with his hand, feeling a bit of a headache.


    Why did he need blood? Was he running low?


    Even David was surprised that this woman was willing to risk her own life to pay her debts


    Now, he had no idea what to do, his only choice was to wait for lysander to make the decision.


    Lysander remained silent, speaking in a cold voice, Justpensate some loose change.¡±


    For that family, this ¡°loose change¡± was enough to make them anxious, a wake-up call to remember the


    lesson.


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    Hearing this, David immediately said to his phone, ¡°Alright, stop the waterworks, our boss is a good


    guy, considering the kids don¡¯t know any better and have lost their father, you guys can pay $3000, and


    we¡¯ll call it even¡±


    Hearing that Mr. Sinir wasn¡¯t demanding a hugepensation anymore, David was actually happy


    for that family.


    A woman raising four kids, it really aint easy.


    ¡°$3000.¡± Hertha repeated, then she nced at Thssa.


    Thssa was nodding like crazy


    Hertha said, ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll go borrow the money from someone, andter this afternoon Ill go to your


    ¡°Mm.¡± Once they agreed, David hung up.


    Here, after hearing the phone being hung up, Hertha quickly wiped away


    ay her tears, excitedly saying to Thssa, ¡°We don¡¯t have to pay $23,000 anymore, only $3,000 is


    needed.¡±


    Twenty grand, that would really have put Thssa in a tight spot.


    Hertha didn¡¯t have that much money at the moment either.


    But $3,000, they could handle that.


    Thssa also breathed a sigh of relief, wiping away the tears on her face, it really wasn¡¯t easy¡±


    Seeing Thssa¡¯s heartache and difficulty, Hertha walked over, hugging Thssa,forting her with


    a silent hug.


    Thssa smiled, ¡°It¡¯s alright, isn¡¯t it all solved now?¡±


    Just as she finished speaking, she felt her leg tighten, being hugged by the kids


    She looked down, seeing the four kids, one after another, hugging her legs.


    Hertha also saw the kids hugging Thssa, so she let go of Thssa and stepped aside.


    Elowen was still sobbing, her young face red from crying, all tears, her snot almost running into her


    mouth, her eyes filled with fear and tension, ¡°Mom, we werent naughty. Ady kept chasing us and she


    was really mean. I was scared so I ran and identally dropped something¡­¡±


    Elowen choked up. exining to Thssa, she was afraid her mom would say she was not good and


    didn¡¯t want her.


    She didnt want to leave her mom.


    The little girl was weak and helpless, full of unease.


    Dorian also cried, ¡°Yes, thatdy was so scary, she was so mean. We just went to find Lysander, to ask


    if he¡¯s our dad.¡±


    Hearing this, Thssa was shocked and heartbroken.


    She crouched down, holding the little ones in her arms, wiping away the tears on Elowen¡¯s face with


    her hand, her soft voice soothing her, ¡°wen, don¡¯t cry, I¡¯m not mad at you, and I won¡¯t abandon you,


    don¡¯t worry.¡±


    As she spoke, she lovingly kissed her little face, ¡°I love you guys very much. How could I ever abandon


    you?¡±


    After gently saying this, she looked at Dorian and said softly. ¡°Dorian, stop crying, as the brother, you


    need to set a good example for your


    She lightly stroked his head.


    Dorian stopped crying, his eyes filled with tears as he asked Thssa, ¡°Mom, is Lysander our dad?*


    sister.¡±

 Chapter 33

    Chapter 33


    Thssa felt heaviness in her chest, like a wad of cotton was stuck in her throat, it was suffocating,


    even making it difficult to breathe.


    In regards to their father, she had exined to the children that they didn¡¯t have one


    She alone had carried them all.


    She had always thought that they were too young to understand, they would believe her words.


    But it never urred to her that the children actually missed their father in secret, even teamed up to


    find him.


    That was why they went to the Sinir group


    Thssa couldn¡¯t me them, and couldn¡¯t bear to either


    This was her problem She deprived her four children of a father¡¯s love at a young age.


    But every time she thought of the man who forced his way into her life five years ago, Thssa was


    filled with anger and hatred.


    She wanted to find that man and settle the score but where could she find him?


    When she saw Lysander, she noticed he had some simrities with Atticus and Dorian. Atticus¡¯ eyes


    and temperament were simr to Lysanders, and Doman¡¯s lips and nose also looked like him.


    But their father couldnt possibly be him.


    He is the CEO of the Sinir group. His whereabouts would either be in business ces or high end


    venues.


    How could he possibly go to a remote and poor ce like Hollowbrook?


    That man had fallen from a helicopter with his body covered in wounds.


    be a criminal or a soldier


    Property of N?)(velDr(a)ma.Org.


    Thssa spected that


    And Lysander was just a bus


    wouldn¡¯t be fighting in the air, get injured and then fall from the sky right next to her


    The resemnce between Atticus and Donan and him could just be a coincidence


    Thssa gently smiled. troking Donans head, under his hopeful gaze, she said to him, Dorian


    Lysander is not your father I don¡¯t know who your father is now, but once I do 111 tell


    fight an


    Dorian choked up his head lowered, tears slid from his innocent eyes, his face filled with


    disappointment.


    So, Lysander really wasn¡¯t their father


    He was heartbroken


    Atticus had held back his tears until now, but hearing Thssa say Lysander wasn¡¯t their father, his


    eyes instantly became red, tears swirling, he bit his lip, it quivered a little


    He tried to hold back the tears, but they fell anyway.


    Atticus was the oldest, who was usually the most sensible, and rarely cried, but now he couldn¡¯t help it


    The action to find their father was organized by him, taking his siblings together. He had even searched


    a lot about Lysander online, always thought that


    he was their father


    However, hearing Thssa deny it, Atticus¡¯s belief copsed in an instant.


    Thssa turned her head, seeing Atticus crying surprised her, she cautiously asked him, ¡°Atticus,


    what¡¯s wrong?¡±


    ¡°Nothing¡± Atticus said, leaving his mother¡¯s embrace, walked into his room, and closed the door


    The moment the door closed, his tears instantly burst out, he even started to sob, but he tried hard not


    to make a crying noise


    Atticus was acting out of character, Thssa was worried, Hertha also noticed Atticus¡¯s abnormality


    exchanged a nce with Thssa, seeing the worry in her eyes.


    She gestured towards the door, indicating whether she needed to check on him


    Thssa shook her head, indicating that it wasn¡¯t needed, Atticus had always been a sensible child,


    more mature than children his age, him quickly entering his room surely didn¡¯t want anyone to see him


    cry

 Chapter 34

    Chapter 34


    He¡¯s trying to save face, and butting in would just make Atticus even more embarrassed and down in


    the dumps.


    Hertha got the hint and found a spot to sit down.


    Afterforting the other three kids, Thssa held their hands and led them to the table, saying softly,


    ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I won¡¯t scold you this time. You just wanted to find your dad and that¡¯s why you went to


    the Sinir group. But you can¡¯t do this again, okay? You see, your grandma took you out for fun and


    you guys got lost halfway You scared the living daylights out of her Were you scared by some mean


    adult? You¡¯re still little and can¡¯t defend for yourselves if something happened to you, or if you were


    hurt by bad people, your grandma and I would be heartbroken.¡±


    After soothing the kids, Thssa started to talk some sense into them


    Her four children were pretty sensible for their age, but they were only four and still didn¡¯t quite


    understand the way of the world.


    They needed guidance from adults


    Elowen, who had been crying, had tears hanging on her long eyshes, like dewdrops on leaves in the


    morning light, which was heart-wrenching.


    She wiped her eyes with her small hand and said in her childish voice. ¡°Mom, I¡¯ll be a good girl. I won¡¯t


    run off again.¡±


    Thssa leaned in and pressed her face against Elowens soft one, smiling warmly. ¡°Elowen, you¡¯re the


    best. Mom loves you¡±


    ¡°I want you to say you love me too mom Dorian said, waving his hand eagerly.


    Thssaughed and said Mom loves you too


    ¡°What about me? Even Sophia, who usually didn¡¯t talk much, joined in, her round face as red as an


    apple


    Thssa said, ¡®I love Sophia too


    Sophia immediately


    By this time, Evelyn


    went back to the


    She was pretty cool, but also a cheerful little girl.


    Wood on the table When she heard that the other party only wanted $3,000 aspensation, she


    N?velDrama.Org owns this text.


    wiped her tears and


    en to keep busy


    Now seeing her children being affectionate and coy with Thssa, and Thssa coaxing them, she felt


    a bit of warmth in her heart.


    But her words were still sharp. She shot


    have a child like you?¡±


    nce and said. ¡°Your kids are all better than you What on earth did I do wrong in my past life to


    Thssa stuck her tongue out silently not saying a word


    Hertha felt sorry for Thssa She said to Evelyn, Evelyn, Thssa is great too. When she was in


    college, she got schrships every semester. She was


    a full A student


    ¡°What good does that do? She still doesn¡¯t have a job¡±Evelyn was just pissed that her daughter was


    mediocre and had dragged her down.


    After saying that, she went into


    en to get the utensils


    Hertha looked at Thssa with sympathy Th


    er head with a smile, signaling that she was fine. She was used to it.


    Im going to call Atticus for dinner Hertha aid, standing up and knocking on the door


    The door opened and a small figure Atticus, came out and took a seat by the table on his own


    He was back to his normal self, but Thssa could still see the redness in his eyes from crying


    Thssa asked him with concern, Atticus are you upset? if you have anything bothering you, you can


    tell me. I¡¯m the person who loves you most¡±


    It was important to guide the kids¡¯ emotions in time so that they could maintain a positive and optimistic


    attitude,


    Atticus shook his head, saying in his childish voice. Mom, I¡¯m fine. I just feel that I¡¯m too young to help


    you.¡±


    He knew his mom worked hard every day. He thought that finding their dad could lighten her load.


    But it turned out that Lysander was not their dad as they had always thought


    Hearing what Atticus said. Thssa¡¯s eyes welled up with tears. She was overwhelmed with emotion


    She thought she must have done a lot of good in her past life to have such a sweet little darling.

 Chapter 35

    Chapter 35


    After having lunch, Thssa was ready to go back to work.


    She usually took advantage of the break at noon to go home, have a bite and check on the kids


    Knowing that the kids were safe at home and why they had been to the Sinir Group CEO¡¯s office


    made her feel a lot better.


    When she arrived at the Cleaning Department of the Sinir Group, the manager stopped her and


    said, ¡°Evelyn, go clean the restroom on the top floor.


    You started yesterday and you haven¡¯t cleaned a restroom once. Dont be a cker. I¡¯ll be checking


    N?velDrama.Org owns this text.


    every day!


    The manager had a stern face and was intimidating


    Thssa obediently responded, ¡°Sure, I¡¯ll get on it right away¡±


    She was aware that cleaning restrooms was part of the janitors job when she was interviewed


    She wasn¡¯t avoiding it, but she had some misunderstandings when she was getting familiar with the


    environment the day before.


    She never expected to bump into Lysander


    She couldn¡¯t keep thinking about it.


    Thssa quickly interrupted her thoughts


    With her cleaning tools in hand, she headed to the top floor


    This time, there was a clear sign for the restroom, big red letters read, ¡°MENS RESTROOM¡±


    It¡¯s there to prevent women from entering by mistake.


    But the irony was all the cleaners were women


    Thssa carefully entered praying


    hat Lysander wouldn¡¯t be there by coincidence


    ¡°Cough As she entered, she coughed deliberately to alert anyone inside.


    When there was no response she bravely in


    But she saw a tall figure.


    noble demeanor at odds


    Thssa¡¯s breathing pa


    The man turned around, a hands


    His deep eyes like a starry nig


    sut, his broad back straight and lean body muscr, standing there with an authoritative aura, his


    ined in shoc and she froze on the spot


    Ky cold and sharp, staring at her


    His gaze seemed to pierce her soul making Thssa feel a chill down her spine, fear creeping in


    She instinctively took a couple of steps bac forced a smile and said, Hele, Mr Sinir, go good


    afternoon¡±


    Lysander gave a cold smirk and stepped towards her, ¡°Good, very good


    First time she barged into the mens restroom she could im unfamiliarity


    But the second time? How would she exin that?


    Lysander was certain that she did it on purpose!


    Getting close to him with a purpose, he had seen such tricks plenty of times


    As Lysander¡¯s cold and deep aura approached, his tall figure overshadowing her, Thssa felt her


    heart pounding. She kept backing away, nervously stuttering, ¡°Mr. Sinir, I, I, I came to clean the


    restroom¡­¡±


    To back up her im, Thssa held up the cleaning tools, mop and broom in her hand.


    Lysander didn¡¯t look at the tools in her hand as he kept walking towards her, his tall and lean body


    ¡°Woman, you¡¯re good at making excuses. His voice was as cold as ice


    ¡°1, I really didn¡¯t. Ah Thssa was exining, she really wasn¡¯t making any excuses, she was telling


    the truth.

 Chapter 36

    Chapter 36


    She was backed up against the wall, literally, her body pressing against the icy cold marble. She let out


    a gasp of surprise


    Property of N?)(velDr(a)ma.Org.


    The next second, Lysander braced one hand against the wall, half enveloping her in his chest, the


    other hand lifting her chin, forcing her to look up into his


    eyes


    He towered over her, looking down at her like she was nothing more than an insignificant ant


    ¡°You seem really like this bathroom, huh?¡± his husky voice slid out from his throat


    The scent of sandalwood emanating from him, the strong masculine presence, was all assaulting


    Thssa


    She couldn¡¯t help but remember the kiss from that morning, leaving her feeling weak.


    Her long eyshes fluttered unconsciously, her voice softening. ¡°It¡¯s not that I like it here, it¡¯s just my


    job.¡±


    Cleaning bathrooms was indeed part of her job


    Lysander sheered coldly. ¡°Oh, it¡¯s your job? You¡¯ve got a unique perspective¡±


    She was here again because she enjoyed the benefits she got thest time


    Did she like watching men? Or did she like watching him?


    ¡°I know my ce I wouldn¡¯t dare to overstep Mr Sinir would you let me go?¡± Thssa said. The man


    before her was too intimidating, especially with her pinned against the wall his strong masculine


    presence seeping into every pore of her skin.


    She felt like her blood was


    lowing backwards leaving her numb and weak Even her voice came out soft and weak


    She didn¡¯t mean to walk in on him. She even coughed before entering to alert anyone inside, who knew


    he wouldn¡¯t respond?


    She walked in and he just stood there how was


    Thssa forced augh, her crysti


    at her fault?


    Suttering nervously, her eyshes flickering like the wings of a butterfly.


    Her voice was as small as a mosquito, ending in a soft, appealing note.


    Her overly nervous demean


    Lysander¡¯s throat tighten


    che was trying to seduce him


    ly regained hisposure, keeping his cool


    This woman was always trying to tempt him!


    Even int conversation,


    how to pluck at his heartstrings.


    She was indeed good at attracting men


    Otherwise, how could she make Johns family so upset?


    Sneaky woman


    Is it your specialty to say one thing and do another? You came here because you want something,


    right? Lysander¡¯s handsome face was as cold as ice, his voice flowing like a spring.


    Thssa felt incredibly wronged at his words


    She was just a cleaner, just here to do her job


    If it weren¡¯t for her boss ordering her to clean here, she wouldn¡¯t want to be here


    ¡°I didnt ¡°Thssa¡¯s eyes widened, her face turning crimson at his usation


    Lysander nced at her quickly reddening face, a smirk tugged at his lips. Heh, she was too easy to


    read.


    If she didn¡¯t want anything, why was she blushing¡±


    Lysander¡¯s gaze was cold, devoid of any warmth. He gently lifted her chin, forcing her to look up at him.


    His voice was pleasant, ¡°You¡¯re deceitful, but your body is honest. Thats who you are.¡±


    With that, he leaned down and lightly kissed her lips.


    Thssa wanted to escape, but she couldn¡¯t. Her heart pounded in panic as his handsome face


    loomed closer and closer, filling her vision. She closed her eyes in anxiety

 Chapter 37

    Chapter 37


    Thssa shut her eyes tight, so nervous her toes were practically curling. But the anticipated kiss


    never came.


    ¡°Heh¡­ Lysander chuckled lightly, his warm, husky breath brushing against her lips, carrying an


    overpowering presence and a faint masculine scent.


    Thssa¡¯s heart pounded Suddenly, her eyes flew open to see the man¡¯s handsome face magnified


    before her, so close that she could see the pores on his skin. His skin was good, firm and stic,


    devoid of any blemishes. Though it was smooth, it wasn¡¯t the delicate kind like a woman¡¯s but carried a


    uniquely masculine charm


    His attractive thin lips curled slightly, even his deep-set eyes were smiling. He was so good-looking it


    took Thssa¡¯s breath away.


    He was already handsome when he wasn¡¯t smiling, but with a smile, he


    Thssa was dumbstruck, blinking in surprise.


    What was heughing at?


    Why was heughing?


    She was a little dazed and at a loss.


    She wished she could find somewhere to hide, but there was nowhere to go.


    absolutely captivating


    Thssa stiffened against the wall, not daring to move an inch. She finally found her voice, but it came


    out weak and feeble, ¡°Mr. Sinir, this is a restroom, you can¡¯t¡­¡±


    She realized she sounded like she was ying hard to get


    She really wanted to p herself.


    Why was she so spineless? She was so scared in front of Mr. Sinir that she could barely muster the


    strength to speak


    At the sound of her voice, Lysander¡¯s smirk grew wider. He let go of her chin, straightened up, and


    contemptuously said, ¡°Your charms are not enough to tempt me.¡±


    With that, he gave her a deep look and then walked out of the restroom.


    So that was her game. Voicing her refusal while her actions were enticing men.


    She was crafty, catching people off guard


    Otherwise, how could she have ensnared John to the point of obsession and even fabricated evidence


    to prove that she was the one rejecting him and he was the one relentlessly pursuing her?


    Her game was tight, catching even David off guard, getting him to vouch for her innocence.


    In reality, John was just bewitched by her She was saying no with her words, but her bodynguage


    and tore were enticing him.


    In the end, John was so smitten he couldn¡¯t extricate himself.


    She had tried the same tricks on him. There were times he had trouble controlling himself, let alone


    other men.


    Just now, Lysander had deliberately moved close to her, pretending to kiss her.


    She had really shut her eyes, waiting for his kiss.


    Therefore, Lysander saw through her ruse.


    He did that partly to test her, partly to test himself.


    He had lost control once, and he couldn¡¯t afford to lose control over this woman again.


    This time, he had kept himself in check.


    He was feeling good about it.


    But it wasn¡¯t enough yet, when he got close to her just now, he still felt nervous, still had a reaction to


    her,


    That wasnt a good sign.


    He needed to keep testing himself.


    Only after countless challenges and trials would he be fearless.


    Thssa watched his retreating figure disappear, feeling a mix of surprise and anger. She blinked.


    What did he lost say?


    Was he saying she wasn¡¯t beautiful enough?


    Property of N?)(velDr(a)ma.Org.


    Was he implying she wasnt attractive?


    Her beauty was usually praised by everyone. No one had ever said she wasn¡¯t pretty.


    If she wasn¡¯t good-looking, then how could she have given birth to four beautiful children?


    She had always thought that their good looks were inherited from her excellent genes, meanwhile it


    had nothing to do with their father


    Now this man was questioning her beauty, which really pissed her off.


    Thssa let out a frustrated ¡°huff¡±

 Chapter 38

    Chapter 38


    Her beauty, it was something ordinary people just couldn¡¯t appreciate.


    But just now, she had taken a close look at Lysander and couldn¡¯t help but notice his uncanny


    resemnce to her eldest son.


    His eyes, his eyebrows, his demeanor, they were all so much like her son Atticus.


    Could he really be the father of her children?


    No, no, no, that¡¯s just absurd!


    Content ? N?velDrama.Org 2024.


    How could the big shot CEO of the Sinir group ever set foot in a poor ce like where she lives?


    It must just be a coincidence.


    Thssa took a moment to calm her racing heart, and as soon as she felt a bit more rxed, she


    began to sweep


    She cleaned fast, afraid that Lysander mighte to use the bathroom again..


    This little misunderstanding had already happened twice, a third time would just be ridiculous.


    After quickly finishing up with the bathroom, Thssa came out to see Faye and David in the hallway.


    Faye was asking David something.


    ¡°David, have you already contacted the parents of those annoying, disobedient brats?¡± Faye¡¯s face was


    stern and when she said ¡°annoying¡±, her voice was filled with disgust, she was clearly serious


    Upon hearing her words, Thssa immediately felt indignant on behalf of her children.


    Faye had been with the children in the office earlier.


    That meandy the children had spoken of, it must ve been her


    What on earth had she done to terrify them like this? They were so scared, not just at the office but


    even when they got home.


    She had scared her own children, causing a mess in the CEO¡¯s office and now she was calling her


    children annoying


    David frowned slightly at Faye¡¯s hostile tone but still answered her. ¡°Yes, I¡¯ve contacted them. They¡¯ll


    bring the money this afternoon and apologize.¡±


    Though it was true the children had damaged some office items, they were only four years old, and


    hadn¡¯t done anything that triggered hatred.


    Plus, when he made the calls, he could hear them crying and apologizing


    They knew they were wrong and that¡¯s what makes a good kid.


    Who hadn¡¯t made mistakes as a kid?


    Recognizing and correcting your mistakes, that¡¯s what made a kid a good kid.


    There was no need for adult hatred here.


    Faye, oblivious to David¡¯s displeasure, continued to probe, ¡®Is their mother¡¯s name Hertha?¡±


    The information she had showed that the children¡¯s mother was named Hertha, not Thssa,


    It was only after confirming this that she dared to give David the information to call the children¡¯s


    parents.


    She had been worried when Lysander asked her to let David handle it, afraid that if Thssa showed


    up and imed to be the children¡¯s mother, they would be in trouble.


    She was still a bit concerned, which was why she was asking David about it


    ¡°Yes, her name is Hertha. A single mother raising quadruplets, David replied


    He and Faye were colleagues and they had a lot of interactions at work, talking to her was part of the


    job..


    ¡°She takes care of the children alone? Where s their father?¡± Faye was caught off guard by this and


    wanted to know more.


    Knowing oneself and knowing the enemy ensures victory in any situation


    Faye had her own little ns in mind as she asked.


    ¡°Their mother told me their fathermitted suicide by jumping into the sea, David said calmly


    He¡¯s dead?-Faye couldn¡¯t help but exim


    ¡°Yes,¡± David confirmed.


    Thssa, upon hearing this, lowered her head, trying not to draw attention to herself as she passed by


    them.


    ¡°Hey, Evelyn, David suddenly called out to her

 Chapter 39

    Chapter 39


    Thssa paused, turning to say, ¡°David, what can I do for you?¡±


    ¡°Could you give the presidents office a quick sweep? And tidy up the water and cups.¡± David instructed


    Thssa, then turned and walked away without engaging in further conversation with Faye


    Thssa snapped back to reality, finding herself staring directly into Faye¡¯s eyes.


    Faye was giving her a gloomy look, as if she held some grudge against her


    Thssa blinked innocently, feeling like she hadn¡¯t done anything to upset Faye.


    Furthermore, Faye¡¯s attitude towards her child had irked her, though she hadn¡¯t yet had the chance to


    confront Faye about it.


    Why was Faye looking at her like that?


    ¡°Faye, I¡¯m off to clean now.¡± Thssa said, picking up her broom and making her way to the office.


    Seeing Thssa about to enter Lysander¡¯s office, Faye¡¯s mood began to fluctuate, feeling a strong


    sense of crisis. Once Thssa entered, she would be face-to-face with Lysander


    Just as Thssa was about to push the door open, Faye spoke up in time, Thssa, hold on a


    second¡±


    ¡°Why?¡± Thssa stopped, turning to look at Faye.


    With a cold expression, ever a hint of hostility, Faye told her, ¡°Start with the secretaries office instead,


    Mr. Sinir doesnt like to be disturbed while working¡±


    ¡°Oh, alright then¡± Thssa obediently turned and headed for the secretaries office.


    All the top-level cleaning was her responsibility, including the secretaries office.


    Faye¡¯s request was within her job description, so Thssa naturally had no objections.


    While Thssa went to the secretaries¡¯ office. Faye entered Lysanders.


    Walking in, she saw Lysander sitting in the president¡¯s chair, engrossed in some papers. His


    expression was serious.


    Behind him was arge, bright floor-to-ceiling window. The weather after the rain was casting a


    beautiful glow through the window, reflecting on him.


    It was as if he was enshrouded in a rainbow of colors.


    The sunlight, paired with his ck suit, made him look even more divine.


    His handsome face seemed as if a deity had descended.


    Seeing this, Fayes heart pounded like crazy


    She had been secretly in love with Lysander for ten years, always finding ways to stay by his side.


    Shed seen him reject countless confessions.


    Some of these people had had some form of interaction with him before confessing, whether business


    or personal.


    But after confessing, they were cut off from Lysander¡¯s life, evensing the chance to do business with


    him. N?velDrama.Org holds this content.


    So over the years. Faye had carefully hidden her feelings, not daring to tell Lysander or let him know


    She was afraid that Lysander would push her away, and then she would lose the chance to see him


    forever.


    At first, she thought that Lysander didn¡¯t have interest in women, until Lysander had her find a woman


    from Hollowbrook, and bring her to him. Only then did Faye learn that Lysander had slept with this


    woman, and he was to take responsibility for her.


    When Faye heard this, she felt absolute despair, her heart aching.


    Lysander wasn¡¯t uninterested in women. It was just that his ideal woman hadn¡¯t appeared yet.


    If that ideal woman appeared in Lysander¡¯s life, then her past efforts would all be in vain. Her silent


    protection by Lysander¡¯s side for ten years would all be for nothing.


    Faye couldn¡¯t ept this How could the man she loved for ten years be so easily taken away by a


    woman who appeared out of nowhere?


    She went to Hollowbrook, found out that Lysander and Thssa had slept in an old house there. The


    house, ravaged by the rain, was in ruins, even their pig had been crushed to death.


    She immediately made a¡¯decision, lying to Lysander that the woman had died in the copse of the old


    house.


    She hoped to erase Lysander¡¯s longing, to make the woman disappear from his heart forever.

 Chapter 40

    Chapter 40


    Her n was foolproof, and with Isabe ying the cover-up game, Lysander hadn¡¯t had an inkling


    over the past five years.


    Surprisingly, this dame Thssa had the nerve to approach Lysander.


    Recently, Lysander began to question if the woman from five years ago was indeed pushing up daisies


    Faye was getting more and more jittery on the inside.


    There were a few opportunities to give Thssa the boot, but she missed the boat every time.


    Caught up in her thoughts, Faye noticed Lysander looking her way Matching his intense gaze, she


    snapped out of it and quickly stowed away her admiration for him.


    She strolled over, her voice soft. ¡°Mr. Sinir, if there¡¯s nothing else, you can carry on. I¡¯ll take care of


    the coffee cups.¡±


    She moved over to the small table and started clearing out the used coffee cups.


    Lysander shifted his gaze back to his papers, his voice low. ¡°Leave the small stuff to the janitors. You


    can start your three-day leave now¡±


    Faye froze mid-coffee cup clean-up and turned to look at Lysander, her usual alpha female demeanor


    faded, her eyes pleading, ¡°Mr. Sinir, I¡¯ve just sent someone to dig up info on thedy from


    Hollowbrook And I¡¯ll take my leave tomorrow once I get the news¡±


    ¡°Fine,¡± was Lysander¡¯s one-word reply, without looking up


    Faye quietly continued cleaning the table, sneaking nces at Lysander.


    Not only was the man a looker, but his demeanor was alsomanding and upright, radiating


    masculine charm.


    It probably had something to do with his past military days.


    In terms of demeanor, he was in a league of his own


    Just as Faye was lost in thought. David knocked and walked in. He went straight to the desk and said.


    ¡°Mr. Sinir, the fashion show can go on as nned in three days, these are the design drafts and


    ns.¡±


    He ced the files on the desk


    Lysander nced at the files and murmured, ¡°Zephyr will be there; you must make sure everything


    goes without a hitch¡±


    ¡°Alright, Mr. Sinir, David epted the order, about to leave when the office door was knocked, and a


    woman¡¯s voice asked timidly, ¡°Hello, I¡¯m Hertha, the mother of those four kids. I¡¯m here to make


    amends and apologize.¡±


    Without shutting the door, the woman stood at the entrance.


    David looked towards the door, there stood a woman in a beige dress, a ponytail, a bit chubby, round


    eyes, about 53, looking quite adorable.


    Is she the mother of those four kids?


    She looked around the office curiously, as if she were surprised by the posh surroundings.


    David looked at Lysander, who was engrossed in his papers, oblivious to the woman.


    David thought Since she was here, he cant let her feel awkward, right?


    So he said. If you re here to make amends,e in What are you standing at the door for? Waiting for


    a red carpet?¡±


    Hertha gawked, snapped back to reality, and quickly nodded, ¡°Oh, okay¡±


    She toted her bag and walked in. She came to the desk, and the sight of Lysander¡¯s face and his cold


    demeanor made her gasp. She was so nervous that she didn¡¯t know what to say


    Some people had such a presence that she was lost for words just looking at them.


    Faye didn¡¯t like Hertha ogling Lysander; she said impatiently, ¡°Weren¡¯t you here to apologize? What are


    you dazing for?¡±


    Hertha came to her senses, blinked, and bowed deeply to Lysander, stuttering, ¡°Mr. Sinir, I¡¯m sorry.


    Property of N?)(velDr(a)ma.Org.


    I¡¯m apologizing on behalf of my kids. They said you were their dad to avoid being scammed; I hope you


    won¡¯t take it to heart!


    Hearing her words, Faye was immediately on edge


    She was about to speak when Thssa, who had just finished cleaning the secretary¡¯s office, walked


    in.


    Hertha turned at the sound and saw Thssa. She was so relieved to see a familiar face that she


    blurted out, Thssa, you¡¯re here too? That¡¯s great¡±


    Thssa?


    Lysander looked up at the sound, then his deep gaze turned gloomy.

 Chapter 41

    Chapter 41


    Lysander¡¯s gaze shifted towards the entrance, and sure enough, there she was, broom in hand,


    Content ? N?velDrama.Org 2024.


    apparently ready to get down to scrubbing


    Was she Evelyn?


    Why did Hertha, thedy who just entered, addressed her Thssa?


    Was that her real name?


    Faye, who was already on edge, felt her anxiety skyrocket when she heard Hertha call out Thssa¡¯s


    name and saw Lysander¡¯s face darken abruptly.


    Her heart pounded like a jackhammer, as if her secret was about to be spilled, and she was scared stiff


    of being offed by Lysander himself.


    Thssa lifted her gaze to meet Hertha¡¯s, who was now shooting her a desperate plea.


    She too had heard Hertha calling her out.


    The utterance of ¡°Thssa¡± made her heart skip a beat. She thought, ¡°I¡¯m screwed! Now, Mr. Sinir,


    Faye, and David all know I¡¯ve been pulling a fast one at the Sinir group.¡±


    She was bound to be sacked and publicly shamed.


    She was already broke, and the current situation was just rubbing salt in the wound.


    Thssa now felt awkward whether she stayed or left and could only linger at the entrance


    She let out a couple of nervous chuckles, about to respond, when she caught Lysander¡¯s icy and


    piercing gaze She choked on the words she had intended to say.


    ¡°Evelyn, just how many identities are you juggling?¡± Lysander tossed his pen and leaned back in his


    chair, his icy stare seemingly freezing Thssa in ce.


    His demeanor was frosty as he scrutinized Thssa


    The pen did a pirouette on the table before ttering to the floor, the sharp sound heralding his


    seething arger.


    ¡°Mr. Sinir, I¡¯m sorry, I didn¡¯t mean to.¡± Thssa stammered, trying to exin herself


    The one who was most panicked was Faye. She was scared stiff that Lysander would uncover


    Thssa¡¯s true identity, realizing she was the woman from five years ago.


    Her heart raced even faster, and she was about to interrupt Thssa when a strident female voice cut


    through the silence.


    Thssa, you¡¯re still here?¡±


    Before Thssa could even make heads or tails of the situation, she was shoved hard, causing her to


    stumble into the door frame.


    Standing before her was Isabe, her face heavily made up and radiating arrogance. It was she who


    had pushed Thssa


    Why had she shown up out of the blue?


    Thssa frowned, about to say something, when Isabeunched into a tirade Thssa, I¡¯ve told you


    before, stop pulling scams everywhere. With your criminal record, you¡¯re bound to have trouble finding


    work. You could have worked at mypany. I wouldn¡¯t have cared about your past. But now you had


    toe to the Sinir Group under a false identity. Did you really think you could easily scam the


    Sinir Group? Did you take Mr. Sinir for a fool?


    ¡°Isabe Thssa was taken aback. What was Isabe talking about?


    When did she get a criminal record?


    Before she could even retort, Isabe cut her off. I saw you here thest time I visited the Sinir


    group. I told you to quit ande work at mypany. But you wouldn¡¯t listen. Now that you¡¯ve been


    busted for using someone else¡¯s ID, I¡¯d love to see how you worm your way out of this one.¡± After


    berating Thssa, Isabe turned towards Lysander, and her demeanor immediately softened. Im


    sorry. Mr. Sinir. This is my distant cousin. She¡¯s always been a bit odd, growing up without a father.


    She never took schooling seriously and ended up on the wrong path. I can¡¯t believe she had the nerve


    to scam the Sinir Group. I apologize on her behalf. I hope you won¡¯t mind her too much. I¡¯ll give her


    a good talking-to when we get home and make sure she turns over a new leaf.¡±


    Thssa was still reeling from the shock of being used of having a criminal record. Now she had to


    watch Isabe grovel before Lysander for her


    She mped her mouth shut, not saying a word.


    If Isabe could smooth things over and cool Lysander¡¯s anger, that wouldn¡¯t be so bad.


    As long as Lysander didn¡¯t hold her ountable, she¡¯d be okay.


    Lysander¡¯s brow furrowed, his gaze never leaving Thssa and his eyes glinting with a cold light.

 Chapter 42

    Chapter 42


    The woman always catching him off guard, wasn¡¯t just good at charming men but was also a cunning


    character


    What side of her had he not seen yet?


    Lysander waved his hand saying ¡°Let her go¡±


    He didn¡¯t want to see her now, nor did he want to admit that he w


    racted to her even to the point of kissing her


    ago. He had always been tolerant of that


    Lysander knew be, the cousin of thedy who saved him five yea


    When thedy¡¯s rtives pleaded for Thssa Lysander naturally had a tolerant attitude


    Five years ago, when he learned of thedy¡¯s death, he transferred a sum of money to his secretary to


    distribute to thedy¡¯spensation.


    On hearing this news, Isabe immediately said cheerfully. Thank you, Mr. Sinir you are so


    generous


    Then she came to her senses and said to Thssa ¡°Mr Sinr has spared you aren¡¯t you going to


    leave with me


    Thssa looked at Isabe and left with her broom


    She never expected Isabe to suddenly be so kind hearted and help her out.


    But while she was helping her, she was also lying about her, which made


    But now was not the time to argue with Isabe


    She must disappear from Lysander¡¯s sight as soon as possible


    Hertha, who had beenpletely stunned just now, also came to her senses


    She realized that she had made a mistake by calling out Thssas name


    ufortable


    She never thought that Thssa would work for the Sinir Group and use Evelyns identity


    If she had known this, she wouldnt have called Thssa¡¯s name


    She was frightened and panicked, her fingers trembling as she took money out of her bag.


    and friends an


    She took out the money with trembling hands, put it on the desk, and said in a quavering voice. ¡°Uh,


    Mr. Sinir, here is the three thousand dors i owe you please count it.¡±


    Lysander nced at her with cold and piercing eyes, not even looking at the money on the table


    Hertha¡¯s heart fluttered under his gaze


    Oh my god, his cold eyes almost scared her to the hospital.


    Her legs were weak, what should she do?


    David saw her fear and difficulty, picked up the stack of money, symbolically counted the amount, and


    then said. That¡¯s enough, you can go now!


    Hertha, like a reprieved prisoner, quickly bowed deeply to Lysander, turned around, and fled the office


    like she was running away


    Content ? N?velDrama.Org 2024.


    All this happened in just half a minute.


    Only then did the anxiety hanging over Faye¡¯s heart finally abate.


    She walked towards Isabe and formally asked, ¡°Have you prepared the information about thedy¡¯s


    rtives and friends that I asked you to collect?¡±


    Isabe nodded frequently, saying. ¡°Yes, I have.¡±


    She handed the information to Faye.


    When Faye took the information, they exchanged a nce.


    Assured there were no problems, she didn¡¯t even look at it herself but directly handed it to Lysander


    Mr Sinir, this is all the information about thedy¡¯s rtives and friends Please have a look.¡± Faye¡¯s


    heartbeat was still a bit fast because of the previous tension


    Lysander took the formation and started reading

 Chapter 43

    Chapter 43


    The files mentioned that Lysander spent the night with a woman named Celia Everhart.


    Celia¡¯s dad kicked the bucket when she was just a little squirt due to sickness.


    Celia lived with her mom, aunt, and cousin, who was her aunt¡¯s daughter.


    Her aunt, named Evelyn, hailed from Rivertown, Eldoria. She was a bit of a wild child, she had a kid out


    of wedlock and couldn¡¯t register the kid¡¯s identity So she moved to Hollowbrook and registered her


    daughter under Celia¡¯s parents¡¯ names as Thssa.


    Thssa had been using her mom¡¯s ID card all along, which exined why shed tell Lysander she was


    from Rivertown, Eldoria.


    However, five years ago, Celia got whacked by a copsing old house during a heavy downpour,


    leaving only her mom, aunt, and cousin in the family


    Thssa was no saint. She had a sticky finger habit since she was a kid, she even got nabbed for it


    and spent some time in the mmer, so she had a criminal record.


    With the record, Thssa found it tough to get a job or do anything, so she¡¯d been out and about using


    her mom Evelyn¡¯s ID, pulling all sorts of scams, doing odd jobs, and reeling in men.


    Now, the janitor at the Sinir Group named Thssa was Celia¡¯s cousin


    Just like the file said, not only was she good at getting men all wound up, she was a crook too!


    Lysander didn¡¯t see iting that she was also a thief and had even been tossed into the police station


    for stealing.


    How could such a woman be Celia¡¯s cousin?


    They grew up together, could their characters be somewhat simr?


    Lysander had a poker face and deep ck eyes


    Maybe he could figure out Celia¡¯s character from Thssa


    After all, they grew up together, under the same roof, and received the same upbringing


    Even if Thssa¡¯s character wasn¡¯t exactly like Celia¡¯s, it certainly had simrities


    That night, if it weren¡¯t for Celia saving him with her body, he¡¯d be pushing daisies by now


    And that night, amidst the thunderstorm, he tried to have his way with her.


    She bit him hard, and he felt her helplessness and fear


    The taste of her lingered in his mind.


    Property of N?)(velDr(a)ma.Org.


    She was irreceable to him and she was the only past he couldn¡¯t forget. He longed to find her and


    apologize deeply.


    No wonder he found Thssa familiar; it turned out she grew up with Celia and lived under the same


    roof for over twenty years.


    Celia and Thssa must have simrities, that¡¯s why he sensed familiarity with Thssa.


    Although Isabe was Celias cousin, he never had a soft spot for her, she was just like a stranger


    If it weren¡¯t for Isabe being Celia¡¯s cousin, he wouldn¡¯t let her step foot in his office.


    After skimming through the files, Lysander put the files back, and his deep gaze fell on Faye: ¡°How


    much green did you give the Everhart family back then?¡±


    Lysander gave Faye 5 million dors back then and asked her to help Celia¡¯s family with it and


    distribute it among her rtives and friends.


    He didn¡¯t ask for the nitty-gritty because he had always trusted Faye¡¯s ability to handle things.


    Faye was a bit guilty, but she hid it well. She sat up straight and answered Lysander directly: ¡°I gave


    them 3 million. The remaining 2 million was handed over to her other rtives and friends.¡±


    ¡°Yes, Faye gave me and another uncle 500,000 each At this point, Isabe also came forward to


    defend Faye,


    After speaking, she swiftly nced at Faye, who also silently returned the nce.


    The two exchanged tacit understandings; this was the understanding that they had developed over the


    past five years.

 Chapter 44

    Chapter 44


    The truth was, Faye transferred all five million dors to Isabe.


    Isabe eavesdropped on Faye¡¯s phone call and found out that Faye mistakenly imed that the


    woman who had a past with Lysander was dead.


    But the only woman who had a past with Lysander was Thssa!


    Faye just couldn¡¯t let Lysander know about it.


    Isabe threatened Faye with this, saying she would spill the beans if Faye didn¡¯t cough up the cash.


    So Faye handed over the whole five million to Isabe to keep her trap shut


    Over the past five years, due to this secret, Isabe kept shaking Faye down for money


    This time, when Lysander asked Faye to dig up info on that woman, she immediately rang up Isabe,


    telling her to cook up a seemingly legit and foolproof profile and get it into the boss¡¯s office


    Isabe¡¯s timing was spot on, any dy, and Lysander would have known Thssa¡¯s real identity.


    With Faye and Isabe¡¯s stories adding up, Lysander didn¡¯t smell a rat, but he was puzzled: ¡°That


    family only has three people left. With three million bucks, how could they be strapped for cash?¡±


    N?velDrama.Org owns this text.


    Why would Thssa have to steal and resort to fraud?


    Isabe had her answer ready. She coolly told Lysander, ¡°Mr. Sinir, you might not know that


    Thssas mother, also known as Evelyn, is a gambling junkie, she can lose a fortune overnight Three


    million bucks is peanuts to her. And poor Thssa, all the money she cleverly earned was blown by


    her mother. I offered her a job at mypany out of pity. But she made less dough there than at the


    Sinir Group; maybe that s why she hid her identity. preferring to pull a fast one on the Sinir Group


    just to keep her job here Mr. Sinir, please don¡¯t hold it against her. After all, shes got a tough life.¡±


    To make it more believable, Isabe even pretended to put in a good word for Thssa and plead her


    case in front of Lysander.


    After all, if she came across as kind-hearted and friendly Lysander might buy her story.


    If Lysander started to smell a rat and decided to dig deeper, that would be bad news.


    After all, Celia did exist and did pass away, but she drowned in a vige pond when she was three not


    killed by a falling object. And she died a long time ago, not five years ago.


    If Lysander dug deeper, he would find holes in the story.


    Lysander was a bit worn out so he waved them off, ¡°Got it, you can all take a hike now¡±


    Isabe nodded slightly. She was the first to leave the boss¡¯s office


    David also left.


    Faye stayed and she asked, ¡°Mr. Sinir, Thssa has been working at the Sinir group with a fake


    ID card, that¡¯s fraud. I¡¯ll fire her right away and call the cops


    She had to get rid of Thssa from Lysander¡¯s lifepletely to have peace of mind.


    Lysander barely lifted his eyelids, lookingzy and tired. ¡°No need, just have her correct her identity


    info,¡±


    Faye felt a sinking feeling in her heart and asked urgently, ¡°Why?¡±


    Why was it that despite all the bad things Thssa did, Lysander still wouldn¡¯t fire her?


    Mr. Sinir once said, A lowly cleaner was not worth making a fuss about, if they fired her, they would


    have to find a recement, and that¡¯s too much hassle. Faye thought this reason was eptable.


    After all, a clearer was indeed a small fry.


    But the situation was different now, the cleaner had character issues, and quite serious ones at that


    Mr. Sinir always had no patience, even a strong aversion to people with bad character.


    But why was he still unwilling to fire Thssa?


    Did he have a soft spot for Thssa?


    Faye felt anxious, and resentment started to build up.

 Chapter 45

    Chapter 45


    Lysander looked at Faye, his expression gloomy. Her face was pale, and her eyes were anxious. He


    furrowed his brows slightly and said, ¡°She¡¯s Celia¡¯s cousin. We should give her some space You¡¯re not


    doing so hottely Starting tomorrow, take a break. No need to show up at the office¡±


    Faye had been working with him for years. She was proficient and had always been able to control her


    Property of N?)(velDr(a)ma.Org.


    emotions. She had never been this worked up or out of control


    However, these past few days, Faye had been making mistakes left and right. One moment she let


    some random kid wreck havoc in the CEO¡¯s office, the next she showed a side of her that was far from


    her usual ssy and polite demeanor.


    Lysander needed someone who knew their stuff to handle business by his side.


    The measure of a good secretary was whether they could remain cool under pressure and always


    maintain a polite and distant demeanor


    If an employee was always emotional, he¡¯d rather not have such an employee.


    Faye wanted to say something more, but seeing Lysanders icy face and deep gaze, she knew he was


    pissed.


    Continuing to talk would only annoy Lysander further.


    All she could do was swallow her grievances, nod slightly, and walk out of the office. Returning to her


    own office, she couldn¡¯t calm down for a long time.


    Was Lysander really just being lenient because Thssa was Celia¡¯s cousin?


    The more Fave thought about it, the more scared she became. It felt like the crisis was getting closer.


    Thssa had only been at the Sinir Group for a few days, and Lysander was already bending over


    backwards for her


    This woman really knew her stuff!


    After leaving the CEO¡¯s office, Thssa went to the cleaning department. She told the head that she


    needed to take half a day off to rest at home.


    Actually, she knew that her ruse of using someone elses ID card had been discovered Lysander surely


    wouldn¡¯t keep her around. She was waiting to be fired.


    Rather than let HR tell her she was fired, she¡¯d rather leave on her own terms, preserving thest


    shred of her dignity.


    After Hertha left the CEO¡¯s office she found Thssa and left with her.


    She pouted her lips, her face full of regret, and said, Tm sorry, Thssa. I didn¡¯t know you were still


    using your mom¡¯s ID card at the Sinir Group. If I had known, I wouldn¡¯t have called you Thssa¡±


    She had exposed Thssa¡¯s true identity, which cost her her job,


    Thssa gave a chuckle and patted Hertha¡¯s hand. ¡°Why do you look like you¡¯ve done something


    wrong? I¡¯m not upset with you and I did mess up this time. Getting found out was just a matter of time. I


    thought using my moms ID card would be more convenient. That way, when the sryes in, I can


    directly transfer the money to my mom¡¯s card. She can buy stuff for the kids without having to ask me


    for money.¡±


    Although her mom was a nag, she had a lot of pride. Asking her for money might be okay once or


    twice, but any more than that, she¡¯d either feel inconvenient or be too embarrassed to ask. This would


    make her easily inntated


    Knowing this, Thssa had always used her moms ID card to work.


    Her jobs were mostly entry level, requiring older people.


    ¡°What to do now? You¡¯ve lost your job too. Hertha wasn¡¯t the brightest bulb, but she understood what


    Mr. Sinir meant when he asked her to leave.


    Didn¡¯t that mean Thssa was fired?


    Hertha grabbed Thssa¡¯s hand, her face full of concern, worried for Thssa.


    ¡°I¡¯ll just find another job. Nothing can beat me. It¡¯s just a job. I¡¯ll find another opportunity¡± Thssa¡¯s


    smile was optimistic and cheerful.


    Just then, the elevator reached the first floor, and the door opened.


    In front of them stood a tall and thin man. He was wearing a thin ck trench coat, unbuttoned,


    revealing a white shirt and ck trousers tucked inside. His legs looked incredibly long, and his


    proportions were great.


    He had a cunning smile on his face, looking like he didn¡¯t give a toss about the world yet was very


    carefree.

 Chapter 46

    Chapter 46


    When Thssa saw this man, she felt a sense of familiarity. Where had she seen him before?


    But she couldn¡¯t quite put her finger on it.


    Upon seeing her, the man¡¯s eyes sparkled, and with a mischievous grin, he said in aid-back tone,


    ¡®Hey, club girl, I didn¡¯t expect to see you at the Sinir group. Here for Lysander?¡±


    His casual and cheeky words were just so him.


    Thssa instantly remembered who he was.


    That rich young man she met when she was working at the club, surrounded by gorgeous women,


    looked the most satisfied when ady was feeding hirn fruit.


    Thssa became alert immediately, holding onto Hertha tightly and keeping him at a distance.


    She gave an awkwardugh and said coldly. ¡°Sorry, sir, you¡¯ve got the wrong person.


    After saying that, she tried to leave with Hertha


    However, just as they were about to exit the elevator, Hertha broke free and ran towards the man,


    looking up at him with twinkling eyes and an infatuated smile ¡°Hey, handsome, I¡¯m her friend. Can I get


    to know you?¡±


    As she said this, she quickly pulled out her phone, opened a WhatsApp QR code, and handed it to him,


    N?velDrama.Org owns this text.


    indicating she wanted to add him as a contact.


    Thssa looked at her puzzled


    What was up with Hertha? Was she smitten? Where was her self-control?


    Why was she drooling and grinning like an idiot at him? Her eyes were practically shootingser


    beams


    Seeing Hertha acting so strangely, Thssa stepped in, grabbed Hertha¡¯s hand, and said to the man


    with augh. ¡°Sorry about this; my friend¡¯s a bit overzealous on the social front. She likes to add


    whoever she meets to her WhatsApp¡±


    She was about to apologize and take Hertha away


    But Hertha kept pushing her aside, holding up her QR code stubbornly, her eyes fixated on the man,


    even licking her lips.


    This infatuated behavior was really weird. Thssa felt a headacheing on


    ric raised an eyebrow, his eyes full of amusement as he watched Hertha, especially the part where


    she licked her lips like a hungry cat looking at its favorite can of tuna, almost unable to hold back


    ric found it pretty entertaining, but he didn¡¯tugh out loud, holding it in.


    ¡®Man, I¡¯m just too charming. I can¡¯t even walk down the street without being hit on by a beauty. It¡¯s


    tough being this handsome, ric said, bragging arrogantly while casually scanning the QR code


    Hertha was holding up


    Only then did Hertha put away her phone, satisfied.


    Thssa couldnt stand it anymore and dragged Hertha away


    Before leaving, Hertha turned back and told ric, ¡°Handsome, my name¡¯s Hertha, dont forget to tag


    my name in your phone!¡±


    Thssa practically dragged her out of the Sinir group.


    Once they were on the street and sure no one was around, she let go of Hertha, holding her forehead,


    and said, ¡°Hertha, what on earth were you doing


    back there?¡±


    ¡°Picking up a hot guy, of course! Didn¡¯t you see that hunky boy? His looks really swept me off my feet.


    With his mischievous smile, his bright eyes, and those long legs of his, my heart was doing


    somersaults!¡±


    Hertha said, cupping her flushed face in her hands, her heart racing just thinking about it.


    Was this what love felt like? It¡¯s way too sweet!


    ¡°Don¡¯t judge a book by its cover, Thssa reminded her

 Chapter 47

    Chapter 47


    She told Hertha about what she saw when she was working in the nightclub the other day. ric was


    surrounded by women, even enjoying the sight of beauty feeding him fruit.


    She wasn¡¯t trying to be a buzzkill for Hertha, she just wanted to let her know the kind of scene her


    potential beau was in and the kind of sketchy stuff he¡¯s been up to before she got all heart eyed


    So that Hertha could brace herself


    As Hertha¡¯s bestie, it was her duty to give her a heads-up and let her know whether the guy was a


    keeper or a total douche before she decided to fall head over heels


    She couldn¡¯t let Hertha dive in headfirst, knowing fully well that there was something fishy about the


    guy.


    It would be toote by the time she was truly head over heels and then found out he¡¯s a jerk.


    Hearing Thssa¡¯s description, Hertha¡¯s fiery heart seemed to have been doused with cold water, and


    she cooled down a bit.


    She pouted and asked. ¡®Is he really that ky?¡±


    ¡°Why would I lie to you? Didn¡¯t you hear him calling me a nightclub waitress when he greeted me just


    now?¡± Thssa stepped forward, took her arm, told her to take it seriously.


    Hertha¡¯s face blew up like a frog¡¯s belly, all grumpy ¡°Guess you really can¡¯t judge a book by its cover¡±


    Such a hunk, but he turned out to be a ky guy.


    It was such a pity. The feelings that were just starting to stir in her heart were extinguished before they


    could even boil,


    ¡°Alright, let¡¯s drop it for now, let¡¯s go home. Thssa took her arm, hailed a tax on the street, and the


    two of them got in.


    Meanwhile, ric added Hertha¡¯s contact info, immediately checked her WhatsApp profile picture, and


    found a selfie.


    He looked at her status updates and found out that she¡¯s quite narcissistic, posting selfies every day.


    With her round face, big eyes, and cherry lips, she looked really cute


    Remembering her drooling over him earlier, ric finally let out theugh he¡¯d been holding in,


    ¡°Hahaha.¡±


    The elevator reached the top floor, the doors opened, and ric was stillughing.


    David, who was waiting for the elevator, thought he¡¯d run into some nutcase. He looked and saw it was


    Lysander¡¯s buddy, ric


    He asked in confusion, Mr. Falconer, what¡¯s so funny? Care to share?¡±


    Still chuckling, ric walked out of the elevator, palted David¡¯s shoulder, wiped a tear from the corner


    of his eye, and said, ¡°I just ran into a smitten woman downstairs. She was drooling over my face, even


    licked her lips. You should¡¯ve seen it, it was hrious!


    ric was doubled overughing N?velDrama.Org owns this text.


    He¡¯s encountered countless smitten women over the years, but this was the first time he¡¯d seen one


    drool over him so openly.


    Plus, with her round and cute expressions, she was like a little kitten in heat, both adorable and


    hrious.


    ¡°Well, that just shows Mr. Falconer¡¯s irresistible charm, attracting crowds wherever you go. David


    and


    ric was pleased with thepliment. David was indeed Lysander¡¯s mostpetent assistant, every


    word he said hit the right notes, making one feel proud and happy


    ¡°You got that right, describing my looks as ¡®perfect isn¡¯t an overstatement at all.¡± ric chuckled


    proudly, his eyes sparkling with a charming light.


    He was indeed very handsome, even men would bepelled to admire his good looks.


    Butpared to Lysander, he was a bit inferior


    ric¡¯s handsomeness had a certain mboyant quality to it, as if there was a feminine beauty and


    charm to him,


    Whereas Lysander was all masculinity. His face was incredibly handsome, with deep-set eyes, a


    prominent nose, and sexy, thin lips. He was both handsome and rugged, full of male hormones; his


    aura was awe-inspiring


    He was quite chummy with nc.

 Chapter 48

    Chapter 48


    With a smile, David asked, ¡°So, do you mind telling me who from the Sinir group has caught your


    eye? I might know them¡±


    ¡°Sure thing¡± ric replied candidly, we just swapped contacts on WhatsApp. This is her; take a look¡±


    He handed his phone to David, showing a selfie of a woman.


    David took a quick peek at the photo and blinked in surprise. He then turned to ric and said, I¡¯ve got


    something to say, but I¡¯m not sure if I should¡±


    ¡°Spit it out, man. When did you start beating around the bush?¡± ric put his phone away, still sporting


    a smile.


    Clearing his throat, David said, ¡°This woman¡¯s name is Hertha. She was the one who just came to Mr.


    Sinir¡¯s office to apologize and offerpensation.¡±


    Indeed, it was Hertha. She¡¯d made a point of telling him before she left.


    ¡°Why would she need to apologize and pay Mr. Sinir? ric asked curiously.


    ¡°Because her four kids wrecked Mr. Sinir¡¯s office couch,¡± replied David.


    The smile faded from ric¡¯s face, and a shadow passed over his eyes


    ¡°You mean she¡¯s a mom of four kids?¡± ric asked back.


    David nodded.


    ¡°Holy cow! She¡¯s so young, and she¡¯s a mother. I¡¯m going to delete her ric, who had found the


    woman interesting and cute just moments ago, instantly blocked her after hearing David¡¯s words.


    David lowered his voice and said, ¡°Her husband passed away a long time ago. Maybe you could¡±


    N?velDrama.Org owns this text.


    ¡°What could I do? I couldn¡¯t. Thest thing I want is to raise someone elses kids, ric interrupted.


    He had a rule no dating widows or divorcees, let alone a single mother!


    He, ric, having a thing for a widow?


    After being delighted earlier, ric was now fuming and marched into Lysander¡¯s office.


    Watching him walk away, Dand scratched his nose and silently took the elevator


    ¡°Lysander, I¡¯m heartbroken. You¡¯ve got to have a drink with me tonight. That¡¯s the only way to console


    me, ric said, leaning on Lysanders desk with a hurt expression,


    Lysander nced at him and said tly. ¡°Buzz off!¡±


    ric clutched his chest dramatically. ¡°Oh, I¡¯m so hurt but you even told me to buzz off.¡±


    ¡°Spit it out already! Lysander said it coldly


    Having a friend like ric, who was more annoying than any woman, was a real pain in Lysanders


    neck.


    ¡°Do I need a reason to visit you? It¡¯s been several days since west had a drink. What do you say


    about tonight?¡± ric was here for a drink.


    His earlier im of being heartbroken was just an excuse.


    Lysander signed his name on thest page of the contract, put it in the folder, and ced it in the file


    cab.


    In a deep voice, he replied. After I finish my work¡±


    He had been feeling quite agitated over Thssa¡¯s case and needed to unwind.


    ¡°Alright.¡± Understanding, ric lounged on the sofa, sipping his coffee while waiting for him.


    Inside a taxi

 Chapter 49

    Chapter 49


    Hertha was scrolling through ric¡¯s social media feed when she came across a selfie of him at a bar,


    drink in hand.


    Maybe it was the bar lights, or maybe love made people look more attractive, but as Hertha stared at


    the photo, the man¡¯s face seemed to glow, bing more and more charming


    Just a single photo, and she was already head over heels, her heart racing as she ogled the picture.


    Some people just knocked her off her feet at first sight


    She barely had a look at him and was already hooked, how could she possibly forget him?


    Hertha secretly saved the picture on her phone.


    After a bit of thinking, she decided to give herself a shot.


    Otherwise, shed have regrets.


    She opened the chat with ric and typed, Hello.


    No, that was too ordinary


    She deleted it and typed again Hey handsome, this is Hertha. Fancy grabbing a bite to eat tonight? My


    treat


    Having typed the message, she bit her lip, pondering for a while.


    Every word she wrote was carefully considered Gathering her courage, she hit ¡°send¡±.


    The message was sent.


    Her heart was pounding, her nerves were on fire, and she was uncertain of what the response would


    be


    But before she had the chance to ponder the possible oues, she realized that after a while, the


    message hadn¡¯t shown the two gray ticks.


    Was his signal bad? Or couldn¡¯t he receive messages?


    Oh crap!


    She realized she couldn¡¯t see his profile picture; had she been blocked?


    Hertha panicked, burying her face in Thssa¡¯s shoulder. Her emotions swung from nervous to excited


    to disappointed in just a few seconds. Overwhelmed, she broke down in Thssa¡¯s arms and said,


    ¡°Thssa, he blocked me. He rejected me before anything even started.¡±


    It was funny to think that she was even considering him to be a yboy


    He simply wasnt into her


    Thssa was taken aback for a moment, then started tofort her by patting her back


    11¡¯s okay, the next guy will be better,¡± Thssa said


    Hertha¡¯s sobs were muffled against her shoulder, her warm tears soaking her clothes.


    Thssa felt sorry for her, her heart was aching


    Content ? N?velDrama.Org 2024.


    She only met the guy once, fell for him, and got so crushed after being blocked.


    If they¡¯d actually been in a rtionship and it didn¡¯t work out. Hertha would surely be in more pain


    It was a good thing it ended before it began. With ric¡¯s yboy personality, there was no way he


    could give Hertha a future.


    Otherwise. Hertha would¡¯ve been hurt even worse


    Hertha was crying as the taxi pulled up at Thssa¡¯s ce. Thssa paid the fare and helped Hertha


    out of the car.


    After a good cry, Hertha seemed better. She wiped away her tears, managed a smile, and told


    Thssa, ¡°You¡¯re right, the next one will be better. It¡¯s just a man, no big deall Come on, the four kids


    are waiting for us.¡±


    Hertha lightly held onto Thssa¡¯s arm, appearing as if she didn¡¯t have a care in the world, full of


    energy and sunshine.


    But Thssa saw her swollen eyes and the lingering tears and knew that she hadn¡¯t let go so easily

 Chapter 50

    Chapter 50


    She¡¯s been through that heart throb, how could she just let go so easily? But there¡¯lle a day when


    Hertha will move on


    When she got home, the moment she pushed the door open, the whole room was filled with a warm


    atmosphere.


    Four little rascals were ying marbles on a foam mat, each of them having the time of their lives, their


    innocentughter filling the entire room


    Evelyn was nted on the couch, glued to the TV


    Thssa felt the warmth of home, her heart was filled withfort, and a smile spreading


    unconsciously across her face. She said softly, Kids, we¡¯re


    home.¡±


    At her words, the little devils ying marbles turned their heads like meerkats. The moment they saw


    her, their eyes lit up like twinkling stars


    ¡°Morn, Hertha¡± Elowens sweet voice was the first to be heard


    She had been sprawled on the mat, her legs curled up, trying to get up, but her chubby body was a bit


    clumsy, and she took a tumble. But she quickly got up and ran towards Thssa and Hertha


    Donian followed suit, throwing his arms wide open and waddling over to Thssa and Hertha like a


    little penguin


    ¡°Mom, Hertha, you¡¯re back!¡±


    Thssa and Hertha both squatted down to catch the iing little rascals, holding them tightly.


    Thssa picked up the squishy Elowen, nting a kiss on her soft face. ¡°My sweetheart, you¡¯re so


    cute!¡±


    ¡°What about me? Am I cute?¡± Dorian asked eagerly.


    Hertha pinched his little face gently ¡°You¡¯re cute 100


    ¡°I love Hertha the most.¡± Conanughed, hugging Hertha and nuzzling his face against hers.


    The more reserved Atticus and Sophia were sitting on the mat, marbles in their hands. But their


    innocent eyes were fixated on Ththa and Hertha


    Evelyn shot them a nce, her face stern ¡°Thssa, why are you back so early? it¡¯s only four, isn¡¯t it


    still work time?¡±


    Thssa scratched her head awkwardly and said ¡°Mom, I lost my job.¡±


    ¡°What? You just started working, and now you¡¯re unemployed! We¡¯re out of food, the kids have no


    form, and we owe Hertha three grand. Now that you¡¯re telling me you¡¯re out of work, what are we


    supposed to do? Wait to starve to death?¡±


    Evelyn shot up from the couch, her face flushed with panic, and rushed over to Thssa.


    She was genuinely worned this time.


    No money meant life was tough.


    Life was already hard, and the kids had wrecked someone¡¯s couch. The three grand inpensation


    was fronted by Hertha


    As Thssa was about to respond, Hertha stepped in and said, its alright. Don¡¯t worry about the


    money for now. I¡¯ll go get some form for the kids and pick up some necessities. Thssa losing her


    N?velDrama.Org holds this content.


    job was just a fluke, she¡¯ll find a new one. We have to believe in her


    Thssas unemployment did have something to do with Hertha.


    Thssa really had it tough.


    After all, raising four kids was no walk in the park.


    ¡°What job pays that much? Two thousand eight hundred a month? She wouldn¡¯t dare to dream.¡± Evelyn


    sobbed.


    Thssa hurried to console her, saying, ¡°Mom, don¡¯t worry. I can work part-time at Sapphire Skyline


    tonight. If I can sell some wine, the ie¡¯s not bad.¡± She had the contact information for the manager


    at Sapphire Skyline


    She didn¡¯t dare to before, afraid of stepping on toes. But now that her life was already a mess, what


    more could she be afraid of?


    Evelyn dried her tears and said, ¡°We have no other choice. We cant keep burdening Hertha, she¡¯s


    already helped us a lot.¡±


    Thssa nodded. ¡°I know, I¡¯ll contact the manager at Sapphire Skyline right away¡±


    Thssa put Elowen down and took out her phone to dial.

 Chapter 51

    Chapter 51


    Elowen sauntered over to Evelyn, tugging on the hem of her dress, her big and shiny eyes looking up


    at her. ¡°Granny, don¡¯t be so hard on mom. She works so hard. We dont need baby form anymore.


    Granny, stop scolding mom¡±


    Dorian broke free from Hertha¡¯s arms and toddled over to Evelyn. He raised his innocent little face and


    said in a soft voice, ¡°Granny, when we grow up, we¡¯re going to make big bucks and buy you and mom a


    big house. Can you give mom a break, please?¡±


    Atticus sat on the floor cushion, his baby lips pursed. After a pause, he said, I can be a hacker, I can


    support my siblings, granny and mom by hacking!¡±


    Thssa¡¯s heart melted at the kids words. Just as she was about to respond, the phone rang, and she


    went to the balcony to answer it.


    Evelyn sternly told Atticus, ¡°What do you know about being a hacker? Watch your mouth, especially in


    public. It¡¯s said that hackers make illegal money and can end up behind bars.¡±


    Evelyn wasn¡¯t trying to scare him; she was worried that he might go down the wrong path andnd in


    hot water


    Atticus lowered his head, his eyes full of disappointment, and stopped talking


    ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll be there tonight.¡± After hanging up. Thssa returned to the living room.


    She smiled at Evelyn and said. ¡°I can work tonight, so no need to worry.¡±


    ¡°You should be more ambitious and stop stirring up trouble. You should set a good example for the kids


    ¡°Evelyn sighed deeply


    It wasn¡¯t that she didn¡¯t care about her daughter, but life was cruel. If she didn¡¯t push her, their family


    wouldn¡¯t make ends meet. There¡¯s really no other choice.


    ¡°I know, mom¡± Thssa obediently responded.


    After dinner, Hertha¡¯s parents called her toe home, so she had to leave


    Evelyn stayed home to take care of the kids, while Thssa went to Sapphire Skyline.


    This time, the manager noticed an issue with her ID card and said, ¡°Evelyn, this isn¡¯t you, right?¡±


    Content ? N?velDrama.Org 2024.


    Thssa pursed her lips and said, a bit guilty. ¡°That¡¯s my mom¡±


    ¡°You better switch back to your ID card Our boss made a new rule: everyone has to use their own ID


    card, no exceptions,¡± the manager said.


    Thssa quickly took out her own ID and bank cards and handed them over for registration.


    She had already made up her mind to use her own cards this time. She had learned from her previous


    mistake, she couldn¡¯t take chances or just opt for convenience, or she¡¯d face bigger trouble down the


    line.


    After registering her ID and bank cards, the manager gave her the uniform to change into.


    It was a short skirt and a V-neck shirt


    Thssa actually wanted to refuse


    But it was the shop s rule, she had no choice.


    Her job was still to deliver goods to the private rooms and promote wine.


    She served several rooms, but every time she tried to sell the wine, the customers would wave her


    away.


    She had no choice but to leave the room, feeling defeated.


    Suddenly, the manager led a line ofdies towards Box VB, and Thssa ran into them head-on. The


    hallway was too narrow, so she stepped aside to let them pass first.


    When the manager saw her, he said, ¡°Thssa, take them to Box VB. The customers inside requested


    it.¡±


    Thssa blinked in surprise, stammering and at a loss for words.


    She thought her job was just to deliver drinks and such, but now she had to deliver ¡°women.¡±


    ¡°What¡¯s the matter? Don¡¯t want to do it?¡± The manager¡¯s tone turned cold, seeing her standing there


    speechless


    Thssa quickly shook her head and said, ¡°No, I¡¯m just a bit surprised. I¡¯ll take them right away!¡±


    She picked up the tray and led the line ofdies towards Box V8.


    When she reached the door, she knocked, and a voice from inside said, ¡°Come in.¡±

 Chapter 52

    Chapter 52


    Thssa kicked open the door with one hand, all smiles and politeness stered on her face.


    ¡°Esteemed guests, your grub is ready¡±


    Seeing the four men seated in the room, her smile instantly froze on her face.


    This scene seemed oddly familiar.


    Four men, all familiar faces.


    The one at the very end, a hunky, cool dude with a face like a stone-cold fox, all dressed in ck,


    sharp as a tack. His prating gaze was making her


    heart race


    It was Lysander!


    A meter away from him sat the rosy-cheeked ric


    Next to ric was the sunshine-bright Ethan.


    And at the very end was the bespectacled and schrly-looking Richard.


    Weren¡¯t these the same four dudes from Box V8st time?


    Why them again?


    Did they basically live in Box V8, or was this their regr haunt?


    Thssa¡¯s smile seemed rather stiff. She managed a forced grin and said, ¡°Here¡¯s to a grand evening,


    gentlemen,¡±


    Just as she was about to hightail it out of the room, ric¡¯s yful voice chimed in, ¡°Evelyn, you¡¯re also


    part of our service tonight. Come here and serve


    me.¡±


    As he said this, ric¡¯s eyes darted towards Lysander, making it clear he wanted him to hear.


    He¡¯d noticed that Lysander seemed to have a bit of a soft spot for the woman. He¡¯d bumped into her


    earlier at the Sinir Group, so he couldn¡¯t help but link her with Lysander.


    ¡°1,¡± Thssa was about to rify that she was just a waiter, not part of their meal.


    Lysander interrupted her coolly, saying, ¡°You¡¯re mistaken, she¡¯s Thssa.¡±


    ¡°Oh? Thssa¡± So Evelynis just her stage name?¡± ric raised an eyebrow, clearly intrigued.


    He remembered that thest time they were in Box VB, she¡¯d introduced herself as Evelyn.


    Lysander scoffed, ¡°A stage name? That¡¯s too refined for her.


    -Thssa could tell that Lysander was mocking and looking down on her.


    She clenched her teeth in anger, forcing a smile. ¡°Mr. Sinir, I¡¯m no longer an employee of the Sinir


    group. You don¡¯t need to keep picking on me. I admit I made a mistake by pretending to be someone


    else, but I didn¡¯t cause any harm to the Sinir Group. Instead, I worked for a few days without pay


    Even if I didn¡¯t make a big contribution, I did put in the effort. Does a bigshot like you enjoy picking on


    the little guys when you¡¯re bored? Don¡¯t you have anything better to do?¡±


    Thssa couldn¡¯t stand being told she was ¡°unworthy¡±.


    To her, it was a huge insult.


    She didn¡¯t think she was any worse than anyone else. She made a living with her own two hands and


    never broke thew, so how could she be ¡°unworthy¡± of anything?


    Thssa stood tall and countered Lysander, leaving everyone in the room stunned.


    ric, Ethan, and Richard exchanged nces, then all eyes turned to Lysander and Thssa.


    They sensed there must be some untold stories between these two, otherwise, no woman would dare


    provoke Lysander like this.


    The other girls Thssa brought into the room were too scared to make a peep.


    After Thssa finished speaking, she locked eyes with Lysander¡¯s icy stare. She felt a chill run down


    her spine, and fear filled her heart.


    Just as she was about to make an excuse to escape, Lysander stood up and walked towards her. His


    overpowering presence made Thssa back away, but she was caught by the cor by Lysander.


    His grip was so strong that she was lifted off the ground. He looked down at her, his icy and powerful


    aura washing over her. ¡°Like this? You like the feeling of being grabbed by men, don¡¯t you?¡±N?velDrama.Org holds this content.

 Chapter 53

    Chapter 53


    Whoa, he actually yanked her up.


    That ¡°yank¡± she mentioned wasn¡¯t literally pulling her


    Mr. Sinir, not only was he bad at understandingnguage, but hisprehension was a bit off too.


    Thssa¡¯s feet were off the ground, she was trying her best to stand on her tiptoes. Her other hand


    was tightly gripping the tray afraid that the red wine inside would fall and shatter.


    That was worth twenty grand


    On one side was a twenty-grand bottle of wine, and in front of her was the man¡¯s cold face, deep inside


    his eyes. Who knew what he¡¯s thinking? Thssa felt the pressure; her heartbeat was racing, and she


    was very nervous


    Her eyes were blinking nervously, her eyshes trembling, and her voice was weak and helpless: ¡°Mr.


    Sinir, don¡¯t lose it; let me go first; I can¡¯t breathe.¡± She was wearing a tight V-neck shirt, the cor


    Property of N?)(velDr(a)ma.Org.


    was tugged up by him, his fist was pressing on her throat, and his knuckles were blocking her breath.


    Her throat was so hurt that she was nearly suffocating


    Thssa was very scared. In front of the manly Lysander, she felt as weak as an ant; he could squash


    her at any moment.


    Lysander was staring at her coldly, her cheeks were turning red due to ack of oxygen. Looking down,


    her short skirt was pulled up by him, and her thighs were about to be exposed.


    And in the box, the three other men were eagerly watching


    Their gaze would inevitablynd on Thssa¡¯s legs.


    Lysander frowned, displeased, and let her go.


    Thssa lost the support of the man. She lost her bnce and her body was falling backward. She


    tried her best to steady herself, but it was no use.


    She fell to the ground.


    ¡°Bang!¡± At the same time, the tray and the red wine she was holding tightly also fell,


    The wine bottle broke into pieces on the marble floor.


    Red wine was sshed everywhere


    The sound was like Thssa¡¯s heart breaking; she didn¡¯t care about the pain in her buttocks, her eyes


    were wide in shock.


    On the ground, broken ss and red wine were mixed together creating small bubbles.


    Thssa quickly got up from the ground, and knelt down. Looking at the mess on the floor, she


    grabbed her hair, and screamed: ¡°Ah, my wine!¡±


    She couldn¡¯t handle the pressure so she started crying.


    Twenty grand, she couldn¡¯t even pay it off if she sold herself.


    She came here today to make money, not to lose it.


    This money was getting less and less, and she was in debt


    Her family of four was waiting for her to bring money back to buy milk powder and winter clothes.


    Even if Thssa was optimistic, facing the huge pressure and thepensation of twenty grand, she


    couldn¡¯t hold it in so she started crying.


    She was kneeling in front of the broken wine, grabbing her hair, and crying, leaving everyone in the


    room at a loss.


    ric and the others exchanged nces; what happened?


    Lysander stood in front of Thssa, seeing her break down and cry. Her cry was heart-wrenching


    His anger was mostly gone because of her. His eyebrows furrowed slightly. He lowered his head,


    looked at her, and his deep voice asked, ¡°Are you out of


    your mind?¡±


    Hearing his voice, Thssa immediately looked up. her tear-filled eyes ring at him: ¡°You¡¯re the one


    out of your mind! You¡¯re the one who broke the wine; you have to pay!¡±


    She was ming him while crying.

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    Chapter 54


    If it weren¡¯t for him suddenly grabbing her cor and letting go, she wouldn¡¯t have lost her bnce and


    fallen, and the wine wouldn¡¯t have shattered.


    So it was all about the dough after all!


    Lysander finally understood why Thssa was crying.


    He remembered what Isabe had said: she was also pitiful,


    to be gambled away by her mother.


    For her, that twenty grand was like hitting the lottery.


    No wonder she cried so hard, so desperately, and so helplessly


    Sorting to every possible means, even risking jail time, only for all her hard-earned money


    Lysander pulled out his wallet from his pocket, took out a ck card, and tossed it at her: Take it,


    spend as much as you need, no pin!¡±


    Thssa caught the gold-edged ck card and wiped away her tears. Standing up, she pressed her


    lips together, sobbed once, and said, ¡°Then I¡¯ll tell the manager the wine is on you guys, I¡¯ll go swipe


    the card now¡±


    It was his fault to begin with so he shouldpensate, and Thssa had no reason not to ept


    Twenty grand to Lysander was like a drop in the bucket, but for her, it was the straw that broke the


    camel¡¯s back


    Plus, it was Lysander who broke the wine and he should pay for it.


    So Thssa confidently walked out with the card.


    Inside the private room, everything was chaotic, and the girls brought in were scared stiff


    Who would have thought a part-time waitress would dare to go toe-to-toe with Mr. Sinir?


    And Mr. Sinir even tossed her his ck card and told her to spend away!


    Each of them thought they could profit from Mr. Sinir that day if they could please him, they could hit


    the jackpot tonight.


    Even if they couldnt make money, they were still willing to butter him up


    One of the girls dressed in shy clothes, more gutsy than the rest, walked up to Lysander, stretched


    out her hand ready to grab his arm, and cooed, ¡°Mr. Sinir, don¡¯t be mad, let me keep youpany.¡±


    Before her hand evennded on Lysanders arm, she was scared off by his icy stare.


    The girl embarrassedly withdrew her hand but still tried to flirt with him, winking and saying, ¡°Mr.


    Sinir, I¡¯m good at keepingpany, however you


    want.¡±


    ¡°Scram!¡± Lysander answered disgustedly.


    The girl froze in fear.


    Seeing this, ricughed and said, ¡°Babe,e to me, don¡¯t mess with Lysander. Hes a man with


    someone in his heart; don¡¯t mess with him or you might get hurt.¡±


    ¡°You sure talk a lot.¡± Lysander coldly nced at ric and sat down in his spot.


    ¡°Alright, III shut up. Lysander¡¯s luck in love is about to kick in; how can he still care about a woman from


    the past?¡± ric quickly apologized, but be really did talk a lot, even joking around while apologizing


    After he finished, Lysander¡¯s icy gaze fell on him and said, ¡°ric, drink as much as you can tonight.


    Dr. Everest ising tomorrow; you won¡¯t be able to taste anything after the anesthesia.¡±


    After saying that, Lysander lit up a cigarette, took a puff, and the white smoke swirled around him.


    He only gave her the money because Thssa was Celia¡¯s cousin and they grew up together.


    He didn¡¯t have any special feelings for her.


    ric kept quiet.


    His pain was indescribable, all because he couldn¡¯t keep his mouth shut.


    Richard and Ethan sympathized with him.


    ric¡¯s tongue was about to be numbed, poor guy


    Soon, Thssa entered the room with a broom and mop. She didn¡¯t start cleaning right away. Instead,


    she walked up to Lysander and handed him the ck card, saying, ¡°Here, the twenty grand for the


    wine has been charged to Sapphire Skyline¡¯s ount.¡±


    Lysander¡¯s eyes, through the smoke, looked at her.


    Lysander¡¯s


    White N?velDrama.Org holds this content.


    cere deep, like the night sky distant and mysterious


    rled around his face, giving Thssa a slight chill


    ich for the c

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    Chapter 55


    card, so she bent down to stuff it into his hand, saying. Dont worry I didn¡¯t overcharge you, only for the


    wine


    already wearing a low-cut top, and when she bent over Lysander felt his throat tighten involuntarily


    Her hand brushed his, the touch soft and cold, a feeling he found strangely familiar


    It was just a brief touch, but it was enough to stir up a whirlwind of thoughts in Lysander¡¯s mind.


    His gaze deepened, and he began to show signs of emotional turmoil


    Her unintentional touch was enough to set him on edge


    This woman, Thssa was constantly drawing him in


    Just as Thssa was about to stand up after handing him the ck card he grabbed her wi up sitting


    on hisp


    His thighs were warm, and his muscles were firm


    The moment she sat on hisp, Thssa could feel his change


    Thssa was stunned, her eyes wide open. ¡°Mr. Sinir, what are you doing?¡±


    His hand w big and strong, and with a pull, she ended


    She tried to push him away, but he held her hand, and his other hand was behind her back, preventing


    her from escaping


    His voice was deep and slightly hoarse. ¡°Do I have to make a move on you before you¡¯ll take the


    money?¡±


    He was very generous with Celia¡¯s other friends, giving them a lot of money


    And she was Celia¡¯s cousin, they had grown up together, and he couldn¡¯t bear to see her in distress


    and not give her money


    He asked her to take as much money as she wanted, but she wouldn¡¯t take a dime


    Since she didn¡¯t want free money, did she enjoy trading her body for money?


    His counter-question felt like an insult to Thssa, and she panicked


    She began to struggle fiercely, saying. ¡°Mr. Sinir, let me go. I¡¯m just a waitress. There are plenty of


    women here for you, just pick one¡±


    ric wasughing so hard that his body was shaking ¡°Yeah, Lysander, with so many beauties around,


    why pick on a waitress?


    Lysander gave them a cold look and said, ¡®Get out!¡±


    Ethan and Richard knew better, they also stood up and quickly left the room, afraid that they might get


    N?velDrama.Org holds this content.


    hurt by Lysander¡¯s gaze if they stayed any longer.


    also left, but the woman who had just hit on Lysander stayed, watching Thssa with a hateful look


    She thought


    much prettier than Thssa, why did Mr. Sinir let her sit on hisp and not her?


    by jealousy. nc dragged her away, whispering in her ear. ¡°You¡¯re really brave to stay, arent you


    afraid of dying? Give it up, it s


    never going to be your turn


    The room quickly emptied, and ric even thoughtfully closed the door.


    Now there were just Thssa and Lysander left in the room.


    Thssa had thought that since there were so many people around. Lysander wouldn¡¯t do anything to


    her, she just needed to find a chance to escape his


    hold


    But now


    Thssa was panicking, her scalp was tingling, and her blood seemed to be flowing in reverse. She


    was alternating between fear and shock.


    She struggled desperately, saying, ¡°Mr. Sinir, I¡¯m not what you think, I¡¯m just a waitress.


    Turned out that Lyranders body had started to lose control because of her touch. Her irregr


    movements on hisp made his temperature gradually


    His voice took on an even huskier tone.

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    Chapter 56


    With onerge hand cradling the back of her head and the other gripping her waist, he prevented her


    from struggling


    His eyes were filled with a blurry glow, and his voice was gravelly as he stared into her bright eyes.


    ¡°Aren¡¯t you waitressing here to make some dough?¡±


    Thssa bit her tongue.


    She couldn¡¯t refute his words


    Wasn¡¯t everyone working to make money?


    In the next instant, she froze on the spot, paralyzed with fear.


    His hands roamed restlessly over her body.


    Thssa was terrified to the point of her scalp tingling


    She bent down, her face turning beet red as she red at him. ¡°Lysander! You¡¯re trying to hit on me!¡±


    ¡°Isn¡¯t that what you¡¯re into? ying hard to get? Lysander was out for punishment.


    She was always ying the seductress.


    Were men really that easy to tempt?


    Thssa was livid. Seizing the moment when his grip weakened, she quickly toppled sideways onto


    the couch and gave him a swift kick squarely in theher region.


    Lysander let out a muffled grunt of pain as his hands lost their hold. Instinctively, he covered the


    throbbing area.


    Thssa seized the chance to make a break for it


    Watching Thssa¡¯s retreating figure, Lysander¡¯s eyes turned frosty with anger.


    His eyebrows knitted together.


    She actually dared to kick him, what a brazen woman!


    Property of N?)(velDr(a)ma.Org.


    Thssa¡¯s heart raced. If it weren¡¯t for her hand clutching her chest, she would have thought her heart


    was about to pop out


    She headed to the reception, found the manager, and told him she wanted to quit


    The manager asked curiously. ¡°You just started and already sold a bottle of wine, earning a thousand in


    that¡¯s a month¡¯s sry at your office job. With such good efficiency, why quit?¡±


    Thssa¡¯s face turned crimson, and she stammered, ¡°I was mistaken for a certain type of woman by a


    customer¡±


    Seeing her flushed face, the manager caught on: You¡¯re quite the looker, have you ever thought of


    switching careers? You might earn even more.¡±


    ¡°No, manager. Waitressing is my bottom line, and I can¡¯t go any lower Please settle my bill and I need


    to leave before the customer returns, or I can¡¯t exin. Thssa immediately refused.


    No matter how tough or difficult, she wouldn¡¯t stoop so low.


    She would neverpromise her principles for money or anything else.


    No matter how tough, she would earn her money through her own hard work and brains, never selling


    herself out. Nor would she take money she shouldn¡¯t


    ¡°Alright then, if you ever want toe back, give me a call.¡± The manager agreed, settling her bill and


    letting her go.


    Everyone had their own aspirations; he can¡¯t force her to do something she didn¡¯t want to.


    Besides, it¡¯s better if she didn¡¯t do such things


    Thssa collected her earnings and hastily left Sapphire Skyline


    She had encountered Lysander twice in her two shifts here and been hit on by him twice!


    She was so scared that her heart was about to give out.


    Back in the private room, Lysander took a while to recover from the pain in hisher region.


    That woman was ruthless!


    If he ever ran into her again, he wouldn¡¯t let her off so easily.

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    Chapter 57


    Thssa managed to make over a grand from this part-time gig


    Plus, she used her own bank ount this time, so she didn¡¯t have to worry about Evelyn swiping the


    money to gamble it away


    Humming a tune. Thssa returned home to a pitch-ck house Evelyn and the kids were already


    snoozing


    She whipped out her phone and sent Hertha three thousand, took a shower, and hit the hay


    That night, Thssa slept like a baby, free from the weight of debt


    She even had a n for the kids milk powder and clothes.


    Thssa rented a two-bedroom apartment. Evelyn and the kids upied one room, and Thssa took


    the other


    In her dream, she was perched on Lysander¡¯sp. His handsome face was so close that she could see


    every pore. His skin was firm and springy. radiating power. The potent smell of his masculinity filled the


    N?velDrama.Org holds this content.


    air around her, and his hot breath made her shiver.


    Her body responded on its own ord.


    She was actually cradling Lysander¡¯s perfect face in her hands, puckering up his lips. Sheughed and


    said. ¡°Ha, Lysander, you¡¯ve fallen into my trap. Come on, give me a kiss. You can¡¯t escape now


    With that, she puckered her lips and leaned in for a kiss.


    Wow, such a perfect and handsome man was hers. Awesome!


    ¡°Lysander¡±


    Suddenly a smack on her forehead jolted her awake.


    She opened her eyes to Evelyn¡¯s angry face, a stark contrast to the face in her dream


    ¡°Daydreaming again? Look at the sun, it¡¯s high time you got up!¡± Evelyn scolded. ¡°You¡¯re in your


    twenties and still single, not even with a boyfriend. You¡¯re going on a blind date in a few days¡±¡±


    Evelyn was both disgusted and worried.


    Thssa was a normal woman, She¡¯d been taking care of four kids for years without a single male


    friend. Any man who showed interest in her bolted


    when they learned about the kids.


    Look at her so lonely, she was dating men in her dreams.


    She was just chuckling in her sleep, puckering up to kiss someone. Evelyn couldn¡¯t bear to watch.


    Thssa rubbed her throbbing forehead, looking wronged.


    Strange, why was she dreaming about Lysander? And even wanting to get intimate with him in her


    dream.


    It must be because Lysander had her sit on hispst night. That suggestive pose and his words left a


    deep impression.


    That¡¯s why she had such a dream.


    And her mom caught her How embarrassing.


    ¡°Mom, don¡¯t bother setting me up its a waste of time. No one¡¯s going to want a mom with four kids,


    Thssa replied as she got up.


    ¡°You knew that, but you didn¡¯t do anything about it Now do you regret it?¡± Evelyn reproached her.


    Evelyn had gotten pregnant unexpectedly when she was young. She knew the pain well and didn¡¯t


    expect her daughter to follow in her footsteps.


    1 didnt have a choice back then¡± Thssa exined

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    Chapter 58


    Thssa wanted to say she was also a victim, but at the sight of Evelyn¡¯s expectant and serious gaze,


    she held her tongue.


    What¡¯s going on? Spill the beans: who¡¯s the father of your kids? For all these years, you¡¯ve never


    mentioned him! Even if you don¡¯t want to be with him, he should shoulder some responsibility for the


    kids.¡± Evelyn pressed.


    If Thssa could find the kids father and make him share some of the burden, her life wouldn¡¯t be so


    hard.


    Tve already told you; I don¡¯t know. Mom, please stop asking me.¡± This was an old issue, and Thssa


    really didn¡¯t want to go over it again.


    If she knew who their father was, she would have sought him out long ago.


    She couldn¡¯t tell Evelyn about the assault she had endured at home. If she did, Evelyn would be even


    more devastated, perhaps crying herself to pieces.


    You really know how to worry a person.¡¯ Evelyn sighed, full of helplessness.


    She¡¯d asked so many times, but Thssa just wouldnt say who the kids¡¯ father was!


    Breakfast time rolled around, and the kids all tucked in with gusto.


    Thssa cheerfully took care of them during breakfast


    Evelyn said, ¡°Since you have some free timetely, let¡¯s go back to our hometown today.¡±


    ¡°Why are we going back to our hometown?¡± Thssa asked curiously.


    Today is the anniversary of your cousin Celia¡¯s death. Astrid called me and wants us to go pay respects


    at the cemetery. Evelyn replied.


    The mention of cousin Celia brought a wave of sadness over Thssa, wiping the smile off her face.


    Celia was the daughter of Thssa¡¯s aunt Astrid and uncle Ryan. They had been a happy family, but


    Celia had identally drowned while ying near a pond as a child. Nobody was around to help, and


    she didn¡¯t survive.


    Celia¡¯s father was so devastated by the tragedy that he fell ill and died a few yearster, leaving Astrid


    alone.


    So, every year, they would pay tribute to Celia and Ryan¡¯s graves.


    After breakfast, Thssa booked train tickets back home.


    When the six of them walked to the edge of the vige, a luxurious car sped past them.


    The car brushed past Thssa, almost hitting her.


    Fortunately, Thssa was quick to react and jumped to the side, avoiding being hit.


    She turned around to see that the ck car had stopped in the vige square.


    Property of N?)(velDr(a)ma.Org.


    Many vigers were gathered in the square, enjoying their chat.


    The car door opened, and a trendy and sexy woman stepped out. She wore heavy makeup, thick


    foundation, bright red lipstick, sunsses, and high heels.


    After getting out of the car, she flicked her hair over her shoulder and said, ¡®Oh my, even riding in a


    luxury car is tiring. My back is killing me.¡±


    ¡°Isn¡¯t that Isabe? What kind of car is this? It looks really luxurious; I¡¯ve never seen such a fancy car in


    my life.¡± An elder from the vige approached, his eyes shining as he looked at the ck luxury car


    Isabe leaned against, then at her, expressing great surprise.


    ¡°Look, this is an Audi; each one costs tens of thousands of dors.¡± Isabe opened her thickly painted


    lips and said it with a proud smile, emphasizing the price of tens of thousands of dors.


    ¡°Tens of thousands per car, that¡¯s rich. Isabe, you¡¯re doing really well; you¡¯re the richest person in our


    vige. An elder gave Isabe a thumbs-up in


    praise.


    Isabe stood tall and proud, basking in the praise and envy of the vigers. She had deliberately


    stopped the car to bask in the admiration and respect of the entire vige.


    ¡°Oh, who¡¯s that carrying lots of bags and with four children? Is that Thssa?¡± Another viger


    suddenly spotted a family panting and walking their way ¡°That¡¯s Thssa. Look at her, with four


    children and carrying all their luggage on foot. The contrast between her and Isabeing home is


    stark.¡± The elder, who had praised Isabe earlier, looked at Thssa,ughing as he spoke.

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    Chapter 59


    That smile was dripping with sarcasm.


    Evelyn, who usually had a mouth on her, was now feeling like crawling into a hole after hearing the


    vige folk¡¯s put-downs. She had no choice but to stick close to Thssa, her head hanging low.


    Isabe¡¯s life was better than Thssa¡¯s, with money, power, and a big house, and every time she


    came back, she drove a fancy car and wore designer clothes.


    And there they were, dressed modestly, having to hoof it back home.


    She felt too inferior to look up.


    Her own daughter, unable to match up to others.


    Thssa was already in a bad mood after nearly being hit by Isabe¡¯s car.


    Now, hearing the vige elders¡¯ments, her face darkened even more. She had nned to ignore


    them. She didn¡¯t like topete with others. She knew how good or bad her life was; everyone¡¯s


    needs were different, so there was no need topare.


    Thssa, with her luggage on her back, walked across the vige square.


    Suddenly, Isabe¡¯s derogatory words rang out: Thssa, are you tired carrying that luggage on your


    back? Your shoulders must be chafed, right? We both live in the city. If you had told me beforehand, I


    could have given you a lift. It¡¯s okay if you don¡¯t have a car, you¡¯ve got me, your dear cousin.¡±


    Thedy who had previously praised Isabe chimed in. ¡°Thssa, you should learn from your cousin.


    Look at her, not only does she have a wealthy boyfriend, but her career is also very sessful, making


    her the richest person in the vige. She¡¯s a good person, not looking down on you, this poor rtive of


    hers, and willing to give you a lift. Don¡¯t be so stubborn, if you don¡¯t have anything, then you have to


    ask others for help. Riding in your cousin¡¯s car isn¡¯t shameful.¡±


    Thssa suddenly stopped in her tracks, lifted her chin, and said to thedy, ¡°How is it that I have


    nothing? Are these four children not mine?¡±


    She took a deep look at Isabe, gave a small smirk, and said, ¡°Don¡¯t judge a book by its cover, how do


    you know she¡¯s so kind-hearted?¡±


    Wasn¡¯t it Isabe who schemed against her and slept with her boyfriend?


    At the Sinir group, Isabe had deliberately ndered her, iming she was a criminal with a


    record.


    Such a woman was actually praised as kind hearted?


    Isabe sure knew how to put on a show, seeming all sweet and kind but actually cunning as a fox.


    That woman was always a fair-weather friend.


    Seeing Thssa proudly mention her four children, she dismissed it with a sneer.


    Her disdain was all too clear


    Rural women valued their reputation above all else.


    Thssa was not only pregnant before marriage but also had four children!


    And to this day, she didn¡¯t even know who the father of the children was. If it were anyone else, they


    would have been too ashamed toe home.


    And yet, she was still so proud. Shameless.


    ¡°You¡¯re really poor and proud; misunderstanding my goodwill, you deserve to be poor all your life.¡± The


    woman took Isabe¡¯s side; Thssa had actually said Isabe was not what she seemed. questioning


    her goodwill.


    The woman¡¯s words became more and more blunt and rude, trying to curry favor with Isabe and suck


    up.


    Content ? N?velDrama.Org 2024.


    to her.


    At first, Evelyn felt ashamed of their poverty, but now Isabe and the woman¡¯s words were


    unbearable.


    Her temper red up. She lifted her head and said loudly to the woman, ¡°What does our poverty have


    to do with you? We didn¡¯t ask you for food.¡±


    ¡°Well, no.¡±


    ¡°Well, then, shut up and stop


    op saying meaningless things! As an elder, you should behave properly. Otherwise, when you die, no


    one might be willing to put up a tombstone for you. Evelyn said it angrily.


    When it came to arguing, no one could beat Evelyn.


    Evelyn usually k¨¦pt to herself, but once she was riled up, her words were unmatched in the vige.

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    That woman was so pissed off by her words that she turned beet red Clearly, she was mad as hell but


    didn¡¯t say anything more


    Isabe looked at Thssa¡¯s family dirt poor but still holding their heads high How could she possibly


    take this lying down?


    She parked her car right at the entrance of the vige, all to show off and put Thssa down


    With her heavy makeup and stuck up face, she tossed her head back and said nonchntly. ¡°Evelyn, it


    looks like you¡¯re getting on in years, and your clothes are all worn out. No jewelry on you, huh? Is


    Thssa giving you a hard time? Come with me to the city tomorrow, and I¡¯ll get you a diamond


    ne¡±


    Isabe¡¯s words sounded respectful, but actually, she was just belittling Thssa and mocking Evelyn.


    Evelyn¡¯s face turned beet red in embarrassment


    Her clothes were indeed old, with no decorations at all, not even an earring


    N?velDrama.Org holds this content.


    Just then, the four kids approached.


    Mom. Grandma¡±¡±


    They ran up holding Evelyn and Thssa¡¯s hands.


    Sophia, with her adorable little face, looked up at Isabe and whispered, ¡®Are you really going to buy


    jewelry for my grandma? She won¡¯t have time tomorrow Why don¡¯t you give her that diamond bracelet


    you¡¯re wearing?¡±


    Isabe nced at the sparkling diamond bracelet on her wrist and instinctively covered it with her


    other hand


    She was caught off guard and said, ¡°It¡¯s not suitable to give Evelyn something I¡¯ve worn.¡±


    Elowen fluttered her beautiful eyes and said gently. ¡°My grandma won¡¯t mind.¡±


    ¡°Yes, my grandma loves diamonds, and since you want to give her one, why not just give her this?


    Dorian¡¯s innocent eyes looked at Isabe with sincerity Isabe had just been showing off her wealth,


    implying Thssa couldn¡¯t afford jewelry and suggesting she would take Evelyn shopping in the city.


    She was just trying to embarrass Thssa and Evelyn, not actually nning to take her shopping


    Now the three kids were grilling her one by one, asking her to give her diamond bracelet to Evelyn.


    It cost a fortune; how could she possibly give it to Evelyn?


    She gave an awkwardugh and said. ¡°This is old, I¡¯ll get her a new one tomorrow¡±


    Diamonds dont get old Are you just making excuses because you don¡¯t want to give them to my


    grandma?¡± Sophia, who had quite a bit of knowledge about jewelry knew better


    She wore a baseball cap, her eyes as beautiful as gems, staring at isabe.


    She even made Isabe feel pressured.


    Just like Lysander¡¯s child, so young but already so strong-willed.


    Isabe was left speechless, her eyes darting around, looking for an excuse to get out of there.


    The woman who was justplimenting Isabe and looking down on Thssa was taken aback by


    the four kids, who were articte, doll-like and beautiful


    They were like works of art, even more attractive than celebrities.


    Most importantly, they were all very smart, which surprised the adults.


    No wonder Thssa was so proud Who wouldn¡¯t be proud of having such beautiful and brilliant


    children?


    1 know you¡¯re nich, but my mom is very kind, and we all love her Seeing Isabe¡¯s eyes flicker, Atticus


    knew she was looking for an excuse to leave, and he summed up the situation with his childish voice.


    ¡°Yeah, we all adore mom¡± The rest of the kids chimed in

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    Chapter 61


    Evelyn was pleased and reminded them, ¡°Don¡¯t forget about grandma¡±


    ¡°Yeah, we love grandma too. The children echoed together, their voices so sweet, making all the adults


    feel warm


    Evelyn smiled, lifting her head, no longer feeling inferior or unable to face others.


    At this moment, she felt immense pride


    Who could be happier than her, having four grandkids who love her so much?


    Hearing the kids, Thssa felt incredibly touched.


    Her four kids were the most precious wealth in her life.


    They were her pride,


    Something money can never buy


    She told Isabe, You may be loaded, but you¡¯re only living for yourself, not sharing your blessings. So


    chill out, don¡¯t go showing off everywhere. You¡¯re living it up doesn¡¯t mean everyone else can¡±


    After saying this, she shot a meaningful nce at the woman standing next to Isabe


    The woman shrank under her look, feeling ashamed. She thought Thssa should be the one feeling


    shamed, but now it seemed like she was the one who should be embarrassed.


    Thssa was right, just by buttering up the rich, could she be rich herself?


    Rich people wouldn¡¯t hand her money just because of her ttery.


    Isabe, hearing Thssa¡¯s words and watching their backs as they left, was fuming.


    Thssa, despite struggling in life, still managed to be so happy and carefree!


    How lucky could she be?


    Even living in an old house, she still managed to catch a break and even had four kids!


    Isabe had tried her best to make her life difficult!


    Yet she still managed to keep her chin up, staying positive and confident!


    Isabe was green with envy.


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    In terms of looks, she was no less than Thssa; in terms of ability, she was even better. She¡¯d tried


    every trick in the book to live a life of luxury, so why couldn¡¯t she be as happy as Thssa?


    Because she hadnt seen Thssa hit rock bottom, she hadn¡¯t seen Thssa begging for her help!


    Yes, that must be it, that¡¯s why she wasn¡¯t happy!


    She would make sure that one day Thssa would be unable to make ends meet, crying and begging


    her for money. Only then would she truly be happy!


    Thssa returned home with the kids.


    This was the ce where she grew up, a brick and tile house, albeit shabby, but she kept it clean and


    tidy


    The copsed old house and pigsty had been cleaned up and turned into a vegetable garden, growing


    all kinds of veggies.


    Her house was right behind Isabe¡¯s.


    Isabe¡¯s house used to be a brick and tile house, just like hers, old and run down, But ever since she


    got rich, she tore down the old house and built a fancy skyscraper


    The skyscraper blocked the sunlight from Thssa¡¯s house, leaving it mostly in shadows, except in


    summer.


    So, this already poor house seemed even more gloomy.


    ¡°Auntie, how are you feeling? Are you sick?¡± Thssa asked with concern when she found Astrid


    resting in bed aftering home.


    Thssa¡¯s family had gone to Starhaven to make a living, leaving Astrid alone at home.


    Usually Astrid was as fit as a fiddle, but she seemed a bit off now.


    She was only in her forties, two years younger than Thssa¡¯s mother, Evelyn,


    But she seemed so old, with half her hair gone white and wrinkles and age spots all over her face.


    She aged so fast due to years of depression.


    Her daughter¡¯s idental death followed by her husband¡¯s death from excessive grief had hit Astrid


    hard.


    Over the years, she had been in low spirits.


    So, she aged pretty quickly.

 Chapter 62

    Chapter 62


    Im fine, just a bit under the weather, Astrid said with a grin stered across her face as they returned


    ¡°Astrid, we¡¯re back!¡± Elowen, lively as a bunny, hopped over to Astrid¡¯s bedside. Her round face was lit


    up with a sweet smile.


    ¡°Elowen, you¡¯re back. Let me take a look at you. Wow, you¡¯re growing up to be quite the heartbreaker,


    Astrid said, her face filled with love as she gently caressed Elowen¡¯s soft cheeks.


    Belongs ? to N?velDrama.Org.


    ¡°Hi, Astrid,¡± Dorian chimed in, moving closer to greet Astrid.


    ¡°Astrid,¡± Atticus added.


    ¡°Hello, Astrid.¡± Sophia came forward to greet her too.


    Astrid was grinning from ear to ear. Tve got loads of sweets. Let me fetch them for you.¡±


    She got off the bed and pulled out a handful of beautifully wrapped candies from her cupboard,


    distributing them among the four children.


    These candies were gifts from the vigers during festivals. She¡¯d saved them for when the kids came


    around.


    The kids were thrilled with the candies and started munching on them, their faces beaming with


    delight.


    ¡°Thanks, Astrid they chorused in their cute little voices


    Astrid¡¯s face wrinkled withughter ¡°Ah, don¡¯t mention it.¡±


    Then the four kids scampered off to y.


    Watching their small figures disappear, Astrid¡¯sughter turned into tears. Her heart ached so much


    that it felt suffocating.


    Her own daughter was about their age when she drowned


    If she were still alive, her child would be as old as them now.


    Seeing Astrid in tears, Thssa quickly handed her a tissue. ¡°Astrid, it¡¯s all in the past. I believe Celia


    must have been reborn somewhere else by now, living a happy life in some other corner of the world¡±


    Astrid nodded through her sobs and said. ¡®It¡¯s been many years now. What¡¯s hard to ept is for us,


    the living.¡±


    Thssa felt a lump in her throat. She was a mother too, aware of the unbearable pain of losing a


    child


    She could empathize with Astrid¡¯s anguish and torment.


    Handing Thssa a tissue. Astrid wiped her tears and regained herposure. ¡°Let¡¯s pack up and


    head to the graveyard. We shouldn¡¯t let Celia feel alone.¡±


    Thssa nodded.


    Celia was buried in Hollowbrook¡¯s public cemetery.


    To get there, they had to cross a narrow, dirt ridden country road


    The kids frolicked along the path ahead like little bunnies, with the adults trailing behind them.


    Astrid, still hale and hearty, walked on her own. Thssa offered her support.


    Soon, they arrived at the graveyard.


    Unlike the city, rural graves weren¡¯t cemented neatly but were simple earthen graves with rudimentary


    stone tombstones and no pictures.


    Thssa and Astridid down the food they¡¯d brought in front of Celia¡¯s grave and cleared off the


    weeds around it.


    Just then, Isabe arrived and said, ¡°Auntie, I¡¯m here to visit Celia.¡±


    Isabe addressed Astrid as ¡®Auntie


    Astrid gave her a nod


    Isabe stepped forward towards the grave, silently praying, ¡°Celia, I¡¯m sorry, I didn¡¯t mean to use your


    name to deceive Lysander. I didn¡¯t mean to offend you. Please forgive me¡±


    She knew that today was Celia¡¯s death anniversary and hade especially to pay her respects,


    hoping that Celia wouldn¡¯t me her for using her name to hide the truth that Lysander¡¯s bedfellow that


    night was actually Thssa.


    Meanwhile, a-ck Rolls Royce pulled up at the entrance of Hollowbrook


    Lysander, seated in the back, exuded an aura of calmposure


    His assistant, David, stopped the car and asked a local, ¡®Excuse me, could you tell me where Celia¡¯s


    grave is?¡±

 Chapter 63

    Chapter 63


    The vigers pointed to a narrow country path ahead.


    Following that path would lead to the vige cemetery.


    The path was so narrow that a car couldn¡¯t make it through.


    David turned back and asked Lysander with a questioning gaze, ¡°Mr. Sinir, the road¡¯s too narrow and


    all muddy. It might be tricky to get the car through:


    Without much thought, Lysander got out of the car.


    The feel and scent of Thssa the night before were so simr to those of that woman five years ago.


    He deliberately slid his hand under her clothes, her skin smooth as satin, the soft touch stirring him up


    and reminding him of that night with that woman,


    His blood was boiling, and his throat was tingling.


    He kept Thssa by his side to strengthen his willpower and resist being drawn to her


    Even if she were lying naked in front of him, he would stay cool.


    Content ? N?velDrama.Org 2024.


    But she just touched his hand and then bent down in front of him, her chest view almost exposed, and


    he nearly lost control.


    This was not a good sign.


    So Lysander decided to visit Celia¡¯s grave that day to see what the woman he had been involved with


    looked like, to tell Celia and Thssa apart, and to cool himself down.


    Besides, that woman had saved him with her body He hadnt thanked her in person, nor had he visited


    her grave.


    Even if she were no longer alive, he should visit her grave.


    Seeing Lysander get out of the car, David hurriedly followed, apanying him down the country


    path.


    Ahead was an endless green field, vast and open, with asional birds flying low over the paddy


    fields.


    The air was fresh, and the scenery was green and pleasing to the eye.


    The journey, however, was a bit tough.


    At this point, the vigers rushed over after hearing the news, gawking at the luxury car and Lysander


    Hollowbrook was a rtively poor vige, most of the vigers hadn¡¯t been to the big city and were


    quite naive.


    The best car they¡¯d seen was Isabe¡¯s Audi.


    Now seeing a shining Rolls-Royce, they all came to gawk in awe.


    ¡°Good lord, this car is so fancy, look at it shine.¡±


    I¡¯ve seen this logo on TV, it¡¯s a Rolls-Royce, worth millions a pop.¡± A slightly younger viger


    eximed.


    ¡°Millions for a car, oh my, that¡¯s rich! Who¡¯s this wealthy young maning to our vige in such a


    fancy car?¡± Thedy who had previously admired Isabe and looked down on Thssa was so


    shocked that her eyes were popping out


    She was in awe and disbelief


    Poverty really limited her imagination. She had no idea what a car worth millions looked like, even in


    her wildest dreams.


    ¡°That man is also so handsome, tall, noble, and good looking. If only he could be my son-inw.¡± The


    She¡¯d lived her whole life, and this was the first time she¡¯d seen such a handsome man.


    She¡¯d never seen such a handsome man on TV


    ¡°Don¡¯t dream about it. He¡¯s here to mourn Celia, he¡¯s probably has something to do with the Everharts.¡±


    The viger, who had just pointed the way to David, mocked the middle-ageddy¡¯s fantasies.


    Upon hearing this, thedy¡¯s face turned dark. Was he looking for Thssa?


    Could he be the father of Thssa¡¯s children?


    On closer inspection, the man¡¯s eyes and eyebrows did resemble Atticus, Thssa¡¯s eldest son.


    How could Thssa, that poor woman, have such good fortune?


    Thedy looked discontent and her earlier anticipation was instantly shattered.


    Country roads were dusty, and Lysander¡¯s normally spotless shoes were soon covered in mud.

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    Chapter 64


    His brow was slightly furrowed, but he didnt sweat it pressing on


    Dand followed behind, looking like he might keel over any minute and take a tumble into the nearby


    field. The field was full of rice paddies, all filed with water if he slipped, he¡¯d be a mess of mud, and it


    wouldn¡¯t be a pretty sight


    David¡¯s shaky gat was because the man in front of him was a veteran Lysander had been trained in


    bnce, while David was just a regr office drone


    Naturally his bnce wasn¡¯t as good as Lysander¡¯s.


    Soon, he was left behind by Lysander


    Lysander headed towards the cemetery, while David was still struggling on the narrow path


    Over here, after paying their respects. Evelyn and Astrid took the four kids to pick reeds in the dried up


    pond, keeping the kids entertained


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    The reeds were tall,pletely hiding them once they went in.


    At the graves, only Thssa and Isabe were left.


    Thssa was tidying up the ce


    Isabe couldn¡¯t be bothered to lift a finger, she just sat on a cushion off to the side, catching some Zs


    Lysander walked over, his gaze falling on Thssa first. His eyes were slightly cold, questioning.


    Thssa, what are you doing here?¡±


    His voice was deep and pleasant, sounding unreal in the openness of the outdoors.


    Thssa thought she misheard. She was bent over cleaning, and when she looked up, her eyes met


    the unwrinkled legs of his trousers. She followed the


    line up


    She looked up to see a man, dressed to the nines with an air of elegance, standing in front of her His


    features were sharp, his eyes deep, hisshes long. and his lips sensual.


    In this rustic setting, his handsomeness and elegance were like a god walking among mortals


    Thssa¡¯s heart raced when she first saw him, stunned by his good looks.


    The next moment, she hastily stood up, her eyes wide in surprise, stuttering, ¡°Mr Sinir, what are you


    doing here?¡±


    Shouldnt he be at Starhaven, in the top office of the Sinir Group?


    How did he end up in this backwater ce?


    Lysander approached her, answering, ¡°Paying homage.¡±


    ¡°Mr. Sinir, you¡¯re here! Isabe woke up with a start at the sound of his voice. Upon seeing


    Lysander, her heart fluttered. She quickly got up and walked over to him with ttery.


    How could we trouble you toe all the way out here?¡± She quickly brought over the cushion she had


    been napping on and ced it under Lysanders feet so he wouldn¡¯t dirty his shoes


    Seeing Isabe¡¯s ingratiating smile, Thssa rolled her eyes inwardly.


    Isabe¡¯s ttery was showing


    Lysander nced at the cushion at his feet, his brow furrowed, clearly displeased.


    He didn¡¯t stand on the cushion but walked around it to the grassy area nearby


    There were several graves here all lined up, with a monument in front of each one


    Behind the graves were willow trees, their branches hanging low partially shading the graves like


    umbres.


    Lysanders eyes swept over them,nding on the name Celia on one of the monuments


    The monument looked very cl like someone had just tidied it up, and there were some offerings in front


    of it.


    He had assumed there would be a picture of Celia on the monument, but to his surprise, there was only


    a name.


    He looked at the other monuments, they were all the same


    It seemed that in Hollowbrook tradition, pictures of the deceased were not ced on the monuments.


    Isabe noticed that Lysander didn¡¯t step on the cushion she hadid out, but she didn¡¯t feel awkward.


    She smiled and said, ¡°Mr Sinir, this is my cousin C¡¯s grave You can pay your respects to her¡±


    Thssa was curious about the connection between Lysander and Celia. Why had hee to mourn


    her?


    She stepped forward to ask, ¡°Mr. Sinir, I¡¯m very grateful that you¡¯vee to mourn my cousin, but I


    want to know why you¡¯vee to mourn her. Did you know her?¡±

 Chapter 65

    Chapter 65


    Back in the day. Celia ended up biting the dust when she identally drowned in a pond.


    Technically speaking, there should be no connection between her and Lysander


    Lysander had no rtives in Celia¡¯s family


    She lived with Astrid for over 20 years and never heard a peep about any connection between their


    family and Lysander.


    Lysander was engrossed in paying his respects, not giving any answers to her questions.


    After hearing Thssa¡¯s question, Isabe¡¯s heart started racing fast like a cheetah, fearing her lies


    would be busted. She hastily said, ¡°I spilled the beans to Mr. Sinir. He¡¯s a peach, and he felt sorry for


    Celia What¡¯s wrong with him paying his respects?¡±


    Thssa frowned and kept quiet.


    Turned out that Isabe was the one who spilled the tea about Celia to Lysander.


    Seemed like Isabe and Lysander were tight, otherwise, why would she b about family matters to


    Lysander?


    And why was Lysander so invested in Isabe¡¯s family, even going out of his way for Celia?


    If Isabe and Lysander weren¡¯t close, how could she waltz in and out of the Sinir group and even


    Lysander¡¯s office?


    Just how close they were, though, remained to be seen.


    Lysander stood by the grave, gazing deeply at the tombstone.


    This was the woman he was close to five years ago. He felt like it was justst night when he could


    sense her vivacious and tender touch.


    But now she was six feet under forever.


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    Looked like it was time for him to move on.


    ¡°Mr. Sinir, you¡¯ve traveled a long way to get to Hollowbrook, you must be starving. Why note to


    my ce? I¡¯ll cook up a storm.¡± Isabe was all smiles and showed much respect as she hovered


    around Lysander


    Lysander turned his head, and his deep gaze fell on Thss. ¡°I¡¯ll go to her ce.¡±


    He wanted to see the ce where Celia grew up.


    Thssa was taken aback. Lysander wanted to have dinner at her ce?


    After hearing this, Isabe was instantly on pins and needles. She quickly said. ¡°Mr. Sinir, her ce


    is a bit shabby: it¡¯s not prepared to host a meal. I¡¯m afraid they can¡¯t entertain you properly. You should


    Thssa¡¯s ce was indeed rundown, and she had just returned home, so she missed the morning


    market. There was no food at home to entertain Lysander.


    All they had were some homegrown vegetables, which was way too simple


    Lysander was loaded and very high ss; he was used to fine dining, so he might not be ustomed


    to such simple food.


    Lysander, with his high status, should be treated to the best.


    Besides, if Lysander were to dine at Thssa¡¯s ce, and if Thssa brought up Celia¡¯s death and the


    incident five years ago where Lysander was saved by a woman in the woodshed¡­ Everything would


    be out in the open.


    All her hard-earned wealth would go down the drain.


    The thought of this made Isabe¡¯s heart flutter with fear.


    ¡°Cut the crap and lead the way!¡± Lysander¡¯s stern face and tone were upromising


    His assertive attitude and words made Thssa feel oppressed, causing her shoulders to shake


    involuntarily.


    His aura was overwhelmingly strong, making Thssa feel a bit scared.


    All she could do was swallow her fear and lead him home.


    Isabe seemed to keep her cool on the outside, but she was actually a hot mess inside.


    What now? Lysander was hell-bent on going to Thssa¡¯s ce.


    No way she could let this happen! She had to tail them the whole way.


    She absolutely couldn¡¯t let Thssa and Lysander bring up the incident from five years ago.


    Thssa led the way, and Lysander followed closely behind her. However, Isabe tailed Lysander and


    kept up with his every step, afraid of falling behind.

 Chapter 66

    Chapter 66


    David had just arrived at the graveyard when he saw Thssa and Lysander turning back the way they


    came. He could do nothing but follow them back, feeling totally bummed out and thinking that this was


    no way for a person to live.


    After the small country path, they hit the vige road, which,paratively, was easier to tread.


    As Thssa reached the vige entrance, she saw a big crowd gawking at the Rolls Royce. On


    spotting them, the vigers eyed Lysander with anticipation as their gazes filled with curiosity,


    admiration, and a hint of fear.


    As Thssa and Lysander approached, the vigers were awestruck by Lysander¡¯s intimidating aura,


    each taking a step back to maintain a respectful distance while still watching from a yard away.


    ¡°Lysander, slow down, wait for me Isabe jogged over and began walking parallel to Lysander while


    looking up and grinning at him, her face full of


    adoration.


    She looked at him with the adoration and tenderness of a smitten woman.


    Lysander didn¡¯t even spare her a nce.


    Isabe¡¯s adoring gaze at Lysander left the vigers gobsmacked.


    Turned out that this loaded dude hade for Isabe.


    Had Isabe snagged a rich boyfriend?


    That would exin why Isabe had suddenly be so wealthy, driving luxury cars and building


    mansions. The guy must be rolling in dough, or how else could he afford Isabe¡¯svish lifestyle?


    This rich, charming man must be Isabes boyfriend


    The curious vigers felt they had their answer and began to chatter among themselves. They were all


    green with envy at Isabe.


    The whispers inevitably reached Thssa¡¯s ears. She heard the vigers say. ¡°So this is Isabe¡¯s


    boyfriend. He¡¯s so handsome and rich. Isabe is so lucky.¡±


    For some reason, she felt a pang of sadness


    If Lysander was Isabe¡¯s boyfriend, why did he pull her onto hispst night?


    Was he toying with her?


    After the wave of sadness, Thssa felt a surge of anger.


    Thssa quickly walked back home and stood in the living room, not offering to cook.


    Lysander walked into her home as his gaze swept over theyout of the whole house.


    It was a single-story brick-and-tile house. The whitewashed walls were crumbling, and the paint was


    peeling off in chunks. The roof tiles were old too; they were sure to leak if it rained


    Despite its shabby exterior, the inside was spotlessly clean and tidy.


    However, the whole house was cold and damp. Long-term residence here would surely lead to


    rheumatism.


    The conditions were truly appalling


    Lysander¡¯s brow furrowed slightly, and he asked in a low voice, ¡°Is there anyone else in your family?¡±


    ¡°My family¡­¡±


    Property of N?)(velDr(a)ma.Org.


    ¡°Thssa works outside all year round, leaving only her aunt, Astrid, at home, who is Celia¡¯s mother.¡¯


    Isabe answered for her before she could speak She feared Thssa would mention her four


    children.


    If Lysander knew about Thssa¡¯s kids, he would undoubtedly probe further, making it impossible for


    her to hide the truth.


    Lysander gave Isabe a cold look, ¡°I didn¡¯t ask you!¡±


    Isabe was taken aback by his icy gaze. She shrank back and no longer had the courage to say


    anything more.


    Thssa responded, ¡°She¡¯s right, my aunt lives here alone.¡±


    ¡°Where is she?¡± Lysander¡¯s gaze shifted inside the house.


    Since she was Celia¡¯s mother, he, of course, needed to meet her personally and arrange a better ce


    for her to live.


    ¡°She¡¯s out, probably ying cards. Isabe added nervously


    She deliberately mentioned Astrid being at the card table, hoping Lysander would realize that Astrid


    also liked to y cards and gamble.


    ¡°Who said she was at the card table?¡± Thssa retorted, unwilling to let Isabe belittle her aunt.

 Chapter 67

    Chapter 67


    Isabe was always badmouthing her, and she now wanted to smear Astrid in front of everybody else.


    Thssa wouldn¡¯t have it


    Astrid was a genuine and kind person; she was never a card shark. She was always working in the


    fields or weeding her vegetable plot.


    How on earth could Astrid be at a poker table?


    After hearing Thssa¡¯s objection, Isabe became so nervous that she could now hear her own heart


    pounding


    She was worried that Thssa might blurt out that Astrid had taken the kids out


    Just when Isabe¡¯s nervousness began to cause her fingers to shake, Thssa spoke up again.


    Content ? N?velDrama.Org 2024.


    ¡°Astrid¡¯s out; she¡¯s not at home now¡±


    After saying this, she turned to Lysander ¡°Mr. Sinir, have a seat. I¡¯ll go pick some veggies from my


    garden for cookingter, okay?¡±


    She moved over a chair that was dusty and had cobwebs on it.


    She really didn¡¯t know why Lysander hade to her house.


    Since he was Isabe¡¯s boyfriend, wouldn¡¯t it be better to go directly to Isabe¡¯s ce?


    Did hee to her ce to mock her with Isabe?


    Or to make fun of Astrid?


    Thssa was very displeased with Isabe After she had seen Isabe¡¯s dirty tricks, she didn¡¯t want to


    get too close to her in case she became her


    target again.


    She deliberately moved over a chair full of dust. Lysander was neat, tidy, noble, and handsome. She


    wanted to see if he could bear to sit down.


    ¡°Mr. Sinir is a very distinguished man, how could he sit on such a dirty chair? Mr. Sinir,e to


    my house. I¡¯ve made quite a bit of money doing business these past few years and built a big house


    with marble floors, not like here, with dirt floors.¡± Isabe was desperate to get Lysander back to her


    house, she couldn¡¯t let him stay at Thssa¡¯s for long


    As long as Lysander went to her house, everything could be discussed.


    Lysander nced at the dusty chair and then looked coldly at Thssa, like a needle prick, causing a


    sharp pain in Thssas heart.


    Thssa¡¯s heart pounded without warning.


    ¡°No need; I can¡¯t stomach Hollowbrook¡¯s food!¡± Lysander said this and strode off.


    -Isabe quickly followed him ¡®Mr. Sinir, how about I treat you to a meal in the city? The food there is


    decent.¡±


    ¡°Get lost!¡± Lysander said coldly without looking back, went straight to his Rolls Royce, opened the door,


    and got in.


    Isabe was frightened by his outburst. She stopped in her tracks, not following him anymore.


    Lysander was angry. If she kept following him, he would be even more disgusted


    It was better he left, so they could avoid inadvertently mentioning the time they had slept together in the


    old house five years ago while chatting with Thssa


    After seeing the Rolls-Royce drive off, Isabe turned around, feeling satisfied.


    Thssa at home also let out a sigh of relief.


    Good thing he left, otherwise, she really didn¡¯t know how to deal with such a picky person.


    David drove away from Hollowbrook


    The road there was very narrow, and if he drove a bit faster, he worried the wheels would get stuck in


    the cement.


    So David drove very slowly.


    Ahead of the car, a middle aged woman was leading two little girls towards him.


    The road was too narrow, so both people and cars couldn¡¯t pass at the same time.


    David stopped the car, nning to let them pass first.


    Evelyn was leading Elowen and Sophia, they had just finished picking reeds and had reached the main


    road.

 Chapter 68

    Chapter 68


    Astrid, Atticus, and Dorian were also strolling down thene.


    Elowen and Sophia were having a st, blowing fluffy reeds into the air, which floated around like


    dandelions.


    Lysander¡¯s gaze traveled past the floating reed fluff andnded on the two little munchkins.


    They pouted their cheeks, looking like two adorable goldfish


    After spotting a luxury car ahead, Evelyn instinctively knew the driver was no ordinary Joe. She moved


    the kids aside, ¡°Stop blowing. See, the reed fluff is


    all over that car


    Elowen was having a whale of a time; her round, chubby face was all flushed and rosy, like a cute little


    apple. Her hair was tied in two cute pigtails, making her look so adorable that you could just eat her up


    ¡°Reed fluff is cute; I like it. It makes the car cuter Elowen¡¯s words were heart-melting.


    Lysander watched them. He wasnt typically a fan of kids, but these two girls were as cute as bugs in a


    rug. One had adorable pigtails, the other was rocking a cool baseball cap, and both were sporting cute


    bunny eared pink jackets.


    Their cuteness melted his heart a little.


    ¡°Although you think it¡¯s cute, adults might not feel the same. Let¡¯s move aside and let the car pass.¡±


    Evelyn said patiently.


    Elowen nced at the car, and her eyes sparkled, ¡°Hey, that guy looks familiar


    She felt like shed seen him somewhere before


    David facepalmed, thinking kids these days sure have a way with words.


    Sophia looked up and pulled her hat up to reveal her eyes. She also spotted Lysander, and her cute


    eyes shined brightly, ¡°He is so handsome!¡±


    Lysander was ttered by the two little girls. His heart softened further, and he cracked a small smile.


    Those two were just too cute and sweet.


    Evelyn, fearing he might take offense, quickly corrected her ¡°Mind your words¡±


    ¡°Hi, you¡¯re so handsome. Can you be my mom¡¯s friend? My grandma wants to set my mom up on a


    date, but if she has a boyfriend, she won¡¯t need to Elowen said to Lysander with a wide smile.


    Evelyn had been talking about setting Thssa up on her way home.


    Elowen fancied the handsome man


    If he could be their dad, shed be over the moon. And so would her mom.


    *Elowen, don¡¯t talk nonsense. He can¡¯t possibly be your mom¡¯s boyfriend.¡± Evelyn was scared out of


    her wits and quickly stopped Elowen


    Her daughter, a single mother with four kids, was hardly a catch for most men, let alone someone as


    grand and handsome as him,


    How could he possibly fancy Thssa, a single mother of four?


    Annoyed, she scolded wen, then apologized


    Ito Lysander, Tm sorry, the kid


    are still young and don¡¯t know any better. I hope you don¡¯t mind.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s okay¡± Lysander replied in his deep voice.


    He rolled up the window, blocking the girls¡¯ view.


    David started the car and drove off. He found it strange that Lysander didn¡¯t lose his temper when the


    two little girls tried to chat him up, they even suggested that hee home to be their stepfather.


    Normally, one re from him would be enough to scare people off.


    Evelyn watched the Rolls Royce drive away, then led Elowen and Sophia onward.


    As they reached the vige entrance, they overheard the vigers¡¯ gossip


    ¡°Isabe¡¯s boyfnend is a perfect mix of wealth and charm, and he¡¯s so handsome. What a perfect man¡±


    ¡°Isabe is so lucky¡±


    Belongs ? to N?velDrama.Org.


    A sense of unease washed over Evelyn.


    So the handsome man driving the luxury car was Isabe¡¯s boyfriend.


    Indeed, Isabe was lucky, unlike her daughter Thssa, who had such a tough lot in life.

 Chapter 69

    Chapter 69


    She¡¯d thank her lucky stars if a decent man was willing to marry her daughter.


    Content ? N?velDrama.Org 2024.


    She didn¡¯t expect her daughter to hit the jackpot overnight, she was just hoping for someone who¡¯d


    treat her right so they could lead a normal life together


    Isabe didn¡¯t go back home until she saw Astrid with the two boys and Evelyn with the two girls


    As long as Lysander didn¡¯t bump into the four kids, all was well.


    Now that Lysander had left Hollowbrook, she didn¡¯t have much to worry about.


    She held her head high and her chest out beaming with confidence as she walked back home


    Her house was right behind Thssas, a towering building thatpletely blocked the view of


    Thssa¡¯s ce.


    When they built their house. Thssa was away, working outside while being pregnant, only toe


    back and find Isabe¡¯s house towering over hers in


    an imposing way


    Even the sunlight was blocked by Isabes house


    Thssa was miffed, but nothing could be done about it now. She couldn¡¯t just tear down Isabe¡¯s


    house.


    Thssa felt a knot in her stomach when she saw Isabe strut around so arrogantly


    ¡°Astrid,e with us to Starhaven tomorrow, I ve rented a two bedroom t there, there¡¯s enough


    space for all of us. Thssa held Astrid¡¯s arm, pleading gently.


    Astrid looked pale, and her legs seemed to be giving her trouble as she moved. Thssa was worried


    about her rheumatism.


    The house was damp and cold; it was not fit for long-term living It was a recipe for illness.


    And winter was just around the corner, wouldn¡¯t it be even colder for Astrid?


    ¡°But wouldn¡¯t that be a brother? Astrid was afraid to impose on Thssa


    Evelyn was a tough cookie. but she had a good heart. What¡¯s the bother? You¡¯d be there to chit-chat


    with me. Its lonely and tiring to look after four kids alone. There¡¯s nothing wrong with it. Tomorrow,


    you¡¯reing with us,


    She also noticed Astrid had been living here alone in a poor environment.


    Especially after Isabe¡¯s house was built, their house was rarely bathed in sunlight. Astrid¡¯s health


    was deteriorating.


    Astrid was a few years younger than Evelyn, yet she looked older.


    After seeing Evelyns determination, Astrid didn¡¯t object anymore.


    A sleek ck Rolls-Royce Phantom sped along on the asphalt road


    David was driving steadily up front, while Lysander sat in the back seat.


    His lips parted slightly, David, bring the construction crew to Hollowbrook tomorrow to demolish


    Thssa¡¯s house.¡±


    David was taken aback, ¡°Mr. Sinir, are you sure?¡±


    ¡°Yes.¡± Lysander confirmed.


    Did Thssa upset Mr. Sinir? David wondered.


    Didn¡¯t Mr. Sinire all the way to Hollowbrook specifically to see Thssa?


    Didn¡¯t he have a soft spot for Thssa?


    But now, it seemed like Mr. Sinir had left no room for Thssa to wiggle out of this situation, he was


    really going to tear her house down.


    David silently mourned for Thssa.


    Then Lysander continued, ¡°Build a skyscraper for her Remember, it has to be taller than the house


    behind hers.¡±


    David instantly cheered up. ¡°Sure thing¡±


    Seemed like he was worrying too much. David¡¯s mood improved, and he drove smoothly


    Lysander leaned back in his seat and closed his eyes, taking a nap.


    No matter how much of a pain Thssa was, that was still Celia¡¯s home, where Celia¡¯s mother was


    living. He wanted to make the environment better.


    He was nning to go see Celia¡¯s mother, ask for her opinion, and arrange a suitable ce for her.


    But Thssa was just too much. He didn¡¯t want to stay any longer, but the arrangement for Celia¡¯s


    mother couldn¡¯t wait


    The next day. Thssa¡¯s family packed their bags and left for Starhaven


    What Thssa didn¡¯t know was that not long after they left, David¡¯s construction crew came to


    Hollowbrook and demolished their house.

 Chapter 70

    Chapter 70


    Thssa got back to her rented house in Pinecrest Estates.


    She had set up a room specifically for Astrid, and the kids were thrilled about it.


    She checked the time and discovered that it was already 11 in the morning, so the job hunt would have


    to be postponed till the afternoon.


    Thssa was about to cook something when her phone went off.


    The iing call was from the head of the cleaning department at the Sinir Group.


    She picked up the call. ¡°Hello, Director Noreen.¡±


    ¡°Evelyn, oh no, it¡¯s Thssa You¡¯ve been AWOL for a day and a half! If you don¡¯t show up soon, I¡¯m


    docking your pay for thest couple of days. Noreen¡¯s voice on the other end was stern.


    Surprised Thssa asked. ¡®Director Noreen, are you sure you got it right? Didn¡¯t I get fired?¡±


    Oh, wait a sec, Noreen had just called her Thssal


    Did Noreen know about her identity theft too?


    ¡°Who said you got fired? Did I send you a termination notice? Noreen countered.


    Confused. Thssa replied, ¡°Um, no?¡±


    ¡°Then what are you waiting for? Get back to work ASAP! Bring your own identification file and bank


    card. We need to update your records. No more shenanigans like this again.¡± Noreen hung up after


    saying that.


    Thssa was stunned. She hadn¡¯t been fired!


    Noreen had even instructed her to update her identification, meaning she knew Thssa had screwed


    up but hadn¡¯t fired her.


    Was this Lysander¡¯s doing?


    Lysander¡¯s actions left Thssa feeling both surprised and ted, yet also a bit confused.


    Belongs ? to N?velDrama.Org.


    Didnt he despise her?


    She had made such a huge mistake, and he hadn¡¯t fired her?


    What a weirdo.


    But since she hadn¡¯t been fired, she wouldn¡¯t need to look for a job anymore. The Sinir Group paid


    so well that she couldn¡¯t make that much anywhere else.


    Now that Astrid was here too, she had more responsibilities. She couldn¡¯t afford to mess around.


    Being able to continue working at the Sinir Group was a godsend.


    After lunch, Thssa headed off to work.


    When she got to the cleaning department, Director Noreen didn¡¯t say much. She just told Thssa to


    go to HR to update her identification, then sent her off to clean the top floor.


    Thssa was in high spirits. She finished cleaning the meeting room and the secretarys office.


    The secretary¡¯s office was empty today, so she finished quickly and then headed to the CEO¡¯s office


    out of habit.


    These were all her cleaning areas.


    Lysander hadn¡¯t arrived yet.


    Thssa mopped the floor while humming a nursery rhyme cheerfully.


    It was a song she often sang to her daughter, Elowen, who loved it


    She always used this song to lull Elowen to sleep


    As Thssa mopped the floor intently, a tall figure silently walked in behind her, but she didn¡¯t notice.


    She was mopping and backing up at the same time.


    Suddenly, she bumped into a pair of long legs and stepped on a pair of shiny ck dress shoes.


    ¡°Ah Thssa shrieked, holding her sore waist. She turned around to see a handsome but cold face,


    and she tensed up instantly

 Chapter 71

    Chapter 71


    Hey there, Mr. Sinir Thssa greeted him with a forced smile.


    As long as she wasn¡¯t the one feeling awkward, she didn¡¯t care who did.


    Lysander nced at his shoe, which now sported a foot-shaped imprint, and gazed at her with a cold


    stare. ¡°Is this how you always greet people?¡±


    Thssa noticed the dirt smudge on his shoe, realized it was her fault, and quickly whipped out a rag


    from her waist while squatting down to clean it. ¡°Sorry, didn¡¯t mean to Let me get that for you.¡±


    She used the same rag she used for cleaning tables to scrub his shoe,


    Lysander frowned. He was clearly not a fan of this.


    After stepping away from her touch, he hissed, ¡°Get out!¡±


    ¡°Sure thing.¡±


    Thssa grabbed her mop and bolted out of the office


    If it weren¡¯t for the paycheck, she wouldn¡¯t be in his office.


    And he told her to get out?


    Lysander watched as she quickly retreated from his office, his gaze darkening.


    Belongs ? to N?velDrama.Org.


    In the afternoon, just as Thssa was about to clock out, Hertha came looking for her.


    Thssa, I got off early today. Let¡¯s hit the shops¡± Hertha looped her arm through Thssa¡¯s, leading


    her out of the Sinir Group building.


    Thssa calcted her finances. She still had $800, and she hadn¡¯t yet bought winter clothes for the


    kids. So she agreed.


    Just as they left the Sinir Group building, a shy silver Porsche pulled up next to them.


    Thssa and Hertha thought they were obstructing the car¡¯s path and moved a bit to the side.


    The Porsche¡¯s window rolled down, revealing a hardsome man with long eyes and a tantalizing mole at


    the corner of his eye.


    The man, ric, §±ashed a charming, devilish smile Thssa, you just left the Sinir group. I didn¡¯t


    see Lysander with you.¡±


    ric¡¯s voice was a bit weird, like something was wrong with his tongue,


    Thssa instinctively tightened her grip on Hertha¡¯s arm and said defensively, ¡°I have nothing to do


    with Lysander. Why should I leave with him?¡±


    ric, full of charm and mischief, chuckled. The other day at Sapphire Skyline, you were sitting on his


    as thieves.¡±


    His words were direct and made Thssa blush


    She wanted to crawl into a hole and hide.


    Lysander was a weirdo, and his friend was even worse!


    How could he say such things in public?


    ¡°You have no shame! Hertha, let¡¯s go!¡¯ Thssa, her face beet red, stormed off, dragging Hertha with


    her.


    Hertha, however, didn¡¯t move.


    Thssa turned to find her friend staring at ric. Though she wasn¡¯t as besotted as she was the first


    time she saw him, her eyes were still filled with his reflection.


    Her eyes sparkled with longing and affection, like those of lovers reunited after a long time.


    This worried Thssa.


    Hertha was getting infatuated with men again.


    ric didn¡¯t continue teasing Thssa and Lysander. He noticed the look in Hertha¡¯s eyes. It was the


    desire and eagerness to kiss him.


    He wiped the smile off his face, rolled up the window to block her view, and parked the car


    Thssa tugged at Hertha¡¯s sleeve, ¡°Hertha, snap out of it. He¡¯s gone¡±


    Hertha finally looked away from the spot where ric had been. When she faced Thssa, her face


    showed disappointment, but she put on a brave smile, ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡±


    She flung the car door open, ready to hop in.

 Chapter 72

    Chapter 72


    ¡°Hertha, that¡¯s the back seat. You¡¯re driving.¡± Thssa pointed out.


    ¡°Oh, right¡± Hertha seemed a bit out of it. She quickly shut the back door and slid into the driver¡¯s seat.


    Thssa could only sigh at her friend¡¯s state of mind as she climbed into the car. Hertha started the


    engine, and they were off.


    As they cruised down the road, Hertha couldn¡¯t help but picture ric¡¯s charming face.


    His sly, hidden smile, the beauty spot by his eye that twinkled when heughed. Everything about him


    was burned into her memory.


    The first time she saw him, her heart raced. The second time, she was a bundle of nerves.


    She had no idea what was wrong with her


    He¡¯d already deleted her contact. Clearly, he wasn¡¯t interested in her.


    So, what was she still hoping for?


    But she just couldn¡¯t get him out of her mind.


    ¡°Hertha, red light ahead! Stop!¡¯ Thssa warned her urgently


    The traffic light had turned red, but Hertha just kept on driving, not slowing down.


    After hearing Thssa¡¯s warning, Hertha quickly hit the brakes.


    ¡±


    With the sudden stop, Thssa lurched forward and had to grab onto the seat to prevent herself from


    falling


    ¡®BANG!¡±


    A car behind them crashed into theirs.


    Their car jolted back and forth from the impact, shaking Thssa


    ¡°Damn, we got hit! Thssa eximed.


    Quickly realizing what had happened, both girls hurried out to check the damage.


    Sure enough, the rear of Hertha¡¯s red car was dented, with parts exposed.


    The silver car that hit them, however, was unscathed


    Thssa didn¡¯t own a car, but she had a license and knew the basic traffic rules.


    The windows of the silver car were tinted, making it impossible to see inside from the outside.


    They had been rear-ended, but the driver showed no signs ofing out to deal with the situation.


    N?velDrama.Org holds this content.


    Hertha stood there, looking dazed and confused


    Thssa stepped forward and tapped on the car window. ¡°Hey, you hit us from the back. Can you


    Even though the driver was inside the car, Thssa knew he could hear her.


    As she finished speaking, the window rolled down, revealing ric¡¯s face, ¡°I did rear-end you, but you


    made an emergency stop. Any car would have hit


    you.¡±


    ¡°Well, it¡¯s true that we stopped suddenly, but you rear-ended us. That¡¯s on you. Even if the traffic police


    came, you¡¯d still be at fault. Looks like your driving skills could use some work.¡± Thssa retorted.


    Hearing this, Hertha rushed over to stop Thssa from saying anything further. She didn¡¯t want ric


    to think any less of her.


    ric justughed at Thssa¡¯seback, shing his perfect white teeth. He nced towards the


    back seat, ¡°Lysander, your woman¡¯s got some nerve. even daring to talk back to me. Nice.¡±


    Lysander?


    Hearing this name made Thssa¡¯s heart skip a beat.


    The next moment, the backseat window slid down, revealing Lysander¡¯s handsome face with its striking


    features.

 Chapter 73

    Chapter 73


    Thssa was shocked to see Lysander in the car.


    ric went to the Sinir Group to pick up Lysander?


    Lysander¡¯s face was cold, and his eyes were deep. ¡°ric, your driving skills still need some work.¡± He


    said.


    His words put the me squarely on ric, echoing what Thssa had said about hisck of driving


    skills.


    ric justughed and nodded. ¡°Yeah, my driving sucks. It¡¯s all on me. Miss, let¡¯s talk about


    His smile was as carefree as ever.


    Lysander was right. His driving was lousy. If Lysander had been driving, he wouldn¡¯t have crashed,


    Belongs ? to N?velDrama.Org.


    even if he had to brake suddenly


    Hertha¡¯s body went limp when she heard his voice. She stared at him, too stunned to move


    Thssa turned around to see that Hertha was still staring at ric. She was so disappointed in her.


    She nudged her gently. ¡°Hertha, ric is talking to


    you¡±


    Hertha snapped back to reality. She was suddenly full of energy and rushed to the car window. ¡°No


    need forpensation. It¡¯s not a big deal. You guys can go.¡± She babbled to ric.


    Thssa rubbed her forehead, wondering where Hertha¡¯smon sense had gone.


    ric chuckled. That¡¯s not how it works. We have to follow traffic rules. I¡¯m a man of principles. If you¡¯re


    really busy right now, let¡¯s exchange contact info, and I¡¯ll transfer you the money.¡±


    Hertha¡¯s heart pounded like a jackhammer. She pulled out her phone, but she was so excited that she


    dropped it.


    She quickly picked it up, but her fingers were still trembling slightly.


    ric saved her contact info and started to close the car window, saying, ¡°Miss, could you step back? I


    need to back up¡±


    ¡°Oh, sure.¡± Hertha quickly stepped back.


    The silver car backed up and then drove away, leaving Thssa in a cloud of exhaust.


    She was a bit annoyed.


    Rich people were so arrogant. They hit someone¡¯s car, and while the other car was wrecked, theirs


    didn¡¯t even have a scratch.


    Hertha watched the silver Porsche drive away, then excitedly hugged her phone and started


    screaming, ¡°Oh my god, he saved my number!¡±


    She turned and hugged Thssa, jumping up and down in excitement. ¡°Thssa, he saved my


    number again! This is so great!¡±


    Thssa smiled, ¡°As long as you¡¯l


    ire happy¡±


    At first, she wanted to warn Hertha about ric¡¯s style so she could make an informed decision.


    But if Hertha knew all about ric and still liked him and wanted to chase after him, Thssa wouldn¡¯t


    say a word.


    They were all adults. They knew what they were doing.


    Even if Hertha ended up getting hurt, at least she¡¯d have no regrets.


    And who knew, maybe Hertha would seed?


    Who could say anything definite about love?


    ¡°Honk! Honk!¡±


    ¡°Why are you still parked there? Move it!¡±


    Cars drivers behind them started honking as they grew impatient.


    Hertha immediately stopped jumping around, quickly let go of Thssa, got back into the car, and


    moved it to the side.


    ¡°The car can still be driven, let¡¯s get it to the car repair shop.¡± Hertha said, seemingly back to her


    sensible self.

 Chapter 74

    Chapter 74


    ¡°Well, that¡¯s that¡± Thssa answered.


    The two of them hopped back in the car, with Hertha looking noticeably cheerer than before.


    Property of N?)(velDr(a)ma.Org.


    ¡°What happened between you and Lysander at Sapphire Skyline?¡± Hertha remembered what ric


    had said and gave Thssa a look full of curiosity.


    Just thinking about the close rtionship between Thssa and Lysander that ric had implied made


    her excited. She was dying to know the truth.


    Thssa¡¯s face turned a deep shade of red. ¡°Keep your eyes on the road and quit being nosy.¡±


    ¡°Come on, tell me, I¡¯m your best friend. Whats the harm in telling?¡± Hertha¡¯s curiosity was piqued. She


    was eager to know about Thssa and Lysander.


    Thssa was extremely embarrassed, ¡°That night, I was working as a waitress at Sapphire Skyline.


    riv ordered some femalepany, and I was sent to serve them. However, Lysander mistook me


    for one of thedies they ordered. I exined that I was just a waitress, not the kind of worker they


    were expecting, and left the room. Nothing happened between us.¡±


    Thssa put extra emphasis on thest sentence.


    ¡°Are you sure nothing happened? ric just called you Lysander¡¯s woman, and he didn¡¯t deny it.¡±


    Hertha¡¯s mind was racing, she was turning into a detective.


    Thssa was taken aback, she also remembered Lysander¡¯s demeanor


    He didn¡¯t deny that she was his woman and even defended her against ric¡¯s badmouthing.


    Why would he do that?


    Did Lysander have feelings for her?


    No way!


    Wasn¡¯t his girlfriend Isabe?


    A man who had a girlfriend and still had feelings for other women. What a jerk!


    At first, he pretended to be loyal, saying only his ex-girlfriend was in his heart. But, right now, it looked


    like he was a yer.


    ¡°How should I know what he¡¯s thinking? I have nothing to do with him. Who are you going to believe,


    him or me?¡± Thssa insisted, not wanting to be linked to Lysander without reason.


    ¡°I believe you¡­ I believe you.¡± Hertha quickly responded.


    ¡°Wait, you said ric was the one who ordered femalepany that night?¡± Hertha¡¯s focus shifted to


    ric, catching the important point from Thssa¡¯s story.


    ¡°Mm-hmm. Thssa responded nonchntly.


    She didn¡¯t want to paint too clear a picture of the scene, fearing it might upset Hertha.


    In reality, of the four men, ric was the one who enjoyed femalepany the most. He was always


    surrounded by women. He was a genuine yboy.


    Seemed like all four of them were party animals.


    Lysander was no exception.


    Hertha¡¯s smile froze on her face; she stopped talking and focused on driving.


    After dropping off the car at the car repair shop, Hertha hailed a cab. ¡°Let¡¯s go shopping We¡¯ll pick up


    the car after we¡¯re done. Perfect timing¡±


    ¡°Alright.¡± Thssa agreed, they both had the time, and she needed to buy clothes for the kids.


    By the time they finished shopping, it was already past eight in the evening.


    Thssa bought clothes and form for the kids and a set of clothes each for Astrid and her mother.


    Her $800 was almost all gone.


    Rent was due in a few days, which put a lot of pressure on Thssa.


    She contacted the manager at Sapphire Skyline, nning to continue working as a waitress that night.


    She had to work non-stop and make money while the sun was still shining.


    When she arrived at Sapphire Skyline, she saw Hertha.


    ¡°Hertha, what are you doing here?¡± She eximed in sur

 Chapter 75

    Chapter 75


    After Thssa and Hertha left the mall, they went their separate ways.


    Thssa went straight home, while Hertha headed to the car shop to pick up her vehicle.


    After dinner, Thssa went to work part-time at Sapphire Skyline, and to her surprise, she bumped into


    Hertha.


    Hertha was still in her waitress uniform.


    Thssa was stunned


    Hertha¡¯s parents both had respectable jobs, and she herself had a decent job. Her life wasn¡¯t super


    luxurious, but it was more than enough.


    So, there was no need for Hertha to be working a part-time gig.


    When Hertha saw Thssa, her eyes flickered, then she smiled awkwardly and said, ¡°Thssa, you¡¯re


    working here too?¡±


    ¡°Stop yapping and get changed. We¡¯re about to start.¡± The shift manager handed Thssa a uniform,


    urging her to change.


    Thssa quickly went to the dressing room to change.


    When she came out, she saw Hertha waiting for her at the door.


    Hertha hooked her arm through Thssa¡¯s ¡°Thssa, you¡¯ve worked here twice, and both times


    you¡¯ve run into Lysander and ric. Do you think theye here every day?¡±


    Thssa immediately understood why Hertha was at Sapphire Skyline


    Hertha was serious about pursuing ric.


    Thssa shook her head, Tm not sure, but I think Box V8 might be their private room.¡±


    Since Hertha was intent on pursuing ric, Thssa decided to help her out


    She told Hertha everything she knew.


    ¡°What are you two still doing here? Get moving and serve the customers. The manager¡¯s strict voice


    rang out.


    ¡°Ok, Z¡± Thssa responded immediately.


    Everyone called the manager Z, so she followed suit.


    Thssa and Hertha entered the lobby


    To the right of the lobby was a disy case filled with various items. If a customer needed anything,


    they would find the cashier to register, and then retrieve the item.


    Thssa and Hertha were in the process of retrieving cigarettes for a customer.


    Suddenly, there was amotion at the entrance as a strong aura swept the room, and the club¡¯s


    receptionists and manager rushed to greet the new arrivals


    Thssa also felt a noble and powerful aura, as if the air itself had be thinner.


    She turned her head to look at the entrance.


    She saw a tall man in a ck handmade suit. His shoes were ck and shiny, tus aura was strong and


    oppressive, his face was extraordinarily handsome, his deep eyes seemed to pierce through anything,


    and he strode in confidently.


    Belongs ? to N?velDrama.Org.


    It was Lysander!


    Following him were ric, Ethan, Richard, and others.


    The moment these noble sons entered, they became the center of attention, drawing everyone¡¯s gaze.


    The staff followed them respectfully.


    Their aura was just too powerful, and their noble demeanor was something ordinary people couldn¡¯t


    match.


    Thssa only nced at them unintentionally, but she couldn¡¯t take her eyes off them. They were even


    more attractive than the celebrities you see on TV. While she was still surprised, Lysander¡¯s deep and


    cold eyes suddenly met hers. His gaze was sharp and intimidating.


    In the moment when their eyes met, Thssa¡¯s heart skipped a beat. She quickly averted her gaze,


    turned her head, and continued to pick items from the cab


    Lysander¡¯s gaze was too cold. He was like an iceberg, making her shiver every time they met.


    Lysander and his group continued to move forward. Under the guidance of the manager, they entered


    the private room.

 Chapter 76

    Chapter 76


    After feeling the icy tension dissipate, Thssa breathed a sigh of relief, only to feel a gentle tug on her


    sleeve.


    She turned around to see Hertha looking both excited and worried, ¡°Thssa, they¡¯re really here!¡±


    Thssa nodded, ¡°Yes, they are.¡±


    ¡°We should deliver what the guests ordered, or we might get scoldedter. Thssa reminded her.


    Although Hertha was here for ric, she still had to do her job.


    Hertha nodded in agreement.


    Both of them went to differentpartments to deliver the ordered goods.


    While leaving apartment, Thssa ran into Z and assumed she was just doing her routine


    patrol.


    However, Z motioned for her toe over. ¡°Thssa,e here for a sec.


    Thssa walked over, and Z said, ¡°Call your friend ande with me.


    ¡°Sure.¡± Thssa took out her phone and messaged Hertha.


    Hertha quickly joined them.


    Z had them each carry two bottles of red wine and then led them, along with five other girls, to Box


    VB.


    In thepartment, the four men, including Lysander, were all present.


    With a smile, Zplimented them, ¡°Mr. Lysander, Mr. Falconer, Mr. Crawley, Mr. Draven, you guys


    seem to be having a great time tonight. I brought some friends to keep youpany and kill the


    boredom¡±


    Z stood in front, facing the four men, while Thssa, Hertha, and the other five girls stood behind


    her.


    Although Thssa and Hertha were dressed differently from the other five girls, their status seemed no


    different from theirs after Z¡¯s introduction.


    Feeling that something was amiss, Thssa exchanged a nce with Hertha.


    ric was the first to look up, nce at Z, and then notice Thssa and Hertha. His eyes were full


    of amusement as he said, ¡®Sapphire Skyline keeps getting more diverse That¡¯s good. Keep the two with


    the wine and the one on the far left. The rest can leave.¡±


    ¡°Of course, enjoy your evening ¡± After saying this with a smile, Z instructed Thssa and Hertha to


    stay, as well as the girl ric chose, and then left with the others.


    She must have her reasons for this arrangement.


    -When Lysander and the others arrived earlier, Z was there to greet them. She excelled at reading


    men¡¯s expressions and noticed Lysander¡¯s nce at


    Thssa and ric¡¯s nce at both Thssa and Hertha.


    This suggested that the two men were interested in the two women.


    They could not afford to offend Lysander, ric, and the other two gentlemen, who were VIPs at


    Sapphire Skyline. They had to please them.


    Their satisfaction would undoubtedly benefit her.


    Especially Mr. Lysander, who never invited girls over. Yet she heard from a friend that he actually had


    Thssa sit on hisp and cleared the room to be alone with her


    It was rare for Lysander to show any interest in a woman.


    As a veteran club manager, Z had a keen eye.


    So, she had specifically brought Thssa and Hertha with her to Box VB couldn¡¯t have been more


    correct.


    She had been observing men for years and had never been wrong.


    today, intending for them to keep the menpany. It seemed her decision


    In thepartment, ric said with a smile, ¡°Thssa,e sit here. And


    Belongs ? to N?velDrama.Org.


    ¡°My name is Hertha.¡± Hertha reminded him.


    ¡°Ah, right, Hertha Open the wine and pour us some.¡± ric said.


    Thssa maintained a professional smile on her face, didn¡¯t move to sit next to Lysander as he¡¯d


    suggested, and said, ¡°If the gentlemen don¡¯t need the wine I¡¯m holding, I¡¯ll be leaving¡±


    ¨C Z had actually expanded her and Hertha¡¯s job descriptions!


    If it weren¡¯t part of her job, she wouldn¡¯t do it!

 Chapter 77

    Chapter 77


    After Thssa had finished speaking, she was ready to leave.


    ric nced at Lysander, who looked tense and deep in thought.


    ric burst intoughter, saying, ¡°Who said we don¡¯t need your wine anymore? Come, pour a ss for


    Lysander.¡±


    Thssa stopped and turned around.


    She nced at Lysander, who looked indifferent andposed, not even sparing her a nce


    Thssa thought to herself, maybe she was just being too sensitive. After all, Z only sent them to


    sell wine.


    Wasn¡¯t she here to sell wine and make money?


    She uncorked the red wine and poured a ss for Lysander


    Meanwhile, Hertha also opened a bottle of red wine and started pouring for the other three.


    Thedy that ric had kept was sitting next to him. She was dressed provocatively and began


    snuggling up to him.


    ric didn¡¯t refuse her advances. Instead, he put his arm around her waist and pulled her into his


    arms, looking very delighted.


    Hertha looked at them, feeling very unhappy. As


    Poured wine into ric¡¯s ss, she was so preupied with watching ric and thedy that she


    didn¡¯t notice when she overfilled the ss, causing red wine to spill onto the table.


    Lysander was annoyed, and he frowned. ¡°Are you here to make trouble? Back offf¡±


    Lysander¡¯s voice was intimidating and chilling Hertha got so scared that the bottle of red wine slipped


    from her hands..


    The wine poured out like a flood, spilling onto the table and flowing onto the pants of the four men


    sitting around the table.


    Lysander moved his legs to avoid the spill, his expression as cold as ice.


    Hertha, looking flustered and on the verge of tears, kept apologizing. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Im sorry I didn¡¯t mean


    to


    She waspletely at a loss.


    Lysander¡¯s face was tight with anger, looking as though he was about to explode


    Thssa reacted quickly and grabbed a napkin to wipe the wine off him. ¡°Mr. Sinir, don¡¯t be mad.


    She didn¡¯t mean to do it. I¡¯ll clean it up.¡±


    Thssa was anxious to calm Lysander down, and her movements hastened.


    Halfway through, she suddenly felt that something was off.


    She stopped abruptly


    Slowly, she lifted her gaze to meet Lysander¡¯s deep eyes and his tightly pursed lips. It seemed like his


    cheeks were trembling slightly N?velDrama.Org holds this content.


    He looked like he was about to punish her


    Thssa¡¯s heart jumped, and she quickly raised her hands in surrender. 1 swear I didn¡¯t mean to, do


    you believe me?¡±


    Lysander¡¯s face was grim, and he gritted his teeth. ¡°What do you think?¡±


    Thssa fell silent.


    Everyone watched the escting tension between the two of them as sparks flew in the air. Everyone


    was looking forward to what would happen next.


    ric, with thedy in his arm and a ss of wine in his hand, looked on with interest, as though he


    were watching a great show.


    Things were getting more and more exciting.


    Richard and Ethan grabbed some napkins and began wiping the wine off their pants, smiling as they


    appreciated the spectacle.


    Their main entertainment recently was watching Lysander¡¯s love affairs unfold live.


    Hertha looked around, feeling trapped and unsure of what to do. She saw ric with another woman


    and felt both anxious and angry; her round cheeks became flushed and puffy, like a bright red goldfish.


    ric knew Lysander best and noticed that the situation was about to get out of control, so he quickly


    cleared the room. ¡°Everyone, leave.¡±


    Ethan and Richard, understanding the reason behind it, quickly left the room.


    As ric was about to leave with thedy, he saw that Hertha was still standing there. He turned


    around, grabbed her wrist, and led her out.


    -Hertha was shocked. ric had actually grabbed her hand.


    Oh my god, it was the first time her skin had touched ric¡¯s. Her heart was pounding so hard that it


    felt like it wasn¡¯t her own anymore.


    Thssa realized that everyone else had left and quickly stood up, trying to change her awkward


    position.


    But she got up too quickly and, due to her poor nutrition, felt dizzy and fell into Lysanders arms,


    pressing herself against him.


    Lysander Immediately felt something soft against his chest.


    it was like a soft cloud bumping against him.


    His suppressed desire suddenly red up. His throat tightened, and his blood began bolling.


    Thssa realized what she had done, and her heart started to race. She ced her hands on his


    chest, trying to push herself away, but he grabbed her wrists and spun her around, and she ended up


    sitting on hisp.


    Chapter //


    Thssa¡¯s heart started pounding like a spring, and she became nervous.


    ¡°Mr. Sinir, what are you doing?¡± She tried to get up, but Lysander held her tightly.


    His strength was so great that Thssa couldn¡¯t fight against it.


    ¡°What do you want me to do?¡±


    His hot breath brushed against her neck, and Thssa suddenly felt weak and more scared.


    ¡°Mr. Sinir, stop kidding around.¡± She struggled.


    ¡°You¡¯re the one who threw yourself at me, so why are you ying innocent now?¡± Lysander held her


    tightly and spoke in a low, yet angry, voice.


    ¡°I didn¡¯t, I was just¡­¡±


    ¡°Life here is thrilling, right? Then let¡¯s have some fun today¡±


    Lysander¡¯s strong masculine scent sprayed on Thssa¡¯s neck.


    The nape of her neck was her most sensitive area. The strong scent stimted her and made her


    shiver.


    Lysander felt her reaction and let out a hum. ¡°Your body¡¯s reaction is quite real¡±


    Thssa tensed up. She was bing more and more scared and kept struggling. ¡°Mr. Sinir, you


    misunderstood. I¡¯m just here to sell wine;


    Her soft and delicate skin seemed so familiar and irresistible to him.


    Lysander couldn¡¯t tell who she really was anymore.


    ¡°This bottle of red is for me, right?¡± His deep voice fell. He shoved her aside as he swooped in under


    her shocked gaze, nting a harsh kiss on her lips.


    His breath was heavy and consumed all the air she had. His kiss was akin to conquest.


    Thssa initially had some sense left, but soon she found it hard to breathe. Her mind was a total


    mess. Powerless, she let all her muscles rx.

 Chapter 78

    Chapter 78


    Her sweet scent seeped deep into Lysander¡¯s every nerve


    That night, thunder and lightning raged outside. The sound of rolling thunder echoed, and the intense


    scene inside seemed to rey in his mind


    Lysander¡¯s kiss became more passionate, even leaving her lips and tracing the elegant lines of her


    neck


    Thssa could finally breathe again, the cold air instantly filled her lungs, bringing her back to her


    senses.


    She pushed him away with both hands as her bright eyes shimmered under the light. She panted and


    hurriedly said, ¡°Mr. Sinir, get a grip! You have a girlfriend, doing this to me ain¡¯t cool¡±


    Her lips were rosy and moist from the kiss, and her voice was soft and seductive


    Lysander¡¯s eyes were clouded. His gaze was dangerous as he stared at her and spoke in a hoarse


    voice. Who told you I have a girlfriend?¡±


    1sn¡¯t isabe your girlfriend? Thssa¡¯s heart pounded under his predatory gaze She was scared and


    nervous, so she pushed him away with all her might


    She managed to stand up from hisp, quickly stepping back to put some distance between them.


    He was frightening just now. If she hadn¡¯t reacted, would he have done something over the line in this


    booth?


    These rich kids had no respect for the rules.


    ric ying both sides was one thing. But Lysander dating Isabe while pulling this kind of stunt on


    her was despicable.


    Thssa despised him in her heart. She was no pushover.


    At this point. Lysander had regained some of his senses. He straightened his suit, giving her a cold


    nce, ¡°When did Isabe be my girlfriend? Did she tell you that?¡±


    He¡¯d always known that Isabe was a vain, greedy, and calcting woman.


    But he didn¡¯t expect her to lie to this extent.


    Thssa was stunned to hear his response, ¡°I heard it from the people in the vige. Aren¡¯t you her


    boyfriend??


    ¡°No!


    Then why did you go to Hollowbrook and pay respects to my cousin, Celia?¡± Thssa was curious.


    She always thought Lysander was Isabes boyfriend and went to Hollowbrook out of pity for Celia


    Just now, Lysander had gotten Thssa and Celia mixed up, even kissing her and nearly losing


    control.


    Once again, she had tempted him, and he couldn¡¯t control himself.


    It was another failure for him


    Lysander was in a bad mood, feeling very irritable.


    He had no patience for her question, ¡°Just leave!¡± Content ? N?velDrama.Org 2024.


    He had his secretary pay her family off, and she still didn¡¯t know what happened between him and


    Celia. It was clear she didn¡¯t care about her cousin, Celia


    Indeed, with a gambling-addict mother and her own shady behaviors, like scheming for money,


    seducing men, stealing, and even using ake identification! She could do anything! How could such a


    woman possibly care about what happened to her cousin?


    He suspected that the moment she got the money, she¡¯d only be interested in her own pleasure. Would


    she care where the money came from or how it was obtained?


    Thssa was frightened by his cold tone, her body was trembling as she quickly left the booth. She


    just asked a simple question, so was it necessary for him to get so angry? He waspletely


    unreasonable just now, and she hadn¡¯t even lost her temper. Even if Isabe wasn¡¯t his girlfriend, she


    wasn¡¯t his anything. How dare he disrespect her time and time again?


    Thssa felt that there was something seriously wrong with Lysander.


    After Thssa left, Lysander poured a ss of red wine, raised the ss, and drained it in one gulp.


    hapte

 Chapter 79

    Chapter 79


    The red wine had a spicy kick to it. It had a vor that slid down his throat and into his stomach, setting


    off a slight burning sensation.


    But even with the alcohol, he couldn¡¯t shake off the restlessness in his heart.


    He had actually lost his cool in front of Thssa for the second time, almost losing control of himself!


    This wasn¡¯t good.


    As a top leader, if he couldn¡¯t resist temptation, couldn¡¯t stay cool when faced with female allure, those


    with ulterior motives would seize this opportunity, and lead him to ultimate failure.


    Looked like he still needed to work on his self-control skills.


    Thssa headed to the restroom, turned on the faucet, and sshed her face with cold water. The


    chilliness offered some relief to her burning cheeks.


    While looking up at the mirror, she noticed that her lips were rosy and that her eyes were bright and


    filled with the shimmer of tears. Her lips were slightly swollen from the intense kissing, appearing even


    rosier than usual.


    So, this is the aftermath of Lysander¡¯s kiss.


    He¡¯d actually kissed her lips till they were swollen.


    He was a tough one to handle.


    Thssa, are you okay?¡± Hertha¡¯s worried voice came from behind her


    After turning around, Thssa saw Hertha¡¯s anxious and slightly flushed face.


    She gave Hertha¡¯s shoulder a light pat, reassuring her, 1m okay, don¡¯t worry.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s all my fault. If I hadn¡¯t spilled the wine, you wouldn¡¯t have had to help Mr. Sinir with his pants,


    and he wouldn¡¯t have misunderstood¡­¡± Hertha pouted, looking extremely quilty


    If something had happened to Thssa in the private room with Lysander, she would be the one to


    me.


    The thought of it still sent chills down Hertha¡¯s spine.


    Hertha¡¯s words made Thssa realize how today¡¯s embarrassing misunderstanding had urred.


    She wondered why Lysander would repeatedly behave so unreasonably towards her.


    This time, she was the one who stirred his desires first.


    As a normal adult male, Lysander couldnt control himself and ended up kissing her impulsively


    The previous time, when she was kneeling to hand him his card, he took her for a woman of the night,


    thinking he could do whatever to her if he paid.


    Turned out that both times were misunderstandings.


    Lysander probably didn¡¯t have any special feelings for her


    ¡°It¡¯s okay now; it¡¯s all in the past. Thssa smiled at her, showing her an optimistic smile.


    Belongs ? to N?velDrama.Org.


    ¡°By the way, how are things with ric?¡± Thssa asked.


    The mention of him made Hertha even more furious. ¡°He left with that woman; I have no idea where


    they went.¡±


    Hertha¡¯s heart ached as she thought about where they might have gone and what they might have


    done, and her breathing became heavy


    Thssa didn¡¯t know how tofort her, ¡°Let¡¯s get back to work, well finish in two hours. We each sold


    a bottle of red wine today, and we¡¯ll get a $1000mission for each This job isn¡¯t a total loss¡±


    All she could do was hope Hertha could lighten up a bit. Considering the money, this part-time job


    wasn¡¯t a total loss.


    ¡°Okay, but I don¡¯t n oning here tomorrow.¡± Hertha¡¯s mood was a bit low


    She felt like she wasn¡¯t cut out for this job; she was only causing trouble for Thssa.


    Thssa said, ¡°I¡¯m not nning oning back tomorrow either.¡±


    No matter how great the pressure, she had no intention ofing back here


    Although the pay here was good, the job came with risks.


    She¡¯d been here three times now, and every time, she¡¯d been misunderstood by Lysander, who even


    did something that made her feel embarrassed. She didn¡¯t want to cause any more trouble for


    Lysander.


    She might as well note back and find another job where she could still make money


    apter

 Chapter 80

    Chapter 80


    Thssa and Hertha bumped into Lysander, Richard, and Ethan on their way out of the restroom, just


    as they were leaving Sapphire Skyline


    As they passed Thssa, Lysander shot her a nce. His eyes were filled with a mixture of warning,


    threat, and indifference.


    Thssa was rattled and didn¡¯t settle down till they had left the building. She couldn¡¯t figure out why


    Lysander would look at her like that.


    Thssa didnt dwell on it and went back to serving the customers after tidying up the merchandise.


    Lysander, on the other hand, hopped back into his Rolls Royce, whipped out his phore, and shot a text


    to the person in charge at Sapphire Skyline, saying, Thssa is no longer allowed to escort customers.


    If she


    seat after sending the text


    1 ¡°, shell have to deal with the consequences herself? Hssed his nt onto the car


    A reply came in shortly ¡®Understood, Mr. Sinir.


    The reply was from Z


    an eye on her.¡±


    Lysander, the biggest boss and a shareholder of Sapphire Skyline, once issued an order that all staff


    must use their own identification file, and any vitions would result in dismissal. Last time, Thssa


    had used someone else¡¯s identification, prompting Lysander to issue this order. This time, he


    specifically targeted Thssa with it.


    Z quickly inferred the unusual rtionship between Thssa and Lysander and therefore treated


    Thssa with special care. She told Thssa, Thssa, let someone else deliver the cigarettes.


    There¡¯s an annoying bigwig in that private room, you shouldn¡¯t go in. Let someone else do it¡±


    Thssa, you dont need to clean this area. Let the janitor handle it.¡±


    Hertha also enjoyed these privileges because she was with Thssa.


    Z being suddenly so nice to them threw Thssa off a bit. Thssa said. ¡°Z, I really don¡¯t need


    all this special treatment. I came here to work. I¡¯ll deliver the cigarettes myself¡±


    Zplied with her request, telling her she could clock out after the delivery


    It was time for Thssa and Hertha to clock out from their part-time jobs.


    Z settled their bills. ¡°Twelve hundred dors each, sound good?¡±


    Hertha said, ¡°I should get two hundred dors; Thssa should get twenty-two hundred dors.¡± If it


    werent for Thssa shielding her from Lysander¡¯s wrath, she wouldnt have been able to leave


    Sapphire Skyline in one piece.


    Z turned to Thssa for her opinion.


    Thssa quickly said. ¡°Z, your initial calction was correct. Twelve hundred dors¡±


    Z confirmed, ¡°Are you sure?¡±


    Hertha tried to interject, but Thssa stopped her. Content ? N?velDrama.Org 2024.


    Thssa smiled and said, ¡°I¡¯m sure.¡±


    ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll settle your bills like this then¡± Z said. ¡°You guys cane in earlier tomorrow¡±


    ¡°Z, we appreciate your hospitality, but we won¡¯t being in tomorrow Thssa politely responded


    with a smile, making her decision clear.

 Chapter 81

    Chapter 81


    ¡°You did so well, why don¡¯t you want toe all of a sudden?¡± Z also wanted to win Lysander¡¯s


    favor by buttering up Thssa.


    1 have other things tomorrow. Thank you, Z Thssa gave a reasonable reason.


    Yesterday Z learned about the rtionship between Thssa and Lysander, and today she directly


    introduced Thssa to Lysander in that capacity.


    Although Z didn¡¯t say it clearly, Thssa had guessed her thoughts.


    Thssa instantly understood that this kind of thing could not be told to Z; otherwise, she would


    take advantage of this situation and regard Thssa as amodity to please Lysander.


    Leaders on these asions only had interests in their eyes; how could there be a real friendship?


    ¡°Well, if you want toe again in the future, you can contact me at any time.¡± Z didn¡¯t insist either.


    Lysander was interested in Thssa, and Z naturally could not act like a harsh boss toward her.


    Thssa and Hertha left Sapphire Skyline after they got paid.


    It waste at night, and the cold wind blew against their faces, making them shiver.


    Thssa tightened her coat and took out her mobile phone to call a taxi home.


    Hertha said, ¡°I have a car. I¡¯ll take you home, and then I¡¯ll go home¡±


    ¡°That will take a long time. Go back and rest first. You are also very tired. Thssa didn¡¯t want to take


    up her time. She couldn¡¯t take advantage of her just because she was her best friend.


    The drive to Thssa¡¯s home would take up at least an hour and a half of Hertha¡¯s rest time


    Thssa, you care about me, so why can¡¯t I care about you? What should I do if you have to wait a


    long time to get a taxi and end up getting homete? I¡¯d better send you back, so I can feel at ease


    ¡°Hertha snatched Thssa¡¯s cell phone from her hand and wouldn¡¯t let her call a car


    It waste autumn, and the night was very cold. Thssa rubbed her cold hands and said, ¡°OK¡±


    The two of them sat in the car and watched the bustling cityscape. The lights were bright, and the neon


    glints from the cars that passed by were full of color. Although it waste at night, there were still


    people in the street asionally.


    The nightlife in the city was really prosperous and charming.


    In the car. Thssa was sitting in the passenger seat, and Hertha was driving. While paying serious


    attention to the road conditions, she chatted with Thssa. ¡°Why¡¯d you give me the thousand dors?¡±


    ¡°I didn¡¯t give it to you, it is your ie. We are good friends, but we must also clearly distinguish


    matters dealing with work and money¡± Thssa said.


    Hertha did sell that bottle of wine herself. Although the wine was spilled halfway, ric still settled the


    Content ? N?velDrama.Org 2024.


    ount, and themission should be Hertha¡¯s.


    ¡°But without you, I couldn¡¯t have sold that bottle of wine, and the consequences would have been


    serious. Hertha made time to take a look at Thssa and express her thoughts.


    ¡°You think too much. Even without me, ric would have still ordered the bottle of wine. Moreover, you


    didn¡¯t spill the wine on purpose, and other people didn¡¯t me you Thssa said.


    ¡®No, I¡¯ll transfer the thousand dors to youter¡± Hertha still thought she shouldn¡¯t take it,


    Thssa raised her forehead, feeling a headacheing on, ¡°Hertha, are you doing this for charity?


    Do you want my mother to call me a foser?¡±


    She had her own principles. She only took the money she deserved. She was determined on not taking


    that money.


    A friend¡¯s money belonged to her friend, so she couldn¡¯t ept Hertha¡¯s money


    It was not like she had no hands or feet. She was perfectly capable of earning the family¡¯s expenses


    herself.


    ¡°Haha¡¯ Hertha was amused. ¡°Well, I won¡¯t transfer money to you then. Our Thssa really is excellent,


    huh?¡±


    ¡°Yes, I want to be an excellent designer in the future Thssa smiled happily


    Thssa didn¡¯t get up until the sun was already high up in the sky and shining brightly. She didn¡¯t sleep


    until four pclockst night


    As soon as she opened her eyes, she picked up her mobile phone and saw that it was already past


    noon.


    She was stunned and suddenly awake when she noticed that she had five missed calls on her mobile


    phone.


    They were all from Noreen, the head of the Sinir Group¡¯s cleaning department.


    Thssa quickly got out of bed!


    She didn¡¯t go to work today, so she didn¡¯t know if anyone cleaned the top floor of thepany. If


    Lysander found that the cups and other items hadn¡¯t been cleaned up, would he be furious?

 Chapter 82

    Chapter 82


    Thssa quickly finished washing up and found Evelyn cooking in the kitchen,


    She nced at the time, it was almost 1p.m. It would be her lunch break if she headed to the Sinir


    Group now!


    After a moment¡¯s consideration, she decided to go after lunch


    So she calmed down and joined Astrid and the kids¡¯ game with a w


    a warm smile


    ¡°Mommy, want a cockie?¡± Elowen held up her chubby little hand that had a teddy bear-shaped fruit


    cookie in it as her big eyes shimmered.


    Thssa smiled and took the cookie from her. Thank you, Elowen¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re wee. If Mommy¡¯s happy, I¡¯m happy¡± Elowen grinned as two cute dimples appeared on her


    chubby little face.


    Thssa¡¯s heart felt warm.


    While Evelyn was cooking, she thought of their trip back to Hollowbrook the day before yesterday.


    Isabe¡¯s house was tall and luxurious, blocking the sunlight from their house.


    Isabe drove back home in her fancy car while they took the train, carrying a bunch of stuff. The


    difference was like night and day.


    Isabe¡¯s family wore designer clothes and expensive jewelry, while she was dressed in rags with


    nothing to her name.


    Their family of seven was crammed into an 80-square-meter house, which was even rented.


    The thought of all these filled her heart with pain.


    Evelyn came out of the kitchen and saw the warm and joyful scene in the living room.


    Thssa was sitting on a foam mat, surrounded by the four kids, who were happily ying with toy


    trains.


    Thssa was holding a toy train, imitating the sound of it starting up. The four little darlings acted as


    passengers, pulling on each other¡¯s clothes and moving along with the toy train as theirughter rang


    Belongs ? to N?velDrama.Org.


    out like silver bells.


    Evelyn was already feeling down, and seeing this made her feel even more helpless


    How could Thssa be so carefree? She had no sense of urgency.


    If it were anyone else, with two elders to take care of and four kids to raise, they¡¯d be struggling to


    breathe under the pressure.


    But not only was she not worried, she was even able to y happily


    Her attitude towards life was truly surprising


    Evelyn frowned and said to Thssa in a stern voice, ¡°You¡¯re sote and you¡¯re not worried at all?


    Aren¡¯t you afraid of getting fired? You have elders and kids to take care of, so can you be more


    responsible?! All you do is y and eat all day!¡±


    Thssa¡¯s smile froze a bit. She gave a dryugh and said. ¡°Mom, I¡¯ll go to work after lunch.¡±


    ¡°Who said I was making lunch for you? I¡¯m not. Evelyn sard coldly


    Elowen got up on her hands and feet and toddled over to Evelyn. She tugged at Evelyn¡¯s dress, tilted


    her little head back, and said in a soft voice, ¡°Granny. please make lunch for Mommy. Mommy will be


    hungry if she doesn¡¯t eat


    Sophia chimed in adorably, ¡°If Grandma won¡¯t feed Mommy, we¡¯ll give her our snacks. Mommy¡¯s really


    reliable, Grandma shouldn¡¯t always scold her


    Thssa was moved to tears by the kids¡¯ words


    Evelyn sighed as her voice became gentler, 1 didn¡¯t say I wouldn¡¯t feed your mother, just that she


    shouldn¡¯t eat at home. She should go to a restaurant


    Elowen¡¯s eyes lit up. ¡°I want to go to the restaurant too, can I?¡±


    Evelyn smiled helplessly, ¡°Your mommy¡¯s going on a date, you kids shouldn¡¯t go and make a fuss,¡±


    She finally managed to arrange a date for Thssa with a man who knew she had four kids and was


    still willing to meet. She couldn¡¯t let it be ruined.


    it was a rare opportunity for a man to agree to a date with Thssa

 Chapter 83

    Chapter 83


    ¡°Alright Elowen lowered hershes. Her enthusiasm from just a moment ago had faded as her long


    Thssa was taken aback, ¡°Mom, I¡¯m about to head to work. Why are you setting me up on a blind


    date?¡±


    ¡°The ce is a restaurant near the Sinir Group. You can go there now, have a meal, and then head


    to work. Get moving.¡±


    Evelyn grabbed her purse for her and nudged her out the door.


    Thssa had no choice but to leave.


    Atticus and Dorian returned to their room and closed the door,


    Atticus, acting all grown-up, said to Dorian, ¡®Grandma¡¯s trying to find a stepdad for us.¡±


    Dorian pouted, ¡°I dont want a stepdad.¡±


    ¡°But if Mom likes him, we have to respect her decision. Atticus was a total mama¡¯s boy


    4.


    ¡°But what if Mom doesn¡¯t like him? Dorian was worried about his mom getting hurt.


    ¡°We¡¯ll go and sneak a peek, so we can see if Mom likes him or not.¡± Atticus¡¯s eyes, full of young


    wisdom, glittered in the dark.


    ¡°Uh huh, alright.¡¯ Dorian nodded vigorously


    After lunch, Atticus and Dorian wanted Astrid to take them outside to y


    Evelyn objected and told them to y at home.


    Doriansrge, beautiful eyes filled with tears as he looked pitifully at Evelyn, ¡®Grandma, I want to go to


    the park. I havent been outside for so long that I¡¯m actually getting moldy¡±


    Content ? N?velDrama.Org 2024.


    Evelyn couldn¡¯t resist Dorians tears. Seeing a child cry always melted her heart.


    Eventually, she agreed, and Astrid took the two boys out to y while she stayed at home with the two


    girls.


    At a restaurant next to the Sinir Group.


    Thssa arrived at the designated spot to find a man waiting


    The man was plump, wide, and heavyset. He was wearing dark sses, and his hair was thinning


    drastically


    Judging by his looks, he was probably in his thirties.


    Thssa greeted him with a polite smile ¡°Excuse me, are you Mr. Cooper?¡±


    ¡°I am indeed, and you must be Thssa The man¡¯s eyes lit up behind his thick sses, and he gave a


    deep smile, ¡°You¡¯re even more beautiful than in your photos¡±


    Thanks.¡± Thssa sat down opposite him.


    She wasn¡¯t keen on the blind date, but her mom had gone ahead and arranged it. She had to y


    along to avoid giving people something to gossip about


    1 heard you have four kids, but I don¡¯t mind. I¡¯m quite satisfied with you. If it s alright with you, I can


    take half a day off work this afternoon, and we get the marriage paperwork done,¡¯ said Mr. Cooper as


    he adjusted his sses.


    can


    Thssa nearly choked on her water. The shock of his statement caught her off guard.


    Before she could recover, Mr. Cooper continued, ¡°However, after we¡¯re married, I wont be responsible


    for your four kids. You¡¯ll have to give me two more kids. I¡¯ll take full responsibility for our children. Your


    four kids can be raised by your mother.¡±


    Thssa managed to get the water down, looked at him, gave a coldugh, and said, ¡°I¡¯m afraid, Mr.


    Cooper, you¡¯ve got it all wrong. You might be satisfied with me, but I¡¯m not satisfied with you. Don¡¯t


    trouble yourself; after all, I do have four kids.¡±


    What a freak show! And it seemed like there was a new act every year. Her mom always introduced


    her to the weirdest people.


    She was about to get up and leave when the man grabbed her hand with a strong grip, ¡°Thssa, I


    was told you were satisfied with me. Don¡¯t y hard to get; we¡¯re a match made in heaven.¡±

 Chapter 84

    Chapter 84


    Thssa felt disgusted. She tried to pull her hand away, but had no sess.


    She was anxious, saying. ¡°You got it all wrong, I didn¡¯t tell the matchmaker that I was satisfied with


    you.¡±


    She was notified to meet him at thest minute, without knowing anything in advance.


    ¡°You¡¯re just two-faced I am a white-cor worker and make $80,000 a year I¡¯m an only child, and both


    my parents are civil servants. The matchmaker said you were very satisfied with my conditions and that


    you wanted to marry me as soon as possible. I am ready to marry you immediately, as long as you


    agree to my conditions.¡± Mr. Cooper spoke as his eyes seemed to be full of expectations for Thssa.


    This woman was really beautiful. Her skin was shimmering, and her figure was well proportioned. If he


    weren¡¯t told, he really couldn¡¯t tell that she was a mother of four.


    Which man wouldn¡¯t be attracted to her?¡±


    Their argument attracted the attention of many people in the restaurant.


    Mr. Cooper realized everyone was looking at them, so he nodded at the people around him with a smile


    and said, ¡°It¡¯s just a lovers¡¯ quarrel; it¡¯s nothing


    serious.¡±


    Then he grabbed Thssa¡¯s clothes, trying to pull her into his arms.


    Thssa was scared out of her wits. She struggled to break free, ¡°Let me go, I¡¯m not your girlfriend!¡±


    ¡°Quit the drama; we can sort out our issues at home, okay? Mr. Cooper was about to pull her into his


    arms with his great strength.


    Thssa felt disgusted, but she was no match for the man¡¯s strength and couldn¡¯t break free.


    ¡°Oh no, Mom¡¯s in trouble!¡± The children peeked out from behind the screen, not far away.


    Dorian¡¯s little face turned red with anxiety, he stood up, ready to rush out, and Atticus followed.


    Just as they took two steps out, a tall, stern-looking man appeared in their sight.


    The man walked over to their mom, grabbed her hand, and pulled her away from Mr. Cooper.


    The man was handsome, noble, and stern.


    It was Lysander!


    After seeing him, Atticus quickly pulled Dorian back and continued to hide behind the screen.


    Thssa was panicked, and her body bumped into a solid chest. She turned to see Lysander¡¯s


    handsome face as her eyes flickered. ¡°Mr. Sinir!¡±


    Lysander¡¯s eyes were deep and indifferent. He was unhappy and spoke sternly. ¡°Are you cking off


    here instead of working? Is thepany paying you for nothing?¡±


    Thssa realized something, and she nodded quickly, ¡°Yes, Mr. Sinir, I will get back to work


    immediately.¡±


    After saying this, she hurriedly left the restaurant.


    Mr. Cooper was scared by Lysander¡¯s cold and sharp eyes, so he smiled nervously. ¡°Mr. Sinir, sorry


    for the disturbance. That¡¯s my girlfriend, we had a little disagreement¡±


    The man in front of him was Lysander, the head of the Sinir family of Starhaven. Who didn¡¯t know


    him?


    Lysander¡¯s eyes were extremely cold. ¡®My female employees are not allowed to date; if I see you again,


    you¡¯re done!¡±


    Content ? N?velDrama.Org 2024.


    Mr. Cooper was so scared by his aura that he bolted from the restaurant.


    After leaving the restaurant and getting back to his car, he called the matchmaker and scolded him


    angrily. ¡°She has a boyfriend, and you still introduced me to her? Are you trying to get me into


    trouble?¡±


    The matchmaker was confused by his reprimand.


    Back in the restaurant.


    Lysander¡¯s aura was icy cold. The diners around him were scared by his aura and lowered their heads


    as they ate, not daring to look anymore.


    ric had asked him toe here for lunch but got stuck in traffic.


    When he came in, he saw a man making moves on Thssa and noticed that she was clearly


    unwilling.


    He saw that Thssa was about to fall into the arms of that fat man and felt anxious, so he


    immediately stepped forward to pull her away.


    He was never a busybody


    However, after seeing Thssa about to be held by another man, he couldn¡¯t suppress the anger in his


    heart. ¡°Lysander, sorry, I¡¯mte. The traffic was really bad.¡± ric hurried in, panting and apologizing.


    He had been given local anesthesia, and the effect hadn¡¯tpletely worn off. His speech was still a


    bit slurred.

 Chapter 85

    Chapter 85


    Lysander was a real tough cookie! Last time, he was knocked out cold by Dr. Everest with just a few


    words. He couldnt even taste his booze after that.


    ¡°Atticus, Dorian!¡± A middle-aged woman appeared at the entrance of the dining room, calling out


    anxiously. Astrid was pping her thigh in worry, ¡°Gosh, where the heck did those two munchkins go?¡±


    ¡°Granny, we¡¯re here!¡± Two kids burst out from behind the screen. Their little legs pumped as they


    sprinted towards Astrid


    Atticus was the fastest and steadiest, reaching Astrid first and hugging her legs. He rubbed his face


    against her legs, trying tofort her and assure her they were okay.


    Donan, too eager, bumped into Lysander¡¯s legs as he ran past.


    Lysander stood still while Dorian stumbled forward and fell.


    He slid a bit, and it looked painful.


    Lysander frowned, but he was ready to help the kid up.


    But the little guy was tougher than he thought. He stood up on his own, didn¡¯t cry, turned around with a


    bright smile, and apologized in his childish voice. ¡°I¡¯m sorry. I didn¡¯t mean to bump into you.¡±


    Lysander noticed the kid¡¯s face. He was good-looking, with thick eyebrows, long eyshes, and fair


    skin.


    The boy¡¯s face felt familiar, even somewhat intimate.


    But it was his first time seeing him.


    After speaking, the kid turned and sprinted towards the middle-aged woman.


    N?velDrama.Org owns all ? content.


    She held their hands and left.


    Lysander watched their retreating figures with an indescribable depth in his eyes


    ric waved his hard in front of Lysander¡¯s face, ¡°Lysander, what¡¯s up? Do you want me to teach that


    kid a lesson? I can go grab him.¡±


    ric was ready to stride after the kid who dared to bump into Lysander


    ¡°Come back!¡± Lysander¡¯s voice was icy


    ric quickly returned, grinning, ¡°What¡¯s for lunch?¡±


    I¡¯m not hungry¡± Lysander replied coldly, then walked out


    ric watched him leave. ¡°I¡¯ll get you a takeaway¡±


    -The Sinir Group.


    Faye¡¯s three-day leave was over, so today she had to work.


    She heard the staff gossiping that Lysander just went to the cafeteria, grabbed a female employee¡¯s


    hand, and pulled her from another mans arms.


    Moreover, it was said that female employees of the Sinir Group were not allowed to date, which was


    clearly targeting that woman.


    Mr. Sinir and that woman must have a special rtionship.


    Faye called an employee and asked, ¡°Which female employee¡¯s hand did Mr. Sinir grab in the


    cafeteria?¡±


    ¡°It seems to be someone named Thssa¡± The staff member, who had been in the cafeteria at the


    time, answered truthfully.


    Thssa?


    Faye¡¯s heart sank.


    In the three days she was away from thepany, had Thssa and Lysander¡¯s rtionship


    progressed this quickly?


    No, she couldn¡¯t wait any longer.


    Faye walked into the CEO¡¯s office.


    Lysander was sitting at his desk, reviewing documents.


    After a brief pause, Faye took a deep breath. She decided to confess her feelings to Lysander today.


    She would tell him she had been in love with him for ten years.

 Chapter 86

    Chapter 86


    Faye was looking at Lysander with all the feels and a boatload of emotions.


    Lysander, on the other hand, had all eyes on his documents and didn¡¯t even toss a nce her way.


    Faye started to feel the nerves creeping in as she contemted what she was about to say. She was


    all jittery and jumpy.


    She feared she would end up just like all those women who confessed their feelings to Lysander, only


    to have him put them in the friend zone. She might not even get to be friends with him, let alone get


    close to him.


    But if she didn¡¯t spit it out, Lysander might get snatched up by Thssa.


    And then she¡¯d be well and truly screwed.


    After a quick thought, Faye decided to bite the bullet and confess.


    But to just blurt it out would be too abrupt.


    Faye went to the coffee bar, made a cup of coffee, and walked over to Lysander with the cup in hand.


    She ced the cup next to him, her voice now softer than usual. ¡°Mr. Sinir, take a break from work


    and have a coffee, will ya?¡±


    Lysander, who had just signed off a document and put it in a folder, picked up the cup, took a sip, and


    asked calmly. ¡°What¡¯s up?¡±


    After saying this, he put the coffee cup aside,


    Faye¡¯s heart started to pound. The closer she got to stating her feelings, the more nervous she was


    She looked at Lysander¡¯s handsome face and noticed his deep and intense eyes. His eyelids were


    slightly shiny, and his eyebrows were as thick as swords. He seemed to be shining with coolness.


    Her heartbeat raced even faster.


    She gathered her courage and said to Lysander, ¡°Mr. Sinir, I have the hots for you.¡±


    She said it in a casual tone, as if she were just reporting on work.


    But if you listened closely, you could hear her anxiety and unease mixed with a bit of feminine charm.


    Lysander, still reading his documents, didn¡¯t look up. ¡°All the employees have the hots for me.¡±


    Belongs ? to N?velDrama.Org.


    Faye was taken aback, realizing he might have misunderstood.


    She quickly rified, ¡°I¡¯m in love with you. I want to be your girlfriend, I¡¯ve had a crush on you for ten


    years.¡±


    She had been by his side since she was a teenager, and her heart was filled with an undeniable love


    for him.


    She finally let out the feelings she had been suppressing for ten years. In an instant, she felt relieved


    but also nervous and uneasy.


    Lysander finally put down his work and looked at her, his tone cold, ¡®Do you know what you¡¯re saying?


    You¡¯ve been acting all weirdtely.¡±


    Faye was shocked. Her face was flushed, and she quickly exined, ¡°Mr. Sinir, I am a woman.¡±


    Lysander said, ¡°I didn¡¯t notice.¡±


    He had always seen her as a male friend. When they were in the army, she was his subordinate and


    hisrade, so he saw her as a friend and a brother.


    She actually wanted to be his girlfriend?


    Faye¡¯s heart took a major hit.


    Lysander actually said he didn¡¯t notice that she was a woman?


    Her self-esteem was bruised, but she didn¡¯t give up. She undid the buttons on her suit, opened up her


    shirt cor, walked over to Lysander, put her hands on the desk, and leaned her waist against the edge


    of the table, facing Lysander.


    It took a matter of moments to turn her from a cold professional worker to a charming woman.


    She moved closer to Lysander, deliberately making it clear to him as her voice became weak, ¡°Mr.


    Sinir, do you see it now?


    I am a woman.¡±


    Lysander was as cold as ice. His eyes were icy cold, so he dropped his pen and raised his hand, ready


    to push her away


    hard.


    ¡°Mr. Sinir, I didn¡¯t mean to bete.¡± At the door of the CEO¡¯s office, Thssa walked in with a mop


    and a broom. She was about to exin to Lysander that she didn¡¯t deliberately arrivete and was


    going to clean his office now.


    She was halfway through her sentence when she suddenly saw the scene in front of her.


    Faye was facing Lysander, trying to get close to him. Her actions were very ambiguous.


    Oh my God!

 Chapter 87

    Chapter 87


    Thssa took a deep breath, realizing that she had picked the wrong time to show up.


    ¡°Sorry for the disturbance.¡± She quickly muttered and turned to leave.


    ¡°Halt!¡± Lysander¡¯smand rang out sternly.


    Thssa immediately froze, not daring to move or turn around. Her heart pounded as she wondered


    why Lysander had stopped her.


    Was he nning to make her witness something she would rather not?


    Faye whipped around at that moment, her eyesnding on Thssa.


    Jealousy and hate red up instantly as she snuggled into Lysander, trying to show off their rtionship


    to Thssa.


    But before she could execute her n, Lysander grabbed her cor and tossed her aside.


    Fayended heavily on her butt, frowning in disbelief at Lysander.


    His face remained expressionless, and his eyes did not show a hint of interest. He was not affected by


    her flirtation.


    ¡°Faye, know your ce. You¡¯re not irreceable as my secretary.¡± Lysander said coldly.


    Faye was far from giving up. She got up and undid her blouse, trying once again to remind him that she


    was a woman. ¡°Mr. Sinir, look at me. I¡¯m a woman.¡±


    Almost at the same time, Lysander averted his gaze from Faye. He then turned to Thssa and


    Thssa shivered at his startlingmand but obeyed nheless. The sight of Faye¡¯s disheveled


    state made her uneasy. Was this some weird discussion about female anatomy?


    As soon as she approached the desk, a big hand grabbed her wrist. Before she knew it, she was pulled


    N?velDrama.Org holds this content.


    into Lysander¡¯sp.


    She jerked up in surprise, but Lysander held her by the waist and pulled her back down, forcing her to


    straddle him.


    This all happened within a split second, leaving Thssa no time to react. Then his hand was on her


    cheek.


    ¡°Mr. Sinir, calm down.¡± Thssa spoke as her cheeks burned.


    ¡°I am calm.¡± Lysander replied, his voice was deep and stern.


    ¡°Ah!¡±


    Thssa was taken aback by his actions.


    Lysander¡¯s gaze was intense, and he said to Faye, ¡°This is how a woman should be.¡±


    Only Thssa could stir up this feeling in him.


    Faye turned green with envy as she watched Lysander¡¯s actions towards Thssa. ¡°Mr. Sinir, one


    day you¡¯ll be that way with me.¡± She spoke as her voice shook with anger and humiliation.


    With that, she stormed off.


    Just then, ric walked in with a box of food. ¡°Lysander, I brought you food.¡±


    Midway through his sentence, he noticed the state of Faye and the woman in Lysander¡¯s arms. His


    face lit up with interest as he said, ¡°Looks like I¡¯ve walked in at the wrong time.

 Chapter 88

    Chapter 88


    Thssa got startled, instantly pushing Lysander away and sliding off him. She tidied up her clothes


    while her face was full of embarrassment, ¡°Mr. Sinir, I¡¯lle and clean upter; I don¡¯t want to


    disturb your meal.¡±


    She hurriedly left, running out of the office even before Faye.


    Faye shot ric an annoyed look; he sure loved watching a good show.


    Feeling embarrassed yet unwilling, she also left the office.


    ric¡¯s smile was ambiguous and amusing. He ced the lunch box on the office desk, saying to


    Lysander, ¡°Lysander, why do I feel like I¡¯m the one disturbing your meal?¡±


    Lysander shot him a chilly look, ¡°You¡¯re quite self-aware.¡±


    ric¡¯sughter grew louder; he leaned in closer and said, ¡°How about I call them back?¡±


    Lysander¡¯s gaze could kill, ¡°Dr. Everest¡¯s anesthesia is getting less and less effective, I need to import


    some from abroad, something that can shut someone up for half a year.¡±


    ric immediately shut up, ¡°I¡¯ll keep my mouth shut. A man needs food, so hurry up and eat.¡±


    Speaking about Lysander¡¯s personal affairs came with a price.


    ric had learned his lesson and didn¡¯t want to be anesthetized again.


    After swiftly exiting the CEO¡¯s office, Thssa was about to take the elevator to the janitorial break


    room.


    ¡°Thssa!¡± Faye called out to her.


    Thssa turned around. She watched her walk over and curiously asked, ¡°Faye, what¡¯s up?¡±


    Faye was wearing a professional women¡¯s suit ¨C a short skirt that hugged her hips and a blouse that


    was unbuttoned two buttons down. She wasn¡¯t as disheveled as before, but there were obviously


    traces of her desperately trying to get close to Lysander in the office.


    She walked up to Thssa. Her face was aloof and had a sense of superiority. Her icy lips curled in


    mockery, ¡°You¡¯re just a little cleaner, do you think Mr. Sinir would be interested in you? He was just


    doing that to make me mad.¡±


    Faye was intentionally humiliating Thssa.


    Thssa felt a lump in her throat.


    What was wrong with being a cleaner? She was earning her money with her own hands and


    capabilities. What she was doing was quite honorable!


    She gave Faye a typical fake office smile, but her eyes were sharp, ¡°Mr. Sinir would rather use me, a


    cleaner, to piss you off than do anything to you. You know what that means.¡±


    The elevator just arrived, and Thssa walked in after finishing her sentence. The elevator doors


    closed, and it went down.


    Faye was so angry that her face became distorted. Thssa actually said she wasn¡¯t even as good as


    a little cleaner!


    She was just a little cleaner, so how dare she have the audacity to talk back?!


    N?velDrama.Org holds this content.


    Faye¡¯s resentment and anger towards Thssa deepened.


    She huffed and turned back to the office.


    Thssa stayed in the janitorial break room all afternoon, too afraid to go clean Lysander¡¯s office in


    case she bumped into him and felt awkward.

 Chapter 89

    Chapter 89


    Seeing the gossip fire burning in her mother¡¯s eyes, Thssa shuddered, sensing danger on the


    horizon.


    Sheughed awkwardly, quickly changing the subject, ¡°He¡¯s the big boss of the Sinir group, I know


    of him, but he has no


    clue who I am.¡±


    Finishing her sentence, she picked up her ss to take a sip of water, avoiding eye contact with


    Evelyn. She knew if her mom got a good look at her face, with her moms sixth sense, she¡¯d see


    through her.


    Her mom would keep digging and wouldn¡¯t let her off.


    ¡°So, he¡¯s the top dog of the Sinir group, quite the catch. No wonder he¡¯s got that air about him. But


    how on earth could Isabe have crossed paths with someone like him? Evelyn seemed pleased with


    the answer.


    After all, it wasn¡¯t a big deal that Thssa, being part of the Sinir group, had seen the big boss.


    However, she quickly stumbled onto another question, ¡°Thssa, if he¡¯s running the Sinir group,


    why would he be in Hollowbrook?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m not quite sure, maybe the Sinir group has some project going on in Hollowbrook, and he¡¯s doing


    a bit of researching.¡± Thssa said She had asked Lysander the same question, but he wasn¡¯t letting


    N?velDrama.Org owns all ? content.


    the cat out of the bag.


    Thssa¡¯s guess seemed to satisfy Evelyn.


    ¡°That makes sense big wigs do love to start projects in the boonies where thend¡¯s cheap¡± Evelyn


    said. ¡°Thssa, you still need to go on arranged dates you need to find a man eventually Don¡¯t worry,


    I¡¯ll find a good one for you this time.¡± Evelyn brought the conversation back to the previous topic


    Thssa sighed, ¡°Mom, quit busting my chops, I¡¯m perfectly fine the way I am.¡±


    ¡°What are you talking about?¡±


    ¡°Mom, I¡¯m a bit tired, I¡¯m gonna chill in front of the TV for a bit Thssa interrupted Evelyn, plopped


    down on the couch and turned on the TV


    The living room was quiet, the kids must be ying in their rooms or still taking their nap


    Thssa wasn¡¯t sweating it

 Chapter 90

    Chapter 90


    Seeing Thssa¡¯s obvious avoidance, Evelyn sighed deeply, shook her head, and headed into the


    kitchen to make food.


    In the small room, Atticus and Donan eavesdropped on their mom and grandma¡¯s conversation.


    Dorian, with his adorable little eyes, said to Atticus, Atticus, mom said Lysander doesn¡¯t know her, but


    Lysander saved her in the restaurant.¡±


    Atticus nodded, his little face serious, ¡°Lysander is pretty decent to our mom.¡±


    They had once visited the Sinir group, wanting to ask Lysander if he was their dad, only to be kicked


    out of the office by ady.


    Lysander even demanded their mom pay for the couch.


    They both thought Lysander was a bad person.


    But, Atticus and Dorian saw Lysander saving Thssa in the restaurant.


    Atticus began to think maybe Lysander wasn¡¯t such a bad egg, at least he was good to their mom.


    Dorian whispered in Atticus¡¯s ear, ¡°Do you think Lysander could be our dad?¡±


    Atticus furrowed his brow, also wondering. ¡°I¡¯m not sure.¡±


    ¡°Could we find a way to confirm it?¡± Dorian suggested, her bright eyes full of hope.


    Atticus nodded.


    Property of N?)(velDr(a)ma.Org.


    The two kids high-fived in agreement, their faces beaming with innocence and clever smiles.


    The next day. Thssa came to work.

 Chapter 91

    Chapter 91


    The elevator was buzzing with chatter, female employees gossiping left, right and centre.


    ¡°Here¡¯s the tea, girls. Yesterday, Faye confessed her feelings to Mr. Sinir, but got shot down hard.¡±


    ¡°Really? Faye is so gorgeous, and she¡¯s Mr. Sinir¡¯s personal secretary. If she got rejected, what


    chance do we have?¡±


    ¡°Let¡¯s get real here. We¡¯re lucky to be working at the Sinir Group and catching a glimpse of Mr.


    Sinir himself is a treat. Don¡¯t get your hopes up, a woman pragmatically sipped at her coffee.


    ¡°I heard Mr. Sinir is gay, he¡¯s into dudes, another woman piped up, eyes shining with excitement.


    Thssa was just taking a sip of her coffee when this bombshell dropped, causing her to spew her


    drink everywhere, choking on herughter.


    Coffee sshed onto the woman in front, and Thssa quickly apologized, pulling out a tissue to help


    clean up the mess. ¡°I¡¯m so sorry, I didn¡¯t mean to.¡±


    ¡°No worries, I¡¯ve got it,¡± Tia, the woman who had just announced Mr. Sinir¡¯s supposed sexual


    preference, epted the tissue, wiping off her clothes.


    ¡°Don¡¯t look so shocked, I¡¯ve got the facts to back it up, Tia said, knowing that Thssa was surprised


    by her revtion.


    She continued, ¡°Have you heard? Mr. Sinir turned down Faye because, in his eyes, there¡¯s no


    difference between her and a guy. Faye is so gorgeous, with a killer body and always dressed to kill.


    Property of N?)(velDr(a)ma.Org.


    Any man would fall for her, but Mr. Sinir had zero interest, even said she looked like a dude to him.


    What does that tell you? It means Mr. Sinir is into men, not interested in


    women at all.¡±


    Thssa was bbergasted. How did the employees get wind of these juicy details? Even the reason


    for Mr. Sinir¡¯s rejection of Faye had made the rounds.


    ¡°Also, get this, to disguise his sexuality, Mr. Sinir randomly picked a janitor to make out with in front


    of Faye, to kill her hopes. That janitor is no match for Faye, she¡¯s in and dowdy. Mr. Sinir even


    had the nerve to say she was the real woman to him. Isn¡¯t that just insulting Faye?¡± Tia was practically


    buzzing with excitement,ughing as she ryed the -gossip to Thssa.


    Thssa was at a loss for words.


    She was in and dowdy?


    Thssa chuckled, ¡°Who knows. Everyone has their own style, their own unique traits. How can we


    Tia blinked,ughing. ¡°A janitorpared to a girl like Faye? They¡¯re not even in the same league.¡±


    ¡°Ding!¡± The elevator stopped at the 10th floor, the Cleaning Department.


    Thssa gave her a small smile, stepping out of the elevator.


    It took Tia a moment to catch on.


    ¡°Oh my God, was that the janitor Mr. Sinir used to insult Faye?¡±


    Back at the Cleaning Department on the 10th floor.


    Other employeesmented, ¡°You¡¯re slow on the uptake, discussing her right in front of her, even


    asking her opinion. You¡¯re something else.¡±


    Tia smacked her forehead, realizing her faux pas.


    As Thssa walked into the Cleaning Department, her boss, Noreen stopped her, ¡°Thssa, what the


    hell? Do you not want your paycheck anymore?¡±


    Thssa straightened her back, feeling guilty, ¡®Director Noreen, I can exin.¡±


    She didn¡¯t try to seduce Lysander, he suddenly pulled her in, using her as an excuse to reject Faye.


    She was innocent.


    ¡°What¡¯s there to exin? The facts are clear as day, how can you exin this!¡± Noreen¡¯s attitude was


    stern, her face filled with reproach.

 Chapter 92

    Chapter 92


    ¡°Actually, yesterday I¡­¡± Thssa was about to exin that she had been cleaning Mr. Sinir¡¯s office


    when she identally witnessed Faye confessing her feelings to Lysander.


    ¡°So, you skipped work yesterday morning, and in the afternoon when I asked you to clean up the top


    floor, guess what your did? You cleaned everywhere except Mr. Sinir¡¯s office. Are you nning to


    quit? Let me tell you, I personally check every day after work. I can tell at a nce whether you¡¯ve


    cleaned or not. Don¡¯t even think of cking off!¡±


    Before Thssa could finish, Noreen beat her to the punch. Hands on hips, she shot her questions


    with a scrutinizing gaze. Taken aback, Thssa blinked. It turned out she and director Noreen were


    talking about two different things.


    She quickly backtracked, exining. ¡°No, director Noreen, Mr. Sinir was working in his office all


    afternoon yesterday. I didn¡¯t want to disturb him, so I didn¡¯t go in to clean.¡±


    ¡°That excuse is eptable. But from now on, you need to wait until Mr. Sinir leaves, then you can


    clean his office and call it a day.¡±


    Thssa was taken aback. ¡°What if Mr. Sinir works overtime?¡±


    ¡°Then you work overtime too. Overtime is paid separately. If you ever leave without cleaning Mr.


    Sinir¡¯s office again, I¡¯ll dock half a month¡¯s pay!¡± Noreenid down thew.


    Thssa managed a bitter smile. ¡°Director Noreen, there might be other solutions¡­¡±


    ¡°I think this is the most feasible. It¡¯s settled.¡± Noreen said, turning on her heel and leaving.


    Thssa was helpless.


    From now on she had to wait for Lysander to leave thepany before she could.


    Who knew if he was a workaholic, workingte into the night every day!


    If that was the case, she would have to workte into the night too.


    That was impossible. She wanted to go home early every day, hold her children, and go to bed early.


    Feeling down, Thssa went to the top floor to sweep. As she was mopping, a pair of high heels


    N?velDrama.Org owns all ? content.


    appeared in front of her


    mop.


    The off-white heels looked very posh.


    Looking up. Thssa saw Faye¡¯s beautiful and noble face.


    Today she wasn¡¯t wearing her usual ck and whitedy¡¯s suit, but a trendy professional outfit. A


    yellow velvet skirt paired with a matching suit, her hair curled, her makeup delicately feminine.


    She looked fashionable and feminine, oozing the elegance of high society, a change from her usual


    strong and rigid image.


    Even Thssa, a woman herself, was dumbstruck by her beauty. So pretty!


    ¡°Thssa,e to my office!¡± Fayemanded, striding towards her office in her high heels.


    With each step, she walked with confidence and allure, her charisma off the charts.


    Thssa put down her mop and followed.


    Standing in front of Faye¡¯s desk, she asked, ¡°Faye, did you need something?¡±


    Faye opened her phone and ced it on the desk, ying a recording.


    The recording was of the conversation in the elevator just now, where some female employees were


    discussing Faye and Lysander.


    Feeling perplexed after hearing it, Thssa said, ¡°Faye,¡­¡±


    Thssa, do you know the consequences of spreading rumors?¡± Faye cut her off, her gaze hard as


    she looked at Thssa. Faye¡¯s attitude was chilly, her eyes full of hostility and disgust as she looked at


    Thssa.


    Thssa might dress simply, but her face was pure and her demeanor genuine. This sort of innocence


    was something


    Fayecked.


    Faye thought, maybe it was this quality that drew Lysander to Thssa and made it impossible for him


    to forget her.

 Chapter 93

    Chapter 93


    Faye was green with envy for Thssa, she hated her. Yesterday, Lysander dared use Thssa as a


    reason to reject her, which was a total p in the face.


    Thssa, the root of all evil, was there and saw everything. She had to go!


    Upon hearing this, Thssa instantly got Faye¡¯s drift. She said, ¡°Faye, there¡¯s a price to pay for


    spreading nder.¡±


    ¡°Yesterday, no one else heard the conversation | had with Lysander in the office apart from you. So


    who else could be spreading rumors?¡± Faye was sure that Thssa was the one who let out the


    rumors.


    Now, the wholepany is buzzing with gossip about her and Lysander, even absurd rumors that


    Lysander is gay!


    Facing Faye¡¯s usations, Thssa stood tall and fearless.


    ¡°I didn¡¯t eavesdrop on your conversation with Lysander, and I wouldn¡¯t do something as boring as


    N?velDrama.Org owns all ? content.


    spreading rumors. Faye, as a senior staff, you should know better than me that you need evidence


    before you use someone! I might only be a cleaner, but I will not tolerate baseless usations! If


    there¡¯s nothing else, I have work to do.¡±


    With that, Th


    turned and left the office.


    She had been in the


    work.


    Cleaning Department all yesterday afternoon after cleaning the top floor and went straight home after


    How could she be the one spreading rumors?


    Besides, she was also part of the rumors, no way she would want to make herself the target of gossip.


    Lysander had also heard the rumors when he came to the office, his aura icy and displeased.


    He called Faye, shouting. ¡°To my office!¡±


    Soon, Faye was standing in front of Lysander.


    Lysander gave her a quick once-over, noticing a change in her outfit today, but to him, she was the


    same old Faye.


    He said in a deep voice, ¡°Immediately suppress these rumors and gossip. If I hear anyone talking about


    this again, you won¡¯t need toe in tomorrow!¡±


    Faye quickly said, ¡°Mr. Sinir, someone¡¯s deliberately stirring the pot. I¡¯ve just finished looking into it


    and found the answer. Mr. Sinir, listen to this recording.¡±


    The recording was from earlier when Thssa was at work, female employees whispering in the


    elevator.


    After they finished speaking, Thssa¡¯s voice could be heard, ¡°Who knows? Besides, everyone¡¯s


    different, you can¡¯tpare people like that.¡±


    ¡°Oh my god, is that the cleaner that Mr. Sinir brought in to embarrass Faye?¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re slow on the uptake, gossiping right in front of the person involved. You¡¯re really something.¡±


    The recording ended.


    Lysander¡¯s gaze was icy, his expression unreadable.


    Faye reported, ¡°Mr. Sinir, Thssa was cleaning the office yesterday and she was the only one who


    heard our conversation. It¡¯s clear that she spread the rumor to show that you¡¯re interested in her, to let


    everyone in thepany know.¡±


    Faye saw the chill emanating from Lysander.


    She continued, ¡°She has a lot to gain from this. First, she wants me to lose, for all the Sinir group


    employees to understand that you value her more than me. Second, she wants everyone to know that


    you have feelings for her, so she can get closer to you and dere herself as your woman. She¡¯s


    forcing your hand, using public pressure to make you admit that she¡¯s your woman.¡±


    ¡°Are you done?¡± Lysander¡¯s gaze was sharp, as if he was about to see through Faye¡¯s mind.


    Faye couldn¡¯t figure out Lysander¡¯s real intention, hesitated a bit, then lightly nodded.


    ¡°Get but!¡±


    Faye was taken aback, seeing that Lysander was angry, she swallowed her pride, slightly bowed her


    head, and then left the office.


    Why?


    She had made everything crystal clear, why hadn¡¯t Lysander expressed any intention to punish


    Thssa?


    He didn¡¯t even have any intention to confront Thssa!


    Faye clenched her fists, her nails digging into her flesh, her indignation and jealousy twisting her


    delicate features.

 Chapter 94

    Chapter 94


    Thssa was tidying up the conference room when she noticed a stack of A4 papers on the table.


    They were fashion designs, stylish and beautiful, instantly catching Thssa¡¯s eye


    She walked over and saw the first design, a goose-yellow velvet skirt that was incredibly trendy. It


    reminded her of a simr skirt Faye had worn, yet there was something different about it


    ¡°Thssa! What are you doing?¡±


    Just as she was engrossed in the designs, a frantic voice erupted from the entrance.


    Turning around, she saw Faye striding in, gathering the designs from the table into her arms, and


    sternly said. ¡°Were you looking at the designs? What were you thinking? These are the hard work of


    our design team, pulling all-nighters. Were. they made for you, the cleaner, to look at?¡±


    Faye¡¯s words dripped with sarcasm and disdain.


    Thssa had no intention to argue with her. She maintained a polite smile and said, ¡°Faye, you¡¯re right.


    These designs are important. But then, why were they left on the conference table just like that? As the


    president¡¯s secretary, you should pay more attention to details. Being careless isn¡¯t a good habit, you


    know¡±


    Faye was left speechless by Thssa¡¯s sharp retort, her insides seething with anger. However, she


    had to maintain her elegance, even in her fury. ¡°You don¡¯t need to clean the conference room anymore.


    The president¡¯s desk is a bit dirty. Go clean it,¡± she said, struggling to soundposed.


    Thssa just turned and left.


    As she walked away, Faye watched her retreating figure, a sly glint in her eyes.Belongs ? to N?velDrama.Org.


    When Thssa entered the office, Lysander was reviewing documents at his desk.


    The air was thick with tension.


    Thssa felt a suffocating pressure that made it hard for her to breathe..


    But cleaning the desk was her job, and she couldn¡¯t run away from it.


    She tiptoed over and began to wipe the desk with a cloth..


    Bending over, her chest almost pressed against the table as she tried to clean it thoroughly.


    She was wearing a round-necked long-sleeve T-shirt, which normally looked very neat, but her position


    made it look a bit too revealing.


    Her skin looked soft, causing Lysander¡¯s gaze to deepen.


    Thssa was oblivious to his change and continued to scrub. She just wanted to finish and leave


    quickly to avoid being in the same room as Lysander.


    In her hurry, she identally knocked the phone off the desk, creating a loud noise..


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry, I¡¯ll pick it up right away.¡± Thssa hurriedly said, bending down to retrieve the phone.


    ¡°Ah!¡± She tripped over the leg of the table, lost her bnce, and fell right into Lysander¡¯s arms.


    The warmth and firmness of his chest made Thssa¡¯s heart race.


    She looked up into Lysander¡¯s deep eyes.


    Taking a sharp intake of breath, she quickly pushed him away, trying to stand up. ¡°Mr. Sinir, I¡¯m


    sorry, really sorry.¡±


    As light as a cloud, the woman had invaded Lysander¡¯s arms. Her faint scent filled his nostrils, making


    his heart beat faster.


    Her hand was braced against his chest, like a kitten¡¯s paw, yfully stirring his heart, irresistibly


    tempting him.

 Chapter 95

    Chapter 95


    Lysander felt his throat dry as he gripped her wrist, pulling her into his embrace. His warm, unique


    scent swirled around her ear, ¡°You sure know how to seduce men.¡±


    His hot breath tickled behind her soft ear, making her feel all tingly.


    Feeling the danger, she hurriedly said, ¡°Mr. Sinir, this is all a misunderstanding.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re deliberately causing misunderstandings in front of me, you¡¯re quite the yer,¡± Lysander¡¯s voice


    Property of N?)(velDr(a)ma.Org.


    was deep and domineering, gripping her waist tightly, assertive in his actions.


    Thssa was panicked and blushing, ¡°Mr. Sinir, don¡¯t.¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t what?¡± Lysander¡¯s voice was deep and captivating.


    He gently bit her earlobe.


    Thssa was extremely terrified, she tried to break free from him, but Lysander¡¯s strong hand held her


    tight, leaving her immobilized.


    His fingers lifted her chin, preparing to kiss her.


    Just then, the door was knocked and Faye barged in urgently, ¡°Mr. Sinir, I left my phone in your


    office.¡±


    Thssa immediately pushed Lysander away, retreating in embarrassment.


    Compared to her embarrassment, Lysander casually rolled up his sleeves, maintaining his noble and


    domineering attitude.


    As Thssa rushed to collect herself, preparing to leave, Faye picked up Thssa¡¯s phone that had


    identally fallen on the floor. The phone screen was inadvertently activated, ying the chit-chat


    from the elevator.


    Hearing Tia¡¯s voice from the phone, ¡°My goodness, was that woman Mr. Sinir¡¯s cleaner who he used


    to humiliate Faye?¡±


    Thssa¡¯s steps faltered.


    Faye¡¯s phone was in Mr. Sinir¡¯s office, this meant Mr. Sinir had seen the video and knew about


    the rumors!


    Seeing Thssa pause, Faye quickly pretended to identally touch the phone, turning off the video,


    gave Lysander a slight nod, and then left the office.


    As she passed Thssa, her gaze was icy.


    With Lysander present, Faye couldn¡¯t directly me Thssa. Besides, Lysander had rejected her


    confession yesterday. If she interfered with Lysander¡¯s personal matters, her position as secretary


    would be revoked.


    She had worked hard for this secretary position, it was only from this position that she could see


    Lysander every day, get close to him.


    If she lost this position, the distance between her and Lysander would grow, they would possibly


    bing strangers, even seeing each other would be a luxury.


    Faye cherished this position and didn¡¯t want to be dismissed. So, when she knew she should stay


    calm, she could control her jealousy.


    She deliberately left her phone in Lysander¡¯s office, telling Thssa that Mr. Sinir¡¯s desk needed


    cleaning. She tricked her intoing here just to let Thssa see the surveince footage on her


    phone, as the footage just happened to stop at Thssa in the elevator.


    She deliberately adjusted the phone settings so the screen would stay on, no matter how long it had


    been, the paused video could be seen at a nce.


    As long as Thssa saw this video, she would definitely exin to Mr. Sinir that she hadn¡¯t spread


    the rumors. But, her exnation would only make things worse, only making Mr. Sinir angrier.


    All she did was to make Lysander dislike Thssa, to make him realize she was a person of poor


    character. However, unexpectedly, Thssa had only been in the office for a short while and did


    something unbelievable!

 Chapter 96

    Chapter 96


    Faye was fuming mad, thinking to herself, ¡°Thssa is such a slut!¡±


    If looks could kill, Faye would have already murdered Thssa by now.


    After leaving the office, Thssa scuttled back to the desk. She didn¡¯t dare get too close and anxiously


    blurted, ¡°Mr. Sinir, I had nothing to do with that elevator chatter in the video. I didn¡¯t spread the rumor


    either.¡±


    Her eyes were wide with anxiety, her heart still fluttering from Lysander¡¯s earlier actions. She looked


    downright pitiful, her tears making her all the more appealing.


    Lysander¡¯s lust hadn¡¯t quite subsided. Seeing her approach him again stirred up feelings of pity.


    Lysander stood up, his presence overpowering as he walked towards her.


    ¡°Really, you didn¡¯t spread the rumor? Then why so nervous?¡± Lysander advanced on her step by step.


    Under his intimidating aura, Thssa backed away, ¡°Mr. Sinir, I swear I didn¡¯t. Why would I spread


    rumors? What¡¯s in it for me?¡±


    The sunlight streaming in from the window lit up her eyes, making them look crystal clear.


    From Lysander¡¯s perspective, her eyes were like sparkling ss beads, reflecting a dazzling light..


    Her longshes cast a shadow.


    Lysander grabbed her slim waist, pulling her close. Their bodies pressed together.


    ¡°How is it not to your benefit? Isn¡¯t it what you¡¯ve always wanted, for everyone to know you¡¯re my


    woman, for the rumor to be true?¡±


    Lysander¡¯s voice was low and smoky


    Thssa blinked in surprise. She pushed against his chest, trying to create some distance. Their close


    proximity was suggestive.


    ¡°Mr. Sinir, I didn¡¯t spread any rumors, nor do I have any such intentions. I¡¯m here at the Sinir


    group to work hard and make a living, that¡¯s all.¡±


    Thssa¡¯s heart was racing. She struggled to free herself from his grip.


    But the man was strong, his arms around her waist like a vise. No matter how much she struggled, she


    couldn¡¯t get away. Her struggles only caused friction against him, exciting him even more.


    Damn it.


    He was losing control. He wanted to make love with her right here, right now!


    He was certain her cleaning act in front of him was a deliberate attempt to seduce him.


    He had only intended to teach her a lesson, but he hadn¡¯t expected to be this affected!


    He was helpless against her!


    This predicament was irritating Lysander.


    His gaze darkened.


    Fury ignited, he abruptly let go of her waist, ¡°Is that so? Then show me your determination to work


    hard!¡±


    Without Lysander¡¯s support, Thssa lost bnce and fell to her knees.


    She looked utterly abject.


    Thssa¡¯s eyes widened, her heart pounding in fear.


    She quickly grabbed onto Lysander¡¯s trousers, trying to pull herself up.


    But it was toote.


    Thssa¡¯s breath hitched.


    Looking up, she saw Lysander¡¯s face dark as a stormy sky.


    His mysterious, deep-set eyes seemed to draw her in, leaving nothing behind.


    N?velDrama.Org owns all ? content.


    Oh my God! What on earth did she do?


    She didn¡¯t do anything!

 Chapter 97

    Chapter 97


    Thssa took a step back, hands raised in surrender, face and neck flushing red.


    Lysander looked down at her, suppressing his anger, took a step towards her, ¡°Is this how you work


    your butt off?¡±


    The misunderstanding was huge.


    Thssa was at a loss.


    Property of N?)(velDr(a)ma.Org.


    ¡°It¡¯s not like that, Mr. Sinir. I¡¯ll take punishments, I can clean all the bathroom floors.¡±


    Thssa¡¯s defense didn¡¯t help, all she could do was get out of the office


    To prove that she was at the Sinir group only for work, she actually started cleaning the toilets.


    She just wanted to exin to Lysander that she wasn¡¯t spreading the rumors.


    But things didn¡¯t go as she nned, she almost caused Mr. Sinir¡¯s trousers to fall off.


    Thinking about it made Thssa¡¯s face heat up.


    But she had to clear up this rumor and clear her name.


    The more she was doubted, the more she couldn¡¯t leave the Sinir group!


    Otherwise, she would bebeled as the one spreading the rumors


    Thssa started cleaning toilets from the ground floor, huffing and puffing.


    Finally, she got to the top floor, checked the time, it was already half past five


    She put down the mop, ready to clock off.


    Suddenly, she remembered Noreen¡¯s words. She had to wait for Lysander to finish work before she


    could leave.


    Otherwise, she would be docked half a month¡¯s pay.


    But Thssa didn¡¯t know if Lysander had left, she had to check in his office.


    She stood at the office door, hand raised to knock, but thinking about the previous minding with Mr.


    Sinir, she backed off.


    ¡°Thssa, are you looking for Mr. Sinir?¡± a voice suddenly came from behind.


    Thssa jumped, turned around to see David, relieved, she said, ¡°David, has Mr. Sinir left yet?¡±


    ¡°Not yet, I need to see him too, wanna go in together?¡± David smiled at her


    Thssa quickly waved her hand, ¡°You go ahead. I¡¯m good¡±


    With that, she walked away quickly.


    She just wanted to check if Lysander was still in the office. Since David said he was, there was no need


    to check again.


    David knocked and entered the office, ced the files on the desk, reported, ¡°Mr. Sinir, the fashion


    show is tomorrow, these are the partner¡¯s details.¡±


    ¡°Alright.¡± Lysander quietly replied, continuing his work.


    David was about to leave, suddenly stopped, said, ¡°I just ran into Thssa at the door, she seemed to


    want to see you. I asked her toe in but she took off


    Lysander remained expressionless, said nothing.


    Seeing this, David nodded slightly and left the office.


    Thssa waited in the break room for a while, thinking. Lysander must hav


    left by now.


    She returned to the office door leaned close to it, trying to hear any hent inside.


    Suddenly, the door swung open from the inside.


    -She didn¡¯t have time to react, her body leaning forward.


    Arge hand gripped her chin, lifting her up, a deep, cold voice said, ¡°You didn¡¯t finish earlier, want to


    try again now? Are you really that horny?¡±

 Chapter 98

    Chapter 98


    Lysander was squeezing Thssa¡¯s chin so hard it hurt, and she tried to loosen his grip with her


    hands.


    Thssa winced in pain and said, ¡°Mr. Sinir, I, I just came to clean¡­¡±


    ¡°Great timing for a cleaning¡±¡± he snapped, shoving her away.


    She wasn¡¯t cleaning during work hours, but showed up after hours.


    Was she trying to get closer to him when there were fewer people around after work, in an attempt to


    get his attention?


    She was pretending to wipe the table just now, but she kept getting closer to him, even deliberately


    falling into his arms.


    Was she up to her old tricks again after her previous attempt failed?


    What Lysander hated most was women who tried to gain power through their bodies, selling


    themselves without any scruples! Thssa rubbed her chin, trying to ease the pain


    Lysander sneered, ¡®Stop ying games, it won¡¯t work on me!¡±


    He walked out of the office.


    Thssa pouted, her eyes full of grievance.


    When had she ever yed games?


    She was just doing her job, and if it weren¡¯t for Director Noreen asking her to clean Lysander¡¯s office


    after he left work, she would have gone home to her four children long ago.


    She didn¡¯t even want to see his face.


    Thssa poured all her grievances into her cleaning work. The CEO¡¯s office was soon spotless.


    Suddenly, she noticed the surveince camera in the corner of the office.


    So, the CEO¡¯s office was under surveince


    Belongs ? to N?velDrama.Org.


    If she could pull up the surveince footage, it would prove that she didn¡¯t overhear Faye and


    Lysander¡¯s conversation, but just saw them together


    Maybe then she could clear her name, proving she didn¡¯t spread rumors.


    After all, she didn¡¯t hear what they said, so how could she spread rumors?


    And besides, she wasn¡¯t the source of the rumors.


    She couldn¡¯t be med for something she didn¡¯t do, epting this injustice.


    Since the office had a surveince camera, the footage should be in Lysander¡¯sputer.


    As long as she gets Lysander to check the surveince on hisputer, everything would be clear.


    Yes, she¡¯ll get Lysander to check the surveince tomorrow!


    Thssa got home, utterly exhausted. Today was just too tiring.


    Both physically and mentally, she waspletely worn out.


    ¡°I¡¯m home.¡±


    ¡°Mommy, you¡¯re back, I missed you so much.¡± Elowen ran over, patting her little leg, her tiny hand


    holding Thssa¡¯s.


    Her little hand instantly melted Thssa¡¯s heart, and she smiled, ¡°Were you good today?¡±


    ¡°I was good.¡± Elowen nodded.


    ¡°We were all good.¡± The other three children chimed in unison.


    Thssa¡¯s smile softened even more, she sat down on the sofa, ¡°I am so tired today¡±

 Chapter 99

    Chapter 99


    ¡°Mom, let me give you a back rub.¡± Elowen kicked off her shoes. She quickly climbed onto the couch,


    her small hands on Thssa¡¯s shoulders, kneading away.


    ¡°Mom, Ill massage your legs.¡± Dorian toddled over, his little palms rubbing Thssa¡¯s legs, his baby


    face filled with concentration.


    Atticus and Sophia joined in too. Sophia worked with Elowen, one on each side, massaging Thssa¡¯s


    back. Atticus teamed up with Dorian, each taking a leg.


    Even though the kids¡¯ strength was far from enough to give a proper massage, Thssa felt a warmth


    in her heart. Her fatigue was swept away, reced by a sense of happiness.


    ¡°Thssa, you¡¯re usually not this wom out from work. What happened?¡¯ Evelyn emerged from the


    kitchen, noticing her daughter¡¯s unusual state, she couldn¡¯t help but express concern.


    While being pampered by her four children, Thssa said to Evelyn, ¡°I got to work today and found out


    everyone was talking about the CEO and his secretary. And somehow, the secretary imed it was me


    who spread the rumors. I felt so wronged.¡±


    ¡°Well, you should¡¯ve exined. We can¡¯t just be med for no reason¡± Evelyn, who is usually quite


    strict with Thssa and always pushing her to improve, is firm when ites to principles and expects


    Thssa to stand her ground as well.


    Their family was honest and hardworking, they couldn¡¯t just be falsely used.


    Thssa said, ¡°I did exin. But yesterday when I was cleaning the CEO¡¯s office, I happened to see


    the secretary confessing her feelings to the CEO. She used that as a reason to use me of


    spreading rumors.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s tricky. You need to find proof to vindicate yourself. Evelyn also felt troubled.


    The worst thing Thssa could do now was to quit. If she did, it would look like she was guilty and had


    resigned, this would solidify the usations of her spreading rumors.


    Thssa understood this. It was the reason she hadn¡¯t tendered her resignation.


    ¡°Today, while I was cleaning the CEO¡¯s office, I noticed there¡¯s a CCTV camera. It must¡¯ve recorded me


    in the office yesterday. If there¡¯s a video, it would prove I didn¡¯t overhear their conversation. Ill ask the


    CEO to review the footage tomorrow and clear my name. Don¡¯t worry, mom.¡± Thssa said


    optimistically.


    Even though Evelyn was often strict with her, Thssa always feltfortable sharing her problems


    with her mother. Because her mother was principled when it came to interpersonal rtionships and


    worldly matters.


    This was in line with Thssa¡¯s own values.


    ¡°That¡¯s good, go wash your hands and get ready for dinner.¡± Evelyn said.


    After dinner. Thssa, Astrid, and Evelyn sat in the living room watching TV.


    In the bedroom, the four children were huddled together.


    The kids were discussing something important.


    ¡°Mom was wrongly used, we need to think of a way to help her.¡± Atticus, being the eldest, rallied his


    younger siblings to brainstorm.


    ¡°I feel so bad for mom. She¡¯s so kind and sweet, why is she always bullied?¡± Dorian pouted, hisrge


    eyes filled with sympathy for Thssa


    ¡®Ill cuddle with mom tonight, to make sure she doesn¡¯t cry.¡± Elowen¡¯s voice was soft, his big eyes


    brimming with tears.


    ¡°I n to go to thepany with mom tomorrow and tell her boss that she didn¡¯t do anything wrong.¡±


    Sophia raised her hand, offering her suggestion.


    Atticus replied, ¡°No, you¡¯re too young.¡±


    ¡°Okay..¡± Sophia seemed a little disappointed.


    Atticus, his young but deep eyes looking at Dorian, made a decision, ¡°Tomorrow, Dorian and I will go.


    You two stay home and stay with grandma,¡±


    The next day.


    Thssa arrived at thepany on time. There were already people in the elevator, the doors were


    about to close.


    ¡±


    Thssa hurriedly quickened her pace, ¡°Wait, please!¡±


    Property of N?)(velDr(a)ma.Org.


    She dashed over, just as the elevator doors were about to close, she stepped in. Everyone in the


    elevator was her colleague.


    As soon as she entered, she noticed everyone was looking at her strangely.


    She thought it was because she ran too hastily and might have disturbed others, so she bowed her


    head slightly and smiled


    apologetically.


    A woman sneered, ¡°Isn¡¯t this the janitor who was spreading rumors about her and Mr. Sinir


    yesterday? She¡¯s trying to worm her way into Mr. Sinir¡¯s bed, even trying to move up in society. But it


    seems she¡¯s still working in the Cleaning Department, guess it didn¡¯t work out, huh?

 Chapter 100

    Chapter 100


    Thssa stopped in her tracks, but didn¡¯t turn around.


    ¡°What are you doing in the boss¡¯s office?¡± Faye interrogated.


    ¡°I¡¯ve got stuff to discuss with Mr. Sinir. Since he¡¯s not in, I¡¯lle back to himter,¡± Thssa


    retorted, ready to bolt out of there.


    Faye¡¯s words rooted her in ce again, ¡°You¡¯re just a cleaner! You really think you¡¯re worth Mr.


    Sinir¡¯s time? Thssa, I¡¯ve never seen a shameless woman like you, trying to seduce Mr. Sinir¡¯


    Thssa paused, turning to face Faye head-on, stating her case, ¡°I¡¯m here to see the CCTV footage of


    your confession to Mr. Sinir. I want to prove I didn¡¯t overhear your conversation and I¡¯m not the one


    spreading rumors. Faye, you know the saying. The reason you criticize others is a reflection of


    yourself.¡±


    Faye instantly realized Thssa was throwing her own words back at her, about being shameless.


    Faye¡¯s fists clenched in anger, but she kept her cool, scoffing. ¡°The office door was open. Perhaps you


    were eavesdropping?¡±


    Thssa¡¯s eyes widened in astonishment.


    Oh my god!


    How could Faye use her like that?


    ¡°Once Mr. Sinires back and checks the CCTV, everything will be clear.¡±


    ¡°Mr. Sinir is a busy man, he won¡¯t waste time on this. Give up on that idea. Thssa, if I were you,


    I¡¯d admit to spreading the rumors and apologize to Mr. Sinir. Maybe he¡¯ll forgive you for owning up to


    your mistake, Faye suggested with a sneer, before leaving the office.


    ¡°I didn¡¯t do it and I won¡¯t admit to it! I¡¯ll find evidence to clear my name,¡± Thssa said, watching Faye¡¯s


    retreating figure.


    Thssa felt wronged and furious.


    Her phone rang as she left the office. It was her friend Hertha.


    Belongs ? to N?velDrama.Org.


    She picked up, ¡°Hertha, I¡¯m so bummed.¡±


    She was really troubled.


    ¡°What¡¯s up? What¡¯s got our sunny and positive Thssa so down? Spill the beans,¡± Hertha¡¯s cheery


    voice came from the other end.


    Thssa told her about the false usation and how Faye said Lysander wouldn¡¯t let her see the


    CCTV footage.


    She felt stifled and needed to vent to Hertha.


    ysano kids


    ¡°Mom, don¡¯t be sad. You still have us,¡± came the gentle, sweet voices of her kids over the phone. Their


    words warmed Thssa¡¯s heart and soothed her anxiety.


    Thssa was taken aback, ¡°Dorian, why are you with Hertha?¡±


    ¡°Thssa, I¡¯m off today. I stopped by to see the kids, Hertha exined.


    ¡°Okay, Thssa responded, ¡®I feel a lot better after talking with you. I¡¯ve got to get back to work now.


    Bye.¡±


    After venting to Hertha and hearing her kids¡¯ encouragement, Thssa felt reinvigorated.


    Soon, she had finished her cleaning duties on the top floor.


    She was about to take the elevator down after cleaning her map in the restroom when she saw a figure


    disappearing into the stairwell.


    This person seemed very mysterious.


    Driven by curiosity, Thssa decided to follow.

 Chapter 101

    Chapter 101


    Thssa stopped in her tracks, but didn¡¯t turn around.


    ¡°What are you doing in the boss¡¯s office?¡± Faye interrogated.


    ¡°I¡¯ve got stuff to discuss with Mr. Sinir. Since he¡¯s not in, I¡¯lle back to himter,¡± Thssa


    retorted, ready to bolt out of there.


    Faye¡¯s words rooted her in ce again, ¡°You¡¯re just a cleaner! You really think you¡¯re worth Mr.


    Sinir¡¯s time? Thssa, I¡¯ve never seen a shameless woman like you, trying to seduce Mr. Sinir¡¯


    Thssa paused, turning to face Faye head-on, stating her case, ¡°I¡¯m here to see the CCTV footage of


    your confession to Mr. Sinir. I want to prove I didn¡¯t overhear your conversation and I¡¯m not the one


    spreading rumors. Faye, you know the saying. The reason you criticize others is a reflection of


    yourself.¡±


    Faye instantly realized Thssa was throwing her own words back at her, about being shameless.


    Faye¡¯s fists clenched in anger, but she kept her cool, scoffing. ¡°The office door was open. Perhaps you


    were eavesdropping?¡±


    Thssa¡¯s eyes widened in astonishment.


    Oh my god!


    How could Faye use her like that?


    ¡°Once Mr. Sinires back and checks the CCTV, everything will be clear.¡±


    ¡°Mr. Sinir is a busy man, he won¡¯t waste time on this. Give up on that idea. Thssa, if I were you,


    I¡¯d admit to spreading the rumors and apologize to Mr. Sinir. Maybe he¡¯ll forgive you for owning up to


    your mistake, Faye suggested with a sneer, before leaving the office.


    ¡°I didn¡¯t do it and I won¡¯t admit to it! I¡¯ll find evidence to clear my name,¡± Thssa said, watching Faye¡¯s


    retreating figure.


    Property of N?)(velDr(a)ma.Org.


    Thssa felt wronged and furious.


    Her phone rang as she left the office. It was her friend Hertha.


    She picked up, ¡°Hertha, I¡¯m so bummed.¡±


    She was really troubled.


    ¡°What¡¯s up? What¡¯s got our sunny and positive Thssa so down? Spill the beans,¡± Hertha¡¯s cheery


    voice came from the other end.


    Thssa told her about the false usation and how Faye said Lysander wouldn¡¯t let her see the


    CCTV footage.


    She felt stifled and needed to vent to Hertha.


    ysano kids


    ¡°Mom, don¡¯t be sad. You still have us,¡± came the gentle, sweet voices of her kids over the phone. Their


    words warmed Thssa¡¯s heart and soothed her anxiety.


    Thssa was taken aback, ¡°Dorian, why are you with Hertha?¡±


    ¡°Thssa, I¡¯m off today. I stopped by to see the kids, Hertha exined.


    ¡°Okay, Thssa responded, ¡®I feel a lot better after talking with you. I¡¯ve got to get back to work now.


    Bye.¡±


    After venting to Hertha and hearing her kids¡¯ encouragement, Thssa felt reinvigorated.


    Soon, she had finished her cleaning duties on the top floor.


    She was about to take the elevator down after cleaning her map in the restroom when she saw a figure


    disappearing into the stairwell.


    This person seemed very mysterious.


    Driven by curiosity, Thssa decided to follow.

 Chapter 102

    Chapter 102


    Thssa strolled to the staircase and spotted Joie, leaning casually against the stair hallway.


    Just as Thssa was about to approach, she overheard Joie bbering. This time, even if Thssa


    wasn¡¯t fired, she wouldn¡¯t stand a chance to make amends with Mr. Sinir. Rumors have spread like


    wildfire in thepany. Even if Faye managed to stop it in the building, the staff now have a bad taste


    in their mouths about Thssa. She¡¯ll soon be outcast and discriminated against. Before long, she¡¯ll


    feel so out of ce that she¡¯ll pack her bags and quit.¡±


    Thssa stopped dead in her tracks. She didn¡¯t move forward but stayed by the door, peering towards


    the stairs.


    Joie was talking to someone, but the stair corner¡¯s wall was blocking the person from view.


    N?velDrama.Org holds this content.


    The mystery person didn¡¯t utter a word, but seemed to nod along with Joie¡¯s words.


    Joie cracked a smirk and continued, ¡®Thssa is my enemy, kicking her out of thepany is my goal.


    I have to thank you for the juicy info which helped me spread these rumors.¡±


    What the hell? Joie was the one spreading the rumors?


    She was framing her!


    Burning with anger, Thssa stormed towards Joie, ¡®So it¡¯s you, Joie!¡±


    Her voice startled Joie who jerked her head towards her, ¡°Thssa!¡±


    The person who was chatting with Joie, upon hearing themotion, hurriedly scampered down the


    stairs.


    Thssa heard the click-ck of high heels hitting the floor, she quickened her pace to chase after.


    This person was the mastermind behind everything, she couldn¡¯t let this person escape.


    But she was a step too slow. By the time she reached the corner, the person had already pushed open


    the fire exit and disappeared onto another §±§à§à§Ô


    Thssa wanted to chase after, but Joie grabbed her arm, ¡°Thssa, what the hell are you doing?¡±


    ¡°Let go of me, you two teamed up to frame me, I have to let Mr. Sinir know to clear my name!¡±


    Thssa shook off Joie¡¯s hand and took off again.


    She pushed open the fire exit and entered the hallway, only to find it empty.


    The person had ran away.


    Thssa was seething with anger but felt helpless.


    The floors below the top floor were all executive offices, and she, as a mere janitor, had no night to go


    poking around in there.


    Joie also caught up, she grabbed her hand and dragged her into the elevator, saying grumpily to


    Thssa, ¡°You¡¯re right, I spread the rumors. I¡¯ve had it in for you for quite some time, and chasing you


    out of thepany is my goal.¡±


    ¡°Who told you to do this? Who was the person talking with you?¡± Thssa asked, her face stern.


    She had to find out who framed her.


    ¡°You¡¯re talking nonsense, it was just me, nobody else.¡± Joie replied.


    Thssa scoffed, ¡°You think you can fool me? I clearly heard the person running away.¡±


    ¡°You must have misheard. Joje retorted.


    At this point, the elevator reached the tenth floor.


    Joie exited the elevator and went back to the Cleaning Department, Thssa followed after her.


    Thssa approached Noreen and said, ¡°Director Noreen, I need a favor from


    you¡­¡±


    ¡°Director Noreen, there¡¯s something I¡¯ve been meaning to discuss with you.¡±


    Noreen nced at Thssa, then at Joie, ¡®What is it, spill it.¡±


    Joie said, ¡°I n to resign, here¡¯s my resignation letter.¡±


    She pulled out a resignation letter from her pocket and handed it to Noreen.


    Joie cut her off.


    Thssa was taken aback by Joie¡¯s sudden move, she didn¡¯t know how to react.


    Noreen looked at Joie, then Thssa, and said, ¡°Thssa, can you step out for a bit, I need to talk to


    Jole.¡±


    Thssa had no choice but to leave Noreen¡¯s office.


    She waited in the chair for a while. When the office door opened and Jole came out, Thssa


    immediately approached har

 Chapter 103

    Chapter 103


    Joie turned to Thssa, ¡°This is myst day here, Thssa. You¡¯ve won.¡±


    With those words, Joie left the Cleaning Department.


    Frowning. Thssa went into Noreen¡¯s office, ¡°Director Noreen¡­


    ¡°Thssa, do you know why I didn¡¯t let Joie work at the top level?¡± Noreen suddenly asked.


    ¡°I have no idea,¡± Thssa replied.


    ¡°Because she got a big ambition. She was trying to get close to Lysander. I couldn¡¯t allow someone like


    that to be at the top. You¡¯re more innocent inparison. But I didn¡¯t expect that not only did you


    seduce Lysander, you made it the talk of the town; Noreen said.


    ¡°Director Noreen, it¡¯s not what you think¡­¡± Thssa tried to exin in a hurry.


    ¡°I know what you¡¯re trying to say, Thssa. Joie has apologized to me and quit her job. This is the end


    of it. You can leave now,¡± Noreen interrupted her


    Thssa wanted to exin further, but seeing Noreen¡¯s expression, she knew Noreen didn¡¯t want to


    hear it.


    Noreen told her not to pursue Joie¡¯s responsibility and to let it be.


    But even though Joie had quit, everyone in thepany thought she was the one spreading rumors


    and trying to seduce Lysander. They saw her as a cunning woman,


    Her reputation was ruined.


    How could this be the end of it?


    If Director Noreen wouldn¡¯t help her, she would go to Lysander. She¡¯d have him announce to the


    rumors!


    Thssa decided to talk to Lysander.


    But Lysander wasn¡¯t in his office. He hadn¡¯t been in thepany since morning.


    Desperate to clear her name, Thssa called David, Lysander¡¯s assistant, to ask where he was.


    After a few rings, David picked up, ¡°Thssa, what¡¯s up?¡±


    ¡°David, do you know where Lysander is? When will he be back?¡± Thssa asked.


    ¡°Lysander¡¯s at a fashion show. Thepany is hosting a big one today so he might not be back until


    the afternoon. If it¡¯s urgent, you can tell me and I¡¯ll pass the message, David replied.


    ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll wait for him then. Thanks, Thssa hung up.


    So Lysander was at a fashion show. That exined his absence.


    Thssa knew about the big fashion show project Sinir Group was undertaking this quarter.


    All the previous meetings were about finalizing the fashion designs.


    The show was of great importance to Sinir Group with a humongous budget.


    Lysander was at the fashion show, Thssa didn¡¯t want to bother him with her personal issues.


    She could only wait until he returned.


    Thssa decided to calm down and continue working.


    She had cleaned every restroom on every floor.


    Property of N?)(velDr(a)ma.Org.


    As she was about to take the elevator to the Cleaning Department, the executive elevator stopped on


    the top floor and the doors opened.


    -Out stepped the tall and handsome Lysander, radiating a cold aura, his face stern.


    Apanying him was an older gentleman, tall and muscr, with a strong presence and serious


    expression.


    This was Lysander¡¯s grandfather, Zephyr Sinir.


    David followed closely, looking extremely cautious.

 Chapter 104

    Chapter 104


    Lysander walked past Thssa without even ncing in her direction.


    N?velDrama.Org holds this content.


    Even though it¡¯s October and the autumn chill is supposed to be in the air, today¡¯s weather is pretty


    warm with the sun shining high. Not cold at all.


    But as Lysander passed, Thssa felt a shiver.


    She didn¡¯t get what was going on, so she turned to David for answers.


    David didn¡¯t say a word, just shot her a look that screamed ¡°get out of here!¡± before he followed


    Lysander into the office.


    Thssa saw the look on David¡¯s face, but she had no clue what he was happening.


    She had been dying to clear the air with Lysander and finally, he was back at the office.


    She couldn¡¯t miss this opportunity.


    Every extra day she waited, she would bear another day of false usations.


    She dropped the mop she was holding, walked over to the office door and rapped gently on the frame.


    The door wasn¡¯t closed, and the atmosphere inside was as tense as a tightrope.


    Lysander and Zephyr sat on the couch, both looking dead serious.


    David was standing next to them, reporting, ¡°Mr. Sinir, there must be a mole¡­¡±


    Thssa wanted to fight for her own justice, so she stepped into the office. The moment she walked in,


    she could feel the pressure, making her tread lightly.


    She walked up to Lysander and said, ¡°Mr. Sinir, I need to have a word with you.¡±


    Lysander looked up, his eyes icy and piercing.


    He didn¡¯t say a word, just one look from him made Thssa feel scared. But she knew she had to clear


    her name, she couldn¡¯t back down now.


    She stood tall and told Lysander, ¡°Mr. Sinir, I wasn¡¯t the one who spread those rumors. Someone is


    trying to frame me!¡±


    After she finished, Lysander¡¯s cold gaze was fixed on her, adding to her stress.


    Thssa stared at him nkly, not understanding his reaction.


    David, standing next to her, tried to signal her with his eyes not to say any more.


    She noticed David kept looking at her and asked curiously, ¡°David, what¡¯s wrong? Do your eyes hurt?¡±


    David was speechless.


    He gave a wry smile, then nced at Lysander¡¯s icy stare, and awkwardly exined, ¡°Been pulling too


    many all-nighters recently, my eyes are a bit sore.¡±


    ¡®Oh, is that so? David, don¡¯t forget to rest while working. You can only work well when you¡¯re healthy,¡±


    Thssa advised David.


    David nodded, although he kept up a smile, he was feeling pretty uneasy inside.


    He thought to himself, ¡°Thssa, you¡¯re such a rookie in the workce. Not only can you not read


    Lysander¡¯s face, but you also can¡¯t understand my hints. Thssa, I¡¯ve done what I could, now you¡¯re


    on your own.¡±


    David lowered his head and stood quietly to the side, no longer speaking.


    After that little interlude, Thssa said to Lysander again. ¡°Mr. Sinir, you have to believe me, I¡¯m not


    the kind to spread rumors. And that day, I really didn¡¯t overhear you and Faye, the CCTV footage on


    yourputer can prove it¡­¡±


    Lysander¡¯s handsome face was filled with chill as he said coldly, ¡°Now is not the time to discuss this.¡±

 Chapter 105

    Chapter 105


    ¡°Mr. Sinir, if you check the surveince system on yourputer, you¡¯ll see I didn¡¯t eavesdrop on


    your conversation. I want to underline that I was not lurking around your door, and the cameras outside


    can back me up on this.¡±


    Joie was about to leave after today, and it was already five o¡¯clock in the afternoon. If she didn¡¯t handle


    this situation now, she might never get the chance.


    Thssa was stressed out, knowing that Joie and her gang were the ones who started this rumor.


    Zephyr, sitting by the side, was giving Thssa a cold, eagle-eyed stare.


    Lysander chuckled, ¡°This is a minor issue, not worth wasting everyone¡¯s time.¡±


    Seriously, what¡¯s wrong with this woman?


    Can¡¯t she read the room?


    Lysander was at a loss for words.


    When Thssa heard what Lysander had to say, she didn¡¯t know how to respond. His words were


    exactly what Faye had said.


    He had no intention of wasting his time clearing up her misunderstanding.


    Thssa was even more anxious. She pleaded with Mr. Sinir, ¡°I know I¡¯m not important at all and I¡¯m


    taking your time, but this is about my reputation. Please, just check the surveince footage on your


    Lysander looked up at Thssa, his gaze turning icy cold. The tension in the office was palpable.


    David, standing nearby, wiped sweat off his forehead.


    Thssa sure had guts. She knew all about Mr. Sinir¡¯s temper, yet she persisted.


    She held her breath, waiting for Lysander¡¯s response.


    Suddenly, Joie barged in. She approached Lysander and blurted out, ¡°Mr. Sinir, I was the one who


    spread the rumor and framed Thssa. I was just jealous because she used someone else¡¯s identity to


    get a job here and didn¡¯t get fired for it. And I was jealous because she got to clean the top floors on


    her first day.¡±


    Thssa was taken aback by Joie¡¯s sudden confession.


    Joie continued, ¡°I¡¯ve realized my mistake and handed in my resignation. After today, I won¡¯t be part of


    Property of N?)(velDr(a)ma.Org.


    the Sinir group any longer. I did something wrong and I¡¯m ready to face the consequences. But


    Thssa used someone else¡¯s identity to get a job here, which is against thepany rules. She


    should be punished too. I don¡¯t understand why she only had to correct her personal information and


    didn¡¯t face any consequences, not even a pay cut


    ¡°Are you questioning my decision?¡± Lysander asked coldly.


    Joie was startled. She lowered her head and stammered, ¡°No, sir.¡±


    She hadn¡¯t realized that it was Mr. Sinir¡¯s decision not to fire Thssa or dock her pay.


    If she¡¯d known that, she wouldn¡¯t have said what she did.


    Joie was so scared her knees were shaking


    Thssa was stunned by this revtion. Did this mean that Mr. Sinir had saved her job when she


    was found out for using her mother¡¯s identity to get a job at the Sinir group? Was that why she


    wasn¡¯t fired?


    Why would Lysander help her?


    Thssa was puzzled for a moment, but quickly shook it off.


    Now was not the time to ponder these things. She had more important things to discuss.


    She said to Lysander, ¡°Mr. Sinir, someone manipted Joie into spreading rumors and ndering


    me. And her gripe with me isn¡¯t about me using my mother¡¯s identity to get a job at the Sinir group.


    She¡¯s just jealous because she wants to work on the top floors, so she can get close to you and seduce


    you. Director Noreen didn¡¯t give her that chance, so she¡¯s been holding a grudge against me. In short,


    she¡¯s just green with envy because I get to be near you every day.¡±


    After Thssa finished speaking, Zephyr¡¯s expression turned even more serious as he fixed his


    piercing gaze on Thssa.


    Lysander could feel his grandfather¡¯s displeasure, and his face grew even colder.

 Chapter 106

    Chapter 106


    Thssa quickly chimed in, ¡°Mr. Sinir, although Joie has always been jealous about me, she¡¯s just a


    pawn spreading these rumors to get me kicked out of the Sinir group.¡±


    ¡°Thssa, you shouldn¡¯t shoot off your mouth without evidence! No one¡¯s controlling me, I did all this


    N?velDrama.Org holds this content.


    myself!¡± Joie retorted, ring at Thssa nervously.


    Thssa, ¡°I overheard at the staircase¡­¡±


    ¡°Me talking to myself?¡± Joie cut her off.


    She was sure Thssa hadn¡¯t seen that person. There were no cameras in the stairwell, so there was


    no way to identify them.


    Thssa was at a loss for words.


    Seeing the intent in Jole¡¯s eyes, she suddenly realized she had no proof.


    Lysander wouldn¡¯t believe her word alone.


    She could only swallow her uing words!


    ¡°I admit I can be a bit neurotic, often talking to myself after doing something wrong. If you heard me, I


    admit it.¡± Joie exined, all in an attempt to win Mr. Sinir¡¯s trust.


    ¡°Enough!¡± Lysander snapped.


    His cold and angry voice had Joie shaking like a leaf.


    Thssa also flinched at his rebuke.


    Lysander sternly said, ¡°Joie, your behaviours have damaged thepany¡¯s image. Half a year¡¯s sry


    will be deducted, and you¡¯re fired. Nevere back!¡±


    Hearing about the sry deduction, Joie was pained, but Lysander¡¯s aura was too overpowering. She


    didn¡¯t dare to fight back and left the office trembling, like she was running away


    Lysander¡¯s icy gaze shifted to Thssa and he said, ¡°What are you still doing here?¡±


    Startled, Thssa quickly prepared to leave.


    ¡°Mr. Sinir, we¡¯ve found the mole.¡± At that moment, Faye briskly entered the office.


    Seeing Thssa about to leave, Faye grabbed her sleeve and dragged her in front of the desk, saying,


    ¡°Thssa, it¡¯s you! You have to cooperate with our investigation!¡±


    Thssa frowned, clueless about what was happening.


    In Faye¡¯s hand, was a USB stick.


    She plugged it into theputer and a surveince video yed on the office projector..


    In the video, Thssa was cleaning a conference room when she noticed a stack of documents on the


    table. She went over and took a look.


    Faye exined, ¡°Thssa, you stole the Sinir group¡¯s fashion design ns and sold them to our


    designs. Stealing business secrets and selling them to apetitor is illegal, do you know that?¡±


    Thssa was chilled to the bone, feeling wronged to the core. ¡°I didn¡¯t, I didn¡¯t steal anything.¡±


    ¡°Your record shows you were caught for theft before, a repeat offender and you im you didn¡¯t steal


    anything?¡± Faye scrutinized her, her arrogant face filled with contempt.


    Previously, Isabe had fabricated a file about Thssa, stating that she had been caught for stealing


    before.


    After Thssa¡¯s application with Evelyn¡¯s ID card was discovered, she was ready for dismissal. That¡¯s


    when Isabe came to Lysander, briefing him on her background, including her previous arrest record


    for theft.


    Thssa overheard Isabe ndering her like this.


    She wanted to rify, but Lysander was furious at the time and she was feeling guilty and uneasy


    about using her mother¡¯s ID card.


    She couldn¡¯t find the chance to exin and was kicked out of the office by Lysander.


    She thought that after her fake ID card was exposed, she would be fired and this would all end.

 Chapter 107

    Chapter 107


    Who would¡¯ve expected this fabricated and malicious history created by Isabe to be uncovered and


    used as evidence against her for stealing design ns!


    Thssa was speechless, burning with frustration, ¡°I really didn¡¯t¡­¡±


    ¡°So you¡¯re the mole!¡± Zephyr suddenly stood up, ring at Thssa in fury.


    His gaze was like a sharp knife, causing Thssa to feel pain all over her body. She felt helpless and


    cornered.


    She tried to exin but found she couldn¡¯t.


    Her mind was a mess, she didn¡¯t understand the whole situation, how could she exin?


    But she was truly innocent.


    Thssa turned to Lysander for help, but he just sat there, his face cold and unreadable.


    ¡°Take her to the police station. Theft andmercial espionage! She¡¯s guilty of both!¡± Zephyr, out of


    breath with anger, ordered.


    Zephyr usually stayed out of the Sinir group affairs, but this time he wanted to be part of the fashion


    show, hoping to pick out his favorite piece as a gift for Sybil..


    Zephyr promised Sybil he would bring her a gift.


    But the fashion show was a disaster!


    Zephyr was angry because he couldn¡¯t keep his promise to Sybil. Sybil was at home expecting a gift,


    but it seemed like her wish wouldn¡¯t be fulfilled.


    Thinking about Sybil¡¯s disappointment, Zephyr¡¯s heart ached.


    As a result, his hatred for the person who ruined the fashion show intensified. Punishment was a must!


    David received the order and came forward to take Thssa away.


    Thssa, panicked, said to Lysander, ¡°Mr. Sinir, I didn¡¯t steal the designs¡­¡±


    ¡®Take her away!¡± Zephyr barked.


    David looked at Lysander for confirmation, but he just sipped from his cup, saying nothing.


    ¡°Ms. Everhart, pleasee with me.¡± David stood in front of Thssa, gesturing for her to follow.


    N?velDrama.Org owns all ? content.


    Thssa gave Lysander a helpless look and walked out of the office, with David following behind.


    Zephyr was so angry his chest was heaving, he shot Lysander a sharp look and said, ¡°Your grandma is


    waiting for me at home, I¡¯m leaving.¡±


    After he left, the office was quiet.


    ¡°Mr. Sinir, Thssa, a woman with a criminal history, hasn¡¯t reformed, but her behavior has gotten


    worse. Even if she¡¯s Celia¡¯s cousin, we can¡¯t let her off. If Celia was alive and knew Thssa was such


    a bad person, she would be heartbroken.¡± Faye tried to persuade Lysander.


    Her goal was to stop Lysander from forgiving Thssa because of Celia.


    Lysander¡¯s sharp gaze made Faye feel exposed, ¡°The design n is apany secret, it should have


    been in the hands of the person responsible for managing it. How did it end up on the conference


    table?¡±


    Lysander¡¯s deep voice emphasized the word ¡°end up¡±.


    Faye¡¯s face turned pale with embarrassment, ¡°Mr. Sinir, I¡¯m sorry, I was careless. After the meeting. I


    left the design n on the conference table. When I came back, I found Thssa looking at the n¡­


    Lysander stared at Faye, ¡°You also didn¡¯t stop the rumors immediately, allowing them to spread! Your


    carelessness has gotten worse ¨C since Thssa joined thepany. It seems it¡¯s time for you to


    leave, go home¡­¡±


    Faye was apologizing, but when she heard Lysander¡¯s words, she looked up at him in shock, ¡°Mr.


    Sinir, I¡¯m sorry, I¡¯ll work harder and won¡¯t make mistakes again. I was distracted because I saw


    Thssa getting close to you frequently, which made me anxious and caused mistakes in my work. As


    long as Thssa leaves thepany, I can return to my usual calm andposed self.¡±


    ¡°So you¡¯re saying, one of you has to leave?¡± Lysander raised an eyebrow

 Chapter 108

    Chapter 108


    Faye was in a panic, quickly exining, ¡°Mr. Sinir, that¡¯s not what I meant, I really like you¡­¡±


    ¡°Enough, get out! Lysander cut her off, using a firm tone.


    He didn¡¯t want to hear her say she liked him anymore.


    Faye looked at Lysander with a wronged expression; his attitude left no room for negotiation. Holding


    back tears, she nodded and left his office.


    Halfway out, she overheard Lysander calling David, ¡°Get me the surveince footage downstairs from


    the past few days before youe to work tomorrow. I suspect we¡¯ve got a traitor among our top


    ranks.¡±


    Downstairs, wasn¡¯t that the floor right below the CEO¡¯s office? That was where the senior management


    offices were.


    Faye felt a chill down her spine and hesitated for a moment, but soon, she acted as if nothing had


    happened and left.


    Just as Faye got back to her office, she received a call from the front desk, ¡°Faye, those two little boys


    are back. They¡¯re looking for Thssa.¡±


    Faye had just experienced Lysander¡¯s cold treatment, and her sad emotions had not yet dissipated.


    N?velDrama.Org holds this content.


    Upon hearing the front desk¡¯s words, she was taken aback and asked, ¡°Which two boys?¡±


    ¡°Mr. Sinir¡¯s nephews.¡± The front desk replied.


    Faye¡¯s nerves were instantly on edge as she said, ¡°Hold them back, don¡¯t let theme up. I¡¯ll be right


    down.¡±


    After hanging up, she immediately took the elevator downstairs.


    Two handsome little boys were seated in the waiting area, looking remarkably simr to Lysander.


    Seated next to the boys was a cute, chubby woman with a round face and friendly eyes.


    The woman was Hertha, the boys¡¯ officially registered mother.


    Seeing the three of them waiting there. Faye instantly felt annoyed.


    Weaning high heels, she strutted over.


    nice to meet you again, I¡¯m Hertha. Do you remember me fromst time?¡± Hertha stood up as soon as


    she saw Faye, greeting her


    warmly.


    Faye gave her a cold nce and scoffed, ¡°A young woman like you is already a mother of four. It¡¯s true


    that you can¡¯t judge a book by its cover. Your kids wrecked Mr. Sinir¡¯s officest time. What are they


    here for now?¡±


    Faye¡¯s harsh words took Hertha aback, her smile fading to an awkward silence.


    Just as Faye was about to send them away, she felt a tug on her sleeve. She looked down to see one


    of the boys, looking like a little girl, standing next to her, tugging at her sleeve.


    She frowned.


    The little boy asked in a childish voice, ¡°Can I ask you a question?¡±


    Just as Faye was about to lose her temper, she noticed the receptionist looking at Dorian with a sweet,


    adorable expression, and other employees passing by were praising the little boy¡¯s cuteness,


    If she pushed the boy away now, she¡¯d be the one at fault.


    Suppressing her anger and impatience, she forced a smile and said, ¡®What do you want to ask? Please


    leave the Sinir group as soon as you¡¯re done, this is not a yground.¡±


    Dorian gave her on innocent smile and asked, ¡°What should you do if someone is unkind to you and


    you can¡¯t fight back, and they keep chasing you?¡±


    ¡°Run, of course. Run to a safe ce and call the police Faye answered without hesitation.


    Children¡¯s questions often seem naive.


    Donan still had a sweet smile on his face as he said, ¡°Yeah, we


    pay for it. We should have called the police.¡±


    Hearing this, Faye¡¯s face instantly changed.


    She was fooled by a four-year-old!


    But we were too little to know to call the police, so Hertha had to


    Upon hearing Donian¡¯s words, Hertha also began to realize that the children were not solely


    responsible for ruining Lysander¡¯s sofa. They had been frightened, hiding from someone who was


    chasing them and identally damaged the sofa in the process.


    Seeing Faye¡¯s embarrassed expression, Hertha finally understood!


    The person chasing the kids was Faye!


    Realizing this, Hertha looked at Faye with anger in her eyes.


    w

 Chapter 109

    Chapter 109


    The receptionist¡¯s face lit up with excitement, grinning at Faye, ¡°Faye, this ain¡¯t no ordinary kid. He¡¯s Mr.


    Sinir¡¯s nephew, sharp as a tack. I just had a chat with him, and his brains blew me away. He asked


    me, ¡°How many letters are left in the alphabet if you take away UFO?¡¯ I said 23, but I was wrong. The


    answer was a real shocker, Faye, wanna know what it is?¡±


    ¡°Holy moly, whose kid is this? He¡¯s just too cute.¡±


    ¡°Right? He¡¯s just so adorable. And that little boy over there, doesn¡¯t he look just like Mr. Sinir?¡±


    The staff downstairs were all stunned by the kids¡¯ good looks, showering them withpliments.


    Belongs ? to N?velDrama.Org.


    Some even noticed how much Atticus and Lysander looked alike.


    Faye was getting more and more anxious. She couldn¡¯t let these two kids hang around here any longer.


    They needed to leave immediately.


    Faye suppressed her impatience, trying to keep her cool as she asked, ¡°What¡¯s the answer?¡±


    The receptionist was all excited and said, ¡®UFO took ET as well! Dorian is really amazing, his


    performance skills are top-notch, so is his way with words.¡±


    At this, Faye¡¯s face turned even grimmer, thinking these people were so childish.


    She had been outwitted twice by a four-year-old!


    Faye¡¯s face turned different shades of red from anger.


    She snapped and said, ¡°The Sinir group is not a yground, and I don¡¯t have the time to y games


    with you all. Are you looking for Thssa? The police station is the ce to find her.¡±


    ww

 Chapter 110

    Chapter 110


    She turned around, gave the reception desk a quick nce, and then sauntered into the elevator, back


    straight as a rod.


    ¡®Faye, what¡¯s the big idea? What do you mean we have to go to the police station to find Thssa?¡±


    Hertha chased after her, looking for some kind of exnation.


    However, another employee stopped her and said, ¡°I¡¯m really sorry, but after the ruckus Mr. Sinir¡¯s


    nephew caused in his officest time, I can¡¯t just let you guys waltz in.¡±


    The employee apologized sincerely.


    She really liked these two kids, but she was on duty and couldn¡¯t let them run rampant.


    Hertha looked at her and decided she was a decent person, and she didn¡¯t want to make things hard


    for her.


    ¡°Anyway, thanks for your help,¡± Hertha said, then waved at Dorian and Atticus and said, ¡°Let¡¯s get


    going.¡±


    Atticus hopped off his chair and walked over to her. Hertha took his hand and held Dorian¡¯s with her


    other hand.


    ¡°Let¡¯s go to the police station to find Thssa,¡± Hertha said with a worried tone.


    Dorian was also worried about his mom. He frowned and said with frustration, ¡®Mom didn¡¯t spread any


    rumors. Why did they take her away?¡±Belongs ? to N?velDrama.Org.


    ¡°She couldn¡¯t find any evidence. She wanted to check the surveince with Mr. Sinir, but he wasn¡¯t


    in, and his secretary was being a real witch, Hertha said angrily, thinking about Faye.


    ¡°My lovely, charming, and smart mom, I feel so bad for her, Dorian said with a tender voice, full of love


    His sweetness got to Hertha; she chuckled and ruffled his hair as she said, ¡°I think the smartest one


    here is you¡±


    Thinking about Faye¡¯s embarrassment earlier, she felt a sense of satisfaction.


    Dorian beamed at herpliment, his mood lightening.


    ¡°Hertha, can you call my mom and see if she¡¯s at the police station?¡± Dorian tugged at Hertha¡¯s sleeve


    and looked at her with his bright eyes pleadingly.


    Legally, Hertha was their mom and their godmother too.


    Whenever Dorian acted cute, Hertha would melt, she said indulgently. ¡°Of course, I¡¯ll call. I wouldn¡¯t just


    believe that woman¡¯s words. Don¡¯t worry.¡±


    With that, she took out her phone and dialed Thssa¡¯s number.


    The phone kept ringing, but no one picked up.


    Hertha ended the call and said worriedly, ¡°Thssa isn¡¯t picking up. Something¡¯s off.¡±


    ¡°Oh no, mom must really be at the police station. She¡¯s been framed, Atticus said, sounding grave.


    ¡°Yeah, that woman is so mean; she must¡¯ve taken mom to the police station. Poor mom, Dorian started


    to feel bad for his mom again.


    ¡°Alright, let¡¯s go to the police station now, Thssa needs our help!¡± Hertha said seriously, making a


    cheering gesture.


    ¡°Yeah, mom needs our help!¡± Dorian nodded seriously, full of determination.


    The three of them sprung into action, with Hertha driving in the direction of the police station.


    Hertha arrived at the police station with the two kids.


    They found Thssa,


    Her usually sunny face was now looking a little downcast and aged.

 Chapter 111

    Chapter 111


    Hertha was freaked out as she said, ¡°Thssa, how did you end up actually getting locked up here?


    You didn¡¯t spread any rumors, and even if you did, surely it wouldn¡¯tnd you in here! Damn the


    Sinir group, I¡¯m definitely going to give them a piece of my mind!¡±


    Hertha was pissed off.


    ¡°Mom¡­¡±


    ¡°Mom¡­¡±


    Atticus and Dorian saw Thssa locked up; their little eyes were filled with tears, and it was breaking


    their hearts.


    Thssa quicklyforted Atticus and Dorian by saying, ¡°Mom¡¯s tough, okay? This is just temporary.


    Trust me, I¡¯ll find a way to get out of here fair and square.¡±


    ¡°Okay!¡± Atticus nodded. He believed in his mom.


    Dorian clung to Thssa¡¯s hand, rubbing his little face in her palm, whining, ¡®Mom¡­¡±


    Feeling Dorian¡¯s soft touch, Thssa felt warmth seeping into her heart.


    She had felt sorry for herself, but hearing Dorian, she suddenly felt invigorated, not pitiful at all.


    She was a mother, her kids still needed her.


    If she broke down, what would happen to her kids?


    As a mother, she had to stay strong!


    No matter what, she couldn¡¯t give in, she couldn¡¯t back down.


    She smiled and stroked Dorian¡¯s little face as she said, ¡°Dorian, you¡¯re the big brother. You have to set


    an example for your sisters. When we get home, you can¡¯t cry or say that mom¡¯s pitiful. Tell grandma


    and your sisters that mom¡¯s fine, just working overtime to earn money for yummy treats, okay?¡±


    Dorian wiped his tears, pouting, trying not to cry, but he couldn¡¯t control his emotions. Even though he


    was trying to hold it in, his chin was trembling, and his eyes were filled with tears.


    Seeing this, Thssa couldn¡¯t help butugh, her face full of affection, ¡°You can cry now, but when we


    get home, you can¡¯t.¡±


    Hearing this, Dorian¡¯s tears gushed out like a waterfall.


    Atticus came forward, holding Darian¡¯s tiny body in his arms, his small hand stroking Dorian¡¯s head.


    ¡°Dorian, don¡¯t cry. We have to believe in mom.¡±


    Dorian nodded.


    Looking at her two little ones, Thssa¡¯s eyes welled up. She then turned to Hertha and said, ¡°Hertha,


    I didn¡¯t get locked up for spreading rumors. It was a problem with the Sinir group¡¯s fashion show, and


    the internal design drawings were leaked topetitor.¡±


    ¡°So, they think you leaked the designs?¡± Hertha understood, her eyes wide with shock.


    Thssa nodded, and with a serious expression, she said, ¡°I was framed. I suspect it¡¯s the same


    person who framed me with the


    Property of N?)(velDr(a)ma.Org.


    rumors.¡±


    ¡°What do we do now?¡¯ Hertha was confused.


    ¡°Hertha, you go home first, If my mom asks, just tell her I¡¯m working overtime,¡± Thssa instructed.


    ¡®But what about you.¡± Hertha was worried about her.


    ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I¡¯ll find a way to prove my innocence.¡± Thssa¡¯s voice was resolute.


    Hertha and Thssa had been good friends for many years, and she knew her well.


    Seeing the determination and resolution in her eyes, she knew Thssa had a n.


    So, she left with the two kids.


    As Thssa watched Hertha leave with the children, her eyes were downcast. The more she thought


    about it, the more she believed the rumor and theft were connected, like a trap specifically set for her.

 Chapter 112

    Chapter 112


    After finishing reading the documents, Lysander nced at his watch.


    It was already half past five, the end of the working day. He made an internal call to the HR


    department.


    ¡°Please send me Thssa¡¯s home address.¡±


    The HR manager, hearing Lysander¡¯s voice, was surprised and somewhat worried, and she asked, ¡°Mr.


    Sinir, do you mean Thssa from the cleaning department?¡±


    Usually, she had to deal with a ton of employee data every day, so she didn¡¯t remember specific


    employee details.


    However, the recent buzz about the love triangle between Lysander, Faye, and Thssa from the


    cleaning department had made Thssa¡¯s name stick in her mind.


    She was still unsure if Lysander was actually calling her for the home address of a regr cleaner.


    ¡°Yes.¡±


    After getting Lysander¡¯s confirmation, the HR manager quickly replied, ¡°Alright, Mr. Sinir, I¡¯ll send the


    address right away.¡±


    Soon enough, Thssa¡¯s home address was sent to Lysander¡¯s phone.


    Lysander drove to Thssa¡¯s ce.


    This woman. Thssa, worked in the cleaning department every day, often facing exclusion and


    schemes.


    She would rather take on the task of cleaning thepany¡¯s restrooms than resign. She stood her


    ground at the Sinir group, trying her best to attract him.


    N?velDrama.Org owns all ? content.


    He wanted to see what kind of environment had shaped her unyielding character.


    It was an old neighborhood; the exterior of the houses had turned yellow. Thssa lived on the third


    floor, and the building had no elevator, only stairs.


    The iron railings in the stairwell had rusted, and each apartment door was stered with leaflets


    The environment was pretty rough.


    Lysander wasn¡¯t born with a silver spoon in his mouth and had faced all kinds of harsh conditions.


    So,ing here, he didn¡¯t feel any repulsion, but his noble aura didn¡¯t exactly fit in.


    Lysander knocked on the door of number 302.


    ¡°I¡¯ming¡± An older woman¡¯s voice came from inside. Then the door opened and revealed a inly


    dressed old woman.


    She looked somewhat familiar.


    The old woman had slightly gray hair and a friendly smile on her face. She looked at him, surprised for


    a moment, then timidly asked. ¡°Sir, who are you looking for?¡±


    ¡°Thssa.¡± Lysander said simply.


    ¡°Oh, you¡¯re a friend of Thssa¡¯s. Come in,e in. Thssa hasn¡¯t finished work yet. Would you like


    toe in for a cup of coffee?¡± Astrid immediately opened the door wide and let Lysander in.


    Lysander stepped inside.


    The floor had just been mapped, the mop was still leaning on the sofa, and a bucket of dirty water was


    in the middle of the living room. Astrid immediately picked up the mop and moved the bucket aside,


    gesturing warmly, ¡°Sir, please sit. The couch is clean; I just changed the cushion.¡±


    This man was spotless in an expensive ck suit, exuding an air of elegance and nobility.


    One look and you could tell he was wealthy and high-status, living a life offort.


    Astrid was afraid she might dirty his clothes.


    Just now, Evelyn had taken the four children to the square to dance.


    She was at home cleaning. The house was usually full of children¡¯s toys, which she had just put away.


    The couch cushion had been washed in the moming, and with the ample sunshine today, the cushion


    had dried quickly.

 Chapter 113

    Chapter 113


    Astrid just put a clean cushion on the sofa and mopped the floor at home..


    Lucky for her, she did the cleaning today. Otherwise, the elegant and polite guests who seemed to


    have a high status would feel awkward if they saw the messy house.


    They would definitely think it was rude.


    Astrid was unconsciously intimidated by the noble and dignified aura of Lysander and subconsciously


    felt timid.


    Lysander sat on the sofa, and Astrid hurriedly poured him a cup of coffee and, carefully ced it in


    front of him, and then said, ¡°Sir, please have some coffee. Who are you? So I can let Thssa know


    when shees back.¡±


    Lysander didn¡¯t take the coffee; he asked in a low voice, ¡°Are you her mother?¡±


    ¡°Oh, no, I¡¯m her aunt. Thssa just picked me up, and I live with her,¡± Astrid said honestly.


    Lysander said, ¡°You are Celia¡¯s mother.¡±


    ¡°You know Celia?¡± Astrid was excited, filled with sorrow and surprise in her eyes.


    ¡°Um.¡±


    Astrid thought of her poor daughter; she felt sad and breathless, and her eyes were red as she said,


    ¡°You still remember her. It was a long time ago; she didn¡¯t even have the chance to tell me she had a


    friend like you. My poor daughter passed away so suddenly¡­¡±


    Astrid wiped her tears.


    Her daughter had died very young and didn¡¯t have the chance to tell her mother who her friends were


    and who she yed with.


    Her daughter probably met this man in kindergarten.


    Looking at his young age, he must have been a little boy at that time.


    Unexpectedly, this man in front of her still remembered her daughter.


    That was a long time ago, and he really had a good memory.


    Seeing Astrid crying, Lysander thought if he had taken Celia away that night, she wouldn¡¯t have died.


    After all, he still owed her.


    Lysander took a tissue and handed it to Astrid as he said, ¡°She¡¯s gone; let her rest in peace.¡±


    Astrid took the tissue and wiped away her tears. It was inappropriate for her to cry like this in front of a


    stranger.


    Sheposed herself and asked, ¡°Sir, what can I do for you with Thssa?¡±


    *How is Thssa doing?¡± Lysander asked.


    Astrid proudly said, ¡°Thssa is very capable and willing to work hard. She is very good at making


    money. She supports the whole family by herself.¡±


    ¡°Do you guys know about her usual behavior? Lysander raised an eyebrow slightly.


    Did her family know about her theft, legal disputes, using her beauty to seduce men and climb up, and


    working in nightclubs to make money?


    When it came to Thssa, Astrid felt both proud and heartbroken. Her face was full of sadness and


    affection, ¡°Whatever she does, she will tell me and her mother. We know the source of every penny she


    Property of N?)(velDr(a)ma.Org.


    earns. She has suffered a lot since she was a child.¡±


    Lysander¡¯s eyes were deep.


    Astrid said with sorrow, ¡°Thssa grew up without a father. She can be said to have survived in


    difficulties. Fortunately, she has been very resilient since she was a child. Otherwise, she could not


    have grown into such a positive and optimistic girl. Her mother and I can¡¯t work, and all the expenses at


    home are supported by her alone. Sometimes, she has to do several jobs a day, but she has never


    Originally, she had entered college and could have had a good future, but this girl encountered a lot of


    difficulties. She would rather give up her studies than harm others¡­¡±


    Lysander listened to her words, and his eyes became even deeper.


    At this moment, there was a sound at the door, and someone was back.


    Astrid Immediately stood up to greet at the door.


    It was probably Evelyn bringing the kids home.

 Chapter 114

    Chapter 114


    Astrid was heading for the door.


    ¡°I¡¯m home.¡± Hertha walked in with a stic bag. When she bumped into Astrid, she chuckled


    awkwardly. ¡°Thssa has to work overtime today. She won¡¯t be home. I took a spin at the supermarket


    and bought some ingredients for dinner.¡±


    Thssa had asked her to tell her mom and aunt she was workingte. She didn¡¯t want them to know


    she¡¯d been hauled off by the police and worry them.


    Hertha was terrible at lying and was still figuring out how to break the news.


    On her way home, she¡¯d made a detour to the supermarket and bought stuff for dinner. It would keep


    Astrid busy and away from asking too many questions.


    ¡°Thssa¡¯s workingte? Is she noting home for dinner?¡± Astrid took the bag from Hertha,


    nced behind her, and then asked, ¡°Where are the kids?¡±


    Hertha had left with Atticus and Dorian.


    Howe she was the only one who came back?


    ¡°I ran into Evelyn at the park. They wanted to y with her.¡± Hertha replied.


    ¡°Give Thssa a call. Tell her toe home early if she can. We have a guest. And he¡¯s here


    specifically for her.¡± Astrid was worried about not being a good host.


    ¡°A guest? Who?¡± Hertha was curious. She walked into the room and saw the awe-inspiring, powerful


    man sitting on the couch.


    ¡°Mr. Sinir!¡± She gasped in surprise.


    It was Lysander!


    He was tall and distinguished, dressed in a sleek ck suit, looking noble and elegant.


    Just sitting there, he was a sight to behold. Everything else in the room paled inparison. He stood


    out, prestigious and charismatic. Lysander turned his head and recognized Hertha as the mother of the


    kids who had caused a ruckus in his office and a friend of Thssa¡¯s.


    ¡®Mr. Sinir, please wait a moment. I¡¯ll start cooking. Why don¡¯t you stay for dinner? It¡¯ll be ready soon.¡±


    Astrid walked in with the bag. ¨C her face filled with a polite smile.


    Belongs ? to N?velDrama.Org.


    Lysander stood up and gracefully adjusted his cuffs. In a deep voice, he said, ¡°No need. I should be


    going¡±


    And with that, he left.


    Astrid was about to politely insist he stay, but his presence was too overpowering. The words got stuck


    in her throat, and she couldn¡¯t. say them.


    Hertha was still in a daze, standing there.


    What just happened?


    Lysander had actuallye to Thssa¡¯s house!


    He was the esteemed CEO of the Sinir Group, a man to be looked up to.


    He¡¯d actually lowered himself toe to Thssa¡¯s rundown neighborhood.


    If this got out, no one would believe it.


    While Hertha was still stunned, Astrid nudged her arm and asked, ¡°Do you know this man?¡±


    Hertha snapped out of it, widened her round eyes, and said, ¡°He¡¯s the CEO of the Sinir Group,


    Thssa¡¯s boss.¡±


    Astrid looked scared. ¡®Her boss? Why is he looking for Thssa? Did she do something wrong¡­¡±


    Oh no, the jig was up.


    Hertha was on edge andughed nervously. ¡°No way! Thssa is always so obedient and well-


    behaved. She couldn¡¯t have done anything wrong. Evelyn, you¡¯re overthinking.¡±


    ¡°But why would he want to see Thssa?¡± Astrid was still worried.


    -¡°Maybe because Thssa is doing a great job, and he wanted to check on her.¡± Hertha finished and


    stuck her tongue out


    absentmindedly.


    Astrid shed a grin and said, ¡°Alright, I¡¯m off to cook¡±

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    Chapter 115


    Thssa had been sensible since she was young She wouldn¡¯t mess up


    By nightfall, all the lights in the Sinir Group¡¯s building were off, except for the corridor lights.


    This towering building was the tallest in the city, a sight to behold.


    Neon lights adored the building, showcasing its prosperity.


    N?velDrama.Org owns all ? content.


    There were security guards patrolling every floor.


    On the 57th floor, Faye dodged the guards, sneaked into the surveince room, and skillfully found the


    surveinceputer. She was about to delete the surveince records when all the lights in the room


    suddenly turned on, illuminating the entire space.


    Faye was startled, realizing something was amiss, and was about to bolt.


    Just then, the door was pushed open, and a swarm of reporters barged in, popping shbulbs at her.


    The shes made her eyes hurt.


    She quickly shielded her face with her hands and roared angrily, ¡°What are you doing? Delete all the


    photos you took of me, or 111 sue!¡±


    The reporters were unfazed by her threats. A daring one approached her with his microphone and


    asked, ¡°Why did you betray the Sinir Group and sell the design to the Thorne Group? Was it for the


    money?¡±


    Faye was panic-stricken. She pushed the microphone away and retorted angrily. ¡°What nonsense are


    you spouting! I didn¡¯t betray the Sinir Group!¡±


    ¡°Why did you want to delete the surveince records then? Are you feeling guilty?¡± the reporter shoved


    the microphone back at her.


    The other reporters crowded around her, bombarding her with questions, trapping her.


    Faye was in a state of panic, wanting to escape but unable to do so.


    The shbulbs kept popping; the shes were filling the room and making her eyes hurt, her heart


    pounding in her chest.


    ¡°Mr. Sinir is here!¡± someone suddenly shouted.


    The journalists spun around to find a tall man silhouetted in the doorway of the surveince room by


    the light from the hallway


    They crowded around him but stayed a meter away, not daring to get too close. They asked, ¡°Mr.


    Sinir, how will the Sinir Group. deal with this mole?¡±


    He responded lightly. ¡°That¡¯s the Sinir Group¡¯s business. I don¡¯t need to tell you how to report the


    news.¡±


    The reporters shared a knowing look and then departed from the surveince room, having understood


    the hint given to them.


    Seeing Lysander, Faye tried topose herself and walked up to him, trying to exin, ¡°Mr. Sinir, I


    was just trying to see if Thssa was in cahoots with someone on the 57th floor¡­¡±


    ¡°Faye, do you really think it was a simple coincidence that I asked David to get the surveince


    footage?¡± Lysander¡¯s icy gaze fixed on her, his face stone cold.


    Faye was momentarily stunned. A light bulb seemed to go off in her head as she understood what


    happened.


    Her eyes widened in shock and quickly filled with tears; her lips started to tremble. She shook her head


    in disbelief and said, ¡°No, this can¡¯t be true¡­


    How could Lysander be


    be so heartless?


    He had deliberately let her hear him asking David for the surveince footage from the 57th floor. He


    intended to trap her into deleting the footage


    ¡°Faye, considering your seven years of diligent service at the Sinir Group, I have given you a


    chance.¡± Lysander¡¯s voice was as cold as


    ice.


    Did Lysander ever give me a chance?

 Chapter 116

    Chapter 116


    Faye¡¯s eyes were full of doubt and tears.


    As she sat there, she suddenly recalled the words Lysander had spoken to her earlier that afternoon in


    his office.


    It hit her like a bolt of lightning, sending tremors down her back, and in that instant, everything clicked.


    That afternoon, Lysander had asked her why the design n, a Sinir Group secret, was on the


    conference table when it should have been in the hands of the design trustee, which was her.


    Lysander had subtly hinted at her, given her a chance to confess.


    However, she missed it. So Lysander phoned David to hand over the 57th floor surveince to him. He


    did it on purpose for Faye to overhear, baiting her toe to the control room to erase the surveince,


    and capture her criminal evidence!


    Regret washed over Faye.


    She had been too impatient, failed to analyze the situation, and didn¡¯t make a sound judgement.


    At noon, she and Joie had hatched a n in the hallway to frame Thssa for spreading rumors and


    oust her from the Sinir group. Hearing Thssa approaching, she had bolted to the 57th floor


    Though there were no cameras in the hallway, the 57th floor was monitored, which must have caught


    her panicked flight to another executive¡¯s office.


    If Lysander saw this, he would suspect her. Lysander was smart, and he would figure out that she was


    behind everything just by witnessing her guilt-stricken, panic-stricken flight to another office.N?velDrama.Org owns all ? content.


    So when she heard Lysander mention the 57th floor surveince, Faye panicked. Everyone else had


    left, only she remained at thepany.


    She had been keeping an eye on Lysander and rxed her guard when she saw him leave the


    At night, when thepany was quiet, she sneaked into the control room, preparing to erase the


    footage of her on the 57th floor. However, she hadn¡¯t expected all the lights in the control room to


    suddenly illuminate and a reporter to appear, asking a very sharp question about who was the leak


    within thepany


    Faye didn¡¯t know what had happened; from her initial fury and hasty escape attempt to now seeing


    Lysander and hearing his words, she had a sudden realization that Lysander knew all along that she


    was behind everything.


    He just didn¡¯t say it but waited for her to expose herself.


    Faye understood everything, but there was one thing she didn¡¯t understand.


    Heartbroken and sad, she looked at Lysander, her lips trembling, her eyes filled with resentment, and


    she said, ¡°Mr. Sinir, if you knew everything, why didn¡¯t you stop Zephyr when he was taking


    Thssa to the police?¡±


    Lysander looked at her and said, ¡°Faye, you have been working for seven years. Haven¡¯t you learned


    the rules of drawing the enemy in?¡± Faye¡¯s eyes widened in shock.


    She understood Lysander didn¡¯t stop Zephyr from taking Thssa to the police to make her believe he


    thought Thssa was the thief and let her guard down. Because she let her guard down, she made a


    mistake, recklessly came to the control room, and deleted the surveince that threatened her after


    hearing Lysander¡¯s words.


    In the end, she fell into the trap Lysander had dug


    At that moment, Faye¡¯s heart ached uncontrobly, and the tears in her eyes fell violently.


    Still harboring a glimmer of hope, she asked Lysander in a trembling voice, ¡°Mr. Sinir, don¡¯t you feel


    the slightest bit of pity for me?¡±


    She had been by his side for so many years, serving him loyally, and yet he had coldly set a trap for


    her.

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    Did he really have zero feelings for her? Not even a shred of friendship?


    Lysander¡¯s gaze was as cold as ice as he said, ¡°When you decided to do these things, you should¡¯ve


    seen the consequencesing. Betraying the Sinir group and me, you should¡¯ve known how this


    would end!¡±


    Faye felt like she¡¯d been hit with a sledgehammer. Her tears started to pour out.


    Yeah, Lysander was still the same ruthless Lysander, not showing a hint of mercy.


    How could he possibly show leniency for her fundamental mistakes?


    She was too naive, thinking there might be some sort of feelings from Lysander towards her.


    ¡°Why are you so hell-bent on driving Thssa away? Got a dirty little secret?¡± Lysander¡¯s hands were


    in his pockets, his eyes fixed on her.


    Belongs ? to N?velDrama.Org.


    Faye suddenly panicked and blurted out, ¡°Mr. Sinir, the reason I wanted to drive Thssa away was


    because I was green with jealousy that she could be close to you. I tried everything to kick her out of


    the Sinir group because I love you. From the first moment Iid eyes on you, I fell for you. I¡¯ve been


    quietly by your side all these years, being cautious, afraid to get one step closer. I was scared you¡¯d get


    mad and kick me out. Just seeing you every day was enough for me.


    But why, once Thssa appeared, she could be so close to you, receive your hugs, even your kisses.


    I¡¯ve been by your side for a decade, three years in the military, seven as your secretary, but you never


    noticed me. I was jealous of her, I despised her, I was scared she would steal you away¡­


    Faye sobbed as she spoke. Her state was a mess, far away from her usual cool elegance.


    Jealousy can drive people mad.


    Lysander¡¯s face was stern; he looked at her coldly and said, ¡°You screwed up. No excuse can justify


    that!¡±


    Midnight, at the police station.


    Thssa was dozing off when the door opened, and a cop said, ¡°Thssa, you¡¯ve got a visitor.¡±


    Thssa quickly raised her head and saw a cop by the door and a man next to him.


    The man was in a sleek ck suit, and his tall figure looked even more imposing.


    It was Lysander!


    What was he doing here?


    Seeing him, Thssa¡¯s heart raced, and her eyes widened.


    Seeing Lysander here, she was both thrilled and surprised.


    Lysander was also looking at her, who was sitting by the iron bars, hugging her knees. She looked


    helpless and pitiful.


    Her eyes were red and swollen, maybe from crying or just waking up. She looked utterly exhausted.


    Suddenly, their eyes met as If time had stopped at that moment.


    ¡°Lysander, are you here to see me?¡± After a while, Thssa managed to say, her voice was a bit


    husky.


    ¡°You can leave now,¡± Lysander said.


    Taken aback, Thssa said, ¡°What?¡±

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    Thssa suddenly caught on, stood up immediately, and walked to the door. She turned to Lysander


    and said, ¡°Mr. Sinir, I don¡¯t need any bail. I can¡¯t leave until the truthes out. Otherwise, I¡¯ll


    always bebeled as a thief.¡±


    She mistakenly thought Lysander was here to bail her out.


    Lysander was tall, making Thssa seem even smaller.


    The cop nearby said, ¡°The truth¡¯s already out. It was an inside job. You¡¯ve been cleared; you¡¯re


    innocent.¡±


    Thssa was over the moon. She asked excitedly. ¡°Who betrayed thepany?¡±


    Just as she finished her sentence, the cop walked over with someone.


    It was a woman handcuffed.


    When the woman got closer, Thssa was even more shocked. It was Faye!


    Thssa looked at Lysander, then at Faye. She suddenly understood. The traitor was Faye.


    Now that the real culprit was found, she was proven innocent.


    Thssa suddenly remembered Faye¡¯s odd behaviortely. Although she was shocked that Faye was


    brought to the police station, she also felt like it wasn¡¯t totally unexpected.


    Faye was the one in charge of the project. She was the most likely one to leak it!


    At that moment. Thssa had an ¡®aha moment¡¯. She felt like someone had set her up, and it was Faye


    N?velDrama.Org owns all ? content.


    who tried to frame her but ended up in the trap herself.


    ¡°Ms. Everhart, please step out. We need the room,¡± the cop said, leading Faye in.


    Thssa quickly stepped out of the cell. As the cop led Faye into the narrow doorway, Thssa


    passed by Faye, who shot her a nasty re.


    It was all because of her that Faye was in this mess!


    It was all because of her that Lysander was so cold to Faye!


    Faye detested Thssa.


    Thssa nced at Faye and felt a chill when she saw her look.


    Thssa left the police station.


    Lysander was walking ahead.


    Thssa hurried to catch up and then said, ¡°Mr. Sinir, since you¡¯ve started investigating the theft of


    the project, why not look into the source of the rumors too? I think Joie was being used. How else could


    she know the details of your conversation with Faye? Even I didn¡¯t know what you two talked about.¡±


    Lysander suddenly stopped in his tracks.


    Thssa also stopped. She almost bumped into him but luckily stopped just in time.


    She looked up at Lysander¡¯s icy gaze, her heart racing. She asked cautiously, ¡°Did I say something


    wrong?¡±


    ¡°You seem quite interested in what happened that day.¡± Lysander retorted.


    Thssa looked into Lysander¡¯s eyes, her face flushed.


    ¡°I didn¡¯t mean it like that. I saw you two talking that day, but I didn¡¯t hear what you were saying. Yet the


    rumors described your conversation in detail. Everyone might think you spread the rumors yourselves,¡±


    Thssa exined, stuttering and clearly nervous. Lysander¡¯s gaze made her heart pound. She


    suddenly felt a strange tension. What was going on?

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    Chapter 119


    ¡°You think I don¡¯t get what you¡¯re saying?¡± Lysander shot at Thssa.


    Thssa was taken aback for a moment, then she quickly got the gist of it and said, ¡°Oh, I see. You


    knew all along that Faye was the rumor monger. You¡¯re a smart one, aren¡¯t you? No wonder you¡¯re Mr.


    Sinir.¡±


    Thssa gave him a thumbs up, showing her admiration.


    Watching her, Lysander found her praise to be charming and said, ¡°You¡¯re such a goofball.¡±


    Thssa retorted, ¡°Mr. Sinir, your way of praising people is really something else.¡±


    Suddenly, something urred to Thssa, and she asked, ¡°Mr. Sinir, about the design ns being


    stolen, you knew it was Faye all along, didn¡¯t you?¡±


    ¡°How do you think you got out so quickly?¡± Lysander shot back without giving her a direct answer.


    That was answer enough for her.


    Thssa felt a mix of anger and injustice.


    If Lysander knew all along that she hadn¡¯t stolen the design ns, why then did he not react at all when


    she was being taken away by the police, even as she attempted to exin herself?


    Thssa blurted out angrily, ¡°Mr. Sinir, if you knew it was Faye all along, why did you let me take the


    fall and get hauled off by the cops?¡±


    She had felt helpless and wronged at the police station, worrying endlessly.


    If she ended up in jail, what would be of her four children? Who would take care of them?


    And what about her mother and aunt?


    Without an ie, not only would her children suffer, but the two elderly women would also face


    hardships.


    Lysander walked up to her and retorted, ¡°Why shouldn¡¯t I have sent you to the police? You think you¡¯re


    some privileged character?¡±


    As he approached, Thssa¡¯s heart pounded.


    She instinctively stepped back and said, ¡°But I was framed.¡±


    ¡°You were framed? Got any proof?¡± Lysander advanced step by step.


    Thssa recoiled in fear, stumbled on a step, and began to fall backward.


    ¡°Ah!¡± Thssa screamed.


    Just when she thought she was going to fall, a strong arm wrapped around her waist, pulling her back


    and pressing her against his solid chest.


    Thssa looked around in panic and found herself staring into Lysander¡¯s eyes.


    His gaze quickened her heart rate.


    Lysander looked at her, gently pinched her chin, and said in a low voice, ¡°Sending you to the police


    was a lesson, so you wouldn¡¯t be so brash and stupid in the future. Got it?¡±


    Thssa lost her cool and asked, ¡°Didn¡¯t you just praise me for being smart? Now you¡¯re calling me


    stupid? Isn¡¯t that contradicting yourself?¡±Text content ? N?velDrama.Org.


    Wasn¡¯t heplimenting her intelligence by saying she wasn¡¯t beyond hope?


    Lysander fell silent.


    He had never met a woman who was so shameless and full of self-praise.


    If it was onyone else, he wouldn¡¯t have given a damn.


    However, she was Thssa, the woman who made Lysander feel conflicted.


    Lysander¡¯s body had no resistance to her, and he could always find the familiar feeling of that night five


    years ago from her.


    He liked her smell and the feeling she gave him. But he despised her conduct.


    She would stoop to any level to lure men for money, and all her wit was used on men, while in other


    aspects, she was so foolish as tond herself in jall!

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    Chapter 120


    The more Lysander thought about it, the more it got under his skin.


    He liked this woman, Thssa, but he just couldn¡¯t get on board with her way of thinking.


    What really ticked him off was how her family knew about her actions but didn¡¯t do anything to stop her.


    They let her do all sorts of shady stuff for the sake of money.


    Whether it was her record of getting nabbed for stealing, her way of making a buck by seducing men to


    buy drinks in bars, or her scheme of first reeling in John at the Sinir group, then setting her sights on


    him, it was all about the dough.


    The record of theft must¡¯ve been because she saw value in the stuff she swiped.


    Her tactic of seducing men to sell drinks was a quick money-making gig. After all, men were suckers for


    a pretty face and a stiff drink. Combine the two, and they were putty in her hands.


    To reel in the men, she¡¯d hike up her skirt a bit and give a little glimpse of her cleavage, and just like


    that, she¡¯d sell a bottle of booze.


    Making money was as simple as that. And the whole thing with John was just so she could avoid the


    N?velDrama.Org owns all ? content.


    grunt work, letting John palm off the heavy lifting to someone else.


    After all, John was the head of security and had a bit of pull when it came to assigning the janitorial


    work.


    Thssa saw this and decided to sweet-talk him into letting her handle the top floor cleaning, bagging


    a cool 18k a month without breaking a sweat. She was one cunningdy.


    As for her designs on him, she was looking to get frisky, which would make it even easier for her to get


    her hands on his cash.


    She was using all her smarts on men.


    If it weren¡¯t for the fact that she was Celia¡¯s cousin, grew up with Celia, had the same upbringing, lived


    in the same environment, and even kind of looked like Celia, Lysander wouldn¡¯t give her the time of


    day.


    And she actually thought his words earlier werepliments.


    He had never met someone this dense before.


    Lysander suddenly felt that talking with her here was aplete waste of his time.


    He loosened his grip on her chin, withdrew his hand, and chuckled lightly. ¡°I¡¯ve seen narcissists, but


    never one like you.¡±


    With that, he turned and walked away.


    Thssa was left puzzled. How was she being narcissistic?


    Did she ask the wrong question?


    Seeing Lysander getting into his car, she hurried over and asked, ¡°Mr. Sinir, could you give me a lift


    home?¡±


    It waste, no buses were running, and there were no taxis around. The police station was also in a


    remote location with po cars passing by.


    Thssa was eager to get back to her four kids.


    She was worried that if she got home toote, her mom and aunt would be concerned.


    The quickest way home was to get a ride from Lysander. If she missed this chance, she didn¡¯t know


    how long she¡¯d have to wait.


    Lysander nced at her and said, ¡°Hop in.¡±


    Thssa quickly said, ¡°Thank you, Mr. Sinir. You¡¯re not only good looking but also efficient.¡±


    She opened the door and got in.


    Lysander started the engine and drove off.


    Soon, they arrived at Thssa¡¯s neighborhood. After Thssa got off, Lysander drove away.


    Watching the ck car quickly disappear from view, Thssa suddenly realized something.


    Ah, she seemed to have forgotten to tell Lysander her address, but he still managed to drop her off


    precisely at her neighborhood.

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    ¡°How did Lysander know her address?¡±


    Thssa was a bit puzzled but didn¡¯t dwell on it, heading straight home.


    Upon entering, the living room light was still on, and someone was sitting anxiously at the dining table.


    Thssa almost jumped out of her skin before realizing it was her mom. She let out a sigh of relief,


    patting her chest, ¡°Mom, why are you still up? You scared the hell out of me.¡±


    Text content ? N?velDrama.Org.


    Seeing her return, Evelyn¡¯s worried expression faded, only to scold her, ¡°You, youngdy, not even


    calling me when you get off work thiste. And not picking up when I call you. Just because you earned


    some cash, you think you can ignore me?¡±


    Evelyn tapped Thssa¡¯s forehead a few times, turning her prior worry into a loud scolding.


    Thssa defended herself, ¡°Mom, I left my phone at work. I didn¡¯t hear it ring. I was so swamped that I


    forgot to call you, and I¡¯ll remember next time.¡±


    When she was locked up, her phone was confiscated until she was released.


    So she couldn¡¯t call Evelyn or receive calls.


    She was worried that Evelyn would worry, hence her rush to get Lysander to drive her home.


    Though Evelyn was harsh with her words, she had a heart of gold, always expressing her worry


    through scolding.


    Thank god Thssa understood her, or she¡¯d think her mom didn¡¯t love her.


    ¡°You¡¯re just a janitor. What¡¯s with all the work? Workingte into the night, are you dating someone?


    Evelyn questioned her seriously.


    Thssa was terrified by Evelyn¡¯s piercing gaze, and she quickly said, ¡°Mom, I¡¯m not dating anyone


    who¡¯d date me in this situation. If I were, I¡¯d tell you right away. It¡¯ste, let¡¯s go to bed, I¡¯m beat.¡±


    Thssa yawned.


    Evelyn looked at her with her all-seeing eyes and said, ¡°Don¡¯t beat around the bush. Last time you


    refused Mr. Cooper, didn¡¯t you say you had a boyfriend?¡±


    ¡°Mom, that was a misunderstanding. Didn¡¯t I exin?¡± Thssa was a bit annoyed that this was


    brought up again.


    -Evelyn stared at her and asked, ¡°Are there still buses thiste? Who drove you home?¡±


    ¡°Our boss, Mr. Sinir. I¡¯m done talking and I need to sleep, I¡¯m exhausted. As for the dating topic,


    Evelyn could talk till dawn.


    Thssa was too tired and sleepy to exin again.


    She went to the bathroom, freshened up, returned to her room, and cuddled the child sleeping on the


    edge of the bed.


    Thssa rxed quickly, feelingfortable, and soon drifted off to sleep.


    In the living room, Evelyn was still pondering.


    Last time, Thssa¡¯s boss yed the role of her boyfriend to refuse Mr. Cooper.


    Today, Hertha said, the boss of the Sinir group even came to visit.


    At night, the boss personally drove Thssa home.


    These two seemed to have some special connection.


    No, she had to visit the Sinir group tomorrow to investigate.


    If Thssa was really dating the boss, that would be fantastic!


    Thinking of this, Evelyn felt rejuvenated.

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    Chapter 122


    The next day. Thssa hit the office for work.


    Noreen called her into her office, putting on a smile, and said all serious-like, ¡°Thssa, I was wrong


    about you. Joie lied to me. She said you were the one spreading rumors, but it turns out she was the


    Belongs ? to N?velDrama.Org.


    rumor mill herself. You were framed¡­¡±


    Thssa got it. So even after Joie left, she was still trying to screw her over.


    Noreen was being all sincere with her, so she wasn¡¯t going to dwell on the past.


    After all, she was still working at the Sinir Group, and Noreen was her boss.


    Thssa gave a nod and replied, ¡°Director Noreen, you¡¯re a responsible leader, looking for the truth


    instead of gobbling up lies.¡±


    Noreen puffed up and said, ¡°I will treat all employees under my responsibility with fairness. However,


    Mr. Sinir¡¯s superior sense of responsibility, insight, and impartiality outshines mine.


    This morning, Mr. Sinir sent out apany-wide email exining the rumor and leakage stuff.


    Everyone knows, Thssa, you had nothing to do with it. You were just misunderstood.¡±


    Thssa was surprised and asked, ¡°Mr. Sinir sent an email about this matter?¡±


    Noreen nodded and said, ¡°David sent it, but it¡¯s definitely Mr. Sinir¡¯s doing. Who else but him could


    rify things so wisely and quickly? I think Faye really screwed us over.¡±


    Faye had been fired and sent to the police station. She couldn¡¯t hear Noreen badmouthing her now.


    Noreen started buttering up Thssa, like most people, while taking jabs at Faye.


    Thssa didn¡¯t want to get involved in her conversation and said, ¡°Director Noreen, you go ahead with


    your stuff. I gotta go.¡±


    She was able to clear her name so fast thanks to Mr. Sinir¡¯s wisdom and fairness.


    Lysander was indeed a fair guy.


    But if he knew she didn¡¯t steal the n, why was she sent to the police? Was it really just to give her a


    wake-up call?


    Thssa was a bit puzzled.


    After cleaning the bathrooms and the meeting room on the top floor, she got a call from Noreen telling


    her to go to Mr. Sinir¡¯s office. Some folks were there to talk business, and she needed to prepare


    coffee.


    Faye usually did these tasks, but she got fired. The boss didn¡¯t have a personal secretary for now, so


    the task fell on Thssa.


    Thssa went to the office.


    There were four people in the office.


    Lysander was sitting on the couch. The moment she saw him, his aura stunned her, and she


    instinctively lowered her head.


    Next to Lysander was David, standing upright to his right, staring at the two men across.


    The two men on the other side were all smiles, nodding their heads frequently.


    Among the two men, one was skinny, and Thssa didn¡¯t know him. The other one was fat and looked


    a bit familjar, but she couldn¡¯t remember where she had seen him.

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    Thssa strutted into the office, catching the eye of a chubby guy. His gaze went from lustful to


    terrified in a blink of an eye.


    She felt a pair of burning eyes on her that made her feel ufortable. She instinctively looked in the


    direction of those eyes.


    Turned out it was the chubby guy gawking at her. As soon as she turned to face him, he quickly


    averted his gaze.


    He seemed rattled.


    The guy was on the hefty side, sporting a belly that looked like he was six months pregnant, and in his


    thirties.


    Thssa felt like she had seen the guy before but couldn¡¯t quite put finger on who he was.


    Then, it hit her. He was the guy she was set up with on a blind date, Mr. Cooper!


    The mere thought of him and his inappropriate behavior towards herst time made her sick to her


    stomach.


    She shot Mr. Cooper a cold nce before heading over to the bar to prepare some coffee!


    She failed to notice that Lysander¡¯s eyes were glued on her.


    ¡°Mr. Sinir, we, the Thorne group, are willing to hand over the entirepany to the Sinir group as


    long as the Sinir group doesn¡¯t sue us.¡± The man sitting with Mr. Cooper was the president of the


    Thorne group, Jonathan Thorne.


    Despite being impably dressed, Jonathan looked worn out with his rough skin and frail physique


    and seemed insignificant in front of Lysander.


    He carefully proposed to Lysander, hoping to hand over the Thorne group to the Sinir group just to


    save his own skin.


    Mr. Cooper was also there, adding with a fake smile as he said, ¡°Yes, we have brought the contract. If


    you agrees, we can sign it right now, and the Thome group is all yours for free.¡±


    Mr. Cooper¡¯s full name was Liam Cooper, the head of the legal department at the Thorne group.


    He came along with the president to deliver the contract to Lysander.


    ¡°The Thome group instructed our secretary to steal our design ns and used them in a fashion show.


    This had a huge impact and spread rumors that we giarized your designs, damaging our reputation.


    Even if we sue the whole Thorne group, it won¡¯tpensate for our loss. And you¡¯re expecting


    payment too?¡± David shot back fiercely, representing Lysander¡¯s authority.


    His words made Liam and Jonathan break out in a cold sweat.


    Jonathan was getting more and more anxious, shooting Liam an using look.


    He hastily offered to pay Lysander two million dors of his own money and hand over the Thorne


    group topensate for their mistake, hoping Lysander would ept


    The Sinir group had a high status in the city, and the value of theirpany¡¯s image was worth


    billions.


    Their actions indeed damaged the reputation of the Sinir group. If the Sinir group decided to take


    action, they might not be able to bear it.


    Their only option was to change tactics, apologize,pensate, and minimize personal losses as


    much as possible.


    Lysander lit up a cigarette, took a puff, and said in his authoritative voice, ¡°I have one more condition.¡±


    ¡°What condition, Mr. Sinir? Jonathan seemed excited. Mr. Sinir¡¯s words meant there was still a


    All rights ? N?velDrama.Org.


    chance for negotiation. Lysander nced at Liam and said, ¡°The Thorne group will ban Liam from all


    activities in the industry.¡±


    The statement caught Jonathan and Liam off guard.

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    Thssa brewed three cups of coffee, served one to Lysander first and then one each to Jonathan and


    Liam.


    She heard what Lysander said too.


    He intended to ban Liam from all activities in the entire industry!


    My goodness, the way he spoke with such authority was so cool!


    Liam, who disrespected the disadvantaged and acted recklessly should be punished!


    Mr. Sinir was truly her idol.


    Jonathan was the first to react. He immediately said, ¡°Okay, we, the Thorne group, will definitely go all


    out to meet Mr. Sinir¡¯s demands.¡±


    He was just a legal department manager, and it wouldn¡¯t be difficult to punish him.


    To protect the leaders of the Thorne group and himself, sacrificing a legal department manager was a


    win-win


    Liam thought Jonathan would speak up for him, but instead, he agreed right away.


    His body stiffened, he was sweating profusely, and his eyes were filled with disappointment.


    After Thssa gave him a cup of coffee and turned to leave, he couldn¡¯t help but nce at her.


    He understood that Lysander was punishing him for Thssa.


    Last time at the restaurant, he tried to forcefully drag Thssa to get married. His movement was too


    big, and he was bumped into by Lysander.


    Lysander must have started to dislike him since then.


    If he knew Thssa was Lysander¡¯s girlfriend, he would never have gone on a blind date!


    Belongs ? to N?velDrama.Org.


    Now he was in big trouble, his future was uncertain. What should he have done?


    Liam was full of regret, unwillingness, grievance, and fear, he was extremely anxious.


    After reaching an agreement, Jonathan and Liam left.


    David sorted out the contract and left the office.


    Seeing that things were going south, Thssa immediately followed David out.


    After all that had happened, how could she dare to stay alone with Lysander in the same space?


    She was afraid of being misunderstood as tempting him again.


    Back in the lounge, Thssa took out her phone, wanting to see the online public opinion about the


    Sinir group¡¯s clothing design giarism.


    The reputation of the Sinir group was so badly damaged that the Thorne group had topensate


    the entire group, and Jonathan had to pay an additional two million dors!


    As soon as she opened Twitter on her phone, all the news was about the leak of the design n.


    ¡®Famous Sinir group giarized Thorne group, is the Sinir group facing bankruptcy? Waiting for


    the truth to be revealed.¡±


    This piece of news was quite early, probably a hot topic when the incident first happened.


    Under this topic, everyone was discussing how such arge group as the Sinir group could do


    something like giarism, and they would no longer trust the Sinir group.


    Seeing everyone¡¯sments, Thssa realized how much this Incident had impacted the Sinir


    group.


    No wonder Zephyr was so angry, and Lysander looked so serious.


    ¡°Hot news! Secretary of Sinir group sneaked into the monitoring department at night, trying to delete


    the video revealing Sinir group¡¯s secrets, caught by Mr. Sinir himself!¡±


    ¡®Mr. Sinir is wise, catching the traitor who sold the design n himself.¡±


    ¡°Clearing the misunderstanding! The Sinir group was betrayed; the clothing design was originally


    from the Sinir group, but the Thorne group stole the Sinir group¡¯s design n.¡±


    The subsequent focus was on Lysander finding the real culprit, clearing the Sir


    Sinir group¡¯s name.


    So Faye was caught deleting surveince video, and she was caught by Lysander himself.


    Reporters even captured the scene of Faye deleting the video.


    How could a reporter be at the Sinir group sote and just happen to be there when Faye was


    deleting the video?


    Thssa thought for a moment and understood.


    It turned out to be a trap set by Lysander for Faye.

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    Chapter 125


    Faye is so smart, how could she have made such a blunder, deleting videos in the surveince room


    while being in the limelight?


    Lysander was really a capable leader. The way he figured out the internal issues left Thssa


    impressed.


    Thssa spotted some clues in the news and kept reading.


    The next news story was about the Thorne Grouppensating the Sinir Group to make amends


    for their loss, giving up the entire group, and President Jonathan paying an extra 2 million dors.


    Without spending a dime, the Sinir Group acquired the Thome Group and got an extra 2 million


    bucks!


    The reputation of the Sinir Group was also restored, and public trust in it increased.


    This time around, the Sinir Group was the big winner!


    Netizens were worshipping Lysander even more. Not only was he handsome and rich, but he was also


    so wise and clever. He was the only man like that in the world! Femaleizens were gushing online,


    hoping to marry Lysander, and be his wife.


    Seeing the hot discussion on the inte, Thssa couldn¡¯t help butugh. Lysander¡¯s charm was


    really big, he¡¯d be the ideal husband in everyone¡¯s eyes.


    She was also innocently involved in this incident, but there was no news about her online. She was


    wrongfully imprisoned, but it wasn¡¯t reported by the media. But it made sense, who would notice her, an


    unremarkable person? Everyone¡¯s attention was on Lysander, who was so eye-catching.


    Anyway, this matter could be considered over.


    It was lunchtime.


    In the lobby on the first floor of the Sinir Group. Evelyn came to find Thssa. She was preparing to


    go to the elevator but was stopped by the security guard who asked her to register at the reception.


    Evelyn returned to the reception and politely said, ¡°I¡¯m looking for someone, can you help me register?¡±


    The receptionist replied warmly. ¡°Who are you looking for? Ill contact them immediately.¡±


    ¡°Do I have to contact them first? Evelyn had never looked for someone in such a bigpany; she


    didn¡¯t understand some of the rules. ¡°Yes, you can only go in if they agree. The receptionist patiently


    exined.


    Evelyn naturally cooperated. ¡®I am Thssa¡¯s mother. My name is Evelyn.¡±


    Evelyn was focused on speaking to the receptionist and didn¡¯t notice that the president¡¯s exclusive


    elevator hade down and Lysander had walked out.


    Lysander happened to hear Evelyn say she was Thssa¡¯s mother, and he looked over.


    ¡°You¡¯re looking for Thssa?¡± The receptionist said. Why were so many people looking for Thssa


    these days?


    ¡°No, I¡¯m not looking for Thssa, I¡¯m looking for her boyfriend, her boss, the one who assigns her


    work.¡± Evelyn¡¯s voice was not too loud or too soft, everyone around could hear.


    She nned toe and find Thssa¡¯s boss today, to personally ask him if he was really dating


    Thssa. Once she was sure about their rtionship, Evelyn could rest easy.


    Upon hearing Evelyn was looking for Thssa¡¯s boyfriend, who also assigned her work, wasn¡¯t she


    referring to John?


    Did Thssa already tell her family that John was her boyfriend?


    John¡¯s wife came to use her of breaking up their family. And she even told her family that John was


    her boyfriend!


    Even if she made David prove that John was harassing her, it was just a trick to create trouble and


    leave herself an excuse to escape!


    She was always seducing men, but always had a hundred excuses. He¡¯d seen this act several times


    before.


    Lysander walked out of the Sinir Group¡¯s door.


    The receptionist saw Lysander, immediately straightened up, and greeted him seriously, ¡°Hello,


    President. President?


    All rights ? N?velDrama.Org.


    Evelyn turned around to look

 Chapter 126

    Chapter 126


    When Evelynid her eyes on the tall, lean, and handsome man, she was blown away. He was wearing


    All rights ? N?velDrama.Org.


    a handcrafted ck suit and was on his way out. Just the sight of his back left her stunned. Her eyes


    widened, and her mind went nk.


    It wasn¡¯t until Lysander exited the door that she realized, this man was the CEO of the Sinir Group.


    Evelyn had met Lysander once before in Hollowbrook. She initially thought he was Isabe¡¯s boyfriend,


    but then Thssa told her that he was actually the CEO of the Sinir Group.


    Justst night, he drove Thssa home


    Evelyn excitedly turned to the receptionist and said, ¡°I came to see him, can you give him a call for


    me?¡±


    The receptionist looked at her and said, ¡°That¡¯s our boss Lysander. I don¡¯t have his personal number,


    just his secretary¡¯s.¡±


    They thought, was this woman alright? Thssa was just a janitor in theirpany. How could their


    boss Lysander possibly be her boyfriend?


    This must have been the rumor from before, causing her to mistakenly think that Lysander was


    Thssa¡¯s boyfriend.


    David had already rified internally that it was a total fabrication made up by Jole, and it wasn¡¯t true at


    all. There was absolutely no rtionship between Lysander and Thssa.


    Hearing the receptionist¡¯s exnation, Evelyn was a little anxious, so she turned and chased after him.


    When she ran out the door, Lysander was already in his car She ran over anxiously but the car was


    already moving.


    Evelyn was about to return to thepany, to tell the receptionist that she woulde backter,


    hoping she could inform Lysander. Just then, she saw Thssa rushing out.


    ¡°Mom, why are you here?¡± Thssa walked up to Evelyn, holding her arm, asking somewhat puzzled.


    The receptionist had called her, saying a person named Evelyn was looking for her, so she rushed


    down immediately.


    ¡®I came to ask if Lysander is your boyfriend, Evelyn said straight to the point.


    Thssa was startled, and looking around, all the Sinir Group employees were getting ready for


    lunch.


    She said to Evelyn in a low voice, ¡°Didn¡¯t I already tell you, he isn¡¯t! You can¡¯t just ask who Lysander¡¯s


    girlfriend is. He¡¯s the CEO of the Sinir Group. How could he possibly be my boyfriend.¡±


    After the rumor scandalst time, she became the target of criticism in thepany. Everyone thought


    she was shamelessly throwing herself at Lysander, and spreading rumors that Lysander was into her.


    She was looked down upon, isted, and ridiculed. The scandal had just settled down. She didn¡¯t want


    to be theughingstock again.


    Thssa pulled Evelyn aside, but Evelyn shook off her hand and said loudly, ¡°If he¡¯s not your boyfriend,


    why are you so nervous? Thssa, you must be hiding something from me! If Lysander isn¡¯t your


    boyfriend, why would he drive you homete at night¡­¡±


    Before Evelyn could finish, Thssa quickly covered her mouth. Passersby were casting strange


    nces. Thssa smiled at them, indicating that everything was fine and they were just joking


    When the passersby moved on, Thssa finally let go of Evelyn¡¯s mouth.


    She said anxiously and helplessly, ¡°Mom, go home now. I¡¯ll exin everything when I get off work. Now


    I need to go for lunch. I still have to work in the afternoon.¡±


    ¡°You must promise to give me a detailed exnation,¡± Evelyn agreed.


    She couldn¡¯t understand why a janitor would work untilte at night and have Mr. Sinir personally


    drive her home! This didn¡¯t add up.


    Thssa nodded, indicating that she would exin everything after she got home. She didn¡¯t want her


    family to worry, so she hid the fact that the police detained herst night. It seemed she couldn¡¯t hide it


    anymore. Otherwise, considering her mom¡¯s suspicious nature, she woulde to the Sinir Group


    to find Mr. Sinir again.


    If Evelyn really found Lysander and asked him in person if he was Thssa¡¯s boyfriend, Lysander


    would definitely be extremely embarrassed, and he would find it utterly tedious and strange.

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    Chapter 127


    Just picturing that scene would make one cringe like crazy.


    The whole afternoon, Thssa Everhart was running around like a headless chicken.


    Finally, when it was time to knock off, she packed up her cleaning tools and was ready to call it a day.


    She took the bus home every day, and today was no different. She stood across the street waiting for


    the bus, but it seemed to be runningte. She had already been waiting for half an hour, and it was still


    a no-show.


    Her phone started ringing. It was her mother, Evelyn


    She answered, ¡°What¡¯s up, mom?¡±


    ¡°Weren¡¯t you supposed toe home and exin things to me? Why aren¡¯t you home yet? Are you


    trying to pull a fast one on me?¡± Evelyn was clearly getting impatient, firing off questions as soon as


    Thssa picked up.


    A bit exasperated, Thssa responded, ¡°I¡¯m on my way home. I¡¯ll be there in a bit. Just hang tight.¡±


    With that, she hung up.


    The bus was still nowhere in sight, but a taxi happened to pull up beside her. Without thinking twice,


    and without getting a good look at who the driver was, she hopped in, giving the driver her home


    address.


    Without any further ado, the driver stepped on the gas, and they were off, moving at a speedy clip.


    Just then, Lysander happened to be driving home. He saw Thssa get into a taxi, and the driver, to


    his surprise, was John!


    Lysander¡¯s eyes shed with anger. He knew Thssa well enough to know that she was a master


    maniptor, using her charms to get whatever she wanted, and never leaving any stone unturned.


    He had already helped her out several times, out of respect for Celia. In his book, he had done his part.


    Whatever she wanted to do with any guy was none of his business! That was Lysander¡¯s thinking.


    He reached a three way intersection, ready to make a left turn and head home. But then, out of the


    corner of his eye, he caught a glimpse of Thssa¡¯s taxi heading towards an underground parking lot


    of a hotel.


    Lysander¡¯s eyes darkened, and a cold aura enveloped him as he clenched his teeth. How could she be


    All rights ? N?velDrama.Org.


    so casual, just going off to a hotel with a man!


    Was she really that desperate?


    Lysander¡¯s grip on the steering wheel tightened, his knuckles turning white. His rational mind told him


    to let it go, but his emotions were like a wild beast, beyond his control.


    On a section of the road where U-turns were not allowed, he swerved abruptly. The screeching sound


    of the tires against the road pierced through the air, followed by a puff of smoke He quickly changed


    course and sped towards the hotel.


    Thssa started to panic, realizing that the driver was not following the right route. She tried to get his


    attention, but he ignored her. It was only then that she recognized the driver as John.


    She tried desperately to get him to stop the car, but he only drove faster. He even drove straight into


    the underground parking lot of the hotel.


    The moment the car came to a halt, Thssa quickly pushed the door open and tried to make a run for


    it.


    ¡°Where do you think you¡¯re going!¡± She didn¡¯t get very far before John grabbed her and started


    dragging her towards the elevator.


    ¡°Ah, let me go, uh¡­ Thssa screamed in fear, but the next instant, her mouth was muffled by a piece


    of cloth.

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    Chapter 128


    Thssa was forcibly dragged into a storage room in the underground parking lot


    The room was pitch ck. Suddenly, John flicked the light switch. The light revealed a storage room


    filled with a hodgepodge of items. In the middle of the room was a makeshift bed made out of yellow


    wrapping paper, just big enough for one person to lie down. The rest of the room was filled with


    mountains of cardboard boxes and discarded bags.


    Seeing all this. Thssa knew John had nned this all along. Her heart was pounding, fear coursing


    through her veins. She struggled, trying to escape. But John was incredibly strong. He harshly held her


    hands behind her back with one hand while the other gripped her neck, squeezing hard. The neck was


    the most vulnerable part of the body. Once gripped, all strength left the body.


    She felt like a kitten caught by the scruff of its neck, unable to move.


    John pulled her in and grabbed a rope he had prepared in advance, binding her hands behind her


    back. With a forceful push, he threw her onto the makeshift bed made of wrapping paper.


    ¡°Ah¡­¡± Thssa cried out in pain as she hit the bed. Her mouth was gagged with a cloth, muffling her


    cries.


    Ignoring the pain, she quickly sat up, trying to stand and escape. But John pushed her down onto the


    wrapping paper bed again. He wiped the corner of his mouth. With a lewd expression on his face, he


    slowly moved closer. ¡°Stop struggling. Evelyn. You caused my wife to divorce me. Now that I have no


    wife, you¡¯ll have to take her ce!¡±


    John mistakenly thought Thssa was Evelyn. Ever since his wife had visited Evelyn at the Sinir


    Group and then went to the police station together, his wife had been adamant about divorcing him. No


    matter how he pleaded, it was useless.


    He suspected Evelyn had said something to his wife.


    In the past, his wife had found out about his harassment of other women many times. But as long as he


    yed the victim and acted innocent, his wife would believe him, and their bond would grow even


    stronger.


    This time, when he used the same tactic to try and persuade his wife, she initially believed him and


    even went to confront Evelyn, but after returning from the police station, she was adamant about


    divorcing him.


    All rights ? N?velDrama.Org.


    He was helpless and ended up divorcing his wife. He felt that he was not a catch and would not be able


    to find a new partner after the divorce. So, John harbored resentment and decided to take revenge on


    Evelyn.


    He had not seeded before, but this time, no matter what, he was determined to make her his. With


    lust in his eyes, he turned off the light, plunging the room back into darkness, emboldening him.


    In the familiar darkness, he lunged at Thssa.


    ¡°Ah!¡± Thssa let out a horrified scream, but it was muffled by the cloth in her mouth, making it weak


    and inaudible outside.


    In the darkness, John brutally tugged at her clothes. Thssa was so frightened that she kicked and


    thrashed her head around, trying to push John away. But her hands were bound behind her back,


    leaving her powerless. No matter how terrified, desperate, helpless, or frantic she was, she couldn¡¯t


    break free from John¡¯s control.


    John ripped off her top, leaving Thssa feeling cold all over. She struggled in fear, trying to escape.


    But John¡¯s knee pressed hard against her wildly kicking legs, pinning her down. Tears of helplessness


    trickled down her cheeks.


    Suddenly, John yanked out the cloth from her mouth.


    ¡°Help¡­mm!¡± Thssa seized the opportunity to shout for help, but her mouth was quickly covered by


    his hand again.


    Johnughed wickedly. ¡°Stop struggling and submit to me! It¡¯ll hurt less that way.¡±

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    Chapter 129


    After he finished speaking, he leaned in to kiss Thssa, but before their lips could meet¡­


    ¡°Bang¡±¡± The storage room door was kicked open with a vengeance.


    The loud noise caused John to turn towards the door where the light was streaming in, and a hulking


    figure was silhouetted against it.


    Before he could make out who it was, he was suddenly grabbed by the cor by this man and hurled


    against the wall. His back hit the wall, and he grunted in pain, blood trickling from the corner of his


    mouth.


    The man approached and sent him flying against the other wall with a kick. He crumpled to the floor


    like a piece of trash. John spat out another mouthful of blood.


    Thssa watched in fear as John was driven away. Panicked and terrified, she struggled to get up and


    made a beeline for the exit. She had barely taken a step when her arm was seized. She looked back in


    terror and bit down hard on the man¡¯s shoulder, her cheeks trembling with the effort.


    She wanted to break free. She didn¡¯t want to be vited. She didn¡¯t want to be ruined


    She wanted to run, to find help.


    She had been through this once before, five years ago. Fear and helplessness still haunted her, often


    leaving her breathless. She didn¡¯t want to relive that nightmare.


    The man winced as she bit into his shoulder, but he didn¡¯t even flinch, his iron will and pain tolerance


    evident. His deep eyes locked onto Thssa, who was biting him with all her might, her body shakingBelongs ? to N?velDrama.Org.


    Just like that stormy night five years ago.


    A memory shed through his mind, the feeling of the woman biting him now and the one from that


    stormy night were blending together. It was a familiar feeling. So familiar that it was as if the scene from


    that night was ying out again before his eyes.


    Facing the pain she inflicted, he was like a predator that had caught the scent of its prey. His gaze was


    deep, like the ocean, fixed on Thssa Thssa had exhausted all her strength, her teeth aching from


    the effort, but the man didn¡¯t let go.


    Scared and frantic, she let go and tried to kick the man. ¡°Let go of me!¡±


    The man nimbly dodged her kick and released her arm.


    -Freed, Thssa tried to run. The man quickly stepped forward, grabbing her shoulder, trying to get her


    to stop.


    ¡°Let go of me. Let go of me!¡± Thssa was agitated and terrified, struggling to break free.


    ¡°Thssa, calm down, it¡¯s me.¡± The man turned her around so she could look at him.


    Thssa¡¯s fearful expression froze when she lifted her terrified eyes and saw Lysander¡¯s handsome


    face through her blurry vision.


    Her tense body suddenly went limp from fear and panic. The man caught her just in time, cradling her


    in his arms.


    Her clothes were torn, revealing her skin from her arm to her chest. Though she was still wearing a


    tank top, her skin was smooth and delicate.


    The autumn weather was very cold, and Lysander was concerned about her being underdressed, so


    he stopped her. He held her and took off his suit jacket to drape over her.


    Thssa was sobbing in his arms, still shaking from the scare.

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    Chapter 130


    Thssa was like a wounded kitten. Her face was buried in his chest, tears streaming down


    ceaselessly. Her tears soaked Lysander¡¯s shirt, hot, like boiling water, scorching his heart.


    Lysander¡¯s hand clenched her arm tightly, and finally, he embraced her, letting her cry her heart out.


    Time trickled away.


    After crying for a while, Thssa¡¯s emotions gradually calmed down, and her strength gradually


    recovered. Realizing she was in Lysander¡¯s arms, she immediately straightened up and left his


    embrace. Her eyes were red as she said, ¡°Sorry, I got your shirt wet, I¡¯lI wash it for you.¡±


    Her voice was hoarse from crying.


    Lysander¡¯s heart ached. Despite everything, she was still worried about dirtying his shirt. How low did


    Belongs ? to N?velDrama.Org.


    she think of herself?


    Lysander untied the rope on her hands, and asked, ¡°What happened?¡±


    He had thought she came willingly with John. It was a private matter of an employee, and he should


    have ignored it because he was not one to meddle in other people¡¯s affairs. But he thought of the


    fragrance on Thssa, and how her skin felt so simr to the woman who saved him five years ago.


    That sweetness, such softness, would be enjoyed by other men!


    He was filled with unease and irritation.


    He turned the car around halfway and headed for the hotel. And found that things were not as he


    thought Thssa did note willingly. She was kidnapped.


    She was a hair¡¯s breadth away from irreparable damage.


    Hearing his question, and thinking about what just happened, Thssa was filled with fear and dread,


    tears involuntarily streaming down.


    Choking back sobs, she said, ¡°I was going to take a cab home, but I didn¡¯t expect the driver to be John.


    I realized something was wrong on the way, and asked him to stop, but he didn¡¯t, and drove straight to


    this parking lot, tied me up, said I was the reason he and his wife divorced, and wanted to get back at


    me¡­¡±


    By this point, Thssa couldn¡¯t go on, tears flooded, her throat was hoarse, and her heart was filled


    with fear. Such fear, she felt suffocated just recounting it.


    Lysander¡¯s eyes were dark as he dialed a number, ¡®There¡¯s a kidnapper here. Come take him away, I¡¯ll


    talk to your chief, and charge him with the heaviest crime.¡±


    Soon, the police came and took John away.


    Lysander drove Thssa home.


    Thssa sat in the passenger seat, draped in his suit. The suit carried a faint scent of sandalwood and


    his body heat. It gave her an unprecedented sense of security.


    Thssa looked ahead with reddened eyes, saying nothing, while Lysander focused on driving. The


    atmosphere in the car was subtle and quiet.


    Before long, they arrived at where Thssa lived.


    Lysander dropped her off at the stairs. Thssa got out of the car, turned around, and said, ¡°Mr.


    Sinir, thank you¡­¡±


    Lysander thought of her biting him earlier, his gaze deep as he stared at her, his memorizing voice


    resonated. ¡°Where were you, what were you doing, five years ago?¡±


    ¡°Five years ago?¡± Thssa was taken aback. Why was Mr. Sinir suddenly asking her about her life


    from five years ago?


    She thought for a moment, and said, ¡®I was studying at Starhaven University.¡±


    Five years ago, she was indeed studying at Starhaven University. If it weren¡¯t for that unexpected


    event, she might have been a designer by now.


    ¡°You went to university, so why are you working as a cleaner? Lysander asked.


    Cleaning work didn¡¯t require special qualifications. College graduates should at least be working a


    white-cor job, right?

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    Chapter 131


    ¡°Due to some personal issues, I had to drop out,¡± Thssa exined.


    Lysander¡¯s brow furrowed slightly. Personal issues, meaning her criminal record of theft?


    Lysander didn¡¯t say anything further, his face cold. Feeling the tense atmosphere around him, Thssa


    was a bit nervous. She forced a smile, trying to look polite, ¡°Mr. Sinir, how about we go upstairs and


    sit for a bit?¡±


    Lysander nced at her but didn¡¯t say a word, driving off.


    Watching his car leave, Thssa suddenly realized that she was still wearing his clothes. She hurriedly


    ran after him for a few steps, ¡°Mr. Sinir, your clothes!¡±


    But Lysander¡¯s car still sped away.


    Thssa could only return home.


    Just as she was about to knock on the door, it opened from the inside. Evelyn saw her and immediately


    started scolding, ¡°You finally decided toe back, do you have any idea what time it is? I¡¯ve been


    worried sick¡­¡±


    Before Evelyn could finish her sentence, she noticed that Thssa was wearing a man¡¯s suit, and her


    eyes were red, as if she had just been crying. Evelyn immediately stopped, looking at her with both


    shock and concern. ¡°Thssa, what happened? Come in¡­¡±


    As Evelyn let her in, she kept an eye on her with concern.


    Thssa walked in, and the four children, who were ying with toys alongside Astrid, heard her


    return. They all turned their innocent eyes towards her.


    ¡°Mommy!¡±


    ¡°Mommy!¡±


    ¡°Mommy!¡±


    ¡°Mommy!¡±


    The little ones dropped their toys, and their eyes glowed with love as they ran towards her. Their little


    legs wobbled as they ran, like little penguins, so adorable that it could melt anyone¡¯s heart.


    The fear, grievances, and pain that Thssa felt were all healed as she heard the children cheerfully


    Belongs ? to N?velDrama.Org.


    calling her ¡°Mommy¡± and rushing towards her.


    She squatted down and embraced all of them, kissing each one on their soft, tender cheeks.


    ¡°Did you miss Mommy?¡± Thssa asked, her voice hoarse from crying, and her eyes filled with tears.


    ¡°Mm-hmm, I missed you.¡± Elowen was the first to nod.


    Thssa hade hometest night, and the kids were already asleep by then. This morning, she


    had left early again.


    Elowen had been missing her mom from yesterday morning until now. She was so homesick that she


    lost her appetite


    ¡°Mommy, kiss.¡± Elowen tried to soothe her longing with a kiss. She held Thssa¡¯s face with her tiny


    hands, tiptoed, and leaned in to kiss Thssa¡¯s face.


    Thssa smiled warmly, lowering herself to give Elowen her face.


    Elowen gave her a big kiss on the cheek.


    ¡°Mommy, I want a kiss too. Dorian also joined in.


    Sophia and Atticus wanted kisses too, and Thssa gave each of them a kiss. The soft and milky


    scent of the children filled the air around Thssa, filling her tired body and mind with strength. All of


    her unhappiness vanished, and she smiled sweetly and cutely.


    ¡°Oh, my lovely babies, your kisses have superpowers, they instantly make Mommy feel energized. y


    with Astrid for a bit, Mommy will go take a bath first, then y with you.¡±


    Thssa, full of vitality, headed for the bathroom.


    Evelyn followed her with worried eyes. ¡°Thssa, you still haven¡¯t told us what happened? Is Mr.


    Sinir your boyfriend?¡±


    After asking, Evelyn suddenly stopped, something seemed off, the ck suit jacket on Thssa, why


    did it seem familiar?

 Chapter 132

    Chapter 132


    Evelyn wanted to push further, but Astrid stopped her, ¡°Evelyn, cut it out, can¡¯t you see Thssa is not


    okay? Give her some space.¡±


    Astrid was pretty sensitive. She noticed Thssa¡¯s watery eyes when she came back, clearly she¡¯d


    been crying.


    Even though Thssa was wearing a suit, it was unbuttoned, revealing a tank top underneath. Her


    jacket and shirt were nowhere to be found. It was clear that Thssa got back home in a state of


    shock. She only started to smile after interacting a bit with the kids.


    Astrid could tell that Thssa was just trying to keep it together when she got home. Seeing the kids


    being their usual lively selves gave her some strength.


    Thssa had always been tough and optimistic. She wouldn¡¯t cry unless she was hit really hard. This


    time, instead of responding to Evelyn¡¯s nagging, she rushed to hug the kids. She needed to mend her


    broken heart.


    Evelyn didn¡¯t pick up on Thssas change and kept pressing her, but Astrid, Thssa¡¯s aunt, couldn¡¯t


    bear to see this.


    Evelyn stopped, looking at Astrid in surprise, ¡®What happened to her? Did she break up with her


    boyfriend?¡±


    At that thought, Evelyn¡¯s heart sank, feeling a chill. ¡°Oh my, Mr. Sinir is so great, so perfect, and she


    actually broke up with him. She really doesn¡¯t know what she¡¯s got,¡± Evelyn pped her thigh as


    though shed lost a fortune.


    Even though Thssa never admitted that Lysander was her boyfriend and said she would rify


    when she got back, Evelyn still firmly believed that Lysander was Thssa¡¯s boyfriend. She¡¯d always


    hoped Lysander could be Thssa¡¯s boyfriend. Such a great and handsome man was hard toe by.


    Hearing Evelyn¡¯s words, Astrid just shook her head without saying anything.


    After a while, Thssa came out of the shower wearing her pajamas, and was about to wash her ck


    suit on the balcony.


    Evelyn stopped her, ¡°Thssa, go y with the kids for a bit. They haven¡¯t seen you in a couple of


    days, they miss you. I¡¯ll wash the clothes.¡±


    Before Thssa could respond. Evelyn took the suit from her.


    ¡°Be gentle with It, don¡¯t ruin it,¡± Thssa instructed.


    ¡°Got it,¡± replied Evelyn.


    Without saying anything else, Thssa returned to the couch, smiling warmly, ¡°Dorian, are you ying


    with blocks? Elowen, are you -ying with your doll?¡±


    ¡°Mama, Dorian built a castle for my Elsa doll to live in,¡± Elowen exined to Thssa with her little


    Belongs ? to N?velDrama.Org.


    head tilted and braids swaying, her face full of seriousness.


    ¡°Well, I see, you¡¯re ying a princess and prince game, can I join?¡± Thssa asked with a bright smile.


    ¡°Sure, Mama, this one is your prince, Elowen handed another plush toy to Thssa.


    She happily epted the chubby blue plushie and joined the kids¡¯ game.


    Elowen made her doll walk to the chubby blue plushie and asked, ¡°Hello, I¡¯m Princess Thssa, are


    you Prince Lysander?¡±


    They were talking about Elsa and her prince just now, weren¡¯t they?

 Chapter 133

    Chapter 133


    Why did they suddenly be Princess Thssa and Prince Lysander? Did these names have some


    special meaning?


    Thssa blinked in confusion.


    Elowen was holding her doll, speaking in a babyish voice to it, ¡°Prince, why did you break up with


    Princess Thssa? My grandma is freaking out. Princess Thssa, you too, don¡¯t you know how to


    cherish?¡±


    After saying that, Elowen pouted her chubby little face, her small mouth pursed, and her delicate brows


    furrowed, looking at the doll with an unhappy expression.


    Although Thssa didn¡¯t hear what Evelyn said, hearing Elowen¡¯s innocent words, she knew that


    wen was mimicking Evelyn. She was feeling a bit of a headache, she had exined to her mom


    many times, that Lysander was not her boyfriend, just her boss.


    But Evelyn just wouldn¡¯t buy it, even concocting a sad love story. Over by the sink, Evelyn was


    examining a ck suit


    The material of the suit was excellent and the workmanship was exquisite. At a nce, you could tell


    that the person wearing this suit must be filthy rich.


    A noble and tall figure suddenly appeared in Evelyn¡¯s mind, and that was Lysander she saw today at


    the Sinir group.


    Evelyn suddenly remembered that he was wearing this suit at that time. Yeah, this was Lysander¡¯s suit


    Thssa even brought back Lysander¡¯s suit, and still denied Lysander was her boyfriend? Her own


    daughter, even keeping secrets from her, unbelievable.


    During dinner, the kids were each holding their spoons, enjoying their meals.


    Thssa was watching the four kids, their enthusiasm for eating was both adorable and heart-melting,


    and it filled Thssa with satisfaction.


    These four kids were her biggest pride and joy.


    Evelyn suddenly sighed, ¡®Ah, life is tough.¡±


    Thssa turned her head, looked at Evelyn, and asked, ¡°What¡¯s wrong? Why you feel life is tough?


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    ¡°Isabe drives luxury cars and lives in luxury houses. I don¡¯t know who her boyfriend is, but he must


    be rich and treat her well. And you are still not settled down, and even have four kids to take care of.¡±


    Evelyn said.


    Thssa was tired of hearing this ¡°Mom, let¡¯s just eat, stop talking about this.¡±


    ¡°Every time I think of Mr. Sinir, my heart hurt.¡± Evelyn put down her spoon and lightly pounded her


    chest.


    Elowen opened her clear big eyes wide, and innocently asked, ¡°Grandma, why does your heart


    hurtwhen you think of Mr. Sinir? Did he break up with you?¡±


    *Pfft!¡± Hearing Elowen¡¯s words, Thssa couldn¡¯t hold back herughter, and identally sprayed


    broli bits on Elowen¡¯s face.


    Elowen blinked her eyes in confusion, not knowing what had happened. Seeing green bits on Elowen¡¯s


    face, Thssa immediately grabbed a tissue to wipe her face, ¡°Elowen, I¡¯m sorry, mommy didn¡¯t mean


    to.¡±


    At this time, Evelyn began to exin Elowen¡¯s confusion, ¡°I have never dated him. At my age, how


    could I possibly have a chance to date such a young, excellent, and attractive man? Actually, it was


    your mom who had dated him, but they already broke up.¡±


    Hearing this, Thssa, who was wiping Elowen¡¯s face, suddenly stopped.

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    Chapter 134


    Then she continued wiping Elowen¡¯s face, telling Evelyn, ¡°Mom, me and Mr. Sinir aren¡¯t an itern or


    anything.¡±


    ¡°Really? That suit belongs to Mr. Sinir, I saw him wearing it today at the Sinir group, and I can


    recognize it, Thssa. If you¡¯re dating someone, I wouldn¡¯t mind, you don¡¯t have to hide it from me.¡±


    Evelyn¡¯s sharp gaze fixed on Thssa.


    ¡°I wore it because¡­ Thssa was about to exin, but then saw four pairs of small, confused, and


    innocent eyes staring at her.


    If she spilled the beans about being kidnapped and nearly losing her reputation, the kids would


    definitely be upset. She didn¡¯t want her little angels to worry or suffer because of her. So she stopped


    the exnation, keeping the truth under wraps.


    She picked up the spoon and continued serving sd, changing the subject, ¡°I¡¯ll return the suit to Mr.


    Sinir tomorrow. Mom, your cooking is really tasty today.¡±


    With that, she shed Evelyn a bright smile, her eyes crinkling at the corners and two cute dimples


    appeared on her cheeks, making her look adorable and beautiful. Evelyn sensed her daughter¡¯s


    reluctance and didn¡¯t press further.


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    Considering the kids were still young, and knowing adult stuff could be harmful to their growth, she let it


    slide too.


    ¡°If you like it, have more.¡± Evelyn said, cing more food onto Thssa¡¯s te.


    That evening, Thssa told bedtime stories to the kids.


    One by one, they all drifted off to sleep.


    She put down the storybook, cradled the children in her arms, cuddling them gently. Their soft little


    bodies smelled of milk, it was really.forting.


    The next day was Saturday, a day off from work.


    When Thssa woke up, it was alreadyte morning, and the bed beside her was empty. The children


    were already up.


    Sunlight poured in from the window, warming her face. She stretched, yawningzily, having had a


    good night¡¯s sleep. She got up, got herself ready, and after freshening up, she opened the door to see


    the four kids sitting on the sofa watching TV.


    Evelyn and Astrid were chatting nearby. The scene was very harmonious and warm. This lifted her


    spirits, and she cheerfully greeted, ¡°Good morning.¡±


    ¡°Good morning, Mom,¡± the four kids chimed in unison.


    Evelyn nced at her and said, ¡°The sun¡¯s already high in the sky, you call this morning?¡±


    Thssa just smiled and didn¡¯t respond, admitting to herself she was thest one up. She tidied up her


    hair and headed to the kitchen for some grub.


    Just as she pulled out a yogurt from the fridge, her phone buzzed. It was a neighbor from the vige.


    She quickly answered, ¡°Hello, Greta, what¡¯s up?¡±


    ¡°Thssa, weren¡¯t you looking for an emerald pendant? Did you find it? Greta from the vige asked


    her


    Five years ago, a storm had copsed Thssa¡¯s firewood shed and pigsty. Thssa cleaned up the


    debris brick by brick, piece by piece. The neighbors were puzzled. If she was clearing the rubble, why


    not just shovel it all away at once? Wasn¡¯t she just wasting time and energy by clearing it bit by bit?


    When they asked Thssa why she was doing this, she said she was looking for something, an


    emerald pendant shaped like a cloud.


    The neighbors¡¯ question triggered Thssa¡¯s memory from five years ago. She tensed up, saying


    seriously, ¡°I haven¡¯t found it yet, I¡¯m still looking.¡±

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    Chapter 135


    Greta said, ¡°Yesterday while I was cleaning the gutters, I stumbled upon this emerald pendant, shaped


    like a cloud. Were you looking for


    this?¡±


    Upon hearing this, Thssa¡¯s mind went into disarray, and her entire body stiffened. This cloud-shaped


    emerald pendant was left to her by the children¡¯s father as a token to find him. Over the years, she had


    never found it, and she had lost hope and stopped searching for it. She had nned to raise the kids


    on her own, live a quiet and stable life.


    Even without a father, she would give the kids double the love, making up for theirck of a paternal


    figure.


    She had epted this reality, not expecting to find their father anymore. But now, her neighbor was


    telling her she found the emerald pendant. Thssa was feeling a mix of surprise, joy, disbelief, and


    worry.


    ¡°Thssa, why so quiet? Don¡¯t need this emerald pendant anymore? Then ¡­¡± Greta started to nudge,


    sensing Thssa¡¯s silence.


    Snapping back to reality. Thssa quickly said, ¡°I need it, of course I need it. Greta, please keep it safe


    for me. I¡¯ll be right over. I can¡¯t thank you enough¡±


    Hearing Thssa¡¯s response, Greta contentedly said, ¡°Okay, hurry up then. I¡¯ll wait for you.¡±


    After hanging up, Thssa was both excited and nervous. She went to the living room and told her


    mother Evelyn, ¡°Mom, I need to head back to the vige. Now.¡±


    ¡°What¡¯s the rush? Something happened back home?¡± Evelyn was puzzled at Thssa¡¯s frantic


    demeanor.


    Thssa never mentioned the children¡¯s father or the emerald pendant to Evelyn. Caught off guard,


    she quickly said, ¡°Something important came up. I need to go back immediately.¡±


    As she spoke, she started putting on her shoes, ready to leave. Finding the emerald pendant meant


    possibly finding the children¡¯s father. The painful memories from five years ago had passed. The kids


    longed for a father¡¯spany. Even though Thssa didn¡¯t want to revisit the past, she now had to


    face it.


    Evelyn stood up, ¡°Thssa, I¡¯lle with you. I¡¯ve been here for a while and want to check on the


    house.¡±


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    ¡°Mommy, I want to go too. Dorian jumped off the couch, his eyes full of anticipation.


    ¡°Mommy, me too.¡± Atticus joined in.


    ¡°Me too, I want to go back.¡± Elowen rushed over, her rosy cheeks puffed up, afraid of being left out.


    ¡°Mommy, me too.¡± Sophia chimed in.


    Seeing her family¡¯s eager eyes, Thssa nodded, ¡°Okay, we¡¯ll all go back. I¡¯ll rent a car and we¡¯ll head


    straight there. Because of the urgency, she decided to rent a car instead of taking the train.


    Soon the family of seven arrived at their hometown.


    Upon reaching the vige, Thssa noticed the changes. The old dirt roads were now concrete,


    leading straight to her doorstep.


    They got out of the car, and Thssa was shocked at the sight. Astrid eximed in surprise, ¡°Oh my


    gosh, where¡¯s our bouse? Where did our house go?¡±


    She anxiously looked around, but the old house was nowhere in sight, and she started to tremble. She


    was only gone for a while, and the house disappeared.


    Thssa scanned the area, finally resting her gaze on a tall vi in front of her. Looking up at this four-


    story vi, she murmured in awe. ¡®Could this be¡­ our house?¡±

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    Chapter 136


    Thssa took a look around. Apart from the dirt road being reced with a concrete one, and the old


    house now a luxurious vi, nothing much had changed.


    And this vi was built right where her house used to be. It was hard not to wonder, could this vi be


    her house?


    Astrid widened her eyes in disbelief, her body that had been trembling with fear now shook even more


    violently, this time due to shock and wonder, as well as the fear of the unknown.


    ¡°No way, our house turned into a mansion?¡± Astrid could hardly believe it.


    Thssa seemed a bit puzzled, ¡°Astrid, I¡¯m not so sure either¡­¡± The vi was indeed built where their


    old house used to be. Could someone have demolished their old house and taken theirnd? At this


    thought, Thssa felt both outraged and uneasy.


    Good people always seemed to get the short end of the stick. Their family was always known for their


    honesty and kindness in the vige. Could the vigers have demolished their house when they found


    out no one was home?


    The thought made Thssa¡¯s chest heave with anger.


    Evelyn also realized the severity of the problem, and she eximed angrily, ¡°Who the hell tore down


    our house and took ournd?¡±


    Evelyn¡¯s words confirmed Thssa¡¯s suspicions, which only fueled her anger further. ¡®I¡¯m going to find


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    the vige director!¡± she dered.


    As Thssa was about to storm off, the gate of the vi opened and a spiffy young man in a suit


    walked out. Seeing Thssa, he stopped and smiled, ¡°You must be Miss Thssa¡±


    Thssa paused, turning around to see himing from the vi. But she didn¡¯t recognize him. She


    grew even angrier, turning back around to confront him, ¡°Are you the owner of this vi? Do you know


    thisnd was ours? Why did you tear down our house without our consent?¡±


    Thssa spat out a string of questions in one breath. Kind people really did get walked all over. And


    now it was happening to them. Their house had been torn down.


    The young man was bbergasted by her barrage of questions.


    Evelyn also started to yell, ¡°You jerk, give us back our house!¡± As she spoke, Evelyn was ready to


    throw a punch. She was hot-tempered and far from patient when it came to dealing with problems.


    Seeing Evelyn¡¯s fist raised, the young man quickly said, ¡°Don¡¯t hit me. This vi is yours.¡±


    ¡°What?¡± Thssa, Evelyn, and Astrid all eximed in surprise, unable to believe what they heard.


    Evelyn¡¯s fist hung in the air.


    The young man quickly exined, ¡®I was just sent here to wait for you to return and hand over the keys


    and property documents. Please wait a moment, I¡¯ll be right back¡­¡±


    With that, the young man hurried back into the vi.


    Thssa, Evelyn, and Astrid exchanged nces. The four kids looked at each other, not


    understanding what was going on.


    Soon the young man came out again, carrying a transparent file bag with a bunch of documents and a


    set of keys inside.


    He handed the transparent file bag to Thssa, ¡°Here are the keys to the vi, along with the property


    deed.¡±


    Thssa took the file bag in surprise, opened it, and took out the documents. She flicked through


    them, and there on the ownership column were the names of Astrid and Evelyn.


    ¡°This vi really is ours!¡± Thssa eximed in disbelief.

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    Chapter 137


    Next, Evelyn and Astrid took over the documents and had a careful look Seeing their names on it, they


    were surprised and delighted. It took them a few minutes to snap out of it


    Then Thssa was the first one to cool down. She stuffed the file bag and keys into the young man¡¯s


    hands. ¡°What¡¯s going on here? Why did you guys turn our old house into a vi? What¡¯s your game?


    This vi isn¡¯t our doing so we¡¯re not living here Give us back our old house


    There was no such thing as a free lunch in this world. If it was not theirs, they were not taking it


    Thssa had always been a stickler for faimess, she was not one to ept handouts without a reason


    The young man exined with a pre prepared speech, ¡°This is a project our boss is developing in the


    countryside. He ns to build a vi for people to test and live in, if they¡¯re satisfied, hell develop


    throughout the vige


    Thssa asked in surprise. ¡°So our family was the chosen one


    The young man nodded his head repeatedly


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    ¡°Why choose our family?¡± Thssa found this a bit unusual


    The young man replied, ¡°Because your house is the most rundown, easiest to tear down. That was


    what his boss had instructed him


    Thssa fell silent. She turned to look at Evelyn and Astrid who were eq shocked and disbelieving.


    Though it was a bitter pill to swallow, it was the truth. In the whole vige their house was indeed the


    most rundown. Everyone else had built modern houses, using sturdy andfortable materials, while


    their house was an old adobe house so tearing it down was indeed the simplest


    Thssa took a deep breath, trying to suppress her excitement and anger, striving to remain calm.


    Then she asked, ¡°Who¡¯s your bass, and why does he suddenly want to develop our vige?¡±


    The young man seemed a bit troubled. His boss hadn¡¯t told him he could reveal his identity to


    Thssa. He didn¡¯t know whether to tell


    or not


    ¡°Cat got your tongue? If you can¡¯t say tear down this vi and give us back our old house. We¡¯re not


    living in a house with an unknown ongin. We¡¯re not epting handouts without a reason Thssa said


    Evelyn, who usuallyined that Thssa wasn¡¯t tough enough, fully agreed with her this time


    Building a house for them out of the blue, and they didn¡¯t even have to pay? No such thing as a free


    lunch. They were afraid there was some kind of conspiracy Thinking of this, the subconsciously pulled


    the four children closer to her fearing the other party had ulterior motives


    Seeing


    de


    sa so resolute the young man couldn¡¯t hide it any longer, otherwise, he couldn¡¯tplete his mission,


    which was to property certificate and keys to Thssa As long as Thssa epted, he could go back


    to the city.


    The young man had no choice but to spill the beans. ¡°Our boss is Mr. Sinir He came to Hollowbrook


    the chairs were falling apart, and he just couldn¡¯t stand it. He didn¡¯t want to sit on such a chair again


    next time he visited, so he decided to choose your house as the test vi


    Lysander? it


    Thssas heart raced when she heard this name She was extremely shocked


    Evelyn


    more shocked than she was She excitedly said, ¡°Ah, so it was my son inw lysander who did all this.


    Brilliant. Give me the keys. I want to move in ¡±


    Evelyn quickly took the file bag from the young man¡¯s hand, grabbed the kids, and hurried into the vi

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    Chapter 138


    Thssa was still rooted to the spot,pletely blindsided by this turn of events. Turned out it was


    Lysander who had built a mansion for her family.


    The reason? Last time he visited, there wasn¡¯t even a decent chair for him to sit on..


    Previously, she had assumed that Lysander was Isabe¡¯s boyfriend and that he came to Hollowbrook


    specifically to see her. If he was here to see Isabe, why did he eat at her house?


    She wasn¡¯t a fan of Isabe, so she started to resent him and intentionally gave him a chair full of dust


    and cobwebs, with one leg even broken. He was clearly pissed, stormed off, and even said that the


    food in Hollowbrook wasn¡¯t good enough for his taste.


    She never expected that just because of this, he would demolish their home and build such a huge


    vi.


    Talk about turning the other cheek


    ¡°Um, may I ask, how much did this vi cost?¡± Thssa ventured, after recovering from her shock.


    The young man replied. ¡°I¡¯m not sure, I¡¯m just in charge of handing over the keys and documents to


    Text content ? N?velDrama.Org.


    you.¡±


    ¡°Well, did your boss leave any other instructions?¡± Thssa asked.


    She had a hunch that things were not as simple as they seemed. Even if Lysander was loaded, he


    wouldn¡¯t build a mansion for her family over such a trivial matter, right? She would definitely pay him


    back for the cost of building the vi.


    Once she returned to Starhaven, she would ask Lysander herself how much the vi cost and when


    she could afford it, she would pay him back.


    Looked like she¡¯ll have to find more part-time jobs in the future. She couldn¡¯t ept something for


    nothing, she had to pay him back. Otherwise, she would feel ufortable living in a vi built by him,


    especially since there was nothing going on between she and Lysander.


    ¡°No other instructions. The young man shook his head, ¡°I have to go back to Starhaven today and


    since you guys rented a car, I can


    hitch a ride.¡±


    He hopped into the car parked at the vi¡¯s entrance, waved goodbye to Thssa, and told the driver


    to leave.


    Thssa stood at the entrance of the vi, staring at Isabe¡¯s high-rise building behind their vi, then


    at her own house.


    -Before, Isabe¡¯s house was the most luxurious and tallest in the vige. Now Thssa¡¯s house was


    the tallest and most beautiful.


    Isabe¡¯s house used to block the sunlight from hers, but now it was her house that cast a shadow over


    Isabe¡¯s.


    Lysander¡¯s move was impressive.


    Thssa was about to go in and check out the interior of the mansion.


    When her neighbor Greta ran over and stopped her, ¡°Thssa, you¡¯re finally back. Why don¡¯t you


    ¡°Sure, let¡¯s go to your house.¡± Thssa hadn¡¯t forgotten about this. It was just that she was stunned by


    the sight before her and lost track of time.


    Thssa followed Greta to her house. Greta¡¯s house was in front of Thssa¡¯s. She lived in a small


    building which used to look more upscale than Thssa¡¯s house. But nowpared to the vi, it


    seemed rather dull.


    ¡°Thssa, your family is living the good life now. Living in a vi that looks even better and more


    luxurious than Isabe¡¯s. Does your boyfriend have more money than Isabe¡¯s?¡± Greta showered her


    withpliments and also tried to probe. She wanted to know if the vi was built by Thssa¡¯s


    boyfriend.


    Thssa smiled awkwardly and said, ¡°Not really, a developer thought our house was too qutdated and


    needed a makeover. So they


    chose our ce to


    build this vi as a test site.¡±


    She didn¡¯t have a boyfriend. And she never believed in unting her family¡¯s wealth, Life was her own,


    and as long as she wasfortable, that was all that mattered.


    ¡°What do you mean by test site?¡± Greta was confused.


    ¡°It means to live there temporarily to see if there are any design ws in the mansion. Otherwise, what


    if the house copses while people are living in it? So they let a few people try it out first. That¡¯s what a


    test site means.¡± Thssa exined.

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    Chapter 139


    ¡°Yikes, that house might copse? That¡¯s pretty dangerous. Lucky our house wasn¡¯t picked for the trial


    stay.¡± Greta said, feeling a little terrified.


    Thssa just smiled and didn¡¯t say anything. The house Lysander had built was sure to be top-notch.


    Thssa only said it was for trial stay and might be risky, so others wouldn¡¯t be green-eyed. This way,


    the vigers would feel more at ease.


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    She would figure out a way to repay Lysander for the vi,


    Chatting and walking, Thssa and Greta arrived at Greta¡¯s house. Greta pulled out a cloud-shaped


    emerald pendant from a drawer and handed it to Thssa.


    The string of the emerald pendant was just the right length to hang around the neck.


    The emerald pendant was green all over, bright and shiny. The gem was surrounded by a circle of


    diamonds carved into dragons, with dirt stuck in the carved gaps, obviously irremovable.


    ¡°When I dug it out, it was all muddy. I washed it a bit, but the dirt in the lines needs special tools to


    clean.¡± Greta exined.


    Holding the emerald pendant, Thssa stared at the bright green gem. She felt excited, burdened,


    nervous, expectant, and a bit panicked. Various emotions entangled her, making her breath a bit


    ragged.


    She discarded the emerald pendant after just a nce five years ago, and she never found it again.


    She distinctly remembered that around that cloud-shaped emerald, there was indeed a carving of a


    dancing dragon. This was the emerald pendant she tossed away five years ago.


    Five years ago, she was devastated, wanting to find the emerald pendant to settle scores with that


    man. But she couldn¡¯t find it no matter what.


    Even after five years, she still remembered how humiliated and desperate she was when she lost her


    virginity. How much she wanted to find that man, to vent all her grievances and fury, to make him pay.


    But five years had passed, and now she had adorable children. She had gone through so many


    hardships in these five years. Every time she was in a rough spot, it was the children who gave her


    hope and strength, healing her wounded heart time and again.


    Now she felt that these four children were the best gifts God had given her. She didn¡¯t hate that man


    anymore. She wanted to find him, not just for herself but so that her children could find their biological


    father and experience a father¡¯s love as well.


    Looking at the emerald pendant, Thssa¡¯s eyes welled up with tears. She felt a mixture of emotions in


    her heart, both sour and tense, a blend of resentment and anticipation, along with a fear of the


    unknown.


    If she found the children¡¯s father, and he was already married, had a family, and had other children.


    What would happen to her children?


    At this thought, Thssa unconsciously tightened her grip on the emerald pendant, and tears fell.


    ¡°What¡¯s wrong? Is there something wrong with this emerald pendant?¡± Seeing Thssa cry, Greta


    hurriedly asked.


    Thssa quickly shook her head: ¡°No, it¡¯s just¡­ finding it after five years, it¡¯s just too hard.¡±


    ¡°Greta, I really appreciate you helping me find the emerald pendant. Here¡¯s 300 for you, as my token of


    gratitude.¡± Thssa said, pulling out her phone and transferring her 300 dors.


    Greta was overjoyed: ¡®No problem, just doing my part.¡±


    ¡°Mom, here you are.¡± At this moment, her four children came hand in hand to find her.

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    Chapter 140


    Upon seeing the emerald pendant in Thssa¡¯s hand, Sophia immediately let go of Elowen¡¯s hand,


    straightened up her tiny body and tried her best to grab the pendant.


    With a fond smile, Thssa handed the pendant to Sophia: ¡°Hold it tight, don¡¯t drop it.¡±


    Holding the emerald pendant, Sophia¡¯s eyes sparkled with intelligence. She examined it closely, then


    eximed with surprise, ¡°This pendant¡­ I think I¡¯ve seen it before. It¡¯s the one mom drew before.¡±


    Hearing this, Atticus quickly approached. His eyes were clear, his gaze fixed on the pendant, his brows


    furrowing slightly.


    Text content ? N?velDrama.Org.


    This pendant was indeed the one he had seen on theputer before. It was the memento their dad


    had left for their mom. This was their dad¡¯s pendant. They could find their dad now.


    Dorian and Elowen also leaned in, their little heads close to the pendant, eyes wide and unblinking.


    They were always enthusiastic about anything rted to their dad.


    ¡°Hey, were you guys there when I drew this pendant? Thssa asked in surprise. How did Sophia


    know she drew this for Hertha Kensington before? When she was showing it to Hertha, the little ones


    were ying games in the room and shouldn¡¯t have seen it.


    Little did Thssa know, the kids were peeking through the door crack, saw her drawing the pendant,


    and even found the original. design on theputer, which led them to the owner of the pendant. So


    they had found Lysander and tried to ask him face-to-face if he was their dad, but were chased away


    by Faye.


    As Thssa asked in confusion, Dorian was the first to react. He smiled, his eyes sparkling with a


    yful light that could melt anyone¡¯s heart. ¡°Mom, you drew it when you were teaching us to draw,


    remember?¡±


    With his handsome features and mischievous expression, Dorian could easily melt hearts. Thssa


    was filled with maternal love, her heart softening. She had no more rationality to question further, and


    said with augh, ¡°Really? I must have forgotten. Good memory, Dorian,¡±


    She affectionately ruffled Dorian¡¯s hair.


    ¡°Wait, that¡¯s not right! Sophia suddenly eximed in her childish voice.


    The other three turned their eyes towards Sophia, waiting for her to continue. Holding the emerald


    pendant, Sophia pointed to the side of it with her thumb and said, ¡°This pendant was made this year,


    but mom¡¯s pendant has been missing for five years. It couldn¡¯t be the one mom lost.¡±


    ¡°What?¡± Thssa was surprised and took the pendant from Sophia to examine it closely. It was


    identical to the one in her memory, and she couldn¡¯t find anything wrong


    Greta¡¯s expression changed slightly, she forced a smile and said, ¡°Thssa, this is the one you lost.


    What do kids know?¡±


    Thssa thought for a moment, and agreed. Sophia was just a kid, she might just be speaking her


    mind, it couldn¡¯t be taken too seriously. However, Atticus seemed nervous, afraid that mom would be


    deceived. He gently nudged Sophia¡¯s arm.


    Sophia looked up, her chubby face soft and squishy, and said, ¡°Mom, look at the side of the gem. It has


    the date the pendant was made. The engraving is small, but if you look closely, you can see it.¡±


    Thssa was skeptical, but still did as Sophia said. She turned the gem over, stared at the side, and


    sure enough, there were tiny letters engraved.


    She squinted hard to read it and finally made out: LX20/10/2023.


    Clearly, the numbers at the end were the date it was made.


    2023, wasn¡¯t that this year?


    And 20/10 must be October 20th.


    hapter

 Chapter 141

    Chapter 141


    So, this emerald pendant was made within a week!


    It¡¯s clear as daylight that this emerald pendant was churned out just to pull the wool over her eyes.


    Upon seeing the shock and anger on Thssa¡¯s face, Greta hastily said, ¡°How can a grown up like you


    believe a kid so easily! This is mind-boggling! If you don¡¯t believe this emerald pendant is real, then


    give it back to me!¡±


    While talking, Greta snatched the emerald pendant from Thssa¡¯s hand.


    Battling her inner emotion, Thssa patiently asked, ¡°Greta, who gave you this emerald pendant?¡±


    ¡°I found it on the street!¡± Greta answered resolutely, but her eyes were shifty, betraying her lie.


    With a scoff, Thssa retorted, ¡°Since this isn¡¯t my emerald pendant, maybe you should return the


    three hundred bucks I gave you.¡±


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    ¡°Why should I? You gave it to me as a token of gratitude, and I¡¯m not giving it back!¡± Greta¡¯s stance


    hardened.


    Thssa felt both angry and helpless, she said, ¡°You can keep the money, just tell me who gave you


    the pendant and I¡¯ll drop the issue.¡± ¡®I already told you that I found it on the street! Greta stubbornly


    refused to spill the beans.


    Atticus said coldly, ¡°Ma¡¯am, if my mom calls the cops, they can haul you away. You not only lied but


    also cheated my mom out of her money.¡±


    *Indeed, fraud can get you in the mmer,¡± Dorian chimed in.


    A light bulb went off in Thssa¡¯s head, right, she could call the police.


    She immediately took her phone out.


    Hearing this, Greta panicked and quickly grabbed Thssa¡¯s hand, pleading. ¡°Don¡¯t call the cops. I


    admit it was Isabe who gave me the emerald pendant. She said if I gave it to you, you¡¯d give me


    money. My son hasn¡¯t been home in a year, and I¡¯ve been so broke ! can¡¯t even afford food. I had no


    choice but to do as she asked.¡±


    So it was Isabe!


    Five years ago, Isabe locked Thssa in a cabin, stole her boyfriend, and ruined her life through a


    stranger. Wasn¡¯t that cruel enough? And she was scheming against Thssa again, what a heartless


    bitch!


    Upon hearing Isabe¡¯s name. Thssa was so angry her chest heaved, ¡°Just give me the pendant,


    and keep the money. If Isabe contacts you again, tell her I¡¯m dead!¡±


    Thssa was infuriated. Isabe was such a sly fox who was definitely up to no good!


    She didn¡¯t want to be on Isabe¡¯s radar.


    Greta just wanted the money, and since the pendant was fake, it was no use to her. So she gave the


    emerald pendant back to Thssa.


    Thssa took the emerald pendant and went home with her four kids.


    Meanwhile, David was driving Lysander to Hollowbrook and parked the car at the entrance of the


    vige. They got out of the car and started walking towards the vige.


    Yesterday, after Lysander saved Thssa from John, she bit him out of fear. That bite brought back a


    flood of familiar memories.


    The force of her bite was something he knew all too well.


    That night, he couldn¡¯t sleep at all. A thought kept swirling in his head: Thssa and the woman he met


    five years ago were uncannily simr.


    Even though Thssa was Celia¡¯s cousin and they had simr habits, body types, and demeanor, it


    didn¡¯t mean they¡¯d bite in the same


    way.


    Lysander was determined to get to the bottom of this..


    He nned to ask around the vige if anyone from the Everhart family had passed away five years


    ago.


    Spotting a woman passing by, Lysander gave David a look.


    David got the hint and stopped the woman, asking, ¡°Excuse me, ma¡¯am, did a woman from that family


    die five years ago?¡±

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    Chapter 142


    Greta had just been threatened by Thssa, who said she was going to call the cops on her.


    Text content ? N?velDrama.Org.


    She was down in the dumps, feeling extremely wronged and resentful.


    She was cursing Thssa in her mind. Thssa was just chosen by the developers to test live in their


    vi. Maybe the quality of the vi wasn¡¯t up to par, and it could copse any day, crushing her family.


    What was there to be proud of being a guinea pig for the developers?


    And Thssa even wanted to call the police on her? That was way out of line!


    Greta was about to go tell Isabe all about it and team up against Thssa when David suddenly


    stopped her, asking her a question.


    Greta looked in the direction David was pointing. It was the grand vi of Thssa¡¯s!


    Greta was boiling inside. She said, ¡°That¡¯s their vi. Someone really did die in their house five years


    ago. They held a grand funeral for the dead, who was their daughter.¡±


    After saying that, Greta gave the vi a look of disdain before heading towards Isabe¡¯s house.


    Actually, five years ago, the funeral at Thssa¡¯s house was for their dead pig.


    Greta wanted to call Thssa a pig!


    She was even better at having kids than a pig, having four at once! She was more prolific than a sow!


    Wasn¡¯t Thssa just saying earlier that if Isabe mentioned her in the future, just say she was dead?


    So, when people asked about Thssa, she would say Thssa was dead. No problem there!


    After getting Greta¡¯s answer, David nced at Lysander and said, ¡°Mr. Sinir, vigers are saying the


    Everhart family¡¯s daughter died five years ago. Must be Celia.¡±


    Lysanders handsome face was filled with disappointment.


    He gave the vi a lingering look before turning and leaving.


    David followed closely behind.


    After Lysander left, Thssa came out of the vi, holding the emerald pendant.


    She wanted to ask Isabe why she made a fake emerald pendant to fool her.


    And although this emerald pendant wasn¡¯t the one from back then, its shape and pattern were identical


    to the one she saw five years


    ago,


    Only someone who saw the real emerald pendant could make such a simr fake one.


    The emerald pendant had been missing for five years, and apart from her, no one else had seen it.


    How did Isabe know what the emerald pendant looked like?


    There was only one answer ¨C Isabe had found the emerald pendant.


    Otherwise, she wouldn¡¯t know what the emerald pendant she was looking for looked like.


    The moment Thssa stepped into Isabe¡¯s house, she heard Greta loudly saying. ¡°Thssa thinks


    she¡¯s all that living in a big vi, when in fact it¡¯s just a test product of the developers. The house could


    copse any day and crush her whole family! And she dares to threaten me with police! She deserves


    to be poor for life! She, a grown up woman, believes a four-year-old¡¯s words over mine. She¡¯s more


    prolific than a sow! Four kids at once and she doesn¡¯t even know who the father is. She¡¯s the disgrace


    of Hollowbrook!¡±


    Greta was spreading rumors everywhere, saying anything to put Thssa down.


    Isabe listened to Greta¡¯s words. Thssa had already believed that the emerald pendant was the


    one she lost five years ago, but then Sophia took a close look at the pendant and noticed the


    production date on its side, exposing their lie.


    Sophia¡¯s observation skills were really sharp, catching details that adults missed!


    Could she be a genius?


    No way!

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    Chapter 143


    Thssa was such a dolt, how on earth could she ever give birth to a genius daughter?


    Just like five years ago, Thssa went to fetch some firewood for Leopold Sinir¡¯s bath on someone


    else¡¯s advice, which allowed Isabe to jump into bed with Leopold.


    Thssa was as dumb as a pig! A brainless swine!


    A woman as dumb as her couldn¡¯t possibly give birth to a genius.


    Sophia finding out the emerald pendant was fake could just be a coincidence.


    Isabe shot down the idea that Sophia was a genius.


    She agreed with Greta¡¯s opinion, ¡°Yeah, Thssa is the disgrace of Hollowbrook, even a sow has less


    offsprings than her!¡±


    Isabe was green with envy for Thssa.


    Thssa¡¯s children were from Starhaven¡¯s top dog, the kingpin Lysander.


    Isabe wanted to bear Lysander¡¯s children too, but she never got the chance.


    If she could, she¡¯d be willing to bear ten kids for Lysander!


    Sadly, Lysander never gave her the chance.


    Thssa¡¯s vi was built by Lysander, how could it possibly have any quality issues? It¡¯s much better


    than her building!


    The more she envied, the more poisonous her words became, wishing Thssa would just vanish.


    Thssa couldn¡¯t take it anymore, they were trying to set her up and ming her as if she did


    something wrong.


    Thssa walked in, coughed loudly, ¡°You guys are talking behind my back, aren¡¯t you afraid your


    tongues will get cut off?¡±


    Greta was already feeling guilty. Hearing Thssa¡¯s cough scared her, she looked at Thssa and


    said to Isabe, ¡°I have food on the stove at home, I need to go.¡±


    After saying that, Greta quickly left.


    All rights ? N?velDrama.Org.


    Thssa didn¡¯t stop her. She was here to confront Isabe.


    Isabe, however, acted nonchnt, with a fake smile on her face, ¡°Thssa, what brings you here?¡±


    Though she said that, she didn¡¯t offer Thssa a seat.


    Thssa took out the emerald pendant from her pocket, showed it in the palm of her hand, ¡°Is this


    something you made and deliberately let Greta find?¡±


    Isabe nced at the emerald pendant,ughed, and said, ¡°Just a joke, don¡¯t take it so seriously.¡±


    Having said that, she wanted to go back to her room, not wanting to talk to Thssa anymore.


    Thssa grabbed her shoulder, sternly said, ¡°Isabe, give me back the real emerald pendant!¡±


    Isabe paused, her heart racing, pretending not to understand, ¡°What are you talking about, I don¡¯t get


    it.¡±


    ¡°My old emerald pendant and this one are exactly the same. If you didn¡¯t find my emerald pendant, how


    would you know what it looks like?¡± Thssa¡¯s eyes were determined, her logic was clear.


    Isabe¡¯s eyes flickered, saying, ¡°I saw your drawing at your house. It was this emerald pendant, so I


    took your drawing and had someone copy it.¡±


    Hearing this exnation, Thssa was puzzled, her previously determined eyes turned confused.


    The kids also said that she had once shown them the emerald pendant through a drawing.


    Now Isabe also said she copied it from her drawing.


    Why can¡¯t she remember ever drawing that emerald pendant? Did she really forget?


    Seeing her expression change, Isabe said more firmly, ¡°I took your sketch and had someone make it


    ording to the design. I was trying to help you since you¡¯ve been looking for that emerald pendant for


    so many years. It must mean a lot to you. I thought, even a fake one might be of use to you.¡±

 Chapter 144

    Chapter 144


    ¡°So why didn¡¯t you just tell me straight up instead of having Greta pretend to find it and give it to me?¡±


    Thssa¡¯s pretty eyes studied Isabe carefully.


    Isabe was always sneaky, full of bad intentions.


    Thssa wasn¡¯t about to trust her easily.


    A flicker of confusion passed through Isabe¡¯s eyes, but she quickly regained herposure, painting


    on a smile and saying, ¡°I thought you might be too stubborn to ept it, so I came up with this Idea.


    Since you¡¯ve paid Greta, the emerald pendant is yours now. Take it.¡±


    With that, she turned and climbed the stairs, not wanting to engage with Thssa any further.


    She feared that the more she talked, the more likely she¡¯d slip up.


    Lysander actually built a mansion for Thssa that was more luxurious than her own house!


    Isabe was green with envy.


    Her house used to be the most luxurious and noticeable in the vige.


    Being the local rich gal, she always strutted around with her nose in the air, full of herself because she


    had the best house.


    Then, Lysander built this gorgeous andvish mansion for Thssa, instantly stealing her limelight.


    It was like going from heaven to hell in a snap. How could Isabe stand it?


    She was determined to make Thssa fall from grace in Lysander¡¯s eyes, to make her a liar. That way,


    Lysander would be furious and perhaps take back the mansion he gave to Thssa, leaving her and


    Text content ? N?velDrama.Org.


    her family homeless.


    After much thought, she made a fake emerald pendant, had Greta pretend to find it and return it to


    Thssa, so Thssa could find Lysander through the pendant.


    Once Lysander saw the pendant, he¡¯d know right away it was a fake.


    Also, Lysander firmly believed that the woman he slept with that night was Celia.


    Thssa was Celia¡¯s cousin. It wasn¡¯t unusual that she had seen Celia¡¯s emerald pendant. But she


    made a fake one to trick Lysander, pretending to be the woman from that night.


    For a man like Lysander people usually bent over backwards to show their loyalty.


    How could he tolerate being deceived?


    Especially, this was something he cared about deeply and couldn¡¯t stop thinking about. If he was


    deceived by Thssa, he¡¯d be livid, thinking Thssa was a fraud, impersonating her cousin for


    money, iming she was the woman he spent the night with.


    As long as Thssa insisted the pendant was real while Lysander saw it was fake, he¡¯d definitely think


    Thssa was trying to trick him! He would hate Thssa to the core and take back everything he gave


    to Thssa in memory of Celia!


    But to her surprise, Thssa¡¯s child saw through the fake pendant right away.


    Her n fell t.


    But that was okay, even though this n failed, she had another one up her sleeve.


    Watch your back, Thssa!


    As Isabe ascended the stairs, a sinister gleam shed in her eyes.


    Meanwhile, Thssa held the emerald pendant, staring at it in silence.


    Then it dawned on her.


    Yes, she couldn¡¯t find the real emerald pendant, but she could totally use a fake one to find that man.


    After all, all she needed to know was who the owner of the emerald pendant was, right?


    The man told her to find him with the pendant because it was distinctive and she could find him through


    it.


    It took her five years to realize that she could make an identical pendant to find him, she was so thick.


    Thssa lightly pped her forehead, then took the pendant and left.


    Isabe said, since Thssa had paid Greta, the pendant was hers.


    She would consider it as if she had bought the pendant.

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    Chapter 145


    On the next day, she was nning to hit up a jewelry shop to get the lowdown on this emerald pendant


    and who it really belongs to. Eight in the morning the next day.


    Thssa rolled out of bed, put on some clothes, and freshened up.


    Even though the vi was brand new, all the furniture had been set up already, bed and bedding


    included. Their old furniture and daily necessities had all been put in their ces, doing their thing.


    Thssa¡¯s bed and bedding were still the same as before, but the room¡¯s walls had gone from being


    old and shabby to sturdy white


    ones.


    Last night felt both familiar and strange, but all in all, she slept like a log.


    Last night, Evelyn bunked with Atticus and Dorian in one room, while Astrid shared with Elowen and


    Sophia in another.


    Back in the day, their house only had two rooms, and every time they came home, Thssa and the


    four kids had to squeeze into one bed. It was a tight fit; even turning over on bed was a challenge.


    Here, with more rooms, the kids could sleep better, and she could stretch out more.


    Maybe because it was sofy. Evelyn, Astrid and the kids were still out like a light.


    Thssa peeked into their rooms, saw them all fast asleep, and a smile yed on her lips. She didn¡¯t


    disturb them, quietly shutting the door.


    She was holding the emerald pendant, ready to head to a jewelry appraisal shop in town to find out


    who the real owner was.


    Heading to the front gate, she opened the door and immediately saw two strapping men standing there.


    They were wearing police uniforms, caps and all. Cops!


    Thssa was taken aback, blinked, and said, ¡°Good morning. Who are you looking for?¡±


    ¡°Is this Thssa¡¯s home?¡± one of the cops asked officially.


    Thssa nodded, ¡°Yes, it is.¡±


    ¡°We¡¯re looking for Thssa,¡± the other cop said.


    A puzzled Thssa replied, ¡°That¡¯s me. What can I do for you?¡±


    Hearing this, the two cops exchanged a look, then they showed Thssa their badges, ¡°We¡¯re the


    police from Hollowbrook. We received


    a report that you¡¯ve been stealing. We need you toe with us to the station.¡±


    ¡°Stealing? Are you sure you¡¯ve got the right person?¡± Thssa¡¯s eyes nearly popped out of her head.


    The cop spotted the emerald pendant in her hand, and said, ¡°Hand over what you¡¯ve got there.¡±


    Thssa handed over the pendant.


    One cop took a look, and said, ¡°This emerald pendant is what you stole.¡±


    Caught red-handed!


    The other cop immediately pped the handcuffs on Thssa and put her in the cop car.


    Thssa felt wronged, panicked and at a loss.


    The cop car drove off with her.


    The early risers in the vige were stunned to see Thssa being taken away by the police.


    All of them were guessing that Thssa was able to build such a big vi in such a short time because


    she had been breaking thew, stealing stuff, and that¡¯s how she got rich quick.


    And she had the nerve to im that it was a model home built for her by a developer. She hadn¡¯t told a


    N?velDrama.Org owns all ? content.


    single truth.


    As the police drove off, Greta was telling the onlookers how terrible Thssa was.


    At the police station, Thssa was being questioned.


    She tried to exin, ¡°I didn¡¯t steal this emerald pendant. I bought it for three hundred bucks. I have the


    transfer record, you can check.¡± She showed the transfer record with Greta to the police.


    The cop said, ¡°This emerald pendant is real and worth twelve hundred dors. You couldn¡¯t have


    bought it for three hundred. Plus, each emerald pendant has a certificate. If you bought it, where¡¯s your


    certificate?¡±

 Chapter 146

    Chapter 146


    Thssa was all at sea, she knew for sure that this emerald pendant wasn¡¯t the one she lost five years


    ago.


    So, she was dead set that this emerald pendant was a fake.


    It never crossed her mind that this emerald pendant could be a real emerald or that it could worth a


    small fortune, let alone that every gemstone came with its own paperwork.


    Thssa was at a loss for words, even if she felt wronged, she couldn¡¯t get her point across.


    Seeing Thssa speechless and unable to defend herself, the police were dead sure she swiped


    someone else¡¯s emerald pendant.


    The value of this emerald pendant was enough to pin the crime on her, so the police locked her up.


    When Isabe heard that Thssa was in the clink, waiting for her trial, she was grinning like a


    Cheshire cat.


    She was pretty sharp,ing up with this n that killed two birds with one stone.


    If Thssa didn¡¯t sniff out the fake emerald pendant, she would¡¯ve tracked down Lysander with it, and


    he would¡¯ve thought her as a liar, tricking him. He would¡¯ve taken back the vi he gave to Thssa in


    a fit of pique!


    Even if Thssa did smell a rat and figured out the emerald pendant was a fake, so what? It was still


    worth a pretty penny. With the pendant¡¯s paperwork in her hands, all she had to do was to call the


    cops, im Thssa nicked her emerald pendant, let the police take her into custody, and let them do


    the dirty work! Prove that Thssa had a criminal record and was a sticky-fingered thief.


    Once this news reached Lysander¡¯s ears, he would dislike her even more.


    Lysander, being a big shot, loathed this kind of thievery.


    Since that Thssa was in the police station, ready to face the trial, Isabe was as pleased as punch.


    As long as Lysander got wind of this, he would be turned off by Thssa, who would no longer have a


    shot at getting close to Lysander. Isabe remembered she had the number of Lysander¡¯s assistant,


    David, on her phone.


    In the past, when Lysander wanted to dig up the dirt on the woman he met five years ago, Isabe,


    being a Hollowbrook resident and a rtive of that woman, put herself forward, iming she knew all


    the ins and outs about that woman. She originally wanted Lysander¡¯s number so she could keep in


    touch with him.


    But Lysander, being high and mighty, didn¡¯t give her the time of day. So, she asked for David¡¯s number


    So now she could give him a ring.


    She cleared her throat, got her act together, and dialed David.


    The phone was picked up after two rings.


    ¡°What¡¯s up?¡± came David¡¯s frosty voice from the other end.


    Isabe cleared her throat, filled her voice with pleading and pathos, and said, ¡°David, could you please


    tell Mr. Sinir and ask him for a favor. My cousin Thssa was busted for stealing in Hollowbrook and


    is now facing a trial. Mr. Sinir is the only one who can bail her out now, for him it¡¯s just a phone call,


    but for my cousin, it¡¯s a world of trouble. Please, I beg you.¡±


    Isabe put on a good show of being all heart, begging pitifully, and appearing genuinely sincere.N?velDrama.Org owns all ? content.


    In fact, all she wanted to do was to let David in on the fact that Thssa was caught red-handed, and


    have him pass the word to Lysander.


    Lysander was now in Starhaven, he wouldn¡¯t bother toe all the way to find out the truth for a


    nobody like Thssa, to see what she made off with


    She had put together a file on Thssa before, which mentioned Thssa¡¯s sticky fingers, but no


    criminal record. Lysander had personally reviewed this file.


    Her aim was to convince Lysander that Thssa was exactly like how she was portrayed in the file, a


    bad egg!

 Chapter 147

    Chapter 147


    Lysander must hate thieves like the gue. There was no way he¡¯d just help Thssa out of a jam


    because she made a call.


    Isabe¡¯s real game was to pin a criminal record on Thssa, to get her locked up, and to make


    Lysander loathe her to the core!


    It¡¯s a triple whammy n.


    Isabe¡¯s mind sure worked in mysterious ways, which were smarter than that nitwit Faye Brennan,


    On the surface, Isabe seemed super concerned about Thssa, but deep down she was grinning.


    ¡°Got it.¡± David responds and hangs up.


    He turned to Lysander in the back seat, ¡°Isabe called. Thssa¡¯s been nicked for stealing. She¡¯s


    being held at the Hollowbrook police


    station.¡±


    If you were stealing in Hollowbrook, it would be the duty of police of this district to catch the suspect.


    Lysander and David arrived in Hollowbrook yesterday. It was toote to head back, so they rested in a


    hotel downtown. This morning, as they were heading back to Starhaven, Isabe rang


    Lysander went cold as ice in an instant, a slight frown on his face.


    N?vel/Dr(a)ma.Org - Content owner.


    He¡¯d seen Thssa¡¯s file, she¡¯d been recorded for stealing before.


    She was not exactly on a shoestring budget, but she still risked stealing, it must be something worth a


    prefty penny to make her gamble.


    He was curious to see what tickled her thieving fancy, what was worth risking a jail sentence!


    Lysander ordered in a stern voice, ¡°Head to the police station.¡±


    ¡°Roger that.¡± David started the car.


    The station was a hop, skip and jump away from downtown Hollowbrook, just a short drive.


    When Lysander strode into the police station, the cops were momentarily taken aback by his


    Butpared to Lysander who just walked in, they were out of their league.


    You could tell at a nce, the tall, dignified man was a military.


    The cop respectfully asked, ¡°Sir, how can we assist you?¡±


    Lysander gazed the cop and said, ¡°Bring me what Thssa stole.¡±


    Coincidentally, this cop was handling Thssa¡¯s case.


    He had just finished taking her statement, so Thssa¡¯s name was fresh in his mind.


    So this visitor was here for Thssa.


    The cop nodded, ¡°One moment please.¡±


    Shortly after, the cop came back with an emerald pendant, handed it to Lysander and said, ¡°This is


    what Thssa stole. We found it on her when we nabbed her. She was about to sell it. It¡¯s a genuine


    emerald pendant, but she didn¡¯t have any proof of ownership.¡±


    Lysander held the emerald pendant in his hand. The moment heid eyes on it, his gaze deepened, as


    if a vortex was spinning in his eyes.


    No one knew this emerald pendant better than him!


    You couldn¡¯t fake it if you hadn¡¯t seen the real deal.


    Because his emerald pendant was unique in the whole wide world.


    Thssa had stolen a copy of the emerald pendant he gave to Celia!


    Lysander¡¯s handsome face grew tense, his aura overpowering, hemanded, ¡°Bring Thssa out, I


    want to see her!¡±


    Due to Lysander¡¯smanding presence, the cops didn¡¯t dare to dilly-dally and promptly brought


    Thssa out.


    When he saw Thssa, she looked worn out, extremely upset, her hands cuffed. Her usually lively


    face was now haggard.


    Lysander held up the emerald pendant to her eyes, swinging it back and forth. His voice was deep and


    stern, ¡°Where did you swipe this emerald pendant from?¡±

 Chapter 148

    Chapter 148


    When Lysander spoke, Thssa went from feeling innocent to all sorts of tense and jumpy.


    If she couldn¡¯t exin things clearly, she might be up the creek without a paddle.


    In a nap, she blurted out, ¡°I didn¡¯t swipe this, my neighbor Greta said she found it and was nning to


    give it back to me. I lost the exact same emerald pendant five years ago, everyone in the neighborhood


    knew about it. When Greta said she found my missing emerald pendant, I rushed back from Starhaven.


    I even gave her $300 as gratitude, But I didn¡¯t know this emerald pendant was a phony.¡±


    Despite her jumbled words, Lysander caught the important bits.


    His eyes grew colder and filled with suspicion, ¡°You¡¯re saying you lost a real emerald pendant?¡±


    A nearby cop was all at sea. The emerald pendant was clearly real. He was stumped.


    Thssa nodded frantically, her eyes welling up with innocent tears, her lips trembling slightly, she said


    in a hurt tone, ¡°Yes, I lost a real one five years ago, I never found it.¡±


    Lysander¡¯s heart rate suddenly picked up, he pulled Thssa close and lifted her chin with his finger,


    forcing her to look directly at him, into his eyes.


    His icy gaze bore into her, not missing a single flicker of her expression, ¡°Was the one you lost your


    cousin Celia¡¯s emerald pendant?¡±


    Thssa shook her head, ¡°No, it was mine. A man gave me that emerald pendant Celia passed away


    where she was three or four.¡± When he heard this, Lysander felt like he¡¯d been struck by lightning, just


    like that stormy, rain-soaked night five years ago. He was thrilled, excited, passionate, and shocked.


    He stared at Thssa¡¯s clear and sparkling eyes, her petite face, and her cherry-like lips, everything


    felt so familiar, so natural.


    No wonder he felt a deep sense of familiarity the first time he saw her


    Her scent, the feel of her skin, even her bite felt exactly the same!


    So, she was the woman he was with five years ago!


    Thssa stared into his deep eyes, it seemed like there were stars twinkling in them, and a kind of


    inexplicable shock and deep emotion, which made her feel a bit panicky. She stammered, ¡®Mr. Sinir,


    what¡¯s up with you?¡±


    Lysander kept his gaze on her, his hand letting go of her chin, saying, ¡°I¡¯m bailing her out. As for the


    truth about the emerald pendant theft, it¡¯ll be at the police station by this afternoon at thetest¡±


    That was for the cop.


    The cop was a bit torn, about to refuse, but David showed him some kind of ID.


    Thssa didn¡¯t get a good look at what it was, but she saw the cop be very respectful after


    seeing it.


    ¡°Alright, we¡¯ll release her right away.¡±


    Thssa¡¯s handcuffs were removed, and after some necessary paperwork, she followed Lysander out


    of the police station.


    Both times she was brought to the police station, it was Lysander who helped her out.


    Though both times she was misunderstood and wronged, if no one helped her clear things up, she


    would definitely be behind bars. Both times, it was Lysander who helped clear her name. She felt


    wronged but also extremely grateful.


    What upset her were the constant set-ups and false usations. Raising four kids on her own, she


    already had her te full with work. With the added stress of being constantly wronged, even the most


    optimistic and resilient person would feel worn out


    When she was at her lowest and most helpless, Lysander¡¯s appearance gave her hope.


    For a moment, her emotions becameplicated, filled with sentiment.


    She caught up with Lysander¡¯s pace, quickly following behind him, saying, ¡°Mr. Sinir, thank you. We


    only met by chance, but you¡¯ve gone above and beyond to help me. I don¡¯t know how to thank you


    enough. How much does the mansion you¡¯re building for me cost? Once I¡¯ve saved enough, 111 pay


    you back slowly.¡±


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    Lysander suddenly stopped, Thssa also stopped in her tracks.

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    Chapter 149


    Lysander gazed her deeply, a slight frown on his face. ¡°Met by chance? Have you forgotten what


    happened between us five years ago? If you have, I can jog your memory.¡±


    His gaze was intense, a formidable aura radiating off him as he stepped closer to her.


    At his words, Thssa¡¯s heart rate quickened, her body trembling involuntarily. His powerful aura


    pushed her backwards, fear widening her eyes. ¡°Are you saying you¡¯re that guy?¡±


    The guy from five years ago who forced himself on her?


    Holy crap, the man she¡¯s been hunting for five years was Lysander!


    Thinking back to that night five years ago when she lost her virginity, even got pregnant and how her


    life spiraled downward after that¡­


    Recalling how she was forced to drop out of school, losing her education, and how she struggled


    through the past five years, anger surged within her.


    Her eyes filled with fury, she swung a punch at him. ¡°So it was you! You ruined me! Do you have any


    idea how much I¡¯ve suffered, how much  I¡¯ve endured?¡±


    Lysander caught her hand and pulled her against his chest.


    ¡°Let me go!¡± Thssa struggled, trying to free herself from his grasp.


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    But Lysander was strong, his grip on her hand unyielding, immobilizing her


    His deep gaze met her furious eyes, his voice low ¡°I told you I¡¯d take responsibility. I told you to find me/


    What did you do?¡±


    She had lost the emerald pendant he had given her!


    Did she know what that emerald pendant meant? It was the heirloom of the Sinir family, something


    only the CEO of the Sinir group could possess.


    Others could only dream of having it, yet she lost it!


    ¡°How was supposed to know? I didn¡¯t even see your face clearly, and the emerald pendant was buried


    under a copsed building. I¡¯ve been looking for it for five years!¡± Thssa¡¯s eyes welled up with tears,


    her chest heaving with a mix of anger and hurt.


    If she had found him back then, she would have taken him to court and used him of rape!


    But she couldn¡¯t do that now, not with four kids.


    If this went to court, her kids would be the talk of the town.


    Her tears glistened like phosphorescence, making his heart tighten.


    He lifted his hand, gently wiping her tears with his thumb.


    His rough hand gently caressed her soft cheek, a sensation almost like an electric current making her


    skin tingle.


    Her heart fluttered, and she quickly turned her face away, avoiding his touch.


    Lysander¡¯s Intense gaze dimmed slightly. ¡°Come with me.¡±


    All this was the handiwork of Faye and Isabe!


    If not for their meddling, he and Thssa wouldn¡¯t have missed each other for five years.


    He intended to take her to confront Isabe and Faye, to give her an exnation!


    Thssa was pulled into the car by Lysander, who also got in. David started the engine and drove off.


    Still seething and upset, her chest heaving with emotion, Thssa asked, ¡°Where are we going?¡±


    ¡°Hollowbrook, Lysander answered.


    Just as Thssa was about to ask something else, Lysander¡¯s phone rang.


    He picked it up.

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    ¡°Lysander, are you avable now? Can you swing by? There¡¯s something important I need to discuss


    with you.¡± The voice on the other end of the phone, Zephyr¡¯s, held a touch of excitement.


    ¡°What is it, spit it out,¡± Lysander said.


    ¡°I can¡¯t just tell you over the phone, you need toe home.¡± Zephyr hesitated, ¡°Charlotte is back in


    the country, she¡¯s at our ce right now. How can we talk if you¡¯re not here?¡±


    Charlotte?


    Charlotte Ravensong?


    The heiress of the Ravensong group, the girl that Lysander¡¯s grandparents had arranged for him to


    marry when they were kids?


    Over the years, Charlotte had been developing her career abroad, and they hadn¡¯t seen each other


    much.


    He thought that no one would bring up this issue again, but it turned out that his grandfather still


    remembered it.


    Lysander felt a headacheing on. He rubbed his forehead and said, ¡°Grandpa, she can talk to you


    guys. I¡¯m really busy right now.¡±


    After saying that, he hung up. He threw his phone to the side and turned to look at Thssa, ¡°What


    were you trying to say earlier?¡±


    Thssa had indeed been about to say something.


    She was going to say that she had to drop out of school when she was pregnant because her belly was


    so big that she might miscarry She couldn¡¯t live and study like a normal person then, she had to rest in


    bed for a long time.


    To keep the four kids, she had to quit school and focus on delivering them until they were born.


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    Those four kids were his. He was their father.


    Thssa opened her mouth to speak, ¡°Actually, I¡­


    Just as she was about to speak, Lysander¡¯s phone, which he had thrown aside, started to ring loudly


    again, interrupting Thssa.


    Lysander didn¡¯t pick up the call, his deep gaze still fixed on her


    ¡°I, that year,¡± Thssa tried to continue, but the phone kept ringing relentlessly, as if it wouldn¡¯t stop


    until it was answered.


    She was about to share something serious, and couldn¡¯t be disturbed.


    Thssa stopped and pointed to the phone. ¡°You should answer that first, I¡¯ll continueter.¡±


    Lysander¡¯s gaze shifted to the phone. He picked it up, swiped to answer, his eyebrows furrowed in


    obvious displeasure. In a cold tone, he asked, ¡°Grandpa, what is it now?¡±


    ¡°Lysander, you have toe back. Your grandma isn¡¯t feeling well, and she really wants to see you.¡±


    Zephyr said urgently and firmly.


    ¡°Take her to the hospital, I¡¯m not a doctor¡± Lysander replied.


    He knew this must be another trick by his grandparents to lure him back home to see Charlotte.


    ¡°Your grandma got sick because she misses you too much, so you should rush back.¡± Zephyr¡¯s serious


    voice conveyed a sense of authority.


    In his younger years, Zephyr was a soldier, and he spoke with a certain forcefulness.


    Lysander had been hearing this line for five years now so it was like a broken record, ¡°If there¡¯s nothing


    else, I¡¯m hanging up.¡±


    ¡°Wait!¡± Zephyr immediately stopped him from hanging up, his tone softened, almost pleading, ¡°Your


    grandma is getting on in years and really wants to see you settle down and start a family. You¡¯re


    already thirty and still don¡¯t have a girlfriend. Charlotte just came back. You two could consider getting


    married.¡±


    *Kids are such a pain, noisy and troublesome. I don¡¯t like them. If you guys really want one, you can


    adopt one from the orphanage, I won¡¯t object! Over the years, Lysander had constantly been pushed


    by his grandparents to get married and have kids.


    Lysander was at his wits end with their nagging. Initially, he tried exining to them that marriage was


    a big deal, not to be rushed into, and that it should only happen when you meet the right person,


    someone you have feelings for and can get along with.


    But they didn¡¯t listen. Instead, they introduced him to countless eligible women, Faye being one of


    them.


    At first, he didn¡¯t agree to have Faye as his personal secretary, but Zephyr had forced her on him.


    He let it slide, and what happened?


    Faye, unable to have him, had be unhinged.

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    He couldn¡¯t let his grandparents run wild anymore.


    Since he decided to refuse, he had to refuse decisively.


    Lysander hung up the phone after saying that.


    He turned to Thssa again, his voice much softer than before, ¡°Go on.¡±


    Thssa looked into his deep, dark eyes, it felt like a cold current suddenly surged into her heart, maki


    ng her shiver, feeling lost and


    heartbroken.


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    Lysander just said he didn¡¯t like kids, thought they were annoying, he found them bothersome.


    Would he be upset if she told him now that she had already given birth to his four children?


    Thssa suddenly calmed down, she didn¡¯t know Lysander well yet, didn¡¯t know his preferences or his


    temper.


    Although he had once said he would take responsibility for her, it was only her, not the children.


    He disliked children so much. She


    feared that once she said it, he would be disgusted and hurt her children.


    Thssa paused, feeling a bit


    nervous, she quickly made an excuse, ¡°I tried to find you before, but I failed.¡±


    ¡°I went to your house, but you were having a funeral. Isabe said you were dead,¡± Lysander didn¡¯t hid


    e the fact that he had been looking


    for her.


    Now he was being honest with Thssa, he had fully understood the truth.


    Isabe and Faye had deceived him together!


    This was unforgivable! He would definitely settle scores with them.


    Thssa was shocked, her heart pounding like a hammer striking a bell, thump after thump, extremely


    heavy.


    She said, ¡°The one who died that year was our family¡¯s sow, and the funeral was for that sow. Isabe


    actually said I was dead! That¡¯s so


    mean!¡±


    No wonder Isabe had strongly advised her mother to hold a funeral for the sow. It turned out to be a s


    mokescreen, making Lysander mistakenly think she was dead.


    Thinking of Isabe¡¯s actions, Thssa felt her chest heaving with anger, her eyes moist.


    But it was strange, how did Isabe know about her and Lysander?


    Just as she was about to ask Lysander, Lysander¡¯s phone rang again, and he picked it up.


    ¡°Lysander, your grandma had a heart attack, hurry to the hospital!¡± Zephyr¡¯s anxious voice came over t


    he phone as soon as it connected.


    Although his grandparents would sometimes fake being unwell to scare him, this time seemed real.


    Lysander also started to worry, saying, ¡°Send me your location. I¡¯ll be right over.¡±


    After hanging up, he instructed David, ¡°Turn around and head to the hospital once we reach Hollowbro


    ok.¡±


    Hollowbrook was just ahead, and David drove to the entrance of the vige.


    Thssa knew Lysander was in a hurry, she quickly said, ¡°Stop here, I¡¯ll get off here.¡±


    David stopped the car, and Thssa got out.


    Not far ahead, four children were running towards her with short, clumsy steps, each one like a little pe


    nguin, very cute.


    ¡°Mommy!¡±


    Thssa was startled. Damn it, Lysander¡¯s car hadn¡¯t left yet.

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    Thssa¡¯s heart was racing as the quickly nced back, just in time to see the ck Rolls Royce disa


    ppearing into the distance


    The kids were not loud, so Lysander probably didn¡¯t hear them calling her ¡°mom¡®


    Thssa breathed a sigh of relief, turning to face her four little darlings running towards her.


    Over thest five years, nothing had brought her more joy than the sight of these innocent little devils r


    acing towards her every time she came home, their eyes filled with love and dependence on her.


    A happy smile tugged at theers of Thssa¡¯s mouth as she squatted down and spread her arms w


    ide, ready to catch her beloved


    kiddos.


    Elowen was the fastest. This chubby little angelnded straight into her arms, nted a couple of kisse


    s on Thssa¡¯s face, and then said in her soft voice, ¡°Mom, you¡¯re back. Grandma¡¯s been so worried a


    bout you¡±


    Next to enter her embrace was Sophia, slightly slimmer than Elowen but still a kid, with a bit of baby fat


    . She snuggled up to Thssa, rubbed her little face against hers, and said, ¡°Mom, you¡¯re finally back.


    We were scared out of our wits.¡±


    Atticus and Dorian trotted over, only to find their mom¡¯sp already upied, so they slowed down and


    managed to squeeze in, eventually finding their spot in her arms,


    Thssa hugged her four little treasures contentedly.


    She asked softly, ¡°Why were you worried about me?¡±


    ¡°Greta said the cops took you away, said you did something illegal. We were so scared.¡± Dorian pouted


    , his voice barely a whisper, his beautiful eyes filled with tears.


    Thssa finally understood what he was talking about.


    She reached out, wiped away the tears from Dorian¡¯s cheek with her thumb and said, ¡°The cop got it all


    wrong, but it¡¯s sorted now. So, I¡¯m back. Don¡¯t worry, I¡¯m fine. Let¡¯s go home.¡±


    She stood up, held the hands of two of her kids, and started walking towards home.


    Their old house was a dump, but now they lived in a mansion.


    She thought Lysander built them a mansion because he was embarrassed to visit their old ce.


    Turns out, he thought the woman he slept with five years


    ago was her cousin, Celia. He built the mansion as apensation for Celia, who was no longer alive.


    It must have been Isabe who told Lysander that he had been with Celia five years ago, and that Celia


    was now dead.


    No wonder Lysander made a special visit to Hollowbrook to pay respects at Celia¡¯s grave.


    He thought he had been with Celia five years ago and that it was his fault she died in the old house..


    Thssa and the kids finally reached the mansion¡¯s front door.


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    Just as Evelyn was about to step out, she saw Thssa. Her worries instantly reced by surprise. Sh


    e rushed over, held Thssa and looked her up and down, a mix of shock and relief, ¡°Thssa, I heard


    the cops took you away for theft. We


    may not be rich, but you can¡¯t resort to stealing. Every penny has to be earned with hard work.¡±


    Seeing Thssa unharmed, Evelyn started to worry that she might have


    gone astray due to stress, which frightened her.


    Seeing the worry on Evelyn¡¯s face, Thssa felt grateful. This was why she stayed positive and faced li


    fe head¨Con. No hurdle could ever knock her down.


    She grew up in a loving environment.


    Her mom might be a nag and loved her poker game, but she truly loved her.


    Love made one feel confident and energetic.


    Thssaughed gently and reassuringly, saying, ¡°Mom, do you still not trust me? How could I possibl


    y steal? It was just a misunderstanding. Don¡¯t worry, everything¡¯s fine now.¡±


    ¡°What exactly happened? Tell me.¡± Evelyn was still worried, letting Thssa inside while asking.


    Thssa, walking through the yard into the house with the kids, didn¡¯t want to dwell on it, ¡°It was about


    the emerald pendant Greta found. The cops thought I stole it. But now it¡¯s all cleared up, the pendant w


    as found by Greta. I paid her for it, and the police let me go.¡±


    She didn¡¯t tell Evelyn that it was Lysander who got her out, or that Lysander was the father of her childr


    en.


    Otherwise, knowing Evelyn¡¯s impulsive nature, she wo

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    Chapter 153


    Lysander himself said he was not a fan of kids, thinking them too loud and annoying.


    If he knew she¡¯d already had four of his kids, she couldn¡¯t even begin to picture his reaction.


    Plus, Lysander was a big shot, steering the ship of a wealthy family, and he was the kingpin of Starhav


    en.


    Would he ever be into someone as in as her?


    She still didn¡¯t quite get what Lysander meant by ¡°taking responsibility¡°.


    Was he going to marry her orpensate her in some other way? If it¡¯s justpensation, she wouldn


    ¡¯t want it!


    She¡¯d rather act like they¡¯d never met and go their separate ways.


    But if he wanted to marry her, she could consider letting him gradually warm up to their four kids.


    After all, they¡¯re his kids too.


    Even wild beasts don¡¯t harm their own young.


    ¡°What about that emerald pendant? Show it to me, what kind of emerald pendant is worth the cops


    ing to get you?¡± Evelyn said, fuming.


    Just because of an emerald pendant, her daughter lost three hundred dors and got arrested! It¡¯s outr


    ageous!


    She was going to take that pendant and confront Greta, make her pay back the three hundred dors!


    Thssa said, ¡°The emerald pendant was confiscated by the cops. It¡¯s been returned to its original own


    er. Mom, let¡¯s drop it, don¡¯t make a fuss.¡±


    She went home, poured herself a ss of water, and drank it hurriedly.


    She hadn¡¯t had a sip of water since morning.


    Seeing Thssa drink water so hastily, Evelyn knew she hadn¡¯t eaten yet. She felt both sympathy and


    anger, ¡°I¡¯ll cook for you. Nice guys finishst! Without a man in the house, we¡¯re easy prey. I¡¯m going to


    teach Greta a lesson!¡±


    Evelyn grumbled as she walked into the kitchen.


    But Thssa was thinking about making Isabe pay!


    Isabe had crossed the line!


    In the hospital.


    Lysander arrived at the ward.


    Zephyr was by the bed taking care of Sybil.


    Zephyr, in a teal suit, with salt¨Cand¨Cpepper hair, was still in pretty good shape


    despite his age. Tall and imposing, his eyes were steady. His face might have had wrinkles, but he still


    had an air of authority.


    He was standing by the bed, tidying up Sybil¡¯s nket.


    Sybil was half¨Clying on the bed, with an IV drip in her hand.


    Compared to Zephyr, Sybil¡¯s hair waspletely white, her


    arms were saggy, and wrinkles were plenty. But her eyes were still bright, showing that she must


    have been a real beauty when she was young.


    Not far from the bed stood a young woman dressed to the nines, all branded, looking pretty.


    ¡°Lysander, you¡¯re here,¡± the woman turned around and


    saw Lysander, quickly rushing over to greet him.


    Lysander ignored her, walked straight to the bed, and asked with concern, ¡°Granny, how¡¯re you doing?¡±


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    Chapter 154


    Sybil reached out her shaky hand to wee Lysander, ¡°Lysander, you¡¯re here. Let me have a look at


    you¡±


    Lysander walked up to the bed, with Zephyr kindly giving up his spot.


    Sitting by the bed, Lysander took Sybil¡¯s hand, ¡°What did the doctor say? Is her condition serious?¡±


    Earlier on the phone, Lysander had t out denied his grandfather¡¯s suggestion to return home and dis


    cuss marriage arrangements with


    Charlotte


    Using his dislike for children as an excuse, he suggested that they adopt from an orphanage instead.


    His intention was just to get his grandparents off his back about getting hitched, he never intended for it


    to upset his grandma.


    But now that his grandma ended up in the hospital due to the stress, Lysander felt both heartache and


    a sense of guilt.


    When Lysander was little, his parents passed away in an ident. It was his grandparents who raised


    him and taught him everything


    His grandma meant the world to him.


    ¡°Grandma¡¯s fine, it¡¯s just an old ailment acting up again. A drip


    will do the trick,¡± Sybil said, holding his hand tightly and smiling kindly.


    ¡°Your grandma is worried about you. You¡¯re thirty already, still not married. Both your grandma and I are


    concerned. Get married earlier, have kids earlier. While we¡¯re still fit, we could help with the kids, would


    n¡¯t that be great?¡± Zephyr frowned at Lysander from the side.


    Hearing this, Sybil chimed in, squeezing his hand


    gently, ¡°Yes, Lysander, you¡¯re not getting any younger. It¡¯s time you think about the important things in li


    fe. Charlotte is a good girl, and you two have been engaged since childhood.¡±


    Saying this, Sybil turned to look at Charlotte, who was standing not far from the bed.


    Catching the hint, Charlotte walked over, sweetly calling out, ¡°Grandma.¡±


    Though Charlotte wasn¡¯t the most striking beauty among the rich girls, she had big eyes and a pointed


    chin, simr to the popr influencer look. But her petite figure, curvy body, and ample assets made he


    r irresistible to men.


    Today she wore a high¨C


    end designer¡¯s fall collection ck wrap mini skirt that showed off her slender legs, making her skin loo


    k even more smooth and radiant.


    She wore a luxury brand¡¯s short white fur coat on top, her curly hair cascading over her shoulders, her


    makeup delicate, and her body radiating a sweet scent.


    With her stunning white


    high heels, she was a sight to behold a socialite built by money, exuding wealth everywhere she went.


    ¡°What a good girl,¡± Sybil


    said upon hearing Charlotte¡¯s voice, her smile even warmer, ¡°Come over here, dear.¡±


    Charlotte obediently walked over, standing very close to Lysander on his right. Her Barbie¨C


    like eyes sneakily stole a nce at him.


    liercing


    His profile was stern and cold, with sharp features and piercing eyes. He was incredibly handsome.


    He exuded a masculine charm that was full of sexual tension.


    Just a quick nce at him, and Charlotte¡¯s heart was pounding like a wild deer, as if it was going


    to burst out of her chest.


    She didn¡¯t hide her feelings, squatting by Sybil¡¯s bed, deliberately leaning towards Lysander.


    Her arm brushed against Lysander¡¯s knee.


    Lysander shot her a nce with his deep ck eyes, calmly moving his leg away, maintaining a distanc


    e.


    Charlotte wasn¡¯t discouraged, her face full of sweet smiles, looking at Sybil.


    Sybil, having experienced the ups and downs of life, saw through Charlotte¡¯s little actions like a book. S


    he knew exactly what the girl was thinking: Charlotte had a big crush on Lysander.


    Sybil wanted


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    to y matchmaker, reaching out Lysander¡¯s hand towards Charlotte¡¯s, ¡°This is my grandson, your futu


    re husband.¡±


    Just as their hands were about to touch, Lysander suddenly grabbed his grandma¡¯s hand.


    He ced his grandma¡¯s hand by his side, gently wrapping both his hands around hers, a doting expre


    ssion on his face, ¡°Grandma, Ms. Ravensong is still young. It¡¯s not appropriate to discuss these things.¡±

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    ¡°Lysander I¡¯m 25 already, not a kid anymore,¡± Charlotte turned around to look at Lysander, her sweet v


    oice echoing in the air.


    Her eyes were twinkling like stars.


    This guy, since the first time sheid eyes on him, left a deep impression on her.


    He was the head honcho of the Sinir group, a standout, second to none.


    Marrying such a top¨Cnotch guy would make herugh even in her dreams.


    Charlotte¡¯s feelings were written all over her face, her eyes full of adoration for him, she just


    didn¡¯t say it out loud.


    Lysander actually wanted to find an excuse to turn her down. But seeing Charlotte¡¯s eager eyes, he kne


    w no excuse would cut it.


    Zephyr couldn¡¯t wait any longer, so he chimed in, ¡°Indeed, you two are of a good age, both sessful,


    you two getting hitched would be perfect.¡±


    Charlotte was already making the first move. There was no reason for Lysander to hesitate.


    Charlotte was the heiress of the Ravensong group, pampered by her parents since childhood. As a rich


    kid, her life was cushy, and being with Lysander, they would be a match made in heaven.


    Zephyr thought, no wedding could top this one.


    ¡°Exactly, exactly.¡± Sybil was also nodding in agreement.


    Lysander¡¯s deep eyes turned dark, he said, ¡°I already have a girlfriend.¡±


    Although he and Thssa Everhart


    just confirmed their rtionship, and he just found out Thssa was the girl he encountered five years


    ago. But even before he knew Thssa was that girl, he had a special feeling for her.


    He didn¡¯t understand his feelings towards Thssa.


    Whenever he saw her with other men, he would get irrationally angry.


    When he knew she was in danger, he would rush to save her without hesitation.


    Even when she ended up in the police station


    due to her clumsy actions, he would personally go and get her out.


    When she was close to him, his usually sturdy self¨Ccontrol would be extremely fragile.


    These were emotions he had never had for any other woman.


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    Only when facing Thssa, he couldn¡¯t control himself.


    Even without knowing she was that girl, he still had special feelings for her, his body couldn¡¯t lie to him.


    But he was disgusted by Thssa¡¯s actions, like going to clubs hooking up with men for money, and se


    ducing John for a job advantage, just to make more money.


    He didn¡¯t fully understand Thssa yet, nor was sure about his feelings for her.


    Originally, he didn¡¯t want to spill the beans to Zephyr and Sybil so soon, but given the current situation,


    he had no choice but to speak up.


    ¡°What?¡± Zephyr and Sybil were both shocked as they heard Lysander¡¯s words.

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    Chapter 156


    After their initial shock, Zephyr and Sybil exchanged a look.


    Charlotte¡¯s usually sweet smile froze, her eyes filled with disappointment as she turned to look at Lysan


    der.


    Zephyr¡¯s expression changed, and he sternly said to Lysander, ¡°Lysander, you can¡¯t just make up such


    an excuse just to brush us off.¡±


    ¡°I didn¡¯t make this up. It¡¯s the truth.¡± Lysander retorted firmly.


    ¡°So how far did you go with this woman?¡± Zephyr asked in a deep voice.


    Just a moment ago, they were rooting for Lysander and Charlotte¡¯s rtionship, with Charlotte clearly s


    mitten by Lysander.


    The next moment, Lysander dropped the bomb that he already had a girlfriend!


    Zephyr was still in disbelief and needed to get to the bottom of this.


    Lysander looked at Zephyr and said softly. ¡°We¡¯ve slept together.¡±


    This news was like a bombshell, louder than a thunderp.


    Zephyr was so shocked that he stepped back, and Sybil couldn¡¯t believe it, looking surprised and sayin


    g, ¡°¡­You mean, you and that woman have¡­ been intimate?¡±


    The most intimate rtionship between a man and a woman is to live under the same roof and have th


    e closest physical contact. Over the years, Lysander had never publicly acknowledged any girlfriend, a


    nd there hadn¡¯t even been any rumors. They were concerned about whether he had any issues with his


    emotional life.


    He suddenly told them he had a girlfriend, and they had been slept!


    Sybil was very agitated by this.


    Lysander simply replied, ¡°Yes.¡±


    Charlotte, who had been sitting by Sybil¡¯s bed, stood up. The blush on her face


    had disappeared, and her eyes were filled with tears. ¡°Sybil, I¡­I¡¯m going to go now.¡±


    Sybil quickly said, ¡°I just found out about this too. Let me find out the truth, and I¡¯ll give you an answer.¡±


    ¡°Okay.¡± Charlotte responded.


    As she turned around, she saw Lysander¡¯s handsome face. His stunning face seemed to draw her in; w


    ith just one look, she felt as if she was stuck, finding it hard to shift her gaze.


    But Lysander didn¡¯t even nce at her.


    Charlotte¡¯s pride was deeply wounded. She forced herself to look away and walked out of the room in h


    er high heels.


    Zephyr snorted and said, ¡°Charlotte is such a good girl, and you don¡¯t know how to appreciate her!¡±


    ¡°Doesn¡¯t she have a boyfriend?¡± Lysander countered.


    He had been overseas on a business trip, and his partner was Terry Ravensong of the Ravensong Gro


    up, Charlotte¡¯s brother.


    At that time, there was a young man with Terry, who was introduced as Charlotte¡¯s boyfriend overseas.


    ¡°What did you say?¡± Zephyr couldn¡¯t believe it.


    Lysander said, ¡°When I was working with Terryst year, he introduced me to Charlotte¡¯s boyfriend.¡±


    He had seen that man with his own eyes.


    Terry only had ope sister, Charlotte.


    Who else could that man be if not Charlotte¡¯s boyfriend?


    Zephyr, who had been stern and


    cold just a moment ago, immediately changed his expression, his face full of anger. ¡°Charlotte dared to


    deceive me!*


    When the marriage agreement between Lysander and Charlotte was made, Charlotte was only a few m


    All rights ? N?velDrama.Org.


    onths old, still a baby, and Lysander was just over five years old and didn¡¯t understand anything.


    At that time, it was Zephyr and the chairman of the Ravensong Group who made the agreement.


    There was no written proof, no tokens as evidence, just a verbal agreement between the two elders.


    As Lysander grew up, Zephyr mentioned this to him a few times.


    Lysander always thought it was a joke, so he didn¡¯t take it seriously.


    As for the Ravensong family, they never mentioned it again.

 Chapter 157

    Chapter 157


    Lysander thought it was just the elders making a joke to tease the kids.


    He didn¡¯t care about Charlotte having a boyfriend.


    But to his surprise, a yearter, Zephyr and Sybil brought up again the childhood engagement between


    him and Charlotte.


    Charlotte even showed affection for him and tried to win over Zephyr and Sybil.


    Sybil¡¯s guilt for Charlotte vanished into thin air. She sighed and said, ¡°A woman who always has her ey


    es on other men is not a good


    wife.¡±


    Charlotte had told the two elders that since she was a kid, she knew about her engagement with Lysan


    der, stayed in line, never dated, and was always waiting for Lysander


    N?velDrama.Org owns all ? content.


    Tums out it was all a ruse.


    Lysander merely stated the facts, as for Charlotte¡¯s character, he didn¡¯t pass judgment.


    He never hung out with her, didn¡¯t know her character, so he wasn¡¯t one to make wildments.


    After sighing. Sybil remembered something important, her aging eyes anxiously looked at Lysander, ¡°T


    ell me, how did you meet your girlfriend? How¡¯s it going between you guys? When are you


    nning to get engaged?¡±


    Sybil was always worried that Lysander might be gay, every time she thought about him being single wi


    th no woman by his side, she felt


    anxious.


    Now that she suddenly found out Lysander had a girlfriend and they were pretty close, Sybil was both e


    xcited and happy, she couldn¡¯t wait for Lysander to bring his girlfriend home for her to enjoy the family j


    oy.


    ¡°Sybil, you should focus on recovering first, I¡¯ll tell you moreter.¡± Lysander gently reassured.


    Having an elder in the family is like having a treasure, so he had to keep them happy.


    ¡°When ister? When will you bring her to meet me? Don¡¯t worry, I won¡¯t shortchange her, I¡¯ll give her a


    very nice wee gift when she visits the Sinir family.¡± Sybil said, getting more and more excited.


    Zephyr, who justined about Lysander not getting married, also chimed in, ¡°My wee gift won


    ¡¯t be shabby either.¡±


    They wished they could settle the marriage right then and there.


    Lysander was a bit annoyed, said, ¡°I¡¯ll see when she¡¯s free, and bring her to meet you two.¡±


    ¡°Great, just give me a call when you set the date.¡± Sybil said, grinning from ear to ear


    Lysander chatted with Sybil for a while longer, and then left to get busy with work at thepany.


    Zephyr did some digging into Charlotte¡¯s personal life.


    And boy, was he in for a shock, Charlotte didn¡¯t just date one boyfriend!


    She dated three!


    And one was still lingering, like a lotus root snapping but the fibers remain connected.


    Came looking for the Sinir family without breaking off her personal life, wanting to marry Lysander!


    Almost forced Lysander and Charlotte together, Zephyr and Sybil were almost fooled by her!


    Zephyr shuddered at the thought.


    Thank goodness Lysander was strong¨Cwilled and worldly.


    After Thssa put the four little ones down for a nap, she went alone to Isabe¡¯s house to settle score


    s!


    Today, Isabe¡¯s parents were not home, they went to visit rtives, leaving Isabe home alone.


    Thssa pushed open the door, hearing Isabe on the phone.


    ¡°I¡¯ve called the police, Thssa will be arrested. I¡¯ve used her


    of stealing my emerald pendant, don¡¯t worry, the theft charge will definitely stick!¡± Isabe said smugly


    on the phone.


    Hearing this, Thssa looked angry. She marched up, yanked Isabe off the bed.


    ¡°Isabe, how many tricks have you been ying behind my back! What did I do to piss you off, why ar


    e you framing me like this?¡±


    She said angrily, then


    she pushed Isabe away. Isabe¡¯s head bumped into the headboard, and she grimaced in pain.

 Chapter 158

    Chapter 158


    Isabe snapped back to reality and jumped out of bed, hands on her hips, yelling at Thssa, ¡®Are yo


    u nuts? You dare toe to my ce and attack me!¡±


    Just now, the back of her head had collided with the hard wooden headboard, which made a dull thud a


    nd caused her to see stars. Rage shot up from her chest. Isabe stood there, chest heaving, eyes as


    wide as saucers.


    Thssa red at her, hands on her hips as well, standing tall and defiant, ¡°Hitting you is the least I co


    uld do! You gave me a fake emerald pendant on purpose. You said it was for my own good, but it was a


    trap


    to frame me for theft! Isabe, you¡¯re a bitch!¡± Isabe realized that Thssa had overheard her phone


    call. She nced at her phone lying on the bed, still in the middle of a call, not yet hung up


    Thssa had barged in and grabbed her, throwing her onto the bed. She didn¡¯t have time to hang up b


    ecause she was too angry and forgot about her phone.


    Noticing that her phone was still on the call, Isabe¡¯s breath hitched, and she hurried over to grab it.


    Thssa saw the phone on the bed too. Seeing Isabe move, she was quicker and picked it up first.


    The phone was still on call, and the contact name was Faye Brennan!


    It was Faye!


    Seeing this name, Thssa¡¯s anger red even more.


    Isabe was teaming up with Faye to bully her!


    Thssa was fuming, she said into the phone, ¡°Faye, if I¡¯ve offended you, you can tell me straight up, t


    here¡¯s no need to do things behind my back!¡±


    Before she could finish, the call was hung up.


    Thssa was about to call back when Isabe, her hand adorned with sharp nails, snatched the phone


    Text content ? N?velDrama.Org.


    away. She was seething. ¡°Thssa, have you had enough! If you¡¯re done, please leave!¡±


    ¡°So eager to get rid of me, feeling guilty, are you?¡± Thssa¡¯s clear gaze was filled with anger, she r


    ed back.


    ¡°Five years ago, it was Faye who told you that Lysander was looking for me, right? You were jealous, s


    o you lied that I was dead! You even made up the story that the woman Lysander was looking for that n


    ight was Celia Everhart! Isabe, how could you be so vicious, using Celia¡¯s reputation, don¡¯t you fear n


    ightmares?¡±


    The more Thssa thought about it, the angrier she became.


    She didn¡¯t understand how Isabe knew Lysander was looking for her, even convincing Evelyn Pendle


    ton to hold a funeral for a pig. creating the illusion of a significant death in her family.


    All this was just to convince Lysander she was truly dead..


    Now it all made sense, Isabe and Faye were in cahoots!


    Faye was working for Lysander, so she naturally knew


    what Lysander was up to, who he was looking for.


    Faye tipped off Isabe in advance, who then made full preparations. The two of them


    worked together and deceived Lysander for five years and kept her in the dark for just as long!


    This was outrageous!


    Isabe, who had been acting high and mighty, looked panicked after hearing Thssa¡¯s usations.


    Thssa knew that Lysander was with her that night?


    How did she know?


    How did she know Lysander thought she was dead?


    Had they had a heart¨Cto¨Cheart?


    Isabe¡¯s firm gaze suddenly became flustered. But soon after, she regained herposure, suppressi


    ng her inner turmoil, she said, ¡°I don¡¯t know what you¡¯re bbering about.¡±


    Isabe¡¯s eyes darted around, not daring to meet Thssa¡¯s gaze.


    She acted like she had no idea about the wrong she¡¯d done!


    Isabe¡¯s attitude was like a fuse, instantly igniting Thssa¡¯s anger.


    Thssa didn¡¯t know where she got the courage and strength from, but she walked


    over, grabbed Isabe by the cor, pushed her onto the bed, and pped her.

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    Chapter 159


    Thssa towers over Isabe, who always tries to even the score by strutting around in high heels. But


    right now, she was just rolled out of bed, barefoot and all, looking a bit shorter next to Thssa in her fl


    ats.


    Also, Thssa was used to doing the grunt work, so she had got some serious muscle.


    With ease, she grabbed Isabe.


    Isabe didn¡¯t see iting. She¡¯s knocked off her feet


    and gets a solid p across the face. Her head¡¯s spinning, her face throbbing with pain


    She turned her head around, ring at Thssa, ¡°You dare to hit me?¡±


    Isabe tried to pull herself up, but Thssa pinned down her thrashing arms and pped her other ch


    eek.


    Panting. Thssa snapped, ¡°Those ps are to make sure you get my point!¡±


    Isabe still ying dumb!


    After everything she had done to hurt her and she yed innocent. Well, if she didn¡¯t listen, maybe a sl


    ap in the face would do the trick!


    Five years ago, Isabe tricked Thssa into fetching firewood from the shed and locked her in. Then


    she took off to get busy with


    her boyfriend, leaving Thssa to be taken advantage of by a stranger named Lysander.


    She deserved a p! Those two ps were five years overdue!


    But pping Isabe didn¡¯t extinguish Thssa¡¯s rage.


    Isabe¡¯s head was knocked to one side, and the burning pain in one cheek hadn¡¯t even subsided whe


    n the other cheek got a p. The doubled pain was unbearable.


    Isabe was scared out of her wits, her breathing in ragged gasps. The pain is so intense she coul


    dn¡¯t move. She closed her eyes, trying to numb the pain.


    Seeing her silent, Thssa angrily shoved Isabe aside, ¡°Next time I catch you scheming against me,


    a p won¡¯t be the only thing you¡¯ll get!¡±


    With that, Thssa turned and left.


    Isabe lied on the bed, both cheeks swollen and throbbing. She gingerly touched them, winces at the


    pain, and quickly put her hand


    away.


    She was so angry that it felt like her chest was a going to explode. Tears welled up in her eyes, her gaz


    e full of malice. She screamed in a suppressed voice.


    ¡°Thssa! You bitch, just you wait!¡±


    Back home, Thssa told Evelyn, ¡°Tomorrow we¡¯re off to Starhaven. The day after tomorrow, I start wo


    rk.¡±


    Before Evelyn could chat with Thssa, she had already headed into her room, shutting the door behin


    d her.


    Thssa leaned against the door, her tension copsing into a wave of bitterness and sorrow. Tears w


    elled up in her eyes and streamed down her face.


    She was crying for the past five years of grievances.


    Even if she did teach Isabe a lesson, it wouldn¡¯t bring back those lost five years, or give her children


    a single day of fatherly love.. From the bottom of her heart, she felt sorry for her four children.


    In the past, she thought it was her fault for losing the emerald pendant and leaving the kids without a fa


    ther.


    At first, she was full of confidence, believing that if she found the pendant, she could find their father an


    d reunite them.


    No matter how tough life got, she faced it with optimism, believing she would one day find their father.


    She wanted her children to experience a father¡¯s love.


    But now, even though she had found their father, he was not interested in them.


    Her belief that finding their father would bring them love had shattered.


    It felt like her world was copsing, leaving her powerless and in pain, filled with a sense of injustice.


    ¡°Mommy¡­¡± Atticus woke up on the bed, rubbing his sleepy eyes, and called for Thssa with his childl


    All rights ? N?velDrama.Org.


    ike voice.

 Chapter 160

    Chapter 160


    Heaning her child¡¯s innocent voice, Thssa¡¯s panicky mood was instantly soothed.


    In a sh, she felt helpless and confused. Hastily wiping away her tears and straightening up, she past


    ed a smile on her face, heading to the bedside, trying to sound as gentle as possible, ¡°Atticus, how


    e you¡¯re up so early?¡±


    Atticus Everhart, with his diamond bright eyes, was looking at Thssa. Seeing her reddened eyes and


    the tip of her nose also red, it was clear she had been crying.


    It tugged at Atticus heartstrings.


    He extended his chubby hand, ced it on Thssa¡¯s face, and tenderly stroked her cheek, whisperin


    g. ¡°Mom, did someone pick on


    All rights ? N?velDrama.Org.


    you?¡±


    Just woken up, his hand was warm, felt like cotton,forting and soothing.


    Thssa felt like her heart would melt under his warm and intelligent gaze.


    With a smile ying at theers of her mouth, she said, ¡°No, I¡¯m Superman. Who could bully me?¡±


    Concern filled Atticus¡® face, like a little adult, ¡°Mom, you¡¯re not Superman. You can get hurt and need pr


    otection. It would be great if we could find Dad. Dad could protect you.¡±


    Last time, when Hertha


    Kensington took Atticus and Dorian to the police station, seeing Thssa locked up there, Atticus felt li


    ke his heart was being pricked with needles.


    He only med himself for being too young and powerless to protect Thssa..


    But dad was an adult. If they could find dad, he could protect Thssa.


    Ever since then, Atticus was even more determined to find his dad.


    Hearing this, Thssa¡¯s smile froze, a bitter taste spreading in her heart, like candy slowly dissolving in


    hot water.


    She sat on the bed, holding Atticus in her arms, letting him sit sideways on her thigh, with her arm arou


    nd him.


    She whispered, ¡°Atticus, what if dad isn¡¯t what you imagine, what if he isn¡¯t capable of much love?¡±


    ¡°Does he love you a lot?¡± Atticus lifted his head, looking seriously at Thssa.


    Thssa shook her head, saying, ¡°Not much.¡±


    ¡°If he doesn¡¯t love you, he won¡¯t protect you. Then we don¡¯t need him. We¡¯ll always be with you. When I


    grow up, I¡¯ll protect you,¡± Atticus said very seriously.


    Did Thssa say this because dad was bad to her before?


    Then he didn¡¯t need such a dad.


    Thssa felt both sour and moved. Her precious boy being so sensible made her heart ache.


    She blinked, kissed Atticus¡® head, her voice a bit hoarse, ¡°I¡¯m very happy to have you guys.¡±


    At night, Isabe, with a face mask on, was plotting against Thssa.


    Just then, the home door was knocked.


    She thought her parents were back, so she opened the door.


    Standing at the door were two tall, well¨Ctrained bodyguards in ck suits, obviously men of status.


    Isabe was a little unsettled, asking, ¡°Who are you looking for?¡±


    ¡°Isabe, Mr. Sinir wants to see you. Can youe with us?¡± One of the bodyguards said, expressi


    onless.


    Isabe was taken away.

 Chapter 161

    Chapter 161


    Inside a swanky, posh private room, dim and moody lights cast an eerie and terrifying atmosphere.


    Isabe was led inside.


    Lysander lounged on the sofa, legs casually crossed, radiating an icy presence. His handsome face wa


    s cold and cruel. He held a cigarette, with its orange glow burning, as if setting fire to her heart. Before


    she even fully stepped in, her heart was already hot and panicking due to the tense atmosphere.


    A woman was kneeling at Lysander¡¯s feet. She was neatly dressed but with hair disheveled, looking utt


    erly helpless and in a state.


    Isabe recognized her in an instant. It was Faye!


    Seeing Faye in such a state, Isabe¡¯s legs turned to jelly. With a ¡°thud¡°, she ended up kneeling next to


    Faye at Lysander¡¯s feet.


    Despite Lysander not uttering a word, Isabe was shaking like a leaf.


    Faye, tears in her eyes, nced at Isabe. Her face was red and swollen, and her eyes puffed up like


    a toad.


    At first, Faye didn¡¯t recognize Isabe until she noticed her clothes and essories.


    Faye thought the wounds on Isabe¡¯s face were inflicted by Lysander¡¯s men. Her heart skipped a beat


    and she lowered her head.


    ¡°Did I ask you to kneel?¡±


    Lysander stubbed out his cigarette in the ashtray, his voice frosty.


    ¡°Mr. Sinir is too noble for you to kneel before!¡± David, getting the hint, kicked Isabe in the shoulder,


    sending her flying a few meters away into a wall, then falling down.


    She spat out a mouthful of blood, begging on the floor, ¡°Mr. Sinir, please spare me, for the sake of m


    e being Thssa¡¯s cousin, please spare me.¡±


    Isabe¡¯s voice trembled, and she didn¡¯t even dare to cry.


    After what Thssa told her earlier, she guessed Lysander summoned her for that reason.


    If she kept hiding the truth, Lysander would surely kill her.


    She was terrified.


    As soon as Isabe spoke, Faye looked at her, her face tense.


    It was toote to stop her now.


    David stepped up, grabbing Isabe by the cor and yanking her up. ¡°Thssa is just a cleaner for the


    Sinir group, and you¡¯re using her to beg for mercy?¡±


    David¡¯s face was full of cold murderous intent. He acted under Lysander¡¯s orders, even if he killed Isab


    e, it would be Lysander¡¯s will. Lysander was powerful and could cover the


    sky with one hand. Killing Isabe would be as easy as squashing an ant.


    Isabe was so frightened that


    her lips trembled, she blurted out, ¡°Thssa is the woman Mr. Sinir has been looking for. Five years


    ago, Mr. Sinir fell into the woodshed, and the woman he slept with was Thssa. Mr. Sinir has al


    ways wanted topensate her. I am her family, if you harm me, Thssa will be sad¡­¡±


    Faye nervously reminded, ¡°Isabe, do you know the price of lying?¡±


    Isabe was now inplete chaos, unable to rationally analyze the situation. All


    she knew was that Lysander already knew that Thssa was the woman that night.


    If she admitted her mistake in time, she might get a lighter punishment; but if she stubbornly refused to


    admit it, the oue would be very bad.


    Text content ? N?velDrama.Org.


    Isabe started crying out loud, simply confessing everything.


    ¡°Five years ago, I identally overheard Faye saying on the phone that the woman Mr. Sinir was lo


    oking for had died. That¡¯s when I knew Mr. Sinir and Thssa had a history and he was looking for h


    er. Faye gave me five million to keep this secret and helped her fake Thssa¡¯s death. I shouldn¡¯t have


    lied to Mr. Sinir for money. I know I was wrong, please forgive me, Mr. Sinir¡­


    As Isabe spilled everything, Faye was both nervous and angry. She wanted Isabe to stop talking, b


    ut David held her back. She couldn¡¯t get close to Isabe at all.


    She was panting, trying to defend herself, ¡°Mr. Sinir, she¡¯s talking nonsense. You can¡¯t trust a woma


    n like this.¡±

 Chapter 162

    Chapter 162


    Lysander¡¯s gaze was as cold as ice, piercing straight into Faye.


    His eyes were like a sharp sword, stabbing Faye¡¯s heart. She felt a chill run through her body and invol


    untarily lowered her head.


    Isabe was scared out of her wits, fearing that Lysander wouldn¡¯t believe her, which would lead to mor


    e torture. Shaking in David¡¯s grip. her teeth chattering, she pleaded and defended herself in terror, ¡°Mr.


    Sinir, I didn¡¯t lie. Everything I said is true. Thssa pped me today because I lied to her. The swel


    ling on my face, it was all because of Thssa.¡±


    As she spoke, she pointed at her swollen face with


    trembling hands, hoping to prove the truth of her words.


    Seeing that she had spilled all the beans, David let go of her, feeling like his hand had been dirtied by h


    er.


    He pushed her away and dusted off his hand in disgust.


    Isabe fell to the ground, shaking all over. A puddle of water spread out on the ground.


    She was so scared she wet herself.


    Faye was panicking inside.


    What a blockhead Isabe was! How could she spill the beans like that?


    Now Lysander would be even more determined not to let them off the hook!


    Lysander¡¯s eyes flickered as he looked at Isabe¡¯s face.


    Her face was indeed swollen, her eyes puffy, making her look like a bloated frog.


    So, it was Thssa who hit her.


    It seemed that Thssa was deeply disgusted with their actions too.


    She must have wanted to find him sooner¡­.


    It was Isabe and Faye who conspired together, causing him and Thssa to miss out on five years.


    This was unforgivable.


    Lysander¡¯s gaze was as cold as frost


    as he turned to Faye, asking. ¡°Do you have anything to say for yourself?¡±


    Five years ago, he asked Faye to find Thssa and bring her to him. But Faye had the audacity to say


    Thssa was dead and even conspired with Isabe to confuse and deceive him by having Thssa¡¯s


    family hold a funeral for a dead pig!


    The nerve of her!


    Faye was kneeling in front of Lysander, her body taut, her heart trembling with fear, but she managed t


    o keep her face expressionless, only showing a pitiful look.


    ¡°Mr. Sinir, Thssa was born in a rural area, poor and uneducated. Her family is a mess, she didn¡¯t


    even graduate from


    college. Whether the education or family background, she is far from your match. So, I lied about her d


    eath to make you give up. There are many outstanding daughters of wealthy families around you, any o


    f them are better than Thssa.¡±


    Normally, Faye was smart and capable, always high and mighty, bustling about.Text content ? N?velDrama.Org.


    But now, facing Lysander¡¯s coldness, even though she was constantly encouraging andforting her


    self, trying to calm herself down, she was still intimidated by Lysander¡¯s powerful aura. Even her voice


    was trembling.


    She wanted to say that she did it all for Lysander¡¯s sake, hoping that Lysander would be lenient.


    Lysander sneered, ¡°For my sake? Who do you think you are to qualify?¡±


    She was just a secretary arranged by Zephyr.


    In her work, apart from carrying out her assigned tasks, what right did she have to interfere in his perso


    nal affairs?


    The Sinir family didn¡¯t need to enhance their glory or expand their influence through his marriage. Wi


    th his capabilities, increasing the Sinir group¡¯s profits was a piece of cake.


    Neither Zephyr nor Sybil had the right to interfere in his marriage. Not to mention Faye, as a secretary,


    had the power to interfere in his personal matters.


    What a fool she was!

 Chapter 163

    Chapter 163


    Faye¡¯s heart gave a violent jerk, since she couldn¡¯t believe what she was hearing from Lysander.


    In the past, whenever she messed up, Lysander always cut her some ck because she¡¯d been a soldi


    er by his side for years,


    He never talked to her like this before.


    But now, he was throwing these harsh words at her for Thssa?


    Faye¡¯s pride got a harsh reality check.


    She was


    hurt and pissed, but Lysander was angry, and she was terrified of him. ¡°Mr. Sinir, she pleaded, ¡°I me


    ssed up. Give me another shot¡­¡±


    ¡°David, take her away, turn her over to the cops. She embezzled five million bucks and betrayed the co


    mpany, spilled business secrets. Those charges should be handled together. Make sure she gets what


    she deserves.¡±


    Lysander didn¡¯t even nce at Faye, just ordered David coldly.


    Back when Faye had thrown Thssa under the bus in front of him, iming that Thssa stole the Si


    nir group¡¯s designs, he warned. her that it was herst chance.


    But Faye didn¡¯t change her ways, she doubled down, not only bullying Thssa but also deceiving him.


    She was challenging his authority!


    ¡°Yes, Mr. Sinir.¡± David saluted and called two bodyguards over to approach Faye.


    Hearing Lysander¡¯s final words, Faye, who had managed to keep her cool, began to panic.


    She crawled towards Lysander, crying and begging. ¡°Mr. Sinir, please, for the years I¡¯ve worked by y


    our side, for my loyalty, give me a break..¡±


    She didn¡¯t want to go to jail. She was still young, with many good years left. Her future was bright.


    If she got locked up for three to five years, or even more given Lysander¡¯s insistence on strict punishme


    nt, she¡¯d suffer a lot in prison.


    She might get bullied by men, beaten up, or even go hungry¡­ all sorts of miserable experiences could


    happen.


    The thought made Faye¡¯s scalp tingle with fear, and her heart was in a flurry.


    She crawled to Lysander¡¯s feet, ready to grab his pant leg, but he kicked Her hand away.


    Lysander had always thought Faye was upright and honest, but she turned out to be the opposite.


    She was maniptive, scheming behind his back, framing Thssa, and even daring to deceive him.


    Text content ? N?velDrama.Org.


    Lysander kicked Faye back several steps, her knees sliding several meters on the ground.


    Lysander¡¯s gaze was icy as he coldly said, ¡°Don¡¯t insult the word ¡®loyalty. Take her away!¡±


    The bodyguards immediately stepped forward, hoisted Faye up and dragged her out of the room.


    Faye struggled against the bodyguards¡® grip, saying frantically. ¡°I can walk myself!¡±


    Her ribs ached from Lysander¡¯s kick.


    Enduring the pain, her eyes filled with tears, she gave Lysander onest look of sadness, anger, and d


    efiance, then turned and walked out as if she¡¯d made up her mind.


    She¡¯d been by Lysander¡¯s side for ten years, silently in love with him for a decade, and she thought he


    would treat her differently because of it.


    But to her surprise, he was still fair and impartial towards her, showing no mercy!


    Even to avoid her touch, he didn¡¯t hesitate to kick her away.


    At that moment, Faye felt heartbroken, lost, anxious, and jealous. She couldn¡¯t believe it, but she had t


    o face the reality.


    She, the heiress of the Brennan group, gave up her privileged life to follow Lysander into the army, to b


    e his


    secretary, silently apanying him for ten years, but still couldn¡¯t win his heart. In the end, she lost to


    a country girl named Thssa, and it was aplete mess!

 Chapter 164

    Chapter 164


    Faye didn¡¯t want to back down, but against Lysander, she stood no Chapter 163


    Faye¡¯s heart gave a violent jerk, since she couldn¡¯t believe what she was hearing from Lysander.


    In the past, whenever she messed up, Lysander always cut her some ck because she¡¯d been a soldi


    er by his side for years,


    He never talked to her like this before.


    But now, he was throwing these harsh words at her for Thssa?


    Faye¡¯s pride got a harsh reality check.


    She was


    hurt and pissed, but Lysander was angry, and she was terrified of him. ¡°Mr. Sinir, she pleaded, ¡°I me


    ssed up. Give me another shot¡­¡±


    ¡°David, take her away, turn her over to the cops. She embezzled five million bucks and betrayed the co


    mpany, spilled business secrets. Those charges should be handled together. Make sure she gets what


    she deserves.¡±


    Lysander didn¡¯t even nce at Faye, just ordered David coldly.


    Back when Faye had thrown Thssa under the bus in front of him, iming that Thssa stole the Si


    nir group¡¯s designs, he warned. her that it was herst chance.


    But Faye didn¡¯t change her ways, she doubled down, not only bullying Thssa but also deceiving him.


    She was challenging his authority!


    ¡°Yes, Mr. Sinir.¡± David saluted and called two bodyguards over to approach Faye.


    Hearing Lysander¡¯s final words, Faye, who had managed to keep her cool, began to panic.


    She crawled towards Lysander, crying and begging. ¡°Mr. Sinir, please, for the years I¡¯ve worked by y


    our side, for my loyalty, give me a break..¡±


    She didn¡¯t want to go to jail. She was still young, with many good years left. Her future was bright.


    If she got locked up for three to five years, or even more given Lysander¡¯s insistence on strict punishme


    nt, she¡¯d suffer a lot in prison.


    She might get bullied by men, beaten up, or even go hungry¡­ all sorts of miserable experiences could


    happen.


    The thought made Faye¡¯s scalp tingle with fear, and her heart was in a flurry.


    She crawled to Lysander¡¯s feet, ready to grab his pant leg, but he kicked Her hand away.


    Lysander had always thought Faye was upright and honest, but she turned out to be the opposite.


    She was maniptive, scheming behind his back, framing Thssa, and even daring to deceive him.


    Lysander kicked Faye back several steps, her knees sliding several meters on the ground.


    Lysander¡¯s gaze was icy as he coldly said, ¡°Don¡¯t insult the word ¡®loyalty. Take her away!¡±


    The bodyguards immediately stepped forward, hoisted Faye up and dragged her out of the room.


    Faye struggled against the bodyguards¡® grip, saying frantically. ¡°I can walk myself!¡±


    Her ribs ached from Lysander¡¯s kick.


    Enduring the pain, her eyes filled with tears, she gave Lysander onest look of sadness, anger, and d


    efiance, then turned and walked out as if she¡¯d made up her mind.


    She¡¯d been by Lysander¡¯s side for ten years, silently in love with him for a decade, and she thought he


    would treat her differently because of it.


    But to her surprise, he was still fair and impartial towards her, showing no mercy!


    Even to avoid her touch, he didn¡¯t hesitate to kick her away.


    At that moment, Faye felt heartbroken, lost, anxious, and jealous. She couldn¡¯t believe it, but she had t


    o face the reality.


    She, the heiress of the Brennan group, gave up her privileged life to follow Lysander into the army, to b


    e his


    secretary, silently apanying him for ten years, but still couldn¡¯t win his heart. In the end, she lost to


    a country girl named Thssa, and it was aplete mess!


    chance


    She stomped out of the private room, her heart brimming with resentment, anger, and indignation. The f


    ear of impending prison time was overwhelming and her emotions were all over the ce


    Tears streamed down her face uncontrobly, her chest heaving with the intensity of her anger, indignat


    ion, and fear


    One of the bodyguards guided her into a cat and she asked to call her father, Daniel Brennan.


    The bodyguard didn¡¯t stop her


    She dialed Daniel¡¯s number and the moment she heard his deep, gentle voice, she couldn¡¯t hold back h


    er emotions anymore and broke down crying


    ¡°Dad¡±


    Hearing Faye¡¯s sobs, Daniel felt heartache. He quicklyforted her,


    ¡°Faye, what happened? Take your time, it¡¯s alright. I¡¯m here, nothing will happen to you.¡±


    Although Daniel didn¡¯t know what went down, he knew Faye has been tough since she was a kid, resili


    ent,petitive, and not one to cry easily


    Now, hearing her


    sob so painfully, so helplessly over the phone was like a thin thread tugging at his heart, causing him u


    All rights ? N?velDrama.Org.


    nbearable distress.


    Whatever could make hispetitive daughter cry must be severe..


    Faye managed to calm down a bit, and told Daniel about what happened and how Lysander nned to


    hand her over to the police.


    Upon


    hearing this, Daniel was frightened and deeply worried. Heforted her, ¡°For now, cooperate with Lys


    ander¡¯s bodyguards. Hang in there, I¡¯ll find a way to bail you out as soon as possible.¡±


    Lysander is the helmsman of the Sinir Group, a king of power, known for his iron¨C


    fisted tactics and ruthlessness. After taking over the Sinir Group, he aggressively acquired


    severalpanies, leading them to bankruptcy and heavy debt.


    In just five years, the Sinir Group grew into a world¨Crenowned conglomerate.


    Everyone in the business world would tremble at the mention of Lysander¡¯s name.


    Faye had betrayed Lysander, deceived him, and even handed the Sinir Group¡¯s designs to other co


    mpanies.


    No wonder Lysander was so furious, sending her to jail without any hesitation!


    Faye had challenged Lysander¡¯s authority and provoked him, the consequences were unpredictable.


    But Faye was still Daniel¡¯s daughter, so he couldn¡¯t just sit back and watch her suffer in jail.


    Hearing Daniel¡¯s words, Faye felt a little better. She wiped away the tears from her eyes and said sorro


    wfully, ¡°I spent ten years trying to win his heart, but in the end, he treats me like this. Dad, he really is h


    eartless.¡±


    ¡°Maybe he¡¯s just not into women,¡± Daniel attempted tofort her, making a guess.


    Faye gave a bitter smile, ¡°No, he likes women alright. He¡¯s doing this to me because of that woman.¡±


    Losing to Thssa was something she couldn¡¯t ept, and she was unwilling to admit defeat.


    Daniel fell silent. Lysander had actually fallen out with Faye over a woman.


    His daughter, Faye, had devoted herself to Lysander, only to end up imprisoned.


    Daniel felt a sense of injustice for Faye¡¯s predicament. He said, ¡°I will help you. Stay calm for now, don¡¯t


    cause any unnecessary trouble. I¡¯ll get you out soon.¡±


    Right after ending the call, Faye was taken to the police station. She and the bodyguard got out of the c


    ar.


    Inside the private room.


    Isabey weakly on the floor, shocked. Watching Faye being taken away, she was so scared that her


    teeth were chattering. The pain on her face and body didn¡¯t matter anymore, because the fear


    and pain in her heart had surpassed everything else.

 Chapter 165

    Chapter 165


    Isabe¡¯s hand was t on the icy marble floor, her tears instantly pouring out as she stared fearfully at


    Lysander, not daring to utter a single word.


    She was afraid that saying an extra word would piss off Lysander and make her fate even worse than F


    aye¡¯s.


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    Lysander lit a cigarette, took a


    deep puff, the smoke lingering around him. He spoke in a low and indifferent voice, ¡°Do you have the e


    merald pendant?¡±


    Isabe trembled violently, her terror absolute. Tears and snot mixed together as she stuttered, ¡°It¡¯s¡­ it¡¯


    s at my ce, that emerald pendant¡­ I found it¡­¡±


    That year, she eavesdropped on Faye¡¯s call and found out about Lysander and Thssa¡¯s one¨C


    night stand. He had given Thssa a token, which could be used to find him.


    She found the pendant in the ruins before Thssa could and hid it.


    For the past five years, she used the pendant to extort money from Faye.


    If Faye didn¡¯t pay up, she would give the pendant to Lysander and spill the beans about what happene


    d that year.


    Fearing exposure, Faye could only pay her off.


    That emerald pendant was like her treasure map, and she treasured it dearly.


    She made a fake emerald pendant, nning to let Thssa use it to find Lysander and make Lysander


    think Thssa had tricked him.


    The fake emerald pendant was made to look like the real one.


    ¡°Since you¡¯re so dirty, there¡¯s no use keeping your limbs. Might as well just waste them.¡± Lysander¡¯s voi


    ce was cold and domineering.


    As soon as he finished speaking, the bodyguard walked towards Isabe.


    Isabe understood what Lysander meant. He was going to ruin her hands and feet.


    Seeing the bodyguard walk towards her with firm steps, like a grim reaper from hell, she was petrified,


    her heart pounding, she cried out, ¡°Mr. Sinir, I was wrong. I¡¯ll return the emerald


    pendant to you right away. I won¡¯t do it again. Please, spare me for the sake of me being Thssa¡¯s co


    usin, who grew up with her¡­ Ah!¡±


    Before she could finish begging for mercy, her hands were pressed on the floor, the bodyguard steppin


    g on them without mercy.


    The sound of her fingers breaking was clear as day.


    Isabe screamed in pain, feeling like her soul was about to fly out


    That wasn¡¯t the end. After her fingers were broken, the bodyguard


    straightened her legs, his hard leather shoe resting on her calf, and then he stepped down hard.


    The sound of her calf bone breaking was like lotus root being snapped, clear, loud, and dull.


    Isabe¡¯s screams filled with pain echoed throughout the private room.


    Terror, coldness, and cruelty.


    But the soundproofing in the room was excellent; no one outside could hear.


    Lysander, having seen it all, was unfazed by the scene, leisurely puffing on his cigarette.


    The bodyguard tossed Isabe on the floor. She convulsed in pain, frothing at the mouth, her eyes rolli


    ng back, feeling like she was about to die.


    No, this was worse than death.


    If he had straight¨Cup killed her, given her a quick death, she probably wouldn¡¯t be in so much pain.


    Lysander extinguished his cigarette in the ashtray after finishing it.


    ¡°The five million Faye gave you, that¡¯s bribery. You¡¯re the one taking the bribe. I¡¯m giving you a week. If


    the money isn¡¯t returned, you¡¯ll be joining Faye in jail.¡±


    Lysander said coldly, then got up and left the room.


    If she wasn¡¯t Thssa¡¯s cousin, her fate would be much worse.


    Lysander had already shown her

 Chapter 166

    Chapter 166


    On Monday, Thssa returned to work at the Sinir Group.


    The cleaning department manager sent her to the first floor lobby to help out the new cleaner.


    After Joie left, the cleaning department hired another cleaner, Daryl, a 25 year old


    young woman, two years younger than Thssa.


    She was attracted by the high sry the Sinir Group offered. Unable to get into other departments, s


    he chose the cleaning department


    In this department, as


    long as you worked hard, you could get in. The educational requirements were not high.


    The sry offered in the Sinir Group¡¯s cleaning department was much higher than that offered by m


    any otherpanies. It was a good job opportunity. This not only attracted older women but also many


    young people.


    First, there was Joie, who was 30, then Thssa, who was 27, and now Daryl, who was 25.


    People often thought that cleaners were middle¨C


    aged women, but working at the Sinir Group was very lucrative, so it attracted young women to work


    as cleaners.


    Thssa was instructing Daryl, teaching her how to clean and where to start. After cleaning the lobby,


    Thssa was ready to take the elevator upstairs.


    Suddenly, there was amotion at the entrance, and the air was instantly filled with a menacing aura.


    The receptionist at the front desk wamed, ¡°Mr. Sinir is here; step aside.¡±


    Thssa quickly turned around to see Lysander in a handmade ck suit. He was tall, handsome, and


    had a remarkable demeanor. He walked proudly and majestically.


    He was followed by his bodyguards and David.


    Daryl and the receptionist had already respectfully stepped aside.


    Thssa felt her back stiffen and quickly moved over to stand with them, straightening her back and bo


    wing her head respectfully to greet Mr. Sinir.


    As Lysander passed, his deep gaze swept over them, but it was only a fleeting nce before his focus


    returned to the front and he stepped into the elevator.


    Despite the brief moment, Thssa¡¯s heart raced under his deep and pressuring gaze.


    It wasn¡¯t until Lysander and his entourage entered the elevator and the doors closed that Thssa brea


    thed a sigh of relief.


    Daryl, with her hands sped excitedly against her chest and a gleam of joy in her eyes, eximed, ¡°M


    r. Sinir is so handsome! Was he looking at me just now? Oh my God, Mr. Sinir looked at me! My h


    eart is about to jump out of my chest.¡±


    After saying this, she seemed to be a


    little unsure and turned to Thssa. ¡°Mr. Sinir was looking at me, right?¡±


    Thssa gave an awkward smile and nodded, ¡°Yes.¡±


    Upon Thssa¡¯s affirmation, Daryl was even more excited, and her eyes filled with joy. ¡°I knew


    N?velDrama.Org owns all ? content.


    it! I¡¯m so beautiful that even a handsome man like Mr. Sinir couldn¡¯t help but take a second look.¡±


    The receptionist couldn¡¯t stand it any longer and said coldly. ¡°Don¡¯t tter yourself. Mr. Sinir wasn¡¯t lo


    oking at you. He just happened to nce in this direction. Mr. Sinir wouldn¡¯t even look at a wealthy,


    beautiful, and curvaceous woman like Faye. Why would he look at you?¡±


    The receptionist always knew her ce. She never judged people and didn¡¯t care about material things


    , but she also knew her own status and the difference between dreams and reality.


    She knew she was average¨C


    looking, came from a humble background, and never dared to fantasize about being with Mr. Sinir.


    Yet Daryl, a mere cleaner fresh on the job, an average in the crowd, arrogantly thought that Mr. Sinir


    had noticed her.


    She had to bring her back to reality.


    Daryl, offended, asked, ¡°So, I¡¯m not pretty?¡±


    The receptionist nced at Thssa, then back at Daryl, andughed lightly, ¡°You¡¯re not even as pretty


    as Thssa. Why would Mr. Sinir look at you instead of Thssa?¡±


    Thssa was at a loss for words.


    After hearing the receptionist say this, Daryl looked at Thssa.


    Thssa had a fairplexion, a beautiful oval face, bright eyes, small lips, and delicate skin. Her de


    meanor was elegant, clean, and natural, making


    her look young. She looked like a university student with girlish charm.

 Chapter 167

    Chapter 167


    Thssa had a slim figure, she was curvy in all the right ces and carried an exotic charm. She was t


    he pure yet sensual type that men were drawn to.


    Next to her, Daryl looked like a in Jane with an average face and average body, totally paling in


    parison.


    Daryl couldn¡¯t help but face the harsh reality, sighing, ¡°Mr. Sinir is so handsome and a top¨C


    notch guy. I wonder who¡¯s gonna be the luckydy tond him.¡±


    The receptionist chimed in, ¡°Well, it isn¡¯t


    gonna be you, that¡¯s for sure. You better get back to work, or do you


    think thepany will pay you for nothing?¡±


    Daryl pulled a face and headed to the bathroom, looking like she was down in the dumps.


    After overhearing their conversation, Thssa wiped the sweat off her forehead. Who would win Mr. Si


    nir¡¯s heart in the future was anyone¡¯s guess, but she knew all too well who he used to fancy.


    Once everyone dispersed, Thssa took the elevator to the top floor.


    Her job was to clean the executive floors.


    Normally, she would get everything spick and span before Lysander started work, but today she was de


    Lysander had already started work, and his office was still a mess.


    After tidying up the whole ce, Thssa finally made her way to Lysander¡¯s office.


    She thought he would have left by now, it being knock¨C


    off time and all. But to her surprise, Lysander was still sitting at his desk, buried in paperwork.


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    She held her breath, tiptoed in, and started cleaning, trying her best not to


    make a sound and disturb him.


    After cleaning everything else, she had no choice but to clean his desk. It was part of her job, and skipp


    ing it would result in docked pay.


    As she was wiping the desk, she could feel Lysander¡¯s presence right beside her. His seent wafted


    over her like a spray, with a strong hint of musk and a familiar woody aroma.


    His potent masculine aura, filled with sexual tension, enveloped her


    The familiar woody scent,bined with his overwhelming presence, made Thssa¡¯s heartbeat quick


    en. Her heart began to pulsate like boiling water.


    Previously, Thssa had no idea that Lysander was the man from that night five years ago.


    Now that she knew and was so close to him, the memories of that night were vividly resurfacing in Thal


    assa¡¯s mind.


    Her face was flushed and hot as her heart pounded harder and faster, like a pony galloping at


    breakneck speed on the highway.


    Feeling flustered, Thssa quickly finished cleaning the desk, not daring to lift her head, and was abou


    t to make a beeline for the door.


    ¡°Hold on.¡±


    Lysander¡¯s deep voice came from behind.


    Thssa instinctively stopped in her tracks, holding the mop in one hand and clutching


    her racing heart with the other, trying to calm herself down.


    With a forced smile on her awkward face, she turned to face Lysander.


    ¡°Yes, Mr. Sinir, is there anything else you need?¡±


    Lysander opened his


    drawer, took out something, and pushed it towards her on the desk, ¡°Don¡¯t lose this again next time.¡±


    Thssa looked closely. It was an emerald pendant shaped like a cloud; the whole piece glowed a vibr


    ant green with a transparent texture, emitting a gentle and pleasant aura from

 Chapter 168

    Chapter 168


    Thssa was totally gobsmacked. How on earth did the emerald pendant she had been searching for f


    or five years end up in Lysander¡¯s hands?


    She mulled it over, and the only exnation was that Faye must have found the pendant at some point


    and given it to Lysander.


    Thssa chuckled awkwardly, handing the pendant back to Lysander,


    ¡°Mr. Sinir, this is your stuff, you better keep it.¡±


    Lysander frowned slightly, he was clearly displeased, but his voice was firm, ¡°Once I give something aw


    ay, I never take it back. You keep


    He radiated authority, even without raising his voice.


    Despite his calm demeanor, Thssa couldn¡¯t help but shudder a little.


    Since Lysander insisted, she reluctantly stepped forward to take the pendant.


    Upon closer inspection, the pendant was shaped like a cloud with a domineering dragon carved around


    it. It was so lifelike that it seemed like it was soaring through the clouds.


    Five years ago, when her reputation was tarnished, she only casually nced at the pendant before los


    ing it. She hadn¡¯t really paid attention to the details of the design.


    Eventer, when she


    described the pendant to Hertha, she only remembered the rough shape and design butpletely for


    got the exact stance of the dragon.


    Suddenly, a thought popped into her head.


    If she herself wasn¡¯t clear about the details of the pendant, how did Isabe manage to create a duplica


    te?


    The fake one was virtually identical to the real one.


    Curious, Thssa asked Lysander, ¡°Mr. Sinir, where did you find this pendant?¡±


    ¡°Isabe found the pendant.¡±


    So that was what happened. No wonder Isabe could make an identical fake. She had the real thing t


    o reference.


    After all these years, the pendant Thssa had been searching for had actually been in Isabe¡¯s poss


    ession.


    Not only did Isabe not return the pendant, she made a fake one and had someone else hand it to Th


    ssa, all to frame her for theft!


    That woman was truly cunning.


    The more Thssa thought about it, the angrier she got.


    She had considered Isabe a close friend, but Isabe had treated her like an enemy, scheming again


    st her time and time again..


    ¡°Don¡¯t you like the pendant?¡± Lysander¡¯s deep, icy voice suddenly shattered the silence as his gaze pie


    N?velDrama.Org owns all ? content.


    rced into her.


    Thssa felt the reproach in his words. She put aside her grudge against Isabe and lifted her eyes to


    meet Lysander¡¯s deep, indifferent gaze as her heart involuntarily pounded.


    His aura was overpowering, making it hard to hold his gaze.


    She, an ordinary girl, was having a hard time handling it.


    After taking a deep breath,


    Thssa suppressed her fear and responded, ¡°Anyone would be mad when something is taken from th


    em by force.¡±


    Back then, she was both angry and wronged; if the pendant hadn¡¯t been lost, she would


    have taken it to the police long ago.


    Lysander¡¯s gaze unnerved her, and she spoke softly. But he still caught the hint of injustice in her word


    s.


    She was an innocent girl, and he had taken her first time. It was only natural for her to feel upset and w


    ronged.


    ¡°Clear your schedule for tonight.¡± Lysander suddenly said.


    Thssa was confused, ¡°Mr. Sinir, do we have to work overtime tonight?¡±


    ¡°We¡¯re meeting the parents.¡± Lysander stated briefly and clearly.


    Thssa was taken aback, ¡°Meeting the parents?¡±


    Lysander continued, ¡°I said I¡¯d take responsibility, and I

 Chapter 169

    Chapter 169


    Thssa got it. Lysander was making good on a promise from five years ago.


    Thssa pondered everything for a bit. He was still single, she was still unmarried, and they had a past


    . It wasn¡¯t impossible for them to be together


    Maybe she could win him over and make him fall in love with


    her four children, who were also his. After all, blood is thicker than water. After spending time together, f


    eelings would naturally grow.


    She needed to pull out all the stops to give her children the father¡¯s love they deserved.


    ¡°Alright, do I need to change for tonight?¡± Thssa epted.


    Lysander¡¯s eyes swept over her from top to bottom.


    Her long hair was pulled into a low ponytail, and she was wearing a white long¨Csleeved T¨C


    shirt, faded jeans, and white sneakers.


    Her outfit was in and simple, like a student¡¯s.


    Lysander said, ¡°III take care of it. You don¡¯t have to worry.¡±


    ¡°Okay, I¡¯ll take off then. Thssa nodded, turned around, and left the office.


    Once outside, she leaned against the wall, clutching her rapidly beating heart..


    Talking to a high and mighty CEO really took guts.


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    Furthermore, she was discussing life¨Cchanging matters with him.


    She never thought she¡¯d get such a chance.


    But that was life.


    Lysander was her golden opportunity.


    Just now, Daryl was asking what kind of girl such a handsome CEO would choose in the future.


    Could it be that he not only chose her in the past but would choose her in the future as well?


    Thssa felt like she was dreaming, so she pinched her cheek.


    Ouch¡­


    It hurt so much that she almost cried.


    It wasn¡¯t a dream; it was real!


    That night, Lysander drove Thssa to an image consultant.


    The stylist had her in a light purple mermaid dress, adorned with diamonds from top to bottom, glitterin


    g and sparkling.¡±


    The form¨Cfitting design showcased Thssa¡¯s slim and graceful figure to the fullest.


    The hem of the dress slightly swept the floor. It was elegant and luxurious.


    The stylist also applied some light makeup on her. Her hair cascaded over her shoulders, and her delic


    ate skin seemed to glow against the light purple dress.


    Thssa was a bit stiff, covering her chest and feeling a bit ufortable..


    She had never dressed this stylishly when she was young, and even


    more so after bing a mother. She usually wore whatever was convenient.


    Suddenly dressing so fashionably made her feel a bit out of her element.


    She sat in the car and looked around while adjusting her back and tugging at her chest, hoping the fabr


    ic would cover her more.


    Lysander, who was driving, nced at her and asked, ¡°Is the dress ufortable?¡±


    Thssa was taken aback, ¡°No.¡±


    ¡°Then why are you ufortable?¡± Lysander asked.


    Thssa gave an embarrassedugh, ¡°It¡¯s a bit revealing: I feel ufortable.¡±


    Lysander nced at her; the dress was a V¨C


    neck and had a hole at the back to show off her beautiful vicle.


    This was the mostmon and fashionable dress nowadays.


    The V¨Cneck wasn¡¯t too low; it was actually quite conservative.


    ¡°So how did you get used to the uniform at Sapphire Skyline?¡± Lysander retorted.


    The uniform at Sapphire Skyline had a much lower neckline


    ¡°I wore a strapless bra, there was no chance of a wardrobe malfunction, but the stylist only gave me a


    breast pad Thssa quickly replied.


    After saying that, she realized she was exining a very personal issue to a man


    At this moment, her face instantly turned red h

 Chapter 170

    Chapter 170


    Lysander¡¯s gaze dropped


    to Thssa¡¯s chest as his mind wandered back to the moment at Sapphire Skyline when she poured hi


    m a drink and bent over to reveal a tantalizing glimpse of her beauty.


    He swallowed hard, and his voice dropped low. ¡°Stand straight and don¡¯t bend over, that way you won¡¯t


    show anything.¡±


    Thssa quickly nodded, ¡°Mhm.¡±


    She turned her face toward the window, hiding her blush from him.


    The car pulled up to a hilltop mansion.


    It was a cluster of mansions built around the hill, surrounded by lush greenery, with beautiful views and


    fresh air.


    Thssa sat in the car, watching mansion after mansion recede, each one as grand


    and noble as a castle.


    The car stopped at the top of the hill.


    There was a castle¨C


    like mansion on the hilltop. It was much grander, more imposing, and luxurious than the others around t


    he hill.


    Thssa was amazed to see such a luxurious mansion for the first time.


    Ever since bing a mother, she thought of her children in everything she saw.


    She couldn¡¯t help but imagine how much happier her four kids would be living in such a grand mansion


    than crammed into her rental.


    Here there was plenty of space, lush green grass, and fragrant flowers.


    They could run freely and y to their hearts¡® content instead of being stuck in a cramped room


    ying with toys all day.


    But Lysander didn¡¯t like kids. He would just find them annoying.


    What the kids needed more than a big house was love andpanionship.


    Lysander couldn¡¯t give them love, which would only make them feel more defeated and lost. Maybe ev


    en inferior.


    Those were her four precious babies, and she would never allow anyone to hurt them.


    So, it was best for the kids to be with her.


    She would never tell him about her kids unless she was sure Lysander would like them.


    They walked through a garden, up the stone steps, and into the mansion,


    The mansion was decoratedvishly, with an opulent crystal chandelier that shone brilliantly and a cash


    mere carpet on the floor that looked and felt luxurious and cozy.


    Thssa and Lysander walked into the hall together.


    Two elderly people were seated on the sofa.


    Sybil sat there with her cane and a benevolent smile on her face.


    Zephyr sat next to Sybil, his posture was straight, and his face wore a kind expression.


    Thssa felt a sense of familiarity when she saw Grandpa Zephyr.


    Soon she remembered. She had seen Grandpa Zephyr before in the president¡¯s office


    of the Sinir Group.


    Zephyr¡¯s weing smile vanished when he saw Thssa, and his sharp eyes turned serious.


    Sybil, who had been waiting, greeted Thssa with an even warmer smile, ¡°Hello dear, you¡¯re so pretty


    . Come here, let me have a look.¡± Sybil and Zephyr bad always been puzzled about Lysander¡¯s relucta


    nce to get married, suspecting that he might not be interested in


    women.


    N?velDrama.Org owns all ? content.


    Now that he had finally brought a woman home, Sybil was overjoyed.


    Thssa could feel Sybil¡¯s warmth. She smiled but was reserved, ncing questioningly at Lysander.


    Lysander introduced them, ¡°These are my grandparents.¡±


    He introduced them to Thssa, then turned to his grandparents, ¡°This is Thssa.¡±


    ¡°Very good. I like her very much. Come sit next to me.¡± Sybil beckoned her.


    Thssa nced at Lysander again, and he nodded at her.


    Thssa walked over with a smile.


    However, her dress was too long, and as she walked forward, she identally stepped on it and fell for


    ward,nding on her knees She ended up kneeling right between Zephyr and Sybil.


    1/1

 Chapter 171

    Chapter 171


    Even though the floor was carpeted, Thssa fell down so hard that her knees still hurt like hell.


    Lysander was taken aback.


    Zephyr shot Thssa a stern nce, noticing that she was kneeling and bent over with her


    cor loosened.


    He looked away as his face became even more serious.


    Sybil was also taken aback for a moment, then cheerfully said, ¡°You¡¯re way too formal, why bow so dee


    ply? Get up, get up.¡±


    Sybil slowly rose to help Thssa steady herself.


    Thssa regained herposure and noticed that her chest was exposed, so she quickly covered it w


    ith her hand, feeling very embarrassed.


    Lysander had told her before that as long as she didn¡¯t bend over, nothing would be revealed.


    She didn¡¯t want to bend over, it was totally an ident.


    Feeling awkward and embarrassed, she had no choice but to sit down next to Sybil.


    Sybil, with her old hand holding hers, said kindly, ¡°You and Lysander are dating, right?¡±


    Thssa was already embarrassed, and this question made her even more so. She didn¡¯t know how to


    respond.


    She had only found out a few days ago that Lysander was the man she had been looking for for five ye


    ars, and today Lysander said he was going to take her home to meet his parents.


    He had never specified what their rtionship was.


    Thssa hoped Lysander would help her out.


    Lysander said, ¡°Yes.¡±


    After hearing his answer, Thssa felt a wave of sweetness and warmth in her heart.


    He actually admitted that she was his girlfriend.


    Sybil gave Lysander a reproachful look, ¡°I was asking Thssa.¡±


    Then she smiled at Thssa, ¡°You see, Lysander is afraid that I¡¯ll give you a hard time. Don¡¯t worry; we


    ¡¯re all easy¨C


    going people. Once you join our family, you¡¯re family. You¡¯ll be my very own granddaughter.¡±


    Sybil was truly very kind and warm.


    Thssa felt a warmth well up inside her as she listened to her speak.


    She maintained a gentle smile, saying. ¡°You¡¯re so kind, Sybil.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll be happy for at least ten days with your nice words.¡± Sybil was delighted with Thssa; she was all


    smiles.


    Then, Lysander handed the gift box to Sybil, ¡°This is the best work from our top designer, I had one ma


    N?vel/Dr(a)ma.Org - Content owner.


    de especially for you.¡±


    ¡°Oh? What kind of clothes are these? Let me see.¡± Sybil took the gift box from him, opened it, and took


    out the clothes.


    It was a red, traditional, long dress with gold embroidery. It was noble and ssic, yet modern.


    Sybil loved it at first sight.


    ¡°It¡¯s beautiful, Lysander, you¡¯ve put a lot of thought into this.¡±


    Thssa also saw the long dress and was attracted by the beautiful design.


    Zephyr took a nce and mused, ¡°After thest fashion design failure, howe there are still clothes


    left?¡±


    Last time, Zephyr enthusiastically attended a fashion show, only to fall into a giarism scandal.


    He wanted to choose a piece of clothing for Sybil from the show, but it didn¡¯t work out.


    He was very angry then.


    Lysander said, ¡°Just like before, the Thorne Group has been acquired by us.¡±


    Zephyr was momentarily speechless,pletely unaware that Lysander would make such a big move.


    Now that the Thorne Group had been acquired, their designs and staff all belonged to the Sinir Grou


    p.


    He had made a big effort for this dress.


    Sybil didn¡¯t understand what they were discussing, knowing only that it was work¨C


    rted, so she wasn¡¯t interested. Sybil tightly held T

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    Chapter 172


    The dining room was a standalone part of the Sinir family¡¯s mansion.


    This full¨C


    on ss dining room allowed you to soak in the view outside. You could pop the windows open, and a


    gentle breeze would waft in, carrying the scent of blooming flowers.


    Having a meal in such an environment was a triple treat for your senses. Sight, smell, and sound.


    Man! Rich people really lived the high life.


    Thssa was taken aback.


    The restaurant table wasden with deluxe king crab, big lobsters, sashimi, and all sorts of seafood tha


    t were air freighted from abroad. The aroma was irresistible, making for a perfect cornbination of color,


    aroma, and taste.


    Thssa hadn¡¯t even started eating yet, and her mouth was already watering.


    She was a fan of seafood, but in Starhaven, seafood cost an arm and a legpared to regr food.


    Text content ? N?velDrama.Org.


    She had to make ends meet for her four kids; she couldn¡¯t afford to splurge on seafood. It had been fiv


    e years since shest savored the taste of seafood.


    At this moment, the table was chock full with seafood. The delicious taste hit her heartstrings, her saliv


    a started to secrete uncontrobly, and her stomach betrayed her by growling.


    Thssa embarrassingly covered her stomach.


    Sybil chuckled warmly after hearing her stomach growl, ¡°Go ahead, dig in. Don¡¯t be shy, all of this was


    specially prepared for you.¡±


    Thssa gave an awkward smile and responded to Sybil, ¡°Thank you, but, Sybil, how did you know tha


    t I have a thing for seafood?¡±


    She was sure it wasn¡¯t Lysander who spilled the beans to Sybil, as he didn¡¯t have a clue either.


    A few days ago, neither she nor Lysander knew they were the ones from that night five years ago. Their


    rtionship was strictly business. Boss and employee.


    And also, he was a high and mighty CEO, and she was just an inconspicuous janitor. Why would a high


    ¨Cprofile CEO care about a janitor¡¯s personal preferences?


    Sybil, with a loving smile on her face, nced at Lysander, who was sitting next to her, and said, ¡°I took


    a wild guess, and I nailed it. Actually, I also have a soft spot for seafood, and Lysander is quite a seafo


    od enthusiast as well. This shows you and Lysander have a lot inmon; you both share the same int


    erests. You two are a match made in heaven.¡±


    Thssa, a bit embarrassed, lowered her head and chuckled, ¡°What a coincidence. It¡¯s probably just a


    coincidence.¡±


    It really was a coincidence. She didn¡¯t even know that Lysander had a taste for seafood.


    Zephyr, who was sitting next to Sybil, kept silent, his face somber.


    He peeled a lobster and silently put the meat in Sybil¡¯s bowl. ¡°Eat it while it¡¯s hot, it won¡¯t taste as good


    when it¡¯s cold.¡±


    Meanwhile, Lysander also peeled a lobster and put the meat into Thssa¡¯s bowl.


    Thssa, who was feeling out of ce, suddenly found a piece of peeled lobster meat in her bowl.


    It was peeled by Lysander.


    She looked at him in surprise.


    Lysander, with an unfazed expression, said in a low voice, ¡°Eat it while it¡¯s hot.¡±


    He actually peeled a lobster for her.


    Thssa felt a warm feeling of being cherished flowing through her heart.


    Nobody had ever peeled a shrimp for her since she was a child.


    Her mother, Evelyn, was carefree, and although she loved Thssa dearly, she never paid attention to


    the small details in life. It was enough for her, as long as Thssa wasn¡¯t starving or freezing.


    As for warmth and quality of life, it was out of the question.


    When Thssa was a kid, she would bite directly into the shrimp shell. When she grew up, she peeled


    it herself. Even Evelyn never peeled a shrimp for her.


    Suddenly, someone peeled a shrimp for her. She felt all sorts of emotions in that moment. She felt bitte


    rsweet, touched, warm, and pleasantly surprised.


    Thssa¡¯s nose tingled a bit. She hastily put the lobster meat in her mouth and gave a thumbs¨C


    up, ¡°This is so damn good!¡±

 Chapter 173

    Chapter 173


    Thssa tried to ster on a smile, hiding the storm of feelings brewing deep within her.


    She also responded to Lysander¡¯s kindness by picking up a shrimp, skillfully peeling it, and cing it in


    Lysander¡¯s bowl.


    ¡°Mr. Sinir. No Lysander, you have some too¡±


    Lysander didn¡¯t respond and just ate the shrimp she peeled for him.


    Across the table, Sybil watched their interaction as her smile grew with every passing moment, enjoyin


    g the sight.


    ¡°Ah, the Sinir men, ever the gentlemen, only peel shrimp for their beloveddies,¡±


    With that, she nced adoringly at Zephyr beside her.


    They had been married for over forty years, and Zephyr had been peeling shrimp for her all this time.


    After seeing Lysander peel a shrimp for Thssa, Sybil knew that he had found his one.


    Zephyr, indulging her with his gaze, continued peeling shrimps for her.


    And Thssa, watching Sybil and Zephyr exchange looks of love and happiness, was deeply moved.


    Making it till old age together was hard enough, let alone keeping the spark alive. But Zephyr and Sybil


    were exactly that. A couple that everyone envied.


    Sybil said that Sinir men only peel shrimp for their beloved. And Lysander had just peeled a shrimp f


    or her.


    Could it be¡­?


    Thssa was slow on the uptake, but she quickly nced at Lysander.


    Seeing his stern and handsome face made her heart pound like boiling water over a zing fire.


    She quickly looked away and bowed her head, busying herself with cutting a king crab, hoping to hide


    her flushed face.


    Lysander noticed her struggling. She was cutting and cutting but getting nowhere.


    ¡°Let me do it.¡± He said.


    He picked up the knife and fork, efficiently sliced a piece of crab meat, and ced it in her bowl.


    Thssa felt awkward. She was so nervous that she couldn¡¯t


    even hold the knife and fork properly. She must have looked ridiculous.


    She blushed even more, burying her face almost into the table, and mumbled, ¡°Thank you.¡±


    Lysander poured her a ss of juice and said softly, ¡°Eat slowly.¡±


    Thssa didn¡¯t say anything and just nibbled on her crab meat.


    This was her first time meeting the elder Sinirs with Lysander; their only connection was a night five


    Text content ? N?velDrama.Org.


    years ago.


    She thought it was just a regr meeting, but now the topic had shifted to feelings.


    Between her and Lysander, there was only duty, not love.


    Suddenly, Sybil¡¯s words about Sinir men peeling shrimp only for their beloved yed endlessly in he


    r head.


    Lysander had peeled one for her. So, in other words, she was Lysander¡¯s beloved.


    She didn¡¯t know how to face that.


    Every time she saw Lysander, her heart beat faster. She became anxious and couldn¡¯t look him in the e


    ye.


    Sybil seemed pleased, her smile deep and warm, ¡°When are you two nning to get married? Have a


    baby soon while Zephyr and I are still healthy enough to help.¡±


    Have a baby soon?


    Thssa was taken aback, and her face turned even redder.


    She instinctively looked down at her belly.


    She wanted to tell them that she and Lysander alrea

 Chapter 174

    Chapter 174


    Thssa¡¯s face and ears were all flushed obviously out of shyness. If Sybil kept pushing her to get mar


    ried and have kids, she would be on pins and needles


    Lysander had put in a great deal of effort to find the woman he met that night five years ago He couldn¡¯t


    let her be scared off at the first meeting.


    So Lysander came to Thssa¡¯s rescue He told Sybil, ¡°We¡¯re still young, we¡¯re not nning on having


    kids just yet, we want to enjoy our time as a couple for a few years.¡±


    Sybil responded with some dissatisfaction, ¡°After the child is born, we can help you guys out. You can h


    ave your couple time then¡±


    Lysander countered. ¡°Once the child is born, they will definitely seek out their parents. Can you guarant


    ee they will stay put by your side


    and not bother us?¡±


    Upon hearing the word ¡°bother, a sharp pain and difort sprouted in Thssa¡¯s heart.


    This painful feeling made the crab meat she had in her mouth taste awful.


    It seemed that Lysander really didn¡¯t like kids..


    If he knew that she already had four children, he would definitely be frustrated.


    Her heart ached tremendously as she thought about her four lovely children, who were all hoping to fin


    d their father and longing for a


    father¡¯s love.


    If the children knew their father didn¡¯t like


    them and even found them annoying, they would be so sad and heartbroken.


    Instead of letting them know this cruel truth, it would be better not to tell them who their father was. At l


    east they wouldn¡¯t be disappointed or heartbroken.


    While looking at Lysander, Sybil sighed. She then turned to Thssa, asking her, ¡°Do you feel the sam


    e way?¡±


    Thssa forced a smile and said, ¡°I will go with Lysander¡¯s n.¡±


    Sybil sighed again.


    Text content ? N?velDrama.Org.


    She had


    hoped that Lysander and Thssa could have a child sooner, but it seemed that this wish was going to


    be dashed again.


    She suddenly realized that the rtionship between Lysander and Thssa seemed a bit awkward.


    If they were truly lovers, there wouldn¡¯t be such awkwardness and distance between them.


    Could it be that Lysander deliberately staged this to stop them from pressuring him to marry?


    Sybil had her doubts.


    After dinner, Thssa prepared to leave.


    Sybil enthusiastically invited her to stay, ¡°It¡¯s alreadyte, why don¡¯t you rest here and go back tomorro


    w?¡±


    Just as Thssa was about to decline, Lysander said, ¡°Listen to Sybil.¡±


    Thssa¡¯s mouth twitched, unsure of what to say.


    She agreed to meet Lysander¡¯s parents because he had once told her that he would take responsibility


    for her. She wanted to give herself a chance to get along with him


    and try to give their children aplete family.


    Lysander didn¡¯t like children, but she could slowly tell him how cute and likable her kids were. Through


    constant influence, she hoped he would gradually ept children.


    Once he epted children and stopped rejecting them, she would tell him that she had four children th


    at were all his.


    This way, she could give her children aplete family and let them experience a father¡¯s love.


    Since she had made this decision, she might as well st

 Chapter 175

    Chapter 175


    At least for now, the Sinir family seemed pretty cool with Thssa, and


    Lysander seemed to really like her.


    The only snag was that Lysander wasn¡¯t a big fan of kids.


    Sybil set Thssa up in Lysander¡¯s room for a rest.


    At first, Thssa was clueless, thinking it was just a regr guest room.


    She walked in and was gobsmacked by the sheer size of the room and its swanky decor.


    The room wasrge and bright, with a floor¨Cto¨C


    ceiling window on one side, azy boy sofa, and a coffee table right in front of it. Next to it was a deep


    bookshelf filled with all sorts of books, perfect for a coffee and readingbo.


    The huge, ck leather


    bed was roomy andfy and covered with a dark gray fur nket that was soft and smooth to the tou


    ch. They were very high¨Cend items.


    All this luxury in just a guest room?! It just showed that with money, no door was closed.


    Thssa was utterly amazed.


    She touched the fur nket as her fingertips grazed the delicate and soft fur. Deep down, she felt incre


    diblyfy.


    Wow, this was what money smelled like.


    Thssa took a deep sniff; the fur had a refreshing scent to it.


    This bed must be a dream to sleep on.


    So she quickly stripped down andy on the bed. Her body was enveloped by the silky¨C


    smooth fur. The fur brushed against her cheeks, making her feel all warm and soft.


    She fell asleep in no time.


    After a bit of work in his study, Lysander was urged by Sybil to go rest.


    Lysander returned to his room, finding that Thssa was already sound asleep on his bred. Her sleepi


    ng posture was peaceful and


    serene.


    He checked his watch and saw that it was only a bit past nine in the evening, and she was already fast


    asleep. This woman sure liked to hit the sack early.


    To Lysander, nine in the evening was prime time to get cracking.


    Nevertheless, it was Thssa¡¯s first day at the Sinir family¡¯s mansion. She was


    a guest, and he should act like a great host.


    Lysander took a bath, put on a robe, and slipped into bed.


    Thssa was in dreand. Suddenly, she felt a movement beside her. Instinctively, she


    thought it was one of the kids being restless in their sleep.


    Without thinking, she turned over, embraced the person next to her, and started to soothe them absent


    mindedly. ¡°There, there, don¡¯t be scared.¡±


    She was holding onto Lysander¡¯s thigh and touching his warm skin. She thought it was Elowen¡¯s back,


    so she wasAll rights ? N?velDrama.Org.


    Thssa would hold her close, soothing her by stroking her back.


    This had be a habit for her.


    But what she didn¡¯t realize was that she wasn¡¯t holding Elowen; she was holding Lysander¡¯s thigh. Her


    hand gently glided over his thigh as her cheek rested on his leg.


    Lysander felt his throat tighten, and his body temperature began to rise.


    Thssa was dreaming of holding her precious Elowen and giving her warmfort.


    Lysander had hoped for a quiet night¡¯s sleep, but now he couldn¡¯t keep his cool.


    He gently removed her hand, freeing his thigh from her tight grip.


    Hey down, his head level with hers, and propped up her cheek with his hand. Her


    slightly pursed lips were even more attractive in the dim light.


    His gaze was deep, and his voice was husky. ¡°Darling, this is the passion you¡¯ve sparked.¡±


    With that, he cupped her lips and began to kiss

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    Chapter 176


    Thssa was roused from her sleep. She was all groggy, thinking she¡¯d just pecked a kiss on Elowen¡¯s


    chubby cheek.


    She wondered Why did Elowen¡¯s tender face feel different?


    The skin was firm and full of power It was nothing like a child¡¯s


    Maybe she was just too sleepy and got it wrong, so she went back to sleep.


    Suddenly, her lips were blocked by a powerful aura that stole her breath.


    A man¡¯s strong masculine scent surrounded her, and she was instantly stripped of all control.


    Thssa struggled awake from her dream. Her eyes opened to see a handsome face right before her.


    The man¡¯s skin was tight and stic. They were so close that she could even see his pores clearly.


    His double eyelids were deeply folded, and under the light, his


    eyelids glowed, looking moist, sexy, and charming.


    Her nose was pressed against the man¡¯s nostrils, and her lips were tightly kissed by the man as his hot


    breath filled her nose


    She could clearly smell the strong male scent on him.


    Her heart pounded crazily.


    Thssa was panicked. Her hands were braced against his chest, trying hard to push him away..


    She was just sleeping, but he forcefully kissed her.


    Was he going to barge into her space again, like he did five years ago, to take what he wanted?


    Thssa would never forget that stormy night five years ago and


    the pain of him forcefully taking her innocence.


    Each time she thought of it, her heart would ache intensely.


    At this moment, all Lysander wanted was to satisfy her.


    He was always unable to resist her. She was lying next to him, and even hugging him. He had to take s


    ome action.


    He kissed her lips, and her sweetness filled his mouth, just like that night five years ago, making him lo


    se control.


    How could he possibly let her go easily?


    His hand supported her back, pulling her into his arms. He kissed her dominantly and crazily, trying to s


    uck out her breath.


    Her light breath seemed to carry a sweetness that seeped into his heart, making him unable to quit.


    Even when he didn¡¯t know she was the woman from that night five years ago, he couldn¡¯t resist her. Ev


    ery move she made excited him, and all he wanted to do was kiss her.


    Because of this, he thought he had a problem with self¨C


    control. He deliberately kept her around to exercise his patience.


    Text content ? N?velDrama.Org.


    He thought of letting her leave the Sinir Group once hepletely lost interest in her. But he didn¡¯t e


    xpect that Thssa was that woman from five years ago. The woman he crazily desired, the woman s


    weet to his marrow.


    No wonder his body had no defenses against her, and he always felt attracted to her.


    It turned out that the body couldn¡¯t lie. She was the woman he needed, and he felt that deep in his bon


    es.


    This time, Lysander, knowing Thssa was the woman from that night, couldn¡¯t control himself even m


    ore.


    He indulged in kissing her fasting the honey¨C


    like sweetness between her lips, and inhaling her fragrance.


    Thssa was very scared, and her hands were pressed against his chest, trying to push him.


    He even forcefully held her tight in his arms; she couldn¡¯t break free at all.


    His kisses were wild, like a beast¡¯s. It was like he was trying to devour her, leaving no space for rejectio


    n.


    Thssa¡¯s heart beat faster and faster. She was panicked, scared, anxious, and helpless.


    Her hands wed at his chest, ripping open his bathrobe and allowing her to touch hi

 Chapter 177

    Chapter 177


    They were warm and solid to the touch, and a surge of masculine energy traveled from his hand to her


    heart.


    Thssa¡¯s heart pounded so hard that it felt like there was a bouncing ball inside her chest. She was fu


    ll of panic, fear, anxiety, and


    dread


    She feared that the incident from five years ago might happen again.


    She couldn¡¯t push him away, so she bit down hard on his lips.


    *Ouch!¡±


    Lysander groaned in pain, released her, and looked up to see her lips swollen from the kiss and glisteni


    ng with saliva.


    Her big, clear eyes were filled with tears, making her look pitiful and softly feminine.


    This made him want to protect her even more..


    Text content ? N?velDrama.Org.


    Thssa¡¯s eyes were filled with panic as she tried to back away, wanting to keep her distance from Lys


    ander.


    However, his arm tightened around her shoulders, and his grip was very strong. She couldn¡¯t move, mu


    ch less step back.


    After struggling for a bit, she lifted her eyes and red at him, ¡°Lysander, let me go! Why did you barge


    into my room in the middle of the night? You know doing this to me is illegal, right?¡±


    How dare he force himself on her without her consent?!


    Lysander lifted his other hand as his thumb lightly brushed over his lips. His thumb was stained with fre


    sh blood.


    She had bitten his lip!


    This woman was ruthless and, for some reason, had a habit of biting him.


    His eyes reflect the blood on his fingertips, making him look like a demon.


    He smirked, his voice deep, ¡°Get it straight; this is my room, and you¡¯re sleeping in my bed. Wasn¡¯t that


    your n?¡±


    ¡°And¡­¡± He looked at her coldly. ¡°Just now, you were the one hugging my thigh and kissing me.¡±


    Thssa was shocked, and her eyes widened.


    While remembering her dream, she finally realized what happened.


    She wasn¡¯t hugging Elowen, but Lysander¡¯s thigh!


    No wonder it felt off.


    She opened her eyes wide. She was panicked and embarrassed, so she tried to pry his hands off her s


    houlders, hoping to push him away and run.


    Sheughed awkwardly to distract him, ¡°Haha, I was dreaming; I didn¡¯t know that was your thigh. And t


    his room, Sybil told me to stay here. I didn¡¯t know it was your room; I¡¯ll leave now, right now!¡±


    Lysander saw through her little scheme.


    Was she trying to run away?


    No chance.


    He pulled her closer, holding her like a plush toy. His deep voice echoed above her head, ¡°Where do yo


    u think you¡¯re going? You started this fire, so you need to put it out. Those are the rules, got it?¡±


    Thssa¡¯s face was pressed against his firm body. Feeling the muscles on his abdomen made her fac


    e turn red.


    ¡°I¡¯m just a simple girl. I don¡¯t understand your rules. You¡¯re generous, carefree, fair, and selfless, so ple


    ase let me go.¡±


    Lysander raised an eyebrow. This woman was so straightforward.


    Unlike the daughters of noble families, whose every move looked like it was copied and pasted. This w


    oman was much more interesting than those elegant, noble, and aristocratic women.


    Lysander chuckled, ¡°What kind of ¡®simple girl¡® are you?¡±


    ¡°I am¡­ Thssa was about to speak.


    Just then, there was a gentle knock on the door, and someone walked in.

 Chapter 178

    Chapter 178


    Sybil camed a bowl of hot soup that was still steaming.


    ¡°Thssa, I noticed you didn¡¯t eat much tonight, so I made you some soup¡­¡±


    Before she could finish, she saw the two of them


    cuddling on the bed. Thssa was leaning on Lysander with her cheek against his chest Lysander was


    disheveled, his bathrobe was open, and Thssa¡¯s hands were touching the muscles on his chest.


    This intimate scene made Sybil stop mid¨Csentence.


    Thssa also realized that she was


    too close to Lysander, which could lead to misunderstandings. She felt


    embarrassed and quickly pulled the covers over herself


    She was blushing, wishing she could find a ce to hide.


    Sybil, having seen her share of life, was not shocked, but she was delighted, and her smile deepened,


    saying, ¡°TII leave the soup here; remember to drink it when you¡¯re free. Carry on; I won¡¯t disturb you.¡±


    I


    With that, Sybil quickly left the room, making sure to close the door tightly behind her.


    Sybil had arranged for Thssa to rest in Lysander¡¯s room and had urged workaholic Lysander to go to


    bed.


    She simply wanted them to be together. If no sparks flew when a young man and a woman shared a ro


    om, then something was definitely off, especially since Lysander was a young and energetic man.


    Sybil was worried that Lysander might just find a random woman to put on a show to avoid being pushe


    d into marriage, so she wanted Thssa to stay overnight, keeping them in the same room to see what


    happened.


    To her surprise, it was real this time.


    Sybil was so happy that she couldn¡¯t stop grinning


    Just


    as she closed the door, Zephyr approached. He gave Sybil a puzzled look and was about to knock on t


    he door when Sybil hurriedly grabbed his hand to stop him, lowering her voice so as not to disturb the t


    wo inside.


    ¡°They¡¯re enjoying some alone time. Don¡¯t disturb them.¡±


    Original from N?velDrama.Org.


    Zephyr looked serious, ¡°It¡¯s Thssa¡¯s first day in our


    house; she should be a bit more reserved. Don¡¯t talk nonsense.¡±


    ¡°You old¨C


    fashioned grump, what era are you living in? Young people these days are passionate; they don¡¯t care


    about these things.¡± Sybil said somewhat discontentedly.


    Passionate?


    Zephyr looked even more displeased. Lysander was always serious, disciplined, and very rule¨C


    abiding. How could he lose control?


    Zephyr didn¡¯t say anything and was prepared to knock on the door again. He needed to talk to Lysande


    r.


    Seeing his determination, Sybil quickly grabbed his arm and led him away. Not until they reached down


    stairs did she give him a re and speak aloud, ¡°Don¡¯t you believe what I said? I just went in to bring T


    hssa soup and saw them cuddling each other. Lysander was even more eager than Thssa.¡±


    Zephyr¡¯s stern gaze became even heavier, but he gave up on finding Lysander, ¡°Go to bed; I¡¯m too old t


    o stay up.¡±


    After saying goodbye to Sybil, he went to his own room.


    Sybil looked upstairs again; her smile was filled with a deeper and more thought¨Cprovoking meaning..


    After dinner, she specifically instructed the servants to clean Lysander¡¯s room and confirmed there wer


    e no contraceptives in the room.


    Did Lysander not want children yet? Did he want a few more years of bachelorhood?


    With that though, Sybil satisfactorily headed to the bathroom to wash up and go to bed.


    Meanwhile, Zephyr had just sat on the bed and was taking off his shoes when his phone suddenly rang


    .


    It was a call from the chairman of the Brennan group, Daniel, who was also Faye¡¯s father.


    Zephyr answered the call, greeting him warmly. ¡°Daniel, aren¡¯t you in bed yet?*


    Daniel was about the same age as Lysander¡¯s father, making him a junior to

 Chapter 179

    Chapter 179


    Daniel spoke with a mix of politeness and respect, ¡®Zephyr, sorry to bug ya at this ungodly hour¡±


    ¡°Clearly, you must have something big up your sleeve to hit me up thiste¡± Zephyr replied.


    Knowing Zephyr¡¯s straight¨C


    shooter style, Daniel cut to the chase, ¡°I wouldn¡¯t have disturbed you if it wasn¡¯t


    for my daughter, Faye. She¡¯s been working as Mr. Sinir¡¯s personal secretary, and she goofed up a bi


    t. Mr. Sinir had her thrown in the mmer, I¡¯ve asked around, and they¡¯re saying she¡¯s looking at a fi


    ve year sentence.¡±


    ¡°What?¡± Zephyr was both stem and shocked after hearing this.


    Faye, this littledy, once decided to join the army with Lysander and held up under the tough condition


    s for three whole years!


    Later, she retired with Lysander and insisted on bing his personal secretary.


    Zephyr asked her why she wanted to stick with Lysander.


    Young Faye, with a determined look in her eyes and no intention of hiding her feelings, said, ¡°I have a t


    hing for Mr. Sinir. I know he¡¯s not into me now, but I want to fight for my shot with him!¡±


    At that time, Zephyr was still holding onto a verbal agreernent he made with the former chairman of the


    Ravensong Group about getting Lysander and Charlotte married.


    So he turned down Faye¡¯s request and asked her to return to the Brennan Group.


    By then, Lysander was already 23 and Charlotte was of age. Zephyr even called the chairman of the R


    avensong Group to ask if he still remembered their spoken agreement about the engagement.


    The chairman of the Ravensong Group seemed clueless and said that he had too many conversations


    and couldn¡¯t remember every detail.


    This basically meant that their verbal agreement was just a joke, and the chairman of the Ravensong G


    roup didn¡¯t take it seriously and had no intention of marrying Charlotte off to Lysander.


    Zephyr got the picture of the Ravensong Group¡¯s attitude.


    He thought Faye would give up on being Lysander¡¯s secretary after being turned down.


    But to his surprise, she was stubborn as a mule and kept pestering Zephyr for the job.


    Zephyr was moved by her determination, and upon understanding the Ravensong Group¡¯s attitude, he


    figured since Lysander had no engagement tying him down, there was nothing wrong with giving Faye


    a chance to pursue her feelings.


    So, Zephyr agreed to Faye¡¯s request and let her be Lysander¡¯s personal secretary


    And she had been at it for seven long years.


    Faye wasn¡¯t able to win


    Lysander over, and he had always seen her as just a friend, never showing any romantic interest in her.


    Zephyr started to wonder if there was something off about Lysander¡¯s orientation.


    A few days ago, Charlotte from the Ravensong Group paid a special visit and told Zephyr that she¡¯d he


    ard about her unfinished engagement with Lysander when she was a kid. She¡¯d been saving


    herself and waiting for Lysander toe and marry her. She was hoping to


    make good on that old verbal promise and tie the knot with Lysander.


    Text content ? N?velDrama.Org.


    Zephyr was already worried about Lysander¡¯s love life and thought that Faye might not be able to win h


    im over, but maybe sweet


    Charlotte could catch his eye. If not, she was willing to marry him, and they could just get married and s


    tart a family.


    So, Zephyr let bygones be bygones and renewed the marriage agreement


    between the Sinir and Ravensong families, asking Lysander toe back and meet Charlotte.


    But he didn¡¯t see iting that Charlotte was ying him. She already had a few boyfriends.


    On the other hand, Faye, as Lysander¡¯s personal secretary, was always careful,petent, and never


    screwed up.


    So what did she do to make Lysander have her thrown in jail?


    ¡°What¡¯s the real deal here? Spill it.¡± Zephyr demanded, as his mind was lost in

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    Chapter 180


    Daniel¡¯s voice sounded absolutely bbergasted, ¡°You don¡¯t know about this yet?¡±


    He paused for a moment, then continued, ¡°This actually has to do with the Sinir Group¡¯s design n


    s for this quarter. A cleaner from the Sinir Group, a woman named Thssa, swiped the ns and s


    old them to the Thorne Group. This chick is slicker than a greased pig. She has Lysander totally under


    her spell somehow. Lysander¡¯s so head over heels for her that he even concocted a scheme to frame F


    aye, having her delete the surveince video footage of Thssa stealing the ns. But the media cau


    ght Faye in the act of deleting the footage and started pointing fingers at her, saying she was the one w


    ho stole the ns.


    Before giving Zephyr a call, Daniel had a chat with Faye to get the full scoop on the situation.


    Now that the Sinir Group had sessfully swallowed up the Thorne Group. Whether the controversi


    al design ns were originally the Sinir Group¡¯s or the Thome Group¡¯s no longer mattered. Now they


    were all the Sinir Group¡¯s, and there was no more fuss about


    The question of whether the ns were stolen or not was now moot.


    If


    the Sinir Group decided to let sleeping dogs lie on this matter, they could turn a mountain into a mol


    ehill.


    If Zephyr stepped in and went to the police to vouch for Faye, she would be out of the woods.


    As for who really stole the ns, Lysander only caught Faye deleting the surveince video footage, an


    d that was all the media reported.


    No one knew what the footage she deleted was.


    Daniel seized on this loophole when he called Zephyr to plead Faye¡¯s case.


    He shifted the spotlight onto Thssa, iming she was the one who stole the ns. And that Thss


    a had seduced Lysander, who was so smitten that he nned to have Faye take the fall to protect Thal


    assa.


    Zephyr¡¯s face turned dark as a storm cloud after hearing Daniel¡¯s story.


    From the moment Thssa waltzed into the Sinir family, he recognized her from his time at the Sincl


    All rights ? N?velDrama.Org.


    air Group, where she was just


    cleaner.


    Faye had provided evidence proving Thssa was the thief who stole the ns.


    In a fit of rage, he had Thssa hauled off to the police station for a severe penalty.


    The Sinir Group had no room for deceitful individuals.


    Later, Sybil didn¡¯t even hold


    a grudge against him for not giving her clothes; instead, sheforted him and advised him to leave th


    e Sinir Group affairs to Lysander to avoid messing up his ns.


    After that, Zephyr washed his hands of the matter.


    He never expected Lysander to handle the matter this way.


    What a letdown!


    Thssa was cunning as a fox. How did she manage to lure Lysander into improper conduct and make


    him lose himself in the sea of her charms?


    She was a cmity! This kind of woman should not be allowed near Lysander!


    After venting his anger, Zephyr, with a heavy heart, reassured Daniel, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I¡¯ll sort this out.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m relieved to know that you¡¯re on it. Faye has been with Lysander for ten years; I believe you¡¯ve got a


    good grasp of her character. She¡¯s steadfast; anyone else would¡¯ve thrown in the towel, but she stuck t


    o it, without a word ofint, silently standing by.¡±


    Daniel sighed, his voice filled with heartache and helplessness.


    For a woman, her ten years of youthful bloom were her most naive and beautiful years.


    Faye poured all these years into Lysander and got nothing but prison in return.


    Anyone would feel sorry and heartbroken about this.


    Zephyr felt a pang of guilt, even thinking he owed Faye an apology.


    He said, ¡°It¡¯s Lysander who doesn¡¯t deserve her. Once Faye is out, you should tell her not to put all her


    eggs in one basket; she deserves better¡±


    They chatted a bit more about this and that, then Zephyr hung up the

 Chapter 181

    Chapter 181


    Just then, Sybil walked in to find Zephyr radiating gloom, looking like he was in a lousy mood.


    ¡°What¡¯s up?¡± She asked. ¡°You always looked so down in the dumps when Lysander didn¡¯t have a girlfri


    end. Now that he does and they¡¯re


    all loved up, why do you look like someone owes you money?¡±


    Zephyr didn¡¯t want to snap at Sybil, he only had love for her.


    He wouldn¡¯t tell her about the things that were hugging him. He got up, saying, ¡°Go to bed, I¡¯m gonna w


    ash my feet.¡±


    Sybil watched Zephyr¡¯s stem back, shook her head, and didn¡¯t say a word.


    In the master bedroom upstairs


    After Sybil left. Thssa


    quickly jumped off the bed and darted to the door like a rabbit, wanting to get out.


    Lysander watched her scampering away and smiled, ¡°It¡¯ste; there are no cabs up the mountain, and t


    here are wolves around.¡±


    Thssa¡¯s hand, which was on the door handle, stopped abruptly. She was about to open the door and


    leave. However, she was scared


    stiff.


    Being in the same room with Lysander was terrifying.


    Although she agreed to try dating him, she really couldn¡¯t handle doing this kind of stuff.


    There was no emotional foundation between them yet. She couldn¡¯t bring herself to get intimate with a


    guy she had zero feelings for


    Even though Lysander had a great body and was incredibly handsome, she was not that kind of girl.


    Thssa turned around, her eyes a bit chaotic from panic, ¡°Don¡¯t you have a driver? Can¡¯t he take me?


    ¡±


    ¡°The driver is off duty now.¡± Lysander calmly answered while leisurely tying his bathrobe.


    Thssa asked again, ¡°Can¡¯t you drive


    me down the mountain? Just to the foot of the mountain, I can walk to the road and get a cab.¡±


    ¡°Im tired, and I don¡¯t feel like driving.¡± He said as his deep eyes looked at her.


    Thssa was taken aback. She gave him a resentful look, let go of the door handle, and headed to the


    balcony¡¯s lounge chair.


    ¡°Fine, I¡¯ll just spend the night here.¡± Shey on the chair with her back to him, not intending to speak ag


    ain.


    Since she couldn¡¯t leave and was too embarrassed to ask for a different room, she had to give up the b


    ed that was sofortable that it could put her to sleep instantly.


    After seeing her lying on the chair, looking lonely, Lysander didn¡¯t press the matter any further.


    Text content ? N?velDrama.Org.


    It was her first day at the Sinir family¡¯s mansion; it was normal if she felt out of ce. Sybil¡¯s sudden


    entrance must¡¯ve startled her.


    ¡°There are nkets in the closet; grab one for yourself.¡± Lysander said.


    Without making a fuss, Thssa got up, grabbed a nket, andy back down on the chair.


    Lysander alsoy down, and they didn¡¯t talk anymore.


    Maybe because Thssa had slept a bit earlier, she was now wide awake.


    She thought about the days since she first met Lysander


    He had once despised her, mocked her, and also saved her. She didn¡¯t know how he felt about her.


    In the quiet of the night, Thssa¡¯s voice suddenly broke the silence.


    ¡°How much did that vi you built for my family

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    Chapter 182


    Thssa was just throwing a feeler out there, figuring Lysander was probably snoozed out and wouldn¡¯


    t respond.


    To her surprise, his deep voice echoed in the dark.


    ¡°Why are you asking?¡± He asked sleepily.


    Getting a response, Thssa turned to look at his figure, which was highlighted by the moonlight.


    In the dark, her eyes sparkled like ake reflecting the moon.


    ¡°Once I make some dough, I¡¯ll pay you back.¡±


    She¡¯d been itching for a revamp of her old, damp house. It always gave Astrid aches and pains. She w


    as afraid Astrid might get sick.


    But with her limited means and four kids to feed, she just didn¡¯t have the cash to build a new house.


    Yet Lysander had quietly torn down her old house and built a swanky vi she wouldn¡¯t even dare drea


    m of!


    She wasn¡¯t about to ept charity; she¡¯d definitely pay him back.


    ¡°Do you think I need your money?¡± Lysander grumbled.


    ¡°No, that¡¯s not what I meant¡­¡±


    ¡°I told you five years ago that I¡¯d make it up to you.¡± Lysander cut her off.


    Initially, he thought the woman that night was Thssa¡¯s cousin, Celia. Celia was gone, but her mother,


    Astrid, was still around. The vi was for Astrid.


    He built the vi as a form ofpensation for that woman.


    Now he knew that woman was not Celia, but Thssa. The intent behind the vi hadn¡¯t changed.


    Thssa was flustered. She wanted to insist she wouldn¡¯t ept charity, but Lysander cut her off.


    So she decided to bite her tongue.


    If this waspensation, then she¡¯d just have to ept it. The vi must¡¯ve cost a pretty penny.


    e here


    If she were to pay him back, it¡¯d probably take her a lifetime.


    Besides, he did owe her.


    If it hadn¡¯t been for that night five years ago where she lost her


    innocence, got pregnant, and had a risky pregnancy, she¡¯d have her college degree and a better start i


    n life.


    And the four kids were his as much as hers. She¡¯d raised them for four years!


    Consider itpensation for four years of child rearing then.


    ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll take it. No need to pay you back.¡± Thssa whispered.


    Her response seemed to lift Lysander¡¯s mood.


    He propped his head on his hands and watched her. Shey on the couch and turned to face him.


    In the moonlight, her face was soft and beautiful, and her eyes were sparkling.


    Images of that stormy night five years ago and their tangled bodies flickered in Lysander¡¯s mind.


    The sweet, tender, and intoxicating memory lingered, making his heart race.


    He was worried about scaring Thssa, so he tried to keep his emotions in check.


    ¡°You once told me you were supposed to go to college. What happened that forced you to drop


    out?¡± Lysander asked, his voice suppressed.


    He¡¯d assumed Thssa had to quit because she was caught stealing and had a criminal record. Now h


    e knew the truth. It was all a scheme by Faye and Isabe to frame Thssa and hide the fact that she


    was the woman from five years ago.


    Text content ? N?velDrama.Org.


    They even lied about Celia being the woman that night.


    Celia had died when she was only three or four.


    The lengths they went to for their own gain, even exploiting a dead child, were unforgivable!


    Lysander wondered if the ¡®unexpected event¡® Thssa mentioned was their tryst.

 Chapter 183

    Chapter 183


    Lysander felt something was off after thinking of this.


    Even if Thssa had lost her virginity, it didn¡¯t stop her from continuing her studies.


    So Lysander reckoned that the issue wasn¡¯t about their sexual rtionship.


    When he brought up the question, Thssa¡¯s heart raced instantly. A strong sense of injustice spread i


    n her heart, she even felt a lump


    in her throat.


    She felt utterly wronged and angry after remembering her experience from five years ago.


    If Lysander didn¡¯t pop up out of the blue, sleep with her, and get her pregnant, her body wouldn¡¯t have


    be weak, and she would


    have been able to work without needing constant bed rest. She wouldn¡¯t have dropped out


    of school. She didn¡¯t even get her diploma!


    However, every time she thought of her four little angels, all her grievances and anger vanished.


    All her hardships seemed worth it after having those four kids.


    ¡°Nothing. I¡¯m tired, so I¡¯m gonna hit the hay.¡±


    Thssa dodged his question, turned her back to him, and tucked herself in.


    If she said the issue was her pregnancy, he would know she had his four kids.


    But he didn¡¯t like kids; he found them noisy. Now wasn¡¯t the time to tell him.


    She would slowly influence him, let him genuinely ept the kids, and then she would tell him.


    Lysander could tell Thssa didn¡¯t want to talk more.


    The issue seemed to be something she found hard to discuss.


    What was it that she couldn¡¯t bring herself to say?


    If she didn¡¯t want to talk, he wouldn¡¯t force her. Once she let her guard down and opened up, she would


    naturally tell him.


    Having decided to take responsibility for her, they had plenty of time to get to know each other.


    Respecting each other¡¯s privacy was a prerequisite for getting to know each other. Lysander certainly w


    ouldn¡¯t go snooping behind her back..


    Half an hourter.


    Lysander was still awake. His eyes gleamed in the darkness, like a wolf on the prowl.


    From the couch by the window came the sweet, soft breathing of a woman.


    Thssa had fallen asleep.


    Lysander got out of bed, went over to the couch, and picked her up.


    All rights ? N?velDrama.Org.


    Being disturbed, Thssa, in her sleep, squirmed ufortably.


    Lysander paused, thinking she would wake up.


    However, the woman in his arms turned over, her head leaned against his chest, her mouth moved, an


    d she continued to sleep soundly.


    She slept like a log; even such a big movement didn¡¯t wake her up.


    A smile crossed Lysander¡¯s lips.


    He held her and ced her on the bed so she could sleep morefortably.


    He alsoy down.


    The couch was too narrow, so he was worried that she would be ufortable. He wanted her to have


    a good sleep on the bed.


    Originally nning to share the bed, Lysander couldn¡¯t sleep. He underestimated Thssa¡¯s influence


    on him.


    Her breath was sweet, light, and fragrant. The faint floral scent on her kept teasing his nostrils, flowing i


    nto his blood, and arousing his desire for her.


    While just lying together, without even touching, Lysander began to lose control of himself again.


    pter 184


    Lysander took a deep breath, doing his best to keep his cool.


    He closed his eyes, trying to drift off to sleep.


    Just as he was about to enter dreand, Thssa next to him suddenly stirred. She reached out, both


    arms and legs sprawled over him, murmuring in her sleep. ¡°Baby, my baby¡­¡±


    Her hand rested on his belly, and her leg draped over his, half turning to cuddle him.


    Thssa¡¯s body was soft and warm, and her sweet scent and touch vividly lingered around him.


    This was the familiar scent he had been missing for five years.


    Lysander swallowed hard, his throat was parched.


    But after recalling the scene where she was about to bolt out of the room, he was worried he might scar


    e

 Chapter 184

    Chapter 184


    Originally nning to share the bed, Lysander couldn¡¯t sleep. He underestimated Thssa¡¯s influence


    on him.


    Her breath was sweet, light, and fragrant. The faint floral scent on her kept teasing his nostrils, flowing i


    nto his blood, and arousing his desire for her.


    While just lying together, without even touching, Lysander began to lose control of himself again.


    pter 184


    Lysander took a deep breath, doing his best to keep his cool.


    He closed his eyes, trying to drift off to sleep.


    Just as he was about to enter dreand, Thssa next to him suddenly stirred. She reached out, both


    arms and legs sprawled over him, murmuring in her sleep. ¡°Baby, my baby¡­¡±


    Her hand rested on his belly, and her leg draped over his, half turning to cuddle him.


    Thssa¡¯s body was soft and warm, and her sweet scent and touch vividly lingered around him.


    This was the familiar scent he had been missing for five years.


    Lysander swallowed hard, his throat was parched.


    But after recalling the scene where she was about to bolt out of the room, he was worried he might scar


    e her off.


    He carefully disentangled himself from her limbs.


    The familiar warmth and sweetness slightly retreated. Lysander sighed in relief, turning his back to her,


    thinking he could finally fall asleep.


    But her steady breath, her sweet scent, and her mumbling in her sleep were like a kitten scratching at h


    is heart.


    Enough was enough!


    If he wasn¡¯t worried about scaring her, he would have jumped her bones right then and there.


    After reminiscing about that night five years ago, Lysander gritted his teeth. While suppressing his desir


    es, he got up, put on his clothes, and headed to the study.


    Tonight, sleep was thest thing he needed. He might as well get some work done.


    The sky gradually lightened. The moonlight was reced by the rays of sunlight. Dawn arrived, and a n


    ew day began.


    Thssa was sleeping soundly on the incredibly soft andfortable bed..


    Suddenly, the ringing from her phone in her pocket wouldn¡¯t stop.


    Thssa was jolted awake. Somewhat annoyed, she rubbed her eyes as


    the phone continued ringing relentlessly. The ringtone was all too familiar.


    Her mind was still a bit fuzzy, but then it hit her like a ton of bricks, and she sat up straight.


    After taking in her surroundings, she gasped in surprise.


    She clearly fell asleep on the couchst night; how did she end up in bed?


    She quickly threw off the covers and checked herself.


    Thankfully, she was still fully dressed.


    She hurriedly got out of bed, grabbed her coat from the coat rack, pulled out her phone, and fumbled to


    answer the call.


    ¡°Hello, Mom.¡±


    ¡°You little rascal, if I hadn¡¯t gotten up early today. I wouldn¡¯t have known that you didn¡¯te home all n


    ight! You¡¯ve got guts! Why did you


    spend the night out? Evelyn¡¯s scolding voice, mixed with worry, came from the other end.


    Thssa¡¯s ears were about to go deaf from the scolding, so she held the phone a bit further from her e


    ar.


    Waiting for the scolding to subside, she finally brought the phone back to her ear, saying, ¡°I¡¯ll be back s


    oon; I¡¯ll exin when I get back; I gotta go.¡±


    With that, Thssa quickly hung up the phone.


    If she didn¡¯t hang up now, she would get another earful from Evelyn.


    Thssa forgot to call Evelynst night, telling her she was going to have dinner at Lysander¡¯s.


    Text content ? N?velDrama.Org.


    Who knew Sybil would ask her to stay over, and with all the things that happened after, shepletely


    forgot to call Evelyn.


    When she got back, she¡¯ll tell Evelyn in detail that she had found the kids¡® father. He was ready to take


    responsibility, but he didn¡¯t like children.


    She¡¯ll have to discuss this issue with Evelyn and see what they should do.


    Thssa quickly threw on some clothes.

 Chapter 185

    Chapter 185


    Lysander was already gone from the room, and it was barely dawn.


    Thssa was a bit worried that he had woken up earlier than her and


    had driven off, leaving her alone in the big mansion of the Sinir family


    She needed to find Lysander downstairs and leave with him.


    As Thssa descended the stairs, the ce was eerily quiet, not a soul was in sight.


    What the heck was going on?


    Thssa was puzzled.


    Then suddenly, she heard a noiseing from the bathroom.


    It must be Lysander freshening up.


    She hurried towards the bathroom. A tall figure stood at the entrance, his face obscured by the doorfra


    me, but by his movements, he seemed to be washing his face.


    She walked up to the doorway and said, ¡°Lysander, why are you up so early?¡±


    Before she could finish her sentence, she saw the person who had turned around. Thssa¡¯s words w


    ere suddenly stuck in her throat, and she forced a smile. ¡°Oh, it¡¯s you, grandpa; sorry, I mistook you for


    someone else.¡±


    She was about to turn around and leave when Zephyr¡¯s solemn and steady voice stopped her. ¡°Wait a


    minute.¡±


    Thssa stopped in her tracks, turned around, and politely asked, ¡°Is there something you need, grand


    All rights ? N?velDrama.Org.


    pa?¡±


    Zephyr hung the towel on the rack and stepped out of the bathroom, his deep and sharp gaze upon her


    . ¡°Thssa, I know who you are; you¡¯re a cleaner for the Sinir Group.¡±


    After receiving a call from Daniel yesterday, he couldn¡¯t sleep all night.


    Because of his restlessness, as soon as it was dawn, he got up.


    Zephyr was tall and solemn. Though he was old, his spine was still straight like a pine tree.


    His aristocratic aura and serious demeanor made Thssa feel a bit inferior.


    She gave an awkward smile and said, ¡°Yes.¡±


    Zephyr¡¯s face grew more solemn, his hawk¨C


    like eyes coldly staring at her. ¡°You are not a good match for Lysander. Lysander was born into a presti


    gious family and he is the CEO of the Sinir Group. Only a youngdy born into a simrly prestigious


    family who met all the criteria would be suitable for him.¡±


    Thssa¡¯s smile froze on her face.


    Her already somewhat inferior heart was given arger blow.


    It felt like a million needles were pricking her heart and it was both ironic and painful.


    Thssa lowered her eyshes, not saying a word.


    Seeing her silent, Zephyr thought she was plotting some scheme. His words became even sharper: ¡°H


    ow is a woman who uses her body for profit different from a prostitute? Immoral and unscrupulous, suc


    h a person doesn¡¯t even deserve to step foot into our home. This time is an exception, and it will be the


    He didn¡¯t look down on her for being a cleaner, but he disdained her for her actions.


    Stealing and scheming to seduce Lysander, even making Lysander protect her at the expense of Faye,


    was such reckless behavior.


    She was not fit to marry into the Sinir family.


    He would not allow such a woman to stay by Lysander¡¯s side and harm him.


    Yesterday, the moment she entered the living room, she knelt


    down and even exposed herself in front of him, an old man.


    Such a pretentious woman with no moral bottom line was the least respected by Zephyr.


    Although Zephyr¡¯s negativements about her were misunderstandings, they still hit Thssa hard. I


    t was a great insult to her. Thssa originally felt inferior because Zephyr said she didn¡¯te from


    a prestigious family.


    But his subsequentments about her selling her body made her feel extremely offended, and her he


    art ached with humiliation.


    She suddenly lifted her head and looked at Zephyr, a hint of a smile on her lips. ¡°Well, sir, I would appre


    ciate it if you could keep a tighter leash on your


    grandson. If he forces himself on a woman again without her consent, I¡¯ll see him in court!¡±

 Chapter 186

    Chapter 186


    Thssa strutted out of the Sinir family mansion, head held high, spine straight as an arrow. She wo


    uld be damned before she let herself look lesser than anyone else.


    Zephyr watched her haughty retreat, fuming to the point of near explosion, his breathing in heavy


    pants.


    This woman was unbearably arrogant!


    She was out of line and had the audacity to act so high and mighty!


    She was beyond redemption!


    With a deep and cold huff, Zephyr headed out to the mansion¡¯s garden.


    He was curious to see how this woman nned to escape. The Sinir mansion was on top


    of a hill, and it was practically impossible for taxis toe up here. Without a ride, how was she nni


    ng to leave? Would shee crawling back, begging them to send a car to take her down the hill?


    Thssa stormed out of the Sinir mansion, her heart ame with anger.


    This was an absolute outrage!


    They looked down on her background, thought she wasn¡¯t good enough for Lysander, and to top it all of


    f, they used her of using) underhanded tactics to climb up the socialdder!


    If they didn¡¯t like her, they should¡¯ve just said so instead of using such insulting excuses to kick her out!


    Was this the so¨Ccalled upbringing of the rich and privileged?


    Thssa seethed, her breathing bing erratic.


    After she left the mansion, Thssa realized she was on top of a hill with a winding road leading down


    hill that seemed to stretch on forever


    How long would it take her to walk down?


    All rights ? N?velDrama.Org.


    She was still wearing the dress Lysander had gotten her from the designer store yesterday. It was a fitt


    ed mermaid


    dress with a plunging neckline. It was a bit revealing, but she had her jacket to cover it up, so it wasn¡¯t t


    oo bad.


    She had worn the pajamas Sybil had prepared for her when she sleptst night.


    When she woke up, she didn¡¯t have anything else to wear, so she had to put on yesterday¡¯s dress agai


    n.


    The dress looked good on her, but it wasn¡¯t exactly ideal for walking.


    And she was in high heels. Walking downhill in high heels would be a nightmare.


    What was she going to do?


    Was she really going to swallow her pride and go back to ask Lysander for a ride?


    Thssa was torn. She had wanted to leavest night, but Lysander had clearly indicated that he didn¡¯t


    want to send her off. Why should she beg anyone?


    The Sinirs had already looked down on her. She wasn¡¯t going to make things worse by going back a


    nd begging them.


    It was just a walk down the hill. It wasn¡¯t the end of the world!


    Decided, Thssa found a rock by the roadside and knocked off the heels of


    her shoes, turning them into ts. She continued her journey down the hill, clutching her mermaid dress


    and walking carefully in her makeshift ts. Zephyr paced


    in the garden, expecting Thssa toe back begging for a ride..


    But two hours passed, the day fully dawned, and Thssa never returned.


    Did she really walk down the hill by herself?


    That was unexpected.


    He went back inside. Lysander had gotten up and came downstairs, his face cold and a hint of worry in


    his eyes. He asked, ¡°Grandpa, where¡¯s Thssa?¡±


    Last night, he had been working in his study for a while and dozed off on the couch around three or fou


    r in the morning.


    In the morning. Lysander went to the master bedroom to wake Thssa so they could leave the hilltop


    mansion and go to work.


    But to his surprise, the master bedroom was empty.


    Lysander initially thought she had gotten up early and was waiting for him downstairs. But she was now


    here to be found, and she didn¡¯t

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    Zephyr was already ticked off at Lysander¡¯s boneheaded move, and now that he was all worried


    over a chick, he lost his patiencepletely. He said stemnly, ¡°Lysander, don¡¯t forget you¡¯re the boss of


    Sinir Group and a retired soldier. If you lose your cool over a woman and make bad calls, you¡¯re letti


    ng down all those years of training¡±


    Hearing Zephyr¡¯s obvious annoyance, Lysander got serious, realizing his grandpa had given Thssa t


    he boot.


    With a deep look in his eyes and a cold voice, Lysander said seriously,


    ¡°Grandpa, you always taught me not to judge a book by its cover. Did you forget that?¡±


    After dropping this reminder, he took long strides and bolted out of there.


    He got in his car and drove down the mountain to find Thssa.


    Before, Faye and Isabe had pulled a fast one on Lysander, cooking up fake evidence that Thssa


    was a thief with a criminal record.


    He had misunderstood Thssa, thinking she was a sneaky one, willing to do anything for money, sed


    ucing men.


    Only when he exposed Faye and Isabe¡¯s lies did he realize they had framed Thssa


    Thssa was not what they had made her out to be.


    Text content ? N?velDrama.Org.


    They did all this because they were afraid he would find out that Thssa was the woman from five ye


    ars ago and expose their lie that Thssa was dead, which would hurt their own interests.


    Then there was John.


    He initially thought Thssa was deliberately enticing John for job perks, preferring to sell herself rathe


    r than do hard work.


    Until he witnessed John trying to assault Thssa in the underground parking lot and saw her tremble i


    n fear after he saved her.


    Then he understood: Thssa wasn¡¯t enticing John, she was just a low¨C


    level employee, constantly bullied.


    Life for a low¨Clevel employee was tough enough, and they had to deal with harassment from lowlifes.


    Thssa had two olddies at home to take care of and her life was so hard, but she still insisted on re


    paying the money for the vi¡¯s


    construction.


    How could such a woman be bad?


    Lysander floored the elerator, driving at breakneck speed down the mountain, his eyes scanning the


    roadside for a sight of Thssa


    By this time, Thssa had walked for two hours and finally made it down the mountain,pletely poo


    ped and with her feet aching.


    Down the mountain


    was the highway, and she waited for a ride by the roadside. Just then, a taxi happened to pass by; she


    hailed it, and it pulled over.


    She got in the cab and told the driver the address.


    The driver stepped on the gas, and they were off.


    Five minutes after the taxi left, Lysander¡¯s car descended from the mountain.


    He didn¡¯t see Thssa anywhere, not even at the foot of the mountain.


    He knew then that Thssa had taken a cab and left.


    He tried calling Thssa again; the call connected but was hung up.


    She was ignoring his calls.


    It must have beep something his grandpa said.


    Lysander hung up and drove to the office.


    Thssa always came to work, and when she finished cleaning his


    office, he would exin everything to her.


    In the taxi, Thssa angrily hung up and put the phone in her jacket pocket.


    She was super pissed right now, feeling the Sinir family had no respect for her and had said such hu


    rtful words.


    Why did Lysander call her? Was he trying to humiliate her again?


    The driver, seeing her upset face, started chatting: ¡°Miss, you just came down from the Sinir Group¡¯s


    vi area, right? Is your boyfriend one of them?¡±


    Folks who drove around a lot knew that the whole mountain belonged to the Sinir family.


    The Sinir family was the richest tycoon in

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    Her boyfriend was from the Sinir family?


    That kind of statement didn¡¯t just make people green with envy but


    N?vel/Dr(a)ma.Org - Content owner.


    it also gave off the vibe that she scored a jackpot.


    Thssa was not happy.


    What¡¯s so special about the Sinir men? What¡¯s so great about them?


    She said in a cold tone, ¡°No, how could I possibly have such a charm to attract a Sinir man?¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s true; amon woman can¡¯t marry into a family like the Sinirs. Rich families marry off to oth


    er rich families, the socialites. Even if an ordinary woman catches their eye, it¡¯s just for fun. They could


    never be their real partners.¡± The driverughed.


    Hearing this, Thssa felt like she was stabbed in the heart.


    Even outsiders knew that ordinary women can¡¯t get into the Sinir family.


    Yesterday, she naively thought that when Lysander said he would be responsible for her, he wanted to


    marry her. She could, through her own efforts, touch Lysander¡¯s heart and make him fall for the kids.


    In this way, she could give the kids aplete family with motherly and fatherly love.


    She was too naive,pletely unaware of the rules of the rich.


    She gave a cold and self¨Cmockingugh, saying. ¡°You¡¯re not wrong.¡±


    ¡°How did you get down from the Sinir¡¯s hill?¡± The driver asked curiously.


    He could tell at a nce that she wasn¡¯t a rich man¡¯s daughter because her high heels were broken an


    d she walked down the hill, she didn¡¯t take a car.


    If she were a rich man¡¯s daughter, she would either have a car of her own or would call a driver to pick


    her up so she wouldn¡¯t walk down. Thssa gave a soft, self¨C


    mockingugh, saying, ¡°I went up the hill to enjoy the scenery.¡±


    The driver nced at her, dressed in an evening gown to enjoy the scenery. How odd..


    The driver chuckled and said no more.


    An hourter, Thssa returned home, tired.


    Evelyn had been waiting for her at home.


    Seeing her in a dress she had never seen before, with broken high¨C


    heeled shoes, and looking both morous and exhausted.


    It looked like she had been loved and then ruthlessly discarded.


    Seeing Thssa like this, Evelyn¡¯s heart tightened with worry.


    She grabbed Thssa¡¯s shoulders and asked anxiously. ¡°Thssa, where were


    youst night? What¡¯s with your dress? And your foot?¡±


    Thssa was hurt. She had been wronged at the Sinir¡¯s, and all the way home, she had been suppr


    essing her pain.


    Back home, hearing Evelyn¡¯s worried questioning, her tears came out.


    ¡°Mom.¡± She couldn¡¯t help it, she hugged Evelyn, and the tears flowed.


    She had never imagined that being looked down upon could be so painful.


    In the past, she had also been looked down upon at work, but she faced it with optimism and the attitud


    e of making money through hard work, and she didn¡¯t feel any heartache.

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    Chapter 189


    But now, she felt like she was being tantly disrespected and even ndered for supposedly climbing


    up thedder through sneaky


    means


    N?vel/Dr(a)ma.Org - Content owner.


    This pure and unadulterated disdain hurt her to the core


    Just yesterday, she was full of hopes, wanting to create aplete family for her kids.


    But today, life pped her hard in the face.


    Seeing her cry, Evelyn felt even more heartbroken. She quickly supported Thssa¡¯s shoulders, makin


    g her lift her


    head, anxiously asking. ¡°What on earth happened? Don¡¯t just cry. Tell me who¡¯s been messing with you


    , I¡¯ll make them pay!¡±


    Thssa was always the optimistic and cheerful type, like a forever invincible superhero, rarely sheddi


    ng tears.


    Evelyn remembered that Thssa cried five years ago when she had to give up school because of her


    unstable pregnancy.


    However, in the past five years, no matter how hard things were, she didn¡¯t shed a tear.


    So what happened today?


    ¡°Mummy, what¡¯s wrong?¡± A soft voice rang out from her feet, and Thssa¡¯s skirt was gently tugged.


    Looking down through her teary and blurry vision, she saw a little


    girl with two braids, her big eyes filled with worry and


    concern, and her chubby little face looking up at her.


    That was her daughter, Elowen.


    Seeing the little girl, Thssa¡¯s pain dissipated instantly. She quickly wiped her tears, forced


    a smile, and said, ¡°Mummy¡¯s fine, just a bit tired. Just like how you guyse to mummy for a cuddle


    when you¡¯re tired, mummy¡¯s tired too and wanted a little cuddle.¡±


    ¡°Mummy, if you¡¯re tired, I¡¯ll give you a hug.¡± Dorian walked over urgently with his short legs and hugged


    Thssa¡¯s legs. Even though his chest wasn¡¯t as wide as Thssa¡¯s two legs, he still tried his best to


    embrace her.


    ¡°Mummy, stop crying;e sit on the couch then I¡¯ll give you a back rub.¡± Atticus also came


    over, guiding her to the couch. He climbed up and started giving her a back rub in a very professional


    manner.


    Thssa¡¯s


    heart, originally filled with difort, was now filled with warmth after receiving her children¡¯s care.


    ¡°Mummy, let me help you wash your feet. At this moment, Sophia, with her small body, came over carry


    ing half a basin of water.


    The little one¡¯s body was even smaller than the basin, but she was trying her best to carry it


    over step by step. Despite it being so hard and heavy, she clenched


    her teeth, insisted on not giving up, and kept moving towards Thssa.


    Seeing her like this, Thssa¡¯s heart clenched. She was about to get up to take the basin from her.


    Evelyn quickly


    walked over, took the basin from her, and ced it at Thssa¡¯s feet, scolding her with a doting face, ¡°


    Oh dear, this child isn¡¯t even as big as the basin, yet she¡¯s carrying so much hot water. What if you get


    burnt?¡±


    Despite scolding her, she still led Sophia to Thssa¡¯s side, knowing she wanted to wash Thssa¡¯s fe


    et, and didn¡¯t stop her.


    Sophia rolled up her sleeves excitedly, took off Thssa¡¯s shoes, and then ced Thssa¡¯s feet into t


    he basin.


    ¡°Ah!¡± As soon as her feet touched the hot water, a sharp pain came from her skin. Thssa couldn¡¯t be


    ar it and immediately lifted her feet.


    Sophia was horrified and guiltily said, ¡°Mummy, I¡¯m sorry, the water¡¯s too hot. I¡¯ll go add some cold wate


    r.¡±


    Before she could finish her sentence, she was about to go get water, but Thssa tightly held onto her


    hand. Her pained expression. eased in an instant, and then a gentle smile appeared on her face,fo


    rting


    her: ¡°Sophia, you¡¯re doing great. The water temperature is just right. Mummy¡¯s pain isn¡¯t from getting b


    urned, but because my foot got hurt.¡±


    It turned out she was injured but she didn¡¯t realize it earlier. When she took off her shoes and her foot w


    as in the basin, the skin on the back of her foot was broken due to friction from her shoes. It was stimul


    ated by the hot water, and the pain doubled instantly.


    That was the real reason she couldn¡¯t bear it and lifted her foot.


    Sophia lowered her head, cautiously looking at Thssa¡¯s raised foot. On Thssa¡¯s delicate foot, a


    rge patch of skin had been rubbed off by her shoes, revealing a red and swollen wound. It was heartbre


    aking to see.


    Sophia¡¯s lips were slightly pursed, her eyes reddening, and her face full of heartache.


    ¡°Mummy, you really got hurt. I¡¯ll go get a ster.¡±


    Sophia wiped her tears with one hand and headed towards the medicine box with the other.

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    Chapter 190


    Thssa felt a pang of guilt foring home injured and worrying her family.


    However, seeing her kids so concemed about her and showering her with love and care, she feltfo


    rted.


    No matter how much she¡¯d been wronged outside, she knew she¡¯d find healing once she got home.


    Having her four kids was the best decision she¡¯d ever made in her life.


    With them, she had the greatest happiness.


    ¡°Mom, uh, you look so pathetic, sald Dorian, his tiny body snuggled in her arms, his bright eyes fixed o


    n her wound, and his lips puckered as if he was feeling her pain.


    Her daughter, Elowen, was also distressed, her big eyes glistening with tears. She jumped off the couc


    h and leaned over Thssa¡¯s foot her lips puckening as she said, ¡°Don¡¯t cry, Mom; Elowen will blow on


    it for you. It won¡¯t hurt if I blow on it.¡±


    After saying that, she put her little mouth near her mom¡¯s wound and gently blew on it.


    Her oldest son, Atticus, watched all this, his calm little face taking on a serious expression. He was sure


    someone had wronged his


    mom.


    He was a man so he had to protect his mom. He had to find out who had hurt her and make them apolo


    gize!


    Evelyn also noticed the wound on Thssa¡¯s foot. Although she was sharp¨C


    tongued, her heart was as soft as cotton candy. She scolded, ¡°Where on earth have you been? Runnin


    g around all night, even got your foot cut?¡±


    Thssa was originally sad, but she couldn¡¯t help butugh at these words.


    She looked at Evelyn with a smile and said, ¡°Mom, your imagination is really wild.¡±


    ¡°So, where did you go to end up like this? Evelyn was firm, not allowing Thssa to evade any further.


    Thssa looked at her mother¡¯s expression, knowing that she wouldn¡¯t let it go until she exined.


    She also looked at her children¡¯s expectant eyes.


    She knew they were all worried about her, and she¡¯d be letting them down if she hid anything else.


    So she said, ¡°I went on a datest night.¡±


    ¡°A date?¡± This answer surprised everyone.


    Evelyn was puzzled. The kids were amazed.


    Thssa watched their reactions.


    Evelyn looked thrilled.


    And the kids, their eyes wide open, their mouths forming an O,


    Was this answer really that shocking?


    Thssa hurriedly exined, ¡°But I got stood up. I was upset about it and that¡¯s why I cried on mom¡¯s s


    houlder.¡±


    She quickly got to the heart of the matter.


    Evelyn was just happy that Thssa was dating, excitedly thinking that Thssa finally had a boyfriend


    .


    After five years, finally, a man was willing to ept the fact that she had four kids and wanted to be wit


    h her.


    Just when she was happy. Thssa¡¯s next words dealt her a heavy blow.


    She was heartbroken?


    Original from N?velDrama.Org.


    Evelyn


    instantly turned serious: ¡°Exin to me, what do you mean by heartbroken? Why would you be heartbr


    oken?¡±


    ¡°Mom, do you need a reason to be heartbroken?¡± Thssa tried to avoid her mother¡¯s intense gaze.


    Originally, she nned toe home this morning and tell Evelyn that Lysander was the father of her c


    hildren.


    ¡±


    After all, Lysander was willing to take responsibility, and she wanted her kids to have a chance to reunit


    e with their father and feel his love.


    But what happened this morning threw her ns for a loop.

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    Chapter 191


    The Sinir family couldn¡¯t care less about her, just like the driver said. No ordinary woman could pos


    sibly marry into the Sinir family.


    Even if she did manage to catch the eye of a Sinir man, she¡¯d just be their ything.


    Lysander would never marry her.


    She wouldn¡¯t even be allowed to set foot in the Sinir mansion


    That¡¯s just something that¡¯s better left unsaid.


    It would be better not to give Evelyn and the kids false hope, only to let them down in the end.


    Text content ? N?velDrama.Org.


    And besides, there was another thing she had been pondering on her way home.


    Lysander wasn¡¯t a fan of kids, iming they were too noisy, but the old folks in the Sinir family loved


    them, constantly pressuring Lysander to have kids.


    If the Sinir family found out she had four kids with Lysander, the old


    folks would definitely snatch them away and turn them into Sinirs.


    Given the two old folks¡® assertiveness, they¡¯d take over her kids, leaving her with nothing.


    At that point, she¡¯d lose all four of her kids.


    The thought of it sent chills down her spine, and her heart pounded with pain and fear.


    So, she absolutely couldn¡¯t let the Sinir family know about her kids!


    Evelyn was restless, pushing her hard. ¡°Did you do something annoying


    again and scare off your boyfriend?¡±


    Last time, Mr. Cooper didn¡¯t mind her having four kids, but she still managed to scare him off.


    ¡°Mom, I¡¯m not that charming. I can¡¯t live up to his expectations and he looks down on me.¡± Thssa sai


    d dejectedly, wiping her feet with a towel, expressing her inner pain and helplessness.


    She avoided looking at Evelyn.


    At this moment, Sophia brought over the first aid kit. Thssa gently took it, saying. ¡°Thanks, sweethea


    rt, I got this. You go sit by mom and rest a bit.¡±


    Sophia obediently climbed onto the couch and sat next to her.


    Atticus, who was massaging Thssa¡¯s back, felt his heart sink when he heard that his mother was bei


    ng looked down upon. Their mother, who was


    so beautiful and capable, why was she being disrespected?


    He decided he would find the guy and make him pay!


    Evelyn sighed. ¡°Who is he? Tell me, and I¡¯ll go find him and ask him why he looks down on you.¡±


    ¡°Mom, it¡¯s in the past. Let¡¯s not dwell on it. We¡¯re a family of seven, and we¡¯re doing just fine. You look a


    fter the kids at home, I work, and Astrid tends to the


    farm. Our lives are happy, fulfilling, and good. We don¡¯t need anyone else stirring the pot.¡± Thssa rea


    ssured Evelyn.


    ¡°You silly girl, how would that be stirring the pot?¡± Evelyn wanted to continue, but Thssa cut her off, s


    aying, ¡°I need to change for


    work.¡±


    ¡°Go change. Take the day off and don¡¯t go to work. Come to the hospital with me.¡± Evelyn said.


    ¡°Okay¡± Thssa went to change.


    Thssa bought a bouquet of flowers and, along with her four kids and Evelyn, arrived at the hospital.


    It wasn¡¯t until they reached the hospital room that Evelyn told her, ¡°Your cousin Isabe had an iden


    t and is in pretty bad shape. She¡¯s hospitalized.¡±


    Evelyn entered the room, followed by the four kids.


    Thssa was taken aback. She had assumed they were visiting some respected elder. She had no ide


    a Evelyn had brought her to see Isabe!


    She wasn¡¯t a fan of Isabe, but since she was already here, she couldn¡¯t just leave.


    The flowers Evelyn had prepared for Isabe were still in her hands.


    Taking a deep breath, Thssa walked into the room.


    What she saw was a scene both tragic and bustling.

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    Chapter 192


    A womany on the bed, stered from head to toe¨Cliterally. Her face was so


    swollen, Thssa couldn¡¯t even recognize


    Isabe. Her mouth puffed up like she¡¯d been stung by a bee, her eyes were swollen like light bulbs; he


    r whole face looked like an over¨Cinted


    balloon


    By just looking, she couldn¡¯t really tell whether she was a guy or a gal.


    Only the long hair scattered over her shoulders gave a hint that she might be a dame.


    Beside her bed huddled a group of old folks, distant rtives who¡¯d heard that she¡¯d been hospitalized


    and came to pay her a visit.


    In their vige, it¡¯s a tradition that when someone got sick and ended up in the hospital, a group of frien


    ds and family would be organized toe and check on them.


    Evelyn was one of those invited, so she came with Thssa and the kids to visit Isabe.


    Thssa walked into the room, gazing curiously at the person on the bed.


    If Evelyn hadn¡¯t mentioned that they were visiting Isabe, Thssa wouldn¡¯t have had the slightest clu


    e that the woman lying there was her!


    She remembered pping Isabe a few times just two days ago. How on earth did that turn her into th


    is stered, swollen mess?


    Text content ? N?velDrama.Org.


    How could her ps have possibly resulted in this severe aftermath?


    ¡°Isabe, we¡¯re here to see you. Oh dear, you poor thing, bone injuries take a long time to heal. You ne


    ed to rest up; only after you recover can you get married to your boyfriend,¡± Evelyn approached, her


    words filled with concern.


    The rtives quickly chimed in, ¡°Yeah, your boyfriend is so rich and loves you so much. If you be


    ugly or lose a hand or a foot, he could be snatched by someone else. So, you¡¯ve got to take good care


    of yourself.¡±


    Hearing these ¡°concerned¡± words, Isabe was so mad she was grinding her teeth!


    Were they here to visit her or to kick her when she was down?


    Isabe¡¯s


    mother was also displeased, saying, ¡°Our Isabe and her boyfriend have a very good rtionship. Tru


    e love isn¡¯t just about appearance. If there¡¯s a solid emotional foundation, her boyfriend would be even


    more heartbroken to see her hurt. But we appreciate your concern.¡±


    Those rtives who usually saw Isabe doing so well, now that she was in an unfortunate situation, s


    poke with sarcasm and schadenfreude.


    Having been rebutted by Isabe¡¯s mother, they felt awkward and made excuses to leave.


    Evelyn and Thssa had just arrived so it¡¯d be awkward to leave with them.


    Evelyn sat down by the bed, starting to chat with Isabe¡¯s mother, asking, ¡°Isabe was fine before; ho


    w did she suddenly get injured?¡±


    Isabe¡¯s mother nced at Isabe, seeing


    her red and swollen eyes, signaling her not to spill the beans, as it¡¯d be too embarrassing.


    Understanding, Isabe¡¯s mother awkwardly


    Isabe was just walking when she identally fell into a sewage drain, all because those damn


    thieves stole the manhole


    cover.¡±


    ¡°Oh, I see. While theft should be condemned, those who falsely use others of being thieves are eve


    n more infuriating. Honestly, karma will always catch up with wrongdoers; that¡¯s just the way life is,¡± Ev


    elyn said with a smile.


    However, her words were clearly implying something..


    Previously in Hollowbrook, Thssa was taken to the police station and used of theft. Evelyn went t


    o confront Greta Sterling, and after some investigation, she realized that the emerald pendant was actu


    ally nted by Isabe, who made Greta pretend to find it and hand it to Thssa.


    In the end, the cops took Thssa away on charges of stealing the emerald pendant.


    Later, Thssa came back, telling her that the cops found out she was framed..


    Evelyn was no fool so she naturally understood that Isabe was the on

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    Chapter 193


    Evelyn couldn¡¯t believe that Isabe actually framed and hurt her daughter!


    Evelyn kept this score in her heart.


    Actually, she wasn¡¯t nning to bring this up today, but Isabe¡¯s mom just had to mention the theft inci


    dent.


    Evelyn¡¯s anger and her knack for instant revenge made her snap. She started throwing shade left and r


    ight.


    Thssa got the message from Evelyn¡¯s words and shot her a grateful look. When push came to shov


    e, mom always got her back.


    Isabe¡¯s mom didn¡¯t get it, but Isabe caught on instantly. She was so fired up that she almost sat up


    in bed, but the pain in her foot was like a splitting headache. She bit back the pain and hurriedly said, ¡°


    Evelyn, you guys haven¡¯t eaten yet, right? Let my mom take you to the hospital cafeteria. It¡¯s really not


    cool of me to make you guys spend money toe see me.¡±


    ¡°No need, we¡¯re going to grab a bite when we get back,¡± Evelyn replied.


    ¡°That won¡¯t do even if you¡¯re not hungry, the kids are. You should go eat, Isabe¡¯s mom insisted warml


    y.


    Evelyn adored her grandkids and wouldn¡¯t want them to go hungry, so she agreed.


    Thssa was also about to leave when Isabe suddenly said, ¡°Thssa, stay with me. I need to use t


    he bathroomter, and I could use some help since I can¡¯t move around easily.¡±


    ¡°Alright, Thssa can stay. I¡¯ll bring some food up for youter,¡± Isabe¡¯s mom quickly responded, the


    n left with Evelyn and the four


    kids.


    N?vel/Dr(a)ma.Org - Content owner.


    Once they were gone, Thssa turned to Isabe and said, ¡°Spill it.¡±


    She knew Isabe had something to say, which was why she made everyone else leave.


    Isabe¡¯s friendly facade


    dropped, and she red at Thssa with a look of disgust and anger, clearly loathing her.


    She sneered, ¡°I haven¡¯t told my mom about you hitting me.¡±


    ¡°You had iting!¡± Thssa retorted, fuming.


    Everything she did was just asking for it, wasn¡¯t it?


    Hitting her was getting off easy.


    ¡°Yes, I had iting. I had iting when I slept with Leopold Sinir, who doesn¡¯t give a damn about


    me while he¡¯s been hung up on you for five years!¡± Isabe spat out angrily.


    Sleeping with Leopold was the biggest mistake of her life!


    He treated her like she was a snake or a scorpion.


    Hearing Leopold¡¯s name, Thssa¡¯s heart clenched in pain, and she snapped at Isabe, ¡°Shut up! Yo


    u have no right to mention his name!¡±


    ¡°Yes, I have no right; I know,¡± Isabe admitted easily.


    After saying that, her red and swollen eyes revealed deep pain


    as she looked at Thssa. ¡°I admit, I was wrong five years ago. I broke you two apart, causing


    you and Leopold to separate and making


    Leopold suffer for five years. He looked for me yesterday and asked about you. I gave him your Facebo


    ok ount and told him to ask you himself.¡±


    This sudden news left Thssa shocked and disbelieving.


    For a moment, she didn¡¯t know how to respond.


    Did Leopold contact Isabe? Did he ask about her?


    He disappeared for five years, and now he¡¯s suddenly back?

 Chapter 194

    Chapter 194


    Thssa was a hot mess. Her heart was filled with bitterness, heartache, disappointment, and loss. He


    r swirling emotions were a mixed bag.


    She clenched her fist at her side, trying to keep her emotions in check.


    She had once been deeply in love with Leopold.


    But after that unexpected incident


    and five years of life grinding them down, she knew there was no going back to what they had.


    Taking a deep breath, she looked at Isabe and said tly. ¡°What¡¯s done is done. There¡¯s no undoing it


    . And as for Leopold and I, we¡¯re strangers now¡±


    Original from N?velDrama.Org.


    With that, she tumed on her heel and left the room, leaving Isabe wordless.


    Isabe watched her go, wanting to call her back but couldn¡¯t. Every movement caused excruciating pa


    in in her hands and feet, and even her heart ached with each breath.


    Lysander sure had a heavy hand. He had left her in this pitiful state and it was all thanks to Thssa.


    Now that Lysander knew Thssa was the woman from that night five years ago, he would surely pam


    per her with a life of luxury and


    ease.


    Wouldn¡¯t he treat her even better, considering how kind and generous the people around this woman fr


    om his past were?


    Isabe was green with envy and not about to take it lying down!


    Why should Thssa get to live a sweet life? To be cherished by Lysander?


    She should be stuck in the gutter, living hand¨Cto¨Cmouth!


    So Isabe hatched a n. She would make Lysander despise Thssa and kick her to the curb.


    And what¡¯s the best way to make a man hate a woman? Make him see her betray him.


    Which man could stand being betrayed?


    When the time came, Lysander would toss Thssa aside like yesterday¡¯s trash.


    And the only man who could get Thssa¡¯s attention was Leopold.


    She had thought that expressing regret about the past would make Thssa forgive Leopold and agre


    e to reconnect with him. But Thssa, ever the straight shooter, shot her down!


    Five years ago, Isabe used her status as Thssa¡¯s cousin to add Leopold on social media.


    She had been messaging him for five years and never got a reply.


    Until she offered him news about Thssa. That¡¯s when he finally responded.


    That¡¯s when she realized he hadn¡¯t deleted her because he had feelings for her, but because he wante


    d to keep tabs on Thssa!


    It was a p in the face for Isabe.


    But she had no choice. To take down Thssa, she had to swallow her pride and give up on Leopold.


    Thssa quickly left the hospital.


    She had thought that hearing about Leopold again wouldn¡¯t affect her.


    That she had moved op from her past feelings.


    But when Isabe merely mentioned his name, her heart started racing, unable to find calm.


    Almost without thinking, she pulled out her phone and opened Facebook, and sure enough, there


    was a friend request.


    She clicked on the profile picture. It was a selfie of Leopold.


    His handsome face was as it always was, only now it was devoid of its usual smile and filled with mn


    choly.


    His eyes were full of youthful energy, as if the sun itself was dancing in them.


    Seeing him brought her back to her college days, the happiest and most vibrant time of her life.


    A wave of suppression washed over her.


    She quickly closed the picture, exited the app, and did not ept the friend request.


    Just as she had told Isabe, a mistake was a mistake, and regret changed nothing. Leopold¡¯s betrayal


    was just that. There were no


    excuses.


    Now, she and Leopold were strangers. Their lives would never intersect again.


    She went to the hospital cafeteria, found Evelyn and the kids, and told Isabe¡¯s mother, ¡°Ma¡¯am, Isabe


    is asking for you. I¡¯ll cover the meal. Could you take some food up to her? We¡¯ll leave once we¡¯re do


    ne eating.¡±


    4

 Chapter 195

    Chapter 195


    As soon as Isabe¡¯s mom heard Isabe was looking for her, she quickly packed a meal for her, worryi


    ng about her daughter.


    After the meal, Thssa dropped Evelyn and the four kids off at home, and then she had to head to wo


    rk.


    She only took a half¨Cday off and had to go to work in the afternoon.


    The burden of her family left her no space for her own desires.


    While waiting for the bus at the station below her building, a silver Porsche suddenly pulled up beside h


    er.


    She thought she was in the way, so she stepped aside, but the car moved closer and brushed against


    her before the window rolled down


    A young and handsome face slowly appeared from behind the wheel.


    The man¡¯s hair was cut short and was chestnut colored, with carefully styled curls at the ends, looking


    very trendy.


    He had thick eyebrows,rge eyes, a high nose, and a clearly defined face.


    He looked sunny and fashionable, handsome and suave, emitting a youthful energy.


    It was Leopold!


    Seeing her, the man gave her a long¨Clost smile and said, ¡°Thssa, long time no see.¡±


    Recognizing the man before her and hearing his words, Thssa¡¯s heart sank, and a wave of inexplica


    ble sadness spread from the depths of her heart.


    She was both pained and helpless.


    Taken aback, she turned her gaze away and said, ¡°Sir, I¡¯m not an easy girl. Don¡¯t just try to pick me up.¡±


    ¡°I know, are you going to work? I can give you a ride.¡± Leopold pleaded a bit.


    ¡°No need; there¡¯s my bus.¡± Thssa rejected him just as the bus arrived.


    She quickly ran to catch it.


    She had decided their story was over, and she wouldn¡¯t have any contact with him.


    They were history.


    Watching Thssa reject him, Leopold lowered his eyes, filled with disappointment.


    In the incident five years ago, he exined to her that he was drunk, and it was Isabe who took adva


    ntage of the situation.


    He loved Thssa and wanted to be with her forever.


    But Thssa was heartbroken; she stopped him from touching her and rejected his exnation..


    Crying, she firmly said, ¡°Leopold, it¡¯s over! We owe each other nothing; let¡¯s never meet again.¡±


    Then she turned around and ran away.


    No matter how he exined, tried to contact her, or tried to see her, she refused to see him, refused to


    listen to him, and gave him no


    chance.


    He thought after the summer break he would have a chance to exin to her at school, a chance to as


    k for her forgiveness, but what he got was the news of her dropping out.


    She really decided to cut him offpletely, never to meet again.


    Leopold was heartbroken and med her for being heartless.


    He thought that five years would be enough for him to forget her but he overlooked her weight in his he


    art.


    Original from N?velDrama.Org.


    After five years, not only did he not forget her, but his love for her deepened. She was like a part of his


    soul. Unless he no longer had a soul, he could never forget her.


    He thought about giving himself another chance to pursue her


    The Sinir Group


    It was lunch break..


    Lysander was not in the office; Thssa was cleaning the office listlessly with a heavy heart.


    identally, she knocked


    a ss of water off the table, and the ss shattered on the floor. Startled, she quickly squatted down t


    o pick up the ss shards.

 Chapter 196

    Chapter 196


    The man¡¯s presence was serious and sharp. Even when he¡¯s not mad, he¡¯s got this air of authority.


    His tall figure strode confidently towards Thssa.


    Thssa turned around and saw Lysander approaching.


    She quickly stood up, forgetting all about her injured finger.


    Lysander arrived in front of her, caught her bleeding finger, saw the blood bead getting bigger and bigg


    er on her finger, frowned slightly. and said, ¡°Don¡¯t pick up ss shards with your hands next time; I¡¯ll ge


    t the first¨Cald kit.¡±


    After saying that, he took her hand and led her to the bookshelf where the first aid kit was kept.


    Thssa quickly pulled her hand away and said, ¡°It¡¯s okay, it¡¯s just a small injury.¡±


    After that, she put her finger in her mouth, sucked on it, took


    All rights ? N?velDrama.Org.


    it out, and showed it to him: ¡°See, it¡¯s all good now. We¡¯re tough as nails, not so delicate.¡±


    Her finger was no longer bleeding.


    After saying that, she smiled slightly, picked up the broom, and started to sweep up the ss shards on


    the ground.


    ¡°Mr. Sinir, sorry, I identally broke your cup. I will exin to the manager, and thepensation wi


    ll be deducted from my sry.¡± Thssa said while sweeping.


    Lysander can tell she¡¯s avoiding him.


    In his deep voice, he said, ¡°No need, it¡¯s just a cup; the Sinir group has plenty.¡±


    Lysander walked over to her, ready to exin what happened this morning.


    Thssa looked up, a hint of self¨C


    mockery in her eyes. Unabashedly looking at Lysander, she said, ¡°Yeah, your conglomeratecks nothi


    ng; your family is top¨Ctier, what could youck? Especially for you, Lysander.¡±


    The women around him were too numerous to count.


    Changing women for him was as easy as changing shirts.


    After she finished sweeping the ss shards, she picked up the broom and dustpan and turned to leav


    e.


    Lysander got her meaning and stepped forward, blocking her path. His


    handsome face looked cold but anxious: ¡°What did my grandfather say to you this morning?¡±


    Thssa avoided his gaze, looking elsewhere. ¡°Nothing.¡±


    ¡°No matter what he said, he can¡¯t represent my opinion. Thssa, about what happened five years ago


    .¡± Lysander wanted to say that he never went back on his promise from five years ago.


    But Thssa cut him off: ¡°Five years ago was just an ident, and, Mr. Sinir, you¡¯re handsome, and


    you have a good physique; I didn¡¯t lose anything, right? Let¡¯s consider it a give and take, and from now


    on, we owe each other nothing.¡±


    After saying that, Thssa walked quickly out of the office.


    A give and take? Owe each other nothing?


    Those words stung Lysander like bee stings.


    His deep eyes darkened, and an icy aura surrounded him.


    He had been searching for her for five years, and in her eyes, their night of intimacy was just a one¨C


    night stand?


    Anger welled up inside Lysander.


    He averted his gaze, sit back at his desk, and started to work on some papers.


    He had been waiting for her all morning, hoping she would show up so he could exin that his grandf


    ather¡¯s words did not represent his opinion.


    But she was indifferent!


    No woman had ever dared talk to him like that!


    Lysander had his own dignity and pride; if she won¡¯t ept his exnation, then let her be!


    Thssa, suppressing her emotions, walked into the elevator. Her tense shoulders rxed, but her he


    art was churning like the sea, feeling self¨Cmockery and sadness.


    Indeed, only a well¨Cmatched and high¨Cborndy can marry a man from the Sinir family.

 Chapter 197

    Chapter 197


    Otherdies, even if they caught their eyes, were just their ythings.


    Thssa took note of this. She also had to face reality


    She was just a woman struggling at the bottom,pared to the Sinir family, it felt like a world of diff


    N?vel/Dr(a)ma.Org - Content owner.


    erence, like they were separated by mountains and seas.


    Yesterday, she got too big for her boots and actually thought Lysander¡¯s so¨Ccalled


    responsibility was to marry her.


    He was just using his wealth topensate her, to make up for the night she became his antidote.


    The vi he built for her was the best evidence of hispensation.


    As for taking her to meet his grandparents, it was just because he wasn¡¯t done ying with her and ne


    eded a legitimate excuse to


    continue


    She didn¡¯t have that much time and energy to y games with him.


    She wasn¡¯t that kind of person.


    Thssa went to the cleaning


    department on the tenth floor to take a breather, then continued to the top floor to clean the conference


    room.


    As soon as she stepped into the conference room, a man stepped out of the elevator.


    The man had short chestnut hair, a slim build, and an attractive face that shone like sunshine.


    Leopold stepped out of the elevator and went straight to the CEO¡¯s office.


    He slightly opened the door, peeked in with a smile, and knocked.


    Lysander thought it was Thssa and quickly lifted his head, his deep eyes looking towards the door, t


    hinking she had changed her mind and wasing to apologize.


    But it wasn¡¯t her, his gaze held a hint of disappointment.


    ¡°Come in.¡± His tone was cool.


    Given permission, Leopold walked in and said, ¡°My dear, long time no see. You¡¯re still as young and ha


    ndsome as ever.¡±


    Lysander put the documents in the folder, got up, went to sit on the couch, and said, ¡°You¡¯re back in the


    country but not going home, what brings you here?¡±


    Leopold sat down on the couch across from him, sighed slightly, and looked


    a bit down. ¡°Lysander, remember that woman I told you about? I came back for her. Home


    doesn¡¯t feel like home without her.¡±


    Five years ago, after that incident, he exined to Thssa many times that he was drunk and mistook


    Isabe for her.


    He promised not to make the same mistake again, hoping Thssa would forgive him.


    But Thssa, after firmly breaking up with him, had been avoiding him.


    No matter how much he exined, it was useless, she even blocked all his contact information.


    He couldn¡¯t even reach her.


    Leopold was heartbroken, depressed, and lost.


    Later, it was


    Uncle Lysander who enlightened him, telling him not to lose himself over a woman and to maintain his


    manhood.


    If he really liked that woman that much, he should make a name for himself ande back to impress


    her.


    Leopold took this to heart, studied abroad for two years, and worked hard overseas for three years.


    Now he¡¯s had some achievements, and he¡¯s back.


    The first thing he did when he came back was to look for Thssa.


    Lysander poured a ss of red wine, held the wine ss with his slender fingers, slightly shook it, took


    a sip, and asked, ¡°What about that woman?¡±


    Lysander was also having a headache over a woman.


    Every time Leopold thought of Thssa, his heart ached. He poured himself a ss of red wine and gu


    lped it down. He said, ¡°Five years ago, I was framed and hurt her. She has never forgiven me. Today, w


    hen I saw her, she was still mad at me. I saw sadness in her eyes. Is that because she

 Chapter 198

    Chapter 198


    Lysander was only three years older than Leopold.


    Zephyr had two sons. His firstbom was nothing to write home about, he was not too bright, had a thing f


    or travel, and had no ambition. for work, but he had a smart and capable son, Leopold.


    His younger son, Bat Sinir, was a business hotshot and a serious kind of guy. His son, Lysander


    , was a looker and a thinker.


    Unfortunately, Bamett and his wife kicked the bucket when Lysander was still a nipper.


    Lysander was left on his own, raised single¨Chandedly by Zephyr and his wife.


    Lysander and Leopold grew up together, thick as thieves.


    Leopold looked up to Lysander¡¯s smarts and always went to him for advice.


    For the past few years, his love life had been a real pain in the neck.


    He was head over heels for Thssa, but she wouldn¡¯t give him the time of day, he was out of options.


    Leopold finished speaking and took a big gulp of his drink. The bitterness was seeping into his heart, h


    e was feeling pretty low.


    Turned out that loving someone he can¡¯t have was just pure agony.


    Lysander put down his ss and looked him deep in the eyes: ¡°If a woman stays mad at you for five ye


    ars over one thing, it means she cares. If she didn¡¯t, she would¡¯ve married someone else by now


    Where would you be then?¡±


    Thinking about this, he couldn¡¯t help but think of Thssa.


    Five years ago, they were together. Thssa lost her emerald pendant by ident but kept looking for


    it. For five years, she didn¡¯t have a boyfriend.


    Did this mean she was waiting for him?


    ¡°Exactly!¡± Leopold suddenly lit up, his eyes full of hope. He put down his ss and walked up to Lysan


    All rights ? N?velDrama.Org.


    der, ready to give him a bear hug.


    But seeing Lysander¡¯s icy stare, he stopped in his tracks, but he was still grinning like a kid


    on Christmas morning: ¡°Lysander, you¡¯re my savior! You made me see the light; I love you man.¡±


    Lysander shot him a cold look.


    What a child!


    Leopold didn¡¯t mind his look; he cheerfully blew Lysander a kiss: ¡°Yes, Lysander, I love you; I¡¯ve got to


    go! Wait till I win her over, you¡¯d bettere to my wedding; you¡¯re like family, my savior!¡±


    As Leopold walked out, hisughter echoed around the room.


    Lysander gave a small smile: Just like a young man.


    He picked up his ss and finished his drink.


    In the afternoon, after work, Thssa bought ice cream and ate it while waiting for the bus.


    It waste autumn, a bit chilly, and she didn¡¯t really want the ice cream but she¡¯d had a rough afternoon


    .


    Thinking about what


    Zephyr said to her this morning, using her of selling herself and seducing Lysander, she felt annoye


    d and oppressed.


    She¡¯d never been so humiliated in her life.


    But there was nothing she could do; she couldn¡¯t stand up to those powerful families.


    She just had to swallow her pride.


    Having ice cream to chill out a bit was allowed.


    As she was leisurely enjoying her ice cream, a ck Rolls¨CRoyce pulled up next to her.


    Thssa was worried about dripping ice cream on the fancy car, so she

 Chapter 199

    Chapter 199


    At that moment, another woman waiting for her ride, dazzlingly beautiful with stunning makeup and a kil


    ler body, saw the luxury car


    Her face lit up at the sight of the luxury car and she enthusiastically approached it.


    Just then, the window of the ck car rolled down to reveal a handsome and suave man


    He was not just handsome, he also looked incredibly distinguished.


    Any woman would be smitten by his good looks.


    Original from N?velDrama.Org.


    The beautiful woman instantly shed a smile, approached


    the car, and sweetly said, ¡°Handsome, are you up for a date? I can hop into your car right now¡±


    And, she intentionally unted her body, which she believed to be attractive


    Lysander Sinit, unimpressed, coldly said, ¡°Scram


    The woman¡¯s cheap perfume was so overpowering that it gave him a headache.


    Shock reced the smile on the beautiful woman¡¯s face, and she stepped back with disappointment an


    d helplessness.


    She then saw the man¡¯s deep gaze fixed on a in¨C


    looking woman behind her, who was busy devouring


    an ice cream. And then he called out, ¡°Thssa,e here!¡±


    The beautiful woman was seething with jealousy. How could this ordinary, country bumpkin catch the e


    ye of such an outstanding man?


    Thssa, hearing her name, looked around in surprise and saw Lysander in his car, one hand on the w


    heel, the other resting on the window, looking dashing and elegant in the setting sun, almost radiant.


    Was it Lysander who had called her?


    Thssa blinked, initially hesitant, but eventually found herself walking toward him.


    ¡°Mr. Sinir, did you call me?¡±


    Realizing she was still holding her ice cream, which made her look rather goofy against Lysander¡¯s seri


    ous demeanor, she quickly hid it behind her back.


    In her haste, she identally flung the ice cream, whichnded smack on the face of the beautiful wom


    an.


    ¡°Ah!¡± The woman screamed in shock.


    Thssa, terrified, hurriedly rushed over, pulling out tissues and frantically wiping the woman¡¯s face.


    ¡°I¡¯m so sorry, I didn¡¯t mean to.¡±


    In the midst of Thssa¡¯s frantic wiping, the woman¡¯s makeup smeared all over her face.


    The beautiful woman shrieked and pushed Thssa away, saying. ¡°Don¡¯t touch me, my face, my make


    up.¡±


    She started crying, feeling utterly devastated.


    Her fake eyshes fell off, mascara smudged, eyeliner smeared all around her eyes, and foundation cl


    umped and ked off, making her look like a clown.


    Thssa felt incredibly guilty, hands sped together, endlessly apologizing. ¡°I¡¯m really sorry, I didn¡¯t m


    ean to.¡±


    ¡°Hmph, country bumpkin!¡± The woman


    huffed angrily and stomped off in her high heels, both furious and embarrassed.


    Thssa was taken aback. Was the woman referring to her as a country bumpkin?


    Lysander watched as Thssa identally smeared ice cream all over the woman¡¯s face, exposing he


    r ruined makeup. The whole scene was hriously entertaining.


    A smirk tugged at the Corner of his mouth.


    This woman was indeed interesting,pared to the perfect, well¨C


    mannereddies of high society, she seemed more lively and fun..


    Lysander got out of the car, walked over to Thssa, and took her hand.


    His hand was slightly rough, but warm. As soon as he grabbed Thssa¡¯s hand, she felt a rush of war


    mth spreading through her heart.


    The sensation took her by surprise, causing her to instinctively jerk her hand away.


    But she didn¡¯t pull her hand out of his grip, and Lysander held on tighter, leading her towards the car. ¡°L


    et me drive you home.¡±

 Chapter 200

    Chapter 200


    For real?


    He¡¯s actually going to give her a ride home?


    Was he pulling her leg?


    Did he even know where she lived? Chapter 199


    At that moment, another woman waiting for her ride, dazzlingly beautiful with stunning makeup and a kil


    Text content ? N?velDrama.Org.


    ler body, saw the luxury car


    Her face lit up at the sight of the luxury car and she enthusiastically approached it.


    Just then, the window of the ck car rolled down to reveal a handsome and suave man


    He was not just handsome, he also looked incredibly distinguished.


    Any woman would be smitten by his good looks.


    The beautiful woman instantly shed a smile, approached


    the car, and sweetly said, ¡°Handsome, are you up for a date? I can hop into your car right now¡±


    And, she intentionally unted her body, which she believed to be attractive


    Lysander Sinit, unimpressed, coldly said, ¡°Scram


    The woman¡¯s cheap perfume was so overpowering that it gave him a headache.


    Shock reced the smile on the beautiful woman¡¯s face, and she stepped back with disappointment an


    d helplessness.


    She then saw the man¡¯s deep gaze fixed on a in¨C


    looking woman behind her, who was busy devouring


    an ice cream. And then he called out, ¡°Thssa,e here!¡±


    The beautiful woman was seething with jealousy. How could this ordinary, country bumpkin catch the e


    ye of such an outstanding man?


    Thssa, hearing her name, looked around in surprise and saw Lysander in his car, one hand on the w


    heel, the other resting on the window, looking dashing and elegant in the setting sun, almost radiant.


    Was it Lysander who had called her?


    Thssa blinked, initially hesitant, but eventually found herself walking toward him.


    ¡°Mr. Sinir, did you call me?¡±


    Realizing she was still holding her ice cream, which made her look rather goofy against Lysander¡¯s seri


    ous demeanor, she quickly hid it behind her back.


    In her haste, she identally flung the ice cream, whichnded smack on the face of the beautiful wom


    an.


    ¡°Ah!¡± The woman screamed in shock.


    Thssa, terrified, hurriedly rushed over, pulling out tissues and frantically wiping the woman¡¯s face.


    ¡°I¡¯m so sorry, I didn¡¯t mean to.¡±


    In the midst of Thssa¡¯s frantic wiping, the woman¡¯s makeup smeared all over her face.


    The beautiful woman shrieked and pushed Thssa away, saying. ¡°Don¡¯t touch me, my face, my make


    up.¡±


    She started crying, feeling utterly devastated.


    Her fake eyshes fell off, mascara smudged, eyeliner smeared all around her eyes, and foundation cl


    umped and ked off, making her look like a clown.


    Thssa felt incredibly guilty, hands sped together, endlessly apologizing. ¡°I¡¯m really sorry, I didn¡¯t m


    ean to.¡±


    ¡°Hmph, country bumpkin!¡± The woman


    huffed angrily and stomped off in her high heels, both furious and embarrassed.


    Thssa was taken aback. Was the woman referring to her as a country bumpkin?


    Lysander watched as Thssa identally smeared ice cream all over the woman¡¯s face, exposing he


    r ruined makeup. The whole scene was hriously entertaining.


    A smirk tugged at the Corner of his mouth.


    This woman was indeed interesting,pared to the perfect, well¨C


    mannereddies of high society, she seemed more lively and fun..


    Lysander got out of the car, walked over to Thssa, and took her hand.


    His hand was slightly rough, but warm. As soon as he grabbed Thssa¡¯s hand, she felt a rush of war


    mth spreading through her heart.


    The sensation took her by surprise, causing her to instinctively jerk her hand away.


    But she didn¡¯t pull her hand out of his grip, and Lysander held on tighter, leading her towards the car. ¡°L


    et me drive you home.¡±


    That¡¯s not the point, though. How on earth would she let him drive her home?


    If he saw those four rugrats in her house, she¡¯s going to be in deep water!


    Thssa was squirming to free her Hand from his, flustered, and said, ¡°No need, Mr. Sinir, I can ma


    nage on my own.¡±


    But Lysander had already opened the car door and stuffed her in authoritatively, saying, ¡°Behave!¡±


    His words were chilly and left no room for refusal.


    Having said that, he shut the car door, got back behind the wheel, and drove off.


    Thssa didn¡¯t notice that at that moment, across the road, her coworker Daryl and the receptionist we


    re stepping out of the office, catching the whole scene.


    Daryl tugged at the receptionist¡¯s sleeve, looking at the departing ck Rolls¨CRoyce in disbelief.


    ¡°Did you see that? That was our CEO in the car.¡±


    Following Daryl¡¯s gaze, Cherry saw the license te and nodded, ¡°Indeed, that¡¯s our CEO¡¯s car¡±


    Daryl was getting more excited. ¡°Our CEO just led Thssa into his car personally. Could it be he was


    eyeing Thssa yesterday?¡±


    Yesterday morning, on Daryl¡¯s first day at work, she saw Sinir¡¯s gaze wander their way when she wa


    s standing aside to wee him. She thought Mr. Sinir was checking her out.


    She didn¡¯t think of Thssa, who was standing right next to her.


    Now that she thought of it, could it be that Mr. Sinir was looking at Thssa?


    Cherry¡¯s mouth twitched, but she said nothing.


    Seemed like the rumors about Mr. Sinir and Thssa were not unfounded after all.


    In the car, Lysander drove while Thssa sat in the back seat.


    She was super nervous. She had already said that she didn¡¯t need him to drive her home, but he insist


    ed on doing so.


    What should she do? If Evelyn was ying downstairs with the kids and they ran into each other, the ki


    ds would surely sprint over, excitedly calling her mom.


    Just as Thssa was tangled up in her thoughts, she realized that the view outside the window looked


    familiar.


    Was this almost in her neighborhood?


    She never told Lysander her address, did she?


    She was debating how to handle this situation and whether to give a fake address.


    He¡¯s almost at her ce!


    How did he know she lived here?


    Oh my gosh, what should she do?


    A turn at the next intersection would lead to Thssa¡¯s residential area.


    The car was moving faster than her thoughts.


    While she was at a loss, the car made a turn.


    And at the turn, beyond the iron fence, was the neighborhood¡¯s yground.


    Through the car window, Thssa saw Evelyn ying on the slide with Elowen.


    Elowen was facing her direction. She looked out the window, and her eyes met Elowen¡¯s innocent gaze


    .


    Oh crap, Elowen saw her!


    Please don¡¯t run over shouting mom or even call her mom from afar.


    Otherwise, Lysander would find out.


    If the Sinir family took the kids away, she would lose everything!


    Thssa quickly turned her head, lowered it, trying to make herself less noticeable, and rolled up the c


    ar window.

 Chapter 201

    Chapter 201


    For real?


    He¡¯s actually going to give her a ride home?


    Was he pulling her leg?


    At that moment, inside the car, Lysander¡¯s deep voice


    echoed, ¡°Thssa, I¡¯m giving you a chance, take back what you said this


    afternoon.


    Those heartless statements¨Cshe must¡¯ve blurted them out in anger.


    He was giving her a chance to take them back but all Thssa could think about right now was, her da


    ughter can¡¯t see her, the window needed to close quickly!


    She was in the midst of a fierce mental tug¨Cof¨Cwar.


    She totally missed what Lysander said.


    Her head was practically buried in her knees, thinking they can¡¯t


    take her children away! ¡°That¡¯s not happening!¡±


    She muttered angrily without realizing it.


    Lysander¡¯s face turned gloomy in an instant, as cold as a winter night¡¯s sky.


    He had never seen such an ungrateful woman!


    Lysander was filled with rage, driving the car at breakneck speed.


    In less than two minutes, they arrived at the entrance of the old residential area. Furning, he didn¡¯t both


    er to escort her inside, he stopped the car and said coldly, ¡°Get out!¡±


    Thssa was surprised. Hearing the anger in his words, she shrank her neck, obediently opened the c


    ar door, and got out.


    Then Lysander reversed the car abruptly, stepped on the gas, and sped off.


    The exhaust from the car wafted into Thssa¡¯s face.


    She fanned away the exhaust with her hand, scoffing at his exhaust fumes and saying, ¡°What a weirdo!


    ¡±


    He insisted on driving her home, but he ended up getting angry. How absurd!


    She didn¡¯t provoke him.


    But it was better that he didn¡¯t escort her inside, so she didn¡¯t have to be on tenterhooks. What if she ra


    n into other problems?


    Seeing Lysander leave, Thssa let out a sigh of relief and walked towards home.


    Arriving at the downstairs of her building, Thssa noticed a silver Porsche parked there. The car look


    ed familiar.


    She didn¡¯t think much of it and headed straight for her building.


    Original from N?velDrama.Org.


    ¡°Thssa!¡± Behind her, a warm voice with a youthful vibe called out.


    Reacting instinctively, Thssa turned around to see the tall, chestnut¨Chaired Leopold approaching.


    Seeing his usual optimistic and handsome face, her heart ached slightly.


    Her expression, however, turned cold. ¡°How do you know where I live?¡±


    It¡¯s understandable that Lysander knew that, as


    he¡¯s her boss, finding an employee¡¯s address wouldn¡¯t be difficult.


    But why would Leopold know her address?


    Seeing her defensive stance, Leopold¡¯s smile faded, and he apologized, ¡°Thssa, don¡¯t be like this, it


    hurts me too. I came back to the country specifically to find you.¡±


    As he spoke, he took a step toward her.


    As he approached. Thssa felt threatened, she stepped back, looking at him warily, and said, ¡°Stay a


    way! Leopold, I made it clear to you five years ago: there¡¯s no chance for us.¡±


    Noticing her resistance and stopping him from getting closer, Leopold


    stopped in fear of frightening her, maintaining a step¡¯s distance. His eyes revealing a hint of sadness, h


    e said, ¡°Thssa, I know I messed up. Every single day these past five years, I¡¯ve been regretting. If I


    hadn¡¯t gotten drunk that day, if I hadn¡¯t only thought about sleeping with you so I could marry you, I wou


    ld not have fallen into Isabe¡¯s trap.¡±


    ¡°Stop talking!¡± Thssa interrupted him coldly.


    Her breath quickened, her clear eyes fixed on him, and she said firmly, ¡°Leopold, you have your life and


    I have mine; let¡¯s not bring up the past anymore; it¡¯s over. You don¡¯t need my forgiveness, whether I for


    give you or not doesn¡¯t matter anymore.¡±


    ¡°No, Thssa, you still have me in your heart, you haven¡¯t let go, right?¡± Leopold was


    most afraid of her uttering those decisive words. He took a step forward, ready to grab her shoulder, to l


    ook into her eyes, and to understand what she truly felt.


    Just as he moved a step closer, Thssa instinctively retreated, maintaining a safe distance. ¡°No, I let


    go of you a long time ago.¡±


    Chester 201


    You¡¯re bying to me Leopold stopped, his eyes filled with hurt, refusing to ept it.


    Tm not lying to you.¡¯ Thssa said, heated up.


    ¡°Why haven¡¯t you gotten married in these five years or even had a boyfriend?¡± Leopold retorted, trying t


    o make her admit that she still loved him


    ¡°That¡¯s because¡® Thssa was eager to exin, but her words trailed off when she saw his hopeful an


    d anxious eyes.


    Did he even know where she lived?


    That¡¯s not the point, though. How on earth would she let him drive her home?


    If he saw those four rugrats in her house, she¡¯s going to be in deep water!


    Thssa was squirming to free her Hand from his, flustered, and said, ¡°No need, Mr. Sinir, I can ma


    nage on my own.¡±


    But Lysander had already opened the car door and stuffed her in authoritatively, saying, ¡°Behave!¡±


    His words were chilly and left no room for refusal,


    Having said that, he shut the car door, got back behind the wheel, and drove off.


    Thssa didn¡¯t notice that at that moment, across the road, her coworker Daryl and the receptionist we


    re stepping out of the office, catching the whole scene.


    Daryl tugged at the receptionist¡¯s sleeve, looking at the departing ck Rolls¨C


    Royce in disbelief. ¡°Did you see that? That was our CEO in


    the car.¡±


    Following Daryl¡¯s gaze, Cherry saw the license te and nodded, ¡°Indeed, that¡¯s our CEO¡¯s car.¡±


    Daryl was getting more excited. ¡°Our CEO just led Thssa into his car personally. Could it be he was


    eyeing Thssa yesterday?¡±


    Yesterday morning, on Daryl¡¯s first day at work, she saw Sinir¡¯s gaze wander their way when she wa


    s standing aside to wee him. She thought Mr. Sinir was checking her out.


    She didn¡¯t think of Thssa, who was standing right next to her.


    Now that she thought of it, could it be that Mr. Sinir was looking at Thssa?


    Cherry¡¯s mouth twitched, but she said nothing.


    Seemed like the rumors about Mr. Sinir and Thssa were not unfounded after all.


    In the car, Lysander drove while Thssa sat in the back seat.


    She was super nervous. She had already said that she didn¡¯t need him to drive her home, but he insist


    ed on doing so.


    What should she do? If Evelyn was ying downstairs


    with the kids and they ran into each other, the kids would surely sprint over, excitedly calling her mom.


    Just as Thssa was tangled up in her thoughts, she realized that the view outside the window looked


    familiar.


    Was this almost in her neighborhood?


    She never told Lysander her address, did she?


    She was debating how to handle this situation and whether to give a fake address.


    He¡¯s almost at her ce!


    How did he know she lived here?


    Oh my gosh, what should she do?


    A turn at the next intersection would lead to Thssa¡¯s residential area.


    The car was moving faster than her thoughts.


    While she was at a loss, the car made a turn.


    And at the turn, beyond the iron fence, was the neighborhood¡¯s yground.


    Through the car window, Thssa saw Evelyn ying on the slide with Elowen.


    Elowen was facing her direction. She looked out the window, and her eyes met Elowen¡¯s innocent gaze


    .


    Oh crap, Elowen saw her!


    Please don¡¯t run over shouting mom or even call her mom from afar.


    Otherwise, Lysander would find out.


    If the Sinir family took the kids away, she would lose every

 Chapter 202

    Chapter 202


    Thssa¡¯s words reached the tip of her tongue, but suddenly she paused, unable to continue.


    What¡¯s the point in telling him all this?


    She had been forced into losing her virginity and ended up pregnant because of it.


    For the past five years, she was busy taking care of her child, with absolutely no time or energy to date.


    She already had four kids, which was more than enough for her.


    Did she really need to bring him up to speed with all this?


    Over the years, all her thoughts had been on her kids, with no time to dwell on the past.


    She no longer gave a damn about whether he betrayed her or not.


    To Thssa, Leopold was just a passerby in her life, with no connection left now.


    Seeing her stop mid¨Csentence, Leopold urgently urged her, ¡°Why? Tell me.¡±


    Thssa took a deep breath, not wanting to continue. She averted her gaze, whispering, ¡°Just drop it,


    don¡¯t waste your time on me anymore. We broke up five years ago, just stop trying to find me.¡±


    Original from N?velDrama.Org.


    He cheated, and that¡¯s that, no excuses needed.


    Besides, she¡¯s now a mother of four. There¡¯s no room for Leopold in her life.


    It¡¯s better to cut him off for good, letting him start anew, than to give him false hope and keep him waitin


    g.


    Waiting for something that¡¯s never going to happen was just wasting prime years.


    With that, she turned and headed towards the staircase, not looking back.


    Leopold didn¡¯t go after her. He watched her retreating figure with loss, his hopes crushed once again.


    Seeing her resolute figure, his heart ached even more. He gritted his teeth and said, ¡°Thssa, I won¡¯t


    give up! You¡¯re my first love and the one I¡¯ll love for life. I won¡¯t ever give up on you!¡±


    By now, Thssa had turned the corner, out of Leopold¡¯s sight downstairs.


    Her strength drained away in an instant, and she leaned against the wall.


    Her heart was trembling in pain, and tears were flowing without warning.


    Her mind was filled with memories of her days with Leopold at school, their youthful days, and their inn


    ocent love.


    He was her first love, and she was his too.


    If it weren¡¯t for what happened five years ago, she and Leopold might be married now, living a peaceful


    and happy life.


    The past was so beautiful, and the present was so cruel.


    What had happened in the past can¡¯t be changed.


    The issue at hand wasn¡¯t something an apology, exnation, orpensation from him can solve.


    From the moment she got pregnant and had the child, it was destined that she and Leopold would be li


    ke parallel lines, never crossing paths.


    Leopold waited downstairs for a while, but Thssa didn¡¯te back.


    He hung his head, got back in his car, and drove off.


    There¡¯s plenty of time. One day, he will make Thssa face her feelings and be with him again.


    At the yground in the neighborhood.


    Elowen and Sophia were having fun on the slide.


    Elowen suddenly tugged at Evelyn¡¯s hand, saying, ¡°Mom¡¯s back, let¡¯s go home.¡±


    Curious, Evelyn asked, ¡°How do you know Mom¡¯s back?¡±


    Elowen replied, ¡°I saw her in a ck


    car. A very handsome man was dropping her off.¡± Elowen¡¯s voice was soft and clear and very sincere.


    Evelyn heard every word clearly.


    Thssa was in a ck car, dropped off by a very handsome man.


    Elowen didn¡¯t just call anyone handsome. Only really good¨C


    looking guys, like Atticus and Dorian, would earn that praise.

 Chapter 203

    Chapter 203


    Evelyn reckoned the hottest dude she¡¯s everid eyes on was that Mr. Sinir she bumped intost tim


    e in Hollowbrook.


    At first, she thought he was Isabe¡¯s boyfriend, but then Thssa told her he was actually her boss, n


    ot Isabe¡¯s squeeze.


    Then, out of nowhere, Mr. Sinir built a mansion for Thssa.


    This started to smell funny to Evelyn, and she started suspecting that Mr. Sinir might be Thssa¡¯s


    boyfriend.


    Last night. Thssa didn¡¯te home all night, and when she came back in the morning, she was cryi


    ng her eyes out, saying she wasn¡¯t good enough for someone.


    This got Evelyn thinking: maybe Thssa¡¯s boyfriend was her boss, Mr. Sinir.


    She figured maybe the person who looked down on Thssa was also Mr. Sinir.


    Oddly enough Mr. Sinir dropped Thssa off at home again today.


    Was he toying with her, not wanting to marry Thssa but also not letting her go?


    These rich kids, all of them ying the field!


    What did they think her daughter was?


    If they were sincerely in love with her daughter, she won¡¯t object, but if they were just messing around,


    she won¡¯t hold back.


    She, Evelyn, ain¡¯t scared of nobody. If anyone dared to hurt her daughter, she would give them hell!


    Evelyn, with Elowen and Sophia¡¯s hands in hers, was high¨Ctailing it home.


    She was going to have a chat with Mr. Sinir, and this time, she won¡¯t let him off easy!


    ¡°Grandma, I¡¯m tired, I can¡¯t keep up.¡± Little Elowen, with her short legs, was struggling to keep up with


    Evelyn.


    ¡°Little one, hurry up, don¡¯t keep your grandma from finding your dad!¡± Evelyn, impatient and unable to


    wait, scooped up Elowen in one arm and, with Sophia in the other, made a beeline for home.


    She was worried that if she was there a momentter, Mr. Sinir would be gone.


    He made her daughter cryst night, and she needed to have a word with him.


    Just as she bent down to pick up Elowen and her gaze shifted towards the road, a ck Rolls Royce z


    oomed past her.


    By the time she came to, the car had already passed her, and she was still holding Elowen, hurrying ho


    me.


    Meanwhile, at the yground¡¯s basketball court, two cute little boys were studying their basketball and


    N?vel(D)ra/ma.Org exclusive ? material.


    pump.


    Those were Atticus and Dorian,


    They also came to the yground with their grandma, and while Elowen


    and Sophia enjoyed the slide, Evelyn kept thempany.


    She was in such a hurry to get Elowen and Sophia home that she forgot that Atticus and Dorian were st


    ill there.


    Atticus and Dorian loved basketball, so they were messing around on the court.


    But their basketball had a small hole and deted quickly.


    Evelyn didn¡¯t want to buy them a new ball, so she told them to bring the pump and inte it whenever it


    deted.


    They¡¯d already pumped it twice, and the ball was t again.


    Just as they were about to pump it up again, they realized the needle for the pump was gone.


    Atticus asked Dorian, ¡°Weren¡¯t you the one holding the pump? Where¡¯s the needle?¡±


    Scratching his head, Dorian pouted and said quietly, ¡°The ball rolled onto the road earlier, and when I w


    ent to fetch it with the pump, the needle might have fallen on the road.¡±


    ¡°Let¡¯s go find it then,¡± Atticus suggested.


    ¡°Uh¨Chuh Dorian quickly nodded in agreement.


    The two kids, one holding the ball and the other holding the mini pump, walked through the yground


    with the slide, heading towards


    the road.


    Suddenly, there was a loud bang from around the corner.


    Someone¡¯s tire had blown out, and the sound was deafening.


    Terrified, Atticus and Dorian immediately stopped in their track

 Chapter 204

    Chapter 204


    Around aer, a ck Rolls¨CRoyce pulled to a sudden stop.


    Just now, Lysander had heard the explosion, and he instantly knew something was off.


    He


    killed the engine, got out of the car, and saw a thick, silver pin sticking out of his front tire, puncturing it.


    His tire was noticeably deted.


    From the look of that pin, it must be an intion needle.


    Probably some kid ying with a pump, and the needle dropped on the road, puncturing his tire.


    What a little hellion!


    Lysander¡¯s gaze was icy, he coldly looked towards the yground on the side of the road.


    Seeing Lysander¡¯s eyes sweep over him, Atticus quickly reached out and pushed Dorian¡¯s head down.


    He quickly turned his back to Lysander, using a basketball to cover Dorian¡¯s head


    and spinning the ball, pretending to be ying with Dorian.


    Dorian was confused, he was suddenly pushed down, and his head was used as a backboard for his br


    other¡¯s ball y.


    He said helplessly, ¡°Atticus, what¡¯s up?¡±


    ¡°Shush.¡± Atticus quickly


    made a gesture for silence and said to Dorian seriously, ¡°If I¡¯m not mistaken, our needle punctured som


    eone¡¯s tire. You¡¯re holding it, if someone sees, you¡¯re going to get in trouble.¡±


    Dorian was taken aback. He immediately shut up.


    N?velDrama.Org ? content.


    His needle that was identally dropped on the road punctured someone¡¯s tire?


    Um, he didn¡¯t do it on purpose.


    The pump in his hand was still exposed. Although it was blocked by Atticus, what if someone still saw it


    ?


    Dorian quietly hid the pump in his arms, carefully concealed it to avoid being discovered by others.


    In this way, it wouldn¡¯t be seen.


    Seeing Dorian quiet down, Atticus continued whispering, ¡°I think the man who got out of the car just no


    w was Lysander.¡±


    ¡°What, Lysander?¡± Dorian asked in surprise. His voice unconsciously raised a bit. Realizing he might b


    e overheard, he hurriedly lowered his voice and whispered, ¡°The Lysander we suspect is our dad?¡±


    ¡°Uh¨Chuh, him.¡± Atticus whispered back.


    ¡°Mom came home crying this morning, didn¡¯t she? I suspect he upset her.¡± Atticus analyzed.


    Even though he was young, he was very bright.


    Although mom didn¡¯t say who it was, he could guess from what she said that it must be him.


    Did Lysander, mom¡¯s boss, say that mom wasn¡¯t good enough for him?


    Dorian also thought of mom¡¯s pitiful look this morning.


    With a basketball


    on his head and lying on the ground, his little brows furrowed into a knot. He whispered, sounding indig


    nant, ¡°He actually upset mom, serves him right for getting his tire punctured, hmph!¡±


    Lysander¡¯s deep gaze swept over the yground through the fence.


    There were many kids ying inside, mostly little girls in the toy area ying on slides.


    In the basketball area, a group of little boys were clumsily ying basketball.


    Nothing special caught his eye, but two boys ying basketball in a unique way caught his eye.


    One boy was lying motionless on the ground, and the other boy had a basketball on the back of his hea


    d, turning the ball with both


    hands.


    Lysander nced at them, then turned his gaze away. He called David to tow the car and pick him up.


    At this time, a silver Porsche pulled up, and Leopold got out.


    2 3 2 2 3 4


    ¡°Lysander, car trouble?¡± Leopold asked as he approached.


    Lysander nced at him and said to David, ¡°Just tow the car and no need to pick me up.¡±


    After hanging up, he got into the Porsche.

 Chapter 205

    Chapter 205


    In the car Leopold was driving, he took a nce at Lysander in the rearview mirror.


    Lysander was leaning back in his seat, eyes closed, trying to catch some z¡¯s.


    Out of curiosity, Leopold couldn¡¯t help but ask, ¡°Lysander, what brought you to this neck of the woods?


    Something up?¡±


    This ce was far from bustling and it was mainly a haunt for the strugglers heading out to make a livin


    g.


    Normally, Lysander wouldn¡¯t be caught dead in a ce like this.


    His lifestyle was more high end, and his usual haunts were business hubs or bustling areas.


    ¡°Hmm, Lysander responded with a monosybic grunt.


    ¡°Work stuff?¡± Leopold asked again.


    ¡°Hmm.¡± Lysander responded again.


    He looked beat and not in the mood for chit¨Cchat.


    Leopold got the hint, and he didn¡¯t bother him anymore.


    After dropping him off at thepany, Leopold was about to take off when Lysander suddenly asked, ¡°


    What are you heading over there for?¡±


    Leopold was taken aback, realized what he meant,ughed it off, and said, ¡°Work stuff too.¡±


    Lysander encouraged him to win back Thssa, but he ended up getting the cold shoulder from her.


    And boy, did Thssa shut him down, no ifs, ands, or buts about it.


    If he spilled the beans to Lysander, he¡¯d probably think Leopold was a total screw¨Cup.


    Nheless, he was still after Thssa, he can tell Lysander once he¡¯s won her over.


    Lysander didn¡¯t say another word, he just walked into the elevator.


    Leopold turned around and left the Sinir group.


    Thssa¡¯s ce.


    Evelyn stormed in with Elowen and Sophia.


    She¡¯d expected to see two people when she opened the door.


    Original from N?velDrama.Org.


    But instead, she found Thssa alone, sitting at the dining table, munching on chips.


    ¡°Hey, you¡¯re back.¡± Thssa turned her head, greeted them with a gentle smile, then went back to her


    chips.


    Seeing Thssa act as if nothing happened, Evelyn got ticked off.


    She let go of Elowen and Sophia and stormed through every room, but didn¡¯t find anyone.


    She stormed up to Thssa, hands on her hips, demanding, ¡°Where the hell is he?¡±


    ¡°Who?¡± Thssa was clueless.


    ¡°The dude!¡± Evelyn stated it bluntly. ¡°Elowen saw a guy dropping you off.¡± Evelyn stared her down, not l


    etting her dodge the question.


    Thssa finally realized, so Elowen did see her.


    6 ? F F F Z SEPT


    Thankfully, she didn¡¯t call her mom at the time, or the cat would¡¯ve been out of the bag and Lysander w


    ould¡¯ve found out that she was his daughter.


    Instead of answering Evelyn¡¯s question right away, Thssa picked up Elowen and gently stroked her li


    ttle face. ¡°Our Elowen saw mommy, huh?¡±


    ¡°Mm¨Chmm, Mommy, I love


    you the most, I knew it was you right away,¡± Elowen replied in her sweet baby voice.


    ¡°Thssa, tell me, was that guy your boss?¡± Evelyn was adamant.


    Thssa had already experienced her mom¡¯s interrogations and knew she wouldn¡¯t let it go easily.


    She replied, ¡°Mom, that¡¯s all water under the bridge; it¡¯s over.¡±


    ¡°What do you mean it¡¯s over? He tells you you¡¯re not good enough for him, then drives you home. What


    ¡¯s he really after? Is he trying to dodge responsibility?¡± Evelyn was getting angrier the more she thought


    about it

 Chapter 206

    Chapter 206


    Thssa didn¡¯t want to talk about these things in front of the kids, believing it wasn¡¯t good for them or t


    heir development.


    However, Evelyn always liked to get to the bottom of things.


    Thssa sighed and said, ¡°Mom, we can¡¯t control other people¡¯s decisions. I think we¡¯re doing just fine


    N?velDrama.Org ? content.


    and our family living together in harmony, it¡¯s pretty sweet.¡±


    Sweet? You¡¯re 27, and you still don¡¯t have a boyfriend. Look at Isabe, she¡¯s got a loaded boyfriend, a


    nd I heard from her mom that she¡¯s getting hitched


    soon. Then she¡¯ll have someone to dote on her, to love her, while you will be left to deal with all the fam


    ily stuff on your own.¡±


    Evelyn just loved to beat this dead horse.


    ¡°I do have people who dote on me, who love me¨C


    my dear mom, and my four little munchkins, you all love me dearly.¡± Thssa said with a smile, ntin


    g a soft kiss on Elowen¡¯s tender cheek.


    Elowen squirmed in her arms and cooed sweetly, ¡°I love mom the most.¡±


    Sophia also toddled over hugging Thssa¡¯s leg and rubbing her face against it. Her babyish voice wo


    uld melt anyone¡¯s heart: ¡°Right,


    we love mom the most.¡±


    Sophia, the youngest daughter, still had a babyish lisp.


    Thssa gently corrected her with augh.


    Seeing this tender mother¨Cdaughter scene, Evelyn was angry but couldn¡¯tsh out.


    No matter how mad she was, the cuteness of the little ones just melted her heart.


    She sighed in resignation and said, ¡°You should learn more from Isabe and n more for your future.


    ¡±


    ¡°Mom, everyone¡¯s life is different, there¡¯s no need forparison. Why should I learn from Isabe? Ev


    eryone is unique. I don¡¯t want to be someone else.¡± Thssa discussed the issue with her.


    Evelyn was clueless about Isabe¡¯s shady tactics.


    If she were to learn from her, wouldn¡¯t that mean she¡¯d turn into a bad person?


    ¡°Fine, fine, you¡¯re unique; I can¡¯t get through to you so I¡¯ll go talk to your boss.¡± Evelyn waved her off, d


    eciding not to argue anymore.


    The problem wasn¡¯t with Thssa, it was with her boss. Instead of arguing with her, it¡¯d be better to go


    straight to her boss and give him. a piece of her mind.


    Hearing Evelyn¡¯s words, Thssa was taken aback. She said, ¡°Mom, don¡¯t do anything rash or you¡¯ve


    got it all wrong.¡±


    Evelyn scoffed: ¡°I know what I¡¯m doing and you go on with your chips.¡±


    Thssa¡¯s boss gifted her a vi! And Thssa thought she could fool her?


    There¡¯s no way that man would be so kind to Thssa without any strings attached, he must be taking


    her for a ride and looking down on her at the same time.


    He must be trying to toy with her daughter using money and not taking any responsibility.


    She was determined to have a word with him.


    Thssa turned around, mid¨Cchip, when a thought struck her. She turned back to Evelyn


    and asked: ¡°Where are Atticus and Dorian?¡±


    Evelyn pped her thigh and said, ¡°Damn, I left them downstairs.¡±


    With that, Evelyn rushed out to find them.


    Elowen¡¯s big eyes were bright and childlike, she looked at Thssa, blinked twice, and said in her baby


    ish voice, ¡°What a forgetful grandma.¡±


    ¡°Haha. Thssa couldn¡¯t help butugh.


    Elowen¡¯s words were both cute and funny.


    Thssa quickly grabbed a napkin to wipe her mouth, then gently patted her little head, saying, ¡°Don¡¯t


    worry, your two brothers will be just fine.¡±


    Atticus and Dorian had always been very independent, and their maturity was beyond their yearsp


    ared to other kids.

 Chapter 207

    Chapter 207


    The two of them were ying alone in the amusement park, and it wasn¡¯t their first rodeo.


    They knew their way home and how to avoid being scammed.


    They were going to be just fine.


    Lysander returned to his office, recalling what Thssa had said in the car. He was in a foul mood.


    He had given Thssa a chance to take back that heartless deration, but she said it was a no¨Cgo.


    What the hell had his grandfather said to her? Why was she so stubbornly rejecting him?


    From a young age, Lysander had been under strict military discipline and training. He had always been


    on point, and his self¨Ccontrol was shockingly strong.


    After he took over the Sinir Group, he grew it into a world¨C


    renownedpany in just two short years.


    He was ruthless, cold, and decisive, never leaving room for criticism.


    N?velDrama.Org ? content.


    The only time he screwed up was five years ago. In a fight with business and military rivals, he was hit


    by a poisoned arrow and fell into a barn in Hollowbrook. He was feverish, ufortable, and seriously


    injured. If he hadn¡¯t gotten the antidote in time, he would¡¯ve been


    toast.


    Back then, he had taken a woman¡¯s innocence in desperation.


    Over the years, he not only


    missed the woman¡¯s gentleness but also felt guilty for what he had done to her.


    He finally found that woman, and it was Thssa.


    He wanted to take responsibility and make up for the harm he had caused her.


    But his grandfather had stuck his nose in, causing Thssa to reject him.


    Thinking about this, Lysander¡¯s mood got even worse.


    He called his grandfather: ¡°Grandpa, what did you say to Thssa this morning? She¡¯s giving me the c


    old shoulder now.¡±


    Zephyr was originally dissatisfied with Lysander¡¯s growingck of self¨Ccontrol and emotional decision¨C


    making.


    Hearing hisst words, filled with a hint of loss, Zephyr was even more pissed and said coldly, ¡°Lysand


    er, I just told her


    to step up her game and stop being a cleaner. If she goes cold on you because of this, shecks ambiti


    on. I don¡¯t know what you see in her.¡±


    Lysander frowned: ¡°She could have gotten a better job after graduating from college, but something hel


    d her back.¡±


    ¡°Did she tell you that? What could have possibly held her back from going


    to college? You went through tough training and still managed to get a master¡¯s and a PhD, didn¡¯t you?


    There¡¯s no excuse for ack of ambition. Lysander, you¡¯ve undergone military training, and I believe yo


    u¡¯re not like your


    nephew, always acting on emotion. I have to take care of your grandmother, let¡¯s hang up.¡± Zephyr hun


    g up after he spoke.


    Lysander¡¯s eyes turned cold. He was already in a bad mood, and after the call with his grandfather, he f


    elt even worse, annoyed.


    In his piss¨Cpoor mood, he remembered that his car tire had been punctured.


    He called David: ¡°Tow the car back to thepany garage, find the kid who punctured the tire, contact


    his parents, and make them pay.¡± He said it in a cold tone and hung up.


    He made this call because he was somewhat annoyed and ended up dragging innocent people into it.


    But, to be fair, randomly throwing sharp objects on the road posed a threat to passing vehicles and


    can even cause traffic idents. This was uneptable behavior and needed to be held ountable.


    Lysander was feeling down before and didn¡¯t have the energy to dig deeper.


    Now, he was starting to feel annoyed, and his temper was getting shorter.


    David had called a tow truck and was taking the Rolls¨CRoyce to the 4S shop for repairs.


    Suddenly, he received a call from the


    CEO. He immediately had the driver turn around and head back to the vicinity of the amusement park t


    o check the surveince footage and


    see which brat had thrown a nail on the road and punctured his boss¡¯s tire.

 Chapter 208

    Chapter 208


    As soon as they checked the surveince, they found the relevant information.


    Seeing the parent¡¯s name and contact number on the child¡¯s information, David found it oddly familiar.


    He dialed the number, and before he could even finish, a call history popped up.


    Sure enough, it was someone he knew.


    Once the call was connected, David went straight to the point: ¡°Ms. Kensington, I¡¯m contacting you like


    this again, you really ought to reflect on yourself a bit.¡±


    Hertha was totally lost, she asked curiously, ¡°David, what do you want?¡±


    Previously, David contacted Hertha because of Thssa¡¯s kids.


    N?vel(D)ra/ma.Org exclusive ? material.


    After that, she made a note of his contact information.


    She thought this number would be forgotten in her address book, but she didn¡¯t expect to receive his ca


    ll so soon.


    ¡°Your two kids left


    an pump needle on the street and punctured our CEO¡¯s tire, you need topensate.¡± David didn¡¯t be


    at around the bush.


    Last time, her kids ran into Mr. Sinir¡¯s office and damaged the expensive sofa, this time, they punctur


    ed the CEO¡¯s tire.


    Her kids seemed to always have a beef with Mr. Sinir.


    Holding


    the phone, Hertha was shocked. ¡°What? My kids? They punctured your CEO¡¯s tire, what¡¯s going on? I


    didn¡¯t.¡±


    She¡¯s not even married, where would she get kids from?


    Just as she was about to say it, something dawned on her, and she quickly shut her mouth.


    That was a close call.


    ¡°What didn¡¯t you do?¡± David asked.


    ¡°I¡¯m not married.¡± Hertha quickly corrected herself. As soon as she said it, she realized it didn¡¯t make se


    nse. How could she have kids if she¡¯s not married?


    Even though she¡¯s indeed single, it¡¯s not something she could admit.


    She did have four kids under her name, they were all Thssa¡¯s. She couldn¡¯t register them


    under Thssa¡¯s name, so she had them registered as her own through her father¡¯s connections.


    She couldn¡¯t bring trouble to Thssa, so she nervously prepared to exin.


    On the other end of the phone, David¡¯s words


    were heavy with implications: ¡°Oh right, your husband passed away. How did he die again?¡±


    Hertha was tongue¨Ctied, it took her a while to recall thatst time when David asked


    forpensation, Thssa was making gestures next to her, telling her to say that the


    children¡¯s father had passed away.


    Hertha immediately started to cry, saying,¡°Yes, my


    husbandmitted suicide. I¡¯m raising the kids on my own and working, it¡¯s really


    hard.¡±


    ¡°Hold on. Did hemit suicide by jumping into the sea? I remember it was jumping off a building.¡± Da


    vid no longer sympathized with her.


    Hertha immediately stopped crying and said, ¡°He jumped into the sea.¡±


    She remembered Thssa making a jumping gesture at the time; she said he jumped into


    the sea, not off a building, right? She even forgot how he ¡°died¡°.


    David rubbed his forehead and temple and said, ¡°Regardless of how he died, I hope you¡¯re coping


    well. The fact that your kids punctured our CEO¡¯s tire is indisputable. To rece a tire on a Rolls¨C


    Royce, it¡¯s nearly six thousand dors. Considering you¡¯re a single mom, we¡¯ll give you a discount. You


    just need to pay five thousand.¡±


    ¡°What?¡± Hertha was dumbstruck.


    How did it suddenly be five thousand?


    Thssa really had it tough, the hard¨Cearned money


    had to be used not only to raise the kids but also to solve various problems. She wondered when they c


    ould finally live a rxed life.


    ¡°Please transfer the money to my ount by tomorrow afternoon.¡± David hung up after saying that.


    The next day, Thssa woke up at seven in the morning.


    Ever since she had kids, she hadn¡¯t had


    a good night¡¯s sleep, and days when she could wake up naturally were even rarer.


    But she had gotten used to this rhythm of life. If she went to bed at ten at


    night, she would wake up at seven in the morning.


    The kids also began to wake up one after another.

 Chapter 209

    Chapter 209


    Looking at their soft, cute little faces, still sleepy¨Ceyed, it¡¯s hard not to fall in love with them.


    Thssa, holding


    Elowen¡¯s chubby, soft little body, nted a warm kiss on her chubby cheek, then moved on to kiss Sop


    hia, Dorian, and Atticus.


    After smooching the four little ones, she found herself panting and feeling a bit addicted.


    Her breath smelled of warm, sweet milk, an aroma one could never get enough of.


    ¡°Mama, I want some milk.¡± Elowen¡¯s soft voice rang out.


    The kids were four years old now, and they still had some form with their meals.


    N?vel(D)ra/ma.Org exclusive ? material.


    Elowen was particrly fond of milk.


    As for Atticus and Dorian, they hardly drank milk


    anymore, except for the asional cup, and mostly ate solid food.


    Elowen and Sophia needed a bottle of milk every morning to satiate their cravings.


    ¡°Alright, mama will make some for you now,¡± Thssa said as she got up.


    She picked out clothes for them, tossed them over, and let them dress themselves.


    Then she left the room to make the milk.


    Evelyn was up even earlier, preparing breakfast.


    ¡°Smells good, mom, what¡¯s cooking?¡± Thssa asked, sniffing the air.


    Evelyn chuckled at her daughter¡¯s ravenous expression: ¡°Egg pudding for the kids, and your


    favorite cheesy pasta.¡±


    ¡°I just love pasta, thanks mom!¡± Thssa grinned widely.


    ¡°You silly girl!¡± Evelynughed, shaking her head.


    Thssa prepared four bottles of milk and returned to the room where the kids had already dressed an


    d were waiting.


    the


    She started handing out the milk, one bottle each: ¡°Sophia¡¯s, Elowen¡¯s, Dorian¡¯s, Atticus¡¯s.¡±


    Atticus turned his face away, saying coldly, ¡°I¡¯m not drinking. Only babies drink milk, and I¡¯m not a baby.


    ¡±


    Seeing him act all grown up, Thssa


    couldn¡¯t help butugh. ¡°Alright, alright, you¡¯re a big boy now, not a baby. Can Mama have your milk?¡±


    ¡°Mm, Mama can have it,¡± Atticus replied, then left the room.


    He preferred eating to drinking milk.


    Rather than wasting it, Thssa drank the milk Atticus didn¡¯t want.


    As their family of six was having breakfast, someone knocked on the door.


    Thssa opened the door to find Hertha standing


    there, looking rather surprised. ¡°Hertha, what are you doing here so early?¡±


    ¡°Thssa, something big¡¯s happened,¡± Hertha said, looking very anxious as she came in.


    This got Thssa worried.


    She had Hertha sit down and poured her a ss of water.


    Evelyn served Hertha a te of pasta from the kitchen.


    Hertha took a big gulp of water to calm herself


    down, then said, ¡°Last night, David called me to say their boss¡¯s tire got punctured by some kids. They


    want us to pay for it.¡±


    Hearing this, Atticus and Dorian exchanged a look.


    Thssa was bewildered. ¡°What do you mean? Why did he call you?¡±


    With his head down, Dorian said softly, ¡°Mom, I¡¯m sorry, I identally dropped the pump needle on the


    street when I was picking up the basketball. I was going to pick it up, but it punctured someone¡¯s tire.¡±


    In a rush, Atticus added. ¡°Mom, don¡¯t me him. If I


    hadn¡¯t wanted to y basketball, we wouldn¡¯t have had the air pump.¡±


    Looking at them, Hertha realized it was their doing, and David had the right people.


    Thssa got the picture.


    It must have been when Lysander drove


    her back yesterday and passed the yground that his tire got punctured. Atticus and Lysander look th


    e most alike.

 Chapter 210

    Chapter 210


    After a second thought, Thssa reckoned Lysander probably didn¡¯t see it.


    Otherwise, Lysander would¡¯ve gone straight to Atticus and Dorian, getting them to call their folks right a


    way.


    He wouldn¡¯t have waited until evening to have David call Hertha.


    It must¡¯ve been David who checked the CCTV and came to the conclusion.


    Phew, what a false rm!


    N?vel(D)ra/ma.Org exclusive ? material.


    ¡°It¡¯s okay, mommy¡¯s not mad at you guys, you just didn¡¯t notice. But remember to be careful when yi


    ng games, don¡¯t just run across the road, and definitely don¡¯t carry sharp objects. You got it?¡± Thssa


    gently told them off.


    Atticus gave a nod, showing he got the message.


    Dorian also nodded seriously ¡°Mommy, I promise I won¡¯t run across the road anymore.¡±


    ¡°Good boy¡± Thssa softly praised him, patting his head.


    Just then, Evelyn came out of the kitchen with a


    tray of food and put it in front of Hertha: ¡°Hertha, breakfast.¡±


    ¡°Thanks, Evelyn.¡± Hertha didn¡¯t refuse. She came over first thing in the morning and hadn¡¯t had breakfa


    st yet.


    Last night, she figured Thssa and the kids must¡¯ve been in bed already, so she didn¡¯t ring Thssa,


    not wanting to disturb her


    Thssa thought Evelyn would ask about the tire¨C


    shing incident, but to her surprise, Evelyn quietly ate her breakfast, not saying a word.


    Curious Evelyn was always asking questions about anything she heard, why was she suddenly so quie


    r


    That was really strange.


    However, Thssa didn¡¯t think much of it. Perhaps Evelyn didn¡¯t


    hear their conversation since she was in the kitchen.


    After breakfast, Hertha offered to drive Thssa to work because she drove here


    Thssa epted, and they left together.


    In the car, Hertha was driving and chatting with Thssa


    ¡®David asked me yesterday how the kids father died I said he jumped into the sea, but he said he jump


    ed off a building What did we say before? Hertha was still puzzled


    She really couldn¡¯t remember what she had said.


    Thssa chuckled and shook her head. ¡°I can¡¯t recall ent


    ¡°Really? So is the children¡¯s father alive or dead? Who is he?¡± Hertha was really curious about which m


    an had such strong fertility that he made Thssa pregnant with quadruplets


    Thssa didn¡¯t hide anything from Hertha and said. ¡°It¡¯s Lysander¡±


    ¡°Oh, it¡¯s Lysander.¡± Hertha responded calmly at first, then suddenly gasped in surprise and shouted, ¡°W


    hat?¡±


    She was so excited that she turned her head to look at Thssa without paying attention to the road.


    ¡°Car, we¡¯re about to rear end, brake Thssa screamed


    Hertha immediately hit the brakes.


    The car came to a sudden stop, and their bodies jerked forward and were then pulled back by the seat


    belts.


    Thssa was so scared that her heart was pounding that she put her hand over her heart, gasping for


    air. ¡°Oh my God, that scared the life out of me, I¡¯m really worried about your driving skills. You rear¨C


    endedst time, didn¡¯t you learn your lesson?¡±


    ¡°It was ric Falconer who rear¨Cended mest time, okay?¡± Hertha was also scared out of her wits.


    ¡°So, how did the conversation with ric go?¡± Thssa recalled the previous car ident when Hertha


    sessfully got ric¡¯s contact information.


    Hertha¡¯s face darkened, looking very gloomy: ¡°Don¡¯t even mention it, he just paid for the repair costs an


    d then ignored me.¡±


    She sent him two messages, but he didn¡¯t reply.


    She couldn¡¯t very well shamelessly keep following him and chatting with him, could sh

 Chapter 211

    Chapter 211


    Before Thssa could say a word, Hertha swiftly changed the subject, circling back to the topic that ha


    d almost caused her to rear¨Cend the car in front of her,


    ¡°You just said


    the kids¡® dad is Lysander?¡± Her wide eyes were filled with shock, glued to Thssa, afraid to miss any


    subtle change in her expression,


    In contrast to her excitement, Thssa simply nodded, ¡°Yep.¡±


    ¡°Holy cow, am I dreaming or what?¡± Hertha was beside herself, like she had just won the lottery. ¡°Th


    ssa, pinch me, see if I feel it.¡±


    The kids¡® dad was Lysander, with whom they were just discussing how he passed away. If Lysander kn


    ew, he would have flipped his lid.


    Seeing her reaction, Thssa chuckled, ¡°You¡¯re reacting just like me when I first heard.¡±


    ¡°Well duh! That¡¯s


    Lysander we¡¯re talking about! King of power, helmsman of a wealthy family, the man every woman drea


    ms of but can¡¯t touch. Look at you! Not only did you have his kid, you had four!¡±


    Hertha held up four fingers in a mix of awe and shock.


    The traffic light had turned green, and cars had already moved along, but Hertha¡¯s car was still parked t


    here as she excitedly chatted away with Thssa.


    Cars behind had grown impatient, honking their horns.


    Thssa urged her to start driving.


    Only then did Hertha snap back to reality and drove away.


    Once they reached a safe spot. Hertha simply pulled over, continuing her chat with Thssa and wanti


    N?vel/Dr(a)ma.Org - Content owner.


    ng to know all the details.


    Thssa was also feeling down. She told Hertha everything about her encounter and recognition with


    Lysander five years ago and five yearster.


    She also talked about Lysander¡¯s dislike for children and Zephyr¡¯s disdain for her, saying she was not g


    ood enough for Lysander and even using her of selling her body for status.


    ¡°Oh my god, if Lysander knew about your four kids, the Sinir family would surely kick you out and tak


    e the kids. Then you¡¯d lose both the man and the kids.¡± Hertha analyzed, drawing her conclusion.


    That was also Thssa¡¯s worry,


    Lysander didn¡¯t like kids and couldn¡¯t offer paternal love, and the grandparents in the Sinir family wer


    e hoping for Lysander to have grandchildren.


    Zephyr looked down on her and would definitely not allow Lysander to marry her.


    When that happened, the Sinir family would snatch away her kids and kick her out, and Lysander wo


    uld marry a rich heiress, effectively finding a stepmother for the kids.


    Her kids would not onlyck a father¡¯s love but also be bullied by the stepmother.


    Thinking about this, Thssa felt suffocated.


    That¡¯s why she mustn¡¯t let anyone from the Sinir family know about her children¡¯s existence.


    Hertha shared her sentiments.


    ¡°That Lysander, so ruthless to his own son, even demanding $5000!¡± Hertha hit the steering wheel in a


    nger, causing the horn to honk.


    Passersby were looking at them like they were crazy.


    The number 5000 immediately struck a nerve in Thssa.


    She looked at Hertha in disbelief and said. ¡°What did you say, $5000?¡±


    Hertha nodded calmly. ¡°Yes, the price for a Rolls Royce tire is even more than that, this is a discounted


    price.¡±


    Thssa was stunned.


    For her already not¨Cso¨Cwealthy family, this was adding fuel to the fire.


    Hertha dropped her off at the Sinir Group, then drove off to work.


    Instead of going straight into thepany, Thssa went to the underground parking lot.


    She wanted to see how bad the punctured tire was and if it really had to be reced.


    Couldn¡¯t it just be patched up?

 Chapter 212

    Chapter 212


    Thssa stood in front of a ck Rolls Royce, its polished surface still gleaming with a luxurious sheen


    , even in the absence of light.


    She did ap around the car and noticed a punctured tire.


    The tire was t causing one side of the car to sit lower than the other.


    Crouching down, Thssa inspected


    the tire closely. Near the ground, she spotted a silver needle embedded in the rubber.


    That was the culprit that punctured the tire.


    She reached out to grasp the end of the needle, pulling with all her might to yank it out.


    But the needle was lodged deeply, and despite her efforts, it wouldn¡¯t budge.


    Perhaps it was because she couldn¡¯t muster enough strength while crouching that she stood up, bent o


    ver, and gave it her all, gripping the end of the needle.


    N?vel(D)ra/ma.Org exclusive ? material.


    One, two, three!


    ¡°Whoosh!¡±


    The needle finally came out. As the needle was freed from the tire, her body, due to the excessive force


    , toppled backward.


    She braced herself for a painful buttnding.


    But suddenly, she crashed into a solid, wide, lean, and strong embrace.


    She hit the man¡¯s chest with such force that it would¡¯ve knocked an average person off his feet.


    But this man was strong, extremely steady, tall with powerful legs, and had a tremendous sense of stab


    ility.


    He didn¡¯t even flinch, instead, he wrapped an arm around her waist and pulled her into his chest.


    In his strong masculine presence and his cold, intimidating aura, Thssa hurriedly apologized, ¡°I¡¯m so


    rry, I didn¡¯t mean to.¡±


    In her panicked gaze, she saw his chiseled face, his deep¨Cset features, and his star¨Clike eyes¨C


    handsome and profound.


    Thssa¡¯s speech faltered, her heart skipped a beat. ¡°Holy cow, it¡¯s Lysander!¡±


    She quickly moved out of his embrace, nervously saying, ¡°Mr. Sinir, what a coincidence.¡±


    Lysander took a step towards her, his gaze intense and shadowed.


    Thssa felt overwhelmed by his powerful aura, nearly breathless.


    His towering figure loomed over her, stepping closer and closer. Thssa retreated in fear. Realizing s


    he was still holding the needle, she quickly hid it behind her, putting up a nervous smile towards Lysand


    er.


    Soon, her back hit the car, and she was cornered with nowhere to go. Lysander leaned against the car,


    trapping her between his chest and the vehicle.


    He leaned in, his hot breath getting closer and closer.


    His strong, masculine scent enveloped


    her, a scent so familiar to her from a stormy night five years ago, when this scent had once entangled h


    er.


    Thssa¡¯s heart pounded like crazy, his lips were getting closer, and she nervously turned her face aw


    ay.


    But Lysander just missed her lips, whispering in her ear with his deep, maic voice, ¡°You seem quite


    interested in my car.¡±


    His heavy breath tickled her sensitive ear, causing her to shrink her neck. She hastily exined, ¡°No, it¡¯


    s not like that, Mr. Sinir, you¡¯re misunderstanding and I¡¯m not interested in your car.¡±


    ¡°So you¡¯re interested in me?¡± Lysander¡¯s deep voice held a hint of huskiness.


    His implicit and mysterious words made Thssa¡¯s heart race and her cheeks involuntarily flush.


    Just as she was about


    to say something. Lysander cut her off, and hismanding voice echoed again: ¡°Come to my office in


    ten minutes.¡±


    With that, he released his hold on her and stepped into the elevator.


    Watching his retreating figure. Thssa clutched her racing heart, trying to calm herself down.


    *


    **************

 Chapter 213

    Chapter 213


    of


    pak


    tot a full blown re


    ack eyes were deep, and he stared at her intensely as if


    ade her so nervous she could hardly breathe.


    to see right


    Cool: ¡°Only kids would mess with


    ws, no adult would identally endure th


    voice, deep as a cello, resounded.


    tremely dangerous for Thssa, she squirmed


    Alias Art curious and took a look, ide


    dance herself from his car.


    infortably, trying to escape from his grasp.


    ling out the nail. I would have done the same if it was someone else¡¯s car,¡±


    #the knew that it was her son who punctured his tire, that would be a total disaster.


    cement that way, she could save some dough. But to and and meet her interest in his car Max, she wa


    s really on a creek without a paddle.


    but she could say no. The uny was too intimidating After pulling herself together, report by


    the cleaning department


    N?velDrama.Org ? content.


    The resistant thanks to you amitysander have something going on?


    TARK


    ACAAN .aldeak


    HANCHAVATAN


    he pick your over me if there¡¯s nothing fishy going on? Daryl asked with a puzzled look.


    out about why I sander wanted to see her in his office. And now thist


    ke? There¡¯ll be folks saving she¡¯s sleeping her way to the top and that she¡¯s shameless. ekke?


    has many branches, and they couldn¡¯t find a cleaner at one of the branches. So, Lysander asked me to


    clean


    all the heavy lifting, I should share some of the load, right?¡± Daryl said.


    YOUR We should get going it¡¯s tim


    and headed to the top too


    kily, her job was to clean that very floor. Nobody would


    ************* vest up her count and knocked lightly


    **60*4*606 71***** //


    ********X AXN


    NS SAYKAY MONNYrs tapping tightly on the desk. His demeanor was regal yetnguid, yet it was full


    of


    fire thought a kit was pranking you, so I pulled it out.¡±


    xsssover Thssa, and the atmosphere in the office became increasingly tense. The


    back


    ON ANY SANAYANs


    ****** Tambackward she was about to tall, Lysander quickly extended his arm to catch her slender waist


    , AVAS NAMLANAN SAP stands her, his omineering aura enveloping her. He asked. ¡°How do you know


    it was a kid?¡±

 Chapter 214

    Chapter 214


    Thabe¡¯s helt uskoty hammered in her chest


    No eh he almost bathed out the truth


    Tooch varying count reallynd her by hot water


    Exxans bied her chin with his index finder, forcing her face toward him.


    Hochandhome face was brooding and cold


    Thved was abady on ede but his prat


    She awkward and uneasy. She tried


    ¡°Souvou care a lot about my Bre. ¡°Lysa


    Med by Abdeep eyes revealing


    Novemben aurav


    Thakkamax yene hard to


    ck eyes were deep, and he stared at her intensely as if


    ade her so nervous she could hardly breathe.


    to see right


    Cool: ¡°Only kids would mess with


    ws, no adult would identally endure th


    voice, deep as a cello, resounded.


    tremely dangerous for Thssa, she squirmed


    Alias Art curious and took a look, ide


    dance herself from his car.


    infortably, trying to escape from his grasp.


    ling out the nail. I would have done the same if it was someone else¡¯s car,¡±


    #the knew that it was her son who punctured his tire, that would be a total disaster.


    She said she would have done the same if it was someone else¡¯s car.


    7 sta ade Lysander feel ufortable.


    ¡°You are such a troublemaker, then you better fix this mess,¡± Lysander said it coldly.


    Her scent and her fair skin were so close, making him restless,


    She started squirming again, even through the fabric, he could feel her softness.


    He grabbed her waist, putting her towards him, hisrge hand firmly holding her waist, not letting her


    move. His lips approached hers with a hint


    of punishment. His hard growed her stender waist like a mp, making her unable to move.


    His strong masculine scent surrounded her, and her heart was like a ma attracted to him, beating


    wildly.


    His face got closer and closer, she opened her eyes wide in shock, then tightly shut them.


    Lysander lifted her face and kissed her lips as she wished, gently kissing her.


    Her softness directly ignited his desire.


    His Kiss became deeper and deeper.


    Thssa felt nervous, panicked, and confused.


    What was happening right now?


    There was no proper reason!


    She was not some woman to be toyed with.


    Thssa put her hands on his chest and forcefully pushed him away.


    Lysander felt her disobedience, he had forcefully taken her once five years ago, and he felt guilty about


    it.


    He would not let her get hurt again.


    He let go of her lips but did not let her go, his face was close to hers, his ear against hers.


    Thssa was panting, and his scent was still lingering on her lips.


    Lysander¡¯s hot breath sprayed on her ear, and his deep voice said, ¡°I¡¯ve always noticed you have a spe


    cial scent on you.¡± Thssa subconsciously asked, ¡°What scent?¡±


    N?vel(D)ra/ma.Org exclusive ? material.


    ¡°You smell like milk,¡± Lysander said.


    It was a different scent from the natural magnolia perfume on her body.


    It was faint, but very pleasant.


    In the past he had noticed this scent, but today it was stronger than ever.


    Hearing this. Thssa suddenly stiffened.


    She was already nervous and confused, thisment made her even more flustered, and her heart be


    gan to race.


    She quickly pushed away his hand resting on her waist, took two steps back, maintaining a safe distan


    ce from him, her mind started racing, then said, ¡°I had milk and eggs for breakfast today, that¡¯s why I s


    mell like milk.¡±


    ¡°Not just in your mouth, your body also smells like milk.¡± Lysander said.

 Chapter 215

    Chapter 215


    Taxa Nd YATMAN KONNTE all over myself.¡±


    Texan was probably because she was peparing form for the kids every day and spending time with t


    hem, so she had their scent on her.


    TAX was so stxt have knoWK


    Lavay dont Autobe the subject. Me took out a document from a folder and handed


    it to Thssa. ¡°Starting today, you¡¯re transferred to the secretarial department.¡±


    MASSAXX xues from him, started by his words ¡°What?¡±


    She was banned from the janitorial department to the secretarial department?


    Tass Quick nced at


    document. It was a transfer notice


    the secretarial department, the position was the CEO¡¯s personal secretary!


    Tase se base over Fave¡¯s role


    The says the sand dors a month!


    The sry was sedactie Nut


    Mt. Secial, can I really¡± Thssa wanted to say, Was this really okay?


    What? Are you worried you can¡¯t handle this position?¡± Lysander retorted.


    He had checked Thssa¡¯s major was rted, but she did not graduate.


    Thssa ere bing her to She was hesitating.


    It wasn¡¯t that she didn¡¯t have the ability. She had sought simr work before, but allpanies turned h


    er down.


    A colege colora was a basic requirement for a job. She didn¡¯t have a diploma, and no matter how capa


    ble she was, nobody wanted her.


    So to make ends meet she had to do jobs that didn¡¯t require high academic qualifications.


    Lysander suddenly promoted her to secretary, she wasn¡¯tcking confidence in herself, but she didn¡¯t tr


    ust the world, nor did she trust him.


    Thssa spoke her true thoughts ¡°Mr. Sinir, I¡¯m just a regr janitor, suddenly bing a high¨C


    level secretary will cause gossip. And I don¡¯t need you to help me by charging my job¡±


    ¡°Wish my order, who dares to gossip?¡± Lysander spoke coldly.


    He looked at her and said, ¡°I said I¡¯ll take responsibility for you so I won¡¯t turn a blind eye,¡±


    He was just giving her a chance to prove herself, how could this be charity?


    He wanted to take responsibility for her? Thssa began to feel nervous.


    ¡°Mr. Sinir, I can¡¯t ept this position and I think I¡¯d better resign.¡± His so¨C


    called responsibility was not marrying her but helping her with money.


    No matter how much money she had, she wouldn¡¯t do such a thing.


    She might as well resign and stay away from him.


    7 won¡¯t approve. You¡¯d better look at the janitorial contract again. If you resign unterally, you¡¯ll have


    topensate thepany twenty thousand dors for transition expenses. Whether you sign the sec


    retary contract orpensate for the loss, it¡¯s up to you.¡± Lysander¡¯s tone was firm, with no room for ne


    gotiation. Thssa¡¯s breath hitched.


    Her mind was filled with the twenty thousand dors inpensation!


    She hadn¡¯t even solved the five thousand dorspensation yet.


    Where could she afford so much money?


    Thinking about it, being a CEO¡¯s secretary wasn¡¯t a bad thing.


    As long as she could keep a distance from Lysander.


    Beingpetent for the secretary position could also give her a


    chance to showcase her capabilities, and she could earn a sry of five thousand dors a month. The


    re was a solution topensating him for the car tire.


    N?velDrama.Org ? content.


    Now she could start saving money.


    Considering this. Thssa mustered up her courage, made up her mind, and said, ¡°I¡¯ll sign.¡±

 Chapter 216

    Chapter 216


    own without approval, she¡¯d owe thepany 50k. On the flip side, if she gets sacked, thepany w


    ould cough up two


    ssa walked out of the office, let out a sigh of relief, and finally loosened up after she left.


    If she hadn¡¯t pushed Lysander away just now, she might have been forced into some kind of hanky¨C


    panky with him.


    He said he¡¯d take responsibility for her but made her his personal secretary.


    Her pay got bumped up, but she was closer to him than ever.


    The more Thssa thought about it, the more it seemed like he was trying to start an office romance or


    even make her his mistress.


    If she can¡¯t quit, then she¡¯d just have to mess up on purpose. If she got sacked, she could live with that.


    Getting fired still came with two months of sry; that¡¯s not chump change!


    David led Thssa to an office.


    This was the office Faye used to work in.


    would cough up bwa


    From now on, this is your office, Ms. Everhart. Your job duties and the President¡¯s schedule are all on t


    heputer. Have a look when you get a chance,¡± David briefed Thssa of her work.


    ¡°Got it, David; I¡¯m on it,¡± Thssa replied politely.


    David left after that, heading back to his own workstation, Thssa sat at herputer and started rea


    ding the files.


    The phone rang, and she picked it up.


    t was Cherry from the front desk. ¡°Hi, secretary to the President, there¡¯s ady here who says she¡¯s Mr.


    Sinir¡¯s mother¨Cinw and she¡¯s here to see him.¡±


    Thssa¡¯s transfer hadn¡¯t been announced internally yet, the front desk only knew that a new secretary


    had arrived today, but they didn¡¯t know it was Thssa.


    Per protocol, if someone was here to see Mr. Sinir, they needed to notify his personal secretary,


    Thssa asked in surprise, ¡°Mr. Sinir¡¯s mother¨Cinw?¡±


    Cherry found her voice familiar, and after a moment, she realized it was Thssa.


    Thssa used to be a cleaner, and although her


    main job was cleaning the top floor, she often came down to the first floor to help out.


    he was around the same age as the receptionist, and they often chatted.


    o, the front desk staff were very familiar with Thssa¡¯s voice.


    he suppressed her surprise, kept her cool, and said, ¡°Yes, ghly this time.


    The meat of the contract was this: if she quits on her own without approval she¡¯d owe thepany 50


    %. On the tip shle, if she gets sacked, the cor months of her sry. The trial period was one month, an


    d if she screws up during that time, thepany has the right to fire her.


    So getting sacked was actually a better deal.


    Now, she couldn¡¯t quit. Lysander had just made it clear he wouldn¡¯t approve her resignation.


    If she insisted on leaving, she¡¯d owe thepany 20k.


    She couldn¡¯t even scrounge up 5k right now, where was she supposed to get 20k?


    So, signing the contract was the best game n.


    After reading the contract, Thssa signed on the dotted line.


    Then she put down the paperwork and said to Lysander, ¡°Mr. Sinir, if there¡¯s nothing else, I¡¯ll be on


    my way,¡±


    Lysander didn¡¯t try to keep her around.


    as the right to fire her.


    To y it sa Thssa read the contract thoroughly this time. The meat of the contrast was


    the if she quits on maths of her sry. The tat period was one mo


    getting sacked was actually a better deal


    Akaw she couldn¡¯t quit Lysandr had just made it clear he wouldn¡¯t approve her resignation.


    Asavina she owe thepany 201


    Tounge up Sk right now, where was she supposed to get 20k?


    xxing the contract was the best game n


    N?velDrama.Org ? content.


    A rong the contract Thssa signed on the dotted line.


    Then she put down the paperwork and said to Lysandey, ¡°Mr. Sinir, if there¡¯s nothing else, I¡¯ll be on


    my way.¡±


    LYSANAY RYBY Ay keep her around


    Tad make out of the office, let out a sigh of relief, and finally loosened up after she left.


    Slysandy away just now, she might have been forced into some kind of hanky¨Cpanky with him.


    sublity for her but made her his personal secretary.


    May pay at bumped on but she was closer to him than ever.


    The axe Thssa thought about it, the more it seemed like he was trying to start an office romance or


    even make her his mistress.


    #thecay qut then she¡¯d just have to mess up on purpose. If she got sacked, she could live with that.


    Gatte food still came with two months of sry; that¡¯s not chump change!


    David and Thssa to an office


    The was the office Fave used to work in


    From now on, this is your office Ms. Everhart. Your job duties and the President¡¯s schedule are all on th


    eputer. Have a look when you get a chance,¡± David briefed Thssa of her work.


    60% Daust Imon ¡± Thssa replied politely.


    David left after that heading back to his own workstation. Thssa sat at herputer and


    started reading the files.


    The phone rans, and she picked it up.


    It was Cherry from the front desk. ¡°Hi, secretary to the President, there¡¯s ady here who says she¡¯s Mr


    . Sinir¡¯s mother¨Cinw and she¡¯s here to see him.¡±


    Thssa¡¯s transter hadn¡¯t been announced internally yet, the front desk only knew that a new secretary


    had arrived today, but they didn¡¯t know it was Thssa.


    Per protocol it someone was here to see Mr. Sinir, they needed to notify his personal secretary.


    Thssa asked in surprise. ¡°Mr. Sinir¡¯s mother¨Cinw?¡±


    Cherry found her voice familiar, and after a moment, she realized it was Thssa.


    Thssa used to be a cleaner, and although her main job was cleaning the top floor, she often came d


    own to the first floor to help out.


    She was around the same age as the receptionist, and they often chatted.


    So the front desk staff were very familiar with Thssa¡¯s voice.


    She suppressed her surprise, kept her cool and said, ¡°Yes, she said she has


    urgent business with Mr. Sinir; it¡¯s about her daughter.¡±

 Chapter 217

    Chapter 217


    Thssa was Alina pretty antsy Wasn¡¯t A. Smir a bachelor? Why the heck would a mother¨Cin¨C


    N?velDrama.Org ? content.


    Did he be the knot on the down low?


    She really couldn¡¯t wrap her head around these rich geople¡¯s lives.


    As a secretary part of her job was dealing with the boss¡¯s problems.


    ¡°I¡¯ve never heard of Mr. Sinir getting hitched. Are you guys sure you haven¡¯t crossed your wires? Ho


    w about this? Let her chill for a sec. I¡¯ll be right down.¡±


    It thisdy was a phony, she couldn¡¯t just let her run up and bother


    Mr. Sinir. It she did, she¡¯d be dropping the ball.


    But it this was actually Mr. Sinir¡¯s mother, turning her away at the door would be stepping on toes. T


    hat¡¯d be dropping the ball, too.


    So she had to get to the bottom of this before she could make a call.


    Ahly thek The receptionist hung up the phone, kept her smile, and politely told the woman in front of her


    , ¡°My apologies; our secretary


    says she¡¯s never heard of Mr. Sinir getting married. She asks that you hang tight for a moment while


    shees down to see you.¡±


    Even was getting antsy. She wanted to prove her im was legit, so she blurted out, ¡°Mr. Sinir built


    a mansion for our family. He even drove my daughter home. They¡¯re datina, so I really am Mr. Sinir¡¯s


    future mother¨Cinw, Let me in; I need to have a chat with Mr. Sinir.¡±


    Just then, the doors to the private elevator opened, and out came Lysander, radiating a noble air in his


    hand¨Ctailored ck suit and deep purple tie.


    Evelyn¡¯s voice was loud. The second the elevator doors opened, Lysander heard her im to be his fut


    ure mother¨Cinw and her demand to see him.


    He stepped out of the elevator and looked toward the reception desk.


    ¡°Good morning, Mr. Sinir.¡± The receptionist greeted him as soon as she saw him standing straight.


    Evelyn quickly turned around. She saw a handsome, regal man standing there. A man she recognized f


    rom before in Hollowbrook.


    And the receptionist was calling him Mr. Sinir.


    He was Thssa¡¯s boss, no doubt about it.


    ¡°Mr. Sinir, wait, I need to have a word with you.¡± Evelyn was always straightforward. She said what w


    as on her mind.


    This time, she was here to talk about her daughter.


    Just then. Thssa came out of the elevator. She was supposed to handle this mother¨Cin¨C


    But before she could even reach the lobby, she saw a middle¨C


    aged woman chasing after Mr. Sinir, looking like she had something urgent to say.


    And that middle¨Caged woman was her mom, Evelyn!


    Oh my god, why was her mom here, and why was she looking for their boss?


    Could it be that the woman who imed to be Mr. Sinir¡¯s mother¨Cinw was Evelyn?


    She couldn¡¯t believe that on her first day as a secretary, the first issue she had to handle for Mr. Sinir


    was her own mother.


    Thssa felt a surge of panic and quickened her pace.


    ¡°Mr. Sinir, I know my daughter


    might not be the cream of the crop. She¡¯s been through some rough patches, and they still


    haunt her. But she¡¯s a sincere and kind¨C


    hearted girl. If you really like her and are willing to step up to the te, then please marry her. But if you


    ¡¯re just ying around and not ready to take responsibility, then please leave her alone.¡±


    Evelyn caught up to Lysander and said what she¡¯d been rehearsing.


    Ever since the day Thssa came home crying, saying people thought she wasn¡¯t good enough for hi


    m, it had been breaking Evelyn¡¯s heart.


    Even though she sometimes criticized her daughter for not being perfect, seeing her hurt was like a da


    gger to her own heart.


    David, Lysander¡¯s right¨Chand man, stopped Evelyn from getting any closer.


    As Lysander¡¯s chief assistant, he¡¯d seen countless women go gaga over Lysander, chasing after him b


    ecause of his looks, his background, or his wealth.


    Evelyn¡¯s situation, using her daughter as an excuse to pester Lysander, was nothing new to him.


    David blocked Evelyn, preventing her from following, and sternly told her, ¡°Ma¡¯am, Mr. Sinir doesn¡¯t f


    all for just anyone. There


    are plenty of women who want to be Mrs. Sinir, but you need to be clear about your daughter¡¯s


    real identity.¡±

 Chapter 218

    Chapter 218


    David cut off Evelyn mid¨Csentence.


    He waved his hand to the security guard, signaling him to escort a woman out.


    ¡°Please show thisdy the door,¡± he said, before quickly following Lysander¡¯s strides.


    The guards approached Evelyn and grabbed her by the arms.


    ¡°Get off me!¡± Evelyn protested, furious. ¡°This isn¡¯t fair!¡±


    ¡°Hold up!¡± Thssa


    rushed over, maintaining a polite smile. ¡°Let me handle this; you guys have done enough.¡±


    ¡°Thssa, they¡¯ve really crossed the line.¡± Evelyn vented as soon as she saw Thssa.


    Thssa kept her smile,forting her. ¡°I know, I know. Just take a breather.¡±


    Seeing that the two women knew each other, the guards released Evelyn. ¡°As employees of the Sini


    r Group, we can¡¯t let personal grudges get in the way of business, especially not with Mr. Sinir,¡± one


    of them said to Thssa.


    ¡°I get it; it won¡¯t happen again. Thanks.¡± Thssa nodded in gratitude.


    The guards left and Evelyn was still fuming.


    Thssaforted her and took her to the break room.


    in the break room, it was just the two of them.


    Thssa let out a sigh of frustration: ¡°Mom, didn¡¯t I tell you not toe to thepany looking for our


    boss?¡±


    If I hadn¡¯te, who knows what kind of


    attitude our boss might have? What¡¯s this about a line of women wanting to marry him long enough to fi


    ll a train? He should take a ood look at who my daughter is first. He¡¯s clearly looking down on me. Plus,


    with so many women around Lysander, how can he handle them all? Thssa, you can¡¯t throw ourself


    into this.¡± Evelyn raged. Thssa nodded.


    he¡¯d heard what David said earlier.


    pparently, everyone was aware that only a rich princess was worthy of Lysander.


    sander had never considered marrying her.


    e gave her a vi and made her his secretary, all to make up for hurting her five years ago.


    he had misunderstood him, thinking his sense of responsibility meant he wanted to marry her.


    ne naively thought she could give her children aplete family.


    kay, I¡¯ll stop right now. I¡¯ll return the vi to him and cut all ties,¡± Thssa said.


    elyn frowned. ¡°The vi was a gift from him; you have no reason to return it! He hurt you so there


    has to be somepensation! You can¡¯t return the vi! Just keep your stance from him.¡±


    e vi was their old house, built on theirnd, and Thssa¡¯s aunt lived there.


    she gave the vi back, Evelyn wouldn¡¯t have anywhere to live.


    tha


    at¡¯s more, considering the deep hurt Lysander had inflicted on her daughter,pensating with


    a vi was the least he could do.


    thers looked down on them, they wouldn¡¯t stick around.


    ssa nodded lightly and said to Evelyn, ¡°Let me take you home, mom.¡±


    need; you have work. I can go by myself. The kids are


    at the neighbors¡®; I need to get back.¡± Evelyn stood up and hurriedly left.


    ssa saw Evelyn off and called a cab for her before returning to thepany.


    N?vel/Dr(a)ma.Org - Content owner.


    the front desk, Cherry curiously asked her, ¡°Thssa, who was that olderdy with you earlier?¡±


    hout hiding anything, Thssa said bluntly, ¡°That¡¯s my mom.¡±


    erry¡¯s mouth fell open in surprise. ¡°Wow, she said she¡¯s Mr. Sinir¡¯s future mother¨Cinw, so you¡¯re?¡±


    it did vou say Ta¡¯e mom is My Cinide but th

 Chapter 219

    Chapter 219


    Thssa nced at Cherry, then looked back at herself.


    If it were in the past Thssa might have felt awkward, but now, after Evelyn¡¯s drama, she saw the real


    ity more clearly.


    She felt even more confident.


    With a smile, she said. ¡°Mr. Sinir suddenly promoted me to be his personal secretary. Isn¡¯t that beca


    use he¡¯s interested in me? If he is, I¡¯ll bring my mom to let him marry me. That should be right, right?¡±


    ¡°What? You¡¯re the CEO¡¯s personal secretary?¡± Daryl¡¯s eyes nearly popped out of her head.


    Cherry, on the other hand, was not surprised at all but was stunned by Thssa¡¯s words.


    She really dared to say anything.


    *Thssa, are you sure Mr. Sinir is interested in you? From what I heard from David just now, Mr. Si


    nir has a lot of women. His women are either socialites or princesses of wealthy families.¡± Cherry re


    minded her, trying to bring her back to reality.


    Thssa was dismissive: ¡°A person will eventually want to try something new after having the same tas


    te for a long time. I thought Mr. Sinir was a good man. Turns out he¡¯s just ying around, a clear¨C


    cut yboy.¡±


    Cherry and Daryl both sucked in a breath of cold air.


    She actually dared to say that about Mr. Sinir.


    Thssa sighed: ¡°If


    I can¡¯t marry Mr. Sinir, it¡¯s okay to make some progress in my career. Being the CEO¡¯s personal secr


    etary is nice, but not enough. If I could be a senior manager and have a bit of Sinir Group¡¯s shares, t


    hat would be even better.¡±


    With that Thssa, with a hopeful smile, stepped into the elevator.


    She deliberately amplified her ambition for Daryl and Cherry to hear.


    Although Cherry was low¨Ckey, she didn¡¯t like gossip and wouldn¡¯t spread it randomly.


    But with Daryl¡¯s big mouth, she¡¯s not worried that her ambition won¡¯t spread.


    It¡¯s better to let Lysander hear it too, let him get disgusted with her and then fire her!


    What she wanted most now was to be fired.


    If she got fired without having to pay a penalty and


    had two months¡® srypensation, how great would that be?


    Daryl and Cherry looked at each other, both with shocked expressions on their faces.


    Daryl held her breath, and after a while, she


    let out an incredulous exmation: ¡°Has Thssa gone crazy?¡±


    ¡°Who knows?¡± Cherry sighed.


    The ck Maybach sped down the street.


    David was driving in front, with Lysander¡¯s elegant figure leaning on the back seat.


    ¡°Mr. Sinir, thepany will definitely strengthen its defense in the future, situations like today won¡¯t


    happen again.¡± David nced at the rear¨Cview mirror and respectfully said to Lysander,


    A woman actually ran into thepany, iming to be Mr. Sinir¡¯s mother¨Cin¨C


    extreme. Lysander didn¡¯t speak, he was closing his eyes to rest.


    He¡¯s used to this kind of thing.


    Once at the airport, a woman ignored the bodyguards and screamed at him, saying she


    Original from N?velDrama.Org.


    wanted to marry him and have his children.


    The bodyguards stopped her a few meters away from him, but the woman actually


    crawled under the bodyguards¡® legs to get to him.


    The craziness of these women had already surpassed his imagination.


    Suddenly, a child ran out at the intersection ahead, followed by a rolling ball.


    David was driving fast, and it looked like he was about to hit her.


    He hurriedly stepped on the brakes, and the car came to an abrupt stop.


    Looking at the little girl in front of the car, David said with a lingering fear, ¡°Mr. Sinir, there¡¯s a little gir


    l blocking our way and I¡¯ll go check it out.¡± With that, David pushed the car door open and got out.

 Chapter 220

    Chapter 220


    Elowen¡¯s ball rolled onto the road, and she dashed out to retrieve it.


    Suddenly, a car sped toward her, almost hitting her.


    She picked up her ball stood still, and stared at the ck car that had stopped not too far away.


    Her tiny, chubby, and round figure held the basketball, which almost looked bigger than her.


    With her clear, innocent, and beautiful big eyes reflecting fear, she stared at the man getting out of the


    N?vel(D)ra/ma.Org exclusive ? material.


    car.


    David scanned the area and realized she was alone. He walked over to Elowen, squatted down to her l


    evel, checked her out to ensure she was not hurt, and noticed the scared expression on her pretty little


    face.


    David softly said, ¡°Kiddo, you¡¯re too young to be ying by the road alone. Where are your parents?¡±


    The girl¡¯s eyes were clear, innocent, and beautiful. She was incredibly cute, like a chubby doll.


    It would be heartbreaking and regrettable if such a beautiful and adorable child got into an ident.


    How careless of the parents to let their child y alone by the road! If something unlucky happened to


    her, they would surely regret it.


    Elowen¡¯s beautiful big eyes stared straight at him, her childish voice saying, ¡°My mom¡¯s at


    work, and my grandma went out. I wanted to find my grandma, but I don¡¯t know where she is.¡±


    Elowen was ying ball in the neighborhood when she felt hungry and wanted some milk.


    Sut Evelyn told her before leaving that she had to deal with the boss and asked her to listen to the


    neighbor.


    She wanted milk but was too shy to tell the neighbor, so she went to look for her grandma.


    She had crossed two roads but still couldn¡¯t find her grandma.


    ¡°Your grandma left you home alone?¡± David asked.


    The girl¡¯s innocent and adorable expression melted hearts. Her grandma was so careless as to leave h


    er alone at home. Elowen was about to


    say she had a brother and a sister when the neighbor came rushing over and


    said, ¡°Elowen, so you¡¯re here.¡±


    Evelyn¡¯s neighbor was a tall, thin, middle¨C


    aged woman with a straightforward personality. She was a friend of Evelyn¡¯s


    and had a unique rtionship with her, not quite close, but not distant either.


    Evelyn asked her to look after the children, and she agreed. But she wasn¡¯t very careful since they


    weren¡¯t her grandchildren, so she didn¡¯t notice when the children went out to y.


    Afraid of losing the children and not being able to bear the responsibility, she hurried out to find them.


    ¡°You naughty girl, you scared me to death, you know?¡± The neighbor scooped Elowen into her arms.


    David stood up, his expression serious, and said, ¡°You need to keep a close eye on your own kid. If sh


    e gets hit on the road next time, it¡¯ll be your loss.¡±


    The neighbor quickly apologized,saying, ¡°Yes, yes, I¡¯m sorry for the trouble.¡±


    Seeing that the woman was genuinely sorry, David didn¡¯t say anything more, nced at the little girl on


    e more time, and returned to his car.


    ¡°Bye, sir.¡± Elowen¡¯s voice was as sweet as cotton candy.


    David turned around, smiled, and said, ¡°Goodbye.¡±


    He then got into the car and drove off.


    Lysander had been sitting in the car the whole time, not getting out. Because he hadn¡¯t slept well the ni


    ght before, he was feeling tired and kept his eyes closed. It wasn¡¯t until David started the car that he slo


    wly opened his eyes.


    He saw a woman holding a little girl who had two braids and was extremely cute, like a beautiful doll.


    Her adorable image left a deep impression in his mind.


    Lysander started to recall where he had seen this little girl before.


    Turned out he¡¯d seen her on the road when he was in Hollowbrook.


    Back then, she said he was handsome and wanted him to be her mom¡¯s boyfriend.


    He didn¡¯t expect to run into her here again.

 Chapter 221

    Chapter 221


    This thing called fate was pretty wild.


    The little girl¡¯s face vanished from Lysander¡¯s view as the car sped up, reced by the monotonous city


    scape.


    He closed his eyes to rest and recover,


    Soon the car arrived at the police station.


    Lysander pot out.


    Captain Payne exined to him, ¡°Zephyr personally stepped in and decided not to me Faye for her


    mistake, which once led to the enemypany copying the Sinir Group¡¯s clothing designs. He even


    signed a guarantee requesting Faye¡¯s release. We can only respect the principal¡¯s wishes and release


    Faye.¡±


    Zephyr, Lysander¡¯s grandpa, was a veteran with national treasure status. Despite his retirement, his pr


    estige still stood, and he had a broadwork.


    Usualb, even Lysander had to consider his grandpa¡¯s wishes, let alone Captain Payne¡¯s.


    And this case was an internal matter of the Sinir Group, If the Sinir Group didn¡¯t pursue it, it¡¯s just


    a matter of Faye making a mistake.


    The police can¡¯t force a pursuit, they can only release the person ording to their wishes.


    Lysander didn¡¯t expect his grandpa to interfere in this matter and release Faye.


    After understanding the situation, Lysander looked really bad, his eyes deep, and he said. ¡°If Grandpa


    says so, let¡¯s go with it.¡±


    His clothing design project was just to satisfy his grandpa¡¯s wish to pick


    a unique dress for his grandma.


    It his grandpa didn¡¯t care about the leak in the design n, he could only respect his wishes.


    After walking out of the police station, Lysander called Zephyr, his tone icy and authoritative: ¡°This can¡¯t


    happen again.¡±


    He hung up after finishing.


    On the other side of the phone, Zephyr wanted to talk but only heard the busy signal. His face turned gr


    im.


    Lysander actually threatened him! He had never spoken to him so coldly.


    Ever since Thssa came into his life, his attitude had gotten worse!


    Zephyr took a deep breath, pissed off.


    The Sinir Group


    After being released, the first thing Faye did was go to the beauty salon to doll herself up, then she wen


    t to the Sinir Group.


    She wanted to use returning work items as an excuse to


    see Lysander one more time and say a proper goodbye.


    But when she got to the Sinir Group, she found that Lysander wasn¡¯t there.


    She heard something that made her very angry.


    Her personal secretary position had been taken over by Thssa!


    She had been by Lysander¡¯s side for ten years and couldn¡¯t win his heart.


    N?vel(D)ra/ma.Org exclusive ? material.


    What the hell was Thssa? Just because she slept with Lysander, she easily won his favor!


    Thssa¡¯s really something.


    She had only been at the Sinir Group for


    a month and had climbed from a janitorial position to be the president¡¯s personal secretary. Why!


    Faye saw the personnel transfer order posted at the front desk, and her face turned dark.


    Cherry saw Faye¡¯s angry face and didn¡¯t dare to say a word.


    In the lobby. Daryl chatted with a colleague while cleaning.


    *Being chosen by Mr. Sinir is a good thing, even if you can¡¯t be his wife, you can boost your car


    eer, go from an ordinary cleaner to a senior manager, maybe even own shares in the Sinir Group, en


    joy dividends, never have to work again, and live a worry¨Cfree life.¡±

 Chapter 222

    Chapter 222


    Another colleague nudged her arm lightly, warning. ¡°Don¡¯t shoot your mouth off.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m not just bbering; these were Thssa¡¯s own words. Plus, you see, just yesterday Thssa was


    scrubbing floors like the rest of us. Then after work, Mr. Sinir himself drove her off for overtime, and t


    he next day, boom! She¡¯s Mr. Sinir¡¯s personal assistant. With her climbing thedder this fast, it¡¯s jus


    t a matter of time before she¡¯s in upper management or even owns a piece of thepany.¡±


    Daryl was so jealous that her eyes were practically glowing green.


    She¡¯d honestly thought when Mr. Sinir had Thssa get in his car yesterday, it was to clean another


    office, scrub toilets, or something.


    She had no idea her overtime meant this.


    She stopped in her tracks, leaning on her mop, looking all pitiful. ¡°When


    will Mr. Sinir ever notice me? I¡¯m not half bad either.¡±


    Another colleague chuckled, ¡°There¡¯s a big difference between you and Thssa. Thssa¡¯s pure and


    charming, the type that men fall head over heels for.¡±


    ¡°What about me?¡± Daryl grumbled.


    ¡°You, my dear, are the type women fall for.¡±


    They kept yakking away,pletely oblivious to the person still standing in front of the reception desk i


    Original from N?velDrama.Org.


    n the lobby.


    Faye, overhearing their chatter, shot them a withering look.


    Cherry, the receptionist, gave a discreet cough to alert them.


    Hearing the cough, Daryl turned around and was met with a stare as cold as ice.


    The woman had amanding, ice¨Ccold, and intimidating presence.


    Daryl was instantly silenced, hanging her head low, dropping the subject, and going back to mopping th


    e floor.


    Faye gave Cherry a nod, then stepped into the elevator.


    She didn¡¯t head to the top floor but went to the executive level to verify what Daryl had been saying.


    The news traveled faster than she¡¯d thought.


    The entire executive level knew what Thssa had been bragging about.


    The executives were not pleased with this woman, but Thssa was the personal assistant handpicke


    d by the president himself.


    Faced with Thssa¡¯s enormous ambition, these top brass could only fume in silence, not daring to voi


    ce their anger.


    ¡°Murray, don¡¯t worry; I¡¯ll call Zephyr right away and tell him what¡¯s going on with thepany,¡± Faye re


    assured Murray once she had checked things out.


    Murray had been with the Sinir Group for ages and he¡¯d been there since Zephyr took charge.


    When it came to Zephyr¡¯s grandson Lysander¡¯s turn to take over, he was still there.


    He¡¯d never seen a woman this power¨Chungry.


    He


    was genuinely afraid that Lysander would hand over thepany that had been painstakingly built up


    by generations to some woman of unknown origins, just because of a crush.


    Faye called Zephyr, exchanged a few pleasantries, and then got straight to the point.


    ¡°Grandpa Zephyr, I¡¯m at thepany right now; you might not know what¡¯s going on here.¡± Faye¡¯s voic


    e was gentle and respectful.


    Zephyr asked, ¡°What¡¯s going on?¡±


    Faye seized the opportunity to spill the beans. ¡°Last night, Lysander personally drove Thssa home fr


    om thepany and they had an overnight ¡®overtime¡® session. This morning. Thssa is Lysander¡¯s


    personal assistant. Thssa¡¯s gotten a taste of the good life, and she¡¯s be arrogant and disrespec


    tful, even openly stating that if she can¡¯t be Lysander¡¯s wife, she¡¯ll be a top executive at the Sinir Gro


    up, and she also wants a share of the Sinir Group.¡±


    Anyone with half a brain would know what ¡°overtime session¡± meant.


    Wasn¡¯t this hinting at a special arrangement between the two of them?


    Lysander was actually this smitten by a woman!


    Zephyr was already furious, and Faye¡¯s words made him even more angry.


    However, he couldn¡¯t just take Faye¡¯s word for it, he was somewhat skeptical, asking. ¡°How did you fin


    d out about this?¡±


    Faye


    exined, ¡°Thssa was so smug she blurted it out to her colleagues, and they spread the news arou


    nd. Now the wholepany knows about it. Murray, you tell Zephyr.¡±


    Faye handed the phone to Murray.


    Murray took the phone, looking worried, and said solemnly, ¡°Zephyr, it¡¯s true. In the seven years since L


    ysander took over the Sinir Group, he¡¯s always been steady. He can¡¯t lose himself over a woman an


    d ruin the whole Sinir Group.¡±


    This statement made things very serious.


    This was no longer a minor affair between a man and a woman.


    This was like a king being bewitched by a beauty and neglecting his duties.


    This was a disaster for the nation and its people.

 Chapter 223

    Chapter 223


    Aluray and Murray were once business partners, with Murray being a key yer in the Sinir group. He could distrust anyone except Murray.


    Zehrazed knew things were getting serious. Thssa could no longer stay in the Sinir group.


    "Murray, contact HR and fire Thssa straight away. Tell them it¡¯s my decision," Zephyr nned to bypass Lysander and sack Thssa directly.


    "But what about Lysander?" Aluray was worried. What if Lysander disagreed with Thssa¡¯s dismissal?


    Zephyr mulled it over, recalling Lysander¡¯s threat over the phone, warning him not to pull a stunt like this again.


    If Lysander found out that he had sacked Thssa, he would surely protest.


    He thought of a way to let Lysander know. "If he asks, tell him Thssa resigned because she found a better job."


    So Murray brought Thssa¡¯s employment contract and briefed Zephyr about it.


    Zephyr said, "Pay Thssa ten thousand dors as severance. Pay thepany twenty thousand for the transition period. I¡¯ll cover it."


    He was willing to shell out thirty grand as long as it could get Thssa out of the Sinir group. Compared to freeing Lysander from the woman¡¯s trouble and getting rid of an ambitious woman, thirty grand was chump change.


    Aluray immediately carried out Zephyr¡¯s instructions.


    Thssa was in her office, absentmindedly looking at Lysander¡¯s schedule. She wondered, "Did I not make myself clear enough? Or were the office rumors still swirling? Why had there been no news so far?"


    Just as she was thinking about it, her phone rang. It was a call from the head of HR.


    "Thssa, pack your things and leave thepany right now. You don¡¯t need toe back," the HR supervisor said.


    She had been fired! Wasn¡¯t this what she wanted?


    Thssa asked, "Aren¡¯t you supposed to pay me severance?"


    "Ten thousand dors has been transferred to your ount. Check it," the HR supervisor said and hung up.


    Thssa quickly checked her bank ount on her phone. Sure enough, she had received ten thousand dors!


    It felt good to get paid. She no longer had to worry about being tied down by Lysander under the guise of being the boss. And what¡¯s more, she didn¡¯t have to worry about the kids being discovered by him.


    Ah, the feeling of liberation. But amidst the joy, there was a tinge of disappointment. She had been deliberately ambitious, saying that she wanted to be Mrs. Sinir. Based on Lysander¡¯s attitude, there were two possible oues.


    If Lysander really wanted to take responsibility for her, he would have married her. If Lysander just wanted a fling and was just lusting after her young body, he would have been provoked by her words and fired her.


    In the end, it was thetter. She was fired.


    She wasn¡¯t wrong. Lysander never intended to marry her. He just wanted a fling.


    Holding the road, she heard a voice.N?velDrama.Org ? content.


    Without looking up, she said, "Are you looking for the CEO¡¯s secretary?"


    An overbearing female voice, full of sarcasm and disdain, responded.


    She tried to conceal the fact that Lysander was exactly the guy she had met five years ago.


    "It¡¯s not like some people who take fat paychecks from thepany while stabbing it in the back. This is a clear case of scapegoating, and I just..."


    The voice used Thssa of setting up the situation and now ying the victim.


    Sandra chimed in, "You might say you want to marry Lysander. If it wasn¡¯t for the fact that you saved Lysander with your act, he wouldn¡¯t have given you a second nce. He made you his secretary and even gave you perks. He just wants to flirt with you."


    Thssa felt humiliated, but she held her head high and put on an indifferent face. She gave Sandra a sarcastic smile, "Funny, because in Lysander¡¯s eyes, I¡¯m more valuable than you. He wouldn¡¯t even touch your book even if you threw yourself at him."


    Then Thssa turned around and left the room in her sneakers.

 Chapter 224

    Chapter 224


    Aluray and who were once business partners, with Murray being a key yer in the Sinir group.


    He could distrust anyone except Murray


    Zehrazed things were getting serious.


    Thxed could no longer stay in the Sinir group


    Murray,t HR and fire Thssa straight away. Tell them it¡¯s my decision,¡± Zephyr nned to bypas


    s Lysander and sack Thssa directly,


    But what about Lysande Array was worried. What if Lysander disagreed with Thssa¡¯s dismissal?


    Zephyr med it over, recalling Lysander threatened him over the phone to warn him not to pull a stunt lik


    e this again.


    #Lysande Axund out that he had sacked Thssa, he would surely protest.


    He thought of a both ASA YAWt let Lysander Anow. It he asks, tell him Thssa resigned because she


    found a better job.¡±


    So Meray bosht Thssa¡¯s employment contract and briefed Zephyr about it.


    A Nawing &


    Zephyr said Pay Thssa ten thousand dors as severance. Pay thepany twenty thousand for th


    e transition period. I¡¯ll cover it.¡±


    willing to shell out thirty orand, as long as it could get Thssa out of the Sinir group.


    Compared to trewing Lysandy from the woman¡¯s trouble and getting rid of an ambitious woman, thirty g


    rand was chump change.


    Akeray inadey carried out Zephyr¡¯s instructions.


    Thssa was in her office absent¨Cmindedly looking at Lysander¡¯s schedule.


    She Did I not make myself clear enough? Or were the office rumors still swirling? Why


    had there been no news so far?¡±


    Just as she was thinking about it, her phone rang. It was a call from the head of HR.


    Thssa pack your things and leave thepany right now. You don¡¯t need toe back,¡± the HR su


    pervisor said.


    She had been fired! Wasn¡¯t this what she wanted?


    Thssa asked ¡°Aren¡¯t you supposed to pay me severance?¡±


    ¡°Ten thousand dors has been transferred to your ount. Check it,¡± the HR supervisor said and hun


    g up.


    Thssa quickly checked her bank ount on her phone.


    Sure enough, she received ten thousand dors!


    Ah it felt good to get paid.


    She no longer had to worry about being tied down by Lysander under the guise of being the boss.


    And what¡¯s more, she didn¡¯t have to worry about the kids being discovered by him.


    Ah, the feeling of liberation.


    But amidst the joy, there was a tinge of disappointment.


    She had been deliberately ambitious, saying that she wanted to be Mrs. Sinir. Based on Lysander¡¯s


    attitude, there were two possible oues.


    If Lysander really wanted to take responsibility for her, he would have married her.


    It Lysander just wanted a fling and he was just lusting after her young body, he would have been provo


    ked by her words and fired her.


    In the end, it was thetter. She was fired.


    She wasn¡¯t wrong. Lysander never intended to marry her. He just wanted a fling.


    P


    Hold the road


    hare the Heret anone Without looking ur she said ¡®Are you looking for the CEO¡¯s secretary?


    an overbearing female cops, full of sarcasm and disdain.


    ww


    ***** the and conceal the fact that Lysander was exactly the guy she met live years ago.


    Mod The A


    .atht It¡¯s not like some people who take fat paychecks from thepany white stabbing it in


    you want. This is a clear case of scapegoating and I just


    Xxx Sex


    hane Thssa by set it to anotherpany and now she even had the audacity to y the victim.


    Sandra tanda taxt


    dard fee seal To Say yosat You Nigh to marry Lysander. If it wasn¡¯t for the fact that you saved Lysander


    with your ANNANAS Nanstuntashionable as you a second nce. He made you his secretary and eve


    n gave you to be baked to whoes Abad Sang. He just wants to flirt with you.¡±


    Fees word, whether exclct or moled me he years 200. When was to


    to die bore the point that Lysander¡¯s kindness towards Thssa was merely his way of repaying her for


    Original from N?velDrama.Org.


    saving him move of his tent of her, it was all just revayment.


    Been Flysanderance to her now zuget out of love, but make instinct. He wanted her body, but he would


    never marry her!


    Thssa was always away of Line¡¯s view of Nor


    But when Pave scelled out the pain in her heart was like a ke cut and she felt humted


    She swallowed her painted her head and put on an indirent face. She gave Faye a sarcastic smile, ¡°Fu


    nny, because in Lysander¡¯s eyes, I¡¯m more valuable than you. He wouldn¡¯t even touch your book even i


    f you frou yours at him.¡±


    Then Thssa tumed around and left the room in her sneakers.

 Chapter 225

    Chapter 225


    Though sneakers can¡¯t give her that royal elegant vibe, they sure do make her feel secure.


    Faye was so pissed her foundation was about to crack.


    Her breathing hitched, but she tried hard to keep her anger at bay.


    Being the heiress of the Brennan group, she had to stay cool andposed. She shouldn¡¯t act like Tha


    Thssa stepped out of the Sinir group, bumping into Hertha parking her car in the lot.


    Noticing her, Thssa approached, ¡°Hertha, what brings you here?¡±


    ¡°Thssa, I¡¯m here to pay thepensation, David told me yesterday I needed to wire the money to hi


    s ount by this afternoon. But all I have is cash,¡± Hertha said, patting her purse.


    Thssa quickly grabbed her arm, whispering. ¡°Keep it low¨Ckey so that you won¡¯t get rubbed.¡±


    Hertha got cautious, lowering her voice. ¡°Should I go find David then?¡±


    N?velDrama.Org ? content.


    Thssa guided her into the car and hopped in. ¡°You said David asked you to wire the money to his ac


    count. Did he give you the ount number?¡±


    Hertha nodded. ¡°Yes, he texted it to me.¡± She showed Thssa the text on her phone.


    Thssa saw a string of digits, the bank ount number.


    She said. ¡°Your cash is from your parents, right? Give it back to them. I¡¯ll transfer you five grand, then y


    ou can wire that to David.¡±


    Hertha¡¯s parents were both civil servants with stable jobs and decent sries.


    Although Hertha was working, she¡¯d always spend her entire sry each month.


    Thssa knew that Hertha wouldn¡¯t have five grand, so Hertha must¡¯ve asked her parents.


    Whenever Thssa was in a tight spot Hertha was always there to help, no questions asked.


    She was truly touched and grateful


    Having such a devoted friend like Hertha was the biggest luck in Thssa¡¯s life.


    Hertha¡¯s eyes widened in shock, ¡°Thssa, did you do anything stupid?¡±


    Thssa asked, ¡°What stupid thing would I do?¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re not actually considering epting Lysander¡¯s offer, are you? Paying him out of his own pocket,


    Thssa, have you lost your mind?¡± Ever since hearing


    about Thssa¡¯s story with Lysander, Hertha had been strongly against them continuing their rtions


    hip.


    It was clear that Lysander was just toying with Thssa with no attempt of marrying her.


    How could Thssa be so naive?


    Thssa was taken aback, thenughed. ¡°You¡¯re overthinking it. The money is from the Sinir group


    aspensation for firing me.¡±


    ¡°What? You got fired?¡± Hertha was even more shocked.


    Thssa nodded, exining everything about her promotion to secretary and


    being fired less than a dayter.


    Hertha gave her a thumbs¨Cup, ¡°Thssa, that¡¯s some next¨C


    level move. But this just further proves that Lysander doesn¡¯t want to marry you. If he did, he would¡¯ve


    married you right away instead of firing you when he heard the rumor.¡±


    Even Hertha could see the logic here.


    Thssa said. ¡°Let¡¯s get going. No more visits to the Sinir group.¡±


    Hertha started the car and drove off.


    Meanwhile, David was driving a Maybach. With Lysander in the car, he pulled into the Sinir group¡¯s p


    arking lot.

 Chapter 226

    Chapter 226


    Seeing a caring ahead. Hertha quickly swerved the steering wheel to avoid the car thanks to a pre


    vious mishap.


    She didn¡¯t want any idents happening again because of her carelessness.


    When the two cars were a decent distance apart, Hertha changed direction and got onto the main road,


    going with the flow.


    David pulled up in the car that Lysander was in, parking the car.


    Lysander opened the door, his shiny ck shoes stepping onto the ground, his suit pants nice and cris


    p.


    Tall, with an aura of sophistication, Lysander naturally exuded a noble yet intimidating vibe. David follo


    wed him into the Sinir group.


    In the lobby, Daryl was whispering with Cherry, but she felt a powerful vibe approaching.


    Turning her head, she saw it was CEO Lysander entering.


    She quickly stepped aside, bowing her head to greet Lysander¡¯s arrival with respect and humility.


    Lysander walked into the elevator, his vibe overbearing and intimidating, even the air around him seem


    ed to tremble at his presence. He didn¡¯t even spare a nce at anyone in the room.


    Lysander took the private elevator up to his office. David was supposed to follow Lysander, but he saw


    Daryl and Cherry whispering something.


    So, he stopped and asked Daryl, ¡°What were you guys talking about?¡±


    Caught off guard, Daryl knew David was Lysander¡¯s right¨C


    hand man, and his position carried a lot of superiority.


    Pissing off David meant indirectly pissing off Lysander.


    Daryl dared not to irritate David. She nervouslyughed, her eyes darting around, thinking of what to sa


    y, ¡°Sir, we said you and Mr. Sinir are very handsome.¡±


    She gave him a thumbs up, her expression and gesture perfectly coordinated.


    David was pleased to hear thispliment.


    He had


    always heard employees discussing Mr. Sinir¡¯s handsome face, but no one talked about his own app


    earance. Now hearing someone say he¡¯s handsome made him happy.


    But he still said, ¡°Don¡¯t discuss this during work hours.¡±


    Daryl paused and said weakly, ¡°Okay.¡±


    ¡®Discuss it after work.¡± David smiled, then walked into the elevator.


    Daryl stood there dumbfounded. What did David mean? Discuss his handsomeness after work?


    In reality, thatment was made up on the spot. She was actually whispering to Cherry about why th


    e higher¨Cups banned gossip about Thssa, otherwise, people would be fired and never rehired.


    Thssa was fired for spreading these rumors.


    The warning made all the employees too scared to mention Thssa¡¯s ambitions of bing Mrs. Sin


    ir and a high¨Cranking officer, and getting the Sinir group¡¯s shares. Not even a word was


    dared to be mentioned.


    Daryl was specifically warned, so of course she dared not to mention that.


    N?vel(D)ra/ma.Org exclusive ? material.


    Lysander returned to his office to finish up his work.


    There was a meeting in the afternoon. The secretary had to prepare the meeting room in advance.


    Lysander dialed the secretary¡¯s office phone. However, no one answered.


    Just then, David walked in and informed Lysander of his schedule, ¡°Mr. Sinir, the meeting


    starts in half an hour.¡±


    Lysander hung up the phone, then said to him, ¡°Can you check what Thssa is doing?¡±


    This was Thssa¡¯s first time as a


    secretary. She should be giving it her all to show her ability and value.


    David nodded, then went to the secretary¡¯s office.

 Chapter 227

    Chapter 227


    Thssa wasn¡¯t in the office, but on her desk sat a resignation letter.


    David went back to the CEO¡¯s office with the envelope in hand and handed it over to Lysander.


    Lysander saw the words ¡°Resignation Application¡± on the envelope.


    He frowned slightly.


    Opening the envelope, the reason for the resignation was written inside. ¡°Sorry, but I¡¯ve got a better gig


    and no longer wish to work at the Sinir Group.¡±


    The words were typed but the signature below was unmistakably Thssa¡¯s own handwriting!


    N?vel/Dr(a)ma.Org - Content owner.


    That was her true handwriting!


    Lysander¡¯s face turned gloomy. She really had the guts to quit!


    Could she afford the $20,000 penalty for breaking the contract?


    Lysander dialed the HR department.


    The HR manager said, ¡°Thssa insisted on quitting and immediately


    paid the $20,000 penalty. She mentioned her new job offers great benefits. They even gave her a $20,0


    00 signing bonus to poach her.¡±


    Zephyr had instructed that Lysander was not allowed to know that Thssa was actually sacked.


    If Lysander asked, the HR manager should concoct a story to make him believe that Thssa quit willi


    ngly.


    After careful consideration, the HR manager thought the excuse he just made up was pretty usible.


    After hearing the HR manager¡¯s report, Lysander¡¯s face turned icy cold, as if a storm was brewing.


    Without uttering a word, he hung up.


    At Thssa¡¯s home.


    She and Hertha had returned home.


    They heard from Evelyn that


    while she was out for a bit, Elowen wanted milk and went looking for her to get the milk.


    Elowen ended up on the road and almost got hit by a car.


    hssa¡¯s eyes welled up with tears. She was filled with fear and dread.


    he picked up Elowen¡¯s soft little body, gently


    patting her tender face, her heart filled with regret and fear, ¡°Elowen, sweetheart. If you want milk, you


    can tell the neighbor or earn to make it yourself. You can¡¯t go out alone again, okay?¡±


    ensing her mom¡¯s concern, Elowen obediently


    nodded, ¡°Okay, I¡¯ll learn how to make milk. The granny in the neighborhood is too busy to listen to me.¡±


    earing Elowen¡¯s innocent words, Thssa felt a heartache.


    he wiped the tears from the corners of her


    eyes and put Elowen down. She squatted to her level and gently said, ¡°How


    about learning how to make milk now?¡±


    Okay.¡± Elowen nodded.


    Mom, I want to learn too.¡± Sophia joined in with her little legs swinging.


    le too.¡± Dorian raised his hand, ¡°Once I learn, I can help my sister make milk.¡±


    ticus said with his serious little face, ¡°I want to learn too.¡± His reason was the same as Dorian¡¯s.


    eing


    her children so enthusiastic and positive, with the two older brothers so caring towards their sisters, Th


    ssa felt both relieved and heartbroken.


    right, you alle here, I will teach you.¡±


    ssa took the kids to the kitchen and took out the form and bottles from the cupboard.


    e mixed hot water with a cold one to make warm water, then


    scooped a few spoons of form into the bottle.


    she


    worked, she instructed. ¡°If you need 120ml of water, scoop four spoons of form, if it¡¯s 150ml, scoop fi


    ve spoons. After scooping the form, put the lid on and shake it


    this. Once it¡¯s mixed, it¡¯s ready to drink.¡±


    kay, I got it. I want to make my own milk too.¡± Having watched her


    mom¡¯s instruction, Sophia felt she had it down.


    phia reached for the hot water kettle on the stove, but she was too short. As she reached out, the kettle


    tipped and hot water sshed out.


    atch out!¡± Thssa shouted.

 Chapter 228

    Chapter 228


    As a mom, Thssa had mastered the art of dealing with emergencies, making her reactions quicker t


    han ever.


    With the speed of lightning. Thssa grabbed Sophia¡¯s hand and yanked her aside, saving her from a


    nasty burn from the boiling water.


    Boiling water sloshed from the stove.


    Worried about the rest of her children, she outstretched her arm and nudged them away from the dang


    er zone,


    Seeing her little ones safe and sound in front of her. Thssa felt a wave of relief wash over her, her he


    art still pounding like a drum,


    She looked at her children, who were still a bit dazed from the suddenmotion,


    Thssa took this as an opportunity to give them a quick lesson. ¡°Hot water is the enemy when making


    form. If you get scalded, it could harm your skin. So, if you guys want to make your own form wit


    h boil water, when you need to reach the kettle, you better get a stool as a booster, then you¡¯ll be able t


    o reach the kettle,¡±


    ¡°Mama, got it. From now on, I¡¯ll help my sisters make their form,¡± piped up Atticus in his tiny voice.


    He was the eldest and was always the most sensible and mature one. He always had his own ideas, pl


    us he was quite handy.


    When the kids were still figuring out how to dress themselves, Atticus was the first to master it, and the


    n he helped his younger siblings with their clothes.


    ¡°Mama, me too! I¡¯ll go get the stool,¡± Dorian announced. Swinging his short legs, he dashed out to


    N?vel(D)ra/ma.Org exclusive ? material.


    fetch a stool.


    Elowen just stared at Thssa with her big eyes, not uttering a single word.


    Sophia¡¯s cheeks flushed from the fright. She said timidly, ¡°Mama, I understand, I won¡¯t reach for the ket


    tle directly anymore.¡±


    Thssa smiled, gently patting Sophia¡¯s head, ¡°Sophia, you¡¯re the best. I¡¯ll make you another bottle


    of form, one for you and one for Elowen.¡±


    ¡°Mama, let me do it. I¡¯ll make the form for my sisters.¡± Dorian waltzed in with a toddler¡¯s chair almost


    as big as him,


    He was struggling with the chair, but he stubbornly persisted.


    Thssa didn¡¯t stop him, instead she said, ¡°I¡¯ll clean up the water on the counter first.¡±


    She quickly grabbed a cloth, wiped up the hot water Sophia had identally spilled, and stabilized the


    kettle,


    Then, she made way for Dorian.


    Dorian climbed onto the stool and filled the kettle with cold water. He ced it back onto the base, and


    pressed the switch.


    His movements were a bit clumsy, but he had the sequence down pat.


    Even though Thssa hadn¡¯t shown him how to boil water, Dorian figured it out by himself.


    Children¡¯s speed of learning and action often exceeded adult expectations.


    She would never stop her children from being proactive in learning and doing things.


    Even when there¡¯s danger, Thssa


    would teach them how to avoid it, instead of outright stopping them or doing it for them.


    She couldn¡¯t always be there to protect them.


    She needed to nurture their self¨C


    protection and autonomy, so that they could take care of themselves, which was the best protection for


    them. Soon enough, the water was ready.


    Dorian carefully yet clumsily poured some hot water into the bottle, followed by some cold water.


    Then, he mimicked Thssa¡¯s movements and added form to the bottle.


    Dorian¡¯s tiny hands were a bit shaky, so some form spilled outside of the bottle.


    But a bottle of form was sessfully prepared nheless.


    Dorian picked up the bottle and noticed the form stuck to it. He scratched his head awkwardly and s


    aid, ¡°I held it steady. I didn¡¯t shake, but why?¡±


    Thssa gave a gentle smile and said, ¡°Dorian, you did really well, you¡¯re amazing.¡±


    Dorian beamed with pride and joy. ¡°I¡¯m mama¡¯s child, mama¡¯s the best.¡±


    The innocent and crisp voice of her little one warmed Thssa¡¯s heart to no end.


    Elowen and Sophia had their fill of form, while Dorian


    and Atticus didn¡¯t want any. The four of them yed around


    Thssa for a bit, then retreated to their rooms to y with their toys.


    CMAWAY

 Chapter 229

    Chapter 229


    on the couch when the healing four kids alt a piece of cake, but your kids are smart and cute. Many pe


    ople are green with envy, like


    My kus take a Mat¡¯s why they¡¯re so bright


    NON Q with a word ook het your only 1000


    TANKO HAS xx


    Sport AARVAKIN


    NMARUM/t their father¡¯s Q


    SUMMONe to


    Robe she and SUR PASSA Swifty coured box N


    Depewa o NE Tassaing Martha¡¯s mouth. They were horsing around like kids. She asked, ¡°What on


    earth are you guys doing?¡± Macaule auch Nele ust y a game thing serious


    Bestoffer Aand


    Dave booked and sad Nerta stay for diver. It go buy some groceries.¡±


    With a sweet sole sol Even, adore your cooking.¡±


    Assadee Hawced to Thssa ¡°Haven¡¯t you told your mom yet?¡±


    AVANA You to or moms tell her, she¡¯ll definitely confront the father of my children. I might lose them.¡± T


    ORSIONs for was shy her children


    Asepte very caret


    Se countlet Duge or who her children¡¯s father was


    NON You really smart. I almost spilled the beans. I¡¯ll be more careful next time.¡±


    Then she made a zbog motion across her lips, indicating that she would keep the secret.


    trome Traks at Bele. Mom, I quit my job. I won¡¯t be working at the Sinir Group anymore. Don¡¯t go loo


    king for me there.¡±


    Even passed You out your job? How are we going to make ends meet with all these mouths to feed?¡±


    Just as Thssa had anticipated Evelyn reacted strongly.


    Thssa quidity calmed her down. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, mom, I¡¯vended a new job. They¡¯re paying me a han


    dsome sry.¡±


    Even asked skeptically. ¡°Really? How much are they paying you?¡±


    Thssa held up five fingers.


    Evelin guessed five hundred dors?


    Thssa corrected her. ¡°No, five thousand dors.¡±


    N?velDrama.Org ? content.


    Evelyn gasped five thousand dors?

 Chapter 230

    Chapter 230


    Thssa replied, ¡°Yes, five grand.¡±


    She couldn¡¯t tell Evelyn she had been given the boot by the Sinir group, who then forked out ten gra


    nd aspensation.


    If Evelyn knew, she would surely make noise at the Sinir group.


    After all, Thssa didn¡¯t do anything wrong, so why was she given the axe?


    If Evelyn went there, she would know the reason for dismissal. It was because Thssa had been stirri


    ng the pot at thepany, saying she wanted to be Lysander¡¯s wife.


    As a result, after Lysander got wind of this, he didn¡¯t propose or console her. He


    just gave her the sack right off the bat.


    His intention was pretty clear. He didn¡¯t want to marry her.


    The moment he heard Thssa wanted to marry him, he just showed her the door.


    If Evelyn got a whiff of this, she would surely have a bone to pick with Lysander.


    Then, things would get really messy, which wouldn¡¯t be good.


    Most importantly, Thssa was worried that Evelyn might spill the beans about her having four kids in f


    ront of Lysander.


    Given the kids¡® ages, Lysander would know in a jiffy that they were his children.


    She couldn¡¯t risk that.


    So she could only say she quit voluntarily and got picked up by anotherpany.


    Although she hadn¡¯t found a new job yet, she would hustle to find one.


    She said she only had five grand because the other five had been spent onpensating Lysander for


    the tire cost.


    She only had five grand left.


    When Evelyn heard Thssa¡¯s reply, her surprise turned into delight, and she said with a smile, ¡°What


    a generouspany to


    offer such a big payout. They sure have good taste, knowing my daughter is capable.¡±


    Thssaughed sheepishly without saying a word.


    If only she was that popr, she wouldn¡¯t have to worry about finding a good job every day.


    ¡°Thssa, give me the money. I¡¯ll keep it for you,¡± Evelyn said with a grin.


    Seeing her mom¡¯s eyes, Thssa knew Evelyn was itching to y poker again.


    The 1,100 dors she made before was lost by Evelyn in just one night.


    It probably wouldn¡¯t even cost Evelyn three nights to gamble away this five grand.


    Thssa said, ¡°I just looked up some nearby kindergartens on my phone, and I n to sign up the kids


    tomorrow. This money is just enough for a semester¡¯s tuition and living expenses for the four kids.¡±


    ¡°What?¡± Evelyn asked in surprise. She didn¡¯t expect Thssa to do this.


    Thssa put down her fork. She looked seriously at Evelyn and said solemnly. ¡°Mom, the kids are four


    years old and they¡¯ve never been to school. Other kids start school very early. Although we take them t


    o the bookstore to study. They can read and


    learn to write, but it¡¯s still not as good as learning in school.¡±


    Thssa told Evelyn about that.


    Atticus and Dorian, Elowen and Sophia, who were eating, nced at each other.


    They learned much more at the bookstore than they did at school.


    Otherwise, how could four¨Cyear¨C


    old Atticus be aputer whiz? He could easily dig up all the dirt on Lysander.


    N?vel(D)ra/ma.Org exclusive ? material.


    Dorian loved reading about performance and had a deep


    understanding of it. In terms of performance, he was a prodigy.


    Otherwise, the Sinir group¡¯s receptionist wouldn¡¯t have been so moved


    by Dorian¡¯s performance that she let them in to see Mr. Sinir.


    Elowen was a food lover. As long as she had a taste, she could tell what was added to the food and ho


    w it was made.


    Sophia, on the other hand, was a genius at identifying treasures.


    Thssa was oblivious to all of this.

 Chapter 231

    Chapter 231


    She thought the kids were just flipping through someics or fairy tales at the bookstore when they w


    ere on their own.


    The kids nced at each other, then lowered their heads and kept eating.


    ¡°Also, there¡¯s


    no one at home to look after them, and Elowen almost got hit by a car when she was out ying We mi


    ght not be so lucky next time. At least in school, there are teachers watching them all the time, Thss


    a added.


    Hertha chimed in from the side, ¡°Yeah, yeah, the kids are four now. It¡¯s time for them to go to school.¡±


    Evelyn looked at the four adorable little ones who were eating


    She sighed deeply ¡°In a blink of an eye, the kids have grown so much. They need to start trying to leav


    e grandma.¡±


    Caring for the kids every day was exhausting for Evelyn.


    But the thought of the kids being at school every day and onlying home at night, with no more chil


    dren buzzing around her during the day, made her feel a bit lost. She was reluctant to let go.


    In the evening, Hertha went home.


    After Thssa put the kids to bed, she started job hunting and sending resumes on herputer.


    The jobs that didn¡¯t require a degree were all about factory workers, cleaners, or odd jobs.


    She had been to college for two years. Was all the professional knowledge she had learned going to b


    e wasted like that?


    She was a bit unwilling to ept it.


    Just like Lysander said, was she really not up to the task?


    No, she knew her capabilities well. She could do very well as a secretary.


    It¡¯s just that mostpanies only cared about degrees.


    While browsing the web, she suddenly saw a job posting for a secretarial assistant at apany.


    She paused and, with a try¨Cit¨Cout attitude, submitted her resume.


    In the work experience column of


    her resume, she wrote that she had been the personal secretary to the president of the Sinir group.


    with only one day of experience!


    After sending her resume, Thssa went to bed.


    The next day, Thssa and Evelyn took the kids to kindergarten. The kids were enrolled


    and they immediately stayed for sses.


    Evelyn was going to the card room to watch others y poker.


    Thssa had to go home by herself.


    At the bottom floor of their building, she saw a familiar silver Porsche.


    N?vel(D)ra/ma.Org exclusive ? material.


    A man, tall and slender with short chestnut brown hair, was leaning against the car


    wearing a chic autumn suit in khaki and navy blue checks.


    He was standing on one foot with the other


    foot resting on it. He looked up at the windows of the building.


    Thssa saw the man¡¯s face clearly. It was Leopold Sinir!


    Her heart skipped a beat. She quickly averted her gaze and lowered her head. She tried to pretend she


    didn¡¯t see him, heading straight. for the building.


    ¡°Thssa!¡± Leopold spotted her instantly. With his heart leaping, he quickly stepped forward to follow h


    er, ¡°Why are youing in from outside? I thougfit you were still in bed.¡±


    He was waiting for her downstairs to give her a surprise when she came out for work, and to give her a


    ride.


    Thssa stopped. Looking up at him, her gaze was filled with caution and distance, ¡°I¡¯ve told you, stop


    looking for me.¡±


    Leopold¡¯s smile didn¡¯t fade. It was still as warm and gentle as ever.


    ¡°Thssa, I know I was wrong before. I didn¡¯t make any promises to you. Back then, I was just a stude


    nt. I knew nothing about many things, and I had no ability to do anything. But now things are different, I


    have my ownpany, and I know what I want. I can protect the people I want to protect, and I can giv


    e the woman I love a stable home. Thssa, will you give me another chance?¡± Leopold said, reaching


    out his hand to hold hers.


    Just as his hand was about to touch Thssa¡¯s, she reflexively pulled her hand back.


    She said sternly to Leopold again, ¡°Leopold, five years have passed. I¡¯v

 C Hapter 232

    C Hapter 232


    After Thssa finished her words, she turned around and walked away


    Ever since that night five years ago, there¡¯s been this giant chasm between her and Leopold


    His betrayal and her ordeal meant that it was impossible for them to be together again in this lifetime.


    Leopold¡¯s amie suddenly froze on hit face


    Watching Thssa¡¯s resolute back, he felt that his heart was filled with pain.


    For five years, them wasn¡¯t a day he wasn¡¯t thinking about her


    He worked his butt off studying abroad and even busted his chops in his career, so that he coulde


    back, dazzling with sess and be by her side


    He wanted to give her a sense of security and he wanted her to look at him differently.


    But she wouldn¡¯t even spare him a nce.


    No matter how well he was doing and how sessful he was, it all seemed irrelevant to her


    This left Leopold feelingpletely defeated and heartbroken.


    He couldn¡¯t ept that he had no ce in Thssa¡¯s heart.


    He turned and left, his tail between his legs.


    When he walked into the president¡¯s office of the Sinir group, Leopold saw Lysander sitting on the co


    uch, nursing a ss of red


    wine


    With a face full of gloom and sorrow, Leopold took a seat opposite Lysander. Pouring himself a drink, h


    emented, ¡°Lysander, do you think she really doesn¡¯t love me anymore? I¡¯ve approached her twice, a


    nd she won¡¯t even chat with me.¡±


    Leopold was feeling really bitter, and he let it all out before downing his drink.


    Swirling the wine in his ss, Lysander could see his long fingers entuated by the ruby liquid. His e


    yes reflected the same shade, which were deep and mysterious.


    His lips curved into a sarcastic smile, ¡°No one can figure out women¡¯s hearts.¡±


    Then he downed his drink too.


    Leopold caught the underlying meaning and asked curiously, ¡°Lysander, you¡¯ve got your eyes on a wo


    man? No way, who could possibly give you a hard time?¡±


    Lysander was the one every woman in Starhaven pines for.


    Many women have tried their best just for a second nce


    from Lysander, but not everyone was that lucky.


    Countless rich girls dreamed of bing Lysander¡¯s wife, but not everyone got the chance.


    Could there really be a woman who gave Lysander a hard time?


    Leopold was both curious and surprised.


    Lysander¡¯s eyes darkened slightly.


    Was he in love with Thssa?


    He wasn¡¯t sure. All he knew was that five years ago, she had saved his life, and he had always felt inde


    bted to her


    Making it up to her family and rtives was another way of repaying her.


    He had promiged to take responsibility for her. And he had kept his word, taking her home to meet his r


    tives. Even when his grandfather looked down on her, he promoted her to be his secretary, giving he


    r the chance to prove herself.


    But she wasn¡¯t grateful. She¡¯d rather pay a fine than quit.


    If she was so adamant about leaving, there was no point in forcing her to stay.


    Seeing Lysander lost in thought, Leopold poured him another drink.


    He also poured himself a drink and said, ¡°Lysander, women are just testing you. They don¡¯t really reject


    you, especially with your charm. Unless she already has someone else in her heart, why


    N?velDrama.Org ? content.


    would she reject a catch like you? She¡¯s not a fool.¡±


    Leopold drained his newly filled ss of wine.


    Just thinking about Thssa made him feel the heartache.


    ¡°Lysander, I¡¯m really having a bad time. I was framed five years ago. My girlfriend broke up with me, an


    d she hadn¡¯t forgiven me till now.

 Chapter 233

    Chapter 233


    I¡¯m really into Thssa.¡± Leopold didn¡¯t say it out loud, just kept it to himself.


    Looking at his glum face, Lysander said, ¡°You just gonna let your newpany go to shit like this? Inst


    ead of drowning in sorrow here, you¡¯re better off busting your ass at work.¡±


    Leopold snapped out of it and put down his ss. With a slight drunken glint in his eyes, he chuckled, ¡°


    Eh, I just got some crap on my mind, so chew the fat with you. Guess I¡¯ll bounce


    and get back to work. Sorry to bug you.¡±


    Leopold got up and left.


    Having finished the red wine Leopold had just poured him, Lysander moved back to his desk and got d


    own to business.


    Thssa was on the web, hunting for a job with a fat paycheck.


    Suddenly, her phone rang. Someone invited her for an interview.


    It was apany where she¡¯d shot off her resume the night before.


    Thispany was new in Starhaven with loads of positions to fill.


    When Thssa heard they wanted her for an interview for a secretary assistant gig, she was over the


    moon and jumped at the


    That afternoon, she put on some minimal makeup and suited up with her professional women¡¯s outfit.


    Feeling pumped, she headed out.


    Though thepany was fresh off the boat, it was no small fry.


    Even if it couldn¡¯t hold a candle to international corporations like the Sinir group, it was no small pota


    toes.


    It was a big¨Cleaguepany.


    If she couldnd a secretary gig there, it would be nice.


    Thssa walked into the interview room. There were three interviewers, two guys in professional suits.


    One woman, in a professional women¡¯s suit, looked every bit the white¨Ccor worker.


    Thssa sat across from them, feeling a bit jittery.


    The female interviewer nced at her resume and asked, ¡°You spent two years at Starhaven College b


    ut didn¡¯t graduate. Care to exin?¡±


    That was a pretty personal question.


    chance.


    Thssa couldn¡¯t tell them that she got knocked up and had to


    take a break to take care of the baby bump. Then she had to raise the kid and didn¡¯t have time to finish


    college.


    All she could say was, ¡°Because of some personal issues, I got hurt and had to drop out.¡±


    Right then, on theputer screen in the CEO¡¯s office, the CCTV footage from the interview room was


    ying.


    Since thepany was just getting off the ground, Leopold didn¡¯t have any big matters to deal with. He


    needed to review the recruitment.


    He nced at theputer screen absentmindedly. He saw a familiar face and looked away, and then


    he snapped his gaze back.


    In the video, Thssa was sitting there, facing the interviewers with hands on herp. She was calm a


    ndposed when answering their questions.


    That woman was Thssa!


    Seeing Thssa, Leopold felt a rush of excitement.


    Then he heard Thssa say that she had to drop out because she got hurt for personal reasons.


    That year, Thssa had dropped out right after summer vacation.


    It indicated that the hurt she was talking about was caused by him!


    He was tricked by Isabe, things happened, and he betrayed Thssa.


    Even though Thssa broke up with him decisively, the pain from that time must¡¯ve made it impossible


    for her to move on, so she had to drop out, right?


    Yup, that must be it.


    N?velDrama.Org owns this text.


    Leopold¡¯s hand was resting on the desk, trembling slightly with excitement.


    Thssa¡¯s interview was still going on.


    sewer asked. ¡°You worked at the Sinir group for a day


    | secretary, why did yes


    | the leave?


    How was Thssa supposed to exin? She couldn¡¯t say that she made an outrageous demand for Ly


    sander to many her or shelf get

 Chapter 234

    Chapter 234


    Thssa was contemting how to phrase her response when the interviewer¡¯s phone suddenly rang.


    She cut off Thssa¡¯s words. ¡°Sorry, I gotta take this call real quick.¡±


    After finishing her call, the interviewer returned to the room, smiled at Thssa, and said, ¡°Ms. Everhar


    t, we think your experience is a perfect fit for where ourpany is heading. You can start tomorrow.¡±


    Thssa was thrilled, yet somewhat in disbelief.


    It wasn¡¯t until she held the employment contract in her hands that she realized it was real!


    She had actuallynded the secretary job based on her resume alone.


    They didn¡¯t turn her down just because she didn¡¯t have a college diploma!


    It felt like she was living a dream.


    As she left the building, she nced back at thepany¡¯s name onest time.


    The sign on the ss door read Leossa Tech Co., Ltd.


    N?velDrama.Org owns this text.


    Thispany was her lucky star, the stage where she could showcase her abilities!


    From now on, she would work hard.


    On her way home, Thssa could hardly contain her excitement as she shared her joy with Hertha.


    ¡°Hertha, I got a new job, not as a cleaner or factory worker, but as a secretary which aligns with my coll


    ege major!¡±


    From the other end of the phone, Hertha could feel her excitement.


    In school, Thssa was a top¨C


    notch student. Despite only attending college for two years, she received schrships every year.


    No one knew the subject matter better than she did.


    Even though she dropped outter, she didn¡¯t forget what she had learned. That knowledge was her w


    ealth.


    Hertha was happy for her, ¡°Really?! Congrats, Thssa, your talents can finally shine.¡±


    ¡°Thanks. To celebrate my new job, I¡¯m treating you to dinner tonight, Thssa offered cheerfully.


    ¡°Or we could hit a bar. We¡¯ve gotta celebrate this happy day.¡± Hertha suggested.


    Thssa thought for a moment and said, ¡°Okay, see you tonight.¡±


    She was so happy and Hertha had helped her a lot, of course she would agree to Hertha¡¯s proposal.


    When Leopold saw the contract Thssa signed, he was over the moon and even kissed the documen


    t.


    He had been worrying about Thssa. But he didn¡¯t expect her to show up at hispany for a secret


    arial interview!


    Now, he had more chances to be with Thssa, and he had more time to exin what happened five y


    ears ago. It was his chance to


    win her over!


    He was ecstatic at the thought and couldn¡¯t hide his excitement, so he immediately called Lysander, ¡°Ly


    sander, she came to mypany. You were right, she was testing me, she loves me. Otherwise, she w


    ouldn¡¯t have quit her old job toe to mine.¡±


    Lysander was speechless.


    Hearing his excitement, Lysander responded tly, ¡°Congrats.¡±


    ¡°Thanks, Lysander, you¡¯re like my gold mine. No, you¡¯re my lucky star. Tonight, I¡¯m inviting you for drink


    s. Meet me at the Karry Bar, you gottae!¡± Leopold said enthusiastically, then hung up the phone.


    Leopold straightened his cor. Looking in the mirror, he realized his charm was ever increasing.


    Isabe had been in the hospital for several days, and the swelling on her face had finally subsided, ret


    urning her to her normal


    appearance.


    Though there were still some bruise marks, they did

 Chapter 235

    Chapter 235


    She carefully put on her makeup, checked herself in the mirror, and covered the bruises from the injury


    with foundation. She still looked as beautiful as ever.


    Finally, she got the courage to call her boyfriend.


    Her boyfriend was still the same rich jerk.


    Five years ago, she saw Thssa¡¯s boyfriend, who was handsome and had a noble air about him.


    The moment sheid eyes on him, she fell for him, and ended


    up hooking up with that man, who was Leopold, Thssa¡¯s boyfriend.


    She thought she could be Leopold¡¯s girlfriend this way, but s, Leopold didn¡¯t give her the time o


    f day.


    Her dream of being Leopold¡¯s girlfriend was crushed, and she had to keep dating her original boyfriend.


    N?vel(D)ra/ma.Org exclusive ? material.


    She couldn¡¯t afford to blow both chances.


    Over the years, Leopold didn¡¯t delete her contact, only to ask her about Thssa¡¯s whereabouts.


    He asked for Thssa¡¯s address and phone number, and then he never bothered her again..


    Isabe had to face reality and thought it was more important to cherish her current boyfriend.


    She called her boyfriend rk and told him she was in the hospital and wanted him to visit.


    Soon, rk arrived.


    rk was wearing a thick gold chain with his belly slightly sticking out. Holding a ck leather bag, he r


    eeked of new money.


    He walked into the hospital room and saw Isabe lying on the bed with bandages on both


    arms and legs. She was no longer the enchanting and charming woman she used to be.


    He subconsciously frowned, spat out the toothpick in his mouth, and grumbled, ¡°What did you do to you


    rself? If you can¡¯t stand up in the future, I¡¯m not having you.¡±


    Facing her boyfriend¡¯s me, Isabeughed pleasingly and said, ¡°The doctor said it¡¯s temporary. I¡¯ll


    bepletely healed in three months. rk, I¡¯m so pitiful and so unlucky.¡±


    Saying that, she pouted in grievance. With tears welling up in her eyes, she showed a pitiful look.


    rk was quite fond of her coquettish and pitiful act. He put the bag on the bedside table, sat next to h


    er, and said in a crude but protective manner, ¡°Who¡¯s been messing with you? I¡¯ll sort him out!¡±


    Isabe said, ¡°The president of the Sinir group, Lysander.¡±


    ¡°Holy crap!¡± rk jumped up in fright.


    He was all high and mighty a moment ago, and now he was scared and intimidated.


    He got weak in the knees just hearing Lysander¡¯s name.


    He rebuked Isabe, ¡°Anyone but Lysander! If you don¡¯t cherish your life, I do cherish mine.¡±


    Saying that, he grabbed his bag and was about to leave.


    Isabe panicked and said, ¡°I took all the me for you! Lysander knows I tricked him five years ago. H


    e wants me to pay back that five million dors! If he finds out that the money was used for your busine


    ss, he¡¯ll definitelye for you!¡±


    Five years ago, Isabe and Faye deceived Lysander by lying that Thssa


    was killed by a dpidated old house.


    Faye gave Isabe all the money Lysander had given her to appease Thssa¡¯s family.


    Isabe threatened Faye that if she didn¡¯t give her the money, she would expose Faye¡¯s secret.


    The five million dors inpensation all went to Isabe¡¯s pocket.


    Just as her boyfriend rk¡¯s business was failing, she gave all the money to rk for his business.


    The reason was that rk knew about her one¨Cnight stand with Leopold and was repulsed by her,


    trying to break up with her.


    But Isabe didn¡¯t want to break up with him. Although rk was average¨C


    looking, his family ran a business, and his parents were very rich. If Isabe could marry him, she could


    enjoy a life of luxury.


    rk¡¯s business had lost five million dors, and he was afraid his


    parents would find out, so Isabe used the five million dors to help rk fill


    the cracks in his business as a bargaining chip.


    In this way, she could continue to be rk¡¯s girlfriend, and he couldn¡¯t break up with her.


    rk agreed. Then this entanglementsted for five

 Chapter 236

    Chapter 236


    Isabe didn¡¯t get mad, but instead, she shed an ingratiating smile and said respectfully, ¡°rk, my c


    urrent predicament is temporary. I have plenty of ways to solve my problems and start anew. Have you


    forgotten? Over the years, every time you¡¯ve screwed up a business deal, I was the one who bailed yo


    u out with my money¡±


    rk was no whizz at business, but he loved to show off his chops. With arrogance and narcissism, he


    always thought he was the smartest guy in the room. He looked down on small deals and always


    wanted to go big or go home.


    But he couldn¡¯t handle the big leagues. Every single time he tried to do business, he¡¯d lose at least a h


    undred grand.


    rk was always a mama¡¯s boy. His mom was a hard¨C


    ass, and although he strutted around like a big man on campus, he turned


    into a little boy when he got home, always groveling in front of his mom.


    If his mom ever asked him where the money went, he¡¯d get scared shitless.


    To keep her spot as rk¡¯s fiancee, Isabe kept pulling rk¡¯s ass out of the fire.


    And where did she get her cash? Mostly by ckmailing Faye with the fact that Thssa was still alive.


    She made some dough with her ownpany, but it was peanutspared to what rk was burning


    through.


    Hearing her words, rk calmed down.


    For the past five years, he couldn¡¯t figure out why he kept losing money in his business deals..


    The capital he used to do business was always siphoned off from the family ount under the radar.


    If his mom found out, she¡¯d blow a gasket.


    Every time he lost money, Isabe would step in and save his bacon.


    N?velDrama.Org ? content.


    He trusted that Isabe had the chops.


    Five years ago, Isabe had fooled around with another guy behind his back!


    This was a bitter pill that rk couldn¡¯t swallow. He depended on Isabe¡¯s abilities, but he couldn¡¯t for


    get what she had done.


    He was always sharp¨Ctongued with Isabe, never being gentle to her.


    Even when they got intimate, he¡¯d berate her without pity.


    rk calmed down, his face still showing his anger. ¡°Alright. What¡¯s your n?¡±


    Isabe chuckled and said, ¡°rk, I know you¡¯re the mostpetent man. You can


    easily get five million¨Cdors to repay Lysander. It¡¯s a piece of cake for you.¡±


    Isabe didn¡¯t have five million dors to her name, and even if she sold herpany, she wouldn¡¯t co


    me close.


    Lysander was a cold¨Cblooded bastard. This time, he only crippled her


    because of Thssa. He gave her a chance to pay back the money, and then they¡¯d be square.


    If she didn¡¯t take this opportunity, things could get a lot worse.


    So, she had to get her hands on five million dors ASAP and pay Lysander back herself, telling him th


    at she knew she screwed up and was


    willing to make it right. That was her way of showing her sincerity.


    If she waited any longer, Lysander might lose his patience.


    So, she had no choice but to turn to rk.


    Even though rk was ipetent and arrogant, he was an absolute sucker for ttery.


    As long as someone told him he was capable, he¡¯d be over the moon.


    After so many years with rk, Isabe knew him like the back of her hand.


    rk furrowed his


    brow and said, ¡°How the hell am I supposed to pull that kind of money out of thin air right now?¡±


    ¡°You can tell your mom you need it for an investment as the startup capital,¡± Isabe suggested.


    ¡°My mom knows I¡¯ve screwed up a lot of investments before. She¡¯s not g

 Chapter 237

    Chapter 237


    ¡°So how did you manage to get money from your family¡¯spany ount before? Just do it the same


    way this time.¡±


    Isabe shot rk a charming smile, even batting her eyshes at him seductively.


    Usually, whenever she gave him that look, rk would curse under his breath and throw her onto the b


    ed, making passionate love to her. But this time, it was different.


    He nced at the annoying bandages wrapped around Isabe¡¯s hands and feet.


    ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll get outside and make a call. The money should be in the ount within two hours, rk rel


    uctantly agreed.


    He promised to help Isabe get five million dors to repay Lysander.


    On one hand, it was because Isabe mentioned that if Lysander found out that he was given the five


    million dors five years ago. Lysander woulde after him.


    This threat made rk feel hesitant.


    On the other hand, Isabe was right. She had the ability to bounce back, otherwise, where did all the


    money she sporadically gave him over the past five yearse from? Surely, it was because she was


    capable.


    rk had to rely on Isabe, and it wasn¡¯t time for them to break up yet.


    Besides, if he broke up with Isabe, he doubted he


    would ever find another woman who could constantly give him money and was as passionate and inten


    se in bed as Isabe.


    They needed each other, so it was a give¨Cand¨Ctake rtionship!


    It was best to keep things as they were.


    Isabe let out a captivatingugh. ¡°You are always so nice to me, and you¡¯re the most capable, I don¡¯t


    love anyone but you.¡±


    ¡°Enough, stop ying innocent in front of me. Once you recover, I¡¯ll show you how much I love you,¡± Cl


    ark shot her a nce before stepping outside to make the call.


    The moment rk left, Isabe¡¯s weak and coquettish expression vanished instantly, reced by a fier


    ce, teeth¨Cgrinding grimace.


    If she had a better choice, why would she ever settle for rk?


    N?velDrama.Org owns this text.


    It was all because of rk¡¯s wealthy family. If she could marry rk and get a share of his family¡¯s wea


    lth, she could live a worry¨C


    free and luxurious life. Otherwise, she would have kicked rk to the curb a long time ago.


    It was all because Leopold ignored her, otherwise, she wouldn¡¯t put up with such humiliation!


    At four in the afternoon, Isabe got the money. She was about to go to the Sinir group to return the


    money to Lysander, showing her repentance.


    Isabe¡¯s hands and feet were still not healed, so she sat in a wheelchair with her mother pushing her.


    The Sinir group, president¡¯s office.


    Lysander sat in the president¡¯s chair, hisrge figure exuding an imposing aura. A cold air radiated from


    him as he looked down at some files.


    Isabe pushed herself forward in her wheelchair and came to Lysander¡¯s desk. With her bandaged ha


    nds, she held up the bank card with a respectful, polite, and somewhat fearful smile on her


    face. ¡°Mr. Sinir, this is the five million dors I owe you. Five years ago, I was misled by Faye, and fo


    olishly helped her to create the illusion that Thssa was dead. Considering that I¡¯m Thssa¡¯s cousin,


    and I sincerely regret my actions, I hope you can forgive me.¡±


    Without even raising his head or giving her a nce, Lysander remained silent.


    David, who was standing nearby, stepped forward and took the


    card from her. ¡°Miss Isabe, you can leave now.¡±


    Isabe nodded and gave a nervous smile.


    Lysander was still nonchnt, seemingly not forgiving her.


    She wanted to say something to break the ice. Mentioning Thssa was the best way to get Lysander¡¯


    s attention.


    So instead of leaving right away, Isabe sighed lightly and said, ¡°It¡¯s such a pity about Thssa. She


    was the top student in my area


    and got epted into Starhaven College with excellent grades. But after only two years, she had to dro


    p out.¡±


    Lysander¡¯s pen paused as he looked up, his cold and oppressive gaze focusing

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    Chapter 238


    Seeing Lysander perk up, Isabe knew she had his interest.


    It seemed like she picked the night topic.


    A sense of victory danced in her heart, but she crushed it down, forcing out an air of regret. ¡°Back then,


    Thssa broke up with her university boyfriend. She was devastated and even ended up with depressi


    on, so she had to drop out. I tried to talk some sense into her, asked her if any guy was worth her future


    . But she said she loved him too much, and people who hasn¡¯t loved deeply won¡¯t understand.¡±


    Isabe went on, detailing Thssa¡¯s past rtionships with Leopold


    Men couldn¡¯t stand their women having a history with other guys.


    If she was this miserable, why should Thssa get to soar high and be the envy of all?


    Isabe was hell¨Cbent on wrecking Lysander¡¯s good impression of Thssa.


    Once she spilled, Lysander¡¯s handsome face turned icy, his gaze cold enough to freeze the world.


    The atmosphere in the room turned frosty, the air seeming to solidify.


    Sensing Lysander¡¯s anger, David quickly wheeled Isabe out. ¡°You¡¯ve talked too much. The


    to the hospital and was sedated without being able to speak for a month. People who bber too much


    might meet a severe punishment.¡±


    Fear gripped Isabe, promptly shutting her up.


    David wheeled her out of the office. He released the wheelchair and said tly, ¡°Elevator¡¯s that way. Se


    e yourself out.¡±


    As David was about to leave, Isabe stopped him.


    ¡°David, do you think Mr. Sinir will forgive me?¡±


    David answered, ¡°If I were you, I wouldn¡¯t ask any questions or say anymore. I¡¯d leave as quickly as po


    ssible and never show up in front of Mr. Sinir again.¡±


    The warning in David¡¯s words was clear.


    Isabe nodded. Then she took the elevator, and left.


    ¡°Achoo!¡±


    At the moment, in the president¡¯s office of the Falconer group, ric Falconer was reading some docu


    ments when he sneezed.


    Rubbing his nose, he thought, ¡°who¡¯s cursing me?¡±


    Then he rubbed his mouth.


    After he talked a bit


    too much in front of Lysander, his tongue had been numbed. He couldn¡¯t talk for days, even the food ta


    sted nd.


    Though it was mostly recovered now, his tongue still felt a bit numb.


    8 p.m.


    Original from N?velDrama.Org.


    Thssa and Hertha went to a bar.


    They ordered two cocktails.


    Raising her ss, Hertha toasted Thssa, ¡°Congrats onnding the secretary job. Cheers!¡±


    Thssa raised her ss, clinked it with Hertha¡¯s. ¡°Thank you.¡±


    Then, they both took a sip.


    Thssa was over the moon because this was the first time shended a secretary job that matched h


    er skills and qualifications.


    Even though she was a secretary at the Sinir group for a day, she knew it was out of Lysander¡¯s pity


    or his intention to keep her, not because of her own abilities.


    ¡°By the way, you¡¯ve been to many interviews before. Mostpanies rejected you because you didn¡¯t


    have a university degree. Why did this one make an exception?¡± Hertha asked out of curiosity.


    ording to the societal norm, a degree was a requisite for a job. Mostpanies followed this rule.


    Few would break the rule, which made this one stand out.


    ¡°They believed I have plenty of work experience,¡± Thssa answered.


    ¡°The Sinir group is really something and Lysander is even more so. Only one day as a CEO¡¯s secret


    ary at the Sinir group gets you plenty of work experience,¡± Hertha said, surprised.


    Ch

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    Chapter 239


    Thssa was left dumbfounded.


    Suddenly, it dawned on her. This was why the interviewer had said she had lots of work experience.


    She originally thought it was because of all the jobs she had done over the years, sales, cleaning, facto


    ry work, waitressing, that were considered as rich work experience.


    But after Hertha¡¯s exnation, she realized that the interviewer was actually interested in her one¨C


    day job as a secretary to the president


    at the Sinir Group..


    Yeah, that was right.


    The Sinir Group was indeed very powerful and prestigious.


    Being a secretary there for a single day was even more valuable than her years of working experience.


    Thssa smiled, ¡°I guess I really did luck out with Lysander.¡±


    ¡°You have talent, it¡¯s just thepanies in the


    past failed to see it. Now thispany has given you a chance to show what you¡¯re made of, they will


    definitely be d they chose you.¡± Hertha encouraged her.


    Thssa said, ¡°Yeah, you¡¯re right.¡±


    N?velDrama.Org owns this text.


    Confidence made beauty.


    Thssa and Hertha clinked their sses together again.


    As they were about to take a sip, they heard a crisp female voice.


    ¡°Isn¡¯t that Thssa and Hertha? It is you guys!¡±


    Thssa and Hertha turned around and saw a woman who was both familiar and unfamiliar to them.


    She was wearing an off¨C


    shoulder top, a ck mini skirt. With heavy make up, she looked sexy and provocative.


    Thssa couldn¡¯t recognize her.


    Surprised, Hertha said, ¡°Irene! What are you doing here?¡±


    Irene was a university ssmate of Thssa and Hertha. They in the same ss but not the same dor


    mitory.


    ¡°We¡¯re having our uni reunion here. We were just saying how some people haven¡¯t arrived yet, and the


    n we bumped into you two. What a coincidence! Come and join us.¡± Irene invited them to a big table.


    The bar was brightly lit, and under the shing lights, a group of people were gathered around the table


    , some drinking, some ying


    games.


    Irene shouted, ¡°Everyone, look who I brought!¡±


    ¡°Hi everyone, long time no see.¡± Hertha greeted everyone.


    Thssa also smiled and said, ¡°Hi everyone.¡±


    There was a woman who was even sexier than Irene, her straight hair cascading down her shoulders,


    her lips painted a dark red. She looked like a rebel. Her name was Debby, and she was pretty


    wild in university.


    Debby nced at Thssa and sneered, ¡°A dropout attending a uni reunion? Funny.¡±


    Clearly, she was mocking Thssa.


    Thssa felt annoyed


    Hearing this, Hertha immediately got angry. ¡°What did you just say?¡±


    Seeing Hertha about to argue with Debby. Thssa quickly grabbed her sleeve. Hertha turned around


    and saw Thssa shake her head, indicating her not to lose her cool.


    Hertha swallowed her anger and stayed quiet.


    Debby looked at Thssa again and said disdainfully, ¡°Dressed in cheap clothes and daring toe to


    a ce like this, you should know your ce.¡±


    Debby was clearly picking on Thssa.


    Even Thssa, normally good¨Ctempered, was getting pissed off.


    As long as clothes could be worn and keep her warm, that¡¯s enough. Were expensive clothes truly bett


    er?


    She worked hard to provide for her four kids, striving to give them a good life. Why should she be critici


    zed for being thrifty?


    Hertha couldn¡¯t help but scoff, ¡°Debby, are you still bitter about back in the day when you fancied Leopo


    ld, but he only had eyes for Thssa? So petty to hold a grudge after all these years.¡±


    ¡°I think I heard my name.¡±


    At that moment, a voice that was both teasing and gentle sounde

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    Chapter 240


    Thssa and Hertha turned around


    There stood a man sporting a crisp short haircut and decked out in a British suit


    His handsome face radiated an aristocratic aura, his charisma second to none.


    It was Leopold!


    Upon seeing Leopold, Thssa frowned, puzzled why he seemed to always pop up around her.


    Hertha¡¯s eyes lit up. She hadn¡¯t expected Leopold to show up!


    Normally, running into old ssmates should be a happy asion, but recalling how Leopold had love


    d Thssa so deeply, yet betrayed her and even had an affair with Thssa¡¯s cousin Isabe, Hertha


    didn¡¯t have a good impression on Leopold.


    Debby instantly got up, a ttering smile stered on her face, ¡°Leopold, you¡¯re here too. We¡¯re so luck


    y to bump into you here.¡±


    Debby¡¯s crush on Leopold hadn¡¯t faded, and seeing him got her all excited. Her attitude towards him w


    as a far cry from how she treated


    Thssa


    Leopold, however, didn¡¯t even spare Debby a nce. He went straight to Thssa¡¯s side with


    a gentle smile on his face.


    The bar¡¯s neon lights yed across


    his handsome face, illuminating his smile, and making it even more dazzling.


    ¡°Thssa, what a coincidence. We meet again.¡± Leopold¡¯s eyes were all for Thssa


    He reached out his hand, attempting to hold Thssa¡¯s.


    Thssa deftly dodged.


    With one hand


    on Hertha¡¯s arm and the other around her shoulder, both Thssa¡¯s hands were upied.


    Thssa kept her distance with a forced smile, ¡°We¡¯re all ssmates, it¡¯s fate that brought us all here.¡±


    Hertha nodded, ¡°Exactly.¡±


    Leopold understood that Thssa was rejecting him, because her attitude towards him remained cold.


    His smile turned bitter, ¡°Thssa, what should I do for you to forgive me?¡±


    Debby had been chasing after Leopold with everything she had, but he never reciprocated, and now Th


    Original from N?velDrama.Org.


    ssa even dared to openly reject him.


    Although Debby couldn¡¯t win Leopold over, she didn¡¯t want to see him hurt.


    Debby felt disgruntled. She sneered at Thssa, ¡°Who do you think you are, a country bumpkin withou


    t a


    background, what right do you have to embarrass others? Leopold being nice to you is a blessing. Wha


    t could he possibly do that you can¡¯t forgive?¡±


    Hearing this, Thssa felt extremely ufortable. Sheughed, ¡°Who loves to butt in again?¡±


    Debby was taken aback. She realized Thssa¡¯s words were a dig at her! She snapped, ¡°I bet you¡¯ll sp


    end your whole life as a nobody and forever stuck in the same ce!¡±


    Leopold red at Debby. ¡°Shut up!¡±


    Hertha had long been fed up with Debby¡¯s mockery of


    Thssa. She snorted, ¡°Debby, sounds like you¡¯re just jealous. Just so you know, Thssa has a boyfr


    iend now, and he¡¯s way better than Leopold.¡±


    Leopold¡¯s eyes darkened at Hertha¡¯s words. Shock and pain washed over him.


    He looked at Thssa. Thssa had a boyfriend?


    Debby scoffed in disbelief, ¡°Stop showing off for nothing. Who could possibly be better than Leopold? I¡¯


    m actually curious. Who is Thssa¡¯s boyfriend?¡±


    Hertha was fed up with Debby¡¯s condescending attitude, ¡°I¡¯m afraid once I tell you, you¡¯ll be shocked.¡±


    Thssa had a bad feeling. She discreetly tugged at Hertha¡¯s sleeve, signaling her to stop.


    But Hertha was too excited to notice her warning.


    ¡°Spit it out then. Debby taunted.


    Hertha stood tall and proud,


    ¡°Thssa¡¯s boyfriend is none other than the CEO of the Sinir group, Lysander! How about that, scar


    ed you, didn¡¯t I?¡±


    Herthaughed triumphantly.


    Thssa choked a bit. Why did Hertha have to spill everything?


    1/2


    The people around the table started to roast

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    Chapter 241


    With shock written all over her face, Thssa turned to Leopold. ¡°Lysander is your uncle?¡±


    Leopold gave a nod ¡°Yes, but he¡¯s only three years older than me¡±


    Thssa felt like she had been struck by lightning. She gasped for air.


    Lysander Sinir, Leopold Sinir So they were family


    Thssa had always thought they just shared the samest name, and it was a coincidence.


    It turned out that Lysander and Leopold were both Sinirs!


    Five years ago, Isabe slept with Thssa¡¯s boyfriend, Leopold. And now Thssa had hopped into b


    ed with Leopold¡¯s uncle, Lysander!


    Was this like the real¨Clife version of, If I can¡¯t be your wife, then Ill be your uncle¡¯s mistress?


    Thssa¡¯s heart pounded. She felt anxious.


    Hertha also felt shocked. With her eyes wide open, she nced from Leopold to Thssa.


    Leopold was Lysander¡¯s nephew! This was too much!


    Seeing the panicked expressions on Thssa and Hertha¡¯s faces, Leopold knew they had been fibbing


    .


    He almost believed the information he got was wrong and that Thssa had a new boyfriend.


    But when he heard Hertha say that Thssa¡¯s boyfriend was Lysander, he knew they were bullshitting.


    His tense heart rxed.


    Hertha bragged in front of everyone that Thssa¡¯s boyfriend was Lysander, only to be busted on the s


    pot.


    Hertha¡¯s previously smug vibe deted and she immediately turned listless.


    She looked embarrassed but still managed a strained smile. ¡°Thssa and I have something to do. We


    ¡¯ll be going now.¡±


    N?velDrama.Org ? content.


    She grabbed Thssa¡¯s arm, ready to bolt.


    Just then, amanding presence entered the bar. It was a man in a handmade ck suit, looking ser


    ious, intimidating, and prestigious.


    He strode towards them.


    The moment he entered, the air seemed to tremble, making it difficult to breathe.


    Thssa saw the man


    Oh my God! Lysander was here. This was a disaster she couldn¡¯t fix


    She quickly lowered her head, trying to make herself invisible, hoping Lysander wouldn¡¯t spot her.


    She clutched Hertha¡¯s hand, ready to make a swift exit.


    Debby seized the opportunity. She blocked their path, preventing them from escaping. She said loudly.


    ¡°Thssa, don¡¯t run. Didn¡¯t you just say that Lysander, the CEO of Sinir group, is your boyfriend? Yo


    ur boyfriend is here, why are you running away?¡±


    She emphasized the words running away.¡±


    Thssa felt rm bells ringing. She shot a furious look at Debby.


    At the same time, Lysander¡¯s deep and intimidating gaze fell upon her.


    Seeing those familiar eyes, Thssa felt her heart leaden.

 Chapter 242

    Chapter 242


    sean lies in front of everyone to make her squirm


    ry gare of Lysander Her previous thumphant mood was quickly cooled by his store, and she


    assa, she forced down her panic, and smilingly said to Lysander, Mr Sinir Thssa is our ssmate


    She¡¯s a


    been using your name to brag iming you¡¯re.


    unable to meet Lysander¡¯s piercing gaze or bear


    Talking big in front of the person involved was


    Hertha had earlier proudly announced Now, with


    embarrassing


    inder actually present, she suddenly shrunk like a snail, wishing she could hide her


    That way Lysander wouldn¡¯t see her


    It Thssa was really dating Lysander, and Lysander had promised to marry her, she would have prou


    N?vel(D)ra/ma.Org exclusive ? material.


    dly retorted Debby


    But the reality was, Lysander didn¡¯t like kids, and Thssa didn¡¯t dare to tell him that she had already g


    iven birth to four of his children


    Lysander only wanted to keep Thssa as his mistress, and he didn¡¯t want to marry her


    if Thssa¡¯s ssmates found out that she was Lysander¡¯s mistress, they wouldugh at her even mor


    e. She would be a target of public enticism


    Hertha was full of regret now Why


    did she say that Lysander was Thssa¡¯s boyfriend? Now she was stuck and couldn¡¯t get off the stage


    Leopold saw Lysander¡¯s icy and sharp gaze fixed on Thssa.


    Worrying that Lysander might get angry, he tried to mediate. ¡°This is a misunderstanding¡±


    ¡°Finish your drink and go home,¡± Lysander said in his intimidating voice, with a hint of indulgence.


    Leopold was stunned. He thought Lysander was talking to him, but Lysander¡¯s gaze was on Thssa!


    He was talking to Thssal Lysander knew Thssa. And, he was telling her to go home.


    It sounded a bit ambiguous.


    Thssa was taken aback and quickly nced at Lysander His deep gaze was intimidatingly fixed on


    her.


    Thssa¡¯s heart seemed to skip a beat, and then the obediently nodded, ¡°Okay, I¡¯ll go home right


    away¡±


    After saying this, she grabbed Hertha¡¯s hand and quickly left.


    Debby was originally eager to see Thssa make a fool of herself, but she didn¡¯t expect Lysander to sp


    eak to Thssa in such a tone. He was telling her to go home!


    The tone and words were clearly suggestive, like those between a couple.


    What was going on?


    Was Thssa¡¯s new boyfriend really Lysander?


    What kind of charm did Thssa possess to attract Leopold, and be the girlfriend of such a power


    ful man like Lysander?


    Debby had been so eager to see Thssa embarrassed, but now she was the one feeling awkward.


    Lysander¡¯s sharp gazerfumed to Debby, like a chilling de stabbing into Debby¡¯s heart.


    Debby was so scared that she shivered, and cold fear seeped into her bones.


    She quickly took a few steps back, lowered her head, and


    said with a tremble, ¡°Mr. Sinir, I was out of line. I won¡¯t do this again. I have something to do, so I¡¯ll g


    o first.¡±


    After saying that, she hurriedly fled the bar as fast as she could in an awkward way


    She had just said in front of Lysander that Thssa was a country bumpkin. Lysander might be angry.


    Debby felt fear and unease, afraid that she had offended Lysander, which would be disastrous.


    The other ssmates were scared by Lysander¡¯s intimidation and got up one after another. They bowe


    d to him and then left.


    Leopold stood dumbfounded, not yet understanding the situation.


    Lysander nced at him and said, ¡°Aren¡¯t y

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    Chapter 243


    It was at this point that Leopold had a eureka moment and walked up to the bar with Lysander.


    They both ordered a ss of whiskey


    ¡°I bumped into a college reunion here, and Thssa was a ssmate of mine in college,¡± Leopold expl


    ained to Lysander.


    N?velDrama.Org ? content.


    Lysander casually took a sip of his drink and didn¡¯t respond.


    Leopold then asked, ¡®Do you know Thssa?¡±


    ¡°She used to work for the Sinir group,¡± Lysander answered in a low, calm voice.


    Leopold suddenly remembered in Thssa¡¯s resume that she had worked as a CEO¡¯s secretary for the


    Sinir group for a day.


    So she used to be Lysander¡¯s secretary.


    That would exin why they knew each other.


    Then the doubts in Leopold¡¯s mind vanished.


    He originally thought that Thssa and Lysander may have had some special rtionship, but it turned


    out they were simply superior and subordinate.


    Leopold breathed a sigh of relief and began to confess to Lysander.


    ¡°Thssa is the woman I used to talk to you about, my ex¨C


    girlfnend,¡± Leopold suddenly revealed his secret.


    Lysander was holding the ss, but then his hand paused slightly, his eyes deep and indifferent.


    Leopold did not notice his change, and continued, ¡°Back then, I did betray her, but that was not my inte


    ntion. She is the only one I love. I know she loves me too. Otherwise, she would forgive me easily if sh


    e doesn¡¯t love me. She doesn¡¯t forgive me until now just because she got hurt.¡±


    Leopold went on talking,pletely oblivious to Lysander¡¯s icy gaze. A storm was brewing in his eyes.


    Thssa and Hertha nervously left the bar.


    Sitting in the car, Hertha wiped the cold sweat from her forehead. She swallowed hard and said,


    ¡°Today was really thrilling. Not only did we run into Leopold, but also Lysander. And the kicker is, they¡¯r


    e rtives!¡±


    The thought terrified Hertha.


    Thssa was also taken aback, shocked to her core.


    ¡°Who would have thought Lysander was Leopold¡¯s uncle.¡±


    Leopold was actually a member of the Sinir family, the wealthiest family in Starhaven!


    When he was in college, he was low¨C


    key. He didn¡¯t drive fancy cars, and didn¡¯t wear designer clothes. Thssa and Hertha thought he was j


    ust a regr kid.


    They never imagined his real identity!


    ¡°But now that I think about it, Leopold is more sincere than Lysander. At least he knew about your back


    ground from the beginning and chose to be with you,¡± Hertha was unusuallyposed to speak the tru


    th.


    ¡°They¡¯re all the same. A regr girl like me is out of their league. After all, didn¡¯t Leopold go to the coun


    tryside with me five years ago just to sleep with me?¡±


    If Leopold truly respected her, he wouldn¡¯t have mistaken Isabe for her and slept with Isabe.


    Lysander and Leppold were the same. They were just toying with her.


    And she didn¡¯t want to y their game.


    She would never forget what Zephyr had told her nor would she delude herself about marrying into a w


    ealthy family.


    Hertha came to her senses, nodded and said, ¡°You¡¯re right.¡±


    Hertha dropped Thssa off at the entrance of the residential area.


    ¡°Just stop here, I can go in by myself. This way you don¡¯t have to turn around inside the


    Tasse get out of the car and they waved goodbye.


    amplex, she saw a c

 Chapter 244

    Chapter 244


    Lysander held a cigarette between his fingers, the bright orange glow flickering on his fingertips. A spar


    k was visible in his deep¨Cset


    eyes.


    Yet, the warmth of the ember did nothing to thaw the chill around him. He radiated an icy, sharp aura.


    Upon seeing Lysander¡¯s icy face, Thssa felt her breath hitched. She approached him cautiously and


    asked warily, ¡°Mr. Sinir, why are you out here sote?¡±


    Just as she got close, Lysander suddenly grabbed her by the nape of her neck.


    ¡°Ah!¡± Thssa got startled,pletely taken off guard.


    Before she could react, Lysander yanked her towards him.


    She crashed into his chest, and the ember from the cigarette


    in Lysander¡¯s hand nearly scorched her hand.


    Thssa could distinctly feel a slight heat streak across her hand.


    As the ember was about to touch her skin, Lysander moved his hand away. He


    tossed the cigarette on the ground and stomped it out with his ck leather shoe.


    However, his grip on her neck didn¡¯t loosen.


    Thssa winced in pain, frowning. ¡°Mr. Sinir, you¡¯re hurting me.¡±


    Lysander


    swiftly moved his hand from her neck to her waist, pulling her close, making her unable to escape.


    His face was


    stem and his icy gaze was condescending. He said in a nonchnt tone, ¡°How long did you date your


    ex¨Cboyfriend?¡± His voice was bone¨Cchilling.


    Thssa felt a wave of fear and unease. Why was he suddenly asking this?


    Lysander now radiated a dangerous aura. Thssa didn¡¯t dare to lie, so she confessed, ¡°Two years.¡±


    N?vel(D)ra/ma.Org exclusive ? material.


    She met Leopold in college. He pursued her for two months, and she agreed, then they naturally fell to


    gether.


    Lysander¡¯s lips curled into a cold smirk, ¡°Two years, quite the love story.¡±


    If she dated her ex¨Cboyfriend for two years, and she loved him, why was she still a virgin?


    Five years ago, in the old barn, he had deeply felt that she was a virgin.


    It was a feeling that couldn¡¯t be faked.


    And the red blooming mark on the hay couldn¡¯t be fabricated either.


    ¡°Mr. Sinir, could you let go of me first?¡± Thssa blurted out, her face flushed.


    Hisrge hand was gripping her waist, his body trapping hers.


    She was pressed against him, in a position that was far too suggestive.¡±


    Thssa¡¯s cheeks were flushed with embarrassment.


    Lysander saw her face. It was as blooming as a rose, and he could feel the faint scent of flowers on her


    .


    He started to be restless, his throat tightening.


    His other hand went to the back of her head, and he buried his head in her delicate neck, biting down o


    n her.


    ¡°Ah, it hurts!¡± Thssa felt the sharp pain of teeth sinking into her flesh, and she screamed.


    She felt panicky but helpless.


    Her hands pushed against his chest. She was trying to push him away.


    Lysander let her go, his tongue gently sweeping over the ce he had just bitten.


    The sensation of wetness on her soft neck made Thssa¡¯s body shiver.


    Her voice became pleading, ¡°Mr. Sinir, please let me go.¡±


    Tears welled up in her eyes. She didn¡¯t know what she had done that upset Lysander.


    He sought her out in the dead of night and bit her.


    Images of vampires from horror movies filled her mind, and her fear was beyond words.


    Lysander could feel her trembling in his arms, appearing nervous and uneasy.


    Sensing her fear, he let go of her neck. He straightened his body and looked at her with a cold and seri


    ous gaze.


    1/2


    Thtta, dont forget you¡¯re my woman. I don¡¯t care who you have in your heart, but your body can only


    belong to met Got it? Lysanders voice was filled with dominance, leaving her no room to resist


    Ths quickly covered her ne


    with her hand, nodding frantically in response. 7 got it, I got it

 Chapter 245

    Chapter 245


    Lysander¡¯s threat engulfed her with danger.


    Thssa was scared out of her wits. She worried that Lysander might bite her again, even possibly en


    danger her life.


    Lysander let her go and then turned towards the stairwell.


    While he was heading in that direction, rm bells


    N?velDrama.Org ? content.


    started ringing in Thssa¡¯s head. She rushed forward to stand in his way. She said awkwardly but poli


    tely.


    ¡°Mr. Sinir, there¡¯s a great coffee shop outside theplex. I hang out there often. If you¡¯re game, I¡¯d


    love to treat you to a cup of coffee¡±


    Oh my God, was he going to her ce? There were four


    kids at home. If Lysander got up there, he¡¯d definitely find the kids.


    She simply couldn¡¯t let him go up there.


    Thssa¡¯s heart was racing. She was nervous as hell.


    After she finished, she looked at Lysander with a mix of anxiety and worry in her eyes.


    She was scared he¡¯d say no, insisting on going to her ce.


    Lysander looked at her panicked eyes, his deep voice seemed particrly emotional in the night, ¡°No n


    eed.¡±


    Thssa caught her breath.


    He said no. If he insisted on going to her ce, she couldn¡¯t stop him.


    What should she do? Her four kids were still at home.


    Just as Thssa was looking around anxiously, trying to find a solution, Lysander said, ¡°It¡¯ste. I¡¯ll wat


    ch you go home.¡± Thssa¡¯s tense heart instantly rxed. She quickly said, ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll head up. You s


    hould go home and rest too.¡±


    She turned quickly, heading towards the stairwells i


    if it was a narrow escape.


    Was Lysander worried about her walking home alone at night?


    Only God knew, he was the biggest danger.


    Thssa rushed home and immediately shut the door behind her to prevent Lysander from suddenly c


    oming up.


    She didn¡¯t rush inside but leaned against the door, listening to the sounds outside with a pounding hear


    t.


    After a while, there was no sound of footsteps.


    Lysander didn¡¯t follow up.


    Thssa finally let out a sigh of relief. She turned around and switched on the living room light.


    Downstairs.


    When Lysander saw the light in the window, he finally turned and got into his car, driving away.


    The next day, Thssa reported to her newpany.


    She asked people from the HR department, ¡°Can you tell me where my office is?¡±


    The HR manager took her to an office on the top floor.


    Thssa looked next door, and the namete on the office read ¡°CEO¡¯s Office¡°.


    She quickly pulled the HR manager aside. ¡°Excuse me, am I a secretary assistant? Why is my office ne


    xt to the CEO¡¯s Office?¡±


    The HR manager kept a polite smile. ¡°You¡¯re the CEO¡¯s private secretary.¡±


    ¡°What?¡± Thssa was stunned.


    She definitely applied for the secretary assistant job, but she didn¡¯t have the experience or credentials t


    o be a CEO¡¯s private secretary. Usually, a CEO¡¯s private secretary required at least five years of experi


    ence, or they were a top graduate from a prestigious school.


    ¡°This was the interviewer¡¯s decision. If you have any questions, you can ask him.¡± The HR manager sm


    iled and then left.


    This was really unbelievable. She just started working and she¡¯s already the CEO¡¯s private secretary.


    Was it because she used to be Lysander¡¯s private secretary and the interviewer saw that as valuable e


    xperience?


    Lysander¡¯s name really carried weight.


    Thssa didn¡¯t overthink it and she just kept organizing her things.


    At ten in the morning, the phone next to her desk rang. Thssa picked it up.


    *Pleasee to the CEO¡¯s office. There are some documents to be organized.¡±


    1/2


    On the other end of the phone, there was a gentle voice.


    The voice sounded familiar, but Thssa didn¡¯t have time to think. She could only reply. ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll be r


    ight there.¡±

 Chapter 246

    Chapter 246


    On her first day on the job, Thssa knew she had to be on her toes and y her cards right


    The boss¡¯s orders were not to be taken lightly.


    Thssa was on pins and needles the whole time.


    Even the familiar voices didn¡¯t get a chance to register in her mind.


    As soon as she hung up the phone, she made a beeline for the boss¡¯s office


    Upon reaching the office door, she noticed it was ajar.


    Peeking inside, she saw the boss sitting in his chair, his face hidden behind hisputer.


    Thssa knocked on the door politely.


    ¡°Come in¡±


    With permission, Thssa walked in. She maintained a polite smile and respectfully asked, ¡°Sir, I¡¯m her


    e. Which files do you need me to


    sort?¡±


    The man pinched a pile of documents and ced them on the edge of the table. His fingers were distin


    ct and attractive.


    His gaze never left theputer screen, and his face was obscured by the monitor.


    ¡°Sort those documents here.¡± He lowered his voice deliberately, sounding authoritative.


    Thssa smiled and said, ¡°Sure thing.¡±


    She stepped forward, took the documents from him, and started sorting them on the table..


    Even though the boss didn¡¯t tell her how to sort them, Thssa had been trained in document ssific


    ation.


    She skimmed through the files, quickly figuring out how to sort them.


    As she was diligently sorting files by category, she suddenly felt someone above her head. Then, a low


    chuckle echoed, the breath from theughter sprayed onto her.


    N?vel(D)ra/ma.Org exclusive ? material.


    Thssa gasped. She quickly looked up and nearly bumped into the man¡¯s chin.


    Thssa quickly turned her head to avoid the contact.


    Upon a closer look, she found it was Leopold. He was propping up on the table,ughing heartily.


    Thssa halted her action, her eyes wide in surprise.


    ¡°Leopold!¡± she eximed in shock.


    ¡°Mmm, I do love it when you call my name.¡± Leopold grinned.


    Taking a deep breath, Thssa asked, ¡°You¡¯re the boss?¡±


    Leopoldughed, ¡°Yeah, didn¡¯t you recognize my voice?¡±


    Thssa rubbed her forehead and said in frustration, ¡°I came here to work.¡±


    ¡°I hired you fair and square,¡± Leopold said.


    Thssa put down the files, stood up and said seriously, ¡°I think I¡¯m going to quit.¡±


    She had thought that thepany hired her for her skills, for the two years of ster academic perform


    ance at Starhaven College, for being an outstanding student every year in her academic life.


    At the very least, thepany should have hired her for her one¨C


    day secretary experience at the Sinir Group.


    But it turned out Leopold was the boss of thepany!


    So, she didn¡¯t get the job through the interview, but rather, Leopold told the interviewer to hire her over t


    he phone.


    She wanted to quit, not because Leopold hired her directly, but because she didn¡¯t want anything to do


    with Leopold anymore.


    She didn¡¯t want to work in hispany, be his secretary, see him every day, and constantly interact wit


    h him for work.


    She didn¡¯t want Leopold to think that she had forgiven him, or that she would give him another chance.


    If she decided to cut ties, she would cut thempletely.


    After saying all this, she turned to leave, but Leopold said, ¡°Thssa, don¡¯t make decisions in the heat


    of the moment. If you quit, and I don¡¯t agree, you¡¯ll have to pay a good chunk of penalty to thepany


    .¡±


    Thssa stopped and turned to look at Leopold.


    1/2


    Her fac


    fufi of disappointment. She had to pay a penalty fee again!


    was such a ssic Sinir family capitalist move, and the methods were exactly the same.


    People got jobs to make money, but she had to pay to quit.


    It was always so unfair! Absolutely crappy!


    Thssa seemed somewhat helpless and said, ¡°Well, you could just let me quit

 Chapter 247

    Chapter 247


    I refuse¡± Leopold¡¯s smiling face hardened, his gern¨C


    like eyes zeroing in on her the longing of five years manifest in their sparkle ¡°Thssa, give me another


    shot Five years ago, I was framed. I¡¯ve reflected on my mistakes so many times since then¡±


    His voice was thick with emotion as he spoke, his eyes brimming with love and remorse for Thssa


    Her heart ached at his words, as if a knife was cutting through it. It felt as though the burden in her hea


    rt had just gotten heavier, making her difficult to even breathe


    She took a deep breath, trying to rid herself of the weight, but it was to no avail.


    Leopold, I forgave you a long time ago. Her words brought a spark of joy to Leopold¡¯s eyes


    But then she added. ¡°But the past remained in the past. We can never be together again.¡± With that, sh


    e turned to leave


    The chasm between them wasn¡¯t just about the betrayal five years ago. She had given birth to Lysande


    r¡¯s four children. She went in


    mother now


    There was no going back.


    Knowing that there was no future for her and Leopold, she decided to cut the ties once and for all, leavi


    ng no room for hope


    Leopold hurried after her. ¡°Thssa, why? Haven¡¯t I done enough?¡±


    ¡°No, it¡¯s not you. It¡¯s


    me.¡± Thssa stopped, her back to him. ¡°Stop beating a dead horse, because it¡¯s useless.¡±


    Leopold was about to say something when he noticed a love mark on her neck.


    Although she was wearing a cored suit, her high ponytail revealed her neck. The red mark stood out


    on her skin.


    He saw it right away


    Leopold¡¯s breath hitched, his voice trembling slightly. ¡°Do you have a boyfriend now?¡±


    ¡°Yes¡± Thssa closed her eyes to suppress her pain. Then she walked out of the office.


    She went to the restroom and washed her face with cold water, trying to cool down her emotions.


    After a while, her pain subsided.


    Looking at her reflection in the mirror, she was a mess, but she was calm.


    It was fine.


    Suddenly, she noticed the love mark on the side of her neck in the mirror


    She leaned closer to the mirror and found it was a bite mark.


    The one Lysander left yesterday!


    Did Leopold see the mark on her neck?


    Well, never mind. It was better this


    way. It would make him give uppletely and stop wasting time on her.


    The problem now was that Leopold wouldn¡¯t let her quit, and she didn¡¯t have 20,000 dors to pay for a


    breach of contract.


    Twenty thousand dors was a lot for her. How could she afford it?


    N?velDrama.Org owns this text.


    She would have to let things take their course.


    In the afternoon, there was a meeting Thssa needed to prepare for.


    Thssa had to get the conference room ready.


    As a secretary, she had to apany the attendants during the meeting and be in charge of the projec


    tor


    The senior leaders of thepany were already in ce. Leopold came inst, his head down, his eye


    s filled with loss.


    Thssa didn¡¯t dare look at Leopold. As soon as he came in, she went to the door of the conference ro


    om, ready to close it.


    A tall man with a powerful aura walked to the door.


    His presence made the air oppressive.


    Thssa was closing the door when it almost hit his nose.


    Seeing who it was, Thssa felt her hand starting to tremble.


    The sprung door, which was about to close, bounced back because of her trembling hand.


    A pair of long hands quickly grabbed the door frame. The man¡¯s deep and sharp eyes shot straight at T


    hssa.

 Chapter 248

    Chapter 248


    Thssa was jittery as hell. She immediately apologized, ¡°I¡¯m so sorry. Mr. Sinir, I had no idea you w


    ereing.¡±


    She quickly grabbed the door handle, swinging the door wide open.


    As Lysander¡¯s piercing gaze shifted away from her and he walked


    in, a chill seemed to sweep through the air. It was as if a cold gust of wind hit Thssa right in the face,


    making her scared shitless.


    She kept her head down, not daring to even nce at Lysander¡¯s clothes.


    Damn, it was scary


    David followed suit, stepping into the room. Spotting Thssa, he said in a low voice,


    ¡°Ms. Everhart, fancy seeing you here already¡±


    Thssa gave an embarrassed chuckle, ¡°David, you¡¯re so nice.¡±


    In the conference room.


    The long conference table was filled on both sides with thepany¡¯s bigwigs, with Lysander sitting at


    the head.


    He wore a custom¨Cmade, all¨Cck suit that radiated


    an air of unmatchable opulence, right down to the cufflinks. His tall frame wasfortably positioned in


    a ck leather chair, and his presence dominated the room.


    Even thepany¡¯s President, Leopold, had to take a seat below him.


    Everyone held their breath, treading on eggshells.


    Thssa, nerves on edge, walked over to the multimediaputer and loaded up the PowerPoint slid


    es.


    As soon as she had it going, she straightened up, waiting for the meeting to start.


    Suddenly, she noticed that everyone at the table had a weird look on their faces. Some were even pulli


    ng faces at her.


    Thssa was taken aback. What the hell was going on?


    Original from N?velDrama.Org.


    Just as Thssa was wondering, Lysander¡¯s deep gazended on her.


    His deep and inscrutable eyes were like the unfathomable night sky.


    Thssa¡¯s heart started racing. Had she done something wrong? Why was he looking at her like that?


    Damn, it was creepy.


    Leopold covered his mouth, clearing his throat.


    Thssa was still clueless.


    Leopold had no choice but to clue her in, ¡°Ms. Everhart, you¡¯ve loaded the wrong PowerPoint slides.¡±


    Thssa quickly turned to the screen, only to see a picture of Peppa Pig disyed!


    Oh crap, she had grabbed the wrong sh drive.


    Panicked and blushing. Thssa hastily unplugged the drive and reced it (with the correct one.


    She apologized awkwardly, ¡°I¡¯m so sorry. I grabbed the wrong sh drive, it¡¯s sorted now.¡±


    She switched the drive and the work¨Crted content started ying on the big screen.


    Everyone in the room stared at her with bemused looks.


    Noticing that she was now in thepany, one of the senior managers said in a snarky tone, ¡°Ms. Ever


    hart, this is a senior management meeting, not a preschool multimedia ss. Try to stay focused next ti


    me.¡±


    Thssa quickly nodded and apologized, ¡°I¡¯m sorry, I¡¯ll be careful next time.¡±


    Thinking he had done a good deed, the senior manager turned to Lysander and said with a smile, ¡°Mr.


    Sinir, apologies for the dy. We¡¯ll make sure to tell her offter.¡±


    Lysander¡¯s face remained impassive, his eyes sharply focused on the man¡¯s name tag.


    ¡°You may leave,¡± Lysander said, his voice soft but full of authority.


    The senior manager¡¯s smile froze on his face and he abruptly stood up, looking terrified as he scurried


    out of the room.


    Had he crossed a line?


    The look in Lysander¡¯s eyes earlier was downright terrifying.


    The atmosphere in the room was tense, cold, and oppressive.


    No one dared to make a peep.


    Thssa also kept her head down, trying her best to stay under the radar.


    This meeting was aplete nightmare.


    An hourter, the meeting finally ended.


    Thssa returned to her office and immediately poured herself a ss of water to calm her nerves.


    She had never imagined that after leaving the Sinir group, she¡¯d find herself in another pickle at Leo


    ssa Tech Co., Ltd.

 Chapter 249

    Chapter 249


    She dide up with the idea of quitting, but her financial situation simply didn¡¯t allow for it


    To quit, she¡¯d have to cough up a whopping twenty grand for breach of contract, and she had no idea w


    here she was gonna get that kind of dough.


    So, she was racking her brain trying to figure out how to get Leopold to give her the boot.


    As Thssa was mulling over her options, a call from David jolted her back to reality. ¡®Ms. Everhart, co


    uld you bring two cups of coffee to the office?¡±


    ¡°Sure thing,¡± she said, immediately switching into work mode.


    There was a coffee machine right in the secretarial office


    Although she wasn¡¯t a regr coffee drinker, she had received specific training on how to brew coffee b


    ack in school.


    Back in the day, Thssa had been a real whiz at making coffee.


    And even five years down the line, her coffee¨Cmaking skills were still as slick as ever.


    Before long, Thssa had brewed two steaming cups of coffee and delivered them to the CEO¡¯s office.


    Lysander and Leopold were sitting at a low table, engrossed in a work discussion..


    Usually, Leopold exuded an air of grace and elegance.


    But when he was sitting next to Lysander, he was clearly outshone.


    The intimidating aura and dignity radiating from Lysander made everything else seem nd inpari


    son.


    Even Leopold seemed in and unremarkable next to him..


    Holding her breath, Thssa carefully carried the coffee over. She ced one cup in front of Lysander


    and the other in front of Leopold, and then she politely said. ¡°Here¡¯s your coffee, Mr. Sinir, and Mr. Si


    nir.¡±


    Then she was about to leave.


    ¡°Thssa, sit down. We¡¯re discussing something that concerns you,¡± Leopold called after her.


    Something that concerned her?


    Thssa was taken aback. She hesitated for a moment, then took a seat nearby, her hands resting poli


    tely in herp.


    Lysander and Leopold sat face¨Cto¨C


    face, with Thssa seated across from them on the other side of the square table.


    Leopold was to her left and Lysander to her right. The cold air and oppressive atmosphereing from


    her right side made her feel extremely ufortable.


    She had no idea what they were discussing about her, and she didn¡¯t dare ask. She maintained a polite


    smile on her face.


    Leopold looked at her curiously. ¡°Thssa, why do you have a PowerPoint slide of a cartoon?¡±


    Upon hearing this, Thssa felt her heart had skipped a beat.


    She instinctively looked at Lysander.


    Lysander¡¯s deep gaze was also fixed on her. He was waiting for her response.


    The pressure on Thssa grew even more intense.


    Why did she have a capt¨®on PowerPoint slide?


    Well, it was because her kids, Elowen and Sophia, loved Peppa Pig.


    They weren¡¯t satisfied with just watching the TV version of the cartoon. They felt the stories were too fe


    w.


    Every night before bed, they would ask Thssa to tell them Peppa Pig stories but they didn¡¯t want to h


    ear stories that had been aired


    on TV.


    Where was she supposed to get all these new stories?


    So, she made a PowerPoint slide, and every day she would put together a story. After familiarizing hers


    elf with it, she could tell it as a bedtime story to her kids at night. It could also serve


    as a cartoon to show the little ones.


    How was she supposed to know that the USB stick would be in her pocket, and that in her nervousness


    because of Lysander¡¯s pressure, she would put it in the wrong ce?


    Now, being asked this question in front of Lysander, she felt her heart pounding with anxiety.


    A cold sweat broke out on her back.


    1/2


    2/2Original from N?velDrama.Org.

 Chapter 250

    Chapter 250


    Lysander had an icy cold expression, radiating an oppressive aura


    His long fingers were distinct. As he sipped his coffee in what seemed like a nonchnt manner, he sh


    owed a strong demeanor


    kast by observing his actions. Thnes could feel the intensity


    Pretending a stranger to Leopold, the respectfully said. ¡°Mr Sinir, you¡¯ve got a really cool temper, an


    d you could get along with


    anyone¡±


    She was obviously drawing a line with Leopold Thssa recalled mentioning that she already had a bo


    yfriend


    Leopold seemed downcast, his eyes slightly dull. He also took a sip of his coffee, attempting to alleviat


    e his inner turmoil and the current predicament


    Putting down his coffee cup, he said, ¡°Well, you might not find a boss as cool as me in the future Every


    one makes mistakes, and some people can¡¯t forgive others mistakes, but I can¡®


    His words were loaded. He could understand Thssas mistakes at work.


    He also made a mistake five years ago, but didn¡¯t receive Thssa¡¯s forgiveness.


    Thssa was nervous, afraid that Leopold would bring up the past.


    After all, Lysander was here!


    What would Lysander¡¯s reaction be if he found out that five years ago, Thssa¡¯s boyfriend was in the


    Original from N?velDrama.Org.


    next room with another woman while Lysander was involved with Leopold¡¯s girlfriend?


    Just thinking about it, Thssa felt the scene dramatic, thrilling, and full of danger.


    Thssa didn¡¯t


    dare take the risk. If Lysander found out about that incident, he would dig deeper, and if he discovered


    her four children, that would be disastrous


    Thssa was doing her best to hide the secret, worrying about the past being revealed, and she didn¡¯t


    want


    Lysander to know about her rtionship with Leopold. Everything she did was because she wanted to


    prevent her four children from being discovered, whom she had worked so hard to protect.


    Thssa said, ¡°Mr. Sinir, I am indeed a bit impatient. If you can¡¯t ept it, you can find a new secret


    ary.¡±


    She wanted to take this opportunity to quit, and to get him to fire her!


    She was troubled by not being able to find a reason to get fired.


    Leopold was about to speak.


    Lysander put down his coffee cup, his voice calm and maic. ¡°Let her go to the Sinir Group, and


    she can handle any secretarial


    work with me¡±


    He meant he could train Thssa until she became a qualified secretary!


    Thssa gasped. She had just managed to leave the Sinir Group. Was she going back?


    Leopold was even more nervous. He just wanted Thssa to stay with him.


    He didn¡¯t think she was incapable.


    But Lysander wanted her to go back to him!


    Absolutely not!


    Leopold hurriedly said, ¡°Lysander, I.¡±


    ¡°Never mind¡± Lysander gave him a deep


    look, then waved his hand to call David. ¡°Get Thssa to join the Sinir Group.¡±


    David nodded respectfully and quickly left the office to handle it.


    Leopold was toote to stop him.


    Thssa was restless. She stood up and said to Lysander, ¡°Mr. Sinir, I think I¡¯m doing quite well her


    e.¡±


    Before she could finish, Lysander looked up. His deep and oppressive gaze made her afraid, so much


    so that she subconsciously stopped speaking.


    Lysander asked, ¡°Do you think you have the right to speak?¡±


    Thssa was speechless.


    As ¨¤ regr employee, she seemed to have no right to interfere with thepany owner¡¯s decisions.


    But this decision directly affected her position.


    1/2

 Chapter 251

    Chapter 251


    ¡°Out yammering and get to work, Lysander nced at him and said straight to the point, then he walke


    d away


    Lopot pood there, running his hands through his hair in frustration


    He shouldn¡¯t have implied to Lysander that his mistakes were as innocent as what Thssa had made


    today, hoping for her forgiveness.


    Instead, Lysander thought he was ming Thssa and he refused to forgive her


    Such a big misunderstanding


    Lysander¡¯s vibe was too intense, and he didn¡¯t even have a chance to exin.


    Meanwhile, Thssa was so pissed she could tum to stone.


    After all the effort to escape, she ended up back as Lysander¡¯s secretary


    Her clever n to escape the Sinir Group was all for nothing.


    Finally, it was time to clock out. As Thssa left thepany and was about to take the bus, a silver P


    orsche pulled up in front of her.


    The window rolled down to reveal Leopold¡¯s handsome face. Thssa, get in


    Thssa nced at him but did not get in. ¡°Mr. Sinir, I don¡¯t want any misunderstandings.¡±


    Leopold¡¯s eyes dimmed slightly ¡°Afraid your boyfriend will get jealous?¡±


    With a smile, Thssa casually replied, ¡°Yes, my boyfriend always gets


    jealous. He doesn¡¯t interact with other women and doesn¡¯t want me getting too close to other men.¡±


    That stung She was still holding on to what happened five years ago. She couldn¡¯t forgive him.


    Original from N?velDrama.Org.


    Leopold got out. He opened the door, and shoved Thssa into the car, buckling her seatbelt.


    Thssa was as mad as a wet hen, shouting. ¡°Leopold, what are you doing? Let me out!¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m just trying to give you a lift.¡± Leopold started the car.


    ¡°I don¡¯t want a lift from you, and I don¡¯t want to be in your car!¡± Thssa was furious.


    But the car was already moving, speeding away.


    She couldn¡¯t jump out She had to keep herself safe. What about her four kids?


    ¡°Thssa, can you stop being like this? Leopold took the chance to nce back.


    His voice was full of sorrow, and so were his eyes


    Heanng him call her


    name over and over, Thssa felt her heart turning into a soaked sponge, which was heavy and damp.


    Memories of the past yed in her mind like a movie.


    Their love story in college was innocent and confused.


    He used to call her Thssa tenderly, treating her like a treasure, and he was always by her side.


    The memories were so beautiful that the changes that came after that incident were earth¨Cshattering.


    The pain came all of a sudden, catching her off guard.


    Thssa brushed off her soft spot. She smiled and said, ¡®Mr. Sinir, you might as well call me Ms. Ev


    erhart. I¡¯d feel morefortable.¡±


    Leopold felt disappointed. Despite his humble and gentle request for her


    forgiveness, his sincerity couldn¡¯t melt her icy heart.


    He didn¡¯t say another word. He just drove to the entrance of her neighborhood.


    Afraid he would drive into thepound, Thssa quickly said, ¡°Please stop here.¡±


    Leopold didn¡¯t force her, and he stopped at the entrance. Thssa took out five dors from her bag an


    d left it on the seat. ¡°This is for the ride. I don¡¯t want to owe you anything. Goodbye, Mr. Sinir.


    Then she closed the door.


    Leopold¡¯s heart ached as if it was stabbed by

 Chapter 252

    Chapter 252


    As soon as Thssa got out of the car, she headed straight into themunity without looking bac


    k.


    Leopold watched her retreating figure, then nced at the cash left on the car seat.


    His clear eyes were filled with sorrow.


    Finally, he had no choice but to drive away helplessly.


    Thssa was halfway through. She sighed in relief when she saw Leopold had left.


    It was time for the kids to get off school.


    She went back outside themunity and headed towards the kindergarten to pick up the kids.


    The reason she gave Leopold the fare was that, on the one hand, she didn¡¯t want to owe him, and on t


    he other hand, she didn¡¯t want to be sent home by Leopold again.


    The timing was just right today. The kids had


    just finished school and hadn¡¯t left the school grounds yet.


    What about next time?


    If the kids just happened to being out of school and ran into Leopold driving her home, the kids wo


    uld be thrilled to shout ¡°Mom!¡±


    Then, it would be hard to keep the secret of her four children.


    Leopold was from the Sinir family.


    If he found out, Lysander would too.


    This was too dangerous.


    So, she must stop Leopold from taking her home.


    At the kindergarten gate, the teacher led the children out of school hand in hand. Among them were Th


    ssa¡¯s four kids, wobbling as they walked like a line of cute little penguins.


    ¡°Mommy!¡±


    The kids¡® eyes lit


    up and they called out in their tender voices when they saw their moming to pick them up.


    Thssa¡¯s heart melted.


    Her face carried a warm smile. She responded, ¡°Hey, my little ones,e on. I¡¯m here to take you hom


    e.¡±


    The teacher let them break formation to find their mom.


    The four little ones rushed towards her, all pouncing into her arms.


    Thssa embraced them tightly. With overflowing maternal love, she was unable to hide her affection f


    or them. On their soft little faces, she gave each one a kiss. Their cheeks were soft and bouncy with th


    e scent of milk, incredibly heartwarming and sweet.


    ¡°Mommy, I love you¡± Elowen wrapped her little hand around Thssa¡¯s leg


    N?vel(D)ra/ma.Org exclusive ? material.


    ¡°I love mommy too.¡± Sophia coolly dered her love for Thssa.


    ¡°Me too, I love mommy the most!¡± Dorian was as pretty as a little girl. He blurted out in a childlike voice,


    as if womed about being left behind.


    After saying that, he tiptoed trying to kiss Thssa. But he couldn¡¯t reach her, so his little face


    flushed in frustration.


    Thssa saw his intention, so she leaned down and brought her face close to him.


    Donan puckered his lips and nted a kiss on Thssa¡¯s face, proving his love for his mom.


    ¡°I want to kiss you too.¡± Elowen came over, her fluffy face touching Thssa¡¯s, wanting to give her a de


    ep kiss.


    ¡°Me too. Not wanting to be outdone, Sophia squeezed up and hurriedly kissed Thssa¡¯s face.


    Atticus had been standing aside to watch them. He loved his mom too and wanted to kiss her


    But his personality was rather cool, and he seemed to find such things childish.


    His young handsome face had a hint of seriousness, looking a bit indifferent, but his slightly furrowed br


    ows hinted that he too wanted to be close to his mom


    Thssa saw what Atticus was thinking, so she leaned in and gently kissed him, then she softly said, ¡°


    Atticus loves me too. i know that

 Chapter 253

    Chapter 253


    With a face full of happiness, Thssa was shielding her four children under her arms.


    This warm and happy scene caught the attention of other parents


    Kind¨C


    hearted folks walked over, thest eyes filled with envy and surprise ¡°Miss, are all these four your kids?¡±


    Thssa nodded.


    ¡°They all seem to be about the same age. Are they quadruplets?¡±


    Thssa nodded again


    ¡°My goodness, miss. You gave birth to four at once, and they all look so pretty. You¡¯re quite the baby


    maker Even farm hens don¡¯ty four eggs in one go¡±


    The person was full of envy. Finding it quite unbelievable, she looked at Thssa with a gaze filled with


    admiration


    This woman sure knew how to pop out kids.


    Thssa cracked an awkward smile.


    wasn¡¯t her who was particrly fertile, it was the children¡¯s father. His fertility was off the charts.


    Thinking back to that night she was exhausted.


    It was her first time to have sex, and a strong and heroic man suddenly appeared it was a massive chal


    lenge to her endurance


    Under the envious gaze of many. Thssa took the kids home.


    Halfway through, they ran into Evelyn, who was rushing towards the kindergarten


    Thssa, you¡¯re picking up the kids. I was ying poker in the card room. I got so engrossed that I alm


    ost lost track of time.¡± Evelyn wiped the sweat off her forehead, letting out a sigh of relief.


    She was worried that she¡¯d bete and the kids might be picked up by other parents by mistake


    Luckily Thssa was the one who picked them up.


    Thssa said. ¡°Mom, the kids school pick¨C


    up time is fixed now, and you should set an rm from now on¡±


    She couldn¡¯t always be on time to pick the kids up, what if she waste next time?


    ¡°Alright, I got it. It¡¯s the kids¡® first day of school, so I¡¯m still not used to


    it. By the way, how was your first day at work?¡± Evelyn asked about her job.


    Thssa looked somewhat downcast ¡°Hard to say.¡±


    Seeing her expression, Evelyn immediately became worried. ¡°You can¡¯t be picky. Thepany spent fi


    ve thousand dors to hire you, and they must have seen your talent. The workload will be heavy at firs


    t, but it¡¯ll get better. You can¡¯t be too whimsical


    Thssa felt helpless, unable to describe the twists and turns she experienced at work to Evelyn


    She felt like she was jumping from one predicament into another


    She felt out of control of her own life, and it was extremely painful


    N?vel(D)ra/ma.Org exclusive ? material.


    As usual, she put on a brilliant smile and said, ¡°Mom, I know. Don¡¯t worry


    Do you still have


    money? We¡¯re out of living expenses at home, and we haven¡¯t even bought groceries for today. Also, E


    lowen and Sophia¡¯s milk powder is also out, so we need to buy a few cans¡± Evelyn added


    Thssa¡¯s five thousand dors had all been used to pay the kids¡® school fees


    She didn¡¯t have much money left


    Suddenly, the burden of life on her shoulders felt heavier


    Back home, she rummaged through her bag and found fifty¨C


    five dors in cash. She handed it all to Evelyn ¡°Mom, take this to buy groceries fist. Once my sry is i


    n, transfer you some more


    ¡°This money can¡¯t even buy a months worth of milk powder i told you to find a good man and marry hu


    m, but you just wouldn¡¯t sten Evelyn nagged as she wRNI¨¨ out to buy groceries


    Thssa was under tremendous pressure I looked like she¡¯d have to do some part time work tonight to


    make ends meet


    Just then, Z from Sapphire Skyline gave her a call


    Thses, you haven¡¯t been doing part time work for a white flecenity our red wine sales have been rea


    lly good and you can cast out at the song Would you considering over tonight for a part time job?


    Z proposed a temptation over the phone


    Thssa turned her head and saw Lowen lying on the table, staring at the empty milk powder bax the


    clearly wanted to drink but there was wat


    She didn¡¯t n to sto part time work at Sapphire Skyline again


    But now it seemed that she had no other chale


    She agreed Alright, re over tonight

 Chapter 254

    Chapter 254


    and at The Bux moints ie kraan of hypoff your you!


    mand burning to add


    ette and wins a bath in cas


    Put ink crail Thele pe mere but Bik wat aan bigger both and of the month.


    But again hoa 12


    Thest thing to wants to u v¨¢s hum,


    T ya? Kedah a grit, eft de humping the wakesare you van Kart You¡® so when you gon


    Customer the coun


    These must be all kit Lakanda super


    N?vel(D)ra/ma.Org exclusive ? material.


    Amate with a dep sd wut was mus than the soult tanda


    Thales was, but she met het wat spaway at Topplina Skying ori?y day,


    She wake of the door of bost with thest hand, site para bu der ¨¤ soft


    ¡°Com in 4 mars va cany hom neihe trending with The G


    wassonne Thalese heart fully mispel song


    She kite fase for at for word, stepasially the man witting as the add put of the sofa, ciplined quature and


    that of action ded


    sade tum took ver ten habis and pound


    Then there was n Richart, and man


    Tross four bor hers agai


    hit $5-5554 4k. I be a


    fox or engine the close of busty sure


    The fall down ter spre under his gate. She quickly put the upurustes


    for the bag on the table. Bijust save these hoe buy


    was sew Thalesce and Lysanders section, and by Dinks ¨¤ fusing to

 Chapter 255

    Chapter 255


    In a crisis, Thsso quickly tossed the tray aside and her entire body fell Into Lysander¡¯s arms.


    Her face happened tond on his.


    With firm skin, the man¡¯s face was hot to the touch


    Thssa was already flustered, feeling the warmth on his face made her heart beat even faster


    In her confusion, she tried to stand up. ¡°I¡¯m sorry. I didn¡¯t mean to.¡±


    She grabbed his sult cor trying to stand up, but her wrist was caught by a big hand.


    His calloused hand gave off a threatening warmth as it tightly gripped Thssa¡¯s wrist.


    She felt like she was under his control, and it was suffocating.


    Thssa struggled helplessly, trying to pull her hand free. ¡°Mr. Sinir, I really didn¡¯t mean to


    Lysander grabbed her waist and pulled her onto hisp with his other hand.


    ¡°Lysander is such a bully!¡± ric started to jeer,ughing heartily.


    Richard and Ethan immediately stood up. They


    knew that once Lysander got really angry, it would be toote to run away


    Lysander¡¯s icy gaze swept towards ric. ¡°Seems like your tongue needs to be cut off with a scalpel, ri


    N?velDrama.Org owns this text.


    ght?¡±


    ric was stunned and quickly followed Richard and Ethan out of the room ¡°I misunderstood. Don¡¯t be


    angry, Lysander. I¡¯m leaving right now. I didn¡¯t say anything. and I didn¡¯t see anything.¡±


    The men hurriedly left with their dates.


    ric even came back to close the door for them.


    In therge room, only Thssa and Lysander were left.


    One of his hands gripped her wrist, the other held her waist, and she was still sitting on hisp, tightly h


    eld in his arms.


    She could clearly feel his strong heartbeat.


    Thssa was bing more and more scared, her heart pounding.


    ¡°Mr. Sinir, we aren¡¯t anything to each other, and you shouldn¡¯t do this,¡± Thssa said, trying to pull h


    er hand free, but she failed Lysander¡¯s deep gaze stared at her, ¡°Nothing? You seem to have forgotten


    what happened five years ago. Let me jog your memory.¡±


    His hand started to roam her body.


    Wherever his hand touched felt like fire, and Thssa¡¯s skin was burning and tingling


    She was so scared that she began to shiver. ¡°Mr. Sinir, what happened five years ago was an ide


    nt. Don¡¯t take it to heart Ah!¡±


    Before she could finish, she felt a chill on her shoulder. Her clothes were pulled aside, and her shoulder


    was bitten by him.


    She cried out in pain.


    Lysander was like a devil, biting her round shoulder.


    Thssa was in so much pain, and her body was shaking. She wanted to push him away, but her hand


    was tightly gripped by him and she couldn¡¯t move.


    She begged in panic. ¡°Mr. Sinir, it was ric who tripped me on purpose. I really didn¡¯t mean to.¡±


    Lysander let go of her shoulder, his tongue lightly tracing where he had bitten.


    The warm and wet sensation was like electricity sliding across her skin.


    Thssa couldn¡¯t stand it and began to tremble.


    She felt extreme fear.


    ¡°You don¡¯t seem to remember what I said the night beforest,¡± Lysander¡¯s voice was dangerous, and h


    is hot breath was on her neck.


    He was like a beast that could bite her neck at any moment.


    Thssa was so scared that she was stiff, not daring to move.


    What did he say the night beforest? She quickly scanned her memory.


    She finally remembered. The night beforest night, Lysander also bit her and warned her. No matter


    who she loved in her heart, her body could only belong to him


    She was scared that he would go to her house and find out about her kids.


    So, she tried to get him to leave as soon as possible, and she casually agreed to him.


    With a sigh of relief, Thssa said, ¡°Mr. Sinir, i didn¡¯t forget.¡±


    Therese and

 Chapter 256

    Chapter 256


    Thee why was che si ding te schi Sayama, wearing so clothes


    bent over, her body was exposed for other men ty teet


    Jeet thinking about six tong in Lysender¡¯s heart


    Reessing her west, he grabbed her chun, taming her face to look st him


    His eyes were deep and unisthomable Staring into her eyes, he said coldly and sharply ¡°Let¡¯s make a d


    ea!¡±


    The intensity of his gare made Thats back break out in a cold sweat and her heart was pounding wildly


    like she was about to have a heart attack. Especially it was in this provocative position.


    His verzuiming presence engulfed her leaving her nowhere to run, and her mind was in chaos.


    ¡°What kind of deal?¡± she asked


    ¡°Be my woman, and you can get money, power, status, even education. I¡¯ll give you everything you wa


    nt,¡± his low deep voice was intimidating enough to make Thsca¡¯s heart tremble


    Her eyes widened in shock and disbelief


    After the disbelief, she became extremely calm


    She knew all along that Lysander just wanted to keep her as a mistress, and he won¡¯t genuinely marry


    her


    He had previously made a grand statement about taking responsibility for her, acknowledging her as hi


    s girlfriend


    Now he didn¡¯t even bother with a good excuse, and he justid out his intentions


    He was willing to give her everything she wanted, except the status of a wife.


    But she didn¡¯t want anything, except a legitimate marital status


    It was a status he definitely wouldn¡¯t give her


    Their statuses were worlds apart, even Zephyr had said that she wasn¡¯t worthy of stepping into the Sin


    ir family¡¯s door


    The woman Lysander would marry in the future would be a rich heiress, someone of his status!


    And what made her think she could take Mrs. Sinir¡¯s ce?


    Was it because they had slept together once five years ago?


    Lysander just liked to toy with her young body. Once he got bored, he would simply discard her!


    Thssa¡¯s panic dissolved


    N?velDrama.Org ? content.


    into calm, and she said to him, ¡°Mr. Sinir, the deal is tempting indeed, but I decline


    ¡°What? Do you have a better offer?¡± Lysander lifted her chin, his cold breath brushing her face.


    Thssa said, ¡°Yes, I have a better offer


    ¡°Your better offer is Leopold, isn¡¯t it?¡± Lysander¡¯s hand tightened on her chin, his eyes were as cold as


    winter snow.


    The reason she dropped out of school five years ago was due to Leopold¡¯s betrayal. When they broke


    up, she was heartbroken and couldn¡¯t cope with life!


    A few days ago, she quit her job at the Sinir Group for a better opportunity


    The better opportunity she referred to was to work at Leopold¡¯spany!


    She said she would never forgive Leopold, but her actions suggested she was gravitating towards him.


    She was avoiding Lysander not only because Grandpa Zephyr had belittled her as a cleaner, but more i


    mportantly because Leopold had returned. She wanted to go back to Leopold


    Thssa was stunned at Lysander¡¯s words, and her mind was a whirlpool of emotions.


    Did Lysander know about her rtionship with Leopold?


    She had always thought he was in the dark.


    Yesterday at the office, she tried hard to act like she didn¡¯t know Leopold well. He must have found it


    ughable.


    Thssa¡¯s heart was pounding, and it was filled with fear and helplessness

 Chapter 257

    Chapter 257


    mydnend of two years?¡±


    her ex boyfriend, she was puzzled How did he know she had an ex?


    Sic modo some simady ze sthavesey Leopold


    Et getting of dept, the would boldly she liked Leopold


    Being tender wares tample matte


    She earned that the hard way on a stormy night five years ago


    Moreover, if the became his woman, they would be around each other a lot. If he discovered her secret


    , that would be disastrous!


    When Thssa admired her feelings for Leopold, Lysanders face turned icy. He grabbed the back of h


    er neck and pulled her face close to his


    Their faces were on close she could see the pores on his skin. Their breaths were mingling


    thses tred to push him away her heart pounding wildly


    Lysander¡¯s face was dark. He lifted his chin slightly, his lips brushing past hers. His voice was cold and


    domineering ¡°His body isn¡¯t yours, and yours isn¡¯t his either, Thssa Bonit test my patience I¡¯ve told y


    ou that your body belongs to me¡±


    His cold oppressive aura, along with his words, pierced straight into her heart


    Thssa felt a pang in her heart, and the anxiously said, ¡°Mr. Sinir, I¡¯ve told you. That night was a


    misunderstanding¡±


    In my world, there are no misunderstandings!¡± Lysander retorted coldly


    Once she became his woman, she could only be his woman!


    He wouldn¡¯t allow her to have any physical contact with other men.


    Thssa was scared by his intense gaze, her voice trembling ¡°Mr Sinir, I don¡¯t want to be your secre


    tary, nor Leopold¡¯s. I¡¯ll leave both of yourpanies and never show up in front of you again. Can you l


    et me go?¡±


    Lysander smirked, his face icy. ¡°Apart from the Sinir Group, no otherpany will hire you.¡±


    Thssa¡¯s heart sank Was Lysander trying toer her?


    Then she would leave the city. She could always go to another city


    Just when she thought of this, Lysander¡¯s deep voice echoed. ¡®No matter where you go, I¡¯ll make sure y


    ou can¡¯t live in peace!¡±


    Thssa gasped


    He gave her two options.


    N?vel(D)ra/ma.Org exclusive ? material.


    She could either be his woman and enjoy the wealth.


    Or she had to starve to death


    She could starve, but she had four children to feed.


    If she had no ie, the kids would starve.


    The thought of her children starving made her heart ache like it was being cut by a knife.


    Without food, the kids would be even more pitiful.


    Comered with no way out, Thssa said, ¡°Mr. Sinir, can I have some time to think?¡±


    Lysander¡¯s gaze darkened. He let go of her, picked up a tall ss from the table, and put it on her head


    . ¡°Stay right here. Once you¡¯ve made up your mind, take down the ss


    Thssa felt utterly aggneved.


    The base of the tall ss was smaller than the body It could stand steadily on a t table.


    But the tip of her head was not a t surface.


    The ss wobbled on her head. She had to stand straight, not daring to move.


    She could see clearly Lysander¡¯s handsome face. His features were sharp and defined.


    He took a pack of cigarettes from a small table, then took one out and put it to his lips Every move he


    made exuded an innate elegance and nobility.


    te was bang and Lysande


    chest it hef

 Chapter 258

    Chapter 258


    The cigarette was burning, and Lysander pinched it between his fingertips. Smoke curled around him,


    but his handsome face was still as sharp as a knife, with a cold intimidating aura that made the air


    around him seem to stand still.


    Thssa was so nervous she didn¡¯t dare to breathe too loudly.


    She stood there, staring at Lysander¡¯s increasingly captivating face. He was strong and tall, with a


    golden ratio physique and an incredibly noble


    demeanor.


    He exuded masculine charm from head to toe.


    Sure, there were plenty of rich guys out there, but Lysander was the only rich and handsome dude with


    a body like an international supermodel. He was a man standing at the top of the pyramid.


    Countless women tried to cozy up to him, hoping to be his gal, but none of them got the chance.


    And here Lysander was, offering Thssa this opportunity, asking her to be his woman, and she was


    still taking her sweet time considering it.


    No one would believe it.


    But Thssa was truly scared. Being Lysander¡¯s woman would definitely not be a walk in the park.


    Moreover, this would increase the chances of him finding out about the kids.


    Thssa really didn¡¯t want to agree. N?vel(D)ra/ma.Org exclusive ? material.


    But if she didn¡¯t, he would make her life a living hell.


    She was in a real pickle.


    When she said she needed to think about it, she was actually just stalling.


    Deep down, she didn¡¯t want to say yes.


    She thought that if she asked for time to think, Lysander would let her be.


    But she didn¡¯t expect that he would resort to such a method, making her bnce a tall ss on her


    head, and she could only remove it when she made up her mind.


    What if she never made her mind up? Or what if the ss fell and broke?


    What then?


    Thssa didn¡¯t dare to ask, nor did she dare to find out the consequences of a broken ss.


    She had no choice but to suck it up and stand there.


    Because of the constant swaying of the ss, she had to keep her body straight, leaning slightly to


    maintain the bnce of the ss.


    For a short while, it was a piece of cake, but as time went on, it became a torture.


    Three hours passed.


    Thssa¡¯s legs were aching from standing, and her neck was stiff and immobile.


    She pushed herself to stay upright, but her trembling legs gave out, and the tall ss slipped off. As


    she reached out to catch it, her legs buckled, and she ended up kneeling before Lysander.


    He was sitting, and she was kneeling in front of him. It was an awkward and embarrassing position.


    Rubbing her sore cheeks, Thssa was about to speak.


    ¡°No use begging,¡± Lysander¡¯s intimidating voice cut her off.


    Thssa¡¯s lips twitched.


    She hadn¡¯t even started talking and he already stopped her.


    She wanted to get up, but her legs were jelly, devoid of strength.


    All she could do was stay kneeling, hands massaging the aching muscles in her thighs. Her eyes were


    filled with frustration as she asked helplessly, ¡°So, will you give me anything I want?¡±


    ¡°Of course, except for rejecting me.¡± Lysander snuffed out his cigarette in the ashtray. Leaning back on


    the couch, he looked at her with his deep-set eyes. Thssa was so upset she couldn¡¯t even cry.


    She was about to tell him, that since he would give her anything she wanted, she wanted to avoid


    being his woman.


    He cut her off. He predicted her prediction.


    She was simply no match for Lysander.


    This couldn¡¯t go on forever.


    Thssa decided to agree temporarily and wait for the right moment to take the kids and flee.


    ¡°Alright, Mr. Sinir, remember to keep your promise,¡± she said.


    The corners of Lysander¡¯s mouth lifted slightly, and a spark shed in his deep eyes, ¡°Stand up and


    kiss me.¡±

 Chapter 259

    Chapter 259


    Thssa was speechless.


    Uh oh, this wasn¡¯t quite right


    What was he thinking?


    What¡¯s wrong? Were you having second thoughts?¡± Lysander¡¯s voice was icy cold when he noticed h


    er hesitation and reluctance to act Thssa was startled by his frosty demeanor and she quickly resp


    onded, ¡°No, no. My legs are just a bit sore and I can¡¯t stand up right now.¡±


    Saying so, she ced her hand on the ground. Intending to use her arm strength to push herself up


    N?velDrama.Org ? content.


    Unfortunately, her handnded on the shattered remains of a wine ss. Her fingers were instantly c


    ut and started to bleed.


    ¡®Ouch! Thssa cried out in pain, swiftly withdrawing her hand.


    Seeing the blood welling up on her fingers, Lysander grabbed her wrist, hoisting her up from the groun


    d and onto the couch beside him.


    He held her bleeding hand, seeing the shards of ss lodged in her flesh. There was blood trickling do


    wn the translucent fragments. It looked like a stained ss panel of crimson.


    Lysander frowned, reaching for her injured fingers.


    Thssa instinctively recoiled, ¡°Mr. Sinir, it¡¯s just a minor cut. No biggie.¡±


    Lysander firmly held her hand, not allowing her to pull away, ¡°Stay still!¡±


    His words weremanding, allowing no room for resistance.


    Thssa froze, not daring to move.


    Lysander leaned closer, and his cool breath brushed against her nose, carrying a faint scent of sandalw


    ood.


    It was just like five years ago.


    Thssa¡¯s heartbeat involuntarily quickened.


    With his sharp vision, Lysander gripped the shard of ss and swiftly yanked it out.


    The ss shard was removed.


    Thssa gasped in pain, her breath quickening. Although she didn¡¯t scream, Lysander noticed the cha


    nge in herplexion.


    He knew she was in pain.


    He let go of her hand, grabbed his phone and made a quick call, ¡°Bring the first aid kit.


    In less than two minutes, ric entered the room with the first aid kit.


    ric had expected to walk into a chaotic scene, but instead, he found Lysander and Thssa sitting o


    n the couch, looking neat andposed, as if nothing intense had happened.


    He had initially thought that the chaos had resulted in Thssa getting injured.


    Yet, it was such a peaceful scene.


    No wonder Lysander had called him so casually to bring the first aid kit.


    If nothing had happened, what had they been doing in the room for the past three to four hours?


    ric ced the first aid kit on the coffee table. Seeing Thssa¡¯s bleeding finger, he joked, ¡°How did


    you get hurt? Lysander might get upset¡±


    Lysander shot ric a frosty look.


    Receiving Lysander¡¯s icy stare, ric immediately stopped his teasing


    Thssa felt a bit embarrassed by hisment. She chuckled awkwardly and exined, ¡°I identall


    y broke a ss and cut my hand on the shards.¡±


    As she was speaking, Lysander opened


    the first aid kit. He took out some lodine and a cotton swab. He was about to disinfect her wound when


    Thssa, feeling slightly overwhelmed, quickly tried to take the swab from him, ¡°I can do it myself. It¡¯s j


    ust a minor cut, no biggie.¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t move!¡± Lysandermanded sternly


    Thssa was taken aback and stayed still.


    Lysander held her index finger with one hand while cleaning the wound with the other. He then tossed t


    he cotton swab into the trash can.


    Feeling the need to excuse herself, Thssa said, ¡°It¡¯s gettingte. I should head home. You guys go


    on with your party. I don¡¯t want to be a party pooper


    She stood up and started to leave.


    Lysander didn¡¯t stop her.


    After Thssa left the room, ric looked at her retreating figure curiously and asked, ¡°Lysander, are y


    ou for real?¡±


    He had never seen Lysander being so considerate to any woman before.


    Thssa had a cut on her finger, and Lysander h

 Chapter 260

    Chapter 260


    yender shot him a cold nce without offering a word


    He another cigaretin the orangend ember tuming between his fingertips


    Thssa mickly left the private room, her enriety slowly fading


    She felt like a ton of bricks was lifted off her shoulders


    She was just here for pan¨Came work, but unexpectedly she became Lysander¡¯s woman!


    Lifesize threw Davits at her


    She decided to leave Sapphim Skyline


    Z stopped her. ¡°Thssa are you leaving?¡±


    Thaisesa paused and said, ¡°Yes¡±


    ¡°Aren¡¯t you interested in your sry? Or have you hit the jackpot and now look down on this pay?¡± Zol


    a asked with a teasing smile.


    Thssa responded, ¡°Who said I hit the jackpot? If I had, would I still be here waiting tables? Please se


    ttle my wages, and I need to get home¡± She just wanted to get away from Lysander as fast as possible


    Fair enough. It¡¯ste and it¡¯s not safe for a girl to be out. Il settle your pay, and you better head home¡± Z


    headed to the cash register


    Thssa followed, noticing the constant smile on Z¡¯s face.


    She asked, ¡°Z, you called me in for part¨Ctime work because those rich kids showed up, right?¡±Material ? of N?velDrama.Org.


    Z maintained her smile, looking at her with experienced, thoughtful yet gentle eyes. ¡°Don¡¯t say that I


    would¡¯ve called you in no matter who appeared. Look at you You are sopetent, and you sold two b


    ottles of wine in just three hours. Some waitresses who have been working here for months can¡¯t even


    hit your sales¡±


    In reality, Z called Thssa in because she saw those rich mening in, including Lysander and A


    Lysander had texted her before, asking her not to make Thssa do anything inappropriate.


    She could tell Lysander had a soft spot for Thssa.


    Lysander hadn¡¯t visited Sapphire Skyline in a long time.


    Now that Lysander was finally here, naturally Z would do her best to please him.


    And her bargaining chip was Thssa!


    It turned out that her guess was correct.


    ¡°Those two bottles of wine Thssa recalled She had smashed them on the floor. The bottles shattere


    d, and the wine spilled everywhere.


    It was a close call then. If she hadn¡¯t smashed the bottles, they would¡¯ve hit Lysander in the face.


    She could be in danger right now.


    ¡°Mr. Falconer has already paid. You¡¯ve worked for three hours today, and the part¨C


    time fee is a hundred dors. Plus yourmission from the drinks, it totals to two thousand two


    hundred dors. I¡¯ll transfer the money to your bank ount right now¡± Z said, not waiting for her to


    exin.


    She took out her phone and made the transfer.


    Thssa¡¯s phone in her pocket vibrated almost instantly.


    Thssa checked her phone. Indeed, she received the money.


    This money didn¡¯te easily.


    Although Z didn¡¯t explicitly say it, Thssa could tell from her words that Z had called her in beca


    use Lysander was there.


    She was like a cash cow Z could utilize to please Lysander


    Business people were cunning and self¨Cinterested.


    In the workce, the basic rule of survival was to see the truth but not to expose it


    Thssa waved at Z and said, ¡°Z, I¡¯m leaving¡±


    ¡°Okay, take care, and we¡¯d love to see you again,¡± Z responded warmly.


    Thssa thought, ¡°With the way you treat me, I¡¯d be a fool if I came back.¡±


    As she stepped out of Sapphire Skyline and was about to hail a cab, a ck Rolls¨C


    Royce stopped beside her. The window rolled down, revealing Lysander¡¯s handsome face. He said, ¡°G


    et in.¡±


    Thssa replied nervously, ¡°I can get a cab home myself. No need to trouble you¡±


    ¡°Do I need to get out and invite you in?¡± Lysander asked.

 Chapter 261

    Chapter 261


    Toten var backed into aer, with no choice but to get in the car


    Thor driver called imo the diver¡¯s seat, and Lysander seated himself in the back. Thssa took the


    spot next to him


    Even sitting down, he sta eded an aura of majesty and nobility with his towering figure


    Thwa¡¯s leg brushed against his expensive and wrinkle¨C


    free suit pants. She was wary of touching him and carefully shifted away


    The thought her movement was cutitle and wouldn¡¯t draw attention


    But the moment she moved, she felt the icy sharp eyes on her, as chilling as a frosty wind.


    Thatases heart skipped a beat She turned to find herself meeting Lysanders piercing gaze.


    Material ? of N?velDrama.Org.


    Her shoulders trembled slightly as the muttered. ¡°I just need to get closer to the window for some fresh


    air¡±


    Before she could finish, arge hand lifted her and she found herself perched on Lysandersp


    Even through the fabric, the


    could feel the solid muscles and graceful curves of his thigh, which was a powerful allure.


    Thssas breath hitched, and the stammered, Mr Sinir, we¡¯re in a car right now


    The next second, a partition rose in the car, separating the front and the back.


    Lysander gripped her waist, lifting her chin ¡°Can we pick up where we left off with that kiss?¡±


    Thssa was taken aback, her heart rate spiked as the realized what he was implying


    ¡°Mr Sinir, injured my hand earlier, Thssa quickly made up an excuse.


    ¡°What does that have to do with your mouth?¡± Lysander¡¯s deep voice carried an invisible pressure.


    Thssa found herself unable to refute


    Even if she purposely injured herself, it seemed she still couldn¡¯t escape him.


    His dominating presence enveloped her, and his masculine scent infiltrated her senses.


    The kicker was, she was sitting on hisp, and she could feel the warmth and strength of his leg.


    Thssa¡¯s heartbeat pounded like a drum.


    Since she couldn¡¯t escape, she could only give in.


    She closed her eyes, hershes trembling in nervousness. She slowly moved, her lips closer to his.


    She left a gentle kiss on his lips and quickly pulled away


    But the next second, her head was held in ce and her lips were sealed by his.


    Compared to her gentle peck, Lysander¡¯s kiss was dornineering and possessive.


    It wasn¡¯t until she was gasping for air that Lysander finally let her go.


    She slumped against his chest, gulping in fresh air.


    Lysander¡¯s hand gently roamed her back.


    The car came to a smooth stop. They had arrived at Thssa¡¯s apartmentplex.


    Thssa realized this and quickly hopped off Lysander, pushing open the car door to get out.


    She saw that they were right under her apartment building


    Lysander also got out of the car, his deep voice raspy as he said, ¡®I¡¯ll walk you up.¡±


    Having said that, he began to walk away


    Thssa was taken aback and quickly caught up with him. She grabbed his hand. ¡°I still want to go on


    a date with you, and I don¡¯t want to go home yet.¡±


    If he walked her up, he¡¯d surelye into her home. And if he saw the milk bottles and toys, he¡¯d defini


    tely realize she had children at home


    Her palm was warm and delicate.


    She took the initiative to hold his hand, and it seemed warmer than usual


    Lysander looked at her fondly with a surprising gentleness, ¡°So, how about that date?¡±

 Chapter 262

    Chapter 262


    to Lysande fem escoring her home


    being him up her ce


    gt ad eo go to say goodby


    frew


    ant worse. Thaterska mplied Anything goes


    was way fm am and Theless was pist about five feet free Standing in front of him, she barely reached


    his shoulders, which made her rather pe and delicate


    foniere se to her cheerful smile


    Cheniled with showing her har eyes thening Under the streetlight, her eyes seemed to sparkle, and he


    r red lips looked like fresh roses waiting to be pichos


    It wat innocent y@ xy


    Her smite made Lysander¡¯s throat tighten


    He immediately pulled out his phone and made a call ¡°Book a Presidential Suite


    His voice was deep and charming


    But for Thssa, this voice was like plucking a string in her heart.


    Her smile disappeared Instantly, and she asked in surprise, ¡°Why are you booking a room?¡±


    Lysander hung up the phone, his gaze deep. He gently lifted her chin, his voice full of charm. ¡°For our d


    ate¡±


    Thssa was stunned for a moment. She got his intention, and the purpose of booking the room was


    obvious.


    Fnghtened, Thssa quickly let go of his hand and took two steps back, distancing herself from him.


    She blurted out, ¡°Mr. Sinir, you don¡¯t date much, do you? You don¡¯t need a room for a date¡±


    Lysander¡¯s gaze was sharp ¡°Are you experienced in dating?¡±


    His cold aura was even colder than the evening breeze, as if it could pierce through one¡¯s bones.


    Thssa tensed up, breathing cautiously She quickly exined. ¡°That¡¯s not what I meant. I just wanted


    to have some coffee. I¡¯ve mentioned before that there¡¯s a coffee


    shop near our neighborhood that serves great coffee. I thought you¡¯d remember


    The cold look in Lysander¡¯s eyes lessened slightly ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡±


    Thssa hurriedly followed.


    The coffee shop was open 24/7, and Thssa and Lysander walked in together.


    The waitress said habitually. ¡°Wee¡±


    Halfway through her greeting, the waitress saw the man who walked in, and she


    was instantly stunned by his aura.


    He was tall and handsome, with an exceptional aura, radiating an aristocratic air that was so attractive t


    hat one couldn¡¯t take their eyes off him.


    She had never seen a man as handsome and charismatic as him.


    Hey heart raced, and she couldn¡¯t take her eyes off him.


    ¡°Hello, can we see the menu please?¡± Thssa saw the waitress staring dumbstruck at Lysander.


    Thssa and Lysander had already sat down, but the waitress was still in a daze, so Thssa reminde


    d her.


    The waitress immediately snapped back to reality, as if she had been electrocuted, and quickly said, ¡°R


    ight away.


    She walked over to the table and handed the menu to Thssa, but her gaze never left Lysander. She


    didn¡¯t dare to tantly stare, but her peripheral vision never stopped stealing nces at Lysander.


    Thssa had been watching the whole time. She asked Lysander, ¡°Mr. Sinir, what kind of coffee wo


    uld you like?¡±


    Lysander just nced at the menu casually. ¡°You decide¡±


    ¡°Okay¡® Thssa tumed to the waitress and said, ¡°One Americano and te, please.¡±


    N?vel(D)ra/ma.Org exclusive ? material.


    The waitress seemed surprised, as if she had been caught staring. Sheughed awkwardly, took the m


    enu, and went to make the coffee.


    Thssa watched the waitress leave, then turned to look at Lysander. His gaze was deep and somewh


    at oppressive.


    Her heart suddenly raced, and she quickly put on a smile and said,


    ¡°Mr. Sinir, we don¡¯t get many big shots like you around


    here. That girl was totally smitten. Lysander¡¯s charm was inesistible. He was incredibly handsome, with


    a tempting physique, exceptional aura, and unmatched nobility.


    Any woman who saw him would be secretly in love.

 Chapter 263

    Chapter 263


    Tootedne was singing wet and atment of old


    That girerly checking him out Why was she be pestous of her?


    Bullyvarter was such a hunk and the war the one beside him


    people to her with Lysander, opping coffee together they might mistake them for a couple


    The least one could hope for from a rtionship was a happy ending


    But she has one of that


    Would they shil be jealous if they knew she was actually Lysander¡¯s sugar baby?


    They¡¯d probably justugh at her


    Thssa pretended to sp her water, hiding the embarrassment in her eyes, and stayed silent.


    Soon, the coffee arrived


    By the time Thssa and Lysander finished their coffee, it was already 2 a m.


    Lysander walked her down to the lobby


    To prevent lysander from insisting on seeing her upstairs, Thssa said, ¡°Mr. Sinir, it¡¯s reallyte, an


    d I¡¯m really tired I¡¯ll go get some rest. You should too. She yawned, covering her mouth. She was really


    sleepy


    ¡°Anght, you go on up, Lysander said. This time he didn¡¯t insist on apanying her upstairs.


    Thssa was secretly thrilled, so she quickly turned and walked towards the elevator.


    Lysander stood in the lobby, watching her until the light in her room was on before he got into his car an


    d drove away


    Holding hands, sipping coffee, chatting, so this was what a date was like.


    It was boring but somewhat amusing


    A small smile appeared on Lysander¡¯s face


    The next day. Thssa was sound asleep when she suddenly felt a weight on her chest, making it hard


    for her to breathe.


    She reached out to push it away but her hand touched something warm and soft. It was squishy when


    she squeezed it.


    Thssa immediately opened her eyes and saw a chubby little face. The little girl was adorable and he


    r big eyes were staring at her It was Elowen, lying on her chest out of curiosity


    Seeing Thssa awake, Elowen cheered up and giggled. Herughter was as crisp as a bird¡¯s chirp, ¡°


    Mommy, you are awake!¡±


    Thssa said, ¡°Good morning, my little Elowen¡®


    ¡°Mommy, were you dreaming about something yummy?¡± Elowen tilted her head, her jewel¨C


    like eyes full of curiosity.


    Thssa thought for a moment, ¡°I think so, but I can¡¯t remember.¡±


    ¡°Mommy, you were smacking your lips and licking


    them in your sleep. You must have been dreaming about something delicious. What was it? Tell me.¡± El


    owen¡¯s face lit up with delight. She slid off Thssa and started tugging at her sleeve.


    Elowen was always interested in food. She didn¡¯t want to miss out on anything, even the food from Thal


    assa¡¯s dreams.


    Even if she couldn¡¯t taste it, hearing about it was a treat for her


    Thssa was still a bit groggy from sleep, but sheughed when she heard Elowen saying she was lic


    king her lips in her sleep.


    She had already forgotten about her dream, but with Elowen¡¯s reminder, she suddenly remembered.


    She dreamed of Lysander kissing her, biting her lip, and she licked it because it hurt.


    Thinking about it made Thssa blush.


    It wasn¡¯t food that appeared in her dream. It was Lysander!


    She told Elowen, ¡°I didn¡¯t dream about delicious food I was just making unconscious movements in my


    sleep.¡±


    N?velDrama.Org ? content.


    ¡°Oh.¡± Elowen looked a bit disappointed. She really wanted to hear about some delicious food.


    Thssa was about to get up when her phone rang, and then she answered it.


    Thssa,e to the Sinir group for work. Don¡¯t bete.¡± It was David on the other end

 Chapter 264

    Chapter 264


    a trao quiet for an


    Che thoug Werted


    was blocked.


    is just leaning her yesterday


    telling her that she couldn¡¯t handle a job anywhere else after leaving the Sindair Group. Little did she k


    now


    work at the Svider Group


    ibulovsa, if your ve qui quos, just out I can help you with the answers David sensed her doubts and he


    sitation when she didn¡¯t respond for quite some


    This snapped back to reshty She cleared her throat and thed to sound calm. ¡°David, Leossa Tech and


    the Sinir Group are two differentpanies Can ergibyek etch between them?


    If Mr Sinir says on, then it¡¯s a go¡± David replied suconctly


    Thatasss rubbed her forehead She understood that Lysander¡¯s word wasw and nothing was beyond


    his reach.


    I was like making her has woman. He was so assertive that she didn¡¯t even get a chance to say no


    got it, and fil head over night away¡± Thssa hung up after saying that


    Was she caught in Lysanders web?


    Not only was her love life under his control, she couldn¡¯t even decide where to work.


    Thssa fett a intle lost


    ¡°Mommy, tel me what yummy food you dreamed of. I wanna eat it too¡± Elowen snuggled up to Thssa


    to stand behind her. With her chubby hands


    on Thssa¡¯s shoulders, Elowen leaned in with her plump face against Thssa¡¯s, rubbing affectionat


    ely


    Thssa felt a soft touch on her cheek


    It was so adorable


    The warm and sweet feeling immediately brought Thssa back from her blues, reced by positivity


    and joy.


    She lifted Elowen onto herp and said softly. ¡°I didn¡¯t really dream about any yummy food, Elowen. Ar


    e you feeling peckish? I¡¯ll bring some tasty food for you after work, okay?¡±


    What she dreamed about was Lysander forcing her to kiss him. She was confused and indecisive. Lysa


    nder got mad and kissed her forcefully, and he even bit her Even in her dream, she could feel the pain.


    Why would she dream about Lysander? It must be


    because she was frightened by himst night, and she spent half the night with him.


    Elowen nodded cheerfully ¡°Yes, yes! I want fries, BBQ, drumsticks, chips, and popcorn.¡±


    Elowen counted on her chubby fingers, afraid to miss any yummy food


    Thssa rested her forehead against Elowen¡¯s, full of love. ¡°Alright, I will bring all those for youter. B


    y the way, where are your brother and sister?¡± Thssa looked into the room


    ¡°They¡¯re having breakfast outside, Elowen said in her childish voice.


    Let¡¯s join them.¡± Thssa held Elowen¡¯s hand and walked out.


    After breakfast, she had Evelyn drop the kids at kindergarten, while she took a bus to the Sinir Grou


    N?vel(D)ra/ma.Org exclusive ? material.


    p.


    She was still a little nervous, because she had to return to the Sinir Group just two days after leaving


    .


    She didn¡¯t know how to face Lysander. Thinking about how he forced her to be his girlfriendst night, s


    he was filled with fear.


    She wanted to run, but there was nowhere to hide in this world.


    Against Lysander, she was like a tiny ant, and he could easily crush her with a finger.


    She had to y it by ear.


    Actually, when she really thought about it, Lysander was not only handsome, but also had a great body.


    Being with him wasn¡¯t a bad deal. Many women wanted to be Lysander¡¯s lover but didn¡¯t get the chanc


    e.


    Being with Lysander would surely make many women envious


    As long as she didn¡¯t think too deeply about whether this rtionship couldst long, it was fine.

 Chapter 265

    Chapter 265


    She missed her stop and had to hoof back.


    When she got to thepany, the elevator doors were about to close She ran like a bat out of hell, sh


    outing. ¡°Hold on, wait for mer


    Just as the elevator doors were about to close she squeezed in.


    There were two people in the elevator, both in suits.


    The man was tall, with sharp facial features, exuding an innate nobility. The chill he gave off made the


    whole space feel oppressive and icy.


    Thssa¡¯s breath hitched involuntarily. Seeing Lysander¡¯s cold and icy face, her spine stiffened. She le


    t out an awkward chuckle. She turned around, and faced away from hir


    Had she known this was Lysander¡¯s elevator, she wouldn¡¯t have rushed in like a madwoman


    David said, ¡°Ms Everhart, you¡¯rete


    Thsta quickly checked her phone. It was ten past nine. She was ten minuteste


    She exined,¡± missed my stop Otherwise, she wouldn¡¯t have beente.


    David didn¡¯t say anything else.


    Thssa didn¡¯t speak either if it were just her and David in the elevator, she¡¯d probably feel more at ea


    se.


    But Lysander was also in the elevator His strong aura made Thssa barely dare to breathe.


    The elevator arrived at the top floor.


    Thssa instinctively stepped aside to let Lysander exit first, and then she followed


    Seeing Lysander heading towards his office, she let out a sigh of relief, then headed to the secretary¡¯s


    office.


    Sitting in the office, Thssa tried to calm herself down


    Sharing a space with Lysander was enough to scare the bejesus out of her. The thought of facing him e


    very day at work made her feel like she was about to have a heart attack.


    N?velDrama.Org owns this text.


    Before she could calm her nerves, her phone rang


    She quickly picked up


    ¡®Ms. Everhart, make a cup of coffee for Mr. Sinir, David said.


    ¡°Alright, I¡¯m on it,¡± Thssa replied. She hung up the phone and switched to work mode.


    She made the coffee and headed to the CEO¡¯s office. Lysander was sitting there, emanating an air of a


    uthority.


    She carefully walked over and put down the coffee, ¡°Mr. Sinir, it¡¯s your coffee.¡±


    Lysander was reading a document. He didn¡¯t look up, and there wasn¡¯t even a sidelong nce.


    Thssa stood there quietly for a moment, preparing to leave.


    Then she heard Lysander¡¯s low voice with a touch of coldness. ¡°You were the first to


    arrive at work yesterday¡®


    Thssa stopped, quickly interpreting his words.


    Yesterday? Yesterday she was working at Leossa Tech.


    Thssa exined, ¡°I wanted to make a good impression on my boss on my first day.¡±


    Lysander signed his name forcefully on the document. He closed the document and looked at her with


    deep eyes. ¡°So don¡¯t you need to make a good impression on your boss today?¡±


    Thssa met his icy gaze. She hesitated, then she carefully said, ¡°Mr. Sinir, I really did miss my stop


    today.¡±


    Oh no, she was ten minuteste for work and pissed off Mr. Sinir. What should she do?


    This was terrifying Was he always this strict with his employees?


    Lysander¡¯s sharp gaze did not soften, and his eyes were deep. ¡°For you, Leopold¡¯spany is a better


    fit.¡±

 Chapter 266

    Chapter 266


    Lysander¡¯s face was stone cold.


    He talked with amanding presence that could scare the bejesus out of anyone.


    Thssa decided to quit the Sinir Group because she found a better gig.


    N?velDrama.Org ? content.


    Next, shended a job at Leopold¡¯spany.


    Obviously, she was there for Leopold.


    She was always the first one at work. Was it because she wanted to see Leopold ASAP?


    Meanwhile, at hispany. David had to call her and remind her not to bete, but she was still ten


    minutes behind schedule.


    Her work attitude showed clearly who was her first priority.


    Lysander¡¯s deep gaze was as dangerous as a ck hole, and Thssa felt immense pressure.


    She was on pins and needles, carefully replying, ¡°The Sinir Group is my best shot. Working here for


    a day feels more fulfilling than working elsewhere for years.¡±


    Facing Lysander¡¯s intense vibe, she had to tread carefully.


    She didn¡¯t dare to tick him off. Recalling the fatigue and fear from standing for hours the night before,


    she didn¡¯t want to go through that again.


    Her answer was music to his ears. Lysander¡¯s anger cooled down a bit. ¡°You may leave now.¡±


    Thssa quickly nodded and left the office.


    Back in her own office, Thssa immediately rxed, letting out a deep sigh.


    Lysander was as unpredictable as the weather, a tough nut to crack.


    Luckily, he didn¡¯t continue to give her a hard time.


    He said yesterday he wanted her to be his woman, but from then till now, he hadn¡¯t made any


    unreasonable demands.


    Did he really want to have a normal rtionship with her?


    Thssa was in her office sorting out documents.


    Cherry, the receptionist, called, ¡°Ms. Everhart, there¡¯s ady here to see Mr. Sinir. She says she¡¯s an


    old friend of his.¡±


    Thssa asked for her name. It was Charlotte Ravensong.


    Thssa quickly found out that Charlotte was the heiress of the Ravensong Group. She was from the


    top drawer.


    Since she was Lysander¡¯s old friend, it seemed like there was no issue.


    But to y it safe, Thssa called David and asked, ¡°David, you said I could ask you if I didn¡¯t


    understand something, does that still stand?¡±


    ¡°Of course, go ahead,¡± David answered.


    Thssa asked straight out, ¡°Mr. Sinir¡¯s old friend Charlotte wants to see him. Is it okay for me to let


    her in?¡±


    She could have contacted Lysander directly, but she was worried about disturbing his work. If she


    pissed him off, that would be a real bummer.


    David said, ¡°Charlotte is the heiress of the Ravensong Group. She¡¯s known Mr. Sinir since they were


    kids. What do you think?¡±


    David didn¡¯t directly answer, but instead countered with a question.


    Hearing that, Thssa understood, ¡°Alright, got it. Thanks, David.¡±


    After hanging up, Thssa told the receptionist to let Charlotte up.


    Thssa waited for the guest at the elevator.


    In less than two minutes, the elevator doors opened, and a woman stepped out. She was dressed in a


    trendy high-end custom outfit, carrying a Chanel bag. She had short yful hair and big eyes. With a


    pointy chin and slender and well-proportioned body, she looked super cute.


    She was wearing a tinum ne and pearl earrings, emitting an aristocratic vibe.


    Thssa greeted her with a smile, ¡°Ms. Ravensong, right this way.¡±


    Charlotte gave her a once-over, and asked in a condescending tone, ¡°Are you Lysander¡¯s new


    secretary?¡±

 Chapter 267

    Chapter 267


    Thssa kept her smile steady, answering, ¡°Yes.¡±


    Charlotte couldn¡¯t help but give her a once-over from head to toe. Then she let out a disdainful


    ¡°hmmph,¡± and strut off in her high heels towards Lysander¡¯s office.


    Thssa found Charlotte¡¯s arrogance distasteful, but as this woman was Lysander¡¯s friend, she kept


    her smile and followed suit.


    ¡°Go back to your secretary¡¯s den. You don¡¯t need to follow me. I have some personal matters to discuss


    with Lysander,¡± Charlotte threw over her shoulder, ncing back at Thssa with contempt before


    knocking on the door.


    Thssa didn¡¯t respond, but retreated back to her own office.


    If it wasn¡¯t for work, she wouldn¡¯t dream of ying tag-along with Charlotte. She had zero interest in


    whatever private matter Charlotte was discussing with Lysander.


    Inside his office, Lysander was engrossed in a contract. Thinking it was Thssa at the door, he didn¡¯t


    even look up. ¡°Come in.¡±


    Charlotte sauntered in, her voice turning flirtatious. ¡°Lysander, you¡¯ve been ying hard to get since


    ourst fleeting encounter. I¡¯ve been losing sleep over you.¡±


    She made her way to his desk. Leaning over it with a coy expression, she fluttered her eyshes at


    him.


    Lysander looked up at the sound of her grating voice. Charlotte looked vulnerable, her gaze fixed on


    him.


    He frowned. ¡°I thought I made myself clearst time. Ms. Ravensong, you shouldn¡¯t be here.¡±


    N?velDrama.Org ? content.


    ¡°Last time?¡± Charlotte recalled Lysander telling her he already had a girlfriend.


    She felt defeated then and left.


    But this time was different. She had uncovered the truth. A cunning woman had bewitched Lysander.


    Moreover, she now had Zephyr¡¯s backing, who encouraged her to pursue Lysander to be the


    future Mrs. Sinir.


    Upon learning that Zephyr had investigated her past rtionships, she immediately cleared the air and


    apologized to him.


    She had indeed dated before, but that was all in the past. Her recent ex-boyfriend wouldn¡¯t leave her


    alone, but she hadn¡¯t given him any hope.


    To prove her genuine feelings for Lysander, she called her ex in front of Zephyr, severing all ties and


    asking him to quit bothering her.


    Zephyr got wind that Thssa had returned to Lysander¡¯s side as his secretary, just two days after


    leaving the Sinir Group. And it was Lysander who personally asked her


    back.


    Zephyr smelled trouble.


    He was worried that Lysander had been ensnared by Thssa, that she was using him, jeopardizing


    the Sinir family¡¯s century-old legacy.


    Thssa had shown her ambitious side before. She coveted shares in the Sinir Group!


    Keeping such a woman by Lysander¡¯s side was a recipe for disaster.


    As the Ravensong¡¯s heiress, Charlotte might have had love affairs, but she was single now. It was only


    right for her to pursue Lysander, and hopefully, wake him from Thssa¡¯s spell.


    If Charlotte and Lysander ended up together, it would be ideal.


    Zephyr forgave Charlotte¡¯s previous lie about not having a boyfriend.


    He admitted that he had arranged a marriage between Lysander and Charlotte, and he supported her


    pursuit of Lysander.


    With Zephyr¡¯s backing, Charlotte became bolder.


    She immediately went to the Sinir Group to find Lysander.


    Charlotte¡¯s smile froze briefly, then she said with beaming confidence, ¡°Lysander, we¡¯ve been betrothed


    since childhood. I don¡¯t care about what you saidst time. I¡¯ll make you fall for me.¡±


    At the doorway. Thssa was holding two cups of coffee, knocking on the door.


    She saw Charlotte leaning over the desk, almost falling into Lysander¡¯s arms.


    Thssa caught her breath and quickly turned around, ¡°Sorry, didn¡¯t mean to interrupt.¡±


    ¡°Ms. Everhart, bring the coffee in.¡± Lysander¡¯s icy voice echoed.

 Chapter 268

    Chapter 268


    Thssa froze up a bit, but she mustered the courage and stepped in.


    She could have easily ditched this, but thinking about the guests, she figured she should at least whip


    up some coffee.


    Otherwise, people might think she was a lousy secretary. After all, Mr. Sinir¡¯s old friend was here,


    and she should at least y the host.


    She just wanted to pop two cups of coffee on their table and make a graceful exit from the office.


    But, she didn¡¯t see thising.


    She never thought that when Charlotte said she was Lysander¡¯s old friend, she meant it in this way.


    Had she known this, she¡¯d rather die thane here.


    Thssa¡¯s mind was racing, but she kept a professional smile on her face. She stepped in and put the


    coffee aside without looking at the desk. ¡°Mr. Sinir, your coffee is here.. If there¡¯s nothing else.¡±


    Just as she was about to say she¡¯d leave if there was nothing else, Charlotte cut her off.


    ¡°Ms. Everhart, thank you.¡± Charlotte stood up, distancing herself from Lysander, and said to Thssa,


    ¡°The receptionist was so clueless to block me at the entrance. If it weren¡¯t for your permission, I


    wouldn¡¯t have got to see Lysander.¡±


    Thssa was taken aback. She instinctively looked at Lysander, only to meet his icy, stern gaze. It was


    a single but powerful look, and it hit her fragile heart hard.


    Thssa¡¯s heart skipped a beat. ¡°Ms. Ravensong, didn¡¯t you call Mr. Sinir beforeing?¡±


    ¡°I didn¡¯t want to disturb Lysander, he¡¯s so busy. Lysander, I won¡¯t bother you anymore. I¡¯ll leave first.


    Let¡¯s catch up another time.¡± Feeling the oppressive aura around him, Charlotte quickly said goodbye


    N?vel(D)ra/ma.Org exclusive ? material.


    and wanted to escape.


    As Charlotte left the office, Thssa hastily followed.


    Lysander¡¯s voice echoed. ¡°Ms. Everhart, stay here.¡±


    Thssa halted, a cold sweat breaking out on her back.


    The stifling air around her made it hard for her to breathe. She managed a small smile, facing


    Lysander. ¡°Mr. Sinir, any further instructions?¡±


    Lysander got up from behind his desk and approached her. His tall figure and long legs made him look


    like a mountain casting arge shadow, threatening to engulf Thssa. Fear choked her breath. She


    instinctively wanted to flee, but before she could move, he held her chin with his long, strong fingers.


    ¡°You let her up, didn¡¯t you?¡± Lysander¡¯s voice was cold, tinged with a hint of anger.


    His breath made her nose hot in an instant.


    Thssa¡¯s heart raced and she hurriedly said, ¡°Mr. Sinir, she said she¡¯s your old friend.¡±


    ¡°So that¡¯s why you let her up? Thssa, don¡¯t make meaningless moves. You can¡¯t escape.¡± Lysander


    coldly said. He lifted her face and kissed her lips.


    His passionate and strong breath took away her already unsettled breathing. His lips sealed hers. The


    moment their lips touched was like an electric shock, and the numbing sensation quickly spread from


    her lips to her heart, making her heart race.


    Thssa¡¯s pupils dted. Panic stricken, she reached out to push him away. ¡°Mr. Sinir, you can¡¯t do


    this. We are in the office.¡±


    Her voice was soft, almost pleading.


    ¡°This office is mine, and so are you. Any problem?¡± Lysander¡¯s deep voice made her heart race. He


    held the back of her head, deepening the kiss in an increasingly domineering


    way.


    Thssa tried to resist, but he held her waist tightly, preventing her from moving.


    They kissed for a long time, until Thssa was somewhat out of breath. Only then did Lysander let her


    go.


    She was weak, leaning against his chest, panting heavily.


    Lysander stroked her back, holding her tightly in his arms. Even though his kiss was wild, his eyes


    were exceptionally cold.


    Did she think she could escape by letting another woman rece her?

 Chapter 269

    Chapter 269


    So did she want to go back to be with Leopold?


    She was so into him, and he was all she thought about. Even when he betrayed her, she tried to forgive


    him.


    Thinking about why she allowed Charlotte to go up, Lysander was seething with anger.


    Thssa took a moment to catch her breath. After he kissed her so hard, she almost couldn¡¯t breathe.


    It was suffocating.


    She snapped back to reality and realized she was in his arms. Panicked, she quickly broke free. Her


    eyes were moist because of the kiss, and she rushed to say, ¡°Mr. Sinir, you go ahead. I¡¯ll head back


    Material ? of N?velDrama.Org.


    to the office.¡±


    She quickly left the office.


    She thought Lysander was a bad guy due to his behavior, but David¡¯s actions made her feel he was the


    actual viin.


    David only mentioned Charlotte and Lysander had a deep connection since childhood, but never


    specified that. That led her to believe they were very close friends..


    That was why she let Charlotte upstairs.


    She had no idea that Charlotte and Lysander were childhood friends.


    What pissed her off more was that Lysander already had a girlfriend, so why was he forcing her to be


    his girlfriend?


    He acted so pure in public, but privately, he was just like ric, open to any female attention and she


    was just one of many girls Lysander wanted to y with!


    She had beenforting herself that even if there was no future with Lysander, she wouldn¡¯t be at a


    loss.


    But now, she realized she was not even his girlfriend. She was just one of the many women he toyed


    with!


    All of this hit her out of nowhere.


    Lysander even threatened her that she couldn¡¯t leave him even if she knew he had other women.


    That was too much!


    The more Thssa thought about it, the angrier she became. She really wanted to p Lysander and


    tell him that she wanted nothing to do with him.


    But Lysander was too powerful. Crushing her would be as easy as stepping on an ant.


    She had to think about not only herself but also the four kids she loved.


    No matter how angry or wronged she felt, she had to bear it.


    In just a few minutes, Thssa¡¯s emotions were like a roller coaster.


    When she returned to the secretary¡¯s office, she was shocked.


    Charlotte was sitting in her office chair, leaning back with a look of disdain. ¡°Thssa, I know you.


    Don¡¯t think being Lysander¡¯s secretary will get you anywhere. Faye was Lysander¡¯s secretary for seven


    years. You know all about their rtionship, but she could never be Lysander¡¯s wife. Do you know


    why?¡±


    What did she mean about Faye and Lysander¡¯s rtionship? Did they also have that kind of


    rtionship?


    Thssa was puzzled.


    Charlotte snorted, ¡°Faye was able to be Lysander¡¯s secretary for seven years because she had special


    skills and background. Otherwise, she wouldn¡¯t havested that long. The reason she got fired was her


    ambition to be Lysander¡¯s wife. Lysander got tired of her, and her charm was gone. So she had to leave


    the Sinir Group.¡±


    Thssa was confused at first, but after Charlotte¡¯s exnation, she suddenly remembered. She had


    seen Faye leaning against Lysander in an erotic way when she was a cleaner.


    Their rtionship appeared to be very close.


    She used to think Faye was unrequited, but it turned out Lysander had been dating her for seven years


    and got bored.


    ¡°I¡¯m different,¡± Charlotte said with a smug smile.

 Chapter 270

    Chapter 270


    When Thssa saw Charlotte¡¯s air of superiority, she felt as if Charlotte was on a high horse, looking


    down at her.


    This made Thssa super ufortable. She didn¡¯t want to fight Charlotte for Lysander¡¯s affections.


    All she wanted was to find a quick way out of this mess.


    But she couldn¡¯t stomach Charlotte¡¯s high-and-mighty attitude.


    With a forced smile, she said, ¡°What¡¯s so great about you? Has Lysander taken you home to meet his


    family and acknowledged you as his girlfriend yet?¡±


    Charlotte¡¯s mood plummeted at Thssa¡¯s words.


    Zephyr had told her that Lysander had taken Thssa home to meet his grandparents and


    acknowledged her as his girlfriend. He was even being urged by Sybil to tie the knot.


    Zephyr said Lysander genuinely liked Thssa, so she needed to be more careful. If she wanted to win


    Lysander over, she had to make Thssa disappear from Lysander¡¯s sight first.


    What did Thssa, a mere cleaningdy, have to make Lysander pay her such attention? He even


    took her home and he was intimate with her!


    She was the Ravensong family heiress, but she couldn¡¯t even catch Lysander¡¯s eye.


    Charlotte was green with envy, but she still maintained her poised posture, looking down at Thssa.


    ¡°Lysander has brought home many women. Being acknowledged as his girlfriend isn¡¯t a big deal, as


    long as you¡¯re not his wife. I¡¯m different. I¡¯m engaged to Lysander and recognized by Zephyr as the


    N?vel(D)ra/ma.Org exclusive ? material.


    future Mrs. Sinir!¡±


    Thssa¡¯s heart sank.


    So, Lysander already had a fianc¨¦e, chosen personally by Zephyr.


    No wonder when she and Lysander went to his house before, Zephyr said she wasn¡¯t a good match for


    Lysander and she didn¡¯t even deserve to enter his family.


    It turned out that Zephyr already knew she was just one of the ythings Lysander had before


    marriage.


    She once thought when Lysander said he would take responsibility, he meant marrying her and giving


    their kids aplete family, allowing them to feel loved by their father.


    ¡°Ms. Ravensong, you¡¯re worried about your status being threatened, aren¡¯t you? Otherwise, why would


    you bother telling me all this?¡± Thssa kept her smile, but it was cold.


    Charlotte¡¯s face darkened. She thought she could embarrass Thssa and make her back off, but


    Thssa seemed unfazed.


    It appeared Thssa wasn¡¯t as simple as she thought.


    ¡°Just a friendly reminder. Don¡¯t cling on after being dumped. It¡¯s too pathetic!¡± Charlotte couldn¡¯t help


    but stand up, huffing coldly. She gave Thssa a final look before leaving


    the office.


    Once Charlotte was gone, Thssa¡¯s tense shoulders rxed. Her breath quickened as if she had lost


    her strength.


    She had to figure out a way to get Lysander to dump her ASAP.


    This kind of high society game was too much for her.


    In the afternoon, it was time to clock out.


    Lysander was about to call Thssa to ask her to wait for him when his phone rang. It was Zephyr.


    Lysander answered the call.


    ¡°Lysander, today is your parents¡¯ death anniversary. Your grandmother and I are waiting for you at the


    cemetery,¡± Zephyr¡¯s voice sounded.


    A shadow passed over Lysander¡¯s eyes. ¡°Hmm.¡±


    When it was time to leave, Thssa was ready to go, but she wondered if it was inappropriate for her


    to leave before Lysander as his secretary.


    She didn¡¯t dare to check if Lysander had left from his office.


    If he called her, she might not be able to leave.


    So, she dawdled in the office for a while.


    Half an hour after clocking out time. Thssa couldn¡¯t wait any longer. She wanted to go home and be


    with her four lovely kids, thinking of their round little faces, adorable expressions, and soft voices.

 Chapter 271

    Chapter 271


    Thssa was about to melt with softness inside.


    She just wanted to fly back immediately to her little darlings.


    She called David and asked, ¡°Has Mr. Sinir knocked off?¡±


    ¡°Mr. Sinir left ages ago. Didn¡¯t you know?¡± David answered.


    ¡°Oh, I was so engrossed in reading my documents that I lost track of time and didn¡¯t notice. Mr. Sinir


    left, huh? That¡¯s good then. Bye.¡±


    As soon as she found out that Lysander had long left thepany. Thssa finally felt relieved. She


    shouldered her bag and left.


    When she got to the lobby, the receptionist Cherry suddenly stopped her. ¡°Thssa, the cleaning


    department is having a dinner tonight. Director Noreen asked me to invite you along.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m not reallyfortable with dinner parties. Please thank Director Noreen for me, but I¡¯ll pass.¡± She


    was in a hurry to get back to her four adorable little darlings.


    Cherry said, ¡°Director Noreen said that if you don¡¯t go, it¡¯ll be like you¡¯re looking down on her.¡±


    Thssa was speechless. What did this have to do with looking down on someone?


    This was just forcing her to attend the party.


    But on second thought, she used to be a cleaner and suddenly became the personal assistant to the


    CEO. If she didn¡¯t go, people would definitely think she¡¯s aloof and looked down on her former


    colleagues.


    Thssa definitely didn¡¯t think like that. To avoid being misunderstood, Thssa had to agree. ¡°Alright


    then, where¡¯s the dinner?¡±


    ¡°At a restaurant. I forgot the name, but I¡¯ll go with you.¡± Cherry said.


    Thssa took a taxi with her to a fancy Japanese restaurant.


    In the private room, there were Daryl, director Noreen, and a few other cleaning staff. But, the woman


    in designer clothes sitting on the outermost seat was the most eye-catching.


    It was Charlotte!


    When Charlotte saw Thssa, she just gave a faint smile and didn¡¯t say anything.


    N?velDrama.Org ? content.


    Director Noreen enthusiastically said, ¡°Thssa,e sit over here. You¡¯re the most sessful worker


    in our cleaning department. You became the CEO¡¯s personal assistant in less than a month. You¡¯re a


    role model for everyone.¡±


    Daryl also sarcastically said, ¡°Yeah, if I had that beautiful face, I¡¯d be promoted quickly too. It¡¯s a shame


    my parents didn¡¯t bless me with it.¡±


    Hearing this, Thssa felt a lump in her throat. This was a trap.


    She didn¡¯t sit down but coldly said, ¡°Sorry, I don¡¯t like Japanese food. I¡¯ll leave first.¡±


    As she turned around, she was pulled back by Charlotte. Standing up, Charlotte pped Thssa


    across the face.


    Thssa covered her face, looking at Charlotte in disbelief and anger.


    The room fell silent.


    Noreen was shocked, and she hadn¡¯t expected it to escte to physical violence.


    Daryl was dumbfounded, blinking but not moving.


    Cherry, who was closest to Thssa, was stunned when she saw Charlotte p Thssa.


    Thssa gritted her teeth, ¡°Ms. Ravensong, there are cameras here. I can sue you for assault!¡±


    ¡°Sue me? On what grounds? Do you have the resources or connections? Can you go up against the


    Ravensong Group?¡± Charlotte scoffed arrogantly.


    ¡°Does your status and connections measure up to the Sinir family? Apologize to her now!¡± They


    heard a cold and angry male voice.

 Chapter 272

    Chapter 272


    Thssa turned towards the sound, spotting a tall and lean man. He was decked out in a dark blue


    pinstripe suit with a ck undershirt, all adorned with gold threads. His pants were skin-tight and his


    shoes were thetest in ck leather fashion.


    The guy just oozed an aura of nobility.


    Usually, he¡¯d wear a soft smile, but right now, his face was a mask of seriousness and even a bit of


    frostiness. His handsome eyes were zing with anger.


    That was Leopold!


    He came over and stood beside Thssa, his eyes cold and piercing as he stared down Charlotte.


    Charlotte, who¡¯d been acting all high and mighty in front of Thssa, instantly deted at his arrival.


    She tried to win him over, grinning and saying, ¡°Leopold, Thssa¡¯s no angel. She¡¯s definitely up to


    something in the Sinir Group.¡±


    Leopold was the youngest of the Sinir family. He was three years younger than Lysander but he held


    a significant position in the Sinir family.


    He was quite the golden boy.


    Charlotte, being a Ravensong heiress, naturally knew him.


    N?vel(D)ra/ma.Org exclusive ? material.


    She¡¯d been all swagger in front of Thssa, but when Leopold showed up, she switched gears to being


    all sweet and ttering.


    Leopold¡¯s gaze turned even colder, sharp as a sword as he said, ¡°Apologize to her again! Or I swear,


    the Ravensong family won¡¯t know what hit them!¡±


    Anger filled his eyes, and Charlotte, who¡¯d been clinging to hope that Leopold would take her side, was


    taken aback by his toughness.


    What did Thssa have that not only had Lysander hooked, but Leopold too?


    Charlotte was feeling pretty peeved, but due to Leopold¡¯s intensity and fear of the Sinir family¡¯s


    retaliation, she lowered her head, and grudgingly said, ¡°Sorry.¡±


    ¡°Who are you apologizing to? Who can hear that whisper?¡± Leopold snapped.


    Startled, Charlotte quickly looked at Thssa, lowered her head and said sincerely, ¡°I¡¯m sorry,


    Thssa. I was wrong. Please forgive me.¡±


    Thssa watched as Charlotte apologized.


    Her anger didn¡¯t subside, if anything, she could feel the resentment in Charlotte¡¯s forced apology.


    She said coldly, ¡°I¡¯m not forgiving you because I¡¯m soft-hearted, but because I don¡¯t want to lose my


    cool like you.¡±


    Charlotte was taken aback by her words. Just as she was about to retort, Leopold said with a smirk,


    ¡°She¡¯s right, Ms. Ravensong. You should really take her words to heart.¡±


    With that, he casually draped his arm over Thssa¡¯s shoulders, leading her away.


    The gesture, although protective, looked incredibly intimate to onlookers.


    Charlotte was taken aback by Leopold¡¯s arm around Thssa¡¯s shoulders. She quickly whipped out


    her phone and snapped a picture of their retreating figures.


    She was sure that there was more to Leopold and Thssa¡¯s rtionship.


    Knowing that Thssa used to work in the cleaning department, she got Noreen to organize a staff


    dinner and invited Thssa.


    She had nned to humiliate Thssa in front of all the cleaning staff, to call her out on being a


    cleaner who wanted to climb the socialdder!


    Her n was to p her down, make her lose face in thepany, and ensure she¡¯d be driven out of


    the Sinir Group!


    But she hadn¡¯t expected to stumble upon Leopold and Thssa¡¯s rtionship!


    This discovery lifted Charlotte¡¯s spirits.


    The rest of the people in the private room held their breaths, not daring to make a sound.


    Having been bribed by Charlotte, Noreen hastily organized the staff dinner.


    Charlotte proimed herself as Lysander¡¯s fianc¨¦e, who would soon to be Mrs. Sinir! The other


    women were scheming home-wreckers trying to seduce Mr. Sinir and usurp her position.


    As his official fianc¨¦e, she had to deal with these women!

 Chapter 273

    Chapter 273


    If Noreen helped Charlotte this time, once Charlotte became Mrs. Sinir, she would naturally return


    the favor to Noreen.


    N?velDrama.Org owns this text.


    Under Charlotte¡¯s pressures and promises, Noreen agreed to her request.


    Unexpectedly, she ended up getting a front-row seat to some drama.


    After leaving the restaurant, Thssa forcefully shook off Leopold¡¯s arm from her shoulder. ¡°Don¡¯t get


    so close. I don¡¯t want people getting the wrong idea.¡±


    Although she appreciated Leopold¡¯s help earlier, it didn¡¯t mean she was okay with his affectionate


    actions.


    Leopold shed a satisfied smile. ¡°I don¡¯t mind the misunderstanding. No need to exin, we can let


    the misunderstanding be reality.¡±


    Thssa red at him. ¡°You may not mind it, but I do.¡±


    She had decided to keep Leopold at arm¡¯s length with no strings attached, not giving him any false


    hopes.


    She was done with him and she feared Lysander.


    If Lysander knew they were this close, how he might react?


    With that, Thssa strode off.


    Leopold followed her. ¡°Let¡¯s make our rtionship public. Then no one will misunderstand, and we


    won¡¯t get weird looks.¡±


    Thssa stopped in her tracks, once again rifying, ¡°Leopold, how many times do I have to tell you?


    We can¡¯t be together, and don¡¯t waste your time on me.¡±


    ¡°Why?¡± asked Leopold, his gaze cold, staring at her seriously.


    ¡°Because,¡± Thssa was about to mention her four kids, but she realized it was a secret she couldn¡¯t


    casually reveal.


    If Leopold, a member of the Sinir family, knew about it, the entire Sinir family would soon know it.


    Zephyr and Sybil, who were desperate for great-grandchildren, would snatch the kids away.


    Zephyr, who detested her and looked down on her, would never allow her to take care of the children.


    The thought of losing her four little darlings was like a stab in the heart.


    She quickly changed the subject. ¡°Because you and Isabe are a better match.¡±


    With that, she walked away without looking back.


    Leopold was taken aback, frozen on the spot. He was in pain from head to toe.


    Even after five years, she still held onto that incident.


    His body may be tainted, but his heart was pure. Was there really no room for forgiveness?


    Leopold was heartbroken. He saw Thssa getting further away, but he swallowed his pain and caught


    up with her. ¡°Thssa, let me take you home.¡±


    Without turning her head, Thssa replied, ¡°No need.¡±


    Yet Leopold grabbed her wrist, led her to the car, opened the door, and pushed her in.


    He got in the car himself and locked the doors.


    His swift actions caught Thssa off guard. By the time she responded, the car door had already been


    shut.


    She red at him angrily. ¡°Leopold, how many times do I have to tell you! Stop seeking me out!¡±


    ¡°Do you believe it was a coincidence that I ran into you at the restaurant?¡± Leopold asked.

 Chapter 274

    Chapter 274


    ¡°No way, what are the odds?¡± Thssa asked.


    Material ? of N?velDrama.Org.


    ¡°Ourpany¡¯s having a gathering here too,¡± Leopold replied.


    He was telling the truth. He had just returned from the restroom and saw Thssa walk in and head


    into a private room. Out of curiosity, he followed her and was shocked to see Charlotte bullying her.


    He couldn¡¯t stand it, so he stepped in.


    Thssa paused. ¡°You should go back to your dinner. I¡¯ll head home by myself.¡±


    She nudged the car door, signaling for him to open it.


    ¡°No need, our HR manager will handle it. Besides, I¡¯m not a major shareholder in thepany


    anymore,¡± Leopold said.


    Thssa was puzzled. ¡°What do you mean?¡±


    Leopold leaned back in his seat, hands behind his head. ¡°Didn¡¯t you know that?¡±


    He turned to look at her.


    ¡°Know what?¡± Thssa was confused.


    ¡°Leossa Tech Co., Ltd was acquired by Lysander,¡± Leopold said.


    Thssa was taken aback, ¡°When did this happen?¡±


    ¡°Just the other day. The day he said he was going to transfer you to the Sinir Group to be a


    secretary,¡± Leopold exined.


    Thssa¡¯s eyes widened in surprise.


    She remembered she had asked David if it was possible to transfer employees between different


    David had said, if Mr. Sinir said it could be done, then it could be done.


    She didn¡¯t understand what that meant then.


    But now, hearing what Leopold said, she finally understood.


    Lysander had acquired Leopold¡¯spany. The entire Leossa Tech was now Lysander¡¯s. What was an


    employee transferpared to that?


    The shock of this news was no less than finding out all four of her children were Lysander¡¯s.


    Thssa swallowed hard and said, ¡°Well, you¡¯re all family anyway. It doesn¡¯t matter whosepany it


    is.¡±


    Leopold suddenly became serious, ¡°It¡¯s not the same. Leossa Tech was my own creation, and it had


    nothing to do with the Sinir family. But Lysander bought it, and although he paid a lot, Leossa Tech


    was special to me. Losing Leossa Tech hurt, but he insisted on the acquisition. I don¡¯t know why. Was it


    just to bring you closer as his secretary?¡±


    When Leopold asked this, his gaze on Thssa was tense and serious, as if trying to read something


    from her reaction.


    Thssa avoided his gaze. ¡°Lysander¡¯s a weird one. Who knows what he¡¯s thinking. I¡¯m just a low-level


    employee, and I can¡¯t possibly have that much influence.¡±


    Leopold thought for a moment, ¡°True. His actions are often hard to understand. He¡¯s decisive and


    efficient. But every decision and acquisition he makes strengthens the Sinir Group. Under his


    leadership, the Sinir Group has grown into a multinational conglomerate, one of the top in the world,


    in just a few years.¡±


    This was the first time Thssa heard Leopold talk about Lysander.


    She knew Lysander was impressive, but she didn¡¯t realize just how much.


    His business acumen and strategies were top-notch.


    So where did she fit in his eyes? Was she just anothermodity to him?


    And so, he forced her to be his woman in his own way.


    Just because of that night five years ago, because she gave him her virginity, he demanded everything


    from her, forbidding her body to be with any other man.


    What would her end be? Would it be terrible?


    The thought sent a chill down her spine.


    ¡°I don¡¯t understand what Lysander has done. It¡¯s gettingte. I want to go home. Can you open the car


    door and let me out?¡± Thssa came back to her senses and asked in a negotiating tone.


    Why were they having this conversation in the backseat of a car?


    ¡°I¡¯ll drive you home,¡± Leopold said.


    He was about to unlock the car and move to the driver¡¯s seat.


    But then he thought, what if when the car door unlocked, Thssa got out and would never get back


    in?

 Chapter 275

    Chapter 275


    He once forced her into the car, but the second time she was prepared, making it not so easy for him to


    get her in.


    Leopold stopped again, pulling a move that left Thssa speechless.


    He actually climbed from the back seat to the driver¡¯s seat.


    He was so careful and cautious in sending her home.


    Leopold sat in the driver¡¯s seat, started the engine, and drove away.


    Thssa was head over heels in pain, she didn¡¯t want to owe him anything, but he always made her


    feel indebted.


    He rescued her in front of Charlotte, so she owed him a favor.


    N?vel(D)ra/ma.Org exclusive ? material.


    Now he sent her home again, and she owed him for the ride.


    Before, she could give him the ride money, but this time, could she sessfully give him the money to


    avoid owing him?


    ¡°Thssa, do you know why mypany is called Leossa Tech?¡±


    The car was driving on the asphalt road, the car was quiet, and Leopold¡¯s words suddenly sounded.


    Thssa¡¯s attention was pulled back, and she subconsciously asked, ¡°Why?¡±


    ¡°Leossa Tech is abination of my name and yours, I hope we can be a whole like mypany,¡±


    Leopold exined.


    After listening, Thssa was filled with deep sorrow.


    Even though she knew thepany was Leopold¡¯s, she knew thepany name might have


    something to do with her.


    But when Leopold said it out loud, the pain deep in her heart couldn¡¯t help but surface.


    She had given him her whole heart, and it wasn¡¯t something she could forget just by saying it.


    Some people, once missed, were missed for a lifetime.


    Since she knew there was no oue, she wouldn¡¯t give him hope.


    J


    ¡°It¡¯s just a name, what does it represent? There are plenty of women named Thssa. Leopold, let the


    past be the past and don¡¯t dwell on it. We should start a new life.¡±


    She tried to suppress her emotions and make her words sound emotionless.


    After speaking, she looked out the car window.


    Leopold looked at her in the rearview mirror, saw her determined expression, and was heartbroken, but


    he couldn¡¯t say a word.


    The car arrived at the entrance of themunity and stopped.


    Thssa opened the car door and was about to find her purse to give him the money when the car


    immediately drove away.


    Only then did Thssa realize that she had left her bag in his car. She shouted, ¡°Hey, Leopold.¡±


    But the car was moving too fast and didn¡¯t give her a chance to speak, quickly disappearing from her


    sight.


    It was as if he was afraid she would give him the ride money likest time.


    Thssa was helpless and could only walk home.


    Luckily, her phone was in her pocket, and her bag only had her wallet and some makeup, nothing


    important.


    When she got home and opened the door, the room was filled with the smell of milk, a healing scent


    that instantly swept away Thssa¡¯s exhaustion.


    ¡°Mummy.¡±


    Four adorable little ones, waving their little legs, charged at her like little penguins.


    They looked incredibly cute, clumsy, and adorable.


    Thssa smiled and crouched down to greet them.


    Hearing their tender cries of ¡°mummy¡±, she felt all the fatigue and heartache were worth it.


    Elowen was the first to run over. She threw herself into Thssa¡¯s arms, her tiny face pressed against


    hers, their bodies closely embraced.

 Chapter 276

    Chapter 276


    This hug was brimming with the warmth of happiness.


    Next. Dorian and Sophia came running over, diving into Thssa¡¯s arms.


    Atticus ran over too, but he stood next to Thssa, not vying for his mom¡¯s hug like his siblings.


    Mom¡¯s back, and he was thrilled. He wanted to be closer to her and feel her embrace.


    But he knew his siblings needed mom¡¯s hug more, so he stood aside understandingly, not fighting for it,


    just quietly observing.


    Thssa couldn¡¯t help but touch their soft little faces, easing the longing she felt all day. Her voice


    softened without her realizing it. ¡°Did you have fun at kindergarten?¡±


    Dorian raised his hand, the first to answer, ¡°Yeah, it was a st.¡±


    ¡°Mom, the teacher gave me a sticker today, look.¡± Elowen lifted her innocent little face, proudly showing


    off the flower sticker on her forehead to Thssa.


    Thssa praised, ¡°Elowen, you¡¯re awesome.¡±


    ¡°Mom, I got one too. I got one too.¡± Sophia, not wanting to be left out, moved closer into Thssa¡¯s


    arms, pointing at her own flower sticker, her cheeks as red as apples.


    N?vel(D)ra/ma.Org exclusive ? material.


    ¡°Sophia, you¡¯re great too.¡± Thssa lovingly ruffled her hair.


    ¡°Mom, I gave my red flower to a girl in our ss named Esther.¡± Dorian pouted slightly, looking


    expectantly at Thssa, waiting for her question.


    Thssa asked on cue, ¡°Who¡¯s Esther?¡±


    Dorian immediately exined, ¡°She¡¯s a cute girl in our ss. I want to give her all my stickers. Is that


    okay, mom?¡±


    He¡¯s not just friends with Atticus, Elowen, and Sophia anymore, he has other good friends. Turned out


    that wanting to be nice to someone meaned giving them the best stuff.


    Dorian may be a boy, but he¡¯s pretty. Especially those big, grape-like eyes. Even at a young age, they


    were very expressive and charming.


    Everything he did was like a little TV star, strikingly handsome.


    Hearing him say this, Thssa was delighted. The kids were having fun with their friends.


    She nodded. ¡°Of course, as long as the other kids like your flower stickers.¡±


    ¡°Yep, she really likes it. She even let me put it on her forehead.¡± Dorian nodded enthusiastically.


    ¡°Then it¡¯s fine.¡± Thssa said.


    At this moment, Thssa looked up and saw Atticus standing aside, watching their interaction but not


    joining in.


    His little face looked serious, and his innocent eyebrows furrowed. He wanted to dive into mom¡¯s arms


    like his siblings, but he didn¡¯t want to seem childish. He looked


    conflicted.


    Seeing this. Thssa stood up, put her arm around his shoulder, pulled him to her side, and gently


    asked, ¡°Atticus, did anything fun happen at kindergarten today? Want to share with mom?¡±


    Atticus shook his head. ¡°No, mom. Kindergarten is too childish.¡±


    Thssa paused, looking at Atticus¡¯s innocent face, showing maturity beyond his years. His features


    were handsome yet aloof.


    He not only looked like his father but also acted like him.


    Their personalities were so alike.


    Thssa felt nervous. If Lysander saw Atticus, he¡¯d definitely be suspicious. Once he started


    investigating, her secret would be exposed.


    The thought scared her.


    Atticus¡¯s aloof personality was totally inherited from Lysander!


    But he¡¯s just a kid.


    Thssa felt sorry for Atticus, so young yet unable to enjoy the joy of childhood.

 Chapter 277

    Chapter 277


    She bent down to hug him, speaking softly, ¡°Atticus, you¡¯re only four, still a kid, you should be having


    fun ying with other kids. Look, they¡¯re all having a st, isn¡¯t that great?¡±


    ¡°But I want to y on the tablet at home.¡± Atticus confessed, thinking the kindergarten games were too


    childish and he¡¯d rather stay at home learning to code, ying those high-tech hacker games.


    The games required thinking, but they were fun.


    Thssa was taken aback. She had no idea that Atticus was a genius hacker. She thought he was just


    addicted to video games, and now, at such a young age, he was missing out on the fun of real life.


    She said seriously, ¡°Atticus, the world inside the tablet is virtual, it¡¯s all fake. The people and things


    around us are real. You can¡¯t just want to y games. How about this? Mom will make a deal with you:


    you can only y on the tablet for half an hour a day and the rest of the time you read or y with your


    siblings, okay?¡±


    Atticus thought for a moment. Half an hour was actually a lot of time to learn.


    Seeing his mom¡¯s worried face, he knew she was worried about him.


    To ease his mom¡¯s concern, he nodded in agreement, ¡°Okay, Mom.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re such a good boy and you¡¯re amazing.¡± Thssa was relieved.


    Evelyn returned from grocery shopping and walked in to see Thssa talking to Atticus. She gave


    Atticus a nce, then did a double take. ¡°Hmm, why does Atticus look familiar? I feel like I¡¯ve seen a


    face like his somewhere. Where could it be?¡±


    Evelyn massaged her temples, thinking hard.


    Watching Evelyn struggle to figure out who Atticus resembled, Thssa¡¯s heart tightened with worry.


    If Evelyn found out that the children¡¯s father was Lysander, she would definitely go after him, making


    him acknowledge his children.


    That would be troublesome.


    Lysander had a fiancee, and he was bound to marry the heiress of the Ravensong group, Charlotte.


    Where would that leave her?


    She was nothing.


    She only had four children.


    She could not afford any risks..


    ¡°Atticus is handsome so he must look like some TV star.¡± Thssa quickly said, sessfully diverting


    Evelyn¡¯s attention.


    ¡°Yes, he looks like some movie star, a handsome one, but I can¡¯t remember his name for the life of


    me.¡± Evelyn said, having an aha moment, and then walked into the kitchen.


    Atticus was waiting for his mom to say he looked like her boss, but Thssa said he looked like a star.


    So, his mom still wouldn¡¯t admit Lysander was their dad.


    So was Lysander their dad or not?


    Atticus felt confused and lost.


    ¡°Mom, where are the fries and fried chicken you promised to bring me?¡±


    N?velDrama.Org ? content.


    Thssa¡¯s sleeve was tugged, and looking down, she saw Elowen pulling her dress, her little cute face


    full of cravings for food.


    Only then did Thssa remember she had promised Elowen that morning to bring her some yummy


    food.


    But she was called for dinner after work today, got into trouble with Charlotte, and was then driven


    home by Leopold.


    She didn¡¯t even have a chance to buy fried chicken or fries, let alone remember them.


    Feeling sorry, Thssa said, ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Elowen. Mom was too busy and forgot. How about I go get it


    for you now?¡±


    ¡°What¡¯s the point of buying it? Dinner¡¯s almost ready.¡± Evelyn stood at the kitchen doorway with a


    spat and said, ¡°You¡¯re the only one earning money for the whole family, we


    need to save where we can. I used the money you gave me yesterday to buy baby form and pay


    rent, there¡¯s not much left.¡±

 Chapter 278

    Chapter 278


    Evelyn wouldn¡¯t let Thssa go out to buy fried chicken, and Thssa knew it was going to be a hard


    sell to convince her.


    But when she saw Elowen¡¯s cute little face, with her eyes filled with anticipation, then the immediate


    look of disappointment. Thssa¡¯s heart ached.


    Cradling Elowen. Thssa whispered in her ear, ¡°Mom ordered fried chicken legs and fries for delivery.


    When they get here, we¡¯ll enjoy the surprise together, okay?¡±


    Elowen immediately burst intoughter. ¡°Yes.¡±


    Realizing she might have been a tad too loud and could spill the beans on their little secret, she quickly


    covered her mouth with her hands. Still, the joy on her face was unmistakable.


    After leaving work early in the afternoon, Lysander went to the cemetery.


    Zephyr and Sybil were already waiting for him there.


    in front of them were two gravestones, one for Lysander¡¯s father, Bat Sinir, and the other for his


    mother, Belinda Sinir.


    The setting sun cast a glow on the two gravestones, illuminating the pictures on them and giving off a


    deep sense of sorrow.


    The shadows of the surrounding trees swayed in the wind, adding to the mncholic atmosphere.


    Holding two bouquets, Lysander approached the graves. One bouquet of carnations he ced in front


    of Belinda¡¯s grave, and a bouquet of marigolds in front of Bat¡¯s.


    Lysander¡¯s parents died when he was very young.


    His memories of them had be blurry.


    Even looking at their photos, he couldn¡¯t recall the times he spent with them as a child.


    His memories of his parents were very few, mainly of them fighting, with their things smashed all over


    the house.


    His childhoodcked the atmosphere of his parents¡¯ love and their tender care.


    His childhood was filled with endless arguments and being used as a pawn in their games.


    Zephyr stared at the photo of his son on the gravestone, a look of sorrow on his face.


    ¡°If only I had stopped your father back then and told him not to love that woman from the countryside


    with no background, he wouldn¡¯t have died so tragically.¡± Zephyr still regretted it, knowing their social


    statuses didn¡¯t match and that such a love story was doomed.


    But back then, Bat was determined to be with Belinda.


    Zephyr didn¡¯t stop him, thinking that everyone had their own fate and finding a woman he truly love


    wasn¡¯t easy.


    So, he agreed to Bat and Belinda¡¯s marriage.


    But he never expected that this woman was so cunning and vile.


    Lysander remained silent while Sybil said, ¡°It¡¯s been so long, it¡¯s pointless to dwell on the past now.¡±


    N?velDrama.Org owns this text.


    She started wiping away her tears.


    Bat was her son, and the pain of a mother losing her child was indescribable.


    Thankfully, Bat left behind Lysander, and over the years, Sybil poured all the love she had for


    Bat into him.


    Every time she saw Lysander, it was as if her son was still alive.


    Seeing Sybil so heartbroken, Zephyr also felt pain. He said, ¡°Although the incident has passed, we lost


    an excellent son, and that pain is eternal. I don¡¯t care about right or wrong, I just want to learn from this


    and prevent it from happening again. Belinda marrying Bat should have been enough, but she had


    affairs with another man. She was already a mother, but she was not behaving herself. I don¡¯t know


    what she wanted. If it wasn¡¯t for her inability topletely cut ties with that man, Bat wouldn¡¯t have


    fought with her. Worse still, when she wanted to elope with that man, Bat went after her, and they


    both ended up in a car ident.¡±

 Chapter 279

    Chapter 279


    Zephyr was ranting, a mix of anger and heartbreak in his voice.


    Initially, Zephyr didn¡¯t care that Belinda was of humble origins. All he cared about was that Bat was


    happy with her.


    But then it hit him. How on earth could Belinda have gone from a nobody to somebody, even catching


    Bat¡¯s eye and beating out all those high-borndies to be his wife, if she didn¡¯t have some


    tricks up her sleeve, if she wasn¡¯t sharp as a tack, if she wasn¡¯t ruthless in her ambition?


    She must have had her ways, must have been clever, and must have had a knack for drawing men in


    to climb from the bottom to the top.


    A woman like that won¡¯t stop when she¡¯s reached her goal. It¡¯s just not in her nature.


    She loved being the center of men¡¯s attention and had a knack for stirring up trouble at home, causing


    headaches for Bat.


    In the end, it even cost Bat his life.


    Every time Zephyr thought of Bat, his heart ached.


    Such a good, brilliant son, gone because of a woman.


    As Zephyr recounted the past, it stirred up Grandma Sybil¡¯s sad memories.


    Thinking about her poor son¡¯s past troubles brought tears to her eyes, streaming down her face


    uncontrobly.


    Lysander knew how his parents died, but he¡¯d never heard Zephyr talk about it before.


    Hearing it now, he was shaken, his gaze heavy as he looked at Zephyr.


    As a kid, he knew that his mom was in love with another man, that she didn¡¯t listen to his dad, and that


    she kept going out on dates with that man.


    They fought constantly, throwing things around.


    He was small then.


    Their fights scared him. He was afraid of losing his home and of being abandoned.


    N?velDrama.Org ? content.


    As an adult, he often dreamed about their fierce fights, about things shattering, and about broken ss


    scattered all over the floor.


    The nightmares often woke him up.


    Childhood traumas took a lifetime to heal from.


    He hated that man, the one who tore his family apart.


    But he never thought that his parents¡¯ deaths were also caused by that man.


    His mom wanted to run away with that man, and his dad went after them, and that¡¯s when the ident


    happened.


    ¡°Lysander, if you¡¯re not ready to get married, your grandparents won¡¯t rush you. Don¡¯t make the same


    mistake your father did.¡± Zephyr turned around, looking at Lysander with a serious and worried


    expression..


    In Zephyr¡¯s eyes, Thssa was another Belinda.


    She came from the bottom, yed dirty, stole the Sinir group¡¯s design ns to sell to other


    Faye Brennan in as the scapegoat.


    Her methods not only got her close to Lysander but also got Faye fired from her secretary position,


    which she then took over.


    Such a woman, with no boundaries, would do anything to achieve her goals!


    Zephyr had already lost his son in grief, and he couldn¡¯t bear another blow like this.


    Lysander got it. Zephyr was talking about Thssa. He said, ¡°Everyone is unique.¡±


    Zephyr felt a pang in his heart, very angry. ¡°Lysander, those on the sidelines can see more clearly. You


    might be too entangled to see the truth. Fine, let¡¯s set a three-month deadline. Three months should be


    enough to see a person¡¯s true colors. If by then you still hold the same view, I won¡¯t interfere,¡± Zephyr


    said,promising.

 Chapter 280

    Chapter 280


    Zephyr was thinking that maybe now was the right time to strike while the iron was hot, while


    Lysander¡¯s feelings for Thssa were still in the shallow end. On top of that, Charlotte had been doing


    some sneaky detective work on Thssa in her pursuit of Lysander.


    Three months should be enough for Lysander to see Thssa¡¯s true colors.


    Charlotte, the golden girl of the Ravensong Group, had been polished by a high-ss education and


    upbringing in high society.


    Sure, she had a boyfriend when she was abroad, but ording to Charlotte, their rtionshipsted


    only three months and was purely tonic. Nothing sketchy went down.


    But a misunderstanding led people to believe she had been through a string of boyfriends, which was


    not the case.


    Yeah, she had a lot of suitors which caused her a ton of trouble.


    From the moment she was lucky enough to meet Lysander and found out about their arranged


    marriage, she kept her distance from all other men and definitely didn¡¯t give any hope to her suitors.


    Those dudes just wouldn¡¯t back off. Her gentle refusals didn¡¯t seem to work.


    She didn¡¯t want to crush their ego, so she didn¡¯t outright reject them.


    Outsiders saw a bunch of guys always hanging around her, and rumors started swirling that she had a


    string of boyfriends, even going as far as saying she was dating multiple guys at the same time.


    In reality, she only had one boyfriend, and it was a brief three-month period of getting to know each


    other. Nothing inappropriate happened.


    This was all straight from the horse¡¯s mouth, Charlotte herself.


    A woman of Charlotte¡¯s caliber and virtue was the right match for Lysander.


    Snapping back to reality, Lysander looked at Zephyr. His deep eyes scanned his serious face with


    sincerity and gravity.


    He understood his grandpa¡¯s worries.


    He still remembered his parents¡¯ squabbles from his childhood, which had left a deep impression on


    him.


    Lysander replied, ¡°Alright, I promise, Grandpa.¡±


    Zephyr¡¯s tight brow finally rxed a bit. ¡°In three months, if you find any undesirable behavior in her,


    cut all ties with her and marry Charlotte.¡±


    Lysander frowned, ¡°Grandpa, the moment Charlotte had a boyfriend, our arranged marriage was off.


    N?velDrama.Org ? content.


    Plus, you guys were just kidding when you arranged this marriage.¡± There was no proof, and


    Charlotte¡¯s family had never acknowledged the arrangement.


    ¡°Lysander, Charlotte wasn¡¯t aware of her arranged marriage to you. Once she found out, she kept her


    distance from other men and only had eyes for you. You should give both her and yourself a chance,¡±


    Zephyr ryed what Charlotte had told him.


    He hoped for a happy ending between Lysander and Charlotte.


    ¡°Let¡¯s revisit this in three months.¡± Lysander dodged the topic, not giving Zephyr a direct response.


    Marriage was a big deal. He couldn¡¯t rush into a decision. He couldn¡¯t marry a woman he had no


    feelings for and had no interest in.


    Zephyr was satisfied. He had convinced Lysander to give Thssa three months to show her true


    colors, and if he saw through her, he would cut all ties.


    This was the biggest concession Lysander could make. He couldn¡¯t ask for more.


    Only by epting reality could he handle this situation more securely.


    As for whether Lysander would marry Charlotte in three months, that depended on fate.


    Zephyr didn¡¯t pressure him, He just nodded and said, ¡°It¡¯s gettingte, let¡¯s head back.¡±


    Grandma Sybil had heard their conversation clearly, and she knew they were discussing Thssa.


    When Lysander brought Thssa home before, Grandma Sybil was thrilled, hoping that Lysander


    would settle down and start a family.


    But when Grandpa Zephyr reminded her of Thssa¡¯s family background, her position in the Sinir


    Group, and some past incidents, Grandma Sybil started to get wary.


    Because Thssa¡¯s identity and behavior were almost identical to Belinda¡¯s.


    She couldn¡¯t help but worry if the Sinir family would see a second Belinda.


    She had already lost her precious son. If something happened to her grandson, she wouldn¡¯t be able to


    handle it.


    So when Grandpa Zephyr proposed giving Lysander three months to get to know Thssa better,


    Grandma Sybil didn¡¯t voice any objections. She simply epted his proposal. Lysander¡¯s safety was


    more important than him settling down and having kids.

 Chapter 281

    Chapter 281


    The next morning. Thssa got up while her kids were still snoozing.


    She hopped into the bathroom to freshen up. She grabbed a slice of bread and dashed out the door,


    munching on her breakfast and telling Evelyn, ¡°Mom, gotta hit the road.¡±


    ¡°Why are you in such a hurry, sweetie?¡± Evelyn asked, concerned. She watched her daughter rush


    out.


    Thssa didn¡¯t respond and quickly disappeared into the elevator.


    Yesterday she waste for work by ten minutes and Lysander got all bent out of shape about it, even


    barking at her that Leopold would¡¯ve been a better pick for her.


    She ended up working for Leopold¡¯spany by chance. She was nothing more than a secretary.


    How was that choosing Leopold over him?


    She¡¯d once bragged about wanting to be Mrs. Sinir at the Sinir Group.


    Lysander¡¯s first reaction wasn¡¯t to have a chat, or ask her if she really wanted to be Mrs. Sinir, or


    even give her a clear answer.


    Nope, he just straight-up fired her!


    His move made it clear as day. He wasn¡¯t going to marry her, and he only wanted her as a toy.


    She had nowhere to run.


    She started working at Leopold¡¯spany and Lysander bought thepany just to bring her back!


    One time she waste and he turned into a beast, ready to rip her to shreds.


    Thssa was genuinely scared.


    So she tried to get to work early, not bete, not piss him off.


    When the timing was right, she¡¯d quietly slip away where he couldn¡¯t find her.


    As Thssa munched on her bread, she contemted her n.


    The elevator reached the ground floor and she stepped out of the apartment building.


    Two luxury cars were parked outside. A purple-blue BMW and a ck Mercedes were both brand


    spanking new.


    Their presence in this slightly old neighborhood was eye-catching and extravagant.


    Who in this neighborhood struck it rich and bought these cars to show off?


    Thssa nced at them, muttered to herself, and looked away.


    N?velDrama.Org ? content.


    The fancy rides belonged to others, while she still had to rely on public transportation.


    Suddenly, the door of the Mercedes opened, and out stepped a man in a ck suit, blocking her path.


    Thssa recognized him and eximed, ¡°David?¡±


    David smiled and greeted, ¡°Good morning, Ms. Everhart.¡±


    Startled, Thssa looked at him, then at the ck Mercedes behind him, and asked, ¡°David, why are


    you hanging around my ce so early in the morning?¡±


    She knew Lysander knew where she lived, but David too?


    David held up a hand with a key ring on his finger. He announced, ¡°I came to drop off a car.¡±


    Thssa stared at the BMW logo on the key in his hand. She questioned, ¡°What¡¯s the deal?¡±


    David nodded towards the purple-blue BMW parked not too far away, ¡°This is a reward from Mr.


    Sinir. Now with a car, you won¡¯t bete anymore.¡±

 Chapter 282

    Chapter 282


    Thssa immediately said, ¡°I can¡¯t take your kind offer. Tell Mr. Sinir that I¡¯d rather take the bus.¡±


    After saying this, she walked past David.


    David stepped back to block her way. ¡°Mr. Sinir said if you defy orders, you pay the price.¡±


    Thssa stopped in her tracks.


    Even though Lysander wasn¡¯t in front of her, she still felt the pressure.


    Refuse a favor and pay the price?


    Was this bullying?


    The key question was, was this favor because she finally epted being kept, or was it a reward for


    her work?


    Thssa felt a sense of shame inside. She asked David, ¡°I¡¯ve only worked for two days, why is he


    giving me a car?¡±


    ¡°If people knew that Mr. Sinir¡¯s secretary takes the bus to work every day, it would make him feel


    dishonored,¡± David said calmly.


    Giving the car to Thssa was Mr. Sinir¡¯s task for him, he had toplete it.


    No matter what, he had to deliver the car to Thssa and make her willing to ept it.


    ¡°Then I can take a taxi every day, right?¡± Thssa said.


    ¡°Isn¡¯t taking a taxi essentially the same as taking the bus? Ms. Everhart, the car is a perk of the


    position. Even if it were someone else in this position, they would be treated the same. What are you


    fussing about?¡± David retorted.


    ¡°Are you serious?¡± Thssa asked, half-believing.


    ¡°When have I ever lied?¡± David said with a smile.


    Thssa thought, ¡°You¡¯ve lied plenty of times. Weren¡¯t you just deceiving me yesterday? You said


    Charlotte and Lysander have some kind of rtionship, but you didn¡¯t rify


    what kind.¡±


    N?velDrama.Org owns this text.


    That¡¯s why she let Charlotte go to Lysander, but she was misunderstood to be trying to send another


    woman to seduce him so she could leave safely.


    If doing so could really allow her to leave safely, she¡¯d be more than happy.


    The problem was, Charlotte once said, even if she were Lysander¡¯s fianc¨¦e, it wouldn¡¯t stop Lysander


    from having other women. But these women would always just be ythings and could never rece


    Charlotte.


    Even if Thssa let Charlotte go to Lysander and let her into Lysander¡¯s office, it couldn¡¯t change


    Thssa¡¯s current situation.


    It would only make her more embarrassed and hard to deal with.


    ¡°What if I don¡¯t ept this car?¡± Thssa said.


    ¡°Then Mr. Sinir wille and deliver it to you himself,¡± David said.


    Thssa felt fear at the thought of Lysander personally delivering the car to her.


    To avoid trouble, Thssa took the keys from David. ¡°It¡¯s so kind of you.¡±


    ¡°We¡¯re colleagues. Never mind,¡± David said.


    Thssa didn¡¯t want to say anymore to him. In case Evelyn came down with the kids to go to school


    and saw David, that would be a problem.


    Thssa pressed the car key and got into the car. She started it and drove off.


    She got her driver¡¯s license in college but hadn¡¯t had a chance to drive in years.


    Her driving skills were really poor.


    When she reached the entrance of themunity and passed through the automatic gate, she braked


    toote and almost hit the gate.


    And it was an emergency stop.


    David followed behind her. Seeing her emergency stop, he also made an emergency stop, almost rear-


    ending her.


    With such driving skills, was Mr. Sinir not worried about her having problems on the road?


    David thought about this and couldn¡¯t help but find it amusing.


    Thssa drove thrillingly all the way and finally arrived at the Sinir Group.

 Chapter 283

    Chapter 283


    Thssa parked her car and hurried into the lobby.


    It was just past eight and some change. Work didn¡¯t start until nine, so she wasn¡¯tte.


    ¡°Ms. Everhart,¡± Cherry, the receptionist, called out to her as she passed the lobby.


    Thssa paused. She looked back but didn¡¯t say anything.


    Cherry walked up to Thssa with an apologetic look. ¡°Ms. Everhart, I¡¯m so sorry. I had no idea what


    was happening yesterday. Otherwise, I would¡¯ve never invited you to dinner. I was duped too.¡±


    Cherry was genuinely sorry.


    Having spent some time together, Thssa had a good grasp of what Cherry was like: she wasn¡¯t into


    cliques. She didn¡¯t spread rumors nor look down on others. She was a young woman with a strong


    moralpass.


    Thssa believed Cherry was indeed tricked.


    ¡°No worries, I don¡¯t me you. Don¡¯t beat yourself up. Just focus on your work,¡± Thssa said.


    Cherry¡¯s guilty expression instantly disappeared, and she shed a smile. ¡°Thank you, Ms. Everhart. I


    promise I¡¯ll help solve problems for you in the future.¡±


    Then Cherry happily returned to her post, her previously serious face lightened up immediately.


    Thssa was satisfied, and she stepped into the elevator.


    For the entire morning. Thssa stayed in the secretary¡¯s office, refusing to enter the CEO¡¯s office


    unless Lysander called for her.


    This way, she could avoid facing him and reduce the psychological pressure.


    In the lobby, at the reception desk.


    Charlotte came looking for Lysander again.


    Cherry recognized her. She was here yesterday, iming to be an old friend of Lysander¡¯s.


    Thssa also gave her permission to go up.


    To lighten Thssa¡¯s workload and not disturb her, Cherry let Charlotte go up directly.


    This was Cherry¡¯s small contribution in helping Thssa out.


    Dressed to the nines, Charlotte sauntered into the elevator and knocked on the door of the CEO¡¯s


    office.


    After getting permission, she walked in. Her steps became softer, exuding feminine charm.


    ¡°Mr. Lysander, it¡¯s almost noon. I came specifically to invite you to lunch,¡± Charlotte said softly, sitting


    down in the chair opposite his desk.


    Lysander just signed a contract. He put it in a folder and nced at her.


    He knew that it was his grandfather, Zephyr, pulling strings for her to have her around him.


    And he couldn¡¯t disrespect his grandfather¡¯s wishes.


    His words were cold, ¡°I don¡¯t have time. Find someone else.¡±


    After saying that, he picked up another contract and began to read.


    The hopeful look in Charlotte¡¯s eyes dimmed a little, but she didn¡¯t get discouraged. She smiled and


    said, ¡°Mr. Lysander, I happened to see Ms. Everhart and Leopold at a restaurant yesterday. They


    seemed quite close. Is Leopold getting married soon?¡±


    Lysander lifted his eyes, his gaze icy.


    Charlotte felt a bit uneasy under his stare, subconsciously nervous.


    But she tried to steady herself. She took out her phone and opened the photo she took yesterday.


    She pointed her phone screen at Lysander. ¡°I¡¯m telling the truth. I was curious when I saw them, so I


    N?velDrama.Org owns this text.


    took a sneaky picture. Take a look.¡±


    Lysander¡¯s deep gaze swept over the phone screen.


    Though the photo only captured their backs. It was obvious at first nce that it was Leopold and


    Thssa.


    Leopold¡¯s hand was on Thssa¡¯s shoulder, his face almost touching Thssa¡¯s cheek.


    Their actions were so intimate and they were walking away together.


    Lysander¡¯s body was instantly surrounded by a chill, his eyes filled with frost, and the surrounding air


    pressure dropped to an extreme low.

 Chapter 284

    Chapter 284


    Charlotte was spooked by his sudden aloofness and strong vibe. She didn¡¯t dare to stick around and


    wanted to bolt right there and then.


    Feeling a tad guilty, she slowly put her phone back and chuckled awkwardly, ¡°Lysander, since you¡¯re


    swamped, let¡¯s do dinner some other time. I just remembered I¡¯ve got unfinished work. I gotta head


    back to the office.¡±


    Then she stood up and hightailed it out of there.


    Once she was out of Lysander¡¯s office and out from under his intense pressure, Charlotte broke into a


    smug grin.


    She deliberately let Lysander see that picture.


    Once Lysander knew that Thssa had been involved with other men and was pretty touchy-feely with


    them, no matter how gorgeous Thssa was, Lysander would probably get grossed out.


    After all, how could Lysander stomach his woman being involved with other men?


    Charlotte achieved her goal and trotted off joyfully..


    Back in the office, Lysander was icy and his eyes were frosty.


    His hand clutching the pen was so white from exertion, but he didn¡¯t even notice.


    Thssa spent the day in the secretary¡¯s office. Lysander didn¡¯t call for her, neither did David.


    When the workday was over, she had only familiarized herself with the materials, and it was time to


    clock out.


    She quickly packed up and got ready to leave.


    Regardless of whether Lysander had left or not, it was quitting time and she didn¡¯t have anything else


    to do. Was she supposed to just sit in the office twiddling her thumbs?


    Even if Lysander found out she left before him, what was the worst he could do, fire her?


    She wouldn¡¯t mind that at all.


    Thssa hopped in her blue-purple BMW and hit the road.


    Even though her driving skills were still a bit rusty, she wasn¡¯t as scared anymore thanks to the


    morning¡¯s driving experience.


    Back home, Evelyn and the kids hadn¡¯t returned yet, so she poured herself a ss of juice and sat by


    the dining table, sipping and waiting.


    About ten minutester, Evelyn returned with the four kids.


    N?vel(D)ra/ma.Org exclusive ? material.


    As soon as the four kids saw her, they excitedly rushed over and dove into her arms.


    Thssa hugged these little darlings and kissed each one. The sweet milky scent on them was


    absolutely irresistible.


    ¡°Tomorrow¡¯s Saturday. You don¡¯t have to work, right? After dinner, take care of the kids, and I have to


    run an errand.¡± Evelyn said while carrying the groceries she just bought and closing the door.


    Thssa asked curiously, ¡°Mom, where are you off to thiste?¡±


    ¡°I haven¡¯t yed poker in a while and I¡¯m thinking of getting a few rounds in.¡± Evelyn didn¡¯t beat around


    the bush this time.


    Thssa immediately frowned, ¡°Mom, you know our financial situation better than anyone. Why would


    you want to gamble?¡±


    ¡°I have a n this time. I¡¯m only bringing 200 dors. If I win, great. If I lose, I quit.¡± Evelyn was


    resolute, ¡°I spend every day taking care of your kids. I hardly have any time for myself. What¡¯s wrong


    with ying a bit of poker once in a while?¡±


    ¡°You could go dancing at a party, or n a trip with some friends,¡± Thssa suggested.


    Gambling was just a waste of time and didn¡¯t do any good.


    Evelyn said impatiently, ¡°I don¡¯t like dancing, nor do I have any interest in travelling, I just want to y


    poker. You don¡¯t need to talk me out of it.¡±


    Then Evelyn shot Thssa a sideways nce. She walked into the kitchen and shut the door,


    preventing Thssa from trying to talk her out of it.


    The sound of the kitchen door closing was so loud that Thssa blinked in surprise.


    She was only trying to talk her out of gambling. Why would Evelyn get so mad?


    In the evening, after dinner, Evelyn left.


    Thssa knew that once she left, she might be out all night.


    She couldn¡¯t do anything about it, and all she could do was take care of the kids.


    Kids that went to kindergarten fell asleep easier, probably because they used up their energy ying,


    so they fell asleep pretty quickly.


    Thssa soon got the four little ones to sleep.


    Then, she went to take a shower.


    After showering and changing into her pajamas, Thssa, who was drying her hair, noticed her phone


    on the couch was ringing.


    Seeing the name on the screen, Thssa didn¡¯t feel like picking up.

 Chapter 285

    Chapter 285


    Her cell phone rang all the time.


    She took a deep breath and then answered the phone helplessly. ¡°What can I do for you?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m here to return your bag.¡± On the other end of the phone, Leopold¡¯s voice was calm.


    Yesterday, when Leopold sent her home, she left her handbag in his car.


    Unexpectedly, he came to return the bag in person today.


    Thssa didn¡¯t want to have any more contact with him, for fear that he might think she was giving him


    a chance.


    In fact, there was no possibility for the two of them, and she didn¡¯t want him to misunderstand.


    ¡°I don¡¯t want it. Just throw it away.¡± When Thssa was finished, he would hang up.


    ¡°I¡¯m right downstairs. If you don¡¯te down, I¡¯ll go up.¡± Over there, Leopold¡¯s words rang in time.


    Thssa was a little flustered and said, ¡°Don¡¯te up. I¡¯ll just go down.¡±.


    She still had four little babies at home. If he came up, won¡¯t he see him?


    She would never let hime up here.


    Thssa was helpless. Why did they all know her home address?


    Lysander knew it. He must have checked her employment information.


    But how did Leopold know?


    When she joined Leossa Tech, she didn¡¯t provide her real address to avoid being approached.


    Leopold not only knew the neighborhood where she lived, but also knew which room she lived in.


    Isabe must have told him!


    If he was still in contact with Isabe, why did hee to see her?


    Thssa went downstairs with confusion and anger.


    Because she took the stairs, she was a little anxious. When she came to Leopold, she was panting


    badly and her cheeks were rosy.


    Leopold stood in front of the silver Porsche, holding the bag in one hand and supporting the body in the


    other. Seeing her panting, he reached out to touch her head, just like before.


    Thssa reacted quickly. She tilted her head, dodged his hand and said angrily, ¡°Don¡¯t touch me. Give


    me my bag back, and you can go.¡±


    She grabbed the bag in his hand and said coldly.


    Leopold¡¯s hand stopped in mid-air, shook it feebly, and his eyes were a little lost. Seeing that she was


    N?velDrama.Org owns this text.


    only wearing thin pajamas, he took off his coat and said, ¡°It¡¯s very cold at night, don¡¯t catch a cold.¡±


    As he spoke, he put his coat on Thssa.


    Thssa resisted and didn¡¯t want it, but Leopold insisted on putting on her coat. ¡°Put it on, I told you to


    Thssa stopped struggling.


    Seeing that she seemed to ept it, Leopold didn¡¯t stay any longer and drove away.


    Thssa looked at the car he left and muttered angrily, ¡°I told you not toe to me again. Even if I


    am sick, it has nothing to do with you.¡±


    Thssa thought of the hand he just extended. She thought of five years ago, when she was in love


    with Leopold, he called her Thssa again and again, just as she was intimate with her children.


    The memories of the past were so beautiful that her eyes were moist.


    But the past was only the past after all, and the past was like the wind, invisible and intangible.


    She looked up and tried to stop the tears from dripping, only to see shing streetmps and moths


    flying around, constantly rushing to the light and warmth.


    Moths understood that they should move in the direction of light.


    Why should people look back on the past and let themselves fall into darkness?


    Just as she was thinking this way, suddenly a bright light in the distance came and stung her eyes.


    She blocked the light with her hand and looked at the source of the strong light. A ck Rolls Royce


    broke through the night, vigorous and elegant, but cold and sharp.


    Under the neon lights of the city, the car exuded a terrible luxury luster.


    Thssa was familiar with this car.


    Her heart subconsciously sank.

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    Chapter 286


    The ck car, reflecting the colorful neon lights, slowly parked next to Thssa.


    The window rolled down, revealing a man with an incredibly handsome and stern face.


    He looked at Thssa. His deep eyes emanated a chill under the street lights.


    N?vel(D)ra/ma.Org exclusive ? material.


    This made Thssa stiffen with nerves.


    Why would Lysander show up now?


    For the past few days, Lysander had hardly sought her out.


    She thought it was because Charlotte had visited him at thepany, and considering his fianc¨¦e, he


    didn¡¯t make any inappropriate demands or actions towards Thssa.


    She never expected that he would show up thiste.


    Thssa was too terrified to speak. She wanted to run away, but the powerful aura of the man


    paralyzed her feet.


    ¡°Aren¡¯t you going to get in? Do I need toe out and invite you personally?¡± Lysander¡¯s cold voice


    rang out.


    Thssa snapped back to reality.


    Could she run away?


    Probably not. If she ran back now and was caught by Lysander, and he found out about the four kids at


    home, things would get even moreplicated.


    Nervous, Thssa opened the car door and got in.


    The atmosphere inside the car was extremely tense, the air seemingly frozen, making it hard for


    Thssa to breathe.


    The car started, adjusted its direction, and drove out of the neighborhood.


    Nervously, Thssa asked, ¡°Mr. Sinir, where are you taking me?¡±


    Lysander didn¡¯t answer, his face expressionless, his hands on the steering wheel, driving faster.


    Anxious, Thssa said, ¡°Mr. Sinir, please stop the car. I need to go back.¡±


    The four kids were still sleeping at home, with no adult around. If they woke up and couldn¡¯t find their


    mother, they would be scared.


    She couldn¡¯t bear the thought of the kids waking up, not finding any adult around, and crying at home.


    Lysander nced at her in the rearview mirror, coldly saying, ¡°Thssa, my patience has its limits!¡±


    Thssa¡¯s hand, which was about to open the car door, froze, unable to move. The icy chill emanating


    from the man made her tremble.


    Soon, the car stopped in the most bustling part of the city, a residential area full of luxurious vis.


    The ck Rolls-Royce stopped in the yard of a vi. Lysander got out of the car, opened the back door,


    grabbed Thssa¡¯s wrist, and took her out of the car.


    His hand was like a vice, squeezing her wrist painfully. Thssa struggled, ¡°Mr. Sinir, let me go. Let


    me go home!¡±


    She was both nervous and worried.


    Worried about Lysander¡¯s intimidation and about the four children at home.


    ¡°Sir, you¡¯re back,¡± the butler, Fitch, greeted them at the door.


    Lysander ignored him, still holding Thssa¡¯s wrist, leading her into the hall, and throwing her onto the


    couch. He leaned over her, one foot on the floor and one knee on the edge of the couch, trapping


    Thssa between him and the couch.


    He grabbed her chin, and lifted up her face to look at him. His handsome face seemed frozen,


    ¡°Thssa, it seems you don¡¯t take my words seriously. Do you enjoy spending time with Leopold that


    much?¡±


    Thssa was terrified, looking into his deep and icy eyes, her heart racing, ¡°Mr. Sinir, you


    misunderstand. He came to return something of mine today.¡±


    As she finished speaking, the hand holding her chin tightened, her brows furrowed with pain.


    Lysander clenched his teeth, his cold breath on her face as if to freeze her, ¡°Why was your stuff with


    him? Can you exin?¡±


    His icy eyes fell on the men¡¯s clothes she was wearing, the chill in his eyes deepening like a cold wind.

 Chapter 287

    Chapter 287


    Thssa felt a sting from his gaze, her eyes darting anxiously. Following his line of sight, she found


    herself d in a blue suit threaded with golden lines.


    Her heart hammered wildly, her words tumbling out in panic, ¡°I bumped into him at the restaurant


    yesterday. He insisted on driving me home. I left my purse in his car. I didn¡¯t want to, but he insisted on


    Lysander gritted his teeth, grabbed her wrist, and hoisted her off the couch with a rough gesture,


    tearing off the suit she was wearing and tossing it aside. Then, he dragged her upstairs to the master


    bedroom and pushed her into the bathroom.


    He turned on the shower, the hot water pouring down on Thssa. Caught off guard, she flinched from


    the sudden torrent.


    Before she could react, her nightgown was ripped open from the neckline, buttons popping off and


    scattering on the floor.


    Lysander was tearing at her clothes like a beast ripping into its prey.


    Thssa hastily covered her chest, backing away in panic, ¡°Mr. Sinir, please, there¡¯s nothing going


    on between Leopold and me.¡±


    ¡°Then prove it to me,¡± Lysander¡¯s voice was icy as he advanced on her, step by step.


    The water from the shower head rained down on them both.


    Thssa, half her clothes torn off and soaked by the water, looked a total mess.


    And Lysander, hair slicked back with water, droplets sliding down from his short, damp locks and


    His physique was strong and well-built, a perfect set of abs faintly visible.


    A wild beauty radiated from him.


    But for Thssa, this was as dangerous as it was bloody.


    She backed up until she bumped into the wall, no escape in sight.


    Lysander closed the gap, his arm braced against the wall, trapping her between the hard surface and


    himself. His handsome face loomed over her, the steamy, dangerously hot breath brushing her lips,


    ¡°Did you think being my woman would be easy?¡±


    His lips, sensuous yet wild, brushed hers tantalizingly.


    Like an electric current, intermittent jolts shot through her, making Thssa¡¯s heart flutter.


    Her body stiffened, her heartbeat elerating.


    ¡°No, it¡¯s not easy, Mr. Sinir. Can you let me off the hook today? I¡¯m not ready yet.¡±


    Thssa¡¯s voice trembled involuntarily, shivering.


    His muscr, powerful body was pressing against her, the potent scent of his masculinity seeping into


    her skin, making her heartbeat erratic.


    Panic, tremors, unease, tension, helplessness.


    How could being his woman ever be easy?


    She had experienced his wildness and strength firsthand five years ago.


    It had nearly cost her half her life.


    How could she possibly think being his woman would be easy?


    Her soft, pleading voice was like a fuse igniting dynamite.


    Lysander¡¯s throat tightened, and he bit down on her lips, devouring.


    Content ? N?velDrama.Org.


    ¡°Umm.¡± Thssa¡¯s eyes widened in shock, her body stiff against the wall, trembling.


    Lysander, like a beast, bit and gnawed at her lips. The sweetness, the intoxicating sensation, was as


    enticing as ever, causing his usually strong self-control to


    crumble.


    She was begging for mercy, hoping he would let her off.


    In the past, he might have.


    But now, no chance!

 Chapter 288

    Chapter 288


    He once warned her that her body was his and his alone.


    He made it clear that, as his woman, she wasn¡¯t allowed to have any contact with other men.


    But she didn¡¯t take his words seriously.


    Lysander was filled with rage, burning as hot as his body temperature.


    Thssa could feel his rising heat, her heart pounded faster out of fear. She pushed him away and


    started to struggle.


    No, she didn¡¯t want to be with him like this!


    Lysander felt her defiance. He grabbed her waist and pulled her towards him, trapping her fiercely.


    Taking away her breath.


    The faint scent of magnolia was like poison, invading his nostrils and making his blood boil.


    ¡°No.¡± Thssa struggled hard, trying to break free.


    The woman in Lysander¡¯s arms was getting more restless, squirming like a kitten.


    His raging desire was interrupted when he caught a whiff of a scent on her that wasn¡¯t hers, a scent of


    men¡¯s cologne.


    His eyes darkened, and he let go of her lips, taking a step back.


    He dragged her under the shower, letting the


    ater wash away the scent from her body.


    He coldly and dominantly said, ¡°Clean yourself! If I smell another man on you again, you¡¯ll regret it!¡±


    With that, Lysander pushed open the bathroom door and left.


    The sound of the door closing was like a punch to Thssa¡¯s heart, startling her.


    Water rained down from above, soaking her hair and clothes.


    Her vision blurred, and the water flow intensified. She hastily stepped back, avoiding the gushing water,


    and swept her wet hair back.


    She cupped her hand over her rapidly beating heart.


    That was too close, forfort.


    She was almost forcefully taken by Lysander.


    She had already showered at home, and now she had to do it again.


    Lysander said she smelled of another man. Was it because she wore Leopold¡¯s jacket?


    She couldn¡¯t smell it.


    Howe Lysander¡¯s nose was as sharp as a dog¡¯s?


    Thssa breathed deeply to calm herself down.


    She stood under the shower again; washing herself thoroughly,thering up with shower gel, and


    rinsing clean.


    There were no clothes in the bathroom, she had to make do with a bathrobe.


    The robe was Lysander¡¯s. It was big and long.


    It reached her ankles when she wore it, and the sleeves were huge, like a dramatic stage costume.


    She decided to roll up her sleeves.


    After freshening up, she carefully opened the bathroom door and peeked out, seeing no sign of


    Lysander.


    Then she confidently stepped out of the bathroom.


    Although this wasn¡¯t the Sinir family¡¯s hilltop vi, the interior design and decoration were almost


    identical.


    Both boasted ck and white tones, luxurious yet understated.


    F   F


    The genuine leather sofas were clearly high-end.


    N?velDrama.Org owns this text.


    And the luxurious bed was draped with smooth fox fur.


    A man who looked like a butler addressed Lysander as ¡°sir.¡±


    Thssa guessed this was Lysander¡¯s private residence.


    Thssa didn¡¯t have time to dwell on why he brought her here.


    Her mind was upied with thoughts of her four children. She wondered if they had woken up.


    Her mother, Evelyn, had gone out to y poker again, assuming Thssa was home to look after the


    kids. Evelyn wouldn¡¯t be rushing home anytime soon.

 Chapter 289

    Chapter 289


    Thssa nced around, not spotting Lysander, and finally rxed enough to pull out her phone and


    dial Evelyn.


    ¡°What are you up to? I¡¯m in the middle of a poker game with friends. Can you stop bothering me?¡±


    Evelyn started toin as soon as the call connected.


    Knowing time was of the essence, Thssa ignored her and cut to the chase: ¡°Mom, you need to hurry


    home. The kids are asleep by themselves, I¡¯m out and not at home.¡±


    ¡°What? How could you do that? Leaving the kids alone at home in the middle of the night, aren¡¯t you


    afraid they¡¯d wake up and not find you, fall out the window, or get taken by some bad guys?¡± Evelyn¡¯s


    sharp reprimand resonated clearly through the phone.


    Thssa was especially anxious because she was worried something might happen to the kids.


    She couldn¡¯t help but feel like crying, ¡°Mom, I didn¡¯t want to, but my boss had somethinge upst


    minute. I thought I¡¯d be back soon, but I¡¯m still not back.¡±


    ¡°Alright, alright, you go do your work. I¡¯ll finish this round and head back.¡± With that, Evelyn hung up.


    Thssa put down her phone, letting out a sigh of relief.


    Just then, the door was pushed open, and a powerful presence approached.


    Feeling the oppressive atmosphere, Thssa began to sweat nervously. She turned around to see


    Lysander walking towards her.


    He¡¯d changed from his wet clothes into a dark grey silk pajama set, oozing a masculine appeal and


    charm.


    His handsome exterior was almost unbelievable.


    His tall figure exuded a sense of opulence. His presence was overpowering, causing Thssa to


    instinctively step back in rm, ¡°Mr. Sinir.¡±


    Lysander approached her, extending his hand, ¡°Give me your phone.¡±


    His voice was cold, leaving no room for debate.


    Thssa swallowed hard, exining, ¡°I was just calling my mom, afraid she might worry seeing I¡¯m not


    home thiste.¡±


    ¡°Give it to me, don¡¯t make me repeat myself!¡± Lysander¡¯s words were cold and heartless.


    Thssa¡¯s heart pounded. She felt helpless and had no choice but to hand him her phone.


    Lysander snatched the phone from her hands, slid it unlocked, and found it password-protected.


    His prating gaze fixed on her, ¡°Password!¡±


    Thssa bit her lip, whispering, ¡°123456.¡±


    Lysander gave her a puzzled look, input the password, and sure enough, it unlocked.


    She seemed cautious, yet her password was so simple.


    Lysander swiped over to the call log.


    The top entry was marked Evelyn.


    Thssa¡¯s mother¡¯s name.


    Below Evelyn was a name that made Lysander¡¯s gaze turn even colder.


    That name was Leopold!


    She had spoken to Leopold just today!


    Lysander handed her the phone, ¡°Block that number!¡±


    Thssa took the phone but didn¡¯t immediately understand which number he wanted her to block.


    Did he want her to block her mom¡¯s number?


    That was her own mother.


    Taking the phone, she noticed the name beneath Evelyn¡¯s in the call log was Leopold.


    He must have meant for her to block Leopold¡¯s number, right?


    Thssa had a sudden realization, replying, ¡°Alright.¡±


    Sheplied with his wishes and blocked Leopold.


    ¡ê ¡ê ¡ê ¡ê 5 3 ¡ê & PE


    Just now, he was about to blow his top at her.


    Thssa didn¡¯t dare provoke him further, fearing she might be unable to bear the consequences.


    She blocked Leopold without hesitation, which made Lysander¡¯s gaze inscrutable. It was hard to tell


    what he was thinking. C¨°ntens bel0ngs to N?(v)elDr/a/ma.Org


    ¡°Do you have my number saved?¡± he suddenly asked.


    Thssa was taken aback, her clear eyes full of confusion as she stared at him, blinking twice.


    ¡°Mr. Sinir, I don¡¯t even know your number,¡± Thssa replied.

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    Chapter 290


    Lysander snatched the phone from Thssa¡¯s hand and started typing a string of numbers on the


    screen.


    After he finished, he handed the phone back to her.


    Thssa watched as he handled the phone. His fingers were long and attractive, with clearly defined


    knuckles. Although she wasn¡¯t particrly drawn to men¡¯s hands, the sight of his fingers made her


    heart beat faster.


    She now understood the fascination some people had with good-looking hands. A pair of beautiful


    hands indeed could make her heart flutter.


    Thssa¡¯s heartbeat faltered for a moment, and she quickly took the phone from his hands.


    The screen disyed his phone number.


    Thssa tapped ¡°save¡± and then started typing a name for the contact..


    Lysander watched her. When he saw her type ¡°Mr. Sinir¡± as the contact name, he looked distinctly


    displeased.


    Just as she finished, she felt a chilling gaze on her. She looked up to meet Lysander¡¯s deep eyes,


    which were like a ck hole, seemingly ready to swallow her up. She couldn¡¯t help feeling a little


    panicked.


    She couldn¡¯t understand why, so she quietly asked, ¡°Mr. Sinir, is something wrong?¡±


    Lysander¡¯s gaze was icy. He stared at her face, emitting a stifling tension.


    Thssa found it hard to breathe. She had no idea what she had done wrong.


    ¡°Why is Leopold saved by his first name, but me as Mr. Sinir? Thssa, are you still confused about


    whose woman you are?¡± Lysander¡¯s voice was threatening as he stepped closer to her.


    His steps were leisurely but intimidating. Each step closer made her more and more frightened. ¡°I¡¯m


    sorry, Mr. Sinir, my bad.¡±¡±


    After she said this, Lysander¡¯s eyes instantly grew colder.


    Noticing his change, she quickly said, ¡°Lysander, I¡¯m sorry, I¡¯ll change it right away.¡±


    As she spoke, she held the phone, nervously changing the contact name. His masculine hormones


    C¨°ntens bel0ngs to N?(v)elDr/a/ma.Org


    were palpable, threatening to engulf her at any misstep.


    Thssa was in a panic, her fingers trembling as she typed.


    Luckily, Lysander was not a difficult name to type. She quickly finished, held up the phone to show him


    the screen, and said, almost in a tone of seeking approval, ¡°Look, I¡¯ve changed it.¡±


    Lysander nced at the screen, which now disyed his name. Then he looked at Thssa, her face


    flushed from nervousness and her clear eyes full of fear, clearly startled.


    He straightened up and said coldly, ¡°Be careful in the future. Don¡¯t let me have to remind you again


    who you belong to.¡±


    Thssa nodded repeatedly, ¡°I know, I understand.¡±


    She had to pacify him first.


    She couldn¡¯t argue with him, or she might be punished in his own way.


    She answered quickly, and Lysander seemed satisfied. He gave her a deep look and then left the


    room.


    The moment the door closed, Thssa finally exhaled. She was safe for now.


    That night, she didn¡¯t dare to sleep on the bed and curled up on the sofa instead.


    At first, she stayed alert, but eventually, due to exhaustion, she fell asleep.


    Suddenly, a ringing phone jolted Thssa awake.


    She opened her eyes to find that it was already daylight. She picked up the phone, slid the answer


    button, rubbed her sleepy eyes, andzily said, ¡°Hello?¡±


    ¡°You little brat, you didn¡¯te back all night. What were you doing, working all night?¡± Evelyn¡¯s loud


    reprimand came through from the other end.


    Thssa immediately woke up and replied somewhat guiltily, ¡°Yes, yes.¡±

 Chapter 291

    Chapter 291


    ¡°What kind of crappypany are you working for? It¡¯s the weekend, and they¡¯re still having you burn


    the midnight oil! Tell me the name of yourpany, I¡¯m going to give your boss a piece of my mind!¡±


    Evelyn¡¯s words were dripping with concern and worry for Thssa.


    All Evelyn knew was Thssa left the Sinir group and was headhunted by anotherpany for a


    role as a secretary with a fat paycheck.


    She didn¡¯t know Thssa had been transferred back to the Sinir group.


    Aware of this, Thssa quickly responded, ¡°Mom, that¡¯s just how it rolls when you¡¯re making money. If


    you¡¯re paid more, you have to work more. It¡¯s a fair trade-off.¡± Hearing this, Evelyn got the picture, and


    her tone changed, ¡°Yeah, that¡¯s true. It would be so nice if you could find a good husband to help out


    with the bills. When are youing back? It¡¯s Saturday today, the kids miss you.¡±


    ¡°Mommy, I want to go get something yummy with you.¡± Elowen¡¯s childish voice, filled with anticipation,


    came from the other end of the phone.


    ¡°I want to go to the mall with Mommy,¡± Sophia chirped.


    ¡°Mommy, what¡¯s overtime? I don¡¯t like that mean boss for not letting youe home.¡± Dorian piped up


    energetically.


    ¡°Mommy, have you finished your work? Can wee pick you up?¡± Atticus asked thoughtfully.


    Across the phone screen, Thssa felt a warmth. Loved and needed by her four children, she felt a


    deep sense of happiness radiating through her.


    ¡°I¡¯ll be back soon, y with grandma for a bit and wait for me, okay?¡± Thssa said gently.


    ¡°Okay!¡± The four little ones chorused.


    ¡°Babies, I love you.¡±


    ¡°We love you too, mommy!¡± The four kids responded in unison, their adorable voices almost melting


    Thssa¡¯s heart.


    ¡°Bye, my darlings.¡± She said with a chuckle and hung up.


    Suddenly, the door behind her was kicked open.


    Content ? N?velDrama.Org.


    The noise was deafening.


    Thssa jumped, dropping her phone in surprise.


    Turning around, she saw Lysander stride in. His presence was intimidating, his gaze icy. His face was


    dark.


    Seeing him, Thssa¡¯s heart fluttered.


    ¡°Who were you calling darling!¡± Lysander stormed over to her, grabbed her chin, and tilted her face


    upwards.


    His eyes were cold and furious. He gritted his teeth, seething, ¡°I asked you, who were you calling


    darling? Speak!¡±


    Justst night, he warned her to remember who her man was.


    She agreed readily enough, but now she was on the phone with another man, calling him darling!


    Was she really like his mother, Belinda?


    Thinking of his mother and his deceased father, Lysander¡¯s anger red. His grip tightened.


    Thssa felt like her jaw was about to break from his grip. Tears welled up in her eyes from the pain.


    She grabbed his hand, trying to loosen his grip, ¡°I was just talking to my mom.¡±


    ¡°Are you still trying to lie to me?¡± Lysander was consumed by rage.


    ¡°I¡¯m not lying to you. Thssa endured the pain, her face contorting in difort.


    Finally, Lysander let her go. He nodded, picked up the phone from the couch, and handed it to her,


    ¡°Alright, call again. Say exactly what you said earlier!¡±

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    Chapter 292


    Lysander¡¯s voice was low, hard, and a bit threatening.


    His tall and buff body made its way towards Thssa.


    She was still half-sprawled on the couch, with his hard chest covering half of her.


    His strong vibe, tinged with danger, slowly seeped into her skin.


    Being this close made her super alert, nervous, and freaked out.


    ¡°Okay, okay, I¡¯m calling now.¡± she said, keeping an eye on his expression while slowly taking phone.


    Her heart was racing with fear.


    Material ? of N?velDrama.Org.


    What to do if the kids picked up the call?


    Repeating what she had said earlier was impossible for her.


    There were four kids on the phone earlier, and the conversation was heartwarming and adorable.


    If she called now and Evelyn picked up, it¡¯d be fine, but if the kids huddled around again, Lysander


    would find out about them.


    But if she didn¡¯t call, given Lysander¡¯s freaky mood, he might just call himself and dig around.


    Then things would get even worse.


    She considered all possibilities in just a few seconds.


    Her hands didn¡¯t dare stop trembling as she dialed Evelyn.


    While she was on the phone, Lysander¡¯s hands supported him on the couch, caging her between him


    and the couch, his deep eyes coldly locked onto her.


    Lysander¡¯s masculine cologne mixed with his pheromones surrounded Thssa.


    Her heart pounded, her neck shrank as she braced for his advance, nervously clutching the phone.


    Hearing the dial tone, her heart was on edge.


    She kept telling herself, don¡¯t pick up, please don¡¯t pick up!


    However, just as she prayed, the call connected, and Evelyn¡¯s voice said, ¡°What¡¯s up?¡±


    Thssa¡¯s breath hitched, her face pale. She hastily replied, ¡°Nothing, I just missed you.¡±


    Lysander¡¯s icy gaze pinned her, ¡°Turn on speaker!¡±


    Thssa¡¯s heart was hammering.


    She was wound up like a tight string, ready to snap.


    If she turned on the speaker and the kids came to talk to her, Lysander would hear immediately.


    But if she didn¡¯t, Lysander would be more suspicious.


    She could only hope the kids weren¡¯t around Evelyn.


    Thssa obediently turned on the speaker.


    Evelyn¡¯s mocking andining voice resonated from the phone.


    ¡°What did you just say? Do you miss me? Howe you didn¡¯te back all night if you miss me? If


    you really love me, you¡¯d get a boyfriend, marry a rich guy who treats you well, and don¡¯t make me


    worry about you daily!¡±


    Evelyn¡¯s words flew out non-stop.


    Her words filled Thssa with panic, embarrassment, and tension.


    She quickly cut her off, ¡°It¡¯s okay, Mom, I¡¯ll be home soon, don¡¯t worry. You get back to what you were


    doing, bye.¡±


    She promptly ended the call after that.


    She looked up at Lysander in fear.


    His icy gaze and the cold atmosphere could almost freeze her in ce.


    Thssa looked at him, fear in her heart. She forced augh, still leaning against the couch, keeping


    as much distance as she could from him, ¡°Haha, um, my mom is a bit hot-tempered, like your


    grandparents, always nagging me to get married, I¡¯m used to it.¡±


    Lysander¡¯s gaze was slightly cold. He stood up, towering over her, ¡°Then I¡¯m afraid I¡¯ll have to


    disappoint you.¡±


    Thssa was taken aback, instantly understanding his meaning.


    She quickly replied, ¡°Mr. Sinir, I never intended to be your wife, nor will I interfere with your


    mardage to Charlotte. If you¡¯d like, I could disappear from your sight,pletely disappear.¡±


    She knew all along that the reason he kept her at his side so unreasonably was just because he had


    tasted her five years ago, and he still hadn¡¯tpletely forgotten her..

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    Chapter 293


    He¡¯s only keeping her around to scratch his own itch until he got tired of her.


    She once mistook his promises for a marriage proposal and almost spilled the beans about having his


    four kids.


    But when reality hit her, she dared not make assumptions anymore.


    All she wanted was for him to leave her alone, not to mess with her peaceful life.


    As if they never knew each other, with no strings attached, and never crossed paths again in this


    lifetime.


    Only this way could she feel secure while raising the four kids..


    Lysander¡¯s eyes turned icy, his voice low and tinged with anger, ¡°I mean, you can¡¯t go home just yet.


    Are you eager to leave me and chase your own love?¡±


    His words were as cold as ice, clearly pissed off.


    She was always thinking about being with Leopold!


    Even using Charlotte as a human shield to get away from him!


    Thssa realized her mistake, and her breath hitched. Although she kept the smile on her face, she


    was on the verge of tears.


    ¡°Mr. Sinir, uh, I mean, Lysander, I don¡¯t have a love life. If I did, my mom wouldn¡¯t keep pushing me


    to get hitched, don¡¯t get me wrong.¡±


    Lysander didn¡¯t want to argue anymore, ¡°Get up.¡±


    He turned and left the room.


    Thssa clung to her bathrobe, feeling lost.


    This wasn¡¯t her home. She only came out in her pajamasst night, which were now all wet because


    Lysander had forcefully pushed her under the shower.


    She had no clothes to wear. How was she supposed to get up?


    Just when she was in despair, there was a knock on the door. A maid walked in with a paper bag, came


    up to her, and respectfully said, ¡®Ms. Everhart, here are your clothes. Mr. Lysander asked you to


    change and join him for breakfast after you freshen up.¡±


    Thssa nodded politely, ¡°Okay, thank you.¡±


    The bag contained a dress, a pink floral long-sleeved dress, suitable for this season. Even the


    matching underwear was included.


    Lysander really took care of his women.


    Did he also treat Faye this considerately when they were together?


    And then coldly dumped her when he got bored.


    What a heartless jerk.


    She didn¡¯t know when he would get bored with her.


    She really wanted to run away, but Lysander said if she dared to, he would make her life a living hell.


    He even crushed her thoughts of running away, damn him!


    Thssa cursed in her heart while changing into the dress, then went downstairs after freshening up.


    Material ? of N?velDrama.Org.


    Lysander was sitting at the dining table, eating steak, looking elegant and noble, with the servants


    standing at the side, serving him carefully. Fitch saw hering down, approached her, and


    respectfully said, ¡°Ms. Everhart, this way, please.¡±


    Thssa smiled, ¡°Thank you.¡±


    Fitch led her to the seat opposite Lysander, and he pped lightly.


    The chef came out of the kitchen with a tray, ced it in front of Thssa, and lifted the lid. The aroma


    of the prime steak immediately filled the air.


    The chef sprinkled some ck pepper on the steak. The sizzling sound it made, mixed with the smell of


    the meat and the seasoning, was mouthwatering.


    Thssa swallowed hard.


    Wow, this was delicious.


    She had lived for so many years but had never smelled steak this good.


    ¡°Ms. Everhart, please enjoy.¡± Fitch said politely.


    ¡°Okay.¡± Thssa replied politely, then picked up the knife and fork, cut a piece of steak, and put it in


    her mouth.


    The steak was so delicious that it delighted her taste buds.


    ¡°Lysander, you said earlier that I can¡¯t go home. What do you mean?¡± Thssa asked while eating the


    steak.


    ¡°Today, your time is mine,¡± Lysander said.

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    Chapter 294


    Thssa was slightly puzzled by his response, but she just looked at him, blinked a couple of times,


    and didn¡¯t press on.


    After their meal, Lysander took her away in his car.


    With Lysander in the driver¡¯s seat and Thssa in the back, watching the road move further behind


    them, she was clueless about where he was taking her.


    And she didn¡¯t dare to ask.


    After all, nowhere could be more perilous than Lysander¡¯s house.


    Soon, the car pulled up in front of a mall. After Lysander got out, Thssa followed suit.


    He came over and took her hand.


    His hand was rough and warm, and when he held her hand, Thssa felt a jolt of electricity. She


    N?velDrama.Org owns this text.


    couldn¡¯t help but feel a tingling sensation.


    Instinctively, she wanted to pull away, but her logic prevailed.


    She didn¡¯t show any signs of difort.


    Lysander, holding her hand, walked into a caf¨¦.


    A waiter came over immediately and greeted them politely, ¡°Wee.¡±


    Lysander led Thssa to a window seat and handed her the menu, saying, ¡°You choose.¡±


    Thssaughed awkwardly. She thought he would take her to work with him, but instead, he had


    brought her to a caf¨¦.


    Likest time, Thssa ordered the same two cups of coffee.


    While waiting for the coffee, Thssa couldn¡¯t help but ask, ¡°Mr. Sinir.¡±


    As soon as the words left her mouth, she saw Lysander¡¯s face darken, so she quickly corrected herself,


    ¡°Lysander, aren¡¯t we working today?¡±


    As his personal secretary, working overtime on weekends, apanying Lysander to the business


    district, and keeping track of potential development sites were all part of her job.


    Moreover, the position of secretary was designed to help the CEO work more efficiently.


    Wasn¡¯t Lysander bringing her to the mall to find business opportunities?


    If that was the case, she wished Lysander would tell her so she could note down potential sites instead


    of being kept in the dark and end up doing nothing.


    ¡°Do you also work while dating?¡± Lysander retorted.


    His gaze was intense, full of deep affection.


    It made Thssa¡¯s heart flutter.


    She was even more surprised, ¡®dating¡¯?


    Were they ¡®dating¡¯ now?


    She had considered many reasons why Lysander wouldn¡¯t let her go, but this was not one of them.


    For a moment, Thssa felt mixed emotions.


    They were treating this as a date, as if they were a typical couple, like two people in love.


    At this point, Thssa didn¡¯t know how to deal with him.


    When she felt at a loss, the waiter brought over their coffee.


    She quickly picked up her cup and started drinking, trying to hide her embarrassment.


    Lysander also picked up his coffee cup, took a sip, and asked in his deep voice, ¡°Think about it, what


    do you want to do for the next step of our date?¡± The next step?


    Was she getting a lesson in dating?


    Thssa almost choked on her coffee. She quickly swallowed the coffee in her mouth and said in a


    fluster, ¡°Okay, let me think about it.¡±


    Looking up at her, Lysander noticed her rosy cheeks, as if she was feeling shy.

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    Chapter 295


    He smirked and asked sarcastically, ¡°What, got the presidential suite on your mind again?¡±


    Thssa choked on her coffee, spewing a mouthful all over the table.


    Quickly, she grabbed a napkin and started wiping, ¡°Sorry, didn¡¯t mean to.¡±


    Thest time she mentioned a date, he was on the phone booking the presidential suite in a heartbeat.


    Now, why were they back on that topic again?


    He just mentioned the suite, and all those moments involuntarily flooded back into her mind.


    The coffee was practically scared out of her mouth.


    While Thssa was frantically cleaning the table, Lysander, cool as a cucumber, picked up a napkin


    Content ? N?velDrama.Org.


    and helped her.


    Amidst the chaos, Thssa¡¯s hand identally brushed against his.


    She felt a wave of unease. Every time she touched him, she felt a tingling sensation, like a mild electric


    shock.


    Almost instinctively, she quickly pulled her hand back.


    Realizing her reaction was a bit too obvious, she nced up at Lysander, only to find his deep gaze


    fixed on her.


    His eyes were full of longing.


    Thssa was already on edge, and his stare only made her more uneasy.


    She quickly stood up, nervously saying, ¡°I, uh, got to hit thedies¡¯ room.¡±


    Without saying a word, Lysander watched Thssa hastily leave.


    The coffee shop bathroom was located in the mall.


    She had to exit through the side door of the coffee shop, take a left, and go down a corridor.


    Picking up the pace, Thssa reached the bathroom, washed her hands in front of the mirror, rinsed


    off the coffee stains, and cleaned the spots on her dress with


    water.


    Once she was clean, she cupped water in her hands and sshed her face.


    She let the cold water shock her flushed face, trying to cool herself down.


    After washing her face, she leaned on the sink, looking at her reflection, water droplets all over her


    face, looking a little worse for wear.


    Today, Lysander¡¯s attitude towards her was a bit perplexing.


    She thought she saw a glimmer of hope, a chance that they could really be together.


    Suddenly, another figure appeared in the mirror, slowly approaching.


    Behind her, the click-ck of high heels on the floor sent a chill down her spine.


    As Thssa watched the face in the mirror gradually getting closer, she grew wary, her brows


    furrowing.


    With her wless makeup and trendy outfit, the woman in the mirror looked neat and stylish.


    It was Faye.


    Thssa stood up, ready to leave.


    But Faye blocked her path. Faye¡¯s piercing eyes were fixed on Thssa, a smirk ying at the corners


    of her mouth, ¡°Well, well, you not only took over my job but also my ce by Lysander¡¯s side!¡±


    Thssa smiled and cautiously said, ¡°You¡¯re here to use the restroom, right? Go ahead.¡±


    She deliberately moved aside to make way.


    But Faye didn¡¯t pass. Instead, she turned around and continued facing Thssa, ¡°Thssa, I¡¯ve been


    Lysander¡¯s secretary for seven years. That means I held an important ce in his heart for seven


    years. And you? How long can you hold a ce in his heart? You and I are no different. We¡¯re just his


    fleetingpanions before marriage.¡±


    Faye¡¯s words echoed what Charlotte had said to her before.


    This harsh reality was like a thorn, piercing her heart and instantly sobering her heated mind.


    Her hand hanging by her side clenched into a fist. The smile on her face remained, but it was no longer


    a polite gesture. Instead it carried a hint of self-protection.


    ¡°Faye, I hope you can take back my ce. The sooner, the better. If you manage to do that, I¡¯d be truly


    grateful.¡±

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    Chapter 296


    Thssa was speaking from the heart.


    She didn¡¯t fancy being Lysander¡¯s secretary, let alone his woman.


    She yeamed to stay clear from him and never see him again for the rest of her life.


    Only then could she make sure her kids were stashed away safe and sound.


    Faye mistook Thssa¡¯s words as boasting as if she was rubbing it in her face.


    She was fuming, her face dark with rage, ring at Thssa: ¡°Don¡¯t get too cocky, Thssa. You, a


    poor sod, will always be looked down upon. Lysander will lose interest in you in no time, and you¡¯ll be


    discarded like trash. No, you¡¯re even worse than trash!¡±


    Faye¡¯s anger and resentment seeped from her core.


    She had just seen Thssa and Lysander sitting in a caf¨¦, sipping coffee together at the mall.


    Lysander¡¯s lips were curled in a small smile, his deep eyes full of admiration for Thssa.


    His gaze was filled with a tenderness she had never seen before, filled with love.


    Faye had been by Lysander¡¯s side for ten years, so she knew his eyes were usually cold when he


    Content ? N?velDrama.Org.


    looked at people. But when he looked at Thssa, his eyes were


    different.


    2 5 % 2 5 3 % 25 5 2 6 2 2 2 5 2


    She had been silently by Lysander¡¯s side for ten years, silently in love with him!


    But in his eyes, she was no more than a male secretary.


    She thought he was indifferent to women, but Thssa shattered that notion.


    It turned out Lysander could passionately kiss a woman.


    Turned out his profound, and icy eyes could also show a soft gaze.


    Turned out, he was into women, just not her.


    She had spent ten years by his side, hoping to touch his heart, to have him notice her.


    But all that time and all that effort didn¡¯tpare to Thssa¡¯s one night with him five years ago.


    Faye was heartbroken, furious, and filled with hatred for Thssa.


    If it weren¡¯t for Thssa¡¯s one night with Lysander five years ago, Lysander might at least have noticed


    her.


    She vented all her frustrations and resentments on Thssa.


    Thssa didn¡¯t want to bicker with her, but her words were just too over the top.


    She said Thssa was worse than trash, then what was she?


    Thssa sneered, ¡°A decent person wouldn¡¯t betray their ownpany or frame others. So, Faye,


    what type of trash are you?¡±


    ¡°You!¡± Faye was provoked, raised her hand high, and pped towards Thssa¡¯s face.


    Seeing the hand swiftly approaching, Thssa¡¯s eyes widened.


    Just as her hand was about to hit her face, Thssa grabbed her hand tightly.


    And she swung a p back at Faye.


    Faye was quick. Her years with Lysander had trained her reflexes.


    She jerked her head back, dodging Thssa¡¯s p, and jerked her hand out of Thssa¡¯s grip so hard


    she staggered backward.


    Although she wasn¡¯t hit, her delicate makeup was a mess.


    Thssa leaned against the wall, unaffected by the action.


    She stood her ground, neither of themnding a hit on each other. It was a stalemate.


    Unwilling to waste her breath on Faye, she shot her a nce, turned around, and walked away.


    Behind her, Faye said in a suppressed rage, ¡°Thssa, you¡¯re just selling yourself for money. You¡¯re


    nothing but a cheap woman!¡±


    Those words stopped Thssa in her tracks, and it felt like a rock was pressing down on her chest,


    and she was breathless.


    She felt extremely uneasy.

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    Chapter 297


    She hesitated for a moment, then quickly walked away.


    Back at the caf¨¦, she found Lysander still sitting there, looking all grand and mighty..


    The atmosphere around him was so serious that even the air seemed on edge, causing the people


    C¨°ntens bel0ngs to N?(v)elDr/a/ma.Org


    around him to lower their voices.


    Thssa approached him and said, ¡°Lysander, I need to head home. If it¡¯s inconvenient for you, I can


    grab a cab.¡±


    In reality, even if Faye didn¡¯t mention it, she knew that her current weird rtionship with Lysander was


    a total embarrassment.


    Knowing that it wasn¡¯t going anywhere, there was no point in wasting each other¡¯s time.


    Lysander looked up at her, his eyes giving off an intense pressure. ¡°The options I gave you didn¡¯t


    include going home,¡± he stated.


    He made it clear that today was their date.


    Apparently, she didn¡¯t get that.


    Thssa said, ¡°My mom¡¯s been bugging me to go home. I really need to go, or she¡¯ll start searching for


    me and bring you trouble.¡±


    Just then, Thssa¡¯s phone rang. It was Evelyn.


    Quickly, she nced at Lysander. ¡°See, my mom¡¯s nagging me to go home again.¡±


    a low voice, ¡°Pick


    Lysander nced at the caller ID, confirmed it was Evelyn, his deep eyes fixed on her, and said in a


    Thssa froze. What if he took the phone and spoke directly to Evelyn?


    She had dodged a bullet this morning when Evelyn didn¡¯t mention the child.


    That didn¡¯t mean she could keep her luck going.


    Thssa hung up the call andughed it off. ¡°If I answer, she¡¯ll definitely yell at me. My mom¡¯s voice is


    so loud, she¡¯ll disturb you. I should head home ASAP.¡±


    Thssa finished speaking, looking at Lysander with anticipation and anxiety.


    Waiting for his reaction.


    Even though she wanted to set boundaries with him, she couldn¡¯t afford to piss him off now.


    He knew where she lived. If he went to her house, everything she had painstakingly hidden would be


    exposed.


    Lysander stared at Thssa, her clear eyes showing nervousness and helplessness.


    She wasn¡¯t interested in the date, making it pointless.


    Without a word, he stood up and left.


    Did he agree?


    Thssa understood his intention and quickly followed.


    As the car moved along the road, the atmosphere inside turned heavy, suffocating almost.


    Thssa sat in the backseat, her breaths careful and cautious, like a scared child.


    Luckily, they soon reached the entrance to Thssa¡¯splex.


    Just as Lysander was about to drive in, Thssa quickly said, ¡°Mr. Sinir, Oh, Lysander, you can stop


    here. I can walk from here.¡±


    The car stopped, and the doors unlocked.


    Thssa opened the door, and before she left, she thanked Lysander. ¡°Thanks for the ride, be careful


    on the road.¡±


    She was concerned about him. Lysander felt a bit satisfied.


    He responded lightly, started to reverse the car, and turned around, but didn¡¯t leave immediately.


    A familiar loud voice called out from behind her, ¡°Thssa! You¡¯re finally back. You naughty girl, you


    promised to be back soon. Look how long it¡¯s been!¡±


    Thssa turned around to see Evelyn striding towards her, a bit surprised.


    Oh no, Lysander¡¯s car hasn¡¯t left yet!

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    Chapter 298


    Thssa was freaking out, scared that Evelyn woulde over, especially with four adorable kids in


    tow.


    Her heart pounded as she quickly dashed toward Evelyn, hoping to prevent her froming her way.


    ¡°Mom, I¡¯m back, aren¡¯t I?¡± Thssa, gripping Evelyn¡¯s arms, said nervously.


    Evelyn, being well-acquainted with her daughter, could tell she was on edge. She forcefully and


    puzzledly looked behind her, ¡°Who brought you back? You seem so nervous.¡±


    Seeing her looking toward Lysander¡¯s direction, Thssa became even more anxious and quickly


    blocked Evelyn¡¯s view, ¡°No one, I took a taxi back.¡±


    While talking, she nced back and found the spot where the ck car had been parked was now


    empty.


    Lysander¡¯s Rolls-Royce had long gone.


    Only then did her tense heart rx a bit.


    ¡°Look at you, all jittery from taking a taxi back. If I didn¡¯t know better, I¡¯d think it was your boss who


    brought you back. How could you possibly match up to a big shot like him with your circumstances? It


    would be good enough if you could find a regr guy who doesn¡¯t mind your job or your four kids,¡±


    Evelyn looked at her.


    Feeling ridiculed, Thssa became a bit upset and said seriously, ¡°Mom, how can you talk like that?


    Where am Icking? And those four kids are my treasures, and I don¡¯t need to care about others¡¯


    views.¡±


    Having corrected Evelyn¡¯s perspective, Thssa turned and headed home.


    Evelyn realized she had been a bit too harsh. Thssa was very pretty, and she was good at her job.


    Knowing she was in the wrong, Evelyn quickly followed her, but she had never apologized in her life.


    She wouldn¡¯t apologize now, either. Instead, her tone softened, ¡°Yes, the kids are lovely. But you work


    so hard every day, it¡¯s not enough to support four kids. Don¡¯t you feel tired?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m not tired. I feel thrilled with the kids. How can I be tired?¡± Thssa said.


    ¡°You cheeky, girl.¡± Evelyn said helplessly.


    Suddenly, Evelyn noticed Thssa¡¯s unfamiliar dress, ¡°Thssa, where did you get this dress? I don¡¯t


    remember you buying this.¡±


    Moreover, the dress looked pricey.


    Thssa¡¯s clothes were usually cheap stuff bought online. They weren¡¯t as well-designed or of as high


    quality.


    Thssa then realized she was wearing the dress Lysander had prepared. If Evelyn knew it was a gift


    Material ? of N?velDrama.Org.


    from another man, she would definitely probe further, maybe even confront him.


    To avoid trouble, Thssa said, ¡°I identally spilled coffee on myself while working overtime. This is


    a dress a colleague lent me. I need to return it when I go to work on Monday.¡±


    Understanding the situation, Evelyn didn¡¯t ask any further.


    ??


    When they got home, no kids were in sight, which puzzled Thssa. Suddenly, she heard a noise from


    the kitchen. She went to the kitchen and saw the four kids bustling about. They were preparing milk.


    Atticus was handling the kettle with effort and caution, standing on a stool and pouring hot water into a


    clean milk bottle. His serious yet adorable expression was priceless.


    Dorian stood behind him, his little hand supporting Atticus, preventing him from falling.


    Elowen and Sophia stood behind Dorian, looking up with their chubby faces full of anticipation. They


    watched their brother prepare milk.


    The kitchen was dominated by the four adorable kids.


    Watching all this, Thssa felt her heart melting.


    She quickly stepped in, took the kettle from Atticus, and said softly, ¡°Let me pour the water,


    sweetheart.¡±

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    Chapter 299


    Thssa grabbed the kettle, and Atticus immediately felt relieved as he felt a load being lifted from his


    hand and his whole being.


    His innocent eyes sparkled at the arrival of their mom, and he couldn¡¯t hide his excitement as he said,


    ¡°Mom, you¡¯re back.¡±


    N?velDrama.Org owns this text.


    ¡°Mom, you¡¯re finally back, Dorian, while happy, voiced a hint of grievance in her expression.


    Elowen pouted, tears shimmering in her big eyes. She held back her tears for a moment but eventually


    couldn¡¯t hold back anymore and burst into tears.


    Sophia raised her small hand to wipe away her tears as she tried tofort her, ¡°Elowen, don¡¯t cry.


    Our mom is back, don¡¯t cry.¡±


    Only then did Thssa realize. She had promised them she would be back soon when she called this


    morning.


    The kids had been eagerly waiting for her return but she didn¡¯t return until muchter, which probably


    scared them as they were concerned for her safety.


    So, it was no wonder that they had such a big reaction when she finally showed up.


    Elowen¡¯s uncontroble crying broke Thssa¡¯s heart.


    After pouring the hot water and quickly mixing it with cold water to make form, she squatted down to


    hand it to Elowen, softlyforting her, saying, ¡°Elowen, don¡¯t cry. I¡¯m sorry, Mom got held up: I


    promised to take you guys out, so drink some milk first, and then I¡¯ll take you all out for some good


    food, okay?¡±


    She had wanted to spend time with her kids, but their dad beat her to it.


    ¡°Mhm,¡± Elowen nodded, her chubby hand wiping away tears before grabbing the bottle to start


    drinking.


    Kids were usually pretty easy to appease as they perceived everything in a simple way.


    Thssa, relieved, ruffled Elowen¡¯s hair, then turned to Sophia and assured her, ¡°Sophia, wait a bit.


    Mom will get yours ready right away.¡±


    ¡°Mhm,¡± Sophia nodded obediently.


    Tuming back to prepare the milk, Thssa¡¯s leg was suddenly hugged. A small, innocent face rubbed


    against her leg.


    Looking down, she saw Dorian hugging her leg, his head leaning against her, his voice was low as he


    addressed his concern, ¡°Mom, we thought you got kidnapped by bad guys.¡±


    Startled, Thssa realized it was probably because Evelyn had called and she hadn¡¯t picked up, which


    worried them.


    ¡°Exactly, you scared us to death. Don¡¯t forget to pick up your phone again!¡± Evelyn was scared yet


    Thssa apologized to them, ¡°I¡¯m sorry, it won¡¯t happen again.¡±


    Even though the situation was urgent, her not picking up the phone made her family panic.


    Thssa felt guilty.


    Thank goodness Atticus and Dorian are sensible and know how to take care of their sisters. I felt safe


    leaving them alone while I went out looking for you,¡± Evelyn said, feeling relieved.


    Atticus and Dorian beamed, clearly proud and happy at their grandma¡¯s praise.


    Not to be outdone, Elowen took a few sips of milk, pulled out the bottle, and said in a childish voice,


    ¡°I¡¯m also very sensible, very awesome.¡±


    Dorian turned around to ask her, as if he was teasing her, ¡°What can you do?¡±


    Elowen thought for a moment, her bright eyes twinkling, she said in a childish voice, ¡°I can act cute!¡±


    Her words had Evelyn and Thssaughing out loud.


    She was just too cute.


    ¡°I can also be very cute!¡± Sophia raised her hand, indicating she also had that ability and also wanted


    to be praised.


    Thssa and Evelynughed even harder, filling the house with joyfulughter.

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    Chapter 300


    Thssa and Evelyn headed out with four kids in tow, off to browse the nearby mall.


    Usually, Evelyn didn¡¯t let Thssa take the kids to ces where they might splurge a lot.


    But today, the kids had been waiting for Thssa to return home, feeling a bit spooked and hard done


    by.


    The kids were pretty savvy, not throwing tantrums even when they were scared, saving her from a


    headache. So, Evelyn figured that they deserved a treat for handling the situation calmly and off to the


    mall they went.


    Inside the mall, Sophia instantly glued herself to a toy store and refused to budge.


    Her eyes were fixed on a circr pendant that looked like it had been dug out of the dirt, with cracks


    filled with soil stains that wouldn¡¯t wash off, looking all grubby and worn.


    Thssa squatted down and asked her, ¡°Sophia, do you want to buy a toy?¡±


    Sophia, full of excitement, nodded, ¡°Yeah.¡±


    Thssa pointed at the plush toy area and asked her with a smile, ¡°Which plush toy do you like? Just


    pick one and I¡¯ll buy it.¡±


    Sophia pointed her small hand towards that circr pendant in the corner, ¡°I want this.¡±


    Thssa followed Sophia¡¯s pointing finger, seeing an old circr pendant, she said, ¡°This probably


    isn¡¯t for sale, right? Just some old junk?¡±


    Feeling perplexed, thinking there was nothing fun about it, she suggested to Sophia, ¡°How about you


    pick something else, okay?¡±


    Material ? of N?velDrama.Org.


    Sophia shook her head, her eyes full of stubbornness and disappointment. She just wanted that


    circr pendant.


    Seeing Sophia¡¯s expression, Thssa felt a pang in her heart. She didn¡¯t want to upset her daughter,


    so she walked into the toy store and asked the shopkeeper, ¡°Excuse me, how much for that circr


    pendant?¡±


    The shopkeeper looked puzzled as he told her, ¡°Circr pendant? We don¡¯t sell those here.¡±


    Thssa led the shopkeeper to the front of the store, picked up the circr pendant from the corner,


    and showed it to him, ¡°This one, my daughter really likes it, can we buy it?¡±


    The shopkeeper looked at it, andughed, ¡°Oh, this? This was unearthed by my son at the beach


    yesterday when he was ying in the sand. He yed with it for a bit and then left it in the store. It was


    probably a toy that some kid left in the sand, and my son dug it up.¡±


    Thssa was initially nning to persuade Sophia to look at other toys, but seeing Sophia¡¯s eyes


    almost obsessed with the circr pendant, she chose not to do that


    Sophia, although the youngest of the kids, was usually very well-behaved and obedient, cooler than


    Elowen who was clingy and cute.


    She was never the type to throw tantrums or demand things.


    It was a rare sight to see Sophia having her heart set on a toy, eyes glued to it, wanting it so badly..


    Thssa couldn¡¯t bear to see her upset and asked the shopkeeper, ¡°Sir, does your son still y with


    this pendant?¡±


    The shopkeeperughed, ¡°Oh, he¡¯s got new toys, he¡¯s already forgotten all about this one.¡±


    Just then, Evelyn walked over with the other three kids, all of them clustering around Thssa, calling


    her mommy.


    The shopkeeper looked at the kids, curious and delighted as he asked, ¡°Wow, these four kids are so


    cute, are they all yours?¡±.


    Thssa smiled and nodded.


    ¡°So, these four seem about the same age, are they quadruplets?¡±


    ¡°Yes, they are,¡± Thssa answered with a smile on her face.

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    Chapter 301


    ¡°Unbelievable! You have quadruplets and all of them are so gorgeous. You¡¯re one luckydy!¡± The


    store owner said, clearly in awe of Thssa.


    ¡°Thank you!¡± Thssa replied sincerely.


    ¡°Which one is this one?¡± The owner asked, looking at Sophia.


    ¡°She¡¯s the youngest, the fourth one,¡± Thssa answered.


    ¡°Ah, the youngest. My son also has two older sisters. They all seem to have the same taste in toys.


    Must be a connection. Tell you what, your daughter seems to really love this toy. I¡¯ll sell it to you. My


    son found it on the beach. How about for ten bucks?¡± The owner proposed a deal and agreed to sell


    that toy for a price.


    The small circr pendant was just a toy and an old one at that, found by the owner¡¯s son on a beach.


    Its value was certainly less than ten dors, even ten cents would be pushing it.


    But Thssa couldn¡¯t bear to disappoint Sophia, who was looking at the pendant with such hope.


    So, she agreed to his proposal, ¡°Alright, we¡¯ll take it.¡±


    ¡°Mommy, I want that teddy bear,¡± Elowen tugged at Thssa¡¯s clothes, pointing at the plushie.


    ¡°Mommy, I want that Spiderman mask,¡± Dorian too found a toy she liked.


    Atticus kept silent. He thought the toys in the store were childish.


    He only liked ying with his tablet and coding.


    ¡°Okay, mommy will buy them for you,¡± Thssa replied gently.


    After the children picked out their toys, Thssa paid for them, and they continued browsing.


    If it were a normal day, Evelyn would stop the kids from buying those toys, especially since the old


    circr pendant was priced at ten dors.


    But today, Evelyn wanted to spoil the kids and didn¡¯t intervene and agreed to their requests.


    Elowen hugged her teddy bear tight; her small face pressed against its fluffy body. She loved it.


    Dorian wore his Spiderman mask, jumping around and stretching out his hand, embodying the


    Material ? of N?velDrama.Org.


    character perfectly.


    And Sophia, after a long time of admiring the circr pendant, put it away in her pocket, satisfied.


    Thssa felt warm seeing her children so happy.


    When they reached the entrance of the mall, there was a stage set up. A crowd had gathered, and a


    broadcast was ying, ¡°International gourmetpetition, taste as much as you like!¡±


    On hearing that, Elowen¡¯s eyes lit up and she ran towards the stage with a smile to figure out what was


    going on there.


    ¡°Elowen, slow down,¡± Thssa said, worried she would get lost. Holding Sophia¡¯s hand, she quickly


    followed her.


    Dorian and Atticus trailed behind Evelyn.


    Elowen pushed through the crowd to the front, Thssa and Sophia followed closely behind.


    On the stage was a rectangr tableden with all sorts of delicacies.


    The aroma filled the air, making everyone¡¯s mouth water.


    Elowen was beyond excited, her chubby fingers pointing at the food, her cheeks flushed as she


    expressed her demand, ¡°Mommy, I want to eat, I want those foods.¡±


    Elowen had loved food since she was a baby.


    ¡°Alright, Mommy will take you up there, Thssa said affectionately.


    A staff member saw them approaching and politely asked, ¡°Hello there, would you like to join the


    gourmetpetition? If you register, you can taste all the food for free.¡±


    A gourmetpetition?


    She didn¡¯t think she was quite up for it.


    Just as Thssa was about to decline, Elowen tugged at her hand, hopping excitedly, ¡°Mommy, I want


    to eat, I want to join thepetition!¡±

 Chapter 302

    Chapter 302


    Thssa had to cater to Sophia¡¯s needs without letting Elowen down.


    Each kid was her little gem.


    If Elowen wanted to join a gourmetpetition, why wouldn¡¯t she allow her? At least she could enjoy


    the row of delicacies on the table.


    Thssa brought Sophia and Elowen to sign up for thatpetition.


    The staff handed Thssa a form and politely told her the process, ¡°Please fill in your details.¡±


    Thssa was about to pen her name when the staff reminded her, ¡°The form needs the contestant¡¯s


    details.¡±


    Thssa paused, asking. ¡°Can minors sign up too?¡±


    The staff answered, ¡°Sure, anyone can join as long as they¡¯re up for a food tasting, regardless of age.¡±


    ¡°Okay then.¡±


    Thssa nced at Elowen, who looked back at her with her adorable face and big eyes, filled with


    anticipation for the food.


    Thssa filled in Elowen¡¯s name and details on the form.


    N?velDrama.Org owns this text.


    The kid¡¯s birth details were registered under Hertha, so they carried her surname.


    Elowen¡¯s full name was Elowen Kensington.


    Normally, Thssa wouldn¡¯t carry the identification documents around, but she remembered all four


    kids¡¯ details and numbers by heart.


    Once the registration was done, Elowen was allowed to start tasting the food.


    Upon hearing that she could eat, Elowen darted towards the food like an excited little bunny.


    Thssa led Sophia along. Ever since Sophia got her toy circr pendant, she had been quiet and


    obedient.


    Wherever Thssa led, Sophia would follow without any hesitation.


    Elowen stopped in front of a te of sweet and sour grilled shrimps. She was too short to look over the


    table, so she sniffed and tried to peek at the shrimps but failed.


    Her anticipation and eagerness were endearing.


    Thssa was just about to help.


    A staff member picked up a shrimp and kindly offered, ¡°Little girl, want me to peel it for you? For our


    contest, after tasting the food, you need to tell what seasonings were used.¡±


    Elowen took the shrimp, smiled with two adorable dimples on her cheeks.


    The staff member was almost melting seeing her adorable expression.


    ¡°Thanks, but I don¡¯t need the shell peeled,¡± After saying that she put the shrimp tail into her mouth.


    Her mouth puffed out with the shrimp head still sticking out, looking like a little goldfish munching on a


    shrimp.


    Her cuteness attracted lots of attention.


    ¡°Wow, such a young kid joining a food-tasting contest? That¡¯s rare.¡±


    ¡°Hey, kids love to eat. Let her join for fun. If she can¡¯t name the seasonings, she¡¯d be out in the first


    round.¡±


    ¡°Haha, that¡¯s true. But she¡¯s so adorable, with her smooth skin and chubby figure. Especially her


    delicate face, she looks like a doll. She¡¯s stunning.¡±


    Thssa stood by Elowen, hearing all the praises and admiring words for Elowen from the crowd made


    her feel warm inside.


    Soon, Elowen finished the shrimp.


    The staff asked her with a microphone, ¡°Dear, you¡¯ve finished the shrimp. Can you tell what seasonings


    the chef used?¡±


    The critical moment had arrived.

 Chapter 303

    Chapter 303


    The audience downstage were all waiting to see that little girl make a fool of herself, eyeing her every


    move.


    They were all unsure how that little girl would make themugh out loud.


    Thssa, on the other hand, was super chill as she didn¡¯t care about thepetition. Even if Elowen


    couldn¡¯t answer, at least she tried, and that¡¯s all that matters.


    Everyone was waiting to see Elowen¡¯s puzzled face, unable to answer.


    Elowen spoke into the microphone, ¡°Olive oil, salt, ketchup, sugar, apple cider vinegar, white wine, sea


    salt, a bit of garlic salt, chopped parsley, and red chili!¡±


    As soon as Elowen opened her mouth, the host was stunned as if he didn¡¯t expect that little girl to


    answer the question so smoothly.


    She didn¡¯t even have a foodparison chart.


    When the host heard Elowen¡¯s answer, he quickly took out the foodparison chart and nced at


    the seasoning list.


    He was bbergasted!


    She didn¡¯t even miss a single word!


    Even the names of the oils were correct!


    The audience was also taken aback.


    ¡°Wow, this little girl is not bad, able to name so many food seasonings, her parents must have taught


    her well at home.¡±


    ¡°This little one looks so cute,¡± People who liked this little girl, looking at Elowen¡¯s chubby and cute


    appearance, couldn¡¯t help but praise her.


    ¡°This kid not only has guts, but also knowledge,¡± Someone joked.¡±


    Just as everyone thought Elowen was just talking casually.


    The host excitedly announced, ¡°Congrattions to this girl, you answered all correctly! You can-move


    on to the next step and try the next dish now!¡±


    Thssa was shocked, did Elowen get all the answers correct?


    She was so young and knew so many seasonings, was it because she liked to eat a lot?


    Not only Thssa, but the audience was also surprised, that little girl actually answered correctly!


    N?velDrama.Org owns this text.


    Some parents who were just watching heard the host say that Elowen got all the answers correct, they


    immediately took their children to participate as well.


    One after another, more and more kids joined in.


    Most of the kids could only name two seasonings, oil and salt, few could name other seasonings, but


    none got all the ingredients correct.


    In the end, Elowen tasted all the dishes on site and urately named the seasonings in the dishes.


    She advanced to the rematch taking the first ce.


    Even the host didn¡¯t expect it, he was so excited!


    ¡°Congrattions to little Elowen for sessfully passing the level and bing the first person to


    enter the rematch! What a great kid, let¡¯s give her a big round of apuse!¡±


    The host held the microphone in one hand and raised Elowen¡¯s small hand by the other, making her


    the focus of everyone.


    There was a round of apuse from the stage below.


    Evelyn, along with Dorian and Atticus, stood below the stage watching the whole thing.


    Hearing the host¡¯s announcement, Dorian was so excited that he was jumping up and down, shouting,


    ¡°Elowen is the best, Elowen, you are my pride!¡±


    Dorian was very happy, jumping with joy, and Evelyn couldn¡¯t stopughing.


    Just look at who brought up these four kids.


    Their intelligence and wisdom all came from grandma; Evelyn was so proud of those kids!


    Thssa simply couldn¡¯t believe that she just wanted to take Elowen to enjoy her favorite food, but


    unexpectedly, Elowen sessfully advanced and won the qualification to participate in the next round


    ofpetition!


    Just as she was still shocked, the host told her, ¡°You are the child¡¯s mother, right? Please take your


    child to our office to collect the rematch pass.¡±

 Chapter 304

    Chapter 304


    When Elowen heard Dorian¡¯s cheers and the host¡¯s affirmation, she knew that she had made it.


    Excited, she started jumping up and down on the stage, yelling out in excitement, ¡°Yay! I¡¯m in for the


    next round!¡±


    Seeing the joy on Elowen¡¯s face, Thssa felt genuinely happy.


    She took Elowen and Sophia off the stage and followed the staff to the office to collect the rematch


    pass.


    Evelyn, along with Dorian and Atticus, came over and joined them.


    Evelyn was all smiles, looking very proud; she was very excited and couldn¡¯t hold in her joy, ¡°My


    Elowen is a rockstar, just like me!¡±


    ¡°Granny, I¡¯m like you too, I¡¯m awesome!¡± Dorian said gleefully, clinging to Evelyn.


    Evelynughed heartily, ¡°That¡¯s right, our Dorian is also a rockstar. He¡¯s the best at making people


    The staff turned around to see four children of about the same age following closely behind him. They


    were adorable, each with their unique charm.


    Curiously, the staff inquired, ¡°Are these four kids all from the same family?¡±


    Evelyn quickly replied, ¡°Yes, and they all were born on the same day.¡±


    ¡°Born on the same day? Are they quadruplets?¡± the staff asked, half incredulous.


    He had seen many twins, but never quads. It seemed like a miracle to him.


    ¡°Young man, you¡¯re sharp! You guessed it right!¡± said Evelyn delightedly.


    ¡°My daughter is amazing. She gave birth to quadruplets. All of them turned out to be smart.


    Unfortunately, her ex-boyfriend disappeared when he found out about them.¡±


    Thssa felt a bit helpless hearing her repeating the story but she couldn¡¯t remind her now and chose


    to stay silent.


    ¡°The kids don¡¯t have a dad? Who takes care of them?¡± the staff asked, surprised.


    ¡°It¡¯s my daughter. She works very hard, earns as much as men, she¡¯s a secretary in a bigpany,¡±


    Evelyn proudly said.


    Despite always chastising Thssa, Evelyn was always proud of her when in public.


    ¡°That¡¯s impressive. You¡¯re lucky to have such a remarkable daughter, and four adorable grandkids.


    You¡¯re a real winner in life,¡± the staffplimented as he was surprised to know that she was fighting


    that tough fight all on her own.


    ¡°You bet,¡± Evelynughed.


    Once in the office, Thssa and the group followed the staff inside. A middle-aged man in a suit and


    tie was berating an employee.


    ¡°You can¡¯t even find out the itinerary of the president of the Sinir group! Why is thepany keeping


    you around if you can¡¯t even handle that?¡±


    The man¡¯s voice filled the office with his roar.


    The staff stepped forward and respectfully said to the man, ¡°Mr. Bruce, the winners of the gourmet


    for the next round.¡±


    Hearing that, the man known as Mr. Bruce turned around to see two adult women and four children.


    His gaze quickly swept over the children and then immediately fixated on Evelyn.


    His eyes sparkled with surprise and excitement, ¡°Evelyn, is that really you?¡±


    Thssa was very curious to see him recognize her mother. She looked at Bruce, then back at Evelyn


    to figure out how they knew each other.


    Upon seeing the man¡¯s eager look, Evelyn¡¯s face turned sour, ¡°Bruce! It¡¯s you!¡±


    Evelyn was both excited and angry.


    Clearly, they knew each other, but from Evelyn¡¯s reaction; it seemed that she and Bruce were not on


    good terms.


    Bruce looked at Thssa, then at the four children beside her.


    Looking back at Evelyn, he couldn¡¯t hide his excitement, ¡°Is this our daughter? Do we have


    Content ? N?velDrama.Org.


    grandchildren too?¡±


    Thssa¡¯s heart skipped a beat at his words.


    Evelyn furiously retorted, raising her hand to p Bruce,


    ¡°Shut up! What right do you have to mention a daughter? You cheat!¡±


    Evelyn swung her hand at Bruce, unleashing her anger.


    Bruce caught Evelyn¡¯s hands in his, holding them tightly.

 Chapter 305

    Chapter 305


    He turned around with a serious look, telling the staff, ¡°Take them to the lounge first, I need to have a


    private chat with thisdy.¡±


    The staff member promptly responded, ¡°Alright, Mr. Bruce.¡±


    ¡°Ms. Everhart, please follow me,¡± The staff member gestured for Thssa to leave the office with him


    and follow him.


    Thssa looked at Evelyn worryingly.


    Panting heavily, Evelyn said, ¡°Thssa, take the kids out first, I need to have a real showdown with this


    heartless guy!¡±


    Thssa nodded, giving Bruce aplex look before she left that office room.


    Then, she followed the staff member to the lounge with the four children.


    In the lounge, the staff were very warm and friendly to them.


    The table was filled with pastries, desserts, and drinks like tea, coffee, and juice.


    They were invited to help themselves with whatever they liked.


    As long as there was food, Elowen would behave exceptionally well, eating without making a sound.


    She even got Sophia and Dorian to join her in the feast.


    The three little ones were enjoying their food, giggling andughing.


    Only Atticus, after having a few pastries and a cup of water, seemed full. He sat quietly by Thssa¡¯s


    N?velDrama.Org owns this text.


    side.


    After a while, Thssa noticed that Atticus was shifting ufortably, his little face turning red..


    Concerned, Thssa asked him, ¡°Atticus, what¡¯s wrong? Are you not feeling well?¡±


    Atticus shook his head and said, ¡°I need to go to the bathroom.¡±


    Thssa immediately asked the staff where the bathroom was.


    ¡±


    ¡±


    ¡±


    2


    ¡±


    2


    They told her that there was no bathroom in the lounge, so they would have to go to the public


    restrooms in the mall.


    Thssa nced at the other three children who were still munching happily, then back at Atticus who


    clearly couldn¡¯t hold it in any longer.


    She requested the staff, ¡°Could you please watch the kids for me, I¡¯ll take him to the bathroom.¡±


    The staff agreed to help her out and assured her that they would keep an eye on the children.


    With that reassurance, Thssa quickly led Atticus to the bathroom.


    Since Atticus was already four and would need to go to the men¡¯s restroom, Thssa let him go in by


    himself and waited outside.


    From inside the restroom, she could hear two men chatting.


    One was in disbelief as he said, ¡°I can¡¯t believe it, the champion of the preliminary round is a four-year-


    old girl.¡±


    The other replied, ¡°Don¡¯t underestimate that girl, she¡¯s one of the quadruplets!¡±


    Thssa recognized the second voice, it was the staff who had led them to the office and then to the


    lounge.


    ¡°I wonder who the man is, his fertility is impressive, getting a woman pregnant with quadruplets in one


    go. But even the best genes are useless, because he¡¯s an irresponsible man! All these years, it¡¯s been


    the children¡¯s mother who¡¯s been working to support the family.¡±


    The staff continued to gossip.


    Listening outside, Thssa was speechless. She had be the topic of gossip again.


    Sigh, being bragged about by her own mother was also a sweet burden, huh?


    Thssa was ready to continue eavesdropping when she suddenly heard a silence inside, ¡°Um, heilo


    Mr. Sinir.¡±


    Lysander stepped out of a private restroom, an icy aura radiating from him. The two men who were


    chatting instantly fell silent.


    His deep gaze swept over them, and then he strode out.


    Mr. Sinir?


    Which Mr. Sinir?


    As Thssa was wondering that, a tall and imposing figure suddenly appeared before her, giving off a


    strong sense of oppression.


    Upon seeing the man¡¯s face, Thssa¡¯s heart involuntarily jumped. It was as if her soul had been


    shaken.

 Chapter 306

    Chapter 306


    Why the hell was Lysander here?


    Oh crap, Atticus was still in the loo.


    If Atticus came out and saw Thssa and then called mom, while Lysander was right here.


    Thssa took a deep breath instinctively.


    She stuttered, ¡°Mr. Sinir, what a coincidence. You¡¯re here to use the bathroom too.¡±


    Lysander looked at her with his deep eyes, ¡°You¡¯re using the men¡¯s room?¡±


    ¡°No, oh no no no. I just came out of the bathroom next door.¡± Thssa was panic-stricken, worried


    N?velDrama.Org owns this text.


    about Atticusing out at any time.


    She nodded, then realized what she¡¯d said and quickly corrected herself.


    Realizing she was standing at the entrance of the men¡¯s bathroom, she quickly exined, ¡°I heard


    people talking about a man getting a woman pregnant with quadruplets and then ditching her. I was


    curious about what kind of guy has such potent swimmers to have quadruplets all at once, so I came


    over and eavesdropped through the wall.¡±


    Lysander looked serious, raising an eyebrow, ¡°How did it sound?¡±


    Thssa shook her head, ¡°Disgusting. The guy¡¯s a total yboy! We women hate yboys.¡±


    Lysander took her hand and led her away from the bathroom..


    She thought he would take her to the mall.


    But instead, he took her into a service corridor.


    There was no one here, the light was dim, and the silence eerie.


    Thssa¡¯s wrist was hurting from his grip. She was about to protest.


    Lysander let go of her wrist, her back against the wall. One hand resting next to her ear, he leaned in,


    his masculine scent filling her senses, ¡°Are you interested in other people¡¯s childbearing?¡±


    Thssa¡¯s sensitive nerves were tickled by his hot breath.


    She shrunk her neck from the tickling sensation, ¡°Mr. Sinir, you¡¯ve got it wrong¡±


    He held her chin and lifted her face to his, his deep gaze and maic voice saying, ¡°Why don¡¯t you try


    and test my potency?¡±


    ¡°No need. um.¡± Thssa was about to refuse when Lysander¡¯s thin lips pressed down, sealing her


    mouth.


    Her breath was taken away. Thssa was panicked.


    She wanted to say that there was no need for her to try. She already knew about his potency!


    It was quite astounding.


    And the guy being talked about in the bathroom was Lysander himself!


    Lysander didn¡¯t know that, but Thssa did.


    Lysander kissed her, her mouth sweet like a fruity jelly, soft, sweet, irresistible.


    But he noticed she was distracted.


    Lysander forcefully turned her face to deepen and intensify the kiss.


    Leading her into the moment.


    At first, Thssa was lost in her thoughts, pushing against him, but slowly, her breath started to sync


    with his. She forgot to inhale, only exhaling.


    In a moment, she felt dizzy, her oxygen nearly depleted.


    Just when she was about to suffocate, Lysander let her go.


    Thssa leaned weakly against Lysander¡¯s chest, gasping for air.


    Lysander¡¯s long arm wrapped around her, letting her lean on his chest. It was just like that night five


    years ago when shey in his arms, panting.


    Thinking of that night, Lysander felt his throat tightened.


    His voice became somewhat hoarse, ¡°Did youe alone?¡±


    This morning, he invited her on a date, but she had to go home!


    In the afternoon, she showed up at the mall!

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    Chapter 307


    ¡°Why?¡±


    Snapping back to reality, Thssa realized she was pressed against his chest and quickly pulled back,


    ¡°I came with my mom. She¡¯s in the office of thepetition¡¯s organizer. If you don¡¯t believe me, I can


    take you there.¡±


    Thssa herself wasn¡¯t sure why she was exining in such detail.


    But Lysander¡¯s icy aura was honestly pretty scary.


    It felt like if she didn¡¯t exin, he would punish her on the spot.


    Thssa was in a real panic.


    Atticus was still in the bathroom and the other three kids were in the lounge. She needed to find a way


    out of this mall and fast.


    This ce was a spot for her to rx with the kids, but it had suddenly be dangerous with


    Lysander¡¯s arrival.


    After she finished speaking, she expected him to say, ¡°No need.¡±


    But instead, he said, ¡°Take me there.¡±


    Thssa was speechless.


    This was not what she was expecting.


    Did he really want to meet her mother?


    Wasn¡¯t it normally a step towards marriage when people met the parents?


    But, then again.


    Lysander did whatever the hell he wanted, and he didn¡¯t do what he didn¡¯t want to do.


    For him, meeting the parents and getting married could be totally unrted.


    L


    Just like he had no intention of marrying her, but could still take her home to meet his grandparents.


    Thssa¡¯s heart was racing.


    *


    She said, ¡°Mr. Sinir, my mom is busy in the office. It¡¯s not a good time to interrupt her, and that¡¯s why


    I came out.¡±


    ¡°What¡¯s so urgent that she can¡¯t be disturbed? Take me there.¡± Lysander approached her, his presence


    was overwhelming. Feeling the strong masculine pheromones, Thssa felt threatened.


    Like a frightened rabbit, Thssa quickly backed away, running to the door saying, ¡°Okay, I¡¯ll take you


    there now.¡±


    Thssa led the way, anxious and worried.


    Evelyn was in the office discussing something with Bruce while the three kids were in the lounge


    eating.


    Atticus was still in the restroom.


    What if she took too long and Atticus ran into some bad people who tried to take him away?


    But with Lysander watching, she couldn¡¯t make a phone call to get someone to pick up Atticus.


    They soon arrived at the office of the foodpetition¡¯s organizer.


    The office door was closed, but it was a wooden door with a transparent ss panel in the middle.


    From the outside, one could clearly see what was happening inside.


    Content ? N?velDrama.Org.


    Thssa stopped and was about to knock. When she saw what was happening inside, she turned


    pale.


    The hand she had raised to knock hung in mid-air.


    Evelyn was leaning against the desk, continuously pushing away a middle-aged man.


    That middle-aged man was Bruce.


    Bruce continued to pressure Evelyn, even grabbing her hand and moving his face closer to hers, while


    Evelyn kept dodging.


    Clearly, a scene of coercion was ying out.


    The door was poorly soundproofed, and all the sounds came through.


    ¡°Bruce, stay away from me! If you take one more step, you¡¯ll regret it!¡± Evelyn sounded furious, yelling


    out.


    Bruce¡¯s words were shameless andpletely unrestrained, ¡°Evelyn, you¡¯re not a young girl anymore.


    Stop ying hard to get. We¡¯ve had our thing. Thssa is my daughter, don¡¯t think I don¡¯t know it.


    Come on, let¡¯s relive the old times.¡±


    Then Bruce tried to force a kiss on Evelyn.

 Chapter 308

    Chapter 308


    Thssa was shocked to her core, and anxiety gripped her. She pushed hard at the door, yelling,


    ¡°Open up! Let my mom go!¡±


    She couldn¡¯t believe her mother could be caught in such a situation.


    Just as Thssa was at the height of her anxiety, Lysander stepped forward, pulling her back slightly


    before delivering a powerful kick to the door.


    The door was instantly kicked open.


    Lysander strode in, with Thssa following closely on his heels.


    At this point, Bruce was startled by themotion. He let go of Evelyn and turned around. Before he


    even had a chance to identify the intruders, he was met with a swift punch to the face.


    Bruce stumbled back several steps, reeling from the blow. He clutched his face, his eyes filled with


    Content ? N?velDrama.Org.


    rage. He was about to hurl a string of insults at his assant when he caught sight of the man.


    The man was tall and strikingly handsome, with a natural air of intimidation radiating off him. His eyes


    were icy cold.


    Bruce recognized him instantly.


    The fear made Bruce instantly drop his aggressive demeanor, assuming a look of innocence and


    helplessness.


    ¡°Mr. Sinir, this is my ex-girlfriend from years ago. She got pregnant and we were going to get


    married, but she got cold feet and backed out. But she had my child. I was so excited to find out I had a


    daughter. I thought she still loved me, and I wanted to win her back. It¡¯s not what it looks like¡± Bruce


    exined to Lysander. Upon hearing this, Evelyn was furious. She was about to rush forward to refute


    his words, but Thssa stopped her, advising her not to act impulsively.


    Evelyn was fuming. She burst out, ¡°You bastard! You¡¯re twisting the facts. What do you mean I got cold


    feet? You¡¯re a piece of shit!¡±.


    Bruce yed the gentleman, not reacting to Evelyn¡¯s insults. He even sounded a bit soft as he said,


    ¡°Evelyn, we¡¯ve been arguing for years. Can¡¯t we stop fighting?¡±


    Fighting?


    That word seemed to hit Lysander hard. Childhood memories shed through his mind.


    He saw himself as a young boy, sitting on the sofa.


    His parents were arguing. His father was trying to persuade his mother to stay home as it was already


    dark.


    But his mother wouldn¡¯t listen. She was throwing a tantrum, smashing things, insisting on going out.


    His father shouted in frustration, ¡°You¡¯ve been making a fuss for years. Can¡¯t you stop?¡±


    But his mother was determined. No matter what he said, she was going out.


    His father roared, ¡°Don¡¯t think I don¡¯t know that! You¡¯re going to see that man again!¡±


    Right! That man, the homewrecker who ruined his family!


    Lysander had seen that despicable man when he was a child.


    Now, Bruce¡¯s face bore the marks of time, wrinkles at the corners of his eyes, hair graying at the


    temples.


    But his appearance and his roguish demeanor were exactly the same as before!


    The face of the man from his childhood ovepped with the man in front of him.


    It was the same person!


    A chilling wind seemed to envelop Lysander, causing the air around him to feel stagnant.


    ¡°Who wants to fight with you? You shameless man!¡± Evelyn cursed angrily.


    As thest word left her mouth, a figure shot past her like lightning, heading straight for Bruce. A punch


    sent Bruce flying into a wall, and then he crumpled to the floor, coughing up blood.


    Without missing a beat, Lysander swiftly walked over, delivered another punch to Bruce¡¯s stomach,


    then threw him to the ground.


    Bruce curled up in pain, twitching like a severed earthworm.


    Lysander¡¯s eyes were blood-red like an enraged beast. He grabbed Bruce and punched him hard. The


    teeth knocked out mixed with blood were spat out.

 Chapter 309

    Chapter 309


    Thssa propped Evelyn up,pletely shell-shocked by what was going on in front of her.


    Evelyn herself couldn¡¯t believe there was someone even more pissed off than her.


    But this level of anger seemed way over the top. If things kept going this way, it was gonna hit the fan.


    Thssa watched as Lysander gave Bruce a good pasting, just like someone pounding a punching


    bag.


    At first, Bruce tried to beg for mercy, but now he was so beat up, he was ready to drop at any moment.


    If this kept up, he could really be in danger of kicking the bucket!


    Thssa let go of Evelyn in a hurry and grabbed Lysander¡¯s arm, but he was still on the verge of


    Just when his fist was about to smash into Bruce¡¯s chest, Thssa cried out, ¡°Stop!¡±


    Lysander¡¯s fist stopped just inches away from Bruce¡¯s chest. He turned to look at her.


    His usually deep eyes were now like a raging beast, blood-red, revealing the ferocity and cruelty of a


    beast.


    His gaze was like a cold de, like it could pierce through a person¡¯s heart.


    Thssa got the chills from his look, feeling a cold shiver run from her spine to her head.


    Lysander¡¯s eyes were really freaking scary.


    And Bruce, in his grip, had already cked out, with blood continuously flowing from his mouth.


    If he didn¡¯t get medical attention soon, he could seriously be pushing up daisies, and Lysander would


    N?velDrama.Org owns this text.


    be charged with killing a man.


    Fighting off her panic, Thssa urgently said, ¡°Mr. Sinir, don¡¯t hit him anymore. He might die if this


    goes on. Let¡¯s just drop it, we won¡¯t hold it against you, and thanks for standing up for my mom.¡±


    Seeing the clear panic and anxiety in Thssa¡¯s eyes, Lysander gritted his teeth, his face as cold as


    ice. He let go of Bruce and stalked off.


    As he walked past Thssa, the breeze he stirred up was cold against her face.


    Thssa shivered.


    Without Lysander¡¯s support, Bruce copsed to the ground, convulsing constantly.


    Thssa quickly yelled, ¡°Is anyone here? Call an ambnce, hurry!¡±


    Her voice was filled with urgency and panic.


    All of her words reached Lysander¡¯s ears, who hadn¡¯t gotten far.


    His heart clenched sharply, the chill around him growing even colder, as if it could freeze everything.


    But he didn¡¯t stop, quickly leaving the scene.


    Lysander walked through the mall, his body giving off an icy aura that made everyone give him a wide


    berth.


    They could all feel the strong and icy vibe from him. It was clear he was not someone to mess with.


    People made way for him, not daring to get close.


    Just then, three kids dashed out from the rest area.


    ¡®Mommy, I want my mommy!¡± A chubby little girl ran ahead, pping her short legs and whining.


    Two other kids were following her, chasing after her.


    It was Elowen, Dorian, and Sophia.


    Being shorter, they couldn¡¯t see the obstacles ahead.


    Suddenly, the little girl bumped into Lysander¡¯s leg, crying out in pain.


    ¡°Ouch, that hurts.¡± Elowen covered her head with her small hand, her lips pursed. She looked ready to


    cry.

 Chapter 310

    Chapter 310


    Seeing Lysander leave, Thssa instantly dashed out of her office, ready to hunt down Atticus.


    She knew Atticus was still in the loo. If he came out and didn¡¯t see her, he would be scared out of his


    wits.


    She hurried through the security door and once she hit the mall, she froze in her tracks.


    The sight before her scared the living daylights out of her.


    A little girl had just collided with Lysander, clutching her forehead and whining about how Lysander had


    hurt her.


    The girl was dressed in a pink princess dress, white leggings, and matching shoes. Her hair was tied


    up in two pigtails, and she looked chubby and absolutely


    adorable.


    Even from a mile away, Thssa recognized the little girl as her darling daughter, Elowen!


    What the heck was she supposed to do now?


    Elowen and Lysander had bumped into each other!


    Did he recognize Elowen?


    What worried her more was that Dorian and Sophia were also running towards them.


    They had reached Elowen, and consequently, Lysander.


    N?velDrama.Org owns this text.


    Thssa was as anxious as a cat on a hot tin roof, instinctively ready to run to her child.


    But she stopped dead in her tracks, realizing if she went over now, it would be a dead giveaway.


    Elowen, Sophia, and Dorian didn¡¯t resemble Lysander. He probably wouldn¡¯t recognize them.


    But if she went over and all three kids called her mum, the jig would be up.


    Thinking this, Thssa quickly ducked behind the security door, peeking out to survey the situation.


    Not far off, Lysander was looking down at a little girl who was barely taller than his knee. Her hair was


    tied in two pigtails, and she had chubby cheeks and delicate


    features.


    Her big eyes were shimmering with tears, her pink little mouth pouting, looking like she was about to


    burst into tears.


    Although Lysander didn¡¯t hate this cute girl, he was in a rotten mood, fire burning in his heart.


    His hands were still stained with Bruce¡¯s blood.


    The moment he looked down, his eyes were cold, an icy aura radiating from him.


    Seeing his murderous gaze, Elowen got terrified and started crying.


    Elowen¡¯s crying tugged at Thssa¡¯s heart. She was in agony.


    Lysander had actually scared a four-year-old to tears, showing no mercy.


    Elowen¡¯s voice was clearly full of fear. Her crying shattered Thssa¡¯s heart.


    As a mother, she didn¡¯t give a damn about anything else now. She was ready to storm out.


    She wanted to rush out and hold Elowen and give her a sense of safety to stop her from crying.


    Just as she took two steps forward, Dorian, Sophia, and a staff member who was chasing them arrived


    at Lysander¡¯s side.


    Dorian and Sophia extended their little hands, hugging the crying Elowen while gently patting her back


    tofort her.


    ¡°Don¡¯t cry Elowen. We¡¯ll take you to find mom soon.¡± Dorianforted Elowen like a mature big


    brother.


    The staff member kept apologizing to Lysander, ¡°Mr. Sinir, I¡¯m really sorry. The kid identally


    bumped into you. Actually, their mum has been in the loo for a long time and hasn¡¯te back yet. The


    kids are worried their mum will abandon them, so they hurried out to find her.¡±


    Lysander¡¯s gaze fell on the three kids huddled together.


    He had seen this crying girl a few times. The previous times he¡¯d seen her, her smile was pure and


    bright, like a refreshing spring, pleasing to the eyes and very


    likable.

 Chapter 311

    Chapter 311


    The two kids next to her looked about the same age as her.


    Could they be family?


    ¡°They¡¯re quadruplets. One of them went to the bathroom with their mom,¡± the attendant exined


    quickly, seeing Lysander¡¯s deep gaze.


    Lysander¡¯s eyes narrowed slightly and his gaze shifted from the kids to the attendant, ¡°Keep an eye on


    them. Don¡¯t let them run wild.¡±


    So the gossip he heard in the bathroom was true. There really were quadruplets here today!


    All four kids were raised by their mom alone, and their dad was a jerk.


    The attendant quickly nodded. ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll watch them. Won¡¯t let them run around and bump into


    people.¡±


    Lysander nced at the three kids one more time before turning to leave.


    Just a few steps out, Dorian, having calmed down the now tearless Elowen, took a few steps towards


    Lysander. ¡°Sir!¡±


    Hiding behind the safety door, Thssa peeked out to observe. Seeing this, her heart jumped.


    What the hell was Dorian calling Lysander back for?


    The more her kids said, the more mistakes they might make.


    Dorian better not say that Lysander looked like his brother.


    Thssa¡¯s heart raced. She was freaking out, but all she could do was watch.


    Lysander paused, turning back, his face stern, his gaze cold.


    That was indeed a bit scary.


    Even the normally bold Dorian was frightened when he saw Lysander turn around.


    But quickly, he regains hisposure, raising his head. He softly said to Lysander, ¡°Sir, I¡¯m sorry. My


    sister identally bumped into you. I¡¯m apologizing on her behalf, hope you won¡¯t mind.¡±


    So Dorian was apologizing for Elowen.


    Hearing Dorian¡¯s young voice, Thssa felt her anxious heart suddenly turn sour, her eyes welling up


    with tears.


    Her kids were so cute and sensible. They really had a hard time with her.


    Lysander¡¯s anger faded as he heard the tender apology.


    This child looked so beautiful and sensible. He even felt a sense of affinity.


    He said with a deep voice, ¡°It¡¯s okay, go take care of your sister.¡±


    Then he quickly left.


    With Lysander¡¯s retreating figure, Dorian¡¯s face lit up with unprecedented excitement!


    His dad talked to him!


    This was the first time his dad talked to him!


    He was so happy and excited.


    When he got back, he would definitely share this good news with his brother to make him happy too.


    Material ? of N?velDrama.Org.


    Dorian came back with a big smile on his face, holding Elowen¡¯s little hand tightly. As if that wasn¡¯t


    enough, he leaned in and nted kisses all over Elowen¡¯s little face. ¡°Elowen, you¡¯re awesome. I love


    you so much.¡±


    Elowen looked puzzled.


    What was wrong with Dorian? He looked so happy. Why was he so happy?


    Sophia looked very confused, not understanding what was going on with Dorian.


    Thssa was hiding behind the safety door. Lysander¡¯s figure had disappeared, and she immediately


    came out to the three children, anxiously asking, ¡°Elowen, Sophia, Dorian, are you guys okay?¡±


    ¡°Mom, we¡¯re fine. We¡¯re really happy. I just had a conversation with him!¡± Seeing their mom, Dorian got


    even more excited, sprinting over to Thssa and hugging her leg tightly.


    ¡°Him? Who?¡± Thssa was puzzled. What happened that made Dorian so happy?

 Chapter 312

    Chapter 312


    Dorian was all hyped up, ready to spill the beans.


    He was having a chat with his dad.


    But then, out of the blue, he stopped mid-sentence.


    His eyes darted around, and then he quickly shifted gears, ¡°By the way, I apologized for my sis and he


    forgave me. I¡¯m pretty stoked.¡±


    Thssa had never admitted that Lysander was their dad.


    It had always been him and his brother doing some detective work online, and they had nailed down


    Lysander as their dad.


    Cause Lysander was a dead ringer for his brother, and that dragon pendant was the Sinir family¡¯s


    heirloom.


    The dragon pendant was a love token from Dad to Mom.


    All signs pointed to one thing: Lysander was their dad.


    But this was just their own deduction. Thssa had never owned up to it.


    His brother had also warned him not to shoot his mouth off, or they might not be able to see their dad in


    the future.


    Remembering his brother¡¯s warning, Dorian zipped it and switched the topic.


    He was a pro at thinking on his feet.


    Thssa caught his drift when she heard this, and she gently ruffled his hair. Her voice was full of


    motherly love. ¡°You¡¯re such a champ, Dorian. I will get you some lollipopster.¡±


    Sophia joined in, looking up at her mom. ¡°I want a lollipop, too.¡±


    ¡°Sure thing, I¡¯ll get one for you, too.¡±


    4


    ¡±


    Elowen was standing by Thssa¡¯s feet, looking up at her with hopeful eyes, as if she wanted to say


    she wanted a lollipop, too.


    But the tears welling up in her eyes made her both heartbroken and guilty.


    She tried her best for a long time, but she couldn¡¯t bring herself to ask for a lollipop.


    She lowered her head and cried silently, her shoulders shaking, but she didn¡¯t make a sound.


    Thssa felt a pang of pain seeing her looking so pitiful and sad.


    She squatted down to embrace Elowen. She wiped her tears with her thumb and cuddled her,


    Content ? N?velDrama.Org.


    showering her with love. ¡°Don¡¯t cry, Elowen, I will get you a lollipop, too. I know you love lollipops the


    most. How could I forget about you? And, you bumped into someone by ident just now. It¡¯s not your


    fault. Don¡¯t feel guilty. From now on, if you bump into someone by ident, just apologize right away,


    saying it was an ident. That would be even better.¡±


    Elowen leaned into Thssa¡¯s warm embrace. Thssa¡¯s familiar scent made her feel secure.


    Her sobbing gradually subsided, she raised her little hand and wiped her eyes. Her voice was still


    shaky, but she was trying to be brave. ¡°I understand, mom. if ! bump into someone by ident in the


    future, I will say, sorry, it was an ident.¡±


    ¡°Good girl, Elowen, I will give you a kiss.¡± Thssa leaned in and gave Elowen a peck on her face.


    The soft and sweet feeling was incredibly nice.


    Having received her mom¡¯s kiss, Elowen¡¯s mood stabilized, and she stopped crying.


    Thssa stood up, holding Elowen¡¯s hand, and expressed her gratitude to the staff, ¡°Thank you so


    much for looking after my kids. I truly appreciate it.¡±


    The staff smiled slightly and said, ¡°No problem. Now that you¡¯re back, I¡¯ll leave the kids to you. I gotta


    go get busy.¡±


    ¡°Alright, thanks for all your help,¡± Thssa quickly responded.


    The staff then left.


    Dorian¡¯s bright eyes scanned the surroundings, and curiously asked, ¡°Mom, where¡¯s my brother?¡±


    ¡°Oh, Atticus, I totally spaced out!¡± Thssa was taken aback. She had forgotten that Atticus was still in


    the restroom.

 Chapter 313

    Chapter 313


    After all this time, Atticus should¡¯ve been long out of the loo.


    What would he do if he came out and couldn¡¯t find anyone?


    Thssa didn¡¯t dare to think further. It scared her just thinking about it.


    She rushed to the bathroom with the remaining three kids.


    Upon reaching the bathroom, there was no one outside, and Atticus wasn¡¯t at the entrance of the men¡¯s


    room either.


    Thssa started to get nervous. She asked Dorian to check the men¡¯s room to see if Atticus was


    there.


    Dorian obediently went into the men¡¯s room.


    He knocked on each of the individual bathroom doors, calling out, ¡°Atticus, it¡¯s Dorian, are you in


    C¨°ntens bel0ngs to N?(v)elDr/a/ma.Org


    there?¡±


    He searched from the first stall to thest one, then from thest back to the first.


    There was no trace of Atticus in any of them.


    Dorian came out of the men¡¯s room and told Thssa, ¡°Mom, Atticus isn¡¯t in there.¡±


    Thssa, already on edge, became increasingly anxious. Her hands and feet started to shake


    uncontrobly, ¡°Stay behind me. We¡¯ll check thedies¡¯ room together.¡±


    Atticus was missing. She didn¡¯t want to lose track of any other child. Boys weren¡¯t supposed to enter


    thedies¡¯ room, but she couldn¡¯t care less now.


    Upon reaching thedies¡¯ room, Thssa shouted loudly, ¡°Atticus, are you in there? Atticus, it¡¯s Mom!¡±


    A child opened the door and walked out.


    Thssa quickly looked. Thinking it was Atticus, her worries eased slightly.


    But then she saw it was a girl, her hair in braids, wearing a dress. The girl was about six or seven years


    old.


    That wasn¡¯t Atticus!


    Thssa¡¯s momentarily relieved heart tightened again in an instant.


    She shouted again.


    A woman came out from another stall, taking the little girl with her. At first nce, she thought Dorian


    was a girl, so she didn¡¯t mind it. Then she noticed Dorian was wearing boys¡¯ clothes. She looked closer


    and found Dorian was a boy.


    The woman was somewhat displeased with Thssa, ¡°This is thedies¡¯ room. Why did you bring a


    boy in?¡±


    Atticus was missing, and Thssa was extremely anxious. She was in no mood to argue.


    She said absent-mindedly, ¡°I¡¯m sorry. I lost a child. I was too worried to think.¡±


    It was precisely because Atticus was a boy that she let him go to the men¡¯s room alone.


    If she really were unreasonable, she would¡¯ve brought Atticus to thedies¡¯ room from the start and


    waited for him outside, none of this would¡¯ve happened.


    She wouldn¡¯t have lost Atticus.


    She didn¡¯t hope for others to understand her current anxiety and panic. She just wished they wouldn¡¯t


    be so harsh on her.


    But the woman was indeed very harsh. She told Thssa, ¡°It¡¯s your own problem. Why should we


    understand you? My daughter was still in the bathroom, and you brought a boy in! The child you raised


    will definitely be a criminal!¡±


    Thssa was already extremely anxious, and now her child was being used.


    Her anger was instantly ignited. But she held back her rage. She led Dorian and the other two children


    out of the bathroom, and asked them to wait for her at the door, not to run around.


    She returned to thedies¡¯ room. The woman was washing her hands, still muttering rudely, ¡°You are


    so shameless. I curse your whole family!¡±


    Before she finished speaking, Thssa grabbed the woman¡¯s head and pushed her into the sink, her


    other hand turned off the round switch in the sink. She turned the faucet to the maximum, soaking the


    woman¡¯s face in water, ¡°Shameless people, shut up if you can¡¯t speak properly! Can¡¯t breathe? Let you


    feel it, there¡¯s worse suffocation toe!¡±

 Chapter 314

    Chapter 314


    Thssa was in a rush earlier, worried about losing Dorian again, so she didn¡¯t think twice before


    taking all three of her kids into thedies¡¯ room.


    But her kids were really well-behaved. They stood with their backs to the door, not causing any


    nuisance and absolutely no peeping.


    Plus, everyone did their business behind closed doors, so there was no way Dorian could¡¯ve seen


    anything.


    She made sure her kids faced the wall, their backs to the door to avoid any unnecessary fuss.


    But this woman, just because one of the kids was a boy, started getting all nasty and venomous. She


    just wouldn¡¯t let it go.


    Thssa already apologized and exined the situation.


    But this woman not only badmouthed Thssa. She even talked trash about her kids, saying they¡¯d


    grow up to be criminals!


    That was way out of line!


    Thssa could take a hit or two herself, but she wouldn¡¯t stand for anyone attacking her kids.


    As a mom, she would protect her kids no matter what!


    And if anyone tried to hurt her kids, she wouldn¡¯t be ying nice!


    This woman was pretty hefty and looked like she could hold her own.


    But she got caught off guard and shoved into the sink with no time to prepare.


    Her head held down, she was in a panic, her hands struggling but weak.


    Her face was submerged in the sink and she was on the verge of suffocating.


    Thssa¡¯s furious voice echoed in her ears as she iled around like a drowning hen, trying to grab


    Thssa¡¯s hand.


    Thssa evaded her grasp, lifted her head up for a quick breath of fresh air, and then shoved her back


    in, making her drink the sink water.


    Thssa was fuming, nearly out of her mind, ¡°This is how I felt when I was looking for my kids,


    suffocating and desperate! Now you get it? My kids were facing the wall, not looking this way. Yet you


    cursed them! People like you are the real scum of society! If your mouth is dirty, I don¡¯t mind helping


    you clean it up!¡±


    Thssa kept the woman¡¯s head under water, making her struggle.


    If she couldn¡¯t empathize with others¡¯ pain and talk so viciously, then let her experience the pain of


    suffocation and clean that dirty mouth of hers!


    ¡°Mommy,¡± a childlike voice rang out.


    It was like a beam of light striking Thssa¡¯s anger. She whipped her head around to see the little girl


    standing by her side, helpless and crying.


    Thssa paused, a pang of pity welling up in her heart. She pulled the woman out of the sink and let


    go of her.


    The woman¡¯s hair was soaked, her face covered in water. Her makeup was ruined. Mascara smeared


    all over her eyes, looking like a panda. Her cheap foundation was soaked, peeling off like dead skin.


    Her lipstick was blurred, smearing around her mouth.


    She looked like a clown, ridiculous and disheveled.


    Her first reaction after being freed was not tofort her crying child, but to charge at Thssa in fury,


    ¡°You dare to hit me. I¡¯ll kill you!¡±


    Thssa reacted quickly, grabbing the woman¡¯s iling arms. Thssa, being used to physicalbor,


    Content ? N?velDrama.Org.


    was pretty strong. She held onto the woman¡¯s hands, rendering her immobile.


    Thssa red at the woman, a coldugh escaping her lips, ¡°Don¡¯t you love your daughter? She¡¯s


    crying, and you don¡¯t care. Instead, you¡¯re eager to take revenge for yourself. Whether you are selfish


    or you truly love your daughter, you should know better than me.¡±


    This woman was just so self-centered and venomous, and she had no ss.


    She was all high and mighty about considering her daughter earlier, and now she had suddenly


    forgotten about her.

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    The woman froze on the spot, as if her deepest deception wasid bare. A hint of panic and guilt


    shed across her face, but she quickly masked it.


    She yanked her hand from Thssa¡¯s grip, backed off, and clung onto her daughter¡¯s hand, venting all


    her anger and frustration on her. ¡°Why the hell are you crying? You think your mom¡¯s life is not shitty


    Content ? N?velDrama.Org.


    enough? I must be damned to have a daughter like you!¡±


    As she scolded her daughter and Thssa, she stormed off, leaving a trail of resentment behind.


    At home, she always used her love for her daughter as an excuse to boss her husband around, treating


    him like a ve.


    Whenever things didn¡¯t go her way, she would me her husband for hurting their daughter, and


    wouldn¡¯t shy away from throwing insults at him.


    She was just exploiting her love for her daughter for her own selfish gain.


    Her love for her daughter was just a facade. Deep down, she was extremely selfish and bitter.


    At home, her husband was always putting up with her, which only fueled her sharp and arrogant


    personality.


    Outside, she didn¡¯t hold back either, and was taken aback when someone finally called her out and


    gave her a piece of their mind.


    She felt guilty that her deception was exposed and was angry that she had been put in her ce with


    no chance to fight back.


    With no other outlet for her anger, she took it out on her daughter.


    Thssa watched as the woman walked away with her daughter, feeling sorry for the little girl who had


    a mother like that.


    Not every mother in this world truly loved their child..


    Thssa quickly went outside. Then she found three well-behaved kids lined up against the wall, not


    moving an inch.


    They were so polite and cautious.


    Thssa felt both heartbroken and proud.


    ¡®Let¡¯s


    1.


    We need to find Atticus fast,¡± Thssa said to the kids, leading them towards the lounge..


    Maybe Atticus didn¡¯t see her at the bathroom door and went back to the lounge.


    Thssa quickly brought the kids to the lounge, scanning the area, but there was no sign of Atticus.


    Thssa was so anxious she felt weak.


    What if Atticus was lost, or worse, kidnapped?


    Dorian felt Thssa¡¯s trembling hand. He knew she was worried about his brother.


    He looked up at her, his young voice reassuring her. ¡°Mom, Atticus is really smart. He¡¯ll be okay.¡±


    ¡°Yes, he will be okay. We will find him,¡± Thssa echoed. ¡°We¡¯ll go to the broadcasting room and ask


    for help.¡±


    In a moment of inspiration, Thssa quickly led the kids towards the mall¡¯s broadcasting room.


    As soon as they arrived, they heard someone exim, ¡°Oh my god, this kid is a genius! He¡¯s only four


    years old and he fixed aputer system no one else could!¡±


    ¡°Kid, thank you for your help. Here¡¯s a little something for you. Go buy some candy.¡±


    Thssa looked towards the voice and saw a small figure sitting in front of aputer screen. The


    young handsome face looked a bit solemn, showing a maturity beyond his years. He nced at the


    reward but didn¡¯t take it. ¡°Sir, I can¡¯t ept your reward. My mom would scold me,¡±

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    The boy sported a neat short haircut and was dressed in a white long-sleeved tee and coffee-colored


    trousers. His face was clean as a whistle, with tender, thick eyebrows. Although he was young, he


    already exuded a cool and handsome air that set him apart from others.


    Content ? N?velDrama.Org.


    This was Atticus who had Thssa all tied up in knots.


    ¡°Atticus!¡± Thssa hurried over with the other three kids in tow, let go of their hands, then she scooped


    Atticus up from his swivel chair and held him tight. With a mix of relief and lingering fear, she said,


    ¡°Baby, you scared the living daylights out of me. I thought you got lost.¡±


    Finally, her worries about Atticus eased up.


    Thssa fought back tears, stroking Atticus¡¯ tender face non-stop.


    Atticus could feel his mother¡¯s concern and love. Although he wasn¡¯t the type to act cute, he wrapped


    his arms around Thssa and rested his face against hers to reassure her, ¡°Mom, I¡¯m fine. Don¡¯t worry


    about me. I won¡¯t get lost.¡±


    The staff member who was about to reward Atticus chuckled, ¡°That¡¯s right, ma¡¯am. Your kid¡¯s super


    bright. With smarts like his, he definitely won¡¯t get lost. He¡¯s only four, but he¡¯s already fixed aputer


    that our staff couldn¡¯t handle. He¡¯s a realputer whiz.¡±


    Thssa calmed down, looking puzzledly at the staff member, then back at Atticus, surprised. ¡°Did you


    really fix someone¡¯sputer?¡±


    Atticus nodded earnestly. His words, though childish, were clear and coherent. ¡°After I left the restroom


    and couldn¡¯t find you, I was going to look for you in the lounge. But then I heard a man on the phone,


    saying theputer for managing surveince was broken and the repairman couldn¡¯t fix it. He was


    desperately looking for other repairmen. I heard this and offered to give it a shot. So, he brought me


    here.¡±


    After saying all this, Atticus gave Dorian a meaningful nce and winked at him.


    Picking up on his brother¡¯s hint, Dorian immediately straightened up and exined to Thssa, ¡°Mom,


    I¡¯m ratting out my brother. He often reads books withputer graphics at night. Maybe that¡¯s why he


    can fixputers.¡±


    Thssa finally understood how Atticus learned to fixputers.


    The boy had followed a stranger to fix aputer out of his instinctive inclination to help others.


    Thssa lovingly ruffled Atticus¡¯ hair, then put him down and told the staff member, ¡°My son is a quick


    learner. He probably saw simr repair cases in books, which is why he could fix theputer.¡±


    The staff memberughed in response, ¡°A photographic memory. That¡¯s genius too.¡± He shoved the


    reward into Thssa¡¯s hand, ¡°Just a token of appreciation, please take it.¡±


    ¡°No, we can¡¯t ept this,¡± Thssa politely declined.


    It took the staff member quite a while to stuff the money into her pocket. ¡°We¡¯d have to pay for a


    professional toe fix it anyway. Compared to that, this is nothing. Consider it candy money for the


    kids, please take it.¡±


    ¡°Mom, you said you¡¯d buy us candies just now,¡± Dorian said, tilting his head, looking forward to the


    candies.


    ¡°Right, go get some candies for the kids. Look at them, each one¡¯s lively and adorable. They deserve a


    candy reward,¡± the staff member said, ncing around at the four children. They really liked these


    kids.


    Thssa no longer refused and smiled graciously, ¡°Then, thank you.¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t mention it. It¡¯s the least we could do.¡±


    Thssa left the broadcasting room with the children.


    Each of the four kids held a candy shaped like an animal.


    Atticus had a kitty-shaped one, Dorian¡¯s was puppy-shaped, Elowen¡¯s was a panda, and Sophia¡¯s was


    a roon.


    Atticus and Dorian were up front, happily licking their candies, while Thssa, hand in hand with


    Elowen and Sophia, followed behind. Sophia was also contentedly licking her candy.


    But Elowen was just staring at her candy.


    Curious, Thssa asked, ¡°Elowen, why aren¡¯t you eating your candy?¡±

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    ¡°Mommy, this panda candy is too cute! I can¡¯t bear to eat it,¡± little Elowen blurted out with her adorable


    innocence.


    Elowen¡¯s pure-heartedness warmed Thssa¡¯s heart immensely.


    She gave a slight chuckle, ¡°Don¡¯t worry. It¡¯s just a design made of sugar. You aren¡¯t hurting it.¡±


    ¡°But I still can¡¯t do it. I¡¯m going to keep it,¡± Elowen pouted, showing her tender pink lips.


    The panda design on the candy was almost cuter than her. She couldn¡¯t bring herself to take a bite.


    Thssa just smiled and didn¡¯t say anything more.


    The innocence of children was precious.


    C¨°ntens bel0ngs to N?(v)elDr/a/ma.Org


    At that moment, Atticus and Dorian who were walking ahead suddenly hooked each other¡¯s shoulders,


    their tiny headsing together as they seemed to be discussing something.


    Dorian whispered to Atticus, ¡°Atticus, why did you go to the broadcast room to fix theputer?¡±


    Atticus¡¯s gaze earlier seemed to suggest more than just asking for help exining hisputer repair


    skills.


    Dorian and Atticus were thick as thieves, always having their own little secrets.


    Dorian could understand every look from his brother.


    Atticus leaned into Dorian¡¯s ear, his voice barely a whisper, afraid of being overheard, ¡°I heard


    someone call for Mr. Sinir in the bathroom, and I also heard mom call him Mr. Sinir in a worried


    tone. I suspect that guy is Lysander, the broadcast roomputer has the mall¡¯s surveince footage.


    If I fix theputer, I can watch the footage and see what Mom and Lysander are up to.¡±


    That was the real reason he went to the broadcast room with the staff to fix theputer.


    The sounds from inside the bathroom could be heard outside, and vice versa.


    He heard the name Mr. Sinir, and it seemed everyone was wary of him.


    He walked out of the bathroom, but didn¡¯t see his mom anywhere. He knew his mom loved them too


    much to just disappear without a word.


    There must be more than meets the eye.


    Atticus really wanted to know where his mom and Lysander had gone. Was Lysander really not their


    father, as his mom had said?


    The quickest way to find out the truth was to check the mall¡¯s surveince, keeping tabs on his mom


    and Lysander¡¯s actions.


    After Atticus finished his words, Dorian¡¯s eyes lit up with excitement, ¡°Atticus, I saw Dad earlier and


    even spoke to him.¡±


    ¡°Really? What did he say?¡± Usually cool andposed, Atticus suddenly seemed very interested.


    ¡°He told me to take good care of our sisters,¡± Dorian said.


    ¡°Does he like our sisters?¡± Atticus asked.


    Dorian pouted, a bit hurt, ¡°Elowen identally bumped into him and he scared her into crying.¡±


    Atticus immediately frowned, ¡°Hmph, lousy dad!¡±


    In his anger, his voice was a bit loud.


    Thssa heard what Atticus said and felt a jolt of shock.

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    Thssa was puzzled. ¡°Atticus, Dorian, what are you guys talking about?¡±


    Hearing this, Atticus and Dorian seemed a bit flustered and quickly let go of each other¡¯s shoulders.


    Dorian had a pair of beautiful eyes. His bright eyes were anxiously darting around, showing some guilt.


    C¨°ntens bel0ngs to N?(v)elDr/a/ma.Org


    He was thinking about how to answer his mom¡¯s question.


    Atticus also avoided Thssa¡¯s gaze and quickly exined, ¡°Dorian and I were just talking about how I


    had just taken a dump in the bathroom. Yeah, a stinky dump!¡±


    After his exnation, Atticus even mimicked his previous tone and content.


    Thssa finally rxed and chuckled, ¡°Weren¡¯t you guys just eating candy? Can you really discuss


    poop while eating candy?¡±


    ¡°Well, Dorian likes to eat strong-vored food.¡± After Atticus finished, he looked down and didn¡¯t dare to


    look at Thssa anymore.


    Dorian nodded again and again. ¡°Yes, yes, I like strong vors.¡±


    Thssa couldn¡¯t help butugh at these two boys¡¯ words.


    ¡°I don¡¯t like strong vors, and I don¡¯t want to hear about poop. Suddenly Sophia found her lollipop


    unappetizing.


    Atticus and Dorian awkwardly scratched their heads.


    Dorian said, ¡°Alright, let¡¯s drop it.¡±


    Anyway, he already knew why Atticus suddenly wanted to fix theputer in the broadcasting room.


    There was nothing more to know.


    As Thssa was leading the kids towards the office area of the mall, she suddenly saw a few doctors


    in white coats, hurriedly carrying a stretcher out.


    On the stretchery a man, moaning in pain.


    The man had a bit of white hair on his temples. Although he was already middle-aged, he carried a wild


    aura.


    Even full of wounds and in pain, his charm was undiminished.


    That man was Bruce!


    Thssa watched as the medical staff carried him out of the mall.


    At that moment, Evelyn also appeared in Thssa¡¯s sight, following behind with a gloomy face and


    hurried steps.


    Thssa immediately led the kids over. ¡°Mom, is everything okay?¡±


    After she had the staff call for help earlier, she anxiously left the office to find the kids.


    She left the rest to Evelyn.


    She wasn¡¯t sure what was going on now.


    Evelyn nced in the direction where Bruce was taken away and let out an angry sigh, ¡°This man


    deserves to be punished! He¡¯s a total jerk!¡±


    An employee approached, respectfully and carefully exined, ¡°Today Mr. Bruce finally invited Mr.


    Sinir from the Sinir group to inspect thepetition, but


    he lost control and offended Mr. Sinir with his actions towards Ms. Evelyn. We apologize for the


    shock this has caused.¡±


    After finishing, he handed the re-match pass to Thssa. ¡°This is your daughter Elowen¡¯s re-match


    pass. She can participate in the re-match in a week.¡±


    ¡°Bruce is the main person in charge. What¡¯s the point of such apetition!¡± Evelyn said angrily.


    She was about to snatch the pass from the employee¡¯s hand.


    Elowen tiptoed and happily took the pass from the employee¡¯s hand. ¡°Great, I can enjoy the food again.

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    Elowen was hopping around with the pass in her hand, buzzing with excitement.


    Seeing the child so thrilled, Evelyn didn¡¯t have the heart to say anything else and she took a deep


    breath.


    ¡°Alright, we¡¯re off now,¡± Thssa told the staff.


    The trip to the mall, far from being a rxing experience for Thssa, had her on edge, her emotions


    roller-coasting between fear and anxiety.


    She was pretty freaked out.


    By the time they got home, the kids were wiped out.


    Evelyn headed into the kitchen to whip up some grub.


    Thssa got the kids in a line, helping them wash their hands and faces.


    Their faces were smeared with lollipop residue, looking like little sugar-coated kittens.


    Thssa cleaned them up.


    Soon, Evelyn had the meal ready. It was a simple fare. The kids had already snacked at the mall so


    they weren¡¯t too peckish. After munching a bit, Thssa herded


    them off to bed.


    The two mothers sat at the dining table, munching on pizza and chatting.


    Evelyn had a ton of questions for Thssa.


    And Thssa had her own list of queries for Evelyn.


    Evelyn was impulsive to be the first to pop the question, ¡°Didn¡¯t that Lysander guy ditch you because


    he looked down on your status? Why are you still hanging out


    with him?¡±


    Thssa was a bit thrown off by the question. She had been trying to shake off Lysander..


    She didn¡¯t want Evelyn to know that Lysander had forced her into being with him.


    That way she could spare Evelyn the worry and stop her from picking a fight with Lysander and making


    a fool of herself.


    Thssa replied, ¡°Didn¡¯t the staff exin earlier? Lysander was there to check on thepetition. I


    just bumped into him.¡±¡±


    ¡°Really? Then why did he step in to teach Bruce a lesson?¡± Evelyn¡¯s sharp eyes bore into Thssa.


    She might be getting on in years, but she sure wasn¡¯t senile.


    If Thssa really had nothing to do with Lysander, why did he storm in, all fired up, to punish Bruce


    when he heard Thssa call her mom?


    Thssa averted her eyes slightly, ¡°Maybe it was his sense of justice. Even strangers would speak up


    against injustice.¡±


    Content ? N?velDrama.Org.


    ¡°Hmph, you better not be hiding something from me, or you¡¯ll be the one to pay for it!¡± Evelyn grumbled


    angrily, taking a big bite of her pizza.


    She was livid. Her life was messy enough as it was, and now her daughter was getting hurt and


    disrespected by men too.


    She was filled with a sense of injustice and pain that was almost overpowering.


    Thssa moved a little closer, her clear eyes full of seriousness and curiosity, ¡°Mom, what¡¯s the deal


    between you and Bruce? Why did he im to be my dad?¡±


    This was a question she had wanted to ask for a long time, but she never found the right opportunity.


    The mention of Bruce got Evelyn all hot under the cor. She mmed the tableware on the table,


    saying, ¡°He sweet-talked me when we were young. I was all set to marry him. I never thought he was


    ying the field!¡±


    Thssa¡¯s heart rate went up. She asked tentatively, ¡°So, am I really his daughter?¡±


    Evelyn nced at her, ¡°When I found out he was two-timing, I broke up with him. But then I found out I


    was pregnant. He said all the right things and promised to marry me right away. I thought he would turn


    over a new leaf. But he never cut ties with those other women. One of them was a wealthy socialite. He


    was fooling her for her money, and he even egged her on to elope with him.¡±


    Hearing all this, Thssa was livid. She said angrily, ¡°You¡¯re right, mom. He¡¯s a grade-A jerk!¡±

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    Chapter 320


    ¡°Thssa, I gotta warn you, this guy has no moralpass whatsoever. You can¡¯t let him fool you,¡±


    Evelyn cautioned Thssa.


    She had nned to have a serious chat with Bruce and give him a piece of her mind.


    But she didn¡¯t expect his shamelessness to exceed her wildest imagination.


    The old fart actually dared to try something on her.


    She pushed him away with all her might and he resisted!


    This kind of man was nothing but societal trash,plete garbage!


    Thssa replied to Evelyn, ¡°Mom, I get it.¡±


    ¡°Alright, let¡¯s eat. After dinner, get some rest. You workedtest night and have to take the kids out


    today. You must be tired,¡± Evelyn said.


    ¡°Mhm, mom, you eat too, Thssa nodded.


    She lowered her head to eat noodles, but her heart tasted bitter.


    When she was little, she saw other kids being pampered by their fathers and she too wished for a


    father¡¯s love.


    But the harsh reality shattered all her beautiful illusions of her father.


    She didn¡¯t expect her father to be such a man.


    Men truly were no good.


    When she was young, she believed in love, only to be betrayed by Leopold Sinir.


    Later, she thought she could stay with the father of her children out of responsibility.


    But the father of her children didn¡¯t want to marry her at all.


    He didn¡¯t like kids and even had a fianc¨¦e.


    In his eyes, she was probably just a toy to y with!


    She and her mother were so unlucky, encountering such men after more than twenty years.


    After finishing the pizza, Evelyny down next to the kids and went to sleep.


    Meeting Bruce today made her so angry her stomach hurt, stirring up unbearable memories of over


    twenty years ago.


    Evelyn had no mood to y poker anymore, better to get some rest and sleep.


    Thssa was also exhausted. She took a bath and hand washed her new skirt to make sure it was


    spotless. Then she dried it with a hairdryer and even ironed it.


    She nned to bring the skirt to the office on Monday to return it to Lysander.


    Before she could finish ironing, her phone rang.


    Material ? of N?velDrama.Org.


    Seeing the name on the screen, she answered unhappily, ¡°What now?¡±


    Leopold was so annoying. He always called her at night!


    And he always called after she had finished her bath and changed into her pajamas.


    ¡°I miss you,¡± Leopold drawledzily, sounding a bit whiny.


    This gave Thssa goosebumps, ¡°Leopold, are you sick or something?¡±


    ¡°Yes, I¡¯m sick. And it¡¯s all because of you,¡± Leopold admitted.


    This left Thssa speechless. ¡°What does your illness have to do with me? If you¡¯re sick, go to the


    hospital. What are you calling me for?¡±


    ¡°Because I¡¯m sick with missing you and only you can cure it,¡± Leopold¡¯s deep voice was thick with


    emotion.


    She¡¯d heard enough sweet nothings during her college years.


    Back then, she waspletely charmed by Leopold¡¯s sweet words.


    Looking back now, she felt ridiculous.


    It was undoubtedly due to her being young and na?ve.


    The more sweet nothings a man said, the poorer his character!


    Just like her father, his character was also extremely poor.


    Thssa was now immune to such sweet nothings. She said coldly, ¡°If you don¡¯t have anything else to


    say, I¡¯m hanging up now!¡±

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    Chapter 321


    ¡°I gotta run,¡± Leopold said, ¡°I¡¯m here to fetch my jacket.¡±


    Every word he had just said was genuine, no bullshit or sweet talk.


    Content ? N?velDrama.Org.


    He really missed her.


    He had been missing her for five years.


    But even after five years, she wouldn¡¯t forgive him.


    Now, he could only meet her under someme excuse.


    ¡°What jacket?¡± Thssa seemed confused.


    ¡°The zer I lent youst night,¡± Leopold answered.


    Thssa suddenly remembered. She went downstairs in her pajamasst night.


    For some weird reason, Leopold insisted on draping his jacket over her.


    Afterwards, because she was wearing his jacket, she got on the wrong side of the quirky Lysander,


    which led to her being threatened and drenched by him.


    ¡°I don¡¯t have it,¡± Thssa said.


    ¡°Thssa, are you keeping it as a memento? You still love me, don¡¯t you? Why can¡¯t you ovee the


    obstacles and be with me?¡±


    Upon hearing this, Thssa felt incredibly hassled and helpless. She calmly said, ¡°You¡¯re overthinking.


    I¡¯ve told you many times. I have no feelings for you anymore. I didn¡¯t return your jacket not because I


    don¡¯t want to, but because my mom washed it. It¡¯s all wet now.¡±


    ¡°No worries. I¡¯ll swing by your ce and grab it, and say hi to your mom,¡± Leopold said before hanging


    up.


    ¡°Wait, don¡¯te up. My mom doesn¡¯t want to see you. Are you downstairs now?¡± Thssa hurriedly


    asked.


    ¡°Yeah.¡±


    ¡°Just wait there. I¡¯ll be right down,¡± Thssa hung up after speaking.


    Just as she was about to open the door, she remembered she was still in her pajamas.


    With that lesson learned, she couldn¡¯t go out in her pajamas again. So she dashed back to her room,


    changed into clothes, and then went out.


    Downstairs was a dimly lit street.


    Leopold¡¯s tall silhouette stood under the streetlight, casting a long shadow.


    He was wearing a silver-grey zer today, coupled with his chestnut hair. He had an air of a devil-may-


    care, rich yboy.


    Thssa walked over, maintaining a step¡¯s distance. ¡°The jacket is really wet. It¡¯s hard to take down.


    How about this? I¡¯ll mail it to your office when it dries.¡±


    His jacket was ripped off by Lysanderst night and thrown in the bathroom of Lysander¡¯s private vi.


    She had no idea if it was still there.


    Whether it was there or not, she couldn¡¯t retrieve it.


    She would have to buy a new one and give it to Leopold.


    ¡°Thssa, let¡¯s talk in the car.¡± Leopold looked at her, his gaze was gentle and affectionate.


    All these excuses were just for him to see her. He didn¡¯t really need that jacket.


    But just seeing her once wasn¡¯t enough.


    He wished their time together couldst a little longer, a bit more.


    ¡°Never mind. I¡¯ve exined. I¡¯m going back now.¡± Thssa declined.


    ¡°Then I¡¯ll walk you back and say hello to your mom.¡± Leopold followed her.


    Thssa stopped. She took a deep breath, looking somewhat annoyed. She helplessly said, ¡°Fine,


    let¡¯s talk in the car.¡±


    Thssa opened the car door and got in. Leopold followed suit and they both sat in the backseat.


    He had no ill intentions. He just wanted to get closer to her to catch her scent. That was all he needed


    to be satisfied.


    ¡°Are you coping well at work?¡± Leopold tried to make conversation.


    ¡°It¡¯s okay.¡± Thssa wasn¡¯t really in the mood for a chat. She just wanted to get home as soon as


    possible because she was tired and needed rest.


    ¡°Thssa, I need to remind you. Keep your distance from Lysander as much as possible. He doesn¡¯t


    have much patience for women. Women who have offended him usually end up in a bad ce.¡±


    Leopold said.

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    Thssa¡¯s lips curled up slightly as her gazended on Leopold. ¡°You seem to know him well.¡±


    ¡°Of course, he¡¯s only three years older than me. We¡¯ve been growing up together. He¡¯s quite cold,


    especially with women, but that¡¯s all linked with his childhood,¡± answered Leopold confidently.


    He wanted to spend more time with Thssa, but needed to find a topic to keep the conversation


    going.


    Otherwise, Thssa might leave soon.


    Knowing that Thssa didn¡¯t want to hear his apologies anymore, Leopold steered the conversation


    towards Lysander.


    Because Lysander was Thssa¡¯s boss.


    He dissected Lysander¡¯s personality for her, so she could avoid stepping onndmines at work.


    Thssa should be interested in this topic.


    ¡°His childhood? What do you mean?¡± Thssa asked.


    Leopold exined to Thssa in detail about Lysander¡¯s parents.


    Lysander¡¯s mother abandoned her husband and son to elope with another man. Despite her husband¡¯s


    N?velD(ram)a.?rg owns this content.


    attempts to stop her, she drove away, causing Lysander¡¯s father to give chase in emotional turmoil.


    Then both of them died in a car ident.


    From then on, Lysander became an orphan.


    Thssa was shocked upon hearing this.


    Lysander, who seemed to have a carefree life, had such a miserable childhood.


    Thssa asked curiously, ¡°Then the Sinirs must hate that man, right?¡±


    Leopold nodded, ¡°Especially Lysander. He hates that man to the bone. If he sees him again, Lysander


    would definitely throw a punch.¡±


    ¡°Was Lysander raised by your grandparents then?¡± Thssa asked again.


    ¡°Yes,¡± Leopold, replied.


    After answering, he suddenly realized that Thssa seemed overly concerned about Lysander.


    He asked in a fluster, ¡°Thssa, you said you had a boyfriendst time. Were you lying to me?¡±


    His amber eyes, though seemingly gentle, were filled with worry, tension, and doubt.


    He remembered that there was a bite mark on Thssa¡¯s neckst time. He got nervous when he saw


    it and asked her if she had a boyfriend, to which she


    confirmed.


    He was so heartbroken that he couldn¡¯t sleep well for days.


    But, when he looked for Thssa twice, she was at home and not out on dates.


    He regained hope, thinking that she had lied about having a boyfriend to fool him.


    But now, seeing how much she cared about Lysander, he felt uneasy.


    ¡°You¡¯re overthinking. I didn¡¯t lie to you. Once the clothes are dry, I¡¯ll call you to deliver them. You don¡¯t


    have to make the trip yourself,¡± Thssa¡¯s tone was calm, without any fluctuation. After saying this,


    she got out of the car and walked briskly towards the residential area.


    Leopold didn¡¯t follow her, sitting in the car watching her retreating figure, his eyes filled with sadness.


    On Monday, Thssa went to the office early.


    She drove her purple-blue BMW.


    Thssa parked the car in the underground garage, and then she went to the top floor of the building.


    She made a point of going to the CEO¡¯s office, but found that Lysander hadn¡¯t arrived yet.


    So, she sat down in the secretary¡¯s office, dealing with work while waiting for him.


    Around ten, Lysander finally arrived.


    Thssa brought a cup of coffee to the CEO¡¯s office and ced it in front of him.


    Lysander was reading documents with his head down.


    Thssa stood in front of the desk. Looking at his perfectly sculpted face, she recalled what Leopold


    had told her yesterday.

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    Chapter 323


    Suddenly, she felt a pang ofpassion for Lysander, thinking that he¡¯d got a pretty rough deal too.


    He¡¯d lost his parents when he was just a kid.


    Sure, her family life wasn¡¯t exactly a bed of roses, growing up without the love and care of a dad, but at


    least she had her mom by her side.


    Her mom might be soft-spoken and a bit of a chatterbox, but what mattered most was that she loved


    her.


    She¡¯d known a mother¡¯s love since she was a kid.


    But Lysander had lost his folks when he was just a tyke.


    Compared to her, he had it way worse.


    Thssa looked at Lysander with tenderness in her eyes, hesitated for a moment standing by the


    desk, and then put the car keys and the neatly packed clothes on


    1.


    She said softly, ¡°Mr. Sinir, here are the clothes and car keys you lent me yesterday. I¡¯m returning


    them now.¡±


    Lysander stopped what he was doing and looked at her with intense eyes.


    He didn¡¯t say a word, but his silent gaze made it hard for Thssa to even breathe.


    She exined, ¡°Mr. Sinir, don¡¯t worry. I¡¯ll make sure to get up early from now on. I swear I won¡¯t be


    on my way to the office.¡±


    She had epted the BMW earlier because David had pushed her to take it. He had said that if she


    didn¡¯t ept it, Mr. Sinir might think that he wasn¡¯t doing his job properly.


    She couldn¡¯t let David fail because of her.


    But there was no way she was going to fully ept the car.


    The vi he¡¯d built for her family was to thank her for saving his life five years ago and to make up for


    the harm he¡¯d done to her then.


    She¡¯d epted the vi because she believed that she had every right to im it.


    But now, apart from her regr sry, she couldn¡¯t ept anything else Lysander offered her.


    If she did, she¡¯d really be his woman.


    That would be crossing a line which she wasn¡¯t willing to do, so she couldn¡¯t ept those.


    Lysander¡¯s deep, ocean-like eyes were still fixed on her, inscrutable and as cold as ice.


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    Thssa felt a chill run down her spine. She straightened up, swallowed her fear, and continued to say,


    ¡°Lysander, did your hand get hurt yesterday? Thanks for teaching Bruce a lesson for my mom.¡±


    The moment she mentioned Bruce¡¯s name, Lysander¡¯s gaze turned sharp and icy as he yelled, ¡°Get


    out!¡±


    His tone was harsh and brooked no argument.


    His words cut like a knife.


    Thssa was taken aback. She nodded quickly and hurriedly turned to leave the room.


    Once she was out of the office, she took a deep breath to calm herself down.


    That was seriously scary.


    She chided herself for being foolish, feeling sorry for a man high above the rest, holding life and death


    in his hands.


    Sure, he had a rough childhood, but he lived in thep of luxury at that point, rich enough to buy even a


    country, getting whatever he wanted.


    And what was her condition? She had to worry about making ends meet every day.


    She was so weak that Lysander could crush her with only one finger.


    And yet she had the audacity to show him gratitude and concern. What a joke.


    Got kicked out in the cold, didn¡¯t she?


    She wouldn¡¯t repeat the same mistake next time.


    Thssa gave her own head a light smack and headed back to the secretary¡¯s office.


    Meanwhile, in the CEO¡¯s office.


    Lysander was clutching his pen so hard his knuckles turned white, his handsome face was a mask of


    icy fury, as cold as frost and as heavy as snow, chilling to the


    bone.


    His breathing was ragged as he stared at the car keys on the desk, and at the neatly folded clothes in


    the brown paper bag.


    His suppressed anger was like a volcano, ready to explode at any moment.


    He swept away the bag and keys off the table in one swift motion.

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    Chapter 324


    There was a meeting this morning.


    Thssa got the conference room all set up ahead of time.


    The meeting kicked off right on time at half past ten.


    Thssa was at the door, waiting for the bigwigs to show up for the meeting. They strolled in and took


    their rightful seats.


    But Lysander was nowhere to be seen, so Thssa just kept hanging around the door.


    After a bit, Lysander finally showed up,te as ever. He was moving fast, with David trailing right


    behind him.


    Thssa could tell from a mile away that Lysander was in a foul mood. He looked really pissed off, like


    he had a major chip on his shoulder.


    As he got closer, the room got colder, and Thssa could feel her back stiffen and her breath hitch.


    She had just witnessed him blow up in his office and kick her out.


    Looking at his cold face at that time, Thssa was so nervous that her heart was practically pounding


    out of her chest.


    As he approached, Thssa lowered her head and politely weed him, ¡°Good morning, sir.¡± He


    nced at her with his intense eyes, and then looked away. The intensity in his eyes still didn¡¯t go


    away.


    He walked past her, leaving a cold breeze in his wake that bit into Thssa, almost causing her


    physical pain.


    Lysander took the big chair, sinking into the ck swivel seat, giving off vibes of cold and pressure.


    The staff could all feel the atmosphere around them bing colder, and everyone was too scared to


    make a sound.


    Thssa went back to the multimediaputer and started to demonstrate the materials for the


    meeting.


    A few of the top management people gave their two cents.


    But Lysander shot them all down, cold as ice, even getting mad at them.


    A lot of them got chewed out.


    The atmosphere in the room was so tense that it was practically freezing.


    Thssa was walking on eggshells, even trying to breathe quietly.


    After the meeting was over, all the top management people practically bolted from the room.


    Thssa had to wait until everyone had left the room before she could clean up and leave.


    She was on high alert, watching Lysander like a hawk, afraid he was going to blow up at her if she


    caused even the slightest of trouble.


    She didn¡¯t make any mistakes at that meeting.


    Just when she was getting anxious, Lysander stood up, took long strides and left without a backward


    nce and without saying a word to her.


    Watching his tall figure leave the room, Thssa finally let out a sigh of relief.


    The next thing she knew was a face right in front of her, which frightened her a bit. It was actually


    David.


    She put a hand over her heart, exining her situation, ¡°David, you scared the bejesus out of me, why


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    are you staring at me like that?¡±


    David looked at her curiously and inquired, ¡°Why did you piss off Mr. Sinir?¡±


    Thssa pointed to herself as she was baffled, ¡°Me?¡±


    David had a smirk on his face, ¡°Of course you, who else could get Sinir so fired up?¡±


    Thssa blinked innocently, ¡°I didn¡¯t do anything to piss him off, all I did was return his car.¡±


    ¡°You returned the car Mr. Sinir gave you?¡± David was surprised as he asked her.


    Thssa curiously asked, ¡°Is there a problem with that?¡±


    David¡¯s face was full of disbelief. He nodded and then replied, ¡°I got to hand it to you. It takes guts to


    return Sinir¡¯s gift and still stand here as cool as a


    cucumber.¡±


    After saying that, David left the room.


    Thssa was totally clueless, not understanding the meaning behind David¡¯s words.


    Was it wrong to not ept a gift that was way too expensive?


    Finally, it was lunchtime. Thssa took advantage of the break to hit the closest mall to the Sinir


    group.


    She nned to buy a suit exactly like Leopold¡¯s coat and give it back to him.

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    Chapter 325


    After scouring countless shopping malls, Thssa still couldn¡¯t find the exact zer she was looking


    for. The one with ck lining, and blue and gold stripes.


    Just when she was about to throw in the towel, she spotted a model wearing the exact zer in the


    window of a luxury store.


    She marched right in and asked the salesperson, ¡°How much for the zer?¡±


    Content ? N?velDrama.Org.


    ¡°Twenty thousand dors,¡± the salesperson promptly replied with a polite smile.


    Thssa sucked in a breath, ¡°Twenty grand? Is there any room for negotiation?¡±


    Why was it always twenty thousand?


    If she had twenty thousand, she could¡¯ve paid it as a breach of contract fee to the Sinir group and


    bailed. She could¡¯ve found work elsewhere, instead of dealing with someone like Lysander every day.


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry, we¡¯re a brand store, with set prices worldwide. We don¡¯t offer discounts,¡± the salesperson


    kept smiling, still perfectly polite.


    Thssa awkwardly grinned as she apologized, ¡°Sorry for bothering you.¡±


    So, the zer Leopold wearing was priced at twenty grand. As expected, rich people were so


    whimsical.


    Poverty really did limit one¡¯s imagination.


    As she was about to leave in disappointment, she noticed a tailor shop.


    Maybe she could get the zer replicated. As long as she could return something to Leopold, she


    didn¡¯t care if it was a knockoff or not.


    Thssa eagerly entered the tailor shop.


    After speaking with the owner, he agreed to make a replica of the zer.


    But it would take a week because his schedule was already packed.


    In reality, the design of the zer was quite simple. If he really wanted, he could finish it in two to three


    hours.


    But Thssa couldn¡¯t wait that long as she needed to return it as soon as possible.


    So, she proposed, ¡°How about this, you provide the fabric and the sewing machine, and I¡¯ll do the


    cutting and sewing myself. I¡¯ll pay for the fabric and the machine.


    rental.¡±


    Thssa had worked in a clothing factory for a year and specifically learned how to cut and sew from a


    tailor. She was confident enough that she could make the


    zer herself.


    The owner agreed to her proposal.


    Thssa got to work immediately.


    She measured the style of the zer from the store across the street and outlined the cut on the


    fabric.


    In less than half an hour, she finished cutting the fabric.


    Next, she had to sew the pieces together.


    Thssa was skilled with the sewing machine and worked quickly.


    Soon, the zer was finished.


    The final step was ironing.


    But she had to go to work and didn¡¯t have the time to do it. So, she asked the owner, ¡°Would you mind


    ironing it for me? I¡¯lle to pick it up after work.¡±


    ¡°Sure,¡± the owner agreed without any hesitation.


    Thssa returned to the office, sat in the secretary¡¯s room with her stomach growling.


    She skipped lunch to save enough time to look for the zer.


    But because of that she was seeing stars from extreme hunger.


    Someone knocked at the door.


    Thssa looked up to see David at the door, ¡°What¡¯s up, David?¡±


    David held up a file and requested, ¡°Can you deliver these documents to Mr. Sinir?¡±


    Upon hearing she had to deliver documents to Lysander, Thssa tensed up and curiously asked,


    ¡°Why me?¡±


    ¡°Because anyone but you would get scolded, David gave her the reason behind his proposal.

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    Chapter 326


    Thssa was totally baffled by David¡¯s logic.


    Why was it that she was the only one who wouldn¡¯t get chewed out if she went to him?


    It seemed like David was overestimating her.


    But it was her job, there was no way to back off.


    Thssa took the documents and approached the president¡¯s office, knocking on the door first.


    After getting permission, she fearfully walked in.


    Lysander was sitting in the swivel chair of the president, dressed head to toe in a ck handmade suit


    that perfectly melded with the chair, exuding an aura of intimidation as he focused on reading a


    contract.


    Thssa felt nervous, swallowing hard as she gently walked over and ced the documents on the


    desk, ¡°Mr. Sinir, these are the documents David asked me to bring.¡±


    Before she could finish, Lysander looked up, his deep eyes cold and ruthless as they settled on her.


    Thssa¡¯s heart pounded in fear, just one look from him was enough to scare her.


    Lysander reached for the documents, flipping through them before once again looking up at her, his


    gaze even colder, and then he said, ¡°This document is about a coboration with Gourmet Competition:


    Do you think I should sign or not?¡±


    His deep, icy voice echoed; his seemingly calm tone was filled with an oppressive aura.


    Thssa felt like she was being squeezed under a mountain of pressure.¡±


    So, it was a contract for the Gourmet Competition that David had her deliver!


    Was that the same Gourmet Competition her daughter Elowen was participating in?


    Why was Lysander asking her if he should sign it or not?


    She was just a lowly secretary and she had no say in this matter.


    Thssa gave a little nod, ¡°Mr. Sinir, you¡¯re the president, your decision will certainly be the right


    one, I¡¯m just a secretary.¡±


    She knew the saying, ¡®the bird that sticks its head out gets shot first¡¯.


    Besides, she couldn¡¯t just spout off her opinion on this matter,


    As soon as she finished speaking, Lysander¡¯s cold, decisive voice rang out, ¡°I¡¯m asking you to choose,


    whether to sign or not! You just need to answer yes or no!¡±


    Lysander¡¯s voice was like a chilling wind, giving Thssa goosebumps.


    He was adamant, leaving no room for doubt.


    His intense and deep gaze was fixed on her.


    It was like a ck hole, if she wasn¡¯t careful, she¡¯d be devoured by the ck hole in his eyes.


    The more she looked at those eyes, the more terrified she became.


    Thssa¡¯s heart was racing; she was torn.


    Lysander kept his gaze on her, forcing her to maintain eye contact as if moving her gaze would result in


    punishment.


    But maintaining eye contact only made her more afraid.


    It was bing hard for her to breathe.


    Under his oppressive gaze, Thssa was forced to make a choice, ¡°Sign?¡±


    It was a question.


    If Lysander was personally inspecting the site of the Gourmet Competition, maybe it meant he was


    interested in that project.


    Thssa was also trying to figure out Lysander¡¯s thoughts, tentatively giving her answer.


    As soon as she finished, Lysander¡¯s gaze suddenly turned even colder, like a de office, it was firmly


    locked on her.


    Thssa¡¯s scalp started to tingle.


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    Did she give a wrong answer?


    Just as she was about to change the subject, she saw Lysander pick up his pen, flip open the


    document, and sign his name at the bottom. His signature was vigorous, smooth, and full of ir.


    Seeing that he actually signed the document, Thssa¡¯s heart didn¡¯t calm down, instead it started to


    beat even faster.


    If she continued to stay there, she might have had a heart attack.


    She quickly said, ¡°Mr. Sinir, you carry on, I¡¯ll step out.¡±


    After saying that she turned and left the office as quickly as possible.


    Back in the secretary¡¯s office, Thssa couldn¡¯t control her emotion and her heart was still pounding.


    Lysander¡¯s presence was truly overwhelming.

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    Chapter 327


    She didn¡¯t quite figure out why Lysander was asking for her opinion on whether to sign the contract for


    the gourmetpetition. Had Faye helped him make such decisions before? Thssa pondered for a


    long time but still couldn¡¯t figure out Lysander¡¯s intentions. Lysander was a strange one, with his


    unpredictable mood swings and iprehensible character.


    With a heavy heart, she finally survived the workday. Lysander didn¡¯t look for her again, which eased


    her anxiety a bit. When it was time to clock out, she left the secretary¡¯s office straight away, not


    bothering to wait for Lysander to leave the office like she did the first time.


    She headed to the mall to pick up her tailor-made suit and then took the bus home. On the bus, she


    inspected the suit and was very satisfied with its quality. It was almost identical to the one Leopold had


    given her before. The best part was that the suit only cost her a few dozen of bucks. If she had gone for


    Content ? N?velDrama.Org.


    a suit from a global brand, that would have set her back a whopping twenty grand!


    Solving a twenty-grand problem with just a few dozen bucks, Thssa felt a sense of aplishment.


    It just went to show, the more skills one had, the better. It never hurt, right?


    When she reached her neighborhood, Thssa saw two little girls ying with a puppy from a


    distance. The puppy was standing a meter away from the girls, yapping loudly, trying to show off its


    toughness. The girls, both around four years old, were Sophia, with short hair and wearing overalls,


    and Elowen, with two braids and chubby cheeks. Elowen held onto the back of Sophia¡¯s clothes,


    looking a bit scared. Sophia was trying to protect Elowen with her little hand and said in her childish


    voice, ¡°Don¡¯t be scared, Elowen. I¡¯ll protect you,¡± After that, Sophia yapped at the puppy, trying to show


    that she was tougher and was trying to scare it away. It was a heart-melting scene.


    The puppy, scared by Sophia¡¯s voice, stopped barking. It whimpered a few times before running off to a


    big dog nearby. It was the puppy¡¯s mother. The puppy snuggled into the mother¡¯s arms, seeking


    She walked over to the girls.


    Sophia, who had just scared the puppy away, turned around and gently patted Elowen¡¯s back, saying,


    ¡°Don¡¯t be scared, I¡¯ll protect you.¡±


    ¡°Elowen, Sophia, why are you two ying downstairs? Where¡¯s your grandma?¡± Thssa asked as


    she approached them; she was concerned about their safety. Hearing a familiar voice, the two girls


    turned, and their eyes lit up with excitement. They ran towards Thssa, shouting, ¡°Mommy!¡±


    The two girls threw themselves into Thssa¡¯s arms. Thssa bent down and hugged them, kissing


    their little faces. Their softness and the smell of milk made her heart flutter. Coming home to kiss her


    kids every day was pure bliss.


    ¡°Mommy, Sophia and I were taking out the trash. Grandma is cooking delicious food,¡± Elowen happily


    informed Thssa.


    ¡°Alright, let¡¯s go have some of that delicious food,¡± Thssa said, leading them back home.


    As soon as they walked in, the aroma of food filled the air. Thssa hadn¡¯t eaten lunch and was


    starving. The smell of the food made her mouth water. She was famished. She quickly washed her


    hands, grabbed some utensils, and started eating.


    Evelyn, seeing Thssa devouring the food like she hadn¡¯t eaten in days, frowned and said, ¡°Look at


    you, eating like you haven¡¯t eaten in ages.¡±


    ¡°I didn¡¯t eat lunch. That¡¯s why I¡¯m starving,¡± Thssa exined her situation with her mouth full.


    ¡°Eat up, then go pick up Isabe and her mother from the hospital. They¡¯re being discharged today,¡±


    Evelyn said.


    ¡°Why do I have to pick them up?¡± Thssa asked, puzzled.


    ¡°Didn¡¯t yourpany assign you a car? Go pick them up in that fancy car of yours. Show Isabe and


    her mother that you can also drive a luxury car. We won¡¯t let them look down on us!¡± Evelyn


    remembered how Isabe had shown off her luxury car and belittled Thssa¡¯s family for taking the


    train thest time they visited their hometown.

 Chapter 328

    Chapter 328


    Thssa¡¯s lip twitched slightly after listening to her mom. If she told her mom that she¡¯d returned the


    car to thepany, Evelyn would probably blow her top.


    Content ? N?velDrama.Org.


    But hey, there was always another day to break the news.


    After dinner, Thssa headed out to pick them up.


    She arrived at the hospital where Isabe was being cared for.


    She walked into the ward, her memory guiding her to Isabe¡¯s room.


    Halfway there, a man suddenly emerged from a room.


    The man had a bandage wrapped around his waist and one leg, and he needed a crutch to walk.


    Thssa thought he was just an ordinary patient, so she didn¡¯t pay him any attention and intended to


    walk past him.


    But the guy blocked her path. His tall figure stood in front of her, and then he opened his mouth in a


    pained voice, ¡°Thssa, it¡¯s you. You¡¯re here to see your dad, aren¡¯t you?¡±


    The word ¡°dad¡± seemed to trigger something fragile in Thssa. She looked up sharply at the man in


    front of her. Upon closer inspection, she realized that this wasn¡¯t just any man, it was Bruce!


    Thssa instantly went on guard, stating coldly, ¡°Don¡¯t mistake me for someone else. I don¡¯t have a


    dad!¡±


    With that, she tried to walk past him:


    But Bruce stepped forward, grabbing her hand, ¡°Thssa, it¡¯s all my fault. If I¡¯d known your mom didn¡¯t


    have an abortion all those years ago and gave birth to you, I would¡¯ve stepped up and performed my


    duty. I would¡¯ve raised you, spoiled you. Your mom lied to me and she said that she had an abortion.¡±


    Bruce¡¯s voice was filled with regret and self-reproach.


    Looking into his eyes, Thssa could clearly see the paternal love there.


    As she listened to his words, watched his expression, Thssa¡¯s usually tough exterior softened


    unexpectedly.


    Growing up, ¡°father¡± had always been a distant concept for Thssa.


    Every time she saw other kids being spoiled by their fathers, she couldn¡¯t help but feel lonely.


    Especially after her cousin, Celia, had passed away. Celia¡¯s father had fallen ill and died not long after


    due to grief.


    These events gave Thssa a deeper understanding of ¡°fatherly love¡±. It was a love as grand as a


    mountain, as deep as the ocean.


    A father¡¯s love for his daughter could be so profound that it turned into sickness from longing.


    She too had yearned for a father who would love her.


    When she was young, that was just a pipe dream.


    But now, out of the blue, there was someone iming to be her father!


    While she was resistant, she couldn¡¯t fight the deep-seated yearning for a father¡¯s love,


    Thssa twisted her wrist, pulling her fiand from his, ¡°It¡¯s all in the past. You have your life, I have


    mine. Let¡¯s just pretend we don¡¯t know each other. And,¡± Thssa looked at him calmly, stating


    seriously, ¡°don¡¯t do anything to hurt my mom again. Like what happened a few days ago. If you do, I¡¯ll


    have you thrown in jail!¡±


    Bruce sighed lightly at her determined expression, speaking in a intive tone, ¡°Thssa, you¡¯ve


    misunderstood me. I was only joking with your mom. I heard she¡¯s still single, I thought she still had


    feelings for me. I got carried away, couldn¡¯t control myself and my emotions. I still have feelings for


    her.¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t want to hear it!¡± Thssa interjected firmly, her anger ring.


    Seeing her about to explode, Bruce immediately shut up, quickly saying, ¡°Okay, okay, if you don¡¯t want


    to hear it, I won¡¯t say anymore.¡±


    He then pulled out a bank card from his pocket and handed it to Thssa, saying, ¡°There¡¯s twenty


    grand on this card, the pin is your mom¡¯s birthday. Take it, consider itpensation for the years of


    responsibility I¡¯ve shirked.¡±


    Thssa nced at the card, then pushed it away as she was disgusted, ¡°Don¡¯t make me sick, I don¡¯t


    want your money!¡±

 Chapter 329

    Chapter 329


    She tried to leave, but Bruce was hell-bent on stopping her.


    In a fit of emotion, he said, ¡°This is yours, take the money and I¡¯ll consider you and your mom strangers


    from now on. It¡¯ll make me feel better. If you don¡¯t ept, I¡¯ll take it you¡¯re still hoping for me to be part


    of your family.¡±


    His words made Thssa pause, her eyes thoughtful. He shoved the card into her hand and said,


    ¡°Keep this safe, will ya? Don¡¯t worry, I¡¯ll act as if I don¡¯t know you when I see you in the future.¡±


    With that, he turned around and headed for the ward.


    Holding the card felt like holding a hot potato for Thssa. She couldn¡¯t throw it away, but she didn¡¯t


    want to ept it either.


    As she watched Bruce walk into the ward, she noticed his slightly hunched back.


    Thinking about the fatherly love she had missed for twenty-seven years, Thssa felt her nose prickled


    with a sour feeling.


    She squeezed the card tightly, eventually tucking it into her pocket.


    Thssa arrived at the hospital with Isabe and her mother. Just then a taxi pulled up.


    She put all of Isabe¡¯s luggage into the trunk and said, ¡°I heard you¡¯re heading back to Hollowbrook.


    Guess I won¡¯t be seeing you off then.¡±


    Isabe gave the taxi a disdainful look and retorted sarcastically, ¡°I heard yourpany gave you a


    BMW. Looks like Evelyn was just blowing hot air. But it doesn¡¯t matter if you don¡¯t have one. No need to


    act like you¡¯re rich when you¡¯re not. Nobody¡¯s gonnaugh at you.¡±


    Every word of Isabe¡¯s was like a barbed arrow.


    Hearing this, Thssa was pissed off. She had already done a lot by helping Isabe get discharged


    and even hailing a taxi for her, but Isabe was ungrateful and even mocking.


    With people like this, a lesson was in order.


    Thssa sneered and said, ¡°Even if I had a BMW, it¡¯s for people who deserve it. Some people have


    not just a dirty mouth, but a dirty ass too. I don¡¯t want my car to


    Material ? of N?velDrama.Org.


    be dirtied.¡±


    Isabe was left speechless.


    Thssa continued, ¡°You always boast about how good your boyfriend is to you and how much he


    spoils you. But when you were hospitalised, not only did he not e to take care of you, he didn¡¯t


    evene to pick you up when you were discharged. Is your dream of marrying into wealth about to


    shatter?¡±


    Every word of Thssa¡¯s hit right where it hurt for Isabe.


    She had been trying so hard to please rk, but that man was both ipetent and arrogant.


    He ignored her when he saw her swollen face and broken limbs, thinking she would be a cripple in the


    future.


    She was fortunate that she had manipted rk into paying her five million dors inpensation,


    which she gave to Lysander. Otherwise, she wouldn¡¯t know, what to do now.


    Ever since then, rk had disappeared from her life and wouldn¡¯t even take her calls.


    She was feeling frustrated and at a loss, and now Thssa was mocking that her dreams of marrying


    into wealth were about to be shattered.


    She was so angry and embarrassed that she raised her hand to p Thssa,


    The wind her hand raised blew onto Thssa¡¯s face, sharp as a knife.


    Thssa¡¯s pupils dted, and she was ready to block her hand.


    ¡°Isabe, what are you doing!¡± A sharp and stern male voice echoed in the air.


    Isabe paused.


    Just then, someone rushed over like lightning, grabbed Isabe¡¯s hand and pushed her forward.


    Stumbling backwards, Isabe fell to the ground due to her injured leg.

 Chapter 330

    Chapter 330


    Thssa nced up and spotted a handsome man with short chestnut hair, all dressed up in a silver-


    grey suit, radiating an aura of a sunnyd.


    It was Leopold!


    After shoving Isabe aside, he walked over to Thssa, his eyes soft with concern. ¡°Are you okay?¡±


    he asked gently.


    Thssa shook her head.


    Isabe¡¯s mother quickly stepped in, helping her daughter up. She prepared to give the man who


    pushed her daughter a piece of her mind, but stopped in her tracks when she noticed his high-and-


    mighty aura, like that of a rich young master.


    So, she didn¡¯t dare tosh out at him, instead venting all her anger at Thssa. ¡°Thssa, have you


    no manners? How could you treat an injured person like this? You really behave like a child who¡¯s been


    raised by a mother alone!¡±


    This was more than just an insult, it was a clear mockery.


    Leopold frowned, ready to intervene.


    But Thssa, seething with anger, beat him to it. ¡°She was about to hit me, didn¡¯t you see that? From


    what I see, Isabe¡¯s unruliness is all thanks to your bad influence!¡±


    ¡°How dare you talk to your elder like that? I¡¯m your aunt, and you disrespect me in such a way!¡±


    Isabe¡¯s mother was red-faced and thick-necked in rage. If it weren¡¯t for the fact that she had to hold


    Isabe to prevent her from falling again, she would have pped Thssa right then and there.


    Thssa was appalled at the shamelessness of this mother-daughter duo. They bullied others yet


    couldn¡¯t stand a taste of their own medicine!


    A surge of anger red within Thssa. To reason with these people was a total waste of time.


    Thssa, fuming, retorted, ¡°So, you remember you¡¯re an elder, huh? But the wordsing out of your


    mouth are even worse than a three-year-old¡¯s.¡±


    Isabe¡¯s mother was about to confront her.


    Isabe held her back. Suddenly, the once overbearing woman seemed to have changed, bing


    reasonable and understanding.


    ¡°Mom, calm down. I just slipped a little. I¡¯m not hurt.¡±


    Then, she turned to Leopold, who was standing beside Thssa.


    Her once bruised and swollen face had ckened a bit, seeming to have aged overnight with wrinkles


    appearing on her cheeks.


    Considering herself young and beautiful, she shed Leopold a flirtatious smile, her voice soft and


    sweet, ¡°Leopold, I know you didn¡¯t mean to push me. It¡¯s okay,!I don¡¯t me you.¡±


    Leopold felt nauseous seeing her insincere smile. His eyebrows furrowed and he said sternly, ¡°You


    were about to hit Thssa! Apologize to her!¡±


    ¡°You didn¡¯t hear what Thssa said about my daughter Isabe, why should Isabe apologize?¡±


    Isabe¡¯s mother immediately fought back, her arrogance


    Material ? of N?velDrama.Org.


    unabated.


    Thssa replied, ¡°I came to discharge her from the hospital and help her get a ride home. Was I here


    to scold her?¡±


    Isabe¡¯s mother was seething.


    Isabe interrupted her, ¡°Mom, stop.¡±


    She turned to Thssa and said, ¡°I may have said things out of line just now. I¡¯m sorry, I was wrong.¡±


    Over the years, she had been in many situations with rk and knew how important it was to make


    timely concessions to achieve a goal.


    Apologizing wasn¡¯t a big deal.


    As long as it could win Leopold¡¯s favor and dispel his negative impression of her, she would even be


    willing to kneel if necessary.


    Isabe apologized easily, seeming sincere and submissive.


    This left Thssa a little taken aback.


    If she didn¡¯t forgive Isabe, she¡¯d appear petty.


    But remembering what Isabe had said and the hand she had raised, Thssa couldn¡¯t bring herself


    to forgive her, no matter what.

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    Chapter 331


    She nced at Isabe and her mom and said, ¡°Alright, I don¡¯t want to waste any more time. You guys


    need to scram.¡±


    Isabe¡¯s mom mumbled under her breath, turning around to help Isabe get into the car.


    Isabe, however, said, ¡°Mom, you go ahead. I know Leopold pretty well. We¡¯re on good terms. I want


    to grab a bite with him and Thssa.¡±


    Leopold immediately showed his distaste. ¡°Just get lost. I don¡¯t want to eat with you.¡±


    Isabe didn¡¯t look back, giving her mom a signal with her eyes.


    Her mom immediately got the hint. ¡°Well, if he¡¯s a friend of, yours, you should catch up. I¡¯ll get going


    then.¡±


    Then she quickly instructed the driver to drive off.


    After the car drove off, Isabe, Jeaning on her crutch, turned around. Facing Leopold and Thssa,


    she said with a smile, ¡°Who would¡¯ve thought that the three of us together again after five years? I miss


    that night from five years ago.¡±


    Leopold was taken aback, shooting Isabe a warning look, signaling her to shut up, and then


    anxiously looked at Thssa.


    Thssa¡¯s face was grim and unattractive.


    Isabe¡¯s words made Thssa feel like she just swallowed a fly, she was feeling uneasy.


    That night five years ago was the nightmare of her life. She was betrayed and her reputation was


    ruined.


    All of this was Isabe¡¯s fault, and she even said she missed that night!


    Thinking about what had happened between Isabe and Leopold, she got goosebumps all over her


    body, ¡°You two can reminisce on your own. I¡¯m not sticking


    around!¡±


    C¨°ntens bel0ngs to N?(v)elDr/a/ma.Org


    Then she turned and left.


    ¡°Thssa.¡± Leopold quickly followed.


    Isabe also followed behind with her crutch, ¡°Wait for me, you guys misunderstood me.¡±


    Thssa didn¡¯t have time to argue with them. She just wanted to go back to her four adorable kids.


    Being with this pair only made her feel ufortable and wasted her time.


    Knowing Leopold was behind her, Thssa quickened her steps and raised her voice, ¡°Your clothes


    are dry. I¡¯ll bring them overter. Stop following me!¡±


    A cab came by. She waved it down and hopped in.


    Leopold chased after her, trying to get in as well, but Thssa was faster and closed the door first.


    Leopold almost got his nose mmed in the door.


    ¡°Thssa, get out. I can exin.¡± Leopold was anxious, knocking on the car door.


    He didn¡¯t want Thssa to continue misunderstanding him and Isabe.


    ¡°No need to exin. It¡¯s not necessary.¡± Thssa responded and told the driver to drive off.


    As the car drove away, Leopold chased after it for a few steps, only to watch it get farther and farther


    away.


    At this time, Isabe came over with her crutch and stood next to Leopold, still with the same gentle


    expression as before, ¡°Leopold, it¡¯s been five years. You¡¯ve be more manly.¡±


    Leopold turned his head, ring at her with disgust and anger, ¡°Stay away from me!


    He quickly walked towards his own car,pletely ignoring Isabe.


    ¡°Leopold, do you know what Thssa has been through these past five years? Has she been with


    other men after you left? I know all of this. If you want to know, I can tell you!¡± Isabe made an enticing


    offer to Leopold¡¯s retreating figure.

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    Chapter 332


    Leopold came to a halt.


    He remembered Thssa mentioning having a boy friend.


    But when he asked who the guy was, she mmed up.


    He hadn¡¯t noticed her getting chummy with anyone these days.


    He figured she might have made up the boyfriend thing to get him off her back..


    Could it mean she still cared for him¡¯ if she hadn¡¯t dated anyone all these years?


    All Leopold wanted to know was if he still had a ce in Thssa¡¯s heart!


    Isabe noticed Leopold freeze up, so she hobbled over with her cane.


    Leopold shot her a cold look, ¡°Tell me!¡±


    But Isabe just chuckled, ¡°Treat me to a meal and I¡¯ll tell you.¡±


    ¡°Are you trying to pull a fast one on me?¡± Leopold spat out angrily.


    ¡°I¡¯m just starving and need something to eat. I¡¯m so weak I can¡¯t remember things well. If I forget


    something important and don¡¯t tell you, you won¡¯t know the real deal with Thssa, and that would be


    bad,¡± Isabe grinned, even giving Leopold a sly wink.


    She thought she was being flirtatious, but to Leopold, it was downright nauseating. It took all his


    restraint not to smack her.


    Leopold hesitated, weighing his options heavily.


    In the end, his burning curiosity about whether Thssa really had a boyfriend and if he still mattered


    to her, overpowered his loathing for Isabe.


    ¡°Where are we eating?¡± he growled.


    ¡°I heard the food at Everde Hotel is great. Let¡¯s eat there,¡± Isabe od.¡±


    ¡°Isn¡¯t that a hotel?¡± Leopold frowned.


    ¡°It¡¯s a restaurant first, hotel second. It¡¯s for guests to rest after a meal. We¡¯re just going for food. What


    are you scared of?¡± Isabe said.


    So, Leopold took her to the Everde Hotel.


    He wasn¡¯t drinking today anyway. As a man, he didn¡¯t have much to worry about what Isabe could


    Content ? N?velDrama.Org.


    do.


    Once at Everde Hotel, Isabe ordered a ton of food.


    Leopold said tly, ¡°Can we talk now?¡±


    He trusted the information Isabe provided about Thssa, as all the addresses she had given him


    previously were urate.


    So he believed that Isabe understood Thssa well over these years.


    ¡°Don¡¯t rush, let¡¯s eat first. We need energy to talk,¡± Isabe smiled sweetly.


    Leopold suppressed his distaste for her forcing himself not to leave.


    After a while, the dishes arrived. Isabe portioned a piece of fish from her te to Leopold¡¯s, ¡°Try the


    food here. It¡¯s really good.¡±


    Leopold felt sick and tossed the te into the trash.


    Isabe seemed taken aback, her smile fading to a hurt expression, ¡°Leopold, what¡¯s with the attitude?


    Don¡¯t you like me? Would you feel the same disgust if Thssa was with another man?¡±


    Leopold red at her angrily, ¡°No matter what she does, she¡¯s a million times cleaner than you!¡±


    Isabe was just too vile and dirty!


    Five years ago, if not for her scheme, he and Thssa would be married. Maybe they even had a few


    kids by now!


    He wouldn¡¯t have to suffer the heartache of loving Thssa but not being able to have her.


    And he wouldn¡¯t have to grit his teeth and dine with such a repulsive woman like Isabe!


    Hearing his words, Isabe frowned. Despite her shamelessness, she was still hurt.


    She ate her meal in silence.


    Leopold didn¡¯t touch his cutlery throughout the meal. Unable to bear it any longer, he grabbed a bottle


    of water nearby, poured himself a ss of lemon water, and took a sip to calm his nerves.


    After drinking, he put down the ss, silently staring off into space. He was waiting for Isabe to finish


    eating before telling him about Th.

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    Chapter 333


    Gradually, he started to feel dizzy, as if he was seeing stars.


    He shook his head, nning to get up and leave, but halfway through, he felt numbness in his head.


    His vision went ck, and he fainted on the table.


    Isabe immediately dropped her fork and walked over to him. She gently shook his shoulder.


    ¡°Leopold, what¡¯s wrong? You okay?¡±


    But Leopold didn¡¯t respond, as if he¡¯d fallen into a deep sleep.


    Isabe quickly waved over the waiter at the door. ¡°Haley,e over and help.¡±


    The waiter named Haley was a young man in his twenties, but his appearance was scruffy, and he was


    a bit of a bad boy at first sight.


    He quickly walked over and helped Leopold up.


    Isabe asked, ¡°Have you prepared my hotel room?¡±


    Haley answered, ¡°It¡¯s all set.¡±


    ¡°Good, help me get him to the room. If anyone asks, just say he¡¯s drunk and the guest asked you to


    help him back to his room.¡± Isabe had thought of an excuse for Haley in advance.


    Content ? N?velDrama.Org.


    ¡°Got it, Isabe. Isabe, about the money for the drug in the lemon water.¡± Haley, carrying Leopold,


    asked her.


    ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I¡¯ll transfer the money to youter. Not just for the drug, but also for your help. I¡¯ll send five


    thousand dors to your ount right away.¡± Isabe assured him, patting her chest.


    She chose the Everde Hotel for a reason. It was convenient to get Leopold to a a room, and this


    was her turf. She knew more waiters here than just Haley.


    More than one person had helped her with simr things,


    As long as she brought someone here, she would definitely seed.


    Haley took Leopold to the room andid him on the bed before leaving.


    Isabe then entered the room.


    She looked at the man lying on the bed. With his slim figure, long, attractive legs, and elegant


    demeanor, he was handsome but with a hint of nobility.


    Isabe couldn¡¯t resist. She reached out her hand, greedily touching Leopold¡¯s young and handsome


    face.


    touching


    Her eyes were filled with affection and desire.


    This man was once her man.


    He was way more handsome than rk. Whether in body or appearance, he far surpassed rk.


    If she could choose him, why would she cling to rk?


    Which woman didn¡¯t like a man who was both rich and handsome?


    Regrettably, she wasn¡¯t feeling well. Her wound was still serious, and sadly, she had just started her


    period.


    If she forced herself on him, her body wouldn¡¯t be able to take it.


    Desiring him and wanting his body was one thing, protecting herself, and not leaving irreversible


    damage was another.


    Besides, she didn¡¯t knock Leopold out today to get him.


    There was something more important to do.


    She found his phone in the pocket of Leopold¡¯s jacket.


    The phone had a password. She tried unlocking it once, but it showed the password was wrong.


    Isabe thought for a moment, and entered Thssa¡¯s birthday.


    It actually worked!


    For all these years, Leopold still used Thssa¡¯s birthday as the password.


    How deep his love for Thssa was.


    Isabe found it hard to ept, her heart filled with pain and anger, and her breathing became heavy.¡±


    But now was not the time to feel sad.


    She found Thssa¡¯s phone number and sent her a message,

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    [I¡¯m at Everde Hotel, room 2032. Please bring my clothes over.]


    Isabe edited the message and shot it off after giving it a once-over.


    Earlier, she had overheard Thssa telling Leopold to send her the addresster, so she could bring


    his coat over.


    Hearing that, Isabe started scheming.


    She had a thing for Leopold and wanted him for herself.


    But her current situation didn¡¯t exactly scream ¡°rtionship material¡±. She needed to keep her health in


    check.


    If she couldn¡¯t marry into high society, no way in hell she was letting Thssa tie the knot with any of


    the Sinir family men!


    Why did Thssa get all the luck? She missed Leopold, and stumbled upon Lysander!


    Lysander was even more charming, more capable, and higher up the socialdder than Leopold.


    If Thssa married Lysander, she¡¯d be the queen of the power game!


    She¡¯d have unmatchable power, status, and wealth!


    And she would totally overshadow Isabe!


    Isabe was seething with resentment, jealousy, and rage.


    She¡¯d spent half her life bending over backward for a nouveau riche like rk.


    Meanwhile, Thssa popped out four kids for Lysander, easy-peasy.


    Now, she was even his personal secretary, basking in his affection.


    Not only that, Lysander even schooled Isabe


    Faye because of Thssa!


    What made Thssa so special to deserve Lysander¡¯s undying love?


    She should be destined for a life of poverty and misery!


    Isabe wouldn¡¯t stand for her living a better life!


    If she couldn¡¯t have Leopold or Lysander, Thssa sure as hell wasn¡¯t getting them either!


    Thssa got home, and it was already dark.


    She bathed the kids with Evelyn, put them to bed, and was in the middle of reading them a bedtime


    story when her phone buzzed.


    It was a message from Leopold.


    Something about getting his clothes back.


    She had told Leopold earlier to send her the addresster, and she¡¯d bring his clothes over, mainly to


    keep him from showing up under her apartment again. He had tried toe up twice, and she had


    stopped him both times.


    She worried if she let Leopolde get his clothes himself, he might just show up unannounced and


    barge in. If he got in, he¡¯d find four kids.


    Just the thought of that scenario was enough to send chills down her spine.


    To protect the kids, Thssa decided to deliver the clothes herself.


    She didn¡¯t expect him to send the address so quickly.


    Was he in such a hurry for his coat because he only had two to wear?


    Thssa replied, [Got it, I¡¯ll be there in about an hour.]


    Then she put down her phone and went back to reading the kids their story.


    About half an hourter, the kids were all sound asleep, breathing evenly, and looking absolutely


    adorable.


    Looking at each of them sleeping so peacefully, Thssa felt her heart swell with love..


    Starting with Sophia, she kissed each child on the cheek.


    Their cheeks were like pudding, soft and springy, with a faint milk scent that was simply marvelous.


    Thssa wished she could just hold their squishy bodies tight and drift off to sleep peacefully.


    But she still had to run an errand to deliver Leopold his clothes.


    Thssa, got off the bed reluctantly and picked up the bag. She signaled to Evelyn that she¡¯ll be back


    soon and was ready to leave. Seeing her hurried figure, Evelyn reminded her, ¡°You left your phone on


    the dining table. Don¡¯t forget to take it so we can keep in touch.¡± Considering Thssa had a fewte


    N?velD(ram)a.?rg owns this content.


    nights before, Evelyn worried, she might run into trouble again.


    If she didn¡¯te home again, Evelyn could cali to check on her.


    Thssa quickly turned around, picked up her phone, and said to Evelyn with a smile, ¡°Oh, I totally


    forgot. Thanks, Mom.¡±

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    Chapter 335


    Evelyn shot her a disgruntled nce, ¡°Girl, where on earth did you get such a careless streak?¡±


    Thssa stepped out, hailed a cab, and headed for the Everde Hotel.


    In room 2032, Isabe was helping Leopold out of his coat and even his shirt. Her fingers lightly


    brushed over his firm abs, clearly outlined and brimming with masculine charm.


    Her heart was racing, and her throat was feeling parched.


    She wanted him so badly.


    Bloody period, never on time, and had to show up now of all times.


    N?velD(ram)a.?rg owns this content.


    T


    If it weren¡¯t for that, even if she were hurt, she¡¯d bear the pain and plunge into a passionate moment


    with Leopold.


    But now, she could only push him towards Thssa.


    Isabe was both resentful and angry, and she despised Thssa!


    In this whirlwind of emotions, her hatred for Thssa was the driving force.


    She was determined to ruin Thssa!


    Regretfully, Isabe withdrew her hand and then helped Leopold out of his pants.


    It was half an hour before Thssa was due to arrive.


    She used Leopold¡¯s phone to send a message to Lysander.¡±


    [Lysander, I¡¯ve asked my ex Thssa toe to room 2032 of Everde Hotel. I¡¯m winning her back


    tonight.]


    Ever since Isabe learned from Faye that Lysander and Thssa had a fling, she¡¯d been stalking


    Lysander online.


    Over the years, Isabe would often text Leopold. Partly because she was smitten by his good looks,


    and partly because he was the youngest heir of the Sinir family.


    Being a Sinir, although not a key figure, he was still wealthier and more influential than the average


    Joe.


    If she couldn¡¯t win over Lysander, she¡¯d go for Leopold. She wouldn¡¯t miss a single opportunity.


    Even though Leopold never responded to her messages, she kept texting him.


    Today, she got hold of his phone for the first time, not to snoop as a girlfriend would, but to sabotage


    Thssa!


    Still, she was thrilled.


    To Isabe, as long as Thssa suffered, didn¡¯t matter if she couldn¡¯t have Leopold.


    At the Sinir Group, in the CEO¡¯s office.


    Lysander hadn¡¯t left yet. He sat in his ck swivel chair, radiating a powerful aura like a king on his


    throne.


    David walked in, ced a stack of photos on the desk, and reported respectfully, ¡°Mr. Sinir, these


    are all of Thssa¡¯s activities for the day. All the photos are


    here.¡±


    Lysander straightened up and began to look through the photos.


    At noon, she¡¯d been at the mall, making a jacket for a man in a store!


    In the afternoon, she went to the hospital.


    Bruce held her hand, and his eyes were filled with guilt and fatherly love.


    Then, he gave Thssa a bank card!


    And Thssa epted it!


    Seeing these photos, Lysander felt his face turned icy, as if he was enveloped in a cold aura.


    He continued to the next photo.


    Thssa and Leopold stood side by side.


    Thssa angrily confronted Isabe, and Leopold stood next to her, looking at her tenderly. The sunset


    on Leopold¡¯s face revealed deep affection.


    This photo was like a sharp knife, stabbing deep into Lysander¡¯s beart.


    He was filled with boundless rage.


    At that moment, his phone lit up with a new message.


    He nced at it, noticing that the sender was Leopold!

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    Chapter 336


    Lysander gently tapped open his phone screen with his slender fingers.


    He read the message on it.


    A chilling aura surrounded him like a winter snowstorm, cold and cutting to the bone.


    David stood by the desk, too nervous to utter a word.


    Lysander harshly tossed a photo onto the table.


    The photonded with a crisp sound, revealing Lysander¡¯s inner fury.


    He stood up and took a step out with his long and powerful legs, his icy figure leaving the office.


    David quickly followed.


    Thssa caught a taxi to the Everde Hotel.


    The Everde Hotel was a towering structure. It was a blend of modern restaurants and hotels.


    It was night time, and the building was surrounded by brilliant lights which changed colors, creating a


    colorful, rolling effect.


    The hotel¡¯s sign was also lit up with a golden red glow.


    Thssa looked up at the building, wondering, didn¡¯t Leopold have a house in the city? Why was he


    staying in a hotel?


    But whether he had a house or not was none of her business. She just wanted to return his clothes and


    then have nothing more to do with him.


    Thssa entered the hotel, located the elevator, and pressed the button for the 20th floor.


    She didn¡¯t know that from the moment she appeared in the hotel, someone was watching her from the


    shadows.


    Thssa reached the 20th floor and found room 2032. She lifted her hand to ring the doorbell, only to


    find that the door wasn¡¯t fully shut.


    Out of courtesy, she rang the doorbell anyway.


    The doorbell rang several times, but no one came to answer.


    Thssa tentatively pushed open the door, asking, ¡°Anyone here?¡±


    Silence.


    Feeling puzzled, she pulled out her phone to double-check. Yes, this was the right room. She hadn¡¯t


    gone to the wrong one.


    She pushed the door open further and stepped inside.


    Suddenly, the room went pitch ck as all the lights went out.


    Thssa jumped in surprise. She was about to turn and leave when she felt a palm strike her nape.


    Her vision went ck and she swayed dizzily for a few steps, trying to turn and see who had hit her.


    But her vision ckened outpletely before she could turn fully around, and she copsed forward,


    unconscious.


    As soon as Thssa fainted, the lights in the room came back on, illuminating the entire space.


    A slovenly man came over, dragged Thssa to the bed, and tossed her onto it next to Leopold.


    He was about to unbutton Thssa¡¯s shirt when his phone rang. It was Isabe.


    He immediately picked up. Isabe¡¯s worried voice came from the other end. ¡°The person¡¯s arrived. Get


    out of there fast!¡±


    He in


    The man turned and left in panic, without even bothering to take off Thssa¡¯s clothes. He reached the


    door, picked up a bag on the floor, and ced it on the bedside table.


    Then he quickly exited the room, leaving the door ajar.


    Unconscious Thssa was struggling mentally. The images of her four adorable children kept


    appearing in her mind.


    They were cute, cuddly, pitiful, and they looked at her with dependence.


    Thssa¡¯s heart was in agony, fueling her strong will to survive.


    She couldn¡¯t die, and certainly couldn¡¯t lose consciousness. What would happen to her four children if


    something dangerous happened to her?


    In her fierce struggle, her strong will to wake up overpowered the numbness of her body.


    Suddenly, her eyes snapped open.N?velD(ram)a.?rg owns this content.

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    Chapter 337


    The moment Thssa opened her eyes, her numb consciousness resurged along with a brutal pain, as


    N?velD(ram)a.?rg owns this content.


    if her nape had been fractured.


    She grimaced in pain, propping herself up on the bed with her hands.


    Before she could make out her surroundings, a hushed male voice echoed beside her.


    The voice was deep and rich, suggestive of a mature man.


    Her heart rate spiked as she hastily turned towards the source of the voice. Her eyesnded on a


    handsome face, radiating a gentle warmth. His eyes were closed, brows furrowed in difort.


    This man was none other than Leopold!


    The nket only covered up to his chest, revealing his firm and smooth shoulders.


    Even though only a small part was visible, Thssa could tell that he was shirtless!


    Moreover, she was lying right next to him!


    This positioning was far too intimate.


    Why was he beside her?


    No, why was she on Leopold¡¯s bed?


    Thssa¡¯s heart rate rocketed, her nape ached dully, and her body felt weak due to the pressure on


    her nerves. She tried to sit up, preparing to leave the bed.


    At that moment, Leopold opened his eyes. Seeing the woman¡¯s back, he asked warily, ¡°Who are you?¡±


    He sat up almost instantaneously, his voice stern and cold.


    Upon hearing his voice, Thssa turned her head and made eye contact with the anxious Leopold.


    She hastily exined, ¡°I was returning your clothes. I was knocked out as soon as I entered. I don¡¯t


    know why I¡¯m on your bed.¡±


    As she exined, she attempted to leave the bed but was held back by Leopold, ¡°Thssa, it¡¯s you,


    don¡¯t leave.¡±


    ¡°Bang!¡± The door was forcefully kicked open.


    A powerful aura flooded the room, making the air ripple and dropping the room¡¯s temperature


    drastically.


    A wave of chill engulfed the room.


    Thssa¡¯s heart fluttered. Before she could retract her hand, she instinctively turned towards the door.


    A tall, handsome man stood there, dressed in a handcrafted ck suit that entuated his lean and


    sturdy physique, making him appear more profound and sharp.


    The man¡¯s face was as beautiful as a sculpture, resembling a world-ss gentleman, but his chiseled


    facial features were taut, like a string ready to snap at any moment. His icy aura was intimidating..


    ¡°Lysander.¡± Thssa recognized the man, her lips trembling in shock.


    Before she couldprehend the situation, Lysander crossed the room with his long strides. He


    grabbed her other hand and yanked her off the bed. She swayed on her feet next to him.


    Lysander gripped her waist, pulling her against his side.


    Thssa was taken aback.


    Leopold, who was holding Thssa¡¯s hand, lost his grip due to Lysander¡¯s force. He tried to hold on


    but failed. He reluctantly let go of her fingers, but they were quickly pulled away.


    As Thssa¡¯s hand slipped from his grasp, his palm felt empty, and so did his heart.


    Startled, he looked up at the neer. ¡°Lysander, what brings you here?¡±


    Lysander¡¯s face darkened. His eyes were piercing as he looked at Thssa, his voice suppressed. He


    asked, ¡°Wh


    Earlier, Lysander had warned her not to get too close to Leopold.


    Now, he found her on Leopold¡¯s bed.


    Scared by Lysander¡¯s icy and stern aura, Thssa felt her heart racing. Her eyshes quivered. ¡°I


    don¡¯t know.¡±


    She truly didn¡¯t know why Lysander would appear here at this time.


    don¡¯t you tell him why I¡¯m here?¡±


    Lysander¡¯s body temperature plummeted. He grabbed her chin in a cold grip. Looking down at her, he


    gritted his teeth, ¡°What did I tell you? You seem to have a short memory!¡±


    Thssa¡¯s jaw-ached as if it was about to break, she knitted her brows.


    Seeing this, Leopold got off the bed in distress, urgently saying, ¡°Lysander, don¡¯t hurt her. You¡¯re just


    her boss. It¡¯s after work hours. Her personal life shouldn¡¯t


    concern you.¡±


    Lysander let out a coldugh, his icy gaze locked onto Thssa, as if he wanted to freeze her solid.


    ¡°Why don¡¯t you tell him what our rtionship is?¡±

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    Chapter 338


    Lysander¡¯s voice was as cold as an ice spear, chilling to the bone.


    Each of his words was like a hefty stone, heavily crashing into Thssa¡¯s heart.


    Thssa¡¯s heartbeat quickened, and her whole body began to tremble.


    Looking into Lysander¡¯s icy and ruthless eyes, Thssa felt an overwhelming sense of panic.


    Leopold, upon hearing Lysander¡¯s inquiry and seeing his one hand resting on Thssa¡¯s waist and the


    other propping up her chin, felt a sinking sensation. Such intimacy between them made his heart


    plummet.


    An ominous premonition surged in his heart instantly.


    He looked at Thssa unbelievingly, waiting for her response.


    He saw that Thssa¡¯s eyes were filled with uneasiness, tension, and fear.


    ¡°Tell him!¡± Lysander, his patience worn thin, held Thssa¡¯s chin tightly, his voice deep and heavy.


    Frightened, Thssa shivered. She managed to utter, ¡°He¡¯s my boyfriend.¡±


    The best exnation she coulde up with was that they were a couple.


    How could she possibly admit to being kept by Lysander?-


    That would be a tremendous humiliation for her.


    Especially in front of Leopold.


    After speaking, Thssa lowered her gaze, hiding the destion in her eyes.


    After Thssa finished her words, Leopold¡¯s heart shattered.


    He couldn¡¯t ept it. He stepped back unsteadily, shaking his head in denial, ¡°No, this can¡¯t be true.¡±


    He had always thought that Thssa imed to have a boyfriend just to deceive him.


    He wanted confirmation. He hoped she would admit that she had been single for the past five years


    and had not dated anyone.


    He wanted to confirm this answer, which was why he had agreed toe here and listen to what


    Isabe had to say.


    Lysander¡¯s lips curved coldly. He released Thssa¡¯s chin, pulling her to himself tightly, their bodies


    close without any gap.


    With Thssa by his side, he faced Leopold, asking in a deep voice, ¡°You don¡¯t believe me?¡±


    Leopold couldn¡¯t ept this truth, shaking his head in denial, ¡°I don¡¯t believe it. Thssa must have


    C¨°ntens bel0ngs to N?(v)elDr/a/ma.Org


    staged this to reject me.¡±


    How could Thssa¡¯s boyfriend be Lysander?


    Lysander saw the defeat on Leopold¡¯s face, but his eyes were still full of deep affection for Thssa.


    Lysander¡¯s aura turned even colder. He tilted his head, pinching Thssa¡¯s chin with his thumb and


    index finger. Then he lowered his head and forcefully sealed her lips with a kiss.


    Thssa¡¯s eyes widened in surprise.


    Her lips were tightly sealed by Lysander, a current spread from her lips throughout her body.


    His overpowering scent robbed her breath, his potent pheromones infiltrating every pore, seizing her


    rationality.


    Thssa struggled a little.


    Lysander grabbed her slender waist, pulling her even closer.


    His kiss was domineering and fervent, yet his eyes were cold.


    Thssa felt his threat and stopped struggling.


    Leopold watched as Lysander expertly kissed Thssa, and Thssa didn¡¯t resist at all.


    It seemed like this wasn¡¯t their first time doing this.


    This scene was like a bolt of lightning, striking straight from the top of Leopold¡¯s head into his heart.


    His body went limp with shock. As if numbed by a painful sting, he sat down on the bed in disbelief.

 Chapter 339

    Chapter 339


    As much as he denied it, the reality in front of him shattered all his illusions and pretenses


    It turned out Thssa wasn¡¯t lying when she said she had a boyfriend.


    He never imagined that Thssa and Lysander would end up together.


    He always told Lysander about the woman he deeply loved. He never let on that the woman he was


    talking about was actually Thssa. He always discussed her in front of Lysander, and he decided to


    pursue her again.


    Leopold watched all this in pain, his heart trembling, unable to ept the truth.


    Lysander, satisfied, let go of Thssa¡¯s lips. His objective was aplished.


    Thssa, kissed to the point of weakness, was nearly out of breath.


    Lysander embraced her, letting her lean against his chest. His strong hand clutched her waist,


    providing her support.


    He nced at Leopold, then noticed a bag on the bedside table. He instantly recognized the familiar


    fabric.


    He swiftly turned around with Thssa and ordered David, who was standing by the door, ¡°Grab the


    bag from the bedside table.¡±


    David nodded, quickly grabbed the bag from the bedside table and followed Lysander out of the room.


    In the room, Leopold sat on the bed, his face full of sorrow. He was unable to ept this reality, his


    heart aching.


    Lysander put Thssa in the car and then got in himself, David started the car and they drove off.


    The car was small and chilly. Thssa sat rigidly, her breathing almost bing difficult.


    Lysander sat next to her, casually leaning back in his seat. The cold aura he exuded nearly froze her


    solid.


    She could feel his anger. She carefully exined, ¡°I came here to return Leopold¡¯s clothes.¡±


    ¡°Shut up before I decide to kill you!¡± Lysander said coldly.


    To him, everything she was saying now was just an excuse for her tryst with Leopold!


    They arrived at the Starhaven International Hotel.


    Lysander dragged Thssa to the presidential suite and threw her and the bag of clothes onto


    Thssa sat up painfully, the bagnding on her chest, the clothes spilling out.


    She instinctively grabbed the clothes, and then looked at Lysander in terror.


    1


    He angrily removed his tie and approached her, his muscr chest pressing against her, enveloping


    herpletely.


    His face was cold as ice, ¡°You personally make clothes for him, and then go to a hotel with him at night.


    You really want to be with him, don¡¯t you?¡±


    His body radiated a dangerously icy aura that sent chills down Thssa¡¯s spine. She tried to push


    herself up off the bed, but his body pinned her down, making it impossible for her to move.


    His eyes glinted with a beast-like coldness, as if he was about to tear her to pieces in the next second.


    Thssa¡¯s heart raced. She was terrified.


    She vehemently denied, ¡°No, that¡¯s not it. I just went to return his clothes.¡±


    ¡°Shut up!¡± Lysander shouted angrily. He roughly grabbed her chin, forcing her terrified face to look at


    his angry and cold face.


    He saw h


    her eyes filled with innocent tears.


    Seeing this, Lysander couldn¡¯t help but feel a sense of irony. He angrily gritted his teeth, his strong, hot


    C¨°ntens bel0ngs to N?(v)elDr/a/ma.Org


    breath making it almost impossible for her to breathe.


    ¡°All you women are the same! Since you¡¯re so desperate for a man, I¡¯ll satisfy you!¡±


    Then Lysander roughly threw her on the bed. He climbed on top of her, clumsily tearing at her shirt.


    Under his force, the buttons on her shirt couldn¡¯t withstand the pressure and fell off, scattering onto the


    floor.


    Lysander¡¯s eyes went dark. He roughly kissed her lips.

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    Chapter 340


    Lysander¡¯s firm grip encircled Thssa¡¯s waist, holding her delicate figure as though his hand was a


    searing mp.


    Thssa felt a wave of panic. She struggled against him, her skin rubbing against his palm, sparking a


    flurry of sensations that left her breathless.


    His kiss was dominant and wild. A hint of rage presented as he imed her lips, swallowing her breath


    as if he was devouring her whole.


    His deep breaths led her own rapid ones, causing Thssa to feel an intense fear. Was Lysander


    about to force himself on her as he had five years prior?


    The memory of that pain, akin to being run over by a truck, filled Thssa with a surge of resistance.


    She reached up, trying to push him away.


    His shirt was open, revealing a muscr abdomen, brimming with masculine strength.


    She meant to push him away, but the moment her hand touched his powerful chest, his overwhelming


    warmth radiated from her palm to her heart, making her heart flutter.


    Thssa felt increasingly in danger, her body trembling in fear and anticipation.


    The man¡¯s kiss grew more aggressive, threatening to suck away all her air.


    At thest moment, Thssa bit down on his lip, hard.


    Instantly, a metallic taste filled her mouth.


    Realizing she had bitten him, Lysander found his anger momentarily subsided, allowing some


    rationality to return.


    He pushed her away abruptly, wiping his bleeding lip, his fingertips stained with bright red.


    The sight of his darkened expression under the light, paired with the crimson blood, was chilling.


    ¡°Thssa, how dare you?¡± His voice was low and hoarse, brimming with cold anger.


    Thssa, momentarily relieved of his grip, retreated to the corner of the bed, though nowhere felt safe.


    Her breathing was erratic, her clear eyes filled with tears. Her lips, swollen from his kiss and stained


    with saliva and blood, looked alluring in a twisted way. Gasping for breath, Thssa spoke loudly,


    ¡°Lysander, I owe you nothing. Why should I submit to your will? Five years ago, you had me, but you


    also gave me a vi. Let¡¯s consider it settled! I want nothing to do with you anymore. Is this wrong of


    me?¡±


    She had been feeling suffocated under his oppressive presence.


    The Sinir family looked down on her. She didn¡¯t aspire to be Mrs. Sinir either. Wasn¡¯t it enough to


    C¨°ntens bel0ngs to N?(v)elDr/a/ma.Org


    keep her distance from them?


    Why did he insist on making her his woman, and threaten her when she refused, making her life


    unbearable?


    She had been constantly on edge, fearing he might discover their children and take them away from


    her.


    So, she had beenpliant, hoping to find the right opportunity to escape with her children unnoticed.


    But the pressure was unbearable.


    She was always walking on eggshells, always at his mercy.


    He wouldsh out at her without reason, disregarding her dignity.


    Thssa¡¯s patience had its limits, and she had finally snapped.


    Lysander stared at her angry face with his deep-set eyes, clenching his jaw tightly, and then he nodded


    slightly.


    He then casually left the bed.


    Thssa was surprised, her body tensed. She thought that he had been moved by her words and was


    going to let her go.

 Chapter 341

    Chapter 341


    He simply picked up the suit jacket from the ground, pulled out a stack of photos from the pocket, and


    tossed them at her. The cold air around him was chilling, his face icy. ¡°Look at these. Tell me what you


    owe me!¡±


    Thssa, confused and shocked, picked up the stack of photos scattered on her body, scanning each


    one. The more she looked, the more panic filled her heart.


    The photos documented her whereabouts from a midday shopping trip to an afternoon visit to the


    hospital.


    They included her checking out suits in designer stores, and finally visiting a tailor to have a suit


    custom-made, a blue one with gold thread. They also showed Bruce intercepting her in the hospital


    corridor, handing her a credit card.


    Everything was clearly visible in the photos.


    She couldn¡¯t believe it, and she was scared, her eyes wide as she looked at him. ¡°You had someone


    follow me?¡±


    ¡°Twenty-three years ago, your father Bruce cunningly got close to my mother, and deceived her out of a


    considerable amount of money. Now that money is in your hands. Do you enjoy spending other


    people¡¯s money?¡±


    Lysander leaned into her on the bed, his intimidating presence closing in, his big hand gripping her chin


    tightly.


    The pain in her jaw,bined with his words, made Thssa¡¯s heart ache. It felt as if her blood was


    flowing from her feet to her head, and her body was numb.


    Bruce.


    Lysander¡¯s mother.


    Material ? of N?velDrama.Org.


    Twenty-three years ago.


    Hearing these key words, Thssa felt her blood race even faster, her body heating up.


    She remembered Leopold once told her about Lysander¡¯s childhood.


    Lysander¡¯s mother was deceived by a man when she was young. She gave that man a lot of money.


    Later, she was desperate to elope with him. As a result, Lysander¡¯s father chased after her, resulting in


    a car ident in which both of them lost their lives.


    Also, her mother, Evelyn, told her that when Evelyn found out she was pregnant with her and wanted to


    marry Bruce, she suddenly discovered that Bruce had deceived multiple women, one of whom was a


    wealthydy.


    Could this wealthydy be Lysander¡¯s mother?


    ¡°Why are you silent? How do we settle our scores?¡± Lysander¡¯s hand tightened on her chin, lifting her


    face to make her look directly at him.


    The massive force was so painful that Thssa felt her jaw was about to break. The pain was making


    her feel dizzy, and her mind was in a state of chaos.


    Just a moment ago, she was full of energy. Now, she felt like a deted balloon, her heart filled with


    fear. She waspletely at a loss.


    ¡°I didn¡¯t know. I didn¡¯t know Bruce was the one who deceived your mother.¡± Thssa was terrified,


    attempting to exin.


    However, all her words seemed powerless in front of Lysander.


    Even if she was unaware, she couldn¡¯t erase the harm Bruce had done to the Sinir family.


    Nor could she repay the lives of Lysander¡¯s parents.


    ¡°So, you¡¯ve inherited your father¡¯s style, ying both sides, haven¡¯t you?¡± Lysander gritted his teeth, his


    face dark as a stormy sky.


    She was dating him while maintaining aplicated rtionship with Leopold, even going to hotels!


    He had overestimated her!


    Lysander¡¯s anger was like a rolling volcano.


    He gripped her chin tightly, as if he wanted to crush her.


    Thssa¡¯s eyes filled with tears from the pain. She raised her hands to grip his hand tightly, trying to


    make him lessen his grip.


    The pain in her chin was suffocating, piercing her heart, making every breath painful.


    She knew that her current pain was nothingpared to the pain Lysander had experienced losing his


    parents at a young age.


    ¡°I didn¡¯t. Please let me go, let me leave. I promise, I will disappear from your world forever, never to


    appear before you again.¡±


    Thssa endured the pain, and every word she uttered was filled with agony.


    She had to survive. She couldn¡¯t get hurt. There were four children waiting for her at home.

 Chapter 342

    Chapter 342


    ¡°Disappear? Do you think you¡¯re entitled to your own life, Thssa? From now on, you¡¯re living under


    my nose, at my beck and call, until I grow tired of you. If you dare to run away, you¡¯ll face the


    consequences!¡±


    Lysander¡¯s icy voice echoed above Thssa¡¯s head, the chilling aura spraying down from above. It


    was as cold and intimidating as something from the underworld


    C¨°ntens bel0ngs to N?(v)elDr/a/ma.Org


    itself.


    As he finished speaking, he dropped Thssa, got out of bed, and walked out of the room, mming


    the door behind him.


    Thssa copsed onto the bed, the loud closing of the door striking her heart like a heavy bell. The


    lingering sound echoed, leaving her trembling from head to


    toe.


    She could never have imagined that the suddenly appearing Bruce was a former lover of Lysander¡¯s


    mother!


    And that he was responsible for the death of Lysander¡¯s parents, leaving him to endure a childhood


    filled with loneliness and parental quarrels.


    He should have had a happy childhood and family, yet all was ruined by Bruce.


    And to make matters worse, Bruce was her biological father!


    No wonder Lysander was so angry when he saw Bruce, nearly beating him to death.


    At first, she thought Lysander was defending her mother.


    But she didn¡¯t expect this to be the reason.


    If she were in his shoes, she would have wanted to kill Bruce too.


    Now, Lysander must hate her to the core.


    From the day she was born, Bruce had never contributed a penny to her upbringing, let alone yed a


    role in her growth. Yet she was unfairly burdened with his


    sins.


    On the afternoon at the hospital, she shouldn¡¯t have softened her heart. For the sake of getting Bruce¡¯s


    card and his promise to stop bothering her and Evelyn, she


    allowed him to force the card into her hand.


    She thought that would bring peace, but it was just the beginning of a more cruel nightmare.


    Thssa got up to leave the hotel.


    As soon as she opened the door, two ck-d bodyguards blocked her way, ¡°Ms. Everhart, without


    Mr. Sinir¡¯s instructions, you¡¯re not going anywhere.¡±


    ¡°Please let me go. I¡¯ll speak to him,¡± Thssa tried to push past the bodyguards blocking her way.


    But the two of them stood firm, their imposing aura forcing Thssa to retreat back into her room.


    ¡°Don¡¯t get angry, okay? If I¡¯m not allowed to leave, then I won¡¯t,¡± Thssa didn¡¯t want to anger the


    trained bodyguards and risk getting beaten up.


    Her health was much more important.


    Seeing her retreat into the room, the bodyguards closed the door.


    Thssa sighed, feeling helpless.


    What should she do now?


    Thssa¡¯s mind was in chaos. She could only take one step at a time.


    At the Royal Estates.


    In the study


    Lysander sat in front of the floor-to-ceiling window, his deep eyes watching the swaying shadows of the


    trees outside.


    His tall and majestic figure sank into the ck leather chair, his aura intense and sharp.


    He held a cigarette between his fingers, the orange glow flickering, reflecting in the ss window. The


    illusion of fire, coupled with the dark green trees outside. looked like a ze in a dark forest.


    It made Lysander¡¯s handsome face look like a brooding lion in a nocturnal jungle.


    He raised his hand, put the cigarette in his mouth, and took a drag, the smoke curling around him. His


    ink-ck eyes became even colder.


    At first, when he found out that Thssa was the woman who saved her in the barn five years ago, he


    was grateful and wanted topensate her.


    He even thought of bringing her home to meet his grandparents and marrying her.


    However, everything that followed was beyond his expectations.


    Everything went off track.

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    Chapter 343


    He could hardly believe that she was the daughter of that detestable man!


    A chill emanated from Lysander, like the cold vastness of a nighttime sky.


    Just then, Lysander¡¯s pocket buzzed. He pulled out his phone, saw it was his grandfather calling, and


    paused for a fraction of a second before answering.


    ¡°Lysander, it¡¯s been a week. Have you figured out anything about Thssa¡¯s character?¡± Zephyr asked


    straightforwardly.


    ¡°Grandpa, you should spend more time with grandma instead.¡± Lysander evaded, not wanting his


    grandparents constantly worrying about him.


    ¡°Ah, I know I¡¯m nagging. Get some rest soon. Goodnight,¡± sighed Zephyr before ending the call.


    Lysander tossed his phone aside and took a deep drag on his cigarette.


    Thssa paced in the hotel room, restless and clueless.


    She had tried to leave once again, only to be turned back by his bodyguard.


    Was Lysander nning to keep her cooped up in the hotel room forever?


    She needed to get home.


    Checking her phone, she found that it was already 00:03


    She had assured her mother that she would be home soon.


    It had been three to four hours since then, and she still wasn¡¯t home.


    Just as she began to worry, her phone rang.


    She hurriedly answered, ¡°Hello, Mom.¡±


    ¡°You little devil, where are you? You promised toe home! You keep us up all night can¡¯t we get a


    decent night¡¯s sleep?¡± Evelyn, her mother, sounded both angry


    and worried..


    Thssa held her phone away from her ear to avoid her mother¡¯s loud voice damaging her eardrums.


    Only when Evelyn¡¯s rant slowed down did Thssa bring her phone back to her ear, at a loss for how


    to exin.


    ¡°Mom, I¡¯m at a night market with Hertha. Once we¡¯re done, I¡¯lle straight home,¡± Thssa lied, not


    wanting her mother to worry. Whenever she was with Hertha, Evelyn was at ease.


    ¡°What are you doing out sote? It¡¯s dangerous for two girls to hang outte at night,e back


    quickly,¡± Evelyn fretted over their safety.


    ¡°Okay, Mom. I¡¯ll try toe home as soon as possible. You should go to sleep, don¡¯t wait up for me,¡±


    Thssa tried to soothe.


    ¡°You better hurry back, Evelyn ordered sternly.


    ¡°Okay, okay, I will,¡± Thssa hastily agreed, hoping to reassure her mother.


    After ending the call, Thssa exhaled a sigh of relief.


    To leave, she needed Lysander¡¯s permission.


    Swallowing her fear, she dialed Lysander¡¯s number.


    With each ring, her heart pounded anxiously.


    After several rings without an answer, Thssa¡¯s heart hung in suspense,


    Just when she thought Lysander wouldn¡¯t answer her call, her call was picked up. There was silence


    on the other end, but she could feel a chill seeping through the phone line.


    Her heart tightened and her spine stiffened. She weakly said, ¡°Lysander, ah, no, Mr. Sinir, I didn¡¯t eat


    Content ? N?velDrama.Org.


    when I went out earlier. I¡¯m feeling faint from hunger, can I go out to get somete-night snack?¡±


    ¡°Missing one meal won¡¯t kill you,¡± Lysander¡¯s icy voice retorted.


    Thssa was about to say something else when she heard the dial tone.


    He had hung up.


    Frowning, Thssa dialed his number again.

 Chapter 344

    Chapter 344


    Her finger hovered over the name Lysander, yet before she could press it, her phone buzzed with a call


    from Leopold.


    Thssa, her heart in her throat, had been about to call Lysander when the sudden vibration startled


    her.


    She stared at Leopold¡¯s name shing Incessantly on her screen, hesitating for a few seconds.


    Biting her lower lip and frowning slightly, she decided to answer the call just before it would have ended


    automatically.


    Silence.


    She held the phone to her ear without uttering a word because she didn¡¯t know what to say to him.


    On the other end, there was also silence for a few seconds.


    Leopold seemed unprepared for her to answer. He had been ready for her to ignore the call after it rang


    for quite some time.


    Yet suddenly, he realized the call had been picked up. The awkwardness and silence that ensued


    resembled the cold air in an ice cer, suppressing his mood.


    Leopold took a moment topose himself, pressing down his heartache. The voice he projected was


    filled with sorrow.


    ¡°Thssa,¡± he began, ¡°are you really dating Lysander?¡± |


    He held his phone in one hand, the other clenched tightly around his pant leg, his heart hanging in his


    throat.


    After leaving the Everde Hotel, he sat alone in his car, lost in thought.


    He reflected on everything that had happened since he met Thssa.


    He confided in Lysander about his deep love for Thssa, acknowledging that he had wronged her five


    years ago. He admitted that he had been manipted, but his heart belonged to Thssa all along.


    His body may have been tainted by others, but his heart had always loved Thssa.


    The night five years ago had caused him immense pain, not only because he felt impure, but also


    because he lost the woman he loved most.


    He loved Thssa passionately. He had dered to Lysander that he would win her back.


    At the time, Lysander had simply raised his ss in a toast, wishing him sess.


    Lysander had wished him sess. So why had things turned out this way?


    After much thought, he realized that while he had always told Lysander about the woman he loved, he


    had never revealed her name.


    Lysander knew of her existence but didn¡¯t know who she was.


    At the bar, when Debby mocked Thssa and Hertha revealed that Thssa¡¯s boyfriend was


    Lysander, Leopold thought they were only trying to save face.


    Lysander had arrived then, but he only gave Thssa a cold nce and said nothing.


    He had thought that Lysander simply didn¡¯t deign to exin.


    Later, he invited Lysander to apany meeting. At the entrance of the conference room, Lysander


    and Thssa crossed paths.


    Lysander¡¯s gaze was still cold.


    In an attempt to make Thssa forgive him and stay at hispany, he deliberately criticized her


    capabilities.


    He only wanted to tell Thssa that no otherpany would take her in except for his.


    Yet, Lysander had transferred Thssa to the Sinir Group under the pretense of training secretaries


    for him.


    And then Lysander had bought out hispany.


    He didn¡¯t think much of it, assuming that Lysander was investing in hispany in a roundabout way


    to help him with his cash flow problems.


    N?vel/Dr(a)ma.Org - Content owner.


    He recalled a series of events.


    He realized that the rtionship between Thssa and Lysander had been riddled with hints and clues


    all along.


    He had always thought that Lysander wouldn¡¯t be interested in someone of Thssa¡¯s background, so


    he had been in denial about their rtionship.

 Chapter 345

    Chapter 345


    With the rity of hindsight, Leopold¡¯s heart trembled.


    But he was not ready to give up, he wanted to hear it from Thssa herself.


    He loved her too deeply, so he wouldn¡¯t give up until he had to.


    How could he believe that the woman he loved to his core could be Lysander¡¯s girlfriend!


    Thssa gripped her phone. Leopold¡¯s question echoed in her ear.


    It was the voice of a big boy hurt, trembling slightly, even with a hint of stifled sobbing.


    Thssa¡¯s heart sunk, her breath heavy with pain.


    Five years ago, she and Leopold loved each other in their campus days. It was an innocent and


    youthful affair. In the sunlight, they would walk hand in hand, go to the cafeteria for lunch, and study


    together in the library. Those halcyon days and peaceful moments shed rapidly through her mind.


    C¨°ntens bel0ngs to N?(v)elDr/a/ma.Org


    Each memory floated like seaweed in the deep sea, drifting, heavy.


    But ultimately, the romance was rootless and fruitless.


    Her hand holding the phone tightened, her voice calm but resolute. ¡°I told you before, I have a


    boyfriend!¡±


    Their shared past needed closure.


    Dragging it out would be worse than making a clean break, allowing Leopold to let gopletely.


    She hadn¡¯t anticipated that Lysander would end up at the hotel, kissing her in front of Leopold.


    But it was better this way to let Leopold let go, to let him move on without any hope of her. That way, he


    could start a new life.


    There would be other girls who would like him, and he would eventually have a family and children of


    his own.


    She shouldn¡¯t keep him from moving on with the beautiful romance they had in the past.


    The sooner he let go, the sooner he could start anew.


    Thssa¡¯s words were decisive, and she tried to keep her voice as calm and firm as possible, devoid


    of any emotion.


    She wanted Leopold to understand that she truly didn¡¯t love him anymore and there was no chance for


    them.


    Leopold had mentally prepared himself, but when he heard Thssa¡¯s words, his heart involuntarily


    ached fiercely, like a knife twisting, making it hard to breathe.


    His breath trembled, and he had to clench his teeth to stop the tears from falling.


    ¡°I understand.¡± He said, struggling to keep his voice steady, not wanting to sound defeated.


    Then he hung up.


    The moment the call ended, he could no longer hold back. He slumped over the steering wheel,


    clenching his teeth hard, but it was no use. The tears that had been swirling in his eyes couldn¡¯t be


    controlled, falling like they were cut loose.


    At that moment, it felt as if his life had dimmed, his future a ck void.


    For the past five years, he had held onto the belief that he could work hard, be sessful, and


    then reappear in Thssa¡¯s life, shining brilliantly.


    He believed that his merits would eventually ovee his past mistakes and he could win Thssa


    back.


    He had never imagined this oue.


    He had missed out on five years with Thssa, and in doing so, had missed out on a lifetime with her.


    Over the past five years, all his motivation and confidence had been fueled by his hope of winning


    Thssa back.


    In an instant, his world copsed.


    His spirit was broken.


    He never knew that a person could hurt this much.


    The pain felt like his heart was being hollowed out. Each breath felt like a knife.


    His strength was drained in an instant.

 Chapter 346

    Chapter 346


    Inside the hotel room.


    Thssa¡¯s hand, clutching her phone, began to slip away from her ear.


    Tears rolled down her cheeks, going down her chin and falling onto the plush carpet, along with her


    phone.


    Cutting ties with past cherished memories felt like a knife cutting through her heart.


    It was a sharp pain..


    She had thought that in these past five years, all her heart and love had been poured into her four


    children.


    Nobody else could stir the ripples in her heart anymore.


    However, when she heard Leopold¡¯s voice trembling, saying ¡°I know now¡±, her heart ached so much.


    From now on, just as she wished, Leopold would never appear in her life again.


    That was pretty good, wasn¡¯t it?


    She had her own life, and he had his.


    Every pair that couldn¡¯t be together for a lifetime was ultimately just a passerby in each other¡¯s lives.


    Thssa copsed onto the plush carpet, crying, but a smile gradually formed at the corner of her


    mouth.


    Actually, this oue was good for both her and Leopold.


    She should be happy, not sad.


    Leopold would understand. After a period of sadness, he would move on to a new life. That was pretty


    good too.


    Thssa raised her hand, wiping away the tears at the corner of her eyes.


    Picking up the phone from the floor, she just realized that Hertha had called. She was too busy


    mourning to notice her phone vibrating.


    After the iing call was cut off, she slid the answer key, took a deep breath, and tried her best to


    stabilize her emotions.


    ¡°Thssa, where the hell are you thiste at night? You¡¯re not holed up with Lysander, are you?¡±


    As soon as the call connected, Hertha¡¯s high-pitched astonishment came through.


    Thssa¡¯s low mood was instantly diverted by her, her heart filled with surprise and guilt, leaving no


    time for sadness.


    She quickly said, ¡°Hertha, are you dreaming? Why are you making such dirty jokes as soon as you


    call?¡±


    ¡°I wish I could have those dreams, but I¡¯m not that lucky. Now tell me honestly, where are you? Are you


    with that hunk Lysander? Otherwise, you wouldn¡¯t have lied, about shopping with me to deceive


    Evelyn.¡± Hertha was lively and cheerful, she was a mood lifter.


    Even just over the phone, her voice could make anyone cheerful.


    Who would have time to be upset?


    Thssa understood that Evelyn must have called Hertha to confirm the situation.


    Thssa became nervous. What if her mother found out about the tug of war between her and


    C¨°ntens bel0ngs to N?(v)elDr/a/ma.Org


    Lysander? Her mother never let any grudge go overnight and would confront anyone, regardless of


    their status.


    She would definitely go find Lysander to argue, and then the children wouldn¡¯t be able to hide any


    longer.


    Thssa didn¡¯t want to lose her four adorable children because her mother stood up for her.


    That would be a big loss for a small gain.


    Thssa quickly asked, ¡°You didn¡¯t give anything away, did you?¡±


    ¡°Rx, who do you think I am? If I wanted to go into the entertainment industry, the Oscar for Best


    Actress would be mine.¡± Hertha was brimming with confidence. ¡°Now stop changing the subject, where


    are you now? Did you just finish doing the deed with Lysander?¡±


    Hertha¡¯s words made Thssa¡¯s face as hot as a hand warmer.


    ¡°Do you think I¡¯m as infatuated as you? Men are nice to look at, but having sex is a loss for women.¡±


    ¡°So did you have sex tonight or not?¡± That¡¯s what Hertha was most curious about.


    Thssa was choked by her question, her face reddened.


    They did kiss, but it was still a long way from the real sex.


    Thssa realized her thoughts were straying and quickly gathered them..


    She couldn¡¯t think about that. It was too terrifying.


    She blushed and quickly changed the topic, ¡°Go away, stop joking about me. I¡¯m miserable enough as


    it is.

 Chapter 347

    Chapter 347


    ¡°What¡¯s wrong, Thssa?¡± The concern was evident in Hertha¡¯s voice.


    Exining the day¡¯s events to Hertha in a nutshell, Thssa let it all out.


    ¡°Holy cow, your despicable dad is the one who ruined Lysander¡¯s family?¡± Hertha nearly dropped her


    jaw in surprise.


    Thssa¡¯s father, a man who was never before mentioned, turned out to be the past lover of


    Lysander¡¯s mother!


    He may not have killed anyone, but Lysander¡¯s parents died because of him.


    Thssa¡¯s problems with Lysander Just got a whole lot plex!


    ¡°I¡¯m locked up right now, can you help me?¡± Thssa pleaded.


    What on earth was going on?


    ¡°Lysander has quite a temper. Bruce did those things before you were even born. And he¡¯s never acted


    like a father to you. Lysander has no right to take his anger out on you. You did nothing wrong.¡±


    Hertha felt outraged for Thssa. Thssa was innocent.


    Feeling wronged, Thssa chatted with Hertha for a while.


    ¡°I¡¯ll handle this,¡± Hertha said confidently. ¡°I¡¯m heading to the Starhaven International Hotel now to see if


    I can distract the bodyguards. You can escape in the confusion.¡±


    ¡°Hertha, I love you the most, mm-hmm.¡± Thssa saw a glimmer of hope and blew a kiss towards the


    screen.


    Half an hourter, Hertha arrived at the Starhaven International Hotel. Following Thssa¡¯s room


    number, she took the elevator to the 28th floor.


    As the elevator door opened, a tall figure approached.


    Looking up, Hertha recognized the man¡¯s face.


    He had a pair of captivating eyes and a face full of charm like a silver fox, with delicate features that


    perfectly blended masculine strength and feminine beauty.


    He was handsome and gorgeous!


    The man was tall, dressed in a white suit, like a prince charming.


    He looked slightly displeased and hurried.


    Her heart skipped a beat at the sight. It was ric.


    What was he doing here?


    Before she could figure it out, ric pulled her out of the elevator, turned her around, and threw her


    against the wall next to the other elevator.


    Caught off guard, she barely felt the pain from her back hitting the wall when ric leaned in, one hand


    on the wall, towering over her.


    His masculine aura engulfed her.


    Her heart raced and her eyes sparkled.


    Just as she was about to question ric, his cool finger lifted her chin, raising her face towards his.


    Without hesitation, he leaned in for a kiss.


    In the moment their lips touched.


    Hertha felt as if her entire body had been electrified, a tingling sensation spreading from her lips


    C¨°ntens bel0ngs to N?(v)elDr/a/ma.Org


    throughout her body, even down to her toes.


    Her heart pounded like a boiling kettle. Her face instantly flushed.


    She could feel ric¡¯s masculine breath in her nostrils.


    In that moment, Hertha felt as if her world was filled with pink bubbles.


    Oh my God, was she dreaming?


    ric had just kissed her!


    Her love life was finally blossoming!


    Hertha was overjoyed, every cell in her body jumping with excitement.


    ¡°ric, what are you doing?¡± A woman¡¯s shrill voice suddenly sounded from the side.


    Hertha¡¯s heart skipped a beat in fright.

 Chapter 348

    Chapter 348


    ric didn¡¯t let her go, continuing to kiss her and deepening it further.


    His hand, which was once on the wall, switched directions, now supporting the back of her head. It was


    a passionately lost kiss.


    The woman standing next to them was grinding her teeth in anger, her chest heaving.


    She grabbed Hertha from ric¡¯s arms and forcefully pulled her away.


    Hertha, who was held by ric, was kissed until her body went weak. Suddenly being pulled away, she


    was taken aback.


    Before she could understand what was happening, the woman let go of her hand and pped her


    across the face.


    The sound echoed, leaving her feeling dizzy and seeing stars. She instinctively covered her face.


    Confused, she looked up to see the woman¡¯s face distorted in anger, her hand raised to strike again.


    Hertha¡¯s pupils dted. She was ready to fight back when a tall figure stepped in, grabbing the


    woman¡¯s raised hand.


    ric forcefully let go of the woman¡¯s hand and angrily said, ¡°Georgia, enough! If you want to make a


    scene, go back to your own home. Assaulting people in public could get you arrested!¡±


    Only then did Hertha realize that this domineering woman was named Georgia..


    Observing her expensive attire and essories, she looked like a wealthy heiress. She was thin to the


    C¨°ntens bel0ngs to N?(v)elDr/a/ma.Org


    point where she could only pinch her skin. She was attractive but had a snobbish attitude.


    Georgia pointed at Hertha, her chest heaving with anger. She shouted at ric, ¡°Why did you kiss her


    just now? What¡¯s your rtionship with her?¡±


    ric looked at her, annoyance shing in his eyes. ¡°I told you before, I have a girlfriend. It¡¯s you who


    didn¡¯t believe me and insisted on clinging to me.¡±


    Hertha was shocked. What did ric just say? Did he say that she was his girlfriend?


    She couldn¡¯t believe her luck.


    ¡°Did you say she¡¯s your girlfriend?¡± Georgia looked at Hertha in disbelief, her gaze filled with disdain,


    ¡°She¡¯s so fat and uncultured. When did you lower your standards?¡±


    Hertha was furious. Hearing someone say that she was fat and uncultured made her blood boil.


    Her anger roused. She walked up to Georgia with hands on her hips and her chest out. She indignantly


    retorted, ¡°Who are you calling fat and uncultured? What¡¯s wrong with me being fat? Did I eat your food?


    I am his girlfriend. Him falling in love with me is his good fortune! Haven¡¯t you heard that plump women


    bring good luck? You¡¯re nothing but skin and bones, a golden skeleton. Ahy man with you would lose


    their vitality and be unlucky!¡±


    ¡°How dare you speak to me like this!¡± Georgia was so enraged that she raised her hand again to p


    Hertha.


    Hertha was quicker. As Georgia¡¯s hand raised, Hertha pped her across the face with lightning


    speed.


    ¡°This is payback for the p you gave me earlier. Take it, no need to thank me!¡± Hertha eximed, still


    fuming.


    ric was taken aback. What a spectacle this was turning out to be.


    Hertha then grabbed ric¡¯s hand, pulling him away, ¡°Let¡¯s go. You promised to get a room with me


    today. Don¡¯t go back on your word!¡±


    ric was speechless.


    He felt like he had just escaped from a tiger, only to fall into the hands of another beast.


    Georgia, hearing about their n, angrily followed them.


    Realizing she was being followed, Hertha immediately stopped, turned around, and yelled at Georgia,


    ¡°If you dare to follow us and ruin our day, I¡¯ll hit you even your mother won¡¯t recognize you!¡±


    Hertha was bigger and taller. Georgia was no match for her, especially when ric was on Hertha¡¯s


    side.


    Recognizing her disadvantage, Georgia stomped her foot in frustration and turned to walk into the


    elevator, descending.


    She was too skinny, even losing a fight. If she had known it, she would have eaten more!

 Chapter 349

    Chapter 349


    ¡°Hmph, ric, and that woman, I¡¯ll get you!¡±


    Georgia huffed, her chest heaving with anger.


    ¡°Alright, you¡¯ve had your fun. Time to let go of my hand,¡± ric said, trying to pull his hand from


    Hertha¡¯s grip after they had walked some distance together.


    Hertha stopped abruptly, looking up at him. ¡°Did I take advantage of you? Wasn¡¯t it just holding hands?


    You kissed me just now. How does that count?¡±


    ric retrieved his hand and shoved it in his pocket, a smirk ying on his lips. ¡°Didn¡¯t you enjoy it just


    now?¡±


    Hertha blushed at hisment. Indeed, his kiss had made her feel all soft and fuzzy, like a ball of


    cotton candy.


    Who could me her, when he looked so devilishly attractive? She had been smitten with him from the


    moment she saw him, her heart filled with him. When he kissed her, her body instinctively responded.


    Hertha fell silent for a moment, her eyes slightly evasive. Then, with an air of defiance, she said, ¡°My


    enjoyment and your forced kiss aren¡¯t rted. Moreover, didn¡¯t you just call me your girlfriend? Does


    that still count?¡±


    Hertha asked, her face filled with hope and apprehension.


    She had always dreamed of being his girlfriend.


    If such a golden opportunity came falling from the sky and she didn¡¯t grab it, she would be a fool.


    Seeing Hertha¡¯s earnestness, ric became serious. ¡°Didn¡¯t you realize that? I said that to irritate


    Georgia and make her give up.¡±


    Georgia was the heiress of the Reed Group. His family had been trying to push her onto him, hoping he


    would marry her for a strategic alliance.


    Although ric was a yboy who loved women, Georgia¡¯s temper and tendency to turn violent when


    upset was something he didn¡¯t appreciate.


    And he abhorred¡¯arranged marriages.


    Since when did his marital future be a tool for family benefits?


    He wasn¡¯t just a pawn!


    But Georgia was so infatuated with him that she kept pestering him, oftening to his house


    uninvited.


    Tired of her constant pestering, he had sought refuge in a hotel, but Georgia had even followed him


    there.


    As he was about to leave, he saw Hertha in the elevator.


    Desperate to shake off Georgia, he impulsively pulled Hertha towards him and enacted a passionate


    kiss.


    Hertha had even yed along, further provoking Georgia by suggesting they got a hotel room.


    Her brazen yet confident words had left him quite satisfied, hoping that Georgia would leave him alone


    in the future.


    Hertha¡¯s hopeful and anxious expression faded into disappointment, leaving her feeling utterly


    dejected.


    Content ? N?velDrama.Org.


    Although she had guessed his motives, hearing it from him still hurt.


    She pouted slightly, saying in a small voice, ¡°Can¡¯t you consider me as your girlfriend for real? Do you


    think I¡¯m too fat?¡±


    ric¡¯s lips curled into a smirk, his demeanor charming and nonchnt. ¡°I¡¯m not particrly interested


    in a mother of quadruplets.¡±


    ¡°What? You¡¯re rejecting me because of the quadruplets? Actually.¡± Hertha was shocked to finally


    understand the reason behind ric¡¯s cold attitude towards her. In her excitement, she almost blurted


    out the truth about the quadruplets.

 Chapter 350

    Chapter 350


    ¡°What is it?¡± Seeing her pause, ric asked, breaking the silence that was beginning to stretch


    ufortably.


    Hertha¡¯s round eyes, bright as a pair of marbles, rolled around twice, her words catching in her throat.


    She had been ready to admit the truth about the quadruplets, but the words died on her lips.


    She swallowed them back.


    N?vel/Dr(a)ma.Org - Content owner.


    Despite her desperate need to rify that she was single, childless, and had never been with a man,


    she couldn¡¯t bring herself to say it.


    Because if she did, it would mean betraying Thssa.


    ric was Lysander¡¯s close friend. If ric learned that the quadruplets were Thssa¡¯s children,


    Lysander would soon know too.


    And currently, the tension between Thssa and Lysander was not just about him disliking children or


    the Sinir family looking down on Thssa. It was a web of old grudges and resentments.


    Lysander now saw Thssa as an enemy, wishing nothing more than her downfall.


    If he found out about the children Thssa had birthed in secret, he would ruthlessly snatch them


    away, denying Thssa any right to see them.


    That, after all, would be the most painful punishment for Thssa.


    Thssa had lost everything. All she had left were her children.


    If she were to lose them too, what would be of her?


    Hertha was here to help Thssa, wasn¡¯t she? She couldn¡¯t just push Thssa into the fire before she


    even had a chance to save her.


    Despite her growing feelings for ric and her desperate urge to exin everything, she held her


    peace.


    ¡°Why are you quiet?¡± Seeing Hertha¡¯s troubled expression, ric prompted her, his brow furrowed.


    After a moment of stuttering, Hertha finally found her voice, ¡°The quadruplets are my treasures. They


    are irreceable in my heart.¡±


    This was Thssa¡¯s true thoughts and situation.


    Hertha was merely voicing Thssa¡¯s feelings.


    As Thssa¡¯s best friend, she could guess what Thssa was thinking.


    No one could ever rece her children in her heart.


    Hearing Hertha¡¯s response, ric wasn¡¯t surprised. A mocking smile yed at the corner of his lips,


    ¡°Don¡¯t worry, no one¡¯s going to steal your children. You¡¯ve done me a favor today. Name your price, and


    I¡¯ll transfer it to you now.¡±


    He pulled out his phone, found Hertha¡¯s ount, and prepared to make the transfer


    Seeing his decisive action, Hertha felt a sudden pang of anxiety and pain.


    She was single. She hadn¡¯t ever been in a rtionship, and certainly hadn¡¯t given birth.


    She wanted to experience a passionate romance with him. When he had kissed her earlier, her heart


    had raced, her body had tingled, and she recognized the feeling of intense attraction.


    Her affection for him deepened.


    But he had rejected her, thinking she was a mother of four. He was apparently uninterested in a woman


    with children.


    For Thssa¡¯s sake, she had to endure the torment.


    As he started to enter the amount for the transfer, Hertha quickly grabbed his hand, ¡°If you really


    believe I¡¯ve helped you, you don¡¯t need to pay me. Just do me another favor, and we¡¯ll be even.¡±


    As she spoke, her gaze fell on his phone screen.


    It was the same conversation from when he had rear-ended her car and transferred her a thousand


    dors.


    She had asked him out for dinner, but he had declined.


    After that, there was nothing. No more conversation.


    The only other time he had initiated contact with her was for another transfer. This time it was to sever


    ties with her.


    Hertha felt a sharp sting in her heart, as if bitten by an ant. It was a small, lingering pain that seemed to


    never fade.

 Chapter 351

    Chapter 351


    Hertha¡¯s hands were plump and warm, and when she held ric¡¯s hand, he could feel the heat


    emanating from her palm, slightly dampened by sweat.


    His striking almond-shaped eyes met hers, ¡°I don¡¯t mind chatting, but can you let go of my hand?¡±


    Upon catching his mesmerizing gaze, she felt her heart skip a beat. Even a simple nce from him


    was enough to stir her emotions.


    She quickly realized that she was still clutching his hand, a flicker of distaste crossing his face.


    Her expression fell, and she slowly withdrew her hand, dropping her gaze.


    ric said, ¡°If you need my help, let it be clear that I will not partake in anything immoral or illegal.¡±


    Hertha quickly reassured him, ¡°It will not vite ethics orws, it¡¯s simple.¡±


    ¡°Alright, go ahead,¡± ric responded.


    He wanted to quickly resolve his obligations to her and avoid further entanglement.


    ¡°Follow me,¡± Hertha instructed.


    She led ric towards the room number Thssa had given her.


    As they were about to turn the corner, out of the corner of her eye, Hertha spotted two burly


    C¨°ntens bel0ngs to N?(v)elDr/a/ma.Org


    bodyguards. With quick reflexes, she retreated back into the hallway


    undetected.


    ric, too, was about to turn the corner when Hertha shoved him back.


    ric was tall and muscr, while Hertha was petite and curvy. Despite her slightly chubby figure, she


    was cute and delicate.


    As she pushed ric back, she was nearly engulfed in his embrace.


    She could smell the masculine scent on him, mixed with a faint fragrance, and feel his solid chest.


    Her hand resting on his chest, her heartbeat skipped a beat.


    This man¡¯s allure was just too strong.


    Even a simple touch was nearly too much for her to handle.


    ric noticed her nestled against him, her hand still exploring. He frowned in displeasure.


    Before he could speak out, Hertha cut him off.


    ¡°Shh,¡± she whispered, her index finger to her lips in a silencing gesture.


    ric silenced his words, his gaze dropping to her hand on his chest. In a low voice, he asked, ¡°Are


    you trying to take advantage of me again?¡±


    Hertha nced down at her hand on his chest, soaking in his masculine charm.


    She didn¡¯t mean to take advantage of him. It was just an instinctual reaction.


    She quickly realized her mistake and immediately withdrew her hand, her face flushed with


    embarrassment. She avoided his gaze, whispering, ¡°Sorry, I didn¡¯t mean


    to.¡±


    ¡°Who would believe that?¡± ric chuckled.


    His breath was warm on her head. From his tone, she could hear his disdain and contempt for her.


    Feeling wronged and upset, Hertha pouted, deciding not to engage with him any further.


    Rescuing Thssa was the priority.


    In a low voice, she said, ¡°Did you see the two bodyguards at the door just now? If you could draw them


    away, that would be a big help. We would be even.¡±


    ¡°Who¡¯s inside? Why are they being held there?¡± ric was not one to involve himself in unclear


    situations.


    ¡°She¡¯s a friend of mine. She wanted to break up with her boyfriend, but he wouldn¡¯t let her. The guy is


    loaded, and he¡¯s using his wealth and power to confine her in a hotel, denying her freedom,¡± Hertha


    exined.


    ¡°Your friend wouldn¡¯t happen to be Thssa, would she?¡± ric was quick to catch on.

 Chapter 352

    Chapter 352


    The moment he guessed it was Thssa, Hertha was taken aback.


    ¡°No, it¡¯s not Thssa!¡± Hertha quickly refuted, ¡°Thssa works at Sinir Group. How can she have a


    boyfriend? It¡¯s one of my other friends.¡±


    ¡°What kind of maniac wouldn¡¯t ept a break-up and tries to control others?¡± ric was skeptical,


    raising an eyebrow in disbelief.


    Hertha eagerly agreed, ¡°Yes, he¡¯s a maniac. That¡¯s why I say that women must be careful when


    choosing a boyfriend.¡±


    Then her innocent, round eyes sparkled as she nced at ric.


    That nce was filled with a hint of admiration for him.


    ric was slightly ufortable under her tant gaze, he averted his eyes. ¡°Which friend of yours?¡±


    ¡°My college mate, Debby. If you don¡¯t believe me, you can check it out.¡± Hertha casually mentioned a


    real college mate.


    ric was skeptical but decided to verify it. He quickly sent a message to his assistant.


    Hertha¡¯s heart was pounding as she saw him actually investigating it.


    What if he found out it wasn¡¯t Debby?


    What if he refused to help?


    Hertha was anxious.


    Soon, ric received a response from his assistant.


    He opened the message, and Hertha was so anxious she tiptoed to get a peek.


    But ric held his phone high, not letting her see.


    Unable to see, Hertha pouted, feeling both nervous and wronged.


    After ric read the message, his handsome face darkened.


    ¡°How did it go?¡± Hertha asked anxiously.


    She was unsure of what he had found out, her heart was racing. She was on pins and needles.


    ric finally said, ¡°Tell me, how should we distract them?¡±


    C¨°ntens bel0ngs to N?(v)elDr/a/ma.Org


    Hertha¡¯s anxious heart finally settled down. Did that mean he believed her?


    What exactly did ric find out?


    She didn¡¯t know, nor did she care much. It was just Debby, the woman who always opposed her and


    Thssa. She didn¡¯t care about her affairs.


    All she needed was ric¡¯s help


    ¡°How would I know? You think of a way.¡± Hertha said softly.


    ric frowned, ¡°You do realize you asked for my help, right?¡±


    The message from his assistant indeed confirmed that Debby was dating a man who was quite


    influential and notorious for bullying others.


    ¡°Yes, I asked for your help, and that includes brainstorming and using your intelligence,¡± Hertha said,


    lowering her voice to avoid being heard by the bodyguards nearby.


    ¡°Are you stupid? Don¡¯t you have a brain?¡± ric looked at her as if she was an idiot.


    Hertha was speechless.


    She was so angry. He called her stupid!


    She hated being called stupid the most.


    To prove herself, Hertha racked her brain toe up with a n, determined to impress him.


    Soon, her eyes lit up. ¡°I got it!¡±


    ric asked, ¡°What?¡±


    Hertha beckoned him to lean in closer, indicating she wanted to whisper something to him.


    At first, ric was reluctant, but seeing her anxious demeanor, he suppressed his impatience. He


    leaned in and tent her his ear.


    Hertha gestured and whispered her n into his ear.

 Chapter 353

    Chapter 353


    She leaned in, her whisper tickling the shell of his ear, both teasing and enticing..


    ric squirmed slightly, not quite used to the closeness, but he still listened to the end.


    After they finished discussing, Hertha looked at him with a confident grin. ¡°Well?¡±


    Suddenly, ric curved his index finger and lightly flicked her forehead.


    Caught off guard and ttered, Hertha instinctively raised her hand to cover her forehead. She looked


    at him with a blush and a racing heart, ¡°What was that for?¡±


    That gesture was both teasing and affectionate.


    Wasn¡¯t this a signature move shared between lovers?


    Her heart, which had been down, was instantly thrown into chaos.


    ric seemed oblivious to her turmoil, saying seriously, ¡°What kind of scheme is this?¡±


    Then he walked out into the hallway.


    Startled, Hertha quickly peered out to watch him.


    He walked straight towards the two bodyguards guarding the door. When he was about to reach them,


    he took out a pack of cigarettes from his pocket, drew one out, and put it in the corner of his mouth.


    He rummaged in his pocket again, trying to find a lighter, but didn¡¯t find one. He had already walked


    past the bodyguards.


    Without a lighter, he turned back and asked one of the bodyguards, ¡°Buddy, can I borrow a light?¡±


    The bodyguard took out a lighter from his pocket and handed it over.


    ric lit up and took a drag, but didn¡¯t return the lighter. Instead, he took out a cigarette and offered it


    to the bodyguard, ¡°Thanks, have one.¡±


    The bodyguard didn¡¯t take it, standing stiffly. It was a clear sign of not wanting to engage with him.


    ric chuckled, not at all embarrassed, ¡°I snuck out while my wife was on a team-building trip with her


    The bodyguard remained impassive,pletely ignoring him.


    Hertha chuckled at this. ric¡¯s acting was terrible.


    ric also realized that these two bodyguards were too indifferent. He needed to y the sympathy


    card.


    He put on a pitiful face and said, ¡°Guys, you also have families. You wouldn¡¯t want me to go homete


    and have my wife suspect something, right?¡±


    One of the bodyguards finally broke, ¡°You can go home now!¡±


    ¡°But what about the girl waiting for me in the room? I can¡¯t just leave, can I? We¡¯re all men here, you


    can understand me, right.¡±


    He tried his best to portray the dilemma of a man wanting to cheat but also wanting to take care of his


    family.


    The other bodyguard, the one who hadn¡¯t lent him the lighter, red at him.


    Although he found ric¡¯s actions despicable, he also understood the predicament.


    With a look of disdain, he took out his phone and showed ric the time.


    ¡°Oh, it¡¯s 2 AM.¡± ric nced at it and said.


    The next second, he snatched the phone from the bodyguard¡¯s hand and bolted.


    ¡°Stop!¡± The bodyguard whose phone was stolen instinctively gave chase.


    The other bodyguard realized his lighter, worth tens of thousands, was still in ric¡¯s hands, and he too


    gave chase.


    Hertha watched this and her heart pounded with both fear and excitement and a bit of contempt.


    Wasn¡¯t ric the one who said her n was ridiculous? Yet he still followed it, stealing the bodyguard¡¯s


    phone and running.


    This proved she was the clever one.


    Seeing ric leading both bodyguards away, Hertha quickly ran to the door and furiously rang the


    doorbell.


    Secondster, the door opened to reveal Thssa¡¯s haggard and apprehensive face. Seeing Hertha,


    she eximed in relief, ¡°Hertha, you really came!¡±


    Content ? N?velDrama.Org.


    ¡°Run right now! Quickly!¡± Hertha pulled Thssa out of the room and ran towards the elevator.

 Chapter 354

    Chapter 354


    Thssa followed Hertha a few steps before abruptly stopping. ¡°Hold on.¡±


    Hertha turned back with a mix of surprise and anxiety in her eyes. ¡°Don¡¯t you want to escape?¡±


    Indeed, being held captive by Lysander was a unique experience. Many women aspired to be treated


    so specially by him, but few ever got the chance.


    Thssa didn¡¯t have the time to indulge in Hertha¡¯s whimsical thoughts. She let go of Hertha¡¯s hand,


    retraced her steps, and shut the door behind her.


    Doing so would give the impression that she was still inside the room if the bodyguards returned. It


    would buy them some extra time to escape.


    Quickly shutting the door behind her, Thssa sprinted back to Hertha, grabbed her hand and they


    dashed into the elevator, pressing the button for the first floor and the close door button immediately


    after.


    They feared the bodyguards would return and spot them.


    Thankfully, the elevator doors closed in time, cutting off the view from outside.


    Thssa finally heaved a sigh of relief, turning to Hertha! ¡°How did you manage to distract the


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    bodyguards?¡±


    The bodyguards around Lysander were no fools. Hertha was a single woman. Being able to divert two


    bodyguards and knock on her door was beyondprehension for Thssa.


    A smirk formed on Hertha¡¯s lips. ¡°I had help.¡±


    ¡°Help? Who?¡± Thssa asked, intrigued.


    Hertha touched her nose, a telltale sign of mischief. ¡°ric.¡±


    Thssa was both surprised and bewildered. ¡°You and ric? Wasn¡¯t he continuously rejecting you


    thest time?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s not what you think. It¡¯s a long story. I¡¯ll exin when we have the time,¡± Hertha replied.


    ¡°Alright,¡± Thssa nodded.


    Escape was the priority at the moment, not gossip.


    Soon, the elevator reached the first floor. Hertha and Thssa walked out, disappearing into the night.


    After they had driven a fair distance, Hertha opened WhatsApp and sent a message to ric. [I¡¯ve


    rescued her. You can retreat now.]


    Meanwhile, ric was ying a cat-and-mouse game with the two bodyguards.


    He managed to shake them off and approached the front desk of the hotel, handing over a phone and


    a lighter. ¡°I found these. Could you please find the owner?¡±


    Then he sauntered out of the hotel.


    When the bodyguards reached the first floor, they found their belongings at the front desk. The


    receptionist informed them that someone had found their items.


    The realization hit them. They had been tricked!


    They rushed back to the room at the swiftest pace, only to find it empty.


    The bodyguards exchanged a nce, their muscles tensed and their hearts pounded.


    But all the tension was useless. They had to tell Lysander.


    One of the bodyguards dialed Lysander¡¯s number.


    The call was answered after two rings. Even through the phone, the bodyguard could feel the chilling


    aura radiating from Lysander.


    His heartbeat quickened, his voice shaking as he ryed the news. ¡°Mr. Sinir, Thssa has been


    taken from the room. She¡¯s gone.¡±


    ¡°What?¡± Lysander¡¯s voice was icy cold, devoid of any warmth.


    The bodyguard felt a chill run down his spine, his voice barely a whisper as he recounted the events. ¡°A


    man distracted us by borrowing our phone and lighter. He stole our items and we chased after him.


    When we returned, Thssa was gone.¡±


    Papier SJ

 Chapter 355

    Chapter 355


    ¡°Idiots!¡± Lysander fumed, ending the call with a decisive snap.


    Royal Estates.


    Lysander had been sleeping in his master bedroom. He was on the brink of slumber when his


    bodyguard¡¯s call came through.


    He rose, flicking on the light with a sharp click, and pulled on his clothes from the hanger.


    His handsome face was as cold and unyielding as a winter¡¯s chill, enough to freeze the marrow in their


    bones.


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    A man had managed to spirit away Thssa, using a ssic diversionary tactic.


    That man must be Leopold!


    Did she want to elope with Leopold?


    Images of his mother¡¯s determination to elope with Bruce and his father¡¯s futile pursuit that ended in a


    tragic car ident reyed in Lysander¡¯s mind.


    His heart felt as though it was being squeezed by a vice, the pain making even breathing difficult.


    He had never understood why his father couldn¡¯t let his mother go. Wouldn¡¯t it have been better for


    both of them?


    Back then, he was too young to understand the intricate web of loyalties and grudges, love and hate


    between adults.


    Now, he was thirty years old.


    And he had met Thssa!


    It felt like history was repeating itself.


    Now he understood his father¡¯s feelings.


    Setting aside emotions.


    How could a man bear to see the woman he once owned, harboring feelings for another man, even


    nning to spend her life with him?


    It was an affront to the man¡¯s pride.


    Even if Thssa was ruined, he would never let another man touch her!


    This was the possessiveness,petitiveness, and the strong pride of a man. It was something he had


    to do.


    Hertha hurriedly brought Thssa back home, apanying her upstairs.


    Evelyn, who had been unable to sleep, rushed over to open the door. Seeing Thssa and Hertha, she


    scolded, ¡°You reckless girl, so you finally thought to corne home! Look at the time!¡±


    It was already past three in the morning!


    Thssa didn¡¯t have time to deal with her mother¡¯sints. She was anxious and hurried, saying


    as she moved into the room, ¡°Mom, quickly change and pack some essentials. Take the kids and go


    back to the countryside.¡±


    She opened the door to her room, grabbed a suitcase, and began hurriedly packing.


    Evelyn¡¯s heart sank and she felt as if the sky was falling.


    She quickly moved over to Thssa, asking anxiously, ¡°Did you mess up again? Did you provoke


    someone who shouldn¡¯t be provoked?¡±


    Thssa immediately realized she had let her anxiety show, causing Evelyn to worry


    Her quarrel with Lysander was not something she could exin to Evelyn now, lest her fiery temper


    cause her to confront Lysander.


    Where did they, mere mortals, stand a chance against him?


    She quickly exined, ¡°No, Mom. I got a call from the vige. My aunt fainted at home and there¡¯s no


    one to take care of her. You need to take the kids and go back to look after her for a while. Don¡¯t worry,


    I¡¯ll ask for leave from the kindergarten.¡±


    ¡°What, your aunt is sick? She¡¯s alone at home with no one to care for her, What if no one had found her


    when she fainted? What if treatment was dyed?¡± Evelyn immediately looked worried upon hearing


    about Thssa¡¯s aunt¡¯s illness.


    ¡°Exactly, her health was already bad and she was alone at home. But Mom, don¡¯t worry, luckily, the


    neighbors found her in time and she¡¯s already in the hospital. You just need to go back and look after


    her.¡± Thssa forced a smile. Given the current circumstances, she couldn¡¯t afford to consider much.


    She needed to


    quickly get Evelyn and the kids back to the countryside.


    If Lysander came looking for her, it would be the end.

 Chapter 356

    Chapter 356


    Evelyn fretted over Astrid¡¯s health, swiftly changing her clothes and helping Thssa pack their


    luggage.


    Seeing this, Hertha didn¡¯t sit idle either, helping to pack the children¡¯s clothing and supplies.


    Once everything was packed, Thssa began to wake the little ones. They were still lost in their


    dreams.


    ¡°Atticus, Dorian, Elowen, Sophia, wake up.¡± Thssa gently shook their small shoulders.


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    Atticus woke up, rubbing his eyes sleepily. His face was filled with confusion.


    Seeing Thssa and Hertha, he asked in confusion, ¡°Mom, is it school time?¡±


    Still drowsy, he raised his small hand to rub his sleepy eyes.


    Dorian just opened his eyes for a moment, but the sleepiness was too overpowering, and he closed his


    eyes to continue sleeping.


    It was three in the morning, the deepest part of the children¡¯s sleep cycle.


    Elowen didn¡¯t move at all, seemingly unaffected by whatever was happening around her. She was the


    heaviest sleeper of them all.


    Sophia was the same, sleeping heavily. Even when Thssa shook her shoulder, she didn¡¯t move.


    Seeing the children so sweetly asleep, caught up in their dreams, Thssa didn¡¯t have the heart to


    disturb them.


    ¡°But we have to be quick. We¡¯re going to visit Grandma¡¯s sister in the countryside.¡± Thssa¡¯s voice


    was filled with urgency.


    That urgency was impossible to hide.


    Sensing his mother¡¯s urgency, Atticus shook his head to chase away the sleepiness. He pulled his


    clothes towards him, and began to dress himself obediently.


    For the remaining three, Thssa had to pick them up one by one and dress them.


    Dorian, disturbed from his sleep, was a bit grumpy. ¡°Mom, I want to sleep.¡± he muttered.


    ¡°Be good, we can sleep in the car.¡± Thssa coaxed him.


    Atticus, being the eldest, was his mother¡¯s right-hand man. Having dressed himself, he came forward


    to help Thssa dress Dorian.


    On the other side, Hertha was changing Elowen¡¯s clothes.


    Elowen loved to sleep and eat, resulting in her chubby and solid frame. Holding her was somewhat of a


    task for Hertha.


    But when she cooed at Elowen, her voice was full of affection.


    ¡°Elowen, it¡¯s time to wake up. If you do, there will be something yummy to eat.¡±


    When Hertha mentioned food, Elowen¡¯s big innocent eyes popped open. ¡°Really? There¡¯s food?¡±


    ¡°Yep, my car is full of tasty snacks,¡± Hertha said, throwing out the bait.


    ¡°I can dress myself, I can.¡± The allure of food was too strong. Elowen, previously deep in sleep, was


    now wide awake and eager to get dressed. Sophia was the smallest of them all, and Thssa had no


    trouble dressing her quickly.


    The family, with their bags big and small, made their way out of the apartmentplex.


    Outside, Thssa said to Hertha, ¡°We¡¯ve been up half the night. You should go back and sleep. I¡¯ll call


    a cab to take them to the countryside.¡± Hertha replied, ¡°Calling a cab is too much of a hassle. I¡¯ll take


    them. Don¡¯t worry, I¡¯m a night owl.¡±


    Hertha insisted, and Thssa didn¡¯t argue further.

 Chapter 357

    Chapter 357


    Stowing their luggage in the trunk, Evelyn took the passenger seat, while the four children nestled in


    the back. Thssa instructed the children to behave and to listen to Evelyn¡¯s words. She then shut the


    car door.


    Elowen immediately pressed herself against the car window, saying in a voiceden with reluctance,


    ¡°Mom, why aren¡¯t youing with us?¡±


    With a smile, Thssa cated her, ¡°You guys go on ahead, I have to finish my work here first, then I¡¯ll


    ¡°Ugh, I hate work and overtime,¡± Elowen grumbled, her lips pouting in disappointment at not being able


    to apany her mother.


    Hertha drove the car away and Thssa watched it go, a sense of loss clouding her heart.


    She yearned to be with her little darlings, but she couldn¡¯t. Having escaped from the hotel, Lysander


    would undoubtedly be looking for her. If she were to be with the children when he found her, her


    carefully guarded secret would be exposed in an instant. Considering Lysander¡¯s power and


    dominance, he would definitely take the children away.


    Thssa could barely stand the thought of being separated from her adorable children. As the car


    disappeared from sight, she returned to her rented apartment, hastily packing her belongings into a


    backpack. She had just finished packing a few clothes when a frantic knock sounded at the door.


    The sound of the knocking felt like it was pounding against her heart, causing Thssa to freeze in


    ce, her breathing bing shallow.


    It was as if she was facing a devil at her doorstep.


    She remained rooted to the spot, unable to bring herself to answer the door. The knocking grew more


    urgent, each knock louder than thest. Thssa¡¯s heart pounded like a drum, her body taut with


    tension.


    Knowing there was no escape, she slowly moved towards the door and finally opened it. It was a tall,


    slim man in a silver-grey suit. His chestnut hair was neatlybed, and his handsome face was etched


    with sadness. His bright eyes were filled with pain.


    It was Leopold!


    Relieved that it wasn¡¯t Lysander, Thssa felt her tension dissipate.


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    ¡°Thssa, why?¡± Leopold¡¯s voice was heavy with sorrow and confusion.


    He had spent most of the night pondering, but still couldn¡¯t understand. Why was she dating Lysander?


    Was it to seek revenge?


    Was she sleeping with Lysander as a way to mock him for sleeping with her cousin? If so, did that


    mean she still had feelings for him?


    Thssa had been on high alert, anticipating Lysander¡¯s arrival. She didn¡¯t have the energy to discuss


    their past, or to untangle a dead rtionship that could never be resurrected.


    She felt drained, the tension had made her sweat and she was out of energy. ¡°Leopold, I told you, don¡¯t


    ¡°No, I won¡¯t leave until you exin,¡± Leopold was stubborn. He strode into the apartment and seated


    himself on the couch, determined.


    Thssa turned to him anxiously, ¡°Leopold, you need to leave. I have to go. If you¡¯re not leaving, then


    you might as well stay here!¡±


    With that, she turned and walked towards the door. Just as she was about to step out, the elevator


    doors opened to reveal a man¡¯s figure that made her blood run cold. The sight of him was so shocking


    that she was left rooted to the spot.

 Chapter 358

    Chapter 358


    The man was tall and imposing, his lithe form wrapped in a custom-made ck suit that exuded an


    aura of deep, refined luxury. His presence was somanding that the air around him seemed to


    ripple with his powerful aura.


    Lysander had arrived!


    Two bodyguards dressed in ck trailed behind him.


    Thssa¡¯s heart pounded in her chest. For a moment, her mind nked out in shock. Then her


    rationality snapped back, prompting her to sprint back into the house and m the door shut.


    However, as she was retreating, the two bodyguards swiftly caught up. One held the door from closing


    while the other wedged his foot in the gap, preventing her from locking them out.


    Despite Thssa¡¯s desperate attempts to close the door, her strength was no match for the


    bodyguards. Within a half-second, the door was forced open.


    The bodyguards barged in.


    Thssa stepped back abruptly, nearly losing her bnce.


    ¡°Thssa!¡± Noticing her stumble, Leopold rushed forward to steady her, catching her just as she was


    about to fall into his arms.


    Thssa was still in a state of shock, her mind reeling from the unexpected intrusion.


    The tall man strode into the house, his every step causing a frigid wind to swirl around him.


    His icy demeanor sent a chill down Thssa¡¯s spine, as if she were being buffeted by a biting cold


    wind. Her heart raced as he approached. Just as she was about to bolt, he reached out, gripped her


    chin, and yanked her towards him. His forceful pull caused her body to jerk against his, sparking fear in


    her, as if her neck was about to snap from her body.


    Thssa collided with Lysander¡¯s solid chest. His hand moved from her chin to her shoulder, his


    fingers digging into her flesh as if he were a predator iming his


    prey.


    Thssa was frantic, her heart pounding like a drum in her chest. Her shoulder ached from his grip, the


    pain so intense that she barely dared to move.


    ¡°Lysander let me go.¡± she managed to whimper, each word punctuated by a wince of pain.


    Leopold, who had been holding Thssa, felt a sudden pang of loss as she was yanked from his


    grasp. It felt as hollow and empty as his heart did when he leamed about Thssa and Lysander¡¯s


    rtionship.


    Overwhelmed by a sense of defeat, he red at Lysander. Seeing the man¡¯s possessive hold on


    Thssa, and ignoring the pain it was causing her, he anxiously asked, ¡°Lysander, what are you


    doing?¡±


    He wanted to step forward and pull Thssa away from Lysander, but the man¡¯s aura was too


    overpowering and intimidating. He didn¡¯t dare, nor did he feel he had the right to interfere.


    After all, he was Thssa¡¯s ex-boyfriend and he had betrayed her first. Thssa had never forgiven


    him.


    What right did he have to intervene now?


    He took a step forward, then stopped.


    Lysander shot Leopold a disdainful nce. Without acknowledging him, he guided Thssa to the


    couch and sat down. His actions were leisurely, yet his aura was dangerously oppressive.


    His cold voice echoed, ¡°Where were you nning to run?¡±


    Thssa was packed for a trip, presumably to elope with Leopold. But she hadn¡¯t timed it right and had


    been caught red-handed by him.


    His words sounded casual and nonchnt.


    But the icy tone in his voice, along with his intimidating aura, made it difficult for anyone to breathe


    freely.


    ¡°You¡¯ve misunderstood.¡± Thssa began to exin, but out of the corner of her eye, she spotted a


    baby pacifier lodged in the crevice of the couch.


    It was a spare pacifier for Elowen¡¯s bottle. The baby had a penchant for drinking milk and chewing on


    N?velD(ram)a.?rg owns this content.


    the pacifier, often biting through them. As a result, Thssa always kept a stash of spare pacifiers.

 Chapter 359

    Chapter 359


    In her rush, she had gathered all of the children¡¯s toys and daily necessities, tucking them away into


    cabs. Yet, unknowingly, a pacifier had slipped into the crevices of the couch, right behind Lysander.


    Halfway through her exnation, Thssa caught sight of the pacifier behind him. Her heart pounded


    N?vel/Dr(a)ma.Org - Content owner.


    in her chest, her scalp tingled with rm.


    ¡°Misunderstood?¡± Lysander queried, his gaze cool and prating like the distant night sky, a


    simmering rage barely concealed.


    His backpack was already slung over his shoulders. What misunderstanding could there be?


    Noticing Lysander¡¯s icy and stern expression, Thssa realized that he was about to lose his temper.


    If he lost his temper at her, she could fight back. But if he discovered the pacifier.


    He was so sharp and perceptive. He would undoubtedly trace the origins of the pacifier.


    Then, she would be truly defeated.


    Thssa felt her heart climb into her throat.


    At this moment, Lysander noticed her unusual expression and followed her gaze.


    As he turned his head, Thssa quickly maneuvered herself onto hisp, her hand gently caressing


    his face. With perfect control, she cupped his face, and turned it away from the pacifier, hiding her


    internal chaos behind a soft and seductive smile.


    With a gentle voice, she coaxed, ¡°Of course, I was nning to pack a few clothes ande find you. I


    didn¡¯t expect you to be here already.¡±


    Her position on hisp was already suggestive enough to fuel anyone¡¯s imagination.


    Her fingers traced the contours of Lysander¡¯s handsome face, like a woman deeply in love, unbothered


    by the rules of society. She used her unique charm to soothe and please him, every movement filled


    with affection.


    It was tenderly Seductive and softly enticing.


    Lysander¡¯s stern expression softened slightly at her sudden action, his gaze locked on her.


    Leopold¡¯s heart ached at the sight. There was a sharp sting followed by a dull and heavy pain. His


    hands clenched at his sides, his teeth gritted.


    ¡°Is that so? How can I trust you?¡± Lysander¡¯s voice was cold and deep, his gaze never leaving


    Thssa.


    ¡°All I said is true. Who could resist such an outstanding man like you?¡± Thssa replied, slowly leaning


    into his arms.


    She wrapped her arms around his waist, feeling the strong and masculine power beneath his shirt,


    enough to make any woman blush.


    But Thssa couldn¡¯t afford to be distracted now. Using the opportunity of embracing Lysander, she


    quickly and carefully tucked the pacifier back into the crevices of the couch when he wasn¡¯t looking.


    Once done, she finally rxed. Her back was soaked in sweat, her clothes sticking to her skin.


    ¡°Is that so? Then as you wish, don¡¯t leave me!¡± Lysander¡¯s handsome face hardened, gripping her


    waist, turning the tables.


    He stood up, pulling her up with him, his arm around her slender waist, positioning her by his side.


    Lysander¡¯s gaze was oppressive, like a beast lurking in the night, its eyes glowing in the darkness. He


    red at Leopold with a fierce intensity.


    His voice was chillingly cold. ¡°Leopold, it¡¯s clear to see that your past with her is dead! Face the reality,


    she is my woman! After this, don¡¯t interfere in her life, or you¡¯ll regret it!¡±


    Then he left with Thssa.

 Chapter 360

    Chapter 360


    Lysander gripped Thssa¡¯s waist tightly, almost threateningly, and led her away. He finally understood


    why Leopold had been so obsessed with Thssa all these years.


    This kind of woman who fed men¡¯s hearts with false promises and seductions was more dangerous


    than those who seduced men¡¯s bodies!


    Just like her father, Bruce, who was skilled at seducing women, she was just as maniptive if not


    more.


    The strength of gics was indeed powerful.


    He wanted topletely cut off Leopold¡¯s thoughts about her. Only by giving up could he start anew.


    1


    Leopold, warned by his own uncle, watched as the woman he had loved for seven years was taken


    away.


    When Lysander dered that she was his woman and that Leopold should not have anything to do


    with her, Leopold¡¯s heart was painfully pierced, as if a sharp knife had been forcefully plunged into his


    heart, causing unbearable pain.


    He watched helplessly as the woman he loved was taken away by Lysander. He was powerless,


    unable to do anything.


    Because he had seen Thssa¡¯s actions just now.


    She had willingly sat on Lysander¡¯sp, wrapped her arms around his waist, and dered she was


    going to find him.


    Wasn¡¯t her attitude and intention clear?


    They were officially a couple.


    He didn¡¯t even have the right to win her back.


    Leopold¡¯s heart ached to the point of suffocation. He clenched his teeth, his cheek muscles trembling


    from the extreme pain.


    His eyes were hot and sour.


    His world was shrouded in darkness.


    He had already known the reality, but he still held onto hope. He went to Thssa¡¯s house personally,


    asking her to confirm once more that she was indeed dating Lysander./


    This result hollowed out his soul, causing him unbearable pain.


    Along the way, Lysander was cold and icy, and the pressure around him was extremely low.


    Thssa was stiff, holding her breath, not daring to breathe loudly.


    The car drove all the way to the Royal Estates.


    Lysander¡¯srge hand gripped her neck, twisting her around. He kicked open the door to the master


    bedroom and threw her onto therge bed. He followed suit, grabbing her face and squeezing her


    cogen-filled cheeks until they were deformed.


    His handsome face was dark and icy, intimidating her like a harsh winter storm. The anger swirling in


    his eyes and the icy breath on her face made her skin sting,


    ¡°Running away from the hotel just to elope with him, huh?¡± He questioned her like an angry beast about


    to tear its prey apart. His strong and dangerous aura made Thssa tremble.


    Of course, he wouldn¡¯t believe the sweet words she said while sitting on hisp in her house.


    To him, it was nothing more than a desperate attempt to escape after being caught off guard.


    Did she think that a few sweet words and seductive gestures could fool him into believing that she was


    really packing up to run off with him?


    If she was really running to him, she wouldn¡¯t have gone to all the trouble of contacting Leopold to help


    her escape from the hotel, only to hurry back to pack up and leave with Leopold.


    He had already known what she was thinking at the first time when she left the Sinir Group and went


    to Leopold¡¯spany!


    He had warned her that her body belonged to him, and that she was not allowed to have any rtions


    with any other man.


    It seemed she didn¡¯t learn her lesson.


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    Thssa was frightened by his cold and dangerous aura. Her eyes were filled with panic as she said,


    ¡°It¡¯s not what you think. Leopold and I were over.


    ¡°Over? Thssa, you¡¯re really good at lying! I told you, if you dare to run away, you¡¯ll have to face the


    consequences! You brought this on yourself!¡±


    Lysander¡¯s eyes were filled with icy anger, his chest filled with rage.


    If she really had nothing to do with Leopold, why were they together in the middle of the night? Why


    was Leopold conveniently at her house?


    Everything was just an excuse she made up in order to escape.


    With those words, he harshly grabbed the back of her head and brought her lips to his, ravaging her


    lips and stealing her breath.


    She was like prey caught in the ws of a predator, her struggles and resistance in vain. In the end,


    she could only be devoured by the beast.

 Chapter 361

    Chapter 361


    Thssa was consumed by fear as Lysander dominated her with his powerful aura. No matter how


    much she struggled, she was his prey.


    He flipped her beneath him, his strength making her resistance futile. With a swift pull, her clothes were


    torn away, leaving her as vulnerable as a peeled egg.


    The sight of her delicate and pale skin made Lysander¡¯s eyes darken with wild desire. He swiftly undid


    his buttons and removed his shirt to reveal his chiseled muscles, radiating with distinct masculine


    charm.


    Thssa¡¯s heart pounded in her chest as she tried to retreat, ¡°No, don¡¯t. uh.¡±


    Her pleas and terror were swallowed in the dawn¡¯s early light.


    It wasn¡¯t until noon that Thssa fell into a fitful sleep.


    The afternoon brought a jarring ring from her phone, pulling her from her slumber. She tried to lift her


    heavy eyelids and reach for the phone, but her body was wrapped in a strong hold.


    The arm around her was lean and long, and yet full of strength. A warm body pressed against her back,


    radiating heat that slowly roused her consciousness.


    The memories tumbled back in a rush. The overwhelming and intense moments from hours ago left her


    breathless and wide-eyed.


    The sight before her was a spread of wheat-colored skin, defined and beautiful. It was Lysander¡¯s


    chest. She tried to retreat, her hand instinctively pushing against his abdomen, only to feel the hard abs


    beneath her touch.


    The sensation was incredible, causing her heart to flutter. The realization that she was touching


    Lysander¡¯s abs made Thssa freeze in ce.


    Lysander stirred in his sleep, forcing Thssa to hold her breath. She knew that waking the beast


    could be dangerous.


    The phone continued to ring relentlessly from the bedside table, sending waves of panic through


    Thssa.


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    She prayed that the noise wouldn¡¯t wake Lysander. She didn¡¯t know what would await her if he was


    awakened. The vivid memory of his fury and violence from hours ago still haunted her.


    Just as her nerves were about to snap, the man enveloping her moved. He loosened his hold, reached


    for the ringing phone on the bedside table, and picked it up.


    Thssa¡¯s heart skipped a beat as she slid away from him, catching a glimpse of the phone¡¯s screen. It


    was a call from Evelyn!


    It was her phone and the call was from her mother!

 Chapter 362

    Chapter 362


    Previously groggy from sleep, Lysander snapped fully awake at the sight of the iing call. His


    C¨°ntens bel0ngs to N?(v)elDr/a/ma.Org


    obsidian eyes bore into the phone screen, a chill flickering in their depths.


    Thssa watched as he stared at the screen, her heart pounding like a boiling kettle on the stove.


    Every nerve in her body was tightly strung.


    Please don¡¯t answer it!


    If he did, Evelyn would surely ask about her whereabouts, what she was doing, and how much the


    children missed her. If this call was answered and Evelyn discovered that she had spent the night with


    Lysander, let alone the events from a few hours prior, there would be hell to pay.


    Worse still, if the topic of the children were brought up, Lysander would undoubtedly follow the trail right


    to them. She would lose everything: her wealth and her precious children. It was a result she couldn¡¯t


    bear.


    Lysander¡¯s deep gaze flickered towards Thssa, who was wide-eyed and taking shallow, careful


    breaths. He raised an eyebrow, his voice a low and seductive rumble, ¡°You seem quite nervous.¡±


    Thssa¡¯s heart thumped wildly as she tried to rein in her frantic emotions, ¡°Of course I¡¯m nervous. If


    my mom finds out I slept with you, I won¡¯t be able to exin


    it.¡±


    As she attempted to maintain herposure, she reached for his phone. Lysander lifted his hand out


    of her reach, his dark eyes flicking to hers, ¡°Then you better start exining.¡±


    Then he slid his finger across the screen to answer the call. Thssa felt her heart lurch and her


    nerves stretch to their breaking point.


    Just as Lysander was about to answer, the ringing stopped. The call had been disconnected due to


    inactivity. Thssa¡¯s taut nerves only slightly rxed at the sight, but she remained anxious, fearing


    Evelyn might call again.


    Lysander tossed his phone aside, a slight frown on his face. He stretched his arm out, pulling Thssa


    closer so that her head rested on his arm, his actions both affectionate and domineering.


    Thssa, who had finally managed to put some distance between them, found herself drawn back.


    She felt a pang of despair and her heart ached.


    ¡°What are we exactly?¡± She asked, trying to sound casual, ¡°Are you going to marry me?¡±


    The moment the words left her mouth, she felt Lysander¡¯s arm stiffen beneath her head. The


    atmosphere around him turned cold, making the air seem thin.


    ¡°You know what it means to be my woman. Don¡¯t harbor any other illusions!¡± His icy words lingered as


    he withdrew his arm from beneath her head, standing up. The nket slid off his body, revealing his


    sculpted physique.


    Stung by his words, Thssa felt a sharp pang in her heart. Seeing him, her heart skipped a beat. She


    quickly averted her gaze, not looking at him, and she remained silent.


    She knew what he meant by ¡®being his woman¡¯. She was nothing more than a kept woman, a secret


    hidden away from the world.


    She had thought that as long as she remained by his side, she could avoid this. For as long as it took


    until she found a way to escape.


    But she hadn¡¯t expected this to happen before she could escape.


    When she looked at him again, he was dressed in a crisp suit, looking like a wealthy businessman.


    ¡°Get up ande down for breakfast,¡± he said coldly, and then he left the room.


    When he had first discovered that she was the woman who had saved him five years ago, he had


    considered marrying her. That was why he had brought her home to meet his grandparents. But now.


    She was not just Bruce¡¯s daughter, but also Leopold¡¯s ex-girlfriend.


    He wouldn¡¯t let the Sinir family suffer the same fate as his mother, Belinda..


    Thssa stirred, preparing to get out of bed. As she moved, she felt a painful ache throughout her


    body.


    It was a testament to how fiercely the man had treated her.

 Chapter 363

    Chapter 363


    Bearing the pain that felt like her body was falling apart, she got out of bed and freshened up.


    Looking at herself in the mirror, she found bruises covering her body from the neck down, making it


    hard even to breathe.


    After a quick shower, she picked up her clothes from the bathroom floor, only to find them torn and


    unwearable.


    She couldn¡¯t possibly go downstairs just wrapped in a bathrobe, could she?


    Opening the wardrobe, she saw it was filled with Lysander¡¯s clothes, neatly arranged ck suits, and


    white and ck shirts.


    But there was one woman¡¯s dress hanging on the side.. 1


    Thssa recognized it at once. It was the dress Lysander had given her, which she had returned to


    him.


    She never expected him to bring it back and hang it up in his wardrobe.


    It was her only option for clothing now.


    Thssa put on the dress and went downstairs.


    The butler, Fitch, respectfully greeted her, ¡°Ms. Everhart, your meal is ready, please.¡±


    He made a polite gesture inviting her to the dining area.


    As she approached the table, she was surprised by the spread of sumptuous food. Content ? N?velDrama.Org.


    Steak, lobster, crab cakes.


    The delicious aroma of the food filled her nostrils, causing her stomach to growl in hunger.


    It was already midday, and she hadn¡¯t eaten anything yet.


    She was famished.


    But she hesitated to sit down, for she didn¡¯t see Lysander.


    Fitch seemed to understand her reluctance and said, ¡°Mr. Sinir isn¡¯t home. He¡¯s at the office. Ms.


    Everhart, please sit down and enjoy your meal. There¡¯s no need to wait for Mr. Sinir.¡±


    So, Lysander had gone to the office.


    That made sense, considering he had slept all day and hadn¡¯t even gone to work.


    Remembering why he hadn¡¯t gone to the office and the torment she had endured from the early hours


    of the morning until noon, she felt her heart flutter with a mix of embarrassment and resentment.


    She was angry at Lysander for treating her like this.


    But that didn¡¯t mean she was going to deprive herself of good food.


    If her little darling Elowen were here, she would be delighted to indulge in the feast, munching happily


    away.


    Right, she needed to eat to gather strength to leave.


    Thssa sat down and channeled her frustration into her appetite, eating voraciously.


    She imagined the lobster and the crab cakes as Lysander!


    Each bite was an outlet for her dissatisfaction.


    In no time, the table was littered with seafood shells.


    Thssa was finally satiated.


    She wiped her mouth with a napkin, let out a satisfied belch, and stood up to leave.


    Fitch didn¡¯t stop her.


    As she reached the main door, two bodyguards blocked her way.


    This was all too familiar.


    Thssa took a step back, demanding, ¡°What are you doing? I want to leave. Let me through, okay?¡±


    One of the bodyguards turned to her and said, ¡°Ms. Everhart, Mr. Sinir instructed that you cannot


    leave.¡±


    ¡°Ms. Everhart, please don¡¯t make this difficult for us,¡± the other bodyguard added.


    Thssa recognized them as the same bodyguards who had been stationed outside her hotel room


    the previous night.


    They had restricted her freedom then, and they were doing the same now.


    What was Lysander ying at? Was he trying to imprison her?

 Chapter 364

    Chapter 364


    The problemy with Lysander, not with the bodyguards.


    Thssa was sharp enough to discern that.


    She swallowed her frustration, pulled out her smartphone, and dialed Lysander.


    The phone connected, her voice filled with indignation, ¡°Why won¡¯t you let me leave?¡±


    ¡°Think back on what I told youst night.¡± Then Lysander hung up.


    Thssa had more to say, but then realized the call was over.


    Her heart sunk deeper into a pit of despair.


    She tried to recall their conversation.


    Last night, she had intentionally embraced Lysander to retrieve the pacifier lying on the couch, even


    telling him she woulde looking for him.


    Lysander had said that as she wished, she was not allowed to leave his side.


    Did he mean to lock her up, to make her his personal possession?


    She was a person, not an object!


    Remembering Lysander¡¯s words fromst night and realizing the reason behind his refusal to let her


    go, Thssa felt a surge of despair and helpless anger.


    She assertively demanded the bodyguards to step aside.


    They obstinately refused.


    She stepped back and tried to make a run for it.


    But before she could even reach the front door, she was blocked by the bodyguards arm, carried back


    into the living room, and seated on the couch.


    Afterwards, the bodyguards returned to their posts at the entrance.


    Thssa ran her fingers through her hair in annoyance. She realized that brute force wouldn¡¯t work.


    She needed a clever n.


    C¨°ntens bel0ngs to N?(v)elDr/a/ma.Org


    Thinking about the aftermath of her previous escape attempt, Thssa shuddered in fear.


    She finally understood what Lysander meant by facing the consequences if she dared to run away.


    Those consequences were too dreadful. She didn¡¯t want to experience them again.


    It seemed that she couldn¡¯t run away. She had to gain Lysander¡¯s approval and convince him to let her


    go willingly..


    Seeing her sitting on the couch, alternately pulling at her hair and zoning out, Fitch realized that she


    was upset about being confined.


    He approached her with a friendly smile, suggesting, ¡°Ms. Everhart, you could watch some TV, or take


    a walk in the backyard. The flowers are in bloom right now. The view is quite pleasant.¡±


    Lysander had never brought a woman home before, yet he had brought this woman home twice.


    Despite Lysander¡¯s cold attitude, Fitch could tell that she was special to Lysander.


    Fitch treated Thssa with the same respect he showed towards his employer.


    Thssa raised her head slowly, giving Fitch a slight nod in acknowledgment.


    She had no interest in admiring flowers at the moment. All she wanted was to escape from Lysander¡¯s


    territory. Only then would she be safe.


    Moreover, she had promised the kids that she would join them in the countryside in a few days.


    The children would worry if they couldn¡¯t see her.


    Seeing her listless yet polite response, Fitch nodded slightly and went about his other duties.


    After spacing out in the living room for a while, Thssa stood up and walked upstairs. She was


    unfamiliar with theyout.


    The only ce she had been was the master bedroom.


    So, she returned to the master bedroom and closed the door behind her.

 Chapter 365

    Chapter 365


    Evelyn had called her earlier, but she hadn¡¯t picked up. And Evelyn didn¡¯t call back.


    She had no idea where Evelyn and the kids were or how they were doing.


    She called back.


    It only rang once before it was picked up. To her surprise, Evelyn didn¡¯t start with her usual rant about


    her being a reckless child.


    Instead, her tone was calm and low, a¡¯s if weary, ¡°What¡¯s your excuse this time for ignoring my call? Did


    you trick me and the kids into leaving so you could handle some big issue on your own?¡±


    Thssa felt a pang of guilt. The situation was urgent at the time, and she didn¡¯t have time to exin


    much to Evelyn. All she could do was ask her to cooperate and take the kids back home quickly.


    Knowing that Evelyn would be worried about Astrid, she had lied, saying Astrid was in the hospital.


    By now, Evelyn and the kids must have reached their countryside home.


    Thssa was under the control of Lysander, who had treated her horriblyst night!!


    Despite her unwillingness, she couldn¡¯t escape the destiny of being Lysander¡¯s mistress, a woman he


    kept hidden from the world.


    She felt bitter and wronged.


    And now, her beloved mother was angrily questioning her.


    The bitterness in her heart deepened, as if she had swallowed a bitter pill.


    With a low voice, she asked, ¡°Mom, how¡¯s Aunt Astrid doing?


    ¡°Thanks to you, she¡¯s still tough. Now answer my question.¡± Evelyn didn¡¯t scold her, but rather spoke


    softly:


    Thssa was used to her mother¡¯s loud and domineering tone. But now, Evelyn¡¯s soft tone made


    C¨°ntens bel0ngs to N?(v)elDr/a/ma.Org


    Thssa feel uneasy, sparking a sense of fear that something terrible had happened.


    ¡°Mom, I thought you and the kids haven¡¯t seen Aunt Astrid in a while and might want to visit her. Since


    Hertha was also there, she could help, and that¡¯s why I asked you guys to go back. It waste at night,


    and I was afraid you wouldn¡¯t want to leave, so I made up a reason.¡±


    ¡°Keep lying!¡± Evelyn cut through her lies mercilessly. ¡°Are you with Lysander again? Did you worry he


    would find out about your four kids, despise you, and reject you? Is that why you hurried us away, to


    clear the ground for you and Lysander?¡± Evelyn¡¯s voice was soft, but the usation was clear.


    Hearing Evelyn revert to her usual tone, Thssa somehow felt relieved.


    Hearing Evelyn¡¯s words, Thssa cautiously asked, ¡°Did Hertha tell you?¡±


    Thankfully, Evelyn didn¡¯t know that Lysander was the father of her children. Otherwise, she would have


    gone after Lysander right away.


    ¡°Don¡¯t me her. She only told me under pressure.¡± Evelyn defended Hertha.


    Thssa immediately understood. Hertha had given in to Evelyn¡¯s interrogation and revealed some


    truths about her and Lysander.


    ¡°Mom, my situation with Lysander isplicated. I¡¯ll exin everything when I get back. You have to


    understand that Lysander is powerful. If he gets upset, it could harm you and the kids. You wouldn¡¯t


    want our little ones locked up without food or water, would you?¡±


    ¡°What? Lysander would do that to your kids?¡± Evelyn was shocked.


    ¡°Yep, he doesn¡¯t like children. He finds them noisy, Thssa said.


    ¡°Then why are you still with him? He looks down on you, won¡¯t marry you, and doesn¡¯t like your kids.


    Why are you still dating him?¡± Evelyn was agitated.


    Thssa felt helpless, ¡°I wish I weren¡¯t. But he¡¯s a powerful capitalist, and we ordinary people are no


    match for him.¡±


    ¡°He¡¯s forcing you?¡± Evelyn¡¯s heart tightened in fear and concern for Thssa.


    ¡°Mom, it¡¯splex. I can¡¯t exin everything over the phone.¡±


    As Thssa was exining, the door behind her opened, and a chilling and icy aura flew in.


    The air seemed to ripple, and a low pressure engulfed the room.


    Thssa froze as she turned around to see a tall, imposing man walk in, his shadow looming over her.


    Her heart skipped a beat.

 Chapter 366

    Chapter 366


    The man¡¯s aura was icy. He was like a captivating demon as he walked in. Ayer of frost seemed to


    settle on his handsome, sharply defined face, chilling the air around him.


    Thssa was so startled that she held her breath, hastily ending her call and holding her phone behind


    her back.


    Lysander strode forward, hisrge hand gripped her shoulder. His expression was cold and angry.


    ¡°Hand it over!¡±


    Hismanding tone left no room for argument. The chilling aura he exuded was intimidating.


    Thssa stared at him with bright and terrified eyes.


    His domineering presence was too overpowering and Thssa, unable to withstand it, reluctantly


    handed over the hidden phone.


    As soon as it was brought forward, Lysander snatched the phone away. He unlocked the phone, his


    face darkening with displeasure. ¡°Password!¡±


    ¡°Six ones.¡± Thssa didn¡¯t dare to lie and reported truthfully.


    Lysander¡¯s slender fingers tapped on the phone screen, inputting the six ones, and the phone


    unlocked.


    His deep-set eyes gave her a cold stare before he checked the call logs.


    The most recent call was from Evelyn, a minute ago.


    So, she had been sneakily calling Evelyn just now?


    He tossed the phone back at her, and Thssa, in her rush, managed to catch it.


    Lysander stared at her coldly, ¡°You were just calling your mom. Why the secrecy? Do you have


    something to hide from me?¡±


    His deep-set eyes held a scrutinizing gaze.


    His eyes were beautiful, framed by longshes. His double eyelids were deeply creased and very


    charming.


    However, these beautiful eyes, when angry, were as oppressive as a beast¡¯s.


    Thssa needed immense psychological strength to withstand his domineering presence.


    Her heart felt heavy, her nerves were stretched taut from the tension. Under his icy gaze, she shook


    her head, ¡°No secrets, I was just badmouthing you to my mom. I was afraid you¡¯d hear.¡±


    Of course, there were secrets.


    C¨°ntens bel0ngs to N?(v)elDr/a/ma.Org


    The secret of her four hidden children.


    It was a secret she would never let him know.


    At her words, Lysander¡¯s lips twisted into a mocking smile, his voice icy, his gaze cold, ¡°Who are you to


    speak ill of me? Reflect on yourself first!¡±


    Then he turned and left the room.


    Watching his retreating figure, Thssa frowned, her anxiety quickly turning into resentment.


    Reflect on herself?


    What had she done?


    Was it wrong to not want to be his lover?


    Bruce, in his youth, had seduced her mother. That wasn¡¯t her fault.


    She had never met Bruce until recently, and he had never fulfilled his responsibilities as a father.


    To her, Bruce was nothing more than a stranger she had met by chance.


    She didn¡¯t want to be Bruce¡¯s daughter.


    Was all of Bruce¡¯s wrongs to be vented on her?


    How could she be med?


    As Thssa was dwelling on this, her phone vibrated. A message had arrived.


    It was from Evelyn.


    [Thssa, the kids miss you. Come back when you can.]


    The short message made Thssa feel a heartache.


    She missed the kids too.


    She couldn¡¯t stay here any longer. She had to go back.


    Quickly deleting the message, she left the room and went downstairs.


    Lysander was sitting at the dining table, elegantly enjoying his dinner.

 Chapter 367

    Chapter 367


    She walked over to him. ¡°Mr. Sinir, I¡¯m free to leave now, right?¡±


    She was ustomed to calling him Lysander, but the moment the word slipped from her lips, she


    hastily swallowed it back and changed her words.


    Initially, she had always referred to him as Mr. Sinir until he convinced her to be his woman.


    Then, he ordered her to address him as Lysander.


    So, in private, she always called him Lysander.


    Calling him by his first name somehow made the distance between them seem less vast, as if they


    were simply in love, addressing each other as lovers, devoid of hierarchy or barriers.


    But with Bruce¡¯s arrival, everything changed.


    The name Lysander became unattainable.


    His social standing was lofty, his aura intimidating. It was not something her humble status could dare


    to cross.


    The gap between their sses widened once again.


    C¨°ntens bel0ngs to N?(v)elDr/a/ma.Org


    The transition from addressing him as Mr. Sinir to Lysander was incredibly challenging, but reverting


    back to Mr. Sinir only took one cold and oppressive nce.


    Lysander didn¡¯t even bat an eyelid, elegantly cutting his steak, his chilly voice ringing out, ¡°No! Without


    my permission, you¡¯ll stay here. You¡¯re not going anywhere.¡±


    ¡°Why?¡± Thssa pleaded anxiously.


    Lysander raised his deep and icy eyes, giving her a nce, ¡°Isn¡¯t this what you wanted?¡±


    Thssa was choked up, unable to utter a word.


    Last night, she only wanted to hide the pacifier sticking out from the sofa, unbeknownst to him.


    She resorted to a temporary solution, deliberately sitting on hisp and saying things she didn¡¯t mean.


    Only God knew how nervous and ufortable she felt.


    Thssa quickly tried to appease him, saying, ¡°Mr. Sinir, tomorrow is a workday, I need to go to


    work.¡±


    ¡°I can decide your leave,¡± Lysander replied, calmly continuing to cut his steak.


    Thssa was speechless.


    Arguing about going to work with the boss, only to have him tell her to take a day off


    Anyone else would have been overjoyed.


    But Thssa couldn¡¯t bring herself to feel happy.


    She was incredibly anxious, restless, and agitated.


    She missed her kids, and they missed her.


    She hadn¡¯t seen them in over a day. If she didn¡¯t return soon, they would surely miss their meals due to


    worrying about her.


    The thought of her precious little ones unable to eat because they missed her was like a knife twisting


    in her heart.


    She had to go back.


    Her voice held a pleading tone, ¡°Mr. Sinir, please let me go back. If I don¡¯t, my mom will go crazy.¡±


    ¡°Just tell her the truth that you¡¯re at your man¡¯s house,¡± Lysander stated.


    Thssa ground her teeth.


    If she did that, her mom would flip!


    She could only keep those words to herself.


    She said, ¡°If my mom found out I was living with a man I had no future with, she¡¯d kill me.¡±


    Lysander¡¯s hand, holding his knife and fork, suddenly froze. He looked up, his eyes cold as a swirling


    snowstorm, staring at her.


    Thssa shivered under his icy gaze.


    ¡°Forget about ever marrying into the Sinir family, and don¡¯t even dream about marrying Leopold.


    Only if you stay in your ce can you stay safe, understand?¡± His voice, filled with hatred, was cold as


    ice.


    It was like a heavy stone viciously striking down, crushing Thssa¡¯s vibrant heart into a bloody mess,


    causing a dull pain.


    The reality was so brutally raw.


    Thssa had no choice but to confront this excruciating pain.


    won¡¯t many you or Leopold. Just let me go, and I promise I¡¯ll disappear from your lives forever,¡±


    Thssa¡¯s hands, hanging at her sides, clenched into fists. Suppressing her inner pain and indignation,


    she poured her heart out to him.

 Chapter 368

    Chapter 368


    She had never considered being with Leopold, and now it was even more impossible,


    She only regretted being too naive in the past, actually believing that when Lysander said he would


    take responsibility five years ago, he meant marrying her. She even dreamed of providing aplete


    home for their children, returning to the Sinir family together, and meeting his grandparents.


    His idea of responsibility was merely to build a vi for her family and provide somepensation.


    1


    For a man of a wealthy background, any problem that could be solved with money would never be paid


    for with his marriage.


    She had nowe to terms with reality, intending to keep her distance from him. Wasn¡¯t that enough?


    As she finished speaking, Lysander¡¯s gaze grew colder, piercing her like icy spikes, ¡°Have you ever


    seen a hunter let his prey go?¡±


    Thssa¡¯s heart sank, filled with despair.


    Lysander¡¯s intentions were clear. He would not let her go because she was the prey in his game.


    The sense of helplessness was overwhelming.


    Thssa was unable to resist. She returned to her room, lying on her bed. Tossing and turning, she


    was unable to sleep.


    The more she thought about it, the darker her future seemed, without any way out.


    She was confused and helpless.


    What should she do?


    In the middle of the night, as Thssa was about to fall asleep, a cold breath approached from behind.


    Startled, she quickly opened her eyes and turned around to see a man sitting on the edge of her bed.


    Lysander was wearing a bathrobe, his chest exposed, revealing his lean and well-defined muscles. The


    muscle, strong and powerful, screamed of masculine wildness.


    Seeing this made Thssa¡¯s heart flutter. She quickly moved towards the other side of the bed, trying


    to distance herself from him.


    Overwhelmed with anxiety, she lost control and was about to fall off the edge of the bed.


    ¡°Ah! Thssa screamed in fright.


    Lysander reached out his strong arm, ced it around her waist, and pulled her back. Her body quickly


    collided with the man¡¯s chest.


    Thssa¡¯s face was pressed against Lysander¡¯s well-defined chest.


    His chest was warm and solid, and his heart was beating steadily.


    A wave of warmth spread from Thssa¡¯s cheeks, like an electric current, quickly pulsing through her


    heart, and making her feel numb.


    Thssa quickly realized the danger of her situation.


    Panicked, she quickly retreated.


    Just as she raised her head, the man¡¯s arm that was holding her tightened, pulling her back into his


    embrace. It was domineering and irresistible.


    Lysander¡¯s voice was husky, ¡°Don¡¯t move!¡±


    When she had fallen into his arms earlier, she was as soft as a cloud, filling his empty chest.


    Her sweet scent was overwhelming, stirring his body¡¯s reactions.


    It was just like five years ago when he couldn¡¯t control himself.


    Unable to resist, Lysander held her for a moment, and then turned and pinned her down.


    Thssa¡¯s world spun, she was lying on the bed, and when she came to, she saw Lysander above her,


    his handsome face slightly flushed. His dark eyes were staring at her, and his masculine presence


    enveloped her.


    Thssa¡¯s heart was pounding, as if a deer was fiercely crashing into it, wanting to burst out.


    She was so startled that her eyes widened.


    The next second, Lysander leaned down and fiercely kissed her lips.


    She struggled, but he held her hands, interlocking their fingers, and pressing them against the bed. He


    didn¡¯t give her a chance to struggle, deepening and intensifying the kiss.


    The next day, a gentle breeze blew through the window, brushing against Thssa¡¯s face like a baby¡¯s


    N?vel/Dr(a)ma.Org - Content owner.


    hand.


    The warm morning sun shone on her fair face, making her white and oval face and delicate features


    appear even more gentle and beautiful.


    The nket was draped over her body, and her arm was exposed, hanging over the edge of the bed,


    giving off a sense of vulnerability.


    Thssa¡¯s fingers twitched slightly, and from beneath her thin eyelids, her eyes moved.


    Gradually, she woke up.


    She opened her eyes, feeling a bit ufortable with the bright sunlight. She raised her hand to shield


    against the light and sat up.¡±

 Chapter 369

    Chapter 369


    With a single movement, a wave of aches and weakness washed over her.


    Images from the previous night floated into her mind, causing a mixture of pleasure and fear to pulse


    through her body.


    She quickly turned, ncing towards the bed, but Lysander was already gone.


    She got up and descended from the bed.


    As her feet touched the floor, her legs gave way. She almost stumbled.


    She steadied herself against the edge of the bed, barely managing to keep herself upright.


    She entered the bathroom, took a shower, and opened the wardrobe to find no clothes of her own. Her


    only option was to wear Lysander¡¯s clothes.


    She picked out a white shirt and slipped into it. The shirt barely covered her thighs, serving almost like


    a dress.


    She couldn¡¯t possibly go bare-legged, so she grabbed a pair of his trousers.


    The trousers were far too long, and she had to cuff the bottoms to be able to walkfortably.


    Once she was decent, she opened the door, ready to head downstairs.


    At that moment, a maid happened to pass by, carrying a ss of water and a single pill. She


    approached her, saying respectfully, ¡°Ms. Everhart, Mr. Sinir instructed you to take this pill.¡±


    Upon seeing the white pill, Thssa immediately understood.


    It was a contraceptive!


    Oh, Lysander really detested children, didn¡¯t he?


    Was he afraid she might identally get pregnant?


    Thssa was already feeling wronged. The sight of the pill, the reminder of Lysander¡¯s dislike for


    children, and the thought of her four adorable little ones,bined to twist her heart with pain.


    And anger!


    She epted the pill and the water from the maid, swallowing the medicine.


    The maid took the ss back and left.


    Thssa stood still, her chest heaving, her breath uneven, all due to her anger.


    Just because Lysander was powerful, did he think he could lock her up and prevent her from leaving?


    When he wanted her, hadn¡¯t he considered that she might get pregnant?


    And now he even had her take a contraceptive!


    The more Thssa thought about it, the angrier she got.


    She decided to confront Lysander.


    But when she went downstairs, she found out that Lysander was not at home,


    Fitch informed her, ¡°Mr. Sinir left for hispany early in the morning, Ms. Everhart. Your breakfast


    is ready. Please, have a seat.¡±


    Fitch was as respectful as ever.


    Thssa saw the abundant spread of food on the table. She was so angry that she didn¡¯t feel like


    eating.


    She walked over and, with one swift move, flipped the tes on the table, causing the food to scatter.


    Still not satisfied, she grabbed the tablecloth and yanked. tes crashed to the floor, shattering.


    Lobsters and shrimp were strewn all over the floor.


    The maids and Fitch were so shocked that they all stepped aside.


    all


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    Having done that, Thssa threw the tablecloth on the floor and turned to Fitch, her voice seething


    with anger, ¡°Call Lysander and tell him if he doesn¡¯t let me go, I will starve myself!¡±


    Fitch stood frozen in fright.


    Thssa, hands on hips, snapped, ¡°Make the call now. What are you waiting for!¡±


    Fitch regained hisposure. Such scenes were unheard of at the Royal Estates.


    No one dared to flip a table.


    Even though Lysander had been cold towards this woman, Fitch could tell that she was special to


    Lysander.


    He quickly grabbed his cell phone and dialed Lysander¡¯s number, wiping the sweat off his forehead


    before reporting, ¡°Mr. Sinir, Ms. Everhart flipped the breakfast table. She said that if you don¡¯t let her


    go, she will starve herself,¡±

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    Chapter 370


    The man on the other end of the line was as cold as a winter wind, chilling to the bone.


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    His voice was icy and devoid of warmth as hemanded, ¡°From now on, not even a grain of bread


    should reach her!¡±


    Fitch felt a chill running down his spine, his heart pounding for Thssa, but he dared not defy


    Lysander¡¯s orders. He managed a response, ¡°Yes, Mr. Sinir¡±


    The line went dead before he could finish his statement.


    Fitch looked up at Thssa, her chest heaving, her eyes filled with anger yet a glimmer of hope.


    Feeling sorry, Fitch suggested, ¡°Ms. Everhart, perhaps you should rest in your room.


    Upon hearing his words, Thssa knew she had failed.


    She had used hunger as a weapon, yet Lysander still refused to let her go.


    Thssa clenched her fists, her heart aching with pain and anger. Her breathing became heavy as she


    stood there, processing the harsh reality.


    With a few heavy breaths, she turned on her heel and stomped up the stairs.


    She had nned to contact Hertha for help, but her phone had died.


    She scrambled through the room for a suitable charger, but to no avail.


    There were two chargers in the room, but neither of them can be used.


    Her phone was dead. Without a charger, she was cut off from the outside world.


    Her anxiety grew stronger, and she found it impossible to rest.


    As she paced in the master bedroom, her heart pounded with agitation and difort.


    Time flew by, and soon it was afternoon.


    She didn¡¯t leave her room, and no one came looking for her.


    It was as if she didn¡¯t exist in the Royal Estates.


    As the sun set, nightfall came.


    Thssa grew tense with the thought of Lysander¡¯s return, her heart pounded with fear.


    But she had to face the reality. Come seven in the evening, Lysander was back.


    She heard the engine of his car in the driveway.


    Her already taut nerves wound tighter as she remained vignt.¡±


    She stood silently in her room, listening to the faint sounds outside.


    The door creaked open, and a wave of cold, intimidating air swept into the room.


    Thssa¡¯s heart skipped a beat. She looked up to see Lysander, tall and imposing, his aura


    overpowering and frosty.


    His handsome, chiseled face was as somber and cold as a stormy day.


    He strode towards her, his strong masculine presence closing in.


    Terrified, Thssa backed away.


    She had been on high alert for any indication of Lysander approaching her room, yet she hadn¡¯t heard


    a sound before he opened the door. Could he have flown upstairs?


    Did he make no sound when he walked?


    Before she could make sense of it, Lysander was right beside her. Startled, she backed away until her


    heels hit the bed. She was cornered.


    Lysander¡¯s broad chest loomed closer as he reached out and cupped her face. His hand, rough and


    warm, made her feel like she had been electrocuted. It was a sensation both shocking and


    ufortable.


    ¡°What are you trying to do?¡± Thssa asked, her voice shaky with fear.


    With her cheeks in his grasp, her voice came out muffled like a child¡¯s whine.

 Chapter 371

    Chapter 371


    Chapter 371.


    Lysander¡¯s eyes were dark and chilly, his icy gaze threatening to freeze her. His teeth clenched in


    frustration. He snarled, ¡°Starving yourself now, huh? Good for you.¡± His words dripped with sarcasm,


    and his aura was cold and oppressive.


    Thssa bore his anger, her delicate brows furrowed as she fought for her freedom. ¡°Let me go. You


    can¡¯t keep me locked up forever.¡±


    She had to get back. Her children needed her, and she needed them.


    ¡°And why not? You don¡¯t want to eat, right? Fine, from now on, you won¡¯t have to.¡± With that, he


    gripped her nape and dragged her out of the master bedroom, out of the grand hall of the Royal


    Estates, and into the backyard.


    In the backyard was a small bungalow. The butler, seeing him approach, promptly opened the


    bungalow door.


    Lysander roughly pushed her inside, throwing her into the bungalow, his voice filled with suppressed


    anger. ¡°From now on, you¡¯ll stay here. You¡¯re not allowed to eat without my permission!¡±


    With that, he turned and left the bungalow, returning to the main vi hall.


    He ordered Fitch, ¡°Lock the backyard door! If anyone lets her in or secretly feeds her, they¡¯ll be


    severely punished!¡±


    Fitch stammered his agreement, ¡°Yes, sir.¡± and quickly closed the backyard door.


    Thssa was baffled and ¡®hurt, rubbing her sore neck as she looked around. The bungalow was filled


    with various vases and jars, and old, yellowing paintings hung on the walls.


    All the vases, jars, and paintings appeared to be antiqu¨¦s. Some were even speckled with marks of


    history.


    She turned a full circle, taking in the numerous oil paintings on the walls and the array of vases, jars,


    and brooches on the tables. This was a room full of antiques, worth a fortune.


    Her curiosity piqued, Thssa admired the paintings and examined the vases, jars, and brooches. Her


    eyes fell on a small circr pendant.


    The pendant was tiny, no more than a centimeter in diameter.


    But Thssa found it strangely familiar as if she had seen it somewhere before. She picked it up and


    examined it.


    Suddenly, she remembered where she¡¯d seen it. It was identical to a toy pendant that Sophia had


    found on the floor of a toy store during a shopping trip. Sophial had loved it so much that Thssa had


    bought it for a hundred dors.


    The pendant in Lysander¡¯s collection was identical to Sophia¡¯s toy pendant. It was clear that the toy


    was a replica of this antique.


    She mused, ¡°Now anything can be duplicated into a toy.¡±


    Having examined the visible antiques, Thssa opened the cabs, which were also filled with


    ancient artifacts.


    It seemed that Lysander had a penchant for collecting antiquities. No wonder he had casually gifted her


    an antique pendant five years ago, a pendant with a long history.


    Not just the dragon pendant, his collection was filled with paintings, ceramics, silver and gold items,


    and bronzes, all bearing the marks of time and history.


    After admiring the antiques, Thssa noticed that the bungalow door was open. She tried to re-enter


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    the main vi hall but found the backyard door locked. She realized that Lysander intended to confine


    her in the backyard. Her brows furrowed in frustration, she returned to the bungalow.


    To her dismay, there was no bed, no nket, just a few tables, chairs, and the cold antiques,


    Night had fallen.


    Was she expected to sleep here tonight?

 Chapter 372

    Chapter 372


    Unquestionably, this was the answer.


    Thssa maneuvered two chairs together to serve as her bed.


    The chairs were of mahogany, devoid of any cushioning.


    Sleeping on such a hard surface was frigid and ufortable.


    But she had no choice. She couldn¡¯t sleep on the floor.


    Even though it was spring, the nights were still chilly.


    Thssay on the icy wooden surface without a nket to cover herself.


    She was so cold that goosebumps rose on her skin. Wave after wave of cold permeated her, chilling


    her to the bone.


    Unable to sleep, she got up and rubbed her arms as she paced about, generating heat through friction


    to warm herself.


    At first, this helped a bit, but as the night wore on, she grew colder, more tired, and hungrier.


    With a grumbling stomach and her energy spent, she didn¡¯t have the strength to continue.


    She sat on the chair, leaning against the backrest. She remained still to conserve as much heat as


    possible.


    She endured the night in this manner.


    As dawn broke, the sun¡¯s rays bathed everything in a cool and radiant light.


    Thssa, having spent the entire night freezing and starving, was weak and lethargic.


    The morning light entered her eyes as she opened them.


    She squinted, unused to the brightness, and opened her eyes again.


    It took her a couple of tries to adjust to the light.


    Daybreak had arrived.


    She had not slept a wink the entire night.


    Her spirit was low, and her mind was extremely fatigued.


    But even amidst the harsh cold and hunger, she couldn¡¯t sleep.


    With the dawn, she decided to get up. She opened the door of the cottage and stepped out.


    The morning air was chilly, causing her to wrap her arms around herself for warmth.


    The previous night had been too dark to make out theyout of the backyard.


    Now, with the daylight, she could see clearly.


    She looked around to find that the backyard was enclosed by a high, smooth wall. Climbing over the


    wall would require adder, and the wall was topped with sharp spikes.


    Clearly, it was designed to prevent anyone from climbing over it, either in or out.


    Escaping by scaling the wall seemed impossible.


    Lowering her gaze, she saw the well-maintained garden with its orderly arrangement of flowers and


    trees.


    The garden was beautiful, the tulips in full bloom. Their vibrant colors and fragrant scent filled the air


    with the morning mist, creating a sweet and lingering aroma.


    The backyard was indeed beautiful, as the butler, Fitch, had previously suggested she would find it.


    But in her current state, she had no inclination to appreciate the beauty around her.


    She walked to the back gate and pulled on it, but it was securely locked.


    She raised her hand and knocked.


    At first, no one answered, but she persisted.


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    Presumably, her knocking had be too annoying, and the door finally opened. Fitch stood in the


    doorway, politely saying, ¡°Ms. Everhart, you cannot enter.¡±


    Thssa frowned, ¡°Where is Lysander?¡±


    ¡°Mr. Sinir is still sleeping,¡± Fitch replied.


    ¡°Has he woken up? I need to talk to him,¡± Thssa said.


    ¡°At this hour, he is usually still asleep,¡± Fitch informed her.


    Thssa attempted to bypass Fitch and enter, intending to negotiate terms with Lysander and find a


    way to leave.


    As soon as she moved, Fitch blocked her path, saying apologetically, ¡°Ms. Everhart, Mr. Sinir is not


    a morning person. If you wake him up now, it will not end


    well.¡±


    Thssa found herself stuck in the backyard, unable to enter.


    And Lysander was still asleep.


    She wasn¡¯t foolish enough to provoke him while he was still in bed.


    But she needed to understand Lysander¡¯s intentions. What did he want?


    Due to the sleepless night and a day without food or drink, her lips were turning a dark shade, and her


    face was pale.


    She was feeling restless and anxious.


    With a cold expression, she asked, ¡°Has Lysander told you anything? When can I leave?¡±

 Chapter 373

    Chapter 373


    Fitch shook his head, ¡°Mr. Sinir made it clear that without his permission, you¡¯re not to step foot in


    the front yard.¡±


    Thssa was speechless.


    The backyard was barren, only filled with ragged antiques.


    It was inedible, undrinkable, and unable to provide warmth.


    Was Lysander¡¯s intention to lock her in the backyard, starve her, and freeze her to death?


    Angrily, she turned and returned to her cabin in the backyard.


    In the blink of an eye, afternoon arrived.


    For two days, Thssa hadn¡¯t had a grain of rice nor a drop of water.


    Hunger clouded her vision and weakened her body.


    Any movement caused stars to dance before her eyes.


    She was wrong, she thought Lysander would at least care about her well-being.


    She didn¡¯t expect Lysander to be capable of such heartlessness.


    He didn¡¯t care whether she lived or died!


    Threatening him with her own body was a ridiculous mistake!


    If it continued like this, she would starve to death.


    No, she couldn¡¯t die!


    Her children, what would be of them?


    With wobbly legs, Thssa managed to leave the cabin and reach the backyard, where the setting sun


    was not too intense.


    The warm/rays gave her a bit of strength.


    But without food, she wouldn¡¯t survive. She wasn¡¯t a tree, capable of photosynthesis to create


    nutrients.


    In her moment of helplessness, she spotted some mushrooms growing on a small tree.


    The mushrooms, white and tender, looked delicious.


    Starving, Thssa immediately plucked the mushrooms, dusted them off, and began to chew.


    Juicy and tasty, it was quite satisfying.


    After eating a few, the intense hunger subsided a bit, giving her somefort.


    But the mushrooms were limited. If she ate them all at once, she would have none left when hunger


    struck again.


    She left the remaining mushrooms to grow and returned to her cabin.


    Sitting in her chair, she soon felt light and airy, as if floating.


    The room full of antiques seemed to transform into mushrooms.


    She thought of herself as a little angel in heaven, amb by the goddess¡¯ side.


    She imagined herself floating on clouds, surrounded by tender mushrooms.


    Thssa reached out to pluck another mushroom, but it was too hard and she spat it out, tossing it


    away.


    Something shattered.


    She didn¡¯t hear it, and continued to try the next mushroom. Again it was too hard, and she tossed it


    away.


    Here, not only were there mushrooms, but also cabbages, big ones.


    She took a bite of the cabbage. It was too dry like chewing on paper, so she tossed it away too.


    Then, Lysander returned from work, looking weary and irritable.


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    He asked, ¡°How is she?¡±


    Fitch answered respectfully, ¡°She stayed in the backyard all day. She didn¡¯t cause any trouble and


    didn¡¯t ask for food.¡±


    Two days without food or drink, and she didn¡¯t cause a fuss?


    Lysander¡¯s eyes darkened. He opened the back door and headed towards the backyard.


    Before he even entered the cabin, he heard the sound of porcin and gems shattering. Lysander


    quickened his pace.

 Chapter 374

    Chapter 374


    The door of the bungalow was ajar.


    As Lysander walked in, a chilling sight greeted him, making his blood run cold.


    The floor was a mess, strewn with shattered porcin and gemstone jewelry that had been carelessly


    tossed about.


    Antique paintings were torn and scattered haphazardly on the floor.


    Fitch, who had apanied Lysander, was taken aback by the scene.


    Thssa stood in the middle of the room, curiously inspecting an antique porcin piece. After a brief


    moment, she put it to her mouth and tried to bite it. When she couldn¡¯t, she muttered something about it


    not being tasty and without hesitation, tossed it behind her.


    Fitch, terrified, lunged forward to catch the falling piece, but missed. The porcin hit the floor and


    broke into pieces.


    Just like Fitch¡¯s heart, shattered.


    Thssa seemed oblivious, bouncing on her feet, heading towards another ancient painting hanging


    on the wall.


    Fitch, with his heart pounding in his chest, turned to look at Lysander¡¯s reaction.


    Lysander¡¯s face was as cold and dark as a winter sky, his eyes concealing a brewing storm.


    He strode forward, grabbing Thssa¡¯s hand, pulling her away from the painting.


    She fell into his arms, unaware of the impending danger.


    Sporting his shirt, with sleeves hanging loosely over her hands, she yfully brushed his face with her


    sleeve. Her face was a picture of adoration, and her voice was soft and sweet, ¡°Goddess, are you here


    to cuddle with me?¡±


    Lysander¡¯s eyes were icy, his handsome face taut as he stared at her. Her eyes sparkled like


    diamonds, suggesting she was not in her right senses.


    Thssa was restless. After brushing Lysander¡¯s face with her sleeve, she reached out to scratch his


    face with her small paw. She believed she was amb by the side of a Greek goddess, with hands as


    soft asmb hooves.


    She rubbed her face against his, like a rabbit seeking affection, using her warm fur tofort him,


    ¡°Hmm, my goddess, you¡¯re so beautiful. I want to cuddle with you too Come, let me hold you. You¡¯re so


    beautiful.¡±


    As she rubbed her face against his, she lightly scratched his stic face with her ¡°hooves¡±.


    Lysander¡¯s demeanor was cold and stern, his anger rising. However, her actions were so provocative,


    rubbing and scratching his cheek. Her touch was soft and


    delicate.


    It felt like a cat¡¯s paw scratching his heart. He swallowed hard, his body turning even colder.


    Fitch, witnessing this scene, broke out in a cold sweat. Lysander was furious, and Thssa was still


    making such provocative moves.


    She dared to call Lysander, a man of such masculinity, beautiful.


    Fitch was sweating bullets for Thssa.


    Lysander gritted his teeth, seized her fidgeting hand, and demanded in a low and angry voice,


    ¡°Thssa, look at me. Who am I?¡±


    ¡°Goddess, you¡¯re so fierce. I, the littlemb, am scared,¡± Thssa said, swaying her hips, effectively


    flirting.


    Lysander¡¯s icy gaze deepened. He turned to Fitch and asked, ¡°Are you sure she hasn¡¯t eaten


    anything?¡±


    Fitch, terrified, stammered, ¡°No.¡±


    Suddenly, he remembered something, ¡°There are mushrooms growing on a tree in the backyard. Ms.


    Everhart might have eaten them raw out of hunger, causing hallucinations.¡±


    Lysander¡¯s sharp brows furrowed slightly. He picked Thssa up and quickly left the bungalow.


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    Fitch looked at the damaged antiques on the floor, shivering at the sight.


    These were all valuable antiques, now destroyed.


    Lysander carried Thssa back to their bedroom and called Dr. Everest.


    While waiting for Dr. Everest to arrive, Thssa was restless, constantly tugging at Lysander¡¯s arm and


    rubbing her face against it. She sweetly called him her goddess, asking him to cuddle.


    She was as clingy as a pixie.


    She might have been imagining herself as amb, but Lysander was fully aware. Moreover, her scent


    and the soft touch of her skin were familiar sensations that stirred something in him.

 Chapter 375

    Chapter 375


    His dark eyes simmered with restrained anger, his jawline taut as he held back his body¡¯s reaction to


    the provocation.


    He grabbed her face, thumb and forefinger forcing her mouth into a pout. His teeth gritted as he


    warned, ¡°You better behave, or I swear, I¡¯ll skin you alive and have you for dinner!¡±


    Thssa¡¯s bright eyes widened in shock, her fear causing her to quickly retreat. She wrapped her arms


    around herself as she whimpered pitifully, ¡°Oh, such a cruel goddess.¡±


    Lysander¡¯s anger red at the misidentification. He wanted to rip her apart and punish her severely.


    However, she was under the influence of the mushroom, her reality distorted.


    He could not take any action at this point.


    Dr. Everest rushed over as quickly as he could. Understanding the situation, he immediately hooked


    Thssa up to an IV drip and offered her an unpleasant-smelling antidote to provoke vomiting.


    It was essential she expelled the undigested mushrooms from her stomach.


    Thssay on the bed, an IV drip connected to her hand. A maid held the foul-smelling antidote


    under her nose. Arge basin was strategically ced by the bedside to collect the vomit.


    Thssa was in severe difort. Her head felt heavy, her consciousness wavering between reality


    and illusion. The stench invading her nostrils was unbearable. Her already empty stomach convulsed,


    causing her to retch.


    Despite several attempts, she couldn¡¯t vomit.


    Finding this odd, Dr. Everest sought Fitch¡¯s insight. It turned out Thssa hadn¡¯t eaten or drunk


    anything for two days.


    Without water in her stomach, dry heaving was of course unsessful.


    Dr. Everest immediately instructed the maid to give Thssa some water and couldn¡¯t help but


    sympathize with her. What kind of grudge could Lysander hold to deprive her of food and water? Was


    he trying to starve her to death?


    He knew that a person could only survive without water for about three days.


    Just a few more hours without water, and she would dehydrate to death.


    In a flurry of action, the maid managed to get Thssa to drink a significant amount of water.


    After presenting the foul-smelling antidote to her again, she finally vomited out the consumed


    mushrooms.


    However, the toxins that had already been absorbed into her bloodstream persisted, keeping Thssa


    in a state of hallucination.


    Dr. Everest¡¯s IV solution contained nutrients, but after two days and nights of starvation, nutrients alone


    weren¡¯t sufficient.


    Dr. Everest suggested, ¡°I¡¯m worried the patient might develop gastric perforation from hunger. It would


    be best to get her to consume some liquid food to fill her


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    stomach.¡±


    Lysander ordered his servants to prepare it immediately.


    Soon, a bowl of oatmeal porridge was ready.


    At this point, Thssa was propped up against the headboard, her eyes closed, her head spinning. Her


    body felt as insubstantial as sand, like it would be swept away by the wind. She swayed, unable to


    support herself.


    A maid crouched down with the bowl, spoon in hand, attempting to feed her the porridge.


    Thssa shook her head weakly, oblivious to the need to open her mouth.


    Earlier, when they had to hydrate her, they used a syringe, squeezing the water directly into her mouth.


    But feeding her porridge presented more of a challenge.


    Despite the maid¡¯s best efforts, she couldn¡¯t get Thssa to eat.


    Lysander, his aura icy, stepped forward. He took the bowl from the maid. He took a spoonful of the


    porridge into his mouth.


    Then, he positioned himself to open Thssa¡¯s mouth.

 Chapter 376

    Chapter 376


    The powerful and domineering strength encircled Thssa.


    Between her lips, there was not only the scent of the oatmeal soup but also the warm and sensual


    touch of a man.


    Thssa, like a withered tree in spring, felt her blood revive in an instant.


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    She smacked her lips as she savored the sweet oatmeal that flowed into her mouth.


    Her taste buds were filled with the vor of the soup, washing over her dry, bitter throat. The food slid


    down her esophagus into her stomach, the warm and sweet sensation immediately filling her cold and


    dry belly.


    It was as if a wilting flower had suddenly received watering, its drooping petals regaining their fullness


    in an instant.


    Thssa, driven by hunger, eagerly slurped up the food presented to her.


    Her lips smacked, sucking on Lysander¡¯s lips.


    The soft and moist sensation, like an electric current, even her heart was numb.


    Lysander¡¯s strong hand supported her head, feeding her all the soup in his mouth.


    After exchanging nces, the other people in the room tactfully left.


    In a short while, the bowl of soup was empty. With the satisfaction of food in her stomach, Thnder¡¯s


    rationality gradually returned.


    Her closed eyes slowly opened to find a stunningly handsome and magnified face in front of her. His


    skin was stic, with well-defined muscles. His thick eyshes were like a fan, and he had deep


    double eyelid folds and a three-dimensional facial structure.


    He was handsome and full of masculine energy.


    Thssa¡¯s nerves tensed for a moment, and the next second, she realized she was kissing him.


    Her brain was in shock, and she quickly backed away.


    Soup spilled from the corner of her mouth, and she hurriedly licked it off, continuing to eat.


    Her clear eyes, however, were full of caution as they stared at Lysander.


    ¡°I didn¡¯t mean to do that just now,¡± she exined hurriedly.


    Lysander ced the soup bowl on the bedside table, his deep gaze flickered at her. In his low,


    maic voice, he asked, ¡°Is the soup tasty?¡±


    Thssa nodded, ¡°It¡¯s delicious.¡±


    She was so hungry that her head was dizzy, her body weak, her throat bitter, and her stomach cold.


    A bowl of soup, to her, was like a lifeline and a heavenly delicacy.


    Lysander¡¯s lips curled up slightly. His icy smile was ambiguous, ¡°No wonder you were eating so


    greedily. Was it the soup you found tasty, or my lips?¡±


    His casual yet icy words left Thssa wide-eyed in surprise.


    Her heart, which had been on guard, was instantly set aflutter by his words.


    Now that her consciousness had returned, she remembered how eager she had been when she was


    eating the soup earlier.


    What she was savoring was not just the soup.


    She had been so hungry that she had not been picky about what she was eating.


    She hurriedly exined, ¡°I wasn¡¯t fully conscious just now. I thought I was just eating soup.¡±


    Lysander¡¯s casual demeanor suddenly turned cold and serious, ¡°Are you going to starve yourself


    again?¡±


    Seeing his sudden anger, Thssa quickly shook her head, ¡°No more starving.¡±


    Starving was only hurting herself, and he wouldn¡¯t feel sorry for her or let her go.


    Her life was what mattered.


    She would never utter words that hurt herself again.


    If she didn¡¯t protect herself, no one would.


    ¡°Thssa, put away your little tricks. The only way out is to please me! Understand? Lysander snorted


    coldly and walked out of the room.


    The oppressive presence left, and Thssa breathed a sigh of relief.


    It had been too close.


    She had almost starved to death, poisoned by mushrooms.


    She couldn¡¯t do such things again.


    After the IV drip, the mushroom toxins in Thssa¡¯s body had been almostpletely cleared.


    At night, she slept in the master bedroom.


    In the middle of the night, Lysander came. He had just taken a shower. Wearing a bathrobe, he sat


    down on the edge of the bed.


    The immense pressure caused the mattress to sag slightly,


    Thssa¡¯s body tensed, then her nerves strung tight.

 Chapter 377

    Chapter 377


    He climbed into bed, a familiar scent of masculinity filling the air.


    Thssa froze in fear, worried he would repeat what he had done to her two nights earlier.


    Just as her anxiety peaked, Lysander¡¯s long arm reached around her, pulling her close.


    Her back rested against his hot and muscr chest.


    Through the fabric of their clothes, Thssa felt her heart skip a beat, her body trembling from the


    heat.


    Instinctively, she tried to move away, but Lysander kept her, close, his baritone voice echoing in her


    ear, ¡°Stay still, or you¡¯ll regret it.¡±


    Thssa froze in ce, not daring to move.


    Her body was enveloped by his, her back pressed against his powerful chest. She could feel the


    burning temperature of his body. Her ears filled with his deep breathing and masculine aroma.


    Thssa¡¯s heartbeat quickened, her breaths bing morebored.


    Even though she was terrified of him, her body couldn¡¯t resist his masculine allure.


    Her heart pounding, she tensed up, but Lysander didn¡¯t do anything.


    He just held her.


    At first, Thssa was on edge, but she couldn¡¯t fight off the exhaustion. She hadn¡¯t slept at all the night


    before and soon fell into a deep sleep.


    Lysander, hearing her steady breathing, knew she was asleep. He nestled her closer, inhaling her


    sweet scent.


    Soon, he too fell asleep.


    The next day, Thssa woke up startled.


    Sitting up, she looked around and saw that Lysander was already gone.


    She quickly got up and went downstairs. Seeing the sun shining outside, she realized it was already


    noon.


    She asked Fitch, ¡°Did Lysander say I could leave?¡±


    Fitch shook his head, ¡°Mr. Sinir didn¡¯t say anything.¡±


    ¡°How was his mood this morning?¡± If he seemed happy, she could try to appease him and ask to


    leave.


    If he was in a bad mood, she would stay silent to avoid provoking him.


    Fitch shook his head, ¡°Mr. Sinir looked upset. He seemed angry.¡±


    ¡°Why, who upset him?¡± Thssa was curious.


    Fitch wiped the cold sweat from his forehead, ¡°Ms. Everhart, don¡¯t you remember? Yesterday you


    destroyed some artifacts in Mr. Sinir¡¯s private museum.¡±


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    ¡°What?¡± Thssa¡¯s mind raced, quickly recalling yesterday¡¯s events.


    Fitch took her there to see the damage.


    The ce was a mess, pieces of broken artifactsy scattered everywhere. Ancient paintings were torn


    and some even had bite marks.


    All of these were her doing?


    Thssa swallowed hard, asking Fitch, ¡°Can you tell me how much all this is worth?¡±


    Fitch made a cross sign with his fingers.


    Thssa asked, ¡°Ten thousand dors?¡±


    ¡°100 million dors,¡± Fitch said.


    Boom!


    It felt like a bolt of lightning had struck her.


    Thssa felt faint and stumbled back a few steps.


    Oh my god.


    She had hallucinated yesterday and just like that, she had caused damage worth 100 million dors!


    Even if she sold herself, she couldn¡¯t pay for it.


    No wonder Fitch said Lysander left in a bad mood this morning.


    If she were in his shoes, and someone destroyed her 100 million dors worth of possessions, she


    would be in a bad mood too.


    Terrified, Thssa asked Fitch,¡± ¡°Did Lysander say anything? Will he ask me to pay for it?¡±


    Fitch shook his head, ¡°I¡¯m not sure.

 Chapter 378

    Chapter 378


    After lunch, Thssa sat on the living room couch, lost in her thoughts. Her mind kept circling back to


    the incident where she had destroyed Lysander¡¯s ancient artifacts worth 100 million dors. A sense of


    anxiety gripped her at the thought.


    She was overwhelmed with feelings of unease and dread. Lysander was not someone known for his


    charity. He had demandedpensation for minor damages in the past, like when her kids had stained


    his couch or identally punctured his car tire while ying basketball. Those incidents had cost her a


    small fortune, but now she was looking at 100 million!


    She had personally wrecked the artifacts. Knowing Lysander¡¯s cold and pragmatic nature, she knew he


    would demandpensation. But where would she find 100 million to repay him?


    The more she thought about it, the more anxious and helpless she felt. It was an impossible situation.


    ¡°Ms. Everhart, why don¡¯t you watch some TV?¡± Fitch suggested, noticing her growing restlessness. He


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    was worried that the hallucinogenic effects of her recent mushroom poisoning hadn¡¯tpletely worn


    off and she might end up damaging more of the house. He quickly turned on the television to distract


    her.


    Thssa wasn¡¯t interested in watching television, but a familiar voice caught her attention. The soft and


    soothing voice of a child came from the TV. For Thssa, it was a voice she knew all too well.


    Like a jolt of electricity, she turned her attention to the screen. A close-up of a little girl filled the screen.


    The girl had a round face, rosy cheeks, and big and twinkling eyes. She was answering questions


    about the ingredients of a dish she had prepared.


    It was Elowen, her daughter. She was participating in a gourmetpetition. Thssa was surprised


    to see that Elowen had reached the semi-finals of thepetition.


    Had Evelyn returned to Starhaven with the kids from their countryside retreat? Thssa suddenly


    realized that she had been at the Royal Estates for four days. Four days without seeing her children. A


    wave of longing and helplessness washed over her.


    Elowen answered the judges¡¯ questions quickly and confidently, earning a perfect score for her dish.


    The host, brimming with excitement, congratted Elowen. ¡°Congrattions to Elowen Kensington,


    who answered all the questions correctly and has earned a spot in the next round. Despite her young


    age, Elowen has shown an impressive knowledge of gourmet food. Her parents must be proud to have


    such a smart and adorable child.¡±


    The other contestants also praised Elowen¡¯s intelligence and culinary talent. Despite the situation,


    Thssa couldn¡¯t help but feel a sense of pride and joy watching her daughter on the screen.

 Chapter 379

    Chapter 379


    Everyone couldn¡¯t stop praising Elowen.


    Thssa attentively listened to the sounds from the television, her heart swelling with pride and warmth


    as everyone sang praises about Elowen. That was her baby after all. It was natural she got her


    intelligence and beauty from her mother.


    Thssa watched Elowen on the screen, the sight of her daughter easing her longing. She didn¡¯t


    notice the tall, imposing shadow that had entered the room and quietly approached her.


    Suddenly, she felt a chill in the air, assuming the temperature had dropped. Instinctively, she sat up


    straight and hugged her arms around herself. In doing so, she caught a glimpse of the imposing


    shadow out of the corner of her eye. A wave of anxiety washed over her as she turned to face


    Lysander, who had somehow appeared by her side.


    She blinked, her gaze flickering nervously. ¡°You¡¯re back,¡± she greeted, initiating the conversation.


    She shuddered at the thought of the antiques he collected. Lysander gave her a brief nce before


    shifting his attention to the television. On the screen, Elowen was identifying different culinary


    ingredients against an adult man in his thirties.


    Elowen, despite only being four, had quickly defeated the man. The audience erupted in apuse.


    The host excitedly approached the stage and announced, ¡°My goodness, you are a prodigy! Tell us,


    what¡¯s your name?¡±


    The host crouched down next to Elowen, holding the microphone to her mouth. Elowen, dressed in a


    whitece dress and her hair done up in two little braids, looked chubby and adorable like a little angel.


    Her big and bright eyes were full of intelligence.


    As the audience watched with anticipation, she opened her mouth to say her name. Thssa noticed


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    Lysander watching the screen intently, his gaze prating. Her heart pounded in her chest.


    Elowen only knew her name as Elowen Everhart. If she revealed her name and Lysander was currently


    watching Elowen with unwavering attention. Elowen¡¯s features did resemble Lysander¡¯s somewhat.


    Would he suspect that Elowen was their daughter?


    Thssa held her breath, her hand shaking in anxiety. ¡°My name is Elowen,¡± she announced, drawing


    the attention of everyone. Hearing Elowen reveal her name, Thssa was finally reassured.


    Turning back, she found Lysander watching her with a thoughtful look on his face. ¡°Do you know this


    child?¡± he asked.


    Caught off guard, Thssa quickly denied it. ¡°No, I don¡¯t.¡±


    ¡°Then why do you look so nervous?¡± Lysander asked.


    ¡°I¡¯m just amazed that a child so young could be so intelligent, It¡¯s very endearing,¡± Thssa exined.


    Lysander sat down next to her, his long fingers lifting her chin to meet his gaze. ¡°Do you like children?¡±


    Thssa nodded.


    A cold smirk crossed his lips. ¡°What a pity. I can¡¯t give you what you want.¡±


    Thssa was taken aback, unable to process his words when Elowen¡¯s voice echoed from the


    television, clear despite her young age. ¡°Ladies and gentlemen, I¡¯m using this show to look for my


    mother. She¡¯s been missing for four days.now.¡±


    ¡°Oh? And what is your mother¡¯s name?¡± the host asked.


    Thssa¡¯s heart raced in fear.

 Chapter 380

    Chapter 380


    Elowen had started searching for her mother on the show.


    She said her mom had been missing for four days. Wasn¡¯t she referring to her?


    Through the TV, Elowen¡¯s sweet and serious voice could be heard..


    ¡°My mom¡¯s name¡¯s easy to remember, it¡¯s sweet, it¡¯s warm.¡±


    Thssa was taken aback, her heart pounding in her chest.


    In her ears was the sound of Elowen on the brink of saying her name.


    Before her, Lysander¡¯s body radiated a cold aura. His slender fingers gripping her chin, his handsome


    face exuding a chilling pressure.


    It was the tension of being surrounded by predators, nerves strung tight, ready to snap at any moment.


    ¡°My mom¡¯s name is,¡±


    Suddenly, as Elowen was about to say her mother¡¯s name, the sound abruptly stopped. The TV screen


    went ck, and the lights in the living room went out as well. Thssa breathed a sigh of relief. Her


    hair and her back were drenched in sweat.


    was afternoon, at dusk, the natural light was weak, and with the lights off, the brightness of the


    surroundings decreased a notch.


    But this did not prevent Lysander from seeing every expression on Thssa¡¯s face. He said he


    wouldn¡¯t grant her wish, and she was so anxious that beads of sweat broke out on her forehead.


    He held her face, drawing her closer to him. It was so close that he could feel her slightly ragged


    breaths.


    He gritted his teeth slightly, his cold breath blowing on her face. ¡°Want to have a child with me, huh?¡±


    Thssa¡¯s nerves, which had just rxed a bit, tensed up instantly. In her clear eyes, panic emerged


    which she couldn¡¯t control. She hurriedly said, ¡°I¡¯ve taken the contraceptive pill. Don¡¯t worry, I won¡¯t get


    pregnant. I know you don¡¯t like children, and I won¡¯t delude myself.¡±


    Just now he had asked her if she liked children.


    She said yes.


    He said he wouldn¡¯t grant her wish.


    She hadn¡¯t had time to digest what he meant by that.


    But now, hearing his icy and angry words, she understood everything.


    He meant he wouldn¡¯t let her carry his child, much less let her give birth to his child.


    He didn¡¯t like children, and she certainly wasn¡¯t qualified to bear his child.


    Thssa understood his meaning deeply, but her heart ached involuntarily. The pain lingered, a dull


    difort.


    She felt sorry for her four babies.


    And she also mourned her own situation.


    Hearing her say such ¡®sensible¡± words, Lysander was slightly satisfied, letting go of her chin with a cold


    snort.


    At this moment, the lights in the living room came back on, and the TV screen lit up again.


    But it was no longer the show page, but the TV¡¯s main page.


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    Fitch rushed in, nervously exining, ¡°Mr. Sinir, the circuit breaker tripped just now, causing a


    temporary power outage. It¡¯s fixed now.¡±


    Lysander waved his hand dismissively.


    Fitch nodded and withdrew.


    Thssa, on the other hand, was incredibly relieved. Thankfully, the circuit breaker tripped at the


    crucial moment, or the consequences would have been unimaginable.


    Thssa cautiously nced at Lysander next to her. His cold face seemed to have softened a bit.


    It must have been what she said earlier that pleased him.


    So, he really didn¡¯t want her to bear his child.


    Thssa felt a heavy sadness in her heart, but she didn¡¯t get discouraged. She took the opportunity to


    ask, ¡°Mr. Sinir, can I go home today? My mom hasn¡¯t seen me for a few days and must be worried


    about me. What if she can¡¯t find me and calls the cops?¡±


    Lysander turned his head, his frosty eyes filled with oppression, staring at her, ¡°Let her call the cops


    then. It will show her what a good daughter she has, and how many antiquities you have destroyed.¡±


    Upon hearing antiquities. Thssa¡¯s heart sank, feeling guilty and at a loss for what to do.


    Her gaze flitted around nervously, she gave a forcedugh and said, ¡°I¡¯m really sorry. I was poisoned at


    the time, and all I saw were carrots and cabbages. I didn¡¯t realize they were antiques. Fitch told me


    those things were worth 100 million.¡±


    Upon mentioning 100 million, Thssa felt her breatir hitched.

 Chapter 381

    Chapter 381


    For Thssa, the sum was astronomical.


    She was greatly worried that Lysander would demandpensation.


    Lysander¡¯s eyes were icy, his gaze deep and cold. ¡°It seems you have been doing your homework. Are


    you prepared topensate?¡± He asked, raising an eyebrow.


    Thssa felt as if her nerves were stretched to their breaking point. She looked at him, her eyes full of


    helplessness and innocence. She didn¡¯t dare to answer, and even if she wanted to, she couldn¡¯t afford


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    topensate him.


    Lysander saw her panic and helplessness. With a cold huff, he stood up and ascended the stairs of the


    extravagant Sinir mansion.


    Gathering her courage, Thssa asked, ¡°Mr. Sinir, may i leave now?¡±


    She was only left with the sight of Lysander¡¯s cold and unfeeling silhouette.


    Feeling dejected, Thssa lowered her gaze.


    After a while, as she sat on the luxurious couch, Fitch, the Sinir family¡¯s loyal butler, brought a bowl


    of soup and ced it in front of her. ¡°Ms. Everhart, please have some soup. After you finish, you may


    leave.¡±


    At this, Thssa¡¯s head shot up, her eyes filled with hope. ¡°He agreed?¡±


    Fitch simply nodded and left to attend to his own duties,


    Ecstatic, Thssa quickly finished the soup and hastily made her way out of the mansion.


    Once outside of the opulent Royal Estates, Thssa realized that the area was exclusive to the


    wealthy, with no public transportation or taxis. She would have to walk a distance before she could hail


    a taxi.


    As she was about to do so, a royal blue BMW pulled up beside her, effectively blocking her path.


    A man stepped out, his appearance neat and proper. He was dressed in a ck suit, much like a


    professional chauffeur. He stopped a step away from her and handed her the keys to the car. ¡°Ms.


    Everhart, you may drive yourself home.¡±


    Recognizing the car as the one Lysander had gifted her previously, Thssa was taken aback. ¡°Why?¡±


    She asked.


    ¡°Mr. Sinir said the car is yours. If you refuse, the consequences will be serious,¡± he said.


    Thssa was speechless.


    The car, along with the bespoke dress she was still wearing, were all gifts from Lysander. She had


    returned them in an attempt to sever her ties with him. Now, they were back in her possession and she


    had no power to refuse. It seemed Lysander was asserting his im over her in no uncertain terms.


    Feeling powerless, Thssa epted the keys. She climbed into the car and drove away.


    Upon returning to her rented apartment, she excitedly swung the door open, calling out, ¡°I¡¯m back!¡±


    Only to be met with an empty, silent room. No one was home.

 Chapter 382

    Chapter 382


    Compared to the usual bustling atmosphere, filled with theforting scent of freshly baked cookies


    and the excited chatter of children rushing to greet her, the house now seemed cold and eerily quiet.


    Thssa felt her heart sink, a subconscious worry and fear setting in.


    Hadn¡¯t Evelyn brought the children back home?


    Why wasn¡¯t anyone around?


    After a moment of panic, she remembered. Elowen was on television,peting in the semi-finals of


    the gourmetpetition.


    Evelyn must still be out with the children, she reasoned.


    A bit calmer, Thssa quickly took her discharged cell phone to her room to charge.


    Once the phone was plugged in, Thssa noticed another oddity: The nkets in the room were


    neatly folded, just as she had left them. They were undisturbed.


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    Even the household items remained the same.


    Something was off. If the children were back, there would surely be signs of their presence.


    She felt like the house was still as tidy as when she had left, with no trace of the children.


    The more she looked around, the more unsettling it felt.


    Her heart, which had finally calmed down, started racing again..


    Despite the phone only just beginning to charge, she couldn¡¯t wait. She pressed the power button


    hard.


    She turned on the phone.


    Ignoring the charging, she dialed Evelyn¡¯s number.


    The phone rang for a long time, unanswered.


    She was calmly waiting at first, butter Thssa¡¯s heart started racing as the ringing continued. She


    clenched the bedsheet tightly in her nervousness.


    The ringing continued for a while before finally dying down. Still, no one picked up.


    Feeling anxious, she tried again. Again, no one answered.


    Unable to sit still, she called Hertha.


    After two rings, the call was answered.-


    Hertha¡¯s voice was a mix of surprise and excitement. ¡°Thssa, you finally showed up. I thought you


    disappeared off the face of the earth.¡±


    Thssa could hear her worry and relief.


    But she had no time for small talk. She was worried about the children and Evelyn.


    She asked, ¡°Hertha, do you know where my mother took the children?¡±


    ¡°Oh, they are here with me, enjoying a food truck feast,¡± Hertha¡¯s voice was casual.


    ¡°Is it Mommy?¡±


    ¡°Did Mommye back?¡±


    From the phone, four innocent and adorable voices echoed.


    Those voices were the most beautiful sound Thssa had ever heard, enough to soothe all her fears


    and anxieties.


    Her anxious heart finally settled.


    Just a moment ago, she was panic-stricken, thinking that the children and Evelyn had disappeared.


    The fear and tension had left her weak.


    Now, hearing the children¡¯s innocent voices was like revitalizing a withered heart with fresh blood.


    Even her voice turned warm and tender, ¡°Yes, it¡¯s me. Where are you? I¡¯lle to find you.¡±

 Chapter 383

    Chapter 383


    Hertha ryed the address.


    After hanging up the phone, Thssa drove towards the outskirts of the town to a bustling night fair.


    The fair was alive with excitement. Neon lights sparkled against the night sky, illuminating numerous


    small stalls where vendors sold their wares. People sat along the roadside, eating andughing


    heartily. The atmosphere was filled with a joyful ruckus. There was a lively sense ofmunity.


    Despite the humble conditions of the food trucks, everyone was merry and reveled in each other¡¯s


    Thssa spotted Hertha, Evelyn, and her four children near one of the barbecue trucks. They were


    seated around a round table, joyfully munching on skewers. Each child had a bottle of yogurt in front of


    them, and they relished in the taste of non-spicy grilled meat that they adored.


    It was a heartwarming sight.


    Thssa approached them.


    Atticus was the first to spot Thssa. His eyes sparkled like stars, ¡°Mommy!


    The word ¡°Mommy¡± was like a magic spell that instantly turned the other children¡¯s heads. They turned


    around like little penguins, their faces lit up in visible


    excitement.


    ¡°Mommy!¡±


    The chorus of their voices, filled with joy and excitement, echoed through the air. One by one, they


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    jumped off their stools and with their little legs iling. They ran


    towards Thssa.


    Seeing her children rush towards her, Thssa felt a lump in her throat. She knelt down and opened


    her arms to wee the bunch.


    The young ones collided into her, their small arms wrapping around her, their little heads and cheeks


    rubbing against her, expressing their longing and dependence.


    They had not seen their mother for four days, and they missed her terribly. The fear that she had


    abandoned them was evident in their actions.


    Elowen and Sophia, after rubbing against Thssa and smelling her familiar scent, could not hold back


    their tears.


    ¡°I missed you so much, Mommy.¡± Elowen¡¯s voice wavered, her lips quivered, and her eyes welled up


    with tears.


    ¡°I missed you too, Mommy.¡± Sophia, who usually wasn¡¯t one to cry, couldn¡¯t control her tears either.


    Thssa was overwhelmed with emotion. She gently caressed Elowen and Sophia¡¯s cheeks, wiping


    away their tears. ¡°I miss you too. I¡¯m sorry I couldn¡¯t be with you because of work.¡±


    Atticus and Dorian were still in her embrace, their little heads rubbing against her, expressing their own


    feelings of longing.


    Atticus, usually reserved, was now openly expressing his emotions. He was happy to see his mother,


    yet also saddened by her absence. All he wanted to do was to


    be close to her.


    Afterforting the children andposing herself, she led them back to their seats.


    Hertha signaled a waiter, ¡°Can we get an extra set of cutlery, please?¡±


    The waiter went to fetch the cutlery.


    Hertha cast a worried and puzzled look at Thssa, ¡°Thssa, you look like you¡¯ve lost some weight


    and yourplexion isn¡¯t great. What happened?¡±


    Evelyn red at Thssa, worry and frustration evident in her gaze.


    Despite her concern, her words were tinged with anger, ¡°You turned off your phone and disappeared.


    How could you worry us like that? Why bothering back


    now?¡±


    Thssa apologized, ¡°I didn¡¯t mean to worry you. My phone ran out of battery and I didn¡¯t have my


    charger.¡±


    Evelyn, sitting next to Thssa, could clearly see her paleplexion and drained demeanor. She


    couldn¡¯t hold back her tears any longer, ¡°Where did you go? Did you encounter something you couldn¡¯t


    handle? Tell us, we can help you. We can report it to the police if need be. There¡¯s nothing to be afraid


    of!¡±

 Chapter 384

    Chapter 384


    Thssa gently gripped the hand that Evelyn had used to smack her arm. Though Evelyn¡¯s intentions


    seemed violent, the hit did not hurt.


    Thssa knew that Evelyn was venting her intense worry in this way.


    Looking at Evelyn, Thssaforted her, ¡°Mom, it¡¯s fine, I¡¯m good. I was just dealing with some work


    stuff. You don¡¯t need to worry.¡±


    Knowing her mother¡¯s concern, Thssa couldn¡¯t reveal what she had been going through in front of


    her four children. They were young but understood more than one might think.


    She couldn¡¯t let them worry about her at such a tender age.


    Evelyn wiped away her tears, trying to maintain herposure, ¡°Alright, let¡¯s eat. You look thin.¡±


    She knew Thssa¡¯s reservations. As the children¡¯s grandmother, she deeply cared for them and didn¡¯t


    want them to understand the harsh realities of life at such a


    young age.


    On the table, there was a te of spaghetti..


    Evelyn served some into Thssa¡¯s bowl.


    Thssa smiled at Evelyn. It was a smile of reassurance to affirm her mother that she was fine.


    Not wanting to disappoint her mother, she picked up her fork to eat the spaghetti.


    However, the oiliness, coupled with the strong taste of the seasonings, was too much.


    Upon tasting it, Thssa felt a wave of nausea. She quickly stifled the feeling and spit out the mouthful.


    She wiped her mouth and took a sip of warm water to


    settle her stomach.


    Her actions made Evelyn frown. ¡°What¡¯s wrong? You don¡¯t like what I made?¡±


    Thssa quickly shook her head, ¡°No, I had something to eat before I got here. I¡¯m too full, I can¡¯t eat


    anymore.¡±


    This was the truth..


    She had had mushroom soup beforeing.


    But she wasn¡¯t that full.


    Her nausea was due to her stomach not having fully recovered from days of hunger. She couldn¡¯t eat


    anything too greasy or spicy, only nd liquid foods.


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    Otherwise, her stomach would suffer.


    Just one bite of the spaghetti had caused a violent reaction. This was her stomach rejecting the greasy


    food, protecting itself.


    Evelyn snorted, ¡°Then just drink water!¡±


    After saying this, she took a bite of her kebab, seemingly venting her frustrations and worries.


    Hertha, noticing the tense atmosphere between Evelyn and Thssa, didn¡¯t dare to interrupt.


    ¡°Alright, let¡¯s just be d that you¡¯re back. The kids are relieved, and they won¡¯t cry looking for you. If


    you¡¯re really full, just have some yogurt. Elowen won the semifinals of a gourmetpetition today and


    will bepeting in the finals soon. We¡¯re celebrating Elowen¡¯s victory today. Let¡¯s all be happy,¡±


    Hertha changed the topic, trying to lighten the mood.


    Thssa gave her a smile and stayed silent, while Evelyn let her frustration out on the food.


    The adults stopped talking, leaving only asional childish chatter.


    Before long, all the food was gone.


    It was time to head home.


    Hertha faced a problemn, ¡°My car can¡¯t fit everyone. What do we do?¡±


    Taking four children and one adult was already stretching the capacity of her car.


    If she were to take Thssa as well, it would be a serious overload. The risk of getting caught by traffic


    police was high, not to mention the safety hazard.

 Chapter 385

    Chapter 385


    ¡°Never mind, Thssa dered, ¡°I drove here. You take mom and two of the kids, I¡¯ll take the other


    two.¡±


    Hertha was taken aback. Since when did Thssa have a car?


    Evelyn, on the other hand, was unfazed. She had known for a while that Thssa had apany car.


    When they returned home, it was already past nine in the evening.


    Together, Hertha and Thssa bathed the kids and put them to bed.


    Evelyn sat in the living room, stewing in her own frustration.


    By the time the kids were finally asleep, it was half past ten.


    As Thssa and Hertha stepped out of the room, Evelyn¡¯s gaze was a mix of anger and worry, all


    directed at Thssa.


    ¡°Now that the kids are asleep, can we talk about what happened?¡± She demanded.


    Hertha also looked at Thssa with a curious and expectant expression.


    A few days ago, after she had rescued Thssa from the hotel, she brought Evelyn back to Thssa¡¯s


    hometown. During those days, she hadn¡¯t been able to get in touch with Thssa at all.


    Bearing her mother¡¯s intense gaze, Thssa knew she had toe clean this time.


    Otherwise, she would never hear the end of it from Evelyn.


    She took a seat at the dining table, followed by an eager Hertha who was looking forward to hearing


    her story.


    Thssa sighed and began, ¡°Didn¡¯t Hertha tell you? Lysander from the Sinir Group took a liking to


    me. He wants me to be his woman.¡±


    ¡°He doesn¡¯t even want to marry you! Being with him is a waste of your youth!¡± Evelyn retorted


    vehemently, mming the table.


    ¡°I know, I don¡¯t want this either. But he¡¯s powerful and influential, I don¡¯t have a choice, Thssa


    replied.


    1


    ¡°This is like him taking advantage of a helpless woman! I¡¯ll report him right now!¡± Evelyn eximed,


    rising from her seat.


    Thssa quickly reached out and stopped her, ¡°Mom, don¡¯t be impulsive. I made a mistake. We can¡¯t


    use him of anything.¡±


    ¡°Mistake? What mistake?¡± Evelyn asked, curiosity and anxiety evident in her voice.


    ¦§


    Thssa grimaced and confessed, ¡°I smashed a lot of antiques at Lysander¡¯s ce, worth 100 million


    dors. If we report him, he will definitely demandpensation. If we can¡¯t pay, I might end up in jail.¡±


    *100 million dors?¡± Evelyn felt dizzy and saw stars. She sat down heavily on her chair.


    Hertha was equally shocked.


    Thssa was something else. Not only did she smash things, but she targeted antiques worth 100


    million dors.


    No one could match her audacity.


    Thssa bit her lip and stayed silent, giving her mother some time to process the information.


    She didn¡¯t want Evelyn to impulsively report Lysander. Besides that, if the police got involved, her four


    kids might get exposed and Lysander would find out.


    Then, she would lose everything.


    Lysander had made it clear that he didn¡¯t want her to bear his children and marriage was out of the


    question.


    It was crucial that Lysander remained unaware of the kids.


    After Evelyn calmed down a bit, Thssa tentatively said, ¡°Mom, can you promise me not to intervene


    in this matter? Lysander is softening up and I might be able to get out of this mess in some time. But if


    you confront him and he demands 100 million dors inpensation, there¡¯s no way out.¡±


    Evelyn sat there stunned, still shocked by the astronomical sum..


    100 million dors. Even if they¡¯sold Thssa, they couldn¡¯t repay the debt.


    What a tragedy.


    Evelyn looked at Thssa, her face a mixture of grief, anger, and deep concem. She snapped out of


    her daze and red at Thssa.


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    ¡°Fine, I won¡¯t meddle in your affairs anymore. Do whatever you want!¡± She pped her thigh and


    stormed off to her room.

 Chapter 386

    Chapter 386


    In the living room, only Thssa and Hertha remained.


    Hertha¡¯s round eyes were filled with excitement as she pulled a chair next to Thssa. With a jittery


    smile, she asked her, ¡°Did you really smash Lysanders artifact?¡±


    Thssa nodded, her energy drained.


    Hertha was bbergasted, ¡°Oh my gosh, Thssa, I¡¯m seriously in awe of you. After all this, Lysander


    hasn¡¯t done anything to you. He must really adore you.¡±


    Hertha was known for her dirty jokes.


    Thssa blushed at thement, averting her gaze. She felt slightly embarrassed and guilty.


    Seeing her blush, Hertha, as an adult, immediately understood. She gasped in surprise, ¡°Don¡¯t tell me


    you and Lysander have already, um?¡±


    Before she could finish, Thssa immediately covered her mouth. ncing at the closed door, she


    whispered, ¡°Keep it down.¡±


    Even though Evelyn was usually very strict with Thssa, deep down, she loved her. If she found out


    Thssa was being bullied, Evelyn would undoubtedly confront the culprit without a second thought.


    And that culprit was Lysander.


    Lysander was the king of Starhaven. Who could possibly stand against him?


    Hertha quickly nodded, signaling that she understood.


    Thssa then let go of her mouth.


    Hertha leaned in closer. Curiosity and surprise were etched on her face, ¡°Did Lysander gift you that


    BMW?¡±


    Thssa nodded and whispered, ¡°I initially returned it, but he forced it on me. Don¡¯t tell my mom. She


    thinks it¡¯s apany car, and that I work at Leossa Tech.¡±


    Hertha understood, and eximed in awe, ¡°Lysander really treats you well. He forced upon you a


    million-dor car. He really treasures you.¡±


    Thssa felt embarrassed and helpless, ¡°Stop teasing me.¡±


    Hertha slung an arm around Thssa¡¯s shoulder, smiling, ¡°You should enjoy life while you can. Don¡¯t


    worry about the oue if there isn¡¯t one yet. Lysander¡¯s handsome and fit, and he¡¯s at the top of the


    pyramid. His body is even better than a supermodel¡¯s. Other women pay to see and touch


    supermodels, but you¡¯re desired by a top-tier man. You get to admire Lysander¡¯s handsome face daily,


    and touch his washboard abs that others can only dream of. Isn¡¯t that great?¡± Although that was the


    case, her rtionship with Lysander was not that simple.


    If he was just attracted to her and wanted her to be his woman, things wouldn¡¯t be soplicated.


    The problem was, with the appearance of Bruce, Lysander found out that she was Bruce¡¯s daughter.


    He couldn¡¯t forgive the daughter of a man who caused his parents¡¯ death.


    He kept her by his side, solely to vent his resentment.


    Thssa couldn¡¯t share this with Hertha.


    ¡°It¡¯s gettingte, Hertha. Would you like to rest home or stay here?¡± Thssa changed the subject.


    ¡°I should head back. My parents haven¡¯t seen me in a few days. They must be worried.¡± Hertha stood


    up.


    Thssa walked her to the door.


    Meanwhile, in the children¡¯s room.


    Content ? provided by N?velDrama.Org.


    The dark night was bathed in a gentle moonlight, the room dimly lit. Two adorable children sat there,


    their innocent dark eyes shimmering in the night, smart and


    cute.


    Dorian leaned towards Atticus, whispering, ¡°Mom owes Lysander 100 million dors. She¡¯s really


    troubled.¡±


    Atticus¡¯ young face scrunched in worry. He was concerned for his mom.


    ¡°We need to help her, otherwise she¡¯ll go to jail, Atticus said, seemingly wise beyond his years.


    He had overheard Thssa, Evelyn, and Hertha¡¯s conversation earlier.


    Lysander was keeping Mom froming home, and if she didn¡¯tply, Lysander would demand 100


    million dors inpensation. If Mom couldn¡¯t pay, she¡¯d go to jail.


    Even though Atticus was young, he knew what jail meant.

 Chapter 387

    Chapter 387


    Mom was so warm, beautiful, and adorable. How could he stand to see her imprisoned?


    Dorian nodded with resolution, ¡°Yes, we need to help Mom, we need to make money!¡±


    His tiny hand clenched into a fist. He ced it on his chest, making a gesture of encouragement. His


    little face was serious.


    Then, he hummed, ¡°Lysander is bad. He bullied Mom. He¡¯s not our dad, and we don¡¯t need him to be!¡±


    His voice was both lost and disappointed, and above all, it was full of sympathy for Thssa.


    They had previously found out that the token their dad gave their mom was a family heirloom of


    Lysander¡¯s.


    Plus, Atticus looked a lot like Lysander.


    So, the little ones were convinced that Lysander was their dad.


    They also asked Thssa if Lysander was really their dad.


    Thssa denied it.


    They didn¡¯t understand at first why Thssa would deny that Lysander was their dad.


    Now, after hearing what Thssa had just said, it seemed like Dorian and Atticus understood why she


    had denied it.


    Turned out their dad was so cruel to her.


    As Dorian and Atticus were whispering, the sound of the doorknob turning suddenly came.


    The little ones were quick to react, immediately lying down. They didn¡¯t move, pretending to be asleep.


    Thssa pushed open the door. With the moonlight, she took a look at the four adorable kids lying on


    the bed.


    Elowen was lying sideways, with her head stretching to the edge of the bed, and her little legs on


    Sophia. Her chubby little body looked soft and cute.


    Sophia was sleeping prone, with her head on its side. Half of her face was squashed, her mouth was


    Content ? provided by N?velDrama.Org.


    pouting, and her breath was sweet. It was just that Elowen¡¯s chubby leg was pressing on her, making


    her a little ufortable, and her tender eyebrows were slightly furrowed.


    Atticus and Dorian were sleeping at the foot of the bed. The two little ones were sleeping neat and tidy,


    but their breath was extremely sweet.


    With the smell of milk in the room, and the sweet breath of the children, Thssa felt extremely warm


    inside. A smile appeared on her lips as she walked in lightly. She took Elowen¡¯s leg off Sophia, picked


    her up, and put her to sleep properly to prevent her from falling off the bed.


    She then covered Sophia with the nket, and did the same for Atticus and Dorian.


    She stood in the night, looking at the four adorable little ones in a daze.


    With them by her side, she felt secure.


    But when she thought of the possibility of Lysander finding out about the existence of the four kids, she


    would lose them.


    Her heart would suffocate.


    Before, the kids had asked her, since Atticus looked a bit like Lysander, was Lysander their dad.


    At that time, she hadn¡¯t found the token yet and didn¡¯t know that the kids¡¯ dad was Lysander. So, she


    tly denied that Lysander was their dad.


    Now, she deeply knew that Lysander was the man from that night five years ago. He was the biological


    father of the kids.


    But she couldn¡¯t tell the kids the truth anymore.


    Because their dad didn¡¯t like kids, and he definitely wouldn¡¯t like the kids she gave birth to.


    She was afraid that if she told them, their expectations would be too high, and they would be more


    disappointed in the end.


    She loved her adorable kid with all her heart. She couldn¡¯t bear even if they got a little hurt.


    Thssa felt a pang of pity in her heart. She bent down and kissed Elowen¡¯s face. The soft feeling was


    very addictive and healing for the heart.


    Then, Thssa kissed Sophia, Atticus, and Dorian.


    ¡°Um, Mom,¡± Dorian turned his little body around, and a childish and whiny voice echoed.

 Chapter 388

    Chapter 388


    ¡°Sweetie, it¡¯s time for bed.¡± Thssa gently patted his tiny chest, coaxing him to sleep.


    She thought she had disturbed his slumber.


    In the dark night, Dorian pouted. He felt sorry for his mom and wanted tofort her with a hug.


    But he was afraid if she¡¯d find out he wasn¡¯t asleep.


    So, he suppressed his urge to embrace her. He closed his eyes obediently and pretended to sleep, not


    wanting to worry his mom.


    After patting Dorian for a while, Thssa heard his steady breathing. He was asleep again.


    Relieved, she left the room to freshen up.


    The next day was a workday.


    Thssa hadn¡¯t eaten or rested well at the Royal Estates for the past few days, and she was very


    exhausted. Plus, she had slepttest night.


    When she woke up, there was no one at home. Instinctively panicked, Thssa grabbed her phone


    and saw it was already past ten in the morning.


    At this time, the kids would have already gone to school.


    What was strange was that Evelyn hadn¡¯t returned either.


    Thssa called her mother and learned that after Evelyn had dropped the kids at the kindergarten, she


    went to the card room to watch a game.


    Feeling reassured, Thssa got ready and headed out.


    As she drove onto the asphalt road, Thssa received a call from an unknown number.


    ¡°Hello, who is this?¡± Thssa asked politely.


    ¡°Thssa, it¡¯s me, Bruce.¡±


    When Thssa heard this name, her first reaction was to hang up.


    ¡°Wait, I¡¯m calling to inform you that your daughter Elowen has made it to the finals of the gourmet


    added.


    Thssa replied coldly, ¡°I know.¡±


    ¡°Thssa, is your hostility towards me really that deep? I am your biological father after all,¡± Bruce¡¯s


    voice carried a hint of aging.


    Hearing this, Thssa felt a mix of anger and mockery.


    From the day she was born, he had never fulfilled his responsibilities as a father: To her, he was


    nothing more than a stranger.


    Moreover, he had audaciously cheated on her mother even after knowing she was pregnant. Was such


    a man worthy of being a father?


    Thssa reiterated, ¡°As I¡¯ve said before, from now on, we¡¯re strangers, Bruce. Please stop referring to


    yourself as my father.¡±


    ¡°Speaking of which, I¡¯d like to ask why the card I gave you suddenly appeared under my pillow. Did you


    return it to me? When I gave you the card, I told you that as long as you ept my money, I won¡¯t


    bother you and your mother again. But you returned the card and the money intact. So does that mean


    my promise doesn¡¯t count?¡± Bruce sounded upset.


    That day, at the hospital, he had pushed the card into Thssa¡¯s hand. She didn¡¯t resist, and he


    thought she had epted it. He had gone to the bathroom in the corridor and returned to his hospital


    bed to sleep.


    It wasn¡¯t until he was discharged and the nurse cleaning the bed sheets called him that his card under


    the pillow. He didn¡¯t even know when Thssa had returned it to him.


    ¡°That¡¯s what you think. I never agreed to anything¡± Thssa said, ¡°If there¡¯s nothing else, I¡¯ll hang up.¡±


    That day, when she went to the hospital to pick Isabe up, she didn¡¯t expect to run into Bruce. Bruce


    had blocked her way and wouldn¡¯t let her leave. He said as long as she took his card, he wouldn¡¯t


    bother her again and would consider her a stranger. In the urgent situation, she didn¡¯t have time to


    think and just wanted to clear up her rtionship with Bruce as soon as possible, so she didn¡¯t refuse


    his card.


    When he went to the bathroom, she entered his room and saw the hospital bed with Bruce¡¯s patient tag


    hanging on it. She shoved the card under the pillow as a way of returning it to him, refusing his money.


    There were no cameras in the room, and those taking photos couldn¡¯t have followed her into the room.


    They only captured the moment when she took the card from Bruce, but not when she returned it.


    Lysander was furious, thinking she had a deep father-daughter rtionship with Bruce.


    Now she wanted to exin, but she had no way to defend herself.


    Just as she was about to hang up, Bruce asked urgently, ¡°What¡¯s your rtionship with Lysander from


    the Sinir Group?¡± Content ? provided by N?velDrama.Org.


    Hearing this question, Thssa¡¯s hand holding the phone froze.


    Why was Bruce asking about this?

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    Chapter 389


    Her senses instantly went on high alert, ¡°No worries! Bruce, remember karma alwayses back


    around!¡±


    With that, she hung up the phone, anger and fear evident in her actions.


    Over two decades ago, he had lured another man¡¯s wife into eloping with him, causing the ruin of a


    family.


    And he didn¡¯t even have the decency to feel guilty about it, even intending to form connections with


    Lysander!


    He was a terrifying man.


    She didn¡¯t want to get involved in his mess anymore.


    No wonder Lysander despised Bruce so much, even transferring his hatred onto her.


    People who lived on the edge of legality and morality were truly terrifying..


    Thssa¡¯s emotions were in a whirl, she barely noticed the red traffic light ahead and nearly ran


    through it, only managing to m on the brakes at thest


    moment.


    The sudden stop caused her to jerk forward, only to be pulled back by the seatbelt.


    After the abrupt movement, she sat back in her seat, her breathing erratic.


    Arriving at the Sinir Group, Thssa sat in the secretary¡¯s office, her mind elsewhere.


    David called her, ¡°Mr. Sinir wants to see you in his office.¡±


    Hearing this, Thssa felt a chill run down her spine, as if her worst fears wereing true.


    Acknowledging his message, she ended the call and made her way to the CEO¡¯s office.


    Standing outside the office, she couldn¡¯t muster up the courage to knock for a long while.


    The terrifying experience of being confined at the Royal Estates for four days had left her with deep


    psychological scars.


    Thinking of what Bruce had done, she felt as if she had let Lysander down. She didn¡¯t have the


    courage to face him.


    She was even more afraid of facing his hatred.


    But what could she do now?


    Her situation was extremely awkward.


    She wanted to run, but Lysander had warned her that the consequences of fleeing again would be


    more than she could bear.


    If she didn¡¯t escape, she would be used as a tool for him to vent his hatred every day.


    She was caught in a dilemma.


    After taking several deep breaths to calm herself, Thssa finally managed to knock on the door.


    On receiving a cold response, she pushed open the door and entered, her demeanor humble and


    cautious.


    ¡°Mr. Sinir, I¡¯m here.¡± Thssa stood two meters away from the desk, her head slightly bowed as she


    spoke.


    Lysander paused his paperwork, put the pen back into the holder, and lifted his deep gaze. His


    intimidating and icy aura caused the temperature in the room to drop instantly.


    His deep and cold voice left no room for discussion, ¡°Come here.¡±


    Thssa¡¯s heart skipped a beat, her back tensing up in anxiety.


    She obediently walked over and stood in front of the desk.


    ¡°Come to my side.¡± Lysander¡¯s chilling voice held a hint of annoyance.


    N?vel/Dr(a)ma.Org - Content owner.


    As he spoke, he leaned back in his chair, the movement of which exuded an air of majesty and


    intimidation.


    Thssa felt a knot in her stomach but had no choice but to obey. She walked around the desk and


    just as she reached his side, he pulled her towards him.


    Without any warning, she found herself sitting on hisp.


    Thssa gasped slightly.


    The thin fabric did little to dull the sensation of his muscr thigh or the burning heat emanating from


    him.


    Thssa was sitting on hisp, and the dangerous warmth caused a shiver to run up her spine.

 Chapter 390

    Chapter 390


    Thssa instinctively tried to rise, but Lysander¡¯s strong hand held her slender waist, pressing her


    down firmly. His grip was just right, firm without causing pain, yet unyielding, preventing her escape.


    Just as Thssa tried to get up, she had to sit back down. She was forced to feel his masculine energy


    and his overwhelming strength.


    Surrounded by his strong aura, Thssa was already nervous. Behind her was his broad chest.


    Beneath her were his fiery thighs, and around her waist, his firm and powerful hand held her still.


    It felt as if a single move would cause him to snap her in half.


    Swallowing hard, Thssa stiffened, afraid to make any unnecessary movements, fearing that any


    slight misstep would ignite a spark.


    She carefully said, ¡°Mr. Sinir, this is an office, a ce of work.¡±


    As soon as she finished speaking, a warm and stic skin brushed against her cheek. The slight


    stubble caused a prickling sensation, both ticklish and painful.


    Drawing in a sharp breath, Thssa felt her body further stiffened in fear.


    Lysander leaned his face close to hers, his cheek pressed against hers. His domineering and


    masculine scent enveloped her, oppressing every inch of her skin.


    Her heart pounded like boiling water, incessantly thumping.


    ¡°Are you reminding me to treat sleeping with you as work, to not bring emotions into it, hmm?¡±


    Content ? provided by N?velDrama.Org.


    His low and husky voice resonated in her ear.


    It was sexy and dangerously close to being lethal.


    His hot breath sprayed on her sensitive ear, causing her body to tingle.


    She shrank her neck fearfully and ticklishly.


    His words caused her face to turn red with both embarrassment and shame.


    She exined, ¡°That¡¯s not what I meant. I meant this is an office, anyone could walk in at any time and


    see.¡±


    She had already experienced his intensity twice at Royal Estates.


    It had left her unable to get out of bed.


    Being his woman was definitely not easy.


    ¡°Without my permission, who would dare to enter?¡± Lysander¡¯s low and domineering voice echoed in


    the room.


    His face, radiating heat, pressed against her cool cheek, like a fusion of ice and fire, sparking a sizzling


    connection.


    As he spoke, his thin lips brushed her delicate neck, a light peck.


    Even though it was a simple action, Thssa found it hard to breathe, her chest heaving.


    He was too good at teasing her, causing her body to tremble uncontrobly.


    Scared, Thssa knew she could not resist him. ¡°Mr. Sinir, I still have a lot of work to finish.¡±


    She grasped his hand, trying to pry him off and escape.


    As she panicked, Lysander suddenly pulled away.


    He had only given her a light kiss, barely a taste.


    Though the kiss had ended, the strength in his hand tightened, holding her slender waist even tighter.


    ¡°Don¡¯t move!¡±


    At hismand, Thssa¡¯s body froze, like a prey caught in the jaws of a predator, a single movement


    away from a bloody end.


    She stayed still, afraid to move.


    The next second, something cold fell on her neck.


    Looking down, she saw a tinum ne, with a cloud-shaped pendant. Around the cloud were


    about ten diamonds, each perfectly sized, encircling the cloud and reflecting the light, as if the sun was


    shining on the cloud.


    It was dazzling, yet the purity of the cloud was still visible. It was beautiful and dreamy.


    Lysander helped her put on the ne.


    Nervously and curiously, Thssa asked, ¡°Mr. Sinir, why are you suddenly giving me a gift?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m in a good mood,¡± Lysander replied in his low and husky voice.

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    Chapter 391


    Thssa was in dumb silence.


    Big bosses were always different. When they were in high spirits, they showered others with expensive


    gifts, using it as a measure of their mood.


    And when they were not, they used others as an outlet for their frustration.


    ¡°Mr. Sinir, you could give this to your fiancee,¡± Thssa suggested.


    She didn¡¯t have the luxury of enjoying his gifts.


    No sooner had she said this than she felt a chill creeping up her spine, like being dropped into an icy


    cer with cold air swirling around her.


    A shiver ran down Thssa¡¯s spine. She realized she had misspoken and was about to make


    amends.


    But his warning came in a frosty and icy tone, ¡°Don¡¯t even think about getting close to Leopold. You


    won¡¯t escape. Stay in line, and you¡¯ll suffer less, understand?¡±


    His intimidating cold words sent a chill down Thssa¡¯s spine, her heart constricting. The sense of


    danger was so intense, and she quickly nodded, ¡°I understand.¡±


    Hmm, get back to work,¡± Lysander finally let her go.,


    Thssa hurriedly got up, made a quick curtsy, and bolted out of the office like she was escaping.


    She suddenly felt a kinship with the people who had to tread carefully around their monarchs, like


    treading around a tiger.


    It was absolutely terrifying.


    A small slip and she could be eaten alive.


    For the rest of the day, Thssa dared not venture close to the CEO¡¯s office.


    Finally, the end of the workday arrived.


    Thssa was quick to make her escape.


    She hopped into her car and headed for home.


    Her phone, left on the passenger seat, rang. She was wearing her Bluetooth headset and didn¡¯t bother


    to check the caller ID before answering. Thssa, help me! Leopold has gone mad. He¡¯s driving the


    car and it¡¯s on fire, but he refuses to stop. He says he wants to die with me!¡±


    Isabe¡¯s voice echoed in the car. It was filled with fear, anxiety, and panic.


    Hearing her words, Thssa felt her heart tighten, ¡°Tell him to stop the car and put out the fire. This


    isn¡¯t a joke.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m going to hand him the phone. He won¡¯t listen to me,¡± Isabe cried, on the verge of tears.


    She switched to speakerphone so that Leopold could hear as she pleaded, ¡°Leopold, can you hear


    me? Thssa is telling you to stop the car and put out the fire. Please, don¡¯t do this.¡±


    Leopold¡¯s eyes were bloodshot, his face a mask of agony. His eyes held a desperate cruelty as he


    hissed, ¡°Isabe, you vile woman. You¡¯ve ruined my life. Today, we die together!¡±


    Everything was Isabe¡¯s fault. She had ruined his love and shattered his future.


    He loved Thssa deeply, a love that ran so deep it was etched in his bones. Content ? provided by N?velDrama.Org.


    He and Thssa were supposed to be in love and marry each other. They could have had a beautiful


    future together.


    But all of that was destroyed by Isabe¡¯s meddling. Her cruel and cunning schemes not only led to her


    sleeping with him five years ago but also drugging him, leading to his unconsciousness and bringing


    him to a hotel room.


    Then came the crushing blow. Thssa and Lysander arrived, and he was forced to watch as Lysander


    kissed Thssa.


    Forced to realize that Thssa¡¯s boyfriend was Lysander!


    The woman he loved dearly was about to be his uncle¡¯s wife.


    All his hopes and love were strangled, leaving him in despair and agony. He felt a pain that tore at his


    heart.


    Death didn¡¯t seem so scary in the face of such pain.


    He would make Isabe pay, even if it cost him his life.


    Leopold¡¯s voice was filled with hatred and despair. Thssa¡¯s heart clenched.


    ¡°Leopold, don¡¯t do anything stupid. It¡¯s not worth risking your life for a woman like that,¡± she pleaded


    desperately.

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    Chapter 392


    ¡°Thssa, don¡¯t try to dissuade me. Life is unbearable without you.¡± Leopold¡¯s trembling voice echoed


    in the phone, the sound of suppressed sobbing making it all the more heartbreaking.


    His despair and anguish were palpable, bringing tears to Thssa¡¯s eyes and a sharp pain in her


    chest. She could feel his pain and hopelessness.


    Two people, who were supposed to be in love, were now forced to part ways and be strangers.


    Powerless, desperate and yet helpless.


    Thssa urgently asked with a shaky voice, ¡°Isabe, which road are you on? I¡¯ming right away.¡±


    Content ? provided by N?velDrama.Org.


    Isabe, with tears streaming down her face, told Thssa the location. She was not yet ready to join


    the high society, she didn¡¯t want to die, and she didn¡¯t want to lose her life in such a dreadful manner.


    There was still a beautiful life waiting for her, and she didn¡¯t want to be blown to pieces. She was


    scared, terrified of leaving this world in such a grisly manner with Leopold.


    Knowing their location, Thssa made a sudden turn and sped towards that road. It wasn¡¯t far, just


    around the corner. As soon as she made the turn, she would reach them.


    Time was of the essence, there was no room for second thoughts. Ignoring the red light, Thssa


    speedily maneuvered her car, narrowly missing another car. In this moment of urgency, her driving


    skills seemed to improve.


    Just as she was about to collide with the car in front, she swiftly turned the wheel, avoiding collision


    and overtaking the other car. She reached the road mentioned by Isabe where many cars had


    already stopped. People were standing by the road, discussing the situation in hushed tones of


    astonishment.


    ¡°There¡¯s a car on fire ahead, it¡¯s still speeding, it¡¯s like they have a death wish.¡±


    ¡°We should wait here. We don¡¯t want to get involved and risk our lives.¡±


    ¡°The young people these days are driving recklessly.¡±¡±


    Hearing their discussions, Thssa knew it was Leopold¡¯s car. Looking at the direction where cars had


    stopped, she guessed where Leopold¡¯s car might have


    headed.


    A middle-aged man, seeing her car heading in that direction, warned, ¡°Miss, you should stop. There¡¯s a


    reckless driver ahead. If there¡¯s an explosion, you could be in danger¡­¡±


    Before he could finish his sentence, Thssa had hit the gas pedal and sped off in the direction they


    had pointed. She was racing against time and death.


    Her heart was pounding as she drove at a breakneck speed. She had to be faster to reach Leopold


    before his car exploded. She held the steering wheel tightly, her body rigid, her nerves on edge.


    Finally, she saw the car in the distance, its tail on fire. The silver Porsche, with its roaring mes, was


    like a ticking bomb on the road, ready to explode any moment. Thssa saw the car and her heart


    clenched even tighter. She drove faster, honking the horn to alert the car ahead to stop.


    Meanwhile, Leopold, ovee with grief and pain, was determined to die with Isabe. His eyes were


    red, his face a mask of sorrow and anger.

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    Chapter 393


    Isabe was doomed to be obliterated by the car explosion.


    Suddenly, the honk of a caring from behind echoed in the night. Leopold nced at the rearview


    mirror, only to see a sleek, aubergine-colored BMW hot on his


    trail.


    The driver of the pursuing vehicle was none other than Thssa!


    Leopold¡¯s heart, cold and numb as stone, suddenly pounded in his chest. Panic and fear gripped him.


    Thssa had reallye!


    No, he couldn¡¯t involve her. If his car exploded, the shockwave would engulf her, flipping her car. She


    would be in mortal danger.


    Even if he was going to hell, he couldn¡¯t bear the thought of Thssa getting hurt.


    With a burning determination in his eyes, Leopold floored the elerator, desperate to shake Thssa


    off.


    Thssa had thought that her honking would make Leopold pull over.


    But instead, he sped up even more.


    Her heart, already in her throat, clenched even tighter. Anxiety and fear consumed her.


    She stopped honking, instead following Leopold¡¯s example and speeding up. Soon, her car was side by


    side with Leopold¡¯s metallic Porsche, which was now engulfed in mes, creating a fiery serpent


    slithering down the highway.


    Thssa rolled down her window and screamed, ¡°Leopold, stop the car! If you don¡¯t stop now, it¡¯ll be


    toote!¡±


    But Leopold seemed not to hear her, continuing to speed ahead.


    ¡°Thssa, save me. I don¡¯t want to die! Leopold¡¯s gone mad. He¡¯s mad!¡± Isabe wailed from the


    passenger seat, her voice filled with terror.


    Shaking with fear, Thssa maneuvered her car in front of Leopold¡¯s and yanked the steering wheel,


    effectively blocking his path.


    Leopold¡¯s car was moving too fast to stop. Seeing Thssa¡¯s car in front of him, he knew it was too


    ¡°No!¡± he screamed, his voice filled with despair.


    With wide and terrified eyes, he jerked the wheel, causing his car to spin and slide violently forward.


    After a few terrifying spins, the front of his car mmed into Thssa¡¯s vehicle.


    The force of the collision made Thssa¡¯s body sway, and her forehead crashed into the steering


    wheel, causing blood to seep out.


    Her head spun, pain shooting through it and stars appearing in her vision.


    She tried to unbuckle her seatbelt and get out of the car, but her head felt heavy, as if it weighed a


    thousand pounds. Despite her best efforts, she couldn¡¯t lift it.


    Finally, her vision darkened, and she cked out.


    After braking abruptly and spinning several times, Leopold managed to avoid crashing into Thssa¡¯s


    car.


    Once his car stopped, he looked frantically at Thssa, only to find her unconscious.


    The mes on his car were spreading, the heat scorching his body. His clothes were drenched in sweat


    and his skin was singed.


    The car was about to explode.


    Leopold¡¯s heart raced, panic seeping into his every pore. He unbuckled his seatbelt as fast as he could,


    jumped out of the car, and opened the door to Thssa¡¯s car. He unbuckled her seatbelt and pulled her


    out.


    Holding her tightly, he dragged her out of the ming wreckage.


    In his haste and fear, he found his strength waning. As he tried to carry Thssa away, she slipped


    from his grasp.


    The fire on his car was growing bigger, small explosions signaling the impending big explosion.


    Desperate, Leopold bit his lip, gathering all his strength to ovee his weakness. He lifted Thssa


    and ran as fast as he could towards the open space nearby.


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    ¡°Boom! Bang!¡± The car exploded into a ball of fire, the shockwave shaking the world.

 Chapter 394

    Chapter 394


    It all started with Leopold¡¯s car exploding in a series of sts, followed by Thssa¡¯s blue-purple BMW


    going up in mes.


    Leopold, carrying Thssa, managed to get some distance away but was still slightly caught in the


    shockwave, knocking them both to the ground.


    In a knee-jerking moment, Leopold instinctively pulled Thssa towards him, in an attempt to prevent


    her from hitting the ground too hard. However, this resulted in his knees painfully hitting the ground,


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    leading to a loss of strength, and causing both of them to roll forward.


    Luckily, they were near a t park filled with trees and green grass. Leopold and Thssa rolled a few


    times on the grassy ground beforeing to a halt.


    Wincing from the pain, L¨¦opold quickly got up and limped towards Thssa. She was lying on the


    grass, unconscious, with a patch of blood on her forehead. Leopold was filled with anxiety, his heart


    pounding and hands trembling as he gently patted Thssa¡¯s face, pleading with a cry in his voice,


    ¡°Thssa, wake up, wake up.¡±


    ¡°Help, help!¡± A woman¡¯s cry for help echoed from the park¡¯s pond, apanied by the sound of


    sshing water. It was Isabe floundering in the water.


    When the car was about to explode, Isabe quickly unbuckled her seatbelt and jumped out. She


    sprinted towards the bridge over the pond and, upon hearing the explosion, her survival instincts kicked


    in. Without a second thought, she jumped off the bridge into the pond..


    Although she knew how to swim, the urgency of the situation, coupled with the fall from the bridge,


    threw her off bnce and she started to sink.


    Leopold only nced at the pond, saw Isabe struggling, and chose not to help. Instead, he stayed by


    Thssa¡¯s side, pulling out his phone to call for an ambnce. The wicked Isabe could drown for all


    he cared!


    Just as Leopold was making the call, fire engines, and police cars started to arrive. The drivers who


    had parked on the roadside had called the fire department and police.


    Firefighters quickly got to work extinguishing the burning vehicles.


    ¡°Help, help!¡± Despite her struggles, Isabe heard the arrival of the firefighters. In a desperate bid to


    save herself, she cried out for help.


    A firefighter quickly jumped into the water and rescued her.


    A police officer approached Leopold to ask about the situation. His heart was filled with worry for


    Thssa and he didn¡¯t have the energy to engage with the police officer. With red-rimmed eyes and a


    choked voice, he simply said, ¡°You can see what happened. The car caught fire.¡±


    Isabe, who had been rescued, added, ¡°The car caught fire and nobody expected it. It was just an


    ident.¡±


    Even though Leopold had seen her struggling in the water and chose not to help her, she didn¡¯t want to


    use him of trying to kill her.


    She didn¡¯t want Leopold to be held responsible.


    Because if he were, her own dark deeds would be exposed and she would face public scorn.


    She knew Leopold hated her..


    But she still couldn¡¯t let him go.


    ¡°In that case, we¡¯ll proceed as a normal ident investigation,¡± the police officer said.


    Soon, an ambnce arrived.


    The paramedics lifted Thssa onto the ambnce and Leopold rode along, anxiously apanying


    Thssa.

 Chapter 395

    Chapter 395


    Upon seeing the blood seeping from Thssa¡¯s forehead and her pale face, Leopold felt his breath


    hitched with worry.


    Isabe watched as Leopold climbed into the ambnce with Thssa, not even sparing a nce in


    her direction.


    His indifference and rejection were starkly evident, impossible to hide.


    A mncholy washed over her. She wasn¡¯t sure if it was due to her heart growing cold, or because she


    was soaked to the bone, chilled to her very marrow.


    The concern from the firefighters and the police officers did nothing to warm her heart.


    Ever since sheid eyes on Leopold five years ago, her heart had beenpletely captivated by him,


    unable to forget him.


    Over the years, even though she was with rk, her mind constantly wandered back to Leopold.


    She was so dedicated to him, yet he wished for nothing more than her demise.


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    Despair, anger, pain, and resentment chilled her more thoroughly than her drenched clothing ever


    could.


    Soon after, the ambnce arrived at the hospital. Nurses rushed Thssa into the emergency room.


    Leopold hobbled after them, stopping only when the doors of the emergency room closed, blocking his


    view.


    His eyes were red-rimmed, his palms clenched, and his heart suspended in an anxious wait outside the


    door.


    A nurse approached him and said, ¡°Sir, you¡¯re injured as well. You should have your wounds treated.¡±


    Leopold¡¯s face was scraped raw from the concrete, blood seeping from the abrasions. His gait was


    irregr, suggesting some kind of leg injury.


    In response to the nurse¡¯s concern, Leopold was absent-minded. His attention was fully focused on the


    emergency room doors, and the sign that read ¡°Emergency¡±. ¡°I¡¯m fine,¡± Leopold said, his bloodshot


    eyes never leaving the door.


    The nurse tried to persuade him, ¡°It will take some time for her to be stabilized. You can have your


    wounds dressed and then wait. Your injuries will heal faster than


    hers.¡±


    Her words brought Leopold back to the reality of Thssa¡¯s critical condition. His heart sank further,


    and worry etched into his features.


    ¡°I said that I¡¯m fine!¡± he responded, a hint of impatience creeping into his voice.


    Seeing his determination, the nurse didn¡¯t press further and left to attend to her other duties.


    Leopold¡¯s breaths were heavy, his hands clenched, his gaze fixed on the ¡°Emergency¡± sign.


    As time ticked by, the sign remained lit.


    The short span of time felt as long as centuries.


    Leopold¡¯s initial worry turned into torment, pain, guilt, and anxiety.


    His eyes glistened with unshed tears.


    His heart trembled with worry.


    As various dark thoughts surfaced, the pain in his heart only grew.


    Just as he was lost in his thoughts, the door to the emergency room opened.


    He rushed forward, asking anxiously, ¡°Doctor, how is she?¡±


    The doctor¡¯s face was concealed behind a mask. He looked at Leopold and asked, ¡°Who are you to the


    patient?¡±


    Leopold faltered slightly, his heart aching more, his breath shaky, ¡°I¡¯m her friend.¡±


    ¡°The patient has a minor concussion from a head injury. She needs to rest and recover, avoid any


    stimtion or excitement, and absolutely no vigorous activities,¡± the doctor exined.


    Hearing that it was a minor concussion and not life-threatening, Leopold¡¯s heart finally came down from


    his throat.


    ¡°Thank you, doctor. I understand.¡± Leopold expressed his gratitude.


    His shirt was soaked with sweat, clinging to his back. Now that he finally rxed, he felt a chill when


    the wind blew.

 Chapter 396

    Chapter 396


    Thssa was ushered into the hospital room.


    Leopold followed closely behind.


    Thssa was lying on the bed, her head wrapped in gauze, a faint trace of crimson seeping through.


    It was unclear whether it was iodine used for disinfection or blood.


    Looking at Thssa¡¯s ghostly pale face, Leopold felt his heart twisted in guilt.


    ¡°When will she wake up?¡± Leopold asked the nurse.


    ¡°She should be awake soon, the nurse replied.


    Leopold approached the bed, bending slightly to get a better look at Thssa.


    Her beautiful and oval face was abnormally pale, and her lips too, were devoid of color. Her longshes


    cast a shadow over her closed eyes, entuating the bluish circles underneath.


    She looked frail and devastated.


    Leopold¡¯s heart clenched at the sight, filled with anguish.


    He reached out, intending to caress her face. As his fingers neared her cheek, a surge of bitterness,


    pain, and longing overwhelmed him.


    What he desired was not just to touch her face, but to hold her in his arms, tightly, never to let go.


    He loved her, a love so profound that he couldn¡¯t escape, a love that invaded his every dream.


    Leopold¡¯s hand, hovering mid-air, trembled slightly, just as he was about to touch her face.


    Thssa¡¯s eyes fluttered open, her bright orbs demanding attention the moment they were revealed.


    Leopold froze, his hand stuck in mid-air.


    ¡°Leopold,¡± Thssa¡¯s voice was weak.


    ¡°I¡¯m here.¡± Leopold quickly withdrew his hand, pretending as if he had done nothing. His face was a mix


    of excitement and nervousness, his warm eyes fixed on her. ¡°How are you feeling? Any difort?¡±


    Thssa shook her head slightly, but the small motion made her head feel heavy and dizzy. She


    grimaced in difort.


    Seeing this, Leopold quickly said, ¡°You have a concussion. Try not to move your head if you don¡¯t have


    to.¡±


    Thssa finally understood why her head was in such difort, and why she felt nauseous.


    She took a deep breath, her gaze returning to Leopold. She noticed therge scrape on his face, the


    dried blood, yellowish pus, and fresh scab, all covered in dirt and dust.


    It was a sight that made her heart lurch.


    Clearly, it had not been treated yet.


    ¡°You¡¯re hurt,¡± Thssa said worriedly, ¡°You should get a doctor to treat your injuries.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s just a scratch,¡± Leopold said.


    ¡°A scratch on the face can¡¯t be taken lightly. If it¡¯s not treated properly, it could get infected and leave a


    scar,¡± Thssa said.


    ¡°What if it does leave a scar?¡± Leopold asked somewhat dejectedly.


    ¡°Scars aren¡¯t pretty. Aren¡¯t you worried it¡¯ll affect your looks?¡± Thssa said, speaking from the heart.


    A glimmer of hope shed in Leopold¡¯s warm but injured eyes. He asked, ¡°Do you care about my


    looks?¡±


    His question was filled with deep emotion, yet straightforward.


    His eyes, warm like sunshine, were filled with anticipation and nervousness.


    Thssa hesitated, her gaze fixed on him.


    Having been in a rtionship, she knew him well.


    She knew that he still held onto the hope of them being together.


    She lowered her eyes slightly, avoiding his gaze, ¡°Your family would care. They would worry about


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    you.¡±


    ¡°What about you? Would you care and worry about me?¡± Leopold persisted in asking this question. To


    him, no one else¡¯s concern mattered. Only hers did, for it was the most precious thing in the world to


    him.


    Thssa was torn, unsure of how to respond.


    She did not want to give him false hope, knowing that they could never be. She did not want him to


    continue living in denial.

 Chapter 397

    Chapter 397


    However, his reckless move to take Isabe down with him filled her with dread, fearing that he might


    do something foolish again.


    Afraid that a straightforward rejection might provoke him further.


    ¡°She doesn¡¯t care about you!¡± A cold, icy, and intimidating voice suddenly echoed at the entrance of the


    hospital room.


    The air seemed to tremble with tension and a chilling aura swept through the room, making it difficult to


    breathe.


    Thssa tensed up instinctively, her gaze shifting towards the entrance.


    There stood a man dressed in a finely tailored ck suit, exuding a dignified business-like aura. His tall


    and straight figure radiated the stern demeanor of a military officer. His face was handsome and


    extraordinarily good-looking.


    Striding into the room was Lysander!


    Thssa¡¯s nerves tightened, her breathing bing cautious.


    Leopold noticed him too. His brow furrowed and his previously expectant face tightened instantly.


    As Lysander walked up, he brushed Leopold aside, standing by the bed. His deep eyes nced at


    Thssa on the bed, his handsome face icy and stern. ¡°Get up!¡±


    His tone wasmanding, intimidating, and brooked no argument.


    Thssa¡¯s shoulders shivered, not daring to defy his order. She tried to push herself up from the bed.


    The moment she moved, her head felt heavy. Her hand, propped up on the bed, weakened, nearly


    causing her to fall back onto the bed.


    A strong arm reached out to her, pulling her up. The grip was firm, far from gentle.


    Seeing this, Leopold was worried. He stepped forward, intending to support. Thssa. ¡°Lysander,


    Thssa had a concussion. She can¡¯t make any sudden


    moves.¡±


    Before he could reach her, Lysander¡¯s chill gaze shot towards him, icy as a cier.


    Leopold froze. His heart was filled with pain and anger, but he was helpless. He reluctantly retracted


    his hand.


    Lysander sat next to Thssa on the bed, one arm around her waist, the other resting naturally on his


    His handsome face was stern, radiating authority.


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    Merely sitting on the bed, his imposing presence was suffocating Thssa.


    ¡°Leopold, listen carefully. That night five years ago, you weren¡¯t the only one who got yed. You


    weren¡¯t the only one who got betrayed,¡± Lysander said to Leopold in a low voice.


    Leopold¡¯s eyes dimmed, not understanding what he meant, but he had a vague sense of something.


    Then, Lysander turned his gaze to Thssa. ¡°You tell him what happened that night, five years ago.¡±


    Thssa¡¯s heart clenched, her chest aching. She was nervous and uneasy.


    She tightened her grip on the nket, unable to find the words.


    ¡°Speak!¡± Lysander¡¯s voice was filled with anger, and his hand on her shoulder tightened.


    His threat was palpable and intense.


    Thssa was terrified. She clutched the nket tightly, daring not to meet Lysander¡¯s eyes or


    Leopold¡¯s. ¡°Five years ago, I was locked in a shed. Your uncle Lysander fell from the sky, crashing into


    the shed I was in.¡±


    Boom!


    It was like a thunderbolt struck Leopold. He staggered back, stunned.


    His body felt numb and weak, disbelief written all over his face.


    It was as if his world was crumbling.


    Not only was Leopold¡¯s body tainted by Isabe that night five years ago.


    Thssa had also lost her virginity.


    They loved each other in their hearts, but on the same day, they gave their bodies to someone else.


    That day was destined to keep them apart forever.


    Leopold¡¯s heart ached, his body trembling, his fists clenched. He asked Lysander with a pained voice,


    ¡°So, Lysander, did you just want to possess her body?¡±

 Chapter 398

    Chapter 398


    Five years ago, after that incident urred.


    Leopold had confided in Lysander, telling him about his romantic endeavors and how he had


    identally betrayed the woman he loved, and she never forgave him.


    Lysander had always encouraged him, pushing him to keep trying, assuring him that if that woman still


    loved him, she would one day be moved by his sincerity and forgive him.


    The problem was that Leopold had never told Lysander the name of the woman he loved.


    And Lysander never knew who this woman was He assumed it wasn¡¯t Thssa, it was someone else,


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    and that was why he was encouraging him, right?


    What if he had known from the start that the woman Leopold loved was Thssa?


    *


    The same Thssa who had given her body to Lysander five years ago.


    Would Lysander have still encouraged him?


    Certainly not!


    How could Lysander give up a woman he had been with?


    Leopold¡¯s question left Thssa feeling embarrassed, helpless, and painful.


    She never wanted Leopold to know about what happened five years ago.


    But things didn¡¯t go as nned, the truth was brutally revealed time and time again.


    She didn¡¯t want to face it, but she had to confront it.


    And right in front of Leopold, she had to admit her rtionship with Lysander.


    Humiliated and embarrassed, she could do nothing


    Thssa¡¯s heart tightened, and her hands gripping the bedsheet were sweaty


    Lysander¡¯s lips curled into a smirk, a coldugh escaping him, his cold gaze fell onto Leopold. ¡°She¡¯s


    my woman. It¡¯s been decided since that day five years ago. You and her are not meant to be, do you


    understand?¡±


    Leopold was defeated, crushed, and in unbearable pain


    It felt as if all his strength had been drained.


    He nodded weakly. I understand


    His eyes were bloodshot, his body was deste, and he stumbled out of the room.


    Thssa could hear the trembling sob in his final words.


    Her heart shattered, and she couldn¡¯t help but watch Leopold leave.


    Suddenly, her chin was seized, the force making her wince in pain.


    She winced, and the next second, her face was turned by the man, raised to face him. ¡°You feel sorry


    for him, hmm?¡±


    Thssa was startled, quickly saying, ¡°No.¡±


    ¡°Answer his question, do you care about him?¡± Lysander¡¯s icy gaze locked onto her eyes, his intense


    stare not missing the slightest change in her eyes.


    The overwhelming intimidation surrounded her, the bone-chilling cold made Thssa¡¯s heart race,


    filling her with fear.


    She knew that if she didn¡¯t give him a satisfying answer, she would be in trouble.


    A wise man knew when to retreat.


    Despite the pain in her jaw, Thssa said, ¡°I don¡¯t care. Whatever happens to him has nothing to do


    with me.¡±


    Leopold, eavesdropping from the doorway, heard her answer.


    His heart, riddled with wounds, fell like a wilting petal, aching, mncholic, suffocating.


    Hisst shred of hope suddenly fell.


    Only then did he leave, dejected.


    Lysander, with his sharp hearing, caught the sounds outside, a cold smirk yed on his face.


    ¡°Remember what you said!¡±


    He let go of her chin, standing up, his tall and imposing figure enveloped her like a mountain.


    ¡°Get up,e with me!¡±


    Thssa had no choice but to obey.


    She had a minor concussion, her injuries weren¡¯t severe, and she didn¡¯t need an IV. Staying in the


    hospital was just for observation.

 Chapter 399

    Chapter 399


    Inside the car, the tension was palpable.


    Thssa was seated in the back, with Lysander right next to her. She strained to maintain a sliver of


    space between them, keen to keep a certain


    distance.


    The car journey led them to Royal Estates.


    As Lysander alighted, he grabbed her wrist, leading her into the house with an urgency that was


    borderline forceful.


    Back in the master bedroom, he propelled her onto the bed. Looming over her, he ced his, hands on


    the bed, his broad chest acting as a barrier between her and the world beyond.


    His handsome face was taut, his aura icy cold.


    In a voice heavy with anger, he gruffly said, ¡°You can¡¯t even drive properly on a normal day, but today


    you dared to speed. For him, you¡¯d risk your life, huh?¡± From the hospital till now, the anger he¡¯d been


    bottling up exploded.


    The traffic officer had informed him of everything.


    She had risked her life and used her car to stop Leopold¡¯s, for his sake.


    Did she know that if Leopold¡¯s car hadn¡¯t stopped, her car would¡¯ve been sent flying, resulting in a likely


    explosion?


    She truly had no regard for her life!


    It was all because of Leopold!


    Thssa was terrified, the cold fury radiating off Lysander was like a tempest, his aura icier than ice


    itself.


    She remembered his warning from the morning, advising her not to fantasize about being with Leopold,


    and to stay away from him.


    Hearing his words now, she was filled with rage.


    Thssa¡¯s heart pounded in her chest, worried about his fury. She quickly said, ¡°It was two lives at


    stake, even if it was a stranger, I would¡¯ve done the same.mmm.¡±


    Before she could finish, her lips were forcefully sealed with a fierce kiss.


    Lysander took control, his rough kiss stealing her breath, his tongue prying open her mouth. His hand


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    traced her back, and his touch was a form of punishment.


    His hands, rough with calluses, moved against her soft skin through the fabric.


    It sparked a wave of heat, tickling and numbing, further terrifying Thssa.


    Struggling, she pushed him away. Gasping for breath, she quickly said, ¡°I have a concussion. The


    doctor said no strenuous activities.¡± Lysander¡¯s eyes were deep and dark, his voice low and angry, ¡°So


    what?¡±


    Without another word, he left the room, the door mming shut behind him.


    The sound echoed in Thssa¡¯s heart, making her shudder.


    3 FI


    Her breathing was ragged, her heart pounding.


    She had just left Royal Estates, the ce that had stripped her of her freedom for a day, only to return.


    She was anxious, unsure of what awaited her next.


    That night, Lysander didn¡¯t return to the master bedroom.


    Thssa¡¯s tense body slowly rxed, her head ached, and exhaustion took over, lulling her into sleep.


    At the Sinir¡¯s house.


    Leopold returned home, looking worse for wear.


    Zephyr and Sybil were initially delighted to see him, but their joy turned into shock when they saw his


    battered and bruised body.


    ¡°Leopold, what happened? You¡¯re hurt so badly. Why didn¡¯t you go to the hospital to get bandaged up?¡±


    Grandma Sybil was heartbroken at the sight of Leopold in such a state.


    ¡°Grandma, I¡¯m okay,¡± Leopold assured her, his voice weak.


    ¡°You¡¯re limping, and there¡¯s a big scrape on your face, how can you be okay? I¡¯ll call the family doctor


    to treat your wounds. Sit down for now.¡± Grandma Sybil quickly ushered him onto the couch and rushed


    to contact their family doctor.


    Zephyr walked over and sat down next to him. His concern was evident as he asked, ¡°What


    happened?¡±


    ¡°Grandpa, Lysander bought mypany just to take away my secretary, to make her his woman. Did


    you know about this?¡± Leopold¡¯s eyes were dull as he looked at Zephyr, questioning him.


    ¡°What?¡± Zephyr was taken aback.

 Chapter 400

    Chapter 400


    Zephyr knew that Thssa had returned to her secretarial position at the Sinir Group.


    But what he didn¡¯t know was that after leaving the Sinir Group, she had actually gone to work for


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    Leopold!


    Lysander had bought Leopold¡¯spany, only to take Thssa away!


    Lysander had always been a man who kept his personal and professional life separate, never allowing


    emotions to interfere with his decisions.


    Yet, because of Thssa¡¯s arrival, he had done things that were beyond Zephyr¡¯s imagination.


    Zephyr took a deep breath, his expression serious. ¡°Leopold, did you get hurt because of this?¡±


    ¡°Grandpa, I won¡¯t hide it from you. The secretary Lysander transferred, Thssa, was my ex-girlfriend.


    I still love her very much, but now, she¡¯s Lysander¡¯s girlfriend.¡± Leopold looked downcast.


    Zephyr¡¯s usually cold face turned even more stern.


    In his deep-set eyes, a hawk-like intensity shone, stern and serious.


    The situation was more severe than he had imagined.


    Thssa was dangerous!


    Her intentions were definitely not pure!


    She had enticed Leopold, and then got close to Lysander!


    Her motive to entice Leopold was to get close to Lysander, wasn¡¯t it?


    Thssa could not be allowed to stay, not for a moment.


    ¡°Leopold, I will look into this matter. Let me handle it. You rest and recover, don¡¯t overthink.¡± Zephyr


    gently patted Leopold¡¯s shoulder,forting him.


    Just then, the family doctor arrived, and Grandma Sybil quickly asked him to treat Leopold¡¯s injuries.


    The next day.


    Thssa woke up in a daze, recognizing the familiar yet strange surroundings. She was still in Royal


    Estates.


    Her previous experience here had not been pleasant, so the sight of this familiar room made her feel a


    bit tense.


    She took a deep breath, trying to calm her anxiety.


    She got out of bed and went downstairs.


    She scanned the living room, but Lysander was nowhere to be seen.


    ¡°Ms. Everhart, please have a seat. I¡¯ll bring out the prepared meal from the kitchen,¡± Fitch approached,


    respectfully speaking to Thssa.


    The food had been ready for a while.


    Since Thssa hadn¡¯te down yet, it was kept warm in the kitchen.


    Now that she was here, Fitch quickly went to prepare the food. Thssa was indeed hungry, so she sat


    down at the dining table. In Elowen¡¯s words, there was no need to be at odds with good food.


    Thssa wouldn¡¯t starve herself in protest against Lysander again.


    Only with a full stomach could she have the strength to resist.


    Physical health came first.


    Fitch served fresh, delicious food. There was oatmeal, sour cream with bread, and roasted chicken.


    Thssa started with a bowl of oatmeal, and then began to eat the chicken chunks.


    The smell was unique, the texture was crispy, and the taste was soft and glutinous. It was really


    delicious.


    After her meal, Thssa wiped her mouth and said, ¡°I¡¯m going to work now.¡±


    She walked boldly towards the door to test if her freedom was restricted this time.


    She walked out of the vi gate without any hindrance.


    Oh, was she free toe and go?


    Thssa was slightly pleased.


    She was about to leave quickly.


    Behind her, Fitch¡¯s voice rang out. ¡°Ms. Everhart, wait a moment.¡±


    Thssa¡¯s nerves tensed, she stopped and looked back.


    Had she been too optimistic too soon?

 Chapter 401

    Chapter 401


    With a quick stride, Fitch approached her, his voice raised just enough to ensure she heard him clearly,


    ¡°Ms. Everhart, our chauffeur will be here soon. Let himHe will drive you to the office.¡±


    A wave of relief washed over Thssa Everhart as she checked her phone. It was almost ten.


    She wasn¡¯t familiar with the area. Taking the bus could take forever, especially if she got lost. A car ride


    would save time and spare her from another lecture from Lysander Sinir about tardiness.


    Shortly after, the chauffeur drove up and Thssa got into the car. They set off towards the Sinir


    Group.


    1


    In the CEO¡¯s office, Zephyr arrived, his presence formidable and serious as he took a seat on the plush


    couch in the lounge area.


    Lysander sat across from him, pouring him a cup of English breakfast tea.


    ¡°Your secretary sure knows how to make an entrance. You¡¯re already at work and she¡¯s nowhere to be


    seen. Even something as trivial as pouring tea, you have to do it yourself,¡± Zephyr¡¯s hawk-like gaze


    was filled with disapproval and annoyance as he nced at Lysander.


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    His words were a clear dig at Thssa.


    Lysander, of course, caught on. He responded, ¡°The Sinir Group provides decent employee


    benefits, including sick leave within reasonable limits.¡±


    ¡°She seems to enjoy her sick leave every other day,¡± Zephyr retorted sourly.


    He took a sip of his tea, then and ced the cup on the coffee table, continuing,. ¡°You bought


    Leopold¡¯spany just to transfer Thssa back as your secretary. Lysander, you never used to mix


    business with personal matters before.¡±


    ¡°Three months isn¡¯t up yet, Lysander put down the teapot, his deep gaze lifting to meet Zephyr¡¯s.


    ¡°Grandpa, surely you haven¡¯t forgotten our verbal agreement?¡± Lysander added.


    Zephyr paused, his breath hitching.


    They had agreed to give Thssa three months to prove her character. If she turned out to be another


    a woman lik¨¦ Belinda Sinir, Lysander would cut ties with her without hesitation.


    But if she wasn¡¯t¡­


    Zephyr wouldn¡¯t interfere with Lysander and Thssa¡¯s rtionship.


    During this time, Zephyr had been honoring their agreement. But after hearing from Leopold Sinir


    about Thssa¡¯s maniptive tactics, he couldn¡¯t sit still.


    This Thssa was clearly cunning and unfaithful, with her own agenda. Did they really need three


    more months to see that? -Zephyr was growing impatient, wanting to kick Thssa out before she


    caused any more trouble within the Sinir family.


    But Lysander¡¯s reminder made him realize that he might be too hasty.


    ¡°No matter what, I hope you¡¯ll act rationally. I¡¯ll leave you to your work now,¡± Zephyr said, leaving the


    office.


    Not long after Zephyr left, David walked in to report, ¡°Mr. Sinir, the old manyour grandfather went to


    the HR department.¡± Lysander¡¯s icy gaze darkened, and he rose from his seat.


    In the HR office, Zephyr was harshly talking to the HR manager, ¡°I personally covered the $30,000


    when Thssa quit! Was it all so you could bring her back? How on earth do you guys do your job?


    Can¡¯t you see the obvious?¡±


    The HR manager was on edge, stammering out, ¡°Mr. Sinir Zephyr, Thssa was personally brought


    back by Mr. Sinir your grandson¡­¡±


    They had no power to interfere.


    ¡°And you didn¡¯t think to report this to me beforehand?¡± Zephyr¡¯s face was stern, his anger palpable. His


    formidable aura was so strong it seemed to ripple through the air.


    Zephyr and the HR manager turned to see Lysander entering the room, his presencemanding.


    The HR manager quickly lowered his gaze, his shoulders trembling.


    Zephyr¡¯s expression shifted slightly, his aura calming down, ¡°What brings you here?¡±


    ?      }


    Lysander stood in front of him, his aura as cold as ice, ¡°You generously covered $30,000 out of your


    own pocket, Grandpa, how generous.¡±


    Lysander¡¯s words were clearly sarcastic.


    His deep, and intimidating gaze was locked onto Zephyr.


    Zephyr felt a tinge of guilt under his grandson¡¯s scrutiny, ¡°Your grandmother is waiting for me at home.


    I¡¯m leaving.¡±


    As Zephyr exited the elevator on the ground floor, he ran into Thssa who was waiting for the lift. She


    was dressed in a white blouse and a long, ck pencil skirt, o. One end of her shirt was tucked into her


    skirt, giving her a chic yet modest look.


    Upon seeing her, Zephyr¡¯s eyes held a hint of prejudice and hostility. He cast her a cold nce before


    brushing past her.

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    Chapter 402


    Thssa¡¯s face held a soft smile that stiffened slightly at the sight of Zephyr. She prepared to greet


    him, but he didn¡¯t give her the chance. His eyes were filled with disgust and prejudice, a. A sharp, and


    piercing gaze that passed over her and moved on.


    His look was like a handful of salt thrown on the wounded heart of Thssa, making the pain even


    more intense and unbearable.


    It wasn¡¯t until he was out of sight that Thssa took a deep breath,. She pressed the elevator button


    and stepped inside.


    Arriving at the top floor, she was met by David, waiting by the elevator door.


    ¡°Ms. Everhart, I thought you were out sick today?¡± he asked, surprised.


    ¡°I didn¡¯t take a day off.¡± She stepped out of the elevator and then realized who might have called in sick


    for her. She quickly retraced her steps and asked David, ¡°What did Mr. Sinir say?¡±


    David gave a lightugh, ¡°He didn¡¯t say anything. But, I think you should check in with him first.¡±


    ¡°Why?¡± Thssa asked.


    ¡°You¡¯ll figure it out,¡± he said, stepping into the elevator and closing the door behind him.


    Thssa hesitated, but eventually decided to follow David¡¯s advice. After all, Davidhe had been


    working with Lysander for years and probably knew him better.


    She knocked on the door of the office. When she heard a low voiceman permitting her to enter in a low


    voice, she pushed the door open and said, ¡°Mr: Sinir, should I prepare the conference room?¡±


    Thssa reported in a professional tone.


    Recognizing her voice, Lysander paused, his pen in his hand. He looked up, his eyes deep and


    focused on her.


    Her oval face was still clean and innocent, but it carried a unique charm. Her long, and split wrap skirt


    entuated her slender lower body, showing off her curvy hips and straight, fair legs. It was subtly


    seductive and appealing.


    He remembered how she had been fired from the Sinir gGroup by Zephyr, not because she wanted


    Content ? provided by N?velDrama.Org.


    to leave, but because Zephyr gave her a severance package of ten thousand dors.


    And to thepany, Zephyr had said that Thssa had quit on her own, even willing to pay a penalty


    of twenty thousand dors.


    He had misunderstood her, thinking that she had left to join Leopold, even if it meant paying a penalty.


    Now seeing her againher reappearance, stirred a warm ripple stirred in his heart.


    He gestured for her toe over. ¡°Come here.¡±.


    Remembering how he had pulled her onto hisp thest time he called her over, Thssa tensed up.


    Her heart was pounding, but she didn¡¯t dare to disobey Lysander¡¯s order. She walked over to the edge


    of the desk and asked cautiously, ¡°Mr. Sinir, how may I assist you?¡±


    ¡°Why are you at work with an injury!?¡± Lysander¡¯s words carried a hint of reprimand.


    If she didn¡¯t know how much he hated her, and all the things he did to make her life difficult, Thssa


    might have thought he was concerned about her.


    ¡°It¡¯s just a small injury. It¡¯s fine,¡± Thssa said, maintaining a distance from him, not daring to get too


    close.


    ¡°Is that so?¡± Lysander stood up. His tall figure instantly enveloped Thssa, his presence imposing.

 Chapter 403

    Chapter 403


    He circled his desk, stepping in front of her. His finger traced her chin upward, the handsome


    harshness and wicked charm of his face creating a tantalizing blend of masculine allure.


    ¡°Who said you can¡¯t engage in rigorous activities?¡± His deep, seductive voice was reminiscent of a cello


    ying a sensual tune, dangerous and enticing.


    The words made Thssa¡¯s heart flutter with surprise and thrill. Her eyes widened a fraction as she


    quickly retorted, ¡°I¡¯m at work, I can¡¯t exactly start doing jumping jacks in the office¡­¡±


    Her heart pounded as Lysander¡¯s dangerously strong aura enveloped her, the threat of total surrender


    looming.


    1


    Lysander observed her nervousness, h. Her long eyshes were trembling slightly like butterfly wings,


    utterly captivating.


    His hand touched her skin, smooth, delicate, soft. The scent of her was as sweet as honey.


    Swallowing hard, Lysander lifted her face, and was about to lean in for a kiss.


    ¡°Lysander, long time no see! Missed me?¡± A cheerful voice echoed from the doorway.


    Startled, Thssa quickly retreated a few steps, distancing herself from the danger zone, and


    maintaining a gap of a few feet between herself and Lysander.


    Charlotte Ravensong entered, her eyes briefly ring with anger as she spotted the intimate scene.


    Quickly repressing her annoyance, she maintained her cheery smile and approached Lysander.


    ¡°Lysander, Grandpa Zephyr mentioned a family dinner tonight. We should go together.¡±


    She reached out, intending to link arms with him.


    Lysander swiftly returned to his chair, leaving Charlotte hanging. Her smile faltered for a moment, but


    she maintained herposure, radiating elegance and warmth.


    Thssa nodded in acknowledgement and quietly exited the office.


    With a cool nce, Lysander addressed Charlotte, ¡°I have no intentions of marrying you.¡±


    Charlotte¡¯s smile froze. Tears welled up in her eyes as she tearfully protested, ¡°But Grandpa Zephyr


    said we¡¯re betrothed¡­¡±


    ¡°When you were dating other men, you didn¡¯t seem to remember our supposed betrothal. But now that


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    you¡¯re done ying the field, you suddenly recall it.¡± Lysander lit up a cigarette, the smoke curling


    around him.


    Unable to hold back her tears, Charlotte approached him,. She lookinged as pitiful as a wounded bird,


    ¡°I didn¡¯t know about it at first. GMy grandpa told me afterwards. I broke up with my boyfriend as soon


    as I found out.¡±


    ¡°Your grandfather and mine were merely jesting. You don¡¯t need to take it to heart. Go ahead and date


    whoever you like. I¡¯ll still give you a wedding gift when the timees.¡± After a puff of smoke, Lysander


    made his stance clear.


    He was well aware of Zephyr¡¯s intentions to pair Charlotte with him, but he had no interest in Charlotte


    and certainly didn¡¯t need a marriage alliance to strengthen the Sinir gGroup..


    His previous refusals had been vague, leaving room for hope. However, this time his words were blunt,


    leaving no room for misinterpretation. Hearing his words, Charlotte felt as though she¡¯d been stabbed


    in the heart. She struggled to keep herposure, h. Her voice choked with emotion, ¡°Lysander, I


    know you¡¯re not ready to settle down. But don¡¯t worry, I¡¯ll wait until you are.¡±


    With that, Then Charlotte turned and left the office, wiping away her tears as she stormed towards


    Thssa¡¯s office.


    Her frustration needed an outlet, and she found it in Thssa. Bursting into her office, she swept the


    files off Thssa¡¯s desk onto the floor, angrily using, ¡°You shameless hussy! ying both sides!


    You¡¯re so cheap, why not just sell yourself?¡±


    The words were harsh and insulting.


    Thssa knocked Charlotte¡¯s using finger away, her clear eyes ring up as she retorted, ¡°You¡¯re


    describing yourself! If you can¡¯t have it, you throw a tantrum. Is this the upbringing of the Ravensong


    heiress?¡±


    ¡°Why do you get to monopolize Leopold¡¯s heart and keep getting close to Lysander, never leaving him


    alone?¡± Charlotte was panting with anger.


    Thssa stood up, her anger rushing forward like a tidal wave, ¡°Exactly! Why should I? If you¡¯re so


    charming and capable, why don¡¯t you go snatch Lysander away? Instead of Why are you still wasting


    everyone¡¯s time with your pettyints!¡±

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    Chapter 404


    ¡°Lysander was always mine! Why would I need to steal him?¡± Charlotte fired back at Thssa, hands


    on her hips and her brows furrowed in annoyance.


    ¡°Oh really? Then why are you here bothering me?¡± Thssa retorted, with a mocking smirk ying at


    on her lips.


    ¡°You¡¯re just too provocative! It¡¯s not right to lure men in like that!¡± Charlotte tried to defend herself,


    searching for a usible excuse.


    ¡°Weren¡¯t you the one who said you didn¡¯t care how many women Lysander had on the side? As long as


    you got to be his wife in the end, that¡¯s all that mattered, right? What changed? Is it suddenly bothering


    you now?¡± Thssa poked fun at her, recalling Charlotte¡¯s previous bravado


    Charlotte had once proudly dered herself as Lysander¡¯s one and only fianc¨¦e, stating that those


    other women were merely fleeting distractions. She didn¡¯t care about them.


    But now, her pale face of frustration betrayed her true feelings. Which woman wouldn¡¯t care if their man


    hadwere snapped away by other women?


    ¡°It¡¯s none of your business whether I care or not, Charlotte retorted, her lips pursed in annoyance.


    Recalling Lysander¡¯s recent words, she felt a mix of anger and hurt.


    ¡°Seeing you this miserable, let me give you a few tips. Lysander prefers natural-looking women, no


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    cosmetics, simple clothing. He¡¯s not impressed by designer clothes and shy jewelry. He doesn¡¯t need


    money, and he¡¯s not attracted to wornen who reek of wealth. Do you think a man like Lysander would


    be interested in a woman who¡¯s all dolled up?¡± Thssa casually remarked, hoping to send Charlotte


    away.


    Of course, if Charlotte could win Lysander¡¯s heart and free her, that would be the best-case scenario.


    Thssa longed for a life away from Lysander, where she could raise her child in peace, without the


    constant fear of him discovering her secret.


    ¡°Hmph, who would believe what you say!?¡± Charlotte huffed, her heels clicking against the floor as she


    stormed out of the office.


    Later that evening, Lysander showed up at the Sinir¡¯s residence.


    He¡¯d barely stepped out of the car when a familiar voicesomeone called out to him in a familiar voice,


    ¡°Lysander!¡±


    Before he could turn around, a woman in high heels hurried over to him, a radiant smile on her face.


    ¡°Lysander, what a coincidence! We both arrive at the Sinir¡¯s house at the same time.¡±


    The woman had shoulder-length bob hair and was dressed in a white blouse tucked into a ck pencil


    skirt, revealing her slender legs. If she wasn¡¯t careful, she¡¯d risk showing more than intended.


    If it wasn¡¯t for her voice, Lysander would have hardly recognized Charlotte. She was clearly trying to


    mimic Thssa¡¯s style. However, while she could replicate the look, she couldn¡¯t capture the essence.


    Thssa was like a pure lotus, untouched by the mud around her. Even without makeup, she was


    beautiful and pure, like a high school student. On the other hand, Charlotte was like a wilted rose.


    When dolled up, she was a captivating, and wealthy heiress. But without makeup, she was


    unappealing.


    Ignoring Charlotte, Lysander walked inside the house. Zephyr greeted him, ¡°Lysander, you¡¯re back!


    Come in, today¡¯s dinner was prepared by your grandmother.


    Spotting a woman behind Lysander, she initially mistook her for Thssa due to her outfit. But on


    realizing it was Charlotte, Zephyr¡¯s face darkened turned displeased, ¡°What are you doing here?¡±

 Chapter 405

    Chapter 405


    Zephyr was evidently in a foul mood.


    Charlotte held up the gift in her hand and said with a friendly smile, ¡°Grandpa Zephyr, it¡¯s me, Charlotte.


    I brought you a gift, some finest Earl Grey tea.¡¯


    UponWhen Zephyr hearingd it was Charlotte, Zephyr¡¯his stern expression softened into a weing


    smile. ¡°Ah, Charlotte, you¡¯re trying a new look today, I almost didn¡¯t recognize you¡­¡±


    He had almost thought it was Thssa.


    But he stopped before he could voice this thought, offering a considerate nce towards Lysander


    before epting the gift from Charlotte. ¡°Your style has changed so much,. I almost didn¡¯t recognize


    you. Come, sit.¡±


    Charlotte, still smiling, took a seat beside Lysander.


    As soon as she sat down, Lysander stood and went to sit next to Grandma Sybil.


    Charlotte¡¯s smile faltered, her hand resting on the table clenched slightly.


    On Grandma Sybil¡¯s left was Leopold, and on her right was Lysander.


    Zephyr was forced to take the seat next to Charlotte, h. His usual spot was taken by the younger


    generation.


    Before they began their meal, Zephyr dered the highlight of the family feast. ¡°In the Sinir family, it


    has always been the tradition to honor our parents¡¯ wishes and marry within the family. Your


    grandmother and I did just that, and we¡¯ve had a wonderful life together. You two will be no different.¡±


    ¡°But Grandpa¡­¡± Leopold tried to protest.


    Zephyr cut him off. ¡°Charlotte is here today, and her grandfather and I made a promise years ago to


    arrange a marriage between her and Lysander. It¡¯s about time we fulfilled that promise.¡±


    This statement, while directed at Leopold, was clearly meant for Lysander.


    Leopold was overjoyed by this news and shot a quick nce at Lysander.


    Lysander¡¯s hand tightened around his fork.


    Zephyr continued, ¡°Lysander, why don¡¯t you serve Charlotte some food? It¡¯s important for a man to take


    care of a woman.¡±


    Lysander immediately put his fork down. ¡°I¡¯m full. You allJust continue without me.¡±


    With that, he stood up and hurriedly left the room.


    ¡°That boy¡­¡± Grandma Sybil sighed softly.


    Zephyr¡¯s expression darkened, but there was nothing he could say. Lysander had always been


    independent and n. Now that he wasing into his own, there was little the family could do to control


    him.


    Thssa was at home, half asleep, when her phone rang.


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    She picked up the phone and mumbled a sleepy, ¡°Hello?¡±


    ¡°Open the door!¡± came amanding male voice from the other side of the line.


    It was a voice that brooked no argument.


    ¡°Okay,¡± Thssa replied almost automatically, before her sleep-fogged mind identified the voice.


    She bolted upright, adrenaline flooding her system.


    Oh my God, it was Lysander!


    He was asking her to open the door.


    He was outside her house?!


    This couldn¡¯t be happening!


    What was she supposed to do?

 Chapter 406

    Chapter 406


    ¡°The choice is yours. Either you open the door, or I¡¯ll break it down.¡±


    Just as Thssa was hesitating, the chilling voice of Lysander came through the phone. As if he could


    guess what she was thinking, his voice sent shivers down her spine.


    In a panic, Thssa quickly jumped out of bed. ¡°Hold on, I¡¯ll open it.¡±


    Rushing to the door with trembling hands, she found herself left with no other option but to let him in.


    The tall, stern man stood at her doorstep, his handsome face shaded with a frosty expression.


    Trying to take control of the situation, Thssa greeted him. ¡°Mr. Sinir, let¡¯s talk outside.¡±


    But before she could take a step/he quickly gripped her delicate wrist. His grip was strong and warm,


    leaving no room for resistance. He led her back into the


    apartment.


    Thssa¡¯s heart pounded in her chest. What could Lysander possibly want at this hour?


    ThssaSeeing saw him heading towards her bedroom, and her heartbeat quickened even more. She


    tried to divert his attention, ¡°Mr. Sinir, shall I make you a cup of coffee?¡±


    She desperately wanted him to stay out of her room.


    Lysander shot her a cold nce, ¡°I¡¯m not thirsty.¡±


    Ignoring her plea, he forcefully led her towards the bedroom, turned the knob, and opened the door.


    Thssa gasped, her heart felt like it wouldwas about to leap out of her chest any second.


    The room was dark. Lysander quickly found the light switch and illuminated the small space.


    The room was small, with a single bed in the middle, two bedside tables, and a single duvet thrown


    aside as if someone had hurriedly gotten out of bed.


    The bed was empty, but the disarray indicated that it had been recently upied.


    Dressed in her nightgown, the warmth radiating from Thssa¡¯s body and a light feminine scent made


    her even more tantalizing.


    Lysander¡¯s throat tightened as he ushered her into the room. He made her sit on the bed, his strong


    hands pressing against her shoulders, making her lie down. His strong body loomed over hers.


    His lips moved closer to hers.


    Overwhelmed by his masculine scent, Thssa¡¯s felt her heart raceding. She turned her face to avoid


    his kiss.


    As his lips grazed her face, a jolt ran through her. She was tense, her heart pounding. ¡°Mr. Sinir, I¡¯m


    still injured. I can¡¯t¡­¡±


    She was still bandaged from a recent injury, and her concussion hadn¡¯t fully healed


    Her fear of Lysander entering her room was due to the possibility of him finding traces of the children


    who had lived there.


    Just like the previous time when she thought she had hidden all evidence of the children¡¯s presence


    only to nearly have a baby bottle nipple she missed in the sofa crevice discovered by Lysander.


    That day, Thssa was scared out of her wits but luckily averted the crisis.


    1


    This time, although the children weren¡¯t home and she had tidied up, she was still worried that she


    might have missed something that could give away the presence of the children to the shrewd


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    Lysander.

 Chapter 407

    Chapter 407


    The current situation was, that she wouldn¡¯t survive an investigation.


    If Lysander started digging, she¡¯d be done for.


    That day, she had juste back from work to find that the kids and Evelyn Pendleton were not at


    home.


    She had to make a phone call to find out that Hertha Kensington had helped Evelyn and the kids rent a


    new house, and t. They had already moved their stuff overst time.


    After Thssa had told Hertha about Lysander, she thought that sooner orter, Lysander would find


    his way home and discover the existence of the kids.


    So, in the four days that Thssa was missing, Hertha found a new house, and Evelyn and the kids


    moved over. The current house¡¯s rent was due at the end of the month, and they could take their time


    moving the rest of their stuff.


    That day, Thssa missed the kids dearly, but she was only informed after she came back that Evelyn


    and the kids had already moved to their new rental.


    She was tired, h. Her head was heavy, and she was worried that the kids would be anxious if they saw


    her injured, so she decided to spend the night here.


    Unexpectedly, Lysander really came!


    Thssa was nervous and terrified.


    She rejected Lysander¡¯s touch, feeling his powerful breathced with a faint scent of sandalwood, a


    strong masculine aura, spraying on her cheek.


    Thssa held her breath, her skin slightly hot.


    Lysander originally wanted to kiss her lips, but missed. He clenched his teeth slightly, and pinched her


    cheek,. He turned her face towards him, and said coldly, ¡°Do you think you can always get away by


    ying the injury card, huh?¡±


    He was domineering, and dangerous, and h. His cold eyes glinted with icy light.


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    He was clearly in a bad mood, even angry.


    Thssa didn¡¯t know what she had done to provoke him. She,nervously said, ¡°The doctor said that if I


    don¡¯t rest properly after a concussion, I could be¡­uh¡­¡±


    Before she could finish, her lips were sealed by his.


    His intense masculine aura enveloped her, permeating every pore of her, dering that she was his! -


    Thssa¡¯s breath was scattered and hurried, and she was kissedn¡¯t released until her head was


    spinning.


    At first, she wanted to resist, but as he sucked the oxygen out of her, she became dizzy and weak.


    At the crucial moment, Lysander suddenly stopped and, let go of her lips,. Hey down next to her,


    scooped up her soft body, and held her in his strong arms.


    He breathed against her neck, holding her back. His breath was deep, suppressed, and hot, holding


    her back.


    Thssa was released, her body soft, gasping for fresh air. As her consciousness gradually returned,


    she realized Lysander was holding her. Sensing danger, she moved forward a bit to keep her distance.


    Lysander¡¯s voice, low and husky, voice resonated, ¡°Don¡¯t move! Or I can¡¯t promise I won¡¯t touch you!¡±


    Thssa¡¯s body stiffened, and she didn¡¯t dare to move.


    1


    So, she was held by him, her back against his chest, his steady and powerful heartbeat thumping


    against her back.


    It drove her heartbeat, beat by beat, keeping the two hearts, which were not on the same level, in sync.


    Thssa was panicked, her back against his hot chest, her body held by his lean and strong arms.


    The sound of his deep, hot breath was atin her ear.


    Her body, because of his domineering posture, showed a state of submission, her skin involuntarily


    hot.


    Her heart was nervous, and there was a tingling sensation that she couldn¡¯t control.


    In the middle of the night, a close embrace, two interwoven breaths, one deep and one shallow.


    Thssa was tense and rigid at first, but by the second half of the night, she was so sleepy, her eyelids


    drooping, s. She couldn¡¯t hold on any longer, and she fell asleep.

 Chapter 408

    Chapter 408


    When Thssa woke up the next day, she was still in the arms of Lysander.


    Her head nestled on one of his arms, while his other arm draped over her, encircling her waist, h. His


    His palm was warm and slightly damp.


    He held her tightly, cocooning her like a burrito.


    His masculine scent that which held a hint of sandalwood lingered around her.


    The foreboding sense of danger that she felt the previous day returned in full force.


    Thssa tried to move, intending to get out of bed, but felt a slight pain in her waist. His arm was too


    heavy, squashing her.


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    A frown creased Thssa¡¯s beautiful brows. She took hold of Lysander¡¯s arm, nning to carefully


    move it off her.


    She was cautious, but halfway through, the man behind her stirred abruptly, propping himself up.


    Thssa spun around, meeting Lysander¡¯s deep, and sleep-filled eyes.


    She paused, exining, ¡°It¡¯s morning, time for work.¡±


    Lysander withdrew his hand from her, sat up, and rubbed his temples. His overwhelming presence


    made Thssa freeze in ce.


    With the smallest movements, she got out of bed.


    She left the room, relieved that Lysander didn¡¯t make things difficult for her.


    While she was brushing her teeth in the bathroom, Lysander¡¯s imposing figure appeared at the door,


    and the atmosphere instantly tensed.


    Thssa turned around instinctively, seeing Lysander standing at the doorway.


    With toothpaste foam in her mouth, she mumbled, ¡°Good morning¡­¡±


    After she finished speaking, she quickly rinsed her mouth,. She spit out the foam, cleaned her


    toothbrush, and ced it back on the sink.


    Lysander walked in, his deep voice asked, ¡°Do you have a new toothbrush?¡±


    Thssa was taken aback and hurriedly replied, ¡°No, I can go buy one for you.¡±


    As she tried to leave, Lysander¡¯s words stopped her in her tracks, ¡°No need.¡±


    Thssa turned around, only to see him pick up her just-used toothbrush, squeeze out some


    toothpaste, and start brushing his teeth¡­.


    Thssa was stunned, incredulous.


    He was using her toothbrush!


    Wasn¡¯t this basically the same as an indirect kiss?


    Thssa¡¯s heart skipped a beat, s. She quickly ced her hand over her heart, trying her best to stay


    calm.


    She went to the kitchen to prepare breakfast..


    As she moved around the house, she took a quick look around. All of her baby¡¯s things were packed


    neatly, not leaving any trace that any children lived here.


    This way, she didn¡¯t have to worry about Lysander discovering any clues.


    She quickly whipped up some canned beans on toast and served it.


    Just as Lysander finished getting ready, she said, ¡°Mr. Sinir, breakfast is ready.¡±


    Lysander nced at the two tes of beans on toast on the table, his deep eyes unreadable.


    Seeing that he didn¡¯t move to join her, Thssa remembered what he had said back in Hollowbrook,


    that their kind of food didn¡¯t suit his pte.


    She suddenly felt flustered and said, ¡°This is all we have at home. If Mr. Siniryou don¡¯t doesn¡¯t like it,


    then I can eat it myself¡­¡±


    Before she could finish her sentence, Lysander had already sat down, taken a spoon, and tasted the


    beans.


    His actions left Thssa feeling somewhat taken aback.


    She too sat down and silently ate her breakfast.


    After eating, she cleaned up the dishes.


    When she came out of the kitchen, she saw that Lysander was still sitting at the table. He got up and


    left only when he saw hering out.

 Chapter 409

    Chapter 409


    1


    Thssa was caught off guard, frozen in ce.


    At the door, Lysander turned back with a frown. ¡°Hurry up!¡±


    Startled, Thssa quickly caught on that he wanted her toe with him.


    She quickly caught up to his pace.


    Lysander had driven to the cest night. He got into the car and left the door open.


    Realizing what he meant, Thssa didn¡¯t hesitate and quickly got in the car.


    The car started and drove off.


    ¡°Um, Mr. Sinir, I called the DMV, the BMW you gave me was totaled in that ident the other day¡­


    I don¡¯t think it can be fixed¡­¡± Thssa nervously exined to Lysander.


    Lysander nced at her through the rearview mirror, his eyes dark and unreadable. He didn¡¯t say a


    word.


    Feeling the icy aura radiating from him, Thssa knew better than to continue. She fell silent.


    The car headed straight for the Sinir Group¡¯s headquarters and was parked in the front lot.


    Lysander was the first to get out of the car, and Thssa followed behind him.


    Just then, Daryl arrived at work on his e-bike and saw Thssa getting off Lysander¡¯s car. He quickly


    took out his phone to snap a picture and sent it to Charlotte. Ever since Charlotte had invited the entire


    janitorial department, including Thssa, to a dinner party just to put Thssa in her ce, she had


    collected everyone¡¯s contact information, asking them to report any new developments to her.


    She promised rewards for useful information.


    Daryl had been waiting for the perfect opportunity to earn some extra cash, and now he had finally got


    N?vel/Dr(a)ma.Org - Content owner.


    it.


    Charlotte received the picture of Thssa stepping out of Lysander¡¯s Rolls-Royce. This was


    undeniable proof that they had spent the night together!


    Seeing this, Charlotte was livid. She remembered how she had tried to mimic Thssa¡¯s simple style


    and appeared without makeup, only to be met with disdain and annoyance from Lysander.


    Charlotte was seething with anger. This country bumpkin Thssa had made a fool out of her and stole


    Lysander away!


    She thought, ¡°Damn Thssa! I¡¯ll make her regret messing with me!¡±


    In a fit of rage, Charlotte sent the picture to Zephyr with a text!


    [Looks like Lysander and this woman are living together now, huh?]


    Meanwhile, Thssa was in the office arranging Lysander¡¯s schedule for the next few days.


    David came in and informed her, ¡°The Gourmet Competition finals are this morning. Mr. Sinir is the


    head judge. We¡¯re heading to the venue now, and you¡¯reing with us.¡±


    Wait, what?


    Lysander was going to the Gourmet Competition?


    Wasn¡¯t her daughter Elowen participating in the finals today?


    If Lysander was the head judge, wouldn¡¯t Elowen have to face him directly?


    1


    The thought made Thssa incredibly nervous. She awkwardly tugged at the corner of her mouth and


    said, ¡°David, you¡¯re more than capable of apanying Mr. Sinir. I have a ton of work left to do¡­

 Chapter 410

    Chapter 410


    ¡°Your job is to apany Mr. Sinir to the gourmetpetition.¡± David stated, ¡°The rest can waithis


    goes ahead of anything else.¡±


    Thssa was at a loss for words.


    She had intended to find an excuse to evade it, but David had already left.


    She felt as though she was not heading to a gourmetpetition, but a death row.


    If she went and was seen by Elowen, Elowen would definitely call her mom joyfully. Lysander was also,


    there, and if he hearingd a little girl call her ¡®mom¡¯, he would certainly dig deeper.


    The secret she was so careful to hide would be exposed.


    She dared not imagine the consequences after the exposure¡­.


    But if she insisted on not going, it would be negligence, which would cause dissatisfaction and


    suspicion from Lysander.


    Once he started doubting and investigating, the secret she wanted to keep would still be exposed.


    She was caught between a rock and a hard ce.


    After much consideration, Thssa decided to go. At least, if she was present, she could attempt to


    remedy any emergency situation on the spot.


    If she didn¡¯t go, everything would be out of control.


    The final of the gourmetpetition was held outdoors in Times Square.


    The ce was packed with people, t. The audience seats were full, and the staff was busy.


    Thepetitors were all waiting backstage.


    Thssa seized the opportunity of Lysander sitting in the rest room having coffee, and went


    backstage.


    All thepetitors were adults, only Elowen was a child not yet five years old.


    Among the manypetitors, she stood out, easy to spot.


    Elowen Her small figure sat on a chair, head down, munching on potato chips. Sitting next to her was


    Hertha.


    Today, it was Hertha who apanied Elowen to thepetition.


    Thssa hurried forward and gently tapped Hertha¡¯s shoulder, ¡°Hertha.¡±


    Hertha turned around, her eyes lit up upon seeing her, ¡°Thssa, what are you doing here?¡±


    ¡°Mom!¡± Elowen turned her head, showing a sweet smile upon seeing Thssa, and. She called out


    joyously.


    ¡°Thssa, what happened to your head?¡± The next second, Hertha noticed the bandage on Thssa¡¯s


    head, asking with worry.


    Elowen pouted as well, looking worried, ¡°Mom, are you hurtalright? Does it hurt?¡±


    Thssa was very anxious at the moment, worried about the scene when Elowen and Lysander meet


    in thepetition. At that time, she would also be on stage, serving Lysander.


    She had important things to tell Elowen and Hertha and didn¡¯t have much time to talk about her


    experience in the past few days.


    So she briefly mentioned, ¡°I had a minor car ident, it¡¯s nothing serious.¡±


    Thssa took them to the tea room, which was less crowded and withoutpetitors.


    She told Hertha and Elowen, ¡°Our Mypany is the investor ofin the gourmetpetition, and our


    my boss is the final judge. I will be following our my boss then. Elowen, when you see meter, don¡¯t


    be curious, and don¡¯t call me mMom. Otherwise, people might think you have a backstagepulled a


    string, using us of favoritism. You win because of your own strength, mom doesn¡¯t. I don¡¯t want you


    to be misunderstood.¡±


    Thssa really thought so.


    The inte nowadays is was too scary. If Elowen publicly called her mom, some people would make a


    fuss about it and Elowen would be used of winning by


    unfair means.


    Being cyber-bullied is was even worse.


    Moreover, Elowen she iswas such a small child.


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    As a mother, she not only had to support her children¡¯s hobbies but also had to consider their safety.


    Of course, there was another point, to prevent Lysander from knowing that Elowen was her child.


    In this way, she could continue to have her four children, and be with them happily and freely.


    Although Elowen was young, she was very understanding. After hearing Thssa¡¯s words, she


    obediently nodded her head.

 Chapter 411

    Chapter 411


    Hertha understood Thssa¡¯s concerns more clearly now. She patted Thssa¡¯s shoulder and said,


    ¡°Don¡¯t worry, everything will be just fine.¡±


    Thssa gave her a grateful look.


    The time hade for the final round of the ¡®Gourmet Competition¡¯. Thepetition proceeded


    smoothly.


    Several judges sat on the podium, with Lysander taking the most prominent position. Hismanding


    aura was unquestionable and exuded an unmatched sense of nobility.


    The other judges paled inparison, reduced to mere essories in his presence,


    Thssa stood behind Lysander, ready to assist him at any time.


    One by one, the contestants took the stage, receiving scores from the judges. The first few contestants


    were all men in their thirties, all professional chefs.


    When it was time for the next contestant, a little girl of not-more than five years old took the stage.


    She was dressed in a white princess dress, with two braids in her hair. She was as cute as a porcin


    doll, chubby and adorable. Herrge innocent eyes were sparkling, expressing an innocent cuteness


    that was irresistibly charming.


    Her appearance on stage elicited a murmur of surprise from the audience.


    ¡°Good heavens, such a little kid is participating in the Gourmet Competition? She passed all the


    preliminary and semi-final rounds?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s incredible! Society is sopetitive these days, that even children are being roped in. She¡¯s barely


    out of kindergarten, isn¡¯t she?¡±


    ¡°Are you sure this little darling is not here to add aic element?¡±


    ¡°Does she have any backing?¡±


    The audience was buzzing with spection.


    Lysander¡¯s deep gaze turned towards the little girl, Elowen. His gaze was profound, filled with curiosity


    yet also a trace of doubt.


    He had seen her on TV during the semi-finals of the Gourmet Competition but didn¡¯t know much about


    Please check at N/?vel(D)rama.Org.


    her actual culinary skills. He couldn¡¯t help but doubt how such a small girl could have outperformed so


    many and made it to the final stage. Could there be some behind-the-scenes intrigue?


    Seeing Elowen, Thssa felt a mixture of cheerfulness and tension.


    Elowen walked onto the stage with a calm demeanor. Despite her young age, she didn¡¯t seem nervous


    at all.


    Her sparkling eyes scanned the judges¡¯ panel. When she saw Lysander, her gaze paused, focusing on


    Thssa standing behind him.


    Noticing her gaze, Lysander looked at Thssa.


    Thssa, who was encouraging Elowen with her eyes, felt a jolt when she met Lysander¡¯s gaze. She


    quickly averted her eyes. She was slightly nervous, and she nodded at Lysander, indicating that she


    was ready to assist him.


    ¡°Do you know her?¡± Lysander asked.


    Amid the noise of the crowd, only she could hear his question.


    Thssa¡¯s heart pounded as she quickly exined, ¡°She¡¯s my best friend¡¯s daughter.


    Lysander nced at her before turning his attention back to the contestants.


    Thssa¡¯s heart fluttered with unease.


    By now, Elowen had shifted her gaze away, walking towards the variety of delectable foods on the


    stage.


    The food was ced quite high. Elowen tried to reach for the fork but her short little arms couldn¡¯t


    reach.


    The scene was both adorable and heart-wrenching.


    The host stepped forward, picked up the fork for her, and served her the food..


    After eating, Elowen was able to urately name all the ingredients used in each dish, even describing


    the cooking methods with precision.


    Her knowledge about food was astonishingly vast for such a young child.


    The audience was amazed and envious, calling her a prodigy.


    Those who doubted her qualifications were now silent.


    Lysander too, was intrigued by the little girl. His skeptical gaze now held a hint of admiration.

 Chapter 412

    Chapter 412


    After Elowen had finished her culinary masterpiece, it was time for the judges to cast their votes.


    One by one, the judges raised their scorecards, unanimously giving a perfect ten!


    Out of the ten judges present, nine had given a full score, while one, Lysander, had yet to voice his


    opinion.


    Elowen¡¯s bright sparkling eyes turned to Lysander. She was waiting for his score.


    Coincidentally, Lysander was also looking at her. For a moment, their gazes met, one mature and one


    innocent.


    Thssa, witnessing the other nine judges scoring Elowen a perfect ten, couldn¡¯t help but feel ted.


    However, the score she was most concerned about was Lysander¡¯s.


    As she anxiously looked towards him, she noticed that he and Elowen were locked in an intense gaze.


    Elowen, with her soft innocent eyes, was staring at Lysander, who returned her gaze with his deep


    thoughtful eyes.


    This sight sent a shiver down Thssa¡¯s spine. Had Lysander noticed something?


    As time ticked away, Elowen and Lysander continued their silent eye contact. It was as if they were old


    friends,municating without words.


    Thssa¡¯s anxiety grew.


    Just as Thssa¡¯s heartbeat was about to explode from the tension, Elowen broke into a radiant smile,


    her dimples deepening and her eyes sparkling like sunlight reflected in a clear stream. Her smile


    seemed to bloom like a flower, innocent and pure.-


    Lysander was taken aback by her smile. It felt as if a flower had suddenly bloomed in his heart, his


    guarded heart seemed to be illuminated by her smile.


    The feeling was more gratifying than signing a multi-billion dor deal.


    Finally, Lysander wrote down Elowen¡¯s score on his card and lifted it up for everyone to see.


    ¡°Ten points! She¡¯s a genius!¡±


    At the sight of the score, the audience gasped in awe.


    Thssa¡¯s heart leaped for joy, and her anxiety was reced by pure excitement. She was so excited


    that she almost joined the audience in their astonishment. Hertha, watching from the audience, stood


    up excitedly and cheered, ¡°Oh, Elowen, my little darling, you¡¯re amazing!¡±


    -The host couldn¡¯t help but be excited as well, ¡°Congrattions to Elowen Kensington! She has created


    a miracle for our Gourmet Competition. This is the first time


    in the history of ourpetition that a contestant has received a perfect score! Congrattions to our


    champion, Elowen!¡±


    Then, the host turned to Elowen and asked, ¡°Elowen, now that you are the champion, would you like to


    share your feelings at this moment with us?¡±


    Elowen, utterly unfazed by the excitement, replied, ¡°I¡¯m very happy. I want to thank my mom for her


    guidance.¡±


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    Hertha, watching from the audience, was ted at her daughter¡¯s sess and graciousness. But when


    the host asked about Elowen¡¯s father, the joyous atmosphere took a sudden turn.


    Thssa, who had been standing behind Lysander, felt her heart tighten at the question.


    Unconsciously, she clenched the fabric of her skirt.


    Hertha, who had been pping joyously, suddenly stopped at the host¡¯s question. She turned anxious


    once again.

 Chapter 413

    Chapter 413


    She anxiously nced at Thssa on the stage, then nervously turned her gaze towards Elowen,


    unsure of how she would respond.


    They hadn¡¯t discussed how to handle questions about Elowen¡¯s father. It hadn¡¯t even urred to her.


    Elowen¡¯s father was right there in the audience. He was the most important judge at the event, the man


    with the most imposing presence, Lysander!


    And Lysander had no idea that Elowen was his daughter.


    Why did the host have to ask such a question?


    Hertha sped her hands together in prayer, hoping everything would go smoothly.


    Just as everyone was expecting Elowen¡¯s response, her young voice rang out, soft and slightly hurt,


    ¡°My daddy¡¯s dead.¡±


    The room fell silent.


    Thssa was taken aback. She hadn¡¯t expected Elowen to answer like that.


    Hertha was stunned too. Elowen¡¯s response had taken her by surprise.


    The audience looked at Elowen with sympathetic eyes.


    Lysander frowned slightly


    The host tried to defuse the awkwardness with a smile, ¡°That¡¯s alright, your daddy must have been a


    great hero. You miss him a lot, don¡¯t you?¡±


    The microphone was once again directed towards Elowen.


    She shook her head, her pigtails swaying slightly with her movements, ¡°I never met my daddy. I don¡¯t


    know what he looks like. He died at sea.¡±


    Thssa fell silent, anxiously ncing towards Lysander.


    Hertha couldn¡¯t help but chuckle, quickly covering her mouth when she realized she¡¯dughed out


    loud.


    Lysander¡¯s handsome face darkened, his gaze fixed on Elowen.


    The host felt even more awkward. Her question had not only brought up a painful memory for the little


    girl, but it had also cast a somber mood over the event. However, as a host, she had the ability to


    change the atmosphere and quickly changed the subject, ¡°Elowen is such a sweet girl. She¡¯s won the


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    gourmetpetition and a generous cash prize. Let¡¯s present the award to her now.¡±


    The one presenting the award to Elowen was Lysander.


    He held the prepared medal and a check for twenty thousand dors, stepping up to Elowen.


    Elowen was petite, and next to Lysander¡¯s towering figure, she looked even smaller.


    She had to crane her neck just to see his face.


    Lysander was standing in front of Elowen. Elowen looked up, and he looked down. Their eyes met


    once again.


    Thssa watched from a distance, her eyes welling up with tears. Her heart was a mixture of sadness,


    excitement, and anxiety.


    This was the first time Elowen hade into close contact with Lysander. She did not know that he


    was the father she had been longing for.


    At this moment, Thssa¡¯s heart ached with sorrow.


    Lysander then squatted down, trying to bridge the gap between them. He helped Elowen put the medal


    around her neck. As he did so, a soft sweet scent enveloped him.


    Thisforting scent warmed Lysander¡¯s heart.


    It felt strangely familiar.


    ¡°Mr. Handsome, I know you.¡± Suddenly, Elowen¡¯s young voice sounded out.


    Thssa, who had been sorrowful that her daughter couldn¡¯t recognize her father, tensed up at


    Elowen¡¯s words.

 Chapter 414

    Chapter 414


    ¡°Elowen knows Lysander?¡± Thssa thought, feeling a sense of confusion.


    Earlier on, Atticus and Dorian had questioned her about Lysander from the Sinir Group. They had


    asked if he was their father, and at the time, Thssa had denied it, not fully understanding the


    situation. But now, she wondered if the children had sensed something. Was Elowen also suspecting


    that Lysander was her


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    father?


    A wave of anxiety washed over her as she imagined Elowen confronting Lysander with the question.


    However, to her surprise, Lysander reacted calmly, reaching out to gently pat Elowen¡¯s head and


    saying, ¡°You did great.¡±


    His hand met the soft warmth of her hair, a sensation he found oddlyforting. Lysander was not


    typically fond of children, but he found himself drawn to  Elowen. She was adorable in a way that stirred


    a sense of affection within him.


    He had met her before in Hollowbrook, and another time he almost hit her with his car when she was in


    the middle of the street retrieving a ball. As the daughter of Thssa¡¯s close friend, her presence in


    Hollowbrook was not surprising.


    Elowen¡¯s face lit up at Lysander¡¯s praise, her smile radiant. ¡°Thank you, sir. You¡¯re great too!¡±


    After a series of photos were taken, Lysander returned to his judge¡¯s seat, and the gourmetpetition


    was concluded. As Elowen¡¯s mother, Hertha guided her off


    stage.


    ¡°You were amazing, darling. You won the $20,000 prize!¡± Hertha gushed, yfully ruffling Elowen¡¯s


    hair. Thssa watched them, a smile spreading across her face, before leaving the arena with


    Lysander.


    As Lysander settled into his car, Thssa stood respectfully at a distance, nning to hail a taxi to the


    office. However, Lysander¡¯s gaze turned to her, his eyes dark and intense. ¡°Do you need a lift?¡±


    Startled, Thssa quickly climbed into the car. The drive to the Sinir Group was tense, with


    Thssa sitting rigidly next to Lysander, careful not to upset him. Once at the Sinir Group, Lysander


    exited the car first, followed by Thssa. They rode the elevator together up to the executive floor,


    where David, Lysander¡¯s assistant, directed Thssa to join them in Lysander¡¯s office for a debriefing


    on the gourmetpetition.


    Stepping into the office, Thssa was immediately struck by the stern atmosphere, Zephyr, dressed in


    a sharp teal suit, was seated on a couch in the office lounge. His hawk-like gaze was fixed on them.


    Thssa felt a twinge of unease at his stern expression and was about to excuse herself when Zephyr


    spoke.


    ¡°Ms. Everhart, please take a seat,¡± hemanded, his voice echoing in the room.

 Chapter 415

    Chapter 415


    Thssa paused, tension coursing through her frame as she maneuvered around the sofa, heading


    towards the secluded corner of the room.


    As she passed by Lysander, her wrist was abruptly seized.


    His palm, calloused from years ofbor, was strong and warm.


    As he held onto Thssa, her heart gave an involuntary flutter, and she nced back at him.


    His eyes met hers briefly before he pulled her to sit next to him, his arm casually draped around her


    waist.


    The gesture was undeniably intimate.


    Thssa¡¯s heart hammered in her chest as she attempted to pull away, but Lysander¡¯s grip was


    unyielding.


    Seemingly sensing her reluctance, Lysander tightened his hold on her slender waist, ensuring she


    remained seated beside him.


    ¡°Grandpa, do you need anything?¡± Lysander pre-empted, addressing Zephyr.


    Zephyr nced at them, taking in the sight of Lysander¡¯s arm around Thssa¡¯s waist. It was a familiar


    gesture, one that hinted at the intimacy and affection between lovers, and the dominance a man felt


    over his woman.


    He knew Lysander was unting this deliberately.


    ¡°Regarding Charlotte.¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t want to discuss the arranged marriage¡± Lysander cut him off.


    Zephyr¡¯s cloudy eyes lingered on Lysander for a moment, before sliding over his hand on Thssa¡¯s


    waist, ¡°Fitch said you didn¡¯t return to the vist night.¡± ¡°Grandpa, you seem to have a lot of free time


    pouring Zephyr a ss of lemon water.


    Each sentence was a deflection, each word a rejection.


    He wouldn¡¯t agree to the arranged marriage, nor would he marry Charlotte:


    His absence from the vist night was none of his grandfather¡¯s business.


    He was thirty, a grown man who could take responsibility for his actions.


    He appreciated his grandparents¡¯ concern, but he was no longer a child.


    Zephyr exhaled deeply, understanding Lysander¡¯s message.


    Lysander was grown, had his own opinions, and was no longer willing to be controlled.


    Despite this, Zephyr felt a pang of difort.


    He downed his water in one gulp, shooting Thssa a sharp nce before leaving the room.


    Thssa felt as if she¡¯d been stabbed in the heart, the pain sharp and cold.


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    Once the initial pain subsided, her heart felt as if it was stuffed with cotton, ufortably congested.


    Zephyr¡¯s disdain for her was evident and unapologetic.


    Thssa removed Lysander¡¯s hand from hers, stood up, and put some distance between them.


    In a professional tone, she stated, ¡°Mr. Sinir, the gourmetpetition was a sess. Both the


    judges and the audience were fair to all participants. The TV station reported that thepetition¡¯s


    ratings were also satisfactory. This investment has been profitable.¡±


    Detecting her distant and indifferent attitude, Lysander lifted his deep eyes towards her, ¡°Are you


    happy?¡±


    Thssa was taken aback, not understanding the purpose of his question.


    What did the sess of the gourmetpetition have to do with her happiness?


    Lysander¡¯s gaze was sharp and deep.


    It made Thssa feel uneasy, causing her to feel a sense of foreboding.


    Could he have noticed something?


    Thssa was uncertain, nervously replying, ¡°Of course I¡¯m happy for thepany. It¡¯s another


    sessful investment


    Lysander¡¯s lips twitched into a cold, mocking smile, ¡°Your best friend¡¯s daughter won thepetition


    and the prize money. Brucepleted another project and got promoted. With two victories in one go,


    of course you¡¯re happy.¡±

 Chapter 416

    Chapter 416


    Thssa was taken aback by his words, dripping with sarcasm. Even if she wasn''t the brightest, she


    understood what he was implying.


    He was just like Zephyr, looking down on her!


    Believing she was using her position for personal gain!


    Thssa felt as if her heart was stuffed with cotton, irritated.


    Suddenly, she remembered when Lysander asked her about the worth of investing in the qourmet


    She said it was worth it, and he swiftly signed the contract.


    At that time, he must have believed that she was seeking personal gain, right?


    Her best friend''s child won thepetition, and because of that, Bruce got promoted!


    Did he think all these were benefits for her?


    Thssa clenched her fists, addressing Lysander harshly, "Mr. Sinir, Elowen won thepetition


    because of her talents! Everyone can see that. Even if you didn''t invest in the gourmetpetition, she


    would still win.


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    That''s her talent and skills, not something I provided! And about Bruce, that loser, we are strangers and


    I don''t give a damn about his promotion!"


    Thssa was firm, and her voice was filled with annoyance.


    In front of Lysander, she had always been submissive, timid and cautious.


    This was the first time she lost her temper in front of him.


    He could misunderstand her all he wanted, but he questioned Elowen¡¯s abilities and the fairness of her


    win, which was uneptable!


    She couldn''t hold back anymore.


    Lysander looked at her surprisingly, not expecting her to lose her cool.


    "Do you know who you are speaking to?¡± Lysander said coldly.


    "I''m very clear! Mr. Sinir, just because you''re high and mighty doesn''t mean you know everything


    about everyone. You used me to reject the arranged marriage your grandfather set up for you, and I


    tolerated it. But you shouldn''t say the gourmetpetition was for my personal gain! I''ve been


    standing all day, I''m tired. You carry on with your work, Mr. Sinir, I''m leaving."


    Thssa left his office quickly, her chest filled with anger.


    Lysander watched her leave with his icy eyes.


    Thssa felt the oppressive atmosphere and the cold air. She barely held back her panic.


    Once back in her office, she sat down heavily, sweating profusely.


    Only God knew how much courage she needed to not show fear in front of him.


    She was even surprised at herself for daring to confront Lysander.


    But she was so oppressed that she couldn''t breathe if she didn''t fight back.


    However, if she had to do it again, she wouldn''t have the courage to confront Lysander.


    Just facing him, being surrounded by his intimidating and icy aura, was suffocating.


    She was so angry earlier. Lysander himself gave Elowen a perfect score, and he witnessed her power


    himself.


    Yet, he insisted that Elowen won because of her bias.


    This was something she couldn''t bear!


    After work in the afternoon.


    Thssa didn''t dare to waste a moment, leaving right on time.


    She thought clearly that from now on, she would leave work on time. If Lysander was displeased, he


    could just fire her.


    She would be more than happy if he did.


    It was strange. Before he was willing topensate her arge sum just to fire her.


    But after a few days, he transferred her back to the Sinir Group, retaining her original secretarial


    position.


    For this, he even bought Leopold''spany.


    Could it be because Lysander didn''t want her to stay by Leopold''s side that he did all this?


    Did she hold such an important position in Lysander''s heart?


    The thought of the rich was really iprehensible.

 Chapter 417

    Chapter 417


    Thssa hailed a cab and returned to the new home that Hertha had rented for their family.


    It was a walk-up apartment called Vibrant Oasis Residences.


    They lived on the sixth floor. Since there was no elevator, the rent was rtively cheaper for such a


    high floor.


    Upon reaching Vibrant Oasis Residences, Thssa made a beeline for home.


    She had not seen the kids for two days and she missed them immensely.


    She wanted to kiss their soft little cheeks and breathe in their baby scent. The longing was so intense


    that it made her heart itch.


    Having climbed the stairs to the sixth floor, Thssa realized that she didn''t have the key to the new


    house. So, she knocked on the door.


    "I''m home!" came Hertha''s voice from inside.


    Thssa waited at the doorway for a while before the door opened.


    With a cheerful voice, Hertha said, "Finally, our busy bee is back. We''re celebrating for Elowen. She


    won the championship. That calls for a celebration."


    ¡°Absolutely, it''s worth celebrating." Nodding, Thssa hurried inside.


    She saw her four adorable children gathered around the dining table, with arge cake in the middle.


    They were busily inserting candles into the cake.


    Thssa quickly walked towards them, "Babies, I''m back."


    "Mummy!"


    Seeing her, the four adorable children''s eyes lit up with joy. They dropped the decorations in their


    hands and rushed towards her.


    Thssa squatted down and scooped the soft tiny bodies into her arms, ¡°I missed you all so much."


    She nted a kiss on each child''s soft tender face. The baby''s scent was intoxicating and therapeutic.


    "Mummy, I saw you just now, Elowen said, grinning widely. She had spotted her mum at her


    "Mmm."


    "Hmm, I didn''t see you when I went to school today." Sophia sounded disappointed.


    ¡°Neither did I" Dorian added.


    ¡°Mummy, what happened to your head?" Atticus, the most observant of them all, noticed the bandage


    on Thssa''s forehead and asked worriedly.


    "Mummy, you''re hurt! Does it hurt? Dorian will blow on it, and the pain will go away¡± Dorian too noticed


    it, he tiptoed, puckered his lips, and blew on Thssa''s forehead.


    ¡°What, Thssa, you''re hurt?" Evelyn rushed out of the kitchen upon hearing this. Indeed, she saw


    Thssa"


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    bandaged forehead, and it seemed like a serious wound.


    Evelyn''s heart ached, but she scolded, ¡°What happened to you? How did you get hurt? If something


    dangerous happens to you, what will the kids and I do? You need to take care of yourself for the sake


    of the family"


    Facing her mother''s scolding, Thssa nodded repeatedly, "I know, mum. I''ll take better care of myself.


    This time, it was an ident."


    ¡°What ident?" Evelyn asked.


    ¡°A car ident, Thssa answered.


    Upon hearing it was a car ident, Evelyn almost fainted.


    "Does it have anything to do with Lysander?" Evelyn asked anxiously.


    Atticus and Dorian also looked at Thssa nervously. Their innocent eyes showed immense concern.


    Thssa quickly patted Evelyn''s arm tofort her, "Mum, I''m okay, it''s just a minor injury. Don''t


    worry"


    "Thssa, you call a concussion a minor injury? If not treated properly, a concussion can lead to


    mental impairment, even death" Hertha pointed out.


    "Your boss really overworks his employees. You got hurt, and he still makes you work,¡¯ Hertha


    "What, a concussion?" Evelyn''s heart tightened with more worry.

 Chapter 418

    Chapter 418


    ¡°It¡¯s okay, it¡¯s okay, I¡¯m fine now, mom. Don¡¯t worry.¡± Thssa walked over to Evelyn, her hand lightly


    tracing the curve of her back, aiming to soothe her.


    Evelyn knew better than anyone else that Thssa was just putting up a brave face to keep her from


    worrying too much.


    Evelyn raised her hand to wipe her teary eyes. ¡°As long as you¡¯re okay, that¡¯s enough. Just be careful


    in the future and don¡¯t get hurt again.¡±


    Then she stood up and headed towards the kitchen, her demeanor somber.


    She knew her daughter was struggling, but what could she do? The family depended on Thssa for


    their livelihood. Even if she felt heartbroken, could she really do anything to help?


    The feeling of helplessness was overwhelming.


    Thssa watched Evelyn¡¯s retreating figure and felt a heartache.


    If only she were stronger and more capable, her mother wouldn¡¯t have to bear so much worry and


    hardship.


    ¡°Thssa, it¡¯s okay. Things will get better.¡± Herthaforted her, her hand gently squeezing


    Thssa¡¯s thin shoulder. Her lips curved in aforting


    smile.


    Hertha had spoken out earlier in defense of Thssa.


    But seeing Evelyn¡¯s disheartened demeanor, Hertha realized why Thssa was so hesitant to reveal


    her struggles.


    She didn¡¯t want to burden her family with her problems, knowing they couldn¡¯t help her but would only


    feel more worried.


    Even Hertha felt the same, though she felt for Thssa and defended her, she couldn¡¯t do anything to


    change the situation.


    Their excessive worry only added to Thssa¡¯s stress.


    Thssa turned to Hertha, her eyes filled with gratitude.


    She thanked her for herforting words, and she believed that things would get better.


    The mood in the room was somber. Atticus and Dorian, who had been eagerly hoping to hear Thssa


    reveal how she¡¯d gotten hurt, exchanged a nce of silent agreement when they didn¡¯t get an answer.


    Atticus: Mom was treated unfairly by Lysander.


    Dorian: That¡¯s right.


    Atticus: Poor Mom. With her injuries, she still has to work.


    Dorian: Yeah, Mom is so pitiful.


    Atticus. She must¡¯ve identally broken Lysander¡¯s antique worth billions, and he¡¯s bullying her for it.


    Dorian: That¡¯s right.


    Atticus: We need to find a way to pay Lysander back for Mom, then she won¡¯t be bullied anymore.


    Dorian: Let¡¯s find a way!


    After their silent agreement, they nodded at each other determinedly.


    ¡°Alright, let¡¯s not talk about these unhappy things anymore. Today, Elowen won first ce, let¡¯s all


    cheer up and celebrate for her!¡± Hertha raised her-voice to lighten the mood.


    Thssa also smiled. ¡°That¡¯s right, Elowen is the best. Today, we should each sing a song for


    wen.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll go first!¡± Sophia raised her hand cheerfully. ¡°I¡¯ll sing the new song I just learned!¡±


    Sophia said in her adorable little voice.


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    After she finished speaking, she started singing. Despite her unclear pronunciation, her melody was on


    point, making Thssa chuckle and Hertha bend overughing.


    The two women shared a knowing nce, amusement twinkling in their eyes.


    Sophia finished her song quickly.


    Thssa and Hertha immediately apuded.


    ¡°Sophia, you¡¯re amazing. Your song was beautiful.¡± Thssa said.


    Hertha agreed, ¡°That¡¯s right, it¡¯s wonderful!¡±


    ¡°Mhm, it was good.¡± Elowen nodded in satisfaction, her little head bobbing.

 Chapter 419

    Chapter 419


    ¡°And me, I want to sing a song for Elowen too.¡± Dorian eagerly raised his hand, volunteering with


    enthusiasm.


    ¡°Alright, Dorian, what song do you have for us?¡± Hertha yed the role of the host.


    Dorian sang thetest hit from the DJ charts.


    After finishing, Dorian tilted his small head back, his innocent eyes sparkling. ¡°All my ssmates know


    this song, and they can do the dance too.¡±


    Thssa and Hertha had never heard this song before. They exchanged surprised nces.


    Were they too out of touch?


    Were even preschoolers able to sing thetest pop songs?


    ¡°Great job, Dorian, you have a beautiful voice.¡± Thssa quickly gathered herself and started to p.


    Hertha joined in the apuse.


    At this moment, Evelyn brought out the food and ced it on the table. Her expression was still


    somewhat downcast as she said, ¡°Dinner¡¯s ready.¡±


    ¡°Alright, let¡¯s eat first, and then we can have the cake,¡± Thssa suggested.


    They sat around the dinner table, and in no time, all the dishes were wiped clean.


    Thssa gave a thumbs-up, praising, ¡°Mom, your cooking just keeps getting better. It¡¯s even better


    than eating out.¡±


    Evelyn rolled her eyes at her, saying, ¡°Stop buttering me up.¡±


    Even though she said this, the corners of her mouth couldn¡¯t help but curl up into a small smile. She got


    up and started to clear the tes.


    After dinner, they gathered around to sing a celebratory song for Elowen. Since they couldn¡¯t agree on


    a specific song, they decided to just sing ¡°Happy Birthday.¡±


    As they sang, they pped in rhythm.


    Elowen, like a birthday queen, sat in front of her cake, epting the blessings and birthday song, her


    soft, adorable face filled with a sweet smile.


    Once the song ended, Elowen blew out the candles but failed on the first try.


    On the second try, the four kids blew the candles together.


    The candle mes flickered for a moment, then went out.


    Thssa helped Elowen cut the cake, serving a slice to everyone, and they happily began to eat.


    Elowen, always having a sweet tooth, couldn¡¯t resist it, despite having just eaten dinner. She held her


    spoon, shoveling the cake into her mouth.


    She ended up with cream all over her face and mouth.


    She looked like a little kitten with cream smeared all over its face. It was absolutely adorable.


    Thssa¡¯s heart was melting.


    She pulled out a napkin, tenderly wiping the cream off Elowen¡¯s face, ¡°Slow down. No one¡¯s going to


    take your cake.¡±


    After wiping Elowen¡¯s face, she turned around to see Sophia¡¯s face also covered in cream. So, she


    took another napkin and wiped Sophia¡¯s face too. Even though she hadn¡¯t tasted any cake yet, just


    seeing the children enjoying their cake heartily filled her with sweetness from the heart to the taste


    buds.


    Being with the kids was her happiest and most fulfilling time.


    After dinner, Hertha left.


    Thssa yed some games with the kids for a while, then joined Evelyn in bathing the kids.


    In bed, Thssa told the children bedtime stories.


    Evelyn peeked in and stood at the door. She watched as each child snuggled as close to Thssa as


    possible, listening intently to her story withplete dependence.


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    And Thssa, her voice soft and sweet, was immersed in a state of pure love.


    It was a picture of warmth and healing.


    It warmed Evelyn¡¯s heart, causing her eyshes to flutter and her eyes to water. She turned off the


    light, closed the door, and went to sleep in the next


    room.


    Soon, Thssa had lulled the children to sleep.


    She got up, took a bath, and as she came out, her phone on the side table rang. She picked it up and


    saw that it was Leopold. She frowned slightly, but she answered it anyway.


    want to see you,¡± Leopold said bluntly on the phone.

 Chapter 420

    Chapter 420


    His words caught Thssa off guard, stirring an uneasy feeling within her.


    She did not respond to his words directly, asking instead, ¡°Did you tend to your injuries?¡±


    That day in the hospital, he had a scrape on his face and limped on his leg, stubbornly refusing any


    treatment.


    Several days had passed since then. She was not sure whether he had taken care of his wounds or


    not.


    ¡°You¡¯ll find out when we meet,¡± Leopold responded.


    ¡°I¡¯m going to bed, Leopold. If there¡¯s nothing else, I¡¯m going to hang up,¡± Thssa said.


    ¡°If you don¡¯t show up, I¡¯ll call Lysander and challenge him to a fight. Whoever wins gets to be with you.


    Don¡¯t worry, I¡¯m willing to risk everything,¡± Leopold said, his voice tense, serious, and desperate. It was


    not impulsive, nor a threat.


    He was willing to risk his life for a chance to be with her.


    A sharp pain punctured Thssa¡¯s heart.


    She remembered how Leopold had driven his car recklessly that day, ready to risk everything without a


    second thought.


    She had no doubt that he would risk his life, especially when it was for her against Lysander.


    No matter the oue, she would be the one to suffer.


    Lysander wouldn¡¯t let her off easily.


    ¡°Leopold, don¡¯t do anything rash,¡± Thssa quickly said.


    ¡°If you don¡¯t want me to do anything rash, thene out. I¡¯m right under your apartment,¡± Leopold


    replied.


    Under her apartment?


    He must be in their old neighborhood!


    That neighborhood was three bus stops away from where she currently lived.


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    But if she didn¡¯t go, Leopold would surely do something drastic.


    ¡°Wait a minute, I¡¯m taking a shower. I¡¯lle down after I¡¯m done,¡± Thssa said.


    After hanging up, Thssa quickly changed into clothes suitable for going out, grabbed her keys and


    backpack, and rushed down the stairs. She hailed a cab and told the driver to take her to their old


    neighborhood.


    Thssa specifically asked the taxi driver to stop at the back gate of the neighborhood.


    She got out of the cab, entered the neighborhood, and circled around the back of the building.


    There, parked under the building, was a ck Bentley. A man leaned against the car, dressed in a


    ck and white tracksuit. His lean physique and chestnut hair were highlighted under the moonlight.


    His face, usually gentle and sunny, was wrapped in gauze, making him look somewhat deste.


    It was Leopold.


    Thssa quickened her steps to approach him.


    Leopold had been staring at the staircase of the building, but he suddenly saw Thssa approaching


    from the side. She was wearing a beige maxi dress, her long hair cascading over her shoulders. It was


    still damp. Her oval face was dewy and pure, making her look like an angel.


    Leopold¡¯s eyes softened as he watched her, filled with deep affection and pain.


    ¡°How did youe from that side?¡± Leopold asked.


    Thssa avoided his gaze slightly, ¡°I came out from the back. What did you want to see me for?¡±


    While speaking, Thssa looked somewhat uneasy, ncing around.


    Seeing the medical gauze on his face, she knew he had treated his injuries, which eased her worries.


    Leopold grasped her thin shoulders with both hands, staring at her seriously and worriedly, ¡°You


    washed your hair before the wound on your forehead healed. What if it got infected?¡±


    He only noticed when she got closer that the bandage on her forehead had been removed. The egg-


    sized wound on her forehead had formed a fresh red scar. Half of it was hidden by her hair, the other


    half exposed.


    Leopold¡¯s heart ached at the sight.


    He was so close to her that she could smell the sweet scent of soap on him.


    It was a scent so familiar and deeply etched into her memory. The countless times he had held her in


    his arms, she had contentedly breathed in his pleasant scent.


    But now, that scent became an evesting pain in her heart and something she would rather avoid.


    Thssa¡¯s heart fluttered, making her even more uneasy. She took a step back to avoid his touch and


    said, ¡°The wound has already scarred. And I was very careful when I washed my hair. It didn¡¯t get wet.¡±

 Chapter 421

    Chapter 421


    She hadn¡¯t washed her hair for days, and she was beginning to feel itchy and ufortable.


    She gave in to the itch and decided to wash her hair.


    ¡°How¡¯s your concussion? Are you feeling better?¡± Leopold asked, his hand falling away from her


    shoulder. His heart felt empty as his hand left her.


    He was struggling to keep the pain inside him at bay, his concern for her health more paramount than


    his own.


    ¡°I¡¯ll be alright. I just need a few days of rest, Thssia replied. ¡°If there¡¯s nothing else, I¡¯ll be going.¡±


    She was about to turn away when Leopold interjected, ¡°Stay for dinner with me.¡± His tone was firm, not


    asking for her opinion but stating a fact.


    ¡°I¡¯ve already had dinner,¡± Thssia countered.


    ¡°That was just supper. Consider this ate-night snack.¡± He opened the car door, waiting for her to get


    in.


    ¡°I¡¯m not hungry,¡± Thssia replied, furrowing her brows.


    ¡°Then I¡¯ll go find Lysander!¡± Leopold said, his tone hard and serious.


    Thssia was at a loss for words, ultimately giving in and getting into the car.


    Leopold drove off.


    Soon, they arrived at a posh restaurant. They took a table by the window, overlooking a man-made


    garden with a fountain spouting water in the middle. The garden was filled with green trees and colorful


    flowers. The mist from the fountain created a romantic and hazy atmosphere.


    A sulent steak was brought to their table, its aroma filling the air. If she had been hungry, the meal


    would have been delicious. But Thssia was full, having eaten dinner and a generous portion of cake.


    Even the most decadent food held no temptation for her now.


    Leopold handed her the cutlery. ¡°Eat.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m not hungry, you can eat,¡± Thssia said, feeling awkward sharing a romanticte-night meal with


    him, knowing that they could no longer be together.


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    Leopold¡¯s gaze darkened, pain evident in his eyes. ¡°So now, you won¡¯t even share a meal with me?


    Would you be happier if it were Lysander?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s not about who I¡¯m dining with, I¡¯m just not hungry. I ate a lot this afternoon,¡± Thssia said.


    ¡°I don¡¯t care about your past with Lysander. I still love you. If you¡¯re willing, we can leave all of this


    behind and start anew somewhere else,¡± Leopold said earnestly, his gaze fixed on Thssia.


    His words took her by surprise. She remembered the time when Leopold had unexpectedlye to


    her house and how, after she had learned that Bruce was the one who had caused the death of


    Lysander¡¯s parents, she had been in a rush to leave. But Lysander had caught her, and she was


    severely punished to the point where she couldn¡¯t even get out of bed.


    She had been locked away for four days, nearly starving to death. The thought of what would happen if


    she actually ran away with Leopold terrified her. Lysander would surely tear her apart.


    ¡°Leopold, why would you think of such a thing? I¡¯ve told you many times before that there are many


    women who like you. Your life deserves better than this. Don¡¯t waste your time on me,¡± Thssia


    pleaded.

 Chapter 422

    Chapter 422


    Having finished, Thssa began to rise, only to be abruptly stopped by Leopold, who grasped her


    hand fiercely.


    His palm was slightly damp and feverishly warm.


    Startled, Thssa reflexively yanked her hand back, her voice a passionate outcry, ¡°Leopold, I¡¯ve


    made things clear. If you are under the impression that I saved you when I stopped the car that day, let


    me correct you now. It wasn¡¯t about you. I did it because Isabe called for help. I would do the same


    for any stranger in danger, not just because it was you!¡±


    Thssa was desperate to make him understand. Her eyes, brimming with earnestness, bore into his.


    She wanted him to let go.


    Lysander had already made it clear.


    Since that fateful night five years ago, things between them were no longer possible.


    Leopold had been with Isabe, and she herself had lost her purity to Lysander.


    From that moment on, she and Leopold were destined to be two parallel lines, never meant to


    intersect.


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    She wished he could move on and start anew.


    He could fall in love with another woman, have a woman who would genuinely love him, marry the right


    woman, have children, and live happily ever after.


    If he chose to dwell on their past, it would only hurt him.


    Thssa¡¯s tone was firm and resolute, filled with frustration and a hint of panic.


    She was scared, scared that her past might show through, giving Leopold false hope.


    Hearing Thssa¡¯s unyielding words, Leopold felt a sharp pain in his heart.


    He had thought that Thssa risked her own life to stop his car because she still cared for him, and


    she couldn¡¯t let go.


    He believed that as long as Thssa had feelings for him and loved him, he could ovee any


    obstacle, even if it meant betraying the world to be with her.


    But his worst fear was that Thssa truly had no feelings left for him.


    Her not loving him was his greatest torment.


    Now, hearing her say she would do the same for any stranger, not just because it was him, was like a


    punch to his gut, draining him of all hope.


    Leopold clenched his hand on the table, his pain evident. Under the hotel¡¯s crystal chandelier, the


    diamonds around Thssa¡¯s neck shone brilliantly, stinging his eyes.


    His gaze focused on her ne, the pendant studded with diamonds.


    His brow furrowed, ¡°Who gave you this ne?¡±


    Thssa looked down at the pendant. The diamonds surrounding the cloud-shaped pendant sparkled


    brilliantly, almost blinding.


    She responded, ¡°I bought it myself. Is there a problem?¡±


    ¡°This ne is worth millions. Are you sure you bought it yourself?¡± Leopold asked, his eyes filled


    with pain.


    Thssa widened her eyes in surprise, ¡°What? This ne is worth that much? Is it really that


    expensive?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s from Lysander, isn¡¯t it?¡± Leopold said. His gaze stayed on Thssa, his voice filled with certainty.


    Thssa shifted ufortably, avoiding his gaze. Eventually, she met his eyes, ¡°Yes, it¡¯s from


    Lysander. So, stop wasting your time on me.¡±


    Before she could finish, he grabbed her hand, and she felt a cool sensation.


    Looking down, she saw a jade bracelet on her wrist.


    The jade was clear and green. It was clearly of high quality and expensive.


    Thssa¡¯s heart skipped a beat. She quickly tried to take it off, ¡°Why do you give this to me?¡±

 Chapter 423

    Chapter 423


    Leopold grabbed her hand, holding it firmly. He ced a bracelet on her wrist, his voice adamant, ¡°Put


    this on. It¡¯s a gift. Don¡¯t take it off.¡±


    Not only was Leopold holding her hand, but he was also holding the bracelet on her wrist, preventing


    her from removing it.


    The gesture seemed intimate, like a couple sharing a tender moment.


    Thssa was about to object when there was a sudden sh of light. She looked up to see a woman


    with a smartphone pointed at them.


    The woman, d in glittering designer outfits, had just snapped a picture of them before lowering her


    phone. It was Charlotte!


    Thssa immediately stood up and walked towards Charlotte, saying sternly, ¡°Delete the picture!¡±


    Charlotte hid her phone behind her, feigning ignorance, ¡°What picture? I don¡¯t know what you¡¯re talking


    about.¡±


    Thssa tried to grab the phone, ¡°The picture you just took of us, delete it!¡±


    Charlotte scoffed and dodged Thssa, ¡°You¡¯re desperate, trying to snatch my phone in public. I told


    you, I didn¡¯t take any picture.¡±


    Suddenly, her phone was snatched from behind. She turned around only to see Leopold holding her


    phone. She tried to grab it back, but Leopold, being taller, kept it out of her reach.


    ¡°Leopold, what¡¯s this about?¡± Charlotte fumed, ¡°Are you and Thssa an item? Are you afraid people


    will find out?¡±


    ¡°Shut up!¡± Leopold snapped.


    Charlotte might not fear Thssa, but she definitely didn¡¯t dare to mess with Leopold, a member of the


    Sinir family.


    Leopold deleted the picture and tossed the phone back to Charlotte, warning her, ¡°Stay out of my


    business. If I find out you¡¯re causing trouble behind my back, you won¡¯t get away with it.¡±


    Charlotte caught her phone, her lips curled in anger, ¡°I don¡¯t get what¡¯s so special about Thssa,


    everyone¡¯s protecting her!¡±


    Then she stomped off in a huff.


    Thssa exhaled in relief, turning to Leopold, ¡°I¡¯m going home. I need to rest.¡±


    Knowing she had a concussion, Leopold didn¡¯t insist, ¡°I¡¯ll take you home.¡±


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    ¡°No need, I¡¯ll take a taxi.¡± As she was about to remove the bracelet to return it, Leopold¡¯s sharp voice


    stopped her, ¡°Keep the bracelet on. Don¡¯t take it off. Or else, I¡¯ll take you home.¡±


    Thssa paused. ¡°You should go eat. I¡¯m leaving.¡±


    She gave up on removing the bracelet and walked out briskly.


    Everyone seemed to like threatening her.


    They found her weakness and used it against her.


    Thssa was exhausted.


    She hailed a taxi and returned to Vibrant Oasis Residences. Stepping inside, she let out a sigh of relief.


    Opening the door to the nursery, she was greeted with the sweet smell of baby powder. Her tired heart


    instantly filled with energy.


    As she was about to enter, her phone rang again. Irritated, she expected it to be Leopold again and


    was about to hang up when she saw it was Lysander calling!


    Just seeing his name made her heart race.


    She nervously slid her finger to answer, ¡°Hello?¡±


    ¡°Come down.¡± The deep male voice on the other endmanded.


    Come down? Was he at her old apartment building?


    Thssa felt a knot of anxiety in her stomach.

 Chapter 424

    Chapter 424


    Lysander had no idea she had moved. He was sure to be waiting for her downstairs in her old


    apartment building.


    Thssa had just gotten home when she got a call from Lysander, her nerves were on edge.


    ¡°Mr. Sinir, I¡¯m about to go to bed. Can we talk over the phone?¡± Thssa tried to refuse his reject,


    hoping to avoid a face-to-face encounter.


    ¡°I¡¯lle up, or youe down. Your choice!¡± Lysander¡¯s voice was icy cold.


    ¡°I¡¯lle down, but you¡¯ll have to wait a bit. I¡¯m in the shower. I¡¯ll be about half an hour.¡±


    Thssa was nervous, incredibly nervous.


    If Lysander came up, he would find out she wasn¡¯t home.


    The thought alone made her scalp tingle.


    She had just stood up to him earlier in the day, and if she pissed him off again, the consequences


    wouldn¡¯t be pleasant.


    Thssa had barely finished speaking when the call ended.


    Thssa had just stepped one foot in the door when she had to pull it back out and bolt towards the


    stairs.


    Just as she was about to go downstairs, she realized she was still wearing the jade bracelet Leopold


    had given her.


    She quickly stopped, ran back to her apartment, took off the bracelet, and stashed it in the drawer of


    the shoe cab by the door.


    Then, she rushed out as if her life depended on it.


    It was already past ten in the evening. Her neighborhood, an older one, wasn¡¯t very busy, and there


    weren¡¯t many cars on the road.


    She stood by the roadside for a while, but no car came.


    Thssa checked her smartphone. Eight minutes had passed since Lysander¡¯s call, and still, no taxi


    hade. What was she going to do?


    Lysander was not the type of person who liked to be kept waiting.


    If he started to lose his patience, Thssa would be the one to suffer.


    Fortunately, just as she was beginning to panic, a taxi arrived.


    She gged down the taxi, gave the driver the address of her old apartment building, and urged him to


    drive faster.


    Meanwhile, Lysander was sitting in his car, parked under the building where Thssa used to live.


    He had been waiting for ten minutes and had yet to see Thssa. He pulled out his smartphone,


    activated the GPS tracker, and saw a small red dot about a mile from the apartment building moving


    rapidly towards him.


    Lysander¡¯s gaze was terrifyingly cold.


    The atmosphere around him was chilling, like a winter storm.


    His deep gaze was fixed on the tiny red dot on his smartphone screen, moving steadily towards him.


    Thssa had the driver drop her off at the back gate of the apartmentplex so she could enter from


    there and create the illusion that she had juste down from her apartment.


    If she went in through the front gate, she would run straight into Lysander.


    That would give away that she hadn¡¯te from her apartment.


    She would have no way to exin if he confronted her.


    She had to cover a certain distance from the back gate to her apartment building. Thssa couldn¡¯t


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    keep Lysander waiting too long, so she quickened her pace towards him.


    She circled around from the back to the front of the building and saw a ck Rolls-Royce parked under


    a streetmp. The luxurious ck car, under the dim yellow light, seemed to exude a chilling aura that


    made one wary.


    That was Lysander¡¯s car.


    Thssa hurried over, looking through the car window to see Lysander in the back seat. His handsome


    face wasicold and imposing.


    Thssa¡¯s heart skipped a beat. Her breath hitched.


    She took a few careful deep breaths to calm her racing heart after her run.


    She lifted her hand and nervously knocked on the car door.


    With a click, the door opened.


    As the door opened, a cold aura seeped out. The oppressive and icy air brushed against Thssa¡¯s


    skin, making her shiver.

 Chapter 425

    Chapter 425


    ¡°Do you want me to lift you up?¡± Lysander¡¯s dark eyes flicked towards her.


    Thssa was taken aback and she quickly get into the car. She wouldn¡¯t dare let Lysander lift her into


    the car unless she had a death wish.


    As soon as she leaned in, Lysander wrapped his arm around her waist. He pulled her effortlessly onto


    hisp.


    Thssa gasped as she felt his powerful and toned legs beneath her, the heat radiating through his


    jeans.


    The strong masculine scent overwhelmed her, and her heart pounded in her chest.


    ¡°Mr. Sinir, please don¡¯t.¡± Thssa said, shyly trying to avoid his gaze.


    The driver, David, was sitting in the front. She felt embarrassed when he saw Lysander¡¯s intimate


    gesture.


    Suddenly, a partition rose between the back and front seats, creating a more enclosed and intimate


    space. The partition effectively blocked out sound from the front.


    Lysander grasped her chin, forcing her to look at him. His eyes were cold and piercing.


    He studied her flushed face, the tiny beads of sweat on her forehead. Her half-dry hair cascaded over


    her shoulders, her lips enticingly red.


    She looked like she had juste out of a shower


    Lysander clenched his jaw, his handsome face icy, ¡°Where did you shower, hm?¡±


    ¡°At home.¡± Thssa replied.


    ¡°I suggest you tell the truth!¡± Lysander¡¯s voice was a low growl.


    Thssa paused, looking into his icy cold face. Her heart pounded as she realized what he was


    implying.


    She started to panic, ¡°I showered at my girlfriend¡¯s ce. I was nning to stay there tonight.¡±


    Lysander narrowed his eyes dangerously.


    Thssa quickly exined, ¡°It¡¯s true. My friend¡¯s son won the gourmetpetition today and invited


    me over to celebrate. We were having a great time, and it gotte so I decided to stay over. If you don¡¯t


    believe me, I can call her to confirm.¡±


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    Every nerve in Thssa¡¯s body was on edge.


    She thought she had covered all bases. It took exactly half an hour to get from Vibrant Oasis


    Residences to here, and she had even entered through the back door.


    Why did Leopold believe her without question, but Lysander immediately sensed something was off?


    Lysander let go of her face, his icy gaze never leaving hers. His voice was a chilling whisper, ¡°Call


    her.¡±


    Thssa quickly slid off hisp. She was too nervous in that position.


    As she moved, Lysander tightened his grip on her waist, ¡°Make the call from here.¡±


    Thssa froze, not daring to move.


    Sitting on Lysander¡¯sp, surrounded by his intense masculine scent, especially with his strong legs


    berieath her, made her heart race.


    His aura was dangerous.


    She was breathless.


    But Lysander was clearly angry, she didn¡¯t dare disobey.


    She pulled out her phone from her purse and dialed Hertha¡¯s number.


    ¡°Put it on speaker!¡± Lysander demanded.


    Thssa obeyed and put the call on speaker. After a few rings, Hertha answered, her voice groggy and


    sleepy, ¡°Thssa, what¡¯s up?¡±


    Thssa¡¯s heart pounded in her throat.


    She prayed silently that Hertha would sense her distress and y along.


    Lysander was too smart. One slip up and the lie would be exposed.


    If that happened, he would surely tear her to pieces.

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    Chapter 426


    Hearing Hertha¡¯s voice, Thssa struggled to suppress the fear welling up within her. ¡°Hertha,¡± she


    said, ¡°I¡¯ve got a bit of an emergency and need to head home. I won¡¯t be staying over tonight. Don¡¯t fret


    if you don¡¯t see me in the morning.¡±


    As she spoke, Thssa cast a nce at Lysander, whose intense gaze was trained on her. It was like


    an invisible de, cold and sharp, pressing against her throat.


    Her heart pounded in her chest like a ping-pong ball, bouncing back and forth, as if she was a


    Thanksgiving turkey being prepped for the oven.


    She prayed fervently that Hertha would shake off her sleepiness and realize the urgency in her voice.


    Otherwise, neither of them would stand a chance.


    The air in the confined space was heavy with tension. Thssa could hear her own heartbeat, loud and


    erratic, as if her heart was about to burst out of her chest.


    Lysander¡¯s eyes never left her, and the oppressive feeling grew stronger.


    Just as Thssa felt her nerves stretched to their limit, Hertha¡¯s voice came over the phone. ¡°Oh, I had


    dozed off. Why do you need to go back sote? Is it something important, or did I miss something?¡±


    Hearing Hertha¡¯s words, Thssa felt her nerves loosen in relief. She was grateful for her best friend¡¯s


    intuition and understanding.


    ¡°No, no, it¡¯s just that I forgot to bring the clothes I need for work tomorrow. I even had to borrow your


    dress for a shower. I figured I¡¯d save myself the rush in the morning and head back now,¡± Thssa


    exined.


    ¡°Alright then, we¡¯ll have you over some other time,¡± Hertha said.


    ¡°Sounds good. You get back to sleep, okay? Goodnight.¡± With that, Thssa hung up the phone first.


    Thssa turned her clear eyes towards Lysander, as if to say ¡®See, I wasn¡¯t lying¡¯.


    But before she could speak, Lysander¡¯s hand cradled the back of her head, drawing her closer to him..


    Thssa¡¯s heart leaped into her throat, her eyes wide with surprise. She held her breath, bracing


    herself for a kiss.


    However, just as their faces were mere inches apart, Lysander¡¯s hand stilled. He brushed away the hair


    from her forehead, his movements assertive yet gentle.


    At this moment, Thssa and Lysander were so close that she could clearly see the fine details of his


    handsome face. His high cheekbones, prominent nose, sensual lips, and even the pores on his skin.


    And those deep, captivating eyes, framed by long, thickshes, were enough to make her heart flutter.


    She could even feel the warmth of his breath on her skin.


    His maic charm was disarming, to the point where she couldn¡¯t even breathe, let alone move.


    ¡°Why did you wash your hair when your forehead wound hasn¡¯t healed?¡± Lysander¡¯s voice was low and


    reproachful.


    His eyes were fixed on the dark red scab on her forehead, a sign of a tender healing wound. This type


    of wound was prone to infection if water got in, especially with her forehead drenched in sweat.


    Thssa was taken aback, and her nerves were momentarily reced by surprise. Was Lysander


    showing concern for her?


    ¡°My head was too itchy, I couldn¡¯t resist,¡± Thssa confessed.


    With a disapproving nce, Lysander directed her to sit next to him. He lowered the partition and


    instructed David, ¡°Take us to the hospital.


    ¡°Mr. Sinir, I¡¯m fine,¡± Thssa protested. ¡°The wound has already scabbed over. It will heal in a few


    days.¡±


    Lysander shot her a frosty look.


    Thssa fell silent, not daring to say another word.


    At the hospital, after an emergency check-up, the doctor cleaned Thssa¡¯s wound and advised, ¡°It¡¯s


    almost healed, so you don¡¯t need to bandage it anymore. But be careful not to get it wet. Infections can


    be tricky.¡±


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    Thssa nodded along with the doctor¡¯s instructions, repeating, ¡°Yes, yes, I understand.¡±


    As they left the hospital, Lysander walked ahead, his tall imposing figure radiating a cold aura. His


    steps were quick and decisive.

 Chapter 427

    Chapter 427


    Thssa jogged along, trailing behind him.


    Upon getting into the car, Lysander¡¯s handsome face remained cold as ice. Thssa sat carefully,


    almost as if she was walking on eggshells.


    She had no idea what she had done to upset him. Ever since they left the hospital, he had kept a stony


    expression, not uttering a word, let alone casting a nce at her.


    Afraid of provoking him further, Thssa kept her silence, too.


    The neon lights of the city reflected off the sleek ck car, casting an eerie yet mesmerizing rainbow of


    colors.


    Before long, the car pulled into a parking spot outside a restaurant.


    Lysander exited the car, with Thssa following suit.


    Seeing the name of the restaurant, a pang of surprise hit Thssa. What a coincidence!


    Just a while ago, Leopold had brought her here, and now Lysander had chosen the same ce.


    Did the Sinir men favor this ce?


    Engrossed in her thoughts, Thssa almost walked right into Lysander¡¯s towering figure in front of her.


    Luckily, she stopped just in time, or else the injury on her forehead would have worsened.


    Lysander shot her a nce, his dark eyes unreadable. He reached out, taking hold of her hand, his


    voice deep and icy, ¡°Pay attention when you walk.¡±


    Thssa remained silent.


    Wasn¡¯t it his sudden stop that had nearly caused the collision? And yet, he med her.


    Lysander led her, his long stride carrying them towards the restaurant.


    The doorman greeted them politely, ¡°Wee.¡±


    The staff recognized Lysander, a VIP who frequently dined here. His arrival always prompted everyone


    to be on their toes, providing impable service.


    But they had never seen Lysander with a woman before.


    Seeing him arrive, with Thssa, curiosity sparked in the doorman¡¯s eyes. Upon closer inspection, he


    recognized her. She was the same woman Leopold had brought earlier!


    Now, she was here with Lysander.


    Surprised, the doorman couldn¡¯t help but take a second look at Thssa.


    Thssa, already feeling guilty about having been here with Leopold earlier, felt even more nervous


    upon being recognized by the doorman.


    She quickly looked down, trying to be invisible, hoping to get through the night unscathed.


    Thankfully, the doorman kept his mouth shut.


    Lysander led Thssa to a window-side table overlooking a beautiful sea of flowers and a fountain.


    Upon first nce, Thssa found the view breathtaking. However, her second look only brought about


    unease.


    Because at this moment, sitting across from her was Lysander.


    The waiter handed the menu to Lysander, who passed it to Thssa.


    Looking at the menu, she found that it was in French. Fortunately, she hadn¡¯t forgotten all her French


    lessons and ordered the simplest dish, a steak.


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    Lysander said, ¡°The usual.¡±


    With that, the waiter took the menus away to prepare their orders.


    Sitting opposite Lysander, Thssa felt a pang of difort.


    Just an hour ago, she had been here with Leopold, and the staff would surely remember her.


    She was genuinely scared of being recognized at any moment.

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    Chapter 428


    Before long, the waiter served their meal.


    In front of Thssa was a te of steak, the aroma of which was tantalizing.


    The savory scent filled her senses, testifying to the deliciousness of the dish.


    Lysander had also ordered a steak, surprisingly the same as hers.


    Thssa was a bit taken aback, and she hadn¡¯t expected that Lysander¡¯s ¡°The usual¡± would be the


    same steak she ordered randomly!


    What a coincidence!


    Thssa nced at his steak, somewhat puzzled.


    Lysander lifted his gaze, looking at her, his deep voice asking, ¡°Do you know that this is the special


    here? Have you been here before?¡±


    His question sent a jolt of shock through Thssa. She quickly denied, ¡°I didn¡¯t know this steak was the


    special here. I just ordered it because it has the shortest name in French.¡±


    If Lysander knew that she had been here just over an hour ago, apanied by Leopold, seated in


    Please check at N/?vel(D)rama.Org.


    the very same ce, she was certain she¡¯d be in deep trouble.


    As Thssa spoke, she lowered her head, picked up her knife and fork, and began to cut into her


    steak, intentionally avoiding his gaze.


    His eyes were piercing; she was certain she¡¯d falter under his direct stare.


    Thssa cut a piece of steak and put it in her mouth.


    The steak was tender and juicy, absolutely delicious.


    Earlier, when Leopold insisted on bringing her here, she had no appetite to eat.


    She hadn¡¯t tasted the steak she¡¯d ordered then.


    Now, sitting across from her was Lysander. His oppressive presence felt like a biting cold wind on her


    skin. She was on edge.


    She couldn¡¯t afford not to eat.


    After a bite, she looked up at Lysander, her eyes curving in a smile. She praised, ¡°Mmm, it was so


    delicious.¡±


    Her smile, somehow, was illuminating, pure and clear.


    Lysander¡¯s gaze flickered slightly, a corner of his heart seemingly lit by her smile.


    He picked up his knife and fork, elegantly cutting the steak. Instead of eating the piece he cut, he


    forked it and ced it on Thssa¡¯s te.


    Thssa, who had been engrossed in eating her steak to hide her inner turmoil, was startled by the


    sudden addition to her te. It was like a stone thrown into a calm, shimmeringke, creating ripples


    that spread outwards.


    Thssa looked up in surprise, meeting Lysander¡¯s handsome, stoic face.


    He cut another piece of steak and ced it onto her te.


    Only then did Thssa react, saying, ¡°Mr. Sinir, I¡¯ve had enough. You should eat.¡±


    ¡°You said it¡¯s delicious, so eat more, Lysander replied.


    Thssa swallowed the piece of steak in her mouth. Lysander¡¯s words gave her a peculiar feeling,


    almost as if he was showing concern for her.


    She quickly dismissed the idea. How could that be possible?


    Even if the whole world cared for her, Lysander wouldn¡¯t.


    Who would show concern for the daughter of an enemy?


    She should be grateful that he hadn¡¯t killed her, let alone showed concern.


    ¡°Thank you, Mr. Sinir,¡± Thssa lowered her head, thanked him, picked up the steak he gave her,


    and focused on her meal.


    At this point, Lysander started to eat too. He chewed slowly and elegantly. Even eating, he exuded a


    sense of nobility and grace. Thssa nced at him, momentarily dazzled by his elegance and charm.

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    Chapter 429


    Instantly, she averted her gaze, refusing to look at him anymore.


    Laying eyes on a handsome man for too long, one¡¯s heart would flutter, perhaps even beat faster,


    cheeks flushing.


    What was this called? This was called infatuation!


    Thssa had always thought she was not the type to be infatuated. However, it seemed she had


    overestimated her resolve.


    Craving beauty was human nature.


    Yet, she knew she needed to restrain herself. Because she and Lysander were from different worlds.


    Between themy deep grudges.


    Charlotte had been in the private dining room for nearly two hours, constantly on the phone with her


    best friend,ining about her situation and sharing her crush on Lysander.


    Yet, he barely even nced at her.


    She even med her grandfather for not telling her sooner that he and Lysander¡¯s grandfather had


    arranged a marriage for them when they were children.


    If she had known earlier, she wouldn¡¯t have dated other men, creating a barrier between her and


    Lysander.


    Now, she desperately wanted to pursue Lysander, but he was not giving her any opportunities, leaving


    her in deep distress.


    After venting her frustrations to her friend and finishing her meal, she left the dining room, and there, by


    the window, she saw two people.


    A man in a suit radiating confidence.


    It was the man she longed for, Lysander!


    Seeing him, a smile bloomed on Charlotte¡¯s face. She was about to approach when she noticed a


    woman sitting across from him..


    Charlotte squinted at the woman, and her heart tightened upon realizing who it was.


    It was Thssa!


    Her long hair fell over her face, but Charlotte recognized her instantly.


    She wore the same dress she had worn during her date with Leopold just a few hours ago. Her hair


    was still slightly damp, and her overall appearance hadn¡¯t changed.


    Charlotte¡¯s smile faltered, her eyes filled with jealousy and resentment.


    She walked over in her high heels, stood next to the table, hands on her hips, and coldly huffed at


    Thssa, ¡°You¡¯re quite a busydy, aren¡¯t you? Dating men like it¡¯s going out of style.¡±


    The bitterness in her voice was evident.


    Thssa¡¯s heart skipped a beat. She looked up to see Charlotte standing there with an imposing aura.


    She nced at Lysander warily before replying, ¡°Ms. Ravensong, what a coincidence.¡±


    ¡°A coincidence? Don¡¯t y dumb with me. Just now, you were here dining with Leopold, being all cozy


    and intimate. Now, less than two hourster, you¡¯re here with Lysander! Are you so poor that you can¡¯t


    afford to eat withouttching onto different men?¡±


    As Charlotte used her, she didn¡¯t forget to belittle Thssa.


    Thssa¡¯s heart pounded in her chest as she looked at Lysander.


    And indeed, his handsome face was dark, his whole body radiating an icy chill.


    Just as she feared.


    Thssa tried to suppress her panic, pretending to be calm as she replied to Charlotte, ¡°Ms.


    Ravensong, you can eat whatever you want, but you can¡¯t spout just anything. I just came from my best


    friend¡¯s house, something Mr. Sinir is well aware of. You shouldn¡¯t lie just to frame me.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m not lying!¡± Charlotte retorted angrily. She red at Thssa, quickly moved to Lysander¡¯s side,


    and said anxiously, ¡°Lysander, she really was here with Leopold just now, sitting right here. You¡¯re


    sitting where Leopold was.¡±


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    Lysander stared at her with cold, dark eyes. ¡°One needs evidence for everything.¡±


    ¡°I have evidence and I took a photo.¡± Charlotte hastily took out her phone, desperate to expose


    Thssa.


    Luckily, when she saw Leopold sitting with Thssa, holding her hand in an intimate and affectionate


    manner, she had quickly took a photo with her phone.


    Charlotte was sure of her victory.


    Seeing her take out the phone, Thssa¡¯s heart pounded in her chest.

 Chapter 430

    Chapter 430


    Charlotte unlocked her phone, intent on exposing Leopold and Thssa¡¯s ndestine affair. Her


    Property of N?)(velDr(a)ma.Org.


    fingers flew over the screen, but the damning photo she had snapped of them was nowhere to be


    found. A sinking dread filled her as she realized Leopold had confiscated her phone long enough to


    delete the


    evidence.


    Her triumphant ims of having proof had turned into a hollow echo, extinguishing the fire in her eyes


    and recing it with a growing sense of embarrassment. Despite this, she wasn¡¯t ready to admit


    defeat. She turned to Lysander, her voice full of sincerity and a hint of desperation, ¡°I did take a photo,


    but Leopold deleted it. You have to believe me, Lysander! Thssa was ying you both, keeping


    Leopold on a string while clinging to you. She¡¯s nothing but trouble.¡±


    ¡°Enough!¡± Lysander cut her off with a chilling tone.


    His words, icy and harsh, silenced Charlotte. She felt a shiver run through her as she realized the


    danger of crossing Lysander. He shot her a cold, piercing look, ¡°Stop disturbing our meal.¡± It was a


    clear message.


    Charlotte clenched her fists, her heart pounding with a mixture of indignation and hurt. Why didn¡¯t


    Lysander believe her?


    Thssa was obviously a master maniptor, wrapping Lysander around her finger with her sly tricks.


    Just the other day, she had tricked Charlotte into going makeup-free and dressing simply, only for


    Lysander to detest her even more. Charlotte vowed to get her revenge.


    She took a deep breath and said, ¡°Yes, the photo was deleted from my phone, but there were


    witnesses. The waitstaff saw everything. All you have to do is ask them about what they saw between


    Leopold and Thssa, and the truth will be clear.¡±


    With that, she shot a challenging nce at Thssa, her face smug. But to Charlotte¡¯s surprise,


    Thssa epted the challenge without any hint of panic.


    Frustrated, Charlotte turned on her heel to gather the restaurant staff. Five waitstaff assembled next to


    Lysander and Thssa¡¯s table: One of them was the host who had greeted Thssa and Lysander on


    their arrival. He had given Thssa an odd look, clearly surprised to see here in with Leond


    earlier and now with Lysander.


    Lysander¡¯s gaze was steely as it moved over the assembled staff. His intense scrutiny made the


    waitstaff squirm ufortably.


    Charlotte pointed at Thssa and asked the staff, ¡°Wasn¡¯t she here earlier with Mr. Leopold, seated at


    this very table, ordering two steaks?¡±


    Then she searched the photos of Leopold from the Inte, holding a mobile phone and showing them


    to the waiter one by one.


    Thssa chimed in, ¡°Yes, please do tell the truth. There¡¯s nothing to be afraid of.¡±


    Charlotte was taken aback. Why was Thssa so calm? Wasn¡¯t she afraid of Lysander discovering her


    two-timing ways and casting her aside? Men, especially Lysander, despised betrayal. Knowing his


    past, the revtion of Thssa¡¯s deceit could have devastating, consequences.

 Chapter 431

    Chapter 431


    Lysander was bound to kill her himself.


    After shooting an enraged re at Thssa, Charlotte turned to the waitstaff, "Tell the truth. Did you or


    did you not see her with Mr. Leopold just now?"


    Charlotte was confident because she was speaking the truth.


    With so many eyes, it was impossible for everyone to be mistaken, right?


    With all these witnesses, Lysander would surely believe her.


    The waiters and waitresses all lowered their heads, not daring to utter a word.


    Lysander ced his knife and fork on the table, the metal clinking against the wood with a dull sound,


    like an intimidating force pounding at everyone''s heart.


    Thssa''s heart was also pounding, nervous and apprehensive.


    She was gambling, too, unsure of how the waitstaff would choose.


    If even one of them told the truth, she was done for.


    Thssa was so nervous that her back was slick with sweat.


    Lysander''s deep qaze fell on the waitstaff, his low voice demanding, "Speak"


    Thssa''s nerves were stretched taut.


    The waiter on Thssa''s side was the first to speak, "I recognize Mr. Leopold, and he didn''te to


    our restaurant today."


    Thssa''s tightly wound nerves rxed a bit, and she shot the waiter a look of subtle gratitude,


    incredulous.


    Charlotte was even more incredulous, and she was about to explode, ¡°How was that possible, Leopold


    ConTEent bel0ngs to N?v(e)lD/rama(.)Org .


    was clearly here with Thssa just now, eating steak and even halding hands."


    "Ms. Ravensong, you must have mistaken some other handsome man for Mr. Leopold,¡¯ the waiter


    exined.


    Charlotte was fuming, "Shut up! How could I possibly be mistaken, he even snatched my phone and


    deleted my pictures. How could I be mistaken? You must have been bribed by Thssa! Speak!"


    Charlotte was so angry she was panting, pointing at the second waiter.


    The second waiter was the doorman.


    Thssa was certain that he recognized her and knew that she hade to the restaurant with


    Leopold.


    Seeing Charlotte pointing at him, demanding him to speak.


    Thssa''s heart, which had just slightly rxed, tightened even more, so apprehensive that she held


    her breath.


    She looked up slightly to see Lysander¡¯s dark, deep gaze fixed on her.


    Sharp, dangerous, enough to suffocate her.


    Her hands on herp were clenched with tension.


    The doorman looked at Charlotte, then at Lysander, lowered his gaze, and said, ¡°There was indeed


    aman and woman sitting here just now, but it was not thisdy. Ms. Ravensong, you were mistaken."


    Thssa breathed a sigh of relief.


    Charlotte''s eyes widened in disbelief, unable to believe her own ears. She immediately asked the


    remaining three waitstaff to testify.


    All the waitstaff maintained the same stance, saying they did not see Thska and Leopolde in


    and that Charlotte was mistaken.


    Charlotte was on the verge of despair, and she shot each waiter an incredulous and angry look.


    There was grievance but no outlet.


    Her word against six, it was clear who Lysander would believe.


    She was too wronged, so wronged that her breath became rapid.


    She stamped her foot angrily, pointing at Thssa, "It must be you. You must have bribed these


    waitstaff!"


    Thska smirked, ¡°Ms. Ravensong, if you want to frame me, this is not the way to do it. Are all these


    people less clear-eyed than you? Frame me, dispose of a rival in love, and get one step closer to Mr.


    Sinir, is that it?"

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    Chapter 432


    Thssa''s words made Charlotte so nervous she couldnt maintain herdylike poise. The cracks


    began to show on her carefully made-up face.


    She was panicked, flustered. Even though Thssa''s usations weren''t entirely true, they did hit the


    nail on the head when it came to her intentions.


    She did, indeed, want to get rid of Thssa. That way, she could stand beside Lysander.


    She and Lysander were betrothed by their grandfather, so if she could just remove the other woman


    from his life, she could be with Lysander!


    Having her thoughts exposed in public felt like being stripped naked, causing her to feel uneasy and


    anxious.


    Charlotte took a couple of deep breaths, pointing at Thssa, and retorted angrily, ¡°You''re talking


    nonsense! I didn''t frame you. If it wasn''t for you and Leopold deleting my photos, I would have proof!"


    ¡°Enough! You should go now; don''t disturb our dinner!" Lysander''s gaze was sharp and icy, directed at


    Charlotte.


    Taken aback, Charlotte looked at Lysander with teary eyes, stomped her foot, and turned to leave.


    She had thought dealing with Thssa, a woman unustomed to society''s games, would be easy.


    But to her surprise, Thssa was stronger than she''d anticipated.


    She was either fooled by her or defeated by her.


    This time, she had been too impulsive, too careless. Next time, she would gather sufficient evidence to


    bring Thssa down.


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    Once Charlotte had left, Thssa finally let out a sigh of relief.


    Her back was drenched with sweat.


    She turned to look at the waiters, her eyes filled with silent gratitude, "I''m sorry for the trouble. You can


    get back to work"


    Just now, Thssa had confidently faced Charlotte, agreeing to let the waitstaff testify.


    She was betting, betting that the waitstaff wouldn''t dare to side with Charlotte and offend Lysander.


    The situation was clear. Lysander had brought her here for dinner, and although the greeter recognized


    her, they didn''t say a word.


    It was because they knew she was Lysander''s woman. If they upset her and upset Lysander, they


    wouldn''t get off lightly.


    Even if they were to break up, it shouldn''t be in the restaurant, and certainly not because of the staff.


    Otherwise, not only would the waitstaff suffer, but the restaurant would also go out of business.


    Lysander was decisive and swift. When he said he would acquire apany, he did it immediately.


    Thest corporation was a living example.


    Moreover, when Thssa asked the waitstaff to tell the truth, Lysander would surely be fair.


    To make them understand the seriousness of the situation.


    Fortunately, the waitstaff were all savvy people.


    She had won the bet.


    After the staff left, Thssa lifted her bright eyes, looked at Lysander, put away the chaos in her heart,


    smiled, and said, "Mr. Sinir, you should eat too."


    She cut a piece of her steak and ced it on his te.


    Lysander''s deep, brooding gaze fixed on her like a piercing cold light, causing a chill to run down


    Thssa''s spine.


    Her nerves, which had just rxed, tensed up again, unsure of what Lysander meant.


    Just when she was about to break under the pressure, Lysander''s gaze shifted away.


    Thssa let out a quiet sigh of relief and continued eating her steak.


    She had eaten too much in the afternoon, and steak was a very filling dish.


    Halfway through her meal, Thssa felt stuffed.


    But under Lysander''s intimidating presence, she had to force herself to eat.


    By thest bite, she was so full that the food was practically at the back of her throat.


    Thssa cautiously nced at Lysander, who was watching her.


    Taken aback, she forced a smile, picked up thest piece of steak, and prepared to put it into her


    mouth.


    The once delicious aroma now repulsed her. As the smell of the steak hit her nostrils, her stomach


    outright rejected it.

 Chapter 433

    Chapter 433


    A nauseous wave made her want to retch.


    Thssa immediately covered her mouth, rushing to the bathroom.


    Hunched over in the restroom, she was throwing up violently.


    The steak she had just consumed was almost entirely disgorged, making her feel slightly better.


    Breathing heavily in difort, she moved to the sink to wash her face.


    Behind her, a deep, piercing stride approached, like a graceful beast closing in.


    Thssa¡¯s back stiffened. Looking up, she saw in the mirror a handsome, stern face. The man was


    d in a ck suit, exuding an aura of aloof grandeur.


    It was Lysander!


    Thssa''s heart throbbed as she turned around, nervously saying, "That was thedies'' room. How


    did you get in, um."


    Before she could finish her sentence, she was abruptly scooped up from the waist, her soft body


    colliding with Lysander''s sturdy chest.


    Thssa was flustered, "Mr. Sinir, we are in public. It wouldn''t be good if someone saw us."


    Lysander''s hand gripped her face, squishing her cogen-filled cheeks into distortion, forcing her to


    look at him.


    His gaze was icy and sharp, his voice cold, "Two meals and you''re throwing up, huh?"


    Thssa''s heart skipped a beat, realizing the implication of his words.


    Hadn''t he just believed that she hadn''t dined with Leopold?


    Howe he was confronting her all of a sudden?


    Thssa held onto a glimmer of hope, "I didn¡¯t. My stomach is just upset."


    "Do you want me to check the surveince footage, huh?¡± Lysander''s voice turned even colder.


    Thssa was terrified.


    Just because Charlotte hadn''t thought of checking the surveince didn¡¯t mean Lysander wouldn''t.


    She had underestimated Lysander''s astuteness.


    Her tricks were no more than a clown''s antics before him.


    Confessing was safer than letting him find the truth through surveince.


    Thssa''s eyes widened in fear. She admitted, "I made a mistake. I know I shouldn''t have met


    Leopold, but he invited me, and I didn''t eat a bite, really! And I met him just to find out some things


    about you."


    Lysander''s eyes narrowed, a dangerous aura radiating from him.


    Thssa hurriedly exined, "I wanted to know how many women you''ve been with, what type you


    prefer, the past of your mother and Bruce. Once I understand all of this, I can figure out how to find


    someone to rece me, subtly dissolve your hatred, and let me go."


    Her words were half-true.


    She did want to understand Lysander, to escape unscathed. She needed to let Lysander find a woman


    he loved, and he would let her go if he fell in love.


    As for her meeting with Leopold and the bracelet he gave her, he couldn''t know about that.


    She had heard rumors about Lysander before.


    The first time she saw him was at Sapphire Skyline.


    ric Falconer and his friends imed that Lysander was still mourning his dead first love and had no


    interest in women.


    But what about Fayeter?


    Hadn''t she been Lysander¡¯s secretary for many years? And then, Faye fell in love with him and wanted


    to be his wife.


    But once Lysander grew tired of her, he found an excuse to break up with her, even using Thssa,


    Content ? provided by N?velDrama.Org.


    who was just a cleaner, as a shield to sever ties with Faye.


    So, the im of ric¡¯s gang that Lysander was uninterested in women was unfounded.


    Lysander''s eyes turned icy, locking onto her with a cold, angry re, his grip on her tightening as if he


    was about to crush her jaw.


    The pain made her wince.


    Lysander gritted his teeth, his voice sharp, "You wanting to escape from me, it''s never happening in this


    lifetime!"

 Chapter 434

    Chapter 434


    "Looked like you still didn''t learn your lessons, huh?" Lysander''s icy gaze was as chilling as a winter


    storm, his handsome face a mask of frosty indifference.


    His cold breath fanned across her face, making Thssa shudder involuntarily.


    She recalled his threatening words, his promise that if she dared to run, he would make her life a living


    hell.


    Aripple of fear passed through her as she stammered, "Mr. Sinir, I was wrong."


    "Toote," Lysander¡¯s icy words fell upon her liked the first snowkes of winter. He released her chin,


    wrapped his arm around her slender waist, and strode out of the restroom.


    He pulled out his phone and dialed a number, ¡°Presidential suite, please."


    With that, he slipped his phone back into the pocket of his suit.


    Fear blossomed in Thssa, making her legs wobble.


    She pleaded hastily, ¡°Mr. Sinir, it''ste. I need to get back."


    She had left without telling Evelyn, who was sleeping in a separate room. The children were asleep,


    too, and would panic if they woke up and couldn''t find her.


    She knew what booking the Presidential suite meant.


    Lysander tightened his grip around her waist, dominant and assertive.


    "No need to go back."


    The elevator took them straight to the top floor, where the Presidential suite was located. The door was


    already open, and Lysander led her inside, pressing her up against the door as it closed behind them.


    Thssa''s back was cold against the mahogany door while Lysander''s muscr body enveloped her.


    "Tonight, you''ll face the consequences of your actions, He whispered into her ear, his hot breath tickling


    her sensitive skin.


    Thssa shivered involuntarily.


    Her sweaty back against the cold door created a stark contrast with Lysander''s warm body pressing


    against her, creating a sensation of both cold and heat.


    This contrast stimted Thssa, making her breath hitch and her heart pound.


    Lysander''s lips kissed the sensitive skin behind her ear, his breath fanning across her skin.


    His lips were both cold and warm as he nibbled on her skin, making her shiver with delight and fear.


    Panicked, Thssa tried to push him away.


    But her hands were caught in his strong grip before she could even touch his chest.


    He was too strong, leaving her no room for resistance.


    With one hand holding hers and the other around her waist, he had herpletely trapped.


    His gentle kisses turned fierce, moving from her neck to her jaw, then finally to her lips.


    He kissed her passionately, leading her towards the bed.


    Heid her down on the plush bed covered in downforters.ConTEent bel0ngs to N?v(e)lD/rama(.)Org .


    Before Thssa could react, Lysander''s lithe body was on top of hers, capturing her lips once more.


    Their breaths mingled in the dimly lit room.


    With a flick of his wrist, he turned off the bedsidemp, plunging the room into darkness.


    The city lights outside therge windows flickered and danced, casting moving shadows on the walls.


    The electric blinds slowly closed, blocking the outside world.


    And inside the room, a different kind of frenzy unfolded.


    The room was quiet, the lights dim.


    Thssa slept deeply, unaware of how much time had passed before she slowly regained


    consciousness.


    As soon as she woke, memories of the previous night flooded her mind.


    Lysander had been relentless, ignoring her pleas for mercy.


    She didn''t even know how she had fallen asleep.


    Thinking about what had transpired, she felt her face heat up in embarrassment and irritation.

 Chapter 435

    Chapter 435


    She shifted, intending to get up, only to find herself cradled, held like a child in someone''s arms.


    A muscr arm rested against her waist, the defined lines and warmth seeping through her skin and


    leading to a flutter in her heart.


    Thssa''s cheeks flushed at the sensation.


    Last night, it was this solid, powerful touch that led her to surrender despite all her attempts to resist.


    Thssay back against Lysander, his muscr chest against her back. She could even feel the


    steady rhythm of his heartbeat, making her own heart race in response.


    His breath washed over her head, carrying a hint of danger.


    A hug that was both warm and dangerous.


    Thssa slowly lifted his arm away from her, getting up to retrieve her clothes from the floor before


    heading to the shower.


    Her reflection in the mirror revealed the evidence of the night before, her body was covered in love


    bites.


    Feeling somewhat drained, she turned on the shower, letting the water wash over her.


    Thankfully, her clothes from yesterday were still wearable.


    After getting dressed, she exited the bathroom, only to meet Lysander''szy gaze, which held a sense


    of satisfaction.


    Thssa paused, then said, ¡°It''ste, I need to go to the office."


    Just as she finished speaking, her stomach growled softly.


    Feeling embarrassed, Thssa covered her stomach and turned to leave.


    Lysander''s deep voice stopped her, ¡°Breakfast will be here soon. Eat before you go."


    She could have imed not to be hungry if her stomach hadn''t betrayed her. Now, she didn¡¯t even


    have an excuse to refuse.


    Just as she hesitated, Lysander got out of bed, his lean, muscr legs shing before her eyes.


    Thssa''s heart skipped a beat, and she quickly turned away.


    Lysander then disappeared into the bathroom.


    At that moment, the doorbell rang.


    Thssa quickly went to answer it, opening the door to a room service attendant pushing in a breakfast


    cart.


    "Good morning, your breakfast was there, the attendant said politely.


    ¡°Thank you; Thssa replied.


    As the attendant wheeled in the breakfast cart, Thssa¡¯s gaze fell on the clothes scattered on the


    floor, Lysander''s clothes, including his boxers.


    Her breath hitched, and she quickly picked up the clothes and stuffed them under the covers.


    She turned back to the attendant, offering an awkward smile.


    The attendant, though embarrassed, quickly left the room after setting down the breakfast tray.


    Feeling frustrated, Thssa pped her forehead, hitting the spot where she''d been injured.


    The pain made her grimace.


    Lysander emerged from the bathroom just in time to see her expressive face.


    "Was something wrong with the food?" he asked, his voice low and slightly husky from his recent


    shower.


    Thssa turned to look at him. Fresh from the shower, he looked even more handsome.


    She took a deep breath to steady her racing heart. "No, I just hit my injury by ident"


    His gaze lingered on her forehead, noting the darker scar. It was healing.


    ¡°Come eat,¡¯ he ordered, sitting down at the table.


    Thssa sat down across from him, noticing a ss of water and a small, white pill.


    Please check at N/?vel(D)rama.Org.


    She felt heartache.


    She knew what that pill was.


    It was a morning-after pill!

 Chapter 436

    Chapter 436


    Thssa nced up at Lysander, who was too engrossed in his breakfast to spare her a second¡¯s


    attention.


    Sitting poised and regal, he was a picture of elegance as he punctured his fried egg with his fork, the


    yolk running like molten gold onto his te. Not a single peripheral nce was given her way.


    Thssa¡¯s eyshes fluttered down in disappointment, a smallugh escaping her lips. She picked up


    the tiny birth control pill, tossed it into her mouth, and washed it down with a gulp of orange juice.


    She didn¡¯t utter a word as she helped herself to a bowl of oatmeal. She ate quickly, ignoring the


    plentiful spread before her. Once the oatmeal was gone, she ced the bowl down and dered, ¡°I¡¯m


    full. I¡¯ll be leaving now.¡±


    With that, she stood and walked away.


    Lysander didn¡¯t stop her. He continued his breakfast, his eyes as deep and mournful as a snowden


    sky.


    Thssa felt a sinking sensation in her heart, a mix of sadness and anger bubbling within her.


    Even though he didn¡¯t utter a word, his actions spoke volumes. She wasn¡¯t worthy of carrying his child,


    and he would never let her bear his offspring. He had never even considered a future with her.


    The realization was a bitter pill to swallow, worse than the actual contraceptive she had just ingested..


    She stepped out of the dining room, tilting her head to gaze at the cloudless sky overhead. She took a


    deep breath, trying to quell the storm raging within her. After calming herself somewhat, she hailed a


    cab and directed it to the Vibrant Oasis Residences.


    She had intended to go to work, but now she didn¡¯t feel like it. She was tired, both physically and


    emotionally. She didn¡¯t feel up to facing the day. Let Lysander find out she missed work, she thought.


    Better yet, let him fire her. She would wee it.


    When she arrived home, it was just past eleven. The house was quiet; the kids were at school, and


    Evelyn was likely at her bridge club. The children still attended their old preschool and wouldn¡¯t transfer


    to the local one until next semester.


    The house, though empty, was filled with theforting signs of her children. Toys littered the living


    room, and baby bottles and utensils were scattered on the dining table. The sweet scent of baby


    powder filled the air, soothing Thssa¡¯s aching heart.


    She settled on the couch, clutching Elowen¡¯s plush panda. Holding the toy was almost like holding her


    soft, cuddly child. Her heartache slowly subsided.


    She was deep in her thoughts when her phone rang. Thssa¡¯s heart clenched, fearing it was


    Lysander or someone from Sinir Group asking why she wasn¡¯t at work.


    Relief washed over her when she saw it was Hertha. ¡°Sweetheart, are you at work?¡± Hertha¡¯s cheerful


    voice came from the other end.


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    The endearment lifted Thssa¡¯s spirits. ¡°No, I¡¯m at home,¡± she replied.


    ¡°You¡¯re not at work today?¡± Hertha sounded surprised. ¡°Oh, and aboutst night, what was that all


    about?¡±


    Last night, Thssa had called her in a daze, uttering something cryptic. Thankfully, Hertha had been


    quick to catch on and yed along with her.

 Chapter 437

    Chapter 437


    Her gut was telling her it had something to do with Lysander.


    Still, she didn¡¯t know the specifics. And she was itching to find out.


    Her inner gossip girl was on fire.


    ¡°Let me tell you something, I almost lost my life to Lysanderst night.¡± Thssa was feeling down and


    was d to have someone to vent to.


    ¡°What? You guys had a wild night, huh?¡± Hertha sounded surprised, but there was a hint of teasing in


    her voice.


    Realizing the implication, Thssa¡¯s face turned a deep shade of red.


    ¡°Hertha, can you behave yourself?¡± she said, flustered.


    ¡°What? Did I misunderstand your words just now?¡±


    Even through the phone, Thssa could imagine Herthaughing uncontrobly.


    ¡°If you continue to insinuate, I¡¯m going to hang up,¡± Thssa warned, her ears burning.


    ¡°Alright, alright, don¡¯t hang up. I¡¯m on my way to your ce, Hertha quickly sobered up and said in a


    serious tone.


    ¡°Aren¡¯t you at work?¡± Thssa asked, concerned.


    ¡°I didn¡¯t sleep wellst night, so I took the day off,¡± Hertha replied.


    ¡°Didn¡¯t sleep well? Did something happen with ric?¡± Thssa began, but Hertha cut her off.


    ¡°I wish! I was up worrying about you after your call. I couldn¡¯t sleep,¡± Hertha admitted, not at all shy


    about her feelings for ric.


    She had fallen for him at first sight.


    Unfortunately, he didn¡¯t feel the same about her.


    Feeling guilty, Thssa offered, ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Hertha. Let me treat you to lunch today.¡±


    Despite the fact that Lysander had found out about her meeting with Leopold, she was grateful for


    Hertha¡¯s timely assistance.


    Property of N?)(velDr(a)ma.Org.


    ¡°I won¡¯t settle for just pasta. At least treat me to a barbecue,¡± Hertha said, not holding back.


    Order whatever you want,¡± Thssa chirped.


    Suddenly, the gloom that had been hanging over her head lifted. She felt like a cloud had been parted,


    revealing a beautiful moon. Life was so beautiful.


    She had such a loving friend, a lovely baby, and a mother who adored her. Life was full of color and joy,


    even if there were asional clouds.


    Soon, Hertha arrived at her ce.


    Upon seeing her, Thssa rushed over, hugging her like a wounded kitten seekingfort. ¡°Oh,


    Hertha, you won¡¯t believe what I went throughst night. It was like, a roller coaster ride, full of ups and


    downs. I thought I was going to have a heart attack. And in the end, Lysander still figured everything


    out.¡±


    ¡°There, there, darling. Don¡¯t be sad. Tell me everything that happened,¡± Herthaforted her, patting


    her on the back and leading her to the couch, ready to listen


    Thssa told her everything that had happened the night before.


    She had been threatened by Leopold to go to a restaurant, and he had even given her a bracelet.


    Lysander had called her as soon as she got home, asking her to meet him.


    He knew she hadn¡¯te from upstairs when she arrived at their old apartmentplex. His icy gaze


    made her shiver as if he wanted to rip her to pieces.


    And then, he almost found out about her dinner with Leopold. She thought she had sessfully lied,


    but Lysander still figured it out.


    He seemed omniscient, which scared Thssa. She worried that the secret about her baby wouldn¡¯t


    stay hidden for long.


    But Hertha¡¯s focus was somewhere else altogether. ¡°And then? Lysander found out about your date


    with Leopold and got angry. What happened next? What did you guys do?¡±


    Hertha¡¯s round eyes sparkled with curiosity as she looked at Thssa.


    Thssa was initially worried, but Hertha¡¯s words caused her face to turn bright red. Stop it, Hertha!


    Where is your focus? I¡¯m trying to discuss our strategy here.*


    ¡°Ha, I haven¡¯t even said anything, and you¡¯re blushing. Did Lysander go all alpha male on youst


    night?¡± Hertha folded her arms,ughing uncontrobly at Thssa¡¯s yful punches.

 Chapter 438

    Chapter 438


    The more Hertha talked, the more Thssa blushed, her cheeks turning red like ripe apples.


    Hertha, the rascal, was bold and blunt. She could talk about anything and everything without a hint of


    hesitation.


    Her words unconsciously conjured up images in Thssa¡¯s mind, scenes fromst night when


    Lysander had left her breathless and exhausted.


    Her face reddened, and she chastised, ¡°Hertha, can you stop messing around? We¡¯re having a serious


    conversation here!¡±


    Thssa rolled her eyes and shifted in her seat on the couch, clearly exasperated with her friend¡¯s


    antics.


    ¡°Alright, alright, I¡¯ll stopughing,¡± Hertha promised, pursing her lips in an attempt to suppress her


    Thssa simply stared at her.


    Hertha knew she was being ridiculous, but she just couldn¡¯t help herself.


    Clearing her throat, she mimicked a ssic yoga pose, taking deep breaths in and out.


    Once she had managed to rein in herughter, she turned to Thssa with a solemn expression.


    ¡°Look, you¡¯ve got nothing to be upset about. Think about it, you¡¯ve got Lysander, a man who¡¯s as


    handsome as a Hollywood star and built like a Greek god. I can¡¯t even sleep thinking about him. You


    should be celebrating, not sulking.¡±


    As she finished her little pep talk, Hertha gave Thssa aforting pat on the shoulder.


    ¡°Then why don¡¯t you take him?¡± Thssa retorted with a dismissive wave of her hand.


    ¡°You think I haven¡¯t tried? The man won¡¯t even give me a second nce,¡± Hertha replied, her face


    turning a shade of pink.


    Thssa buried her face in her hands, ¡°That¡¯s not the point, Hertha. I¡¯m worried about how he knew I


    didn¡¯t go home or that I met with Leopold. He¡¯s too smart. I¡¯m scared that he¡¯ll find out about our


    Property of N?)(velDr(a)ma.Org.


    secret.¡±


    ¡°Well, if he does find out, you can always discuss custody and child support. He¡¯s loaded. It¡¯s only right


    that he helps out,¡± Hertha suggested.


    ¡°But what if he tries to take my babies away from me? He¡¯s so domineering and ruthless. Plus, he


    knows I¡¯m Bruce¡¯s daughter, and he can¡¯t stand me,¡± Thssa admitted her voice barely a whisper.


    Hertha thought for a moment before nodding in agreement. ¡°You¡¯re right, and we need to find a way to


    keep your kids safe from Lysander.¡±


    The two women wracked their brains but couldn¡¯te up with a solid n.


    Just then, Hertha¡¯s phone rang. It was ric!


    Hertha was so excited that she fumbled with her phone, nearly dropping it twice. She took a deep


    breath to calm herself before answering the call.


    In a soft, flirtatious voice, she greeted, ¡°Hello, to what do I owe the pleasure? Miss me already?¡±


    ¡°Cut the crap!¡± ric¡¯s voice was clearly annoyed. ¡°Can you be normal for once?¡±


    Hertha was taken aback. She had tried being nice and got shot down.


    She sighed deeply, ¡°What do you want, ric?¡±


    Thssa watched aghast as Hertha went from sweet to sassy in the blink of an eye.


    ¡°Do you remember the favor you owe me fromst time at that hotel?¡± ric¡¯s voice was stern.


    ¡°What hotel? What favor?¡± Hertha was confused, her tone a mix of irritation and confusion.


    Suddenly, she remembered, and her voice dropped to a whisper, ¡°Oh, that time. We agreed to call it


    even, remember?¡±


    They had agreed to go their separate ways after that incident, so ric¡¯s sudden call was a surprise.


    ¡°We¡¯re far from even! You tricked me, Hertha, and now you must face the consequences!¡± ric¡¯s


    voice was foreboding.

 Chapter 439

    Chapter 439


    ¡°What consequences?¡± Hertha uttered in disbelief. She¡¯d never heard ric use such harshnguage


    before,


    Thssa looked at her, eyes wide with shock and curiosity, a clear look of intrigue on her face.


    Maybe there was already something between Hertha and ric?


    Hertha nced at Thssa in surprise, understanding the meaning behind her curious gaze in a


    heartbeat.


    If this gossip were true, Hertha would be dying to take responsibility for ric.


    ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll take responsibility. I¡¯m all yours. Come find me, and I¡¯ll give my heart to you.¡± Hertha blurted


    out, her face flushing a deep red.


    ¡°Pfft!¡± Thssa, who had been sipping water, spewed a mouthful in surprise.


    ¡°What the hell are you talking about? Dream on! Last time you told me it wasn¡¯t Thssa locked in the


    room, but Debby. That¡¯s why I helped you distract the bodyguards. But it was Thssa. Now Lysander


    wants to have a little chat¡¯ with me. I can¡¯t escape this punishment. You need to make up for this, got


    it?¡± ric promptly pulled Hertha back from her daydream.


    Hertha opened her mouth, wanting to say something, but guilt kept her silent.


    Indeed, she had deceived ricst time.


    She had been desperate to help, hence the lie. Otherwise, ric wouldn¡¯t have assisted her.


    She had messed it up so she should take responsibility.


    Just a moment ago, Thssa had described how terrifying Lysander could be. The next moment,


    ric informed her that Lysander wanted to ¡®chat¡¯ with him, and punishment was inevitable.


    This punishment would definitely be severe.


    Hertha felt increasingly guilty. She blinked and asked, ¡°What do you want in return?¡±


    ¡°Your daughter, Elowen won the gourmetpetition, right?¡± ric asked abruptly.


    Hertha was taken aback. She held the phone and told Thssa beside her, ¡°ric is talking about


    Elowen.¡±


    Thssa paused, then said, ¡°Put him on speaker.¡±


    Hertha switched to speakerphone and replied to ric, ¡°Yeah, what about it?¡±


    ¡°Well, your daughter¡¯s prize money hasn¡¯t been delivered yet. For promotional purposes, the investors


    will deliver the prize money to your house in person. Your address is the one listed in the information


    form, right?¡±


    ¡°What does this have to do withpensating you?¡± Hertha asked, puzzled.


    ¡°Lysander said that as long as I apany him to your house to deliver the prize money, he¡¯ll let this


    one slide. I just need to confirm the exact address with you.¡± ric exined.


    ¡°Oh, I see.¡± Hertha responded absentmindedly.


    Something dawned on her and she looked at Thssa in shock.


    Thssa was also staring at her, equally stunned.


    They exchanged terrified nces.


    And they were delivering the same information via eye contact: Lysander wasing!


    During Elowen¡¯s participation in the gourmetpetition, the address listed in the information form was


    Vibrant Oasis Residences!


    Thssa quickly gestured to Hertha, telling her to give him a different address.


    Hertha understood her signnguage and was about to give her own address instead.


    Please check at N/?vel(D)rama.Org.


    Before she could speak, ric¡¯s voice came through the phone, ¡°We¡¯re almost there.


    Thssa could feel the hitch of her breath.


    What?


    Lysander was almost here?

 Chapter 440

    Chapter 440


    Hertha nced at Thssa in a sudden panic, pulling faces and iling her arms about,pletely


    losing herposure.


    The sudden intrusion had caught them off guard, leaving them in a flurry of confusion.


    Thssa rushed towards the door and was intended to leave..


    That¡¯s when Hertha heard ric¡¯s voice over the phone, ¡°Open up!¡±


    Open up?


    They were already at the door?


    Thssa stopped dead in her tracks just as she reached the door.


    She stared wide-eyed at the door, behind which stood Lysander.


    She was just a doorstep away from him.


    The thought made Thssa¡¯s heart pound wildly. She hurried back into the room.


    Hertha paced around in distress for a moment. When she saw Thssa scuttle into the room, she


    quickly grabbed the phone, ¡°I¡¯ve just woken up and I¡¯m getting dressed. Wait a moment, I¡¯ll be ready


    soon.¡±


    With that, she hung up and followed Thssa into the room.


    The two of them jostled at the doorway, taking a great effort to squeeze into the room.


    Thssa was preparing to hide in a closet, but found that Hertha had beat her to it, pulling it open and


    slipping inside.


    Thssa looked baffled. ¡°Hertha, why are you hiding? This is your house and you should be


    weing your guests.¡± She said.


    Hertha blinked and suddenly realized something, ¡°Oh, right, why am I hiding?¡±


    Her subconscious made her believe this was Thssa¡¯s home and that the intimidating Lysander


    should be Thssa¡¯s problem to deal with.


    She had forgotten what she had just said on the phone.


    Lysander was here to see Elowen¡¯s guardian, and on the information form, Hertha was listed as


    Elowen¡¯s guardian.


    Hertha quickly came out of the closet and let Thssa hide inside instead.


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    As the closet door closed, Thssa gave Hertha a thumbs up to encourage her.


    Hertha took a deep breath, gathering her courage and nodding firmly.


    Alright, I can do this! She said to herself.


    She strutted out of the room and noticed a teddy bear on the couch and a toy gun, likely a boy¡¯s


    ything, on the table.


    Baby bottles and children¡¯s dishes were there too.


    Hertha scrambled to hide the toys and bottles.


    As she was about to put a baby bottle in the fridge, she suddenly froze; a lightbulb moment dawning


    upon her.


    Why was she hiding the children¡¯s items?


    This was her house and she was supposed to be the mother of four kids; children¡¯s items around were


    perfectly normal!


    Hertha felt foolish realizing what she had done.


    She put the baby bottle in the fridge, pped her forehead, and walked to the door.


    Before opening the door, she took a deep breath; she patted her face to rx, and forced a smile. Then


    she opened the door.


    As the door opened, a wave of cold, chilling air filled the room.


    Lysander stood in the doorway, dressed in a bespoke ck suit. He was tall and lean, his presence


    just one nce.


    Next to him stood ric.

 Chapter 441

    Chapter 441


    Dressed in a deep navy-blue suit and matching trousers, ric was a sight to behold. His white shirt


    and a blue id tie added to his extraordinary demeanor. His hypnotic eyes were enchantingly


    mischievous, a stark contrast to Lysander¡¯s rugged handsomeness.


    Behind them, a group of people were busy carrying cameras and microphones. They were


    unmistakably members of the press.


    On seeing them, Hertha¡¯s nerves, which had just begun to settle, stretched again. Her smile became


    tense and awkward. ¡°Mr. Sinir, wee. Please,e in,¡± she said, stepping aside to let them in.


    Lysander, followed by ric, spread his long legs and stepped in. ric¡¯s inscrutable eyes fixed on


    Hertha as he passed by. What a pair of enchanting eyes!


    His gaze sent a shiver down her spine, causing her heart to race. His enchanting allure, his


    breathtaking beauty, and his ability to captivate her with a single look ¨C it was all too much.


    The reporters followed closely behind; their cameras trained on Lysander.


    Once everyone was in, Hertha approached nervously; she noticed that Lysander was taking in the


    room¡¯s decor. He was staring at a giant panda plushie on the sofa that she had forgotten to put away.


    ¡°Mr. Sinir, Mr. Falconer, please sit,¡± she said, hastily grabbing the plushie and holding it close.


    As ric took a seat next to Lysander, he surveyed the room and remarked, ¡°The house is not bad for


    a single mom working and raising her four kids.¡± Hertha responded with a forced smile, ¡°Yes, I¡¯m d


    the kids are well-behaved so I don¡¯t have to worry too much.¡±


    ric, with a teasing smile, responded, ¡°I can see that. They¡¯re already earning their keep by winning a


    ConTEent bel0ngs to N?v(e)lD/rama(.)Org .


    huge amount of money in a single contest. That¡¯s two years¡¯ worth of ie for an average family,


    isn¡¯t it?¡±


    Hertha, feeling guilty, didn¡¯t respond. Instead, she noticed Lysander¡¯s gaze had moved to the clothes


    hanging on the balcony..


    Following his gaze, she saw several sets of children¡¯s clothes, including adorable animal onesies. The


    clothes swayed gently in the wind and looked incredibly cute. So Lysander was staring at those


    onesies. He must relent just by watching the babies cute clothes, she thought.


    ¡°Those are my quadruplets¡¯ clothes. They¡¯re about the same size, so I buy and wash their clothes


    together,¡± she exined.


    The report¨¦rs quickly took their cameras and gave them a close-up shot.


    However, Lysander¡¯s gaze had moved on to a yellow dress hanging among the clothes. ¡°Ms.


    Kensington, do you also wear Chanel?¡± he asked.


    ¡°No, I like Chanel but it¡¯s too expensive for me,¡± Hertha replied automatically. But then she realized her


    mistake. Among the clothes was a yellow Chanel dress. That was Thssa Everhart¡¯s dress, a gift


    from Lysander himself!


    ¡°Ms. Kensington, unless I¡¯m mistaken, that yellow dress on the clothesline is a Chanel haute couture


    piece. If you don¡¯t wear Chanel, where did ite from?¡± asked one of the more experienced


    reporters.


    Hertha¡¯s heart pounded in her chest as the reporter scooted over and handed her the microphone.

 Chapter 442

    Chapter 442


    She felt a cold sweat trickling down her spine.


    There was a nagging urge to spill the beans, to stand up for Thssa, to demand child support from


    Lysander, to use him of his years of neglect and his indifference to the needs of his own children.


    Just as she was about to voice her thoughts, Thssa¡¯s worried face shed in her mind; she recalled


    Thssa¡¯s fear of losing her children.


    Thssa had warned her that if Lysander were to find out about the children, he would definitely


    snatch them away and might not even allow her any visitation rights.


    Although Thssa had raised them, Lysander was so powerful and resourceful. If he wanted to snatch


    away the children, it would be a piece of cake.


    Her sympathy for Thssa eventually overcame her impulsive thoughts.


    Hertha managed to suppress the urge to spill the truth.


    With a forced smile, she exined, ¡°Oh, you mean this dress? It¡¯s my best friend¡¯s. She came overst


    night to celebrate my daughter, Elowen, winning the Gourmet Cookingpetition. She nned to


    stay over, so she took a shower and changed her clothes. But she left her clothes behind so I washed


    them for her.¡±


    After finishing, she sneakily nced at Lysander, gauging his reaction.


    Hertha¡¯s exnation matched what Thssa had told her over the phonest night.


    Lysander should believe her, right?


    Yet, Hertha still felt uneasy.


    Thssa had warned her that Lysander was cunning, and lying wouldn¡¯t fool him.


    Hertha was filled with anxiety, wondering if she had passed the test.


    The reporter who had asked her about the dress chuckled, ¡°So it¡¯s your best friend¡¯s dress. But I heard


    this kind of dress isn¡¯t supposed to be machine washed, it should be dry cleaned. Otherwise, it loses a


    lot of its value. But I¡¯m sure you guys are close enough not to worry about such details.¡±


    Hertha gasped.


    Right, this dress shouldn¡¯t be machine washed. The value of the dress shrank a lot in the washing


    machine. Even though it was a gift from Lysander, she still felt a pang of regret for Thssa.


    Lysander¡¯s eyes were cold and inscrutable, giving away nothing of his thoughts.


    He stood up and extended a card towards Hertha, ¡°Elowen Kensington¡¯s prize money. There¡¯s no code


    to this card.¡±


    His voice was low and attractive, and his whole demeanor was regal and handsome


    His extended hand was slender, but the veins standing out on its back were a cue of his masculine


    strength.


    Hertha was a bit intimidated and hesitated to take the card.


    Seeing her careful, almost smitten gaze at Lysander, ric chuckled, ¡°Take it. It¡¯s what your daughter


    deserves.¡±


    He emphasized the word ¡°daughter¡±.


    Even as a mother of four, she was acting like a smitten teenager. Thedy was a little too cheeky. He


    thought.


    Hertha was stunned for a moment before she extended her hands to take the card, carefully avoiding


    any skin contact.


    The man in front of her was Lysander and she was lucky to even be in close proximity to him. All


    thanks to Thssa, she thought.


    She wouldn¡¯t dare to have any physical contact with him.


    ¡°Elowen has such a knack for food tasting at such a young age. She¡¯s a real prodigy. Today, as the


    major shareholder, Mr. Sinir came to present the prize money


    in person. Mr. Sinir is truly apassionate, responsible, and understanding CEO, praised the


    reporters as they captured the moment.


    They promoted Lysander¡¯s image as a Samaritan.


    Upon hearing the reporters, Hertha snorted inwardly. Responsible my ass! She thought. He didn¡¯t even


    like his own children, let alone beingpassionate. What joke!


    Lysander¡¯s expression turned cold upon hearing their praise, a hint of displeasure visible in his icy gaze


    ConTEent bel0ngs to N?v(e)lD/rama(.)Org .


    as he swept over the reporters, ¡°You may leave now.¡±

 Chapter 443

    Chapter 443


    Lysander spoke and, even if the reporters were bodacious, they dared not ignore his words.


    One by one, the reporters took their leave.


    The room, which had been filled with the cacophony of chatter, began to quiet down


    Hertha was curious. The reporters were gone, the reward money had been given to her, so why was


    Lysander still hanging around?


    Just as she was puzzling over this, she noticed Lysander¡¯s gaze fell on a particr spot in the room;


    his eyes were deep and introspective.


    A wave of panic washed over Hertha. Had Lysander discovered something?


    She nervously offered, ¡°Mr. Sinir, Mr. Falconer, you must be thirsty. Let me get you a cup of coffee.¡±


    Oh, for heaven¡¯s sake, just drink your coffee and leave already.


    If they stick around any longer, I¡¯ll have a full-blown anxiety attack. She thought in her mind.


    Hertha moved into the kitchen, only to find that she couldn¡¯t locate the cups. She began to rummage


    through drawers and cupboards.


    Her nervousness and haste resulted in a ttering of utehsils, drawing the attention of the two men in


    the living room.


    ¡°What are you looking for?¡± a wickedly cool voice echoed from the kitchen doorway.


    Hertha jumped in surprise, spinning around to see ric leaning against the door frame, arms crossed,


    watching her with a rxed gaze.


    Hertha stammered, ¡°I¡­ I¡¯m looking for a drinking ss.¡±


    ¡°Can¡¯t even find a ss in your own home? This isn¡¯t actually your ce, is it?¡± ric raised an


    eyebrow and dropped her a question.


    Hertha¡¯s pulse quickened at his words. She hurriedly denied, ¡°No, of course this is my home! It¡¯s just


    that¡­¡±


    Hertha¡¯s gaze shifted, struggling to find an excuse.


    ¡°I just didn¡¯t want to use our everyday sses for guests. I was trying to find disposable cups to serve


    you coffee,¡± she finally found a usible reason.


    ¡°Oh really? You don¡¯t even know if you have disposable cups, or where they might be?¡± ric¡¯s


    Please check at N/?vel(D)rama.Org.


    piercing gaze stayed on her.


    Exhausted and under pressure, Hertha literally copsed while dealing those shrewd men.


    Despite wracking her brain, she couldn¡¯t outwit them.


    Hertha¡¯s forehead broke out in a cold sweat. She forced herself to keep calm, exining, ¡°My mom


    usually handles these things at home, buying and putting away stuff. I don¡¯t usually get involved in


    housekeeping, so I don¡¯t know where things are


    ric chuckled lightly, ¡°Look at you, all flustered. If I didn¡¯t know better, I¡¯d think you were hiding


    something. No need to fuss, we¡¯re not thirsty.¡±


    He turned around and left the kitchen.


    Lysander was sitting on the sofa, his eyes glued to a location map on his phone.


    Seeing the dot that was so near, his eyes darkened.


    ric approached him, ¡°Lysander, shouldn¡¯t we be leaving?¡±


    Lysander rose and headed towards one of the rooms.


    ric raised his eyebrows.


    He couldn¡¯t understand Lysander¡¯s move.


    Hertha emerged from the kitchen just in time to see Lysander heading towards a room. Her heartbeat


    quickened, and she rushed forward, attempting to stop him but not daring to actually do so.


    Stammering, she said, ¡°Mr. Sinir, you haven¡¯t had a meal yet. Oh, Mr. Sinir, this is my room.


    Would you like a tour?¡±


    Lysander halted, his gaze piercing her, ¡°Is there something you don¡¯t want me to see?!


    Taken aback, Hertl¨ªa quickly waved her hands, ¡°No, no, not at all¡­¡±


    ¡°Good.¡± With that, Lysander strode into the room.


    Hertha quickly followed.


    Lysander didn¡¯t look around. His inscrutable gaze was fixed on the closet.


    Thssa, who was hiding inside, could feel a chilling, sharp gaze cutting through the closet door,


    making her soul tremble.


    Lysander reached out to open the closet.


    Hertha¡¯s heart raced, her eyes wide in anticipation.

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    Chapter 444


    No one knew where slie got her courage from, but Hertha quickly stepped forward, positioning her body


    to block the closet door.


    With a sheepish grin, she said, ¡°Mr. Sinir, this is my private closet. It¡¯s filled with my clothes. It would


    be¡­inappropriate to open it.¡±


    Her words had barely left her lips when she was met with Lysander¡¯s icy stare. His handsome face was


    as cold as frost; it seemed that he could see right through her with those sharp, icy, oppressive eyes.


    Hertha couldn¡¯t help but shiver under his scrutiny.


    She recoiled slightly and stepped aside like a cat,


    As soon as she moved, Lysander swung open the closet door.


    The dark and enclosed space was suddenly filled with light.


    Thssa¡¯s eyes were met with the sight of Lysander¡¯s tall and imposing figure, standing just a few feet


    away from her.


    His aura was intimidating, his body emanating a cold sharpness, his face stern.


    Thssa locked eyes with him.


    The air seemed to freeze for a moment.


    The second she saw Lysander, Thssa¡¯s heart throbbed, her breath hitching in her throat.


    ¡°Get out!¡± Lysander¡¯s deep voice echoed through the room.


    Thssa shuddered and meekly stepped out of the closet.


    ¡°Well, isn¡¯t this a show? A disappearing act in broad daylight.¡± ric leaned casually against the door


    frame with a yful smirk on his face; his tone was teasing.


    Thssa closed the closet door and hung her head, not daring to look at Lysander¡¯s expression.


    Hertha sensed the tension in the air. It was especially emanating from Lysander, whose face was as


    dark as an overcast sky before the imminent storm.


    In a rare moment of insight, she decided to leave the room and give the two some privacy.


    As she walked past ric, he merely shifted to the side to let her pass, showing no intention of leaving.


    Instead, he watched Thssa and Lysander with a look of amusement, as if watching a juicy piece of


    gossip unfold.


    Hertha, left speechless, turned back and grabbed ric¡¯s arm, attempting to pull him away.


    ric, visibly annoyed, asked, ¡°Hertha, what are you doing? Trying to get a piece of me? One touch,


    one favor. You¡¯ve touched me more than once.¡± Hertha quickly released him. She lifted her hand in the


    air and said in nervousness, ¡°Don¡¯t be ridiculous. I didn¡¯t touch you.¡±


    ric gestured towards his arm, ¡°Your hands were all over me just now, weren¡¯t they?


    She had intended to exin herself in the first ce; but seeing his smug expression. Hertha hardened


    her resolve. She stepped forward to grip his arm firmly, ¡°Fine, I touched you, so what? Come with me.


    Since I already owe you a favor, I might as well get my money¡¯s worth!¡±


    This time, Hertha didn¡¯t just hold onto his arm over his clothes. She grabbed his hand directly, pulling


    him towards the door with a mix of coaxing and dragging, and shut it behind them.


    ric was in disbelief; the woman really had the guts.


    ¡°Hey,dy, have some decency! Let go of my hand!¡± Although ric was angry, he didn¡¯t shake her off,


    instead letting her release him on her own.


    He had never met a woman as bold as her!


    ¡°Hey, I¡¯m not letting go. I¡¯m going to touch. Not just your hand, but your abs too. Remember how many


    favors I owe you. Keep count.¡± Hertha¡¯s words were bold as hell. As she spoke, she freed one hand


    and reached for ric¡¯s stomach.


    Property of N?)(velDr(a)ma.Org.


    ric thought she was just joking around, but to his surprise, she really did reach for his abs.


    Instead of dodging, he was letting her seed.


    Even though she was touching him over his shirt, Hertha could still feel the strong muscles


    underneath.


    They were full of masculine charm. The feeling was amazing.


    Her heart fluttered at the touch.


    She was in trouble; she was falling deeper for this man! What should she do now?


    Seeing Hertha¡¯s infatuated expression, ric became anxious. He finally took things seriously, taking a


    few steps back. He shook off her hand and said in a righteous tone, ¡°Hertha, are you a hooligan? They


    said a mother is like a wildcat, is that true?¡±

 Chapter 445

    Chapter 445


    ric was a womanizer. But it was his first time being flirted with by a woman.


    He felt as if his masculine dignity was crumbling to dust.


    ric¡¯s disdain and prejudice hit Hertha like a sharp needle. She felt a pang in her heart.


    But she quickly gathered herposure, lifted her chin and looked him in the eye. She admitted it


    outright, ¡°Yes, the wildcat is now scratching you with its ws.


    So what?¡±


    ¡°You¡­¡± ric, a yboy who had charmed countless women, was left speechless by Hertha¡¯s


    brazenness.


    Stewing in his annoyance, he was unable to refute her confidence and candor.


    Frustrated, he huffed, ¡°I¡¯m a dream you¡¯ll never attain! Go home and sleep; you¡¯ll have everything you


    want in your dreams!¡±


    With that, he stormed off.


    He was nning to take the elevator but realized this was a walk-up¡¯building with no elevator in sight.


    ¡°What a lousy neighborhood? I can¡¯t even find an elevator.¡± Heined.


    With that, he quickly headed towards the stairs.


    Hertha watched his retreating figure, snorted, and stuck out her tongue..


    A dream I¡¯ll never attain, huh? Just watch me! She thought.


    Inside the apartment.


    Thssa was hiding in the closet when Lysander found her. She was overwhelmed with


    embarrassment; her head hung low, and she was not knowing what to do


    with her hands.


    Lysander¡¯srge hand cupped her chin, lifting her face to meet his gaze. His other hand rested on her


    slim waist, pulling her closer.


    Their bodies were tight against each other; their lips were so close that a slight movement would result


    in a kiss. Thssa could feel his hot breath on her face, and she felt a strong sense of insecurity.


    Thssa held her breath, her body tense and nervous, ¡°Mr. Sinir, don¡¯t do this in Hertha¡¯s ce¡­¡±


    The memory of his wildness from the night before was still fresh in her mind, and her muscle moves


    were still carrying that memory.


    Her body seemed to still carry his warmth too.


    She hadn¡¯t yet recovered, and he was already being so domineering.


    Thssa couldn¡¯t handle it anymore.


    ¡°Why are you hiding from me, huh?¡± Lysander¡¯s voice was icy cold; his voice went up, hinting at his


    rage.


    Thssa was startled. Right, what was she hiding from?


    Since they already agreed this was Hertha¡¯s ce, it was perfectly normal for her to be at her friend¡¯s


    Property of N?)(velDr(a)ma.Org.


    house.


    Why should she hide?


    Thssa suddenly understood. She was regretful for her foolish behavior.


    ¡°I¡¯m afraid you¡¯ll catch me ying hooky.¡± She said.


    ¡°Who taught you to y hooky?¡± Lysander fixed her with an oppressive stare, his voice low and cold.


    Thssa was flustered. She stammered, ¡°I¡­ I had a-headache and wasn¡¯t feeling well, thought I¡¯d


    take a day off. I haven¡¯t had a chance to ask David for leave yet. Let me go, I¡¯ll call David right now.¡±


    Her direct superior was David.


    Lysander lifted her chin slightly, his deep eyes focused on her forehead, ¡°The scab has turned ck so


    it¡¯ll be healed in a few days.¡±


    ¡°Yes, it will heal in a few days, but I also have a concussion¡­¡± Last night, he hadn¡¯t considered that if


    her concussion was so serious that it could cost heclife.

 Chapter 446

    Chapter 446


    Lysander¡¯s gaze fell on her eyes; hershes were long and fluttering like butterfly wings, and her pupils


    were clear as crystal. As she grew tense, tears shone in the depths of her eyes, tugging at his


    protective instincts.


    His deep-set eyes were ripple with emotion.


    *Promise me you¡¯ll be good. Don¡¯t make me angry again, okay?¡± His voice was a low, resonant


    rumble.


    Thssa quickly nodded in agreement. ¡°I understand.¡±


    ¡°You can take three days off. Rest well.¡± Lysander¡¯s voice softened as he released her chin.


    ?Suddenly, it dawned on her that while David was her immediate supervisor, Lysander was the big


    boss.


    She had just told her boss she was nning to call David to take a leave.


    Why not just ask the boss directly? It would be more persuasive, wouldn¡¯t it?


    Her mind was clearly not working under stress.


    ¡°Okay, thank you, Mr. Sinir,¡± Thssa quickly acknowledged.


    Lysander bent down, his lips close to her ear, his warm breath tickling her sensitive skin. ¡°How do you


    n to thank me?¡± He asked.


    His presence was powerful, his scent musky.


    And she was losing her marble.


    He was tugging at her nerves.


    Thssa couldn¡¯t help but shrink back; her heart was fluttering; her breath was hitching in her chest.


    ¡°Mr. Sinir, this is my friend¡¯s room, we shouldn¡¯t¡­¡± she stammered, gently refusing him.


    ¡°So, should we go to your ce?¡± Lysander¡¯s voice was a maic lure.


    Thssa¡¯s heart fluttered wildly, her blood pumping in her veins.


    She was breathless, blushing from the tips of her ears to her cheeks, ¡°Mr. Sinir, you said I should


    rest¡­ Besides, I want to spend more time here at my friend¡¯s house. It¡¯s too boring to be at home


    Please check at N/?vel(D)rama.Org.


    alone. I want to chat with my friend.¡±


    ¡°Can I join you?¡± Lysander¡¯s voice was a sultry whisper. His lips were nipping at her earlobe.


    Thssa shivered from shock, ¡°No, there¡¯s no need, Mr. Sinir. You¡¯re a busy man, I can¡¯t distract


    you from your work. Maybe you should leave.¡±


    ¡°If you insist, I¡¯ll stay tonight.¡± Lysander was growing impatient.


    Thssa stiffened, looking at him warily. ¡°That¡¯s not possible. This is Hertha¡¯s home her children will be


    back tonight¡­¡± She said.


    ¡°So what? No one can stop me from doing what I want.¡± Lysander enveloped her with his masculine


    aura.


    It was true that nobody could stop Lysander. He did as he pleased.


    If Lysander forcefully stayed, when the kids were back from school, Evelyn would bring them home and


    they would run towards Thssa, calling her ¡®mom¡¯ out of


    habit.


    Just thinking about the scene made Thssa¡¯s heart race with fear.


    He must leave.


    ¡°I have a headache. I think my concussion may be acting up, Thssa hastily said.


    Lysander¡¯s eyes narrowed as he straightened up, his gaze focused on her.


    Thssa feigned a pained expression, holding onto her temples, ¡°It really hurts.¡±


    Lysander¡¯s gaze hardened, his grip on her hand tightened, ¡°Let¡¯s go, we need to get to the hospital.¡±


    He had been rather rough with her the night before in his anger. If he let her head move again, that


    might make things worse.


    ¡°No need. The hospital won¡¯t do anything; the doctors will just tell me to rest. I¡¯ll be fine after a few


    days.¡± Thssa halted her steps, refusing to follow him.


    Lysander turned around, his eyes menacing and tense, staring at her.

 Chapter 447

    Chapter 447


    The palpable silence was unsettling, and Thssa felt a shiver of unease. Just as she was about to


    lose herposure, he let go of her hand.


    ¡°Don¡¯t stay upte,¡± he cautioned before leaving the room.


    As Thssa watched his towering figure disappear, she let out a sigh of relief. She had an uncanny


    feeling that Lysander¡¯s sudden visit to Hertha¡¯s house was for


    her.


    He came because she had skipped work!


    Otherwise, why would the CEO bother to deliver a.mere check from a gourmetpetition? That was


    a task easily delegated to an assistant.


    And the reporters added nothing to his public image.


    Lysander didn¡¯t need to build an image of responsibility and phnthropy. He was already so formidable


    and needed no image crafting.


    Thssa shook her head, dispersing her wild thoughts.


    Lysander just visited her in person and granted her a three-day leave. Was she that important to him? It


    must be a ploy to create an image of a caring, responsible, and child-loving man.


    After all, people tended to make up for what theycked.


    Hertha had her ear pressed against the door, straining to hear the conversation. Suddenly, the door


    swung open from the inside. Hertha stumbled but managed to stop herself from crashing into


    Lysander.


    Looking up at the brooding figure, she forced a chuckle, ¡°Ha, Mr. Sinir, leaving so soon? Won¡¯t you


    stay for dinner?¡±.


    Lysander spared her a nce, ignored her, and strode away with amanding air.


    ¡°Mr. Sinir, take care,¡± Hertha called out, still chuckling nervously. ¡°Do visit again¡­


    Before she could finish, Thssa dragged her inside.


    ¡°Thank you for the invitation,¡± Thssa said sarcastically.


    ¡°Shh, he might still hear you,¡± Hertha warned, making a zipping motion.


    Thssa quickly mped her mouth shut, not wanting to provoke Lysander.


    Once the door was shut, Hertha pulled her onto the couch with a curious look. ¡°So, what happened in


    the room?¡± She asked.


    Thssa blushed and tapped Hertha on the head, ¡°What¡¯s on your mind? What could possibly happen


    in such a short time?¡±


    ¡°Wow, so Lysander is a man of endurance, huh?¡±


    Thssa¡¯s face turned crimson on hearing her remarks. She started tickling Hertha, ¡°Can you


    behave?¡±


    ¡°Ah, hahaha, stop it, I won¡¯t ask anymore¡­¡± Hertha, who was ticklish, fell onto the couch,ughing until


    she was teary-eyed.


    Thssa let her go, sighing forlornly. ¡°Why Lysander can always find me? Do I have a special smell or


    something?¡± She lifted her arm to sniff herself.


    Hertha sat up straight, dabbing her eyes with a tissue, ¡°Impossible. Lysander isn¡¯t a hound, is he?¡±


    ¡°Why then? Even when I hide in the closet, he knows,¡± Thssa was baffled.


    Please check at N/?vel(D)rama.Org.


    Hertha shook her head. ¡°I don¡¯t know either. I¡¯m equally curious and surprised.¡±


    The moment Lysander walked into the room; he headed straight for the closet without searching


    anywhere else.


    He was indeed formidable.


    ¡°Hey, Thssa, this ne is beautiful. Where did you get it?¡± Hertha suddenly noticed the diamond


    ne around Thssa¡¯s neck and eximed

 Chapter 448

    Chapter 448


    Thssa lowered her gaze to the pendant hanging around her neck, murmuring, ¡°This was a gift from


    Lysander. Leopold Sinir said it¡¯s worth tens of millions.¡±


    When Lysander had presented her with the ne, he warned her never to remove it, threatening


    he¡¯d teach her a lesson if she ever did. So she was forced to keep it on, never daring to remove it even


    when taking a shower.


    ¡°What? Worth tens of millions?¡± Hertha¡¯s eyes literally bulged out in shock; she stared at the ne


    as if it was made of pure gold.


    Hertha was filled with curiosity, looking like a small-town girl in a big city for the first time.


    ¡°That¡¯s so expensive! What kind of fine jewelry is it? Can I take a look?¡± Hertha asked, scooting closer


    to Thssa.


    ¡°Sure, here you go, Thssa replied, reaching behind her neck to unsp the ne; her


    movements were awkward and clumsy due to her unfamiliarity with such jewelry.


    Unable to contain her curiosity any longer, Hertha moved in to help Thssa remove the ne.


    Once it was off, she held the ne up to the light, letting the pendant dangle as she admired it.


    Bathed in sunlight streaming through the window, the ne sparkled brilliantly. The diamonds


    encrusted around the cloud-shaped pendant emitted a dazzling, radiant light. It was both blinding and


    sparking, a symbol of wealth and prestige.


    ¡°I can see how good the stuff is. It¡¯s nothing like amon gadget. My eyes are almost blinded by its


    brilliance, Hertha eximed, entranced by the ne.


    Thssa chuckled, ¡°Seriously? It feels just like any othermon ne to me.¡±


    ¡°Have you ever worn amon ne?¡± Hertha asked her.


    Thssa shook her head.


    ¡°That¡¯s what I thought. You¡¯ve been wearing high-end stuff from the get-go. You think all nes feel


    like this, but that¡¯s not the case. A ne worth tens of millions is definitely different from an ordinary


    Property of N?)(velDr(a)ma.Org.


    one,¡± Hertha exined, sounding quite knowledgeable.


    Thssa asked, ¡°How is it different?¡±


    ¡°How is it different?¡± Hertha blinked; she didn¡¯t know the answer to this, ¡°I¡¯ll take a look.¡±


    She held up the ne, examining it from all angles. Apart from its brilliance and superior texture,


    she couldn¡¯t find anything else that stood out.


    ¡°The materials are different. They are more luxurious. The diamonds encrusted around this pendant


    alone are worth a fortune,¡± she concluded.


    Thssa pretended not to notice Hertha¡¯s bluffing and nodded in agreement, ¡°Oh, I see.¡±


    ¡°Huh!¡± Hertha suddenly sounded surprised as if she had discovered something new.


    ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± Thssa asked.


    ¡°There¡¯s a bluish hue in the center of this cloud. What kind of high-tech is this?¡± Hertha asked, staring


    at the pendant in awe.


    ¡°You must be seeing things.¡± Thssa said.


    ¡°No, I¡¯m not. Come over here and look from my angle,¡± Hertha insisted, pulling Thssa closer and


    pointing at the pendant, ¡°See, isn¡¯t there a bluish hue where the sunlight passes through the center of


    the pendant?¡±


    Thssa looked closely at where Hertha was pointing. At first, she didn¡¯t notice anything, but after a


    moment of careful observation, she too noticed the blue light. It wasn¡¯t just the sunlight refracting off the


    diamonds, it seemed like the light was emanating from within the pendant itself.


    The pendant was both radiant and mysterious.


    Thssa¡¯s expression turned serious, ¡°This blue light doesn¡¯t seem to be just the refraction of the


    sunlight on the diamonds. Maybe something inside the pendant is emitting light¡­¡±


    ¡°Exactly, otherwise the light wouldn¡¯t be so transparent¡­¡± Hertha agreed, continuing to scrutinize the


    pendant.

 Chapter 449

    Chapter 449


    Then, as if by some uncanny instinct, both of them jerk their heads to look at each other.


    Their eyes widen with disbelief and astonishment, as if they had just unearthed a new world.


    ¡°No way!¡±


    ¡°No way!¡±


    They both muttered in unison. Their disbelief was palpable.


    Then, Hertha ced the ne on the coffee table for both of them to examine the cloud-shaped


    pendant.


    There seemed to be nothing unusual at first nce until Thssa fetched Dorian¡¯s magnifying ss to


    inspect the pendant more closely. That¡¯s when they noticed a tiny seam on the side of the pendant, so


    tiny it was unnoticeable to the naked eye.


    They used a pocket knife to pry open the seam.


    The cloud pendant was made from two halves of a cloud, identical on both sides, with diamonds


    studded all around.


    But inside the belly of the cloud, there was a tiny chip flickering with a faint blue light.


    This chip, tucked safely inside the belly of the cloud, was virtually undetectable unless viewed under


    direct sunlight, which would reveal its subtle blue glow.


    Upon seeing the flickering blue chip, Thssa gasped and looked at Hertha, who was just as stunned.


    ¡°Just as we thought.¡±


    ¡°Just as we thought.¡±/


    The evidence confirmed their suspicions.


    If their guess was right, this chip was a tracking device.


    ¡°No wonder Lysander always knew where you were even when you were hiding in the closet. So this is


    it.¡± Hertha said.


    Thssa frowned in worry, ¡°I¡¯m afraid it might also be a bug. He could have heard all our conversations


    with the kids.¡±


    Hertha also felt a chill at that thought.


    However, she quickly dismissed it, ¡°It¡¯s probably just a GPS tracker. Otherwise, he would have taken


    the kids by now. And besides, he only everes looking for you, never mentioning the kids.¡±


    Thssa thought about the situation and nodded.


    Lysander was arrogant and domineering. After discovering that she was Bruce¡¯s daughter, he was


    instantly filled with hatred for her.


    Although he had been able to pinpoint her location these days, he had never mentioned the kids.


    And he had even made her take a morning-after pillst night.


    Lysander probably hadn¡¯t discovered about the kids yet.


    While relieved, Thssa was also worried, ¡°We need to keep renting that house.¡±


    Hertha shared her thought, ¡°Right, after you get off work, go straight back to that house. I¡¯ll keep an eye


    ConTEent bel0ngs to N?v(e)lD/rama(.)Org .


    on the kids.¡±


    Only this way they could avoid arousing suspicion.


    If they moved out now, it would only raise more red gs.


    Thssa, feeling both drained and grateful, turned her eyes to Hertha, ¡°Hertha, thanks for everything


    you did.¡±


    ¡°What are you talking about? I¡¯m their godmother too.¡± Hertha replied with a smile.


    Thssa hugged her, her voice filled with a mixture of fatigue and affection, ¡°Ah, I¡¯m so thankful to


    have you as my best friend. What would I do without you?¡±


    ¡°A best friend for life.¡± Hertha chuckled as she gently patted Thssa¡¯s back and rested her chin on


    Thssa¡¯s shoulder. Through the loose neckline of her dress, she caught a glimpse of a mark on


    Thssa¡¯s slender back,


    Hertha, surprised and a bit curious, asked, ¡°Hey Thssa, there¡¯s a big hickey on your back. Did


    Lysander do that to you? It¡¯s like a strawberry


    Just then, Evelyn opened the door and the kids walked in.


    Elowen, the food-lover, heard the word strawberry, her favorite snack, and ran over excitedly. ¡°Hertha, I


    want some strawberries too.¡±

 Chapter 450

    Chapter 450


    Thssa knew exactly what a ¡°strawberry¡± could look like. Her face immediately heated up as she


    quickly let go of Hertha.


    Elowen, who had been running over, hopped onto the couch, sandwiching herself between Thssa


    and Hertha. Herrge, innocent eyes flicked back and forth between the two women. A yful smile


    danced on her lips as she asked, ¡°Mommy, Auntie Hertha, what are you talking about? Where are the


    strawberries? I want some too.¡±


    The little girl was unaware of the implication of their conversation. Hertha stifled a giggle behind her


    hand.


    Thssa, mortified and wishing she could disappear into the ground, forced a smile and gently told


    Elowen, ¡°The strawberries are still at the supermarket, sweetheart. Auntie Hertha was just saying she


    was going to buy some for you.¡±


    ¡°Really, Auntie Hertha?¡± Elowen¡¯s bright eyes turned to Hertha, awaiting confirmation.


    Laughing, Hertha nodded and yed along, ¡°Yes, let¡¯s go. I¡¯ll take you to buy some strawberries.¡± As


    she took Elowen¡¯s hand and got up to leave, she sent Thssa a teasing nce that left her flushing


    with embarrassment.


    Their children were oblivious to the adults conversation, but Evelyn wasn¡¯t. She shot Thssa a look


    before heading into the kitchen. The look was reproachful yet resigned.


    ¡°Mommy, where did you gost night? We didn¡¯t see you this morning when we woke up.¡± Dorian,


    swinging his tiny legs, came over to Thssa with a worried look in his innocent eyes.


    Thssa caressed his soft little face and answered in a soothing voice, ¡°Mommy had to workte,


    sweetie.¡±


    ¡°Hmph, I hate work! When I grow up, I¡¯m going to defeat work so it can¡¯t take you away from us.¡±


    Dorian pouted, clearly unhappy with the concept of work stealing his mother away.


    Thssa couldn¡¯t help but chuckle at his adorable naivety. Her attention was then drawn to Atticus,


    who was standing at a small table, his attention fully captured by a ne with a cloud pendant that


    Content ? provided by N?velDrama.Org.


    contained a microchip.


    As the oldest sibling, Atticus was naturally curious about such electronic gadgets. Thssa quickly


    scooped up the ne, closed the pendant, and restored it to its original state before smiling at


    Atticus, ¡°This is mommy¡¯s ne. It¡¯s very high tech. Do you like it?¡±


    Atticus, whose face was so much like Lysander¡¯s, gave a small nod, ¡°It¡¯s nice.¡±


    ¡°Thank you, sweetheart. I think it¡¯s quite nice too.¡± Thssa responded, putting the ne back on.


    Even though she had discovered the secret hidden within the ne, she resolved to act as if she


    was unaware. She needed to avoid raising any suspicion.


    That evening, Thssa told her children she would be away on a business trip for a few days and that


    Auntie Hertha would be checking in on them. Hertha yed along, affirming Thssa¡¯s supposed


    business trip.


    Despite their disappointment, the children understood that they couldn¡¯t interfere with their mother¡¯s


    work.


    Thssa wanted nothing more than to stay with her children, but knew that she needed to keep her


    distance. Because Lysander was keeping a close eye on her


    movements.


    That night, after tucking her children into bed, Thssa watched Elowen¡¯s little belly rise and fall


    rhythmically with her breath; her chubby cheeks made her look so


    adorable.

 Chapter 451

    Chapter 451


    Sophia was sleeping face down; one side of her face squished out of shape. Her lips were pouted as


    she breathed in sleep. She was as adorable as a dough and she melted one¡¯s heart with her cuteness.


    Atticus was sleeping neatly, t on his back, his hands resting on his little belly.


    Thssa gently moved his hands down and ced them by his sides on the bed.


    Dorian was sleeping at the foot of the bed. Suddenly, he smacked his lips and rolled over, his little body


    flipping like a fish out of water.


    Thssa thought he had woken up, but when she saw him snuggle up against her thigh and continue


    sleeping soundly, she realized he was just a restless sleeper.


    As the four little angels surrounded her, their sweet baby smell was engulfing her. They melted her


    heart and filled her with a profound sense of happiness. She didn¡¯t want to leave them.


    But a brief separation was a small price to pay for a long future together.


    Despite her reluctance, Thssa had to leave.


    She leaned over each child, nting a soft kiss on their cheek, and tugged at the corners of her mouth


    in a sweet smile.


    With onest longing look, she steeled herself, got up, and walked out of the room.


    In the living room, Evelyn sat on the couch, her face stern, ¡°Did you go to see Lysander or did hee


    to see youst night?¡±


    Thssa paused, walked over to sit beside Evelyn; her hands folded in herp, her expression sincere


    and serious, ¡°Mom, I¡¯ll find a way to sort this out.¡±


    ¡°And how long do you think it¡¯ll take?¡± Evelyn asked sternly.


    Thssa didn¡¯t know. Her gaze was filled with mncholy and helplessness as she met Evelyn¡¯s


    eyes.


    Evelyn sighed heavily and looked away, ¡°Just go. Lysander is a handsome man with a great body.


    You¡¯re not losing anything by being with him. Enjoy your youth. Once you¡¯re older, men won¡¯t look at


    you the same way.¡±


    Before, Evelyn was against Thssa dating Lysander because they had no future. Lysander was only


    interested in her physical appearance, not her family background.


    Their ordinary family couldn¡¯t measure up to Lysander¡¯s wealthy one. She thought Thssa would get


    hurt.


    But things had changed, and they were all beyond her control. They couldn¡¯t fight against the wealthy.


    After much thought, Evelyn decided to ept the situation. After all, it was a time of gender equality.


    There was no such thing as losing or gaining in a rtionship. She couldn¡¯t have Thssa live alone


    for all her life just like her. If there was a man who wanted to date her, even if there was no future, the


    process of dating was still enjoyable.


    Hertha was right about enjoying the present.


    Lysander was handsome, well-built, and masculine. Thssa had struck gold. She wasn¡¯t at a loss.


    Having had this experience in life, she would have no regrets when she looked back in old age.


    Evelyn¡¯s sudden change of heart left Thssa in disbelief.


    When had her mother be so progressive?


    She was prepared for a lecture, but instead, her mother was giving her the freedom to be herself,


    ¡°Mom, I¡¯ll handle it, I promise.¡± Thssa tried to exin, thinking her mother was being sarcastic.


    ¡°You don¡¯t need to worry, I mean what I say. If you want to date, then date. Lysander is a good man to


    date.¡± With that, Evelyn got up and walked into the kids¡¯ room.Property of N?)(velDr(a)ma.Org.

 Chapter 452

    Chapter 452


    Thssa watched her mother leave as her eyes became low and thoughtful.


    Any words now would be futile, unless one day she truly broke free from Lysander¡¯s shackles, left with


    her four children and mother, and returned to the peaceful life they once had.


    She believed that day woulde; as long as she could ovee the challenges at hand, there would


    always be a way out.


    Thssa walked to the door and changed her shoes, ready to leave. Suddenly, she remembered that


    her keys were still in the drawer. She opened the drawer, found the keys, and her gaze fell onto the


    bracelet kept in the drawer.


    It was a gift from Leopoldst night. He had suggested that they elope.


    A wave of intense sadness rose within her while looking at the bracelet.


    Like a rising tide, it threatened to drown her.


    Back in their verdant campus days, she and Leopold were strolling under the riverside trees. The cool


    breeze mixed with the moisture from the river brushed their faces, warming their hearts.


    Suddenly, Leopold kissed her cheek.


    C


    Blushing, she turned around and shyly told him, ¡°What are you doing? We agreed to save that for our


    wedding night. You¡¯re cheating.¡±


    Leopold broke into a bright, youthful smile. ¡°Yes, I cheated. You can kiss me back if you want.¡±


    ¡°Hmph, don¡¯t think I won¡¯t.¡± Thssa feigned anger.


    With a mischievous grin, Leopold challenged her. ¡°Thene on.¡±


    ¡°Fine.¡± Thssa stepped forward.


    But Leopold turned and ran. ¡°If you catch me, you can kiss me.¡±


    ¡°You can¡¯t run away.¡± Thssa gave chase.


    One ran and the other chased, neither noticing the fresh grass under their feet next to a sign that read,


    ¡°Please tread lightly. The grass is new.¡±


    Just as Thssa was about to catch Leopold, a teacher called out from afar. ¡°What are you two doing?


    The new grass will be ruined!¡±


    The teacher started to chase after them.


    ¡°Run! Run!¡± Leopold grabbed Thssa¡¯s hand, leading her off the grass and into the small grove


    nearby.


    They crouched behind a tree and were hidden by the dense branches. They watched as the teacher


    rushed past their hiding spot and continued the chase elsewhere.


    ¡°Phew, she¡¯s gone.¡± Thssa heaved a sigh of relief.


    Leopold turned to her. Their eyes met under the swaying branches, casting shadows on their faces.


    Leopold¡¯s eyes were bright and youthful, while Thssa¡¯s were clear and sparkling.


    Their innocent feelings flowed freely between them.


    Leopold slowly leaned in, his lips nearing hers.


    Just as he was about to kiss her, Thssa quickly turned her head. Her lips brushed his cheek before


    she let out a giggle. ¡°I kissed you back, ha!¡±


    She jumped up and ran.


    Leopold, slightly taken aback, touched his cheek, smiled, and called after her, ¡°Thssa, you¡¯re so


    immature.¡±


    ¡°I am immature. If you don¡¯t like it, find someone else.¡± Thssa¡¯sughter shone brilliantly in the


    sunlight.


    ¡°But I like your immaturity.¡± Leopold¡¯s heart only held her.


    Suddenly, her memory shifted, taking her back to a night of torrential rain and thunderous lightning.


    Everything changed.


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    Startled, Thssa shook off her reverie.


    She picked up the bracelet and slipped it onto her wrist.


    The cool, smooth touch of the bracelet was a chilling reminder that even the warmest of feelings could


    cool down.


    Some people, once lost, were lost forever.


    Life was rarely perfect.


    Most times, it was filled with regrets.

 Chapter 453

    Chapter 453


    What was gone was gone. The future was still promising, and a different life could be just as exciting.


    She now had four adorable little angels, the highlights of her life.


    After shaking off her thoughts, she stepped out of the house.


    Lysander had given her three days off, and coupled with the weekend, it was a total of five days.


    These past few days, Thssa had been spending time in the neighborhood where she used to live,


    taking some time off.


    Lysander hadn¡¯t bothered her either.


    Everything was peaceful.


    On Sunday afternoon, Thssa went out to buy groceries and got ready to prepare dinner.


    Content ? provided by N?velDrama.Org.


    Just as she left the building, she noticed a sleek ck Bentley parked nearby. A man dressed in a


    ck turtleneck and a blue suit embellished with golden threads was leaning against the car, puffing on


    a cigarette.


    It was Leopold!


    Thssa thought about pretending not to see him and walking straight past him.


    Her wrist was grabbed, and she turned around to find herself facing Leopold¡¯s handsome face. His


    usually sunny eyes were now shaded with darkness. Half of the scab on his face had fallen off, with the


    other half still clinging to his cheek, looking like a ck spider..


    Where the scab had fallen off, the skin was tender and slightly red.


    Thssa tried to wriggle her wrist free. ¡°Leopold, let me go!¡±


    Leopold¡¯s gaze was fixed on her wrist. She was wearing the bracelet he had given her. A flicker of


    excitement passed through his eyes. ¡°You¡¯ve been wearing it?¡±


    Thssa was taken aback, realizing that he was referring to the bracelet on her wrist.


    She replied, ¡°I was just wearing it for fun. I¡¯ll take it off now.¡±


    When she left Vibrant Oasis Residences that day, she had put it on and forgotten to take it off. She


    hadn¡¯t expected Leopold to spot it.


    As she was about to take it off, Leopold held onto the bracelet, preventing her from doing so. ¡°It¡¯s just a


    piece of jewelry. It¡¯s meant to be worn for fun. Keep it on; it Tooks good on you.¡±


    His gaze shifted to the ne around her neck. She was wearing that too.


    His previously soft gaze darkened once again. ¡°You¡¯ve been wearing the ne too?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s just a piece of jewelry. It¡¯s meant to be worn for fun.¡± Thssa pulled her hand free, echoing his


    words.


    Leopold¡¯s eyes were unreadable, and his lean figure loomed over her. ¡°Join me for dinner.¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t need to. I¡¯ve already eaten.¡± Thssa declined instantly.


    ¡°Then apany me for dinner.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m not interested. Leopold, since we¡¯ve both moved on, let¡¯s remain strangers. Let¡¯s not drag this on.¡±


    Since they had missed their chance, there was no hope for them anymore. She didn¡¯t want to be


    entangled in a messy situation.


    ¡°So you¡¯re saying Lysander is your future?¡± Pain filled Leopold¡¯s eyes.


    There was a flicker of unease in Thssa¡¯s eyes, but she quickly lifted her head, looked at him


    resolutely, and said, ¡°Yes! Go find your own happiness! I¡¯m leaving!¡±


    With that, she headed out of theplex.


    She had things to do, and if she turned back hotne just because she saw him, it would make him think


    she was guilty, afraid, and avoiding him.


    She wanted to show him that his presence didn¡¯t affect her in the slightest.


    Leopold watched her retreating figure as he clenched his fist and felt his heart ache like it was being


    soaked in seawater.


    Thssa entered a coffee shop just outside theplex and stared nkly out of the window.


    Leopold¡¯s car was still not moving.


    What was he doing?


    Leopold leaned against the car and pulled out another cigarette, smoking as if it could ease his aching


    heart.


    He smoked several in a row. The sourness in his heart grew even more intense.


    He got into the car and drove away abruptly.


    Thssa watched Leopold¡¯s car drive away through the ss window of the coffee shop. Only then did


    she breathe a sigh of relief and let her gaze drop slightly.


    ¡°Thssa, isn¡¯t it? I¡¯ve been wanting to find you.¡±


    She heard a voice from beside her.

 Chapter 454

    Chapter 454


    Thssa tumed at the sound of the voice to see a well-kept woman of about fifty. Her skin was pale


    and smooth, with barely a wrinkle to be seen.


    But time had a way of marking us all. No matter how well someone maintained their skin, the years


    would always leave their trace.


    It was apparent from her eyes and demeanor that she was a woman of a certain age.


    She was dressed in a flowing skirt, a stylish blouse with a floral cor, a wristwatch, pearl earrings, and


    a tinum ne, and her hair was styled in loose waves. She radiated an air of aristocracy.


    Thssa was certain she didn¡¯t know this woman. She politely inquired, ¡°Hello, how may I assist you?¡±


    The woman seated herself directly across from Thssa. It was obvious that her gaze was filled with


    prejudice and dissatisfaction. ¡°I¡¯ll cut to the chase. I am Amelia Sinir, Leopold¡¯s mother,¡±


    Thssa¡¯s eyes widened slightly, and she immediately greeted her respectfully. ¡°Ah, Amelia. Nice to


    meet you.¡±


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    ¡°You¡¯re quite attractive. You¡¯re certainly capable of ensnaring men.¡± Amelia crossed her arms as she


    scrutinized Thssa with her malicious gaze.


    Thssa was patient and polite, but Amelia left her feeling ufortable.


    She realized that Amelia¡¯s visit wasn¡¯t going to be pleasant.


    Sheughed lightly and responded, ¡°Amelia, you are still quite the beauty. I wonder how many hearts


    you¡¯ve managed to captivate.¡±


    Amelia¡¯s face darkened at Thssa, and she huffed. ¡°You haven¡¯t even stepped foot into the Sinir


    family, and already you¡¯re so sharp-tongued. Thssa, I¡¯ll make it clear. I don¡¯t like you. I hope you can


    keep your distance from my son.¡±


    Thssa¡¯s knuckles whitened where her hand rested on herp. She met Amelia¡¯s gaze unflinchingly.


    ¡°Amelia, while you warn me, perhaps you should also keep your son in check and stop him from


    pursuing me. I have absolutely no intentions towards him. I just want to live a peaceful life without any


    disturbances.¡±


    Amelia¡¯s face turned even more sour, and her breathing became irregr. She leaned forward in her


    seat as her eyes narrowed on Thssa. ¡°If you weren¡¯t leading him on, would he be so devoted to


    you?! only have one son. He¡¯s such a promising young man, and because of you, he¡¯s emotionally


    drained and depressed. Not too long ago, he almost lost his life because of you. Can¡¯t you just let him


    go?¡±


    In her harsh words, Amelia¡¯s deep love and fear for her son were evident.


    Though Thssa was taken aback, she felt sympathy.


    She too was a mother and could understand Amelia¡¯s fear of losing her only child.


    Thssa softened her tone. ¡°Amelia, I¡¯ve been doing my best to distance myself from him. After our


    breakup five years ago, I never thought about getting back together with him. If you¡¯re worried that I¡¯m


    the one clinging to him, you don¡¯t have to


    ¡°Five years ago? You have the audacity to bring up your breakup with him?¡± Amelia scoffed. ¡°Back


    then, after you broke up with him, he cried and didn¡¯t eat or drink for days. He threatened to harm


    himself if he couldn¡¯t marry you. If it weren¡¯t for his brother, Lysander, persuading him to enhance his


    prospects and study abroad he would have been ruined by you. How could you be so cruel? You were


    so lovey-dovey when you were together, and then when you broke up, you were so ruthless You almost


    drove him to his death!¡±


    Amelia¡¯s words felt like a knife to Thssa¡¯s heart. Her breath hitched.


    She had no idea that Leopold had been so devastated after their breakup.

 Chapter 455

    Chapter 455


    She thought that after their breakup, even though they would be heartbroken, they would still manage


    to live well. She believed time would heal all wounds.


    But she never expected that Leopold would be so devastated that he¡¯d nearly lose his life over it.


    The situation back then didn¡¯t leave her with a choice. She was deceived and betrayed by her


    boyfriend.


    There was nothing worse than her situation then. She had no choice but to end things.


    Thssa¡¯s heart ached. She breathed heavily, and her eyes became downcast.


    ¡°Here are your drinks,dies.¡± The waitress interrupted them and set down two sses of water in front


    of them.


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    Thssa reached out, picked up the ss, and took a sip, trying to suppress the pain in her heart.


    Amelia instantly noticed the bracelet on her hand. She paused, then let out a cold, sarcasticugh.


    ¡°Look at you. You im that my son¡¯s the one clinging to you and that you have no intentions of getting


    back together with him, right? Then what¡¯s this?¡±


    She pointed at the bracelet on Thssa¡¯s wrist.


    Thssa froze. She followed Amelia¡¯s finger to the bracelet. Before she could say anything, Amelia


    scoffed.


    ¡°This is a Sinir family heirloom that has been passed down to all the daughters-inw. Why is it on


    your wrist?¡±


    Was it a gift from Leopold?


    Her son was so helplessly in love that it was heartbreaking.


    This bracelet had been passed down through generations of Sinirs. Every time a Sinir man got


    married, it was given to his wife.


    Originally, it was given to Lysander¡¯s mother. But after Lysander¡¯s parents passed away, the bracelet


    ended up in Amelia¡¯s possession.


    She had kept the bracelet at home but had been unable to find it recently. So, this was where it ended


    up.


    Thssa was shocked and stunned.


    The bracelet was a special gift passed down to the daughters-inw of the Sinir family?


    Leopold had given her something so significant.


    She had thought it was just a regr bracelet. She never imagined it would hold such significance.


    She quickly took off the bracelet and slid it across the table to Amelia. ¡°Amelia, I¡¯m returning this to you.


    If I had known what this bracelet represented, I would have never epted it.¡±


    When Leopold had given her the bracelet, he¡¯d threatened her, saying that if she didn¡¯t ept it, he


    would go fight Lysander for the right to court her.


    If he went to fight Lysander, not only would he get hurt, but she would also be dragged into the mess.


    That was why she reluctantly epted the bracelet.


    The day she left Vibrant Oasis Residences, she felt a sudden wave of sadness and put on the bracelet.


    She had forgotten to take it off ever since.


    Amelia picked up the bracelet, stuffed it into her purse, and sneered. ¡°I¡¯ve seen plenty of women like


    you, Saying one thing and doing another. You¡¯re no match for me. I advise you to stay away from


    Leopold, or else it won¡¯t just be a warning next time.¡±

 Chapter 456

    Chapter 456


    After she finished speaking, Amelia rose from her seat. Her high heels clicked against the floor as she


    departed.


    Thssa remained silent as her grip tightened around her coffee cup.


    The following day, Monday, marked the end of Thssa¡¯s weekend. She headed to her job at the


    Sinir Group.


    Today was an executive meeting. Thssa arrived an hour early to prepare the conference room and


    stood by the door to wee the attendees.


    All the executives took their seats, save for one crucial figure: Lysander.


    Thssa continued to stand by the conference room door. After a few moments, Lysander finally made


    his entrance.


    Dressed in a bespoke ck suit, he exuded the aura of a business elite and made everyone take


    notice of his formidable presence. He was tall and imposing. His handsome face and well-defined


    features were enough to quicken any pulse.


    Striding in with long, confident steps, he approached Thssa. Overwhelmed by his intimidating


    presence, she immediately lowered her gaze, unable to meet his eyes.


    The chilly air grew tense as Lysander drew near. As he passed by Thssa, he cast a nce at her


    face.


    She had her hair pulled back into a ponytail today, revealing her smooth forehead and fairplexion.


    The scab on her forehead had fallen off, leaving a slightly redder patch of skin that was softer than the


    surrounding area.


    After confirming that she was recovering, Lysander withdrew his gaze, entered the conference room,


    and took his ce at the head of the table, an unquestionable symbol of power.


    His dark silhouette sank into the chair, exuding authority and elegance. The room was filled with


    tension.


    Thssa started the projector, disying the documents for the meeting. The conference had officially


    begun.


    The meetingsted an hour and went smoothly, with most of the proposed ns epted. It was clear


    that Lysander was in a good mood today.


    When the meeting concluded, everyone left one by one. As always, Thssa was thest to leave, as


    she was responsible for tidying up the conference room.


    Only Lysander and Thssa were left, the air growing more oppressive with every moment.


    Thssa didn¡¯t dare speak. Lowering her head, she turned off the projector, unplugged the USB drive,


    and gathered the documents.


    Havingpleted her tasks, she intended to ignore Lysander¡¯s presence and leave the conference


    room. However, as she walked past him, her wrist was suddenly grasped. In a swift motion, she was


    pulled onto hisp.


    Thssa gasped, turning to face Lysander¡¯s deep eyes. They were like holes, capable of consuming


    everything.


    Underneath her, she could feel the solid strength of his thighs and their warmth. Thssa¡¯s heart


    skipped a beat as she nervously stuttered, ¡°Mr. Sinir, this is a conference room. We


    shouldn¡¯t¡­¡±


    Before she could finish her sentence, he lifted her chin with his index finger, forcing her to look at him.


    His deep and maic voice echoed in her ears. ¡°Is your wound healed? Does your


    head still hurt?¡±


    Ccontent ? exclusive by N?/vel(D)ra/ma.Org.


    His voice carried a hint of tenderness. Thssa¡¯s heart pounded, and her breathing became unsteady.


    Was he showing concern for her?


    Caught off guard, Thssa quickly replied, ¡°It doesn¡¯t hurt anymore.¡±


    ¡°Hmm.¡± With a single grunt of acknowledgement, he released her.


    Thssa hastily stood up, her body rigid with tension. ¡°Mr. Sinir, I¡­ I¡¯ll return to my office now.¡±


    ¡°Go ahead.¡±


    She practically fled from the conference room. It felt as if she were escaping not from a man but from a


    lion that could pounce and tear her apart at any moment.


    Once she returned to her office, Thssa took a deep breath to calm hernerves, slowly exhaling to


    steady her heart.

 Chapter 457

    Chapter 457


    Staying by Lysander¡¯s side was truly terrifying. She wasn¡¯t sure when it would all end.


    The afternoon passed without incident.


    However, just as the workday was drawing to a close, the internal line in the office rang.


    Thssa picked it up.


    ¡°Come here.¡± Lysander¡¯s deep, authoritative voice ordered her.


    Thssa¡¯s rxed heart instantly tightened. When the boss summoned you, you could not disobey.


    She quickly replied, ¡°Alright.¡±


    After hanging up, she walked to the door of the CEO¡¯s office. Although the door was open, she


    Property of N?)(velDr(a)ma.Org.


    knocked anyway.


    Lysander looked up, and upon seeing her, his expression softened. ¡°Come in.¡±


    Thssa carefully stepped inside and stood a few feet away from his desk. ¡°Mr. Sinir, you wanted to


    see me?¡±


    Lysander was in the process of signing a contract. With a flourish, he set the contract down and rose


    from his desk, striding towards her.


    As he approached, his intimidating, icy aura thickened, causing Thssa to instinctively take a step


    back.


    Lysander walked past her. ¡°Follow me.¡±


    Thssa was taken aback but quickly followed.


    As they left Sinir Group, David was already waiting by the car.


    He respectfully opened the car door for Lysander, who climbed in. Thssa stood aside, unsure of


    what to do.


    Lysander¡¯s sharp gaze fell on her, and his voice was tinged with annoyance. ¡°Do I need to carry you?¡±


    Startled, Thssa quickly slid into the car.


    Being seen getting into his car outside Sinir Group was already conspicuous enough. If he had to


    carry her, wouldn¡¯t that just fuel more gossip?


    Inside the car, the atmosphere was tense and heavy.


    Thssa sat next to Lysander, her hands in herp, feeling rather stiff.


    The ride was silent.


    The car finally stopped in the driveway of Royal Estates.


    Lysander stepped out of the car.


    Seeing that they were at Royal Estates, a sense of unease filled Thssa.


    She stayed in the car, not daring to move.


    Lysander¡¯s cold voice reached her. ¡°Aren¡¯t youing?¡±


    Thssa¡¯s scalp tingled. Knowing she couldn¡¯t avoid this, she got out of the car.


    Soon after, David drove away.


    Thssa watched the departing car, wanting to say, ¡°David, don¡¯t leave! Without you, what am I going


    to do? Who¡¯s going to take me away from here?¡±


    But with Lysander standing nearby, she could only keep her thoughts to herself.


    Lysander headed towards the mansion¡¯s main entrance, and Thssa had no choice but to follow.


    Otherwise, the consequences would be severe.


    ¡°Lysander, Ms. Everhart.¡± Fitch greeted them at the door.


    Lysander walked into the grand hall and removed his coat. Fitch took it from him and hung it up.


    ¡°Dinner will be ready soon.¡±¡±


    After watching Lysander sit down on the sofa, Thssa went over and took a seat as well, though


    there was a gap between them.


    She wasn¡¯t sure why Lysander had brought her to Royal Estates.


    But it was best to keep quiet. She sat stiffly to one side.


    Lysander pulled out a cigarette, lit it, and began to smoke leisurely.


    Fitch stepped forward, bowed slightly, and reported, ¡°Lysander, the antique that was brokenst time


    has been repaired by a professional as much as possible. Some old paintings have also been restored.


    However, some were damaged beyond repair.¡±


    Upon hearing about the broken antique and damaged paintings, Thssa¡¯s heart raced, and she


    began to feel tense. After all, she was the one responsible


    ¡°There¡¯s another thing I need to tell you, Lysander.¡± Fitch said nervously.


    Lysander looked up. His deep, intimidating gaze made Fitch even more nervous. ¡°During the inventory


    of the antiques, we realized that a circr pendant was missing. We¡¯ve searched every corner, but we


    can¡¯t find it.¡±

 Chapter 458

    Chapter 458


    Thssa listened as her breath hitched in her throat and her body tensed up. Her eyes were cast


    down, unwilling to meet Fitch¡¯s gaze.


    All of the reports Fitch was giving were about matters he had handled on her behalf, cleaning up the


    mess she had inadvertently created. But how could the circr pendant have disappeared?


    Could it be that when she was hallucinating from the mushroom poisoning, she mistook the antique


    artifacts for carrots and identally swallowed the pendant?


    But she hadn¡¯t felt any difort or pain in her stomach. And nothing unusual had happened when


    she went to the bathroom these past few days.


    Lysander¡¯s presence seemed to grow colder. His deep gaze flicked towards Fitch before giving a


    dismissive wave.


    Fitch bowed respectfully before retreating.


    Soon, the servants, along with Fitch, began to bring out tters of delectable food, bothrge and


    small.


    A wave of mouthwatering scents wafted through the room.


    The aroma infiltrated Thssa¡¯s nostrils, teasing her senses. The delicious smell was so tantalizing


    that she could feel her mouth starting to water.


    Unconsciously, her eyes drifted towards the dining table. At the center of the table was a gigantic


    lobster, its hue a rich and deep red. It was surrounded by an array of colorful flowers, and a savory


    sauce was dripping down its back, pooling in the white dish beneath it.


    The sight was enough to make anyone salivate.


    Around the lobster, there were other dishes. Fried soft-shell crab, grilled shrimp, zed ham, chicken


    drizzled in a durian sauce, and a light melon soup with lean meat.


    A table full of diverse, delectable dishes.


    A feast for both the eyes and the pte.


    Thssa¡¯s stomach gave a loud, audible growl.


    Oh no, she hadn¡¯t been able to resist the temptation, and her stomach had betrayed her.


    Thssa quickly ced her hand over her stomach and gave a sheepish nce towards Lysander.


    He didn¡¯t notice, did he?


    Lysander¡¯s gaze flicked towards her through the dissipating smoke, and after extinguishing his


    cigarette in the ashtray, he stood up and walked towards the dining table. ¡°Let¡¯s eat.¡± Thssa¡¯s heart


    leaped with joy. She quickly followed him to the table and took a seat opposite him.


    A bowl was already set before her. Fitch, armed with a knife and fork, expertly cut into the lobster tail,


    extracting arge chunk of tender lobster meat and cing it in Lysander¡¯s dish. Lysander then picked


    up the piece with his fork and dropped it into Thssa¡¯s bowl.


    Thssa was taken aback but quickly said, ¡°Thank you.¡±


    As soon as the words left her mouth, Lysander¡¯s gaze turned towards her.


    Feeling the weight of his stare, Thssa instinctively retracted her neck, feeling flustered.


    Had she said something wrong?


    She decided to focus on her food and not speak anymore. Talking less meant making fewer mistakes.


    She was halfway through her helping of delicious lobster when Lysander picked up a piece of white


    meat with his fork, dipped it in the sauce, and held it out to her. ¡°Open your mouth.¡± Thssa


    immediately halted her actions. Her gaze flitted between the piece of meat and Lysander¡¯s face in


    disbelief and surprise. She obediently opened her mouth.


    Lysander ced the piece of meat into her mouth, and she closed her lips around it, taking it off the


    fork before beginning to chew.


    The lobster meat, drenched in sauce, tasted even better than before. It was juicy, vorful, and simply


    delicious.


    It was divine!


    This is delicious!¡± Thssa eximed as her lips stretched into a wide grin. Her eyes were squinted


    Content property of N?velDra/ma.Org.


    into slits as she turned to look at Lysander with gratitude.


    The sincerity and warmth in her gaze felt like a boulder that had been tossed into a quiet pond, sending


    ripples through it, causing Lysander¡¯s eyes to deepen with emotion After discovering this new way of


    enjoying lobster, Thssa began dipping each piece of meat into the sauce before eating it.


    It was absolutely delightful.


    Had Lysander brought her here just to let her enjoy a seafood feast to her liking?


    ¡°Lysander, guess what kind of antique ourpany acquired yesterday?¡±


    In the midst of enjoying her meal, a man¡¯s voice echoed from the entrance of the vi. The man


    sounded very excited.

 Chapter 459

    Chapter 459


    Thssa nced at the entrance to see a man stride in. He was lean and dressed in a sleek silver suit


    with gold-rimmed sses perched on his nose, radiating a handsome and sophisticated aura.


    She had seen this man before, more than once, in fact.


    Every encounter had been at the Sapphire Skyline Club. He was always in thepany of Lysander


    and ric, a man of nobility.


    Lysander cast a sidelong nce at Richard Draven but didn¡¯t utter a word.


    Richard, who had initially entered with enthusiasm, paused as he noticed Lysander and a woman


    dining together, sitting side by side.


    This piqued Richard¡¯s interest. After all, Lysander was not one to bring women home.


    After a brief scan of the woman¡¯s face, Richard found her familiar. He quickly recognized her as the


    waitress he¡¯d seen numerous times at the Sapphire Skyline Club She was the only woman who had


    ever captured Lysander¡¯s attention.


    What was her name again?


    Richard took the seat opposite them and looked at them with a gaze filled with curiosity. ¡°Lysander,¡± he


    began, ¡°such a sumptuous dinner, and you didn¡¯t invite me?¡±


    ConTEent bel0ngs to N?v(e)lD/rama(.)Org .


    ¡°You¡¯re sitting, aren¡¯t you?¡± Replied Lysander.


    Richard chuckled and looked at Fitch.


    Understanding the hint, Fitch promptly fetched a set of cutlery and ced it in front of Richard. ¡°Mr.


    Draven, please enjoy your meal.¡±


    Without any hint of modesty, Richard picked up the knife and fork and began slicing into a lobster.


    No sooner had he cut the lobster meat than Lysander forked it away and ced it in Thssa¡¯s bowl.


    Richard was left baffled by this gesture. He nced at Lysander, then at Thssa, and chuckled.


    ¡°Lysander, you¡¯re showing quite a bias. Did you forget your friends after finding a woman?¡±


    Thssa sank lower in her seat. Embarrassment was creeping up her face.


    Lysander shot Richard a sharp look.


    Richard quickly cleared his throat, deciding it was prudent to say no more.


    However, Lysander¡¯s actions had indeed sparked his interest.


    So, the lobster was exclusively for this woman, and he was not allowed any.


    Richard conceded, picked up a piece of barbecue pork, and ate it. ¡°Evelyn, why don¡¯t you work at the


    Sapphire Skyline Club anymore?¡±


    ¡°Cough, cough¡­¡± Thssa choked on her food.


    She quickly swallowed and corrected Richard. ¡°Mr. Draven, my name is Thssa.¡±


    She used the same title Fitch had used, addressing him as Mr. Draven.


    Previously, she had used her mother¡¯s ID for work. That was a bit of an awkward memory.


    ¡°Oh, so it¡¯s Thssa.¡± Richard drawled out and nced at Lysander with a knowing look.


    Was she the woman Lysander had been longing for? But wasn¡¯t it said that the woman was already


    dead?


    Could it be a recement?


    Regardless, as long as Lysander liked her, that was all that mattered.


    He continued to eat his barbecue pork and said, ¡°Thssa, you¡¯ve done quite well. Our Lysander never


    brings a woman home. You¡¯re the exception,


    Before he could finish, his mouth was filled with shrimp. He was caught off guard and looked up to


    meet Lysander¡¯s dark gaze.


    ¡°Even when eating, you can¡¯t keep your mouth shut.¡± Lysander said.


    Richard was speechless.


    The shrimp was unpeeled and pricked his mouth.


    But since it was ¡°fed¡± to him by Lysander, he had no choice but to swallow it.


    Thssa, hearing Richard¡¯s words, was both curious and confused. She nced at Lysander, only to


    meet his deep gaze.


    Startled, she quickly lowered her head and continued eating.

 Chapter 460

    Chapter 460


    Richard¡¯s mouth was crammed full of crawfish, shells, and all. The sharp spikes on the crawfish¡¯s head


    pricked the roof of his mouth, leaving a tingling sensation of pain.


    It was just a minor cut on the upper part of his mouth.


    He fished the crawfish¡¯s head out of his mouth and felt slightly exasperated. He had the honor of being


    ConTEent bel0ngs to N?v(e)lD/rama(.)Org .


    fed by Lysander, and he ended up with a cut in his mouth.


    Others truly couldn¡¯t enjoy Lysander¡¯s gentleness.


    While Thssa was happily chewing on her delicious crawfish, she was deep in thought about


    Richard¡¯sment.


    She was the first woman Lysander had brought home, his exception.


    Taken out of context, that was incredibly sweet. It made her think that she held a special ce in


    Lysander¡¯s heart.


    But tying it all together, she had an epiphany.


    In Lysander¡¯s eyes, she was indeed ¡®special.¡¯


    She was the daughter of his enemy, a man who had caused chaos in his home, broken his parents¡¯


    marriage, and ultimately led to their deaths.


    For anyone to not harbor hatred towards the child of such a person, they¡¯d have to be a saint.


    Lysander must have hated her to the core to torment her at every opportunity, using her as an outlet for


    his pent-up rage.


    Bringing her home was probably just to make it easier for him to vent his anger.


    Her ¡®specialness¡± wasn¡¯t something others would desire.


    Thssa was lost in her thoughts and silent.


    Lysander was busy cutting up the crawfish and not speaking..


    For a moment, the whole dining table was so quiet that it was slightly unnerving.


    As Thssa tried to lower her presence, a piece of crawfish meat dipped sauce appeared in her bowl.


    She was taken aback, and as she looked in the direction the meat hade from, she met Lysander¡¯s


    deep, intense gaze. ¡°Focus on your meal.¡±


    His voice was cold andmanding.


    Had he noticed she wasn¡¯t focused on her meal?


    Thssa nodded vigorously as she chewed the crawfish in her mouth.


    Her cheeks were puffed out, and her eyes were shining. She was obediently nodding, looking innocent


    and adorable.


    Especially her clear, beautiful eyes, which showed a mix of timidity and sharpness.


    Under the chandelier¡¯s light, her eyes reflected the beams and looked bright and clear.


    The light seemed to pierce Lysander¡¯s heart, making it skip a beat.


    She finished chewing the crawfish and swallowed it all. It was too much meat, and she had swallowed


    too fast, causing Thssa to choke.


    Covering her throat, her face turned the color of a pig¡¯s liver. The meat was stuck in her throat, neither


    Seeing her in pain, Lysander-quickly handed her a ss of water, supporting the back of her head with


    one hand and feeding her the water with the other.


    Gripping the ss, she took a big gulp. With a hard swallow, the water helped push down the stuck


    crawfish. She took a deep breath and was relieved to be alive.


    Annoyed, Lysander reprimanded her. ¡°What¡¯s the rush? No-one¡¯speting with you.¡±


    His cold words held a hint of worry if you listened closely.


    Richard teased. ¡°Exactly, no one¡¯speting with you. Anyone who tries to take a piece might end up


    with a cut in their mouth,¡±


    Thssa was embarrassed and flustered.


    She loved lobster, but she couldn¡¯t finish such a big one.


    Feeling awkward, she lowered her head and said, ¡°I understand.¡±


    Just as she was about to continue eating, Lysander ced a bowl of chicken soup in front of her.

 Chapter 461

    Chapter 461


    Thssa got his drift. ¡°Thank you.¡±


    She started sipping the chicken soup from her bowl.


    Across the table, Richard watched their interaction with a smile on his face, not saying anything.


    It seemed Lysander¡¯s luck with women had truly turned around.


    He put down his utensils and brought up the serious matter at hand. With a stern face, he addressed


    Lysander. ¡°Lysander, when I was at the antique auctionst time, I noticed your butler was looking for


    someone to restore an antique. It seems a circr pendant has gone missing.¡±


    The Draven family had been dealing in antiques for generations, and they had opened countless curio


    shops. Their business mainly revolved around buying and selling antiques.


    After Richard took over the Draven Group, he was busy with the antique business every day.


    Lysander nced at him when he had a moment, replying, ¡°Hmm.¡±


    Yesterday, my curio shop received a circr pendant. It looked simr to the one in the picture that


    Fitch showed me, so I brought it here for you to see.¡± Saying this, Richard took the circr pendant out


    of his pocket and held it open in his palm.


    Fitch stepped forward, took the circr pendant from his hand, and walked around the dining table to


    give it to Lysander.


    Lysander looked at the front of the circr pendant, then turned it over to examine the back.


    Thssa couldn¡¯t resist her curiosity. She sneaked a peek at the circr pendant in Lysander¡¯s hand,


    finding it somewhat familiar.


    ¡°This is it. My family¡¯s circr pendant. How did it end up in someone else¡¯s hand and even get sold?¡±


    Lysander¡¯s eyes were deep and cold as he looked at Richard.


    Richard shrugged, saying, ¡°I don¡¯t know anything about that. That¡¯s an internal matter for the Royal


    Estates.¡±


    Lysander was not pleased, and his aura became chilly.


    The circr pendant was a small matter, but what he couldn¡¯t tolerate was betrayal.


    His family had a traitor!


    Lysander threw the circr pendant onto the table. The sound of the jade hitting the marble table was


    a crisp and luxurious sh.


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    Thssa was afraid that the circr pendant would break, but it spun around a few times on the table


    beforeing to a stop. It was still perfectly intact.


    Now that it was safe and sound, she felt a sense of relief.


    ¡°Fitch, the loss of the circr pendant is a great responsibility that falls on you.¡± Lysander¡¯s frosty gaze


    fell on the butler standing beside him.


    Fitch was immediately petrified and bowed to show his guilt. ¡°I failed in my duty to watch over the


    antique. I¡¯m willing to ept punishment. Please give me a chance to find out who stole and sold the


    circr pendant and bring the culprit to justice.¡±


    Richard realized that Lysander was going to hold someone ountable and find the traitor.


    ¡°I¡¯ll call the shopkeeper right away to check yesterday¡¯s transaction records. Once we see who sold the


    circr pendant, everything will be clear¡±


    He made a call to the shopkeeper of the curio shop. Soon, the surveince footage was sent to him.


    Richard opened the video, and the person dealing with the shopkeeper in the footage made him blink


    in disbelief.


    He quickly stood up and handed his phone to Lysander.


    When Lysander saw the video, his face darkened instantly.


    His icy gaze, which was filled with suppressed anger, shot towards Thssa.


    Thssa, who was sipping her chicken soup, suddenly felt a chiltrun down her spine.


    Instinctively, she turned around and saw Lysander¡¯s dark, handsome face, his aura as cold as ice.


    His sharp and cold gaze was fixed on her.


    Her heart started to race in fear, and a coldness spread along her spine. Confused, she asked, ¡°Is


    there something on my face?¡±


    Saying this, she quickly put down her bowl and reached up to touch her face.

 Chapter 462

    Chapter 462


    Thssa fumbled about, but she was empty-handed in the end.


    Yet, the gaze Lysander cast her way grew colder and more prating, like a sharpened de ready


    to pierce right through her.


    Halting her actions, Thssa suddenly realized that there might be a problem with the video Richard


    had shown him.


    She met his gaze timidly, probing, ¡°Mr. Sinir, does this video¡­ is it somehow rted to me?¡±


    Otherwise, why would Lysander¡¯s gaze suddenly turn so Icy and furious?


    Even Richard looked at her with disbelief.


    Lysander tossed his cell phone onto the dining table, his voice as cold as ice, ¡°I need a usible


    exnation!¡±


    With a bang, he mmed the phone onto the high-quality marble table.


    Richard winced.


    Mr. Sinir, can¡¯t you be a bit more gentle? That¡¯s my phone! He thought to himself.


    Thssa was unsure of what was happening. She picked up the phone and opened the video. In the


    video, a woman in a beige dress was holding a circr pendant and conversing with a middle-aged


    man in a waistcoat.


    Content property of N?velDra/ma.Org.


    Recognizing the woman in the video as Hertha, Thssa gasped.


    How could Hertha be selling this circr pendant?


    Where did she get the pendant?


    Wait!


    Did Lysander imply that she had stolen the circr pendant from the Royal Estates?


    Because she was the only one who had been to the Royal Estates. Hertha had never been there.


    Hertha was her closest friend. If she stole the pendant, she must have asked Hertha to help sell it.


    Anyone would think the same if they were in this situation.


    But she really didn¡¯t take the circr pendant.


    Thssa quickly defended herself, ¡°Mr. Sinir, I didn¡¯t take the circr pendant. I have no idea how it


    ended up with Hertha. There must be ¨¢ misunderstanding.¡±


    She finished speaking in a fluster.


    Lysander¡¯s piercing, hawk-like gaze remained fixed on her, his demeanor cold and unyielding.


    He didn¡¯t believe her words. He only trusted evidence.


    Thssa hesitated, feeling both angry and wronged at being used of stealing again.


    She hadn¡¯t done it. That innocent thought made her less afraid.


    She spoke up calmly, ¡°Mr. Sinir, I really didn¡¯t take it. When you locked me in the antique room, why


    would I only take one circr pendant if I meant to steal? If I were already stealing, I would better off


    take more and sell it for more money. If I were truly greedy and ready to bear the crime of theft, I could


    have taken more, sold more, and made more money. Why would I only take one and allow you to


    easily trace it back?¡±


    Lysander¡¯s hawk-like gaze remained fixed on her, pressuring and sharp.


    The pressure was pushing Thssa to the edge.


    She pulled out her phone from her pocket and held it between them, ¡°If I really stole it and got Hertha to


    sell it, I would have surely received some money from her. I can show you my mobile banking. All my


    bank cards are linked to it and you can check the transaction history. A single antique circr pendant


    isn¡¯t a small amount. If I have a suspicious ie, you can decide what to do!¡±


    Lysander took the phone from her, ¡°Password.¡±


    888. Thssa responded.


    After speaking, she felt a bit embarrassed. Eight was her lucky number. The Tarot deck said she could


    make a fortune by using the number a lot.


    She did want to earn money and be rich, but she wanted to do it through her own hard work, not


    by illegal means.


    Making money and bing rich were just her aspirations. She would never make a quick buck by


    some dirty means.


    Lysander entered the numbers and unlocked the phone.


    As soon as the phone was unlocked, a message popped up. It was a notification of a bank deposit.


    Lysander¡¯s expression tightened like a stormy sky. His sullen look made her shiver.


    Richard, standing beside him, caught a glimpse of the message and joked, ¡°We bought that circr


    pendant for two hundred thousand.¡±


    Thssa began to waver as she noticed their expression changed. She hurriedly took the phone back


    from Lysander and saw a message from Bank. The message was congratting her


    on her new ie¡­

 Chapter 463

    Chapter 463


    What was the count again?


    An ie of two hundred thousand!


    And the text message had arrived only yesterday afternoon!


    Thssa was so shocked her heart nearly stopped!


    She hadn¡¯t checked her phone for a few days and even missed the bank¡¯s notification.


    She even used this as proof to convince Lysander.


    Property of N?)(velDr(a)ma.Org.


    She didn¡¯t know she was actually screwing herself.


    What in the world was happening?


    Why had two hundred thousand been credited to her phone?


    And why had Hertha sold that circr pendant?


    These past few days, in order to prevent Lysander from spying on her, she had stayed in her previous


    rented house, nursing her wounds.


    Meanwhile, Hertha often took care of the four children on her behalf.


    She had no idea what had transpired in the past few days.


    Confused, Thssa was staring in disbelief at the two hundred thousand credit in her ount.


    She was now in a real pickle.


    She felt like she was on herst legs, her hand falling limply by her side, her face ashen.


    Out of the corner of her eye, she saw the circr pendant lying on the dining table; something dawned


    on her.


    She suddenly remembered why the circr pendant seemed so familiar.


    Wasn¡¯t this the toy pendant Sophia had spotted at the entrance of a toy store when they had gone to


    the mall?


    Sophia had fallen in love with it at first sight, refusing to leave the store.


    Left with no choice, Thssa had negotiated with the store owner to buy it off her. The pendant was


    not part of the store¡¯s inventory; it was a toy her son had found on the beach. She wasn¡¯t willing to sell


    at first, but Sophia was insistent.


    Moreover, Thssa had offered an inted price, more than a hundred dors.


    The store owner finally agreed to sell the pendant.


    Sophia cherished the pendant dearly.


    Later on, she found an identical pendant in Lysander¡¯s antique room.


    Everything suddenly fell into ce for Thssa. The pendant Hertha had sold must have been


    Sophia¡¯s toy pendant!


    Realizing this, Thssa looked up at Lysander¡¯s intimidating gaze and exined, ¡°The pendant Hertha


    had is a toy pendant; your curios shop must have mistaken it for a real one. Richard chuckled, ¡°Even if


    our shopkeeper made a mistake in his evaluation, the pendant is right here. Do you think Lysander


    would also mistake it?¡±


    Thssa was at a loss for words.


    Indeed, even if the curios shopkeeper had confused the toy with a real artifact, Lysander had the


    pendant right in front of his eyes. Would he make the same mistake?


    What was going on?


    Maybe the pendant Sophia had bought was also real? That was too much of a coincidence..


    Thssa¡¯s gaze dimmed; she was at a loss for words.


    She couldn¡¯t exin.


    She certainly couldn¡¯t reveal where the toy pendant originally came from, otherwise, Lysander would


    verify it; he would check the surveince.


    Then he would find out that she was with the four children that day, and they were all calling her ¡®mom¡¯.

 Chapter 464

    Chapter 464


    ¡°Thssa, you could have just admitted it,¡± Richard said. He was going to be the looker-on as he drew


    an icy re from Lysander.


    He touched his nose, saying, ¡°Uh, I¡¯ve got to get back to the curious shop. Lysander, take it easy, will


    ya?¡±


    As soon as the words left his mouth, Lysander seized a fork from the dining table and hurled it at him.


    Luckily, Richard had quick reflexes; otherwise, he¡¯d been hit.


    Lysander, with his drama, was like a juicy steak everyone wanted a taste of ¨C it was so rare.


    Thssa sat there, head bowed, biting her lower lip, her hands clenched in herp, under the piercing


    gaze of Lysander.


    She had been so indignant earlier, exining herself so eloquently. But now, faced with this circr


    pendant and the sudden windfall of $200,000, she was utterly at a loss for words.


    Lysander¡¯s oppressive gaze turned to Fitch, who stood waiting by the side, ¡°Take it away!¡±


    Fitch carefully picked up the circr pendant and walked towards the backyard.


    The whole process was nerve-wracking for him. He had been pondering how to investigate the circr


    pendant theft, but everything had be clear in such a short time.


    Lysander had brought a pendant thief home!


    It was unbelievable.


    Fitch left Lysander and Thssa at the dining table.


    Thssa felt the air around her grow tense; that menacing air was bringing her down. The sharp, icy


    gaze bore into her and she shivered from head to toe.


    ¡°What¡¯s there left to exin?¡± Lysander¡¯s voice was frosty.


    Thssa became more nervous; her fists clenched tighter, her breathing irregr. She was at a loss


    for words.


    She couldn¡¯t exin. If she did, Lysander would find out about the kids..


    If he found out she had secretly given birth to his children, the consequences would be severe.


    He hated children and didn¡¯t want her to have his babies.


    His feelings towards her were only spite and resentment.


    If he found out about the four little ones she bore him, he would take them away from her despite of his


    disdain.


    Keeping her from seeing her children would be the cruelest punishment.


    Their children wouldn¡¯t be happy living with a father who didn¡¯t care about them.


    So she could not let Lysander discover the secret.


    She remained silent, which was as good as admitting to everything.


    Lysander gritted his teeth, his aura bing more menacing. He grabbed her wrist.


    His rough and thinly calloused hand was giving her wrist a firm grip. Thssa¡¯s heart was fluttering.


    She looked up at him and met his eyes burning with fury. Fear prickled her skin.


    Lysander dragged her upstairs, kicked the door open, pulled Thssa in, shut the door with a kick, and


    tossed her onto the bed.


    Thssa gasped; caught off guard, she fell onto the soft bed. She sensed danger and quickly sat up.


    Lysander¡¯s tall shadow loomed over and devoured her.


    Thssa panicked. She tried to back away, but she was on the bed, trapped. She recoiled in fear,


    watching him warily as his chiseled body, exuding a strong masculine scent, approached Lysander


    Content property of N?velDra/ma.Org.


    leaned in and gripped Thssa¡¯s jaw; his fingers were caressing her soft skin. His handsome face was


    cold and dangerous as he stared at her.


    ¡°I told you, as long as you¡¯re my woman, you can have anything you want. You could¡¯ve just asked me


    for it. Why did you have to sneak around?¡± His low, angry voice brushed against her


    face.


    The danger in his tone made Thssa¡¯s heart tremble.


    Thssa, unable to bear the pressure, tried to exin, ¡°It¡¯s not what you think¡­¡±


    !


    ¡°Then what is it?¡± Lysander¡¯s hawk-like eyes were sharp and cold, bearing down on her.


    Thssa was almost out of breath.


    His overwhelming presence and strong masculine aura enveloped her.


    Every pore of Thssa¡¯s skin was seeping with fear.

 Chapter 465

    Chapter 465


    ¡°Did you guys really look in every nook and cranny? It¡¯s really gone?¡± Thssa suppressed her fear,


    asking the question.


    Could it have fallen somewhere unnoticed?


    This was a perfect misunderstanding, and she had no way to exin it.


    She had more important people and things to protectpared with untying the knot.


    ¡°What do you think?¡± Lysander¡¯s eyes grew colder, his gaze sharp.


    Thssa struggled to breathe, unable to say anything further.


    ¡°You are not admitting your fault, and that¡¯s pretty serious! Thssa, are you ready to face the


    consequences?¡± Lysander was getting more vexed; he gritted his teeth as he spoke.


    Thssa¡¯s pupils contracted, ¡°¡­¡±


    ConTEent bel0ngs to N?v(e)lD/rama(.)Org .


    His overpowering masculinity frightened her.


    ¡°You have no chance to exin now!¡± Lysander gripped her chin, lifting her up.


    His other hand held her slender waist, turning her to face the bed.


    It was a position of utter humiliation.


    Thssa was panicking. She tried to plead, ¡°Don¡¯t!¡±


    Toote!¡± Lysander¡¯s voice was low, rough, and furious.


    There was no mercy in his tone.


    Lysander was in top physical shape; his legs were long, powerful, and perfectly proportioned; his eight-


    pack abs were exuding a strong masculine charm, which was incredibly sexy but also incredibly


    dangerous.


    By clenching her fists and biting her lip, she was enduring the difort.


    In the morning, the sun slipped through the curtains. It illuminated a woman¡¯s serene face as well as


    her exhausted look.


    Theforter was half-draped over her, the other half falling off the edge of the bed.


    She was as beautiful as Sleeping Beauty.


    Thssa¡¯s eyebrows furrowed slightly as she awoke.


    Opening her eyes, she felt the sunlight a bit blinding; she lifted her hand to shield it.


    Once her eyes adjusted to the light, the passionate memory ofst night sent a shock wave through


    her. Her consciousness was hurled by fear


    She quickly turned to look at the other side of the bed, which was now empty.


    But the empty space, along with the other half of theforter, were stark reminders of the man who


    had slept there; his faint scent of sandalwood and the powerful traces of his pheromones lingered.


    Thssa sat up quickly; her entire body felt as if being run over, still holding traces of his warmth.


    Thssa took a deep breath to soothe the physical and emotional pain.


    The recollection of the previous night sent a shiver down her spine, flushing her face.


    Her heart, however, was in great distress.


    If she were a flower, she would have witheredst night.


    Thankfully, she was a living being.


    The most magical and precious thing about life is its ability to heal.


    Thssa lifted theforter, ready to get out of bed. Then she caught sight of a ss of water and a


    white pill on the bedside table. She stopped in her motion.


    She stared nkly at the water and the pill.


    After a while, a self-mocking smile curled up the corner of her mouth. She picked up the pill, lifted the


    ss of water, and swallowed the pill/


    Afterwards, she went to take a shower.


    After getting dressed, she found her phone and called Hertha,


    She wanted to ask about the status of the circr pendant.


    Thssa, you finally got


    touch with me, How was it? Wasn¡¯t it a big surprise? Were you touched?¡± As soon as the call


    connected, Hertha¡¯s excited voice came through.

 Chapter 466

    Chapter 466


    A big surprise?


    Indeed it was a surprise.


    A surprise so big she could hardly stand straight.


    Thssa sighed, ¡°Hertha, care to exin the whole story behind this surprise?¡±


    ¡°Well, let me tell you¡­¡±


    ¡°Mom, is that you, mom?¡±


    Hertha hadn¡¯t even started her exnation when a childish voice came through the phone. It was


    ConTEent bel0ngs to N?v(e)lD/rama(.)Org .


    Sophia¡¯s voice.


    Her little voice was filled with joy.


    ¡°Yes, it¡¯s your mom. You talk to her,¡± Hertha handed the phone to Sophia.


    Sophia clumsily held the phone, which was bigger than her hand, to her ear. It nearly slipped from her


    grasp, but she managed to prop it with her neck. In her sweet, childish voice, she asked, ¡°Mom, did you


    receive the money?¡±


    Thinking aboutst night¡¯s predicament, Thssa felt a bit helpless, but Sophia¡¯s voice warmed her


    heart.


    She replied, ¡°Yes, I received it. All two hundred thousand.


    The money led her to receive an unfair punishment from Lysanderst night; however, she was grateful


    for Sophia¡¯s good intentions and didn¡¯t want to let her down.


    She could feel Sophia¡¯s deep love for her.


    Her love for her child was also overflowing.


    ¡°Thssa, now that you have Elowen¡¯s winnings from the gourmetpetition, you have four hundred


    thousand in total. You didn¡¯t give birth to four burdens, but four little treasure chests,¡± Hertha praised on


    the other end, her voice full of blessings


    Thssa asked, ¡°Can you exin what happened?¡±


    Even though she had a general idea, she still wanted to hear the details from them to confirm her


    thoughts.


    your


    ¡°Well, Thssa, your daughter Elowen is a food critic, and your youngest, Sophia, is an antique expert.


    She insisted that the circr pendant was an antique and forced me to sell it at the curio shop. I


    thought I¡¯d give it a try, and it turned out to be a real antique! I couldn¡¯t believe it when they offered me


    two hundred thousand for this little gadget.¡±


    Hertha, excited, rambled on.


    ¡°The shopkeeper said the pendant was worn by an ancient royal and hence was worth two hundred


    thousand. He was a good man; if he cheated me, I would have sold it for a few thousand. But he


    offered two hundred thousand outright; so I immediately agreed.¡±


    ¡°Sophia is so clever. She knew it was an antique. She said you bought the circr pendant at a toy


    shop for a hundred dors? Good job, Thssa. You¡¯ve made a fortune! This beats working any day.¡±


    Thssa listened to Hertha¡¯s story, her heart relieved..


    She knew it. The circr pendant was the ¡°toy¡± she had bought at the toy shop.


    It wasn¡¯t the one from Lysander¡¯s house.


    She bought the toy before seeing the identical circr pendant in Lysander¡¯s house. There were


    definitely two pendants, and the one Lysander lost wasn¡¯t the one Richard brought yesterday.


    Once the toy pendant was cleaned, it was indistinguishable from the one Lysander had.


    Lysander wasn¡¯t an antique expert and hadn¡¯t examined it closely, so he thought it was his lost


    pendant.


    She was right all along.


    To clear her name, she needed to find Lysander¡¯s missing pendant.


    It was a difficult task, but she couldn¡¯t bear the false usations.


    She had to try no matter how difficult it would be.

 Chapter 467

    Chapter 467


    ¡°Hey, Thssa, why so quiet? Not gonna sing the praises of your child prodigy?¡± Hertha¡¯s voice rang


    out again, breaking Thssa¡¯s silence.


    Thssa smiled fondly and replied, ¡°Sophia is truly amazing. She has a natural talent for antiquities


    appraisal. She could be a professional appraiser one day. But she has to study hard first in order


    to reach her dreams.¡±


    Sophia did show a knack for appraising antiques. It was as though she was born with the gift.


    Just the other day, when a neighbor lied about finding her dragon pendant, Sophia instantly knew it


    was a sham.


    And now, she had uncovered the true value of that circr pendant as an antique.


    ConTEent bel0ngs to N?v(e)lD/rama(.)Org .


    Sophia was definitely a prodigy.


    Sophia beamed at her mother¡¯s praise, her eyes sparkling. She nodded vigorously,¡± will study hard. I


    want to grow up to be an appraiser and earn lots of money to take care of my mom.¡±


    Her words sent a sudden warm flow into Thssa¡¯s heart. Already so young, yet so thoughtful of her


    mother.


    Over the years, no matter how hard things got, her four adorable little angels were always there to heal


    her. Thssa was determined to push through anything for


    them.


    And she would do the same now. She was going to face Lysander bravely.


    She would stand her ground until he lost interest and left her alone.


    Then, she could escape with her children without him noticing.


    No matter how hard it got, she would keep going.


    Her four little furnaces were warming her heart and helping her through all kinds of difficulties over


    time.


    ¡°Thank you, Sophia. I love you, sweetie.¡± Thssa¡¯s voice was soft and warm, full of love.


    Just as she finished speaking, the door was thrown open. A powerful aura invaded the room, causing


    the air to ripple.


    Thssa turned around to see a tall, dark figure. Her heart skipped a beat in fear, and she almost


    dropped her phone.


    Lysander¡¯s frosty aura quickly filled the room. He snatched the phone from her hand, his handsome


    face dark with displeasure. ¡°Who were you talking to? Who do you love, hm?¡± he asked menacingly.


    His one hand held her phone while the other gripped her chin. Anger had climbed upon every inch of


    his chiseled face.


    Thssa was overwhelmed by his domineering aura. Her heart pounded in fear and she hastily


    exined, ¡°No¡­ no one¡­ I was just chatting with my friend. Her daughter was speaking to me¡­ I was


    justforting the child¡­¡±


    Her heart was pounding, fearful that Lysander had overheard her conversation with Sophia.


    Sophia was still on the line. If she heard Lysander and asked, ¡°Mom, what¡¯s going on?¡± all her efforts


    would be in vain.


    Lysander¡¯s sharp gaze pierced her as he let go of her chin. ¡°Keep talking!¡± hemanded, switching


    the phone to speaker mode.


    He was keen to hear the warm, loving tone Thssa had used while speaking on the phone.


    Thssa nced nervously at the phone. The call timer was still ticking, indicating the call was still


    connected.


    Thssa held her breath, dreading what Sophia might say that could arouse Lysander¡¯s suspicions.


    She whispered, ¡°Sophia, sweetie, I¡¯ll have to chat with you next time. I¡¯ll also bring you some toys when


    I visit. I¡¯ve got something to handle right now so I have to hang up, okay?¡±


    Lysander grabbed the phone and didn¡¯t intend to end the call. Instead, he watched Thssa with his


    frosty eyes.


    Thssa was on edge; her breathing hitched. Her blood run cold under his sullen gaze.


    She feared that anything Sophia might say could ruin everything.

 Chapter 468

    Chapter 468


    Thssa¡¯s heart pounded within her chest and her hands were tugging at her shirt as if they were


    tearing the fabric apart. That¡¯s when a familiar voice rang out.


    ¡°Alright, get back to work. Sophia needs to get ready for school, so I¡¯ll talk to youter. Bye.¡±


    With that, the call ended.


    Thssa heaved a sigh of relief, turning her gaze towards Lysander. His deep, prating gaze met


    hers, filling her with unease.


    ¡°Next time, don¡¯t use such sweet words with others.¡± Lysander¡¯s voice was icy as he handed her back


    her phone.


    Thssa was puzzled, ¡°But that was just a four-year-old kid.¡±


    ¡°I said no, and I mean it!¡± Lysander¡¯s tone was assertive, his eyes piercing.


    ¡°I understand.¡± Thssa lowered her gaze in acquiescence.


    But inside, she was grumbling. People would think he¡¯s even jealous of a child; but the truth is, this


    super domineering man is controlling me in every way possible. She thought.


    He didn¡¯t want her getting too close to other men.


    He didn¡¯t want her to express any affection toward others.


    He was trying to mold her entire being to his liking.


    This realization left Thssa feeling suffocated.


    With a final, piercing nce, Lysander turned and left the room.


    The air was not as tense as before, so Thssa breathed a sigh of relief.


    She tidied up and descended the stairs, but found Lysander was nowhere to be seen


    She asked Fitch, ¡°Where did Lysander go?¡±


    >


    Ccontent ? exclusive by N?/vel(D)ra/ma.Org.


    3


    ¡°He¡¯s working in the study. Ms. Everhart, breakfast is ready. Please eat.¡± Fitch was as respectful and


    polite as always.


    Despite the previous day¡¯s events, Fitch¡¯s attitude towards Thssa hadn¡¯t changed.


    She was the first woman Lysander had brought home, and even after learning she had sold the circr


    pendant, he had not asked her to leave.


    Clearly, she held a special ce in Lysander¡¯s heart.


    As the butler, Fitch continued to treat her with respect.


    ¡°Actually, I¡¯ll wait for Lysander and eat with him. It doesn¡¯t feel right to eat alone,¡± Thssa said.


    Fitch didn¡¯t object.


    Thssa nced around the living room, then said, ¡°You can get back to your work. I¡¯ll just wander


    around a bit.¡±


    Fitch nodded and returned to the kitchen.


    She walked around the hall and checked every corner. With no one watching, Thssa pushed open


    the back door and stepped into the backyard.


    The backyard was a riot of color, filled with blooming flowers and lush greenery. The scent of flowers


    hung in the air.


    The spring breeze,den with the fragrance of flowers, was intoxicating.


    But Thssa wasn¡¯t in the mood to appreciate the beauty of her surroundings. She was on a mission


    to find the missing circr pendant.


    The door to the antique collection room was made of ss. Thssa tried to push it open, but found it


    locked.


    }


    She peered inside, noting that the disy table, once crowded with a variety of porcin and jade, now


    held only a few pieces.


    Perhaps the items she had broken had not yet been restored.


    Thssa scanned the room, her gaze sweeping across every corner in search of the circr pendant.


    But after a thorough search, there was no sign of it.


    ¡°Looking for another one?¡± A cold, maic voice sounded from behind her.


    Thssa jumped, her heart pounding as she turned to face the pair of dangerous eyes. She stuttered,


    ¡°No, not at all. I was just looking for the circr pendant¡­


    ¡°Do you like it that much?¡± Lysander moved closer, his cold, dangerous aura enveloping her.


    His towering figure cast a long shadow over Thssa. She shuddered, stepping back without giving


    much thought.

 Chapter 469

    Chapter 469


    I was nning on finding another, then cing both in front of you. You¡¯ll then know it was all a


    misunderstanding. She thought.


    Before she could rify, Lysander¡¯s eyes turned frosty, ¡°Then why sell it? You prefer money over it,


    don¡¯t you?¡±


    That was a gross misunderstanding.


    Everyone liked money, but Thssa always earned hers honestly. She didn¡¯t covet what wasn¡¯t hers.


    Thssa was about to exin, but upon seeing Lysander¡¯s scrutinizing and slightly contemptuous


    gaze, she felt exasperated and decided not to.


    She lifted her gaze to meet his, epting his usations.


    ¡°You¡¯re right. I love money! Mr. Sinir, since you im that as your woman, I can have anything I


    want, then I want money. Will you give it to me?¡±


    She was ready to paint herself as a gold-digger, hoping to repulse him.


    Perhaps he would lose interest and kick her out if that made him feel repulsive. She would be more


    ConTEent bel0ngs to N?v(e)lD/rama(.)Org .


    than happy if that happened.


    Lysander¡¯s gaze deepened, his face turning darker, ¡°How much do you want?¡±


    ¡°A lot. An astronomical number that I can spend extravagantly. I can use the money to buy designer


    goods, luxurious houses, fancy cars and even treat my friends to a shopping spree! I want them to


    admire, fawn over, and please me. If you could give me shares of the Sinir Group, allowing me a life


    of luxury without working, that would be perfect.¡±


    Thssa¡¯s ambitious words came out in a rush as if she was speaking her heart.


    Lysander¡¯s dark gaze turned icy, his temples throbbing in anger, ¡°And you want shares of the Sinir


    Group too? Your ambition is like an endless hole! You want a life of luxury without working, huh? Get


    rid of that greedy mindset, you won¡¯t get a dime!¡±


    His icy breath brushed against her face, chilling her to the bone.


    He let go of her face and walked away.


    Thssa watched his retreating figure; her breath was hitching in her throat.


    She took a deep breath to calm her racing heart, ¡°I am who I am. If you can¡¯t stand it, just let me go. I


    promise I won¡¯t cling to you.¡±


    Lysander stopped in his tracks, ncing back at her. She was panting, her face determined and


    stubborn.


    He understood what she was doing.


    Did she think she could provoke him and get away?


    She was too naive.


    ¡°You will dedicate your whole life to repaying your debts. Do you really think you can just walk away?¡±


    Leaving her with these cold words, Lysander returned to the living room.


    Thssa closed her eyes, sighing in disappointment.


    She had failed again.


    This was going to be a long battle.


    At the dinner table, Thssa sat opposite Lysander. His presence made the atmosphere extremely


    tense.


    She didn¡¯t dare look at him so she just dug in.


    To her surprise, Lysander finished his meal before her.


    He wiped his mouth with a napkin and remained seated, his gaze fixed on her.


    Even without looking up, Thssa could feel his icy stare.


    She quickened her pace and finished her meal ASAP.


    As she put down her cutlery, Lysander stood up. She was taken aback.


    He took a step, then turned back to her, ¡°Aren¡¯t you leaving?¡±


    Thssa immediately got up and followed his steps.


    As they got into the car, she knew what was expected of her and hopped in without a fuss.


    The car moved smoothly. The atmosphere was silent and tense.


    Thssa watched every breath she took, afraid that the slightest misstep would upset him..

 Chapter 470

    Chapter 470


    The journey was smooth sailing.


    Upon reaching the office, Lysander headed to his CEO¡¯s office and Thssa returned to her


    secretary¡¯s cubicle.


    When the clock hit five, Thssa was eager to clock out.


    She was worried about being stopped.


    Fortunately, she managed to leave work without any hitches.


    She hailed a cab back to her previous apartmentplex.


    Upon opening the door, she felt that the ce was eerily quiet. Itcked the warmth of human


    presence.


    Her lonely heart just sunk deeper.


    Property of N?)(velDr(a)ma.Org.


    She missed her little ones, but she had a GPS tracker attached to her.


    If she returned and Lysander noticed something amiss, he could ambush her at any moment.


    The fear of her children being exposed was far greater than her loneliness.


    She walked through the door, dropped her bag, and sprawled herself out on the couch.


    Just as she was about to fall asleep, her phone rang.


    It must be a call from Hertha! She thought.


    Thssa was thrilled. She quickly answered without even looking at the caller ID, ¡°Hello, Hertha, are


    the kids okay?¡±


    ¡°Kids?¡± A middle-aged man¡¯s voice came through the phone.


    Thssa was taken aback. She looked at the phone and saw an unfamiliar number.


    Assuming it to be a prank call, she was about to hang up.


    Sensing her intention to disconnect, the man on the other end said, ¡°Thssa, it¡¯s me your father. The


    child in the gourmetpetition and the other three, they¡¯re your children, aren¡¯t they?¡±


    It was Bruce!


    Thssa¡¯s heart clenched as she realized his identity. A wave of rejection and resentment hit her,


    making her want to hang up even more.


    ¡°You gave birth to Lysander¡¯s kids, right?¡± Bruce¡¯s confident voice rang out from the phone just as she


    was hitting the end-call button.


    Thssa¡¯s finger froze, teeth gritted in anger. She brought the phone back to her ear and said, ¡°I don¡¯t


    know you, stop calling me or I¡¯ll report you for harassment!¡±


    ¡°Thssa, don¡¯t be so harsh to your dad,¡± Bruce said, sounding a bit hurt.


    ¡°I don¡¯t have a dad!¡± Thssa¡¯s voice trembled in agitation, her eyes welling up with tears.


    If her father was a total homewrecker and a scumbag who abandoned her from the start, she¡¯d rather


    not have a father at all!


    He never took care of her, even just for a day; but she still needed to carry all his sins on her back.


    She couldn¡¯t handle it; her hatred for Bruce was overwhelming.


    ¡°Thssa, I know you¡¯re angry at me. I had my reasons and it¡¯s hard to exin over the phone, let¡¯s


    meet and talk,¡± Bruce said.


    ¡°No way! I¡¯m not going to meet you, and don¡¯t call me again!¡± Thssa said angrily, about to hang up.


    ¡°Your four children are quadruplets, and they are also Lysander¡¯s kids; he doesn¡¯t know yet, does he?¡±


    His words were dripping with menace.


    If Thssa didn¡¯t meet him, he would spill the secret to Lysander.


    When Elowen had advanced in the gourmetpetition and went to the office to pick up her second-


    round badge, Bruce saw the four children with Thssa and Evelyn.


    The kids were calling Evelyn grandma, and Thssa mom.


    The staff said that the four children were quadruplets.


    Bruce thus knew the children were Thssa¡¯s.


    Thssa, who was about to hang up, paused when she heard Bruce¡¯s words. She hurriedly denied,


    ¡°No! The kids are Hertha¡¯s; they have nothing to do with me and even less, to do with Lysander!¡±

 Chapter 471

    Chapter 471


    ¡°Is that so? If the kids didn¡¯t have a registered father, then you couldn¡¯t enroll them. That¡¯s why you


    decided to put them under your best friend¡¯s name. Didn¡¯t your mother do the sanie for you? I know the


    kids are Lysander¡¯s only because one of the boys looks a lot like him. Moreover, if you have no rtion


    to Lysander, why would he fight me over you?¡±


    ¡°He fought you because of your misdeeds, not me!¡± Thssa was so furious she was shaking, tears


    brimming in her eyes.


    ¡°You don¡¯t have to admit it. I¡¯ll just have a word with Lysander and suggest a DNA test. He¡¯ll know


    then,¡± Bruce said.


    Thssa clenched her cellphone and trembled with anger.


    Why was there such a despicable, heartless man?


    What was his game?


    ¡°Where are we meeting?¡± Thssa asked, gritting her teeth.


    Bruce, being the kind of lowlife he was, could do anything. If he told Lysander about this, Lysander,


    who was sharp and astute, would definitely suspect the children¡¯s paternity. If a DNA test was done,


    everything would beid bare.


    The kids were indeed his!


    If he knew the kids were his, he would surely take them away from her and leave them to his


    grandparents¡¯ care. And he wouldn¡¯t let her see her kids.


    He would love to torment her and depriving her of her children would be the cruelest torment.


    He didn¡¯t have a fondness for children, but that wouldn¡¯t stop him from taking them away.


    The children would grow upcking a father¡¯s love and a mother¡¯s care.


    The thought of her children growing up in a loveless environment caused a sharp sting in her heart. In


    that way, they wouldck parental love. Their dad would be not willing to give out his love while their


    mom was away.


    She must not let Lysander know the secret.


    Bruce gave her the address.


    After hanging up, Thssa prepared to leave. She realized she was still wearing the ne


    Lysander had given her, allowing him to track her movements.


    If Lysander found out she was seeing Bruce, he would be furious; and she would be the one to suffer.


    To be safe, Thssa removed the ne and ced it on her shoe rack before leaving the house.


    Bruce was already waiting at the coffee shop when she arrived.


    Seeing Thssa, he called over a waiter in thrill and ordered a cup of Americano.


    He smiled and said, ¡°Thssa, you look even prettier than thest time I saw you. But you¡¯re too


    skinny. You should eat more.¡±


    He¡¯s all warm and fuzzy like a loving father; the scumbag who just threatened her had gone.


    Property of N?)(velDr(a)ma.Org.


    Thssa found him hypocritical and detestable.


    She coldly said, ¡°State your business. I¡¯m busy.¡±


    Bruce smiled and said, ¡°Thssa, did you know? I was promoted because of the sessful gourmet


    ¡°Don¡¯t tie everything to me. Your promotion has nothing to do with me!¡± Thssa had no patience for


    such people. She was annoyed.


    ¡°Of course it has to do with you. You¡¯re Lysander¡¯s secretary. He agreed to invest in the gourmet


    Thssa was angry and surprised at the same tirhe.


    Even Bruce thought so.


    No wonder Lysander had said she was pleased about Bruce¡¯s promotion.


    When Lysander had asked whether he should invest in the gourmetpetition, she had said yes,


    thinking it would benefit the Sinir Group.


    But he literally invested it!


    And now she became the person behind everything.

 Chapter 472

    Chapter 472


    Bruce assumed that she, out of paternal affection, persuaded Lysander to sign the investment


    contract.


    Lysander believed that she did it out of self-interest. He thought the bonds between her and Bruce ran


    deep.


    No wonder Lysander¡¯s punishment of her escted after the gourmetpetition.


    He became colder and more overwhelming.


    He thought she was in cahoots with Bruce, and that made him despise her even more.


    And he vented all his anger on her!


    But why did he ask for her opinion when signing the contract?


    Could she just brush it all of if he didn¡¯t ask?


    In her shock, Thssa suddenly understood why Lysander had asked her.


    He wanted to see if she really had any bond with Bruce.


    Because she said to sign, he was even more convinced that her heart was with Bruce.


    Thinking about this, Thssa hated herself.


    Why did she suggest him to sign?


    She admitted that at the time she hoped the gourmetpetition would go smoothly because her


    daughter was participating.


    But she was more than that. She wasmitted to being fair in her work.


    As a businesswoman, she put profit in the first ce.


    She thought that the gourmetpetition would create profits for the Sinir Group, so she suggested


    signing. That was a justifiable response. And the contract was already in Lysander¡¯s hands anyway..


    If Lysander had no intention of signing, the contract wouldn¡¯t have appeared before him.


    One wrong word had caused so much misunderstanding.


    Thssa wished she could turn back time, back to when Lysander asked her whether to sign or not.


    She would definitely say no without hesitation!


    This way, neither side would misunderstand her intentions.


    Regretting her previous actions, Thssa was furious with Bruce.


    She red at Bruce and said, ¡°You¡¯re overthinking it, Bruce. Whether Lysander invests or not isn¡¯t


    something I, a low-tier secretary, can decide. No one can sway his decisions! It¡¯s the profits from the


    gourmetpetition that will attract his investment. I didn¡¯t say anything!¡±


    ¡°Thssa, you¡¯re too humble. You¡¯re not just a secretary. You¡¯re the mother of Lysander¡¯s kids.¡± Bruce


    leaned in closer with a knowing, condescending grin.


    Thssa leaned back in defense, ¡°What are you doing?¡± She pulled back her chair and asked in fear.


    Thssa, don¡¯t be scared. You¡¯re my daughter. I wouldn¡¯t do anything to hurt you.¡± Her rejection was


    adamant, so Bruce reassured her that way as he distanced himself.


    ¡°I¡¯m just¡­ happy for you.¡± He said.


    ¡°I¡¯ve told you, I¡¯m not the mother of those kids. And the kids are not Lysander¡¯s!¡± Thssa gazed into


    his eyes. Feeling fraught, she hastily denied any rtionship with the children


    f


    ¡°Thssa, you¡¯re wrong. There¡¯s no need to hide it Besides, having Lysander¡¯s kids is an honor. Many


    women wish to bear Lysander¡¯s child but they don¡¯t have the opportunity. You¡¯re ahead of them with a


    better chance of marrying Lysander. Later, you can depend on your kids and even help me. My


    promotion will count on you.¡±


    Bruce was too happy to contain his greed and ambition.


    He didn¡¯t expect to have a daughter who aplished so much, bearing the children of Lysander, the


    king of Starhaven. And she was close with Lysander.


    Content property of N?velDra/ma.Org.


    What¡¯s more, Lysander, who was showing interest in his daughter, helped her mother out and almost


    beat his ass off.


    Despite being beaten, Bruce was still very happy.


    Thssa was shocked.


    So this is Bruce¡¯s n, she thought.

 Chapter 473

    Chapter 473


    He was still the same old Bruce, a man of insatiable greed and without a shred of moral restraint!


    He could just exploit and threaten anyone he wanted!


    For his own gain, he could disregard everyone else.


    ¡°I¡¯ve told you I have nothing to do with Lysander and won¡¯t marry him! You can forget about it!¡±


    Thssa said, her voice seething with anger. She jumped up from her seat and walked away.


    ¡°Ahh!¡± Just as she was leaving, a waiter was bringing coffee over, and Thssa, in her hurry, knocked


    it from his hand.


    It spilled everywhere.


    The scalding coffee soaked through her clothes, searing her skin and eliciting a scream. She


    instinctively stepped back.


    ¡°How could you be so careless? You¡¯ve burnt her!¡± Bruce jumped up from his seat as well, his face red


    and his veins bulging as he berated the waiter.


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry, I¡¯m so sorry, it was an ident. Please go to the restroom and rinse it off with cold water,¡±


    the waiter stammered, hastily dabbing at the coffee stains on her dress as he kept apologizing.


    Bruce also stepped forward.


    Thssa recoiled, not wanting Bruce anywhere near her,


    ¡°I¡¯m fine,¡± she assured the waiter.


    She moved her chair to block Bruce¡¯s approach, skirted around it, and walked out a different way.


    She couldn¡¯t bear being in the same space as Bruce even just for one sec.


    No sooner had Thssa left the caf¨¦ than Bruce followed her out. He held a napkin in his hand and


    attempted to dab at the coffee stains on her dress. ¡°Look at you, you¡¯re covered in coffee. Let me help


    you clean up.¡±


    He moved the napkin around her dress.


    Thssa shrank away, refusing his help, ¡°No need. Just stay away from me!¡±


    Bruce, however, persisted in his efforts to clean her dress, no matter how much Thssa resisted or


    pushed him away.


    -Thssa was near breaking point.


    ¡°What do you think you¡¯re doing? Let her go!¡± Suddenly, a clear male voice called out.


    A tall man rushed over and yanked Bruce away. He was so angry at Bruce¡¯s earlier inappropriate


    actions that he couldn¡¯t help but punch Bruce in the eye.


    Bruce yelped in pain and staggered back a few steps.


    The man, still not pacified, aimed another kick at Bruce and was about to punch him again.


    Bruce quickly raised his hands in surrender, ¡°Stop it, I¡¯m her father. It¡¯s a misunderstanding, a


    misunderstanding!¡±


    The man, Leopold, froze in mid-motion, looking incredulously at Bruce, then at Thssa.


    ¡°Thssa, should I call the police?¡±


    Thssa,ing back to her senses and seeing Leopold, was about to speak.


    Bruce quickly interjected, ¡°No need to call the police. I am really her father. Thssa, since you don¡¯t


    Ccontent ? exclusive by N?/vel(D)ra/ma.Org.


    want to see me now, I¡¯ll leave. We can talk about thister.¡±


    Bruce shot Leopold a wary nce, covered his swollen eye, and left.


    Leopold, concerned about Thssa, approached her. He looked at the deep brown coffee stains on


    her dress, not yet fully dry, and then at Thssa¡¯s defeated and aggrieved expression. A pang of


    sympathy hit Leopold. ¡°Thssa, are you okay? Did you get burnt? Let¡¯s go to the hospital.¡±


    As he spoke, he reached for her hand, visibly anxious.


    Thssa pulled her hand back before he could grasp it. She took a deep breath and tried topose


    herself.


    ¡°I¡¯m fine, there¡¯s no need for the hospital.¡±


    Leopold¡¯s hand fell back to his side and he clenched the air. His eyes were soft with worry as he asked


    gently, ¡°Was the man really your father?¡±

 Chapter 474

    Chapter 474


    Thssa wasn¡¯t keen on addressing that matter.


    She didn¡¯t want Bruce to be her father. She wanted to deny that more than anyone.


    She looked away, saying, ¡°I¡¯m a bit tired, and I¡¯d like to go home to rest. Thanks for covering for me


    earlier.¡±


    As she moved to depart, Leopold stepped in her path; his gaze filled with concern and tenderness, ¡°Let


    me take you home.¡±


    She didn¡¯t wish to talk so he didn¡¯t push.


    Thssa declined outright, ¡°No need, I can take a taxi.¡±


    She couldn¡¯t afford to have any more ties with Leopold, let alone get too close.


    Since there was no chance for them, she had to make him let go.


    It was for his own good.


    She turned away, heading to the roadside to hail a cab.


    ¡°Is it because of my mother?¡± Leopold¡¯s question trailed behind her.


    Thssa paused, turning back to see Leopold approaching. His tall figure loomed before her, gentle


    and towering like a big brother.


    ¡°My mother sought you out and said some things she shouldn¡¯t have, right?¡± Leopold lowered his gaze


    to hers. His amber eyes, brimming with sorrow, stared deeply


    into hers.


    His eyes were beautiful. He had longshes and his eyes shone like polished amber in the sunlight,


    warm and radiant.


    It was a gaze filled with such warmth and affection that many women found irresistible.


    Thssa used to love his eyes, for the deep affection brimming in them every time he looked at her.


    But people had changed over time.


    There was no going back.


    Thssa averted her eyes, ¡°It¡¯s not about anyone else. Let¡¯s keep our distance from now on.¡±


    ¡°You may want to keep your distance, but I don¡¯t,¡± Leopold said, agitated.


    Thssa was already not in the best mood, and Leopold¡¯s persistence was exhausting her.


    ¡°Leopold, how many times do I have to tell you? It¡¯s over between us. We¡¯re better off as strangers.¡±


    ¡°Why is it impossible? Is it because youck the courage to elope with me? Or because of Lysander?¡±


    Leopold gripped her shoulders, forcing her to look at him.


    He used to sustain himself with the belief that they could get back together.


    He tried his best to establish his business and be a better person.


    He did these so that one day he could have the courage to get her back and offer her a better life.


    Now, despite all his achievements, they still couldn¡¯t be together. He felt as if he had lost all support; his


    body was deting and devoid of energy.


    He was living each day like a walking corpse.


    He didn¡¯t want to live like this anymore.


    She was his lifeblood, his soul. Without her, he was but an empty shell.


    Seeing the desperate hurt in Leopold¡¯s eyes, Thssa felt a pang of fear, worried about his despair.


    She was even more afraid she would give in.


    She brushed his hand away, ¡°Even without Lysander, I wouldn¡¯t elope with you. Don¡¯t you get it? Since


    that day five years ago, we went separate ways in our lives. You have your life, I have mine. Can¡¯t we


    just live our lives separately?¡±


    ¡°No, it¡¯s not okay. Not at all,¡± Leopold¡¯s voice cracked, his face etched with grief. ¡°Every day without you


    is not okay¡­¡±


    He wanted to pull her into his arms, but her wary, resistant gaze denied him even that.


    Thssa¡¯s heart ached to see him in despair.


    She felt hurt as well.


    Her resolve softened, and she was about to say something tofort him.


    Suddenly, her phone in her pocket rang.


    She pulled out her phone and found it was Lysander!


    Her heart skipped a beat, her nerves on edge. Content property of N?velDra/ma.Org.

 Chapter 475

    Chapter 475


    The phone line crackled to life as she held her breath, ¡°Hello?¡±


    ¡°Where are you?¡± Lysander¡¯s voice was icy, low andmanding.


    Thssa nced nervously at Leopold. She was holding her breath as she carefully replied, ¡°At


    home.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m on my way.¡± Lysander¡¯s rich baritone voice dered.


    Before she could respond, he had ended the call.


    Thssa¡¯s heart pounded with anxiety. A taxi happened to pass by, and she hastily gged it down.


    Without an extra word with Leopold, she instructed the driver to


    move.


    Content property of N?velDra/ma.Org.


    She had to beat Lysander to her home, and to wear the ne before he arrived:


    Otherwise, Lysander would know she had lied.


    Leopold watched the taxi retreat into the distance; his fists clenched and his eyes were filled with


    sorrow and longing.


    He knew it was Lysander who had called her.


    She literally lied to hide the fact that she was being with him.


    Did she care so much about Lysander¡¯s feelings?


    Thssa, what do I do to be with you? He thought.


    Thssa¡¯s journey home was fraught with worry and impatience. Finally, the taxi pulled up to her


    building.


    She sprang from the vehicle and dashed towards the door.


    Upon reaching the door, she found it locked. She sighed with relief, fumbled for her keys, and unlocked


    it.


    As the door opened, a chilling, oppressive sensation swept over her.


    Thssa f¨¦lt her heart stop beating.


    The room was dark; not a single light was on.


    She reassured herself, not allowing her fear to get the best of her. Lysander didn¡¯t have her keys, so


    how could he possibly be inside?


    She stepped into the apartment and flicked on the light switch.


    The light illuminated the room, and a dark, imposing figure on the couch immediately caught her


    attention.


    Thssa¡¯s heart stopped on seeing that picture.


    Lysander turned his head, his hawk-like eyes fixing on her.


    She could feel the heaviness and the danger bore in those eyes.


    It was so intense that Thssa felt a heaviness pressing on her chest, a wave of panic washing over


    her.


    He was toying with the tinum ne with her hands; the pendant was hanging below his slender


    fingers.


    Thssa¡¯s heart pounded even faster on seeing such a scene.


    Without waiting for him to question her, she began exining, ¡°I had taken off my backpack and the


    ne when I got home; and I left them by the entrance. Then I suddenly wanted some coffee, so I


    took my phone and went out, forgetting to wear the ne. When I heard you wereing, I rushed


    back home without even finishing my coffee.¡±


    Lysander¡¯s gaze remained intense.


    Thssa, fearing he didn¡¯t believe her, added hastily, ¡°It¡¯s true. Look, I was in such a hurry that I spilled


    my coffee on myself.¡±


    She tugged at her shirt, showing him the coffee stain.


    Lysander¡¯s cold gaze fell on her stained shirt for a moment. ¡°I¡¯ve told you to keep the ne on you


    at all times. Seems like you forget easily?¡±


    ¡°I won¡¯t forget next time,¡± Thssa promised hastily.


    Seeing her on tenterhooks, Lysander finally looked away. ¡°This is yourst warning. He dropped his


    words.


    She breathed a sigh of relief upon hearing him drop the matter. She moved to sit on the couch, leaving


    a seat between them.


    But before she could sit, he grabbed her wrist, pulling her into his arms.


    His strong arm encircled her slender waist, his stubbly face brushing against her ear.


    The strong scent of his cologne made Thssa¡¯s heart flutter, her voice trembling slightly, ¡°Mr.


    Sinir¡­¡±


    ¡°I want you¡­¡± His voice was low and husky, his kisses trailing down her delicate neck.

 Chapter 476

    Chapter 476


    His kiss,ced with the intoxicating scent of masculinity, danced across the delicate curve of her neck.


    Thssa shivered involuntarily.


    Her nerves were tingling.


    Without giving much thought, she hugged his head, her voice a soft whisper, "Mr. Sinir, I''ve spilled


    coffee on myself. I wouldn''t want to stain your clothes."


    Lysander continued to nuzzle her skin, his voice husky and seductive, "Let me help you clean up."


    Thssa''s head buzzed. She was trying to tell him she was dirty and hoping he would keep his


    distance.


    But he seemed to be on a different wavelength.


    No sooner had he spoken, Thssa was swept off her feet, carried effortlessly towards the bathroom.


    Thssa wrapped her arms around his neck as a natural movement. As they approached the


    bathroom, her panic surged. "Mr. Sinir, I can walk,¡¯ she said.


    ¡°We''ll clean up together¡¯ he replied, his voice rough and firm.


    The bathroom door was kicked open by his foot and closed behind them.


    Her rental did not boast the grandeur of Royal Estates. The bathroom was a small space just for one


    person.


    Now, with the two of them, and Lysander''s towering and muscr build, the foom felt even more


    confined.


    The air was thick with his intimidating presence and intense masculine pheromones.


    Thssa found it hard to breathe, and in that moment, she was ready to shower.


    Lysander had already shed his clothes.


    The shower head was turned on. Warm water was cascading down from above, sshing Thssa¡¯s


    face.


    Before she could react, she was in Lysander''s arms.


    His tall and perfect figure was all filled with masculine allure.


    Thssa¡¯s breath hitched a little.


    ConTEent bel0ngs to N?v(e)lD/rama(.)Org .


    To maintain her bnce, she wrapped her arms around his neck; her blood tingled even more at the


    sight of his sexy Adam''s apple.


    ¡°Mr. Sinir, I took your pendant. Aren''t you going to punish me?" Thssa tried to suppress the


    unsettling feeling in her body. This situation was making her panic.


    She deliberately provoked him, hoping he would be disgusted and lose interest.


    He paused kissing her neck; his gaze was cold and deep.


    His voice was low and chilling, ¡°Therefore, you have to pay the price. Bear my wrath!"


    Thssa frowned. She held his neck tightly and jerked her head. The steam in the room blurred her


    vision, and she saw the light above her flicker.


    Around 10 PM.


    Thssay in bed, not wanting to move.


    Lysander, fully dressed, sat in the living room. His tall, imposing figure was enhanced by the cigarette


    between his long fingers. His handsome face remained impassive as he puffed away, the smoke


    swirling around him.


    The room had no ashtray. He extinguished the cigarette in his hand and threw it in the trash. Rising, he


    strode out of the room.


    Thssa heard the door close and knew Lysander had left.


    Her tense nerves finally rxed.


    Things were spiraling out of control.


    Before the night, Lysander only took her to hotels or his house.


    Now, he came directly to her house, catching her off guard.


    Luckily, she lived alone. If she hadn''t discovered the secret of the ne and continued living with


    the kids...


    It would have been a disaster.


    As Thssay there, drained, her stomach grumbled.


    She didn¡¯t want to move, so she decided to bear with the hunger.

 Chapter 477

    Chapter 477


    A new light bulb in her head was reminding her of something crucial.


    Lysander had left. And he didn''t bring any pills!


    She had to get up and get some herself.


    She couldn''t afford to get pregnant now, or else she would be the one who got hurt.


    Property of N?)(velDr(a)ma.Org.


    Dragging her weary body, Thssa got up, took a shower, and dressed up teady to go out.


    She nced at the ne on the sofa. She decided not to wear it at first.


    But when Lysander¡¯s angry face shed through her mind, she bent down to pick it up and put it


    around her neck.


    Lysander had insisted that she wear the ne at all times, never to take it off.


    His authoritative tone still echoed in her ears. Thssa was apprehensive and decided to wear it even


    though she was just stepping out for a moment.


    She grabbed something to eat first and then headed to the pharmacy for the pills.


    As she left the pharmacy and was on her way to the grocery store for a bottle of water, she suddenly


    felt a hand cover her mouth from behind.


    She struggled for a moment, and then everything went ck.


    When she woke up again, Thssa felt weak and limp.


    She was lying on the ground, unable to get up.


    Where was she?


    What drug had been smeared on the cloth that was used to cover her mouth?


    Why was she so powerless?


    ¡°You''re awake? A seductive woman like you will never learn your lesson without a taste of pain,¡¯ a


    woman''s harsh words echoed around her.


    Mustering all her strength, Thssa raised her body towards the sound. She saw a woman with a


    meticulously made-up face and dressed in opulent jewelry. She looked dignified and elegant, yet she


    was holding a sharp ice pick; its metallic glint was cold under the light.


    She was fiddling with the ice pick.


    The woman was Amelia. Thssa recognized her.


    In fear, Thssa moved back a bit and asked cautiously, "Amelia, what are you doing?"


    Amelia''s mascara-coated eyshes fluttered, and she sneered, "What am I doing? I told you before,


    stop seeing Leopold. You broke your promise today.


    And I also told you, if you didn''t listen, it wouldn''t be just a warning."


    She pped the ice pick in her hand, looking calm yet dangerouslyposed.


    Thssa''s panic seeped into her bones. Amelia didn''t seem to be in her right mind. Was she nning


    to kill her?


    She waspletely powerless now, her body numb, unable to even stand.


    If Amelia wanted to kill her, she had no ability to resist.


    Thssa tried to reason with her, "Today was a coincidence. I didn¡¯t meet him intentionally. It was just


    an encounter. I even told him that we should forget about each other and be strangers."


    She honestly didn''t see Leopold, and she didn''t want to meet him either.


    Being strangers would be better for both of them. She wished him happiness and didn''t want him to


    waste time on her.


    ¡°What''s this, then?" Amelia pulled out a bag and tossed it beside her. Inside the bag was a box of pills.


    Thssa took a closer look and recognized those pills she had bought.


    Maybe Amelia thought she had brought Leopold home.


    Thssa exined, "We didn''t see each other after Leopold and I separated at the mall."


    "Really? How can I trust you?¡± Amelia suddenly snapped. She stood up, walked over, and squatted in


    front of her. She grabbed Thssa¡¯s face and held the ice pick against her cheek.


    ¡°Such a pretty face is like a ma to men. What if I were to poke a few bloody holes in it? Even


    animals would be afraid of you, let alone humans.


    Do you think you could still seduce my son then?" Amelia gritted her teeth, the sharp edge of the ice


    pick tracing Thssa''s face.


    It could pierce through Thssa''s face at any time.


    She could feel the cold metal against her skin, chilling her to the bone.


    Thssa was on high alert, her nerves stretched taut.

 Chapter 478

    Chapter 478


    "If you truly care for your son, you wouldn''t be doing this. Instead, you should be offering him


    psychological support and helping him start anew.¡¯ Thssa stood rigid, swallowing hard.


    But what she said rang true.


    Not just for her own safety, but for Leopold''s sake as well.


    ¡°Well, don''t pretend like you care about my son. Women like you are pretending to care but causing


    nothing but harm. Do you think I don''t know your game?" Amelia scoffed, ring at Thssa; her


    anger was so palpable.


    Leopold was her only child, her precious gem. Since he was a baby, she had coddled him and put a


    fragilebel on him.


    Yet her baby son had nearly lost his life twice because of a woman.


    If she didn''t get this woman out of his lifepletely, she might truly lose her son.


    The thought of losing her beloved son caused Amelia a suffocating pain, leaving her in a state of fear


    and panic.


    Thssa noticed Amelia''sck of control as the sharp point pressed harder into her cheek.


    Thssa winced at the sharp sting; if Amelia put any more pressure, it could puncture her skin.


    She wanted to resist but felt weak, unable to even raise her hand to push her away.


    ¡°Amelia, calm down. Do you want your son to hate you?" Thssa tried to reason with her.


    ¡°Let him hate me then. It''s better than him losing his life! Thssa, I will ruin you now; let''s see how


    you seduce men then!" Amelia hissed, pressing down.


    The sharp point pierced Thssa¡¯''s cheek.


    Severe pain shot through her, making her cry out. The pain gave her a burst of strength, enough to


    push Amelia away.


    Amelia was infuriated by Thssa''s resistance.


    ¡°You wretch! How dare you resist?!" Amelia tightened her grip on the sharp object, charging at


    Thssa like a demon unleashed.


    Thssa watched in horror as Amelia raised her weapon to strike. The blood-stained point gleamed


    dangerously under the light.


    Her heart pounded in her chest.


    Was this the end?


    The door suddenly burst open; a tall imposing figure rushed in, kicking Amelia away.


    Amelia was sent flying, dropping her weapon.


    She red at the intruder, "Who dares to..."


    Her harsh words were cut short when she saw Lysander. Her expression shifted from anger to fear,


    "Lysander, what are you doing here?"


    Lysander ignored her, moving to Thssa¡¯s side. He pulled her up and saw the blood on her face.


    Her pale clean face was marred with a bloody wound. The sight was horrifying.


    Lysander didn¡¯t have any tissues or handkerchief with him. He pulled her into his arms, pushing his


    sleeves against the wound to stop the blood from cascading.


    His eyes were icy cold. His re was a de shot to Amelia, "How dare you hurt my girl? Are you


    Content property of N?velDra/ma.Org.


    asking for death?"


    Amelia gasped, "What? Thssa is your girl?"


    Her shocked words were cut short as she saw Lysander''s protective stance over Thssa.


    He was a man who cared about cleanliness, never tolerating any stain on his suit.


    Yet now, he didn''t care about dirtying his suit and used his arm to stop Thssa''s bleeding.


    He cradled her in his arms in the most careful way, as if he was a man protecting his beloved girl.

 Chapter 479

    Chapter 479


    Amelia was stunned. She had always thought that Thssa, who used to date her son Leopold, was


    now trying to win him back.


    But to her surprise, Thssa and Lysander were involved.


    And she bought the pills all because of him?


    Everything fell into ce for Amelia.


    Lysander stared at her with icy, lethal eyes, as if he was ready to kill her right there.


    She felt a chill of fear and quickly said, "I was mistaken. I saw Leopold with her today and he hasn''t


    low. Please, Lysander, forgive your aunt."


    \f Lysander decided to punish her, it would not only be bad for her, but for her entire family. She couldn''t


    let her husband and son suffer because of her.


    ¡°If this happens again, you can kiss your face goodbye!¡± Lysander''s handsome face was cold and


    tense.


    He left her standing there and took Thssa with him.


    Thssa took a step but her legs were getting weak. She was still groggy from the drug.


    Lysander caught her just in time; he scooped her up in his arms and strode out.


    He put Thssa in the car, got in himself, and ordered David, "To the hospital!"


    David immediately started the car and drove off.


    Inside the car, Thssa and Lysander sat close together; he was still cradling her face with one hand


    and sped her waist with the other.


    Thssa, whose breath was taut in panic, now slowed it down; she caught the scent of his masculine


    cologne, strong and warm.


    It gave her a sense of safety.


    ¡°I''m going to remove my hand. If the blood has dried, my clothes will stick to the wound and it will hurt,¡±


    Lysander''s deep voice echoed in her ear.


    Thssa listened to his mesmerizing voice, and a warmth seeped into her chilled heart.


    She quietly responded, "Okay".


    Lysander gently lifted his arm from her cheek.


    Luckily, the blood hadn''t dried yet, and there was no sticking. He was able to temove his arm easily.


    Thssa didn''t feel any pain.


    The bleeding on her face stopped.


    When he removed his arm, the other half of Thssa¡¯s body felt empty.


    Realizing that she was still leaning against him, she felt awkward. She quickly sat up straight and


    avoided his stare, "Thank you for saving me."


    Lysander nced at her; his handsome face was clouded, his expression dark. He didn''t say anything


    ConTEent bel0ngs to N?v(e)lD/rama(.)Org .


    but just stared ahead.


    Thssa felt the sudden chill billowing around him.


    She became more careful, sitting straight and silent.


    Lysander was an enigma. His mood was unpredictable, and it was hard to tead him.


    One moment he seemed concerned about her, the next his face was clouded.


    She dared not provoke him. If he got angry, she would be in trouble.


    The air in the car was heavy and oppressive.


    Finally, they arrived at the hospital. Thssa was about to get out of the car herself.


    But before she could, she felt she was up to the cloud. Lysander scooped her up in his arms.


    Thssa gasped. Without thinking much, she wrapped her arms around his neck. His Adam''s apple


    was rugged and sexy, his neck strong and resilient.


    Thssa''s breath hitched a little.

 Chapter 480

    Chapter 480


    The doctor tended to Thssa''s facial wound and said, "The cut is deep; thankfully it didn''t puncture


    and the bleeding was stopped in time.


    Otherwise, it could be a real problem. You can''t take this lightly though; you need to take good


    care of it. If it gets wet and bes infected, it''ll be tough to handle, and you''ll suffer a lot."


    Lysander, who stood nearby, chimed in, "Will it leave a scar?"


    His deep-set eyes were brooding, his handsome face cold, and an intimidating aura emanated from


    him.


    The surrounding air seemed to press down.


    A weighty silence filled the room, making it hard to breathe.


    The doctor cautiously replied, "That depends on the individual''s skin type, as well as how well they take


    Ccontent ? exclusive by N?/vel(D)ra/ma.Org.


    care of the wound. Some people are prone to scarring; no matter how well they protect the wound,


    they''ll still scar. Others, if they take good care of the wound, won''t leave a scar."


    Lysander''s expression turned grim, and he said nothing.


    The doctor, fearing he had said something wrong, became anxious.


    The atmosphere was thick with tension and silence.


    Thssa tried to lighten the mood hastily, so she said politely to the doctor, "Doctor, thank you. If


    there''s nothing else, may I leave now?"


    "There''s nothing else. Juste back in three days to change the dressing"


    the doctor advised.


    ¡°Alright, thank you for your help; Thssa responded politely.


    Lysander shot her a cold nce, and was the first out of the medical office.


    Thssa quickly followed him like a child who had done something wrong.


    The one who was injured was her, and if a scar was to be left, it would be on her.


    Yet, why did it feel like Lysander was more upset than her?


    Thssa followed him like a kitten, and when they reached the car, he got in first. She didn''t dare to


    pause and quickly followed.


    The car started up.


    Lysander''s face was dark as thunder.


    Thssa sat rigidly and held her breath. After all, when Lysander was in a bad mood, even her


    breathing seemed to be a mistake.


    ¡°Where did you go this afternoon?" Lysander''s icy voice echoed in the car.


    Thssa tensed, her mind racing to interpret the sudden question.


    A cold realization dawned on her. Amelia had mentioned earlier that she had met with Leopold in the


    afternoon.


    Was he angry about that all this time?


    In front of the seething Lysander, Thssa didn''t dare to make a wrong move. She lowered her head


    slightly and said, ¡°The Global Emporium."


    Lysander''s frosty gaze swept over her face as he pulled out his phone and dialed a number, "Send me


    the surveince footage from the Global Emporium this afternoon within ten minutes"


    He was checking the surveince footage!


    Thssa was so nervous that she became deadpanned; her breath almost stilled.


    Once the surveince was checked, nothing could be hidden.


    A storm was likely on its way.


    In less than ten minutes, Lysander received the surveince footage.


    Thssa had walked into a caf¨¦ and sat down with Bruce. They spoke about something, but the


    surveince was silent, so there was no audio.


    Their conversation hit a snag. Thssa left in a huff, and the coffee a waiter was carrying got spilled on


    her.


    Bruce followed her out and tried to manhandle her, but she resisted. Bruce was relentless.


    Leopold appeared, pulled Bruce away, and rescued her.


    The whole incidentsted less than twenty minutes. After that, Thssa received a phone call and left


    in a taxi.


    Not only had she met with Leopold today, but also Bruce!


    Lysander shot Thssa a piercing look, ¡°The coffee on you wasn''t spilled by yourself, huh?"


    His prolonged tone was a clear indication of his anger.


    Thssa felt a strong, icy wave of anger washed over her. Her body ached under such chillness.


    She shrunk back, meekly saying, "I was trying to end things with Bruce today, but he wouldn''t let go.


    He kept pestering me, and luckily Leopold was there to help me out. I left immediately after that, didn''t


    linger there for a second."


    She was telling the truth. She was really trying to sever ties with them.


    She didn''t mean to lie to him.

 Chapter 481

    Chapter 481


    She just wanted to live her ordinary life in peace and quiet.


    She didn¡¯t want to be disturbed by anyone.


    But even this small wish took a great deal of effort to maintain.


    She didn¡¯t want to hide anything from Lysander, but if he found out she¡¯d seen Bruce or Leopold, he


    would get angry.


    And when he got angry, she¡¯d be stuck in the hot seat.


    She strove for calm and tranquility.


    But things didn¡¯t go as nned.


    After she finished speaking, Lysander¡¯s hawk-like gaze was still fixed on her.


    It was so intense it made her scalp tingle; just when she thought she couldn¡¯t bear it any longer, his


    gaze moved away.


    ¡°Someone¡¯s going to pay,¡± his deep voice echoed coolly.


    Thssa paused, not understanding what he meant.


    Before long, the car pulled up at the Royal Estates, not Thssa¡¯s home.


    Thssa was a bit nervous as her wrist was seized. Lysander¡¯s strong hand gripped her slender wrist,


    leading her into the mansion and up the stairs.


    He threw her onto the bed.


    ¡°Daring to lie to me? You¡¯re getting bolder.¡±


    Thssa was terrified, ¡°Mr. Sinir, I won¡¯t do it again¡­


    Before she could finish her plea, her chin was squeezed forcefully. Lysander was looking at her with a


    frosty look, ¡°Do you think you can escape my control by disfiguring yourself, hmm?¡±


    Thssa¡¯s chin ached under his grip; the pain was so sharp and piercing.


    Her brows furrowed tightly, her hands clutching his. She was drowned by fear looking at his furious


    face. If he was pushed far enough, he might even kill her.


    She couldn¡¯t die. If she did, what would happen to her four little pumpkins?


    ¡°No, I didn¡¯t think that. I don¡¯t want to get hurt either,¡± Thssa¡¯s clear eyes, filled with a strong desire


    to survive, met his gaze.


    Seeing her face flush red, Lysander¡¯s eyes flickered. He let go of her.


    Released, Thssa massaged her aching jaw. The pain seemed to spread up to her temples and


    cause a throbbing ache. Seeing her battered and pitiful appearance, something seemed to stir in


    Lysander¡¯s heart. His breath hitched because of that.


    With a cold nce at her, he turned and left.


    That night, Thssa slept alone in the master bedroom. Lysander didn¡¯te in again.


    ConTEent bel0ngs to N?v(e)lD/rama(.)Org .


    She finally had a moment of peace.


    In the morning, after breakfast.


    Thssa left the house with Lysander.


    The ck Rolls-Royce halted outside a medium-sizedpany.


    Thssa took a deliberate look at its name, Chad Foods Inc.,


    As his tall and imposing figure walked in, all the receptionists and guards respectfully stepped aside to


    greet him.


    Thssa followed him to the elevator.


    Upon reaching the top floor, Lysander headed straight for the conference room.


    As soon as he entered, he stunned the room with his exalted presence.


    The ongoing meeting and the boss¡¯s stern reprimanding of the employees suddenly came to a halt.


    The boss immediately fell silent; his air of superiority vanished at the sight of Lysander. Looking


    apprehensive and timid, he quickly transformed himself into a


    subordinate.


    ¡°Mr. Sinir, your presence graces our humblepany. It¡¯s truly an honor, Chad, the CEO of Chad


    Foods Inc, greeted with a smile.


    Lysander looked down at everyone in the room.


    Everyone was cautious, not daring to make a sound.


    Including Bruce, who was seated in the center of the conference table.

 Chapter 482

    Chapter 482


    Bruce usually wouldn¡¯t be given the privilege to participate in such a high-level meeting.


    He was recenth


    promoted to the level of a general manager, so he had the opportunity to be part of thepany¡¯s


    upper echelons.


    This was his first time attending such a meeting.


    He hoped things would go smoothly. Even if he couldn¡¯t impress the chairman, he wanted to avoid


    making mistakes at least.


    However, shortly after the meeting began, Lysander, the big shot, arrived.


    Property of N?)(velDr(a)ma.Org.


    His aura and authority were so overpowering that even their boss seemed to hold him in high regard.


    To Bruce¡¯s surprise and delight, the person apanying Lysander was Thssa!


    He nced happily at Thssa, only to see a bandage on her face. She was injured.


    This revtion made his heart skip a beat. Did Lysander hurt Thssa?


    If so, where did Thssa stand in Lysander¡¯s heart?


    As everyone held their breath, Lysander sauntered over and took his seat at the head of the


    conference table, the boss¡¯s chair.


    His movements were nonchnt, regal, and authoritative. No one dared to question


    Chad¡¯s smile faltered for a moment, but he quickly resumed his obsequious demeanor and stood by


    Lysander¡¯s side.


    Lysander¡¯s slender fingers picked up the documents on the table and he started to read. His chilling


    voice was intimidating.


    ¡°Gourmetpetition debrief, amendation session, huh?¡±


    He tossed the file on the table and gave Chad a cold nce.


    Chad was trembling, clueless as to why Lysander was here.


    All he knew was that Lysander was giving a frosty aura.


    It was so oppressive that it felt hard to breathe.


    Lysander¡¯s arrival was definitely due to some irritation.


    ¡°Mr. Sinir, as the biggest investor in the gourmetpetition, we wee your guidance, Chad


    ttered.


    Lysander took a cigarette from his pocket and ced it in his mouth, reaching for his lighter.


    Chad quickly offered his own lighter, trying to ingratiate himself by lighting Lysander¡¯s cigarette.


    Lysander gave him a cold, sidelong nce.


    The icy stare frightened Chad, who immediately extinguished the me and stood straight, distancing


    himself from Lysander.


    Lysander lit his cigarette nonchntly; he took a drag, and the smoke billowed around his handsome,


    icy face.


    Being ignored and rejected in front of all his employees was humiliating for Chad.


    But there was nothing he could do. The man sitting in his chair was Lysander, the head of Starhaven, a


    man of immense wealth and power, radiating an aura of nobility.


    Chad, the smallpany boss, was not even fit to shine his shoes, let alone light his cigarette.


    Thssa had been silent the entire time, carefully staying behind Lysander, making herself seem


    insignificant.


    She didn¡¯t understand why Lysander had brought her here.


    As Lysander smoked his cigarette in silence, the tension in the room heightened. Everyone kept their


    heads down, nerves on edge.


    The ringtone of Chad¡¯s phone broke the tense silence.


    He cast a fearful nce at Lysander and hurriedly answered the call.


    Whatever was said made Chad turn pale.


    Returning to Lysander¡¯s side, his face was not just obsequious and ttering, but also scared and


    anxious.


    ¡°Mr. Sinir, did ourpany do something wrong? Please enlighten us and we will definitely correct


    our mistakes. Please give us another chance¡± Chad pleaded, bending over in a servile manner, his


    face full of distress.


    All the employees at the meeting table looked curiously at Chad.


    Judging by his fraught and frightened expression, something big had happened.

 Chapter 483

    Chapter 483


    The employees in the meeting were all on tenterhooks.


    ¡°What you need to do is pack up your things and leave within half an hour,¡± Lysander¡¯s icy voice


    echoed through the room.


    Chad¡¯s face turned ghostly white. ¡°Mr. Sinir, our small firm isn¡¯t that profitable. Why would you want


    to buy it out?¡±


    1


    ¡°You¡¯re annoying.¡± Lysander had no patience for Chad..


    His decisions were final and non-negotiable.


    Chad was at a loss, unsure of how he¡¯d upset Lysander.


    He¡¯d thought that winning the gourmetpetition would secure Lysander¡¯s investment and solidify a


    rtionship with the Sinir group, thus paving the way for his brighter future.


    But instead, they were to be bought out.


    And in just thirty minutes, he was out of the game.


    The news of the buyout sent shock waves through the room, leaving the employees in a state of fear


    and uncertainty.


    Landing their positions hadn¡¯t been easy; and with a change in management, their jobs were now


    hanging by a thread.


    Thssa was also taken aback. She nced at Lysander, his icyposure and regal aura were


    making him untouchable.


    He¡¯d bought theirpany? Just like that?


    Chad knew better than to push his luck. Angering Lysander would only end in disaster so he hung his


    head and trudged out of the room, defeated.


    Lysander¡¯s deep gaze swept over the employees around the conference table.


    Everyone sat stiffly, heads bowed, not daring to draw attention to themselves at such a critical


    moment.


    The atmosphere was so tense it was suffocating.


    Just like the rest, Bruce had his head bowed in silence. But he was torn. Unlike the others, he had


    Thssa as his safety.


    1


    If he spoke up now and identified himself, Lysander may grant him a higher position and more power.


    But if he stayed quiet, he would miss his chance.


    As the minutes ticked away and the office grew more somber, Bruce made up his mind. He stood up


    Content property of N?velDra/ma.Org.


    and said, ¡°Mr. Sinir, you may not be aware, but I was the main organizer of the gourmetpetition.


    Also, I¡¯m quite close with your secretary, Ms. Everhart.¡±


    He deliberately brought up Thssa, hoping to reveal their father-daughter rtionship to Lysander.


    At his words, Thssa tensed and shot Bruce a warning look.


    She didn¡¯t want him to bring her up.


    But Bruce ignored her and continued, ¡°Ms. Everhart was of great help during thepetition. It


    wouldn¡¯t have been such a sess without her.¡±


    Thssa was taken aback. What was Bruce bbering about? When had she ever helped him?


    Was he trying to corner her?


    Lysander¡¯s lips turned up in a cold smile. He extinguished his cigarette in the ashtray, his gaze turning


    icy as he looked at Bruce.


    ¡°You can pack your things and leave now,¡± he said. His voice was authoritative and frosty.


    Bruce was taken aback. He¡¯d thought that associating himself with Thssa would earn him some


    benefits, but instead, he¡¯d been fired.


    Was his understanding of Lysander and Thssa¡¯s rtionship off?


    He looked at Lysander in disbelief, then at Thssa.


    The bandage was so obvious on her face. Had Lysander really hit her?


    Had he lost his gamble?


    Bruce quickly realized the gravity of the situation and pleaded, ¡°Mr. Sinir, I only meant that Ms.


    Everhart brought her little friend Elowen to the gourmetpetition and helped secure the win. She did


    me a favor, nothing more.¡±


    At the mention of Elowen, Thssa¡¯s heart skipped a beat.


    Furious, she red at Bruce. What was he trying to achieve?

 Chapter 484

    Chapter 484


    Lysander¡¯s gaze was deep and his aura was icy cold as he stared at Bruce.


    ¡°Mr. Sinir, as a matter of fact¡­¡± Bruce began in a worried tone.


    Thssa¡¯s heart skipped a beat. She quickly chimed in, ¡°Elowen is my best friend Hertha¡¯s child. I took


    her to the mall and she was interested in the gourmetpetition; she insisted on participating, and I


    couldn¡¯t stop her. It¡¯s just the kid showing interest in this area so I don¡¯t deserve any credit. You really


    don¡¯t need to thank me, Mr. Bruce.¡±


    As Thssa looked at Bruce, her eyes sparkling with a warning and anger directed at him.


    He understood the message in her eyes.


    ConTEent bel0ngs to N?v(e)lD/rama(.)Org .


    He swallowed his words, his tone pleading, ¡°Mr. Sinir, are you unhappy with me?¡±


    ¡°Get out!¡± Lysander tightened his chiseled face; he seethed his teeth, and his body was burning with


    fury; he had no patience left for Bruce.


    It would take extreme restraint to stop himself from killing that man!


    Bruce had no direct responsibility for the ident that killed his parents, and the police ruled it as an


    idental death, so he escaped legal responsibility.


    But the root cause was him!


    If he wasn¡¯t a veteran, he would definitely kill Bruce, a man with no integrity!


    Bruce could hear his burning rage, his desire to kill him under his restrained tone.


    Not daring to hang around any longer, he stumbled out of the conference room in fear.


    After Bruce left, the room fell silent. The remaining people were sweating in fear, sitting rigidly, not even


    daring to wipe their sweat.


    Lysander took a deep breath to calm himself, then waved his hand, ¡°Meeting adjourned!¡±


    Like given a reprieve, everyone rushed towards the door, afraid that beingst would make them a


    target.


    In no time, only Thssa and Lysander were left in the conference room.


    Thssa¡¯s emotions were a roller coaster.


    When Bruce mentioned Elowen, she knew that Bruce was about to betray her to curry favor with


    Lysander.


    Luckily, she had interrupted him in time.


    Although he was gone, Thssa remained on high alert. The person she was dealing with was


    Lysander, not someone easily fooled.


    If he grew suspicious, she was done for.


    The air was heavy with a cold, oppressive threat.


    Thssa felt a heavy pressure on her chest, making it difficult to breathe.


    She tried to rx, appearing less panicked.


    In the role of a secretary, she asked, ¡°Mr. Sinir, you¡¯ve aplished such an important task so early


    in the morning. I learn so much by your side; one day with you is worth a year at school.¡±


    She wasn¡¯t ttering or buttering him up, she was stating a fact.


    Lysander¡¯s methods and style weren¡¯t in any textbooks.


    Working with him for a day, witnessing his decisive and resolute methods could not only broaden one¡¯s


    horizons but also gain practical experience.


    That was a rare, valuable experience.


    Lysander turned around; he grabbed her slender wrist and pulled with force.


    Her body lowered, hisrge hand gripping her waist. He hoisted her onto the conference table, lifting


    her chin; his deep eyes focused on her, ¡°Disappointed now that he¡¯s fired, huh?¡±


    His finger traced her neck, gently rubbing her jawline, amplifying the oppressive danger.


    Thssa¡¯s body was taut. She shook her head, ¡°No, you¡¯ve done what I wanted to do.¡±


    Letting someone like Bruce get his way would only encourage him more because he was a man who


    always pushed his luck.


    The gourmetpetition gave him a taste of sess, so his greed surfaced; he even started


    threatening her.


    She only regretted herck of power to suppress Bruce.


    But Lysander acted.


    Watching Bruce slink away in defeat gave Thssa a great sense of satisfaction.


    Suddenly, she remembered Lysander saying in the car yesterday that someone would be in trouble.

 Chapter 485

    Chapter 485


    Did he mean Bruce?


    He bought out the entire Chad Foods Inc, just to fire Bruce?


    Why?


    He saw the video of her meeting with Bruce yesterday afternoon and he was angry about it. Is that why


    he fired Bruce? She thought.


    Lysander, with a cold and stern look, stared into her calm eyes. He let out a snort and released her


    chin, ¡°You better think so!¡±


    He let her go, stood up, and strode away with his long legs,


    Thssa quickly followed him.


    After leaving Chad Foods Inc and returning to the Sinir Group, Thssa sat in the secretary¡¯s office,


    busily dealing with work.


    It was time to go home in the afternoon. Thssa, as always, clocked out directly.


    She hailed a cab and returned to her residence.


    Being alone at home was lonely and isting.


    She missed her four children, the cute way they called her ¡°mommy.¡±


    She wanted to hug them, to feel close to them.


    She missed them so much.


    Thssa sat on the couch, restless from her longing for her children. It was so intense she couldn¡¯t


    concentrate.


    She couldn¡¯t stand this any longer. She had to see her children.


    She removed her ne and left it in the house.


    Then Thssa left.


    Back at the Vibrant Oasis Residences, she opened the door to be met with a warm scent of cookies.


    Thssa¡¯s lonely heart feltforted instantly. She looked into the living room, where her four little


    ones sat on the foam mat and yed with Lego blocks.


    Each one of them was so cute and chubby like little bear cubs. They were cute enough to melt


    anyone¡¯s heart.


    Thssa grinned, her voice soft, ¡°My darlings, mommy¡¯s home.¡±


    Content ? N?velDrama.Org 2024.


    The kids turned their heads at the sound of her voice. Their childish, innocent eyes brightened when


    they saw her, and smiles spread across their cute faces.


    ¡°Mommy!¡±


    ¡°Mommy!¡±


    ¡°Mommy!¡±


    ¡°Mommy!¡±


    The four little ones pushed themselves up from the foam mat and ran towards her, their short legs


    wobbling.


    This scene was enough to cure any unhappiness.


    Thssa¡¯s longing heart was filled with warmth. She squatted down and opened her arms, ready to


    embrace her little ones.


    As the four of them dashed into her arms, their force was knocking her over.


    Elowen grabbed her left hand, wanting to be held. Sophia clung to her right hand, pressing herself


    against Thssa, also wanting to be held.


    Doriany on her stomach, while Atticus was half on the floor and half on her chest.


    It was as if she had grown babies all over her body,


    Thssa, though on the floor, wasughing, ¡°Haha, Elowen, don¡¯t tickle mommy¡¯s armpits, it¡¯s so


    ticklish.¡±


    Elowen nuzzled her head into Thssa¡¯s armpit, wanting to be enclosed in her arms. The little one¡¯s


    head was like a kitten¡¯s, making Thssaugh and squirm.


    ¡°Look at this, you¡¯ve been away for so many days that the kids miss you so much,¡± Evelyn reproached


    with a smile.

 Chapter 486

    Chapter 486


    ¡°Mom, what happened to your face?¡± Atticus was the first to notice the bandage on Thssa¡¯s cheek.


    The bandage was small, and no one had noticed the wound on Thssa¡¯s face in their early


    excitement.


    Atticus was half sprawled on Thssa, his little face burrowed into her chest. When he looked up, he


    saw the white bandage on her face ¨C the unmistakable sign of an injury.


    As soon as Atticus voiced his concern, the other little ones also looked up; their eyes were drawn to


    Thssa¡¯s cheek.


    1


    ¡°Does it hurt, mom? I can blow on it for you.¡± Sophia scrambled up from Thssa¡¯sp, puckered her


    lips, and gently blew air towards Thssa¡¯s bandaged face.


    Her soft and tender gesture was both heartwarming and endearing.


    ¡°Did someone hurt you, mom?¡± Dorian¡¯s eyes welled up with tears at the thought of his mom being


    hurt.


    ¡°Mom, um¡­¡± Elowen, who was just snuggling up moments ago, now looked at Thssa with a pained


    expression.


    ¡°It¡¯s okay, it¡¯s just a minor scratch. I¡¯m not in pain, my little darlings. Don¡¯t worry.¡± Thssa sat up and


    With the love and concern from her children, Thssa felt an overwhelming sense of happiness; it


    washed away all her pain and difort.


    She had fought to have her children stay by her side regardless of her difficulties. Whenever she


    missed them, she knew she could see them anytime.


    Life couldn¡¯t get any more perfect than this.


    Perhaps this was why she insisted on keeping the kids hidden from Lysander.


    Evelyn, who was just grumbling about Thssa¡¯s absence, instantly became concerned when she saw


    the wound. With a frown, she asked, ¡°What happened? Was it because of that man again?¡±


    ¡°No, mom, I was just being careless. Don¡¯t worry, it¡¯ll heal in a few days,¡± Thssa reassured her and


    looked unconcerned about her facial wound.


    Hearing her say this, Atticus and Dorian exchanged a look. Their silentmunication spoke volumes.


    Thssa then led her children to the couch, ¡°Have you been behaving well for Grandma these past few


    days?¡±


    ¡°Yes, we have,¡± the kids chorused.


    ¡°You don¡¯t have to worry about the children; you should worry about yourself. They are much more


    sensible than you,¡± Evelyn retorted as she rolled her eyes.


    With that, she went off to prepare dinner.


    Thssa knew that her mother was just being her typical self. She had a soft heart despite of her harsh


    words. So she took her mother¡¯s words lightly. After spending some time with her children, Thssa


    went to help Evelyn in the kitchen.


    Meanwhile, the children huddled together in their room, plotting their next move.


    ¡°Mom has been hurt by Lysander again. We have to protect her.¡± Atticus dered.


    Dorian nodded, ¡°That¡¯s all because mom broke one of Lysander¡¯s antiques. We can¡¯t let him bully her.¡±


    Elowen mumbled, ¡°Poor mom¡­ it hurts.¡±


    Sophia clenched her tiny fists, her brows furrowed, ¡°Let¡¯s protect mom!¡±


    Atticus devised a n, ¡°We need to help mom pay back Lysander. Sophia¡¯s pendant sold for 200,000,


    and Elowen¡¯s prize from the gourmetpetition was 200,000. We only have 400,000 in total, we need


    more. We have to find ways to earn more money.¡±


    Dorian gave a firm nod, ¡°We have to find ways to earn more money.¡±


    ¡°But how?¡± Elowen¡¯s wide eyes sparkled with anticipation. As a food lover, she didn¡¯t know how to


    Content ? N?velDrama.Org 2024.


    handle the rest part.


    Sophia furrowed her brow, also pondering the same problem.

 Chapter 487

    Chapter 487


    Atticus rubbed his chin thoughtfully, wracking his brain for a solution.


    How could he possibly make one hundred million dors in one go?


    Meanwhile, the kids were immersed in a serious discussion in the next room.


    In the kitchen, Thssa was sorting through the groceries while Evelyn washed the vegetables with


    practiced ease.


    ¡°Tell me, do you and Lysander have a normal rtionship? Even if it doesn¡¯t lead to anything, dating


    should be based on mutual respect, right?¡± Evelyn chattered on, her toneced with concern.


    Thssa knew all too well. Love should be equal, with mutual respect. But her rtionship with


    Lysander was far from that.


    It was Lysander controlling her, dictating her life.


    She longed to break free, to take her kids and disappear, to lead her own simple life.


    But with Lysander¡¯s overwhelming power and influence, he held her life in his hands.


    Even if she ran to the ends of the earth, he would find her.


    If she dared to run, if he caught her, the consequences would be even more dire.


    And if he found out about the children during her escape, her fate would be worse than anything she


    could imagine.


    She couldn¡¯t afford to take that risk.


    ¡°It¡¯s fine. Once he is tired of it, we¡¯ll break up,¡± Thssa replied casually to Evelyn.


    Apart from reassuring her, she couldn¡¯t reveal her current situation to Evelyn. That would only make


    things worse.


    It would only increase Evelyn¡¯s worry.


    ¡°But what about your face? What happened?¡± Evelyn couldn¡¯t let it go.


    ¡°I wasn¡¯t paying attention while walking the other day and walked into a tree branch,¡± Thssa lied,


    hoping to ease Evelyn¡¯s concern.


    If Evelyn knew she had been kidnapped, she would worry even more.


    ¡°Look at you, a grown woman and you can¡¯t even walk properly,¡± Evelyn scolded her, although her eyes


    were full of concern.


    ¡°I know, Mom. I¡¯ll be more careful. I know you care about me the most,¡± Thssa cooed, moving


    forward to hug Evelyn, her cheek brushing against Evelyn¡¯s,


    Evelyn chuckled, her heart warmed, but she feigned irritation, ¡°Alright, alright. Go away. You¡¯re not a


    child anymore.¡±


    Evelyn gently pushed her away, the smile finally returning to her face.


    ¡°By the way, Hertha mentioned that Sophia sold that toy pendant for two hundred thousand. It¡¯s already


    in your ount. Transfer some money to me, we¡¯re running, low on groceries,¡± Evelyn brought up.


    ¡°Oh, I¡¯ll transfer you ten thousand right away,¡± Thssa realized she hadn¡¯t provided for Evelyn in a


    while.


    ¡°Ten thousand isn¡¯t enough. Transfer me fifty thousand. I don¡¯t want to keep asking you for money, it¡¯s


    Ccontent ? exclusive by N?/vel(D)ra/ma.Org.


    humiliating, Evelyn demanded.


    ¡°Okay, but Mom, you need to stop gambling. We can¡¯t rely on that to make money. We need to earn it


    by working hard, Thssa cautioned, worried about Evelyn¡¯s poker habit.


    ¡°I know. You just focus on earning money, Evelyn dismissed her, not really taking her words to heart.


    Thssa transferred fifty thousand to her.


    ¡°Sophia made two hundred thousand just from that toy pendant. If we let her buy more of those, could


    we make more money?¡± Evelyn asked, her eyes lighting up with anticipation after seeing the transfer


    notification.


    ¡°That was just luck, Mom. It doesn¡¯t work like that,¡± Thssa hurriedly stifled Evelyn¡¯s budding hopes.

 Chapter 488

    Chapter 488


    ¡°Things are bound to get better no matter what.¡± Evelyn nodded, not wanting to dwell on it any longer.


    In a blink, it was the weekend.


    Thssa¡¯s facial wound was nearly healed, leaving behind a thick, ck scab on her face.


    Hertha suggested a trip to the mall so Thssa could spruce up her wardrobe.


    Thssa wanted to bring the kids along for an outing at first; however, the children were all reluctant to


    leave thefort of their home.


    So, Thssa didn¡¯t insist.


    Just as Thssa and Hertha stepped out, the four little ones huddled in their room. Atticus fished out a


    tablet, his small fingers tapping on the screen like butterflies.


    ¡°Found it. The Sinir group¡¯s firewall.¡± Atticus announced with a grin.


    Dorian leaned over to look at the screen, ¡°Brother, can you breach it?¡±


    ¡°The Sinir group¡¯s firewall is tougher than most. It¡¯s secure and reliable, so breaking it will be a


    challenge,¡± Atticus furrowed his little brows and seemed a bit troubled.


    Dorian reassured him, ¡°No worries, your hacking skills are ace. You can do it. Just go for it!¡±


    His little fists clenched and made a cheering gesture.


    Elowen and Sophia also clenched their chubby fists and nodded at him encouragingly, ¡°Go for it!¡±


    Atticus, who was stumped at first, felt a surge of confidence with his siblings¡¯ encouragement. ¡°Alright!¡±


    His chubby fingers flew up and down over the screen.


    The other three kids sat with him, one by his side and the other two guarding the door to prevent their


    granny from barging in.


    Just as Atticus was getting somewhere, he heard footsteps and Evelyn¡¯s loud voice came from outside,


    ¡°Atticus, Dorian, Elowen, Sophia, what are you up to?¡± Elowen and Sophia, who were sitting by the


    door, quickly turned around and gestured to them in hushed tones, ¡°Brother, granny¡¯sing!¡±


    In a fluster, Atticus quickly turned off the tablet and tucked it away.


    Just as he stashed the device in the drawer, Evelyn pushed the door open, ¡°What are you four up to?


    Your mom wanted you to go out and y but you didn¡¯t want to. How did you learn to coop yourself up


    at such a young age?¡±


    The children all stared nervously at Evelyn, remaining silent.


    Seeing their innocent, wide eyes, Evelyn couldn¡¯t bring herself to scold them. These adorable


    pumpkins just melted her heart. She sighed and said, ¡°Come on, granny will take you to the park


    downstairs.¡±


    ¡°Granny, we don¡¯t want to go out,¡± Sophia said.


    ¡°What are you ying with at home?¡± Evelyn asked.


    Ccontent ? exclusive by N?/vel(D)ra/ma.Org.


    ¡°ying on the tablet!¡± Elowen raised her hand eagerly to answer, a bright smile lighting up her face.


    Atticus and Dorian wanted to stop her from blurting it out, but it was toote.


    The two brothers exchanged frustrated nces. Their little sister was so ¡°adorable¡± that it was driving


    them crazy.


    Evelyn¡¯s face fell instantly. ¡°Kids shouldn¡¯t be glued to tablets all day. You need to feel nature and get


    fresh air. ying on tablets can damage your eyes. Come on, follow me.¡±


    Evelyn walked in, took their hands, and led them out of the room.


    At the mall.


    Thssa and Hertha had been browsing for a while but couldn¡¯t find any suitable clothes.


    Hertha leaned in to examine the scar on Thssa¡¯s cheek, ¡°Evelyn said you got this from a tree


    branch? Doesn¡¯t look like it to me. Can a br really cause such a deep wound?¡±


    The thickness of the scab alone showed how deep the wound had been.


    ¡°It¡¯s almost healed,¡± Thssa responded.


    Just as they were about to leave the mall, Thssa noticed a shop near the entrance was closing for


    the day.

 Chapter 489

    Chapter 489


    Sophia had once bought the circr pendant as a toy in that shop.


    The owner, a middle-aged woman was wiping away her tears as she turned the sign on the door from


    ¡®Open¡¯ to ¡®Closed¡¯.


    This sorrowful scene struck a chord in Thssa¡¯s heart. She approached the woman and asked,


    ¡°Ma¡¯am, it¡¯s barely eleven in the morning, and that¡¯s prime business hours. Why are you closing up so


    early?¡±


    The shopkeeper, startled by the sudden interaction, awkwardly wiped her tears away and replied,


    ¡°There¡¯s been a family emergency, and we can¡¯t manage the store


    anymore.¡±


    Upon saying this, the shopkeeper couldn¡¯t hold back her tears anymore.


    Thssa and her friend Hertha exchanged a nce before asking, ¡°What kind of emergency could


    lead to a close-up?¡±


    Running a business was not an easy feat, and no one would willingly give up unless it was absolutely


    necessary.


    ¡°My son has a brain tumor. The surgery and treatment cost more than one million three hundred


    thousand dors. We¡¯ve used all our savings and even put the shop up for sale, but we¡¯re still short of


    twenty thousand. We honestly don¡¯t know what to do¡­¡± The shopkeeper broke down and started


    sobbing uncontrobly.


    Hearing this, Thssa¡¯s heart sank. As a mother herself, she could understand the woman¡¯s grief and


    desperation.


    Thssa pulled out her phone and said, ¡°Ma¡¯am, please open up your PayPal. I¡¯m going to send you


    twenty thousand dors so your son can get his treatment.¡±


    The shopkeeper was taken aback. She looked at Thssa incredulously, as if she was dreaming.


    Hertha wasn¡¯t surprised, though. This was the Thssa she knew.


    ¡°But¡­ I can¡¯t just ept your money just like that¡­ The shopkeeper seemed unsure.


    Thssa quickly reassured her, ¡°Actually, half of this money is technically yours. Remember the


    circr pendant you sold me? We thought it was just a toy but it turned out to be an antique which I


    sold for twenty thousand dors. So, this money should be yours.¡±


    ¡°But we don¡¯t know how to tell real antiques. And if you hadn¡¯t bought it away, we would have just


    treated it like a toy, broken it, or swept it into the trash can and thrown it away. You¡¯re the one with the


    discerning eye. Besides, you paid for that toy, so you deserve whatever you sell it for.¡±


    The shopkeeper, a kind and sensible woman, understood how the business worked. Although thatdy


    bought the pendant from her, thatdy just got a knack for pocketing the difference. The price


    difference was not something she deserved. Thedy was only trying to ease her conscience.


    ¡°Please, take the money and get your son the treatment he needs. Once he¡¯s recovered and you¡¯re


    back in business, you can pay me back.¡± Thssa suggested.


    The shopkeeper nodded gratefully, her eyes brimming with tears as she opened up her PayPal.


    Thssa transferred the money. Upon hearing the notification, the shopkeeper grasped Thssa¡¯s


    hand, sobbing, ¡°Thank you. I promise I will do everything I can to save my child and repay your


    kindness. You¡¯re a kind person, and good things wille to you.¡±


    Just as Thssa wasforting the shopkeeper, a chill swept through the air, making her hair stand


    on end.


    Content ? N?velDrama.Org 2024.


    She turned around to see a tall, intimidating man striding towards them.

 Chapter 490

    Chapter 490


    The man was tall and handsome, a stunning disy of masculine beauty that exuded an aura of dignity


    and power.


    A true heart-stopper in one single nce.


    It was Lysander!


    Thssa¡¯s heart missed a beat. Then, her body tensed up in an instinctual manner.


    Seeing his gaze on her hand, she followed his line of sight and realized that she was still shaking


    hands with the shop owner, having forgotten to let go.


    She quickly released her grip, cing her hand behind her in a gesture of unease.


    Just shaking her hand with someone else was enough to vex him. It seemed so.


    ¡°Mr. Sinir, fancy seeing you in the mall,¡± Thssa managed to force a smile, greeting him with a


    nod.


    But unbeknownst to her, her nervousness had made her smile appear awkward/


    ¡°Quite a coincidence,¡± Lysander responded, his voice deep and maic.


    The stall owner turned around, and upon seeing the imposing figure of Lysander, she felt a wave of


    fear.


    Content ? N?velDrama.Org 2024.


    He was undeniably attractive and carried an air of authority, clearly someone of significance.


    Although she was in awe of his good looks and wished to steal another nce, she didn¡¯t dare offend


    him. She nervously thanked Thssa, ¡°Thank you, dear. Once I reopen, you muste visit. I¡¯ll repay


    you then.¡±


    Thssa was still feeling tense; she simply nodded in response,cking the energy to engage in


    further conversation.


    With a mixture of gratitude towards Thssa and fear of Lysander¡¯s authority, the shop owner left the


    mall with her head bowed.


    Lysander¡¯s deep gaze fell on Thssa, ¡°Robin Hood?¡±


    Thssa was taken aback for a moment for she failed to grasp the meaning behind his words first.


    But after a second, it clicked.


    By implying that she was Robin Hood, Lysander was suggesting that she had stolen his circr


    pendant and sold it to aid the less fortunate.


    It seemed that he had only heard the owner thankful for the $20,000, but not the part about the pendant


    being sold.


    Relieved that he hadn¡¯t heard the full story, Thssa was about to respond when Hertha, who was


    unhappy with Lysander¡¯sment, interjected, ¡°Mr. Sinir, Thssa¡¯s $20,000 came from her


    investment of¡­¡±


    ¡°Yes, I sold the pendant and gave the money to the shop owner to help her son,¡± Thssa hastily


    interrupted Hertha.


    She hadn¡¯t had the chance to tell Hertha that Lysander had lost a same pendant and suspected her as


    the culprit. Even though she was falsely used, she couldn¡¯t let Lysander investigate the origin of the


    pendant.


    The mall¡¯s surveince was soundless so Lysander wouldn¡¯t hear the children calling her ¡®mom¡¯. She


    could exin that she was just taking her friend¡¯s child to the mall.


    However, there was a major loophole.


    If he found out that the pendant was a toy belonging to Sophia Kensington and was sold for $20,000,


    which was then transferred to her own card, what would happen?


    In Lysander¡¯s mind, Sophia was Hertha¡¯s child. Even if her toy was sold, the money should go to


    Hertha. So why was it given to her?


    That was enough to make Lysander suspicious and conduct a thorough investigation,


    Hertha was going to say that Thssa had made an investment of $100 to buy the toy and earned


    $20,000, which was a testament to her abilities. That didn¡¯t make herdy Robin Hood.


    But before she could finish her sentence, she was interrupted by Thssa. She didn¡¯t understand her


    intention so she looked at Thssa with confusion.


    Regardless of her reason, Hertha knew Thssa had her own reason.


    So, sheplied and started to y along.

 Chapter 491

    Chapter 491


    Lysander cast a sidelong nce at Hertha, who was mid-sentence, and then at Thssa, who was


    slightly lifting her chin with a sense of entitlement in her clear


    eyes.


    Was she hiding something?


    Lysander¡¯s eyes darkened, ¡°Starting tomorrow, you¡¯ll work until 7 p.m.!¡±


    With that, he strode away, followed by David.


    Thssa quickly stopped David, asking with a mix of confusion and hurt, ¡°What does Mr. Sinir


    Content property of N?velDra/ma.Org.


    mean? Why does he want me to workte?¡±


    David grimaced slightly, ¡°Because you have too much free time.¡±


    With that, he hurried to catch up with Lysander.


    Thssa¡¯s eyes widened, half angry, half amused, ¡°I have too much free time? When am I free?¡±


    ¡°Exactly. You¡¯re as busy as a bee and spending no time with your kids. How is that called free?¡± Hertha


    chimed in.


    Thssa was about to agree when she realized Hertha¡¯s sarcasm. Her face instantly flushed as she


    nudged Hertha¡¯s shoulder, ¡°Stop teasing me¡±


    ¡°Ha-ha, at least you¡¯re notpletely oblivious, Herthaughed heartily.


    ¡°Let¡¯s go before Lysanderes back and catches you. Then you really won¡¯t have time for your kids.¡±


    There was still a suspicious tinge of sarcasm in her voice, but she was also telling the truth.


    Hertha held Thssa¡¯s hand as they left the shopping mall together.


    On the ride home, Hertha drove while Thssa sat in the passenger seat.


    ¡°Why did you interrupt me earlier? Did you need to hide something?¡± Hertha asked.


    Thssa shared everything that happened recently, her tone was filled with despair.


    ¡°What? Lysander has the same circr pendant and he thought you stole his? Are you the type to


    steal? Would someone who can easily give away $200,000 steal for it?¡±


    Hertha was genuinely upset. His suspicion was unfair to Thssa, who was kind-hearted, righteous,


    and principled.


    But Thssa worried about revealing her kids. So she didn¡¯t dare to tell Lysander the truth.


    It was such a bitter pill to swallow.


    ¡°In the end, it doesn¡¯t matter what he thinks of me. The sooner he dislikes me, the sooner he¡¯ll leave


    me alone¡± Thssa hadn¡¯t fully exined that she hadn¡¯t stolen the pendant, intending to make


    Lysander dislike her


    If he hated her so much and never wanted to see her again, that would be the best.


    ¡°Thssa, I both envy and sympathize with you, Hertha sighed.


    She envied Thssa for having a man like Lysander ¨C handsome, well-built, and chansmatic. But she


    also felt sorry for her loss of freedom and constant need to hide.


    ¡°I envy you too,¡± Thssa said.


    The ck Rolls-Royce smoothly traveled down the asphalt road.


    Lysander leaned back on the seat, his demeanor somber.


    ¡°David, look into the rtionship between that woman and Thssa, Lysander instructed.


    Thssa had hastily interrupted Hertha. What was she hiding? What did she not want him to know?


    ¡°Should I only look into their rtionship or all of their interactions?¡± David asked.


    ¡°All of them,¡± Lysandermanded, his deep voice echoing in the car, his gaze inscrutable.

 Chapter 492

    Chapter 492


    Thssa spent the afternoon at the Vibrant Oasis Residences with the kids.


    After dinner, Hertha decided to leave. Thssa knew she should go too.


    She had run into Lysander today at the mall. His icy aura and brooding manner both lingered in her


    mind, refusing to fade.


    She had worn her ne when she went to the mall.


    Being with Hertha, she decided to return to the Vibrant Oasis Residences.


    If Lysander checked her location and saw she was at the Vibrant Oasis Residences, he would assume


    she was visiting her best friend and wouldn¡¯t suspect anything.


    But if she didn¡¯t return home by nightfall, Lysander would certainly be upset.


    What if he came looking for her? Thssa didn¡¯t dare to think further.


    She decided to return to her rented apartment for safety reasons.


    Evelyn tucked the kids in for the night.


    After the kids were asleep, Evelyn tossed and turned, unable to sleep.


    Hertha had told her that Thssa had given the $200,000 from the sale of the circr pendant to the


    toy store owner. Evelyn was livid as she thought about that.


    The $200,000 would have been a life board for their struggling family if Thssa didn¡¯t hand it over


    directly to the toy shop owner. She imed that the circr pendant was found by the owner¡¯s child on


    the beach. Now that the child was sick and in need of money, so she should give the sum back to


    them.


    Thssa told her that the owner promised to pay backter.


    What a naive girl! Who would give back money they¡¯ve already received?


    While Evelyn acknowledged that it was right to help others in need, she still felt a sting.


    Why did she have to have such a naive, kind-hearted daughter?


    The more she thought about it, the more frustrated she became.


    The next morning, Evelyn, with dark circles under her eyes, the four kids up and ready.


    She opened the closet to find clothes for the kids. She noticed a drawer in the closet and out of


    curiosity, she opened it.


    Inside, there was nothing but a dragon pendant. It had a cloud-like exterior with dragon carvings.


    The dragon pendant looked translucent and glossy. Could it be real?


    Evelyn took the dragon pendant and walked over to Sophia, asking, ¡°Sophia, you know antiques. Tell


    Grandma, is this real or fake?¡±


    Sophia, still sleepy-eyed, looked at the dragon pendant, examined it carefully, and said in her soft,


    sweet voice, ¡°Grandma, it¡¯s real. It¡¯s an antique.¡±


    ¡°Really?¡± Evelyn¡¯s eyes lit up. She was frustrated by the fact that Thssa gave the $200,000, the


    ConTEent bel0ngs to N?v(e)lD/rama(.)Org .


    money she made from selling the pendant, back to the shop owner. But now her mood lightened up.


    Her voice was filled with joy, ¡°Then can you tell Grandma how much is this dragon pendant worth?¡±


    Sophia shook her head innocently, ¡°Grandma, I don¡¯t know.¡±


    Sophia could identify antiques, but she had no concept of their value.


    ¡°Grandma, this belongs to Mommy. You can¡¯t sell it,¡± Dorian climbed over and reminded Evelyn.


    ¡°I know, don¡¯t worry,¡± Evelyn nced at Dorian and put the dragon pendant back where it was.


    ¡°Hurry up and get ready, we need to go to kindergarten. You¡¯re going to bete,¡± Evelyn urged.

 Chapter 493

    Chapter 493


    After sending the children to the kindergarten, Evelyn hunied home, she grabbed the dragon pondent,


    Content ? N?velDrama.Org 2024.


    carefully stowed it in her pocket, and headed out the door.


    She remembered Hertha had previously taken circr pendant to a curios shop.


    She had even asked Hertha for the name of the curios shop.


    She hailed a cab and headed straight for the shop.


    This was Evelyn¡¯s first time selling antiques, and she was unsure about the market value. So she


    decided to chitchat with the shop owner, Ford, to size things up.


    Ford was a gentleman in his fifties with silver streaks in his hair. There was a cultured air and a hint of


    artistic charm around him.


    He patiently engaged Evelyn in conversation.


    Evelyn decided to get down to business with this decent fellow. She carefully pulled out the dragon


    pendant from her pocket, ced it on the table, and asked with a smile, ¡°Sir, how much is this worth? I


    had it appraised by an expert, and it¡¯s not only genuine but an antique too!¡±


    Ford looked at the dragon pendant on the table; it was emanating an aura of grandeur


    He sat upright with a straight face, and his eyes deepened.


    He picked it up and studied it carefully, then asked with a serious tone, ¡°Madam, could you tell me the


    provenance of this dragon pendant? How did youe to possess it?¡±


    Evelyn was taken aback by his question. He would never think she had stolen it!


    She defended herself nervously, ¡°This belongs to my daughter, someone gave it to her. It¡¯spletely


    legitimate.¡±


    Ford nodded, ¡°This is quite valuable, and the transaction would involve a significant amount of money. I


    need to consult our boss about whether to purchase it or not.¡±


    Hearing that the transaction would involve a significant amount of money, Evelyn felt a surge of joy.


    She was about to strike it rich.


    She eagerly agreed, ¡°Yes, yes, go ahead. I¡¯ll wait here.¡±


    ¡°Alright, please wait here,¡± Ford said as he took the dragon pendant and headed upstairs to his office.


    Richard, the boss, was in the office that day checking the ounts.


    As Ford showed him the pendant, Richard¡¯s face also turned serious.


    ¡°Isn¡¯t this the Sinir family heirloom?¡± As antique dealers, they had a keen eye and extensive


    knowledge about antiques and gems.


    Richard, being a close friend of Lysander Sinir, had seen this dragon pendant before.


    It was a symbol of leadership for the Sinir family.


    Ford also recognized the pendant and knew it was a matter concerning the head of the Sinir family.


    That¡¯s why he proposed consulting Richard.


    ¡°Who brought this dragon pendant to sell?¡± Richard asked after verifying its authenticity.


    ¡°Ady in her fifties. She said it was a gift to her daughter,¡± Ford answered truthfully.


    Richard looked down from the second floor and saw a modestly dressed middle-aged woman waiting


    patiently on the couch.


    He took out his phone and snapped a picture of her.


    Back in his office, he wrote a check for three million and handed it to Ford, ¡°Give her this check and tell


    her we¡¯ll buy it.¡±


    Ford took the check, nodded, and left the office.


    Evelyn, growing somewhat anxious, saw Ford approaching. She stood up and asked, ¡°So are you


    buying it?¡±


    Ford, always the gentleman, politely said, ¡°Sorry to keep you waiting. Our boss has decided to buy the


    dragon pendant. The price of three million is the highest in


    the market.¡±


    ¡°Three million!¡± Evelyn¡¯s eyes sparkled with disbelief, her heart pounding with excitement.


    ¡°Here¡¯s the check. Please keep it safe, Ford said, bending slightly as he handed it to her.


    Evelyn was overwhelmed by the exciternent. But once she nced at the check, she got angry, ¡°Are


    you just going to scribble some zeroes and a three on a piece of paper and call it three million? You


    think you can fool me with that?¡±

 Chapter 494

    Chapter 494


    Ford flushed slightly but quickly regained hisposure. Maintaining a friendly smile, he said ¡°Ma¡¯am,


    this is not just a piece of paper, it¡¯s a check. You take it to the bank and you can cash it in.¡±


    Evelyn was


    a


    wary woman. ¡°I don¡¯t trust these checks,¡± she retorted, ¡°I¡¯m too old for this. I want cash, or you can


    directly wire me the money.¡±


    Ford chuckled, responding politely, ¡°We don¡¯t have that kind of cash here. I can apany you to the


    bank and show you how to cash the check. How does it sound to you?¡±


    After a moment of consideration, Evelyn agreed. After all, if Ford tried to scam her, she could report


    him to the police. She would keep her eyes on him and make sure he wouldn¡¯t run off.


    Ford informed Richard upstairs before leaving with Evelyn.


    Before long, the bank had transferred three million dors, into Evelyn¡¯s ount:


    Seeing the deposit confirmation, Evelyn was overjoyed.


    ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll be going now,¡± she told Ford, ¡°You can go


    Evelyn, clutching her phone with excitement, left.


    back too.¡±


    Instead of going straight home, she decided to check out some properties. She wanted to buy a


    house.


    Her family of six had been living in Starhaven for three to four years. They were moving all the time


    ording to her daughter Thssa¡¯s job location, and they were always living in a rented house.


    The constant moving made her feel so insecure.


    If they could buy a house and settle down, they might be less looked down upon.


    At least Thssa would have more confidence when it came to marriage.


    But after asking around about house prices, Evelyn was taken aback by the exorbitant real estate


    market.


    No wonder they were looked down upon.


    No wonder the Sinir family said Thssa wasn¡¯t suitable for their family.


    Struck by the harsh reality, Evelyn felt a pang of disappointment and frustration. She med herself for


    not being able to provide solid support for Thssa.


    Evelyn returned home with her three million and a heart full of disappointment.


    Content property of N?velDra/ma.Org.


    Just as she arrived home, Smith from the local card club called her, inviting her to a poker game. He


    taunted her by asking if her daughter had stopped making


    money.


    Evelyn was infuriated. She hated it when people spoke ill of her daughter.


    She might criticize her daughter a hundred, a thousand times, but no one else was allowed to do so.


    In a fit of anger, Evelyn said she¡¯d y, and she would y big! She¡¯d show them all just how much her


    daughter had earned!


    Moreover, if she yed confidently, she could intimidate her opponents. She could win them over with


    her spirit, and even more so with her money!


    She had enough seed money now; if she won a bit each day, maybe one day she could add it all up


    and support Thssa.


    With this thought in mind, Evelyn headed for the card club.


    Early in the morning, Thssa went to work at the Sinir group.


    Today was Monday, a workday.


    Lysander had told her yesterday to work overtime until seven in the evening.


    With her work hours strangely extended, Thssa was disgruntled.


    Seated before herputer, she was busily typing and engrossed in her work.


    Someone knocked on her door twice. Without lifting her head, Thssa responded listlessly, ¡°Come


    in.¡±


    David walked in with a polite smile on his face. ¡°Ms. Everhart,¡± he said, ¡°please make a cup of coffee


    and bring it to the CEO¡¯s office.¡±


    Thssa was not keen on seeing Lysander. ¡°David, you¡¯re free now, aren¡¯t you? You make it, she


    suggested.


    ¡°Mr. Sinir prefers the coffee you make,¡± David replied.


    ¡°And before I came, how did Mr. Sinir manage?¡± Thssa asked.


    ¡°Before you came, anyone could make his coffee. After you came, he only drinks the ones you make.


    That¡¯s what makes you diff¨¦rent, David replied.

 Chapter 495

    Chapter 495


    Thssa gasped


    Was she really that different? Perhaps his resentment was steering his taste towards a path of venting.


    ¡°Take a break from work and brew some coffee,¡± David suggested.


    With no other option, Thssa rose to prepare the coffee.


    It was her job, after all. Making coffee was part of her daily responsibilities.


    David exited the office seeing her stand up and brew coffee.


    Thssa chose the freshest coffee beans, grinding them to perfection, brewing the coffee, and adding


    a small spoonful of sugar and a touch of cream.


    She then carried the coffee towards the CEO¡¯s office.


    She gently knocked on the door and, upon being granted permission, she entered with caution.


    Lysander, sitting on his executive chair, was exuding an air of profound authority and unparalleled


    luxury.


    David was standing at the desk and reporting his work, ¡°Mr. Sinir, all the information on the toy shop


    owner has been sent to your inbox.¡±


    ¡°Alright, get back to work,¡± Lysander dismissed him with a wave of his hand.


    David left the room, leaving Thssa clutching the coffee tighter.


    The toy shop owner?


    ConTEent bel0ngs to N?v(e)lD/rama(.)Org .


    Could it possibly be the same toy store owner she had encountered the previous day?


    Why was Lysander investigating her?


    Maybe because she had interacted with the owner, and even transferred money to her?


    Confused and anxious, Thssa¡¯s breath hitched slightly.


    Lysander¡¯s icy gazended on her. ¡°Are you nning to stand there until the coffee gets cold?¡±


    His deep, resonant voice was bringing a natural sense of intimidation. Thssa snapped out of her


    daze, her hand trembling slightly.


    She managed to steady herself, or the coffee would spill all over the ce.


    Coming back to her senses, she managed to steady her breath, approached the desk, gently ced


    the coffee down, and said cautiously, ¡°Mr. Sinir, your coffee.¡± She then stood still, her gaze darting


    asionally to Lysander¡¯sputer, trying to catch a glimpse of whatever he had about the toy shop


    owner. Could it be rted to her?


    She nced at theputer and found a clean desktop screen. No file was opened.


    Thinking her action had gone unnoticed, she withdrew her gaze. And her eyes met Lysander¡¯s deep,


    frosty gaze.


    They were incredibly deep and dangerously unreadable, making Thssa¡¯s heart jolt.


    ¡°You seem very interested in myputer, hmm?¡± Lysander questioned, his eyes fixated on her.


    Laughing nervously, Thssa quickly denied, ¡°No, no, I was just waiting to see if you had any further


    instructions, Mr. Sinir. If not, I¡¯ll take my leave.¡±


    With that, she hurried out of the office, clutching her chest, trying to calm her racing heart.


    Lysander was indeed an intimidating man.


    Once she had managed to regte her breathing somewhat, Thssa¡¯s worry returned.


    She had a gut feeling that the toy store owner David had mentioned was definitely the one she knew.


    What had they discovered, and was it rted to her?


    Would they find out about the children?


    Back in her office, Thssa was on edge. The fear and anxiety of the unknown was agonizing.


    In the CEO¡¯s office, Lysander took a sip of his coffee, his eyes fixed on theputer screen as he


    opened the email.

 Chapter 496

    Chapter 496


    The email had barely been clicked open when the phone beside him buzzed incessantly.


    It was an internal call.


    Lysander picked up the receiver with one hand.


    Thssa¡¯s voice,ced with tension and apprehension, echoed through the line, ¡°Mr. Sinir, Amelia is


    here. She wants to see you.¡±


    Just a moment ago, Thssa had been fretting about how to prevent Lysander from reading that


    document.


    Fortunately, the reception desk had called her with news that someone was looking for Mr. Sinir.


    The visitor imed to be Leopold¡¯s mother.


    Thssa knew it was Amelia immediately.


    After hanging up, she hastily dialed Lysander¡¯s number, stalling for time.


    ¡°Have her wait,¡± Lysander said, his voicemanding.


    Just as he was about to hang up, Thssa hurriedly added, ¡°It seems urgent, like she has an important


    matter to discuss.¡±


    ¡°Is it her who¡¯s in a hurry, or is it you?¡± Lysander asked, his deep, piercing voice chilling the line.


    Thssa hesitated. She was already so fraught and anxious. Now she felt more tightened..


    Why would Lysander ask such a question?


    Maybe he had already seen the document and understood her connections with the toy shop owner?


    Maybe he realized she was the one who bought the circr pendant ¡°toy¡± for Sophia?


    Was he catching on to her?


    Thssa¡¯s heart pounded wildly, and she had to exert all her strength to suppress the panic in her


    Content property of N?velDra/ma.Org.


    voice.


    ¡°I¡¯m not in a hurry. I¡¯m just thinking Amelia might really have something urgent to discuss with you.¡± She


    stuttered.


    ¡°Is it about Leopold? Are you saying you wouldn¡¯t be worried about that man?¡± Lysander¡¯s voice,ced


    with a dangerous undertone, was oppressive.


    Thssa paused; then she realized that they were not on the same page.


    In other words, Lysander hadn¡¯t looked at the investigation file yet.


    ¡°Mr. Sinir, to be honest, I don¡¯t know why Amelia wants to see you. If you don¡¯t want to see her now,


    I can call reception to ask her to leave,¡± Thssa tried to sound as nonchnt as possible.


    Just as she was about to hang up, Lysander¡¯s low voice echoed, ¡°Have here up.


    His voice was filled with suppressed anger. He said that and then hung up.


    Listening to the busy tone on the line, Thssa felt a chill run down her spine. She was quickly


    reflecting on whether she had misspoken.


    If she angered Lysander, there would be no good oue for her.


    Being by his side, she could always feel the Swords of Damocles over her head; her life was in ever-


    But what could she do? There was no escape.


    Thssa headed to the elevator to wait for Amelia.


    When Amelia stepped out from the elevator, she was dressed to the nines, decked out in designer


    Upon seeing the person waiting to greet her, she paused, then sneered at Thssa, ¡®So you¡¯ve taken


    this position.¡±


    Thssa ignored her mockery and made a gesture of invitation, ¡°Amelia, this way please.¡±


    Amelia was here to see Lysander and didn¡¯t n to waste time with Thssa. She shot Thssa a


    cold re and headed towards Lysander¡¯s office.


    Thssa followed her closely.


    As Amelia and Thssa entered Lysander¡¯s office, the room was filled with heavy, oppressive air.

 Chapter 497

    Chapter 497


    Lysander sat in the CEO¡¯s chair with a sullen and domineering poise. His gaze was flickering towards


    Amelia.


    ¡°Lysander, we really need your help this time. Ever since Leopold met this woman, Thssa, he¡¯s gone


    missing. He hasn¡¯t been home for days, and none of his acquaintances have seen him. I¡¯m really afraid


    he¡¯s gotten into trouble¡­¡± Amelia pleaded with urgency.


    She had employed her connections, searched high and low, but to no avail.


    Leopold had risked his life before by racing cars recklessly and now he had disappeared.


    Amelia was worried sick. She lost sleep over her concerns.


    Thssa stood quietly, her hands clenched in front of her, her brow furrowed in thought.


    She silently listened to the conversation in the room.


    When she didn¡¯t hear a response from Lysander, she lifted her gaze to meet his, only to find his deep,


    inscrutable eyes fixed on her.


    He looked at her like a lion eyeing its prey. His manner wasposed, intimidating, and intense.


    Thssa¡¯s heart skipped a beat under his scrutiny.


    Why was he looking at her like that?


    Could she possibly provide the answer as to Leopold¡¯s whereabouts?


    ¡°Lysander, I know it¡¯s too presumptuous of me to ask you for help, but I really don¡¯t have any other


    options.¡± Amelia was on the verge of tears. Her voice was breaking as she admitted her desperation.


    ¡°We¡¯ve been searching for him for a long time, and we¡¯ve looked everywhere. His grandfather even


    Content ? N?velDrama.Org 2024.


    sent out search parties. But we haven¡¯t found him anywhere. I had no choice but toe to you.¡±


    Amelia pleaded, wiping away the tears from her eyes corners.


    ¡°You can¡¯t find a person who wants to hide. There¡¯s no use toe to me.¡± Lysander¡¯s tone was stern.


    ¡°No, Lysander, you¡¯re different; you can make this woman tell the truth! She must know where Leopold


    is!¡± Amelia suddenly turned towards Thssa; her face was a mix of grief and reproach, her gaze


    sharp.


    ¡°She broke up with Leopold, then lured him back in, ying hard to get and driving him mad. He even


    gave her the heirloom bracelet that your grandmother gave me! When I found out, I demanded the


    bracelet back. Leopold got angry and left home, he hasn¡¯t returned since.¡±


    Amelia¡¯s breathing was erratic; her anger was so palpable as she stared at Thssa.


    Thssa¡¯s eyes widened in panic.


    Amelia had revealed the secret of the heirloom bracelet in front of Lysander.


    She had a sinking feeling that she was in deep trouble.


    She nced fearfully at Lysander and sure enough, she saw his stern, hawk-like gaze filled with


    menace.


    She felt his icy stare could pierce right through her.


    Thssa¡¯s heart pounded wildly like a drum. Her whole world was about to fall apart.


    ¡°At first, I didn¡¯t know that the bracelet was a family heirloom of the Sinirs. didn¡¯t want the bracelet,


    but Leopold said that if I didn¡¯t ept it, he would¡­¡±


    ¡°He would what?¡± Lysander¡¯s cold eyes were shattering her into pieces, his voice low and frosty.


    Thssa swallowed nervously.


    What could she say? The truth was Leopold had threatened her that if she didn¡¯t ept the bracelet,


    he would challenge Lysander to a duel for her affection. If Leopold picked a fight with Lysander, he


    would hurt himself and enrage Lysander. Either way, she would be the one to suffer the most.


    ¡°I¡­ I¡­¡± Thssa tried to exin, but the words got stuck in her throat.


    Whether she exined or not, it wouldn¡¯t make a difference.


    Either way, Lysander would be furious and she would bear the brunt of his anger,


    ¡°Lysander, see? She¡¯s still lying and trying to deceive you. That¡¯s what she does, decelving you and


    Leopold, making a fool out of both of you and causing trouble in the Sinir family. How is she any


    different from Belinda?¡± Amelia spat out in anger.


    Belinda was Lysander¡¯s mother.


    As soon as the words left her mouth, Amelia regretted them. But it was toote.


    The temperature in the room dropped drastically. Lysander¡¯s whole being seemed to be enveloped in a


    frosty aura. His fists clenched so tightly that they made eracking sounds. ¡°Get out!¡± He growled.

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    Chapter 498


    A dangerous aura radiated from Lysander. His low growl shook the room like a mini earthquake.


    Amelia, startled by his fury, realized Lysander was telling her to leave after she slipped her tongue.


    Without hesitation, she bolted from the office.


    Thssa was also affected by Lysander¡¯s anger; his icy demeanor made her believe he wanted her out


    as well. She turned on her heel and hastily made her way towards the exit.


    Just as she was about to reach the door, a vice-like grip sped around her neck, sending a wave of


    intense pain through her.


    Thssa froze. She gritted her teeth against the pain and her breath was hitching in her chest.


    Before she could react, she was yanked back by Lysander and stumbling into his muscr chest.


    The strength of him was overwhelming; it was like being caught in a dangerous storm.


    ¡±


    Thssa¡¯s heart pounded, ¡°Mr. Sinir, please calm down¡­¡±


    Her voice wasced with fear


    Lysander¡¯s hand moved to her chin, squeezing it so tight that her mouth puckered and her cheeks


    contorted.


    His gaze was dark and menacing, ¡°Tell me, where is Leopold?¡±


    His icy breath prickled her skin, causing a sharp pain that only heightened her fear.


    Thssa lifted her hands, grasping Lysander¡¯s wrist in a futile attempt to loosen his grip and alleviate


    some of the pain.


    However, her strength was insignificantpared to his.


    Biting back the pain and the rising panic, Thssa stammered, ¡°¡­I don¡¯t know where Leopold is¡­¡±


    ¡°Still not telling the truth, huh?¡± Lysander¡¯s gaze was cold and unwavering as he tightened his grip.


    Thssa gasped for breath; her voice came out as a desperate plea, ¡°I really don¡¯t know where he is.


    After I ran into him outside the mall, I left immediately. I don¡¯t know where he went, and I haven¡¯t been


    in contact with him¡­¡±..


    ¡°Really? So, he didn¡¯t go somewhere to wait for you, and you didn¡¯t pull a fast one to elope with him?¡±


    His chiseled face was taut. His sharp eyes cut into her as if trying to see right through her.


    She even epted the family heirloom from the Sinir family, a token for their daughter-inw.


    And why she had the audacity to deny her engagement with Leopold?


    In the midst of her panic, Thssa shook her head, ¡°No, that¡¯s not true. I would never elope with him.¡±


    ¡°Let¡¯s see how you can prove that!¡± Lysander scoffed, letting go of her.


    Thssa stumbled back a step, reaching up to touch her throbbing chin. She took ragged breaths, her


    eyes wide with fear as she looked at him.


    Content ? N?velDrama.Org 2024.


    Lysander, now, was like a king with an intimidating presence, a God of all living things. He could just


    crush her with a snap of the fingers.


    Thssa¡¯s heart clenched with anxiety; every cell in her body was screaming danger.


    ¡°How¡­how can I prove it?¡± Thssa stuttered, unsure of what Lysander was implying.


    Lysander tugged at his tie in frustration, his hawk-like eyes fixed on her, his oppressive air palpable,


    ¡°What do you think?¡±


    Thssa, with fear knotting her stomach, took a step towards him. As she moved closer, his powerful


    masculine scent flooded her senses.


    Her already anxious heart started to race, her breaths bing rapid.


    Her body seemed particrly sensitive to his strong male presence.


    Lysander stood his ground, his intense gaze never leaving her as she approached. His aura was


    overwhelming and dangerous.


    The closer she got to him, the more her heart pounded; her nerves stretched to breaking point,


    She wanted to turn and run, to escape hisnd and, therefore, escape from the impending danger.


    But she didn¡¯t dare.

 Chapter 499

    Chapter 499


    Running only led to a harsher punishment.


    Her palms were slick with sweat as she approached him.


    He towered over her, standing almost six feet tall.


    She was only shoulder-high to him.


    Content property of N?velDra/ma.Org.


    Swallowing nervously, she rose on her tiptoes. Her lips were slowly inching closer in an attempt to


    please him.


    He had asked for proof that she had no intention of eloping with Leopold. The best way to prove that


    was to stay by his side and show that she only had feelings for him.


    To attain these, she needed to please him. If he was happy, he wouldn¡¯t doubt her


    As Thssa tilted her face upwards, the closer she got to his lips, the more rapidly her heart pounded.


    His deep, masculine breath fanned over her nose and she flinched. She blinked and hershes


    flickered like butterflies. She closed her eyes and curled his fists, then nted a kiss on his lips.


    This was the first time she had ever initiated a kiss.


    Her soft, sweet lips brushed against his in a soft and brief manner., It stirred his blood and heated him


    up.


    Lysander¡¯s eyes darkened, his pupils dting.


    Thssa was breathing heavily. To show him more of her determination, she had her hands snaking


    around his neck and deepened her kiss.


    ¡°Lysander! I¡¯ve got some important news!¡± A frantic voice rang out.


    Richard, in his urgency, barged right in without even knocking at the door.


    Thssa¡¯s heart quivered and she quickly let go of Lysander, stepping back and lowering her head in


    embarrassment.


    Lysander, his good mood disrupted, shot Richard an icy re.


    Richard shuddered under his gaze. He quickly realized that he had interrupted at a bad time.


    ¡°Oh, you¡¯re busy. I¡¯lle backter,¡± Richard quickly offered.


    Lysander caught sight of the dragon pendant in Richard¡¯s hand, ¡°Wait!¡±


    ¡°Do you need me to run you an errand? Don¡¯t worry, whatever it is, I¡¯ll get it for you,¡± Richard assured


    him, patting his chest confidently.


    They might not have condoms that they needed in a workce. He stifled hisughter and thought.


    Thssa flushed red at Richard¡¯s insinuation. Her face burned with shame.


    She had only tried to convince Lysander that she had no intentions of running off with Leopold. But her


    first attempt had been interrupted, and she was mortified. ¡°I¡¯ll leave you two to talk,¡± she murmured,


    already turning to leave.


    ¡°Stay!¡± Lysandermanded.


    Thssa froze, looking back at him nervously, ¡°Mr. Sinir, is there something else?


    ¡°Stay,¡± Lysander repeated, his hawk-like gaze shifting back to Richard, ¡°Where did you get that dragon


    pendant?¡±


    Hearing the question, Thssa looked at the pendant in Richard¡¯s hand as well; her heart sank at the


    sight of the pendant shaped like a cloud encircled by a dragon.


    ¡°Oh, that¡¯s why I came to see you,¡± Richard finally recalled why he was here. He then looked at


    Lysander, ¡°This dragon pendant, if I¡¯m not mistaken, is a family heirloom of the Sinirs. It should be


    exclusive to the Sinir family. But today, someone tried to sell it to me.¡±

 Chapter 500

    Chapter 500


    Thssa drew a sharp breath at Richard¡¯s revtion.


    Her breath hitched, her heart pounding like a hammer against a wooden door, each beat vibrating with


    tension.


    This dragon pendant was a gift from Lysander. It was a token of affection she had lost five years ago,


    which Lysanderter retrieved from Isabe.


    He didn¡¯t keep it for himself but gave it back to her. For all the time, she always kept the dragon


    pendant at home.


    After moving, she ced the dragon pendant in her closet.


    How could someone have sold it?


    Thssa felt both anxious and puzzled.


    She nced at Richard, then at Lysander. His aura was ice cold; his handsome face was turning into


    an ice sculpture.


    ConTEent bel0ngs to N?v(e)lD/rama(.)Org .


    ¡°Who sold it?¡± Lysander¡¯s voice was as sharp as ice.


    His gaze, intense and piercing, flickered towards Thssa.


    That look almost made Thssa¡¯s heart stop in fear.


    She held her breath, watching Richard, hoping it was simply a replica, not the original one in her


    possession.


    Richard took out his phone, opened a photo, and held it up for Lysander to see, ¡°It was this woman.


    She just sold it at our shop. I gave her three million dors.¡±


    Thssa saw Lysander¡¯s face grew colder after looking at the phone screen; his eyes narrowed with


    mes of anger.


    In horror, Thssa nced at the phone in Richard¡¯s hand.


    At first nce, she recognized the woman in the photo-it was her mother, Evelyn!


    Her mother, Evelyn, had sold the dragon pendant Lysander had given her for three million dors!


    Lysander knew her mother because he had once helped her when she was being harassed by Bruce.


    Evelyn sold the dragon pendant that Lysander gave her, which meant she did it at her daughter¡¯s


    behest.


    Thssa¡¯s breath hitched and her heart almost stopped.


    She was so frightened that she was frozen in ce. Her wide eyes were staring nkly, her body


    immobile.


    Lysander snatched the dragon pendant from Richard, took out his phone, and dialed David, ¡°Send


    Richard thirty million.¡±


    After hanging up, he nced at Richard with his deep-set eyes, ¡°I have some personal matters to


    attend to. I¡¯ll invite you to dinner another day.¡±


    Richard looked at Lysander, then at Thssa, understanding the urgency of his matters.


    With a smile on his lips, he said, ¡°I¡¯ll go first.¡±


    Then he turned and left the office.


    Trading three million for thirty million was a fantastic deal!


    Thssa wished she could leave with Richard, but she couldn¡¯t move an inch faced with Lysander¡¯s


    intimidating presence.


    She was on the verge of diffusing Lysander¡¯s anger when Richard dropped this bombshell.


    Lysander¡¯s gaze was cold and sharp as he stepped closer to her, ¡°Is there anything else you want to


    say?¡±


    He leaned in with a dangerous icy aura emanating from his body, Thssa struggled to step back,


    trying to distance herself from him. Her clear eyes were filled with fear, ¡°I¡­¡±


    She couldn¡¯t utter a word. Because she didn¡¯t know how this happened.


    Why had her mother suddenly sold her dragon pendant?


    ¡°Can¡¯te up with an excuse, huh?¡± Lysander¡¯s voice was elongated, filled with infinite danger.


    Thssa stepped back to brace a coffee table, her body leaning back.


    Suddenly, he extended his long, firm arms to cup her waist and pulled her back. It almost snapped her


    from the middle.


    There was a stormy look on his handsome face. ¡°You¡¯ve disappointed me so much! Do you know


    what¡¯s waiting for you?¡± He asked.


    ¡°I, um¡­¡± Thssa was about to say something when her lips were sealed.


    Winced in pain, she was trying to push him away.


    He grabbed her hand, pinning her onto the coffee table. His absolute power and control left her with no


    chance to resist.


    He was like an enraged beast devouring her in his fury, looking wild and terrifying.

 Chapter 501

    Chapter 501


    Thssa woke up to the darkness outside.


    She was in the master suite of the Royal Estates.


    Beside her, Lysander Sinir was nowhere to be found.


    With every small movement, her body ached as if it was falling apart. She was in so much pain that she


    could hardly muster the strength to get up.


    The memories of this morning made her breath hitch.


    Lysander had been wild and unrestrained in his rage.


    His desires were insatiable and more terrifying than ever before.


    All her pleas and screams were in vain.


    There were moments when she thought she would die.


    Not satisfied with their rendezvous in the office, he had carried her out of thepany, back to Royal


    ConTEent bel0ngs to N?v(e)lD/rama(.)Org .


    Estates.


    She thought it would end there, but that was just the beginning of his wild rage.


    If she wasn¡¯t feeling the connection between her waist and legs right now,


    She would have thought that she had been broken in half at the waist.


    It was too terrifying to even contemte.


    Thssa threw off the covers and got out of bed.


    As shended on her feet, her legs gave way, and she almost sat down on the floor.


    Luckily, she managed to grab onto the bedside table.


    3


    With great difficulty, she shuffled step by step towards the bathroom.


    Standing in front of the mirror, she held her breath to see the marks all over her body.


    She couldn¡¯t find an inch of skin left untouched.


    She gritted her teeth.


    1


    She didn¡¯t want his dragon pendant before, but he insisted on giving it to her, now he was throwing a


    tantrum over the same pendant.


    If he was afraid of her selling it, he shouldn¡¯t have given it to her!


    Thssa was fuming.


    After taking a shower, she realized she had no clothes.


    Her original clothes had been torn to shreds by Lysander¡¯s wild actions.


    3


    Wrapped in a towel, she went to the wardrobe. She opened the wardrobe door and only found


    Lysander¡¯s clothes hanging inside.


    All were ck suits, white shirts, and ck shirts.


    There were no other colors.


    She put on a ck shirt and grabbed a pair of Lysander¡¯s boxers.


    His shirt was long enough to reach below her thighs.


    Wearing his boxers felt like wearing safety shorts.


    But, they were too big.


    She took his belt, wrapped it twice around her waist; she tied it outside, cinching it with the waistband


    as well as the shirt.


    It looked like a cinched dress and she managed to pull off a sense of style.


    Just as she finished getting dressed, her phone rang.


    Judging by the sound, it was her phone.


    Thssa hurriedly followed the sound, found her phone, and answered the call,


    ¡°Hello, are you the parent of Atticus Kensington, Dorian Kensington, Elowen Kensington, and Sophia


    Kensington?¡± The voice of the daycare¡¯s teacher came from the other end.


    Thssa quickly replied, ¡°Yes, I am.¡±


    ¡°Well, our daycare center has been out of session for a while now, and your kids have been waiting


    here for quite some time. Could youe and pick up these little poor things?¡± The teacher was very


    polite.


    Thssa paused and felt worried, ¡°Sure, I¡¯ll be right there, Could you please look after them for a little


    while longer? I¡¯ll be there soon, thank you.¡±


    What was Evelyn doing? Why hadn¡¯t she picked up the children yet?

 Chapter 502

    Chapter 502


    In Royal Estates.


    Fitch and the house staff had prepared a sumptuous dinner, each dish meticulously arranged on the


    dining table.


    Lysander, tall and imposing, descended the staircase.


    He was d in a charcoal silk robe, the fabric shimmering under the crystal chandelier was just like the


    cool aura he exuded.


    Even in lounge wear, he managed to evoke a sense of grandeur and luxury.


    As he descended, Fitch turned to him and said with respect, ¡°Sir, your dinner is served¡­¡±


    His words trailed off as he noticed something odd about Lysander¡¯s neck. He froze, fear and


    apprehension clouding his face.


    Lysander noticed Fitch¡¯s erratic look and frowned in irritation, ¡°What are you looking at?¡±


    ¡°Oh, nothing. Please enjoy your meal,¡± Fitch quickly bowed his head and retreated.


    The other staff members, who had been bustling about setting the table and polishing the silverware,


    froze in their tracks as they caught sight of Lysander¡¯s neck. Yet, fearing his icy authority, they all


    bowed their heads in silence and busied themselves elsewhere.


    Lysander¡¯s aura was stern and intimidating.


    He had not eaten since morning and had expended quite some energy, he was indeed hungry.


    He took his seat at the table, elegantly cutting into his steak with his cutlery.


    Thssa hurriedly descended the staircase just as he took the first bite.


    Assuming Lysander was out, she had nned on darting out of the manor unseen. But she found him


    now slowly enjoying his dinner


    Her body tensed as she approached him, ¡°Mr. Sinir, can I leave now? My mother called me for


    something important¡­¡±


    She couldn¡¯t tell him that she was worried about picking up their child, could she?


    Lysander tilted his head, his gaze sweeping over her from top to bottom.


    Dressed in his ck shirt, she was rolling up the long sleeves and revealing her slender, pale arms.


    The belt cinching her waist was entuating her petite figure. The shirt barely covered her thighs; her


    long, slender legs were looking so smooth and white.


    Content property of N?velDra/ma.Org.


    It was an unintentional allure.


    Lysander¡¯s handsome face darkened, ¡°Who allowed you to dress like this?¡±


    Recognizing the anger in Lysander¡¯s voice, Fitch and the other staff turned away instantly to busy


    themselves elsewhere.


    Thssa was Lysander¡¯s woman; even a nce from others was seen as an offense.


    Thssa retorted, ¡°I had no clothes to wear. Was I supposed to wrap myself in a bed sheet instead?¡±


    As her words hung in the air, he stood up quickly. His towering figure cast a shadow over her.


    Panic seeped into Thssa¡¯s heart as he seized her wrist and pulled her upstairs.


    He pushed open a door, leading her to another wardrobe. His face was stern as he ordered gruffly,


    ¡°Open it.¡±


    Thssa shrank back a little under hismand.


    Not daring to defy him, she obediently opened the wardrobe.


    The wardrobe was filled with dresses of all colors and styles, even including lingerie.


    Thssa gasped in surprise, ¡°Are these all for me?¡±


    ¡°Who else would they be for?¡± Lysander retorted coldly. His eyes bore into hers, intimidating and icy,


    That made sense. The thought of Lysander in a dress was too absurd to even consider.


    Earlier, Thssa had only opened Lysander¡¯s wardrobe, not realizing there was another filled with


    women¡¯s clothing. So, she ended up wearing Lysander¡¯s clothes.


    But why would he prepare so many clothes for her?


    Was he anticipating her clothes being torn every time she visited?


    Thinking of the previous night, when he had been as fierce as a wolf, a wave of panic washed over


    Thssa, Her heart was still quivering.

 Chapter 503

    Chapter 503


    She had a sinking feeling that she wouldn¡¯t want to visit this ce again.


    To her surprise, he had prepared an array of clothes just for her.


    That simple thought sent a chill down Thssa¡¯s spine.


    Suddenly, a glimpse of his neck caught her eye; her heart skipped a beat in fear.


    He was d in a te-grey silk nightshirt, casually unbuttoned to reveal his slender neck and


    masculine corbone.


    Arge, conspicuous hickey sat at the top of his corbone, its redness and distinct tooth marks


    impossible to miss.


    Thssa froze. It was her handiwork.


    Lysander¡¯s eyes narrowed, holding a dangerous gaze as he watched her surprised and fearful


    expression.


    Ccontent ? exclusive by N?/vel(D)ra/ma.Org.


    The housemaid had also reacted oddly upon seeing it.


    He turned and walked towards the bathroom where a mirror resided.


    Regaining her senses, Thssa quickly grabbed a long dress from the wardrobe, intending to change


    into it in the dressing room.


    Suddenly, a grip tightened around the back of her neck.


    ¡°Agh!¡± Thssa shrieked in pain:


    The next moment, she found herself yanked towards him, facing his dark, brooding fury.


    ¡°You bit me? You surely got some nerve! You want to lose that mouth of yours?¡± He held her cheeks,


    pressing them together to pout her lips; her red lips looked as juicy as a ripe cherry.


    Struggling, Thssa broke free. She was panting heavily, ¡°It was you who wouldn¡¯t let go of me! If I


    hadn¡¯t bitten you then, I would have been killed!¡±


    She remembered pleading him to let her go, but her words fell on deaf ears.


    She was in so much pain that she bit down on his neck.


    Surprisingly, he didn¡¯t seem to feel any pain.


    Her words, however, seemed to have pleased him.


    She was like a wild cat always nibbling him.


    Lysander¡¯s eyes lingered on her. ¡°Don¡¯t let it happen again,¡± he said before leaving the room.


    Relieved, Thssa quickly changed into her clothes.


    When she went downstairs again, she saw Lysander enjoying his meal. ¡°Can I go now?¡± she asked.


    ¡°Eat first.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m not hungry.¡± She was genuinely in a hurry. She didn¡¯t wait for his response before striding towards


    the exit.


    A bodyguard blocked her way, forcing her to return.


    ¡°Can I go after I finish eating?¡± she asked, standing next to Lysander with a huff.


    ¡°We¡¯ll see,¡± he replied in his low, husky voice, his mood unreadable.


    Thssa had no idea what he was thinking.


    She was in a hurry to pick up her kids from the daycare, and Evelyn was nowhere to be found. Her


    phone had been switched off when Thssa tried calling.


    Calling Hertha now would raise suspicion.


    5 F 5 5 5 3 5 3


    But what could she do? Without Lysander¡¯s permission, she couldn¡¯t even leave through the front door.


    With no choice left, she sat down and began devouring her food, hoping to shorten the mealtime.


    She finished a piece of steak in less than five minutes.


    After a sip of water, she turned to Lysander with an anxious look, ¡°Can I go now?¡±


    Lysander nced at her without responding.


    Unable to wait any longer, Thssa got up and headed for the door.


    This time, the bodyguard didn¡¯t stop her.

 Chapter 504

    Chapter 504


    With a quickened pace, Thssa arrived at the daycare center. The clock was now pushing past seven


    in the evening,


    The gate of the daycare was locked and there wasn¡¯t a soul in sight.


    Where could the children be?


    Were they missing?


    A string of unsettling thoughts raced through her mind. Thssa¡¯s heart pounded, causing a dizzy


    spell. Short of breath and weak in the knees, she tried to calm herself down.


    She mustn¡¯t panic.


    With an effort, Thssa steadied her emotions and pulled out her phone to call the teacher.


    1-


    ¡°Camille, I¡¯m at the daycare now, but there¡¯s no one here,¡± Thssa said, trying to keep her voice


    steady despite her inner turmoil.


    ¡°The kids were picked up by their grandma. Didn¡¯t they make it home?¡± Camille¡¯s voice came from the


    other end of the line.


    Hearing this, Thssa let out a sigh of relief, ¡°Sorry for the confusion. I just haven¡¯t made it home yet. If


    their grandma picked them up, then it¡¯s all good. Thanks, Camille.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re wee.¡±


    Hanging up the phone, Thssa was about to call for a cab to Vibrant Oasis Residences when she


    remembered the ne she was wearing.


    With the ne on her, he would let her go wherever she wanted.


    The daycare was close to her current residence.


    Thssa decided not to rush home, instead, she went to her rented ce, removed the ne, and


    left it in the entryway.


    ConTEent bel0ngs to N?v(e)lD/rama(.)Org .


    Only then did she leave for Vibrant Oasis Residences.


    Meanwhile, in the rented house of Vibrant Oasis Residences, Evelyn was busy with household chores


    while the four children secluded themselves in a room.


    Atticus huddled over a tablet, his small fingers flying over the keyboard.


    The screen was filled with rolling codes and numbers. His little face was serious and focused.


    His siblings watched in awe; their faces were filled with admiration and curiosity. Even though they


    couldn¡¯t understand, they watched attentively.


    Over the past few days, Atticus had managed to break through the Sinir Group¡¯s firewall. Now, the


    main task was to infiltrate the Sinir Group¡¯s financial system and re-route some funds.


    With Atticus¡¯ quick and precise keystrokes, he sessfully infiltrated the Sinir Group¡¯s financial


    system. The next step was to re-route the funds.


    How much should they take?


    Atticus typed in a 1 followed by nine zeros in the number box. Then he entered their mother¡¯s bank


    ount number.


    When Hertha transferred money to Thssa, Atticus had asked for Thssa¡¯s bank ount number.


    Hertha had only mentioned it once but Atticus remembered.


    Once everything was entered, he clicked the enter key.


    With the progress bar reaching 100%, a message popped up saying, ¡°Congrattions, funds


    transferred!¡±


    Mission aplished!


    The final step was to hide their IP address and safely log out.


    While Atticus was concentrating, Elowen, the little foodie, grew bored. She opened a bag of potato


    chips, ate one herself, and then fed one to Dorian and another to Sophia.

 Chapter 505

    Chapter 505


    Having savored a chip herself, Elowen realized that her brother, Atticus, hadn¡¯t had any.


    How could she enjoy such delectable treats without sharing with her dear brother?


    Elowen, holding a chip, extended her tiny chubby hand towards his mouth, ¡°Here, Atticus, try some.


    They¡¯re really good.¡±


    Atticus was engrossed in his work as his gaze was momentarily obstructed by Elowen¡¯s offering.


    I seemed to input a wrong character. He thought.


    ¡°Try it, Atticus,¡± Elowen¡¯s voice was soft and coaxing.


    Atticus epted the chip quickly, gulping it down as he continued to meticulously bury his IP. However,


    due to his earlier mistake, a loophole was left.


    Left with no choice, he had to force to exit.


    Atticus exited his coding interface with a look of disappointment etched on his face. Dorian anxiously


    approached him, ¡°So, how did it go? Was it sessful?¡±


    Atticus gave a nod, then a shake of his head.


    The money had been sent to their mom¡¯s bank ount, but a slight error urred during his IP


    concealment. Even though it hadn¡¯t been discovered yet, disaster would still loom once the Sinir


    Group¡¯s IT department noticed it.


    Atticus didn¡¯t quite grasp the full scope. But he had a nagging feeling that it was far from good.


    Meanwhile, Thssa was in a cab, her heart was pounding with anxiety.


    Her phone in her pocket buzzed faintly. She ignored that because she was too focused on getting


    home.


    Soon, the Vibrant Oasis Residences came into view.


    As Thssa opened the door, she found the living room empty but heard some noise from the kitchen.


    Heading towards the source, she could smell something burning.


    A pan was sizzling on the stove, unattended, and she could smell the burn.


    Evelyn was standing by the sink; she spaced out, her eyes vacant.


    The faucet was running, overflowing the sink and spilling onto the counter; the fresh greens were


    bobbing along with the overflowing water.


    Content property of N?velDra/ma.Org.


    Evelyn was unresponsive.


    Rushing in, Thssa turned off the stove first, then the faucet. Frowning, she admonished, ¡°Mom,


    what¡¯s going on? You can¡¯t space out while cooking. What if there¡¯s a fire?¡±


    Evelyn snapped back to reality, her eyes wide in shock. Spotting Thssa, she looked guilty.


    ¡°Thssa, you¡¯re back¡­¡±


    ¡°Where are the kids?¡±


    ¡°They¡¯re ying in their rooms.¡±


    Relieved to hear they were safe, Thssaposed herself.


    ¡°Mom,¡± she began, her tone serious. ¡°Did you take the dragon pendant from my drawer and sell it?¡±


    Evelyn¡¯s expression turned from shock to indignation. ¡°How dare you use me?¡± She asked.


    Thssa sighed, ¡°It¡¯s all in the past now. Just give me the money so I can return it¡±


    ¡°What money are you talking about? It¡¯s just three hundred dors. What can you do with that?¡± Evelyn


    avoided Thssa¡¯s gaze..


    ¡°You mean three million.¡±Thssa countered, confused as to why her mother was being evasive.


    ¡°That pendant was entrusted to me by Lysander. We shouldn¡¯t have sold it.¡± Thssa tried reasoning


    with Evelyn.


    ¡°It was given to you by Lysander, so it¡¯s yours. And what¡¯s yours is mine. There¡¯s no reason to return it.


    Evelyn argued, although her conviction was wavering. ¡°Anyway, I don¡¯t have any money.¡± Her breathing


    was heavy.


    Thssa was stunned, ¡°What do you mean? Where¡¯s the money?¡±.


    Suddenly, it dawned on her.


    ¡°Mom, did you gamble again?¡± She gasped.


    ¡°No, I just yed a few hands of poker and even won a few hundred dors. I invested all of the three


    million in a fund. They said it had high returns, and withpound interest, I could make six million in a


    month.¡± Evelyn, not one for keeping secrets, spilled the beans under pressure.


    Thssa¡¯s heart sank. That was a disaster.


    ¡°No fund can make that much money. It¡¯s a scam.¡± Thssa stomped her foot in frustration.


    Evelyn, who had been contemting whether she¡¯d been duped, burst into tears at Thssa¡¯s


    confirmation.

 Chapter 506

    Chapter 506


    While in a local card club, Evelyn, to make herself look better, inadvertently lost a fortune.


    A man who introduced himself as a fund manager sat beside her, regaling her with the benefits of


    investing in mutual funds.


    And all her card buddies were egging her on.


    In a moment of impulsivity, Evelyn was swayed by the man¡¯s words and invested her entire three


    million into the so-called mutual funds.


    Throughout the process, her phone was off due to a drained battery. It was only after the man had


    finished his operations that she left the club.


    While she was picking up the kids and returning home, Evelyn had the dreadful realization-she might


    have been conned.


    She was in a daze, her heart pounding with fear.


    Yet, a glimmer of hope remained made her believe that she might not have been duped.


    Now, hearing Thssa¡¯s thoughts, Evelyn¡¯s defensespletely crumbled.


    With a palpable tension in the air, Thssa took a deep breath, moved closer, and gently patted


    Evelyn¡¯s back. She tried to console her, ¡°Don¡¯t cry, mom. We can report it to the police and get it back.


    Just give me the contact details of the man and describe his look to me.¡±


    Evelyn clutched Thssa¡¯s clothes in tears. She was sobbing intermittently as she recounted the


    incident.


    Meanwhile, at the Royal Estates.


    Lysander had just finished his breakfast and was about to head to thepany.


    The butler, Fitch, emerged from the backyard in a fluster. He quickly approached Lysander and


    respectfully reported, ¡°Lysander, I discovered this circr pendant under the leg of a table in the


    antique gallery.¡±


    Lysander¡¯s deep-set gaze swept over to him.


    In Fitch¡¯s left hand was a circr pendant, and in his right hand was another identical circr pendant,


    presented in front of him.


    Two identical pendants-the very same one that was reported missing from the Royal Estates!


    The sole pendant seemed to magically double itself.


    Lysander¡¯s piercing gazended on Fitch, ¡°You better have a good exnation for this!¡±


    Fitch, frightened by Lysander¡¯s intimidating demeanor, hung his head and cautiously exined, ¡°We


    indeed searched thoroughly for the missing circr pendant, but we found nothing. This time, I


    discovered it under the table leg while cleaning. It was being pressed by the leg, luckily unbroken. If our


    circr pendant from the Royal Estates wasn¡¯t lost, then this other one might belong to Ms.


    Everhart¡­¡±


    Knowing Thssa¡¯s unique ce in Lysander¡¯s heart, Fitch tried to exin the sudden appearance of


    the pendant while also defending Thssa.


    The pendant wasn¡¯t stolen by Thssa. Everyone had misunderstood her, especially Lysander.


    He should understand that it was all a misunderstanding. Content property of N?velDra/ma.Org.


    He hoped his words would ease Lysander¡¯s mood.


    But as he finished speaking, Lysander¡¯s aura turned icy, his face dark and cold.


    His gaze was sharp and chilling, filled with oppression and frost.


    Fitch stiffened, not daring to utter another word.


    Lysander¡¯s prating gaze fixated on the two identical pendants in Fitch¡¯s hands.


    A sense of danger and coldness began to spread.


    If this was just a misunderstanding, why hadn¡¯t Thssa cleared it up?


    Why did she stop halfway through her exnation, and rather bear the me of stealing the pendant?


    Was she hiding something?


    Was there a secret she didn¡¯t want him to know?


    Lysander¡¯s breath became heavy. He recalled that she had enthusiastically brought Amelia to see him


    at the office earlier that morning.


    And she had even stayed in the office after Amelia¡¯s arrival.


    Her demeanor had shifted to a nervous one after hearing David mention that the toy store owner¡¯s


    information had been sent to him¡­


    Lysander took out his phone and logged into his work email. He continued reading the data he hadn¡¯t


    finished earlier.


    Besides the introduction of the toy store owner, there were two videos in the data.


    Both were rted to Thssa.


    They showed Thssa shopping at a mall with the four children.

 Chapter 507

    Chapter 507


    The video was silent. It was only showing the visuals; no sound was heard.


    A girl, dressed as a boy, stood outside a toy shop, not leaving. Eventually, the shopkeeper picked up a


    circr pendant and handed it to the little girl. Thssa paid for it.


    That pendant toy was exactly the circr pendant!


    So did Thssa buy the other pendant in the shop as a toy?


    Was this the reason she transferred $200,000 to the shop owner?


    If so, she could have easily told him this and cleared her name of theft allegations.


    Why didn¡¯t she exin?


    The four kids were clearly Hertha¡¯s, and one of the kids wanted that pendant. That made the whole


    thing more suspicious.


    Even if they discovered that the pendant was real, Hertha should just transfer Thssa the counter


    price, which was a few bucks.


    Or perhaps they could split it half and half as besties.


    Why would Hertha transfer all the money to Thssa without keeping a cent for herself?


    That pendant was something Hertha¡¯s daughter wanted. And the little girl insisted on buying it.


    Otherwise, Thssa would never have had the opportunity to buy the pendant, let alone make 200,000


    bucks.


    All these suspicious points added up.


    Only one exnation would make sense: Thssa was the children¡¯s biological mother!


    Thinking of this, Lysander squinted his eyes; he exuded an aura of danger and coldness.


    Fitch was so scared by his powerful presence and deep gaze that his legs turned to jelly.


    Vibrant Oasis Residences.


    Thssa was asking Evelyn about the scammer when her phone suddenly rang.


    This number was unfamiliar.


    Thssa was going to ignore it, but after some hesitation, she decided to answer.


    ¡®Ms. Everhart, this is Fitch, the butler at Royal Estates.¡± The voice of a middle-aged man came over the


    phone.


    Thssa tensed up as she heard his name.


    Anyone associated with Royal Estates was linked to Lysander.


    Now, whenever she heard anything about Lysander, her heart would tighten with fear.


    His ferocity and insatiable needs were so terrifying this morning.


    ¡°Fitch, what¡¯s up?¡± Thssa asked carefully.


    Fitch¡¯s voice trembled slightly, ¡°Ms. Everhart, while I was cleaning today, I found another pendant. Now


    there are two at Royal Estates. I told Lysander about this. We misunderstood you earlier¡­¡±


    Thssa¡¯s heart skipped a beat; her heart jumped to her throat.


    She was done for!


    Once Lysander knew about the pendant, he would surely be suspicious and link it to the toy shop


    ConTEent bel0ngs to N?v(e)lD/rama(.)Org .


    owner.


    With his shrewdness, he would definitely guess the truth.


    She nervously asked, ¡°What was Lysander¡¯s reaction?¡±


    ¡°He didn¡¯t look too good; he left with a stern face. I thought I should let you know about our


    misconception. If Lysanderes looking for you, you should be prepared. Fitch said.


    Fitch felt somewhat guilty because his work mistake had led to the misunderstanding about Thssa.


    Moreover, after he told Lysander about this, Lysander left looking rather unhappy. He was worried that


    Thssa would be implicated because of this.


    He took it upon himself to call Thssa and let her know so she could think of a way to deal with it in


    advance.


    ¡°I understand; thank you, Fitch.¡± Thssa hung up the phone, her heart pounding wildly. She was a cat


    on hot bricks.


    ¡°Mom, pack some luggage now; we¡¯re leaving!¡± Thssa said nervously, all in a fluster.

 Chapter 508

    Chapter 508


    Lysander had figured out that I¡¯m hiding the kids! Damn it! She thought.


    Thssa¡¯s mind was a turmoil of panic and fear.


    With lightning speed, she dashed into the room, grabbed her backpack and flung open the wardrobe,


    stuffing clothes randomly into each child¡¯s bag.


    In her frantic haste, she told the children, ¡°Sweethearts, Mommy is taking you on a trip. We have to


    leave right now!¡±


    Elowen¡¯s chubby face blossomed into a joyous smile, ¡°Yay! I love going on trips with Mommy!¡±


    Sophia was equally delighted, ¡°Yes, I want to go with Mommy. I¡¯ll get my bag.¡±


    She moved forward to help carry Thssa¡¯s backpack. But she was too small. Despite trying her best,


    her little body just couldn¡¯t lift the bag; her face turned red with the effort.


    Thssa quickly shouldered her backpack. She understood Sophia¡¯s desire to help so she loved


    Sophia all the more for it.


    But right now, there was no time forforting words. She took Sophia¡¯s small hand and told the other


    three, ¡°Come on my darlings, we need to leave right now. Keep up with Mommy.¡±


    Dorian followed Thssa like an adorable little shadow, asking, ¡°Mommy, now we have the money. So


    you can stop working overtime and take us on vacation?¡±


    Thssa, not immediately understanding what Dorian meant by ¡®we have money, thought he was


    referring to the money from selling the pendant and the prize money Elowen won from the pie contest.


    She nodded and replied, ¡°Yes, sweetheart, we do have some money now. We¡¯re going on a family trip.


    But we need to move quickly, okay?¡±


    As she led the children out of the room, she found Evelyn still sitting at the table, lost in thought.


    In her urgent voice, she prompted, ¡°Mom, if there¡¯s nothing you need, let¡¯s get out first.¡±


    Evelyn furrowed her brow, asking, ¡°What¡¯s going on, Thssa? We¡¯ve just settled down and now we¡¯re


    leaving again?¡±


    Thssa didn¡¯t have time to exin; she simply said, ¡°Mom, we need to leave right now. I¡¯ll exin on


    the way.¡±


    Elowen, ever the cheerful one, tugged at Evelyn¡¯s hand, urging, ¡°Grandma, hurry up! We¡¯re going on a


    trip!¡±


    Despite her confusion, Evelyn couldn¡¯t resist Elowen¡¯s sweet persuasion. She rose from her seat and


    followed them out the door. Evelyn knew they were on the run. But from who? What did Lysander have


    to do with all of this? The situation was so confusing.


    She remembered the pendant that Lysander had given Thssa. She just sold it for some money but it


    was then swindled out. Maybe Lysander was seeking retribution for this and demanding they pay him


    Ccontent ? exclusive by N?/vel(D)ra/ma.Org.


    back.


    That must be why Thssa felt the need to flee.


    With a heavy heart, Evelyn followed them out; she was feeling guilty and worried.


    Once outside, Thssa hailed a cab and quickly ushered the children and Evelyn inside, taking the


    passenger seat next to the driver.


    She guessed Lysander was on his way to their home.


    She needed to get away before he arrived.


    Thankfully, she had left the locket at the rented apartment. Lysander would surely go there first, and


    that would buy her some time for their getaway.


    Once they were on the road, Thssa¡¯s heart still raced with anxiety.


    She never imagined a day when she would be fleeing with her children like a fugitive.


    She hadn¡¯t done anything wrong.


    All she wanted was a peaceful life for herself and her kids.


    Back at the rented apartment, Lysander stood outside the front door, an imposing figure in the dim light.


    He knocked twice, but there was no response.


    With a swift kick, he broke open the door. The apartment was dark, not a single light was on.


    His eyes glinted in the night, like a beast on the hunt.


    Effortlessly, he located the light switch and flooded the room with a white light.

 Chapter 509

    Chapter 509


    The shimmer of diamonds caught his eye from the shoe rack at the entrance.


    He looked over to see a tinum ne. It was lying quietly atop the shoe rack and sparkling in the


    dim light.


    He picked up the ne; the glimmer of the diamonds was reflecting on his somber face, making him


    look even more erratic.


    A cold spark shed in Lysander¡¯s gaze.


    Soon, a ck Rolls Royce was speeding down the city¡¯s asphalt roads and heading towards Vibrant


    Oasis Residences.


    The house was empty. He kicked the door open with a violent swing.


    The lights were still on, and a warm smell of milk pervaded the room.


    This smell was familiar.


    Lysander strode forward, kicking open the doors of every room. All were devoid of life.


    Kids¡¯ toys were scattered everywhere; bottles of milk were left on the bed, and they were not washed


    after use.


    The house was filled with the traces of a child; there was a warm scent of milk and signs of innocent


    y.


    Clothes were dropped on the floor, and the wardrobe was left open.


    It was clear that the homeowner had left in a hurry.


    Had they run away?


    ConTEent bel0ngs to N?v(e)lD/rama(.)Org .


    They had even tried to distract him.


    Lysander¡¯s eyes were frighteningly cold. His whole figure was exuding a frosty aura.


    The corners of his mouth curled up in a cold smirk.


    Thssa, you are brave!


    At that moment, there was amotion outside the room.


    ¡°David, it¡¯s here. The target is in the room.¡± A man¡¯s voice rang out.


    Soon after, David, along with a group of men, arrived in the room guided by the GPS.


    Seeing Lysander, David paused, then reported respectfully, ¡°Mr. Sinir, an hour ago, the Sinir


    Group¡¯s finance department was hacked. The technical department traced the IP address


    here.¡±


    The Sinir Group was hacked?


    Lysander¡¯s aura became even colder, ¡°Did you find the hacking tools?¡±


    ¡°Not yet, we are still searching,¡± David reported.


    As he finished, he looked over at the technicians.


    They found a tablet in the room using the GPS.


    One of them handed the tablet to Lysander, saying, ¡°Mr. Sinir, this is the tool the hackers used.¡±


    Lysander took the tablet and tried to unlock it. A popup appeared on the screen, disying a mocking


    emoji sticking out its tongue with a message below it, ¡°Want to snoop? No chance!¡±


    Lysander was provoked.


    His handsome face darkened like an approaching storm.


    He tossed the tablet onto the bed and riveted his cold re on David, ¡°Mobilize the team. I want a


    thorough search. Dig up the earth if you must. Find Thssa!¡±


    Attacking the Sinir Group,provoking him, and running away!


    He would crush Thssa to her death on the cause of each one.


    Lysander was filled with icy anger.


    David paused, then quickly understood Lysander¡¯s instructions. He nodded solemnly, ¡°Yes, sir!¡±


    He quickly gathered the bodyguards and began aprehensive search.

 Chapter 510

    Chapter 510


    A tech-savvy guy, with hisptop in tow, started tapping away. He managed to pull up the surveince


    footage from the front of Vibrant Oasis Residences.


    Soon, he found the images of the Thssa family.


    ¡°Mr. Sinir, Ms. Everhart got into a taxi with the license te number LA348¡ä. This was about half an


    hour ago.¡± He reported back.


    Content property of N?velDra/ma.Org.


    Lysander¡¯s face darkened; he got into his car and sped off in the direction the taxi had taken.


    David followed suit, a fleet of vehicles and well-trained bodyguards trailing behind him, along with the


    tech whizzes who were adept at hacking and pulling up surveince footage.


    Thssa, her kids, and Evelyn had been in the taxi the whole time.


    She gave the taxi driver an address, asking him to drive them out of the city.


    That would take a few hours.


    Unfortunately, they ran into rush hour; the freeway was already jammed when the car got there.


    A sea of cars stretched out in front of them. They were crawling along at a snail¡¯s pace; moving a few


    meters felt like ages. They were all stuck in the bottleneck of traffic


    Thssa was anxious, her heart pounding. She wondered if Lysander had noticed her escape.


    In an attempt to sever any links that Lysander might use to locate her, Thssa had deliberately turned


    off her cell phone..


    Thus, even if Lysander tried calling her, he wouldn¡¯t get through.


    Even with these precautions, she was nervous; her fluttering heart was unable to calm down.


    The kids had no idea what was going on.


    Thinking that they were taking a vacation, they were chatting away in the backseat; their little voices


    were filled with innocence and joy.


    ¡°It¡¯s the first time mom¡¯s taking us on a vacation. I¡¯m so excited.¡± Atticus smiled.


    In the past, their mother was always busy with work and hardly having time to spend with them.


    Now he had earned her mom a billion dors. Maybe that was why she had the financial freedom to


    spend time with them.


    If that was the case, Atticus would be over the moon. He was finally able to help his mom.


    Dorian, Atticus¡¯ little fanboy, nodded enthusiastically at Atticus¡¯ words, ¡°Yep, I want to see unicorns.


    They¡¯re so cute in the cartoon. I wish I could have one as a pet.¡±


    Evelyn, who had been feeling down, couldn¡¯t help butugh at their conversation, ¡°Unicorns are just in


    your cartoons. They can¡¯t be kept as pets.¡±


    ¡°Why not?¡± Dorian tilted his head; his innocent child eyes widened with curiosity.


    ¡°Because they¡¯re rare and precious, like you guys to us. They can¡¯t just give them away to others,¡±


    Evelyn said, her face lighting up with a smile as she patted Dorian¡¯s little head.


    ¡°Oh, I see,¡± Dorian said, looking enlightened, ¡®They can¡¯t be away from their mom or they¡¯d be sad and


    pitiful.¡±


    Just like they wanted to stay with their mom all the time.


    Evelyn nodded, ¡°That¡¯s one way to put it.¡±


    Elowen, the quirky and chubby cheeked one, beamed at them; her dimples made her even more


    charming.


    Then let¡¯s ask our mom to give birth to an unicorn for each of us. Then we¡¯ll have unicorns and they


    won¡¯t have to be away from their mom.¡±


    The innocence of the children¡¯s conversation made even the taxi driver chuckle.


    He couldn¡¯t help but nce back at the kids in the rear-view mirror. Cute as a button, their adorable


    faces were radiating innocence and charm.


    Their words were so cute that it could melt anyone¡¯s heart.


    The driver¡¯s eyes filled with admiration and affection for the children. He made conversation, ¡°These


    four seem about the same age. Are they quadruplets?¡±


    Thssa, a little absent-minded, replied, ¡°Yes.¡±


    ¡°Wow, real-life quadruplets. They¡¯re so adorable. Their dad must love them to bits. What a lucky man,¡±


    the driver eximed.


    Thssa gave a stiff smile and remained silent.

 Chapter 511

    Chapter 511


    Now, they needed to flee from the man who fathered their children.


    If only he had a soft spot for kids, things would never get soplicated.


    But he didn¡¯t. He loathed them and despised her.


    That¡¯s how they ended up in this predicament.


    Having the kids by her side was her sweet sce.


    But their real situation often tainted that sweetness with bitterness.


    That was all a sweet, bitter pain.


    Elowen, not getting an immediate response, jumped into Evelyn¡¯s arms and pleaded, ¡°Granny, can you


    let Mommy give us some unicorns please?¡±


    She adored unicorns and she even had a stuffed one that she slept with every night.


    In her cartoons, unicorns could move and squeak, melting her heart with cuteness. She really wanted


    one.


    Elowen¡¯s fluffy head nudged against Evelyn¡¯s chest, leaving her torn betweenughter and tears.


    She adjusted Elowen on herp, saying, ¡°Your mommy can¡¯t just make unicorns appear, sweetheart.


    You¡¯re asking too much of her.¡±


    \


    Looking all serious, Dorian added, ¡°Exactly, Elowen. Mommy is a human, she can only give birth to


    humans, not unicorns. Be a good girl. When we get to the zoo, we may see the unicorns we want. We


    can¡¯t keep them, but that¡¯s okay, right?¡±


    ¡°Okay, brother,¡± Elowen pouted but nodded. She was always attentive to Dorian¡¯s words.


    While the kids chatted away in their innocent cheerfulness, Thssa was distracted by one fact: their


    car was stuck in traffic, going nowhere.


    She was anxious to get out of the city as quickly as possible.


    As time slipped away, their vehicle remained stationary, and they were trapped in the city.


    Thssa grew more frantic with each passing minute.


    Suddenly, a long chain of honking broke out behind them.


    Everyone¡¯s nerves were on edge. Thssa turned around to see all the cars behind them had their


    hazard lights on, their horns ring.


    The cacophony of honks rolled like waves.


    As if being instigated, all the drivers were ring their horns in unison.


    The driver grumbled, ¡°Why honking behind? It¡¯s not like the road ahead is clear.¡±


    Thssa¡¯s eyes skimmed over the colorful cars and suddenly noticed a convoy of ck vehicles


    parked among the traffic, exuding an air of dominance, prestige, and danger.


    Thssa¡¯s breath hitched. Her head was spinning and she was nearly deprived of oxygen.


    No one knew that leading ck vehicle better than she did. Lysander was on their tail. And he was


    quick!


    Thssa¡¯s heart pounded, her vision starting to blur with panic.


    What should she do? They were only a few hundred meters away from Lysander.


    If he caught up to them, they would be dragged back like helpless chickens.


    Meanwhile, inside the lead ck Rolls-Royce.


    A tech expert reported, ¡°Mr. Sinir, the taxi is just up ahead, about five hundred meters away. They¡¯re


    stuck in traffic, can¡¯t move.¡±


    Lysander looked cold and gloomy. He flung the car door open and strode towards the taxi with a


    determined pace.


    David and a few bodyguards followed Lysander¡¯s lead.


    Lysander¡¯s intimidating aura, nked by his burly, formidable bodyguards, resembled a scene straight


    Content property of N?velDra/ma.Org.


    out of an action movie. The sheer power of it had every driver in the traffic jam holding their breaths,


    too afraid to make a sound.


    He had a clear path ahead and reached the taxi with a few strides. He stood there, and his demeanor


    made people think of the deep, dark ocean.

 Chapter 512

    Chapter 512


    The night darkened, and Lysander¡¯s tall shadow became even more ghostly and terrifying in the


    intense darkness.


    The window of the taxiwas clear and he could see it through easily.


    Aside from the driver, there was no one else!


    Lysander stood there, all harsh and cold. The air got cold and tense around him. His countenance was


    dark, his eyes sharp as a hawk¡¯s.


    David quickly knocked on the driver¡¯s window.


    At this point, the traffic was still heavy; the taxi was stationary and unable to move.


    The window rolled down, and the driver looked out perplexedly. When he saw the regal man with a


    chilling aura in front of his cab, apanied by bodyguards, he tensed up.


    Feeling timid, the driver forced a small smile and asked politely, ¡°Sir, do you need a ride?¡±


    The driver had no idea why the man was looking for him, so he asked anyway.


    David asked, ¡°Did you just have a young woman, an older woman, and four kids in your cab?¡±


    The driver quickly nodded, ¡°Yes, yes, I did.¡±


    ¡°Where are they?¡± David asked.


    ¡°They just got out. It¡¯s too congested so they couldn¡¯t wait. They were in a rush to leave the city, so they


    left.¡± the driver said truthfully.


    The intensity of the situation was intimidating, like a scene out of a cop and robber movie. The driver


    ConTEent bel0ngs to N?v(e)lD/rama(.)Org .


    dared not lie; he told them everything.


    The two women with the kids seemed harmless, not the type to cause trouble. How did they end up


    attracting such a big shot?


    These guys were clearly not to be messed with. That woman was in big trouble.


    ¡°Which way did they go?¡± David asked.


    ¡°Forward, another taxi just stopped up ahead; they got in that one.¡± The driver pointed to the traffic light


    up ahead.


    The light had now turned green, so many cars had moved on, including that taxi.


    But they hadn¡¯t gone far.


    Their car was still stuck behind. If they went back to get their car, they would lose time.


    They yanked open the driver¡¯s side of the door, pulled the driver out, and tossed him aside.


    ¡°Hey, hey, hey, what are you doing?¡± The driver said in panic, ready to fight for his car.


    Lysander gave him a cold look, ¡°If you don¡¯t want to die, then stay put!¡±


    Lysander¡¯s aura was chilling and deadly. The driver thus trembled in fear. He shrunk back, not daring to


    make a move.


    His life was more important than his car.


    David got in the driver¡¯s seat and Lysander sat in the back. The taxi sped off.


    The taxi weaved through traffic, took a sharp turn, and pulled up in front of the other taxi.


    ¡°Ah!¡± The other taxi driver mmed on the brakes, gasping for breath.


    If he hadn¡¯t reacted quickly and hit the brakes in time, he and his car would have been reduced to a


    wreck. And it was an emergency brake. If it wasn¡¯t for the seat belt, he would have flown through the


    windshield, crashed onto the road, and turned into a bloody mess.


    The driver was still in shock when he saw the taxi that had cut him off. He was about to let loose a


    string of curses.


    The car door opened and out stepped a man in a ck suit with an intimidating aura, noble features,


    and amanding presence. The man was clearly someone of high status, either rich or powerful.

 Chapter 513

    Chapter 513


    The cab driver¡¯s impending tirade died in his throat as he swallowed it back.


    A tall man, with a stride to match, approached his car. His frigid, piercing gaze swept through the


    vehicle, only causing the aura around him to grow more intimidating.


    Lowering the cab window, the driver cautiously asked, ¡°Sir, can I assist you with something?¡±


    David arrived shortly after, noticing the empty cab. He sensed the gravity of the situation as well, so he


    asked sternly, ¡°Where is your passenger?¡±


    ¡°I had two women and four children in my cab while waiting at the traffic light,¡± the cab driver exined.


    ¡°But as soon as the light changed, they insisted on getting out.¡±.


    The driver had thought he was being toyed with, feeling rather upset.


    They had asked for a ride but only to get out less than a mile in.


    The only reason he wasn¡¯t angry was because they had paid quite a generous fare.


    They had given him twenty dors for a ride less than a mile long; they also told him not to bother with


    the change as they looked to be in a rush.


    ¡°Where did they go?¡± David asked.


    They seemed to have boarded a bus, but I didn¡¯t pay much attention,¡± the driver responded, feeling


    goosebumps from the chilling presence of the man in front of his vehicle. His muscles were trembling


    involuntarily.


    This meant that Thssa had switched vehicles twice within a mile to avoid being found by Lysander.


    Looking anxiously at Lysander, David suggested, ¡°Mr. Sinir, there¡¯s a toll booth up ahead. I can


    contact them to thoroughly check all cabs and buses.¡±


    Lysander¡¯s face remained cold as he curtly ordered, ¡°Do it.¡±


    His voice echoed ominously in the dense night, chilling and startling.


    For the first time in his life, Lysander felt manipted and frustrated. And it was all because of a


    Content property of N?velDra/ma.Org.


    woman.


    Well, Thssa, if you enjoy this cat-and-mouse game so much, then I¡¯ll y along till the end.


    His blood was boiling, awaiting the moment he could catch her and tear her apart.


    David hastily made a call.


    Initially, he thought that once they found the surveince footage of Thssa getting into the cab, they


    could quickly retrieve her and the kids. But things were proving moreplicated than he had


    imagined.


    Thssa, who always seemed naive and scattered at work, turned out to be quite crafty when push


    came to shove. She had even managed to outsmart Lysander.


    Feeling the chilling wrath radiating from Lysander, David was on edge. His nerves were taut. He was


    afraid that Lysander might lose his temper at any moment and cause coteral damage.


    But then again, it made sense for him. Thssa had managed to hide four children under Lysander¡¯s


    nose. She was clearly bolder and shrewder than he had given her credit for.¡±


    Even he had been fooled by Thssa, thinking that the four kids were actually Hertha¡¯s.


    David was clueless about what was happening until he saw Lysander¡¯s suppressed anger, and the


    surveince footage of Thssa running away with the four children.


    Then it dawned on him that the children weren¡¯t Hertha¡¯s, they were Thssa¡¯s.


    Lysander conducted such a thorough search for Thssa and the kids only because these were his


    own kids.


    She was running away with Lysander¡¯s kids.


    Before this incident, David would never have imagined anyone daring to do such a thing.


    Lysander would send her to hell. Wasn¡¯t she afraid?


    While silently mourning for Thssa, David contacted the toll booth, instructing them to closely check


    every passing cab and bus.

 Chapter 514

    Chapter 514


    The night was as dark as ink. Underneath the elevated highway, beside a pond, insects chirped, and


    frogs croaked. The scent of fresh grass lingered in the air, blending with the night¡¯s mist, touching their


    skin with a cold chill.


    That chill seemed to seep into their hearts, stirring up fear.


    Thssa, with her four children and Evelyn, hid in a ditch beneath the highway.


    In front of them, the pond shimmered in the moonlight, and its depth was concealed by the darkness, a


    sight that brought fear to their hearts.


    Yes, fear.


    She had noticed a line of ck limousines in the traffic behind them, and it had filled her with dread.


    At that moment, she decided to get out of the taxi.


    Thankfully, it was nighttime. She and Evelyn managed to slip unnoticed from the taxi to the one up


    front.


    Once the taxi had driven through the traffic lights, she realized that the driver would surely inform


    N?velDrama.Org: text ? owner.


    Lysander they had boarded his taxi.


    If Lysander caught up with them, there would have been no escape.


    So, she immediately told the driver to stop. They needed to get out.


    The driver had initially refused. But Thssa handed him a hundred dors and told him to keep the


    change.


    After they got out of the taxi, a bus pulled up.


    Thssa did not get on the bus, but it served as a perfect cover. She led her children and Evelyn,


    sneaking around the barrier and into the ditch beneath the highway.


    The most dangerous ces were often the safest.


    Lysander would never think that after leaving the taxi, they had not fled but had stayed right where they


    were.


    By the pond, beneath the grass, mosquitoes were swarming.


    The children, with their higher body heat and tender skin, were prime targets.


    Elowen was constantly scratching. Her soft voice carried a whimper as she spoke, ¡°Mommy, it¡¯s so


    itchy. I don¡¯t want to stay here.¡±


    ¡°Mommy, I¡¯m itchy too. I¡¯ve got big bumps all over,¡± Sophia pouted, clearly distressed.


    Dorian and Atticus were also stomping their little feet to shoo the mosquitoes away.


    Thssa drew Elowen and Sophia close, rubbing their exposed skin to keep the mosquitoes away and


    to soothe their itchiness. She was both sympathetic and helpless, ¡°Just ten more minutes and we¡¯ll


    leave, darlings. Can we hold on a bit longer?¡±


    She didn¡¯t want her children to be bitten by mosquitoes, and she didn¡¯t want to be on the run with


    them.


    But she had no choice. She was terrified of being found by Lysander.


    She had given birth to his child in secret. If he caught them, not only would the children suffer, but she


    would also face severe punishment.


    The memory of the pain Lysander had inflicted on her that morning was still fresh.


    If Lysander caught them, she didn¡¯t dare think of the consequences.


    ¡°Mommy, why are we hiding? Is someone trying to catch us?¡± Dorian asked, his young voice carrying a


    note of curiosity.


    The children were young, but they understood more than they let on.


    Before Thssa could answer, Evelyn replied, ¡°Don¡¯t-overthink about it. Just stick with your mom, no


    matter what. As long as we¡¯re together as a family, that¡¯s all that matters.¡±


    Deep down, Evelyn felt guilty. She believed that selling the dragon pendant Lysander had given


    Thssa for three million dors was the reason they were in that mess.


    If they still had the money, they could have returned it. But then, the money had been swindled away.


    She had no money to repay Lysander if he caught them.


    Three million dors.


    She could never earn that much in her lifetime, not even if she sold herself.


    Thssa was wise to run. If Lysander couldn¡¯t find them, maybe he would let it go.


    In the dim moonlight, Thssa looked at Evelyn, her feelings a mix of emotions. But Evelyn was right


    about one thing.


    As long as they were together as a family, that was all that mattered.

 Chapter 515

    Chapter 515


    Dorian pouted, choosing to remain silent.


    After lingering a bit longer under the tunnel, Thssa began leading Evelyn and the children uphill.


    Thssa walked ahead, hand-in-hand with Elowen and Sophia, while Evelyn trailed behind, guiding


    Dorian and Atticus.


    The path beneath the overpass was ill-maintained, rugged, and littered with stones.


    They had to tread carefully.


    ¡°Ouch!¡± Elowen suddenly tripped over arge rock. Her petite figure lurched forward.


    Thssa sprang into action, reaching out to steady her but she was a moment toote.


    ¡°Ow!¡± Elowen¡¯s forehead hit arge stone. The pain triggered immediate tears.


    Her crying was heart-wrenching.


    Thssa swiftly scooped up Elowen, attempting to soothe her, ¡°Where did you hurt yourself, Elowen?


    Don¡¯t cry. Tell mommy where it hurts.¡±


    Under the overpass, where light was scarce, it was impossible to see clearly. Thssa felt helpless..


    ¡°Ow¡­ it hurts¡­¡± Elowen wept uncontrobly, unable to articte where she was hurt.


    Thssa quickly wiped the tears off Elowen¡¯s face. However, her hand came away not just with tears


    but a thick, warm liquid.


    Those weren¡¯t tears. Ccontent ? exclusive by N?/vel(D)ra/ma.Org.


    It was blood!


    Thssa¡¯s heart seized in panic, and her breath hitched, ¡°Oh God, Elowen¡¯s bleeding!¡±


    Her voice wavered with fear.


    ¡°Don¡¯t panic. Let¡¯s hurry up, Evelyn, too, became anxious. She gestured for Dorian to get onto her


    back, then scooped up Atticus and Sophia.


    In times of crisis, surprising strength can be summoned.


    On any given day, it would have been impossible for her to carry three children at once. But that day,


    she managed to do that.


    Thssa, clutching Elowen, quickened her pace to reach the main road. Evelyn followed, carrying the


    three children.


    Vehicles continued their usual traffic on the road, with no sign of Lysander.


    There were streetlights lining the road.


    With the added light, Thssa could finally see Elowen¡¯s face. Her forehead was split open, blood


    pouring out.


    The blood had even reached her eyes.


    Elowen found it unbearable. She kept her eyes shut, crying with her mouth agape. The sight of her


    tears mixed with blood was horrifying.


    It was as if a knife was driven into Thssa¡¯s heart. The pain was so intense it almost took her breath


    away, ¡°Elowen, Elowen, my darling¡­¡±


    Her eyes brimmed with tears, threatening to spill over. Her mind was in chaos.


    Evelyn, too, saw Elowen¡¯s condition and was equally frantic, ¡°We need to get her to a hospital, fast. If


    we¡¯re toote, we¡¯ll regret it for the rest of our lives. My darling Elowen, you have to be okay.¡±


    Evelyn was also on the verge of tears.


    The other three children saw Elowen¡¯s bleeding forehead. The sight was terrifying to them.


    One by one, their worried and fearful voices echoed softly.


    ¡°Elowen¡­¡±


    ¡°Elowen¡­¡±


    ¡°Sis, oh¡­¡±


    Thssa breathed in painful gasps, and her hands trembled. She quickly rummaged through her


    backpack, pulling out a light-colored cloth to wipe the blood off Elowen¡¯s face and bandage her


    forehead.


    Having done all she could, she cradled Elowen in her arms, standing by the roadside, anxiously waiting


    for a cab.


    When a taxi finally pulled over, Thssa gged it down.


    In her heightened state of panic, she hastily said to the driver, ¡°Please, we need to get to a hospital!¡±

 Chapter 516

    Chapter 516


    The driver nced at the child she was cradling in her arms, and the cloth wrapped around her


    forehead soaked with fresh blood. Clearly, she was injured.


    Behind her, an elderly woman and three other children were waiting.


    All in all, six people.


    The driver didn¡¯t open the door. Although he sympathized with their predicament, he couldn¡¯t take


    them.


    The driver said, ¡°My colleague just called me. There¡¯s a strict check on cabs and buses up ahead. I


    can¡¯t fit the six of you. You should wait for a bus.¡±


    With that, the driver coldly drove off.


    ¡°Hey!¡± Thssa called out to the retreating taxi, only able to watch helplessly as it drove away.


    She was so anxious that her breathing quickened, and tears began to well up in her eyes.


    Elowen, unable to bear the pain, was still crying.


    Each sob pulled at Thssa¡¯s heart-strings, causing her immense distress and heartache.


    Were the checks up ahead Lysander¡¯s doing?


    His methods were always suffocating, swift and decisive.


    N?velDrama.Org: text ? owner.


    But Elowen was seriously injured. They couldn¡¯t wait.


    A van was approaching from the front, and its headlights red brightly.


    Thssa quickly waved her hand, urgently gging down the vehicle.


    The van was private, and not intended to carry passengers. But the driver was kind-hearted..


    Seeing someone waving him down, with a child in her arms who looked unwell, he stopped.


    Thssa quickly approached and said in a shaky voice, ¡°Sir, my daughter identally bumped her


    head and she¡¯s bleeding a lot. Can you please take us to the hospital? I beg you.¡±


    ¡°Please, we need your help. Saving a life is more important than anything else. Our child is so


    young¡­¡± Evelyn pleaded, tears streaming down her face.


    She usually nagged Thssa and med her for having children before marriage. And even though


    she left her to care for them, she was still deeply attached to them.


    Those were her grandchildren, whom she had raised with her own hands.


    Her love for them was no less than Thssa¡¯s. Seeing Elowen bleed so much, she felt both anxious


    and distressed.


    ¡°Alright, get in quickly.¡± The driver was a young man in his twenties, who also had a child. He also had


    a little princess at home. His little girl was always in his thoughts as he hustled about. Every time he


    went home, his daughter would joyfully run to him, her sweet voice calling him ¡°daddy¡±. No matter how


    tired he was, her voice always healed him.


    His daughter was his reason and motivation for striving. Having a child of his own, he understood the


    feelings of a parent when their child was injured.


    ¡°Thank you. Thank you so much.¡± Thssa quickly thanked him, holding Elowen as they got into the


    van.


    Evelyn also got in with the other three children.


    The van drove off quickly.


    Thssa remembered what the taxi driver had said about a checkpoint ahead. She felt uneasy.


    Soon, they arrived at the toll booth, where numerous traffic cops were stationed. At each booth, there


    were at least four traffic cops.


    Every car that passed through was stopped and checked.


    Thssa¡¯s grip on Elowen tightened.


    Soon, they arrived at the checkpoint and were stopped by the traffic cops.


    Thssa looked pale and increasingly anxious.


    Two officers approached the van and peered inside.


    Thssa¡¯s heart pounded.


    The officers noticed two women and a child inside. The child had a cloth around her head, soaked with


    blood, and she was still sobbing.


    She seemed injured.


    Evelyn pleaded, ¡°Officer, my granddaughter was ying around and identally hit her head. We


    need to get to the hospital. Can you please hurry?¡±

 Chapter 517

    Chapter 517


    ¡°Don¡¯t worry, we¡¯ll get this over with swiftly. If everything checks out, you¡¯ll be free to go,¡± the traffic cop


    assured. His gaze then drifted towards the van¡¯s trunk.


    It was quite spacious, with four cardboard boxes stowed inside.


    ¡°What¡¯s in those boxes?¡± the cop asked.


    Thssa¡¯s heart leaped into her throat at his question.


    Although it was a van, it was only supposed to seat five.


    Four children, two adults and the driver. They were clearly overcapacity.


    If the cop found out, they could have been in serious trouble, possibly even alerting Lysander.


    They would have been sitting ducks.


    Evelyn¡¯s face also paled.


    Just as Thssa and Evelyn were at the peak of their anxiety, the young driver answered nonchntly,


    N?velDrama.Org: text ? owner.


    ¡°Oh, those are farm-fresh eggs I bought for my kids back home.


    ¡°We¡¯ll need to check that,¡± the cop stated.


    Check? What were they going to do?


    Thssa¡¯s heart pounded, and her palms broke out in a sweat.


    ¡°Sure thing.¡± The young man remained cool-headed, exited from the vehicle, and opened the trunk and


    one of the boxes.


    Sure enough, it was filled with eggs.


    After a nce, the driver moved to open a second box.


    ¡°That¡¯s enough. We¡¯ll just run a DUI test,¡± the cop said.


    The driver¡¯s hand rxed on the box, and he chuckled, ¡°Alright then.¡±


    After passing the DUI test, the cop let them go.


    The young man drove away.


    Only when they were a considerable distance away did Thssa¡¯s heart finally slow down.


    Being so close to the officer, she dared not rx, fearing that any sign of ease would have raised


    suspicion, and they would have been pursued.


    The driver pulled over and opened the trunk and the boxes.


    Three little heads popped out of the boxes. Their faces flushed, and their breathing was more rushed


    than usual.


    ¡°Mum, did we do good? We weren¡¯t discovered, right?¡± Dorian asked Thssa, his cherubic face


    illuminated with innocence.


    They understood their mother¡¯s predicament and had done their best to mitigate the risk and not cause


    her any trouble.


    Thssa¡¯s eyes welled up, but she held back her tears and nodded, ¡°Yes, you did very well. Come and


    sit. You must be ufortable in those boxes.¡±


    The driver hade up with the idea of hiding the children in the boxes when she told him there was a


    checkpoint ahead.


    ¡°No, it was fun. It was like ying hide and seek,¡± Dorian replied, his eyes sparkling with innocence.


    The children¡¯s thoughts and world were simple, filled with innocence.


    Soon afterwards, Evelyn took the front passenger seat, while Thssa and the children sat in the


    back.


    Before long, they pulled up outside a hospital.


    It was the closest one.


    Thssa expressed her heartfelt thanks to the young driver and rushed Elowen inside for treatment.


    After examination, it was found that her wound was deep and required stitches, as well as an IV for


    antibiotics.


    Despite her fear of Lysander catching up, Elowen¡¯s well-being was paramount.


    As the doctor disinfected Elowen¡¯s wound, applied anesthetic, and began to stitch it up, Elowen asked


    in her soft, childlike voice, ¡°Mummy, is the doctor going to sew me up? Will I be a teddy bear?¡±


    Her beloved teddy bear was made by sewing fabric together and then stuffing it with cotton.

 Chapter 518

    Chapter 518


    Listening to Elowen¡¯s soft, innocent words, Thssa couldn¡¯t help but feel a pang of sorrow mixed with


    amusement.


    Only a child could be this pure and naive.


    It was incredibly endearing and enough to melt anyone¡¯s heart.


    Thssa held Elowen. Her voice was soft as she said, ¡°Don¡¯t worry sweetheart. Once your wound


    heals, the stitches will be removed.¡±


    ¡°I used dissolvable sutures which don¡¯t need to be removed. They help reduce the chances of scarring.


    You are such a beautiful, adorable little girl. We need to take good care of your wound and try not to


    leave a scar,¡± the doctor exined as he stitched up Elowen.


    Elowen was a chubby little girl with sparkling big eyes, and a cherubic face, looking like a porcin


    doll.


    She was simply too beautiful.


    People naturally have a love andpassion for beautiful things.


    The doctor was no different. Seeing such a beautiful, endearing little girl, he naturally took a liking to


    her.


    Thssa gratefully said, ¡°Thank you, doctor.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re wee.¡±


    After Elowen¡¯s forehead wound was stitched and bandaged, she was put on an antibiotic drip.


    The treatment would take more than an hour.


    N?velDrama.Org: text ? owner.


    Luckily, the doctor had arranged afortable bed for them.


    Thssa sat on the bed, with Elowen in her arms. The other three little ones were sleeping at the foot


    of the bed. Although the bed was a bit narrow, the kids cuddled together, minimizing their space, all


    managing to fit.


    It was already past eleven at night. Normally, the kids would already be in dreand by this time.


    Evelyn sat on a chair nearby. Her face was a bit pale as she sighed and said, ¡°The kids didn¡¯t eat much


    before we left. Only Elowen had some milk. They haven¡¯t eaten anything since. They¡¯ve just been


    following us around. They must be so exhausted.¡±


    Evelyn had been cooperative all along, never questioning Thssa about why they had to flee.


    Thssa guessed that Evelyn thought they were/running from a debt of three million


    dors.


    She still didn¡¯t know that Lysander was the children¡¯s father.


    Thssa was torn, unsure whether to tell Evelyn that Lysander was the children¡¯s father.


    If she told Evelyn, knowing her character, she would have likely confronted Lysander.


    That would have been like walking into the tiger¡¯s den.


    It was better to wait. Once they were free from Lysander¡¯s control and settled down, she could tell


    Evelyn everything.


    ¡°You rest for a bit. I¡¯ll go grab some food,¡± Evelyn offered, looking at Thssa.


    ¡°Be careful; stay safe,¡± Thssa cautioned her.


    She was unfamiliar with the area and worried about Evelyn going out alone.


    ¡°I will. You take it easy, Evelyn said as she left the room.


    Thssa tightened her hold on Elowen, touching her tender little face with affection. There was a


    feeling of relief and gratitude overwhelming her.


    Thankfully, Elowen¡¯s injuries were not serious.


    Otherwise, she would¡¯ve med herself forever.


    Holding her little angel in her arms, watching her other three sleeping peacefully at the foot of the bed,


    Thssa¡¯s heart ached lessened.


    With her children by her side, she could face any hardship.


    When the doctor came in, Thssa was alert and looked up. The doctor was holding a rectangr box


    and handed it to Thssa, saying, ¡°This is scar ointment. Once the wound ispletely healed, apply


    it three times a day.¡±


    Thssa took the box with one hand, and gratefully said, ¡°Thank you.¡±

 Chapter 519

    Chapter 519


    The doctor didn¡¯t leave. His gaze lingered on her face and paused for a moment before he finally


    spoke. ¡°I see you have a fresh scar on your face too. You could apply some cream as well. It works


    best on new scars. Once they age it won¡¯t be as effective.¡±


    Thssa realized that her face had been punctured by Amelia with a sharp object, which healed into a


    scar, and then the scab had fallen off yesterday, revealing pink, new skin.


    The events of the previous few days had caught her off guard, and she hadn¡¯t had the chance to care


    for the scar on her face.


    It was the doctor¡¯s reminder that made her remember. She pulled a polite smile onto her lips, ¡°Alright.


    Thank you, doctor.¡±


    The doctor chuckled, ¡°You¡¯re the politest patient¡¯s rtive I¡¯ve ever met.¡¯


    Thssa was taken aback for a second. But then she remembered that from the moment they met till


    then, she had thanked the doctor many times.


    She couldn¡¯t help butugh as well.


    ¡°Take a break. Looking after four kids must be tiring,¡± the doctor advised before leaving the room.


    Thssa¡¯s lips held a faint smile, and her eyshes drooped: Her initially anxious heart was healed by


    the children¡¯s endearing innocence and by the kindness of people in the world.


    Before long, Evelyn returned with two bowls of spaghetti and a dozen bagels, along with some bottled


    milk.


    Setting the food aside, she handed a bowl of spaghetti to Thssa, saying, ¡°Eat something; you


    haven¡¯t eaten all day.¡±


    Thssa replied, ¡°I¡¯m not hungry yet; you eat first. I had a meal before I left home.¡±


    Before she left Royal Estates, Lysander had insisted that she ate something.


    N?velDrama.Org: text ? owner.


    She had to thank him for making her eat; it gave her the strength to run away.


    Evelyn didn¡¯t insist further; she was indeed hungry and started slurping down the spaghetti.


    She bought spaghetti because it was both cheap and filling.


    In no time, she was finished and tossed the dish into the trash, ¡°I bought the bagels for the kids. They


    can have them when they wake up. The spaghetti won¡¯t stay fresh for too long. You


    better eat it now.¡±


    Evelyn picked up the spaghetti and walked over to Thssa.


    Thssa nced at the sleeping Elowen in her arms, unwilling to wake her.


    The little one had cried for so long and was finally asleep.


    ¡°I¡¯m holding Elowen; it¡¯s not convenient. I¡¯ll eatter,¡± she said.


    Evelyn lifted a forkful of spaghetti and brought it to her mouth.


    Thssa was surprised, and a bit ufortable, but just as she was about to take the fork, Evelyn


    stopped her, ¡°Don¡¯t move. I¡¯ll feed you. The baby just fell asleep, it would be a pity to


    wake her.¡±


    Thssa opened her mouth to take in the forkful of spaghetti.


    She was already grown and yet was being spoon-fed by her mother. It was a little embarrassing.


    But even though it was embarrassing, her heart was warm, and she was touched.


    Though she was twenty-seven, she was still a child in front of Evelyn.


    A child with a mother is like a treasure, and a motherless child is like a weed.


    She dared not imagine about Lysander catching her, and forcing her to separate from her children.


    The children would be motherless. And her despair, pain, and helplessness at losing her children would


    be unbearable.


    Lysander arrived at the toll gate, checking on the results of the vehicle inspections.


    The traffic police told Lysander about all the vehicles that seemed suspicious.


    They thought they were suspicious, but they didn¡¯t match the information Lysander provided, so they let


    them pass.


    ¡°There were only three vehicles with children. One had two children. One was a two-year-old child, the


    other child was about one year old. Another had an eight-year-old boy. Thest one had a four-year-old


    girl who was injured. Her parents were rushing her to the hospital, and seeing the severity of the injury,


    I didn¡¯t dy them.¡±.


    Upon hearing that, Lysander¡¯s face darkened. An oppressive aura enveloped him.


    A four-year-old girl that fit the age range, huh?

 Chapter 520

    Chapter 520


    The traffic officer sensed an imposing aura emanating from Lysander. It was strong,manding, and


    intimidating. He quickly registered that something was off and suggested, ¡°David mentioned two


    women and four children, but there was only one child in the car. There were indeed two women. One


    younger and one older.¡±


    Lysander¡¯s handsome face was serious. A storm brewed in his eyes.


    ¡°Check the surveince,¡± hemanded in a cold voice.


    The traffic officer understood immediately and hurried to check the footage.


    At the same time, the investigation David had ordered regarding Thssa five years ago was


    David approached Lysander and reported with respect and caution, ¡°Mr. Sinir, Thssa attended


    Starhaven College. She left school a month after returning from summer break in her sophomore year.


    The official reason was financial difficulties, but our investigation revealed she was pregnant at the


    time. She was expecting quadruplets and had to stay on bed rest due to a high-risk pregnancy. This


    seems to be the real reason behind her dropping out.¡±


    Lysander¡¯s hand clenched and then rxed. His handsome face was hard, and his eyes were


    inscrutable.


    So, did the ¡®unexpected circumstances¡¯ she¡¯d mentioned before mean pregnancy? Was it not


    heartbreak over breaking up with Leopold Sinir?


    Lysander had never imagined that their encounter would have resulted in a pregnancy. Merely a


    calcted move by his enemies, leading him to a barn where there happened to be a


    woman.


    He was passionate and uncontroble.


    Under such circumstances, he¡¯d left his seed.


    And they were quadruplets at that!


    Thssa, that woman, had dared to secretly give birth to them.


    She¡¯d been ying a cat-and-mouse game with him, keeping him in the dark.


    Interesting.


    Things were getting more interesting.


    That reckless woman probably didn¡¯t realize the price of hiding such a thing from him.


    Lysander reviewed the surveince footage of the van.


    The woman in the backseat had her head bowed, but even with just a glimpse of her side profile,


    Lysander immediately recognized her as Thssa.


    She was holding a little girl in her arms, and the girl¡¯s forehead was wrapped in a white cloth that was


    soaked with blood.


    The little girl was sobbing. Her small figure appeared weak and pitiful.


    The scene struck a raw nerve in Lysander¡¯s heart.


    Even just watching the footage, a sharp pang of pain shot through him.


    His aura seemed to grow colder, and more intimidating.


    Seeing his child hurt, he felt an unfamiliar yet intriguing sense of heartache.


    Was that the magic of blood ties?


    That damned woman! She dared to hurt his child!


    Lysander gritted his teeth, ¡°David, find her within half an hour! Or else, someone morepetent might


    take your ce!¡±


    David¡¯s heart lurched. The storm of fury was indeed going to engulf everyone in its path.


    He quickly nodded in agreement, ¡°Yes, Mr. Sinir.¡±


    Then, without dy, he increased manpower for the search.


    Thssa was halfway through her spaghetti when Elowen woke up, ¡°Mama, I want to eat too. I¡¯m so


    hungry.¡±


    The little foodie had been lured awake by the smell of the spaghetti. Elowen had a weakness for food,


    unable to resist anything tasty. Having missed lunch, she was already hungry, and herck of energy


    from hunger was the reason she¡¯d tripped earlier.


    The smell of the spaghetti had made her salivate even in her sleep.


    N?velDrama.Org: text ? owner.


    Hearing her soft, kitten-like mewl, Thssa couldn¡¯t help but smile.

 Chapter 521

    Chapter 521


    Thssa looked down to see Elowen¡¯srge, round eyes filled with anticipation.


    The cute, soft look instantly tugged at Thssa¡¯s heartstrings.


    A gentle smile graced her lips. ¡°Good thing there¡¯s still half left. You don¡¯t mind sharing, do you?¡±


    ¡°Nope! I love you, Mommy. I don¡¯t mind at all,¡± Elowen replied sweetly.


    Thssa couldn¡¯t help but chuckle at that.


    Evelyn alsoughed. Her eyes were brimming with a warmth that threatened to spill over


    Blinking back her tears, Evelyn fed the remaining half of Thssa¡¯s spaghetti to Elowen.


    ¡°Mmm. So good,¡± Elowenmented after her first bite, and her eyes sparkled with delight.


    The little one had no resistance to delicious food, especially when she was so hungry.


    The delightful taste of the pesto sauce was very fragrant and creamy. It was a heavenly delight.


    Thssaughed, and Evelyn did as well. Her voice was a loving caress. ¡®Take your time. Grandma


    also bought some of your favorite bagels. If you¡¯re still hungry, you can have one.¡±


    ¡°I will, Mommy. After the spaghetti, I want a bagel,¡± Elowen responded, gobbling down the spaghetti


    faster than Evelyn could feed her.


    The child was really hungry.


    It was past midnight when Elowen finished her drip.


    They couldn¡¯t stay in the hospital for long, and they had to leave once the IV was done.


    Waking up the other three children, they each got a bagel and a bottle of milk.


    The family left the hospital.


    There were few cars on the road. Standing by the roadside, Thssa felt lost, not knowing where to go


    next.


    ¡°Thssa, look! Isn¡¯t that the bus to Hollowbrook?¡± Evelyn excitedly tugged Thssa¡¯s sleeve, pointing


    at a white bus approaching them.


    Because the streetlights near the hospital were bright, they could clearly see the banner hanging on the


    bus.¡±


    Hollowbrook was a small town surrounding Starhaven.


    She hadn¡¯t expected that they were so close to Hollowbrook.


    While Thssa was still in a daze, Evelyn gged down the bus and got on with Dorian and Atticus.


    Halfway through, she noticed Thssa still standing there, lost in thoughts. ¡°Thssa, quickly bring


    Sophia and Elowen onboard.¡±


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    Thssa snapped back to reality. It waste and there were no cars on the road. She didn¡¯t dare to


    use her phone. So, she couldn¡¯t call a cab.


    Having a bus to ride was already a blessing in disguise.


    The kids were tired from following them around. They needed to find a ce to rest.


    Thssa got on the bus with Elowen and Sophia.


    She asked the driver, confirming that the bus was indeed going to Hollowbrook.


    Evelyn¡¯s worried face finally broke into a smile. ¡°Thank God. We can go home now.¡±


    Having a home was the ultimatefort and provided a sense of security.


    They arrived at Hollowbrook at half past midnight.


    Evelyn, holding hands with Atticus and Dorian, hurried towards thergest mansion in the vige.


    That was their home, where Astrid Pendleton was taking care of the house and farming.


    Thssa followed Evelyn, and a sense of unease crept into her heart.


    She hadn¡¯t expected that running away would lead them back to Hollowbrook.


    Lysander had been to Hollowbrook before. Would he have guessed that she was back here?


    Evelyn didn¡¯t have the same worries. She just felt relieved to be home.


    She took out her keys and opened the door.


    The warm light from the living room spilled out, illuminating a man standing in the hall.


    Seeing that man, Thssa¡¯s heart skipped a beat.

 Chapter 522

    Chapter 522


    The man stood before the hearth in the living room. His gaze was fixed on thendscape painting


    hanging above it.


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    In rural America, it was customary for each household to hang a painting like that, a symbol of bellef,


    used in celebrations and festivities.


    Typically, by 11 or 12 at night, most people in the vige would have retired to bed, leaving only the


    sounds of chirping crickets and hooting owls.


    Unexpectedly, Thssa found her living room fully lit at thatte hour.


    The man standing in the center of the room had chestnut hair and donned a ck and white tracksuit.


    His attire was casual and youthful, but the figure he cut, staring at the painting, was deste and


    mncholy.


    The man was tall and slender, radiating an aura of cultured warmth.


    It was Leopold!


    Upon seeing him, Thssa¡¯s breath hitched.


    Amelia, having said that Leopold was missing, had used all her connections to search for him but to no


    avail.


    Yet, here he was in her house.


    Upon seeing him, Thssa¡¯s emotions swirled, and there was a cocktail of feelings.


    Hearing the noise behind him, Leopold turned around, and his eyesnded on a woman entering with


    two children. His gaze then shifted to a familiar face.


    A smile broke out on his mncholy face as he said, ¡°Thssa¡­


    He was about to engage in small talk when his eyes fell on the two other little girls Thssa was


    holding.


    They were short, chubby, and utterly adorable.


    Leopold¡¯s eyes flickered and his smile froze as he asked, ¡°Thssa, these children are¡­¡±


    They are Thssa¡¯s quadruplets,¡± Evelyn interrupted before Thssa could respond. Her voice was


    filled with indignation.


    Upon hearing that, Leopold was shocked, and disbelief washed over him, followed by a wave of pain,


    like a heavyweight punch.


    He had vaguely guessed the children¡¯s identity, but hearing it confirmed had knocked the wind out of


    him. His mind buzzed and went nk.


    Evelyn, holding Dorian and Atticus by the hand, red at Leopold, ¡°What are you doing here in the


    middle of the night? You should be over at Isabe Everhart¡¯s house!¡±


    Evelyn¡¯s words wereced with hostility and anger.


    Five years before, when Thssa had first mentioned having a boyfriend, she had told Evelyn it was


    serious. She said that they were talking about marriage.


    But then Leopold slept with Isabe Everhart!


    That was why Thssa had broken up with Leopold.


    Evelyn once asked Thssa if Leopold was the father of her children.


    Thssa denied it.


    Seeing Thssa¡¯s firm denial, Evelyn knew she was telling the truth.


    But no matter how much she probed, Thssa imed not to know who the father was and refused to


    discuss what had happened.


    Evelyn, not wanting to push too hard, dropped the matter.


    But the pain Leopold had inflicted on Thssa was real.


    Only a mother could understand how heartbroken and helpless Thssa felt when she found out about


    Leopold¡¯s betrayal.


    Thssa had be pregnant with the children after their breakup.


    It must have been due to the deep hurt she felt that she made a decision she would regret, a decision


    that resulted in her children.

 Chapter 523

    Chapter 523


    Evelyn had always believed that the culprit behind Thssa¡¯s predicament was none other than


    Leopold.


    Leopold, gasping for breath, stumbled backward. His legs were weak. Continuous blows seemed to


    have drained him of all strength. His gaze filled with agony; he looked at Thssa. His throat dry as he


    asked, ¡°Is this why you refuse to get back together with me?¡±


    Repeated rejections from Thssa, and the distance between them, all made Leopold heartsick.


    Adding his mother¡¯s meddling into the mix, he was truly lost.


    His mind was filled with memories of the good times with Thssa.


    But the present was causing him so much pain that his heart was engulfed in gloom.


    Ccontent ? exclusive by N?/vel(D)ra/ma.Org.


    He decided to head to Hollowbrook to clear his mind. He decided to visit Thssa¡¯s ce and to


    immerse himself in past memories to feel a little better.


    However, he hadn¡¯t expected to encounter such a scene upon seeing Thssa again.


    Thssa was so burdened that she could barely breathe. She opened her mouth to speak but found


    herself unable to utter a single word.


    ¡°You¡¯re already involved with Isabe, and you still want to get back together? You think my daughter is


    desperate?¡± Evelyn snapped, sounding incensed.


    ¡°Mom, stop it. You take the kids inside to rest,¡± Thssa quickly interrupted Evelyn before she could


    continue.


    What happened in the past was in the past. Bringing it up again served no purpose.


    With a look of anger, Evelyn shot Leopold a nce, took the children¡¯s hands, and headed toward the


    room.


    ¡°Leopold, what brings you here? Your mother has been looking for you everywhere,¡± Thssa looked


    at Leopold, his eyes filled with a gloomy pain that weighed heavily on her heart.


    She hadn¡¯t expected things toe to that, but it was inevitable.


    Leopold¡¯s breathing trembled. His expression was full of anguish as he struggled to suppress the


    intense pain in his heart. His voice was hoarse as he asked, ¡°Is that true?¡±


    He was stuck on the previous question.


    He wanted to know if she didn¡¯t get back together with him not because she stopped loving him, but


    because she was trapped by reality. She had no other choice. It was not that she didn¡¯t


    want him anymore.


    Thssa had intended to change the subject, but Leopold wasn¡¯t about to let the question go.


    His amber eyes trembled slightly. Those eyes were filled with sorrow, suppressing his panic.


    Having been together for two years, she knew him well.


    She knew what he was expecting


    ¡°No.¡± Thssa didn¡¯t evade the question, and looked him in the eyes, ¡°I am a mother of four, and I am


    also myself. I won¡¯t get back together with you because it¡¯s unnecessary. What¡¯s in the past is in the


    past. I don¡¯t want to hold onto the past, nor do I want to force myself to be with someone I no longer


    have feelings for.¡±


    Thssa¡­¡± Leopold¡¯s deep voice trembled as he uttered her name, clearly struggling to hold back his


    tears.


    He had repeatedly given himself a glimmer of hope, only to have it extinguished by her each time.


    Leopold¡¯s heart shattered like ss, and each breath he took was agonizingly painful.


    ¡°It¡¯ste; you should rest, and go back tomorrow,¡± Thssa¡¯s voice was calm as she heard the


    suppressed sobs in his voice. Hearing him utter her name, her heart ached.


    But she couldn¡¯t show it. She had to appear indifferent to make him believe her.


    She finished speaking and was about to enter her room when Leopold quickly approached her and


    grabbed her wrist.


    Thssa turned around and met his reddened eyes..


    Thssa, I know you¡¯re not this heartless. You¡¯re lying, aren¡¯t you?¡±


    ¡°I¡­¡± Just as Thssa was about to speak, the sound of car engines echoed from the outside


    courtyard. More than one vehicle had arrived.


    From the sound of it, a fleet of cars had arrived.


    Thssa¡¯s heart clenched in anxiety.


    The next moment, the door was forcefully pushed open, hitting the wall with a loud bang..

 Chapter 524

    Chapter 524


    The tall, impably dressed man in a bespoke suit, exuding an air of solemn grandeur, appeared at


    the doorway.


    Silhouetted against the light, his tall figure cast long, ominous shadows.


    His extraordinarily handsome, cold, and icy face was illuminated, making his features even sharper.


    His eyes were sharp and cold, emitting an aura of severity, as they shifted from Thssa¡¯s frightened


    face to her hand.


    At that moment, Leopold was still holding her hand, and their postures were suggestive of an intimate


    rtionship.


    Thssa¡¯s heart skipped a beat; her heart pounded wildly, and she quickly withdrew her hand from


    Leopold¡¯s.


    She took a step back, stumbling into the wall. Her eyes were wide with fear as she gazed at Lysander.


    She thought for a moment, ¡°He caught up so quickly?¡±


    Leopold, a pained look in his eyes, was taken aback by Lysander¡¯s sudden appearance. ¡°Lysander?¡±


    he gasped.


    Lysander walked in. His presence wasmanding and intimidating. The wind that his movements


    stirred was chilling and daunting.


    He advanced menacingly towards Thssa.


    Thssa sensed the danger, and her overwhelming panic made it hard for her to breathe. Instinctively,


    she turned to run.


    But a sudden tightening around her neck made her gasp for breath.


    The next instant, she was pulled harshly against the man¡¯s side. Hisrge hand gripped her face tightly.


    ¡°Run. Why don¡¯t you run?¡± he taunted.


    The cold, icy light reflected in his eyes pierced her like a frozen de, chilling her to the bone.


    Fear was clearly etched in Thssa¡¯s eyes. ¡°Lysander, can you calm down?¡± she pleaded.


    Her words held a hint of begging.


    ¡°Calm down? Let you run away with him while carrying my children?¡± Lysander spat out through gritted


    teeth.


    How dare she y him, toy with him, and n to elope with another man, all while carrying his


    children?


    She was the first woman to ever do that!


    He was livid!


    She had always imed that she had no rtionship with Leopold. She said that she would never


    elope with him. Yet, her actions suggested she was nning to run away with Leopold.


    She had asked Leopold to wait for her in Hollowbrook, and then she brought the children to meet him.


    Was their next step to run away together?


    Women, they were cunning and scheming!!


    At Lysander¡¯s words, Thssa¡¯s face paled. Her entire body went numb, and her mind went nk. She


    was in a state of rm and fear.


    He knew that the children was his.


    What was he going to do next?


    Take the child away?


    Thssa¡¯s heart felt hollow, and her panic was palpable. She clutched his hand. Her voice softened as


    she pleaded, ¡°It¡¯s not what you think. I came home and found Leopold here. I didn¡¯t know in advance.


    The children are indeed yours, but they are also mine. I can¡¯t live without them, and they can¡¯t live


    without me.¡±


    Hearing Thssa admit that the children were Lysander¡¯s, Leopold felt as if he had been dealt a heavy


    blow.


    His heart ached so much that he found it difficult to breathe.


    ¡°Is that so? They can¡¯t live without you? We¡¯ll see about that!¡± Lysander released her chin. His cold


    gaze scanned the room, seemingly looking for the children.


    Content property of N?velDra/ma.Org.


    At that moment, Evelyn, hearing themotion, came out of her room. ¡°What¡¯s going on? Are you two


    arguing?¡±


    Her words trailed off as she noticed the intimidating man in the room. His aura was domineering and


    menacing.


    Evelyn stopped talking, and looked at the man in shock. There was a sense of dread rising from within


    her,


    That was really bad. The debt collector hade knocking on her door.


    Was he here to trouble her? Was he here to ask for repayment?


    Evelyn¡¯s face was filled with panic and helplessness


    ¡°Grandma, Mom, why aren¡¯t youing to bed?¡±


    ¡°Mom, Grandma, it¡¯s bedtime.¡±


    ¡°Mom!¡±


    ¡°Grandma,¡±

 Chapter 525

    Chapter 525


    Four little munchkins hade out too, without an adult in sight.


    One by one, they waddled out like chubby little ducklings. Their short legs swung and heads bobbed in


    a way that was simply adorable.


    As the four of them emerged, they noticed an imposing man in the room. Their reactions were varied.


    Atticus, seeing Lysander, furrowed his baby brows into a knot, seemingly displeased.


    Dorian, on the other hand, had a glimmer of excitement in his eyes. A smile tugged at the corners of his


    mouth as he curiously and expectantly stared at the man, not daring to speak.


    Elowen¡¯s big round eyes sparkled like little stars when she saw him. Her soft baby voice excitedly


    eximed, ¡°Hello, handsome mister! We meet again.¡±


    Sophia, the shy one, hid behind Evelyn¡¯s legs, peeking out at Lysander timidly.


    Lysander took notice of the four little ones.


    Atticus, who bore an uncanny resemnce to him, was like a mini version of Lysander.


    A peculiar feeling arose in Lysander¡¯s heart. It was strange yet intriguing.


    Those were his children. It was fascinating what blood rtions could do.


    He looked at each child. Their faces were so familiar yet so foreign.


    Aside from Atticus, he had met the rest before.


    He had thought they were Hertha¡¯s children, not expecting that the legendary quadruplets that


    everyone admired were his own!


    ¡°Ah, yes. We¡¯ve met. But, I¡¯m not someone.¡± Lysander¡¯s deep voice slightly softened.


    ¡°Then, who are you?¡± Elowen asked, her little head tilting in confusion.


    ¡°I¡¯m your dad.¡± Lysander replied.


    ¡°Huh?¡± Elowen was full of question marks, surprised, and curious.


    The other three also looked at Lysander curiously with their innocent eyes.


    Evelyn¡¯s heart leaped to her throat when she heard Lysander confess that he was the father of the


    children. She was speechless with shock.


    Was that real?


    She looked at Thssa questioningly.


    At that moment, Elowen became everyone¡¯s spokesperson, blinking her big eyes and asking Thssa,


    ¡°Mom, is he telling the truth?¡±


    Elowen had heard her brothers say that their dad was alive and his name was Lysander.


    But Elowen had never seen Lysander, nor did she know what he looked like.


    To her, the man in front of her was a handsome mister, and not Lysander.


    Thssa nced at each child¡¯s face. They were all looking at her expectantly.


    Evelyn was more anxious and afraid, looking at her questioningly..


    Thssa pursed her lips, ¡°Yes, he¡¯s your father. Look, doesn¡¯t Atticus look just like him?¡±


    Upon hearing that, three little heads simultaneously turned to look at Atticus, then back at Lysander.


    The scene was cute and heartwarming.


    Lysander noticed the bandage on Elowen¡¯s forehead, where she had been hurt.


    The little girl was pretty and spirited, and the liveliest of the four.


    Seeing the bandage on her face was heart-wrenching.


    Lysander¡¯s heart clenched. There was a subtle pang of pain.


    That feeling was something he¡¯d never experienced before.


    Thinking about the reason for Elowen¡¯s injury, Lysander gritted his teeth.


    He ordered David, waiting outside the door, in a deep voice, ¡°Come in, and take the children to the


    car.¡±


    David immediately came in with two bodyguards and headed straight for the children.


    The sudden events rmed Thssa. She quickly stepped in front of the children and pleaded, ¡°It¡¯s


    toote now. The kids haven¡¯t rested yet. Can they stay home for the night and leave tomorrow? I¡¯ll go


    with you tomorrow as well.¡±Content ? N?velDrama.Org 2024.

 Chapter 526

    Chapter 526


    ¡°Do you realize they haven¡¯t had a nap?¡± Lysander¡¯s aura was icy and oppressive.


    His handsome face was taut. The depths of his eyes were hawk-like, cold, and frighteningly sharp.


    Thssa was anxious, and fearful that the kids might be taken away. She was scared that Lysander


    wouldn¡¯t even let her look at them. Her breath got heavier.


    ¡°I thought it would all be over quickly,¡± she exined.


    All she needed to do was escape with the kids, get out of Lysander¡¯s sight, and they could return to


    their ordinary, happy life.


    But Lysander¡¯s power was formidable.


    He had the whole city in his grip, right down to the traffic police.


    She had been on the run with the kids for hours, and then finally he had caught them.


    A cold light flickered in Lysander¡¯s eyes, and a chilling smile curved his lips. ¡°You¡¯re right. It¡¯s over.¡±


    With that, hisrge hand gripped Thssa¡¯s arm, pulling her away, and he gave a decisivemand.


    ¡°Take the children.¡±


    David and the bodyguard stepped forward to take the children¡¯s hands.


    The children were scared and hid behind Evelyn.


    David and the bodyguard advanced again.


    ¡°What are you doing? Don¡¯t cause trouble,¡± Evelyn cried. Her priority was always the children. She held


    out her arms to block David and the bodyguard from approaching.


    Those were Lysander¡¯s children. They were of high status, and they couldn¡¯t be treated roughly. They


    could only be gently persuaded to leave.


    David and the bodyguard advanced toward the children again.


    Evelyn stood in front of the children, blocking them.


    ¡°Ha-ha, I like ying this game.¡±Elowenughed. Herughter was like the tinkling of silver bells. She


    thought they were ying a game.


    Seeing Lysander¡¯s handsome face grow darker and darker, Thssa hurriedly spoke up. ¡°Mom, take


    the kids and go with them.¡±


    Ccontent ? exclusive by N?/vel(D)ra/ma.Org.


    Evelyn nced at Thssa, seeming to understand that she had something to say to Lysander. So,


    she stopped and took the children outside.


    Then only Thssa, Lysander, and Leopold were left in the room.


    Thssa¡¯s heart was in her throat. Her greatest fear then was that Lysander would not only deprive her


    of custody but also of her visitation rights.


    She took a few small steps forward, gently tugging at Lysander¡¯s sleeve in an attempt to appease him.


    Before she could say anything, Lysander turned away with a cold, piercing re.


    Frantic, Thssa caught up to him, grabbing him from behind. ¡°Are you leaving? Take me with you.


    The children can¡¯t be without, me.¡±


    Lysander turned around, and his finger lifted her chin. His gaze was deep and icy. ¡°Is that so? They can


    be without a father. So, why can¡¯t they be without you? Their father is dead. Did he jump off a building


    or into the sea? Be clear!¡±


    Thssa was stunned, and her eyes blinked in confusion.


    Previously, in order to put on a sympathy act to get lesspensation, she had told Hertha that the


    children¡¯s father was no more.


    But she hadn¡¯t expected Hertha to say that the children¡¯s father was dead.


    Whether she had said he jumped off a building or into the sea, she couldn¡¯t remember.


    Later, when Elowen was participating in a gourmetpetition, the host had asked her about her


    father, and whether he had jumped off a building or into the sea.


    Lysander had been there at the time.


    She didn¡¯t expect him to remember and to bring it up then as a charge against her.


    ¡°It¡¯s a misunderstanding. At that time, I didn¡¯t know that you were the father of the children. It was just a


    temporary measure: Thssa exined.


    ¡°You have many strategies, don¡¯t you? In that case, continue with your ns!¡± Lysander¡¯s gaze was


    cold and sharp. After saying that, he released her face and walked away..


    Thssa quickly blocked his way. ¡°Where am I supposed to go without the children?¡±


    Lysander nced at Leopold, who was standing to one side, clutching his chest in silent agony. His


    voice was low and cold. ¡°Elope with him as you wish.¡±

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    Chapter 527


    Clutching his arm tightly, Thssa clung to him. If he wasn¡¯t going to let her follow, she wasn¡¯t going to


    let go. Anxiously, she exined, ¡°I swear I wasn¡¯t nning to elope with him. This is all a


    misunderstanding.¡±


    ¡°You expect me to believe that?¡± Lysander¡¯s hand easily peeled hers from his arm. He shot her a cold


    look and briskly walked out.


    Thssa hurried after him, practically jogging to keep up, for fear he would leave her behind.


    From the moment Lysander had walked into the room, Leopold had been standing there, enduring the


    pain.


    Not a single word was said to him,


    He was an outsider, yet every word spoken felt like a heavy blow.


    They came in a hurry and left in a hurry, leaving Leopold standing in the same spot, his heart bleeding


    from countless wounds.


    He had assumed that Thssa and Lysander¡¯s rtionship was limited to that one night five years


    prior and that even as superior and subordinate, they weren¡¯t intimate.


    He never thought they would have had four children together.


    Children were the tie between them. Separating would be even more difficult.


    Being with Thssa seemed like an impossible task.


    The yard and the street were filled with cars, almost surrounding the entire yard.


    The scale of it was not ordinary.


    Among them was an RV.


    Lysander went forward, leading the four kids towards the RV.


    Atticus shrugged off his hand, frowning. He spoke in his childish voice, ¡°I want Mommy to hold my


    Ccontent ? exclusive by N?/vel(D)ra/ma.Org.


    hand.¡±


    Thssa hurriedly stepped forward to hold Atticus, reassuring him, ¡°Atticus, be a good boy. Mommy¡¯s


    right here. Mommy¡¯s always with you.¡±


    She led Atticus onto the RV first, signaling to Evelyn to hurry up.


    Evelyn understood her daughter¡¯s look and immediately opened the passenger¡¯s door, getting in.


    Lysander¡¯s face was gloomy, but he didn¡¯t say anything, leading the other three children onto the RV.


    The RV was spacious, with a total of eight seats. The back two seats could beid t to form two


    beds.


    The beds were bunk beds, with a space above.


    Lysander sat in the front row with three children, and Thssa sat in the back row with Atticus.


    Dorian probably felt it was too crowded. So, he climbed over to Thssa.


    Thssa¡¯s lips curled into a gentle smile as she embraced the two little kids, softly suggesting, ¡°Why


    don¡¯t you sleep on Mommy for a while? It¡¯ste, and you haven¡¯t slept for long¡±


    Dorian shook his head, and his eyes were clear and bright. He was wide awake, with no sign of


    sleepiness. ¡°Mommy, I¡¯m not sleepy. I want to stay with you.¡±


    They had been looking forward to seeing their dad for so long, and finally, they met him today, and he


    recognized them.


    Dorian was curious, happy, a little nervous, and somewhat ufortable.


    ¡°Alright, Mommy will stay with you too.¡± Thssa gently touched Dorian¡¯s delicate little face.


    Atticus leaned his head on her, seeming a little upset as if something was bothering him.


    He had always hoped to find his dad and be recognized by him.


    That¡¯s because he saw other kids¡¯ dads love their moms and their children.


    He also wanted his dad¡¯s love and wanted a dad to love his mom.


    That way, his mom wouldn¡¯t have to work so hard every day.


    However, every time his mom was hurt, it was caused by his dad. And when he finally met his dad,


    Atticus couldn¡¯t get excited.

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    Chapter 528


    Thssa was well-versed in the individual quirks of each child.


    Atticus, though usually reserved, was a loving and responsible boy at heart. His head was then


    drooping listlessly on her, clearly in low spirits.


    Thssa caressed his tender, pudgy face, offering silentfort.


    Then, she cradled him, letting him lean against her, while her other arm held Dorian, allowing him to


    rest on her.


    At that moment, Thssa radiated a motherly warmth and love.


    Up ahead, Elowen, the little scatterbrain, was already struggling to stay awake. Shey on Lysander¡¯s


    Sophia, initially frightened, couldn¡¯t resist not sleeping either. Shey on Lysander¡¯s other leg, sound


    asleep.


    Lysander nced down at the two little girls on hisp.


    One, with short hair but long eyshes, and facial features much like Thssa.


    The other, Lysander knew, was Elowen, a round, chubby-faced little girl with a strikingly adorable


    appearance.


    Her cute round face was squished against his leg. Her tender flesh was squishing out, and her tiny


    mouth had a rosy hue.


    She looked like a little doughnut. She was so adorable that it made hearts melt.


    But that adorable face was bandaged and injured!


    Lysander¡¯s eyes darkened.


    Although he was normally a stickler for cleanliness, he didn¡¯t mind the little girl¡¯s drool on his wrinkle-


    free ck trousers.


    Instead, he gently adjusted her face to avoid disturbing her injury.


    Driving up front was David, who was focused intently on the road. The passenger seat was upied


    by Evelyn, who was on tenterhooks, and barely managed to breathe.


    Behind her, Lysander¡¯s presence was overwhelming, especially since she had sold his dragon pendant


    without his permission, and had even been duped out of three million. She was too guilty to make her


    presence known before Lysander.


    An hourter, they arrived at the Royal Estates.


    The Royal Estates was brightly lit, as though waiting for their arrival.


    Thssa surmised that Lysander must have notified Fitch in advance to prepare for their arrival.


    As the car came to a halt, all four children were fast asleep.


    Lysander easily lifted Elowen and Sophia from the car, with one in each arm.


    He instructed David, ¡°Bring the other two.¡±


    Content ? N?velDrama.Org 2024.


    David hurried to carry Dorian and Atticus, who were asleep on Thssa.


    Thssa wasn¡¯t keen on handing her children over to him, but given the circumstances, making a fuss


    would have only woken them up.


    In order to not disturb the children, she handed Dorian and Atticus over to David.


    They had been on the move with her all night, and it was almost dawn. They had just fallen asleep, and


    she couldn¡¯t bear to wake them up/


    David carried Dorian and Atticus and headed towards the Royal Estates.


    Thssa hurried out of the car and ran after him.


    Just as she was about to enter the gates of the Royal Estates, she was stopped by two bodyguards.


    In a panic, Thssa called out to Lysander¡¯s retreating figure, ¡°Lysander, let me in! The children will be


    upset if they wake up and can¡¯t find me!¡±


    ¡°From now on, you won¡¯t see them again! A billion to sever your maternal ties with them, and not a


    penny less.¡±


    Lysander¡¯s cold, heartless words reached her.


    Thssa¡¯s heart clenched in her chest.

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    Chapter 529


    Lysander wouldn¡¯t let her see the kids anymore..


    A billion dors to sever the bond between her and her children. What did he mean by that?.


    ¡°Lysander, I don¡¯t want your money. Even if you don¡¯t let me live with them, just let me see them when I


    miss them, okay?¡± Thssa¡¯s hands were trembling slightly, and her heart gripped with a bitter pain.


    She fought hard for her rights.


    Her biggest fear was that Lysander would take the children away, even preventing her from seeing


    them.


    And the oue was just as she had feared.


    Lysander paused slightly, casting her a cold, icy look that could pierce through her.


    He only looked at her once, then left with Elowen and Sophia in his arms.


    ¡°You clearly don¡¯t like children, why are you taking all of them away? They mean nothing to you, but


    they¡¯re my whole world!¡± Thssa eximed, her breaths short and desperate, as she yelled at


    Lysander¡¯s retreating figure.


    Her children gradually moved further away from her until they disappeared from her sight. Thssa¡¯s


    eyes stung with unshed tears and her lips quivered as she tried to hold back her sobs.


    Her precious babies, her motivation, and the center of her world were all taken away just like that.


    Content ? N?velDrama.Org 2024.


    Her world seemed to have plunged into darkness.


    Helpless and tormented, she didn¡¯t know what to do.


    Fitch had been standing respectfully by the door, watching as Lysander and David each carried two


    children into the house and up to the second floor.


    Fitch was puzzled. Why would Lysander bring home four children?


    What on earth was happening?


    Seeing the bodyguard preventing Thssa from entering, and her pained expression, Fitch


    approached, gently advising, ¡°Ms. Everhart, it¡¯ste. You should go home and rest.¡±


    Although Fitch didn¡¯t know what had happened, he knew it was Lysander¡¯s doing if the bodyguard was


    barring Thssa¡¯s entry.


    Standing there and making a scene wasn¡¯t going to do any good.


    Holding back her tears, Thssa said to Fitch, ¡°The four children that Lysander and David just carried


    in are Lysander¡¯s biological children. They are also my children. Please take good care of them, Fitch.¡±


    She was afraid that Lysander would neglect them, or that they would be mistreated.


    Although Lysander was far more well-off than her, and the children could live in arge house and have


    plenty to eat there, but love was something irreceable.


    Lysander had never liked children. He took her four children away partly because they carried his


    blood, and he wouldn¡¯t allow his children to be cast aside.


    On the other hand, it was a punishment for her because she was Bruce¡¯s daughter.


    Under such circumstances, how could he possibly be patient with the children? How could he have


    treated them well?


    Thssa was afraid that the children would enjoy the luxury, yet endure the poverty of love.


    Fitch was stunned, mouth-agape, unable to utter a word.


    Those four children were Lysander¡¯s?


    And they were already four years old?


    All that while, they thought Lysander was a perennial bachelor, with no interest in raising children or


    starting a family.


    But it turned out Lysander had children, and they seemed to be over four years old.


    And there were four of them!


    And they were also Thssa¡¯s children.


    That news took aback Fitch.


    ¡°Fitch¡­¡±noticing Fitch¡¯s silence, Thssa reminded him.


    Fitch quickly came back to his senses, saying with both nervousness and excitement, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Ms.


    Everhart. Since they¡¯re Lysander¡¯s children, they¡¯re also the little masters of the Royal Estates. We¡¯ll do


    our best to take good care of them.¡±

 Chapter 530

    Chapter 530


    Fitch finished his task and retreated back into the house, busying himself with his own affairs.


    They were still reeling from the shock of Lysander suddenly bing a father to four children.


    It was definitely going to take time to digest it all..


    Thssa stared at the closing gates of the mansion as tears trickled down her cheeks. Her heart ached


    as if someone was tearing it apart piece by piece, the pain was palpable.


    Evelyn asked, ¡°Thssa, what do you think Lysander is up to? Does he only want the children and not


    you?¡±


    While on the road, Evelyn was hopeful that upon learning he was the father of the children, Lysander


    would no longer look down on Thssa and might even propose to her.


    However, when they arrived at Royal Estates, he directly took the children and left them outside the


    gate.


    His attitude was clear; he wanted the children, not the mother of his children.


    Wiping her tears, Thssa turned to Evelyn and said, ¡°Let¡¯s go home.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re just giving up like that?¡± Evelyn was incredulous. Even though the children were with their


    Content property of N?velDra/ma.Org.


    father, it meant that from then on, they would not need her for anything.


    Evelyn had raised the four children and had already grown deep emotional ties with them. The sudden


    separation was suffocating her.


    ¡°It¡¯s not giving up. It¡¯s just a temporary retreat,¡± Thssa tried to reassure Evelyn.


    How could she give up her own children?


    But then, with Lysander shutting them out so decisively, she didn¡¯t have the chance to negotiate with


    him face-to-face.


    She had to retreat for the time being, gather her strength, and find a way to see her children again.


    Evelyn¡¯s gaze fell, and her disappointment was clear, ¡°He¡¯s being so heartless to you, the children¡¯s


    own mother?¡±


    ¡°Let¡¯s discuss this at home,¡± Thssa didn¡¯t want to discuss Lysander there.


    If he heard them, it would have triggered another disaster.


    ¡°Ms. Everhart, let me drive you home,¡± a man dressed in a ck suit said. His tone was courteous yet


    distant.


    Thssa recognized him. He was the regr driver for Royal Estates. It was always him who drove


    her away from the property.


    Given that it waste, there wouldn¡¯t be any taxis around in that affluent neighborhood..


    Thssa didn¡¯t refuse and she and Evelyn got into the car.


    Upon returning to their residence at Vibrant Oasis, everything was as they had left it.


    The children¡¯s toys were scattered around the room. There was a baby bottle on the table. Its nipple


    still stained with Elowen¡¯s leftover milk. It looked so soft, so cute as if the little one was


    still there.


    Thssa¡¯s heart ached, and her eyes welling up again.


    Evelyn started to grumble, ¡°When did you find out Lysander is the father of the children? Why didn¡¯t


    you tell me earlier?¡±


    On a regr day, Evelyn felt overwhelmed and tired of taking care of the four children alone.


    But since they were suddenly taken away from her, she felt a void in her heart and home.


    She was disoriented and distressed.


    ¡°During ourst encounter in Hollowbrook, when the neighbor used me of stealing that pendant,


    Lysander came to my rescue. That¡¯s when I found out that he was the owner of the pendant and the


    father of the children, Thssa confessed. Her voice was low and weary.


    ¡°What? You¡¯ve known for that long that Lysander is the father? You hid it so well, even from me. And


    you¡¯ve been dating him, iming it was all about love! I think you¡¯ve lost your mind!¡± Evelyn, channeling


    her despair into anger, jabbed a finger at Thssa¡¯s forehead,


    Thssa, already upset about the children being taken away and then used by Evelyn, responded


    with a mix of sadness and anger, her eyes filled with tears, ¡°Do you think I wanted this? If I had a


    choice, do you think I would have run?¡±


    Thssa¡¯s voice was not harsh but it was suppressed, restrained, and carried a hint of a sob.

 Chapter 531

    Chapter 531


    Evelyn froze in ce as if struck by a blow. She had intended to vent her anger on Thssa, but then


    she broke down in tears. ¡°You¡¯re not following in my footsteps, are you? Thssa, it¡¯s my fault. I¡¯m


    sorry I left you without a father.¡±


    At the mention of ¡®father, a flood of resentment surged in Thssa¡¯s heart.


    Tears began to drip onto the back of her hand.


    If it weren¡¯t for Bruce, she wouldn¡¯t have been in such a mess.


    But what was the use of saying all that then?


    She leaned forward and hugged Evelyn tightly. It was no time for ming each other. They needed to


    stick together and find a way out.


    ¡°Mom, it¡¯s okay. We¡¯ll find a way out of this.¡± Thssaforted Evelyn, trying to give herself some


    courage too.


    Even though the situation seemed hopeless, she believed there would be a way.


    Evelyn knew Thssa was trying tofort her, but what could they do then?


    ming her daughter wouldn¡¯t solve anything.


    ¡°It¡¯s all my fault. If I hadn¡¯t sold the dragon pendant, maybe Lysander wouldn¡¯t have been so heartless.¡±


    Evelyn wiped her tears, ming herself.


    Thssa was slightly surprised. Evelyn was strong-willed, blunt, and had never med herself before.


    Even when she knew she was wrong, she would continually find excuses to cover it up or me others


    to hide her mistakes.


    But when it came to their children, she was actually ming herself.


    It was clear how important the children were to her.


    But Thssa knew that even if Evelyn hadn¡¯t sold the dragon pendant, the oue would have been


    the same.


    That was because Lysander hated her. He would have done anything to torment her.


    Taking the children away was the ultimate punishment.


    Why would he miss such an opportunity?


    ¡°All right, Mom. Don¡¯t me yourself too much. I¡¯ll figure something out. We¡¯ll get through this. It¡¯ste,


    you should get some rest.¡±


    She gently stroked Evelyn¡¯s back as a gesture offort.


    Evelyn wiped her tears and said, ¡°All right, you should get some rest too.¡±


    Thssay on the bed. The sheets were unchanged, and still carried the sweet scent of the children.


    Inhaling the familiar scent, warm andforting, could have melted anyone¡¯s heart.


    But the little ones, who used to be around her, chirping ¡®mommy¡¯, were nowhere to be found.


    Thssa¡¯s nerves were on edge.


    Even though her body was exhausted, she couldn¡¯t sleep.


    Tossing and turning, the sky had already brightened.


    Royal Estates.


    Lysander was fast asleep when suddenly, something sat on his face, cutting off his breath.


    Instinctively, he opened his eyes wide, ready to throw off the thing that was smothering him.


    The soft, squishy sensation and the sweet scent told him it was one of his children, bouncing a little on


    his face.


    A soft, childish voice came from the little one, ¡°Lazybones, the sun¡¯s up.¡±


    Annoyed, Lysander was about to lose his temper when he suddenly remembered, he was then a father


    of four. The role of a father had be his reality.Ccontent ? exclusive by N?/vel(D)ra/ma.Org.

 Chapter 532

    Chapter 532


    Just the previous night, he was a bachelor, a man with no child of his own, and then, in the blink of an


    eye, he found himself to be the father of four.


    The sudden change was overwhelming to say the least.


    Caught in a moment of distraction, he felt two little tykestch onto his legs, and another one perched


    atop his abdomen, bouncing up and down, ¡°Wake up, wake up. Where¡¯s our mom?¡±


    A tiny tot was sitting on Lysander¡¯s face, leaving him breathless. With a soft groan, he reached out,


    gently lifting the little one off his face. The child was chubby and soft, delightfullyfortable in his


    hands, but so fragile it felt as though the slightest squeeze might have broken her.


    Ever so gently, he moved the little one from his face. It was Elowen. Her head was tilted forward as if


    she was about to tumble over.


    Lysander remembered that Elowen had a bump on her forehead. Even a fall onto the soft bed could


    cause her pain. He quickly grabbed her clothes from the back, slowly setting her down on the bed.


    Sitting up, with a frown on his handsome face, he locked eyes with Dorian, who was still sitting on his


    stomach, ¡°What¡¯s all the fuss about so early in the morning?¡±


    Dorian felt a hint of fear under his stern gaze but his anxiety over their mother¡¯s absence overpowered


    his fright.


    With his innocent, dark eyes, he asked, ¡°Where¡¯s our mom and grandma? Where did she go?¡±


    ¡°Yeah, we want mom. We want grandma,¡± Elowen echoed with her soft, sweet voice.


    Sophia, who was clinging to Lysander¡¯s leg, added with a whimper, ¡°I want grandma. I want mom. I


    don¡¯t want to stay here, um¡­¡±


    Atticus, standing at Lysander¡¯s feet, joined in, ¡°Where did mom go? Give her back to us.¡±


    Lysander felt a headacheing on. He patiently exined, ¡°From now on, you¡¯ll be living here. The


    word ¡®mom¡¯ will slowly fade from your memory over time.¡± The children exchanged nces. They were


    Content property of N?velDra/ma.Org.


    young but quick to understand.


    What he meant was that they wouldn¡¯t see their mother again.


    Elowen burst into tears, ¡°No, I don¡¯t want to forget mom. I want mom¡­¡±


    ¡°I want mom,¡± Sophia joined her, her lips quivering.


    Dorian bit his lip, his eyes filled with hurt. His little body trembled with each breath he took, his tears


    rolling in his dark eyes.


    Atticus stood his ground, defiantly staring back at Lysander, ¡°We don¡¯t want you. We want mom! We


    don¡¯t want to forget mom!¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t want to forget mom,¡± Elowen sobbed.


    ¡°Mom¡­¡± Sophia was scared, small, and helpless.


    ¡°Give mom back to us,¡± Dorian¡¯s tears fell inrge drops..


    Lysander had never dealt with children before, let alone four at once. All of them were crying in front of


    him.


    His temples throbbed.


    Frustration and irritation welled up within him, threatening to explode.


    His cold gaze swept over the chubby, babyish faces of the four children.


    He silently reminded himself, ¡°Don¡¯t lose your temper. They¡¯re your own. They were just kids.¡±


    His voice softened, trying to coax them, ¡°Whoever stops crying first gets their favorite thing.¡±


    But no one paid him any heed, and continued to cry as before.


    Lysander clenched his teeth; no one had ever dared to ignore his words before.


    But those little ones, not even as tall as his knee, dared to!


    He took a deep breath, continuing, ¡°Elowen, you love eating, right? If you stop crying, I¡¯ll buy you


    whatever you want to eat.¡± Elowen stopped crying. Her bright eyes, still damp with tears, Jooked at him


    pitifully, ¡°Really?¡±


    ¡°Of course,¡± Lysander replied.

 Chapter 533

    Chapter 533


    ¡°I could really go for some ice cream,¡± Elowen sniffled.


    ¡°Of course,¡± Lysander agreed.


    ¡°That sounds awesome!¡± Elowen perked up.


    ¡°What about you, Sophia?¡± Lysander asked, beginning to familiarize himself with each child¡¯s likes and


    dislikes. It was easier to manage them once he knew what they enjoyed.


    ¡°Sophia likes antiques,¡± Elowen said, wiping away a tear with her chubby little hand.


    Lysander looked at Sophia, who was pouting and teary-eyed, and told her, ¡°There¡¯s an antique store


    just down the road. You can pick out any piece of porcin you want.¡±


    Sophia immediately stopped crying, her eyes wide and sparkling with interest.


    ¡°And what about Dorian? What does he like?¡± Lysander asked Elowen.


    ¡°Well, he loves mom.¡±


    ¡°Barring mom.¡±


    ¡°He likes to chat.¡± Elowen said, exining that Dorian was always the most sociable, striking up


    conversations with everyone and even making them tear up withughter sometimes.


    What kind of hobby was that?


    Lysander was puzzled but quickly found a solution. ¡°As long as you stop crying, I¡¯ll find ten people for


    you to chat with,¡± he offered.


    ¡°I don¡¯t want ten people. I just want mom,¡± Dorian sobbed, his whole body shaking with distress.


    Lysander took a deep breath and asked Elowen what Atticus liked.


    ¡°A tablet,¡± Elowen answered.


    A tablet?


    Lysander remembered the tablet he found in their rental at Vibrant Oasis Residences, the very device


    used to hack into the Sinir group and steal a billion dors.


    ¡°What do you like to do on the tablet?¡± he asked Atticus, his gaze heavy and questioning.


    ¡°y games!¡± Atticus retorted defiantly.


    Relieved, Lysander thought, ¡°Of course, how could a four-year-old be a hacker?¡±


    As for the billion dors, whoever Thssa hired to hack the Sinir group, he would find outter.


    ¡°I¡¯ll get you a tablet. You can y whatever games you want,¡± Lysander promised.


    Content ? N?velDrama.Org 2024.


    Just by understanding their needs, everything became manageable.


    ¡°Hmph, I don¡¯t want it!¡± Atticus huffed, turned around, and stormed out of the room.


    Lysander didn¡¯t pursue him. As long as Atticus wasn¡¯t crying in his sight, he was fine.


    Lysander got up and instructed Fitch, ¡°Feed them breakfast and then take them to the best preschool.¡±


    At the breakfast table, only Elowen, Sophia, and Dorian were sitting. Atticus was still angry, locking


    himself in his room, and refusing toe out.


    Atticus had always been stubborn and upromising, and he wasn¡¯t going to back down easily.


    Lysander decided to let the remaining three eat and not bother Atticus for the time being!


    The children just sat there, staring at each other.


    Lysander rubbed his temples, feeling a headacheing on.


    Thssa had been tossing and turning until nine in the morning, unable to sleep.


    She decided to get up, change, and after freshening up, head to the Royal Estates.


    The few hours without her children felt like centuries.


    She was impatient and wanted to see them.


    The children always woke up at eight sharp every day.


    She wondered how they were doing at the Royal Estates, and if they missed her.

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    Chapter 534


    Thssa hailed a cab and made her way to the prestigious Royal Estates.


    Security was tight at the gates. Two guards stood watch.


    Thssa, as she always had, intended to walk right in. She aimed to appear casual, to exude an air of


    belonging.


    But when she reached the entrance, she was stopped by the guards.


    ¡°You can¡¯t go in,¡± one stated.


    Thssa halted, raising her chin defiantly. ¡°Do you know who I am? I¡¯m a friend of your boss, Lysander.


    He has always allowed me free ess. He won¡¯t be happy if he finds out you¡¯ve stopped me.¡±


    ¡°Ms. Everhart,¡± the guard replied politely yet firmly, ¡°I¡¯m sorry, but Lysander has ordered that you are


    not to enter.¡±


    Thssa¡¯s feigned bravado diminished. It was clear the guards knew who she was and wouldn¡¯t be


    fooled.


    But she missed her children terribly.


    ¡°I understand,¡± she said, her tone pleading. ¡°You¡¯re just doing your job. But it¡¯s urgent that I get inside.


    Could you at least inform him that I¡¯m waiting here? Perhaps he might be willing to see me today.¡±


    The guard seemed hesitant.


    Thssa gave him a pitiful look that tugged at his heartstrings. Seeing her understanding of his


    position, he agreed to pass along the message.


    Inside the Royal Estates, in the living room, three little ones sat on one side of the dining table. An


    array of delicious cuisinesy before them. Elowen was drooling, but her siblings were not


    eating.


    Much as she yearned for the food, she decided to stand united with her siblings this time.


    Dorian, his cheeks puffed out, stared defiantly at Lysander with his adorable eyes. Sophia sat head


    bowed, shooting asional timid nces at Lysander.


    Lysander looked back at his three little opponents, and his gaze was stern and unyielding.


    The atmosphere at the table was tense and silent. It was a standoff, with tension hanging thick in the


    air.¡±


    Lysander was at a loss. He had promised them whatever they wanted if they did as they were told.


    They had obedientlye downstairs, but their defiance resumed soon after.


    Those little ones were cute and soft, but also impressively stubborn and headstrong. They seemed


    determined to oppose him at all costs.


    Fitch stood to one side, sweating profusely. He had never seen anyone dare to defy Lysander like


    that.¡±


    Just as the standoff reached a boiling point, a guard walked in. His respectful report broke the silence.


    ¡°Lysander, Ms. Everhart is outside. She wishes to see you.¡±


    ¡°Mom¡¯s here!¡± Dorian¡¯s eyes lit up, and his previously sulky face split into a wide grin. He scrambled


    down from the table and ran towards the door.


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    Elowen and Sophia followed suit, scrambling down from their chairs and rushing after Dorian.


    They were stopped at the door by a bodyguard.


    ¡°Let us go. We want to see our mom!¡± Dorianmanded, his little hands on his hips, looking fiercely


    adorable.


    ¡°We want to see mom!¡± Sophia pouted, looking up at the towering bodyguards with her chubby cheeks


    puffed out, looking irresistibly cute.

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    Chapter 535


    ¡°Sir, I¡¯ll share my candy with you. Will you let us go then?¡± Elowen¡¯s big eyes were brimming with tears,


    making her look irresistibly adorable..


    The two bodyguards didn¡¯t want to be the bad guys in front of a four-year-old, but without Lysander¡¯s


    orders, they wouldn¡¯t dare to act independently.


    Their faces remained professionally expressionless, like two sturdy oak trees blocking the doorway,


    denying any exit.


    Inside the room, Atticus heard Dorian calling for their mother and assumed she had arrived.


    He flung open the door, stepping out with anticipation and excitement. Instead of finding their mother,


    he saw his siblings being stopped by the bodyguards.


    Atticus was smart. He quickly understood what was going on.


    He strode over to Lysander. His youthful face was serious. He began to negotiate, ¡°What do you want


    in exchange for letting us see our mother?¡±


    Did that little guy dare to use the same tactics against him that he used to appease them?


    Was he being outmaneuvered by a child?


    That boy was just too much like him. Even their personalities were simr.


    Lysander looked at him with deep-set eyes, raising an eyebrow, ¡°What can a four-year-old possibly


    offer? Only the powerful can negotiate. Do you understand? It¡¯s like when you want a tablet, I can give


    you the best one. I can give you ten, a hundred, or as many as you like. All you have to do is behave


    and stop making a fuss.¡±


    Atticus puffed up his chest. His young eyes were cold but determined as he met Lysander¡¯s gaze, ¡°I


    don¡¯t want your tablet. Will you give us back our mother?¡±


    Lysander was slightly taken aback.


    Was the tablet then a bargaining chip for him?


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    Was the boy trying to pull a fast one?


    But then, the corner of his mouth twitched into a smile, ¡°Whether you get to see your mother depends


    on your behavior.¡±


    ¡°What kind of behavior?¡± Atticus asked eagerly, seeing a glimmer of hope.


    Lysander gestured towards the food on the table, ¡°Start by eating your breakfast.¡±


    Seeing his siblings return to the table, Atticus quickly joined them, eating heartily.


    They knew they had to eat well and behave to see their mother.


    Lysander watched them, and his eyes softened as he took in their chubby, baby faces. Seeing them all


    eating heartily brought a small smile to his face.


    Being a father wasn¡¯t as difficult as he thought. As long as he used the right methods, he could get the


    children to eat.


    For the first time, Lysander felt a sense of achievement.


    That feeling of aplishment was different from the thrill of making money in business.


    When it came to money and projects, Lysander had long be numb.


    But with his children, even just getting them to eat breakfast felt more satisfying than earning billions.


    Lysander picked up his fork, eating his breakfast with grace.


    Fitch, noticing the sudden shift from tension to harmony, breathed a sigh of relief.


    ¡°I¡¯m done!¡± Atticus was the first to finish, pushing his empty te forward to prove that he wasn¡¯t lying.


    ¡°Can we see mom now?¡± he asked hopefully


    ¡°I¡¯m done too. I want to see mom.¡± Dorian hurriedly swallowed hisst mouthful of food, eagerly


    presenting his empty te as proof.


    ¡°Me¡­ me too. I miss mom¡­¡± Elowen managed to speak through a mouthful of food.


    ¡°I¡¯m done too. I¡¯m going to find mom.¡± Sophia put down her te and jumped off her chair, rushing


    towards the door.


    The other three followed suit, all racing out of the room.

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    Chapter 536


    The little ones were eager and overjoyed at the prospect of seeing their mother soon. They scurried


    towards the exit with lightning-fast steps.


    But as they neared the door, the path was blocked by two towering figures.


    Sophia, who was leading the pack, could not halt her steps in time. She crashed into one of the


    bodyguards, who managed to catch her in time, reducing the impact so that she did not fall. The other


    three tumbled into the mix, creating a pile of excited children. It was a near-disaster, but the brawny


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    bodyguards were able to prevent any serious mishaps by each catching two children in their arms.


    ¡°Let go! Our mom is waiting for us outside. She¡¯ll be upset if she has to wait too long,¡± pleaded Dorian,


    struggling in the arms of the bodyguard. His young, sweet voice was full of longing


    and concern.


    The bodyguards did not release the children but instead turned to Lysander for guidance.


    Lysander did not respond immediately. So, the bodyguards stayed their course. Atticus furrowed in


    frustration. He also looked to Lysander, awaiting his decision.


    Just as Lysander was about to speak, his cell phone rang. It was a call from Zephyr.


    As soon as he answered the call, Zephyr¡¯s voice, deep and filled with suppressed irritation, came


    through. ¡°Lysander, the three months we agreed on are up. What are you nning to do about your


    rtionship with Thssa?¡±


    During the observance of Lysander¡¯s parents¡¯ memorial, Zephyr and Lysander had agreed to allow


    Lysander three months to understand Thssa better. If Thssa proved to be a good match for


    Lysander, Zephyr would support their union fully.


    But if Thssa turned out to be a maniptive gold-digger, Lysander was to sever all ties with her.


    That day marked the end of those three months.


    Upon hearing that, Lysander¡¯s calm demeanor darkened considerably. ¡°I will handle it,¡± he assured


    Zephyr.


    ¡°I just got off the phone with the top brass at thepany. The Sinir Group has been hit by a cyber


    attack, with a million dors transferred into Thssa¡¯s ount. You haven¡¯t recovered the money or


    shown up at the office. Lysander, I don¡¯t want to see you repeating your father¡¯s mistakes. Some bonds


    are meant to be broken,¡± Zephyr cautioned, his voice filled with genuine concern for Lysander and


    disappointment in Thssa.


    Lysander clenched his jaw, and his face grew darker.


    Zephyr continued, his voice breaking with anger and frustration. ¡°I¡¯ve heard from your aunt that


    Thssa is your nephew Leopold¡¯s ex-girlfriend. She¡¯s been stringing him along even after their


    breakup, even managing to obtain a family heirloom meant for his wife. Leopold ispletely under


    her spell. She¡¯s ying both sides and even made off with a chunk of money! How is she any different


    from Belinda? Lysander, I trust you¡¯ll handle this properly. The Sinir family cannot afford another


    Belinda. Hasn¡¯t your father suffered enough?¡±


    Lysander gripped his phone tightly. The veins on the back of his hand were bulging. His face was as


    dark as a stormy sea.


    ¡°I won¡¯t forget our agreement. Don¡¯t worry,¡± he reassured Zephyr before hanging up.


    He looked up to meet the questioning gaze of the bodyguards, as well as the hopeful, bright-eyed


    stares of the four little ones.


    Their eyes were twinkling, full of anticipation of meeting their mother.


    Lysander gritted his teeth and dered sternly, ¡°Go back and change your clothes. We¡¯re off to a new


    preschool.¡±


    Their eyes, previously shining with anticipation, were immediately filled with disappointment.


    Elowen¡¯s big, bright eyes welled up with tears and she began to pout.


    Sophia let out a loud wail.


    Dorian stiffened. His whole body was tense with anger and his breath came in short, sharp gasps.


    Atticus, utterly deste, began to struggle vigorously in the arms of the bodyguard, no longer caring


    about following any rules.

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    Chapter 537


    ¡°Let me go! I need to find my mom! My mom!¡± The young Atticus, though small, was surprisingly


    strong, throwing punches and kicks at the bodyguard with all his might, squirmed like an eel.


    The bodyguard couldn¡¯t harm him. So, his grip wasn¡¯t too tight, allowing Atticus to twist out of his grasp


    and bolt.


    With reflexes honed from years of training, the bodyguard lunged forward, snagging the back of Atticus¡¯


    shirt, and hauled him back.


    Despite his spirited struggle, Atticus was still just a child, who was no match for the strength of a grown


    man, much less a trained bodyguard.


    His efforts were fruitless.


    The four children were brought back to Lysander¡¯s side.


    No sooner had the bodyguard loosened his grip than Atticus spun on his heel to make another break


    for it.


    But Lysander¡¯srge hand shot out, gripping his arm. Atticus whirled around, sinking his teeth into


    Lysander¡¯s hand.


    He bit down hard. His whole body strained with the effort.


    Lysander held him there. His brows furrowed in a stern expression, but he didn¡¯t let go.


    The standoff between father and son was tense. One was refusing to let go, the other was refusing to


    release his bite.


    The two bodyguards watched in stunned silence, as their employer was under attack.


    Were they supposed to intervene?


    But the culprit was someone they couldn¡¯t afford to cross.


    The bodyguards exchanged a baffled look, caught between a rock and a hard ce.


    Fitch watched from the sidelines, just as helpless. He had no idea how to handle that situation.


    He had never married, never had children, and his butler training hadn¡¯t included how to handle kids.


    He was at a loss, particrly given the high status of those children. They had to be treated with the


    same deference as Lysander, and couldn¡¯t be forced to do anything.


    So, Fitch was at a loss as to how he could help Lysander out of that predicament.


    The usually orderly Royal Estates was thrown into chaos with the arrival of four little whirlwinds.


    Atticus bit down on Lysander¡¯s hand with all his might, refusing to let go.


    Lysander¡¯s face was an unreadable mask, but he too, stubbornly refused to release his grip.


    A minute passed.


    Content ? N?velDrama.Org 2024.


    Atticus tasted the metallic tang of blood in his mouth, prompting a flicker of fear. He released his bite,


    his wide, innocent eyes fixed on Lysander. There was a hint of trepidation in his gaze. He had only


    wanted Lysander to let go, not to hurt him.


    Lysander¡¯s stern expression didn¡¯t change as he nced at his bloodied hand. His voice was cold as


    he asked, ¡°Feel better?¡±


    Just like his mother, Thssa, they both had a penchant for biting.


    Atticus blinked hisrge eyes but didn¡¯t say a word.


    Lysander pulled out a wet wipe, casually cleaning the saliva off his hand. His voice was low and


    intimidating, yet remainedposed and patient.


    He didn¡¯t lose his temper with them.


    Even with his patience stretched thin, he endured their ¡®naughtiness¡¯, putting up a resistance.


    ¡°I told you, behave well and you can see your mother. But so far, you haven¡¯t impressed me enough.¡±


    He hadn¡¯t broken his promise.


    They just hadn¡¯t behaved well enough.


    Atticus¡¯ eyes flickered, asking, ¡°When will you be satisfied then?¡±


    ¡°That depends on how well-behaved you can be,¡± Lysander replied.

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    Chapter 538


    Atticus¡¯ eyes, filled with innocent coldness, were firmly fixed on Lysander.


    The other three kids ceased their struggles and, like their brother Atticus, turned their using eyes


    toward Lysander.


    Four pairs of innocent eyes were simultaneously focused on Lysander.


    Lysander sat while they stood, yet they still weren¡¯t taller than him. To look at his face, they had to tilt


    their heads upwards.


    Their silent usations, to onlookers, seemed like four cute little mites gazing up at the imposing figure


    of Lysander.


    Lysander¡¯s deep gaze, naturally imposing, didn¡¯t shy away from the four little ones¡¯ stares.


    The air was filled with an ufortable silence.


    After a while, Atticus¡¯ innocent voice broke the quietness, ¡°I want two tablets. High-end ones.¡±


    ¡°Hmm, arranged,¡± Lysander responded with his deep, maic voice.


    He was satisfied with Atticus¡¯ timelypromise.


    At the age of four and a half, a child already had the ability to think independently and could understand


    adult conversations.


    Proper teaching methods can still have an effect when someone misbehaves.


    Lysander instructed Fitch, ¡°Go, contact Ethan Crawley, and ask him to deliver two high-end tablets.¡±


    ¡°Very well, Lysander,¡± Fitch respectfully nodded his head and immediately went to make the call.


    The other three little ones saw their brother capitte.


    They exchanged nces. Their eyes were full of shock and curiosity.


    Then, Elowen raised her chubby little hand, her big, bright eyes sparkling, and answered first, ¡°I want


    ice cream. Two ice creams!¡±


    She had the least resistance when it came to delicious food.


    Just then, Lysander said that as long as she stopped crying, he would buy her something tasty.


    Immediately, she stopped crying, forgetting everything else, knowing only that she wanted something


    delicious.


    She told him her brother and her sister¡¯s preferences without any hesitation.


    Even though she realized afterward that they should have stood united against him, refusing to have


    breakfast.


    By the time she realized that, Lysander had already known each of the little one¡¯s preferences.


    Lysander responded, ¡°Two ice creams, arranged immediately.¡±


    He turned his gaze to one of the servants.


    The servant nodded and immediately went to prepare.


    Dorian, being the most perceptive of them all, had read about the saying ¡®He who understands the


    times is a wise man¡¯ in performance books/


    ¡°I want to go to drama school,¡± he was the third to speak, voicing his demand.


    He too wanted to follow in his brother¡¯s footsteps.


    That way, they could make their father happy, and they could see their mother sooner.


    ¡°Okay,¡± Lysander agreed, and his eyes turned to Sophia, ¡°And you?¡±


    Sophia was the smallest of the children. Even though they were quadruplets, she was the smallest


    among them. She wasn¡¯t as chubby as Elowen or as tall as her brothers.


    Although she liked to act cool and loved short hair, she was still small and timid


    Upon seeing Lysander¡¯s gaze directed at her, she instinctively recoiled, not daring to meet his gaze,


    Lysander realized he had scared her. Despite him trying to sound as gentle as possible, he still


    managed to frighten his own child.


    Seeing Sophia looking so scared and anxious, he didn¡¯t feel good.


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    ¡°Why do you always look down, wanting to cry but not daring to? If you want to cry, then cry. If you


    don¡¯t want to cry, then speak up about what you want,¡± Lysander said, his voice deep but gentle.


    Sophia sobbed and burst into tears.


    Even though Lysander¡¯s voice didn¡¯t sound that harsh, Sophia thought he was scolding her.

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    Chapter 539


    She sobbed in outright terror but didn¡¯t dare to let out a cry. Terrified, she was too careful and timid to


    cry out loud.


    She cowered, trying to find a ce to hide, but she couldn¡¯t find anyone to give her support and trust.


    Standing in the middle of the room, she felt lost and utterly alone, her small shoulders trembling with


    each suppressed sob.


    At this, Lysander¡¯s brow furrowed; his long arm reached out to scoop up the small frame of Sophia.


    Atticus and Dorian rushed forward at the same time, their heads held high and their protective instincts


    on full disy.


    ¡°Don¡¯t you dare bully our sister!¡± they both cried out in unison.


    Their defiant stand was reminiscent of a pair of fierce cubs defending their territory.


    Their grandmother had always told them that a family must stand together. It was okay to endure


    hardships at home, but they should never tolerate any outsider hurting their loved ones.


    Seeing Lysander frighten Sophia to tears and hold her in his arms, Atticus and Dorian immediately


    switched to protective mode.


    When Lysander picked her up, Sophia stiffened, her whole body taut with fear. She was expecting


    some form of punishment.


    But instead, Lysander gently wiped the tears off her face with his palm, his voice soft and soothing as


    he said, ¡°Don¡¯t cry. You like antiques, right? I¡¯ll take you to choose some now. You can have whatever


    you like.¡±


    With Sophia seated on hisp, Lysander pulled her closer to him as if afraid she might fall.


    His movements were gentle and caring, a stark contrast to his usual stern persona.


    Atticus and Dorian, who had been ready for a fight, were taken aback by this sight. They exchanged a


    look before turning their attention back to Lysander and Sophia.


    Seeing Sophia being held with such tenderness by Lysander even stirred up a sense of envy in the


    little boys. They wondered if their father¡¯s embrace would be just as warm andforting as their


    mother¡¯s.


    Sophia was also taken aback. Her teary eyes, now sparkling and wide with curiosity, were fixed on


    Lysander as she hesitantly asked, ¡°Really?¡±


    ¡°Of course,¡± Lysander replied.


    Sniffling, Sophia said, ¡°I¡­I like circr pendants.¡±


    ¡°Alright, let¡¯s go pick one out,¡± Lysander said, picking Sophia up and heading towards the back garden.


    Atticus and Dorian exchanged another nce before following them.


    Meanwhile, a maid brought over some ice cream and handed it to Elowen, saying, ¡°Miss, your ice


    cream.¡±


    10


    ¡°Thank you!¡± Elowen eximed, taking a lick of the ice cream. She found the cream so sweet and


    delicious.


    That moment, she forgot her longing for her mother and was all healed by the cuisine. The ice cream


    had sweetened her buds and heart.


    As Sophia entered the antique showroom, her innocent eyes widened in awe. She had only seen such


    treasures in books before, never so many real ones all at once.


    Finally, her gazended on two circr pendants disyed in a ss case. She recognized the shape


    of the pendants, but didn¡¯t know why there were two of them.


    ¡°I want that circr pendant,¡± Sophia said. ¡°It¡¯s mine. I bought it to give to my mom to help her make


    money.¡±


    Lysander followed her gaze and saw the pendant she was talking about. The same one he had


    Content ? N?velDrama.Org 2024.


    mistakenly believed Thssa had stolen from his disy room.


    His eyes darkened at the sight.

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    Chapter 540


    Lysander¡¯s face grew stern in silence. Sophia saw that, and fear once again crept into her heart. ¡°Don¡¯t


    you want to?¡± she asked timidly.


    Lysander snapped back to reality, his deep gazending on her small face. ¡°Of course not. If you like it,


    take it all,¡± he answered, handing over both pendants to Sophia. The moment Sophia received the


    Ccontent ? exclusive by N?/vel(D)ra/ma.Org.


    pendants, her anxiety vanished. She wiped away her tears on the sleeve of her blouse.


    Lysander then turned to Atticus and Dorian, who trailed behind him. ¡°Get ready. We¡¯re taking you to a


    new kindergarten,¡± he announced.


    ¡°Why do we need to go to a new kindergarten?¡± Dorian questioned.


    ¡°Don¡¯t you want to attend a performing arts school?¡± Lysander retorted.


    Understanding dawned on Dorian.


    Soon enough, the four kids obediently allowed the servants to dress them in their kindergarten


    uniforms and pack their school bags.


    Fitch marveled at Lysander¡¯s ability to calm the children without a fuss.


    However, his method seemed more suited to running a business than handling children.


    He leveraged a target to control them and make them behave.


    Fitch puzzled over it, feeling as though something was missing, After some thought, he realized what it


    was ¨C love and mutual trust.


    Taking care of children required love and trust, didn¡¯t it? Looking at how tenderly Lysander treated


    Sophia, Fitch knew that he loved the children. He just hadn¡¯t figured out a natural way to express it yet.


    Outside the gates of the Royal Estates.


    Thssa had been waiting for a while when the guard approached her. ¡°Ms. Everhart, I¡¯m sorry, but


    you should go home,¡± he suggested.


    Thssa¡¯s heart sank. She yearned to see her kids, but Lysander didn¡¯t want to see her nor let her see


    them.


    She didn¡¯t know what to do; her heart was heavy with pain.


    Refusing to give up, Thssa dialed Lysander¡¯s number. The call went through, but no one answered.


    After hanging up, she tried again, but still no answer. Lysander must have heard but chose not to pick


    up. Thssa¡¯s breath hitched, her hopes crushed.


    She took a longing look at the yard. The yard was a few inches away from the estate door, filled with


    trees and flowers.


    Despite being so close to her children, they felt incredibly distant. So distant that her desire to see them


    seemed like a luxury.


    She gazed at the quiet yard, seeing nothing but the shade of trees. Tears welled up in her eyes.


    In the end, she could only turn around and leave, dejected.


    As soon as Thssa had left, Lysander led a convoy out of the Royal Estates.


    The fleet of ck Rolls-Royces drove along the asphalt road, causing other drivers to nervously make


    way for them.


    The imposing fleet parked outside the Starhaven International Kindergarten. The sight was so grand


    that it left people speechless. Parents dropping off their children were careful not to offend anyone.


    They had no idea who was the big shot there.


    When they realized that the man stepping out of the car was Lysander Sinir, the kingpin of


    Starhaven, they lowered their heads with respect and stepped aside.


    Upon hearing the news, the principal and teachers rushed to greet him. The principal, bowing slightly,


    greeted Lysander with a nervous smile, ¡°Mr. Sinir, wee to our kindergarten. We¡¯re honored to


    have you here.¡±

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    Chapter 541


    Lysander took a drag on his cigar, his deep gaze falling upon the school principal, ¡°I¡¯m here to enroll my


    kids, so no need for formalities.¡±


    Lysander had kids?


    And the kids were enrolling in his preschool?


    The principal was shocked; cold sweat was trickling down his back.


    Lysander, one of the most influential and respected figures in Starhaven, had his own kids; and the


    news didn¡¯t reach Starhaven¡¯s finest preschool on time.


    Since he got kids, the Starhaven International Kindergarten would undoubtedly be the first choice on


    his list.


    Everyone was trying to curry favor with Lysander, the most prestigious one in the Starhaven, Yet, the


    principal was only just finding out about them. That waspletely negligent, shameful, and nerve-


    wracking.


    The principal¡¯s cold sweat was cascading as he nervously stuttered, ¡°Which one is Mr. Sinir¡¯s child?


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    I¡¯ll make sure the teachers give them special attention.¡±


    ¡°Not one, four.¡± Lysander exhaled a smoke ring, his demeanor was rxed yet stern.


    Four children, all around four years old, were led in by a bodyguard. Each of them was strikingly good-


    looking, more so than any child in their school.


    The principal was once again blindsided; his hands began to tremble uncontrobly.


    Lysander had kids, and he had four.


    He didn¡¯t know about a single one of them, which was aplete failure as a principal.


    His informationwork wascking.


    The principal¡¯s voice was shaky, whether from excitement or fear, ¡°Alright, alright, four. I¡¯ll have the


    teachers meet them right away¡­¡±


    Then he was about to exhort the teachers waiting in line behind him.


    Lysander¡¯s voice rang out, ¡°No rush. Each of my children has their own talents so they need to be in


    different sses.¡±


    Starhaven International Kindergarten was not only top-notch in terms of its teaching staff, but it also


    focused on nurturing the unique talents of each child, providing a personalized education.


    In the end, Atticus was ced in the tech ss, Dorian in performing arts, Elowen in culinary, and


    Sophia in antique appreciation.


    Once everything was arranged, Lysander turned his powerful gaze on the principal, ¡°Gather all the


    shareholders. I want to have a meeting.¡±


    His tone was authoritative, as if he owned the ce.


    He just called for a meeting like that, as if he was in his ownpany.


    The principal quickly nodded, ¡°Yes, right away.¡±


    On either side of the conference table sat the kindergarten¡¯s shareholders, with Lysander sitting at the


    head.


    It was as if he owned the ce and everyone else merely worked under him.


    As Lysander brought the ashtray closer to him, the ss ashtray was sliding across the wooden table,


    making a noise that heightened everyone¡¯s tension.


    Lysander stubbed out his cigar in the ashtray, his deep gaze sweeping across the shareholders


    present.


    Each of your holds a certain number of shares, and I want to buy them all. My assistant has been


    monitoring the market value of the preschool. I¡¯m giving you the space to negotiate.¡±


    He was merely informing them that he intended to buy their shares and take over the kindergarten, not


    asking for their opinions.


    The shareholders looked at each other; the tense atmosphere became even more stifling.


    ¡°Don¡¯t be silent. Just feel free to negotiate. I have all the time in the world.¡±Lysander added.


    With that, he lit another cigar, smoke billowing around him like a cold mist..


    He imed to have all the time in the world, but the shareholders didn¡¯t dare waste his valuable time.


    The Thorne Group was acquired by the Sinir Group without a penny spent. Instead, the Thornes


    paid millions just to let the Sinir Group take them over. Everybody knew that


    If they angered Lysander, their kindergarten could be the next Thorne Group.


    Who would dare make him wait?


    After whispering among themselves, the principal, on behalf of everyone, cautiously spoke, ¡°Our


    kindergarten is the best in Starhaven, with the finest staff, sensible management, and has nurtured


    many valuable talents. Its current market value is 500 million, and the shareholders receive dividends


    based on their shares¡­¡±


    Lysander¡¯s eyes fell on the principal, who immediately fell silent, his heart pounding.


    Did I say something wrong? He thought.

 Chapter 542

    Chapter 542


    The principal felt a knot in his chest, unsure of what Lysander Sinir¡¯s piercing gaze meant. Was he


    unhappy with the asking price?


    The principal was about to offer the school for free when Lysander¡¯s deep voice cut through the


    silence, ¡°You have so many stakeholders here, and with five hundred million, no one gets much. Let¡¯s


    do this. I¡¯ll pay two billion and buy it outright.¡±


    Everyone¡¯s eyes met, shock and tion mirrored in their faces.


    The sudden twist of fortune was overwhelming, and all eyes turned to the principal, urging him to


    ept the offer. They feared the money would gone if they stalled for one more second.


    The principal, who was just in a state of anxiety, was now overwhelmed with excitement. He hastily


    agreed, ¡°That sounds excellent, Mr. Sinir. You certainly have a keen eye for investment.¡±


    ¡°The money will be transferred to the school¡¯s ount within five working days.¡± With that, Lysander


    exited the room.


    The entire negotiation and agreement happened within ten minutes.


    When Thssa got home, she prepared herself to start work at the Sinir group. She didn¡¯t see


    Lysander at Royal Estates but hoped she would at the office.


    The receptionist stopped her on her arrival at the Sinir group, ¡°Thssa, I¡¯m sorry, but David has


    instructed that you are not allowed in.¡±


    Thssa frowned, ¡°Why can¡¯t I go in? How can I work if I¡¯m kept outside?¡±.


    The receptionist had a good rapport with Thssa. Though there was a small scuffle between them,


    the receptionist was a righteous and sensible person.


    So they were still friends after the problem was solved.


    But still, she must do her own duty. She said in a regretted tone, ¡°I can¡¯t answer your question. I just got


    a clear instruction that you are now allowed in. You can call David instead,


    Thssa understood that the receptionist was just doing her job and decided to contact David herself.


    ¡°David, I¡¯m at the office. Is it your instruction that I can¡¯t go in?¡±


    ¡°Ms. Everhart, I¡¯m sorry. You¡¯ve been fired, and thepany has transferred your severance pay of a


    hundred grand. Didn¡¯t you get the bank notification?¡± David said in an aloof tone as if they were talking


    about the work business.


    Thssa was taken aback but then felt it was something Lysander would do.


    He was doing everything he could to stop her from meeting their children or negotiating with him.


    Feeling mncholy, she heaved. She felt helpless about the cruel reality.


    ¡°Got it,¡± she hung up, then checked her bank ount bnce to see if the severance pay had been


    transferred.


    When she opened the app, she got the shock of her life.


    Holy shit! Am I in a dream? This is much more than a hundred grand! She said to herself.


    She rubbed her eyes in case she got it wrong. Then she cast her look at the screen again, and the


    astronomical number was still lying in her ount; not a single dime was missing.


    She read it carefully.


    Her head buzzed and her breath hitched on seeing a billion in her ount.


    Holy shit. Her bnce read one billion and a quarter million. It was not just a string of numbers. It was


    Content is ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org.


    real money.


    She had never seen so much money in her life.


    She was supposed to have only the change of that amount.


    Elowen had won in the gourmetpetition and earned $200,000. She had given fifty grand to Evelyn,


    leaving her with $150,000.

 Chapter 543

    Chapter 543


    An additional hundred thousand was a severance package from her termination.


    So howe there was a billion?


    Maybe it was a clerical error from the Sinir group, mistaking one hundred thousand for a billion and


    one hundred thousand?


    Thssa was stunned, she quickly checked her bank ount transaction history.


    The hundred thousand was deposited into her ount today.


    A billion, however, was deposited yesterday afternoon.


    She had turned off her phone as she was escaping with her children yesterday afternoon. So she didn¡¯t


    have time to check her phone.


    Today, after turning her phone back on, she was so focused on seeing her children that she didn¡¯t


    bother checking her messages.


    But when she did, she almost had a heart attack.


    She was both puzzled and incredulous.


    How did a billion end up in her ount yesterday afternoon?


    Who had transferred it to her?


    Could it be Lysander?


    A light bulb went on in Thssa¡¯s head as she suddenly remembered what Lysander saidst night


    about buying her maternal rights for a billion.


    At that time, she thought he meant something different, that he¡¯d never let her see the kids again.


    She thought she still had the chance to negotiate. She was going to say that she didn¡¯t need money;


    instead, she needed the visitation rights.


    But she never expected that Lysander had already deposited a billion into her ount yesterday


    afternoon.


    She no longer had the right to negotiate.


    Belongs to N?velDrama.Org - All rights reserved.


    Maybe he had already prepared to buy out her maternal rights after figuring out the four kids were his?


    Without her approval, he had transferred the money into her ount.


    Did she ever say she wanted a billion?


    And did he think he could trade her kids with a billion?


    Could children be measured by money?


    Was he treating the kids like merchandise?


    Thssa felt wronged, her chest heaving with anger and her eyes welling up with tears.


    ¡°Thssa, are you okay? Is the severance package too hard to ept?¡± The receptionist asked on


    seeing Thssa¡¯s distress.


    Clutching her phone tightly. Thssa tried to maintain herposure and responded, ¡°I¡¯m fine. I¡¯m just


    overwhelmed by the generous severance package.¡±


    Her words were cheerful, but her pale face was defying her words.


    After speaking, she quickly walked out of the Sinir group building.


    The receptionist watched her leave, puzzled.


    If she was happy, why did she look so upset?


    Thssa tried calling Lysander several times, but no one answered.


    Lysander was clearly determined to ignore her and leave her with ways to go.


    Thssa was frantically pacing with no solution in sight. She was like a cat on hot bricks.


    The afternoon arrived in the blink of an eye.


    After work, Hertha showed up at Vibrant Oasis Residences, ¡°Hello, kiddos, Hertha¡¯s brought you your


    favorite egg tarts, fried chicken, c¡­¡± Hertha¡¯s cheerful voice filled the living room, but no little ones


    came to greet her.


    Usually, as soon as she arrived and called out, the children would waddle over to her like little bear


    cubs, surrounding her and buzzing around her. Today, however, it was strangely quiet.


    Curious, Hertha walked towards the bedrooms, opened one door, and saw Evelyn sitting at her desk.


    Her head was hanging low and she looked lost.


    She opened another door and saw Thssa sitting on the bed, her dark circles so prominent it looked


    like she was a panda; her look was deste and sorrowful. Seeing this, Hertha blinked in confusion,


    ¡°Thssa, what¡¯s wrong with you and Evelyn? Where are the kids? Haven¡¯t you picked them up from


    preschool yet?¡±

 Chapter 544

    Chapter 544


    Thssa looked up at Hertha, her eyes welling up with tears in an instant. Her voice was pitiful and


    helpless. ¡°Hertha, Lysander has taken the kids¡­¡±


    ¡°What?¡± Hertha gasped, her eyes wide, ¡°Does Lysander know they¡¯re his children?¡±


    Tears rolled down Thssa¡¯s cheeks as she nodded, ¡°He knows¡­¡±


    ¡°Holy smokes! We hid it so well, how did he find out?¡± Hertha, aghast, walked into the room and sat


    down next to Thssa. She looked at her friend with a mix of curiosity and shock.


    Unbelievable. Just yesterday morning, everything was fine. How could the little ones be taken away by


    Belongs to N?velDrama.Org - All rights reserved.


    Lysander in just a day¡¯s time?


    Thssa, feeling drained of energy, recounted everything that had happened from yesterday to today


    for Hertha


    She didn¡¯t know what to do. Maybe having another person know could provide her with some advice.


    ¡°So the problem started with the toy store owner?¡± Hertha queried, ¡°Normal people wouldn¡¯t investigate


    a store owner. Lysander¡¯s train of thought isn¡¯t something ordinary people can fathom.¡±


    Learning that Lysander had started his investigation from the suspicious lead of the toy store owner,


    Hertha was filled with disbelief and confusion.


    No wonder Thssa had been so careful, so cautious about hiding the children. So Lysander was


    really that dangerous.


    Now that he knew the children were his, he would really take them away without leaving a single one


    for Thssa, not even allowing her to see them again.


    Thssa was cut to the quick.


    Swallowing, Thssa didn¡¯t have the energy toment on Lysander¡¯s cunning. Her mind was filled


    with worry for the children.


    She had no idea how they were faring in the Royal Estates and whether they had been crying.


    ¡°How much did Lysander offer you to sever the mother-child bond?¡± Hertha, her mind teeming with


    gossip and curiosity, wanted to understand everything that had happened in the past day that she


    hadn¡¯t been part of.


    Thssa held up her hand, forming a ten with her fingers.


    Hertha guessed, Ten thousand dors?¡±


    Thssa shook her head.


    ¡°One million?¡±


    Thssa still shook her head.


    Realizing something, Hertha¡¯s eyes lit up. ¡°Don¡¯t tell me it¡¯s a billion.¡±


    Thssa nodded.


    Hertha gasped again. ¡°Holy smokes! That¡¯s a lot! Rich people really know how to throw their weight


    around.¡±


    ¡°Does it matter that he¡¯s rich? I¡¯d rather not have his money and have the children back.¡± She wished


    she could return the money to Lysander, but she didn¡¯t even know his bank ount number.


    He wouldn¡¯t pick up the phone either, refusing to let her talk.


    Hertha¡¯s heart thudded wildly, and she found it hard to chill. One wave of shocking gossip after another


    had left her in a state of shock.


    It would take her a moment to consume.


    This juicy piece of gossip was more delicious than any she¡¯d ever consumed on social media.


    ¡°You¡¯re right. Children can¡¯t be measured in terms of money. Lysander is too heartless by saying to buy


    off your rtionship with the children. Money can¡¯t buy off the bond between you and the kids. He


    really doesn¡¯t know what children mean to a mother.¡±


    Hertha ranted, standing up for Thssa.


    After finishing, she heaved a sigh, ¡°Back when we were penniless, we hustled for money and lived on


    the edge. Now that we have money and can be with the kids, they¡¯re taken away. What the heck?¡±


    Thssa wiped away the tears at the corner of her eyes. ¡°There must be a way.¡± She said.


    ¡°What will you do?¡± Hertha asked.

 Chapter 545

    Chapter 545


    ¡°I still don¡¯t know.¡±


    But, whatever she set her mind to, she would do.


    Even if it meant banging her head against a brick wall, even if it meant crashing and burning, she


    wouldn¡¯t cease.


    ¡°We need to devise a foolproof n,¡± Hertha said, her tone cool but resolute. She had been moved by


    the determination in Thssa¡¯s eyes.


    ¡°Don¡¯t worry, the kids won¡¯t suffer in Lysander¡¯s ce. They¡¯re his flesh and blood, after all. Plus,


    they¡¯re living in a mansion, tended by housekeepers. Their life is far better than here.¡±


    Herthaforted her by patting Thssa¡¯s shoulder gently.


    Hertha was telling the truth. Thssa felt a bit relieved hearing them.


    Lysander¡¯s living conditions were indeed far better than hers. The kids were living in spacious rooms,


    each one had their own; they wouldn¡¯t need to cram like they used to with her.


    N?velDrama.Org: text ? owner.


    And they wouldn¡¯t need to live from hand to mouth.


    Knowing her children were receiving suchvish treatment brought a bitter-sweet feeling to Thssa.


    ¡°Come on,


    cheer up. If you¡¯re feeling down, let¡¯s hit the bar for a drink. Let¡¯s go loosen up a bit,¡± Hertha continued.


    Thssa was indeed in a state of panic. She needed to rx in order toe up with a n to see her


    children.


    She followed Hertha to the bar. It was a lively ce.


    The heavy metal music was ring; the dance floor was filled with young, beautiful people, swaying


    their bodies to the rhythm of the music.


    Thssa and Hertha were sitting a the bar and drinking quite a lot of whiskey.


    Whiskey was the perfect remedy for sorrow.


    After a few drinks, Thssa started feeling dizzy.


    Hertha, on the other hand, became more lively and rowdy.


    ¡°Let¡¯s go dance,¡± she suggested, pulling Thssa¡¯s hand. ¡°Let¡¯s dance our worries away.¡±


    Thssa was too drunk to move; she was seeing double of everything around her.


    ¡°I can¡¯t, I can barely stand. You go ahead, I¡¯ll wait here.¡±


    Seeing Thssa¡¯s drunk state, Hertha did not push her,¡±Alright, stay put and don¡¯t wander off.¡±


    With that, Hertha hopped off to the dance floor, joining the crowd.


    Thssa leaned her head on her hand, watching as the neon lights illuminated Hertha¡¯s bubbly dance


    moves. The effect of the whiskey was hitting her hard.


    Her head was bing heavier and heavier the longer she sal.


    ¡°Hey there, all alone?¡± a voice from the side tried to flirt.


    Thssa turned to see a young man in his twenties, fresh out of school, trying to pick up girls.


    Thssa smiled, ¡°I¡¯m a mother, you know.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re funny.¡± The young manughed.


    ¡°I¡¯m not joking. My kid is almost your age,¡± Thssa slurred.


    His jovial expression dropped, ¡°Are you trying toe on to me?¡±


    ¡°Can¡¯t handle it?¡± Thssa retorted.


    ¡°Heh,e with me, let¡¯s see who can¡¯t handle it,¡± the young man said, his tone darkening as he tried


    to grab Thssa¡¯s hand.


    Suddenly, Thssa was pulled back; a man stepped in front of her, shielding her from the young man.


    ¡°She¡¯s not someone you can touch!¡± he said in a cold voice.

 Chapter 546

    Chapter 546


    The youngd was all set to retaliate when he saw it was ric Falconer.


    ric was a regr at this bar. The bar owner always treated him with utmost respect and care.


    He was a big shot.


    Immediately, the youngd backed down, apologizing, ¡°My apologies, Mr. Falconer. I didn¡¯t know she


    was your woman. I¡¯ll steer clear if I see her in the future.¡±


    ric wanted to exin that she wasn¡¯t his woman, but Lysander¡¯s.


    Before he could speak, the youngd had already retreated into the crowd, clearly intimidated.


    ric turned around and watched Thssa behind him.


    Thssa gave him a silly smile, ¡°Mr. Falconer, we meet again. You are a barfly indeed.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s what I should be saying to you two. Don¡¯t you know bars like these are a mixed bag? Are you


    here with Lysander¡¯s knowledge?¡±


    In ric¡¯s heart, Thssa was already Lysander¡¯s woman.


    Although they hadn¡¯t formally announced their rtionship, Lysander had never been so serious about


    a woman before.


    For a few times, he had even caught them immersed in their sweet moments.


    ric had been at the bar for a while now, observing from afar since Thssa and Hertha walked in..


    He hadn¡¯t approached them, just watched the two women drink and eventually get drunk. Thssa


    remained seated while Hertha had gone to the dance floor.


    ¡°It¡¯s my business why I¡¯m here. Why does he need to know?¡± Thssa responded with a hint of self-


    mockery in her smile.


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    Lysander wouldn¡¯t care whether she attended these events or whether she was in danger..


    He had taken her kids away from her, which was the cruelest punishment. Now, he had discarded her


    like an old rag.


    She had tried to find him at the Royal Estates, but he refused to see her. He didn¡¯t answer her calls and


    even fired her, leaving her jobless.


    She had no value to him anymore, not even as a punching bag for his emotions.


    ric looked at Thssa deeply and noticed her sorrowful expression.


    ¡°Did you two have a fight? I¡¯ll call him.¡± ric said, taking out his phone to call Lysander.


    Meanwhile, at the Royal Estates.


    Lysander was surrounded by four toddlers.


    Elowen, with tears welling up in her big, innocent eyes, pouted, ¡°Where¡¯s mommy and grandma? Why


    haven¡¯t we seen them?¡±


    ¡°Give our mommy back.¡± Dorian dered, his face on the verge of tears, but forcefully holding back; his


    whole body was straining.


    Timidly, Sophia wiped away her tears, ¡°Daddy is a bad guy and we don¡¯t want you anymore. We want


    mommy¡­¡±


    Atticus summed it up, ¡°Yes, we only want mommy!¡±


    Lysander¡¯s temples throbbed, his face dark.


    1


    Hadn¡¯t he already exined that morning? As long as they behaved and met his standards, he¡¯d


    consider letting them see their mother.


    He had already given them everything they loved. And they had already forgotten his words in just a


    day?


    Indeed, reasoning with children under five was futile.


    Lysander rubbed his throbbing temples, his phone ringing in his pocket.


    He answered, ¡°What is it?¡±


    His voice was somewhat irritable.


    ric detected it. He raised an eyebrow, ¡°Did you really have a fight with Thssa? She¡¯s drowning


    her sorrows in alcohol at the bar and flirting with youngds, and your voice sounds like you have a lot


    of things on your mind. Seems like there¡¯s really something going on between you two.¡±


    ¡°What did you say?¡± Lysander¡¯s voice suddenly turned icy cold.

 Chapter 547

    Chapter 547


    He could feel the chilling frost through the line.


    Realizing Lysander¡¯s tone was fraught with anger, ric chuckled, ¡°You heard me right. Your girl is at


    the bar, just made a pass at a youngd. She¡¯s got him so angry that he¡¯s ready to


    Belongs to N?velDrama.Org - All rights reserved.


    take her to a motel.¡±


    A motel?


    Those words stung Lysander¡¯s ears, piercing straight through his heart.


    Fury simmered within his chest.


    Lysander gritted his teeth, his voice icy, ¡°Where?¡±


    ¡°Midnight Mirage.¡± ric said.


    Once the call ended, ric turned his gaze toward her and was startled by the close proximity of


    Thssa. She was almost pressing her face against his phone.


    Luckily he just turned his gaze; if he jerked his head, he might have identally kissed her.


    This was Lysander¡¯s girl so he dared not cross the line.


    ¡°Thssa, what the hell are you doing? You scared the daylights out of me.¡± ric stepped back,


    taking a deep breath.


    Thssa was tipsy, her eyes half-closed as she looked at him, nervous yet hopeful, ¡°Is Lysander


    Throughout the day, she had tried everything she could think of to see Lysander, to talk to him about


    seeing their children.


    In response, Lysander had cut off all contact.


    He refused to meet her and wouldn¡¯t even answer her calls no matter what. He was as cold and


    detached as if they had never known each other.


    She heard what ric said about her. But she didn¡¯t quite hear Lysander¡¯s response. So she had no


    idea if he woulde.


    She was both jittery and sad.


    ric was about to reply when amotion from the dance floor caught his attention. Hertha¡¯s shriek


    echoed louder than the rock music.


    ¡°Ah, pervert!¡±


    Her voice strained ric¡¯s nerves; as he turned his head towards the dance floor, Thssa mirrored


    his actions.


    Hertha was holding a young man¡¯s hand, ring at him with rage, ¡°You touched my butt, you filthy


    pervert!¡±


    Her outburst attracted a crowd.


    The young man, who was visibly ufortable, mumbled, ¡°Like I said, that was a mistake. I


    identally touched you while dancing, Honest mistake.¡±


    ¡°Mistake my ass! You were clearly grabbing my butt! You think I didn¡¯t feel it?¡± Hertha pointed at him,


    her lips trembling with anger,


    ¡°I said it was a mistake, woman. Are you that desperate for someone to touch your butt? Also, you¡¯re


    still holding my hand, that¡¯s inappropriate. I know I¡¯m attractive, but I¡¯m not that easy.¡± The young man


    pulled his hand back.


    Hertha was taken aback. Unprepared for his rebuttal, she was heaved with anger.


    With no more drama to witness, the crowd dispersed.


    The young man approached, his finger pointed at her face, ¡°Since you seem interested, I can make an


    exception. How about we go to a hotel?¡±


    Hertha pped his hand away, ¡°Go away, you pervert!¡±


    ¡°Refusing a toast only leads to a forfeit. Come with me!¡± He forcefully grabbed her wrist..


    Hertha struggled, but couldn¡¯t break free.


    Suddenly, a p echoed through the room,nding on the young man¡¯s face. Blood trickled from the


    corner of his mouth.


    The force of the p was considerable.


    Hertha was stunned; she turned towards the source of the p.


    Seeing that devilishly handsome face, Hertha¡¯s heart skipped a beat.

 Chapter 548

    Chapter 548


    His eyes were long and narrow with the corners slightly upturned, full of charm and allure. His looks


    were so captivating that one could not look away.


    ¡°ric!¡± Hertha cried out with excitement.


    At her most vulnerable, the man she loved descended like a knight in shining armor.


    In Hertha¡¯s eyes, ric seemed to be glowing. He lit up her world and ignited her heart.


    ric spared Hertha only a nce, his icy gazending on the young man. ¡°I gave you a chance


    earlier,¡± he growled, ¡°You didn¡¯t take it. It¡¯s time you learned your ce!¡±


    The young man was the one who had been making advances on Thssa earlier.


    He prepared tosh out, but shrank back in fear once he recognized ric.


    He kept bowing and apologizing profusely, ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Mr. Falconer. I didn¡¯t know who she was. I¡¯ll


    disappear right now and you won¡¯t see me again¡­¡±


    ¡°Out!¡± ric growled.


    The young man scampered away, tripping over himself in his haste.


    ¡°ric, you¡¯re so cool,¡± Hertha sighed dreamily, her hands under her chin as she watched him.


    She had been smitten with ric from their first meeting, and now that he hade to her rescue, her


    admiration only intensified.


    Her eyes sparkled with admiration; her heartpletely captivated by him.


    ric nced back at Hertha, a smirk ying at the corner of his lips at her adoring expression, ¡°I¡¯ve


    never seen a woman drooling over men that much.¡± he sneered, ¡°You really like this kind of man?¡±


    Hertha had been quite forward with him earlier and even dared to touch his abs. That had left him, a


    seasoned bachelor, blushing.


    It seemed that when women became enamored, men became irrelevant.


    Hertha blinked, her round eyes wide as she took in ric¡¯s scornful expression.


    She quickly understood what he meant.


    ¡°No, it¡¯s not like that! He was trying to take advantage of me¡­¡± she eximed in a rush.


    ¡°Earlier, your friend Thssa was taking advantage of someone. A single woman acting as a mother, a


    mother lusting after a man. You two are quite the pair,¡± ric chuckled.


    Hertha looked shocked, as if she had just heard some incredible news. She was both surprised and


    excited.


    Thssa did well. That brat hasn¡¯t even grown a full beard yet and he¡¯s acting like a pervert! I hope he


    runs into someone who¡¯ll teach him a lesson!¡± Hertha said indignantly.


    Thssa, who had followed, overheard ric¡¯s words. He thought Hertha was the mother of


    quadruplets.


    She shook her head, holding up a finger, ¡°ric, actually, Hertha isn¡¯t¡­¡±


    ¡°Isn¡¯t what?¡± ric asked.


    ¡®She isn¡¯t¡­¡±


    Just as Thssa was about to speak, amotion at the entrance of the bar broke out, giving the


    impression of an invasion. The atmosphere became tense.


    The air seemed to ripple.


    One of the more observant waiters called out, ¡°Mr. Sinir is here, quick, get the boss!¡±


    Thssa followed the crowd¡¯s gaze to the entrance.


    A tall man, surrounded by bodyguards, walked in with an icy aura.


    He was dressed in a ck shirt and ck trousers. His handsome face was stern, his aura intimidating.


    As he passed, it felt as though the air itself would freeze.


    Content ? N?velDrama.Org 2024.


    The previously lively bar became silent in an instant; the music stopped, and the restless patrons were


    hurriedly evacuated through the back door by the staff and security.


    The bar owner rushed over, bowing and scraping, with a fearful smile on his face.


    ¡°Mr. Sinir, you¡¯re here. What would you like to drink? I¡¯ll get it for you right away.¡± He asked.

 Chapter 549

    Chapter 549


    Lysander didn¡¯t even spare a nce at the man next to him. His frosty gaze fixed on Thssa, who


    was standing at the edge of the dance floor. With long strides, he advanced towards


    her.


    The bar owner, ignored, felt a bit awkward but maintained his cheerful demeanor, ready to serve at


    Lysander¡¯s side at any moment.


    David told him, ¡°Nothing big, go get your work done.¡±


    That was his polite way of saying he was in the way.


    The bar owner instantly understood, nodded, and took his leave.


    Seeing Lysander approach, ric too stepped back, clearing the spot next to Thssa.


    Thssa, with a slight sway to her stance and a drunken glimmer in her eyes, watched Lysander


    approach. Seeing his familiar face, she even let out a couple of giggles.


    The icy aura of Lysander closed in. Standing in front of Thssa, his deep eyes glowing with


    frostiness. ¡°How much have you had?¡± he asked, his eyes fixed on her.


    Thssa raised a finger, then two, shook her head, ¡°No, five¡­haha¡­¡±


    She held up five fingers,ughing a little, then suddenly, her stomach churned. She felt nauseous and


    her body swayed.


    Lysander scooped her quickly and pulled her into his cold, dark shadow.


    ¡°Do you think this method of defiance against me will work?¡± Lysander¡¯s voice was cold and resonant in


    Thssa¡¯s ear.


    His intimidating presence echoed in her ears and her heart.


    Thssa shook her head, ¡°I don¡¯t know¡­¡±


    She hadn¡¯t intended to defy him; she was just in a bad mood and wanted to let loose.


    After Thssa spoke, she rested her head on Lysander. Her breathing became heavy as if she was


    falling asleep.


    Lysander stared at the woman in his arms. His eyes were frosty and his aura was even more


    oppressive and restrained.


    He had indeed prepared to never see her again and to cut her out of his life.


    But when ric told him she was getting drunk at the bar and flirting with young men, he couldn¡¯t


    control his anger!


    Content ? N?velDrama.Org 2024.


    This woman was constantly pushing his limits.


    She knew exactly how to provoke him!


    Yet now, she was drunk and leaning against him, looking so vulnerable and soft. The anger inside him


    inexplicably subsided.


    Lysander¡¯s breathing deepened. He lifted Thssa and turned to leave the bar.


    Hertha snapped back to reality and immediately followed, ¡°Hey, Lysander, let go of Thssa. Where


    are you taking her?¡±


    Thssa had told her that Lysander was a dangerous man. Everything he did was to torment her and


    to vent his resentment.


    Now Thssa was drunk, unconscious, and being taken away by Lysander. Wasn¡¯t she at his mercy?


    What if he hurt Thssa?


    Hertha took a couple of steps, but was stopped by a bouncer.


    The bouncer was tall, well-built and looked intimidating.


    Hertha didn¡¯t dare to force her way through, so she gave them a couple of smiles and tried to negotiate,


    ¡°Hey, she¡¯s my friend. Can you let me go? I just want to make sure she¡¯s safe.¡±


    The bouncer remained expressionless,pletely ignoring-her.


    ric chuckled, ¡°You must be a fool.¡±


    With that, he followed Lysander out of the bar.


    If she had just left with them quietly, everything would have been fine. But she had to cause a scene


    and get herself stopped, If that was not foolish, what was?


    Hertha, called a fool, was furious and yelled at ric¡¯s retreating figure, ¡°I¡¯m not a fool!¡±

 Chapter 550

    Chapter 550


    Lysander cradled Thssa and strode out of the bar. A sleek ck Rolls Royce was parked at the


    entrance. Neon lights glided over its luxurious exterior, casting a myriad of colors on the imposing and


    untouchable veneer.


    As he approached, the car door swung open.


    Several adorable tots mbered out.


    With their little legs pumping, they ran towards Lysander, their heads bobbing in a cutely clumsy


    manner. Their innocent faces, illuminated by the vibrant city lights, glowed with


    excitement.


    ¡°Mummy!¡±


    ¡°Mummy!


    ¡°Mummy!¡±


    ¡°Mummy!¡±


    Four voices called out in unison. The little ones tumbled towards Lysander, grabbing onto his trousers,


    reaching up to touch Thssa in his arms.


    From a distance, it looked as though Lysander had a swarm of children clinging to his legs.


    At this point, Thssa, ovee by alcohol, was fast asleep. The children she yearned to meet were


    around her, yet she remained oblivious.


    ric, who had stepped out, caught this scene.


    Lysander was cradling Thssa and four kids were running towards him, grabbing his legs, their eyes


    were twinkling with anticipation for Thssa.


    ric was puzzled. What was going on?


    ¡°Mum, what¡¯s wrong? Did Dad upset you?¡± Atticus, seeing Thssa¡¯s closed eyes and unconscious


    state, furrowed his small brow with concern, his childish voice wasced with panic.


    ¡°Mum, why aren¡¯t you paying attention to us? We aren¡¯t going to bed; we want to go with you.¡± Dorian


    tugged at Thssa¡¯s jacket, his voice on the verge of tears.


    ¡°Shush, Mum is sleeping. Let¡¯s not wake her up.¡± Elowen ced a chubby finger on her lips, making a


    hushing gesture, herrge round eyes were gleaming brightly, which was a picture of


    pure cuteness.


    ¡°Yeah, mommy¡¯s sleeping.¡± Sophia nodded in agreement. She was afraid to wake her mom up so her


    voice was barely above a whisper.


    She was timid little girl, but her mood became much more stable upon seeing her mother.


    As if having mother nearby gave her a boost of confidence.


    ric was utterly confused. What were these four kids calling Thssa?


    Mom?


    Weren¡¯t these Hertha¡¯s kids?


    Then, he saw Lysander nce down at the children. His deep-set eyes scanned over their faces as he


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    said, ¡°Be good and get back in the car.¡±


    ¡°Okay, Dad.¡± Elowen, always the obedient one, nodded vigorously and was the first to scamper


    towards the car.


    ric¡¯s eyes widened in shock.


    There was nothing wrong with his hearing, was there? What did that kid call Lysander?


    Dad?


    Lysander went from an eligible bachelor to a father of four?


    What on earth had happened in the few days he was absent? ric was confused.


    The other three kids obediently returned to the car after their wish to see their mother fulfilled.


    Lysander ced Thssa in the passenger seat, as there was no room left in the back with the four


    children.


    As he buckled Thssa in, he leaned closer to her. His breath fanned over her face.


    It was strong, domineering, and filled with a masculine scent.


    Thssa¡¯s senses were still heightened in her drunken state


    She smelled his scent and felt it quite familiar. In a daze, she reached out and gently caressed his face,


    her voice a soft murmur, ¡°Trying to seduce me, are you? I¡¯m more than you can handle, boy. I could


    actually be your mother¡­¡±


    She gently stroked Lysander¡¯s face. Her words were soft and gentle,ced with a drunken giggle.


    Her voice was barely a whisper, like she was talking in her sleep. It was audible only to him.

 Chapter 551

    Chapter 551


    She was definitely tempting me. Lysander thought.


    A ripple coursed through Lysander¡¯s heart, his breath hitching momentarily.


    Realization struck him the next second. What did she think of him?


    Was she attempting to take advantage of him?


    His eyes instantly assumed a frosty demeanor as he turned to gaze at the woman who was so close to


    him. Her eyes were closed; her longshes cast a shadow on her oval face which was flushed from the


    alcohol.


    Her lips were slightly parted, revealing a hint of pearly white teeth, her breath tinged with the scent of


    the wine.


    An invisible temptation.


    Lysander¡¯s throat constricted. ¡°Damn it!¡±, his gaze darkening as he muttered a curse under his breath.


    With a swift click, he fastened her seat belt, got up, and closed the passenger door.


    As he was about to head towards the driver¡¯s seat, ric came bounding over. His eyes were filled


    with curiosity and confusion.


    Content is ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org.


    ¡°Lysander, why are Hertha¡¯s kids calling you dad? What¡¯s going on?¡± He asked.


    Lysander threw him a nce, his deep voice ringing out, ¡°Have you lost your brains from hanging out


    with Hertha for too long?¡±


    With that, he walked over to the driver¡¯s seat, got in the car, started the engine and drove off into the


    night.


    As ric was standing there and staring after the retreating car, confusion etched on his face.


    Suddenly, a realization dawned upon him.


    The quadruplets were Lysander and Thssa¡¯s!


    So Hertha was merely a cover for Thssa to hide her children?


    ¡°Thssa!¡± At that moment, Hertha finally managed to shake off the bodyguard and ran out.


    She called out, but there was no sign of Lysander and Thssa.


    Looking around, she headed towards ric, asking ¡°Where are Lysander and Thssa?¡±


    ¡°They¡¯ve driven off with their four kids.¡± He watched her with his mischievous, long eyes, a hint of


    suspicion rose in his gaze.


    ¡°Lysander brought the kids too? That¡¯s good then. Thssa just wanted to see the kids ¡°Upon hearing


    ric¡¯s words, Hertha¡¯s worry was relieved and she even felt happy for Thssa.


    She had brought Thssa to the bar to take her mind off things just because Thssa was missing her


    children and feeling down.


    Now, things were looking up. Thssa finally got to see her children.


    ric¡¯s mouth curved into a yful smile, ¡°You¡¯re quite the secret keeper, aren¡¯t you? Aren¡¯t you afraid


    of Lysander wiping you out?¡±


    Hertha realized that ric knew the children were Thssa¡¯s and Lysander¡¯s. He knew that she had


    only imed they were hers to protect Thssa.


    She held her chin up proudly and righteously. ¡°Is it wrong to help my best friend? Besides, it¡¯s


    Lysander¡¯s fault. If he was responsible, would he have left Thssa to raise four kids alone for four


    years?¡±


    ¡°Keep talking. I¡¯ll record everything. When I have some free time, I¡¯ll let Lysander listen to it. If you can


    still talk tough then. I¡¯ll be impressed.¡± ric pretended to take out his phone to record


    her.


    Hertha panicked. Without giving much thought, she scurried over and reached for his phone.


    She definitely didn¡¯t dare to provoke that devil. Even talking behind his back required a lot of courage. If


    Lysander heard about this, she would be so screwed.


    ¡°Don¡¯t record it, give me your phone,¡± Hertha ran forward, reaching out to grab it.


    ric raised his hand out of her reach.


    In her haste, Hertha ran into him.


    Her chest collided with his body, causing her heart to race. She gazed up at ric, her eyes wide.


    ric too, felt the softness of her chest against his.


    His eyes, filled with mischief, met Hertha¡¯s.


    His damn captivating eyes made Hertha¡¯s heart pound uncontrobly.


    She took a few deep breaths, looked up at ric and said, ¡°Now that you know I¡¯m not a mother, can


    you date me?¡±

 Chapter 552

    Chapter 552


    ric gave her a yful nce as she leaned against his chest, a smirk tugging at his lips. ¡°That¡¯s all


    you¡¯ve got?¡±


    Hertha followed his gaze down to herself, realizing what he was referring to. Blushing furiously, she


    quickly stepped back from him and stammered out, ¡°What¡­what¡¯s wrong with me?¡±


    Her morale fell.


    ¡°You¡¯re just in chubby. If you don¡¯t have the looks, don¡¯t try to flirt.¡± ric¡¯s wickedment hung in


    the air as he turned and sauntered away.


    Content ? N?velDrama.Org 2024.


    Hertha was left fuming, close to tears.


    Wiping away her tears, Hertha called after ric¡¯s retreating figure with determination and anger, ¡°Just


    wait, ric, I¡¯ll show you!¡±


    Without a word or a backward nce, ric raised his hand in a dismissive wave before getting into


    his car and driving away.


    In the master room of the Royal Estate, Lysander scooped Thssa into his arms and ced her on


    the bed.


    Feeling the softfort of the bed against her back, Thssa woke up. She opened her eyes to see a


    handsome face with skin radiating masculine strength.


    His features were exquisite and deep, as beautiful as a sculpture.


    Thssa¡¯s heart, still fuzzy from the alcohol, jolted awake. ¡°Lysander!¡± she eximed with her eyes


    widened.


    Just having ced her on the bed, Lysander hadn¡¯t managed to get up yet. At her surprised


    exmation, he nced at her with a cold, handsome face, ¡°Awake now?¡±


    His aura was powerful and icy, his gaze sharp and dangerous.


    Thssa instantly became alert and tried to move further away from him.


    Before she could make a single move, hisrge hand gripped her chin. His rough fingers were as


    threatening as a de. ¡°Trying to run now? Where¡¯s the daring, flirty girl just now? He asked.


    Lysander¡¯s eyes seemed to pull her in like a vortex.


    Feeling his icy anger, Thssa blinked innocently, ¡°What flirting? I don¡¯t know what you¡¯re talking


    about¡­¡±


    All she could remember was that Hertha had been harassed at a bar. Then Lysander showed up, and


    she had gone over to talk to him about their children. But then her head started to spin and she


    remembered nothing else.


    Seeing her clueless expression, Lysander gritted his teeth and nodded slightly, ¡°Don¡¯t remember? Let


    me jog your memory¡­¡±


    ¡°Aah!¡±


    He yanked her towards him before she could react, lifting her chin and capturing her lips in a fierce


    kiss.


    ¡°Um¡­¡± Thssa was too shocked to respond, her breath hitching as he kissed her.


    Lysander was a powerful man with an overwhelming masculine aura; his icy coldness was enveloping


    her. She felt he would tear her apart if she dared to resist.


    Thssa¡¯s clutched his arms, initially intending to push him away. But his overwhelming presence


    drained her of her strength.


    Her grip on his arms turned into a trembling grasp, her body going limp.


    Sensing her weakening resistance, Lysander eased up slightly. She had stopped infuriating him, which


    was what a clever woman would do


    He could taste the sweet hint of alcohol on her lips, so he sucked and kissed her lips even more


    passionately.

 Chapter 553

    Chapter 553


    The thought of ric¡¯s words about her shameless flirtations with young men the bar infuriated


    Lysander, igniting a rage within him that made him want to throttle her.


    Thssa felt his kiss getting more domineering, more forceful as if he was sucking the life out of her,


    leaving her breathless and light-headed.


    A sudden pain shot through her thigh.


    Snapping back into reality, Thssa pushed against him with all the strength she could muster. But his


    muscr build was like a solid wall. Her efforts were utterly futile against him.


    Unable to push him away and with the imminent danger looming before her, Thssa bit down on his


    lips out of desperation.


    Lysander let out a pained groan, but he didn¡¯t let her go. His kisses grew more and more fierce.


    The taste of blood spread across her mouth, making him seem more dangerous and wilder, like a


    predatory beast.


    Her heart was pounding like a drum, and her fear made her blood bubble and churn.


    In the midst of her panic, Lysander finally let go of her.


    His deep voice was husky and low as he asked, ¡°What gives you the right to flirt with other men in


    bars? Are you tired of living, huh?¡±


    Once freed, Thssa moved her body back, distancing herself from the lethal danger he posed.


    She looked at her thigh, marked with the unmistakable imprint of his fingers. It was a striking testament


    to his strength and the danger he posed.


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    She took in deep breaths. Her eyes were misty and confused as she looked at Lysander. His lower lip


    was bleeding, making him look even more devilishly attractive, like a blood-thirsty


    beast.


    Thssa swallowed hard, her breath hitching, ¡°You were the one who said we¡¯re done and that I can¡¯t


    see our child. I was alone and bored, and I needed to find someone to keep mepany. Isn¡¯t that


    what you wanted?¡±


    Her drunken haze had receded, reced by a sober rity.


    She was baiting him, gambling on his possessiveness not having faded just yet.


    When she had been around Leopold more frequently in the past, Lysander had always reacted with


    anger and jealousy.


    Even though he knew about her secret children, he still showed signs of jealousy when he saw her with


    Leopold in Hollowbrook.


    Thssa was betting on him still having feelings for her. A man¡¯s possessiveness, once ignited, was


    not to be underestimated.


    She was gambling for a chance to see her children more often.


    Lysander¡¯s eyes darkened, and a chilling aura radiated from him.


    He wiped the blood off his lips. His gaze was intense and intimidating as he moved closer, ¡°If you¡¯re so


    desperate for a man, I might as well kill you in bed!¡±


    His words were cold and threatening.


    His icy, oppressive aura drew closer, like the fangs of a wild beast nearing her, making Thssa¡¯s


    pupils constrict in fear.


    She leaned back and said, ¡°Lysander, don¡¯t do anything rash. You were the one who said you¡¯re done


    with me. If that¡¯s the case, what I do is my own business. You have no right to interfere¡­¡±


    Before she could finish, her ankle was grabbed.


    ¡°Ah! Caught off guard, she found herself suddenly pulled under him.


    Like amb awaiting ughter, she was nketed by his muscr, imposing body.


    His handsome face was as dark as ink, and his icy gaze locked onto her, asking, ¡°Who said you¡¯re


    free? Until I say it, otherwise, you¡¯re still mine, got it?¡±

 Chapter 554

    Chapter 554


    Thssa stood her ground, gasping for breath, her captivating eyes meeting his with unyielding


    strength.


    ¡°So, have you changed your mind after me giving birth to four of your kids? Are you going to marry me


    now?¡± Thssa retorted.


    Lysander¡¯s icy gaze turned colder, sharp as a knife.


    Marry her?


    Once upon a time, when he found out she was the woman who had saved him five years prior, he had


    Belongs to N?velDrama.Org - All rights reserved.


    considered marrying her.


    It was only natural. She was his woman, after all, and marriage was the expected next step.


    But then, not only did he find out she was Bruce¡¯s daughter, but she was also doing exactly what his


    mother had done!


    She was double-dealing and preparing to elope with Leopold with his assets!


    His mother had done the same, taking the Sinir family¡¯s money and nning to elope with Bruce,


    leading to his father chasing after them and getting his parents into a fatal car ident.


    Such women were venomous scorpions.


    ¡°Heh, marry you? Don¡¯t tter yourself. In this lifetime, you can forget about stepping into the Sinir


    family!¡± Lysander¡¯s voice was cold and full of hatred.


    His words were like a knife, stabbing directly into Thssa¡¯s heart.


    Her breaths turned sharp, causing her pain.


    ¡°If that¡¯s the case, I¡¯ll find a young lover if I want to. I¡¯ll marry whoever I want. It¡¯s none of your business.


    Ah!¡± Thssa¡¯s words were cut off as her jaw was suddenly grabbed, causing her to wince in pain.


    Lysander¡¯s handsome face was as cold and sharp as ice, his expression ominous as he asked, ¡°Want


    to get married? Not on my watch! Didn¡¯t you remember anything I said? Seems like you need a


    lesson!¡±


    Lysander¡¯s rage was ignited, and Thssa barely managed to withstand it.


    When she woke up again, it was already the following day.


    She was lying on her side, her back against a hot, lean chest and muscr arms holding her.


    Above her, she could still hear the man¡¯s deep breathing.


    As soon as Thssa regained consciousness, her body tensed.


    She was being held by Lysander like a rag doll, unable to move.


    That position, on the surface, seemed sweet and warm, but only she knew how heartbreaking and


    dangerous it was.


    She tried to move her legs, intending to get up.


    But as soon as she moved, the pain in her waist and legs red up, causing her to gasp.


    Lysander¡¯s anger the previous day had been too fierce. If her body was any weaker, she might not


    have survived.


    The hot male breath behind her was like a wild beast¡¯s, dangerous and deadly to Thssa.


    She cautiously moved her body, trying to get up.


    Just as she was about to seed, the arm around her tightened and pulled her back.


    ¡°Where do you think you¡¯re going?¡± A low, sleepy male voice sounded.


    Thssa¡¯s nerves immediately tensed, ¡°I¡¯m going to take a shower.¡±


    ¡°Sleep a little longer. We¡¯ll go together,¡± Lysander said, his hot breath tickling her nape.


    Thssa, ticklish, shrunk her neck but didn¡¯t move anymore, her body rigid. She carefully chose her


    words, ¡°If I promise to be a good woman to you, will you let me see our kids?


    She had said those things the previous night to provoke him, to test if he still had that crazed


    possessiveness over her.


    She was using her life to negotiate benefits for herself.


    Lysander opened his previously closed eyes, looking down at her, ¡°What makes you think you can


    negotiate with me?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m the mother of our children, I raised them. They¡¯ve never been without me since birth. They need


    their mother, and I can¡¯t be without them. You lost your parents when you were young. You wouldn¡¯t


    want your kids to grow up without a mother¡¯s love, would you?¡±


    Thssa gathered her courage, giving her reasons for wanting to see the kids, hoping to evoke his


    empathy.


    Empathy could soften hearts.


    But that method was risky.


    If she wasn¡¯t careful, she could have ended up getting hurt again.


    As soon as she finished speaking, the gaze from above turned even colder, her scalp tingling under his


    intense scrutiny.

 Chapter 555

    Chapter 555


    Lysander¡¯s grip on her hand tightened, and his body emanated a chill that made her teeth chatter like


    she was in a walk-in freezer.


    ¡°You¡¯ve got some nerve!¡± After a long silence, Lysander¡¯s words broke through, sharp as ice shards.


    N?velDrama.Org: text ? owner.


    She had dared to provoke him time and time again. Did she have a death wish?


    ¡°I can give you back the billion¡­¡± Thssa¡¯s voice trembled. Her fear was so deep that she was


    unaware of her own shivering tone.


    ¡°Do you think I care about the money?¡± Lysander¡¯s voice was cold, dark, and menacing.


    ¡°I¡­¡±


    Just as Thssa was about to speak, the door creaked open.


    The sound of tiny voices filled the room.


    Four different voices spoke in unison, ¡°Mommy!¡±


    Four little bundles of joy scampered towards the bed, their tiny legs carrying them with boundless


    excitement.


    Thssa turned to see her children bounding towards her like a colony of penguins.


    Her spirits lifted instantly at the sight of them after two days. She was about to rise from the bed when


    she realized she was not dressed.


    She quickly retreated under the covers.


    But the kids were already there, climbing onto the bed and making their way towards Thssa, eager


    to snuggle under the covers with her.


    ¡°Mommy, are you and Daddy sleeping together? I want to sleep too.¡± Elowen, her hair tied in two


    pigtails, had a sweet smile on her face as she tried to lift the covers.


    ¡°Me too, me too!¡± Dorian chimed in happily.


    ¡°Yes, we want to sleep with Mommy,¡± Sophia agreed, nodding emphatically.


    Atticus was lying at Thssa¡¯s feet, with a rare smile on his face as he looked at her.


    ¡°Hey, wait, no¡­¡± Thssa gripped the corner of the duvet, panic-stricken.


    She was undressed, and she was certain Lysander was too. If the kids were to lift the covers, it would


    have been a big problem.


    Just the thought made Thssa want to disappear on the spot.


    ¡°We want to sleep with Mommy,¡± Elowen pouted, pulling at the covers with determination.


    Dorian and Sophia joined in. Theirbined strength was enough to move the duvet.


    Thssa¡¯s breath hitched in surprise.


    The next moment, Lysander¡¯s strong hand held the duvet in ce, one hand securing the cover at his


    waist, the other holding down the cover on Thssa, preventing the kids from lifting


    1.


    His deep gaze fell on the three children, his usually stern voice unusually soft, ¡°Sweethearts, why don¡¯t


    you step out for a bit? When Mommy wakes up, she can y with you.¡±


    Thssa turned to look at Lysander in disbelief. She couldn¡¯t believe what he had just said.


    Her heart was pounding with excitement. Her eyes skimmed over his bare, well-built chest, his


    muscr and sexy physique. His skin was like a canvas of masculine allure.


    As her mind drifted to the events of the previous night, a blush crept up her face, and she quickly


    looked away.


    ¡°Really? Mommy can y with us?¡± Elowen¡¯s eyes sparkled as she looked at Lysander.


    The other three kids also looked at Lysander. Their innocent-eyes filled with anticipation.


    ¡°Of course,¡± Lysander confirmed with a nod.

 Chapter 556

    Chapter 556


    ¡°Uh-huh, I want to y with Mommy.¡± Elowen agreed. Her big, bright eyes danced with excitement.


    ¡°Let¡¯s go and wait for Mommy outside,¡± Dorian suggested, getting up from the bed and grabbing


    Elowen¡¯s tiny hand.


    Sophia, always the proactive one, had already slid off the bed.


    Hand-in-hand, Elowen, and Dorian walked to the edge of the bed, leaned over, and slid down as well.


    Atticus, the quickest, was already waiting for his siblings at the door.


    Thssa watched her little ones go. Her heart was full of warmth. When they reached the door, Elowen


    stopped and turned her chubby face towards Thssa. ¡°Mommy, I want to sleep with you tonight.¡±


    ¡°Me too!¡± Dorian raised his hand.


    ¡°Same here,¡± Sophia mumbled, her head down.


    Looking at their innocent eyes full of love and dependency, Thssa was overwhelmed with


    happiness, despite her predicament at the time. ¡°All right, Mommy will tell you a story tonight,¡± she


    promised. Her smile was tender and full of motherly love.


    With that assurance, the little ones cheerfully left the room.


    Fitch, who had been waiting at the door, quickly shut it. A cold sweat broke out on his back.


    He had been terrified when the children woke up and demanded to see their mother. Unable to hold


    them off, he had taken them to the master bedroom. However, he hadn¡¯t expected them to open the


    door themselves. They rushed in before he even had a chance to stop them.


    Scared of disturbing Lysander and the potential consequences, Fitch had waited nervously outside the


    door. His legs were weak with fear.


    Thankfully, Lysander hadn¡¯t shown any signs of anger.


    Even so, Fitch was still shaken up. If he had disturbed Lysander and exposed the children to something


    they shouldn¡¯t have seen, his career as a butler would have been over. He resolved to keep a closer


    eye on the children in the future to prevent any such mishaps.


    After the children had left, Thssa got up. The nket slipped off her. She quickly grabbed it, turning


    to look at Lysander. His intense gaze was an invisible pressure, stirring her


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    emotions.


    Thssa felt her heart rate quicken. Her body stiffened under his scrutiny. Even though the children


    were gone, her embarrassment hadn¡¯t subsided.


    With daylight streaming in, any movement she made was clearly visible to Lysander.


    Feeling exposed and vulnerable, she squirmed under his gaze.


    ¡°What haven¡¯t I seen of you that you¡¯re still shy?¡± Lysander¡¯s baritone voice carried a hint of teasing.


    His words were tant, causing Thssa to blush with embarrassment and anger. She snapped back,


    ¡°Same goes for you. You have no secrets from me.¡±


    ¡°Is that so? Then let¡¯s be open about it.¡± Lysander responded.


    At that moment, Thssa felt a chill run down her spine.


    Gasping in surprise, she didn¡¯t know where to ce her hands.


    ¡°Ah!¡± The next moment, she found herself lifted off the bed.


    Instinctively, she wrapped her arms around his neck. His chest was firm and sculpted, radiating a


    masculine allure that was almost intoxicating.


    His breath fanned her face.


    Thssa¡¯s heart pounded in her chest.


    Wide-eyed, she looked up at him. His jaw was sharply defined, and his Adam¡¯s apple was prominent.


    Everything about him screamed masculinity.


    Thssa felt her heart rise to her throat, and she swallowed hard.


    ¦Ô¦Ð¦Á¦Ñ¦É¦Ò¦É¦Í

 Chapter 557

    Chapter 557


    Lysander¡¯s eyes, profound and enigmatic, gave her a fleeting nce. He registered her flushed face,


    and a flicker of amusement danced in the depths of his eyes. It was followed by a slight movement of


    his Adam¡¯s apple.


    He headed to the bathroom. His steps echoed softly before the door shut behind him.


    The sound of the shower drizzled softly, mist fogging up the frosted ss and obscuring the silhouette


    within.


    Despite her fatigue, Thssa knew she couldn¡¯t dy. The children were waiting for her downstairs,


    eager to indulge in their prearranged ytime.


    She opted for a turtleneck dress from her wardrobe. Once dressed and freshened up, she descended


    the stairs.


    The dining room scene was heartwarming.


    Lysander sat at one end of the rectangr table, impably dressed in a suit and tie. His handsome


    features were rxed as if nothing out of the ordinary had urred.


    He was elegantly partaking of his breakfast.


    Across the table, four little munchkins were obediently enjoying their meal.


    Usually, meal times at home were a riot of chatter andughter, with bits of food strewn about the


    table.


    But then, the children were unusually quiet, eating their breakfast with decorum. Each of them had a


    napkin tucked into their cors to prevent any spills.


    Servants stood at their disposal, ready to attend to their needs at a moment¡¯s notice.


    Witnessing that scene stirred a mix of emotions within Thssa. A touch of mncholy intertwined with


    profound gratitude within her.


    Indeed, when with their father, the children received the best care and attention.


    During the four years with her, they had been through tumultuous times.


    Despite his disinterest in children, Lysander was their father, and he ensured their well-being.


    ¡°Mom, you¡¯re here. The shrimp¡¯s so tasty, and you should try some,¡± Elowen¡¯s sweet and innocent


    voice broke the silence. Her eyes were glowing with delight as she held a shrimp tail, happily munching


    away, her mouth smeared with sauce.


    She resembled a little kitten.


    A smile tugged at Thssa¡¯s lips as she approached the table, only to pause when she noticed the


    seating arrangement.


    With the four kids seated opposite Lysander, there was no space. The other sides of the tablecked


    the necessary tableware and chairs. Only the spot next to Lysander was avable.


    Clearly, that spot was reserved for her.


    However, sitting next to Lysander, with his aura of silent intimidation, was not Thssa¡¯s first choice.


    She preferred to sit with the children, but there were no vacant spots.


    Reluctantly, she settled down next to Lysander.


    ¡°Mom, try the shrimp,¡± Atticus, a little gentleman, offered her a peeled shrimp from his te.


    With a gracious nod, Thssa replied, ¡°Thank you, Atticus.¡±


    As she leaned forward, her neckline slipped, revealing a portion of her neck.


    Atticus, noticing the bruise on her skin, expressed concern, ¡°Mom, what happened? Are you hurt?¡±


    He pointed to his own neck, mirroring her bruise, his worry evident in his expression.


    Caught off guard, Thssa nced down, her eyes widening at the sight of the mark Lysander had


    left. She quickly adjusted her cor, a blush creeping up her cheeks. She forced a smile, her eyes


    Content ? N?velDrama.Org 2024.


    darting away in embarrassment.


    ¡°It¡¯s nothing, sweetheart. I just bumped into something¡­¡± she replied, her gaze darting usingly


    towards Lysander.


    It was all his fault! He had been too rough.


    Despite her efforts to conceal the bruise with a turtleneck, the children had still noticed,


    Lysander¡¯s gaze met hers, and there was a spark of amusement in his eyes at her usatory look.

 Chapter 558

    Chapter 558


    Though the children were oblivious, the adults in the room knew exactly what was going on.


    Lysander, in particr, understood the origin of Thssa¡¯s so-called injuries. His handsome face was


    grave and calm. He spoke with his low and maic voice, ¡°Let¡¯s eat.¡±


    Thssa sighed, feeling helpless against the absolute authority. Lysander had taught her that as long


    as she wasn¡¯t embarrassed, it was everyone else¡¯s problem.


    Thssa picked up a piece of shrimp that Atticus had given her. Vengefully, she ate it in a single bite,


    her teeth grinding it to pieces.


    She imagined the shrimp as Lysander, crunching him down.


    Fitch, who had been standing by to serve, had quietly walked away after hearing Atticus question and


    seeing the exchange between Thssa and Lysander. He also called the other servants away.


    It was best not to get involved in those kind of situations.


    Atticus was an astute child, clever and wise beyond his years.


    Despite Thssa¡¯s im that she had identally injured herself, he had seen the resentment in her


    eyes as she looked at Lysander.


    His young brows furrowed into a small knot.


    It must have been his father who had hurt his mother and caused her injury.


    Before, when his mother had a gash on her forehead and bandages on her face, it had been


    Lysander¡¯s doing.


    That time, it must have been him again.


    His mother had probably said she had identally hurt herself to keep him from worrying.


    Atticus clenched his tiny fists in silence.


    After breakfast, Elowen suggested a game of hide and seek.


    Thssa began to y with the children. She counted while the children went to hide.


    ¡°One, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight, nine, ten. Ready or not, here Ie,¡± Thssa said,


    removing her hands from her eyes and asking gently.


    ¡°Ready!¡± Elowen, who was hiding behind the curtains, squeaked. Her tiny body shrunk further into the


    folds.-


    Thssa started to search for them.


    Underneath the dining table, she found a little bottom sticking way up in the air. She crouched down


    and lightly tapped the protruding butt. Her voice was soft and affectionate as she asked, ¡°Whose


    adorable little bottom is this, sticking up in the air like that?¡±


    ¡°Ahaha, Mom, you found me! I thought you couldn¡¯t see me,¡± Dorian said, immediately lowering his little


    butt and sitting up straight.


    ¡°You were the one closing your eyes and crawling on the floor. Not me,¡± Thssa replied with a gentle


    and beautiful smile.


    ¡°Ah, I see,¡± Dorian realized. He crawled out from under the table and took Thssa¡¯s hand, saying,


    ¡°Mom, I¡¯ll help you find them. know where brother and sister are hiding¡­


    He led Thssa to the curtains, and before she could look for herself, Dorian gleefully lifted the


    curtains and said, ¡°Elowen, found you!¡±


    Elowen, having been found, let out a joyful, tinklingugh. Her little chest was shaking withughter.


    Children¡¯s happiness is so simple.


    Then, Dorian and Elowen spontaneously found Sophia hiding behind Fitch. The three children hugged


    each other, filling the Royal Estates withughter and innocence.


    Fitch, with a smile on his face, felt a sense of nostalgia. The usually quiet Royal Estates was finally


    Belongs to N?velDrama.Org - All rights reserved.


    filled withughter. Having children really made a difference.


    Atticus came out of the restroom on his own, with no need for anyone to find him.


    Thssa smiled and crouched down to look into Atticus¡¯ innocent eyes, asking, ¡°Atticus, what¡¯s wrong?


    You don¡¯t look very happy.


    Atticus¡¯ expression was severe. His young brows furrowed as he said, ¡°Hide and Seek is childish. It¡¯s


    not fun at all.¡±


    Thssaughed and ruffled his hair, ¡°What would you like to y then?¡±

 Chapter 559

    Chapter 559


    ¡°Tablet.¡± Atticus said.


    Thssa blinked and said, ¡°You didn¡¯t bring your tablet with you.¡±


    ¡°Dad gave me two. I was in the tech ss in kindergarten,¡± Atticus said in his childish voice.


    Thssa looked surprised, turning to look at Lysander, who was sitting on the couch. There seemed to


    have been a hint of a smile ying on his lips. When he noticed her gaze, the smile disappeared


    instantly, and his face turned cold again.


    He resumed his unapproachable demeanor.


    Did she just see things? She was sure she saw a smile on Lysander¡¯s face, probably touched by the


    children¡¯s cheerfulness.


    But then, he appeared icy and intimidating again.


    Thssa shivered involuntarily.


    ¡°Me too. Dad gave me ice cream.¡± Elowen chimed in, speaking of the reward Lysander had given her.


    ¡°I¡¯m in the drama ss,¡± Dorian said happily.


    ¡°I, I have two charm nes,¡± Sophia said, her cheeks flushed.


    So, the children received gifts from Lysander just two days after arriving at the Royal Estates?


    He really was something. In less than two days, he had been able to understand the children¡¯s


    preferences and knew how to please them, making them obedient.


    Capitalists are truly terrifying.


    The tactics used in the business world can also be applied to parenting.


    Thssa felt a strange feeling in her heart.


    She initially thought the children would have felt ufortable without her. But to her surprise, they


    seemed quite happy at the Royal Estates.


    While she was happy for their adaptability, she could not help but feel a profound sense of loss.


    ¡°Everyone has a present. That¡¯s great!¡± Thssa smiled, praising each child.


    Today is Thursday. Do you have to go to schoolter?¡± Thssa asked.


    At that moment, Fitch came over, ¡°We need to leave soon, or we¡¯ll bete.¡±


    Thssa looked at the four pairs of innocent eyes filled with reluctance to leave her and go to school.


    She didn¡¯t want them to go either, but school was necessary.


    Sheforted them, ¡°Be good and go to school. Mom will pick you up in the afternoon, okay?¡±


    ¡°Okay. Mom muste to pick us up.¡± The children, being understanding, agreed.


    Thssa promised, ¡°Yes, Mom will definitely pick you up.¡±


    Fitch led the four children out of the Royal Estates.


    Thssa watched them leave, the sense of loss in her heart bing more intense.


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    Only when the car had left the Royal Estates did Thssa turn back and walk towards the couch.


    Sitting opposite Lysander, she carefully chose her words, ¡°What is your bank ount number? I want


    to return the billion dors to you. In return, you must allow me to see the children whenever I


    I want.¡±


    Lysander lifted his usual deep, icy gaze to her, ¡°Are you trying to negotiate with me?¡±


    ¡°Consider it that way, I can give up everything as long as I can see the kids,¡± Thssa admitted, feeling


    tense under his prating gaze. After all, she was dealing with Lysander.


    But to secure that right, she had to face him bravely, no matter how nervous she was.


    Lysander¡¯s gaze locked onto her without a word as if trying to see right through her.


    Thssa clenched her right hand with her left, bearing his sharp gaze and the Invisible pressure, which


    was so overwhelming that she was hardly able to breathe.

 Chapter 560

    Chapter 560


    Just when Thssa felt as if she could bear no more, Lysander¡¯s icy voice broke the silence. ¡°Regret is


    a luxury not everyone can afford. If you choose to run off with the money, then you


    have to pay the price!¡±


    Thssa was taken aback. Run off with the money?


    Hadn¡¯t he just transferred the money to her without a word?


    Before she could respond, Lysander continued in a cold tone, ¡°From now on, you have no connection


    to the kids. This time was an exception. There won¡¯t be a next time.¡±


    With that, Lysander shifted his gaze towards the bodyguard waiting nearby.


    The bodyguard immediately understood. He approached Thssa and made a gesture, ¡°Ms. Everhart,


    your driver is waiting outside.¡±


    A knot formed in Thssa¡¯s chest. She felt angry and wronged as she red at Lysander.


    It was he who unterally gave her a billion dors to sever her ties with the children. How did that


    be her running off with the money?


    He was clearly twisting the situation.


    Thssa was filled with bitterness. What hurt the most was that she wasn¡¯t going to be able to see her


    children anymore.


    She had promised them that she would pick them up from school that afternoon.


    Tears welled up in her eyes as she got up. Her voice trembled as she said to Lysander, ¡°I didn¡¯t run off


    with the money. You know that better than anyone! Why do you insist on framing me? I¡¯m their mother.


    They need me! How can you deny me my right to see them?¡±


    She had already humbled herself to that extent, allowing him to manipte her, begging for a chance


    to speak with him.


    Content ? N?velDrama.Org 2024.


    But he remained indifferent, intent on separating her from her children.


    Thssa couldn¡¯t bear it anymore, not because she wasn¡¯t scared or nervous. It was just that


    The bodyguard was stunned; he was frozen in ce. He thought, ¡°This Ms. Everhart, daring to yell in


    front of Lysander? She is definitely brave.¡±


    Lysander¡¯s gaze was targeted at Thssa like a sharp de, making her shiver. Her body was


    covered in a cold sweat.


    She clenched her teeth, trying to muster up her courage. Her clear eyes met his.


    Lysander stood up. His towering presence cast a dark shadow over Thssa. A suffocating pressure


    pressed down on her chest, making it difficult for her to breathe.


    Lysander finally spoke, ¡°Elowen had to get stitches for a cut on her forehead. And Sophia is so thin.


    You can¡¯t provide for the children¡¯s talents or interests. You can¡¯t even take care of them properly. Are


    you sure they need you?¡±


    Thssa was being pressured by Lysander¡¯s sharp gaze. His words were like a sharp sword,


    ruthlessly stabbing into her heart.


    Her breath hitched. It felt like something was suffocating her, making it a luxury to even breathe


    normally.


    ¡°What are you waiting for? Show her out!¡± Lysander¡¯s icy gaze shifted to the bodyguard.


    The bodyguard jumped, quickly moving to escort Thssa out. If she didn¡¯t leave, he would have been


    in trouble.


    Thssa pushed him away, ¡°I can walk myself!¡±


    Her eyes filled with tears, and she gave Lysander a resentful, pained, and restrained look before


    turning to leave.


    The driver was waiting outside, opening the car door for Thssa to get in.


    Thssa bit her lip, trying her best to hold back her tears. She bent over to get into the car, unable to


    hold back any longer, tears cascading down her cheeks.

 Chapter 561

    Chapter 561


    Her fists clenched tightly, and she struggled to maintain herposure.


    In the living room, Lysander¡¯s handsome face was hardened, dark and cold. His cheeks moved slightly


    as he tightly clenched his jaw.


    His mood was irritable, bordering on boiling point.


    He fumbled in his pocket for a cigarette, lit one, and took a deep, heavy drag. The smoke swirled


    around him, blurring his vision.


    Everyone has to pay the price for their actions.


    That was the punishment!


    The car moved steadily on the road. Thssa buried her face in her hands, tears seeping through her


    fingers. Her breathing was shaky.


    She thought she could have persuaded Lysander to let her see their children.


    She had overestimated her importance to him.


    Even if his possessiveness was intense, he would not have backed down for her.


    What was she to him? She was just a tool for venting anger.


    She thought she could have negotiated with him, but that was not the case.


    Defeat, despair, and the pain of separation from her children deeply tormented Thssa¡¯s heart.


    What should she do next?


    How could she see her children?


    The car drove all the way to Vibrant Oasis Residences.


    Thssa got out of the car,posed herself, wiped away her tears, and sat by the flower bed for a


    while until the traces of her tearspletely disappeared. Then she went inside her


    home.


    Evelyn, who heard the noise, came to the door in surprise. Seeing Thssa, she peeked out and


    looked behind her. Then her surprised expression became serious, she asked, ¡°Where are the kids?


    Why did youe back alone? Didn¡¯t Hertha say you left with Lysander to see them?¡±


    Thssa lowered her head, looked at Evelyn, and forced a smile, making herself seem light-hearted,


    ¡°Mom, the kids are doing great with Lysander. Once they are settled, I¡¯ll take you to see


    them.¡±


    ¡°What do you mean? Has Lysander taken the children for good?¡± Evelyn¡¯s expression was serious,


    shocked, and suppressed tension.


    ¡°Mom, the kids will have a great life with Lysander. They will have the best education and top


    resources. They will have a head start in life. Unlike with us, where we constantly worry about our daily


    bread.¡±


    Thssa tried to speak in a light-hearted manner to Evelyn,forting her and urging her to see the


    brighter side of things.


    Upon hearing Thssa¡¯s words, Evelyn copsed, hitting Thssa¡¯s shoulder and arm forcefully. She


    N?velDrama.Org: text ? owner.


    berated Thssa, ¡°You useless thing! What are you talking about? Why wouldn¡¯t the kids be good with


    us? Are you still their mother?¡±


    Evelyn cried as she hit Thssa.


    Evelyn, out of control, didn¡¯t hold back her strength.


    Thssa stood there, not moving, letting Evelyn hit her.


    She knew Evelyn was hurting inside, and so was she.


    ¡°You¡¯re always busy working, onlying home to y with them in the evenings. I raised them from


    diapers, and now that they can finally call me grandma and run around, you let their damned father


    take them away! What am I supposed to do? It¡¯s so empty, so painful without them calling me


    grandma¡­¡±


    As Evelyn hit Thssa andined, her strength suddenly left her, and she broke down crying.


    The children had only been gone for two days, but she was already like a lost soul.


    Thssa, who had managed to control her emotions, also broke down, tears streaming down her face.

 Chapter 562

    Chapter 562


    ¡°My little angels, do you miss Grandma?¡± Evelyn spoke to herself while crying, wandering to the sofa in


    a daze. She copsed onto the sofa, tears streaming down her face as she stared nkly at the teddy


    bear that once belonged to Elowen.


    Their toys were like vestiges of them.


    Thssa wiped her tears, settling down beside Evelyn. A house that was usually filled withughter


    and the buzz of children was then eerily quiet, devoid of life.


    The silence was suffocating, unbearable.


    But such a life was something they had to get used to.


    ¡°Mum, don¡¯t be so upset. The kids have just gone to live with their dad. It¡¯s not like we¡¯ll never see them


    again. This afternoon, I¡¯ll take you to pick them up from kindergarten,¡± Thssa tried to console Evelyn


    and herself too.


    ¡°I went to the kindergarten. That damned father of theirs has transferred them to another school,¡±


    Evelyn said, wiping her tears angrily.


    ¡°I¡¯ve checked. The kids are now at Starhaven International Kindergarten. We¡¯ll go there early and wait


    for them.¡± Thssa had looked up kindergartens with performance and IT sses while they were in


    the car. Starhaven International Kindergarten was the best.


    ¡°Really?¡± Evelyn¡¯s face lit up with joy. She wiped her tears and stood up, ¡°I¡¯ll take a quick nap, and we¡¯ll


    set off.¡±


    Evelyn had spent the entire night thinking about her grandchildren. It was still morning, so a couple of


    hours of sleep would have done her good.


    Excited and eager, she looked forward to seeing her grandchildren again. After she left, Thssa


    heaved a sigh of relief.


    She believed that every problem had a solution.


    At Sinir Group, in the CEO¡¯s office.


    Content is ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org.


    David made a cup of coffee and ced it on Lysander¡¯s desk, ¡°Your coffee, Mr. Sinir.¡±


    Lysander was reading a contract. He took a sip of the coffee and frowned slightly. He gave David a look


    David sensed imminent danger; it seemed his coffee was not up to the mark. It wasn¡¯t a problem before


    Thssa came into the picture. Then, it seemed, Lysander was used to the coffee made by Thssa.


    Being intuitive, David could tell Lysander was in a bad mood. He silently left the office, not wanting to


    be the target of Lysander¡¯s frustration.


    As he reached the door, he ran into the manager from the tech department, who looked flustered.


    David asked, ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡±


    ¡°The hacker. He¡¯s back. His skills are too advanced. Our team couldn¡¯t hold the firewall. We¡¯ve lost ten


    million¡­¡± the manager said nervously.


    ¡°What?¡± David pushed open the door to Lysander¡¯s office, bringing the manager in to report.


    After hearing the report, Lysander¡¯s face darkened. He stood up and walked out of the office, asking


    coldly, ¡°What are you waiting for? Lead the way!¡±


    Lysander thought, ¡°Thssa, your ambition knows no bounds. Can¡¯t wait to make your move again,


    can you? Let¡¯s see who¡¯s brave enough to y your hacker!¡±


    ¡°Yes, yes, yes¡­¡± The manager quickly led the way.

 Chapter 563

    Chapter 563


    Following the map¡¯s directions, Lysander and his team tracked down the culprit to the Starhaven


    International Kindergarten.


    Their sleek ck Rolls-Royce parked at the entrance, the manager nervously held his iPad, eyes


    darting to the blinking locator app. ¡°Mr. Sinir,¡± he stammered, ¡°The crime wasmitted within the


    kindergarten.¡±


    ¡°How urate can we get? Lysandermanded, his icy demeanor keeping everyone at bay.


    The manager replied, ¡°We can pinpoint the exact device used for the crime.¡± -The device that was used


    to hack into the Sinir Group¡¯s financial department.


    If they found the device, they could have found the person who used it.


    Lysander¡¯s gaze pierced through the school¡¯s facade.


    The school¡¯s principal hurriedly arrived with a forced smile on his face. He nervously approached


    Lysander and stuttered, ¡°Mr. Sinir, wee,¡± his voice shaking from the icy aura emanating from


    Lysander.


    His nervousness was palpable.


    ¡°Do you find it hard to earn $2 billion, or does the kindergarten want to close down? Do you dare to


    target the Sinir Group? Do you have a death wish?¡± Lysander¡¯s frosty gaze swept over the principal,


    his chilling words hanging in the air.


    The principal fell to his knees, ¡°Mr. Sinir, if we¡¯ve done anything wrong, please tell us. We¡¯ll make


    amends¡­¡±


    But he had no idea what they had done wrong.


    ¡°It¡¯s no longer your kindergarten!¡± Lysander coldly nced at him before striding into the school.


    The principal was left aghast and helpless.


    His mind raced. How was he going to exin that to the shareholders?


    Content is ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org.


    Who had provoked Lysander to such an extent?


    In the school¡¯s tech ss, ten children held tablets, the teacher lectured from the front, and the


    students followed along.


    All except one.


    Atticus¡¯ screen was filled with lines of code, his tiny fingers flew across the screen. His young brow


    furrowed in concentration.


    He had just transferred $10 million to his mother¡¯s ount but, in his haste, had left a loophole that


    could have potentially exposed his IP address. He was then desperately trying to cover


    his tracks.


    In the midst of his focus, three men walked into the ssroom.


    The man leading them had a powerful aura, and the air seemed to ripple around him. There was a


    palpable sense of intrusion.


    The teacher froze, abruptly ending the lesson and nervously approaching the intruders.


    But Lysander didn¡¯t even spare the teacher a nce. He walked straight towards Atticus!


    Feeling the change in the atmosphere, Atticus looked up and saw Lysander approaching. His small


    hand shook, and he quickly tried to switch screens.


    Lysander¡¯s hand shot out, grabbing the tablet from him.

 Chapter 564

    Chapter 564


    Lysander stared at the tablet in his hand. His eyes swiftly scanned the jumping letters and numbers


    that represented lines of code.


    After a few seconds, the words ¡°Bug Fixed Sessfully¡± popped up on the screen.


    Lysander¡¯s expression was as dark as a stormy sky, and his sharp, chilling eyes turned towards the


    boy sitting in the chair.


    Atticus was about to reach for his own tablet when he met Lysander¡¯s gaze. It was a gaze as deep and


    terrifying as a ck hole.


    Despite being a mere four-year-old, even the most mature and brave child would have instinctively


    feared such an intense look.


    Atticus¡¯ young and innocent eyes flickered with fear, and he nervously fiddled with the hem of his shirt.


    He had hacked into the financial department of The Sinir Group and been caught red-handed by


    Lysander. What was he to do then?


    Lysander said nothing. His gaze was fixated on Atticus.


    One look was worth a thousand words.


    ¡°Mr. Sinir, is there something you find unsatisfactory about our ss?¡± asked the technology teacher.


    His voice was shaky as he attempted to maintain a polite smile


    Everyone knew that Lysander was nning to buy the kindergarten. As the soon-to-be owner, his mere


    presence was enough to strike fear into the hearts of others.


    The teacher was visibly on edge, and his back was drenched in sweat as Lysander turned his icy gaze


    towards him.


    The look was enough to send shivers down the teacher¡¯s spine. His knees nearly buckled under the


    pressure.


    David stepped forward, whispering to the teacher, ¡°Please escort the rest of the students out of the


    ssroom.¡±


    The teacher nodded, quickly and efficiently guiding the other children out of the room.


    David and the tech team also left, leaving only Lysander and Atticus alone in the ssroom.


    Lysander tossed the tablet onto the wooden desk. The sound of it hitting the surface echoed in the


    silent room, startling Atticus.


    ¡°Exin to me where the ten million from The Sinir Group¡¯s financial department went Lysander


    asked. He maintained a voice as calm as he could have mustered.


    ¡°I sent it to Mom¡¯s bank ount, Atticus mumbled, his voice barely above a whisper.


    Lysander¡¯s eyebrows twitched. His heart pounded at the revtion.


    The four-year-old had managed to outsmart a team of electronic experts, breaking through The Sinir


    Group¡¯s firewall and sessfully hacking into their financial department. Lysander was both angry and


    excited. No one had ever managed to break through The Sinir Group¡¯s electronic defenses, let alone


    oppose him.


    Content ? N?velDrama.Org 2024.


    Hispetitors were either defeated by him or joined his team. And then, his own son had done what


    none of them had been able to achieve.

 Chapter 565

    Chapter 565


    Suddenly, a mysterious adversary appeared, outsmarting the dozen PhD experts he had hired, and


    sessfully hacking into the Sinir Group¡¯s funds.


    If the adversary hadn¡¯t slipped up, they might not have even found his IP address.


    The shocking part was that this adversary was his own son, who was just four years old!


    The mix of annoyance and excitement that revtion brought was something only he could have


    understood.


    ¡°Why did you do this? Did your mother teach you?¡± Lysander asked calmly, trying to suppress his


    emotions.


    Atticus, his son, seemed incredulous at the question. He raised his innocent eyes to look at Lysander,


    then lowered his head again, his tiny hands fidgeting with the hem of his shirt.


    Seeing that Atticus was not responding, Lysander decided not to press further.


    ¡°All right, no answer. That¡¯s fine. Come with me. No school today,¡± he said, turning to walk away. He


    took a few steps before looking back to see that Atticus was still sitting. His head was down, and he


    was still not following him.


    With a deep sigh, Lysander returned, bent down, and took Atticus¡¯ small hand. ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡±


    Atticus finally left his seat, allowing Lysander to lead him away.


    The height difference between them was stark. Atticus barely reached Lysander¡¯s knees. Walking


    beside the towering figure of Lysander, Atticus looked both adorable and fragile.


    As they exited the ssroom, teachers and the principal lined up in the corridor, their attitudes


    respectful and fearful as they greeted Lysander.


    Ignoring them, Lysander continued leading Atticus away.


    Seeing that Lysander was about to leave, the principal nervously approached him, ¡°Mr. Sinir, I¡¯m


    afraid I can¡¯t exin to the kindergarten shareholders¡­¡±


    Lysander simply turned to look at him, causing the principal to visibly tremble.


    ¡°You should be d the one I found today wasn¡¯t someone else!¡± Lysander said, his voice deep and


    authoritative.


    The principal was left standing in confusion, not understanding the meaning of Lysander¡¯s words. Was


    the kindergarten going to be bought out for free or bought for the original n of 2,


    billion?


    Without a clear answer, the principal was left in a state of anxiety, wiping the sweat from his brow.


    Thssa and Evelyn were waiting at the school gate, eager to pick up their children. Seeing the tall


    Belongs to N?velDrama.Org - All rights reserved.


    figure of Lysander leading a small boy outside, Thssa¡¯s heart skipped a beat.

 Chapter 566

    Chapter 566


    And there, holding the hand of a small boy, was Lysander. The boy was none other than Atticus!


    Upon seeing that, Thssa¡¯s heart leapt in her chest. She watched the scene unfolding in the yard with


    a mixture of anxiety and anticipation.


    Lysander exuded an air of icy aloofness. His prating gaze fell on the woman who was anxiously


    peering through the gate of the yard.


    Her hands were gripping the gate tightly and her eyes shimmered in the sunlight.


    It took only a nce for Lysander to recognize her.


    It was Thssa.


    She had shown up at the kindergarten.


    His handsome face darkened, and his expression was frosty as usual.


    As they approached the gate, a security guard quickly opened it to let Lysander and Atticus out.


    ¡°Atticus¡­¡± Thssa¡¯s voice was filled with longing and excitement as she rushed towards her son.


    ¡°Mommy!¡± Atticus brightened upon seeing her. His previously downcast mood instantly lifted.


    Before he could take two steps towards her, he was scooped up by Lysander.


    ¡°Evelyn!¡± Atticus called, seeing her approach with a face full of anticipation and excitement.


    Before she could get too close, she was stopped in her tracks by Lysander¡¯s icy stare.


    ¡°Wait in the car for me,¡± Lysander instructed Atticus, his gaze cool and unyielding.


    ¡°But I want to. Atticus began, but his words died in his throat when he met Lysander¡¯s imposing stare.


    Feeling guilty for his actions and overwhelmed by Lysander¡¯s authoritative presence, he didn¡¯t dare to


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    protest further.


    Lysander carried him to the car, opened the door, and helped him in.


    He then turned to Thssa.


    Thssa felt the icy gust of Lysander¡¯s presence hit her like a physical blow. It was cold, piercing, and


    oppressive, making it hard for her to breathe. ¡°Lysander, what are you¡­¡± she began, but her words


    were cut off when Lysander grabbed her shoulder. His grip was firm and unyielding, causing a sharp


    pain that made Thssa wince.


    ¡°So, teaching our son to embezzle a billion dors from the Sinir Group wasn¡¯t enough, and now


    you¡¯ve taught him to pocket another ten million for you! Thssa, your ambitions are quite impressive,¡±


    Lysander¡¯s voice was filled with icy fury, each word dripping with anger and resentment.


    ¡°You came to the kindergarten early to pick up Atticus just to see if he had seeded, didn¡¯t you?¡±


    His towering figure cast a shadow over Thssa. His presence was terrifying her to the core.


    The pain in her shoulder was excruciating, causing her to grimace. ¡°What ten million? I don¡¯t


    understand. Wasn¡¯t that a billion you gave me?¡±


    ¡°Lysander, let go of my daughter! What are you trying to do?¡± Evelyn had been watching Atticus, but


    when she saw Lysander gripping Thssa¡¯s shoulder, her face twisted in pain. Evelyn rushed over,


    fearlessly trying to pry his hand off her daughter.


    Lysander¡¯s gaze shifted to Evelyn, and a memory surfaced.


    He had seen that middle-aged woman before.


    She had caused a scene at the Sinir Group reception desk, proiming herself to be his mother-in-


    troublemaker.


    Little did he know, she was Thssa¡¯s mother.


    The ambitions of the mother and daughter were clear.

 Chapter 567

    Chapter 567


    Lysander¡¯s aura was frigid, forbidding anyone to approach him.


    Evelyn, overwhelmed with fear, wanted to reach out and grab his hand, but she hesitated. Her hand


    hovered awkwardly in mid-air.


    ¡°Lysander, let go of me!¡± Thssa desperately tried to pry Lysander¡¯s hand from her shoulder, but his


    grip was too strong.


    At that moment, Atticus, with a sense of urgency, flung the car door open and jumped out. He was in


    such a rush that he fell to the ground, but he instantly mbered back up, his short legs carrying him


    as fast as they could towards Lysander.


    Grabbing at Lysander¡¯s clothing, he tried to push him away, ¡°Leave my mom alone! Don¡¯t bully her! I¡¯m


    the one who sabotaged yourpany! Mom had no idea! Let her go!¡±


    Atticus¡¯ face was flushed from the effort, and tears pooled in his eyes. But he refused to let them fall.


    He was small and weak, and his efforts to push Lysander away were futile.


    However, his words caught Lysander¡¯s attention.


    He released Thssa and looked down at Atticus in disbelief, ¡°What did you say?¡±


    Atticus looked up at him, his face red from frustration and worry for his mom. His eyes were brimming


    with tears, but he didn¡¯t let them fall.


    Breathing heavily, his little chest heaving, he spoke to Lysander, ¡°I was the one trying to sabotage the


    Sinir Group. Mom didn¡¯t know. You said that only the strong can negotiate! I want Mom to be


    strong! So, she won¡¯t be bullied by you.¡±


    Lysander was taken aback, looking down at the little boy who barely reached his knees.


    Just the previous day, to make the children behave, he had told them that only the strong had the right


    to negotiate.


    The little guy had taken it to heart


    He had underestimated the understanding of a child.


    Atticus¡¯ innocent words left Thssa in shock. Her heart clenched. She looked at Atticus in awe.


    Everything he had done was to protect her from being bullied.


    A sense of warmth, like a rising tide, washed over her, apanied by a bitter regret.


    She felt guilty. She wasn¡¯t strong enough, causing her child to worry about her She failed to protect her


    own child, forcing him to stand up for her. Tears welled up in Thssa¡¯s eyes.


    Evelyn quietly wiped away her tears.


    Her grandchildren were so sensible that it was heartbreaking.


    Content is ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org.


    With his breathing in short gasps, Atticus continued, ¡°The billion dors. I stole that too. Mom


    didn¡¯t know about it either. Because she broke your antique, which was worth a billion. I thought if mom


    could give the billion back to you, we¡¯d be even.¡±


    Lysander was speechless.


    Stealing his money and giving it back to him? What kind of logic was that?


    Indeed, children would always think like children.


    However, what surprised him was that the billion dors wasn¡¯t stolen at Thssa¡¯s instruction.


    Lysander¡¯s icy demeanor softened slightly.


    ¡°No matter the reason, what you did was wrong! Money must be earned properly, do you understand?¡±


    Lysander lectured Atticus.


    Atticus knew he was wrong. He lowered his head, and that time, his tears fell freely to the ground. His


    voice softened, ¡°I understand¡­ as long as you don¡¯t bully mom¡­ that¡¯s enough.¡±


    He hadn¡¯t nned on sabotaging the Sinir Group. He just felt bad for his mom and wanted to help


    her.

 Chapter 568

    Chapter 568


    Thssa could no longer hold back. She stepped forward, kneeling down and enveloping Atticus in a


    warm embrace, her tears uncontrobly streaming down her cheeks. Her voice was soft, yet filled with


    warmth, ¡°Silly boy, nobody¡¯s been bullying your mom. I¡¯m okay. You have to tell me before you do


    something next time, okay?¡±


    She had no idea that he was busy doing so much for her behind her back.


    All that time, she had thought that she was the one working hard, earning money to raise her children.


    But unbeknownst to her, her children were returning the favor in their own little ways.


    Perhaps, there was nobody else in this world who loved her as much as her children did.


    In their world, she was their everything.


    Atticus nestled in Thssa¡¯s embrace, his tears, which he had been holding back, streamed down his


    cheeks, soaking Thssa¡¯s shirt. He was crying so hard that he couldn¡¯t speak, So, he nodded his


    head in response to Thssa¡¯s words.


    Thssa¡¯s shirt, soaked with his tears, stuck against her skin, seeping into her heart, warming her


    through and through.


    She kissed the top of Atticus¡¯ head, her voice warm as she said, ¡°Good boy. Mom loves you.¡±


    ¡°I love you too,¡± Atticus managed to whimper.


    Evelyn stood off to the side, constantly wiping away her own tears.


    Lysander watched the scene unfold, his deep-set eyes growing darker.


    After some time/Thssa managed to calm down and released Atticus. She wiped the tears off his


    face and looked him straight in the eye, softly telling him, ¡°Atticus, I never realized your talents in


    technology before. I always thought you were just into video games. But since you¡¯re gifted, you have


    to study hard. Use your talents and skills for good, like defending our country, protecting our home, or


    earning money the right way. We have to think twice before doing something like hacking again,


    okay?¡±


    Atticus nodded his head obediently, listening to her every word.


    ¡°I know our Atticus is the best. You have to be a good boy at Royal Estates and listen to your dad.


    You¡¯re the big brother. You have to set a good example for your siblings,¡± Thssa gently caressed his


    young face, advising him.


    ¡°Mom, are you leaving us?¡± Atticus¡¯ heart, which had just started to calm down, instantly tightened with


    N?velDrama.Org: text ? owner.


    fear. The fear was evident in his innocent eyes.


    ¡°Of course not. You guys are my little treasures, how could I ever leave you? It¡¯s just that, living with


    your dad at Royal Estates, the conditions are better, and it gives me peace of mind. Your dad can


    provide you guys with the best educational resources,¡± Thssa quickly reassured him.


    ¡°I don¡¯t want to. I want to stay with mom,¡± Atticus, who usually wasn¡¯t the crying type, couldn¡¯t hold back


    his tears upon hearing Thssa¡¯s words. He dove into Thssa¡¯s arms, His small hands gripped her


    shirt, terrified of being separated from her.


    ¡°I don¡¯t want to be separated from you guys either,¡± Thssa said, her gaze shifting to Lysander,


    seeking his approval.


    She hoped he would have reconsidered the matter they had discussed earlier that morning.


    As she met Lysander¡¯s deep, unfathomable eyes, she couldn¡¯t tell what he was thinking.


    Thssa was taken aback by his deep gaze and turned away, feeling a sense of loss.


    Just when she thought she had lost her chance, Lysander¡¯s deep voice rang out, ¡°As long as you guys


    don¡¯t want to, we won¡¯t be separated.¡±


    Thssa was overjoyed, her eyes sparkling with excitement as she looked at Lysander.


    Did he really agree?


    Thssa picked up Atticus, gently wiping the tears off his face. Her voice was gentle but filled with joy,


    ¡°Mom will often go to Royal Estates to see you guys. We won¡¯t be separated.¡±


    ¡°Mom, aren¡¯t you going to live with us?¡± Atticus sniffled, his adorable eyes glistening with tears, looking


    at her expectantly.


    Thssa felt a bit awkward and nced at Lysander.


    His eyes were deep, but he remained silent.


    Thssa said, ¡°Mom still needs to find a job, and living at Royal Estates wouldn¡¯t be convenient. I¡¯ll


    ¡°Um, okay¡­¡± Atticus reluctantly agreed.

 Chapter 569

    Chapter 569


    At that moment, the teacher brought out Dorian, Elowen, and Sophia.


    The three little ones instantly spotted Thssa and Evelyn. Their short little legs carried them in a joyful


    sprint towards them.


    ¡°Mommy, Grandma!¡±


    ¡°Mommy!¡±


    ¡°Grandma!¡±


    The three kids dashed towards Thssa, hugging her legs and nuzzling their faces against her. They


    then turned their attention to Evelyn.


    Evelyn had already squatted down, ready to embrace them, ¡°My little darlings, Grandma¡¯s here to see


    Content is ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org.


    you.¡±


    All three kids ran into Evelyn¡¯s¡¯ arms, nearly knocking her over..But she was used to their energy and


    managed to keep her bnce, clutching them tightly and nting a big kiss on each of their rosy


    cheeks.


    ¡°I missed my little darlings so much thesest couple of days.¡± Evelyn showered them with kisses and


    cuddles, her eyes filled with love.


    After all, she had raised all four children.


    Then, Lysander got in the car. Thssa understood and let Evelyn carry the children into the car. They


    all set off for the Royal Estates.


    Lysander sat with a solemn aura on the couch as the four children gathered around Thssa and


    Evelyn, showing off their new toys.


    ¡°Mommy, look at my new teddy bear. Daddy got it for me, Isn¡¯t it big? And isn¡¯t it very fluffy and cute?¡±


    Elowen held up a plush teddy bear that was evenrger than her, her bright eyes sparkling as she


    showed off her new toy.


    ¡°Yes, it¡¯s very cute, just like you!¡± Thssa smiled and gently pinched Elowen¡¯s chubby little cheeks.


    They were so soft and squishy, absolutely irresistible.


    ¡°Mom, check out my toy. It¡¯s a collector¡¯s edition action figure of Superman. Cool, isn¡¯t it?¡± Dorian held


    up a half-meter-tall action figure, his eyes shining brightly as he shared his joy with Thssa.


    ¡°Cool, very cool!¡± Thssa ruffled Dorian¡¯s hair.


    ¡°Mommy, look, I have two pendants. They¡¯re both real. I didn¡¯t know this pendant came in a set of two.¡±


    Sophia held up a circr pendant, excitedly showing Thssa her new toy.


    Sophia¡¯s small hand was barely able to hold the pendant, which wasrger than her hand.


    Thssa looked at the circr pendant in Sophia¡¯s hand, a surprised look shing in her eyes.


    Wasn¡¯t that the pendant that Lysander had previously mistaken her for stealing?


    Even if Richard had given one of the pendants he had acquired to Lysander, the other one should have


    still been missing.


    Could it be that the other one had been found long before?


    Lysander must have known that she didn¡¯t steal the pendant, but he hadn¡¯t said a word, nor had he


    cleared her name.


    It figured.


    No matter how he might have vindicated her, it couldn¡¯t have changed the fact that she was Bruce¡¯s


    daughter.


    Lysander¡¯s hatred and anger towards her wouldn¡¯t have decreased one bit just because she was


    wrongfully used.


    Without furtherment, Thssa kept a gentle and loving smile on her lips. ¡°Sophia, you¡¯re so lucky


    to have two real circr pendants.¡±


    ¡°Yes, mommy. This pendant has a small crack. When I learn how to fix it, I¡¯ll repair it and give it to you.¡±


    Sophia pointed to the pendant on her right hand, her eyes filled with innocence and determination.


    Thssa looked where Sophia was pointing. The pendant seemed perfectly intact; she couldn¡¯t see


    any crack.


    If there was a crack, wouldn¡¯t Richard, an antique specialist, have noticed it?

 Chapter 570

    Chapter 570


    ¡°Mom, look here, it¡¯s cracked.¡± Noticing Thssa¡¯s confusion, Sophia pointed to the crack on the


    circr pendant, drawing her mother¡¯s attention.


    Thssa leaned in to look closely. Indeed, there was a hair-thin crack lodged in the middle of the


    stone.


    The fissure was hidden deep within it, almost imperceptible unless looked very closely.


    Thssa marveled at Sophia¡¯s keen eye and attention to detail.


    ¡°You¡¯re right, there is a crack. Sophia, you are truly amazing to have spotted this.¡± Thssa praised


    with pride, patting Sophia¡¯s head affectionately.


    She then came to realize that she had given birth to four prodigies. Each child was unique, possessing


    their own special talents.


    Sophia, blushing and delighted at being praised by her mother, wore a wide grin.


    Just then, Atticus came over, two tablets cradled in his arms. His grip was loosening.


    Thssa quickly stretched out her hands to catch the tablets. They were sleek, made entirely of metal,


    and perfectly sized. They were far more luxurious than the one she had bought for Atticus.


    ¡°Dad gave me these. Mom, I want you to have one.¡± Atticus pointed at a rose-colored tablet. His cute


    little face was full of seriousness.


    Thanking him warmly, Thssa gently told him, ¡°Thank you, sweetheart. But what will Mom do with it


    since I don¡¯t need a tablet?¡±


    She understood their intentions. They wanted to give her their best possessions.


    ¡°Well, I¡¯ll keep it for Mom until you need it.¡± Atticus hesitated before proposing apromise.


    Thssa smiled approvingly, ¡°All right, we¡¯ll do it your way.¡±


    ¡°Yes!¡± Atticus nodded happily.


    After showing Thssa their new toys, the children excitedly led Evelyn to their rooms.


    Previously, the four children had shared a room. But then, each had their own room decorated to their


    tastes.


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    Atticus liked monochrome, and his room was done up in ck and white. Dorian preferred blue, so his


    room was decked out in shades of blue. Elowen loved pink, and her room looked like a princess


    chamber filled with soft pink hues. Sophia favored purple, and her room was adorned with purple


    drapes, bedding, and wall decor, creating a dreamy and romantic atmosphere.


    Sophia ced the two circr pendants on the disy rack on her bedside table.


    Evelyn, following the children around their rooms, was overwhelmed by thevish conditions.


    Lysander¡¯s people were incredibly efficient. The children had only moved to Royal Estates two nights


    prior, and in less than two days, their rooms were already decorated ording to their preferences.


    Everything was neat, stylish, and of the highest quality.


    If the children had stayed with Thssa and her, they would have never been able to provide such


    luxury.


    As the children¡¯sughter and joy surrounded Evelyn, tears welled up in her eyes.


    Thssa was right. With Lysander, the children could have received the best care, enjoyed the finest


    resources, and had a brighter future. If they stayed with Evelyn, they would have only known hardship.


    She was happy for the children, yet her heart ached.


    As the children departed to their rooms, a wave of quiet mncholy washed over Thssa.

 Chapter 571

    Chapter 571


    As Thssa turned; her eyes met Lysander¡¯s piercing gaze, profound and unfathomable.


    Her heart fluttered involuntarily, and she quickly averted her eyes.


    She had been crouching to amodate the children¡¯s height and was trying to stand up to check


    their rooms.


    But her legs had grown numb from crouching, and as she tried to rise, her feet gave way, sending her


    falling backward.


    A robust and muscr arm caught her, bearing the full brunt of her weight.


    With a mere flex of his biceps, Lysander steadied her, his strength evident in the ease of his action.


    Thssa felt the warmth of his palm and the undeniable strength he possessed. Flustered, she quickly


    stepped away once she regained her bnce, avoiding his gaze. ¡°I¡¯m going to check over there,¡± she


    muttered hurriedly.


    She paced quickly towards the children.


    After inspecting the children¡¯s rooms, Thssa felt a mix of warmth and a tinge of regret.


    Finally, the children could have their own rooms, and they were very cozy andfortable.


    She was happy for them.


    Content property of N?velDra/ma.Org.


    But it reminded her of how she, as their mother, failed to provide suchfort.


    Seeing the children settling down in the Royal Estates, Thssa felt somewhat relieved.


    At least Lysander hadn¡¯t sent the children to the Sinir¡¯s house for Zephyr and Sybil to take over


    At least he kept his children close to him.


    At meal time in the afternoon.


    The four children were seated opposite Thssa and Lysander.


    Lysander didn¡¯t invite Evelyn to sit down. Thssa nced at Evelyn, who was standing on one side.


    She wanted to ask her to join them but didn¡¯t dare to. After all, that was Lysander¡¯s house, and she was


    here at his mercy.


    If Lysander didn¡¯t invite Evelyn to sit, who was she to do so?


    But Evelyn was her mother, and Thssa couldn¡¯t bear to eat while her mother just stood there.


    Just as Thssa was about to rise, Lysander¡¯s deep voice rang out, ¡°Fitch, we¡¯re missing a ce


    setting; didn¡¯t you notice?¡±


    Fitch was taken aback momentarily, but after ncing at Evelyn, he quickly understood. Apologetically,


    he said, ¡°I apologize for my oversight. I¡¯ll get it right away¡­¡±


    Soon, a ce setting and a chair were added to the narrower end of the rectangr table.


    Thssa felt a little less uneasy. She looked at Evelyn and said, ¡°Mom¡­¡±


    She called and motioned towards the new ce setting with her eyes.


    Evelyn was taken aback, hardly believing that the seat was meant for her.


    She could sit down and share a meal with Lysander?


    It was something she hadn¡¯t even dared to dream about.


    Lysander had an imposing aura, an air of nobility that was not to be vited.


    Besides, Evelyn knew that she had sold Lysander¡¯s dragon pendant, and the money had been


    swindled away, which made her feel guilty.


    She didn¡¯t dare to speak more or look more at Lysander.


    She was then told that she could sit with him and share a meal?


    She felt surprised, panicked, and at a loss.


    But since Thssa had signaled her, if she didn¡¯t sit down, she might have upset Lysander, which


    wouldn¡¯t have been good,


    Evelyn took her seat. Her entire body was stiff with tension.


    ¡°Mom, try the fried chicken, it¡¯s yummy.¡± Elowen used her child-sized fork to pick up a piece of fried


    chicken, kneeling on her chair. Her tiny hand reached out to Thssa.

 Chapter 572

    Chapter 572


    The little tyke always had a knack for sharing her goodies with her mom, Thssa.


    Thssa couldn¡¯t negate such a kind gesture. If she were to refuse, it would have broken Elowen¡¯s


    heart.


    Whenever Elowen cried, Thssa¡¯s heart melted.


    ¡°Thank you, sweetie.¡± Thssa took a bite of the fried chicken that Elowen handed her, speaking in a


    gentle tone.


    Elowen¡¯s eyes were bright and sparkling. Her joy was infectious. When sheughed, her chubby


    cheeks formed into adorable dimples, creating an irresistible urge to pinch her plump cheeks.


    Next, Elowen picked up another piece of fried chicken from the te. Thssa assumed the fried


    chicken was for her, but instead, Elowen stretched out her tiny hand towards Lysander, ¡°Daddy, you try,


    too. It¡¯s delicious. I promise.¡±


    Lysander lifted his gaze, staring at Elowen. He remained silent, not opening his mouth.


    Thssa blinked in surprise. Was Elowen suddenly feeding Lysander? That was entirely unexpected.


    Not to mention, she had no idea if Lysander even liked fried chicken. His demeanor suggested he


    didn¡¯t fancy being fed.


    Thssa felt a wave of anxiety. She exchanged a nce with Evelyn, who could feel the intense


    energy emanating from Lysander. She was about to suggest that grandma, who loved fried chicken,


    have some instead. That would have eased the awkward tension and spared Elowen the heartbreak if


    Lysander refused to eat.


    But Lysander remained silent.


    Before Evelyn could speak, Lysander opened his mouth, epting Elowen¡¯s offering. His deep voice


    echoed, ¡°Thanks¡­¡±


    A surprised Thssa watched as. Lysander not only epted the fried chicken but even thanked


    Elowen.


    Could it be that no one could resist the charm of a sweet child?


    ¡°No problem, Daddy. You can do it!¡± Elowen¡¯s smile bloomed. Her voice was adorable, which made her


    even more cheerful.


    Thssa¡¯s heart finally rxed from the initial tension to relief and now eventually, happiness.


    She had been worried that Lysander would have treated their children poorly if he found out about their


    secret birth. But it seemed that no matter how much Lysander disliked kids, he was always good to his


    own kids.


    Later in the evening, Thssa, Evelyn, and the house staff helped bathe the four children.


    After their baths, the young ones were all tucked into Atticus¡¯ bed. Each one of them, like little bundles


    of joy, their bodies plump and steaming from the bath, sat on the bed looking absolutely adorable.


    Thssa and Evelyn routinely dried their hair and wiped their bodies, then dressed each one.


    ¡°Mama, I want to sleep with you tonight.¡± Elowen, dressed in her pajamas, looked at Thssa with her


    big, hopeful eyes full of longing.


    ¡°Me too!¡± Dorian raised his hand.


    ¡°I want to as well.¡± Atticus, who usually wasn¡¯t one for sentiment, chimed in.


    ¡®And me.¡± Sophia pouted.


    Thssa had promised them in the morning that she was going to sleep with them that night¡­


    Thssa nodded, ¡°All right, you guys y with grandma for a bit. Mama is going to take a shower, and


    N?velDrama.Org: text ? owner.


    then I¡¯lle to sleep with you.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± The children nodded.


    1


    Thssa left the room, initially nning to shower in the downstairs bathroom. But she realized soon


    after that she didn¡¯t bring any clothes. Although there were clothes for her to wear here, they were all in


    the master bedroom on the second floor.


    She had seen Lysander go into his study earlier. He should have still been there and not in the


    bedroom.


    She just needed to grab some clothes. It would have been quick. She wouldn¡¯t have lingered. There


    was no way she would have run into Lysander. With that in mind, Thssa went upstairs, stood at the


    door of the master bedroom, and cautiously knocked. There was no response.


    She assumed there was nobody in there. Gathering her courage, she pushed the door open, walked


    straight to the wardrobe, and chose a conservative


    outfit.

 Chapter 573

    Chapter 573


    Turning around, arge shadow loomed behind her. Startled, she stumbled backward, her breath


    hitching in her chest.


    Upon closer inspection, it was Lysander, his handsome face stern, his eyes deep and unreadable. He


    had appeared behind her without her noticing.


    Thssa clutched her chest, her breathing in short gasps after the fright as she said, ¡°You move


    so silently, like a ghost. You scared the hell out of


    me¡­¡±


    ¡°Guilty conscience?¡± Lysander¡¯s thin lips curled into a smirk.


    Thssa was baffled by his statement and asked, ¡°What guilty conscience? I haven¡¯t done anything


    wrong.¡±


    His gaze was more haunting than any ghost¡¯s.


    Feeling ufortable under his stare, Thssa averted her eyes, ¡°Stop using me of wrongdoings.


    You¡¯ve framed me so many times without a shred of guilt.¡±


    Lysander leaned towards her, his aura radiating danger. He asked, ¡°I framed you?¡±


    ¡°You used me of stealing the circr pendant from the Royal Estates. When you found the missing


    one, you didn¡¯t even prove my innocence.¡±


    ¡°Is there any innocence left?¡± Lysander¡¯s gaze narrowed. His demeanor was icy yet wild.


    Thssa blushed at his suggestive words.


    Was he implying that sort of innocence?


    ¡°Don¡¯t twist my words. Also, I didn¡¯t embezzle that billion dors. You¡¯ve been misunderstanding me,


    and you haven¡¯t shown any sign of remorse.¡± Lysander¡¯s imposing figure was intimidating, and


    unconsciously, she took a step back, feeling somehow safer.


    She didn¡¯t understand why he used her of embezzling and running away. After all, he was the one


    who transferred the money to her ount.


    Then she understood. Their son had embezzled a billion dors from the Sinir Group.


    Both of them were oblivious to each other¡¯s suspicion. She thought the money was for buying her and


    their children¡¯s freedom.


    While he thought she had swindled the Sinir Group¡¯s billion dors and fled with their children.


    No wonder he was so furious before.


    Even after clearing up the misunderstanding, he showed no signs of remorse.


    ¡°What do you want me to do then? This?¡± Lysander stepped closer, suddenly grabbing Thssa¡¯s


    waist and lifting her off the ground.


    ¡°Ah!¡± Thssa screamed in shock, her body tipping forward. To avoid crashing into him, she


    instinctively wrapped her arms around his neck to maintain her bnce.


    His grip was firm and assertive, as if he could break her delicate waist. His burning, hot hand seeped


    through her clothes, branding her skin.


    His touch sent her into a state of high alert, her breathing out in short gasps.


    Her face brushed against his, and the rough stubble on his face scratched against her cheek, the


    masculine scent engulfing her.


    His deep, rumbling breaths made her tense up, goosebumps prickling her skin.


    ¡°I didn¡¯t mean that, Lysander. Let me go¡­¡± Thssa¡¯s heart pounded in her chest.


    She struggled to get down, her hands pushing against his shoulders to lift her Body.


    She slipped, and her upper body crashed back into his chest.


    Her body was warm and soft, like a heated cloud, causing Lysander to grunt.


    Content property of N?velDra/ma.Org.


    Lysander¡¯s eyes were unreadable, his voice a low growl, ¡°Isn¡¯t your intention clear enough? Don¡¯t


    worry, I¡¯ll satisfy you¡­¡±


    With that, he carried her to the bed, gentlyying her down, his body pressing against hers.

 Chapter 574

    Chapter 574


    Thssa found herself pinned beneath him.


    Lysander¡¯s coarse voice echoed in her ear, ¡°Are you satisfied with my apology now?¡±


    Thssa, wide-eyed and breathless, was caught between shock and embarrassment. ¡°If you¡¯re not


    sincere, I don¡¯t need your apology. Could you please get off me?¡±


    His masculine body was pressing down on her, making her immobile and breathless.


    Lysander¡¯s gaze was predatory and dangerous, watching her frightened and flushed face.


    She was like an unopened rose in a garden. She was innocent, shy, and irresistible.


    Instead of getting up, Lysander¡¯s hand slid down her waist, ¡°How am I not sincere? Do I have to strip


    ¡°You¡­¡± Thssa gasped in surprise, her heartbeat pounding like boiling water, constantly churning


    and hot.


    The situation was seriously disadvantageous to her. She wanted to get up but didn¡¯t dare to move


    because any movement would have meant touching him. And touching that dangerous man was like a


    spark to a fuse.


    ¡°Lysander, can you please stop? I need to go downstairs to be with the kids¡­¡±


    ¡°Mama, we are here!¡± Just as Thssa finished speaking, there was a noise at the door, followed by


    the patter of little feet running into the room.


    Four little tots made their way to the bed, stopping at its side and staring at Lysander and Thssa.


    Seeing the scene on the bed, Elowen tilted her little head and asked, ¡°Hey, is Daddy kissing Mama?¡±


    ¡°I know! The book says once Daddy kisses Mama, we can have a baby brother or sister.¡± Dorian raised


    his hand, looking bright-eyed and clever.


    ¡°We¡¯re going to have a baby brother or sister!¡± Sophia giggled shyly.


    Hearing the kids¡¯ments, Thssa blushed even more. She reached out to push Lysander off her,


    ¡°Get up¡­¡±


    Belongs to N?velDrama.Org - All rights reserved.


    It was inappropriate with the kids right here in front of them.


    He grasped her hand in his. Not only did he not get up, he pressed his lips on hers.


    The brief contact made her heart stop. She thought he would have restrained himself in front of the


    kids, yet he was still so domineering.


    Although it was only a quick kiss, it left Thssa breathless and her lips warm.


    The kids looked surprised, covering their open mouths with their tiny hands. Their faces were filled with


    joy.


    ¡°We really are going to have a baby brother or sister!¡± Elowen was overjoyed, herughter chiming like


    a silver bell.


    Dorian started pping.


    Sophia followed suit, and even Atticus joined in the apuse.


    Only Thssa was left blushing, her cheeks hot enough to cook an egg.


    ¡°Kiss again so we can have more siblings.¡± Dorian, in his innocent voice, proposed.


    The other kids echoed his sentiment, all urging Lysander to kiss Thssa again.


    Thssa was horrified. The kids might not have understood, but shouldn¡¯t have Lysander at least


    understood not to do that?


    Just a kiss wouldn¡¯t have resulted in a baby, in any case.


    Thssa, not caring about the potential spark that she might have ignited, wriggled out from under him.


    Without even grabbing her clothes, she took Elowen and Sophia¡¯s hand, ¡°Let¡¯s go. Mama will put you to


    bed.¡±


    Lysander sat up, watching Thssa¡¯s hurried retreat, and a smirk tugged at his lips.

 Chapter 575

    Chapter 575


    ¡°Mom, can we sleep with Dad tonight?¡± Elowen, with her ever-imaginative mind, popped up with the


    idea.


    ¡°He¡¯s too big, sweetheart. There¡¯s not enough room,¡± Thssa quickly dismissed, rushing to find an


    excuse.


    What a joke! She had just managed to escape him, and then she was supposed to let him back into the


    bed? No, she wouldn¡¯t have gotten any sleep that night if that were the case.


    Elowen considered that and agreed. Lysander was indeed too big, and their bed was too small. There


    simply wasn¡¯t enough room.


    Thssa, acting as though she was fleeing, quickly took the kids downstairs without even bothering to


    take a shower.


    She put Elowen and Sophia together in one room and settled them down for the night while Evelyn


    took care of Dorian and Atticus in another room.


    As Thssa lulled the children to sleep with stories, she, too, drifted off to dreand.


    In the middle of the night, she didn¡¯t notice the door slowly opening and a tall shadow appearing at the


    entrance.


    Lysander stepped in. The faint moonlight illuminated his presence. He looked at his sleeping kids and


    Thssa, curled on her side, her face turned towards the children, deep in slumber.


    Her face was peaceful, and her sleep seemed serene.


    Bending over, Lysander gently took the nket off Thssa, tucked the kids in, and then carefully lifted


    her, carrying her out of the room.


    As the morning sun rose, its intense rays overpowered the moon¡¯s gentle glow illuminating the world.


    Birds chirped away outside the window, filling the air with a sense of cheerfulness.


    It was another beautiful morning.


    Thssa, still half-asleep, turned over and automatically reached out to hug the little bundle beside her.


    Feeling warmth, she drew it closer, her arm tightening around it.


    Without opening her eyes, she instinctively kissed the soft cheek of the bundle, only it felt a bit wet and


    seemed to be breathing.


    Had she just kissed a mouth?


    Regardless, they were her beloved children, so all was fine.


    She continued to caress the little one¡¯s tummy, checking if they were hungry.


    Her hand kept moving over the warm surface.


    Oddly, the kids didn¡¯t feel quite as soft today. It felt somewhat firm.


    Even the ¡®tummy¡¯ she was touching felt hard.


    Lysander, who was initially asleep, was awakened by Thssa¡¯s embrace. He opened his eyes to find


    himself being held by her, even receiving a couple of kisses on his lips. Then, her hand started to


    wander over his body.


    His gaze darkened.


    Thssa, too, realized that the touch of her child felt different today. She groggily opened her eyes,


    only to see a handsome face staring back at her.


    She stared back for a moment, disbelieving. She closed her eyes, thinking she was seeing things.


    When she opened her eyes again, she found herself staring into Lysander¡¯s deep eyes that could


    engulf her whole.


    Her heart skipped a beat, and all sleepiness vanished.


    It really was Lysander!


    Her eyes widened, and her breath hitched.


    ¡°Did you have a good feel?¡± Lysander¡¯s voice was deep, his gaze fixed on her.


    Thssa held her breath, her gaze drifting downwards. Her hand was inside his shirt, touching his


    abs.


    Embarrassed, she quickly withdrew her hand, stammering, ¡°I¡­I didn¡¯t mean to¡­ I thought you were


    one of the kids, ¡°The kids are still downstairs, Lysander¡¯s voice was husky.


    Thssa gasped, her face flushed.N?velDrama.Org: text ? owner.

 Chapter 576

    Chapter 576


    Thssa bolted upright in shock, ¡°You¡¯ve got it all wrong. I thought I was sleeping with the kids. I didn¡¯t


    realize it was you¡­¡±


    As she finished, it dawned on her that she really did go to sleep with her little ones the previous night.


    Howe she woke up sharing a bed with Lysander that morning?


    She masked the rm in her eyes, looking towards Lysander with a silent question.


    Lysander met her gaze, his eyes deep and domineering, as if everything he did was natural, and others


    could onlyply.


    Thssa, initially confident, found her momentum faltering under the scrutiny of his intense gaze.


    He threw off the covers and got up.


    Thssa¡¯s breath hitched, and she quickly averted her gaze, afraid of seeing something she shouldn¡¯t


    have.


    Lysander put on his slippers and headed to the bathroom.


    Thssa quickly got up, hurriedly leaving the room as if fleeing for her life. After closing the door, she


    tried to steady her racing heart.


    Lysander¡¯s aura was simply too overwhelming. Those with weak hearts would have probably been


    scared to death by him.


    She went downstairs to find the kids were already up and had been taken to kindergarten by Fitch.


    Only Evelyn was sitting in the living room, waiting for her.


    After understanding the situation, Thssa told Evelyn, ¡°Mom, let¡¯s go. We can visit the kids next


    time.¡±


    She wanted to slip away before Lysander came down. If she waited until Lysander came downstairs,


    escaping wouldn¡¯t have been so easy.


    After all, Lysander hadn¡¯t said she was supposed to live there.


    And she had no right to stay there either.


    Evelyn, who had gone here for the sake of the children, agreed to leave with Thssa since the kids


    were at school. There was no point in staying here, and the pressure was immense.


    Thssa had intended to walk to the bustling streets outside and hail a cab back home.


    However, to her surprise, the driver was already waiting in the yard. ¡°Ms. Everhart, Mrs. Pendleton,


    please get in the car.¡±


    Although Thssa and Evelyn exchanged a cautious nce, they still got into the car.


    If they hadn¡¯t taken the ride, they would have had to walk for an hour to get to a ce where they could


    have hailed a cab.


    There was no need to be overly pretentious.


    N?velDrama.Org: text ? owner.


    Thssa and Evelyn got into the car, the driver started the engine, and they drove off.


    Was the driver waiting specifically for her and Evelyn? Was that Lysander¡¯s instruction?


    Did he know that she was nning to leave in the morning?


    Or was he just eager to get her out of Royal Estates to avoid her sticking around?


    Thssa couldn¡¯t figure out the answer and didn¡¯t want to think about it.


    Regardless of the reason, the oue was the same. Even though she had gained the right to visit her


    children, she and Lysander were from two different worlds, and there could be no ovep.


    The driver dropped Thssa and Evelyn off at Vibrant Oasis Residences and left


    Returning to their empty home, Thssa and Evelyn felt a void that they weren¡¯t used to..


    Being a person who couldn¡¯t stand idle, Thssa started looking for jobs online the moment she had


    nothing to do.


    She contacted apany and went for an interview in the afternoon.


    The HR representative who received her was very friendly. After a conversation, she was told to wait


    for a final interview round with the boss.


    If she could have impressed the boss, she would have gotten the job.


    As Thssa waited in the conference room, a young man in a suit and tie walked in. He was tall and


    handsome with an aura of youthful exuberance.


    Looking at the man, Thssa felt a sense of familiarity.

 Chapter 577

    Chapter 577


    The man eyed her, and there was a flicker of recognition in his gaze.


    They locked eyes for a few moments before the man pped his thigh in realization. ¡°Evelyn! No,


    Thssa! The first woman to fling herself into Lysander¡¯s arms!¡±


    He pointed at Thssa, his grin charming and sunny.


    Thssa had been wracking her brain trying to remember him, but at the mention of Lysander, it


    clicked.


    He was often seen with Lysander at the Sapphire Skyline. Ethan, the one she was interviewing with for


    the position of assistant to the secretary at the Crawley Electronics!


    The fact that a secretary¡¯s assistant needed to be interviewed by the boss himself already seemed


    strange to Thssa. But after seeing the man in front of her, Thssa felt even more perplexed and


    disheartened.


    She hadn¡¯t expected the Crawley Electronics to be Ethan¡¯s.


    Ethan was a good friend of Lysander¡¯s. She¡¯d been fired from Lysander¡¯spany; there was no way


    Ethan would have hired her.


    After all, he wouldn¡¯t have wanted to cross Lysander because of her.


    The man¡¯s way of greeting her also made Thssa feel awkward. Who greets a woman by saying she


    flung herself into a man¡¯s arms?


    Standing up, she said politely, ¡°So it¡¯s Mr. Ethan. It seems I¡¯vee to the wrong ce.¡±


    As Thssa turned to leave, Ethan stopped her. ¡°Hey, don¡¯t go! Are you saying our littlepany isn¡¯t


    good enough for you?¡±


    Thssa halted at his words. She didn¡¯t have such high standards.


    She hurriedly said, ¡°No, that¡¯s not it. Have you seen my resume? My previous employer was the


    Sinir Group¡­¡±


    She was implying that her previous boss was Lysander, and if Ethan hired her, wasn¡¯t he going to risk


    offending Lysander?


    Ethan¡¯s eyes lit up. ¡°So, you¡¯ve worked for the Sinir Group? You must not know that anyone who¡¯s


    worked there is highly sought after wherever they go. It¡¯s well known that the Sinir Group produces


    top talents.¡±


    ¡°But I was fired.¡± Thssa felt the need to rify, not wanting to cause him any trouble.


    Ethan¡¯s sunny disposition faltered, but his smile remained. ¡°Well, that¡¯s interesting. Wait here a


    moment. I need to make a call.¡±


    Ethan left the conference room to make his call.


    Everyone knew Lysander had a soft spot for Thssa. He had finally managed to get her a job at the


    Sinir Group, where they could interact closely, possibly sparking a workce romance.


    But why had Lysander fired her? Had he grown tired of her?


    Ethan dialed Lysander¡¯s number.


    As soon as the call connected, he teased, ¡°Lysander, your woman is here at mypany, wanting to


    work as a secretary¡¯s assistant. Should I hire her or send her away?¡±


    Ethan could almost feel the icy aura emanating from Lysander through the phone.


    There was definitely something going on between those two, and Ethan¡¯s curiosity was piqued. He


    asked, ¡°Lysander, did you two have a fight?¡±


    ¡°Decide on your ownpany¡¯s matters You don¡¯t need to ask me!¡± Lysander¡¯s cold, low voice echoed


    before he hung up.


    His eyes stared at the phone, deep in thought.


    What was his rtionship with Thssa? Could the term ¡®fight¡¯ even apply to them?


    Ethan stared at the silent phone, puzzled.


    What did Lysander mean by his statement?


    Let him decide whether to hire Thssa or send her away?


    That was quite the conundrum.


    After a moment, a grin spread across Ethan¡¯s face as he walked back into the conference room.


    Content is ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org.


    Thssa looked at him as he entered and asked, ¡°So, what¡¯s it going to be? Do you dare to hire me or


    not?¡±

 Chapter 578

    Chapter 578


    ¡°Hah, is there anything I¡¯m afraid of?¡± Ethan said,ughing as if he¡¯d heard the best joke in the world.


    He leaned slightly on the back of a nearby chair, exuding an air of casual confidence.


    ¡°I¡¯ve got news for you. You¡¯re hired!¡± Ethan said, a yful smile tugging at the corner of his mouth as


    he addressed Thssa.


    Thssa blinked in surprise, ¡°Don¡¯t make this decision out of spite.¡±


    After all, crossing Lysander out of spite wouldn¡¯t have been worth it.


    Ethan¡¯s expression turned serious, ¡°Do I look like I¡¯m joking? Why would I act out of spite?¡± he asked.


    He snapped his fingers, and the HR manager who had interviewed Thssa stepped forward, ready to


    receive orders.


    ¡°Get her on board right away, and make her the department¡¯s executive secretary,¡± Ethan directed.


    ¡°Of course, Mr. Ethan,¡± the HR manager replied, nodding.


    Thssa was taken aback. She hadn¡¯t even started her job, and she was already getting a promotion?


    She had applied for the position of a secretary¡¯s assistant, and Ethan had straightaway promoted her to


    executive secretary!


    What was going on? Had Lysander not pressured Ethan but instead convinced him to hire her?


    ¡°Why the surprised look? You¡¯re not scared, are you?¡± Ethan asked, raising an eyebrow and grinning.


    ¡°Scared of what?¡± Thssa regained herposure.


    ¡°You know exactly what I¡¯m talking about,¡± Ethan said, a mischievous smile on his lips as he watched


    her with amusement.


    Thssa was puzzled, but after a moment¡¯s thought, she realized that he was probably referring to her


    fear of Lysander seeking her out.


    If Lysander wanted to find her, she could have run to the ends of the earth, and it would have still made


    no difference.


    She had already felt enough fear. All she wanted then was to live a normal life.


    Because she knew that if Lysander wanted to cause her trouble, she could never escape him, no


    N?velDrama.Org: text ? owner.


    matter where she worked.


    Working for Ethan¡¯spany wasn¡¯t going to be any different from working elsewhere.


    As long as thepany wanted her, that was all that mattered.


    ¡°As long as you¡¯re not scared, I have nothing to be afraid of. I¡¯ll sign the contract for the executive


    secretary position right now,¡± Thssa responded confidently.


    She then followed the HR manager toplete the process.


    Ethan watched Thssa leave, still smiling.


    This woman is interesting,¡± he thought. No wonder even someone like Lysander, who usually kept his


    distance from women and was as cold as ice, had taken an interest in her.


    In Ethan¡¯s eyes, Lysander was just intrigued by her. He felt no love for her. It was just curiosity.


    In such a day and age, with so many distractions and temptations, who still believed in love?


    Ethan certainly didn¡¯t. He didn¡¯t believe that love existed in the world.


    After Thssapleted her onboarding process, she went home, ready to start work the next day.


    She arrived home in high spirits and told her mother, Evelyn, ¡°Mom, I found a job. I start tomorrow.¡±


    Evelyn looked at her daughter, a hint of reproach in her eyes, ¡°You had a good job at your previous


    Only then did Thssa remember that Evelyn still thought that she was working at Leossa Tech and


    didn¡¯t know the fact that she had been transferred to the Sipir Group. Nor did she know that


    Lysander had fired Thssa.


    But that was all in the past, and there was no need to worry her mother with the details.

 Chapter 579

    Chapter 579


    Thssa brushed it off quickly, ¡°I got fired because I ditched work for a few days.¡±


    Evelyn stared at her in surprise, thinking about how Thssa had fled with the kids, then was found by


    Belongs to N?velDrama.Org - All rights reserved.


    Lysander, spent several days in a funk at home, and never went to


    work.


    She had indeed been missing work for several days.


    Companies in those days were ruthless, ready to fire an employee at the drop of a hat.


    Evelyn was upset. She couldn¡¯t figure out how she had been swindled out of three million dors!


    If it hadn¡¯t been for her losing three million, which happened to be the price she got for selling


    Lysander¡¯s pendant, Lysander wouldn¡¯t have lost his temper. Her four grandchildren wouldn¡¯t have


    been taken away by Lysander so decisively.


    The more Evelyn thought about it, the more she med herself.


    In a fit of frustration, she vented at Thssa, ¡°What does it matter if you got fired? Didn¡¯t Atticus scam


    a bilion for you? That billion is more than enough for us to live on for the rest of our lives! Who needs a


    job?¡±


    Evelyn said, panting with rage, her words sharp and bitter.


    Thssa¡¯s heart skipped a beat at Evelyn¡¯s words, and she looked at Evelyn in disbelief, her


    expression turning serious, ¡°Mom, that money is Lysander¡¯s, not ours. Atticus doesn¡¯t understand the


    concept of money. But we¡¯re different. We¡¯re adults. We understand money, and we know not to take


    what¡¯s not ours. I¡¯ve already given that money back to Lysander.¡±


    Thssa¡¯s eyebrows slightly furrowed as she spoke.


    Evelyn stared at Thssa, her eyes wide open in shock, then despair, ¡°What did you say? You gave it


    back?¡±


    ¡°Yes.¡± Thssa confirmed.


    Lysander had said before that he would use a billion dors to buy out her and the children¡¯s bond.


    That money was to buy her children If she epted it, it meant she agreed to sell her children.


    How could she have possibly epted that money with a clear conscience, knowing what it was for?


    The bond between her and her children was priceless! No amount of money could have bought it.


    Besides, her love for her children couldn¡¯t be measured in money.


    She had always intended to return the money to Lysander. It was just that Lysander had previously


    thought she had stolen the money and refused to ept it.


    Since everything was out in the open, and he knew how the money was obtained, she had all the more


    reason to return it.


    Evelyn, her finger trembling, pointed at Thssa, ¡°You, you¡¯re just¡­ Ah! How did I end up with such a


    stubborn daughter? You won¡¯t even take your own man¡¯s money! You¡¯re destined to suffer for the rest


    of your life!¡±


    Evelyn was upset, wiping away tears. She felt helpless.


    Her own daughter had four children for someone else, who still wouldn¡¯t marry her and treated her


    coldly, even taking her children away.


    Thinking about it, Evelyn felt heartbroken and helpless, but there was nothing she could have done.


    ¡°Mom, don¡¯t be so pessimistic. I have four lovely kids, and if we miss them, we can visit them anytime.


    Now I have a steady job, and we¡¯re notcking anything. Compared to those struggling with mortgages


    and car loans, we¡¯re already very fortunate. Let¡¯s live happily every day.¡±


    Thssa sat down next to Evelyn, her hand on her shoulder,forting her softly


    ¡°You¡¯re optimistic or heartless, depending on how you look at it. I can¡¯t handle you! I¡¯m leaving! Cook


    your own dinner.¡± Evelyn was disappointed in Thssa and med herself for losing the three million.


    She left the house in a mix of frustration and anger.


    Knowing her mother was upset, Thssa didn¡¯t stop h¨¦r. She thought that letting her go out and clear


    her head would have been a good thing.


    Just as Thssa went into the kitchen to start cooking, her phone rang. It was Evelyn.


    She answered, and Evelyn¡¯s anxious voice came from the other end, ¡°Thssa,e downstairs


    quickly, help met


    ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± Thssa¡¯s heart clenched at the sound of her mother¡¯s voice.

 Chapter 580

    Chapter 580


    ¡°Hurry up, I can¡¯t hold on any longer!¡± Evelyn¡¯s voice gasped on the phone.


    Thssa¡¯s worry intensified, and she said anxiously, ¡°Keep the line open. I am on my way down!¡±


    Thssa practically bolted out of the door. They were living in an apartment building without an


    elevator. As she rushed down the stairs, she missed her step and almost tumbled down.


    Luckily, she stumbled a few steps forward and regained her bnce.


    As soon as she steadied herself, she bolted towards the apartmentplex¡¯s exit.


    From a distance, she saw Evelyn gripping a man¡¯s shirt. The man was trying to pull away, but Evelyn


    wouldn¡¯t let him. They were locked in a stalemate.


    ¡°You rotten bastard, give me my money back!¡± Evelyn was red-faced and screaming, still clutching the


    man¡¯s shirt.


    ¡°Evelyn, let go of me! You¡¯re making a scene!¡± The man, blushing from embarrassment, retorted.


    As Thssa got closer, she recognized the man Evelyn was arguing with. It was Bruce!


    Thssa wasn¡¯t sure what had happened, but seeing that man made her instantly wary and defensive.


    Evelyn turned to Thssa, panting, ¡°Help me hold him. Don¡¯t let him get away! I saw him with the man


    who scammed me out of three million earlier. They were still scamming others in theplex with their


    bloody scheme!¡±


    She intended to catch the scammer, but he ran away too quickly, and she could only catch Bruce. Content is ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org.


    Thssa¡¯s eyes widened in surprise, understanding why Evelyn was so upset. She stepped forward to


    help, grabbing hold of Bruce¡¯s shirt, her face stern, ¡°I can¡¯t believe you would do something like this!¡±


    That man was genuinely shameless to do such a thing.


    ¡°Thssa, it¡¯s not what your mother is saying. Listen to me. There¡¯s been a misunderstanding.¡± Bruce¡¯s


    face softened as he tried to exin.


    Evelyn cursed, cutting him off, ¡°Shut up, you liar! You¡¯ve deceived so many women! Thssa, don¡¯t


    waste your breath on him. Call the/police!¡±


    Thssa was already holding her phone, ready to dial 911.


    She had barely pressed a button when Bruce snatched her phone away in desperation.


    Thssa instinctively tried to grab it back, but Bruce held it high out of her reach.


    She took a few steps forward to try and grab it, but that meant she would have had to get close to


    Bruce, and there would have been physical contact.


    She didn¡¯t want to have any contact with Bruce, so she stopped, her eyes zing, ¡°Give me back my


    phone!¡±


    ¡°You¡¯ve all misunderstood me. We¡¯re a family, and we don¡¯t need to be like this. Let¡¯s sit down and talk


    calmly. Look at all the people watching this spectacle. Isn¡¯t it embarrassing for you?¡±


    Bruce had a plea on his handsome face.


    ¡°Screw you! Who¡¯s family with you? If you talk nonsense again, I¡¯ll tear your mouth apart!¡± Evelyn


    sneered, disgusted and angry,


    ¡°Evelyn, don¡¯t you remember how much we loved each other? We don¡¯t need to let our child bear our


    grudges.¡± Bruce said softly.


    He was good-looking, and even though he was older, he still had a masculine charm. When he spoke


    gently, he was pretty seductive.


    Thssa understood why he was able to harm so many women. He was not only good-looking but also


    knew how to coax people. Many women wouldn¡¯t have been able to resist that sweet-talking charmer.

 Chapter 581

    Chapter 581


    He was the ssicdies¡¯ man. Men like him often had an uncanny knack for smooth talk.


    Evelyn, who was initially boiling with rage, found her eyes filling with tears at his words.


    Thssa, seeing that things were spiraling out of control, knew that their ongoing standoff would have


    done no good for any of them. It would have only given the onlookers a goodugh and not resolved


    anything.


    She collected herself and suggested, ¡°It¡¯s lunchtime now. Let¡¯s head over to that restaurant and get a


    booth.¡±


    Bruce, seeing a glimmer of hope, eagerly nodded, ¡°Sure thing.¡±


    ¡°What if I let go and you run?¡± Evelyn was skeptical and remained wary of trusting Bruce.


    ¡°I swear I won¡¯t run. If I do, I¡¯m a low-life chicken.¡± Bruce assured.


    Evelyn, still somewhat doubtful, red at him for a moment before reluctantly releasing her grip.


    True to his word, Bruce didn¡¯t flee. Instead, he quickly straightened his disheveled suit.


    The trio made their way to a nearby restaurant, ordered a few dishes, and settled down in a booth.


    Both Thssa and Evelyn fixed their stern, hostile gazes on Bruce.


    ¡°I only just found out that you, Evelyn, invested three million in the fund. Don¡¯t worry. The returns on


    this fund are very high. In six months, you¡¯ll have earned hundreds of thousands in dividends.¡± Bruce


    said, maintaining a smile on his face.


    ¡°Don¡¯t lie to me. If it¡¯s so easy to make money, why aren¡¯t you doing it?¡± Evelyn retorted, seething with


    anger.


    ¡°I simply don¡¯t have that kind of money,¡± Bruce replied, chuckling. ¡°Speaking of which, who did you get


    all that money from? Lysander, right? I knew it. Thssa and Lysander are close, aren¡¯t they? She


    bore him four kids. Lysander would never let her down¡­¡±


    N?velDrama.Org: text ? owner.


    As Bruce spoke, his eyes gleamed with greed.


    Thssa detected his calcting intentions and immediately became alert. ¡°You¡¯ve got it all wrong.


    That three million was a loan my mother took out for a house. You better pay her back now.¡±


    il


    ¡°You have no coteral or assets. What did you use to secure a loan? When you borrow money from a


    bank, you need to provide coteral.¡± Bruce countered. ¡°If I were to repay you right now, I¡¯d lose the job


    I¡¯ve worked so hard to secure. Speaking of which, you, Thssa, bear arge part of the me for me


    losing my previous job.¡±


    With a gentlemanly smile, Bruce uttered the most infuriating words.


    Evelyn, in a fit of rage, lunged forward to hit him.


    Thssa held her back. ¡°Mom, calm down. I¡¯ll call the police and let them investigate.¡±


    ¡°Even if the policee, they¡¯ll say the same thing. You willingly invested in the fund. That¡¯s


    considered investment, and investmentes with risks. If you lose money, there¡¯s nothing the police


    can do.¡± Bruce was then noticeably more rxedpared to before.


    He realized that theirpany was legallypliant and had nothing to fear from an investigation. As


    for Evelyn¡¯s investment, whether it made a profit or loss was entirely up to him.


    ¡°You¡¯re shameless, a fraud, and a big scammer!¡± Evelyn red furiously at him. Her breath was


    ragged.


    ¡°Let¡¯s not get so worked up. Today, let¡¯s have a nice family chat about how we can make more money.¡±


    Bruce suggested, a smile ying on his lips.


    Thssa clenched her fists in anger but was helpless against him


    At that moment, the waitress came in with their food and ced it on the table. As she was leaving, she


    discreetly snapped a photo of the three at the table.


    After she left, she showed the photo on her phone to a man in a ck suit.


    ¡°Good work. Send the photo to my phone.¡± The man, who was a bodyguard, tipped the waitress and


    asked her to send him the photoi

 Chapter 582

    Chapter 582


    Upon receiving the photo, the bodyguard promptly forwarded it to Lysander.


    N?velDrama.Org: text ? owner.


    At the Sinir Group¡¯s CEO¡¯s office, Lysander scrutinized the image on his phone. It was a picture of


    three people seated at a dining table. His face was shrouded in a gloomy expression. His gaze was


    frosty and as cold as a winterndscape.


    Meanwhile, at a restaurant, in a private dining room.


    Thssa had gone face-to-face with Bruce¡¯s deceit and audacity!


    Despite knowing that he was tricking Evelyn out of her money, he continued to sweet-talk her.


    What infuriated her the most was that such a fraudulent scheme was able to operate with legitimate


    business licenses and paperwork.


    Even if they called the police, there was little they could have done. At most, it could have been


    ssified as a willing transaction between parties.


    Seemingly oblivious to Thssa¡¯s rage, Bruce continued, ¡°Thssa, you¡¯re Lysander¡¯s children¡¯s


    mother. You¡¯ve beaten many women already. It would be best if you secured your own welfare.


    Lysander has more money than he can spend. If you don¡¯t spend it, someone else will. Why not live a


    better life? If you don¡¯t know how to spend the money, I can help you. I can help you it, buy real estate,


    whatever you want¡­¡±


    Thssa had reached her limit. Her fists clenched, ready to m the table in anger.


    Suddenly, the door to the room was kicked open. A palpable sense of danger permeated the air as a


    powerful presence entered, thinning the atmosphere.


    Thssa turned towards the door to see a tall, long-legged man in a meticulously handcrafted ck


    suit. His aura was icy and regal. He strode in, followed by several ck-d bodyguards.


    The show of strength was enough to take one¡¯s breath away.


    Thssa was stunned. What was Lysander doing there?


    Before she could react, Lysander was beside her. His shadow engulfed her as hisrge hand grabbed


    her wrist. With a slight tug, she collided with his muscr chest.


    Thssa panicked, ¡°Lysander¡­¡±


    ¡°So, you¡¯re eager to spend my money?¡± Lysander¡¯s gaze was sharp as a knife, piercing into Thssa¡¯s


    eyes.


    Her pupils contracted as she hurriedly exined, ¡°It¡¯s not like that¡­¡±


    ¡°All of you gathered here, scheming, and you still want to deny it?¡± Lysander¡¯s grip tightened as his icy


    aura seeped into Thssa¡¯s skin, causing her to feel both pain and cold.


    She furrowed her brows, stating, ¡°We have nothing to do with Bruce.¡±


    ¡°Thssa, I¡¯m your father¡­¡± Bruce hastily revealed his identity, hoping to benefit from Thssa¡¯s


    rtionship with Lysander.


    Why would Bruce have passed up such an opportunity?


    As soon as he finished speaking, Lysander¡¯s predatory gaze swept towards him, silencing him


    instantly.


    Thssa was flustered, vehemently denying, ¡°He¡¯s not!¡±


    ¡°Right, he¡¯s not! I¡¯ve never acknowledged him as Thssa¡¯s father!¡± Evelyn, affected by Lysander¡¯s icy


    aura, was at a loss. Yet, at that critical moment, her words were firm and angry.


    Bruce insisted, ¡°You can¡¯t change blood ties.¡±


    ¡°Shut up! Beat him up!¡± Lysander¡¯s icy gaze bored into Bruce.


    His overwhelming presence filled the room with a chilling atmosphere.


    Panicked, Bruce attempted to flee but was swiftly grabbed by the approaching bodyguards, who started


    to beat him up.


    Seeing that, Evelyn was terrified and backed against the wall, not daring to utter a word.


    Thssa looked in surprise at the brawl, but before she could see how badly Bruce was getting


    beaten, Lysander tightened his grip on her wrist and dragged her out of the


    restaurant.


    She had no chance to resist.


    After being hauled to his car and tossed inside, Thssa felt as if her wrist would break. She fell onto


    the car seat, and before she could sit up, Lysander¡¯s imposing figure entered the car and shut the door


    with a resounding thud.


    In a deep voice, he instructed his driver, ¡°Sinir International Hotel!¡±

 Chapter 583

    Chapter 583


    The car roared to life, taking off at a high speed.


    Content property of N?velDra/ma.Org.


    Thssa struggled to get up from her seat. Lysander¡¯s overpowering aura was freezing and daunting.


    She moved closer to the window, trying her best to put some distance


    between them.


    Her heart pounded in a panic, and her breaths came in quick, shallow gasps.


    Lysander remained silent.


    The atmosphere was palpably tense throughout the ride.


    Soon enough, they arrived at the Sinir Group International Hotel.


    Lysander gripped Thssa¡¯s wrist tightly, leading her to the presidential suite, tossing her onto the bed,


    his imposing figure looming over her, trapping her.


    Thssa was pale with fear; she tried to back away, but there was nowhere left to retreat.


    Lysander¡¯s rough hand gripped her chin, lifting her face and forcing her to look into his eyes. ¡°So, you


    want to spend my money to support your ungrateful father, huh?¡± His cold breath fanned across her


    face, piercingly cold, causing Thssa¡¯s breath to hitch. There was a sharp pain in her chest. She tried


    to speak, ¡°It¡¯s just Bruce¡¯s ambition. I didn¡¯t¡­¡±


    ¡°Really now? Three million has already ended up in his pocket, and you still haven¡¯t satisfied his greed!


    Thssa, I¡¯ve told you more than once that ying mind games with mees with a price!¡±


    Lysander¡¯s teeth clenched, his deep eyes icy and cold.


    ¡°¡­¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t want to hear your excuses! If you¡¯ve done it, you have to bear the consequences!¡± Lysander


    gritted his teeth, interrupting her.


    In his eyes, her lies made her unworthy of his trust.


    Everything she said was just to deceive him.


    No other woman had dared to y mind games with him repeatedly.


    With those words, Lysander harshly sealed her lips with his, drowning all her protests in their kiss.


    ¡°Mmm, let¡­¡± Thssa felt his anger and struggled.


    ¡°Rip!¡± Her clothes were torn apart, and her resistance only sparked his fury further.


    Outside the window, tree shadows swayed, the sun gradually set, and night fell.


    Inside, the bedsidemp swung violently as if the wind outside was forcing it to sway.


    In the restaurant, Bruce was reduced to groaning on the floor, beaten to a pulp. His eyes were swollen


    shut, and his cheeks puffed out as if he had stuffed eggs in his mouth. He rolled around on the floor,


    whimpering from the pain, unable to muster the strength or will to stand.


    All the bodyguards had retreated. Only the frightened Evelyn remained, with her back pressed against


    the wall.


    Even after the bodyguards had left, she was still in shock. Her body was shivering, and she stared at


    the mess around her.


    It took her a while to regain herposure. Looking at Bruce writhing on the floor, his pitiful state sent


    shock waves through Evelyn.


    She slowly approached him, squatting down, nervously asking, ¡°You¡¯re not going to die, are you?¡±


    Bruce still had his wits about him. Recognizing Evelyn¡¯s voice, he stopped his painful writhing, panting


    heavily. His swollen eyes stared at Evelyn.


    ¡°I must be jinxed. The first time I met you and Thssa, I was beaten up. And now, for the second time,


    I¡¯ve been beaten up again. Maybe it¡¯s because I owe you, and this is the way the universe is making


    me pay.¡± Bruce said, ¡°I¡¯m sorry for making you suffer¡­


    His words caused Evelyn¡¯s tears to flow uncontrobly.

 Chapter 584

    Chapter 584


    ¡°You damn jerk!¡± Evelyn cried, yfully swatting Bruce¡¯s arm.


    ¡°Ouch¡­¡± Bruce winced, feeling a sharp sting from her hit.


    ¡°What¡¯s wrong with you? Don¡¯t you dare die on me. Especially not in front of me,¡± Evelyn said. She


    tried to sound harsh, but her eyes were filled with worry.


    ¡°Call 911. I need to get to the hospital, or it¡¯s curtains for me,¡± Bruce managed to gasp out, fighting


    through the pain.


    ¡°Okay, okay. I¡¯m calling right now¡­¡± Evelyn¡¯s fingers trembled as she dialed the emergency number on


    her phone.


    Thssa was tormented until the early hours of the morning, eventually sumbing to exhaustion and


    falling into a fitful sleep.


    Lysander finally stopped. His eyes glowed in the darkness like a predatory animal, staring at Thssa¡¯s


    pale and weak face. He clenched his teeth, his jaw tight with suppressed anger.


    He lit a cigarette, and the ember flickered in the dim room, reflecting the smoldering rage in Lysander¡¯s


    heart.


    Several cigarettester, he still couldn¡¯t quell the restlessness brewing within him.


    As dawn approached, he left, leaving Thssa alone.


    When she woke up, it was past ten in the morning. She tried to get up, but the pain was as if she had


    been run over by a freight train. She stayed in bed, her tears soaking the pillow, wondering what she


    had done to deserve such torment.


    At the Sinir Group office, Lysander was handed a package by David.


    ¡°Mr. Sinir, your express mail. It arrived yesterday. It¡¯s a sealed document,¡± David said.


    Lysander opened the package, and a card fell out. It was a bank card.


    A note fell out from the document, and Lysander read the message,


    [I asked you for your bank ount number before, but you didn¡¯t give it to me. So, I¡¯ve given you my


    card. There¡¯s a billion and ten million in there. Not a penny more, not a penny less. The password is six


    sixes. -Thssa]


    Lysander¡¯s expression darkened, his gaze falling on David, ¡°When exactly did this package arrive?¡±


    ¡°Yesterday afternoon, just before closing,¡± David replied promptly.


    Lysander¡¯s brows furrowed. The package had been sent from the vicinity of Vibrant Oasis Residences.


    ording to the courier¡¯s timeline, it had been sent yesterday morning.


    That meant that before he¡¯d ¡°caught¡± Thssa and her family trying to spend his money, she¡¯d already


    mailed him the billion and ten million!


    Back at the hotel room, Thssa was startled awake by the sound of the door opening. Seeing


    Lysander¡¯s tall figure, she tensed up.


    ¡°Why is he here again? What does he want?¡± Thssa thought, her heart pounding.


    The memories of the previous night, his relentless demands, and hisck of mercy were still fresh in


    Content property of N?velDra/ma.Org.


    her mind.


    She braced herself as he approached, but she was exhausted and unable to move. All she could do


    was watch him warily.


    ¡°Where do you feel a pain?¡± he asked, his deep voice filled with an unexpected gentleness.

 Chapter 585

    Chapter 585


    Thssa¡¯s heart fluttered with unease.


    The tone of his voice seemed to hint at concern.


    But she quickly dismissed it.


    How could he have possibly cared for her?


    He would have been doing her a favor if he didn¡¯t kill her!


    If he had spared her, she would have been thanking her lucky stars. How could she have even


    Content is ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org.


    dreamed of his concern?


    Furthermore, she couldn¡¯t afford his concern anyway.


    ¡°As long as you¡¯re not around, I¡¯m fine,¡± Thssa managed to speak, her voice hoarse and painful.


    She had screamed herself hoarsest night.


    Luckily, she was still alive.


    Lysander¡¯s face darkened. Her clear rejection only added to his irritation.


    He dropped a bag on the bed, ¡°Get dressed ande with me. I¡¯ll get you something to eat.¡±


    With that, he walked over to the sofa and crossed his legs in a leisurely manner, exuding an air of


    nobility.


    Thssa nced at him hesitantly. He was sitting with his back towards her, so she was safe for the


    moment.


    She bit her lip and struggled out of bed to grab the clothes, and headed to the bathroom.


    She didn¡¯t dare to look in the mirror, afraid to see the damage.


    Visible to the naked eye, her skin was marred with countless bruises.


    After a quick shower and change, she emerged from the bathroom.


    Lysander¡¯s gaze fell on her. He had brought her a long-sleeved blouse with a bow tie cor tucked into


    a pair of jeans. Her slender l¨¦gs looked youthful and innocent in the attire.


    Lysander¡¯s lips parted slightly, ¡°Come here.¡±


    At his voice, Thssa¡¯s nerves tightened. She didn¡¯t want to go, but the fear of angering him drove her


    to ovee her trepidation.


    He reached out and took her hand. His palm was rough, calloused, and warm.


    The moment he touched Thssa¡¯s cold hand, she felt a jolt of electricity surge through her. She


    quickly recovered andposed herself.


    Lysander led her out of the hotel room towards the restaurant they had visited before.


    They sat at the same table by the window, overlooking a small bridge, a bubbling brook, and an array


    of vibrant flowers.


    But Thssa had no mind to appreciate the view. The constant pain was a reminder of the terrifying


    man who was beside her.


    She lowered her head, struggling to cut the steak on her te. Despite her efforts, she couldn¡¯t


    manage to get a bite.


    Lysander watched her delicate movements, his eyes softening under the light.


    He cut a piece of steak and ced it on her te.


    Thssa¡¯s eyes widened in surprise as a piece of steak appeared on her te. She looked up,


    meeting Lysander¡¯s deep, captivating gaze.


    Their eyes locked.


    ¡°Leopold, I¡¯ve been wanting toe here for so long but never had the chance. I didn¡¯t expect toe


    with you. This might be the happiest memory of my life,¡± a voice filled with joy echoed.


    ¡°I¡¯m d you like it,¡± came a man¡¯s familiar voice.


    Thssa¡¯s ears perked up at the sound. She turned to see a warm and sunny man.


    Their eyes met, and Thssa¡¯s heart skipped a beat.

 Chapter 586

    Chapter 586


    The man before her was Leopold, whom she hadn¡¯t seen in several days.


    Instead of his previous gloomy demeanor, he seemed to have been in better spirits.


    His chestnut hair was still cropped short, and his figure was lean. His face was gentle and sunny, and


    in his amber eyes, there seemed to have been a newfound sparkle.


    Standing next to him was a woman dressed in a ck form-fitting mini skirt and a belly-baring crop top,


    her hair cut short to her ears. She was stylish and sexy.


    i


    It was Debby, whom she hadn¡¯t seen in quite some time.


    Debby had her arm linked with Leopold¡¯s, and they seemed close.


    Thssa found her gaze lingering on them.


    Leopold was also looking at her.


    It wasn¡¯t until the air temperature around her plummeted, a chill wind striking her skin, that Thssa


    snapped back to reality. She turned to Lysander.


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    His eyes were icy, and his handsome face was tense. His aura was as cold as winter¡¯s snow.


    His gaze was piercing and oppressive. He hadn¡¯t uttered a word, but his stare held her captive.


    A single look spoke volumes.


    Hastily, Thssa lowered her head and picked up the steak that Lysander had ced on her te.


    She began to chew, hoping to hide her difort.


    ¡°Isn¡¯t this our old friend, Thssa? What a coincidence running into you¡¯ here,¡± Debby said,


    approaching their table with Leopold, with a bright smile on her face.


    Thssa, already tense, felt her body stiffen even more. She forced a smile back at Debby in greeting.


    ¡°On a date with your boyfriend, huh? I thought you were joking when you said Mr. Sinir was your


    boyfriend at the bar. I didn¡¯t realize it was true,¡± Debby said, ncing at the stern-faced Lysander.


    Debby didn¡¯t dare to look at him for too long.


    She quickly averted her gaze and turned to Leopold, cheerfully saying, ¡°Leopold, this is your uncle,


    Lysander. Aren¡¯t you going to say hi?¡±


    Debby thought her lively personality could have helped Leopold connect with Lysander, which would


    have been beneficial for him.


    At her prompt, Leopold met Lysander¡¯s gaze.


    Lysander, however, continued to leisurely cut into his steak, not even sparing him a nce.


    The atmosphere between the uncle and nephew was so frosty that parks could have practically flown.


    Unaware of the tension, Debby yfully shook Leopold¡¯s arm, saying, ¡°Leopold, I¡¯m talking to you.¡±


    Thssa tightened her grip on her fork, the icy atmosphere making her nervous.


    ¡°Aren¡¯t you hungry? Let¡¯s find a seat and eat,¡± Leopold said, deftly changing the subject.


    His tone was calm, but only he knew how much he was holding back.


    Without waiting for Debby to respond, he led her away to a nearby table.


    As they waited for their food to be served, Debby leaned in close to Leopold, whispering, ¡°Is Thssa


    really dating Lysander? She¡¯s not exactly a spring chicken, but she managed to snag Lysander as a


    boyfriend¡­¡±


    Back in college, Debby had fancied Leopold but lost out to Thssa. She could only watch as Leopold


    became Thssa¡¯s boyfriend.


    She was frustrated, but there was nothing she could do.


    But then, just as she finally had Leopold by her side, Thssa had moved on to a bigger and better


    man. She was dating Lysander, the man every woman wanted but could never have!


    She had to admit Thssa was more capable than her.


    Leopold¡¯s face was cold and dark, but he didn¡¯t say a word.


    Oblivious to his difort, Debby continued, ¡°Leopold, how did you and Thssa break up?¡±


    Leopold clenched his jaw but remained silent. His gaze, however, strayed past Debby andnded on


    Thssa.

 Chapter 587

    Chapter 587


    He was seated where he had a clear view of Thssa.


    Thssa had been engrossed in her steak when she nced up and found herself confronting a pair


    of intense eyes. She looked up, startled, to find Leopold¡¯s gaze on her.


    It took her breath away.


    ¡°Jealous much?¡± Lysander¡¯s voice broke the silence, deep and cold.


    Thssa snapped back to reality, her panicky eyes meeting his stern, deep-set ones.


    She could sense the danger radiating off him. Her heart started pounding.


    ¡°Of course not¡­¡± Thssa stammered.


    ¡°Good,¡± Lysander¡¯s cold voice rang out, his brooding eyes fixed on her. ¡°I gave you a chance. Once


    you¡¯ve made your choice, there¡¯s no turning back. Got it?¡±


    His domineering presence hung heavily over her.


    Content property of N?velDra/ma.Org.


    Thssa¡¯s hand tightened slightly around her knife and fork as she responded, understand.¡±


    She knew what he meant by the chance he had given her.


    When she and her children were found in Hollowbrook, he had taken the children and told her that if


    she wanted to run away with Leopold, he would have


    let her!


    At that time, her heart was entirely with her children. She chose to go with him, leaving Leopold


    behind.


    Without hesitation, she chose her children, even agreeing to be his woman so that she could see


    her children whenever she wanted.


    From the moment she made that choice, she and Leopold were over.


    No, perhaps since that night five years ago, she and Leopold were over.


    She was happy for him to seek his own happiness now, and she wished him well.


    Debby had always liked him, and he would have been happy with her.


    ¡°Then keep your eyes to yourself,¡± Lysander¡¯s voice, low,manding, and cold, echoed around


    them.


    Thssa¡¯s hand, still clutching her utensils, twitched slightly.


    A chill ran down her spine.


    She had never imagined someone could be so terrifying.


    She had identally nced at Leopold, and Lysander had caught her. He was so domineering that


    he wouldn¡¯t even allow her an unintentional nce at Leopold.


    Thssa¡¯s body tensed slightly, and she took a deep breath, saying, ¡°You are the one in front of me.


    Anyone else is just passing by.¡±


    As she spoke, she cut into her steak with determination, her emotions running high.


    Lysander¡¯s domineering nature was suffocating her.


    Her words suggested that he was the only one in her eyes.


    Lysander, his eyes piercing, watched her without saying a word.


    At the table behind them, the waiter brought over a steak. Debby cut a piece and ced it on Leopold¡¯s


    te, ¡°You take the first bite.¡±


    Without hesitation, Leopold returned the steak to her te, ¡°I have my own. You eat this


    Debby pouted slightly in disappointment, ¡°Why can¡¯t you be more romantic? Just now, Lysander cut a


    steak for Thssa, and she ate it. That¡¯s what Leall romance. Can¡¯t you learn from him?¡±


    Leopold¡¯s expression darkened. His heart was heavy as stone.

 Chapter 588

    Chapter 588


    Leopold held his knife and fork, his breath uneven as he stared down at the steak in front of him,


    untouched.


    His heart was in pain, a tempest of anguish swirling inside him.


    ¡°Leopold, what¡¯s wrong? You don¡¯t look well. Do you need to go to the hospital? Debby, seeing his pale


    Leopold put his cutlery down. The sound of the silverware clinking against the wooden table was more


    profound than it should have been.


    ¡°I¡¯m not hungry. I¡¯m leaving.¡± His voice was t, eyes hollow. He stood up abruptly and left.


    His sudden outburst took Debby aback. ¡°Leopold, wait for me. If you¡¯re not feeling well, let me


    apany you to the hospital.¡±


    She regretted being impatient for deliberately acting coy to make him show his affection. They had only


    met at a cocktail party the day before, and after she had made the first move, Leopold seemed to have


    been somewhat interested. She had thought they were already on the verge of bing a couple.


    But now, he was upset.


    Leopold ignored Debby, and his amber eyes fixed on Thssa, who was sitting across the room. His


    gaze was intense, full of pain and anger.


    Thssa never looked up, even when Leopold walked past her, leaving a trail of cold wind that


    brushed against her skin.


    ¡°Leopold, wait for me!¡± Debby¡¯s frantic voice echoed behind him.


    As their footsteps faded, Thssa¡¯s heart remained heavy. She distractedly picked up a piece of


    steak.


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    Her wrist suddenly was gripped tightly.


    ¡°Are you trying to get yourself killed?¡±


    Looking up, she met Lysander¡¯s icy gaze. His handsome face was stern, his eyes stormy.


    Startled, she looked down at her hand holding a knife. The de pointed downwards with a piece of


    steak on it.


    She was about to eat with the knife!


    If she had proceeded, her lips would have been cut.


    For the first time, Thssa felt guilty under Lysander¡¯s cold, domineering demeanor. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, I wasn¡¯t


    paying attention¡­¡±


    Lysander huffed, releasing her hand. ¡°The person you should be apologizing to is not me but yourself!¡±


    Thssa lowered her eyes, nodding in agreement. ¡°You¡¯re right¡­


    Lysander watched her, never missing a single expression.


    Suddenly, he stood up, pulling her to her feet and leading her out of the restaurant.


    Caught off guard, Thssa stumbled after him.


    Before she knew it, she was thrown into his car, the door mming shut behind her.


    She was left in the car with Lysander.


    His icy aura filled the small space, making it hard for her to breathe.


    ¡°Follow that Bentley!¡± Lysander ordered the driver.

 Chapter 589

    Chapter 589


    ¡°Right.¡± The driver obliged, kick-starting the engine.


    Thssa looked out the window, puzzled.


    The Bentley ahead was familiar; it belonged to Leopold, a sight she had seen quite a few times.


    Why did Lysander ask the driver to follow Leopold¡¯s car?


    Thssa was curious but also anxious.


    She didn¡¯t dare ask, however.


    The atmosphere inside the car was stifling and stagnant.


    Thssa tensed, sneaking nces at Lysander from the corner of her eye.


    He sat back, his handsome face taut, eyes unfathomable, radiating an intimidating aura even without


    uttering a word.


    She couldn¡¯t fathom his thoughts nor dared to guess,


    Eventually, the car stopped at a sprawling vi.


    Thssa jerked slightly as the vehicle halted, but before she could react, Lysander¡¯s long arm swept


    her towards him, crashing her body into his firm


    chest.


    The impact caused Thssa¡¯s heart to flutter.


    Before she could react, Lysander¡¯srge hand gripped her chin, forcing her to face the window. His


    chilly breath brushed against her cheek. ¡°You¡¯re worried, aren¡¯t you? Look closely!¡±


    Thssa¡¯s breathing was uneven, her chin aching from his grip. Ignoring the pain, she was forced to


    witness the scene outside.


    Leopold and Debby exited their car.


    Debby confidently stepped forward to link arms with Leopold. Her bright, loving smile was directed at


    him.


    Leopold allowed her to take his arm, looking down at her with a sunny smile, yfully tracing her nose


    with his fingertip. His expression was indulgent, and his demeanor was warm.


    The streetlight illuminated their sweet, blissful moment.


    Thssa saw Leopold¡¯s actions clearly. A wave of lost youth and a mncholy hit her hard.


    Leopold¡¯s signature nose-tracing gesture was one he had done many times for her.


    His gentleness was not exclusive to her; he could be gentle to others too.


    And that was okay.


    As his grip tightened, Thssa winced, her thoughts quickly snapping back to reality. She lifted her


    hand to hold Lysander¡¯s, hoping to alleviate her own pain.


    ¡°How does it feel, seeing the man you love with another woman?¡± Lysander¡¯s cold, angry words


    echoed in her ears.


    His face was pressed against her cheek, his body heat intense and threatening. His icy breath felt like it


    could have frozen her skin.


    Thssa¡¯s breathing hitched, her voice low and pained, ¡°You¡¯ve never loved anyone. Even if I told you


    how I felt, you wouldn¡¯t understand.¡±


    So, he had the driver follow Leopold to let her witness him with another woman to hurt her.


    But suddenly, Thssa didn¡¯t want to exin anymore.


    Lysander¡¯s eyes turned icy as if a winter storm had swept over them.


    She knew precisely how to provoke him.


    Lysander turned her face to face him, his eyes burning with rage. ¡°I may not understand, but I can


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    experience it through your body!¡±


    His voice was as cold as a demon¡¯s.


    Thssa shivered in fear.


    Then, the partition in the car dropped, separating the front and back of the vehicle.


    Before Thssa could react, her lips were imed in a fierce kiss. Caught off guard, she didn¡¯t even


    have the chance to struggle.


    The car started moving, gliding along the asphalt road. Despite the smooth drive, Thssa felt as if she


    was on a bumpy ride.


    Her hair was strewn across the car seats, her eyes glistening with tears, her voice hoarse and barely


    audible.


    Lysander in front of her was like a relentless demon.

 Chapter 590

    Chapter 590


    Outside the vi, Leopold watched as the ck Rolls Royce drove away, the gentleness on his face


    abruptly reced by a somber expression. He pulled his arm away from Debby¡¯s grip.


    His gaze


    followed the retreating car, and a pang of pain shed in his eyes. His hand hanging by his side


    clenched into a fist.


    ¡°L¨¦opold, what¡¯s wrong? Let¡¯s go inside,¡± Debby asked, feeling a bit lost. Moments ago, Leopold was


    as sweet as honey. What had changed so suddenly? She was genuinely worried about Leopold¡¯s


    health, but to her surprise, he took her straight home.


    It made Debby ecstatic.


    Leopold had actually brought her home, and she knew exactly what that meant.


    ¡°It¡¯s gettingte. I¡¯ll have the driver take you home,¡± Leopold said, his face devoid of any emotion. He


    then briskly walked towards the vi.


    As Debby tried to catch up, the driver was already there. ¡°Ms. Debby, please get in the car. I¡¯ll take you


    home.¡±


    The driver blocked her way, making it impossible for her to reach Leopold.


    Debby frowned slightly, shot the driver an annoyed re, then reluctantly got into the car.


    Leopold was unpredictable, and she had no idea what he was thinking. But she was determined not to


    give up. She had missed out on Leopold once before, and since she had gotten another chance, she


    was determined to be Leopold¡¯s wife.


    The Rolls Royce stopped at the Royal Estates.


    Lysander buttoned up his shirt, stood up, and shot Thssa a prating gaze.


    Her head was resting on the seat, her hair a mess, and her eyes filled with tears!


    She looked both desirable and pitiful.


    Lysander wrapped his jacket around her, then lifted her into his arms.


    His masculine scent overwhelmed her, filling her with a mixture of fear and wariness.


    ¡°Let me down. I can walk myself!¡± she protested. Her eyes were filled with defiance.


    Her voice was soft and weak, making it sound more like a whimper than a protest.


    Her outstretched hand had no power against Lysander. It was soft, almost inviting.


    ¡°Can you walk?¡± Lysander asked, his voice low and maic.


    Thssa was taken aback, her anger and resentment ring up as she red at him.


    It was his fault she couldn¡¯t walk.


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    He was a brute, a beast!


    Seeing her reproachful eyes, ming him for her current state, Lysander found a strange sense of


    satisfaction.


    He carried Thssa towards the house.


    ¡°Lysander, Ms. Everhart, you¡¯re back,¡± Fitch greeted them, along with the rest of the staff.


    Thssa¡¯s face turned red, and she quickly buried her face in Lysander¡¯s chest, too embarrassed to be


    seen.


    But she was only fooling herself.


    Everyone knew it was her.


    Her face nuzzled into his chest like a kitten, tickling him and making his heart flutter.


    Lysander¡¯s eyes grew a shade dimmer.


    He swallowed hard.


    He carried her upstairs and gentlyid her on the master bed. Seeing her weak and powerless, he


    suppressed his emotions, took something out of his pocket, and ced it on the bedside table. ¡°Why


    didn¡¯t you tell me before you sent this?¡±


    Thssa nced at the card on the bedside table. It was the bank card she had sent him.


    ¡°Why should I? You don¡¯t need the money!¡± she said, her voice filled with resentment.


    Lysander¡¯s eyebrows furrowed, his gaze fixed on her pale, pitiful face. He took a deep breath, ¡°Don¡¯t


    assume things next time!¡±

 Chapter 591

    Chapter 591


    ¡°Go ahead. I¡¯m spent. Need to sleep, Thssa said, turning her face away, refusing to meet his gaze.


    She assumed her cold demeanor would have angered him, but to her surprise, he simply turned and


    left.


    With his icy presence gone, Thssa let out a small sigh of relief.


    Her eyes drifted towards the bank card on the bedside table. She wondered if Lysander had drained it


    dry.


    Regardless, she decided she no longer wanted it.


    Thssa felt drained, as though every bit of her energy had been sapped.


    As she was about to fall asleep, the door opened. Before anyone entered, the joyous voices of children


    filled the room.


    ¡°Mommy!¡±


    The innocent voices of the four little ones echoed around the room, tugging at Thssa¡¯s heartstrings.


    Her eyes snapped open, and she looked towards the door.


    Four adorable little faces were running towards her, swinging their tiny legs.


    Their waddling reminded her of little penguins, and they were incredibly cute.


    Thssa¡¯s spirits lifted instantly as if she had found some energy within herself


    She propped herself up, a gentle smile appearing on her face. ¡°Atticus, Dorian, Elowen, Sophia¡­¡±


    ¡°Mommy!¡±


    ¡°Mommy, why is your voice so soft?¡± Dorian asked.


    The children gathered by her bed, their chubby hands clutching the bed sheets, their little heads tilted,


    eyes filled with wonder and love..


    Thssa felt a wave of warmth wash over her. Even her heart, riddled with holes, seemed to be


    healing, filled with energy.


    ¡°It¡¯s nothing. My throat¡¯s just a little sore,¡± Thssa exined. She reached out, caressing each of their


    soft, round faces.


    ¡°Have you all eaten yet?¡± Thssa asked, her voice filled with concern.


    ¡°Yep, all done.¡± Atticus nodded.


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    ¡°We ate, but did you eat, Mommy?¡± Dorian asked, his eyes sparkling with concern.


    ¡°I have eaten, too,¡± Thssa replied.


    ¡°Did you eat as much as me, Mommy? Look at my belly. It¡¯s all round like a football!¡± Elowen bragged,


    lifting her dress to disy her round belly.


    Thssaughed, patting her belly. ¡°Our Elowen sure did eat a lot. You¡¯re so cute.¡±


    ¡°Mommy is cute too,¡± Elowen replied, her face lighting up with a radiant smile. Her two little dimples


    made her even more adorable.


    ¡°Yes, Mommy is the cutest.¡± Sophia agreed, clutching her tiny fists.


    Thssa smiled, feeling content and happy.


    No matter what difficulties she faced, the sight of her children always lifted her spirits.


    There¡¯s always hope when there¡¯s light in your heart.


    ¡°Mommy,e and y with us,¡± Elowen pleaded, tugging at Thssa¡¯s hand.


    ¡°All right, Mommy will y with you.¡± Thssa agreed, pushing herself off the bed. Just as she was


    about to stand, her legs gave way, and she ended up sitting back on the bed.


    She had overestimated herself. Her body wasn¡¯t up for ytime, despite her eagerness


    Just then, amanding presence entered the room.


    Lysander had returned.

 Chapter 592

    Chapter 592


    Thssa¡¯s heart clenched as she saw him approaching her bedside. It was a primal fear, one that her


    body seemed to react to instinctively.


    Lysander came forward, hisrge hand gently taking Elowen¡¯s tiny one from her


    Elowen turned to look at him, her round face tilting upward, her bright eyes filled with curiosity.


    ¡°Could you guys step out for a bit? Let your mom rest,¡± Lysander suggested.


    ¡°What¡¯s wrong with Mom? Is she sick?¡± Dorian asked, his youthful eyes filled with concern, staring at


    Thssa.


    He had noticed earlier that his mother¡¯s voice had been quite hoarse.


    ¡°Mom, if you¡¯re sick, we can go to the hospital. You can take a shot. It won¡¯t hurt. Sophia will blow on it


    and make the pain fly away,¡± Sophia said, her tiny face looking anxious.


    The person that mattered most to this little girl was undoubtedly her mother.


    Whenever she had to get shots in the past, her mother had alwaysforted her in that way.


    ¡°Mom¡¯s fine. I¡¯m just a little tired. I¡¯ll be okay after some rest,¡± Thssa said.


    Surrounded by her children¡¯s concern, she felt a mixture of heartache, bitterness, and gratification.


    ¡°Then rest, Mom. We¡¯ll have Dad y with us,¡± Elowen said, her chubby face turning towards


    Lysander, her bright eyes filled with anticipation. ¡°Dad, will you y with us, please?¡±


    Thssa¡¯s brow furrowed slightly, apprehensive as she looked at Lysander, fearing he was going to


    reject the children.


    Their eyes were filled with such anticipation, and if they were to be disappointed, Thssa¡¯s heart


    would have undoubtedly ached.


    If she were able to stand up, she would have definitely yed with the children and joined them in their


    games.


    But her legs were so weak, so devoid of strength, that even if she tried to force herself, she wouldn¡¯t


    have been able to keep herself upright. The moment she tried to stand, her legs would have started to


    tremble.


    Just as Thssa was feeling torn and apprehensive, Lysander¡¯s deep voice broke the silence, ¡°Sure.¡±


    ¡°Hooray!¡± Elowen cried excitedly, jumping up and down.


    The other three little munchkins also seemed to brighten up, their eyes shining with joy.


    Thssa felt the tension leave her shoulders.


    ¡°Dad, let¡¯s go y hide-and-seek outside so we don¡¯t disturb Mom while she rests,¡± Elowen said,


    clutching Lysander¡¯s hand and guiding him towards the door with her feeble strength.


    Lysander stretched his long legs to keep up with her.


    ¡°Mom, you rest. We¡¯re going to y now,¡± Dorian said, bidding Thssa farewell before heading out.


    Atticus and Sophia remained in the room.


    Atticus¡¯ cute face was severe. His baby brows furrowed in worry as he looked at Thssa.


    Sophia stood timidly by the bed, and her eyes filled with concern.


    Seeing their worried expressions, Thssa gave a gentle smile. ¡°Mom¡¯s fine, don¡¯t worry. Go out and


    y. Dad¡¯s joining you for hide-and-seek. Atticus, didn¡¯t you always want a dad?¡±


    Thssa could hardly imagine what it would have looked like that Lysander ying hide-and-seek with


    the children.


    He was usually so cold and reserved, hardly one for smiles orughter. That severe man ying such


    a childish game, would he havee off as stiff?


    Or was he going to let loose and have a great time with the kids?


    If only she could stand up, she would have loved to see Lysander ying hide-and-seek with the


    children.


    It would certainly be a sight to see.


    Atticus blinked, clearly torn between wanting to y with his father and worrying about his mother.


    Thssa, their mother, understood them best. Her smile was warm and full of maternal love as she


    said, ¡°Atticus, take Sophia and go y outside. Mom¡¯s just going to take a nap, and then I¡¯lle to


    join you.¡±


    Atticus nodded obediently, stepping forward to take Sophia¡¯s hand. ¡°Sophia, let¡¯s go y with Dad. We


    should let Mom rest.¡±


    Sophia gave a sensible nod, and the two of them, hand-in-hand, walked out.


    Sophia kept turning back to look at Thssa, her innocent eyes still filled with worry. Only after several


    nces did she finally follow Atticus out of the Content is ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org.


    room,


    Watching them teave, Thssa felt a lump in her throat.


    She was so moved by their deep love for her.


    She was so fortunate to have those four. They were all very well-behaved and understanding.


    No matter what she had lost, having them made it all worth it,


    Just then, there was a light knock on the door frame.


    Thssa was startled. She quickly wiped away her tears and said, ¡°Come in.¡±

 Chapter 593

    Chapter 593


    She was puzzled, wondering who could have been so courteous as to knock before entering an


    already open door.


    In walked a maid, carrying a trayden with food.


    She set down a bowl of chicken soup with sweet corn, oatmeal porridge, and pork ribs on the bedside


    table. Andstly, she set down a ss of water and two white pills.


    ¡°Ms. Everhart, please enjoy. I¡¯ll be right outside should you need anything,¡± the maid said politely


    before exiting the room.


    Thssa scanned the food with her eyes, but her gaze finallynded on the two white pills. She stared


    at them for a moment before a bitter smile yed on her lips.


    It was a smile filled with helplessness, sadness, and self-mockery.


    Without hesitation, she picked up the pills and swallowed them down with the water.


    She had been through this too many times. So she knew precisely what those pills were.


    They were birth control pills!


    Before, she was given one. And then, she was given two.


    Did Lysander know he was too reckless? So he feared she might get pregnant? And to y it safe, he


    gave her two pills to prevent her from conceiving?


    What a heartless, cold man.


    After taking the pills, she didn¡¯t rush to eat. Instead, she leaned back against the headboard and closed


    her eyes.


    For the pills to take full effect, it was best not to eat within half an hour after taking them.


    Lysander had gone to great lengths to prevent her from getting pregnant. She couldn¡¯t let him down.


    Besides, not being pregnant was a form of protection for herself.


    In the past, she didn¡¯t know who the fathers of her children were, but they were born anyway.


    But then, things were different. She feared that even if she got pregnant, she would have been forced


    to abort.


    Rather than that, it was better not to conceive at all. It was a protection for herself and respect for a


    potential life.


    Thssa closed her eyes, and before she knew it, she had fallen asleep.


    At around ten o¡¯clock in the evening, Lysander finally managed to put the children to bed.


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    Taking care of children was a skill, and it took more than intelligence. It required patience and


    He didn¡¯t understand that before, but after a few days, he realized it was even harder than his job.


    When he returned to the master bedroom, the lights were still on. As soon as he walked in, he saw


    Thssa leaning against the bedhead, her body limp and unsupported.


    Seeing that, Lysander¡¯s handsome face tightened, his eyes intense. He quickly walked over, reached


    out, and checked her breath.


    She was breathing normally.


    His tense face finally rxed.


    He noticed the untouched food on the bedside table.


    But the birth control pills were gone.


    Lysander¡¯s eyes narrowed as he called out in a low voice, ¡°Come in!¡±


    The maid entered the room with respect.


    Lysander ordered in a deep voice, ¡°Clear the food away.¡±


    The maid bowed, cing the food back on the tray before leaving with it.


    Something fell from the bedside table.


    Lysander looked down to see it was a bank card.


    She didn¡¯t even put it away!


    Lysander looked at Thssa, his eyes reflecting the light in ripples.


    He moved closer, gently picked her up, andid her down on the bed.


    Thssa, disturbed in her sleep, moved ufortably. She turned over, her lips brushing against the


    back of Lysander¡¯s hand.


    She seemed to have been dreaming of something tasty, smacking her lips.


    Her warm, soft lips brushed against Lysander¡¯s hand.


    His throat tightened.

 Chapter 594

    Chapter 594


    Lysander¡¯s eyes were fixed on her, a picture of sweet innocence as she slumbered,pletely


    defenseless,


    With her eyes closed, her lengthyshes cast a shadow beneath her lids, painting a peaceful, serene


    image.


    It was a sight too precious to disturb.


    Swallowing hard, Lysander managed to suppress his desires. After tucking her In, he retreated to the


    bathroom.


    As dawn broke.


    Thssa awoke, her mind groggy and her body heavy.


    Opening her eyes, she found herself in an unfamiliar yet familiar room, with arge hand draped across


    her chest.


    The hand was long and slender with well-defined knuckles.


    But its weight bore down on her, making her feel burdened.


    Thssa shifted slightly, trying to extricate herself from Lysander¡¯s grasp.


    The slightest movement from her stirred the man behind her. He rolled over from his side to his back,


    taking his arm away from her body.


    Seizing that chance, Thssa quickly moved to the edge of the bed and got up


    ncing back, she saw Lysander¡¯s tall figure sprawled on the bed, eyes closed, still lost in slumber.


    The morning sun filtered through the curtains, casting a warm glow between his thick eyebrows, adding


    an unexpected softness to his usually stern features.


    His face was more handsome than ever.


    Thssa¡¯s heart skipped a beat.


    Lysander was undeniably attractive, enough to make any girl swoon.


    But she alone knew the danger thaty beneath that charm.


    Slipping on her shoes, she tiptoed out of the room, careful not to wake him.


    After a night¡¯s rest, she felt a bit more energetic. Although her body was still sofe, she had no trouble


    moving around.


    As Thssa made her way downstairs, she saw her four children sitting at the breakfast table, their


    napkins around their necks, spoons in their hands, adorably enjoying their breakfast.


    Seeing her children made her feel better.


    ¡°Mommy!¡± Dorian was the first to spot her, calling out cheerfully.


    ¡°Mommy, time for breakfast!¡± Elowen¡¯s eyes met hers as she waved her spoon, her enthusiasm adding


    to her cuteness.


    Thssa approached them with a tender smile on her face, ¡°You guys start first. Mommy will join you


    after freshening up.¡±


    ¡°Okay, we¡¯ll wait for Mommy.¡± Elowen¡¯s innocent voice echoed.


    Thssa headed for the restroom on the ground floor. It was well-equipped with disposable


    toothbrushes and other necessities.


    After freshening up, Thssa took a seat next to Sophia.


    Sophia had already put down her spoon, sitting nkly in her spot.


    Noticing that Sophia hadn¡¯t eaten much of her oatmeal, Thssa peeled a boiled egg and ced it in


    Sophia¡¯s bowl.


    Sophia, with her tiny hands, picked up the egg and ced it in Thssa¡¯s bowl. Her face was full of


    seriousness, ¡°Mommy, you eat. I¡¯m full.¡±


    Looking at Sophia¡¯s petite frame, Thssa felt a pang of worry, ¡°Sophia, you need to eat more. You¡¯re


    too thin. Look at how much Elowen is enjoying her food!¡±


    Sophia had always been a picky eater, eating sparingly. Among all her children, Sophia was the


    thinnest.


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    No wonder Lysander had criticized her for not taking proper care of Sophia.


    Thssa felt the sting of his words. She cared deeply for her child, but Sophia¡¯s finicky eating habits


    were hard to tackle.


    She separated the egg white from the yolk and held it up to Sophia.


    Sophia¡¯s innocent eyes flickered at her, her mouth opening in response.


    Finally, a smile spread across Thssa¡¯s worried face, ¡°Good job, Sophia!¡±


    ¡°I ate an egg too!¡± Elowen raised her hand, seeking praise as well.

 Chapter 595

    Chapter 595


    ¡°Elowen is wonderful, too!¡± Thssa said with a warm smile.


    ¡°We¡¯re all wonderful!¡± Elowen chimed in with her babyish voice.


    ¡°Yes, we certainly are,¡± Thssa agreed, her admiration genuine.


    Just then, there was a noise from the staircase.


    Thssa turned to see Lysander descending. He was dressed sharply in a suit, exuding a natural


    authority that made Thssa¡¯s heart tighten.


    His gaze fell upon them, and Thssa hurriedly looked away, her movements nervous.


    Lysander moved to sit across from them, his eyes sweeping over the children and Thssa before he


    picked up his cutlery and began to eat.


    Even his simple act of eating breakfast seemed to radiate an air of elegance and nobility.


    Thssa looked down at her own breakfast. There was a fried egg and arge amount of oatmeal.


    Compared to Lysander¡¯s casual elegance, she felt incredibly crude.


    Their different upbringings had shaped their habits, and Thssa had long epted that reality.


    After breakfast, it was time for the children to go to school.


    Thssa was about to take them when, unexpectedly, Lysander decided to join


    With four children and two adults, there was not enough space in one car.


    The children took one car, while Thssa and Lysander took another.


    Thssa had wanted to ride with the children, but the driver warned against overloading.


    Reluctantly, she found herself sharing a car with Lysander.


    As the car started, Lysander¡¯s prating gaze fell on her. ¡°You don¡¯t want to be here, do you?¡±


    His intense gaze made her tense up.


    ¡°No, not at all,¡± she replied, not daring to voice her true thoughts.


    The day before, she had learned the consequences of provoking him. It was an experience she didn¡¯t


    want to repeat.


    ¡°Don¡¯t y games with me, understand?¡± Lysander¡¯s voice was cold.


    Thssa nodded. ¡°Understood.¡±


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    Perhaps because she was beingpliant, Lysander didn¡¯t say anything more.


    But Thssa was on edge. His presence made the atmosphere in the car oppressive, and she didn¡¯t


    dare rx.


    Soon, they arrived at Starhaven International Kindergarten.


    Thssa quickly got out of the car, hugging the children before watching them enter the school.


    She turned to leave, almost colliding with Lysander.


    She lowered her head, intending to hail a cab.


    But before she could, Lysander had her by the wrist, pulling her back into the car.


    The familiar sense of oppression returned.


    ¡°I can get a cab, you know. I don¡¯t want to waste your time,¡± she said nervously


    ¡°Like you haven¡¯t wasted enough of my time already?¡± Lysander¡¯s gaze was dark. ¡°You¡¯ve already


    spent much time in this car.¡±


    His words took Thssa by surprise. She nced at the car¡¯s interior. The ck leather seat cover


    seemed to have been changed. It was still ck- leather, but it looked newer.


    ¡°Lysander, don¡¯t mess around. It¡¯s daytime.¡± Thssa¡¯s voice trailed off.


    ¡°So, you¡¯re saying it¡¯s okay at night?¡± Lysander moved closer. His strong presence was overwhelming.


    Thssa felt the pressure build, his masculine energy making her breath hitch.


    ¡°I didn¡¯t say that,¡± she protested.


    But before she could say anything more, Lysander had her chin in his hand. His gaze was piercing, and


    his breath was hot. ¡°Your body¡¯s telling me a different story.¡±


    No, I¡­ Thssa began, but her words were cut off as Lysander silenced her with a kiss.

 Chapter 596

    Chapter 596


    His kiss was no longer the domineering, wild passion of the night before. It was gentle, soothing, like a


    balm.


    Thssa felt her body went soft.


    Lysander¡¯srge hand cradled the back of her head, holding her pliant body steady.


    Kissing her sweet, yielding lips set his blood aze.


    His hand started to move lower.


    Suddenly, the piercing ring of a cell phone broke the silence.


    It was Thssa¡¯s phone, vibrating in her pocket.


    Content is ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org.


    The cell phone¡¯s ring seemed deafening in the intimate, hushed space.


    Startled, Thssa opened her eyes wide. In front of her was Lysander¡¯s magnified handsome face. His


    skin was taut, and each pore was visible. His deep breaths fanned her face, moist kisses peppering her


    skin, his Adam¡¯s apple bobbing.


    At that moment, Thssa was acutely aware of every detail of Lysander¡¯s kiss.


    The charged atmosphere spread throughout the car.


    The incessant ringing of the phone tore at Thssa¡¯s nerves.


    Her heart pounded like a jackhammer, her breath hitching.


    Thssa¡¯s hands trembled as she tried to push him away.


    Sensing her feeble resistance, Lysander nipped at her lips in punishment.


    The bite was just painful enough to serve as a lesson but not enough to draw blood.


    ¡°Ah¡­¡± Thssa¡¯s head spun, the pain making her frown, her difort growing.


    Just when she thought she couldn¡¯t escape him, Lysander released her. His eyes were glistening as he


    watched her. He wiped his mouth with the back of his hand, his voice husky, ¡°Answer it.¡±


    Thssa¡¯s eyes were misty, her breath shallow. She propped herself up on the car door, half-lying on


    the car seat in a vulnerable position.


    Without time to collect herself, she quickly sat up straight, trying to regte her breathing. She pulled


    out the phone from her pocket and saw the call was from an unknown number.


    Under normal circumstances, Thssa wouldn¡¯t have answered calls from unfamiliar numbers.


    There were too many spam calls, and she didn¡¯t have the time to deal with them.


    But at that time, it was different. Lysander¡¯s prating gaze was fixated on her.


    If she didn¡¯t answer, it would have only made her look guilty.


    Thssa swallowed hard, suppressing her ragged breath, and slid to answer the call, ¡°Hello¡­¡±


    Thssa, you didn¡¯t forget you have work today, did you? I don¡¯t run things like Lysander. Don¡¯t let


    people think you got the job because of any connections,¡± came the teasing voice of Ethan from the


    other end of the line.


    Thssa paused, only then remembering she had been hired the day before to work for Ethan,


    Lysander¡¯s good friend.


    She had even signed the contract.


    That day was her first day.


    Thssa quickly nced at Lysander, hurriedly replying, ¡°I¡¯ll be right there.¡±


    After hanging up, Thssa looked at Lysander, ¡°It was work. I have to go now.¡±


    Finally, she had a legitimate reason to leave.


    As she was about to open the car door and step out, the door locked.


    Surprised, Thssa turned to stare at Lysander, ¡°I really have to go to work!¡±


    ¡°Sit tight,¡± Lysander¡¯s deep voice brooked no argument.


    The next thing she knew, he was out of the car, sliding into the driver¡¯s seat, and the car started


    moving.


    Thssa blinked in surprise. Surely Lysander wasn¡¯t actually driving her to work?


    It wasn¡¯t until the car pulled up in front of Crawley Electronics that Thssa dared to believe he was


    really taking her to work.

 Chapter 597

    Chapter 597


    Yesterday, he was harsh and cruel to her, but today, he seemed to have softened quite a bit.


    What a fickle man!


    Thssa couldn¡¯t fathom his thoughts, nor did she have the energy to. She pushed open the car door


    and stepped out.


    She didn¡¯t dare to head straight into the office. Instead, she stood by the car, thanked him, and watched


    respectfully as he drove away.


    Only then did she proceed towards the office.


    There were three people in the secretarial department of Crawley Electronics, including Thssa.


    The head secretary was a woman named Betty, who was in her early thirties. She was stylishly


    dressed and had a formidable presence.


    Then there was Anna, a secretary who was about the same age as Thssa. She had a softer


    demeanor and dressed more conservatively.


    Thssa had just started her job. After some brief introductions, she sat down at herputer to start


    her work.


    ¡°Newbie, get me a cup of coffee,¡± Betty ordered nonchntly.


    ¡°Sure,¡± Thssa replied, promptly fetching her coffee.


    ¡°Darling, I have an important document to work on, and I can¡¯t spare the time, could you help me


    photocopy these files?¡± Anna asked, her voice gentle and friendly, and she handed Thssa a thick


    stack of papers.


    Her soft, amiable tone made it hard for anyone to refuse.


    ¡°Sure, I¡¯ll do it right away,¡± Thssa agreed, taking the papers and heading to the copying room.


    Afterpleting some chores, she was once again summoned by Betty and Anna.


    Thssa remained silent, tirelessly helping them with their tasks.


    It was her first day at work, after all, and she needed to adapt to the new environment.


    Ethan appeared at the office door. He saw Thssa making coffee, Betty casually admiring her freshly


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    manicured nails, and Anna giggling at something on her phone.


    ¡°Cough!¡±


    Ethan cleared his throat.


    Betty and Anna quickly turned around, stood up in surprise, and tried to hide their earlier actions,


    greeting Ethan respectfully.


    ¡°Good morning, Mr. Ethan,¡± they chorused.


    Thssa, having just poured the coffee, turned around and saw Ethan. She followed suit and greeted,


    ¡°Good morning, Mr. Ethan.¡±


    ¡°I need someone to join me for a business meeting,¡± Ethan said.


    ¡°Mr. Ethan, I¡¯ve finished my tasks for the morning, and I¡¯m currently free,¡± Betty quickly volunteered,


    eager for the opportunity to spend more time with


    Ethan.


    Anna, on the other hand, smiled sweetly and said, ¡°Mr. Ethan, don¡¯t you think my outfit today is more


    conservative and appropriate? I won¡¯t embarrass you or give our clients the wrong impression.


    Ethan nced over them, his gaze finally resting on Thssa. ¡°You¡¯re all too gaudy. Thssa, you


    With that, he turned and left the office..


    Thssa quickly followed him, feeling the envious gazes of Betty and Anna on her back, which made


    her feel incredibly awkward.


    Once they were in the car, Thssa asked, ¡°I just started today, and I¡¯m not familiar with our business


    yet. Don¡¯t you think it would be better to take Betty or Anna since they have more experience?¡±


    Ethan just smiled and said, ¡°I could handle it on my own as well.¡±

 Chapter 598

    Chapter 598


    That left Thssa utterly bemused.


    She paused, looking at Ethan, holding her tongue.


    Seeing her nk and innocent expression, Ethan couldn¡¯t help but chuckle. ¡°Is it that Lysander has set


    the bar too high and needs someone to bnce him out?¡± he quipped.


    It took Thssa a moment to realize that he was implying that she was not as clever.


    And he had linked her with Lysander, which made her blush in embarrassment and annoyance, her


    cheeks growing warm.


    ¡°Mr. Ethan, why don¡¯t I record this and y it for Lysander so that he can award you for your wit?¡±


    Thssa retorted, clearly peeved.


    ¡°I just made a joke, and you¡¯re already angry. I called you out to help you. You don¡¯t need to thank me,


    but you¡¯re upset. This is not fun at all,¡± Ethan said.


    Help her?


    Thssa paused, and then it dawned on her.


    Ethan had seen her being bossed around by Betty and Anna and had purposefully invited her out.


    On one hand, it gave her a temporary respite from their demands.


    On the other hand, it showed Betty and Anna that he valued Thssa, indirectly warning them to back


    off.


    Thssa was indeed oblivious to his ulterior motives.


    Because of Lysander, he was helping her, right?


    ¡°What if it backfires? You underestimate a woman¡¯s jealousy, Thssa warned. ¡°I can handle this


    situation. Thank you for your concern, Mr. Ethan.¡±


    Thssa appreciated Ethan¡¯s goodwill, but it was unnecessary.


    She was not a novice in the corporate world. She knew how to handle workce rtionships.


    As a junior employ¨¦e, being shielded by Ethan like that would have caused more obstacles in her


    work.


    Both Betty and Anna had feelings for Ethan, and with ulterior motives, Ethan¡¯s favoritism would have


    brought her trouble.


    She just wanted to focus on her work and not get involved in those games of cunning and deceit.


    Hearing Thssa¡¯s words, Ethan understood. He nodded and said, ¡°All right. From now on, I¡¯ll let you


    handle things on your own.¡±


    The car pulled up in front of a restaurant.


    Thssa was very familiar with the restaurant, having been there three times.


    The first time was with Leopold, and the following two times were with Lysander.


    However, each time, she was unable to enjoy her meal in peace.


    Unconsciously, Thssa had developed a psychological aversion to the restaurant.


    This time, she was just apanying Ethan for a business meeting and nothing more.


    Thssa reassured herself, trying to rx.


    As she followed Ethan inside, the client was already seated and waiting.


    It was a man with chestnut brown hair.


    Content is ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org.


    As they approached, Thssa could see the client¡¯s face more clearly. Handsome and gentle, his eyes


    sparkled like spring sunshine, brimming with youthful energy.


    It was Leopold!


    Seeing him, Thssa¡¯s heart involuntarily clenched.


    As Leopold raised his head and saw Thssa, his gaze lingered on her for a few seconds before


    shifting away as if he had just seen an unimportant stranger.


    ¡°Mr. Sinir, sorry to keep you waiting, Ethan approached, a congenial smile on his face as he


    extended his hand in greeting.

 Chapter 599

    Chapter 599


    Leopold extended his hand, meeting Ethan¡¯s for a firm handshake. ¡°Mr. Ethan, please, take a seat.¡±


    Both men settled into their chairs while Thssa, Ethan¡¯s assistant, stood behind him. Her gaze was


    lowered, and herplexion was slightly pale.


    ¡°And who is this?¡± Leopold¡¯s gaze rested on Thssa. His voice wasced with curiosity.


    ¡°My assistant. She¡¯s new to the job. She¡¯s still getting the hang of things,¡± Ethan exined.


    1


    ¡°Ah, Mr. Ethan¡¯s assistant. Please, join us,¡± Leopold¡¯s warm gaze settled on Thssa.


    Meeting his eyes, Thssa¡¯s gaze wavered slightly before she took the seat next to Ethan. ¡°Thank


    you,¡± she said politely.


    ¡°I heard that you recently sold yourpany. Already nning on starting a new one?¡± Ethan asked,


    sipping his coffee as they chatted casually.


    Without a business, people look down on you. Even women won¡¯t give you a second nce. Living in


    the real world, there¡¯s no choice but to keep striving,¡± Leopold responded, his tone casual.


    Upon hearing that, Thssa¡¯s heart gave a painful squeeze.


    Her hand tightened on her cup, and her gaze fixed on the coffee in front of her.


    ¡°Mr. Sinir, you¡¯re right. These days, who isn¡¯t chasing the almighty dor? Yourpany sp¨¦cializes


    in electronics. How many smartphone disy stands do you need?¡± Ethan asked, getting down to


    business after getting familiarized with Leopold¡¯s situation.


    ¡°Twenty thousand to start. Then we¡¯ll see how it goes. If they sell well, I¡¯ll ce arger order,¡± Leopold


    said.


    ¡°Sounds good. You¡¯re Lysander¡¯s nephew, and Lysander and I are good friends. We¡¯re all familiar faces


    here. We can be flexible in business,¡± Ethan said, attempting to tighten their rtionship with a friendly


    smile.


    However, Leopold¡¯s warm demeanor cooled, and his expression took on a flinty look. ¡°Mr. Ethan, if


    you¡¯re doing business with me just because I¡¯m Lysander¡¯s nephew, then I¡¯m afraid we can¡¯t make a


    deal.¡±¡®


    Thssa¡¯s grip on her coffee cup tightened involuntarily.


    ¡°Is there a rift between you and Lysander?¡± Ethan asked curiously..


    Feeling a bit suffocated, Thssa picked up her coffee cup to take a sip, only to hear Leopold reply,


    ¡°Not just a rift. I can¡¯t understand why women are so attracted to him but not to me. Where have I fallen


    shortpared to Lysander?¡±


    Choking on her coffee, Thssa coughed, spilling some of the liquid on her blouse.


    Both men¡¯s eyes turned to her.


    Quickly, Thssa cleaned herself up with a napkin, then stood up, flustered. ¡°Excuse me, I need to use


    the restroom.¡±


    She hurried off.


    With a smile, Ethan turned to Leopold. ¡°As I told you, she¡¯s new. Still learning the ropes. And you


    shouldn¡¯tpare yourself to Lysander. Sure, women find him attractive, but he¡¯s not interested in


    them. It doesn¡¯t matter how many women are drawn to him. He¡¯s not taking advantage of it.¡±


    Ethan¡¯s casual words struck a nerve with Leopold, his face growing colder, his inner turmoil barely


    contained.


    ¡°Excuse me, I need to use the restroom as well,¡± Leopold said.


    Ethan nodded, gesturing for him to go ahead.


    In the restroom, Thssa was dabbing at her coffee-stained blouse with a damp napkin. The stain was


    Content property of N?velDra/ma.Org.


    evident against the white fabric, but a dab with a wet napkin helped to lighten it.


    After cleaning herself up, she turned on the faucet and sshed cold water on her face.


    Leaning on the sink, she stared at her reflection in the mirror.


    Suddenly, a man appeared in the mirror¡¯s reflection.


    His face was handsome, his demeanor gentle. His eyes sparkled with a mncholic light under the


    restroom¡¯s lights. He walked towards her.


    Thssa paused slightly, straightening up and turning around to meet Leopold¡¯s approach.


    As he neared, she averted her gaze.


    ¡°Mr. Sinir,¡± she said formally,


    After giving her a greeting, she attempted to leave. However, she was stopped by a strong arm around


    her waist.


    Leopold¡¯s chest pressed against her back as he embraced her from behind. His chin rested on her


    shoulder, his voice husky. ¡°Thssa, please don¡¯t leave


    me¡­

 Chapter 600

    Chapter 600


    Leopold¡¯s voice was raw, like a wounded young boy, his words harsh and bitter.


    unde


    Thssa¡¯s breath hitched, and her heart twinged in an unspoken pain.


    His hurried breaths,den with distress, brushed against the nape of her neck


    The youthful scent he carried was too familiar, and it hurt her.


    Thssa closed her eyes, took a deep breath, bit down on her teeth, and gently unsped his hands


    from her. She stepped forward, moving away from


    his touch.


    Her actions were decisive, a clear rejection.


    ¡°Thssa¡­¡± Leopold voiced, his tone bitter.


    Struggling to keep her breath steady, her expression cool, Thssa distanced Herself, ¡°Leopold,


    Debby¡¯s a good girl. Don¡¯t let her down.¡±


    With that, she turned to leave.


    ¡°Do you really want me to marry Debby?¡± Leopold called, his voice full of pain.


    His eyes, slightly trembling, were fixed on her retreating figure, awaiting her response.


    Thssa halted her steps, her hands clenched at her sides. Her voice trembled, but she managed to


    sound indifferent, ¡°I wish you well.¡±


    With that, she walked away without looking back.


    She was clear about what she wanted. One must let go of what cannot be to grasp what can be.


    And the letting go needs to be decisive. The more one lingers, the ¡®more it hurts


    Her beautiful memories with Leopold were in the past. It was time to let them stay there.


    Leopold watched Thssa walk away, her figure resolute, not once looking back.


    His eyes shimmered with tears, and his breath hitched.


    That wasn¡¯t the first time she had turned her back on him, refusing him.


    But his heart hurt more each time, like a knife ripping it apart piece by piece until there was hardly


    anything left.


    Thssa returned to the restaurant where Ethan was still sitting, engrossed in his phone. She


    approached him, ¡°Mr. Ethan, I don¡¯t think I¡¯m needed here.


    My presence might hinder your work conversation. Perhaps I should head back to the office.¡±


    She couldn¡¯t bear to hear Leopold talk about their conflict under the guise of a work discussion.


    She didn¡¯t have the strength to face Leopold¡¯s pain.


    ¡°That¡¯s fine. Ask the driver to drop you off,¡± Ethan suggested.


    ¡°No need, I can take a cab,¡± Thssa replied.


    ¡°Let the driver drop you, it¡¯s safer. He can drop you off and thene back for me,¡± Ethan insisted.


    Even if she were an ordinary secretary, Ethan would have done the same. More so, considering


    Thssa was Lysander¡¯s woman.


    As Leopold approached, Thssa decided not to waste any more time and agreed to Ethan¡¯s


    suggestion.


    Content is ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org.


    She left the restaurant.


    Leopold slid into the seat she had vacated, his emotions under control as if nothing had happened.


    I know your secretary, Mr. Ethan. She was a secretary at mypany before it got acquired by


    Lysander,¡± Leopold said, his gaze on Ethan, a hint of mncholy in his eyes.


    The topic of conversation had veered from work to Thssa.


    ¡°Oh? So that¡¯s how it is. It seems Lysander¡¯s acquisition of yourpany wasn¡¯t purely business,¡±


    Ethan said, intrigued by that new piece of information.


    Could it be that Lysander had genuine feelings for Thssa?


    He had gone as far as acquiring Leopold¡¯spany for her.


    Acquiring apany just to poach an employee was indeed a Lysander move.


    Leopold watched the amused twinkle in Ethan¡¯s eyes, his own growing more deste.


    So, everyone knew that Lysander had acquired hispany for Thssa.

 Chapter 601

    Chapter 601


    He was naive enough to believe that it was all for the sake of thepany¡¯s progress!


    Lysander, who had always been disinterested, even repulsed by women, was now throwing money


    around like it was nothing, all for Thssa¡¯s sake.


    Could it be that Lysander had fallen for Thssa?


    Leopold¡¯s suppressed heart began to tremble with increasing anxiety.


    ¡°Mr. Ethan, did you know that Lysander built a vi for Thssa in the countryside?¡± Leopold asked,


    attempting to dig out more information about Lysander and Thssa.


    His mother, Amelia, had gone behind his back to retrieve the bracelet he¡¯d given Thssa, which had


    infuriated Leopold. He missed Thssa so much that he traveled to her hometown, hoping to be closer


    to her.


    What he found instead was that a new vi had reced Thssa¡¯s old family home. Thssa¡¯s aunt,


    Astrid, lived there, and whenever Thssa went home, she stayed at the vi.


    During his stay in Hollowbrook, he had hoped to find some memories of their time together. Instead, he


    found himself shocked by Lysander¡¯s swift and domineering actions.


    Lysander was capable of achieving anything he set his mind to. With all that luxury and grandeur, how


    could he have possiblypeted?


    To his surprise, when Thssa returned, she brought back four children, and their father was none


    Belongs to N?velDrama.Org - All rights reserved.


    other than Lysander!


    That revtion only deepened the wounds in Leopold¡¯s heart.


    Ethan, who often hung out with Lysander, ric, and Richard, was somewhat familiar with those


    affairs, even if Lysander didn¡¯t talk about them directly.


    However, they had all been busy around that time, leaving Ethan out of the loop regarding Lysander¡¯s


    Leopold¡¯s heart clenched at the mention of the events from five years prior. All of his regrets stemmed


    from that one night.


    If it hadn¡¯t been for that night, he and Thssa wouldn¡¯t have been torn apart, and he wouldn¡¯t have


    been in this situation of unrequited love.


    All of it stemmed from Isabe. Why hadn¡¯t he let her die that night?


    Thinking of Isabe, Leopold¡¯s teeth gritted in hatred.


    ¡°Mr. Sinir, are you okay? Don¡¯t tell me you have some history with Thssa too?¡± Ethan asked,


    noticing Leopold¡¯s strange demeanor. Leopold abruptly looked up, his gaze concealed. ¡°Twenty


    thousand cell phones. When can they be delivered to the market?¡±


    He deftly changed the subject.


    ¡°The day after tomorrow, at the earliest,¡± Ethan replied.


    When Thssa returned to the office, Anna greeted her warmly. ¡°Thssa, you must be exhausted.


    Have some coffee.¡±


    Thssa looked at her in surprise, then at the cup of coffee in her hand.


    Anna smiled gently. ¡°What¡¯s wrong? Afraid it¡¯s poisoned? I¡¯ll drink a sip first in that case, and then you


    can.¡±


    With that, she prepared to take a sip from the cup.


    ¡°It¡¯s not that. It¡¯s just that you¡¯re my senior, and t feel bad having you pour coffee for me,¡± Thssa


    said, not stopping her from drinking.


    ¡°What¡¯s the big deal? You help me with paperwork, and I pour you coffee. We¡¯re all in this together,¡±


    Anna said, friendly and kind.


    Just as Thssa was about to speak, her phone rang. She took it out and saw the caller ID.


    Her gaze faltered, her hand shook, fear rooted deep within her cells.

 Chapter 602

    Chapter 602


    Thssa took a deep breath and picked up her phone.


    A deep, chilling male voice resonated through the call. Its oppressive aura was as clear as day even


    across the phone line.


    ¡°Did you pick up the kids?¡±


    Thssa¡¯s heart tightened, her voice shaky as she replied, ¡°No, I¡¯m still at work. I haven¡¯t left the office


    yet.¡±


    ¡°Understood, Lysander responded, then hung up.


    Thssa was about to ask further, but her phone had already gone silent.


    Her anxiety was palpable. She swallowed the questions that were stuck in her throat.


    Thssa pulled the phone away from her ear, ncing at the disconnected call on her screen. She


    turned and began to walk out.


    What did Lysander¡¯s question mean?


    Were the kids missing?


    Thssa was full of unease, her heart pounding with worry.


    No matter what happened, she could keep herposure. But when it came to the kids, she couldn¡¯t


    stay calm.


    ¡°Where are you going?¡± Anna suddenly blocked her path.


    ¡°Ah!¡± Thssa didn¡¯t stop in time, bumping into her. Her cup of coffee sshed out, staining Thssa¡¯s


    white blouse.


    Surprised, Thssa looked up at Anna, her eyes showing a hint of me.


    ¡°Oh, I¡¯m sorry, I didn¡¯t know you would bump into me. I got coffee all over you. My bad. But we¡¯re not off


    work yet. Where are you going?¡± Anna covered her mouth in shock, a look of feigned innocence and


    apology on her face.


    While she seemed apologetic, her words hinted that it wasn¡¯t her fault but Thssa¡¯s own recklessness


    and she was using Thssa of leaving early.


    ¡°I¡¯ll tell the boss I¡¯m leaving early. Where I go is my business, I don¡¯t need to exin it to you.¡± Thssa


    shot Anna a stern look.


    Without bothering about the coffee stains on her blouse, she quickly left the office.


    Anna was clearly trying to trip her up.


    Just because Ethan had asked her to discuss some work matters and not Anna?


    A woman¡¯s jealousy can indeed be terrifying.


    It was now half past four in the afternoon, half an hour before quitting time.


    But the kindergarten sses were already over.


    Lysander¡¯s call asking if she had picked up the kids must have been because he didn¡¯t find the kids at


    the kindergarten.


    Who could have picked up the kids?


    Some criminal didn¡¯t take them, right?


    Thssa¡¯s heart pounded with worry. She was highly concerned for the kids.


    She could logically analyze anything else, but when it came to the safety of the kids, all she could think


    of was the kids¡¯ adorable voices andughter. She was worried sick about their safety.


    She couldn¡¯t calm down at all.


    Perhaps only a mother would understand that feeling.


    Content rights by N?velDr//ama.Org.


    She rushed out of the office and frantically hailed a cab, only to realize she didn¡¯t know where to go.


    Her mind was nk for a moment.


    The driver stopped the car and asked, ¡°Miss, where to?¡±


    Thssa came back to her senses and quickly told the driver, ¡°Can you wait a moment? I need to


    make a call.


    She scrolled through her phone¡¯s call log, found Lysander¡¯s number, and called again. The phone rang,


    but no one picked up.


    Thssa¡¯s anxiety skyrocketed. She was like an ant on a hot pan.


    The kids were missing, Lysander wasn¡¯t picking up, and she felt like she was in a vacuum. She was


    desperate to see them and was filled with worry, but she had no idea how to contact them.


    Thssa¡¯s breathing started to be ragged. She tried to calm herself down.


    Could it be Evelyn who had picked up the kids?


    Thssa dialed Evelyn¡¯s number.


    The call was quickly connected. Thssa asked hurriedly, ¡°Mom,


    did


    pick up the kids from kindergarten?¡±


    ¡°No, I¡¯ve been at the hospital all day. What happened to the kids?¡± Evelyn¡¯s surprised voice came


    through the phone.

 Chapter 603

    Chapter 603


    Thssa felt her heart sink in disappointment. Although she was anxious and upset, she didn¡¯t want


    her mother to worry so she reassured her, ¡°It¡¯s nothing. I was just asking. All right, I¡¯ve got to go.¡±


    Thssa was burning with impatience. She hadn¡¯t even gotten the chance to ask why Evelyn was in


    the hospital.


    After hanging up, she immediately called Hertha, only to find out that she also hadn¡¯t picked up the


    kids.


    Thssa¡¯s heart was wracked with worry, her breath was heavy, and she felt like she was suffocating.


    If no one had picked up the kids, where could they have been?


    Going from hope to despair, Thssa was so scared that her temples were throbbing.


    She sat in the cab, feeling helpless.


    She was so anxious that she was on the verge of tears. But then, she suddenly thought of someone.


    Her fingers trembled slightly as she scrolled through her call history on her phone. She was looking for


    Fitch¡¯s number. He had called her once before.


    Thankfully, she hadn¡¯t made many calls recently, so she found Fitch¡¯s number quickly.


    Thssa dialed his number.


    With each ring, her heartbeat quickened.


    After about ten seconds, the call was picked up.


    Without waiting for the other person to speak, Thssa blurted out, ¡°Fitch, are the kids at Royal


    Estates?¡±


    ¡°No,¡± Fitch answered.


    That one word felt like it had hollowed out Thssa¡¯s heart. Her face drained of color, and all her hopes


    were crushed.


    She was on the verge of breaking down.


    Then Fitch added, ¡°When I went to pick up the kids this afternoon, the teacher said someone had


    already taken them. I notified Lysander. He¡¯s on his way to look for them now.¡±


    Thssa took in a shaky breath, swallowing back her fear, and asked, ¡°Where is Lysander going to


    look?¡±


    ¡°The Sinir¡¯s mansion. Apparently, Zephyr picked them up.¡± Fitch didn¡¯t hide anything. He told


    Thssa everything.


    At the mention of Zephyr, Thssa felt her heart drop back into ce. The kids weren¡¯t in danger.


    Zephyr had just picked them up.


    She didn¡¯t have to worry about their safety anymore.


    But Thssa was still uneasy.


    She thanked Fitch and gave the cab driver the address.


    She had been to the Sinir¡¯s mansion before and knew where it was. She wanted to see for herself to


    make sure. She wouldn¡¯t have been at ease until


    she did.


    Zephyr had picked up the kids without saying a word to her or Lysander.


    That made her nervous,


    What was Zephyr nning?


    The cab stopped halfway up the hill to the Sinir mansion.


    Confused, Thssa asked, ¡°Sir, why are we stopping?¡±


    The driver turned around and exined, ¡°This is a private estate, and there¡¯s a checkpoint up ahead.


    Outsiders aren¡¯t allowed in. You¡¯d better get off here and walk.¡±.


    Thssa looked out the window and saw a checkpoint not far away.


    She had walked past that checkpoint before when she wasing down from the hill. It was easy to


    bypass the barrier on foot, but cars couldn¡¯t get in.


    ¡°All right, thank you, sir.¡± Thssa paid the fare and got out of the cab.


    She started walking up the hill. As she approached the checkpoint, a security guard came out and


    stopped her. ¡°Sorry, but you can¡¯t just walk in here.¡±


    Content rights by N?velDr//ama.Org.


    Thssa tried to exin, ¡°I know the owner. I really need to get in.¡±


    ¡°Please leave. The guard was firm. Their job was to keep outsiders out.


    Just as Thssa was wondering what to do, she saw a ck Rolls-Royce approaching in the distance.

 Chapter 604

    Chapter 604


    The security guard also noticed the prestigious Rolls Royce and, ignoring Thssa, hurriedly went to


    open the barrier.


    However, the Rolls Royce didn¡¯t shoot straight through but gradually reduced its speed and came to a


    halt next to Thssa.


    The window rolled down, and Thssa saw Lysander¡¯s handsome and stern face.


    She was taken aback for a moment.


    Lysander¡¯s deep gaze fell on her, and his low, maic voice said, ¡°What are you standing there for?


    Need me to carry you in?¡±


    Snapping back to reality, Thssa quickly moved to open the car door, got in, closed it, and the car


    drove off.


    ¡°You¡¯re here for the kids, too, right?¡± Thssa initiated the conversation, her clear eyes revealing her


    barely concealed anxiety.


    Lysander nced at her, ¡°You¡¯re quite well-informed.¡±


    ¡°I called Fitch. He told me,¡± Thssa replied. ¡°Why didn¡¯t you answer my calls? Don¡¯t you know I was


    worried?¡±


    All he had done was call to ask if she had picked up the kids, then hung up.


    That left her in a state of distress, extremely worried.


    She had called him back, but he didn¡¯t pick up, clearly wanting her to worry.


    Thssa¡¯s words carried an air of frustration.


    Lysander stared at her, his gaze softening a bit.


    She was indeed a great mother. Her heart was always with the children.


    His gaze suddenly lowered.


    Belongs to N?velDrama.Org - All rights reserved.


    Thssa noticed and shifted back, her senses on high alert. ¡°What are you looking at?¡±


    She instinctively clutched her cor.


    ¡°Why are your clothes wet?¡± Lysander¡¯s low, maic voice asked as his eyes grew intense.


    Following his gaze, Thssa looked down to see a brown stain on her chest. Because of the coffee


    that had spilled on her earlier, her clothes were damp and hadn¡¯t dried yet. They stuck to her body,


    barely covering her skin.


    Thssa quickly pulled her clothes away from her body so they wouldn¡¯t cling to her skin and cause


    embarrassment.


    She exined, ¡°When I was leaving the office, one of my colleagues was in my way, and I spilled


    coffee on myself. I didn¡¯t get a chance to clean up¡­¡±


    ¡°Colleague?¡± Lysander¡¯s tone carried a hint of suspicion.


    ¡°Yes, a colleague named Anna. She¡¯s gorgeous,¡± Thssa replied without borating.


    Lysander didn¡¯t say anything more. His gaze fixated on the wet patch on her chest.


    Thssa felt uneasy under his stare, and Lysander¡¯s intimidating aura made her feel ufortable.


    She subtly shifted her body to avoid his gaze and kept her hand on her chest.


    Fortunately, that awkward atmosphere didn¡¯tst long.


    They soon arrived at the Sinir¡¯s mansion on the hilltop.


    The car stopped, and Lysander got out. Thssa quickly followed.


    They made their way to the Sinir¡¯s grand living room.


    The living room was as luxurious as ever.


    Zephyr and Sybil were sitting on the couch, with a young woman sitting opposite them, engaged in


    conversation.


    The woman was fashionable and professional, with a delicate face and a good figure.


    It was the long-unseen Faye Brennan.


    As Lysander walked in, the atmosphere shifted, and the air charged with his intimidating presence.


    Faye looked up and saw him, quickly standing up with a respectful and ttering expression.


    But when she saw Thssa following behind him, a sh of resentment crossed Faye¡¯s eyes, but it


    was gone in an instant.

 Chapter 605

    Chapter 605


    ¡°Mr. Sinir, you¡¯re back,¡± Faye greeted.


    Lysander ignored her, heading for the couch, and asked Zephyr, ¡°Where are the kids?¡±


    ¡°I had the servants take them to my study to y,¡± Zephyr replied, his milky eyes shifting from Lysander


    to Thssa standing behind him. His previously calm expression darkened instantly.


    ¡°I wouldn¡¯t have known you had four children if you hadn¡¯t bought that kindergarten out of the blue,


    Lysander. You didn¡¯t even bother to tell us. You weren¡¯t like this before. You used to care about how


    Grandma and I felt. Is it because of this woman?¡± Zephyr¡¯s tone was serious, his gaze fierce and filled


    with annoyance, casting a stern nce at Thssa behind Lysander.


    Hearing such words, Thssa felt uneasy.


    It was clear that Zephyr had a bias against her.


    Whatever Lysander chose to do, it was entirely his decision. What did it have to do with her?


    She didn¡¯t have the power to influence Lysander¡¯s decisions.


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    Just as Thssa was wrestling with her feelings, a warm hand suddenly held hers.


    The hand was rough and warm, with calloused fingers.


    Thssa¡¯s heart fluttered as she looked up into Lysander¡¯s deep eyes.


    He held her hand, pulling her close to his side, meeting Zephyr¡¯s gaze. ¡°Since you¡¯ve done your


    research, you should know that she is the mother of the children. They¡¯ve grown to the age of four


    under her care alone, without any help from the Sinir family.¡±


    Lysander¡¯s voice was low andmanding.


    And at that moment, it felt incredibly warm.


    Thssa¡¯s eyes flickered, looking at Lysander¡¯s profile.


    His words brought tears to her eyes.


    He had never acknowledged her efforts towards the children before, yet, he was fully aware of it.


    But now, he was defending her in front of Zephyr.


    That unexpected warmth hit her hard, and Thssa found herself feeling emotional.


    Zephyr took a deep breath, his hawk-like eyes looking coldly at Thssa. ¡°Lysander was injured in


    somebat and fell from a helicopter back then. How convenient that you were there in the locked


    woodshed!¡±


    Zephyr was questioning Thssa, suspecting her ulterior motives.


    Earlier, Faye had told Zephyr about what happened five years prior, adding fuel to the fire by iming


    that Lysander had been celibate and had rejected all the women Zephyr had arranged for him because


    he was still thinking of Thssa.


    Lysander initially thought Thssa was dead andpensated her family with millions of dors.


    Later, Thssa reappeared, bringing along four kids, hence binding her to Lysander for a lifetime.


    It was a messy entanglement that couldn¡¯t be cut loose because there were children binding them


    together.


    Zephyr immediately concluded that all of it was a ploy by Thssa. It was all just to marry Lysander, to


    be Mrs. Sinir, and to bask in wealth and glory.


    She used the children as a bargaining chip, giving Lysander no reason to leave her.


    That woman¡¯s schemes ran deep!


    Zephyr didn¡¯t believe that a woman who had embezzled a billion and run away could have any good


    intentions.


    Thssa felt wronged, her heart sinking.


    Just as she was about to speak, Lysander¡¯s voice rang out, ¡°I was the one who fell into the woodshed.


    Luckily, she was there. Otherwise, let alone the children, I wouldn¡¯t have survived. Let¡¯s be fair,


    Grandfather. Don¡¯t twist everything with your bias.¡±


    Lysander was being factual.


    Although Thssa was Bruce¡¯s daughter, and he despised her, he couldn¡¯t falsely use her of the


    events of five years prior.


    You Zephyr was so angry that his beard trembled.

 Chapter 606

    Chapter 606


    Thssa shot another incredulous look at Lysander, her eyes glistening with tears.


    Lysander had always been harsh with her in the past, using her as an outlet for his frustrations.


    But now, his every word was in her defense.


    He made her feel less alone in her istion.


    She was grateful to him.


    ¡°All right, old man, don¡¯t be mad, and don¡¯t me Lysander. He¡¯s always been a bachelor, not settling


    down and not having kids, which had us all on pins and needles. However, we now have four great-


    grandchildren at once, both boys and girls. We should be celebrating.¡± Sybilforted Zephyr, her


    hand gently stroking his, a smile on her face.


    She was overjoyed to know that Lysander had four children.


    She had thought that she would never get to hold her great-grandchildren in her lifetime. After all, she


    was getting on in years, and her health wasn¡¯t the best.


    Who knew when she might breathe herst?


    But now, her great-grandchildren were already so big.


    A huge weight lifted off Sybil¡¯s heart.


    How could she have been angry when she should have been overjoyed?


    Zephyr took a deep breath and looked at Sybil. Seeing her radiant smile, he swallowed his anger and


    decided not to pursue the matter further.


    To Faye, who was standing, he said, ¡°Faye, sit down. Dinner is being prepared in the kitchen. Stay and


    join us for dinner.¡±


    Faye nced at Lysander. Hisrge hand was holding Thssa¡¯s, his handsome face cold and aloof.


    From the moment he walked in, he hadn¡¯t even looked at her once.


    She felt a mix of resentment and sadness.


    She had been by Lysander¡¯s side for ten years, silently loving him, but her decade-long devotion


    couldn¡¯tpare to the single night Thssa had spent with him.


    Her deep-seated love for Lysander, etched into her very blood, wasn¡¯t something she could have just


    let go of.


    Despite knowing Zephyr was just being courteous, she replied, ¡°All right,¡± thanked him in a polite


    manner, and had a suitable smile on her face.


    ¡°Good, have a seat and have some tea first,¡± Zephyr¡¯s attitude towards Faye was a stark contrast to his


    attitude towards Thssa. Towards Faye, he was polite and formal.


    Thssa, feeling somewhat awkward, stood by Lysander¡¯s side, her head slightly bowed. If Lysander


    didn¡¯t move, she wouldn¡¯t either.


    It seemed as if Lysander was her strong shield at that moment. As long as she was by his side, she


    Content property of N?velDra/ma.Org.


    had nothing to worry about.


    The room fell into an oppressive silence.


    Soon, the sound of children¡¯sughter broke the silence.


    Books were tossed out of a room upstairs, followed by a child¡¯sughter. ¡°Haha! Come and chase me!


    Come and hit me!¡±


    Dorian sprang out of the room, his tiny body both adorable and mischievous.


    Elowen, chubby hand clutching a few books, huffed and puffed as she chased after Dorian, tossing the


    books in her arms towards him. She scrunched up her brows, looking adorably fierce.


    ¡°Big bad wolf, stop. I¡¯ll get you,¡± she threatened, her soft voicecking any real menace.


    The children were ying.


    Dorian was pretending to be the big bad wolf, and Elowen was the hunter.


    Then Sophia rolled out from the room, her tiny body bumping into Elowen¡¯s short legs. Elowen lost her


    bnce and fell forward.


    ¡°Elowen, Sophia!¡± Atticus rushed over to help them up.


    The children¡¯s lively voices and adorable antics snapped Thssa out of her thoughts. She lifted her


    gaze towards the second floor, where the four little ones were ying.


    All her worries melted away, reced by a soft warmth in her heart.

 Chapter 607

    Chapter 607


    Kids sure have a magical cure for everything.


    ¡°Mommy!¡± Dorian was ying with his sisters when he spotted Thssa standing downstairs through


    the gap in the banister. He shouted excitedly and toddled towards the staircase.


    The other three little tykes perked up at the sound of ¡°Mommy!¡±, their innocent eyes darting around until


    theynded on Thssa.


    The moment they saw her, their eyes sparkled with joy and their chubby faces broke into smiles.


    The other three little ones also shouted in unison, ¡°Mommy!¡±


    Their small yet excited voices echoed through the grand foyer as they all began to race downstairs.


    Sophia, the smallest of the bunch, toppled over in the rush andnded on the staircase.


    ¡°Sophia, be careful!¡± Thssa¡¯s heart skipped a beat.


    Lysander let go of Thssa¡¯s hand and stepped forward, worry written all over his face.


    But before he could reach her, Sophia dusted herself off and began to descend the stairs, gripping the


    banister tightly for support.


    Seeing that, Lysander paused and watched as the three little munchkins cheerfully scampered towards


    Thssa.


    ¡°Mommy, you¡¯re here. Are they really our great-grandma and great-grandpa?¡± Dorian clung to


    Thssa¡¯s jeans, his big eyes filled with curiosity as he looked at Zephyr and Sybil.


    Sybil maintained a warm and gentle smile, while Zephyr, though his face was stern, had soft eyes.


    ¡°Yeah, Mommy, they said there would be lots of yummy food here. But I haven¡¯t had anything yet,¡±


    Content rights by N?velDr//ama.Org.


    Elowen tugged at Thssa¡¯s other pant leg, her face a picture of adorable disappointment. She had


    only agreed toe because of the promise of food, and she had yet to get any.


    Atticus stood by Thssa, craning his neck to look up at her, his eyes full of adoration.


    Sophia, the slowest, arrivedst. She leaned against Thssa, seekingfort.


    Thssa looked down at her four little munchkins, their eyes full of love for her, and her heart melted.


    In a soft voice, she answered their questions, ¡°Yes, they are. They are your father¡¯s grandparents. And


    Elowen, don¡¯t worry. There will be plenty of delicious food soon. Can you wait a little longer?¡±


    ¡°Okay, Mommy. I trust you.¡± Elowen rubbed her chubby face against Thssa¡¯s leg, leaving a trail of


    snot on her jeans.


    Thssa couldn¡¯t help butugh. She walked over to the end table to grab some tissues, noticing


    Zephyr watching them.


    Ignoring his gaze, she wiped Elowen¡¯s nose clean.


    ¡°Come sit down and rx for a bit.¡± Lysander picked up two of the kids and headed for the couch.


    His deep voice drew the other two over, his gaze inviting Thssa to join them.


    He wanted her to sit to avoid the awkwardness of standing with nowhere to rest her arms.


    Understanding his gesture, Thssa joined them on the couch.


    Worried the kids might get bored, Lysander pulled out his phone and handed it to Atticus, letting him


    entertain his siblings.


    Originally, he had nned to leave with the kids immediately.


    However, Elowen¡¯s eagerness to try the Sinir¡¯s mansion special dishes convinced him to stay for


    dinner.


    Upstairs, Zephyr entered his study. The sight of the room in disarray made him pause, his body tensing


    up.

 Chapter 608

    Chapter 608


    Zephyr gazed at his once orderly and calming study, which was now in a state of chaos.


    His desk stamp was on the floor, smearing red ink all over the desk. nk A4 papers were scattered


    everywhere, each one marked with his stamp. The children had treated his professional stamp as a


    toy.


    Books were tossed here and there.


    His carefully categorized books were all over the floor, with just a few left on the shelves.


    Even the contracts that were on his desk were strewn about with the books and were innocently lying


    on the floor. Some folders were even empty.


    His precious contracts were scattered everywhere. Most importantly, different contracts were all mixed


    together, with not a single one intact.


    He had noticed that the children were ying downstairs, but Zephyr had thought they were only


    tossing a few books around.


    After seeing this, Zephyr felt an instant headacheing on.


    He had thought that allowing the children to y in his study would allow them to find books they liked


    and cultivate their talents.


    However, who would have thought that these four small beings could cause such destruction?


    Upon seeing his once orderly study turned into a junkyard, Zephyr¡¯s face darkened, and his hawk-like


    gaze fell on the butler.


    The butler nervously exined, ¡°I saw the young masters and mistresses ying so cheerfully. I didn¡¯t


    want to disturb them and make them cry, so I didn¡¯t stop them.¡±


    After all, these were Lysander¡¯s children, and it was their first time at the Sinir¡¯s house. They had to


    make a good impression on the children and not upset them.


    Zephyr took a deep breath, suppressing his irritation, and waved his hand. ¡°Let it be. Have someone


    clean it up.¡±


    ¡°Yes, sir.¡± The butler nodded in response.


    At lunchtime.


    On the rectangr dining table, the four children upied one side, while Zephyr and Sybil sat on the


    other.


    Lysander and Thssa sat on the same narrow side, with Faye seated opposite.


    The atmosphere at the table was somewhat strange.


    Thssa never imagined that she would be dining with Faye one day.


    Compared to the adults¡¯ deep thoughts, the children were much more straightforward and ate


    cheerfully.


    Little Elowen clumsily held her spoon as she scooped pieces of cake into her mouth, one mouthful at a


    time.


    Dessert was her favorite.


    Her face was smeared with cream, making her look like a little kitten.


    Sophia ate slower, but from the way she was eating spoonful after spoonful, it was clear she enjoyed


    the meal.


    Atticus and Dorian ate at a steady pace, appearing more mature.


    Sybil watched the four little ones eat adorably. Her eyes filled with an indulgence and her face never


    ceasing to smile.


    Zephyr retained his solemn expression.


    ¡°Eat up; don¡¯t be shy. Faye, you should eat more. Consider this your home; feel free here.¡±


    Zephyr was considerate of Faye¡¯s feelings, so he spoke to her in a gentle tone.


    Faye smiled politely and nodded. ¡°Thank you, Zephyr. I¡¯ll try.¡±


    With that, she picked up her fork and started eating.


    She nced at Thssa across the table. Zephyr had told her to consider this her home and not to be


    shy, but he hadn¡¯t said a single word to Thssa.


    This indicated that in Zephyr¡¯s heart, her status was higher than Thssa¡¯s.


    Even if Thssa was recognized as Lysander¡¯s wife, she would not be recognized by Zephyr.


    On this point, Fayepletely surpassed Thssa. Faye¡¯s gaze towards Thssa was filled with


    defiance. This was the significance of her staying for lunch.


    Thssa looked up, meeting Faye¡¯s gaze. The emotion in Faye¡¯s eyes made her ufortable with


    Content rights by N?velDr//ama.Org.


    just one nce.

 Chapter 609

    Chapter 609


    Thssa¡¯s brows furrowed slightly. It was a subconscious reaction.


    Fayedled up a bowl of soup, stood up, bowed slightly, and ced it in front of Lysander. Her


    demeanor was humble and considerate.


    ¡°Mr. Sinir,¡± she said, ¡°I remember you always have a bowl of cod chowder after your social


    engagements, and I¡¯ve always been the one to serve it to you.¡±


    She finished speaking and looked at Lysander expectantly, waiting for him to take the soup and drink


    it.


    There were a lot of hidden messages in what she just said.


    In the past, she was Lysander¡¯s personal assistant. She took care of him at every social event, so no


    Content is ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org.


    one knew his habits better than she did.


    Her hidden messages were not only for the others present, but also for Thssa.


    She wanted Thssa to know that no one knew Lysander better than she did.


    Thssa naturally understood the subtext of her words.


    Faye was dering war on her.


    However, she probably didn¡¯t know that her rtionship with Lysander was not what she thought it was.


    No matter how much she fought, it would all be futile.


    But Thssa still wanted to know if Lysander would drink the soup Faye had served him.


    If he drank it, it would prove that Faye still had a certain weight in his heart. She would be an


    irreceable presence.


    Unconsciously, Thssa looked at Lysander with a hint of anxiety in her eyes as she waited.


    But Lysander¡¯s handsome face remained calm. There wasn¡¯t a trace of emotion or affection for Faye


    anywhere on him. He didn¡¯t even lift his eyes, never ncing at Faye from beginning to end.


    He ignored the soup in front of him and turned a deaf ear to Faye.


    Faye was still standing there, waiting for Lysander¡¯s reaction, but he was leisurely eating his meal as if


    she weren¡¯t there.-


    The polite and considerate smile on Faye¡¯s face gradually faded. It had be a stiff grin. She stood


    awkwardly, not knowing whether to stand or sit, feelingpletely embarrassed.


    Zephyr frowned and tried to help Faye. ¡°Lysander, Faye is talking to you. She knows you like cod


    chowder. She¡¯s being considerate. You can¡¯t just reject her good intentions.¡±


    Lysander finally lifted his eyes. His deep gaze swept across Faye¡¯s face andnded on Zephyr. He


    casually moved the cod chowder to Zephyr¡¯s side, his low voice stating, ¡°You like this too, Grandpa.


    Enjoy it.¡±


    Zephyr¡¯s face turned stiff. His anger made his face darken.


    Grandma Sybil quickly tried to smooth things over. ¡°Oh, Zephyr, the kitchen made the cod chowder just


    for you. Just drink it. Lysander is fine with his meal.¡±


    Faye stood there with her hands clenched into fists. Her face showed how extremely embarrassed she


    felt.


    ¡°Don¡¯t be mad, Great-grandpa. My dad doesn¡¯t like soup. He likes whipped cream.¡± Elowen¡¯s adorable


    voice chimed in.


    She scooped up a spoonful of pink cream from her cake and held it out to Lysander.


    ¡°Daddy, you love whipped cream flowers, don¡¯t you? I¡¯ll feed you. Open up¡­¡± Elowen¡¯s voice was soft


    and childlike.


    Her chubby little hand was covered in cream, as was her mouth. She was using her own spoon to feed


    Lysander.


    That spoon was undoubtedly covered in her saliva.


    Thssa was startled to see this. Couldn¡¯t Elowen get a new spoon if she wanted to feed him?


    That would increase her chances of sess.


    How could someone like Lysander eat something covered in her saliva?


    Thssa was worried for Elowen.


    Faye also watched this scene curiously. She remembered that Lysander hated sweets more than


    anything else.


    And the little girl in front of him was covered in cream. She was dirty and feeding Lysander with her


    own used spoon.


    How could Lysander possibly eat that?


    Faye¡¯s gaze softened a bit, waiting to see the little girl get embarrassed. At least she wasn¡¯t the only


    one feeling awkward. That made her feel better.


    Lysander¡¯s deep gaze turned to Elowen.


    The adults at the dinner table were all nervously watching.

 Chapter 610

    Chapter 610


    While Faye was waiting for a spectacle, Thssa was as tense as a tightly wound spring, afraid that


    Elowen might be hurt or upset.


    Lysander opened his mouth, biting into the small cream puff Elowen had held to his lips. After a small


    pause, he began to praise it in his deep voice. ¡°Delicious. My daughter knows my taste best.¡±


    The sweet scent of milk wafted from the little one, reminding him of Thssa. It was simr to the


    her.


    Content is ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org.


    She had lied to him, saying she¡¯d been drinking milk, but it wasn¡¯t until he found his four children that


    he connected the dots. The sweet smell was because Thssa spent every day with the four little


    ones; each of them exuded theforting scent of milk.


    It was a heartwarming scent.


    ¡°Of course, I¡¯m Daddy¡¯s little muffin.¡± Elowen¡¯s joy was evident in her squinted eyes and beautiful


    dimples that appeared on her cheeks when she smiled.


    The way she said ¡°little muffin¡± was so sweet and adorable that it could melt even the iciest of hearts.


    Seeing this, Thssa¡¯s tension and worry were reced by overwhelming joy and emotion.


    She was happy for Elowen, who was clearly loved by her father.


    She was also touched by Elowen¡¯s sweet, innocent smile.


    All the injustice she¡¯d faced from Faye and Zephyr seemed to be healed by this one moment, turning


    the tables in their favor.


    The best retaliation was to be surrounded by those who cared about you and your happiness.


    Faye had wanted to see Elowen fail. She wanted to see her upset and crying. That would have been


    satisfying for her.


    But to her surprise, Lysander, who usually didn¡¯t have a sweet tooth, actually ate the cream puff Elowen


    fed him and even praised her for understanding him.


    Wasn¡¯t this a p in her face?


    Faye¡¯s face turned pale, and her limbs went numb from the shock.


    She felt like she was the clown in this scenario..


    Zephyr, who had been annoyed with Lysander¡¯s behavior, felt his anger dissipate at the sight of


    Lysander¡¯s affectionate interaction with his daughter, Elowen.


    It was like when he¡¯d discovered his study in disarray, his temples were throbbing in irritation. Until the


    butler reminded him that the children were just having fun, all his annoyance had instantly evaporated.


    Indeed, the innocence of children had a healing effect.


    He gave Faye an out. ¡°Faye, sit; let¡¯s eat. This is a family meal, not a formal dinner. Rx, be casual.¡±


    He was suggesting that Faye stop trying to take care of Lysander and just focus on her own meal.


    Having been disregarded, Faye naturally toned down a bit. She nodded and sat down to eat.


    Afterward, the dining table was quiet. Everyone focused on their meals without further conversation.


    After lunch, Faye found an excuse to leave.


    Lysander was ready to leave with Thssa and the kids, but Zephyr called him into his study for a talk.


    Thssa went downstairs with Grandma Sybil to be with the children.


    The study had been cleaned up by the maids. Some items had been damaged beyond repair and had


    to be discarded.


    Zephyr sat behind his desk, while Lysander sat opposite him. Both of them were looking serious.


    Zephyr started. ¡°Lysander, what are you thinking? Are you really nning to stay with Thssa?¡±

 Chapter 611

    Chapter 611


    Previously, he had made a three-month pact with Lysander, oblivious to the fact that Thssa had


    borne Lysander four children.


    Now, as the mother of Lysander¡¯s children, their rtionship had evolved into a far more intricate web.


    It was no longer a string that could be severed at will.


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    Yet the thought of Thssa marrying Lysander was something Zephyr was reluctant to ept.


    Lysander remained silent, and his eyes became unreadable.


    Zephyr sighed heavily. ¡°I don¡¯t want your children to grow up without their mother, but Thssa is not


    suitable enough to join our family. She deceived you just to get the secretary position at your side. She


    even framed Faye for selling yourpany¡¯s design ns. On top of that, she used her position to


    embezzle a billion dors from the Sinir Group. She was nning to abscond with all of it! This kind


    of greedy, scheming woman is just too despicable. If she marries you, I fear she will bring disaster upon


    you.¡±


    This brutal lesson of Zephyr¡¯s second son, Bat Sinir, still had fresh in his memory. His life had


    been ruined because of his ill-chosen spouse, which had left Lysander an orphan since his early


    childhood.


    Growing up in an environment devoid of parental care inevitably left Lysander with a psychological


    void.


    Lysander¡¯s aloof, reclusive personality and his indifference towards women were all born from theck


    of parental love he suffered in his early life.


    Zephyr had always felt sorry for Lysander.


    No matter what he or Sybil did, they could never rece the love of a parent.


    Lysander lifted his gaze to Zephyr, his voice serious as he exined, ¡°Faye¡¯s family told you that it was


    Thssa who framed Faye? Whether you believe it or not, Faye did sell the Sinir Group¡¯s design


    ns to the Thorne Group, all in an attempt to frame Thssa and put her behind bars. The evidence


    is irrefutable; even the CEO of the Thorne Group has admitted that the ns were given to him by


    Faye.¡±


    ¡°What?¡± Zephyr was shocked. It was the first time he and Lysander had openly discussed the matter.


    ¡°Why would Faye frame Thssa? It doesn¡¯t make sense.¡±


    ¡°Faye knew long before that Thssa was the woman I was looking for and lied, telling me she was


    dead. Who would have thought that Thssa would end up working for me? Fearing that her lie would


    be exposed, Faye did everything she could to get Thssa out of the picture, preferably never to be


    seen by me again.¡±


    Zephyr was taken aback. He had not anticipated such a turn of events.


    ¡°And what about the billion dors?¡±


    ¡°It was my son, Atticus, who used his hacking skills to steal it. He thought Thssa owed me a billion


    and wanted to repay it for her.¡±


    Lysander had previously assumed that Thssa had conspired with someone to embezzle a billion


    from hispany and then run away.


    He had been bitterly disappointed and deeply disgusted with her.


    He had severed ties with her, denying her ess to their children.


    He had wanted her to feel so much pain that she wished she were dead.


    Only after learning the truth did he realize that he had misunderstood her.


    In fact, she had returned every single penny of the billion dors back to him.


    She was not a woman who was blinded by greed.


    ¡°Atticus is so young, yet he¡¯s so technologically advanced.¡± Zephyr could not help but exim in awe.


    His aged eyes were now looking weary. ¡°It seems I have misjudged Thssa. So, do you n to marry


    her?¡±


    By that ount, Lysander had won their three-month wager.


    They had agreed to give Lysander three months to discern Thssa¡¯s true nature.


    If she turned out like Lysander¡¯s mother, a woman driven by greed and deceit, Lysander was to kick her


    out of his life.


    But if she proved to be a good woman, then Zephyr would no longer interfere in their affairs. If


    Lysander wanted to marry her, he wouldn¡¯t object.


    Now that the matter had been settled, Zephyr was curious to know Lysander¡¯s stance.


    Zephyr stared at Lysander, awaiting his answer.


    Lysander met Zephyr¡¯s gaze with his own deep-set eyes.

 Chapter 612

    Chapter 612


    On the way home, the four kids were sprawled out on the backseat. Their seat belts were the only thing


    keeping them from toppling over each other in their slumber.


    Thssa was in the passenger seat, and Lysander was behind the wheel.


    Thssa would sneak nces at Lysander every now and then, curious about his conversation with


    Zephyr. But his stern profile put her off, and she swallowed her questions.


    When they got home, Lysander carried each of the kids to their beds. It was already past six in the


    evening, and they were likely to sleep straight through until the morning.


    ¡°I¡¯ll be going now. I have work tomorrow.¡± Thssa told Lysander, who had just emerged from the kids¡¯


    rooms.


    His intense gaze made her feel a sudden sense of danger, and a strange pressure began building in


    her chest.


    ¡°I¡¯ll be going now.¡± She quickly said while heading for the door, as if he were afraid of being held back.


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    Upon reaching the courtyard, she nced back to find that Lysander hadn¡¯t followed. She finally let out


    a sigh of relief.


    Their chauffeur had just returned. He had driven them to the Sinir¡¯s house, and because there were


    too many of them for one car, Lysander had driven the Sinir¡¯s car back, leaving the chauffeur to


    bring their car home.


    Upon seeing the chauffeur arrive, Thssa asked politely, ¡°Could you give me a lift home?¡±


    She was relieved when he hesitated. ¡°Lysander¡­¡±


    ¡°He knows I¡¯m leaving. I¡¯ve told him,¡± Thssa assured him. She knew the chauffeur was worried


    about getting in trouble for helping her leave. Lysander¡¯s property without permission.


    Finally, the chauffeur nodded and gestured for her to get in.


    Thssa returned to Vibrant Oasis Residences to find Evelyn still out. Concerned, she called her.


    ¡°Thssa, what¡¯s up?¡± Evelyn¡¯s tired voice came over the phone.


    ¡°I¡¯m home. Where are you?¡± Thssa asked.


    ¡°You¡¯re just getting back? Why did it take you two days? Have you been with Lysander again?¡± Evelyn


    asked, sounding helpless and tired.


    ¡°I¡¯m fine. I was just visiting the kids. But where are you? You don¡¯t sound too good.¡± Thssa sounded


    concerned.


    ¡°I¡¯m fine. I¡¯m just at the hospital taking care of an old friend.¡±


    ¡°Which old friend?¡± Thssa asked, then came to a sudden realization. ¡°Are you still with Bruce?¡±

 Chapter 613

    Chapter 613


    After hearing the shock and anger in Thssa¡¯s voice, Evelyn defended herself, even though she


    sounded a bit guilty. ¡°He owes me a fat three million. If I don¡¯t keep an eye on him, he might take off.¡±


    ¡°Never mind about the three million for now. Which hospital are you at? I¡¯ming to get you.¡±


    Thssa expressed her worry that Evelyn might be swindled again.


    Evelyn was a straightforward, fiery spirit. She couldn¡¯t easily handle a sly old fox like Bruce.


    ¡°Never mind, then. Don¡¯te to pick me up. I¡¯ll go home on my own.¡± Evelyn ended the call hastily.


    While lying in the hospital bed, Bruce observed her with his keen eyes. ¡°So something is brewing with


    Thssa and Lysander, eh?¡±


    Infuriated, Evelyn shot him a nce. ¡°No! Lysander is from a wealthy family. He¡¯s a high and mighty


    boss. My Thssa is beneath his notice. The Sinirs have made it clear that they won¡¯t marry her off


    to him.¡±


    ¡°Really?¡± Bruce¡¯s face darkened at this.


    ¡°Even if they won¡¯t marry her, they should at least give Thssa some kind of financial security. She¡¯s


    had four kids for Lysander and has been a single mother for a while. Which man would dare to marry


    her now? Lysander has ruined her life, and he just leaves her high and dry?¡± Bruce voiced out his


    indignation.


    His words struck a chord with Evelyn. She felt aggrieved on behalf of her daughter.


    ¡°Then what can I do if others won¡¯t marry her?¡± Evelyn was exasperated, but more than that, she felt a


    sense of helplessness.


    ¡°Oh, it¡¯s all my fault. I couldn¡¯t provide a stable home for you and Thssa. If a girl has aplete


    family and a father to lean on, she won¡¯t be treated like this.¡± Bruce sighed.


    Tears welled up in Evelyn¡¯s eyes. Angrily, she hit him a few times. ¡°You have the nerve to say that! If it


    weren¡¯t for your betrayal, would I have ended up like this? Would Thssa have ended up like this?¡±


    As she hit him, tears streamed down her face.


    Bruce gently held her hand, looking deeply into her eyes. ¡°Evelyn, you¡¯re the one I truly love. I had my


    reasons back then.¡±


    ¡°What reasons?¡± Evelyn felt a flutter in her heart as he held her hand warmly.


    Belongs to N?velDrama.Org - All rights reserved.


    ¡°In fact, I lied to you. I was already married before I met you. I didn¡¯t know what love was until I met


    you. Love can make a person lose himself. It can make you do anything without regrets just to be with


    the one you love, even if it means being misunderstood by the whole world.¡± Bruce held her hand


    tighter as he ced it over his heart. ¡°Listen, this heart has been beating for you all along.¡±


    Evelyn could feel his heartbeat. Her heart, which had been lonely all her life, seemed to be rekindled by


    his heartbeat.


    She loved Bruce deeply. That was why she was so heartbroken when she found out about Bruce¡¯s


    betrayal. She had been afraid of men for a long time. She was afraid of being deceived and hurt ever


    since.


    She loved him too much, so the hurt he caused her ran deep.


    The reason she never married was partly because she couldn¡¯t let go of Bruce.


    She did not pull her hand back. With a puzzled look, she asked, ¡°You were already married before?


    Then who was the one you betrayed me with?¡±


    ¡°She was a wealthy woman. I was after her money, not her. I got close to her to get some money for


    the divorce. Once I divorced her, I¡¯d be single and could be with you without any restrictions. I just


    wanted to earn a quick buck through the divorce, then leave that she-devil at home and marry you. But


    you broke up with me angrily when you found out I had connections with someone else.¡±


    Bruce gently held Evelyn¡¯s hand while looking deep into her eyes as he spoke these words that were


    seeminglying from the heart.


    Was everything he had done years ago all for her?


    Once he noticed that Evelyn believed him and saw that her eyes were full of affection, Bruce realized


    that he could manipte her as long as she loved him.


    Bruce kissed her hand gently. ¡°For you, I took countless beatings from that she-devil at home. She¡¯s a


    terrifying woman who would only divorce me if I could afford the alimony. I was helpless.¡±


    Evelyn fell into a daze once his lips touched her hand. It felt like she was being transported back to her


    youth. It seemed that her sweet days of love wereing back to her.


    Her entire being was immersed in this sweetness. ¡°If you wanted to divorce her so badly, weren¡¯t you


    doing well in your job? Couldn¡¯t you just pay her off?¡±

 Chapter 614

    Chapter 614


    Bruce shook his head. ¡°You don¡¯t get her, Evelyn. She has an insatiable appetite for money. She won¡¯t


    divorce me unless I can cough up a hundred million. No matter how hard I work, I can¡¯t make that kind


    of money. But I yearn to be with you so badly that it¡¯s driving me mad. That¡¯s why, when that wealthy


    widow took a liking to me, I didn¡¯t outright reject her. I¡¯ve been stringing her along, hoping to secure that


    hundred million in alimony so I can sever all ties with her and then divorce that dragondy. Then, you


    and I could be together forever.¡±


    ¡°A hundred million? That much?¡± Evelyn was stunned, only then realizing that her hand was still


    sped within Bruce¡¯s.


    ¡°It¡¯s a lot, I know. That¡¯s why I¡¯m stuck. I want to give you and Thssa aplete family, but I can¡¯t.


    Poor Thssa doesn¡¯t have a father to back her up, and she¡¯s at the mercy of the Sinir family.¡±


    Content property of N?velDra/ma.Org.


    Bruce sighed. His tone was filled with regret for not being able to marry Evelyn and help Thssa.


    Every word was like a dagger to Evelyn¡¯s heart, highlighting her deepest regrets and fears.


    Evelyn felt as if she had found someone who truly understood her pain. She could feel her chest


    tightening as sadness welled up within her.


    ¡°Isn¡¯t that Thssa¡¯s mother, Evelyn?¡± A woman¡¯s voice echoed from the doorway of the hospital


    room.


    Evelyn turned around to see a young woman standing at the entrance. After a moment of confusion,


    she suddenly realized that her hand was still being held by Bruce. She awkwardly retracted her hand.


    Composing herself, she asked, ¡°May I know who you¡¯re looking for?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m looking for you both.¡± Faye stepped in, handing Evelyn a business card. ¡°I¡¯ve been Lysander¡¯s


    secretary for seven years.¡±


    After seeing the introduction on the card, Evelyn realized that Faye was a part of Lysander¡¯s circle. Her


    demeanor instantly became more cautious and serious.


    ¡°Faye, what brings you here?¡±


    ¡°I only just found out that Thssa has given birth to four children for Lysander. They all had dinner


    together at Mr. Sinir¡¯s grandparents¡¯ house, the Sinir Mansion, this afternoon. I¡¯ve heard that from


    now on, Zephyr will pick up the children from their kindergarten and take them to his ce for dinner


    every day.¡±


    Faye diverted the conversation towards Thssa. She had originallye to visit her sick father but


    overheard Evelyn¡¯s conversation with Bruce at the door of the hospital room. Faye felt a golden


    opportunity presenting itself.


    ¡°You¡¯re saying the children will be taken care of by Lysander¡¯s grandfather from now on?¡± Evelyn asked


    in shock.


    ¡°Mr. Sinir is still unmarried. Naturally, his children would be raised by his grandparents, just like he


    was. Otherwise, having kids around might make it inconvenient for Mr. Sinir to find another woman


    to marry.¡± Faye exined.


    Evelyn¡¯s heart filled with indignation and resentment once she heard this. ¡°But Thssa was at the


    Sinir¡¯s house too, wasn¡¯t she? She¡¯s the mother of those children!¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s exactly what I wanted to talk about.¡± Faye continued, ¡°I was at the Sinir Mansion this


    afternoon too, having dinner with Zephyr. He didn¡¯t hide his disdain for Thssa and made things


    difficult for her at every turn. It¡¯s clear he won¡¯t let her marry Lysander. After all, she¡¯s a country girl, and


    Lysander is from a wealthy, influential family. They value matching social status, you see. I fear


    Thssa might even have trouble seeing her children in the future.¡±


    Evelyn¡¯s chest heaved in despair. ¡°How can that be? Didn¡¯t Lysander promise that Thssa could see


    the children whenever she wanted?¡±


    ¡°But the children will be under Zephyr¡¯s care soon. Mr. Sinir might want to help, but he could be


    powerless to do anything.¡± Faye spoke, as her face expressed deep regret.


    ¡°As an observer, I feel sorry for Thssa. I empathize with her. If Zephyr and Sybil had epted


    Thssa, she might have had a chance to marry Lysander.


    But Thssa is too inexperienced in these matters. She might not know how tomunicate with the


    elderly.¡±


    Faye seemed genuinely concerned for Thssa.


    Evelyn was heartbroken and sighed heavily.


    She couldn¡¯t provide Thssa with the strong support she needed.


    ¡°Evelyn, don¡¯t take it too hard. It¡¯s not so bad. If you can¡¯t fit into their circle, don¡¯t force it. Living a


    simple life can be wonderful too. There¡¯s always a chance to have more children. I need to visit some


    patients, so I¡¯ll be going now.¡±


    After forting¡± Evelyn, Faye made her exit, leaving behind a distraught Evelyn.


    The possibility of having more children was the cruelest blow. Which child wasn¡¯t their mother¡¯s most


    precious jewel? Which child could ever be reced in a mother¡¯s heart?

 Chapter 615

    Chapter 615


    The bond between a mother and her children could never be reced.


    Faye stepped out of the hospital room, and, in an instant, her sympathetic gaze turned fierce. She shot


    a nce back at the room before strutting off in her high heels.


    ¡°Evelyn, even an outsider feels sorry for Thssa. As her parents, we must help her.¡± Bruce seized the


    moment, gently tugging on Evelyn¡¯s sleeve to bring her back to reality.


    ¡°And how do we do that? What can I possibly do?¡± Evelyn sighed heavily.


    ¡°I think Faye has a point. If Lysander¡¯s grandparents agree, Thssa has a better chance of marrying


    Lysander,¡± Bruce suggested.


    ¡°Then I will marry you, giving Thssa aplete family. With me as her legitimate father, Lysander


    will think twice. He will marry Thssa.¡±


    Bruce was emphatic in his assurance.


    Evelyn¡¯s gaze dropped. She was half-believing and half-doubting him, flinging herself deep into


    thought.


    ¡°You rest. I¡¯m heading back, or Thssa will worry.¡± Evelyn told Bruce tiredly.


    ¡°Alright, head home. Don¡¯t let the child worry.¡± Bruce spoke with the tone of a loving father.


    When Evelyn got home, Thssa had cooked up a couple of dishes.


    ¡°Mom, you haven¡¯t eaten, have you? I just finished cooking. Eat while it¡¯s hot.¡± Thssa approached,


    guiding her to sit at the dining table.


    Evelyn held her bowl, eating absentmindedly.


    Noticing her mom¡¯s distant state, Thssa asked, ¡°Mom, what¡¯s wrong? Did Bruce give you a hard


    time again? I wish he wasn¡¯t my dad.¡±


    If Bruce wasn¡¯t her father, Lysander wouldn¡¯t hate her so much.


    After hearing her daughter¡¯sint, Evelyn¡¯s hand, which was holding the bowl, trembled slightly.


    She scolded Thssa. ¡°Don¡¯t talk nonsense!¡±


    Thssa froze after seeing Evelyn¡¯s darkened expression and the seriousness of her tone. She sighed


    in resignation. ¡°Okay, I¡¯ll stop talking. Just


    eat.¡±


    Evelyn took another spoonful of soup, but her appetite was absent. Finally, she asked, ¡°Did you really


    return the billion dors to Lysander?¡±


    Thssa nodded. ¡°Yeah.¡±


    Last night, Lysander returned the card to her, but she didn¡¯t take it. When she woke up in the morning,


    the card was gone. She guessed that Lysander had probably taken it back.


    ¡°Oh, you silly girl!¡± Evelyn sighed in desperation.


    ¡°Mom, keep eating. I¡¯ll go take a shower.¡± Thssa didn¡¯t want to discuss this any further.


    She had already exined to Evelyn that it wasn¡¯t her money, so she couldn¡¯t take it. Besides,


    Lysander had said that the billion dors were to end her and the kids¡¯ rtionship, which made her


    even more unwilling to ept it.


    Thssa headed to the bathroom.


    After a few bites, Evelynpletely lost her appetite. She sat on the couch, lost in thought, and noticed


    Thssa¡¯s backpack on the couch.


    A sudden idea shed in her mind, and she began to search Thssa¡¯s backpack.


    She found a bank card in the front pocket.


    Evelyn pulled out the card, recognizing it as the one Thssa always kept in her drawer.


    She had seen Atticus with it before.


    Belongs to N?velDrama.Org - All rights reserved.


    Could it be that the billion dors were transferred to this card?

 Chapter 616

    Chapter 616


    Evelyn was lost in thought when the bathroom door swung open behind her.


    She quickly tucked the bank card into her pocket and casually settled back down on the couch.


    ¡°Mom, if you¡¯re done eating, you should go take a shower and get some rest.¡± Thssa suggested as


    she toweled off her damp hair as she made her way towards the dining table to clean up.


    Evelyn stopped her. ¡°Thssa, I haven¡¯t seen the kids in a couple of days. I miss them. I want to visit


    them.¡±


    ¡°Tomorrow, Mom. It¡¯ste now, and they¡¯re already asleep. You can pick them up from kindergarten


    tomorrow.¡±


    Evelyn nodded, but her mind was clearly elsewhere. ¡°Alright, I understand.¡±


    The next morning, Thssa awoke to find Evelyn still in bed. After whipping up some breakfast and


    grabbing a quick bite, she left for work.


    No sooner had Thssa left than Evelyn emerged from her room, clutching the bank card with a


    serious and hesitant expression.


    Thssa arrived at Crawley Electronics and walked into her office, inadvertently bumping into Anna,


    who was carrying a box.


    After a couple of awkward shuffle steps of trying to let each other pass, they both stopped and looked


    at each other face-to-face.


    Thssa noticed Anna¡¯s box filled with her belongings and asked, ¡°Anna, what¡¯s with the box? Are you


    getting a promotion?¡±


    Was she moving to a new office?


    Anna chuckled softly, her tone mocking as she replied, ¡°You know, women should never rely on their


    looks to get by. Otherwise, they¡¯ll be in for a nasty surprise. Mr. Ethan won¡¯t take you seriously.¡±


    With a dazzlingly fake smile, Anna sidestepped Thssa and left the office.


    Anna¡¯s remark was clearly targeted at her, leaving Thssa feeling a distinct tension in the air. Before


    she could respond, however, Anna had already walked away.


    After walking into the office, Thssa discovered that Anna¡¯s desk had been cleared out.


    Betty was propped up against her own desk with her arms crossed, watching the spectacle with a cool


    gaze.


    ¡°Betty, where¡¯s Anna going?¡± Thssa asked, both curious and confused.


    ¡°She got fired. Thssa, I didn¡¯t expect you to be in Mr. Ethan¡¯s good graces so soon.¡± Betty replied


    coldly. Her eyes were filled with disdain.


    After saying that, she turned around, sat down at her desk, opened herputer, and got to work.


    Thssa was taken aback.


    Was Anna¡¯s termination rted to her?


    Regardless, it was clear that both Anna and Betty believed that Anna lost her job because of her.


    Thssa now understood what Anna meant by herment. Did she think that she and Ethan were


    romantically involved?


    It was ridiculous. She had just gone on one business trip with Ethan, and people were already


    spreading rumors.


    Why would Ethan fire Anna?


    Thssa waspletely at a loss.


    Around ten in the morning, Thssa and Betty were summoned to the CEO¡¯s office.


    Ethan sat behind his desk. His handsome face was basking in the sunlight, projecting a warm and


    approachable aura.


    He slid two files across the desk to Thssa and Betty, instructing them to finish the two files by


    lunchtime.


    ¡°OK, Mr. Ethan.¡± Bettyplied as she picked up the file.


    Thssa didn¡¯t rush to pick up hers. Instead, she hesitated and asked, ¡°Mr. Ethan, did Anna do


    something wrong? Why was she fired?¡±


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    She purposely asked in front of Betty, hoping to clear her name by having Ethan¡¯s answer heard


    firsthand.


    She had no intention of shouldering me that she didn¡¯t deserve.


    ¡°Sheckedpetence, neverpleted tasks on time, and only knew how to sweet-talk and make


    things difficult for her colleagues.¡±


    On hearing this, Betty¡¯s face paled slightly. She nodded and left the office.


    Ethan¡¯s answer didn¡¯t seem to rify anything for Thssa. His remark about making things difficult for


    colleagues left room for people to believe that Anna¡¯s termination had a lot to do with Thssa.

 Chapter 617

    Chapter 617


    Thssa threw a puzzled nce at Ethan. ¡°Because of what happened yesterday?¡±


    Yesterday, both Betty and Anna put her into quite a pickle.


    No wonder Betty¡¯s face clouded over when she heard what Ethan said.


    Thssa had clearly exined to Ethan yesterday that, as a newbie at work, it was normal to get a


    hard time from the longer-serving employees. She could handle it.


    So why did Ethan fire Anna?


    ¡°Thssa, you really are a pushover. Anna spilled coffee on you yesterday, and you didn¡¯t even raise


    your voice?¡± Ethan cast a scrutinizing gaze on her.


    Thssa blinked. Was it because of the coffee incident with Anna?


    But Ethan wasn¡¯t there at the time, so how did he know?


    Suddenly, Thssa remembered that she had mentioned this to Lysander yesterday.


    Did Lysander get Anna fired?


    Would he bother with such trivial matters?


    Was he meddling because of her?


    Thssa couldn¡¯t believe it. ¡°Mr. Ethan, you wouldn¡¯t happen to have a habit of spying on the


    secretary¡¯s office, would you? Do you know everything that happens there?¡±


    She still couldn¡¯t believe that Lysander had a hand in this.


    Caught off guard by her question, Ethan chuckled. ¡°I couldn¡¯t care less about your wardrobe changes in


    the office. Don¡¯t make me out to be some kind of creep.¡±


    ¡°Then how¡­¡±


    ¡°Lysander called me.¡±


    All of Thssa¡¯s questions got stuck in her throat.


    Even though she didn¡¯t want to believe Ethan, she had to.


    Lysander had actually gotten Anna fired over a spilled cup of coffee.


    Was Lysander protecting her?


    Wasn¡¯t he supposed to despise her and use her as his punching bag?


    A mix of emotions welled up in Thssa. Being protected silently by someone was undoubtedly a


    blessing. But when that someone was Lysander, it left her feeling all over the ce.


    She couldn¡¯t figure out what Lysander was up to.


    ¡°Snap out of it and get back to work. In the end, it alles down to your performance.¡± Ethan saw


    Thssa¡¯s stunned expression and pointed her towards the door.


    Thssa came back to her senses, picked up another set of files from the desk, and left the office.


    Content property of N?velDra/ma.Org.


    Back in the secretarial office, she noticed that Betty had engrossed herself in work.


    Discarding her thoughts, Thssa began to focus on her own work.


    At half past eleven, Thssa finished her work and was about to drop off thepleted files in the


    CEO¡¯s office.


    Betty chimed in. ¡°I am going to drop some files off too; I can take yours.¡±


    After seeing a rare friendly smile on Betty¡¯s strong face, Thssa began to wonder if Ethan¡¯s ticking off


    had made her want to make amends now.


    Thssa wanted a harmonious rtionship with her colleagues, so she politely smiled and nodded.


    ¡°Thank you, Betty.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re wee.¡± Betty took her files and left.


    Five o¡¯clock in the afternoon.


    After a long day, Thssa was about to clock out when she received a call from Evelyn.


    ¡°Thssa, help me. They¡¯re going to send me to jail! Help me!¡± Evelyn¡¯s voice was panicked and


    helpless from the other end of the phone line.

 Chapter 618

    Chapter 618


    ¡°What¡¯s going on? Where are you?¡± Thssa questioned anxiously.


    ¡°I¡­ I¡¯m at¡­ ah!¡± Evelyn¡¯s voice was choked with tears, and before she could finish her sentence, her


    phone was knocked out of her hand.


    Content is ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org.


    Thssa held her phone. The other end was filled with chaotic noise.


    Simply hearing it was enough to know it was urgent, Thssa¡¯s heart pounded, her voice tense and


    desperate. ¡°Mom, where exactly are you? Can you still hear me?¡±


    ¡°Throw her in the mmer!¡± A man¡¯s voice echoed through the phone, sharp, cold, and violent.


    The voice struck Thssa¡¯s heart like a bolt of lightning, her heart racing.


    it


    was Lysander¡¯s voice. She recognized it. He sounded furious,manding his bodyguards to take


    Evelyn to the jail.


    Then, Evelyn¡¯s cries came intermittently through the phone, her voice growing fainter and fainter.


    Thssa¡¯s heart tightened in fear.


    What had happened?


    Why was Lysander so angry?


    Why was Evelyn being taken to jail?


    Thssa was as frantic as a cat on a hot tin roof. She rushed out of the Crawley Group, intending to go


    to the scene.


    But she didn¡¯t know where they were. She had to calm down.


    Thssa took a deep breath, trying to piece together the situation.


    It was 5:30 p.m., and Evelyn was supposed to pick up the kids from school.


    So, had Evelyn and Lysander fought over the kids, provoking Lysander to take her to jail?


    In that case, the incident must have urred at the preschool or the Royal Estates!


    Thssa called their butler, Fitch, and asked him what had happened.


    Fitch replied, ¡°The kids were picked up by Sybil and taken to the Sinir¡¯s house. They aren¡¯t at the


    Royal Estates.¡±


    When Thssa asked him if he knew what had happened, Fitch said he didn¡¯t know.


    Without wasting any more time, Thssa ordered her driver to hurry to the Sinir¡¯s house.


    Halfway there, Thssa noticed a ck vehicle ahead. Its presence was imposing, exuding an


    oppressive aura.


    Thssa recognized it instantly. It was Lysander¡¯s car.


    In her panic, Thssa had the driver stop the car. She ran in front of the ck Rolls-Royce and spread


    her arms.


    With a screech, the car came to a halt just inches from her. The sound of the tires grinding against the


    pavement was deafening.


    Thssa opened her squeezed-shut eyes. The car stopped before her.


    She took a panicked breath, not having time to think. She ran to the car door, banging on the window.


    ¡°Open the door. I need to talk.¡±


    The window rolled down, revealing two bodyguards holding Evelyn in the backseat. The driver


    upied the front seat, and Lysander was nowhere to be seen.


    Seeing Thssa, Evelyn¡¯s face was streaked with tears as she cried out in desperation, ¡°Thssa,


    help me. I don¡¯t want to go to jail. Save me¡­¡±


    Seeing the situation, Thssa¡¯s own heart lodged in her throat. She tried to stay calm and asked,


    ¡°Mom, what happened? How did you upset Lysander?¡±


    Evelyn¡¯s face paled, her voice trembling in fear, ¡°It wasn¡¯t me who pushed Sybil. I was just talking to


    her, trying to get her to ept you, to let Lysander marry you. I only went to the stairwell to help


    Sophia, who had fallen, and when I came back, Sybil was on the ground¡­¡±


    ¡°What?¡± Thssa¡¯s mind went nk, her body numb from the shocking news.


    Grandma Sybil had an ident?


    Evelyn grabbed Thssa¡¯s hand, her grip strong but shaking, ¡°Thssa, it wasn¡¯t me. It really wasn¡¯t


    me. Please, save me¡­¡±


    ¡°Ms. Everhart, we¡¯re on a tight schedule. Please don¡¯t obstruct,¡± one of the bodyguards inside the car


    said expressionlessly.


    The car then started moving.


    Evelyn clung to Thssa¡¯s hand, pleading through her tears for her to save her.


    Thssa¡¯s heart was pounding. She was frantic. She ran alongside the car for a while, but as the car¡¯s


    speed increased, Evelyn was forced to let go of her hand.

 Chapter 619

    Chapter 619


    Thssa stood on the side of the road, watching as Evelyn¡¯s cries grew distant.


    Thssa¡¯s breath trembled, her body shaking slightly.


    What had happened?


    She didn¡¯t have time to dwell on it. She hailed a cab and hurried to the Sinir¡¯s house but was


    stopped at the checkpoint halfway up the hill.


    ¡°No one¡¯s allowed in. Get lost!¡± The security guard was firm and not open to negotiation.


    Thssa felt as lost as a leaf in the wind, pacing back and forth restlessly.


    She dialed Lysander¡¯s number, but it was busy.


    It was clear. Lysander had blocked her!


    What was happening?


    Where were the children? How was Grandma Sybil?


    All the unknowns and worries gnawed at Thssa¡¯s heart.


    She paced nervously for a while before deciding to call David.


    The phone connected, and with each ring, her heart tightened.


    ¡°Ms. Everhart.¡± David¡¯s voice came from the other end.


    Thssa started, her voice tense, ¡°David, where¡¯s Lysander?¡±


    ¡°Starhaven Hospital.¡± David replied.


    Thssa rushed to the hospital, sprinting down the long emergency corridor.


    She saw Lysander¡¯s tall figure standing in the doorway of the emergency room. His back was cold and


    hard, his tall body exuding a powerful sense of urgency.


    Thssa¡¯s steps slowed as she approached Lysander. He was aloof and oppressive, making it difficult


    for her even to breathe.


    Content rights by N?velDr//ama.Org.


    Her hands and legs trembled slightly as she looked at Lysander¡¯s dark, icy face.


    ¡°Grandma Sybil, she¡­ um¡­¡±


    Before she could finish her sentence, a hand sped around her throat, suffocating her.


    She was mmed against the wall, a groan escaping her lips.


    Lysander¡¯s eyes red at her, seething with rage as if he wanted to tear her apart.


    ¡°You have no right to mention my grandmother! Thssa, you shouldn¡¯t have shown up. I¡¯ll kill you!¡±


    His voice was cold and ruthless, like a demon from hell, his handsome face taut with anger.


    Thssa couldn¡¯t breathe, her face turning blue. She tried to pry his hand off her neck, but her strength


    was insignificantpared to his.


    She gasped for air, her face turning red, her legs kicking helplessly.


    Hearing themotion, David urgently reminded, ¡°Mr. Sinir, Ms. Everhart is really dying.¡±


    Lysander¡¯s gaze never left Thssa¡¯s pained expression. His breath was heavy, and after a moment¡¯s


    hesitation, he released her.


    Thssa slid down the wall to the floor.


    ¡°Cough, cough¡­¡± She coughed violently as fresh air rushed into her lungs.


    She rubbed her sore throat, filled with the fear and pain of a narrow escape.


    Lysander clenched his jaw, his cheeks moving with the effort. His angry eyes never left Thssa.


    Watching her suffer, his fists clenched, veins popping on the back of his hands.


    Suddenly, the door to the emergency room swung open, and a doctor stepped out.


    David quickly asked, ¡°Doctor, how¡¯s Sybil?¡±


    Lysander¡¯s icy gaze also shifted to the doctor.

 Chapter 620

    Chapter 620


    The doctor removed his surgical mask, his face filled with regret. ¡°The elderlydy already had a heart


    condition, and with the added shock, we did our best¡­¡±


    David heard that and stood frozen in ce, not daring to ask the next question.


    Lysander¡¯s body jolted violently, his handsome face taut and stern, his eyes narrowing.


    Thssa, who was sitting on the ground, her throat still aching, heard the doctor¡¯s words. Her rapid


    breathing stopped abruptly, her mind going nk as she stared at the doctor with wide eyes.


    What did he mean by ¡°did our best¡±?


    Did it mean that Lysander¡¯s grandmother had passed away?


    Feeling the weight of the atmosphere, the doctor somberly advised, ¡°Prepare for the funeral. Let the old


    After saying that, the doctor left.


    Thssa held her breath for a few seconds before mechanically turning to look at Lysander. His tall


    figure was rigid, a mncholic and dark aura radiating around him.


    His hand, hanging by his side, clenched tightly into a fist, veins bulging on the back of his hand, his


    eyes filled with confusion, pain, restraint, and fury.


    Thssa¡¯s breath trembled, her heart feeling as if it was being torn apart. She was lost, in pain, and


    panicked.


    A nurse wheeled out a medical bed. Grandma Sybily on it, her eyes tightly shut. Her wise, artistic


    face was then devoid of any color.


    Lysander took heavy steps towards her, his deep eyes fixed on Grandma Sybil, his cheeks stiff with


    suppressed pain.


    ¡°Sybil!¡± Zephyr rushed into the emergency room corridor, his hurried steps taking him to the bedside.


    He fell to the side of the bed, his aged face trembling as he looked at Sybil lying on the bed. ¡°Sybil,


    what¡¯s wrong? It¡¯s me. Open your eyes and look at


    me¡­¡±


    Zephyr wasn¡¯t at home that day. As soon as he heard that Sybil had been rushed to the hospital, he


    rushed back as fast as he could.


    Lysander¡¯s voice broke through the silence, ¡°Grandpa, Grandma is gone¡­¡±


    ¡°What?¡± Zephyr¡¯s pupils dted in shock, unable to ept the horrifying reality. His cloudy eyes quickly


    filled with tears as he reached out to check Sybil¡¯s breath.


    His hand trembled. The short distance felt like an eternity as his heavy hand reached Sybil¡¯s nose.


    There was no breath.


    All strength left Zephyr¡¯s body, and he stumbled backward.


    ¡°Grandpa!¡± Lysander¡¯s long arms caught his grandfather, providing him with support.


    Zephyr managed to steady himself, his breath rapid, his cheeks trembling. He looked at Sybil¡¯s


    peaceful face, his aged hand gripping hers, trembling ceaselessly. ¡°Sybil, we¡¯ve been married for 70


    years, and our anniversary is just around the corner. How could you leave.¡±


    Zephyr¡¯s tall figure suddenly seemed stooped and frail.


    Lysander stood behind Zephyr, his arms around his shoulders and waist, providing support to prevent


    Content is ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org.


    him from copsing under the weight of his grief.


    His eyes were bloodshot, his face reflecting the deep pain of losing a loved one.


    Thssa felt suffocated, at a loss, and filled with guilt as she watched the scene unfold. Her mind was


    a nk te, her lips trembling uncontrobly.


    She couldn¡¯t believe it. Just two days before, Grandma Sybil, who was always mediating for Lysander,


    was fine. How could she be gone so suddenly?


    Grandma Sybil¡¯s body didn¡¯t stay in the emergency corridor for long. The nurses wheeled her away,


    with Lysander and Zephyr apanying her.


    Zephyr was so grief-stricken that he could barely stand,pletely dependent on Lysander¡¯s support.

 Chapter 621

    Chapter 621


    Their footsteps passed by Thssa, heavy with an icy wind that cut across her face, sharp and cold.


    Thssa watched as they walked away, her gaze trailing their footprints until they were lost from sight.


    Tears filled her eyes as she stared nkly at the then-deserted corridor.


    A pair of leather shoes approached. Stopping beside her, a man¡¯s voice rang out, ¡°Ms. Everhart, may I


    assist you?¡±


    Thssa turned her stiff neck to look at the man. It was David.


    With a dry swallow, she managed to get out, ¡°I can do it¡­ on my own¡­¡±


    Her voice came out raspy, a sharp paincing every word. The force with which Lysander had just


    choked her could have easily been fatal. Thssa tried to stand, her hands pressing against the cold


    floor, but her legs were numb and weak, causing her to crumble back down.


    David bent down to help her, but as he extended his hand, Thssa managed to rise, using the wall for


    support.


    David retracted his hand and said, ¡°Ms. Everhart, it¡¯s gettingte. You should go home.¡±


    With that, he left.


    Thssa stood still, her legs shaking slightly as she stared at the silent corridor.


    The doctor¡¯s words about letting the elderly rest in peace echoed in her mind, causing her heart to


    ache with a pain that made breathing difficult.


    She leaned against the wall, taking one shaky step after another towards the exit.


    Step by step, she moved towards the hospital entrance, only to see Lysander¡¯s sleek ck Rolls-


    Royce drive off, followed by an ambnce.


    Without a doubt, inside that ambnce was Sybil¡¯s body, which was on its way to the Sinir¡¯s house.


    Thssa¡¯s mind was a whirlwind of confusion. She called a cab and headed to the police station.


    There, she saw Evelyn, just finished with her interrogation.


    Evelyn¡¯s hands were cuffed. Her usuallyposed face was panicked and disoriented, a mix of fear


    and shock.


    With trembling hands, she held onto Thssa¡¯s. ¡°Thssa,¡± she sobbed, ¡°you have to believe me. I


    didn¡¯t do anything. I was just trying to convince Sybil to ept you, to persuade Lysander to marry you,


    to give our children aplete family. I swear, I never pushed her. You have to believe me, Thssa.¡±


    Thssa¡¯s heart weighed heavy as she managed to croak out, ¡°Mom, why were you at the Sinir¡¯s


    house?¡±


    Evelyn¡¯s eyes shed with panic as she hurriedly exined, ¡°I wanted to see the children, to pick them


    up from nursery, but when I arrived, Sybil was there, too. The teachers recognized her and handed the


    children over to her. In a moment of kindness, she invited me to join them at her home. I thought it was


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    a good opportunity to discuss things with Lysander¡¯s family, so I epted the invitation.¡±


    ¡°But I never would have gone if I knew this would happen,¡± she added, her voice filled with regret.

 Chapter 622

    Chapter 622


    Looking at Evelyn¡¯s panic and tears, Thssa felt a heart-wrenching helplessness.


    Why would Evelyn think that talking to Grandma Sybil or Grandpa Zephyr could change Lysander¡¯s


    Content rights by N?velDr//ama.Org.


    decision not to marry her?


    Thssa swallowed, weakly saying to Evelyn, ¡°Mom, do you think Lysander¡¯s refusal to marry me is


    simply because he looks down on me?¡±


    ¡°What else could it be? It¡¯s because you don¡¯t have power or status or a good family background.


    That¡¯s why the Sinirs look down on you. I thought that if I could convince the elders of the Sinir


    family, at least I could fight for your chance to marry Lysander. You are my daughter; how could I bear


    to see you being bullied like this?¡± Evelyn¡¯s hand, gripping Thssa¡¯s, trembled slightly.


    She didn¡¯t want to see Thssa spend her life alone and miserable. She had given birth to four


    children, all fathered by Lysander.


    If Lysander didn¡¯t marry her, no one else would.


    Evelyn, who had been single all her life and struggled alone, knew all too well the bitterness of the


    situation.


    She didn¡¯t want her daughter to suffer the same fate.


    Thssa held Evelyn¡¯s hand in return, her eyes wet with understanding. She knew she had caused her


    mother to worry.


    In despair, she confessed, ¡°Mom, I¡¯ve always kept this from you, afraid you¡¯d me yourself.


    Lysander¡¯s refusal to marry me isn¡¯t because he looks down on me. It¡¯s because Bruce is my father.


    You don¡¯t know that Lysander¡¯s parents died because of Bruce. He hates me to the bone. How could


    he possibly marry me?¡±


    So, Evelyn¡¯s attempt to plead with Lysander¡¯s grandparents for her to marry him was doomed to fail.


    She had always kept that from Evelyn, afraid that she would me herself for Lysander¡¯s prejudice


    against her.


    She hadn¡¯t expected this to happen.


    ¡°What?¡± Evelyn¡¯s tear-filled eyes widened in shock.


    After a second of stunned silence, she burst into tears, gripping Thssa¡¯s hand tightly, her voice filled


    with regret, ¡°Thssa, I¡¯m so sorry. It¡¯s all my fault!¡±


    ¡°Mom, don¡¯t be upset. I never nned to marry Lysander. The fact that he lets me see the children is


    already the best oue. I¡¯m content. So, don¡¯t do anything more for me. As long as you didn¡¯t push


    Grandma Sybil or say anything to provoke her, I¡¯ll find a way to prove your innocence.¡±


    Thssa could feel Evelyn¡¯s grief and guilt. She held Evelyn¡¯s hand tightly,forting her.


    Evelyn shook her head, tears streaming down her face, ¡°I was wrong, so terribly wrong¡­¡±


    At first, Evelyn¡¯s eyes were panicked, worried about being falsely used.


    But then, her tear-filled eyes were vacant. It was as if she had resigned herself to fate.


    ¡°Mom, what did you do wrong?¡± Thssa was about to ask for more details when a police officer


    entered, announcing that visiting hours were over. Then Evelyn was led away.


    Thssa had no choice but to leave.


    Standing on the sidewalk, she looked around, lost.


    Where should she have gone then? What should she have done?


    On one hand, her mother was headed for jail, and on the other, the Sinir family had just lost


    Grandma Sybil.


    Both issues were rted to her.


    What was she supposed to do?


    Finding the real cause of Grandma Sybil¡¯s death and uncovering the truth was her most pressing task.


    Once her thoughts cleared, Thssa hailed a cab and headed for the Sinir¡¯s house.


    At the checkpoint halfway up the hill, Thssa was stopped by a guard who wouldn¡¯t let her in.


    Desperate, Thssa called Lysander, but the call went to voicemail.

 Chapter 623

    Chapter 623


    Suddenly, she remembered that Lysander had blocked her.


    In a pleading tone, Thssa turned to the security guard, ¡°Could you do me a favor? Could you dial the


    Sinir¡¯s house for me? I¡¯ll take over as soon as they pick up.¡±


    The security guard recognized her. She¡¯d been there several times before, and Lysander himself had


    previously escorted her in.


    Not wanting to offend someone who might have ties with Lysander, the guard agreed to dial the


    Sinir¡¯sndline.


    The guardhouse had a direct line to the Sinir¡¯s grand foyer to facilitate visitors¡¯ ess. Once the call


    connected, Thssa took the receiver. ¡°Hello, it¡¯s Thssa, the mother of the four children.¡±


    She could feel the icy chill and heavy atmosphere from the other end of the line.


    Her heart skipped a beat when she recognized Lysander¡¯s voice.


    ¡°Wait, Lysander, give me a chance to say a few words,¡± she pleaded just as he was about to hang up.


    Even through the phone, she could feel his intimidating aura, making her breath hitch. No words were


    spoken. Simply, a chilling silence came through.


    Thssa took a deep breath. ¡°I spoke with my mother,¡± she began, ¡°She said she was only discussing


    our marriage with Grandma Sybil. In the middle of their conversation, she saw Sophia fall down the


    stairs. She rushed to help Sophia, and when she turned back, she found Grandma Sybil on the floor.


    She didn¡¯t push Grandma Sybil. Could there be some misunderstanding? Can we check the


    surveince footage?¡±


    Having lived with Evelyn for many years, Thssa knew her mother well. Evelyn was all bark and no


    bite. She was harmless, especially in a ce like the Sinir¡¯s house. And when facing Grandma


    Sybil, she would have been even more cautious.


    Lysander¡¯s handsome face darkened, a chilling anger emanating from him as he hung up the phone.


    Thssa was left with a dial tone. All the words she wanted to say stuck in her throat, unable to be


    voiced.


    Lysander¡¯s attitude had be so cold that he wouldn¡¯t even speak to her.


    What was she to do?


    Lysander hung up the phone, exhaling a breath filled with anger.


    The hem of his pants was gently pulled.


    He looked down to see Sophia¡¯s innocent face, her wide, frightened eyes looking up at him.


    ¡°Daddy, did I do something wrong? Why did the police take Evelyn away after she hugged me? Where


    did Great-Grandma go after she fell? I miss Mommy¡­¡±


    Sophia started strong, but as she continued speaking, she couldn¡¯t hold back her tears. Her lips


    trembled as she tried to hold back her sobs.


    Seeing her so vulnerable, Lysander felt a pang in his heart. He bent down, lifting her tiny frame into his


    arms, gently wiping away her tears with his thumb.


    ¡°You did nothing wrong, Sophia. It¡¯s the adults who are at fault. y with your siblings in the yroom


    for a while. Then it¡¯s bath time and bed. Don¡¯t overthink things, okay?¡± Lysander¡¯s voice was soft and


    But his words didn¡¯t seem to have any effect.


    Sophia was a clever girl, sensitive and timid, always clinging to her mother. The sight of the police


    taking Evelyn away from the Sinir¡¯s house had scared her, leaving her unable to calm down.


    Content is ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org.


    Sophia sobbed, ¡°I don¡¯t want to sleep here. I want Mommy¡­

 Chapter 624

    Chapter 624


    Lysander looked down at the tiny figure of Sophia cradled in his arms. She was crying, her sobs tiny, as


    if she was afraid to make too much noise. Her eyes were filled with tears that slipped down her cheeks


    in a slow, steady stream.


    Sophia¡¯s vulnerability tugged at Lysander¡¯s heartstrings, making it feel as if something was tightening


    around his chest and making it hard for him to breathe. She was his daughter. She should have been


    bold and vivacious, not timid and afraid.


    It dawned on him then that the absence of his presence in the past four years must have hurt his


    children more than he could have realized.


    As Lysander cradled Sophia, the other three little bundles of joy came tumbling down the stairs, their


    movements awkward and unsteady as if they might roll down the stairs at any moment..


    The household staff stood by, ready to assist at a moment¡¯s notice.


    Once they reached the bottom, they scampered towards Lysander, their short legs wobbling like tiny


    penguins.


    Elowen, with her chubby little arms, clung to Lysander¡¯s leg, her rounded face tilted upwards, her little


    mouth pouting as she said in a soft voice, ¡°Daddy, I miss Mommy too.¡±


    ¡°I want Mommy too,¡± Dorian dered, standing by Lysander¡¯s feet, his innocent eyes filled with


    sadness.


    ¡°Yes, we all want Mommy,¡± Atticus chimed in, his adorable face serious.


    Surrounded by his children, with Sophia still sobbing in his arms, Lysander fidgeted, then instructed


    one of the servants, ¡°Call the gatehouse and let her in.¡±


    Thssa, who had been anxiously waiting at the gate, was suddenly informed that she was allowed to


    enter. She hurried towards the Sinir¡¯s house.


    There, in the living room, the four children were gathered around Lysander, their little faces filled with


    sadness, pleading with him.


    As Thssa walked in, the children turned towards the door, their eyes lighting up like stars as they


    saw her. Their faces bloomed into smiles as they raced towards her.


    ¡°Mommy!¡± they chorused.


    Their innocent voices pierced Thssa¡¯s heart, healing her anxiety and nervousness.


    A fond smile spread across Thssa¡¯s face as she crouched down, opening her arms to wee her


    little ones.


    As the four children raced into her arms, their momentum caused Thssa to stumble backward. She


    ended up on the floor, her arms full of her


    children.


    Elowen¡¯s chubby face was pressed against hers, her arms wrapped tightly around Thssa¡¯s head,


    securing her ce.


    ¡°Mommy, I missed you so much. I want a hug.¡±


    ¡°All right, sweetheart. Hugs for everyone,¡± Thssa managed, her voice muffled by Elowen¡¯s hold.


    Sophia clung to Thssa¡¯s arm, her face burrowed into her armpit, a picture of contentment and


    happiness.


    ¡°Mommy, um¡­¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s all right, Sophia. Mommy¡¯s here. Don¡¯t cry.¡±


    Dorian hugged Thssa¡¯s other arm, trying to stand up and pull her up, but his strength was not


    enough.


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    ¡°Mommy, I¡¯ll pull you up.¡±


    Atticus, who had rolled to Thssa¡¯s feet, quickly got up and ran over to Dorian, joining him in trying to


    lift Thssa. Then the two brothers pulled together to help their mother.

 Chapter 625

    Chapter 625


    Thssa was exerting all her strength to get up from the floor, but it was a futile endeavor with Elowen


    sprawled out on her face and Sophia clutching onto her arm like a ko to a tree.


    With two little tykes clinging to her and her body refusing to cooperate, she tried twice but couldn¡¯t


    manage to lift herself off the ground.


    Suddenly, a firm hand supported the back of her head. With just a slight nudge, Lysander, their


    formidable leader, lifted Thssa¡¯s head and body from the floor.


    Elowen slid off Thssa¡¯s face to sit on her stomach, while Sophia rolled off to the side, maintaining


    her grip on Thssa¡¯s arm. The scene was undeniably adorable.


    Finally able to breathe, Thssa took in arge gulp of air. Before she could fully recover, she felt a


    powerful presence behind her. Her breathing hitched, and her heart pounded in her chest.


    Without even turning around, she knew who it was.


    Who else but Lysander could possess such strength and amanding aura?


    Thssa got up, still holding Elowen and Sophia, feeling both tense and wary. She didn¡¯t look back but


    focused on her children, saying softly, ¡°Let¡¯s go sit on the couch. Mommy wants to talk to you, okay?¡±


    ¡°Yeah, okay, I want to talk to Mommy too,¡± Elowen agreed, her chubby hand tightly gripping one of


    Thssa¡¯s fingers, her big eyes twinkling.


    ¡°Okay¡­¡± Sophia said weakly, blinking back tears of longing for her mother.


    Dorian and Atticus had already obediently taken their seats on the couch.


    Thssa, tense and avoiding eye contact with Lysander, walked to the couch with the two girls and sat


    down. The children surrounded her, providing a protective barrier.


    Thssa looked at her four adorable children, pulling Sophia onto herp and facing her. Looking into


    Sophia¡¯s eyes, she asked gently, ¡°Sophia, was it your grandma, Evelyn, who brought you here today?¡±


    Elowen piped up, ¡°Evelyn and Great-granny came for us.¡±


    Dorian nodded, ¡°Yeah.¡±


    ¡°They were talking, so we went upstairs to y. But then Great-granny fainted, and the police took


    away Evelyn,¡± Atticus added, his little face full of sadness.


    Thssa asked, ¡°Did any of you see what happened when Great-granny fainted?¡±


    Since Evelyn was the one who had gone to help Sophia when she fell, it suggested the children had


    witnessed the incident. They could provide valuable insight.


    The Sinir¡¯s house had no surveince cameras, so what had transpired could only be corroborated


    by those present.


    ¡°I fell¡­¡± Sophia mumbled, tears welling up in her eyes.


    ¡°And then?¡± Thssa prompted gently, her gaze soft and encouraging.


    ¡°Enough!¡± Lysander marched over and snatched Sophia from Thssa¡¯s arms. His handsome face


    was icy, his eyes cold and intimidating.


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    ¡°Interrogating a child! Is this why you insisted oning here?¡± Lysander ground out, anger burning in


    his eyes.


    Thssa tried to exin, ¡°I¡¯m not interrogating her. Sophia¡¯s behavior is off. She doesn¡¯t usually cry


    this easily¡­¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t make excuses! Your whole family, not a single one of you, is decent!¡± Lysander snapped, his


    face dark, his voice devoid of any warmth, full of anger and hatred.


    ¡°I¡­¡± Thssa was about to respond when Zephyr, looking as mncholy as ever, entered from the


    doorway.

 Chapter 626

    Chapter 626


    Zephyr just finished taking care of Grandma Sybil¡¯s body.


    His expression was sorrowful. His once tall and majestic figure seemed to have aged overnight. He


    looked more like a frail old man, burdered by grief.


    His eyes, clouded with pain, fell on Thssa, who was seated on the couch. A sh of anger crossed


    his face, but he managed to suppress it, given the presence of his kids. He approached them, his


    expression stern.


    He addressed Lysander, ¡°Lysander, take the kids out to the yard for a while. I need to talk to Ms.


    Everhart alone.¡±


    Lysander¡¯s deep gaze lingered on Thssa for a moment. He carried Elowen in one arm while


    reaching out to hold her hand with the other, ¡°I¡¯ll take you guys to y some catch in the yard.¡±


    Elowen quickly pulled her hand away, diving into Thssa¡¯s arms, ¡°I don¡¯t want to y catch. I want to


    be with Mom.¡±


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    Her father had just yelled at her mother, and it scared her.


    She didn¡¯t want her dad. She wanted her mom.


    Dorian and Atticus stood close to Thssa, unwilling to leave. Not only were they clinging to Thssa,


    but they were also trying to protect her, to defend her.


    Sophia, held in Lysander¡¯s arms, was so scared she couldn¡¯t move or even cry.


    Thssa felt the children¡¯s fear andck of security.


    It brought tears to her eyes. She was so useless that not only could she not protect her children, but


    her children had to protect her. They also had to worry for her.


    She gave the children a gentle, loving smile, ¡°You go y with your dad first. Mom needs to talk to your


    great-grandpa for a bit. I¡¯lle y with you soon, okay?¡±


    ¡°But, talking is scary. Great-grandma and Evelyn talked, and they were taken away. I don¡¯t want mom


    to be taken away,¡± Elowen clung to Thssa tightly.


    Thssa could feel Elowen¡¯s fear, as if the moment she let go, she would have been in danger.


    Thssa felt both heartbroken and warmed. She stroked Elowen¡¯s head, ¡°That won¡¯t happen. Mom


    promises toe y with you in a bit, okay?¡±


    Atticus was the first to stand, heading outside.


    Every time their mother wanted them to behave, she would say ¡°okay,¡± showing that she really hoped


    they would do as she said.


    Atticus wanted to be a child who could make his mother feel at ease. He didn¡¯t want her to worry.


    Seeing Atticus leave, Dorian followed.


    Elowen, seeing her brothers leaving, reluctantly let go of Thssa¡¯s hand, ¡°See you in a bit, Mom.¡±


    ¡°See you in a bit.¡±


    The little girl climbed down from the couch and followed her brothers out.


    Lysander¡¯s deep gaze swept over Thssa before he left with Sophia.


    Once the children were gone, Zephyr¡¯s face instantly turned stern. His eyes fixed on Thssa, ¡°You


    wanted evidence, right? Robert,e out and tell her what happened!¡±


    Robert, the servant, stepped forward with his head bowed, nervously saying, ¡°I was cleaning


    downstairs today, and I identally overheard the conversation between Evelyn and Sybil.¡±


    Thssa turned to look at Robert.


    Robert continued, ¡°Evelyn said that her daughter had given birth to four children for Lysander. Logically,


    Lysander should marry her daughter. Otherwise, the children would be motherless. There¡¯s an old


    saying, ¡®A stepmother never loves the children.¡¯ If Lysander marries a stepmother for the children, it¡¯s


    the children who will suffer.¡±


    Upon hearing Robert¡¯s words, Thssa¡¯s eyebrows furrowed slightly. Indeed, that sounded like


    something Evelyn would say.

 Chapter 627

    Chapter 627


    She didn¡¯t respond, her gaze fixed on Robert, waiting for him to continue.


    Robert carefully nced at Zephyr, noting his stern expression. All his anger was directed at Thssa.


    Emboldened, Robert continued, ¡°Sybil was kind, always maintaining her smile, nodding gently at


    Evelyn¡¯s words. In the end, Evelyn proposed discussing Lysander¡¯s marriage to her daughter with


    Sybil. But Sybil, looking troubled, said she couldn¡¯t decide on Lysander¡¯s marriage and that it was up to


    him. This clearly angered Evelyn, who abruptly stood up, pushed Sybil, and raged, ¡®If you can¡¯t decide,


    why did you pretend to be so supportive?¡¯ As she pushed Sybil, Sophia happened to tumble down the


    stairs. She turned to pick up Sophia and didn¡¯t notice Sybil falling.¡±


    At Robert¡¯s words, Thssa tensed up.


    While the first half matched Evelyn¡¯s ount, thetter half differed significantly.


    Evelyn imed she never pushed Grandma Sybil, insisting they only had verbal exchanges and no


    physical contact.


    Thssa voiced her doubts, ¡°If my mother really pushed Grandma Sybil, there would be her


    fingerprints on her. We could just ask the police to check if there were any fingerprints of my mother on


    Grandma Sybil¡­¡±


    ¡°Thssa Everhart!¡± Zephyr called out her name in a deep, angry voice, his pale eyes brimming with


    suppressed rage.


    ¡°My wife is gone! And you still want to disturb her! Can¡¯t you let her rest in peace? What is your true


    intention in trying to marry into the Sinir family?¡± Zephyr¡¯s voice trembled slightly with usation.


    ¡°Grandma Sybil¡¯s death also saddens me, but we can¡¯t wrongly use someone,¡± Thssa argued


    anxiously.


    ¡°Enough!¡± Zephyr snapped, his chest heaving with anger.


    ¡°The truth is right there, yet you continue to deny it! Initially, Lysander said he would consider marrying


    you to give the children apl¨¦te family. But your ambition and your mother¡¯s are too great, resorting


    to any means necessary. People like you will never be weed into the Sinir family!¡± Zephyr


    This is the property of N?-velDrama.Org.


    red at Thssa.


    That day in the study, after Zephyr realized he had misunderstood Thssa, he asked Lysander if he


    would consider marrying her.


    Lysander responded that he would consider it.


    In order to fulfill Lysander¡¯s words, Zephyr decided to investigate the truth about the Sinir group¡¯s


    design scheme. He wanted to find, find out if it was indeed Faye who betrayed the project to others and


    framed Thssa.


    If that had been true, there would have been no need to have any further rtions with her family.


    Once he found out that Faye had indeed been behind everything, he was relieved and prepared to


    persuade Lysander to marry Thssa and provide aplete family for their children.


    But on his way back, he received the news of Sybil¡¯s incident.


    The person responsible for Sybil¡¯s ident was Thssa¡¯s mother.


    Zephyr could never forgive that.


    A jolt went through Thssa¡¯s heart.


    Lysander said he would consider marrying her?


    She had never hoped for a future with Lysander.


    ¡°Zephyr, I beg you to investigate further. Maybe Robert was mistaken¡­ Thssa tried to argue for a


    chance to uncover the truth.


    ¡°Leave, leave the Sinir family. You¡¯re not wee here!¡± Zephyr pointed to the door, his eyes sharp


    and his face dark with rage.


    ¡°Mommy!¡± At that moment, Sophia ran in, chasing a ball. Startled by Zephyr¡¯s demeanor, she forgot


    about the ball, crying as she ran to Thssa and clung to her leg.


    Thssa lovingly picked her up.


    Climbing into Thssa¡¯s arms, Sophia muttered, ¡°Mommy, it was the couch that tripped Great-


    grandma, not Evelyn. Daddy is scary. Great-grandpa is scary. I want Evelyn,¡± she whimpered,

 Chapter 628

    Chapter 628


    Hearing Sophia¡¯s words, Thssa visibly shuddered, turning excitedly towards Zephyr. ¡°Zephyr, did


    you hear that? Sophia said that Grandma Sybil tripped over the couch¡­¡±


    Zephyr¡¯s eyes, murky with rage, red at her. ¡°What did you say to Sophia to make her say such a


    thing?¡±


    Thssa was taken aback, shocked, and incredulous.


    Did Zephyr think that she had coached Sophia?


    She hadn¡¯t told her to say anything. She was just asking her questions.


    She knew her own child best. Although Sophia was usually timid and the smallest of all the kids, she


    never cried without reason.


    Either she was scared, or she was hiding something and too afraid to speak up.


    Just as she was about to exin, Lysander strode into the room. His presence was chilling and


    intimidating. The air around him seemed to drop in temperature.


    Thssa¡¯s heartbeat seemed to halt at the gust of wind that Lysander¡¯s entrance stirred up.


    She watched him anxiously, her heart pounding as his tall figure quickly approached.


    ¡°Lysander, I¡­¡±


    Before she could finish, Sophia was lifted from her arms.


    Lysander¡¯s face was cold. ¡°The driver is waiting for you outside.¡±


    He wanted her to leave.


    Thssa was getting more and more anxious. Forgetting her nervousness, she spoke. ¡°Sophia just


    said that Grandma Sybil tripped over the couch. Robert clearly lied¡­¡±


    Robert fell to his knees with a thud, trembling, panic-stricken. ¡°Zephyr, Lysander, I didn¡¯t lie. I really


    didn¡¯t. Children¡¯s memories can be chaotic. I¡¯m an adult. I wouldn¡¯t misinterpret, and I wouldn¡¯t lie¡­¡±


    ¡°Sophia¡¯s memory isn¡¯t chaotic¡­¡± Thssa tried to exin quickly, but her words faltered under


    Lysander¡¯s piercing, icy gaze.


    His stare was as sharp as an ice sword, capable of piercing her heart


    Stunned, Thssa¡¯s words got stuck in her throat, frozen in ce.


    The way he looked at her made her heart sink.


    ¡°I¡¯ll give you ten seconds!¡± Lysander¡¯s voice was as cold as an arctic wind.


    Thssa saw the sharpness in his eyes, sending chills down her spine.


    Her lips quivered, ¡°I¡¯ll leave, I¡¯ll leave right now.¡±


    SF F F I GV DE VI


    She quickened her pace towards the door, then stopped suddenly. Turning back, tears welling in her


    eyes, she looked at Lysander. ¡°Sophia has an exceptional memory, far exceeding that of an average


    person. She wouldn¡¯t get confused. I didn¡¯t coach her to say anything. Please, consider the feelings of


    the children when you¡¯re angry. They¡¯re still young, and they¡¯re scared. Don¡¯t lose your temper in front


    of them.¡±


    As she spoke, her heart ached, looking at Sophia, who was stiff in Lysander¡¯s arms, too scared to cry,


    biting her lip, sobbing quietly.


    If she left then, how would Sophia, already so timid, cope? She couldn¡¯t bear to leave her child.


    But Lysander and Zephyr wouldn¡¯t amodate her.


    ¡°Can I take Sophia with me today? She¡¯s really scared, I¡¯m worried about her¡­¡± Even in such


    circumstances, she couldn¡¯t just leave. Even if Lysander treated her coldly, and even if Zephyr wanted


    her gone, she couldn¡¯t abandon her child.


    ¡°Mommy, I want Mommy¡­¡± Sophia, hearing Thssa¡¯s request to take her, stretched out her small


    arms towards her mother, wanting to be held and leave with her.


    Just as Thssa was about to pick her up, Lysander caught Sophia¡¯s outstretched hand, pulling it back


    and holding her securely. His icy


    gaze turned to Thssa. ¡°You don¡¯t have the right to take any child away! You have five seconds left!¡±


    Thssa froze.


    Content property of N?velDra/ma.Org.


    Lysander¡¯s icy stare was a direct hit to her heart.

 Chapter 629

    Chapter 629


    Lysander¡¯s mind was set, and there was no way she could sway him. Staying would have only inflicted


    more pain on Sophia.


    If she had left, Lysander would have at leastforted Sophia.


    If she had stayed, Lysander would have only been more cold-hearted.


    Thssa choked back her tears, ¡°I¡¯ll leave immediately. Please take care of Sophia. Don¡¯t be harsh.¡±


    She looked at the timid Sophia onest time, her heart aching. With a heavy heart, she walked away.


    In the yard, the other three children were nowhere to be seen. They had been taken by the


    housekeepers to y further afield, enjoying a lively game of ser, oblivious to the happenings back


    at home.


    Thssa quickly got into the car, fearing the kids would see her departure and chase after her, causing


    her more pain.


    If forcibly separated, the children would cry out until they were hoarse.


    She didn¡¯t want to see the children in tears. Leaving quietly while they were happily ying seemed the


    best option.


    The car pulled away from the Sinir¡¯s house.


    Inside the house, Sophia, cradled in Lysander¡¯s arms, watched as Thssa left. She bit her lower lip


    as tears welled up, her shoulders shaking from crying. She was too scared to call out for her mother,


    too scared even to say she needed her.


    For her, being held by someone she found terrifying, she didn¡¯t dare to move.


    Lysander handed her a tissue, wiping away her tears, ¡°No more crying. I¡¯ll take you to pick some


    antiques. Take as many as you want.¡±


    Sophia continued to sob. Even the mention of her favorite antiques couldn¡¯t console her.


    She yearned for her mother, but her mother had left.


    Inside the car, Thssa wiped away her tears, the memory of Sophia¡¯s frightened and timid face


    causing her heart to wrench.


    Could she see her children in the future?


    Lysander¡¯s firm attitude suggested she wouldn¡¯t be allowed to see her children again.


    Why didn¡¯t Lysander and Zephyr believe her about Grandma Sybil¡¯s ident? Why didn¡¯t they believe


    Sophia?


    Why did Robert lie?


    Although Thssa now understood what had happened, Zephyr didn¡¯t want the police to check


    fingerprints on Grandma Sybil. Everyone thought Sophia¡¯s words were just children¡¯s talk and they


    were not worth taking seriously¡­


    Were they using Evelyn of killing Grandma Sybil and nning on ming Evelyn?


    Thssa felt bewildered, unsure of what to do next.


    Upon returning to Vibrant Oasis Residences, she saw a woman standing at the entrance. Thssa


    paused for a moment. ¡°Thssa, you¡¯re finally back. I¡¯ve been waiting for you for an hour.¡± The woman


    walked up, warmly taking Thssa¡¯s arm.


    Thssa finally recognized her, ¡°Hertha?¡±


    ¡°Of course, it¡¯s me. Howe you don¡¯t recognize me, your best friend?¡± Hertha feigned annoyance.


    Thssa looked at her, puzzled, ¡°How did you lose so much weight?¡±


    It was only over a week since they had previously met, but Hertha had lost a significant amount of


    weight. Her cheeks were no longer plump, and her waist was slender.


    Hertha giggled, ¡°ric said he doesn¡¯t like plump women. I spent over a week at a weight loss camp.


    Not too bad, right?¡±


    Hertha twirled, showing off her new figure.


    ¡°You lost weight too quickly,¡± Thssamented.


    Content property of N?velDra/ma.Org.


    ¡°My willpower is strong. Anyway,e with me to the Starhaven Hotel tonight. I heard ric will be at


    an event there. I want to surprise him.¡± Hertha said, beaming.

 Chapter 630

    Chapter 630


    Thssa was down in the dumps and restless, unable to apany her friend Hertha in her pursuit of


    her Prince Charming.


    ¡°Just go by yourself, Hertha. Good luck,¡± she muttered, opening the door to their shared apartment.


    Hertha, trailing after her, asked curiously, ¡°What¡¯s up, Thssa? Did something happen?¡±


    Hertha and Thssa were best friends. They knew each other inside out.


    Hertha noted Thssa¡¯s unusual pallor. She¡¯d been so immersed in her own world that she¡¯d failed to


    check in on her friend. Now, seeing Thssa so disinterested in even going out, she realized


    something was amiss.


    Thssa plopped onto the couch, her eyes darting around aimlessly, lost as to where to start.


    Taking a seat beside her, Hertha nced around the room, asking, ¡°Where¡¯s Evelyn? Did she head


    back to Hollowbrook?¡±


    Mention of Evelyn sent Thssa spiraling further into despair, her eyes welling with tears.


    ¡°Oh my, Thssa darling, what happened? Don¡¯t cry. Tell me what¡¯s wrong, and we¡¯ll sort it out


    together,¡± Herthaforted, pulling her into a tight hug when she noticed Thssa¡¯s tear-stained face.


    ¡°What happened? The kids are with Lysander, right? He said you could visit them anytime. Evelyn too.


    Content rights by N?velDr//ama.Org.


    We need to stay positive for them to grow up healthy and happy,¡± Hertha soothed, patting Thssa¡¯s


    back.


    She thought Thssa was still upset about Lysander taking the kids.


    Thssa collected herself, breaking away from the ¡®hug to wipe her tears. ¡°My mom¡¯s been arrested.


    The Sinir family wants her in prison.¡±


    She knew Robert had been lying, but she didn¡¯t know how to help Evelyn. That was what made her feel


    so helpless.


    Hertha¡¯s eyes widened in shock, ¡°What? How did this happen?¡±


    Thssa ryed the events of the past two days to Hertha.


    ¡°Good heavens, Sybil passed away? Lysander¡¯s grandparents raised him. He must be devastated. And


    he must loathe whoever caused her death,¡± Hertha gasped, her breath hitching.


    Thssa nodded. She felt the same grief, fear, confusion, shock, disbelief.


    ¡°Lysander is heartbroken, and he mes me and my mom. I grieve for Grandma Sybil too, but


    something¡¯s off. We need to find the real culprit to bring justice to Grandma Sybil,¡± Thssa


    murmured.


    Lysander and Zephyr were grieving and blinded by rage.


    Thssa could empathize with their feelings. But if she didn¡¯t find proof of the truth, her mom would


    have been sentenced to prison. Evelyn was already in her fifties. Going to prison would have ruined the


    rest of her life. And Evelyn, being a woman, would have been terrified in such circumstances.


    ¡°From what you¡¯ve told me, Sophia saw Sybil trip over the couch and fall. But Robert insists that Evelyn


    pushed her, causing her to fall. Sophia¡¯s just a kid. She wouldn¡¯t lie. So, the liar must be Robert. Can¡¯t


    we just investigate him?¡± Hertha proposed.


    That was precisely the problem.


    ¡°Zephyr and Lysander firmly believe it¡¯s my mom¡¯s fault. They won¡¯t investigate Robert,¡± Thssa


    sighed.


    ¡°So, what do we do? If Sybil¡¯s body is cremated tomorrow, it¡¯ll be even harder to find evidence,¡± Hertha


    fretted, equally perplexed.


    Thssa looked down, feeling helpless. She was just one person with no one to back her up. How


    could she possibly stand up to the Sinir family and seek the truth?

 Chapter 631

    Chapter 631


    The atmosphere in the room took a somber turn almost instantly.


    Thssa was helpless, while Hertha was racking her brains for a solution.


    Just then, her phone rang. It was her colleague Rose.


    Hertha picked up, listened to what Rose had to say, and her mood instantly lifted. ¡°Really? Alright, I¡¯ll


    be there soon.¡±


    She ended the call and turned to Thssa with newfound hope. ¡°Rose just told me that Payne will be


    at the event at the Starhaven Hotel today.¡±


    Thssa looked puzzled.


    Hertha exined, ¡°Payne is the captain of the Starhaven detective squad. If he¡¯s not the best, no one


    is. If you can convince him to help you with your investigation, he can probably get to the bottom of it in


    a few hours.¡±


    Thssa understood, and she quickly rose to her feet. ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡±


    ¡°Wait a minute,¡± Hertha said, scanning Thssa up and down. ¡°Are you wearing that?¡±


    Thssa was dressed in a white blouse and a ck skirt that reached her knees.


    The typical office look.


    ¡°Is there a problem?¡± she asked.


    ¡°That¡¯s a social event, so everyone will be in evening gowns.¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t have any evening gowns,¡± Thssa admitted. She never had a need for such attire.


    ¡°We¡¯ll just swing by the mall and pick something up. There¡¯s still time, Hertha said, linking arms with


    Thssa and leading her out the


    door


    Content property of N?velDra/ma.Org.


    They quickly picked out gowns and then hurried over to the Starhaven Hotel.


    Entrance to the event required tickets.


    Rose was already waiting for them at the hotel entrance, and she handed the tickets to them upon their


    arrival.


    ¡°I¡¯ve got to go schmooze with my boss, but you two have fun. Good luck, Hertha!¡± Rose gave her a


    thumbs-up and a look of encouragement.


    Hertha looked confident. ¡°Don¡¯t worry; I¡¯ll win over my dream guy. Wait for the good news.¡±


    Rose waved and left.


    Hertha waved back, then held Thssa¡¯s arm and led her towards the event.


    At the entrance, they were handed pens to sign on a wall already filled with numerous signatures.


    Thssa felt a bit awkward, but signed anyway.


    Hertha, on the other hand, signed with a flourish.


    Together, they stepped into the event.


    It was a charity auction, where various items and curios picked up by the attendees were put up for


    auction. Prices were generally low. as the purpose was more forworking than profit-making.


    The attendees, many of whom were well-dressed businessmen and socialites, were engaged in light-


    hearted conversations while sipping on their drinks.


    Hertha guided Thssa through the crowd, scanning the room for the person they were looking for.


    ¡°Thssa, look, that¡¯s Captain Payne,¡± Hertha said excitedly, pointing at a man standing by an antique


    stall not far from them.

 Chapter 632

    Chapter 632


    Thssa followed Hertha¡¯s gaze.)


    The man was tall and muscr, looking like he had been training for years and was in good shape.


    His hair was cut close to the scalp, and his skin was bronzed, clearly a sun-kissed tan.


    But his tan had a rugged, masculine appeal.


    He was talking to an antique dealer.


    Hertha led Thssa towards Payne, but he exuded an aura of stern authority and a sense of


    righteousness that made it hard for anyone to approach him lightly.


    Hertha gave Thssa¡¯s arm a light shake, signaling her to initiate a conversation with Payne.


    Thssa took a deep breath, steeling herself to approach and greet him.


    Captain Payne asked the antique dealer, ¡°Does this antique have the proper paperwork? Recently, a


    tomb was robbed. And a circr pendant was stolen. The picture I saw is quite simr to this one.¡±


    Captain Payne¡¯s tone was as casual as ever, but his aura was intimidating enough to make one¡¯s heart


    pound.


    Particrly, his words sent a shock of surprise across the antique dealer¡¯s face.


    However, the dealer quicklyposed himself and assured, ¡°Captain Payne, this antique has all the


    necessary paperwork. See for yourself. It¡¯s definitely not stolen. If you¡¯re interested in buying, I hope


    you will keep me in your good graces.¡±


    Captain Payne took the paperwork into his own hands, scrutinized it, then put it down, saying, ¡°I¡¯m not


    interested. Good luck selling it.¡±


    With that, Payne turned around, nearly bumping into Thssa who was approaching.


    Thssa stepped back to avoid physical contact, meeting Payne¡¯s questioning gaze with a smile.


    ¡°Good day, Captain Payne. I saw you here and decided toe over,¡± Thssa greeted, giving a


    friendly nod.


    Hertha, standing beside her, nodded in agreement.


    Payne nced at them both, his expression stern. ¡°What can I do for you?¡±


    ¡°Captain Payne, I have a case and I need your help to investigate. I have a clear understanding of the


    case but I need solid evidence,¡± Thssa stated, cutting straight to the point.


    There was no need for pretenses with a righteous and powerful officer like Payne.


    ¡°Go ahead,¡± Payne responded. He was ustomed to people seeking his help for justice.


    Just as Thssa was about to speak, she noticed the crowd around them, including the curious gaze


    of the antique dealer.


    ¡°Captain Payne, let¡¯s move somewhere quieter, like over there,¡± she suggested, pointing to a small


    table in a quieter corner.


    Payne, understanding her need for discretion, agreed and led the way.


    Thssa, her hand gripping Hertha¡¯s, felt more confident with her friend by her side and followed


    Payne.


    Hertha was happy to apany her, but then she caught sight of a familiar figure.


    ric!


    He was at the buffet with a wicked and flirtatious grin on his face. A woman, dressed provocatively and


    oozing allure, stood across from him holding a wine ss. They clinked their sses together and took


    a sip.


    This is the property of N?-velDrama.Org.


    The woman¡¯s gaze towards ric was filled with flirtation and seduction.


    At this sight, Hertha was no longer calm.


    ric


    was flirting with another woman!


    She murmured to Thssa, ¡°Thssa, ric is over there. I¡¯ll go deal with him. I believe in you, good


    luck!¡±


    Before Thssa could respond, Hertha had already let go of her hand and was heading towards ric.

 Chapter 633

    Chapter 633


    Thssa took a deep breath to dispel her fear, and followed Payne to the dining table..


    Payne¡¯s eyes, calm and resolute, held a deep intensity as he looked at Thssa, taking the lead in the


    conversation. ¡°What¡¯s the case? Let¡¯s hear it.¡±


    ¡°Captain Payne,¡± Thssa began, ¡°I¡¯ve heard of your integrity andmitment to fairness and justice.


    You¡¯re not swayed by power, nor are you afraid of it. Whenever there¡¯s a case of injustice, you¡¯re there


    to solve it. That¡¯s why I came to you. You would investigate regardless of who is involved, right?¡±


    Thssa didn¡¯t jump straight into the case details. Instead, she was trying to gauge Payne¡¯s stance.


    If she revealed too much too soon and Payne chose not to investigate due to Lysander¡¯s influence, she


    would be left in a worse situation than before.


    Payne chuckled lightly. Her little trick was child¡¯s y in his eyes.


    ¡°I¡¯m not afraid of power, nor do I let it influence me. But my willingness to take on a case depends on


    my mood,¡± Payne replied casually, pouring himself a cup of coffee.


    This is the property of N?-velDrama.Org.


    Thssa frowned subtly. It seemed Payne wasn¡¯t going to be easily persuaded.


    But his fearlessness in the face of power was a good start.


    Thssa thenid out the case, from start to end.


    She ryed every word said by Evelyn, Robert, and Sophia. She didn¡¯t leave out a single detail.


    Payne listened, sipping his coffee with a rxed demeanor.


    When Thssa finished, she looked at Payne anxiously. ¡°This involves the Sinir family, Captain


    Payne. Will you investigate?¡± ¡°Who is involved is not important. What matters is that I¡¯m not interested


    in this case. Besides, it falls under the jurisdiction of the Starhaven Police Department in the south side


    of the city, not mine in the north.¡± Payne¡¯s tone was nonchnt.


    Payne was Thssa¡¯s only hope. If he refused to take this case, she would be lost, unsure of whom to


    turn to.


    ¡°Captain Payne, name your terms. What would it take to pique your interest?¡± Thssa asked


    seriously, looking straight at Payne across the table.


    Payne paused, his gaze drifting over his coffee cup to meet hers. Setting his cup down, he replied


    leisurely, ¡°That depends on what you can offer to make it interesting.¡±


    Thssa hesitated, then asked, ¡°Are you free for a drink tonight, Captain Payne? If I pique your


    interest, will you consider the case?¡±


    ¡°We can give it a shot.¡± Payne¡¯s lips curled up in a faint smile.


    The spark of interest in Thssa¡¯s eyes didn¡¯t escape his notice. He had yet to meet anyone brave


    enough to confront Lysander. She was the first.


    How could he not be intrigued?


    ¡°Good, Thssa nodded firmly. ¡°I¡¯ll get the wine.¡±


    With that, she got up and walked over to the buffet, picked up a bottle of red wine and two wine


    sses, and headed back towards Payne.


    Charlotte was having a drink when she spotted Thssa walking towards Payne with a bottle of wine.


    Seeing Thssa stirred up feelings of jealousy and resentment in Charlotte. She decided to intervene


    and subtly moved towards Thssa.


    Thssa was so focused on making sure Payne would enjoy the wine, in hopes of him taking on her


    mother¡¯s case, that she didn¡¯t notice when someone stepped on the hem of her dress. As she took a


    step forward, she lost her bnce.


    With a gasp, the wine sses and bottle slipped from her hands, shattering on the floor. Thssa was


    about to crash onto the broken pieces when someone suddenly wrapped his hands around her waist


    and pulled her back with a firm grip. She found herself in a man¡¯s


    arms.

 Chapter 634

    Chapter 634


    J


    Thssa was startled, her entire body colliding with the man¡¯s chest.


    His chest was firm, brimming with raw masculine power. Her eyes, wide and panicked, met his stern,


    icy gaze.


    His face was rugged, his skin tanned, radiating a strong masculine allure.


    Thssa¡¯s heart stuttered and she quickly apologized, ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Captain Payne, I didn¡¯t mean to.¡±


    Thssa apologized to Payne, trying to pull away and exit his embrace.


    Suddenly, a surge of overwhelming presence flooded in, the air vibrating with disruption.


    Thssa¡¯s heart skipped a beat, and in the next second, her wrist was seized, with a swift tug, she was


    Content rights by N?velDr//ama.Org.


    pulled out of Payne¡¯s arms.


    Facing Lysander¡¯s deep and cold eyes, Thssa caught her breath, her body stiffening, her legs


    feeling numb as if they weren¡¯t her own. Lysander¡¯s handsome face darkened, his voice cold as ice.


    ¡°What were you doing just now?¡±


    His eyes followed down her face and saw her dress. His gaze was cold and dark with annoyance.


    She was wearing a low-cut evening dress. One could see a glimpse of her curves if they leaned in too


    close.


    And she had just thrown herself into Payne¡¯s arms!


    Thssa panicked, wanting to exin.


    Payne said, his tone casual and nonchnt, ¡°Thisdy is quite interesting, trying to pique my interest in


    a case. You¡¯re interrupting at a rather unfortunate time, Lysander.¡±


    He smiled, and his stern eyes were filled with an ambiguous glint, watching Lysander unblinkingly.


    His words made Thssa more nervous. They were full of ambiguity and could easily lead to


    misunderstandings.


    ¡°No, I was just going to have a drink with Captain Payne¡­¡±


    Thssa¡¯s words were cut short by Lysander¡¯s oppressive gaze. He asked, ¡°Is that so? First step a


    drink, what¡¯s the next step?¡±


    His handsome face looked cold. He gritted his teeth as he finished his words, and let go of Thssa¡¯s


    wrist.


    His deep eyes were filled with resentment and anger.


    ¡°I didn¡¯t think about a next step. I just wanted to convince Captain Payne to take a case¡­¡± Thssa


    hurriedly exined. Lysander¡¯s icy and intimidating aura was making her breathing heavy.


    She wasn¡¯t sure why she felt the need to exin, but she had a gut feeling that if Lysander was angry,


    she would face consequences.


    ¡°Don¡¯t be a nuisance here!¡± Lysander spoke coldly, acting icy and aloof


    Thssa was stunned. Seeing the disdain in his deep eyes, her heart ached involuntarily.


    She realized that all her exnations were futile in front of Lysander.


    And she suddenly realized why exin? Lysander had already pushed her out of his life. He didn¡¯t


    want to see her anymore.


    Who she was with and who she was intimate with, seemed to have nothing to do with him.


    Thssa¡¯s face paled, her eyes lowered, and she quietly stepped back and disappeared from


    Lysander¡¯s sight, not to bother him


    anymore.


    ¡°Lysander, do you know this woman?¡± Payne asked casually, looking at Lysander.


    ¡°Not worth mentioning.¡± Lysander¡¯s voice was cold and low, clearly not wanting to discuss Thssa,


    Payne, however, ignored his dismissive attitude. ¡°If you hadn¡¯t shown up today, I might have gotten


    lucky. You have really bad timing.¡±

 Chapter 635

    Chapter 635


    Lysander¡¯s mysterious eyes, filled with a piercing intensity, swept over Payne. ¡°How many kids do you


    have with your ex-wife?¡±


    Payne was purposely irritating him, trying to get him to reveal his rtionship with Thssa.


    But instead of getting angry, Lysander changed the subject and asked Payne about his children.


    ¡°Two. The brother is two years older than the sister.¡± Payne answered.


    ¡°I have four. Quadruplets! Their mother is the woman you just met!¡± Lysander¡¯s eyes were deep as he


    stared at Payne, not directly bragging, but it was clearly depicted in his expression and words.


    Payne was slightly taken aback, then chuckled, giving Lysander¡¯s shoulder a light pat. ¡°Good for you,


    man. Since she¡¯s the mother of your kids, I can wait a bit longer for her. Who knows, she might be


    your ex-girlfriend.¡±


    ¡°Bugger off!¡± Lysander aimed a kick at him.


    Payne dodged, his face impassive but his words full of teasing, ¡°Lysander, your speed isn¡¯t up to


    scratch. Haven¡¯t practiced in years, have you? How did you end up with quadruplets?¡±


    Lysander¡¯s handsome face became gloomy, staring at Payne. ¡°Meet me in the hotel¡¯s coffee room. We


    need to talk.¡±


    He strode towards the coffee room, Payne following him with a slight smile.


    Standing by the buffet table, Thssa watched as Lysander and Payne left, feeling a bit lost. So


    Lysander and Payne knew each other.


    And they seemed to be quite close.


    No wonder Payne seemed so nonchnt when she was discussing the case with him earlier. As if he


    had no interest in it at all.


    He even said he wasn¡¯t afraid of Lysander¡¯s power, but that he was just uninterested.


    So the two were good friends. How could he possibly help an outsider against his own friend?


    Thssa had been hoping to get Payne in good spirits by offering him a drink, thinking he might agree


    to take on the case if he was in a good mood.


    But now it seemed like a joke. He had made up his mind from the beginning.


    Thssa felt instantly defeated, her spirits crushed.


    Not far away at a table, Hertha was sitting across from ric and another woman.


    Her eyes filled with hostility as she looked at the woman sitting next to ric, forcing a smile. ¡°What


    gave you the nerve to sit next to ric, Georgia?¡±


    She recognized this woman. It was the same arrogant heiress she had encountered at the hotel!


    Georgia, annoyed by Hertha¡¯s words, was about tosh out when she had a change of heart. Instead,


    she took ric¡¯s hand, her smile full of defiance as she met Hertha¡¯s gaze, ¡°We¡¯re about to get


    engaged. That¡¯s what gave me the nerve. As for you, you¡¯re just a stray. Mr. Falconer will get tired of


    you soon.¡±


    Hertha¡¯s eyes widened in shock, looking at Georgia holding ric¡¯s hand, then at ric.


    He didn¡¯t resist, his eyes examining Hertha.


    Hertha became instantly unsettled, yanking Georgia¡¯s hand away, ¡°Let go! ric can¡¯t stand you. How


    could he possibly get engaged to you? You¡¯re delusional! I won¡¯t fall for your tricks!¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re so rude!¡± Georgia snarled at Hertha.


    ¡°I¡¯m the heiress of the Reed Group. Isn¡¯t it normal for me to get engaged to him for a family alliance?


    Who are you to judge?¡± Georgia, being spoiled and entitled, couldn¡¯t stand being criticized.


    She could tolerate it for a moment, but that was her limit. Now, she had to make Hertha lose dignity.


    Hertha, enraged, stood up abruptly, and crossed her arms, ring at Georgia, ¡°If I¡¯m a stray, then


    This is the property of N?-velDrama.Org.


    you¡¯re even less! You¡¯re the delusional


    one!¡±

 Chapter 636

    Chapter 636


    Georgia was not one to be outdone. She rose and retorted to Hertha, ¡°You¡¯re the one who¡¯s full of


    herself! Do you think losing some weight and wearing a cheap dress makes you worthy of ric? I¡¯m


    his match. We¡¯re both from reputable families and equally attractive. We¡¯re the perfect match!¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re full of crap!¡± Hertha retorted confidently with her waist crossed, ¡°Look at you, so skinny! Do you


    think a few jewelries and expensive clothes can salvage your grace? You¡¯re so frail you¡¯re practically a


    skeleton! What man would want you? Men prefer women like me, slim but with a bit to hold onto!¡±


    Georgia was left speechless, her chest heaving with fury. No one had ever pinpointed her insecurities


    so urately before.


    And because those were her insecurities, it stung all the more when they wereid bare. She was left


    angry and helpless.


    Georgia pointed a trembling finger at Hertha, unable to say a single word.


    Hertha held her head high, confronting Georgia with an air of defiance.


    Meanwhile, ric sat in his seat with a faint smile as he watched the two women argue. His eyes never


    left Hertha.


    Both women were arguing over him, fighting for his attention. It was quite ttering and a testament to


    his charm.


    Property of N?)(velDr(a)ma.Org.


    Seeing that she couldn¡¯t win the argument, Georgia clung to ric¡¯s arm, attempting to pull him up as


    she whined, ¡°Mr. Falconer, stand up and say something. Tell her that I¡¯m your fianc¨¦e and she¡¯s just a


    home-wrecker!¡±


    Hertha looked at ric anxiously, her round eyes filled with trepidation.


    She had won over Georgia, but if ric were to confirm his engagement with Georgia, her victory


    woulde crashing down.


    ric, however, broke Georgia¡¯s fingers off his arm. His eyes twinkled mischievously as he said, ¡°Let¡¯s


    get one thing straight. Stop parading around as my fianc¨¦e. I¡¯m not engaged to you, and I have no


    intention of marrying you.¡±


    Upon hearing ric¡¯s words, Hertha¡¯s heart nearly soared with joy. Her eyes shone with happiness.


    Georgia was on the verge of tears. ¡°Then why did you agree to bring me here and apany me all


    this while?¡±


    ¡°Your father practically handed you over to me, expecting me to take good care of you and to ensure


    your safe return. Though I didn¡¯t agree with any of it, it¡¯s a man¡¯s duty to protect women. Don¡¯t you


    understand?¡± ric replied.


    Left stunned, Georgia began to sob like a child, drawing the attention of those around them.


    ric, fearing the embarrassment, whispered to Georgia, ¡°Stop crying. You¡¯re not a child anymore.


    Have some dignity.¡±


    Georgia, however, clung onto ric again, petntly dering, ¡°I don¡¯t care. I want to cry. You¡¯re mine,


    and only mine!¡±


    Hertha wasn¡¯t happy about it. She stepped forward, pulled Georgia¡¯s hand away from ric, and hid


    him behind her. ¡°He¡¯s the man I¡¯ve chosen. He¡¯s mine, and only mine! Don¡¯t get it twisted!¡±


    ¡°You¡­¡±


    1


    ¡°Just go back to being your little daddy¡¯s girl. Goodbye and take care,¡± Hertha said with a triumphant


    grin.


    Georgia stomped her foot in frustration and ran out of the venue, crying.


    ric, however, was concerned and attempted to go after her.


    Hertha held him back. ¡°Where do you think you¡¯re going?¡±


    ric¡¯s handsome face turned serious as he shrugged off Hertha¡¯s hand. ¡°Enough games. I promised


    her father I¡¯d see her home safe.¡±

 Chapter 637

    Chapter 637


    With those words, he swiftly turned and went out.


    As Hertha watched his hurried figure receding, a bitter taste spread in her heart. It was a feeling of


    resentment and disappointment.


    Sure, she had won over Georgia, but ric hadn¡¯t acknowledged a rtionship with her. In the end,


    she was nothing more than a shield for him to reject Georgia.


    ¡°Don¡¯t beat yourself up. You were amazing just now. I wish I had your fierce spirit,¡± Thssa said,


    having witnessed the whole thing between Hertha and Georgia.


    Thssa had been ready to step in and help Hertha, but seeing how well Hertha handled the situation,


    Content rights by N?velDr//ama.Org.


    she decided to simply observe, ready to jump in if needed.


    Hertha truly was awesome. She didn¡¯t need anyone¡¯s help.


    Thssa felt invigorated just watching Hertha.


    Startled from her thoughts, Hertha turned to Thssa with her big and round eyes filled with


    mncholy, and asked, ¡°Do you think ric would ever like me?¡±


    ¡°He didn¡¯t reject you, did he?¡± Thssa responded.


    Hertha¡¯s eyes lit up at that, her spirits lifted. ¡°You¡¯re right, he didn¡¯t reject me. That¡¯s the best start I


    could hope for! There¡¯s a chance he might ept me. Thssa, you¡¯re my lucky charm, cheering me


    up.¡±


    In her joy, Hertha yfully pinched Thssa¡¯s cheek.


    Thssa quickly removed Hertha¡¯s hand. ¡°Good thing I didn¡¯t put on makeup, or you¡¯d have smeared it


    all over!¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re already so beautiful without makeup. How can others live if you put it on?¡± Hertha joked.


    ¡°Oh, by the way, how did your talk with Captain Payne go?¡± Hertha asked, having been too busy with


    her own battle to pay attention to Thssa.


    Thssa shook her head and said, ¡°Lysander showed up. He and Captain Payne are good friends.¡±


    Hertha was dumbstruck. It meant Thssa¡¯s efforts were in vain.


    She patted Thssa¡¯s shoulder,forting her, ¡°It¡¯s alright; we¡¯ll find another way.¡±


    ¡°We should go. If Lysander sees me here when hees out, he¡¯ll get mad. I don¡¯t want to drag you


    into this.¡± Thssa suggested.


    ¡°I¡¯m not afraid of getting involved. I just don¡¯t want him to bully you. Let¡¯s go,¡± Hertha grabbed


    Thssa¡¯s hand and quickly left the venue.


    She came today for ric. Now that he was gone, there was no reason for her to stay.


    In the lounge, Lysander and Payne sat face to face. Payne sipped his coffee leisurely. ¡°A child under


    five can¡¯t testify in court. But a child¡¯s words aren¡¯t without reason. Lysander. what¡¯s your take?¡±


    A child¡¯s words couldn¡¯t be used as evidence. But there was no smoke without fire. There had to be a


    basis for what they said.


    Lysander paused, looking deeply at Payne. ¡°That¡¯s why I wanted to talk to you.¡±


    ¡°Oh? You¡¯ve noticed the peculiarities too?¡± Payne asked.


    ¡°My grandfather refuses to ept the investigation. He trusts Robert, as he¡¯s been working at the


    Sinir¡¯s house for over a decade. He¡¯s diligent and honest, and hasn¡¯t made any mistakes in all these


    years,¡± Lysander exined.


    ¡°It¡¯s easy. Just investigate without your grandfather¡¯s knowledge,¡± Payne suggested, ¡°I agree with what


    Ms. Everhart said. Only by finding the true culprit behind Sybil¡¯s death can we truly rest her spirit.


    Otherwise, not only will an innocent person be med, but Sybil¡¯s soul won¡¯t rest in peace.¡±

 Chapter 638

    Chapter 638


    Lysander¡¯s pouring of coffee paused, his eyes shifting over to Payne. ¡°If we¡¯re to find the most


    Evelyn¡¯s fingerprints on it. My grandfather has a guy guarding her remains. He wouldn¡¯t let anyone get


    near.¡±


    His words were a silent agreement to let Payne investigate.


    Payne studied him, his gaze thoughtful. ¡°I mean, she bore you four kids. I knew you can¡¯t be that


    heartless.¡±


    At these words, a cold aura radiated from Lysander, his eyes coolly sweeping Payne. ¡°I¡¯m doing this for


    my grandmother.¡±


    Payne chuckled, ¡°Okay, okay, it¡¯s for your grandmother. Actually, we don¡¯t need to touch your


    grandmother¡¯s remains. I just need her clothes from the day of the incident would do.¡±


    Lysander took a sip of his coffee, and responded with a deep voice, ¡°Alright.¡±


    After speaking with Payne, who had to leave for work, Lysander finished his coffee. As he stepped out


    of the caf¨¦, a woman hurriedly blocked his path. She had a heart-shaped face with a sharp chin, big


    eyes, a cute, upturned nose, and a slender, curvaceous figure. She had the typical influencer look, not


    very recognizable among a crowd of pretty


    women.


    Lysander looked at her, displeased.


    ¡°Lysander, it¡¯s me, Charlotte Ravensong. Caleb Ravensong, the CEO of Ravensong Group, is my


    father,¡± Charlotte introduced herself, noticing Lysander¡¯sck of recognition.


    Feeling dejected and upset, she thought about the numerous times they had met, yet he couldn¡¯t


    recognize her. She wondered if she mattered to him at all.


    She was supposed to be his future wife, yet he couldn¡¯t remember her.


    Lysander¡¯s eyes lowered, his intimidating aura filling the air, ¡°What is it?¡±


    Seeing Lysander acknowledge her and engage in conversation, Charlotte¡¯s spirits lifted, her confidence


    restored. ¡°I saw Thssa at the event just now. She was getting chummy with a man. She was about


    to toast with him when she pretended to stumble and fell into his arms. I happened to witness this and


    was disgusted by her behavior.¡±


    As she spoke fervently, she met Lysander¡¯s deep gaze. His eyes were filled with a cold chill that made


    Charlotte¡¯s heart skip a beat.


    Was Lysander angry? Because of Thssa¡¯s actions?


    Charlotte felt a sense of satisfaction. She hoped to reveal Thssa¡¯s true character to Lysander,


    inciting his disgust and prompting him to kick Thssa out.


    ¡°I¡¯ve always felt that Thssa was ying both sides. She¡¯s a flirt, always looking out for the next


    target. The way she lures men is so low, using their sympathy to throw herself at them. Lysander, she


    flirts with every man she sees. She clearly doesn¡¯t respect you.¡±


    ¡°Are you done?¡± Lysander nced at her coldly before striding away.


    Panicking, Charlotte hurried after him. ¡°Lysander, don¡¯t you believe me? Everything I said is true.¡±


    Lysander ignored her.


    Content property of N?velDra/ma.Org.


    Charlotte quickened her pace to keep up with him but no matter what she said, Lysander remained


    indifferent. Defeated and frustrated, she wondered why Lysander still didn¡¯t dislike Thssa even after


    all she had done.


    What was so great about Thssa?

 Chapter 639

    Chapter 639


    As they exited the venue, Lysander was about to get into his car when Charlotte clenched her fists,


    seething with anger. She called out to his retreating figure, ¡°Lysander, if you don¡¯t believe what


    happened back there today, I have more explicit evidence. Actual pictures!¡±


    Charlotte couldn¡¯t wait any longer. She rushed forward, blocking the car door, preventing him from


    getting in.


    Lysander¡¯s sharp gaze fell on her, his aura overpowering and icy.


    Charlotte felt her heart pounding in fear, but she didn¡¯t step back. She feigned calmness, took out her


    smartphone, and brought up the photos.


    Holding the phone up in front of Lysander, she said, ¡°I was at a restaurant that day, and I saw Leopold


    and Thssa in the restroom. Thssa wasn¡¯t resisting; she even seemed to be enjoying it. To avoid


    the photos getting deleted likest time, I didn¡¯t confront them, so I still have the photos. I didn¡¯t want to


    show you, but you didn¡¯t believe me.¡±


    That day at a restaurant, Charlotte was dining with her friends. She noticed Thssa and Ethan had


    alsoe to the restaurant to discuss work with Leopold. Charlotte kept an eye on them, and when


    Thssa went to the restroom, Leopold followed.


    She stealthily followed them, and when she saw them hugging, she quickly hid behind a wall, peeped


    out her smartphone, and took a photo.


    A while back, she had seen Thssa and Leopold at a restaurant, their actions intimate. She took a


    photo, unting it in front of them and threatening to show it to Lysander.


    But Leopold and Thssa teamed up to delete the photos from her phone.


    +


    3


    Content property of N?velDra/ma.Org.


    When she told Lysander about Thssa and Leopold, she was used of ndering Thssa.


    This time, Charlotte was smarter. She showed the photos straight to Lysander.


    With the evidence right in front of him, Lysander surely can¡¯t deny it this time.


    4


    + 4 3


    +


    9


    +


    ar


    A To ¨C


    ¡±


    34


    4


    7


    1


    2


    +


    4


    14 A


    ¡°T


    4


    ¨C


    F


    124 =


    T


    =


    10


    +


    3


    ¨C


    Lysander stared at the phone screen. The photo showed Thssa with her eyes closed, looking sad.


    Her hands were hanging by her side, showing no intention of pushing Leopold away.


    -7


    ¡±


    +


    Leopold was holding her from behind, his cheek against hers, his chin resting on her shoulder, his


    expression regretful and sorrowful.


    The photo was reminiscent of a scene in a TV drama, where two lovers meet after a long separation,


    their excitement at reuniting and the happiness and sadness of their


    embrace.


    Both Thssa¡¯s expression and Leopold¡¯s look of finally holding the woman he loved were like daggers


    to Lysander¡¯s eyes.


    A wave of irritation rose within him. The air around him seemed to freeze, turning icy cold.


    Charlotte was scared, her voice trembling slightly. ¡°Lysander¡­¡±


    ¡°Get out of my sight!¡± Lysander bit out, his voice ice-cold.


    Charlotte¡¯s hand, holding the phone, began to tremble. ¡°Lysander, this is real. It¡¯s not photoshopped¡­¡±


    ¡°Leave!¡± Lysander roared, his voice filled with rage.


    Charlotte¡¯s phone slipped from her hand and fell to the ground. She didn¡¯t have time to pick it up as she


    fled in terror.


    It was too scary. She feared for her life if she stayed even a second longer.


    Charlotte quickly disappeared from Lysander¡¯s sight.


    Lysander picked up the phone from the ground, ncing at the photo again. His aura was chillingly


    intense.


    His eyes were filled with anger. He clenched the phone with his slender fingers until his knuckles turned


    pale.


    The next second, the phone screen shattered, the photo on it tearing apart.


    Both Thssa and Leopold¡¯s faces were obscured by the cracks, their expressions unreadable.

 Chapter 640

    Chapter 640


    Thssa and Hertha returned to Vibrant Oasis Residences.


    Thssa headed straight for the bathroom to take a shower, exchanging her party dress forfy


    pajamas. She neatly folded her gown and put it in a shopping bag.


    Hertha, puzzled by this, asked, ¡°What are you doing? Your dress should be hung in the closet to avoid


    wrinkles.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m going to return it tomorrow. This dress cost me two thousand dors. I don¡¯t have much asion


    to wear it,¡± Thssa exined.


    She had kept the receipt and the tags intact, all for the sake of returning it with ease.


    ¡°Why would you return it? You couldn¡¯t afford to wear expensive clothes before, but now you can. You


    should take advantage of that,¡± Hertha argued.


    The two were best friends, sharing everything with each other and always speaking their minds.


    Whatever they said to each other, they never took it personally, knowing that only a true friend would


    tell each other the truth.


    Thssa replied, ¡°I rarely attend fancy events and the dress would just gather dust in the closet. Over


    time, it would fade and lose its shape. It would be better to return it and let someone else who needs it


    have it. Besides, I¡¯m still living paycheck to paycheck. I need to spend my money wisely. Luxuries like


    this dress aren¡¯t necessary for me.¡±


    Property of N?)(velDr(a)ma.Org.


    ¡°You¡¯re a billionaire now, Thssa. You can afford to splurge a little. Don¡¯t be too hard on yourself. All


    women love to dress up,¡± Hertha insisted, taking the dress out of the bag and insisting she keep it.


    ¡°I gave the billion back to Lysander,¡± Thssa confessed.


    Even though Lysander had given her a credit card, she hadn¡¯t used it. The card had disappeared from


    her bedside table, likely retrieved by Lysander.


    With the billion returned, it felt like a chapter in her life had ended.


    ¡°What? You gave it back to him?¡± Hertha was as shocked as Evelyn had been.


    She pped her forehead and eximed, ¡°Thssa, you really don¡¯t know how to hold onto wealth.


    You¡¯re too honest.¡±


    If it had been anyone else, they would have taken the money and run without looking back. But not


    Thssa. She returned the money to Lysander. And now, she was misunderstood by him and couldn¡¯t


    even see her own children.


    ¡°You¡¯ve lost your money and your children. You ended up with nothing.¡± Herthamented.


    ¡°It¡¯s different. If I kept the billion, it would mean that I willingly gave up my right to see my children, just


    like Lysander said. It bought me out of my own family. Now, even though I can¡¯t see my children for the


    time being, once the truthes out, I can go see them without any guilt,¡± Thssa stated.


    She wouldn¡¯t trade her children for money. What use was money if it cost her love and warmth?


    A thousand dors was plenty for basic needs. And a billion wouldn¡¯t be enough if you had no


    contentment.


    ¡°All right, all right. You¡¯re right. I¡¯ll bag this dress up for you. If you want to return it, then return it,¡±


    Hertha finally conceded.


    Thssa was her best friend because of her integrity. Hertha wouldn¡¯t have it any other way.


    With the dress packed away, Hertha asked, ¡°So, what¡¯s your n now that Captain Payne isn¡¯t an


    option?¡±


    Thssa shook her head and said, ¡°I don¡¯t know.¡±


    ¡°I think you should try to meet with Lysander and exin everything. That might be more productive


    than seeing Captain Payne,¡± Hertha suggested, patting Thssa¡¯s shoulder.


    Hertha might seem careless at times, but she was sharp when it mattered.


    Thssa considered Hertha¡¯s suggestion. She had thought about meeting Lysander privately, but he


    had blocked her number. So she had no way to contact him.

 Chapter 641

    Chapter 641


    ¡°Hertha, are you heading home tonight?¡± Thssa changed the subject, asking herpanion.


    ¡°Let me see. It¡¯s already ten o¡¯clock.¡± Hertha took her phone out to check the time.


    ¡°Why don¡¯t you stay over tonight? The house is empty anyway. Just let your folks know and head


    straight to work from here tomorrow.¡± Thssa suggested.


    She wanted to have a good chat with Hertha.


    It just so happened that Hertha also had a lot to share with Thssa. Without further ado, she called


    her parents to inform them that she wouldn¡¯t be going home that night.


    That evening, Hertha and Thssay side by side on a bed, chatting away.


    After they were done with Thssa¡¯s issue, they moved on to Hertha¡¯s.


    ¡°You know, this is the first time I¡¯ve ever liked a guy this much. Do you understand love at first sight?


    Seeing him and feeling like Cupid¡¯s arrow has pierced my heart, causing an uneasy, throbbing pain,¡±


    Hertha passionately recounted her first encounter with ric.


    Not just the first time. Each time she saw him, her heart would race.


    She had this irresistible urge to be with him.


    She was aware of how crazy she sounded, but she just couldn¡¯t help it. That was the power of love.


    Thssa listened to Hertha¡¯s story, trying to recall if she had ever encountered a man who made her


    heart pound just by his presence.


    As she reminisced, the image of Lysander¡¯s handsome face suddenly appeared in her mind, followed


    by the warm and sunny visage of Leopold.


    The faces of Lysander and Leopold took turns appearing in her head, making her already confused


    mind even more muddled.


    Afraid to delve any deeper into her memories, Thssa shook her head, trying to get rid of the images,


    and said, ¡°I hope you get him soon. It¡¯s midnight now; let¡¯s get some sleep.¡±


    ¡°I will definitely win him over. Let¡¯s go to sleep. It would be perfect if I dream about having sex with


    ric tonight.¡± Herthaid back down, pulled the nket over herself, closed her eyes, and looked


    forward to her dream.


    Thssa was speechless.


    She had never met anyone like Hertha, who wished to dream about such intimate moments with a


    man.


    But Hertha was cheerful, lively, and open-hearted. She said whatever was on her mind, which, despite


    the embarrassment it often caused, also made her quite endearing.


    The next morning, Thssa was awakened by the sound of her phone ringing.


    She picked it up, still half-asleep, and answered, ¡°Hello?¡±


    ¡°Thssa, what time is it? Are you still not at work? Mr. Ethan says we have a meeting at ten.¡± Betty¡¯s


    voice came from the other end.


    Thssa was jolted awake and sat upright, ncing at the time on her phone. It was already twenty


    past nine.


    She was supposed to be at work at nine.


    ¡°I¡¯ll be right there,¡± she hurriedly replied and hung up.


    Seeing Hertha still peacefully asleep with a silly grin on her face and drool trickling down onto the bed,


    Thssa nudged her. ¡°Hertha, wake up. You¡¯re going to bete for work!¡±


    Hertha groggily opened her eyes. Seeing Thssa¡¯s face close to hers, she finally woke up from her


    dream, regretfully saying, ¡°Ah, I was just about to kiss him when you woke me up. Let me sleep a bit


    more, maybe I can continue the dream.¡±


    Content rights by N?velDr//ama.Org.


    She turned over, intending to go back to sleep.


    The dream had been too beautiful; she didn¡¯t want to wake up.

 Chapter 642

    Chapter 642


    Thssa shook her head helplessly, raising her voice, ¡°Dreaming won¡¯t get you anywhere. It¡¯s not


    reality! You need to get up and start earning your keep. Focus on getting ric into your bed. That¡¯s


    being practical.¡±


    Hertha, roused by the noise, mumbled, ¡°Just let me dream. Let me get my thrill.¡±


    ¡°Dreaming about him won¡¯t get you pregnant. ric is too good-looking. Don¡¯t you want to have his


    baby?¡± Thssa yed her trump card, her unique wake-up service.


    Upon hearing this, Hertha sat up, her eyes wide open, charged with energy. She raised her fists in


    determination, ¡°Fight for it. Chase my dream guy. Have his baby, and raise a little dream guy! Let¡¯s go,


    go, go!¡±


    This is the property of N?-velDrama.Org.


    Thssa cheered her on, ¡°Go, go, go!¡±


    The two women scrambled from the bed and rushed into the bathroom to brush their teeth, wash their


    faces, andb their hair as quickly as possible.


    Luckily, both of them had good skin, so they could get by without makeup.


    If they had to put makeup on, that would dy them another hour.


    Hastily finishing up, they rushed out the door. Thssa was about to call a cab when Hertha offered,


    ¡°Don¡¯t bother with a cab. I¡¯ll drive you to work.¡±


    ¡°But it¡¯s out of your way. You¡¯ll bete,¡± Thssa didn¡¯t want to inconvenience Hertha.


    ¡°I¡¯m okay as long as I make it in time for lunch. You¡¯re different. You have a meeting at ten. Don¡¯t you


    want to keep your job?¡±


    Hertha¡¯s job was rtively rxed. She had almost nothing to do in the morning, as long as she


    clocked in sessfully.


    ¡°Alright, once I¡¯ve sorted out my troubles, I¡¯ll treat you to a meal,¡± Thssa agreed as she got into the


    car.


    ¡°That¡¯s a must. We¡¯ll have barbecue and beer,¡± Hertha dered.


    Thssa raced against time, arriving at her office at 9:55. She dashed towards the secretary¡¯s office.


    When entering, she found Ethan sitting at her desk, acting every bit the boss.


    Betty was standing not far from him, looking glum as if she was being reprimanded.


    Seeing this, Thssa suppressed her panting and smiled awkwardly. ¡°Mr. Ethan.¡±


    Ethan nced at her, raised his wrist to check the time and said, ¡°You¡¯re an hourte, so half a day¡¯s


    pay will be deducted. Any objections?¡±


    Thssa quickly shook her head, ¡°None.¡±


    The office rules stated thatteness meant a deduction in pay. Ethan was fair to everyone, which was


    good.


    It would prevent Betty from suspecting any improper rtions between her and Ethan.


    ¡°Be more careful next time.¡± Ethan said before standing up and leaving the office..


    Once Ethan was gone, Thssa rxed and let out a breath.


    Betty warned her sternly, ¡°Quickly prepare your things and head to the meeting room. Don¡¯t bete


    next time. I got a lecture because of you.¡±


    Thssa was confused, ¡°Why were you lectured?¡±.


    Betty exined, ¡°Mr. Ethan said that as the secretary department manager, I¡¯m responsible for my


    subordinates. If anyone makes a mistake, I share the responsibility.¡± Despite her stern expression,


    Thssa could tell that Betty was struggling to hide her delight.


    Thssa quickly congratted her, ¡°Congrattions on your promotion, Betty.¡±


    Even though there were only two of them in the office, Betty¡¯s promotion meant that she was now


    Thssa¡¯s superior.


    Thssa genuinely congratted Betty.


    Betty was highly capable and diligent, and being in her thirties, if she had remained stuck in her


    position with no future prospects, she would have been very anxious.


    Now that she had been promoted, it would at least bring some hope into her life.


    ¡°You always know the right thing to say. Now hurry up.¡± Betty couldn¡¯t help but smile for a moment


    before quickly putting on her stern face again.


    ¡°Sure.¡± Thssa quickly gathered her files and followed Betty to the meeting room.


    The meeting was led by Ethan, discussing the deal to deliver 20,000 phones to Leopold in a week.

 Chapter 643

    Chapter 643


    Under normal circumstances, delivering 20,000 smartphones to Leopold within a week wouldn¡¯t have


    been an issue.


    However, problems arose shortly after signing the contract with Leopold.


    Several factories under the Crawley Group were temporarily shut down for a week due to substandard


    quality control. They had to undergo aplete overhaul and pass the quality inspection before they


    could resume operations.


    Without the factories, it was impossible to produce 20,000 smartphones within a week.


    The solution was to seek external assistance.


    The main agenda of the meeting was to discuss potential strategies for outsourcing.


    The meeting didn¡¯t conclude until midday. Then the staff returned to their work.


    Thssa and Betty went back to the secretarial department.


    As soon as Thssa sat down, Ethan strolled in, tossing a folder onto her desk. ¡°You werete today.


    As a punishment, you can handle this tricky coboration. At 3 p.m., go to the Sinir group. If you


    can¡¯t secure a deal, your monthly sry will be docked.¡±


    ¡°Mr. Ethan, I¡­¡± Thssa began exining.


    Ethan nced at her, interrupting, ¡°Do you have a problem?¡±


    Thssa gulped at the oppressive gaze and the inherent authority Ethanmanded as the boss. She


    shook her head and replied, ¡°No.¡±


    ¡°Good, don¡¯t bete. 3 p.m.,¡± Ethan said and walked out of the secretary¡¯s office.


    Sympathizing with Thssa¡¯s predicament, Betty sent her an encouraging look, saying, ¡°Hang in there.


    This is the property of N?-velDrama.Org.


    You can do it!¡±


    Everyone knew that the Sinir Group¡¯s primary focus wasn¡¯t electronics. They mainly dealt with


    everyday goods, real estate, and supermarkets.


    Electronics were the Sinir Group¡¯s weak point.


    The fact that Ethan was turning to the Sinir Group for help, intending to coborate and produce


    20,000 smartphones within a week, was like trying to sell ab to a monk.


    Moreover, word on the street was that the Sinir Group¡¯s CEO was icy and indifferent, making him


    difficult to work with.


    No wonder Ethan had said it was a tricky coboration.


    Thssa managed a weak smile, ¡°Thanks, Betty.¡±


    At half past two, Thssa set off, and by ten to three, she had arrived at the Sinir Group¡¯s


    headquarters.


    The receptionist greeted her warmly, ¡°Thssa, it¡¯s been a while.¡±


    Thssa nodded with a smile, ¡°Yes, I¡¯m working with a differentpany now and am here to discuss


    coboration. I have an appointment with Mr. Sinir at 3 p.m.¡±


    ¡°Let me check Mr. Sinir¡¯s schedule,¡± the receptionist said, turning to herputer.


    Thssa asked, puzzled, ¡°Isn¡¯t managing Mr. Sinir¡¯s schedule usually the secretary¡¯s job?¡±


    ¡°Yes, but since you left, Mr. Sinir hasn¡¯t hired a new secretary. I¡¯ve had to handle basic secretarial


    duties, and the workload has nearly doubled. I¡¯m exhausted. Ah, here it is. Crawley Electronics has an


    appointment with Mr. Sinir. So you are¡­¡±


    The receptionist peered at Thssa, seeking confirmation.


    Even though they were acquaintances, she had to follow protocol.


    Thssa quickly produced her work ID and said, ¡°I¡¯m Mr. Ethan¡¯s secretary.¡±


    The receptionist nced at Thssa¡¯s ID and said, ¡°Alright, Mr. Sinir is in his office. You can head


    straight up.¡±


    Thssa paused in surprise.


    Lysander was actually in the office. His grandmother had just passed away. Shouldn¡¯t he be at home


    tending to Sybil¡¯s funeral?

 Chapter 644

    Chapter 644


    Thssa took the elevator all the way up to the top floor of the towering skyscraper.


    The elevator doors slid open to reveal David waiting at the entrance.


    Thssa was taken aback. ¡°David, where are you off to?¡±


    Maintaining a professional smile, David answered, ¡°To greet you.¡±


    Thssa instantly understood. It was a tradition at the Sinir Corporation that whenever a guest of


    Mr. Sinir was expected, the secretary would wait by the elevator to wee them. This was a task


    that she used to perform.


    But now, it was David¡¯s responsibility.


    It felt out of ce for David, who was an experienced executive assistant, to be tasked with such a


    small duty. It felt like using a sledgehammer to crack a nut.


    Having David greet her made Thssa feel somewhat embarrassed. ¡°David, why don¡¯t you guys hire a


    secretary?¡±


    ¡°Mr. Sinir hasn¡¯t issued a hiring notice.¡± David replied..


    ¡°So, no more secretaries?¡±


    ¡°It seems so.¡±


    ¡°But why?¡±


    Before he could answer, they arrived at the entrance of the CEO¡¯s office. David politely gestured for


    Thssa to stand in the center of the doorway. He then knocked on the door and announced her


    arrival. ¡°Mr. Sinir, a representative from the Crawley Group is here.¡±


    ¡°Alright.¡± Lysander¡¯s deep and resonant voice echoed from within his office.


    Content property of N?velDra/ma.Org.


    David nodded at Thssa. ¡°Ms. Everhart, you may go in.¡±


    He then left, leaving Thssa and Lysander alone in the vast office.


    Even with the distance between them, Thssa could feel the intimidating aura emanating from


    Lysander. She took a deep breath and slowly made her way in.


    Lysander sat at his desk as his tall figure cast a long shadow on his surroundings. He was engrossed


    in some documents, so he didn¡¯t even nce up as she approached.


    The closer Thssa got, the harder it became for her to breathe. She cautiously made her way to the


    desk and began nervously speaking, ¡°Mr. Sinir, this is the proposal the Crawley Group wishes to


    present to you.¡±


    She carefully ced the documents on the desk, keeping her head bowed, so as to cower away from


    his gaze. She stole a quick nce at him before quickly looking away. Her fear from their previous


    encounter was still fresh in her mind.


    Thssa was so nervous that she could barely speak coherently.


    Lysander continued to focus on his documents, not sparing her a single nce. It was as if she were


    invisible to him.


    Thssa stood by the desk, waiting. Each passing second felt like an eternity, increasing her anxiety to


    sky-high levels. Even though Lysander didn¡¯t say a word or look at her, she felt an overwhelming


    pressure that made her scalp tingle.


    She couldn¡¯t take it anymore. Her palms were getting sweaty.


    ¡°Mr. Sinir, if you¡¯re busy right now, we could schedule¡­¡±


    ¡°Pick up the proposal and read it to me.¡± Lysander interrupted her with his deep voice.


    Thssa was taken aback. She quickly picked up the proposal and started reading from the first page.


    When she finished, she nced at Lysander. She met his alluring, deep-set eyes and felt a wave of


    pressure that seemed to strike at her heart. She stuttered, ¡°Mr. Sinir, do you see any issues?¡±


    ¡°Twenty thousand phones¡­ Was it Leopold¡¯s decision?¡± Lysander¡¯s prating gaze bore into her. His


    sharp eyes were as cold and piercing as a hawk¡¯s.

 Chapter 645

    Chapter 645


    Thssa could feel her entire body tense up under his watchful gaze, making every pore on her skin


    tightened with nervousness.


    ¡°Ye.. yes!¡± She stuttered in response, feeling overwhelmed by his intimidating presence.


    Lysander¡¯s eyes were cold and sharp, and his gaze was prating. He rose from his seat, circling his


    desk, to approach her.


    His powerful aura was like a chilling wind, causing her to instinctively recoil in fear as his steps


    continued to close in on her.


    Thssa took a few quick steps backward, causing her back to hit the wall.


    Lysander¡¯s long arm reached out to her. However, his palm quickly brushed past her ear as his hand


    His gaze was icy and sharp. ¡°Do you want the Crawley Group to make the shipment, or not?¡±


    His handsome face had a stern expression, and his eyes were deep and unreadable, holding her under


    his intense scrutiny.


    The massive pressure he exuded made it hard for Thssa to breathe. She couldn¡¯t read his thoughts,


    nor did she dare answer hastily.


    His question seemed like a trap.


    No matter how she answered, it didn¡¯t seem like she could give the right response.


    Thssa hesitated. Then suddenly, she felt her chin being lifted by his hand. His fingers had a rough


    callus that lightly grazed her skin, sparking a trail of heat on her tender face.


    The sensation made her feel a warmth spreading through her heart, making her face heat up.


    ¡°No answer? Do you want me to find out what you¡¯re thinking myself?¡± Lysander¡¯s voice was low and


    cold, and his gaze was frosty and filled with desire.


    After he spoke, Thssa felt a buzzing in her head. All her rm bells were ringing. She quickly moved


    his hand away, saying anxiously, ¡°I¡¯ll answer, okay?¡±


    ¡°As an employee of the Crawley Group, of course, I hope we can make the shipment. That way, the


    Crawley Group can fulfill the contract on time and won¡¯t have to pay any penalties.¡±


    ¡°Is that so? If the shipment is not made, Leopold will get the penalty payment. Isn¡¯t that better? He


    wouldn¡¯t even need to operate apany to make money.¡± Lysander said as he gazed at her deeply.


    Thssa could feel her heart pounding wildly. Her mind was too panicked to think clearly. ¡°The penalty


    is just a small amount. Once it¡¯s used up, there¡¯s nothing left. But it¡¯s different if thepany is up and


    running. Not only can we earn money, it¡¯s also a career.¡±


    The moment these words left her mouth, she felt the temperature around her drop drastically. The air


    turned so cold that it felt like her breath might stop.


    Feeling helpless, she looked into Lysander¡¯s eyes. They were repressed, sharp, and glinting coldly.


    This is the property of N?-velDrama.Org.


    Thssa¡¯s heart skipped a beat as she became too frightened to say another word.


    ¡°So, you finally reveal your true thoughts. I¡¯ve warned you that you¡¯ve missed your only chance. After


    this, there will be no more opportunities for you and him! It seems like you¡¯ve taken my words lightly!¡±


    Lysander gritted his teeth as his cheeks flushed with anger.


    Thssa hurriedly tried to exin, ¡°There¡¯s nothing between me and Leopold.¡±


    ¡°If your mouth can¡¯t speak the truth, then it¡¯s better off being silenced!¡± As Lysander uttered these cold


    and harsh remarks, he lifted her face and pressed his lips forcefully onto hers.


    His kiss was domineering and rough, showing no signs of gentleness.


    He forcefully imed Thssa¡¯s lips as his deep, masculine scent intermingled with her own soft


    breaths.


    She struggled in fear and panic. Lysander held her against the wall with a firm grip. Her struggles only


    ignited more sparks between them.


    Lysander¡¯s anger red, and he brutally pried open her lips, causing their kiss to turn into a burning


    inferno.


    Thssa¡¯s tongue was wrapped in a searing pain. She felt that if this continued, it would surely be the


    end of her.


    She was in extreme panic and began trying to push hirn away and hit him.


    At the height of her emotional turmoil, Lysander finally let go of her.


    Thssa¡¯s body slid down the wall as she tried to catch her breath through short, ragged gasps.


    She thought it was over, but Lysander then squatted down beside her, making his gaze level with hers.


    His deep, ruthless eyes looked at her with nothing but malice, disdain, and desire.


    Herrge eyes were filled with fear, making her look incredibly pitiful. Her lips were swollen from his


    rough kiss and were still wet with saliva.


    But to him, her disheveled appearance was alluring.


    Lysander¡¯s thumb gently rubbed her swollen lips. His low, husky voice was cold and sharp as he


    teased her. ¡°Does it hurt? Can¡¯t handle it?¡±

 Chapter 646

    Chapter 646


    Thssa sidestepped him, avoiding his touch. ¡°You asked me to speak, and I did. Now you question it?


    Do you really want me to say that I still have a thing for Leopold? Do you want to hear me proim that


    I want to be with him? Would that satisfy you?¡±


    Thssa slumped onto the floor. Her body was so cold that she could no longer feel the chill of the


    marble tiles beneath her.


    Her tongue was numb from his rough and deep kiss, and the difort in her body made her feel like


    she was about to explode.


    At that moment, fear was the least of her concerns. A great anger was welling up inside her.


    Lysander¡¯s cold and sharp eyes darkened. ¡°What did you say?¡±


    ¡°I said I still want to be with him. Are you satisfied now?¡± Thssa reiterated. Her clear eyes were now


    shimmering with defiance.


    She was already at his mercy, so rather than being torn apart by him, she would stand up to him.


    Property of N?)(velDr(a)ma.Org.


    Lysander¡¯s handsome face tightened. A dark, ominous, and stormy sky seemed to appear in the room.


    Thssa felt like she could suffocate at any moment under his oppressive aura.


    Thssa panicked for a moment once she noticed how angry he was. She immediately regretted


    everything that came out of her mouth.


    But it was toote.


    Lysander grabbed her arm, hauled her up from the floor, walked her over to the office door, closed it,


    and pushed her against it. His strong, masculine body was mercilessly pinning her against the cold


    door.


    His voice was cold and hoarse. ¡°Too bad, I will never let you have your way!¡±


    His crudeness made her heart pound like a drum. She was terrified. ¡°No, don¡¯t. There are people


    outside.¡±


    Lysander¡¯s office door was made of ss, and she could see David approaching from the other side,


    while Lysander was fuming behind her.


    Thssa was so scared that her heart felt like it was about to leap out of her chest.


    ¡°It¡¯s not Leopold, so what are you afraid of?¡± Lysander¡¯s hot and dangerous breath sprayed on


    Thssa¡¯s sensitive ear, making her shudder.


    His kisses trailed down from her ear as his strong masculine scent enveloped her.


    Thssa was so scared that her body stiffened, and her hands on the ss door began trembling.


    David reached the door.


    For a moment, Thssa felt as if their eyes met, and she blushed. Her body turned cold with sheer


    embarrassment. Her heart pounded like a drum, on beat with a fast and heavy rhythm.


    Lysander¡¯s kisses did not stop. They were getting more intense.


    ¡°No¡­¡± Thssa¡¯s protests were cut off as her body started to tremble. She was unable to speak.


    Outside, David rang the doorbell and stood for a moment with his gaze seemingly fixed on Thssa.


    She was so embarrassed that she wished she could drop dead right there.


    After a while, David, seemingly not getting a response from inside, turned and left.


    Inside, Thssa was far from okay.


    Muchter.


    Lysander straightened his shirt sleeve, looking as immacte and arrogant as ever, as if nothing had


    happened. He sat back at his desk and continued working. Thssay on the couch. She was a total


    mess, looking disoriented while panting heavily, seemingly trying to regain some sanity.


    She slowly sat up from the couch, walked over to the desk, and picked up the files on it, but her


    breathing was still uneven. ¡°Are you satisfied? Can I leave now?¡± Lysander looked up, meeting her


    clear, watery eyes, which held some disdain for him at the moment.


    ¡°You don¡¯t have to leave. I might get hungry in the afternoon.¡± His deep, husky voice was indifferent,


    and his expression was unreadable.


    The thought of another round scared Thssa, and she quickly turned to leave the office.


    He might get hungry in the afternoon?


    Did he want to eat her?


    This was too obvious. If Thssa didn¡¯t leave, exhaustion and pain would be the agendas of the


    afternoon.


    She reached the door and tried to open it, but it wouldn¡¯t budge. She was getting anxious.


    Suddenly, there was a sound of a remote control clicking, and the door opened.


    Thssa, panicking, didn¡¯t bother to see who had pressed the remote. She squeezed through the gap


    in the door and rushed out.

 Chapter 647

    Chapter 647


    She didn¡¯t dare look back.


    It was only her and Lysander in the office. Who else could have pressed the button and opened the


    door?


    Once she stepped out of the office, the ss door closed behind her.


    She nced back instinctively, but was met with her sheer reflection from the ss door. She couldn¡¯t


    see anything inside.


    So, it was a one-way ss. From inside, one could see the outside, but from outside, nothing could be


    seen inside.


    No wonder Lysander wasn¡¯t bothered about being seen. She was worried about nothing.


    Still despite the false rm, Thssa didn¡¯t dare linger and briskly walked away.


    A little while after Thssa had left, David arrived. He rang the doorbell, and the door was promptly


    opened.


    Upon entering and finding no trace of Thssa, he looked slightly puzzled but didn¡¯t ask any


    questions.


    ¡°Mr. Sinir, we just received word from Captain Payne. They¡¯ve lifted fingerprints from Sybil¡¯s clothing


    andpared them with Evelyn¡¯s. They don¡¯t match.¡± He reported while standing by Lysander¡¯s desk.


    In other words, Evelyn never touched Grandma Sybil, let alone pushed her.


    Lysander lifted his gaze from the documents in front of him and looked at David as he responded with a


    low ¡°Mm-hmm.¡±


    David nodded, then exited the office.


    Thssa took a cab back to the Crawley Group, first returning to the secretary¡¯s office.


    As soon as she arrived, Betty couldn¡¯t wait to ask her about how her mission went. ¡°How did it go? Did


    youplete the task?¡±


    Thssa shook her head.


    Betty patted her shoulder. ¡°Don¡¯t lose hope. Try a few more times; you might just seed.¡±


    Thssa was startled.


    She had barely made it out alive from her first visit. How could she muster the strength to try a few


    more times?


    It was supposed to be a suicide mission.


    ¡°Hey, what happened to your lips? They look swollen. It¡¯s like someone bit you.¡± Betty¡¯s curiosity piqued


    as her gaze fell on Thssa¡¯s swollen lips.


    Thssa, rmed, instinctively touched her burning lips and quickly thought of a usible exnation.


    ¡°The lunch I had was too spicy. It made my lips swell.¡±


    It was all Lysander¡¯s fault. Why did he have to be so rough?


    If she hadn¡¯t fought back, her tongue might have been bitten off.


    It was truly a terrifying experience. Just the thought of it made her shudder.


    ¡°Then you should avoid spicy food in the future. Don¡¯t torture yourself.¡± Betty kindly advised her.


    ¡°Yeah, I will¡±


    Just then, the phone in the office rang, so Betty promptly answered it. ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll let her know.¡±


    After hanging up, Betty turned to Thssa. ¡°Mr. Ethan is asking for you in his office.¡±


    ¡°Okay.¡± Thssa rose to her feet.


    ¡°Wait.¡± Betty stopped her, gesturing towards a file on the desk. ¡°Bring the contract with you. Mr. Ethan


    probably wants to discuss the contract signing.¡±


    Thssa took a deep breath as she picked up the file. ¡°I¡¯ll report back.¡±


    ¡°Exin everything clearly to Mr. Ethan. He¡¯s a reasonable man,¡± Betty kindly advised her again.


    ¡°Thanks, Betty.¡±


    Thssa, contract in hand, made her way to Ethan¡¯s office. ¡°Mr. Ethan, you wanted to see me?¡±


    Ethan had just finished signing a contract. He put down his pen and looked up at Thssa. ¡°How did it


    go? What did Lysander say?¡±


    Thssa apologized. ¡°Mr. Ethan, Ick the authority and influence to make a difference with Mr.


    Sinir¡¯s. I¡¯m sorry I couldn¡¯tplete the task.¡±


    ¡°Youck authority and influence? That¡¯s impossible.¡± Ethan was surprised. ¡°Let me see the contract.¡±This is the property of N?-velDrama.Org.

 Chapter 648

    Chapter 648


    Thssa approached Ethan, offering him the contract.


    ¡°Mr. Ethan, it¡¯s only been a few days since I joined the Crawley Group. Isn¡¯t it a bit inappropriate to


    have me negotiate with arge corporation like the Sinir Group?¡±


    She felt like a small fish in a big pond. She was hardly capable of dealing with a big shot like Lysander,


    so she was curious as to why she was sent to negotiate.


    Ethan flipped open the contract. His expression froze for just a moment, and his eyebrows furrowed.


    Thssa could see his disappointment and apologized again. ¡°Mr. Ethan, I¡¯m really sorry, I¡­¡±


    ¡°Thssa, you¡¯re getting a bonus this month.¡± Ethan suddenly beamed.


    A bonus?


    Thssa was taken aback. A bonus for what? She was utterly confused. She hadn¡¯tpleted her


    task, and yet she was getting a bonus?


    ¡°Mr. Ethan, are you feeling okay?¡± Thssa asked, feeling surprised.


    ¡°Why would I be sick?¡± Ethan was bewildered. He suddenly noticed her swollen lips and grew


    This is the property of N?-velDrama.Org.


    concerned. ¡°Are you sick? Your lips are swollen. Go take a few days off. Ask Betty for leave. Don¡¯t


    worry, it¡¯s paid leave.¡±


    Once again, someone noticed her swollen lips.


    Thssa felt embarrassed and ashamed. Her cheeks flushed as she lowered her head. ¡°I¡¯m not sick. I


    just had some spicy food.¡±


    Ethan paused, noticing Thssa¡¯s blushing face. He instantly understood what had happened.


    ¡°Oh, I see¡­¡± Ethan drew out this sentence with a knowing look on his face. He then began speaking to


    Thssa in a teasing tone, ¡°Thssa, you¡¯ve done a great job for thepany. We won¡¯t let you go


    unrewarded. Keep up the good work.¡±


    Lysander, the hot chili pepper, had proven to be too hot to handle, leaving her lips inmed. As a man,


    how could Ethan not understand what had happened?


    Thssa blinked as her confusion grew. ¡°I did a good job?¡±


    ¡°Yes, look here. Lysander has signed.¡± Ethan flipped the contract to thest page. In the lower left


    corner, Lysander¡¯s name was boldly signed.


    Thssa was surprised. She had no idea when Lysander had signed the contract.


    She had assumed that Lysander would not cooperate with them if the Crawley Group was delivering to


    Leopold.


    Yet he had signed.


    Seemed like his cold attitude towards her earlier wasn¡¯t directed at Leopold, but specifically at her.


    He had decided to sign from the beginning. He was just making things difficult for her, which was why


    he was so angry. He even¡­


    Thssa¡¯s heart skipped a beat at the thought.


    She wasn¡¯t feeling well.


    Thssaposed herself and asked Ethan, ¡°Mr. Ethan, did you intentionally send me to the Sinir


    Group to negotiate with Lysander?¡±


    ¡°Yes, I did. I told you from the beginning. You werete, so it was a form of punishment.¡± Ethan


    admitted it without hesitation.


    ¡°It¡¯s not just that, is it? You¡¯re Lysander¡¯s friend. You knew about me and him¡­¡±


    ¡°You and him¡­ What?¡± Ethan asked, interrupting her. His puzzled eyes bore into her.


    Thssa hesitated, then said, ¡°Nothing.¡±


    Ethan had used her rtionship with Lysander to clinch the deal with the Sinir Group.


    She walked right into his trap. She couldn¡¯t voice out her rtionship with Lysander since it wasn¡¯t


    public knowledge.


    Even if she wanted to confront Ethan, she had no grounds to do so.


    He could feign ignorance and leave her without a good rebuttal.


    How could she tell him that she and Lysander were lovers?


    ¡°Don¡¯t be upset. I was giving you a chance to get closer to Lysander. Don¡¯t worry; it won¡¯t happen


    again. It¡¯s our honor to have you in the Crawley Group. Just focus on your work and don¡¯t overthink


    things.¡± Ethan, noticing Thssa¡¯s anger, apologized with a smile, admitting his ulterior motives in


    sending her to the Sinir Group.


    The main reason was that he genuinely wanted Thssa and Lysander to spend more time together.


    Lysander¡¯s feelings for Thssa were apparent to anyone with eyes.

 Chapter 649

    Chapter 649


    Lysander had never shown such interest in any woman before.


    Thssa was indeed mad at Ethan for using her, but his sincere apology somewhat mitigated her


    anger.


    Without another word, she turned and left the office.


    Upon her return to the secretary¡¯s office, Betty immediately approached her, asking, ¡°So, what did Mr.


    Ethan say to you?¡±


    Still upset, Thssa began to realize how much of a scoundrel Ethan was, and his friend Lysander was


    no better.


    None of them are good people.


    Angrily, she retorted, ¡°What does it matter what he said about me? I hope all his future business deals


    fall through, his coffee¡¯s always too hot, and he trips even on t ground.¡±


    Betty was speechless.


    She admired Thssa for having the courage to curse their boss and silently gave her a thumbs-up.


    ¡°Achoo!¡± Ethan, who was working in his office, suddenly sneezed.


    ¡°Am I catching a cold, or am I about to get a fever?¡± He wondered while rubbing his nose. He felt his


    forehead and found no fever. ¡°Someone must be cursing me.¡±


    Ethan shook his head with a chuckle after thinking of who it could be.


    In the afternoon, it was time to clock out.


    When Thssa returned home and opened the door, she found a figure sitting on her couch.


    At first, she was startled. Her body was on high alert, thinking a stranger had entered her home.


    But when the person turned around, she saw that it was Evelyn. Thssa¡¯s eyes lit up with joy. ¡°Mom,


    you¡¯re back!¡±


    She quickly went over to sit by Evelyn on the couch, looking at her excitedly and worriedly.


    Evelyn looked a bit tired, but overall, she was in good spirits.


    Nodding, she said, ¡°I¡¯m back.¡±


    Thssa held her shoulder and examined her. ¡°Are you hurt anywhere? They didn¡¯t harm you, did


    they?¡±


    Content property of N?velDra/ma.Org.


    Evelyn replied weakly, ¡°No. I just couldn¡¯t stomach the food there, so I¡¯m very hungry.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll cook right away.¡± Thssa hurriedly stood up and went into the kitchen to prepare dinner.


    She cooked two dishes. One was soup, and the other was apanied by rice that was ready in half


    an hour.


    They sat down at the dining table, chatting while eating.


    ¡°Mom, howe you¡¯re suddenly back? Have you been temporarily released, or is it all over?¡±


    Thssa was curious. She had been struggling to think of a way to prove Evelyn¡¯s innocence.


    ¡°They said that after investigating, they found that I had been wronged and let me go. Thssa, you¡¯ve


    been through a lot.¡± The usually strong-willed Evelyn seemed to have had an epiphany and began


    speaking to her daughter with deep gratitude.


    Thssa paused with her fork in her hand, a little confused about what was happening.


    Just yesterday, she had asked Captain Payne for help, but he had refused.


    She hadn¡¯te up with a better way to find evidence to prove Evelyn¡¯s innocence.


    What was going on?


    Had Captain Payne secretly investigated again?


    But why would he suddenly meddle in?


    Could it have been Lysander?


    Did Lysander ask Captain Payne to investigate?


    It wasn¡¯t impossible. Last night, Lysander met with Captain Payne, and they even had a chat in the


    break room.


    Thssa¡¯s hand holding the fork stiffened, and there was a strange feeling in her heart.


    ¡°Stop spacing out and eat.¡± Evelyn added more food to Thssa¡¯s te. ¡°When can we go see the


    kids? I miss them.¡±


    The longing in Evelyn¡¯s voice was unmistakable.

 Chapter 650

    Chapter 650


    Thssa snapped back to reality, and her gaze shifted to her mother.


    Her mother had been in jail for two days, but it felt like two years had passed.


    Her hair turned noticeably silver, and her face showed new lines of age. Most importantly, her once


    vibrant, energetic spirit, which was always surrounded by joy andughter, had faded away.


    It was as if someone had sucked all the life out of her, leaving her listless and lifeless.


    A sharp surge of pain shot through Thssa¡¯s heart. The joy that the children brought was not just for


    her; it was for their entire family.


    Their house used to be filled with the cheerful noise of four children, especially Elowen, the liveliest


    one.


    Suddenly, all four children were no longer living at home. The silence and solitude had doubled, which


    must¡¯ve been devastating for Evelyn, who loved the hustle and bustle of family life.


    Thssa, too, was heartbroken.


    Even though Evelyn had been proven innocent and had been released, Thssa was unsure whether


    Lysander would allow them to see the children.


    That day at the Sinir residence, Lysander had ruthlessly told her to leave, stating that she didn¡¯t


    deserve any of their children.


    Did this mean she wasn¡¯t allowed to see the children anymore?


    Thssa didn¡¯t have the courage to ask him.


    Angering him had severe consequences. She learned that lesson well today.


    ¡°Mom, you should rest for a few days. We¡¯ll see if we can visit the kids on Saturday.¡± Thssa tried to


    Evelyn nodded in response.


    The next day, Thssa went to work as usual.


    Ethan was leading a meeting when he suddenly announced his departure.


    ¡°Thssa,e with me.¡±


    Ethan took Thssa from the conference room to his office. His expression was stern as he said, ¡°I


    have to attend Sybil¡¯s funeral, and I need someone to apany me. If you¡¯re willing toe, I¡¯ll take


    you. If not, I¡¯ll take Betty.¡±


    He had been vague the day before when he¡¯d asked Thssa to discuss the contract with Lysander.


    Thssa had seen through his intentions and was upset.


    Property of N?)(velDr(a)ma.Org.


    Today, he decided to be upfront. If she was willing to go, he would take her. If not, he wouldn¡¯t force


    her.


    Grandma Sybil¡¯s funeral¡­


    Thssa¡¯s heart sank. Just a few days ago, Grandma Sybil was healthy and vibrant. She was helping


    Lysander out of a tough situation, scolding Zephyr with a yful tone, and watching the children y


    with a benevolent look on her face.


    She had always wanted Lysander to have children so she could help look after them. She loved


    children.


    Sadly, just as she was reunited with the four little ones, she passed away.


    The mere thought of it plunged Thssa into deep sadness.


    Although Zephyr had always been hostile toward Thssa, Grandma Sybil had always been kind and


    good to her.


    Thssa wanted to bid her farewell too.


    ¡°I¡¯ll go.¡±


    ¡°Good. Change into ck clothing ande with me.¡± Ethan stated this before heading to the office¡¯s


    changing room.


    Thssa hadn¡¯t prepared any ck clothes, so she bought a set from a store downstairs and changed


    into it.


    At the cemetery.


    Many people hade to attend the funeral, including Zephyr¡¯s friends, Grandma Sybil¡¯s old friends,


    business partners of the Sinir family, and prominent families associated with the Sinirs.


    A fine mist of rain was falling from the sky.


    Thssa stood next to Ethan, holding an umbre over him.


    In front of the grave, Lysander and Zephyr stood at the forefront, with David holding an umbre for


    Lysander and the Sinir family¡¯s butler doing the same for Zephyr.


    Zephyr held Grandma Sybil¡¯s urn. His aged face was a picture of grief and sadness. Tears welled up in


    his cloudy eyes, and his voice broke as he said, ¡°Sybil, we had already set a date for our seventieth


    wedding anniversary. How could you leave me like this?¡±

 Chapter 651

    Chapter 651


    Lysander gently rested his hand on Zephyr¡¯s shoulder, silentlyforting him.


    After wiping away the tears from the corner of his eyes, Zephyr bent down and tenderly kissed the urn.


    ¡°Sybil, you go first. Wait for me on the other side. We¡¯ll be husband and wife again in our next lives.


    Don¡¯t forget.¡±


    Zephyr and Grandma Sybil had an arranged marriage when they were young, but their love was true.


    They weathered life¡¯s storms together and grew old side by side.


    Zephyr was a pir of a man. He was loyal to Grandma Sybil his entire life, and his love for her knew


    no bounds.


    Knowing her heart was weak, he pampered her at every turn..


    She loved wearing pper dresses, so he had Lysander create a design department at hispany to


    design new styles, only selecting the best ones for Grandma Sybil.


    Aware of her failing health, he brought forward their 70th wedding anniversary celebration, hoping to


    give Grandma Sybil a joyous asion.


    But despite his efforts, Grandma Sybil did not live to see their anniversary.


    This would now be Zephyr¡¯s deepest regret in life.


    Everyone could feel Zephyr¡¯s sorrow, and a mncholic atmosphere permeated the drizzle all around


    them.


    Everyone began the ritual of paying their respects. Everyone present bowed in unison.


    As Ethan¡¯s secretary, Thssa stood by his side, holding an umbre for him and bowing in sync with


    him.


    After the ceremony, Thssa felt a pair of eyes on her.


    Following her intuition, she met the amber gaze of Leopold.


    He didn¡¯t look away. His sadness was apparent as the rain dampened his handsome face, adding to


    the sense of heartbreak and helplessness.


    Though the rain wasn¡¯t heavy, it was enough to wet people¡¯s hair and clothes.


    Everyone had an umbre but him.


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    He stood next to Amelia, but his gaze was fixed on her.


    Seeing him like this made Thssa feel terrible sorrow.


    But she looked away, pretending not to see.


    She had made it clear to Leopold that there was no future for them and that he should find someone


    more suitable. He would have a better life without her.


    If she gave in, she would only hurt him.


    The funeral ended quickly, and the guests began to leave.


    While Thssa was leaving with Ethan, she tripped over a stone she hadn¡¯t noticed, causing her body


    to lurch forward.


    ¡°Careful!¡± Sounded a worried voice. A strong hand caught her arm, preventing her from falling.


    After looking up, she saw Leopold, who had somehow appeared by her side. She quickly withdrew her


    arm from his grasp, politely but distantly saying, ¡°Thank you.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re wee. Your umbre.¡± She had dropped it when she tripped, and Leopold picked it up for


    her.


    When Thssa was about to take it, she saw Lysander standing behind Leopold. His icy gaze was


    fixed on her.


    Upon meeting his intense eyes, Thssa¡¯s heart clenched, and she instinctively recoiled, leaving her


    hand frozen in mid-air.


    Leopold¡¯s outstretched hand, holding the umbre, hovered awkwardly in the air.


    Ethan also noticed Lysander¡¯s intimidating gaze. He quickly took the umbre from Leopold and


    apologized. ¡°My fault. I should have been holding the umbre. How could I let ady hold it? Miss


    Everhart, are you alright?¡±


    Thssa lowered her gaze and shook her head. ¡°I¡¯m fine.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s good. I¡¯ll hold the umbre. Watch your step and keep your eyes forward.¡± Ethan held the


    umbre over both of them, cautioning Thssa to go ahead.


    ¡°I don¡¯t have an umbre. Mind if I join you?¡± Leopold suddenly stepped up, lining up with Thssa and


    walking alongside her.

 Chapter 652

    Chapter 652


    There was only one umbre. Ethan held it up, Thssa walked in the middle, and Leopold huddled


    close to her, pressing in to avoid the rain.


    Since Thssa and Leopold walked shoulder-to-shoulder, their bodies brushed against each other.


    Thssa¡¯s breath hitched, and her gaze involuntarily slid to the side, meeting Leopold¡¯s hopeful yet


    depressed eyes. She felt a chill run down her spine, and her heart stuttered.


    She quickly averted her gaze. She was too scared to look again.


    ¡°What did you see?¡± Leopold¡¯s voice was as smooth as velvet. Creating a mncholic sweetness in


    the damp, rainy air.


    ¡°I didn¡¯t see anything.¡± Thssa replied quietly, still looking straight ahead.


    ¡°Leopold,e over here. I have an extra umbre. It¡¯s ridiculous for all three of us to be crammed


    under one.¡± Zephyr came over and handed Leopold an umbre as his hawk-like gaze sternly


    scrutinized Thssa.


    The look he gave her was filled with hostility, making Thssa¡¯s heart skip and jump in fear. She


    understood that Zephyr wasn¡¯t fond of her.


    She didn¡¯t say anything and just continued walking with Ethan.


    Leopold reluctantly took the umbre from Zephyr and watched Thssa walk away with a lost and


    saddened expression on his face.


    The rain was falling lightly, wetting his thick eyebrows. The raindrops slid down hisshes, finally


    rain ended.


    Ethan led Thssa to his car and opened the door for her. Just as she was about to get in, a hand


    suddenly pressed against the door, closing it and blocking her from entering.


    As she looked up in surprise, Thssa saw Lysander¡¯s icy expression, and her breath involuntarily


    hitched.


    ¡°My car is over there. Get in.¡± Lysander¡¯s voice was low and brooding, leaving her no room for


    discussion.


    There were many people attending the funeral who hadn¡¯t left yet, and many eyes were watching them


    from the parking lot. Thssa didn¡¯t want to get into his car.


    ¡°I have to get back to work. Ethan¡¯s car is more convenient.¡± Thssa exined.


    Lysander¡¯s gaze shifted to Ethan..


    ¡°I have business to attend to. I can¡¯t take you. Ride with Lysander.¡± Ethan quickly got into his car and


    drove off.


    Thssa was left speechless.


    What a jerk! Was this how a good boss treated his employees?


    Thssa watched Ethan¡¯s car disappear in frustration. She was finding him more and more annoying


    by the day. She turned around, only to meet Lysander¡¯s deep, brooding


    gaze.


    His presence was overwhelming.


    Feeling her breath quicken, she had no choice but to quietly head towards Lysander¡¯s car.


    As she got in, Lysander climbed in next to her. The backseat area of the car felt even more confined.


    Thssa shifted to the side unconsciously, trying to put some distance between them.


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    Lysander¡¯s gaze was intense, and the partition in the car came down, separating the front and back


    seats.


    A wave of panic washed over Thssa.


    ¡°I¡¯m worried there¡¯s not enough room.¡± She said weakly.


    ¡°Is my butt that big?¡± Lysander retorted, his voice deep and maic.


    This was an unexpectedly funnyment from him that carried an inexplicable force. Thssa felt like


    ¡°No, it¡¯s not that. My butt is big and takes up a lot of space.¡± Thssa quickly corrected herself, not


    wanting him to think she was judging him.

 Chapter 653

    Chapter 653


    Lysander¡¯s gaze slid downward, settling on her posterior. ¡°Really? I didn¡¯t notice anything amiss.¡±


    Thssa¡¯s face flushed a deep crimson. She nced nervously towards the front of the vehicle,


    worried that the driver had heard their exchange.


    How mortifying!


    Thankfully, as soon as they¡¯d entered the vehicle, Lysander had lowered the privacy partition,


    separating their space from the driver¡¯s. The soundproofing was excellent, so the driver wouldn¡¯t be


    able to hear their conversation.


    But Lysander¡¯s suggestivements left Thssa flustered. Everything about him was so serious, but


    sometimes the things he did truly surprised her.


    ¡°Mr. Sinir, can you please behave?¡± Thssa reminded him as her face began feeling hot.


    ¡°What¡¯s on your mind? Isn¡¯t this behaving? Would it be more appropriate if there was physical contact?¡±


    Lysander turned her face towards his. His deep-set eyes were staring intensely at her. His face was


    stern, but there was a bit of mystery hidden within his ocean-like gaze.


    Thssa could feel the anger radiating off him. It felt as if she were a mouse that was trapped under


    the gaze of arge cat. Instead of simply eating her, he was ying with her and toying with her


    emotions.


    ¡°No, that¡¯s not what I meant. We¡¯re in a car. I just want to sit quietly.¡± Thssa said, feeling anxious and


    uneasy.


    Yesterday, in his office, she¡¯d lost her temper and confronted him. She was still dealing with the


    consequences up till now.


    Now, even if she felt wronged or angry, she wouldn¡¯t dare confront him directly.


    Unless she was ready to face the consequences.


    ¡°Really? You didn¡¯t seem to mind bumping into people when you were walking with an umbre earlier.¡±


    Lysander said as his thumb gently caressed her chin. His rough touch was dangerously thrilling to her,


    slowly making her lose all rational thought.


    His icy breath fanned her face, causing Thssa¡¯s heart to race.


    So that was what he was angry about. She was right about his mood being off.


    ¡°It was an ident. The umbre wasn¡¯t that big, so we just happened¡­¡± Thssa tried to exin, but


    she could feel her heart pounding through her chest. She was starting to lose focus.


    ¡°We?¡± Lysander¡¯s voice was cold, and the rising inflection in his tone made his anger very clear.


    ¡°He matters a lot to you, doesn¡¯t he?¡± Lysander¡¯s aura grew colder as he red at her with his


    imprable eyes.


    ¡°No, it¡¯s not like that. I was just using ¡®we¡¯ as a quantifier.¡± Thssa¡¯s eyshes fluttered, and her eyes


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    flickered as she looked at Lysander¡¯s handsome face.


    His face was so close to hers that it brought back memories of her humiliation from yesterday. She was


    afraid of experiencing it again.


    ¡°Do you know what a quantifier is?¡± Lysander asked, his face now even closer to hers. His cold breath


    tickled her ear, and his voice was dangerous and sharp. ¡°I know your depth; you know my length. That


    are quantifiers. Understand?¡±


    Thssa¡¯s face turned bright red. Her mind went nk, and her eyes widened in shame.


    Lysander warned her. ¡°I¡¯ll let it slide this time. If it happens again, you know what the consequences will


    be.¡±


    With that, he released her and sat back, as if nothing had happened. However, even in this rxed


    state, he was still imposing and intimidating.


    Thssa, meanwhile, felt as if her mind had exploded. She was breathless, and her heart was


    pounding. She couldn¡¯t calm down.


    She realized then that if Lysander wanted to punish her, he didn¡¯t need toy a hand on her. With just a


    few words, he could throw her off bnce.


    What could she possibly do to fight him?


    Resistance was futile. The only way to survive was to submit.


    The car came to a stop, and Thssa realized they were at Royal Estates.


    Why had Lysander brought her to Royal Estates?

 Chapter 654

    Chapter 654


    Lysander stepped out of the car, leaving Thssa inside, sitting motionless.


    Halting his steps, Lysander cast a nce at her as his deep eyes questioned why she was still in the


    car. ¡°Aren¡¯t youing?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s almost nightfall. I want to go home.¡± Thssa voiced out. The intimidation and pressure she¡¯d felt


    from Lysander during the car ride had been enough to make her heart tremble with unease.


    If she were to apany him into Royal Estates tonight, she knew sleep wouldn¡¯t be an option.


    Memories of her time in Royal Estates sent shivers down her spine as they yed in her mind like a


    movie.


    She had only just recovered from being sore. Her body still hadn¡¯t regained its strength.


    ¡°Don¡¯t you want to see the kids?¡± Lysander asked in a low voice, his gaze fixed on her.


    Thssa was torn. Of course, she wanted to see her children; she thought of them every waking


    moment. But setting foot in Royal Estates meant she had no say in what happened next.


    This is the property of N?-velDrama.Org.


    Frowning, she realized she had no choice but to exit the car. Even if she didn¡¯t go to Royal Estates, she


    still wouldn¡¯t have a say. Why hesitate when she could see her children?


    As Thssa stepped into Royal Estates, she found her children seated on the living room couch. Their


    little adorable faces werepletely washed over in sadness.


    The housekeepers were trying their best to cheer them up, but to no avail.


    ¡°Ms. Everhart, you¡¯re here.¡± Fitch greeted her with a note of relief in his voice.


    At the sound of their mom¡¯s name, four pairs of innocent eyes lit up, and their gloomy expressions


    morphed into radiant smiles.


    ¡°Mommy!¡± They chorused.


    The little ones slid off the couch and ran towards her. Their faces were now glowing like sunflowers in


    full bloom.


    Thssa felt her heart mend after seeing this. She crouched down and opened her arms wide to


    embrace her little ones.


    As her children rushed into her arms, Thssa found herself falling backwards, unable to bear their


    weight. She expected to topple over, but a strong arm caught her from behind, steadying her.


    After turning around, she saw Lysander¡¯s towering figure. Without thanking him, she hugged her


    children closer, nting a loving kiss on each of their tender, chubby cheeks.


    ¡°Sweethearts, Mommy missed you so much.¡± Thssa¡¯s voice was soft and teary.


    ¡°Mommy, we missed you too.¡± Atticus said while standing by Thssa¡¯s side.


    ¡°Mommy, we wanted to see you, but Daddy wouldn¡¯t let us. He doesn¡¯t understand how much we


    missed you.¡± Dorian whined as his little eyes glistened with tears.


    ¡°Daddy said Mommy was the bad one, but he¡¯s the bad one. He wouldn¡¯t let us see Mommy.¡± Elowen


    pouted.


    Sophia, the shy one, nced at Lysander, who was standing like a protective wall behind Thssa,


    and lowered her head, saying nothing.


    Thssa¡¯s smile faltered for a moment, and she began feeling a chill run down her spine.


    The only ones who would dare use Lysander of being the ¡®bad guy¡¯ were her four little children

 Chapter 655

    Chapter 655


    A few days ago, Lysander had been under the mistaken impression that it was Evelyn who had pushed


    Grandma Sybil, leading to her passing away. Out of rage, he had forbidden Thssa from seeing their


    children.


    Today, he allowed her to see the kids, possibly because he couldn¡¯t stand their whining any longer.


    Plus, he had also found out that Grandma Sybil¡¯s death had nothing to do with Evelyn.


    Struggling to get up, Thssa attempted to push herself off the ground, but her legs were too weak.


    Suddenly, the hand at her back gave her a boost, helping her to stand. She quickly nced back at


    Lysander and murmured a shy ¡°Thank you.¡±


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    ¡°Mommy, Daddy bought me so many toys. I¡¯ll take you to see them. There¡¯s so many!¡± Elowen, who


    had just beenining about Lysander, seemed to have forgotten all about that. She excitedly


    pulled Thssa towards her room to show her all the new toys.


    ¡°Daddy bought me a lot of action figures too. I love them!¡± Dorian was equally excited. He was eager to


    show off his toys, too.


    ¡°I got two more tablets,¡± imed the adorable Atticus.


    Thssa nodded, then gently asked the timid Sophia, who was quietly standing by her side. ¡°Sophia,


    what about you? What did Daddy buy for you?¡±


    Sophia nced at Lysander nervously before quietly answering, ¡°Daddy gave me the antique room in


    the backyard.¡±


    Thssa was surprised. Lysander had given Sophia the entire antique room?


    ¡°Many of the paintings in there are broken. I want to slowly repair them.¡± Sophia exined with eyes


    filled with anticipation.


    Thssa was taken aback for a moment before she gently ruffled Sophia¡¯s hair. ¡°That¡¯s a good idea.


    You can practice and be a great antique restorer one day.¡±


    Elowen then led Thssa into her princess-themed room.


    ¡°Mommy, look at all my toys!¡± Elowen was overjoyed. She pointed to a heap of toys on the table while


    bouncing around like a little cherub.


    Among the toys were fluffy teddy bears, Barbie dolls, and even glowing music boxes. There was also a


    pig-like thing that Thssa couldn¡¯t identify.


    Noticing Thssa¡¯s confusion, Elowen quickly grabbed the pig-shaped toy and brought it over.


    ¡°Mommy, this is a bubble camera. When you press it like this, bubblese out!¡±


    As she demonstrated, colorful bubbles began floating into the air. The other children squealed with


    delight and rushed over to pop them.


    Thssa felt a warm smile spreading across her face as she watched her children y happily.


    Just as she was about to catch a particrlyrge bubble, Dorian darted in. He leaped into the air and


    popped it with his small hand. In his excitement, he lost his bnce and bumped into Thssa,


    causing her to step back and collide with a sturdy, muscr chest behind her.


    Her heart skipped a beat.


    Lysander wrapped his arms around her as his eyes met her startled gaze.


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry, I didn¡¯t mean to¡­¡± Thssa began, but before she could step back, Lysander tightened his


    grip on her, holding her against his chest.


    He was watching her with intense and relentless eyes. A strange feeling stirred in his heart right at the


    moment she bumped into his chest, exactly at the spot where his heart was. It felt as though she had


    crashed straight into his heart, sending ripples of unfamiliar emotions through him.

 Chapter 656

    Chapter 656


    Thssa could tell that Lysander¡¯s gaze held a depth that was familiar to her. It was a gaze that meant


    more than he was letting on.


    She had merely bumped into him, so surely it wasn¡¯t enough to evoke such a reaction.


    She couldn¡¯t take the risk, so she quickly stepped out of his arms and nervously darted her eyes away


    from his gaze.


    ¡°The kids are ying with bubbles. I should join them.¡± She said hastily before merging into the


    bubblingughter of the children, purposely avoiding Lysander¡¯s gaze.


    For her, his mere presence in this space was a hazard.


    Lysander didn¡¯t speak; instead, he watched the ¡®five¡¯ children ying inside the house with an


    inscrutable gaze.


    At dinner, Thssa and Lysander sat on one end of the table, with the four little ones on the other


    side.


    Elowen was the most enthusiastic eater, clumsily holding her spoon and shoveling food into her


    mouth.


    Even Sophia, who was usually a picky eater, seemed to enjoy her meal.


    Seeing that the children had nearly finished their meals, Fitch refilled their tes as he sighed. ¡°The


    kids haven¡¯t been eating much these past few days. It¡¯s only after Ms. Everhart arrived that they


    seemed to be enjoying their food. You should visit more often, Ms. Everhart.¡±


    Thssa hesitated and nced at Lysander instinctively. Her frequent visits depended on him.


    Learning that the children hadn¡¯t been eating well in her absence caused a sharp pain to tug at her


    heart. Could it be that they missed her so much that they couldn¡¯t eat?


    She remembered the day she had to leave them at the Sinir¡¯s house. Sophia was in tears, and the


    little ones were reluctant to see her go.


    Lysander had coldly instructed the driver to take her away before she could even say a proper goodbye


    to the children, assuring them that she would be back.


    This sort of hasty separation had probably scared the children, making them fear that they would never


    see her again, hence their loss of appetite.


    This thought brought a fresh wave of pain to Thssa¡¯s heart.


    From now on, she decided that she would never leave her children like that again. If she had to leave,


    she would make sure they knew she would return to put their minds at


    ease.


    Lysander was eating his steak with graceful and refined movements. He didn¡¯t look up at Thssa, but


    he could feel her gaze on him.


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    He broke his silence. ¡°You cane anytime.¡±


    Thssa felt a surge of relief.


    She looked at the children with a warm smile. ¡°Sweethearts, you have to behave well at your dad¡¯s


    ce. Don¡¯t skip your meals; it will upset me. I¡¯m working now, but I¡¯ll visit you from time to time. You


    will always be my precious little darlings. You guys are my treasures, and I will never abandon you. Do


    you understand?¡±


    The children¡¯s fear of not seeing their mother was due to ack of security. Thssa¡¯s words were


    meant to reassure them and give them a sense of security.


    That way, they wouldn¡¯t be afraid or skip meals because of their fear.


    ¡°Mom, why can¡¯t you live with us?¡± Atticus asked, clearly upset.


    They had grown up with their mother, so their dependency on her far outweighed their longing for their


    father.


    Atticus couldn¡¯t understand why their mother couldn¡¯t be with them, even though they had their father.


    ¡°Yeah, Mom, you should live with us. Don¡¯t worry; we won¡¯t fight over Dad with you. We¡¯ll let Dad sleep


    with you, and we won¡¯t sleep with you anymore,¡± Dorian chimed in, nodding in agreement with Atticus.


    Thssa¡¯s cheeks flushed a deep shade of crimson.


    Fitch, who was ready to attend to them at the dining table, turned away awkwardly after hearing the


    conversation, excusing himself discreetly.


    Elowen added to Dorian¡¯s statement. ¡°I know! If Mom and Dad sleep together, they can give us a baby


    brother or sister!¡±


    Thssa was speechless.

 Chapter 657

    Chapter 657


    Things were getting out of hand.


    Kids really did say the damnedest things, but this was going too far.


    Content rights by N?velDr//ama.Org.


    Thssa¡¯s face turned a warm shade of pink as she looked at Lysander, and his deep, captivating


    gaze met hers in return.


    For a moment, their eyes locked, creating a spark that even left some smoke in the air.


    Thssa felt her heart tremble. Her breath hitched, causing her to quickly look away.


    The yful banter of the children,bined with Lysander¡¯s intriguing and intense gaze, made


    Thssa wish she could sink into the ground.


    ¡°Mom¡¯s blushing. Let¡¯s quit it.¡± Atticus, the eldest, spoke with an innocent voice, ying the part of a big


    brother and schooling his younger siblings.


    Though Atticus barely understood grown-up matters, after seeing his mom¡¯s embarrassed expression,


    he knew she was feeling shy.


    Dorian and Elowen exchanged confused nces, then looked at their mom. Her face was as red as an


    apple.


    Elowen giggled like a jingling silver bell. ¡°Mommy is really blushing. Her face is as red as an apple. I


    kissed a boy at school today, and his face turned as red as yours.¡±


    Elowen¡¯s voice was so soft and childish.


    This made both Thssa and Lysander look at her.


    Lysander¡¯s handsome face showed obvious concern.


    Thssa quickly sat up and asked with concern, ¡°Elowen, who¡¯s this boy you kissed?¡±


    Lysander¡¯s dark gaze also turned toward Elowen. He looked so grave and serious that you¡¯d think his


    little princess was about to be kidnapped.


    Elowen tilted her head in thought. ¡°His name is Dn Crawley. He¡¯s pale and cute, like a little bunny.


    His cheeks were like jello. I wanted to take a bite, so I kissed him.¡±


    Elowen, the little foodie¡­


    Thssa felt a mix of concern and helplessness. She believed in the innocent friendship of children,


    but Elowen was almost five. Some boundaries had to be set.


    Like all parents, Thssa worried about her children, especially her little girl.


    Thssa said with patience and gentleness, ¡°Elowen, you are a girl, and he is a boy. You can¡¯t just kiss


    him. You can y together, but you have to respect each other¡¯s personal space. And it¡¯s impolite to


    think of people as food. If you want jello, tell me, and I¡¯ll buy it for you.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll buy it for you! Any jello you want!¡± Lysander suddenly cut in.


    His tone and expression were very serious.


    Thssa turned to look at him curiously, noticing his tense eyes. He seemed even more worried than


    her.


    Elowen¡¯s big, innocent eyes widened with confusion. ¡°Why can¡¯t I kiss him? Will I have a baby?¡±


    Thssa felt awkward.


    Kids were always curious and often misunderstood things.


    Dorian quickly chimed in. ¡°Sleeping together makes babies, not kissing. Right, Mom? You and Dad


    slept together and had us.¡±


    Thssa fell silent.


    How did the conversation turn back to her and Lysander?


    Thssa was so embarrassed. She couldn¡¯t even bear to look at Lysander.


    Lysander, however, broke the silence. ¡°Kissing and sleeping together are both risky. Boys and girls


    should keep a safe distance. When you grow up, you¡¯ll understand Elowen, if you want to eat


    something, tell me or tell Fitch. You can¡¯t just kiss boys. Got it?¡±


    Lysander felt a sense of danger. He felt like his little girl was about to be taken away.


    It was a feeling only a father could understand.

 Chapter 658

    Chapter 658


    Lysander¡¯s handsome face looked quite stern as his gaze focused on Elowen; everything he said was


    Even Thssa could sense the tension in the air. The atmosphere was thick with it.


    She nced at Lysander, then carefully shifted her gaze to Elowen.


    The little girl was pouting, her chubby cheeks reminding one of a small goldfish. She was both naive


    and confused, but she obediently responded to Lysander in a childish tone, ¡°I understand, Daddy. Don¡¯t


    be mad. Have a strawberry.¡±


    She plucked a strawberry from the te with her chubby little hand and, extending her short arm


    across the table, offered it to Lysander.


    Her innocent and appeasing demeanor, coupled with her sparkling eyes, was enough to melt even the


    coldest heart.


    Lysander¡¯s anger seemed to dissipate a bit; even his sharp aura mellowed significantly.


    After epting the strawberry from Elowen, he said, ¡°Daddy¡¯s not mad, as long as you understand.¡±


    Elowen nodded vigorously. Her obedient demeanor was reminiscent of a typical doting father¡¯s


    sweetheart.


    Thssa was surprised. She hadn¡¯t expected Lysander to have such a tender side when it came to


    children.


    She remembered him once saying he disliked children because hecked patience.


    At that time, she was terrified, fearing Lysander might discover the existence of the children and,


    worse, treat them poorly.


    So, she did her best to hide them and keep them out of Lysander¡¯s sight.


    Now, Thssa felt relieved to see his patience and fatherly love toward the children.


    Could it be that the children¡¯s endearing ways had cured his aversion to them?


    Just as Thssa was pondering this, Lysander¡¯s gaze shifted to Sophia, who was quietly eating her


    meal.


    ¡°Sophia, you too. Girls need to keep a safe distance from boys. Understand?¡± He said in his deep,


    resonate voice.


    D


    Sophia timidly raised her eyes to look at Lysander, then lowered her head again and nodded softly. Her


    voice was barely a whisper as she responded, ¡°I understand, Daddy.¡±


    Although her voice was soft, Lysander clearly heard her.


    The soft, sweet sound of the word ¡°Daddy¡± made Lysander¡¯s heart feel like it was wrapped in cotton. A


    warm and soft feeling washed over his entire being.


    Before bing a father, he had never felt this way.


    Thssa, with food in her mouth and a warm smile on her face, watched her four children across from


    her.


    Seeing the children living well in Royal Estates, with Lysander not only treating them well but also


    showering them with affection, made any doubts Thssa had vanish. After the children had taken


    their baths, assisted by Thssa and the housemaids, she prepared to put Elowen and Sophia to bed.


    Atticus and Dorian, having matured overnight after Lysander¡¯s lecture, insisted they were old enough to


    sleep on their own.


    The two boys retired to their rooms, obediently settling down for the night, requiring no bedtime stories


    or coddling.


    Thssa figured that, as girls, Elowen and Sophia wouldn¡¯t refuse her bedtime routine.


    Just as she was about to start reading a storybook, Elowen gently pushed her away and murmured in a


    soft and tired voice, ¡°Mommy, I can sleep on my own. You should go be with Daddy. He needs you to


    put him to sleep.¡±


    ¡°Your daddy is a grown-up. He doesn¡¯t need me to put him to sleep. You¡¯re still little, so it¡¯s okay for


    Mommy to put you to bed.¡±


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    ¡°No.¡± Elowen countered. ¡°When you¡¯re not here, Daddy can¡¯t sleep. He stays up working in his study.


    We asked him to take us to find you, but he didn¡¯t want to. He needs you to soothe him, just like when


    I¡¯m upset. All it takes is a little care from you to heal me.¡±


    Elowen¡¯s big, innocent, and deep eyes gazed earnestly at Thssa. Her concern for her father was


    evident in her tone.


    Thssa was taken aback. Did Elowen just suggest she should soothe Lysander?


    Did this powerful man need her to soothe him?


    ¡°Mommy, you should go. Go be with Daddy and help him sleep. I can sleep on my own.¡± Elowen


    nudged Thssa gently again. Her gesture was so soft that it was barely enough to nudge Thssa.

 Chapter 659

    Chapter 659


    However, Thssa still climbed out of bed while whispering to Elowen, ¡°I¡¯m heading out, darling. Sleep


    tight and goodnight.¡±


    ¡°Goodnight, Mommy.¡± Elowen murmured softly as she pulled her nket up to her chin obediently.


    Thssa turned off the light for her and closed the door, then proceeded to Sophia¡¯s room. But she


    found Sophia already fast asleep.


    She saw a tiny figure sleeping alone on a bed covered in purple. She was sleeping so peacefully and


    sweetly.


    Thssa tiptoed into the room, adjusted her nket, and left the room as she turned off the light.


    Cut off from their innocent, soft faces, Thssa felt a wave of emotion well up inside her, causing her


    eyes to be moist.


    At that moment, she suddenly realized that her little treasures were really growing up. They had only


    been apart from her for a few days, but they were already bing independent.


    They used to need bedtime stories from her to coax them to sleep.


    Now, they could sleep alone in a bed and fall asleep so quickly.


    She had always thought that they would have a hard time without her around.


    They used to all squeeze into one bed to sleep. Creating a bed that was full of joy and warmth.


    But in just a few days, they each had their own room. They didn¡¯t need to be coddled or hear bedtime


    stories any longer to fall asleep peacefully.


    It turned out it was she, the mother, who couldn¡¯t leave them, not the other way around.


    Her four little darlings were growing up too fast. She felt both joy and sadness.


    Content rights by N?velDr//ama.Org.


    Thssa sniffed as she brushed off the sadness, intending to leave.


    The children were sleeping, so there was no point in her staying here.


    Just as she reached the doorway, a tall figure approached from the side, blocking her path.


    Thssa almost bumped into the man¡¯s chest, but luckily stopped in time. She looked up to see


    Lysander¡¯s deep, prating eyes, causing her heart to skip a beat. ¡°You scared me! Can¡¯t you make


    some noise when you walk?¡±


    ¡°Where are you going?¡± Lysander asked as his intense gazended on her.


    Thssa avoided his eyes. ¡°I¡­I was just going to check if the driver was still in the car.¡±


    ¡°He knocked off hours ago.¡±


    ¡°Oh, could you arrange for someone to send me home then?¡± Thssa asked hopefully.


    ¡°What do you think?¡± Lysander countered.


    As Thssa was about to respond, her wrist was grabbed, and Lysander led her upstairs without any


    exnation.


    Thssa hurried to keep up. Her heart was pounding, but she couldn¡¯t find the words to ask him to let


    go.


    He had warned her in the car earlier that if she resisted again, she would have to face severe and


    relentless consequences.


    When they reached the room, Lysander sat her down on the bed. He didn¡¯t leave, but instead leaned


    closer to her. ¡°What do you want to go home for at this ungodly hour?¡±


    Thssa shifted back in rm. His strong, masculine scent overwhelmed her and caused her heart to


    race.


    ¡°I have work tomorrow, so I need to go home and rest.¡± She replied, trying to keep her voice steady.


    ¡°You can¡¯t rest here?¡± His low, maic voice carried a dangerous undertone.


    Thssa was terrified, and her voice trembled as she nervously spoke, ¡°Lysander, you were the one


    who said men and women should keep a safe distance.¡±

 Chapter 660

    Chapter 660


    Lysander¡¯s eyes glinted with amusement before a chuckle escaped his lips. ¡°I was referring to the kids.


    Are you a kid?¡±


    Thssa¡¯s eyshes fluttered nervously as she swallowed down her fear. ¡°I¡¯m not a child, but I am a


    girl¡­¡±


    ¡°My girl. I can¡¯t touch my girl?¡± Lysander countered as his finger lifted her chin to meet his gaze. ¡°Be


    smart about this, or you won¡¯t be able to get out of bed tomorrow.¡±


    Suddenly, her eyes went wide with panic.


    Her heart pounded so hard that she could hear it in her head. She quickly rested her head against his


    chest, feeling his heartbeat, and nodded. ¡°I understand; I won¡¯t go back. I¡¯ll rest here.¡±


    With that, Lysander seemed satisfied and left for the bathroom.


    The sound of running water soon filled the room. Thssa couldn¡¯t help but subtly look towards the


    bathroom. Behind the frosted ss, a tall figure moved. His tanned skin was visible even through the


    ss, still looking well-built and imposing.


    Her breath hitched at the sight, and she quickly turned her head away, trying not to watch.


    Shey down on the bed, trying her best to ignore the bathroom and the sound of water.


    Just hearing the water was enough to stir her imagination.


    The mental image she was creating in her head was too much for her to handle.


    Eventually, the bathroom door opened, and Lysander returned. He climbed onto the bed as his warm


    chest pressed against her back.


    Thssa¡¯s body went rigid. She was frozen in ce.


    The man¡¯s chest was firm and still damp from the shower, carrying with it a powerful energy. It was as


    though his essence was seeping into her skin, filling her veins with his


    scent.


    Thssa remained still, hoping to avoid any further confrontation..


    But Lysander¡¯s long arm wrapped around her as his restless hand began exploring her.


    A warning rm red in Thssa¡¯s head. She quickly rolled over as her voice filled with annoyance.


    ¡°What are you doing?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m hungry.¡± Lysander murmured. His husky voice was appealing but also terrifying.


    Thssa¡¯s heart clenched, and she quickly backed away. ¡°I¡¯m tired, and I want to sleep. Can you


    stop?¡±


    ¡°That depends on you.¡± Lysander¡¯s deep gaze held her captive. He was calm and intimidating, like a


    lion waiting for its prey in the jungle, graceful, yet extremely dangerous.


    Thssa gripped the sheets tightly, wrinkling the previously smooth and pristine material. Her


    eyebrows furrowed as she eyed the man before her cautiously.


    He said it depended on her, so what did she have to do to satisfy him and make him leave her alone?


    His current control over her was because he was still interested in her body.


    He wouldn¡¯t let her go until he got bored, would he?


    As Thssa was musing, she remembered something Zephyr had said.


    Property of N?)(velDr(a)ma.Org.


    He¡¯d mentioned that Lysander had considered marrying her to give their kids aplete family.


    Was he really considering marrying her?


    ¡°Did you tell Captain Payne to investigate and clear my mom¡¯s name?¡± Thssa blurted out. She was


    unsure of how to act in a way that would please him.


    So, she changed the topic.


    Lysander remained silent, but his gaze never left her.


    Thssa already knew the answer.


    ¡°Thank you. I don¡¯t know if you took my mom¡¯s words into consideration about us getting married and


    starting a family. That way, I can be with the kids every day. It¡¯s a good option.¡±


    She intentionally brought this up, curious about his real thoughts.


    Did he really consider marrying her?


    After speaking, she paused. Her clear eyes never wavered as they watched him.


    His eyes darkened, bing even more unfathomable. It seemed like a giant vortex that could suck


    Thssa¡¯s soul into its depths.

 Chapter 661

    Chapter 661


    ¡°What are the benefits besides giving the kids aplete home?¡± Lysander¡¯s deep voice broke the


    silence.


    Thssa, her heart aflutter from his gaze, managed to reply. ¡°You wouldn¡¯t need to find a wife


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    anymore, and I wouldn¡¯t be homeless. It¡¯s a win-win situation. Isn¡¯t it just like being roommates?¡±


    Roommates?


    A cold glint shed in Lysander¡¯s deep-set eyes.


    The air around him turned icy, and his facial features tightened.


    ¡°You still haven¡¯t grasped your position. Any woman can covet the position of Mrs. Sinir, except you.¡±


    He coldly retorted.


    Thssa¡¯s hopeful gaze copsed in an instant. Her heart felt heavy, as if it were weighed down by a


    stone.


    After a brief moment of disappointment, sheughed it off. ¡°I see. Forgive me for not understanding


    your mind, Mr. Sinir. I can¡¯t seem to please you. Let¡¯s sleep; I have work tomorrow.¡±


    No sooner had shein down than she was pulled towards him. Thssa couldn¡¯t help but yelp in


    surprise.


    The next moment, Lysander flipped her over, pinning her beneath him.


    ¡°You¡¯re wrong. You can please me.¡±


    ¡°Wha¡­ Mmm¡­¡± Thssa, startled, was silenced by a sudden kiss. Her breath waspletely stolen


    away.


    The shadows of the trees outside their windows danced in the flickering room light.


    In the morning, sunlight streamed in through the curtains, illuminating Thssa¡¯s face and making her


    fair, oval face glow like a peeled egg.


    The warmth of the sunlight roused Thssa. She raised her hand to shield her eyes as her beautiful


    eyebrows furrowed. She then opened and closed her eyes to adjust to the light.


    When she fully adjusted, she turned to see the other side of the bed empty.


    Lysander had already gotten up.


    The images fromst night shed through her mind, causing Thssa to sit up abruptly.


    The covers slid off her, revealing the marks on her skin. Thssa gasped, quickly pulling up the covers


    to hide her shame


    She got out of bed, looking aplete mess, and headed to the bathroom. After taking a shower and


    dressing, she went downstairs.


    The breakfast table was set, but there was no one around.


    Fitch came over and said, ¡°Ms. Everhart, breakfast is ready.¡±


    Thssa asked, ¡°Where are the kids?¡±


    ¡°They got up early. They wanted to go upstairs to find you, but when they heard that you and Lysander


    were still sleeping, they ate their breakfast quietly and went to school.¡± Fitch reported with a smile on


    his face.


    His affection for the children was evident.


    Since the four little ones moved into the Royal Estates, there had been much more joy andughter


    around.


    Fitch even felt like time flew by faster while at work.


    Thssa felt slightly embarrassed. The kids, who usually didn¡¯t care about the situation or timing, had


    now started to consciously avoid disturbing her and Lysander in the morning.


    Feeling a little awkward, she thanked Fitch and quickly finished her breakfast.


    After breakfast, she followed Fitch outside, where a driver was waiting to take her to work.


    Thanks to the Royal Estates¡¯ driver, she wasn¡¯tte for work.


    She arrived at the secretary¡¯s office just in time for her shift at nine o¡¯clock.


    Luckily, she hadn¡¯t beente, so she heaved a sigh of relief.


    ¡°Thssa, you¡¯ve had breakfast, right?¡± Betty approached her,


    Thssa nodded. ¡°Yes, I have.¡±


    ¡°Get ready. We¡¯re going to Leossa Tech with Mr. Ethan to deliver the mobile phone production


    materials.¡± Betty paused, then added curiously, ¡°Strange. Didn¡¯t you fail to secure a deal with the


    Sinir Group? Why did Leossa Tech, a subsidiary of the Sinir Group, ept our order?¡±

 Chapter 662

    Chapter 662


    Upon hearing Betty¡¯s query, Thssa guiltily averted her gaze. Her eyshes fluttered as she


    chuckled softly.


    ¡°Perhaps Mr. Ethan has worked his magic again.¡± She suggested.


    A light bulb seemed to go off in Betty¡¯s mind. ¡°Right! Mr. Ethan attended the funeral of Mr. Sinir¡¯s


    grandmother yesterday. He must have a good rtionship with Mr. Sinir. It¡¯s a small deal, and with


    Mr. Ethan on the case, it¡¯s as good as done.¡±


    Thssa¡¯s lips twitched into a smile. ¡°Indeed.¡±


    ¡°It seems I underestimated the Sinir Group.¡± Betty mused, regretting having doubted Ethan


    Crawley¡¯s judgment. ¡°I shouldn¡¯t have questioned Mr. Ethan¡¯s decision to coborate with them.¡±


    Betty was kicking herself for her previous misgivings. She had assumed that because the Sinir


    Group did not deal in electronics, they would not have the necessary facilities to properly coborate


    with them. She thought the partnership was merely a way for the Sinir Group to serve as a


    middleman and source out factories from elsewhere.


    How narrow-minded of her.


    ¡°Speaking of which, this Mr. Sinir is rather impressive.¡± She continued. ¡°Just two months ago, he


    acquired the electronicspany, Leossa Tech. Now, thanks to his coboration with Mr. Ethan, its


    factory can help the Crawley Group manufacture mobile phones.¡±


    As Betty spoke, she busied herself with organizing some documents. Suddenly, a thought struck her,


    and she turned to Thssa with her curiosity piqued. ¡°Hey, this Leossa Tech. There¡¯s a ¡®ssa¡¯ in the


    name. Does it have anything to do with you?¡±


    Taken aback, Thssa was quick to deny any connection. ¡°Of course not! If I owned apany, do


    you think I¡¯d still be working here?¡±


    Betty nodded, epting her exnation. ¡°Fair point.¡±


    ¡°Pack up quickly. We¡¯re about to leave.¡± Betty urged.


    ¡°Right.¡± Thssa responded and hastily tidied up her workspace.


    Life was indeed unpredictable. Lysander had bought Leopold¡¯spany and was now using it to


    manufacture phones for him. To Thssa, this was as absurd as dating someone¡¯s girlfriend, only to


    have them start calling her their aunt.


    Upon this realization, Thssa felt a surge of sympathy for both Leopold and herself.


    Thssa, Ethan, and Betty arrived at the Leossa Tech factory, where workers were busy unloading raw


    materials from trucks.


    Ethan led Thssa and Betty on a tour of the factory. Since the products were being manufactured for


    the Crawley Group, the responsibility for any issues would fall on them. Thus, Ethan insisted on


    meticulously verifying the quality of each piece of equipment as well as all the facilities in the factory.


    Despite trusting Lysander, Ethan was meticulous and liked to personally ensure everything was in


    order.


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    As the factory manager guided Ethan around, Thssa and Betty followed behind. They were passing


    through a workshop when suddenly, a hand reached out, grabbing Thssa¡¯s arm and pulling her


    aside.


    Startled, Thssa was about to scream when a familiar, serious voice reassured her. ¡°Thssa, it¡¯s


    me.¡±


    After recognizing that it was Leopold, Thssa let out a sigh of relief. ¡°What are you doing here?¡± She


    asked after ncing back at Ethan and Betty, who had not yet noticed her disappearance.


    Leopold was standing in front of a machine, using it to shield them from view.


    ¡°This used to be my factory, so I just came to check on it.¡± He replied. ¡°I was nning to start a retail


    business and didn¡¯t want to coborate with the Sinir Group, but Ethan still contracted it out to


    them.¡±


    Leopold¡¯s brow furrowed slightly. He didn¡¯t want to mix his business with Lysander, just as he didn¡¯t


    want Thssa to be involved with Lysander. But in the end, the oue left him heartbroken and


    helpless.


    Thssa understood Leopold¡¯s feelings and tried to softlyfort him. ¡°The Crawley Group¡¯s factory


    was temporarily shut down due to quality control issues, but it will be back up and running in a week.


    From then on, you¡¯ll be dealing with the Crawley Group, not the Sinir Group.¡±


    Leopold¡¯s determination to start anew warmed Thssa¡¯s heart.

 Chapter 663

    Chapter 663


    She didn¡¯t want to see him back down because of this and give up on the venture he had so


    strenuously prepared to embark on.


    ¡°Do you think I should continue?¡± Leopold asked Thssa. His eyes were serious and solemn as he


    sought her advice.


    Thssa nodded. ¡°Of course. This is the beginning of your new life. Just as I hope you and Debby will


    have a happy future together.¡±


    Leopold suddenly gripped her hand as his voice began to tremble with emotion. ¡°Thssa, there¡¯s


    nothing between me and Debby. We just had dinner together.¡±


    He had contemted giving up on Thssa so he could find someone else and start anew.


    He had given Debby a chance, hoping that by spending time with her, he could forget Thssa and


    that fall for Debby.


    Even when he saw Thssa having dinner with Lysander, he deliberately stayed close to Debby, trying


    to show Thssa that he was capable of moving on.


    But he found out that he couldn¡¯t.


    He couldn¡¯t forget Thssa. He couldn¡¯t let her go, and he definitely couldn¡¯t fall for Debby. He couldn¡¯t


    even pretend to do so.


    Giving up on Thssa was as painful as carving out his own heart.


    But if he didn¡¯t give up, at least there would still be hope.


    Thssa felt his agitation and depth of feeling in his grip. Her heart nearly stopped as she quickly


    withdrew her hand from his, avoiding his gaze. ¡°Leopold, don¡¯t do this. Debby¡¯s great, and you should


    cherish her. I¡¯m leaving.¡±


    With that, she turned and walked away.


    As she turned, a glimpse of a love bite on her neck was revealed under the movement of her skin.


    Leopold¡¯s eyes stung at the sight, and his heart felt like it had broken into a thousand pieces.


    His fists clenched, and his entire body trembled as his eyes reddened in sorrow.


    ¡°Thssa, where were you just now? I couldn¡¯t find you.¡± Betty asked in a low voice as she noticed


    Thssa¡¯s quickened pace.


    Thssa answered, ¡°I went to the restroom.¡±


    ¡°Oh, we¡¯re about to have lunch soon. You should book a restaurant. Keep the receipt, so thepany


    can reimburse you.¡±


    ¡°Sure.¡± Thssa turned and walked out of the factory.


    She nced back at the machine where Leopold had been, but he was no longer there. She scanned


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    the entire factory but didn¡¯t see him anywhere.


    He must have left.


    Thssa lowered her gaze and exited the factory.


    She was living a new life now, so she sincerely hoped that Leopold could let go of the past and start


    anew.


    That would be best for both of them.


    If Lysander found out she had seen Leopold, he would be furious.


    Lysander¡¯s anger was not something she or Leopold wanted to face.


    She didn¡¯t want Lysander to destroy Leopold¡¯s new venture, nor did she want to see Lysander¡¯s


    terrifying cruelty towards her.


    Thssa booked a restaurant near the factory, and at noon, she, Ethan, the factory manager, and a


    few other responsible personnel had lunch.


    Afterwards, Ethan took Thssa and Betty back to the office.


    In the afternoon, as Thssa was about to report to Ethan in his office, a small figure suddenly burst


    from the office, crashing into her legs with a childish ¡°Ouch.¡±

 Chapter 664

    Chapter 664


    Thssa cast her gaze downward at the chubby little boy before her. His round, soft face reminded her


    of a plump, milk-vored jello.


    ¡°Sweetie, did you hurt your head? Let me rub it for you.¡± Thssa spoke softly as she reached out to


    gently massage the boy¡¯s tender scalp.


    The little tyke looked to be about four or five years old. He was around the same age as her own


    darling children.


    His eyes stared curiously at Thssa. He didn¡¯t move as she soothed his head. He felt an inexplicable


    sense offort around this woman.


    ¡°Dn, I told you to slow down. Now you¡¯ve bumped into someone.¡± Ethan emerged from his office,


    pulling the boy away from Thssa with a stern expression.


    Upon hearing Ethan call out the boy¡¯s name, Thssa looked at him curiously.


    His name was Dn?


    Just yesterday, Elowen mentioned that she had kissed a boy named Dn, describing his face as jello-


    like.


    The boy standing before her fit Elowen¡¯s description perfectly.


    Could it be that Elowen had kissed this very boy that was in front of her right now?


    ¡°Sorry, ma¡¯am. I didn¡¯t mean to.¡± The little guy apologized as his face saddened with remorse.


    Thssa smiled warmly and reassured him that nothing was wrong. ¡°It¡¯s okay, no harm done.¡±


    ¡°Are you here by yourself? Where¡¯s your dad?¡± Ethan asked,


    ¡°Dad dropped me off. He left as soon as we reached the door.¡± Dn replied as he scratched his


    head.


    Ethan sighed while shaking the test paper in his hand. ¡°You only scored E on your Spanish test?¡±


    The little guy had only managed to score E?! As soon as they entered the office, Ethan was handed the


    test paper.


    The implication was clear. His unreliable brother wanted him to tutor his nephew in Spanish.


    Ethan was speechless. How did he end up with such a responsibility?


    ¡°The test was too hard. I didn¡¯t know a lot of the words.¡± Dn confessed as his small hand scratched


    his head sheepishly.


    ¡°Well then, you should go home and ask your dad for help.¡± Ethan said, preparing to send him home.


    But Dn stubbornly gripped the door frame, refusing to leave. ¡°Dad said you¡¯re great at Spanish and


    Property of N?)(velDr(a)ma.Org.


    that you¡¯d help me.¡±


    Ethan sighed and rubbed his forehead in exasperation. His brother was always finding new ways to


    trick him.


    ¡°Listen, kiddo, my Spanish isn¡¯t that great either. And I have a lot of work to do. How about this? I¡¯ll find


    someone to tutor you.¡± Ethan¡¯s eyes slowlynded on Thssa.


    Thssa was taken aback as she met his calcting gaze. ¡°What are you looking at me for?¡±


    ¡°Ms. Everhart, I¡¯m sure tutoring in Spanish won¡¯t be a big deal for you. For today and tomorrow, your


    main task will be to exin this test paper and help Dn understand his mistakes. Sound good?¡±


    He shamelessly handed her the test paper.


    Thssa nced at the paper, marked with a ¡®E.¡¯


    She had earned her Spanish proficiency certificate in her first year of college, after all.


    Plus, this little boy was named Dn. He was Elowen¡¯s ssmate and the boy she had kissed. Elowen


    clearly had a soft spot for him.


    Tutoring him would give her a chance to better understand the boy and keep an eye on the situation.


    Such was the life of a mother. She was always worrying.


    With this in mind, Thssa epted Ethan¡¯s task. ¡°Alright, Mr. Ethan.¡±


    ¡°Great! Take him to your office for the lesson. When it¡¯s time for you to clock out, just bring him to my


    office.¡± Ethan pushed Dn towards Thssa before turning back to his office.


    Thssa took the boy¡¯s hand and led him to her office.


    Upon seeing the child, Betty looked curious and couldn¡¯t help asking Thssa a few questions.

 Chapter 665

    Chapter 665


    When Thssa mentioned that he was Ethan¡¯s nephew, whom she was tutoring in Spanish, Betty


    didn¡¯t press for more details.


    Thssa initially assumed that the Spanish level of the kindergarten boy would be easy to handle, but


    Property of N?)(velDr(a)ma.Org.


    when she saw the test paper, she realized she had vastly underestimated the situation.


    The difficulty of the Spanish test was beyond what she had encountered for her Spanish exams.


    If she had to sit for this test, she wasn¡¯t sure if she¡¯d even score a E!


    Was this the standard for kindergarten these days?


    Thssa stared at the test paper, looking dumbfounded. It was as if she were trying to decipher


    hieroglyphics.


    Dn timidly asked, ¡°Ma¡¯am, do you understand it?¡±


    Thssa snapped back to reality as her eyes widened with disbelief. ¡°Is this a kindergarten test?¡±


    Dn shook his head. ¡°My dad is nning to send me abroad for school. This is a sample entrance


    exam.¡±


    Oh, Lord, no wonder it was so hard!


    Thssa instantly regretted taking on this challenging task.


    Swallowing a lump in her throat, she admitted, ¡°I¡¯m not familiar with it. Let me consult someone else.¡±


    She showed the test paper to Betty, who, after one look, confessed she was of no help either.


    Suddenly, Thssa understood why Ethan had given her two days to prep Dn for the test.


    This was not going to be easy. Two days were barely enough to prepare for this.


    ¡°Ma¡¯am, do you not understand?¡± Dn asked while tilting his little head.


    Caught off guard, Thssa decided to wing it and bluff. ¡°Of course I do. It¡¯s just been a while since I¡¯ve


    learned Spanish. I need to check a dictionary.¡±


    After all, Dn was her daughter Elowen¡¯s crush. As a mother, Thssa couldn¡¯t let her down.


    She had to impress this little man.


    But truth be told, it had been years since she had used Spanish, and she had forgotten most of the


    vocabry.


    Thssa juggled between tutoring Dn and checking the dictionary. Before she knew it, it was time to


    call it a day.


    Ethan arrived to pick up Dn.


    Apologetically, Thssa confessed the hardships she was acing. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, we didn¡¯t get through the


    entire test. There were too many words I didn¡¯t know.¡± ¡°It¡¯s fine. Take it home and go over it. We¡¯ll


    continue tomorrow.¡± Ethan replied as he left with Dn.


    Thssa sighed as she looked at the test paper in her hand.


    As she stepped out of the office, intending to hail a cab, a sleek ck car pulled up in front of her. Its


    luxurious sheen even glinted under the sun.


    i


    The car window rolled down, revealing a stunningly handsome man with perfect features. His imposing


    aura seemed to slow down the pace of everything around him.


    ¡°Mr. Sinir.¡± Thssa acknowledged the man in the car with a hint of apprehension in her


    eyes.


    ¡°Get in.¡± Lysandermanded her in a deep voice.


    Thssa hesitated momentarily but eventuallyplied.


    She had paid the price for defying him too many times to even think about trying again.


    As Thssa settled into the plush leather seats, she was acutely aware of Lysander¡¯s intimidating


    presence. Her heart pounded, and she found it difficult to even breathe normally.


    She couldn¡¯t help but wonder why Lysander hade to the Crawley Group building.


    Had hee specifically to pick her up from work?

 Chapter 666

    Chapter 666


    The car pulled up in front of the opulent Royal Estates. First to step out was Lysander, followed closely


    by Thssa. As they entered the grand foyer, their four little cherubs came rushing towards them in a


    hriouspetition to see who could reach their mom first.


    Thssa bent down to scoop up Sophia, who had won the race. Gently, she tucked a stray lock of hair


    behind her daughter¡¯s ear. Her voice was soft and affectionate as she said, ¡°Did you have fun at


    preschool today?¡±


    ¡°Yes, it was fun. Today, the teacher taught us how to restore old paintings. The teacher praised me and


    said I was the best.¡± Sophia¡¯s face beamed with delight. She was so proud that she couldn¡¯t help but


    share the good news with her mom.


    ¡°That¡¯s my girl. You make Mommy so proud.¡± Thssa cooed, nting a quick kiss on her chubby little


    cheek.


    Sophia smiled shyly as her eyes sparkled with unparalleled happiness.


    Meanwhile, Elowen was tugging at Thssa¡¯s leg. Her small head tilted up to look at her mom as she


    cutely said, ¡°Me too. I¡¯m good, too. The teacher said I¡¯m really good at eating.¡±


    She was desperate for her mom¡¯s praise. Her plump little face was flushed with anticipation. Elowen


    was enrolled in a gourmet appreciation ss. Apart from the usual lessons, her school day revolved


    around food.


    Elowen¡¯s cute voice, coupled with her chubby cheeks and sparkling eyes, made her so adorable that


    no one on earth could resist showering her with affection


    Thssa couldn¡¯t help but chuckle as she bent down to stroke Elowen¡¯s face. ¡°Yes, Elowen, you¡¯re


    amazing. You¡¯re a real gourmet champion.¡±


    ¡°Mommy, I didn¡¯t get any praise from the teacher.¡± Dorian said with a pout, looking dejected.


    ¡°It¡¯s okay, Dorian. You¡¯re an amazing big brother, and you take care of your sisters so well.¡± Thssa


    Dorian¡¯s face lit up. ¡°Yes, yes, I love my sisters and my mommy the most.¡±


    Thssa smiled warmly at her son¡¯s deration.


    Meanwhile, Atticus stood a little distance away from Thssa. He wasn¡¯t looking at his mom, but rather


    at Lysander. His gaze made it seem like he was alienating his father.


    Lysander was also looking at him. Their eyes were locked; it was as if they were engaged in a silent


    battle of wills.


    Thssa noticed the tension and followed Atticus¡¯ gaze. The sight of Lysander¡¯s intense gaze fixed on


    Atticus was a bit unsettling.


    They were father and son, one with a gaze deep and brooding, the other with eyes youthful and


    Property of N?)(velDr(a)ma.Org.


    stubborn. The air between them seemed to crackle as they each uttered an unspoken challenge to


    each other.


    Thssa stepped in, blocking Lysander¡¯s view. She asked Atticus cautiously, ¡°What¡¯s wrong, sweetie?


    Are you upset?¡±


    The question was like a dam breaker. Atticus buried his face in Thssa¡¯s leg as he expressed his


    sorrow through a pained voice. ¡°Dad took away all my tablets.¡±


    He wanted to cry, but he was bravely holding back his tears.


    Thssa felt sympathy wash over her. She quickly crouched down and ced Sophia gently on the


    floor, then enveloped Atticus, in aforting hug. Softly, she asked, ¡°What happened, baby? Tell


    Mommy.¡±


    Atticus didn¡¯t respond, but his tiny body nestled against Thssa. He only acted vulnerable with his


    mother.


    Thssa held him close and stroked his back, offering silentfort. She wasn¡¯t sure what had


    happened, so she chose to stay quiet.


    Lysander, on the other hand, walked over to the couch and took a seat. His authoritative presence filled


    the room as he gave out an order to Fitch. ¡°Tell the kitchen to prepare seafood tonight.¡±


    ¡°Of course, Lysander.¡± Fitch answered respectfully.


    Although Lysander didn¡¯t say anything, his aura alone was intimidating enough. Even though he was a


    distance away from Thssa and the kids, his silent authority hung in the air, making it harder for


    anyone to speak freely or even breathe.


    With Atticus unwilling to talk, Thssa couldn¡¯t force it out of him. All she could do was offer him a


    <pforting embrace, hoping it would help him rx.

 Chapter 667

    Chapter 667


    Atticus and Lysander were once again at odds, and Thssa couldn¡¯t exactly pinpoint why.


    ¡°Mom, Atticus was ying video games with us in the yroom, and then Dad came in and took away


    all the tablets.¡± Elowen¡¯s voice was a soft whisper ofint.


    With that one sentence, Thssa had a pretty good idea about the root of the issue.


    Atticus had been ying video games with his younger siblings, and Lysander didn¡¯t approve. So, he


    confiscated all the tablets Atticus owned.


    Lysander was probably worried that the kids would strain their eyes or be addicted to gaming. His


    intentions were good, but his method ofmunication was wed.


    Atticus thought his father was mad at him. He thought his father even despised him, so he felt hurt and


    wronged.


    Ack ofmunication had caused the conflict.


    Was this why Lysander had picked her up from work today?


    After cing her hands gently on Atticus¡¯ shoulders, Thssa looked at him with tender eyes. ¡°Atticus,


    your dad is worried about you and your siblings straining your eyes. Moreover, kids can¡¯t be overly


    reliant on video games. You¡¯re studying electronics, but your siblings aren¡¯t. If they get too hooked on


    games, they might not perform well in their own fields. Your dad did this because he loves you.¡±


    Upon hearing this, Atticus¡¯ teary eyes softened. His feelings of hurt and resentment toward his father


    slowly faded away.


    Not far away, Lysander, sitting on the couch, felt a subtle tremor course through his body. His eyes


    shone with surprise as he gazed at Thssa.


    She hadn¡¯t used this situation to drive a wedge between him and his children, hadn¡¯t spoken ill of him,


    nor had she made the kids resent him.


    Instead, she had exined to them that he loved them.


    Even though that was his intention, he himself wasn¡¯t willing to exin it to the kids this way.


    But Thssa did.


    This is the property of N?-velDrama.Org.


    Lysander¡¯s gaze turned softer as he continued to watch Thssa, as a gentle light reced the usually


    cold glint in his eyes.


    Dinner was a seafood feast, a favorite of the four kids and Thssa.


    The house staff stood by, peeling shrimp for the kids.


    With Thssa there, the dinner table was filled withughter and joy, and the kids ate happily and


    contentedly.


    Thssa was quite full after dinner.


    After dinner, Thssa and the house staff helped the kids take their baths. One by one, she turned off


    the lights in their rooms, closed their doors, and left them to sleep. They were all old enough to sleep


    on their own now.


    Elowen even urged Thssa to go sleep with Lysander again.


    Every time Elowen said this, Thssa¡¯s face would flush a bright red as embarrassment washed over


    her.


    While Lysander was still working in his study, Thssa took a bath andy in bed, examining Dn¡¯s


    test paper.


    She was using her phone to look up some words.


    Suddenly, the door opened, and a strong, masculine presence filled the room.


    Thssa turned her head to see Lysander¡¯s tall figure entering the room. His short hair was neatly


    With long strides, he walked towards her.


    Thssa¡¯s breath hitched, and she instinctively prepared to put away the test paper


    ¡°Is there something you don¡¯t want me to see?¡± Lysander asked with a hint of sharpness in his eyes as


    he took the test paper from her.


    He nced at the paper and saw the score and the name on it.


    His brows furrowed. ¡°Dn?¡±

 Chapter 668

    Chapter 668


    Lysander recalled that this was the name of the little boy Elowen had mentioned yesterday.


    The little boy might have swept his daughter off her feet.


    Lysander cast a deep, prating gaze at Thssa.


    Thssa didn¡¯t know why she felt nervous. She was simply going through a test paper.


    Even if Lysander saw it, it wouldn¡¯t matter. Yet, when she saw him, she instinctively hid the rest of the


    study material.


    It felt as if she weren¡¯t allowed to do anything in front of him unless it was to cater to his physiological


    needs.


    His powerful aura invaded her space, prompting her to instinctively hide anything that didn¡¯t concern


    him, fearing what would happen if he discovered them.


    Under Lysander¡¯s oppressive gaze, Thssa tried to nervously exin. ¡°He¡¯s Mr. Ethan¡¯s nephew. Mr.


    Ethan asked me to tutor him in Spanish. I was nning to understand all the questions today, so I


    could exin them to him tomorrow.¡±


    ¡°So why are you hiding?¡± Lysander¡¯s deep gaze scrutinized her, not giving her a chance to dodge his


    questions.


    ¡°I don¡¯t know. It¡¯s just an instinctive reaction.¡± Thssa confessed honestly.


    Wasn¡¯t it because you scare me? She thought.


    Every time she had any interaction with others or did anything unrted to him in his presence, it would


    be a reason for him to punish her.


    She was traumatized.


    Lysander saw that she was looking at him without any guilt. His eyes darkened slightly, and he casually


    threw the exam paper on the nightstand. ¡°It¡¯ste. Go to sleep.¡±


    ¡°But I haven¡¯t understood this paper yet. I won¡¯t be able to tutor him tomorrow.¡± Thssa didn¡¯t want to


    sleep yet.


    It was only ten o¡¯clock. If he couldn¡¯t sleep and wanted to do some other things¡­


    Thssa tried to dy the inevitable as much as possible, hoping that both of them would be too tired


    to do anything else but sleep.


    ¡°Then don¡¯t tutor him.¡± Lysander loosened his tie, speaking nonchntly.


    Thssa¡¯s heart raced as she watched him remove his tie, and she instinctively moved closer to get


    back the paper. ¡°But it¡¯s my job.¡±


    Lysander hung his tie on the hanger and began unbuttoning his shirt, revealing his firm corbone, lean


    chest, and clearly defined abs, which were a sight for Thssa¡¯s


    eyes.


    His manly scent spread invisibly in the air.


    Content rights by N?velDr//ama.Org.


    Her heart raced even faster, and she gripped the bed sheet tightly and swallowed hard.


    Lysander was indeed in great shape. He was tall, strong, and noble. His muscles were well-defined but


    not showy, exuding a lean and powerful beauty.


    Just looking at him was enough to make one blush.


    Thssa¡¯s breathing became more hurried and unstable. She mentally prepared herself to withstand


    whatever was toe next.


    Once Lysander removed his shirt, Thssa quickly closed her eyes.


    Lysander took a nce at her, noticing her tense and nervous look. He tossed his shirt on the hanger


    and strode into the bathroom, leaving Thssa alone.


    After hearing the door close, Thssa finally opened her eyes.


    Lysander¡¯s tall figure was no longer there, and the sound of running water came from the bathroom.


    She realized that Lysander had gone to take a shower.


    She took a deep breath and continued going through the paper.


    When Lysander came out of the shower with wet hair, he saw Thssa biting her finger and furrowing


    her brows in concentration as she stared at the exam paper in frustration.


    Seeing her so focused and serious was somewhat endearing.


    Lysander approached her and spoke, but his deep voice seemed to have been muffled by the steam.


    ¡°What don¡¯t you understand?¡±


    His sudden question startled Thssa. She looked at Lysander as her eyes widened in surprise at the


    sight of his abs, which were still glistening from the water and reflecting a sensual glow that made her


    heart race.


    Thssa felt a sudden heat surge up from her heart, making her face feel hot, like she had just been


    soaked in hot water. Her nose was ready to bleed at any second.


    Thssa was caught off guard by this alluring sight, leaving her startled. Her breath hitched, and she


    quickly lowered her head to avoid looking at him.


    She stuttered, ¡°I¡­I don¡¯t understand the¡­the grammar.¡±

 Chapter 669

    Chapter 669


    As she finished speaking, she felt a weight shift onto the edge of the bed that caused the mattress to


    dip slightly.


    When she looked up again, Lysander was already sitting on the bed. He was tucked up under the


    covers; his unbuttoned nightshirt was now buttoned up halfway. His alluring, chiseled abs were hidden


    under the thin fabric of his nightshirt.


    Thssa let out a quiet sigh of relief.


    Lysander was holding his phone; his long, slender fingers were tapping on the screen, paying her no


    mind.


    Thssa withdrew her gaze quietly and returned to the test paper, on which the foreign grammar was


    as iprehensible to her as an astronomy textbook.


    After wrestling with the problem for a while, she suddenly remembered that she had a genius right


    beside her.


    Why not ask Lysander? He would undoubtedly understand!


    She had taken on the task of tutoring this test paper, after all. Now that she had epted it, she had to


    do it well.


    She wanted Dn, the young boy she was tutoring, to be impressed with her. She didn¡¯t want to


    embarrass her daughter in front of her ssmates.


    From time to time, she would turn her head to look at Lysander, hesitant to speak,


    After repeating this several times, Lysander put down his phone and nced over at her, ¡°What is it?¡±


    Thssa chuckled nervously and asked humbly for his help, ¡°Um, could you teach me how to use this


    grammar rule?¡±


    She held the test paper in front of him, pointing to the question she didn¡¯t understand.


    Instead of looking at the test paper, he riveted his deep-set eyes on her, ¡°This is your job, not mine.¡±


    The corners of Thssa¡¯s mouth twitched awkwardly. Of course she knew this was her job. That¡¯s why


    she was asking for his help


    ¡°I know, but I really don¡¯t understand this question and I can¡¯t find the answer on my phone,¡± Thssa


    said.


    ¡°What¡¯s in it for me?¡± Lysander asked leisurely.


    Thssa paused, then gathered her courage and said, ¡°Dn is the boy Elowen is fond of, and after I


    tutor him, I can chat with him to know his temperament and preferences. By the way, I¡¯ll casually ask


    him what he thinks of Elowen.¡±


    This reason sessfully persuaded Lysander.


    He took the test paper and read the paragraph on it. His pronunciation was clear and fluent.


    Property of N?)(velDr(a)ma.Org.


    As his pleasant voice became even more maic and seductive, Thssa waspletely


    captivated.


    An exceptional man truly had an irresistible charm.


    ¡°Did you understand?¡± Lysander¡¯s voice inquired in her ear.


    Thssa snapped back to reality with a confused look on her face, ¡°Huh?¡±


    ¡°The grammar rule,¡± Lysander repeated.


    Thssa blinked nkly. She had been so engrossed in his voice and drawn to his charm that she


    hadn¡¯t heard what he had exined.


    How embarrassing.


    Lysander didn¡¯t seem bothered. He wrapped his long arm around her slender waist and pulled her


    closer to him.


    Before Thssa could even react, she was sitting right next to him, close enough to hear him clearly.


    Lysander pointed to the question on the test paper and continued his exnation


    Thssa rallied her spirits, leaning in to listen to his exnation with rapt attention.


    They were so close that their faces were almost touching. The musky scent of his breath, tinged with a


    hint of sandalwood, sprayed onto Thssa¡¯s earlobe.


    ¡°Did you understand this time?¡± Lysander asked, lifting his head. His gazended on her flushed


    earlobe, and something tightened in his throat.


    Thssa also lifted her head and nodded, ¡°I understand now.¡±


    SEEF 6 2 F S F


    She froze while looking into Lysander¡¯s deep, ocean-like eyes. Her breath was also hitching.


    As their eyes locked, a charged tension filled the air.


    Thssa stared into Lysander¡¯s deep, smoky eyes; her breath was growing heavier and her heartbeat


    was quickening.


    Lysander lifted her chin with his finger. His face was getting closer, as well as his lips.


    Thssa¡¯s breath hitched. She slowly closed her eyes to wait for his kiss.

 Chapter 670

    Chapter 670


    As Lysander¡¯s presence neared, she felt was a potent mix of masculinity and raw power. His heavy


    breath intertwined with Thssa¡¯s in a subtle manner.


    His lips met Thssa¡¯s in a soft brush as a butterfly¡¯s wings.


    Thssa¡¯s body jerked in response.


    Lysander¡¯s deep-set gaze went dim; his body and mind were aligning on the same front. They both


    desired her.


    He bit her lips and devoured them.


    Thssa¡¯s body wentx; her hands were clutching his pajamas instinctively.


    Just as their emotions were hitting a crescendo, the shrill ring of a cellphone from the bedside table cut


    through the room.


    Thssa flinched and startled like a deer in headlights. She pushed Lysander away and averted her


    gaze; her eyes were shimmering and darting elsewhere.


    Lysander was left unsatisfied; his eyes were filled with displeasure at the interruption.


    Snatching up the phone, he answered in a sharp tone, ¡°What is it?¡±


    David all tensed up the other end of the line due to the unexpected dose of his boss¡¯s anger. He


    reported cautiously, ¡°Mr. Sinir, Bruce just bought a mansion worth a billion dors. The transaction


    has just been finished.¡±


    The conversation was projected through the speaker through the voice call.


    Not only did Lysander hear it, but Thssa also heard it loud and clear.


    Thssa¡¯s heart clenched. She shot a disbelieving look at Lysander.


    What did David just say? Bruce bought a mansion worth a billion dors? Where did he get so much


    money?


    As she was staring at Lysander in surprise, he was looking back at her too. The deepness and intensity


    in his eyes were receding and reced by an icy sharpness.


    Thssa¡¯s boiling body froze right down to her pores as their eyes met.


    She quickly reached for her phone from the other side of the bed to check her messages.


    Sure enough, there was a notification for a bank transaction. Five minutes ago, a billion dors was


    deducted from her ount!


    Thssa¡¯s hand trembled as she held her phone; her mind became a nk te.


    Bruce used her card to buy the mansion!


    But didn¡¯t she give that card back to Lysander?


    Lysander ended the call and tossed his phone aside. He grabbed Thssa¡¯s chin, forcing her to face


    him..


    His handsome face was taut as cold as ice, ¡°I returned the card to you so you could buy things you


    liked. And you¡­you used my money to support your dad. Is this how you repay me?¡±


    Lysander¡¯s eyes flickered with rage, his grip tightening.


    He put the card in her bag for her to spend as she wished.


    It was the billion and ten million that their son Atticus had slyly taken from him. It was Atticus¡¯ filial gift to


    her.


    He respected Atticus.


    Thssa¡¯s chin throbbed in Lysander¡¯s grip, her head pounding with pain. She grabbed his hand and


    pleaded, ¡°Lysander, listen to me¡­¡±


    ¡°To your excuses?¡± Lysander spat out; his anger made his breath ragged. He let go of her chin, got up,


    stormed out of the room, and mmed the door behind him.


    The heavy sound of the door closing echoed in Thssa¡¯s heart; even her soul was trembling with the


    Property of N?)(velDr(a)ma.Org.


    impact.


    She rubbed her sore chin, brows furrowed in confusion. She had no idea what was happening.


    Lysander said he had put the card back in her bag?


    She had no clue about it.


    How did the card end up with Bruce?


    She had no idea Lysander had returned the card to her, let alone given it to Bruce.

 Chapter 671

    Chapter 671


    She hadn¡¯t seen Bruce in a while, so the only exnation she could think of was her mother¡¯s


    meddling.


    Lysander had never liked her. Now, he probably thought she¡¯d given his money to Bruce for a luxury


    mansion.


    And he would think that she was sticking around just to bleed him dry.


    She was no better than Bruce in his eyes, or perhaps even worse. He must loathe her by now.


    No wonder he told her she could never hope to be Mrs. Sinir. Anyone could aspire to that


    position, anyone but her. She simply wasn¡¯t good enough.


    He hadn¡¯t killed her yet, and that was the greatest kindness he could show her.


    Lysander didn¡¯t return to their room that night. Thssa wanted to leave, but it waste and the driver


    had already gone home. Even if she managed to leave the Royal Estates, there were no cabs on the


    road.


    She¡¯d have to wait until morning.


    Sitting on the edge of her bed, her mind was a whirlwind of anxiety and confusion.


    If Lysander wasn¡¯t in the master bedroom, where was he?


    She didn¡¯t dare go looking for him.


    In the end, Thssa sumbed to her exhaustion and fell asleep; but it was a restless slumber.


    She woke up at six in the morning, hurriedly got dressed, and went downstairs.


    Seeing Fitch tidying up the dining table, she asked, ¡°Where¡¯s Lysander?¡±


    ¡°Lysander left a while ago.¡± Fitch replied, ¡°He skipped breakfast and seemed upset. Did you two have a


    fight?¡±


    Thssa felt her heart sink at his question. She wasn¡¯t sure how to respond, so she simply said, ¡°No.¡±


    How could she and Lysander have a fight? There was no such thing in their rtionship.


    Fights happened between equals, couples, or spouses.


    But she and Lysander were neither a couple nor equals. There was no room for fights.


    Instead of rushing to work, Thssa waited for the kids to wake up and had breakfast with them. She


    then apanied Fitch as he drove them to school.


    Property of N?)(velDr(a)ma.Org.


    It was only after she watched them walk into the kindergarten that she left for work.


    Dn arrived in the morning. Luckily, Thssa had figured out all the problems on the test paper the


    night before, so tutoring him was smooth sailing.


    ¡°Ma¡¯am, did you not sleep well? You¡¯ve got dark circles under your eyes. You look like a roon,¡±


    Dn asked curiously, tilting his little head.


    Thssa snapped back to reality. She gave him a distracted smile, ¡°Yes, I didn¡¯t sleep well.¡±


    ¡°Why? Was it because of my test paper?¡± Dn asked innocently. Before Thssa could respond, he


    added, ¡°I wish my parents were as dedicated as you. They don¡¯t love me; that¡¯s why they don¡¯t spend


    time with me.¡±


    The little boy¡¯s eyes dimmed, his mouth pouting in sorrow.


    ¡°Your parents do love you, Dn. They just have their own ways of showing it.¡± Thssa reassured


    him. She couldn¡¯t let him grow up believing his parents didn¡¯t care for him. It wouldn¡¯t be good for his


    development.


    ¡°Ma¡¯am, do you have kids?¡± Dn asked.


    Thssa¡¯s smile softened, ¡°Yes, I do. Her name is Elowen.¡±


    ¡°Elowen? We have a girl named Elowen Sinir in our ss. Her name is also Elowen.¡± Dn chimed


    in. His eyes, lit up when he mentioned Elowen.


    Thssa realized then that Lysander had changed their kids¡¯st name to his own.


    He had made such a major decision, changing the children¡¯sst name, without consulting her. If she


    hadn¡¯t heard it from Dn, she wouldn¡¯t even have known. Thssa felt a deep pang of sorrow and


    helplessness. From the moment Lysander took their children away, she¡¯d lost all rights to make


    decisions for them.


    ¡°That¡¯s my daughter. She¡¯s taken her father¡¯sst name now. Do you think Elowen is cute?¡± Thssa


    asked Dn, pushing down her sorrow for the moment.

 Chapter 672

    Chapter 672


    ¡°Well, Elowen is your daughter?¡± Dn eximed as he met Thssa¡¯s expectant gaze.


    His head dropped bashfully; his full cheeks flushed a rosy hue as he shyly admitted, ¡°Elowen is really


    cute¡­¡±


    His face reddened even more at his own words, just as Elowen had observed, turning as red as an


    apple.


    He was a timid boy, easily embarrassed. But he was exceptionally bright for his age.


    As a smalld, he was now preparing for examination for going abroad.


    Seeing his chubby appearance, he must be a little foodie just like Elowen.


    Hearing him say that Elowen was cute, Thssa, as a mother, was delighted. She reached out and


    Property of N?)(velDr(a)ma.Org.


    ruffled his hair. ¡°Be friends with Elowen. Look out for each other. I believe you two will get along really


    well and be the best of friends.¡±


    ¡°Yes, best friends,¡± Dn nodded vigorously.


    After finishing her job in the afternoon, Thssa hurried home without stopping.


    When she opened the door, Evelyn was on the phone; her mood was quite sour.


    ¡°Bruce, you are nothing but a con man! What did you promise me, and how have you acted?¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t bother exining, I don¡¯t want to hear it! I¡¯m going to sue you, con man. I¡¯ll make sure you end


    up behind bars!¡± Finished with her rant, Evelyn angrily hung the phone.


    Her face was twisted in anger and her breath came in harsh pants.


    Thssa went over and sat beside her, breaking the silence, ¡°Did you take the card from my bag with a


    billion and ten million on it and give it to Bruce?¡±


    Evelyn, already upset, broke down at Thssa¡¯s words, bursting into tears and pounding her chest in


    frustration.


    Thssa sat quietly beside her, waiting for her to finish crying.


    After a while, Evelyn¡¯s tears began to subside. She looked ahead; her eyes were filled with sadness


    and her body was limp and exhausted.


    Taking a deep breath, Thssa asked in a weary tone, ¡°What happened?¡±


    Evelyn¡¯s voice was heavy with sorrow, ¡°He fooled me again. He said that in order to marry me, he didn¡¯t


    reject a rich woman and got a billion dors from her. He used that money to divorce his ex-wife and


    marry me.¡±


    Hearing Evelyn¡¯s confession, Thssa clenched her fists in anger. However, her eyes closed in


    frustration.


    Evelyn continued in a low voice, ¡°He said he has always loved me and never forgot me. He had been


    trying to divorce his wife, but she demanded a billion dors for the divorce. He promised to be with me


    as soon as he was divorced. I fell for his lies and I gave him your card. But what did he do? He didn¡¯t


    divorce and even bought a mansion for his wife and kids! I¡¯m feeling hurt, Thssa¡­¡±


    Evelyn held Thssa¡¯s arm with one hand and clutched at her chest with the other. It was as if her


    heart was physically hurting, making it hard for her to breathe.


    It seemed that she could only feel a little better by pounding her own chest.


    Thssa was filled with sorrow and frustration. She felt extremely bad.


    In her despair, she revealed, ¡°Mom, do you know who the rich woman Bruce was with? It was


    Lysander¡¯s mother. Because of him, Lysander¡¯s parents both died in a car ident, leaving Lysander


    an orphan from a young age¡­¡±


    Bruce, that scoundrel, had twisted the truth and continued to deceive Evelyn. It was infuriating!


    ¡°What?¡± Evelyn was so shocked that she even forgot to cry:

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    Chapter 673


    ¡°You¡¯re telling me that Lysander¡¯s father died because of Bruce?¡± Evelyn¡¯s lips turned pale as the news


    sent shock waves through her core.


    ¡°Yes, Lysander hates me and our family.¡± Thssa¡¯s voice was filled with helplessness and


    resignation.


    Evelyn gripped Thssa¡¯s hand and dropped her gaze. Her eyes went nk, ¡°Good heavens¡­ I had


    been singing praises about the benefits of him marrying you to his grandmother. Was Sybil¡¯s death


    indirectly caused by me?¡±


    The realization hit Evelyn hard and drowned her in guilt.


    This is the property of N?-velDrama.Org.


    ¡°Mom, stop overthinking. There¡¯s more to Grandma Sybil¡¯s death. Lysander is looking into it.¡± Thssa


    paused for a moment before adding an earnest remark, ¡°Mom, stop trusting Bruce. He doesn¡¯t love


    anyone but himself. He¡¯s been deceiving you all along.¡±


    Evelyn¡¯s nk stare was reced by a flood of tears as the harsh reality hit her. The pain was


    unbearable.


    She had been hurt before, and now she was hurt deeply this time.


    Evelyn said bitterly through her tears, ¡°I hope that old crook gets hit by a bus!¡±


    With that, her fists quivered as it mmed down on the sofa.


    ¡°He¡¯s stolen our money, so what can we do now? What should I do?¡± Evelyn gritted her teeth in anger.


    She had ruined Thssa¡¯s life and her own because of such a cheater.


    Thssa gently patted Evelyn¡¯s shoulder tofort her. ¡°Mom, just stop trusting him from now on.¡±


    Her eyes were steady and clear, ¡°I¡¯ll get our money back!¡±


    ¡°How will you get it back? Don¡¯t confront him head-on.¡± Evelyn held Thssa¡¯s hand in worry.


    She had seen Bruce¡¯s true colors now. He only cared about money, not people.


    If Thssa pushed him into a corner, he would surely bite back. Evelyn didn¡¯t want Thssa to get


    hurt.


    Thssa reassured her, ¡°Mom, don¡¯t worry. I won¡¯t confront him head-on. Just leave this to me.¡±


    The next morning, Thssa took the initiative to call Bruce.


    ¡°Thssa, I was just thinking about you and was about to call you, and you beat me to it. We really do


    have a special bond.¡± Bruce¡¯s voice oozed ttery from the other end of the line.


    Thssa chuckled lightly and asked, ¡°Are you enjoying the card my mom gave you?¡±


    ¡°Thssa, listen to me. I was nning to divorce that old hag at home, but she threatened me with our


    child and tricked me into giving her the billion. The heartless woman even uses our child to get what


    she wants. You know me well. I¡¯m a man of honor, especially when ites to my own child. How


    could I stand by and let our child suffer?¡± Bruce¡¯s voice was filled with regret, as if everything was


    everyone else¡¯s fault and he was meless.


    Thssa seethed in anger but managed to stay calm, ¡°Yes, I know you value honor and love your


    child. That¡¯s why my mother gave you the card. It¡¯s a pity we cannot reunite as a family. But I¡¯m quite


    content with staying by Lysander¡¯s side. At least I can earn some money for you.¡±


    Bruce was overjoyed on hearing this. He quickly responded, ¡°Yes, Thssa, we are alike; both of us


    value honor. I appreciate your help with the money. When I get a chance,


    mom.¡± I will definitely divorce that old hag and form a family with you and your


    ¡°Speaking of which, we haven¡¯t spent much time together. Once people drift apart, so do their feelings.


    I wish we could go on a trip together. They say traveling is a great way to bond.¡± Thssa¡¯s voice was


    filled with regret.


    ¡°That sounds great. I have plenty of time on my handstely. We can n a trip to promote our bond. I


    would also like to check up on you and see if you¡¯re doing well with Lysander.¡± Bruce was thrilled and


    eager.


    ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll book a ce and send you the details in a few days.¡± Thssa said.


    ¡°Great, great, sounds good.¡± Bruce agreed enthusiastically.

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    Chapter 674


    ¡°Oh, and there¡¯s something else I wanted to ask you,¡± Thssa said, her voice casual as she tried to


    mask the resentment she felt towards Bruce.


    ¡°What is it?¡± Bruce was reveling in the implications of Thssa¡¯s earlier words that she was doing well


    by Lysander¡¯s side and earning him some money.


    Having a daughter like her was truly a blessing. Without spending a dime on child support, he was now


    reaping the rewards she brought in.


    Bruce felt like the luckiest man on Earth.


    Lysander was a big shot in Starhaven, the head of the Sinir family, one of the wealthiest families


    around. His pockets were so deep and inexhaustible.


    Thssa was now his woman and the mother of his child. It would be a piece of cake if she wanted


    money from Lysander.


    And Bruce, without exerting any effort, could enjoy the money Thssa received from Lysander. Life


    was sweet!


    ¡°I heard from my mom that you used that billion to buy a mansion?¡± Thssa asked, feigning


    nonchnce as she waited for his response.


    Before he could answer, Thssa continued, ¡°Don¡¯t get me wrong, I¡¯m not ming you. I just want to


    know if it¡¯s true. If Lysander asks about it, I need to be able to tell him where the money went. He¡¯d be


    more inclined to give me more if he knew it was being put to good use. Don¡¯t you think?¡±


    ¡°Yeah, yeah, you¡¯re right. If he knows the money¡¯s being put to good use, Lysander will be more willing


    to give you more. Otherwise, he might think you haven¡¯t spent the money he¡¯s already given you,¡±


    Bruce agreed over the phone.


    ¡°Right, I did buy a mansion. That old hag¡¯s forced me to do it. You know how much I care about your


    mom, Thssa! I want to build a family with her as a way to make up for the years I¡¯ve neglected you,¡±


    Bruce said, sounding like he had no other choice.


    Thssa got goosebumps at his words. Bruce was apulsive liar, and his hypocrisy knew no


    bounds.


    ¡°Well, it¡¯s fine if you had bought it. It¡¯s just a billion, after all, Whose name is on the property papers?¡±


    Thssa continued, maintaining her indifferent tone.


    ¡°I haven¡¯t signed the papers yet. I paid for it the night beforest and I was nning to sign the papers


    yesterday, but the guy who sold me the house had an emergency. He said we could sign the papers


    today,¡± Bruce answered, hoping to win Thssa¡¯s favor.


    ¡°That¡¯s perfect. I was thinking of paying you to temporarily change the name on the property papers to


    mine. I could then show Lysander that I bought a house with the billion, and then ask him for three


    billion more for regr expenses. Since you haven¡¯t signed the papers yet, I¡¯ll go with you today and


    put the property in my name,¡± Thssa said cheerfully.


    ¡°What?¡± Bruce was taken aback. His tone was one of rm, as if he¡¯d heard something unbelievable.


    Thssa patiently exined, ¡°It¡¯s just a temporary change. Once I show Lysander the contract and he


    sees that I bought a mansion, he¡¯ll believe me and give me the three billion. Without proof, he wouldn¡¯t


    Property of N?)(velDr(a)ma.Org.


    believe me. Once I get the three billion, I¡¯ll transfer the property back to you.¡±


    ¡°Well¡­¡± Bruce hesitated.

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    Chapter 675


    ¡°If you find it too much of a hassle, I¡¯ll cut you in for two billion dors after I have my hands on the


    three billion. Then you can buy your own house, even two if you want,¡± Thssa grasped the chance


    and pressed on him.


    Bruce¡¯s interest was piqued upon hearing the two billion dors, yet he couldn¡¯t shake off the feeling of


    risk.


    Making the house under Thssa¡¯s name felt like he was buying that for her.


    But the lure of two billion was too tempting to let go.


    ¡°Give me some more time to think about it¡­¡± Bruce said.


    Thssa was instantly irked, ¡°So you¡¯re not willing? You don¡¯t trust me, do you? And you imed to


    only have my mom and me in your heart. That was a lie, wasn¡¯t it? I should¡¯ve never believed you when


    you said you¡¯d divorce your wife and marry my mom. I shouldn¡¯t have given the card to my mom and let


    her give it to you without a second thought! Youck even the basic trust. Let me tell you something,


    Lysander asked me yesterday if I¡¯ve spent all the money, I told him yes, but didn¡¯t disclose what for.


    Given his nature, he¡¯d definitely look into where the money went.


    I¡¯m asking you to temporarily put the house under my name not only because I want to continue getting


    the three billion from Lysander, but also for your sake. If Lysander finds out that this billion-dor house


    is under your name, what do you think he¡¯d do? He¡¯ll bankrupt the seller and leave you with neither the


    house nor the money.


    But if he finds out that the house is under my name, he¡¯d stop there and keep providing me with money.


    By the time I get the money, I¡¯d transfer the house to your name, and he¡¯d never find out. If you¡¯re


    unwilling, then forget it. Let Lysander investigate by himself.¡±


    With that, Thssa hung up, fuming.


    She ended the call to make Bruce realize that she was truly angry.


    From what she¡¯d observed of Bruce over time, he was self-centered and opportunistic. He wouldn¡¯t


    easily let go of money within his grasp.


    She was gambling on Bruce¡¯s greed.


    After hanging up, Thssa set her phone on the table and waited.


    Bruce was still dreaming of the two billion dors on the other end. It was so sudden that Thssa got


    angry and called it off.


    He was torn.


    He wanted to continue pleasing Thssa, but was also reluctant to put the house under her name.


    Just as he was indecisive, questioning the truth behind Thssa¡¯s words, the estate agent called.


    Bruce hastily answered, ¡°Are we going toplete the property transfer, sir?¡±


    This is the property of N?-velDrama.Org.


    ¡°No, there¡¯s a problem. We just got word that the housing authority¡¯s system is down. They¡¯re


    investigating all the buyers who paid for their houses the night beforest. It seems like the Sinir


    group is involved. I wonder who¡¯s offended someone from the Sinir group.¡±


    Hearing this, Bruce was taken aback. Thssa had just mentioned that Lysander might look into where


    the billion went, and now the Sinir group was investigating those who bought houses the night


    beforest!


    Apparently, Thssa was right. Lysander would definitely probe into the billion!


    If Lysander found out that the house was under his name, he would be in deep trouble. Just like


    Thssa said, he might end up with neither the money nor the house.


    Bruce promptly hung up and called Thssa again.


    Thssa, who had been waiting at the table, didn¡¯t pick up immediately when her phone rang. She let it


    ring for a while before answering just as it was about to stop.


    ¡°What are you calling for now?¡± She asked.

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    Chapter 676


    Thssa¡¯s tone sounded irritable, as if she had no desire to converse further with Bruce.


    Bruce¡¯s tone was fraught with ttery and pleasantry, which wasced with a touch of humor,


    ¡°Thssa, I apologize for my previous rudeness. I wasn¡¯t thinking straight. You¡¯re right, transferring the


    house under your name is the best course of action. But I have a question.¡±


    ¡°What¡¯s your question? Hurry up, I don¡¯t have time to chat. I have to get to work.¡± Thssa responded


    like that to create a sense of urgency.


    Bruce knew he needed to act quickly. Otherwise, Thssa would change her mindter.


    ¡°If you receive the three billion and give two billion to me, what would you say if Lysander asks you


    what you did with the money?¡± If Lysander were to investigate, the two billion might still not make it into


    his hands.


    Bruce¡¯s only concern was his own interests.


    ¡°Look, like I said, you transfer the house under my name first; once Lysander approves that, he¡¯ll give


    me the three billion and I¡¯ll transfer the house back to you. If it can¡¯t be transferred back, I give you an


    extra two billion. If it goes through, sorry, you only get one billion more. I¡¯ll tell Lysander the money is


    just sitting in my ount for my retirement. He won¡¯t investigate if he thinks I haven¡¯t spent it. Why you


    don¡¯t understand such a simple concept?¡±


    Sensing Thssa¡¯s impatience, Bruce quickly agreed, ¡°Yes, yes, you¡¯re right. Okay, we¡¯ll do as you


    say. However, the real estate agency just called me, saying the housing authority¡¯s system is down so


    we can¡¯t sign the papers online now. We have to wait until the system is back up.¡±


    Bruce was worried about losing both the house and a chance to receive an additional two billion.


    ¡°Once it¡¯s possible to sign the papers, call me. I¡¯m in a rush.¡± With that, Thssa hung up the phone.


    As she was negotiating with Bruce, she was relying solely on her mettle. She was trying to create an


    impression of being in a powerful position and being favored by Lysander.


    If she showed any signs of weakness, Bruce would be suspicious.


    Luckily, she managed to hold her ground.


    She used Lysander as leverage against Bruce just because of knowing that Lysander would investigate


    the money issue.


    Otherwise, he wouldn¡¯t have been so furious upon finding out that Bruce had bought a vi for one


    billion.


    He must have been monitoring Bruce¡¯s movements, or he wouldn¡¯t have found out about the house so


    quickly.


    Lysander despised Bruce, so it was impossible for him to remain indifferent when Bruce spent his


    money.


    She was tempting Bruce on one hand and threatening him with Lysander on the other, letting him know


    the seriousness of the situation and that the safest option was to put the house under her name.


    Content rights by N?velDr//ama.Org.


    Knowing Bruce¡¯s greed, she was sure he would agree.


    She had won her bet.


    However, she hadn¡¯t expected the housing authority¡¯s system to crash.


    Thssa took a deep breath to rx her tense muscles, thenposed a text message to send to


    Lysander.


    ¡°I¡¯ll handle Bruce myself, thank you for your help.¡±


    If Lysander stepped in, it would solidify the usation that she was using Lysander¡¯s money to fund


    Bruce.


    But if she handled it herself, that could naturally clear up Lysander¡¯s misunderstanding.


    Aside from not wanting to be misunderstood as using Lysander¡¯s money to support a selfish man like


    Bruce, she was more motivated by the reason that she wanted nothing to do with Bruce.


    This time, she wanted to show Bruce that she and her mother were not to be messed with.


    If he ever tried to deceive her mother again, she would make him regret it!


    After sending the message, Thssa didn¡¯t rush out. Instead, she chose to wait at home.


    While Bruce was settled, she wasn¡¯t sure if Lysander would agree to let her handle this matter herself.


    Thssa was uncertain.


    At the Royal Estates.


    Petite Atticus was sitting in front of hisputer. With his small fingers rapidly typing away, the


    numbers.

 Chapter 677

    Chapter 677


    He was earnest and focused with his youthful brow furrowed into tiny bumps. The blue light from the


    elite coolness.


    Lysander¡¯s tall figure was behind him. He watched his son¡¯s hacking skills, which were even more


    professional than the professionals. The admiration and pride in his eyes were indescribable.


    He didn¡¯t need to hire someone to hack into the housing authority¡¯swork, because his own son was


    capable enough.


    Originally, he hadmissioned thepany¡¯s technical team to hack the authority¡¯swork, but


    after half an hour of bustling, they failed to break through the firewall.


    Then his son stepped in and solved it in a few minutes.


    In fact, the housing authority¡¯swork had been paralyzed since yesterday morning.


    Bruce thought he could put the house under his name? Not a chance!


    Did he think Lysander¡¯s money was so easily spent?


    Little Atticus hit the space bar hard with his small hand, leaned back on the chair, let out a tired sigh,


    and said, ¡°Done. They won¡¯t be able to crack the code for a while, and thework will stay down.¡±


    ¡°Alright, have Fitch take you to school,¡± Lysander replied in his low maic voice, gently rubbing his


    son¡¯s little head.


    The gentleforting gesture was the best praise for Atticus.


    For the first time, Atticus felt approved by his dad. He was so happy that he couldn¡¯t help to have a


    smile appear on his cute face.


    Being in a good mood, he was especially obedient.


    ¡°Okay, off I go,¡± Atticus said, leaving theputer room for school.


    As Lysander turned to leave, his pocket vibrated. He took out his phone and saw a text message from


    Thssa.


    His eyebrows knitted slightly at the content of the message.


    His eyes were deep and gloomy; the look on his chiseled face was indiscernible.


    In the yard, Atticus got into the car with his little backpack. Fitch was about to join him when Lysander


    walked up, his deep voicemanding, ¡°Atticus is taking a day off today. No need for kindergarten.¡±


    Fitch halted. He graciously gave up his seat as he watched Lysander approach.


    Lysander opened the car door and told Atticus, ¡°You need to restore the housing authority¡¯swork.¡±


    Atticus blinked at him with his innocent eyes, looking confused.


    He had just secured the firewall, so why did he have to restore it now?


    Seeing his confusion, Lysander, who usually disdained to exin, surprisingly said, ¡°It¡¯s your mother¡¯s


    wish.¡±


    Hearing that it was his mother¡¯s wish, Atticus quickly got out of the car and hurried back to the


    He put down his backpack and started to type proficiently on the keyboard again.


    It was easier to unlock than to secure. He did in about ten minutes.


    After he was done, Atticus turned around and looked at Lysander, who was standing behind him. He


    furrowed his innocent brows and asked hesitantly, ¡°Dad, does the housing authority¡¯swork have


    something to do with mom?¡±


    Lysander¡¯s pupils dted as he heard the word ¡®Dad¡¯.


    Content rights by N?velDr//ama.Org.


    This was the first time that Atticus called him ¡®Dad¡¯ since they acknowledged each other!

 Chapter 678

    Chapter 678


    Dorian, Elowen, and Sophia had all called him ¡®Dad¡¯ already.


    But Atticus, ever since he arrived at the Royal Estates, had been quite the rebel. Either he was looking


    for his mom, or he was simply not getting along with him.


    But today, Lysander finally heard his childish voice, calling him ¡®Dad¡¯.


    Something deep within him stirred.


    The feeling was hard to articte, but it felt wonderful.


    Lysander softened his tone, which was a rarity, ¡°I was going to discipline someone, but your mother


    asked me not to interfere.¡±


    ¡°Oh, I get it. Mom¡¯s gonna handle it herself, right?¡± Atticus bobbed his head in agreement, his curiosity


    piqued.


    He was thrilled to see his dad so cooperative with his mom. At that moment, he felt like a child who


    both had the praise of his father and the love of his mother.


    And that was truly a joyous thing.


    ¡°Perhaps.¡± Lysander was curious himself as to what Thssa was up to.


    He nced at his wristwatch, ¡°Already half an hourte, still nning on going to school?¡±


    ¡°You just said I could take the day off. I¡¯d like to stay home and use theputer.¡± Atticus got back to


    business.


    ¡°Alright.¡± Lysander respected his wish and left the study.


    Just as he was about to leave, he instructed Fitch, ¡°Monitor hisputer time.¡±


    Fitch promptly nodded, ¡°Yes, Lysander.¡±


    Watching Lysander drive off, Fitch wore a pleased smile. He could see that Lysander cared deeply for


    all four children.


    Having him monitor the young master¡¯sputer time was also out of concern for his eyesight.


    The previously cold and quiet Royal Estates now had a warm and lively atmosphere, and it was


    wonderful.


    After waiting at home for a while, Thssa received a call from Bruce stating that they could now go


    sign the documents online at the housing authority. The house was officially theirs.


    Thssa was to bring the relevant notary along.


    The process of purchasing a house was to pay, sign the contract online at the housing authority, and


    then someone would notarize the house under her


    name.


    The property wouldn¡¯t be hers without notarization.


    Upon hearing Bruce¡¯s words, Thssa calmly responded that she understood and she would be there


    soon.


    She did not express any urgency, but she also let Bruce know that she would being.


    She was worried if Lysander would agree to let her handle it herself, as he had not responded to her


    text after a long time.


    It wasn¡¯t until Bruce called, stating that the housing authority¡¯swork was back up, that she


    understood what Lysander had meant.


    Thssa quickly arrived at the housing authority. Bruce, along with the developer¡¯s representative, was


    already waiting for her.


    Seeing her arrival, they hurriedly proceeded with the online signing, afraid that thework might crash


    again if they waited any longer.


    Thanks to the joint efforts of the developer¡¯s representative and Bruce, the contract was quickly signed


    This is the property of N?-velDrama.Org.


    and the vi was registered under Thssa¡¯s


    FS FE < =


    name.


    As Thssa stepped out of the authority office, she briskly walked ahead.


    Bruce jogged to catch up with her with an ingratiating smile on his face, ¡°Thssa, you should show


    the contract to Lysander. He shouldn¡¯t have any problems with it, right?¡±


    ¡°He gave me a billion for me to spend. What can he say if I used it to buy a house?¡± Thssa


    continued in her haughty tone, letting Bruce know that she was thriving by Lysander¡¯s side.


    ¡°That¡¯s true. Oh, and when you get the thirty billion, don¡¯t forget to tell me. We cane back to the


    authority office and change the name on the contract, I¡¯ve asked the staff and they said changing the


    name won¡¯t cost any fees within a year of online signing.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re very thorough. Don¡¯t worry, it¡¯s just a matter of days.¡± Thssa chucked as her gaze fixed on


    him, noticing that he didn¡¯t seem to be in any hurry to leave.

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    Chapter 679


    Thssa heaved a sigh, ying to Bruce¡¯s emotional side, a trick he was a master of,


    ¡°I wasn¡¯t really mad,¡± she said. ¡°My mom is right. After all, you are my father, that¡¯s a bond that can¡¯t be


    changed. I used to hate you, but these past few days my mom has told me a lot of good things about


    you. You¡¯ve been in love with her for so many years and it hasn¡¯t been easy. There¡¯s no need for me to


    keep hating you. Us getting closer would make my mom happy.¡±


    ¡°Absolutely, your mom is right,¡± Bruce hastily agreed as he rubbed his hand.


    Thssa noticed his habit. It seemed like whenever he was trying to gain someone¡¯s favor, he would


    always be rubbing his hands.


    Thssa nced at his hands before looking back at him, ¡°I found a perfect ce for a day trip; it


    could also help us strengthen our father-daughter rtionship. Everyone who¡¯s been there has nothing


    but praises for it, because it requires mutual help and trust. It¡¯s a way to show your true intentions.¡±


    ¡°I truly care about you and your mom,¡± Bruce said anxiously, eager to prove his sincerity.


    Seeing his desperate demeanor, Thssa couldn¡¯t help but sneer inwardly.


    Property of N?)(velDr(a)ma.Org.


    He was just afraid of losing his two billion, that¡¯s all.


    ¡°I want to believe you,¡± Thssa continued. ¡°I took the day off today and you¡¯re free as well, why don¡¯t


    we go on that trip today? We can see if you¡¯re really as caring and helpful as you im to be.¡±


    Without a second thought, Bruce agreed, ¡°Sure, let¡¯s do it today.¡±


    He thought, what¡¯s the big deal? Just being attentive, asking if she¡¯s tired, or thirsty, or hungry.


    No one could y this sweet-talk game better than him.


    Without dy, Thssa and Bruce hopped into a cab and headed towards Starhaven¡¯s Phoenix


    Mountain.


    Phoenix Mountain was a challenging terrain with steep cliffs and rugged trails. A careless step could


    lead to a twisted ankle or a fall into one of the many perilous caves.


    It was generally a popr choice among adventure-seekers.


    During the trip, people got to help each other to the mountain top, get down, and then go home to make


    a smooth sailing.


    Bruce looked at the daunting mountain and hesitated. But in order to prove his love for Thssa, he


    gritted his teeth and followed her up the mountain.


    Halfway up, Bruce was already exhausted. He was not fond of hiking and the steep trails required him


    to tread carefully and exert a lot of effort with each


    step.


    ¡°I can¡¯t go any further, Thssa. If I take another step, I think my legs might give out,¡± Bruce wheezed


    and gasped..


    Thssa sat on the ground, feeling equally exhausted, ¡°I can¡¯t go on either. We can¡¯t go back down


    now. My legs are numb so I can¡¯t walk.¡±


    Bruce pointed at a nearby zip line and suggested, ¡°Why don¡¯t we take the zip line down? It¡¯ll save us


    the walk.¡±


    ¡°Sure, but the zip line requires two people to operate.¡± Thssa exined, ¡°One to ride and one to


    control the speed. If we go down too fast, we could crash and end up with a cracked skull or worse.¡±


    ¡°Well¡­¡± Bruce¡¯s eyes flickered uncertainly.


    ¡°I¡¯ll send you down first, then I¡¯ll wait for the next person to help me down.¡± Thssa suggested as she


    stood up and walked over to Bruce.


    ¡°But how can I leave you here alone?¡± Bruce asked, feeling uneasy.


    ¡°Who made you my father? How can I bear to leave you here?¡± Thssa said, almost gagging on her


    own words. It was the most insincere thing she had ever said.


    ¡°No, I¡¯ll send you down first. I can wait for the next person.¡± Bruce insisted, trying to prove his fatherly


    love.


    ¡°I saw a few peopleing up behind us. It¡¯ll be fine and I can wait. It¡¯s almost dark, and there are


    rumors of wild monkeys attacking people at night. You better go down first. Don¡¯t waste any more time.¡±


    Thssa urged.


    Bruce didn¡¯t argue anymore; wild monkey was the most horrible animals for him.


    The zip line was a simple steel wire connecting the halfway point of the mountain to the bottom. On the


    zip line, people would sit on a belt-size safety harness and fetch some ropes to protect themselves.


    After Bruce was secured in the harness, Thssa held onto the control handle and slowly lowered him


    down the mountain.


    Once Bruce was dangling mid-air, Thssa suddenly stopped. Her expression turned aloof as she


    asked, ¡°Bruce, where did you put the rest money?¡±

 Chapter 680

    Chapter 680


    Thssa stood with one foot nted firmly on the ground, the other propped against the pole used to


    control the zip line¡¯s brake. Her one hand was resting on her hip, the other gripping the brake to


    prevent the zip line from rushing down.


    Her stance and words startled Bruce, who was suspended mid-air. He suddenly realized something,


    but it was toote to do anything about it.


    He was perched on a makeshift seat, the size of a typical safety belt. And he was suspended above a


    vast abyss. His safety belt felt anything but safe. Beneath himy a sheer drop, and the slope was a


    steep cliff.


    If he cut the rope himself, he would plummet to his death. If Thssa let go, he would shoot across to


    the other side of the mountain and crash into sharp rocks, possibly dying on the spot.


    Bruce forced a smile, trying to maintain a facade of calm with Thssa, ¡°Thssa, I don¡¯t understand


    what you mean. Can you lower me down slowly and we can talk when I¡¯m on the ground, okay?¡±


    ¡°No talking, huh? Alright, then I¡¯ll let go and let fate decide.¡± Thssa¡¯s wrist loosened slightly.


    Bruce¡¯s body slid down a considerable distance as the zip line pulley rolled, causing him to yell out,


    ¡°Ah, no, no, no!¡±


    Thssa gripped the brake again, her expression cold as she stared at Bruce. ¡°I don¡¯t care what you¡¯re


    using the money for, but you need to transfer it to me right on the spot! Or else, I¡¯ll let go and leave you


    to your fate!¡±


    Her only reason for inviting Bruce on this trip was to hang him mid-air and make him return the money


    he had scammed from Evelyn.


    She had previously worked as a part-time zip line operator at Phoenix Mountain.


    The zip line was designed based on the principle of the lever. A person sat on the makeshift seat, and


    the other person needed to control the brake to slowly let the rope down. The rope that was pulled back


    from the other end could maintain bnce and allow a slow descent.


    Without someone controlling the brake, the person on the zip line would lose control and hurtle towards


    the other mountain. Thssa knew the terrain and the danger of the zip line well, which was why she


    had intentionally brought Bruce here.


    The n was to scare him by leaving him hanging mid-air.


    Bruce, a selfish and self-centered man, loved no one more than himself. How could he bear the


    thought of dying?


    ¡°Don¡¯t let go, Thssa, don¡¯t let go!¡± Bruce was so scared that he tightly clutched the safety belt


    strapped to his body. Sweat broke out on his forehead and his back. His legs, hanging mid-air, were


    shaking.


    Bruce, a smooth talker who had deceived countless people, was terrified of death.


    Property ? of N?velDrama.Org.


    Thssa, the money is with the old woman, not me.¡± Bruce pleaded with her. ¡°Let me down slowly.


    Once I¡¯m safe, I¡¯ll call the old woman and ask her to transfer the money to you, okay?¡±


    ¡°Impossible! Either you transfer the money to me now, or you fall from here!¡± Thssa was resolute.


    She despised Bruce. Not only had he cheated on her mother, Evelyn, ruining her life, but he had also


    caused the ruin of Lysander¡¯s family.


    Such a man deserved hell!


    ¡°Thssa, do you really dare to kill me? If you kill me, you¡¯ll be implicated. Is it worth it to bear the guilt


    of a life for a few million dors?¡± Bruce, scared and panting, tried to keep his sanity and persuade


    Thssa.


    Thssa sneered. She knew how persuasive Bruce could be. That mouth of his had deceived


    countless people.


    She was prepared and would not be swayed by his words.


    ¡°Who said I killed you? I was just attacked by a mountain monkey and had to let go of the brake. Your


    death would be an ident caused by a wild animal,¡± Thssa said calmly and coldly.


    Having spent so much time with Lysander, she had picked up some of his exclusive cold and icy


    demeanor.


    Hearing this, Bruce was so scared that his pupils dted and his legs shook like a sieve.

 Chapter 681

    Chapter 681


    Thssa eased her grip so Bruce dropped a few feet.


    ¡°No, don¡¯t let go!¡± Bruce shrieked, his voice echoing in the open air.


    Thssa nced at him, noticing a dark patch spreading across his trousers. Astonishment crossed


    her face.


    He¡¯d actually wet himself! He must really be terrified.


    Had he ever considered how pitiful they were when he was conning them?


    Now Bruce himself was scared to the point of wetting his pants. It served him right!


    Thssa held onto the rope and kept an icy voice, ¡°Get your phone out now. Either transfer the money


    to me or call your wife to do it! This is yourst chance! Otherwise, I¡¯ll just let go. 13 million dors in


    exchange for your life doesn¡¯t seem like a good deal, but if you won¡¯tply, I¡¯d rather take the loss!¡±


    ¡°Please, don¡¯t let go. I¡¯ll transfer it to you right now¡­¡± Bruce¡¯s voice trembled. The deep valley below


    and the sharp cliff face opposite were terrifying.


    He could only rely on Thssa to lower him down safely. Otherwise, he would be a goner.


    He wasn¡¯t ready to die yet.


    He forgot all about his appearances at the moment. Life was the most important thing. Even if he was


    embarrassed, he couldn¡¯t care less.


    He pulled out his phone from his pocket with his shaky hands.


    Thssa warned, ¡°You better hold on tight. Don¡¯t let yourself and your phone drop together.¡±


    Bruce gripped his phone tighter at her words, afraid of any mishap.


    He carefully opened his banking app.


    From her position, Thssa could see his phone screen. She saw him navigate to the transfer page so


    she promptly gave him her ount number.


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    Bruce entered her ount number but hesitated once more before confirming the transaction. He


    looked at Thssa, ¡°What if I transfer the money and you still let me go?¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re such an idiot. If you transfer the money, the police will trace the transaction. If you die right after


    transferring me the money, they¡¯ll have reason to suspect me of killing you for money, Thssa


    retorted.


    Bruce nodded and was relieved by her reasoning.


    Without wasting another moment, he transferred the 13 million dors to Thssa.


    ¡°Okay, it¡¯s done. Please lower me down now,¡± Bruce pleaded. Every second he was left dangling


    increased his risk.


    He didn¡¯t want to hang there a second longer.


    ¡°Calm down,¡± Thssa responded, pulling out her phone to check a text message from her bank to


    make sure that she had received the money for real.


    That put her at ease.


    ¡°To be honest, I don¡¯t have the strength to lower you down. I¡¯ll tie the rope to this handrail, and then go


    find someone strong enough to help, Thssa exined, pulling out a piece of hemp rope from her


    pocket and winding it around the handrail, securing it so it wouldn¡¯t slip.


    She tied the other end of the rope to a nearby tree.


    Bruce¡¯s face turned green with a mix of rage and fear as he watched the set of acts done by Thssa,


    ¡°Thssa, please don¡¯t do this. Lower me down, or pull me up. I¡¯m begging you, Thssa¡­¡±

 Chapter 682

    Chapter 682


    After Thssa had secured the ropes, she dusted her hands to shake off the dirt.


    Casting a nce at the terrified Bruce, she huffed, ¡°When you deceived other people and decimated


    others¡¯ families, did you ever remind yourself of their pain and helplessness? And what did you ever


    think of that when you toyed with their feelings and discarded them? Bruce, it¡¯s time for you to feel


    what¡¯s called powerless!¡±


    ¡°Thssa, I¡¯m sorry, I was wrong, I know I was wrong. Please pull me up,¡± Bruce pleaded as his hands


    gripped the safety harness tightly and broke out cold sweat.


    ¡°Hold on, I¡¯ll call for help.¡± Thssa turned and descended the mountain.


    Bruce panicked and lost all his pretenses. As Thssa¡¯s retreating form disappeared, he hurled a


    string of obscenities, harsh and vulgar.


    Who woulde to his rescue among this deste wilderness?


    Thssa hung him there to let him fend for himself.


    Bruce felt a mix of panic, anger, and helplessness.


    Only now did he realize he had been tricked. Thssa had first conned him out of his mansion, and


    then retrieved the remaining 13 million from him.


    She was seeking vengeance for her mother!


    But it was toote for regrets.


    He, Bruce, who had deceived so many, had fallen for the tricks of a young girl in her twenties.


    That was absolutely infuriating.


    As Thssa descended the mountain, Bruce¡¯s curses echoed behind her. She didn¡¯t respond.


    This was the true face of Bruce, she scoffed to herself.


    As for his paternal love? He just wanted to get close to her and her mother so as to gain more benefits


    from Lysander!


    Since he was cursing so profusely, I¡¯ll just let him hang in the air a little longer. She thought.


    Descending the mountain was challenging, more so than the climb up. Thssa clung to the cliff,


    slowly making her


    way


    down.


    Soon, the sky was covered with dark clouds, a sign of an impending storm.


    Thssa felt a hint of fear.


    Suddenly, a bolt of thunder shook the sky.


    ¡°Ahh!¡± Thssa lost her footing and slipped down the rocky path in her fear.


    She was in tremendous panic as she rolled down a couple of steps before grabbing onto a small tree to


    stabilize herself.


    Hacked by the terrazzo stairs, Thssa felt a sharp pain shoot through her waist. She grimaced in


    agony.


    She held onto the tree, struggling to get up. She tried to continue her descent, but as soon as she put


    her weight on her foot, a wave of intense pain shot through her ankle.


    Thssa immediately lifted her foot and stood on one leg. She found a rtively t spot to sit down


    and examined her ankle. It was swollen.


    She had sprained her ankle and couldn¡¯t continue her descent. What could she do?


    As she was worrying, another thunderp sounded, followed by a sh of lightning.


    ¡°No!¡± Thssa screamed, hugging her head and curling into a ball.


    Ever since that night five years ago, she had been terrified of thunderstorms. She would hide under her


    covers and curl into a ball in such weather. But now she was in the wilderness with no ce to hide.


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    Her fear was intensified, and she was shaking uncontrobly.


    What should I do? She thought.


    Meanwhile, at the foot of Phoenix Mountain.


    A ck Rolls-Royce was parked.


    Lysander got out of the car with several bodyguards behind him. His grand entrance and powerful aura


    seemed even more oppressive than the darkening sky..

 Chapter 683

    Chapter 683


    David stepped up and reported, ¡°Mr. Sinir, it seems Faye got wind of our ns and has fled to


    Phoenix Mountain.¡±


    Robert insisted that Evelyn was the one pushing Grandma Sybil. But after several days of intense


    questioning, he finally broke free under the immense


    pressure.


    It was Faye who had bribed Robert, insisting that he needed to frame Evelyn for hurting Grandma Sybil


    the day Evelyn came.


    When Evelyn had gone to help Sophia, Grandma Sybil, who was worried for Sophia, had risen from the


    couch. Robert, acting under Faye¡¯s orders, purposefully swept near Sybil¡¯s feet and caused her to


    stumble over the foot of the couch and fall to the ground.


    Robert had followed Faye¡¯s instructions. He framed Evelyn for pushing Grandma Sybil and causing her


    to fall. Since the living room didn¡¯t have any surveince and no one else was there to witness the


    incident, Robert thought his n would work.


    What Robert didn¡¯t anticipate was the unfortunate passing of Grandma Sybil due to the fall. As the


    gravity of the situation escted, Robert became more scared and stuck to his lie that it was Evelyn


    who had pushed Grandma Sybil.


    What he didn¡¯t know was that Sophia, who had fallen near the staircase, had seen that Grandma Sybil


    was tripped by the couch. Robert thought he could get away with it by dismissing Sophia¡¯s ount as


    a child¡¯s tale, but unbeknownst to him, Payne had already discovered that Grandma Sybil was not


    Property of N?)(velDr(a)ma.Org.


    pushed. All the evidence thus pointed back to Robert.


    The crux of the case was to get Robert to confess. He was defiant at first but eventually, he couldn¡¯t


    withstand the intense interrogation and told the truth.


    On the day Faye came to the Sinir family for dinner, she had left Robert her contact information.


    Later, she contacted Robert and bribed him to frame Evelyn for hurting Grandma Sybil no matter what.


    Once Robert¡¯s testimony was out, Lysander took his team to find Faye. Somehow, Faye had been


    tipped off and had fled in advance.


    Lysander, with his piercing gaze, looked toward the steep cliff andmanded, ¡°Go up and get her!¡±


    With that, he took the lead, treading long strides towards the mountain.


    Faye¡¯s actions had crossed the line and became something unforgivable. Lysander was determined to


    catch her and make her pay for her deeds.


    His bodyguards and David followed him up the cliff.


    The cliff was steep and challenging for ordinary people, but for Lysander, it was a walk in the park due


    to his training.


    He led his team up the rugged mountain path.


    Thssa was sitting on a rock. Her breath was uneven, and her body was trembling. A gale was


    blowing in the aftermath of the thunderstorm, threatening to kick her little figure off the cliff.


    She held on to a small tree next to the steps to steady herself.


    Suddenly, she saw a figure quickly ascending the mountain. The person was walking at a quick speed,


    evidently well-trained. Thssa felt a glimmer of hope and watched the person intently.


    As the figure approached, Thssa realized it was a woman. She pleaded, ¡°Hello, friend, can you help


    me?¡±


    The woman stopped in front of her and turned to look at her. Thssa recognized her as Faye.


    Faye, fully equipped with climbing gear and dressed in rugged outdoor clothing, looked agile and


    prepared.


    Thssa was confused. Why was Faye on Phoenix Mountain?


    While Thssa was observing Faye, Faye was doing the same thing. Recognizing Thssa, Faye


    appeared surprised and resentful.


    Suddenly, she seemed to hear a noiseing from behind and hurriedly walked away.


    ¡°Hey, Faye, I twisted my ankle. Can you help me?¡± Thssa called out, desperate for assistance.


    Finally encountering a person, if she let Faye go, she didn¡¯t know when she¡¯d be able to get off the


    mountain. With a storm approaching and darkness falling, she was genuinely scared.

 Chapter 684

    Chapter 684


    Faye didn¡¯t even nce back, as if she hadn¡¯t heard Thssa¡¯s plea. She quickened her pace and in


    no time, she was out of sight..


    Once again, Thssa was left alone and helpless.


    She tried to get up, but the pain that shot through her sprained ankle was unbearable.


    If she forced herself to walk, she might end up permanently damaging her leg.


    With no other choice, she stayed put, hoping that someone else mighte up the mountain.


    But the sky was dark and heavy with storm clouds; asional shes of lightning streaked across the


    horizon. Night was closing in.


    The chances of someone braving this weather toe up the mountain were slim to none.


    She would have to wait out the night and hope for rescue in the morning.


    Thssa pulled her knees to her chest, resting her chin on top of them. She curled herself into a ball,


    thinking that she might be safer this way.


    The surrounding wilderness was filled with the eerie sounds of insects and birds. Every now and then,


    the cry of a wild animal would echo through the valley, sending chills down her spine.


    Suddenly, she heard the cry of monkeys, which was growing louder and closer. Thssa¡¯s heart raced,


    and she gripped her knees tighter.


    Were there monkeysing?


    Monkeys were known to venture out more in this thunderstorm weather. Also, their temperaments were


    unpredictable. They were also hostile to human beings.


    They were far more intimidating than any snake or lizard. When monkeys attacked, they didn¡¯t hesitate


    to bite and scratch.


    There was a news story once, about a man who had been torn apart by a troop of monkeys in the wild.


    As Thssa remembered the story, her heart was fraught with dread. She held her breath, fearing that


    the monkeys might detect her presence.


    Despite her precautions, two monkeys appeared. While they were hopping from tree to tree, their eyes


    locked onto hers.


    Panic washed over Thssa. Her face got paled as she bit her lip.


    One of the monkeys caught her eye, its gaze wild and untamed. It gestured to itspanion, then


    swung from its branch and moved swiftly towards her. In her fear, Thssa tried to stand and run. But


    the moment her foot touched the ground, a sharp pain surged up her leg and made her gasp.


    The pain was unbearable!


    Just as she was grappling with the pain, a thunderous boom echoed through the sky, lightning


    illuminating the entire valley.


    ¡°Ah!¡± Thssa screamed in fear and clutched her ears. At that moment, she thought she was going to


    die.


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    Her scream seemed to infuriate the monkeys more. One of them leaped towards her, extending its


    sharp ws towards her face.


    Thssa froze in terror. Her eyes widened and her heart was leaping to her throat.


    Just when the monkey¡¯s ws were inches from her face, it was suddenly knocked aside by a powerful


    force, letting out a shrill shriek.


    The other monkey that tried to attack was also kicked away in one shot.


    The monkeys, shocked and frightened, screeched and scampered away.


    Turning to see who hade to her rescue, Thssa¡¯s eyes fell on a familiar, handsome face that she


    never expected to see.


    The tall and muscr man was dressed in a handcrafted ck suit. His aura was intimidating, his


    handsome face stern and serious.


    It was Lysander!


    He looked like a god descended from the heavens to this wildnd.

 Chapter 685

    Chapter 685


    Thssa¡¯s fear instantly dissipated upon seeing him. Her tears fell uncontrobly.


    Lysander turned around and turned his deep-set gaze toward her tear-streaked face; he reached out


    his arms to wrap around her waist, pulling her into his embrace. His low, maic voice resonated


    under the cold, dark sky, offering aforting warmth, ¡°You¡¯re safe now.¡±


    Thssa rested her forehead on his chest; her hands clung onto his shirt, and her body was shivering


    uncontrobly, wetting his shirt with her tears.


    The ordeal she had just undergone was terrifying. There was a thunderstorm and also a wild monkey


    attack. She thought her life was going to end there.


    But then, Lysander came.


    Lysander¡¯s arm around her waist tightened as he sensed her shaky body; while his other hand gently


    stroked her back to give herfort.


    He remembered her fear of thunderstorms.


    When she worked as a cleaner at the Sinir Group, even the thunder reverberating through the


    rooms would scare her enough to jump into his arms.


    Now they were out in the wilderness with wild monkeys and thunderstorms, so her fear must have


    doubled.


    Thssa, frail as she was, felt the warmth from hisrge hand gently stroking her back.


    His hand, roughened with callouses, could spark a warmth on her chilled back even through the fabric.


    That warmed her body up.


    Thssa was genuinely terrified. She clung onto Lysander¡¯s shirt as if it was a lifeline. She couldn¡¯t


    calm down that quickly so she rested in his arms and cried like a child.


    In the past five years, she had been out there, fighting on her own, earning for her family, and being the


    strong pir for her kids. Regardless of the difficulties and obstacles, she bore them all alone.


    Even when she was tired or in pain, she would hide away and lick her wounds alone.


    She was the support for her kids and Evelyn, so if she showed signs of weakness, it would only put


    Evelyn and the kids in a more helpless situation.


    Therefore, she always put on a cheerful and optimistic front when she was with her family no matter


    how hard and tough her time was.


    She swallowed all the bitterness and hardship by herself.


    Now there was a shoulder she could lean on, a ce where she could cry.


    At this moment, Thssa was not only releasing her fear, but also the grievances and exhaustion deep


    in her heart. These all came out in the form of tears, causing her to sob uncontrobly.


    ¡°It¡¯s okay. I¡¯m here, you¡¯re safe.¡± Lysander¡¯s low, maic voice echoed.


    His arms around her softened even further.


    Just as the two were nestled together, thegging bodyguards and David arrived.


    ¡°Mr. Sinir, you¡¯re too fast. We couldn¡¯t keep up,¡± David managed between gasps of breath. He only


    saw Lysander¡¯s silhouette, not noticing Thssa curled up in his arms. He gasped for air and managed


    to get out a sentence.


    Thssa, startled by the voices, immediately straightened up from Lysander¡¯s embrace, attempting to


    stand on her own.


    Her muscles were overly taut after her extreme fear. Now she was rxed and felt extremely weak.


    Her legs wobbled, which nearly caused her to fall off the steps.


    Lysander quickly scooped her back into his arms. His thick eyebrows furrowed, ¡°Are you trying to get


    yourself killed?¡±


    ¡°I just lost my bnce. It¡¯s okay. I can stand,¡± Thssa quickly wiped her tears. She was trying to stand


    on her own. She only got one leg supporting her weight.


    Lysander noticed her swaying so his gaze fell onto her leg. She was standing on one foot and raised


    the other leg slightly. Her cropped jeans revealed her white leather shoes and her severely swollen


    ankle.


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    He furrowed his brows and swiftly lifted her into his arms.


    Thssa, who was taken aback, instinctively clung onto his neck. Seeing David and several


    bodyguards around, she felt embarrassed, ¡°I just need someone to support me. I can walk on my


    own.¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t move!¡± Lysandermanded.

 Chapter 686

    Chapter 686


    Thssa was intended to walk herself at first but Lysander¡¯s domineering insistence stole her words


    away.


    With David and the bodyguard standing nearby, her face turned as red as a ripe apple.


    David, with a clenched fist to his lips, coughed lightly to ease the awkwardness, ¡°Mr. Sinir, we¡¯ll


    handle the chasing of Faye. It looks like it¡¯s about to rain and Ms. Everhart is injured. She needs


    prompt medical attention.¡±


    Only then did Thssa realize they had climbed the hill to pursue Faye..


    No wonder they had appeared right after she spotted Faye.


    ¡°Absolutely, bring her back,¡± Lysander ordered in a deep, authoritative tone.


    ¡°Yes, Mr. Sinir,¡± David responded, leading the bodyguard towards the hilltop.


    ¡°Um, wait.¡± Thssa ¡®quickly interjected.


    David halted in his tracks, turning back to hear her out.


    Hesitated, Thssa addressed Lysander, ¡°Can they let down Bruce when they reach halfway up the


    hill? He¡¯s hanging on the zip line.¡±


    Her initial n was to find someone at the base of the hill to lower Bruce.


    However, with the impending rain, it seemed unlikely there would be anyone around the base.


    She had left Bruce hanging in mid-air to teach him a lesson and to let him taste the helplessness of


    crying out to an unresponsive world.


    He had hurt so many people, leaving them both helpless and desperate.


    It was about time he got a taste of his own medicine, but she had no intention of killing him.


    But with the looming rain and the presence of wild monkeys, Bruce, who was hanging there overnight,


    would be terrified to death, if not injured.


    Her voice was weak. As she finished speaking, her eyes met Lysander¡¯s unreadable gaze. His silent


    pressure was palpable.


    Thssa felt her heart fluttering. She bowed her head timidly, ¡°Is it impossible?¡±


    Lysander squinted; his eyes became even more piercing, ¡°What exactly are you doing on the hill?¡±


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    Feeling guilty, Thssa evaded his gaze, ¡°Nothing. I just wanted to teach Bruce a small lesson. I didn¡¯t


    anticipate the thunderstorm and my ankle got twisted. If not for that, it would have gone smoothly.¡±


    Upon hearing her words, Lysander¡¯s eyes darkened further. His gaze towards Thssa became icy


    and deep.


    Thssa felt his oppressive aura slow her breathing. Her fingers unconsciously tightened around his


    neck.


    Had she done something wrong?


    Why was he staring at her so intensely?


    After a moment, Lysander shifted his gaze to David, who was still waiting, ¡°Do as she says.¡±


    ¡°Understood, Mr. Sinir.¡± David epted the order and quickly ascended the hill with his bodyguard.


    As for Lysander, he held Thssa in his arms and quickly descended the hill with his long legs.


    Thssa was shocked. Careful as she was, she,still twisted her ankle along this rugged, steep hill.


    Lysander, however, was not only carrying her but also maintaining a steady and quick pace down the


    hill.


    His strength was far beyond her imagination.


    They reached the base of the hill in no time.


    Thssa had been holding onto his neck tightly for bnce. Once they reached t ground, her


    tendency to lean downward has lessened. So gradually, she rxed her grip


    around his neck.


    As her tense thoughts also unwound, she looked up at Lysander without giving much thought. Up


    close, she could see his attractive Adam¡¯s apple and felt the strength in his


    neok under her hand.


    His skin was firm, resilient, and full of power.

 Chapter 687

    Chapter 687


    His lips were a thin line, his breath slightly ragged; his well-built chest was rising and falling.


    The hard trek down the hill had taken its toll on him.


    Thssa, who had been focused on keeping her bnce, hadn¡¯t noticed anything else. But now as


    Lysander carried her across the t ground, she realized that her body was swaying in rhythm with his


    steps. And her chest was also leaning against his bosom.


    His uneven breath caused her body to sway slightly.


    His neck, which she was clinging to, exuded a powerful masculine scent due to the sweat.


    The skin of his neck that she was holding seemed to burn, making her palms feel hot. Her heart was


    also pulsating with a fiery sensation.


    ¡°You must be tired after carrying me through such a long way. Put me down. I can walk to the car by


    myself,¡± Thssa quickly diverted her gaze. She dared not look at his sexy Adam¡¯s apple.


    The point was that his Adam¡¯s apple was right in front of her, which was seductively attractive and


    making her breath unstable.


    ¡°Be quiet,¡± Lysander¡¯s cold voice rang out, sounding powerful and domineering.


    Thssa was stunned. She dared not speak.


    She didn¡¯t know if she needed to let go of his neck or continue to hold on. The temperature in the


    palms seemed to rise, and her heartbeat sped up ordingly.


    Lysander reached the car just as Thssa was about to lose control. He opened the car door and put


    her in the passenger seat.


    Lysander leaned in slightly as she rested on the seat. That made her lips reach his Adam¡¯s apple.


    The sexy, resilient, and masculine touch spread wildly between Thssa¡¯s lips..


    Thssa¡¯s pupils dted. Her heartbeat skipped a beat, and then began to pound wildly.


    Lysander¡¯s body stiffened almost imperceptibly as he felt the woman¡¯s soft lips on his Adam¡¯s apple.


    His throat tightened and his body gave a strong reaction.


    Time seemed to stand still for a second.


    As Thssa came to her senses, she quickly lowered her head and moved her lips away. She


    apologized in a flustered manner, ¡°I¡¯m sorry. I didn¡¯t do it on purpose; it was an


    ident¡­¡±


    She was incoherent and didn¡¯t know how to exin.


    As she spoke, her delicate breath sprayed on Lysander¡¯s neck formed an invisible provocation.


    Lysander swallowed and straightened up. But he didn¡¯t leave the car. He cupped her chin with his


    rough fingers; his deep eyes met her watery ones. He leaned down to capture her lips, devouring her


    restless mouth.


    ¡°Um¡­¡± Thssa¡¯s eyes widened in surprise.


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    She had intended to push him away. She had propped her hand against his chest but his punishment


    made her body go soft. Thus, she ended up clutching his suit.


    He took her by storm, kissing her until she could barely breathe, and then let her go.


    Thssa was panting. Her eyes were filled with tears; she felt all dazed and out of it.


    Lysander gently caressed her cheek with hisrge palm; his thumb tightly brushed her lips to wipe


    away the moisture. His somber gaze fixed on her bewildered eyes, his voice husky and domineering,


    ¡°From now on, you are not allowed to make decisions on your own, understand?¡±


    ¡°Huh?¡± Thssa was still confused. Her breathing was uneven as she asked.


    ¡°Do you know what would have happened if I hadn¡¯te up the mountain today?¡± Lysander¡¯s voice


    was maic and cold, his gaze reproachful.


    ¡°There are a hundred ways to deal with Bruce, but do you understand how dangerous it is to put


    yourself at risk?¡± Lysander¡¯s reprimanding words rang out!


    Thssa was stunned. Her chest heaved and her breathing became shallow as she looked up at


    Lysander


    Her heart swirled in ripples as she saw his deep-set eyes.


    ¡°I¡­I understand.¡± Thssa replied under his gaze.


    ¡°So how should I punish you for disobeying me this time, hm?¡± Lysander lifted her chin, his voice


    maic.

 Chapter 688

    Chapter 688


    Thssa¡¯s breath hitched as she locked eyes with Lysander¡¯s jet-ck orbs. Her heart was pounding


    like a drum, both uncontroble and raging


    Swallowing a gulp of cool water, she braced herself for the whirlwind she knew he was capable of


    bing.


    As Lysander stared back at her, her lips were made even more crimson from his kisses; the rapid rise


    and fall of her chest signaled her nervousness.


    Lysander¡¯s eyes went gloomy. A soft glow seemed to pass through his deep gaze.


    Thssa caught the subtle change in his eyes and misinterpreted it as a sign of affection. Hershes


    fluttered down, ready to close her eyes.


    Suddenly, the pressure on her body vanished, along with the nearness of his masculine presence.


    Lifting her gaze, she found Lysander straightening up and releasing her jaw. His tone was impassive,


    ¡°You¡¯re to rest at home for at least a month. No work.¡±


    With that, he shut the passenger door and settled himself in the driver¡¯s seat.


    Thssa blinked in surprise and curiosity. A month¡¯s rest at home? Was that her punishment?


    Was this a punishment or a reward?


    The car started and gradually picked up speed, winding down the mountain road and getting onto the


    smooth asphalt highway.


    As Lysander focused on driving, Thssa began to feel weak after the moment of extreme tension.


    Tired and weary, her eyelids grew heavy and she fell asleep.


    The car pulled up in front of Royal Estates. Lysander exited and unbuckled Thssa¡¯s seat belt. He


    scooped her up in his arms, heading towards the mansion.


    Thssa slept soundly. She felt ufortable when lifted so she nuzzled her head into Lysander¡¯s


    chest, found afortable position, and continued sleeping.


    Her fluffy head, like a kitten¡¯s, rubbed against Lysander¡¯s chest, causing his heartbeat to falter


    momentarily. ncing down at her, he found her peacefully asleep.


    His gaze deepened as he carried her into the house.


    Their four little ones were ying hide and seek with Fitch. Elowen was the first to notice Thssa.


    She ran over excitedly, ¡°Mommy


    ¡°Shh, don¡¯t wake her,¡± Lysander warned Elowen and gestured her to be quiet.


    Elowen tilted her head back. While seeing her mother sleep soundly in her father¡¯s arms, she


    obediently nodded; her big, bright eyes were filled with curiosity and joy.


    Soon, Dorian and Sophia also noticed their mother had returned. With their short little legs, they


    excitedly rushed over, eager to be close to their mom.


    ¡°Mommy¡­umm¡­¡± Dorian was about to call out when Elowen¡¯s chubby little hand covered his mouth.


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    ¡°Shh, don¡¯t wake Mommy. Daddy¡¯s got her asleep in his arms. Daddy really loves Mommy; if we wake


    her, he¡¯ll be upset,¡± Elowen whispered in a knowing tone.


    Despite her attempts to be quiet, those nearby could still hear her.


    Lysander was speechless.


    Did she say he loved Thssa? Was it that obvious?


    Dorian¡¯s blinked his deep eyes and quickly understood what she said. He nodded in agreement.


    Although the kids longed to be near their mother, they didn¡¯t want to disturb her. So, they watched as


    Lysander carried her upstairs.


    Lysanderid Thssa down on the bed in the master bedroom and called Dr. Everest on his ¡®phone.


    In less than ten minutes, Dr. Everest arrived. While Thssa was still asleep, he examined her twisted


    ankle.


    Lysander stood by, watching. Despite his silence, his mere presence filled the air with an invisible


    pressure.


    His gaze was fixed on Thssa¡¯s swollen foot, the back of which was bloated like a hill. He could


    imagine how severe her sprain was.

 Chapter 689

    Chapter 689


    After a thorough examination, Dr. Everest reported back to Lysander, ¡°She¡¯s sprained her ligament and


    there¡¯s internal bleeding. We need to use abination of kneading to reduce swelling and oral


    medication for bruises and sprains.¡±


    Lysander simply nodded his consent.


    With Lysander¡¯s permission, Dr. Everest retrieved medication from his medical kit to treat Thssa.


    Thssa, in her slumber, felt the pain and instinctively tried to retract her foot.


    Lysander promptly reached out hisrge hand to hold her leg steady.


    Thssa stirred slightly in her sleep but didn¡¯t wake. Again, she sank back into deep slumber.


    ¡°Be gentle.¡± Lysander¡¯s gaze shifted from Thssa¡¯s face to Dr. Everest, his voice stern.


    Dr. Everest quickly nodded, ¡°Of course.¡±


    Sweat broke out on his forehead from the tension. Lysander¡¯smand made him so. The intense


    pressure left him on edge.


    Property of N?)(velDr(a)ma.Org.


    Dr. Everest then lightened his movements and slowly kneaded Thssa¡¯s foot.


    With Lysander holding her leg, she was unable to move. Soon, the kneading was done.


    Dr. Everest then wrapped Thssa¡¯s foot with gauze smeared with a medicated salve for sprains and


    bruises, and prescribed some oral medication.


    He instructed Lysander, ¡°Avoid her from any pungent foods and excessive physical activity. And ensure


    that she¡¯ll get plenty of rest for at least a month.¡±


    With Lysander¡¯s acknowledgment, Dr. Everest left with his medical kit.


    Lysander was standing by the bed and staring at the sleeping Thssa.


    ¡°Don¡¯t squish me.¡±


    ¡°Ouch, you¡¯re squishing my hand.¡±


    Whispers echoed from the doorway.


    Lysander nced back. He saw nothing at first until he lowered his gaze to see four little heads


    peeping in from the doorway.


    Four pairs of curious eyes, brimming with innocent wonder, were attempting to sneak a peek inside.


    They wanted toe in but were afraid of disturbing the people in the room, so they positioned


    themselves at the door and craned their necks to see inside. Their heights were almost the same, and


    the limited space caused a smallmotion among the four as they jostled for a better view. Dorian,


    unable to see, even pressed down on Elowen¡¯s head.


    They reminded him of four curious bear cubs; their cuteness and innocence were overpowering.


    Upon catching Lysander¡¯s gaze, Elowen gave him a goofy grin. She scratched her head sheepishly,


    ¡°Hehe¡­¡±


    Dorian, too, stopped pressing Elowen¡¯s head. He was blinking his young, innocent eyes endearingly.


    Sophia, who had been in the front, quickly scurried behind her siblings when she noticed Lysander¡¯s


    attention. She clutched at Atticus¡¯ clothes in fear of their father¡¯s anger.


    Atticus, who had been at the back, was now second in line. He raised his cute face, meeting


    Lysander¡¯s gaze without a hint of fear.


    Ever since he had aided his father in hacking into the housing authority¡¯swork and subsequently


    gained his approval, his confidence had skyrocketed. Lysander¡¯s stern gaze softened as he saw each


    kid¡¯s cuteness. He walked over, took Elowen¡¯s hand, and said in a low voice, ¡°Let¡¯s go get ready for


    bed.¡±


    Leading Elowen away, the other three took onest peek inside the room before following them


    downstairs.


    After their baths, Elowen wrapped her arms around Lysander, ¡°Daddy, I want a hug, too. Tuck me in


    just like mommy.¡±

 Chapter 690

    Chapter 690


    Lysander¡¯s eyes were fixed on her.


    Elowen pouted her rosy little mouth, her smal! hand gripping his arm as she gently shook it. Herrge,


    dewy eyes were filled with anticipation and desire.


    ¡°Mommy sleeps in your arms like a precious baby, and I am your little treasure too. Won¡¯t you hold me


    and lull me to sleep as well?¡±


    Elowen spoke with her childish tone.


    Her soft, adorable voice was absolutely heart-melting.


    Just now, when she saw Mommy asleep in Daddy¡¯s arms, she was so envious.


    She wanted a cuddle just like that.


    All the other kids had gone to bed, but Elowen still refused to sleep. She wanted Daddy to hold her to


    sleep.


    When Fitch heard Elowen¡¯s words from nearby, he couldn¡¯t help but smile.


    But a single stern nce from Lysander made Fitch retract his smile immediately. He stiffened up,


    lowered his head, and quietly retreated.


    You just can¡¯t enjoy the sweet moments freely in the Royal Estates. If you did so, you¡¯d get a stern


    re from Lysander.


    Fitch tightened up, daring not to interfere with Lysander¡¯s business anymore.


    When Lysander turned his gaze back to Elowen, his eyes softened considerably, ¡°Then you have to go


    back to your room so I can hold you to sleep.¡±


    ¡°Okay, Daddy, let¡¯s go to the room together.¡± Elowen grabbed his big hand with her little soft palm,


    pulling him back to her pink princess room.


    Lysander held her as light as a plush doll. He rocked his arms like a cradle as her cute figure was lying


    in between them.


    The little one was frightened at first. She gripped Lysander¡¯s arm tightly, not daring to let go.


    But soon, finding itfortable and fun, she let out a giggly, bell-likeughter.


    Once she tired herself out, she quickly fell asleep in Lysander¡¯s arms.


    Lysander stopped rocking, looking at the small, soft body in his arms. The little one had Thssa¡¯s


    nose and eyes, and long eyshes like a Barbie doll.


    This was his daughter.


    So small and so adorable.


    Lysander didn¡¯t notice that his gaze was soft like the moonlight outside the window.


    After gently cing Elowen on the bed and tucking her in, Lysander left the room.


    The moon went down and the sun rose to the sky.


    Thssa woke up in daylight with rising consciousness. She opened her eyes to the white ceiling and


    the expensive crystal chandelier.


    Her fuzzy mind suddenly became crystal clear. She realized she was in the master bedroom of the


    This is the property of N?-velDrama.Org.


    Royal Estates!


    She had no memory of what happened after getting into Lysander¡¯s car.


    Thssa quickly sat up but found her body being held, unable to move freely.


    She looked up and saw Lysander¡¯s long arm embracing her upper body, his legs curled around hers,


    wrapping her like a cocoon.


    He was so heavy.


    Thssa only felt the weight when she woke up.


    Lysander¡¯s hot breath was spraying on her neck.


    It was itchy and tingling on her skin.


    She didn¡¯t feel anything while sleeping, but now that she was awake, her heart was racing unevenly.


    She quickly tilted her head to the side to distance herself from Lysander. Then she gently lifted


    Lysander¡¯s arm that was pressing on her, trying to move him away.


    But those closed eyes suddenly opened. A sh of cold light in them made Thssa¡¯s heart tremble.


    She quickly exined, ¡°i was just trying to get up¡­


    She didn¡¯t mean to disturb him, but he was the one pressing down on her.


    She thought he would be angry, but surprisingly, he immediately withdrew his hand that was pressing


    on her, and even his leg was removed.


    Before she could get up, he sat up first and rubbed his forehead, looking like he had not slept well.

 Chapter 691

    Chapter 691


    Seeing him surrounded by that grumpy aura of morning fog, Thssa remained frozen in bed, not


    daring to move.


    Maybe he lost sleep because she woke him up with noise?


    Just as Thssa was feeling uneasy, Lysander got out of bed, grabbed some clothes from the


    wardrobe, and began to change right in front of her.


    He stripped off his pajamas, r¨¦vealing a toned, lean chest and eight-pack abs; his chiseled muscles


    were full of strength, embodying all the wildness and danger of a man.


    Thssa was caught off guard by the sight of his body. Her heart skipped a beat; she hastily averted


    her eyes and held her breath.


    Why was he changing clothes right in front of her?


    ¡°You¡¯re to stay in bed today. The housekeeper will bring you breakfast,¡± Lysander said in a maic


    tone as he buttoned up his shirt with a calm demeanor.


    ¡°Stay in bed?¡± Thssa questioned as she sat up quickly. She identally moved her ankle, thus


    wincing in pain..


    She looked down at her foot in pain; it was already wrapped up like a mummy.


    Only then did she remember the events of yesterday at Phoenix Mountain.


    She had sprained her foot and couldn¡¯t walk properly.


    She looked back at Lysander; he was watching her with deep, seemingly displeased and reproachful


    eyes.


    Property of N?)(velDr(a)ma.Org.


    Thssa felt guilty and said in a weak tone, ¡°I forgot that my foot was still injured for a second. Did you


    get a doctor to treat it?¡±


    ¡°What do you think?¡± Lysander gave her a cold nce, putting on his suit and tying his tie.


    The way he tied his tie was leisurely, dignified, and deft.


    Only then did Thssa realize that the man in suits actually tied his own tie every day


    ¡°Thank you. If it weren¡¯t for you yesterday, I might have been torn apart by wild monkeys without


    anyone knowing,¡± Thssa sincerely thanked him.


    If no one hade and saved her from that helpless den, she would really have been in grave danger.


    As soon as she finished speaking, she saw Lysander¡¯s oppressive, eagle-like gaze fixated on her.


    Seeing this made Thssa feel uneasy. Had she said something wrong?


    Did that ¡°thank you¡± upset him?


    Lysander was always unpredictable and left her puzzled.


    She simply couldn¡¯t understand what made him angry or pleased.


    ¡°Um, I want to get up and freshen up. Do you have a crutch?¡± Thssa quickly changed the subject.


    Without a word, Lysander strode over and offered her his hand.


    Thssa stared at his hand in surprise. Feeling uncertain, she reached out to take it. He hoisted her up


    with ease.


    With Lysander¡¯s arm for support, Thssa managed to hobble to the master bathroom. Only after she


    was securely, positioned by the sink did he let go


    of her. Instead of leaving the bathroom, he took out a toothbrush and toothpaste and began to squeeze


    the toothpaste.


    ¡°I can do it myself.¡± Thssa started.


    Lysander¡¯s cool gaze shot over before she could finish. Thssa shrank back.


    Next, he handed her the toothbrush with the toothpaste already applied, took another one for himself,


    and started brushing his teeth.


    Thssa felt slightly awkward.


    The first toothbrush he took out and applied toothpaste to was supposed to be for him, right?


    But she had mistaken it for hers and said she could do it herself.


    He probably just went along with it and gave her the prepared toothbrush. Then he just took another


    one for himself.


    But why was the first toothbrush he took out pink?


    Lost in thought, Thssa barely noticed that Lysander was almost done brushing his teeth.


    Snapping back to reality, Thssa started to brush her own teeth.


    ¡°Mommy, Daddy, get up! The sun¡¯s gonna burn your bums,¡± a sweet child¡¯s voice called from outside


    the door, breaking the morning silence.

 Chapter 692

    Chapter 692


    The little ones rushed in, and only to find the bed unupied.


    Elowen, at the forefront of the pack, halted abruptly. The other kids behind her failed to stop in time,


    crashing into her one by one like dominoes. The scene wasical and totally adorable.


    Upon hearing the kids¡¯ ruckus, Thssa, with a toothbrush in her mouth, hastily turned around. She


    forgot her injured foot so pain shot through her, eliciting a hiss.


    A strong hand grabbed her arm. Lysander¡¯s low, maic voice chided, ¡°Easy now!¡±


    As he helped Thssa out of the bathroom, the sight of the kids piled up on the floor weed them.


    Sophia, thest one to fall,nded on her bottom and rolled aside like a little tumbleweed. People could


    see she was in pain.


    Thssa¡¯s heart ached as words caught in her throat. Thankfully, Sophia didn¡¯t cry out in pain but


    swiftly got up, looking dazed and disoriented.


    Soon, Atticus got up, and Dorian rolled to the side.


    Elowen, who was pinned at the bottom, whimpered, ¡°Ouch, that hurts.¡±


    She lifted her chubby hand to rub her waist.


    Property of N?)(velDr(a)ma.Org.


    Lysander released Thssa on seeing this. He quickly stepped forward to pick up Elowen.


    Upon seeing her father, tears welled up in Elowen¡¯s sparkling eyes, ¡°Daddy, it hurts¡­


    ¡°I¡¯ll massage it for you.¡± Lysander¡¯s big hand gently rubbed the area Elowen had touched earlier,


    applying just the right amount of pressure.


    Thssa stood on one foot and watched the scene unfold.


    Elowen was indeed the most adorable and lively little girl. She knew how to act cute perfectly.


    Even Lysander, the typically icy and aloof man, softened under her cuteness.


    He was incredibly patient with Elowen without showing a slightest hint of irritation.


    ¡°Does it still hurt?¡± Lysander asked in his soothing voice while caressing Elowen¡¯s small frame.


    Elowen shook her head. Her pigtail braids were swaying with the movement, looking exceptionally


    cute.


    Her innocent eyes then turned to Thssa, who was standing not far away. With a joyful shout, Elowen


    called out, ¡°Mommy!¡±


    By now, the other kids had gathered around Thssa, ready for some cuddle time and the warmth of


    their mother¡¯s embrace.


    Their excited steps halted once more.


    Atticus was the first to notice the bandage around Thssa¡¯s foot. With his eyes filled with concern, he


    asked, ¡°Mommy, are you hurt again?¡±


    His tiny brows furrowed upon finishing asking. Then, he shot a nce at Lysander.


    Thssa quickly exined, ¡°I was climbing a hill yesterday and twisted my ankle. It was Daddy who


    saved me. Or you wouldn¡¯t have seen Mommy anymore.


    Thssa knew what Atticus was thinking just by reading his nce. He must¡¯ve assumed that


    Lysander hurt her again. She just couldn¡¯t let him continue this misunderstanding.


    Before, Atticus had a few misconceptions that Lysander had hurt her. In his quest for justice, he had


    cost the Sinir group a billion dors.


    If he were to do something like that again, Thssa was sure that Lysander would lose his cool.


    ¡°Dad, you¡¯re the best. Thanks for saving Mommy¡± Dorian, always the sweet-talker, gave Lysander a


    thumbs-up. As Thssa¡¯s son, he was grateful to his father for saving their mother.


    Atticus¡¯ displeasure at Lysander eased, and he looked at Thssa¡¯s foot with concern, ¡°Mommy, can


    you walk?¡±


    ¡°I still have one good foot, Thssa reassured with aforting smile on her lips.


    ¡°Mommy, you should rest at home. Let Daddy take care of you. He¡¯s really good at it. Just like


    yesterday, he can hold you while you sleep. You¡¯ll feel better after some sleep.¡± Elowen, who had just


    gotten down from Lysander¡¯s arms, walked up to Thssa, tugging at her pants and looking up at her


    with


    innocent eyes.


    Thssa gasped.


    She couldn¡¯t help but look at Lysander.

 Chapter 693

    Chapter 693


    Did Lysander cuddle herst night?


    She had been oblivious while sleeping and even unaware of how she ended up at the Royal Estates.


    Looking into Lysander¡¯s deep eyes, her heartbeat fluttered. Quickly dropping her gaze, she turned to


    Elowen and said in a soft tone, ¡°Go to school, darlings. I¡¯ll rest up and take good care of myself. Don¡¯t


    worry about me, okay?¡±


    ¡°Mommy, you¡¯re blowing bubbles from your mouth! That¡¯s fun!¡± Elowen, with her innocent eyes,


    reached out to catch the bubbles that unexpectedly popped out of Thssa¡¯s mouth.


    Caught off guard, Thssa realized she had not finished brushing her teeth; her mouth was full of


    foam.


    She tried to head back to the bathroom to rinse, but her foot made it difficult.


    As she struggled to move, Lysander¡¯s tall figure approached; hisrge shadow was enveloping her, his


    presence overwhelming.


    Before Thssa could react, her arm was already being supported by Lysander. His strong grip helped


    her easily back to the bathroom sink.


    ¡°Thanks,¡± Thssa instinctively murmured.


    As the word left her lips, she felt the air was condensed and turning chillingly cold.


    Her breath hitched; she gave him a weak nce as she picked up the ss.


    His handsome face was tense. Those eyes went somber and those brows furrowed. He was clearly


    displeased.


    Thssa then remembered his reaction when she thanked him for rescuing herst night. It was the


    same.


    It seemed he disliked hearing the words ¡®thank you¡¯.


    But howe he didn¡¯t get angry when Dorian thanked him earlier?


    Under his intense stare, Thssa quickly finished rinsing and washing her face. Once again, she was


    aided by him as they left the room.


    The four little ones were still standing in the room, their eyes filled with longing.


    Thssa could see their yearning for their mother¡¯s embrace in their adorable, soft eyes.


    They wanted to rush to her, but they were aware of her injured foot and did not want to cause any


    harm.


    But the kids¡¯ innocencey in their inability to hide their love and need for their mother.


    Thssa had also missed them immensely over the past few days. Seeing them now, she felt


    something was missing if she did not embrace them.


    With Lysander¡¯s help, Thssa moved to the bed and carefully sat down. She spread her arms wide,


    her eyes warm and inviting, ¡°Come here, my little sweethearts. Let¡¯s have a hug.¡±


    The four little ones immediately showed their joy upon seeing their mother¡¯s widespread arms. Their


    eyes sparkled like stars as they rushed over and cuddled into Thssa like little kittens.


    Thssa held their heads, nting kisses on their soft, squishy cheeks.


    They smelled sweet and felt soft, which was an intoxicatingbination.


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    Nothing could be more blissful than cuddling with her kids.


    Holding her four adorable little ones, all the risks she took yesterday seemed worth it.


    Her injured foot was worth it too.


    Standing to the side, Lysander watched the intimate moment between Thssa and the kids. A soft


    glow flickered in his eyes.


    Just then, the phone on the bedside table rang, interrupting the tender moment.

 Chapter 694

    Chapter 694


    The ringing of the phone also caught Thssa¡¯s attention.


    It was a tone she was familiar with, her own ringtone. Her phone was on the bedside table, within arm¡¯s


    reach. Temporarily letting go of her children, she picked it up and saw her boss, Ethan¡¯s name on the


    screen.


    She swiped to answer.


    Before Thssa could even offer him a greeting, Ethan¡¯s voice filled the room. ¡°Thssa, just stay


    home and rest. Don¡¯t worry abouting to work until you¡¯re fully recovered.¡±


    Thssa was taken aback. How did Ethan know she was hurt?


    She had taken a day off yesterday, but she hadn¡¯t informed Ethan about her injury.


    There was only one person who could have informed Ethan, resulting in such a considerate response


    from him: Lysander.


    Without thinking, Thssa nced over at Lysander. However, his deep gaze was already on her.


    Their eyes met, and Thssa¡¯s breath hitched, causing her heartbeat to flutter like a plucked string on


    a guitar.


    Lysander¡¯s gaze was as intense and unfathomable as the man himself. It was not something she could


    Swiftly, she looked away and continued her conversation with Ethan. ¡°I understand, Mr. Ethan. I will


    rest and try to get back to work as soon as I can.¡±


    ¡°Your health is important. This is considered a work-rted injury, so you¡¯re entitled to paid leave. So,


    don¡¯t rush.¡± The concern in Ethan¡¯s voice was evident.


    Thssa was not one to take advantage of other people¡¯s kindness. She had injured herself while


    hiking on her day off. How could that be considered a work-rted injury?


    ¡°Mr. Ethan, how can this be considered a work-rted injury? You should still deduct my sry for the


    day.¡±


    ¡°Any injury that urs during your employment period is considered work-rted. I need to head into a


    meeting now, so take care. Goodbye.¡± With that brief exnation, Ethan hurriedly ended the call.


    Thssa was left a bit stunned.


    Had the definition of a work-rted injury changed?


    Or had she been misunderstanding it all this time?


    After setting her phone down, she saw Lysander stride over, leading the children by hand. His tone was


    stern, but not angry. ¡°Let¡¯s go downstairs for breakfast and then head off to school. We¡¯re runningte.¡±


    ¡°I want to go downstairs with Mommy.¡± Sophia refused to let go. Her tiny hand relentlessly gripped


    Thssa¡¯s with all her strength.


    ¡°Your mother can¡¯t move around easily. Someone will bring her breakfast.¡± Lysander tried to reassure


    her.


    Sophia finally let go of Thssa¡¯s hand, but as she left, she cast a worried nce back at Thssa.


    Thssa understood. Sophia was worried that she would be hungry. That was why she wanted to go


    downstairs with her.


    Her little angels were so considerate.


    Once the children and Lysander had left the room, Thssa sat alone on the bed, annoyed by herck


    of mobility.


    She felt so helpless.


    All she could do was sit there, feeling utterly bored.


    A whileter, a maid brought up her breakfast on a beautiful silver tray.


    With the maid¡¯s help, Thssa moved to the small table, but after taking one look at her breakfast, she


    couldn¡¯t believe how nd it was.


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    in oatmeal with steamed vegetables? Even her beverage was just a cup of milk.


    Thssa was a fan of spicy food. Even when she had oatmeal, she would have it sprinkled with


    jpenos.


    This was too nd. She had no appetite for such a meal.


    As the maid was about to leave, Thssa stopped her. ¡°Could I get some jpenos, please?¡±


    The maid hesitated. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Ms. Everhart, but Lysander instructed that you shouldn¡¯t have anything


    spicy.¡±


    ¡°Why?¡±


    ¡°You need to watch your diet when you¡¯re injured. It¡¯smon sense.¡± Lysander¡¯s authoritative voice


    echoed in the room, seemingly drawing nearer every second.

 Chapter 695

    Chapter 695


    The maid quickly lowered her head, diminishing her presence and gingerly backing away.


    Upon seeing Lysander approach, Thssa started to feel intimidated as his towering figure got closer


    and closer. She forced a smile, acknowledging her fault. ¡°I understand. This oatmeal looks rather


    appetizing; I¡¯m sure I can finish it.¡±


    With that, she scooped a spoonful of oatmeal into her mouth and then looked up at Lysander with a


    face full of surprise. ¡°Mmm! It¡¯s delicious. The texture is smooth, and the taste is light and savory. It¡¯s


    truly delicious.¡±


    Lysander stared at her without blinking or uttering a word.


    Under his watchful gaze, Thssa finished the entire bowl of oatmeal in no time.


    She also gulped down the ss of water.


    Lysander took a ck bottle of pills from the table and ced it in front of her. ¡°Three times a day, six


    pills each time. Remember to take them on time.¡±


    After instructing her on what to do, he turned and left.


    Thssa fell silent.


    Why didn¡¯t he say so earlier? She had finished all the water. Surely he didn¡¯t expect her to swallow six


    pills dry?


    The pills were about the size of marbles. Even if she attempted to swallow them without water, she


    wouldn¡¯t be able to.


    She didn¡¯t have the courage to stop Lysander as she watched him exit the room.


    His aura was so strong that it took a lot of courage just to call out his name. How could she stop him


    and talk to him just toin about swallowing pills?


    Luckily, not long after Lysander left the room, the maid came in with a pitcher of water and a ss.


    After cing the pitcher and the ss on the coffee table, the maid picked up her empty bowl to leave.


    Thssa asked, ¡°Where is Lysander?¡±


    ¡°Lysander has stepped out.¡± The maid answered.


    Thssa nodded. Lysander must have gone to the office. With him gone, she felt slightly more at


    ease.


    But now that severe pain shot throughout her body every time her foot touched the floor, was she


    supposed to sit here all day?


    Half an hourter, the maid brought in a pair of crutches. ¡°Ms. Everhart, there¡¯s andline in the room.


    If you need anything, just dial the inte, and we¡¯lle up immediately.¡±


    Thssa looked towards thendline, noticing thebel for the inte on the asterisk key.


    ¡°Alright, thank you.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re wee.¡± The maid left after cing the crutches against the couch.


    Thssa tried the crutches. They were useful, so at least she could walk now.


    She quickly contacted the real estate agent to sell the vi she had just registered.


    She had received this vi from Bruce to recover the billion.


    As it was newly purchased and not yet a year old, there was no transfer fee, enabling the quick sale of


    the house. By the afternoon, the agent informed her that someone wanted to buy the vi and asked


    her to handle the paperwork.


    Thssa arrived at the property registry office with the help of her crutches. She didn¡¯t see the buyer,


    just the agent.


    Thssa was puzzled. ¡°Where is the buyer?¡±


    She was already ten minuteste. Could the buyer beter than her?


    The agent replied, ¡°The buyer has gone to the bank to finalize the payment. He has authorized me to


    handle the transfer.¡±


    ¡®Can a transfer be authorized?¡± Thssa was confused!


    Property of N?)(velDr(a)ma.Org.


    Just as she finished speaking, her phone vibrated. She saw a bank transfer notification for a billion


    dors.


    Did the buyer really transfer the money to her, just like that?


    If so, why didn¡¯t he show up for the transfer himself instead of giving authorization to someone else?


    ¡®As long as the documents areplete, authorization is possible.¡± The agent politely exined.


    Thssa still felt like something was wrong. ¡°Can I see the buyer¡¯s information?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry, but we¡¯ve signed a contract to keep the buyer¡¯s information confidential. The agent


    apologized while remaining polite.

 Chapter 696

    Chapter 696


    Each industry had its own rules, and discretion was the most basic rule of professional ethics.


    At first, she found the buyer somewhat peculiar. The gentleman had made the payment so swiftly and


    had even delegated the paperwork to someone else. A billion-dor mansion was no small deal, and


    the fact that he had entrusted such an important task to somebody else was bizarre. Wasn¡¯t he afraid


    of any mishaps?


    But then again, the world was a vast ce with all kinds of people.


    Besides, for the affluent, time was more precious than money. A billion dors was a mere trifle to


    them. It was barely worth a second thought.


    Just like Lysander, for whom a billion was nothing more than pocket change.


    Once she hade to this realization, Thssa stopped dwelling on it. Shepleted the paperwork


    and walked out of the real estate office. She had initially nned to visit her mother, Evelyn. But her


    chauffeur approached her, looking anxious. ¡°Ms Everhart, it¡¯s gettingte. We should head back.¡±


    She asked the chauffeur to take her from Royal Estates to the property registry office.


    Otherwise, given her limp and her need for crutches, there was no way she could have caught a cab by


    herself.


    ¡°Take me to Vibrant Oasis Residences, then you can head back.¡± She instructed the chauffeur.


    ¡°But¡­ but¡­ Mr. Sinir will be home soon. If he doesn¡¯t see you there when he gets back, I¡¯ll be the


    one to bear the brunt of his displeasure.¡± The chauffeur said, looking torn.


    It was a tough situation. On the one hand, he hadn¡¯t been granted permission by Lysander to take


    Thssa out. On the other hand, he couldn¡¯t resist her pleading request.


    The chauffeur thought that, as long as they got back before Lysander did, there wouldn¡¯t be any


    trouble.


    And now Ms Everhart didn¡¯t want to return.


    After noticing the chauffeur¡¯s worried expression, Thssa realized that another trip elsewhere would


    make things difficult for him. She was the one who asked him to help her with this task in the first ce,


    so she couldn¡¯t let him be troubled.


    ¡°Return to Royal Estates,¡± she said. ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡±


    She carefully got into the car, and the chauffeur drove off, deliberately increasing the speed to get


    home before Lysander.


    Fortunately, when they arrived at Royal Estates, Lysander¡¯s car was nowhere to be seen. He hadn¡¯t


    returned yet.


    In the meantime, at the Sinir Group.


    Lysander was in his office.


    David stood in front of his desk, giving his report.


    ¡°Yesterday morning, Ms Everhart and Bruce went to the real estate office and registered the billion-


    dor vi in Ms Everhart¡¯s name. After that, they went to Phoenix Mountain. In a short while, Bruce


    transferred thirteen million to Ms Everhart¡¯s ount.¡±


    Lysander looked up from the contract he was reading and gazed at David. ¡°Did you let Bruce go on the


    mountainside yesterday?¡±


    Thssa said she had left Bruce hanging in the middle of a zip-lining.


    David shook his head. ¡°No, when we got there, there was nobody. Faye was too fast, and the mountain


    was steep, not to mention the thunderstorm that was hindering our movement. We couldn¡¯t catch up to


    her.¡±


    David spoke with a hint of guilt in his voice.


    Lysander furrowed his brows slightly and waved his hand.


    David nodded and exited the office.


    Just as he returned to his desk, Thssa called.


    David picked up. ¡°Ms Everhart, are you looking for Mr. Sinir?¡±


    ¡°No, no, no. I need to speak with you.¡± Thssa¡¯s voice sounded light and cheery.


    ¡°What do you need?¡± David asked, feeling intrigued.


    Thssa was Lysander¡¯s woman, and she used to be his secretary. It was normal for her to seek


    David¡¯s help since he was her superior.


    This is the property of N?-velDrama.Org.


    Now, however, she was no longer an employee of the Sinir Group.


    There was no connection between them anymore. What could she possibly need from him?

 Chapter 697

    Chapter 697


    ¡°Do you have a bank card at hand?¡± Thssa asked.


    ¡°No.¡±


    ¡°Well, you can see your card number in there. Can you send it to me?¡± Thssa ditched any pretense


    and got straight to the point.


    ¡°Why?¡± David asked.


    Was your own bank card number something you could casually share with others?


    8  ,,,,,


    ¡°Well, I got thirteen million from Bruce yesterday, and today the police called me, asking where the


    money came from and if I had swindled it from someone. They said their investigation showed some


    suspicious activity in my ount, so they are currently suspecting me of fraud. They¡¯re preparing to


    build a case against me. I was so scared. I told them the money in my ount was just passing


    through from someone else and would be transferred out soon. I had a record ofrge sums of


    transactions once on my ount, so they believed me.¡±


    Last time, David called Lysander to tell him that the billion in her ount was transferred to Bruce to


    buy a mansion.


    So, she had a record ofrge sums of transactions on her ount, which David absolutely believed.


    Nowadays, if someone¡¯s ount suddenly had a lot more money or the transactions seemed


    unnatural, they¡¯d be monitored by big data and watched by


    the police.


    What Thssa was saying made total sense.


    ¡°So what?¡± David asked.


    ¡°So, I¡¯m nning to transfer the money to your ount and tell the police that the money is yours.


    Then they won¡¯t suspect me of being a fraud and won¡¯t investigate me.¡± Thssa exined her n.


    ¡°But won¡¯t I be investigated then?¡± David asked calmly.


    He wanted to know what Thssa was up to.


    ¡°No, you¡¯re the chief secretary of the Sinir group. You deal with much more money than that on a


    daily basis than this. It¡¯spletely normal for you, so you won¡¯t be investigated.¡± Thssa assured


    him.


    She was telling the truth. David, who was constantly working with Lysander, sometimes had to


    reimburse millions.


    ¡°If you transfer it to me and I transfer it back to you, won¡¯t they investigate you again?¡± David didn¡¯t


    understand her thought process.


    ¡°Of course not. After I transfer it to you, you can withdraw it as cash and then give it to me. There¡¯s no


    transaction record for cash, so who would know? Help me out, and I¡¯ll treat you to dinner someday,


    David. You¡¯re always so helpful.¡± Thssa began to sweet-talk him and coax him persistently.


    ¡°You could ask Mr. Sinir.¡±


    ¡°No way.


    If I transfer the money to him, he won¡¯t give it back to me.¡± Thssa was adamant.


    ¡°Are you reluctant to part with this money?¡± David seemed to understand what she was thinking.


    ¡°Of course! It¡¯s so much money; who wouldn¡¯t like it?¡± Thssa didn¡¯t hide her love for money.


    On the other end of the phone, David hesitated for a moment before nodding. ¡°Alright. I¡¯ll send it to you


    His tone was calm and steady, but there was a hint of coldness hidden underneath every word.


    Soon, Thssa received David¡¯s bank card number.


    Without a word, Thssa transferred the entire billion and thirteen billion to David¡¯s ount.


    After transferring the money, she promptly sent David a message. ¡°It¡¯s Lysander¡¯s money. Do whatever


    you want with it. Thanks, David.¡±


    In the office, David received the bank¡¯s transfer message and was surprised when he saw the amount.


    Then he received Thssa¡¯s message and was even more surprised when he read the content.


    He had a sudden realization. Thssa had yed him!


    Thssa wasn¡¯t just using his ount to withdraw money. She was using him to repay Lysander.


    Maybe Thssa tried to directly return the money to Mr. Sinir, but Mr. Sinir ignored her. With no


    other option, she transferred all the money to him, leaving it up to him to figure out how to return the


    money to Lysander.


    1


    What a clever way to use someone else to repay a debt.


    David, the usually cunning fox, had actually been putsmarted by Thssa, the naive and innocent girl.


    Property ? of N?velDrama.Org.


    While looking at the long string of digits representing the amount of money, David suddenly realized


    that he was holding a hot potato.


    §ã§á§Ñ§â

 Chapter 698

    Chapter 698


    David was staring at his phone, recalling the moment Thssa admitted that she liked money and


    Property ? of N?velDrama.Org.


    intended to keep it all for herself.


    He scoffed at the mere thought of her.


    Even though he had agreed to let her use his ount to withdraw the money, he did so in a cold


    voice.


    In just a few minutes, Thssa hadpletely flipped the situation on its head, leaving him feeling like


    a sucker.


    Was this a sign of her being money-minded?


    It seemed more like she was treating money like dirt. Any other woman would¡¯ve been ecstatic. They


    would have eagerly indulged in the extravagance of a billion dors and then some.


    But Thssa was stubbornly determined to return it all to Lysander.


    What sort of gem of a woman was she?


    Poor him; he¡¯d been used as a tool in the strange back and forth between Lysander and Thssa.


    He sent a message to Thssa to confirm, onest time, if she really wanted to go through with this.


    [You still have time to back out.]


    She replied swiftly.


    [I won¡¯t back out. I¡¯m just worried you¡¯ll hold this against me. You have no room to back out now, David.


    I¡¯m sorry.]


    His lips twitched as he read the message.


    He had lost his chance to back out when he gave Thssa his bank details.


    She had him all figured out. She yed him like a fiddle.


    Thssa and Lysander were two peas in a pod.


    With Thssa¡¯s confirmation, David was now left with the task of returning this massive amount of


    money to Lysander.


    Handing it over directly would surely put him in Mr. Sinir¡¯s line of fire.


    So, he had to go through the finance department.


    David got up swiftly to get this done. For every second he dyed, the hot potato in his hand would


    burn him more.


    David arrived at the finance department and informed the manager about an impending deposit into the


    Just as he finished speaking with the finance manager, the department received the funds.


    He emphasized the need to credit the money into the ount.


    David had a good rapport with the finance department manager. He was always the one dealing with


    Lysander¡¯s matters, including financial transactions. The manager didn¡¯t think twice. She followed


    David¡¯s instructions and credited the money to the ount.


    Once everything was done, David left.


    He returned to his office, hoping that this issue would end here. But the more he thought about it, the


    more anxious he became. His heart was pounding like a drum.


    David got up and headed to the CEO¡¯s office, coincidentally running into the finance manager at the


    entrance.


    The manager had just rang the doorbell and gotten permission to enter.


    When the manager was about to enter, David joined her. They exchanged a look at the door.


    The manager¡¯s gaze was filled with suspicion and doubt, while David¡¯s was fraught with tension.


    Both of them approached the desk.


    The manager spoke first. ¡°Mr. Sinir, there¡¯s something strange that i would like to discuss with


    you¡­¡±


    ¡°Mr. Sinir, I have something to tell you too.¡± David cut her off.


    She shot him a nce.


    ¡°Speak.¡± Lysander was busy reading a file. He didn¡¯t even bother to look


    up


    at them.


    David continued, ¡°I¡¯ve just transferred one billion and thirteen million to thepany ount.¡±


    The manager was taken aback. She was just about to report the same.


    Initially, everything seemed normal to her. But after David left, she found it odd that he didn¡¯t mention


    anything about the purpose or origin of the money.


    His silence was unsettling, prompting her to report the matter to Mr. Sinir, suspecting that David was


    up to no good.

 Chapter 699

    Chapter 699


    David¡¯s unprovoked confession surprised Lysander.


    Lysander¡¯s hand paused over the document he was holding as his piercing eyes shifted towards


    David.


    ¡°Ms. Everhart sent the funds back to me, and I ced them in thepany ount.¡± David confessed,


    avoiding eye contact.


    Lysander¡¯s intimidating gaze sent a chill down David¡¯s spine, making his entire body tense up.


    The room seemed to grow colder after David¡¯s confession.


    Silent threats were the most challenging for one¡¯s mental endurance, and David was feeling all the


    This is the property of N?-velDrama.Org.


    pressure.


    Just as he was preparing himself for a verbalshing, Lysander¡¯s icy voice echoed in the room. ¡°Get


    out!¡±


    David felt as if he had been pardoned and hurriedly left the office.


    Now that it was just her left, the finance manager started sweating bullets. When she saw Lysander¡¯s


    gaze turn towards her, she stammered, ¡°I¡­ I only know what David told me¡­ I have no other


    information.¡±


    She, too, left the office shakily.


    She was relieved that David had taken the brunt of Lysander¡¯s anger. If it had been her alone, she


    would have been so terrified of Mr. Sinir¡¯s imposing demeanor that she probably would have started


    crying.


    With a heavy thud, Lysander threw the documents onto the table. The sound of the paper hitting the


    wooden surface rang out through the entire room. With each deep breath he took, his eyes became


    even frostier.


    Did she think returning the money would sever their ties?


    It seemed like she didn¡¯t understand her situation at all!


    Back at Royal Estates.


    Thssa had a good night¡¯s sleep after settling her affairs.


    A weight was lifted off her shoulders, leaving her feeling much lighter.


    She still remembered Lysander¡¯s livid and venomous look when he discovered that the billion in her


    ount was used to buy a mansion for Bruce. Thssa was deeply hurt by that misunderstanding.


    She hated Bruce and would never choose to be his daughter if she had a choice.


    Unfortunately, a person¡¯s blood rtives were something they couldn¡¯t control.


    She did everything she could to prove she had no ties with Bruce.


    Even if it was just a drop in the bucket, as long as there were no financial ties, she could at least have


    some peace of mind.


    Moreover, she didn¡¯t want any financial involvement with Lysander.


    That way, when she left, she could hold her head high and not feel inferior.


    With no mary transactions between her and Lysander, their rtionship was clearly defined.


    For now, Lysander was still drawn to her physically, but once he tired of her, she could leave freely.


    Thssa slept until the children returned from school. Their soft, adorable chatter woke her from her


    nap.


    ¡°Mommy, we¡¯re back to keep youpany.¡±


    ¡°Mommy, did you rest well?¡±


    ¡°Mommy, Dn Crawley gave me a red flower today.¡±


    ¡°Mommy, I can fix the circr pendant now.¡±


    Elowen, a little sweetheart, ran over to her with short, quick steps. Her cute and innocent face looked


    eagerly at Thssa, ready to tell her mother all the events of her day.


    Thssa sat up in bed and gently pinched Elowen¡¯s chubby cheek. ¡°Let me see the red flower you


    got.¡±


    ¡°The red flower is in my backpack. I¡¯ll go get it.¡± Elowen excitedly turned to leave the room.


    ¡°Sophia, you can fix the circr pendant? That¡¯s great!¡± Thssa praised Sophia.


    Suddenly, Elowen, too excited and running too fast, bumped into someone at the door. She


    immediately covered her forehead with her little hand, trying to rub the pain away.


    Thssa looked towards the door and saw a tall figure approaching. His ck suit made him look


    dangerous and oppressive.


    From Lysander¡¯s handsome face, she could tell he looked tense. He was exuding an icy chill that


    seemed to freeze the room¡¯s air.

 Chapter 700

    Chapter 700


    The moment Thssa spotted Lysander, the soothing smile, which was just happily adorning her face,


    froze.


    She sensed something was off about Lysander¡¯s aura, but she couldn¡¯t put her finger on it.


    ¡°Daddy, you bumped into me.¡± Elowen whimpered while rubbing her forehead with her tiny hand as her


    lips formed a sad pout. Her childish and adorable voice made it hard for a person to be upset, even


    when sheined.


    ¡°Slow down, sweetheart.¡± Lysander¡¯s deep voice softened. It was now a wash of paternal affection as


    he gently rubbed her head.


    Property of N?)(velDr(a)ma.Org.


    ¡°Mmm.¡± Satisfied, Elowen gave him a cheerful nod and scampered out of the room.


    As Lysander approached Thssa, the atmosphere in the room grew tense and suffocating, making it


    hard for her to breathe. Her hand, which was holding Sophia¡¯s, involuntarily tightened.


    Sophia seemed to sense the tension too. She snuggled closer to Thssa as her innocent eyes looked


    at Lysander with apprehension.


    Mommy, does your foot still hurt?¡± Dorian asked while lying at the end of the bed as his gentle eyes


    fixed themselves on Thssa¡¯s bandaged foot.


    His innocent question eased the awkwardness in the room.


    Thssa managed a thin smile despite the pressure from Lysander¡¯s presence. ¡°It doesn¡¯t hurt


    anymore. It¡¯ll be better in a few days.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s great! Once you¡¯re better, we can take you to KFC. Chicken feet are supposed to be good for


    healing, right?¡± Dorian suggested as his bright and adorable smile lightened up the room.


    Thssa understood what Dorian meant. He thought that by eating chicken feet, her foot would heal


    quickly. She chuckled at his innocent and childish ideas, feelingforted and loved.


    Being surrounded by the love of her children made her feel like she had already fully healed, despite


    her difficulties.


    ¡°Mommy, Daddy, look what I¡¯ve got!¡± Elowen burst into the room again, holding a red rose, the one that


    Dn had given her.


    Elowen ran to Thssa¡¯s bed, holding up the rose for her to see.


    ¡°What a beautiful flower.¡± Thssa praised.


    Elowen¡¯s eyes sparkled. She then turned to Lysander and asked in her baby voice, ¡°Daddy, do you


    think it¡¯s pretty?¡±


    Lysander¡¯s eyes darkened, and he didn¡¯t answer right away.


    Thssa anxiously watched Lysander, afraid he might hurt Elowen¡¯s feelings.


    Finally, he grunted an affirmative ¡°Mhm.¡±


    ¡°Yay! I think it¡¯s so pretty! I love it!¡± Elowen chirped as she bounced around the room like a little bird.


    Lysander nced at Fitch, who was standing by the door. ¡°Take them down for dinner.¡±


    Fitch nodded and began to usher the children towards the door.


    Sophia lingered at Thssa¡¯s bedside. Her timid eyes stayed fixed on her mother. ¡°Mommy¡­¡±


    Thssa gently rubbed her head to reassure her. ¡°Go have dinner with Fitch. I¡¯ll join you shortly.¡±


    ¡°Okay, but you muste, Mommy.¡± Sophia finally rxed. Her mother would never break a promise.


    ¡°Alright.¡± Thssa agreed.


    Once the children left with Fitch, only Thssa and Lysander were left in the room. The tension was


    palpable. Even Thssa¡¯s shoulders tensed up. Lysander¡¯s towering figure approached her, and his


    imposing presence cast a long, domineering shadow over her.


    Her heart pounded in her chest, not knowing what was troubling him. She looked at him warily. ¡°The


    painkillers are really effective. My foot feels much better after taking them.¡±

 Chapter 701

    Chapter 701


    She averted her gaze slightly, trying to change the subject.


    Lysander¡¯s deep-set eyes nced at her foot, which was bandaged and resting on the bed.


    ¡°I see you¡¯re still able to run around. It seems like it doesn¡¯t hurt then.¡± Lysander¡¯s voice was low and


    icy.


    Thssa understood the hidden meaning in his tone. David must have returned his money.


    Was he upset about that?


    He was a strange man. He was upset when he thought she had taken his money, and he was still


    upset when she returned it.


    What did she have to do to please him?


    ¡°The billion wasn¡¯t for Bruce. The situation isplicated, but in short, I¡¯ve retrieved both the billion and


    that ten million. I also got back the three million from the sale of the circr pendant, which Bruce also


    swindled. Since you were unhappy when I asked for your ount details, I transferred the money to


    David. It should be in thepany¡¯s ount now, right?¡± Thssa stated firmly.


    Instead of being tormented by his cold demeanor, she decided toy her cards on the table.


    ¡°And then?¡± Lysander stood by the bed. His deep gaze pierced into her like a hawk.


    The immense pressure he exuded almost made it hard for Thssa to breathe, but she held on.


    ¡°I wanted to tell you that Bruce and I did not conspire to take your money. I have no connection with


    him. You don¡¯t need to vent your hatred for him on


    me.¡±


    Her beautiful eyes met his sincerely.


    For the first time, she wasying everything out in front of him clearly and concisely.


    Lysander¡¯s aura grew colder by the second. His eyes had almost frozen over, like the nts in a forest


    in the dead of winter. Hisrge hand suddenly gripped her chin, and he fired back at her with such a


    cold voice that he sounded like a demon from hell.


    ¡°So you think you can wash your hands of this? You¡¯re really naive. You can never stay out of it,


    understand?¡±


    His icy, angry breath hit Thssa¡¯s delicate face. All her senses were screaming for her to get away


    from the danger.


    He meant that, as long as she had Bruce¡¯s blood in her veins, he would never let her go.


    ¡°Lysander, you should let yourself go¡­¡±


    ¡°No! It¡¯s you that I won¡¯t let go of! You¡¯ve angered me, and you know what price you should pay.¡± His


    voice was cold and suppressed. Suddenly, he sealed her lips with a harsh kiss.


    ¡°Um¡­ no¡­¡± Thssa was taken by surprise. His kiss was so dominant and wild.


    She could barely breathe as he consumed her.


    It wasn¡¯t until she was nearly suffocating that Lysander released her lips. His dominant kisses began


    trailing down her chin to her delicate neck. Thssa struggled to breathe, causing her chest to heave


    with his every kiss. His kiss felt like a fire igniting on her skin, burning and shaking her to the


    core.


    Her hand gripped the back of his shirt as her voice trembled. ¡°No, my foot will get hurt again¡­¡±


    She leaned her head back, letting out an involuntary whimper.


    ¡°We¡¯re not using your foot.¡± Lysander¡¯s heavy breath enveloped her neck.


    The tickling sensation made her shudder as her grip on his shirt tightened.


    The kids are still waiting for me¡­¡±


    She was pleading with him. She had promised the kids that she would join them for dinner. She knew


    how energetic Lysander was. He could go all night. Lysander ignored her, punishing her with a bite on


    Property of N?)(velDr(a)ma.Org.


    her earlobe.


    ¡°Ah!¡± Thssa cried out in pain.

 Chapter 702

    Chapter 702


    Her nails dug into his back. Each breath was a ragged struggle, and her heart was beating a wild drum


    Property of N?)(velDr(a)ma.Org.


    in her chest.


    ¡°You learned your lesson, didn¡¯t you?¡± Lysander¡¯s husky voice echoed in her ear.


    It was sultry, imposing, and dangerous.


    Fear gripped Thssa¡¯s heart, but she managed to stutter out a response. ¡°Yes, I won¡¯t be so naive


    again.¡±


    All she wanted now was for Lysander to let her go. She had shed with him many times before, and


    each encounter left her feeling defeated.


    She was still nursing a sprained ankle and had no desire to be bedridden.


    Her submission pleased Lysander. He released her and helped her up. ¡°Let¡¯s get some dinner.¡±


    His voice was low, and his menacing undertone was clear.


    Thssa had convinced Lysander to let her go by telling him that the kids were waiting for dinner. She


    didn¡¯t hesitate when given the chance to escape his clutches. Ignoring her uneven breathing, she


    quickly reached for her crutches beside the bed.


    Before she could fully grasp it, Lysander held the crutches with one hand. His deep eyes looked down


    on her as he asked, ¡°Need this?¡±


    Thssa nced at his other hand, which was supporting her, and understood. He meant to help her


    downstairs.


    There was no room for protest.


    Thssa relinquished the crutch, allowing Lysander to guide her step-by-step down the stairs.


    The children were already seated at the dining table, each with a spoon in hand, eagerly consuming


    their food.


    Upon seeing Thssa, their eyes lit up in unison. ¡°Mommy!¡±


    Their innocent voices warmed Thssa¡¯s heart, making her forget her earlier troubles. She smiled at


    them. ¡°Is the food good?¡±


    ¡°Yes, it¡¯s yummy! Come eat with us, Mommy.¡± Elowen chirped. Her love for food was evident.


    With Lysander¡¯s help, Thssa sat across from the children. Sophia had been anxiously waiting for her


    mother. Now that she was seated across from her, Sophia¡¯s face lit up with a beaming smile. She


    scooped a peeled shrimp from her bowl and offered it to Thssa. ¡°Mommy, eat this. It¡¯s really good.¡±


    Just as Thssa was about to ept the shrimp, Lysander intercepted it. ¡°Your mother needs to avoid


    certain foods because of her injury. Seafood is one of them.¡± He addressed Sophia.


    Sophia looked crestfallen. She felt as if she had done something wrong.


    Before Thssa could console her, Lysander spoke up, his tone now much softer than before. ¡°Your


    shrimp looks delicious, Sophia. Daddy will eat it.¡± With that, he picked up the shrimp with his fork,


    popped it into his mouth, and gave Sophia an approving look. ¡°It¡¯s really good.¡±


    Sophia¡¯s eyes sparkled with happiness, and she broke into a tender smile,


    Relieved, Thssa felt a wave of bitterness wash over her. It pained her to see her children upset, yet


    she felt powerless to protect them. Fortunately, Lysander, despite his aversion to children, treated them


    well.


    After the small hup, the family resumed their peaceful dinner.


    Thssa had a simple meal. Despite herck of appetite, she ate heartily so as not to worry the kids.


    ¡°Mommy, did a bee sting your ear? It looks like a balloon.¡± Elowen¡¯s soft voice suddenly broke the


    silence.


    Thssa touched her earlobe subconsciously and winced at the fiery sting she felt once her fingers


    <pnded on it.

 Chapter 703

    Chapter 703


    ¡°Ouch!¡± A cry of pain instinctively escaped from her lips.


    She hadn¡¯t noticed before, but her ear was really swollen.


    It was a mark from Lysander¡¯s bite. He¡¯d bitten down hard.


    She¡¯d never bitten him that intensely before.


    Thssa looked up and saw the worried eyes of the four little ones staring at her, waiting for her


    response.


    Feeling a bit ufortable, Thssa dodged their gaze. ¡°Yeah, a bee stung me, so you guys need to


    be careful not to provoke bees.¡± She anxiously exined.


    ¡°Wow, real bees? That¡¯s scary.¡± Elowen¡¯s mouth formed a surprised ¡®o¡¯ shape. Her chubby hands


    covered her mouth, making her look adorably shocked. The other three looked at each other, clearly


    surprised as well.


    Fitch, standing by the table, immediately became anxious. ¡°The flowers in the garden are blooming, so


    their scent could attract bees. I¡¯ll step up the prevention and make sure no bees get into the house. I


    won¡¯t let the kids get hurt.¡± He chimed in.


    ¡°Yeah, that¡¯d be good.¡± Thssa nodded as her eyes instinctively shifted to Lysander. His dangerous,


    oppressive gaze met hers, and his face looked as gloomy as a stormy sky.


    Thssa paused, quickly looked away, and continued to eat her dinner.


    It wasn¡¯t her problem. They were talking about bees, not him.


    If he insisted on identifying with the bee, there was nothing she could do.


    Time passed quickly. In an instant, two weeks had gone by.


    Thssa¡¯s foot had almost fully recovered, thanks to proper rest and care.


    Apart from a slight limp when walking, everything else was normal. She could wear shoes and walk


    without assistance.


    Thssa had been at Royal Estates for two weeks straight.


    Today, she received a call from Evelyn.


    ¡°When are youing back? Are you going to abandon me?¡± Evelynined.


    ¡°The kids are at school, and I¡¯ll be back today.¡± Thssa reassured Evelyn.


    After hanging up, she had the chauffeur drive her to Vibrant Oasis Residences. The driver, perhaps


    Property of N?)(velDr(a)ma.Org.


    with Lysander¡¯s permission, agreed to take her.


    As soon as Thssa returned home, she saw Evelyn and Hertha sitting at the dining table, eating and


    chatting.


    The two were engaged in a lively conversation. They looked more like a mother and daughter than she


    and Evelyn ever did.


    Thssa, you¡¯re finally back. Sit down and eat.¡± Hertha stood up quickly to help Thssa sit beside


    her.


    Evelyn nced at Thssa¡¯s foot, and a hint of reproach appeared in her voice. ¡°Thank God, it¡¯s just


    your foot. If you¡¯d fallen to the bottom of the mountain, you¡¯d be dead! How could you and Bruce go up


    the mountain alone? If he had murderous intentions, would you still be alive?¡±


    Thssa had called Evelyn while she was recuperating at Royal Estates, telling her about the injury


    and how she¡¯d gotten back the money, along with the surplus.


    To be scolded by her mother was a blissful feeling for Thssa.


    This was Evelyn¡¯s usual demeanor. She had a sharp tongue but a soft heart.


    She always nagged and seemed harsh, but she loved Thssa deeply.


    ¡°Don¡¯t worry; I had a backup n.¡± Thssa reassured her.


    Knowing Bruce¡¯s greed, she had used the promise of Lysander¡¯s vast wealth as bait to lure him up the


    mountain.


    ¡°But if Lysander hadn¡¯t happened to be there, would you have had a backup n? Don¡¯t gamble with


    your life!¡± Evelyn was still scared. After all, Thssa was her only daughter.


    Thssa was taken aback. Evelyn and Lysander were quite simr. Lysander had told her not to risk


    her safety as well.


    Evelyn had said it because she loved and cared for Thssa.


    But why had Lysander said the same thing to her?

 Chapter 704

    Chapter 704


    ¡°It¡¯s all water under the bridge now. Besides, isn¡¯t Thssa sitting right here in front of us? Give her a


    break; she¡¯s been through enough.¡± Hertha, the peacemaker, tried to cate Evelyn.


    Evelyn shot a nce at Thssa. ¡°I can¡¯t control you anymore.¡±


    With that, she stood up to fetch a te and cutlery for Thssa from the kitchen.


    ¡°Mom, Bruce hasn¡¯t tried to contact you again, has he?¡± Thssa was worried that Bruce might seek


    revenge on Evelyn.


    ¡°Does he even have the guts after deceiving me so many times?¡± Evelyn retorted, her heart now heavy


    and solid as a rock.


    Being fooled by the same man twice was a testament to her own foolishness.


    She¡¯d wasted her life on such a devious man, and now she realized it hadn¡¯t been worth it at all.


    Despite knowing this, her heart still ached. How could one just let go of someone they¡¯d loved? Even


    though she knew how despicable he just wouldn¡¯t listen.


    was,


    her heart


    Noticing Evelyn¡¯s mncholy, Thssa tried tofort her. ¡°That¡¯s all in the past now. Online dating is


    pretty popr these days. Why don¡¯t I set up a profile for you? You¡¯re still young and vibrant, so you


    can still find someone to share your life with.¡±


    Evelyn sighed heavily. ¡°Why waste money on that? I don¡¯t have time for such nonsense.¡±


    ¡°You were busy looking after my children a few years ago and didn¡¯t have much time for yourself. Now


    that they¡¯re at Royal Estates with people to look after them, you have plenty of time. Give it a shot. You


    might just find someone suitable.¡± Thssa suggested.


    Evelyn had always put Thssa first. She even dyed her own personal life for her daughter.


    Thssa felt very guilty. She was the one to disrupt Evelyn¡¯s life.


    Now, she hoped her mother could find apanion to share the sunset years of her life with, so she


    wouldn¡¯t be alone.


    Thssa was Evelyn¡¯s daughter, and she knew her mother better than anyone else.


    Seeing through Thssa¡¯s intentions, Evelyn waved her off. ¡°Stop overthinking. Who do you think you


    are? You think you stood in the way of me finding someone? If I wanted to find someone, not even God


    could stop me. I just don¡¯t have the heart for it anymore.¡±


    She¡¯d given her heart and soul to Bruce, even foolishly clinging to his empty promises.


    She had thought there might still be a chance for them.


    That was the main reason she hadn¡¯t looked for someone else.


    Now, she¡¯d had enough. She was disappointed in men, and she was no longer young. Why even


    bother anymore?


    Thssa nced at Hertha as her eyes conveyed a silent message.


    Hertha got the hint and joined Thssa in persuading Evelyn. ¡°Thssa is just looking out for you.


    Give it a shot; consider it a way to pass the time. You might meet someone suitable, and if not, there¡¯s


    no harm in staying single.¡±


    ¡°You all talk a good game. I¡¯m done arguing with you.¡± Evelyn sighed. ¡°Do whatever you want.¡±


    With that, Thssa and Hertha exchanged a triumphant look.


    Thssa immediately pulled out her phone and set up a dating profile for Evelyn. Once she¡¯d filled out


    the necessary information, she submitted it to the dating site. If there was a match, the site would


    contact Evelyn to arrange a date.


    After dinner, the three of them sat on the couch, chatting. When Evelyn grew tired, she retired to her


    bedroom to rest.


    Thssa and Hertha continued their conversation.


    ¡°How have you been at Royal Estates these past few weeks? Has Lysander given you any trouble?¡±


    Hertha asked as she casually rested her hand on Thssa¡¯s shoulder.


    Thssa met Hertha¡¯s gaze, which was filled with curiosity. She looked a bit ufortable to be under


    such scrutiny and lowered her eyes. ¡°I¡¯m fine. How could he trouble me?¡±


    ¡°You know¡­ in bed¡­¡± Hertha¡¯s voice rose with excitement, but Thssa quickly put a hand over her


    Property of N?)(velDr(a)ma.Org.


    mouth, casting a wary nce towards the bedroom door.

 Chapter 705

    Chapter 705


    Hertha, the definition of a gossipmonger, was always on fire. She knew she was more than just curious


    about others.


    Hertha quickly realized that her loud voice might wake Evelyn up, so she nodded to show her


    understanding.


    Thssa then let go of her. Her face was flushed as she whispered, ¡°Hertha, control your curiosity a


    little. You know what they say. Curiosity killed the


    cat.¡±


    Over the past ten days, she had definitely been monopolized by Lysander. Because she returned his


    money, he seemed quite upset. Each time he wanted her, he had a strong intensity, as if he were


    venting frustration or anger.


    But every time, he would hold her while they slept.


    Lysander was indeed a strange man. She had never been able to understand his mind.


    Hertha realized that Thssa¡¯s face was now as red as an apple and chuckled a couple of times. Even


    though Thssa hadn¡¯t said anything, it felt like she had said everything.


    The gossip she was curious about was all over Thssa¡¯s blushing face.


    ¡°Alright, alright, I won¡¯t ask. But this afternoon, apany me somewhere.¡± Hertha suddenly said.


    ¡°Where to?¡± Thssa asked.


    ¡°I¡¯ve heard that ric is going to a high-end club to y golf this afternoon. I want to run into him


    there.¡± Hertha¡¯s round, gleaming eyes were full of anticipation.


    Thssa couldn¡¯t help butugh. ¡°I have two words for you.¡±


    ¡°What?¡±


    ¡°Persistent pursuit.¡± Thssa said with a smile.


    ¡°Exactly! My spirit deserves praise.¡± Hertha said proudly.


    ¡°Good thing my foot is healed now, so I can apany you. If ric had gone golfing a few days


    earlier, I wouldn¡¯t have been able to join you.¡± Thssa said.


    Hertha was happy, and they left the house hand in hand.


    Hertha drove them to the Holy City Club in no time.


    As they approached the entrance, a waiter stopped them. ¡°Sorry, this ce is booked.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s booked by ric, right? I¡¯m his girlfriend. He invited me.¡± Hertha puffed out her chest and spoke


    confidently.


    ¡°Just a moment, let me confirm this.¡± The waiter pulled out his walkie-talkie to ask if ric Falconer had


    any friendsing.


    Hertha gripped Thssa¡¯s hand tighter, afraid of being rejected. That would be so embarrassing.


    Just as she was getting nervous, the waiter let them in.


    ¡°Ladies, pleasee in.¡±


    Hertha¡¯s tense nerves instantly rxed. She was overjoyed. Using ric¡¯s name really worked.


    Property of N?)(velDr(a)ma.Org.


    She quickly pulled Thssa inside with her.


    The club was very high-end. It had luxurious marble floors that immediately gave off an air of


    opulence.


    Beyond the reception area was the golf course.


    Hertha and Thssa saw a few men from a distance.


    Among them, a man dressed in dark gray casual wear stood out. He was tall and slim, with an


    extraordinary demeanor. He held a golf club with a noble and elegant posture. With each swing, he


    urately hit the white ball. Each ball flew several meters beforending perfectly in the hole.


    He was absolutely stunning.


    The man turned his face, causing the sunlight to dance on his skin, giving him a gold-like glow. He was


    breathtakingly handsome, exceptional, and strikingly attractive.


    Thssa recognized the man¡¯s face, and her heart skipped a beat.


    It was Lysander!


    $1/1

 Chapter 706

    Chapter 706


    Hertha spotted him and instantly became anxious. Her grip tightened around her own arm as she


    lowered her voice to apologize. ¡°I¡¯m sorry. I didn¡¯t know Lysander was here.¡±


    Thssa could clearly sense her fear, and she tried to reassure her with a gentle smile. ¡°It¡¯s okay; don¡¯t


    be scared. We¡¯re not here for him.¡±


    Hertha managed to squeeze out a small smile. ¡°As long as you¡¯re not scared, I¡¯m not either.¡±


    Her gaze thennded on ric lounging under the umbre, who was casually sipping on his drink. He


    was dressed in a casual white ensemble, and his roguishly attractive face was partly obscured by the


    Property ? of N?velDrama.Org.


    shadow of the umbre, yet it couldn¡¯t hide the twinkling allure in his eyes.


    He was naturally charming and seductive. Merely looking at him made Hertha¡¯s heart flutter.


    Witnessing such an attractive man was really a treat for the eyes.


    Hertha, with Thssa in tow, walked straight over to where ric was sitting. At the table meant for


    four, ric was seated on the right. Hertha directly took the seat next to him, while Thssa sat next to


    Hertha and across from ric.


    Unsatisfied with the distance, Hertha moved her chair closer to ric and greeted him with a lively


    smile. ¡°Hello, Mr. Falconer. Fancy meeting you here.¡±


    ric shifted his gaze from watching Lysander¡¯s game, gave her a quick, deep look, and then nced


    at Thssa. He turned his head back to Hertha and smirked as he asked, ¡°You¡¯re the one who imed


    to be my girlfriend?¡±


    You let me in without even knowing who I was?¡± Hertha pouted, feeling offended.


    It seemed that ric had many girlfriends, so he wasn¡¯t surprised when someone imed to be his


    girlfriend. He even invited them in.


    So, it didn¡¯t matter who it was, right?


    ¡°I wanted to see who was brazen enough to im to be my girlfriend. And the person who showed up


    didn¡¯t disappoint.¡± ric put down his drink. His eyes twinkled with mischief as he looked at her.


    Hertha felt her heart racing, and she struggled to control her breath. ¡°I don¡¯t know who was quick to


    im me as his woman when that tacky flirt was around. Since someone was willing to announce it like


    that, I¡¯m more than happy to introduce myself as such.¡±


    Thssa decided to stay out of their yful banter. She picked up a bottle of mineral water from the


    table, ready to have a drink. Just then, a tall figure approached. His imposing presence filled the entire


    space. Thssa found herself enveloped in his shadow.


    She paused as her eyes met Lysander¡¯s captivating gaze. She gave him an awkward smile, asking,


    ¡°Thirsty?¡±


    Lysander reached out and took the bottle from her. He sat down in another empty seat and started


    drinking.


    As he swallowed, beads of sweat trickled down his neck. He radiated a strong masculine aura, making


    him look incredibly attractive.


    Thssa¡¯s heartbeat quickened. She quickly looked away and grabbed another bottle of water to calm


    her nerves.


    Strangely enough, she couldn¡¯t open the cap this time. While she was struggling, the bottle was taken


    from her. She looked up to see Lysander. unscrewing the cap with ease, then handing the bottle back


    to her.


    Thssa hurriedly took it, stammering, ¡°Thank¡­you¡­¡±


    She stopped herself mid-sentence, remembering that Lysander hated it when she said thank you.


    The verbal sparring between ric and Hertha continued. They even dragged Thssa and Lysander


    into the fray..


    ¡°If Thssa imed to be Lysander¡¯s girlfriend to get in, that would be within reason. But you and I,


    we¡¯re hardly even acquaintances.¡± ric continued, his wit as sharp as ever.

 Chapter 707

    Chapter 707


    The moment Thssa heard this, she became flustered and quickly tried to exin, ¡°I didn¡¯t say it like


    that¡­¡±


    Before she could finish, she was met with Lysander¡¯s icy and piercing gaze.


    Frightened, she froze and silently sipped her water, saying nothing more.


    Had she upset him by not telling others that she was his girlfriend?


    And if she did, wouldn¡¯t her punishment be severe?


    ¡°So, what if I imed to be your girlfriend just to get in here? What are you going to do about it? Come


    on, go ahead; I¡¯m not scared.¡± Hertha defiantly raised her chin and stepped closer to ric.


    Caught off guard by her boldness, ric shifted his chair away, distancing himself from her.


    His tone was unmistakably that of one who had admitted defeat. ¡°Alright, ma¡¯am, you win. Can we drop


    it now?¡±


    ¡°Hmph, calling me ma¡¯am won¡¯t help!¡± Hertha responded with a huff of arrogance.


    Just then, a middle-aged man from the neighboring umbre came over and stood by Lysander¡¯s side


    with a respectful, pleasing demeanor. He smiled and said, ¡°Mr. Sinir, your golf skills are unrivaled.


    It¡¯s truly an honor to witness your prowess.¡±


    This is the property of N?-velDrama.Org.


    Thssa twitched at the corner of her mouth. Such sycophancy was hard to bear.


    She felt second-hand embarrassment for him.


    Lysander took another sip of his drink as his aura exuded an intimidating nobility. He gave no attention


    to the man standing beside him.


    Daniel Brennan, ignored and left in a dilemma, was visibly embarrassed.


    His assistant hurried over and whispered something into his ear.


    Daniel¡¯s face turned pale in shock. He stood in front of Lysander, acting humbler than ever. ¡°Mr.


    Sinir, please give us, the Brennan family, a chance.¡±


    The Brennan Group was going bankrupt, all thanks to Lysander.


    He invited Lysander to y golf today, hoping to beg for mercy on behalf of the Brennan family.


    Thssa¡¯s hand, holding the water bottle, paused. She looked at Daniel, feeling confused.


    The Brennan family?


    Wasn¡¯t it Faye¡¯s family?


    The transparency of the water bottle magnified Lysander¡¯s hand as he held it.


    ¡°The mistake the Brennan family has made cannot be repaid with just the bankruptcy of the Brennan


    Group. Daniel, go home and reflect. If you can¡¯t do that, someone will take you to a ce where you


    can.¡± Lysander spoke with a chilling, imposing tone, leaving no room for negotiation.


    Daniel¡¯s hopeful eyes dimmed instantly.


    He knew that nothing he said now would make a difference. He bowed slightly and left, heading


    towards the golf lounge.


    The atmosphere was tense.


    Thssa sipped her water in silence, while Hertha, upset about ric deliberately distancing himself,


    also kept quiet.


    ¡°Do you know how to y?¡± Lysander¡¯s deep voice suddenly broke the silence.


    Thssa snapped back to reality and met Lysander¡¯s gaze.


    Was he asking her?


    Thssa shook her head. ¡°No.¡±


    Her life was too ordinary to have any exposure to golf. It was a sport for the upper ss.


    I¡¯ll teach you.¡± He said as he grabbed her hand and pulled her up.

 Chapter 708

    Chapter 708


    Lysander¡¯s rough, calloused palm, as always, held Thssa¡¯s delicate wrist. His touch was electrifying


    and sent a tingling sensation down her spine.


    He led her to the golf course and handed her a golf club.


    Upon receiving it, Thssa was taken aback by its weight. She dropped it to the ground and quickly


    stepped away.


    She was fortunate to have moved rapidly, or else her foot would have been injured by the heavy club.


    She had assumed the club would be light. She didn¡¯t expect it to be so heavy. It was a task just to lift it;


    she needed to employ serious effort.


    She shot an awkward nce at Lysander. His deep, piercing eyes held a hint of reproach as they met


    hers.


    This content is ? N?velDrama.Org.


    ¡°I thought it was made of wood, not metal.¡± Thssa confessed that her understanding of golf clubs


    was wed.


    She had assumed that the white-painted club would be light, only to find out that it was made of solid


    metal when she held it in her hands.


    The club felt good in her hands. The material alone revealed it wasn¡¯t ordinary; it probably wasn¡¯t


    cheap either.


    ¡°Hold it steady.¡± Lysander advised her.


    Thssa nodded as she recalled how Lysander had held the club earlier. She mimicked him and


    gripped the club with both hands, aiming at the white golf ball on the ground.


    She gave it a trial swing, but it felt all wrong.


    Lysander approached her and stood behind her. He stretched out his hand and adjusted the direction


    of the club she was holding.


    Only then did Thssa realize that she had been holding the club in the wrong way. No wonder it had


    felt so awkward.


    It wasn¡¯t until she refocused that she became aware of Lysander¡¯s encircling presence. His strong,


    muscr chest was pressed against her back. She could feel his powerful heartbeat pulsating against


    her back, even through the fabric of his shirt.


    Her heartbeat synced with his, and they began pounding in unison.


    Thssa¡¯s body tensed up. She felt as if the oxygen around her was being depleted, and her breathing


    becamebored.


    Lysander¡¯s face drew closer to hers, and his maic, husky voice echoed in her ear. ¡°Like this. Aim


    and swing. Don¡¯t hesitate.¡±


    The heat of his breath brushed against her delicate cheek as if it had flown off with the golf ball.


    Her heart felt as though it had leaped up to her throat.


    She wasn¡¯t sure if it was the excitement from the golf ball flying off or his intense breath brushing her


    face that stirred the sensations within her body. She felt like she was losing control.


    Her gaze followed the white golf ball as it traced a beautiful arc in the air, eventuallynding perfectly in


    the hole.


    ¡°Brilliant, absolutely brilliant!¡± Hertha jumped up and pped in excitement.


    Upon seeing a caddy cing another golf ball at Thssa¡¯s feet, Hertha, unable to resist the urge to


    y golf herself, made a suggestion to ric as her round face beamed with a radiant smile. ¡°Let¡¯s


    y too.¡±


    ric nced at her, then at Lysander and Thssa in the distance. He immediately understood


    Hertha¡¯s intentions. ¡°I can¡¯t y golf.¡±


    Joking aside, Lysander¡¯s affection for Thssa was fresh and passionate. ying golf with her would


    be romantic.


    But what was his rtionship with Hertha?


    Just the thought of the two of them cuddling together to y golf made him feel awkward.


    ¡°I can teach you!¡± Hertha dered while tugging ric towards another part of the golf course.


    ric, being dragged along by Hertha, protested. ¡°Hertha, you can¡¯t force me like this.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m not forcing you; I¡¯mpelling you.¡± Hertha retorted confidently,


    ric, speechless, had never seen anyone speak so brazenly about coercion.


    Despite having lost weight, Hertha¡¯s strength remained undiminished.

 Chapter 709

    Chapter 709


    He wanted to pull his hand out of hers, but to no avail.


    Hertha led him to an empty area where nobody was ying. Hertha picked up a golf club off the


    ground, stumbling forward as she did so.


    ric quickly stuck out his foot, preventing her from falling face-first onto the ground.


    Herthanded squarely on his chest, avoiding a mouthful of dirt.


    ric¡¯s chest rumbled withughter. ¡°I thought you were strong. You can¡¯t even lift a golf club?¡±


    Hertha quickly straightened herself up and huffed at ric. ¡°I just wasn¡¯t ready. Who says I can¡¯t lift it?


    Look, I¡¯m doing it now.¡±


    With a show of strength, she lifted the golf club and swung it through the air.


    The club whizzed past ric¡¯s face, making him lean back hurriedly to avoid being hit.


    ¡°Hey, hey, hey, are you trying to murder me? My handsome face could¡¯ve been damaged. Could you


    afford that?¡± ric was no longerughing. Instead, he looked annoyed.


    ¡°Of course, I could.¡±


    ¡°What would you pay me with?¡± ric scoffed.


    ¡®Myself.¡± Hertha lifted her chin. Her eyes sparkled with confidence as she stared at him.


    ric was taken aback and fell silent.


    This woman was terrifying. She was dead set on getting him, one way or another.


    ¡°I¡¯ll leave you to it. I¡¯m outta here.¡± ric turned to leave.


    ¡°Hey, get back here! I was going to teach you! Who am I supposed to teach if you¡¯re gone?¡± Hertha


    tossed her hand, ready to put the club down and grab


    him.


    She didn¡¯t manage her strength well, and the golf club ended upnding on ric¡¯s foot.


    ¡°Ouch!¡± ric hopped up in pain. He clutched his foot in agony as he hopped around.


    Theirmotion had attracted the attention of Thssa and Lysander.


    Thssa couldn¡¯t help butugh at ric, who was hopping around while holding his foot. It was a


    hrious sight.


    In the sunlight, Lysander¡¯s intense gaze was fixed on herughing face. A glint shed in his eyes as


    he focused even more on her beautiful face.


    Panicked, Hertha dropped the club and rushed to inspect the damage. However, since he was still


    hopping on one foot, she was at a loss for what to do. ¡°I didn¡¯t mean for that to happen. Are you okay?¡±


    ¡°Stay away from me! Don¡¯te close! As long as you disappear from my sight, I¡¯ll be fine.¡± ric was


    fuming. His face was clouded over in anger as he spoke.


    Hertha¡¯s heart sank, her eyes dimmed, and her face fell into disappointment.


    ¡°Are you serious?¡±


    ¡°Of course I am! Now get out of here!¡± ric was at his wit¡¯s end. He had never been treated like this


    before.


    Hertha must be out to get him.


    Sensing his impatience, Hertha felt a lump in her throat, and her eyes began to tear up. ¡°Okay, from


    now on, I won¡¯t appear in front of you.¡±


    With that, she turned and ran.


    Thssa felt worried while watching this. She handed the golf club to Lysander and quickly said, ¡°I¡¯m


    going to check on her.¡±


    And off she went, following in Hertha¡¯s footsteps.


    Hertha was truly hurt, so she ran fast. Thssa hadn¡¯t fully recovered yet and couldn¡¯t keep up.


    ¡°Hertha, wait for me!¡± Thssa called out to her while chasing after her.


    Property ? of N?velDrama.Org.


    As they passed the golf course¡¯s rest area, a deep, middle-aged male voice stopped her. ¡°Thssa,


    let¡¯s have a chat.¡±

 Chapter 710

    Chapter 710


    Thssa paused and nced back to see the middle-aged man, who had just been groveling before


    Lysander.


    He was from the Brennan family.


    She stood still, waiting for him to proceed.


    Property ? of N?velDrama.Org.


    Daniel also rose and strode over to Thssa. He stopped a few feet from her. His demeanor was no


    longer as subservient as it had been before Lysander. Now he acted arrogantly superior.


    He seemed to look down on Thssa.


    ¡°You are undoubtedly attractive enough to enchant men, but you don¡¯t understand them. Men usually


    y with women they wouldn¡¯t marry.¡±


    He was harsh.


    Thssa let out a smallugh, but her gaze remained cool and indifferent. ¡°Mr. Brennan, perhaps you


    should go home and reflect on your behavior. It would be a shame if you were taken away for some


    mandatory introspection.¡±


    With that, she walked away without giving him another nce.


    She repeated Lysander¡¯s earlier admonishment to Daniel.


    Daniel¡¯s arrogance faltered. It was now reced by anger. In a rage, he watched as Thssa


    departed. His clenched fists at his sides also revealed his frustration.


    If not for Lysander¡¯s presence, he might have taught this woman a lesson.


    His daughter, Faye, had been doing well as Lysander¡¯s assistant and was close to winning his heart


    until Thssa showed up and disrupted everything.


    Now, Lysander had even started to take action against the Brennan family.


    All because of Thssa.


    Thssa caught up to her friend. She was grateful to see that Hertha¡¯s car was still parked where they


    had left it. Thankfully, Hertha hadn¡¯t stormed off.


    Thssa moved quickly to the vehicle, opening the door and sliding into the passenger seat.


    Hertha¡¯s hands were gripping the steering wheel tightly, and her fingers were trembling slightly. Her


    usually jovial face was pouty, and her round eyes were filled with tears as she stared off into the


    distance with her chest heaving uncontrobly.


    She was clearly heartbroken.


    Thssa gently patted her shoulder. ¡°Don¡¯t be upset, Hertha. ric didn¡¯t mean what he said.¡±


    Hertha wiped away her tears and spoke as her breath became uncontrobly shaky. ¡°Thssa, you


    were right from the start. ric, that yboy, has no heart. Love can¡¯t touch him! I give up! There are


    plenty of handsome men in the world, so why hang myself on one man?¡±


    With that, she turned the key in the ignition, starting the car. Thssa was taken aback by her friend¡¯s


    sudden decisiveness.


    But rather than trying to stop her, she quickly buckled her seat belt and clutched the seat. ¡°Hertha, drive


    carefully.¡± She warned her.


    ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I¡¯m not going to do something reckless because of some guy. Besides, you have four kids


    to take care of. If anything happened to you, I¡¯d be to me.¡± Hertha reassured her after noticing.


    Thssa¡¯s white-knuckled grip on the seat.


    That seemed like a more rational thought.


    Thssa rxed a bit and asionally nced over at Hertha. She held the steering wheel steadily,


    and her gaze was focused on the road ahead. Even her tears had dried up.


    Now, she looked as if nothing had happened.


    ¡°Are you sure you¡¯re okay?¡± Thssa asked cautiously.


    ¡°What could be wrong? He¡¯s just a guy. There are plenty of men in the world. Besides, nothing really


    happened between us, so it¡¯s not even a breakup.¡± Hertha brushed it off.


    Thssa couldn¡¯t help but admire her friend¡¯s nonchnce.


    Hertha had taken it in stride, so any further constion would seem unnecessary.


    ¡°Back to Royal Estates or Vibrant Oasis Residences?¡± Hertha asked as they reached a crossroads.


    Vibrant Oasis Residences.¡± Thssa replied,


    Although she wanted to see her kids, she¡¯d been at Royal Estates with them for over ten days and


    neglected her duties to Evelyn.

 Chapter 711

    Chapter 711


    She needed to go back and keep Evelynpany, so she wouldn¡¯t feel lonely.


    N?velDrama.Org content.


    Most importantly, back on the golf course, she distinctly felt a change in Lysander¡¯s demeanor.


    His heated presence pressing against her back was akin to that of a predator poised to pounce on its


    prey.


    If she went back to the Royal Estates, it would undoubtedly lead to a tumultuous confrontation that


    wouldst a very long time.


    She wanted to rest. She was worn out.


    Therefore, she decided to head back to the Vibrant Oasis Residences, seeking solitude.


    The moment Thssa finished speaking, Hertha turned the steering wheel, veering towards the left at


    the intersection.


    Thssa was taken aback. ¡°You¡¯re on the straightne!¡±


    Yet she turned right, an act that would certainly earn a penalty.


    It was quite precarious.


    ¡°Really? I had no idea.¡± Hertha responded, seemingly oblivious.


    Thssa realized that perhaps she was being too optimistic. Hertha must still be upset. Her earlier


    ¡°It¡¯s okay. Getting a penalty isn¡¯t the end of the world. Just be careful next time.¡± Thssa reassured


    her.


    As the car ventured forward, nearing the Vibrant Oasis Residences, a night market came into view. Its


    stalls were bustling with activity.


    While observing the scene from the car window, Thssa made a suggestion. ¡°Hertha, it¡¯s been a


    while since we had a drink. How about we grab some barbecue and booze tonight?¡±


    ¡°Sounds good.¡± Hertha parked the car by the roadside.


    They chose the most bustling stall and ordered barbecue and some beer.


    Soon, the vendor served them. The tantalizing aroma of the barbecue wafting through the air truly


    tempted one¡¯s taste buds.


    Thssa patted Hertha¡¯s shoulder, smiling. ¡°Nothing a good barbecue can¡¯t fix, and if it doesn¡¯t, there¡¯s


    always a second round.¡± Hertha, finally breaking into a smile, eximed, ¡°Exactly! What¡¯s there to


    worry about?! Cheers! Let¡¯s drink till we drop!¡±


    They each poured themselves a pint of beer.


    In the midst of their merriment, Thssa¡¯s phone rang. It was Fitch.


    Thssa answered with a warm and slightly tipsy voice. ¡°Hello¡­¡±


    ¡°Ms. Everhart, the children want to talk to you.¡± Fitch hadn¡¯t finished speaking.


    From the other end of the phone, a child¡¯s soft voice echoed. ¡°Mommy, why aren¡¯t you home?¡±


    It was Dorian¡¯s voice.


    ¡°Mommy, where are you?¡± Atticus asked.


    ¡°Just tell us where you are, and we¡¯lle find you.¡± Elowen eagerly added.


    ¡°Mommy¡­¡± Sophia called out in a small voice.


    Thssa¡¯s heart melted when she heard her children¡¯s voices.


    She softly replied, ¡°Mommy¡¯s visiting Grandma. Be good and sleep tight. I¡¯ll bring Grandma to y with


    you in a few days.¡±


    ¡°Cheers!¡± Hertha, already tipsy, raised her ss for a toast, oblivious to Thssa¡¯s ongoing phone


    call.


    Back at the Royal Estates, Fitch had his phone on speaker.


    Hertha¡¯s toast and the clinking of sses were clearly heard through the phone.


    Lysander, seated on the couch, lifted his gaze and looked towards Fitch with a prating stare.


    Fitch tensed up. It seemed that Ms. Everhart was out drinking with someone else. He couldn¡¯t help but


    worry for her.

 Chapter 712

    Chapter 712


    Lysander exuded amanding presence, and his voice became a deep rumble.


    Fitch was visibly apprehensive.


    Time seemed to stand still for a moment.


    ¡°Whoa¡­¡± Dorian suddenly let out a cry.


    He had turned to fetch his little backpack when his left foot tripped over his right, sending him tumbling


    to the ground headfirst.


    His crying instantly filled the room.


    As Fitch moved to check on him, a shadow moved quicker, swooping in to lift Dorian from the floor.


    Lysander¡¯s eyes meticulously scanned Dorian¡¯s head for any injuries.


    Seeing no apparent harm, he gently massaged Dorian¡¯s head in an attempt to soothe him.


    ¡°What¡¯s the matter, Dorian? Did you have a fight with your brother?¡± Thssa asked anxiously as her


    voice echoed from Fitch¡¯s phone. She heard Dorian yell while still on the call.


    ¡°No, not at all.¡± Fitch replied hastily.


    ¡°Then, is it Lysander? Has he been mean to the kids?¡± Thssa¡¯s voice betrayed her concern. Her


    heart dropped when she heard the sound of Dorian¡¯s cries.


    ¡°Lysander is actually¡­¡± Fitch began, intending to say how good Lysander was to the children. His


    patience and fatherly love were evident. He rushed to Dorian¡¯s aid the moment he fell,forting him


    with a gentle touch. Fitch had never seen this tender side of Lysander before.


    But as he was about to finish his sentence, he was met with Lysander¡¯s prating, icy gaze.


    The immense pressure of it made Fitch falter, and a cold sweat broke out across his forehead.


    ¡°What did Lysander do to the kids?¡± Thssa asked as worry strained her voice when Fitch abruptly


    stopped.


    Fitch knew he needed to tread carefully. ¡°Ms. Everhart, as you know, Atticus and Dorian can


    sometimes be a handful. Lysander can be a bit short on patience, and he cane off as quite stern.


    Dorian was actually brought to tears. Ms. Everhart, perhaps you shoulde home and see them.


    They miss you.¡±


    ¡°What? How could he?¡± Thssa was taken aback by this news. Her already worried heart had now


    dropped even further.


    She recalled how good Lysander seemed to be with the children when she was at the Royal Estates.


    Was it all just an act for her?


    Was he trying to put up a front of a loving father in order to reassure her to leave the children with


    him?


    Those were his children, too. How could he be so heartless?


    Thssa couldn¡¯t shake off her concern after hearing what Fitch said. She couldn¡¯t enjoy her drink


    anymore.


    In a moment of rity, Thssa snatched the ss from Hertha¡¯s hand and ced it on the table.


    ¡°That¡¯s enough for today. You need to keep your wits about you. I need to leave.¡±


    ¡°Oh, you¡¯re rushing back to Lysander?¡± Hertha asked as her tipsy eyes gleamed mischievously.


    Flushing slightly under Hertha¡¯s suggestive gaze, Thssa averted her eyes. ¡°I¡¯ll call a cab for you.¡±


    * 5 * F *


    She quickly dialed for a cab.


    ¡°What about you?¡± Hertha asked. She was always concerned about her friend.


    ¡°I¡¯ll take a cab too.¡± Thssa replied in between her calls.


    As she watched Hertha leave in the cab, Thssa hailed a cab and headed towards Royal Estates.


    Her heart was in her throat the whole journey. Her worries reached their peak as she stepped into the


    Property ? of N?velDrama.Org.


    grand hall of the Royal Estates.


    Under the bright lights, the four little bundles of joy were seated on a plush carpet, engrossed in a


    jigsaw puzzle.


    Lysander sat on a nearby couch with his phone in hand, seeiningly working. The scene was a picture of


    harmonious warmth.

 Chapter 713

    Chapter 713


    The stern and icy demeanor that she had envisioned Lysander to have when disciplining the children


    was nowhere to be seen.


    When Lysander lifted his gaze towards the door and caught sight of Thssa¡¯s petite figure, his eyes


    flickered slightly.


    Just at that moment, the little ones seated on the floor turned their heads as their childish eyes lit up at


    the sight of Thssa.


    ¡°Mommy!¡±


    ¡°Mommy!¡±


    ¡°Mommy!¡±


    ¡°Mommy!¡±


    The chorus of adorable voices rang out. Their tiny hands propped themselves up from the floor as they


    quickly stood up.


    One by one, they scurried towards Thssa as their little legs iled in the wind.


    Their joyful scampering resembled that of lively little birds, instantly soothing Thssa¡¯s worried heart.


    Thssa couldn¡¯t help but smile. She crouched down to tenderly greet her little angels.


    All four children simultaneously jumped into Thssa¡¯s arms. The impact caused her to lose bnce,


    and they all tumbled to the floor.


    The lightest of them all, Sophia, rolled around like a little rubber ball, stopping only after two rolls. She


    warm the heart of any cold man.


    Thssa sat up, taking Elowen, who was closest to her, into her arms. She nted a big kiss on


    Elowen¡¯s chubby little face as the scent of milk filled her nostrils. ¡°Sweetie, you smell so good.¡±


    Thssa said happily.


    ¡°E! Mommy, you stink.¡± Elowen pouted andined.


    ¡°Do I?¡± Thssa sniffed herself as she giggled. ¡°Mommy had some wine and didn¡¯t take a bath, so I


    smell like alcohol.¡±


    Thssa stood Elowen up. ¡°Mommy is going to take a bath, and then we can y.¡±


    As she was about to head upstairs, she felt a pair of intense eyes on her, as if they were trying to see


    right through her.


    Thssa turned to look at Lysander, meeting his deep, ocean-like gaze.


    She felt a cold shiver run through her.


    Thssa felt a surge of anger as she remembered what Fitch had told her.


    Fueled by the courage that alcohol induced, Thssa limped over to Lysander and scolded him sternly.


    ¡°You cannot be harsh with the children anymore, understand? Or else I¡­ I won¡¯t be nice to you! I¡¯ve


    raised them this far, and I¡¯ve never been harsh with them!¡±


    Oh my, Ms. Everhart was actually pointing fingers and lecturing Lysander.


    This was the first time someone had dared to raise their voice at him.


    2 F F 2 5 5 5 % 205 1


    Fitch watched from the sidelines. His heart was pounding, and a cold sweat was breaking out on his


    forehead.


    Lysander¡¯s deep, icy gaze was fixed on Thssa. She was standing not too far from him, swaying


    slightly. Her face was flushed red due to the alcohol, adding an irresistible allure to her already beautiful


    face.


    Having said her piece, Thssa noticed Lysander¡¯s chilling aura and couldn¡¯t help but shrink back. The


    slew of rebukes she had prepared for him on her way here all went to waste. She didn¡¯t have the


    courage to voice them out.


    ¡°Alright, I was just reminding you. I¡¯m going to go take a bath now.¡± Thssa quickly changed the topic,


    feeling a little awkward, and turned to walk toward the stairs.


    This content is ? N?velDrama.Org.


    Lysander¡¯s deep gaze followed her retreating figure. She was slightly staggering, a sight that was


    etched into his mind.


    He started to feel an odd heat rushing through his body, and his gaze shifted. He stood up, took a few


    strides towards her, and grasped her hand.


    ¡°Eh?¡± Before Thssa could react, he was already leading her upstairs.


    They headed straight to the master bedroom. He pushed open the bathroom door and guided Thssa


    in. After closing the door behind them, Lysander turned her around and pressed her against the frosted


    ss door. His tall, muscr body was closing in, and his strong, masculine scent was enveloping her


    as his towering figure cast a shadow over her.


    Thssa¡¯s heart was pounding.


    Lysander lifted her chin with his index finger. His voice was low and husky as he teasingly asked, ¡°How


    exactly do you n on not being nice to me, hm?

 Chapter 714

    Chapter 714


    The warmth radiating from his chest enveloped Thssa entirely, causing a dangerous yet alluring


    sentiment to spread throughout her being.


    His intense and passionate aura brushed over her face, making her heart flutter, and her eyshes


    tremble.


    After lifting her tipsy gaze, she locked eyes with Lysander.


    His eyes were shining like the moon on a starless night. They also held a limitless and mysterious


    depth that no one could fathom.


    The simmering glint in his gaze disyed his restrained desires.


    While taking in his intense gaze, one that could devour her at any given moment, Thssa gathered an


    unforeseen amount of courage and brushed away his hand that was tracing her chin. After cing her


    hands on his chest, she pushed him away.


    ¡°Hey, hey, don¡¯t get the wrong idea, okay?¡± Thssa chuckled. Her eyes sparkled with astuteness as


    she teased him.


    It was clear to both of them that she was enticing him.


    Lysander¡¯s eyes darkened even more. His Adam¡¯s apple bobbed, and he reached out to grasp her


    slender waist. With a gentle tug, their bodies were pressed together seamlessly.


    His handsome face leaned down until it was almost touching her cheek. His gaze was predatory,


    making him seem like he was about to take full control of her. His chiseled side profile brushed against


    her delicate cheek as he whispered next to her ear, ¡°Are you trying to reject me or invite me? Do you


    think I should let you go?¡±


    Her body was faintly scented with alcohol, and due to her slight intoxication, her cheeks were warmer


    than usual.


    Lysander pressed his face against her soft and warm cheeks as every cell in his body cried out for her.


    Thssa¡¯s pupils dted, and her body tensed up. Her heart was pounding wildly, as if she had


    be his defenseless prey.


    Thssa¡¯s body froze, and her breath became ragged, but she tried to keep it under control.


    ¡°You¡¯ve got it all wrong. I was clearly rejecting you. Why should you have your way all the time? I have


    a right to push you away when I¡¯m not happy!¡±


    Thssa regained some of her sobriety and tried to reason with him.


    But she forgot that when she was with Lysander, he was thew.


    ¡°Let me tell you why.¡± Lysander lifted his head slightly as his eyes intently focused on hers.


    Thssa¡¯s breath hitched under his intense gaze. Before she could react, Lysander leaned down and


    captured her slightly parted lips in a kiss.


    ¡°Mmm¡­¡± Thssa¡¯s eyes widened, and her body became taut.


    ¡°Mommy, Daddy, what are you guys doing in the bathroom?¡± Elowen¡¯s childish voice echoed.


    Thssa jolted in surprise. Her mind went nk, and she quickly pushed Lysander away.


    ¡°I know, they¡¯re taking a bath together!¡± Dorian quickly chimed in.


    ¡°Huh? Are Mommy and Daddy taking a bath together?¡± Elowen asked in confusion.


    The four little ones stood in the room, looking at the silhouette of a white figure and a ck one behind


    the frosted ss.


    The white figure was undoubtedly their mother, and the ck figure was naturally their father.


    The little ones outside began discussing whether their parents were taking a bath together.


    Thssa was in such a panic that her vision blurred. After pushing Lysander away, she quickly turned


    around and opened the door.


    Upon seeing the curious and innocent eyes of her four little ones, Thssa, still catching her breath,


    hurriedly exined, ¡°Mommy and Daddy weren¡¯t taking a bath. We were just¡­ talking¡­¡±


    Lysander watched Thssa¡¯s flustered back as his deep eyes cooled slightly.


    ¡°Were you whispering?¡± Elowen tilted her head as her eyes sparkled with curiosity.


    ¡°Yes, yes. You guys were whispering, so we couldn¡¯t hear.¡± Dorian added.


    Property ? of N?velDrama.Org.


    Thssa was at a loss for words. Her only option was to change the subject. She went over and gently


    hugged Elowen and Dorian. ¡°Why haven¡¯t you guys taken a bath and gone to bed yet?¡± She asked


    softly.


    ¡°We wanted to see you, Mommy.¡± Dorian replied.

 Chapter 715

    Chapter 715


    ¡°Right. We need to look after Mom.¡± Sophia, standing to the side, piped up and looked up at Thssa


    with a determined expression. Her tiny fists were clenched as she said, ¡°We can¡¯t let Dad bully Mom.¡±


    They were worried about their mother. Their hearts were almost breaking with concern.


    Understanding dawned on Thssa. So, the little ones were worried she was being bullied.


    Thssa¡¯s heart warmed as she felt their overwhelming love. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Dad won¡¯t bully Mom. And


    Mom is a grownup, so I can protect myself. You don¡¯t have to worry about me, okay?¡±


    Once Thssa gave them this reassurance, the little ones seemed to calm down. They nodded in


    agreement.


    ¡°Alright, let¡¯s go downstairs for a bath.¡± Thssa¡¯s nerves, jangled by Lysander, were soothed by the


    prospect of a bath.


    She quickly led the children out of the room, ignoring Lysander¡¯s oppressive gaze.


    After bathing the children and tucking them into bed, she turned off the lights and wished them


    goodnight.


    As she turned, she walked into a solid chest.


    Startled, Thssa looked up and saw Lysander¡¯s deep eyes. She took a sharp breath and stepped


    back. ¡°Shouldn¡¯t you be asleep?¡±


    ¡°I was waiting for you.¡± Lysander¡¯s deep voice was smooth as silk.


    In the next second, he swept her off her feet.


    Thssa gasped and instinctively clung to his neck. Regaining her bearings, she lowered her voice,


    unable to hide her embarrassment. ¡°What are you doing?¡±


    ¡°You¡¯ll find out soon enough.¡± Lysander¡¯s voice was deep and resonant.


    Property ? of N?velDrama.Org.


    He carried her swiftly into the bathroom, shut the door, and turned on the shower. The warm water


    cascaded down on Thssa, and the sudden sensation caused her to flinch.


    After adjusting to the temperature, she finally rxed, but she still red at him through the water.


    ¡°Lysander, don¡¯t push it.¡± Lysander began unbuttoning his shirt. ¡°Is this crossing the line? Have you


    ever considered the consequences when you drink?¡±


    He slowly approached her, causing his dangerous presence to be shrouded in steam.


    Thssa retreated. Her heart was pounding, and her eyes widened with wariness, causing them to


    glisten under the warm lights.


    ¡°I was drinking with Hertha, not anyone else.¡± Thssa was exasperated. Was she not even allowed to


    have a drink?


    Was Lysander trying to control her life?


    Her back hit the shower wall, leaving her no room to retreat.


    Lysander trapped her between the wall and his chest as his gaze locked on her.


    ¡°Is this why you didn¡¯t return to Royal Estates? Were you nning to meet some guy after getting


    drunk?¡± His voice, suppressed with anger, echoed in the bathroom.


    He hadn¡¯t forgotten the time she¡¯d flirted with a younger guy at the bar after getting drunk.


    Did she not remember how she behaved when she was drunk?


    Thssa looked at him as her heart fluttered under his intense gaze. ¡°I didn¡¯t think that way.¡±


    Then you were nning to be rude to me. I¡¯m giving you an opportunity to be as rude as you want.¡± His


    cold and maic voice was so pleasant that it made her heart flutter.


    Before Thssa could respond, he kissed her.


    She gripped the wall behind her, and her toes curled on the tile floor.


    The sound of running water filled the bathroom, causing steam to cloud their figures.


    The light from above bore down on them. Thssa, for the first time, felt truly intoxicated,

 Chapter 716

    Chapter 716


    Thssa was deep in her slumber when the bed suddenly dipped. A creature had hopped on and was


    seemingly full of excitement as they pressed down on her.


    Thssa was jolted awake, making her breath hitch.


    Next thing, something was breathing next to her cheek, carrying a sweet scent of milk.


    ¡°Mommy, the sun¡¯s up and shining.¡± A small voice echoed in her ear. It was just loud enough to shake


    the heavens.


    The hot breath tickled her ear, causing Thssa to squirm and shrink her neck away.


    After opening her eyes, she saw Elowen sprawled on her. The girl¡¯s petite, chubby figure and innocent


    face looked round and adorable. Her sparkling eyes were full of excitement as she looked at Thssa,


    like a little sprite.


    Thssa could hardly breathe under her weight, but her heart was warm.


    This was her sweet burden.


    ¡°Dad, time to rise and shine. You¡¯re burning daylight.¡± On the other side, Dorian was sprawled across


    Lysander, and his small hand gently patted his cheek.


    Lysander¡¯s eyes snapped open. His ice-cold stare made the temperature in the room drop instantly.


    Thssa, startled, immediately widened her eyes. All her sleepiness was gone.


    Did Dorian just pat Lysander¡¯s face? What if that angered him?


    No one could pat Lysander¡¯s face.


    ¡°If you two get down, I¡¯ll get up.¡± Thssa quickly intervened, fearing that the kids might further irritate


    Lysander.


    Elowen obediently jumped off the bed, but Dorian stayed on Lysander as his innocent/eyes shifted


    curiously towards Thssa.


    If he didn¡¯te down soon, Lysander might spank him. Thssa was very worried for him.


    She tried to sit up to get Dorian, but a sharp pain shot through her waist. Wincing, she fell back onto


    the bed, causing the nket to slip slightly and reveal her corbone.


    ¡°Mommy, why are there so many red marks on you? Did Dad bite you?¡± Elowen asked curiously as she


    saw the red blotches on Thssa¡¯s exposed shoulder.


    Thssa¡¯s heart jumped. She quickly pulled the nket up to cover herself. Her eyes were anxiously


    darting around the room as she exined, ¡°No, it¡¯s just an allergic reaction.¡±


    As she was panicking, Lysander sat up, making Dorian roll off him andnd on the floor.


    ¡°Owie!¡± He whimpered.


    Elowen quickly ran over to help Dorian up. ¡°Don¡¯t cry, brother. I¡¯ll make it better.¡± She said as she gently


    rubbed his bottom. ¡°Does it still hurt?¡±


    ¡°Nuh-uh, it¡¯s gone.¡± Dorian nodded.


    Thssa felt relieved after watching theforting disy from her two kids. This was how she


    usuallyforted them when they fell. It was touching to see themforting each other.


    ¡°Wow, Dad, did a cat scratch you? Why are there w marks on you?¡± Elowen asked in surprise. Her


    Elowen¡¯s question drew Thssa¡¯s attention. She nced at Lysander, who was sitting there with his


    broad shoulders and narrow waist. His physique was perfect to the extreme.


    His solid abs were eye-catching, well-defined, and sexy. They radiated a great masculine charm. On


    his strong chest, on the left side, were three red scratch marks. They were obvious signs of a struggle.


    Property of N?)(velDr(a)ma.Org.


    Seeing this, Thssa¡¯s breath hitched. She quickly averted her gaze, refusing to look at him.


    His perfect body, coupled with those scratch marks, were a stark reminder ofst night¡¯s passion.


    Those scratches were clearly her doing.


    Thssa suddenly felt her face heat up.


    Lysander looked down at the scratches on his body and naturally pulled out the nket to cover them.


    His deep voice echoed coldly in the room. ¡°Yeah, a cat scratched me. I disciplined the cat yesterday,


    You two should behave too, or you might get disciplined as well, got it?¡±

 Chapter 717

    Chapter 717


    ¡°I understand. I¡¯ll behave.¡± Elowen¡¯s soft voice promised. However, a hint of confusion and


    apprehension appeared in her bright eyes as she gazed at Lysander.


    Dorian hung his head silently.


    ¡°Alright, you two can head out. Your mom and I will join you for breakfastter.¡± Lysander instructed.


    ¡°Okay.¡± Elowen held Dorian¡¯s hand, leading him out of the room and thoughtfully closing the door


    behind them.


    ¡°Why are you scaring the kids?¡± Thssa asked Lysander with obvious anger in her voice.


    They were still so young, and he had already started intimidating them. She now believed what Fitch


    had said yesterday. Lysander¡¯s patience was thin, and he was often harsh with the children.


    Lysander nced at her, meeting her huffy expression with a calm one. ¡°Discipline is necessary.¡± He


    said simply.


    That¡¯s YOUR idea of discipline, not ours!¡± Thssa retorted, struggling to sit up despite her aching


    back and hips.


    She was scantily d and was grateful that the nket was securely covering her. It would have been


    terribly embarrassing if the children had seen her in such a state.


    Thssa hated seeing her children mistreated. They were her precious little treasures, and she would


    not stand for them being frightened or intimidated. Why did he feel the need to scare them? Why was


    he mean to them? Her heart ached at the thought of her precious children being frightened.


    ¡°In this house, we follow my rules. The same applies in the outside world. It¡¯s survival of the fittest.


    Don¡¯t you understand that?¡± Lysander reasoned.


    Thssa was speechless and shot him a re before saying, ¡°Rules are made by those in power. I


    understand that much.¡±


    She was willing to put up with being mistreated, but her children were too young to be subjected to


    Property of N?)(velDr(a)ma.Org.


    such harshness.


    She made an attempt to get out of bed, but felt too embarrassed and quickly retracted her leg.


    Lysander was still watching her, which made her feel awkward and ufortable.


    ¡°Is there anything I haven¡¯t seen that you need to hide?¡± Lysander¡¯s deep voice rang out.


    Thssa blushed deeply as she gritted her teeth and stood up. She could feel his heated gaze on her


    back, but she ignored it. She headed towards the closet to find clothes before heading into the


    bathroom to shower.


    The familiar sight of the bathroom made her face heat up once more..


    Every corner of the bathroom was a reminder of Lysander¡¯s wild antics from the previous night.


    She wanted to stay with Evelynst night to avoid him, but it seemed she couldn¡¯t escape him after all.


    Her children being here was her biggest concern.


    When she came out of the bathroom fully dressed, Lysander was no longer in the room.


    She went downstairs to find Lysander and the children seated at the dining table. They each had a


    bowl of beef curry in front of them.


    The table was also set with sulent shrimp balls and seasonal vegetables.


    Lysander was serving each child, giving them each five shrimp balls and two slices of veggies.


    Once he was done, he told them in a low, resonant voice. ¡°Eat up.¡±


    ¡°Okay, thank you, Daddy.¡± All four children were obedient and seemed quite happy. After thanking their


    father, they began to eat. Their bright, innocent eyes shone like stars as they happily consumed their


    meal.


    Thssa stood halfway down the staircase, watching the heartwarming scene below.


    For a moment, she thought that Lysander was actually quite gentle with the children.


    But then she remembered how he had frightened them earlier.


    Thssa was torn. She was unable to figure out whether Lysander truly liked the children or not.


    She walked over and took a seat at the table.


    Just as she picked up her fork, Fitch rushed in to give Lysander some news. ¡°Lysander, Faye is


    outside. She wants to see you.¡±

 Chapter 718

    Chapter 718


    ¡°Faye is here?¡± Thssa¡¯s eyes darted over to Lysander. His profile was stern, but the rhythm of his


    meal didn¡¯t falter. His movements were still graceful and unhurried, as if he were dining at a formal


    banquet.


    ¡°Let her in.¡± Lysandermanded in a detached tone.


    ¡°Of course.¡± Fitch bowed his head in acknowledgment before exiting the room.


    Thssa returned to her meal. Her mind swirled with questions.


    Justst week, Lysander led a chase after Faye. They chased her all the way up to Phoenix Mountain.


    Thssa had always wondered why but never found the right moment to ask. And now Faye was here,


    knocking on their door.


    As Thssa spected, Faye entered the room. She was dressed in a casual ck and white outfit, a


    stark contrast to her usual chic, corporate attire. Today, she wore no makeup, and her face betrayed a


    certain weariness. It was as if she had fallen from the fashionable circle into the mundane. Even her


    aura had diminished significantly.


    As Thssa watched her, Faye¡¯s gaze met hers. Her eyes quickly shed with jealousy when she saw


    that Thssa was seated next to Lysander, sharing a meal with their four children. However, she


    quickly masked it.


    She moved towards Lysander with her head slightly bowed. Her once-haughty demeanor had


    transformed into a humble, almost ingratiating one. ¡°Mr. Sinir, I beg you to spare my father. His


    business has gone bankrupt, and he¡¯s been arrested. If he doesn¡¯t get out, I fear he may do something


    drastic.¡± The desperation in Faye¡¯s voice was evident in her plea. Property of N?)(velDr(a)ma.Org.


    Thssa suddenly understood what was going on. Faye was here to seek mercy for her father.


    Lysander had recently taken over the Brennan Group, despite Daniel Brennan begging for another


    chance. And now, it seemed that Daniel had been arrested.


    ¡°The Brennan family must face the consequences of their actions.¡± Lysander responded, but his


    attention was still focused on his meal. His tone was calm, but his tone held an undeniable dominance.


    Faye turned a ghastly pale, and her body was visibly trembling.


    ¡°I know thisdy. She¡¯s scary.¡± Elowen chimed up. Her voice was sweet yet also filled with a certain


    disdain for Faye.


    ¡°Yeah, she wanted to throw us out of the office and not let us see Daddy.¡± Dorian added. His baby


    brows were furrowed in a mixture of fear and courage.


    ¡°And we identally messed up Daddy¡¯s office because she was chasing us.¡± Atticus, the usually quiet


    one, suddenly spoke up. His eyes reflected a shadow of fear when he looked at Faye.


    Thssa was momentarily taken aback before realization dawned on her. This was the incident where


    her children unintentionally wreaked havoc in Lysander¡¯s office. They scattered stationary and upturned


    furniture. Lysander had even ordered David to contact their guardian forpensation.


    It turned out that Faye had been the one who had scared them, resulting in that chaos.


    Upon hearing his children¡¯s remarks, Lysander¡¯s gaze turned icy as he looked at Faye.


    ¡°The Brennan Group has major issues with their taxes. Daniel needs to pay the highest price.¡±


    Lysander¡¯s voice echoed throughout the entire room. It was startlingly devoid of even the littlest


    warmth.

 Chapter 719

    Chapter 719


    Faye was desperate. ¡°I admit it, it was me! I called Robert, your house servant, and instructed him to


    sabotage Evelyn and hurt Grandma Sybil, which led to the tragedy.¡±


    Her breath hitched, and her usually steady eyes quivered. With great courage, she confessed. ¡°I only


    wanted to upset Evelyn and make her anger Grandma Sybil, or cause Grandma Sybil to trip, so you all


    would dislike Evelyn and Thssa. I never imagined that Grandma Sybil would pass away from a fall. If


    I had known this, I would have never instructed Robert to do such a thing. I was wrong. I really hadn¡¯t


    considered the consequences.¡±


    Her hands, hanging by her side, were clenched tightly. Her face was as white as a sheet, and her lips


    were trembling slightly.


    She stared at Lysander, not ncing at Thssa. In her mind, Thssa was the reason she was in


    this situation.


    BANG!


    Lysander smacked his cutlery on the table.


    Faye jumped in fright.


    Thssa also flinched. She was no longer able to continue eating. She turned to look at Lysander.


    She had guessed that Lysander¡¯s pursuit of Faye might have something to do with Grandma Sybil, but


    she never imagined that Faye would stoop so low as to sabotage Evelyn and her.


    Fitch, sitting next to them, was equally shocked. His eyes widened with disbelief. Grandma Sybil¡¯s


    death was rted to Faye?!


    The icy aura radiating from Lysander made everyone hold their breath.


    ¡°So, you thought you could do as you please because you hadn¡¯t considered the consequences?!


    Faye, you¡¯ve brought this on yourself!¡± Lysander¡¯s voice was cold, and his words were sharp.


    As soon as he finished speaking, police officers entered and walked straight to Faye. They handcuffed


    her and took her away.


    Faye was despondent. As she reached the door, she suddenly stopped and looked back at Lysander.


    ¡°My father, he¡­¡±


    ¡°Let thew handle it!¡± Lysander¡¯s voice was cold and unfeeling.


    Faye, unable to control her emotions any longer, began to sob uncontrobly.


    Her future was ruined, and her family, the Brennan family, was finished.


    As the sound of the police siren faded, Faye was taken away, and the room fell silent again.


    Thssa had been holding her breath since the incident. She was afraid that any noise from her would


    provoke Lysander.


    She understood now.


    That day, when Faye escaped down Phoenix Mountain by using the rugged terrain to her advantage,


    she managed to evade capture. But Lysander had evidence of her involvement in Grandma Sybil¡¯s


    death and was determined to bring her to justice.


    He brought down the Brennan Group and put Daniel in jail to force Faye to turn herself in.


    After all, she was the cause of the Brennan family¡¯s downfall.


    Now that the Brennan family was going bankrupt and her father was imprisoned, Faye had no choice


    but to show up and beg Lysander for mercy.


    As Thssa pieced together Lysander¡¯s strategy, she felt even more terrified.


    No wonder rumors of Lysander¡¯s ruthless tactics were widely known. If he wanted to bring someone


    down, they would certainly not escape.


    Trying to escape Lysander¡¯s control was likely an impossible task.


    ¡°Wow, that¡¯s scary.¡± The silence was broken by Elowen¡¯s innocent voice.


    ¡°Daddy¡¯s so scary. Sophia started crying.


    The iciness and indifference Lysander had shown towards Faye had frightened the children across the


    table.


    Their innocent eyes widened. They were a bit confused as they watched Lysander. Now that things had


    settled, the little ones began to react.


    Unable to suppress their fear, they began toin about how


    scary Lysander was.


    Property of N?)(velDr(a)ma.Org.


    Lysander snapped back to reality, and his icy gaze softened. ¡°Thatdy did something wrong. She hurt


    others to get what she wanted, so the police took her away. Don¡¯t be scared; there are no bad guys


    left.¡±

 Chapter 720

    Chapter 720


    Lysander was soothing the children, promising them that no harm woulde their way anymore.


    They could enjoy their meals without fear of being snatched away by a viin.


    He also cautioned them. He used Faye as a cautionary tale of someone who would do anything to


    achieve her goals.


    Sophia¡¯s innocent eyes welled up with tears, so Lysander gently wiped them away with a tissue. ¡°Don¡¯t


    cry, sweetie. Eat your meal, and then we¡¯ll y.¡±


    It was a Saturday. There was no school.


    Sophia perked up at the thought of ying and nodded her tiny head in agreement.


    Elowen, a bit braver than Sophia, patted her chest in relief. ¡°Phew, I¡¯m tough. No way I¡¯d get scared.¡±


    Thssa couldn¡¯t help but chuckle at Elowen.


    What did bravery have to do with lung capacity?


    But children¡¯s logic was often amusingly wed.


    Seeing the children lively again after their scare lightened Thssa¡¯s mood.


    She understood then why Lysander chose to teach them such lessons.


    Morals and values were important to instill from a young age. If neglected, it could be toote, like with


    Faye.


    Perhaps she had been too indulgent before.


    It seemed that children needed a strong father figure to guide them. Lysander could instill in them a


    confidence that could make them shine brightly.


    After their meal, Thssa and the children yed in the yard while Lysander went off to work.


    Though it was Saturday, he seemed to be swamped with work.


    Thssa figured he was busy with the acquisition of all the Brennan family businesses. After all,


    acquiring such arge corporation like the Brennan Group required a lot of follow-up work.


    Dorian and Atticus were ying ser. They chased the ball under the sun as theirughter echoed


    like cheerful birdsong.


    Elowen and Sophia were gathering flowers while ying house with their small baskets.


    The garden was well-tended by Fitch and the servants, so the flowers were blooming brightly.


    The girls were delighted. They were even wearing the flowers like crowns as they giggled at each


    other.


    Thssa watched from a shaded spot nearby as her heart filled with warmth at their happiness.


    This was what happiness felt like.


    On Monday, Thssa returned to work.


    Ethan, her boss, greeted her with concern. ¡°Back so soon, Thssa? You didn¡¯t want to take some


    more time off?¡±


    Thssa simply smiled. ¡°It¡¯s not a good look to sit at home and collect a paycheck, is it? I¡¯d feel better


    being here and working hard.¡±


    Ethan chuckled at her response. ¡°You¡¯re quite a character, Thssa. No wonder Lysander is so smitten


    with you.¡±


    Thssa fell silent.


    Property ? of N?velDrama.Org.


    She wondered if there was any topic that wouldn¡¯t link her to Lysander.


    Lysander was smitten with her?

 Chapter 721

    Chapter 721


    Really?


    He was just still enamored by her novelty.


    When you truly love someone, shouldn¡¯t you want to spend your whole life with them?


    ¡°Alright, enough jesting. The shipment of phones Leopold promised has been delivered. We at the


    Crawley Group are nning to capitalize on this coboration and get some publicity. We¡¯re expecting


    some journalists today. Thssa, since you¡¯re on duty, you¡¯ll be the one to handle the interview. I want


    you tomunicate the advantages of the Crawley Group¡¯s electronics to the world.¡±


    Thssa inquired curiously. ¡°Wouldn¡¯t Betty be a better fit?¡±


    She had only been at thepany for a few days and had taken quite a long break. She was not yet


    well-versed in the Crawley Group¡¯s corporate culture. Betty likely knew the ins and outs of thepany


    much better than she did.


    It would be more reliable to have Betty represent the Crawley Group in the interview.


    ¡°Betty is apanying me on a business trip today. I believe you can handle this, Thssa. Good


    luck.¡± Ethan gave Thssa an encouraging smile and nod before exiting the office.


    Betty passed by, also wishing her luck, before joining Ethan..


    From the look on Betty¡¯s face, she was thrilled. She¡¯d much rather apany Mr. Ethan on a business


    trip than represent the Crawley Group in an interview. It was a rare opportunity to spend time alone with


    Mr. Ethan.


    So, the responsibility of handling the interview fell on Thssa. She hastily turned on herputer and


    began diligently researching the Crawley Group¡¯s corporate culture, as well as the details of their


    coboration with Leopold and the advantages of their electronic products, in great detail.


    Procrastination may be the thief of time, butst-minute preparations could sometimes save the day.


    In the afternoon, Thssa was busy memorizing the culture of the Crawley Group when someone


    knocked on the door. Without raising her head, she said, ¡°Come in.¡±


    ¡°Ms. Everhart, we¡¯re journalists from Starhaven TV. We¡¯ve scheduled an interview with you today.¡± A


    woman¡¯s voice echoed in her ear.


    Thssa quickly turned around. ¡°Ah, yes, the interview today¡­¡±


    Property of N?)(velDr(a)ma.Org.


    Her words hung in the air as her gazended on the woman¡¯s face. She was momentarily stunned.


    The journalist was none other than Charlotte Ravensong.


    It was Lysander¡¯s fianc¨¦e, Charlotte.


    ¡°Ms. Everhart, you seem rather surprised to see me.¡± Charlotte¡¯s smile was forced and insincere.


    ¡°We were supposed to interview Mr. Ethan, but he said you¡¯d be handling it in his stead. So, shall we


    begin the interview?¡± With that, Charlotte signaled the cameraman behind her to start recording.


    Thssa quicklyposed herself and adopted a professional demeanor. She put aside all personal


    issues with Charlotte and focused on the task at hand.


    At first, Charlotte asked questions about the Crawley Group. Thssa was able to answer smoothly.


    She properly articted the group¡¯s strengths and shared the sess story of their recent


    coboration with a start-up.


    38 ¡ê ¡ê * * * F F 3


    After asking a few questions about the Crawley Group, Charlotte suddenly asked, ¡°Ms. Everhart, would


    you say that nepotism exists within the Crawley Group? Is itmon for people to get ahead due to


    their connections?¡±


    Thssa maintained herposure and responded with a courteous smile. ¡°The Crawley Group treats


    all people fairly.¡±


    ¡°Really? It¡¯smon knowledge that a bachelor¡¯s degree is the minimum requirement for secretarial


    jobs in our industry. However, as far as I know, you don¡¯t seem to have a college degree, Ms. Everhart.¡±


    Charlotte¡¯s question seemed harmless on the surface, but her intent was clear,


    Thssa¡¯s gaze hardened slightly. She could sense Charlotte¡¯s underlying hostility, but she was adept


    at handling such situations.


    Her smile remained as she confidently responded. ¡°You¡¯re correct. I dropped out of college after my


    sophomore year and don¡¯t have a degree. However, my work ability is outstanding. The Crawley Group


    is only the secondpany where I¡¯ve held a secretarial position, the first being the Sinir Group.


    The industry values ability first and foremost, and credentialse second. A degree is just a piece of


    paper. There are many people who have degrees butck practical skills. Wouldn¡¯t you agree, Ms.


    Ravensong?¡±


    With that rhetorical question, Thssa effectively turned the tables on Charlotte, suggesting that she


    might be one of those people who had degrees but


    Charlotte looked momentarily perturbed, but she quickly regained herposure and responded with a


    smile, ¡°Is that so? Being as attractive as you are is a skill in itself. Isn¡¯t it, Ms. Everhart?¡±

 Chapter 722

    Chapter 722


    On the surface, it appeared as if Charlotte wasplimenting Thssa on her beauty, but her real


    intention was to insinuate that Thssa had used her looks to climb the corporatedder.


    Thssa¡¯s clear eyes grew colder, but her lips still held a diplomatic smile.


    ¡°Most beautiful women choose to enter the entertainment industry, where they can showcase their


    beauty in front of a camera. My profession is not rted to my appearance.¡± She responded without


    borating, but this was already enough to counter Charlotte¡¯s insinuation.


    ¡°Haha. Ms. Everhart, your eloquence is impressive. No wonder you¡¯re a secretary.¡± Charlotte brushed it


    off with a joke, then asked a more piercing question. ¡°I believe our audience would like to know why a


    capable woman like you, who must have had good grades, dropped out of college in her sophomore


    year. Is there a secret you¡¯re hiding?¡±


    She held the microphone towards Thssa, implying that the question couldn¡¯t be dodged.


    Thssa¡¯s gaze hardened as she looked at Charlotte. She was crossing a line.


    Charlotte maintained her smile, but her eyes were provocative. From her stare alone, her intentions


    were clear. She wanted to humiliate her in front of the entire nation. She wanted Thssa to realize


    how foolish she was for even thinking ofpeting for Lysander with her.


    ¡°Ms. Ravensong, there¡¯s ament from the live stream.¡± A cameraman suddenly interjected during


    their intense stare-off.


    ¡°Whatment?¡± Charlotte asked reflexively.


    ¡°A viewer named V-Milk said that she was a college ssmate of Ms. Everhart. She mentioned that


    Thssa dropped out because she was pregnant.¡± The cameraman ryed.


    After hearing this, Thssa felt a cold chill run down her spine.


    This was a live interview, not a recorded one. If her pregnancy secret were to be revealed, the


    consequences would be unimaginable.


    N?velDrama.Org content.


    Charlotte, also taken aback, quickly moved in front of the camera and turned it off before Thssa


    could react.


    She raised her head and stared at her while exuding an imperious demeanor. She then angrily asked


    Thssa, ¡°Did you get pregnant in college? Who¡¯s the father?¡±


    Thssa, seeing that the live stream was off and they were no longer on air,ughed softly and replied,


    ¡°Is it any of your business?¡±


    Taken aback by Thssa¡¯s attitude, Charlotte furiously fired back. ¡°What did you say? How dare you


    show me such an attitude?!¡±


    Thssa found her hrious. ¡°I¡¯m here representing the Crawley Group. You should be asking about


    thepany, not my personal matters.¡±


    Was Charlotte not aware of the difort she had caused Thssa with her inappropriate questions


    during the live interview?


    Thssa¡¯s nonchnce and audacity ignited Charlotte¡¯s temper. As a pampered heiress, she was not


    used to such treatment. Angrily, she raised her hand to p Thssa. ¡°You need a reality check! You


    don¡¯t know your ce!¡±


    Without missing a beat, Thssa grabbed her wrist as her expression turned ice-cold. ¡°No one is going


    to put up with your tantrums! Now that the interview is over, leave! Don¡¯t get in my way!¡±


    With that, she let go of Charlotte¡¯s hand, returned to her desk, and resumed her work.


    Charlotte, left fuming, red at Thssa¡¯s back. ¡°Just you wait! I will find out who¡¯s the father of your


    child! Lysander has no idea that you¡¯re used goods! I¡¯ll make sure he knows exactly what kind of


    woman you are!¡±


    With those parting words, Charlotte stormed off.


    Thssa, still holding her mouse, squeezed it lightly. Although she seemed to be looking at her


    <pputer, she wasn¡¯t absorbing a single word.

 Chapter 723

    Chapter 723


    Charlotte¡¯s harsh words were like a bitter gust of wind that messed up her mood and cast dark clouds


    over her day.


    Initially, Charlotte had wanted to dig up some dirt on Thssa, specifically regarding a rumor that she


    had fallen pregnant during her sophomore year at college.


    However, her attempts to find any substantial information were thwarted. It was as though all details


    had been deliberately erased from existence. Even the most experienced investigators were left


    scratching their heads.


    How could Thssa, a mere janitor, have the power to keep such a secret under wraps?


    The only lead she had was a vaguement from an online acquaintance who imed to have been


    Thssa¡¯s college mate. However, the anonymous user feigned ignorance when pressed for more


    information, only revealing they were aware of Thssa¡¯s pregnancy, which led to her dropping out of


    Property of N?)(velDr(a)ma.Org.


    college. The trail went cold after that.


    There was no trace of where Thssa went after dropping out of college. She couldn¡¯t find out if she


    had gone to a hospital for an abortion or if she had given birth. It was clear that a powerful force was


    keeping the information under wraps.


    Charlotte was left to wonder if Thssa had been backed by


    a


    powerful entity from the very beginning.


    Determined to expose Thssa¡¯s dark past, Charlotte was eager to share her findings with Lysander,


    hoping that he could uncover more with his


    resources.


    After being informed that Lysander had left the Sinir Group office for the day, she headed over to


    Royal Estates.


    Upon her arrival, she saw the nanny car returning and quickly followed it inside thepound.


    She expected to see Lysander stepping out of the nanny car. Instead, the family butler, Fitch, emerged,


    carefully helping a line of four children out of the


    vehicle.


    Charlotte was taken aback. She quickly approached Fitch, nced at the children, then turned to Fitch


    again, asking, ¡°Fitch, whose children are these?¡±


    Before Fitch could respond, she used him of turning the mansion into a daycare center for his


    grandchildren.


    Fitch attempted to exin, but Charlotte was insistent. She stormed off, threatening to report him to


    Lysander.


    Just then, Lysander appeared in the doorway. His tall, lean figure filled the entrance. He was clearly


    annoyed with all themotion.


    Upon seeing Lysander, Charlotte rushed over and beganining about Fitch¡¯s ¡°terrible¡± behavior.


    Lysander dismissed her concerns with a cold nce, reminding her that the affairs of Royal Estates


    were none of her concern.


    Feeling slighted, Charlotte pouted. She wasn¡¯t thedy of the house yet, after all.


    ming Thssa for her current predicament, Charlotte decided to reveal her findings. ¡°Lysander, I¡¯ve


    discovered something important. I found out that Thssa dropped out of college during her


    sophomore year because she was pregnant.¡±


    As she finished speaking, she found herself on the receiving end of Lysander¡¯s icy, piercing gaze.

 Chapter 724

    Chapter 724


    When Lysander¡¯s handsome face adorned a stern look, it was a clear sign of his annoyance.


    Charlotte couldn¡¯t help but feel a little victorious. She knew this piece of news would ruffle Lysander¡¯s


    feathers about Thssa.


    Unable to hide her joy, she continued to provoke Lysander. ¡°She¡¯s so reckless in her private life. She


    was pregnant in her sophomore year, and she¡¯s probably had an abortion. How does a woman like that


    deserve to stand in front of you, Lysander?¡±


    The more she spoke, the scarier Lysander¡¯s eyes seemed to grow. He stared intently at Charlotte


    without uttering a word.


    Despite her reservations, she wore a smug smile as she waited for Lysander¡¯s judgment on Thssa.


    She was sure Thssa was in for a rough ride this time.


    ¡°Daddy, did youe out to pick us up?¡± A small, chubby figure with short legs ran up to Lysander and


    Property ? of N?velDrama.Org.


    tugged at his pants. Hisrge, innocent eyes adorably sparkled up at him.


    Following him, three more little ones came waddling over and surrounded Lysander as their baby


    voices called out for their daddy.


    Lysander¡¯srge hand gently stroked their little heads.


    Charlotte was taken aback. ¡°They¡­ they are¡­¡±


    She looked at the little cherubs at Lysander¡¯s feet, then back at Lysander as her breath hitched. She


    stuttered as she asked, ¡°They¡­they¡¯re your children? Are they adopted?¡±


    Fitch stepped forward, replying with the utmost respect. ¡°Ms. Ravensong, they are all Lysander¡¯s own


    flesh and blood. They are the young masters and young misses of the Royal Estates.¡±


    Charlotte nearly choked on her breath. Lysander had children? And they were this big? Who was their


    mother?


    The children seemed to be around four years old.


    Thssa was pregnant in her sophomore year, so if she had the baby, it would be around four years


    old now.


    Could it be that these children were Thssa¡¯s?


    With that thought, all of Charlotte¡¯s previous triumph turned into shock. Her heart shattered into pieces.


    ¡°What did you just say?¡± Lysander¡¯s icy voice echoed, and his mysterious gaze fell on Charlotte.


    Charlotte flinched. Meeting Lysander¡¯s intense gaze made her panic, and her bravado instantly


    deted. She stuttered, ¡°No¡­ no¡­ nothing. I remember I have something to do, sol better leave.¡±


    She swiftly lowered her head and hurried away,cking the courage to even nce at the children


    surrounding Lysander.


    ¡°Daddy, who was thatdy? What was she saying to you?¡± Elowen looked at Charlotte¡¯s retreating


    figure, her soft voice filled with curiosity.


    ¡°She was just talking nonsense. Let¡¯s go inside.¡± Lysander took Elowen¡¯s hand and walked into the


    house. The rest of the children followed suit.


    ¡°Where¡¯s Mommy? Hasn¡¯t Mommye home yet?¡± Dorian looked around and didn¡¯t see Thssa


    anywhere.


    ¡°Yeah, where¡¯s Mommy?¡± Elowen chimed in.


    Lysander fixed his gaze on Fitch.


    ¡°Ms. Everhart probably hasn¡¯t finished work yet.¡± Fitch quickly exined.


    ¡°Then we¡¯ll wait for Mommy to get off work.¡±


    The little ones obediently trotted off to the yroom, intending to y with their toys while waiting for


    Thssa to return.


    After finishing work, Thssa was about to hail a cab when a red Porsche pulled up in front of her. The


    window rolled down, revealing Charlotte¡¯s furious face. ¡°Thssa, you actually have four children with


    Lysander!¡±


    Thssa had given birth to quadruplets?!

 Chapter 725

    Chapter 725


    Charlotte was so furious that her facial features seemed to twist in rage.


    Thssa, looking at the livid Charlotte, remained calm. ¡°What¡¯s the matter? Jealous?¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t think you¡¯re the only one who can have quadruplets! If I had the opportunity, I could do it too!¡±


    Charlotte¡¯s chest heaved heavily with each angry breath.


    ¡°You seem to be confused.¡± Thssa retorted. ¡°If you want to have quadruplets, I am not the one you


    should be seeking.¡± With that, she turned on her heel and walked away.


    Indignant, Charlotte flung open the door of her car and stepped out. Two burly men followed suit,


    immediately grabbing Thssa by the arms and dragging her towards the vehicle.


    Thssa eximed, ¡°What are you doing? Let go of me!¡±


    She struggled, but she could do nothing when faced with the strength of the beefy men.


    Property ? of N?velDrama.Org.


    Before she knew it, Thssa was shoved into the car. The door mmed shut, and Charlotte sped


    away.


    With one burly man on either side of her in the car, escape seemed impossible.


    Thssa tried to remainposed as she narrowed her eyes at Charlotte. ¡°Charlotte, this is


    kidnapping; it¡¯s illegal. You could end up in jail. It¡¯s not toote if you let me go.¡±


    Charlotte nced at Thssa through the rear-view mirror and huffed. ¡°A person capable of


    threatening me hasn¡¯t been born yet. Don¡¯t worry, I¡¯m not that stupid to kidnap you.¡±


    ¡°What are you up to?¡±


    Charlotte didn¡¯t answer.


    Thssa was taken to a motel and roughly pushed into a room. She nearly stumbled but managed to


    steady herself.


    However, the two burly men who had grabbed her earlier were now advancing towards her, with


    Charlotte trailing behind them.


    Feeling threatened, Thssa backed away. Her eyes darted past the burly men to re at Charlotte.


    ¡°Charlotte, tell them to leave, or you¡¯ll regret it!¡±


    ¡°The only thing I regret is letting you get to Lysander before me five years ago. You¡¯re so good at


    having quadruplets, right? Then do it again!¡± With that, Charlotte gave the men a nod and hurriedly


    exited the room.


    Seeing her opportunity, Thssa lunged forward, hoping to dash out of the room before they could


    react.


    But she was intercepted by one of the burly men and flung onto the bed.


    Thssa¡¯s head spun from the impact, and her vision blurred. As she tried to sit up, the man who had


    thrown her strode towards her, grabbing her by the cor of her shirt.


    ¡°No!¡± Thssa clung to her clothing. She was holding on for dear life.


    But her strength was nothing whenpared to that of the burly man¡¯s.


    Just when her clothing seemed about to tear, Thssa felt a wave of helplessness wash over her.


    ¡°Stop! Let her go!¡± A young man burst into the open doorway of the room.


    He rushed forward, punching the man who was tearing at Thssa¡¯s clothes and shielding her with his


    body.


    In her panic, Thssa recognized the man as Leopold. Her grip on her shirt tightened, her hands


    began trembling, and her eyes welled up with tears.


    The burly man, who had been punched, turned his face while cradling his jaw. He red at Leopold


    with a menacing look and raised his fist to strike back.


    1 2 1 9 F S


    ¡°Stop! No more!¡± Charlotte dashed into the room and called off the burly men.


    ¡°All of you, get out!¡± She ordered.


    The burly men nced at Charlotte. They were clearly unwilling toply and were confused by her


    Charlotte, seeing their hesitation, barked. ¡°Didn¡¯t you hear me? Do you not want your money


    anymore?¡±


    Hearing that, the burly men grudgingly exited the room.


    After seeing the danger recede, Leopold turned his worried gaze towards Thssa. ¡°Thssa, are you


    okay? Were you frightened?¡±

 Chapter 726

    Chapter 726


    Leopold¡¯s voice was as smooth as velvet. It was brimming with concern and urgency.


    Just like five years ago, he was tender and understanding towards her.


    Property of N?)(velDr(a)ma.Org.


    Thssa felt her heart break. Her eyes welled up with tears that she could no longer hold back.


    Despite the recent danger, she hadn¡¯t cried.


    But now, at the sound of Leopold¡¯s caring voice, she could no longer contain her emotions. Her urge to


    cry was overwhelming.


    ¡°It¡¯s okay now. Don¡¯t be scared.¡± Leopold, seeing her tears, felt a wrenching ache in his heart. He


    pulled her into his arms and held her gently.


    He wanted to hold her tight and give her warmth and security.


    But her rigid body and the trembling hand clutching his cor made him soften his embrace.


    Thssa didn¡¯t cry out loud, but her tears fell uncontrobly, dotting the bedspread. She gritted her


    teeth as she struggled to control her emotions.


    Leopold, I didn¡¯t mean any harm. I just wanted to scare her a little.¡± Charlotte weakly exined from the


    doorway.


    Originally, she had intended to leave, but when she saw Leopold rush from the elevator to the room,


    she turned back.


    With Leopold present, she didn¡¯t dare to overstep.


    Leopold shot Charlotte a fierce re. ¡°Get out!¡±


    Startled, Charlotte¡¯s heart beat erratically under his gaze.


    Sulkily, she retreated to the doorway, ready to leave. But after seeing Leopold cradle Thssa so


    intimately and protectively, she had a sudden idea.


    She didn¡¯t leave, but instead hid outside and switched on her phone¡¯s camera to secretly film the


    couple inside.


    Leopold,pletely focused on Thssa, held her close with one hand on her back and the other


    holding her hand. His gaze was filled with nothing but her. ¡°Thssa, I¡¯m sorry. I should¡¯ve gotten to


    you sooner.¡±


    He rushed into the hotel, only to see two men escorting Thssa into an elevator. Despite his efforts to


    catch up, the elevator doors closed, and it left


    without him.


    To make sure he knew what floor Thssa was taken to, he waited downstairs and watched the


    elevator¡¯s progress. Only when he was sure did he take another elevator up.


    But he was still toote.


    Hearing Leopold¡¯s remorse, Thssa released her death grip on his shirt, which had resulted in two


    buttons being pulled off. She didn¡¯t notice her exposed state.


    After wiping away her tears, she reassured him. ¡°You didn¡¯t do anything wrong. You don¡¯t need to


    apologize. I should be thanking you.¡±


    Thssa¡­¡± Leopold¡¯s voice was tinged with sorrow as he called her name.


    His gaze was filled with longing and affection.


    After feeling her heart flutter under his intense stare, Thssa knew exactly what he was feeling too.


    ¡°Leopold, those in love don¡¯t always need to be together. We each have our own hardships. epting


    reality is the best thing we can do for each other.¡± After saying this, Thssa rose from the bed,


    naturally moving out of Leopold¡¯s embrace and creating a distance between them.


    That was when she noticed the camera at the door.


    Her expression hardened, and she swiftly moved towards the door.


    Charlotte, realizing she had been discovered, quickly hid her phone and tapped save before opening a


    chat with Lysander on WhatsApp.


    ¡°Charlotte, give me the phone!¡± Thssa demanded as she reached for the phone.


    Charlotte held it high above her head, out of reach.


    Leopold strode over and snatched the phone from Charlotte¡¯s hand.


    As she lunged at him, he held the phone behind his back with one hand and kept her at bay with the


    other.


    ¡°Charlotte, do you find reenacting old tricks amusing?¡± Leopold asked icily.


    ¡°Afraid of your own actions being exposed? Last time you deleted the evidence, are you nning on


    doing it again?¡± Charlotte panted as she continued to fight for the phone.


    Thssa quickly took the phone from Leopold and stepped back to delete the video Charlotte had


    captured.

 Chapter 727

    Chapter 727


    As soon as she nced at her phone screen, the chat window with Lysander was open, and the video


    she had filmed was already sent.


    Thssa wanted to retract it, but the time for retraction had passed. It was irretrievable.


    She clicked on the video.


    It was a clip of Leopold holding her as she said, ¡°Leopold, people in love aren¡¯t necessarily meant to be


    together¡­¡±


    Thssa¡¯s head buzzed, her vision blurred, and her mind went nk.


    Her hand fell limply to her side as her gaze fixed listlessly ahead.


    Seeing this, Charlotte maneuvered around Leopold, rushed forward, and snatched her phone from


    Thssa¡¯s grasp.


    She let out a softugh. ¡°Whether you delete it now or not, there¡¯s no difference.¡±


    The reason she had been tussling with them for the phone was to buy time.


    Once the video was sent, after another two minutes, it couldn¡¯t be retrieved.


    It was irretrievable, and Lysander would inevitably see the message she sent him.


    With that, Charlotte turned around and walked away with a triumphant smirk on her face.


    ¡°Thssa, it¡¯s okay. We¡¯ll stand up to Lysander together. As long as our hearts are together, there¡¯s


    nothing that can stop us.¡± Leopold approached Thssa as his gaze shifted from mncholic to


    resolute.


    He believed Thssa had fallen out of love with him until she said that people in love weren¡¯t


    necessarily meant to be together.


    Stunned and exhrated, his heart began pounding in his chest.


    He realized she still loved him. It was just Lysander¡¯s power that prevented them from being together.


    As long as she loved him, he could ovee any obstacle.


    Thssa, looking lost, looked up to meet Leopold¡¯s bright, hopeful eyes.


    Her own eyes, however, were dim. Shaking her head, she said, ¡°You¡¯ve misunderstood. I meant you


    Property of N?)(velDr(a)ma.Org.


    don¡¯t need to continue loving me. ept the situation, move on, and find someone more suitable.


    We¡¯re not right for each other.¡±


    With that, Thssa walked away.


    Leopold stood still. The light in his eyes didn¡¯t dim as his fists clenched slightly.


    At Royal Estates, Lysander was helping the kids build a Lego tower.


    His phone, resting on the sofa, buzzed. It was a message alert from Charlotte.


    He wasn¡¯t nning on acknowledging it, but he noticed it was a video.


    Temporarily setting aside the Lego, he picked up his phone and tapped on the message.


    The contents of the video darkened his handsome face instantly.


    Thssa¡¯s resigned voice rang out. ¡°Leopold, people in love aren¡¯t necessarily meant to be together¡­


    His eyes flickered, and the temperature around him plummeted. His knuckles turned white as he held


    the phone..


    Thssa arrived at Royal Estates as quickly as she could, only to be stopped by the security guard.


    ¡®Ms. Everhart, you can¡¯te in.¡±


    ¡°Go tell Lysander I have something to say to him.¡± Thssa implored them with urgency in her voice.


    ¡°Sorry, Lysander¡¯s orders. Ms. Everhart, you can¡¯te in, and we¡¯re not to ry any messages. The


    security guard replied with an expressionless face. Thssa¡¯s breathing was heavy. She knew


    Lysander would be angry after seeing the video. He would certainly forbid her from seeing the kids.


    She took out her phone and dialed Lysander¡¯s number. The call went through, but no one picked up.

 Chapter 728

    Chapter 728


    The phone rang for an extended period, yet it went unanswered until the automated voice cut the call.


    ¡°The person you are trying to reach is not avable.¡± Thssa tried again, but to no avail.


    As her frustration mounted, Thssa suspected Lysander was intentionally ignoring her calls as a form


    of punishment.


    After peering through the wrought iron gate, she saw the vibrant garden and the stone pathway leading


    up to the grand entrance of the Royal Estates


    mansion.


    She was so close to her children yet so far. Just this little gate barred her from seeing the four little


    ones she¡¯d nurtured with the essence of her very being.


    Being kept away from them was a punishment worse than death.


    Lysander knew how to hit her where it hurt, reducing her to a state of helpless panic with ease.


    After multiple calls and Lysander¡¯s consistent non-responsiveness, Thssa tried messaging him, only


    to be informed that the message could not be


    delivered.


    He must have blocked her again.


    Every time he was annoyed or angry, he would block her. He didn¡¯t even give her a chance to exin


    Property of N?)(velDr(a)ma.Org.


    herself. Her anxiety was met with helplessness.


    Thssa lingered outside the gate for a long time, hoping to catch a glimpse of her children, or maybe


    Lysander stepping out so she could speak to him through the gate.


    But her hopes were dashed as darkness fell, and no one emerged.


    Thssa had no choice but to leave. Anyter, and she wouldn¡¯t be able to catch a cab.


    Upon returning home, she found Evelyn in high spirits.


    Evelyn pulled Thssa down to the couch and broke the news with a beaming smile. Thssa, I got a


    message from the matchmaker on the dating site today. A gentleman has shown interest in my profile


    and wants to meet this Friday!¡±


    Thssa responded weakly, ¡°That sounds great, Mom. You should go. If things go well, why not give it


    a shot?¡±


    Evelyn was clearly excited, even without having seen a photo of the man. She was already looking


    forward to the meeting.


    Initially, Evelyn was resistant to the idea of dating, but she thought about how she wasted half her life


    on that brute Bruce and became annoyed.


    It was high time she focused on her own happiness.


    Meeting a new man might just be the change she needed.


    Her excitement was soon dampened by Thssa¡¯s unusual silence. ¡°Thssa, what¡¯s wrong? You


    don¡¯t seem too happy.¡±


    After snapping back to reality, Thssa shook her head. ¡°Nothing¡­ I¡¯m just tired¡­..¡±


    ¡°Work can be exhausting. Why don¡¯t you rest while I prepare dinner? It won¡¯t take long. The ingredients


    are already prepped.¡± Evelyn quickly headed towards the kitchen.


    Thssaid her head back on the couch, utterly drained. Before long, she fell asleep.


    She was woken up by Evelyn nudging her shoulder. ¡°Thssa,e have dinner. You can go to sleep


    afterwards. It¡¯s not good for the stomach to go to bed hungry.¡±


    Thssa, visibly exhausted, reluctantly sat at the dining table. She yed with her food, showing no


    appetite.


    Evelyn noticed Thssa¡¯sck of interest in the food. ¡°What¡¯s the matter? Is it not to your liking? Have


    you gotten so used to the gourmet meals at Royal Estates that you now find our simple home-cooked


    meals unptable?¡±


    Regaining herposure, Thssa looked at Evelyn. ¡°Mom, what are you talking about? Isn¡¯t all food


    the same? I just don¡¯t have an appetite.¡±


    ¡°Is it the heat? I bought a watermelon. Let me cut it up for you. It¡¯s quite refreshing.¡± Evelyn then got


    up.


    ¡°No need, Mom. I don¡¯t want any watermelon.¡±


    Ignoring her, Evelyn cut up the watermelon and ced a slice in front of Thssa. As she began to eat


    her slice, she said, ¡°If the kids were here, they¡¯d devour this in no time. They love watermelon,


    especially Elowen. She has such a sweet tooth.¡±


    Mentioning the kids made Thssa feel incredible sorrow. She longed to see them. She feared that


    this video fiasco might stop her from being able to go to Royal Estates or see the children indefinitely,


    On one hand, she didn¡¯t know how to face Lysander, and on the other, she feared his intimidating


    presence,


    ¡°The kids must miss home. Thssa, you¡¯re able to see them anytime, right? Can you bring them over


    sometime? I miss them.¡± Evelyn asked.


    Caught in Evelyn¡¯s hopeful gaze, Thssa quickly looked away. Her heart ached so much that it was


    hard for her to breathe.

 Chapter 729

    Chapter 729


    How was she supposed to tell her mother that Lysander wouldn¡¯t even let her see their kids now?


    She was their mother, for Christ¡¯s sake! She¡¯d raised their four children, and now she didn¡¯t even have


    the freedom to see them?!


    If Lysander was in a good mood, she could see her little ones. If he wasn¡¯t, no matter how desperate


    she was, she couldn¡¯ty eyes on them.


    Thssa felt utterly helpless and powerless.


    ¡°Mom, give it a bit more time. Work¡¯s been crazytely, and the kids are busy with school. Once things


    calm down, I¡¯ll bring them back.¡± Thssa mumbled through a mouthful of her dinner as she spoke to


    Evelyn.


    She¡¯d find a way to talk to Lysander. She needed to make him understand what happened and


    convince him to let her see their children.


    Then, she would bring them home.


    That¡¯s fine, dear. I¡¯ve been meaning to catch up with this gentleman online anyway. Let¡¯s see where


    things go before we meet.¡± Evelyn seemed convinced.


    The next day, Thssa was up early. She hailed a cab and headed to Royal Estates, ready to confront


    Lysander face-to-face.


    But instead, she was greeted by the news that Lysander had already left at the crack of dawn.


    She¡¯d been up at five and only managed to get there past six. She was always one step behind.


    What on earth was Lysander doing out so early? He was never this early for the office.


    Did he anticipate her showing up and leave earlier to avoid her?


    If that were the case, he really went out of his way to punish her.


    Despite Lysander¡¯s absence, Thssa stayed and waited. By eight, the family¡¯s SUV rolled out of the


    driveway.


    It was Fitch driving the kids to school.


    Thssa quickly moved closer to trail the vehicle, hoping to get a glimpse of her children.


    But the SUV¡¯s windows were tinted. You could see out, but not in.


    Thssa craned her neck, trying to peek inside, but saw nothing.


    The children, being small, were hardly visible from outside the car unless they deliberately looked out


    the window. They were buckled in their car seats with their heads bent over their iPads, oblivious to


    their mother outside.


    The driver didn¡¯t slow down. The SUV brushed past Thssa and drove off.


    Thssa chased after it for a few steps, but it was futile. The car sped away.


    She stopped, panting as she tried to catch her breath.


    The car had deliberately sped up to avoid her. Lysander must have instructed the driver not to let her


    see the kids.


    He was truly heartless.


    Anxious and frustrated, Thssa dialed David¡¯s number.


    ¡°David.¡± She asked as soon as he answered. ¡°Where are you?¡±


    ¡°At the door of the boss¡¯s office, why?¡±


    ¡°Can you put me on speaker?¡± Thssa asked immediately.


    ¡°I can, but¡­¡±


    ¡°Just do it; you won¡¯t regret it.¡± Thssa cut him off assertively.


    David was curious about what Thssa would do, so he put her on speakerphone.


    ¡°Lysander, listen to me. You can¡¯t stop me from seeing our children. They are my flesh and blood. Who


    are you to deny my right to see them? i¡¯ve had enough!¡±


    As soon as the speakerphone was activated, Thssa¡¯s angry, unfiltered words echoed through the


    office,


    She even addressed Lysander by his name.


    Property of N?)(velDr(a)ma.Org.


    David quickly nced at Lysander, who was sitting behind his desk. He wanted to turn off the


    speakerphone, but it was already toote.

 Chapter 730

    Chapter 730


    Lysander¡¯s handsome face looked as grim as a thunderstorm. His eyes became as sharp as a de.


    With trembling fingers, David quickly ended the call, not giving Thssa a chance to continue


    speaking.


    ¡°Mr. Sinir, I had no idea Ms. Everhart was so upset. I thought she had some good news to


    announce.¡± David exined to Lysander, his nerves frayed.


    Had he known that Lysander and Thssa had fought, he would have never taken Thssa¡¯s call.


    Since Thssa used his phone to throw harsh words at Lysander, it left him alone to face Lysander¡¯s


    wrath.


    He was surely the victim here.


    He felt like a piece of bologna in between bread. He was caught in the middle.


    Last time, Thssa used him to repay money to Lysander, and now she used his phone to throw harsh


    remarks at Lysander.


    The biggest injustice David had ever suffered in his life was all due to Thssa.


    The deepest pit he had ever stumbled into was the one dug by Lysander.


    It seemed that Thssa and Lysander were truly two peas in a pod.


    They were always finding him to take advantage of.


    Lysander¡¯s icy gaze swept over him. ¡°Do you have nothing better to do?¡±


    David was taken aback and then hastily nodded. ¡°Yes, I do.¡±


    With that, he quickly retreated, making a fast exit from the office.


    Once he was out of the chilly office, he finally took a deep breath.


    It seemed he needed to be more careful about answering calls from Thssa in the future, or else he


    would be facing even more trouble in the future. Thssa, having vented her frustrations, didn¡¯t get a


    response. All she heard was the sound of the call being ended.


    She stared at the phone screen as her chest rose and fell slightly. She was still seething.


    The fact that David had hung up so quickly, without uttering a word, proved that Lysander was right


    there. David must have been too afraid to let her


    continue.


    Lysander must have heard everything she just said.


    For a moment, she felt incredibly satisfied.


    Why should she allow herself to be oppressed by Lysander without even fighting back?


    However, after the satisfaction passed, regret quickly set in.


    Venting at Lysander felt good, but what if he retaliated even more harshly? He might even forbid her


    from seeing their children forever.


    Thssa began to feel extremely anxious.


    When she arrived at work, Betty was already at her desk, looking quite happy. ¡°Thssa, you came


    early today. I bought an extra breakfast and was wondering what to do with it. This bagel and coffee


    are for you.¡±


    With that, she ced a bagel and a cup of coffee on her desk.


    Thanks.¡± Thssa said. She got up at five in the morning and rushed to Royal Estates without having


    any time for breakfast.


    Property of N?)(velDr(a)ma.Org.


    ¡°What¡¯s wrong? You look pale.¡± Betty asked as she rotated her chair to Thssa¡¯s desk while nibbling


    on her bagel as she spoke.


    ¡°Do I? Maybe I just didn¡¯t sleep well.¡± Thssa rubbed her face, as if trying to bring some color back.


    ¡°Did you get a boyfriend? Is that why you didn¡¯t sleep well?¡± Betty asked with a teasing smile on her


    face.


    Thssa was taken aback.


    What on earth was Betty implying?


    Wasn¡¯t she supposed to be aloof and reserved?


    Since when did she start making jokes like this?

 Chapter 731

    Chapter 731


    Thssa¡¯s cheeks turned a vibrant shade of pink. ¡°Don¡¯t get the wrong idea. I was just upte at night,


    thinking.¡±


    Why the blush then?¡± Betty¡¯s eyes were focused on Thssa.


    Thssa avoided her gaze. ¡°Am I? I don¡¯t see any blush.¡±


    ¡°Anyway, you seem quite cheerful today. Did you score big on the business trip with Mr. Ethan


    yesterday?¡± Thssa skillfully steered the conversation away, hoping to avoid Betty¡¯s prying


    questions.


    Upon hearing this, Betty¡¯s smile deepened. ¡°Mr. Ethan and I had dinner togetherst night. He


    mentioned that the Sinir Group agreed to coborate with us thanks to you. Thssa, do you know


    someone at the Sinir Group?¡±


    Thssa got it. Betty¡¯s glowing face and incessant smiling made sense now. Thssa took a sip of her


    coffee and calmly answered her. ¡°Didn¡¯t we discuss this? Mr. Ethan knows the president of the Sinir


    Group.¡±


    ¡°Thssa, quit being modest. Mr. Ethan credited you for the deal. This time, Leopold wants to


    wholesale more smartphones from us. They specifically asked for the same factory as thest time,


    which means we have to coborate with the Sinir Group again and negotiate a new contract.


    However, this time, Mr. Ethan gave me the assignment. I don¡¯t know anyone at the Sinir Group, so I


    thought you could help me out. Could you put in a good word for me?¡± Betty asked with hope written all


    over her face. This content is ? N?velDrama.Org.


    Thssa paused mid-bite into her bagel. She now understood why Betty had brought her breakfast.


    The aloof Betty buying her breakfast seemed too good to be true. Now she knew it wasn¡¯t without a


    price.


    In the corporate world, there was no such thing as a free lunch.


    Ethan, the sly man, had cleverly pushed her into this. She took a bite of her bagel as she responded, ¡°I


    do know someone from the management at the Sinir Group, but the main connection is Mr. Ethan.


    He and Mr. Sinir are good friends, as you know.¡±


    ¡°Mr. Ethan mentioned that Mr. Sinir doesn¡¯t do business out of friendship. He¡¯s all about profits.¡±


    ¡°Considering he agreed to sign the contractst time, it must have been profitable. This time should


    work out too.¡± Thssa responded.


    ¡°Last time, it was just 20,000 units. The profits were minimal. It¡¯s nothing for someone like Mr. Sinir,


    who¡¯s used to billion-dor deals. We need an insider, like your friend, to facilitate the conversation. Mr.


    Ethan has ced a lot of trust in me, so I can¡¯t let him down. Please help me out.¡± Betty pleaded. Her


    usually aloof demeanor was now reced with desperation.


    Thssa still held her bagel, feeling obliged to help after eating the breakfast Betty bought for her.


    ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll give it a shot.¡± Thssa finally agreed.


    ¡°That¡¯s great! Here¡¯s the contract. You can show it to your friend, and if he has any suggestions, we can


    make changes.¡± Betty promptly ced the contract on Thssa¡¯s desk and returned to her own,


    leaving Thssa alone with her thoughts.


    Thssa nced at the contract on her desk, sighing silently to herself. Thest time she had to


    discuss a contract with Lysander, it was quite eventful. This time, she wasn¡¯t sure what to expect.


    Lysander was still upset about the video Charlotte had sent him yesterday, and, furthermore, she just


    had to.


    But she couldn¡¯t risk not seeing her children.


    Around 10 in the morning, Thssa, armed with the contract, made her way to the Sinir Group.

 Chapter 732

    Chapter 732


    ¡°Thssa, you¡¯re back.¡± The front deskdy at the Sinir Group warmly greeted her.


    Thssa responded with a smile. ¡°Yes, I am here on behalf of the Crawley Group to discuss a


    coboration with Mr. Sinir. Could you please give him a call?¡±


    She was always polite to the front deskdy.


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Thssa.¡± The woman apologized. ¡°Mr. Sinir has left instructions that you¡¯re not to be


    allowed in. I don¡¯t think I can even announce your arrival.¡±


    An hour ago, she received an email stating that Thssa was not allowed to enter their offices.


    The front deskdy was puzzled. Why the sudden order?


    An hourter, Thssa was here.


    It seemed like Mr. Sinir had anticipated her arrival.


    Thssa¡¯s smile faltered. She had been wondering what would happen when she met Lysander, but


    she hadn¡¯t expected to be turned away at the door.


    She nced at the clock, regained her smile, and said, ¡°It¡¯s okay. I can wait downstairs.¡±


    Lysander would have to leave at some point since it was only an hour from lunchtime, right?


    The front deskdy kindly reminded her. ¡°Mr. Sinir left the office half an hour ago. He¡¯s not in.¡±


    So, waiting here was futile.


    ¡°Where did he go?¡± Thssa asked.


    The front deskdy shook her head. ¡°I don¡¯t know Mr. Sinir¡¯s schedule. Maybe you could call


    David.¡±


    Thssa gave her an awkward smile.


    David probably wouldn¡¯t take her calls now.


    Property of N?)(velDr(a)ma.Org.


    She screwed him over twice. He must be resentful towards her by now.


    ¡°Well, if it isn¡¯t Thssa.¡± A taunting female voice rang out. ¡°From a cleaner to Mr. Sinir¡¯s secretary,


    huh? Those who sleep their way to the top neverst long. Weren¡¯t you fired by the Sinir Group?¡±


    Thssa looked in the direction of the voice and saw Daryl approaching with a mop,ing to clean


    the floor at her feet. ¡°Excuse me, this floor is dirty.¡± Thssa stepped back, and Daryl followed her foot


    with the mop. ¡°Honestly, I just cleaned this ce, and then people dirty it again.¡±


    She was being purposefully mean.


    Thssa felt ufortable and stepped on her mop.


    ¡°What are you doing?¡± Daryl asked, trying to pull her mop free.


    ¡°You¡¯re looking down on me. I want you to look up and see who¡¯s higher. The person or the dog?¡±


    Thssa said while looking at her sharply.


    ¡°Are you insulting me?¡± Daryl was furious.


    ¡°Did I insult you? Is it my fault that you think you¡¯re a dog?¡± Thssa retorted.


    The front deskdy couldn¡¯t help butugh.


    Thssa had a knack for putting people in their ce.


    ¡°You¡­¡± Daryl was fuming. She took a few deep breaths and gritted her teeth. ¡°You used to be by Mr.


    Sinir¡¯s side and enjoyed his favor. Who are you serving now? You have the audacity to approach Mr.


    Sinir again?! Do you think he¡¯ll take back an old me?¡±


    With that, she yanked the mop from under Thssa¡¯s foot.


    Thssa, annoyed, released the mop suddenly.


    ¡°Ah!¡± Daryl lost her bnce and fell backward onto her rear end, making a thud as she hit the floor and


    grimacing in pain.


    The front deskdy covered her mouth as she winced in sympathy.


    Thssa gave Daryl a disdainful nce and walked away.


    Ever since Charlotte treated Daryl to sushi, she had changed. She harbored deep animosity towards


    Thssa, and she grew increasingly disrespectful with their each encounter.


    It¡¯s true that you be who you hang around with.


    But she failed to realize her ce. Charlotte was jealous because she was the fianc¨¦e chosen by the


    Sinir family for Lysander.


    Charlotte had the right and the status to feel resentment and jealousy.

 Chapter 733

    Chapter 733


    What did Daryl amount to?


    She was just a regr employee at the Sinir Group. Her infatuation with Lysander¡¯s good looks and


    power was her own business. Why did it have to affect Thssa?


    She chose tosh out at Thssa because the man she couldn¡¯t have fancied her? How pathetic and


    detestable!


    Thssa never had any intentions of usurping the ce beside Lysander. She wished to be as far


    away from him as possible.


    If not for her children still in his vicinity, she would quit her job at the Crawley Group, leave, and never


    look back.


    But the only things she cared about in this world were with Lysander. She couldn¡¯t leave.


    Thssa dialed Lysander¡¯s number once again. There was no answer, just like before.


    Lysander was clearly tormenting her. He wanted her to be restless and anxious.


    She spent the day in a state of futility.


    In the afternoon, Thssa arrived at the daycare ten minutes early, hoping to catch a glimpse of her


    little ones.


    As soon as she appeared, the security guard approached her and spoke with an official and detached


    tone. ¡°Ms. Everhart, I¡¯m sorry. You cannot stay within the daycare¡¯s premises. Please leave.¡±


    ¡°What?¡± Thssa was taken aback.


    ¡°The principal has instructed that you keep a distance of a thousand meters from the daycare.¡± The


    N?velDrama.Org (C) content.


    guard rified.


    Thssa¡¯s eyebrows furrowed.


    A thousand meters away from the daycare?! She wouldn¡¯t be able to see the children at all!


    This was Lysander¡¯s doing!


    Was he trying to keep her from seeing her children?


    She had no recourse when he was being so ruthless.


    Thssa couldn¡¯t argue with the guard. It was pointless, and she would only end up embarrassing


    herself.


    Disheartened, she walked away.


    In the evening, she went to Royal Estates, only to be turned away again. She wanted to see Lysander,


    but the guard said he wasn¡¯t home.


    She couldn¡¯t see the kids, nor could she see Lysander.


    She didn¡¯t even have a chance to exin or appease him.


    Soon it was Friday.


    For four days straight, Thssa couldn¡¯t eat or sleep properly. Her heart was filled with worry for her


    children, and, despite numerous attempts, she couldn¡¯t get a hold of Lysander.


    Betty kept pressuring her about the contract.


    All she could say was that the executive was away on a business trip and would return in a few days.


    Betty wanted results by Monday.


    If she failed, not only would Betty lose Mr. Ethan¡¯s favor, but he might also be disappointed in her.


    Betty had designs on Ethan. This was her best chance to impress him.


    If she failed, she would surely me Thssa.


    =


    Thssa was physically and mentally drained. She barely had the energy to walk.


    After work, she returned home to find Evelyn absent. Then she remembered that her mother had a


    date today.


    She wondered how it went.


    As shezed on the couch, her phone rang.


    She picked up.


    The matchmaker¡¯s voice came through in a panic. ¡°You¡¯re Evelyn¡¯s daughter, right? You need toe


    over right away. Your mother and her date are fighting. It¡¯s pretty intense, and no one can break them


    apart.¡±


    ¡°What? I¡¯m on my way!¡± Thssa got up quickly and rushed out the door.

 Chapter 734

    Chapter 734


    Thssa hurried to the blind date venue.


    The matchmaker pulled her along, rushing towards the scene with haste.


    In the spacious coffee shop, tables and chairs were knocked down and scattered everywhere.


    Evelyn was arguing and struggling with a man, and her face was flushed with deep anger.


    ¡°You rotten scoundrel! You¡¯ve deceived me so many times, and here you are deceiving me again!¡±


    Evelyn¡¯s neck was stiff, and she was spitting as she spoke. She was so angry that her eyes were about


    to pop out.


    She held the man¡¯s cor with one hand and a chair with the other, looking as if she were about to hit


    him over the head with it.


    ¡°When did I ever deceive you? You were the one who was attracted to my profile and wanted to meet


    me.¡± The man defended himself.


    Thssa caught a glimpse of the man¡¯s face.


    It was Bruce.


    What was he doing here again?


    ¡°Was I attracted to your profile? You were the one who told the matchmaker that you were interested in


    my profile and requested an introduction! You used a fake name and hid your identity and photo all to


    deceive me!¡±


    Evelyn was so angry that she was breathing heavily. She furiously stared at him like a madman.


    ¡°I¡¯ve always been like this! It was you who was attracted to me, which means you still like me. Evelyn,


    we are destined to be together. You cannot deny it.¡± Bruce kept on persuading Evelyn, even though


    she was red in the face with anger.


    ¡°Shut up! What destiny do I have with you?! I¡¯d rather marry a monk than marry you in this lifetime!


    Cough up my introduction fee!¡± Evelyn gripped the chair tightly, threatening to hit him.


    N?velDrama.Org content.


    If he continued his sweet talk, she might really break his head.


    ¡°Evelyn, don¡¯t be so high and mighty. It doesn¡¯t suit you. You¡¯re the modest and graceful type. After all


    the twists and turns, we always end up together, and the fact that you picked my profile at first nce


    proves that you still can¡¯t forget me.¡± Bruce, looking sophisticated in his suit, tried to win her over


    with his charms.


    It was this handsome face and charming demeanor that had deceived countless women.


    Evelyn¡¯s heart ached. She didn¡¯t want to admit that she still had feelings for Bruce. She tried to forget


    him by meeting new people, hoping to erase himpletely from her heart.


    But the person she was meeting was still Bruce.


    Was it true that she was only attracted to his type?


    Why did she always fall into his trap?


    Evelyn became more and more agitated, and her anger turned into embarrassment. The more he read


    her mind, the more unbearable it was for her. She lifted the chair and swung it at Bruce.


    ¡°I¡¯ll kill you for ruining my lives!¡±


    Bruce raised his hand, urately catching the chair she had swung, and pushed her away angrily.


    ¡°You¡¯re bing more and more violent!¡±


    Evelyn was pushed back, causing her to stagger.


    All of this happened very quickly, in less than a minute.


    Thssa and the matchmaker were still on their way.


    ¡°Mom!¡± Thssa was shocked and rushed forward.


    Fortunately, she managed to catch Evelyn in time.


    Thssa red angrily at Bruce. ¡°Bruce, what the hell do you want? Why can¡¯t you leave my mom


    alone?¡±


    Thssa, you saw it just now. She wanted to hit me. I didn¡¯t do anything to her. The blind date was


    arranged by the dating site. We just happened to meet here because of fate.¡± Bruce defended himself


    innocently.


    ¡°Stop fooling people! I asked the matchmaker already. You¡¯ve been a member of the dating site for


    years! You¡¯ve met a lot of women, and you always end the rtionship after a while, using


    ipatibility as an excuse! This is clearly fraud! You¡¯re a married man, and you¡¯re using someone


    else¡¯s ID to register on a dating site?! How many women have you deceived?¡±


    Thssa stared at Bruce angrily. On the way here, she called to ask about the man who had the blind


    date with Evelyn.


    What kind of person could get into a fight with Evelyn?


    When she got the man¡¯s information and saw that it was Bruce, she instantly understood what was


    happening.

 Chapter 735

    Chapter 735


    ¡°What? He¡¯s been a member for years?!¡± Evelyn eximed. Her fingers trembled with indignation as


    she pointed at Bruce. ¡°So, the moment my profile hit the dating site, you set your sights on me?¡±


    He had the audacity to im that there was something special between them; he had the gall to say


    Property ? of N?velDrama.Org.


    that they were predestined?!


    It was all a calcted scheme. A deliberate ploy to deceive her.


    Bruce nonchntly straightened his shirt. ¡°Don¡¯t say it like that. You chose me; that¡¯s why we dated.


    Don¡¯t deny that you liked me, or how else could you have given birth to our daughter and raised her?


    We were happy together once, and you always asked me to¡­¡±


    ¡°Bruce!¡± Evelyn was humiliated. She shook with rage as tears streamed down her face.


    Was he trying to shame her in front of their daughter?


    Thssa was also shocked by Bruce¡¯s audacity. She was so angry that her chest was heaving. It was


    just too much.


    Caught off guard, Evelyn, on the verge of a meltdown, picked up a chair and hurled it at Bruce.


    The chair made of steel crashed onto Bruce¡¯s head with a loud ng.


    As the chair fell to the ground, Bruce immediately clutched his head and doubled over in pain as his


    face contorted into a grimace.


    Thssa was stunned; her breath nearly hitched.


    Everything happened too quickly. She couldn¡¯t stop it.


    Blood was steadily oozing from Bruce¡¯s head. It was flowing like a stream.


    This was serious.


    ¡°Oh, what do we do now?¡± Evelyn went pale. She became helpless as her rage gave way to fear at the


    sight of the severe injury.


    Thssa quickly snapped out of her stupor, fumbled with her phone, and dialed 911.


    The matchmaker called for help and took out a first aid box, using gauze to staunch Bruce¡¯s bleeding.


    But his blood was gushing out like a fountain. It was practically unstoppable.


    Everyone was pale and frightened. No one knew what to do.


    Soon, the ambnce arrived.


    Bruce was semi-conscious and needed someone to apany him. Thssa got into the ambnce,


    but Evelyn was too scared and weak to follow. Thssa asked the matchmaker to look after her


    mother, then left with the ambnce.


    In the ambnce, the paramedics managed to stop the bleeding.


    Once at the hospital, Bruce was rushed into the emergency room.


    Thssa waited outside as her heart pounded with worry. If anything happened to Bruce, it would be a


    big deal. Evelyn could even end up in jail.


    As she waited, filled with dread, the door to the emergency room swung open. The doctor came out


    and said urgently, ¡°The patient has lost a lot of blood and needs a transfusion. Are you a rtive?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m his daughter. You can take my blood.¡± Thssa said without hesitation.


    The patient is O-type. Only O-type blood can be transfused. Are you O-type?¡± The doctor asked.


    Thssa was taken aback. ¡°I¡¯m B-type.¡±


    She remembered that her mother was also an O-type..


    Two O-type parents couldn¡¯t possibly have a B-type child.


    It was as if a bomb had exploded in Thssa¡¯s mind. She froze on the spot.

 Chapter 736

    Chapter 736


    ¡°B-type isn¡¯t an option. Our blood bank has a small supply of O-type left. The hospital policy dictates


    that family members need to donate blood when a patient requires a transfusion.¡± The doctor stated,


    pulling Thssa out of her thoughts.


    Thssa nodded hastily.


    After signing the surgical consent form, she immediately set off to donate blood. The doctor,


    meanwhile, retreated into the operating room.


    12 2 2 2 2 = 5


    Having donated blood, Thssa returned to the waiting area outside the surgical suite.


    After about an hour, the operation room doors swung open. The doctor, masked and gloved, emerged.


    Thssa quickly approached him. ¡°How is he?¡±


    ¡°Stable. We managed to stop the bleeding in time, and there were no critical injuries. We¡¯ve put in a


    few stitches, so he¡¯s only got a minor concussion now. He¡¯ll need some time to rest and recover.¡± The


    doctor responded.


    Thssa¡¯s heart, which had been living in her throat, finally settled.


    No majorplications. That was good.


    Thssa apanied the doctor as they escorted Bruce to his room. Due to the anesthesia, Bruce


    was still unconscious.


    After locating his phone, Thssa used his hand to unlock the device, found his wife¡¯s contact, and


    ced a call.


    She informed her that Bruce was hospitalized and asked her toe immediately.


    Throughout the call, the woman on the other end kept questioning who she was. Thssa only told her


    that she was a nurse.


    After waiting for a while, Thssa saw a woman rushing out of the lift. Her hair was a frazzled mess as


    she headed straight for Bruce¡¯s room.


    That must be Bruce¡¯s wife.


    Thssa followed and watched from the doorway as the woman bent over Bruce with a mix of surprise


    and worry in her voice. ¡°Bruce, is that really you? What happened?¡±


    Seeing that it was indeed Bruce¡¯s wife, Thssa quietly left the hospital.


    After stepping out, she called the matchmaker to check on her mother¡¯s condition.


    The matchmaker informed her that her mother had gone home.


    Thssa immediately hailed a cab and went home.


    Her mother was seated on the living room couch, as her eyes portrayed a mix of terror and distress.


    After walking up to her, Evelyn turned her gaze towards Thssa. Upon seeing her daughter, her eyes


    widened slightly, and she asked in a shaky voice, ¡°How¡¯s Bruce? Did I¡­ did I kill him?¡±


    The question had Evelyn trembling with fear. Even her hands were shaking.


    Thssa quickly sat next to her and took her hands in her own. ¡°Bruce is okay. His wound has been


    stitched up, and he¡¯s got a minor concussion. He¡¯s not in any immediate danger.¡±


    ¡°Will he use me of assault? I didn¡¯t mean to hit him. I just lost my head¡­¡± Evelyn clutched


    Thssa¡¯s hand tighter as tears streamed down her face.


    ¡°Mom, try to stay calm.¡± Thssa squeezed her hand, trying to soothe her. ¡°You need to stay


    Evelyn nodded. Her face waspletely wet with tears. She regretted her actions and wondered why


    she hadn¡¯t held back from throwing that chair at Bruce. The thought of possible jail time was terrifying.


    The more she thought about the consequences, the more terrified she became.


    ¡°I understand; I won¡¯t lose control again. But Thssa, will he send me to jail?¡± Evelyn¡¯s fear was


    palpable.


    ¡°That¡¯s up to him. If he decides to press charges, I¡¯ll get you awyer. Don¡¯t worry too much. I doubt he


    will, as doing so would expose all his


    wrongdoings. He wouldn¡¯t risk it.¡± Thssa tried to reassure her mother.


    Bruce had deceived many women, many of whom were still in the dark.


    If Bruce were to file awsuit, his dirtyundry would be aired out in the open. That would spell trouble


    Property ? of N?velDrama.Org.


    for him.


    ¡°What about the medical bills?¡± Evelyn¡¯s voice trailed off.


    ¡°I¡¯ve taken care of the medical bills. Consider it aspensation. He pushed us to the wall, and I was


    just as furious as you were. Mom, is he really my father? Thssa stared intently at Evelyn. This was


    the second time she had asked this question.

 Chapter 737

    Chapter 737


    When she asked the first time, it was with resentment. She hoped, with all her heart, that Bruce was


    not her father.


    This time, she asked with determination. She was seeking the truth.


    Facing Thssa¡¯s serious gaze, Evelyn flickered her eyes and looked away.


    ¡°Why are you asking this again?¡± Evelyn was clearly trying to evade the question.


    ¡°At the hospital, Bruce lost a lot of blood and needed a transfusion. I offered mine, but the nurse said it


    couldn¡¯t be done after hearing my blood type was B.¡± Thssa exined.


    ¡°What¡¯s Bruce¡¯s blood type?¡± Evelyn¡¯s eyes, still filled with shock, were nowyered with anxiety.


    ¡°He¡¯s type-0. Mom, you¡¯re type-0 too, so why am I type B?¡± Thssa stared at Evelyn, scrutinizing her


    every facial twitch.


    Back when they lived in the countryside, the whole family had a medical check-up, so Thssa learned


    everyone¡¯s blood type. She clearly remembered Evelyn was type-0.


    Evelyn looked pale, and her gaze became even more evasive. ¡°You must have got it wrong. I should be


    type-B.¡±


    Thssa grabbed her shoulders, turning her around to face her. ¡°Mom, what are you hiding? Am I not


    Bruce¡¯s daughter? Then whose daughter am I?¡±


    N?velDrama.Org (C) content.


    ¡°No, you are his daughter.¡± Evelyn was insistent.


    ¡°Really? I had the doctor keep his blood sample. I can go to the hospital right now for a paternity test.¡±


    Evelyn immediately panicked and gripped Thssa¡¯s hand tightly. ¡°Don¡¯t go! Don¡¯t do the paternity


    test!¡±


    ¡°Then tell me what¡¯s going on!¡± Thssa sternly demanded.


    Evelyn¡¯s eyes welled up with tears. Her mind traveled back to over two decades ago.


    ¡°When I found out Bruce had betrayed me, I was heartbroken and went to a bar to drink my sorrows


    away. In a fit of revenge, I ended up sleeping with a stranger, and then you came along.¡±


    This was a secret Evelyn had intended to take to her grave. She didn¡¯t want Thssa to know that she


    was the result of a moment of recklessness. She didn¡¯t want Thssa to think that she was a child


    born out of nothing but revenge.


    Moreover, she didn¡¯t want Bruce to know. Deep down, she had never really gotten over Bruce, and she


    feared that he would hate her if he found out that.


    At least this way, it was Bruce who had wronged her, so he would feel guilty about leaving her.


    But she had underestimated the extent of Bruce¡¯s ruthlessness.


    Thssa was left speechless by Evelyn¡¯s confession.


    Her heart surged with a mix of emotions. She felt both astonishment and relief.


    She was not Bruce¡¯s daughter after all.


    Her breaths became shallow and rapid as her eyes filled with tears.


    Thssa, what¡¯s wrong?¡± After seeing her daughter¡¯s stunned expression and tear-filled eyes, Evelyn,


    thinking the news had deeply upset Thssa, asked with concern.


    Thssa snapped back to reality, feeling a surge of excitement she had never felt before. ¡°Mom, you


    should get some rest. I need to go out for a bit.¡±


    Before Evelyn could respond, Thssa rose to her feet. She moved quickly, even though she was


    trembling slightly as she moved.


    She was not Bruce¡¯s daughter.


    Lysander no longer had a reason to hate her andsh out at her.


    There was no longer a reason for her to be trapped by him.


    She needed to tell him the truth right now.


    She owed him nothing.

 Chapter 738

    Chapter 738


    Thssa darted out of her house and hailed a cab, directing the driver to Royal Estates.


    ¡°Sir, could you please hurry?¡± Thssa¡¯s heart was pounding with anxiety. She was eager to see


    Lysander and tell him that she wasn¡¯t Bruce¡¯s daughter and that he didn¡¯t need to keep her by his side


    as his emotional punching bag.


    She was ready to end their illicit affair.


    He had no right to keep her from seeing the kids.


    She had never felt such a longing to see him.


    Upon reaching the gates of Royal Estates, she was met by the same stoic guard.


    Thssa stated her intentions.


    The guard, emotionless as a mannequin, replied, ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Mr. Lysander isn¡¯t home. Ms. Everhart, you


    can¡¯t go in.¡±


    He wasn¡¯t home again, and she was barred from entry again!


    Thssa¡¯s anxiety escted.


    She couldn¡¯t wait another minute.


    She dialed Lysander¡¯s number again, but like before, there was no answer.


    Just as Thssa was about to lose her wits, her phone rang.


    It was Hertha.


    ¡°Thssa, guess who I just saw outside the Starhaven Hotel?¡± Hertha sounded very excited. She


    talked like she had just discovered something great.


    ¡°Who?¡± Thssa wasn¡¯t in the mood for games.


    ¡°Lysander!¡± Hertha eximed. ¡°He just walked into the Starhaven Hotel with a woman. I¡¯m certain I saw


    them.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m on my way!¡± Thssa responded hurriedly.


    After the call, she hailed a cab to the Starhaven Hotel.


    Hertha just gave her a lead to find the man she was scouring the city for.


    She reached the Starhaven Hotel with a pounding heart, where Hertha was waiting.


    ¡°He went into room 1008.¡± Hertha informed her. She had been staking out the hotel since she called


    Thssa.


    Thssa briskly walked into the hotel, with Hertha trailing behind her.


    They took the elevator to the 10th floor, where Thssa spotted two stern-looking bodyguards standing


    outside a room.


    That had to be Lysander¡¯s room. Only he would warrant such a show.


    As Thssa approached, the bodyguards blocked her way, making it clear that she wasn¡¯t allowed in.


    This content is ? N?velDrama.Org.


    Just as Thssa was about to speak, a woman¡¯s shriek echoed from the room. It sounded loud and


    lustful.


    Thssa¡¯s words were stuck in her throat as her face turned pale.


    She was no longer a naive girl. She knew exactly what those sounds indicated.


    The bodyguards remained expressionless. They were unfazed by the sounds.


    Hertha, however, was gaping in shock. Her eyes were as wide as saucers.


    2 2 2 2 2 2 2 8 2 2 2 2 2 2


    After ncing at the closed door and then at Thssa, she noticed Thssa¡¯s ashen.face. Her heart


    ached, and she rolled up her sleeves, ready to confront the bodyguards.


    Thssa quickly grabbed her arm. ¡°Hertha, don¡¯t rush in. Let¡¯s go.¡±


    ¡°What? You¡¯re leaving? Aren¡¯t you going to barge in and p that adulterous man?¡± Hertha was


    indignant on Thssa¡¯s behalf. Her chest was heaving heavily with anger.


    ¡°Let¡¯s go, Hertha. Don¡¯t cause a scene. Thssa held Hertha¡¯s hand and led her to the elevator. Her


    hand was trembling as she pressed the button for the ground floor.


    Realizing that her friend was pretending to be calm yet trembling too much to even press a button,


    Hertha lost all control. ¡°That Lysander is too much! How dare he be with another woman?!¡±

 Chapter 739

    Chapter 739


    She saw it with her own eyes. A woman, all smiles and clearly infatuated with him, entered the hotel


    with Lysander. The woman couldn¡¯t help but lean into him, even in front of a crowd.


    Then she heard that sound again. The reality of the situation was undeniable,


    Thssa remained silent. She managed to press the ground floor button in the elevator, her body


    swaying as it descended. Her heart felt like it was sinking too. It dropped into an abyss of pain.


    As the elevator came to a halt on the ground floor, so did Thssa¡¯s heart. It was a weighty sensation,


    This content is ? N?velDrama.Org.


    leaving her gasping for breath.


    She stepped out with her legs weak but her demeanor steady.


    I


    Hertha could see Thssa¡¯s distress but said nothing, fearing anything she said would only add to her


    pain. She followed Thssa out of the hotel in silent support.


    After stepping outside, the night breeze brushed against their skin.


    Despite it being summer, the wind felt cold against Thssa¡¯s face. It stung her like the winter chill.


    Instead of leaving, she sat on a marble bench near the hotel¡¯s entrance. Hertha joined her.


    Hertha knew she was hurting when she saw Thssa¡¯s pale face and her gaze fixed on the ground.


    She couldn¡¯t hold back her frustration. ¡°Thssa, we should¡¯ve stormed in there and confronted them.


    Why did we just leave without a word?¡±


    Lysander was just too reprehensible.


    He had four kids, and he was still fooling around?!


    ¡°And what would that achieve? By what right could we confront them?¡± Thssa¡¯s voice was frail. It


    was barely a whisper under the streetlights.


    Hertha paused, suddenly understanding Thssa¡¯s earlier plea for restraint.


    Thssa had told her that Lysander had never acknowledged her as his girlfriend, let alone his wife.


    To Lysander, she was merely a tool for revenge.


    Even if they had children together, what did that matter?


    In the realm of love and rtionships, not even children guaranteed stability.


    Thssa had no standing to confront Lysander, even if she saw him with another woman.


    Hertha felt great sympathy for Thssa. She couldn¡¯t do anything to help, other than be there for her.


    What could she do against Lysander¡¯s power and status? This was the most frustrating and infuriating


    part about all this.


    In hotel room 1008, Lysander lounged in a high-end wicker chair.


    David stood by his side, watching a woman and two men fighting on the bed in front of them.


    Long-legged Lysander, the epitome of rxed elegance, was smoking as his deep eyes watched the


    trio on the bed.


    It was Charlotte and the two men she¡¯d hired to kidnap Thssa.


    He had them fighting, promising freedom to the victor.


    These three had all been involved in Thssa¡¯s kidnapping, with the two men even nning on


    assaulting her.


    Lysander had only learned of this recently. ric was the one to inform him..


    They should be grateful they hadn¡¯t caused Thssa any serious harm.


    Otherwise, the consequences would have been much more severe.


    Given that Charlotte was a woman, she naturally couldn¡¯t handle the two muscr men. She was


    initially beaten up badly. She even got spanked until she made involuntary noises.


    Embarrassed, Charlotte came up with a n. She whispered promises to each man, offering herself to


    the one who could beat the other.


    Upon hearing this, the men started fighting each other, leaving each other battered and bruised. One


    even broke his hand.


    In a fit of rage, one man sat on the other¡¯s knee, breaking it with a sickening crack.

 Chapter 740

    Chapter 740


    Sharp as a tack, Charlotte rose from the bed with a satisfied smile ying on her lips as she watched


    the two men lying defeated on the floor.


    She had emerged as the victor.


    Lysander had orchestrated this brutal showdown. He let them thrash each other while he stood by,


    observing the chaos.


    Charlotte had adopted the same strategy, letting the two men fight while she secured her victory from a


    safe distance.


    Her eyes fell on the two men sprawled on the bed, who were writhing in pain. The sight gave her


    immense satisfaction. Lysander¡¯s method had indeed worked wonders. She didn¡¯t even have to lift a


    finger to put them in their ce.


    These men were now either crippled or severely injured. It would take them months to recover, and


    even then, there was no clear winner.


    The promises she had made to them earlier were now meaningless.


    Charlotte gingerly touched her bruised cheek, a painful reminder of the brawl she was just in. She


    approached Lysander as her voice shook with fear. Lysander, I won. Can you let me go now?¡±


    Lysander¡¯s icy gaze swept over her.


    Charlotte crumpled to her knees as tears began streaming down her face. ¡°Lysander, I won¡¯t do it


    again. I won¡¯t conspire against Thssa anymore. Please spare me.¡±


    Earlier today, when Lysander had invited her to the Starhaven Hotel, she naively thought that he had


    developed an interest in her after watching the video she had sent him. She thought he had finally


    chosen her over Thssa.


    She gleefully apanied him to the hotel, only to find those two burly men in the room. They were


    the men she had hired to kidnap Thssa.


    N?velDrama.Org content.


    Lysander put out his cigarette in the ashtray and nced down at the sobbing Charlotte at his feet. ¡°I¡¯m


    a man of my word. Whoever wins goes free. Cross paths with me again, and you¡¯ll end up like them.¡±


    With that, he stood up and walked out of the room, with David following close behind;


    The oppressive atmosphere lightened as they left, and Charlotte copsed on the floor, feeling


    relieved.


    As Lysander entered the elevator, nked by bodyguards, one of them informed him of the recent


    visitor. ¡°Lysander, Ms. Everhart stopped by to see you earlier. But she left when she heard the


    Lysander¡¯s eyes darkened when he heard this. The bodyguard quickly lowered his gaze, nervously


    adding, ¡°I¡¯ll exin everything to Ms. Everhart right away, sir.¡±


    ¡°What will you exin?¡± Lysander asked, his voice cold.


    ¡°That you were not with a woman in the room.¡± The bodyguard¡¯s voice trailed off as he noticed


    Lysander¡¯s icy gaze.


    He stopped mid-sentence, unsure if he should continue.


    Meanwhile, Thssa had been sitting outside the hotel, trying to regain herposure. ¡°Did you get a


    good look at the woman?¡± She asked Heather.


    ¡°Yes, I did. I even managed to snap a photo.¡± Hertha quickly showed Thssa the photo on her


    phone.


    Even from the back, Thssa recognized the woman walking closely beside Lysander.


    It was Charlotte.


    Today, Lysander came to this hotel with Charlotte.


    Remembering the sounds from the room, Thssa¡¯s heart sank further. She had to ept a harsh


    reality.


    Charlotte was right. No matter how many women Lysander dated now, in the end, he would marry


    Charlotte.


    Thssa¡¯s eyes filled with sadness as she stared at the photo.


    ¡°Stop torturing yourself over this.¡± Hertha advised. ¡°You should just break up with Lysander. Let him


    chase other women. He has no right to stop you from finding your own happiness.¡±

 Chapter 741

    Chapter 741


    After seeing Thssa¡¯s spirits fall, Hertha quickly put her phone away, indignantly making a point of


    defending her friend.


    It wasn¡¯t fair. Why should Lysander be able to see other women while expecting Thssa to remain


    chaste for him?


    ¡°Who is your happiness?¡± A deep, intimidating male voice echoed, cutting through the vibrant nightlife.


    Its chilling tone instilled fear in all those who heard


    1.


    Thssa looked towards the voice, spotting a man striding towards them with an imposing figure


    highlighted by the neon lights. His icy demeanor felt like it lowered the temp¨¦rature around them to


    near-pr levels.


    Lysander had arrived.


    Thssa¡¯s heart instinctively clenched.


    Hertha, who had just been full of righteous indignation, seemed to falter at the sight of Lysander.


    She stood, intending to protect Thssa, but as Lysander¡¯s looming figure drew nearer, she


    unconsciously took a step back as her resolve wavered. ¡°Stay away! We don¡¯t want anything to do with


    you.¡±


    Lysander brushed past her without even a nce, making a beeline for Thssa. He took her hand,


    pulling her up from the rock they had been sitting on. His gaze was piercing as he stared at her. ¡°Who


    are you looking for? Who is your happiness?¡±


    His alluring eyes were filled with rage, and his handsome face was taut.


    Thssa, who had been so desperate to find him, was suddenly calm.


    She turned her face away, avoiding his touch. She found her courage, no longer caring about his


    potential anger.


    ¡°It¡¯s certainly not you!¡± Thssa snapped. ¡°Hertha was right. If you want to see other women, I won¡¯t


    stop you. But you can¡¯t stop me from finding someone I like¡­ Ah!¡±


    Before she could finish her sentence, Lysander¡¯s strong arms wrapped around her waist, pulling her


    against his muscr body.


    ¡°Watch me stop you!¡± Lysander¡¯s eyes were cold as he hoisted her onto his shoulder and headed


    towards the hotel.


    ¡°Lysander, let me go!¡± Thssa beat against his back, kicking and struggling.


    Her efforts, however, were futile against Lysander¡¯s superior strength.


    ¡°Thssa!¡± Hertha, upon seeing her friend being carried away, tried to follow them, but David stepped


    in her way.


    ¡°Ms. Kensington, it¡¯s a lovely night. How about I treat you to a cup of coffee?¡± David suggested while


    This content is ? N?velDrama.Org.


    maintaining a professional smile.


    ¡°Who¡¯s in the mood for coffee right now? David, get out of my way!¡± Hertha tried to push past him.


    David didn¡¯t budge. ¡°Ms. Kensington, if you¡¯re not in the mood for coffee, perhaps we shouldn¡¯t disturb


    Ms. Everhart and Mr. Sinir.¡±


    ¡°Do they look like they¡¯re going for coffee?¡± Hertha scoffed at him.


    David simply smiled. His silence said more than any words could.


    Realizing what he was implying, Hertha huffed. ¡°Fine, I want the most expensive coffee. You¡¯re paying


    whether you like it or not.¡±


    With that, she stormed off towards a nearby caf¨¦ as David trailed behind her.


    Lysander kicked open the door to his hotel room, tossing Thssa onto the bed.


    The moment shended, she tried to get up, but Lysander¡¯s arms trapped her beneath him.


    Tell me, who is your happiness?¡± Lysander¡¯s cold voice demanded an answer as his frosty breath


    brushed against her cheek.


    ¡°It¡¯s not you¡­mmph!¡± Thssa was cut off by a dominating kiss.

 Chapter 742

    Chapter 742


    Lysander¡¯s kiss was assertive. It was a tant act of dominance.


    Thssa¡¯s pupils dted as her anxious breaths became tangled in his powerful aura. Her heart


    thumped so loudly that she thought it might burst.


    Her hands pushed against his chest, but he had her pinned beneath him. No matter how much strength


    she used, she couldn¡¯t move him. His kiss only deepened as he parted her lips in conquest.


    Hisrge hand pressed against her back as if he wished to crumble her into pieces.


    Thssa¡¯s soft body was pressed tightly against his. Her breath came in short gasps as her cheeks


    flushed red.


    Her panic escted, and she bit down hard.


    She could feel his handsome face twitch against hers. Soon, a muffled groan escaped his lips.


    Immediately, her mouth filled with a metallic taste.


    Lysander released her. Even though he had just kissed her so passionately, there wasn¡¯t a trace of true


    emotion behind it.


    He licked the corner of his lips as an ice-cold expression adorned his handsome face.


    Thssa was horrified. She noticed the blood on his lips, making him look like a wild beast fresh from a


    kill, with the remnants of its prey still smeared on its lips.


    He savored the taste and casually licked his lips again.


    His wild, dangerous, and strikingly masculine demeanor was intimidating yet attractive.


    Thssa¡¯s heart skipped a beat, and her hands braced against the bed as she tried to escape from


    under him.


    Her breaths were ragged, and her eyes were wary and angry as she red at him. ¡°Don¡¯t dare kiss me


    with the same mouth you¡¯ve kissed other women with!¡±


    He had just been with another woman, and now he dared to touch her?!


    Her inner sense of disgust rose to the surface.


    Even though there was no love between her and Lysander, she couldn¡¯t ept him touching other


    women.


    She had a form of emotional germophobia. If she knew a man had been with another woman, no


    N?velDrama.Org (C) content.


    matter how good he was, she didn¡¯t want him, and her body would reject him.


    Just like five years ago when she found out Leopold had been with Isabe, she¡¯d rather break up than


    ept it.


    Lysander nonchntly wiped his lips. His actions oozed danger.


    His deep eyes stared at her, watching her chest rise and fall rapidly. Her eyes, filled with caution and


    anger, stared back at him. Her rosy lips were still wet, remnants of their heated kiss.


    His gaze darkened, and his deep voice, filled with cold dominance, rang out. ¡°Don¡¯t want the kids


    anymore?¡±


    Thssa¡¯s breath hitched. All her defiance and courage were shattered in an instant.


    Her heart clenched, and her hands gripped the sheets tightly. ¡°Who are you to keep me from my


    children? I want to sever all ties with you! You have no right to keep me from my children; I¡¯m their


    mother, and even thew grants me visitation rights!¡±


    ¡°On what grounds? Without my permission, you wouldn¡¯t see them even if you tried!¡± Lysander


    unbuttoned his shirt. Even his casual actions radiated danger.


    She wanted to sever ties with him? How naive!


    Thssa¡¯s heart pounded erratically as she watched his seemingly casual but dangerous actions.


    Discussing thew with Lysander was like talking to a brick wall.


    He was the king of Starhaven¡¯s power circle. If he didn¡¯t want her to see her kids, she wouldn¡¯t be able


    to, no matter what she did.


    ¡°If I tell you something, will you let me go?¡± She wasn¡¯t the daughter of the man he despised, so he had


    no reason to hate her.


    She hade to him to tell him this.


    ¡°You¡¯ll never find your happiness in your life. You¡¯re mine, and nothing can change that, understand?¡±


    He leisurely removed his shirt, revealing a muscr chest and his eight-pack abs.


    His words were domineering and left no room for discussion. They blocked all of Thssa¡¯s escape


    routes.

 Chapter 743

    Chapter 743


    Thssa¡¯s pupils dted in shock; her heart also stopped for a moment.


    What did he mean? Even if she told him she wasn¡¯t the daughter of Bruce, that infamous businessman,


    Property ? of N?velDrama.Org.


    he would still not let her go. Why?


    So, she, herself, was the only reason that he wanted to keep her by his side?


    Lysander¡¯s muscr body loomed over her as she was lost in thoughts.


    Thssa panicked; her back pressed against the headboard as she tried to push him away.


    Her hands met his solid chest, which was full of raw strength. His skin was hot. The heat seeped from


    her palms straight into her heart.


    Thssa¡¯s heart trembled. A tingling sensation spread through her entire body.


    Lysander brought his face closer to her profile. She quivered as his hot, masculine breath puffed


    against her delicate earlobe.


    ¡°Just wait and see if I¡¯ve been with other women,¡± he said as he bit her earlobe as a punishment.


    Thssa¡¯s body recoiled instinctively, a shiver running from her head to toe.


    A satisfied smirk tugged at the corners of Lysander¡¯s mouth while his seductive words were echoing in


    her ears, ¡°You¡¯re inviting me¡­¡±


    ¡°I didn¡¯t¡­¡± Thssa was about to deny it as she thought better of it. To infuriate him would only bring


    about worse consequences; she might not even get to see her kids.


    It would be better to appease him and to make him happy. She might have it easier this way.


    ¡°I can¡¯t help it. You¡¯ve seen right through me,¡± Thssa admitted, her voice soft and vulnerable.


    Lysander¡¯s body jolted; his pupils dted.


    What Thssa said made him feel so good.


    Her words implied that her body was honest with him, that she couldn¡¯t deny it.


    Lysander¡¯s kiss started off as domineering but quickly turned frantic.


    In the midst of it all, a cup on the bedside table fell and shattered on the floor.


    When Thssa woke up again, it was already the following afternoon.


    She lifted her hand to shield her eyes from the blinding light. Her arm was sore and aching. Her entire


    body felt like it was falling apart.


    ¡°You¡¯re awake? Get up and have something to eat, a deep, pleasant male voice sounded from beside


    the bed.


    Thssa slowly turned her head to see Lysander, immacte in his tailored ck suit, seated by her


    bedside.


    He looked as refined and distinguished as always; his chiseled face untouched by thest night¡¯s


    intemperance.


    But only she knew how wild he had beenst night when his stamina was unparalleled.


    He didn¡¯t look like one who had just been with another woman. Or how could he still have so much


    energy?


    Thssa tried to sit up, but the pain in her back prevented her from doing so.


    She winced at the pain as she attempted to force herself up.


    A strong arm wrapped around her waist, arge hand gripping her side. His rough palm, calloused and


    dry, held her soft, silk-like waist.


    He gently helped her sit up.


    His touch ignited a spark in Thssa, causing her body to stiffen involuntarily.


    As Lysander noticed her reaction, his eyes darkened and he changed the way he looked at her.


    Thssa met his gaze and quickly said in rm, ¡°Let go of me. I can do it myself.¡±

 Chapter 744

    Chapter 744


    She abruptly realized that she waspletely naked, while he was fully clothed..


    Their situation was as stark as a ss distinction, one high and mighty, leisurely and calm, looking


    down upon everything.


    The other was in a state of panic, lowly and defenseless, easily crushed underfoot.


    Thssa pushed his hand away and hastily pulled the sheets to cover herself.


    Lysander¡¯s gaze flickered over her back, smooth as satin, marred by the varying shades of love bites.


    His gaze subtly glimmered and deepened into a darker shade.


    But he retracted his hand, reaching for a bag on the bedside table and ced it on the bed, ¡°Get


    dressed ande eat.¡±


    With that, he rose and walked over to the small dining table in the room; his gaze remained fixated on


    her.


    Thssa felt ufortable under his oppressive stare; she spoke softly, ¡°Can you turn around,


    please?¡±


    ¡°Is there a part of you I haven¡¯t seen? Why cover up?¡± Lysander retorted.


    Thssa bit her lips.


    She felt a rush of heat which was unbearably hot.


    Perhaps out of indignation, she shot him a nce and retorted, ¡°I¡¯ve seen you naked too. Why don¡¯t


    you let me watch when you get dressed?¡±


    This content is ? N?velDrama.Org.


    How was that the same?


    Lysander replied seriously, ¡°Are you sure you want to see?¡±


    Thssa was taken aback as she quickly said, ¡°I¡¯m not sure¡­ I don¡¯t want to see!¡±


    She was certain that if she had agreed, he would have disrobed on the spot and put on a show of


    dressing up again, in an attempt to level the ying


    field.


    What was important was that he was willing to do it.


    But she wasn¡¯t prepared to see that.


    She had merely spoken out of irritation.


    Every time she showed him a bit of anger or retorted at him, she was the one who ended up losing.


    Unfortunately, she could never seem to control her temper because it was always so frustrating.


    Even though he was the bully, she was the one who had to endure every time and bit her tongue.


    She was a human with feelings as well. And there were times when she couldn¡¯t take it anymore.


    Lysander didn¡¯t shift his gaze but Thssa didn¡¯t dare to say anything else. Was she really going to


    make him undress and get dressed again right in front of her?


    She didn¡¯t want that at all!


    Swallowing her difort, she picked up the clothes and began dressing.


    She could feel his simmering and intense gaze on her.


    It made her back feel as if it was on fire.


    is ¦Ò = F  n 3


    Thssa held her breath and sped up to get herself dressed.


    Once down from the bed, her legs buckled and she nearly pitched on her head. Nevertheless, she


    managed to steady herself on the bed.


    She gritted her teeth in resentment. Lysander was so ruthlessst night that he had nearly killed her.


    Just as she was in a dilemma, Lysander¡¯s towering figure moved towards her and supported her body.


    ¡°I need to freshen up first. Thssa didn¡¯t bother being polite and using him as a crutch.


    Lysander helped her to the washroom, and once she was done, he helped her back to the dining table.


    Thssa hadn¡¯t eaten sincest night, and the sight of the spread of food on the table made her


    stomach grumble.


    She quickly covered her stomach and shot an embarrassed nce at Lysander.


    Lysander was nonchnt, ¡°Sit down and eat.¡±


    She had exerted a lot of energyst night and had skipped breakfast and lunch. It was normal for her to


    be hungry.


    Thssa sat down and picked up a pastry to satiate her hunger.

 Chapter 745

    Chapter 745


    Lysander was working on the tail of arge Maine lobster, busily wrestling it from its shell,


    Thssa paid him no mind,pletely engrossed in her own meal.


    In a short while, Lysander had extracted the sulent tail meat, dipped it in cocktail sauce, and ced


    it in her te. ¡°Eat it fast, or it won¡¯t be as tender,¡± he advised.


    Thssa looked at Lysander, astonished and taken aback.


    He had shelled the lobster for HER.


    She was about to thank him when she remembered that he seemed not to like hearing her say thanks,


    so she bit her tongue.


    Then she began to eat the lobster while asking, ¡°What were you doing with Charlotte in the room


    yesterday?¡±


    Considering his energy level yesterday, it didn¡¯t seem like he¡¯d been with another woman. But she had


    literally heard a woman¡¯s moans from his room.


    It made her blush even as a woman herself.


    ¡°Just getting back at her for you,¡± Lysander replied casually as he cut into his steak.


    Thssa looked at him, not understanding at first. But then it clicked. Charlotte had hired two men to


    vite her; Lysander had found out and was punishing Charlotte.


    ¡°So what exactly happened in the room?¡± Thssa inquired.


    What did getting back at Charlotte have to do with the noises she had made?


    ¡°The two men from before were there too,¡± Lysander replied as he sent a piece of steak into his mouth


    and chewed leisurely.


    Thssa¡¯s eyes widened in surprise.


    So Charlotte had made those noises because Lysander had let those two men have their way with her


    while he watched?


    The thought sent a shiver down her spine.


    Rich people really had their way around it. She thought.


    ¡°What are you thinking about?¡± Lysander asked, his voice soft but prating.


    Thssa quickly shook her head, ¡°Nothing. I¡¯m not thinking about anything.¡±


    She returned to her lobster and dug in.


    Her mind was spinning with thoughts about Lysander¡¯s ruthless tactics while eating.


    After all, Charlotte was his fianc¨¦e. How could he bear to watch her be vited by other men?


    However, Thssa was grateful to him for standing up for her after learning about Charlotte¡¯s


    kidnapping n.


    As she ate, she was formting how to tell Lysander that Bruce was not her father and that there was


    no feud between them.¡±


    In which case he didn¡¯t have to hate her.


    ¡°Umm¡­¡±


    ¡°Leopold¡­¡±


    Just as she had gathered her courage to tell Lysander the truth, he spoke up too. They both paused,


    and Thssa said, ¡°You go first.¡±


    ¡°Leopold told me that he saw you being controlled by two men at the hotel when he and Debby were


    there. He went to the room to save you,¡± Lysander said, referring to a message Leopold had sent him.


    That¡¯s when he realized that the video Charlotte had sent was meant to drive a wedge between them.


    She was the puppet master.


    ¡°Right, that¡¯s what happened. I¡¯ve tried to exin it a few times, but you wouldn¡¯t give me a chance,¡±


    Thssa replied. She had tried to call him, but he didn¡¯t answer.


    ¡°That doesn¡¯t make it okay for you to say you love him and can¡¯t get him!¡± Lysander snapped, his


    handsome face dark and tense with anger.


    ¡°You should know your ce!¡± He added.


    ¡°What is my ce then? His aunt maybe?¡± Thssa asked.


    In your dreams, Lysander retorted with an aloof tone.


    His words hit her like a bucket of ice-cold water. Thssa asked, ¡°If I¡¯m not Bruce¡¯s daughter, would


    you let me go or would you let me be Leopold¡¯s


    aunt?¡±


    This content is ? N?velDrama.Org.


    ¡°Even if you aren¡¯t Bruce¡¯s daughter, you will still just be mine. Don¡¯t you dare dream of marrying into


    the Sinir family, got it?¡± Lysander stated clearly Thssa¡¯s hopeful heart sank into deeper abyss.


    She felt as if she were being suffocated. Her hand holding the fork was jabbing at the lobster in her


    te without rhythm. I understand¡­ she thurmured.

 Chapter 746

    Chapter 746


    ¡°What were you about to say?¡± Lysander asked.


    ¡°Nothing, just that the lobster is very fresh,¡± Thssa responded without looking up; her expression


    Property ? of N?velDrama.Org.


    was slightly crestfallen.


    She had a burning desire to tell Lysander the truth that she wasn¡¯t the daughter of Bruce.


    She thought that by telling him, she could escape his control, stop being by his side, and end this


    shady rtionship.


    She was too naive.


    She underestimated Lysander¡¯s possessiveness. As long as he found her intriguing, she wouldn¡¯t be


    able to escape his side.


    And he certainly wouldn¡¯t marry her as well.


    She and Lysander were worlds apart. Just like Zephyr said, she, a woman from a humble background,


    wasn¡¯t even worthy of entering the Sinir family¡¯s


    door.


    Her dream of giving her four kids aplete home was nothing but a fantasy.


    So, why bother telling Lysander that Bruce wasn¡¯t her father?


    She might as well not say anything. In that case, at least he would despise her out of spite, feel irritated


    at the sight of her, and stop keeping her around when Lysander grew tired of her.


    ¡°Better eat up; the lobster is getting cold,¡± Lysander urged in a deep voice.


    His deep-set gaze was fixated on her. They were still icy although devoid of anger.


    Bing Leopold¡¯s aunt? Was that her excuse to get close to Leopold?


    She even didn¡¯t care what role she had to y as long as she could get closer to Leopold. He thought.


    How could he let her flirt with Leopold under the disguise of the identity of his aunt?


    What did she think of him? A wire that connected her and her tenuously linked lover, Leopold?


    Could it be possible?


    Thssa pushed down the difort in her heart and started devouring the lobster. She needed to


    regain her strength.


    She quickly finished most of the food on the table.


    Setting down her fork, she said, ¡°Can I go to Royal Estates to see the kids now?¡±


    ¡°Feeling steady?¡± Lysander asked.


    Thssa¡¯s face flushed as he just cast a single gaze at her. She gave him a reproachful look, ¡°That¡¯s


    all your fault.¡±


    ¡°You never learn from your mistakes. Dare to do it again?¡± Lysander grabbed a napkin and casually


    wiped his mouth.


    His voice was low and authoritative.


    Thssa said, ¡°Whatever I do is wrong, whatever you say is right.¡±


    She had given up resisting. Resistance would only result in harsher punishment.


    Why make things hard for herself?


    ¡°You¡¯ll still forget the lesson next time,¡± Lysander said as he stood up and moved behind her.


    His tall, imposing figure instantly enveloped Thssa; his oppressive presence made her hold her


    breath.


    ¡°What are you doing?¡± she asked nervously. The next second, she felt something cold around her


    neck.


    She looked down to see a tinum ne hanging around her neck. The pendant was the familiar


    cloud shape surrounded by diamonds.


    This ne was the one Lysander had given her before.


    She had left it at her old rental when she ran away with the kids and had forgotten about it.


    It had ended up back in Lysander¡¯s hands. He must have found it when he tracked her down and took it


    from the house.


    ¡°Why are you giving me this again?¡± Thssa asked, resistant because she knew the ne had a


    tracking device.

 Chapter 747

    Chapter 747


    This meant that no matter where she went, she would be under Lysander¡¯s surveince.


    ¡°Compensating for yourck of caution.¡± Lysander secured the ne around her neck before


    retreating back to his original position. His deep-set eyes were fixed on her.


    Thssa was speechless.


    Instead of openly admitting he wanted to monitor her, he framed it aspensating for herck of


    caution.


    ¡°Are you calling me dumb?¡± Thssa red at him, less than pleased.


    Lysander remained silent; his expression was nomittal.


    She had been literally kidnapped by Charlotte in the broad daylight outside the towering skyscraper of


    the Crawley Group.


    ¡°She hired two burly men and they forced me into a car. What could I have done?¡± Thssa snapped.


    She knew Lysander was referring to the incident where she was kidnapped by Charlotte and almost fell


    prey to a sinister plot.


    What could she, a woman, do against two muscr men?


    ¡°Therefore, you need this ne.¡± Lysander¡¯s deep eyes were calm, his demeanor collected.


    Thssa froze. Was he implying that he would be there in time if she was ever in danger?


    But why? Didn¡¯t he despise her?


    ¡°You better remember that every inch of you belongs to me. Only I can touch you. If anyone elseys a


    finger on you, it won¡¯t just be you who suffers, but them as well.¡± Lysander¡¯s handsome face was stern,


    his deration absolute.


    The tiny spark of hope that had ignited in Thssa¡¯s eyes was instantly extinguished by his words.


    So his possessiveness acted up only because she¡¯s his woman. That was why he woulde to her


    rescue when she was in danger. Nothing more.


    ¡°Let¡¯s go home. The kids will be going to sleep soon.¡± Thssa stood up; her legs were still somewhat


    wobbly, but she forced herself to stay steady and take one step at a time towards the exit.


    ¡°Ah!¡± Suddenly, she was lifted into the air.


    Thssa instinctively wrapped her arms around his neck. His chiseled face was inches from hers, and


    she could smell the faint scent of sandalwood mixed with a hint of mint tobo.


    This was the scent that filled her lungs every time they had a heated moment. Now, just the smell alone


    could make her breath hitch and her heart race.


    Her body had truly been etched by the seal of his domineering nature. Her reactions to him were no


    longer within her control.


    Lysander strode towards the car and cradled Thssa in his arms. He ced her in the car before


    sliding into the driver¡¯s seat and driving off.


    Thssa stared out the window. She was trying her best to ignore the oppressive atmosphere in the


    car by watching the retreating hustle and bustle


    outside.


    Soon, the car pulled up in the driveway of the Royal Estates.


    Before Lysander could get out of the car, Thssa quickly pushed the door open and stepped out, not


    wanting to endure another awkward moment of Lysander lifting her.


    Perhaps it was the excitement and anticipation of seeing the kids that quickened her pace. She paid no


    mind to the soreness in her thighs; she could just move freely as long as she ignored the feeling itself.


    Inside the grand hall of the Royal Estates, the four kids were clinging onto Fitch.


    Elowen was tugging at Fitch¡¯s sleeve and on the verge of tears, ¡°Fitch, please take us to Mommy. I


    haven¡¯t seen her in so long. I miss her.¡±


    ¡°Fitch, you¡¯re the best.¡± Dorian held onto Fitch¡¯s hand; his little face tilted upwards as he tried to butter


    him up.


    ¡°Fitch¡­¡± Sophia¡¯s big eyes shimmered with tears as her frail voice rang out.


    ¡°Fitch, if you take us to Mommy, I¡¯ll talk to Daddy about giving you a raise.¡± Atticus, despite his young


    age, had already mastered the art of negotiation.


    The little ones had been restless these past few days, constantly asking for their mother as soon as


    they got home from school.


    Lysander hadn¡¯t been home either. So Fitch was left at home to deal with everything.


    Looking at the adorable children surrounding him and begging to see their mother, Fitch felt both


    helpless and heartbroken.


    N?velDrama.Org content.


    ¡°Young masters and youngdies, I¡¯ll try to talk to Lysander when he gets back.¡± Fitch said.


    It was a pity that the kids had to suffer due to the adults¡¯ conflicts.


    ¡°Sweeties, Mommy¡¯s here.¡± Thssa, witnessing the scene within the house, felt her eyes well up with


    tears. She could no longer suppress her longing for her kids.

 Chapter 748

    Chapter 748


    As soon as Thssa appeared in the doorway, four pairs of innocent and ebony eyes turned to look at


    her simultaneously. Seeing their mother, their eyes lit up like the night sky filled with stars.


    The expressions of sadness that had haunted their faces just moments before were instantly reced


    by excitement.


    ¡°Mommy!¡±


    ¡°Mommy!¡±


    ¡°Mommy!¡±


    ¡°Mommy!¡±


    The little ones let go of Fitch and dashed towards Thssa; they ran like baby penguins as their


    chubby legs moved fast.


    Thssa crouched down, arms outstretched, ready to wee her little cherubs.


    Sophia ran a little too fast that she tripped over her own feet and fell t on her face, sliding a few feet


    forward on the polished marble floor. ¡°Sophia!¡± Thssa¡¯s heart clenched with worry.


    This content is ? N?velDrama.Org.


    ¡°Miss!¡± Fitch called out in concern as well.


    Without waiting for the adults to react, Sophia pushed herself back up onto her feet as agile as a


    gymnast and continued her sprint towards Thssa. The other three tots reached Thssa first and


    piled in her arms. Thssa, already weak at the knees, was nearly bowled over and pitched down to


    the floor by their enthusiastic swoop.


    But a strong arm wrapped around her from behind and steadied her.


    She didn¡¯t need to turn around to know who it was. The familiar warmth and strength were


    unmistakably Lysander¡¯s.


    Thssa¡¯s racing heart slowed as she gathered the three little ones in her arms.


    Sophia was a step behind the others and found no room left in Thssa¡¯s embrace. She stood there,


    looking lost for a moment, before spotting a small gap and squeezing herself into Thssa¡¯s arms.


    Holding two of her kids in each arm, Thssa couldn¡¯t hide her wistful thinking. She nted a kiss on


    Elowen¡¯s chubby cheek, then one on Sophia, followed by Dorian and Atticus.


    Their cheeks were soft and squishy, smelling sweetly of milk. Thssa¡¯s heart swelled with affection.


    ¡°Mommy, why haven¡¯t youe to see us for so long? I missed you so much I couldn¡¯t eat,¡± Elowen


    pouted, voicing her grievances.


    ¡°Oh, my poor little Elowen, you are losing weight these days. I¡¯m so sorry that I stayed away for so


    long. Mommy needs to work, but how about I take you


    to Grandma¡¯s ce tomorrow?¡± Thssa¡¯s heart filled with warmth as she gently pinched Elowen¡¯s


    rosy cheek.


    ¡°Yes, yes, I miss Grandma so much,¡± Elowen danced with joy.


    ¡°Me too, I miss Grandma, Dorian nodded in agreement.


    ¡°Me too, chimed in Atticus.


    ¡°I want to stay with Grandma!¡± Sophia¡¯s eyes welled up with tears.


    Thssa felt a pang of guilt and helplessness. She looked at Lysander for approval.


    She hadn¡¯t mentioned her n of taking the kids to their grandmother¡¯s ce to Lysander before. Now


    she was bringing it up to the kids so abruptly and worrying about Lysander¡¯s refusal.


    Lysander caught her apprehensive gaze and said, ¡°We¡¯ll discuss tomorrow¡¯s ns when tomorrow


    He then turned to Fitch, ¡°Have they had dinner?¡±


    ¡°They just finished not long ago. I will arrange for two more servings right away,¡± Fitch responded,


    about to hurry off to the kitchen when Lysander stopped him.


    ¡°No need, take them for a bath; it¡¯s time they went to bed,¡± Lysander instructed.


    ¡°Understood, Fitch nodded, summoning the maids to take the children to the bath.


    Thssa caught Lysander¡¯s deep-set gaze. Her heart skipped a beat as she quickly averted her eyes,


    ¡®Elowen, Sophia, let Mommy help you with your bath.


    She then quickly followed the kids towards the bathroom.


    Being alone with Lysander was dangerous; his mere look was enough to unsettle her.

 Chapter 749

    Chapter 749


    ¡°Look Mommy, there are so many bubbles. It¡¯s so much fun!¡± Elowen, with her chubby cheeks, was


    covered in bubbles from the bath foam. Her little hands were busy popping the bubbles as her tiny lips


    blew them around.


    ¡®Me too, Mommy! Will you help me blow some bubbles?¡± Sophia asked as her face lit up with a


    carefree smile, which was something that rarely happened.


    She too had a handful of bubbles, ready to be blown away. The two kids sat in the bathtub while


    sshing around with sheer delight.


    Thssa smiled at them; her eyes were filled with maternal love. She felt at peace when she was with


    her kids.


    ¡°Sure, sweetheart, Mommy will help you blow the bubbles.¡± She leaned in pursing her lips, and blew


    away the bubbles from Sophia¡¯s hand..


    The bubbles flew andnded on Elowen¡¯s face, melting like snowkes on her soft, childish skin.


    ¡°Ha-ha-ha, it¡¯s so much fun, Mommy. I want you to blow mine too!¡± Elowen¡¯sughter chimed like a bell.


    Not caring about the bubbles that hadnded on her face, she looked simply ecstatic.


    Her little hands held a handful of bubbles and waited for Thssa to blow them away.


    Thssa puckered up again, blowing away the bubbles from Elowen¡¯s hands.


    Elowen¡¯sughter became more joyous and sweeter. Sophia joined in theughter too.


    Fitch stood near the sofa in the living room and listened to the kids¡¯ughter. His heart melted as he


    sighed, ¡°While Lysander and Mrs. Everhart were away, the kids seemed so down and barely ate. But


    Mrs. Everhart¡¯s return has brought life back into our home. It makes a difference when their mother is


    around¡­¡±


    Before he could finish, he felt a stern gaze upon him. He turned to find Lysander¡¯s deep eyes fixed on


    him.


    Fitch straightened up immediately and quickly added, ¡°Of course, their father¡¯s presence is important


    too. The kids missed you as well and they need their father¡¯spany.¡±


    Lysander¡¯s gaze softened, and he turned his attention towards the bathroom.


    Was that so? He thought.


    He had arrived home almost at the same time as Thssa, yet the kids only had eyes for their mother.


    Not once had they called out for him. Perhaps it was because Thssa had been with them more.


    Those missing four years ofpanionship were not easy to make up for.


    No one could rece Thssa in the kids¡¯ hearts. She was really doing her job well as their mother.


    Even when she had run away with her kids and caused Elowen to get hurt, she had immediately


    sought medical attention for her.


    She could never escape from him as long as he had the kids under control.


    After their bath, Thssa yed with the kids.


    It waste, but the kids were not willing to go to bed. They wanted to stay with Thssa.


    ¡°I want to sleep with you tonight, Mommy,¡± Elowen said softly as she held onto Thssa¡¯s arm and


    rubbed her cheek against it.


    ¡°Me too,¡± Sophia added, hugging her other arm.


    ¡°Me too,¡± Dorian said despite his shyness.


    ¡°And me,¡± Atticus added and lowered his head.


    Even Atticus, the aloof boy, stowed his grimness away. Aloofness couldn¡¯t get him the maternal warmth


    he needed.


    The kids had missed Thssa so much in the past few days, and they were so dependent on her.


    Thssa felt a warm glow in her heart, ¡°You¡¯re all grown up now; we can¡¯t all fit in one bed.¡±


    N?velDrama.Org (C) content.


    ¡°Dad¡¯s bed is big. We can sleep there; it¡¯ll be enough,¡± Elowen suggested.


    ¡°And what about your dad?¡± Thssa asked,ughing.


    ¡°Let¡¯s all sleep together!¡± Dorian¡¯s suggestion shocked the room.

 Chapter 750

    Chapter 750


    ¡°How can that possibly work?¡± Thssa rejected the idea without giving it much thought. She had


    nned on not sharing her bed with Lysander tonight. The events ofst night were still vivid in her


    mind. Lysander¡¯s energy seemed boundless, and she had no guarantee that he would leave her alone


    tonight.


    The only way to ensure her safety was to keep her distance from him.


    As she finished speaking, Lysander strolled in. He¡¯d just taken a shower in his study and his hair was


    still wet and dripping. He was wearing a dark gray silk pajama.


    He stood tall and handsome; his body was still steaming from the shower and his stunning good looks


    were undeniable.


    The air seemed to churn with his intrusion.


    Thssa¡¯s breath slowed instinctively.


    Lysander always had amanding presence. He could effortlessly take control of the room the


    moment he appeared. His gaze met hers.


    Thssa lowered her head without giving it much thought; she was feeling guilty for some reason. He


    didn¡¯t hear their conversation, did he? She thought. ¡°It¡¯s okay, Mommy,¡± Elowen said, nning out their


    sleeping arrangements with her small hands. ¡°You can sleep in the middle, Sophia and I will sleep


    here, you can hold us. Dorian and Atticus can sleep on your other side next to you. Dad can just sleep


    at the foot of the bed.¡±


    With that, she burrowed into Thssa¡¯s arms, worried that her spot would be taken.


    Thssa was taken aback. She looked at the foot of the bed, then back at Lysander.


    His handsome face was devoid of emotion.


    Thssa couldn¡¯t help butugh. She quickly corrected Elowen, ¡°That¡¯s not going to work. This is your


    father¡¯s bed. How can he sleep at the foot of the bed? I¡¯ll go downstairs and sleep with you guys. Your


    bed might not be as big as this one, but we can squeeze.¡±


    As she finished speaking, she tried to get up with Elowen in her arms.


    The kids had dragged her to the master bedroom on the second floor before to y hide and seek, and


    then they insisted she tell them a story. Otherwise, she would never have gone into Lysander¡¯s room,


    let alone his bed.


    But now Lysander closed the bedroom door and locked it from inside.


    Thssa paused when she saw him lock the door. She asked curiously, ¡°Why did you close the door?


    Are you really going to sleep at the foot of the bed?¡±


    Lysander looked at Thssa with those thoughtful eyes, ¡°Why not?¡±


    Thssa was at a loss for words.


    Would he, of such stature, really stoop to sleeping at the foot of the bed?


    As it turned out, Thssa didn¡¯t know Lysander as well as she thought. That night, they slept as


    Elowen had nned. Thssa was in the middle, with two kids on each side.


    The kids snuggled as close to her as they could.


    And Lysander slept at the foot of the bed. His tall frame didn¡¯t fit in the space the kids had left him, so


    he bent his knees to make himself smaller.


    Thssa looked at his awkward sleeping position and worried he would be upset about them taking


    over his bed.


    But soon, she forgot all about it as she cooed the pumpkins to sleep. Having them by her side, smelling


    their milky scent, Thssa felt rxed. She fell asleep within minutes.


    This content is ? N?velDrama.Org.


    In the middle of the night, the moon hung high in the sky, casting a soft glow through the window. The


    moonlight illuminated the room and outlined the haphazard sleeping arrangements on the bed.


    Lysander got up and moved the four kids to the foot of the bed. He thenid down next to Thssa and


    pulled her into his arms.


    2 ¡À ¡À 8 5


    Thssa felt someone moving her as she was stirring in her sleep. She opened her eyes, aware of the


    man¡¯s strong presence next to her, and smelled his sandalwood scent.


    She instantly became alert and struggled a little when she realized the man was Lysander, ¡°Let me go,


    I¡¯m tired. Not tonight¡­¡±

 Chapter 751

    Chapter 751


    ¡°Hold still, or I¡¯m gonna make sure you can¡¯t sleep.¡± Lysander¡¯s voice, deep andmanding,


    resonated in the room.


    With one arm wrapped around her waist and the other cradling her neck, he was making her use his


    arm as a pillow.


    Thssa rxed her body, not daring to struggle anymore.


    Lysander wasn¡¯t bluffing. He would do exactly what he said.


    Held in Lysander¡¯s embrace, feeling the warm breath he exhaled, Thssa¡¯s heartbeat became erratic.


    She dared not move, afraid that sparks might fly. Lysander¡¯s had taken over the kids¡¯ ce, so what


    N?velDrama.Org content.


    about the kids?


    Carefully, Thssa lifted her head to nce at the edge of the bed. At first, she could see nothing, but


    then, under the moonlight, she saw the four little bundles at the foot of the bed, and she was relieved.


    Poor little ones, having to sleep at the foot of the bed that was originally Lysander¡¯s.


    ¡°If you¡¯re not sleepy, we could do something else.¡± Lysander¡¯s voice, husky and low, sounded above


    her head.


    Thssa¡¯s heart jumped as she hurriedly said, ¡°I¡¯m tired, very tired. I¡¯m going to sleep right now.¡±


    With that, she closed her eyes and tried hard to fall asleep.


    She had thought that she wouldn¡¯t be able to sleep in Lysander¡¯s arms.


    Little did she know, his warmth, his rhythmic breathing, seemed to have a hypnotic effect on her.


    She fell asleep faster than she expected.


    ¡°Daddy¡¯s cheating! Let go of Mommy!¡±


    The dawn was ushered in by the whinyint of a toddler.


    Lysander, who was sleeping on his side, felt a bump on his waist. His heavy eyebrows furrowed, and


    he opened his eyes.


    ¡°Daddy, wake up, wake up, Mommy¡¯s mine!¡± Dorian sat on Lysander¡¯s waist, bouncing up and down to


    disturb him.


    Thssa woke up instantly. Realizing that Lysander was still holding her, she quickly removed his hand


    and sat up swiftly. Then she saw Dorian sit on Lysander, his little bottom still bouncing up and down.


    The other three little ones, sitting at the foot of the bed, were rubbing their sleepy eyes; their eyes were


    half-open and they seemed not fully awake while watching Dorian¡¯s antics with confused cuteness.


    Thssa quickly reached out to pick Dorian up, but before she could, Lysander sat up, causing Dorian


    to roll off him onto the bed.


    The little boy quickly sat up, his tiny feet kicking in the air.


    ¡°Daddy¡¯s being unfair. Mommy belongs to us!¡± Dorian pouted, still protesting.


    ¡°Who said that? She only belongs to me¡­¡± Lysander¡¯s chiseled face was stern and he was about to


    say something. But Thssa, quick as lightning, covered his mouth.


    She put on a smile and said to Dorian, ¡°Yes, Mommy is your Mommy. Wake up and get dressed; after


    breakfast, we¡¯ll go see grandma.¡±


    Dorian¡¯s face brightened up immediately at her words.


    ¡°Yes, get dressed, have breakfast, and then we¡¯ll go y with grandma.¡± He climbed down from the


    bed with his chubby legs.


    The other three little ones also snapped out of their sleepiness and followed suit, toddling towards the


    door.


    Seeing the kids leaving, Thssa let out a sigh of relief for she avoided a potential argument with


    Lysander.


    As she turned back, she met Lysander¡¯s deep-set gaze. No one understood the meaning behind those


    eyes better than Thssa.


    Her breath hitched, realizing that her hand was still over his mouth. His thin lips against her palm felt


    like a kiss.


    Thssa¡¯s heart skipped a beat, and she quickly remoyed her hand, ¡°I was just trying to calm the kids


    down¡­ um!¡±


    His lips met hers as a tingling sensation coursed through her body.

 Chapter 752

    Chapter 752


    Thssa¡¯s eyshes fluttered, her heart tightening.


    She was about to push him away when Lysander¡¯s kiss withdrew, as though he only wanted a taste of


    her sweetness and not anything more.


    Hisrge hand gently stroked her face as the rough texture of his palm warmed against her cheek. His


    thumb caressed her delicate cheek in a gentle


    manner.


    His deep voice breathed out onto her face, ¡°Do you want something from me?¡±


    His voice was low and husky, making Thssa¡¯s ears tremble. Her breath was also hitching. She


    quickly denied, ¡°No¡­ I don¡¯t¡­¡±


    ¡°Your sensitive body is telling a different story, though,¡± Lysander rested his forehead against hers as


    his hand gently stroked her cheek.


    The feeling was intimate, sensual, and heart-stirring.


    Thssa¡¯s cheeks felt tingly and warm under his touch, her breathing growing ragged.


    She realized that he was still aroused because of her words from yesterday; the thought quickened her


    heartbeat. She avoided his gaze, removed his hand, and turned away, ¡°The kids are waiting for me. I


    need to get up.¡±


    She got off the bed from the other side and rushed into the bathroom, not daring to look back at


    Lysander.


    She had said those words to win the freedom to visit the kidsst night. She never thought she would


    end up longing for Lysander.


    Her words were like a spark that ignited a wildfire in him, making him go uncontroble.


    She could feel his passion during the never-ending sex they had.


    After washing up, she went downstairs. Four pairs of young eyes were looking at her expectantly,


    clearly wanting to visit Evelyn.


    Thssa walked over and sat down across from them, smiling softly, ¡°Let¡¯s eat. After we finish, we¡¯ll go


    visit.¡±


    ¡°Okay, I want to bring a slice of strawberry tiramisu for grandma,¡± Elowen nodded eagerly, not


    forgetting to bring her favorite dessert for her grandma.


    Kids¡¯ minds were pure. Sharing their favorite things with others showed their deep affection.


    ¡°I want to bring the circr pendant I just fixed for grandma. She really likes it.¡± Sophia¡¯s soft voice


    chimed in. Her eyes were twinkling with excitement since she couldn¡¯t wait to show off her


    achievement.


    ¡°I¡¯ll give grandma a massage, Dorian raised his hand enthusiastically.


    ¡°I¡¯ll help do some chores,¡± Atticus chimed in.


    Thssa felt both pleased and proud; warmth filled her heart.


    ¡°Alright, let¡¯s eat quickly and then we can go back.¡±


    ¡°Okay,¡± Elowen nodded eagerly and started digging in.


    As Thssa was about to join them, she saw Lysander descending the stairs out of the corner of her


    eye. The sight of his intimidating presence made her heart sink; her smile faded slightly.


    They were all talking about going to see the kids¡¯ grandmother, but Lysander hadn¡¯t agreed yet.


    What if he refused? All their ns would be ruined.


    Lysander¡¯s grim eyes rested on Thssa as he sat down at the dining table without a word and began


    to eat.


    Thssa kept her head down and quietly ate.


    N?velDrama.Org (C) content.


    As they were almost finished eating, Thssa was wondering how to approach Lysander about letting


    her take the kids to visit. What should she say to increase her chances of sess?


    ¡°Once you¡¯re done eating, pack up. The chauffeur will take you,¡± Lysander¡¯s deep voice suddenly broke


    the silence. He then casually wiped his mouth with a napkin.


    Thssa was taken aback with joy and quickly nodded, ¡°Alright, we¡¯ll pack up right away. It won¡¯t take


    long.¡±

 Chapter 753

    Chapter 753


    She set down her fork, quickly rallying her four little ones into action and gathering the goodies meant


    for their grandmother. They were setting off.


    By the time everything was packed, Lysander¡¯s car had already sped off from Royal Estates.


    It seemed he wouldn¡¯t be joining them back to Vibrant Oasis Residences.


    Which was just as well, as his absence made for a lighter atmosphere, much to Thssa¡¯s relief.


    The usual SUV that shuttled the children to school was parked in the yard. Fitch stood by it to help the


    kids on board. Once Thssa had climbed in, Fitch closed the door and instructed the driver to take it


    This content is ? N?velDrama.Org.


    easy on the road.


    In no time, they had arrived at Vibrant Oasis Residences.


    Thssa disembarked with her kids and returned home.


    Pushing the door open, the house was eerily quiet. Evelyn was nowhere to be seen.


    A pang of worry hit Thssa. Where could Evelyn have gone? Maybe she was entangling with Bruce


    again?


    ¡°Hey, where¡¯s Grandma?¡± Dorian asked curiously.


    As soon as he spoke, the door to one of the rooms swung open and out came Evelyn, her face flushed


    with excitement. ¡°My little cherubs are home,¡± she cooed, e give Grandma a hug. I¡¯ve missed you


    so.¡±


    She made a beeline for the kids who ran over to meet her halfway.


    Evelyn enfolded all four in her arms, showering kisses on their innocent faces. Tears welled up in her


    eyes, ¡°My precious little ones, you¡¯ve grown so much and you¡¯re all so adorable. Even when


    Grandma¡¯s not around, you¡¯re doing so well. Oh, I¡¯m such a good-for-nothing.¡±


    Thssa could sense something off with Evelyn¡¯s mood. When no one was home, she had locked


    herself in her room.


    And now she was calling herself a good-for-nothing.


    ¡°Mom, you¡¯re anything but a good-for-nothing. Do you think these kids could have turned out so cute


    and adorable if it weren¡¯t for your care? They¡¯re growing up and needing to be independent,¡± Thssa


    Thssa felt a sour pang of sadness in her heart as well when she first realized that her kids could


    sleep soundly without her or Evelyn¡¯spany. But she had soone to terms with it. Kids did grow


    up and be independent.


    To love them was to respect their independence and to let go when necessary.


    Evelyn wiped away her tears, ¡°Yes, they should learn to be independent anyways, just like you. You are


    a self-reliant woman who doesn¡¯t need a mother. And here I am, always causing you trouble.¡±


    ¡°How are you causing me trouble? You raised me, and now I can hold my own. That¡¯s all because of


    your upbringing. If I had to stand by and watch you in trouble without being able to do anything, that


    would be a failure, Thssa responded with a gentle voice.


    Evelyn was shock, disappointment, and heartbreak.


    With all that had happened recently, Thssa was afraid Evelyn would dwell on it too much and it


    could affect her emotionally.


    Hearing Thssa¡¯s words, Evelyn finally broke into a smile. She quickly changed the subject, ¡°Can the


    kids stay here for a few days? I want to spend some more time with them before I find a job. No matter


    how small the pay, it¡¯ll help pass the time.¡±


    ¡®Sure, I¡¯ll call Lysander and let him know, Thssa agreed.


    Evelyn thinking in this way was the best possible oue. As long as she could step out of the


    shadow of Bruce¡¯s deceit, Thssa would be relieved.


    In the afternoon, Evelyn sat with the kids and was engrossed in a TV show.


    As dusk approached, Thssa, fearing Lysander would pressure her to bring the kids home, retreated


    to her room, closed the door, and dialed Lysander¡¯s number.


    Unlike before, when the phone would ring endlessly before being answered, it was picked up almost


    immediately.


    Even over the phone, Lysander¡¯s intimidating, oppressive aura was palpable.


    Thssa was instinctively nervous. ¡°My mom would like the kids to stay here for a few days. Fitch can


    pick them up after they finish school next Monday. Is that okay?¡±

 Chapter 754

    Chapter 754


    Lysander didn¡¯t say a word on the other end.


    His intimidating aura seeped through the phone.


    A sense of anxiety held Thssa¡¯s breath for a moment; her heart was pounding in anticipation of his


    response.


    She feared he might use her of overstepping her bounds.


    ¡°Hmm.¡± After an eternity, a monosyble rumbled from Lysander¡¯s deep voice.


    Thssa instantly rxed. She said excitedly, ¡°Great, then you go ahead. I won¡¯t bother you


    anymore.¡±


    Thssa quickly hung up before Lysander could respond, afraid he might change his mind.


    Lysander lowered the now silent phone; his brows furrowed in annoyance.


    Did she just hang up on him?


    Maybe he was too soft on her?


    Thssa hadn¡¯t gone anywhere but to stay home with the kids and Evelyn for those days.


    While the six of them wereughing and having joyous moments, the atmosphere was reminiscent of


    their old times.


    When Monday came around, the kids had to return to school. Evelyn was visibly upset, her entire


    demeanor radiating an aura of reluctance to part with the kids. This content is ? N?velDrama.Org.


    The joy of these past few days had turned into a reluctance to see the kids off to school.


    She didn¡¯t know when she¡¯d see them next, unlike in the past when she could pick them up from school


    daily.


    Amon folk like her dared not challenge the influence of the Sinir family.


    Despite her reluctance, she had to send the kids off to school.


    The kids, oblivious to the adult worries, cheerfully waved goodbye to Evelyn and Thssa before


    bounding into the school building. Watching the children disappear into the building, Evelyn sighed,


    ¡°You¡¯re right, the kids are growing up. They can¡¯t always stay by our side.¡± ¡°As long as they love us,


    that¡¯s enough,¡± Thssa replied wistfully.


    ¡°Have you told Lysander yet?¡± Evelyn suddenly asked.


    ¡°Told him what?¡± Thssa was taken aback.


    ¡°That you¡¯re not Bruce¡¯s daughter. He has no reason not to marry you then,¡± Evelyn said, looking


    expectantly at Thssa.


    In the past, she had her reservations about revealing that Thssa wasn¡¯t Bruce¡¯s daughter because


    she still harbored hopes for Bruce.


    But now, her heart waspletely broken. She never imagined that the wealthy woman Bruce courted


    years ago was Lysander¡¯s mother. Bruce had even deceived her into eloping with him, which caused


    the tragedy of Lysander¡¯s parents.


    Lysander must harbor hatred for Bruce, and even more so for Bruce¡¯s kid.


    Unable to meet Evelyn¡¯s intense gaze, Thssa looked away, saying, ¡°He has a potential marriage


    alliance for his family. He can never marry me.¡±


    ¡°What?¡± Evelyn was stunned; her heart ached. She knew they were beneath the Sinir family, but


    now they had gone so far.


    Then you should leave him as soon as possible! You¡¯re still young and you can find someone else to


    marry, Evelyn urged.


    ¡°I¡¯m trying. I¡¯ll leave him, Thssa evaded, not wanting to continue the conversation.


    The reality was harsh and she couldn¡¯t control her own fate.


    ¡°Mom, I need to go to work. Can you take a cab home by yourself?¡± Thssa asked.


    ¡°I¡¯ll wander around and look for a potential job, Evelyn responded.


    ¡°Okay, remember to call me if anything happens, Thssa instructed as she hailed a taxi and was


    about to leave.


    In the secretarial department at the Crawley Electronics,.


    Betty wheeled her chair over to Thssa, asking, ¡°Has your friend returned from his business trip?¡±


    He¡¯s back. Thssa nodded.

 Chapter 755

    Chapter 755


    ¡°Mr. Ethan is pushing me for the contract. We gotta hurry up.¡± Betty¡¯s words were rushed; her


    expression was fraught with anxiety as well.


    She wanted to make a good impression in front of Ethan to get another chance to be close to him.


    ¡°I¡¯ll ask in the afternoon,¡± Thssa replied.


    ¡°Don¡¯t wait for this afternoon. Just go now!¡± Betty was impatient.


    ¡°But I still have work to do¡­¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll do it for you,¡± Betty immediately took the files from Thssa¡¯s hands with a look of encouragement


    on her face. ¡°When you sessfully sign the contract, I¡¯ll treat you to a nice dinner.¡±


    ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll go now,¡± Thssa agreed.


    After all, she had eaten her breakfast and promised her to ask if the contract could be signed. Since


    she had promised, she would do her best. Thssa took the contract and arrived at the Sinir group.


    After exining her purpose to the receptionist, thedy happily told Thssa after she called David,


    ¡°You can go and see Mr. Sinir now.¡± ¡°Okay. Thank you.¡±


    ¡°Why thank me? It¡¯s just my job.¡±


    Thssa took the elevator up to the highest floor, where David was waiting for her.


    ¡°Ms. Everhart, we meet again.¡±


    ¡°Indeed, David. Is Mr. Sinir in a good mood today?¡± Thssa asked casually as she walked with


    David.


    David remained silent.


    ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± Thssa asked, curious.


    ¡°Ms. Everhart, I dare not answer your questions lightly. If it¡¯s another trap, I might fall into it without


    even realizing,¡± David said.


    ¡°Um, I¡¯m sorry, David. I was just under pressure.¡± Thssa scratched her hair in her embarrassment.


    ¡°Here is the CEO¡¯s office. Please go in,¡± David said, standing at the door with a respectful tone.


    ¡°Thank you, David. I¡¯ll treat you to lunch sometime.¡± Thssa responded with a polite smile.


    David nodded slightly without saying anything and left.


    Thssa retracted her gaze. She took a deep breath, prepared herself mentally, and knocked on the


    door.


    ¡°Come in,¡± a deep voice sounded.


    Thssa walked into Lysander Sinir¡¯s office where he sat in a handcrafted ck suit. He was


    exuding an aura of wealth, elegance, and authority. He was reviewing some documents.


    Thssa took a deep breath and approached the desk, stopping a few inches away, ¡°Mr. Sinir, I¡¯m


    Thssa, Ethan Crawley¡¯s secretary. The Crawley Group has a project which they would like to


    coborate on with the Sinir Group.¡±


    She was here on behalf of the Crawley Group so she carried an official tone.


    Lysander looked up from his documents. He riveted his deep-set eyes on Thssa, who was standing


    Property ? of N?velDrama.Org.


    straight and serious; she was holding a folder in her hands and carrying a professional demeanor.


    He set down his documents, got up, and walked towards her.


    His tall, imposing figure approached, making the air around Thssa feel thin. She held her breath and


    blinked, ¡°Mr. Sinir¡­¡±


    Lysander stood in front of her and lifted her chin with his index finger. ¡°I only want to work with you.¡±


    ¡°What?¡± Thssa was forced to look up at him, her eyes filled with confusion.


    She didn¡¯t understand what he meant by ¡°only wanting to work with her¡±. She didn¡¯t have a project to


    negotiate with him. Lysander¡¯s deep gaze intensified, his voice husky, ¡°You already knew how to


    persuade me to coborate before you came, right?¡± ¡°Mr. Sinir, please look at the contract first,¡­¡±


    Thssa turned her face away, avoiding his finger, and handed him the contract. Lysander didn¡¯t even


    nce at the contract, his deep-set eyes fixed on hers. ¡°Will you do it willingly, or should! make you?¡±

 Chapter 756

    Chapter 756


    The invasive aura of Lysander was creeping up on Thssa, seeping into her pores, slowing her


    breath, and elerating her heartbeat.


    Her hand, clutching the contract, was frozen in mid-air.


    Her wide eyes reflected Lysander¡¯s stern, chiseled face; his eyes locked onto hers and waited for her


    next move.


    The office was eerily silent, so quiet that Thssa could only hear her own amplified heartbeat.


    ¡°So, I¡¯ll make you?¡± Lysander grasped her wrist in a split second.


    His rough touch made Thssa tense. She stuttered, ¡°Mr. Sinir, I¡¯m only here as a representative of


    the Crawley Group to discuss a partnership, so I don¡¯t want to mix business and personal matters. We


    can discuss our personal issuester tonight. If now is not a good time, I cane back another


    day¡­¡±


    She had no idea what was irking Lysander or how she had crossed him.


    His gaze was dangerous as if he could swallow her whole at any moment.


    After her speech, Thssa looked at him anxiously and waited for him to release her hand.


    His deep and inscrutable eyes were fixed on her, making Thssa¡¯s heart race; she nervously


    swallowed.


    Just as she resigned herself to being taken by him in the office likest time, Lysander let go of her


    hand and snatched the contract from her. He began to review it in front of her. Property ? of N?velDrama.Org.


    Thssa¡¯s taut shoulders rxed; she exhaled in silence.


    She was terrified just then, worried that he would delve into her personal matter instead of the


    cooperation with the Crawley Group.


    Did he suddenly let go of her because of what she said about discussing their personal matters at


    night?


    She said that intentionally only to resolve the immediate predicament.


    i


    She didn¡¯t want to experience the panic and danger ofst time again. Pinned against the office ss


    door, while David was still ringing the doorbell outside; the intensity, excitement, and fear made her


    wish she could die on the spot to cover her embarrassment.


    Although sheter learned that the ss door was one-way, her inner fear was still intense.


    Thssa looked up at Lysander, who was reading the contract quickly but seriously. His aura as a


    business elite was evident in every detail.


    He was reading at a nce, but each use was clear.


    The contract¡¯sst page covered potential idents and indemnity uses during the partnership.


    It said that if there were issues with the goods delivered that led to irreparable losses, the Sinir


    group had topensate ording to market requirements and apologize publicly.


    There were also uses about force majeure, where losses would have to be negotiated by both


    parties.


    These uses were a necessity in contracts, usually never needed but added just in case.


    Just some normal uses.


    Almost every contract Lysander had signed contained these preventive measures.


    After reading to the end, both the motivation for cooperation and the profits were normal.


    ¡ê 3 2 3 3 2 2 2 2 3


    Lysander signed his name on thest page and handed the contract to her, ¡°Tell Ethan himself toe


    the next time we need to sign a contract.¡±


    Thssa quickly epted the contract. She could barely conceal her joy as she replied hastily, ¡°Sure,


    I¡¯ll pass on the message.¡±


    Actually, she didn¡¯t like the Crawley Group sending her to negotiate with Lysander. Dealing with


    Lysander in her personal life was exhausting enough; she really didn¡¯t want to face him at work too.


    After Lysander returned to his executive chair, Thssa said respectfully, ¡°Take your time, Mr. Sinir.


    I¡¯ll head back to thepany now.¡±


    Without a word from Lysander, Thssa quickly retreated to the door and left his office.

 Chapter 757

    Chapter 757


    The air outside felt so much fresher than that of the office. Thssa¡¯s taut nerves began to rx, and


    she noticed that her back had broken into sweat.


    As she returned to the Crawley Group, Betty took the contract from her hands and flipped eagerly to


    thest page to see the signed name.


    Betty¡¯s joy was evident in her sparkling eyes, ¡°Thssa, thank you so much. Please thank your high-


    level friend for me, too. If it¡¯s possible, I¡¯d like to invite him for dinner tonight, my treat.¡±


    Thssa gave a nomittal smile, ¡°No need, I don¡¯t have time tonight, and he doesn¡¯t either.¡±


    She had only helped Betty because she¡¯d epted her breakfast invitation that morning. She didn¡¯t


    want to owe her any more favors.


    That¡¯s why she definitely wouldn¡¯t be going to that dinner.


    ¡°Alright then, I¡¯ll take you out when you have time. I need to deliver this to Mr. Ethan now.¡± Saying this,


    Betty left cheerfully with the contract in hand.


    After work, Thssa returned to her home in Vibrant Oasis Residences. She had initially nned to go


    to Royal Estates to spend time with the kids but remembered what she had told Lysander that morning


    about discussing their personal matters in the evening.


    The thought of that conversation made her heart race. The way Lysander discussed personal matters


    was more than she could handle.


    She was still recuperating. Another visit to Royal Estates might cost her half her life. She was truly


    afraid.


    Best to avoid it for one more night. She thought.


    As she was cooking dinner with her mother, Evelyn, Ethan called.


    Thssa, we¡¯re having apany gathering at Half-Mountain Restaurant. Hurry up and join us,¡±


    Ethan¡¯s tone was light and friendly, in the demeanor of an easygoing boss.


    ¡°Mr. Ethan, I¡¯m at home cooking dinner, so I won¡¯t be able to join the gathering,¡± Thssa declined.


    She was already home, and dinner was almost ready.


    ¡°You need to make an appearance so the colleagues can get to know you. Don¡¯t be a homebody,¡±


    Ethan tried to persuade her.


    ¡°I¡¯d rather¡­¡± Thssa was about to decline again when she noticed Evelyn¡¯s significant looks which


    clearly indicated she should go.


    Seeing Evelyn¡¯s eager expression, Thssa changed her response, ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll be there soon.¡±


    ¡°Great, we¡¯re all waiting for you. We¡¯ll start the meal when you arrive.¡± With that, Ethan hung up.


    Thssa pocketed her phone before turning to Evelyn, ¡°Mom, isn¡¯t it nice for me to stay home and


    have dinner with you?¡±


    ¡°Why wouldn¡¯t you go to thepany gathering? You might meet some eligible bachelors. There might


    be someone suitable. You never know. Once you¡¯re married, Lysander can¡¯t bother you anymore,¡±


    Evelyn advised.


    Lysander had Thssa all to himself without marrying her. Wasn¡¯t he just wasting her youth?


    Evelyn didn¡¯t want Thssa to be unmarried for her whole life and became all alone in her old age just


    like her.


    Thssa wanted to say that he wouldn¡¯t let her get close to other men with his possessiveness until


    Lysander¡¯s novelty for her wore off.


    This content is ? N?velDrama.Org.


    But she didn¡¯t want to upset Evelyn further so she could only soothe her mother.


    ¡°I guess it¡¯s just you for dinner tonight, Mom. I won¡¯t be joining you,¡± Thssa said.


    ¡°Go ahead, I don¡¯t need yourpany,¡± Evelyn pushed her towards the door.


    Thssa swiveled her head to give her a resigned look and left.


    Upon entering the bustling Half-Mountain Restaurant, Thssa found it packed to the brim.


    ¡°Thssa, over here!¡± A warm voice called out to her.

 Chapter 758

    Chapter 758


    Thssa turned her gaze in the direction of the voice, spotting Betty waving her over.


    Betty intercepted her even before she could approach, ¡°I was just telling Mr. Ethan that you had ns


    tonight and couldn¡¯t make it, but he insisted on calling you. Proves that persistence pays off, doesn¡¯t


    it?¡±


    Betty¡¯s face held a warm smile as she chatted with Thssa.


    Thssa listened as she maintained an estranged and courteous smile on her face, ¡°I was first


    nning to spend the evening with my Mom. But she literally pushed me out the door when she heard


    the boss was calling.¡±


    ¡°Of course, bonding with colleagues over a meal doesn¡¯t hold a candle to quality time with mom. Your


    mom understands you and lets you attend thispany gathering, which shows you¡¯re doing a good


    job bncing your personal and professional life.¡± Betty¡¯s sentences carried no reproach for Thssa


    declining her personal invitation, but they alluded to it subtly.


    Thssa¡¯s response to that was a decent one as well.


    Navigating office politics was like working through a textbook, with lessons hidden between every line.


    ¡°Ms. Everhart, you made it. Here, we saved you a seat.¡± A male colleague pulled out the chair beside


    him, beaming as he weed Thssa.


    Everyone was seated around arge circr table.


    ncing around, Thssa noticed all present were her co-workers from the top floor. No one else from


    any other department was there. It seemed to be a gathering exclusive to their floor.


    Ethan was seated at the innermost chair of the round table, symbolizing his authority as the big boss.


    The seat her colleague saved was on the outermost.


    Ethan greeted her with an amused look upon her arrival.


    ¡°Thssa, have a sit quickly, so we can start the meal.¡± Betty guided Thssa to the seat that the male


    colleague saved for her.


    She then took the seat closest to Ethan; her gaze was filled with bothughter and longing as she


    nced at him.


    Thssa took note. She was already aware of Betty¡¯s feelings for Ethan. It just surprised her that Betty


    was so open about her desire for Ethan in public.


    ¡°Ms. Everhart, your silverware.¡± The man beside her kindly passed her clean utensils.


    ¡°Thank you.¡± Thssa responded politely.


    She had seen this man around the office a few times. He was the head of procurement at senior levels,


    responsible for providing Ethan with office supplies and personal items. She didn¡¯t remember his full


    name but could only recall him as Jason.


    ¡°Jason, you¡¯re quite attentive to Ms. Everhart, aren¡¯t you? You¡¯re 28 now, right? And Ms. Everhart is 27.


    You two are close in age. If you¡¯re both single, there might be a chance, right?¡± Betty teased, eliciting


    Caught in the yful banter, Thssa didn¡¯t quite know what to do.


    Jason, however, took it all in stride, ¡°If it really happens, you all would be the witnesses. And don¡¯t think


    you can skip out on giving us wedding gifts.¡±


    Ethan remained silent throughout, quietly sipping his wine while casting spective nces at


    Thssa.


    Lysander had never publicly acknowledged his rtionship with Thssa, not even in front of their


    friends. He never rified what kind of rtionship he had with Thssa.


    Ethan was curious to see how Thssa would handle the yful, half-serious teasing from their


    colleagues. It was quite clear that Jason was interested in her and intended to pursue her.


    ¡®As long as you two get hitched, I¡¯ll be the first to give you a big fat wedding gift. And none of you here


    can show up empty-handed, right?¡± Betty continued to lead the conversation.


    Everyone at the table chimed in, ¡°Of course, we won¡¯t forget the gift. Hurry up, or our gifts will go


    N?velDrama.Org (C) content.


    stale.¡±


    Thssa quickly became the target of the teasing, feeling ufortable and flustered.


    ¡°We have so many beautifuldies in ourpany, and I¡¯m not the only one who¡¯s 27. Lily is in the


    prime of her life too.¡± Thssa tried to deflect the attention from herself.

 Chapter 759

    Chapter 759


    Lily¡¯s got herself a beau, right? They¡¯re tying the knot by the end of the year,¡± someone mentioned.


    Lily concurred, ¡°Yes, I am getting married by year-end. Ms. Everhart, you¡¯re in the prime of your youth


    too. Jason is a catch, handsome and all. Good rtionships don¡¯t just fall in yourp, you know.¡±


    Thssa was taken aback; she hadn¡¯t realized Lily got a boyfriend.


    Being told by her peer, Lily, to seize the opportunity of love, all eyes turned to Thssa, filled with


    anticipation and good-natured teasing.


    Feeling cornered, Thssa hadn¡¯t expected a inpany dinner to be a spectacle before she


    even had her first bite.


    She stole a nce at Jason, who was looking at her with an earnest expression.


    Thssa caught her breath. She realized this wasn¡¯t a joke.


    Jason was using the crowd¡¯s enthusiasm to confess to her in disguise and get her to ept him.


    Thssa picked up her ss of water and took a sip to mask her difort. She could hardly avoid


    responding under so many expectant gazes. Setting down her ss, she responded yfully, ¡°Well,


    our Mr. Ethan is still on the market, and he¡¯s arguably the most handsome guy in ourpany. We¡¯re


    about the same age, so even if nothinges of it, having a fling with such a catch like Ethan in the


    bloom of our youth would make life worthwhile, don¡¯t you think, Mr. Ethan?¡±


    With a teasing look in her eyes, she turned her gaze to Ethan.


    That¡¯s the oue of him just standing by and doing nothing while she was being pushed into a


    corner.


    After all, it was Ethan who had invited her here. Now she was hounded into an impromptu


    Property ? of N?velDrama.Org.


    matchmaking session, with him not uttering a single word in her defense. So she would let him bear the


    consequences.


    Ethan twitched his eyebrow. Her defiant gaze lit up a hint of amusement in his eyes.


    Was Thssa trying to push him into the spotlight?


    If Lysander heard this, he might give Ethan a hard time.


    Thssa wasn¡¯t as naive and sweet as she seemed. She was quite adept at setting traps.


    As Thssa finished her remark, everyone¡¯s anticipatory gaze turned into disbelief. They nced at


    Ethan, then quickly looked away, pretending to be engrossed in their food and not care about


    Thssa¡¯s words.


    Thssa sure had guts. She was literally dering her interest in Mr. Ethan in public.


    So she didn¡¯t fancy Jason because she was setting her sights higher; she wanted to be with Mr. Ethan.


    The colleagues all present held their tongues, afraid to draw Mr. Ethan¡¯s attention.


    But Betty¡¯s smile, upon hearing Thssa¡¯s words, froze. Her hand tightened around her ss.


    Thssa was interested in Mr. Ethan too?


    How dare she vie for Mr. Ethan¡¯s attention?


    Betty¡¯s breath hitched. She anxiously looked at Ethan, afraid he might suggest giving it a shot.


    But Ethan just set his ss down. He said as a smile yed on his lips, ¡°I¡¯m a good-looking guy


    indeed, but I¡¯m also way out of your league. You all should focus on your work and stop daydreaming.¡±


    His teasing words defused the tense atmosphere easily.


    Betty breathed a sigh of relief and decided not to push Thssa to ept Jason. Her smile returned as


    she said, ¡°Let¡¯s get back to our food, folks. The steak is getting cold.¡±


    Jason withdrew his gaze from Thssa and started eating. Thssa saw his calm expression and


    wondered what he was thinking, but it was none of her business. She didn¡¯t say anything more and


    joined her colleagues in digging into the food.


    ¡°Hey!¡± Suddenly, someone tapped Thssa¡¯s shoulder from behind.


    Startled, Thssa immediately turned around.

 Chapter 760

    Chapter 760


    Hertha Kensington¡¯s pretty face, radiant with smiles, was right in front of her.


    Thssa eximed, ¡°Hertha, you¡¯re here too?¡±


    ¡°Yes, I¡¯m at that table over there.¡± Hertha pointed to the table diagonally across from Thssa, where


    several men were sitting. One of them, a greasy, paunchy man with a smug smile on his face, waved at


    Thssa.


    This sight sent a chill through Thssa. Then she looked away with her skin prickling.


    ¡°Why are they all men?¡± Thssa asked, concerned.


    Hertha leaned in and whispered, ¡°I¡¯m here to schmooze with our big boss. We¡¯re entertaining a big


    client tonight. If wend this deal, I¡¯ll get a thousand-dor year-end bonus.¡±


    N?velDrama.Org content.


    Thssa understood that Hertha was here for work.


    We¡¯re having apany dinner.¡± Thssa nced at her colleagues and exined to Hertha.


    ¡°Well, you guys enjoy your meal. I should get back to my table,¡± Hertha said, not wanting to chat


    further. She nodded politely to the people at her table and returned to her seat.


    ¡°Ms. Everhart, is that your friend?¡± Betty asked.


    ¡°Yes, it¡¯s quite a coincidence running into her here,¡± Thssa replied politely. As she was speaking to


    Betty, she noticed Jason still staring at her with the same intense gaze.


    Feeling ufortable under his scrutiny, she decided to make an excuse to leave after a few more


    bites.


    Meanwhile, at the table across the room, the greasy man with the smug smile approached Hertha with


    a drink in hand. He bent over and leered at her chest, hisughter nauseating, ¡°I heard that Ms.


    Kensington is not only a skilled jewelry designer but also a formidable drinker. Ms. Kensington, how


    about a drinking contest? If you can drink me under the table tonight, I¡¯ll seal the deal and sign the


    contract on the spot.¡±


    The man was a typical middle-aged fat cat who grew bolder with a bit of power.


    Hertha was nearly sick from his foul breath. She instinctively moved away from him and her lips were


    twitching in disgust; she could barely resist the urge to kick him away.


    She masked her revulsion with a fake smile, saying, ¡°Zane, I¡¯m not a good drinker. Our cooperation is


    based on design, not on drinking.¡±


    ¡°Hertha, Zane is in high spirits tonight and wants to share a drink with you. You should give him some


    dignity. You can hold your drink and we all know that. You can definitely handle a drink with Zane,¡±


    Hertha¡¯s boss intervened as he saw that she was about to offend their client.


    ¡°But¡­¡±


    ¡°Zane is a straightforward man. He values not only the design but also the mood during a drink. Hertha,


    think about how proud you would be to see your designs on disy in major stores. You¡¯ll have both


    fame and fortune.¡± Hertha¡¯s boss started to paint a rosy picture for her.


    Regardless, they needed to get Zane to sign the contract first. A signed contract was the most reliable


    assurance.


    Hertha swallowed her disgust, thinking about her designs being sold in major stores and her year-end


    bonus.


    Once she had the money, she could take Thssa on a vacation! She thought as she decided to put


    up with it.


    She gritted her teeth, picked up her ss and beamed at Zane, ¡°So you are a man of character, Zane.


    It¡¯s a deal then. If I drink you under the table, you sign the contract right here and now.¡±


    ¡°Absolutely, my word is my bond,¡± Zane responded as hisscivious gaze roamed over Hertha.


    She was wearing a V-neck dress that didn¡¯t reveal much unless someone deliberately peered down.


    Hertha felt goosebumps all over her body but held herposure.


    Thssa noticed from afar that Hertha was engaged in a drinking contest with a man who seemed to


    have ill intentions. She was so worried that she didn¡¯t leave early, keeping an eye on that table


    diagonally opposite hers. If the man dared toy a hand on Hertha, she would rush to her side to


    protect


    her.


    Halfway through the drinking contest, Zane¡¯s mind was already foggy. His eyes were more lustful as he


    stared at Hertha. He even reached out to touch her, ¡°Ms. Kensington, let¡¯s be honest. If you spend a


    night with me, not only will I cooperate with you, but I¡¯ll also give you anything you want, sweetheart¡­¡±


    His greasy hand was heading towards Hertha¡¯s chest.


    Thssa¡¯s eyes widened on seeing this. She shot up from her chair.

 Chapter 761

    Chapter 761


    Hertha couldn¡¯t believe what was happening.


    Holy smoke!


    That man literally dared to take advantage of her. Was he trying to cut his own family line?


    She moved back quickly, preparing to send him flying with a swift kick.


    Just as she was about to strike, to her surprise, the greasy hand was seized by a slender one.


    ¡°Zane, you¡¯re drunk and there are cameras everywhere. Anything you do will be clear as day when the


    cops show up. Do you really want tond yourself in jail?¡± The cool, casual, and devilishly charming


    voice rang out.


    H¨¦rtha turned to see a man in crisp white shirt and ck trousers. He was lean, handsome, and


    carrying a captivating allure. His eyes, sharp and appealing as a fox¡¯s, were an enchanting sight.


    It was ric Falconer!


    His seemingly casual words carried an oppressive weight.


    Seeing a neer intercept Zane¡¯s wandering hand, Thssa, who had been about to step in,


    stopped in her tracks.


    Just as Zane was about to rage, his gaze fell onto ric, the heir of the Falconer group. His belligerent


    demeanor changed all of a sudden.


    He nodded obsequiously and kept responding, ¡°Yes, yes, you¡¯re right. I¡¯m drunk so I don¡¯t know what


    I¡¯m doing. I almost made a big mistake, Ms. Kensington. I apologize. Did I hurt you?¡±


    Zane even offered Hertha a humble apology as he spoke.


    ¡°It¡¯s fine, Zane. You should keep your word. You said if I got you drunk, you¡¯d sign the contract.¡±


    Hertha¡¯s face fell cold.


    Zane had just admitted to being drunk. There was no escaping his promise now.


    Moreover, with ric, the Falconer group¡¯s heir, around, he felt an unspoken pressure.


    Zaneughed, ¡°I¡¯ll sign the contract right away.¡±


    ric let go of his hand.


    Then Zane took the contract and signed his name on thest page.


    ¡°We should have dinner together sometime.¡± Zane offered ric with a ttering smile as he adted.


    ric casually wiped his hand with a wet wipe, threw it into the trash bin, and replied, ¡°Zane, you better


    go home and count your blessings.¡±


    With that, he walked past Zane to Hertha, took her hand, and addressed Hertha¡¯s boss, ¡°I have some


    private matters to discuss with her. Is it alright if I


    take her now?¡±


    Hertha¡¯s boss nodded quickly. He was so awestruck by his status the moment ric appeared that he


    even didn¡¯t dare to speak.


    Exclusive content from N?velDrama.Org.


    Now ric was taking Hertha away; how could he refuse his demand?


    ric¡¯s gaze turned cold as he led Hertha away.


    Seeing this, Thssa finally breathed a sigh of relief. She turned to Ethan,¡± I¡¯m full, Mr. Ethan. I need to


    get home to take care of my mom. I¡¯ll take my leave.¡±


    ¡°Alright,¡± Mr. Ethan approved.


    Not long after Thssa left, Jason spoke up, ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Mr. Ethan, my mom just called and asked me


    toe home right away. Something came up at home.¡±


    Jason also left after getting permission.


    As Thssa was waiting for a taxi, a ck Volkswagen pulled up next to her. The window rolled down


    to reveal Jason¡¯s youthful face, ¡°Thssa, let me give you a lift home.¡±

 Chapter 762

    Chapter 762


    Thssa turned to see Jason; his meaningful and lingering gaze had been unnerving her all along.


    But she had refrained from voicing her difort.


    It¡¯s not her fault or anyone else¡¯s fault that people found her attractive.


    However, she didn¡¯t feel entitled to pursue love now. She was fearful of leading someone on.


    Thssa calmly declined, ¡°Thanks, but I¡¯ll call my own cab. It¡¯s more convenient that way.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s okay. I¡¯m going your way,¡± Jason quickly replied.


    He insisted it was on his way despite not knowing where she lived.


    N?velDrama.Org content.


    Thssa wanted to quash his hopes, so she spoke frankly, ¡°Jason, stop pursuing me. It¡¯s not going to


    happen. There are plenty of wonderfuldies at the office, so stop wasting your time on me.¡±


    She only wanted what was best for him. If he was bent on pursuing her, he¡¯d be wasting his own time.


    That would perhaps even cause him disaster.


    Jason¡¯s friendly demeanor faded and it was reced by a slightly harsh look.


    You want to be with Mr. Ethan? Do you really think that¡¯s possible? It¡¯s okay to be ambitious, but you


    have to know your ce.¡±


    Thssa was taken aback. She had been worried about wasting his precious time and kindly


    suggested he not waste it on her. And he ended up looking down on her, assuming she was only


    suitable to be with someone like him, a junior procurement officer.. No¡­maybe he thought that being


    with him would be a step up for her!


    Thssaughed in disbelief, ¡°I know my ce very well, and it¡¯s not in your car. Please leave.¡±


    She turned and walked away, not wanting to engage in further pointless conversation.


    Jason¡¯s car followed her slowly. He leaned out the window and tried to persuade her, ¡°My parents have


    a retirement fund, I have a steady job and I¡¯m an only child. You wouldn¡¯t have to work or worry about


    finances after marrying me. You can just stay home and take care of our kids. What more do you want?


    I don¡¯t get it. Mr. Ethan may be desirable, but how many women have actually managed to be with


    him? Women like you, with high standards and big ambitions, fail to see their own status!¡±


    Thssa found this amusing. She had only the man met a few times, yet he was audacious and gas


    lighting her!


    Thssa stopped abruptly and cast him a fierce look, ¡°If you¡¯re so proud of being an only child, then


    stay that way. We women are not worthy of someone with a royal inheritance like yours! Enjoy your


    parents¡¯ retirement fund and grow old alone!¡±


    What an ass!


    It would be a wonder if this man ever had a girlfriend.


    Jason¡¯s face darkened. He parked the car, got out, and grabbed Thssa¡¯s wrist, ¡°Get in the car!¡±


    His grip was strong as if he could force her into his car and win her over.


    ¡°Let go of me!¡± Thssa struggled, shocked at his sudden rage.


    Just as she was about to be dragged into his car, a ck vehicle zoomed past, striking Jason¡¯s


    Volkswagen on the side.


    The impact sent the car shaking, and Jason, who was near the car, froze in shock.


    Thssa stood there wide-eyed.


    The front of the Volkswagen was crushed, while the ck car, a Rolls-Royce, was unscathed!


    Thssa saw the Rolls-Royce and felt a surge of mixed emotions.


    The car door opened and a polished ck shoe stepped onto the road, followed by a pristine ck


    suit. A cold, intimidating aura filled the space, as chilling as if it came from the underworld.


    Thssa saw the man. Her heart pounded wildly as she murmured, ¡°You¡¯re here¡­¡±


    Lysander stepped forward; his eyes fixed on Jason¡¯s grip on Thssa¡¯s hand.


    His gaze was sharp as a de; then he jerked Jason¡¯s hand away and twisted it back.


    A crunching sound signaled a broken wrist.


    ¡°Ah!¡± Jason screamed in pain.

 Chapter 763

    Chapter 763


    The scene unfolded lightning fast, faster than Thssa couldprehend.


    She was left dumbfounded witnessing Jason¡¯s screams of agony.


    ¡°Do you think she¡¯s someone you can just touch?¡± Lysander¡¯s voice was cold as ice.


    Jason, writhing in pain, knew only too well who Lysander was. He was the undisputed kingpin of


    Starhaven and the head of the wealthiest family throughout the town.


    Jason began begging for mercy as he realized Thssa¡¯s connection with Lysander, ¡°I didn¡¯t know she


    was with you, Mr. Sinir. I swear I¡¯ll never do it again. Please let me go.¡±


    Sweat trickled down Jason¡¯s forehead as he grappled with the intense pain in his wrist; his legs


    trembled in fear.


    Just moments ago, he had been condescendingly telling Thssa to know her ce, to stop chasing


    after Mr. Ethan. Little did he realize, she was with Mr. Sinir, whose status far surpassed Mr. Ethan¡¯s!


    The blow to his ego came so swiftly that he could feel his heart trembling in his chest.


    ¡°Get lost!¡± Lysander snapped, tossing Jason aside.


    Clutching his broken wrist, Jason ran off and left his car behind.


    As Thssa stood there in a daze, she found herself locked in Lysander¡¯s deep, icy gaze.


    Her heart skipped a beat as she nervously exined, ¡°We had apany dinner tonight. I was


    nning to leave early to spend time with my mom¡­¡±


    ¡°You seem scared?¡± Lysander¡¯s sharp eyes bore into her as he stepped forward and wrapped an arm


    around her shoulder.


    His towering figure cast a shadow over her, his dangerous aura palpable. Thssa froze, not daring to


    N?velDrama.Org (C) content.


    move.


    Sensing her difort, Lysander said, ¡°He should consider himself lucky that he didn¡¯t do anything


    more to you. Otherwise, he¡¯d be dealing with more than just a broken wrist. You won¡¯t be involved as


    long as you steer clear.¡±


    Thssa¡¯s breath hitched. She was unable to utter a word.


    Thssa nodded lightly, still overwhelmed by Lysander¡¯s imposing presence. She couldn¡¯t rx


    despite she wanted to.


    ¡°You seem to forget something.¡± Lysander¡¯s deep voice broke the silence.


    Confused, Thssa turned towards him.


    Lysander¡¯s chiseled features were a mix of shadow and light, inscrutable under the glittering neon


    light.


    ¡°What did I forget?¡± she asked.


    ¡°Our private chat tonight.¡± Lysander¡¯s voice was deep and husky, like a veil of fog.


    Thssa¡¯s eyes widened. Their private chat? The one she had mentioned in his office earlier in the


    day? Did he still remember that?


    Before she could gather her thoughts, Lysander guided her to his car and helped her into the


    passenger seat. He bent down towards her while his powerful aura filled the space between them. The


    faint scent of sandalwood wafted over her as his handsome face brushed past her cheek. It was as if


    she had been struck by lightning; her body was trembling, her breath was hitching, and her heart was


    beating out of rhythm.


    What was he nning to do in the car?


    Every pore of Thssa¡¯s body was on high alert. Each time they were together, Lysander¡¯s energy was


    overwhelming, and her pleas for mercy fell on deaf


    ears.


    The next day, she would be too sore to get out of bed. This thought filled her with panic. If it happened


    in the car, her situation would be even more dire. Thssa felt nervous and gripped the car seat tightly.

 Chapter 764

    Chapter 764


    Thssa then heard the faint click of her seat belt being fastened.


    The deep, masculine breath next to her receded; she watched Lysander with a pair of eyes glimmering


    with a mix of emotions. As he straightened up, his eyes deep and inscrutable as he nced at her


    before returning to the driver¡¯s seat.


    Her inner panic eased a little.


    Was she being overly sensitive?


    He was just buckling her seat belt, nothing more.


    Lysander started the car and drove off.


    Exclusive content from N?velDrama.Org.


    As the car began to move, Thssa finally let out a sigh of relief.


    Once she calmed down, a question arose in her mind. Why was Lysander here?


    She nced down at the diamond ne around her neck. It was glinting with a kaleidoscope of


    colors under the fleeting streetlights.


    She didn¡¯t need to ask Lysander to know the answer. That¡¯s because the pendant on the ne


    contained a tracking device.


    Every ce she went and every behavior she made was under Lysander¡¯s surveince.


    A sudden sense of suffocation ignited within her, making it difficult to breathe.


    The car pulled up in the driveway of Royal Estates.


    The hall of Royal Estates was brightly lit. Even before she stepped inside, she could hear the cheerful


    voices of kids.


    Thssa quickened her pace and entered the hall, where she saw four little bundles of joy chatter


    excitedly with Fitch about their day at preschool. Unable to contain her delight, Thssa eximed,


    ¡°Babes, mommy¡¯s here!¡±


    The four little ones turned towards her at her words; their eyes lighted up with joy.


    ¡°Mommy!¡±


    They let go of Fitch and ran towards Thssa.


    Watching the four ¡®little penguins¡¯ waddle towards her, all the suffocation she felt moments ago


    evaporated.


    Tears welled up in her eyes as she knelt down to hug her little ones, pressing a loving kiss on their soft,


    rosy cheeks. Their sweet, milky scent was a balm to her soul.


    ¡°Mommy, I ate so much yummy food at preschool today, and I guessed all the ingredients right. The


    teacher gave me a gold star,¡± Elowen said; her big, adorable eyes were sparkling with excitement. She


    was sharing her joy with her mother.


    ¡°That¡¯s amazing, Elowen. I bet you¡¯re going to be a great food critic when you grow up,¡± Thssa said,


    ruffling her little one¡¯s hair.


    Elowen grinned from ear to ear as she was praised.


    ¡°Mommy, look, I fixed this circr pendant for you,¡± Sophia said as she held up the pendant. It was the


    same one that had gone missing and waster found.


    The table leg had cracked it but nobody else.noticed the crack itself. However, Sophia did. She had


    promised to fix it and now she did.


    Thssa locked eyes with Sophia; her childish eyes were filled with anticipation and pride.


    This was the first pendant she had ever fixed. She wanted to share not only the sense of achievement


    with her mom, but also the pendant itself. Thssa knew her kids better than anyone else and knew


    exactly what they were thinking.


    She took the pendant from Sophia¡¯s small hand and said warmly, ¡°Thank you, Sophia. Mommy loves


    everything you give.¡±

 Chapter 765

    Chapter 765


    Sophia¡¯sughter spread across her face; it was radiant and beautiful, a true reflection of her inner joy.


    ¡°Well, Mom, I don¡¯t have anything to give you, but I did get praised by my teacher today. We put on a


    y and apparently, I did pretty well.¡± Dorian scratched his head, trying to think of something that


    would impress his mom.


    Thssa caressed his cheek, her voice soft as she said, ¡°Dorian, you¡¯re amazing.¡±


    Dorian beamed at her affirmation.


    Thssa then turned to Atticus and asked gently, ¡°Atticus, do you have anything to share with mom


    today?¡±


    ¡°Mom, the teacher made me the group leader to guide the others in our studies, Atticus replied; his


    eyes were shining with pride.


    ¡°Wow, that¡¯s fantastic! Being a group leader shows that you have leadership skills, Atticus.¡± Thssa


    gave him a soft smile while affirming him and ruffling his hair.


    All four kids reveled in their mother¡¯s praise, their faces bright with happiness. When they clustered


    around Thssa, their hearts filled with a sense of safety and security as they no longer feared losing


    her.


    Thssa, hand in hand with Elowen, was hopping around in circles with her. As she turned around,


    she met Lysander¡¯s deep gaze. His look was genial as he watched her y with Elowen, seemingly in


    a good mood.


    Thssa felt her heart skip a beat as she caught sight of him.


    ying with the kids had made her forget her worries temporarily, but the sight of Lysander¡¯s deep


    gaze tightened her chest. His presence seemed to remind her that she was under his control; even her


    ess to her kids would rely on his approval. She could only be free to see her own kids when he was


    in a good mood.


    The oppression, coupled with the constant fear of losing her kids, prevented her from fully rxing.


    That night, Thssa wanted to sleep with Elowen or Sophia:


    Elowen, having had a great day, was not as clingy as usual. After her bath, she climbed into bed and


    told Thssa, ¡°Goodnight, Mommy. You go to sleep with Dad. I won¡¯t fight him for you anymore.¡±


    Thssa was taken aback, wondering why Elowen was saying things like that. Maybe Lysander said


    something to Elowen?


    She leaned over and kissed Elowen¡¯s tender cheek. She fondled her face as she softly said, ¡°Silly girl,


    Mommy will always love you.¡±


    Then Elowen drifted off to sleep with a smile on her face.


    This content is ? N?velDrama.Org.


    When Thssa went to Sophia¡¯s room and found her already asleep. The boys, likewise, didn¡¯t need


    her to tuck them in.


    The kids seemed to be growing up fast after they arrived at Royal Estates. Thssa struggled to keep


    up.


    All she could do was watch them grow without interrupting or interfering.


    As she stepped out of Sophia¡¯s room and gently closed the door, a deep and maic voice sounded


    from behind her, ¡°How long are you nning to drag this out?¡±


    Thssa jumped in surprise. She turned around to see Lysander. She clutched her chest as her was


    heart trembling with trepidation, ¡°Don¡¯t you make any noise when you walk? You freaked me out.¡±


    Lysander¡¯s gaze darkened. He gripped her wrist and led her upstairs.


    His rough hand closed around her slender wrist, its rough texture setting her nerves on edge.


    She didn¡¯t dare say anything when she followed him to the master bedroom.


    Once inside, Lysander closed the door and spun around, pinning her against it. He lifted her chin and


    forced her to meet his gaze. His eyes darkened as he captured her lips in a deep kiss.


    ¡°Mmm¡­¡± All of Thssa¡¯s tension and humming were muffled by his lips.


    As Thssa tensed up and thought she would once again be swept away by him, Lysander released


    her.


    She sagged against his chest; all her strength was gone. He held her by the waist as she put all her


    weight against him.


    Lysander¡¯s voice, husky and maic, echoed in her ear, ¡°How does it feel to be pursued, hmm?¡±

 Chapter 766

    Chapter 766


    A hint of danger was lurking under his mellow voice.


    Thssa could feel a shiver run through her upon hearing him. She could feel the intense danger he


    exuded.


    Her eyes were like shimmering pools of water, her eyshes fluttering slightly as she clutched at his


    shirt, ¡°I turned him down, I really did. I could¡¯ve handled it myself if you didn¡¯t show up.¡±


    FIS & IS


    She knew he was referring to Jason¡¯s pursuit of her.


    Her heart was still fraught with anxiety after she offered the answer. She worried that she wouldn¡¯t get


    any sleep tonight if Lysander snapped.


    His mood was as unpredictable as the weather, so she always had to be on guard for his sudden


    outbursts.


    ¡°Why did you turn him down? Because you were scared of me?¡± Lysander¡¯s voice was as maic as


    ever; his words were carrying a hint of danger that Thssa couldn¡¯t decipher.


    Thssa¡¯s heart pounded erratically as she tried to guess what he was thinking while bracing herself


    for his anger.


    ¡°Well, that was a part of it. But more importantly, he¡¯s just not my type.¡± Thssa¡¯s response was


    measured.


    Lysander would never believe her if she said her rejection had nothing to do with her wariness of him.


    She made no attempt to hide her fear of him.


    If she angered him, he would take away her kids and never let her see them. How could she dare to


    provoke him?


    Lysander¡¯s tense facial features rxed a bit upon noticing her fear. He crouched down slightly, circling


    his arms around her legs and lifting her up.


    Thssa held her breath as she instinctively wrapped her arms around his neck.


    With long strides, he carried her to the bed. He loomed over her; hisrge, imposing figure was


    trapping her underneath him as he looked down at her, ¡°So, what¡¯s your type then?¡±


    Thssa looked into his deep eyes and listened to his raspy voice. Her heart was racing, her breath


    growing ragged as she responded, ¡°Someone as domineering as you¡­.


    Lysander shuddered slightly, and his deep eyes rippled. He leaned down, pressing his lips onto hers.


    Thssa trembled slightly, stiffening before slowly wrapping her arms around his back and responding


    to his kiss.


    She had been taut as she was expecting to have to endure another sleepless night.


    This content is ? N?velDrama.Org.


    But instead, he released her when she was dizzy and out of breath from his kisses. Hey down beside


    her, pulling her into his arms, ¡°Is this what you wanted to talk about in private?¡±


    He held her soft body, his chin resting on top of her head.


    Thssa could feel his warm breath on the top of her head, which indicated his intense physical


    reaction,


    His voice, raspy and maic, made her heart flutter.


    Thssa breathed heavily to take in some fresh air. As shey in his arms, her face rested against his


    strong chest; she could hear his steady heartbeat.


    Her heart also pounded like a drum as her body felt soft and weak.


    ¡°Mmhm,¡± Thssa responded with a small hum.


    Lysander¡¯s lower abdomen tensed. He had nned to restrain himself and just sleep through the night.


    But her words had brought his body and heart to the edge of excitement. He rolled over, kissing her


    once again. Hisrge hand ran through her hair, holding her head in ce as he deepened the kiss.


    Thssa could even hear him swallow, which was hitched and overbearing. Her soft breaths


    intertwined with his heavy ones, creating an intimate atmosphere.


    ric dragged Hertha out of the restaurant, shoving her into his car before driving off.


    He nced at Hertha in the rear-view mirror. Her round face was flushed, her eyes dazed. It was clear


    that she was drunk.

 Chapter 767

    Chapter 767


    ¡°Where do you live?¡± ric asked.


    The ce he had always assumed Hertha to live in was actually Thssa¡¯s home, and he had always


    thought the four kids of Lysander and Thssa to be hers.


    So, he had no idea at all where Hertha actually lived.


    ¡°What are you doing now? Dropping me home? I don¡¯t need it!¡± Hertha huffed, puffing her cheeks out in


    irritation. ¡°Take me to the bar. I haven¡¯t had my fill yet!¡±


    ric¡¯s face darkened; he said in a stern voice, ¡°Hertha, are you trying to ruin yourself? That guy¡¯s as


    old as the hills and you know he¡¯s only drinking with you to get you drunk. You know what happens


    after that and I don¡¯t need to spell it out!¡±


    ¡°Do you think I want to drink with him? It¡¯s for work!¡± Hertha sat up straight; her eyes were shing with


    anger.


    Herrge, round eyes were filled with a mixture of hurt and rage.


    ¡°You can find another job, but if you lose yourself, you can¡¯t find that again,¡± ric said; his usualid-


    back demeanor was reced by a serious expression.


    At his words, something tightened in Hertha¡¯s chest, and her hands clenched on the cushion behind


    her. Tears welled in her eyes as she snapped, ¡°Why do you care if I lose myself? You¡¯re not my family


    and I don¡¯t need you to look after me! I won¡¯t go home, so take me to the bar!¡±


    She was puffing and being stubborn.


    ¡°Hertha, don¡¯t be so headstrong,¡± ric warned, his face stern.


    ¡°I will be so headstrong! If you won¡¯t take me, I¡¯ll get a cab myself! I¡¯m upset now and why can¡¯t I even


    have a drink? What are you, my dad or mom? Why are you trying to control everything?¡± Hertha¡¯s voice


    was quick with emotion, which was a clear sign of her distress.


    ¡°Enough of this. Just give me your address,¡± ric said, not wanting to be led by her.


    ¡°You¡¯re not going? Fine, I¡¯ll jump out!¡± Hertha¡¯s eyes filled with tears as she made an impulse move to


    open the car door.


    Seeing her actions in the rear-view mirror, ric barked, ¡°Hertha, sit down and behave!¡±


    But Hertha continued, her knuckles white and her face desperate as she pounded on the locked door.


    ¡°Quiet down, I¡¯ll take you to a bar!¡± ric finally gave in to her demands.


    Hearing his words, Hertha finally stopped; her chest was still heaving.


    He couldn¡¯t tell whether she was being sulk with him or herself.


    Soon, ric pulled up to the front of a local bar.


    Hertha got out of the car without a word and started walking towards the bar¡¯s entrance.


    N?velDrama.Org content.


    ric stayed in the driver¡¯s seat; his hands were gripping the steering wheel tightly. He was furious and


    ready to drive off.


    She was right, he wasn¡¯t her family, so why should he care?


    As he drove away, he nced in the rear-view mirror and saw Hertha¡¯s swaying figure entering the


    bar.


    He mmed on the brakes and the car came to a sudden stop. He swore under his breath and


    reversed the car, parking it and getting out.


    ¡°Hertha, I must owe you from a past life!¡± he muttered to himself as he entered the bar.


    His eyes scanned the crowd and found Hertha¡¯s slirn figure at the bar, nursing a ss of yellowish


    whiskey.


    A predatory man approached her and, with a sinister grin, struck up a conversation.


    When Hertha wasn¡¯t looking, he dropped a pill into her drink.


    ¡°Hey, beautiful, let¡¯s have a drink together,¡± the man said as he raised his ss to her.


    Hertha gave a naive smile and lifted her own ss, clinking it against his, ¡°Sure, let¡¯s have a drink.¡±


    And with that, she lifted the ss to her lips.

 Chapter 768

    Chapter 768


    Just as Hertha was about to take a sip from her ss, it was suddenly snatched from her grasp.


    Her mood was suddenly interjected and her expression turned sour within a sec, ¡°What the hell?¡± she


    grumbled, turning to the side.


    She was about to let out a string of curses, but the sight of ric¡¯s devilishly handsome face stopped


    her in her tracks.


    ¡°Why did you snatch my drink? Give it back!¡±


    She reached out to grab the ss he had stolen from her.


    ric held the ss high above his head and out of her reach; his piercing eyes were sternly fixed on


    her. ¡°Have you had enough yet?¡± He asked.


    ¡°A bit of courtesy wouldn¡¯t hurt, would it? I was the one who offered a toast to this lovelydy here. At


    least let us finish our drinks,¡± the man who had been hitting on Hertha earlier chimed in. With his dyed


    blond hair and smug expression, he was clearly a seasoned bar-goer who was always on the prowl for


    women on their own. His demeanor was bold, teetering on the edge of rude.


    ric mmed the ss down on the bar counter. The wine in the crystal-clear ss was taken up


    and down by the force of gravity and bubbled up white.


    He pointed at the ss as his piercing gaze bore through the blond man, ¡°Need me to dial 911 and


    have the cops exin the situation. to you?¡±


    The blond man¡¯s cocky demeanor quickly faltered, his eyes disying a mix of fear and panic. ¡°Alright,


    alright! You win!¡± With that, he grabbed his ss and hurriedly left, as if fearing any dy might deprive


    him of his freedom.


    Hertha¡¯s vision was still foggy. Seeing that the man who had been flirting with her had left, she asked


    ric angrily, ¡°What the hell, ric? Why do you always scare away any man whoes near me?


    Can¡¯t stand the sight of me, can you?¡±


    She wasn¡¯t a regr at bars and usually only came with her friend Thssa. They had never had any


    trouble when they were together, so she was oblivious to the idea that her drink might have been


    spiked.


    In her eyes, ric was just being difficult. He had been sour and irritable toward her ever since she


    identally hit his foot with a golf club, even though she had sincerely apologized.


    She couldn¡¯t forget his disdainful eyes that day, which pierced her heart. She had decided to give up


    pursuing him.


    She had been trying her best to resist her feelings for him, hoping to keep him away and protect her


    own heart.


    Yet there he was, right in front of her.


    ric met her reproachful gaze as a surge of annoyance filled his chest.


    ¡°I can¡¯t stand you? That¡¯s rich!¡± heughed scornfully. He picked up the ss and thrust it towards her


    lips. ¡°You want to drink, right? Here, drink up! Whoever doesn¡¯t drink is a chicken!¡±


    Annoyed, Hertha snorted and snatched the ss from him. ¡°Fine, I¡¯ll drink! I¡¯m no chicken!¡±


    She was about to drink when ric swatted the ss from her hand.


    The ss fell onto the marble bar counter, spilling its contents in all directions.


    Hertha instinctively jumped back but was still sshed by the spilling liquid.


    She stared in disbelief at her clothes, now stained with alcohol, and red at ric. ¡°ric, are you out


    of your mind?!¡±


    He tapped her forehead with his finger, ¡°You are the one out of mind! You should go see a psychiatrist


    tomorrow!¡±


    Hertha froze and immediately understood his meaning. Furious, she shot back, ¡°ric, you¡¯re the one


    who¡¯s crazy! Your whole family is crazy!¡±


    N?velDrama.Org (C) content.


    ¡°Shut up!¡± ric snapped, his eyes shing with anger. ¡°If it weren¡¯t for me, you wouldn¡¯t be stained


    with alcohol, you¡¯d be in way worse shape. Don¡¯t you get it?¡±


    ¡°What do you mean by that?¡± Hertha asked. She was unable to make sense of his words at that


    moment.

 Chapter 769

    Chapter 769


    ¡°If you drink with that man and end up at a hotel, do you think your reputation will still remain clean?¡±


    ric¡¯s stunning eyes bore into her. There was a hint of sternness under his teasing tone.


    Hertha¡¯s heart skipped a beat as it dawned on her, ¡°You¡¯re saying¡­the man earlier drugged the


    drinks?¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re as bright as a ckened light bulb!¡± It took him exining it so explicitly for her to get it!


    ric shot her a look of disdain and turned to leave.


    Hertha was still in shock and her heart was pounding with dread. If it wasn¡¯t for ric, she would have


    been done for.


    Seeing ric walking away, she rushed forward to grab his hand.


    ¡°Let go!¡± ric shook her off.


    Hertha¡¯s previously fierce expression turned into that of a starstruck fan. She no longer controlled the


    flutter in her heart and let her yearning for him shine through.


    ¡°ric, I was mean to you earlier. I¡¯m sorry, it was my fault. Please don¡¯t be mad at me.¡±


    N?velDrama.Org content.


    She weakly held onto one of his fingers and swayed it gently. She looked coquettish but she was


    mostly worried that he would ignore her.


    ¡°I¡¯m not your boyfriend. I couldn¡¯t care less about being mad.¡± ric pulled his finger away from her.


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry, okay? I was too harsh on you earlier. If it wasn¡¯t for you today, I would have ended up being


    some old man¡¯s trophy or someone¡¯s pawn. Can I have a chance to thank you, please?¡±


    ric nced at her, ¡°And how do you n on thanking me?¡±


    ¡°Uhm, what do you like?¡± Hertha asked after some thought.


    Before ric could answer, her eyes lit up as she thought of something. Holding back a smile, she


    said, ¡°You¡¯re adies¡¯ man, right? I¡¯m not wrong, am I?¡±


    Wasn¡¯t he known to be a charming yboy?


    Women were his favorite treat.


    ric stared at her barely contained excitement and had his guard up, ¡°What are you nning?¡±


    ¡°Since you¡¯ve saved me twice, I guess I¡¯m yours now. Tonight I¡¯m all yours. How¡¯s that for a surprise


    thank you?¡±


    Hertha¡¯srge round eyes sparkled as she looked at him, full of anticipation.


    ric took a step back, shocked. He had never been scared of a woman before, this was a first.


    He was starting to fear this feisty woman..


    ¡°Hertha, can¡¯t you think of anything else?¡±


    ¡°What else should I think of? All I can think about is you.¡± Hertha stumbled forward, wrapping her arms


    around his; her face nuzzled


    against his arm.


    The sleeves of ric¡¯s shirt were rolled up, and her warm, even hot cheek against his arm sent a


    shudder through his heart.


    He extended his other hand to pull her away, ¡°Hertha, you¡¯re drunk, stop making a scene. Have some


    dignity; if not for yourself, then for me!¡±


    Hertha clung onto him, not giving him the chance to pull her away, ¡°I¡¯m offering myself to you as a


    thank you; take me away!¡±


    ric¡¯s breath hitched. He wondered if she was really drunk or just pretending.


    He was about to pull her away by the cor of her dress when a familiar male voice rang out, ¡°Hertha,


    is that really you?¡±


    ric turned to look at the person. He stopped in his track as he saw a familiar face.

 Chapter 770

    Chapter 770


    The man was dressed in brown cks and a cream-colored shirt, his short hair dyed a chestnut brown.


    He had a youthful appearance, but his amber eyes were filled with mncholy.


    He walked over to ric and Hertha and stopped next to them, ¡°Mr. Falconer, what a coincidence.


    You¡¯re here for a drink too?¡± He directed his gaze towards ric.


    ¡°Leopold, it¡¯s been a while,¡± ric greeted Leopold Sinir.


    As he spoke, his eyes flicked briefly towards Hertha, who was clinging to his arm like a needy kitten.


    Noticing the confusion in his gaze, ric¡¯s stern expression softened slightly. He chuckled and


    exined to Leopold in a teasing tone, ¡°She¡¯s just a little tipsy.¡±


    By this, he meant that he wasn¡¯t interested in Hertha. Instead, she was the one clinging to him due to


    her disturbed state of mind.


    Although ric had a reputation for being adies¡¯ man, he knew better than to mix business with


    pleasure.


    He had no interest in Hertha and certainly didn¡¯t view her as a ything.


    Leopold examined Hertha carefully upon hearing ric¡¯s exnation. She was clinging to ric; her


    face buried into his arm, eyes closed, lips slightly pouted. She hunched and waspletely attached to


    ric.


    She was clearly under the influence of alcohol and looked addled.


    Leopold reached out to pat Hertha¡¯s shoulder gently.


    Hertha turned her head towards him; her eyes zed over with drunkenness.


    ¡°Hertha, you¡¯re here drinking alone? Didn¡¯t Thssae with you?¡± Leopold asked.


    He and Hertha, along with Thssa, were college mates. Back in the days when he was dating


    Thssa, Hertha often tagged along on their dates. Leopold and Hertha were quite familiar with each


    other.


    Half-closing her eyes, Hertha squinted at Leopold through her haze. Recognizing him, she lifted a


    finger to point at him usingly, ¡°Leopold, it¡¯s all your fault! If you hadn¡¯t treated Thssa so poorly


    and hadn¡¯t broken up with her, she wouldn¡¯t be in such a terrible


    state now!¡±


    Hertha was well aware of Thssa¡¯s predicament. She knew how Thssa was being dominated by


    Lysander, being used as a tool for his venting.


    The thought of it always filled Hertha with immense grief.


    N?velDrama.Org (C) content.


    Upon hearing Hertha¡¯s usation and Thssa¡¯s plight, Leopold¡¯s heart ached. His already


    mncholic eyes filled with sorrow and


    pain.


    ¡°Hertha, you¡¯re drunk. Let me take you home,¡± Leopold offered as he tried to hide his own pain. He


    reached out to support Hertha.


    Just as he touched her, she pulled away, ¡°Don¡¯t touch me. I¡¯m not going home. I¡¯m going to offer myself


    to ric. I want to go with him¡­


    ric and Leopold exchanged nces. Exasperated by Hertha¡¯s drunken rambling, ric gently pried


    Hertha¡¯s hand off his arm, ¡°I¡¯m only helping you because you¡¯re Thssa¡¯s friend. Don¡¯t get the wrong


    idea.¡±


    With that, he pushed Hertha towards Leopold, as if getting rid of a hot potato, ¡°You take her home. I¡¯m


    out!¡±


    Before his words even settled, ric turned on his heel and left, as if afraid of getting entangled with


    Hertha again.


    ¡°Hey, ric, don¡¯t leave!¡± Hertha called after him and prepared to give chase.


    Leopold stopped her, ¡°Don¡¯t bother. You can¡¯t handle him. You should stay away from him in order to


    protect yourself.¡± Leopold advised her wisely.


    ric¡¯s ¡®remarkable achievements¡¯ were known in the business circle.

 Chapter 771

    Chapter 771


    ric was juggling 30 girlfriends in a single month at his peak!


    He got a new woman every single day.


    Women were like fashion essories to him, and ric wore them perfectly.


    Hertha was a wholesome, good woman. She didn¡¯t fit in with a man like ric.


    If she insisted on being with him, she would be the one to get hurt in the end.


    Hertha¡¯s eyes shed with anger as she red at Leopold, ¡°What do you mean by protection?


    Thssa was dating you with marriage in mind. She thought you were a responsible man who treated


    her well. But what happened in the end? She was left heartbroken!¡±


    Exclusive content from N?velDrama.Org.


    Leopold¡¯s gentle and mncholic eyes dted a little, ¡°What are you saying? She was hurt after we


    broke up, wasn¡¯t she?¡±


    Seeing Leopold¡¯s intense look, Hertha realized she might have said too much.


    Thssa had been resolute in breaking up with Leopold, determined and decisive. When Leopoldter


    tried to reconcile, Thssa told him in a firm manner she no longer loved him.


    Even breaking up hadn¡¯t made her sad or upset. She did it to make a clean break, to rid Leopold of any


    lingering feelings and allow him to pursue his own life.


    Now she had just told Leopold that Thssa had been heartbroken when they split.


    It meant that she told Leopold that Thssa had never forgotten him.


    Hertha avoided Leopold¡¯s eager gaze, ¡°I didn¡¯t say that. Listen to Thssa. I must have been drunk to


    ramble like that. Don¡¯t take it to heart. I can¡¯t drink anymore. You were going to take me home, right?¡±


    Leopold looked stunned; his face was full of pain.


    Seeing him like this, Hertha wished she could p herself. Why had she let her anger make her blurt


    out such things? It was all the alcohol¡¯s fault. It had numbed her senses and made her speak without


    thinking. Only after the words were out did she realize she¡¯d said something she shouldn¡¯t have.


    ¡°I was really just talking nonsense because I was drunk. Thssa is doing great now. She has four


    lovely kids and she¡¯s with their father. She¡¯s going to be very happy, so don¡¯t worry. You should marry


    Debby soon and have kids of your own. Then your happiness won¡¯t lose to Thssa¡¯s.¡±


    Now that Hertha was fully sober and clear-headed, she tried to advise Leopold.


    As a former ssmate, she, like Thssa, hoped that Leopold could move on from his past


    rtionship and find his own happiness.


    After all, not all first loves end up together.


    First love may be unforgettable and deeply ingrained, but how many people actually ended up marrying


    their first love and having their own kids?


    No one¡¯s life was without regret. epting regret was part of living a better life.


    Leopold¡¯s pained eyes moved slightly as he regained hisposure. Looking at Hertha, he tried to


    keep his voice steady, but it was still slightly bitter, ¡°Let¡¯s go. I¡¯ll take you home.¡±


    Sitting in the car, Hertha could feel Leopold¡¯s gloominess. She felt guilty and tried to make


    conversation, ¡°Leopold, why were you alone. at the bar tonight? Didn¡¯t you have a drink?¡±


    ¡°I just got to the bar when I saw you and ric, so I came over,¡± Leopold answered.


    ¡°Oh, did youe to the bar alone? Are you feeling down? Or is there something bothering you?¡±


    Hertha asked with concern in her voice.

 Chapter 772

    Chapter 772


    ¡°I¡¯m drinking to numb my wistful thinking,¡± Leopold suggested without a hint of evasion.


    Hertha fell silent. As a witness to the past romance between Thssa and Leopold, no one understood


    better who it was that Leopold yearned for.


    ¡°Leopold,¡± Hertha began with guilt tinging her voice, ¡°I apologize for my thoughtless words earlier.


    Thssa has moved on and she doesn¡¯t me you. You should do the same and start anew.¡±


    She felt guilty and thought she had probably hurt him with her words. Her thoughts were muddled with


    alcohol so she was rambling and losing her marbles.


    She realized she really couldn¡¯t get drunk. It always led her to speak without thinking.


    Leopold dismissed her apology, ¡°I¡¯m not upset. You shouldn¡¯t me yourself.¡±


    Hertha wanted tofort him further, but she had already said all there was to be said. It was up to


    Leopold to sort through his feelings.


    To let go of the past was to give himself a chance at peace.


    Leopold drove away after dropping Hertha off.


    The next morning, Thssa was awakened by her phone¡¯s incessant ringing. She lifted her hand to


    answer the call, but a wave of weakness washed over her and left her aching all over.


    Images from thest night shed across her mind. Lysander had been unusually passionate; his


    movements were filled with an unrestrainable desire..


    She had passed out eventually.


    His actions were different from their usual encounters. There was some semnce of a normal


    couple¡¯s intimacy between them this time.


    Why was he behaving so strangely?


    Could it be because of what she had said yesterday, that she liked his type of man?


    She had learned from past experiences not to provoke him, and that was why he said something to


    please him. But she hadn¡¯t expected this oue.


    At least she could see their children whenever she wanted. The freedom to visit her children was


    enough to satisfy her.


    Thssa managed to sit up and reach for her phone on the bedside table. But by the time she had it in


    her hands, the call had ended.


    It was a missed call from Ethan.


    She nced at the time. It was half past nine a.m.!


    She waste for work again. Ethan¡¯s call was probably to remind her to get down to work.


    Thssa didn¡¯t bother to return the call. She felt it would be inappropriate in her current state.


    She needed to get dressed first anyway.


    Thssa propped her waist and got up. The room was empty except for her. Lysander was probably


    already at work.


    She marveled at his vitality. He had kept her upte into the night; did he not feel tired at all?


    She was so exhausted that she felt like she could sleep for days.


    That day, Thssa wore a high-necked blouse and buttoned it all the way to the top deliberately.


    Even so, it just barely concealed the love bites.


    Arriving at the office, Thssa headed straight to the secretary¡¯s office.


    Betty cast a sidelong nce at her, her words saturated with disdain, ¡°You¡¯ve been here less than two


    months and haven¡¯t even passed the probationary period. And you¡¯rete again and again. Do you


    think a few ttering words to Mr. Ethan will give you free reign?¡± Thssa paused, realizing Betty was


    referring to herments at the previous night¡¯s dinner.


    To prevent any further matchmaking attempts with Jason, she had suggested that Ethan was her ideal


    This content is ? N?velDrama.Org.


    man.

 Chapter 773

    Chapter 773


    Betty had always fancied Ethan. She was seeking every opportunity to get closer to him and hoping to


    be with him.


    Her casualment had somehow ruffled Betty¡¯s feathers, making Betty believe she was trying to


    steal Ethan away.


    Thssa calmly responded, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, appropriate deductions will still be made from my sry. My


    was all in jest, so why do you take it seriously?¡±


    Thssa tried to clear the misunderstanding with Betty. They shared an office, and any discord would


    Exclusive content from N?velDrama.Org.


    make their working environment ufortable. She was just trying to maintain peace for the sake of


    future cooperation.


    ¡°If Ethan didn¡¯t take it seriously, then why did he fire Jason first thing this morning?¡± Betty, who had


    been managing to keep her emotions under control, nowpletely lost it and retorted angrily at


    Thssa.


    Thssa looked at her surprisingly, ¡°Jason got fired?¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t y innocent. Nobody knows what you said in front of Ethan.¡± Betty shot her a sideways nce,


    turned her back and started working. She didn¡¯t want to engage any further with Thssa.


    No matter how much resentment and grievance she had, she couldn¡¯t do anything to Thssa.


    She wasn¡¯t a match to the cunning girl Thssa.


    Just a couple of days ago, she managed to get rid of Anna from the secretarial department, and less


    than two monthster Jason from the procurement department.


    It was obvious that Ethan was siding with her.


    And she was still iming she had no rtionship with Ethan. Nobody would believe her words!


    Betty was now convinced that there was something fishy between Thssa and Ethan.


    She had been pining for Ethan for so long without even the slightest touch, yet Thssa¡­


    Thssa was both shocked and incredulous; she really didn¡¯t expect that Jason would be fired.


    Was it Ethan¡¯s decision or was it Lysander¡¯s idea?


    Lysander saw a coffee stain on her shirt. When he asked about it, she casually said it was an ident


    by her colleague. The next day, Anna was fired.


    And yesterday, Jason confessed his feelings to her and even pulled and shoved her on the street.


    Lysander happened to see that scene. Maybe Lysander told Ethan to fire Jason?


    Thssa recalled Lysander asking her how she felt about being pursued by someone.


    She connected that with his icy attitude towards Jasonst night, then concluded that Lysander must


    have felt that Jason was encroaching on his territory and decided to teach him a lesson.


    Lysander¡¯s possessiveness was truly frightening.


    At eleven in the morning.


    Ethan called Thssa and Betty into his office and held a mini-meeting with them.


    ¡°This is our coboration information with Leopold. Both of you can go over it. Thssa, you need to


    monitor the progress of mobile production at Leossa Electronics for the next couple of days.¡± Ethan


    tossed two sets of documents in front of Thssa and Betty, delegating the task to Thssa.


    ¡°Mr. Ethan, what about me? What do I need to do?¡± Betty asked expectantly.


    ¡°I¡¯m going to Ocean City for a meeting in the next couple of days, Betty, you¡¯reing with me, in


    charge of booking hotels and arranging the itinerary.¡± Ethan said.


    Hearing that she could go on a business trip with Ethan again, Betty was over the moon.


    ¡°Sure, Mr. Ethan.¡± She responded as she cast a triumphant nce at Thssa.


    Ethan always took her on business trips, which meant she still had a chance! She had to learn from


    Thssa, be more pleasant and try to win over Ethan sooper.


    Thssa didn¡¯t even look at her. She was engrossed in reading the documents


    ¡°Isn¡¯t this delivery timeline in a week a bit tight?¡± Thssa noticed an unreasonable use.


    ¡°No worries, Leossa Electronics can rush it. Their 24-hour operating system can produce three times


    the output of other factories.¡±


    Ethan answered her question.


    Thssa nodded.


    ¡°By the way, Leopold ising to pay the deposit tomorrow. Thssa, you¡¯re in charge of hosting


    him.¡± Ethan instructed.


    Thssa¡¯s heart sank a little.

 Chapter 774

    Chapter 774


    Ever since the incident when Leopold had saved her from the clutches of Charlotte Ravensong,


    Thssa hadn¡¯t heard a peep from him.


    Now, upon hearing from Ethan that she was to meet Leopold tomorrow, a peculiar heaviness settled in


    her heart and she somehow felt the heartache.


    She had said things she shouldn¡¯t have, and she wondered how Leopold was faring.


    The next day came quicker than she expected.


    Ethan and Betty had left early for the airport. Betty was very excited about the prospect of some alone


    time with Ethan, and had packed her bags and left in a hurry.


    Thssa arrived at the office 20 minutes early, a rarity for her.


    As


    she was sitting at her desk, the phone rang. It was the receptionist. She picked up and the receptionist


    told her that Mr. Sinir was there and asked her if it was okay to send him upstairs.


    Mr. Sinir! Leopold!


    He was so early.


    Thssa was caught off guard, but she couldn¡¯t keep him waiting. She told the receptionist to send him


    up.


    Exclusive content from N?velDrama.Org.


    Once she hung up, she hurriedly checked her reflection in the small mirror on her desk, ensuring that


    her makeup wasn¡¯t smudged and that she had no breakfast crumbs stuck on her face.


    Assured that she was presentable, she left her office to go to the meeting room.


    After a short wait, Leopold arrived. He was dressed in a chestnut brown suit, the pants perfectly


    matching his stylish shirt. His sleeves were rolled up, revealing his tanned forearms. His short hair, of


    the same chestnut hue, gave him a youthful, sun-kissed appearance.


    ¡°Mr. Sinir, wee. Please, have a seat,¡± Thssa greeted him politely, standing to wee him.


    Leopold, after giving her a quick once-over, took the proffered seat across from her.


    Thssa approached him, carrying a fresh cup of coffee she had made just minutes before. She


    ced it on the coffee table in front of him, bending slightly as she offered, ¡°Mr. Sinir, please enjoy


    your coffee.¡±


    Leopold¡¯s eyes flickered to her, inadvertently catching a glimpse of her cleavage as she bent over. A


    wave of heat flushed his belly as he caught sight of the intimate view.


    Thssa, noticing the sudden hue on his boyishly handsome face, realized her posture was a tad


    inappropriate.


    Although she wore a high-cored shirt and didn¡¯t bend very low at the waist, but due to women¡¯s


    particr traits, there was always something to be seen through her neckline.


    She quickly straightened up, her hands fluttering awkwardly by her sides before she hurriedly retreated


    to her own seat.


    Leopold, looking slightly embarrassed, took a sip from the cup, breaking the awkward silence by


    saying, ¡°The coffee is good.¡±


    ¡°Thank you, Mr. Sinir,¡± Thssa responded, still a bit flustered.


    He raised an eyebrow at her formality, ¡°Just call me Leopold.¡± The heat in his eyes faded a bit and was


    reced by his usual softness. Thssa nodded in acknowledgement, ¡°Leopold, let¡¯s discuss the


    specifics of this deal. I initially thought that a one-week deadline was a bit tight, but Ethan assured me


    that Leossa Electronics worked around the clock, which makes them three times more efficient than


    other suppliers. It seems we¡¯ll be able to meet the deadline.¡±


    Leopold agreed, ¡°I have full confidence in Leossa Tech¡¯s efficiency.¡±


    Thssa continued, ¡°If there are no objections, we would require a 30% deposit as per the contract.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m here to make that deposit,¡± Leopold answered amiably. He took another sip of his coffee, savoring


    its taste for a moment before swallowing.

 Chapter 775

    Chapter 775


    ¡°The coffee you brew is as good as it always was.¡± He suddenly looked up and rested his deep and


    affectionate gaze on Thssa.


    Caught in his gentle gaze, Thssa instinctively looked away to avoid eye contact.


    She rested her elbow on her knees, her hands lightly crossed. A hint of a smile tugged on her lips as


    she said, ¡°Yes, the old way of grinding coffee beans and brewing coffee that I learned at school still


    works.¡±


    She majored in administrative assistance in college, where brewing coffee was part of the curriculum.


    She had studied it diligently.


    Leopold looked into her eyes, his gaze flickering as if reminiscing about the past.


    He then noticed the diamond ne she was wearing around her neck. He had seen it earlier but


    hadn¡¯t paid much attention. Now his eyes suddenly dimmed as he focused on her ne, ¡°Nice


    ne. Is that a gift from someone?¡±


    Thssa instinctively looked down at the ne around her neck and hurriedly tucked the pendant


    back into her shirt. It had probably fallen out when she bent over.


    ¡°Yes, it was a gift from someone.¡± Thssa didn¡¯t hide the truth.


    Neither of them mentioned who it was from, but they both knew who it was. The name was unsaid but


    understood.


    A heavy, mncholic mist clouded Leopold¡¯s eyes.


    2


    ¡°Leopold, thank you for exining to Lysander that I was kidnapped by Charlotte.¡± Thssa¡¯s


    professional smile faded; she spoke earnestly to Leopold.


    Leopold exined to Lysander that she had been kidnapped by Charlotte, and they wouldn¡¯t have


    gotten in touch if he didn¡¯t mean to save her. The video Charlotte sent, which suggested she and


    Leopold had been secretly meeting, wasn¡¯t the truth.


    Lysander had blocked her from seeing their kids. She was like a headless chicken who desperately


    wanted to see her kids but unable


    1.


    ¡°Do you know why I told Lysander the truth?¡± Leopold suddenly asked.


    Thssa looked into his brooding eyes and shook her head. She didn¡¯t know..


    Maybe it was because of their mutual past? Maybe he also didn¡¯t want to see her suffer?


    ¡°I don¡¯t want him to punish you due to the misconception. I will take you back from him openly and


    honorably, not through such misunderstandings!¡± Leopold¡¯s grim eyes turned resolute.


    Clutching the coffee mug, the veins on the back of his hand were slightly protruding.


    He understood Thssa as well as Lysander.


    Thssa was unwilling to leave Lysander and elope with him because she couldn¡¯t abandon her four


    kids.


    She was always kind-hearted, so how could she bear to leave her four kids behind?


    B


    And Lysander, with a strong desire to possess, had obsessed over Thssa just because they had


    Exclusive content from N?velDrama.Org.


    shared a bed five years ago. He wouldn¡¯t easily let go of Thssa.


    If Lysander misunderstood that Thssa and he had something going on, Lysander would certainly


    punish Thssa.


    Denying her the chance to see her kids was like taking half her life.


    Leopold didn¡¯t want Thssa to suffer like this. So, he chose to exin to Lysander where the video


    Charlotte sent came from.


    But this didn¡¯t mean he had given up on the idea of being with Thssa.


    Hearing Leopold¡¯s words, Thssa froze and stared at him; her heart ached at the resolve in his eyes.


    ¡°Leopold, stop being so good to me, please. If you really care about me, fall in love with another


    woman and marry someone else!¡± Thssa pleaded earnestly.

 Chapter 776

    Chapter 776


    Thssa desperately wished for Leopold to find happiness with another woman; she longed to see his


    well-being.


    Leopold¡¯s grip tightened around his coffee cup, the veins in his hand were protruding with an intensity,


    which mirrored his inner turmoil. He was fighting the urge to pull her into his arms.


    After a moment, he loosened his grip on the cup, ced it on the table, and lifted his gaze to Thssa,


    ¡°Where¡¯s your finance department? I need to drop off the deposit.¡±


    He didn¡¯t respond directly to her words but shifted the conversation back to business matters, even


    managing to summon a small smile to his lips.


    Thssa saw his smile and allowed her anxious hopes to dissipate. She ceased dwelling on their


    previous conversation and focused on work instead.


    ¡°Let me show you,¡± she said, rising from her seat. Leopold followed.


    They went to the finance department and he dropped off a deposit of three hundred thousand.


    As Thssa escorted him out of the Crawley Group, Leopold paused just before stepping into his car.


    Thssa halted behind him as well, watching as his back stiffened slightly.


    After half a second, he turned back to her, his eyes were burning with sincerity. He grasped her


    shoulders and said, ¡°Thssa, you saved my life without regard for your own. From that time on, I¡¯d


    be yours. Trust me, I¡¯ll do whatever it takes to make sure you live the life you want.¡±


    ¡°Leopold, I¡­¡± Thssa started to speak, but he was already in his car and shut his door. He denied


    her the chance to respond.


    He didn¡¯t wait for her to continue; instead, he started the engine and drove away.


    Thssa stood still, watching Leopold¡¯s car disappear into the distance. His words echoed in her mind


    and left her with a bitter taste.


    She wanted nothing more than for him to fall in love with another woman, to start a new life. Yet, he


    This content is ? N?velDrama.Org.


    imed his life was hers. This realization inflicted a fresh wave of pain on Thssa¡¯s heart.


    She remembered the time Leopold, with Isabe Everhart in his car, was ready to meet his end in a


    fiery crash. She couldn¡¯t bear the thought of such a tragedy and had intervened.


    She didn¡¯t realize that Leopold held onto that memory so strongly. Didn¡¯t he realize that the best way to


    repay her would be to move on?


    Why would she need his life?


    In the afternoon, Thssa didn¡¯t head to the Royal Estates after work. She had spent the previous day


    there to keep Evelynpany.


    Every time she saw Lysander, he would leave her drained the next day.


    She decided to take a break, to give herself time to fully recover before heading back to the Royal


    Estates to see the kids.


    While she and Evelyn were cooking in the kitchen, Hertha burst in.


    ¡°Thssa, I have something important to tell you,¡± she said, leading Thssa out of the kitchen and


    back to her room. She even closed the door behind them.


    Thssa raised an eyebrow, ¡°What¡¯s up? You¡¯re acting all sneaky.¡±


    Hertha made a face, looking like she was on the verge of tears. ¡°Thssa, I need to confess. I didn¡¯t


    keep the promise I made to you. I ran my mouth off.¡±


    Thssa¡¯s eyes widened in surprise. ¡°What happened?¡± She asked.


    ¡°Yesterday, I ran into Leopold at a bar. I think I was drunk, and I told him how broken you¡¯ve been since


    your breakup. I med him for not holding onto you, saying it¡¯s his fault you¡¯re having such a hard time


    now,¡± Hertha confessed.


    Thssa was taken aback, ¡°You actually said that to him?¡±

 Chapter 777

    Chapter 777


    Hertha nodded, her face a picture of regret, ¡°Iter realized I had been too loose-lipped. I tried telling


    him that I was just talking nonsense and that he should move on because you are doing so well. It¡¯s


    like he didn¡¯t hear a word I said.¡±


    Thssa rubbed her forehead, understanding now why Leopold had spoken as he did earlier.


    So, he thought she was still holding onto him.


    ¡°Thssa, I¡¯m so sorry. I know I messed up. You can yell at me or hit me. I promise I won¡¯t spill the


    beans next time. I won¡¯t tell anyone what you¡¯ve told me in confidence.¡±


    Hertha was filled with guilt. She took Thssa¡¯s hand and smacked her own arm with it a few times,


    indicating that Thssa should


    me her and hit her.


    Thssa grabbed her hand. She was about to say something before she sighed, ¡°Forget it. You were


    just drunk. Just try not to drink so much next time.¡±


    ¡°I know. I love you so much, Thssa. Even when I mess up, you still care for me,¡± Hertha wrapped


    her arms around Thssa as she fawned.


    Thssa couldn¡¯t help but shake her head with a smile. That day she also tried to make Leopold


    understand that he should let go, look ahead, and fall in love with someone else. She hoped he¡¯d get


    the message.


    A weekter, Leossa Electronics delivered their products on time.


    Leopold, and his team checked the goods without objections and marked the end of the coboration


    with the Crawley Group.


    Thssa was busy for the whole week. She had been constantly going back and forth between the


    This content is ? N?velDrama.Org.


    Crawley Group and Leossa Electronics.


    After the coboration ended, Ethan gave Thssa a day off. She didn¡¯t need toe to work the next


    day.


    Thssa, who had been on edge for a week, finally got to rx.


    She went to the restroom to wash her face. Looking in the mirror, she saw two dark lines on her neck.


    She stretched her neck to wash it, finding it hard to clean with her ne on. She took off her


    ne and ced it aside, then cupped some water to rinse her neck.


    After washing, she dried her neck with a paper towel and left the restroom,pletely forgetting her


    ne on the counter.


    Just as Thssa left, Betty walked out of the stall and saw the ne on the counter.


    She picked it up, recognizing it as the ne Thssa often wore!


    Betty knew luxury brands. This ne was a limited edition from a renowned brand. She had seen it


    in a magazine, and it was worth a fortune.


    She had always thought Thssa was wearing a fake, but holding it now, it was clearly genuine!


    How could a junior secretary afford such an expensive ne?


    She must have hooked up with someone influential, someone who bought her this ne!


    Could it be Mr. Ethan?


    At this thought, Betty¡¯s eyes shed with jealousy and resentment.


    She clenched her fist around the ne and slipped it into her pocket!


    When it was time to leave work in the afternoon, Thssa stood up from her chair and stretched her


    sore neck. As she massaged her neck, she noticed the absence of her ne,


    She looked down to find her ne missing!


    Thssa¡¯s heart pounded in panic. She remembered taking it off in the restroom and forgetting to put it


    back on.


    She hurried to the restroom, but the counter was empty, and the ne was nowhere to be found.


    She even checked the trash bin but found nothing.


    What could she do? The ne was a gift from Lysander, who had asked her never to take it off!


    Thssa shuddered at the thought of his reaction if Lysander found out that she had not only taken off


    the ne but also lost it. Fear and panic clouded Thssa¡¯s mind, leaving her in a state of shock.

 Chapter 778

    Chapter 778


    Thssa returned to her secretary¡¯s office, searching through drawers, desks, and every nook and


    cranny, but she couldn¡¯t find the ne anywhere.


    Betty, her co-worker, had already clocked out half an hour ago.


    Thssa was left alone in the office, her eyebrows furrowed.


    Suddenly, her phone buzzed in her pocket. She pulled it out and saw Lysander¡¯s name shing on the


    screen.


    She felt a sudden heat rush through her fingers and nearly dropped the phone before she managed to


    steady her grip. Staring at Lysander¡¯s name on the screen with the options to answer or hang up


    blinking below, Thssa¡¯s heart pounded in rhythm with the ringing.


    With trembling fingers, she swiped to answer.


    Exclusive content from N?velDrama.Org.


    ¡°Hello?¡± She tried to keep her voice steady, hiding the panic that was threatening to spill over.


    ¡°Come down.¡± Lysander¡¯s voice, low and demanding, left no room for discussion.


    Thssa¡¯s breath hitched. ¡°You¡¯re downstairs at my office?¡± She asked.


    ¡°What do you think?¡± Lysander¡¯s rhetorical question was oppressive and the tension was palpable even


    through the phone.


    ¡°I¡¯ll be right down.¡± Thssa quickly responded. She ended the call and rushed to the elevator,


    pressing the button for the ground floor. She stepped out of the building and immediately spotted a


    sleek ck Rolls-Royce parked in front of the entrance; its polished surface was gleaming luxuriously


    under the sun.


    As Thssa approached, the window of the backseat rolled down to reveal Lysander¡¯s handsome and


    poised face.


    His deep gaze met hers, his expression stoic and imposing.


    Thssa looked into his oceanic eyes; her heart, which had been pounding so hard, felt like it was


    slowing down.


    She arrived at the car and bowed her head slightly, not daring to speak.


    ¡°Do I need to invite you in?¡± Lysander asked.


    Startled, Thssa quickly opened the car door and climbed in. She wouldn¡¯t dare to make Lysander


    invite her in.


    That would be suicidal, wouldn¡¯t it?


    David, Lysander¡¯s driver, was in the front, and Thssa took a seat in the back with Lysander. His


    presence was overpowering. He could keep her on edge without saying a word.


    Thssa kept her gaze straight ahead, trying to ignore Lysander¡¯s presence. But his aura was too


    intense, making her feel anxious no matter how hard she tried to rx.


    Suddenly, he turned her face towards him, his deep, oceanic eyes searching hers.


    ¡°What are you so nervous about?¡± Lysander asked, his voice deep and demanding.


    Thssa, forced to meet his eyes, stammered, ¡°I¡­I¡¯m not nervous¡­¡±


    Lysander¡¯s gaze dropped to her neck, and Thssa instinctively covered it with her hand.


    ¡°Move your hand.¡± His voice was cold andmanding, offering no room for negotiation.


    Seeing Lysander¡¯s grim face and intense eyes, Thssa¡¯s fear escted into terror. Her heartbeat


    quickened and even her breathing grew heavy.


    She reluctantly moved her hand under his oppressive gaze.


    On her bare neck, the usual sparkling diamond ne was missing.


    Lysander¡¯s gaze snapped back to hers, his eyes sharp, ¡°Who gave you permission to take it off?¡±


    Thssa panicked and tried to exin, ¡°I went to the factory today and it was really hot. I was sweating


    a lot, so I took off the ne to wipe my neck. I left it on the sink and¡­and I forgot to take it with me.


    It¡¯s gone now¡­¡±


    She said thest part in a whisper, her head hanging low but her eyes anxiously watching Lysander,


    prepared for his wrath. She knew he¡¯d be furious once he noticed the missing ne.


    Seeing her terrified expression, Lysander let go of her face. He pulled out his phone, turned on the


    GPS, and handed it to David. ¡°Follow this route,¡± hemanded.

 Chapter 779

    Chapter 779


    David acknowledged and took the lead.


    Thssa¡¯s eyes widened with a mix of shock and realization as she looked at Lysander.


    N?velDrama.Org (C) content.


    That¡¯s right. Her ne had a GPS tracker. Just because she couldn¡¯t find it, didn¡¯t mean Lysander


    couldn¡¯t.


    In her panic, fearing Lysander¡¯s wrath for losing the ne, she hadpletely forgotten about the


    tracker. Lysander could easily locate the ne.


    ¡°It¡¯s just a missing ne. There¡¯s no need to hide it from me. I¡¯m not going to eat you alive,¡±


    Lysander said as he shifted his gaze to


    her.


    Thssa quickly replied, ¡°I understand.¡±


    But inside, she was grumbling, ¡®If anyone¡¯s going to ¡®eat me alive¡¯, it would be you! Every time you lose


    your temper, it¡¯s hell for me.¡¯


    ¡°Have you been avoiding me by not going to the Royal Estates these past few days?¡± Lysander asked,


    lifting her chin with his index finger to face him.


    If he wasn¡¯t seeking her out, she¡¯d probably keep hiding.


    Did she really think hiding would solve everything?


    Thssa hesitated before exining, ¡°Not at all. My mom hasn¡¯t been welltely. I went home to


    Thssa¡¯s absence from the Royal Estates was partly to avoid Lysander and to allow her worn-out


    body to recover. Plus, her work schedule had been hectic that week so she simply didn¡¯t have the


    energy to deal with Lysander.


    But another part of it was truly about apanying andforting her mother, Evelyn.


    Last time, she had identally injured Bruce¡¯s head. Bruce¡¯s wife, who was caring for him in the


    hospital, somehow found out about Bruce¡¯s rtionship with Evelyn.


    Bruce¡¯s wife had confronted Evelyn several times, hurling insults at her. It took a call to the police to


    resolve the situation.


    As Lysander stared into her clear eyes. Her gaze was a bit rattled but honest. She wasn¡¯t lying.


    Lysander tilted her chin upwards, leaning down to nt a kiss on her lips.


    She felt taut and stiffened as his warm, strong breath brushed against her face.


    But Lysander only kissed her once before pulling away. But they still remained close and mingled their


    breaths.


    His thumb traced her soft lips gently as his low voice rang out, ¡°When you¡¯re with me, you don¡¯t need to


    be on edge all the time.¡±


    His rough finger caused a tingling sensation on her lips. That felt like an electric current flowing through


    Thssa¡¯s heart. Thssa¡¯s heart fluttered. Her eyshes quivered and her breathing was unsteady,


    ¡°Since you¡¯ve said it, I get it. I¡¯ll stop being nervous.¡± Not that saying it would make her any less


    nervous. Lysander¡¯s aura, his intimidating presence and his regal demeanor¡­ everything about him


    made the air seem to stagnate. It was hard not to be tense around him.


    But if Lysander said so, she would, of course, agree.


    From her time spent with him, Thssa had learned to go along with Lysander¡¯s wishes to avoid


    trouble.


    If she defied him, not only would she fail to achieve her goal, but she would also make things worse for


    herself.


    Thssa had learned to appease and yield to Lysander so as to see her kids at any time and win


    herself temporary freedom.


    Thssa¡¯spliance pleased Lysander. Her sweet scent that was in his reach and her soft, rosy lips


    in his hand were both stirring his desires.


    His Adam¡¯s apple bobbed as he kissed her lips again.


    Thssa¡¯s pupils dted; her heart pounded faster and she dared not move.


    Oh God, David was still driving while Lysander was kissing her so openly. What if he wanted to do


    more to her?


    Thssa clutched Lysander¡¯s shirt; her eyshes were trembling. She didn¡¯t dare to let her thoughts


    go deeper. Just as Thssa was at her most nervous, the car, which had been moving, suddenly


    stopped.

 Chapter 780

    Chapter 780


    Thssa had assumed David was about to bail, leaving her to face the inevitable tongueshing.


    Yet, just as she had braced herself for what was toe, Lysander released her, their foreheads


    touching, his breath heavy and uneven, trying to regainposure.


    Thssa¡¯s eyes were filled with tears, her mind spinning. She was forced to endure Lysander¡¯s intense


    breathing, hisrge hand gently stroking her face as if trying to soothe his own ring temper with the


    warmth of her skin.


    David was the first to get off the car, silent, not even looking back. The less he knew about Mr.


    Sinir¡¯s private matters, the better.


    Otherwise, he¡¯d be the one to pay the price.


    Having been at Lysander¡¯s side for many years, David understood this principle all too well.


    After a while, Lysander managed to rein in his intense reaction. He released Thssa, and got out of


    the car.


    Coming back to her senses, Thssa hurriedly followed him.


    Stepping out, she realized they were at arge mall.


    Hadn¡¯t David been driving ording to the coordinates of her ne? Why had they ended up at a


    mall?


    Could her ne be in the mall?


    But she had lost it at the office.


    Lysander nced at her before heading into the mall.


    Thssa quickly followed.


    Entering the mall, Thssa immediately spotted four adorable little kids standing in front of a branded


    jewelry counter.


    Who else could they be but her four little darlings?


    They were speaking to a woman. Fitch stood guard behind them, carefully watching over but not


    interfering with the children¡¯s conversation with the woman.


    Upon closer inspection, Thssa realized the woman was her coworker, Betty.


    ¡°Where did these kidse from, spouting nonsense?¡± Betty grumbled, holding a ne in her


    hand, looking displeased at Sophia standing at her feet.


    ¡°I¡¯m not spouting nonsense. The ne you¡¯re holding really belongs to my mom, so you can¡¯t sell


    it.¡±


    Sophia¡¯s little face was serious as she raised her neck to look at Betty, her childish voice earnest.


    She saw Thssa wear the ne every day; her mother must have loved it. Why was the ne


    in someone else¡¯s hands and about to be sold?


    Betty¡¯s face twitched slightly, a hint of guilt crossing her face. She had initially intended tosh out, but


    seeing the children, she feigned calmness andughed, saying, ¡°Little girl, you must be mistaken. This


    ne is mine, not your mother¡¯s. Perhaps your mother has one simr to mine.¡±


    Sophia was just a child, so Betty could easily deceive her. Plus, the ne belonged to Thssa,


    who didn¡¯t seem to be married. How could she have such a big child?


    The child must have gotten it wrong.


    Sophia frowned, stating solemnly, ¡°I didn¡¯t get it wrong; this is my mom¡¯s ne. My mom¡¯s is


    genuine; there¡¯s only one of this ne, and there can¡¯t be an identical one. Miss, don¡¯t you agree?¡±


    Sophia was a jewelry appraisal expert. She never made a mistake when making appraisals of jewelry.


    She knew this ne well as her mom wore it every day, and her brother Atticus had looked into the


    origins of the ne. It was custom-made, and there was only one in the entire world.


    The saleswoman smiled awkwardly and said, ¡°Yes, there¡¯s only one genuine piece of this ne in


    the world. If there¡¯s another identical one, it¡¯s definitely a fake.¡±


    ¡°But mine isn¡¯t fake; your mom¡¯s is the fake one!¡± Hearing the saleswoman say that, Betty immediately


    panicked, hurriedly proving that the ne in her hand was real.


    She hade here today to sell the ne and make some money. If it was dered as fake, how


    could she get any money? Just whose child was this, and why was she fixated on the ne in her


    hand?This content is ? N?velDrama.Org.

 Chapter 781

    Chapter 781


    ¡°What you¡¯re holding is real, as is my mother¡¯s ne. There¡¯s only one in the world, so that


    ne is my mother¡¯s. Please give it back to me.¡± Little Sophia extended her hand towards Betty.


    The other three little ones huddled around Sophia, their heads tilted upward, frowning as they looked at


    Betty.


    The three of them silently backed up Sophia, protesting at Betty in unison..


    Betty, infuriated and embarrassed,shed out towards Sophia¡¯s extended hand.


    However, before she couldnd a hit, a shadow swiftly moved forward. That person kicked her, making


    her stumble backward and nearly fall. She gritted her teeth and red at the person who kicked her,


    yelling, ¡°Who are you? I¡¯ll sue¡­¡±


    Before she could finish her sentence, she saw the tall figure standing there. All her anger and


    resentment got stuck in her throat, her mouth fell open, and her lips trembled.


    She saw it right.


    The man protecting the little ones was Lysander!


    The King of Starhaven, the CEO of the Sinir Group!


    A person even more prestigious than Mr. Ethan!


    This content is ? N?velDrama.Org.


    And he was the one who just kicked her!


    Betty swallowed her anger, only then did she feel a burning pain in her belly. She couldn¡¯t straighten up


    due to the pain, as if her ribs were broken.


    That kick could¡¯ve killed her.


    Betty was trembling all over due to the intense pain coupled with fear.


    Lysander looked at Betty coldly, and then turned back and knelt down. He put hisrge hand on


    Sophia¡¯s frail shoulder and gently asked, ¡°Are you okay?¡±


    Sophia was scared by what had just happened, her face a bit pale. Hearing her father¡¯s concern, she


    gently shook her head, indicating she was okay.


    ¡°Dad, she took Mom¡¯s ne and won¡¯t give it back.¡± Elowen pointed at Betty andined.


    Seeing Lysander was like seeing the most powerful backer.


    Betty was shocked and terrified hearing the children call Lysander ¡®Dad.¡¯


    ¡°Sweethearts, why did youe to the mall? You scared me¡­¡± Thssa came forward, anxiously


    gathering her children into her arms.


    Seeing Betty about to hit Sophia, Thssa was extremely worried. But before she could intervene,


    Lysander stepped in and kicked Betty


    in time.


    After the initial shock, Thssa quickly came forward to check on her children, to see if they were


    scared.


    ¡°Mommy!¡± Seeing her, their eyes lit up, their voices filled with indescribable happiness.


    Thssa hugged them tightly, gently touching their soft cheeks. ¡°I missed you so much.¡±


    ¡°Mommy, we missed you too. Mother¡¯s Day ising up; we were choosing gifts for you and


    Grandma.¡± Dorian exined their reason foring to the mall with a radiant smile.


    Their kindergarten teacher had assigned them each to give their mother a gift.


    ¡°You all are the best gift to me,¡± Thssa lovingly touched their little faces.


    ¡°Thssa? You¡­ you¡­¡± Betty, standing not too far away, held her belly with one hand and pointed at


    Thssa with the other. Her voice trembled, her words were disjointed from shock and fear.


    Thssa was the mother of Lysander¡¯s children!


    So, what was her rtionship with Lysander?

 Chapter 782

    Chapter 782


    Thssa looked at Betty, whose hand was trembling in mid-air. The ne hanging from her fingers


    swayed with her quakes.


    A surge of anger filled Thssa¡¯s heart as she thought of Betty¡¯s attempt to harm her children. Gently,


    she addressed her children, ¡°Stay with your dad for a moment, darlings. I need to have a word with this


    The children obediently nodded as Thssa rose from her seat. In an instant, her gentle demeanor


    was reced by a stern one. She approached Betty, nced at the ne, and instead of snatching


    it away. She extended her hand, allowing the chain to fall in her palm. She scrutinized it for a moment


    before turning her gaze back to Betty.


    ¡°You do realize this ne is one of a kind, yet you imed it¡¯s yours. If I were to call the police,


    you¡¯d be charged with theft, wouldn¡¯t you?¡±


    Betty looked panicked, her forehead glistening with tiny beads of sweat. Her face was contorted in


    This content is ? N?velDrama.Org.


    agony.


    ¡°Thssa, I made a mistake. I¡¯m sorry,¡± Betty pleaded, her voice filled with desperation. ¡°I found it in


    the restroom. I should have returned it to you. I shouldn¡¯t have tried to sell it. I was blinded by greed.


    Please, forgive me this once. The ne is yours, here, take it¡­¡± Betty hurriedly shoved the


    ne into Thssa¡¯s hands, her movements urgent, as if passing on a hot potato.


    Ahead, Lysander¡¯s intimidating presence still loomed over her, his earlier kick not justnding on her


    body but also crushing her spirit, leaving her terrified.


    She had not expected that Thssa¡¯s backup would be Lysander!


    Had she known earlier, she would never have dared to cross Thssa.


    She had always assumed Thssa had cunningly ensnared Ethan, hence her relentless jealousy and


    constant shes with Thssa. She had even nned to sell Thssa¡¯s ne for some quick


    cash, thinking no one would notice.


    Thssa held the ne in her hand, her eyes sternly fixed on Betty, ¡°What were you nning to do


    to my children? Apologize to them right now and I might consider forgiving you.¡±


    ¡°Alright, alright, I apologize! I apologize¡­¡± Betty nodded hurriedly, without any hesitation.


    No wonder Thssa was always able to secure contracts with the Sinir Group. So she was in a


    rtionship with Lysander, and they even had children!


    The so-called executive of the Sinir Group she knew was no minor figure, but Lysander himself!


    Now, Betty finally understood how narrow her perspective had been, and how blind she was!


    Just now, she was wondering whose children these were, who were so sure the ne belonged to


    their mother.


    How could she not have thought that Thssa was their mother?


    Betty clutched her aching belly, hunching over as she approached Sophia..


    Lysander stood beside Sophia, emanating a chilling aura that made Betty tremble involuntarily. Even


    her teeth were chattering. She didn¡¯t dare look directly at Lysander, fearing even the slightest contact


    with him.¡±


    Betty hunched over in front of Sophia, who instinctively stepped back, frightened.


    Betty, enduring her pain, grimaced at Sophia and said, ¡°Little girl, I¡¯m sorry. I didn¡¯t mean to speak


    harshly to you, and I should have believed what you said. I made a mistake. I hope you can forgive me.


    You can hit me if you want.


    As she reached out to grab Sophia¡¯s hand, Lysander kicked her in the knee.


    Betty¡¯s knee buckled, and she fell onto it with a ¡°thud¡±. The pain in her belly, coupled with the sudden


    jolt of her knee hitting the ground, twisted Betty¡¯s face in agony as sweat trickled down her forehead.


    ¡°An apology without kneeling down bears no sincerity,¡± Lysander¡¯s cold voice echoed.


    Terrified, Betty trembled uncontrobly, disregarding her own pain as she hurriedly knocked her head


    on the ground in front of Sophia, continuously apologizing.


    Sophia, frightened, sought refuge behind Lysander¡¯s legs, clutching onto them timidly while stealing


    nces at Betty, who was bowing to her.


    Seeing Betty¡¯s severe injuries and her continuous bowing, Thssa finally felt a sense of relief.


    She couldn¡¯t bear to see her children being bullied.


    If anyone dared toy a finger on her children, she would fight tooth and nail against them!


    And Betty had dared to hit Sophia!

 Chapter 783

    Chapter 783


    Thssa was livid with rage.


    But now, seeing Betty kneeling before Sophia, pleading for mercy, Thssa¡¯s anger melted away.


    Approaching Betty, she said, ¡°Alright, off you go.¡±


    Betty looked up, her eyes shyly seeking Lysander¡¯s approval. Thssa had given her permission to


    leave, which ted her, but she dared not move unless Lysander said so.


    ¡°Scram!¡± Lysander said coldly.


    Betty scampered away in a hurry.


    ¡°Mr. Sinir, please have some water. We apologize for letting such a person offend you,¡± the manager


    of the store said apologetically, arriving upon hearing themotion. He was extremely cautious and


    respectful.


    The staff at the jewelry counter were terrified and remained silent. They were mere spectators to the


    entire scene, unable to say anything.


    Lysander nced sternly at the store manager.


    N?velDrama.Org (C) content.


    The manager trembled, almost spilling the cup of water in his shaking hands.


    ¡°Bring me the best jewelry as Mother¡¯s Day gifts you have in-store,¡± Lysandermanded.


    The manager, taken aback, quickly nodded, a glint of excitement visible through his fear. ¡°Yes, sir, we¡¯ll


    get them right away.¡±


    The manager hastily instructed the store staff to bring forth their premium Mother¡¯s Day gifts.


    Thssa looked curiously at Lysander. Was he asking for Mother¡¯s Day gifts because of what the kids


    had said earlier?


    The staff hurriedly went to arrange the best Mother¡¯s Day gifts.


    ¡°Mr. Sinir, we have a lounge over there. You can rest there while we bring the gifts,¡± the manager


    said cautiously, putting on a smiling face.


    ¡°Okay,¡± Lysander responded. He picked Sophia up in his arms and took Elowen¡¯s chubby little hand,


    heading towards the lounge. Thssa followed them, leading Dorian and Atticus by the hand.


    Just as they took a few steps, a familiar voice rang out.


    ¡°Bring them over here, and be careful.¡±


    It was a voice Thssa knew all too well. She turned to see Leopold, leading a group of workers into


    the store. Each worker carried a box and ced it where he instructed.


    As Thssa looked at Leopold, he also turned his gaze towards her. Their eyes met, and a silent,


    brooding atmosphere filled the air. Leopold¡¯s amber eyes seemed mncholic, making Thssa¡¯s


    heart clench.


    Before she could figure out the meaning behind Leopold¡¯s gaze, a chilling sensation crept down her


    spine. She turned around and caught Lysander¡¯s icy stare..


    A shiver ran down her spine, making her heart shrink in panic. She lowered her eyes silently.


    Meanwhile, Leopold had averted his gaze, not greeting them. It was as if he had merely seen a


    stranger.


    He continued instructing the workers to unpack the mobile phones from the boxes and ce them on


    the counter.


    The mall was a marketing point for Leopold¡¯s mobile phones.


    Suddenly, the phones inside the counter exploded in a chain reaction. The customers standing nearby


    scattered in panic as sparks and fragments of ss flew in all directions.


    ¡°Watch out!¡± Thssa¡¯s pupils dted in shock. She instinctively pulled the two kids into her arms,


    shielding them with her body from the explosion behind her.

 Chapter 784

    Chapter 784


    Meanwhile, Lysander was holding Sophia in one arm while quickly scooping Elowen up with the other,


    guarding the two children closely within his sturdy frame.


    Behind him, the deafening sounds of explosions echoed, one after another, in a terrifying chorus.


    Screams and cries of pain filled the air.


    The explosions urred so swiftly that nobody had time to react or take any protective measures.


    From the onset of the explosions to the cessation, only a few seconds psed.


    Thssa¡¯s arms, clutching the children, trembled slightly from tension.


    When the explosions ceased, she turned her head in fright to see a scene of utter devastation.


    The two workers who had been carrying boxes were sprawled on the ground; one¡¯s face was


    unrecognizable, his neck punctured by shards of ss, blood seeping relentlessly.


    The other¡¯s chest was a gruesome mess of torn flesh and blood. Hey convulsing on the ground, a


    sight so horrifying that it induced despair.


    The store staff who had been arranging cellphones on the counter had fled, huddled in fear at a safe


    distance.


    The marble floor was littered with shards of ss, cellphone parts, and blood.


    Thssa, terrified, started to dry heave as she took in the scene.


    She looked at Leopold, who was hiding in a corner behind the ss counter. His arm was impaled with


    several pieces of ss, blood seeping through and droplets falling one by one.


    Not only his arm, but his back too was impaled with shards of ss. His brown shirt was soaked with


    blood, turning dark ck under the light.


    Thssa¡¯s heart sank as she called out in worry, ¡°Leopold!¡±


    Leopold loosened the hand holding his head and looked back at her. He looked at Thssa with his


    bloodshot eyes and his emotions crumbled. Tears welled up in his eyes as he gritted his teeth, trying to


    suppress the pain.


    Seeing Leopold¡¯s pain-filled, terrified eyes, Thssa¡¯s heart convulsed violently and she wanted to go


    forward and check on his injuries. As she moved, the child in her arms grabbed her hand. In a weak


    Exclusive content from N?velDrama.Org.


    and trembling voice, filled with fear, the child whimpered, ¡°Mommy, I¡¯m scared, so scared¡­!


    Thssa snapped back to reality, seeing Dorian clutching her hand, his young face on the verge of


    tears from fear.


    Thssa quickly stopped, covering the children¡¯s eyes with her hand, her voice trembling, ¡°Don¡¯t be


    scared. I will take you out of here now. Don¡¯t worry, I¡¯m here¡­¡±


    With one hand covering each child¡¯s eyes, she turned her back on the chaotic scene and headed for


    another exit in the mall.


    ¡°Call an ambnce, and call the police! Seal off the scene. Don¡¯t let anyone approach! Lysander


    instructed the mall manager in a stern


    tone.


    The manager, pale and shaking, had never dealt with such a serious incident during his tenure.


    This grisly event left him stunned. Hearing Lysander¡¯s instructions, he quickly regained hisposure,


    trembling as he dialed for help, arranged for security to seal off the area, and checked on the injured.


    ¡°Mr. Sinir, how are you feeling?¡± The manager asked Leopold, anxiously assessing his injuries.


    With gritted teeth and bloodshot eyes, Leopold shook his head, ¡°I¡¯ll¡­I¡¯ll be fine¡­¡±


    After saying that, he looked towards Lysander who was standing not far away, the bottom of his


    bloodshot eyes filled with a gloomy


    aura.


    Lysander, with one child in each arm, felt their little bodies clinging tightly to him. The children stayed


    utterly still, their tense bodies clearly conveying their fear and panic.

 Chapter 785

    Chapter 785


    Lysander stood facing the ident scene, with the children tucked against his chest, their backs to the


    chaos. His hands firmly pressed down on their little bodies, shielding them from the horrific sight.


    His eyes met with Leopold¡¯s and saw his eyes were bloodshot, holding back some emotion. Furrowing


    his brows, Lysander turned and walked away.


    He quickly caught up with Thssa, ncing at her.


    Her face was ashen, lips trembling uncontrobly, not just from fear, but more so from worry.


    Who was she worried about? Leopold¡¯s injuries, or the fright the kids might¡¯ve experienced?


    Lysander matched his strides with Thssa¡¯s, walking beside her.


    As Thssa hastened to leave with the children, a shadow loomed at her side. An icy aura enveloped


    her, impossible to ignore.


    She turned to see Lysander and the children who were nestled against him. They were so still, clearly


    terrified out of their wits.


    Lysander¡¯s handsome face was tense, and his eyes were fixed on her.


    Thssa met his gaze, her heart sinking.


    Without stopping, they continued their quick exit. The security guards were drawing caution tape to


    prevent anyone from entering the mall. The people outside were oblivious to what had happened,


    naturally curious as to why they were being barred from entry.


    The guards simply mentioned an emergency and turned away all those attempting to enter.


    The mall was now exit-only.


    Thssa, holding Dorian and Atticus¡¯ hands, sat down by a flower bed outside the mall. Finally, she


    had a moment to check on the children for any injuries.


    ¡°How are you, Dorian, Atticus? Are you hurt?¡± Thssa asked, her eyes filled with concern.


    Dorian shook his head. ¡°I¡¯m okay, Mom.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m okay too.¡± Atticus was quick to reassure her; he didn¡¯t want Thssa to worry.


    Lysander, too, let Elowen and Sophia down. The frightened little ones hurried into Thssa¡¯s arms,


    their voices soft and pitiful.


    ¡°Mommy, what exploded? I was so scared,¡± Elowen whimpered, her grip on Thssa¡¯s dress


    trembling.


    This content is ? N?velDrama.Org.


    Sophia, who had held her tears all the while, finally let them flow as she buried her face in Thssa¡¯s


    chest.


    Hearing the children¡¯s soft, scared voices, Thssa felt her heart shatter. She hugged all four children


    tightly, kissing their foreheads and soothing them gently, ¡°Don¡¯t be scared; it¡¯s over. Mommy and Daddy


    are right here. It was just a movie shoot; it¡¯s not real, Don¡¯t be scared.¡±


    As sheforted the children, Thssa couldn¡¯t help but think of the sight she¡¯d just witnessed the


    blood-stained floor, Leopold¡¯s body pierced with shards of ss¡­


    Her heart clenched painfully.


    She wondered how Leopold was doing now.


    Her gaze shifted to meet Lysander¡¯s deep eyes, her heart skipping a beat as she desperately tried to


    hide her worry.


    Everything would be alright.


    There were plenty of staff in the mall, and they would¡¯ve called for help.


    As long as Leopold¡¯s vitals were unharmed, he would be okay.

 Chapter 786

    Chapter 786


    Thssa shifted her gaze, continuing to soothe the children, not meeting Lysander¡¯s eyes. Lysander, at


    this point, didn¡¯t press further into whom exactly she was worried about.


    He withdrew his gaze, pulled out his cell phone, and called David. ¡°Pull up to Gate 2.¡±


    Soon, Thssa saw the ck Rolls Royce drive up. She let go of the four little ones, whispering to


    them softly, ¡°Darlings, let¡¯s get in the car first, and head home.¡±


    ¡°Mmhm.¡± The little ones nodded, eager to make their way to the car.


    Once Thssa had helped them into the car, she got in herself. The car didn¡¯t move, as Lysander had


    yet to get in.


    Lysander instructed Fitch, who had been trailing behind him, ¡°Follow up on this matter.¡±


    ¡°Yes, sir.¡± Fitch nodded in response.


    The explosion had scared Fitch to his core, fearing that something might happen to the children. He


    was the one who had brought them here, and if anything happened to them, he wouldn¡¯t be able to


    escape responsibility, nor could he forgive himself.


    Thankfully, Thssa and Lysander had protected the children from any harm.


    However, the scene was gruesome enough to chill Fitch to the bone.


    Two workers were critically injured, their fate uncertain.


    Fitch turned around, heading back to the mall.


    Lysander got into the car, which quickly drove away.


    It was quiet inside the car. The usually talkative children were now silent, huddling in Thssa¡¯s arms


    because of the shock.


    And Thssa, holding onto her four little children, kept her heart clenched tight, not saying anything.


    Lysander, sitting in the passenger seat, was even less likely to start a conversation.


    The quiet atmosphere inside the car was somewhat somber, with each person lost in their thoughts.


    In no time, they arrived at the Royal Estates.


    Thssa, leading the four children into the house, sat down on the couch. The children were still in


    shock, clinging to Thssa¡¯s clothes, leaning against her, sticking to her as if afraid she would leave


    them.


    Thssa understood that this was a sign that the children were feeling insecure.


    No one knew her children better than she did. Whenever they felt insecure, they would be


    particrly clingy.


    She sat on the couch, holding two children in each arm,forting them silently with the warmth of her


    embrace.


    At this moment, words were of no use to the children. Only staying close to their mother could bring


    them a sense of safety andfort.


    Lysander approached them, seeing the four children all leaning on Thssa, their heads buried in her


    arms while she gently caressed their small heads. The scene was heartwarming andforting.


    He didn¡¯t disturb them, instead he turned to leave the living room and return to the car. He instructed


    David, ¡°Take me to the police station.¡±


    ¡°Yes, sir.¡± David nodded, driving the car away.


    Exclusive content from N?velDrama.Org.


    The detective squad had already inspected the scene and determined the cause of the ident.


    Lysander¡¯s good friend, Captain Payne, told Lysander, ¡°After testing, we¡¯ve found that the explosion


    was caused by a malfunctioning cell phone. One phone exploded, triggering a chain reaction and


    resulting in multiple phones exploding.¡±


    Lysander¡¯s eyes were imprable, a low pressure surrounding him. ¡°What caused the phone to


    explode?¡±


    ¡°The phoneponents contained white phosphorus. This chemical, when exposed to air and


    reaching thebustion point, will spontaneously ignite. Given that phones inherently contain


    explosive material, the internalbustion led to the phone exploding. One phone explosion triggered


    the self-ignition of the white phosphorus in other phones, causing serial explosions,¡± Captain Payne


    exined to Lysander.


    This was the cause of the ident as currently understood, with no suspicious human activity detected


    as yet.


    Lysander said, ¡°I see.¡±


    With that, he stood and left.


    Royal Estates

 Chapter 787

    Chapter 787


    Thssa had just tucked the children into bed. She closed the door gently, ensuring their peaceful


    slumber.


    She returned to her master bedroom, shutting the door behind herself before taking out her phone from


    N?velDrama.Org (C) content.


    her pocket. Her eyes fell on Leopold¡¯s contact details and her finger hovered over his number,


    intending to call him.


    Just as she was about to press, she hesitated, her heart teetering on the edge of uncertainty. She


    wanted to call him to ask how he was doing. At the same time, she feared she might disturb him, or


    worse, give him the wrong idea.


    Was it suitable to make a call in their current rtionship? It felt like even showing concern was an


    unnecessary gesture.


    Taking a deep breath, Thssa ultimately didn¡¯t make the call. Just as she was about to put her phone


    back into her pocket, it rang, its shrill tone jolting her nerves. Seeing Leopold¡¯s name sh across the


    screen, she hesitated before answering, ¡°Hello?¡±


    ¡°Thssa, it¡¯s me. I¡¯m at the hospital. The doctors have removed the ss shards, and I¡¯m only slightly


    injured. Don¡¯t worry,¡± Leopold¡¯s voice sounded a bit weary but strong over the phone.


    He didn¡¯t sound like he was gravely injured,


    Knowing that he was okay, Thssa¡¯s heart finally rxed, ¡°That¡¯s good to hear. What about the two


    workers? Were they sent to the hospital with you?¡±


    ¡°Yes,¡± Leopold responded with a single, heavy word.


    ¡°How are they doing?¡± Thssa asked, holding onto a sliver of hope.


    ¡°They didn¡¯t make it,¡± Leopold said dully.


    Thssa¡¯s hope sank immediately, reced by sorrow and sympathy. Those men were someone¡¯s


    sons, husbands, and fathers. Now, two families had to bear the pain of losing their loved ones.


    Holding back her pain, Thssa asked cautiously, ¡°How did the ident happen?¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t know. The police are investigating. I need to get an IV drip now. I¡¯ll talk to youter.¡± With that,


    Leopold hung up.


    Sitting on his hospital bed, his expression was grim, concealing the profound loss and distress in his


    eyes.


    His back was severely injured, and his arm was also hurt. Despite his physical pain, the look of deep


    concern in Thssa¡¯s eyes when the ident happened was something he couldn¡¯t forget or let go of.


    He¡¯d rather endure the excruciating pain than let her worry about him. The moment he was able, he


    called to reassure her that he was okay.


    Thssa stared at the disconnected call on her phone. Her vision blurred as she focused on Leopold¡¯s


    name, her grip on the phone tightening unconsciously.


    After holding her breath for half a minute, she let out a heavy sigh, her fingers trembling slightly as she


    deleted Leopold¡¯s number.


    Knowing he was okay was enough. There was no need to keep in touch. She had told him to start a


    new life, and it wasn¡¯t right for her to interrupt it.


    She, too, needed to live her own life without dragging Leopold into it.


    Just as she deleted his number, the door handle behind her was twisted. Someone was trying to open


    the door.


    Startled, Thssa quickly opened the door.


    Lysander was standing at the entrance, his tall figure casting a shadow over her.


    Thssa¡¯s heart tightened involuntarily, her breath hitching, ¡°You¡¯re back. Where were you earlier?¡±


    She asked, struggling to keep her voice steady.


    apter

 Chapter 788

    Chapter 788


    ¡°Police station, Lysander replied, striding in with his long legs.


    His imposing aura approached, and an icy chill seemed to strike at Thssa¡¯s heart. Instinctively, she


    stepped back, making room for


    him.


    But Lysander didn¡¯t take the path she¡¯d cleared, he advanced on her instead. The intense rush of cold


    air hit Thssa¡¯s cheek as he drew nearer. Nervously, she kept stepping back, tripping on her own


    foot, almost falling over.


    A lean, muscr arm wrapped around her waist, gently pulling her back. Thssa¡¯s body was brought


    back against Lysander¡¯s sturdy, powerful chest.


    2 2 2 2 2 5 3 3 3 3


    She looked up at him, panic-stricken. Meeting his profound gaze, she gasped, ¡°What¡­what¡¯s the


    matter?¡±


    ¡°What are you doing, locking yourself up in your room, hmm?¡± His deep-set eyes scrutinized her, as if


    trying to prate her soul.


    ¡°Nothing, I was just about to rest,¡± Thssa turned her face away, avoiding his gaze.


    Lysander nced at the cell phone she was holding, took it from her, and unlocked it.


    Watching his movements, Thssa furrowed her brows, biting her lip slightly. Her heart tightened, but


    she didn¡¯t resist, letting him inspect her phone.


    She¡¯d deleted Leopold¡¯s call history and even his phone number the moment she got it, to prevent


    Lysander from finding out.


    Lysander looked over her phone but found nothing unusual. He continued to stare at her, ¡°Not going to


    ask me what I was doing at the police station, huh?¡±


    Snapping back to reality, Thssa¡¯s flustered eyes met his. His gaze was too deep, enigmatic, and


    inscrutable.


    She didn¡¯t contradict him, and asked, ¡°Were you checking on the progress of the mall explosion case?¡±


    ¡°You guessed right,¡± Lysander¡¯s deep voice echoed, ¡°Two workers died on the spot, and three were


    injured.¡±


    Thssa frowned, her heart heavy. This was no news story; it was a grim reality they¡¯d witnessed.


    This content is ? N?velDrama.Org.


    She felt pain for the families of the deceased workers.


    The pain of losing a loved one was earth-shattering.


    ¡°Not going to ask about Leopold¡¯s condition?¡± Lysander suddenly asked.


    Thssa¡¯s heart jolted as she saw Lysander¡¯s slightly raised eyebrow. His eyes were like a ck hole,


    ready to devour her soul.


    Thssa¡¯s heart pounded, she slowed her breathing, trying to conceal any sign of guilt. She carefully


    asked, ¡°The two who died were workers, and he¡¯s not a worker. He must be one of the three injured.¡±


    She tried to give the impression that Leopold¡¯s situation had nothing to do with her.


    She¡¯d seen Lysander¡¯s possessiveness before.


    If he found out there was something between her and Leopold, the one in trouble wouldn¡¯t just be her,


    but Leopold as well.


    Lysander remained silent, staring at her as if trying to see through her soul.


    Thssa braced herself under his deep, sharp gaze. The immense pressure was like an invisible stone


    bearing down on her. She tried to resist, but her strength was insignificant. The invisible stone was


    about to crush her.


    She was barely holding on.


    ¡°Have you showered yet?¡±


    Just as she was on the verge of breaking, Lysander suddenly changed the subject.


    The tense atmosphere eased instantly, Thssa quickly replied, ¡°Not yet.¡±


    ¡°Together,¡± Lysander said, wrapping his arm around her waist, leading her towards the bathroom.


    Thssa wanted to refuse. She didn¡¯t want to shower with him. But his grip around her waist was


    forceful, dominant, even oppressive.

 Chapter 789

    Chapter 789


    Lysander was always ready to tear her apart the moment she resisted.


    Thssa, swallowing down her urge to fight back, followed him into the bathroom.


    As the bathroom door closed behind them, Lysander began to leisurely unbutton his shirt. Thssa¡¯s


    eyes were drawn to his attractive throat, and as he undressed, his strong corbone¡­


    Thssa¡¯s heart jumped, and she quickly turned away, refusing to look at him.


    Despite her fear and panic towards him, whenever she saw his muscr, attractive body, she couldn¡¯t


    help but blush and her heart would race, her body rippling with an uncontroble wave of emotion.A


    wave she couldn¡¯t contro!.


    Thssa was deeply frustrated.


    Thssa had just turned her back when Lysander took her shoulders in hisrge hands, turning her


    back towards him. His finger lifted her chin, his deep voice mixed with the steam from the hot water,


    ¡°What haven¡¯t you seen before that you¡¯re being shy about, hmm?¡± Swallowing nervously, Thssa


    responded, ¡°It¡¯s been a few weeks since we¡¯ve seen each other, so I guess I¡¯m a bit rusty.¡±


    Lysander¡¯s eyes narrowed, his entire presence radiating a dangerous aura, ¡°Well, then let¡¯s get you


    reacquainted.¡±


    With a finger lifting her chin, he kissed her dominantly.


    Thssa¡¯s breath was stolen, her lips pried apart, her tongue coiled up, and swept away¡­


    From the moment he kissed her, a strong numbing sensation spread quickly from her lips to her whole


    body, and Thssa¡¯s body went limp.


    Lysander¡¯s deep, hot breath was warm against her face, mixing with her own as he held her steady,


    making sure she didn¡¯t slide down his body.


    Their intertwined breaths, mixed with the steady sound of water in the shower, created a steamy haze


    on the bathroom mirror, blurring the reflection of the two tightly embraced figures.


    The next day, Thssa was awakened by the sunlight that peeked through the curtains and shone on


    her face.


    As she slowly woke up, she raised her hand to shield her eyes from the sun. Just as she was about to


    get up, she noticed a heavy weight on her chest.


    Opening her eyes, she turned her head to see Lysander¡¯s handsome face. He was sleeping on his


    side, his arms still wrapped around her, his arm pressing down on her, making it hard for her to


    breathe.


    The morning sunlight, not too intense yet, shone on Lysander¡¯s face, making it seem as if he was


    glowing.


    His strong features, high cheekbones, and sensual lips, allbined with his masculinity, made his


    face incredibly attractive.


    And his tall, muscr body, his toned abs, and strong chest¡­


    Absolutely wless.


    And most importantly, he was the father of her children.


    If he wasn¡¯t the CEO of the Sinir Group, if he wasn¡¯t the head of the Sinir family, Starhaven¡¯s first


    elite family, if he wasn¡¯t so domineering, cold, and ruthless¡­


    << = 80 F


    Perhaps, she would be the happiest woman in the world.


    They could have aplete family.


    But the world is not full of ¡®ifs¡¯.


    Thssa carefully moved his arm off her, slowly got out of bed, and got dressed from the wardrobe.


    This content is ? N?velDrama.Org.


    As she was dressing up, she suddenly felt a chill down her spine.


    Turning around, Thssa found herself meeting Lysander¡¯s deep eyes.


    Startled, she quickly covered herself with the clothes, ¡°You¡¯re awake.¡±

 Chapter 790

    Chapter 790


    After Thssa had spoken, her hand, clutching her clothes, instinctively tightened. She chided herself


    for her naivet¨¦. Why would she tantly change clothes in the bedroom?


    Didn¡¯t she know that Lysander was right there?


    She should have changed in the bathroom.


    Now that he had seen her, she felt a mix of embarrassment and awkwardness.


    Lysander sat up, and the nket slid off him, revealing his muscr upper body. His chest was firm,


    his abs well-defined, exuding raw


    power.


    Justst night, it was this body that held her and controlled her, drawing her deeper and deeper into


    pleasure.


    As Thssa¡¯s gaze fell upon his body, she took a sharp breath, her face flushing. She quickly turned


    around and hurriedly went to the bathroom.


    Watching her shyly retreat, Lysander¡¯s eyes deepened.


    He remembered her saying she was powerless against his body, that she liked how he was built.


    Those words had deeply touched him.


    Thssa got dressed, freshened up, and when she came back, Lysander was already dressed, looking


    distinguished and sophisticated, a stark contrast to his demeanor in bedst night¡­


    Thssa quickly averted her gaze, announcing, ¡°I¡¯m heading downstairs.¡±


    With that, she left the room. Lysander didn¡¯t say a word and went into the bathroom to freshen up.


    Downstairs, breakfast was ready, with only the maid attending the table. Fitch was nowhere to be seen.


    Thssa checked the time. It was just past nine in the morning. Fitch must have taken the children to


    school. Yesterday, the children were frightened at the mall. She wondered if they were feeling better


    today.


    But seeing as they were able to go to school on time, they should be fine.


    Thssa sat down and started on her breakfast. Soon, Lysander came down and took a seat opposite


    her.


    His presence seemed to make the entire space grow cold. Thssa slowed down, as if afraid to disturb


    him.


    Lysander nced at her and in a deep, husky voice, said, ¡°Eat up. Don¡¯t be shy.¡±


    Thssa blinked in surprise, then nodded slightly, replying, ¡°Okay, got it.¡±


    After finishing breakfast, Thssa thought it would be the chauffeur taking her to work, but to her


    surprise, Lysander drove her himself.


    As Thssa sat in the passenger¡¯s seat and Lysander took the wheel, she turned to look out the


    window, watching as the scenery whizzed past.


    Neither of them spoke, and soon they arrived at the headquarters of the Crawley Group.


    ¡°Drive safe,¡± Thssa said as she got out of the car, attempting to lighten the heavy atmosphere.


    As she spoke, Lysander¡¯s gaze deepened. If it weren¡¯t for the fact that she was standing outside the


    car, he would have pulled her in for a deep kiss.


    Meeting his intense gaze, Thssa understood the implication. She turned away in fright, almost


    running away.


    If she didn¡¯t leave now, she wouldn¡¯t be able to escape from him.


    Lysander watched her retreating figure before starting the car and driving off.


    When Thssa arrived at the secretary¡¯s office, Betty wasn¡¯t there.


    It was already ten in the morning, and Betty should have been at work by now, unless she had taken a


    N?velDrama.Org (C) content.


    day off.


    Recalling how Betty had taken her ne to sell at the mall, and how she had been kicked by


    Lysander after she had threatened her children, Thssa figured she must have taken the day off to


    recover.


    Thssa settled down at her desk and started working.


    ¡°Thssa,e to my office for a moment,¡± Ethan called out from the doorway before leaving.


    ¡°Okay.¡± Thssa quickly put her work aside and followed him into his office.

 Chapter 791

    Chapter 791


    Ethan brewed two cups of espresso at the bar, then made his way over to Thssa, handing her one.


    Thssa was taken aback, hurriedly epting the coffee from him. ¡°Thank you, Mr. Ethan.¡±


    Making coffee was something a secretary should do. The fact that Mr. Ethan was doing it himself was


    stunning!


    Thssa¡¯s heart pounded in her chest, unsure of what was happening.


    ¡°Sit down, will you?¡± Ethan settled himself on the couch in the reception area, signaling for Thssa to


    join him.


    Thssa walked over, sitting across from him, her heart in turmoil, uncertain of why Ethan had called


    her over.


    ¡®Mr. Ethan, is there a task you need me to handle?¡± Thssa asked, breaking the silence.


    ¡°Don¡¯t be nervous; take a sip of your coffee first.¡± Ethan took a sip from his own cup after speaking.


    He looked quite rxed, as if he had no pressing matters to attend to.


    Thssa let her guard down momentarily, taking a sip of her coffee. She savored the taste, then


    smiled, saying, ¡°This is really good. I didn¡¯t expect you to be so skilled at making coffee.¡±


    ¡°Right? I think it¡¯s not bad either.¡± Ethan put down his cup and said, ¡°From now on, you¡¯ll be the only


    one in the secretarial office. You¡¯ll have a lot of work to do. I¡¯ll handle the small tasks like making coffee


    myself. Of course, with the increase in your workload, your sry will naturally increase as well.¡±


    Thssa¡¯s eyes widened in surprise. ¡°Just me? What about Betty?¡±


    ¡°She¡¯s been transferred to our Afrnd branch, so she won¡¯t be back for a while.¡± Ethan exined,


    ¡°She loves traveling for work, so I thought I¡¯d grant her wish and let her do it for a while longer.¡±


    Transferred to Afrnd?


    Thssa blinked in surprise. Was this Ethan¡¯s idea, or Lysander¡¯s doing?


    Yesterday, Betty had taken her ne and today, she was transferred. The two events had to be


    rted.


    Without asking, she knew this was Lysander¡¯s doing.


    ¡°Mr. Ethan, have you considered hiring another secretary?¡± Thssa asked. Ethan¡¯s secretarial office


    used to have three secretaries.


    Now it was just her.


    And she was frequentlyte.


    Not that she wanted to bete, it was just that Lysander was so energetic in bed.


    She couldn¡¯t manage to wake up on time.


    ¡°That won¡¯t be necessary. I¡¯ve seen what you¡¯re capable of. You yed a big part in the two contracts


    with the Sinir Group, didn¡¯t you?* Ethan picked up his coffee cup, taking another sip.


    Uh¡­


    Mention of the two coborations with the Sinir Group left Thssa at a loss for words.


    N?velDrama.Org (C) content.


    She had a feeling that Ethan was hinting at something, yet she couldn¡¯t respond.


    Her rtionship with Lysander was being exploited by Ethan.


    ¡°There¡¯s another task I need you to handle today,¡± Ethan said, finally getting to the point.


    Thssa asked, ¡°What task?¡±


    ¡°Yesterday, there was an explosion at the mall, resulting in two deaths and three injuries. The police


    have identified the cause of the explosion as a faulty phone produced by Leossa Electronics. Since


    we¡¯re partnered with Leossa Electronics, we¡¯re partly responsible. The contract states that if there¡¯s a


    problem with the product, the Sinir Group, which Leossa Electronics is a part of, has to take


    responsibility. Now, we need to negotiate a solution with the Sinir Group,¡± Ethan said seriously.


    Thssa listened attentively with a heavy feeling in her heart.


    She had been at the scene when the explosion urred yesterday and was well aware of the gravity of


    the situation.


    She hadn¡¯t expected that both the Crawley Group and the Sinir Group would be involved.


    ¡°Today, you¡¯ll apany me to negotiate with the Sinir Group.¡± Ethan added.


    ¡°Okay, Mr. Ethan,¡± Thssa responded.

 Chapter 792

    Chapter 792


    Thssa and Ethan made their way to the Sinir Group.


    In the CEO¡¯s office, Thssa and Ethan sat to one side, with Lysander residing on the opposite couch,


    David standing dutifully behind him.


    Lysander¡¯s prating gaze focused on Thssa. He hadn¡¯t said a word, but his imposing stare was


    enough to throw off her bnce.


    Thssa felt her entire body tensing under his prating gaze, even her eyes seemed restless.


    Ethan, too, felt the pressure. He chuckled and turned to Thssa, saying, ¡°Miss Everhart, I suggest


    you sit beside Mr. Sinir. Your presence by my side is making me feel rather overheated.¡±


    Ethan was a close friend of Lysander¡¯s. He was well aware of the silent message in Lysander¡¯s gaze.


    He was displeased with Thssa sitting next to Ethan. This was his turf, after all.


    Thssa hesitated for a moment, then realized what Ethan meant, understanding the meaning behind


    Lysander¡¯s hawk-like stare.


    Ethan had given her an out, and it would be foolish not to take it.


    ¡°Ah, right. Mr. Ethan isn¡¯t fond of heat. Mr. Sinir, would you mind if I sat next to you?¡± Thssa


    feigned surprise, seeking Lysander¡¯s approval.


    ¡°Okay,e here.¡± Lysander¡¯s response signified his agreement.


    Thssa quickly stood up and moved to sit next to Lysander on the couch, leaving enough space


    between them for another person.


    As she breathed a sigh of relief, she caught Lysander¡¯s quick nce at her. He remained silent.


    ¡°David, make some coffee,¡± Lysandermanded.


    ¡°Of course, Mr. Sinir.¡± David nodded slightly and headed towards the kitchte.


    ¡°So David¡¯s in charge of the coffee, Lysander? Why haven¡¯t you hired another secretary?¡± Ethan tried


    to lighten the mood with a jest.


    Hearing this, Thssa looked curiously at Lysander, wondering why he didn¡¯t hire another secretary.


    Was David responsible for all the


    misceneous tasks?


    She felt a pang of sympathy for David.


    ¡°You didn¡¯te here just to ask about myck of a secretary, did you?¡± Lysander¡¯s eyes bore into


    Ethan.


    Ethanughed off the intimidating aura, saying, ¡°Of course not. I almost forgot the main issue. I was too


    concerned about your secretary situation.


    About the explosion in the mall yesterday, I¡¯m sure you¡¯ve heard, Mr. Sinir. There are matters to be


    Exclusive content from N?velDrama.Org.


    settled,pensation for the families of the deceased workers, and a series of other issues that need


    resolution. ording to our contract with the Sinir Group, there¡¯s a use about risk responsibility. If


    a product causes an incident, all responsibility falls on the Sinir Group. Mr. Sinir, how do you


    perceive this matter?¡± Ethan was a businessman, always putting profit first. Regardless of friendships


    or family ties, business was business.


    Ethan finished his words, and Thssa anxiously awaited Lysander¡¯s response. She hadn¡¯t expected


    the incident to involve the Sinir Group.


    She had been the one to present the contract for Lysander¡¯s signature.


    She never imagined something like this would happen.


    Before Lysander could respond, David returned with the coffee, cing a cup in front of each of them.


    ¡°Please enjoy your coffee.¡±


    ¡°Thank you,¡± Thssa nodded in response.

 Chapter 793

    Chapter 793


    Lysander took a sip of his coffee and finally broke the silence under Ethan¡¯s gaze, ¡°The Sinir Group


    won¡¯t take the backseat. The Incident hasn¡¯t been thoroughly investigated yet, and we reserve our


    opinion.¡±


    The use of risk liability is a stiption in all contracts, designed to protect against idents, but the


    probability of such idents is usually so low that it can be overlooked.


    Lysander signed the contract acknowledging the risk liability use, because the electronics factory


    had undergone a systematic inspection and everything appeared to be normal, without any signs of


    irregrities.


    There would be no problem with the products they produced.


    But now a problem had emerged, and the Sinir Group naturally wanted to get to the bottom of it.


    Ethan looked at Lysander, hesitated slightly, then finally said, ¡°Alright, let¡¯s wait until the situation is


    rified, Mr. Sinir. We won¡¯t disturb you further, goodbye.¡±


    F @ us * * 3


    Ethan rose to leave. Thssa, taken aback for a second, quickly followed him.


    Ethan and Thssa left the Sinir Group.


    Lysander finished the coffee in his cup, ced the cup down, and said in a low voice, ¡°Your coffee


    making skills hasn¡¯t improved, David. Do you want someone else to take your ce?¡±


    David immediately shook his head. ¡°Mr. Sinir, I will definitely improve my skills. Perhaps I could ask


    Ms. Everhart how she makes her coffee.¡±


    Lysander shot him a deep nce, ¡°No. From now on, there¡¯s no need to make coffee!¡±


    David kept silent. Had he said something wrong?


    Did Mr. Sinir no longer enjoy anyone else¡¯s coffee after tasting Thssa¡¯s?


    N?velDrama.Org (C) content.


    His coffee making skills were always the same, and Lysander neverined about it before, but


    ever since Thssa started making coffee for him, he seemed to have developed a peculiar taste.


    ¡°How¡¯s the investigation going?¡± Lysander got up and sat down at his desk.


    ¡°Currently, we¡¯re still gathering evidence. There¡¯s no significant progress yet. But this incident is


    definitely not that simple,¡± David reported.


    As everyone knew, how could there be white phosphorus in the manufactured phones?


    Knowing that white phosphorus is highly mmable and explosive, which researcher would add it to the


    phone? Unless they had a death wish or intended tomit fraud and harm others.


    The batch of phones produced by Leossa Electronics had white phosphorus in them, so it was clear


    someone did this deliberately.


    They wanted to frame the Sinir Group and tarnish its reputation.


    ¡°Speed up the process. Go.¡± Lysander said.


    ¡°Yes, I¡¯ll keep a close eye on the investigation progress.¡± David acknowledged and left the office.


    In the car back to thepany, Thssa sat in the back while Ethan drove.


    Thssa curiously asked, ¡°Mr. Ethan, what does Mr. Sinir mean? Is he unwilling to take


    responsibility for this incident, or is there really something fishy as he said?¡±


    ¡°You don¡¯t even understand what Lysander is thinking, how could I?¡± Ethan nced at her through the


    rear-view mirror.


    Thssa didn¡¯t say anything. She could tell Ethan was teasing her.


    He thought because she had a special rtionship with Lysander, she should understand him better.


    But Lysander was so deep and inscrutable, so who could guess what he was thinking?


    ¡°Alright, I¡¯m done joking with you.¡± Seeing her blushing, Ethan changed the topic, ¡°From my years of


    friendship with Lysander, I believe he genuinely thinks there¡¯s something suspicious about this


    incident.¡±

 Chapter 794

    Chapter 794


    Yeah, why would a phone suddenly explode?


    And not just one, but two whole boxes of phones all at once. Normally, such an urrence would be


    outrageous.


    What exactly had happened?


    Thssa was deep in thought when she suddenly realized the route outside the window wasn¡¯t


    familiar. This wasn¡¯t the way back to Crawley Electronics.


    Coming back to her senses, she asked Ethan, ¡°Mr. Ethan, where are we headed?¡±


    ¡°We¡¯re off to the hospital to visit Leopold. He¡¯s our client, after all. He¡¯s been injured, and we ought to


    check up on him,¡± Ethan replied.


    Upon hearing they were going to see Leopold, Thssa¡¯s heart dropped. She suddenly felt tense.


    What if Lysander found out she was visiting Leopold?


    He would be furious, wouldn¡¯t he?


    She nced down at the ne around her neck, her eyebrows furrowing slightly. If she went to visit


    Leopold at the hospital, there was no way Lysander wouldn¡¯t find out.


    Thssa was still hesitant, telling Ethan, ¡°Mr. Ethan, just drop me off at the next intersection. I can take


    a cab back to the office. There¡¯s still a lot of work I need to finish.¡±


    ¡°Visiting Leopold with me is part of your job. Those other tasks can wait,¡± Ethan dismissed her request.


    He was Thssa¡¯s boss, and all her work was assigned by him.


    Visiting Leopold was her responsibility. If she refused again, it would seem unrespectful.


    Thssa paused, not saying anything more.


    Before long, the car pulled up in front of a supermarket near the hospital. Ethan got out, motioning for


    Thssa to get out as well.


    ¡°Come, let¡¯s buy a few things.¡± Ethan led the way.


    Thssa was confused, asking, ¡°What do we need to buy?¡±


    Ethan turned to look at her, saying, ¡°You¡¯re visiting a patient, aren¡¯t you? Surely you¡¯re not nning on


    going empty-handed.¡±


    ¡°Oh, I see. Alright then,¡± Thssa finally realized.


    Ethan stood still, waiting for her to catch up. He looked at her, teasing, ¡°Ever since I mentioned visiting


    Leopold, you¡¯ve seemed out of sorts. Is something bothering you?¡±


    Thssa was taken aback, hastily denying it, ¡°No, nothing.¡±


    ¡°Good to hear,¡± Ethan said, continuing towards the supermarket.


    Thssa had hoped to stay in the background, following Ethan, but when they reached the


    supermarket shelves, Ethan said, ¡°Ms. Everhart, why don¡¯t you choose? I¡¯m sure Leopold would


    Exclusive content from N?velDrama.Org.


    appreciate something chosen by you.¡±


    His words implied that she knew Leopold well.


    Thssa retorted, ¡°You¡¯re both from wealthy families, with simr tastes. I¡¯m just an ordinary person.


    Anything I choose won¡¯t be up to your standards. It¡¯s better if you pick, Mr. Ethan.¡±


    ¡°No, you should choose,¡± Ethan insisted, ¡°You two dated for two years in college, so you should know


    each other¡¯s preferences well. Leopold and I only know each other through this deal. We don¡¯t have


    much inmon.¡±


    Thssa was speechless.


    She gritted her teeth silently, cursing Ethan for being even more cunning than David!


    He was taking full advantage of his business acumen!


    At first, she thought Ethan was all about fun and games, hanging out with Lysander at the Sapphire


    Skyline. She didn¡¯t expect him to be so calcting and crafty in business!

 Chapter 795

    Chapter 795


    Every bit of her worth had been exploited by Ethan!


    Still, she couldn¡¯t afford to cross him. If she did, she might never find work again.


    After all, she had been fired by Lysander. Anypany in Starhaven that knew about it wouldn¡¯t dare


    hire her.


    Plus, the Crawley Group offered her a very high sry, and it was impossible for her to have such a


    high sry outside.


    Hence, she had no choice but to continue slogging at the Crawley Group.


    Thssa hid her resentment towards Ethan. shing him a radiant smile, she said, ¡°Mr. Ethan, do you


    enjoy mixing personal grudges with work?¡±


    ¡°Not at all. I keep business strictly professional,¡± Ethan replied earnestly.


    Grinding her teeth, Thssa forced a smile. ¡°Alright, Mr. Ethan. I¡¯m off to pick out the gift now.¡±


    As she turned around, her smile faded, and she muttered under her breath, ¡°Ethan, you damn boss.


    One day, I¡¯ll fire you!¡±


    Ethan watched her retreating figure, smirking. He knew she was cursing him. Ever since Thssa


    joined the Crawley Group, his mundane office life had be much more interesting.


    Thssa and Ethan went to visit Leopold in the hospital after shopping.


    Before they even entered the room, they could hear a woman¡¯s distressed cries and reproaches.


    ¡°Leopold, my son, how did you get so hurt? Your scars from thest motorcycle ident haven¡¯t fully


    healed, and now you¡¯re injured again. Why don¡¯t you take better care of yourself? What would I do if


    something happened to you?¡±


    Amelia sat by Leopold¡¯s bed, tears streaming down her face. She held his uninjured hand, quivering


    with distress, yet being careful not to squeeze too hard.


    ¡°Mom, don¡¯t cry. I¡¯m not dead,¡± Leopold said.


    ¡°Shush! Don¡¯t say such unlucky things! Spit it out!¡± Amelia, pale with fright, spat several times as if to


    erase the word ¡°dead¡± from Leopold¡¯s sentence.


    When Ethan entered with Thssa, he greeted him politely, ¡°Leopold, how are you feeling?¡±


    Lying on the bed, Leopold looked over at them. His eyes lit up with excitement and surprise when he


    saw Thssa standing behind Ethan.


    Thssa noticed Leopold the moment she entered. His upper body was bare, bandages wrapped


    around his body and one arm, a brownish stain seeping through the white bandage on his chest. His


    other arm had an IV needle in it. But he seemed to be in good spirits. So it should be minor injuries,


    nothing serious.


    Sitting by his bedside was Amelia, her face tear-streaked. On the other side of the bed was Zephyr; his


    temples flecked with more gray hair than before, looking much older and less energeticpared to


    when Grandma Sybil was alive.


    ¡°I¡¯ll be fine. I¡¯ll be discharged in a few days,¡± Leopold responded to Ethan¡¯s greeting, his eyes never


    leaving Thssa. Content rights belong to N?velDrama.Org.


    ¡°That¡¯s good to hear. I¡¯ve had my secretary pick out a few things for you. I hope you like them,¡± Ethan


    replied, turning to Thssa and signaling her to bring over the gifts.


    His words were well-chosen, indicating that the gifts were from him but selected by Thssa. Given


    Leopold¡¯s feelings for Thssa, he was sure to like anything she chose.


    Getting the hint, Thssa quickly brought over the gifts and ced them by the bed. After she was


    done, she looked up and met Leopold¡¯s intense gaze.


    Thssa hesitated slightly before saying politely, ¡°Mr. Sinir, make sure you rest and recover fully.


    There¡¯s no need to rush your discharge. If you¡¯re not well, Mr. Ethan will be worried.¡±

 Chapter 796

    Chapter 796


    ¡°Right, Mr. Ethan?¡± Thssa asked with a yful glint in her eyes as she turned to Ethan.


    Earlier, Ethan had used her as an excuse to give gifts to Leopold, now she was returning the favor,


    assuring Leopold that Ethan was concerned about


    him.


    Catching her teasing gaze, Ethan paused for a moment before replying, ¡°Indeed, Leopold, take care of


    yourself. No need to rush your recovery. If anything goes wrong, it¡¯s on me.¡±


    ¡°The responsibility isn¡¯t yours; it¡¯s the Sinir Group¡¯s,¡± Leopold retorted, his eyes dark and expression


    gloomy as he looked towards Ethan.


    Thssa had just addressed Leopold as Mr. Sinir, putting a distance between them. Was she


    deliberately avoiding him? Couldn¡¯t he see what Thssa was trying to do?


    She was afraid of causing misunderstandings with Lysander, hence she kept her distance.


    Her carefulness made Leopold feel pathetic. He was unable to make the woman he loved happy or to


    change the present circumstances.


    Seeing Thssaing to visit, he was thrilled, but her calling him Mr. Sinir extinguished his joy,


    causing a twinge of pain in his heart.


    When Leopold mentioned the Sinir Group, Thssa and Ethan exchanged nces, unsure of how


    to respond to his question, as the matter was still unsettled.


    ¡°Ethan, thank you for visiting Leopold and bringing all these gifts. You¡¯re very thoughtful,¡± Amelia stood


    up, wiping away her tears and thanked Ethan with


    a smile.


    She then nced at Thssa, her polite demeanor suddenly changing. ¡°However, Ethan, the person


    Property ? N?velDrama.Org.


    you brought today has filled the room with negativity. Someone doesn¡¯t know her limit, stringing along


    two men. What¡¯s her game?¡±


    Amelia had always been critical of Thssa, going as far as kidnapping her.


    If it were not for Lysander supporting Thssa, she would have gotten rid of her a long time ago.


    Now her son was hospitalized, Amelia¡¯s mood was already down, and seeing Thssa only intensified


    her hatred.


    She knew Leopold couldn¡¯t forget Thssa, so wasn¡¯t her presence just a torment to him?


    Thssa bit her lip without a word, realizing Amelia¡¯s sarcastic jabs at her.


    ¡°Mom, don¡¯t say stuff like that. What are you implying?¡± Leopold chided Amelia, his face pale with


    discontent.


    ¡°My dear, I¡¯m just speaking my mind. Don¡¯t get so upset,¡± Amelia hastily soothed Leopold¡¯s temper.


    At this point, Zephyr, who had been sitting on the other side of the bed, stood up. He walked over to


    Ethan, his imposing presence and hawk-like eyes


    stern.


    ¡°Zephyr, it¡¯s been a while. You are in such good shape,¡± Ethanplimented Zephyr with a smile.


    On entering the room, he had already greeted Zephyr briefly with a nod and a smile, but didn¡¯t say


    much.


    Their main purpose was to visit Leopold.


    Now that Zephyr had approached, Ethan acted respectful and courteous.


    Without acknowledging hispliment, Zephyr shot him a stern nce, then turned to Thssa, his


    gaze filled with contempt and hostility.


    ¡°Save your ttery. No matter what you do, you¡¯ll never marry into the Sinir family! Even if you bear


    four children for Lysander, there¡¯s still a world of difference between you two! Lysander will never marry


    you, and you and Leopold are even less likely! Don¡¯t disrupt the harmony of the Sinir family! Today,


    I¡¯ll let it slide that you came to visit Leopold with Ethan, but next time, don¡¯t bother!¡±


    Zephyr¡¯s words were direct and stern, reflecting his true feelings.


    Thssa felt a pang in her heart, his words cutting deep. Her face hardened as she responded, ¡°I


    understand. I¡¯ll leave now.¡±


    With that, she quickly exited the room.


    ¡°Leopold, rest well. I¡¯ll be leaving too, and I¡¯lle to see you another day,¡± Seeing Thssa leave,


    Ethan quickly excused himself and followed her out.

 Chapter 797

    Chapter 797


    Leopold desperately wanted to keep Thssa close, but he was powerless. His eyes, filled with pain,


    pulled back from the door, his teeth gritted as he endured the inner turmoil and anger.


    His chest rose and fell gently as he turned to Amelia and Zephyr. ¡°Mom, Grandpa, please leave. I want


    to sleep.¡±


    He wouldn¡¯t even risk hurting a single hair of Thssa, yet his own family seemed intent on thrusting


    daggers into her heart at every turn.


    Seeing Thssa in such distress, and being unable to do anything about it, Leopold felt a deep despair


    gnawing in his heart.


    With that, hey down.


    ¡°Easy, take it slow. Don¡¯t strain the wound,¡± Amelia cautioned as she gently helped him down, fearful of


    his wounds reopening.


    Leopold, his hand tethered to an IV drip, pushed Amelia away. ¡°Please leave, I really need to rest.¡±


    His rejection was clear. He didn¡¯t want Amelia to touch him.


    Seeing her son¡¯s resistance, Amelia¡¯s heart ached. Why couldn¡¯t Leopold let Thssa go? But there


    was nothing she could do.


    Property ? N?velDrama.Org.


    ¡°Then rest well. Your grandpa and I will leave. If you need anything, call the bodyguards outside, and


    they¡¯ll get me right away,¡± Amelia said, tears streaming down her face.


    Leopold closed his eyes, ignoring her.


    Amelia¡¯s heartache deepened.


    Zephyr contemted for a moment before saying, ¡°Take care of yourself. Don¡¯t overthink.¡±


    With that, he led the way out of the hospital room.


    Initially, in consideration of Thssa bearing Lysander¡¯s four children, he and Sybil nned a wedding


    for Lysander to officially marry Thssa, providing the children with aplete family.


    However, Thssa¡¯s mother suddenly arrived at the Sinir¡¯s house, and after a heated conversation


    with Sybil, Sybil tripped over a servant¡¯s broom and tragically passed away.


    Zephyr¡¯s beloved wife of several decades left him in an instant.


    He was devastated, seeming to age ten years overnight. His once vibrant spirit dampened, his days


    filled with less hope.


    Every morning when he woke up, out of habit, he would reach out to touch the bedside. Without Sybil¡¯s


    warmth, it felt cold and empty, igniting a heavy sense of loneliness in his heart.


    He couldn¡¯t forgive those who had caused Sybil¡¯s death.


    Whether it was Faye, who had bribed the housemaid to frame Evelyn and torment Sybil, or Robert, the


    housemaid who started it all, or Evelyn, who had argued with Sybil, leading to her emotional instability.


    Zephyr wouldn¡¯t forgive any of them!


    Faye was arrested, and Robert was thrown behind bars.


    Evelyn, who had only had a minor dispute with Sybil and had helped Sophia up from a fall back then,


    wasn¡¯t directly involved in Sybil¡¯s ident.


    But if she hadn¡¯t argued with Sybil, Sybil wouldn¡¯t have been emotionally unsettled and might not have


    failed to avoid the broom under her feet, causing her to stumble over the broom and meet her tragic


    end.


    While Evelyn wasn¡¯t legally responsible for Sybil¡¯s death, Zephyr still despised her!


    There was no way he¡¯d let the daughter of the woman he despised marry into the Sinir family!


    23 EFEN


    Thssa hadn¡¯t even married into the Sinir family yet, and Evelyn was already coveting the


    Sinir¡¯s wealth, her attitude so brazen. If Thssa did marry into the Sinir family, what then?


    Zephyr wouldn¡¯t allow another Belinda-like incident to ur!

 Chapter 798

    Chapter 798


    Thssa quickly walked to the elevator; Zephyr¡¯s harsh words felt like a dagger stabbing her heart.


    The cruelty of reality hurt so much.


    Lysander had also told her that he wouldn¡¯t marry her, warning her not to have any delusions about


    bing part of the Sinir family.


    Aside from wanting to give her children aplete home, she never thought about marrying Lysander.


    After what he said, she didn¡¯t even dare to dream about providing aplete home for her children.


    She was constantly reminded of her status and position!


    All she wanted was to live a normal life, go to work, do some shopping, watch some TV shows, and live


    each day without having to panic.


    But Lysander wouldn¡¯t let her go. He kept dragging her into an abyss.


    The people of the Sinir family also wouldn¡¯t let her go. They mocked and scorned her one by one,


    using her and hurting her feelings.


    Sometimes Thssa felt she couldn¡¯t bear it anymore, and was on the verge of a nervous breakdown,


    but then she would think of her four lovely children and swallow all her pain and humiliation.


    What was a little humiliationpared to losing her four little treasures?


    She wanted to be there as her children grew up, showering them with all the motherly love she could


    give, until they were all grown up and she could rest knowing they were okay.


    At least, when they were grown up and looked back at their childhood, they wouldn¡¯t feel any loss or


    that their mother didn¡¯t want them.


    A happy,plete childhood could help them ovee anything that came their way in the future.


    If they had a tough time when they grew up, they could always lean on the beautiful memories of their


    childhood to keep going.


    Thssa was waiting for the elevator when Ethan caught up with her. ¡°Thssa, wait for me!¡±


    Thssa turned around and saw Ethan approaching quickly. She held back her pain and managed a


    faint smile. ¡°Mr. Ethan, are you heading home too?¡±


    Ethan looked at her with a yful glint in his eyes. ¡°It¡¯s just us here. You don¡¯t have to hold your


    feelings. If you want to cry, just let it out.¡±


    Ethan found the hurtful words Amelia and Zephyr had said earlier hard to bear even as a bystander, let


    alone Thssa who was directly involved.


    Seeing the sympathetic look on Ethan¡¯s face, Thssa suddenlyughed. ¡°Mr. Ethan, we¡¯re adults, do


    you really think I would cry over a few harsh words? That¡¯s not very dignified, is it?¡±


    Ethan was taken aback for a moment before nodding and chuckling, ¡°You¡¯re right; adults aren¡¯t


    supposed to shed tears easily.¡±


    Just then, the elevator arrived. When the doors opened, a group of people, both men and women, were


    inside holding a red banner that read, ¡°Leopold¡¯s employment caused a worker¡¯s death. Compensate


    for my husband¡¯s life!¡±


    Seeing this, Thssa and Ethan exchanged surprised looks.


    The group of people stormed out of the elevator and headed straight for Leopold¡¯s room.


    Something was definitely off!


    Thssa didn¡¯t take the elevator. Instead, she hurriedly followed the group, with Ethan trailing behind


    her.


    ¡°You can¡¯t go in there!¡± Amelia, who had just stepped out of the room, saw the group with the banner


    trying to enter Leopold¡¯s room. She was visibly shaken and tried to block their path.


    Zephyr also tried to stop them.


    ¡°Get out of the way! We need answers today! Leopold employed my husband and now he¡¯s dead from


    an explosion! You owe me my husband¡¯s life!¡± A woman cried.


    Content rights belong to N?velDrama.Org.


    ¡°My husband too! He died when working for Leopold! Leopold, you owe me my husband¡¯s life!¡± Another


    woman, who initially managed to keep herposure, also broke down crying.


    Their rtives, who came to support them, also started to loudly demand justice andpensation.


    Amelia and Zephyr tried to keep them from entering the room, fearing that they might harm Leopold if


    they got in.

 Chapter 799

    Chapter 799


    But how could the two of them possibly withstand the force of so many people?


    Zephyr was pushed back, nearly stumbling. Had it not been for his military training in his youth and his


    good physical condition, he would have fallen down right there.


    But even his good physical condition couldn¡¯t withstand the push of so many people, especially


    considering he was getting older.


    The two bodyguards who were originally guarding Leopold¡¯s door swiftly stepped forward, supporting


    Zephyr and helping to block the crowd from barging into the room.


    The scene was chaotic, with the cries of the deceased¡¯s rtives echoing through the hospital


    corridors. Nurses and doctors came over to dissuade them to no avail.


    Thssa watched the chaos, her heart aching with worry for Leopold and sympathy for the grieving


    families.


    She understood their pain and distress at losing their loved ones, but causing such a scene wasn¡¯t fair


    to Leopold, who was also a victim, having been injured in the ident, the liability of which was still


    under investigation.


    Thssa pulled out her phone and dialed 911, deciding that the best course of action was to let the


    police handle the situation.


    Ethan didn¡¯t intervene either, silently watching as Thssa called the police, knowing that he alone


    couldn¡¯t resolve such a situation.


    All they could do now was wait for the final investigation and then work outpensation and


    mediation ns.


    After calling the police, Thssa and Ethan took the elevator downstairs to await their arrival.


    Meanwhile, the hospital corridor was a scene of chaos, with the deceased¡¯s rtives crying out for


    justice and demanding that Leopold be held ountable.


    Amelia and the bodyguards did their best to keep them from entering the room.


    In the room, Leopoldy in bed, his heart aching as he listened to the cries outside. He clenched his


    teeth, desperately trying to suppress the deep pain within him.


    The memory of the ident suffocated him.


    Upon seeing the police, Thssa and Ethan were about to lead them to the room when Thssa


    suddenly stopped.


    Ethan, noticing that she wasn¡¯t following, turned back and asked, ¡°Thssa, why aren¡¯t youing?¡±


    Thssa lowered her eyes and said, ¡°Mr. Ethan, you take the police up. I¡¯ll stay here.¡±


    Zephyr and Amelia probably didn¡¯t want to see her anyway. So she decided not to embarrass herself


    by going up.


    -Besides, Zephyr was right. She shouldn¡¯t see Leopold again and give him false hope.


    Seeing Thssa¡¯s sad expression, Ethan understood her feelings.


    Exclusive content from N?velDrama.Org.


    ¡°Alright, head back to the office first. I¡¯ll join youter, Ethan said, then followed the police officers.


    Thssa watched as they entered the hospital, their figures disappearing from her view before she


    finally turned to leave.


    She crossed the street to hail a taxi, and soon a taxi pulled up.


    Just as she was about to get in, she noticed a ck Rolls Royce pulling into the hospital across the


    street.


    That luxurious car was all too familiar to her.


    It was Lysander¡¯s!


    Was Lysander also at the hospital?

 Chapter 800

    Chapter 800


    Upon reflection, this incident was indeed linked to the Sinir group, so it was no surprise Lysander


    was here.


    Thssa settled herself into the taxi, giving the driver the address to the Crawley Group, and they were


    on their way.


    Hospital corridor.


    Amelia struggled, pulling and vehemently blocking the victims¡¯ families from entering Leopold¡¯s room.


    She was exhausted, but she held her ground.


    It was her son in the room, and if she gave up and let these people in, her injured son could be beaten


    to death by them!


    So, she strained every nerve to keep them out.


    As the standoff ensued and Amelia was on the verge of copse, Ethan arrived with the police.


    The police separated the two groups and mediated professionally.


    The victims¡¯ families, who had been fiercely adamant about not backing down, seemed to lose some of


    their bravado at the sight of the police and began to argue andment their loss.


    Amelia also exined to the police, ¡°If this incident is truly our fault, the Sinir family will certainly


    can¡¯t shoulder all the me. It¡¯s unfair to Leopold, who is also a victim. The truepensation should


    be sought from those who let the substandard phone explode. How about this, the Sinir family will


    firstpensate each family with five hundred thousand dors, and then when the final resultse


    out, we can see who should reallypensate and by how much.¡±


    After the struggle, Amelia was nearly drained, panting as she spoke to the police.


    She hoped the police would convey their intentions to the victims¡¯ families.


    For the safety of her son, she was willing to dig into her own pocket, offering a million dors to


    temporarily cate the victims¡¯ families.


    After understanding the situation, the police shared Amelia¡¯s proposal with the victims¡¯ families.


    However, not only did they refuse, they became even more agitated, yelling, ¡°Five hundred thousand


    dors to send us away? Is a life only worth that much? We don¡¯t want money. We want Leopold¡¯s


    life!¡±


    They believed that this was Amelia¡¯s scheme, attempting to send them away with five hundred


    thousand dors and then hide away.


    So they strongly disagreed.


    ¡°Exactly, thinking they can send us away with five hundred thousand dors? We refuse! We demand


    Leopold¡¯s life!¡± Another family member yelled, eyes brimming with tears, chest heaving with intense


    anger and sorrow.


    The scene descended into chaos once again.


    The elevator doors slid open, and a powerful presence filled the corridor with an icy aura,


    overwhelming the space with an oppressive force, causing the air to be stagnant.


    The two families, who were still shouting and trying to push past the police to get to Amelia, were


    halted by thismanding presence. They turned their heads towards the source of the icy aura.


    A tall and handsome man, dignified and intimidating, strode towards them, nked by a group of


    bodyguards.


    His eyes were piercing, exuding an aura of authority without disying any anger.


    Upon seeing him, themotion stopped instantly. They ceased their struggle against the police and


    stopped shouting.


    Content rights belong to N?velDrama.Org.


    Amelia¡¯s face lit up with relief upon seeing Lysander. Her heart surged with hope.


    With Lysander here, they were saved!


    The police captain greeted Lysander and briefed him on the situation.


    His deep gaze swept over the two families, his resonant voice echoed, ¡°The Sinir group will


    funeral for your deceased. The Sinir group will cooperate fully with the police in investigating the


    cause of this incident, and we will give you a specific exnation when the timees. If this incident


    is rted to the quality of the phone produced by the Sinir group, we willpensate all costs


    ording to the contract.¡±

 Chapter 801

    Chapter 801


    Lysander was the representative of the Sinir Group, which was a huge business empire, not an


    individual.


    The families of the deceased were looking at each other. All they wanted was an exnation and an


    answer to their loss.


    Just now, Amelia¡¯s im of a half-million-dorpensation had no basis and was hardly credible.


    But Lysander was different. Representing the Sinir Group, his position and authority were evident.


    They could trust him.


    The million dors he offered them was not the finalpensation. It was only for the funeral costs.


    Once the investigation determined the actual cause of the incident, furtherpensation would follow


    Exclusive content from N?velDrama.Org.


    as per the contract.


    They also wanted to know the precise cause of the ident.


    After negotiations, both families agreed to Lysander¡¯s proposal.


    On the spot, Lysander instructed his assistant, David, ¡°Transfer the money to their ounts.¡±


    Both families received the million-dor funeral fee on the spot, ceased theirmentations, and quietly


    left.


    Lysander exchanged a few words with the police, who then departed.


    Then the scene quieted down.


    Ethan heaved a sigh of relief, telling Lysander, ¡°I have matters to attend to at thepany. I have to


    go.¡±


    ¡°Alright,¡± Lysander replied, in a tone as calm as still water.


    Amelia sighed deeply. With the issue resolved, she felt drained, nearly copsing. Fortunately, she


    managed to steady herself against a wall and didn¡¯t fall.


    Zephyr was exhausted as well. He suggested, ¡°Let¡¯s go check on Leopold.¡±


    Without a word, Lysander instructed his bodyguards and David to stand guard outside while he entered


    Leopold¡¯s hospital room, with Amelia and Zephyr following.


    Leopoldy on the bed, his brow furrowed, cheeks tight from gritted teeth. His hand receiving the IV


    tightly gripped the bed sheets, the force causing the IV fluid to leak and his hand to swell.


    ¡°Leopold!¡± Upon seeing Leopold¡¯s swollen hand, Amelia¡¯s eyes welled up with tears and she quickly


    called a nurse.


    The nurse rushed in and removed the IV, asking Amelia to press on Leopold¡¯s hand to prevent


    bleeding.


    Amelia carefully held Leopold¡¯s hand, watching his painful ordeal. Her heart ached, and she shed silent


    tears, fearing that crying would upset Leopold.


    Seeing Leopold in this state, Zephyr was also filled with distress. He sat by Leopold¡¯s bed, his aged


    voice offeringfort, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, the Sinir family will handle this incident: Life¡¯s ups and downs


    are normal, and surviving them is part of growing up. When I was young and in business, I encountered


    many setbacks. Everything depends on us and no matter how difficult, once it¡¯s resolved, it¡¯s over.¡±


    Lysander stood at the foot of the bed, his gaze fixed on Leopold. ¡°You¡¯re twenty-seven now. You should


    be capable of handling unexpected situations. Don¡¯t act like a child.¡±


    ¡°Lysander, can¡¯t you treat me like a child, and give me what I truly want?¡± Leopold¡¯s reddened eyes


    stared at Lysander, trembling words hinting at unspoken issues.


    Lysander paused. His gaze met Leopold¡¯s fiery eyes, and he recognized the stubborn determination


    within.


    And he too, held his deep-rooted resolve.


    ¡°Some things are not meant for you, and you shouldn¡¯t cling to them. Rest well,¡± he said, before turning


    to leave..

 Chapter 802

    Chapter 802


    Leopold¡¯sst shred of hope came crashing down, and the tears he had been suppressing surged from


    his reddened eyes. He withdrew his hand from Amelia¡¯sforting grasp, pulling the nket over his


    entire body, covering his tears, and concealing all his failures.


    He didn¡¯t want anyone in the room to see his tears.


    ¡°Leopold, your hand¡­¡± Amelia said, concern thick in her voice.


    ¡°I¡¯m fine, it¡¯s stopped bleeding,¡± Leopold replied, his voice muffled from under the nket. Struggling to


    control his sobs, he tried to keep his voice steady.


    ¡°Are you sure it¡¯s stopped bleeding? Let me see.¡± Despite his reassurances, Amelia was still worried.


    She gently pulled his hand from under the nket, and seeing that the bleeding had indeed stopped,


    she let out a sigh of relief.


    ¡°Your father and grandfather will be here this afternoon. They heard about your injury and hopped on


    the first flight. Don¡¯t worry. Even if you don¡¯t want to start your own business, they can still offer you a


    position in theirpany. You don¡¯t need to get anything from Lysander.¡±


    Amelia thought that what Leopold wanted from Lysander was a position in the Sinir Group, or


    perhaps some shares.


    Ever since Lysander took over the Sinir Group, it had thrived under his management, bing a


    multinational corporation. Leopold¡¯s father and grandfather had both been transferred to overseas


    positions as CEOs of thepany.


    Leopold could certainly acquire a position abroad if he wasn¡¯t able to secure one domestically!


    Amelia hated seeing her son struggle and face so many setbacks.


    Hidden under the nket, Leopold¡¯s breathing trembled. His tears fell heavily, and he bit his lip, trying


    desperately to control his emotions.


    Only Lysander knew what he truly wanted.


    All he wanted was Thssa.


    He didn¡¯t care about anything else, and he was willing to give everything up for her. He was prepared to


    work with his own hands, to provide for her, and to give her a warm home.


    But even this simple wish seemed impossible to fulfill.


    Lysander walked out of the hospital room. Just as he reached the elevator, Zephyr called out to him.


    ¡°Lysander!¡±


    Lysander turned to see Zephyr holding three gift boxes.


    Zephyr handed the boxes to him. ¡°These are from Thssa. Take them, and tell her not to see Leopold


    anymore. She¡¯s the mother of your children, you should understand.¡±


    Lysander nced at the boxes, then at David. David took the hint and epted the boxes from Zephyr,


    nodding in respect.


    Lysander left with David, leaving his bodyguard behind for Leopold.


    Thssa returned to her office, sitting in front of herputer to get some work done.


    She found it difficult to concentrate. She spent the afternoon writing, deleting, and rewriting. She sighed


    and turned to see Ethan standing behind her.


    ¡°Mr. Ethan, when did you get here? You¡¯re so quiet that I didn¡¯t even hear youe in.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ve been standing here for about ten minutes, watching you type, delete, and retype. If you¡¯re not in


    the mood to work, you should probably take a break,¡± Ethan advised.


    ¡°I¡¯m not¡­¡± Thssa protested weakly.


    ¡°Alright, alright. I know it¡¯s been a tough time for you. Take a couple of days off and get some rest,¡±


    Ethan suggested before leaving the office.


    What should she do with a couple of days off? Visit her mother, or spend time with her children at the


    Royal Estates?


    It was Wednesday tomorrow, a school day, so she couldn¡¯t spend time with her children even if she


    went to the Royal Estates.


    She decided to visit her mother, whom she hadn¡¯t seen in a while.


    Thssa packed up her things and left the Crawley Group.


    As she exited the building, she saw the familiar Rolls-Royce parked in the sunset. The rays of the


    setting sun glinted off the luxurious car, casting a radiant glow.


    It bore an invisible but intense sense of intimidation.


    Thssa, who had just managed to rx a bit, instantly felt her heart tighten.Content rights belong to N?velDrama.Org.

 Chapter 803

    Chapter 803


    She stood a short distance from the car, hesitant to approach.


    Just then, the car window rolled down, revealing Lysander¡¯s strikingly handsome face.


    He was sitting in the driver¡¯s seat, his long hands gripping the steering wheel as he looked at her. ¡°Get


    in.¡±


    Thssa hesitated for a moment before quickly moving to the car, pulling the door open and climbing


    in.


    She settled into the back seat, and immediately noticed three gift boxes on the seat beside her. She


    recognized them!


    Looking closer, she realized they were the gifts she bought for Leopold.


    There was no mistaking it.


    Even if Lysander had bought identical ones, it was unlikely that all three boxes would be the same.


    What were the odds?


    Had Lysander been to Leopold¡¯s hospital room and taken the gifts?


    N?velDrama.Org (C) content.


    Why would he do that?


    Confused and sensing something was off, Thssa didn¡¯t dare to question it. She simply held her


    breath and slowed her breathing.


    Lysander started the car and drove off.


    The car drove along the smooth, asphalt road. The atmosphere inside was tense.


    Thssa was so nervous that she could barely breathe.


    ¡°You visited Leopold today?¡± Lysander¡¯s deep voice suddenly broke the silence, filling the car and


    making the space seem even smaller.


    Thssa¡¯s heart pounded as she sat up straight. She didn¡¯t deny it. ¡°Yes, I went with Mr. Ethan. He


    said it was work-rted, so I couldn¡¯t refuse.¡±


    ¡°You personally picked out the gifts. How thoughtful.¡± Lysander¡¯s voice was low, seemingly no different


    from his usual tone. But his intrinsic authority set Thssa¡¯s heart racing.


    She quickly replied, ¡°Mr. Ethan asked me to choose the gifts. I just picked up three random items from


    the supermarket. It was a work assignment. I had no choice.¡±


    She had anticipated Lysander¡¯s anger and usations if he found out she had visited Leopold. So,


    when she went with Ethan, she had prepared her


    excuse.


    What she said was true. Ethan had indeed told her to do so.


    The shopping and the visit to Leopold were all part of her job. There were no personal feelings


    involved.


    Lysander nced at her in the rear-view mirror. She was sitting up straight, her face pale and clearly


    frightened.,


    His eyes darkened. ¡°Don¡¯t see him again.¡±


    Lysander¡¯s words were final. He wasn¡¯t discussing it with her, but ordering her.


    Thssa was taken aback, her tense heart sinking. Her hands, resting on the seat cushion, clenched


    slightly.


    Her breathing became uneven, and after gritting her teeth, she finally couldn¡¯t hold back any longer.


    ¡°Lysander, on what grounds are you ordering me what to do and what not to do?¡± Thssa¡¯s breath


    hitched, all the anxiety and pressure she had been suppressing all day finally bursting forth.


    She knew she shouldn¡¯t see Leopold again, and she was prepared not to!


    Since she had made up her mind to let him go, she had alsopletely let go of the past and hoped


    that both she and Leopold could start new lives.


    But what right did Lysander have to order her around?


    Didn¡¯t she even have the freedom to decide her own path?


    With a sharp hiss, Lysander suddenly hit the brakes, bringing the car to a sudden stop at the side of the


    road.

 Chapter 804

    Chapter 804


    Thssa¡¯s body jerked violently from the sudden stop, and as the car steadied, so did she. Before she


    could react, Lysander had unbuckled his seat belt, exited the driver¡¯s seat, and slid into the back seat


    with her. Hisrge hand mped around her chin, turning her face towards him. ¡°You don¡¯t know who I


    am, do you? Well, let me enlighten you.¡±


    Thssa looked at him. His icy gaze was as deep as a bottomless abyss. It was so intense that it sent


    her heart racing in sheer panic.


    Before she could say anything, her chin was mped tight, her lips lifted, and his forceful kiss seized


    her.


    ¡°Mmh¡­¡± Thssa¡¯s breath was stolen away by his domineering kiss. His potent masculine scent


    pervaded her senses, infiltrating her pores and iming dominion over her bloodstream, her heart, her


    senses.


    Exclusive content from N?velDrama.Org.


    It set her blood aze, made every cell in her body restless and anxious. Her heart pounded furiously,


    like boiling water in a kettle.


    It was always like this. Every time she infuriated him, he would make her pay.


    Thssa felt a mountain of grievances welling up inside her. She¡¯d managed to snap back at him just


    moments ago, only to have him retaliate with a fierce, devouring kiss.


    Her grievances flooded over. She refused to be dominated by him any longer.


    She began to resist, her hands pushing against his firm chest. The scorching heat radiating from him


    caused her heart to flutter, but she didn¡¯t cower. She pushed him away with all her might.


    Her body instinctively recoiled, trying to get away from him.


    The hand she had ced on his chest was ensnared by hisrger one, held in a vice-like grip,


    rendering her unable to move.


    His imposing body forced her down onto the seat, leaving her no room to retreat.


    Thssa stared back at him with frantic eyes, her footshing out in a desperate attempt to kick him


    away.


    But before she could kick, hisrge hand wrapped around her thigh, pressing her leg onto the back of


    the front seat. This twisted her into an ufortable position, stretching her leg to its limit and causing


    her to wince in pain.


    She¡¯d never been a dancer, and the position she was forced into resembled some sort of advanced


    stretching exercise. The pain was overwhelming.


    ¡°Ehh¡­¡± Thssa let out a whimper of pain.


    Lysander released her lips, holding her hands above her head with one hand, his strong body pressing


    against her stretched leg. He freed a hand to press a button and the partition between the front and


    back seats descended, isting them from the rest of the world.


    The windows of the car were tinted, allowing them to see out, but preventing others from seeing in.


    With the partition down, the space was even more cramped. Thssa¡¯s heart pounded in her chest as


    she sensed the danger permeating the confined


    space.


    She was trapped.


    Thssa took deep, panic-stricken breaths, her eyes darting towards Lysander.


    His breathing was heavy, his eyes deep and icy. They were bottomless pools of darkness that radiated


    with an intense rage.


    He was like an enraged lion, ready to tear apart its prey.


    Thssa¡¯s pupils constricted with terror, her voice shaky as she spoke, ¡°Lysander, what are you doing?


    Not here¡­ Not like this¡­¡±


    ¡°Why not?¡± Lysander¡¯s voice was husky, his dark eyes shone with a deep intensity. ¡°If you can¡¯t


    remember, then I¡¯ll make you remember. Remember who I


    am!¡±


    With that, his imposing figure descended upon her, his lips capturing hers in a relentless kiss.


    Thssa had been able to resist before, but now, with her hands held above her head and her leg


    unable to move, she was helpless. All she could do was panic and endure.


    His kiss trailed down from her chin, and wherever his moist lips touched, it felt like a spark igniting her


    skin.


    Her body heated up, her heart raced, and her breathing became rapid.


    Outside the car, the world moved on, oblivious to the drama unfolding within.


    Inside the car, it was a furnace.


    Thssa tilted her head back, her tear-filled eyes gazing out of the window at the passing cars. She bit


    down on her lips, refusing to let herself cry out.

 Chapter 805

    Chapter 805


    Lysander¡¯s fiery breath,ced with anger, brushed against her ear, ¡°You realize who I am now, don¡¯t


    you?¡±


    His deep, husky voice and his hot breath, stirred the delicate skin behind Thssa¡¯s ear, her eyshes


    fluttered, her voice choked, ¡°I¡­ I know¡­¡±


    ¡°And who am I, hmm?¡± Lysander¡¯s voice trailed off, husky enough to drip with desire.


    ¡°My man¡­¡± Thssa gritted her teeth while answering, tears welled up in her eyes, slipping down her


    cheeks and into her hair.


    Lysander shivered slightly, his movements softened.


    ¡°Remember that, and no more foolish questions.¡± Lysander¡¯s hoarse voice echoed, followed by a kiss


    behind her ear.


    Thssa trembled, clutching onto his back tightly.


    Content rights belong to N?velDrama.Org.


    Lysander returned to the driver¡¯s seat. Thssa straightened her clothes, not daring to think about the


    previous moments.


    Regretting why she had provoked him, knowing that angering him would lead to nothing good, yet she


    never seemed to learn.


    Thssa¡¯s hands clutched the hem of her dress; her breathing wasn¡¯tpletely normal yet, which


    was a hint of urgency in her demeanor.


    ¡°I want to go back to Vibrant Oasis Residences. I¡¯m off tomorrow and the day after. The kids are at


    school, so I can¡¯t be with them. Can I go back and spend time with my mom?¡± Thssa spoke to


    Lysander in a negotiating tone.


    Just now, Lysander had ground away all her sharpness, all her stubbornness and resistance.


    Her voice was weak now.


    ¡°Hmm,¡± Lysander grunted, expressing his agreement.


    With that, he started the car and drove off.


    Thssa secretly breathed a sigh of relief. She was worried he wouldn¡¯t let her go, that he¡¯d insist on


    taking her to the Royal Estates.


    Lysander was a danger to her. Being with him, she could never fully rx.


    The car drove on in silence, the atmosphere inside somewhat gloomy. Thssa looked out the window,


    trying not to pay attention to the oppressive feeling inside the car.


    And Lysander, with his hands firmly on the steering wheel, drove on. His handsome face tensed. Even


    having heard Thssa¡¯s affirmation that he was her man, he wasn¡¯t satisfied.


    Her previous words that she couldn¡¯t resist him, that she liked his type, were all lies!


    The one she truly loved was still Leopold!


    Otherwise, why would she react so strongly when he told her not to see Leopold anymore, openly


    defying and questioning him?


    She still couldn¡¯t let go of Leopold!


    Thinking about this, Lysander felt like his heart was stuffed, which was a strange and unpleasant


    feeling.


    Before long, the car stopped in the parking lot of Vibrant Oasis Residences. Thssa opened the car


    door and got out. She wanted to say goodbye to Lysander, but saw him also getting out of the car.


    Thssa froze.


    Was he going to apany her upstairs? If Evelyn saw him, she¡¯d be scared.


    Just as Thssa was about to say she could go up by herself, Lysander brushed past her, opened the


    back door of the car, and pulled out the three boxes of gifts.

 Chapter 806

    Chapter 806


    Thssa looked at him in surprise, saying, ¡°Lysander, the gifts are truly¡­¡±


    They were something Mr. Ethan asked her to pick up.


    Before she could finish her sentence, Lysander interrupted her with his deep, intense gaze, ¡°Let¡¯s go


    upstairs. Don¡¯t just stand there.¡±


    Thssa was taken aback. She nced at the gifts he was holding, then back at him. He hadn¡¯t


    handed the gifts to her, but held onto it.


    Was he nning on going upstairs with her, gifts and all?


    ¡°Maybe you should go home. The kids must be back from school by now, and if they don¡¯t see their


    mother, that¡¯s one thing, but if they don¡¯t see their father either, they¡¯ll worry,¡± Thssa said to


    Lysander, not wanting him toe to her house.


    Her mother was at home and if she saw Thssa and Lysander together, she might get her hopes up


    thinking Lysander was serious about her and might marry her.


    Thssa had epted the reality and didn¡¯t harbor any naive hopes anymore. She also didn¡¯t want her


    Exclusive content from N?velDrama.Org.


    mother to have any illusions.


    Knowing her mother, if she thought there was hope, she would interfere, causing a whole lot of trouble


    and awkwardness.


    ¡°If knowing they would worry, why did youe here?¡± Lysander asked, not giving her a chance to


    refuse. With long strides, he walked towards the building.


    Thssa had no choice but to follow.


    ¡°We don¡¯t need to bring the gifts,¡± Thssa said.


    ¡°You bought them, so you should have them,¡± Lysander responded.


    Thssa was left speechless.


    She had bought three boxes of health supplements, meant as get-well gifts. Now, it seemed she would


    be the one to benefit from them.


    When Thssa and Lysander reached her apartment, they heard noises inside, including the sound of


    shattering ss.


    ¡°If you don¡¯t stop harassing Bruce, I¡¯ll kill you! You home wrecker! You shameless woman!¡± A woman¡¯s


    shrill voice echoed inside.


    ¡°Get out of our house. You¡¯re not wee here!¡± Evelyn huffed and puffed.


    Recognizing her mother¡¯s voice, Thssa quickly unlocked the door and rushed in.


    The sight that greeted her made her blood curdle.


    Broken crockeryy scattered all over the floor. The furniture was toppled over and the room was in


    utter chaos.


    Evelyn was entangled in a physical fight with a tall, thin middle-aged woman. They were pulling each


    other¡¯s hair,


    A younger woman was standing next to Evelyn, pping her back while shouting, ¡°You wench, let go of


    my mom! If you don¡¯t, I¡¯ll beat you to death!¡±


    It was clearly two against one!


    Seeing her mother being assaulted, Thssa was filled with anger. She rushed over, using her


    momentum to shove the young woman who was hitting her mother.


    The woman stumbled back andnded on the couch.


    Thssa pointed an using finger at her, ¡°Who gave you the right to hit my mother?!¡±


    After speaking, she turned to see the middle-aged woman still grappling with Evelyn. Looking around,


    Thssa spotted a shard of broken porcin on the floor. She picked it up and pressed it against the


    woman¡¯s wrist, threatening, ¡°Let go of my mother, or I¡¯ll cut your hand!¡±


    The shard of porcin dug into the woman¡¯s skin, causing her to panic.


    She was terrified. Her wrist was at stake. If it was cut, she might bleed to death.


    Nothing was more important than her life. Fearful for her life, the woman quickly released her grip on


    Evelyn¡¯s hair,

 Chapter 807

    Chapter 807


    ¡°I¡¯ve let go. It¡¯s your turn now!¡± The middle-aged woman¡¯s voice wavered with emotion.


    Thssa dropped the shard of porcin she had been holding and turned to Evelyn. ¡°Mom, you should


    let it go too.¡±


    She never intended to harm the woman. She just wanted her to let go. Now that she had, Thssa


    cast aside the threatening shard.


    Evelyn, realizing that Thssa had returned and the woman had loosened her grip, also let go.


    Panting heavily, her hair a mess, she looked disheveled.


    ¡°So, you¡¯re Bruce¡¯s daughter with this tramp?¡± The middle-aged woman was tall and thin with curly hair.


    Her fierce appearance painted a clear picture of a


    shrew.


    She red at Thssa, her teeth gritted in anger.


    She was Bruce¡¯s wife, Lucy.


    ¡°She¡¯s not¡­ she¡¯s not Bruce¡¯s daughter!¡± Evelyn retorted, spittle flying from her mouth in her agitation.


    Thssa¡¯s heart pounded as she quickly shielded her mother from Lucy. She looked directly at Lucy,


    admitting, ¡°You¡¯re right. I am Bruce¡¯s daughter with my mom! Bruce deceived my mom by hiding the


    fact that he was married. When she found out, she cut him off! Instead of teaching your cheating


    husband a lesson, why are you here bothering my mom?¡±


    Lucy¡¯s breathing becamebored as she listened to Thssa¡¯s confession, her eyes filled with rage.


    ¡°Even if she didn¡¯t know back then, what about now? She¡¯s still seducing my husband! She¡¯s just a


    natural-born tramp!¡± Lucy pointed at Evelyn, her words dripping with scorn.


    Evelyn¡¯s eyes welled up with tears, and her hand, clutching Thssa¡¯s clothes, shook with the force of


    her anger.


    Property ? N?velDrama.Org.


    Being insulted like this, how could she not be angry? However, she had no words to fire back, being the


    one deceived, Who was to me for her poor judgment, repeatedly being fooled by that scoundrel,


    Bruce?


    Who was to me for her inability to control her own heart, falling for such a man?


    She had even hoped that she could live a life together with him!


    Thssa saw Evelyn¡¯s struggle, her helplessness, her pain, and her anger.


    She stood firm in front of Evelyn, meeting Lucy¡¯s fierce gaze. She said, ¡°If my mom was seducing him,


    she wouldn¡¯t have hit him over the head! He was the one who kept tempting my mom, even followed


    her to a dating site, hiding his identity to meet her! You should control your husband and stop him from


    wreaking havoc on others¡¯ lives!¡±


    ¡°What? You¡¯re the one who hit Bruce over the head and didn¡¯t admit it! You think you can damage his


    face and not pay a dime? I will do the same to you!¡± Although Lucy was furious at Bruce¡¯s phndering,


    she was also deeply in love with him. She was drawn to his handsome appearance and his sweet


    words. Like most women, she was bewitched by Bruce¡¯s charm.


    Even knowing what kind of a person Bruce truly was, she could not help but love him.


    Now, hearing that Evelyn was the one who had injured Bruce, her anger red up. She was determined


    to get even.


    In her rage, she spotted a stool not far away, picked it up and, with a fierce expression, swung it


    towards Evelyn, who was standing behind Thssa. Thssa watched as the sharp leg of the stool


    came down rapidly. Her pupils dted as she instinctively raised her arm to shield herself.

 Chapter 808

    Chapter 808


    A sharp gust of wind whistled past Thssa¡¯s arm, and she braced herself for the imminent piercing


    pain.


    Suddenly, the piercing wind ceased, and the anticipated pain never came.


    Even the air seemed to freeze.


    Thssa lowered her arm and opened her eyes to see a tall figure standing before her. Lysander¡¯s big


    hand was clenching the leg of a chair mere inches from her.


    If it were not for Lysander¡¯s intervention, her arm would definitely have been punctured by the chair


    leg.


    Witnessing the man¡¯s sudden appearance in front of her, Lucy contracted her fierce eyes in shock.


    Lysander shoved the chair aside, sending Lucy stumbling backward. The chair ttered to the ground,


    echoing loudly.


    Lysander¡¯s deep and cold gaze fell on her as he said, ¡°Breaking into private property and causing


    trouble. That¡¯s at least a three-year sentence!¡±


    ¡°I¡­¡± Lucy was intimidated by the strong aura of the man before her. Just as she was about to say


    something, her daughter stepped forward, gripping her arm, and signaled her to remain silent.


    Her daughter, Susan, also Bruce¡¯s daughter, worked as a PR executive in an international corporation.


    She was pretty knowledgeable about the business world.


    Of course, she recognized Lysander.


    Sensing the threat, she stopped Lucy from further speaking. With a forced smile, she timidly apologized


    Property ? N?velDrama.Org.


    to Lysander, ¡°We acted impulsively. We will not repeat such reckless behavior. We are really sorry.¡±


    Lysander¡¯s cold gaze met hers, his voice authoritative as he said, ¡°I¡¯m not the one you should be


    apologizing to.¡±


    Susan was quick to understand Lysander¡¯s implication. She hurriedly turned to Thssa and


    apologized, ¡°I¡¯m sorry. I should have stopped my mom from acting so recklessly. It won¡¯t happen again.


    And don¡¯t worry about the broken stuff. We willpensate for it.¡±


    Thssa took a deep breath, then said, ¡°No need. Just leave and don¡¯t evere back.¡±


    She did not want any further entanglements with this mother-daughter duo, nor did she want to see


    them again.


    If she epted theirpensation proposal, she would have to settle the exact amount with them and


    arrange a bank transfer, but she did not want to say another word to them.


    ¡°Alright, we¡¯ll leave now,¡± Susan replied politely, pulling Lucy away.


    Lucy was clearly not satisfied with this result. She tried to resist by pulling Susan¡¯s shirt with all her


    might, wanting to say something. However, Susan firmly stopped her and forcefully led her out of


    Thssa¡¯s house.


    Once they had exited the building, Susan finally slowed her pace.


    Lucy was still fuming. ¡°Why did you act so submissively and apologetically? And why did you apologize


    to them? Have you forgotten why we came here? Are we going to just leave without giving them a


    piece of our mind? We look like losers!¡±


    Susan stopped abruptly and turned around. Her voice was stern as she said, ¡°Mom, do you realize the


    trouble we almost caused?¡±


    ¡°What trouble?¡± Lucy was still breathing heavily with anger.


    ¡°Do you know who was that man who suddenly appeared and protected Thssa?¡± Susan asked


    Lucy.


    ¡°Who? His majesty?¡± Lucy retorted sarcastically.


    ¡°Almost. He is the king of this world. That¡¯s Lysander Sinir, the CEO of the Sinir group and


    basically the king of Starhaven. He could destroy anyone with a flick of his wrist.¡± Susan had only seen


    Lysander in magazines and on television and heard numerous rumors about him.


    ¡°Wait, he is Lysander Sinir?¡± Lucy¡¯s face turned pale with shock.

 Chapter 809

    Chapter 809


    Lucy had heard the rumors about Lysander and knew of him, but she did not pay much attention to


    television or magazines, so she had never seen his picture.


    From the moment she saw him, she felt a strong aura of intimidation radiating from him, which made


    her instinctively fearful.


    She never expected him to be such an influential figure.


    After all, how could a nobody like Thssa possibly have such a powerful man protecting her?


    Once Susan mentioned Lysander¡¯s identity, Lucy became pale as a sheet. ¡°I just offended him. Did he


    say he¡¯s going to have me arrested? What do we do, Susan? What do we do?¡±


    Lucy¡¯s hand, clutching Susan¡¯s, was shaking. Only now did she understand the gravity of the situation.


    ¡°It¡¯s okay; I¡¯ve already apologized. He probably won¡¯t pursue it any further,¡± Susan said, her eyes


    lingering toward the building, filled with jealousy.


    ¡°Why does a woman like Thssa get Lysander¡¯s protection?¡± She had heard from Bruce that


    Thssa had not even finished college and had worked as a cleaner before.


    How could such a lowly woman receive Lysander¡¯s protection?


    ¡°I bet there¡¯s something more to their rtionship. For a woman with no background to get a man¡¯s


    protection, it has to be because of what she can do in the bedroom,¡± Lucy said, regaining her


    ¡°If she can have Lysander, why can¡¯t I?¡± Susan¡¯s expression was calm, but her eyes revealed her


    unhindered ambition.


    Lysander, both handsome and aplished, was perfect in every way. Many women coveted him but


    did not even have a chance to meet him.


    Yet Thssa could easily share his bed? And even receive his protection?


    ¡°I¡¯m no less than Thssa. Why can¡¯t I have him?¡± Susan thought.


    A glint appeared in Lucy¡¯s eyes as she understood her daughter¡¯s intentions. Her expression became


    conniving as she said, ¡°As long as you get in a good rtionship with Thssa, you can get close to


    Lysander.¡±


    ¡°Mom, you¡¯re a genius. Let¡¯s head back.¡± Lucy¡¯s words instantly resolved Susan¡¯s dilemma. A smile


    appeared on her face as she walked ahead.


    At Thssa¡¯s house.


    Property ? N?velDrama.Org.


    Thssa was sweeping up the broken pieces and had asked Lysander to sit on the couch.


    Evelyn, initially despaired and outraged, became terrified upon seeing Lysander. As she was about to


    host him, she realized her disheveled appearance. Thus, she quickly went to wash her face and tie up


    her hair before returning to see him sitting on the couch with three gift boxes beside him.


    Evelyn forced an awkward and fearful smile, trying to small talk. ¡°Lysander, you¡¯re so busy. How did


    you find the time toe here?¡±


    ¡°I brought gifts,¡± Lysander replied.


    Evelyn nced at the gift boxes again, ¡°You shouldn¡¯t have. That¡¯s too kind.¡±


    She stood more than three feet from Lysander, unsure what to do. After a pause, she apologized, ¡°I¡¯m


    sorry you had to see such an embarrassing scene.¡±


    Lysander did not speak, his imposing aura filling the room.


    After struggling internally, Evelyn gathered her, courage and said, ¡°I¡¯m really sorry about your


    grandmother. I just wanted to discuss your marriage with Thssa. I told your grandmother that since


    Thssa has given you four kids, you should at least give them a proper family.


    Your grandmother agreed to your marriage, too. I did not expect her to trip over the broom. I¡¯m really


    sorry. I¡¯ve been ming myself. If I hadn¡¯t gone to your house that day or chatted with her, maybe this


    tragedy wouldn¡¯t have happened.¡±


    Lysander¡¯s eyes were gloomy and icy./


    ¡°Mom, stop.¡± Thssa dropped the broom and hurriedly stopped Evelyn from continuing.

 Chapter 810

    Chapter 810


    Evelyn quickly caught on to Thssa¡¯s hint and did not pursue the topic further.


    ¡°I¡¯ll go whip up some meal. Lysander, you should stay and have a bite to eat before you go,¡± Evelyn


    suggested, swiftly changing the subject.


    Without waiting for Lysander¡¯s reply, she turned on her heel and made her way toward the kitchen.


    She was intimidated by Lysander¡¯s inherent authority. Even saying a single sentence to him seemed to


    throw her off bnce. Fearful of rejection, she chose to retreat to the kitchen instead.


    Thssa turned to look at Lysander, meeting his deep-set eyes. His gaze was so intense it made her


    heart flutter uncontrobly.


    She quickly averted her gaze and said, ¡°You sit and rest for a while. I¡¯ll sweep up. There¡¯s a lot of


    debris around. Don¡¯t want you to step on something and hurt your foot.¡±


    She picked up the broom and continued her task.


    Even with her back turned to him, she could feel the weight of his prating gaze on the back of her


    neck.


    Thssa appeared calm as she swept, but inside, she was a bundle of nerves.


    She was worried about what Evelyn had said earlier, afraid it might have angered Lysander. His gaze


    made her feel like danger was lingering in the air.


    She had no idea when it would explode and was at a loss.


    She pressed on, sweeping the floor while enduring the feeling of a dagger at her back.


    Suddenly, Lysander stood up, causing a ripple in the peaceful atmosphere.


    Thssa sensed it instantly and straightened up, her eyes darting towards him, not wanting to appear


    disrespectful.


    ¡°I¡¯m leaving. I¡¯lle to pick you up in the afternoon the day after tomorrow,¡± Lysander told her before


    striding out.


    Thssa followed him to the door, watching as he descended the stairs. Only then did she return to her


    house.


    With Lysander gone, the oppressive aura in the room was finally lifted. Thssa felt her stiff shoulders


    rx, and the tension in her nerves ease. When she continued sweeping, her movements were much


    lighter and more rxed than before.


    At this moment, Evelyn emerged from the kitchen with a dish, only to find an empty couch. ¡°Thssa,


    Content rights belong to N?velDrama.Org.


    where¡¯s Lysander?¡± She asked.


    ¡°He left.¡± Thssa continued sweeping the shards on the floor and replied without looking up..


    ¡°Why didn¡¯t you ask him to stay for a meal? After all, he did help us just now. We should at least thank


    him with a meal,¡± Evelyn admonished, ming Thssa for not being more hospitable.


    If Thssa had known how to please Lysander and capture his heart, she might be able to marry him


    in the future.


    Of course, Thssa was fully aware of Evelyn¡¯s motives.


    With a sigh of resignation, she said, ¡°Mom, you¡¯re overthinking this. He¡¯s used to meals prepared by


    professional chefs. Our humble fare wouldn¡¯t suit him.¡±


    The implication was clear with her simple statement.


    Evelyn understood immediately. Lysander was a man of high status with equally high standards. Their


    modest living conditions could hardly held his interest.


    She wanted to use the opportunity of this meal to probe Lysander and see if he had feelings for


    Thssa. However, now she realized that she was simply daydreaming.


    Evelyn stood with her mouth agape, a whirlwind of thoughts and unspoken grievances swirling in her


    mind. But seeing Thssa¡¯s slender figure, she swallowed her words.


    She returned to the kitchen to finish preparing the meal.


    Soon, Evelyn finished preparing the meal, and Thssa had tidied up their cluttered home.


    Many things were broken in the upheaval. Items they had once been reluctant to part with were now


    tossed out.


    Things were always kept because people could not bear to throw them away, even if they served no


    purpose. However, this attachment seemed to have lessened when they were forcibly destroyed and


    must be discarded.


    The heartache was not as acute as expected as these things ended up in the trash.


    Gripter on

 Chapter 811

    Chapter 811


    Was it not the same with people as well as things?


    If one knew that one had no destiny and no future with someone, one must let go in time.


    When people finally truly let go of someone they thought they could never let go, they would suddenly


    find the world opening up right before their eyes.


    Evelyn called Thssa over for the meal. The mother and daughter sat at the dining table.


    Three scratch marks adorned Evelyn¡¯s face, resulting from a recent skirmish with Lucy.


    Despite the marks on her face, Evelyn sternly asked, ¡°Why did you admit to being Bruce¡¯s daughter?


    Lysander was there. If I had rified to Lucy that you¡¯re not Bruce¡¯s daughter, Lysander would have


    heard it, too. That way, he wouldn¡¯t hold a grudge against you.¡±


    It suddenly struck Evelyn that Thssa¡¯s admission to Lucy that she was Bruce¡¯s daughter was not a


    rash decision made in anger.


    It seemed like she really wanted Lucy to believe she was Bruce¡¯s daughter. She was basically


    sabotaging her future.


    ¡°I deliberately let Lysander hear it. I don¡¯t want him to know I¡¯m not Bruce¡¯s daughter,¡± Thssa


    exined.


    mming her cutlery onto the table, Evelyn blurted out, ¡°Are you out of your mind? You purposely


    provoked Lysander?¡±


    Thssa had the opportunity to stay by Lysander¡¯s side, be Mrs. Sinir, and give her children a


    Evelyn had suffered too much because of the issue with Bruce. Even today, she was assaulted at her


    doorstep. She was seething with anger, feeling frustrated and wronged. She did not want Thssa to


    suffer like she did.


    If Thssa married Lysander, not only would she benefit, but it would also provide aplete family


    for their children.


    Evelyn would also be able to hold her head high with pride.


    Why did Thssa refuse to seize the opportunity to win Lysander over? Instead, she provoked his


    anger.


    Thssa also put down her cutlery, looked at Evelyn, who was frustrated and disappointed, and said


    solemnly, ¡°When I found out I¡¯m not Bruce¡¯s daughter, I was so excited. I rushed to tell him. But I saw


    him with his fianc¨¦e. And when I asked him if he would marry me if I weren¡¯t Bruce¡¯s daughter, he told


    me not to daydream.¡±


    After today¡¯s event, Thssa was even more sure Lysander would not marry her. The ticket to the


    Sinir family was beyond her reach.


    Plus, Zephyr even looked down on her.


    ¡°What? He¡¯s still with his fianc¨¦e?¡± Evelyn was shocked. Her face, previously full of me for Thssa,


    turned into anger and helplessness.


    ¡°Yeah, the heiress of the Ravensong Group and he are equal in status,¡± Thssa said.


    ¡°It¡¯s all my fault. I couldn¡¯t give you a good family background.¡± Evelyn was filled with regret, ming


    herself.


    Thssaforted her, ¡°Mom, don¡¯t think like that. As long as we lead our own lives well, that¡¯s


    enough. We shouldn¡¯t force things that don¡¯t belong to


    us.¡±


    ¡°But, by deliberately letting him know you¡¯re Bruce¡¯s daughter, aren¡¯t you inviting his hatred? It does


    you no good,¡± Evelyn knew their family was too poor to match Lysander¡¯s status. The Sinir family


    Exclusive content from N?velDrama.Org.


    would never allow Thssa in.


    Nheless, Thssa could totally choose not to bear Lysander¡¯s hatred.


    ¡°Doing so, at least when he gets tired of me, he¡¯ll let me go because of his disgust. Otherwise, he may


    choose to maintain this twisted rtionship if he knows I¡¯m not Bruce¡¯s daughter. He probably won¡¯t let


    me go even if he gets married.¡±


    Thssa shared her worries and apprehensions with her mother.


    ¡°But what if he immediately lets you go when he finds out you¡¯re not Bruce¡¯s daughter?¡± Evelyn asked,


    puzzled.

 Chapter 812

    Chapter 812


    Thssa shook her head. ¡°He won¡¯t.¡±


    After spending some time with Lysander, she understood his possessive nature. Otherwise, he would


    not have lost his temper just because she had the slightest contact with Leopold.


    Just earlier today, she and Ethan had visited Leopold at the hospital. When Lysander found out, he


    warned her not to see Leopold again.


    He even vented his frustration on her while they were still in the car.


    N?velDrama.Org (C) content.


    All of Lysander¡¯s actions showed that he was still intrigued by her novelty. He was still very interested in


    her.


    That was exactly why his possessiveness was so intense.


    If he lost his interest in her body one day, he would immediately kick her aside out of spite for being


    Bruce¡¯s daughter.


    However, if he found out she was not Bruce¡¯s daughter, he would keep her by his side forever, treating


    her as his possession.


    After all, she had given him her everything and four children. He would not let her go even if he married


    someone else because she was his woman.


    Thssa trusted her judgment. She was confident that Lysander was such a person.


    Thssa continued to eat her meal, hiding her heartache behind her lowered eyshes.


    Evelyn listened to her firm tone and saw her unwillingness to talk further, so she sighed and stopped


    asking.


    She knew all too well the helplessness and sorrow of yearning for something unattainable.


    She had been through it all herself. Why would she force her daughter to do the same?


    She could only me fate for its unfairness, making her and her daughter suffer the same hardships.


    Lysander was driving his ck Rolls-Royce on the asphalt road.


    He held the steering wheel with one hand while the other dialed David.


    ¡°Look into Evelyn and Bruce¡¯s contacts during this period, especially the day Evelyn hit Bruce,¡±


    Lysander ordered.


    ¡°Understood, Mr. Sinir,¡± David replied immediately.


    The living room was brightly lit when Lysander returned to the Royal Estates.


    The moment he walked in, a ser ball flew towards him, aiming straight for his face.


    ¡°Lysander!¡± Fitch cried out in shock, holding his breath, as he saw the ser ball about to hit


    Lysander¡¯s face.


    However, Lysander simply tilted his head slightly, letting the ser ball brush past his cheek andnd


    on the floor, bouncing twice beforeing to a halt.


    Lysander looked inside the house with deep, intense eyes.


    Dorian and Atticus were standing by the sofa, Atticus handsome little face showing surprise, while


    Dorian was covering his wide-open mouth with his tiny hand, hisrge eyes filled with astonishment


    and admiration as he looked at Lysander.


    Elowen and Sophia sat on a plush carpet, holding building blocks in their tiny hands. Now, their


    innocent and curious eyes were focused on Lysander.


    Fitch was standing among the children, looking shaken.


    ¡°Dad, did you see how high I kicked the ball just now? It was so high.¡± Dorian was the first to recover.


    He ran over to Lysander, looking up at him with a happy smile, telling him about his aplishment.


    He was the one who kicked the ser ball that had nearly hit Lysander.


    Plus, he kicked it so urately that it went straight for Lysander¡¯s handsome face.


    Lysander patted his little head. ¡°Yes, you kicked it very high. But remember to y ball outside next


    time.¡±


    ¦Ô¦Ð¦Á¦Ñ¦É¦Ò¦É ¦Ï¦É¦Ï

 Chapter 813

    Chapter 813


    ¡°Hmm, I got it.¡± Dorian acknowledged, his lips pursed slightly in a thoughtful pout.


    Fitch heaved a silent sigh of relief. Thankfully, Lysander did not scold him.


    Atticus, finally recovering from his surprise, looked past Lysander but did not find Thssa. His small


    face, full of displeasure, turned up to Lysander. ¡®Where¡¯s Mom?¡±


    Elowen and Sophia, at the mention of ¡®mom, seemed to have their switches turned on. Their innocent


    eyes blinked in surprise before they dropped their building blocks, scrambled up from the floor, and


    shuffled over to Lysander.


    Elowen, the braver and more joyous of the two, tugged at Lysander¡¯s pants leg. Her chubby face tilted


    up in anticipation, and herrge, innocent eyes were filled with expectation as she asked, ¡°Daddy, why


    did Mom note home with you?¡±


    Property ? N?velDrama.Org.


    Sophia trailed behind, too shy to approach Lysander. She stood behind Elowen, her gaze timid. Clearly,


    she missed her mother, too.


    Lysander took in the expressions of his children and said, ¡°She¡¯s at your grandma¡¯s.¡±


    ¡°Hmm, I miss Mom. I want to see her,¡± Elowen said, herrge, watery eyes filled with tears, her little


    mouth pouting in sadness.


    ¡°I miss Mom and Grandma too.¡± Realizing his mother was not home, Dorian¡¯s voice dropped to a pitiful


    whisper.


    Lysander replied, ¡°Clean up and rest well. I¡¯ll take you to see her on Saturday.¡±


    ¡°Saturday? That¡¯s two days away! We can¡¯t see Mom for two whole days?¡± Atticus¡¯ using gaze was


    fixed on Lysander.


    ¡°Hmm, two days is too long,¡± Elowen sobbed, tugging at Lysander¡¯s pants. ¡°No, I want to see Mom


    now.¡±


    Sophia¡¯s lips quivered, tears welling in her eyes.


    Lysander looked sternly at Atticus, who was usually the instigator of these emotional outbursts. As the


    eldest, his ability to rally his younger siblings was


    uncanny.


    Dorian, who was just happily ying moments ago, was now crying for their mother, thanks to Atticus.


    Atticus lowered his gaze under Lysander¡¯s reprimand. He just missed their mother. Was that so


    wrong?


    ¡°Daddy, will you take us to grandma¡¯s house? Please?¡± Elowen pleaded, her chubby fingers clutching


    at Lysander¡¯s pants leg.


    Lysander bent down, lifted Elowen into his arms, and wiped her tears away with his thumb. ¡°Stop


    crying. You don¡¯t look pretty when you cry.¡±


    ¡°But I can¡¯t help crying when Mom¡¯s not here,¡± Elowen mumbled, her voice teary, then buried her face


    into Lysander¡¯s chest, smearing snot on his shirt.


    Fitch watched, his body freezing in horror, his face ashen.


    Oh no, little princess Elowen had smeared snot on Lysander¡¯s immacte ck shirt. Lysander was a


    clean freak, and his clothes were spotless. How could he tolerate snot on his shirt?


    Fitch feared for Elowen, expecting Lysander to drop her like a hot potato.


    However, to Fitch¡¯s surprise, Lysander did not get angry. Instead, he gently patted Elowen¡¯s back, his


    deep voice soothing her. ¡°How can we go if you won¡¯t stop crying?¡±


    Elowen did not immediately understand what Lysander meant, but the other three understood right


    away.


    Atticus¡¯ face lit up, and Dorian¡¯s saddened eyes sparkled excitedly. Sophia¡¯s teary eyes cleared, her


    lips curving into a happy smile, a bubble of snot. popping out of her nose.


    Elowen, still sobbing in Lysander¡¯s arms, finally understood what he meant after a moment. She


    paused, then lifted her face to look at him, herrge, bright eyes sparkling. She hugged Lysander¡¯s


    face and leaned in to nt a wet kiss on his cheek. ¡°Daddy, love you the most.¡±


    The little girl¡¯s kiss smeared more snot on Lysander¡¯s face, but he did not seem to mind at all

 Chapter 814

    Chapter 814


    Lysander felt the soft, innocent kiss of the child on his cheek. It was a sweet sensation as if honey had


    been spread across his heart, a warmth spreading within him.


    The sticky residue on his cheek did not matter.


    ¡°Alright, let¡¯s clean you up, and then we can get going,¡± Lysander advised, cing Elowen down.


    ¡°Okay, I¡¯m going to wash up and visit Mom,¡± Elowen immediately stopped crying and cheerfully agreed,


    taking Fitch¡¯s hand and letting him lead her to the bathroom to wash up.


    Fitch¡¯s emotions had been a roller coaster. From the tense moment when Lysander had first entered


    the room to the panic when Elowen smeared her runny nose on him, to the satisfaction and joy he now


    felt.,


    Lysander truly was patient with the children. He did not get mad at their mischievousness or angry


    when El?wen dirtied his clothes.


    Fitch had never seen Lysander tolerate someone dirtying his clothes, let alone with a pleasant


    expression.


    Fitch, holding Elowen¡¯s hand, led her to wash up.


    Meanwhile, Lysander went upstairs to clean himself up and change.


    When he returned, the children were already sitting on the sofa. Four pairs of bright, innocent eyes


    were eagerly awaiting him.


    They had transformed from being yful to being well-behaved.


    ¡°Let¡¯s go,¡± Lysander said, leading them out.


    The children hopped off the sofa one by one, following him like little ducklings.


    Lysander drove the car himself, with Atticus in the passenger seat and the three little ones in the


    backseat.


    Exclusive content from N?velDrama.Org.


    The ck Rolls Royce sliced through the neon night, heading towards the Vibrant Oasis Residences.


    Fresh out of the shower, Thssa was applying medication to Evelyn¡¯s face.


    ¡°Mom, in the future, don¡¯t just let anyone in. Look at what they¡¯ve done to your face,¡± Thssa said,


    looking at the three scratch marks on Evelyn¡¯s face, deep enough to have drawn blood.


    She could only imagine how much force the mother-daughter duo had used.


    Her heart clenched at the thought of what could have happened if she had not returned home in time.


    Her mother could have been beaten to death without anyone¡¯s help.


    It was not only because of Bruce¡¯s continuous deceit but also because Evelyn was so easily fooled.


    Evelyn did not have to say anything for Thssa to know that her mother must still have hopes for


    Bruce.


    Why could she not let go of such a despicable, immoral, and scum of a man?


    ¡°I know. I won¡¯t let anyone in anymore,¡± Evelyn replied, her pride stinging from being reprimanded by


    her daughter.


    Thssa knew her mother¡¯s strong-willed nature and did not push the matter further.


    As she was closing the medicine cab, there was a knock on the door.


    ¡°I¡¯ll get it.¡± Evelyn got up to answer.


    Thssa stopped her. ¡°Didn¡¯t I just tell you not to open the door to anyone?¡±


    Evelyn paused, realizing herck of caution. ¡°Alright, alright. You go.¡±


    Thssa walked to the door and cautiously asked, ¡°Who is it?¡±


    ¡°Mommy, it¡¯s me, your little darling.¡± Elowen¡¯s innocent voice came from the other side of the door.


    Thssa¡¯s tension immediately melted away, reced by a wave of joy. She quickly opened the door.

 Chapter 815

    Chapter 815


    A tall, striking figure stood at the door. When Thssa saw Lysander¡¯s stoic, handsome face, her heart


    clenched.


    Then her gaze fell to the four little cherubs at his feet. The tension in her heart was instantly reced


    by joy and love. ¡°My little darlings, what brings you here?¡±


    Thssa¡¯s voice softened unconsciously.


    ¡°Mommy, aren¡¯t you surprised?¡± Elowen opened her chubby arms and ran to hug Thssa¡¯s leg.


    Soon, Sophia came over, too, pressing herself against Thssa¡¯s leg, rubbing her small face against it,


    expressing her longing for her mother.


    Dorian and Atticus also walked in, standing by Thssa¡¯s side, their innocent eyes filled with longing


    and a hint of grievance.


    Surrounded by the adorable little ones, Thssa¡¯s heart melted, and her eyes became slightly moist.


    She held the hands of her four little treasures and led them inside. ¡°What a wonderful surprise! I¡¯m over


    the moon.¡±


    ¡°Oh my, our little angels are back. Let me have a look at you. Have you grown any taller?¡± Evelyn came


    over, her face beaming with joy.


    Looking at the four adorable children, her eyes were filled with fondness.


    She squatted down and gave Atticus, Dorian, Elowen, and Sophia a big kiss each, the sound of her


    smooching filling the room.


    ¡°Grandma, you got saliva on my face.¡± Dorian rubbed his cheek where he had been kissed, but his


    voice was filled with happiness.


    ¡°Haha, I missed you all so much.¡± Evelynughed heartily.


    Seeing the heartwarming reunion between Evelyn and the children, Thssa¡¯s lips curled into a smile.


    Suddenly remembering that someone had been ignored, she turned around to see Lysander still


    standing at the door, his deep eyes filled with an ominous light as if brewing anger.


    Thssa¡¯s heart sank, and she hurried over, politely and respectfully saying, ¡°Come in. There are too


    many mosquitoes outside.¡±¡±


    She had been so engrossed in weing the children that she had forgotten to invite Lysander in.


    Exclusive content from N?velDrama.Org.


    Only the children could make her forget about Lysander¡¯s presence. In her heart, the children always


    came first.


    Lysander shot her a sidelong nce, said nothing, and followed her inside.


    The moment he stepped in, the room was filled with an oppressive aura. Evelyn, who was gleefully


    interacting with the children, suddenly found her mood dampened by Lysander¡¯s presence.


    Her cheerful expression became awkward. She held the children¡¯s hands and gently said, ¡°Let¡¯s y in


    the room with me. I¡¯ve folded a lot of paper toys for you, like boats, fans, everything.¡±


    ¡°Yay, I love boats.¡± Elowen cheered.


    ¡°I love fans.¡± Dorian chimed in.


    The four little ones followed Evelyn into the room.


    In the living room, Thssa was left alone with Lysander.


    His intimidating aura always made her feel uneasy.


    ¡°Um, why don¡¯t you sit down? I¡¯ll go make you some coffee,¡± Thssa said, feeling slightly awkward.


    She was about to head to the kitchen when her wrist was suddenly grabbed.


    His rough palm, dry but warm, held her wrist. The contact sent a tingle through Thssa, making her


    heart flutter. With a slight tug, Lysander pulled her towards him, her body crashing into his firm chest,


    making her heart race.


    Thssa was startled, looking up into his deep eye. ¡°Lysander, you can¡¯t¡­¡±


    This was her home. Her children and mother were here. He could not just¡­


    Lysander stared at her, his eyes dim and unfathomable as he said, ¡°What if I do?¡±

 Chapter 816

    Chapter 816


    Thssa¡¯s eyes narrowed, instinctively ncing toward the room, worried that her children or Evelyn


    might suddenly appear and see her and Lysander in their current intimate posture.


    She would be mortified.


    She forcefully tugged at her hand, ring at Lysander. ¡°Let go of me, not here at my mom¡¯s, okay?¡±


    Her voice seemed irritated but carried a plea and a profound helplessness.


    If Lysander intentionally did such things to her, knowing her mother and children were in the room, it


    would be aplete disregard for her feelings, an endless humiliation.


    She would hate him more, wanting to escape from him.


    Lysander looked at Thssa¡¯s anxious demeanor with deep eyes. He did not loosen his grip on her


    hand. Instead, he pulled her closer, capturing her wildly darting eyes. His low, sultry breath fanned her


    face as he said, ¡°So, are you saying it¡¯s fine anywhere else?¡±


    ¡°I did not mean that¡­¡± Thssa denied instinctively.


    Before she could finish her sentence, she met Lysander¡¯s deep, abyss-like eyes. The intense stare


    made Thssa¡¯s heart pound and her skin tingle, sensing a looming danger in the air.


    The overwhelming pressure made her afraid to speak her mind.


    This intense pressure made her not dare to say what was in her heart.


    She ceased speaking, her eyshes trembling in fear. She lowered her gaze weakly and said, ¡°At least


    not here. Please leave me some basic dignity, okay?¡±


    She tucked away her sharp edges and thorns, trying to be gentle and cooperative in front of him, all not


    to provoke him or give him an excuse to deprive her of seeing her children.


    Something in Lysander stirred. Her plea for some basic dignity touched a nerve in him, causing ripples


    of unusual emotions.


    He released her hand after staring at her for several seconds. ¡°I don¡¯t drink coffee. Don¡¯t bother. Sit


    with me.¡±


    ConTEent bel0ngs to N?v(e)lD/rama(.)Org .


    With that, he returned to his seat on the couch.


    Thssa gently massaged her aching wrist, took a deep breath, and sat beside him.


    ¡°Let¡¯s go back to the Royal Estates tonight,¡± Lysander said casually. Although he did not move, his


    naturally dignified aura and intimidating presence still inspired fear in her.


    ¡°Weren¡¯t we going to go the day after tomorrow?¡± Thssa blurted out.


    She was supposed to stay at Vibrant Oasis Residences for two days, and then he was supposed to


    pick her up the day after tomorrow. Those were his words.


    Why was he changing his mind now?


    Lysander nced at her. ¡°The kids were throwing a tantrum, wanting to see you. They can¡¯t sleep


    without you.¡±


    He meant that it was not him who wanted her back at the Royal Estates but the children who couldn¡¯t


    be without her. They were restless if they could not see her.


    Thssa was taken aback, surprised that Lysander would even mention that the children were


    throwing a tantrum to see her.


    What was more surprising was that when the children wanted to see her, Lysander actually brought


    them over instead of forcing them to sleep without her.


    Lysander¡¯s treatment of the children was not as overbearing and authoritarian as his treatment of her,


    which surprised Thssa.


    ¡°Let them y with my mom a bit longer before we go. They haven¡¯t seen each other in days. My mom


    misses them, and they miss their grandmother,¡± Thssa suggested.


    Her not refusing to go back to the Royal Estates meant she agreed.


    Lysander retracted his gaze, taking out a pack of cigarettes from his pocket. He was about to light one


    up when he nced at Thssa from the corner of his eye. Then, he put the cigarette back into the


    pack and ced it back in his pocket.


    Thssa was puzzled,


    He was about to smoke, so why did he suddenly stop?


    And so, they both sat there in silence.

 Chapter 817

    Chapter 817


    Just when the silence in the room became palpable, the door swung open. Four adorable children


    scampered out, their tiny legs carrying them at a surprisingly swift pace.


    ¡°Mommy, look! Grandma made me a paper boat! And it can float on water, too!¡± Elowen held aloft a


    boat made from newspaper, her chubby fingers barely able to contain its size. Her excitement was


    infectious. Her mouth opened wide in joyousughter. As she r¨¢n, her pigtails bobbed with her


    movements, adding to her charm.


    ¡°Mommy, I love my fan! It¡¯s so cool and breezy!¡± Sophia clutched a colorful paper fan in her tiny hands,


    running towards Thssa while fanning herself. Her short hair flew up in the breeze she created, and


    even as someone who was usually timid, her smile was radiant at this moment.


    ¡°And I have a heart! Just like the love I have for Mommy and Grandma!¡± Dorian held a red paper heart


    above his head as he sprinted towards Thssa, his happiness making him seem like a bird in flight.


    ¡°Mommy, I have a gun!¡± Even Atticus was brimming with joy, a sight Thssa saw rarely.


    The children, each with their favorite toys, rushed towards the sofa and dove into Thssa¡¯s arms in


    unison. Their soft, chubby faces nestled against Thssa, some against her chest, others pressing


    Content rights belong to N?velDrama.Org.


    against her face. Like marshmallows, their soft and sweet touch filled Thssa¡¯s embrace.


    Any humiliation or panic Thssa had felt earlier had been reced by the children¡¯s joy, healing her


    and leaving behind only love. She wrapped her arms around the little ones, a happy, loving smile


    gracing her lips. ¡°Grandma made these for you. As long as you all are happy, that¡¯s all that matters.¡±


    ¡°Yeah, I love it!¡± Elowen affirmed, nodding her head vigorously. Her eyes sparkled as she spoke..


    Evelyn emerged from the house, and this warm sight greeted her. She watched as the children cuddled


    into Thssa¡¯s embrace, a smile creeping onto her face. The scene warmed her heart, yet tears welled


    up in her eyes.


    In the past few days, Bruce and his wife¡¯s affairs and Thssa giving Lysander four children yet unable


    to marry him significantly weighed down Evelyn.


    She locked herself up, asionally shedding silent tears. Thankfully, thoughts of the children consoled


    her, their love healing her heart.


    She had made origami toys for the children out of scrap paper to distract herself. As she folded each


    toy, she imagined their joyous faces when they received them. Their happiness was indeed as she had


    imagined, filling her with contentment.


    Lysander sat beside Thssa, but the children only had eyes for Thssa. They sprinted past him and


    did not even look at him, let alone pounce into his embrace.


    Seeing them cuddling into her and their affectionate gestures softened Lysander¡¯s eyes.


    Just as the room was filled with peace and harmony, Lysander¡¯s phone rang, shattering the calm.


    Thssa and Evelyn turned to look at him, realizing they had been so engrossed in their happiness


    that they had forgotten about Lysander¡¯s intimidating presence. A hint of apprehension crept into their


    joy.


    Lysander answered the call, cing it on speaker and leaving it on the sofa. He then took out the pack


    of cigarettes from his pocket.


    ¡°Mr. Sinir, we¡¯ve uncovered everything about Bruce and Evelyn¡¯s recent issues,¡± David reported.


    ¡°Go on, Lysander instructed, igniting his cigarette.


    ¡°Sometime back, Evelyn and Bruce met at a location arranged by the dating website. A fight broke out,


    with Evelynnding a blow on Bruce¡¯s head. Thssa arrived in time to rush Bruce to the hospital.


    Bruce lost quite a bit of blood and needed a transfusion, but strangely enough, Thssa¡¯s blood type


    was not a match¡­¡± David¡¯s voice echoed from the phone.


    Thssa¡¯s heart almost jumped to her throat, her eyes darting towards Lysander. Had he been


    investigating Bruce¡¯s injury?


    Could Lysander find out that she was not Bruce¡¯s daughter?

 Chapter 818

    Chapter 818


    While Thssa was nervous, Evelyn looked flustered as they exchanged quick nces.


    Lysander was investigating her past with Bruce and had no qualms about sharing what he found with


    her and Thssa. What was he trying to imply?


    Evelyn thought back to what Thssa had told her earlier. If Lysander kept believing Thssa was


    Bruce¡¯s daughter, he would let her go once the novelty wore off.


    Otherwise, he would make Thssa his lifelong mistress!


    Since Thssa could not marry Lysander, Evelyn hoped that Thssa could find her happiness and


    marry someone else.


    Being Lysander¡¯s mistress for a lifetime was just too heartbreaking!


    Evelyn was afraid Lysander had discovered something. Before David could continue, she hurriedly


    said, ¡°Bruce has an O blood type, and my daughter Thssa and I are both B. Of course, she couldn¡¯t


    give Bruce a blood transfusion.¡±


    With her words out, Evelyn felt uneasy. She could hardly breathe due to the tension. She had no idea


    whether Lysander had looked into her blood type.


    Lysander ced a cigarette between his lips, his gaze shifting towards Thssa.


    Thssa¡¯s heart skipped a beat under his deep gaze. She quickly said, ¡°Yes, I¡¯m B-type. The nurse


    told me I couldn¡¯t give a transfusion.¡±


    It was indeed the case at the time. After learning her mother was O-type blood, she started doubting


    that Bruce was not her father, prompting her to ask her mother about it.


    If Lysander only knew her blood type was different from Bruce¡¯s, he probably would not suspect she


    was not Bruce¡¯s daughter. After all, everyone was taught in school that a child born to a person with O-


    type blood would have the other parent¡¯s blood type or O-type.


    ¡°Why are you both so nervous? David is just stating the facts,¡± Lysander asked in his low voice.


    Evelyn¡¯s heart skipped a beat. She had always lived in the countryside and never faced a man as


    imposing, distinguished, and intimidating as Lysander.


    Hearing Lysander ask them what they were nervous about, she instantly lost herposure and


    panicked, which showed on her face. She was close to letting the cat out of the bag.


    Thssa was also on edge. However, she was more experienced in dealing with Lysander. She quickly


    responded, ¡°David just said it was strange. We were exining why it wasn¡¯t.¡±


    Evelyn caught on and nodded, adding, ¡°Right, we were just saying it was not strange.¡±


    Their conversation was on speaker, and David heard it all. He had not realized Lysander was with


    Thssa and Evelyn.


    David, who was always aware of the situation, said, ¡°Thank you for rifying. I understand now. It¡¯s not


    strange.¡±


    FS WFO SEE P IS


    With that, David continued reporting, ¡°Thssa took Bruce to the hospital for treatment. When Bruce¡¯s


    wife arrived, Thssa left the hospital. Neither Thssa nor Evelyn have visited Bruce since. Instead,


    Property ? N?velDrama.Org.


    Bruce¡¯s wife and daughter have been pestering Evelyn after learning about her.¡±


    ¡°Understood,¡± Lysander said, hanging up the call.


    He had a cigarette between his lips but still had not lit it. After ending the call, he stood up and headed


    out, saying, ¡°I¡¯ll wait for you in the car.


    With that, he left Thssa¡¯s ce.


    As soon as he stepped out, Thssa heard the flick of a lighter. Lysander was lighting his cigarette.


    He even remembered to smoke away from the kids. He really did care about them.


    ¡°What does he mean, Thssa? Are you and the kids leaving?¡± Evelyn asked, her ted expression


    faltering.


    ¡°Yes, he told me earlier to take the kids to Royal Estates. I suggested they stay a bit longer,¡± Thssa


    told the truth.

 Chapter 819

    Chapter 819


    ¡°Ah, it¡¯s out of my hands,¡± Evelyn sighed abruptly. She¡¯d just had a brief visit with her grandchildren and


    it tugged at her heartstrings to see them leave so soon. But she couldn¡¯t do anything about it.


    Times have changed.


    The kids used to be hers and Thssa¡¯s; their meals, their ytime, their bedtime, everything revolved


    around them. They were free to take the kids wherever they pleased.


    Now, the kids were taken away by their father. Everything depended on his whims.


    Knowing that Thssa had fought hard for this opportunity to spend time with the kids, Evelyn


    cherished these moments of ying with them.


    By 10 p.m., Evelyn said, ¡°It¡¯s gettingte and you all should head home to bed. You cane over to


    grandma¡¯s again during the holidays.¡±


    ¡°Grandma, I want to sleep with you,¡± Elowen said.


    ¡°Me too, I want to sleep with grandma,¡± Sophia raised her hand.


    ¡°Me too!¡± Dorian chimed in.


    ¡°Same here,¡± Atticus surprisingly didn¡¯t mind sharing a bed with the others.


    Seeing the kids¡¯ eager faces, Evelyn couldn¡¯t help but smile; her eyes were welling up with tears as she


    said, ¡°My dears, if only grandma and your mom had a ce of our own. This ce is too small; we only


    have two rooms and the beds are small too. Plus, this is a rented ce so you never know when we¡¯ll


    be kicked out. You kids will have a more stable life with your dad, with an independent room for each of


    you. It¡¯s much more spacious.¡±


    Evelyn knew it was best for the kids to stay with their father, Lysander, as he could provide better living


    conditions and better futures for them.


    The kids had already gone through tough times with them for four years; it was enough to break


    Evelyn¡¯s heart.


    Hearing Evelyn¡¯s words, Thssa felt a pang in her heart. That was right. She still didn¡¯t have a ce


    of her own.


    This was a rented ce, and if thendlord decided to take it back, they would have to move overnight


    and live a nomadic life. Elowen pouted, ¡°I don¡¯t mind sharing. I just want to sleep with grandma.¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t mind either,¡± Sophia added.


    Dorian and Atticus nodded in agreement.


    Kids were simple-minded so they didn¡¯t care about the conditions at all; they just wanted to be with the


    ones they loved.


    ¡°My darlings, your dad is waiting for you downstairs. You cane over during the holidays; Grandma


    will papercut lots of toys for you,¡± Evelyn tried to convince them.


    Hearing that Evelyn would papercut more toys for them, they didn¡¯t insist anymore and left happily.


    ¡°Can I take my paper boat home?¡±. Elowen asked, tilting her head.


    ¡°Of course,¡± Evelyn answered as she patted her head affectionately.


    The four kids took their beloved toys and went downstairs with Thssa.


    They waved goodbye to Evelyn as they got into the car, and she waved back with a smile.


    Exclusive content from N?velDrama.Org.


    Lysander drove off.


    The summer night wind, warm and gentle, blew in through the car window, tousling Thssa¡¯s hair and


    making her eyes tear up.


    ¡°Mom, why are you crying?¡± Sophia asked, nestled in Thssa¡¯s arms; her voice was full of concern.


    Lysander nced in the rear-view mirror at Thssa.

 Chapter 820

    Chapter 820


    Thssa¡¯s heart pounded as her gaze darted to the rear-view mirror, where Lysander¡¯s deep, brooding


    eyes met hers. Panic washed over her, leaving her feeling helpless and cornered.


    She quickly brushed away the tears from her face, blinking rapidly to clear her vision, ¡°I¡¯m not crying,


    honey,¡± she said with a forced smile. ¡°The wind outside is just so strong that it blew some dust into my


    eyes.¡±


    With that, she pulled Sophia into her arms and nted a kiss on her forehead, hoping to reassure her


    and ease her worries.


    ¡°Oh, Mommy, I¡¯ll help blow the dust out of your eyes,¡± Sophia offered, tilting her head back and puffing


    out her cheeks as she blew a gentle breath towards Thssa¡¯s eyes.


    It was what Thssa used to do for them when they got something in their eyes.


    Thssa yed along, lowering her head as Sophia blew gently on her face. The soft, milky-scented


    breath was somewhatforting. It soothed her troubled heart.


    She didn¡¯t understand why she cried. She was sitting there in the car, thinking about Evelyn¡¯s words


    that she didn¡¯t have a big, fancy house, and couldn¡¯t provide her kids with a stable home. They would


    have a better future with their father.


    She couldn¡¯t even control her own life, let alone help her mother escape their predicament.


    The bitter realities of life seemed to magnify in her heart, causing tears to fall involuntarily from her


    eyes.


    Seeing Lysander¡¯s intense gaze in the rear-view mirror, she snapped back to reality, suppressing her


    emotions and even using Sophia¡¯s assistance as an excuse to avoid meeting his gaze.


    Lysander¡¯s eyes, deep and mysterious, returned to the road ahead. He remained silent and his


    thoughts were inscrutable.


    Upon reaching Royal Estates, the kids were all sound asleep in the car.


    Lysander parked the car and one by one, he carried the kids into the house, tucking them into their


    beds.


    Upstairs in the master bedroom, Thssa rested against the headboard and lost in her thoughts.


    Suddenly, she heard a noise at the door. She quicklyid down, turning her back to the door and


    feigning sleep.


    As long as she was asleep, Lysander wouldn¡¯t bother her.


    She closed her eyes and tried to keep her breath steady.


    Then she felt the bed suddenly dip behind her. A strong masculine presence drew closer, a solid chest


    radiating warmth pressing against her back. His rough hand sped her chin, turning her face towards


    him.


    Thssa¡¯s heart fluttered at the feeling; her breath quickened and her pulse raced. Eyshes fluttered,


    she opened her eyes to meet


    Lysander¡¯s ocean-deep gaze.


    His intense, mysterious gaze held her captive, like a piercing wind threatening to delve into the depths


    of her soul, seeing right through


    her.


    ¡°Did returning to Royal Estates upset you?¡± Lysander¡¯s low, maic voice echoed in her ears,


    His icy breath grazed her cheeks, leaving Thssa feeling a looming danger.


    She stiffened, mustering the courage to meet his gaze and insisted, ¡°No, I really did get dust in my


    eyes from the wind.¡±


    He is still dwelling on the fact that she had suddenly burst into tears in the car, isn¡¯t he? She thought.


    She also regretted not being able to control her emotions better.


    No matter how upset she was, she shouldn¡¯t have cried in front of Lysander. Even if she did, he


    wouldn¡¯t let her go or grant her freedom, would he?


    He would only tighten his grip on her, making her escape impossible.


    Lysander¡¯s prating gaze lingered on her for a moment longer, making Thssa¡¯s heart flutter with


    unease. Just when she thought she couldn¡¯t escape his wrath, he let go of her chin andid down


    Content rights belong to N?velDrama.Org.


    beside her. Reaching out his arms, he was encircling her waist and drawing her into his embrace.


    As Thssa turned, her back now reced by her front pressed tightly against his muscr chest. Her


    heaving chest brushed against his firm bosom with each breath. The area where her hand instinctively


    rested was his abdomen.


    She could clearly feel the eight-pack abs, which was exuding a sense of masculine power.


    !


    And Thssa felt a sense of danger as she detected something below the abdomen. Her face heated


    up instantly as she struggled to free herself from his embrace.

 Chapter 821

    Chapter 821


    Lysander¡¯s hand tightened around her, pulling her into his chest. His voice was a deep, rasping


    murmur, ¡°Stay still. If it goes off, it¡¯s on you.¡±


    Thssa froze, afraid to move.


    Lysander held her, doing nothing more than holding her a bit too tightly, so tightly that Thssa was


    having trouble catching her breath. His chin rested on top of her head, his breath strong and hot,


    brushing past her scalp.


    It was like the breath of a wild animal. It startled Thssa into stillness and made her barely dare to


    breathe. She was afraid to provoke his inner beast, and afraid that the next moment she would be torn


    apart.


    ¡°I¡¯ve told you that you don¡¯t need to be so tense all the time in the Royal Estates,¡± Lysander¡¯s low,


    husky voice echoed in Thssa¡¯s ears. Thssa¡¯s eyshes fluttered; her voice was barely above a


    whisper, ¡°I know. I just can¡¯t help it.¡±


    She didn¡¯t want to be tense, but given her situation and his intimidating presence, it was hard not to


    be.


    Lysander¡¯s arms around her faltered slightly; he loosened his grip on her a bit, lowered his head to


    graze his pointy nose against her soft cheek, ¡°Think of this ce as your home, then you won¡¯t be so


    nervous.¡±


    Thssa¡¯s face tingled where he had brushed it. She shrank her neck instinctively as she replied in a


    Right now, she didn¡¯t dare to challenge him. The oue of previous confrontations had taught her to


    back down and understand Lysander, who responded better to submission than defiance.


    If she wanted to livefortably, she had to go along with him.


    He told her to consider the Royal Estates as her own home, but he had never provided her with the


    ConTEent bel0ngs to N?v(e)lD/rama(.)Org .


    warmth of a home or the freedom to make her own decisions. At home, she could do whatever she


    wanted and whenever she wanted; she could even go on a trip whenever she felt like it.


    But what about the Royal Estates?


    What could she do there?


    Could she do whatever she wanted without any constraints or considerations for others?


    The answer was undoubtedly no.


    The kids could call this ce their home because Lysander was their father.


    But who was she to call this ce her home?


    At most, she could be considered a guest, if not less than that.


    Lysander was strange, on one hand telling her not to think about marrying him, on the other hand


    asking her to consider the Royal Estates as her own home.


    He could only project his possession and obsession on her, so how could she consider this ce her


    home?


    Perhaps herpliance had pleased him, so Lysander didn¡¯t say anything more. His hold on her


    became gentler but he didn¡¯t do anything else.


    Thssa was tense at first so she didn¡¯t dare to rx, thinking she wouldn¡¯t be able to sleep.


    But surprisingly, being held tightly by Lysander, feeling his strong physique and hearing his deep


    breathing, she fell asleep in no time.


    Soon, it was Monday. Thssa¡¯s vacation was over and she had to go back to work.


    As she walked into the secretary¡¯s office, she saw a familiar figure packing up.


    Thssa asked curiously, ¡°Betty, you¡¯re back from your business trip?¡±


    Although she couldn¡¯t see her face, Thssa recognized Betty from her familiarity with her.


    Betty turned around at the sound of her voice.


    That¡¯s when Thssa saw that arge medical gauze covered Betty¡¯s left face, almostpletely


    obscuring it. lodine was seeping out from the gauze, indicating a serious injury.


    Upon seeing Thssa, a trace of unease and difort flitted across Betty¡¯s eyes. She quickly turned


    her head away, ¡°I¡¯m just here to pack up. I won¡¯t be working as a secretary here anymore.¡±

 Chapter 822

    Chapter 822


    ¡°Why?¡± Thssa asked.


    ¡°I quit, Thssa. I just can¡¯t fit into the environment at Afrnd. I can¡¯t bear with the long business trip


    there so I put in my resignation,¡± Betty exined with her back to Thssa, her actions of packing up


    her stuff noticeably quickening.


    ¡°You could¡¯ve asked Mr. Ethan to transfer you back.¡± Thssa suggested.


    Despite the fact that Thssa held some grudges against Betty for she had stolen her ne and


    been mean to her kids, she couldn¡¯t deny that Betty was a strong worker.


    If she quit, it would be a loss for Ethan¡¯spany.


    Having finished her packing, Betty lifted her box and walked past Thssa. Her voice was rushed,


    ¡°That¡¯s not something even Mr. Ethan can decide; don¡¯t you know that the best?¡±


    As she spoke, her gazended on the ne hanging from Thssa¡¯s neck. Her face paled


    instantly; her eyes were widening in fear as she looked away and hurried out.


    As though even a second¡¯s dy would cost her life.


    All her misfortunes could be traced back to that ne, to a moment of greed and jealousy.


    If she hadn¡¯t taken the ne and thought to sell it, she wouldn¡¯t have been banished to Afrnd, and


    she wouldn¡¯t have been attacked by some madman there, leaving a scar on her face.


    The doctor had said the wound on her face was deep and might leave a permanent scar.


    She¡¯d been so scared that her face marred. She¡¯d contacted Ethan in the middle of the night to have


    her transferred back. Ethan had told her it wasn¡¯t possible unless she quit.


    For fear of her life, Betty had quit without a second thought.


    Exclusive content from N?velDrama.Org.


    After her resignation was approved, she was finally able to return.


    Now seeing that ne around Thssa¡¯s neck, the cause of all her misfortunes, Betty was as


    scared as if she¡¯s seen a ghost.


    Watching Betty rush off, Thssa pondered her words.


    If even Mr. Ethan couldn¡¯t decide Betty¡¯s fate, who could?


    Lysander?


    Not only had Betty stolen her ne and tried to sell it, but she¡¯d also bullied Sophia, and Lysander


    had witnessed it. Sophia was Lysander¡¯s daughter. It would be strange if Lysander wasn¡¯t angry and


    didn¡¯t make Betty pay for her actions.


    After working at herputer for a while, Thssa was summoned to Ethan¡¯s office.


    ¡°There¡¯s a new development in the explosion case. You need to inspect Leossa Electronics today and


    keep an eye out for anything


    unusual,¡± Ethan instructed.


    ¡°What¡¯s the new development? Can you tell me?¡± Thssa asked curiously.


    She¡¯d been on vacation for four days and was somehow out of the loop on the investigation¡¯s


    progress.


    ¡°I don¡¯t know the specifics yet, but it seems like it¡¯s not rted to the Sinir group. Leopold is


    responsible,¡± Ethan said.


    Thssa widened her eyes. Surprised and puzzled, she looked at Ethan.


    The phone was produced by Leossa Electronics, a subsidiary of the Sinir group. And Leopold was


    just the buyer. How could he be responsible if something went wrong with the phone?

 Chapter 823

    Chapter 823


    Leopold should be the most feared person if the phone exploded and caused the ident, right?.


    Especially when he was the victim injured by the explosion and undergoing treatment in the hospital.


    Thssa couldn¡¯t understand why this had anything to do with Leopold.


    Armed with the information Ethan had provided her, Thssa headed to Leossa Electronics for an


    inspection.


    During the phone¡¯s production period, Thssa had visited the electronics factory a few times to


    observe the machines that manufactured the phones and the process the workers followed. Everything


    seemed normal; there were no signs of abnormalities. But despite these normal circumstances, the


    phones that were produced had issues. Thssa was yet to understand where the problemy.


    Meanwhile, in the CEO¡¯s office of the Sinir group.


    Lysander and Leopold were seated on the couch, with David standing behind Lysander, at full


    attention, ready for anything. Leopold had his arm bandaged and slung over his neck. His amber eyes,


    clear yet stern, were fixed on Lysander.


    ¡°The Sinir group¡¯s electronic factory produced faulty products and caused the explosion, which is


    obvious. Why am I being med?¡± Leopold asked indignantly as he red at Lysander.


    With a poker face, Lysander took a sip from his teacup and replied, ¡°If you admit it now, I can still cover


    for you. Making mistakes is not a big deal, but acknowledging them is. If you insist that you¡¯re not


    involved and try to smear the Sinir group, I can¡¯t help you.¡±


    Leopold clenched his fists and seethed his teeth so harshly. His cheeks trembled slightly as he


    retorted, ¡°I don¡¯t need your help, because this has nothing to do with me! Yourck of supervision led to


    this major incident; you should take full responsibility! I remember there¡¯s a rule for the Sinir group¡¯s


    sessors. If there¡¯s a human casualty under the current leader¡¯s management, a new sessor


    must be chosen! Lysander, are you trying to evade this responsibility?¡±


    Leopold¡¯s tone was firm, his eyes cold as he spoke to Lysander.


    Lysander raised an eyebrow at Leopold. It seemed that Leopold¡¯s target was the Sinir group, he


    thought.


    Setting down his cup, Lysander stared at Leopold with his deep-set eyes, ¡°Do you think you¡¯re capable


    of taking over the Sinir group?¡± ¡°I¡¯m also a Sinir!¡± Leopold shot back fiercely, his fists balled up


    and his cheeks twitching with agitation.


    ¡°You¡¯re indeed a Sinir,¡± Lysander replied, ¡°but you should be taking over your father¡¯spany, not


    the Sinir group.¡±


    ¡°My father¡¯spany is also under the Sinir group,¡± Leopold pointed out.


    ¡°So, these years, it¡¯s the Sinir group that has been supporting your father and your grandfather. If


    you take over the Sinir group, what will they do? Starve?¡± Lysander asked; his handsome face


    showed solemness.


    Leopold¡¯s grandfather and Lysander¡¯s father were brothers. Back in the day, Zephyr had handed the


    Sinir group to Lysander¡¯s father because of his outstanding abilities, his calm demeanor, and his


    strong business acumen. Leopold¡¯s grandfather, on the other hand, was irresponsible and a lover of


    high life, a typical yboy.


    He was not suitable to run the Sinir group. Later on, he started a family and had a son who perfectly


    inherited his irresponsibility. If it weren¡¯t for the Sinir group giving thempanies to run and


    supporting them when they made losses, they would¡¯ve been destitute and be nobodies long


    ago.


    Leopold was different from them in character, but he also didn¡¯t have a high business acumen.


    Property ? N?velDrama.Org.


    Although he had founded Leossa Tech, his capabilities were far from enough to run a massive


    conglomerate like the Sinir group.


    Lysander¡¯s words made Leopold¡¯s temples throb. As much as they stung, he knew Lysander was


    speaking the truth.


    But he wouldn¡¯t ept it. His teeth were clenched tight, his breathing heavy, and his body taut with


    tension.


    ¡°Do you think that by getting the Sinir group, you¡¯ll also get Thssa?¡± Lysander asked, his gaze


    deep and mysterious as he looked at Leopold.

 Chapter 824

    Chapter 824


    Lysander¡¯s eyes were deep and sharp as they could pierce through everything.


    Leopold felt his heart jolt under the weight of his gaze, his breath hitched. His hand, resting on the


    couch, clenched tighter. Even his injured hand suspended around his neck clenched slightly into a fist.


    The force from his fist tugged at his wound, causing a slight tear in his flesh. But he didn¡¯t even notice


    its pain.


    His amber-colored eyes met Lysander¡¯s gaze in an adamant manner, refusing to allow any hint of guilt


    to reveal.


    He didn¡¯t expect Lysander to see right through his thoughts.


    The more it was like this, the more he could not lose hisposure.


    A secondter, Leopold gritted his teeth in denial, ¡°I didn¡¯t think that way. I¡¯m a victim of this bombing


    incident too so I need answers! When does the Sinir group n to hold a board meeting to resolve


    this matter?¡±


    Lysander¡¯s deep-set eyes stared at him for a few more seconds before casually looking away. He had


    given Leopold the opportunity to confess but he didn¡¯t take it.


    So he didn¡¯t need to keep beating around the bush with him.


    Lysander turned to David, ¡°Show him the surveince footage.¡±


    ¡°Yes, Mr. Sinir,¡± David responded as he walked to theputer. He pulled open the office¡¯s curtain


    and turned on the projector.


    The ce Leopold was seated at was directly facing the projector screen which showed the interior of


    Leossa Electronics.


    Following that was the video of Ethan, Betty, and Thssa patrolling the electronics factory.


    There was nothing peculiar about it, but then Leopold appeared on screen. He pulled Thssa, who


    was trailing behind, behind a piece of machinery. The equipment blocked their bodies preventing the


    people in front from seeing them.


    Ethan and Betty didn¡¯t notice anything amiss.


    Leopold, with a face full of longing, gazed deeply at Thssa. His hands gripped her shoulders as he


    spoke to her.


    Thssa looked a bit anxious. She asked him why he was there.


    Leopold said, ¡°Leossa Electronics used to be my factory; of course I cane and go as I please.¡±


    Exclusive content from N?velDrama.Org.


    After Thssa exchanged a few more words with him, she hurriedly left to catch up with Betty and


    Ethan.


    Leopold didn¡¯t leave. After watching Thssa leave, he found a few workers in the electronics factory.


    These workers were veterans of the factory. They were there when Leopold first started the electronics


    factory.


    They knew Leopold and had a next level of loyalty towards him.


    They didn¡¯t say much in the footage. Instead, they were led outside by Leopold.


    Leopold¡¯s nerves tightened; his face turned overcast and his breath hitched as he watched.


    ¡±


    5


    7


    He remembered this scene. It was his first time cooperating with the Crawley Group. They needed


    20,000 prototype machines and gave the production order to the Sinir Group¡¯s Leossa Electronics.


    To ensure the security of the factory, Ethan visited the factory with two secretaries to inspect the


    machines and the workers.


    That day, Leopold happened to visit the factory. When he saw Thssa, he couldn¡¯t help himself. He


    pulled Thssa behind a machine and spoke to her.


    He didn¡¯t expect that this scene would be caught on surveince.


    Leopold tried to maintain hisposure; his fierce gaze met Lysander¡¯s as he announced, ¡°Yes, I did


    speak to Thssa that day! So what? You¡¯re using me of having something to do with the bombing


    just because of this?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s not over yet; keep watching.¡± Lysander shot him a nce, signaling him to continue watching the


    projection.


    Another scene appeared on the screen, in which one worker was confessing, ¡°It was our former boss


    Leopold who asked me to add phosphorus to the phones. He gave me fifty thousand dors to do it. He


    said it was just to getpensation from the partners, that there wouldn¡¯t be any big problems; that¡¯s


    why I agreed. I was blinded by the money.¡±


    Leopold¡¯s pupils dted. His face changed dramatically.

 Chapter 825

    Chapter 825


    Then another worker, visibly shaken, confessed, ¡°It was our former boss, Leopold, who ordered me to


    add phosphorous in the mobile phones. He promised me nothing would go wrong¡­¡±


    These two workers were among those summoned by Leopold that fateful day.


    Leopold couldn¡¯t hold it in any longer and blurted out, ¡°Stop, stop it! Don¡¯t y it anymore!¡±


    His heart pounded frantically as he tried to halt the video yback like a madman.


    David nced at Lysander for guidance. Catching Lysander¡¯s subtle nod, David shut off the video


    subsequently.


    Leopold was in a state of hysteria; his breath was ragged, the veins in his temples throbbing, and


    sweat beading on his forehead. He red at Lysander with a trembling voice, ¡°I just wanted to cause


    some chaos. I didn¡¯t mean to hurt anyone!¡±


    His cheeks shook as he clenched his teeth. His eyes were bloodshot and filled with remorse.


    His initial intention was merely to stir up some chaos and pin the me on the Sinir group, making


    Lysander a target for public outrage and causing discord among the group¡¯s top brass. His hope was


    that the pressure would force Lysander to step down. Only if Lysander was no longer the CEO of the


    Sinir group and stripped of his power could he stop controlling Thssa.


    Only then could Leopold fight for Thssa¡¯s right to make her own decisions and to escape Lysander¡¯s


    control, choosing the one that she wanted to be with.


    But instead, the explosion imed the lives of two workers.


    Leopold was tormented by guilt. He knew he had made a terrible mistake, but he hadn¡¯t achieved the


    freedom he had sought for Thssa.


    He couldn¡¯t let himself fall now.


    Watching Leopold¡¯s distressed state, Lysander¡¯s voice broke the silence, ¡°I believe you didn¡¯t mean to


    hurt anyone. That¡¯s why this evidence is in front of you now.¡±


    Instead of at a police station.


    If this evidence were tond on a police detective¡¯s desk, could Leopold still be sitting here unscathed?


    ¡°You can confess your intentions now. Only I can remedy this situation, you know that.¡± Lysander¡¯s


    deep eyes bored into Leopold, his expression grave and solemn.


    This was Leopold¡¯s chance to turn a new leaf.


    As a family, Lysander wouldn¡¯t stand by and let him continue down this destructive path.


    Leopold met Lysander¡¯s oceanic gaze. His heart clenched painfully and his fists shook from the force of


    his grip. His eyes were red, his cheeks trembling as he faced Lysander.


    He understood what Lysander was implying. He needed to confess everything and to reveal the true


    reason behind his actions. Lysander wanted to be his reliance.


    But if he relied on Lysander and became his entourage, how could he fight for Thssa¡¯s freedom?


    Thssa would continue to be controlled by Lysander, trapped by his side as his lover.


    If he admitted his mistake now, surrendering to Lysander and letting him sort everything out, what


    would have been the point of everything he had done? Property ? N?velDrama.Org.


    Fighting against the pain, Leopold rose abruptly. His cheeks trembled as he addressed Lysander, ¡°Yes,


    you should be the one to clean up this mess, because it¡¯s all the Sinir group¡¯s fault!¡±


    With that, he strode out of the office.


    David watched in surprise as Leopold exited the room. He turned to Lysander and asked tentatively,


    ¡°Mr. Sinir, should we hand this evidence over to the police?¡±,

 Chapter 826

    Chapter 826


    Lysander''s fingers were white-knuckled around his coffee mug, a stark contrast to the cool,posed


    aura that seemed to emanate from him.


    His handsome face was as severe as a frozenke in the throes of winter.


    David, feeling the sudden drop in temperature within the office, tensed up; his heart was pounding


    wildly in his chest.


    With a slight nod, he silently exited the room.


    ...


    Thssa made her way to Leossa Electronics, following Ethan''s advice to check for any unusual


    activities.


    As soon as she entered, she noticed the grim and hurried expressions of the workers. Some were


    engrossed in their work; others were packing their belongings.


    Something was definitely off.


    She stopped a random worker, "Why are you packing? Is it already quitting time?"


    The worker looked panicked and hastily replied, "Thepany is downsizing. I have to leave now."


    Before Thssa could ask anything more, he picked up his belongings and quickly walked off.


    Several other workers followed suit, leaving the factory with their belongings in tow.


    Those remaining sat at their desks, looked all tensed up. They were so focusing on work and didn¡¯t


    dare to ck off at all.


    It was a stark contrast to the rxed atmosphere she had noted during her previous visits to the


    factory.


    Now, a sense of unease filled the air, leaving Thssa puzzled.


    Exclusive content from N?velDrama.Org.


    What on earth had happened?


    Thssa approached the factory manager seeking answers.


    The manager then exined, "There was an explosion incident. The higher-ups are overhauling the


    factory environment and firing those who were negligent. The rest are strictly ordered to stay on their


    guard."


    With this, Thssa finally understood that the Sinir group was rectifying Leossa Electronics. Given


    the magnitude of the incident, the rectification seemed justified.


    She then asked, "Have there been any unusual incidents in the factory recently?"


    The factory manager blinked his guilty eyes and averted his gaze, "Nope. What else could possibly


    happen apart from the overhauling?"


    David had instructed him to keep a lid on their investigations against the workers. This information was


    confidential; if it got out, he would be in serious trouble.


    Representing the authority of Lysander, the factory manager dared not reveal anything.


    "Alright then, sorry for the disturbance. I should head back to the office," Thssa excused herself,


    leaving Leossa Electronics.


    While hailing a cab, a silver Porsche suddenly pulled up beside her.


    Assuming she was blocking the road, Thssa started to move away. Just then, the window rolled


    down to reveal a handsome face with chestnut hair that glowed golden in the sunlight.


    Leopold''s usually sunny face was tinged with a hint of mncholy and seriousness.


    "Leopold!" Thssa was surprised to see him here.


    "Thssa, get in. I''ll give you a lift," Leopold offered; his voice was slightly hoarse.


    Despite her initial hesitation and Lysander''s prior warning, Thssa found herself relenting under


    Leopold''s earnest gaze. The amber depths of his eyes held a mncholy she had never seen before.


    Feeling a twinge of unease, Thssa eventually got into the car.

 Chapter 827

    Chapter 827


    Upon seeing Leopold driving one-handed due to a bandaged hand, Thssa expressed her concern,


    "Why you are driving while you are still recovering from the hurt?"


    Seemingly prepared for the question, Leopold replied, "The victim''s family is making quite a scene.


    Being the direct hire of those two workers, it''s my responsibility to figure out the exact cause of the


    ident. I can''t just sit around in the hospital."


    He spoke without diverting his gaze from the road ahead, not even to look at Thssa.


    Thssa nodded in understanding. Leopold should also be investigating the incident at Leossa


    Electronics, she thought.


    She had witnessed the confrontation between the victim''s family and Leopold at the hospital. The


    ident''s cause was still a mystery, and Leopold must be under a lot of pressure.


    Without asking her where to go, Leopold drove her to Starhaven College and parked in the campus


    parking lot.


    Confused, Thssa asked, "I still have to go to work. Why did you bring me here?"


    Leopold opened the car door for her, saying, "This is our alma mater. It''s been a while since you''ve


    been here, hasn''t it? A trip down memoryne won''t hurt."


    This was where they met and fell in love, the ce where Leopold''s fondest memories resided.


    Thssa thought for a moment and agreed. She hadn''t been back since she left.


    Despite living in Starhaven, her busy work schedule and the task of caring for four kids left her with no


    time, or even the thought of revisiting the college.


    She had always regretted not receiving her graduation certificate from Starhaven College. A trip back


    to the old grounds seemed like a good idea.


    As they strolled through the park''s shaded paths, a gentle breeze carried the youthful scent of the


    blooming water lilies from the nearbyke.


    The fragrance was intoxicating for Leopold. He felt as if he was drunk.


    Leopold paused, turning to Thssa who also stopped.


    Seeing his warm eyes, she felt a bit uneasy, "Why did you stop?"


    "I''m tired. Let''s sit on the bench for a bit," he replied, moving to sit on a nearby bench.


    Thssa hesitated slightly before joining him, ensuring there was enough space between them for


    another person.


    Leopold noticed her deliberate attempt to maintain a distance but said nothing. He gazed at the lilies-


    filled pond, the lush leaves cradling the vibrant flowers. The air filled with the scent of water lilies, a


    sight that was calming and intoxicating.


    "We used to sit here on our dates, quietly admiring the water lilies. You would always get excited when


    a dragonfly skimmed the water''s surface," Leopold suddenly spoke; his voice was filled with nostalgia.


    Those days were truly innocent and beautiful.


    The lovebirds were once dreaming of the future and nning their future with each other in the life


    blueprint.


    Content rights belong to N?velDrama.Org.


    But life was unpredictable, and many things had changed.


    How did they end up here?


    Thssa could hear the sadness in Leopold''s words. She took a deep breath and said, "The past is the


    past, we should look forward. You deserve better."


    A sharp pain hit Leopold''s heart. Hitching his breath, he tried to hide his emotions and turned to her.


    Smiling, he reached his hand and ruffled her hair just like he used to do.


    "Yes, we should look forward. The thing I regret most in this life, Thssa, is suggesting that trip to


    your house that summer."

 Chapter 828

    Chapter 828


    Thssa¡¯s hair was a little tousled under his touch. She attempted to dodge his hand but froze in


    ce.


    Because she seemed to see a shed of tears shimmering under the reflection of the glisteningke in


    his amber eyes.


    His words made her heart sink heavily; a dull pain spreading from her chest inhibited his breath.


    She understood very well the meaning of Leopold''s words.


    If it weren''t for him visiting her house during that summer vacation, she wouldn''t have been locked in


    the barn by Isabe, and Lysander wouldn''t have taken advantage of her vulnerability.


    And he wouldn''t have been drugged by Isabe. That incident wouldn¡¯t have happened as well.


    If it weren''t for that ident, they would have been together long ago.


    He still hasn''t gotten over it.


    Thssa felt heartbroken; she had told him so much before to urge him to let go of the past and start a


    new life, but he remained stuck in his past, unwilling to struggle out.


    Anything else she said now seemed redundant.


    Thssa didn''t respond directly, but stared at him for a while. At this moment, the breeze brushed past


    her cheek and carried a humid warmth; the fresh scent of water lilies seemed to bring them back to


    their youthful days.


    Suddenly, Thssa thought of her four kids as well as Lysander''s domineering and cold demeanor.


    She quickly came back to her senses. She stood up and said, "It''s gettingte and I need to get back to


    the office."


    Leopold stood up with her, blocking her path with a smile on his face, "I was just joking with you. Don¡¯t


    be scared."


    Thssa didn''t speak, just looked at him. His smile instantly lightened the mood.


    "Let''s go and take a stroll in the library. You used to love hanging out in the library, saying that''s where


    you could gain knowledge. You said the most important thing for a secretary¡¯s major was to read books,


    broaden your horizon, and learn from case studies. I really didn''t know what to do with you back then,


    but now I seem to understand your ambition."


    His tone was light and yful; his arm wrapped around her neck, pulling her along in a yful choke


    Exclusive content from N?velDrama.Org.


    hold just like old times.


    In the past, whenever he did this, Thssa would p his hand away, telling him to let go, or she


    would bite him.


    Leopold would always be fearless, saying she would take the responsibility if she bit him, and he would


    cling to her for life.


    Past memories, thoseughter and jokes, all shed in Leopold''s mind.


    Those times were naive and impulsive, but they were truly happy.


    Now, having understood more, he lost the person he loved the most, as well as his happiness.


    "Leopold, let me go. I''ll walk on my own." Thssa felt a bit awkward. When Leopold used to do this to


    her, she felt nothing but joy. She was just feigning anger. But now, all she felt was difort and


    nervousness.


    If Lysander found out she was so close to Leopold, he would never let her go, and she would be


    skinned alive.


    And Leopold would be implicated too.


    She couldn''t be as carefree as before.


    As Thssa spoke, she tried to pry off the arm that Leopold had around her neck, ring at him with


    panting breaths.


    Leopold noticed her deliberate effort to keep her distance from him; her clear eyes were full of anxiety


    and evasion too.


    A shadow crossed Leopold''s eyes. He knew what Thssa was nervous about Lysander.

 Chapter 829

    Chapter 829


    He didn''t expose her; instead, he motioned towards the path ahead, saying, "Let''s go, the library is


    open now."


    Thssa pondered for a moment. Since she was here, why not take a tour of her old haunt? It had


    been years since shest visited her alma mater.


    Back in the day, the library was indeed her favorite hangout. She wondered if it had changed much.


    So, Leopold and Thssa walked in tandem and headed towards the library.


    Upon arrival, they were stopped by a security guard, "You''re not students here, are you? The rules


    state that only current students are allowed in the library."


    Thssa, disappointed, looked at Leopold and ready to say, ''See, we''re justmon folk now, not


    suited for a school library.''


    But before she could utter a word, Leopold turned to the security guard and said, "Who said we''re not


    students? We''re still enrolled as grad students."


    The security guard looked them up and down in disbelief. No matter how he looked at it, they did not


    seem like students. While they did look young, their attire was far too mature.


    Who else but working professionals would dress in suits?


    And it wasn''t just the man in the suit, but the woman too was in business attire.


    Thssa, feeling awkward under the security guard''s scrutiny, was about to turn around and leave


    when Leopold grabbed her hand.


    The warmth of his palm against Thssa''s skin caught her off guard. Before she could react, Leopold


    let go of her hand.


    He pulled out two blue booklets from his pocket, opened them and handed them to the security guard,


    "Take a look. These are our student IDs. Do they look fake to you?"


    The security guard scrutinized the IDs. Seeing they were indeed genuine, he allowed them to pass.


    Thssa was curious, but she didn''t voice her questions yet. It wasn''t until they were inside the library


    that she asked Leopold in a hushed voice, "Where did you get these student IDs? They can''t be fake,


    can they?"


    "Who said they''re fake? Look at the embossed seal. It¡¯s the school''s stamp. Which one of these is


    fake?" Leopold held up the IDs before Thssa, pointing out the embossed seal and the school''s


    stamp.


    Thssa looked closely. They were genuine ones indeed.


    Her curiosity deepened, "They are really genuine ones. How did you manage this?"


    Seeing her innocent curiosity, Leopold felt a surge of affection. She was just like she used to be - naive,


    kind, and adorably clueless.


    Unfortunately, he had lost her due to his own foolish actions.


    "I still remember our ssmate, Fred, right? We were roommates, and we still have a good


    rtionship. He''s now quite an influential figure in the school. Getting a couple of student IDs from him


    was easy," Leopold exined with a grin.


    "How did you convince him to misuse his power?" Thssa was surprised.


    "Easy, I was honest with him. Before I even asked, he agreed to help as soon as he heard you''d be


    It was only in Thssa''s presence that he was truly happy.


    Thssa was intrigued at first, but a shadow crossed her eyes as she heard the words.


    Fred had often helped Leopold in his pursuit of her, always rooting for them to get together.


    However, times had changed and she didn''t want to give Leopold any false hopes.


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    "So, you bringing me to Starhaven College wasn''t a spur of the moment thing, but a premeditated


    n," she said, realizing he had procured the student IDs beforehand.


    "There''s no need, really. I''ve long outgrown my affinity for libraries. As for the school library, I don''t


    really have any particr fondness for it. I''m not a graduate of Starhaven College. I left this ce


    empty-handed, after all. The most important thing in my world now are my four kids. They''re my real


    treasure," Thssa said with a polite smile ying on her lips.

 Chapter 830

    Chapter 830


    Leopold''s eyes twinkled for a moment. Herughter was like a bright sunlight, which pierced into the


    deepest regrets he buried in his heart. That caused a throbbing pain inside him.


    Yet, he didn''t let it show. A sunny smile was still on his lips as he said, ¡°I know they are your treasures,


    the most important consideration in your future decisions. Go peruse the books; you can''t juste in


    here for nothing.¡±


    Saying this, he took the lead towards the bookshelves filled with various books.


    He deeply understood that right now, the most important people in Thssa''s life were her four kids,


    who upied her entire world.


    That was why she endured the humiliation of staying by Lysander¡¯s side.


    Lysander used her four kids as leverage, forcing her to give up the right to choose the one she loved.


    He vowed to change the status quo and to help Thssa and her kids escape from the torment of


    Lysander.


    Thssa picked up a book on secretarial case studies from the bookshelf and began flipping through it.


    Halfway through, she felt a shadow loom over her.


    Looking up, she saw Leopold standing before her and blocking the sunlight streaming in from the


    window with his hand.


    She was engrossed in her book while he watched her with an intense gaze.


    Seeing him standing motionless, shielding her from the ring sunlight, Thssa asked in surprise,


    ¡°What are you doing?¡±


    ¡°Blocking the sun. Direct sunlight is not only blinding but can also cause tanning. I''m saving you some


    sunscreen money,¡± Leopold said, a smile ying on his lips.


    Thssa was suddenly amused by his words, ¡°I''ve already applied sunscreen; you blocking the sun


    won''t save me any money.¡±


    ¡°Well, prevention is better than cure. Sunscreen doesn¡¯tst forever,¡± Leopold countered.


    Checking the time on her phone, Thssa was taken aback to find it was already two in the afternoon.


    ¡°I have to get back to work; if Mr. Ethan finds out, he¡¯ll use me of cking off during work hours,¡±


    Thssa said as she put down her book and headed out.


    Ethan had originally sent her to inspect Leossa Electronics for any irregrities, but she had ended up


    at Starhaven College instead.


    If Ethan found out, he would definitely scold her.


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    Thssa was not the type to deliberately ck off at work; her sense of responsibility was strong and


    she was already feeling guilty for taking so much time off.


    Knowing Thssa well, Leopold didn''t hold her back; instead, he offered to drop her back at the


    Crawley Group.


    ¡°No need. You get going. I''ll just take a cab,¡± Thssa declined.


    Without hesitation, Leopold grabbed her wrist and led her to his car. His actions were assertive, giving


    her no opportunity to hail a cab.


    Thssa had no choice but to go along.


    As they drove up to the entrance of the Crawley Group, Thssa opened the car door to get out,


    reminding Leopold, ¡°Drive safe.¡±


    Hearing her words of concern, his heart pounded and his gaze deepened as his grip on the steering


    wheel tightened.


    In the end, he clenched his teeth and drove off without responding to Thssa''s words.


    Watching his car drive away, Thssa turned and headed towards the office building.


    Ethan was in his office, looking out at the view from the floor-to-ceiling windows when he noticed


    Thssa returning in a silver car.


    Being a man of high society and a lover of luxury cars, Ethan immediately recognized the car''s value.


    Who drove a silver car again?


    It was Leopold!


    It was him!

 Chapter 831

    Chapter 831


    How on earth did Thssa end up with Leopold? Ethan thought:


    Back at her desk, Thssa booted up herptop to record her findings from her inspection at Leossa


    Electronics earlier in the day.


    In the wake of an unfortunate incident, the Sinir group had undertaken a thorough restructuring of


    Leossa Electronics employees. Thex and distracted were dismissed, while the remaining staff found


    themselves under the yoke of a new reward and punishment system, leaving no room for negligence.


    She was engrossed in her work when Ethan suddenly appeared in her office. ¡°Ms. Everhart, did your


    visit to Leossa Tech yield any unexpected results today?¡± he asked.


    Turning towards Ethan, Thssa replied, ¡°No unexpected results, but I dide across a few things.


    I¡¯mpiling them into a report and I¡¯ll send it to your inbox once I¡¯m done.¡±


    ¡°Oh, really now? So the gentleman escorted you back wasn¡¯t an unexpected result?¡± Ethan raised his


    eyebrows and took a sip from his coffee mug.


    Caught off guard, Thssa¡¯s fingers froze over the keyboard. Reading Ethan¡¯s half-teasing, half-


    serious demeanor, she retorted, ¡°What are you implying, Mr. Ethan? There¡¯s absolutely nothing going


    on between Leopold and me.¡±


    ¡°Well, there¡¯s no need to get defensive. I was just asking. Go on with your work, I¡¯ll leave you to it.¡±


    With that, Ethan turned around and returned to his own office.


    After reviewing some files for a while, Ethan felt it necessary to share this with Lysander.


    After all, Lysander and him were best buddies.


    Pulling out his phone, Ethan sent a message to Lysander: [Guess what I saw today? Don¡¯t ignore this,


    it¡¯s about Thssa:]


    Sure enough, Lysander¡¯s response came in a short, curt word: [Spill!]


    Ethan smirked at Lysander¡¯s assertiveness, which was so evident even in a single word.


    Deciding not to prolong the suspense, Ethan texted Lysander: [Thssa was at Leossa Electronics for


    an inspecti¨®n today. It turned out that Leopold sent her back.]


    After sending the message, Ethan was met with silence from the other end. After waiting for a while


    without any response, Ethan, his curiosity faded, put his phone aside and resumed his work.


    Lysander didn¡¯t reply to the message, nor did he snap. That was something unexpected for Ethan.


    Exclusive content from N?velDrama.Org.


    Meanwhile, after dropping off Thssa at her office, Leopold had headed straight for his own


    workspace instead of going home.


    Ever since he sold Leossa Tech to the Sinir group, he had established new workshop and was


    dedicated to selling mobile phones.


    Upon his arrival, he discovered a scene of chaos with chairs and tables overturned, and his employees


    entangled in a physical altercation with several burly men and two middle-aged women.


    ¡°Call Leopold here! He¡¯s responsible for our husbands¡¯ deaths and thinks a million dors will cover it?


    We want the truth! We want justice!¡± One woman was crying out in rage.


    ¡°Regardless of the truth, he¡¯s the one who employed our husbands directly. They lost their lives


    working for him and he thinks he can just hide away? We want answers and additionalpensation!¡±


    The other woman was pushing an employee while shouting.


    The rest of the burly men, likely rtives of the two women, were aggressively pushing the employees


    around.


    Leopold walked into this chaos and was immediately spotted by one of the women. She rushed


    towards him and shouted in a furious manner, ¡°Leopold, you owe me my husband¡¯s life! You think a


    million dors can settle everything? Do we look like beggars to you? Unless you give us a billion, we


    won¡¯t let this go!¡±


    Caught off guard and unsteady, Leopold staggered backwards, almost crashing into the door frame,


    only to be saved by a quick-reacting employee.


    ¡°Mr. Sinir, are you alright?¡± the employee asked.


    With a pale and cold face, Leopold shook his head, ¡°I¡¯m fine.¡±


    ¡°Of course you¡¯re fine! Our husbands are the ones who are dead. Hand over a billion and we can settle


    this privately. Otherwise, see you in court!¡± the woman stared at him, full of fury.

 Chapter 832

    Chapter 832


    Leopold took a calming breath, looking at the irate women with a sense of determination in his cool


    gaze. ¡°I assure you that I will settle this matter,¡± he said to them. ¡°The smartphone is produced by the


    Sinir Group. It¡¯s clear that there¡¯s a quality control issue in the manufacturing process. I¡¯m in talks


    with the Sinir Group. Once we reach a decision, this billion-dor debt will be paid, either by the


    Sinir Group or by our studio. We¡¯re not running away


    from this.¡±


    Hearing Leopold not trying to haggle over the price, even mentioning paying them a billion dors, the


    women looked at each other in surprise. They hade prepared to fight this out together till the end.


    ¡°We meant a billion for each family, not a billion split between us!¡± one woman barked, her hands on


    her hips.


    ¡°Yes, a billion for each family!¡± the other woman echoed.


    A colleague in the studio was about to speak up. A billion seemed way too much; it was unheard-of


    But before he could, Leopold stopped him, ¡°Once I¡¯ve finished negotiating with the Sinir Group, each


    family will receive a billion. Not a cent less.¡±


    The women looked at each other again, doubt creeping into their eyes. He had agreed to two billion


    without batting an eyelid? That level of readiness was suspicious.


    ¡°How do we know we can trust you?¡± the taller, thinner woman asked; her sharp gaze trained on


    Leopold.


    Leopold frowned slightly with a thoughtful look flittered through his eyes, ¡°Give me two days. I¡¯ll resolve


    this matter within two days. If you don¡¯t hear from me by then, feel free toe back and raise hell, or


    even take me to court.¡±


    Two days.


    The studio couldn¡¯t just pack up and leave within such a period.


    The women shared another look, then seemed to agree with Leopold¡¯s proposal. With that, they left


    with their family and friends.


    The colleague who had earlier tried to speak up turned to Leopold. ¡°Mr. Sinir, can you really settle


    this in two days?¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t worry. Just get this ce cleaned up. The studio took a lot to get up and running; we can¡¯t have


    it looking like a dump.¡± Leopold¡¯s expression was calm; his eyes were deep and heavy, even with a


    touch of despair in them.


    Sensing his somber mood, the colleague didn¡¯t prod further. Instead, he led the others to clean up the


    toppled chairs and tables, sweeping up the broken ceramic pieces.


    Leopold sat quietly in a corner, watching his colleagues bustle around tidying up the studio.


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    Once everything was back in order and was as tidy as before, he stared at the ce in a daze. After a


    while, he stood up and left.


    When it was time to leave work in the afternoon, Thssa got up and was about to head out when her


    phone rang. Seeing the caller ID, she felt her nerves tighten. It was Lysander. After a moment¡¯s


    hesitation, she answered the call, ¡°Hello?¡±


    ¡°Come down,¡± hemanded; his voice was domineering yet brief.


    His words sent a shiver down her spine.


    Was he waiting for her outside the Crawley Group building?


    Was he purposely waiting to pick her up?


    Without wasting any time, Thssa quickly took the elevator down and hurried out of the Crawley


    Group building.


    A ck Rolls-Royce was parked outside, its luxurious shine reflecting the sunlight. It was hard to ignore


    its opulent and profound presence. Thssa slowed her pace as she approached the car.


    The window rolled down, revealing Lysander sitting in the passenger seat. His handsome face, his


    deep-set eyes like a distant mountain under the night sky, were alluring and impossible to read.

 Chapter 833

    Chapter 833


    ¡°Get in.¡± His voice, deep andmanding, issued the order.


    Thssa didn¡¯t hesitate; she quickly climbed into the passenger seat, buckling her seat belt on her own


    before he could do it for her..


    She ced her hands on herp, feeling a bit rigid.


    Lysander started the car and drove off, his deep and prating eyes were focused on the road


    ahead.


    The car merged into the stream of traffic on the asphalt road.


    ¡°Got nothing to say?¡± His intimidating, deep voice echoed in the small cabin of the car, sending a cold


    chill down her spine.


    Thssa stiffened; her mind started to race. She leaned back in her seat, turning her gaze out the


    window, saying, ¡°What should I say? About work? Mr. Ethan gave me so much to do today and I can


    barely keep up.¡±


    As she spoke, her hands, resting on herp, clenched slightly; sweat broke out on her back due to


    nerves.


    Lysander didn¡¯t realize that she had been to Starhaven College with Leopold, did he?


    It wasn¡¯t her idea, and even though they did go to Starhaven College, she only wanted to bid farewell to


    the past.


    She made it clear to Leopold that her four kids were her utmost priority. She hoped Leopold could


    move on and stop clinging to the past.


    She knew that there was no future for her and Leopold, and she never entertained the idea that there


    could be.


    Even if they moved on and led separate lives, she still wished Leopold happy; she also wished him to


    have a family and live his own future.


    After all, they had shared a past.


    But Lysander wouldn¡¯t understand her feelings. If he knew she had seen Leopold, he¡¯d definitely get


    angry; he¡¯d punish her and take it out on Leopold,


    So, she had a lucky hope that Lysander didn¡¯t know about her meeting with Leopold today, even if Mr.


    Ethan saw Leopold dropping her off at the office.


    She was willing to gamble that Mr. Ethan wasn¡¯t a gossip, that he wouldn¡¯t be so nosy as to report this


    minor incident to Lysander.


    As soon as she finished speaking, the tension in the car became even more palpable, making her


    shiver.


    ¡°Really, you¡¯re probably thanking Ethan for giving you a chance to go on a field trip, aren¡¯t you?¡±


    Lysander¡¯s voice got colder.


    Thssa¡¯s heart shrieked as her mind became a whirlwind. As she tried to formte a response,


    Lysander¡¯s hand snaked around her waist to hold her tightly.


    Thssa sat up straight and was frozen in ce, watching as the car continued at the same speed


    with Lysander holding the steering wheel with one hand.


    His grip on her waist tightened, exuding a dominant and furious air.


    The danger inside the car, coupled with the danger outside as they weaved through traffic, with


    Lysander¡¯s attention divided between her and the road, terrified Thssa. A single misstep could


    cause a crash, and the thought made her heart race and her hairs stand on end.


    She pleaded quickly, ¡°Lysander, calm down. You¡¯re driving. What if that put us in danger?¡±


    ¡°Do you want me to do something really dangerous to you?¡± Lysander¡¯s voice was low and dangerous,


    full of menace.


    Thssa¡¯s breath hitched. His mind seemed to differ greatly from hers.


    He seemed to be preupied with those cheeky things despite the precarious situation.


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    Cold sweat trickled down Thssa¡¯s forehead as she thought of that.


    ¡°Lysander, if you have something to say, pull the car over first! If something happens to us, the kids will


    be orphans. That¡¯s too cruel.¡± As she watched the car swerve unpredictably, Thssa¡¯s hands


    tightened on the seat belt.

 Chapter 834

    Chapter 834


    Lysander¡¯s intense gaze bore into her, wrapping her up with a formidable presence she couldn¡¯t


    ignore.


    After scrutinizing her for a moment, her tension was palpable; sweat beads the size of peas fell from


    her forehead.


    He did not say anything; he just turned the steering wheel and pulled the car to the side of the road.


    The car came to a smooth stop, and finally, Thssa felt her heart, which had been lodged in her


    throat, settle back into ce.


    Just as she let out a sigh of relief, the hand gripping hers made the danger feel more intense.


    His arm was around her waist, hisrge hand holding her other side, touching her at a spot that was


    both vulnerable and sensitive.


    Her body tensed up with the heating from his palm; the rough texture of his hand was like fire,


    capable of igniting her waist and burning her whole body.


    Thssa held her breath, not daring to make a sound as she turned to look at Lysander. His oceanic


    eyes were enigmatic and profound, causing her to shudder.


    ¡°Not going to talk? Should I find out myself?¡± Lysander¡¯s deep voice rang out; his tone, which was


    fraught with danger and icy coldness, seeped into Thssa¡¯s bones.


    Her voice trembled slightly as she spoke, unable to mask her fear, ¡°I¡­ I ran into Leopold at Leossa


    Electronics today. I didn¡¯t n to meet him; it was just a coincidence.¡±


    ¡°And then? Where did you go?¡±


    Does she really believe it was a coincidence? How many coincidences can there be in the world? He


    thought.


    ¡°I went to Starhaven College, walked around for a bit, then he drove me back to the office¡­¡± Thssa


    observed Lysander¡¯s expression as she carefully chose her words.


    Just now, she was fearing the truth would get Lysander angry.


    Even after revealing the truth, she was still afraid of his anger.


    As she finished speaking, she saw Lysander¡¯s eyes darken, a gloomy, icy aura permeating the car.


    He did not speak. Instead, he just stared at her with those deep-set eyes, which were cold, icy, and


    piercing.


    Thssa felt cold; the chillness crept from the base of her spine.


    The next second, hisrge hand gripped her chin. The force caused Thssa to gasp for air.


    Lysander raised her face, forcing her to look at him. He gritted his teeth and suppressed his anger,


    ¡°Thssa, you keep pushing my boundaries. Do you really think you¡¯re special to me?¡±


    ¡°¡­¡± Thssa¡¯s heart tightened. Just as she was about to deny it, his lips muted her voice brutally.


    Lysander¡¯s hot lips and tongue met hers, which were passionate and fierce.


    Thssa¡¯s long eyshes fluttered uncontrobly. She couldn¡¯t help but tremble.


    She tried to resist and to escape, but Lysander didn¡¯t let her. Hisrge hand held her slender waist,


    forcing her to tilt her head back and coercing her lips apart.


    As Thssa¡¯s lips and tongue gradually numbed, her mind began to feel dizzy as if she were walking


    on clouds.


    Lysander didn¡¯t let her go until she waspletely out of breath and began to suffer from ack of


    oxygen.


    She leaned weakly against Lysander. Her eyes were filled with tears and she was gasping for fresh air.


    ConTEent bel0ngs to N?v(e)lD/rama(.)Org .


    Lysander¡¯s breathing was heavy; his hand pressed her head against his chest, holding her so her weak


    body wouldn¡¯t slide down.


    His voice was low and husky, in which the restraint was palpable, ¡°Don¡¯t ever hide from me again,


    understood?¡±


    Thssa, filled with panic, had no energy left to argue with him.


    Her voice was soft and muffled as she replied, ¡°I understand.¡±


    Her weak voice ignited the fervor in Lysander¡¯s blood. His throat tightened and swallowed hard. It took


    all his self-control to keep himself still. Thssa leaned against him, feeling his chest rise and fall with


    his heavy breathing.

 Chapter 835

    Chapter 835


    The sound of his swallowing again reached her ears, a signal she knew all too well.


    A sense of rm coursed through her as she quickly pulled herself upright in the passenger seat and


    put some distance between them.


    She nced nervously ahead, suggesting, ¡°We should hurry home. The kids have been back from


    school and waiting at home.¡±


    Lysander nced at her with his cloudy gaze; instead of pressing the matter any further, he started the


    car.


    Everything went well as the vehicle returned to the smooth asphalt.


    Thssa heaved a sigh of relief. She could tell Lysander was irked, but for some reason, he had reined


    in his anger and spared her any real bacsh.


    Why?


    After a moment of puzzlement, she gritted her teeth. She had underestimated Ethan¡¯s propensity for


    gossip; he even revealed the smallest of matters to Lysander.


    What a meddlesome boss! She¡¯d leave his office sooner orter!


    sooner


    As the car came to a halt in the driveway of their suburban home, Thssa couldn¡¯t wait to jump out


    and head inside.


    ¡°Fitch, take us to Grandma¡¯s house!¡± Atticus was the first to demand. His boyish charm was in full


    disy.


    Elowen folded her arms, her voice filled with a feisty nature, ¡°Yeah, take us to Grandma¡¯s or you¡¯ll see


    ConTEent bel0ngs to N?v(e)lD/rama(.)Org .


    me cry.¡±


    ¡°We want to see Mom and Grandma both.¡± Dorian¡¯s eyes sparkled with tears; his show of innocence


    was in full swing.


    ¡°Grandma and Mom!¡± Sophia clenched her fists at her sides, using all her might.


    Fitch wiped the sweat off his forehead as he tried to soothe the kids, ¡°Your dad bought you lots of toys.


    Why don¡¯t you y with those while we wait for him toe back and take you, okay?¡±


    Without Lysander¡¯s permission, Fitch would never dare to take the kids to their grandmother¡¯s.


    ¡°I want my paper boat that Grandma made. It got all soggy when I took it into the bath.¡± Elowen pouted;


    her treasured paper toy had met a watery end.


    ¡°I want a paper fan.¡±


    ¡°I want a gun.¡±


    ¡°I want a paper airne!¡±


    Fitch was somehow at a loss. Despite Lysander buying them high-end toys, they only wanted the paper


    toys their grandmother made.


    Even the ones he folded, they refused.


    Pleasing these kids was harder than he thought.


    ¡°Atticus, Dorian, Elowen, Sophia, don¡¯t make things difficult for Fitch.¡± Thssa stepped in and said in


    a soft tone.


    She knew he was in a bind on seeing his sweat-soaked face, so she decided to step in to defuse the


    situation.


    At her words, all four kids turned simultaneously. The moment they saw Thssa, their innocent eyes


    lit up and they sprinted towards her. ¡°Mom, you¡¯re back!¡±


    ¡°If you didn¡¯te back soon, we were going toe find you.¡±


    The little ones crowded around her legs, clutching at her pants and looking up at her with adorable,


    beaming faces.


    ¡°Mom, what happened to your lips?¡± Elowen suddenly posed a soul-searching question.


    Thssa hastily touched her lips. They felt swollen. She needed no mirror to know Lysander¡¯s twenty-


    minute kiss was the culprit.


    Before she could respond, Lysander approached from behind. His powerful aura and towering figure


    cast a shadow over her.


    Thssa¡¯s heart clenched, her prepared exnation sounding awkward and embarrassed, ¡°It¡¯s an


    allergy reaction. I¡¯ll put ice on itter and it¡¯ll be fine. As she spoke, she didn¡¯t dare make eye contact


    with Lysander, fearful he¡¯d expose her white lie in front of the kids.

 Chapter 836

    Chapter 836


    "Mom, what did you eat that made you allergic? Was it sneaky mango bites?" Elowen looked up at her


    with big, innocent eyes full of concern.


    Thssa forced a dry smile, covering her embarrassment as she replied, "Yeah, it was mango."


    Fitch, being an experienced man, felt it inappropriate to linger in the room during such a conversation.


    So, he bowed his head and busied himself in the kitchen.


    Lysander, standing beside Thssa, cast a towering shadow over her with his imposing stature. His


    presence was so overwhelming that she found it hard to ignore.


    "Elowen, take your mom to the yroom," Lysander gently ruffled Elowen''s soft hair, his touch tender


    and loving.


    Obeying her father''smand, Elowen grabbed Thssa''s hand and led her towards the yroom.


    The other three kids followed up. They were soothed by their mother''s presence so they didn''t fuss


    about wanting to find their grandmother to make toys for them as they had earlier.


    Once in the yroom, Thssa joined them on the foam mat. The kids, stretching their little bodies,


    took out their new toys from the cab to share with Thssa.


    Content rights belong to N?velDrama.Org.


    "Mom, look at this new doll Daddy bought me. Isn''t she pretty?" Elowen asked; her sweet smile lit up


    her face as she held up the doll with golden hair.


    Thssa smiled and nodded, "She''s beautiful just like you."


    "Mom, look at my jewelry-fixing tools. They''re all new and I love them, but I''m hesitant to use them,"


    Sophia lugged a small toolbox over and plopped it onto the floor. She opened it with a huff, revealing a


    set of shiny new tools.


    She looked up and gazed at Thssa with her innocent and glistering eyes; they were showing off her


    joyous feelings.


    Thssa gently touched Sophia''s small head, "If Daddy bought them for you, you should use them.


    Under your hands, these tools will be of the greatest value. Don''t you think?"


    Sophia nodded eagerly, "You''re right, Mom. I''ll take them to school tomorrow."


    "Dorian, look at these costumes I have. Some are ancient Roman togas, and others are for martial arts.


    I love them all, but it seems like I have no asion to wear them," Dorian showed Thssa the


    costumes from his wardrobe.


    Thssa understood her kids well. She knew they loved showing off their new toys to the people they


    loved the most. "You can wear them when you are ying in a show. Everyone will be envious of your


    role-specific costumes." She suggested.


    Dorian''s eyes sparkled like stars at Thssa''s words.


    "Mom, this time Dad didn''t buy me much. Just these two coding books," Atticus held up two small


    books. They looked like kids¡¯ books, but the covers adorned with lines of code and images of


    keyboards made them pretty advanced.


    "Once you''ve mastered the material in these books, you''ll be even more adept atputing, Atticus,"


    Thssa gently caressed Atticus'' tender face.


    At her encouragement, Atticus'' face lit up with newfound confidence.


    Suddenly, the yroom door opened, and a tall man walked in. His towering figure filled the entire


    room. Thssa didn''t have to turn around to know it was Lysander.


    "Daddy!" The kids looked up at the sound, their young voices calling out in unison.


    Lysander responded with a grunt, acknowledging their greeting. As he approached, the kids stepped


    back to make room for him to go to Thssa.


    Thssa had been intentionally avoiding looking at Lysander. But when his shadow drew near, she


    instinctively looked up just in time to see him sit in front of her and hold a white gauze with something


    the size of an egg wrapped inside.


    Before she could make out what was in the gauze, Lysander reached out and pressed it to her lips.


    "Um..." Thssa instinctively leaned back, trying to avoid the unknown object.


    "Stay still." Lysander''srge hand held the back of her head, preventing her from moving away.

 Chapter 837

    Chapter 837


    As the gauze was pressed against her face, Thssa felt a cool sensation, along with the melting ice


    seeping onto her lips.


    She then understood that what he was holding was an ice cube thoughtfully wrapped in a piece of


    white gauze.


    Indeed, applying an ice cube directly to the mouth might result in the lips getting stuck to the ice and


    losing ayer of skin.


    Thssa stayed still and epted his ice treatment.


    He was considerate enough to wrap the ice cube with gauze.


    He also remembered her casual words about using the ice she said before, and even fetched the ice


    himself to apply on her.


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    Thssa sat upright and motionless, allowing Lysander to support her head with one hand while the


    other held the ice cube, applying it to her lips with a mild motion.


    Without giving much thought, she drifted her gaze towards him. He looked at her with focus and his


    deep eyes fixated on her lips. His lush, longshes cast two shadows under his eyelids. That, along


    with his striking nose and sensual lips, all formed into an irresistible charm.


    His deep, masculine breath brushed against her face due to his concentration, carrying a familiar scent


    of sandalwood.


    As Thssa watched him and felt his breath, her heart suddenly pounded like a drum; her blood was


    heating up.


    Suddenly, Lysander''s eyes met hers. The moment their gazes met, Thssa''s heart quivered. She


    instantly averted her eyes to pretend she had not been looking at him.


    Her gaze darted elsewhere in nervousness as her eyshes trembled slightly.


    Lysander noticed the blush creeping up on her cheeks; his throat tightened and his eyes darkened.


    Her every move, even her flushed face, could easily stir his body''s reaction.


    Out of consideration for the kids¡¯ present, he didn''t make any further moves. He swallowed hard and


    held back.


    After finishing applying the ice, he took the ice cube and left the room.


    Thssa continued to y with the kids whereas she was clearly less focused and casual than before.


    In the evening, Thssa put the kids to bed in their respective rooms, said goodnight to them, and


    closed the door.


    As she turned around, she bumped into a solid chest behind her and was taken aback.


    Lysander grabbed her wrist and led her directly upstairs.


    Under his dominant force, Thssa couldn''t resist and was led back to their master bedroom.


    Upon entering, he closed the door behind him, leading her straight to the bathroom.


    Lysander''s presence was overwhelming, his energy dark and brooding. Thssa was somewhat


    scared. She backed away as her gaze turned panicked, "Lysander, what are you doing?"


    Lysander raised his hand, leisurely unbuttoning his shirt and moving closer to her. "That''s what I should


    ask you. What were you thinking about just now?" he asked.


    "I, I wasn''t thinking about anything..." Thssa was perplexed.


    Backing up until her back hit the bathroom wall, his long arm propped up, enclosing her body between


    his chest and the wall; his deep gaze was looking down at her, "Really? Didn''t you think of anything


    when I was applying the ice?"


    His voice was husky, his deep eyes reflecting only her image.


    Thssa held her breath as her heart was beating wildly.


    Did he notice how quickly she had averted her gaze?


    She didn''t even understand why she could go red just by watching him and smelling his familiar


    masculine scent.


    And he noticed it. She wanted to crawl into a hole and hide.


    "Just enjoy it. Don''t think about anything else." Lysander''s low, husky voice was heard; his hot lips were


    locking onto hers.

 Chapter 838

    Chapter 838


    Thssa froze. Her breath was hitched by his deep, fiery exhtion.


    Her eyes widened as his lips ravished hers.


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    Her tongue went numb as she felt an electrocution went through her entire body and spread to all her


    limbs.


    The shower in the bathroom was turned on and drenching both of them. Lysander held Thssa as the


    water fell over them and soaked their clothes.


    The fabric clung to Thssa''s graceful body, outlining her beautiful curves.


    Lysander''srge hand gripped her small waist to pull her closer to him.


    His own clothes were also wet; his ck shirt appeared even darker under the water''s touch. His broad


    chest and solid abs hinted at a masculine beauty full of strength.


    The sound of the shower echoed in the bathroom. Lysander''s kisses moved from Thssa''s ear to her


    neck. She unconsciously tilted her head back, her lips parting, her eyshes fluttering. The light in


    front of her seemed to dance.


    ...


    Thssa was woken up by her phone.


    Blinking her eyes open, she found the other side of the bed empty. Lysander had already gotten up.


    Rubbing her eyes and sitting up, she felt a dull ache in her lower back as if it was falling apart.


    Grinding her teeth in annoyance, Thssa thought Lysander never knew when to stop.


    He always left her in such disarray.


    She picked up her phone and answered, "Hello?"


    "Thssa, you''re the only secretary in my office. Even if you''re going to bete, don''t be thiste. I


    don''t know who to assign my work to today," Ethan''s voice, which wasced with amusement but still


    carrying the tone of a boss, came from the other end.


    Thssa blinked and looked at the time on her phone.


    Oh my God, it was already eleven!


    It was almost time for lunch and she was still in bed!


    No wonder Ethan was rushing her. She had beente without any warning more than once or twice.


    Hastily, Thssa apologized, "I''m sorry, Mr. Ethan. I got held up. I''m on my way."


    "I won''t dock your pay this time. Just don''t bete again," Ethan said.


    Thssa was about to agree when she remembered that if Ethan hadn''t been such a snitch and told


    Lysander that it was Leopold who had taken her to the office, Lysander wouldn''t havee to pick her


    up from work.


    If so, she would have gone back to her apartment at Vibrant Oasis Residences.


    Basically, half the me for her beingte fell on Ethan.


    A boss like that deserved a retort.


    "Mr. Ethan, my tardiness is partly your fault. Don''t forget what you told Lysander yesterday. If you keep


    running your mouth off like that, I''ll bete again," Thssa said with a firm tone.


    Ethan was silent for a moment beforeughing. "So yourteness today is justified. I won''t hold it


    against you. Take your time in the future, there''s no rush."


    "Mr. Ethan, wait..." Thssa began, but he had already hung up.


    In frustration, she tossed her phone aside and got out of bed.


    ...


    Leopold had gone to his studio today. After arranging his work, he prepared to head to the Sinir


    Group.


    Just as he was leaving the studio, he ran into Amelia.


    "Leopold, where are you headed?" Amelia stopped in her tracks. She turned around to look at him.

 Chapter 839

    Chapter 839


    "Head over to Sinir Group to discuss the handling of this debacle," Leopold tossed out nonchntly


    before hopping in his car and speeding off.


    Amelia hesitated for a moment. Unease still washed over her so she decided to drive behind him.


    Leopold arrived at Sinir Group, but rather than seeking out Lysander, he made a beeline for the


    Public Rtions department.


    Typically, it was their job to handle such incidents.


    Leopoldid out his case to the head of PR, "A smartphone manufactured by Sinir Group


    malfunctioned, causing the deaths of two workers. You need to release a statement immediately,


    acknowledge your shorings, andpensate the families of the deceased with a billion dors


    each."


    The PR head was in a pickle. Releasing such a statement would be akin to admitting that Sinir


    Group was responsible for the faulty product, and consequently, the fatalities.


    This would undoubtedly tarnish thepany''s reputation, cause their stocks to plummet, and bring a


    wave of negative publicity.


    It wasn''t just a matter of two billion dors; it would put the entire reputation of Sinir Group at stake.


    The decision was beyond his pay grade.


    As he grappled with the dilemma, Lysander walked in. The tension in the room instantly spiked.


    Upon seeing Lysander, Leopold''s demeanor hardened.


    "Lysander," he began sternly, "are you reluctant to have the Sinir Group release a statement to take


    the toll?"


    Lysander''s gaze was piercing and intense as he retorted, "Is this your well-thought-out solution?"


    Leopold locked eyes with Lysander¡¯s piercing and adamant gaze. His heart sank.


    At that moment, Amelia rushed into the office. Noticing the standoff between Leopold and Lysander,


    she asked in a nervous tone, "What''s going on? Is there anything so serious that you two, uncle and


    Exclusive content from N?velDrama.Org.


    nephew, need to confront each other like this?"


    Upon seeing Amelia, Leopold''s fists clenched at his sides; his jaw set and a hint of redness clouded his


    amber eyes.


    "Yes," he gritted out, "I was the one who had the phosphorus ced in the smartphones. The explosion


    was ultimately my doing! I came here today to rectify my mistakes and I was just testing your reaction


    earlier!"


    "What?" Amelia was stunned.


    "All of this started because of me. I have nothing left to lose. It''s time to end this," Leopold dered.


    And before anyone could react, he dashed to the window and climbed onto the ledge.


    His perilous move made Amelia''s heart lurch. She rushed forward to grab him, but Lysander beat her to


    it. He lunged at Leopold, managing to grab a handful of his shirt. But it was too slippery and Leopold''s


    body was carrying a considerable gravity.


    As Lysander''s grip slipped, Leopold plunged from the window.


    Lysander''s eyes widened in shock as his body turned taut.


    "Leopold!" Amelia screamed in anguish.


    Thssa and Ethan had arrived at Sinir Group to inquire about the investigation results of the


    ident, only to find a swarm of reporters converging on the ce, likely for the same reason.


    They were making their way towards the building when something fell from above, hitting the ground


    with a sickening thud. Blood sttered everywhere.


    The reporters up front shrieked and scrambled back.


    Through the fleeing crowd, Thssa caught sight of the fallen figure - a man with short, chestnut hair


    that shimmered under the sun. But the stters of blood oozed from his scalp quickly marred the


    beautiful sight.


    The figure, the hair, it was all too familiar.


    Thssa froze in disbelief while she was staring at the horrific scene before her. It wasn''t until the


    crowd had dispersed that the reality of the situation hit her.


    It wasn''t until everyone had backed away that she stumbled forward with a plummeted heart.


    She stumbled forward, her legs giving way as she fell to her knees before she got near to the man lying


    motionlessly in front of her.


    Her breath hitched, her heart felt constricted, her body numb, and her face pale. A sharp pain


    wrenched her heart as she gazed at the lifeless body of Leopold.

 Chapter 840

    Chapter 840


    As Leopoldy on the ground, blood pooled around him and the pavement was stained a shocking red.


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    Thssa''s head was buzzing, her body trembling as her breaths came in fits and starts. Her hands


    shook as she reached out to touch him, but then she froze.


    She was scared to touch him, scared that he might shatter at the slightest contact.


    Tears blurred her vision, and the shrill cries of the reporters echoed around them. But to Thssa, it


    was as if the world had muted. It was as if she was watching a silent film filled with a bleak, deste


    sadness.


    "Call an ambnce... yes, an ambnce..." Thssa''s panicked thoughts finally found some


    semnce of coherence. Fumbling, she pulled her phone from her pocket.


    Her trembling fingers struggled to tap the right buttons on the screen, and with great difficulty, she


    managed to dial the emergency number. Her voice, choked with tears, was barely audible as she cried


    out for help.


    "Please, someone''s fallen... fallen from a building..."


    Leopold, you have to be okay. The ambnce will be here soon. Thssa''s hand shook as she clung


    to her phone as she prayed.


    The reporters who had been screaming in shock just moments ago were now pulling themselves


    together. Their fear was reced with a morbid fascination. Cameras were being pointed at Leopold


    and everyone was vying for the scoop of the day.


    An intense sh of light caught Thssa''s eye, and she looked up to see the cold, relentless camera


    lenses focused on Leopold''s broken form.


    A shrieking wave of pain surged within her as if her heart was stabbed. And with a roar of defiance, she


    staggered to her feet and lunged at the reporters, trying to push their cameras away.


    "Stop filming! Stop it!"


    "Get back, stop filming! Please, just stop!"


    Leopold had always been a young man of grace. He wouldn''t want to be seen in such a state, to have


    his pain and suffering disyed for the world to see.


    Through the agony that threatened to tear her apart, Thssa managed to push back the circling


    reporters and create a small safe haven around Leopold.


    Ethan, too, hadn''t expected the fallen figure to be Leopold. After a moment of stunned disbelief, he saw


    Thssa struggling with the reporters and rushed forward to help her keep them at bay.


    "Leopold, my boy!" Amelia cried out from the 18th floor window, her heart aching as she watched the


    horrific scene unfold below. The pain was unbearable.


    Just moments ago, Leopold had been standing there, talking to her. And now... now he was lying on


    the cold, unforgiving concrete. Amelia couldn''tprehend the reality of the situation. Her legs gave


    way beneath her, and she copsed in a heap.


    She cried out as her tear-filled eyes caught sight of the swarm of reporters below.


    Lysander, too, was shocked. His pupils constricted as he turned to leave.


    Amelia spotted him, and with thest bit of strength she could muster, she stumbled over and grabbed


    onto his pant leg.


    Lysander stopped in his tracks; his gaze hardened as he looked down at her.


    Amelia choked back a sob, pleading, "Lysander, I beg you, don''t tell the reporters about the explosion


    being connected to Leopold. Isn''t the price he''s paid for this tragedy enough? Please, let him keep


    some of his dignity."


    Lysander clenched his jaw, his cheek muscles twitching. He tried to pull his leg away but Amelia held


    on tight.


    "Please, promise me, Lysander. Leopold has always respected you and do you really want to see him


    ruined?" Amelia pleaded, her heart aching so much it was hard to breathe.

 Chapter 841

    Chapter 841


    ¡°I promise you!¡± Lysander dered, his face somber and his words resolute.


    Amelia finally released his arms.


    Below the stairs, those persistent reporters were eager to get close and take pictures of Leopold.


    Thssa, summoning all her will, observed their movements. As one reporter suddenly made a move,


    she stepped forward to intervene.


    But with her first step, she realized her body was weighing a ton. She couldn¡¯t support her body, which


    nearly ached to the point of convulsion.


    As she took her step, she found herself lurching forward.


    A strong arm suddenly wrapped around her waist and pulled her back against a solid chest. The man¡¯s


    robust scent filled her nostrils, carrying the unmistakable aura of masculine strength.,


    Through blurred, tear¨Cfilled eyes, Thssa looked up to see Lysander¡¯s tense yet chiseled face.


    Seeing him, her tears started flowing like a faucet; her heart ached as if stabbed with every breath she


    took.


    The sight of her tears caused a sharp sting in Lysander¡¯s heart.


    He held her close, ncing at Leopold before his eyes turned a fiery red. He ordered his bodyguards,


    ¡°Get the reporters out of here and secure the scene.¡±


    The bodyguards swiftly moved in, dispersing the headline¨Chungry reporters. Cameras that had


    captured images were seized by the bodyguards. They also deleted the contents in it.


    ¡°Nobody is to release any news about this incident. Those who do will face the consequences,¡± the


    bodyguards warned.


    Intimidated by the power of the Sinir Group, the reporters dared not cross the line.


    Thssa clung tightly onto Lysander¡¯s shirt, struggling with her inner pain. Her hands shook


    uncontrobly as tears streamed down her face.


    Lysander supported her back and held her in arms; his voice became husky, ¡°Everything will be


    alright.¡±


    Just then, the ambnce arrived. Medical personnel rushed forward to assess Leopold¡¯s condition.


    After checking his pulse and heart, the doctor regretfully announced, ¡°I¡¯m afraid he¡¯s gone. We should


    prepare for the next.¡±


    Lysander tensed up at the words, his eyes clenching shut in pain.


    Thssa, who had been resting against Lysander, stiffened. A cold chill ran up her spine.


    Her face twitched as she quickly pulled away from Lysander. She stumbled towards the doctor,


    clutching his sleeve as she pleaded through her tears, ¡°You have to save him! How can you announce


    his death before you give it a try to save him? Please, save him!¡±


    The doctor, who understood the pain of a grieved family, could only offer his condolences.


    ¡°No, my Leopold, you can¡¯t be gone; you can¡¯t leave me!¡± Amelia, who had been helped down the


    stairs by the staff, copsed upon hearing the doctor¡¯s words and threw herself onto Leopold¡¯s body.


    Amelia, who was experiencing an emotional copse, flung herself in front of Leopold. She clutched his


    body, staggering with grief and nearly tearing her heart out.


    The giant agony struck Thssa¡¯s heart. Her head spun, her face draining of color as the world turned


    ck before her eyes.


    Lysander caught her in his arms, his eyes were red with a profound pain.


    Content rights belong to N?velDrama.Org.


    Leopold¡¯s body was taken away by the medical crew.


    Amelia, unable to bear the shock, fainted and was taken to the hospital as well.


    nstructed David to follow the ambnce to ensure Amelia¡¯s safety.


    The scene was quickly cleared by the staff


    od awake in her bed. Her consciousness returniki stongside an intense hearte

 Chapter 842

    Chapter 842


    Nursing her thumb, silent tears started to cascade down her cheeks.


    ¡°You¡¯re awake.¡± Lysander¡¯s voice, deep and somber, echoed through the darkness.


    Thssa shivered. She closed her eyes tightly, trying to force back the tears. But the intense sensation


    of sourness in her throat was


    uncontroble.


    ¡°Why did he fall from the building?¡± she managed to ask Lysander, her voice trembling.


    The room fell silent, the air filled with a chilling stillness.


    Just as Thssa thought she wouldn¡¯t get an answer, Lysander spoke up, ¡°No one expected it. He


    jumped down himself¡­¡±


    No one expected him to do this, and hence, nobody was prepared to stop him.


    He jumped off himself?


    Why?


    Thssa¡¯s heart clenched, her body curling tighter.


    Lysander sat at the edge of the bed, watching her. She was facing away from him, her body curled up


    into a ball. She didn¡¯t respond to


    his words. But under the moonlight, he could see the glitter of tears in her eyes.


    He knew that she was in pain. She never forgot about Leopold, so his death brought her immense


    sorrow.


    Property ? N?velDrama.Org.


    Lysander¡¯s handsome face was taut. He mused, and didn¡¯t say a word.


    After a long silence, Thssa found the courage to voice her worries, ¡°How is he now?¡±


    ¡°He is in the morgue and undergoing a post¨Cmortem makeover,¡± Lysander¡¯s voice was solemn while


    answering her question.


    Thssa¡¯s heart clenched again, her thumb almost bitten through by her own teeth.


    ¡°You should get up and eat something. You¡¯ve been asleep for six hours,¡± Lysander said as he


    switched on the light.


    The bright, white light instantly illuminated the whole room.


    Thssa shut her eyes against the ring light. Before she could adjust to the sudden brightness,


    Lysander scooped her up from the bed.


    Thssa¡¯s entire body was soft, limp and powerless. She was picked up by Lysander and helped to sit


    at the head of the bed.


    A tray had already been prepared on the bedside table. On it was a bowl of soup and an almond


    pudding, which were both mild dishes. Lysander tucked away the stray hair from her forehead,


    revealing her pale face; her lips were devoid of color.


    Lysander¡¯s deep eyes flickered as he scooped up soup and brought it to her lips.


    Thssa turned away, not wanting to eat.


    She had no appetite. Her taste buds were numb from the chilling sorrow. She didn¡¯t have the heart to


    eat anything.


    Lysander¡¯s outstretched spoon hung in mid¨Cair as his expression turned grim, ¡°Eat up!¡±


    Thssa felt a wave of inner pain. She flinched and looked away from him.


    I don¡¯t want to eat, she said without any energy.


    ¡°As four kids¡® mother, you¡¯re not alone. Are you sure you want to be so self¨Cwilled?¡± Lysander¡¯s voice


    was hoarse, his handsome face


    Laut.


    Tears welled up in Thssa¡¯s mncholic eyes.


    She leaned on her arms for support, sitting up a bit straighter. She turned to look at Lysander, ¡°Are


    the kids asleep?


    She was a mother of four Her kids needed her. If she fell, her kids would be so heartbroken and pitiful.


    Everything she¡¯d done up until now was for the purpose of being with her kids.


    Lysanders stern expression softened a little when she asked about the kids.


    At least She still cared and still worried about the kids.


    sleep they wanted to see you earlier but I persuaded them to go to bed. Lysander said.

 Chapter 843

    Chapter 843


    He moved the spoon to her lips again, scooping up a spoonful of oatmeal. The sweet and wet oatmeal


    touched her lips and moistened her dry mouth.


    Thssa stiffened a bit, opening her mouth to ept the oatmeal he was spoon¨Cfeeding her.


    As Lysander went to scoop a second spoonful, Thssa hastily reached for the bowl in his hands, ¡°I¡¯ll


    do it myself.¡±


    Without refusing, Lysander handed the bowl to her.


    She took small bites, struggling to swallow. A cough escaped her lips, drawing Lysander¡¯s deep gaze


    towards her.


    With determination, Thssa managed to swallow the oatmeal hard that was almost coughed out.


    Leopold¡¯s funeral took ce two dayster at the Sinir family¡¯s upscale cemetery.


    Zephyr allowed Thssa¡¯s four kids to attend Leopold¡¯s funeral, but not Thssa herself.


    She yearned to bid him onest farewell, but she didn¡¯t have the right to do so.


    All she could do was to stand from a distance and watch a group of people in ck mourning clothes


    paying their respects by Leopold¡¯s grave. The humid summer breeze blew past the corners of her eyes


    and brought out the hot tears from her eyes, which trailed down her cheeks and onto her chin:


    At Leopold¡¯s tombstone, Zephyr looked at a picture of a young, radiant Leopold. He was visibly grief¨C


    stricken; his face showed signs of vicissitudes and his hair had turned significantly whiter, as if he had


    aged a decade overnight.


    He had lost his Grandma Sybil just a while ago and he had not yet ovee that pain when he lost his


    great¨Cgrandson. The sessive losses were too much for Zephyr, who was no longer young.


    He wiped away the tears at the corners of his eyes; he hunched his back and was unable to stand


    straight.


    Amelia knelt before Leopold¡¯s gravestone, hugging it while sobbing uncontrobly as if her world had


    copsed.


    Leopold¡¯s father, Payton Sinir, watched with a heart full of sorrow. The pain of losing a son was


    unbearable, yet he was unable to turn things around.


    Leopold¡¯s grandfather wiped his tears; his heart was filled with deep sadness.


    The four kids dressed in ck stood in front of Leopold¡¯s grave. Their innocent eyes were staring at the


    familiar picture on the tombstone.


    Elowen, with her babyish voice, asked, ¡°Daddy, what happened to Uncle? Why is his picture on the


    stone? I know him, he is Mommy¡¯s good friend.¡±


    When Thssa had fled back to Hollowbrook with the kids, they had encountered Leopold at the


    Hollowbrook residence.


    The kids had seen Leopold then. Their grandmother had taken them back to their room, leaving their


    mother to talk privately with Uncle Leopold.


    Elowen had a good memory so she remembered.


    Hearing Elowen¡¯s words, Zephyr¡¯s aged figure trembled, nearly losing his bnce.


    Leopold knew Thssa.


    He had been so sunny and optimistic, handsome and upbeat. Since falling in love with Thssa and


    breaking up with her, he had be mncholic and lost his youthful spirit.


    He had loved Thalessa for so many years and was depressed for just as many


    Zephyr felt heartbroken every time he thought about Leopold.


    Lysander nced at Zephyr, noticing his gnef. He sped Elowen¡¯s small hand in his, and with a


    deep voice said, ¡°He is your brother, he


    gone to a faraway ce and won¡¯t being back.


    ression was serious. Elewen, although young and naive, could sense that her father seemed upset.


    ConTEent bel0ngs to N?v(e)lD/rama(.)Org .


    She blinked her bright cospaak again


    tended the Cuneral Usal day their expressions full of remembrance and scrow. The almost


    my and suffocating. The oppressive heat added to people¡¯s difort.


    ng the fixierat proceedings from afa

 Chapter 844

    Chapter 844


    Thssa quickly averted her eyes, no longer looking towards the cemetery. She wiped the tears from


    her face, hung her head low, and turned to leave.


    Zephyr hadn¡¯t allowed her to attend Leopold¡¯s funeral, and she hadn¡¯t insisted or created a scene. She


    had simply followed in silence, watching the ceremony from outside the cemetery, just to bid Leopold a


    Now that his funeral was over, there was no point in her lingering.


    Thssa was standing at the western gate of the cemetery. A few steps forward would be an entrance


    of another gate.


    Feeling down, she walked on. Her gaze flickered, and at the next gate, she saw a familiar figure.


    That was a woman with stunning figure; she was in a low¨Ccut ck dress and her hair was tied up in a


    ponytail. She was focused on the funeral inside the cemetery.


    As if sensing someone approaching, the woman turned around, and her eyes met Thssa¡¯s.


    The moment their eyes met, Thssa stopped in her tracks and stared at her silently.


    Isabe was also looking at her. Her naturally fierce eyes, which were gazing at Thssa, gradually


    turned cold and sharp.


    ¡°Well, aren¡¯t you the one who¡¯s been clinging to the Sinir family tree? Howe you can¡¯t even


    attend their funeral? Even I, an outsider, can!¡± Isabe stared at her for a while, then suddenly sneered


    mockingly.


    Thssa furrowed slightly. She wasn¡¯t in the mood to talk about this so she turned to leave.


    Isabe quickly stepped forward and blocked her path. Her eyes were filled with fierce, anger and


    hatred; her teeth clenched tightly. ¡°Thssa, what¡¯s with the high and mighty act and the heartbroken


    look? All thanks to you, Leopold is a dead body now! If he hadn¡¯t loved you, if he had forgotten you and


    been with me, he wouldn¡¯t have died! It¡¯s all your fault!¡±


    Isabe was agitated; she grabbed Thssa¡¯s shoulders and shook her like a madwoman.


    Thssa¡¯s mood was already at rock bottom. Listening to Isabe¡¯s rant, her head felt like it was about


    to explode and her brain filled with a ringing sound; the pain almost tore up her nerves.


    Her words were like a sharp knife that stabbed into her heart; it caused her unbearable pain.


    The tears she had managed to hold back now flowed freely.


    She had watched Leopold die in front of her, and she knew just how terrible and tragic his death had


    been.


    Now Isabe was saying that Leopold¡¯s death was all her fault. The pain was enough to tear her soul


    apart.


    After venting her anger, Isabe pushed her away, her chest heaving, her eyes filled with anger,


    Content rights belong to N?velDrama.Org.


    frustration, and heartbreak, ¡°That¡¯s right. Five years ago, I stole him from you. We just slept together


    and didn¡¯t have kids, but you, you slept with Lysander and had four children! You¡¯re far worse than him


    when ites to betrayal! You hurt him even more!


    You knew you wouldn¡¯t be with him, so why didn¡¯t you push him away? Why did you give him hope?


    Why did you make him unable to forget you?¡±


    Isabe was hysterical and behaving like a mad woman.


    Even though she had only spent one night with Leopold, he was the man she had fallen for at first


    sight. Her feelings for him were deeper than for any other man she had ever met.


    No matter who she was with, there was always a ce for Leopold in the deepest of her heart.


    She loved him!


    Even when he tried to take her down with him in a car fire, she never med him. She only felt sorry


    for him, loving him but not being able to have him, yet still obsessing over him.


    She had wisely stayed away from Leopold during this time, only to find out that he was dead.


    When she heard that Leopold was dead, Isabe¡¯s world copsed.


    She had heard about Leopold¡¯s funeral today and had specifically worn ck to attend.

 Chapter 845

    Chapter 845


    But then she saw Thssa, and all the hatred, anger and pain in Isabe¡¯s heart was stirred up.


    Leopold was such a vibrant and handsome man, yet he met such a tragic end because of Thssa!


    Thssa staggered into the middle of the road; clutching her suffocating heart, she was crying so hard


    that she couldn¡¯t even utter a single word to refute Isabe


    Lysander said Leopold hadmitted suicide, that he had jumped from a building when no one was


    watching.


    She didn¡¯t know why Leopold would do such a thing, but Isabe¡¯s words filled her with guilt.


    Had Leopold¡¯s sudden jump really been her fault?


    Just a few days ago, he had taken her to Starhaven College. He was so full of life at that time.


    She had also told him to let go of the past and start a new life.


    Why, then?


    Why did he choose this path of no return?


    ¡°Thssa, speak to me! Don¡¯t stay silent!¡± Isabe pointed at Thssa with a fierce look, panting


    heavily.


    With a trembling breath, Thssa cried. She was unable to utter a single word.


    As Isabe was about to rush forward, a red Volkswagen came by. Isabe stepped back due to the


    vehicle.


    Screech!


    The car stopped beside Thssa. Hertha pushed open the car door, swiftly moving to embrace


    Thssa¡¯s fragile body.


    The moment she held her, Hertha could feel Thssa¡¯s shaking body. That was breaking her heart.


    Hertha¡¯s heart sank as she turned to Isabe angrily, ¡°Isabe, have you lost your mind? Did Thssa


    pick on you or what?¡±


    Isabe gritted her teeth; her breaths were fast and choppy, ¡°She killed Leopold and why I can¡¯t talk


    about it?¡±


    ¡°Shut up!¡± Hertha bellowed, her eyes as wide as saucers as she said firmly to Isabe, ¡°Thssa is the


    one who is most upset about Leopold¡¯s death! He could die for anyone, but not because of Thssa!


    Watch your tongue in the future!¡±


    After her strong statement, she gave Isabe a re, then she helped Thssa into the car,, got in


    herself, and drove off.


    Isabe stood rooted to the spot, watching Hertha¡¯s red car disappear. Her fists clenched;. She gritted


    her teeth and her body stiffened as tears fell down her face.


    She kicked the ground hard, then squatted down, holding her head and crying out loud.


    Hertha held the steering wheel steady and drove slowly, mindful of Thssa¡¯s difort.


    When she regained herposure and looked at Thssa, who was sitting in the passenger¡¯s seat,


    she saw a face marred by tear stains, a look of hollow sadnesspletely devoid of energy.


    Hertha¡¯s heart ached. She knew Thssa was in pain.


    She was also sad because Leopold was her ssmate too. And they also had a good rtionship


    because of Thssa.


    Now, he was just gone.


    Hertha¡¯s eyes filled with tears, but she choked back her sobs and said to Thssa, ¡°Thssa, let me


    take you back to Vibrant Oasis Residences.


    Only Evelyn couldfort Thssa in such state.Content rights belong to N?velDrama.Org.

 Chapter 846

    Chapter 846


    Thssa remained silent, slumped against the car seat. Her body felt weak and her heart felt like it


    was submerged in salty water, aching and stifling.


    Upon receiving no response from Thssa, Hertha didn¡¯t press further. She took out a tissue, wiping


    away the tears from the corner of her eyes before resuming her driving.


    Midway through their journey, Thssa suddenly felt sick. She turned a sickly pale and managed to


    utter, ¡°Pull over¡­¡±


    Hertha quickly parked the car at the roadside.


    Thssa unbuckled her seat belt in haste, got out of the car, and began throwing up into the nearby


    bushes until there was nothing left


    but bile.


    Hertha rushed to her side, supporting her and gently patting her back.


    Once Thssa had finished, Hertha handed her a tissue.


    Thssa wiped her mouth and was about to step back when she swayed, barely able to stand.


    ¡°Thssa¡­¡± Hertha quickly pulled Thssa close to her and prevented her from falling.


    With a soft whimper, Thssa crumbled into Hertha. She was unable to hold back the tears any


    longer.


    Hertha¡¯s heart clenched at the sight. She held Thssa close and caressed her back, ¡°Cry out,


    Thssa. Let it all out.¡±


    Thssa clung onto Hertha¡¯s clothes. She was crying so hard she could barely catch her breath.


    Only in front of Hertha could she let go and cry out all her sorrows.


    Because only Hertha understood her feelings.


    Hertha had been fully involved in theplex rtionship between her, Leopold, and Lysander, so she


    understood the situation deeply..


    After crying for a while, Thssa¡¯s emotions began to settle down.


    Hertha helped her back into the car. But instead of driving back to Vibrant Oasis Residences, they went


    to the beach.


    Sitting on the sandy beach, the salty sea breeze dried the tears on Thssa¡¯s face.


    II FI


    Hertha sat next to her. Seeing that Thssa was in a much better state, she ventured, ¡°Thssa, are


    you still in love with Leopold?¡±


    Leopold was gone, and her heartbreak suggested she hadn¡¯t let go of him yet.


    Thssa turned to look at Hertha. A few strands of her hair were stuck to her face due to the sea


    Content provided by N?velDrama.Org.


    breeze, partially obscuring her view of Hertha¡¯s expectant and anxious expression.


    She thought hard, and after a long pause, she finally said in a soft voice, ¡°My affection towards him had


    gone for a long time¡­¡±


    She had once been fond of Leopold; he was her first love and they had dreamed of a future together.


    But ever since the incident and the birth of her four kids, she had woken up to reality.


    There was no possible love left between her and Leopold.


    She¡¯d devoted all her energy to her kids and she had truly let go of Leopold.


    There were no romantic feelings or affections left for him. She saw Leopold as a dear old friend.


    My feelings for Leopold are just like my feelings for you. I see him as one of the most important friends


    in my life. I only wish for him to live well and to be happy¡±


    Just like how she wished for Hertha to always be happy, to pursue her own happiness and live a


    good life.


    But then suddenly, her friend whom she cared deeply for and wished well, was gone from this world.


    The shock and pain were no less than seeing a loved one pass away.


    Hearing Thssas words, Hertha¡¯s heart skipped a beat. She held Thssa tightly, nuzzling her


    face into Thssax chest and


    ssing ber affection and deep love, know exactly how you feel. I feel the same way.


    also her friend and her schoolmate. His death had caused her immense

 Chapter 847

    Chapter 847


    Not to mention the past between Thssa and Leopold that couldn¡¯t be rubbed off.


    Thssa was probably hurting more than her.


    ¡°It will pass. Let the departed rest in peace. The living must carry on,¡± Hertha embraced Thssa, her


    voiceforting her but also frail. She prayed for Thssa to recover from the shadow soon.


    Thssa didn¡¯t move her rigid body.


    The two people held each other by the sea; they appeared to be so insignificant in front of the vast


    ocean.


    At the cemetery.


    The funeral had ended and the guests began to depart.


    Leopold¡¯s grandfather, Darian Sinir, who was also Lysander¡¯s uncle, supported Zephyr as they left


    the cemetery. Leopold¡¯s father Payton helped Amelia walk in the end. They got into the car prepared by


    the Sinir family, drove away, and left the ce of sorrow. Lysander led his four kids to their car.


    Just as they were about to get in, the dark sky suddenly rumbled with thunder. A lightning bolt tore


    through the sky.


    ¡°Whoa, Dad, I¡¯m scared!¡± Elowen was so frightened that she buried her head in between Lysander¡¯s


    calves; her chubby hands were clinging to his leg tightly as her plump little body tensed with fear.


    Lysander bent over to take Elowen into his arms; hisrge hand fondled her little head, ¡°Don¡¯t be afraid,


    Daddy¡¯s here.¡±


    After a simple reassurance, he put Elowen, then the rest three kids in the car. He closed the car door


    and looked up at the sky.


    Dark clouds filled the sky, with lightning still illuminating the clouds. It was about to rain soon.


    Thssa hated this kind of stormy weather, especially the thunder.


    Lysander¡¯s deep gaze looked towards the west gate. He thought he saw Thssa here just now. But


    when he looked, she had already turned away, lowering her head and walking off.


    He wasn¡¯t sure if she was still there.


    Lysander asked David to wait here as he made a long stride towards the west gate of the cemetery.


    There was no one here except for the evergreen trees nted. He looked down the road but still didn¡¯t


    see Thssa.


    Had she already left in a car?


    Frowning Lysander turned around and got into the passenger seat, instructing David to drive.


    As soon as the car started, a heavy rain poured down like a cascade and washed over the car


    windows.


    Property ? N?velDrama.Org.


    Song in the back seat, Elowen clung to her brother Dorian and rubbed her small face against his body;


    her soft voice sounded pitiful, ¡°Uh, I¡¯m scared. I want Mommy. I want Mommy to hold me¡­¡±


    Her mother was also terrified of thunderstorms. Every time a thunderstorm urred. Thssa would


    hold Elowen, and the two would hot under the covers to keep each other warm


    Once the weather improved her mother would get her out of bed, then they would look at each other


    andugh foolishly


    Each time, Elower would snuggle into Thssa¡¯s arms and hold her tightly feeling so d to have a


    mother


    With her mother by berside, she got an apany during thunderstorms. But now her mother was not


    by her side


    held Elower¡¯s trembling little body, his childish voice wasforting. Don¡¯t be scared, Elowen Life ask


    take on to Mommy Well be with her soon


    baby


    want Manny yne was filed with whumpers.


    Bugged the mulled out his phone and dialed Taste matibay

 Chapter 848

    Chapter 848


    Thssa and Hertha sought shelter in a gazebo by the beach, taking in the view of the rainbow that


    arched across the sky after a heavy downpour.


    ¡°Thssa, look, there¡¯s such a grand rainbow in the middle of the sea!¡± Hertha eximed, tugging at


    Thssa¡¯s hand as she pointed at the horizon.


    Thssa lifted her gaze, and indeed, there was a rainbow resembling an arch, breathing life into the


    otherwise dull, gray seascape. Her eyes, dry from crying, were transfixed on this spectacle of nature.


    ¡°Summer showers are often short¨Clived, and rainbows always follow the rain,¡± Hertha said those


    Thssa didn¡¯t respond; her gaze was still fixated on the horizon. Suddenly, a dark shadow obscured


    her view of the rainbow, a presence that was innately powerful and overwhelming.


    Her vision blurred momentarily before focusing on Lysander¡¯s handsome, aloof face. She blinked,


    thinking her eyes were ying tricks. But when she looked again, she was still greeted by the tall and


    imposing figure striding toward her.


    And trailing behind him were four little ones.


    ¡°Mommy!¡±


    ¡°Mommy!¡±


    ¡°Mommy!¡±


    ¡°Mommy!¡±


    Their soft childish voices chimed in unison. They had been obediently following Lysander just a


    moment ago, but upon seeing Thssa, the kids broke into a run and scampered towards her. Their


    short legs were waddling like little penguins, looking both cute and soothing..


    Thssa¡¯s heart fluttered as she watched. Before she had a chance to stand up, the little ones


    pounced into her arms like fledglings.


    ¡°Mommy, I was scared of the thunder. Why weren¡¯t you with me?¡± Elowen buried her face into


    Thssa¡¯s chest, clenching her tiny fists onto Thssa¡¯s clothes. She nestled her head into Thssa¡¯s


    ConTEent bel0ngs to N?v(e)lD/rama(.)Org .


    arms and her fluffy hair squirmed around Thssa¡¯s skin, resembling a small animal begging for


    attention.


    Thssa¡¯s heart melted at her soft voice.


    Like Thssa, Elowen was terrified of thunderstorms. Normally, Thssa would hold Elowen and hide


    under the covers until the storm passed.


    But today. Thssa was not by Elowen¡¯s side, and the thought tore at her heart. She pulled Elowen


    close and whispered, ¡°Elowen, don¡¯t be scared. The storm has passed.¡±


    It was odd. Thssa used to be afraid of thunderstorms; her head was exploding from the inside as the


    thunder sted. But today, as she and Hertha witnessed the entire thunderstorm by the sea, she felt


    less fearful.


    Perhaps she had realized that everything seemed trivial in the face of life and death.


    Leopold was gone. Today was the day of his funeral. Her heart was heavy with grief, overshadowing


    everything else, even her fear of thunderstorms.


    Mommy, why didn¡¯t youe with us to that brother¡¯s funeral? Daddy said that he was our big


    brother,¡± Dorian asked. Standing next to Thssa, his small hand resting on her thigh and his bright


    eyes gazing at her curiously.


    Thssa¡¯s heart fluttered a little at his question. Not being able to attend Leopold¡¯s funeral was a


    regret she had to live with, something he was powerless against.


    off guard by Dorian¡¯s question, she was unsure how to respond.


    about to fumble for an answer, Lysander¡¯s tall figure foomed over he

 Chapter 849

    Chapter 849


    In the blink of an eye, the kids sprawled over her were lifted one by one and ced aside.


    Lysander stood before her, his deep gaze looking down on her. "Time to head back," he dered.


    His voice was low and maic, seemingly calm but unequivocally domineering.


    Thssa froze. She didn¡¯t say anything as she looked into his deep gaze.


    Hertha, sitting nearby, felt the immense tension. She quickly rose up and stepped aside to make room


    for Lysander. She forced a chuckle and agreed, "Yes, Thssa. The weather is unpredictable; it could


    rain any moment so you better get back. Plus, the beach isn''t safe."


    Hertha''s words brought Thssa back to reality. She avoided Lysander''s gaze, stood up, and walked


    over to take her kids¡¯ hands, "Let''s go home."


    "Okay, let''s go home." The little ones ced their tiny, soft hands into hers.


    Pairs of bright eyes, which were filled with dependence and love, bore into her.


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    Looking at the kids¡¯ innocent, soft eyes, Thssa''s heart was a bit healed. She led the two kids by the


    hand towards the roadside.


    Lysander''s ck Rolls-Royce was parked at the curb; its dark opulence was impossible to overlook.


    "Thssa, I have to go now. Bye, little ones. Maybe I will take you out next time." Hertha said her


    farewells and drove off.


    Hertha had brought Thssa to the beach, but now that Lysander had arrived so naturally, Thssa


    should get in his car. She would just leave the couple alone.


    Once Thssa and the kids were in the car, Lysander got in and David drove them home. The kids, a


    little tired, snuggled up to Thssa and soon fell asleep. Without their chatter, the car was unusually


    quiet.


    Thssa watched thendscape rushing by outside the window, remaining silent all the way.


    Soon, the car pulled into the driveway of the Royal Estates.


    Thssa pushed the door open and got out of the car. The kids were now awake and full of energy.


    They grabbed her hand and headed towards the house, not giving her a chance to see Lysander''s


    reaction.


    "Mom, let''s go to Dad''s room. It''s bigger," Elowen suggested while she was dragging Thssa upstairs.


    "Mom,e in. We¡¯ll burrow under the covers." Elowen was bustling around, arranging for Thssa to


    sit on the bed, helping her take off her shoes, and instructing her to get into the bed.


    Thssa didn''t refuse but allowed Elowen to make the arrangements. She sat on the bed, and Elowen


    climbed up and snuggled into her arms, pulling the covers over them.


    "Mom, let''s sleep with Dad tonight. He can hold both of us and we won''t be scared of the thunder,"


    Elowen pouted, saying in a childish voice as she looked at Thssa withrge, bright, and innocent


    eyes.


    Thssa gently stroked her little head and said, "Don''t worry, there won''t be any more thunder."


    "But what if it thunders again tonight? Let''s sleep with Dad. His arms are big," Elowen insisted.


    Just as Thssa was about to respond, she felt a strong presence enter the room.

 Chapter 850

    Chapter 850


    Thssa knew who had just entered the room without looking.


    The air suddenly grew tense; even Thssa''s breath hitched. Instead of turning around, she hugged


    little Elowen tighter, her cheek resting against the child''s soft face as if seeking a slight tinge of warmth


    from her small body.


    The weight on the bed shifted as a masculine presence drew closer, his breath fanning against


    Thssa''s face and his sturdy chest pressing against her back.


    Thssa stiffened. Before she could react, her chin was lifted and she found herself staring into


    Lysander''s deep, handsome face.


    "How disappointed our little one must be when you ignore her questions?" he asked. His low voice was


    reverberating in the quiet room and picking Thssa¡¯s nerves.


    "Daddy, you''re here! Are you here to sleep with us?" Elowen lifted her head from Thssa''s shoulder,


    her sparkling eyes filled with anticipation as she looked at Lysander expectantly.


    Lysander¡¯s oceanic eyes fixated on Elowen, and then back at Thssa as he said, "Did you hear that?


    Elowen is waiting for your response."


    Thssa fell silent.


    Elowen had stopped asking about sleeping together until he walked in.


    So, who was really waiting for her answer? Him or Elowen?


    Thssa knew if she didn''t answer, Lysander wouldn''t let it go. Plus, she didn''t want to upset Elowen.


    Avoiding Lysander''s gaze and his hand on her chin, she looked away, "Of course we can sleep


    together."


    "Yay! Hop in, Daddy," Elowen said as she looked up and climbed out of Thssa¡¯s arms. She dragged


    Lysander''s arm like a little adult, encouraging him to join them.


    "Elowen, your dad needs to take a shower; he can''t..." Thssa started, worried that Lysander would


    be upset.


    Before she could finish her sentence, Lysander removed his shoes and climbed into the bed.


    Thssa was taken aback.


    Wasn''t he a clean freak? Why he got into bed without showering or changing his clothes?


    "Cover up, Daddy," Elowen said as she pulled the quilt over Lysander and Thssa.


    Once she was done, she snuggled back against Thssa, allowing her mother to wrap her arms


    around her tiny frame.


    Seeing Thssa''s arms around her, Elowen turned to Lysander and said sweetly, "Daddy, hug Mommy


    like she''s hugging me. That way, she won''t be scared."


    Thssa was startled. Was Elowen pushing her into the lion''s den?


    "I don''t need..."


    She was already enveloped in a broad, solid embrace just as she opened her mouth.


    His arms were strong and his sturdy chest was exuding a sense of security. Through the fabric of his


    clothes, she could feel the warmth radiating from him.


    Thssa stiffened, her eyes wide open.


    "Sleep," Lysander¡¯s husky voice ran as hey down and had his arms around her entire body; his legs


    even draped over hers.


    His gentle movement were enveloping herpletely.


    Thssa felt like a chrysalis wrapped in a silken cocoon, which protected her like a hard shell.


    His actions were swift, leaving her no chance to resist. By the time she gathered her wits, she was


    already snuggled against him.


    She tried to move but couldn''t. His breath, warm and steady, tickled the sensitive skin behind her ear,


    causing her nerves to tingle.


    With a shaky breath, Thssa said, "Lysander, let me go."


    "Mommy, don''t make Daddy let go. If he does, we''ll be struck by lightning," Elowen''s soft voice, filled


    with fear and protest, whined.


    As she spoke, she burrowed further into Thssa''s arms, causing Thssa''s heart to flutter with


    Property ? N?velDrama.Org.


    affection and helplessness.


    "Did you hear that? I¡¯m doing this for your safety," Lysander''s low voice resounded in Thssa''s ear.

 Chapter 851

    Chapter 851


    Heat hung heavy and thick in the air.


    It tantalized Thssa''s senses, causing her taut heart to skip a beat.


    No one understood Lysander''s current state better than she did.


    Her internal rm bells were sounding, but she was paralyzed and frozen in ce.


    In silence, she held Elowen¡¯s soft and little body in her arms. Behind her, Lysander''s broad, heated


    chest enveloped her; his arms were wrapping around her, and his hot breath was falling on the nape of


    her neck.


    She was torn between protecting her precious baby and the imminent danger of the beast that could


    tear her to shreds at any moment.


    Time ticked away.


    Elowen grew softer in her arms. She had fallen asleep.


    And behind her, Lysander''s burning presence didn''t diminish. She had no clue if he was asleep or not.


    Thssa attempted to move, but a low, maic male voice stopped her.


    "Regret not attending his funeral?" His voice wasced with a hint of bitterness.


    Thssa, who was going to move, suddenly froze; her nerves were on edge.


    Lysander''s sudden question left her puzzled and rmed, unable to decipher his intentions or his


    current state of mind.


    Leopold Sinir, his nephew, was dead. Didn''t that affect him?ConTEent bel0ngs to N?v(e)lD/rama(.)Org .


    "Answer me!" Lysander demanded when she didn''t respond.


    Thssa shivered before responding, "Of course I regret it. Who wouldn''t be regretful for not being


    able to send off a friend on theirst journey?"


    "Why didn''t youe to me?" Lysander asked.


    He hadn''t lifted his head as he spoke. He kept his posture to hold Thssa as his face nuzzled her


    neck. His words, transformed into breath, brushed against her vulnerable skin, heightening the sense


    of danger and oppression.


    Thssa dared not keep silent.


    "Zephyr forbade it. If I hade to you, it would have put you in a difficult position," she exined.


    When she found out that Zephyr had explicitly forbidden her from attending Leopold''s funeral, Thssa


    had abandoned the idea altogether. She knew that going against Zephyr would result in mutual


    destruction.


    Besides, who was she to insist on attending Leopold''s funeral?


    She wasn''t anyone to Leopold, nor to Lysander, and certainly not a member of the Sinir family.


    She had no right to attend Leopold''s funeral.


    Lysander''s grip on her tightened slightly as her words stirred ripples in his heart.


    So she was considering his feelings?


    "Let him rest in peace now. He¡¯s passed away, so don¡¯t think about him anymore, okay?" Lysander''s


    husky voice suddenly broke the silence.


    Hisrge hand gripped her slender shoulder, turning her to face him.


    Thssa lifted her gaze to meet his deep eyes.


    Lysander''s hand cupped her chin, his rough fingers gently stroking her skin. His gaze darkened as he


    leaned in to kiss her.

 Chapter 852

    Chapter 852


    Thssa''s eyshes quivered and her face instinctively recoiled.


    Lysander''s movements stilled as ayer of icy chill cloaked his eyes, "Still not used to me yet?"


    Thssa avoided his gaze and dropped her eyshes, "No, I''m just not feeling well. I''m not in the


    mood..."


    Lysander''s deep gaze lingered on her for a while, but he didn''t insist. Instead, he pulled her into his


    embrace, holding her close and saying nothing. "Sleep," hemanded.


    He knew she wasn''t emotionally well. He would give her time topletely let go.


    Moments before, Thssa had been tensely facing away from Lysander. His warm breath on the back


    of her neck made her feel threatened.


    Now, she was facing him and being wrapped in his arms. Her cheek nuzzled against his firm chest and


    could feel his steady and powerful heartbeat. It turned out that she was somehow less afraid.


    Her fatigue overcame her and she fell asleep quickly.


    ...


    When Thssa went to work, Ethan sent her to Leopold''s studio. The Crawley Group had a contract


    with Leopold''s studio, but now that Leopold was gone, the contract needed to be renegotiated.


    Thssa arrived at the studio Leopold had created.


    Her heart was heavy as she prepared to enter. It took several deep breaths before she could muster


    the courage to step inside.


    She expected to find just a few people, but to her surprise, every workstation was filled. There was not


    a single truant employee. Each one was diligently working, everything in order.


    "Hello, who are you looking for?" A young woman approached and inquired politely.


    Thssa was pulled from her thoughts by his question, "This is Leopold''s studio, right?"


    She hadn''t gone to the wrong ce, had she?


    Leopold was dead, but his studio was running smoothly. With the boss gone, who were these


    employees working for?


    "Yes, this is the studio Mr. Sinir founded. I was Mr. Sinir''s assistant in his lifetime. You can call me


    Lily," the woman responded.


    She lowered his gaze and carried a hint of sorrow in her voice, "Poor Mr. Sinir. No one expected him


    to leave us so suddenly. Just the day before the ident, he had promised the families of those two


    workers that he would find a solution from the Sinir Group. But he died before he could get an


    answer."


    Lily was the colleague who had been helping Leopold deal with the victims'' families. She was also


    Leopold''s assistant.


    Thssa asked, "You''re saying Leopold had a confrontation with the families of the two workers who


    died in the explosion the day before he died?"


    Lily confirmed her question, "Yes, we were all angry but Mr. Sinir stayed calm and promised to get


    an answer andpensation from the Sinir Group. How could he suddenly jump off a building? I


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    just can''t understand..."


    Thssa was left with a huge doubt. Leopold had been determined to get an answer for the workers''


    families and he even promised as much. Why would he kill himself before he could fulfill his promise?


    It didn''t make sense.


    "Lily,e and see this. The Sinir Group has released a statement. The explosion case has been


    solved and a conclusion has been reached," Amelia suddenly emerged from the manager''s office, her


    phone in her hand and excitement on her face.


    Lily hurried over.


    Seeing Amelia, Thssa finally understood why Leopold''s studio was still running smoothly after his


    death. Amelia had been managing things in his stead.


    Thssa also approached, joining Lily to see what was on Amelia''s phone.


    The screen disyed a news article.

 Chapter 853

    Chapter 853


    The story revolves around a previously urred explosion at a mall due to a mobile phone


    malfunction, and the resolution that followed.


    The Sinir group issued a statement, taking full responsibility for the tragic st caused by the poor


    quality of mobile phones produced by their subsidiary, Leossa Electronics. The unfortunate incident led


    to the idental death of two workers.


    The Sinir group expressed their willingness to shoulder all the me andpensate the families of


    the deceased workers with a total of 1.001 billion; a million for the funerals and a billion as


    With a definitive cause of the ident and a solution presented, the case seemed toe to an end.


    Upon hearing the news, Thssa felt out of sorts. She recalled Leopold previously stating that the


    explosion was due to the substandard phones produced by the Sinir group and that they should


    bear all responsibility.


    She and Ethan had sought out Lysander for answers, but he insisted that the case was fishy and


    cautioned against hasty conclusions. This led to the dy in the resolution of the ident, and the


    workers¡¯ families had made several demonstrations.


    To her surprise, the end result was the same as the initial conjecture.


    If this was the case, why had Lysander mentioned that there was something suspicious and was


    reluctant to intervene?


    Thssa was feeling a bit worried.


    ¡°My son, the matter has finally been resolved. You paid the price with your life to reach a fair solution.


    Are you satisfied?¡± Amelia clutched her phone tightly, tears streaming down her face as she spoke to


    the heavens.


    Thssa was taken aback, ¡°What do you mean? Leopold solved this with his life?¡±


    Wiping her tears, Amelia answered, ¡°Leopold went to Lysander to resolve the issue that day. But when


    Lysander was reluctant, he did something unthinkable to give the workers¡¯ families closure.¡±


    Boom!


    Thssa felt as if a bomb had exploded in her mind. She was stunned to the point of being paralyzed


    on the spot/


    Leopold hadn¡¯tmitted suicide out of despair; instead, he had been driven to death by Lysander.


    Why did this happen? Why?


    What benefit did Lysander have in forcing Leopold to his death?


    Thssa was suffocating; her heart clenched tight in her chest and she couldn¡¯t catch a breath.


    She didn¡¯t remember how she left Leopold¡¯s office.


    Walking aimlessly in the street, she was jolted back to reality when a car screeched to a halt just inches


    from her.


    ¡°Watch where you¡¯re going, you suicidal maniac!¡± The driver shouted in the aftermath of fear. He


    quickly reversed the vehicle, turned the steering wheel, and drove away.


    The wind whipped up by the car hit Thssa¡¯s face, causing her pale cheeks to sting.


    She wiped her cheek and found her hand wet with tears. She had been crying, but she had been


    unaware.


    She couldn¡¯tprehend why Lysander had driven Leopold to his death. Was Lysander so ruthless


    that he would disregard even the life of his own nephew?


    Standing by the roadside and watching the cars whizz by, Thssa felt a deep pit of emptiness in her


    Content rights belong to N?velDrama.Org.


    heart. As arge truck sped toward her, it was toote to brake.


    ¡°Watch out!¡± With a shout, a figure dashed towards her.


    The figure grabbed her and rolled with her into the roadside bushes, narrowly avoiding the truck.

 Chapter 854

    Chapter 854


    Thssa felt her world spinning as she hit the ground, but she wasn¡¯t in pain. A strong hand had


    cushioned her head, sparing her from the impact of the


    concrete.


    Her body rolled a few times in the man¡¯s embrace beforeing to a stop.


    The chaotic scene left Thssa disoriented.


    ¡°Thssa, are you okay?¡± A lean, muscr arm scooped her waist, lifting her from the ground. The


    deep baritone voice couldn¡¯t hide the underlying anxiety.


    Lifting her head, Thssa met the tense face of Lysander and his eyes, which were focused on her so


    intensely.


    She swallowed a lump of fear, whispering, ¡°I¡¯m okay.¡±


    Lysander¡¯s tight gaze rxed slightly as his deep eyes instantly filled with anger. He growled, ¡°What


    were you doing standing in the middle of the road? Have you lost your mind?¡±


    Thssa flinched at his roar. His intense anger was terrifying and making her heart throb.


    She steadied herself on the ground, gently pushing away the hand circling her waist and avoiding his


    intense gaze. ¡°There was no crosswalk¡­ she began. ¡°And you knew there was no crosswalk! Why did


    you cross there?¡± Lysander¡¯s voice was harsh, his eyes filled with rage.


    Had he not checked her location and rushed over, she would¡¯ve been hit by a truck and turned into


    dust!


    Thinking about it made Lysander shudder, his anger uncontroble.


    Thssa listened to Lysander¡¯s reprimand, her body cold and pale. She clenched her hands at her


    sides, and after a while, she turned back to him with teary eyes, ¡°I¡¯ve seen the ident rification


    news released by the Sinir group! You¡¯ve known about the cause of the ident due to the phone¡¯s


    quality issues, why are you only addressing it now?¡±


    After she finished, she looked at him with a mix of hope and anxiety. She hoped things weren¡¯t as they


    seemed.


    She hoped Leopold¡¯s death wasn¡¯t his fault.


    She hoped his exnation would be reasonable and understandable.


    But Lysander just looked at her using with doubtful gaze. It felt like a thorn that caused pain in the


    deepest part of his heart.


    His handsome face turned cold and her eyes were icy as he met her gaze, ¡°Are you questioning my


    business decisions?¡±


    Business decisions?


    Thssa¡¯s hope and perturbation faded away at his words.


    Her heart, which had been filled with a vague hope, suddenly felt empty and heavy.


    Yes, what excuses or reasons could he have for his actions?.


    It was all because of his business decisions!


    Because of his business decisions, he could even ignore the lives of others!


    This was Lysander, the ruthless and merciless businessman who would stop at nothing to get what he


    wanted.


    Like when he took over the Thorne group and the Brennan Group, he used the same decisive and


    ConTEent bel0ngs to N?v(e)lD/rama(.)Org .


    ruthless methods.


    Thssa lowered her gaze; her breath hitched and she felt like she was plunged into an icy pit.


    Lysander, the man who was standing in front of her, was as terrifying as a hellish devil.


    How could she stay with such a terrifying man?


    How could she leave her kids with such a horrific person?

 Chapter 855

    Chapter 855


    ¡°Stop standing there. Come with me,¡± Lysander extended his hand towards her.


    As his fingers brushed against hers, Thssa quickly pulled away, ¡°No need. I need to get back to


    work. You carry on.¡±


    Without giving him another nce, she turned and started to stride away.


    The moment she turned away, tears started to pour down her cheeks. She bit her lip hard, refusing to


    let herself cry out loud.


    Despair, heartache, desperation, suffocation¡­


    Those feelings all flooded towards her.


    The man she had hoped would lead a good life was now gone, and his death was connected to her


    kids¡¯ father.


    Thssa felt that her whole world had turned gray.


    Lysander stood there, watching her leave. His hand, which he had extended to her, now hung in the air.


    Blood trickled down his hand and dropped onto the concrete floor but he didn¡¯t notice.


    Thssa suppressed the surging pain in her heart and walked briskly, hoping to catch a cab..


    His ck Rolls-Royce slowly drove by and followed her. The window rolled down to reveal Lysander¡¯s


    deep-set face, ¡°Hop in. I¡¯ll take you to work.¡± Hearing his voice, Thssa¡¯s nerves tightened further.


    She clenched her teeth and tried to sound calm, ¡°No need, I can manage myself!¡±


    ¡°Do I need to carry you in?¡± Lysander was firm when his car came to a halt.


    Thssa stopped abruptly. Her emotions were like a raging sea, which she couldn¡¯t hold back


    anymore. She turned to Lysander. Panting heavily, she shouted, ¡°I said no, I don¡¯t need your help!


    Can¡¯t you just leave me alone?¡±


    She just wanted to be alone to calm down. She didn¡¯t want to see him right now.


    Lysander¡¯s handsome face was darker than the overcast sky. His oceanic eyes were unfathomably


    deep as they were gazing at her hysterical reaction. No one had ever dared to shout at him like this.


    The woman was getting more ill-tempered!


    He stepped out of his car, his imposing aura approached, seeping into Thssa¡¯s bones. She


    instinctively took a step back.


    Lysander grabbed her wrist and forcefully pulled her into his car; his voice was icy cold, ¡°Since when do


    you get to tell me what to do?¡±


    He shoved her into the car and followed her in. The confined space of the car was filled with a chilling


    and oppressive atmosphere, making it hard to


    breathe.


    Thssa was scared after venting her anger. She had just lost her temper in front of this devil,


    Lysander. She was sure that she wouldn¡¯t get off easily. She moved her body to the side, trying to


    distance herself from Lysander. His rough palm grabbed her chin. Those scorching and powerful


    Property ? N?velDrama.Org.


    fingers forcefully jerked her face to look at him.


    ¡°Wanna die, do you? Let me tell you, without my permission, you can¡¯t even die! Your life is mine, if I


    catch you mistreating yourself again, I will make you taste the pain of losing everything!¡±


    Lysander¡¯s eyes were bloodshot; his gaze was filled with suppressed anger. His cold words, one by


    one, brushed against her face, forcing her to acknowledge her current situation.


    Thssa¡¯s eyshes quivered, her breath hitched.


    That was his cruelty and ruthlessness.


    Even the life and death of others were under his control.


    Did he kill Leopold just to make her focus on him, to stay by his side like a puppet?


    She had told him that she and Leopold had nothing; he was just an old friend. But he still wouldn¡¯t let


    him go.


    Thssa¡¯s breath shook. Her eyes were wide with fear as she looked at Lysander. She vowed in her


    heart that she would escape this devil.


    She must!

 Chapter 856

    Chapter 856


    ¡°I get it, now let me go!¡± Thssa retorted, turning her cheek away to avoid his hand, preferring to stare


    out of the car window instead.


    Lysander huffed in response, saying nothing more. His tall frame reclined in the car seat as he


    The driver, trembling slightly, started the car and drove off at hismand.


    Throughout the journey, Thssa remained focused on the view outside the window. She was


    seemingly absorbed by the scenery but in reality, she didn¡¯t really take anything into her eyes.


    Lysander¡¯s aura was icy cold; the chillness was formed invisibly and made the atmosphere


    oppressively silent.


    Thssa sat rigidly and her breaths came out in careful and tense gasps.


    Finally, they arrived at the entrance of Crawley Electronics. As soon as the car stopped, Thssa


    practically fled, barely waiting for the door to fully open before she was out and away.


    ¡°I¡¯ll pick you up this afternoon!¡± Lysander¡¯s domineering voice echoed behind her.


    Thssa paused for a moment, her back stiffening. Without turning or responding, she walked off


    towards thepany building.


    Lysander was insisting on picking her up and intending to take her to Royal Estates. Thssa knew


    she had no chance of refusing him.


    Watching Thssa disappear into thepany building, Lysander instructed, ¡°Drive.¡±


    The driver nced at him nervously through the rear-view mirror before cautiously asking, ¡°Mr. Sinir,


    should we head to the hospital?¡±


    ¡°Why would we need to go there?¡± Lysander¡¯s tone was cold.


    ¡°Your hand¡­¡± the driver turned around to nce at the bloodied back of Lysander¡¯s hand.


    The driver had noticed Lysander¡¯s injury when he first got into the car, but with Thssa present and


    the apparent tension between them, he hadn¡¯t felt it was his ce to say anything.


    Lysander barely nced at the now dried blood staining his hand, ¡°Just drive to the office.¡±


    ¡°Very well, Mr. Sinir.¡± The driver, although still worried, knew better than to question Lysander¡¯s


    orders.


    The rest of the afternoon was a blur for Thssa. She was too preupied to focus on work.


    Leopold¡¯s death had dealt a heavy blow to her, but learning of Lysander¡¯s involvement was the icing on


    the cake.


    Her mind was a whirl of chaos and confusion. She had no idea what to do next.


    As she sat in her office and lost in thought, Hertha called.


    Thssa, you must be almost done for the day. How about I pick you up and we head to the pub for a


    bit of fun? It¡¯ll be a good chance to rx,¡± Hertha¡¯s cheerful voice rang from the other end.


    Thssa was about to decline because she recalled that Lysander said he would pick her up after


    work. She was instinctively afraid to go against his words.


    Before the rejection wasing out of her throat, she found herself replying, ¡°Alright, I¡¯m almost done


    here. You cane over now if you are free.¡± ¡°Great, I¡¯m already on my way. See you soon!¡± Hertha¡¯s


    voice was light and carefree as she ended the call.


    Thssa began packing up her things, preparing to leave for the day.


    Suddenly, her phone rang. She looked down to see Lysander¡¯s name shing on the screen. A wave of


    pressure hit her instantly.


    It was just a phone call, but it felt as though Lysander was right there in front of her with his intimidating


    presence.


    Thssa¡¯s heart tightened as she stared at the phone, hesitating to pick it up. But finally, she had to


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    answer.


    ¡°How much longer?¡± came Lysander¡¯s deep voice from the other end.


    Was heing to pick her up already?

 Chapter 857

    Chapter 857


    Thssa drew in a deep breath, gritted her teeth and said, ¡°I¡¯ve made ns to meet Hertha at the pub,


    so I won¡¯t be heading to Royal Estates with you.¡±


    Even though it was Lysander who¡¯d invited her initially, she just wanted to stand him up. After all, she


    hadn¡¯t promised him anything, let alone to go with him to Royal Estates after work.


    She had her own life, and it wasn¡¯t like she would do everything the way he wanted!


    As soon as Thssa finished her words, she could feel the tension oozing from the other end of the


    phone. Even through the screen, Lysander¡¯s displeasure was palpable. Thssa held her breath,


    readying herself for his wrath and preparing for a fight back.


    ¡°Alright,¡± Lysander finally responded after a pause, then hung up abruptly.


    Thssa tossed her phone onto the seat beside her, nced at the entrance of the Crawley Group,


    steered the wheel, and drove off.


    Thssa had been bracing for Lysander¡¯s fury. She had even prepared a few rebuttals in her mind,


    ready to strike back.


    But to her surprise, all she got was a resigned ¡®alright¡¯ before he ended the call.


    He wasn¡¯t angry at all.


    This unexpected turn of events left Thssa feeling perplexed.


    With the call ended, Thssa¡¯s rigid shoulders rxed, and she let out a sigh of relief.


    In a short while, Hertha arrived, and Thssa hopped into her car.


    Hertha held the steering wheel with both hands, her gaze fixed on the road ahead, ncing at


    Thssa beside her from time to time..


    ¡°Did Lysander give you a hard time after we left the beach yesterday?¡± Hertha asked, concerncing


    her voice.


    Thssa shook her head. ¡°No.¡±


    ¡°Oh, good.¡± Hertha exhaled, ¡°Let¡¯s get something to eat first. The pub isn¡¯t open yet. What would you


    ConTEent bel0ngs to N?v(e)lD/rama(.)Org .


    like to eat?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll eat whatever you order,¡± Thssa replied, not really in the mood.


    She didn¡¯t have an appetite and wasn¡¯t feeling up to eating. Amodating her preferences would just


    be a waste.


    ¡°Are you okay? You seem a bit off today.¡± Hertha asked with concern.


    She had been friends with Thssa for years and could read her like an open book. If Thssa was


    upset, she would know right away.


    ¡°I¡¯m fine, Thssa replied.


    Hertha responded, ¡°Thssa, don¡¯t dwell on it. Leopold¡¯s gone, and he would want you to be happy. If


    you¡¯re always down, he would be worried, wouldn¡¯t he? Cheer up, you still have four kids who need a


    happy mom.¡±¡±


    Listening to Hertha¡¯s words, Thssa felt a lump in her throat and tears welled up in her eyes. She


    didn¡¯t know how to respond.


    ¡°Alright, let¡¯s not talk about him anymore. Let¡¯s go-get something to eat. I¡¯m starving,¡± Hertha


    suggested, changing the subject.


    ¡°Sure, Thssa held back her tears and nodded in response.


    During peak hours, the mall was bustling with people going about their business.


    Hertha and Thssa arrived at the Radiant Barbecue Shop on the third floor, where a waiter showed


    them to a window-side seat and handed them the


    menu.


    As Hertha was browsing the menu, a woman¡¯s angry voice came from the next table.


    ¡°You¡¯re such a jerk! You¡¯re on a date with me, and you¡¯re texting other women. I¡¯m so disappointed in


    you!¡±


    Hertha and Thssa turned to see a woman standing, picking up a cup of water, and sshing it all


    over the man in front of her.


    ¡°Wow!¡± Hertha gawked, intrigued by the drama unfolding before her.


    The man closed his eyes as the tea sshed over his face. After a moment, he wiped his face, opened


    his enchanting eyes, and stared at the woman. ¡°Can¡¯t you handle a little fun?¡±

 Chapter 858

    Chapter 858


    His jesting tone, the mboyant allure of his looks, the devilishly captivating charm, and that


    provocative lift of his eyebrows¡­


    Everything was oh-so familiar.


    Damn it!


    It was ric Falconer!


    Upon recognizing the drenched man, Hertha¡¯s eyes widened in shock.


    There he was, out and about, flirting with multiple women at the same time.


    How toxic!


    He deserved that ssh.


    The woman was pretty, dressed up like a doll from aic book. When ric asked her if she can¡¯t


    handle a little fun, she pouted at him, ming him for his actions. ¡°Mr. Falconer, you said you only


    loved me. Why are you chatting up other women while we are on a date?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ve told many women that I only love them. I warned you about this beforehand. If you can¡¯t handle it,


    then don¡¯t waste our time. You didn¡¯t mind then, but now you¡¯re making a fuss. What¡¯s your game? I


    have plenty of women waiting in line, you know,¡± ric said casually, wiping his face dry with a napkin.


    He didn¡¯t care about her feelings.


    Stifling her anger, the woman managed to suppress her initial impulse to storm away. Instead, she


    forced a smile and snuggled up to ric. ¡°Mr. Falconer, I¡¯m sorry. I was just too impatient because I


    love you too much. There¡¯s still water on your face. Let me lick it dry for you.¡± She moved closer,


    intending to lick the water off his face.


    ¡°Good heavens, what an eyesore.¡± Noticing this, Hertha shivered, and felt goosebumps all over.


    ric raised an eyebrow and saw Hertha at the adjacent table. Just as the woman was about to lick his


    face, he pushed her away. ¡°You can leave now. You¡¯ve lost even the right to wait in line.¡±


    The woman stumbled but managed to steady herself. ¡°Mr. Falconer, please don¡¯t. I¡¯ve learned my


    lesson, so give me another chance.¡±


    ric gave her a cold look. ¡°Leave. Don¡¯t make me repeat myself.¡±


    Scared by his sudden harshness, she hesitated before finally leaving, heartbroken.


    ric cleaned his hands and walked over to Hertha and Thssa¡¯s table. His lips curled up into a


    teasing smile. ¡°What a coincidence, Hertha, Did you find out about my whereabouts and follow me here


    again?¡±


    Hertha did a lot of this sort of thing to pursue ric, getting ric¡¯s whereabouts in advance and then


    bringing Thssa along for a chance encounter with ric.


    Hertha rolled her eyes. ¡°You¡¯re too narcissistic. We¡¯re just here for a meal. If we knew we would witness


    such a nauseating scene, we wouldn¡¯t have


    ric took a seat next to them, his smile never-fading. ¡°What did you see?¡±


    ¡°I saw¡­¡± Hertha was about to reply when she noticed the knowing look in ric¡¯s eyes. She realized


    he was baiting her into admitting she had seen him with another woman. He was trying to make her


    jealous, wasn¡¯t he?


    Well, she wouldn¡¯t give him the satisfaction.


    Hertha quickly changed her tone and replied with a grin, ¡°A puppy drooling over a dog in public, a sight


    so appalling it makes everyone¡¯s stomach churn.¡±


    ConTEent bel0ngs to N?v(e)lD/rama(.)Org .


    ric¡¯s smile froze.


    Did she just call him a dog?


    ¡°Hertha, watch yournguage,¡± ric warned.

 Chapter 859

    Chapter 859


    ¡°I only stated the fact, didn¡¯t I?¡± Hertha retorted, chin held high, with an air of righteousness.


    ric was taken aback. The women who were smitten with him, hoping to win him over, would always


    back off at his slightest show of disinterest. They¡¯d either try to tter him or give him up with a


    heartache.


    No one ever dared to give him a hard time.


    Hertha, who was no different from the other women chasing after him, was somehow an exception.


    She had the audacity to serve him a taste of his own


    medicine.


    With an amused smirk, ric nodded at Hertha¡¯s defiant demeanor, deciding not to stoop to her level.


    His gaze shifted to Thssa. ¡°Thssa, why didn¡¯t youe with Lysander today?¡±


    As Thssa put down her ss of water, ready to answer, Hertha spoke up on her behalf.


    ¡°Can¡¯t you see? She¡¯s on a date with me. Why bring up someone else?¡± Hertha¡¯s tone was spicy with


    ConTEent bel0ngs to N?v(e)lD/rama(.)Org .


    ric.


    ¡°Hertha, can you keep your mouth shut when I¡¯m not talking to you?¡± ric shot back, his captivating


    eyes shing with annoyance as they met hers.


    ¡°My mouth is made for talking and eating. I¡¯m here to eat, so I can¡¯t possibly keep it shut,¡± Hertha


    countered.


    ric, who had managed to keep his smile until now, couldn¡¯t hold it any longer. Gritting his teeth, he


    acknowledged defeat, ¡°Alright, you¡¯ve got guts. I won¡¯t disturb you anymore.¡±


    As he stood up to leave, Hertha added sarcastically, ¡°I¡¯m not the one sowing wild oats everywhere.


    That¡¯s you.¡±


    She then poured water into her and Thssa¡¯s cups, as if nothing had happened.


    ric froze in his tracks, his teeth gritted in anger. Once upon a time, she was all doe-eyed whenever


    she saw him. Now, she was all fire and brimstone, with every word a jab at him.


    Was this a case of resentment born out of unrequited love?


    ¡°One day, Hertha, I will make you cry,¡± ric threw down the gauntlet before storming off.


    ¡°Bring it on. I¡¯ll be waiting. If you can¡¯t make me cry, then you¡¯re not a real man!¡± Hertha retorted


    defiantly, watching his retreating figure.


    ric didn¡¯t respond and walked out of the diner.


    Thssa, who was drinking water, almost choked on Hertha¡¯s words. She quickly swallowed the water


    and wiped her mouth, looking shocked at Hertha. ¡°Is it really okay for you two to be having this kind of


    conversation in public?¡±


    ¡°Where¡¯s the harm? We didn¡¯t say anything inappropriate. I was just telling ric that if he can¡¯t handle


    it, he¡¯s not a real man,¡± Hertha said, looking genuinely innocent.


    Thssa felt embarrassed.


    Perhaps she was overthinking.


    Noticing the amused nces from the surrounding people, Thssa blushed and whispered to Hertha,


    ¡°Enough, let¡¯s just order our food.¡±


    Seeing that people were staring, Hertha decided to stop and focus on the menu.


    As they continued their meal, Thssa¡¯s phone rang with a message. It was from Lysander.


    [Finished eating yet?]

 Chapter 860

    Chapter 860


    Seeing those words, Thssa¡¯s spine tensed up instinctively.


    It was as if an invisible pair of eyes were watching her, sending chills down her spine.


    Thssa subconsciously looked back through the window towards the bustling street outside the


    restaurant. She couldn¡¯t spot Lysander anywhere.


    He hadn¡¯t shown up, but he knew she was dining with Hertha.


    Her every move seemed to be under his watchful eye.


    This feeling of constant surveince made Thssa ufortable, and even her meal didn¡¯t taste


    right.


    ¡°Thssa, what are you looking at?¡± Hertha suddenly asked.


    Thssa shook her head lightly. ¡°Nothing.¡±


    She held her fork, her eyebrows furrowed. Watching Hertha enjoying her meal, she chose to say


    nothing.


    Lysander was a dangerous man. Anyone who got involved with him ended up in trouble. Especially


    those rted to her. If they unintentionally upset Lysander, their fate wouldn¡¯t be good.


    Thssa was now very worried about Hertha, her best friend. She shared everything with Hertha. The


    more Hertha knew, the more dangerous it was for


    her.


    So from now on, she decided not to tell Hertha anything about her and Lysander, to avoid causing her


    unnecessary trouble.


    With that thought, Thssa picked up her phone and replied to Lysander¡¯s message.


    [Just started eating, won¡¯t be done that soon. I won¡¯t be going back to Royal Estates today. You don¡¯t


    need to pick me up.]


    After sending the message, she put her phone screen down on the table, to avoid seeing any new


    messages from Lysander.


    She picked up her fork again and continued eating, faster and more vigorously. The more upset she


    was, the better she had to take care of herself.


    If she fell apart, the ones to suffer would be those around her. Protecting herself meant protecting


    them.


    ¡°Thssa, you finally have an appetite! Eat a little more.¡± Hertha lifted her spirits seeing Thssa


    eating more heartily.


    She put more food on Thssa¡¯s te, urging her to eat.


    ¡°Alright, you too.¡± Thssa managed a slight smile and put food on Hertha¡¯s te as well.


    ¡°That¡¯s more like it. We need to be full to deal with everything else.¡± Hertha¡¯s radiant smile lit up seeing


    Thssa eating with gusto. It made her happier than anything.


    Thssa responded with a smile.


    Having not eaten properly for several days, Thssa was indeed hungry. Once her appetite was back,


    she ate a lot.


    In no time, the tes were almost empty.


    ¡°Shall we order more?¡± Hertha asked.


    ¡°I¡¯m full, but you order whatever you like,¡± Thssa said, grabbing a napkin to wipe her mouth.


    ¡°Oh, I¡¯m full too.¡± Hertha replied, ¡°I thought you weren¡¯t done. Let¡¯s not order anything else to avoid


    waste. I¡¯ll go pay the bill, you wait here for a moment.¡±


    Hertha headed to the counter.


    When she came back, she and Thssa left the restaurant. As they stood on the esctor, a


    People hurriedly made way, panicking.


    A man dressed in ck entered the mall, followed by a few bodyguards. Their powerful presence


    Content rights belong to N?velDrama.Org.


    seemed invasive instantly turning the lively mall into an atmosphere filled with tension and caution.


    Thssa looked towards the entrance, her gaze meeting those icy cold eyes. Her heart missed a beat,


    and she blinked in surprise.


    Lysander had shown up after all!

 Chapter 861

    Chapter 861


    ¡°Holy cow, your man is here.¡± Hertha felt the powerful aura too, gripping Thssa¡¯s arm tightly,


    whispering in awe.


    Thssa said nothing, standing her ground, her eyes filled with apprehension as she watched


    ConTEent bel0ngs to N?v(e)lD/rama(.)Org .


    Lysander approach.


    ¡°You didn¡¯t call him yesterday, yet he knew you were at the beach. I didn¡¯t see you call him today either,


    yet he¡¯s found you again. How? Hertha pressed herself against Thssa nervously, whispering in her


    ear.


    She was genuinely curious.


    IG I F


    How could one person know so much?


    Thssa said nothing, ncing down at the ne she wore.


    Hertha picked up on her subtle movement, and followed her gaze, spotting the cloud pendant ne


    hanging from her neck.


    This ne was the same one she had seen before with Thssa, the one emitting a glow from the


    pendant that contained a tracking device.


    Hertha suddenly understood.


    No wonder Lysander knew Thssa¡¯s every move. He had her under hisplete control!


    It was terrifying. There was no privacy whatsoever.


    ¡°Are you noting over?¡± Lysander¡¯s voice, low and icy, rang out.


    Thssa¡¯s pupils flickered, her hands clenched at her sides. She wanted to refuse him, but with Hertha


    there, she couldn¡¯t risk Lysander¡¯s anger spilling onto her.


    She pulled her arm from Hertha¡¯s grip and walked towards Lysander.


    ¡°Thssa¡­¡± Hertha called out in worry.


    Thssa turned back, reassuring her, ¡°Hertha, it¡¯ste. You should go rest. The bar district is too


    dangerous. Let¡¯s not go there anymore.¡± Her words, of course, were for Lysander¡¯s ears, to let him


    know she wouldn¡¯t be going to the bar again.


    ¡°Alright, you should rest too. Call me if you want to go shopping.¡± Hertha said.


    ¡°Okay,¡± Thssa replied, turning back and walking to Lysander.


    Lysander grabbed her hand and led her away from the mall, his actions decisive and indisputable.


    After helping Thssa into the car, he got in himself.


    The driver drove away, and the car smoothly navigated the asphalt road.


    Lysander¡¯s presence was overwhelming and icy, stifling the air around them. Thssa kept her gaze


    fixed on the window, while Lysander¡¯s deep eyes remained on her, icy and prating, sending chills


    down her spine.


    She appeared calm, but her heart was pounding with anxiety.


    ¡°Avoiding me, are you?¡± Lysander turned her face towards him, his rough palm exuding a powerful


    masculinity.


    Forced to confront his stern, cold face, Thssa¡¯s pupils flickered, knowing this, was not the time to


    provoke him.


    She said, ¡°No.¡±


    ¡°Really?¡± Lysander¡¯s thumb gently brushed her delicate chin.


    Thssa felt the imminent danger, like she was a prey being licked by a lion in the jungle.


    She held her breath, her heartbeat slowing down, not daring to make a sound, fearing to anger him and


    reveal his wild nature.


    He has done things to her in the car before.


    For a man like Lysander, no ce could deter him from his prey.


    ¡°You imed not to go to Royal Estates, and not wanting to see the kids anymore, didn¡¯t you?¡±


    Lysander¡¯s icy and imposing presence loomed over Thssa, searing and perilous.


    Thssa¡¯s pupils contracted, her heart thumped. She grabbed Lysander¡¯s hand that was holding her


    chin. ¡°No, how could I not want to see the kids? I just haven¡¯t hung out with Hertha in a while and


    wanted to catch up today. You shouldn¡¯t overthink things.¡±

 Chapter 862

    Chapter 862


    Lysander fixed his intense gaze on her, a chilling aura surrounding him.


    Thssa felt a knot of dread in her stomach under his prating and inky stare.


    Ever since she discovered that Leopold¡¯s death was linked to Lysander, she¡¯d been desperate to


    escape from him, always ready for a fight.


    But after having a meal with Hertha today, she realized she couldn¡¯t rashly confront Lysander. Angering


    him would bring misfortune to those around her.


    Not only did she need to escape from Lysander, but she also had to take the kids with her. Lysander


    was too sharp; he would surely see through her intentions. So, she had to devise a long-term n.


    She couldn¡¯t let Lysander see through her thoughts.


    ¡°Don¡¯t you trust me?¡± She asked, her heart pounding under Lysander¡¯s deep and inscrutable gaze even


    before he could voice his doubts. ¡°No, I don¡¯t trust you!¡± Lysander admitted bluntly, his piercing gaze


    locked on her, not missing a single change in her expression. ¡°Wandering aimlessly on the streets,


    nearly getting hit by a car without even realizing. Your temper suddenly ring, refusing to return to the


    Royal Estates. With all these unusual behaviors, and you tell me it¡¯s just because you want to catch up


    with Hertha?¡±


    Lysander¡¯s grip on her chin loosened slightly, but he didn¡¯t let go.


    He knew she was deeply affected by Leopold¡¯s death, but she had only been out of sorts for the past


    few days, not rebellious like today. ¡°You¡¯re right, I don¡¯t want to go back to the Royal Estates. I don¡¯t


    want to go back to you! I want to get away from you! I want nothing to do with you! But I don¡¯t want to


    lose the kids. I love them, and I want to give them aplete childhood, so I have to put up with being


    around you!¡±


    Thssa bit her lip, her breathing rapid and her voice emotional as she spoke her mind under his


    intimidating gaze.


    She knew she couldn¡¯t hide from him, so she might as well tell him!


    That way, he wouldn¡¯t be suspicious.


    Lysander was taken aback, his deep gaze dark and gloomy as he stared at her.


    She wanted to get away from him, have nothing to do with him?


    Being around him was apromise?


    Now that Leopold was dead, she couldn¡¯t even pretend to have feelings for him, could she?


    Lysander¡¯s face was as cold as an impending storm, his eyes sharp and icy, his emotions suppressed,


    making his breath heavy and harsh. ¡°If you likepromising so much, thenpromise for the rest of


    your life!¡±


    In other words, he wouldn¡¯t let her leave!


    Even if it meantpromising, she had to stay by his side!


    As Lysander finished his words, he released Thssa¡¯s chin, his gaze as icy as frost as he looked out


    the window.


    Thssa¡¯s heart clenched, her breath hitching. She understood Lysander¡¯s words. She had told him


    ConTEent bel0ngs to N?v(e)lD/rama(.)Org .


    bluntly that she wanted to leave him, partly to prevent him from suspecting her determination.


    On the other hand, she wanted to test his reaction.


    What if he was willing to let her go?


    But the result left her feeling desperate and suffocated.


    He wouldn¡¯t let her leave. Even if it meant a life ofpromise, she had to stay by his side.


    Thssa truly didn¡¯t understand why Lysander was so insistent on her staying by his side. He wouldn¡¯t


    marry her. Instead, he just wanted her to be his woman!


    Was his possessiveness really that strong?


    Couldn¡¯t he just let her go and find another woman?

 Chapter 863

    Chapter 863


    Thssa closed her eyes bitterly.


    She had just been about to ask Lysander about this unexpected change, but one look at his icy profile,


    who was staring nkly out of the car window, made the words die in her throat.


    Before long, the car stopped. $sa¡¯s surprise, they weren¡¯t at the Royal Estates, but rather at the Vibrant


    Oasis Residences.


    Stepping out of the car, she barely had time to close the door before the car sped off, not lingering for


    Property ? N?velDrama.Org.


    even a moment. It was as if Lysander couldn¡¯t bear to see her for a second longer.


    Thssa watched the sleek ck Rolls Royce disappear into the distance before turning to head into


    the building.


    The apartment was pitch ck. She flicked on a switch, and the room was suddenly illuminated by a


    dazzling white light.


    Evelyn, seated on the couch, blinked and shielded her eyes from the sudden brightness.


    ¡°Mom, you¡¯re home. Why didn¡¯t you have any lights on?¡± Thssa asked, surprised.


    Evelyn shook her head, her eyes flitting back and forth between Thssa and the empty space behind


    her. ¡°Why should I keep the lights on when I¡¯m here all alone? That¡¯s just a waste of electricity.¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t say that, Mom. Humans invented light bulbs to use them, not to save them,¡± Thssa said,


    setting her bag down by the door.


    ¡°Why did you suddenly decide toe home today? You haven¡¯t been around for days,¡± Evelyn said,


    her face pale and her spirits clearly low. Thssa could tell something was wrong.


    ¡°Mom, what¡¯s going on? Are you feeling lonely here all by yourself?¡± Thssa asked, concern coloring


    her voice.


    Evelyn let out a weary sigh. ¡°I used to be so busy taking care of my four little grandkids, rushing them


    off to school and then waiting eagerly for them toe home. Now, it doesn¡¯t matter whether I wake up


    or not. There¡¯s nothing to look forward to.¡±


    Life used to be so lively, but suddenly it was quiet, and Evelyn feltpletely empty, finding it hard to


    adjust. Now she spent the whole day sitting on the couch, lost in thought. She used toin about


    the exhaustion of taking care of the children, but now that she didn¡¯t have them around, it was as if


    she¡¯d lost her whole world, feeling utterly empty.


    Thssa hugged her mother, resting her head on her shoulder. ¡°Mom, I understand what you¡¯re going


    through. But don¡¯t worry, we¡¯ll get back to normal soon. If you¡¯re really feeling lonely, you could go visit


    Auntie.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m not going anywhere. If I leave, I¡¯ll lose all chances of seeing my grandkids. At least I still have a


    chance if I stay here,¡± Evelyn said, her voice filled with determination.


    ¡°I¡¯ve been trying to find a job these past few days, but no one seems to want me. I don¡¯t know where


    I¡¯ve gone wrong,¡± Evelyn confessed, a helpless expression on her face.


    ¡°Mom, it¡¯s okay if you don¡¯t have a job. You could join a dance ss, or go for walks. I¡¯ll try toe


    home more often to keep youpany,¡± Thssa said, hugging her mother like a child, just like


    Elowen used to do.


    ¡°Focus on your work and your kids. Don¡¯t worry about me. If you don¡¯t spend time with them, they might


    forget about us,¡± Evelyn said, her mind always on her beloved grandkids.


    ¡°They won¡¯t forget us, Mom,¡± Thssa said, not willing to ept the possibility.


    ¡°They¡¯re little, Thssa. Whoever spends the most time with them will win their affections. It wouldn¡¯t


    be surprising if they forgot their own mother after a while,¡± Evelyn said.


    ¡°And don¡¯t be so stubborn. Try to win Lysander over. It¡¯ll be better for you and the kids. You know how


    men are. Once you¡¯ve won their hearts, they¡¯re yours,¡± Evelyn advised Thssa.

 Chapter 864

    Chapter 864


    Thssa didn¡¯t respond to Evelyn¡¯s words. She just clung to her.


    ¡°Are you even listening to me?¡± Evelyn pushed her back to an upright position, her face twisted in


    frustration.


    Evelyn was truly desperate. Her own daughter had given birth to four children for Lysander, and in the


    end, she had not even received a proper title or recognition, let alone the possibility of losing her


    children.


    No one could ept such a fate.


    ¡°Yes¡­¡± Thssa replied.


    Evelyn¡¯s words also gave Thssa a hint. If she wanted to break free from Lysander¡¯s control and


    leave with her children, she had to win his trust first.


    ,


    Only then would she have a chance to do what she needed to do.


    At night, Lysander slept alone in the master bedroom. The thought of Thssa wanting to leave him, to


    cut all ties, was like a thread, tightly wrapped around his nerves.


    His mood was gloomy and cold.


    Finally, he fell asleep, only to be haunted by nightmares.


    He was a child again, on the night before his father¡¯s ident.


    His parents had a zing argument, his mother smashing all the porcin she could find, leaving a


    mess all over the floor.


    Eight-year-old Lysander stood in a corner of the room, witnessing his parents argue intensely, their


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    voices shing like thunder and lightning.


    Their voices filled the house.


    They were supposed to be a loving couple, but they looked more like sworn enemies, their faces


    twisted in anger. The scene cast a huge shadow on young Lysander¡¯s heart.


    His home was never warm. All his memories were tinged with gray.


    After their fight, his mother stormed out, mming the door behind her. His father noticed him in the


    corner, squatted in front of him, hisrge hand resting on his shoulder and said in a broken voice,


    ¡°Lysander, remember, never marry a woman who doesn¡¯t love you, or you¡¯ll end up like me¡­¡±


    His father¡¯s eyes were filled with sadness and bitterness.


    At that time, Lysander didn¡¯t understand what his father meant by ¡°ending up like me¡±.


    Until the next day, when his parents both died in a car ident.


    His mother, in her attempt to elope with another man, had driven away recklessly despite his father¡¯s


    pleas. His father had chased after her, desperate to bring her back.


    But not only did he not bring her back, he also lost his life in a tragic car ident.


    Lysander could never forget the image of his father, whose face covered in blood, being rushed into the


    operating room, only for the doctor to dere him dead after a futile attempt to save him.


    Only then did Lysander understand what his father meant by ¡°ending up like me¡±.


    That end was too tragic.


    In the middle of the night, Lysander suddenly opened his eyes. The initial moment of pain and fear was


    quickly reced by coldness and aloofness.


    He sat up, rubbing his forehead with his hand.


    These days, Thssa kept to a normal work routine, returning to her apartment in Vibrant Oasis


    Residences after work.


    For four days, Lysander didn¡¯t contact her, and she didn¡¯t message him either.


    In these four days, her world was quiet, as if Lysander didn¡¯t exist.


    But the children were also quiet. There was no news from them at all.


    Four days without seeing her children, Thssa felt a void in her heart, she missed them terribly.


    She didn¡¯t know what they were doing now, whether they were eating well, sleeping wall, or if they were


    missing her¡­

 Chapter 865

    Chapter 865


    The thought of what Evelyn had said that day, that the kids might forget her if they didn¡¯t see her for a


    long time, sent a cold shiver down Thssa¡¯s spine.


    Ever since she had her four adorable munchkins, Thssa had given them all her love. They were her


    motivation to keep going no matter how tough things got, her soothing balm in the fatigue of life.


    Whenever she felt lost, just the thought of her little ones filled Thssa¡¯s heart with warmth.


    How could her beloved little ones, who she loved with all her strength, ever forget her?


    Sitting in her office chair, feeling drained, Thssa took out her phone, opened her photo album, and


    looked at pictures of her children. Their happy, yful smiles recharged her weary heart.


    Ever since she told Lysander that she wanted to leave him and wanted to break all ties with him, he


    had disappeared. It seemed like he deliberately kept her and the children apart.


    She didn¡¯t even get to see them at the school gate.


    Thssa couldn¡¯t understand what Lysander was up to.


    He had told her topromise for a lifetime. Yet, he sent her back to Vibrant Oasis Residences.


    Thssa couldn¡¯t figure out what was going on in his mind, and she didn¡¯t dare to cross him.


    These past few days, Thssa didn¡¯t have the courage to contact Lysander.


    ¡°Thssa, get ready. You¡¯reing with me to a charity dinner tonight,¡± Ethan walked into her office to


    inform Thssa.


    Thssa quickly put away her phone, looked at Ethan, and asked, ¡°What charity dinner?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s a fundraising event hosted by the Sinir Group. I received an invitation,¡± Ethan replied.


    The Sinir Group¡¯s fundraising event¡­.


    Thssa hesitated, paused for a moment, then said, ¡°Mr. Ethan, could possibly not go?¡±


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    Ethan looked surprised. He smiled at her and said, ¡°This is a golden opportunity. You can meet many


    businessmen at the dinner. Most people would kill for this chance, and you don¡¯t want to go?¡±


    Thssa knew that this was a social gathering of the upper ss, where she could meet a lot of people


    and expand herwork. It was the best ce for business people to make deals.


    But the event was hosted by the Sinir Group, and many members of the Sinir family would be


    there. Zephyr didn¡¯t like her, and Lysander was ambiguous towards her.


    She wasn¡¯t sure how to face Lysander yet, so she didn¡¯t really want to go.


    ¡°I don¡¯t have formal wear for such an upscale ce. I¡¯d better not go,¡± Thssa found an excuse


    without revealing her true thoughts.


    ¡°You don¡¯t have to worry about the dress. I¡¯ll arrange it for you. You can¡¯t refuse this time because


    you¡¯re going as my secretary. You¡¯ll need to take notes on potential business partners for me,¡± Ethan


    blocked Thssa¡¯s excuse, leaving her no chance to refuse.


    Just as Thssa was about to say something else, Ethan had already left the office. It seemed like she


    had no choice but to go.


    At half past eight in the evening.


    Thssa, dressed in the haute couture gown Ethan had arranged for her, apanied him to the


    Sinir Winery.


    The winery was on a hilltop, the winding road leading up to it illuminated with dazzling neon lights,


    revealing a magnificent and luxurious scene.


    The winery stood there like a castle on the hilltop, showcasing the Sinir family¡¯s luxury and wealth.


    After getting out of the car, Thssa followed Ethan to the entrance of the banquet..


    There were doormen at the entrance checking the invitations.


    Ethan handed his invitation to the doorman, who respectfully let him in. When he saw Thssa, he


    stopped her. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Miss, but you need an invitation to enter.¡±


    They had to record everyone who entered the banquet in the guestbook.


    Thssa paused and looked at Ethan. She was about to say that she might as well leave.


    Ethan smiled and said to the doorman, ¡°She¡¯s my secretary. You can just record her as my date.¡±


    ¡°Ethan, your date is really beautiful!¡± A refined voice suddenly rang out.

 Chapter 866

    Chapter 866


    Thssa turned towards the source of the sound and saw a tall, well-built man with neat short hair,


    wearing a fashionable off-white shirt, navy blue trousers, and stylish leather shoes.


    His eyes were framed by brows that naturally arched into a smile, giving him a genteel and handsome


    look. He seemed approachable. He approached Thssa, his gaze briefly sweeping over her before


    settling on Ethan.


    ¡°Callum Gordon! It¡¯s a rare sight to see you here! Weren¡¯t you always abroad? When did you get


    back?¡± Ethan¡¯s eyes lit up at the sight of the man. He walked up to him and exchanged a casual high-


    five and shoulder bump.


    It was clear that they had a close rtionship.


    ¡°I got back yesterday, and I¡¯m not leaving again. I¡¯m nning to settle down here.¡± Callum replied with


    a smile. After exchanging pleasantries with Ethan, his gaze shifted to Thssa. With a teasing smile,


    he asked, ¡°Look at you, all in love. Aren¡¯t you going to introduce us?¡±


    Realizing Callum was referring to Thssa, Ethan looked a bit startled. A hint of trepidation shed in


    his eyes before he quickly rified, ¡°You¡¯ve got it wrong. She¡¯s not my girlfriend. She¡¯s my secretary,


    Thssa Everhart. Thssa, this is Callum Gordon, the eldest son of the prestigious Gordon family.¡±


    While exining, Ethan introduced both parties to each other.


    He wouldn¡¯t dare to take advantage of Thssa. She was Lysander¡¯s woman. If Lysander found out


    that someone mistook Thssa as Ethan¡¯s girlfriend, Ethan would be in deep trouble. He wouldn¡¯t dare


    to joke about Lysander¡¯s woman.


    ¡°Oh, Thssa?¡± Callum looked at Thssa differently upon hearing her name. His previously teasing


    expression became more serious. ¡°Nice to meet you, Mr. Gordon. I¡¯m Thssa, Mr. Ethan¡¯s secretary.¡±


    Thssa greeted Callum with a polite nod.


    When she looked at Callum, she noticed his gaze on her. His sophisticated eyes held a deep intensity


    that caught Thssa off guard. ¡°Nice to meet you too, Thssa. Like Ethan, you can just call me


    Callum.¡± Callum regained hisposure, the seriousness in his eyes disappearing, reced by a


    warm smile.


    After a brief introduction, Callum handed his invitation to the doorman and they entered the banquet


    hall together.


    The banquet was filled with socialites and influential figures. Everyone carried themselves with


    elegance and decorum.


    Amelia and Payton were busy entertaining guests, while Zephyr was seated at the head of the banquet


    hall, conversing with some respected elders.


    However, Lysander was nowhere in sight. Perhaps he hadn¡¯t arrived yet.


    Thssa scanned the room and felt a sense of relief when she didn¡¯t spot Lysander, but at the same


    ConTEent bel0ngs to N?v(e)lD/rama(.)Org .


    time, she also felt a tinge of disappointment. However, she quickly dismissed this feeling of loss.


    ¡°Ethan, there you are! Please,e this way.¡± Amelia greeted them warmly, gesturing for them to


    follow her.


    Upon noticing Thssa, Amelia¡¯s smile faltered slightly. She gave Thssa a cold, disdainful look


    before quickly masking it with a polite smile.


    Thssa felt a knot in her stomach under Amelia¡¯s icy gaze. She lowered her eyes and kept quiet.


    ¡°Thank you for your warm hospitality, Mrs. Sinir. You don¡¯t have to worry, about us.¡± Ethan


    responded politely.


    Amelia simply nodded and moved on to entertain other guests.


    Thssa knew she wasn¡¯t wee here. Amelia¡¯s cold gaze had made her feel ufortable.


    ¡®Mr. Ethan, I need to use the restroom.¡± Thssa excused herself.


    ¡°Sure, go ahead. And when youe back, make sure to eat something. You look a bit pale.¡± Ethan


    suggested.


    They hadn¡¯t had dinner beforeing to the banquet, and Ethan thought Thssa might be feeling


    hungry.

 Chapter 867

    Chapter 867


    Thssa lowered her head in silence, making her way towards the restroom.


    Just as she rounded the corner, a woman stepped out, bumping into her shoulder.


    ¡°Watch where you¡¯re going!¡± The woman shrieked, her tone filled with aggression.


    ¡°Actually, you bumped into me¡­¡± Thssa responded, her voice level and factual.


    The woman had already been exiting the restroom as Thssa was entering, so logically speaking, it


    was the woman who had bumped into Thssa. Yet, she had the audacity to y the victim!


    It wasn¡¯t Thssa¡¯s fault, so she had no reason to apologize!


    With a cold gaze, she lifted her head, ready to reason with the woman in front of her.


    Property ? N?velDrama.Org.


    Upon seeing the woman¡¯s face, Thssa paused.


    It was Bruce¡¯s daughter, Susan!


    She was dressed in a regal purple evening gown with a V¨Cneck design that entuated her figure,


    emphasizing her slender


    waistline.


    Her hair was swept up, revealing her delicate neck. Her makeup was meticulously done. It was clear


    she had put great effort into her appearance.


    Why was Susan here?


    ¡°Thssa, it¡¯s you!¡± Susan¡¯s gaze swept over her, her tone haughty.


    Thssa was dressed in a simple white evening gown, her face was lightly made up, yet her bright


    eyes and radiant smile gave off an innocent yet alluring aura.


    In contrast to Susan¡¯s borate get up, Thssa seemed even more radiant!


    A wave of jealousy surged in Susan¡¯s heart, but she remembered she was here for the party, not to


    pick a fight with Thssa.


    Not to mention, now was not the time to be enemies with Thssa.


    Feigning surprise, Susan¡¯s angry expression quickly turned into a smile. She softened her tone, ¡°I¡¯m


    sorry. I thought it was someone else, so I was a bit harsh. Don¡¯t take it to heart, okay? You¡¯re right, I


    bumped into you. My apologies.¡±


    Thssa didn¡¯t want to deal with her, so she gave Susan a brief nce before making her way into the


    restroom.


    Susan shot a venomous re at Thssa¡¯s retreating figure before making her way out in her high


    heels.


    Thssa had initiallye to the restroom to calm herself down. She washed her hands and lightly


    patted her cheeks in front of the mirror, trying to perk herself up.


    She was at the charity dinner for work, to help Ethan keep track of possible businessmen partners. She


    had to avoid overthinking. After gathering her thoughts, Thssa made her way back to the banquet.


    Ethan was engaged in conversation with a few businessmen, and it didn¡¯t seem like he needed her


    assistance, so Thssa grabbed a te and headed towards the buffet to get some desserts, nning


    to find a quiet corner to indulge herself.


    But then she caught sight of a scene happening across the room.


    Susan was cozied up to Charlotte, showering her with ttery.


    Ms. Ravensong your dress is stunning. A top designer brand, no doubt. You are definitely the star of


    the party.¡±


    Absolutely, this dress cost me a for¨Ccharlotte responded, not the least bit modest. She even lifted her


    ss, deliberately


    revealing the bracelet on her wrist.


    ¡°Wow, your bracelet is beautiful. It must have a significant meaning, right? Susan¡¯s eyes were


    gleaming as she continued to tter Charlotte,


    ¡°You have a keen eye. This bracelet is a treasured heirloom passed down to the daughters¨Cinw of


    the Sinir family. Now that I¡¯m wearing it, you probably know what it represents Charlotte replied,


    amug with satisfaction


    At her words, Thssa felt a pang in her heart. She looked at Charlotte¡¯s wist, and seeing that vibrant


    and clear bracelet, she felt

 Chapter 868

    Chapter 868


    Thssa was all too familiar with that bracelet. Leopold had given her one just like it before.


    When Amelia found out, she was so furious that she kidnapped Thssa.


    Learning that the bracelet was a family heirloom passed down to the daughters¨Cinw of the Sinir


    family, Thssa returned it


    to Amelia.


    Now, to her surprise, the bracelet was on Charlotte¡¯s wrist.


    Why was it on Charlotte¡¯s wrist?


    Did Amelia give it to her?


    What was the rtionship between Amelia and Charlotte? Why would Amelia give such an important


    bracelet to Charlotte?


    As Thssa pondered these questions, she caught Charlotte¡¯s smug, challenging gaze.


    Seeing Charlotte¡¯s overly triumphant look, Thssa¡¯s delicate eyebrows furrowed slightly.


    *Ms. Ravensong, you are wearing the heirloom of the Sinir family. Are you going to be the next


    Sinir bride?¡± Susan was still trying to curry favor with Charlotte, saying what she thought Charlotte


    would like to hear.


    ¡°Of course, Lysander and I have been betrothed since childhood. Now that I am of marrying age, and


    he¡¯s still single, it¡¯s only natural that we¡¯ll end up together,¡± said Charlotte. Although she was replying to


    Susan, her words were meant for Thssa.


    Hearing Charlotte¡¯s words, Thssa¡¯s already aching heart sank further.


    She managed a self¨Cdeprecating smile.


    Charlotte was the chosen bride for Zephyr¡¯s grandson; Thssa had known all along that Lysander


    was to marry Charlotte.


    So what was so surprising about the bracelet being on Charlotte¡¯s wrist?


    Wasn¡¯t it inevitable?


    Thssa could tell that Charlotte was deliberately provoking her, but she ignored it and walked over to


    a corner to sit down with her pastries.


    Susan, who had been constantly fawning over Charlotte, was taken aback when she heard that


    Charlotte was to marry Lysander. Her smile faltered, but she quickly resumed her ingratiating grin.


    ¡°Ms. Ravensong, you are so beautiful, and as the heiress of the Ravensong Group, you and Lysander


    are a perfect match. It¡¯s so enviable.¡±


    Susan spoke the word ¡®enviable¡® through gritted teeth, her heart filled with jealousy.


    She had only seen Lysander once, but she was already smitten, swearing to herself that she would


    be his woman.


    At first, she thought her onlypetitor was Thssa, but now she realized that to be Lysander¡¯s


    woman, she would have to outshine her rivals.


    Not just Thssa, but Charlotte as well!


    ¡°Envious, aren¡¯t you? Wait till Lysander arrives and you¡¯ll see how important I am to him,¡± Charlotte


    said confidently, patting Susan¡¯s shoulder


    Susan¡¯s face bore a smile, but her heart was as sharp as a knife.


    Meanwhile, Thssa was quietly enjoying her dessert in the corner.


    Susan approached with a tray and took a seat across from Thssa without invitation, trying to get


    closer to her. ¡°Thssa, I¡¯ve just found out that Charlotte is Lysander¡¯s fianc¨¦e. They¡¯re very much in


    love and will be getting married soon. If they¡¯re getting married, then what are you?¡±


    Susan leaned in closer to Thssa and whispered.


    Thssa ignored her and continued to enjoy her dessert. ConTEent bel0ngs to N?v(e)lD/rama(.)Org .

 Chapter 869

    Chapter 869


    ¡°Thssa, as your sister, I¡¯ve been running around town for your sake, trying to dig up some


    information about Lysander¡¯s marriage prospects. Now that I¡¯ve got some substantial intel, you¡¯re


    giving me the cold shoulder?¡± Susan said, her voice filled with frustration as Thssa remained quiet.


    She spoke as though she was doing this for Thssa¡¯s benefit. But in reality, it was for her own


    ConTEent bel0ngs to N?v(e)lD/rama(.)Org .


    advantage.


    Thssa sneered inwardly, but her face remained a cool, distant mask.


    ¡°There¡¯s an empty table over there, and you can sit there,¡± Thssa said without looking up and


    gestured towards an adjacent


    table.


    With so many avable seats, Susan insisted on sitting across from her. Was it not obvious she was


    trying to instigate an argument?


    Thssa wasn¡¯t naive enough to believe that Susan was genuinely concerned about her well¨Cbeing.


    When Susan and her mother invaded Thssa¡¯s home, hurling insults and throwing punches at her


    mother, where was this sisterly affection then?


    This pretense of goodwill was more dangerous than a venomous snake.


    Susan¡¯s face stiffened momentarily as she was dismissed, but it didn¡¯t take long for her to recover and


    ster a friendly smile


    back onto her face.


    Thssa, we¡¯ve had our differences. I apologize for my previous hasty actions. Please don¡¯t take it to


    heart. I genuinely care about you. Lysander is such a good man, and you¡¯ve given him four children.


    You deserve to be Mrs. Sinir, so don¡¯t let another woman steal that title.¡± Susan said, her eyes subtly


    scanning Thssa.


    Thssa was wearing a white evening gown with a decorative heart¨Cshaped pocket at the waist.


    It was ornamental and functional.


    1 don¡¯t need your concern. Thank you.¡± Thssa responded coldly, not bothering to hide her


    disinterest as she continued to nibble on her pastry.


    Unfazed, Susan stood up and walked over to Thssa, wrapping an arm around her as if they were


    close friends, whispering into her ear, ¡°Thssa, Charlotte¡¯s just a busty bimbo. If you need, I can help


    you get rid of her. Then, the title of Mrs. Sinir will rightfully be yours¡­¡±


    Thssa was taken aback as Susan whispered into her ear.


    The words made her scoff and feel disgusted.


    She wondered who was the one just buttering up Charlotte with ttery and acting like a sycophant.


    And now, she was calling Charlotte a bimbo


    Those who say one thing to your face and another behind your back are the most frightening.


    Thssa stood up abruptly, distancing herself from Susan, her face stern and repelling. ¡°Stay away


    from me!¡±


    But Thssa, I really do care about. Susan exined, her face a picture of hurt as she nced


    towards Charlotte.


    Charlotte, catching Susan¡¯s eye, quickly got up and approached Thssa, grabbing her hand in


    concern, ¡°What¡¯s going on? What were you two talking about?¡±


    She eyed Susan suspiciously


    Susan looked flustered her eyes darting around in apparent fear.


    Thssa pulled her hand away from Charlotte, not wanting to get tangled up with the two of them,


    ¡°Nothing With that, she turned to leave.


    But Charlotte grabbed Thssa¡¯s wrist, her voice full of usation ¡°Well well, Thssa! In just a few


    seconds, you managed to steal my bracelet¡±


    Thssa¡¯s eyes darkened her voice sharp ¡°What are you talking about?¡±


    Charlotte held up her wrist, which until a moment ago had been adorned with a Bracelet. Now it was


    gone. She used. The beidfoom that the Sinir family gifted me is missing! You were thest one


    to touch my hand if you didn¡¯t take it, then who

 Chapter 870

    Chapter 870


    Charlotte¡¯s voice rang out loud and clear, instantly drawing the attention of many.


    Amelia and Payton came over.


    Today¡¯s party was hosted by the Sinir family, with Amelia and Payton primarily weing guests


    and maintaining order.


    At the sign of trouble, they immediately came over to see what happened.


    ¡°What¡¯s going on?¡± Amelia nced at Thssa, directing her inquiry towards Charlotte.


    Charlotte was gripping Thssa¡¯s wrist tightly, her face fierce as she said, ¡°Amelia, she stole my


    bracelet. It was on my wrist just a moment ago, and now it¡¯s gone after she tugged at my hand.¡±


    Thssa, upon hearing this tant usation, forcefully shook off Charlotte¡¯s grip and retorted, ¡°You


    were the one who grabbed my hand. When did I ever tug at yours?¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re still denying it! The bracelet must be on you. If we search you and find it, then everything will be


    clear!¡±


    Charlotte red at Thssa, her attitude upromising, insisting that Thssa was the thief.


    At this point, everyone at the party had gathered around, including Zephyr, Ethan, and Callum.


    Everyone looked at Thssa with curiosity and suspicion.


    ConTEent bel0ngs to N?v(e)lD/rama(.)Org .


    Charlotte was using her of theft and even demanding a search. If Charlotte didn¡¯t have any


    evidence, would she be so bold and adamant in iming Thssa was the thief?


    Everyone was looking at Thssa as if she were really a thief.


    Thssa suddenly felt submerged in an ocean of gazes, leaving her exposed and unnerved, sending


    shivers down her spine.


    Taking a step back, Thssa said defensively, ¡°You have no right to search me! You said I took the


    bracelet, but where¡¯s your proof?¡±


    ¡°Proof? I have a witness!¡± Charlotte shot a look at Susan and said, ¡°You were there. You saw her take


    my bracelet.¡±


    Thssa instantly looked at Susan, unsure of how she would respond.


    Just when she was feeling anxious, Susan¡¯s expression was firm as she confirmed, ¡°Yes, I saw it.


    Thssa took Charlotte¡¯s bracelet and quickly put it in her pocket.¡±


    She pointed at Thssa¡¯s heart¨Cshaped pocket on her waist, making her usation clear.


    Thssa was stunned, looking down at her pocket. It was indeed bulging, and the thin fabric even


    outlined the shape of a bracelet.


    Her heart raced, her scalp tingling. There was indeed a bracelet in her pocket, but when did it get


    there?


    She immediately thought back to when Susan had suddenlye close to her, hooking her arm


    around her waist.


    It must have been then, when the bracelet was slipped into her pocket¡­


    This was a trap set by Charlotte and Susan!


    ¡°Charlotte Ravensong, I believe there must be a misunderstanding. Ms. Everhart is my secretary, and I


    assure you, she would never steal. Ethan spoke up, defending Thssa.


    Mr. Ethan, she is your secretary, not your woman. You can¡¯t vouch for her character. Look at her


    pocket, there¡¯s a bracelet in it!¡± Charlotte retorted, quickly stepping towards Thssa and pulling the


    bracelet from her pocket.


    Thssa drew back, but it was already toote.


    Charlotte held the bracelet up high for everyone to see, loudly proiming, ¡°Look, everyone, this is


    my bracelet Amelia gave it to me this morning. It¡¯s a family heirloom passed down to the next


    daughter¨Cinw of the Sinir family. Given my engagement to Lysander Zephyr suggested that


    Amelia pass it on to me. But who would have thought that Thssa would try to steal it? Is Thssa


    trying to steal the bracelet, or the identity as Lysander¡¯s wife? Her ambitions are clear.


    With the evidence and stolen bracelet right here, Thssa, what do you have to say for yourself?


    Amelia looked at Thssa


    anger and disgust.


    this was a trap set up by Ame, Charlottes

 Chapter 871

    Chapter 871


    But now, Thssa stood there, speechless, facing Charlotte¡¯s usations and Amelia¡¯s relentless


    pressure. Her heart was tormented, experiencing inner turmoil and the chill settling along her spine.


    Yet, she couldn¡¯t utter a single word.


    At this point, anything she said would be dismissed as lies and deceit.


    *


    As they imed, she was caught red¨Chanded, and nothing she said now could change that fact.


    Thssa felt her breath hitch, standing there like amb waiting for ughter.


    Ethan, who had just been defending Thssa, was taken aback when Charlotte pulled out the bracelet


    from Thssa¡¯s pocket. He looked at Thssa, hoping for her to say something.


    But all he saw were her lips, pressed together in a tight line, not a wording out.


    Ethan was worried, but since he wasn¡¯t at the scene earlier, he didn¡¯t know the details, and felt it was


    inappropriate for him to say anything.


    ¡°What was supposed to be a wholesome feast, intended to bless Leopold and raise funds for charity,


    got ruined because of one bad apple,¡± Zephyr spoke, his gravelly voice echoing in the room. His eyes,


    cloudy with age, were filled with hostility as he stared at Thssa.


    His words were sharp and biting.


    Zephyr had never liked Thssa. He had initially mistaken her for an ambitious and ruthless woman


    who would stop at nothing for power. Then, when Sybil passed away, he med Thssa¡¯s mother,


    Evelyn, and his dislike for Thssa grew. And then, when Leopold died¡­


    Most of Leopold¡¯s death, he believed, was because of Thssa.


    If Leopold hadn¡¯t been infatuated with Thssa, he wouldn¡¯t have made such foolish decisions.


    Zephyr¡¯s initial distaste for Thssa had now turned into deep¨Cseated hatred.


    The grief of outliving one¡¯s offspring was unbearable, and Zephyr had experienced it twice.


    The pain was overwhelming.


    And now, Thssa was used of stealing, and it wasn¡¯t just any bracelet. It was a symbol of the


    Sinir family¡¯s heiress.


    She was trying to steal the Sinir family¡¯s heiress¡¯s position!


    Unthinkable! Delusional!


    Zephyr¡¯s words were like a sharp thorn, piercing Thssa¡¯s heart. She looked at Zephyr¡¯s eyes filled


    with murky hatred.


    Thssa¡¯s heart clenched, her hand at her side balled into a fist, her face drained of color.


    ¡°Grandpa, don¡¯t fret. I¡¯ll call the police right away. A woman like her, with such dirty tricks, doesn¡¯t


    deserve to step foot into the Sinir estate, Ameliaforted Zephyr, pulling out her phone, ready to


    make the call.


    ConTEent bel0ngs to N?v(e)lD/rama(.)Org .


    At that moment, there was amotion at the entrance of the banquet hall. The air seemed to drop in


    pressure, thick and suffocating.


    Everyone¡¯s attention was drawn towards the entrance.


    A tall, imposing man walked in, exuding an aura of regality. He was nked by numerous bodyguards,


    and four little children followed him.


    ¡°Mommy!¡±


    Mommy!¡±


    ¡°Mommy!


    Mommy!


    The four children¡¯s eyes lit up at the sight of Thssa, their chubby little legs moving quickly as


    they ran towards her, Seeing the chlidren, Thssa¡¯s heart Instantly loosened, melting away like


    spring thaw

 Chapter 872

    Chapter 872


    Thssa hadn¡¯t seen her children in days. Their adorable, cuddly faces were all she could think of.


    Now, they were here, their babyish voices calling out to her.


    Thssa hurriedly walked towards them, squatting down and opening her arms to wee the four


    little ones sprinting towards


    her.


    They ran fast, all four of them crashing into her arms. The immense impact sent Thssa stumbling


    backward, almost falling. A strong, muscr arm reached out, steadying her from behind.


    The force of his grip sent a jolt through Thssa¡¯s heart, but she quicklyposed herself, greedily


    hugging her four adorable children, nuzzling their soft, innocent faces and kissing their rosy cheeks.


    Their soft, milky¨Cscented faces were healing Thssa¡¯s wounded heart.


    Hugging her children felt like holding the whole world in her arms.


    ¡°Sweethearts, how did you get here? Mommy missed you so much,¡± Thssa¡¯s voice was full of


    emotion.


    ¡°Mommy, we missed you too. Why didn¡¯t youe to Royal Estates to see us?¡± Elowen snuggled into


    Thssa¡¯s arms, on the verge of tears.


    She missed her mother so much.


    ¡°Mommy, we wanted Daddy to take us to see you, but Daddy is always so¨Cbusy,¡± Dorianined.


    ¡°Mommy, next time I¡¯ll just hack into the Royal Estates¡® system and cut the power so we don¡¯t have to


    stay there,¡± Atticus, usually so sensible, was now talking big, his youthful voice tugging at Thssa¡¯s


    heartstrings.


    ¡°Mommy, I miss you so much that I can¡¯t sleep. I¡¯ve been fixing these pendants for you. I¡¯ve fixed so


    many, and they¡¯re all for you,¡± Sophia¡¯s eyes welled up with tears.


    It had been days since they¡¯d seen their mother, and their little hearts were filled with thoughts of her.


    All they could think of was how to see their mother again.


    Thssa, hearing their soft, babyish voices, felt a pang in her heart. She hugged them tighter. ¡°I¡¯m


    sorry, I should¡¯vee to see you sooner. From now on, I will be with you every day. Is that okay?¡±


    ¡°Uh¨Chuh, okay,¡± Elowen nodded enthusiastically.


    They were easy to appease. Just the promise of their mother¡¯s dailypany was enough to cheer


    them up.


    ¡°Hello, officer. We have a thief here¡­¡± Amelia was on the phone when someone snatched it from her.


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    Startled, she was about to grab it back when she saw Lysander¡¯s icy, stern face. She quickly stered


    a smile on her face and said, ¡°Lysander, Thssa¡¯s been stealing. I was just calling the police.¡±


    Lysander nced at her dismissively, hung up the phone, and tossed it back to her, which Amelia


    caught in a hurry.


    ¡°Lysander, you¡¯re here, great! Thssa¡¯s really been a surprise. She¡¯s been eyeing the bracelet Amelia


    gave me this morning. It¡¯s not just a bracelet she wants to steal, it¡¯s the status thates with it. She


    really doesn¡¯t know her ce.¡±


    Charlotte walked over to Lysander, her previously arrogant face now reced with a sweet smile. She


    was about to cozy up to him when Lysander¡¯s icy gaze stopped her in her tracks.


    She dropped her hand, embarrassed, and forced a smile.

 Chapter 873

    Chapter 873


    Lysander said coldly, ¡°All of you are using her of theft. Do you have any concrete proof?¡±


    ¡°We do, we caught her red¨Chanded. We didn¡¯t frame her.¡± Charlotte hurriedly held up the bracelet in


    her hand, turning her gaze on Susan. ¡°Susan saw Thssa take my bracelet and stash it in her


    pocket.¡±


    Susan nodded vigorously, her eyes almost greedily glued on Lysander.


    This man was so captivating.


    This was her second time seeing him, and his every gesture, every frown and smile made her heart


    flutter uncontrobly.


    She wished she could throw herself into his arms, cradle his face, and nt a passionate kiss on his


    lips.


    Just one kiss, and it would all be worth it.


    Lysander¡¯s gaze swept briefly over Susan¡¯s face, not even giving her a proper look.


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    ¡°Why should we believe the words of someone insignificant? If you want concrete proof, just check the


    surveince footage. We, the Sinirs, always seek the truth, don¡¯t we, Grandpa?¡±


    Lysander¡¯s gaze finally fell on Zephyr. Although he was asking Zephyr, his tone left no room for


    discussion.


    By mentioning the Sinir¡¯s reputation for seeking the truth, he not only upheld the dignity of the


    Sinir family, but also made Zephyr concede.


    23 ON NE 190


    Zephyr met Lysander¡¯s deep and inscrutable gaze, his eyebrows furrowing almost imperceptibly. After


    a moment¡¯s hesitation, he turned to his bodyguard and said, ¡°Check the surveince¡­¡±


    Hearing about checking the surveince, Charlotte¡¯s face drained of color, panic shing across her


    features. ¡°This is a minor issue. We can¡¯t trouble the Sinirs with checking the surveince. Let¡¯s just


    call the police and have Thssa taken away¡­¡± Charlotteughingly said, although her voicecked


    confidence.


    Amelia also looked a bit panicked. ¡°Yes, there are so many people here, waiting for the charity event to


    begin. Let¡¯s not waste time checking surveince.¡±


    ¡°No worries, we¡¯re all waiting for the truth to be revealed. This is not a minor issue. Once we clear it up,


    everyone will know how much to donate, right?¡± Callum said, a genteel smile ying on his lips,


    speaking for the guests.


    Ethan chimed in, ¡°Yes, no matter how big or small the issue, it¡¯s best for everyone to have rity. This


    way, no one will be wrongfully used.¡±


    ¡°Yes, yes¡­¡± The guests also agreed in chorus.


    Charlotte looked panicked and turned to Amelia for help.


    Amelia stepped forward, snatching the bracelet from Charlotte¡¯s hand, scolding sharply, ¡°Really, can¡¯t


    you even take care of a bracelet? What can you do? Give me back the bracelet! You don¡¯t deserve to


    wear the heirloom of the Sinir family!¡±


    Amelia feigned anger at Charlotte, trying to divert attention.


    Charlotte understood Amelia¡¯s intent, her lips pouting in pretend hurt. ¡°Amelia, I¡¯m sorry, I will take care


    of it from now on.¡±


    This bracelet is a fake! It¡¯s not the one I gave you!¡± Amelia turned the bracelet in her hand a couple of


    times, suddenly eximing In surprise.


    ¡°What?¡± Charlotte was taken aback.


    Susan also looked at Amelia in surprise.


    Lysander¡¯s deep gaze turned to the bracelet.


    Meanwhile, Thssa stood up after her tender moment with the children. Holding two children with


    each hand, the little ones followed her obediently, clinging to her.


    Hearing Amelia say that the bracelet was fake, Thssa also looked at the bracelet in Amelia¡¯s hand


    in surprise.


    Sophia tilted her little head, her tender eyes fixed on Amelia, speaking in a sweet voice, ¡°Isn¡¯t the


    bracelet in your hand real? Why


    you saying it¡¯s fake?¡±

 Chapter 874

    Chapter 874


    Thssa nced at Sophia intrigued nce upon hearing her statement.


    She had witnessed Sophia¡¯s talent for identifying valuable artifacts first hand, so she knew Sophia


    wouldn¡¯t be wrong.


    Meaning, the bracelet Amelia held was indeed real, even though Amelia imed it was a fake.


    Amelia had owned that bracelet for so many years, so of course she should know if it was a genuine


    artifact or not.


    There was only one possibility left ¨C she was deliberately calling it a fake.


    What good would that do her?


    ¡°You¡¯re just a four-year-old, what would you know? If I say this bracelet is fake, then it¡¯s fake! I¡¯ve been


    wearing it for over twenty years. Would I mistake it?¡± Amelia¡¯s eyes flickered with panic at Sophia¡¯s


    words, but she quickly regained herposure and replied in a defiant tone.


    She had to insist the bracelet was a fake ¨C that was the only way she could cancel the surveince


    order from Lysander and Zephyr.


    It wouldn¡¯t be worth making such a fuss over a fake bracelet.


    After finishing her words, Amelia quickly nced at Charlotte, her eyes shing a desperate signal.


    Charlotte, who had been stunned, suddenly understood Amelia¡¯s intentions, and gasped in surprise,


    ¡°Oh my, now I remember. I was indeed wearing amon bracelet.¡±


    Her unexpected exmation sessfully drew everyone¡¯s attention.


    Seeing everyone¡¯s eyes on her, Charlotte continued, ¡°When Amelia gave me the Sinir family


    heirloom bracelet, I loved it so much. It was so precious to me that I didn¡¯t dare to wear it and risk


    damaging it. So, I left it at home and wore a simr-lookingmon bracelet instead, to show off that I


    had received a gift that represented the Sinir family¡¯s legacy. I wanted to show off without risking


    losing the bracelet. I didn¡¯t expect this big misunderstanding. Amelia, I¡¯m sorry, it¡¯s all my fault. I was


    just too excited about receiving the Sinir family heirloom bracelet. I showed it off to all my friends


    andpletely forgot that I was actually wearing a fake. I apologize to you all for this


    misunderstanding.¡±


    Saying this, Charlotte dropped her gaze, her mouth twitching in a gesture of regret and


    embarrassment.


    ¡°You silly girl, when I received the bracelet, I never showed off to anyone!¡± Amelia chastised Charlotte


    sternly.


    After her harsh words, she turned to Lysander and Zephyr with a smile. ¡°You see, it was just a


    misunderstanding. The bracelet is a fake, not the Sinir family heirloom. I think we should just let this


    matter go. It¡¯s not worth wasting everyone¡¯s time over atmon bracelet. After the banquet, I¡¯ll have a


    serious talk with Charlotte.¡±


    This was Amelia¡¯s real n.


    By iming the bracelet was fake, she hoped to downy the issue and sweep it under the rug.


    Payton, who knew Amelia best, quickly agreed, ¡°Grandpa, let¡¯s let it go. Let¡¯s officially start the charity


    dinner.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s so strange. This bracelet is clearly a genuine artifact, but why are these twodies insisting it¡¯s


    fake?¡± Sophia tapped her temple with her index finger, tilting her little head and furrowing her brows in


    confusion.


    Her appraisal skills wouldn¡¯t be wrong. This pendant on the bracelet was a genuine antique whether in


    color, style, or design.


    Just when Amelia thought she had sessfully dismissed the matter, the little girl continued to im it


    was real.


    A flicker of panic crossed Amelia¡¯s heart, and she sternly nced at Sophia. ¡°Sophia, children shouldn¡¯t


    speak without thinking.¡± ¡°I¡¯m not speaking without thinking. This bracelet is smooth and shiny, with


    ConTEent bel0ngs to N?v(e)lD/rama(.)Org .


    naturally urring patterns that resemble a small stream flowing through the mountains. It¡¯s clearly


    been worn for hundreds of years, which has given it this translucent glow.¡±


    Sophia¡¯s innocent eyes were fixed on the bracelet in Amelia¡¯s hand. Her professional terminology for


    appraising the bracelet flowed smoothly and effortlessly.

 Chapter 875

    Chapter 875


    If not for her petite frame and adorably innocent features, no one would have believed that such words


    came from a four-year-old


    child.


    At Sophia¡¯s words, everyone¡¯s attention shifted to the bracelet Amelia held.


    Lysander¡¯s icy gaze was fixed unblinkingly on Amelia.


    Amelia faltered, a sh of panic quickly passing through her eyes, revealing her guilt.


    ¡°My little sister is the best. She¡¯s the leader of her kindergarten¡¯s treasure hunting ss. She has


    received lots of awards from her teacher. She wouldn¡¯t make a mistake,¡± Dorian said proudly, his head


    held high.


    ¡°Yes, my sister is the best. She couldn¡¯t be wrong,¡± Atticus nodded vigorously.


    ¡°Go Sophia, we¡¯re all rooting for you!¡± Elowen clenched her chubby little fist, cheering on Sophia with a


    serious expression on her tiny face.


    When the adorable children spoke in their sweet, childish voices, everyone¡¯s hearts melted. Many


    people couldn¡¯t help but look at the little ones with affection.


    Amelia grew increasingly flustered, trying to maintain her stance under the pressure. ¡°This is indeed a


    good bracelet, but it¡¯s not the Sinir family heirloom.¡±


    ¡°Amelia, if I¡¯m not mistaken, what you¡¯re holding is the bracelet that has been passed down through


    generations of the Sinir family. The Draven family curio shop has a record of this bracelet. I¡¯ve


    studied it myself, so I couldn¡¯t be mistaken.¡±


    At this point, Richard Draven, who had been watching the crowd from the sidelines, stepped forward,


    looking at the bracelet in Amelia¡¯s hand as he voiced his opinion.


    Richard, the young master of a family with a long history in the antique trade, was well-versed in


    antiques. No one knew them


    better than he did.


    If even he said that the bracelet was real and was the Sinir family heirloom, could there be any


    doubt?


    22 = 2 3 =


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    Amelia¡¯s face turned ashen.


    Lysander¡¯s handsome face was cold, his low voice echoing in the room, ¡°Regardless of the truth, we


    must get to the bottom of this. We cannot let anyone be wronged without reason. The Sinir family


    has always been fair.¡±


    As he spoke, Lysander¡¯s gaze shifted to Zephyr,


    His final words, ¡®The Sinir family has always been fair,¡¯ were clearly intended for Zephyr.


    Lysander was invoking the Sinir family¡¯s reputation; Zephyr couldn¡¯t let this matter be brushed under


    the carpet.


    Zephyr understood Lysander¡¯s intentions. He wanted to uncover the truth and to do justice for


    Thssa!


    He couldn¡¯t let Thssa be falsely used.


    N


    Zephyr knew that Lysander¡¯s attitude towards Thssa was different. He seemed to be overly


    protective of her.


    But Lysander didn¡¯t explicitly say he wanted to do justice for Thssa, Instead, he spoke of the Sinir


    family¡¯s fairness.


    If Zephyr wanted to let this go, he would have topromise the Sinir family¡¯s reputation.


    What Zephyr cared about the most was the Sinir family¡¯s public image.


    Plus, today was an important day with many prominent figures present. If he let this matter slide, it


    would lead to spection about the Sinir family¡¯s motives.


    Zephyr pondered for a moment, then ordered his staff, ¡°Turn on the banquet hall¡¯s big screen, and


    project the surveince footage on it.¡±


    At this, Charlotte turned pale, her heart pounding in her chest.

 Chapter 876

    Chapter 876


    Charlotte was desperately trying to catch the attention of Amelia.


    But Amelia herself was on the brink of a precipice. How could she spare a thought for Charlotte?


    Susan, pale as a ghost, was trying to lower her profile, stealthily preparing to leave the banquet.


    She had barely taken a few steps when a towering, ck-suited bodyguard blocked her path, radiating


    an intimidating aura, his expression stern.


    Susan froze, shed a ttering smile, and tried to walk past him. The bodyguard blocked her way, his


    face expressionless as he asked, ¡°Susan, where are you off to?¡±


    ¡°I, I need to use the restroom¡­¡± Susan stammered, trying to bluff her way out, heading towards the


    banquet¡¯s exit.


    The bodyguard blocked her escape. ¡°Susan, the investigation will be over soon. Hold it in.¡±


    ¡°What?¡± Susan was taken aback, wondering if she had misheard. The bodyguard was actually asking


    her to hold her pee!


    What kind of request was that?


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    Lysander¡¯s men even manage to be unique when ites to intimidation, their presence


    overwhelming.


    Even with an excuse at her disposal, Susan could not escape. Her initially panicked expression


    instantly turned ashen. She had no choice but to stand still, the bodyguard towering next to her, his


    domineering presence making her feel the pressure.


    The person in charge quickly pulled up the surveince footage, projecting it onto the banquet¡¯s big


    screen.


    The screen showed Charlotte whispering something to Susan. Then, Charlotte took off a bracelet from


    her wrist and handed it to Susan. Susan walked over to Thssa and, seizing the opportunity of getting


    close to her, slipped the bracelet into her pocket.


    Next, Charlotte turned up, falsely using Thssa of stealing her bracelet.


    The surveince footage captured it all, crystal clear.


    This was a premeditated frame-up.


    Zephyr¡¯s face darkened, his murky eyes shooting daggers at Charlotte.


    ¡°Ms. Ravensong, you¡¯ve outdone yourself!¡± Zephyr thundered.


    Terrified, Charlotte¡¯s shoulders shuddered slightly, her body trembling subtly. Her lips quivered, on the


    brink of tears, ¡°Grandpa, I¡¯m sorry¡­ I saw Thssa bearing Lysander four children, and I panicked. I


    was afraid I wouldn¡¯t be able to marry Lysander, so¡­ I went to such lengths. It¡¯s all because I¡¯m so in


    love with him.¡±


    Charlotte had always referred to Zephyr as ¡®Grandpa¡¯, just like Lysander did.


    ¡°Silence!¡± Zephyr bellowed, his rage so intense that he started to cough.


    Lysander stepped forward, gently patting Zephyr¡¯s back. ¡°Grandpa, calm down.¡±


    Zephyr was old, and the recent deaths of Sybil and Leopold had hit him hard. His health was not what it


    used to be.


    Now, his rage was making him feel breathless.


    After a few moments, he raised his hawk-like eyes to Charlotte and said, ¡°The Sinir family is too


    noble to associate with a woman of such lowly methods as you. Go tell your grandfather that what we


    discussed years ago was merely a jest. Your family never took it seriously, and so we should not either.


    There was never any engagement between you and Lysander!¡±


    These words, spoken by Zephyr himself, were a bomb exploded in Charlotte¡¯s head.


    It felt like her world was copsing.


    Ever since sheid eyes on Lysander, she had fallen for him. She had always been fluttering around


    him, trying to get close to him, relying solely on the yful promise made between Zephyr and her


    grandfather when they were young.


    However, the Ravensong family never took such a promise seriously, and her grandfather never told


    her about any intended match with Lysander.


    Because of this, she had dated several other men.


    But from the moment she saw Lysander, she had been captivated by his looks, hispetence, and


    his charisma.


    After all, what woman wouldn¡¯t fall for a man who was handsome, fit, wealthy, powerful, and yet not a


    phnderer?

 Chapter 877

    Chapter 877


    Ever since Charlotte discovered that her grandfather and Lysander¡¯s grandfather had once verbally


    agreed to betroth them to each other, she had clung to this engagement, proiming herself to be


    Lysander¡¯s fiancee..


    And Zephyr had never denied it.


    It was with Zephyr¡¯s silent agreement that Charlotte had always publicly imed to be Lysander¡¯s


    betrothed..


    But now, thest shred of connection she had with Lysander was severed by Zephyr¡¯s own words.


    From now on, Charlotte had nothing to do with Lysander.


    She had plotted and schemed to eliminate all other women from Lysander¡¯s life, hoping to finally have


    a chance to stand by his side, perhaps even as his wife.


    But her carefullyid ns had backfired and now, even the faintest of connections was cut off by


    Zephyr himself.


    The blow was too much for Charlotte, and she staggered backwards, her body shaking.


    Seeing the determination in Zephyr¡¯s eyes, she knew that pleading with him was futile. Tearfully, she


    looked towards Amelia, hoping to grab her arm and beg for her help.


    But before she could touch Amelia, Amelia stepped back in disgust, avoiding her touch. ¡°It¡¯s true what


    they say. You never really know someone,¡± Amelia said scornfully. ¡°I gave you that bracelet out of


    kindness and you used it for ill intentions. Stay away from me! I don¡¯t want your bad luck rubbing off on


    me.¡±


    Charlotte stood frozen, tears trickling down her cheeks. She bit her lip, looking at Amelia with a mixture


    of hurt and anger, wanting to say something but stopping herself at the warning look in Amelia¡¯s eyes.


    She swallowed her bitterness, gritted her teeth, and said nothing.


    Lysander instructed his bodyguards, ¡°Please escort Ms. Ravensong out, and ensure she is not allowed


    at any Sinir family events in the future.¡±


    The bodyguards nodded, immediately moving towards Charlotte to escort her out.


    Charlotte took a step back and shouted, ¡°Don¡¯t touch me!¡±


    Her tearful eyes filled with resentment and defiance as she looked at Lysander. She was trembling, but


    her voice was firm. ¡°Lysander, I am the woman who loves you the most. You will regret this,¡± she said,


    then turned and left.


    The bodyguards did not follow her.


    Richard, who had been watching the scene, hesitated for a moment before following Charlotte out.


    Lysander¡¯s cold gaze then fell on Susan.


    The video had revealed Susan as an aplice in the plot against Thssa. Susan was nervous,


    wondering what her fate would


    1.


    Feeling the weight of Lysander¡¯s icy stare, her heart skipped a beat.


    ¡°Throw her out!¡± Lysandermanded.


    The bodyguards instantly grabbed Susan by the shoulders and forcefully led her out.


    ¡°Ouch, ouch, ouch, be gentle¡­¡± Susan whimpered, her shoulder felt like it was about to be crushed.


    Tears of pain welled up in her


    eyes.


    But the bodyguards showed no mercy. They dragged her out of the banquet hall and threw her onto the


    concrete sidewalk.


    Susan fell to the ground, scraping her knees and palms on the rough pavement.


    ¡°Get lost! Don¡¯t make me use force,¡± one of the bodyguards said coldly.


    Susan clenched her fists, her face distorted with hatred.


    Lysander had gone to great lengths to protect Thssa. He had found out the truth and not only


    broken off his engagement with Charlotte, but also thrown Susan out,


    He had not even given her a shred of dignity.


    Right now, she felt as humiliated as a dog that had been thrown out onto the street.


    It was all because Lysander was too protective of Thssa!


    In the end, it was all Thssa¡¯s fault!


    Susan vowed to take Thssa¡¯s ce, to stand by Lysander¡¯s side, to be his woman, and to be


    cherished by him!


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    At the banquet.

 Chapter 878

    Chapter 878


    The bracelet theft incident had been resolved.


    Zephyr¡¯s mood was still unsettled. He had always thought Thssa was the maniptive, relentless


    woman.


    But it turned out that Charlotte, who he had always trusted, was the one who would stop at nothing to


    gain her own benefits.


    What Zephyr despised most were cunning and ruthless women!


    Belinda, his daughter-inw, was just like that. She became Mrs. Sinir but was still indecisive, didn¡¯t


    appreciate it, and eventually caused the downfall of the Sinir family.


    Poor Zephyr, having a son in his old age, ended up burying his son.


    Zephyr had a bone to pick with Thssa because she was not only fickle but also maniptive, doing


    everything in her power to stay by Lysander¡¯s side.


    He had thought Thssa had stolen the bracelet, but it turned out to be Charlotte¡¯s trap.


    Zephyr was utterly disappointed in Charlotte. He rified on the spot that his remarks with Caleb


    Ravensong were just jokes in their youth, and there was no engagement between Lysander and


    Charlotte.


    Charlotte had crossed Zephyr¡¯s bottom line.


    ¡°Grandpa, it¡¯s all over now.¡± Lysander saw that Zephyr looked upset. He stood by his side, gently


    patting his back.


    Lysander was raised by Zephyr and Sybil, and he was deeply attached to them, always considering


    their feelings.


    ¡°Alright, let¡¯s start the donation ceremony.¡± Zephyr breathed heavily, signaling with his hand, his aged


    face filled with sorrow. Today¡¯s charity dinner was specifically held to pray for Leopold. The donations


    would be given to the orphanage, for doing good deeds on behalf of Leopold. If reincarnation existed,


    they hoped he could start over soon.


    Lysander looked at David and ordered, ¡°Begin.¡±


    David stepped onto the stage and officially announced, ¡°The Sinir family fundraising event has


    officially begun. Today, any donor will have the opportunity to coborate with the Sinir Group based


    on the amount of their donation.¡±


    This announcement stirred the guests, and they began whispering and discussing.


    The donation was a small sum, but the benefits of coborating with the Sinir Group were not to be


    underestimated.


    Over the years, countless businesses, big and small, had tried to work with the Sinir Group but didn¡¯t


    get the chance.


    The Sinir Group was a leading corporation in Starhaven. Coborating with them meant entering a


    higher ss, never worrying about resources or business opportunities.


    Working with the Sinir Group was like a juicy steak, and everyone wanted a bite, but not everyone


    was qualified.


    ConTEent bel0ngs to N?v(e)lD/rama(.)Org .


    Now, the Sinir Group announced that a donation could lead to coboration, and who could resist


    such a temptation?


    Numerous businessmen came forward to donate, and the event was in full swing.


    The earlier bracelet theft incident was quickly forgotten by everyone.


    Thssa sat at the banquet table with the children, serving them lots of food.


    Elowen was a little foodie, leading her siblings to munch happily.


    Thssa had a moment to look towards the donation area, where Lysander was shaking hands with


    someone. He had a profound aura, and every gesture he made radiated nobility and deterrence.


    As Thssa watched him, his deep gaze suddenly met hers. His unfathomable eyes seemed like a


    deep abyss capable of pulling someone in.


    The second her eyes met his, Thssa¡¯s heart skipped a beat. She quickly looked away, pretending


    she hadn¡¯t been watching him.

 Chapter 879

    Chapter 879


    But Lysander¡¯s deep-set eyes were always fixated on Thssa.


    Even though Thssa never looked his way, she could feel the depth of Lysander¡¯s scrutinizing gaze.


    It felt as solid and cold as a chunk of ice, causing her to involuntarily shiver.


    Recently, Thssa had been wrestling with the question of why Lysander had driven Leopold to his


    death. She pondered the question for a long time but couldn¡¯t find any answers.


    She yearned to see her children, but she didn¡¯t have the courage to contact Lysander.


    She thought that after her confession of wanting to leave him, and since Lysander was still upset with


    her, he wouldn¡¯t bother with her anymore.


    Unexpectedly, he made an appearance at the banquet and even helped her out of a huge mess.


    If not for his insistence on checking the surveince footage, she would have found it hard to prove her


    innocence. Checking surveince footage on her own was nearly impossible.


    After all, the surveince footage from such an event captured the private moments of influential


    businessmen, not something easily essible to just anyone.


    For his help, Thssa was grateful.


    However, she wondered why Lysander helped her. He had no intention of marrying her or even


    N?vel(D)rama.Org''s content.


    acknowledging her as her girlfriend.


    His control and possession of her were driven by resentment and a strong possessive desire.


    If he resented her, then why did he help her?


    Lysander had always been enigmatic and unreadable, his thoughts forever elusive to her.


    ¡°Mummy, this bunny cupcake is so yummy. It¡¯s so sweet! You should try it! It¡¯s really good,¡± Elowen¡¯s


    cheerful voice interrupted her thoughts.


    Thssa nced over to see Elowen holding up a fork with a fluffy bunny-shaped cupcake skewered


    onto it.


    She stretched out her hand, offering the cupcake to Thssa with her big, innocent eyes sparkling with


    excitement.


    Thssa¡¯s tense nerves rxed and she smiled at Elowen. ¡°Alright, let me have a try.¡±


    She opened her mouth and bit into the small bunny cupcake.


    With a bite, she could taste the soft texture and milky sweetness of the cupcake.


    ¡°Mm, it¡¯s really good, Elowen. Thank you, sweetheart,¡± Thssa praised, giving Elowen a thumbs-up.


    ¡°Mummy, I recognized that the bracelet was genuine right away. Am I amazing?¡± Sophia, not wanting to


    be left out, eagerly sought praise.


    Thssa gently ruffled her hair and smiled. ¡°Yes, Sophia. You were amazing. Everyone was so


    impressed; they couldn¡¯t believe how smart you are.¡±


    Sophia giggled, revealing her adorable dimples as she smiled broadly.


    Having received their mother¡¯s praise, Elowen and Sophia happily continued munching on their food.


    Dorian and Atticus, who had been quiet, were busy eating their food, clearly hungry.


    After calming the children, Thssa looked around the hall again. Lysander had left, and she couldn¡¯t


    spot him anywhere. Zephyr was also not in sight.


    As Thssa was looking around, Amelia suddenly shot her a venomous re. The look was even


    more piercing than it had been at the start of the banquet.


    Thssa felt a chill run down her spine as she met Amelia¡¯s icy stare. Her brows furrowed in


    apprehension.


    ¡°Enough! Stop causing trouble. Grandfather didn¡¯t call you out earlier to save dignity for you. Don¡¯t take


    his kindness for granted!¡± Amelia¡¯s husband, Payton, noticing Amelia¡¯s hostile gaze towards Thssa,


    pulled her close and whispered a stern warning.

 Chapter 880

    Chapter 880


    Nobody¡¯s a fool here. It was clear as day that the plot to frame Thssa for theft was a charade


    orchestrated by Amelia and Charlotte.


    Why else would Amelia lie about the bracelet being a fake?


    She wanted to downy the importance of the bracelet, implying that it wasn¡¯t the Sinir family


    Content held by N?velDrama.Org.


    heirloom. Her n was to convince Lysander and Zephyr that there was no reason to make a fuss over


    a fake bracelet. She hoped to sweep the incident under the rug.


    But she didn¡¯t anticipate her lie being exposed by a four-year-old child. Eventually, Zephyr checked the


    surveince footage and saw that it was Charlotte who had set Thssa up.


    Zephyr only reprimanded Charlotte, sparing Amelia of any me, likely to save her face.


    If Amelia didn¡¯t learn her lesson now, it would make her a fool.


    Amelia, her eyes still filled with resentment towards Thssa, red at Payton and said with a pained


    voice, ¡°It¡¯s because of that woman my son is dead! I had just one son. Do you know how much it hurts?


    I just can¡¯t stand to see her happy!¡±


    She pounded her chest, tears welling up in her eyes.


    She knew that ever since Leopold reunited with Thssa, he hadn¡¯t been himself, even resorting to


    drastic actions.


    She knew that Thssa was like a cancerous tumor to Leopold, threatening his life at any moment.


    But all she could do was watch her son suffer, unable to help him, and watch him take his own life by


    jumping off the building.


    Who could understand how painful it was for a mother to lose her son?


    She suffered the loss of her son, and she couldn¡¯t even punish the woman responsible!


    She had already conspired with Charlotte to use Thssa of stealing the bracelet at the banquet, to


    humiliate her, have the police publicly arrest her, maybe even lock her up for a decade or so. She


    hoped that Zephyr and Lysander would be disgusted with Thssa and kick her out for good.


    That would be satisfying.


    So she gave the bracelet to Charlotte to stage this grand spectacle..


    But then Lysander showed up and asked Zephyr to check the surveince footage with a determined


    and cold demeanor.


    Amelia, in her rush to teach Thssa a lesson, forgot about the surveince cameras, leading Zephyr


    to discover the truth and break off Charlotte¡¯s engagement with Lysander on the spot.


    From now on, she couldn¡¯t even use Charlotte, that brainless woman, to hurt Thssa. It was going to


    be a lot harder to deal with Thssa.


    ¡°Enough!¡± Payton shouted at Amelia. ¡°You know exactly how your son died. Don¡¯t me others for your


    mistakes!¡±


    Payton knew about the shopping mall bombing incident from Zephyr.


    Leopold, in an attempt to frame Lysander and strip him of his CEO position, arranged for workers to


    ce phosphorus in a cell phone, causing it to explode on contact with air, killing two workers instantly.


    Afterward, Leopold even forced the Sinir group to take all the responsibility.


    During his confrontation with Lysander, he chose to jump off a building, ending his life to resolve the


    situation.


    What Leopold did was so paranoid and mind-boggling.


    As Leopold¡¯s father, Payton didn¡¯t understand why he chose to do this.


    He could have chosen not to jump. There could have been a better solution.


    He could have admitted his mistakes, and the Sinir family would have helped him. At worst, he


    would have served a few years in prison and then could have lived his life.


    But he chose the most extreme path.

 Chapter 881

    Chapter 881


    Payton was heartbroken and baffled, unable toprehend why Leopold had chosen such a path.


    His death had left the deepest wound on his own family.


    After Leopold was gone, Amelia had begged Lysander on her knees not to expose Leopold¡¯s errors in


    the bombing incident. She''d pleaded that he preserve Leopold¡¯sst shred of dignity.


    Lysander, swallowing his own sorrow, had agreed. He¡¯d announced to the press that the ident had


    been the result of apse in judgement by Leossa Electronics, a subsidiary of the Sinir Group.


    Zephyr hadn¡¯t objected to Lysander¡¯s approach.


    All Lysander had hoped for was that Leopold would have the courage to admit his mistakes so that the


    Sinir family could help him resolve the issue.


    Who could have predicted that Leopold would rather take his own life than confess that he''d nned


    the whole incident?


    Lysander was heartbroken and tortured.


    ¡°You!¡± Amelia¡¯s face changed instantly when Payton brought up the subject. She shot him a sharp


    re, grinding her teeth as she spoke. ¡°Shut up, Payton. Don¡¯t ever talk about this again. Leopold is


    dead! You show no sympathy for him, always tarnishing his name! Are you really his father?¡±


    Full of anger and sorrow, Amelia stormed off the party after her harsh words, leaving Payton with a


    heavy sigh. As a businessman approached with a donation, Payton quickly adjusted his demeanor to


    greet him.


    Zephyr had called Lysander to the conference room.


    Zephyr sat in his chair, the weariness evident in his eyes as Lysander took a seat next to him.


    ¡°I know you insisted on checking the surveince footage to prove Thssa¡¯s innocence. You didn¡¯t


    even know the full story, and were you so sure that the bracelet wasn''t stolen by Thssa?¡±


    Zephyr could see the protective streak Lysander had for Thssa.


    He feared that Lysander was falling for Thssa, just like his father had fallen for a woman he


    shouldn''t have loved. He was afraid that Thssa might be a person of questionable character.


    What would be the consequences of such love?


    Zephyr didn''t dare to imagine.


    Content provided by N?velDrama.Org.


    ¡°I had my suspicions about her stealing before, but the reality is, even in her poverty, she hasn¡¯t stolen


    anything,¡± Lysander calmly responded to Zephyr.


    First, there was Faye, who had framed Thssa for stealing ns to sell to otherpanies, and then


    Isabe, who had used Thssa of stealing the dragon pendant.


    Indeed, Lysander had initially suspected Thssa, thinking that she might be involved.


    But the truth had proven that Thssa had never stolen anything. She had been framed all along.


    Why would she return the money to him, if she was interested in ill-gotten wealth? Even when he


    refused to ept it, she had used David to ensure the money made its way back to the Sinir Group.


    Faced with such a sum, she had never shown any desire to possess it. Would she risk everything for a


    bracelet worth less than $100 million dors?


    It was Thssa''s integrity that made Lysander believe that she wasn''t the thief.


    Zephyr''s heart sank with Lysander''s resolute response. He had a bad feeling about where this was


    heading.


    ¡°Lysander, tell me truthfully, do you have feelings for Thssa?¡± This time, Zephyr asked directly.

 Chapter 882

    Chapter 882


    At that, Lysander''s brows furrowed slightly, his eyes lowering.


    Feelings?


    He had never considered, never pondered over, nor did he understand what it implied.


    All he knew was that if any other man approached Thssa, he would be immensely irritated. Knowing


    she harbored another man in her heart, he would inexplicably feel angry.


    He wanted to punish her severely.


    Each time they were intimate, he wished he could embed her into himself, let her melt into him, thereby


    iming her entirely.


    The intense desire to possess her started the night five years ago when he first tasted her sweetness.


    He was interested only in her.


    Her feminine scent and her delicate, smooth skin all seemed etched into his very bones. Every time he


    thought of her softness under him, he could not control himself.


    Perhaps he hadn''t had enough of her yet.


    He wouldn''t forget his father''s words that never fall for a woman who doesn''t have feelings for you, or


    else the oue will be terrible.


    After a moment of hesitation, Lysander lifted his deep eyes, looking at Zephyr, his voice low. "I will not


    fall for any woman, including Thssa!"


    "But you said before that you would consider marrying her," Zephyr said.


    Zephyr had asked Lysander if he would marry Thssa, and he answered that he would consider it.


    "I want to give my children aplete home, and also take responsibility for my actions five years ago.


    But it seems now that she is not the woman I should marry!" In front of Zephyr, Lysander almost never


    hid anything.


    Because he knew, in this world, only his grandfather truly cared about him.


    "Why?" Zephyr asked.


    Lysander looked at Zephyr deeply, his jaws clenching slightly before he said solemnly, "She is Bruce''s


    daughter."


    Most importantly, the one she loved in her heart was Leopold!


    He had personally witnessed how heartbroken she was when Leopold died.


    She even threatened to leave Lysander because she could not forget Leopold, wanting nothing to do


    with him.


    He should have torn her apart then.


    Zephyr''s face trembled at Lysander''s words, his cheeks quivering slightly, "She... She is Bruce''s


    daughter!"


    Bruce was the man who Belinda was madly in love with, the man she was determined to elope with! It


    was that man, who caused the downfall of Lysander''s family.


    Zephyr had two people he despised most in his life. One was Belinda, and the other was Bruce!


    Belinda was dead, but Bruce was still alive!


    Lysander''s parents¡¯ deaths had nothing directly to do with Bruce, so even if Zephyr wanted to sue, he


    could not.


    But it was Bruce who indirectly caused their deaths.


    He was a murderer who escaped thew. This was what made Zephyr despise and worry most.


    "Cough, cough..." Zephyr suddenly started coughing violently, his heart filled with pain and fury, his


    hand trembling as he pointed at the door.


    "Go, cut off all ties with Thssa! Never see her again, cough..." Zephyr had no idea that Thssa


    was Bruce''s daughter!


    Lysander knew she was Bruce''s daughter, yet he still pursued her.


    How dangerous was that?


    Zephyr tried to rise in agitation.


    Lysander quickly steadied him, his handsome face taut, his voice deep and serious as he said to


    Zephyr, "Grandpa, she is the mother of my children, so no matter what, I cannot let my children grow


    up without parental love as I did. I can handle this. Don''t worry, nothing will happen."


    Hearing Lysander say he couldn''t let his children grow up without parental love like he did, Zephyr''s


    Content held by N?velDrama.Org.


    eyes welled up with tears, his heart aching.


    His hand that was pointing at the door dropped heavily, his eyes blurred with tears, a sigh of


    helplessness escaped him. "It''s all fate..."


    He knew Lysander had been aloof and cold since childhood, and that no one could rece the love of


    his parents.

 Chapter 883

    Chapter 883


    Lysander''s childhood was marred by the constant bickering of his parents, a situation that ended with


    their sudden departure from his life.


    The absence of paternal and maternal affection turned him into a colder, more aloof and ruthless


    individual than most.


    Yet, the daughter of the man responsible for the ruin of his family and the death of his parents, had


    borne him four children.


    Those four children were so adorable that Zephyr barely had enough time to shower them with love.


    How could he stand watching them grow up like Lysander did, deprived of parental affection?


    But how could Lysander handle himself?


    Every day, he faced the daughter of his enemy, watching her interact joyfully with their children,


    witnessing the deep bond between mother and kids.


    But what could he possibly do?


    After all, Thssa was the biological mother of the children.


    These were all Lysander''s karma.


    "Grandpa, you should just rx and enjoy your golden years at the Sinir''s house. Don''t worry about


    anything else. Take care of your health and don''t give me any reason to worry," Lysanderforted


    Zephyr.


    "I''ll handle everything else."


    Zephyr sighed, "Well, you''re thirty now and capable of standing on your own. I trust you''ll handle things


    appropriately and not fall for Thssa."


    Love was the final boundary. If he crossed, there would be no turning back.


    As long as he guarded his heart and didn¡¯t fall for Thssa, what was the harm in spending a lifetime


    dealing with her?


    But Zephyr feared Lysander¡¯s defense would crumble, in which case he would follow in his father''s


    footsteps.


    "Alright," Lysander agreed.


    As Thssa was enjoying a meal with the children, a man with a refined air and a constant gentle


    smile on his lips approached, "May I join you?"


    Thssa looked up and recognized the man as Callum, whom she had just been introduced to by


    Ethan.


    Before she could respond, her daughter, Elowen, pointed to an empty spot next to her and chirped,


    "Sir, you can sit here. No one''s sitting here."


    Callum turned his gaze to Elowen, whose chubby little face was smeared with crumbs and there was


    cream stained on her cherry lips. Herrge, innocent eyes were as clear as a spring brook.


    That was so adorable.


    He found his heart melting at her cuteness. He couldn¡¯t help but pat her little head gently and filled his


    voice with affection.


    "Thank you, sweetheart. You''re so pretty. I wish I had a daughter as beautiful as you," he said as he


    took the seat next to Elowen, looking at her with a gentle and loving smile.


    Elowen felt a sense of familiarity. As she giggled, her brows curled up in a way that was irresistibly


    cute, "Sir, are you my mom''s friend?"


    "Yes, I want to talk to your mom about something," Callum replied, his soft voice sweetening itself


    unconsciously.


    The presence of a child he liked made his voice alter.


    "Oh, what do you want to talk about?" Elowen asked curiously.


    The other three children also looked at Callum with curiosity.


    Thssa was surprised. She just met Callum for once and they barely knew each other. So what could


    he possibly want to talk to her about?


    "Do you mind if I have a private chat with your mom?" Callum asked Elowen, his eyes twinkling with


    amusement. He also nced at the other three kids to seek their approval.


    There was no denying that he had a knack for making children feelfortable, especially with his


    ConTEent bel0ngs to N?v(e)lD/rama(.)Org .


    warm, inviting smile.


    "A private chat? That sounds fun! So you will chat privately with my mom and we will guess what you''re


    talking about, right?" Elowen''s eyes lit up with curiosity.


    "That sounds fun. Go on, talk to my mom," Dorian urged with a hint of interest in his voice.


    "Alright then," Callum replied with a smile. He leaned in towards Thssa, ready to whisper.


    Sitting between Elowen and Thssa, he was perfectly positioned to lean towards Thssa. He was


    taller than her, so he only had to incline his body slightly to reach her ear.


    Thssa stiffened at his scent in proximity.


    Just then, Lysander emerged from the conference room. His intense gaze fell upon the scene unfolding


    before him. His eyes instantly frosted over and chilled to the core.

 Chapter 884

    Chapter 884


    Thssa was on edge while she was listening to Callum whispering in her ear.


    "Wednesday night, eight o''clock, at the Fortune Diner. It¡¯s about Leopold so you have toe."


    Callum stepped back after whispering to create a distance between them.


    His secret message was delivered before she could even prepare herself. Surprised, she turned to look


    at him.


    Before she could ask anything further, she felt a change in the atmosphere. A dangerous, icy chill crept


    in, thickening the air around her and making it harder to breathe.


    Turning around, she saw Lysander striding towards them. His aura was ice-cold, his handsome face


    stern, his deep eyes filled with cold hostility.


    With his approach, Thssa¡¯s heart tightened; she instinctively recoiled.


    The next moment, her wrist was caught in his iron grip and she was yanked up from her chair.


    Lysander cast a frosty nce at Callum, ¡°Mr. Gordon, is there something you can¡¯t say out in the


    open?¡±


    Callum had a dread feeling about the sharpness of Lysander''s gaze but managed to maintain his calm


    demeanor. His lips curved into a gentle smile as he said, "Just ying a game with the kids, it''s called


    ''Guess What I Said.'' Whoever guesses right wins. Isn''t that right, kiddos?"


    Callum always knew how to get the kids excited.


    ¡°Yeah, yeah, that¡¯s right.¡± Elowen nodded eagerly, her chubby cheeks bouncing. ¡°Dad, we haven¡¯t even


    started guessing yet.¡±Content provided by N?velDrama.Org.


    ¡°I bet he was talking about how tasty today¡¯s dessert is!¡± Dorian raised his hand, eager to answer.


    ¡°I bet he said my mom is pretty!¡± Elowen shot back, not to be outdone.


    Hearing Elowen''s words, Lysander''s handsome face darkened and his eyes filled with an icy rage.


    Any man could understand the intentions behind another manplimenting a woman.


    ¡°The party is over. We¡¯re going home.¡± Lysander¡¯s icy, suppressing gaze swept over the children.


    The kids, who were initially excited about the game, were stunned into silence by their father¡¯s serious


    expression.


    Thssa also felt Lysander''s icy hostility. His grip on her wrist was so painful that she couldn¡¯t help but


    wince, ¡°Lysander, let go of me first.¡±


    She swiveled her wrist and tried to pull her hand free. But she failed.


    His grip tightened as his cold eyes locked on her, ¡°Try moving again.¡±


    He then turned to the bodyguard, ¡°Take the kids.¡±


    With that, he led Thssa away from the party.


    Thssa could sense the anger radiating off Lysander. The freezing hostility was attacking every inch


    of her and giving her goosebumps.


    She knew better than to provoke him more when he was already fuming.


    Thssa didn¡¯t struggle anymore; she followed him quickly. The bodyguard picked up the kids and


    followed them.


    Outside the winery on the hilltop, a number of luxury cars were parked.


    Lysander opened the door of a ck Rolls Royce and ushered Thssa in, then turned to the


    bodyguard, ¡°You take the kids in the other car.¡±


    The bodyguard led the children to a minivan.


    ¡°I don¡¯t want to sit in this car. I want to sit with Mom.¡± Elowen pouted.


    ¡°Me too,¡± Sophia chimed in weakly.


    The bodyguard looked helplessly at Lysander.


    ¡°Behave and sit down. When we get back to Royal Estates, you can y with Mom. Otherwise, I¡¯ll have


    to send your mom back to Vibrant Oasis Residences.¡± Lysander¡¯s seemingly calm remark was fraught


    with authority.


    Upon hearing this, the children immediately quieted down. They obediently sat in the van, waiting for it


    to start.

 Chapter 885

    Chapter 885


    Watching the children settle down, Lysander opened the car door and climbed in, instructing David,


    "Head to Royal Estates."


    David instantly put the car in drive and pulled away.


    Thssa instinctively looked back and saw the minivan behind.


    When she turned back, she found herself staring into Lysander¡¯s icy gaze. Her breath hitched under it.


    Lysander was seated next to her. His towering frame cast arge shadow over her and his gaze was


    so prating that it seemed to pierce her through.


    "Nothing to say, hm?" His voice was low and frosty.


    The temperature inside thepact car seemed to plummet and get chillingly cold.


    Thssa felt the pressure. She blinked before saying, "He just showed up wanting to y games with


    the kids. I didn''t know what to do..."


    After speaking, she met Lysander''s icy gaze in her anxiousness.


    She couldn''t tell Lysander that Callum had told her to meet him at the Fortune Restaurant on


    Wednesday at eight o''clock.


    Otherwise, he would definitely prevent her from going.


    She wanted to know what Callum had to tell her about Leopold.


    She just couldn''t let Lysander find out if she really wanted to know the above.


    Lysander''s deep-set eyes bore into her. His sharp gaze, with icy intimidation, focused on her like a


    sharp sword aimed straight at her soul, which threatened to prate her.


    As Thssa felt the weight of his hawkish gaze, cold sweat trickled down her back.


    Just as she was about to crumble under the pressure and prepare to concede, Lysander''s cold voice


    echoed, "Mind your position! Be a good example for the kids!"


    "I know I''m the mother of four kids. Don''t worry, I won''t do anything inappropriate," Thssa replied,


    her tone appearing understanding and self-aware.


    At this moment, she had no intention of provoking Lysander. She had finally gotten to see her kids and


    wanted to spend quality time with them.


    She had given it a lot of thought recently. Even if she had to leave Lysander, she had to take the kids


    with her. She had given birth to and raised them; there was no way she was handing them over to


    Lysander.


    Absolutely not. These four angels were hers. She wanted to be there as they grew up and be involved


    in every step of their development.


    ConTEent bel0ngs to N?v(e)lD/rama(.)Org .


    She couldn''t bear the thought of her children forgetting her or bing distant from her.


    Evelyn was right. While Lysander was still intrigued by her, she should appease him a bit. Once his


    guard was down, she could seize the opportunity to escape with the kids.


    This was Thssa''s n.


    Lysander, hearing her obedient response, replied with a stern voice, "Remember what you just said!"


    His eyes swept over her before he turned his gaze forward. His demeanor was icy cold.


    Thssa lowered her eyes, not saying another word. Her hands, resting at her sides, clenched slightly.


    ...


    After leaving the banquet, Charlotte walked briskly ahead in frustration and anger. Her chest heaved


    with each step as neon lights cast fleeting reflections on her distraught face. The reflection was twisted


    and ferocious, reminding people of teary faces.


    Richard, the golden boy from Draven Antique Shop, quickly caught up to her and called out, "Charlotte,


    wait up!"


    Upon hearing her name, Charlotte abruptly stopped and spun around. Then she saw a man quicken his


    pace and approach.


    Annoyed, she snapped, "What? Are you here to mock me too?"

 Chapter 886

    Chapter 886


    Richard approached Charlotte with a serious look on his handsome face, "You know, Charlotte, maybe


    it''s not such a bad thing that you and Lysander have called off your engagement."


    Hearing Richard''s words, Charlotte''s temper, already at boiling point, threatened to explode. She red


    at Richard, "What do you mean by that, Richard? Did I offend you? You first publicly confirmed that the


    charm bracelet Amelia showed was real, and now this? How does my broken engagement with


    Lysander benefit you?"


    Charlotte was practically shrieking. Her anger was so intense it made her whole body tremble and the


    veins on her neck bulge.


    "Easy there, Charlotte," Richard said as he raised his hands in a calming gesture, "Your broken


    engagement doesn''t benefit me, but it might be a good thing for you."


    "Excuse me?" Charlotte was even angrier now.


    "Think about it," Richard exined. "Lysander and Thssa have four kids together, and Thssa


    spends a lot of time at Lysander''s ce. Their rtionship is more than justplicated. Messing up


    with Lysander will only waste your time and youth. It''s better to move on and pursue your own


    happiness."


    "I''ll waste my time if I want to. That''s none of your business!" Charlotte retorted. Her fists clenched, her


    breaths came in short, and her face was red with anger.


    Richard took a deep breath, struggling to keep his impatience and frustration in check. He managed a


    smile, "I can''t tell you what to do, Charlotte, but it''s a shame to see you pining over him. You''re


    beautiful, aplished, and thedy of the prestigious Ravensong family. You deserve a better


    future."


    Richard was genuinely concerned for Charlotte, hence his candid advice about which life path she


    should choose for her own interests.


    They had grown up together, and the Dravens had a close rapport with the Ravensongs. They had


    been friends since childhood, going to school together, and asionally hanging out. He hated to see


    her stuck on Lysander. He knew it wasn''t doing her any good.


    Only someone who truly cared would tell you the harsh reality and to help you see the light.


    Charlotte softened a bit upon hearing Richard''spliments, but she was still mad, "So that was why


    you decided to embarrass me in public by confirming that the bracelet was real?"


    "The bracelet is real, Charlotte. I was just telling the truth. Besides, if anyone should be embarrassed,


    it''s Amelia, not you, right?"


    Richard''s counter-question left Charlotte momentarily speechless. She realized her slipped tongue so


    she quickly averted her eyes, "Never mind..."


    She had almost given away her plot with Amelia to frame Thssa.


    Amelia''s earlier insistence that the bracelet was a fake was nothing more than an attempt to downy


    the issue and save Charlotte. By publicly confirming the bracelet''s authenticity, Richard was effectively


    undermining their n.


    "Charlotte, you are a really stunning girl with a prominent family background. You can definitely find a


    N?vel(D)rama.Org''s content.


    better man." Richard decided not to dwell on the incident at the party.


    It was clear to anyone with eyes that Charlotte and Amelia were colluding to frame Thssa. Why else


    would Amelia be so eager to im the bracelet was fake?


    She could have stayed out of it, but she was in a rush to cover things up. Smart ones could easily


    figure out her involvement in it.


    Both Amelia and Charlotte were too hasty. They should have nned their scheme better before


    targeting Thssa.

 Chapter 887

    Chapter 887


    How badly did Charlotte want to embarrass Thssa?


    Charlotte was eager to see Thssa fall. She did that to push her out of the picture and im her spot


    beside Lysander.


    Amelia was hell-bent on sabotaging Thssa as well, but Richard couldn''t figure out her true intentions


    for now.


    Although Richard had his suspicions, he didn''t voice them out loud. He was wishing to preserve some


    dignity for Charlotte.


    Charlotte found herself frequently praised by Richard so her heart fluttered at his words. She blinked


    and gazed at his serious eyes.


    Surprised, she widened her eyes and asked curiously, "Richard, you''re not... falling for me, are you?"


    Richard''s eyes flickered, a hint of panic shing across them before quickly disappearing. It indicated


    the panic of someone whose thoughts had been correctly guessed.


    He quickly regained hisposure. He said as he hid the panic in his eyes, "That''s such a


    straightforward question. Nobody''s ever asked this question so bluntly."


    As he spoke, his gaze shifted past Charlotte to avoid direct eye contact; he didn¡¯t answer her question.


    "I''ve always been so straightforward. I like Lysander, I want to be his girl, and I don''t hide my intentions.


    Are you really into me since you care about me so much?" Charlotte raised an eyebrow, looking at


    Richard with suspicion.


    Richard touched his nose, still looking away, "It''s gettingte, let me take you home."


    "No way, Nose Cannon. Are you really into me?" Charlotte asked in disbelief. Her big eyes went wide


    as she stared at Richard.


    Back when they were in first grade, Charlotte and Richard shared a desk. Richard had a habit of having


    a runny nose. One day, a bubble of snot was formed when he sneezed.


    Charlotte, who was sitting right next to him, saw this. Sheughed and gave Richard a nickname,


    "Nose Cannon."


    This nickname stuck until they graduated from elementary school. As they grew up and became more


    mature, they realized that "Nose Cannon" was a disrespectful nickname.


    So Charlotte stopped calling him that.


    Now, to her surprise, Charlotte blurted out the nickname without considering Richard''s feelings,


    reminding him of the embarrassing moments of his past.


    Upon hearing the nickname, Richard''s face immediately changed. He remembered the times that his


    nose bubbled up as he sneezed. Charlotte wouldugh and point at him. In his embarrassment, he


    would cover his nose, which only made his situation worse.


    "Charlotte, don''t call me by that nickname!" Richard said, looking ufortable.


    "I didn''t mean to, don''t be mad. I won''t call you that if you don''t like it." Charlotte saw his reaction and


    softened her tone.


    Suddenly bringing up a shameful nickname from the past was indeed inappropriate.


    N?vel(D)rama.Org''s content.


    "It''s not just for now, but also for the future. Don''t ever call me by that nickname again, got it?" Richard,


    his face slightly red from the embarrassment, told Charlotte.


    "I got it, I got it. Where''s your car? Weren''t you going to drive me home?" Charlotte quickly nodded as


    she saw Richard, a grown man, blush from embarrassment.


    Charlotte thought her own embarrassment and anger were insignificantpared to his.


    "Over there, let''s go." Richard, having calmed down a bit, pointed to a spot not far from them and led


    the way to his car.

 Chapter 888

    Chapter 888


    Royal Estates.


    The kids hadn''t seen Thssa for a few days and they missed her dearly now.


    The four little munchkins had already taken their baths and were ready for bed.


    But instead of heading to their own rooms, they huddled up in Lysander¡¯s bedroom, cozied up beside


    Thssa on the bed. Their soft, small bodies were like little teddy bears, snuggling against Thssa,


    refusing to go to sleep.


    Atticus had his little head propped on Thssa''sp, his short legs dangling while his hands yed


    with his toes.


    Dorian, on the other hand, was resting his head on Thssa¡¯s other thigh. He tucked his small hand in


    his mouth, sucking on his fingers with a content sound. He was thoroughly enjoying himself.


    Elowen''s tiny head was nestled against Thssa''s one side of abdomen, rolling from left to right. She


    was clearly enjoying the closeness with her mother.


    Sophia, the quiet one, was resting her head on Thssa''s other side of abdomen. Her deep eyes were


    staring at the ceiling in a dreamy manner, looking all cute and idle.


    Thssay t on the bed, letting her children cuddle up to her. Although she didn¡¯t say anything, she


    was listening to the cute sound let out by her kids.


    They propped heads against her body, making her feel all innocent and soft. The warm, sweet scent of


    baby lotion was a silent balm to her wounded heart.


    All she needed was to be with her children. And even if she did nothing, her heart was at peace. Their


    innocent and soft demeanor was soothing to her soul.


    She was enjoying the serenity and peace of the moment when the door suddenly swung open. A


    strong, intimidating aura filled the room, tensing up the air and hitching people¡¯s breath.


    Thssa''s rxed nerves tensed up. She knew who had entered without even looking.


    The powerful aura grew closer and closer. Thssa looked at the ceiling without turning around. She


    could feel a chill running down her spine.


    "Bedtime, little ones. Off to your own rooms now," Lysander''s voice echoed in the room.


    "Daddy, we want to sleep with Mommy tonight. Can we just sleep here?" Elowen asked as her big,


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    innocent eyes looked at Lysander pleadingly.


    "Yeah, Dad, your bed is big enough for all six of us," Dorian chimed in, even counting everyone to


    make sure no one was left out.


    Sophia''s weak voice added, "I want to sleep with Mommy too."


    "And so do I," Atticus, the usually independent one, also insisted on sleeping with Thssa.


    When Thssa sat up, Elowen and Sophia rolled off her and sprawled on the bed like two adorable rag


    dolls.


    Atticus and Dorian were still resting on herp.


    She reached out and gently pulled Elowen and Sophia closer as she spoke to Lysander, "The bed is


    indeed big enough for all of us. Let''s let them sleep here tonight."


    The children had grown more attached to her in her absence, and she wanted to be with them just as


    much.


    She knew their longing for her was just as strong as her longing for them. Having finally reunited, she


    wanted to spend every moment with them.


    And the kids felt the same way.


    Seeing the hope in Thssa''s clear, bright eyes, Lysander''s stern expression softened slightly.


    "Alright, let''s sleep now."


    "Okay, Daddy,e join us," Elowen said, sitting up and reaching out to pull Lysander onto the bed.

 Chapter 889

    Chapter 889


    "Y''all get some shut-eye, I''m gonna take a shower." Lysander gently squeezed Elowen''s chubby little


    hand; his deep voice was softened by a hint of tenderness.


    "Okay, Daddy. You go shower. We''ll wait for you," Elowen''s babyish voice chimed in sweetness.


    Her voice could melt Lysander''s heart.


    "Hmm." Lysander responded, his voice deep and maic. He gave her little head a pat before looking


    at Thssa, whose eyes were already on him, brimming with a gentle and loving smile.


    It was a soft look filled with mother''s love.


    When their eyes met, her smile faded and she quickly looked away. He could see that she was still


    guarded around him.


    Lysander said nothing. He let go of Elowen''s hand and headed to the bathroom.


    "Let''s go to bed first. I''ll tell you a story," Thssa said that when she patted the spot next to her on the


    bed.


    The kids scrambled over, eager to snuggle up to her arms.


    Sophia was the nearest, so she secured the spot in Thssa¡¯s arms. Elowen, arriving second, had to


    settle for the next spot. By the time Dorian and Atticus mbered up, Sophia and Elowen had imed


    the best spots.


    They knew the rules - firste, first served. No hard feelings, no fights.


    The children lined up, their tiny arms and legs syed out, resembling little teddy bears. It was a sight


    that was both adorable and amusing.


    Thssa''s heart was filled with maternal love. Her voice was soft and soothing as she began the


    bedtime story, "Sleep tight, herees the story."


    "Ready!" the four kids chimed in unison.


    Thssa began the tale of The Three Little Pigs, a story she had repeated countless times. But the


    Content held by N?velDrama.Org.


    kids loved it and they never got tired of it.


    Perhaps they were exhausted from the day''s y because before she could finish the story, the sound


    of their soft, sweet breathing had filled the room.


    Thssa stopped mid-sentence, looking up to find all four of them asleep.


    She gave Sophia and Elowen''s chubby cheeks a gentle kiss. Her heart was filled with love for these


    adorable little beings.


    After tucking them in, Thssa closed her eyes, feeling extremely tired. With the kids beside her, she


    felt incredibly at ease and drifted off to sleep in no time.


    Suddenly, she felt a warm, muscr chest against her back. The solid touch radiated through her


    clothes, along with the faint scent of water. A strong arm wrapped around her waist, pulling her closer.


    This dominant move startled Thssa awake. She instinctively tried to break free.


    "Don''t move!" a deep, husky voicemanded.


    Thssa froze instantly as she became aware of the heat against her back.


    And she knew better about the change in Lysander''s body.


    Thssa''s drowsiness waspletely gone now. "The kids are still here, Lysander, you can''t..." she


    pleaded weakly.


    "Are they? Where are they?" Lysander''s deep voice echoed behind her ear, his warm breath tickling


    her.


    Thssa, who was ticklish, shrank back. Her foot reached out to feel for the kids on the bed but found


    nothing.


    Where were the kids?


    Weren''t they just sleeping soundly on the bed?

 Chapter 890

    Chapter 890


    Thssa attempted to tug her leg free, but it was firmly captured between Lysander''s muscr thighs.


    The strength in his well-toned legs immobilized her in an instant.


    Thssa had thought the children were still asleep in bed, but now she understood. Lysander must


    have taken them back to their rooms.


    N?vel(D)rama.Org''s content.


    She had been asleep andpletely missed it.


    The heat radiating from behind her, coupled with the panic of being trapped between Lysander''s legs,


    set off warning bells in Thssa''s mind.


    Her breath quickened. "Lysander, it''ste."


    "Mmm, I know," Lysander''s deep voice rumbled in her ear. His nose gently grazed her neck, his warm


    breath fanning her delicate skin.


    This teasing gesture sent a jolt through Thssa as if she''d been electrocuted. She shivered


    involuntarily and arched her back like a bow.


    "When you''re tense, it''s as if you''re inviting me," Lysander murmured, his arms circling her as his warm


    breath continued to flutter against her neck.


    His husky voice was thick with danger.


    Thssa felt like a deer caught in a predator''s ws. The predator''s tongue was constantly licking her


    delicate skin, ready to pounce.


    This sense of panic and danger was lethal.


    Thssa slowed her breathing and tensed up her whole body, "I don''t want to cuddle. I want to sleep.


    It''s too hot when you cuddle me."


    Though her words rejected him, her voice was soft and the undertone of her words held a hint of


    intimacy.


    To Lysander, it was not a rejection. Instead, her weak voice was more like a temptation.


    The low, soft moans of a woman, the allure of ying hard to get, were impossible to resist.


    Lysander swallowed, his blood pumping faster.


    "Turn it down just a few degrees. Then it won''t be too hot."


    Thssa could hear the sound of his swallowing, a signal she was all too familiar with. Her body


    tingled, her heart skipping a beat in surprise.


    At that moment, Lysander freed a hand. He reached over and grabbed the remote on the bedside table


    and turned down the temperature.


    Thssa seized the opportunity to move away and create some distance between them.


    Ever since she learned of Lysander''s involvement in Leopold¡¯s death, Thssa had felt a huge barrier


    between them. Having not seen Lysander for some time, she had also grown unfamiliar with him.


    She couldn''t handle any physical contact with him.


    But as soon as she''d moved away, she was pulled back into his lean arms. Lysander''s strong hand


    circled her slender waist and pulled her against him.


    Thssa was easily drawn back into Lysander''s embrace.


    A soft gasp escaped her lips.


    "Where do you think you''re going if you''re not going to sleep?" Lysander''s voice was cold, deep, and


    questioning.


    With her back against his warm chest, the hardness of his muscles was a constant reminder of the


    danger behind her. She could even feel the strong rhythm of his heartbeat.


    Each thud echoed in her soul.


    "I need to use the bathroom," Thssa didn''t dare to openly resist him. Escaping from a beast required


    tact. If she tried to run away forcefully, she would be torn apart even more brutally.


    "Alright, I''ll carry you there," Lysander responded. He rose, lifting her in his arms.


    Thssa wrapped her arms around his neck without giving too much thought. In the darkness, her


    panicked gaze met Lysander''s oceanic eyes, which were gleaming in the moonlight.


    The sight sent a shiver down Thssa''s spine, "Actually, I don''t need to go anymore."


    Going to the bathroom would make things more dangerous and fiercer.


    Thssa had seen it before.


    "So, are you going or not?" Lysander''s deep-set gaze pierced through the moonlight and riveted on her.


    His eyes had already adjusted to the darkness, allowing him to see Thssa''s face clearly. Her fair


    bolt.


    He felt a wild desire surge within him.


    He wanted to bite her, to tear her apart.

 Chapter 891

    Chapter 891


    "No anymore. Put me down," Thssa''s voice wasced with panic and unease.


    When Lysander got domineering, there was nothing she could do to dissuade him.


    "Alright then," Lysanderplied and settled her down gently on the bed.


    The moment her back hit the mattress, his towering figure loomed over her and pressed her down. His


    Content provided by N?velDrama.Org.


    hands were propping on either side of her and his deep-set eyes fixed on her.


    "Your reactions make me think you weren''t lying when you said your body can''t resist me."


    His voice was low and seductive. Thssa''s heart skipped a beat, "I... um..."


    Just as she was about to speak, he ravished her lips and stole her breath.


    Lysander''s kiss was passionate and overbearing. Hisbored breath intertwined with her soft gasps as


    he easily took the initiative.


    Thssa''s lips and tongue felt numb as an involuntary moan escaped her throat.


    This sound seemed to please him. Lysander''s kiss became even more insistent and reckless.


    It was only when Thssa was on the brink of suffocation that Lysander released her, trailing kisses


    down her jawline to her delicate neck.


    He nipped at her flesh, leaving a possessive mark.


    "Um," Thssa winced, her eyebrows knitting together.


    "So you were nning on never contacting me again if we hadn''t run into each other at the party, huh?"


    Lysander''s raspy voice sounded in her ear, dripping with reproach.


    That bite was his way of punishing her.


    Ever since he dropped her off at the Vibrant Oasis Residences, she had gonepletely silent. She


    didn''t even visit the kids, let alone call him.


    Was she really nning on severing all ties with him? Even willing to abandon their children?


    Thssa''s eyshes fluttered as her body jolted. His low, resonating words tickled her ear, making her


    unconsciously curl into him. Gasping a little, she uttered, "No, I just... I was afraid to call you."


    Her fear and apprehension of him had held her back.


    She was well aware of what returning to his side would mean.


    She really didn''t want to continue living such a hopeless, never-ending cycle.


    Lysander stiffened slightly. Her words implied that she wanted to contact him, but was too afraid he''d


    devour her. Was that what she meant?


    Lysander''s throat tightened when he issued a warning to her, "You can''t avoid me forever..."


    He gripped her slender waist, pulling her up against him and pressing her against the headboard...


    Thssa didn''t know how long she had been crying, but her voice was hoarse from the strain.


    ...


    When Thssa woke from her natural sleep, the ache in her body made itself known.


    Her eyebrows furrowed slightly, a soft cough escaping her. Only then did she realize her throat was dry


    and sore.


    She tried to get up, but the moment her feet hit the floor, her legs gave way. Luckily, she managed to


    grab onto the bed frame, which prevented herself from falling.


    "Still got some fight in you. Looks likest night wasn''t enough," a husky male voice from behind picked


    Thssa¡¯s nerves.


    She turned her head in surprise and met Lysander''s sleepy, deep eyes.


    "I need to use the restroom," she meant it this time but found her voice raspy from exhaustion. She


    could imagine how persevered he wasst night.


    Lysander''s eyes flickered. He sat up, revealing his muscr chest and strong corbone as the sheets


    slid down.


    "I''ll carry you."


    Thssa''s eyes widened in rm.

 Chapter 892

    Chapter 892


    Startled, Thssa quickly steadied herself and told him, "No need, I can manage."


    She hastily headed towards the bathroom, fearful that if she dyed, Lysander woulde to carry


    ConTEent bel0ngs to N?v(e)lD/rama(.)Org .


    her.


    She was already utterly exhausted and truly drained.


    If Lysander were to carry her to the bathroom, she knew what would ensue.


    Not even bothering to dress, she endured the tenderness in her lower back and hurriedly made her


    way to the bathroom. Once the door was locked behind her, her tense nerves began to ease slightly.


    Looking at herself, she couldn''t help but admire her own nerve for being able to walk to the bathroom in


    front of Lysander without a stitch of clothing on.


    Their rtionship had an intimacy that mirrored that of a typical married couple, with nothing hidden


    between them.


    But to use the word ''couple'' to describe her and Lysander was a mockery in itself.


    Thssa smirked at her own sarcasm, turned on the shower, and stood under the warm water to wash


    her body.


    She deliberately took her time to take a long shower. When she emerged, the bed was empty;


    Lysander had already risen.


    Lysander was one to work diligently. He would never neglect his work even if he had failed all the


    people around him.


    He was so devoted to Sinir Group. To forsake all kin for the organization''s interests and his


    business, his aloofness could reach to the point of ruthlessness.


    Dressed in a bathrobe, Thssa approached the bed and straightened the messy duvet. As she did,


    she spotted a stain on the bed.


    The remnants of Lysander''s passion from the previous night.


    Thinking of the night before, Thssa''s cheeks instantly flushed.


    She quickly stripped the bed sheet and duvet cover, took them to the washing machine, and began a


    wash cycle.


    Afterwards, she returned to the room and picked out a dress from the wardrobe to put on.


    As she descended the stairs, she realized that the living room was unusually quiet. She looked around


    to see what was going on.


    Fitch emerged from the kitchen and upon seeing her looking around, approached her and politely said,


    "Ms. Everhart, Lysander has already left. Lunch is served on the dining table. Please help yourself."


    "Lunch?" Thssa was surprised.


    "Yes, it''s already half-past three in the afternoon," Fitch informed Thssa of the time.


    Thssa gaped in surprise; the word ''shocked'' wasn¡¯t enough to describe her feeling.


    She hadn''t checked the time when she woke up, and the curtains upstairs had been drawn the whole


    time, making it impossible for her to tell the time.


    She had assumed it was still morning, but it was already half-past three in the afternoon.


    However, thinking about it, it made sense. Lysander had drained her energy until the wee hours of the


    night, and a few hours of sleep was not nearly enough for her to recuperate.


    "Where are the kids?" Thssa asked, breaking out of her daze.


    "The kids had breakfast in the morning and have gone to school," Fitch respectfully reported.


    Seeing the disappointment in Thssa''s eyes, Fitch added, "The little ones were looking for their


    mother first thing in the morning. They were turned away by Lysander when they tried to go to the


    bedroom."


    Thssa felt a pang in her heart. Lysander had turned them away?


    She had been sleeping so soundly that she hadn''t realized the children hade to look for her in the


    room.


    She would have definitely gotten up to have breakfast with them if she had been awake.


    Fitch hurriedly added, "The kids were about to cry, but then Lysander told them they could see their


    mother when they returned from school. Hearing that, they wiped their tears and obediently went to


    have their meals."


    Hearing that the children were eventually pacified, Thssa felt a slight relief amid her heartache.

 Chapter 893

    Chapter 893


    ¡°Mmm, the kids will be out of school soon. I¡¯ll grab some lunch and then we can go pick them up


    together.¡± Thssa suggested.


    ¡°Sounds good, they¡¯ll be thrilled to see their mom.¡± Fitch nodded, grinning.


    Thssa didn¡¯t further the conversation, instead heading to the dining table to start her meal.


    She needed to replenish her strength so she could keep up with the kids¡¯ energy.


    An hourter, Thssa and Fitch set off to the daycare to pick up their children.


    When they arrived, Thssa stepped out of the car and headed towards the entrance of the daycare.


    She noticed a familiar figure ¨C a woman eagerly peering through the iron gate.


    Thssa quickened her pace, ¡°Mom¡­¡±


    Evelyn turned around. She was surprised to see Thssa, ¡°Thssa, what brings you here?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m here to pick up the kids.¡± Thssa exined, not asking why Evelyn was there. She knew her


    mother must have missed the children.


    Evelyn was about to say something but stopped short when she noticed Fitch, who had followed


    Thssa.


    As the butler of the Royal Estates, Fitch¡¯s presence alongside Thssa was a clear message that


    Evelyn understood.


    Shortly after, the school bell rang and the teachers started to bring the children out.


    Evelyn spotted their four-year-old in a group of middle ss¡¯s kids, who were the second waveing


    out, ¡°Atticus, Dorian, Elowen, Sophia!¡± She called out excitedly as she saw the little ones hold hands in


    the line.


    It¡¯d been a while since Evelynst saw her grandchildren. Even from a distance, she was overwhelmed


    with emotion. Tears were filling her eyes.


    Thssa understood her mother¡¯s emotion the best. She squeezed her arm tightly as her gaze fixed


    on the adorable figures.


    The four little ones stood in the middle of the queue so they couldn¡¯t get out so quickly. Their original


    dreamy look was instantly reced by smiling ones as they saw Thssa and Evelyn standing at the


    door. Even their eyes turned bright and shiny.


    Thssa¡¯s heart melted when she saw the kids¡¯ innocent, soft and cute smiles.


    When the teachers finally called out her children¡¯s names, ¡°Atticus Sinir, Dorian Sinir, Elowen


    Sinir, Sophia Sinir.¡± Thssa rushed forward.


    N?vel(D)rama.Org''s content.


    ¡°Here, here, I¡¯m their mother.¡± Thssa introduced herself, fearing the teachers might not recognize


    her,


    The teacher nced at Thssa before looking towards Fitch. Upon seeing his nod, the teacher


    released the children to Thssa.


    Free atst, the kids immediately ran into Thssa¡¯s arms.


    ¡°Mommy!


    Thssa embraced them. Her heart was filled with joy and happiness, ¡°Mommy and Grandma came to


    pick you up.¡±


    Evelyn also joined in, ¡°My little treasures,e give Grandma a hug. I¡¯ve missed you all so much.¡± She


    was a little in haste upon seeing the kids.


    Evelyn felt heartbroken when she thought about those adorable pumpkins..


    Elowen, with her short little arms wide open, ran towards Evelyn, ¡°Grandma, I¡¯ve missed you too.¡±


    ¡°My sweet girl.¡± Evelyn scooped her up, nuzzling her soft little cheeks. The affection was evident in her


    voice.


    While watching from the sideline, Fitch could not help but smile at the sight of the children happily


    snuggling into Thssa and Evelyn¡¯s embrace. Touched by the heartfelt reunion, tears welled up in his


    eyes.

 Chapter 894

    Chapter 894


    The bond between a mother and a child is truly a moving scene.


    Wouldn¡¯t it be wonderful if Lysander and Ms. Everhart could just tie the knot? That way, the children


    would have aplete family and experience the happiest of childhoods.


    Fitch had an earnest hope that Thssa and Lysander would marry. But as a butler, his voice held no


    weight. He dared notment on Lysander¡¯s affairs.


    ¡°Granny, I don¡¯t want to go home today. I want to go to your ce.¡± Elowen lifted her little head from


    Evelyn¡¯s embrace, her lips pouting in a pitiful plea.


    ¡°Well¡­¡± Evelyn was not in a position to decide. She turned to Fitch, her gaze both questioning and


    pleading.


    The children understood her look.


    Dorian was the first to approach Fitch; tugging at his trouser leg, he tilted his head and said, ¡°Fitch, can


    we go to Granny¡¯s house? Please!¡±


    ¡°Yeah, Fitch, let us go. You¡¯re the best.¡± Elowen joined in, swaying his hand as she cooed sweetly.


    ¡°Fitch, can we do that, please?¡± Sophia¡¯s timid gaze also turned to Fitch.


    ¡°Fitch, please agree.¡± Atticus chimed in..


    Surrounded by the children, Fitch felt a softening in his heart. He couldn¡¯t resist their cute pleas and


    just wanted to agree immediately.


    But it wasn¡¯t his call.


    Fitch was slightly troubled. He wiped the sweat off his forehead, ¡°I¡¯ll call Lysander.¡±


    ¡°Okay, tell Daddy we miss Granny. I want the paper boat Granny folds for me. Mine is worn out.¡±


    Elowen bobbed her head like a pecking chicken, her voice soft and cute.


    ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll try.¡± Fitch wanted to do his best to grant them the chance to visit Granny¡¯s house.


    He could see the children were genuinely excited to see their grandmother, they must really love her.


    N?vel(D)rama.Org''s content.


    Thssa was also looking at Fitch expectantly.


    Fitch dialed the number. And after a few seconds, it was picked up.


    Fitch quickly reported, ¡°Lysander, I and Ms. Everhart came to pick up the kids from school. They are


    excited to see their Granny and want to go to her house.¡±


    Fitch was on edge. After saying his piece, he didn¡¯t dare to say more.


    Even over the phone, he could sense the strong aura from the other side, which seemed to be leaking


    out from the screen.


    To negotiate with Lysander over the phone took courage.


    Lysander didn¡¯t respond immediately. There was a brief silence on the other end.


    Though it was only a few seconds of silence, it put everyone¡¯s hearts on edge.


    Thssa was anxiously waiting for Lysander¡¯s reply.


    She was about to lose hope as she received no answer. She thought that Lysander was still angry with


    her for she could tell from his unrestrained actions yesterday.


    It was already a blessing that he didn¡¯t punish her and keep her away from kids.


    How could he possibly allow the children to go to Evelyn¡¯s house?


    Lysander has always been so cold and ruthless, hasn¡¯t he?


    Thssa¡¯s eyes dropped and she was ready tofort Evelyn.


    ¡°Okay, okay, I¡¯ll tell Ms. Everhart right away.¡± Fitch hung up the phone gleefully, then turned to Thssa


    with a beaming smile. ¡°Lysander agreed, but he said to bring the kids backter.¡±


    Thssa was overjoyed. She was already prepared to console Evelyn, but to her surprise, Lysander


    had agreed.

 Chapter 895

    Chapter 895


    She grinned and nodded, ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll take the kids backter.¡±


    Evelyn, who was also quite anxious, breathed a sigh of relief hearing this and smiled at the children.


    ¡°Yay! I love Daddy!¡± Elowen pped her hands jubntly, her joyful voice reminiscent of a free-spirited


    bird.


    Fitch drove Thssa, the children, and Evelyn to their home at Vibrant Oasis Residences.


    Thankfully, he was driving a seven-seater minivan. Otherwise, it would¡¯ve been a tight squeeze with so


    many people.


    Upon reaching Vibrant Oasis Residences, Thssa and the children stepped out of the van. Thssa


    turned to Fitch and said, ¡°You can go ahead, Fitch. I¡¯ll call a cab to take the kidster.¡±


    Fitch protested, ¡°A cab? Just give me a call when you¡¯re ready to leave. I¡¯lle pick you up.¡±


    ¡°That works too,¡± Thssa agreed. Managing four children in a cab would have been rather


    challenging. Having a ride would make things much more convenient.


    Fitch drove away afterward.


    Thssa and Evelyn held the hands of two children each. The adults walked steadily while the children


    bounced around with joy. The happy family headed home.


    The children chatted andughed all the way. They were absolutely delighted.


    As they climbed the stairs to their floor, they suddenly noticed a figure waiting at their doorstep.


    Upon recognizing who it was, Thssa swiftly halted and gripped the children¡¯s hands tighter, casting a


    wary nce at him.


    ¡°What are you doing here?¡± Evelyn also spotted the visitor and immediately shielded the children


    behind her. She red at the man with anger and hostility.


    Bruce smiled upon seeing Thssa, then turned his attention to Evelyn. Despite her harsh words, he


    remained cheerful. He nced at the children next to Thssa.


    ¡°These must be my four lovely grandkids. They¡¯re adorable,¡± he said as he reached out to touch the


    kids¡¯ chubby cheeks. Before he could get any closer, Thssa quickly moved the children behind her


    and got them out of his reach.


    Her children were innocent and adorable so such a scoundrel didn¡¯t deserve to touch them.


    Thssa¡¯s eyes shimmered with defiance as she stared at Bruce, ¡°Don¡¯t you darey your filthy hands


    on my children!¡± Bruce¡¯s face briefly turned pale and rigid, but he quickly regained hisposure,


    maintaining an outwardly charming demeanor that hid his cunning nature.


    ¡°Thssa, look at you. I¡¯m your father anyway. You shouldn¡¯t talk to your father like that,¡± he said.


    ¡°Shut up! You are not Thssa¡¯s father! I was with another man when I had her. She has nothing to do


    with you!¡± Evelyn retorted angrily, her voice shaking with emotion.


    Her words were filled with deep-seated resentment, both old and new.


    N?vel(D)rama.Org''s content.


    Bruce¡¯s smile faded instantly, and it was reced by a cold and menacing re. He turned to Evelyn


    and red at her, ¡°What did you say? Say it again.¡±


    While Bruce could betray women, he could not tolerate being betrayed. He would lose his temper in the


    blink of an eye even if it was just a im.


    Especially when it came to Evelyn, he could not bear her betrayal.


    Because in Bruce¡¯s mind, Evelyn loved him the most, and she had given her first time to him. She was


    supposed to be his woman! Evelyn¡¯s obsession and love for him had given him a strong sense of


    superiority. He believed that Evelyn was his to control, and only he could bed her.


    Otherwise, his powerful sense of superiority would be challenged.


    Evelyn red at Bruce, grinding her,teeth in anger. She emphasized each word, ¡°I said, the children


    are not your grandchildren, and Thssa is not your daughter! She was fathered by someone else!¡±


    Bruce¡¯s face turned vicious, ¡°Evelyn, there are consequences for spouting nonsense!¡±

 Chapter 896

    Chapter 896


    ¡°Gosh, that jerk is terrifying!¡± Behind Evelyn, little Elowen suddenly burst into tears.


    Her tiny hand, tightly clutching Evelyn¡¯s finger, trembled with fear.


    Evelyn felt a pang in her heart. She shot Bruce a furious re. ¡°I¡¯m telling the truth, Bruce. You need to


    stop bothering us. daughter and I have nothing to do with you anymore!¡±


    Bruce, already infuriated, took a menacing step towards Evelyn at her words, his posture threatening.


    My


    Thssa, visibly shaken, quickly stepped forward, blocking Bruce¡¯s path. With a stern expression, she


    said, ¡°I saw your daughter, Susan, at the dinner partyst night. She was thrown out by Lysander. My


    children are Lysander¡¯s children!¡±


    Her words were few but firm.


    Bruce paused, his sinister gaze shifting to Thssa. ¡°And what about you? Are you my daughter?¡±


    Bruce could tell that Thssa was using Lysander as a threat. Lysander had allowed Thssa to


    attend the dinner party but had thrown out Susan, Bruce¡¯s daughter. This was a clear indication that


    Lysander respected Thssa but would not extend the same courtesy to anyone associated with her.


    If he scared her children, Lysander would not let him off easily.


    Bruce¡¯s question to Thssa held a double meaning.


    Firstly, he wanted to confirm whether Evelyn had betrayed him.


    Secondly, he wanted to use Thssa to gain favor with Lysander.


    Thssa met Bruce¡¯s cold, threatening gaze, as though he would strangle her on the spot if she


    answered negatively.


    Thssa gritted her teeth and said, ¡°I wish I weren¡¯t your daughter! I dream of it!¡±


    Evelyn¡¯s eyes widened in disbelief as she gazed at Thssa. She hadn¡¯t expected Thssa to say


    that.


    Why didn¡¯t she deny being Bruce¡¯s daughter?


    Bruce¡¯s grim expression suddenly rxed into a smile. His demeanor changing as though he was


    wearing a mask.


    ¡°Thssa, I was only trying to scare you. I wasn¡¯t really going to hurt you. Don¡¯t take it to heart. I mean,


    Evelyn loves me so much, how could she possibly betray me, right, Evelyn?¡±


    Bruceughed, his eyes twinkling with an unmistakable malice.


    ConTEent bel0ngs to N?v(e)lD/rama(.)Org .


    Evelyn shivered at his gaze, instinctively shielding Elowen closer to her, avoiding his gaze.


    Her avoidance, in Bruce¡¯s eyes, was an affirmation.


    He touched his nose, lowered his head, and nced at the children hiding behind the adults. ¡°Don¡¯t be


    afraid, I¡¯m your grandfather.


    I initially came to discuss something with your grandmother, but it seems she isn¡¯t weing me.


    Perhaps I¡¯lle another time. You all continue ying and don¡¯t be scared.¡±


    As he spoke, he reached out to pat the children¡¯s heads.


    Evelyn quickly pulled the children away from his reach, ring at him, ¡°Bruce, I don¡¯t want to see you.


    Leave! Haven¡¯t you ruined my life enough?¡±


    Evelyn growled, her body trembling.


    Bruce had ruined her life, and now he was trampling on her dignity to satisfy his ego, all the while


    iming that she loved him so much and would never betray him.


    Every mention of the word ¡®love¡¯ left Evelyn feeling disgusted, tarnishing her heart.


    How could she have been so foolish to fall for such a man, spending most of her life pining for him?


    Even in her old age, she was almost fooled by his sweet words into thinking he truly wanted to give her


    and Thssa a home.


    The more Evelyn thought about her past stupidity, the more she hated herself, and Bruce, the scum


    that he was.


    ¡°Don¡¯t get agitated, Evelyn. If you don¡¯t want to see me, I¡¯ll leave. But remember, don¡¯t speak ill of me. I


    don¡¯t like hearing about you betraying me.¡±


    With that, Bruce shot Evelyn a cold, threatening nce, retracted his extended hand, and walked away.

 Chapter 897

    Chapter 897


    Elowen was still terrified, clinging to Evelyn¡¯s leg and crying.


    Evelyn, still shaken, crouched down and scooped both Elowen and Sophia into her arms. Elowen was


    sobbing, and Sophia timidly burrowed into Evelyn¡¯s embrace.


    With a pang of sympathy, Evelyn kissed their little heads andforted, ¡°Granny¡¯s little angels, don¡¯t


    cry, the bad man is gone, and there¡¯s nothing to be afraid of.¡±


    Thssa took a deep breath, allowing the tension in her heart to ease a bit. She pulled out her keys


    Content held by N?velDrama.Org.


    and unlocked the door.


    Holding Atticus and Dorian¡¯s hands, she walked in.


    Evelyn, cradling Elowen and Sophia, followed suit.


    Turning around, Thssa shut the door and even double-locked it, fearing that Bruce mighte


    back.


    ¡°Mom, I¡¯ll help you find a new ce to live soon. This ce is not safe,¡± Thssa suggested, referring


    to the constant trouble caused by Bruce and his kin. By moving and not disclosing the address, they


    would be safer.


    Evelyn sighed, ¡°Moving from one rented ce to another, we¡¯re always in a state of discement.¡±


    Thssa lowered her gaze, feeling a pang of guilt. She was still unable to afford a house, causing her


    mother to share her nomadic existence.


    ¡°Just give me a few years to save up, and I¡¯ll buy you a house. For now, we¡¯ll have to make do. I¡¯ll start


    house-hunting tomorrow,¡± Thssa promised.


    Evelyn didn¡¯t respond, simply patting Elowen¡¯s back and stroking Sophia¡¯s head to soothe them both.


    ¡°Mommy, who was that man? Was he really Grandpa?¡± Dorian tilted his little head, his innocent eyes


    full of curiosity as he looked at Thssa.


    At the mention, Evelyn, too, wore a bemused expression, casting a quizzical gaze at Thssa.


    She could understand why Thssa hadn¡¯t told Lysander that she wasn¡¯t Bruce¡¯s daughter, but why


    keep it from Bruce? Thssa patiently exined to Dorian, ¡°That man thinks he¡¯s your grandpa, but


    he¡¯s not. I handled it the way I did to avoid provoking him and risking him hurting you.¡± Thssa spoke


    earnestly.


    Bruce had been terrifying earlier.


    Just a few words from Evelyn had agitated him enough to reveal a murderous intent. With his unstable


    mood and sinister scheming, who knew what he might do if provoked?


    If he truly intended to harm them, Evelyn and Thssa wouldn¡¯t stand a chance against a strong man


    like him.


    If he hurt the children, Thssa would never forgive herself.


    In the dilemma between a moment of satisfaction and the safety of her children, Thssa had chosen


    thetter.


    After all, some damage is irreversible, but the truth will alwayse out.


    Evelyn, understanding Thssa¡¯s approach after her exnation, agreed that Bruce had indeed been


    frightening. A cornered dog would jump over the wall, let alone a man.


    ¡°Oh no, I forgot something!¡± Elowen, who had been whimpering in Evelyn¡¯s arms, suddenly perked up


    and eximed.


    This startled both Thssa and Evelyn.


    Evelyn, her nerves frayed, asked, ¡°What is it?¡±


    ¡°I need to call Daddy and tell him to catch the bad man and punch him!¡± Elowen dered, making a


    little fist, then pressed the buttons on her wristwatch phone to dial./


    On seeing this, Thssa was taken aback and hastily tried to stop her.

 Chapter 898

    Chapter 898


    Thssa was about to step forward when Evelyn stopped her.


    + UX D


    Evelyn gently took Elowen¡¯s wristwatch phone off her tiny wrist, saying in a soft voice, ¡°Sweetheart,


    let¡¯s not call your dad for now. You can y here at Grandma¡¯s for a bit, and your mom will take you


    back to your dad¡¯s soon.¡±


    Elowen pouted her rosy little lips and tilted her head in confusion. ¡°Why not?¡±


    ¡°Because if you call him, he mighte over,¡± Evelyn exined.


    ¡°Isn¡¯t that good?¡± asked Elowen.


    ¡°If your dades, he¡¯ll take you away, and you won¡¯t be able to y at Grandma¡¯s for very long.¡±


    Evelyn patiently exined to Elowen.


    Ever since Lysander had taken the kids-away, Evelyn¡¯s patience and love for them had intensified.


    In the past, she had four kids to handle all by herself, which was always overwhelming. She was often


    short on patience and high on frustration. Not only would she chastise Thssa for having too many


    kids, but she would also be gruff with the children. Now, she couldn¡¯t bear to show any harshness


    towards any of her four grandchildren. She couldn¡¯t love them enough. ¡°Oh, then I won¡¯t call,¡± Elowen


    finally agreed, letting go of the idea. She grabbed Evelyn¡¯s hand and led her into the room. ¡°Grandma,


    can you teach me how to fold a paper boat? I want to be able to make one myself. That way, when my


    paper boat sinks, I can just make a new one,¡± Elowen chatted as she walked with Evelyn.


    ¡°Of course, darling, I will teach you,¡± Evelyn finally smiled, speaking with indulgence.


    ¡°Grandma, I want to learn how to fold a paper fan!¡± Sophia¡¯s little legs carried her running towards


    them.


    ¡°Me too!¡± Dorian jumped off the sofa and ran towards the room.


    Atticus, with his innocent and adorable eyes, looked at Thssa, his gaze filled with longing and


    concern for his mother.


    ConTEent bel0ngs to N?v(e)lD/rama(.)Org .


    Thssa, seeing his desire to join his siblings in their y, smiled and lifted him off the sofa, saying,


    ¡°Go y.¡±


    At the age of four or five, it was the perfect age for carefree y and fun. Thssa wanted all her


    children to be safe, healthy, and happy.


    Being too mature only made her worry more.


    ¡°Okay, Mom, I¡¯lle back to keep youpany in a bit,¡± Atticus nodded.


    ¡°Alright,¡± Thssa replied gently.


    Atticus turned and ran towards the room, joining the others in their origami y.


    In her spare time over the past couple of days, Thssa had been looking at rental properties online.


    She hadn¡¯t found anything suitable yet, so she decided to visit a real estate agency in a few days. They


    would have more options to choose from.


    On Wednesday, after work, Thssa didn¡¯t head to Royal Estates. Instead, she called Lysander.


    ¡°My mom¡¯s lease is expiring, and I found her a new ce to live. I want to take her to see it tonight, so I


    won¡¯t be able toe to Royal Estates,¡± she exined.


    These days, Thssa had been spending her nights at Royal Estates, bncing her time between the


    kids and trying to win over Lysander. She was working to smooth over the animosity between them.


    She had been too impulsive, telling Lysander outright that she wanted nothing more to do with him.


    Now, she needed to invest more time in dispelling Lysander¡¯s control over her.


    In the past, Thssa wouldn¡¯t have informed Lysander if she wanted to apany Evelyn. She¡¯d just


    go.


    But this time, she had finally won the freedom toe and go from Royal Estates as she pleased. If


    she continued to be stubborn, she could jeopardize even this small privilege.


    So, she obediently called Lysander to ask for his permission.


    ¡°If you have something to do, then go take care of it,¡± Lysander¡¯s voice came over the phone, betraying


    no emotion.


    ¡°Alright, after finishing my things, I¡¯ll head to Royal Estates tomorrow. If the kids ask for me, please let


    them know,¡± Thssa replied with a start, quickly promising to visit Royal Estates the next day.

 Chapter 899

    Chapter 899


    ¡°That¡¯s it,¡± Thssa said.


    Before she could react, the call had ended.


    Thssa pulled the phone from her ear, wiping the sweat from her brow.


    Only heaven knows the amount of courage and mental fortitude it took for her to call Lysander and say


    those words.


    Her heart had nearly leapt from her chest as she ced the call.


    She hadn¡¯t found a house yet, and she wasn¡¯t taking Evelyn to see one tonight. Instead, she was


    heading to Fortune Restaurant to meet Callum.


    Callum had said he wanted to discuss something about Leopold with her.


    That statement had been gnawing at her mind, curiosity bubbling within her as she wondered what


    Callum wanted to say.


    She couldn¡¯t let Lysander know about the meeting with Callum, or else he¡¯d blow his top.


    So, she had no choice but to use house hunting as an excuse.


    She was terrified that if Lysander asked too many questions, she¡¯d slip up and reveal what was really


    going on.


    Fortunately, Lysander didn¡¯t ask anything.


    At eight o¡¯clock sharp, Thssa arrived at Fortune Restaurant.


    As soon as she stepped in, a waiter greeted her, politely asking, ¡°How many in your party, miss?¡±


    ¡°I am meeting someone named Callum Gordon.¡± Thssa started, but the waiter gestured for her to


    follow him before she could finish.


    Surprised, Thssa followed him to a private dining room, where Callum was already seated, sipping


    water.


    Callum looked up as Thssa entered, a warm and friendly smile on his face.


    Once Thssa was inside, the waiter closed the door behind her.


    Feeling a little tense, she nced back at the closed door but, unable to resist her curiosity, she


    approached Callum, asking, ¡°Mr. Gordon, seemed quite sure I woulde, didn¡¯t you?¡±


    N?vel(D)rama.Org''s content.


    ¡°Please, sit,¡± Callum responded, setting his tea down and gesturing to the seat across from him.


    Thssa took a seat without hesitation.


    Callum retrieved a ck briefcase from behind him, a yful smile on his lips as he said, ¡°To be


    honest, I wasn¡¯t entirely sure you¡¯de, but I¡¯d invited you, so I waited.¡±


    ¡°What did you want to discuss about Leopold?¡± Thssa asked directly, not wanting to waste any more


    time.


    Callum pulled out a document and a key from his briefcase, sliding them across the table towards her,


    ¡°Central Ring Vi, do you remember? The billion-dor property is yours.¡±


    Central Ring Vi?


    Thssa was taken aback. She nced at Callum, then at the document. It was the contract for the


    billion-dor vi in Central Ring.


    The name on the contract was hers!


    She had sold the vi already, hadn¡¯t she? She had even received the money.


    The vi was bought by Bruce after he swindled Evelyn out of her money. Thssa had tricked Bruce


    into putting the property in her name in order to recoup the money!


    Afterwards, she sold the vi and returned the money to Lysander


    Why was the vi still in her name?/


    A suspicion was growing in her mind. She looked at Callum, her eyes wide with shock and confusion,


    ¡°Why is the property still in my name?*


    ¡°You¡¯re smart, so you should have guessed by now,¡± Callum said.

 Chapter 900

    Chapter 900


    Just the mere thought of it made a knot form in Thssa¡¯s stomach.


    Her hand, clenched tightly around the papers, slightly lifted, her eyes meeting those of Callum. ¡°How


    did youe to possess the contract of this house?¡± she asked.


    ¡°Well,¡± Callum started, his casual demeanor slipping into something more serious. ¡°You see, back in


    the states, Leopold was not just my business partner, but also my closest friend. We founded Leossa


    Tech together. The Sinir group only bought out our domestic branch, but the international


    Content held by N?velDrama.Org.


    headquarters has always been managed by me.¡±


    Leopold had left to work abroad after he and Thssa broke up, that¡¯s when he met Callum. They hit it


    off instantly, and together they established Leossa Tech.


    Over the past five years, Callum had be Leopold¡¯s best friend. He shared everything with Callum,


    nothing was left unsaid. Leopold¡¯s ultimate love was Thssa, and everything he did was to win her


    back, to provide her with a secure future. Unbeknownst to him, Thssa had given birth to four


    children with Leopold¡¯s rival, Lysander.


    Upon hearing about Callum¡¯s rtionship with Leopold, Thssa¡¯s heart clenched. Although Callum


    hadn¡¯t yet revealed the details about the house contract, it was enough to confirm her worst


    suspicions.


    Thssa¡¯s breath trembled, a pang of pain in her heart.


    Callum continued, ¡°Leopold knew you were selling the vi, and he knew you were trying to liquidate it


    to repay Lysander. So, he asked me to step in. The money was transferred into your ount, but the


    ownership of the house was never transferred.¡±


    That meant the vi was still legally Thssa¡¯s.


    ¡°But¡­ I went through the process of transferring the title¡­¡± Thssa stuttered, her mind racing.


    She couldn¡¯t believe that the vi was still in her name.


    ¡°The real estate agent went through the motions with you, but your forms and documents were never


    submitted,¡± Callum exined.


    In other words, the transfer of ownership had never actually happened.


    The money was given to Thssa, but the vi remained hers.


    As Thssa grasped the situation more fully, the pain in her heart deepened, and her grip on the


    papers in her hand tightened even further.


    ¡°Why? Why would he do something like this?¡± Thssa asked, her voice barely above a whisper, pain


    evident in her eyes.


    ¡°He wanted to leave you a ce to live; he didn¡¯t want to see you homeless.¡± Callum replied.


    Thssa¡¯s heart pounded in her chest, ¡°He wanted to leave me a ce to live? What does that


    mean?¡±


    ¡°It seems you still don¡¯t understand just how much he loved you,¡± Callum¡¯s tone turned solemn.


    His hand gripped the cup, but he didn¡¯t take another sip.


    ¡°One could say he would do anything that benefited you, even if it cost him his life,¡± Callum¡¯s face


    remained calm, but the veins on his hand were popping.


    It was not until he spotted Thssa at a party that he realized who Thssa was. Even then, he wasn¡¯t


    sure until he saw Lysander enter with four children, rushing toward Thssa, calling her ¡®Mother¡¯.


    Only then was Callum certain that she was the Thssa that Leopold always talked about- the woman


    Leopold loved the most.


    The tears that had been shimmering in Thssa¡¯s eyes spilled over. Her lips trembled, her shoulders


    stiff, and her chin quivered.


    She bit her lower lip to prevent herself from crying.


    Seeing Thssa¡¯s tears made Callum¡¯s heart ache even more. He still couldn¡¯t ept the fact that


    Leopold was gone..

 Chapter 901

    Chapter 901


    Leopold was more than just a business partner to Callum; he was his best friend and confidant.


    With the departure of a soulmate like him from this world, how can his heart not ache with sorrow?


    Taking a deep breath, Callum said, ¡°You can have the house; it¡¯s his gift to you. It¡¯s now yours, and you


    can move in with your mother without the need to rent.¡±


    Tears fell onto the papers in front of Thssa, staining the white sheets with their wetness. At first, the


    droplets lingered on the surface, but gradually, they permeated the fibers, dampening the document.


    She gripped the papers tightly, then loosened her hold, pushing them towards Callum with a voice


    choked by sobs, ¡°Please, take these back to Amelia, or Leopold¡¯s father. I have no right to ept his


    things.¡±


    She wouldn¡¯t take Lysander¡¯s money, nor would she im any of Leopold¡¯s estate. She had no im to


    it, no reason to take anything from him.


    How could he be so foolish as to buy the vi she had put up for sale and secretly put it in her name?


    He knew that even with this gesture, there was no possibility for anything more between them.


    Thinking of Leopold, Thssa¡¯s heart felt as if countless thin ropes were constricting it-suffocating,


    wrenching with pain, leaving her feeling helpless, regretful, and heartbroken.


    ¡°Thssa!¡± Callum¡¯s voice dropped with a heavy resonance that filled the room, hisplexion


    darkening, his hands trembling slightly.


    With restrained anger and eyes that were typically gentle, now filled with irritation, he looked at her.


    ¡°When he was alive, you repeatedly broke his heart. Now that he¡¯s gone, dead, do you understand?


    Hisst wish was for you to ept this house he left for you. Can¡¯t you fulfill even this simple dying


    wish? Besides, I mustplete the tasks he entrusted to me before he passed!¡±


    Saying this, Callum pushed the papers and the keys back towards Thssa.


    After finishing his piece, he stood up, walked to the door of the private booth, paused, and without


    turning around, he said, ¡°I really hope you won¡¯t let him down.¡±


    With that, Callum opened the door and left.


    The door closed with a soft click.


    Thssa clenched her fists and wept, her vision blurred by tears that fell drop by drop onto the


    Content ? copyrighted by N?velDrama.Org.


    contract, the paper absorbing her


    sorrow.


    Leopold, why did you have to be so good to me? I don¡¯t deserve it; I really don¡¯t deserve your kindness.


    Why couldn¡¯t you forget me and start anew? Wouldn¡¯t that have been better for you?


    Callum said you would do anything for me, that you would risk your life without a second thought. Did


    your death have something to do with me too? Weren¡¯t you just a victim of that business explosion, but


    also of me?


    The pain in Thssa¡¯s heart was so intense she could hardly breathe.


    After what seemed like an eternity, when her tears had nearly dried up, that suffocating feeling still


    stuck in her chest, making it


    hard to breathe.


    Finally, she picked up the papers and keys from the table, preparing to leave.


    But as Thssa rose, her legs faltered, almost sending her tumbling to the floor. She grabbed the table


    just in time to steady


    herself.


    Her eyes caught sight of the contract again, and fresh tears flooded her eyes. Her hand gripping the


    table clenched tight, her nails scratching the wood with a hiss that echoed the torment in her heart.


    Was Leopold not just driven to his end by Lysander but also by her breaking his heart?


    Was she, like Lysander, a murderer of Leopold?


    Thssa couldn¡¯t forgive Lysander, nor could she forgive herself.


    08:49

 Chapter 902

    Chapter 902


    In the Vibrant Oasis Residences, Evelyn prepared and had dinner on her own. After a brief rest on the


    sofa, she headed to the bathroom for a shower, preparing for an early night¡¯s rest.


    While in the shower, a faint sound of the front door creaking open echoed through the apartment.


    Assuming it was Thssa returning, Evelyn didn¡¯t think much of it.


    Upon finishing her shower, Evelyn entered the living room dressed in pajamas, only to freeze in shock.


    There, on her couch, sat a man-an unwee presence that made her heart skip a beat.


    It was Bruce.


    Evelyn recoiled, anger ring in her eyes as she confronted him, ¡°Bruce, how in the world did you get a


    key to my ce? What are you doing here? Get out. Now!¡±


    Her finger pointed vehemently towards the door, her chest heaving with every furious breath.


    Bruce looked up, his eyes, once schrly and gentle, twinkled with mischief. ¡°I had a locksmith make


    Content held by N?velDrama.Org.


    me a copy. Your home is my home, Evelyn. Why shouldn¡¯t I be able toe in?¡±


    The sight of Evelyn, fresh from the shower with droplets of water glistening on her skin, stirred


    something within Bruce. Though years had etched their stories upon her face, her figure remained as


    slender and enticing as he remembered. The memories of their past intimacy came flooding back, with


    her alluring essence now reignited before him.


    ¡°Your home is not my home, you shameless jerk! There¡¯s nothing between us anymore!¡± Evelyn¡¯s voice


    was sharp with indignation, trying to veil the creeping fear as she noticed thescivious glint in Bruce¡¯s


    gaze.


    ¡°Get out this instant!¡± shemanded, her voice trembling as much as her resolve, not daring to


    approach him but hoping her tone would scare him off.


    Bruce stood up, advancing towards her with a predatory glint in his eyes. ¡°Evelyn, I¡¯ve been thinking


    about what you said that you¡¯ve been with other men. I doubt that¡¯s true. You¡¯re just trying to push my


    buttons.¡±


    Backpedaling, Evelyn bumped into the dining table, her anger mixed with panic. ¡°Bruce, Thssa is


    your daughter! What more do you want?¡±


    She remembered Thssa¡¯s advice not to provoke Bruce, who had grown increasingly erratic and


    dangerous. Without confirming or denying his suspicions, she hoped the mention of their daughter


    would quell his doubts.


    But hisugh was chilling and triumphant. ¡°It¡¯s been years since I¡¯ve tasted you, Evelyn. Since you


    im there¡¯s been no one else, let¡¯s see if that¡¯s true, shall we?¡±


    Evelyn¡¯s fear turned to horror. ¡°What are you trying to do?¡± she cried out, fumbling for the chair to


    defend herself.


    Before she could wield it, Bruce grabbed her wrist, twisting it behind her back and shoving her onto the


    couch.


    ¡°Ah!¡± Evelyn¡¯s cry filled the room as shended hard on the cushions.


    ¡°Evelyn, you hit me once, thought you¡¯d try it again? Don¡¯t push your luck. Tonight, let¡¯s settle both new


    and old scores,¡± Bruce snarled, pinning her down.


    ¡°Let me go, help! Mmph¡­¡± Evelyn¡¯s cries for help were muffled as Bruce mped a hand over her


    mouth, his eyes shing a deadly warning.


    She kicked out, but Bruce deftly avoided her, pinning her legs with his knee and her wrists with his


    other hand, his body bearing down on her.


    Trapped, Evelyn writhed in desperation, her struggle causing the buttons on her pajama top to pop


    open, revealing more than she intended.

 Chapter 903

    Chapter 903


    Bruce¡¯s eyes narrowed into ominous slits as his grip tightened on her arm.


    ¡°You think this ce is too cramped, huh? Don¡¯t worry, we can head back to the room,¡± Bruce said with


    a wicked grin, releasing her arm to grab the throw nket off the couch.


    ¡°Help-mmph!¡± Evelyn¡¯s plea for help was cut short as Bruce stuffed the throw nket into her mouth.


    He yanked his leather belt free, binding her hands with it, then hoisted her over his shoulder and strode


    Content provided by N?velDrama.Org.


    towards the bedroom.


    ¡°Mmmph!¡± Evelyn struggled violently, her bound hands beating against him, her legs kicking wildly.


    No matter how much her kicks hurt him, Bruce held on tight, preventing her from sliding off his


    shoulder. He marched into the bedroom, threw her onto the bed, and with angry,bored breaths,


    pinned her hands above her head.


    ¡°Settle down, Evelyn! Don¡¯t think you can scream and shout at me just because I¡¯m usually patient!


    Today I¡¯m going to show you just how tough your man can be!¡±


    After his chilling words, Bruce tied her wrists to the headboard and secured her ankles as well.


    Then, he pounced, kissing her cheeks, her neck.


    ¡°Mmmph!¡± Evelyn twisted and turned her head, trying to dodge him, but no matter how much she


    struggled, she couldn¡¯t escape Bruce¡¯s iron grip.


    Despair washed over Evelyn, tears streaming down from the corners of her eyes, disappearing into her


    hair.


    Carrying the contract for Central Ring Vi, Thssa returned home in a daze to find the house dark


    and eerily silent.


    Flipping the light switch, she noticed the dinner dishes still on the table and assumed Evelyn hadn¡¯t


    gone to bed yet.


    ¡°Mom, I¡¯m back,¡± Thssa called out towards the bedroom.


    There was no answer.


    BANG!


    Suddenly, a loud noise came from the bedroom.


    Thssa¡¯s nerves tensed. Worried, she hurried toward the bedroom, turned the doorknob, ready to


    open the door.


    But the knob wouldn¡¯t turn; it was locked from the inside.


    Thssa knocked urgently, ¡°Mom, are you in there? What was that noise just now?¡±


    Still, no response.


    The strange sound had vanished.


    A bad feeling crept into Thssa¡¯s heart, panic setting in. She pounded on the door, ¡°Mom, are you


    there? Why aren¡¯t you answering?¡±


    Silence.


    Thssa¡¯s anxiety escted. She tried to ram the door with her body, but it wouldn¡¯t budge.


    Desperate, she paced, her mind racing. Something had to have happened to her mother in that room!


    Heart racing, Thssa dashed back to the dining area, grabbed a chair, and started smashing it


    against the bedroom door.


    Despite several heavy blows, the door remained shut.

 Chapter 904

    Chapter 904


    Gasping for breath, Thssa set down the dining chair, pacing like an ant on a hot pan, anxiety written


    all over her face. A sudden thought shed through her mind-there was a spare key to the room in the


    drawer at the entrance hall. Rushing to the drawer, she rummaged through its contents and, thankfully,


    her fingers closed around the cool metal of the key. With the urgency of a wildfire, she hurried back to


    the room and swiftly unlocked the door.


    The door swung open to a scene that sent shivers crawling up Thssa¡¯s scalp; her mind went nk,


    and fear exploded like thunder in her ears.


    Dangling from the ceiling light was a long piece of fabric, and hanging from it was a body-Evelyn!


    Her limbs were still, her entire being suspended in silence.


    ¡°Mom!¡± Thssa¡¯s heart-wrenching scream filled the room as she rushed forward, climbing onto the


    bed to relieve the pressure of the fabric from Evelyn¡¯s neck.


    In her overwhelming panic, she struggled to untangle Evelyn from the makeshift noose.


    Her body weakened by fear, and she mustered every ounce of strength she had to lift Evelyn down


    from the dreadful suspension. Evelyn was unconscious, her body limp and copsing.


    Thssa, drained of energy,id her gently on the bed, pping her cheeks and crying out in trembling


    sobs, ¡°Mom, wake up, please, Mom!¡±


    She had watched Leopold die before her eyes; the memory of that despair and heart-wrenching pain


    was unforgettable. The fear that Evelyn might also slip away in front of her was unbearable.


    Trembling, crying out in despair, tears streaming down her face, Thssa pleaded, ¡°Mom, don¡¯t leave


    me, please don¡¯t leave me.¡± She sat up straight, pressing on Evelyn¡¯s chest, desperately performing


    CPR.


    Content ? copyrighted by N?velDrama.Org.


    Her body felt numb, devoid of strength, but she persisted, pouring all her remaining energy into reviving


    Evelyn.


    Minutes passed with no response, and Thssa¡¯s tears broke free as she pinched Evelyn¡¯s philtrum-a


    Evelyn remained unresponsive, intensifying the fear and agony in Thssa¡¯s heart.


    Despite Thssa¡¯s trembling body and limp hands, she persevered with the CPR.


    Suddenly, Evelyn coughed.


    Hope surged through Thssa as she wept with joy, ¡°Mom, Mom, please wake up¡­¡±


    She continued to pat Evelyn¡¯s face, a mix of worry, panic, and fear evident in her eyes.


    Evelyn took a fewbored breaths and slowly opened her eyes, her blurry vision settling on Thssa¡¯s


    tear-streaked cheeks.


    In that moment of seeing Thssa, Evelyn¡¯s tears overflowed, streaming down into her hair.


    Thssa, seeing her mother cry, felt a suffocating pain and hugged Evelyn tightly, ¡°Mom, you scared


    me to death. It¡¯s okay, it¡¯s okay, I¡¯m back now, we have a home, we won¡¯t be homeless anymore¡­


    Mom¡­¡±


    Thssa choked, feeling suffocated by intense pain in her heart.


    She couldn¡¯t understand why her mother would try to hang herself. Was it because she felt too isted


    at home all by herself?


    Thssa¡¯s heart throbbed with pain.


    Evelyn, tears streaming down her face,y/motionless on bed.


    After her sobs subsided, Thssa sat up, wiped the tears from her face, and took a tissue to dry


    Evelyn¡¯s cheeks. ¡°Mom, please talk to me about anything that¡¯s bothering you. Don¡¯t try to leave me


    without saying a word. I¡¯m so scared.¡±


    As she calmed down, Thssa noticed the bruising around Evelyn¡¯s neck and the many used tissues


    scattered on the floor.


    Having been through childbirth herself, she knew what these signs might indicate.


    Her expression turned to one of shock and fear as she asked, ¡°Mom, has someone been hurting you?¡±


    She held Evelyn¡¯s hand, worry and a rising anger burning within her.


    At the mention of being bullied, Evelyn¡¯s tears fell once more. She spoke through sobs, her voice


    fragmented, ¡°Thssa, Bruce¡­ Bruce came in¡­¡±


    The thought of her recent ordeal filled Evelyn with a sense of vition and despair.

 Chapter 905

    Chapter 905


    ¡°Bruce?¡± Thssa¡¯s face instantly contorted with rage and disgust as she wiped away her tear and said


    firmly, ¡°I¡¯m calling the cops right now!¡±


    She made a move to get out of bed to find her phone.


    Evelyn¡¯s grip on her wrist trembled as she spoke in a terrified whisper, ¡°Don¡¯t call the cops, Thssa,


    please don¡¯t!¡±


    Turning back to Evelyn, Thssa saw the fear and shame in her eyes, which only heightened her own


    concern. ¡°If we get the police to lock him up for decades, he won¡¯t be able to hurt anyone else.¡±


    ¡°He¡¯s got a video,¡± Evelyn choked out between sobs. ¡°He said if I go to the police, he¡¯ll leak it online.


    And with how things spread these days¡­ if it gets out, I¡­ I¡­¡± She couldn¡¯t finish the sentence.


    Thssa had just pulled her back from the brink.


    ¡°What?¡± Thssa was shaking with shock and fury.


    What a scumbag! A monster!


    Bruce had recorded a video!


    N?vel(D)rama.Org''s content.


    Was he trying to drive her mother to her grave?


    ¡°Mom, don¡¯t think like that, please. I¡¯ll find a way to get that video and destroy it. Just don¡¯t dwell on it,¡±


    Thssa said, squeezing Evelyn¡¯s hand, trying tofort her.


    She was terrified of Evelyn giving up hope.


    ¡°We¡¯re moving out tonight. We can¡¯t stay here any longer,¡± Thssa said with a pained voice, tears


    brimming in her eyes.


    She was grateful that her mother¡¯s hand, still warm in hers, was alive.


    Evelyn turned her gaze away, not wanting to see the worry and pain on Thssa¡¯s face, and silently let


    her tears fall.


    They had both been through too much sorrow.


    That very night, Thssa began packing some clothes and left the Vibrant Oasis Residences with


    Evelyn.


    They took a taxi to the Central Ring Vi and found the house. Opening the door, they were greeted by


    the luxurious atmosphere.


    Evelyn, who was astonished, asked, ¡°Thssa, where did this housee from? This must cost a


    fortune.¡±


    Wanting to ease her mother¡¯s worries, Thssa said, ¡°It¡¯s assigned to me by thepany. As long as I


    keep working at the Crawley Group, we can stay here.¡±


    She couldn¡¯t tell Evelyn that the house had been prepared for her by Leopold before he passed away.


    ¡°Why haven¡¯t I heard before that yourpany would provide you with amodation?¡± Evelyn was


    still concerned.


    Thssa replied, ¡°I hadn¡¯t requested it before. I applied a few days ago, and it got approved today.¡±


    ¡°Is that so? Well, that¡¯s a relief,¡± Evelyn said, nodding, her anxiety easing as she walked in to explore


    the ce.


    The vi was two stories high, with a living area on the first floor and bedrooms on the second,


    although there were also rooms on the first floor.


    Evelyn chose the room near the living room on the ground floor and said to Thssa, ¡°I¡¯ll take this one.


    I need a shower.¡±


    As she spoke, her eyes fell, and a blush of embarrassment crept up her cheeks.


    ¡°Mom, if there¡¯s something you need, just tell me,¡± Thssa urged, sensing Evelyn¡¯s difficulty in voicing


    her request.


    After a brief pause and a thought, Evelyn whispered, ¡°Could you¡­ could you pick up a pack of birth


    control pills for me?¡±


    A sharp pain pierced Thssa¡¯s heart.

 Chapter 906

    Chapter 906


    Just hearing those words, Thssa could vividly paint the picture of Evelyn¡¯s despair and misery in her


    mind.


    Bruce was an absolute monster!


    ¡°Alright, there¡¯s a pharmacy right at the entrance of the neighborhood. I¡¯ll be right back,¡± Thssa said,


    her heart boiling with rage against Bruce, though she managed a calm and gentle demeanor for


    Evelyn.


    Evelyn had barely managed to chase away the thoughts of ending it all. She couldn¡¯t bring up Bruce


    again for fear of unsettling her.


    Once Thssa saw Evelyn nod, she stepped out the door.


    828 3


    As Thssa left, the forced calm on Evelyn¡¯s face crumbled, and she let out a heavy sigh of relief. In


    that moment of utter shame and hopelessness, Evelyn had nearly given in to despair.


    But the second she woke up to Thssa¡¯s panicked, tear-streaked face, regret washed over her. She


    shouldn¡¯t have even thought about suicide. The one who deserved to die was Bruce, not her.


    If she died, the only people who would hurt were Thssa and her four little grandchildren. Bruce


    wouldn¡¯t be affected at all.


    So, she absolutely couldn¡¯t die! She couldn¡¯t let Bruce off the hook and let him continue living scot-


    free!


    Thssa quickly bought the medicine from the pharmacy and hurried home, worried sick that Evelyn


    might do something foolish again.


    Thankfully, Evelyn was in the shower.


    Hearing the sound of the shower and seeing Evelyn¡¯s silhouette through the frosted ss, Thssa


    finally felt a wave of relief wash over her.


    Her gaze dropped to her neck where she usually wore a cloud diamond ne, now conspicuously


    absent.


    She had called Lysander, telling him she¡¯d go back to stay with Evelyn, and had left the ne back


    at the Vibrant Oasis Residences.


    The ne had a tracking device, and Thssa wasn¡¯t foolish enough to wear it when she met with


    Callum.


    After the ordeal at the Vibrant Oasis Residences, she¡¯d rushed out with Evelyn,pletely forgetting


    about the ne.


    It was still there, on the shoe cab in the foyer.


    What should she do? Go back for it?


    After a moment of thought, she decided against it.


    Thssa couldn¡¯t leave Evelyn alone right now. What if she did something rash in her absence? She


    had been lucky to save her mother¡¯s life once, but she might not be so fortunate a second time.


    Thssa was terrified of losing her family.


    At Royal Estates, after Lysander had tucked the kids into bed, he retreated to his study to take care of


    some work.


    The bodyguard he had assigned to follow Thssa reported back.


    Thssa had told Lysander she¡¯d be spending the day with Evelyn, even going house hunting with her.


    But Lysander saw that the tracker in the ne had stayed put at the Vibrant Oasis Residences


    without budging an inch.


    Something was off.


    He had sent a bodyguard to tail Thssa, wanting to know what she was really up to, and why she lied


    to him.


    ¡°Mr. Sinir, Ms. Everhart went to Fortune Restaurant around 8 PM and entered a private booth. A few


    minutes after, Mr. Callum left the restaurant. Shortly after, Ms. Everhart also departed, clutching some


    papers and appearing quite distressed, as if something unpleasant had urred. Afterward, she


    returned to Vibrant Oasis Residences for half an hour, then hastily left with her mother for Central Ring


    Vi, settling into a vi there. A few minutester, Ms. Everhart went to a pharmacy and bought a pack


    N?vel(D)rama.Org''s content.


    of birth control pills.¡±


    The bodyguard, devoid of any personal emotion, ryed all of Thssa¡¯s evening whereabouts to


    Lysander.


    He couldn¡¯t enter the private booth or surveil it, so he could only state the fact that Thssa had been


    there.

 Chapter 907

    Chapter 907


    The events that took ce inside Vibrant Oasis Residences were beyond the bodyguard¡¯s auditory


    perception. He could only report what he saw.


    Having heard the bodyguard¡¯s briefing, Lysander¡¯s handsome face turned cold, and a sudden icy aura


    enveloped him.


    Even through the phone, the bodyguard could feel the oppressive atmosphere, his voice trembling as


    he spoke, ¡°After that, Ms. Everhart returned to her vi and didn¡¯te out again.¡±


    The line went dead before he could utter another word. Wiping the sweat from his brow, the bodyguard


    sighed. It was a treacherous tightrope walk, serving Mr. Sinir; one false step and he¡¯d find himself in


    deep trouble.


    Lysander¡¯s eyes shimmered with a cold fury. In a sudden movement of frustration, he snapped his pen


    in half, dark ink sttering across the document, blotting out lines of carefully written words.


    After taking the medication, Evelyn was joined by Thssa, who stayed by her side, fretting over her


    well-being.


    That evening, Thssa insisted on sharing a bed with her.


    ¡°Thssa, you haven¡¯t showered yet. Go take one, and then head up to your room on the second floor


    to sleep. I¡¯ll be fine,¡± Evelyn said, trying to reassure her.


    ¡°But it¡¯s been so long since we¡¯ve slept together. I really want to stay with you tonight,¡± Thssa


    pleaded softly, gently tugging at Evelyn¡¯s arm.


    ¡°I need some time alone to clear my head. I won¡¯t be able to sleep with you here, sweetie. Go on, back


    to your room. Don¡¯t worry; I won¡¯t do anything foolish again,¡± Evelyn replied, offering aforting


    squeeze to Thssa¡¯s hand.


    Thssa was terrified at the thought of Evelyn hurting herself again, but seeing her mother¡¯s earnest


    eyes and calm demeanor, she finally rxed.


    ¡°I¡¯ll be right here if you need me,¡± Thssa conceded, understanding her mother¡¯s need for personal


    space.


    After leaving Evelyn¡¯s room, Thssa took a hot shower and chose a room close to the staircase on


    the second floor.


    That night, her sleep was restless, her senses on high alert for any call from Evelyn.


    In a haze between sleep and wakefulness, Thssa saw a dark figure at the edge of her bed.


    Dismissing it, she closed her eyes to sleep, but her brain suddenly jolted her awake.


    As she sat up, the figure became clearer ¨C a tall, chilling presence, like a ghostly apparition.


    Her breath caught in her throat as she scooted back in fear.


    The shadow moved, leaning over her, and arge hand gripped her chin with undeniable strength.


    ¡°Who¡­who are you?¡± Thssa gasped, her voice trembling, as she instinctively grasped the hand


    holding her chin.


    ¡°Who else would be at your bedside?¡± A deep, icy voice cut through the silence, bone-chillingly


    familiar.


    That voice was low and resonant. It triggered memories in Thssa¡¯s mind.


    Lysander!


    A wave of fear washed over Thssa as the acute pain in her jaw reminded her of Lysander¡¯s foul


    mood.


    ¡°Lysander, why are you here? How did you get a key?¡± Thssa asked, trying to make him loosen his


    grip. The pain in her jaw was radiating to her temples, throbbing fiercely.


    ¡°The entire Central Ring Realty Group is mine. Is there any ce I can¡¯t enter?¡± Lysander tightened his


    hold, forcing her face up to meet his. In the darkness, his eyes glowed with a predatory light,


    N?vel(D)rama.Org''s content.


    dangerous and wild.

 Chapter 908

    Chapter 908


    Locked in his icy gaze, Thssa¡¯s pupils shivered.


    The entirety of Central Ring Realty Group belonged to Lysander. Not just this vi, but every luxurious


    home within his reach. He was a titan of power, and there was nothing beyond his means.


    ¡°It hurts¡­ Let go of me¡­¡± Thssa gasped, her jawbone felt as if it would snap, sending


    searing pain that rattled her skull. ¡°You know it hurts, huh?¡± Lysander lowered his body, his handsome


    face inches from hers, his frosty breath washing over her. dangerous, imposing, intimidating.


    Chill seemed to seep into Thssa¡¯s very bones.


    Caught unawares, Thssa bore the brunt of his anger, her heart clenched, and her face twisted in


    distress. ¡°What¡­ what did I do?¡±


    Anxiety gnawed at her.


    Had he found out about her meeting with Callum?


    Other than that, she had nothing to hide.


    ¡°What did you do with Callum? Not nning toe clean?¡± Lysander¡¯s stance was domineering. With


    one leg nted on the floor, the other knee on the bed¡¯s edge, his towering form cast a shadow over


    Thssa.


    In the pale moonlight, he was like a mountain looming before her.


    Thssa tensed all over, her pores constricted with the biting cold.


    She knew it. He had discovered her meeting with Callum.


    ¡°I did meet Callum today, and we talked for about ten minutes before he left,¡± Thssa confessed. Now


    that Lysander was aware of the situation, she couldn¡¯t keep it hidden.


    ¡°Not taking me seriously, huh?¡± Lysander¡¯s aura grew colder; his face lowered even closer, the icy


    threat of his presence making Thssa shiver.


    ¡°No, how could I not take you seriously? I genuinely spoke with Callum for a brief period and did


    nothing else.¡±


    ¡°Nothing else? Yet you bought birth control pills? Thssa, have you already made up your mind about


    the children?¡± Lysander¡¯s voice, cold and menacing, seemed to rise from the depths of hell.


    Content held by N?velDrama.Org.


    Thssa¡¯s heart skipped a beat, her pupils contracted.


    He knew about the birth control pills?


    Was he watching her?


    Fear and trepidation magnified within her.


    Panicked, she hurriedly exined, ¡°You¡¯ve got it all wrong. How could I do anything with Callum? He


    only came to give me the vi, as it was Leopold¡¯s wish to entrust it to me. I bought the pills to be


    cautious, in case you showed up unexpectedly. I didn¡¯t want a repeat of the past when we took no


    precautions. Last time was just luck. What if luck isn¡¯t on my side next time? If I got pregnant, would


    you marry me?¡±


    Thssaid bare the truth about the vi, something she couldn¡¯t hide. A simple inquiry by Lysander


    would reveal that the property was left by Leopold.


    It was also known that Callum and Leopold were close friends, and it was natural for Leopold to entrust


    the vi to her.


    But she kept the real purpose of the birth control pills to herself. The incident with her mother and


    Bruce was something she could never disclose, fearing that any leak might shock Evelyn into doing


    something desperate.


    She would not reveal anything that could harm Evelyn.


    Having seen Evelyn hanging before her eyes, Thssa could not bear to relive the fear and despair.


    If it happened again, she would lose her mother.


    So, she dared not tell.


    To Evelyn, it was a source of shame, a shadow over her heart.


    If Lysander found out, given his nature, he would surely confront Evelyn, and the psychological


    damage that would cause was unimaginable.


    1/2


    09:52


    ¡°Is that so? You¡¯re preparing against me?¡± Lysander¡¯s voice was dangerously smooth andced with an


    oppressive edge. The grip on her chin loosened slightly.


    The pain in her jaw eased, and Thssa¡¯s throbbing head suddenly felt lighter. She took abored


    breath, affirming, ¡°Yes, besides you, there¡¯s no other man for me. Who else would I need to guard


    against?¡±

 Chapter 909

    Chapter 909


    Lysander¡¯s gaze sharpened under the moonlight, his eyes shimmering like a pond¡¯s surface at dusk.


    He stared intently at Thssa¡¯s face, which remained calm, her eyes steady and unwavering.


    Her words pleased him, and the icy aura that surrounded him began to recede slightly.


    But she had lied before, and he wasn¡¯t about to take her at her word so easily.


    ¡°So, you im you were guarding against me? Is that it?¡±


    Thssa knew he wouldn¡¯t trust her without proof. ¡°If you don¡¯t believe me, I can show you the birth


    control pills I bought. They haven¡¯t been touched. If I had something going on with Callum, why would I


    buy pills and not take them? I bought them to have on hand, and like I said, I¡¯ll be at the Royal Estates


    tomorrow night.¡±


    The implication of her going to the Royal Estates with birth control pills in tow, was clear.


    A shadow passed over Lysander¡¯s eyes.


    ¡°Let go of me so I can get up. I¡¯ll show you the box of pills,¡± Thssa said.


    Lysander loosened his grip on her chin and stepped back from the bed.


    Thssa slid off the other side of the bed, not even bothering with her shoes, and walked to the door to


    switch on the light.


    The room was flooded with bright light, casting Lysander¡¯s figure into sharp relief. He was dressed in a


    ck shirt and ck pants, with two buttons on the shirt undone, exposing his strong corbones. The


    sleeves were casually rolled up, unveiling his lean, muscr arms.


    His face was stern, his presence radiating a masculine intensity. Just looking at him was enough to


    inspire fear and set hearts racing.


    ¡°Shall we go downstairs together so I can show you?¡± Thssa asked.


    With a hooded nce, Lysander moved forward.


    Thssa turned and left the room, taking the lead as they went downstairs.


    At the living room coffee table, she opened¡¯a drawer and pulled out a box of birth control pills, then


    turned and handed it to Lysander. ¡°See? The packaging hasn¡¯t even been opened.¡±


    Holding the box aloft, Thssa tried to steady the panic in her heart.


    Earlier that day, when she went to the pharmacy to buy the pills, there was a buy-one-get-one-free


    offer. She bought one and was given two.


    Evelyn had taken the other box, while this one remained unopened, its stic film still intact.


    Lysander nced at the unopened box of pills in her hand, but his icy demeanor didn¡¯t soften.


    He sat down on the couch, his dark, piercing gaze fixing on her. ¡°Come here.¡±


    Hismand was not a request and left no room for discussion.


    Thssa lowered her eyes and, holding the box of pills, slowly approached, taking a seat beside him.


    Lysander turned toward her, his index finger lifting her chin as he looked at her with a chilly expression.


    ¡°You¡¯re so eager to move into the house he left for you and still can¡¯t let him go, huh?¡±


    Thssa¡¯s pupils contracted, not just because of his words but also because, in the corner of her eye,


    she caught sight of another box of opened birth control pills beneath the pillow behind Lysander. Content provided by N?velDrama.Org.


    After giving Evelyn her dose, Thssa had carelessly ced the box on the couch, and Evelyn had


    adjusted the pillow, inadvertently hiding the box beneath it. Now, with Lysander leaning back, the pillow


    was squeezed, revealing a gap and exposing the hidden box.


    As Lysander¡¯s gaze followed hers to the pillow behind him, Thssa gasped in rm, her heart


    pounding wildly.

 Chapter 910

    Chapter 910


    As Lysander¡¯s gaze drifted towards the throw pillow, Thssa¡¯s heart skipped a beat. With a swift


    movement, she reached out, cupped his face in her hands, and forcefully turned his attention back to


    her, feigning a frantic, though strained, smile.


    ¡°This house was initially under my name; it belongs to me. Doesn¡¯t it make sense for me to live in my


    own house? If I don¡¯t live here, should I bring my mom to live in Royal Estates? She¡¯s not your mother-


    inw. Would you even agree to that?¡±


    To divert Lysander¡¯s attention, Thssa put on a flirtatious smirk and yfully teased him, sessfully


    shifting the me onto him.


    If he started digging into the house issue, he might let his possessiveness kick in, barring her and her


    mother, Evelyn, from staying. Especially after the harrowing ordeal Evelyn had just suffered, if she


    found out they were being kicked out again, the emotional toll would be immense.


    Thssa couldn¡¯t bear the thought of causing her mother more distress.


    As Thssa¡¯s hands cradled Lysander¡¯s face, her cool fingertips brushed against his warm cheeks, her


    anxious eyes pretending to flirt as they locked with Lysander¡¯s ocean-deep gaze.


    Outwardly, she appeared casual and affectionate, but inside, her heart pounded like a drum,


    ¡°thumping¡± erratically.


    Her chilly touch seemed to pour a bucket of co/.


    roverander¡¯s fiery temper, quenching the anger in his heart.


    He stared back at her with deep-set eyes, a shadow of a smile ying on his lips, ¡°You want the


    house? I¡¯ve told you before, you¡¯re my woman. Besides the title of Mrs. Sinir, just ask, and I can give


    you anything you want.¡±


    With a swift move, Lysander wrapped his arms around her slender waist and pulled her close,


    narrowing the gap between them.


    Caught by surprise, Thssa stumbled backward, her hands instinctively pressing against his chest as


    she craned her neck to look up at him.


    His face was so close she could make out each pore, the stic allure of his skin radiating a bold


    masculine charm. Those deep eyes exerted an innate authority that sent shivers down her spine.


    Her heart fluttered wildly, like a doe in the headlights.


    Lysander always managed to throw her off bnce with his domineering gestures.


    Thssaughed, ¡°Even Charlotte Ravensong couldn¡¯t dream of iming the Mrs. Sinir title. How


    could I be so presumptuous? If you really mind the house Leopold left me, fine, you can take the


    house. Just find me a new ce.¡±


    In the past, she wanted to buy a house through her own effort, providing Evelyn a permanent residence


    in Starhaven for a sense of belonging. This was intended to provide stability instead of the continuous


    N?vel(D)rama.Org''s content.


    uncertainty and anxiety that came with renting in unsafe neighborhoods.


    She thought her mother could wait a few more years for her to save up for a house. But with the


    sudden turn of events, she couldn¡¯t let her mother live in rented amodations any longer. She


    feared the anxiety and the psychological scars Bruce had inflicted might drive her mother to despair.


    She needed to lead her mother out of the darkness, and the first step was to provide a stable home.


    Lysander himself had said it aside from the title of Mrs. Sinir, he would give her anything she


    desired.


    Lysander gazed deeply at her in silence. His eyes, as profound as the depths of the sea, were


    unfathomable, making it impossible to guess or see through them.


    The longer she looked, the more a wave of panic rose within her.


    Thssa met his eyes for a few seconds, her anxiety mounting, ¡°Forget it, let¡¯s just pretend I didn¡¯t¡­¡±


    Just as Thssa was about to give up, his voice broke through.


    ¡°Pick any vi in the Royal Estates, and it¡¯s yours. Once you¡¯ve chosen, I¡¯ll transfer the deed to your


    name. You and your mother can live there,¡± Lysander interrupted, his voice a low rumble.


    Thssa¡¯s eyes widened, holding his gaze for a moment longer, sensing his earnestness. She


    suddenly retreated, ¡°Let¡¯s not bother with a vi in Royal Estates: They¡¯re way too upscale, not even a


    billion could buy one there. It doesn¡¯t match the value of this ce.¡±


    Evelyn was emotionally unstable, and Thssa didn¡¯t want to live in Royal Estates, no matter how


    luxurious. Even if they weren¡¯t under the same roof as Lysander, the proximity was too close, which


    was a constant source of dread. Living there, always fearing Lysander might pop by, would be no


    different from the anxiety of renting.

 Chapter 911

    Chapter 911


    Furthermore, Thssa had her own reasons. When she needed to unwind, she¡¯d retreat to Evelyn¡¯s


    ce-a sanctuary away from the ever-looming presence of Lysander. It granted her the solitude she


    craved.


    But if Evelyn moved into the Royal Estates, Thssa¡¯s refuge would bepromised. She¡¯d be on


    edge even there, always on her. toes, ready to deal with Lysander¡¯s incessant demands. There was no


    moment of rxation for her body.


    No way was Thssa about to subject herself to that kind of torment.


    Lysander¡¯s deep-set eyes suddenly grew chilly, his face taut with tension. With a quick flick, he lifted


    her chin, forcing her to meet his gaze.


    ¡°You¡¯re bargaining with me using Leopold¡¯s things?¡± His voice was a low growl, icy and restrained with


    anger.


    At the heart of it, she was always willing to ept whatever Leopold gave her, but not the things


    Lysander offered. She had maintained a consistent distance from him.


    She loved Leopold, and that¡¯s why she was willing to take the house from him.


    With Lysander, it was mere obligation, so much so that she wouldn¡¯t even ept his money!


    The nerve of her, harboring feelings for another man yet dreaming of bing Mrs. Sinir!


    He was determined not to follow in his father¡¯s footsteps.


    Thssa felt the sudden chill emanating from Lysander, her pupils quivered, and she was about to


    speak when the door from the downstairs room creaked open, and Evelyn¡¯s groggy voice floated up.


    ¡°Thssa, who¡¯s there?¡±


    Thssa¡¯s heart skipped a beat as she turned toward the sound and saw Evelyn. Her face flushed with


    panic as she quickly turned away, removing Lysander¡¯s finger from her chin and his arm from around


    her waist.


    In a flurry, she stood up and walked over to Evelyn. ¡°Mom, did we wake you up?¡±


    Her face was a jumble of embarrassment and difort. The close encounter she¡¯d had with


    Lysander had been witnessed by Evelyn, and she was mortified.


    ¡°What are you doing up sote?¡± Evelyn grasped Thssa¡¯s hand, her tone a mix of reprimand and


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    concern. Then, turning to Lysander with a wary and polite smile, she said, ¡°Mr. Sinir, it¡¯s quitete for


    a visit. I appreciate the thought. Would you like some water?¡±


    Evelyn made a move towards the kitchen.


    Lysander, his face still an impassive mask, stood up and said coolly, ¡°No, thank you.¡±


    His shadowed eyes swept over Thssa before he turned to leave.


    ¡°Thssa, go and see Mr. Sinir off.¡± Evelyn made no attempt to keep Lysander, instead signaling


    Thssa to see him off.


    Thssa followed Lysander to the door, offering a simple, ¡°Drive safe,¡± as he left.


    Lysander turned back, his piercing gaze locking onto hers for a moment, making her breathless.

 Chapter 912

    Chapter 912


    Just when Thssa¡¯s heart was racing with anxiety, Lysander withdrew his gaze and turned to get back


    into his car. Thssa watched his taillights fade into the night, her tight chest finally easing as she


    made her way back inside.


    Evelyn was waiting in the living room, her face etched with concern as she approached. ¡°What did


    Lysander want by showing up here sote?¡±


    Evelyn¡¯s eyes were a mix of tense worry and suppressed anger. She had just been through a rough


    patch with Bruce, who had been nothing but trouble and torment. She had lost all faith in men.


    Lysander, who hadn¡¯t given Thssa anymitment, seemed no different than Bruce in his relentless


    pursuit. What was the difference, really? Bruce had a wife, and although Lysander didn¡¯t have another


    woman besides Thssa, he did have a fianc¨¦e! In Evelyn¡¯s eyes, he was no different from Bruce!


    She had pretended to be polite earlier, but in truth, she wanted Lysander gone, not wanting Thssa to


    suffer any more.


    ¡°Mom, don¡¯t worry. He just found out about my new ce and wanted to check in. It¡¯s all good now. You


    should head back to bed,¡± Thssa said, trying to sound nonchnt to ease her mother¡¯s mind.


    ¡°Is that really all it was?¡± Evelyn pressed, still uneasy.


    ¡°Of course, why would I lie to you? Now, don¡¯t worry. Go get some sleep; it¡¯s the middle of the night,¡±


    Thssa reassured her. ¡°You realize it¡¯ste, then? Get some rest yourself. You have work tomorrow.


    Thepany has been so good to you; don¡¯t ck off now. These days, you can¡¯t rely on men, only on


    yourself. Don¡¯t let your job down.¡±


    Evelyn lectured Thssa. She had once hoped Thssa would marry a good man, but now she saw


    things differently. Self-reliance was key.


    Thssa had finally found apany willing to give her a ce to stay, and she had to work hard to


    give something back. ¡°I get it, Mom. Now, please rest,¡± Thssa urged.


    ¡°Mhm, you too. You won¡¯t get many hours of sleep before it¡¯s time to get up for work,¡± Evelyn continued


    her motherly nagging. ¡°Okay, Mom, I¡¯m off to bed,¡± Thssa responded.


    Seeing her mother had the energy and mind to fuss over her again brought a sense of joy to


    Thssa¡¯s heart.


    At least Evelyn wasn¡¯t drowning in her sorrows anymore.


    Watching Evelyn retire to her room, Thssa felt relieved and turned to head upstairs, forgetting about


    the opened box of birth control pills under the pillow.


    The next morning, Thssa woke up to the delicious scent of food.


    She wandered into the kitchen to find Evelyn aproned up and bustling about, looking as normal as ever,


    N?vel(D)rama.Org''s content.


    as if nothing had happened.


    Thssa¡¯s worries melted away.


    ¡°You¡¯re up! Quickly have your meal and head to work. Don¡¯t bete,¡± Evelyn said as she ted the


    food.


    Thssa took her seat at the table, a smile ying on her lips. ¡°This smells amazing, Mom. Your


    cooking is as wonderful as ever. In a few days, I¡¯ll bring the kids over. They must be missing your


    dishes.¡±


    The food prepared by the chefs at Royal Estates rivals that of a five-star hotel. How could the kids


    remember my home-cooked dishes?¡± Evelyn responded.


    ¡°Oh, you¡¯re wrong there, Mom. The taste of home can¡¯t be reced by any chef¡¯s skills. For me and the


    kids, wherever you are, that¡¯s home,¡± Thssa said, heartily digging in.


    Evelyn¡¯s hand paused mid-air, cutlery in grasp, as a wave of bittersweet emotion washed over her.


    Thssa¡¯s words were an affirmation of her importance. She and the kids needed her.


    Evelyn felt a pang of guilt recalling her foolish act the day before. She had scared Thssa, no doubt.


    Reflecting on it, Evelyn regretted her impulsiveness. She shouldn¡¯t have considered such a drastic way


    out. Had she gone through with it, Thssa and the kids would have been left truly alone.

 Chapter 913

    Chapter 913


    Especially Thssa, she would be like an ind adrift in the vast ocean, utterly alone and


    unsupported.


    Evelyn masked the sourness in her heart with a smile and spoke in a light tone, ¡°That¡¯s true. You all


    were raised on the meals | cooked.¡±


    ¡°Absolutely, I want to eat Mom¡¯s cooking for the rest of my life,¡± Thssa replied, her smile as sweet as


    apple pie.


    After the meal, Evelyn urged Thssa to go to work, but Thssa was dragging her feet. She couldn¡¯t


    shake off her worry about leaving Evelyn alone at home, fearing that something might happen again.


    Evelyn noticed Thssa¡¯s concern and reassured her, ¡°Bruce doesn¡¯t know where we live now, and


    I¡¯ve let go of what happened yesterday. It¡¯s not like we haven¡¯t been through this sort of thing with him


    before. I¡¯ll just think of it as being nipped by a dog one more time. Don¡¯t worry about me, sweetheart,


    I¡¯m really okay. Yesterday was just a moment of foolishness; it won¡¯t happen again.¡±


    Assured by her mother¡¯s words, Thssa finally set out with peace of mind.


    She arrived there to find a familiar Rolls-Royce parked arrogantly in front of the Crawley Group


    headquarters, shining under the morning sun.


    Who else but Lysander could wield such power and audacity to park so tantly in front of another


    Thssa paused for a moment, gazing at the luxurious car that almost seemed tomand the air


    around it. Even though the windows were tinted, allowing visibility from the inside out but not the other


    way around, Thssa could almost feel a deep, piercing gaze fixed on her, the intensity making her


    breaths careful and measured.


    She knew without a doubt who the car was waiting for.


    After a brief hesitation, Thssa approached the vehicle, her hands sped in front of her, a touch of


    reserve in her manner.


    As she drew close, the window rolled down revealing Lysander¡¯s handsome face. He extended his arm


    out of the window, offering her a man envelope.


    Thssa, taken aback, stared nkly at the envelope.


    ¡°Take it,¡± Lysandermanded.


    Thssa was momentarily startled, and not daring to dy, she quickly extended her hand and took


    the envelope from his hand.


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    ¡°Move in with your mother this afternoon,¡± Lysander said, his gaze shifting away from her and signaling


    the driver, ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡±


    The car pulled away from Thssa, gliding over the asphalt and quickly disappearing from view.


    Thssa turned her attention to the envelope, pulling out a contract. A set of keys fell onto the ground.


    Surprised, she picked up the keys and opened the contract. It was for the purchase of a house, and the


    name of the homeowner was Thssa!


    The address was Star Harbor Vi, a sprawling estate covering 538 square meters, a three-story


    mansion!


    Star Harbor Vi was located in the heart of the city, where the housing prices were sky-high, not to


    mention for a vi.


    Thssa nced at the price, a whopping 348 million!


    Was Lysander gifting her this vi?


    After their disagreement the night before, she thought the matter was closed and settled without


    resolution.


    But here Lysander had gone and put a vi worth hundreds of millions under her name!


    Thssa was astonished and incredulous, all the more so because it waspletely unexpected!


    Was Lysander giving her such an expensive house to sever ties with Leopold?


    When all was said and done, Leopold remained a thorn in Lysander¡¯s side.


    But why? Why should Lysander consider Leopold a thorn? Lysander¡¯s interest in her was purely


    possessive; he didn¡¯t love her, so why should he care about her past with Leopold?

 Chapter 914

    Chapter 914


    Thssa shook her head, trying to dispel the whirlwind of thoughts in her mind.


    Lysander was inherently deep and enigmatic, with fluctuating moods that made him inscrutable. His


    thoughts couldn¡¯t be easily understood with ordinary logic.


    So, when Lysander had gifted her a house, she decided to just ept it.


    epting the house meant not only a home for Evelyn but also reassuring Lysander, making it clear to


    him that she had no ulterior motives.


    It also provided a solid base from which to n her eventual departure.


    Thssa arrived at the office as usual, and the day went smoothly.


    After work, she returned home and began packing, telling Evelyn, ¡°Mom, we¡¯re moving. Lysander


    bought me a house, and it¡¯s in my name. We won¡¯t have to worry about thepany taking back this


    ce.¡±


    Her words to Evelyn were a mix of truth and half-truths.


    Indeed, Lysander had given her the other property, but the ce they currently lived in wasn¡¯t provided


    by the Crawley Group. It was a legacy from Leopold.


    This wasn¡¯t something she could share with Evelyn, who had always harbored a grudge about her past


    with Leopold, who was now deceased.


    Knowing how considerate Leopold had been to Thssa might stir unwanted feelings in Evelyn.


    ¡°What did you say? Lysander bought you a house?¡± Evelyn asked, her voiceced with surprise.


    Thssa nodded calmly, continuing to pack clothes into a suitcase. ¡°Yes, he came overst night just


    to tell me about it.¡± ¡°Do you think¡­ maybe he¡¯s starting to have feelings for you?¡± Evelyn leaned in,


    hope flickering in her eyes as she scrutinized Thssa.


    Thssa didn¡¯t look up, focusing on her task and replying, ¡°Mom, let¡¯s just appreciate the present. No


    need to overthink.¡± Lysander had been clear the night before ¨C ?side from the Mrs. Sinir title, she


    could ask for anything else.


    But the title of Mrs. Sinir was off-limits. His repeated warnings against her harboring any matrimonial


    hopes had been crystal clear. If she hadn¡¯t grasped his intentions by now, she¡¯d be a fool.


    He was simply indulging his possessiveness and control, still caught up in the novelty of their


    rtionship. He wanted her to remain his lover.


    ¡°Ah, well, you¡¯re right. Let¡¯s focus on the present,¡± Evelyn sighed, aware that marrying into high society


    was no simple matter. Even if Thssa had given Lysander four children,cking a pedigree and


    connections meant the Sinir family would never truly ept her.


    Back when Grandma Sybil was alive, there might have been a chance, given Sybil¡¯s sensible nature.


    However, since her passing, the odds of Thssa marrying Lysander had dwindled even further.


    ¡°He owes you that much, for the children and everything else. It¡¯s the least he can do,¡± Evelyn consoled


    herself and Thssa.


    Deep down, Evelyn felt a knot of unease. Thssa and Lysander¡¯s current status was neither that of


    lovers nor strangers. They were the most familiar strangers, and that was the most disheartening part.


    Evelyn helped Thssa pack, and soon everything was ready to go.


    As they were leaving, Thssa cast a lingering look around the house. Even though she had only


    stayed for one day, she felt a pang of mncholy and loss.


    This was the home Leopold had prepared for her, and now she was leaving it behind forever, just like


    Content ? copyrighted by N?velDrama.Org.


    her ill-fated marriage to him.


    Arriving at Star Harbor Vi, the luxury of the gatedmunity was apparent. Thssa unlocked the


    door to their new home.


    Evelyn gasped, ¡°This is toovish, too grand!¡±


    She had imagined Lysander buying Thssa a modest apartment, not a vi that dwarfed the already


    impressive one provided by thepany. The opulence of their new home was breathtaking, a


    testament to the scale of Lysander¡¯s wealth and generosity.

 Chapter 915

    Chapter 915


    Thssa was genuinely shell-shocked. She knew the ce was going to be grand, but the opulence of


    Content ? copyrighted by N?velDrama.Org.


    the decor and furnishings took luxury to a whole new level.


    No wonder the price tag was in the millions!


    ¡°Thssa, Lysander really splurged on you this time. I mean, if the guy can drop that kind of dough,


    why can¡¯t hemit to a future with you?¡± Evelyn mused, still unable to wrap her head around it.


    For Thssa¡¯s sake, Lysander had built a mansion in exclusive Hollowbrook, and now he¡¯d gone and


    purchased this ptial estate in Starhaven.


    When it came to spending money, the man was in a league of his own. Yet, when it came to matters of


    the heart, his wallet might as well have been a steel trap.


    ¡°Mom, let¡¯s just get our stuff inside,¡± Thssa said, sidestepping the conversation with an armful of


    bags. She didn¡¯t bother to answer Evelyn directly, expertly changing the subject.


    This tired old topic didn¡¯t need another go-around.


    Evelyn settled into the guest room downstairs while Thssa imed a room on the second floor by


    the staircase.


    As Thssa was organizing her clothes, her phone buzzed with a call.


    Seeing Lysander¡¯s name on the screen, her nerves instantly tensed. She hadn¡¯t even answered yet


    and already felt the weight of his presence.


    She put down the shirt she was folding, wiped off the non-existence dust on her hands, and answered


    the call.


    ¡°Have you settled in?¡± Lysander¡¯s deep, resonant voice held no hint of emotion.


    ¡°Yep, just got in,¡± Thssa replied earnestly.


    ¡°Do you like it?¡± Lysander asked.


    There was a pause. Thssa knew what he wanted to hear. ¡°The ce is huge and gorgeous. I mean,


    it¡¯s a vi. Who wouldn¡¯t love living here?¡±


    Silence on the other end.


    After a two-second pause, Thssa added, ¡°Where are you? I¡¯lle over.¡±


    Lysander¡¯s grip on his phone tightened ever so slightly. It had always been him seeking her out. Her


    offering toe to him was a rarity.


    ¡°The Sinir Group, CEO¡¯s office,¡± Lysander stated his location.


    ¡°Okay, I¡¯ll be there in half an hour,¡± said Thssa.


    As soon as she finished speaking, the line went dead.


    F


    Thssa pulled the phone away from her ear, nced at the screen to confirm the call had ended,


    then went downstairs to inform Evelyn before heading out.


    The Sinir Group, CEO¡¯s office.


    Lysander had finished his pile of paperwork and no new files hade in.


    Sitting back in his chair, he stared at hisputer screen as David came in to report on a few work


    matters. Noting that Lysander had wrapped up his work and his gaze hadn¡¯t shifted from the monitor,


    David realized his boss must be winding down.


    Wrapping up the briefing, David ventured, ¡°Mr. Sinir, it¡¯s already seven. Are you not going home?


    That¡¯s all from today¡¯s meeting, and there¡¯s no more work pending.¡± ending.¡±


    Lysander shot him a nce that could freeze boiling water.


    David paused, aware he might have overstepped. Was that look telling him to mind his own business?


    He tightened his cor and quickly bowed his head, saying, ¡°Mr. Sinir, your diligence sets the bar for


    us all. Is there anything else you¡¯d like me to take care of? I can stayte and help you with overtime.¡±


    No sooner had he finished than he was met with Lysander¡¯s icy stare,den with that familiar


    oppressive force.


    1/1


    09:53

 Chapter 916

    Chapter 916


    David, always sharp as a tack, somehow dropped the ball this time.


    With a nce as cold as the steel of a knight¡¯s sword, Lysander issued a chilling ultimatum: ¡°If you


    don¡¯t leave now, prepare to burn the midnight oil every day for the next year.¡±


    David blinked, taken aback, and quickly stammered, ¡°I¡¯m on my way out, right this second.¡±


    With that, he scurried out of the CEO¡¯s office.


    No sooner had he stepped into the hall than he spotted Thssa emerging from the elevator.


    Seeing her, it clicked for David. The reason Lysander, who usually clocked out with the precision of Big


    Ben, was sticking around because he was waiting for someone.


    And who else couldmand such attention from Lysander, if not Thssa?


    ¡°Hello, Ms. Everhart,¡± David greeted her, taking the initiative.


    Thssa offered a polite smile in return. ¡°David, haven¡¯t you finished work yet?¡±


    Content provided by N?velDrama.Org.


    ¡°I was about to head out. nned to stick around for Mr. Sinir¡¯s all-nighter, but I got the boot. No


    clue who he¡¯s waiting for. Anyone else would just be in the way, it seems.¡±


    The subtext in David¡¯s words was clear as day.


    Thssa¡¯s smile faltered for a moment but quickly recovered. ¡°If a clever guy like you doesn¡¯t know


    who Mr. Sinir¡¯s waiting for, how would I? I¡¯m here to see him on some business. Is he still in his


    office?¡±


    ¡°Indeed. For all we know, he might be waiting for you, Ms. Everhart.¡± David¡¯s smile was measured.


    After a courteous nod to Thssa, he stepped into the elevator and the doors closed behind him.


    A twitch yed at Thssa¡¯s lips. David had circled back to her after all that beating around the bush.


    Couldn¡¯t the man just speak his mind? Why the need for mental gymnastics?


    Reaching Lysander¡¯s office, Thssa knocked lightly on the door.


    Upon receiving a grunt of permission, she entered. Lysander sat behind his desk, his formidable frame


    enveloped in a ck leather chair, exuding an aura of deep-seated authority.


    As Thssa approached, her breath instinctively slowed, cowed by his imposing presence.


    She ced a folder on the desk with care. ¡°Here¡¯s the contract and keys for the Central Ring Vi. It¡¯s


    all yours to handle.¡± She¡¯d wrestled with herself beforeing. The vi was the only thing left to her


    by Leopold, and she had wanted to keep it as a


    memento.


    But she knew that since Lysander had offered a trade, she had to relinquish the property.


    How could Lysander, with hismanding desires and intense possessiveness, allow her to keep


    something from Leopold?


    ¡°You came to talk about this?¡± Lysander¡¯s profound gaze fixed on her, his presence sending a chill, his


    handsome face taut.


    ¡°Forget it. If you don¡¯t want to deal with this, just pretend I was never here.¡± Thssa¡¯s patience waned,


    and she reached for the folder.


    But her wrist was suddenly gripped in his firm hold.


    Thssa¡¯s heart tightened and found herself locking eyes with Lysander¡¯s excessively profound gaze.


    ¡°Got a temper, huh?¡±


    He stared at her, a predator eyeing its prey.


    ¡°Last night I told you if you had a problem with the house Leopold left me, we could swap. You¡¯ve given


    me a vi in exchange for that house. I¡¯m here delivering the paperwork as we agreed, right?¡±


    Thssa tried to twist her wrist free, but his grip was iron-tight, unwavering. The more she struggled,


    the tighter he held, causing her skin to sting with pain.


    Rising to his feet, Lysander¡¯s towering form instantly cast a shadow that engulfed Thssa. The


    invasive presence possessed the ability to sweep through Thssa¡¯s soul, entirely devouring it.


    Her heart fluttered, and in the next moment, Lysander pulled her along with a forceful tug.


    ¡°Ah!¡± Thssa eximed, her body no longer under her ownmand.

 Chapter 917

    Chapter 917


    Thssa felt the firm grip of Lysander¡¯s hand pulling her around the desk, stumbling until she found


    herself directly in front of him. He clutched her chin, tilting her head up to meet his piercing gaze. His


    eyes, seething with unspoken fury, zed intensely.


    ¡°Always Leopold, Leopold, Leopold! You can¡¯t stand to leave his home, can you? Wake up, Thssa!


    Leopold¡¯s gone, erased from. this world, never to return!¡±


    Lysander¡¯s voice was edged with anger and heavy with breath. His eyes held a storm of emotions-


    rage, urgency, and a barely discernible trace of helplessness.


    Angry and restless because he couldn¡¯t sway her heart.


    A sharp pain stabbed through Thssa¡¯s chest, a burning ache that quickly spread. The physical pain


    at her wrist and jaw was nothingpared to the agony emanating from her heart.


    The sorrow and endurance Thssa had kept hidden were exposed by Lysander¡¯s words. Her eyes


    shimmered with tears as she fiercely met his gaze, determined not to let them fall.


    ¡°How did he die, Lysander? You know better than anyone. You were there; you saw him die right before


    your eyes. Don¡¯t you feel even a shred of guilt?¡±


    Tears slipped from her eyes as her voice trembled with a low growl, her breathing ragged.


    She had confronted Lysander, demanding to know why he waited until after Leopold¡¯s death to have


    Sinir Group¡¯s PR department announce that the explosion was due to a malfunction in a smartphone


    produced by their subsidiary, Leossa Electronics, resulting in a billion-dor settlement to the families.


    Why did he choose to address this matter only after Leopold¡¯s death?


    And how had he responded?


    He maintained this authoritative and untouchable stance, asserting that she had the audacity to


    question his business decisions! Indeed, she couldn¡¯t challenge his business acumen. He was the


    golden boy, amercial prodigy. His business decisions were undeniably correct! However, they


    were also exceedingly ruthless to the point where even the life of his own nephew couldn¡¯t outweigh


    considerations of profits and business strategy!


    Leopold had died because of the explosion, driven to his end by Lysander.


    In her saner moments, Thssa could silently endure, nning to get close to Lysander, waiting for


    him to let his guard down so she could escape with the children.


    But now, with the floodgates of her heart flung open, her pain washed over her like a deluge, and she


    couldn¡¯t hold back her


    usations.


    Lysander¡¯s eyes turned colder, like the depths of the ocean, as if the tempest within could engulf


    Thssa whole.


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    ¡°What did you say? Guilt? Listen to me, Thssa, I, Lysander Sinir, will never feel guilt toward


    anyone! If Leopold¡¯s still upying your heart, I have ways to drive him out!¡±


    His handsome face darkened ominously, his breath as cold as ice cascading across her face,


    threatening to freeze her in ce.


    Lysander clenched his jaw, barely containing his rage.


    He had given Leopold numerous chances to admit his errors and offered to fix things, but Leopold


    stubbornly insisted that he was responsible for the explosion, pressuring him to make a mistake, to


    relinquish control of the Sinir Group!


    Lysander never took the fall for anyone else!


    But because of Leopold¡¯s death, the Sinir Group had taken the me. What was there to feel guilty


    about? His only regret was not sending Leopold to jail sooner.


    ¡°What are you going to do?¡± Thssa¡¯s voice quivered with fear as she saw Lysander¡¯s dark and


    brooding expression, her pupils constricting.


    ¡°Ah!¡± In the next moment, her head was forcibly pushed down, bringing her to her knees before him.


    He unzipped his jeans.

 Chapter 918

    Chapter 918


    After the storm had passed, Thssay sprawled on the couch,pletely drained.


    Lysander, meanwhile, had slipped back into his clothes with a grace and precision that belied the fervor


    of moments ago. Hisposure was fully intact, as if the intensity they had shared had left no imprint


    on him whatsoever.


    His movements were measured and deliberate as he buttoned his shirt with one hand, exuding the


    calm dominance of a lion in its prime. He approached the couch and leaned over, pinching Thssa¡¯s


    chin between his thumb and forefinger, forcing her to look directly at him.


    His gaze mirrored the depth of the night sky, profound and chilling, without a trace of hoarseness from


    the recent excitement.


    ¡°I want you to be filled with my presence-in your body, on your lips, in your heart. As long as you


    indulge in foolish dreams, you will know no peace. Understand?¡± His cold breath washed over her face,


    icy as a winter gale.


    Thssa¡¯s pupils dted in shock,pelled to meet his gaze, her eyes swirling with terror, panic, and


    fear.


    ¡°Lysander, what do you want from me?¡± she gasped, her voice hoarse and faint. Her throat was raw,


    her words barely more than a rasp.


    What Lysander had done to her was nothing short of a nightmare.


    ¡°What do I want? You¡¯ll understand in the end!¡± Lysander gritted his teeth, his cold words dropping as


    he let go of her chin. He grabbed a throw from the couch and draped it over her, perfectly covering her


    body.


    Lysander stood up, his long legs carrying him out of the office with amanding stride.


    Thssa felt like a leaf in the wind, limp and powerless on the couch. Lysander¡¯s tall, imposing figure


    exited the office, and as the door clicked shut behind him, her body slumped, and tears cascaded down


    her cheeks. She bit her lip, determined not to make a sound as she wept.


    The physical pain, the rawness of her throat, the psychological terror-all of it was overwhelming.


    Lysander was a demon from the deepest pits, utterly terrifying, and her whole body trembled at the


    thought of him.


    Several dayster.


    After work, Thssa stepped out of Crawley Group headquarters, ready to cross the street to the bus


    stop.


    Someone blocked her view, and as she looked up, she saw a face that filled her with revulsion.


    Thssa tensed up instantly, her guard up, trying to sidestep the figure blocking her path.


    Bruce retreated a few steps, only to obstruct her again, his smile dripping with insincerity. ¡°Thssa,


    it¡¯s been so long. I¡¯ve missed you, my daughter. Why do you react to me as if I were a ghost?¡±


    N?vel(D)rama.Org''s content.


    Suppressing her rising fury, Thssa red at him with icy detachment. ¡°Bruce, I don¡¯t want to see


    you. Just vanish from my sight!¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t be like that,¡± he taunted. ¡°Your mother and I, we¡¯ve been very close recently. In fact, we¡¯ve been


    enjoying each other¡¯spany immensely.¡±


    At his words, Thssa shook with rage, unable to contain herself any longer. ¡°Shut up! I¡¯ll call the


    police on you right now!¡± She quivered with anger, fumbling for her phone, but Bruce snatched it away


    in one swift move.


    Thssa, furious, reached for it, but Bruce held it high out of her reach, his face turning dark. ¡°I have a


    video, you know. if you call the cops, it¡¯ll get leaked. Everyone could see how much your mother


    enjoyed our time together. Imagine the gossip, the pointing fingers. Think she could handle that?¡±

 Chapter 919

    Chapter 919


    Thssa¡¯s hand, poised to snatch the phone, froze mid-air. Her eyes reddened, and her fists clenched


    so tight they trembled as she fixed Bruce with a gaze filled with restrained ferocity. It was a wonder she


    didn¡¯t lunge at him in a frenzy of rage.


    ¡°There¡¯s a caf¨¦ up ahead; let¡¯s sit down and talk,¡± Bruce said coolly, seemingly unaffected by


    Thssa¡¯s fuming anger. His lips were curled in an easy smile as he handed the phone back to her.


    Grinding her teeth so hard they might crack, Thssa snatched the phone and stormed off, her every


    step radiating suppressed fury.


    Bruce, about to speak, noticed she was heading towards the caf¨¦ and wisely chose to save his words,


    following her with a self-satisfied smirk.


    Once settled at a corner table, Bruce ordered an Americano and asked Thssa if she wanted


    anything. She stared back icily. ¡°I don¡¯t need coffee. What do you want to say? My time is precious, and


    I won¡¯t waste it on you!¡±


    ¡°Thssa,¡± Bruce began, lifting his coffee for a sip, ¡°after all, there¡¯s some bond between us, we¡¯re


    blood. Yet, you show no familial affection towards me. I suppose that¡¯s fair because I never did my duty


    by you as a father. It¡¯s only natural our rtionship is strained.¡±


    He could never forget how she¡¯d conned him out of a fortune that fateful day, leaving him dangling from


    a zip line, his fear so palpable it was almost a living thing. Did she have any idea how terrified he¡¯d


    been? Thank goodness he¡¯d been lucky enough to be rescued.


    ¡°Bruce, if you have any shred of decency left, you¡¯ll delete that video and stay away from my mom


    forever!¡± Thssa¡¯s voice shook with barely contained anger, and her body taut like a coiled spring.


    ¡°Now, why would I do that?¡± Bruce replied, feigning innocence. ¡°Your mom and I, we have a special


    connection. She¡¯d miss me too much.¡±


    Her fists clenched harder at his words, a sure sign she was about to explode with rage.


    ¡°What will it take for you to delete that video?¡± Thssa hissed through clenched teeth.


    ¡°It¡¯s quite simple,¡± Bruce said calmly, as if discussing the weather. ¡°Help my daughter Susan win over


    Lysander, make sure she bes his girl, and I¡¯ll delete the video of your mother.¡±


    Thssa¡¯s shock was brief; she quickly regained herposure. Bruce¡¯s intentions were transparent-


    he¡¯d seen no advantage in dealing with her, so now he wanted Susan to get close to Lysander. If


    Susan, his own flesh and blood, became Lysander¡¯s woman, Bruce could reap endless benefits


    N?vel(D)rama.Org''s content.


    through her.


    Such wishful thinking!


    How could she possibly allow a woman like Susan to step into her children¡¯s life as a stepmother?


    But with that video in Bruce¡¯s possession, refusing was not an option. Knowing Bruce¡¯sck of


    scruples, he would undoubtedly leak it. Her mother had already attempted to take her own life once,


    unable to bear the scandal. If it happened again, Thssa wasn¡¯t sure she could save her.


    She couldn¡¯t risk it.


    Despite her shaking body andbored breathing, confronted with Bruce¡¯s threatening gaze, Thssa


    gritted her teeth and agreed. ¡°Fine, I¡¯ll do it. But you delete that video first. I need to see it gone before I


    lift a finger for Susan!¡±


    Bruce only smiled, a calcting glint in his eye. ¡°Now, how can I trust you¡¯ll hold up your end? No, the


    video stays safe with me. Once you¡¯ve done your part, and Susan is Lysander¡¯s girl, I¡¯ll destroy the


    video once and for all.¡±


    ¡°How can I trust you?¡± Thssa shot back; her breathing ragged with desperation to erase the footage.


    ¡°No deletion, no deal. I won¡¯t help Susan without your assurance.¡±

 Chapter 920

    Chapter 920


    Bruce¡¯s eyes flickered with malice, but he swiftly tamped it down, maintaining a smile as he set down


    his coffee cup and pulled


    2


    out his phone from his pocket. ¡°You might not be aware of how juicy that video is,¡± he said, ¡°let me


    send it to you.¡±


    As Bruce¡¯s voice trailed off, Thssa¡¯s phone pinged with a new message. It was a video from Bruce.


    Opening it, the content sent a chill down Thssa¡¯s spine, her blood ran cold, her breath caught in her


    throat.


    She could barely stomach the first few seconds before she had to m the video off, her cheeks


    trembling with a mix of rage and sorrow as she red at Bruce. ¡°Delete it. Delete it now!¡±


    Her growled words seemed to squeeze through clenched teeth, her anger at its peak.


    In the video, Evelyn was being oppressed by Bruce, her struggles futile, the despair she must have felt


    was palpable.


    Just the thought made Thssa¡¯s heart wrench painfully.


    Bruce, seeing Thssa¡¯s eyes burn with hatred yet powerless to act, couldn¡¯t help but wear a smug


    smile. He casually gripped his coffee cup again, ¡°Even if I delete the video from my phone, I have


    plenty of copies. You¡¯re a smart cookie, Thssa. You know what needs to be done to ensure the


    video stays buried. You can¡¯t stomach it, so imagine how Evelyn would feel?¡±


    Thssa¡¯s hands gripped fiercely, her nails biting into her palms with the weight of her resentment. Yet,


    confronted with Bruce¡¯s shamelessness, she felt helpless to act.


    Her breathing became ragged, her body trembled slightly as she forced her eyes shut, struggling to


    suppress the urge to end him right there.


    When she opened her eyes again, there was a newyer of calm, ¡°So, once Susan bes


    Lysander¡¯s girl, you¡¯ll delete all the videos?¡±


    ¡°Of course,¡± Bruce replied, ¡°I¡¯m a man of my word. Besides, I¡¯m your father, why would I lie to you?¡±


    Suppressing the disgust within her, Thssa managed a cold, mocking smile, ¡°You¡¯d better hope


    lightning doesn¡¯t strike you down.¡±


    With that, she rose to her feet and left, unable to bear another second of Bruce¡¯s presence.


    Bruce¡¯s smile didn¡¯t waver as Thssa¡¯s insults bounced off him, mere words that posed no threat.


    He initially intended to leverage Thssa¡¯s connection to Lysander for his benefit. However, after she


    had tricked him into a mountain hike only to leave him hanging from a zip-line andpelled him to


    pay a hefty sum, all without showing any concern for his well-being, he changed his strategy.


    Bruce knew he couldn¡¯t rely on Thssa. Instead, he would groom Susan, his and Lucy¡¯s biological


    daughter raised under his wing, to be Lysander¡¯s woman. She had always been interested in


    Lysander,cking only the opportunity.


    With Thssa on good terms with Lysander, who better to y matchmaker?


    Finishing his coffee in one gulp, Bruce left the caf¨¦ for Vibrant Oasis Residences to catch up with


    Evelyn.


    Upon arriving, he unlocked the door, calling out, ¡°Evelyn, did you miss me? I¡¯vee to see you.¡±


    Silence greeted him.


    He ventured further, expecting to find Evelyn, but the room was empty. After a search yielded no sign of


    her, he checked the wardrobe to find it bare.


    Evelyn had moved out.


    His face turned stormy, thinking, ¡®So what if she¡¯s moved? It¡¯s just a rental.¡¯


    With a little inquiry with the real estate agent, he¡¯d find where she lived. She couldn¡¯t escape; she was


    destined to endure his ¡®love¡¯ for a lifetime.


    Preparing to leave, something sparkling caught his eye near the entrance. He looked closer and found


    a diamond ne on the shoe cab.


    The pendant was cloud-shaped, surrounded by a halo of diamonds.


    Bruce had spent years among the elite, and if there was one thing he excelled at, it was appraising


    jewelry. He could tell the value of a piece with just one nce.Content ? copyrighted by N?velDrama.Org.

 Chapter 921

    Chapter 921


    Bruce had a knack for sizing up bling, effortlessly identifying the moneyed dames with just a nce.


    After all, how else could he urately guess which woman was rolling in dough?


    When his eyesnded on that ne, he knew it was no dime store trinket-it was worth millions!


    ¡°Well, look here, leaving such a pricey little number behind? If nobody wants it, it¡¯s finders keepers,¡±


    Bruce chuckled to himself, pocketing the cloud pendant with a satisfied grin.


    Thssa sat on the bus, headed back to Star Harbor Vi. She needed to see her mom, spend quality


    time with her, because she worried sick about how she was holding up.


    She¡¯d been fretting over Evelyn these past few days but still made two trips to Royal Estates to check


    on the kids.


    Today, though, the kids were off her radar. She was all in for Evelyn. Just thinking about that video


    made her heart wrench and her breath catch.


    The agony Evelyn suffered that day was beyond Thssa¡¯s wildest nightmares-so desperate, so


    helpless, and she wasn¡¯t there to hold her.


    Thssa hugged herself tight in the bus seat, a torrent of sorrow and helplessness washing over her.


    That video was Bruce¡¯s trump card, a weapon to dangle over her head.


    What should she do? How could she resolve this matter? Should she spill it to Lysander?


    The man was a titan; nothing was beyond his reach. If she told him, he¡¯d squash the problem t, no


    doubt.


    Thssa pondered how to broach the subject, her mind shing back to that day in Lysander¡¯s office.


    He made her kneel at his feet, subjected her to his seething rage.


    The suffocating memory flooded her chest and throat.


    A sudden wave of nausea hit Thssa, and she gagged.


    She mped a hand over her mouth, tears cascading down her cheeks.


    Content ? copyrighted by N?velDrama.Org.


    Lysander was cold, cruel to her. And he loathed Bruce with a passion. Knowing her mom had history


    with Bruce only fueled that hate.


    If Lysander ever found out what Bruce did to her mom, he¡¯d probably revel in it rather than lift a finger


    to help.


    Telling Lysander would only expose Evelyn¡¯s shame, give him another reason to mock them. It wouldn¡¯t


    solve a thing.


    It would just make him despise her more, heap on the humiliation!


    No, she couldn¡¯t tell him. She had to rely on herself!


    Come on, Thssa, you can deal with Bruce and destroy that video!


    Clutching at the cor of her shirt, Thssa chewed on her thumbnail, her trembling heart slowly


    steeling itself.


    Soon, the bus reached her stop.


    Thssa pulled herself together and got off.


    She had to be all smiles in front of Evelyn, concealing any trace of suspicion. If Evelyn discovered that


    Bruce was using that video to threaten her, it would only add to her stress.


    If Evelyn started thinking she was a burden, who knows what foolish thing she might do.


    Thssa shuddered at the thought and pushed it away. She had to stay strong, for both of them.

 Chapter 922

    Chapter 922


    Lysander had been tracking the ne for days, the one that had stayed put in Vibrant Oasis


    Residences. It hadn¡¯t budged an


    inch.


    To deceive himst time, Thssa left the ne there to make it seem like she was at home with


    her mother, when, in reality, she had sneaked out to meet Callum.


    The ne remained untouched at Vibrant Oasis Residences.


    Lysander was keeping an eye on the tracker, waiting for Thssa to remember its existence and finally


    retrieve it.


    Today, when he checked the tracker, the ne was on the move.


    But its location was odd-it was at a boutique jewelry store, the very brand that made the ne.


    Thest time the ne had appeared in such a store, it was because Betty had swiped Thssa¡¯s


    precious piece, intending to cash it in.


    What was it this time?


    Was Thssa really going to sell the ne he had given her?


    Lysander¡¯s eyes narrowed, a brooding energy radiating from him.


    After Bruce snagged the ne from Vibrant Oasis Residences, he went for the jewelry boutique. He


    didn¡¯t beat around the bush with the sales clerk, saying, ¡°I want to sell this ne. Your store buys


    back pieces at 80% of the original price, right?¡±


    Bruce was no stranger to hawking jewels; he knew the game.


    ¡°Yes, sir, we do need to authenticate it first,¡± the clerk said politely.


    ¡°Of course,¡± Bruce replied, understanding the protocol, and handed over the ne.


    The clerk nodded, cradling the ne in her hands as she took it to the expert for appraisal.


    The expert examined the ne and suddenly looked very serious, whispering something to the


    clerk.


    The clerk¡¯s expression changed instantly.


    She returned to Bruce with a look of suspicion and wariness and said, ¡°Sir, are you sure this ne


    belongs to you?¡±


    ¡°Of course, it¡¯s mine, how else would I have it?¡± Bruce retorted.


    The clerk, still doubtful, exined, ¡°Sir, this ne is a one-of-a-kind custom design from the Sinir


    Group, personallymissioned by its CEO, Lysander Sinir. Without his authorization, it can¡¯t be


    sold. I¡¯m terribly sorry.¡±


    She offered the ne back to Bruce, still in her careful grip.


    Bruce¡¯s face darkened; his eyes, once gleaming with the anticipation of easy money, now flickered with


    fear. The ne was a personal creation of Lysander¡¯s!


    Lysander had custom-designed such an expensive ne for Thssa, so his feelings for her must


    be extraordinary.


    As Bruce took the ne back and turned to leave, he spotted someone entering the store-an


    imposing figure with an aristocratic air, surrounded by a few burly bodyguards creating quite the


    entourage.


    His face nched, panic shing in his eyes, but he quickly mustered a facade ofposure and


    forced a phony smile, ¡°Mr. Sinir, what a coincidence.¡±


    N?vel(D)rama.Org''s content.


    Lysander strode towards him, deep gazending on the ne in Bruce¡¯s hand. His handsome face


    turned stormy, and an icy aura enveloped him as he closed in on Bruce.


    Bruce thought he might be able to bluff his way through, but Lysander¡¯s presence was overwhelming,


    his chilly demeanor like a biting wind, causing Bruce to unconsciously back up.


    ¡°You think you¡¯re fit to touch what¡¯s mine?¡± Lysander¡¯s piercing eyes swept over Bruce, and he signaled


    to his bodyguards with a subtle nce.


    The guards understood immediately and advanced, their formidable presence unmistakable.


    Bruce, intimidated by the overpowering atmosphere, retreated, hastily offering up the ne, ¡°I found


    this piece by chance and had no idea it belonged to Mr. Sinir. I¡¯m terribly sorry. Here, I¡¯ll return it to


    you.¡±

 Chapter 923

    Chapter 923


    A bodyguard snatched the ne from Bruce¡¯s grasp, and with long strides, marched towards him.


    Panic-stricken, Bruce kept backing up until his back hit the disy counter, trapped with nowhere else


    to go.


    The bodyguard grabbed Bruce by the cor and raised his fist.


    Seeing the impending punch, Bruce¡¯s pupils dted with fear, and he pleaded, ¡°Mr. Sinir, please,


    have mercy! I swear I¡¯ll never pick up anything of yours again¡­ Agh!¡±


    Before Bruce could finish, the bodyguard¡¯s fist came crashing down, striking him squarely in the eye.


    Stars exploded before Bruce¡¯s eyes as dizziness overwhelmed him. He hardly had a chance to recover


    before a barrage of punches and kicks followed.


    Bruce¡¯s screams echoed through the store.


    The sales assistant, petrified, hid to the side, too scared to make a peep.


    Shoppers passing by quickly steered clear of themotion, too frightened to even rubberneck.


    The ck-d bodyguards were clearly well-trained, not individuals to be trifled with. Nobody dared


    cross them.


    Bruce, treated like a punching bag, took a beating before copsing to the ground, still the bodyguards


    didn¡¯t relent.


    Curled up, Bruce shielded his head with his arms, looking like a kicked cur.


    It wasn¡¯t until hey motionless, knocked out cold, that the bodyguards stopped their assault.


    Turning away, a bodyguard handed the ne to Lysander, ¡°Mr. Sinir, your property.¡±


    Lysander, not wanting to touch something soiled by Bruce, didn¡¯t reach out to take it. How could he


    N?vel(D)rama.Org''s content.


    want something that Bruce had touched?


    His piercing gaze turned to the sales assistant, ¡°Melt it down!¡±


    His chilling authority was not to be questioned. The assistant hurried over, took the ne from the


    bodyguard, and tossed it into the crucible.


    The ne, worth millions, melted into a pool, though the diamonds around the cloud-shaped


    pendant glowed red-hot, retaining their shape.


    Soon after, the store¡¯s general manager arrived, upon hearing that Lysander¡¯s ne had been


    destroyed on the spot. Bowing and scraping, he said, ¡°Mr. Sinir, the ne was custom-made for


    fifty million. We¡¯ll transfer the funds to the Sinir Group¡¯s ount immediately.¡±


    Who would dare shortchange Lysander? People in the mall were too eager to butter him up to even


    think about it.


    Taking small liberties could lead to great losses, a rule well understood by anyone who frequented the


    marketce.


    Especially when it came to Lysander, the kingpin of themercial world, the one who held the power


    of life and death over the entire business district.


    Who would dare offend him?


    ¡°I¡¯ll give you an ount. Transfer it there,¡± Lysandermanded before leaving with his bodyguards.


    ¡°Yes, right away,¡± the general manager quickly agreed, following Lysander out to his car. After ensuring


    his departure, he returned to the mall.


    By now, a crowd had gathered around the unconscious Bruce, murmuring and specting.


    ¡®Is this guy dead?¡±


    ¡°Look, there¡¯s a lot of blooding from his mouth. He¡¯s probably a goner.¡±


    Hearing the crowd, the general manager hastily instructed the staff, ¡°Quick, call an ambnce and get


    him out of here.¡±


    It was their turf; a death on the premises could ruin their business. If the ambnce took him away and


    he died at the hospital, it wouldn¡¯t be their problem.


    The sales assistant, nodding frantically in fright, asked, ¡°Manager, should we call the police?¡±


    The general manager red at the assistant and rebuked sharply, ¡°Are you out of your mind? In such a


    situation, do you dare to involve the police? Do you even want to stay in Starhaven?¡±

 Chapter 924

    Chapter 924


    The assistant''s heart skipped a beat as she mped her mouth shut, her fingers trembling as she


    called for an ambnce.


    Before long, Bruce was carted away by the ambnce.


    ...


    Thssa was at home, sharing a cozy dinner with Evelyn when her phone buzzed with a message.


    She snatched up the device, her eyes wide with panic. Ever since Bruce sent her that disturbing video,


    she had been on high alert, terrified that Bruce, in hisck of humanity, might send another video to


    threaten her.


    She had deleted the video from Bruce the moment she stepped out of the coffee shop.


    If he sent another one and Evelyn identally saw it...


    She couldn''t bear to think of the consequences.


    Noticing the message wasn''t from Bruce, but from the bank, Thssa exhaled in relief.


    The bank notification showed a deposit with a leading digit of 5 followed by a string of zeroes.


    At first, Thssa thought it was her paycheck, maybe five thousand, but on closer inspection, the


    zeroes seemed to multiply.


    Good heavens, it was fifty million!


    She thought she miscounted and double-checked the zeros. Still, fifty million!


    What in the world? Who would transfer fifty million to her?


    She immediately logged into her mobile banking app to check the transaction history.


    Content ? copyrighted by N?velDrama.Org.


    The record showed that it was a transfer from a luxury jewelry brand.


    But she had no ties with a jewelrypany. Why would they suddenly transfer fifty million to her?


    Evelyn, sitting across the table, noticed Thssa''s expression go from shock to confusion and asked


    with concern, "Thssa, what''s wrong, honey?"


    "Oh, it''s nothing. Looks like there''s been a mix-up at work, money sent to my ount by mistake. You


    go ahead and eat, Mom. I need to make a quick call." With that, Thssa excused herself and


    retreated to her room with her phone.


    She dialed the jewelrypany first.


    "There''s been no mistake on our end," the jewelrypany rified. "The ount details were


    provided by Mr. Sinir, and it''s highly unlikely there was an error."


    Mr. Sinir?


    "Lysander?" Thssa voiced her suspicion.


    "Yes," came the confident reply.


    Thssa was bewildered and asked, "Why would Lysander instruct you to transfer fifty million to me?"


    "Well, Mr. Sinir had a custom cloud pendant ne made with us. Today, it appeared at our


    counter, possibly picked up by someone intending to sell it. When Mr. Sinir discovered this, he


    confronted the person, gave him a good talking to, and melted the ne on the spot. We treated it


    as a buy-back from ourpany, and Mr. Sinir instructed us to transfer the proceeds to your


    ount."


    Despite the clerk''s brevity, Thssa grasped the gist of the events.


    She felt out of sorts, struggling to process the clerk¡¯s words momentarily. Nevertheless, shetched


    onto the key detail- the cloud pendant ne.


    The fifty million was the result of the ne''s value.


    "Do you know who tried to sell the ne?" she asked.


    "We''re not aware of the person''s identity," the clerk admitted.


    "Alright, thank you." Thssa didn''t press further; there was no point.


    After hanging up, she reopened the bank''s text message, and upon seeing the fifty million disyed,


    she felt a bit bewildered.


    The money wasn''t tainted; it was the value of the cloud pendant ne she''d always worn.


    Yet, she inadvertently left the ne on the shoe cab in the entryway of Vibrant Oasis


    Residences. How could it have been taken and sold?


    Was it possible that, upon reiming the property, thendlord realized the ne¡¯s worth and


    decided to sell it without authorization?


    Such folly. The ne had a tracker, and any movement would alert Lysander immediately.


    She''d been so preupied the past few days and forgotten about the ne. Now, it seemed, the


    ne was destined to be melted down and reformed.


    Perhaps this was for the best. She no longer had to wear that constant monitor around her neck. A


    sense of relief washed over her.


    It was as if shackles had been removed from her feet, and someone told her she''d never have to bear


    the weight of those heavy irons again. The freedom was palpable.

 Chapter 925

    Chapter 925


    After a moment of thought, Thssa decided to give Lysander a call.


    She shouldn''t take the fifty million.


    The phone rang for a while before being picked up.


    Lysander didn''t utter a word, but the heavy silence on the other end was almost palpable, sending a


    wave of anxiety through her.


    "Lysander, I have received the fifty million but I think I should give it back to you," Thssa blurted out,


    urgencycing her voice.


    "The ne was a gift to you, so it''s yours," Lysander''s deep, resonant voice finally broke the


    silence.


    "But..."


    Before Thssa could say another word, the line went dead.


    Thssa pulled the phone away from her ear, staring at the screen, which now disyed the call had


    ended. She took a deep breath.


    Since Lysander had said so, she decided to keep it.


    Descending the stairs, Thssa found Evelyn cleaning up after dinner.


    "Thssa, are you going to eat? If not, I''ll start doing the dishes," Evelyn called out upon seeing her


    "I''ll have a little. Your cooking is always too good to pass up," Thssa said, a warm smile ying on


    her lips, her words sweet as honey.


    Evelyn chuckled, "You always know just what to say."


    Pleased, Evelyn piled more food into Thssa''s te.


    "I mean it; the meals you made are genuinely delicious," Thssa added, seated at the dining table,


    eating heartily.


    She wanted Evelyn to feel appreciated and needed; it always lifted her spirits.


    "Eat up, then," Evelyn encouraged.


    "Sure. Oh, and I''ll bring the kids over on Saturday. They''ve been asking about you, but they''ve got


    Content provided by N?velDrama.Org.


    school this week and we can''t have them upte and sleepy," Thssa suggested.


    "That would be lovely, dear. The house is spacious enough now for them to run around. They''ll have


    fun," Evelyn replied with enthusiasm.


    "Yeah, the kids will love it," Thssa responded, still smiling.


    "I can''t wait to see our four little darlings," Evelyn beamed, anticipation clear in her voice.


    "It''s Thursday today, so just a couple of days to go," Thssa said.


    ...


    Friday afternoon, after work, Thssa made a beeline for the Royal Estates.


    The kids would have been home from school earlier than her work release.


    When she arrived at the Royal Estates, the children were indeed already there.


    "Mommy, Mommy''s back!"


    "Mommy, I was about to send Fitch to look for you!"


    "Mommy! Hehe, Mommy!"


    "Mommy!"


    The four little ones had been tugging at Fitch''s clothes, but the moment they saw Thssa enter, their


    eyes sparkled, and they hurried towards her on their stubby little legs.


    Thssa quickened her pace to meet them halfway.


    Upon reaching her, the kids clung to her legs, rubbing their faces against her like little kittens.


    Surrounded by her four munchkins, Thssa felt her heart melt. Their chubby, squishy cheeks nearly


    set off her inner girly rms.


    Patting their heads, she asked, "How about Mommy takes you to Grandma''s? Does that sound good?"


    "Yeah, yeah, good!" The kids were ecstatic, their voices in unison.


    "Uh, Ms. Everhart, you might want to give Lysander a call," Fitch interjected, a tad ufortable with


    the idea of her taking the kids without notice.


    Thssa''s heart tightened, the smile on her face fading slightly as she steadied her breath. "Alright, I''ll


    call him."


    She wondered if Lysander would agree to let her take the kids to see Evelyn.

 Chapter 926

    Chapter 926


    Thssa dialed the number, her heart racing as the ringing echoed through the silence, seemingly


    endless until it gradually grew louder, indicating that the call was being received somewhere inside the


    house.


    She turned around just as Lysander''s tall, imposing figure entered the room, his phone in hand, still


    ringing.


    Thssa quickly ended the call, her prepared speech faltering as he approached. "Lysander, I was just


    about to call you. It''s almost Saturday, and I was thinking of taking the kids to my mom''s ce for the


    weekend anding back Sunday afternoon."


    Although she had taken the kids to Evelyn''s ce before, they had never stayed overnight.


    This time, Thssa wanted to spend a couple of days there with the kids, and her heart was filled with


    uneasy anticipation, unsure if Lysander would agree.


    As she finished speaking, she looked into Lysander''s deep eyes, feeling her heart skip a beat.


    "Daddy, we want to go to Grandma''s house," Elowen tugged at Lysander¡¯s shirt, her little lips pouting


    adorably. "We haven''t seen her in so long, and I miss her."


    "Daddy, I want to go to Grandma''s too," Dorian chimed in, his eyes pleading.


    Lysander nced at Dorian and Elowen, his deep voice breaking the silence. "Go y with Fitch for a


    Content held by N?velDrama.Org.


    bit. Thssa,e upstairs with me."


    He gave Thssa a knowing look and headed upstairs without waiting for an answer.


    Thssa stroked her children''s hair reassuringly. "Mommy will talk to Daddy. y with Fitch for a bit,


    okay?"


    With a kind smile, Fitch stepped forward. "Dorian, Elowen, let''s go kick the ball around in the yard."


    "Go on, Mommy will be down in a bit," Thssa reassured them with a warm smile.


    The kids scampered off with Fitch, and Thssa ascended the stairs to find Lysander standing in the


    master bedroom, his presencemanding.


    Swallowing her fears, she approached him, wrapping her arms around his waist and resting her cheek


    against his chest.


    Lysander tensed, surprised by her initiative.


    Thssa could feel the heat of his heart through his shirt, its steady beat syncing with her own erratic


    pulse.


    Fighting to keep her emotions in check, she spoke softly, "You''ve had a long day at work. My mom''s


    been missing the kids terribly, and I thought it''d be nice for them to spend a couple of days with her.


    They adore her, and they miss their grandma too. We''ll be back Sunday afternoon. Is that okay?"


    Her voice trembled with nervousness.


    She had never been one for coquettish charm or deliberate ttery. But with Lysander, even if it didn''t


    Evelyn was right; a bit of sweet talk could soften Lysander''s often stern demeanor.


    Her tender words melted the ice in Lysander''s heart, his breath growing heavier.


    "Okay," he replied in a low, hoarse whisper.


    A wave of relief washed over Thssa.


    "Do you need me toe with you?" Lysander asked, his voice still deep and resonant.

 Chapter 927

    Chapter 927


    Thssa, raising her head from Lysander¡¯s embrace, hastily said, "There¡¯s no need; just let Fitch take


    us in the minivan. You''re so busy with work, and I wouldn¡¯t want to take up more of your time."


    Lysander''s gaze lingered on her with a dark intensity, his breath hot on her face. "Are you sure you


    don¡¯t need me toe with you?"


    "Absolutely sure. We''ll be back in a couple of days," Thssa reassured him, her eyes shimmering


    with a light that only deepened his smoldering stare.


    A flutter of panic seized Thssa, fearing he might change his mind. She rose on her tiptoes and


    pressed a fleeting kiss to his lips. "You''re the best, you know that? Off I go. See you in two days."


    With those hurried words, she turned and practically bolted from the room.


    Lysander stood motionless, watching her retreat. A ripple of heat coursed through him, though he


    forced it down, his Adam''s apple bobbing with the effort.


    Downstairs, Thssa quickly gathered the children in the yard. "Kids, time to hit the road to Grandma''s


    house!"


    Dorian, clutching a ser ball, paused mid-y, then dropped the ball and dashed towards Thssa,


    rolling towards her like a tumbleweed. "Oh yeah, awesome! Can''t wait to see Grandma!"


    "Mommy, wait for me! I''ming too!" Elowen''s little legs pumped furiously as she ran to catch up, not


    wanting to be left behind.


    "I wanna go too!" Sophia''s little face flushed with urgency as she sprinted towards her mother.


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    Atticus, usually silent, quickened his pace to join them.


    The ser ball they had been ying with moments ago was forgotten, lying abandoned on the grass.


    Thssa led her excited troop out the door.


    From the second floor, Lysander watched through the picture window as the minivan pulled away, his


    deep-set eyes reflecting the warmth of the setting sun.


    ...


    "Wow, Grandma''s house is so pretty!" Elowen''s mouth hung open in awe, wide enough to fit an egg.


    "It''s huge! Grandma, did you strike it rich or something?" Dorian gazed up at Evelyn with wonder


    sparkling in his innocent eyes.


    Evelyn couldn''t help but smile at their childlike exuberance.


    "Do you like it? You¡¯ll have plenty of room to y here," she chuckled.


    "Yeah, we love it! But we love Grandma more. Wherever Grandma is, that''s where we want to be,"


    Elowen''s little voice was so earnest. It brought a chuckle from everyone.


    Evelyn touched Elowen''s cheek affectionately. "You sweet talker, Grandma adores you."


    "What about me, Grandma? Do you like me too?" Dorian looked up, seeking his share of affection.


    "Of course, Grandma loves you too."


    "And me?" Sophia piped up, not to be forgotten.


    "What about me?" Atticus chimed in, a rare contribution.


    Evelyn wrapped them in a big hug, nting a kiss on each of their cheeks. "I love all of you, my little


    darlings. You''re Grandma''s treasures."


    Dorian let out a cheer, his joy infectious.


    Thssa stood to the side, watching Evelyn bond with the children, her face unable to hide her


    contentment.


    "Mommy, we want to sleep with you and Grandma tonight," Elowen said, her eyes brimming with


    longing for thefort of her mother and grandmother''s presence.


    "Of course, Grandma will sleep with you munchkins," Evelyn beamed, her heart full. The noisy chaos


    that once overwhelmed her now seemed like the sweetest melody.

 Chapter 928

    Chapter 928


    On a typical Monday afternoon, Thssa was getting ready to wrap up her day at the office when her


    boss, Ethan, strolled into her workspace with a casual, "Thssa, I''ve got a social engagement tonight,


    and you''reing with me."


    Her curiosity piqued, Thssa asked, "Mr. Ethan, why would I be the one to apany you?"


    With his arms crossed and a look of amused ease on his face, Ethan replied, "You''re my secretary,


    aren''t you? If you don''t schmooze with me, who will? Right now, you''re the only one I''ve got. No


    backups, no understudies. If I don''t lean on you, who else is there?"


    Thssa paused to consider his point. It was true, after all. If Betty and Anna hadn''t resigned because


    of her, she wouldn''t be the one apanying Ethan to these social events.


    As the sole secretary in the office now, Ethan would have to seek her out for anything he needed.


    As they left thepany building, Thssa trailed behind Ethan, probing, "Mr. Ethan, why don''t you


    just hire another secretary?"


    "No need for that; having you is more than enough. You''re worth three," Ethan said nonchntly.


    Thssa was left to wonder whether that was a backhandedpliment or genuine praise.


    To her dismay, the venue for the evening turned out to be a bar¡ªa ce where strobe lights seared


    the eyes and the music pulsed with a relentless beat. Men and women gyrated wildly on the dance


    floor, lost in the fric movements of an indecipherable dance.


    Thssa was not fond of such chaotic environments; she had always preferred quietness. In the past,


    even when she went to a bar with Hertha, it was only to those ces with soft music and a tranquil


    ambiance, not to these noisy ces.


    "Let''s head to that private booth over there," Ethan said, ncing back at Thssa, noticing her


    difort amid the cacophony and the crowd.


    Inside the booth, several executives were seated, along with a familiar man, Callum, who sat in the


    corner, grinning slyly with a drink in hand.


    Upon Ethan''s arrival, a portly figure with a receding hairline stood up, ss in hand, and warmly


    greeted him, "Mr. Ethan, d you could make it. And who is this lovelydy? A new me?"


    Thssa felt a wave of d¨¦j¨¤ vu¡ªthis wasn''t the first time she''d been mistaken for Ethan''s girlfriend.


    Ethan chuckled, "I''m a man who doesn''t believe in love. The ''girlfriend'' species is nonexistent in my


    world. This is my secretary, Thssa Everhart."


    "Oh, the secretary..." The executive, approximately fifty, with a knowing look and a roving eye,


    continued, "Ms. Everhart, a pleasure. Let''s toast to our first encounter. I''ve heard Mr. Ethan''s


    secretaries can handle their liquor."


    He handed another ss to Thssa, his eyes gleaming with a mix of mirth and something else as he


    looked her up and down.


    Feeling his gaze crawl over her, Thssa instinctively stepped back.


    "Zane, my secretary doesn''t drink. If you want to toast someone, aim it my way," Ethan interjected


    sharply, taking the ss from Zane''s hand, his smile not reaching his eyes.


    Zane, sensing Ethan''s protective stance, dialed back his overt interest and apologized with a chuckle,


    "Sorry, Mr. Ethan. I just assumed she was like the previous secretaries¡ªable to knock back a few. My


    mistake, my apologies."


    His eyes, however, lingered on Thssa once more, and although his boldness had been curbed, the


    underlying covetousness had not.


    "Zane''s eyes and mouth seem to be unwell; they need special treatment," came a deep, chilling voice,


    cutting through the tension like a winter gust.


    The temperature in the booth seemed to drop as Lysander''s imposing figure entered, followed by


    several bodyguards.


    "Mr. Sinir." Zane began, eager to ingratiate himself, but before he could finish, a bodyguard stepped


    forward, skillfully restraining Zane''s arms behind his back.


    Zane let out a yelp of surprise.


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    "Mr. Sinir stated that Zane''s eyes and mouth need to be properly disinfected," the bodyguard stated


    with icy detachment.

 Chapter 929

    Chapter 929


    In a dimly lit VIP lounge, Zane''s head was forcibly yanked up by one bodyguard as another snatched


    the untouched ss of bourbon from Thssa and forced some of it down Zane''s throat before cruelly


    dousing the rest into his eyes.


    "Ah! Mr. Sinir, I was wrong, and I swear I won¡¯t do it again. Please... have mercy..." Zane''s eyes


    burned fiercely as he screamed for mercy.


    Thssa, pale as a ghost, stood petrified, too terrified to utter a word.


    She had always known Lysander to be ruthless, but witnessing his methods firsthand was utterly


    chilling.


    "Throw him out," Lysandermanded coldly.


    The bodyguards dragged Zane away, his cries fading into the distance outside the lounge.


    Thssa remained frozen in ce, not daring to even nce at Lysander.


    "Mr. Sinir, wee! Please, have a seat," Ethan greeted with a warm smile, pulling out a chair for


    Lysander.


    Throughout the ordeal, Lysander didn''t spare Thssa a nce, as if she were a stranger to him. He


    took a seat where Ethan had gestured.


    The other executives were visibly shaken by Lysander''s icy andmanding presence, trembling in


    silence, too intimidated to speak.


    Once Lysander was seated, they all bent over backwards to tter him, unable to straighten their


    spines.


    "We¡¯re truly honored, Mr. Sinir, that you, despite your busy schedule, took the time to be with us,"


    one executive said with a bow.


    "Indeed, Mr. Sinir, please, let us share a drink," Dante chimed in, reaching for a bottle of red wine to


    pour for Lysander.


    Ethan grabbed the bottle from Dante, saying, "Mr. Sinir never drinks such low-grade stuff."


    Dante''s face turned red, feeling embarrassed.


    Ethan chuckled, "I have a few bottles of the good stuff stored here at the bar. I''ll have my secretary


    fetch them."


    Then, turning to Thssa, who was still standing rigidly, hemanded, "Ms. Everhart, go to the bar


    and mention my name; they''ll hand over a bottle of the top-shelf liquor."


    Thssa snapped out of her daze and quickly said, "Right away."


    As soon as she left the lounge, she took deep breaths, the oppressive atmosphere lifting slightly.


    Zane faced a severe punishment for his inappropriate words and leering, and though Thssa


    detested him, the intensity of Lysander''s response left her deeply unsettled.


    If Zane''s retinas were damaged by the alcohol, could he go blind?


    What if she made a mistake? Would Lysander subject her to such cruelty?


    She remembered the day in his office when he had demanded she kneel before him, causing a shiver


    of fear to run through her.


    Taking a moment to steady her breath, she walked towards the bar, only to have her path blocked.


    Thssa nced up to find Susan, dressed in a revealing outfit, holding a cocktail with a seemingly


    friendly smile. "Thssa, we meet again. I saw Mr. Sinir enter the lounge earlier. Were you with


    N?vel(D)rama.Org''s content.


    him?"


    Mr. Sinir, of course, referred to Lysander.


    Thssa felt nothing but disdain for any member of Bruce''s family, her contempt deep-seated.


    "You''re in my way," she said icily.


    Without another word, she sidestepped Susan and continued to the bar.


    Susan''s friendly facade dropped as she turned around, her eyes revealing a fierce, resentful re.


    Seething, she whipped out her phone and texted Bruce: [Dad, didn''t you promise to help me be


    Lysander''s woman? Now''s your chance to deliver!]

 Chapter 930

    Chapter 930


    Thssa sidled up to the bar and dropped Ethan''s name. The bartender, true to his word, handed her


    a bottle of fine Merlot with a knowing nod.


    Clutching the wine, Thssa was about to make her way to the private booth when her phone erupted


    Content held by N?velDrama.Org.


    in her pocket, its vibrations impossible to ignore.


    She fished out the device and stared at the number on the screen¡ªunlisted, yet familiar. It had called


    before and left messages.


    Even without a contact name, Thssa knew who it was.


    The digits danced ominously on the disy, sending a shiver down her spine. She didn''t want to


    answer, but the persistent buzzing in her hand was like a devil on her shoulder, reminding her of the


    terror of not picking up.


    Taking a deep breath, Thssa answered.


    "Thssa, why''d it take you so long to answer?" Bruce''s icy voice oozed through the speaker, as


    expected.


    Teeth gritted, Thssa shot back, "Bruce, what the hell do you want?"


    Her breath came in waves, anger surging within her.


    "Susan''s at the bar, and I¡¯ve heard that Lysander''s tucked away in one of the booths. Remember our


    deal. Miss this chance, and I can''t vouch for the safety of that video."


    The threat of the video again!


    Thssa seethed silently.


    "Thssa, you hear me?" Bruce''s voice, edged with a reminder, cut through her thoughts.


    It carried a clear threat,ced with malice.


    Last time, Bruce had tried to pawn off a ne at the mall and ended up on the wrong side of


    Lysander''s fist. Lucky for him, some good Samaritan had rushed him to the hospital; otherwise, he


    might have been a goner.


    That run-in had shown him Lysander''s formidable presence, an influence unmatched by others.


    Bruce was drawn to it like a moth to a me, knowing if he could just tie himself to Lysander by


    marrying off his daughter, he''d be untouchable, a made man that no one would dare cross.


    Despite his wariness of Lysander, Bruce was hellbent on bing his inw.


    Thssa was a lost cause¡ªLysander''s woman, yes, but she despised and plotted against Bruce,


    bringing him no benefit.


    He needed to push his other daughter, Susan, into Lysander''s arms. Only then could he bask in the


    reflected glory, have the money-grubbing businessmen fawning over him, and make a pretty penny.


    "Got it!" Thssa managed to reply, swallowing her fury before hanging up.


    Her gaze drifted to the approaching figure of Susan, who greeted her with a sharine smile. "Sweet


    sister, hand over the wine, will you?"


    Thssa glowered, unmoving.


    Susan''s smile turned predatory as she sidled up, snatching the Merlot from Thssa''s grasp with a


    scoff. She gave Thssa a scornful once-over, her lips curling into a smirk before she turned and


    strutted toward the private booths.


    Thssa stood rooted, her re burning into Susan''s retreating figure. Despite her reluctance and


    ragged breathing, there was nothing she could do.


    If she didn''t give the wine to Susan, if she didn''t let her get close to Lysander, Bruce would leak the


    video online. Then Evelyn''s reputation would be shredded, torn apart by public scrutiny.


    It would crush Evelyn''s already fragile psyche.


    These days, Thssa had been bending over backward to keep Evelyn''s spirits up, to make her see


    her own worth. If Bruce''s threat came to fruition, if that video hit the inte...


    Thssa couldn''t bear to think of the consequences.


    Susan reached the door to the booth, her hand poised to push it open, but it swung outward from the


    inside.


    Callum stepped out, his eyes locking with Susan''s.

 Chapter 931

    Chapter 931


    Susan caught sight of him, allowing a polite smile to grace her lips.


    Callum nced at her and then at the bottle of red wine she was clutching, maintaining his usual half-


    smile. He nodded ever so slightly in her direction before sidestepping her and exiting the private booth.


    Meanwhile, Susan made her way inside.


    "Ms. Everhart, would you be a dear and pour Mr. Sinir a ss..." Ethan, anticipating Thssa,


    began his request with a chuckle, but as he turned, he was met with an unfamiliar face.


    Ethan''s smile faded, his eyes taking on a cool edge, "Who are you, and where is Ms. Everhart?"


    He recognized the bottle of wine in the woman''s hands; it was one from his private collection at the


    club.


    With a gentle and kind smile, Susan replied, "I¡¯m Susan. Ms. Everhart had to leave unexpectedly, and


    she asked me to step in and serve you gentlemen."


    "Ms. Everhart left without a word to me?" Ethan was taken aback.


    After scrutinizing Susan for a moment, realization dawned upon Ethan. He had seen this woman before


    at the Sinir family charity ball, where she, alongside Charlotte, had framed Thssa for stealing a


    bracelet, only to be tossed out of the event by Lysander.


    T¨ºxt belongs to N?velDrama.Org.


    And now she reappeared!


    "Allow me to exin, I''m Ms. Everhart''s sister. We had a minor misunderstanding, but we sorted things


    out today. As Thssa had an urgent matter to attend to, she requested that I step in for her," Susan


    exined, sensing Ethan¡¯s icy gaze. Realizing he might recognize her as the one who framed


    Thssa, she cleverly justified her presence and subtly aligned her rtionship with Thssa.


    A sisterly bond could hold no grudges overnight, could it?


    Hearing this, Ethan took a deep breath and remained silent.


    Thssa''s sister?


    That was something Ethan had not anticipated.


    After exining herself to Ethan, Susan cautiously turned her gaze towards Lysander, and uponying


    eyes on him, her posture instinctively bent in deference.


    Lysander''s presence was overpowering, lounging in his chair with a cigarette in hand, exuding an icy,


    unweing aura. His chiseled features were so striking that one couldn''t help but be captivated.


    Susan''s heart fluttered uncontrobly at the sight of such a magnificent man. She was determined to


    make him hers!


    With a warm smile ying on her lips, she approached Lysander, bending forward to pour the wine into


    his ss.


    She purposefully lowered her neckline, her voice cooing, "Mr. Sinir, this wine has such an enticing


    aroma, it''s making me quite envious."


    Lysander''s gaze remained frosty, and he didn''t spare her a nce.


    The executives at the table couldn''t help but let their eyes slither down to Susan''s plunging neckline,


    their bodies reacting to her sultry voice as if they had been struck by a spell.


    Ethan could see right through Susan''s act, his expression turning stern as he watched her every move.


    A sister swooping in for her sibling''s man? Intriguing.


    After pouring the wine, Susan sensed Lysander''s disregard, which bruised her ego. Yet, she was not


    one to give up easily.


    Setting the bottle on the table, her smile unwavering, she stood up and then suddenly clutched her


    head with a flirtatious whimper, "Oh dear, my blood sugar must be low, I feel so dizzy."


    She staggered, intentionally falling towards Lysander.


    She had aimed for his chest, ready to copse into his embrace. She had deliberately spritzed herself


    with a fragrance known to drive men wild, confident that once Lysander got a whiff, he wouldn''t be able


    to resist.


    And with her provocative attire and voluptuous figure, which outshone Thssa''s by miles, Susan was


    certain that once Lysander felt her touch and inhaled her scent, he would be utterly overwhelmed.


    Tonight, she was determined to be Lysander''s woman.

 Chapter 932

    Chapter 932


    As Susan teetered on the brink of copse into Lysander''s arms, Ethan furrowed his brow and gripped


    his phone tighter, debating whether to dial Thssa''s number.


    Susan was smug inside, confident that with her allure, she could nab Lysander''s affections.


    She let her body fall towards Lysander, but suddenly a foot braced against her.


    Susan''s eyes caught sight of a shiny ck loafer pressing against her midsection, blocking her


    advance.


    Lifting her gaze, she met Lysander''s icy stare filled with revulsion.


    "Mr. Sinir..." she cooed, but the next second, pain shot through her abdomen.


    "Ouch!"


    With a strong shove, Lysander sent Susan flying backward, crashing to the ground.


    "Out of my sight!" Lysander''s frosty voice cut through the air.


    The executives around the room, witnessing Susan''s dramatic tumble, were stunned, each keeping


    mum, trying to shrink into the background, not daring to provoke Lysander further.


    Ethan couldn''t help but stifle a chuckle at the sight of Susan''s plight. He''d always known that Lysander


    wasn''t one for thedies. Countless sultry beauties had tried their luck and been coldly dismissed.


    Only Thssa had caught his eye, shared his bed, and received a different kind of attention. No other


    woman coulde close.


    Susan hit the ground hard, her face contorting in pain, struggling to rise, her eyes welling up as she


    Content ? copyrighted by N?velDrama.Org.


    stuttered an apology, "Mr. Sinir, I''m so sorry, I must have been lightheaded from low blood sugar,


    nearly falling onto you. Fortunately, you pushed me away. I promise this won''t happen again."


    "There won''t be a next time. Don''t let me see you again!" Lysander''s piercing gaze swept over Susan


    before he stood and left the private booth, leaving a trail of chilling air.


    Susan, panicked, stepped back to clear the way for him.


    As she watched him leave, frustration and pain overwhelmed her. She''d dressed to kill, her scent


    alluring, yet Lysander had not spared her a nce, instead kicking her away.


    Before, her entire body was tense, and she paid little attention to the pain in her abdomen. Now that


    Lysander had left, Susan started to feel that the pain in her stomach had be unbearable,


    Her face twisted with anger and humiliation.


    With Lysander and Ethan gone, the middle-aged executives, who had been eyeing Susan hungrily yet


    faces.


    "Susan, Mr. Sinir''s standards are too high. Not just any woman can catch his eye. But we''re not so


    picky," one of them leered. "Why don''t you spend the night with us? It would make all the effort you put


    into dressing up worth it."


    Susan felt disgusted as the sleazy trio moved in on her. The humiliation she''d suffered at Lysander''s


    hands turned into rage.


    Sheshed out at the men, her voice losing any trace of softness, "Back off! You think you can have a


    piece of me? Look in the mirror before you get such lofty ideas!"


    "Whoa, the littledy''s got a temper!" one of them sneered.


    "You weren''t so high and mighty when you were unting yourself in front of Mr. Sinir!"


    "We''ve decided we want you tonight! You¡¯re nothing but a reject that Sinir didn''t want. No more


    ying the prude!"


    The men dropped all pretenses, their faces darkening with intent as they closed in on Susan.


    Feeling threatened, Susan''s expression quickly shifted to one of appeasement, her tone softening.


    "You''re right," she said with a forced smile, "I was ready to give myself away tonight, and since Mr.


    Sinir isn''t interested, you might as well have me. But there are three of you. How will you decide who


    goes first? Maybe you should talk it over?"

 Chapter 933

    Chapter 933


    Susan kept a harmless smile stered on her face as she cated the men.


    "There we go, that''s more like it." The men wereforted by Susan¡¯s words.


    "Why don''t you guys figure it out?" suggested Susan.


    The three men looked at each other, each one eager to be the first to step up.


    Seeing them distracted, Susan eyed the exit, made a beeline for the door, flung it open, and dashed


    Content ? copyrighted by N?velDrama.Org.


    out.


    "Stop her!"


    The realization hit the men like a ton of bricks; they had been duped. They scrambled after her, but it


    was toote. Susan had sprinted out of the private booth and was now weaving through the crowded


    club.


    With so many witnesses, the men couldn''t just drag Susan away without causing a scene.


    Susan took refuge on the dance floor, a mass of gyrating bodies providing cover. When she was sure


    she wasn''t being followed, she let out a sigh of relief. Thoughts of Lysander''s coldness and the men''s


    words gnawed at her. Lysander only had eyes for high-ss women!


    And there she was, not making the cut, invisible to Lysander.


    A bitter twist of anger coiled in Susan''s heart. How was she any less than Thssa?


    Thssa, who grew up in some backwater town, exuded nothing but a bumpkin aura. High ss?


    Hardly.


    In contrast, Susan had been groomed in the arts of dance and piano, her upbringing a veritable fortress


    built of cash and high expectations.


    High society gatherings, designer brands¡ªwhat hadn''t she seen?


    Her world was poles apart from Thssa''s. While Thssa yed in the mud, Susan had been


    mastering the arts.


    There was noparison!


    Why did Thssa catch Lysander''s eye and not her?


    She wouldn''t give up. She was determined to be Lysander''s woman.


    After all, Thssa had vulnerabilities that her father could exploit, ensuring her cooperation.


    Thssa had left the bar, and with Susan off delivering drinks, she thought she''d head home.


    Waiting for a cab by the roadside, Thssa heard someone call her name.


    Turning around, Thssa saw Callum approaching. "Ms. Everhart, in such a rush to leave? You


    haven¡¯t delivered the drinks to the private booth, have you?"


    "You saw it yourself, someone else took over," Thssa replied.


    Callum''s eyes twinkled with that characteristic charm of his, a gentle warmth radiating from his


    demeanor.


    "Why don''t we sit over there and talk?" Callum gestured toward a nearby bench by a flowerbed. It was


    safer than the roadside.


    Thssa recalled thest time Callum sought her out, and it was indeed for a reason. This time


    around, it likely wouldn¡¯t be for mere small talk.


    Thssa walked over to the bench, with Callum following.


    They took seats on the bench, with a respectful gap between them.


    "Did you have something to discuss with me?" Thssa asked.


    A soft smile graced Callum''s lips¡ªnot a genuine expression of mirth, but rather the natural extension of


    his affable personality.


    "You''re catching on," Callum observed. "You''re starting to understand Leopold''s intentions."

 Chapter 934

    Chapter 934


    Thssa''s brow furrowed, puzzled by what Callum meant.


    Leopold''s intention? What intention could he possibly have?


    Before Thssa could voice her confusion, Callum fixed his gaze on her and continued, "If you''re


    looking to break free from Lysander, I can help you. Whenever you¡¯re in a jam, hit me up. We can team


    up, coborating from within and without."


    A jolt of surprise shot through Thssa, her eyes widening in astonishment.


    How did he know she was nning to escape from Lysander?


    It was a thought she had kept to herself, not breathed a word to anyone. Was she really that


    transparent?


    Seeing her shocked expression, Callum realized he had startled her and exined, "Getting a woman


    who can catch Lysander''s eye, to upy his time, now that''s a cunning n."


    Just moments before at the entrance of the booth, Callum had run into Susan. d in a daring,


    revealing dress, she was holding the bottle of red wine that was originally meant to be delivered by


    Thssa, greeting him with a polite smile.


    He saw right through her ¨C the woman was clearly aiming for Lysander.


    It must have been Thssa who sent her; otherwise, how could she have gotten her hands on Ethan''s


    private stash from the bar?


    Suddenly, it clicked for Thssa. Callum must have thought that she had deliberately sent Susan in to


    lure Lysander away.


    Thssa asked, "What did you mean earlier by ''Leopold''s intention''?"


    Callum met her tense, questioning eyes, paused for a brief two seconds, then looked away, "It''s


    nothing, really. I just wanted you to know that if you''re in trouble, you can count on me. I''ll be there to


    help."


    She could see hesitation in Callum''s eyes, a sign he was hiding something from her, but she couldn''t


    guess what it was.


    He didn''t want to talk, and she felt it wasn''t her ce to pry.


    "Leopold is lucky to have a friend like you," Thssa said, acknowledging that Callum truly had


    Leopold''s best interests at heart.


    Callum turned to look at her and noticed a green bug had fallen onto her head.


    They were sitting under arge tree, and it wasn''t unusual for a bug or two to drop down from the


    branches.


    "Don''t move, you''ve got a green bug on your head. Let me get it off for you," Callum said.


    "A bug?" Thssa eximed, her expression tensing up. She was terrified of bugs.


    Though she hadn''t actually seen the bug, the mere mention of its color was enough to conjure up an


    image in her mind of the creature crawling around her head, making her skin crawl with revulsion.


    "Please, get it off," Thssa implored, leaning her head towards Callum, desperate to get rid of the


    unwanted guest atop her head.


    As Callum leaned in, carefully removing the bug that was trailing a fine silk thread from its mouth,


    Thssa tilted her head down slightly, bringing her face closer to his.


    From a distance, it looked as if Callum was nting a kiss on Thssa''s forehead, and she had


    willingly moved her face towards his.


    Lysander emerged from the bar just in time to witness this scene.


    In an instant, his demeanor turned icy, and his piercing gaze frosted over as he strode towards


    Thssa.


    Callum had just plucked the bug off when Thssa was about to pull away, but she suddenly felt a


    chilling presence enveloping her, the air growing thin and hard to breathe.


    With a start, Thssa turned around and saw the imposing, frosty figure of Lysander approaching.Content ? copyrighted by N?velDrama.Org.

 Chapter 935

    Chapter 935


    Thssa¡¯s pupils trembled, and she quickly stepped back, putting distance between herself and


    Callum. As she rose to her feet, her gaze locked onto the approaching figure of Lysander. Her body


    stiffened, and her words began to falter, "You know, Lysander..."


    Before she could finish, her arm was seized, and she was pulled towards Lysander. His tall and


    imposing figure stood before Callum, towering over him with a chilling aura.


    "Seems Mr. Gordon has taken quite an interest in Ms. Everhart?" Lysander''s dominating gaze flickered


    towards Callum.


    A subtle stiffness crept onto Callum''s smiling face as he rose to meet Lysander''s gaze, remarking, "Ms.


    Everhart is beautiful and unattached. Naturally, she draws the eye of eligible bachelors. The first time I


    saw her, I was captivated by her grace. In passing conversation, I learned she was single. Being a


    single man myself, pursuing Ms. Everhart wouldn¡¯t be considered out of line, would it?"


    Thssa gasped, incredulously staring at Callum.


    What was he saying? When had he ever pursued her? Wasn''t this just fuel to Lysander''s fire?


    She darted a quick nce at Callum, then anxiously back to Lysander, whose handsome face was dark


    as a storm cloud, his gaze sharp as a hawk''s, piercing through Callum with icy precision.


    But Callum did not flinch, maintaining a smile in his eyes as the tension crackled in the air.


    Thssa stood to the side, her heart pounding with nerves, fearing the sh that might erupt between


    the two men.


    "Lysander, I was just..."


    Thssa began to exin, but Lysander''s grip on her arm tightened, pulling her close. His hand


    encircled her waist, drawing her close to him.


    She struggled briefly, but his grip was like a vise, leaving her immobile.


    Lysander''s deep, frosty eyes bore into Callum''s as he asserted his im, "Who says she''s single?


    She''s the mother of my four children! No one but me has any right toe near her!"


    Callum''s smile remained unshaken, his demeanor still gentle, but his words carried weight, "That''s


    debatable. A couple without feelings for each other should still be able to pursue their own love lives


    even after having children. As for the children, they can be co-parented."


    At his words, Thssa''s heartbeat skipped. Callum really dared to say anything.


    Her anxiety deepened.


    Lysander''s face darkened ominously, "The notion of co-parenting doesn''t exist for me. And who told


    you she can have her own love life? You clearly don''t understand her rtionship with me!"


    "Oh? And what might that be, some secret unknown to others?" Callum taunted.


    Listening to Callum''s provocation, Thssa was frantic, wanting him to stop, but no words woulde


    out, leaving her in helpless agitation.


    "You want to see? Then witness this," Lysander''s voice was icy as he pulled Thssa close.


    She spun around, not even having a moment to cry out before the back of her head was grasped, and


    Lysander''s lips fiercely imed hers.


    "Mmph..." Thssa panicked, instinctively struggling, pushing against him.


    This only angered him more. With one hand firmly at the back of her head, and the other around her


    waist, he held her captive, his kiss voracious.


    Overwhelmed, Thssa''s senses numbed, her thoughts scattered as her ragged breaths mingled with


    his.


    Gradually, she lost all strength, her mind a nk te.


    Callum stood before them, watching Lysander''s furious kiss, the smile on his lips slowly turning cold.


    Lysander''s possessiveness and desire for Thssa were beyond Callum''s wildest imaginations.


    No wonder Leopold could never take Thssa away from Lysander.


    A sudden sharp pain made Lysander hiss¡ªhe had been bitten by Thssa.Content ? copyrighted by N?velDrama.Org.

 Chapter 936

    Chapter 936


    Thssa pulled back quickly as Lysander''s eyebrows knitted together in a frown. She wiped her lips


    hastily, her eyes wide with panic as they met his icy gaze. It felt as if his eyes could freeze her in ce,


    so devoid of warmth despite the fervent kiss they had just shared.


    Her heart fluttered with fear as she tried to escape his iron grip around her waist, but it was as futile as


    trying to break free from chains. His thumb brushed a speck of blood from his lip, piercing her with a


    cold stare. "All lovey-dovey at home, and now you''re shy in public?"


    "Lysander, please stop." Thssa pleaded in distress.


    "Mr. Sinir, a kiss is just a kiss. As long as you and Ms. Everhart haven''t gone public, she''s fair game


    for any man interested," Callum chimed in with a smirk.


    Lysander''s icy gaze turned to Callum, a slight, chilling smile ying at his lips. "Is that so? Thest


    man who took an interest needed his ''eyes cleaned'' after peering too closely."


    Thssa shuddered at the memory, fearing for Callum''s safety. She grabbed Lysander''s hand. "The


    kids must be worried sick at home. Let''s get back to them."


    She tugged him towards the car, signaling the urgency to leave.


    N?vel(D)rama.Org''s content.


    "Eager to return, I see. Fine, let''s go," Lysander said, ncing at Thssa before dragging her away.


    Lysander''s grip on her wrist was painful, but she dared not resist. He ushered her into the car and took


    the driver''s seat. The cold aura he exuded made Thssa tense up, breathing carefully to avoid


    provoking him further.


    As they drove along the road, Lysander''s stern profile and silent demeanor filled the car with a thick


    tension.


    Thssa kept still, barely breathing, feeling as though even a deep breath would be an error.


    Lysander¡¯s eyes were locked forward, indicating a reluctance to engage in conversation with Thssa.


    Observing his silence, Thssa refrained from uttering a word.


    The heavy, subdued atmosphere lingered, tormenting her heart.


    Outside the bar, Callum watched them leave, his smile fading into a hard glint in his eyes. As he turned


    to leave, he noticed Susan standing by the door, her face a mix of rage and determination.


    Susan quickly masked her anger with a polite smile as Callum approached. "Mr. Gordon, you haven''t


    left yet?"


    She had just seen Lysander embracing and kissing Thssa with such intensity, and it infuriated her.


    She had tried so hard to please him, only to be dismissed. She thought he was just slow to warm up


    but seeing him with Thssa proved he was just not interested in her.


    Why? What did sheck?

 Chapter 937

    Chapter 937


    Susan¡¯s face twisted with fury and envy, but when Callum nced over, she switched to a smile in an


    instant.


    In the few seconds Callum had to observe, he caught a glimpse of Susan''s two-faced charade. With a


    sardonic chuckle to himself but a practiced grin on his face, he said, ¡°Susan, what happened? Couldn¡¯t


    charm Mr. Sinir into giving you a ride home?¡±


    He hadn''t seen what went down in the VIP lounge, but he had a pretty good hunch about Susan¡¯s


    intentions¡ªshe must have pulled out all the stops trying to seduce Lysander, and failed!


    Susan''s forced smile stiffened for a moment, but she quickly reverted to a coquettish one. ¡°Oh, Mr.


    Gordon, you jest. Mr. Sinir and I have only met a few times. Why would he take me home? We¡¯re


    hardly old friends.¡± Despite not outright denying her desire to go home with Lysander, her words


    remained yful.


    Callum had to give her credit for being so brazen about her ambitions.


    ¡°If you¡¯re looking for assistance, maybe I can be of service.¡± With that, Callum sidestepped her and


    walked away.


    Susan¡¯s pulse quickened as she spun around to face his retreating back. ¡°Mr. Gordon, are you saying


    you can help me win over Lysander?¡±


    Callum paused momentarily, then proceeded without looking back.


    Frowning, Susan thought how odd Callum was¡ªoffering help then brushing her off.


    ...


    At the Royal Estates.


    As soon as the car halted, Thssa flung open the door and marched towards the house, not daring to


    nce back.


    N?vel(D)rama.Org''s content.


    ¡°Kids, once you¡¯ve finished bathing, I¡¯ll take you to meet your father. He can then take you to find your


    mother, alright?¡±


    In the living room, Fitch was trying to soothe the four little tykes.


    Dorian, arms crossed, pouted, ¡°Hmph, I don¡¯t wanna bathe until Daddy¡¯s back.¡±


    ¡°I want Mommy to wash me,¡± Elowen said, eyes brimming with tears.


    ¡°I want Mommy, and Grandma,¡± Sophia murmured, tears circling her eyes.


    ¡°Is Daddy with Mommy?¡± Atticus inquired.


    Thssa walked in to find the four kids standing their ground against Fitch, adorably fierce.


    Their chatter was all about wanting Mommy and Grandma.


    Thssa''s heart, panicked and icy moments before, melted at the sight, and a smile spread across her


    face. ¡°Why aren¡¯t you bathing? Mommy''s here."


    At her voice, four little heads whipped around, and seeing her, their eyes lit up like stars in the night


    sky.


    ¡°Mommy!¡± they chorused, scurrying towards Thssa on stubby legs.


    Thssa crouched down, arms wide open to embrace her darlings.


    ¡°Mommy, why¡¯d you take so long?¡±


    The little ones piled into her arms, with Elowen clutching at Thssa¡¯s shirt, nuzzling into her embrace.


    The momentum nearly sent Thssa tumbling backward, but arge hand steadied her, securing her


    from behind.


    The hand''s warmth was dry and intense, aforting anchor amid the chaos.

 Chapter 938

    Chapter 938


    The scorching heat pressed against Thssa¡¯s back, sending a shiver down her spine. She steadied


    herself and clutched the little ones in her arms a bit tighter.


    Doing her best to ignore the formidable presence behind her, Thssa spoke with a softened voice,


    filled with tenderness, ¡°Mommy had to join the boss for aworking dinner; that¡¯s why I¡¯mte


    tonight.¡±


    ¡°Mommy, is your boss also Daddy?¡± Dorian lifted his cherub face with those wide, innocent eyes.


    Mentioning Lysander made Thssa¡¯s nerves involuntarily twitch. After a brief pause, she managed to


    say, ¡°No, he¡¯s Dn Crawley¡¯s uncle.¡±


    ¡°Dn, the kid from my preschool?¡± Elowen showed interest, her eyes gleaming with curiosity.


    ¡°Yes, that¡¯s him,¡± Thssa confirmed.


    ¡°Oh, so Mommy works at Dn¡¯s uncle¡¯spany?¡± Elowen tilted her little head in inquiry.


    ¡°That¡¯s right,¡± said Thssa as she stood up, hand in hand with the two children, walking towards the


    couch.


    She casually slipped away from Lysander¡¯s grasp on her back.


    Although she kept herposure, her heart raced. She never dared to look back, afraid to lock eyes


    with Lysander¡¯s deep.. prating gaze.


    ¡°Mommy, we had a roboticspetition at preschool today, and I won first ce,¡± Atticus announced,


    unable to hide his excitement on his cute little face.


    He had won first ce, and the first person he thought to share it with was his mom.


    ¡°Really? My Atticus is so amazing, a realputer whiz, Thssa praised, lovingly ruffling his hair.


    ¡°Mommy, I also won the gourmetpetition!¡± Elowen raised her hand, not wanting to be outdone,


    boasting about her own triumph.


    ¡°Yes, Elowen is amazing too,¡± Thssa gently caressed her cheek.


    ¡°And me, I fixed so many antiques,¡± Sophia chimed in, her cheeks flushed.


    ¡°I¡¯m going to be in a TV show,¡± Dorian added.


    With a smile, Thssa affectionately touched each of their heads, ¡°Sophia and Dorian are also


    incredible. All four of my little darlings are geniuses.¡±


    ¡°Mommy, I want to sleep with you and Daddy tonight,¡± Elowen said with a sweet smile, dimples forming


    on her cheeks.


    Thssa was about to reply when the weight on the couch next to her shifted, and an intimidating


    presence loomed. She turned to see Lysander¡¯s tall figure sitting beside her; his handsome face was


    tense, his deep eyes brooding. ¡°Tonight, everyone sleeps in their own rooms.¡±


    His voice brooked no argument.


    Content held by N?velDrama.Org.


    Thssa tensed up, knowing from his tone that he was not in a good mood, even without seeing his


    face.


    The reason for not letting the children sleep with her became clearer when she recalled Lysander¡¯s


    domineering kiss from earlier; it left her feeling even more uneasy.


    ¡°No, I want to sleep with Mommy!¡± Elowen pouted stubbornly; her gaze fixed defiantly on Lysander.


    Goodness, wasn¡¯t Elowen usually so sweet and gentle? When had she started to show her ws to


    Lysander?


    Fitch was taken aback, his eyes widening at Elowen¡¯s stance and then flickering towards Lysander.


    Seeing the stormy look on Lysander¡¯s face, he felt a chill run down his spine, a cold sweat breaking


    out.


    He silently rooted for Elowen¡¯s courage.


    Lysander¡¯s brows furrowed slightly, his aura chilling.


    Yet the little ones were in need of their mother¡¯sfort,cking the adults¡¯ ability to read the room.


    I want to sleep with Mornmy too! Dorian echoed.

 Chapter 939

    Chapter 939


    Thssa¡¯s hands were mmy with nerves as she worried about the potential storm brewing within


    Lysander¡¯s ever-unpredictable mood.


    Even Fitch wiped the sweat from his brow, knowing that standing up to Lysander when he was on edge


    was a domain reserved. for the brave-or the foolish.


    Fitch was trembling, bracing for the tempest that was Lysander¡¯s wrath.


    But to everyone¡¯s surprise, Lysander simply massaged his temples and spoke in a deep, resonant


    voice, ¡°Everyone sleeps in their own room tonight and wait for your mom toe tuck you in with a


    bedtime story.¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t wanna¡­¡± Little Elowen, not quite grasping the meaning behind Lysander¡¯s words, started to


    object.


    Before she could finish, Thssa quickly covered her mouth, gently guiding her towards her room. She


    whispered into her eyes, ¡°Daddy means that Mom wille and tell you a story, but you have to be in


    your own beds, waiting for your turn.¡±


    Elowen blinked her confused eyes, ¡°Is that what he meant?¡±


    ¡°Of course,¡± Thssa reassured her.


    ¡°I¡¯m not sleepy, I wanna stay up for Mommy¡¯s story!¡± eximed Dorian, bouncing excitedly.


    ¡°I¡¯m gonna take a bath and then it¡¯s story time!¡± Sophie dered, her little legs hurrying toward the


    bathroom.


    ¡°I¡¯m the eldest, so Mommy cane to mest. I¡¯ll wait up for Mommy and won¡¯t fall asleep,¡± Atticus


    said, always the most considerate, letting his younger siblings go first.


    In a flurry of activity, the four little ones dashed to the bathroom, eager to wash up and snuggle into bed


    ready for their stories. Thssa stood up, watching the children disappear into the bathroom with a


    smile. Her gaze shifted and met Lysander¡¯s deep eyes, which were sending a shiver through her.


    ¡°I¡¯ll go check on Elowen and Sophie,¡± Thssa said quickly, seeking an escape.


    After the bath, the kidsy in their beds, their damp skin glistening and soft, utterly adorable.


    Thssa helped Elowen and Sophie into their pajamas, her mood soft and rxed.


    ¡°Mommy, I wanna sleep with you and Sophie tonight,¡± Elowen said in her sweet, coaxing voice as she


    dressed.


    Sophie nodded in agreement, ¡°Yeah, together.¡±


    Thssa¡¯s smile was warm, ¡°Of course, you can. Get dressed and hop into bed, I¡¯ll be right there with


    a story.¡±


    ¡°Okay,¡± the little onesplied obediently, climbing into bed and settling down.


    With a storybook in hand, Thssa began the nightly ritual of the bedtime story.


    Her voice, soothing as a luby, easily lulled the children into rxation.


    Before she could finish the tale, Elowen and Sophie had drifted off to sleep.


    Thssa tiptoed to the room where Dorian and Atticus were sharing for the night.


    T¨ºxt belongs to N?velDrama.Org.


    Seeing their mother, they quickly scrambled to sit up, their eyes filled with sleepy anticipation.


    ¡°Mommy, we¡¯ve been waiting for you,¡± Dorian said with a sleepy rub of his eyes, his soft voice sounding


    faint.


    Atticus, too, rubbed his eyes. Despite his strong will, he was still just a child and it was nearing ten


    o¡¯clock-way past their usual bedtime.


    Thssa¡¯s heart swelled with affection, ¡°I¡¯m here now. Lie down, and I¡¯ll read you a story.¡±


    The boys obediently settled back down as Thssay beside them, reading a story to them. Within


    moments, she heard their steady breathing.


    She stopped reading, a smile curling her lips, and whispered, ¡°Goodnight, my little ones.¡±


    Rising gently, Thssa returned to the master bedroom, relieved to find Lysander absent. She found


    some clothes in the wardrobe and headed to the bathroom for a shower. Just as she was about to


    close the door, a firm force stopped it. Thssa¡¯s breath hitched.

 Chapter 940

    Chapter 940


    Thssa¡¯s strength was nothingpared to that of the person outside the door, and the door was


    easily pushed open.


    As Lysander''s tall, dark silhouette entered, a wave of panic washed over Thssa. Hismanding


    presence seemed to push her back step by step without him even trying.


    "Lysander, I was about to take a shower. Do you need something?" Thssa asked with a nervous


    tremor in her voice.


    "I know. I need a shower too," Lysander replied, his voice deep and resonant, as if it were the most


    natural thing in the world.


    "You go ahead then," Thssa said, lowering her gaze, ready to sidestep him and leave the bathroom.


    As she tried to pass, Lysander''s hand firmly but gently mped onto her shoulder, pushing her back


    until she was pinned against the wall. His tall frame loomed over her, hands braced on either side of


    her head, effectively trapping her between the wall and his imposing presence.


    His gaze bore down on her, his voice a low, icy drawl. "What are you running from, huh?"


    Thssa''s breath hitched; her eyes forced to meet his intense stare. Her heartbeat quickened, her


    voice barely a whisper, "I''m not running. If I were running, I wouldn''t havee back to Royal Estates."


    Could he have found out something?


    Her mind raced, her heart pounding erratically.


    If Lysander discovered her urge to flee, all her efforts would be for naught.


    "I''m talking about right now," Lysander said.


    Thssa''s heart skipped a beat, realizing she was thinking too far ahead and feeling utterly guilty, she


    lowered her head slightly.


    "I''m just notfortable showering with someone else," she uttered so softly that her words seemed to


    dissolve into the air.


    A flicker of desire stirred in Lysander as he darkened his gaze, his index finger lifting her chin to force


    eye contact. "Nothing you want to say?"


    Thssa gazed into his eyes, deep as the night sky, and felt a sinking feeling in her stomach.


    She had too many secrets to share with him, and his probing questions made her wonder that had he


    discovered something?


    N?vel(D)rama.Org''s content.


    Which secret?


    Was it the secret that she wasn''t Bruce''s daughter, the one about Evelyn being mistreated by Bruce, or


    the fact that she nned to run away with the children?


    Any of these discovered by Lysander would spell disaster.


    "Say what?" she asked, feigning ignorance and calm in the face of internal chaos.


    "Tonight''s incident!" Lysander''s expression turned stone-cold, his aura bing even frostier.


    Thssa''s heart leapt. Was he not referring to her secrets after all?


    With a momentary relief that quickly turned back into tension, she ventured a guess, "Susan wanted to


    bring you a drink..."


    She didn''t know what had happened in the private booth, but she was certain Susan wouldn''t miss the


    opportunity to seduce Lysander, given her ambitions.


    Whether Lysander had shown Susan any special attention, Thssa couldn''t be sure.


    "She wants to bring a drink, and you let her? Hoping to slip away to chase after your own love story,


    huh?" Lysander''s eyes were like ice over a frozenke, his stare prating.


    The coldness around him made Thssa''s teeth chatter.


    He must have taken Callum''s words to heart.


    Thssa didn''t understand Callum''s motives, but he had offered to help her escape from Lysander.


    Callum was an ally to her!


    She couldn''t betray him by iming his words were false.


    Thssa tried to steady herself, looking up to meet Lysander''s gaze with feigned calm.


    "Don''t you think Callum is right? If there''s no love between a man and a woman, even if they have a


    child, they can co-parent and then each seek their own love. Isn''t that reasonable?"


    Deep down, that was how she felt¡ªco-parenting their children and leading separate lives without


    interfering with each other.


    If he didn''t want to marry her, wasn''t it better to let her be free to pursue her own life?


    Lysander''s aura suddenly turned icy, his touch on her chin shifting from a lift to a tight grip, his eyes


    turning predatory.


    "Pushing women at me while you chase your own love affairs? Thssa, do you want to die?" His


    words came through clenched teeth, his grip on her chin tightening painfully.


    Thssa winced, saying, "Lysander, you''re being selfish. If you won''t marry me, why can''t you let me


    find happiness with someone else?"

 Chapter 941

    Chapter 941


    "Who do you want to marry?" Lysander''s face was as stern as a thundercloud, his gaze sharp as an


    eagle''s, piercing her with the chill of an ice de.


    "I... I don''t know." Thssa''s breath came in heavy gasps, her fingers clutching the hem of his shirt,


    trembling slightly.


    "Ha, wishful thinking!" A cold light passed through Lysander''s shadowed eyes as he ripped the clothes


    from her body.


    "Uh..."


    ...


    Thssa''s consciousness slowly stirred, and with the slightest movement, pain shot through her body,


    causing her delicate brows to furrow.


    Enduring the aches that racked her frame, she rolled her head to the side, something amiss beneath


    her skull. Her cheek rested against a strong and powerful arm, radiating a sense of formidable strength.


    Images from the previous night shed through her mind.


    Lysander was a tempest in the bathroom, pressing her against the wall, while she, unable to resist,


    clung to his neck, tipping her head back, her lips parted as she stared at the flickering light above.


    The shower water cascaded over them, shrouding the room with a mist of warmth and intimacy.


    Later, in the bed, Lysander gripped her waist, entwining her in a desperate embrace.


    Thssa felt as though she were losing half her life.


    Eventually, she passed out.


    The memories ofst night were too painful, too vivid.


    A jolt of realization shot through Thssa, her awareness snapping into focus. She opened her eyes to


    see Lysander''s strikingly handsome face, his high-bridged nose, sensual thin lips, and intense brows


    that added to his rugged beauty.


    Her breath hitched, heart pounding.


    Even with his eyes closed, Thssa could sense the danger that emanated from him- danger that


    could y her skin and snatch away half her life.


    Thssa hurriedly tried to get up.


    But with one move, the hand at her waist tightened, pulling her back down beside him.


    A husky voice broke the silence, "Where to?"


    His deep-set eyes, leisurely, opened.


    The temperature around them seemed to plummet, causing Thssa''s heart to flutter, her breath


    stalling.


    Her heartbeat erratic, she replied, "Getting up, need to freshen up."


    The hand around her waist rxed slightly, and Thssa seized the moment to sit up, facing him,


    aware of the potential danger like a gazelle in the presence of a lion.


    She couldn''t bear to meet his gaze any longer.


    As she sat up, the nket slid from her body, leaving her skin exposed to the cool air.


    Realizing her state of undress, she gasped and quickly brought her hands up to cover herself.


    Turning in panic, she met Lysander''s deep and mocking eyes.


    Content held by N?velDrama.Org.


    He smirked, his gaze icy, "What haven''t I seen that you need to cover up?"


    With that, he rose from the bed and began to dress in front of her.


    Thssa held her breath and looked away.


    Wrapping the nket around herself, she tried to stand but almost stumbled, her legs weak.


    Lysander caught her, his voice a teasing baritone, "Still able to walk? Seems like you need more..."


    Thssa''s heart skipped in fear, she quickly protested, "No more, I can barely stand as it is, didn''t you


    see?"


    His prating eyes darkened, "Still not learning, are you?"


    Thssa shot him a re and pushed him away, "I need a shower; I feel sticky all over!"


    She took a few shaky steps forward, her legs giving out, reaching desperately for something to steady


    herself.


    Suddenly, she was lifted off her feet.


    Instinctively, Thssa wrapped her arms around Lysander''s neck, but as she realized who was


    carrying her, her body tensed, and she blurted out in panic, "Let me down. I can do this myself!"


    Lysander gave her a deep, profound look that stopped her in her tracks. Her brows knit together, but


    she dared not speak another word.

 Chapter 942

    Chapter 942


    Lysander, though fully clothed, exuded a potent masculine presence that filled the room. Thssa, on


    the other hand, was still bare, save for the sheet clutched around her.


    Her arms looped around Lysander''s neck, inadvertently causing the sheet to slip.


    Caught off guard by his sudden embrace, Thssa''s heart raced as she fumbled with the falling sheet,


    trying to cover herself.


    But it was a futile gesture; Lysander had already seen everything.


    His deep gaze, smoky and intense, lingered on her slightly cherubic face.


    Remembering her tender vulnerability the night before, a warmth spread through Lysander''s lower


    abdomen.


    His voice, low and gravelly, broke the silence, "Why bother covering up? It''s not like I haven''t seen it all


    before."


    Thssa''s face flushed a deep crimson at his words. True as they might be, hearing him say them out


    loud sent a wave of embarrassment through her.


    Lysander cast a sideways nce at her, noting the blush spreading across her previously pale cheeks,


    tempting as a ripe peach.


    Suppressing a bodily reaction, he focused ahead and strode into the bathroom, setting Thssa down


    by the sink. "Clean up ande out," he said, his voice amand.


    "Got it," Thssa murmured, her gaze lowered.


    Once Lysander''s tall frame exited the bathroom, the oppressive atmosphere seemed to ease.


    Thssa quickly shut the bathroom door, fearing he might turn back. Once the door was securely


    locked, she rxed her tense shoulders and stepped into the shower, letting the hot water flow.


    Her eyes identally caught sight of the sink, and her heart skipped a beat. The previous night, under


    Lysander''s assertive guidance, that very sink had been the site of unrestrained passion.


    The memories flooding her mind made her blood run hot, and she quickly averted her gaze, only for


    her eyes to fall upon the dark gray tiles on the wall.


    There, too, Lysander had pressed her against the wall, his hands lifting her, carrying her weight.


    Thssa''s breath hitched at the recollection, alone in the shower with cheeks as red as tomatoes.


    She thought the bathroom would shield her from Lysander''s pervasive influence, but every corner was


    a reminder of the night''s fervor. Every object she saw brought back vivid scenes from the night before.


    Lysander''s heavy, scorching breath seemed to echo in her ears, sending shivers down her sensitive


    skin, her heart squeezing tight.


    Thssa closed her eyes and shook her head, trying to dispel the lingering images.


    Warm water cascaded over her head, drenching her hair, and droplets traced paths down her cheeks,


    falling to the ground with a sound that filled the room.


    Standing motionless under the shower head, Thssa was lost in thought, the water''s rush failing to


    wash away the memories of Lysander''s relentless pursuit of pleasure.


    She remained there, unmoving, as the water enveloped her, making breathing more difficult, like


    drowning.


    Panic set in as her breath was caught in the torrent, her heart sinking as if to the ocean floor. Her body


    seemed rooted in ce, unable to move.


    T¨ºxt belongs to N?velDrama.Org.


    Then came the urgent knocking.


    Lysander''s forceful raps on the door echoed, but the locked bathroom door refused to yield from the


    outside.


    Thssa seemed not to hear.


    With a "crack," the bathroom doorknob was forcibly twisted, breaking a hole through the lock.


    A towering silhouette stormed in, and in one swift motion, Lysander yanked Thssa from under the


    shower. His rough hands swept her wet, seaweed-like hair off her face and onto the top of her head.

 Chapter 943

    Chapter 943


    Lysander''s handsome face was taut, his eyes fierce as he barked, "What the hell are you doing?!"


    Startled by his abrupt growl, Thssa gasped for air, her mouth wide open as she breathed in the fresh


    air desperately.


    After several urgent breaths, the suffocating feeling eased slightly.


    When Thssa opened her eyes, she met Lysander''s icy gaze, staring at her intently. His sharp eyes


    seemed to carry a hint of worry amid their severity.


    "I''m showering," Thssa responded, her breaths quick and uneven.


    "Trying to suffocate yourself in the shower? Thssa, are you trying to test my patience?" Lysander''s


    grip on her shoulder was too firm, betraying his tension.


    "Ouch..." Thssa winced as her shoulder des felt like they were about to snap, her body stiffening.


    Realizing he was hurting her, Lysander''s grasp softened slightly.


    Fixing his gaze on her eyes, his expression remained stern and tense. "Why didn¡¯t you find it


    ufortable earlier? If I catch you treating yourself like this again, I won''t let it slide!"


    With a domineering, cold toss of his words, Lysander nced at her pale face, clenched his teeth, and


    stormed out of the bathroom.


    Stepping outside, the sound of water sshing on the floor echoed in Lysander''s ears, tightening his


    nerves.


    Lysander¡¯s handsome face darkened, resembling a sky weighed down by storm clouds. His eyes took


    on a tint of crimson, and his sharp eyebrows twitched ever so slightly. The hands hanging by his side


    tightened, the veins on the back of them bulging from the applied pressure.


    Did Thssa think she could force him to let her go by doing this? Wishful thinking!


    Content ? copyrighted by N?velDrama.Org.


    Even in death, he would not allow Thssa to leave and seek her own love, to marry someone else!


    With determined strides, Lysander exited the room.


    Thssa finally came back to her senses, propping herself up on the sink, her breathing still rapid as


    she nced back at the still-running shower head.


    A wave of fear rose within her.


    What was she thinking? Why didn''t she move? With her hair stered wet over her face, she could


    have suffocated!


    At a moment of life and death, she had no reaction at all!


    Thankfully, Lysander hade in time.


    Turning around, she saw the bathroom door lock broken, a hole through the door.


    The strength it must have taken...


    Thssa was too shocked to continue her scattered thoughts and hurriedly finished showering and


    wrapped herself in a towel.


    Lysander was no longer in the room.


    Lowering her eyes, Thssa masked the emotions swirling within.


    She dressed andposed herself before heading downstairs. Lysander wasn''t there either. She saw


    Fitch setting up the meal and approached him, asking, "Fitch, where''s Lysander?"


    "Lysander left, probably to the office. Ms. Everhart, lunch is ready for you. I''ve got to run and pick up


    the kids," Fitch said in a rush.


    Lunch?


    Thssa was startled; she thought it was still morning, not realizing it was already afternoon and the


    kids would be getting out of school soon.


    She had slept until the afternoon!


    Considering she had a tumultuous evening yesterday, it was normal for her to wake up at this time.


    Yesterday, she didn¡¯t fall into a deep sleep until thete night, thoroughly exhausted. When she woke


    up in the afternoon, her whole body still felt sore and weak.


    She wanted to join Fitch in picking up the kids, but she felt too drained; even walking felt off.


    It was better to stay home and eat. Eating seemed to be the only way to regain her strength.


    As Fitch hurried off, Thssa settled down to eat. Just then, her phone rang, and upon seeing the


    caller ID, her recently rxed nerves tensed up once again.

 Chapter 944

    Chapter 944


    It was Ethan on the phone.


    She hadn''t gone to work today, and she hadn''t even called Ethan to take a sick day.


    Last time, she promised Ethan that she would never skip work again and that she would always give


    him a heads-up if something came up. And yet, here she was, breaking her promise again.


    It wasn''t like she wanted it this way; she just couldn''t help it.


    Thssa put down her fork, slid her finger across the screen, and answered, ¡°Mr. Ethan, just hear me


    out...¡±


    She preempted any anger from Ethan by exining the situation before he could get upset.


    She was only halfway through her exnation when Ethan''s teasingughter came through the line, ¡°I


    get it; you and Lysander are in the honeymoon phase. Things can get a bit...uncontroble.¡±


    Thssa¡¯s cheeks flushed with heat, and she wished she could just disappear into a hole.


    How did Ethan always seem to know everything? But he was wrong about one thing¡ªthere was no


    romantic rtionship between her and Lysander, so where was this so-called honeymoon phase


    ¡°Mr. Ethan, I truly had an unavoidable reason today. Is it toote to ask for a day off now?¡± Thssa


    tried to cover her embarrassment and spoke to him in as normal a tone as she could manage.


    If she could count today as a sick day and not as skipping work, she wouldn''t get her pay docked.


    ¡°It¡¯s toote for that.¡± Ethan chuckled. ¡°You¡¯ll need to do overtime tonight to make up for today¡¯s


    absence.¡±


    ¡°Overtime?¡± Thssa asked, puzzled.


    ¡°Yes, you were handling the PR for Crawley Electronics, right? The TV station wants to do an exclusive


    on the Crawley Group tonight. They¡¯ve been snapping photos and filming all day. I won¡¯t have time to


    deal with them this evening, so you¡¯ll need to step in and handle themunication.¡±


    Ethan¡¯s typically yful tone had shifted to one of seriousness.


    Usually, Ethan appeared jovial and fond of jokes, but when it came to work, he was all business,


    serious and focused.


    He might let the world down, but never his career.


    It seemed a trait shared among Lysander''s close friends; they were all like that¡ªEthan, ric, Richard.


    Probably influenced by Lysander, who always put work first, even to the point of forsaking personal ties


    for business gains.


    Knowing Ethan¡¯s steadfast approach to work, Thssa, as his employee, felt in the wrong for missing a


    day. She realized she couldn¡¯t really say no to this overtime.


    ¡°Alright, I¡¯lle to the office after lunch.¡± Thssa agreed without hesitation.


    N?vel(D)rama.Org''s content.


    ¡°Take your time. No rush,¡± Ethan said before ending the call.


    After lunch, feeling somewhat refreshed and less achy, Thssa knew she had to switch into more


    professional attire for work.


    She chose a ck and white business ensemble¡ªa short-sleeved, cored blouse ideal for concealing


    the stubborn love bite on her neck, paired with a knee-length A-line skirt.


    After applying a touch of makeup and ready to head out, Fitch brought the kids home.


    ¡°Mommy!¡± The four little ones ran towards Thssa in unison.


    She wrapped her arms around them, speaking softly, ¡°Mommy has to work overtime tonight and won¡¯t


    be able to be with you. Fitch will y with you, okay?¡±


    ¡°Mommy¡¯s working overtime? When will youe back?¡± Dorian looked up at her with big, hopeful


    eyes.


    The separation had only just begun, and already there was anticipation for their reunion.


    ¡°Hmm, probably around ten tonight, once the work is done. You all need to be good and go to bed


    early, okay?¡± Thssa patted their damp, sweet-smelling heads, feeling a tender warmth in her heart.


    ¡°Ugh, I hate overtime! When I grow up, I¡¯m going to smash overtime so Mommy never has to workte


    again.¡± Elowen pouted, clenching her tiny fists, her youthful brows furrowed in a disy of adorable


    determination.

 Chapter 945

    Chapter 945


    Thssa couldn''t help but let out a chuckle as she gently pinched Elowen''s chubby cheeks, "Mommy


    will be back soon, don''t worry."


    "Ms. Everhart, let me drive you," Fitch offered politely as he stepped forward.


    Content held by N?velDrama.Org.


    "No need, you stay and look after the kids. The chauffeur can take me," Thssa replied.


    "The chauffeur took Lysander to the airport today; he''s on a business trip," Fitch informed her.


    Lysander was on a business trip?


    Thssa didn''t know a thing about it. A self-mocking smile curled at the edge of her lips. She wasn''t


    anyone of importance to Lysander; why would he inform her of his whereabouts?


    What did it matter if he was on a trip? Was there a need to tell her?


    She didn''t even have the right to know.


    "What about the children?" Thssa was uneasy.


    "There are plenty of staff in the house, so they''ll be fine," Fitch assured her.


    "Alright then," Thssa conceded to Fitch''s offer. If she had to make her own way, it would take a long


    time, and she had just started to regain some strength; her body was still weak and wouldn''t hold up for


    long walks.


    "Mommy,e back soon, we''ll be waiting," a tender little voice called out.


    Thssa turned back and found the four little ones standing in a line at the entrance, their eyes filled


    with anticipation, gazing at her.


    Seeing this, Thssa felt a poignant blend of sorrow andpassion.


    Back when she and Evelyn were taking care of the children, they never had such anxious looks in their


    eyes. Even if she had to be away for a couple of days, the children never showed such fear.


    Living with Lysander, they had all theforts and staff to look after them, yet they felt a profoundck


    of security.


    Their fearful, anxious eyes nearly broke Thssa''s heart.


    Swallowing the lump in her throat, Thssa smiled at them, "Okay, Mommy will be back as soon as


    possible. Go inside and y."


    With that, she and Fitch headed towards the car.


    The kids didn''t turn back into the house but continued to stand there, small faces filled with longing and


    reluctance, watching as their mother got into the car.


    As Fitch started the engine, Thssa looked back through the rear ss to see the children still


    standing at the door, watching her car drive away.


    A tear pricked at the corner of her eye as she felt, more than ever, that the children were not as happy


    as they used to be when they were by her side.


    The once lively and cheerful little ones now had fear in their eyes.


    Security wasn''t something that could be provided byfortable living conditions alone; it needed to


    be nurtured with sufficient love.


    It wasn''t until Thssa''s car vanished from sight that the four little ones looked at each other,


    disheartened, and slowly walked back inside.


    ...


    Today was Bruce''s discharge day from the hospital.


    After a scuffle with Lysander''s bodyguards, Bruce had spent several days in recovery and was finally


    well enough to leave.


    The nurse came over to remind him, "Bruce, you''ve had blood transfusions during yourst couple of


    visits to our hospital. ording to our policy, patients who''ve received transfusions need to have a


    family membere in to donate blood to ensure our blood bank remains stocked."


    Bruce was puzzled, "Wasn¡¯t the blood I receivedst time donated by Thssa?"


    He had lost a lot of blood previously when Evelyn had cracked his head open with a chair, and it was


    Thssa who had brought him to the hospital.


    "Thssa? She''s type B, and you''re type O. How could she donate blood for you?" The nurse, who


    had been the same one to attend to Bruce and handle his transfusion, replied.


    She remembered the details well, especially since the woman who imed to be Bruce''s daughter,


    Thssa, had a different blood type.


    "What did you say? Thssa is type B?" Bruce eximed.

 Chapter 946

    Chapter 946


    "It was blood type B; there was no mistake. We''ve double-checked her blood type," the nurse assured,


    her voice steady and professional.


    Bruce''s expression darkened instantly, his face contorting with difort.


    "Something wrong?" the nurse inquired, her brows knitting together in concern.


    Snapping back to reality, Bruce stered on a smile that was all politeness andposure. "Nothing at


    all. I''ll have my daughtere in for a donation some other time."


    "Alright then." Satisfied with his response, the nurse left the room, her footsteps echoing down the


    sterile hospital corridor.


    As soon as she was gone, a chilling fury took over Bruce''s features.


    If his memory served him right, Evelyn was also type O.


    Previously, to manipte Evelyn and keep her emotions under control, he intentionally took her to the


    hospital for a medical examination, falsely presenting it as a pre-marital checkup. He remembered


    clearly that she was type O.


    How could two parents with type O blood possibly have a daughter with type B?


    The only exnation was that Thssa wasn''t his child! She was the product of Evelyn''s betrayal ¨C the


    result of her affair with another man!


    Evelyn''s wordsst time weren''t out of spite. They were the truth!


    She had indeed betrayed him, gone to another man, and bore his child!


    Thssa wasn''t his daughter!


    The cold fury within Bruce was palpable, his eyes glinting with a dangerous light.


    Since Thssa wasn''t his flesh and blood, he saw no need to y nice anymore.


    Leaving the hospital, Bruce didn''t head home. Instead, he went straight to a real estate agency to dig


    up where Evelyn had moved to.


    Hiswork in the realty world was extensive; there was hardly a person who could rent a ce without


    him eventually finding out.


    But, after scouring every database avable, there was no trace of Evelyn or Thssa renting


    anywhere.


    Thest known address was the Vibrant Oasis Residences, and he knew they had moved out from


    there.


    Had Evelyn gone back to her hometown?


    Bruce remembered that Evelyn hailed from a rural area. While she had mentioned it before, the exact


    vige had slipped his mind.


    Fortunately, he had her medical forms at home and needed to go back to find them.


    Rushing home, he found the ce empty. Lucy was probably out with thedies at their weekly line


    dancing in the park.


    Seizing the opportunity, Bruce boldly entered his study, reaching for a stack of files prominently


    disyed on the bookshelf. The files contained the details of his numerous past liaisons.


    He opted for the most conspicuous location because, after all, what better ce to hide than in in


    sight? Lucy had searched through his safe, drawers, and any locked or confidential spaces, dreading


    that he might be hiding some unspeakable secrets.


    But Bruce had always been one step ahead of Lucy. The more conspicuous the ce, the less she


    suspected.


    Over the years, Bruce kept those women''s files right there on the bookshelf, secretly enclosed in a


    folder. While the first few pages were innocuous contracts, it was the pages in the middle that held the


    damning details.


    Content ? copyrighted by N?velDrama.Org.


    Lucy had never found them.

 Chapter 947

    Chapter 947


    Bruce hurriedly sifted through the pages, his fingers driven by a sense of urgency, searching for that


    one piece of information that could lead him to Evelyn. Finally, he found her file. However, as he


    skimmed through the details, a sinking feeling enveloped him- Evelyn hadn¡¯t listed her hometown. The


    trail went cold; Evelyn had vanished into thin air.


    His expression darkened, a storm brewing behind his eyes.


    ¡°What are you sneaking around here for?¡± The study door creaked open, and a distinctly sharp female


    voice cut through the silence.


    It was Lucy. Bruce immediately snapped the folder shut, lifting his gaze to meet hers. His menacing


    scowl melted away, reced with a sly, honeyed grin, ¡°Hey, Lucy, back from your Zumba ss?¡±


    What are you hiding there? You look awfully guilty,¡± Lucy shot back, unimpressed. She marched over,


    reaching for the folder he was clutching.


    Bruce¡¯s heart skipped a beat, and he quickly lifted his hand out of her reach, a sh of annoyance


    crossing his face as he retorted, ¡°I¡¯m just reading a contract, thinking about getting back to the old


    grind. But you, with your suspicious mind, how can anyone live with that?¡±


    ¡°If you have nothing to hide, why act so defensive?¡± Lucy snapped back.


    With a re, Bruce thrust the folder into her hands, ¡°Here, take a look then! Go on, check it from top to


    bottom. And if there¡¯s nothing amiss, we¡¯re getting a divorce! I can¡¯t stand this constant distrust!¡±


    He stood with his hands on his hips, visibly seething as he turned away, leaving Lucy to her scrutiny.


    The word ¡®divorce¡¯ hit Lucy like a ton of bricks, her aggressive stance crumbling. The documents she


    had been so eager to snatch now felt like a hot potato. She dared not open them. If she did, Bruce


    would hold her to that threat of a divorce.


    Over the years, they¡¯d had their share of threats to separate, but Lucy had always been the fierce one,


    standing her ground, refusing to let go. Her obsession with Bruce was deeper than that of any other


    woman. He had a way with words, a charm that held them captive, and Lucy was no exception.


    Content held by N?velDrama.Org.


    Even though she knew about his indiscretions, the thought of losing her status as his wife and the


    thought of being dethroned were unbearable. A divorce would mean losing Bruce for good.


    ¡°Alright, alright, Bruce, I was just trying to rattle you. I wasn¡¯t really going to check. Don¡¯t be mad.¡± Lucy


    cajoled, nudging his elbow and handing back the folder without even flipping open its protective cover.


    Bruce decided to let it go, snatching the documents and cing them on the shelf with a scowl, ¡°All


    these years, I¡¯ve had more than enough of this. If it weren¡¯t for our daughter, I¡¯d divorce you in a


    heartbeat!¡±


    He stormed out, leaving Lucy flustered and fearful that he was genuinely angry. She hurried after him,


    ¡°Bruce, please don¡¯t be mad. You¡¯ll only hurt yourself. I¡¯ll stop, I promise. Look at you, just out of the


    hospital with bruises still visible. We don¡¯t want you back in there. I told you I wanted to pick you up


    when you got discharged, and you wouldn¡¯t have it.¡±


    Bruce shook off her hand from his arm, ¡°With you acting like a jailer all the time, you¡¯ll be the death of


    me!¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t say that; I really do love you,¡± Lucy said, her voice a mix of desperation and tears, following him


    out. The document and its secrets, now overshadowed by the threat of divorce, were forgotten.


    Meanwhile, Thssa arrived at the spot Ethan had mentioned, a meeting arranged with a reporter. It


    was a quaint diner, a serene spot perfect for business or casual conversations.


    She entered the private booth and saw a man and a woman seated at the table. The woman had the


    perfect oval face, her makeup bold and trendy, dressed in high-end fashion.


    It was Charlotte!


    ¡°Look who¡¯s here again, Thssa, Charlotte said, her voiceced with a mocking tone as she shot a


    scrutinizing nce at Thssa, a smirk ying on her lips.

 Chapter 948

    Chapter 948


    Thssa could sense the daggers in every icy re that Charlotte directed her way. A barely


    noticeable smirk yed on her lips as she recalled thest time Charlotte had attempted to frame her


    for theft.


    It had blown up spectacrly in Charlotte¡¯s face when Lysander, in front of a crowd no less, exposed


    her ploy, leading to Zephyr announcing the cancetion of the Sinir-Ravensong family alliance in a fit


    of rage.


    Yet, here was Charlotte, not even bothering to apologize, instead choosing to throw shade at Thssa


    as if she had any right to do so.


    On a normal day, Thssa would have settled the score, but today she was here on behalf of Crawley


    Group, with business to attend to. Personal vendettas would have to wait.


    Ignoring Charlotte¡¯s provocative gaze, Thssa¡¯s eyes drifted to the man seated next to her. It was


    none other than Richard Draven, the young owner of the Draven Antique Shop.


    Richard and Charlotte sitting together? Was he here for the interview as well? Perhaps as Charlotte¡¯s


    friend?


    Ignoring Charlotte¡¯s earlier attempt to engage her, Thssa seated herself across from them, her smile


    cool and distant. She turned to Richard and said, ¡°Mr. Draven, it¡¯s quite unexpected to have your


    Richard caught the inquisitive tone in her voice and responded with a slight smile, ¡°The Shop hasn¡¯t


    Content held by N?velDrama.Org.


    been busytely, so I thought I¡¯d keep an old friendpany.¡±


    His gaze softened as he looked at Charlotte, who seemed oblivious to the affection in his eyes. Her


    own eyes, marked with precision, remained fixated on Thssa, wielding a look that could incite wars.


    Charlotte was indignant that Thssa had ignored her, her privileged upbringing making it impossible


    for her to ept such disregard.


    The fire in Charlotte¡¯s heart was stoked by Thssa¡¯s nonchnt demeanor.


    Suddenly, Charlotte stood up, towering over Thssa, ¡°I¡¯m speaking to you, did you not hear me? My


    engagement to Lysander might be off, but I¡¯m the journalist interviewing you today. How dare you treat


    me with such disrespect!¡±


    The fury in her voice was palpable, clearly intertwining her professional responsibilities with personal


    grievance.


    Thssa maintained herposed smile, finally looking at Charlotte and retorted, ¡°Ms. Ravensong,


    getting this upset over being ignored, I wonder how you¡¯d react to being falsely used of theft?¡±


    It was Thssa¡¯s turn to bring up old scores.


    Charlotte¡¯s face flushed with embarrassment, her eyes darting away. But there was no way she would


    back down to Thssa, who she saw as nothing more than a country bumpkin.


    ¡°I¡¯m talking about the interview, why bring up irrelevant matters?¡± Charlotte quickly regained her


    ¡°As you said, today is about the interview. Why bring up the engagement with Lysander?¡± Thssa


    coolly met Charlotte¡¯s gaze, her retort a mirror of Charlotte¡¯s own logic.


    ¡°You¡­¡± Charlotte was at a loss for words, her finger pointedly shaking at Thssa.


    ¡°Alright, alright, we¡¯re here for an interview, aren¡¯t we? Why are we fighting before it¡¯s even begun?¡±


    Richard interjected, rising to his feet to gently lower Charlotte¡¯s usatory hand, trying to soothe the


    situation, ¡°Let¡¯s focus on the task at hand and set aside the irrelevant matters.


    Charlotte shot Richard a quick nce, catching his pleading eyes urging her to calm down. However,


    the sting of being ignored by Thssa proved too much for Charlotte. In her frustration, she let out a


    childish outburst, ¡°Ugh!¡±


    She stamped her foot, her outrage akin to that of an immature child throwing a tantrum.


    Thssa watched as Charlotte almost descended into a foot-stomping frenzy across from her,


    wondering how someone so impulsive and thoughtless ever became a TV journalist.


    Must be connections, Thssa mused. Without her family¡¯s influence, Charlotte probably couldn¡¯tnd


    even the most menial of jobs.


    ¡°Alright, alright, don¡¯t get all worked up. Let¡¯s sit and get this important interview started, shall we?¡±


    Richard coaxed her back into her seat, a gentle reminder of their purpose there.

 Chapter 949

    Chapter 949


    Richard apanied Charlotte to the interview because she had confided in him about consistently


    failing her performance reviews at the station for several months. The word from the top was clear, if


    she didn¡¯t pass this month¡¯s review, even with the Ravensong Group¡¯s backing, the station would no


    longer amodate her presence.


    The station doesn¡¯t pay for dead weight.


    And this interview was a pivotal part of Charlotte¡¯s assessment.


    If she tanked it, she¡¯d be out on her ear.


    Charlotte had a colorful employment history. She had been an inte sensation, live-streaming and


    getting into verbal brawls with her fans, which eventually led to a lifetime ban.


    She had tried her hand at luxury retail, but that ended abruptly when she got into a scuffle with a


    customer and was fired.


    She even dabbled in acting but couldn¡¯t stomach the grind and dropped out halfway through.


    The TV gig was a job her family had pulled strings to secure. The station had given her a chance as a


    favor to the Ravensong family.


    After months of failing assessments, this was herst shot.


    Charlotte didn¡¯t want to lose this job, hence she brought Richard along to make a favorable impression


    and rectify any potential interview missteps.


    Richard, being a bright spark, found corporate promo interviews a piece of cake.


    Charlotte, having recognized her responsibility, stifled her anger and turned her focus back to the task


    at hand, facing Thssa. ¡°Alright, let¡¯s cut the chit-chat and dive in,¡± Charlotte said, begrudgingly.


    Thssa gestured gracefully, ¡°Whenever you¡¯re ready.¡±


    Charlotte red at Thssa, still simmering with resentment. She then opened her backpack and


    pulled out a video camera. After adjusting the angle to ensure both she and Thssa would be in the


    frame, she settled back into her seat.


    Richard stood up and moved to the camera, assuming the role of cameraman. This way, he wouldn¡¯t


    be caught on video.


    It dawned on Charlotte that having Richard in the shot would be another strike against her review.


    Broadcasting the culture of the Crawley Group while identally featuring the young proprietor of


    Draven Antique Shop in the background would be a blunder too big to overlook.


    Gratefully, Charlotte shot Richard a thankful look, and he responded with an ¡®okay¡¯ signal, indicating


    that she could start. Thssa watched the exchange between them silently, sensing the subtle


    dynamic of their rtionship.


    Had Richard mentioned Charlotte was an old childhood friend?


    In other words, they were childhood sweethearts?


    Caught in her musings, Thssa was brought back to the present when Charlotte posed a question


    about the Crawley Group. Thssa had done her homework well in advance. She knew the Crawley


    Group inside out and responded with ease.


    Charlotte¡¯s questions were well-prepared and incisive, but they were beyond her usual scope-Richard


    must have helped her refine them.


    Thssa¡¯s answers were clear and structured, bringing the Crawley Group¡¯s culture to life with vivid


    An hourter, the interview wrapped up without a hitch.


    Charlotte packed up, ready to leave with Richard in tow.


    Richard turned to Thssa, ¡°Ms. Everhart, how did you get here?¡±


    ¡°I took a cab,¡± she answered.


    ¡°It¡¯s rush hour now; cabs can be scarce. Let us give you a lift,¡± Richard offered.


    Charlotte yanked him away, her voiceced with frustration, ¡°Richard, if you drive her home, I¡¯m cutting


    ties with you!¡±N?vel(D)rama.Org''s content.

 Chapter 950

    Chapter 950


    Richard was about to speak, but Thssa beat him to it. ¡°Richard, you guys go on ahead. I can catch a


    cab back home,¡± she said. She could tell that Charlotte meant the world to Richard. Whenever he


    looked at Charlotte, his eyes would soften with affection.


    When you like someone, it¡¯s impossible to hide the fondness in your gaze.


    Thssa didn¡¯t want to be the reason for any discord between Richard and Charlotte.


    With that, she walked to the curb to wait for a ride.


    Seeing Charlotte¡¯s outright refusal to let him drive Thssa home, even threatening to cut ties with


    him, and Thssa¡¯s insistence on not being chauffeured by him, Richard gave in. With a mix of


    exasperation and endearment, he said to Charlotte, ¡°I can never win with you. When will you ever


    change that stubborn streak of yours?¡±


    ¡°If changed, would I still be Charlotte?¡± she retorted with a roll of her eyes.


    Richard found himself at a loss for words. Yet, he pondered, if Charlotte were to lose that naive,


    adorably clueless part of her, would she still be the Charlotte he knew?


    ¡°Come on, let¡¯s get you home,¡± Richard said, giving up on the debate about driving Thssa as he took


    the lead towards his car. Charlotte nced back at Thssa, who was still waiting at the curb, then


    followed Richard, her heels clicking on the pavement. She hade with Richard¡¯s car today, and the


    feeling of having someone by her side attentively cater to her every wish, felt incredibly satisfying.


    Thssa stood by the road, watching as Richard drove off with Charlotte, the car disappearing near


    the caf¨¦.


    She turned her attention back to the stream of taxis, all showing their upied lights. As Richard had


    mentioned, it was peak travel time, and hailing a cab was proving difficult.


    But Thssa wasn¡¯t discouraged. She continued to wait, confident that a ride woulde eventually.


    Suddenly, someone wrapped their arms around her waist from behind. Startled, she struggled, but the


    person¡¯s other hand pressed a cloth over her mouth.


    The cloth carried a strange fragrance that quickly invaded her nostrils and filled her lungs. She tried to


    expel the odd smell but couldn¡¯t.


    The stranger was strong, unmistakably a man.


    Thssa attempted to scream for help, but her mouth was sealed shut, her cries muffled.


    Fighting with all her might, it only took a few seconds for her body to weaken, her head to grow heavy,


    and darkness to engulf her vision as she lost consciousness.


    Content held by N?velDrama.Org.


    When Thssa came to, she felt dizzy and numb. As her mind slowly sharpened, she recalled the


    events before she passed out, sending a wave of shock and fear through her. She snapped open her


    eyes to find a circr chandelier above, surrounded by buzzing mosquitoes and fluttering moths.


    She squinted against the light, and then she heard a voice.


    ¡°Mr. Brennan, yes, the girl¡¯s been taken care of. It¡¯s your call on what to do next,¡± a gruff voice said on


    the phone.


    Mr. Brennan? Was it someone from the Brennan family? Was it Daniel Brennan?


    The Brennan family had been ruined by Lysander, and as far as she knew, she had nothing to do with


    it. Why would Daniel have her kidnapped?


    Panic-stricken and bewildered, Thssa tried to get up, nning to escape before anyone else


    arrived,


    But as she moved, she realized her hands and feet were bound, making it impossible to flee. Her


    mouth was taped shut, silencing any attempt to call out.


    ¡°Sure, sure, we¡¯ll do it your way,¡± the kidnapper continued speaking on the phone, his voice growing


    closer.


    Thssa saw a tall, slightly overweight man emerge from another-room. He had a phone in his hand,


    still deep in conversation.

 Chapter 951

    Chapter 951


    The man¡¯s gaze hardened into a menacing re as he spotted her waking up. He growled into the


    phone, ¡°She¡¯s up. Gotta go,¡± and abruptly ended the call, striding towards where Thssa sat tied up.


    Her eyes widened in terror, her body tensing like a deer caught in headlights, panic squeezing her


    heart. She was trapped, unable to do anything but stare defiantly, hoping her gaze would ward him off.


    ¡°I like that look in your eyes, feisty, like a wildcat,¡± the man sneered, thumbing away a trickle of drool at


    the corner of his mouth with a repulsive smirk as he closed in on Thssa,


    What did he want from her?


    Thssa¡¯s heart shrank into itself as she tried to press further into the chair, wishing she could


    disappear. The man¡¯s intentions were clear, and repulsion twisted her gut as his bulky, greasy face


    loomed closer, his eyes full of a vile hunger that made her skin crawl.


    ¡°Ah, the wilder you get, the more I like it,¡± the man chuckled, a perverse thrill twisting his features.


    ¡°Tonight, my pretty little wildcat, I¡¯ll show you just how much love you can handle.¡±


    As he lunged towards her, puckering his lips for a kiss, Thssa felt a mix of horror and revulsion. Her


    skin prickled with cold sweat.


    She tried to scream, but only a muffled sound escaped her throat as she leaned back desperately.


    Bang!


    The chair toppled over with her on it, her head mming against the floor, stars exploding in her vision


    from the pain. The man, with his slimy, plump lips, was left hanging in the air. He had been so close to


    nting that vile kiss, but she had copsed out of his reach, and the taste of victory had turned to ash


    in his mouth.


    The man was unwilling to let the beautiful woman he had in grasp to get away.


    Mr. Brennan had promised a hefty reward if he could break her to the point of taking her own life. The


    prospect of pleasure and profit was too enticing to let slip through his fingers.


    Crouching down, the man eyed Thssa sprawled on the floor, his drool now pooling at the corners of


    his mouth.


    ¡°Lying down for me already? Don¡¯t worry, beauty, I¡¯ming,¡± he said, crawling towards her like a


    predator closing in on its prey, his eyes gleaming with malice and disgust.


    Thssa¡¯s breath came in ragged gasps as she tried to inch away, but the ropes binding her to the


    chair rendered her helpless. The chair¡¯s frame dug painfully into her skin, but she ignored it, struggling


    for any chance to escape.


    What could she do? How could she get away?


    Her ne had a GPS tracker, but now it was dissolved, useless. Lysander was out of town on


    business; he wouldn¡¯t being to her rescue.


    Desperation wed at her. She pulled at her restraints until the rope bit into her skin, but it held fast,


    unyielding.


    As the man slithered closer, drooling with anticipation, Thssa¡¯s fear turned to numb horror.


    ¡°Sweetheart, don¡¯t bother trying to run. You won¡¯t get far. Tonight, just surrender to the pleasure,¡± he


    rasped, reaching for her ankle and yanking her towards him with a brutal pull. N?vel(D)rama.Org''s content.


    Thssa screamed in terror, her body trembling uncontrobly. The gag muffled her cries, reducing her


    screams to feeble, desperate whimpers.

 Chapter 952

    Chapter 952


    ¡°Go ahead, scream. The louder you scream, the more I like it,¡± the man chuckled, his greasy fingers


    clutching at Thssa¡¯s cor, eager to rip her clothes apart.


    ¡°No!¡± Thssa¡¯s entire being revolted, a wave of nausea overwhelming her as she struggled with all


    her might, the desperation. palpable.


    ¡°How can you say no? Just wait till I show you just how brutal I can be. I¡¯m really good at this,¡± the man


    sneered, fumbling with the buttons of her blouse.


    ¡°No!¡± Thssa¡¯s breath was ragged, her heart pounding in terror. In desperation, she lifted her foot,


    aiming a fierce kick at him. He caught her foot in his grip, and with his other hand, leisurely continued to


    unbutton her blouse, a vile smirk on his face. Thssa felt sick to her stomach, on the verge of


    vomiting!


    Panic and fear raced through her, her mind a whirlwind of chaos and dread, as darkness threatened to


    engulf her vision. If he dared touch her, she resolved to bite her own tongue and end it all.


    Just as the repulsive man was about to undo the second button of her blouse, leaving Thssa feeling


    utterly defeated, a sudden noise shattered the tension.


    Boom!


    The door to the small room was kicked open with force.


    A figure strode in swiftly, grabbed the man by the scruff of his neck, and with a mighty heave, threw him


    against the wall, producing a dull thud upon impact.


    ¡°Hey, you think you can manhandle me!¡± The burly man red at the neer with malice.


    ¡°She¡¯s mine. I¡¯ve already discussed it with Mr. Brennan. I¡¯ll make sure she experiences true despair


    and agony. Go collect your cash,¡± the neer, another man with a chilling expression, said to the


    burly man.


    Thssa, in her despair, turned to look at the new arrival. Her eyes found Bruce his lean, well-


    maintained form and the schrly air that he carried.


    Her heart, far from being relieved, clenched even tighter.


    Bruce was in cahoots with Daniel?


    ¡°Why should I leave her to you? I got her here; she¡¯s my prize,¡± the burly man protested, unwilling to let


    go of the beauty that seemed to be served up on a tter for him.


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    Bruce lifted his phone, his thumb hovering over the send button with 911 already dialed in.


    ¡°I¡¯ve recorded everything you just said. One press, and you¡¯re a kidnapper facing years behind bars.


    No need for me to spell it out, right?¡± Bruce said coldly.


    The threat of the police sent the burly man into a panic, his eyes losing their ferocity as he cursed at


    Bruce, ¡°You¡¯re ruthless. Just don¡¯t let me catch you around again!¡±


    With a final, reluctant nce at Thssa, whoy on the ground with her blouse partially undone, he


    swallowed hard, torn between desire and freedom.


    He chose freedom in the end. He could always find another beauty, but he couldn¡¯t afford to lose his


    liberty.


    Grudgingly, the burly man turned away and left.


    Thssa remained on the ground, her attire in disarray, her chest heaving with fear and anger.


    Her eyes were wary as she watched Bruce.


    He was no saint either. Yet, he believed she was his daughter, so he surely wouldn¡¯t stoop to harming


    his own child.


    Bruce turned to face her, looking down from his height with a mockingly sympathetic smile. ¡°Thssa,


    I¡¯ve saved you. How are you going to thank me?¡±


    Her eyes zed with fury, fixed on him in defense.


    Bruce met her angry gaze, feigning an epiphany. ¡°Oh, I see, your lips are sealed. You can¡¯t speak,


    right? Let me help you with that, but remember, no screaming. If you scream, I¡¯ll just have to silence


    you again.¡±

 Chapter 953

    Chapter 953


    His words seemed like a consultation with Thssa, but they wereced with icy undertones and


    intimidation.


    Thssa¡¯s heart skipped a beat, tightening in her chest.


    Bruce wasn¡¯t here to save her. What was he nning?


    Her eyes zed with a ferocious light, ring at Bruce.


    But Bruce ignored her helplessness and anger, squatting beside her. His gaze flickered as he caught a


    glimpse of two buttons undone at her chest.


    He reached out, tearing the tape from Thssa¡¯s mouth.


    What¡¯s your angle, Bruce?¡± Thssa asked, disregarding the sting of the tape on her skin, her eyes


    wary and voice thick with anger.


    Bruce offered a mirthless smile. ¡°You¡¯re my daughter. What other motives could I have but to rescue


    you?¡±


    Thssa was full of skepticism, staring at him, almost convinced.


    Bruce continued, ¡°Even if there were any motives, it¡¯d be to ensure Lysander and Susan hit it off. Since


    you won¡¯t help your old man gain any favor with Lysander, I have to pin my hopes on Susan.¡±


    ¡°You think just anyone can get close to Lysander?¡± Thssa responded sharply.


    ¡°I¡¯m aware, but you¡¯re no ordinary woman. Not only did you get close to Lysander, but you also bore


    him four children. If you could get close to Lysander, then surely you can help Susan get into his bed,


    right?¡±


    Thssa¡¯s bound hands clenched tight, her eyes seething with rage as she stared at Bruce¡¯s smug,


    chilling smirk.


    ¡°Don¡¯t look at me with those eyes. Your mother gave me that same look once, and I just couldn¡¯t resist


    her,¡± Bruce said with a twisted smile.


    A cold shiver ran up Thssa¡¯s spine, numbing her body with shock and trembling with hatred.


    T¨ºxt belongs to N?velDrama.Org.


    He had the audacity to casually mention the assault on her mother and speak such vile words to her.


    Was he insinuating something sinister towards her as well?


    Hadn¡¯t he always imed her as his daughter? Could he really be so shameless as to not spare even


    his own flesh and blood?


    Thssa ground her teeth in fury. ¡°Bruce, I had no idea you were in cahoots with the Brennan family. If


    Lysander finds out, do you know what¡¯sing for you?¡±


    ¡°Ah, my association with the Brennan family, I have you to thank for that. Remember when you left me


    hanging off the cliff? If it weren¡¯t for Faye Brennan cutting me down, you might have been the death of


    me. You sure are a ¡®loving daughter,¡¯ almost taking your old man¡¯s life.¡±


    Bruce¡¯s gaze darkened as he maintained his crouched position, locking eyes with Thssa.


    Thssa¡¯s brows were furrowed, her gaze filled with anger and caution, ready for any move he might


    make.


    She remembered leaving Bruce on the mountain, of course. After retrieving the billion dors he


    swindled from her, she instructed David to cut him down.


    So, it was Faye who set him free?


    ¡°So, you¡¯ve be the Brennan family¡¯spdog?¡± Thssa retorted coldly.


    ¡°Let¡¯s not use such ugly words. Whatpdog? It was a partnership. If I can get you away from


    Lysander¡¯s side, it¡¯s a win-win for us,¡± Bruce openly revealed the purpose of his coboration with the


    Brennan family to Thssa.


    After all, Thssa already knew. If she didn¡¯t help Susan be Lysander¡¯s woman, he would release


    the video of him and her mother to the public. He wasn¡¯t afraid of not having leverage over her.


    ¡°Bruce, with all the wrongs you¡¯ve done, don¡¯t you fear retribution?¡± Thssa hissed through clenched


    teeth.


    ¡°Wrongs? I haven¡¯t done a single wrong. Those women, they all came to me willingly. And soon, you¡¯ll


    be among them,¡± Bruce¡¯s eyes, cold and unyielding, bore into Thssa¡¯s, like a snake ready to strike


    into her soul.


    Thssa¡¯s heart clenched in terror. ¡°What did you say?¡±

 Chapter 954

    Chapter 954


    Thssa couldn¡¯t believe her ears. Was that even wordsing out of Bruce¡¯s mouth?


    Seeing the horror etched across her face, Bruce couldn¡¯t help but smirk with the satisfaction of the


    upper hand. He reached out toward Thssa, who recoiled in terror, her body trapped against the back


    of a chair, wrists bound behind her.


    No matter how she strained, she couldn¡¯t move an inch, her body contorted ufortably like a


    cooked shrimp.


    Bruce¡¯s outstretched hand paused momentarily as he noticed her reaction. Then, with a deliberate


    slowness, his hand descended, not toward her, but to the rope tied around her ankles, and he began to


    untie the knots.


    N?vel(D)rama.Org''s content.


    ¡°What¡¯s got you so scared, huh? Did I say something wrong?¡± Bruce mumbled, keeping his gaze on the


    stubborn knots as he worked to free her feet.


    Every cell in Thssa¡¯s body trembled with fury. His proximity, his touch on the ropes that bound her-it


    all made her skin crawl with revulsion, and she dreaded even the slightest idental contact.


    ¡°It¡¯s your mouth, you can say whatever you want. Can I really stop you?¡± Thssa spat out the words


    with a venomous tone, struggling to contain the storm of anger and disgust inside her.


    While he wasn¡¯t currently using the video as a threat, every word and line from him served as a


    constant reminder, a tap on the shoulder, regarding the incident with Evelyn and the video he imed


    to possess.


    ¡°Aren¡¯t you curious about what I meant by that?¡± Bruce untied thest knot, and as he looked up at


    Thssa, a dark, sinister glint shed in his eyes.


    The sight sent shivers down Thssa¡¯s spine, making her skin prickle ufortably.


    ¡°I don¡¯t want to know what you meant,¡± Thssa averted her gaze, determined not to look into his


    eyes. His gaze was unnerving, raising goosebumps all over, and she didn¡¯t want to meet his eyes for


    even a second.


    ¡°You don¡¯t still think you¡¯re my daughter, do you? I was at the mall a while back, trying to pawn off that


    ne when someone tipped off Lysander. He found me, had me beaten to a pulp, and I ended up in


    the hospital again. That¡¯s where I ran into that nurse who¡¯d fetched blood for mest time. She said you


    have B-type blood.¡±


    Bruce leaned in as he spoke, his breath inching closer to Thssa¡¯s face.


    Thssa recoiled, her heart racing with fear.


    What? Bruce knew she wasn¡¯t his daughter? Was that what his cryptic words were about? Was he


    going to hurt her like he had Evelyn?


    ¡°You¡¯re going pale. It¡¯s not like I¡¯ve revealed some earth-shattering secret,¡± Bruce sneered, his tone


    dripping with malice. Thssa¡¯s eyes widened with defiance and terror as she stared back at him.


    ¡°Bruce, if you want Susan to be Lysander¡¯s girl, don¡¯t mess with me. Otherwise, Susan will never get


    close to Lysander, and he¡¯ll never let you off the hook!¡±


    ¡°Ah, but you¡¯re wrong. Only by making Lysander despise you, by pushing you away, can any other


    woman get a chance with him. If you remain irreceable in his heart, no matter how good another


    woman is, she¡¯ll never get close to Lysander.¡±


    As he spoke, Bruce set about untying the ropes that held Thssa to the chair.


    Thssa¡¯s body tensed, instinctively trying to avoid his touch. Moments ago, she had longed to be


    freed, but now, the thought of Bruce being the one to untie her filled her with an overwhelming urge to


    resist, to have him stay away from her.


    Bruce noticed her recoil but didn¡¯t pause. His hands continued their work, and he said, ¡°This ce is


    too shabby. I¡¯ll take you somewhere quiet andfortable.¡±


    09:18

 Chapter 955

    Chapter 955


    What did he mean by taking her to somewhere quiet andfortable?


    ¡°I¡¯ve recently discovered this boutique hotel; the ambiance is just perfect, very honeymoon-esque. How


    about I take you there?¡± Bruce said as he untied the ropes that bound Thssa¡¯s wrists to the chair,


    speaking as if he were discussing the weather.


    Thssa¡¯s heart clenched in terror.


    Content ? copyrighted by N?velDrama.Org.


    Bruce wanted to take her to a hotel; after what he did to her mother, was she next?


    The moment her hands were free from the chair, Thssa struggled with all her might, trying to stand


    and flee. But her hands were tied behind her back, and another rope bound her wrists together tightly;


    she couldn¡¯t muster the strength to rise.


    ¡°Hold your horses. I¡¯ll help you,¡± Bruce offered, reaching out to help her up.


    ¡°Don¡¯t you touch me, or I swear I¡¯ll bite my tongue and end it all!¡± Thssa growled, her breathing


    ragged and her eyes zing with a ferocious, helpless fury.


    Bruce¡¯s outstretched hand paused, inches away from Thssa, but he withdrew at her threat. ¡°Fine,


    get up on your own. No yelling, the fat guy hasn¡¯t gone far. Screaming will only invite more to the party,


    and no one¡¯sing to save you. This ce is in the middle of nowhere; besides your captors, who¡¯s


    gonna hear you scream?¡±


    He stood up, not helping her but warning against cries for help.


    Biting down hard on her back teeth, Thssa knew it was pointless to scream; if it had been otherwise,


    the brute from before wouldn¡¯t have been so brazen.


    Better to conserve her energy than to waste it on futile shouts.


    With great effort, Thssa stood up, unsteady on her feet.


    Bruce nced at her sidelong, ¡°Come on then. If you don¡¯t want a rough time, I¡¯d advise against any


    pointless struggling.¡±


    With that, Bruce led the way out the door.


    Thssa watched his retreating figure, quietly contemting that she was unfamiliar with theyout of


    this ce and unaware of the situation outside. It would be best for her to follow him for now and


    strategize her escape once they were outside. A hasty flight would only lead her into worse danger.


    Bruce headed toward a silver van parked outside.


    Thssa followed, scanning the surroundings. A few low buildings were scattered about, with tall pines


    and firs surrounding them, and more forest beyond.


    It truly was a deste backwoods.


    ¡°Stop gawking and get in. Without a car, you¡¯re not escaping this ce,¡± Bruce said, waiting by the


    vehicle, seeing right through Thssa¡¯s thoughts and squashing her hope of escape.


    Thssa¡¯s nerves tensed, and she quickly refocused, seeing Bruce leaning casually against the van


    door.


    She internally resisted the urge to draw near Bruce, but what choice did she have in his grasp?


    Suppressing her intense revulsion, Thssa reluctantly moved toward the van.


    ¡°Get in, stop dawdling,¡± Bruce stepped back, making room for her to climb aboard.


    Left with no other option, Thssa got into the van. When she had stood up moments before, she


    realized her phone wasn¡¯t on her, leaving her no means to call for help.


    ¡°Thssa, really, you¡¯re better off with me than with Lysander. I know how to treat someone right,¡±


    Bruce said with a smirk, as she obediently got into the van.

 Chapter 956

    Chapter 956


    Thssa shot Bruce a look that could freeze hell itself, her body trembling with a blend of fear and


    revulsion.


    When they were inside the house, he had been coy with his intentions. But now, in the stark light of the


    car¡¯s interior, he had the audacity to speak his vile thoughts aloud.


    The nerve! The absoluteck of decency!


    She couldn¡¯t let herself end up in the hands of someone like him. She had to find a way to escape.


    The car wound down the serpentine mountain road, hugging the curves with a precarious familiarity.


    Thssa kept her gaze locked on the passing scenery andndmarks, memorizing them in case she


    got the chance to make a break for it.


    Halfway through the drive, she spotted a castle-like structure perched atop a nearby peak. Her heart


    clenched. She recognized it-it was the Sinir Winery, where she had once attended a charity g


    with Ethan.


    Could it be that her abduction had taken ce near the Sinir Winery? How could she possibly let the


    outside world know she had been kidnapped?


    The sad truth hit her. If she disappeared, no one woulde looking. Evelyn would surely assume she


    had gone to Royal Estates to be with the children, and those at the Royal Estates would think she had


    returned to Evelyn¡¯s ce.


    If she died out here, her absence wouldn¡¯t be noticed until it was toote.


    She was on her own.


    Thssa¡¯s hands were tied behind her back, and she struggled against the ropes, hoping to break free.


    But all she managed to do was inflict more pain upon her already raw skin.


    She watched Bruce cautiously from the corner of her eye, thankful that he seemed oblivious to her


    movements.


    Today, she was wearing a white blouse and a knee-length ck skirt with a slit up the side. She


    stealthily hiked up her skirt and managed to tear a strip of fabric from the slit, clenching it tight in her


    hands.


    ¡°Crack the window, will you? It¡¯s stuffy in here,¡± she said, her voice a mixture of calm and fury, but


    inside, panic was taking hold.


    Bruce nced at her in the rear-view mirror. ¡°What are you up to?¡±


    ¡°My hands are tied. What could I possibly do?¡± Thssa spat back at him, her anger palpable.


    Convinced she was harmless, Bruce rolled down the rear window halfway.


    ¡°This is a mountain road. One wrong move and you¡¯ll hit a boulder. Keep your eyes on the road, will


    you?¡± she chided him as he kept ncing at the mirror.


    ¡°Afraid of dying, are we? I thought you were ready to bite your tongue and end it all just a while ago,¡±


    Bruce mocked.


    ¡°It¡¯s


    you


    who should be afraid. If you die, all your precious ns go up in smoke,¡± Thssa retorted.


    Bruce¡¯s smile vanished, reced by a cold, hard re, and he didn¡¯t reply. Instead, he focused on the


    road ahead. Driving on mountain roads required undivided attention; a single mistake could send the


    car tumbling down the steep slopes.


    Seizing her chance, Thssa shifted closer to the window and stretched her bound hands as far as


    she could, tossing the stolen strip of fabric out into the open air.


    Meanwhile, Richard was driving Charlotte back to the Ravensong family estate. Traffic had been a


    nightmare, and the journey took far longer than expected.


    As they neared the estate, Richard couldn¡¯t resistmenting, ¡°Charlotte, you know, giving Thssa a


    lift wouldn¡¯t have been a big deal. You should be more open-minded about these things.¡±


    ¡°You don¡¯t understand, Richard. There¡¯s a reason I didn¡¯t want you to drive Thssa,¡± Charlotte said


    T¨ºxt belongs to N?velDrama.Org.


    smugly.


    ¡°And what¡¯s that reason?¡± Richard inquired. ¡°Could it be jealousy? Are you worried that if I gave her a


    ride, I might start to fancy her?¡±

 Chapter 957

    Chapter 957


    Richard had a mischievous smile on his face as he teased Charlotte.


    Charlotte couldn¡¯t help butugh and rolled her eyes at him. ¡°What are you on about, Richard? Even if I


    were the jealous type, it wouldn¡¯t be over you. We¡¯re childhood friends. Why, thinking of putting a ring


    on it?¡±


    T¨ºxt belongs to N?velDrama.Org.


    ¡°Well, why not? Give it a thought?¡± Richard seized the moment to express his feelings.


    They had grown up together, and Charlotte knew all the embarrassing stories from Richard¡¯s childhood.


    She had even nicknamed him, and he used to be so shy about it, hiding behind the adults whenever


    she was around.


    Now that they were grown up; his shyness had taken on a different vor. He found himself wanting to


    marry Charlotte to keep those childhood blunders between them.


    Charlotte was taken aback for a moment. Although she knew Richard had a soft spot for her and


    wanted to pursue her, his direct approach still surprised her.


    She didn¡¯t expect him to actually have feelings for her, let alone consider marriage! Back in their


    childhood, she used to tease him a lot.


    How could he have actually developed feelings for her? Was it possible he had a masochistic streak?


    After a moment of shock, Charlotte managed to collect herself and said with a forced smile, hiding her


    inner surprise and difort, ¡°We were talking about Thssa, weren¡¯t we? Why change the


    subject?¡±


    She skillfully dodged his proposal, steering the conversation away.


    ¡°Yeah, but why can¡¯t I give Thssa a ride?¡± Richard went along, bringing the topic back on track.


    Charlotte grinned triumphantly. ¡°Do you know who owns that diner that we¡¯ve just been to?¡±


    ¡°What¡¯s that got to do with the diner?¡± Rick was puzzled.


    Charlotte, feeling incredibly smug, said, ¡°That ce is run by Huxley Brennan, Daniel¡¯s brother. The


    Brennans were run into the ground by Thssa, snatched up by the Sinir Group for a song, and


    they¡¯re drowning in debt. Plus, Daniel¡¯s darling daughter Faye ended up in jail because of Thssa.


    The Brennans have loathed her for ages.


    With Lysander¡¯s protection, they couldn¡¯t touch Thssa, but now he¡¯s away on business, they¡¯ll surely


    teach her a lesson. She¡¯s been so uppity, looking down on me! If I don¡¯t show her some colors, she¡¯ll


    think she can walk all over me!¡±


    By the end, Charlotte¡¯s tone was icy.


    ¡°What?¡± Richard was shocked, mming on the brakes.


    The tires screeched against the pavement, and the car came to an abrupt halt. Charlotte lurched


    forward, then snapped back by her seat belt.


    She was rattled, ring at Richard. ¡°What¡¯s wrong with you? That¡¯s dangerous!¡±


    ¡°You think that¡¯s dangerous? Leaving Thssa alone there is the real danger! How could you,


    Charlotte?¡± Richard was livid, his voice rising.


    He had always thought of Charlotte as a bit clueless and without guile, but this revtion tarnished his


    image of her.


    ¡°What did I do? I¡¯m not the one teaching her a lesson!¡± Charlotte retorted angrily.


    ¡°If you know why the Brennans went under, you should realize how important Thssa is to Lysander.


    Messing with her is like messing with him,¡± Richard said, frustration and concerncing his voice.


    Charlotte¡¯s expression shifted as the gravity of the situation dawned on her, and her tone softened


    considerably. ¡°They¡¯re just going to teach her a lesson, right? A rough up or a scare, she won¡¯t be in


    any real danger.¡±


    ¡°Charlotte, Charlotte¡­¡± Richard gestured helplessly with his finger, not wanting to berate her further.


    ¡°Just get out here, you¡¯re home. It¡¯s just a short walk. I need to head back and check on things,¡± he


    said finally.


    ¡°And you¡¯re not even going to drop me off at my door? It¡¯s still a bit of a walk,¡± Charlotte pouted, her


    dissatisfaction clear as day.

 Chapter 958

    Chapter 958


    ¡°Get out, I¡¯m in a hurry,¡± Richard said, his voice clipped and his expression stony.


    Charlotte¡¯s heart sank as she saw the seriousness in Richard¡¯s face, chilling her to the bone. Despite


    understanding his concern, a wave of resentment washed over her.


    Why did Thssa seem to matter more to him than she did?


    As she turned to address Richard, prepared to express her grievances, his icy re met her, causing


    the words catch in her throat. Reluctantly, she stepped out of the car.


    No sooner had her feet hit the sidewalk than Richard sped off. Charlotte inhaled a lungful of exhaust


    and felt her frustration boil over. She shouted angrily after the retreating car and kicked at the


    pavement in a fit.


    ¡°Ouch¡­¡± She scraped her thumb on the rough concrete, pain shooting through her. Hopping on one


    foot, she whirled around in a circle, the sting reaching deep inside her.


    Her breath came in ragged pulls as she muttered to the space where Richard¡¯s car had disappeared,


    ¡°Richard, I won¡¯t forgive you, and I won¡¯t marry you. Humph!¡±


    Richard floored it back to the diner. When he hadst seen Thssa, she was curbside, trying to hail a


    cab, but now she was nowhere in sight. He wondered if she had made it home or if someone had taken


    her away for a lesson.


    Thssa was Lysander¡¯s girl, and Richard had seen firsthand how differently Lysander treated her


    curb without a second thought. But with Thssa, it was another story.


    Lysander had even taken her in as his own. And the fact that Thssa had been by his side for so


    long, and had even borne his children, spoke volumes about her importance to Lysander.


    If anything happened to Thssa, Lysander would be furious, and anyone linked to her harm would not


    escape his wrath.


    Richard was truly worried for Charlotte¡¯s sake.


    There was a fine line between innocence and foolishness, and she was bordering on thetter. If she


    hadn¡¯t been so blunt about her intentions, he wouldn¡¯t have realized she was still ying such games.


    Not wanting to take any chances, Richard called Ethan.


    ¡°What¡¯s going on? It¡¯s sote. Can¡¯t you let people sleep?¡± Ethan¡¯s voice was thick with sleep and


    irritation.


    ¡°You make your staff work overtime, yet you¡¯re in bed? How does that sit with your conscience?¡±


    Richard teased.


    ¡°I pay them to workte; why should I feel guilty?¡± Ethan retorted.


    ¡°Cut the crap. What¡¯s your secretary Thssa¡¯s number? I need it,¡± Richard said, urgency in his tone.


    ¡°You want my secretary¡¯s number? What for? nning to poach her?¡± Ethan was more alert now.


    ¡°I run an antique shop; I don¡¯t need a secretary. Don¡¯t overthink it. Just send me the number; it¡¯s an


    emergency,¡± Richard said. Given their close rtionship, formalities were deemed unnecessary.


    ¡°Hang on; let me check my contacts. I¡¯ll text it to you,¡± Ethan replied.


    This is the property of N?-velDrama.Org.


    Soon after, Richard received Thssa¡¯s number. Without hesitation, he dialed, only to hear the cold,


    automated message that the phone was switched off.


    Hearing the impersonal voice on the line, a sense of dread washed over Richard.


    Something was wrong!


    Thssa wouldn¡¯t have turned her phone off if she had safely arrived home.


    Wasting no more time, Richard stormed into the diner, his presencemanding as he sought out the


    manager.

 Chapter 959

    Chapter 959


    ¡°Hey Huxley Brennan, is Ms. Everhart, the one who interviewed with us at the diner, by any chance


    held up in your back room? Hand her over, or say goodbye to your business today!¡± Richard¡¯s voice


    echoed through the cozy confines of the establishment, carrying a chilling edge.


    Richard, the young heir to the Draven Antique Shop and a name thatmanded respect in business


    circles, stood imposingly before Huxley.


    Huxley, fully aware of the Draven family¡¯s clout, wore a conciliatory grin.¡±Mr. Draven, those twodies


    left with you earlier, and they really aren¡¯t here anymore. I wouldn¡¯t dare cross you on my own turf.¡±


    ¡°You sure it wasn¡¯t you?¡± Richard eyed him suspiciously.


    ¡°Cross my heart, I wouldn¡¯t touch a hair on their heads, knowing full well it would blow back on me. I


    might be many things, but foolish enough to openly challenge a Draven? Certainly not,¡± Huxley replied


    earnestly.


    Richard mulled over the situation. This diner had been Huxley¡¯s turf for years, always bustling with


    This is the property of N?-velDrama.Org.


    customers from high-flying execs to TV celebs. Only a savvy operator could thrive in such a trade, and


    if Huxley was a troublemaker, his doors would have shuttered long ago.


    ¡°My friend goes missing near your shop, and you¡¯ve gotta help me look into it. Just so you know, she¡¯s


    one of Lysander¡¯s, and if she isn¡¯t found¡­ Well, you¡¯re aware of the consequences,¡± Richard shifted


    the conversation, pressing Huxley for cooperation. ¡°Absolutely, Mr. Draven, I¡¯ll help in any way I can.


    The security footage is in the back; let¡¯s go check it out now,¡± Huxley, sweating bullets, was quick to


    lead Richard to the surveince room.


    The mere mention of Lysander was enough to send shivers down his spine. Huxley had witnessed the


    consequences for those who crossed the man-a swift and ruthless end. His own brother Daniel¡¯s


    business had been crushed under Lysander¡¯s heel, leaving him drowning in debt. The thought of facing


    Lysander¡¯s wrath himself was unthinkable.


    In the surveince room, they pored over the footage, which only covered the inside and entrance of


    the diner. Nothing from the street where Thssa had vanished.


    Richard didn¡¯t waste a second. He contacted Captain Payne to ess street-level surveince.


    When Captain Payne arrived, it took mere minutes to find what they were looking for. The footage


    showed a burly man mping a cloth over Thssa¡¯s mouth. After a brief struggle, she slumped over,


    and the man bundled her into a van before driving off.


    Richard¡¯s heart sank. Thssa was in real danger, kidnapped in broad daylight. If Lysander found out,


    his life wouldn¡¯t be worth a dime.


    Captain Payne recognized the woman from the footage too. Lysander had boasted about his four


    children, and the woman in the video was their mother. Lysander took great pride in her, often gloating


    about his unique family to Payne. Her disappearance was no small matter.


    They tracked the van to a fork in a mountain road, and then it vanished from the cameras¡¯ eyes-no


    surveince covered that


    remote area.


    ¡°What now? It just disappears? What do we do?¡± Richard asked Captain Payne, panic edging his voice


    as the screen disyed the van¡¯sst known location.

 Chapter 960

    Chapter 960


    ¡°Follow the breadcrumbs, and they¡¯ll lead you somewhere,¡± dered Captain Payne with a brisk tone,


    rallying his team for the search.


    ¡°I¡¯ming with you,¡± Richard piped up, hurrying to keep pace. The abduction of Thssa was


    partially on his hands; if he didn¡¯t. chip in with the rescue and Lysander got wind of it, there would be


    hell to pay.


    This was his shot at redemption, and he wasn¡¯t about to let it slip through his fingers.


    Besides, it was hispse, not ensuring Thssa got home safe, that had led to this mess in the first


    ce.


    If he had put his foot down earlier, not letting Charlotte run amok and insisted on escorting Thssa


    home, they wouldn¡¯t be in this predicament now.


    Richard followed Captain Payne¡¯s lead, steering the car to the foot of the winding mountain trail. Upon


    reaching a fork in the road, uncertainty settled in ¨C they weren¡¯t sure which path to take. Fortunately,


    their numbers allowed them to split up and cover both directions.


    ¡°You take a couple of guys and head that way. I¡¯ll go this way. Stay in touch,¡± Captain Payne instructed


    with calm efficiency. ¡°Got it,¡± Richard replied eagerly, falling in line.


    The teams diverged, engines humming as they ascended the treacherous mountain paths. It was pitch


    ck, the road twisted and perilous, demanding the utmost attention to avoid a tumble down the


    slopes.


    Richard gripped the steering wheel, his focusser-sharp on the road ahead. All was quiet until his


    phone rang with a call from Captain Payne.


    ¡°My K9¡¯s found a piece of ck fabric. What was Thssa wearing today?¡± Captain Payne inquired.


    ¡°A white blouse, ck skirt,¡± Richard answered promptly, the image of Thssa¡¯s outfit etched in his


    memory.


    ¡°Get over here, check if this fabric¡¯s from her skirt,¡± Captain Paynemanded.


    ¡°On it, I¡¯m turning around right now,¡± Richard replied, quickly spinning the car at the next junction.


    He sped to Captain Payne¡¯s location, where he was presented with the torn piece of ck fabric. It was


    clearly ripped off intentionally. Richard¡¯s face turned somber. ¡°No doubt, that¡¯s from Thssa¡¯s


    clothes.¡±


    ¡°Let¡¯s move, up the mountain!¡± Captain Payne, with the K9 in tow, hopped into his SUV, tearing up the


    incline.


    If Thssa¡¯s clothing was here, the kidnapper had taken her this way. Without hesitation, Richard


    followed suit.


    The team arrived at a row of dpidated houses atop the hill. Captain Payne and his squad drew their


    pistols, approaching stealthily.


    They kicked doors open with caution, but the insides were barren, not a soul in sight.


    A chairy overturned on the floor, alongside ropes used for binding.


    Captain Payne picked up the ropes, letting the K9 catch the scent, and then presented it with the ck


    fabric.


    The dog barked twice, and Captain Payne immediately understood ¨C the rope carried the fabric¡¯s


    scent. This is property ? of N?velDrama.Org.


    ¡°This is where they held Thssa,¡± he deduced..


    Anxiety clutched at Richard¡¯s heart as he urged, ¡°Then let¡¯s keep looking; she must be nearby.¡±


    He led a team from house to house, kicking in doors only to find emptiness, cigarette butts, and soda


    cans-a sure sign of a male


    presence.


    With no sign of Thssa in any of the houses, Richard felt his tension mounting, panic setting in.


    What should he do? If they couldn¡¯t find Thssa, should he call Lysander with the grim news of her


    abduction?

 Chapter 961

    Chapter 961


    Captain Payne strode into the room, his boots echoing on the hardwood floor. ¡°Does Lysander know


    about this?¡± he asked, his voice a blend of concern andmand.


    Richard turned around, his face pale, and shook his head. ¡°Not yet.¡±


    ¡°Call him. No use hiding it. The sooner he knows, the better he can handle it,¡± Payne advised with a


    firm nod.


    Richard fumbled for his cell phone, his fingers trembling as he dialed Lysander¡¯s number.


    As the phone rang, Richard¡¯s heart pounded against his chest like a jazz drum solo gone wild with


    panic.


    ¡°What¡¯s up?¡± The call connected, and Lysander¡¯s voice, authoritative and chilling, filled the air.


    A surge of nerves tightened Richard¡¯s throat, and before he uttered a word, he braced himself for


    Lysander¡¯s anticipated rebuke. ¡°Lysander, Thssa¡¯s been kidnapped,¡± Richard blurted out, his voice


    barely above a whisper.


    The silence on the other end was heavy, a cold front moving in through the earpiece.


    Richard¡¯s already frantic heart clenched tighter as he rushed to exin. ¡°Payne and I are on the hunt.


    We found the initial crime scene, but she wasn¡¯t there. The kidnappers have moved her, and we¡¯re out


    of leads. We have no idea where to start looking.¡± ¡°This kidnapping¡­ does it involve you?¡± Lysander¡¯s


    tone was icy, slicing through Richard¡¯s defenses.


    Richard recounted the events leading up to Thssa¡¯s interview and subsequent abduction.


    He could almost feel Lysander¡¯s aura sharpening over the line, a bitter frost ready to pierce through his


    chest.


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    ¡°If anything happens to Thssa, Richard, you¡¯d better pray you have nine lives because one won¡¯t be


    enough!¡± Lysander¡¯s fury was palpable, his words biting, transmitting a cold threat through the phone.


    Richard shuddered, quickly assuring him, ¡°Payne and I will double our efforts to find Thssa.¡±


    ¡°Keep me updated with any leads. I¡¯m heading back now,¡± Lysandermanded before ending the


    call.


    Without hesitation, Lysander dialed his assistant, David. ¡°Get the jet ready. I need to get back. Now.¡±


    David, recognizing the gravity in Lysander¡¯s voice, confirmed the order with a decisive, ¡°On it.¡±


    Once off the call, David immediately contacted the private aviation service, arranging for a helicopter to


    whisk Lysander back to Starhaven within ten minutes.


    The aviation service responded with prompt assurance, not daring to dy.


    Ten minutester, the helicopternded on the hotel¡¯s helipad. Before boarding, Lysander rang Fitch at


    the Royal Estates. ¡°Lysander, the kids have been asking for their mother¡­¡± Fitch began, updating him


    on how the little ones longed for Thssa¡¯s return after school.


    ¡°Put Atticus on the line,¡± Lysander interrupted, his voice deep and steady.


    ¡°Of course, right away,¡± Fitch replied respectfully, setting the phone down to fetch Atticus from the toy


    room.


    Atticus, hearing that Lysander wanted to speak to him, trotted over with the seriousness of a miniature


    CEO. ¡°What¡¯s up?¡± he said, picking up the phone.


    ¡°Grab your tablet, use your mom¡¯s cell number, and track her phone. Can you do that?¡± Lysander


    instructed with calm authority. Atticus, aputer whiz kid and a notorious, little hacker who had once


    outsmarted a legion of tech gurus at his dad¡¯spany, knew tracking a phone was child¡¯s y.


    ¡°I can, but what¡¯s going on? Is Mommy okay?¡± Atticus could easily triangte the phone¡¯s location, but


    the real question was why. His concern for his mother was palpable; she was his world, and any harm


    <ping her way would break his little heart.

 Chapter 962

    Chapter 962


    Lysander¡¯s voice echoed with a tinge of urgency through the phone, ¡°Your mom¡¯s gone missing. I¡¯m on


    the hunt for her now.¡±¡±


    Over time and through tender moments, Lysander hade to understand the deep bond between


    Content ? copyrighted by N?velDrama.Org.


    Thssa and the children. The mere thought of anything happening to her would send ripples of worry


    through their little hearts.


    Atticus, sharp as a tack, keeping him in the dark would only fuel his fears.


    Without sugarcoating the truth, Lysander broke the news of Thssa¡¯s disappearance to Atticus.


    ¡°What? Mom¡¯s gone missing!¡± Atticus gasped.


    The other three tots, lured by his voice, toddled out of the yroom, gathering around Atticus, their


    young, inquisitive voices peppering him with questions.


    ¡°What do you mean Mom¡¯s gone? Where did she go?¡± Dorian asked, hisrge, doe-like eyes wide with


    confusion.


    ¡°Isn¡¯t Mom gonna tuck us in tonight? Waaah, I want my mommy,¡± Elowen whimpered, tears welling up


    in her eyes.


    ¡°Mommy¡­¡± Sophia¡¯s voice was a faint whisper, her lips quivering, on the brink of tears.


    The sounds of the children¡¯s voices, with the girls on the verge of crying, reached Lysander through the


    phone. He could feel the tension gripping the little ones.


    Lysander pinched the bridge of his nose, his deep voice steadying, ¡°Can we trace her location now?¡±


    Jolted by the gravity of the situation, Atticus snapped to attention, ¡°I¡¯m on it right now.¡±


    ¡°Let me know once you have the location,¡± Lysander instructed.


    ¡°I will, Dad!¡± Atticus assured before hanging up and dashing to his room.


    The three younger children exchanged a look of silent understanding and scurried after Atticus, their


    chubby legs carrying them like a trio of determined little penguins, adorably earnest in their mission.


    Once the call ended, Lysander boarded the chopper.


    Back in the toy-strewn yroom, Atticus was furiously tapping away on a tablet, his youthful face


    etched with concentration, his brow furrowed in a serious little knot.


    Dorian, Elowen, and Sophia watched him intently, their big, innocent eyes filled with hope and anxiety.


    Their mother¡¯s safety was at stake, and none dared to make a careless move.


    Atticus, who knew Thssa¡¯s phone number by heart as he did her credit card number, swiftly entered


    it into a special interface on the tablet.


    A tap, a search, and the device began its work.


    Soon, a location popped up.


    ¡°Mom¡¯s here!¡± Atticus eximed with a light in his eyes, spotting the precise location on the screen.


    ¡°Where, where?¡± the trio of heads leaned in, curious and anxious.


    Unfortunately, the map¡¯s cryptic symbols eluded them. They recognized the red dot but not its meaning


    or how to get there.


    ¡°I¡¯ll send it to Dad right away. He¡¯ll find Mom,¡± Atticus assured them.


    ¡°Hurry, Dad will definitely bring Mom back,¡± Dorian said, lifting his gaze to Atticus with urgency.


    Atticus¡¯ small fingers danced across the tablet screen.


    Meanwhile, Lysander, aboard the helicopter and out of signal range, remained unaware of the iing


    information.


    An hourter, the helicopternded atop the Sinir Group¡¯s building. Lysander descended, checked


    his phone, and saw Atticus¡¯ message with the location.


    Acknowledging the message, Lysander quickly essed the map.


    Ten minutester, a helicopter and a sleek ck sedan surrounded VivaLuxe Club.


    With amanding presence, Lysander led his team into the club, his demeanor icy and formidable.


    The patrons and staff, witnessing the formidable entourage, recoiled to clear a path.


    Hearing themotion, the club¡¯s manager approached and saw the intense, brooding mien of


    Lysander Sinir, surrounded by


    08:181


    a tangible aura of authority that caused the manager¡¯s legs to tremble with fear.


    But as the manager of VivaLuxe Club, he had to face the music, fear or no fear.


    ¡°Mr. Sinir, wee. Would you like a private room, or¡­¡±


    ¡°Out of the way!¡±


    Before the manager could finish, a bodyguard pped his hand away, shoving him aside.


    Lysander strode past, his presence cutting through the air like a knife, sending shivers down the


    manager¡¯s spine.


    08:181

 Chapter 963

    Chapter 963


    Inside the luxurious private room of an upscale underground casino, the slightly chubby man who had


    kidnapped Thssa was going all in with his gambling buddies.


    ¡°Roll the dice! If this isn¡¯t a high roll, I¡¯m betting everything I¡¯ve got!¡± The man mmed a hefty stack of


    bills on the table, his eyes bulging like a frog¡¯s as he watched the dice shaker covered by a cup.


    After pocketing the money from Daniel, his first stop was this den of vice, desperate to win back what


    he¡¯d lost before.


    His opponent, a man in a loud Hawaiian shirt, idly twirled a cigarette between his lips, letting smoke


    curl into the air.


    With a smirk, he taunted, ¡°You sure you wanna bet high?¡±


    ¡°Positive! Roll!¡± the chubby man insisted.


    The Hawaiian shirt guy poised his hand over the cup, ready to lift the veil on fate.


    The chubby man¡¯s eyes widened, his heart pounding as he watched, his future hinging on the hidden


    numbers.


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    Just as the cup was about to be lifted¡­.


    ¡°Bang!¡±


    The door to the private room was brutally kicked open.


    ¡°Who the hell is that!¡± the chubby man snapped, irritation ring as he looked toward the entrance.


    But then he saw them-a phnx of bodyguards surrounding a man whose presence was as chilling as


    an arctic st. This man clearly wasn¡¯t someone to mess with.


    The chubby man¡¯s bluster shriveled a bit.


    Recognizing the neer, the Hawaiian shirt guy, a seasoned gambler who knew faces, leapt to his


    feet and hustled over to greet him with a bow and scrape.


    ¡°Mr. Sinir! To what do we owe the pleasure of your visit? Today is indeed an honor¡­¡±


    Before he could finish fawning, a bodyguard shoved him aside.


    Lysander advanced toward the chubby man, his gaze sharp and icy.


    The chubby man stood up, a frightened smile shing across his face. ¡°Mr. Sinir, are you looking for


    me?¡±


    He¡¯d never met Lysander but knew the rumors. A ruthless tycoon, the king of Starhaven¡¯s elite, with a


    reputation for mercilessness-cross him and you¡¯d rue the day.


    As Lysander approached, the chubby man¡¯s emotions were a whirlwind of rm and awe.


    Without a word, Lysander signaled a bodyguard with a nce.


    Reacting immediately, the bodyguard delivered a swift kick to the chubby man¡¯s midsection.


    ¡°Ah!¡± The man fell to his knees, clutching his stomach, writhing in agony.


    The bodyguard knelt down and frisked him, quickly extracting a smartphone from his pocket and


    handing it to Lysander.


    Lysander scrutinized the phone-it was Thssa¡¯s, turned off.


    If Thssa¡¯s phone was in the possession of this unsightly man, it meant he had taken her.


    The air around Lysander turned oppressively cold, as if his fury could freeze the world around him.


    His eyes, now lethal slits, fixed on the chubby man rolling on the floor.


    ¡°Where is Thssa?¡± he demanded.


    The chubby man stiffened mid-roll. He hadn¡¯t misheard. Lysander was asking for Thssa!


    Thssa was the woman he had abducted that day.


    As shock seized him, the bodyguards yanked him up and threw him against the wall with a resounding


    ¡°thud!¡± His head collided with the solid surface, stars exploding before his eyes.


    Before he could gather his wits, he was hoisted up by the cor and had his arms wrenched behind his


    back, his wrist twisted at a bone-warping angle.


    ¡°Ah, it hurts, it hurts¡­¡± the man cried out in pain.


    ¡°Talk. Whose phone is this? Don¡¯t beat around the bush,¡± the bodyguard threatened, increasing the


    pressure on the man¡¯s wrist. Twisted in pain, the chubby man knew if he stayed defiant, the bodyguard


    might only need to add a little more pressure to shatter his wrist bones- an agony beyond endurance.

 Chapter 964

    Chapter 964


    ¡°I¡­ I got my hands on some cash today, grabbed her, and took her to a cabin up at Crest Summit. But


    then the boss called in another guy, and I handed Thssa over to him. After that, I came down the


    mountain, no clue where he took her.¡±


    The chubby man was sweating bullets of pain, his voice trembling as he spilled the beans.


    ¡°Who¡¯s your boss, and who did you hand her over to?¡± the bodyguard pressed.


    ¡°My boss is Daniel. The guy I handed her off to, I don¡¯t know him, just that he looked like a bookworm,


    a real snake in the grass.¡± ¡°You¡¯re holding back on me!¡± the bodyguard growled, his grip on the man¡¯s


    wrist tightening in warning.


    ¡°I ain¡¯t lying, I swear! I¡¯ve told you everything!¡± the chubby man shrieked in terror.


    With a sickening ¡°snap,¡± his pleas were cut short.


    The chubby man let out a squeal like a pig, agony radiating from his now broken wrist.


    He copsed on the ground, convulsing.


    Lysander¡¯s icy gaze swept over the scene, ¡°Take him away!¡±


    The bodyguard hoisted the chubby man up from the ground and dragged him off.


    ¡°You¡¯re going to lead us to Thssa. If we don¡¯t find her, you can kiss your life goodbye, got it?¡± the


    bodyguard pushed the man into a car.


    Thssa was ushered into a resort hotel by Bruce. It was off-season, so the guests in the hotel were


    sparse.


    The hotel wasn¡¯t far from the mountain where she¡¯d been snatched. A short drive and they had arrived.


    Her hands were still bound behind her back with rope, making it clear she was being coerced; walking


    through the lobby was out of the question.


    Thssa had thought to look for a chance to cry for help, but Bruce took her through a back door.


    There, someone was waiting to cover for him, clearly an old pal of Bruce¡¯s.


    ¡°Bruce, you¡¯ve outdone yourself this time, snagging such a young and pretty thing. Business as usual?


    You go first, I follow?¡± The guy meeting Bruce was roughly the same age, with a shifty look and a


    lecherous grin.


    Hearing his words, Thssa¡¯s heart sank, and she felt a wave of nausea.


    How many women had these two preyed upon together?


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    Thssa was filled with dread and disgust.


    If Bruce managed to get her into a room, what kind of horror would await her? The thought alone made


    her shiver with fear.


    Her eyes were fierce with defiance and loathing as she red at the man who had met them.


    ¡°Well, well, she¡¯s got fire. I like that. Makes it all the more fun to break ¡¯em in,¡± the sleazy man said,


    reaching out to touch Thssa¡¯s face.


    She couldn¡¯t avoid his touch in time.


    Bruce knocked his hand away sternly, ¡°Elliott, this isn¡¯t like the other times. You¡¯re sitting this one out.


    I¡¯ll wire you two hundred grand.¡±


    ¡°Two hundred grand?¡± Elliott looked at Bruce, puzzled, then back at Thssa.


    It was a shame not to get a taste of such a beauty, but there was no helping it.


    Two hundred grand was still a sweet deal.


    ¡°Alright, two hundred it is. I¡¯ll stay out of it. Get inside,¡± Elliott stepped aside, making way for them..


    Bruce dragged Thssa in, and right beside the door was the elevator. Without hesitation, he pressed


    the button.


    As the elevator doors slid open, he shoved Thssa inside.


    Her heart raced with panic and fear, the nightmare drawing nearer. What could she do? How could she


    escape?


    The whole setup was clearly premeditated by Bruce; she hadn¡¯t seen a soul or a vehicle anywhere.


    Even entering the hotel, there was only that one guy to meet them, and the elevator was empty.


    1/2


    08:371


    Thssa wanted to scream for help. Even if there was no one in the elevator, surely there were people


    elsewhere in the hotel. If


    someone heard her cries, she might have a fighting chance.


    But before they got out of the car, Bruce had sealed her mouth with duct tape.


    It was so tight she couldn¡¯t make a sound.

 Chapter 965

    Chapter 965


    Bruce hit the button for the eighth floor, and the elevator began its ascent. With every upward tick of the


    numbers, Thssa¡¯s heart raced faster, her nerves frayed tighter, panic wing at her insides.


    Once inside that room, her chances of escape would dwindle to nothing.


    This is property ? of N?velDrama.Org.


    No, she wouldn¡¯t let Bruce, that twisted, repulsive man, ruin her.


    ¡°Ding¡­¡± The elevator reached the eighth floor just as Thssa was on the edge of hysteria.


    In thest second before stepping out, Bruce whipped out a scarf from seemingly nowhere and draped


    it over Thssa¡¯s head.


    The scarf, matching the duct tape that sealed her mouth, obscured her face so that even if they


    encountered someone, it wouldn¡¯t be apparent she was gagged.


    Then Bruce slipped off his jacket, draping it over Thssa¡¯s hands that he held behind her back,


    making it seem as though she was carrying his clothes for him.


    To any onlooker, everything would appear perfectly normal.


    As the elevator doors parted, Bruce leaned into Thssa, guiding her by the arm out of the elevator.


    Thssa was revolted, resisting, not wanting him anywhere near her.


    But Bruce¡¯s grip was iron-hard, pulling her close to his side.


    He hissed a threat in her ear, ¡°Make one more move, and I¡¯ll release your mother¡¯s video right now!¡±


    Thssa froze, teeth gritted in hatred, yet unable to resist any further.


    She knew the devastating impact the video would have on Evelyn. The sheer panic of losing her


    mother was something she couldn¡¯t endure again.


    Stepping out of the elevator, Thssa spotted someone approaching through the blur of the scarf.


    Hope surged within her.


    The stranger saw a man and a woman, seemingly intimate, the woman sporting what looked like a


    bridal veil, heading toward a


    room.


    ¡°People these days really know how to spice things up,¡± the stranger thought, ¡°a hotel rendezvous with


    a touch of romance.¡± As the distance between them closed, Thssa¡¯s heart beat like a drum of


    tension and fear.


    This was her sole chance for rescue; if missed, she¡¯d plummet into an abyss.


    If she were to fall, who would save her mother, who was still trapped in a web of trauma? Her four


    children would be left motherless.


    She couldn¡¯t let Bruce destroy her.


    Just as they were about to pass the stranger, Thssa stumbled, careening into the approaching


    figure.


    The person caught her by the shoulders, annoyed, ¡°Watch where you¡¯re going, will you?¡±


    That voice-Thssa¡¯s heart skipped a beat in desperation.


    It was familiar!


    It was Callum!


    Oh, Callum, save me!


    Her mind screamed for help as she prepared to throw herself against him again.


    But Bruce¡¯s grip on her shoulder tightened, threatening to crush her bones, yanking her back to his


    side.


    ¡°Sorry about that,¡± Bruce apologized to Callum, ¡°my wife just twisted her ankle a bit. Really sorry.¡±


    Callum, ever reasonable, replied, ¡°It¡¯s fine.¡±


    Bruce smiled, nodded politely, and continued to drag Thssa down the hallway with a threatening


    ownership.


    Thssa wanted to struggle, but the pain in her shoulder sapped her strength.


    Her mind frantically cried out, ¡°Callum, save me!¡±


    But Callum couldn¡¯t hear her silent pleas.

 Chapter 966

    Chapter 966


    Bruce gripped Thssa¡¯s shoulders, dragging her to the door of the hotel room. With a flick of his card,


    the door beeped open, and he pushed her inside, maintaining a firm hold.


    Callum had turned his head just in time to see the coat draped over Thssa¡¯s arms fall as she


    crossed the threshold, revealing her bound wrists.


    A shadow passed over Callum¡¯s eyes.


    Bruce, noticing the coat on the ground, had a moment of panic. He swiftly picked it up and, turning


    This is the property of N?-velDrama.Org.


    back, met Callum¡¯s gaze. With practiced ease, he nodded and shed a casual smile. ¡°My wife¡¯s in


    such a hurry that she didn¡¯t even notice she dropped my coat,¡± he said.


    Without waiting for a response, Bruce turned and stepped back into the room. Thssa tried to bolt


    out, but with a shove, he pushed her back and mmed the door shut.


    His eyes cold, he advanced on her. ¡°I¡¯d advise you to cooperate; it¡¯ll save you some pain.¡±


    Thssa¡¯s heart raced with fear as she backed away, with Bruce¡¯s sinister and merciless gaze


    following her. Her retreat was halted by the edge of the bed.


    ¡°Ah, Thssa, let¡¯s just enjoy this, shall we? No more fighting,¡± Bruce chuckled, a predatory grin on his


    face as he lunged at her. Thssa screamed, trying to dodge, but Bruce was faster. He pinned her


    down on the bed.


    She struggled with every ounce of strength, shaking her head and kicking at him.


    Bruce caught her foot, his hand sliding her dress upward.


    She let out a muffled cry of resistance, filled with despair and disgust. His touch sent shivers of


    revulsion through her, making her stomach churn with the urge to vomit.


    Bruce, repulsed by her defiance, was undeterred. But as he pushed up her dress, something felt off.


    Looking down, he noticed a piece of the ck fabric torn away, with jagged edges where it had been


    ripped.


    He stopped abruptly, his gaze turning fierce as he stared at Thssa on the bed. ¡°Did you rip your


    dress to send a signal?¡± Thssa¡¯s eyes zed with defiance and loathing. Though she couldn¡¯t


    speak, her stare conveyed the message: Yes, I signaled for help. Lysander will be here soon, and when


    he finds you, you¡¯re as good as dead.


    Bruce read the unspoken words in her fiery eyes.


    ¡°You dared to signal for help!¡± he raised his hand, ready to strike her.


    Thssa squeezed her eyes shut, bracing for the blow.


    The sound of Bruce¡¯s iing call cut through the tension like a knife. The ringtone red loudly,


    seeming to fill the room.


    Bruce froze, his hand hovering inches from Thssa¡¯s face. He withdrew his hand and pulled out the


    phone.


    Daniel¡¯s name shed on the screen.


    Why would Daniel be calling now?


    Bruce stared at the dancing name, not rushing to answer.


    His expression turned dark and suspicious. The timing was too coincidental. He¡¯d just discovered


    Thssa¡¯s torn dress, and now Daniel was calling?


    He couldn¡¯t answer this call.


    Holding the phone, Bruce watched the screen as it rang and rang until it finally stopped on its own.

 Chapter 967

    Chapter 967


    The expected pain never came. Thssa¡¯s eyes snapped open to meet Bruce¡¯s brooding re, a mix


    of dread and malevolence.


    His phone had been ringing incessantly in his hand, but he never picked up.


    As the ringing stopped on its own, he quickly powered off the phone, his gaze shifting to Thssa with


    a ferocity that made her blood run cold. He pointed at her, teeth clenched, and hissed a venomous


    threat, ¡°Not a word about how you got here, not to anyone, especially not to Lysander. Otherwise, that


    video of your mother, the one where she¡¯s writhing in pleasure under me, will go viral on every social


    media tform. I bet she¡¯d be quite the hit as a star of that sort of film!¡±


    His face contorted in a menacing grimace as he spat out the words.


    Thssa felt her teeth grinding in fury..


    With his piece said, Bruce lingered no longer. He turned on his heel and left the room, leaving Thssa


    alone with her rage. Despite the visceral desire to keep her, he knew he had to release her for now. But


    he wasn¡¯t worried; he had leverage. Struggling to rise from the bed, Thssa staggered to the door.


    Her hands were bound behind her back, making the simple task of turning the knob a feat of


    desperation. Just as her fingers grazed the handle, the door swung open from the outside. Her heart


    clenched in terror, and she instinctively lunged for the exit.


    ¡°Whoa there, darling, where do you think you¡¯re going?¡± A burly man blocked her path, shoving the


    onrushing Thssa back into the room with brute force.


    The man was the sleazy character who had just been dealing with Bruce.


    Thssa¡¯s eyes widened in fear as she backed away, but the man licked his lips, inching closer with a


    predatory grin. ¡°Bruce left you all alone, such a shame to waste a beauty like you.¡±


    Her eyes grew wider still as panic set in.


    He moved closer, his interest piqued. ¡°Tonight, you¡¯re mine. And I¡¯ll be good to you,¡± he murmured,


    This is property ? of N?velDrama.Org.


    advancing on Thssa. ¡°Ah!¡± Thssa¡¯s scream was a muffled cry of terror.


    In her moment of despair, another man burst through the door, yanking the sleazy creep away from


    her.


    ¡°Thssa, it¡¯s you!¡± Callum barged in, tossing the man aside with shock and surprise at finding her in


    such a state.


    ¡°Damn you, meddling with my affairs, you¡¯re a dead man!¡± The sleazy man recovered and charged at


    Callum with a snarl.


    Callum¡¯s foot shot out,nding a precise blow to the man¡¯s gut.


    ¡°Ah!¡± The assant crashed against the wall with a cry of agony.


    Callum stood tall,manding, ¡°Get out!¡±


    Realizing he was no match, the man scrambled away in defeat.


    Callum hurried over, ripping the tape from Thssa¡¯s mouth and untying the ropes that bound her


    hands.


    Freed, Thssa¡¯s legs nearly gave way from the sheer terror, but Callum caught her just in time.


    ¡°Easy!¡±


    At that moment, a chilling presence filled the room as a stern man, nked by a team of bodyguards,


    broke through the door.

 Chapter 968

    Chapter 968


    The air trembled with the tension of an invasion, a palpable force that made breathing seem like a


    luxury.


    Thssa trembled with excess fear, her limbs still weak from the ordeal, as she nced towards the


    doorway. There, striding in with amanding presence that seemed to dominate the very room, was


    a tall figure nked by an entourage. His regal bearing was unmatched-¨¢n aura that spoke of a ruler


    among men.


    It was Lysander!


    Thssa¡¯s heart fluttered with a mixture of dread and an inexplicable sensation.


    ¡°Lysander¡­¡±


    Her voice was hoarse, the words barely escaping her lips. She wanted to tell him about the harrowing


    events she had just endured, but a wave of overwhelming emotion surged within her, bringing tears to


    her eyes.


    She hadn¡¯t felt the urge to cry when faced with the cruelty and danger earlier, but now, in the presence


    of him, vulnerability surfaced, and all the fear and grievances came flooding out.


    Struggling to maintain her bnce, Thssa attempted to move towards Lysander.


    But his countenance was cold as ice, his aura chilling as if it emanated from the depths of hell itself.


    With long strides, he reached out and grasped Thssa¡¯s arm, yanking her away from Callum¡¯s grasp.


    Content ? copyrighted by N?velDrama.Org.


    Thssa stumbled, her knees nearly giving out beneath her, and she almost fell.


    Lysander¡¯s arm wrapped around her waist, pulling her forcefully against his sturdy torso. His powerful


    arm held her close, pressing her seamlessly into the fit against his body.


    Through the fabric, Thssa could feel the solidness of his abdomen, radiating a heat that seemed to


    scorch her.


    Her breath hitched, her cheeks flushing with warmth.


    Before her heart could steady itself, Lysander¡¯s index finger tilted her chin upward,pelling her to


    meet his icy gaze.


    ¡°Did they take you against your will, or did you go willingly?¡± Lysander¡¯s voice was a low rumble,ced


    with an anger on the brink of eruption.


    He had searched for her frantically, worried for her safety.


    And yet, here she was, in a hotel room with Callum, wrapped up in an embrace!


    Hearing his words, Thssa felt the sting of his cold tone, a tightness seizing her chest.


    Her eyes, already reddened, now prickled with pain.


    She looked up at him, bewildered, ¡°Lysander, what do you mean?¡±


    A sneer crept across Lysander¡¯s lips. ¡°That look in your eyes¡­ Are you upset that I interrupted your


    little rendezvous?¡±


    Thssa¡¯s heart sank. After surviving such an ordeal, she had felt a sense of relief upon seeing


    Lysander, an urge to lean on him for support.


    But his words were a betrayal.


    Tears streamed down her face, not from sorrow or pain, but from a heart that ached with


    disappointment and distress.


    She had been through a harrowing kidnapping, faced with the prospect of ruin, yet not a single tear had


    fallen. But now, a single sentence from Lysander was all it took to pierce her heart, crumbling the walls


    she had built around it.


    ¨C


    Suddenly, it dawned on her why had she expected anything from him? Why had she even thought of


    seekingfort in his arms?


    Wasn¡¯t it Lysander who had always hurt her the most?


    She had actually been waiting for him to rescue her, even wanting to share her fears and helplessness


    with him.


    How foolish she had been.


    Why would Lysander ever care for her?


    The irony of her momentary hope mocked her.


    Lysander¡¯s deep eyes remained cold as they observed her, watching the tears spill from her clear eyes.


    Every part of him seemed to flinch at the sight, his brows furrowing slightly.


    1/2


    08:38


    ¡°Hah, I¡¯ve heard the rumors that Lysander was heartless and cut off from all kin, but I never believed


    them,¡± Callum suddenly chuckled. ¡°Now, having witnessed your cruelty firsthand, I have no choice but


    to believe.¡± Lysander¡¯s steely gaze shifted towards him.

 Chapter 969

    Chapter 969


    The chill in the air was enough to freeze a soul in ce.


    Callum faced him squarely and said, ¡°Do you have any idea what Thssa just went through? She was


    kidnapped, nearly destroyed. If I hadn¡¯t arrived in the nick of time, she¡¯d be ruined by now!¡±


    His expression darkened as he addressed Lysander.


    Lysander¡¯s gaze swept the room, catching sight of the discarded ropes and the tape that had been


    used to silence her.


    Tightening his hold around Thssa¡¯s waist, he gritted his teeth and said to Callum, ¡°Quite the


    coincidence, you being here. I¡¯ll be looking into this, rest assured!¡±


    This is property ? of N?velDrama.Org.


    With that, he turned, Thssa in tow.


    Coming back to her senses, Thssa, though weak, tried to push away from Lysander¡¯s firm grip


    around her waist.


    ¡°Let go of me. I can walk on my own.¡±


    Lysander¡¯s grip tightened slightly, and he gave her a piercing, icy look that could stop anyone dead in


    their tracks.


    His eagle-like gaze was sharp enough to cleave through Thssa¡¯s resolve.


    She faltered, all the grievances she held bottled up inside, unable to voice her pain or vent her


    frustrations.


    Exiting the hotel room with Thssa, Lysandermanded his bodyguard, ¡°Lock down all the exits.


    Everyone gets searched. The kidnapper does not get away with this!¡±


    ¡°Understood!¡± the bodyguard replied, taking the order.


    Lysander¡¯s men, demonstrating remarkable efficiency, promptly closed off all exits at the hotel. The


    hotel manager, visibly anxious, approached, awaiting Lysander¡¯s instructions.


    The shifty-looking man was soon brought forward, kneeling and shaking like a leaf before Lysander.


    ¡°Where did he touch you?¡± Lysander asked, his deep and steady gaze falling on Thssa.


    ¡°Mr. Sinir, please, I¡¯ll never do it again, I swear¡­¡± the man babbled, his legs quivering, realizing the


    gravity of the man before him.


    Upon seeing the man, Thssa felt a wave of nausea; he was one of Bruce¡¯s cronies, a scoundrel who


    had caused untold harm.


    He had to be punished, or he would just continue to prey on others.


    Taking a deep breath to suppress the disgust and anger swirling inside her, Thssa said, ¡°He¡­ he


    held me.¡±


    She felt Lysander¡¯s arm around her waist tense at her words.


    His aura turned chilling, and with a frosty re at the man at his feet, he ordered in a tone devoid of


    warmth, ¡°For kidnapping and indecency, caught in the act¡­ break his hands and throw him in jail,


    where he¡¯ll spend the rest of his days.¡±


    ¡°Right away!¡± The bodyguard moved to carry out themand, swiftly and brutally breaking the man¡¯s


    arms.


    A shriek of agony filled the air, echoing off the walls.


    Thssa clenched her fists tight. Once, such a sound would have made her cringe, but now, she felt


    the man got what he deserved, and she even thought his punishment was lenient.


    The man was dragged away as the hotel manager, still shaking, addressed Lysander, ¡°Mr. Sinir, we


    have the surveince footage ready. You can review it in the security room.¡±


    Lysander stood, his long legs carrying him and Thssa towards the security room.


    The footage would reveal who had taken Thssa to the hotel.


    As Thssa followed Lysander to the security room, her heart tightened with apprehension.

 Chapter 970

    Chapter 970


    If Lysander were to discover that Bruce had brought her to the hotel, kidnapped her, and even had


    ns to take advantage of her, Lysander, being so clever, would have undoubtedly realized that Bruce


    was not her father.


    But what haunted Thssa the most was the video in Bruce¡¯s possession.


    Before leaving, Bruce had darkly threatened her. If Lysander ever discovered that he had taken her to


    Content ? copyrighted by N?velDrama.Org.


    the hotel, he would unleash that video across all major social media tforms, making Evelyn the star,


    the center of a scandalous viral sensation.


    For Evelyn, this type of attention could be deadly.


    Thssa could never shake off the memory of Evelyn¡¯s breakdown, the way she had tried to hang


    herself. The fear and shadows that incident cast were profound.


    If the video went public, Evelyn would be cyber bullied, heckled every time she set foot outside the


    house.


    Evelyn always cared about keeping up appearances. If she became the butt of every joke, the subject


    of scornful remarks, she¡¯d never survive it. What extreme lengths might she go to in order to escape


    the humiliation?


    These thoughts sent shivers down Thssa¡¯s spine and a painful clench to her heart.


    She couldn¡¯t bear to witness such a tragedy unfold. It simply couldn¡¯t happen.


    ¡°My stomach¡­ it hurts so much¡­¡± Thssa suddenly halted, clutching her abdomen with a pained


    expression on her face. Lysander also stopped, his inscrutable gaze turning towards her.


    The icy pressure of his stare felt like a block of ice smashing down on her head, sending tingles across


    her scalp. As she looked up into his deep, abyss-like eyes, they seemed to swirl with a pull so strong


    that it could devour a soul.


    Thssa¡¯s heart skipped a beat, her pupils constricted, and her gaze involuntarily darted away as she


    pleaded, ¡°Can you take me to the hospital first? My stomach really hurts.¡±


    Lysander remained silent, his prating gaze fixed on her, a silent but overpowering presence.


    Under his wordless scrutiny, Thssa felt her defenses crumbling, her heart racing faster and faster.


    Just as she was about to break, ready to say forget it to the hospital visit, Lysander took out his phone


    and made a call. His deep voice resonated, ¡°Dr. Everest, I¡¯m sending you a location. Be there in ten.


    Female, abdominal pain.¡±


    With that, he hung up.


    Thssa was stunned, her mouth agape. She had hoped to get Lysander to take her to the hospital as


    a diversion, to keep him from checking the surveince footage.


    But he¡¯d summoned Dr. Everest on the spot.


    If Dr. Everest arrived and discovered her lie¡­


    Before the doctor even arrived, Thssa was already consumed by anxiety.


    ¡°Can you walk?¡± Lysander¡¯s cool voice floated down to her.


    Thssa snapped back to reality, looking into his deep eyes, frosty and unwavering.


    It sent a chill through her, her teeth almost chattering as she replied, ¡°Yes.¡±


    Lysander¡¯s firm grip enclosed her wrist, guiding her forward with unyielding intent towards the security


    office.


    His rough palm conveyed absolute strength, enough to snap her wrist with the slightest mishap.


    Thssa endured his suppressed anger, dare not resist, nor entertain any further schemes.


    She had no choice but toply.


    The closer they got to the security office, the tighter her heart wound, the more frantic she felt.


    Fearing the exposure of the video ¨C the threat to her mother¡¯s life.


    But reality was often cruel, and despite her panic, she found herself dragged into the security office by


    Lysander.


    Joining them were the hotel manager, Callum, and several bodyguards.


    The security staff booted up the monitors.


    On the screens, the surveince footage began to y out.


    1/1


    00.00

 Chapter 971

    Chapter 971


    Thssa¡¯s heart was strung tight, her breath caught, as she endured the torment, a drawn-out agony.


    She was worried sick about her mother¡¯s safety. Yet faced with Lysander¡¯s iron grip of power, she felt


    utterly helpless.


    Racking her brain, she pondered how she would break the news to Lysander once the truth was out.


    How could she convince him not to tip off Bruce, who held her mother¡¯s fate in his hands?


    Would he showpassion for her, for her mother, and hold off on confronting Bruce?


    Thssa didn¡¯t know if Lysander would.


    The fact was, Evelyn had been Bruce¡¯s girl in her youth, and now she was under his thumb again. If


    Lysander found out about this family scandal, would he mock her mother and im she had iting?


    Thssa¡¯s heart quivered with fear; she couldn¡¯t predict Lysander¡¯s thoughts or what he would do


    about this mess.


    It was an all-or-nothing gamble, and neither she nor her mother could afford to lose.


    A loss could mean paying with their lives.


    The surveince video was still ying normally. The feed from 8 PM to 9 PM showed nothing unusual,


    but from 10 PM to 11 PM, there was a ckout!


    And it was precisely between 10 PM and 11 PM that Bruce had brought Thssa into the hotel ¨C the


    critical time frame.


    The tech in the security room, upon discovering the missing footage, was visibly shaken, cautiously


    exining to Lysander, ¡°The cameras were down for an hour before we noticed and called for


    maintenance. By that time, it was already toote.¡±


    Lysander¡¯s handsome face turned icy cold, his expression as dark and fathomless as the ocean


    depths.


    The aura he exuded caused the tech¡¯s teeth to chatter with fear.


    Seeing the unfolding situation, the hotel manager took charge, stepping forward and scolding the tech


    in a fury.


    ¡°How could you let this happen? An hour goes by before you notice a malfunction? During such a


    crucial time! You¡¯ve lost the footage Mr. Sinir needed. Nine lives wouldn¡¯t be enough to make up for


    this mistake!¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m so sorry, truly sorry. The surveince is usually reliable; I never expected it to fail today. It must¡¯ve


    been Elliott, preparing in advance to sabotage the system.¡± The tech stammered out an exnation,


    trembling with fear.


    Elliott was the shifty-eyed man whom Lysander had ordered to have his hands broken and sent to jail


    for life.


    Working at the hotel, Elliott could have easily tampered with the surveince under the guise of his


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    duties.


    Thssa, seeing that the surveince didn¡¯t capture Bruce bringing her in, felt a slight easing of the


    knot in her stomach,


    At that moment, Lysander¡¯s piercing gaze shifted to her face, catching the trace of relief that passed


    over her expression,


    The air around Lysander grew oppressively heavy, his eyes clouding with a chilling intent.


    ¡°Effective immediately, this hotel is closed for business!¡± Lysandermanded, his voice cold and


    The manager, who had been throwing his weight around just moments before, stood stunned,


    staggering back a few steps at Lysander¡¯s decree. He was not only the hotel manager but also its


    owner.


    This hotel was his life¡¯s work, the sustenance for his entire family. Closing the hotel meant cutting off


    his family¡¯s financial lifeline.


    For the manager, this was a deathblow.


    Thssa, upon hearing Lysander¡¯s words, wasn¡¯t overly surprised. This was Lysander¡¯s modus


    operandi, capable of copsing a business in the blink of an eye.


    Hadn¡¯t the mighty Brennan Group, a vast conglomerate, faced bankruptcy overnight at just a word from


    Lysander?


    What chance did a small private enterprise stand?


    ¡°Who brought you here? Describe them, their appearance, their features, Lysander¡¯s deep voice


    suddenly broke the silence, pulling Thssa back to the grim reality as she met his dark, prating


    gaze.

 Chapter 972

    Chapter 972


    Lysander¡¯s gaze was too prating, too intense. Thssa couldn¡¯t help but feel a twinge of guilt


    under his scrutiny.


    Unable to hold his gaze any longer, she lowered her head, her eyes skirting away as she stammered,


    ¡°It¡¯s¡­ it¡¯s the guy you had escorted out just now.¡±


    Lysander¡¯s eyes, profound pools of intrigue, deepened further as he observed her in silence.


    As the silence thickened, Thssa felt an unbearable weight pressing down on her.


    His piercing stare seemed almost tangible, as if it could bore a hole right through her.


    This is property ? of N?velDrama.Org.


    Feeling increasingly panicked, Thssa struggled to withstand the pressure.


    Lysander finally spoke, ¡°Is that so? So, the case is closed then?¡±


    Callum added, ¡°When I burst into the room, all I saw was that scumbag.¡±


    Thssa was shocked and disbelieving as she cast a nce at Callum, quickly averting her eyes back


    to the ground.


    Her reaction was immediate, a physical response devoid of thought.


    As she realized her reaction might have been too telling and lowered her gaze, Lysander had already


    caught the fleeting change in her demeanor. His eyes were icy, as if they had frosted over.


    Thssa dared not look at anyone, especially Lysander beside her. Even without making eye contact,


    she could feel his chilling, intimidating presence, like needles on her skin.


    Callum had clearly seen Bruce, yet he went along with her lie, choosing not exposing him.


    What could be Callum¡¯s motive for doing this?


    Thssa couldn¡¯t fathom what was going through Callum¡¯s mind. She had been surprised by his


    willingness to back up her lie, prompting her to involuntarily nce at him.


    Callum, however, had kept his attention on Lysander the entire time, not once ncing at Thssa.


    Lysander was already irked by their interaction; if Callum looked her way now, wouldn¡¯t that just


    infuriate Lysander further?


    Previously, outside the bar, Callum had deliberately mentioned pursuing Thssa just to gauge


    Lysander¡¯s reaction.


    Callum wondered if Lysander¡¯s reaction was because of his possessiveness or fear of losing


    Thssa?


    That time, Lysander had reacted strongly, kissing Thssa forcefully in front of him and whisking her


    away.


    It became clear to Callum that Lysander¡¯s control over Thssa went beyond mere possessiveness.


    With Lysander already on edge, provoking him would not end well.


    Therefore, this time Callum refrained from showing any interest in Thssa.


    Lysander¡¯s cold gaze shifted towards Callum. He wrapped an arm around Thssa¡¯s waist, pulling her


    close, and said in a frosty tone, ¡°It seems you have quite a fondness for mydy!¡±


    Callum was taken aback, and Thssa¡¯s heart sank as she turned to look at Lysander¡¯s profile.


    His features were tight, his angr face looking as if it could shed ice.


    Thssa tensed up, her heart constricting, and her breathing becamebored.


    She was so close to Lysander that she could clearly sense the gunpowder in the air around him


    Did he still not trust that there was nothing between her and Callum?


    Callum, too, was taken aback. Despite making no overt advances toward Thssa this time,


    Lysander¡¯s jealousy remained as potent as ever.


    Perhaps the words he had previously spoken had struck a nerve with Lysander, igniting a fierce desire


    to possess Thssa.


    Callum shed his customary warm smile, lightly touching his nose with his index finger, and said with


    a chuckle, ¡°If that were true, would you let her go?¡± ¡°You excel at daydreaming, Mr. Gordon,¡± Lysander


    shot Callum a cool nce, holding Thssa close by the waist and turning to leave with her.

 Chapter 973

    Chapter 973


    As Lysander made his exit, a parade of hulking bodyguards fell into step behind him, theirmanding


    presence leaving the hotel in a formidable procession of power.


    The moment they were out of sight, the hotel manager, who had been bracing himself against the


    onught of his intimidating guest, finally allowed his trembling body to copse onto the floor. His face


    buried in his hands as he wept.


    ¡°What am I going to do? My life¡¯s work is in ruins, I¡¯m bankrupt. My family, they¡¯re all counting on me¡­¡±


    the manager sobbed, his voice steeped in despair. ¡°You¡¯ve been profiting from other people¡¯s misery,


    and shutting down might be the best thing for the public good. The rot inside this hotel runs deep; you


    can¡¯t tell me you¡¯re oblivious to the scandals that have urred under your roof,¡± Callum said coldly,


    addressing the broken man before him.


    The hotel was riddled with systemic ws, a breeding ground for corruption and decay. Employees had


    This is property ? of N?velDrama.Org.


    colluded with outsiders, preying upon countless innocent women.


    As the proprietor, the manager couldn¡¯t possibly have remained utterly unaware of the whispers and


    rumors.


    To possess knowledge of such wrongdoing and yet allow it to fester, to take no action to rectify the


    situation, was tantamount to profiting from evil. Shutting down the hotel was a mere p on the wrist


    for the manager. He deserved to lose everything, to be thrown behind bars, to truly understand the


    depths of despair.


    The hotel manager was stunned, tearfully looking up at Callum. ¡°You can¡¯t make baseless usations


    like that, sir. There¡¯s no evidence.¡±


    Callum¡¯s lips twisted into a mirthless smile. ¡°Oh? And how do you know I don¡¯t have any evidence?


    Wait until the police get their hands on what I¡¯ve got, then try talking to me again.¡±


    With that, Callum turned on his heel and walked away, his smile fading in an instant, his eyes icy and


    resolute.


    Not only was Callum a partner to Leopold and an entrepreneur in the electronics industry, but he was


    also a journalist, and his work in the press was a closely guarded secret.


    Through his efforts, countless shady dealings had been brought to light, with each corrupt


    businessman exposed receiving their just deserts, However, no one knew that Callum was the man


    working the strings behind the scenes.


    His visit to this hotel was prompted by reports of numerous assaults on women there. He hade to


    gather evidence and to investigate. Fate had led him to cross paths with Thssa, and he had ended


    up saving her.


    Hearing Callum¡¯s words, the hotel manager was struck by a wave of panic. He scrambled to his feet


    and lunged at Callum, grabbing his arm in a desperate plea. ¡°The hotel¡¯s already on the brink of


    copse, sir. Please, have mercy on me.¡±


    Callum pulled his arm away, his gaze devoid of sympathy, filled only with a chilling sense of justice and


    disgust for corrupt businessmen like the one before him.


    ¡°Mercy? Did you ever consider showing mercy to the innocent women?¡± Callum retorted.


    ¡°But I didn¡¯t do those things,¡± the manager blurted out in a frantic defense.


    No sooner had he spoken than he realized his fatal slip-up, but it was toote for regrets.


    A sardonic smile yed on Callum¡¯s lips. ¡°So, you¡¯ve been aware all along of the crimesmitted by


    your staff. You¡¯ve stood by and done


    nothing-you¡¯re an aplice! Prepare to face the consequences.¡±


    Callum¡¯s decisive words hung in the air as he strode towards the exit.


    The hotel manager¡¯s panic morphed into a twisted rage, leaving no trace of his former pitiful-demeanor.


    He blocked Callum¡¯s path, his expression turning menacing. ¡°What evidence do you have? Hand it


    over, or you¡¯re not leaving this ce!¡±


    As he spoke, he signaled for his men to surround Callum.


    Unfazed and icy, Callum didn¡¯t so much as nce at those closing in on him but locked eyes with the


    hotel manager.


    ¡°Elliott and Bruce, working together, brought at least three women to your hotel and assaulted them.


    You knew about it, turned a blind eye, didn¡¯t intervene, didn¡¯t call the police, and even condoned their


    actions. Do you realize the gravity of your crimes?¡±


    ¡°So, you¡¯ve known about Bruce all along. Why didn¡¯t you say anything in front of Lysander?¡± the hotel


    manager demanded, his face a mask of dark clouds.

 Chapter 974

    Chapter 974


    ¡°Look, whether I spill the beans or zip it, that¡¯s my call. And who the hell are you to question me?¡±


    Callum shot back with a challenging re.


    The hotel manager, fuming by now, squared up to him. ¡°I may not have a say in your business, but


    make no mistake-you¡¯re not dragging me down wit you. You¡¯re not walking out of here today, not on my


    watch!¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s where you¡¯re wrong,¡± Callum replied coolly.


    Without another word, he turned his back on the manager and strode toward the exit.


    The manager was a portly man, his beer belly a testament to many a night spent indulging in the bar.


    With fists clenched in anger, he resembled a bull about to charge, eyes locked on Callum, ready for a


    showdown.


    As Callum approached, the manager let out a guttural roar and lunged forward, aiming to tackle him to


    the ground.


    However, Callum¡¯s foot shot out before he could close in,nding a solid kick to the manager¡¯s gut. The


    hefty man flew backward,nding with a thud 1 echoed through the lobby, pain etched across his face.


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    Callum cast a brief, intimidating nce at the security guards rushing towards him. They immediately


    halted in their tracks, exchanging worried looks, unsure whether to proceed. After all, they were just


    hired hands making a modest wage, and risking their lives wasn¡¯t in the job description.


    Shaking off the confrontation, Callum walked away, his tall frame disappearing out of the hotel.


    It took the manager some time to get back on his feet, the pain in his abdomen radiating down to his


    legs, making them tremble uncontrobly. He watched helplessly as Callum left, frustrated and worried


    about what secrets might be revealed about his establishment.


    After feeling the force of that kick, he knew he was no match for Callum.


    Lysander led Thssa onto the helicopter, and only then did she realize he had arrived by air.


    The engine roared to life, the sound reverberating across the open fields, bending the nts around


    them in the wake of the powerful gusts.


    As they lifted off, Thssa felt her heart leap into her throat, fear gripping her as she instinctively


    grabbed Lysander¡¯s arm.


    He nced at her, his presence overwhelming, causing her heartbeat to stumble. She quickly let go,


    turning away, pretending nothing had happened. Lysander simply watched her for a moment before


    looking ahead again.


    From the helicopter, Thssa saw a line of ck vehicles driving away, all belonging to Lysander¡¯s


    entourage of bodyguards. How many people had he brought with him? Was it all for her?


    The show of force both shocked andforted Thssa. Even though Lysander didn¡¯t love her, he


    always appeared when she was in danger. Yet his coldness and ruthlessness were suffocating.


    About ten minutester, theynded on the Sinir Group¡¯s rooftop helipad.


    Lysander disembarked first, and Thssa quickly followed. As she descended the helicopter¡¯sdder,


    her foot slipped, and she swayed dangerously on the edge.


    Proceeding cautiously with her eyes on the ground, her waist was suddenly gripped tight. Lysander had


    caught her, his strong arms lifting her off thedder.


    Her breath hitched as she instinctively clung to his neck.


    The moment her skin touched his, she felt the heat of his body, the strength in his arms causing her


    heartbeat to race.


    One moment she was cautiously descending, the next she was swept into his arms, her feet firmly on


    solid ground.


    Still somewhat dazed by the unexpected rescue, Thssa looked up at Lysander.


    ¡°Come with me,¡± he said, his cold gaze flickering over her before he turned and walked ahead.

 Chapter 975

    Chapter 975


    Thssa snapped back to reality, hurrying to keep up.


    After descending from the rooftop, she entered Lysander¡¯s office. As soon as she walked in, the ss


    door swung shut behind her and locked with an ominous click.


    Her body tensed, a primal sense of danger coursing through her veins.


    Without warning, Lysander¡¯s hand snaked around her slender waist, pulling her forcefully against his


    muscr torso. Her forehead collided with his chest, sending her heart into a fric gallop, like a


    startled fawn crashing into a cloud-confused and rmed.


    ¡°Lysander, what are you doing?¡± she demanded, her voice shaky.


    ¡°You,¡± he responded with a single word, his low, icy voice sending shivers down her spine.


    Thssa¡¯s eyes widened in panic. In a brief struggle, she realized that his grip was unyielding-she was


    trapped, her body involuntarily brushing against his.


    Suddenly, she felt a telling change in him.


    Her cheeks flushed with shock, and she stilled immediately, daring not to squirm anymore.


    Before Lysander, any struggle seemed only to heighten the peril.


    Lifting her gaze, she met his eyes-deep and fathomless as the night sky, exuding an invasive,


    predatory intent.


    Her heart quivered at the sight.


    ¡°What happened tonight? Did any man touch you?¡± Lysander¡¯s voice was dangerously low.


    The air around him felt oppressively heavy, enough to make one¡¯s teeth chatter in fear.


    Thssa shook her head frantically, ¡°No one¡­ no one touched me.¡±


    ¡°I need to check,¡± he dered, his tone imperious.


    ¡°How?¡± she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.


    ¡°What do you think?¡± He tilted her chin up, forcing her to look straight into his prating gaze.


    Her heart raced as she thought about what his ¡°checking¡± might entail. She¡¯d just escaped a harrowing


    ordeal, and the mere thought of intimacy now filled her with intense dread and unease.


    Could he really be so callous as to demand such a thing from her at this moment?


    ¡°Really, there was no one, Lysander. Can¡¯t you just trust me? I was kidnapped today, and if it hadn¡¯t


    been for Callum¡¯s timely arrival, I¡­ might¡¯ve been ruined. I truly don¡¯t want to do¡­ that¡­ tonight¡­¡±


    ¡°Callum!¡± Lysander hissed through clenched teeth, recalling the sight of Callum holding her in a close


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    embrace.


    ¡°We didn¡¯t do anything.¡± Thssa¡¯s voice trembled.


    ¡°Then prove it to me,¡± he demanded, his frostymand echoing in the room as he grabbed her


    shoulders and spun her around, pushing her towards the couch.


    A searing pain radiated from her shoulder, causing Thssa to tightly knit her brows in difort.


    Earlier, Bruce¡¯s grip had almost broken her shoulder, and now, with a push from Lysander, the pain


    intensified.


    Yet, she knew better than to expect any tenderness from Lysander.


    With a rough shove, he forced her down, making her sprawl across the couch. One hand turned her


    face towards him while the other pinned her waist. One knee on the couch and one foot nted firmly


    on the ground, his powerful chest enveloped her as his breath fanned across her face before his lips


    captured hers with precision.


    ¡°Umm¡­¡± Thssa¡¯s muffled protest was lost as his masculine essence overwhelmed her senses.


    His kiss was fierce and wild, iming every inch of her mouth.


    Her tongue tingled under his assertive exploration, her pupils dted, and hershes fluttering


    helplessly.


    She wanted to push him away, but her body was prone on the couch, only her face turned towards him.


    Her hands couldn¡¯t even reach him.


    Pushing him away was out of the question. She could barely even move.

 Chapter 976

    Chapter 976


    Under Lysander¡¯s forceful kiss, Thssa¡¯s mind started to fog, her world spinning as her body grew


    weak and her oxygen supply dwindled.


    Just when she felt like she could no longer breathe, Lysander released her. His hand cradled the back


    of her head, fingers weaving through her hair, imprisoning her as his forehead rested against hers. His


    heavy, masculine breath fanned between them.


    Her chest heaved, body limp, breathing shallow. His strong, potent presence made her heart pound


    relentlessly.


    His voice, husky and tinged with heat, demanded, ¡°I¡¯ll give you one more chance. What happened in


    that hotel room?¡±


    The mugger hadn¡¯t managed to do anything because she had fought back fiercely. But what about after


    Callum arrived?


    He had seen Callum kiss her forehead before, and this time, he found Callum holding her so tenderly.


    It was clear to him that Thssa had been willing.


    In a situation where both parties are willing, what else was he expected to think happened?


    At first, she lied about going to look at apartments


    Evelyn, just so she could sneak off to see Callum!


    Then she allowed Callum to kiss her forehead, and now, here they were, alone in a hotel room,


    embracing. Connecting the dots, Lysander felt the anger within him simmering like a volcano on the


    brink of eruption.


    He was aware of how deeply Leopold¡¯s death had affected Thssa, and he knew the ce Leopold


    held in her heart.


    Now, with just Callum, merely a friend of Leopold¡¯s, she was so affectionate, so weing.


    Was it all because of Leopold¡¯s influence? Was she seeking to fill the void left by not being with


    Leopold through his friend?


    Was he, a living, breathing man, really losing to a memory?


    Lysander¡¯s voice was deep and heated, almost angry as it spilled over Thssa¡¯s lips. His


    overpowering presence caused her to tremble, her eyshes fluttering, her heart squeezing tight.


    Thssa¡¯s muddled consciousness snapped to attention.


    She realized that Lysander had never believed her words at the hotel, nor did he believe that Elliott was


    the one who had kidnapped her.


    He knew there was another person who had taken her to the hotel and suspected what might have


    happened in the room.


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    Thssa wanted to reveal Bruce, to see him suffer a fate worse than death for what he had done.


    But with hatred came fear. Fear of the video in Bruce¡¯s possession getting out and destroying her


    mother.


    Biting back her loathing and concealing her guilt, her voice trembled, ¡°Nothing happened. Elliott was


    about to do something when Callum came in and saved me.


    She stuck to her story that it was Elliott alone who had kidnapped her.


    As her words fell, Lysander¡¯s demeanor turned to stone, a low pressure enveloping the office,


    tormenting Thssa¡¯s heart.


    His jaw clenched, facial muscles twitching with barely concealed rage as he said, ¡°Alright, very well!¡±


    His movements were rough and domineering, tearing open her blouse, which already had two buttons


    undone, without giving her a chance to protest. ¡°Ah!¡± Thssa panicked, trying to cover herself, but it


    was in vain.


    Lysander pushed up her skirt, his rough hands igniting sparks against her smooth skin.


    Her heart felt aze, torn between rm, numbness, and heat.


    He leaned over her from behind.


    Time lost meaning.


    Thssay spent and voiceless on the couch, her hair a tousled mess spilling over the edges, a mix


    of sweat and tears matting it to her cheeks, appearing every bit as disheveled as a discarded doll.


    Lysander, satisfied like a lion after its feast, zipped up his pants, picked up his shirt from the floor, and


    leisurely buttoned it up, revealing a glimpse of his sturdy chest and the contours of his toned abs.


    His eyes, post-coital and hazy, looked down at the stunned Thssa from his stance by the couch, his


    voice low and husky, ¡°How many times will it take for you to learn?¡±


    00.000

 Chapter 977

    Chapter 977


    How many lies had she spun in his presence?


    She could haveid out the whole story of her kidnapping today, detail by detail, but instead, she


    dodged and weaved, piling lie upon lie. Such careful deceit-who was she shielding?


    Besides Callum, who else mattered so much to her that she would weave such webs of lies to protect


    them?


    Lysander¡¯s icy, haughty words struck her like a curse, hammering against Thssa¡¯s eardrums,


    buzzing in her head, her heart skipping a


    beat.


    Tears suddenly welled up, silently spilling from the corners of her eyes.


    She clenched her teeth tightly, stubbornly refusing to let out even a whimper.


    All she wanted was to protect her mother. Fear of losing her mom meant she couldn¡¯t risk even the


    slightest gamble.


    And yet, Lysander subjected her to such suspicion, such punishment.


    The bitterness in her heart was like a draught of wormwood, choking her.


    Seeing her silent and crying, Lysander felt a tug at his heart, an aching wound.


    He remembered how she looked after their intimate encounters-always with that same aggrieved


    expression.


    Grinding his teeth, Lysander¡¯s handsome face taut with muscles and eyes deepened, he breathed


    heavily, staring at Thssa for a few seconds before turning on his heel and leaving the office.


    As Lysander departed, the wintry chill in the office slowly faded.


    Thssa¡¯s pain and sense of injustice could no longer be contained; her tears flowed unrestrained, her


    sobs breaking the silence.


    Outside the office, Lysander paused at the sound of her crying, his spine stiffening, his fists clenching.


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    He bit his lip and strode away with long, brisk steps.


    Once the floodgates of emotion were opened, they were hard to close. Thssa cried until her feelings


    of oppression and pain had somewhat eased.


    Only then did she gradually stop sobbing.


    Slowly, she got up from the couch, her legs wobbly, her back aching.


    Enduring the pain, she picked up her clothes from the floor and put them on.


    All the buttons were gone; it was impossible to fasten.


    She found a stapler in Lysander¡¯s office and used it to fasten her clothes.


    After tidying herself up as best as she could, she leaned on the desk and chairs, making her way out of


    the office.


    Reaching the entrance of Sinir Group, she saw a ck Rolls-Royce parked outside.


    The luxurious ck car shimmered with a mysterious, opulent allure under the neon lights of the city


    night.


    Thssa¡¯s heart skipped a beat at the sight of the car, and she instinctively stopped in her tracks.


    Standing there, she regarded the vehicle warily.


    The window rolled down, revealing Lysander¡¯s coldly handsome face, his sharp features bathed in the


    afterglow of the blue neon, looking even more frigid.


    ¡°Come here!¡± Lysandermanded in a voice that brooked no argument.


    With her nerves stretched tight, Thssa approached despite her panic.


    She opened the car door and sat down, Lysander¡¯s imposing presence beside her so intimidating that


    she sat rigid, not daring to rx.


    The car started to move slowly, and Lysander¡¯s phone began to ring.


    He swiped to answer, putting it on speaker.


    ¡°Lysander, I¡¯m at the hotel already. Where are you guys?¡± It was Dr. Everest on the line.


    Hearing Dr. Everest¡¯s voice, Thssa¡¯s heart clenched, her breathing slowed.


    She remembered that Dr. Everest was supposed to examine her!

 Chapter 978

    Chapter 978


    ¡°Go to Royal Estates, we¡¯ll be there shortly,¡± Lysander replied to Dr. Everest before ending the call.


    Royal Estates? Did that mean she still needed to be examined?


    Thssa¡¯s heart began to race with anxiety.


    She hadined to Lysander about a stomachache, asking him to take her to the hospital as a


    diversion, hoping to prevent him from checking the security cameras.


    The truth was her stomach didn¡¯t hurt at all. If Dr. Everest came and found nothing wrong after an


    examination, Lysander would realize she had lied.


    His anger earlier was palpable, and if he discovered her deceit, he would certainly connect the dots to


    her wanting to avoid the surveince review.


    And then, he would see through her guilt and secrecy.


    The mere thought left Thssa feeling like she was walking on thin ice. Clutching her hands tightly, she


    lowered her head only to feel the piercing gaze of Lysander, sending shivers down her spine..


    ¡°Nervous about something, huh?¡± Lysander¡¯s deep voice resonated above her.


    Startled, Thssa whipped her head around to meet his deep, piercing eyes. Her heart skipped a beat,


    and she stammered, ¡°No, I¡¯m not


    nervous¡­¡±


    ¡°Really? Just how much trouble are you hiding that you cringe at the sight of me?¡± Lysander probed.


    Thssa paled, her eyes widening in shock.


    His deep gaze held hers, like a vortex threatening to swallow her soul.


    It felt like her heart was dangling by a slender thread over a cliff, and at any moment, it could snap,


    plunging her into an abyss of despair.


    Lysander knew her stomachache was a lie, yet he still called Dr. Everest. Was it to expose her


    falsehood, to embarrass her?


    With shaky breaths, Thssa looked at Lysander and said, ¡°It doesn¡¯t hurt anymore. We don¡¯t need Dr.


    Everest toe.¡± ¡°Really?¡± Lysander asked, his tone lingering.


    Locking eyes with him, Thssa threw caution to the wind and asserted, ¡°No, it doesn¡¯t! And you¡¯re


    right. I made up an excuse to stop you from checking the footage, to avoid you seeing how I was


    brought into that hotel, because it was too humiliating! Is it so wrong not to want you to see me in such


    a degraded, sorry state?¡±


    Lysander¡¯s gaze grew colder, his presence as frosty as an icy wind. He grasped the back of her head,


    pulling her closer, his steely eyes drilling into her glistening ones.


    With gritted teeth, he said, ¡°What haven¡¯t I seen of you? Why would you keep anything from me?¡±


    Thssa¡¯s heart pricked with pain.


    Indeed, what hadn¡¯t Lysander seen of her?


    In bed, could she maintain any semnce of dignity?


    He had always left her in disarray, all manner of statesid bare before him.


    It was like being stripped naked and paraded through the streets, utterly humiliated and vulnerable.


    Her heart trembled, her breath quivering.


    With a self-deprecatingugh, she retorted, ¡°Sure, but there are others in the security room. I don¡¯t


    want them to see me like that. Is that so wrong?¡±


    Lysander¡¯s expression shifted subtly, and his deep gaze fixed on her.


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    He saw the hurt and anger in her eyes; a pang of something painful stirred within him.


    Releasing her head, he straightened up and gazed forward, silently signaling a truce as they continued


    their journey to Royal Estates.

 Chapter 979

    Chapter 979


    Whipping out his phone, Lysander dialed Dr. Everest¡¯s number, ¡°No need toe over; you can head


    back now.¡±


    ¡°Oh, alright then,¡± Dr. Everest replied.


    Hearing that Dr. Everest wouldn¡¯t being, Thssa paused for a second, her tense nerves slightly


    rxing, and her trembling breath began to settle.


    Having just endured a brutal punishment from Lysander that left her body marked, she feared Dr.


    Everest seeing her disheveled state.


    While licking her wounds in the privacy of her own room was one thing, the thought of someone


    witnessing her disarray was even more distressing.


    Relieved that she no longer had to worry about her embarrassment being discovered, she felt


    somewhat better.


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    The driver, who had sensed the silent battle between Lysander and Thssa in the backseat all along,


    was on edge.


    Lysander¡¯s chilling aura was constantly spreading in the car.


    Under immense pressure, the driver didn¡¯t dare nce in the rear-view mirror. His back was drenched


    in cold sweat, hands tightly gripping the steering wheel. He feared making any mistake that could


    provoke Lysander and inadvertently be coteral damage.


    Finally, he carefully drove into the gates of Royal Estates.


    Lysander stepped out of the car, with Thssa following suit.


    The lights in the grand foyer of Royal Estates were still on.


    Fitch heard the sound of the car in the courtyard and came out to greet them with utmost respect, ¡°Sir,


    you¡¯re back.¡±


    His


    gaze shifted to Thssa behind Lysander. After a brief moment of surprise, he said with relief and joy,


    ¡°Ms. Everhart, you¡¯re here too. I¡¯m d you¡¯re alright. The kids were so worried about you earlier. The


    four little darlings wouldn¡¯t go to bed, fretting over you. I told them Lysander would bring you back, and


    that¡¯s the only thing that calmed them down.¡±


    At Fitch¡¯s words, Thssa felt a pang in her heart, ¡°Where are the children?¡±


    Had they known she was in danger? How worried they must have been.


    ¡°They¡¯ve fallen asleep,¡± Fitch informed her.


    ¡°I¡¯ll go check on them,¡± Thssa said, her concern for the children pulling her toward the first floor


    where their bedrooms were. Lysander¡¯s gaze followed her, but he stayed put.


    Coming back to his senses, Fitch noticed the stern look on Lysander¡¯s face. Tensing up, he asked


    apprehensively, ¡°Sir, dinner is ready in the kitchen. Shall I warm it up?¡±


    ¡°Warm it up and bring it out. Do I even need to teach you that?¡± Lysandermanded in a deep tone.


    Frightened, Fitch broke out in a cold sweat and quickly agreed, ¡°Right away, sir,¡± before hurrying off to


    the kitchen.


    Thssa first pushed open the door to Atticus¡¯ room. The room¡¯s light was off, but the soft glow from


    the hallway was enough for her to see the little figure sleeping soundly in bed.


    Atticusy t on his back, his nket kicked to the edge of the bed. His breathing was even, a sign of


    deep sleep.


    Approaching the bed, Thssa tenderly pulled up the nket to cover his little tummy. She stood there


    for a moment, captivated by his cute, angelic face ¨C a mirror of Lysander¡¯s yet radiating the innocence


    of childhood.


    Her heart softened as she gently stroked his cheek. The tender warmth and delicate texture of his skin


    were like a balm to her wounded heart.


    Children were always her beacon of light, no matter how much darkness and difficulty she faced, they


    were there to heal the scars in her soul.


    After closing Atticus¡¯ door, Thssa went on to check on Dorian, Elowen, and Sophia.


    Sophia was curled up in bed, her sleep troubled. Thssa could see tears on her little face; it wasn¡¯t


    clear if she had cried herself to sleep or if tears came from a bad dream.


    Seeing Sophia¡¯s vulnerable and insecure state wrung Thssa¡¯s heart. She sat beside the bed, softly


    patting Sophia¡¯s tiny back, whisperingfort, ¡°Don¡¯t he scared, Sophia, just sleep tight. Mommy¡¯s


    right here. There¡¯s nothing to fear.

 Chapter 980

    Chapter 980


    Thssa sat vigntly beside Sophia¡¯s bed, her hand softly stroking the little girl¡¯s back in aforting


    rhythm. Her voice, tender and soothing, must have slipped into Sophia¡¯s dreams. Sophia¡¯s tiny, startled


    frame ceased its trembling, and the furrowed brow of innocence smoothed out as she fell deeper into


    slumber. Her breathing became even and sweet.


    After ensuring Sophia was sound asleep, Thssa lingered for a moment before leaving the room. She


    felt disheveled and longed for hot shower, but her clothes were all in the master bedroom on the


    second floor.¡±


    The living room was deserted; Lysander was likely in the master bedroom, presumably asleep.


    Thssa hesitated, reluctant to confront Lysander. However, her blouse was missing buttons,


    temporarily fastened with a paperclip. Her skirt had a torn patch, and a sticky difort clung to her


    skin.


    She needed a bathe.


    Finally, summoning her courage, Thssa tiptoed to the master bedroom. The door was ajar. With the


    faint light from the hallway spilling in, she could make out the emptiness of the room ¨C no Lysander in


    sight, the bed unupied.


    She peeked into the bathroom. The door was open, the interior silent.


    Emboldened by his absence, Thssa flicked on the light and headed in to find fresh clothes before


    retreating to the sanctuary of the bathroom.


    As she undressed, the mirror revealed a sizable love bite on her neck, a vivid testament to Lysander¡¯s


    passion in the Sinir Group office earlier. His intensity had left her skin tingling with a mix of pain and


    shivers. She hadn¡¯t realized the mark would be so pronounced.


    Touching the bruise, Thssa winced at the lingering soreness. The night had been a tumultuous roller


    coaster of emotions, surviving kidnappers only to face Lysander¡¯s unpredictable wrath.


    She thought about the office incident, her heart constricting as she gripped the edge of the sink, her


    breathing heavy.


    To Thssa, what was the difference between Lysander and those abductors? The only distinction was


    that the kidnappers¡¯ ropes were visible, while Lysander¡¯s bonds were invisible chains.


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    After her shower, Thssa didn¡¯t stay in the master bedroom. Instead, she sought refuge in Elowen¡¯s


    room, seeking thefort of her daughter¡¯s presence. She wasn¡¯t foolish enough to stay with


    Lysander, whose moods swung dangerously. At Royal Estates, she was constantly on edge, let alone


    in the same room with him.


    Next to Elowen¡¯s chubby little body, breathing in her milky scent, Thssa¡¯s guard finally dropped.


    Weariness overcame her, and she fell asleep.


    In the middle of the night, the door creaked open, revealing Lysander¡¯s tall silhouette pausing at the


    threshold. His gaze lingered on Thssa, who curled protectively around Elowen. His expression, as


    deep as the night, remained unreadable. After a moment¡¯s pause, he silently withdrew and closed the


    door behind him.


    In the morning, Elowen woke up at her usual time of 8 a.m. As she sat up, idly scratching her head, her


    gaze casually drifted to the side. Initially dismissing it, she looked away, only to be struck by a sudden


    realization that made her nce back. There, beside her in bed,y a person.

 Chapter 981

    Chapter 981


    Elowen rubbed her chubby little hands over her bleary eyes. Squinting hard, she finally saw the sight


    clearly.


    Someone was indeed sleeping on her bed, and it wasn¡¯t just anyone¨Cit was her mom!


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    Her eyes sparkled with surprise, lighting up as she could barely contain her excitement, eximing with


    pure joy.


    ¡°Wow, Mommy! It¡¯s really you, Mommy!¡±


    Thssa was jolted awake by jubnt cries. Opening her eyes and lifting her head, she was greeted by


    a round, squishy little face, beaming with an uncontroble smile, curiously and happily looking back at


    her.


    ¡°Elowen, you¡¯re awake,¡± Thssa said as she sat up.


    Elowen¡¯s cute little form wriggled into her mother¡¯s embrace, her head burrowing into Thssa¡¯s chest,


    her voice a mix of glee and a hint of whining.


    ¡°Mommy, Daddy said you were gone yesterday, and me and the others were super worried about you.


    Did Daddy bring you back?¡°


    Her soft voice nearly melted Thssa¡¯s heart. She had always known her little ones loved her dearly,


    and if anything happened to her, they would be the first to worry.


    Just as she poured all her love into her children, they returned it in kind.


    This mutual love was incredibly healing.


    Thssa had gone through a dark time yesterday, but today she was holding warmth in her arms.


    ¡°Yes, honey, Daddy found me. Don¡¯t worry, Mommy¡¯s fine now,¡± Tessa reassured her, holding Elowen


    close and gently patting her back.


    ¡°Mmm, can you stay with us at Royal Estates from now on? That way Daddy and we can protect you.


    No bad guys will take you away. again, Elowen lifted her head from her mother¡¯s embrace, her eyes


    serious yet adorably earnest.


    Thssa¡¯s lips curved into a tender smile, ¡°Well, Mommy has to work, sweetie.¡±


    ¡°Can¡¯t you stop working? Let Daddy take care of you. And when we grow up, we can take care of you,¡±


    Elowen pouted with her rosy lips.


    The night before, when their mother had disappeared, the four little ones had been beside themselves


    with worry. Waiting upte without a sign of their parents, they had cried themselves out of any desire


    to sleep.


    Touched by Elowen¡¯s words, Thssa stroked her soft cheek, ¡°Mommy is an adult, and I can¡¯t just stop


    working and have others take care of me. I can earn my own way, you know.¡±


    ¡°Umm¡­ Mommy¡­¡± Elowen¡¯s heart ached for her mother.


    ¡°I promise, I¡¯lle to Royal Estates every day, okay?¡± Thssa offered.


    Elowen¡¯s mood instantly brightened, ¡°Yay, you can sleep with me every night!¡±


    Thssa chuckled, not directly answering.


    She would love to sleep with Elowen every night and have that rxedfort. But this was Royal


    Estates, and where she slept wasn¡¯t entirely up to her.


    ¡°Mommy, let¡¯s go outside. The others don¡¯t know you¡¯re back yet. They¡¯ll be so happy to see you!¡±


    Elowen clumsily mbered out of bed, reaching for Thssa¡¯s hand.


    Thssa slipped into her slippers and followed her out of the room.


    The other three little tykes were already seated at the table, spoons in hand, bibs tied around their


    necks, ready for breakfast.


    Seeing Thssa emerge with Elowen, they paused for a second before their eyes lit up. Spoons were


    dropped, and they scrambled down from their chairs, racing towards Thssa.


    ¡®Mommy!¡±


    ¡°Mommy!¡±


    ¡°Wah, Mommy!¡± Sophia cried out as she ran, tears streaming down her face in exciternent.

 Chapter 982

    Chapter 982


    The little munchkins hurled themselves into Thssa¡¯s embrace, their cuddly little bodies melting into


    her arms. She nuzzled them affectionately with her cheek, her voice tender and soothing.


    ¡°Mommy¡¯s here, sweethearts. Don¡¯t worry, no more tears.¡± Thssa¡¯s voice hitched, her eyes brimming


    with emotion.


    ¡°Mommy.¡± Sophia¡¯s tiny hand reached up, dabbing at her tears.


    ¡°Mommy, we were so scared when you disappeared yesterday,¡± Dorian murmured, his little head


    burrowing into Thssa¡¯s chest, his voiceced with fear and vulnerability.


    ¡°Didn¡¯t Daddy bring me back? You¡¯ve got to believe, your dad is like a superhero-there¡¯s nothing he


    can¡¯t do,¡± Thssa reassured them, her words wrapping them infort.


    No sooner had she spoken than a chilly presence seemed to emanate from the staircase, the cold draft


    weaving through the air and tugging at nerves. Thssa instinctively turned, meeting Lysander¡¯s deep,


    inscrutable gaze.


    Her heart skipped a beat, and she quickly looked away, feigningposure.


    Lysander remained silent, taking his seat at the dining table.


    ¡°Yeah, Daddy is like Superman, he¡¯s so cool,¡± Dorian nodded, his wide, admiring eyes reflecting pure


    adoration.


    Atticus pouted slightly, chiming in, ¡°I¡¯m super cool, too. I tracked Mommy¡¯s phone yesterday.¡±


    Dorian had always looked up to Atticus, his eyes filled with nothing but admiration for his older brother.


    But now, with Dorian starting to idolize someone else, Atticus felt a twinge of jealousy. Despite his


    usual aversion to bragging, he couldn¡¯t help but mention his own


    contribution.


    Dorian gazed at Atticus, nodding vigorously, ¡°Yeah, Atticus is awesome! He used hisputer to find


    Mommy¡¯s phone and sent the location to Dad. Atticus is my hero!¡±


    Atticus¡¯ face broke into a smile at Dorian¡¯s words of admiration.


    Thssa was stunned and overwhelmed as she turned towards Atticus; a realization suddenly dawned


    her.


    Yes, her son Atticus was a top-notch hacker. Breaking into other people¡¯s phones andputers was


    his expertise. So, deleting a video should have been a piece of cake for him!


    Exited, Thssa¡¯s heart raced as she opened her mouth, preparing to say something to Atticus when


    suddenly, she felt an icy pressure from behind.


    Turning, she encountered Lysander¡¯s deep, searching gaze.


    All her excitement, in that one second of eye contact with Lysander, got stuck in her throat.


    Taking a deep breath, she pushed the excitement back down.


    She couldn¡¯t say it, not with Lysander there. What if he heard and stopped Atticus from helping?


    To Lysander, having her witness her own mother¡¯s degradation, letting that video spread, making her


    This is property ? of N?velDrama.Org.


    watch her mother suffer-it was all part of the punishment, perhaps even crueler than his office


    reprimand the day before,


    She absolutely couldn¡¯t let Lysander find out.


    ¡°Atticus, you¡¯re amazing, my little hero,¡± Thssa managed to say, gently caressing Atticus¡¯ cheek, her


    voice filled with pride.


    ¡°Don¡¯t mention it, Mom,¡± Atticus grinned, his rare smile,revealing a row of pearly teeth.


    Being naturally reserved and not one to smile often, his grin was a testament to his genuine happiness-


    his mother was safe at home and had recognized his efforts.


    ¡°Let¡¯s eat, Lysandermanded, his authoritative voice cutting through any hesitation.


    ¡°Come on, let¡¯s have breakfast,¡± Thssa stood, ushering the kids to the dining area.


    The children, out of habit, took their usual seats in a row, leaving only four chairs upied. With the


    kids settled, Thssa¡¯s spot was conspicuously absent. The only avable seat was next to Lysander.


    The kids, not as observant, assumed their mother would naturally sit across from them. They were


    focused on their breakfast and the Comforting routine of their family gathering,

 Chapter 983

    Chapter 983


    Thssa stood awkwardly for a moment before regaining herposure and meeting Lysander¡¯s


    deep gaze.


    He looked at her intently, his silence asmanding as any spoken order.


    Under the weight of his daunting stare, Thssa felt an immense pressure. She dared not hesitate any


    longer. Silently, she took her seat next to him, picked up her utensils, and began to eat her breakfast.


    ¡°Mommy, I want you to drive us to school today,¡± Elowen dered, her cheeks puffed out with food, her


    words muffled as she spoke, resembling a little goldfish..


    ¡°Me too!¡± Sophia chimed in, raising her spoon enthusiastically.


    ¡°I want Mommy to take us too,¡± Dorian added with a pleading expression, hisrge glossy eyes blinking


    innocently.


    Thssa nced at Lysander, who was calmly eating his breakfast without any sign of intervention.


    Understanding his silent approval, she responded to her children, ¡°Alright, after breakfast, Mommy will


    take you to school.¡±


    ¡°Mommy, you have toe pick us upter, okay? I don¡¯t want Fitch to do it. I miss you and feel like


    crying when I don¡¯t see you,¡± Elowen said, her little nose beginning to turn red as tears welled up in her


    eyes. She raised her chubby little hand to wipe them away. Thssa¡¯s heart ached at the sight of their


    adorable, intive expressions. How could she possibly say no to such a request?


    ¡°Okay, Mommy wille pick you up after school. Eat up now, you need a full belly to have energy for


    the day.¡± Thssa added a plump strawberry to each of their bowls.


    ¡°Yeah, I gotta eat fast so I can grow tall and protect Mommy,¡± Elowen said, her chubby hand struggling


    to scoop up the strawberry with her spoon before popping it into her mouth, her cheeks puffing out like


    a fish¡¯s as she chewed.


    She was just too cute for words.


    Thssa watched them with a smile brimming with maternal love, a warmth that seemed to radiate


    from her very eyes.


    Lysander nced back unintentionally and caught Thssa¡¯s tender gaze, filled withughter and


    warmth.


    A ripple stirred in his deep eyes, and his hand paused momentarily as he held his utensil.


    After a brief pause, he resumed his breakfast withposed elegance.


    After finishing breakfast, Lysander left for the office.


    Thssa called the children to pack their backpacks and prepared to leave.


    Fitch offered to drive them, but Thssa intervened, ¡°Fitch, I¡¯ll drive the kids to school myself. The


    sedan is just the right size for the five of us, and it¡¯s less conspicuous than the big nanny van.¡±


    ¡°You can drive?¡± Fitch inquired.


    ¡°Yes, I¡¯ve driven before, and it¡¯ll be fine,¡± Thssa assured.


    Seeing her determination, Fitch relented.


    Thssa drove the sleek ck sedan from Royal Estates, with the four children in tow.


    Atticus sat in the front passenger seat, while the other three little ones were secured in the back with


    their child seats.


    The drive to Starhaven International Kindergarten would take them past a park, and Thssa decided


    to stop there, parking the car neatly.


    ¡°Let¡¯s sit by theke for a bit before we head to school, Thssa suggested to the children.


    ¡°Yeah, I love going to the park with Mommy,¡± Elowen beamed, her bright eyes sparkling, dimples


    showing with her smile.


    The children were always well-behaved with Thssa.


    Sitting beside Atticus, Thssa inquired, ¡°Atticus, if you were to use your hacking skills to get into a


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    phone or aputer, could you delete specific files from it?¡±

 Chapter 984

    Chapter 984


    The moment Thssa finished asking the question, her heart raced with uncertainty, yearning for an


    affirmative answer from Atticus.


    She had deliberately left Royal Estates before inquiring, wary of the mansion¡¯s walls, which seemed to


    have ears. If any of the other servants caught wind of her words, it would inevitably reach Lysander¡¯s


    ears.


    The repercussions of Lysander finding out it were immense; the issue would undoubtedly blow up. The


    scandal could no longer be contained, and the video would be exposed to arger audience.


    With her mother¡¯s life hanging in the bnce, Thssa couldn¡¯t risk the slightest misstep. That¡¯s why


    she had dismissed Fitch, insisting she didn¡¯t need his chauffeur services, and drove the kids herself.


    She needed a safe space to ask Atticus this crucial question.


    With bated breath, Thssa watched Atticus, waiting for his response.


    Atticus sat beside her, tilting his little head, his youthful, adorable eyes staring earnestly at Thssa.


    This is the property of N?-velDrama.Org.


    No matter how trivial the question, Atticus always answered with utmost seriousness.


    ¡°Mommy, erasing stuff from aputer or phone remotely is child¡¯s y for me. It¡¯s what I¡¯m best at. Of


    course, I can do it,¡± he said confidently.


    At his words, Thssa¡¯s heart surged with relief and excitement, a wave like none she had felt before.


    It was as if a ray of light had suddenly pierced the darkness, offering a glimmer of hope.


    ¡°Atticus, can you do me a favor?¡± Thssa couldn¡¯t wait to ask.


    Until now, she couldn¡¯t figure out how to silently erase the video from Bruce¡¯s possession.


    Bruce used that video to threaten her at every turn. Despite her loathing, she felt powerless against


    him, unable to fight back with the trembling hatred in her heart.


    The frustration and the need to suppress such loathing was unbearable.


    Now, with a potential solution to delete the video from Bruce¡¯s grasp, Thssa¡¯s breathing became


    hurried.


    ¡°Mommy, there¡¯s no need to be so formal with me. Whatever it is, I¡¯d climb mountains and swim across


    seas to help you. I want to help out too,¡± Atticus dered, his little face solemn, his eyes showing a


    depth beyond his years, somewhat resembling Lysander¡¯s.


    Upon hearing Atticus¡¯ earnest tones, Thssa felt both amused and moved. She wondered where he


    had picked up such gant phrases but appreciated his eagerness to help nheless.


    Gently stroking Atticus¡¯ head, she reassured him, ¡°I don¡¯t need you to climb mountains or swim seas,


    honey. I just need your help to delete a video hidden in someone¡¯s phone orputer.¡±


    ¡°Okay, Mommy, give me that person¡¯s phone number. For theputer, I need the IP address and the


    model,¡± Atticus replied. ¡°What¡¯s an IP address?¡± Thssa asked, puzzled.


    ¡°It¡¯s theputer¡¯swork address, which is essentially the Wi-Fi address,¡± Atticus exined.


    Thssa was stumped. She knew Bruce¡¯s phone number but not his homework address.


    ¡°Let¡¯s do this; I¡¯ll give you the phone number first. You can start by checking his phone and deleting any


    videos,¡± Thssa said, reaching instinctively for the pocket of her trousers.


    Her clothes usually had pockets, where she kept her phone. But when she felt for it, the pocket was


    empty.


    Did she drop it?


    A moment of panic struck her as she patted herself down again and found nothing.


    Then she remembered, during the kidnapping the day before, her phone had been taken by the slightly


    overweight man.


    Atticus had mentioned that morning he had tracked her phone¡¯s location and informed Lysander, who


    would surely have gone after it.

 Chapter 985

    Chapter 985


    So, her phone was in Lysander¡¯s clutches?


    Bruce had called her a few times, and although she hadn¡¯t saved his number, the call log was still


    essible.


    Not having memorized Bruce¡¯s number meant she had to retrieve her phone- a task that required


    another trip to Lysander.


    At that thought, Thssa sighed inwardly- a sigh of quiet resignation.


    But that was okay. With a lead on how to delete the video, all she needed to do was focus and push


    forward.


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    It was better than before when she was utterly lost, not knowing where to start,pletely at Bruce¡¯s


    mercy.


    ¡°Atticus, I don¡¯t have the man¡¯s phone number or IP address yet, but once I do, we¡¯ll look into it


    together. You¡¯ll help Mommy wipe everything from his phone andputer,¡± Thssa told Atticus.


    The other three little cherubs looked on with their bright, earnest eyes, aware that something important


    was being discussed. They didn¡¯t interrupt, just watched silently, their cuteness almost heart-


    wrenching.


    ¡°Sure thing, Mommy. Give me the number and address when you can, and I¡¯ll take care of it,¡± Atticus


    promised confidently, sure of his skills.


    ¡°Great, I¡¯ll get it to you as soon as possible. Remember, this is our little secret, just between us. Don¡¯t


    let Daddy know,¡± Thssa reminded them, her tone serious, her gaze briefly sweeping over the other


    three.


    ¡°Is it a secret?¡± piped up Elowen, herrge, sparkling eyes wide with curiosity.


    ¡°Absolutely. Daddy can¡¯t know, nor Fitch, nor any of the other staff, Thssa repeated firmly,


    emphasizing the gravity of the situation.


    ¡°Mommy¡¯s the word; I won¡¯t tell. It¡¯s our secret, and nothing will make me spill,¡± Atticus said earnestly,


    zipping his lips with his finger, a universal sign of silence.


    Thssa trusted Atticus to keep a secret; he had always been mature for his age and understood the


    importance of discretion.


    What concerned her was Elowen. Sweet, but a bit of a scatterbrain, Elowen sometimes spoke without


    thinking.


    Thssa feared that in an absent-minded moment, Elowen might unintentionally reveal something to


    Lysander. And given Lysander¡¯s cleverness, even the slightest hint could arouse his suspicion.


    When Thssa¡¯s questioning eyes met Elowen¡¯s, the little girl seemed confused for a moment before


    she covered her mouth with her chubby hand and mumbling, ¡°I won¡¯t tell¡­¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m the best at keeping secrets,¡± dered Dorian.


    ¡°I won¡¯t say a word,¡± Sophia assured with her clear, innocent eyes earnestly looking at Thssa.


    ¡°I trust my little treasures. Come on, let¡¯s get you to school,¡± Thssa stood up.


    The four tots hopped off the bench like a little train, following Thssa, toddling forward with their short


    legs and tiny bodies waddling like a line of adorable penguins.


    ¡°Oh my, aren¡¯t these kids just picture-perfect, like little angels,¡± gasped ady who had been jogging in


    the park. She stopped in her tracks, her eyes twinkling with affection..


    From her voice, you could tell she was almost swooning over them.


    The four little ones weren¡¯t just cute and cuddly; they possessed a celestial beauty that captured the


    gaze of anyone who looked their way.


    ¡°Hi, we¡¯re quadruplets. This is my older brother, and behind are my two little sisters,¡± Dorian exined


    sweetly to the joggingdy.

 Chapter 986

    Chapter 986


    ¡°Quadruplets, huh? No wonder you¡¯re simr in size and look alike, but with your own quirks. Heh,


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    you¡¯re too adorable. I¡¯d love to have such beautiful kids myself one day,¡± said thedy, who was


    pushing forty.


    She had always prioritized her career over settling down and starting a family; in her mind, career was


    paramount.


    The joy that bubbled in her heart when the four-year-olds spoke to her was undeniable.


    While she was tickled by their affection, she also realized that she wasn¡¯t getting any younger. Those


    four rosy-cheeked, endearing tots standing before her stirred something tender deep within her.


    It seemed that life¡¯s most important things weren¡¯t just about career achievements; marriage and


    motherhood could be fulfilling choices


    as well.


    If she had such lovable children, perhapsing home exhausted from work wouldn¡¯t be so bad; their


    innocence and charm might just be the cure for all weariness.


    ¡°If you like kids, you could also have your own little bundles of joy. We¡¯re Mommy¡¯s little treasures, you


    know.¡± Dorian said innocently. The woman had just been contemting the joys of family life when the


    child¡¯s words hit her like a lesson. Her smile froze momentarily, and the ripples in her heart intensified.


    Thssa realized that Dorian¡¯s childlike frankness might have touched a nerve.


    She quickly gathered the children to her side, apologizing to the woman, ¡°I¡¯m so sorry, the kids


    sometimes speak without a filter. Please forgive any offense.¡±


    ¡°Oh, no offense taken, dear. The kid¡¯s spot on, actually. I¡¯ve been in a bit of a life rut, and his words just


    cleared the fog for me. I understand my direction now. You, with your youthful appearance in your


    twenties, have four adorable little angels already. I envy you. Here I am, nearly forty, with nothing but a


    house, a car, and some cash,¡± the woman confessed sincerely.


    Nearing forty, she wasn¡¯t sure if she could still bear children. If she continued to focus solely on work,


    she might miss her chance to have a family altogether.


    Work never ends, but the opportunity for children has an expiration date.


    Suddenly, thisdy found herself yearning for a family of her own, charmed to the core by the four little


    darlings.


    ¡°You¡¯re sessful and impressive in your own right, which is enviable too. You can start a family


    whenever you choose,¡± Thssa encouraged.


    ¡°Miss, now I know where your kids get their sweet talk from. Your guys are truly optimistic and uplifting,


    a real inspiration. With your blessing, I¡¯ll aim to get married this year and maybe have a baby next. By


    the way, we seem to have a special connection, so how about we exchange contact info? When I have


    my baby, I¡¯d love for you toe to the christening party,¡± the woman said cheerfully, pulling out her


    phone.


    ¡°Of course,¡± Thssa replied warmly. Being friendly by nature, she wouldn¡¯t coldly turn away someone


    she clicked with.


    She reached for her phone, then remembered she hadn¡¯t brought it with her.


    ¡°I¡¯m so sorry, I don¡¯t have my phone on me today,¡± she said apologetically.


    ¡®That¡¯s perfectly fine. Just tell me your number and I¡¯ll save it,¡± the woman insisted.


    After exchanging numbers, the woman introduced herself as Eliza and then jogged away.


    Thssa then ushered the four kids into the car and drove off to the daycare.


    Due to the dy in the park, they nearly arrivedte, but thankfully, they made it just before the doors


    closed.


    After watching the children enter the daycare, Thssa got back in her car and headed to Crawley


    Group.


    Despite the previous night¡¯s close call with death, life and work had to go on today.


    ¡°Well, Ms. Everhart, you¡¯re quite early today, not a minutete,¡± Ethan remarked as he passed by the


    secretarial office, peeking in with a yful grin.


    Thssa snapped back to reality, meeting Ethan¡¯s easygoing, jesting smile. Clearly, he was oblivious


    to her abduction from the night before; otherwise, his tone wouldn¡¯t be s¨® light.


    Her kidnapping was orchestrated by Daniel, and Ethan was in no way connected.


    His ignorance of the situation wasn¡¯t surprising at all.

 Chapter 987

    Chapter 987


    ¡°No way I¡¯m risking my paycheck over a few extra minutes of sleep, Thssa quipped with a chuckle.


    ¡°Hey, how did the interview go yesterday?¡± Ethan strolled into the secretary¡¯s office and plopped down


    in an empty chair.


    ¡°Went off without a hitch,¡± Thssa replied.


    But the trek back home was anything but smooth. A story she didn¡¯t feel like sharing with Ethan.


    ¡°Well, that¡¯s a relief. Oh, by the way, Richard called mest night, asking for your number. What does


    he want with you?¡± Ethan had been half-asleep when Richard rang him up the previous evening, and it


    struck him as odd this morning.


    What business could Richard possibly have with Thssa? Everyone knew she was Lysander¡¯sdy-


    pursuing her would be out of the question.


    ¡°My phone was offst night. I missed his call,¡± Thssa exined, puzzled about why Richard would


    want her number.


    Did Richard return after dropping Charlotte home yesterday, intending to take her home? Maybe, not


    finding her waiting for a ride, he asked Ethan for her number to check her whereabouts?


    ¡°Right, no biggie then,¡± Ethan dismissed it.


    ¡°Get your things in order. You¡¯ve got to head over to the Sinir Group to wrap up the loose ends from


    our previous coboration,¡± Ethan abruptly added.


    Thssa¡¯s curiosity piqued. ¡°What coboration?¡±


    ¡°The contract we signed with the Sinir Group for outsourcing phone production. Although we¡¯ve


    discuss the matter of termination,¡± Ethan exined.


    ¡°This is major, Mr. Ethan. Shouldn¡¯t you be handling it personally?¡± Thssa pressed, concerned.


    Ethan suddenly grinned, a knowing look in his eyes. ¡°Aren¡¯t you my secretary? Handling negotiations is


    part of your job. Besides, you¡¯ve got a way with Lysander that I can¡¯t match.¡±


    ¡°There¡¯s nothing between me and Lysander,¡± Thssa said, her tone darkening as she corrected him.


    Ethan kept ying that card, exploiting her supposed connection with Lysander for business leverage.


    The man was cunning incarnate.


    ¡°Ms. Everhart, let¡¯s not be modest. You¡¯re the only one cut out for this task. No one else can handle it.


    Find a suitable time to meet with them. I¡¯ve got to run.¡± With that, Ethan stood up and briskly exited the


    office, not leaving Thssa a moment to object.


    ¡°Hey, Mr. Ethan¡­¡± She tried to argue, calling out to his retreating figure.


    But Ethan¡¯s pace quickened, and soon he was out of sight.


    Thssa sighed.


    Ethan was a real piece of work, slyer than David, always pushing her into the fire.


    Just the thought ofst night¡¯s encounter in Lysander¡¯s office, his unrestrained appetite for her, sent


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    shivers of dread through her.


    Now she was being sent back there, her insides roiling in protest.


    But a job was a job, and Ethan¡¯s orders were not to be ignored.

 Chapter 988

    Chapter 988


    Thssa dawdled in the secretary¡¯s office, nerves fluttering in her chest like a trapped bird, unable to


    muster the courage to set off. Meanwhile, in the executive suite of the Sinir Group, the atmosphere


    was as tense as a coiled spring.


    Standing before the desk, David was focused; his gaze locked onto Lysander, who sat ensconced in


    his high-backed leather chair. David¡¯s every nerve was taut, ready to spring into action at a moment¡¯s


    notice.


    The deep, intense eyes of Lysander flicked towards David andmanded, ¡°Investigate. I want every


    detail of Thssa¡¯s abduction. Every person involved- I want a thorough rundown.¡±


    The air around Lysander was sharp with a cold that could make one¡¯s skin crawl.


    This is property ? of N?velDrama.Org.


    What was Thssa hidingst night? Who was she protecting with her silence? Did she think a few lies


    could pull the wool over his eyes?


    Beneath Lysander¡¯s calm exterior was a molten fury, ready to erupt and scorch everything in its path.


    ¡°Yes, sir. I¡¯ll get on it right away,¡± David affirmed with a grave nod, quickly exiting the office.


    The moment Lysander arrived at the office today, a storm seemed to follow him. His handsome face


    mirrored the intensity of the thunderclouds brooding outside.


    During the morning meeting, the entire boardroom felt the chill of his displeasure, with every proposal


    met with a swift veto. Everyone tiptoed around him, scared even to breathe too loudly.


    David, who had an uncanny ability to read the room, knew that Lysander¡¯s foul mood was undoubtedly


    due to Thssa.


    He stayed on high alert, determined not to make a single misstep and be coteral damage.


    And, sure enough, David¡¯s instincts were spot on. Lysander had just tasked him with uncovering the full


    story behind Thssa¡¯s abduction from the day before.


    It always came back to Thssa.


    Ever since Thssa entered Lysander¡¯s orbit, his moods swung with her presence. This marked a


    change from the Lysander of old, who remained untouched by the whims and affairs of others-the


    perennial man of ice, never quick to anger or smile.


    The wheels of fate had started to turn the night Lysander found Thssa in that old barn, and since


    then, his emotions had be vulnerable to her influence.


    Taking the elevator down to the lobby, David was surprised to find the woman in question waiting by the


    elevator doors. He shed a practiced smile and said, ¡°Ms. Everhart, what a coincidence. I was just


    thinking of you, and here you are. It¡¯s almost magical.¡±


    Thssa eyed David¡¯s professional grin with immediate wariness. David, who had been by Lysander¡¯s


    side for years, was as cunning as theye.


    His words were never idle; they were alwaysced with meaning.


    Thssa couldn¡¯t quite decipher his intentions, so she raised her guard to avoid tumbling into any


    verbal traps he might have set.


    Thinking of poaching me back to be your assistant, David?¡± Thssa retorted yfully.


    After all, it was Lysander himself who had fired her from the Sinir Group.


    Surely, David didn¡¯t have the authority to rehire someone Lysander had personally dismissed.


    With that, Thssa secured her position-avoiding any conversational pitfalls and leaving David in a


    tricky spot.


    Davidughed, the sound smooth as silk. ¡°Ms. Everhart, you¡¯re as sharp-tongued as ever. I¡¯ve lost


    count of how many traps I¡¯ve fallen into because of you. I¡¯d be grateful if you spared me the digging.


    Why would I dare trip you up? You¡¯re here to see Mr. Sinir, aren¡¯t you? He¡¯s in his office. You can go


    straight up.¡±


    With a deft side-step, David avoided the question of whether he intended to lure Thssa back as a


    secretary. Instead, he exposed Thssa¡¯s defenses, demonstrating he had no intention of putting her


    on the spot while gracefully dismounting from his own precarious position.


    After speaking, he stepped out of the elevator, making way for Thssa to take her ce.

 Chapter 989

    Chapter 989


    Thssa was on a mission to see Lysander, and just the mention of his name sent a shiver of panic


    through her heart.


    David had graciously stepped aside to let her pass and stood by the elevator with an expectant


    posture, waiting for her to enter. Moments before, Thssa had been jovially bantering with David.


    Now, the atmosphere had taken a serious turn, and her heart clenched with a mix of fear and resolve.


    Despite her trepidation, she stepped into the elevator. She hade this far; there was no backing


    down now.


    As soon as the elevator doors slid shut, David turned to leave, a smile still ying on his lips.


    Thssa¡¯s personal visit to Lysander would surely lift his spirits. Otherwise, the whole office seemed to


    be trapped under a cloud of gloom so thick it was hard to breathe.


    The elevator ascended smoothly to the executive floor. Thssa stepped out and approached the


    president¡¯s office door.


    Her hand trembled as she prepared to press the doorbell, her heart pounding as if trying to escape her


    chest. She had mustered all her courage toe here, but now, the prospect of facing Lysander alone


    filled her with dread.


    Taking several deep breaths and steeling herself, she finally pressed the doorbell.


    As soon as her finger left the bell, the ss door swung open as if it had been waiting just for her.


    With her heart hanging by a thread, Thssa walked into the office.


    The chill in the air hit her immediately, tightening her skin as she looked ahead to see Lysander¡¯s


    imposing figure seated in a leather chair, exuding an aura of quiet power.


    His prating deep eyes fixed on her, like a predator watching its prey draw near.


    Despite her nervousness, Thssa moved forward step by step until she was just a foot away from the


    desk. She fought to keep her panic at bay as she began, ¡°Mr. Sinir, I¡¯m Thssa, Mr. Ethan¡¯s


    secretary. I¡¯m here to discuss the follow-up of ourst contract. The coboration has ceased, and Mr.


    Ethan sent me to discuss the terms of our disengagement.¡±


    Thssa maintained a strictly professional tone.


    This is the property of N?-velDrama.Org.


    Lysander¡¯s gaze never wavered from her face, deep and fathomless like a pool that seemed to


    threaten to drown her if she looked too long.


    ¡°Have a seat, let¡¯s talk.¡±


    Just as Thssa felt like she couldn¡¯t take the tension any longer, Lysander¡¯s deep voice broke the


    silence.


    He stood up, his tall figure casting a shadow over Thssa, who instinctively stepped back.


    When he gestured for her to sit, it wasn¡¯t at the desk; surely, he meant the couch.


    With her heart racing, Thssa quickly retreated to a single-seater couch and sat down.


    Nobody knew better than her what had happened on that couch the night before.


    3 3 2 2 8 2


    The pain and helplessness of the previous night¡¯s encounter were not experiences she wished to


    relive.


    So, she cleverly chose the single-seater, maintaining a safe distance.


    A cool breeze brushed past her as Lysander moved to sit on the two-seater couch to her right. With an


    air of nobility, he poured two cups of coffee.


    cing one cup before her on the coffee table, he asked in his low, resonant voice, ¡°Aside from Mr.


    Ethan¡¯s instructions, do you have your own reasons for being here?¡±


    Thssa paused, caught off guard.


    Her own reasons? What would those be?


    A sudden realization sparked in her mind, and suddenly she understood something- a vivid image of


    him unrestrainedly pressing her against the couchst night shed through her mind.


    Her heart pounded with rm, and she felt like she was on pins and needles.


    ¡°Mr. Sinir, I¡¯m here on behalf of Crawley Group to discuss the contract,¡± Thssa replied, her


    nervousness evident as she tightly clutched the document folder in her hands

 Chapter 990

    Chapter 990


    Thssa¡¯s gaze flitted nervously across the living room where, to her dismay, she noticed the


    slipcovers on the sofa had been changed. Justst night, the couch was adorned with a deep gray


    velvet cover, and today, it was d in dark gray leather.


    3 F


    The new cover was undoubtedly due to the marks they had left behind on the couch the previous


    night.


    As this thought dawned on her, Thssa¡¯s eyes shot up, meeting Lysander¡¯s gaze, which was as deep


    and mysterious as a star-filled night sky.


    Her already tense heart skipped a beat. She couldn¡¯t decipher Lysander¡¯s intentions, and the aura of


    danger he exuded was intimidating. Feeling a chill run down her spine, she instinctively shrank back


    into the chair..


    ¡°I was here for work.¡± she added quickly.


    Lysander¡¯s prating stare never wavered, as if he was trying to see right through her.


    His presence was overwhelming, like an icy dagger pressing against her skin, sharp enough to draw


    blood.


    This is the property of N?-velDrama.Org.


    Thssa¡¯s skin prickled with a numbing pain as she withstood the immense pressure.


    Just as she felt she was about to break, Lysander spoke up in a low voice, ¡°Do you evere to me


    without an agenda?¡±


    She never sought him out just for the sake of seeing him. Her yful behavior and the kisses she had


    initiated in the past were all strategic moves to ensure her ess to Royal Estates and see the


    children whenever she wished.


    He had once been foolishly content with her coquettish acts, like a lovesick teenager.


    However, after being let down so many times, Lysander had learned to remainposed.


    Having said his piece, Lysander picked up the mug in front of him, took a sip of his coffee, and stated,


    ¡°Tell the Crawley Group to prepare for the breach of contract penalty. We¡¯ll settle this ording to the


    terms agreed upon.¡±


    Thssa was taken aback. She hadn¡¯t expected Lysander to discuss business matters so seriously,


    and he had cut straight to the chase with a solution.


    The Crawley Group could terminate the contract, but they would need topensate for the breach as


    stipted. No additional responsibilities were to be imposed, which was, in a way, fair.


    Regaining herposure, Thssa quickly replied, ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll inform Mr. Ethan as soon as I get


    back.¡±


    Just as she was about to stand and leave, she remembered that her phone was still in Lysander¡¯s


    possession.


    Hesitating momentarily, she bit her lip before mustering the courage to sit back down- oveing not


    only her fear of the office but also her apprehension about facing Lysander.


    With an effortful smile, she said to Lysander, ¡°Actually, there¡¯s a personal matter I wanted to ask you


    about.¡±


    Lysander paused with his coffee mug in hand, then ced it on the coffee table and looked up at


    Thssa with those deep-set eyes, ¡°What is it?¡±


    ¡°Did you manage to find my phone yesterday?¡± Thssa asked directly. There was no point in beating


    around the bush with Lysander; being straightforward would save time and potentially avoid irritating


    him.


    ¡°What if I did?¡± Lysander asked, his voice deep and inscrutable.


    His question only added to the pressure Thssa felt. The phone was hers, but since Lysander had


    found it and hadn¡¯t offered to return it, asking for it outright required facing the formidable aura of


    authority he radiated.


    However, Thssa needed her phone; the contacts in it were invaluable to her.


    ¡°I¡¯ve been without my phone all day, and even checking the time has been inconvenient. Could you


    please return it to me?¡± she asked, mustering all her courage.


    Lysander continued to gaze at her unblinkingly, silent.


    Thssa, feeling increasingly uneasy and unable to decipher his thoughts, was relieved when


    Lysander finally replied, ¡°In the study at Royal Estates.¡±


    ¡°Okay, thank you. I appreciate your hospitality, but I must be going now,¡± Thssa said, rising hastily,


    eager to leave.


    Staying in Lysander¡¯s office, in his presence, for even a second longer felt perilous, like a vition of


    her safety.


    Thssa left, and Lysander made no move to stop her. He simply poured himself another cup of


    coffee, while the cup he had poured for Thssa sat untouched on the end table beside the single-


    seater couch.

 Chapter 991

    Chapter 991


    Lysander''s gaze, deep and inscrutable, seemed to casually drift over to the mug of coffee on the table.


    Thssa returned to Crawley Group headquarters and immediately briefed Ethan on Lysander''s


    intentions.


    Ethan was thrilled. "Great, I''ll have finance prepare the penalty fee right away. Ms. Everhart, you''ve


    scored another win for us. You can expect a hefty bonus this month," he said with a smile to Thssa.


    The project with the Sinir Group had not yielded profits; instead, it had led to a major incident. Many


    businesses had gone under due to such disasters. This time, if it hadn¡¯t been for the Sinir Group


    stepping in to handle the incident, the Crawley Group would have been on the hook for a staggering


    two billion dors ¨C enough to sink Crawley Electronics entirely.


    Faced with the prospect of billions, the few million in contract penalties were mere pocket change.


    By spending just a fraction of that to extricate hispany from the disaster, Ethan''s business could


    continue as usual, and naturally, he was over the moon about it.


    "Thanks for the generous bonus, Mr. Ethan. Considering today''s sess, would it be possible for me


    to take a half-day off in the afternoon?" Thssa tried to sound as casual as possible.


    "You want some time off?" Ethan asked.


    "Yeah, it¡¯s been a tiring morning, and I¡¯d like to take some time off this afternoon," Thssa replied


    without hesitation.


    Ethan''s smile took on a knowing quality. "Oh, I get it... Hard work at Lysander¡¯s can certainly be


    draining. You''ve done well, Ms. Everhart. Go ahead and take the afternoon off. Sleep as long as you


    want; I won¡¯t call you. Off you go."T¨ºxt belongs to N?velDrama.Org.


    Thssa, feeling her cheeks warm at Ethan''s insinuating tone, realized he had gotten the wrong idea.


    "No, Mr. Ethan, I didn''t mean¡­"


    "I understand, no need to exin. Get going and make the most of your time," Ethan cut her off,


    dismissing her for the day.


    Thssa fell silent. Such matters only got murkier the more you tried to rify them. She decided not


    to exin further; let Ethan think what he would.


    Leaving Crawley Group, her first stop was Royal Estates, straight to Lysander''s study.


    Her phone was on the desk.


    Thssa quickly picked it up, only to find it unresponsive; it wouldn''t turn on.


    It was powered off.


    She pressed the power button and saw it still had 70% battery life ¨C clearly, her phone had been


    deliberately switched off.


    Not by Lysander, but by the chubby kidnapper from the previous day.


    He had taken her phone and turned it off right before her eyes; she remembered it clearly.


    The fact that her phone was still off meant that Lysander hadn''t bothered to turn it on and snoop


    through its contents. Otherwise, why would he power it on only to turn it off again?


    A man of his stature, with influence that towered over others, had no need to be secretive.


    Relieved to find nothing amiss, Thssa then left Royal Estates.


    As she drove down the hill, her phone rang.


    Seeing that strange yet familiar number, her nerves tightened.


    It was Bruce''s number! Bruce was calling her!


    A mixture of disgust, loathing, and anger surged within her as her breathing quickened.


    She steadied herself and answered, "Bruce, what do you want?"


    "Easy there, don''t be so tense. My wife mentioned she''s cooking up a feast today and we''d love to


    have you over for lunch," Bruce said with feigned sincerity.

 Chapter 992

    Chapter 992


    "Invite me to lunch?" Thssa thought she had misheard, her response tinged with disbelief.


    "Yeah, my wife found out you''re my daughter. She''s been pretty harsh to you and your mom before,


    This is the property of N?-velDrama.Org.


    and I was making a scene about getting a divorce. Now she''s regretful and wants to invite you over for


    a meal, apologize, and ept you as my daughter." Bruce emphasized the word "daughter" as if to


    remind Thssa of her newfound, publicly acknowledged status.


    "And why exactly should your marital spats involve me?" Thssa spat back with contempt. If it weren''t


    for Bruce''s despicable threat of leaking that video online, she wouldn''t even consider picking up his


    calls.


    "Are you saying you don''t want toe?" Bruce''s voice, once feigning kindness, turned icy.


    "Why should I have to?" Thssa struggled to keep her anger at bay, her disgust evident.


    "Let''s put it this way. I didn''te homest night, and my wife was checking up on me. I told her I was


    with you¡ªmy daughter. What could I possibly do to you? She didn''t believe me. She wants you to


    unadorned with any pretense.


    Thssa felt a tightness in her chest, a suffocating pain fueled by fury.


    Shaking with hatred, she gripped her phone so hard she thought it might break, teeth clenched to hold


    back a stream of curses.


    Bruce had the audacity to bring upst night!


    Did he not realize how vile and utterly devoid of morals he was?


    He knew full well what he had tried to do to her, and now he had the gall to use her status as his


    daughter as a cover, deceiving his wife, trying to absolve himself of suspicion!


    Thssa didn''t speak, her breathing ragged with rage, biting down on her anger to avoidshing out.


    "Come over for lunch, it''s the perfect timing. I''ll send you the address. I expect to see you within the


    hour, otherwise, I''ll be sending out something else," Bruce''s loathsome voice came through again,


    He hung up, confident she woulde. He had given her plenty of time.


    Thssa''s breaths were sharp with anger, her brows knitted tightly, the phone in her hand a testament


    to her restraint from smashing it right then and there.


    But the phone wasn''t to me. It was Bruce who deserved her wrath!


    Go to Bruce''s for lunch? She''d go.


    It was the perfect opportunity to get his homework''s IP address.


    Driving the ck car she had used earlier to drop the kids at school, Thssa followed the GPS out of


    the driveway.


    Half an hourter, she arrived at Bruce''s ce.


    A vi, no less!


    Owning a vi in Starhaven meant big bucks, something Bruce, a mere office worker living on a fixed


    sry, could never afford, not in a lifetime of saving.


    Where had all his moneye from, if not from swindling rich heiresses?


    Thssa fought to conceal the thick disgust in her eyes.


    "Well, well, Thssa''s here. Please,e on in." Lucy stepped out; her smile sharp as she greeted


    her.


    That smile was so painfully fake, Thssa thought.


    Lucy sidled up to Thssa, her eyes moving from Thssa''s face to the car parked behind her. "Wow,


    is that a Lamborghini? Such a luxurious car, very impressive."


    Susan stood at the doorway, arms crossed, exuding arrogance as if she were looking down on


    everyone. She snorted, "Impressive? It''s Lysander''s car. She''s just basking in his reflected glory.


    Without Lysander, she''s nothing."

 Chapter 993

    Chapter 993


    Susan''s words dripped with the tang of envy, her voice sour as a lemon.


    That night, as Susan stumbled out of the bar, she witnessed Lysander wrapping his arms possessively


    around Thssa, their lips locked in a kiss that was both domineering and inseparable.


    Inside the dimly lit VIP lounge, Susan had tried every trick in the book to seduce Lysander. She


    practically threw herself at him, unting her most prized assets to catch his eye.


    However, he didn''t even spare her a nce and at one point, he dismissively shoved her aside with his


    foot!


    The memory of that humiliation made Susan''s blood boil.


    It was all because Lysander had eyes only for Thssa, leaving no room in his heart for any other


    woman!


    It was all Thssa''s fault!


    Thssa shot Susan a cold, dismissive nce.


    This is property ? of N?velDrama.Org.


    Bruce stepped in, feigning a scolding tone, "Susan, is that any way to speak to our guest? It''s


    Thssa''s first time at our ce. Show a little hospitality, will you?"


    "Guest? What kind of guest is she? Go on with your charades, I couldn''t care less!" Susan huffed


    disdainfully, turning on her heel to storm inside.


    Out and about, she could tolerate Thssa for Lysander''s sake, but this was Susan''s own turf. The fact


    that she hadn''t pped Thssa was a courtesy in itself, let alone being polite to her. In Susan''s mind,


    that was a pipe dream!


    "Thssa, don''t mind her. Susan''s been spoiled since she was a child, acts like a baby sometimes. Not


    like you, all grown-up and sensible, not holding grudges," Lucy said with a forced smile, seemingly


    ying peacekeeper.


    But her words wereced with pride, boasting about Susan''s pampered upbringing.


    Thssa, on the other hand, had risen from humble beginnings, fortunate enough just to survive


    without the coddling of doting parents.


    Despite being older, Susan was cast in the role of the child in Lucy''s narrative in front of Thssa.


    This clearly amounted to belittling Thssa.


    Their whole family was just a household of monsters, each with their own hideous masks.


    Watching their performance, Thssa''s inner sneer was icy. "No worries. After all, it''s toote to


    discipline an adult with no manners. If I took offense, I''d only be troubling myself."


    Despite insisting she was unbothered, Thssa''s words stung, implying Susancked upbringing and


    extending the usation to the whole family.


    Lucy''s strained smile froze, a sh of malice flickering in her eyes.


    But when she caught sight of Bruce by the door, the harsh glint was quickly suppressed.


    Still forcing a smile, she said, "It''s gettingte. Please,e in and let''s have lunch before it gets cold."


    Lucy gestured towards the dining room.


    Reluctantly, Thssa made her way inside.


    As she approached the door, Bruce stepped aside, making room for her to pass.


    Thssa entered without a nce at Bruce, heading straight for the dinner table.


    The table wasden with dishes, their aromas wafting through the air.


    What should have been appetizing scents instead churned Thssa''s stomach, the urge to vomit


    surging.


    She lifted a hand to her mouth, fighting back the nausea.


    "Thssa, you''re our honored guest," Lucy said briskly, pulling out a chair. "Please, take the head


    seat."


    Managing to quell her difort, Thssa took the offered seat without hesitation.


    The family settled around her, reaching for the food, but Thssa didn''t touch her utensils. She simply


    sat, staring nkly ahead as if lost in thought.


    Breaking the silence, Lucy suddenly asked, "Thssa, what were you and Bruce up tost night?"

 Chapter 994

    Chapter 994


    Lucy had been itching to ask the question, restraining herself until Thssa was seated at the dinner


    table. She couldn''t care less whether Thssa was going to eat the food or not.


    Inviting Thssa to lunch was just a ruse, a courtesy for Bruce''s sake. If Lucy had it her way, she''d


    march right over to Thssa''s ce, grab her by the hair, and demand to know what she was up to


    with Brucest night!


    Bruce hadn''te home all evening, leaving Lucy tossing and turning, a sleepless mess.


    She''d called him repeatedly in the early hours; he didn''t pick up. Later, when she called again, his


    phone was conveniently switched off.


    Knowing Bruce''s roving eye, Lucy figured that if he wasn''t home at night, there was always another


    woman.


    She felt like ants on a hot griddle, desperate but helpless.


    Finally, daylight came, and so did Bruce.


    She cornered him immediately, demanding to know where he''d been the previous night.


    Bruce casually mentioned he had something to sort out with Thssa, stating they had spent the night


    together. ¡°Thssa is my daughter,¡± he said. ¡°What could we possibly be doing?¡±


    Lucy was skeptical. There was no business between Bruce and Thssa that would necessitate an


    overnight stay. So, she devised a n, masking it as a meal invitation to ept Thssa as Bruce¡¯s


    daughter, with the true intent of grilling her in front of Bruce about the specifics of their interaction.


    Lucy''s questioning was urgent, blunt, and direct.


    Bruce paused, his cutlery in hand, and nced toward Thssa.


    He had briefed her over the phone about the situation and the reason for Lucy''s lunch invitation.


    He trusted that she wouldn''t be foolish enough to slip up; if she did, her mother''s video might be a


    bit less secure.


    Thssa looked up, startled by Lucy''s interrogation, and caught Bruce''s icy re, which wasden


    with silent threats.


    With tension and anger tightening her breath, Thssa didn''t answer Lucy directly. Instead, she


    retorted, ¡°Being Bruce''s daughter, we naturally had matters to discuss. What else could it be? Or are


    you implying something else? Bruce is your husband. Are you genuinely suspecting him of something


    inappropriate with his own daughter? Is his character truly worth nothing in your eyes?¡±


    With that, she shot Bruce a lookced with scorn and resentment.


    She used her response to imply that Bruce was worthless, a jab at his character.


    Bruce read her meaning clearly. At home, Lucy had him under her thumb, leaving him breathless. He


    recognized the insult in Thssa''s words.


    Last night, he had nearly crossed a line with Thssa, but that was after he knew she wasn''t his


    daughter.


    He was merely interested in her youthful allure.


    Now, Bruce had told Lucy that Thssa was his daughter, and they had spent the night discussing


    business. Contradict Thssa now by admitting she wasn''t his daughter would risk sending Lucy into


    an even greater fury.All text ? N?velD(r)a''ma.Org.


    For years, Bruce had felt suffocated. Divorcing Lucy was out of question; she was too fierce. She would


    beat him to a pulp at the slightest provocation, and, being the one who controlled the purse strings, she


    held financial power over him.


    A man without financial independence naturally loses his edge.


    Lucy''s smile froze for a moment as she detected the undertone in Thssa''s words, interpreting them


    as a defense of Bruce and an implication that she was too controlling.


    Yet, Bruce, if not kept in check, would run wild and pay her no mind at all.

 Chapter 995

    Chapter 995


    Lucy''s eyes involuntarily shifted toward Bruce, who appeared visibly distressed. His face was contorted


    in a grimace, and he seemed to have lost his appetite entirely.


    "I''m not implying there''s something going on between him and you," Lucy rified. "My suspicion is that


    he''s been cozying up with some other woman and you''re just covering for him."


    She went on, adamant that her suspicions were valid. Despite her doubts about Bruce, she would


    never believe he''d stoop so low as toy a hand on his own flesh and blood.


    "No, we spent allst night discussing Susan''s situation," Thssa said, her gaze shifting away from


    Bruce and towards Susan.


    Susan was puzzled. "Discussing me? Why?"


    "Isn''t it obvious? You''ve been dying to be Lysander''s girl, haven''t you? We were brainstorming ways to


    make that happen for you, to fast-track your way into Lysander''s world," Thssa exined, her face


    an emotionless mask.


    She hadn''t seeded in deleting the video from Bruce''s possession. To maintain appearances, she


    had to y along with this family charade, earn their trust, and catch them off guard.


    If Bruce began to suspect her, he would surely relocate the video to a more secure location.


    Susan scoffed with a lightugh. "You''re kidding, right? You and Dad stayed up all night just to figure


    out how I could be Lysander''s girl?"


    "What else do you think it was? I¡¯ve been losing sleep over you. Are you really doubting my


    intentions?" Bruce cut in before Thssa could reply, his voice strained with suppressed anger.


    Susan choked on his words, taking a sip of her juice to hide her embarrassment. For all of Bruce¡¯s


    faults and dalliances, he genuinely cherished his daughter. Throughout her life, whenever she desired


    something, he''d move heaven and earth to make it happen.


    Even her lofty goal of winning Lysander''s heart was a scheme Bruce was determined to fulfill.


    "So, that''s the deal? Did you guyse up with any good nsst night?" Lucy perked up; her


    interest piqued as they talked about benefiting Susan.


    Bruce nced at Thssa, tossing the conversational ball into her court, silently urging her to take the


    lead.


    He wasn''t familiar with Lysander''s world. How could he possiblyment?


    "We thought up a bunch of strategies, but we scrapped them all," Thssa admitted. "Lysander is a cut


    above the rest, a shrewd man. You can''t snag someone like him with just any trick. Provoke him, and


    your life could be in jeopardy."


    That wasn''t an exaggeration. Susan had attempted to seduce Lysander once, and he hadn''t given her


    so much as a nce; instead, he''d sent her sprawling with a dismissive shove.


    The memory of that humiliating failure still stung Susan.


    "And how exactly did you manage to get him?" Lucy asked, hitting right where Susan''s pride hurt the


    most. She had wanted to ask the question herself but was too proud to voice it.


    "Well, let''s just say he fell from grace, and I happened to be there to catch him. It was a fluke, and just


    like that, I became his woman," Thssa said nonchntly. It wasn''t a secret, so sharing it with them


    made no difference.This is the property of N?-velDrama.Org.


    Besides, this way, they would understand that unless Lysander himself was interested, all their


    schemes were pointless.


    "So, what you''re saying is, he came to you?" Lucy asked, her tone dripping with disdain. "Lysander is


    the king of Starhaven, untouchable and proud. Why would he ever fall for a country bumpkin like you?"


    "That¡¯s right; he took a tumble from his ivory tower, and I just happened to be there to catch the prize,"


    Thssa parried smoothly.


    "You..." Lucy spluttered, at a loss for words.

 Chapter 996

    Chapter 996


    Pausing briefly, Lucy struggled to swallow the rage Thssa had provoked. She simmered down,


    nced at Lucy, and said, "You know what, you better keep an eye on Lysander and watch for when he


    falls from grace. That''s your shot at opportunity."


    This is property ? of N?velDrama.Org.


    "Nobody knows Lysander''s whereabouts, let alone keeping tabs on him. I can''t even catch a glimpse of


    him. Mom, you''re not the one walking in my shoes!" Susanmented, still weighed down by the heavy


    sense of defeat from herst fiasco.


    She had hoped that inviting Thssa over would put herself in a position of advantage.


    But Thssa had a silver tongue; with seemingly gentle demeanor, she had effortlessly stirred up


    discord within their family.


    First, it was between Bruce and Lucy, and now it was sparking tensions between her and Lucy.


    No wonder Thssa held her ce by Lysander''s side. She wasn''t as simple as she appeared.


    "It''s just your bad luck." Lucy said sarcastically. "Even if Lysander fell from the sky, he wouldn''tnd


    anywhere near you. Counting on another woman to help you seize Lysander is as impossible as


    reaching the sky." Lucy sneered, casting a sidelong nce at Thssa.


    It was an insinuation at her for not genuinely wanting to help.


    Who wouldn''t want to be Lysander''s woman?


    And Thssa had already secured the coveted position by Lysander''s side; why would she ever give


    that up?


    Just because Bruce was her father, did she expect familial piety to move her to help? That was a pipe


    dream.


    "Mom, how can you say that? Why can''t I make it?" Susan yearned to be Lysander''s woman. Any hint


    of discouragement was like a thorn in her side.


    Even her own mother disapproved her ambitions, which made her irritable.


    Annoyed, she shot back, "Don''t you realize Dad is pulling out all the stops to help me..."


    "Enough, Susan, don''t argue with your mother!" Bruce cut her off sternly.


    Susan halted, looking at Bruce''s serious expression and warning eyes.


    She begrudgingly suppressed what she was about to say.


    Bruce had got something on Thssa''s mother, and he had been using it to threaten Thssa into


    helping Susan win over Lysander. He had informed Susan from the get-go to keep her mother in the


    dark about it.


    So, Lucy never knew that Bruce had coerced Evelyn and recorded it as ckmail against Thssa.


    If Lucy ever knew what had transpired between Bruce and Evelyn, she would be so enraged.


    "Fine, I''ll drop it. Dad and Thssa talked all night, all for me to be Lysander''s woman, and I


    appreciate that. Especially you, Thssa." Susan said, her eyes shooting envious daggers at


    Thssa.


    Her words were of gratitude, but her gaze bore the intent of a murderer.


    Thssa was well-ustomed to the family''s hypocrisy. None of this was new to her.


    "I see Thssa hasn''t touched her food; maybe our home cooking doesn''t suit your pte. I''ll go get


    some desserts for you." Susan said as she stood up and headed to the kitchen.


    Bruce came to his senses, gently stroked Lucy''s back, and soothingly said, "Alright, Lucy, no need to


    get upset. I''ve exined everything to you. I indeed spentst night discussing with Thssa how we


    could get Susan close to Lysander."


    "A whole night and you''vee up with nothing?" Lucy questioned.


    "You haven''t seen how cold and ruthless Lysander can be. I''ve been hospitalized twice, both due to his


    Lucy''s brows furrowed, and a touch of fear flickered in her eyes.


    Susan was her only daughter, cherished and protected since birth.


    She couldn''t bear the thought of her daughter losing her life over a man.


    Yet, she wanted Susan to win Lysander over. After all, Lysander was a man at the pinnacle of sess.


    Having him was like having the world.


    Susan¡¯s sess would be her own. Her entire family would benefit from Lysander¡¯s glory, enjoying a


    life of wealth and luxury.

 Chapter 997

    Chapter 997


    "Alright, fair enough. If you want to snag a catch like Lysander, you gotta have a game n." Lucy


    conceded for her daughter¡¯s safety.


    Still, she harbored doubts and asked Thssa, "Do you really mean to give up on Lysander, for the


    sake of your family?"


    Thssa paused. Her gaze shifted to Bruce.


    Bruce looked away, his hand absentmindedly brushing his nose.


    That gesture was a telltale sign of guilt.


    Thssa knew then that Bruce hadn¡¯t confessed to Lucy his dirty secrets. He and his daughter were in


    cahoots while keeping Lucy in the dark.


    "You might not be aware, but all I want is my children. Only if Susan wins Lysander over could I take


    my children away." Thssa covered for Bruce once more, even as her heart trembled with rage.


    Once she got rid of that damning footage, she was going to make Bruce pay his dues!


    Lucy suddenly understood, and her confusion dissipated.


    She had suspected Thssa''s motives. How could Thssa give up on a good man like Lysander for


    Bruce, a father who shirked his responsibilities?


    So, it was about the custody of the children. Thssa, just like her mother, was foolish enough to


    forego wealth and status for her kids.


    Indeed, these country women were stupid as such!


    Lucy silently scoffed at Thssa and her mother Evelyn.


    "Thssa,e and eat. These dishes were made just for you." Lucy said and picked up her fork and


    knife, ready to serve Thssa some food.


    Then, as if struck by a pang of conscience, she put down her used cutlery and picked up the serving


    utensils instead, offering Thssa a slice of pot roast.


    This is the property of N?-velDrama.Org.


    The sight of the meat turned Thssa''s stomach. She was doing good not to hurl as she saw it, let


    alone taking a bite.


    She pulled out her phone and tried to open a streaming app, but no luck ¨C no connection.


    She nced up calmly and asked, "What¡¯s your WiFi password here? I''m bored and need to catch up


    on some videos."


    Bruce rattled off thework name and password.


    Thssa connected her phone. In her heart was a mix of relief and tension, but she managed to keep


    a calm expression.


    In the kitchen, Susan sliced up a piece of chocte cake and was ready to bring it out.


    Then she noticed a fresh, steaming pile of dog shit on the floor.


    Their terrier had made yet another indoor mess. She was fuming and was about to scold the dog, but


    another wicked idea immediately took root.


    Eyeing the cake in her hand, she smirked.


    Thssa wanted cake, did she?


    Did she think their home-baked treats were that irresistible?


    Barely containing her disgust, she picked up some of the mess with a pair of tongs and tucked it into


    the middle of the cake.


    After that, she carried the cake out to Thssa and set it down in front of her with a smile. "Thssa,


    you must try this chocte cake. It''s divine, my absolute favorite. I cut a piece just for you today.


    Please, have a taste. It''s truly scrumptious."


    Thssa gave Susan a look and picked up the cake from the table.

 Chapter 998

    Chapter 998


    Thssa indeed felt a bit hungry. Breakfast had been a light affair, because her appetite squashed


    under the weight of Lysander''s watchful gaze. Now, as the clock struck two in the afternoon, she


    realized she had skipped lunch entirely.


    The meal on the dining table did not interest her at all, but her taste buds sprang to life when Susan


    brought over a slice of cake. Her stomach growled¡ªnot just from hunger, but also because of her


    newfound penchant for sweets. The mere scent of sugar was enough to pique her appetite.


    Thssa received the chocte cake, and her fingers reached for the fork that was stuck jauntily into


    the frosting.


    Susan stood by her side, a friendly smile painted on her face, though inside she was practically


    bursting with malice. "Go on, eat up, Thssa." she thought smugly, "You country bumpkin! Dog shit is


    all you deserve. You are going to taste it soon, but still, you will have to thank me for bringing you the


    cake. Thssa, you¡¯re no match for me!"


    She watched, barely containing her glee and waiting for Thssa to take a bite. But to her surprise,


    Thssa let go of the fork and offered the cupcake back to her.


    "It¡¯s your favorite, Susan. I couldn''t possibly snatch them from you. You cut this piece, so you must


    have wanted it yourself, right? Here, you should have it."


    Thssa extended the cake toward Susan. She smiled with icy scrutiny in her eyes. She dared not to


    trust a soul in Bruce''s family.


    Just moments ago, Susan had been malicious to her. And now, after a brief trip to the kitchen, why she


    returned with sudden kindness?


    The false warmth in Susan''s smile made Thssa''s skin crawl. It was not Thssa''s first confrontation


    with the Bruce n ¡ª she had learned to spot their feigned enthusiasm from a mile away. The warmer


    their smiles, the deeper their scheming.


    T¨ºxt belongs to N?velDrama.Org.


    And Susan, with her sugary words and radiant smile, seemed a little too eager. Something was


    definitely off.


    Could this cupcake be poisoned? Thssa mused inwardly. She wouldn''t put it past Susan to serve


    her somethingced with ill intent.


    Susan''s smile faltered. A flicker of something passed across her face too quickly to be caught. But


    then, she spoke with faked kindness.


    "Oh,e on, Thssa. This is my home, and I can have a cupcake whenever I like. You''re the guest,


    and I cut it especially for you. Don''t be shy, dig in."


    "I''m really not in the mood for sweets right now. You should enjoy it." Thssa pressed, pushing the


    cupcake closer to Susan, almost to her lips.


    Susan recoiled as if the cupcake were a venomous snake. Her smile crumbled into a scowl. "What''s


    the matter with you? I''m trying to be nice here and cut you a piece of cake. You rejected it and even


    dare to push me!¡±


    No one knew better than Susan what was hidden in that cake.


    How could she possibly eat it, knowing she had mixed in something as vile as dog shit?


    Thssa''s refusal was adamant. Could she have sensed something amiss?


    But how was that possible? Susan had carefully hidden that within the creamy center, which was


    invisible from the outside. She had even sprinkled a generous dusting of chocte shavings on top to


    mask the stench.


    How could Thssa have possibly detected it?


    Yet, if she hadn''t detected, why would she refuse?


    "Am I being pushy, or is there something wrong with your cake?" Thssa challenged with a steely


    expression.

 Chapter 999

    Chapter 999


    Thssa intuitively realized that something was wrong with the cake the moment Susan instinctively


    stepped backward.


    She knew it. Susan''s warm behavior today was way out of character.


    Susan''s eyes darted evasively, but she retorted with forced confidence, "My mom baked that cake.


    What could possibly be wrong with it? I saw you skipped lunch, so I was being nice and cutting you a


    slice. And here you are, using me without a bite. What''s your deal?"


    "If there''s no problem, then prove it. Have a bite yourself. Otherwise, how can I be sure it''s safe?"


    Thssa stood up and closed the distance between them. Her demand was clear.


    "I told you! I''m not in the mood for dessert. I want my dinner." Susan blurted out, her face flushing with


    a mix of anger and embarrassment.


    Yet Susan retreated two steps as Thssa rose up. It was a clear sign of nervous avoidance.


    Thssa was now certain. The cake that she was being offered was not safe for eating.


    "Eating cake before your meal won''t kill you." Thssa insisted, pushing the te towards Susan''s


    lips.


    Susan recoiled, tilting her head back in a desperate dodge.


    "Come on, it''s just a slice of cake." Bruce chimed in, rising to the asion. He approached with a stern


    face and took the cake from Thssa''s hand.


    He nced at a clearly agitated Susan and then back at Thssa. He said, "My Susan rarely offers to


    serve food ¡ª I haven''t even had the pleasure to have her serving me anything. She made this, and


    you don''t want it, I''d count myself lucky to have it."This is property ? of N?velDrama.Org.


    Bruce truly adored his daughter Susan. Despite his numerous love affairs, Susan was his only child.


    Who else would he dote on if not her?


    Thssa watched expressionlessly and said, "If you''re so eager, be my guest."


    With her permission, Bruce eagerly forked a generous piece of the cake and popped it into his mouth.


    "Dad..." Susan''s voice cracked with a mix of rm and horror.


    "What''s up?" Bruce mumbled through a mouthful of cake.


    Susan''s brow furrowed. She swallowed hard, and a nauseous chill ran down her spine. She


    stammered, "Nothing. I just realized I never asked if you wanted anything. From now on, I''ll make sure


    to serve you more often..."


    Her eyes were heavy with guilt as she looked at Bruce.


    Hearing her seemingly thoughtful words, Bruce beamed with pride, "That''s all I wish to hear, darling."


    With that, he finished the cake with gusto.


    As Susan watched her father consume the entire slice, the contents of her stomach churned violently to


    her throat. Panicked that her secret might be revealed, she made a quick excuse to freshen up in the


    bathroom.


    Oh God! Her father had just eaten the very ''treat'' she''d prepared, and he was thanking her with a


    blissful smile.


    Susan felt a crushing guilt for deceiving Bruce, yet she couldn''t confess.


    Thssa observed the father-daughter charade with a detached coolness.


    She saw nothing but hypocrisy and deceit in this family


    Since she had already obtained theirwork IP, there was no reason to linger.


    Thssa turned to leave, "Please enjoy your meal. I''ve got work this afternoon, so I''ll be off."


    Pocketing her phone, she walked away and left behind the facade of familial warmth.

 Chapter 1000

    Chapter 1000


    ¡°Let me give you a ride,¡± Bruce stood up.


    Thssa¡¯s heart clenched at the proposal, her entire body vignt.


    She didn¡¯t need Bruce¡¯s charity at all. Was this another one of his veiled threats?


    ¡°It¡¯s just a short walk, and there¡¯s no need for a ride. Please just sit down and eat!¡± Lucy griped. She


    grabbed Bruce¡¯s wrist and pulled him back down to the dinner table with a force that brooked no


    argument.


    Bruce didn¡¯t dare to protest Lucy¡¯s assertiveness. Arguing over such a trivial matter was not worth the


    hassle, especially when it would just lead to Lucy dredging up the past.


    Bruce sat back down reluctantly.


    Lucy shoved a fork into his hand, ¡°Just keep eating.¡±


    Bruce slumped in his chair. He looked unhappy. His disdain for Lucy had reached its maximum, and he


    yearned to be free from her right now.


    But Lucy had him in a vice grip.


    Bruce knew he was nothing without money.


    He had to suppress his revulsion, go back to y the devoted husband, and share the meal with her.


    Thssa hastily left the Bruce¡¯s ce, got into her car, and sped away.


    Once she was clear of their territory and driving on the open asphalt road, Thssa finally felt her


    nerves begin to rx.


    Her breathing, which had been so constricted, was now eased.


    Her grip on the steering wheel tightened as she fought to calm the nervous excitement within her.


    All text ? N?velD(r)a''ma.Org.


    Now, she had Bruce¡¯s phone number and familywork IP in her possession. She would simply just


    request Atticus to hack into Bruce¡¯s phone andputer and delete the video.


    Then she could be free, no longer threatened by Bruce, and her mother wouldn¡¯t have to face the


    psychological torment of the video¡¯s release.


    Thssa checked the time; it was half-past two. Atticus would be out of school in an hour and a half.


    She decided to grab a bite at a nearby diner and then pick up the kids from daycare; it would time out


    perfectly.


    She spotted a diner not far from the daycare and drove there.


    After ordering, she settled in her booth to wait for her food, idly scrolling through her phone.


    ¡°Have a great day, Sir, and we hope to see you again soon.¡± The polite voice of a server rang out


    behind her.


    Thssa paid it no mind and was absorbed in her phone until a tall shadow loomed at the edge of her


    table, darkening her screen.


    She turned around and caught sight of the tall figure. It was a man with a gentle, smiling face, as


    refreshing as a soft breeze.


    ¡°Callum!¡± Thssa eximed, surprised.


    Callum¡¯s lips curved in his usual warm smile as he greeted, ¡°Ms. Everhart, what a coincidence!¡±


    ¡°Yeah, quite the coincidence.¡± Thssa replied. She had just picked a diner at random and had not


    expected to run into Callum.


    ¡°May I?¡± He nodded towards the seat opposite to her.


    Taken aback for a moment, Thssa politely responded, ¡°Of course, please.¡±


    Callum sat down across from her, and the server promptly poured him a ss of ice water.


    He took a sip from the ss. His slender fingers entuated by the rity of the cup. He set the ss


    down but didn¡¯t release it, instead holding it with both hands as he fixed his gaze on Thssa. ¡°Last


    night, you didn¡¯t tell Lysander the identity of the one who kidnapped you. Why?¡±


    He had been wanting to ask Thssa, but the right opportunity had eluded him until now. And he


    wasn¡¯t about to let this chance slip away.


    Thssa paused. The fears and despair from the previous night resurged at the mention, her breath


    catching in her throat.

 Chapter 1001

    Chapter 1001


    Her fingers tensed slightly on the tabletop as she looked across at Callum. ¡°I really appreciate that you


    were taking my side yesterday.¡± she said, her voice steady and sincere.


    If it hadn¡¯t been for Callum backing up her story and iming that it was only Elliott who had kidnapped


    her, Lysander Sinir wouldn¡¯t have dropped the matter so easily. He would have dug deeper,


    relentless in his pursuit of the truth.


    ¡°I¡¯ve told you before. You maye to me with any trouble and no need for thanks.¡± Callum replied


    earnestly.


    ¡°So, can you tell me why? The real reason?¡±


    Thssa¡¯s brows furrowed ever so lightly. She had kept Bruce¡¯s involvement in her abduction a secret,


    as she worried that revealing his assault would subject her mother to public scandal.


    But now, should she confide the truth to Callum?


    Could she trust him?


    They had only met a few times; was he truly worthy of her trust?


    If she disclosed everything and word got out about her mother¡¯s ordeal, and the existence of that video


    in Bruce¡¯s possession, could her mother handle such a scandal?


    Her mother was already so fragile.


    She couldn¡¯t take the risk, not even the slightest.


    Soon, she would erase the files from Bruce¡¯s grip, and things would settle down. This was not the time


    for any unforeseenplications.


    After a fierce internal debate, Thssa spoke, ¡°The man you saw taking me to the room, that was my


    All text ? N?velD(r)a''ma.Org.


    father, Bruce. He took a wrong path ¨C he epted money for someone else¡¯s dirty works. If Lysander


    finds out, it would be the end of him. Despite everything, he¡¯s still my father. He made a mistake, and I


    want to give him a chance to make things right.¡±


    She chose to withhold the true reason for the sake of her mother¡¯s life. She couldn¡¯t afford to gamble


    on that.


    And the reason she provided was usible enough to be believable.


    Having said her piece, she paused and looked at Callum.


    He remained silent. Those normally warm and smiling eyes now looking at her with serious intent, as if


    weighing the truth of her words.


    Feeling the weight of his gaze, Thssa found her breath slowing down yet difficult to maintain further


    eye contact./


    Just as she was about to look away, the waiter came with their meal and blocked their visual


    connection, providing Thssa with an out.


    ¡°Let¡¯s eat, Mr. Gordon.¡± she said. ¡°Excuse me, could you please bring another set of cutlery?¡±


    ¡°No need.¡± Callum interjected, ¡°I¡¯ve already eaten. I¡¯m not hungry. Please, go ahead without me.¡±


    He nodded politely at the waiter, who set down the dishes and left with the tray.


    ¡°Family is important, but there¡¯s a limit. Anyone who does wrong must face the consequences.¡± Callum


    said after a moment.


    Thssa nced down guiltily, fidgeting with her fork. ¡°I know.¡±


    No one hated Bruce more than she did she wished she could turn him to dust!


    ¨C


    Yet despite her hatred, she was forced to help and defend him. Her helplessness and conflict were


    beyond anyone¡¯s understanding.


    Once she deleted the video from Bruce¡¯s possession, she would fight back.


    ¡°Have you given any more thought to what we discussedst time?¡± Callum suddenly asked, changing


    the subject.


    Thssa was caught off guard and looked at him with confusion.


    The n to get away from Lysander.¡± he reminded her in a lowered voice.


    It was a request entrusted to him by histe friend, Leopold Sinir, and it was also Leopold¡¯s will.


    As Leopold¡¯s closest confidant, Callum was determined to honor his friend¡¯sst wishes.


    Thssa froze. Her heart skipped a beat.


    So much had happened recently. She¡¯d been so preupied with Bruce that she¡¯d nearly forgotten


    about her n to take the kids and leave Lysander. ¡°What¡¯s the matter? Are you hesitating about


    leaving?¡± Callum asked and rose an eyebrow at her silence.


    1/1

 Chapter 1002

    Chapter 1002


    Thssa¡¯s heart clenched, and she snapped back to reality. She shook her head and said, ¡°No.


    Nothing.¡±


    ¡°Nothing?¡± Callum was puzzled at whether it meant she wanted to leave or not.


    That night outside the bar, he had made it crystal clear to her, and she intended to leave Lysander.


    Leopold had risked his life for her; and she wouldn¡¯t let him down.


    I¡¯ve got onest important thing to do.¡± Thssa said softly, with genuine seriousness. ¡°Once that¡¯s


    done, I¡¯ll focus on nning to get the kids and myself out of here.¡±


    The trauma that Lysander cast over her the previous night was no less daunting than that of the


    brigand who kidnapped her.


    Lysander was a devil, and she needed to get away from him as soon as possible.


    Only by leaving could she have a life of her own.


    This is the property of N?-velDrama.Org.


    Callum nodded at the definitive answer. ¡°May I have your phone? I¡¯ll give you my number. Call me


    anytime you need.¡±


    Without hesitation, Thssa handed over her phone.


    Callum dialed his number and made a call; his own phone rang in response.


    Now, they both had each other¡¯s contact information.


    After returning the phone to Thssa, Callum stood and got ready to leave.


    ¡°Howe you were at the hotel yesterday?¡± Thssa suddenly asked.


    Their encounters had been too coincidental. It seemed he was there every time when she was in


    trouble.


    Were they all coincidences?


    Callum paused mid-step, turned back, and looked at Thssa, who continued eating casually as if the


    question she had just asked was nothing out of the ordinary.


    ¡°I was visiting a friend. Just happened to pass by and saw what was happening. Callum said.


    ¡°You can¡¯t even tell me the truth. How am I supposed to trust you?¡± Thssa spoke as she ate. Her


    tone was t as if she was discussing something as trivial as the weather. But no, she was talking


    about the crucial topic of trust ¨C the foundation of human rtionships.


    Callum, who had been about to leave, stopped, his expression turning grave. He circled back and took


    the seat opposite to her once again.


    She kept eating, not even lifting her gaze to meet his.


    Her demeanor made clear her determination to gain trust.


    If he couldn¡¯t earn her trust, she wouldn¡¯t seek his help.


    After a moment, Callum decided to be honest.


    ¡°I was investigating that hotel and happened to stumble upon your kidnapping.¡±


    Only then did Thssa lift her eyes. Her gaze was filled with confusion. ¡°Investigating? Aren¡¯t you a


    businessman?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m a businessman, but I also work as an investigative journalist. It¡¯s mostly underground, so not many


    people know that. With that kind of profile, I¡¯d have a lot of enemies if the wrong people found out.¡±


    Callum confessed, hoping to gain Thssa¡¯s trust by revealing his hidden identity.


    Thssa was taken aback, her mouth slightly agape, staring at him in surprise.


    He looked so refined and privileged; she would never have guessed he led such a meaningful and risky


    existence.


    Investigating the dark underbelly of society and reporting on it would put anyone in immense pressure


    and danger.


    ¡°You don¡¯t believe me?¡± Callum asked, noting her shocked expression.


    Thssa hastily swallowed her food and shook her head, saying, ¡°No, it¡¯s not that. I¡¯m just surprised. I


    never guessed you had this side to you ¡°Aren¡¯t you going to ask what found out?¡± Callum prompted.


    Thssa frowned but stayed silent.


    ¡°Elliott and Bruce have been conspiring. They¡¯ve victimized many women at that hotel. The hotel


    manager knows all about it but turns a blind eye for the sake of business, even condoning Elliott and


    Bruce¡¯s actions. I haven¡¯t found hard evidence yet, but I did manage to get a recording of the hotel


    manager¡¯s confession. Callum revealed.

 Chapter 1003

    Chapter 1003


    He''d been handed a top-priority mission. An anonymous tipster had sounded the rm about crimes at


    the Crest Summit Hotel, where an employee named Elliott and an outsider by the name of Bruce were


    in cahoots and preyed on numerous women.


    The whistleblower pleaded for press exposure to reveal the truth behind the hotel''s facade.


    Callum went on investigationst night in the disguise of a random hotel guest.


    It was no easy task to gather evidence, as he didn¡¯t catch at the time of an incident.


    By sheer chance, he stumbled upon Bruce abducting Thssa into a room. Callum hastily secured a


    spare room card from the front desk and prepared to burst in and rescue Thssa. But only Elliott was


    there. Bruce had fled.


    Yesterday, his search had been fruitless at first ¡ª until he confronted Thssa and the kidnappers. But


    broadcasting Thssa''s ordeal would tarnish her reputation; it couldn''t be made public.


    So, he cleverly coaxed incriminating words from the hotel owner and got them on tape. This was the


    best evidence.


    Thssa''s eyes flickered with recognition. She had overheard Elliott and Bruce during the handoff.


    Clearly, they were behind the victimization of many women.


    Callum''s ount matched the conversation between Elliott and Bruce she had witnessed.


    Thssa trusted in Callum, and she grew to respect his role as a journalist championing social justice.


    His dedication to expose these vile entrepreneurs would prevent future innocents from harm.


    Such integrity and kindness demanded absolute respect.


    "Thank you." Thssa said sincerely, "Not just for me, but for all those other women who remain


    strangers to us."


    Callum''s lips curled into a smile. "Let''s get some grub. A full belly fuels the fight for what''s right."


    With that, he stood up and walked away.


    Thssa''s doubts about Callum dissipated and was reced with trust. He was a friend of Leopold, so


    he wouldn¡¯t cause her any harm. Moreover, hismitment to aiding the distressed spoke volumes of


    his character.


    After finishing her food, Thssa made her way to the daycare center.


    Only minutes remained before the children would be released.


    She waited at the entrance, each minute stretching out endlessly in her anticipation.


    She longed to see Atticus and to have him erase whatever Bruce held over them.


    Time crawled by until, finally, the daycare gate opened.


    The toddlers trotted out first, each greeted by their parents. Thssa watched as they were picked up,


    and then it was time for the preschoolers.


    From a distance, she spotted her four darlings. Their hands linked like train carriages.


    The sight of her little ones brought a genuine smile to her worried face.


    She stood at the front of the line, ready to embrace her children.


    The teacher, recognizing Thssa from a previous pick-up apanied by Fitch, called out the


    names of Atticus, Dorian, Elowen, and Sophia, and entrusted them to her care.


    "Mommy, I brought myptop!" Atticus bounded towards her, his little legs struggling to keep up with his


    eagerness.


    He had spent the entire day fixated on helping his mom.


    Thssa, equally anxious, had waited all this time just for this moment ¡ª to have Atticus erase the


    incriminating footage from Bruce''s phone andputer.


    She took Atticus'' hand and said, "Let''s go to the park, kids."


    The children cheered and followed her lead.


    Suddenly, a sleek, imposing ck car rolled up ahead.


    This is the property of N?-velDrama.Org.


    Thssa caught sight of the vehicle and her steps ground to a halt.

 Chapter 1004

    Chapter 1004


    The car pulled up next to Thssa and the kids.


    The door swung open, and a shiny ck leather shoe hit the pavement with an authority that was


    echoed by the crisp, wrinkle-free line of the suit pant that followed.


    Just from the sight of that foot, one could feel an air of prestige that made your breath catch.


    Then, he appeared in Thssa¡¯s view ¡ª a tall, dashing man radiating an intimidating aura. His


    handsome features were sculpted as if from marble, his posture regal, and the sun draped his chiseled


    face in a golden glow.


    He looked cold, dignified, unapproachable, and even fearful .


    It was Lysander!


    As she saw Lysander, Thssa¡¯s heart, once fluttering with excitement, suddenly skipped a beat. She


    gripped Atticus¡¯ hand tighter, and her gaze nervously fixed on Lysander as he approached.


    Today was her day to take the kids to school and to pick them up.


    What was Lysander doing here?


    Did he not trust her to pick up the kids?


    Thssa¡¯s heart clenched, and her breath was caught at the sight of him.


    His deep, profound eyes locked onto hers, and she felt her breath hitch even more.


    Without realizing it, her grip on Atticus'' little hand tightened even more.


    Atticus winced and furrowed his little brows. He looked up at Thssa, ¡°Mom, what¡¯s wrong? You¡¯re


    hurting me.¡±


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    Snapped back to reality, Thssa quickly said, ¡°I¡¯m sorry, honey. Mommy didn¡¯t mean to.¡±


    ¡°Is Mommy nervous ¡®cause she needs Atticus¡¯ help with somethingter?¡± chirped Elowen, her voice


    soft and sweet.


    Elowen, the little foodie, had promised to keep it a secret that morning, and now she was perilously


    close to forgetting her solemn vow.


    Thssa knew Elowen could be a scatterbrain at times.


    Hearing Elowen¡¯s words, she panicked and worried Lysander might pick up on something. She quickly


    yed it off and said, ¡°Mommy¡¯s just not very good with the new software and needs Atticus to help


    with some work. Elowen, didn¡¯t we agree not to point out Mommy¡¯s shorings?¡±


    Thssa¡¯s tone was teasing as she addressed Elowen.


    She effectively diverted the secret of needing Atticus to delete a video into a harmless work-rted


    confession.


    She had dropped out of college in her sophomore year. Though she had learned all she needed from


    the society, she missed out on the tech skills normally acquired in thest two years of university. While


    she had tried to catch up with online tutorials in her spare time, she still felt insecure about her software


    skills.


    Now, this cover story was to protect what she really wanted Atticus to do, to keep the kids from spilling


    the beans.


    Elowen blinked her big, innocent eyes, trying to make sense of the new words she had never heard


    before, looking utterly confused and adorably clueless.


    Dorian, the more astute of the siblings, caught on to Mom¡¯s y immediately. He nudged Elowen¡¯s


    chubby arm and reminded her, ¡°Right, sis? Mom already said no teasing her for not being aputer


    whiz. Did you forget already?¡±


    Elowen turned her plump face towards Dorian, a puzzled frown creasing her features.


    Dorian surreptitiously winked at her, signaling her to get with the program, or their promise to keep


    Mom¡¯s secret would be out the window.


    Seeing Dorian¡¯s frantic winking, she was still a bit lost. ¡°Dorian, do you have something in your eye?


    Why are you blinking so much?¡±


    Dorian was dumbfounded.


    Thssa was also left speechless. Her heart raced.

 Chapter 1005

    Chapter 1005


    Elowen was scatterbrained at the worst possible moment ¡ª in front of Lysander, no less. If he caught


    on to what she was up to, Thssa¡¯s n to delete the video was going to hit some serious turbulence.


    Elowen nced over at Dorian, watching as his yful wink morphed into a serious gaze, then turned


    to Atticus, her little brother''s brow furrowed in concern.


    She couldn''t grasp why everyone was so somber, and it was making her feel uneasy.


    She looked up innocently at Lysander and wanted to ask what was going on, worrying she might have


    done something wrong.


    Lifting her eyes, she saw Lysander''s icy, handsome face. His presence was stern and intimidating, an


    almost tangible pressure emanating from him.


    Elowen''s luminous eyes widened and blinked, her longshes fluttering like butterfly wings as she


    finally caught up with the situation.


    She had promised her mother to keep a secret, not to let Daddy know that Atticus had been helping


    with Mom''s work stuff.


    And she had just blurted it out.


    Meeting Lysander''s scrutinizing gaze, Elowen''s sweet little voice tried to rify. "Daddy, I didn''t say


    anything just now, didn''t say how Mom''s still clueless aboutputers and needs Atticus to help with


    work stuff... You didn''t hear a thing."


    With that, her chubby little hands covered her mouth, signaling that her lips were sealed.


    Dorian felt helpless and speechless.


    If it hadn''t been for Mom''s quick thinking in confusing Elowen''s thoughts, the secret would''ve been out.


    Atticus was quiet, his sister''s attempt at rification was pretty much a giveaway. Thankfully, she didn''t


    remember the specifics of what Mom had told her to keep secret that morning.


    Sophia was dazed, silent, and unaware of what was going on.


    Her clueless and cute expression was endearing.


    Finally, Lysander''s imposing aura seemed to rx a bit.


    His deep gaze shifted to Thssa, who had just let out a sigh of relief, only to catch Lysander''s eye,


    and her heart tightened once again.


    Lysander spoke in a deep voice, "Let''s get the kids home."


    Thssa was momentarily stunned then quickly nodded, "Yes, I''ll take them."


    As she reached for Atticus'' hand to lead him to her car, Lysander''srge palm enveloped her wrist. His


    rough skin disclosed a powerful grip.


    Thssa''s heart skipped a beat as she looked up into his domineering eyes.


    "Your car can be driven by the chauffeur. You all will ride with me." Lysander stated decisively.


    "I want to ride in Mommy''s car. I want Mommy to drive." Atticus piped up, tilting his little head back to


    gaze at Lysander with innocent eyes, making his case.


    "You''ll be with your mom in my car, isn''t that enough?" Lysander countered.


    "But I want to be alone with mommy, to teach her about the software..." Atticus'' voice trailed off,cking


    confidence.


    He wasn''t actually going to teach her software, but rather use his hacking skills to keep something from


    Dad, which was why he sounded unsure as he said ¡°software¡±.


    To Lysander, it seemed Atticus was worried he''d mock Thssa and was being protective of her.


    "No one will say anything, go ahead and teach." Lysander said.


    Then, turning to Thssa, who was trying to avoid his gaze, he added, "Am I so unreasonable?


    Learning is nothing to be ashamed of."


    Thssa felt a jolt in her chest, lifting her eyes incredulously to Lysander.This is the property of N?-velDrama.Org.

 Chapter 1006

    Chapter 1006


    Lysander seemed oblivious to the tension surrounding him, steadfast in his support of her education,


    showing no signs of prejudice or disdain.


    Thssa found him utterly confounding ¨C at times he was brutally indifferent to her feelings, and at


    others, he appeared tender and understanding, as if he nned to spend the rest of his life with her.


    His moods were as changeable as the weather, deep and inscrutable. No one had ever truly


    understood him, least of all someone of her modestprehension.


    Thssa averted her gaze and avoided eye contact with Lysander. Inside her heart was a tempest of


    emotions.


    She turned to Atticus and said, "Let''s take your dad''s car, Atticus. We can work on the software


    anytime, no rush."


    Her eyes earnestly met Atticus''.


    Atticus studied her face intently, noting her serious, solemn expression. Her secret must remain hidden


    All text ? N?velD(r)a''ma.Org.


    from Dad. If she asked for Atticus'' help now, their dad would surely catch on. It would have to wait until


    they were alone.


    Understanding her silent plea, Atticus nodded with wisdom beyond his years. "Okay, Mom. When we


    get home,e to my room, and I''ll teach you."


    "Alright." Thssa said, patting Atticus'' head affectionately.


    The four children climbed into the car and took their seats in the back. Thssa sat in the passenger


    seat, and Lysander took the wheel.


    The journey was quiet, unusually so, as the typically chatty kids sat silent and well-behaved. Thssa


    kept her focus forward, her hands clutching the seat belt, not daring to nce at Lysander.


    Lysander, with his hands firmly on the steering wheel, exuded an air of noble authority as he drove


    smoothly toward Royal Estates.


    Upon arrival, Thssa quickly helped the children out of the car and took their hands as they walked


    into the grand foyer.


    Once they entered, Atticus tugged at Thssa''s hand and urged her toward his room. "Mom, let''s go to


    my room. It''s quiet..."


    "Change into something formal. We are leaving for a cocktail party." Lysander''smanding voice


    interrupted.


    Thssa''s steps faltered. She turned to Lysander with confusion. "A cocktail party?" she echoed.


    Atticus also stopped; his innocent eyes fixed on Lysander.


    "Yes. Get dressed. You''re meeting an elder." Lysander instructed.


    "But Dad, I booked Mom first. I need to teach her how to sort out her work on theputer. You can''t


    hog her!" Atticus protested, his young face mirroring Lysander''s stern demeanor.


    Despite his youth, Atticus'' defiance had a striking resemnce to his father''s formidable presence ¨C


    yet, it paled inparison to Lysander''s mature charisma.


    "Booked her? Since when do you schedule her time without my approval? All her ns should go


    through me." Lysander stated firmly.


    "Why should her n go through your approval?" Atticus challenged.


    "Because she is my woman!" Lysander dered possessively.


    Atticus retorted, "Mom is herself!"


    "Are you asking for a spanking?" Lysander''s face turned icy with authority.


    "You''re the one who deserves a spanking!" Atticus shot back.


    rmed, Thssa quickly pulled Atticus aside, pleading, "Enough, both of you. Atticus, go do your


    homework. I''ll go with your dad to meet this elder, and when wee back, we can spend time


    together. Okay?"


    "But Mom, Dad said you''re his. Aren''t you our mom too?" Atticus'' voice trembled with hurt.


    Thssa''s heart ached, a sour sting at her nose. Even her child could see her pain. She felt like a


    possession, devoid of autonomy, in Lysander''s world.


    But what could she do? She was caught in a life, not of her choosing, in a world where her own voice


    seemed to have little ce.

 Chapter 1007

    Chapter 1007


    Thssa gently stroked Atticus'' tender little head, her voice tinged with a bittersweet ache as she


    consoled him. "Of course, Mommy is your mommy. You will be a good boy and do your homework at


    home, and I''ll be back before you know it."


    "Okay, mom. Come back soon." Atticus replied, his voice soft and childlike, a tone he reserved only for


    moments with Thssa.


    "Okay." she promised.


    She watched Atticus and the other three kids retreat to their rooms. Then she turned and met


    Lysander''s piercing gaze.


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    She steadied her nerves and asked calmly, "Who are we meeting? I need to know so I can pick out the


    right outfit."


    "It''s the son of my grandfather''s friend, an international business magnate, Joshua." Lysander


    exined.


    So, they were meeting the son of Zephyr''s friend, and he was a business tycoon no less.


    Since it was Zephyr''s friend''s son, that meant he was of Lysander''s father''s generation ¡ª a senior


    figure.


    Meeting a business magnate required a bnce in dress: not too understated, yet not too shy.


    Had Lysander really shown up at the daycare gates today just to take her to aworking mixer?


    Thssa suddenly understood why Lysander had been at the school gates.


    What she couldn''t fathom was why, if Lysander had no intention of marrying her or giving her any


    official status, he would bring her to meet Zephyr''s friend''s son?


    Men typically only introduced a woman into their inner circles and introduced her to important family


    members only when they weremitted or engaged with future secured, right?


    Her current status was awkward, merely the mother of Lysander''s children, neither his girlfriend nor his


    fianc¨¦e. He had made it clear he''d never marry her.


    She was just a tool for his fleshly needs, disposable as soon as he grew tired of her.


    With such an insignificant role, why would he taking her to meet such an important senior figure?


    Thssa didn¡¯t ask despite her confusion. Questions would only add to her embarrassment.


    She had questioned Lysander many times before about whether he intended to marry her and provide


    their children aplete family. The answers were always a clear refusal ¨C it was just her delusions


    and she would never be weed into the Sinir family.


    So, she had learned her lesson, no longer asking such foolish questions.


    Thssa searched through the wardrobe on the second floor and chose a designer dress.


    The dress was pristine ivory in color with a modest Peter Pan cor and a hem just below the knee.


    Although the style was understated and restrained, it was a reputable designer piece.


    One couldn''t meet an international business magnate in bargain-basement attire.


    With light makeup and her hair elegantly pinned up to reveal her slender neck, Thssa slipped into


    her simple white ts.


    Her entire demeanor was crisp, graceful, and fresh¡ªa breath of pure elegance.


    She descended the stairs to find Lysander waiting on the couch. His deep-set eyes fixed upon her,


    watching her approach.


    It wasn''t until she was close that he looked away and stood up. His voice was deep as he said, "Let''s


    go."


    Lysander walked ahead with long strides toward the door, and Thssa took a deep breath before


    following.


    Truth be told, she wasn''t interested in meeting the son of Zephyr''s friend or attending any cocktail party.


    All she wanted was to have Atticus erasing that damning video from Bruce''s possession.


    But with Lysander always being around, she hadn''t had the chance to give Atticus Bruce''s phone


    number and IP address.


    The video in Bruce''s possession needed to be dealt with swiftly and sessfully, with no room for


    error. Otherwise, if they spooked him, Bruce could transfer the video elsewhere, making it even harder


    to delete.


    So, she decided to wait and talk to Atticus once she returned, to avoid anyplications.

 Chapter 1008

    Chapter 1008


    Lysander strode into the Draven International Hotel''s banquet hall with Thssa at his side. The event


    was a curious blend of ancient charm and modern extravagance, with fossil disys that might have


    belonged in a museum rather than a social gathering. Instead of the usual buffet of appetizers and


    entrees, the long tables wereden with an array of jade jewelry¡ªpendants, bracelets, circr


    pendants, and all manner of trinkets. It seemed less like a party and more like an upscale antique


    market.


    The attendees were all significant business magnates, each impably dressed in tailored suits,


    exuding an air of affluence and propriety. Their interactionsced with the polite formalities of a bygone


    era of schrs and artists.


    Thssa, grateful for her choice of understated attire, remained close to Lysander, relieved not to draw


    attention. She preferred the shadows to the spotlight, aiming to diminish her presence rather than


    entuate it.


    "You''ve made it, Lysander." greeted Richard Draven with effusive warmth. His expression brightened


    as he noted Thssa, who was standing by Lysander¡¯s side. "And Thssa, what a pleasure to see


    you again." He breathed a sigh of relief, knowing full well the trouble he''d have faced with Lysander if


    any harm hade to her the previous night.


    Thssa nodded politely in response, choosing not to engage in conversation. She recalled that Ethan


    had told her that Richard called himst night and asked for her number, undoubtedly to ensure she


    was escorted home safely ¡ª a n foiled upon finding her missing. It must have been Richard who


    alerted Lysander to her disappearance. How else could Lysander have abruptly appeared at the Crest


    Summit hotel in the apany of a bunch of people with such urgency?


    "Mr. Joshua is awaiting your presence in the private room, Lysander. I''ll lead the way." Richard said, his


    tone shifting to one of seriousness.


    He led the way, and Lysander walked behind him. Inparison to thetter¡¯s august and intimidating


    manner, Richard looked almost like a pageboy.


    As they passed through the banquet hall, Lysander''s innate aristocratic demeanor drew the gaze of


    many an entrepreneur. They dared only to sneak furtive nces, not brazen enough to stare openly.


    Thssa could feel the weight of the collective attention as she followed behind them. It was not on


    her, but on Lysander. By his side, she too basked in the limelight, albeit vicariously.


    "Mr. Joshua, Mr. Sinir has arrived." announced Richard, pushing open the door to the private room


    with a hospitable smile.


    Joshua rose to greet Lysander, his imposing frame and broad shoulders indicative of a man who,


    despite middle age and a few lines of wisdom, still retained a mature, rugged handsomeness that


    hinted a charm in his younger ages.


    "Lysander, you''ve grown more distinguished with the years." Joshua remarked, sping Lysander''s


    shoulder with a warm, affable grin.


    "Joshua, you''ve not lost your edge." Lysander replied. It had been five years since an injury hadnded


    him in Thssa''s barn, entwining their fates. After their encounter, he had searched for her but only to


    believe she had perished. Then he sought treatment abroad, where his correspondence with Joshua


    had deepened.


    Lysander and Joshua shared a camaraderie akin to distant brotherhood.


    Thssa watched and astounded as Lysander uttered apliment. To her surprise, that man who


    was always so stern, so cold, was capable of praise. It was as if she had witnessed the sun rising from


    the west.


    "Ha! Lysander, you''ve learned the art of conversation. That''s refreshing. You seem more vibrant than


    the silent and stoic man I knew." Joshuaughed heartily and patted Lysander''s back.


    "Come, take a seat. There''s much I wish to discuss with you." Joshua invited. He returned to his seat


    and gestured for Lysander to join him across the table.


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    Lysander sat, and Thssa, unsure of her ce, remained standing beside him, feeling very much like


    an unobtrusive servant waiting to attend to his needs.


    "And you too, Miss. Please take a seat. Don''t be shy. Sit by Lysander; it''s all right." Joshua said kindly


    to Thssa, alleviating her awkwardness with the grace of a benevolent elder.

 Chapter 1009

    Chapter 1009


    Thssa was shocked but ttered when Joshua initiated conversation with her. A bit flustered, she


    hurriedly responded politely, ¡°Thank you, Mr. Joshua. But there¡¯s no trouble at all.¡±


    Lysander hadn''t offered her a seat, and she knew better than to just plop down beside him without


    being asked.


    ¡°Mr. Joshua asked you to sit, so please, take a seat.¡± Lysander said.


    Thssa stood rooted to the spot, not immediately sitting, as if she was absent-minded.


    Was Lysander truly inviting her to sit? Next to him, of all ces?


    ¡°Thssa, have a seat. Mr. Joshua is very easy going, so please help yourself.¡± Richard said, pulling


    out a chair next to Lysander and gesturing for her to sit.


    Thssa looked up and saw Joshua''s friendly smile beaming back at her.


    If she didn''t sit down now, she''d appear rude.


    So, she seated herself beside Lysander, slightly nervous.


    A waiter nearby began pouring wine into their sses, even filling Thssa''s ss halfway with red


    wine. Thssa nodded and smiled at the waiter to show her appreciation.


    Meanwhile, Lysander, Richard, and Joshua didn''t give the waiter a second nce as their sses were


    filled.


    T¨ºxt belongs to N?velDrama.Org.


    Once their sses were attended to, Joshua lifted his and looked at Lysander with a smile. ¡°Aren''t you


    going to introduce us to the lovelydy by your side?¡±


    Hearing Joshua prompt Lysander for an introduction, Thssa''s heart skipped a beat. She averted her


    gaze and looked to Lysander''s profile, feeling uneasy and unsure about how he would present her.


    ¡°My ex-secretary, Thssa.¡± Lysander said with a brevity thatcked any warmth.


    Just an ex-secretary, not a girlfriend, not a fianc¨¦e, and certainly not the mother of his children. Just


    Thssa, his ex-secretary!


    His tone was as cold as ever, and Thssa felt her heart plummet, as if pushed from a cliff''s edge and


    braced for a shattering impact.


    Although she had always known she meant little to him, hearing it spelled out to someone else made


    her heart wrench with pain, which even made breathing a struggle.


    She retracted her gaze, her hands trembling slightly on herp, and reached for the wine ss to


    steady herself.


    ¡°So, you''re Thssa.¡± Joshua''s eyes lit up with curiosity and delight. ¡°I''ve heard your name before.


    You''re quite the legend. Do you drink? Shall we have a toast?¡±


    Joshua had heard from Zephyr that Lysander had fathered quadruplets with a woman he had no


    intention of marrying.


    To say Thssa was Lysander''s ex-secretary was an understatement; really, it was better to say that


    she was the mother of his children. This rtionship was as intimate as it was distant ¨C without


    marriage, they were practically strangers.


    Feeling her spirits dampen, Thssa struggled to respond to Joshua''s proposition. Her hand was


    already on the ss; to say she didn''t drink could seem like a snub.


    Forcing a smile, she lifted her ss and toasted to Joshua. ¡°It''s an honor to share a drink with you, Mr.


    Joshua.¡±


    ¡°Ha! For thatment alone, I must drink up. Here''s to you.¡± Joshuaughed heartily, draining his


    ss in one shot.


    Seeing this, Thssa felt obliged to follow suit out of respect for his kindness.


    She took a deep breath, ready to down her drink in one gulp. But as she brought the ss to her lips,


    Lysander''s strong hand suddenly grasped hers and stopped her halfway.

 Chapter 1010

    Chapter 1010


    Thssa hesitated for a moment. She gazed instinctively at Lysander, whose handsome face was as


    stoically cool as ever. He took the wine ss from her hand and looked intently across the table at


    Joshua.


    "She''s got workter. I''ll drink this one." Lysander dered, emptying the ss in one smooth motion.


    Thssa was astonished, not expecting Lysander to intercept the drink meant for her.


    His reason was because she had workter, and he was concerned that drinking might impair her


    performance.


    Was it because Atticus had mentioned earlier that he would be waiting at home for her, ready to tutor


    her on the new software and help with her workload?


    Thssa couldn''t tell if Lysander was stepping in to prevent disappointment for Atticus, who might be


    left waiting in vain if she returned home drunk and unable to focus, or if he was simply worried about


    her getting intoxicated.


    In that moment, was it Atticus, his son, whom Lysander truly cared about, or was it Thssa herself?


    After a second of astonishment, Thssa''s rationality returned. Of course, he cared about his son.


    How could he possibly care about her?


    If he really did care, he wouldn''t have put her through hell time and again, especially at her most


    vulnerable moments, without any regard for her feelings.


    "Well, it''s all the same if Lysander drinks it." Joshua said with a smile that was loaded with meaning as


    he nced between Thssa and Lysander.


    Thssa snapped back just in time to catch Joshua''s knowing smirk, full of implication and a hint of


    mischief.


    It was obvious he was relishing the drama unfolding between Lysander and her.


    Thssa''s eyes widened for a moment, feeling ufortably exposed by the tant and yet subtle


    gossip about her rtionship with Lysander, especiallying from an elder. This was a first for her.


    Feeling awkward and at a loss for words, she wanted to rify that there was nothing between her and


    Lysander, but she didn''t know where to begin.


    "Our stoic Lysander has finally surrendered. There used to be rumors saying that Lysander was not


    interested in women. Now, the rumor is proven wrong." Richard chimed in from across the table, his


    voiceced with mirth as he nced at Joshua and then looked at Lysander and Thssa with warm,


    congrattory eyes, as if they were newlyweds.


    Richard''sment amplified Thssa''s difort, turning it into unease and embarrassment.


    She had been by Lysander''s side from the start without any official status. He had never acknowledged


    her publicly as his woman.


    Her presence in his life was hidden from the light of day, yet it was a constant source of teasing.


    Thssa felt her dignity trampled underfoot, carelessly stepped on by others, leaving her scalp tingling


    with humiliation.


    "Mr. Sinir has always been interested in women. There was his ex-fianc¨¦e Charlotte Ravensong,


    and then his faithful secretary Faye Brennan who loyally stood by his side for ten years. Both left the


    scene eventually, probably when the novelty wore off." Thssa replied calmly to Richard, masking her


    inner turmoil.


    She picked up a ss of juice and took a sip, trying to cover her panic and deliberately ignoring


    Lysander''s intense andmanding presence beside her.


    Her words were a subtle counterattack. It suggested that Lysander wasn''t indifferent to women; he just


    preferred to keep his affairs private. Once the novelty faded, everyone had their exit, including


    Thssa herself.


    Joshua''s smile faltered upon hearing her words. Then, he let out a sigh that was bothmenting and


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    remember to cherish what you have."


    Sensing Lysander''s icy re and the tension rising, Richard knew he was on the verge of provoking his


    anger.


    He quickly attempted to defuse the situation. "Mr. Joshua is right. The most important thing in a


    rtionship is to cherish what you have."


    He busied himself pouring wine for Joshua and Lysander and skillfully changed the subject. "Mr.


    Joshua, have you had any luck finding those Phoenix jade pearls you mentioned?"


    "I took a look at the Draven Group''s jade auction today. There was a variety of jade and emeralds, but


    nothing that I was searching for." Joshua replied, getting back to business and taking a sip of red wine


    from his ss.


    Joshua''s main reason for returning to the country was to find a set of jade pearls he had given to a


    woman 28 years ago. The jade pearls were engraved with the image of a flying phoenix.

 Chapter 1011

    Chapter 1011


    The Draven Group was thergest antique consortium in the region. Seeking their assistance would be


    This is property ? of N?velDrama.Org.


    the most convenient and swift way to find what Joshua needed.


    Once they were apprised of Joshua''s quest, the Draven Group immediately sprang into action, and


    organized an event to gather an array of fine gemstones at the hotel for disy, all to facilitate Joshua''s


    search for that particr jade bead.


    "It''s alright. We''ll organize another one when the opportunity arises." Richard said, taking the setback in


    stride. "Today would be just for Mr. Joshua and Lysander to catch up."


    Richard, the suave young proprietor of the curio shop, was in his element when it came to brokering


    rtionships between businessmen, a skill he had mastered.


    "Ha, indeed." Joshua chuckled. "It''s been a while since Lysander and Ist met. I should pay a visit to


    your grandfather at the Sinir estate someday."


    Lysander, cloaking his typically frosty demeanor, raised his ss toward Joshua with a nod. "You''re


    wee anytime." he said.


    "Ha, excellent." Joshua replied with a heartyugh. He clinked sses with Lysander and took a sip.


    Lysander, breaking his usual custom of downing his drink in one gulp, also took a mere sip and set the


    ss down.


    "We''re out of drinks; I''ll go fetch another bottle." Richard observed, ready to rise as the sses


    emptied.


    "Mr. Richard, allow me." Thssa interjected, quickly standing. Without waiting for a response, she


    made her way to the door with such determination that Richard found himself settling back into his


    seat.


    He continued to discuss with Joshua and Lysander the efforts being made at the cocktail party


    gathering to locate the jade pearls.


    "Mr. Joshua, please rest assured. Now that the Draven Group is on the case, we will find it for you for


    sure." Richard assured him with confidence.


    "I trust in your family''s capabilities." Joshua responded.


    Lysander inquired, "Are these pearl of great importance to you, Mr. Joshua?"


    After all, why else would Joshua go to such lengths, moving heaven and earth in search of a bead?


    If it were merely for collecting, there were plenty of other precious stones worth pursuing. He could


    easily forsake the pearls for other treasures.


    "Yes, it holds special significance for me," Joshua admitted, his gaze dropping momentarily as he took


    a shallow sip from his ss, masking the emotions swirling in his eyes.


    Lysander sensed the shift in Joshua''s mood, chose not to pry further, and simply joined him in a drink.


    Thssa left the private room and stepped into the main event space where guests moved with an air


    of grace and ease.


    Surrounded by the elegant crowd of well-dressed men and women, Thssa felt out of ce as she


    knew no one at all.


    She nced briefly at the scene and then headed toward the liquor cab.


    "Wow, who is that?" someone eximed. "Dressed so formally, so alluring!"


    "Did she wander into the wrong event? Is this really the attire for the scene?"


    Thssa had barely taken a few steps when she heard murmurs and sighs of admiration echoing


    through the hall.


    Following the sounds, her eyesnded on a woman making her entrance.


    The woman wore a rosy gown; its hem trailing along the floor with a daring slit on the side that revealed


    a sh of her baster thigh with every step.


    The strapless design featured a bold V-cut that disyed much of her breasts.


    It was a gown that perfectly blended grace with sensuality. Its revealing cut highlighted the woman''s


    voluptuous figure to full effect.


    Her arrival instantly stirred the hall into a flutter of excitement.

 Chapter 1012

    Chapter 1012


    Every head turned as the neer strode into the room.


    She was dressed to kill, her makeupyered on thick and wless.


    Her eyshes, long and artificial, fluttered like miniature fans atop her eyes with each blink.


    Her lips, painted the same color as her dress, seemed ready for the stage rather than the understated


    elegance of the antique collectors'' soiree she had just entered.


    In an instant, she was the center of everyone''s attention.


    "Hey everyone, my name¡¯s Susan. Thrilled to be here with you all tonight at this lovely gathering. This


    is my assistant." Susan said, lifting her dress slightly and waving with a beaming smile. "We''ll be


    mingling in a bit, so let''s trade digits on WhatsApp and make some connections."


    Trailing behind her was a man in casual wear, his rxed attire a stark contrast to her morous get-


    up.


    The man quickly whipped out his phone. He approached the intrigued businessmen, eager for


    connections.


    Some, out of politeness, obliged; others turned on their heel and walked away.


    Susan didn''t mind. Each new contact was a potential opportunity.


    She had heard through the grapevine that the Draven Group was hosting an antique collectors'' mixer


    at the Draven International Hotel. Knowing the Dravens were tight with Lysander, she was hoping that


    Lysander would be there as well. So, there she was, hunting for a chance to meet him.


    Dressed to the nines, she was a siren among sailors, ready to draw in the attention. Whether or not


    Lysander was in attendance, she was determined to leave with a bevy of new contacts.


    Susan flitted from guest to guest with her assistant busyworking.


    Thssa recognized Susan. She diverged her sight indifferently and grabbed a bottle of wine from the


    liquor cab.


    On the other side, Susan¡¯s eyes scanned all over the hall for Lysander. Soon, disappointment settled in


    as her search proved fruitless. But just as she was about to give up hope, she caught a glimpse of


    Thssa''s slender silhouette.


    Susan''s smile withered, her gaze hardened, and she made a beeline for Thssa.


    Thssa, on her way back to the private room, found her path suddenly blocked by the heavily made-


    up Susan.


    This is the property of N?-velDrama.Org.


    Thssa''s guard went up immediately, her expression icy. "A good dog doesn''t get in the way!"


    "A dog? Your whole family''s nothing but dogs!" Susan retorted, her anger boiling over.


    "Did I name you? If the shoe fits, wear it." Thssa shot back, giving Susan a frosty nce before


    attempting to sidestep her.


    "Stop right there!" Susan blocked her path again, imperious.


    "That wine''s for Lysander, isn''t it?" Susan asserted confidently. If Thssa was here, Lysander had to


    be here too.


    It seemed her luck was turning.


    "What business is it of yours who I''m taking this wine to?" Thssa sneered, eyeing her with disgust


    before turning to leave.


    "You can ignore me all you want, but I can just call my dad and have that video released right now."


    Susan threatened, her voice cold.


    Thssa froze. A chill ran down her spine, anger ring inside her.


    Her breath quickened as she trembled with rage.


    Bruce and his daughter were relentless with their video threats!


    She wanted nothing more than to smash the wine bottle over Susan''s head and be done with her.


    But she couldn''t.


    With a deep breath, Thssa''s rage was momentarily quelled by rationality. She turned back to Susan,


    her eyes burning with suppressed fury. "What do you want from me?"

 Chapter 1013

    Chapter 1013


    Hold it together, she told herself. When she got Atticus to delete that video from Bruce''s phone, this


    father-daughter duo wouldn¡¯t have anything over her anymore.


    The video would be gone very soon.


    Susan watched as Thssa''s confidence faltered. A smug smile spread across her face as she strolled


    up to her and nced at the wine bottle in Thssa''s hand before gesturing behind her.


    Her assistant immediately understood and quickly handed her the object requested.


    Clutching the item, Susan instructed Thssa, "Pop the cork."


    Thssa furrowed her brows, reluctant.


    "You won''t do it, huh? Well, I¡¯ve already got a text drafted in my phone. One tap, and it''s sent. Dad will


    follow up in an instant." Susan threatened.


    The assistant stood behind her, nervously holding the phone that was ready to send a message.


    With her nerves on edge and her body trembling with suppressed rage, Thssa begrudgingly opened


    the wine bottle. She had already loosened the cork with a corkscrew earlier, so it came off easily now.


    "Let''s take this conversation to the restroom," Susan suggested, scanning the room and noting a few


    curious onlookers. She wanted to keep things low-key.


    She led the way to the restroom, and Thssa had no choice but to follow.


    The restroom was quiet, devoid of others and free from surveince.


    Susan unfolded the item in her hand ¡ª it was a piece of paper, which she carefully unwrapped to


    reveal a gray powder.


    Lifting the paper, she tipped the powder into the wine bottle.


    This is property ? of N?velDrama.Org.


    "What are you putting in there?" Thssa demanded with a stern tone.


    "Rx, it''s not deadly. Just a little something to make a man more... interested in a woman. You''re


    going to give this to Lysander. Once he¡¯s ''tipsy'', escort him to his hotel room to rest. When he''s lying


    down and can''t take it anymore, that¡¯s when youe out and let me inside." Susan exined.


    Susan had tried to seduce Lysander once before without sess. It was very likely that he wasn''t into


    her type. But she was determined to have him, by any means necessary. To win over Lysander was to


    win half the battle!


    If seduction wouldn''t work, she''d make Lysandere to her.


    Thssa''s heart tightened. "You''veced it with that kind of drug!"


    Despite her numerous grievances with Lysander, she had never considered drugging him!


    Yet, Susan was asking her to do exactly that!


    Thssa was wholly resistant.


    "Yes, I will have him tonight. I can''t wait any longer! Take this to him now and watch him drink. I''ll be


    watching you, making sure you do it. If you dare to resist, my assistant will send that text, and my father


    will release the video!"


    Susan''s facade had dropped; her eyes, heavy with makeup, smoldered with malice.


    She hade prepared with the drug for this very encounter with Lysander.


    Thssa was furious, her teeth nearly grinding to dust, her clear eyes burning with hatred as she


    red at Susan''s malevolent sneer.


    She wanted to force Susan''s mouth open, pour the wine down her throat, and let her taste what it¡¯s like


    to be drugged!


    But the memory of her mother''s suicide, the despair and suffocation, mped tight on her throat.


    Reason suppressed all her impulses and resistance.


    "Fine." Thssa spat through clenched teeth, "I''ll y your game today!"


    With that, she took the wine bottle and left the restroom.


    Susan''s sneer echoed faintly in the back, as she followed.

 Chapter 1014

    Chapter 1014


    Thssa paused at the entrance of the private room and stole a nce behind her. Susan was


    prancing along, her skirt held up with one hand, and her assistant following closely.


    Susan''s eyes shed a silent warning as she caught Thssa¡¯s nce.


    With a tension in her breath and a firm grip on the wine bottle, Thssa''s brow furrowed. She turned


    back and pushed open the door to enter.


    As she was about to close the door, it was held open by Susan, who slipped through with a make-up


    stered face that quickly morphed into a facade of gentle politeness. "It¡¯s you, Thssa! I thought it


    was you from the back so I followed, and I was right! It''s so good to see you." she said, her voice


    pitched for all to hear.


    Thssa knew all too well that Susan''s words were meant for the others in the room to hear. She was


    there to keep tabs on her.


    Biting back her anger, Thssa let go of the door and returned to her seat beside Lysander.


    She set the bottle of red wine on the table.


    Undeterred and uninvited, Susan breezed in with a sweet smile, "Oh! Mr. Sinir, and Mr. Richard too!


    And who might this be...?"


    She greeted warmly, her gaze lingering curiously on Joshua who was unfamiliar to her.


    Joshua, ever the gentleman, offered Susan a polite nod and a smile.


    Susan, basking in the attention, quickly sidled up next to Joshua and perched herself on the seat


    beside him, her face beaming, "Hello there, you must be Mr. Sinir¡¯s business partner. You look so


    young and dashing!"


    Thssa could hardly stand it. Susan was so thick-skinned and shameless.


    Richard coughed lightly into his fist, incredulous at Susan''sck of decorum and brazenness. "Thinks


    she''s endearing when she''s just crossed lines." he thought, as he worried about her possibly offending


    Joshua.


    As he uncorked the wine Thssa brought in, Richard filled the empty sses in front of Joshua and


    Lysander.


    "Susan, why don''t you sit across from me?" he suggested, pointing to a vacant seat. "There''s an empty


    ss there, and I can pour you a drink. This seat is Mr. Joshua''s personal space."


    "Oh! Mr. Joshua, what a pleasure! I''m Thssa''s sister, Susan." she said, ignoring Richard''s hint to


    keep her distance from Joshua and continued to engage him in conversation.


    She thought she could curry favor with Lysander by cozying up to Mr. Joshua.


    Joshua''s polite smile faded as he subtly shifted away from Susan.


    Her overbearing presence was unsettling, and what had started as a courteous nod was now turning


    into a deliberate avoidance.


    Susan¡¯s smile waned as she noticed theck of response and the disdain on Joshua''s face. "I can''t


    miss out on a toast with such esteemedpany as Mr. Sinir and Mr. Joshua." she said, finally


    moving to take the seat suggested by Richard.


    Susan looked across to Richard, "Could you please pour me a ss, Mr. Richard? Thank you."


    Despite his dislike for her, Richard poured her a drink with outward civility.This is property ? of N?velDrama.Org.


    Susan raised her ss first to Lysander, then turned to Joshua with an enthusiastic air. "Mr. Sinir,


    Mr. Joshua, I''d like to offer a toast on behalf of my sister Thssa. Thank you, Mr. Sinir, for taking


    care of her, and thank you, Mr. Joshua, for your continued support of the Sinir group."


    Thssa was astounded by Susan''s brazenness.


    Like father, like daughter ¡ª Susan''s hypocrisy and shamelessness were spitting images of her father


    Bruce.


    How did she dare present herself as Thssa''s sister, and on what grounds was she thanking


    Lysander?


    And as for thanking Mr. Joshua for supporting the Sinir group ¡ª it was even moreughable. Did


    she really think she had any ce to issue such thanks? She was truly adept at aggrandizing herself.

 Chapter 1015

    Chapter 1015


    Sneer and raged filled Thssa¡¯s heart, but not a trace of discontent could flicker across her face. Her


    hands, though, clenched tight on herp as she endured the storm of fury and loathing churning within.


    Enough words had been spoken, and if Joshua didn¡¯t lift his ss to drink, it would appear as a slight


    against Thssa¡¯s honor.


    Joshua had just learned that Thssa was Lysander¡¯s children¡¯s mother, and his demeanor towards


    her was as warm as it was towards Lysander himself.


    He couldn¡¯t bear the thought of her being upset.


    Without hesitation, Joshua raised his ss first.


    Thssa was taken aback, her eyes widening in surprise. She had thought Susan was nothing but a


    sideshow, orchestrating a farce that neither Lysander nor Joshua would partake in.


    She didn¡¯t expect that Joshua would actually lift his ss!


    That drink was spiked ¨C it was imperative not to drink it.


    ¡°Thssa, your sister is quite an interesting person.¡± Joshua said with an ambiguous sparkle in his


    eye, his wordsced with intrigue.


    His notion of ¡®interesting¡¯ was surely not apliment to Susan, but a veiled scoff at the absurdity of it


    all.


    As Joshua prepared to sip his drink, Thssa¡¯s heart leaped to her throat. She blurted out, ¡°Mr.


    Joshua, wait a moment!¡±


    ¡°Hmm? Something else?¡± Joshua paused, turning his inquisitive gaze towards Thssa.


    Suppressing the panic within, Thssa snatched the ss from in front of Lysander and said, ¡°Mr.


    Joshua, you¡¯ve had quite enough to drink already, and you still need to driveter. I¡¯ll take this one for


    the team ¨C consider it making up for not sharing a drink with you earlier. You don¡¯t have to drink.¡±


    No sooner had Thssa spoken than Susan shot her a venomous, warning re.


    Thssa¡¯s heart clenched, she bit down hard on her resolve, choosing to ignore Susan¡¯s menacing


    stare, and reached for the drink.


    But Lysander snatched the ss away.


    His deep, baritone voice rumbled, ¡°Why are you meddling when your sister is toasting us?¡± He


    emphasized the words ¡®your sister¡¯ heavily.


    09:25


    His profound eyes smoldered with a dark, volcanic fury, threatening to erupt at any


    moment.


    Last time, Thssa sent Susan to deliver him wine, which was a ploy to provide Susan a chance to


    seduce him!


    This time, she brought Susan along. What was her intention?


    He was determined to uncover Thssa¡¯s scheme!


    Susan had been insisting she was Thssa¡¯s sister throughout, suggesting a close bond between


    them.


    How close Thssa was to Bruce¡¯s camp!


    Confronted with Lysander¡¯s abyssal gaze, deep and frightening as a well, Thssa¡¯s heart skipped a


    beat. She was left speechless.


    ¡°Thank you for your courtesy, gentlemen, and I¡¯ll drink ahead.¡± Susan chimed in with a smile, lifting her


    ss to her lips and downing the red wine in one gulp.


    Joshua followed suit, drinking a hearty portion.


    Lysander¡¯s eyes, deep and inscrutable, brought the ss to his lips.


    As Lysander was about to drink, Thssa¡¯s heart tightened. Her breath hitched, and her mind raced


    Belongs ? to N?velDrama.Org.


    with silent pleas: Don¡¯t drink, Lysander, please don¡¯t drink!


    09:25


    2/2

 Chapter 1016

    Chapter 1016


    Of course, Lysander couldn¡¯t hear Thssa¡¯s silent prayers. He lifted the wine ss to his lips and took


    a sip.


    Thssa¡¯s heart, which had been fluttering like a trapped bird, sank into the depths of despair as she


    watched the red wine sliding down Lysander¡¯s throat. He had drunk the wine, and with it, herst sliver


    of hope seemed to dissolve.


    Just like Joshua had earlier, Lysander set the half-empty ss back on the table. His piercing, icy gaze


    shifted to Susan on his side, and his voice, low and threatening, broke the silence, ¡°Is your little


    performance over, Susan? What¡¯s your game?¡±


    Susan, who had been smirking triumphantly at Lysander¡¯s sip of the wine, felt a sudden pang of panic


    at Lysander¡¯s interrogation. Did he suspect something was wrong with the drink? Her heart raced with


    fear, but she quickly regained herposure. If Lysander had truly suspected the wine, he wouldn¡¯t be


    asking about her intentions.


    The wine was brought in by Thssa, and Lysander trusted her. He wouldn¡¯t doubt the drink; he was


    only questioning Susan¡¯s motives intruding the private room.


    Susan¡¯s smile stiffened for a moment, but it was a fleeting tell. She quickly shifted back to a facade of


    friendliness. ¡°Mr. Sinir, it was Thssa who confided in me,ining about not wanting to be


    around you, iming you forced her to do things against her will. She wanted to throw you my way, and


    I believed her. I thought I was helping her by diverting your attention, so she wouldn¡¯t be the sole focus


    of your pursuits.


    I¡¯ve reflected on my actions, and I was wrong to try and seduce you. I realize my mistake, and I won¡¯t


    dare again. Could you please forgive me for my previous indiscretion, Mr. Sinir?¡±


    With each word Susan spoke, the air around Lysander seemed to grow colder, more oppressive. His


    gaze turned razor-sharp as itnded on Thssa.


    Thssa felt as if her heart was being sliced open under his piercing stare. Susan¡¯s talent for twisting


    the truth was truly remarkable.


    ¡°I never¡­¡± Thssa started to defend herself but was interrupted by the vibrating of her phone in her


    pocket, startling her enough to halt her words. She caught Lysander¡¯s hawk-like eyes, and her nerves


    tightened.


    The persistent buzzing of the phone seemed to tug at Thssa¡¯s heart, her pulse racing with anxiety.


    She dared not take the phone out, nor answer the call. If it was Callum on the other end, and if


    Lysander saw that, her night would surely end in disaster in his rage.


    ¡°Answer it.¡± Lysandermanded briefly, his voice heavy with authority.


    His voice seemed to weigh down her heart even further.


    09:25


    TV take it ritoire


    Tar


    merched and and gok


    pince


    hott pluse of the


    Susan for he felieved the hill of daving such things. The realization only made him even more furious


    and annoyed


    Susan watched Lysander finish his wine with smug curl of her lips. Her heart bloomed with delight. She


    Belongs ? to N?velDrama.Org.


    was already savoring the moment she would be his, with a


    triumphant smile hidden within her


    Joshua and Richard remained silen

 Chapter 1017

    Chapter 1017


    Joshua peered at the interactions between Lysander and Thssa, and he sensed the tension and


    unresolved issues simmering between them. Yet, in Lysander''s gaze, Joshua witnessed a loss of


    control he had never seen in his friend''s eyes before.


    Lysander was a veteran, known for his stoic and indifferent nature. He had an irond self-control,


    All text ? N?velD(r)a''ma.Org.


    imperturbable in the face of adversity, with no person or situation easily ruffling hisposure. But in


    Thssa''s presence, his usual cool faltered.


    Richard remained silent, as he was keenly aware that meddling in Lysander''s affairs would be a bad


    idea. Just the night before, Lysander had coldly warned him that if anything happened to Thssa,


    Richard would be dragged down with her. That icy, stern admonition was more than enough to keep


    him on the straight and narrow.


    He dared not get entangled in whatever was going on between Lysander and Thssa. Lysander was


    clearly fallen too deep for Thssa. If there was any conflict between the two, he might not have the


    heart to me Thssa, but it could catch others in the crossfire.


    Richard certainly didn''t want to be in the line of fire. He hadn''t touched a drop of liquor today either. He


    was the host of the gathering, and he needed to stay sharp to maintain order.


    "Lysander, don''t get worked up, buddy. Let''s have another drink. You know how it is with women - you


    gotta pamper them, make a fuss over them, and then they''ll see the good in you," Joshua said, picked


    up the bottle, and poured another round for both himself and Lysander, trying to ease his friend''s mind.


    Lysander''s handsome face was tense, and his deep-set eyes were frosty. He remained silent.


    Joshua raised his ss to Lysander, "Let''s just say this is for me, man. Don''t sweat the small stuff."


    Lysander would certainly oblige to take Joshua¡¯s toast. For him, Joshua was someone of high esteem,


    a mentor and a friend.


    Lysander lifted his ss and joined Joshua in the drink.


    Susan watched from a distance, her heart fluttering with wicked delight. The more Lysander drank, the


    stronger the effects of the drug would be, and the easier her task would be.


    Perfect!


    Thssa stepped out of the private room and answered a phone call with a worried tone, "Mom, what''s


    up?"


    Evelyn had stayed at home alone in the past few days. Thssa was unable to be with her mother due


    to her obligations with the kids.


    But she was constantly concerned about her mother, fearing the loneliness might get to her. On the


    other hand, Bruce might not keep his word and risk a scandal that could hurt Evelyn.


    "Oh, nothing, dear. I just wanted to check in. You haven''t been hometely, have you?" Evelyn''s voice


    was the same as always.


    Thssa relieved as she detect no distress in her mother''s voice.


    "I''ve been over at Royal Estates with the kids thesest few days. I''lle home tomorrow afternoon."


    Thssa replied.


    "Where are you now? Still at Royal Estates?" Evelyn queried, feeling a bit lonely.


    "No, I had some things to take care of. I''m at the Draven International Hotel banqueting hall. Lysander''s


    a bit drunk; I might have to take him to his hotel room to rest." Thssa informed her mother of her


    whereabouts.


    "Draven International Hotel? I''m nearby. I picked up a cleaning job today and came to get to know the


    area. I''lle over and see you." Evelyn suggested.


    "But Mom..." Thssa started to protest, not wanting her mother to trouble herself. But the call was


    abruptly ended.


    When she tried calling back, there was no answer.


    Thssa frowned slightly, knowing her mother''s habit all too well. After a call, she¡¯d put her phone right


    back into the bag and not check it anymore.


    If Evelyn wasing, it was fine. Thssa would just let the others know and leave early to meet her


    mother. They would go to Royal Estates together.


    Returning to the private room, Thssa discovered the bottle of red wine she had brought in had been


    polished off by Lysander and Joshua.


    Lysander, pinching the bridge of his nose, was clearly intoxicated.

 Chapter 1018

    Chapter 1018


    Lysander wasn''t feeling quite right. His handsome face was flushed with a wine-red hue, and the air


    around him carried a tipsy yet chilly pressure. His brows furrowed, a gesture of suppressed difort,


    as he pinched the bridge of his nose, trying to ease the unpleasant sensation.


    Across from him, Joshua also looked worse for wear. He was shaking his head as he took in ragged


    breaths.


    Susan, having only indulged in a single drink, was still rtively steady, though an abnormal flush had


    crept onto her cheeks.


    She rose to her feet, the ambition in her heart nearly impossible to conceal. She rubbed her hands


    together, looked at Lysander with a smile, and said, ¡°Mr. Sinir, Mr. Joshua, you both seem a bit tipsy.


    Lucky for us, we''re at the Draven Group Hotel. How about booking a room and resting up? I should be


    heading home myself. Thank you both for being so gracious today.¡±


    Thssa watched Susan with a restrained gaze. Others might not pick up on it, but she knew perfectly


    well that Susan''s mention of leaving was deliberately intended for Lysander to hear. She wanted to


    show that she had no intention to him to avoid his suspicion.


    No one paid Susan any mind, making her seem like she was talking to herself. But she didn''t mind in


    the slightest; after all, she had achieved half of her goal.


    All she needed now was to patiently wait for Thssa to summon her to Lysander''s room.


    She wasn''t worried about Thssa being disobedient, unless she wanted to risk her mother''s dignity.


    After delivering her piece, Susan walked to the door and shot Thssa a venomous nce as she


    passed by, the meaning clear as day.


    Thssa''s heart tightened. She red back at Susan, furious but voiceless.


    Seeing Thssa''s helpless expression, Susan''s lips curled into a smug smile. She turned away and


    exited the private room.


    As Susan disappeared, Thssa came back to her senses and stood beside Lysander, saying, ¡°Mr.


    Sinir, I have something to attend to... I should leave too.¡±


    She hoped to sneak out while Lysander was preupied and Susan was not here. She would sneak


    home and have Atticus to delete the video, before Susan found out that she was gone.


    Then, Susan couldn''t threaten Thssa anymore.


    But if she left without saying a word to Lysander, he would surely look for her, and things could spiral


    out of control.


    Hearing her voice, Lysander rxed his grip on his brow. His deep and brooding eyes glossing over


    with a drunken sheen.


    In a low and husky voice, he asked, ¡°Where to?¡±


    ¡°Home.¡± Thssa replied, meeting Lysander''s desireden gaze. Her breathing slowed and her heart


    raced.


    Just one look from him could unsettle her so.


    Belongs ? to N?velDrama.Org.


    ¡°Together.¡± Lysander said, rising to his feet. In that second, a wave of heat rushed from his core to his


    head, his brain swelling with the intense warmth.


    He stumbled slightly, his brows knitting together.


    ¡°I should head back too.¡± Joshua said as he stood up, the difort making his body sway.


    ¡°Mr. Joshua.¡± Richard quickly steadied him, ¡°You''ve had quite a bit to drink. For safety''s sake, why don''t


    you stay at the hotel tonight? I''ll escort you to your room.¡±


    Richard was the host of the evening''s gathering, and he had to take care of his guests. If something


    happened to them after attending his event, he would be responsible.


    Both Joshua and Lysander were heavily intoxicated and in need of immediate rest. It would be unwise


    for them to travel in such a state.


    Then, Richard turned to Thssa and said, ¡°I''ll take Mr. Joshua to his room. Could you please help


    Lysander get to his? They''re on the same floor.¡±


    Thssa''s breath hitched as she nced at Lysander. He was definitely not in good shape, and if he


    insisted on going home with her, his presence would prevent her from asking Atticus to delete the video


    right away.


    If she missed this critical time, and when Susan realized Lysander wasn''t at the hotel, she would text


    Bruce to release the video to the public.

 Chapter 1019

    Chapter 1019


    She couldn''t take the risk.


    So, she couldn''t let Lysandere home with her.


    Belongs ? to N?velDrama.Org.


    "Alright." Thssa replied. She stepped forward to support Lysander and followed Richard out of the


    private room. They went towards the elevator that led to the upper floors of the hotel.


    The elevator stopped on the 28th floor, and Richard helped Joshua out. A bellboy was already waiting


    at the elevator doors. "Mr. Richard, here are the key cards for rooms 2806 and 2809."


    "Thanks. You may go now." Richard took the key cards from the bellboy and handed one to Thssa,


    "Please take Lysander to this room."


    Thssa took it, nced at the number, and saw it was for room 2809.


    She struggled to help Lysander to the door, fumbling with the key card to open it.


    Room 2806 was just across from 2809. Richard unlocked his door and helped Joshua inside.


    Thssa, supporting Lysander, noticed his drunkenness had intensified. His steps grew more erratic,


    and his body started to slump.


    She draped his arm over her shoulder, bearing the weight of his body, and staggered into the room.


    "Easy does it, the bed''s just ahead," she said.


    As he was dragged inside, his long leg hooked behind him, closing the door¡ªa detail Thssa missed.


    She made it to the bed and was about to gently lower Lysander onto it when the arm around her


    shoulder suddenly tightened, pulling her neck with a strong, firm grip.


    Thssa spun around and was flung onto the bed, her back hitting the soft mattress and bouncing


    slightly. Her heart raced, a cry of rm escaping her as she instinctively tried to turn over. But


    Lysander''s broad chest had pressed down on her before she could move.


    His legs pinned hers, his chest enveloping her, and his hot, powerful breath sprayed across her face.


    Thssa''s heart skipped a beat, and her nerves tingled with tension, "Lysander, you''re drunk. You


    should get some rest... You''ll feel better after a rest..."


    "Really, you think I can''t hold my liquor?" Lysander''s husky voice rumbled above her, like the growl of a


    wild beast circling her head.


    His breath, warm and heavy, yed across her lips. His hot chest pressed down on her, and she could


    feel the scorching heat even through the fabric.


    It was so intense that Thssa''s heart pounded like boiling water, unable to calm.


    "You''re faking being drunk?" Thssa''s wide, clear eyes fixated on the handsome face so close to


    hers. Those sharp contours bathed in a mix of fiery warmth and icy coolness.


    Lysander''srge hand covered her face and enveloped itpletely. His rough palm, calloused slightly,


    caressed her cheek, the heat from his hand almost scalding.


    It sent tingles across Thssa''s skin, a sensation so intense it was almost electric, making her skin


    burn.


    "There was something in that drink, wasn''t there? You know it better than I do, don''t you?" Lysander''s


    deep eyes, mysterious and unfathomable, fixed piercingly on Thssa''s.


    Thssa''s breath hitched, her heart ceasing to beat for a moment, fear and anxietyid bare.


    Lysander knew there was something in the drink. Why did he still drink it?


    "Why would you do this?" His icy, hoarse voice broke the silence when she didn''t respond.


    "I..." The repression in Thssa''s heart was too intense, almost causing her to spill the truth. But as


    she met Lysander''s eyes ¡ª void of any warmth, cold and detached ¡ª her pain choked in her throat,


    and her hands clutched the nket beneath her.


    "Susan fancies you." Thssa managed to say, trying to suppress the turmoil and sorrow within her.


    Her voice was calm andposed.

 Chapter 1020

    Chapter 1020


    ¡°So, you¡¯re just dumping her on me?¡± The heat that usually radiated from Lysander turned frosty in an


    instant, like a blizzard striking in the heart of June, chilling to the core.


    His eyes, once aze with irritation, now whipped with the cold of a bitter wind. The hand cradling her


    face unconsciously tightened, and his veins stood out like cords against the skin on the back of his


    hands.


    Thssa tensed up at his husky and icy voice.


    Swallowing hard, she said, ¡°What if you get bored with me? Better to pass me on to a sister than some


    stranger, right?¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s your game n!¡± Lysander clenched his teeth, anger ring in his gaze as his body temperature


    rose, threatening to engulf them both in his fury.


    ¡°Since when do you decide who I¡¯m with, Thssa? You¡¯ll soon find out if I¡¯m tired of or not!¡±


    Each word was practically ground out between his teeth.


    With that, he kissed her fiercely.


    you


    ¡°Mmph¡­¡± Thssa¡¯s breath was sealed by his lips. She wanted to struggle, but her entire body,


    including her head, was pinned down on the bed by him. She was utterly


    immobilized.


    His kiss was relentless and forceful, sweeping away her breath and reason like a tornado. His heavy


    breathing filled her senses, carrying his rage through her bloodstream, burning straight into her heart.


    Her pulse raced, leaving her panicked, terrified.


    He kissed her with more force and maniption than ever before, as if trying to pour all


    his breath and anger into her.


    He wanted his strong masculine presence to upy every corner of her body, including her heart, her


    blood, her very organs, and every cell to be infused with his dominant aura.


    Thssa¡¯s lips were swollen and numb from Lysander¡¯s wrath.


    Other than widening her eyes in shock, she could do nothing; she was as if sealed and unable to


    move.


    Only when she was about to suffocate did Lysander finally release her.


    As he let go, air rushed into her lungs. She gasped for breath, her mouth slightly open, her body limp


    and powerless. She couldn¡¯t have moved anymore even if Lysander weren¡¯t


    1/2


    08:55


    pinning her down.


    A drunken haze seemed to gloss over Lysander¡¯s deep eyes as he loomed over her on the bed. His


    hand traced down from her face, along her cheek, her neck, and finally pausing at the buttons of her


    shirt¡­


    Panicked, Thssa quickly covered her neckline. ¡°I¡¯ll just run downstairs and grab a box of condoms.¡±


    His movements stilled, and his gaze locked onto her, ¡°Don¡¯t you always carry birth control pills with


    you?¡±


    Thssa was slightly stunned. She had bought birth control pills for her mother once and lied to


    Lysander about always carrying them for emergencies. She never thought he would remember, but it


    turned out he did.


    ¡°I didn¡¯t bring them today,¡± she said, a hint of panic flickered in her eyes.


    Lysander was furious, and with the drug he¡¯d taken, his look was more dangerous and predatory.


    ¡°We¡¯ll get them afterward.¡± Lysander reached to move her hands away.


    In a flurry of anxiety, Thssa grabbed his hands and said tensely, ¡°You¡¯re drugged right now. It may


    Belongs ? to N?velDrama.Org.


    affect me. We should really get protection first.¡±


    Lysander¡¯s intense stare made her heart race faster, as if it might break.


    ¡°You have three minutes.¡± he said, his voice cold and gravelly. He pulled his hand free from hers and


    looked away with a detached air.


    He swallowed hard, struggling to control the restlessness and heat coursing through his body.


    2/2

 Chapter 1021

    Chapter 1021


    ¡°Alright, I¡¯m on it.¡± Thssa muttered, not wasting a single second. She leapt out of bed and made a


    beeline for the door.


    As she hurried, her legs momentarily gave way, nearly sending her tumbling to the floor. But with a


    fierce determination, she steadied herself and powered through the weakness in her legs, making a


    swift exit and remembering to shut the door behind her.


    She stepped into the elevator alone and pressed the button for the basement level.


    Susan was surely waiting in the lobby for her signal.


    But Thssa needed to slip out of the hotel through the basement to quickly make her way back to


    Royal Estates to see Atticus about deleting that video.


    She had given Lysander the slip, making up an excuse to leave the room. She knew once Lysander got


    started, it would be hours before he¡¯d be satisfied.


    Belongs ? to N?velDrama.Org.


    And she couldn¡¯t wait that long nor could Susan. If Susan didn¡¯t get her signal in time, she¡¯d be a


    bundle of nerves and might recklessly set out on her own. If Susan found Thssa and Lysander


    together, in the heat of the moment, who knows what she might do? Thssa couldn¡¯t bear the


    consequences.


    Susan hade to the hotel prepared, with that particr drug and an assistant, and wouldn¡¯t give up


    easily. If she didn¡¯t get the signal, she¡¯d undoubtedly find a way to obtain a key card and get into


    Lysander¡¯s room.


    Knowing that Lysander had taken the drug and wouldn¡¯t be in his usual clear-headed state, Susan


    would barge into his room without a second thought, determined to make herself his woman.


    By leaving the hotel and racing against the clock to delete the video, Thssa would buy herself some


    time. Even if Susan got impatient and went looking, she¡¯d only find Lysander alone, which wouldn¡¯t


    drive her to madness. Instead, Susan would likely try to seduce Lysander, to im him for herself.


    Thssa reached the basement floor without incident and quickened her pace toward the exit. She


    dialed Evelyn¡¯s number, hoping to intercept her and direct her to Royal Estates instead of The Draven


    International Hotel.


    The phone rang endlessly with no answer.


    Once Evelyn dropped her phone into her bag, she wouldn¡¯t be able to hear the bell ringing, let alone


    picking up the phone.


    What a frustrating habit of hers!


    With no response from Evelyn and no time to spare, Thssa hailed a cab and rattled off the address


    for Royal Estates, urging the driver to go on full speed.


    1/2


    08:55


    She figured Evelyn would find her way back if she couldn¡¯t find Thssa.


    Back at the Draven International Hotel, no sooner had Thssa left than Evelyn arrived. She stepped


    into the luxurious lobby.


    She scoured the banquet hall but didn¡¯t find Thssa. She then spotted a man in a sharp suit mingling


    with the guests with a manner of ease and elegance. Evelyn believed that he was the host of the event;


    otherwise, he wouldn¡¯t have to please each guest with such smooth operation.


    Evelyn approached and asked, ¡°Excuse me, young man, could you tell me where I might find


    Thssa?¡±


    The man was Richard. He surveyed Evelyn with a curious eye upon hearing Thssa¡¯s name and


    said, ¡°May I ask what business you have with Thssa?¡±


    ¡°Oh, I¡¯m her mother.¡± Evelyn confessed. ¡°She called me a little while ago, said she was here and asked


    me toe find her.¡±


    At the mention of being Thssa¡¯s mother, Richard¡¯s demeanor warmed instantly. ¡°You¡¯re Thssa¡¯s


    mother? She just went up to her hotel room. I¡¯ll take you there.¡±


    Evelyn, not wanting to be a bother, politely declined. ¡°Just the room number would be fine. I can find


    her myself. I wouldn¡¯t want to take up your time.¡±


    How could she possibly ask him to leave his guests just to escort her to a hotel room?


    ¡°Sure thing.¡± Richard agreed. ¡°She¡¯s in room 2809, on the 28th floor.¡±


    ¡°Thank you very much, young man.¡± Evelyn replied with a polite nod and headed toward


    the elevator.


    08:55


    2/2

 Chapter 1022

    Chapter 1022


    Susan lounged in the hotel¡¯s cozy lobby for a while and still hadn¡¯t received Thssa¡¯s message to let


    her into Lysander¡¯s room. She became impatient and tired of waiting, especially since she¡¯d indulged in


    a ss of the drugged wine. Her body was now radiating heat, and every fiber of her being was


    yearning for Lysander.


    Earlier, she had seen Richard holding Joshua and Thssa supporting Lysander leaving the private


    room. Susan blended into the crowd and watched them enter the elevator. Her gaze locked onto the


    numbers climbing until they stopped at the 28th floor.


    She noted down in her heart ¨C Lysander was resting on the 28th floor.


    Waiting for Thssa¡¯s text seemed like an eternity, and she was burning with anticipation. She had


    gone to great lengths, ensuring Lysander drank the spiked wine. If she missed this chance, getting


    close to him again would be an uphill battle.


    This is property ? of N?velDrama.Org.


    Susan¡¯s restlessness got the better of her, and she approached a waiter who had just descended from


    the elevator, inquiring about the room cards she had delivered.


    Richard and Thssa had headed straight to the 28th floor without collecting their room cards. A little


    whileter, a staff member came down from the same floor. Samantha wasn¡¯t naive; she deduced that


    the waiter must have delivered them the room cards.


    All she needed to do was to ask which room the staff had serviced.


    Initially, the waiter was reluctant to break the confidentiality of the guests, but Susan wasn¡¯t one to be


    deterred. She slipped the staff member a hefty tip, a hundred grand, with a promise that she only


    wanted to know the room number ¨C no harm intended.


    Who could resist the allure of cash? The waiter surrendered at the sight of the money.


    ¡°I delivered two room cards to Mr. Richard, one for 2806 and another for 2809.¡± the waiter confessed


    without hesitation.


    ¡°Thank you.¡± Susan said, her cheeks flushed as if drunk, although the heat radiating from within her


    was from the drug in her body. She was fighting hard to contain the warmth spreading through her body


    and the itch at the core of her being.


    She risked herself to drink the drugged wine just to seize Lysander. She made such a great effort, and


    it shall not go in vain.


    Knowing the room numbers for Lysander and Joshua, she signaled her assistant, whom she had


    brought along, to procure the room cards for these suites.


    Her assistant was well-connected; his girlfriend worked at the hotel reception desk. Getting the room


    cards was a piece of cake for her.


    In no time, Susan had the cards in her hand and was rushing to the 28th floor.


    1/2


    08:55


    Unsure which room belonged to Lysander, she decided to try her luck. If she inadvertently entered


    Joshua¡¯s room, she¡¯d simply say Mr. Richard sent her to check in and then


    gracefully exit. The other room would assuredly be Lysander¡¯s.


    With this in mind, Susan randomly selected one of the cards ¨C 2809 ¨C and slid it into the door¡¯s lock.


    The room was dimly lit, with only the bedsidemp casting a soft glow. The air was thick with a chilling


    silence.


    She tiptoed inside, cautious.


    ¡°Been gone a long while, ready to face your punishment?¡± came a deep,manding voice from the


    bed.


    At the sound of his voice, Susan¡¯s heartbeat quickened, and her body turned to mush. She looked


    towards the bed. Surprise and delight mingled on her face.


    Luck was on her side; the door she tried was Lysander¡¯s room.


    There he was, lounging on the bed, shoulders propped against the headboard. Themplight


    illuminated his striking features, casting a golden sheen on his chiseled face,


    making him look irresistibly handsome.


    08:55


    2/2

 Chapter 1023

    Chapter 1023


    His ck shirt hung casually open with two buttons undone, revealing a hint of a chiseled chest and


    well-defined muscles that whispered of raw strength, which exuded an unmistakable masculine allure.


    Susan''s heart was already simmering from the heat of the night, and now, it throbbed with an intensity


    that parched her mouth and left her tongue tied.


    "Mr. Sinir." Susan''s voice barely concealed the torrent of passion within as she approached the bed,


    "Thssa mentioned you weren''t feeling well, so she sent me to check on you."


    Lysander''s eyes, which had been closed in a feigned rest, snapped open.


    A sharp cial chill pierced the air, as if the temperature had plummeted in an instant.


    The sudden frosty atmosphere stung Susan''s skin and halted her in her tracks. Her heart pounded with


    a mix of desire and trepidation as she eyed Lysander. She hadn''t even touched him yet, but her


    breathing grewbored with anticipation.


    Lysander''s icy re shot through her. Her rose-colored dress and bold makeup all stirred a deep


    loathing within him.


    He sat up abruptly. "Get out!"


    Hismanding tone sent a shiver through Susan''s heart, and panic set in.


    Yet, panic did nothing to halt her advance. She was mere steps away from Lysander, and she wouldn''t


    be deterred by his intimidating presence. Right now, his body must be craving the same heated touch,


    eager for a woman''s embrace.


    She was convinced that with her tempting figure and the right moves, he wouldn''t stand a chance


    against her seduction.


    Susan hesitated only for a moment before inching closer. Her voice dripped with honeyed suggestion.


    "Mr. Sinir, Thssa is truly preupied. Please let me take care of you. I''m quite skilled at...


    attending to all sorts of needs."


    As she moved to sit beside him and was about to nestle into his embrace, Lysander''s foot shot out with


    swift and ruthless precision, sending her sliding across the room. She skidded on the floor and crashed


    into the couch,ing to a jarring halt.


    Painnced through Susan''s abdomen. Her body was aching as though her bones were shattered. The


    moment she stopped sliding, her breath caught in her pain-twisted face.


    "You have three seconds to disappear from my sight," Lysander''s voice was devastating as ifing


    from the hell, "or I''ll have your life!" His aura radiated lethal danger.


    Susan scrambled up in terror. Ignoring the throbbing pain, she fled the room as fast as her legs would


    carry her.


    Meanwhile, Evelyn had made her way to the 28th floor, unsure where room 2809 was. As she


    searched the corridor, a man, seemingly drunk, staggered toward her. Evelyn paid no mind and


    All text ? N?velD(r)a''ma.Org.


    continued forward until he lurched uncontrobly into her path.


    "Goodness, sir, are you alright?" Evelyn quickly reached out to steady him, trying to prevent a collision.


    Joshua managed to regain his footing, feeling as though thousands of ants were crawling over him. His


    eyes clouded with inebriation as he nced at Evelyn. Struggling to rein in his impulses, he hastily


    withdrew his hand from hers and muttered, "I''m fine, sorry."


    With that, he continued toward his room.


    In the moment the man had looked up, Evelyn caught a clear glimpse of his face ¡ª a face she


    recognized.


    Memories flooded her mind. Her eyes widened in shock, and her heart pounded in disbelief.

 Chapter 1024

    Chapter 1024


    Evelyn''s gaze was fixated on the man''s retreating figure as he slipped into a room. The door was left


    ajar; he seemed to have forgotten to shut it.


    His silhouette vanished from Evelyn''s sight, snapping her out of her trance. She turned on her heel and


    continued down the hallway in search of room 2809.


    She hadn''t taken more than a few steps when amotion erupted behind her. ncing back, she


    saw a woman in a garish outfit stumbling out of a room ¡ª directly opposite to the one the man had


    entered.


    The woman''s attire was both shy and seductive, her nervousness betraying her as her breast tapes


    almost fell. She was quite the sight, with her breasts practically on disy.


    Evelyn recognized her instantly despite theyered make up.


    It was Susan! She was Bruce and Lucy''s daughter, who hade to Evelyn''s ce with her mother, all


    high and mighty, to pick a fight!


    Evelyn was truly enraged as she saw her.


    She was about to confront her, ready to settle old scores.


    Before she could approach, Susan, flushed and panting, clutched the hem of her dress and darted into


    the room opposite ¡ª the very same one the man had entered.


    Susan was desperate to soothe her physical urges with a man. But Lysander, not only cast her out but


    also kicked her brutally. Her soul felt as though it might split from the pain.


    If she couldn''t have Lysander, she would settle for Joshua!


    This man was Lysander''s business partner, so he surely would not beck in wealth or power. Despite


    being older, he was easy on the eyes.


    Seizing Joshua wouldn''t be a loss for her.


    Without hesitation, Susan entered Joshua''s room.


    Evelyn froze and was shocked as she watched Susan slip into the room.


    What was Susan doing in there with that man? Could it be that she was...


    Evelyn crept closer and craned her neck to catch a glimpse inside the room.


    But she couldn''t see anything with the entryway blocking the view.


    "Mr. Joshua, you''re drunk. Please let me take care of you." Susan''s voice echoed from within, sultry


    and feigned weakness. "I''m very good at taking care... in all sorts of positions..."


    Evelyn''s skin crawled, and a wave of revulsion chilled her to the bone. She straightened up quickly and


    distanced herself from the room.


    How astounded and incredulous ¡ª Susan was doing that with this man!


    Just like her father, utterly shameless!


    Evelyn''s breath was ragged, her chest tight with indignation. She had never imagined that this man


    This is property ? of N?velDrama.Org.


    could be so vile!


    Angrily, she nced at the room number. It was 2806!


    She looked back at the room Susan had emerged from in disarray. It was 2809!


    Wasn''t Thssa supposed to be in 2809?


    That was the room she was searching for.


    The door was open; Evelyn walked straight in and began, "Excuse me, is this where..."


    "Get out!" An explosive growl, seething with anger and intimidation, struck her ears like the roar of a


    lion.


    Evelyn recoiled. Her mind reeled as she bolted toward the elevator, and her heart pounded with fear.


    Thankful she could recognize the voice as a man''s ¡ª and as Lysander''s; otherwise, she might have


    thought there was a beast ready to devour her lurking in that room.


    She stepped into the elevator and frantically pressed the close button as if a single second''s dy


    would cost her life.


    As the doors slid shut. Evelyn pressed the button for the ground floor and patted her chest to quell the


    adrenaline.


    Was Lysander also in 2809? Could Thssa be with him?


    Then why did Susan run out of their room?


    Evelyn''s mind swirled with questions, none of which she could answer.


    She hade to the hotel seeking Thssa, but instead, she found herself witness to a skin-crawling


    scene and terrified by Lysander, from which her heart nearly leaped out of her chest.

 Chapter 1025

    Chapter 1025


    Since Thssa was with Lysander, Evelyn had better not disturb them. But she needed to send


    This is property ? of N?velDrama.Org.


    Thssa a text to let her know she was heading back.


    It was only then that Evelyn fished her phone out of her purse.


    To her surprise, she saw several missed calls, all from Thssa.


    She dialed back immediately, and the call was answered just after two rings.


    ¡°Mom, where are you right now?¡± Thssa¡¯s voice came through, tense and filled with urgency.


    ¡°I¡¯m at the Draven International Hotel, honey, and you won''t believe what I just saw...¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m at Royal Estates. Mom, get a cab here, and hurry!¡± Thssa cut her off before Evelyn could finish.


    Evelyn could hear the desperation in her daughter''s voice.


    She halted the topic she wanted to discuss, feeling a mix of surprise and disappointment.


    Thssa wasn¡¯t with Lysander after all; Lysander was at the hotel, and Thssa was at Royal Estates.


    And Susan ¡ª she had juste out of Lysander¡¯s room. Did that mean she had just been intimate


    with him?


    Evelyn had seen Susan with her flushed face and disheveled clothes, both were clear signs of what


    had just transpired.


    Was this the aftermath of being alone with Lysander?


    As someone who had seen a lot, Evelyn knew exactly what Susan''s appearance signified.


    Susan had been with Lysander, and then she went to another man¡¯s room to continue the the next


    round!


    The lives of the rich were so chaotic and sordid!


    As Evelyn connected the dots, she felt a sharp pain in her heart, both for Thssa and herself. She


    couldn''t believe the duplicity of Lysander, who kept leading Thssa on while not being exclusive to


    her.


    Evelyn also felt a profound sadness for herself; it seemed she had never met a decent man.


    Though leaving the hotel in a daze, Evelyn didn¡¯t forget Thssa¡¯s instruction. She hailed a cab and


    headed to Royal Estates.


    ...


    At that very moment, within Royal Estates.


    Thssa and Atticus were in a room, in which the atmosphere fraught with tension.


    She handed Atticus Bruce''s phone number, his family''s IP address, and the password and let him to


    hack into Bruce''s phone andputer.


    Atticus¡¯ young face was serious. His little brows furrowed in concentration as he rapidly typed on the


    keyboard.


    In no time, he had essed Bruce¡¯s phone.


    The files from Bruce''s phone wereid bare on theputer screen.


    Thssa sat beside Atticus. Her eyes glued to the monitor and didn¡¯t dare to blink.


    Atticus opened numerous files, but Thssa couldn''t spot that video of Evelyn.


    She had seen the thumbnail before; one glimpse would tell her whether the video was that one or not.


    They were almost through all the files, and still no sign of the video.


    Could it be that he didn''t save it on his phone?


    Thssa¡¯s heart tightened with anxiety.


    ¡°Mom, thest one is encrypted. We need a password to open it.¡± Atticus said, his voice soft but


    serious, pointing at the unresponsive file.


    Thssa, slick with a sheen of sweat from tension and focus, asked nervously, ¡°What do we do now?¡±


    ¡°No worries, the encryption is simple. Give me a few seconds to crack it.¡± Atticus¡¯ fingers danced


    confidently across the keyboard, and soon the password was bypassed.


    The final file opened.


    As the video thumbnail appeared, Thssa¡¯s heart skipped a beat.


    ¡°There it is! That¡¯s the video. Delete it. Don¡¯t y it!¡± Thssa¡¯s voice quivered with urgency and


    nerves.

 Chapter 1026

    Chapter 1026


    There was only this one video in the cryptic file. Bruce had kept it encrypted, probably fearing his wife


    might stumble upon it.


    Thssa had especially warned Atticus not to click on it. She feared that the contents might scare the


    boy and be detrimental to his development.


    She had endured so much, for so long, and now she could finally delete the video that Bruce had been


    using to threaten her.


    At this moment, Thssa was a whirlwind of emotions ¡ª excited, anxious, and on the brink of tears.


    No one could understand what she was feeling, and no one knew what she had been through all this


    time.


    Atticus, ever the obedient kid, hovered the mouse over the video and opted to delete it without a


    second nce.


    The screen blinked as the video vanished, leaving an empty space in the file directory.


    Thssa heaved a sigh of relief but only for her nerves to tense up again. She turned to Atticus and


    asked, ¡°Is itpletely and permanently deleted? Like, gone forever with no chance of recovery by any


    means?¡±


    She had deleted the video from Bruce''s phone with great difficulty; but if Bruce managed to restore it,


    there was no telling how far he might go next time.


    Atticus nodded seriously, his lovely, profound eyes locking with hers as he said, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Mom. It¡¯s


    gone for good. No one can bring it back. It¡¯s impossible to recover.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s a relief. Time to hack into theputer then.¡± Thssa said, snapping back to reality and


    focusing on Atticus¡¯ tablet screen.


    During herst visit to Bruce''s ce, she had covertly memorized the Wi-Fi password and screenshot


    thework name when Bruce had logged in.


    With the Wi-Fi name and password, Atticus quickly deployed his impressive hacking skills to breach


    Bruce''s familywork.


    That day, Thssa hadn''t had the chance to check which model ofputer Bruce used, but there


    were only two in Bruce''s vi.


    They¡¯d go one by one.


    The firstputer they essed was filled with makeup tutorials and fashion vlogs, likely belonging to


    Susan.


    Atticus rifled through the files rapidly, with Thssa watching over his shoulder. Nothing seemed out of


    ce.


    All text ? N?velD(r)a''ma.Org.


    Despite his young age, Atticus'' decisiveness was remarkable. ¡°It''s not this one. It''s the otherputer.


    I''ll remotely ess that one right away.¡±


    ¡°Thank you, Atticus. You''re doing great.¡± Thssa said. Her brows knitted with concern, and her voice


    tinged with urgency.


    The stakes were high, and she wished she could delete thepromising files from Bruce''sputer


    in the blink of an eye to rid herself of the looming threat.


    Atticus could sense his mother¡¯s anxiety and didn''t miss a beat. His small fingers flew across the


    keyboard, and there was one more program away from essing Bruce''sputer.


    Suddenly, the letters on the screen started to cascade downwards, showing an unexpected glitch.


    Thssa¡¯s breath caught at the sight of the uncontroble screen. Her pupils dted as she asked,


    ¡°What¡¯s happening?¡±


    A tiny bead of sweat trickled down Atticus¡¯ little cheek. He didn¡¯t bother wiping it away. His focus fixed


    on the screen as his hands worked to rectify the situation.


    ¡°Someone¡¯s manually booted up theputer, so I can''t use remote ess from here. But I can hack


    into Bruce''s family surveince to see who¡¯s at theputer.¡± Atticus exined, his attention never


    wavering from his task.


    Having infiltrated Bruce''swork, Atticus had a clear view of the connected devices ¡ª two desktops,


    three surveince cameras, and three mobile phones.


    Although he wasn''t sure where the cameras were positioned, he could hack into them and check their


    coverage.


    With a few rapid keystrokes, the surveince feeds popped up on theputer screen.


    The disy split into four, showing different angles. Three feeds were empty, but one showed Bruce


    sitting in front of aputer, clicking away with his mouse.


    Atticus clicked and erged this particr feed.

 Chapter 1027

    Chapter 1027


    Thssa peered through Atticus''ptop, her breath catching as she caught sight of Bruce on the


    security feed. Her heart raced with a mix of hatred and revulsion.


    So, it was Bruce who interrupted their n. What on earth was he doing on hisputer at this hour?


    The bookshelf behind Bruce showed that he was in a study, not his own bedroom.


    The security footage only showed Bruce seating at his desk, clicking away with the mouse, and tapping


    at the keyboard. But the actual content on theputer screen was obscured from view.


    Unable to see or guess what Bruce was up to, both Thssa and Atticus were left in the dark.


    The quality of the footage was crystal clear, capturing every nuance of Bruce''s expression.


    This is property ? of N?velDrama.Org.


    He started with a calm and serious demeanor and focused on the screen. But soon his hand stilled,


    and his facial expression began to change as the video yed on. First, he swallowed hard, then he


    wiped the drool from the corner of his mouth. His expression turned to one of engrossed excitement,


    even reaching out to touch theputer screen.


    His lewd behavior was unmistakable ¨C he was watching porn!


    Thssa felt a wave of nausea and anger so strong it made her breathing erratic. She quickly covered


    Atticus'' eyes and spared him from the sight.


    Bruce was shamelessly indulging himself in front of theputer...


    Despicable, vile, a man devoid of dignity and decency!


    How could such a person not simply drop dead?


    After what seemed like an eternity but was only five minutes, Bruce finally shut down theputer and


    left the study. His face etched with frustration.


    Thssa''s breath shook with fury. If she could, she''d kill the scum herself!


    Fighting to control her rage, Thssa released Atticus'' eyes and said with a tight voice, "Atticus, you


    can continue now. We need to be quick."


    If Bruce came back, their chance to delete the evidence would slip further away.


    They couldn''t afford distractions anymore.


    "Okay, Mom. I''m on it." Atticus said obediently. He switched off the security feed and resumed the hack.


    Atticus'' screen disyed the contents of Bruce''sputer in mere seconds. He searched through files


    just like with the phone, while Thssa watching intently, nerves on edge.


    When they reached thest file, they hit a snag ¨C it was encrypted and required a password.


    Just like with the phone!


    The crucial video had to be inside.


    Drawing on their previous try, Atticus cracked the password in two seconds t.


    As the file opened, a paused video popped up. Its thumbnail identical to the one they''d seen on the


    phone.


    Thssa''s heart skipped a beat. "Be quick! Delete it, Atticus! Now!"


    Her voice trembled with the urgency she didn''t even attempt to hide.


    "Done. Permanently erased!" Atticus responded seriously. His small hands flying over the mouse as he


    swiftly executed themand to permanently delete the video.


    Seeing the video vanish from theputer screen, Thssa''s taut nerves finally rxed, and her body


    slumped in relief.


    It was over. They had done it.

 Chapter 1028

    Chapter 1028


    ¡°Mom, is there anything else we need to get rid of?¡± Atticus turned to ask Thssa. His cheeks flushed


    a rosy red from the tense focus of the past hour.


    Snapping back to reality, Thssa¡¯s gaze softened upon seeing her son¡¯s ruddy


    shirt.


    In her rush to delete the video, she hadn¡¯t noticed how Atticus had been straining himself.


    A pang of tenderness swelled in her chest. She reached for a tissue and gently wiped the sweat from


    his face and neck. ¡°No, sweetie, there¡¯s nothing more to do. You¡¯ve been such a big help to Mom today,


    and I can¡¯t thank you enough.¡±


    Atticus¡¯ young face also went cheerful as he saw Thssa finally rxing and no longer looking lost or


    restless. A wide smile broke out, and in his childish voice he said, ¡°Don¡¯t mention it, Mom. I like helping


    you out. As long as you¡¯re happy, that¡¯s all that matters.¡±


    Thssa¡¯s eyes brimmed with tears as she pulled Atticus into a hug and whispered, ¡°Having you kids


    is the greatest blessing of my life.¡±


    ¡°And having you is our biggest happiness.¡± Atticus replied, his voice muffled against her shoulder.


    Thssaughed through her tears. She had her children, and with them, she had everything.


    ¡°Mom, Atticus, are you guys done yet?¡± At the door, a knock was followed by Elowen¡¯s sweet,


    questioning voice.


    Thssa had rushed back to Royal Estates, immediately sequestered herself with Atticus in his room,


    and instructed her other three little ones not to disturb them. She had been determined to delete the


    Now that the ordeal was over, the other children were still waiting outside. Shaking off her daze,


    Thssa let go of Atticus and stood up to open the door. But Atticus, eager and happy, beat her to it.


    ¡°I¡¯ll get the door!¡±


    He scampered over, his small legs carrying him quickly, and swung the door open to reveal his siblings.


    They¡¯d been waiting with rounded, curious eyes, looking like a trio of adorable bear cubs.


    ¡°Did you manage to teach Mom how to use the software, Atticus?¡± Elowen tilted her lovely head and


    asked.


    They had wanted to be with their mother but had patiently refrained from disturbing her.


    They¡¯d been waiting for so long, so they came to knock.


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    This is property ? of N?velDrama.Org.


    09.25


    Atticus grinned, showed off his little canines, and nodded enthusiastically. ¡°Yep, mission


    aplished!¡±


    ¡°Wow, Atticus, you¡¯re awesome! We love you and Mom!¡± Elowen¡¯s eyes sparkled with admiration,


    generously heaping on the praise.


    ttered by Elowen¡¯s admiring gaze, Atticus felt a sense of achievement. He shyly scratched the back


    of his head.


    ¡°Have you guys bathed yet? Let¡¯s get you cleaned up.¡± Thssa suggested, full of affection for her little


    ones.


    ¡°Mom, the boys can go with Fitch; they¡¯re guys. Me and Sophia, we¡¯re girls, so we can bathe with you.¡±


    Elowen suggested, her voice soft and sweet.


    ¡°Alright, let¡¯s go then.¡± Thssa agreed. She took Elowen and Sophia by the hand and left the room.


    Atticus and Dorian trailed behind.


    As they were about to step into the bathroom, Evelyn came hurrying in, breathless with news.


    ¡°Thssa, you are home! Oh my, tonight just took me by surprise.¡±


    She stood before Thssa and pped her thigh in exasperation. ¡°You wouldn¡¯t believe it.¡± she


    sighed.


    Thssa inquired curiously, ¡°What happened? Trouble at finding a job?¡±

 Chapter 1029

    Chapter 1029


    Thssa was aware that Evelyn had set out to job hunt that day, looking specifically for a cleaner¡¯s


    position.


    ¡°Job hunting is a piece of cake, just a tiny bump in the road. But the way those rich folks live it up, it


    turns my stomach.¡± Evelyn confessed, still visibly shaken by the experience.


    Thssa nced down to see four little ones staring up with wide, innocent eyes full of wonder and


    confusion.


    ¡°Granny, what did you see? Can you tell us a story?¡± Dorian, the story-lover, was always eager for a


    ¡°Well¡­¡± Evelyn hesitated. She suddenly realized that the presence of the children. Discussing the


    seedier side of adult affairs with Thssa in such a rush might not be appropriate.


    ¡°It¡¯s gettingte. You all should take your baths and get ready for bed. Granny will tell you a story in the


    morning.¡± Thssa quickly diverted their attention.


    ¡°Mommy has to talk to Granny about some grown-up things, so off you go and bathe. I¡¯ll tuck you in


    ¡°Okay.¡± The little ones were indeed tired. They chorused their agreement, obediently following the


    servants to the bathroom.


    Then, Thssa led Evelyn into Atticus¡¯ room, had her take a seat, and poured her a ss of water.


    ¡°What did you see that¡¯s got you so rattled, even in front of the kids?¡±


    Evelyn took the water, gulping down more than half to steady her breath, then turned to Thssa. ¡°I


    went to look for you in room 2809, and what I saw was¡­ was just appalling.¡± Evelyn went to room 2809


    ¨C had she possibly seen Lysander and Susan together?


    Thssa¡¯s heart sank, her hand tightening around the ss.


    Unaware of Thssa¡¯s distress, Evelyn continued, ¡°Susan came out of Lysander¡¯s room disheveled,


    her face flushed with the afterglow of a tryst. And to my horror, she then went straight across to Room


    2806, which also housed a man. I overheard her boasting she was attending to Mr. Joshua that


    evening in every possible way!¡±


    ¡°The same woman, sleeping with Lysander and then with that old man Mr. Joshua! Do these wealthy


    people have no shame? How chaotic their lives are! Thssa, my heart aches for you. How can


    Lysander keep you on one hand and y the field on the other?¡±


    Evelyn sped Thssa¡¯s arm. Her face etched with concern.


    Evelyn had once worried about Thssa¡¯s marriage prospects andter fretted over her


    1/2


    09.25


    being at a disadvantage by Lysander¡¯s side. She tried everything to get Lysander to marry


    her.


    But despite her best efforts, nothing convinced Lysander to make Thssa his wife. All text ? N?velD(r)a''ma.Org.


    She was frustrated but felt helpless. Now, witnessing the extent of Lysander¡¯s infidelity, her heart bled


    for Thssa.


    But what could they do? They were justmoners, utterly powerless against a man like Lysander


    who had the world at his fingertips.


    Thssa¡¯s grip on the teapot tightened. Her expression wasposed but her breathing was ragged.


    An inexplicable, searing pain surged through her as she pondered whether Lysander had indeed been


    with Susan.


    She had assumed that Lysander knew about the drugged wine, that he had yed along because he


    had his own way of dealing with it.


    She had believed that he truly disdained Susan.


    Even after Thssa left the hotel, she had hoped he would restrain himself.


    Yet, it seemed Susan had gotten her way after all.


    Given Lysander¡¯s personality and power, if he hadn¡¯t allowed Susan, who could have truly gotten close


    to him?

 Chapter 1030

    Chapter 1030


    ¡°Thssa,e on, talk to me.¡± Evelyn chided, nudging Thssa¡¯s arm. ¡°You¡¯ve been in your own


    world forever now.¡±


    Jolted back to reality, Thssa tried to suppress the pain that had nestled in her heart. It was


    spreading through her, coursing along her veins and lodging deep in her bones. Her fingertips felt like


    she¡¯d held onto ice for too long swollen and throbbing with a burning sensation.


    She gently ced the tea kettle back on the table. ¡°What else can I say?¡±


    ¡°What are you nning to do, really?¡± Evelyn sighed. ¡°Just keep hanging on with Lysander? Be


    just another one of his conquests? Youth is not something a woman. can afford to waste.¡±


    This is the property of N?-velDrama.Org.


    Thssa¡¯s gaze fell, hiding the bitterness and loss that filled her eyes.


    ¡°We should just take the kids and run,¡± Evelyn suggested. ¡°Better than losing everything in a bad


    bargain.¡±


    ¡°Mom, have some water. I¡¯ll go check if the kids are done with their baths.¡± Thssa said and stepped


    out of the room with a weight on her heart heavier than Evelyn could understand.


    She knew she couldn¡¯t keep going like this. She wanted to leave too, but she was waiting for the right


    moment.


    ¡°Mommy, I¡¯m done washing up!¡±


    ¡°Me too!¡±


    The small figures of Atticus and Dorian were wrapped in fluffy towels. They emerged from the


    bathroom with their hair damp and faces moisturized. They looked even more cherubic than ever.


    Seeing the innocent joy on their faces lifted some of the heaviness from Thssa¡¯s heart. She


    managed a smile. ¡°Alright, let¡¯s get you dressed.¡±


    The servants apanied them into their room.


    Then, Elowen and Sophia appeared. Their wet hair clung to their chubby cheeks, looking utterly


    adorable.


    ¡°Mommy, could you please dress me?¡± Elowen said, rubbing her face against Thssa¡¯s leg, purring


    for affection like a kitten.


    Sophia approached too. She lifted her little face, and her eyes were full of the same wish.


    ¡°Okay, let¡¯s get to your room. Mommy will help you get dressed.¡± Thssa said softly. She took Elowen


    and Sophia by their small hands and led them away.


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    09:25


    Once entering their room, the two little ones scrambled onto the bed and tossed their


    towels aside.


    Elowen¡¯s round, plump little body was pink from the bath. She was cute with her delicate doll-like face.


    Sophia was slimmer but just as tender and lovable in her pink skin.


    Thssa fetched clothes from the wardrobe, and the two darlings lined up to be dressed.


    ¡°Mommy, why isn¡¯t Daddy home yet? Is he noting to sleep tonight?¡± Elowen asked while being


    dressed.


    Thssa, who had just begun to feel a semnce of normalcy, felt a pang in her heart again.


    She paused for a moment. Then, she continued dressing Elowen in a tiny T-shirt and helping her into


    pants.


    Elowen steadied herself against her mother, waiting for an answer with wide, expectant eyes.


    ¡°Your daddy had a bit too much to drink tonight. He¡¯s sleeping it off at a hotel.¡± Thssa answered.


    ¡°So Daddy¡¯s really noting home tonight?¡± Sophia asked, puzzled.


    Thssa lowered hershes and shook her head softly. ¡°I don¡¯t know, sweetie.¡±


    Moving to Sophia, she began dressing her in the matching pajamas, adorned with a pink bunny on the


    chest, just a size smaller than Elowen¡¯s.


    Elowen needed arger size since she was a bit plumper.

 Chapter 1031

    Chapter 1031


    Tucking the kids into bed, Thssa said to them, ¡°Snuggle up and wait for Mommy, sweethearts. I¡¯ll


    just take a quick shower and then it''s story time.¡±


    ¡°Okay, we¡¯ll wait!¡± the little cuties nodded obediently, their eyes reflecting trust and anticipation.


    Thssa¡¯s smile lingered as she turned and stepped out of the room. She was thinking of arranging


    bath and room for Evelyn to stay over. It was her first time here, and Thssa wanted everything to be


    perfect.


    Just then, her phone buzzed in her pocket, jolting her nerves. The ringtone felt like a harbinger of


    stress.


    Hesitating for only a second, she pulled out the phone and nced at the screen. The number was


    unfamiliar, certainly not Bruce¡¯s ¡ª she knew his by heart.


    The strange digits weren''t from Lysander either; she realized with a mix of relief and an inexplicable


    twinge of heartache.


    After staring at the shing numbers for a few seconds, Thssa slid the answer button with a


    resigned motion. ¡°Hello?¡±


    Even suspecting a scam, she maintained her polite tone ¡ª what if it wasn''t?


    ¡°It¡¯s me.¡± a man¡¯s voice came through, clear and grave.


    Thssa instantly recognized the voice. Startled, her heart rate spiked. ¡°What¡¯s up?¡±


    All text ? N?velD(r)a''ma.Org.


    She quickened her pace toward the bathroom. The house staff was bustling in the hallway, and she


    couldn¡¯t risk being overheard. If any of them caught wind of the conversation, Lysander would surely


    find out.


    ¡°There¡¯s something important. Tonight is the best time for you to leave. Just take your kids and do as I


    tell you,¡± Callum¡¯s voice was serious, a stark contrast to his usual easygoing tone.


    Thssa stepped into the bathroom and shut the door, but she still peered through the frosted ss to


    ensure privacy. ¡°Tonight? I¡¯mpletely unprepared!¡± she whispered in shock, her mind racing.


    Escaping with her children from a man like Lysander required meticulous nning. If they were caught,


    the consequences would be dire.


    ¡°No need for preparations. Take your children, get out of Royal Estates, and leave the rest to me,¡±


    Callum instructed.


    ¡°But why is tonight the best opportunity? Lysander could return at any moment.¡± Thssa fretted,


    feeling trapped.


    ¡°Remember I mentioned investigating the hotel? Several kidnappings and assaults on women were


    reported there, and now the media is all over it. It¡¯s tied to Lysander.¡±


    ¡°Tied to Lysander?¡± she echoed, her grip on the phone tightening in surprise.


    ¡°Yes. The case is solved. Lysander would get the credit. The media would be all over him, and he¡¯d be


    too busy toe home tonight,¡± Callum exined, aiming to ease Thssa¡¯s fears so she could boldly


    take her children and flee.


    Callum had personally managed the exposure of the hotel scandal, gathered evidence and tipped off


    the media. Yet, he¡¯d deliberately leaked Lysander¡¯s involvement to the press, suggesting his raid on the


    hotel was a heroic act of crime-fighting.


    With Lysander¡¯s own allure and notoriety, the media were moring for a piece of him.


    Now was Thssa¡¯s chance to disappear into the night.

 Chapter 1032

    Chapter 1032


    Thssa understood Callum''s intentions all too well now.


    She¡¯d never have imagined that Callum would deflect all the credit onto Lysander just to help her


    This is property ? of N?velDrama.Org.


    escape.


    In the past, Thssa might have questioned Callum''s motives, but ever since she found out that


    Callum was not only a close friend of Leopold''s but also a righteous journalist, her trust in him was


    unwavering.


    "Alright. I''ll get the kids and leave Royal Estates immediately." Thssa said calmly, steeling her


    resolve.


    "I''ll wait for you at the house Lysander bought for your mother." Callum said before hanging up.


    The house Lysander bought for her mother? Was he referring to the house that was exchanged from


    the estate Leopold left behind?


    Thssa was about to step out of the bathroom when she paused.


    No, rushing out like this would raise suspicions among the Royal Estates'' staff. It would be odd to enter


    the bathroom and not take a bath.


    To maintain appearances, Thssa quickly showered, headed to Atticus'' room, and found Evelyn


    cheerfully recounting ancient tales to Atticus and Dorian.


    Thssa whispered something into Evelyn''s ear.


    Evelyn''s expression flickered with surprise then settled into a look of resolve. She turned to Thssa


    and said, "Okay, I got it."


    Then, Evelyn turned to Atticus and Dorian. "It''s gettingte; Grandma needs to head back."


    "Grandma, why don''t you just stay over? My bed is big enough for you." Dorian pouted, unhappy at the


    prospect of his grandmother leaving.


    Evelyn''s smile was tender but held a polite distance. "This isn''t Grandma''s home, and I''m not used to it


    here. It''s better if I go back."


    Atticus, the more perceptive one, noticed Evelyn''s difort and the deliberate distance she kept,


    even with them.


    Grandma wasn''t usually so formal with them.


    Atticus realized it was because they were in his father''s house that Grandma felt out of ce, without a


    sense of home.


    He said, "Then we''ll go back with Grandma."


    Evelyn''s face lit up with joy, and without any pretense of politeness, she eagerly said, "Oh yes, please


    do! Grandma has a new house, and you haven''t seen it yet."


    "I want to go! I want to go! I need to get dressed to go to Grandma''s new house." Dorian eximed,


    jumping off the bed, dancing with excitement.


    "Alright, alright, Grandma will help you get dressed." Evelyn replied, grinning from ear to ear. She


    hurried to find clothes for the children, since it wouldn''t be proper to leave in their pajamas.


    "I''ll go change." Thssa said, quickly leaving the room.


    Once everyone was ready, Thssa, Evelyn, and the kids made their way to the foyer.


    Fitch, noticing their unusual behavior ¡ª not ready for bed, but instead preparing to leave ¡ª


    approached with concern.


    "Ms. Everhart, are you heading out?" Fitch inquired.


    Thssa replied, "Fitch, I was just about to look for you. Here''s the thing: My mom isn''t settling in well


    here, and she''s worried that Lysander will be upset if he finds an extra person upon returning. She


    wants to go back, and the kids are insisting on going to their grandma''s house. I''m thinking of taking all


    of them back now, and we''ll go straight to school tomorrow. You can pick them up there in the


    afternoon."


    Fitch was not in a position to make a decision. He looked at the children, visibly torn.

 Chapter 1033

    Chapter 1033


    ¡°Fitch, can we please go to Grandma¡¯s? I really want go there.¡± Dorian pleaded, his big eyes brimming


    with a sheen of moisture that could melt the stoniest of hearts.


    ¡°I want to go too, Fitch. Please let us.¡± Elowen chimed in, her pout as effective as a siren¡¯s call.


    Fitch felt his resolve dissolving under the weight of their adorable entreaties. How could he bear to


    deny them?


    The problem was, he simply didn¡¯t have the authority to let the children leave the sprawling confines of


    This is property ? of N?velDrama.Org.


    Royal Estates.


    Seeing Fitch¡¯s troubled expression, Thssa reassured him, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I just called Lysander, and


    he agreed.¡±


    ¡°You called him?¡± Fitch asked with uncertainty.


    ¡°Of course, I did. Look at the call log if you don¡¯t believe me.¡± Thssa whipped out her phone,


    showing the most recent call to Lysander just five minutes prior.


    She only let Fitch nce at it before putting her phone away, then reassured him, ¡°You see, it was just


    five minutes ago. Lysander did agree to let the kids to their grandma¡¯s. Remember he agreed before?


    What¡¯s there to worry about, Fitch?¡±


    Fitch offered an apologetic smile and wiped the sweat from his brow, ¡°It¡¯s not that, Ms. Everhart. As


    their mother, you obviously adore the children. It¡¯s just that we, the staff, must follow Lysander¡¯s orders


    to the letter. If anything goes wrong, it¡¯s on us. But since you¡¯ve spoken to Lysander, then it¡¯s settled.¡±


    Despite only having a brief look, Fitch had seen the timestamp confirming Thssa¡¯s im.


    Continuing to prevent Thssa and the children from leaving would seem like he was opposing her,


    something he had no intention or courage to do.


    ¡°Alright then, Fitch. May I have the keys to the ck Lamborghini?¡± she asked.


    ¡°Let me drive you in the minivan. I¡¯m worried about your safety.¡± Fitch insisted, still uneasy. ¡°It¡¯ste,


    Fitch, and you¡¯ve had a long day. You should rest. I¡¯d feel guilty making you run around for us.¡±


    Thssa argued, keen on driving herself to avoid being monitored by Fitch, who might as well be


    Lysander¡¯s eyes on them.


    ¡°No, it¡¯s okay. I¡¯m not tired.¡± Fitch said and headed out to fetch the minivan,


    He had barely taken two steps when he felt a tug at his sleeve. Turning around, he saw no one until he


    looked down to find little Dorian.


    1/2


    08:54


    ¡°I don¡¯t want Fitch to drive. I want Mommy to drive. We¡¯re going to stop by the mall and grab some KFC


    before heading to Grandma¡¯s. Fitch won¡¯t let us have KFC.¡± the little guy stated, a mix of grievance and


    determination in his voice.


    Fitch chuckled yet felt a tug at his heartstrings. He looked from Dorian to Thssa, conceding, ¡°Alright,


    Ms. Everhart. Just take it slow on the road.¡±


    ¡°I will. The kids are lucky to have a grandfather figure like you watching over them.¡± Thssa said, not


    missing the chance topliment Fitch on his concern for the


    children.


    Fitch was flustered by the praise and muttered modestly, ¡°Oh, it¡¯s nothing. Just doing my part. I¡¯ll get


    the keys.¡±


    Fitch headed to his room, where the keys to all the vehicles of Royal Estates were kept under his


    vignt care.


    Thssa watched him go, feeling her tense nerves rx slightly, and only then did she notice her


    palms were mmy with sweat.


    Herposure during the exchange with Fitch had been a facade; inside, her heart was racing.


    Fitch returned and handed over the keys. He was still anxious and said, ¡°Ms. Everhart, call me if you


    need anything. I can be there in no time.¡±


    ¡°Thank you, Fitch. I appreciate it.¡± Thssa said, taking the keys and leading Elowen by the hand as


    they made their way out, quickening their pace with each step toward freedom.


    212

 Chapter 1034

    Chapter 1034


    Room 2809, Draven International Hotel.


    After kicking Susan out, Lysander found himself being a mess of heat and anger. His handsome face


    flushed with the burn of alcohol, but his deep-set eyes were cold as ice. His grip on the bed sheet was


    so tight that the veins on his hands stood out. A stark contrast of fire and ice raged through him.


    ¨C


    It had been over twenty minutes since Thssa had left more than ten times of the agreed waiting


    period!


    Lysander was sure that Thssa had ditched him and left the hotel.


    A barely concealed fury throbbed at the base of his heart.


    The heat in his body threatened to consume him.


    He got up and stormed into the bathroom. Tearing off his clothes and turning on the shower, he let the


    cold water cascade over him in a futile attempt to wash away the heat.


    But the tepid water was no match for the burning of his skin, even seeming to warm upon contact.


    White steam rose around him.


    Lysander clenched his jaw. His striking features taut with restraint, as if they might snap at any


    moment.


    He stood under the cold shower and endured the chill until the heat in his body relented ever so


    slightly. Then, he shut off the water, dressed, and left the room.


    The nerve of Thssa, leaving him alone in the hotel for that opportunist Susan to make her move!


    She was practically asking for trouble!


    Clearly, he had been too lenient with her!


    As Lysander reached the underground parking on the lower level, a swarm of journalists buzzed


    towards him and blocked his path.


    ¡°Mr. Sinir¡± one reporter thrust a microphone towards him, ¡°here at the foot of Crest Summit, the hotel


    staff colluded with outsiders to kidnap women. It¡¯s rumored you uncovered evidence and brought the


    perpetrators to justice. You¡¯re quite the young, high-flying CEO with a sense of righteousness. Could


    you please share how you came to suspect the Crest Summit hotel and gather evidence?¡±


    The reporter eagerly awaited Lysander¡¯s response with a microphone poised.


    Lysander¡¯s restrained gaze was a mixture of ice and indignant fire. The reporter shivered


    1/2


    08:54


    and lowered the mic; his confidence faltered.


    But there¡¯s always a reporter who¡¯s not afraid to push boundaries for an exclusive.


    One of them pushed and asked, ¡°Mr. Sinir, you had no prior dealings with Crest Summit¡¯s hotel, so


    what brought you there? Was it to expose the scandal or was there a personal grudge with the hotel


    owner?¡±


    The question crossed his personal boundary.


    ¡°Who sent you here!¡± Lysander¡¯s voice was a cold, steely growl. His hawk-like gaze was sharp enough


    to slice through the soul of the reporter and instill panic.


    The reporter, who had been smug about his question, suddenly found the microphone too heavy to


    hold, his smile freezing as he stooped to pick it up.


    Then, a bold young journalist stepped forward. He blocked Lysander¡¯s way and asked, ¡°We heard that


    This is the property of N?-velDrama.Org.


    the police received a confession directly from the hotel owner. He admitted to the staff¡¯s crimes and his


    own negligence. How did you manage to get such a confession?¡±


    Amid the internal ze and the frustration of being blocked, Lysander¡¯s presence turned frosty. His


    silent rage lowered the very air pressure around them, making it feel like the oxygen had thinned and


    forcing everyone to hold their breath.


    08-54

 Chapter 1035

    Chapter 1035


    He nced at the microphone¡¯sbel, recognizing the insignia of Harbor Entertainment.


    ¡°Harbor Entertainment, is it? You won¡¯t live to see another dawn.¡± he dered with finality and whipped


    out his phone to call David. ¡°You have two hours to bankrupt Harbor Entertainment.¡±


    The young journalist who had questioned him was visibly shaken. His face drained of color as he


    stammered out an apology. ¡°Mr. Sinir, I¡¯m sorry! I misspoke! Please, I won¡¯t do it again. Please spare


    me another chance.¡±


    ¡°Move!¡± Lysander¡¯s patience was at its breaking point.


    The young journalist recoiled at hismanding tone, nearly tripping over his own feet as he stumbled


    backwards. The other journalists, who had been eagerly waiting for a chance to question Lysander,


    were also struck by his palpable fury. They all retreated along with the young man.


    A path quickly cleared for him.


    Lysander didn¡¯t give them a nce as he rose and strode through the opening. He slid into his ck


    Rolls-Royce, and his foot mmed on the elerator. The vehicle shot backwards towards the cluster


    of journalists.


    The reporters huddled together in a panic, stepping back in a clumsy, terrified shuffle.


    There were too many of them, and they couldn¡¯t move fast enough. As the car threatened to collide


    with the front line, the reporters gasped with wide eyes and scrambled to get out of the way. Those in


    the back tripped over their own feet, causing those in the front to


    fall as well.


    It was like dominoes ¨C one after the other they tumbled down.


    Lysander mmed the brakes. His icy gaze flicking to the rear-view mirror. Seeing the reporters¡¯


    sped out of the underground parking lot.


    The journalists were left sprawled on the ground, none spared from the embarrassment.


    The ck Rolls-Royce tore down the asphalt. Neon city lights streaked across its polished surface


    vibrantly but unable to thaw the frost in Lysander¡¯s eyes.


    Other drivers, seeing the reckless speed of the Rolls-Royce, quickly gave way, fearing to provoke his


    wrath.


    Lysander¡¯s hands were firm on the wheel. His veins stood out on the backs of his hands, and his eyes


    fixed ahead.


    The chill around him was so intense that it seemed capable of freezing the very air.


    1/2


    08:54


    Under normal circumstances, it would take twenty minutes to reach Royal Estates. But Lysander made


    it in eight.


    He parked in the driveway and stepped out. His aura of icymand apanied him as he walked


    towards the foyer.


    Fitch had juste out of the kitchen. Upon seeing Lysander radiating such hostility, he tensed up and


    approached cautiously. ¡°Sir, you¡¯re back.¡±


    This is property ? of N?velDrama.Org.


    ¡°Where¡¯s Thssa?¡± Lysander¡¯s voice was sharp, barely concealing his roughness.


    Fitch, chilled by Lysander¡¯s frosty gaze, reported with a back drenched in sweat, ¡°Lysander, didn¡¯t you


    agree to let her take the kids to stay with her mother for the night?¡±


    Lysander¡¯s eyes darkened at the mention.


    He agreed to let Thssa take the kids to Evelyn¡¯s?


    Seeing Lysander¡¯s aura grow colder, Fitch became even more frightened. He exined hurriedly, ¡°Ms.


    Everhart came back to Royal Estates earlier and bathed the four children. Then her mother arrived.


    She was notfortable staying here and wanted to go back, and the kids wanted to visit their


    grandma¡¯s house. Ms. Everhart went with them. Ms. Everhart said she called you and you agreed.¡±


    Lysander¡¯s expression shifted. His breathing grew heavy with anger.


    Without another word, he left the foyer, jumped back into the Rolls-Royce, and drove off.


    2/2


    08:54

 Chapter 1036

    Chapter 1036


    Lysander floored the elerator. His car dashed down the highway like a bullet, hurtling towards Star


    Harbor Vi.


    Meanwhile, Thssa drove at a more cautious pace. With four kids and Evelyn in tow, she didn¡¯t dare


    to drive too fast.


    They arrived at Star Harbor Vi in good time, and what they found there dropped their jaws.


    "Wow, an airne! A real one!" Dorian''s little mouth gaped in astonishment. He had had many toy


    airnes before but never seen a real one.


    "It''s actually real, a real airne!" Atticus echoed in amazement.


    Despite being a whiz on theputer, Atticus had never been up close with an aircraft before. For him,


    it was like discovering a new world.


    "Oh, so this is an airne." Elowen remarked, her interest more subdued. Mechanical things like


    nes didn''t fascinate her as much as her brothers.


    "Is it Daddy? Did Daddye in the airne?" Sophia piped up. Her questionden with the innocent


    hope that their formidable father was the pilot of this impressive machine.


    Thssa¡¯s heart was shaken upon hearing Sophia¡¯s question. She hadn''t confirmed if Lysander was


    the one who had arrived with the airne, but just the mention of his name sent waves of dread


    through her.


    It dawned on her that only the exceptionally wealthy or influential could afford such luxuries as private


    nes. And Lysander, with his immense wealth and connections, fit the bill perfectly.


    Thssa had seen Lysander in full force before ¡ª descending from a ne with an entourage of


    bodyguards, an imposing sight to behold. Only someone like Lysander couldmand such presence.


    Her anxiety spiked as she scanned the surroundings for the owner of the aircraft.


    "I''m in the ne. Bring the kids up; we''re leaving shortly." A man''s voice came out from an open


    window.


    Thssa turned towards the sound and saw Callum''s serene and handsome face.


    Relief washed over her as she realized it was Callum, not Lysander, who hade for them.


    She took Elowen and Sophia by the hand and headed towards the ne''s entrance. "Darlings,


    Mommy''s taking you away tonight. From now on, we''ll live just live a happy and peaceful life like


    before." she said, trying to sound upbeat.


    Elowen suddenly halted. She gripped Thssa¡¯s hand tightly and stopped her in her tracks. She


    looked up with a puzzled expression and asked in her soft, childish voice, "Mommy, aren''t we taking


    Daddy with us?"


    "Yeah, aren''t we taking Daddy?" Sophia chimed in, equally curious.


    The question stung Thssa like a tiny bite, a poignant reminder of her predicament.


    She squatted down to their level and exined gently, "Your daddy is very busy and doesn''t have time


    toe with us. And Mommy can only take you guys away."


    "Why?" Sophia asked, her confusion clear.


    Before Thssa could respond, a spark of understanding lit up Elowen''s eyes. "Oh, I get it! Daddy and


    Mommy aren''t married, so they can''t live together. That''s why we have to live with just one of them."


    she reasoned.


    Many of her kindergarten friends lived with both their parents because they were married. Elowen


    recalled her ssmate Dn Crawley telling her how much his parents loved each other and him, and


    how happy they were living together as a family.


    "Why could we live with only one of you?" Sophia still didn''t understand.


    Elowen exined like an old soul, "Because if Daddy and Mommy aren''t married, they aren''t a family.


    They are two separate households. We could only live with one, either Daddy or with Mommy. We have


    to choose. It happened to Lily, my friend from kindergarten, too. Her parents got divorced, and she had


    to choose."


    "And why aren''t Daddy and Mommy getting married?" Sophia looked up at Thssa with innocent,


    wide eyes, wishing for a simple answer that would bring her family together.


    Belongs ? to N?velDrama.Org.


    Thssa¡¯s mouth turned bitter with the taste of sorrow and hard truths. She was about to speak when


    Elowen, seeming wise beyond her years, said, "It''s because Daddy and Mommy don¡¯t love each other.


    Mommy, why don''t you like Daddy?"

 Chapter 1037

    Chapter 1037


    Elowen gazed into Thssa''s eyes. Her question was piercing to the very core of her mother''s soul.


    Thssa was taken aback, words failing her.


    Was theck of love between her and Lysander his fault, or hers?


    Elowen''s question about why she didn''t have feelings for Lysander left Thssa''s mind in a whirl.


    Why didn''t she harbor affection for Lysander? Or was it that she never had the right to cherish such


    feelings? Did she even like him at all?


    "Elowen, let''s not make this any harder on Mom. I''m ready to leave with her." piped up Atticus, who had


    been standing by silently but now stepped forward with a solemn tone.


    Though young, Atticus could read the distress and loss written all over Thssa''s face. He knew there


    had to be apelling reason for their mother to take them away from their father. And if it came down


    to choosing between his parents, Atticus would not hesitate to chose his mother.


    "I''m sticking with Mom too," dered Dorian, raising his hand and shuffling closer to Thssa.


    Elowen exchanged a puzzled and tender nce with Sophia. After a brief moment, Sophia snapped


    back to reality and told Thssa, "I''m going with Mom, too."


    "Yeah, let''s get on the ne! I love flying," Elowen chimed in, nodding enthusiastically and making her


    way to the aircraft.


    All text ? N?velD(r)a''ma.Org.


    Within just two minutes, the children had unanimously decided, leaving Thssa with a bitter-sweet


    feeling in her heart. Her eyes were moist with gratitude for their unwavering loyalty to her.


    Suddenly, Thssa noticed that Elowen was struggling to climb into the ne, her chubby hands


    grappling with the edge but her legs too short to hoist herself up. The sight was so endearinglyical


    that Thssa couldn''t help butugh. She quickly stepped forward and lifted Elowen into the ne.


    Evelyn also pitched in to help with the kids, and soon, they were all aboard. Thssa climbed up and


    then pulled Evelyn in after her.


    "We leave atst. It hasn''t been easy." Evelyn sighed with a mix of relief and sorrow as they settled into


    their seats.


    Leaving meant Thssa wouldn''t have to endure any more hardships, and they could be with their


    children every day.


    Evelyn wasn''t surprised to find a ne ready to whisk them away from Starhaven.


    Thssa had whispered to her at the Royal Estates that someone woulde to take them back to a


    life like the one they had before.


    They used to be impoverished, and life was hard. Evelyn would oftenment that Thssa couldn''t


    earn enough, grumbling about her having children out of wedlock and not being able to rely on a man.


    Everything changed when the children''s father came into the picture and took them away. The once


    lively and simple existence they knew was shattered, leaving nothing but loneliness.


    It was only then that Evelyn realized how ungrateful she had been. They had always had enough - they


    had children around them, and their days were busy yet joyous, free of worries.


    Now, the children returned to their wealthy father, and Evelyn no longer had to care for them daily, but


    she was not happy anymore. She had been blind to her fortune, only recognizing the value of their


    once mundane life after losing it.


    Thssa nced at Evelyn but remained silent.


    "Please fasten your seat belts. We''re about to take off." Callum reminded them.


    Thssa nodded and hastily secured the seat belts around the four children.


    Unbeknownst to her, at that very moment, Lysander''s car was racing towards the airstrip.

 Chapter 1038

    Chapter 1038


    Lysander''s car was roaring towards the Star Harbor Vi. He was only three minutes away from the


    All text ? N?velD(r)a''ma.Org.


    destination.


    Suddenly, the sky was split by the thunderous roar of ne des slicing through the air.


    ncing up, Lysander caught sight of a sleek ck ne ascending higher, heading towards the


    distant horizon.


    His grip on the steering wheel tightened, his foot mmed down on the elerator. Like an arrow


    released from its bow, he sped into the vi''s courtyard. The yard was barren, devoid of trees and


    greenery, surrounded by a small path that circled a patch of bare, yellow earth.


    The vi itself was plunged into darkness. The gate sealed shut.


    Clearly, no one was home.


    It was in that escaping ne that Thssa and the children had been sitting.


    Lysander clenched his teeth in fury, his sharp features as cold and hard as carved stone.


    "Damn it!" he cursed. His breath was ragged with anger as he pounded the steering wheel.


    The car responded with a sharp ¡°beep¡± of the horn, a sound that seemed almost like a cry of pain.


    His eyes burned with barely contained rage as he stared at the closed gate, then he whipped out his


    phone and dialed David.


    "Get a chopper to Star Harbor Vi, and I need ten of our best tech guys here. Hack into the


    surveince and track the ne. I want Thssa found today!" Lysander barked his orders, his voice


    icy withmand.


    David paused for a moment. He was shocked by the news that Thssa had fled again right under


    Lysander''s watchful eye. He couldn''t help but admire her audacity.


    "Right away." David replied, confirming his understanding of the urgency before hanging up and


    springing into action.


    Back on the ne, Callum was controlling the ne. Thssa, Evelyn, and the four children, were


    seating behind him.


    The children, experiencing their first ne ride, were as curious and delighted as a bunch of yful


    monkeys. They were looking around and touching everything in sight.


    "Mom, flying is so much fun! Can we please go again?" Dorian asked Thssa, his face beaming with


    joy.


    Thssa''s lips curved into a gentle smile at the sight of her son''s innocent happiness. "If we get the


    chance, we will." she promised.


    "Mom, does this chopper belong to Callum? Does Dad have one too?" Elowen asked, her head tilted in


    curiosity.


    The thought of Lysander brought a heavy sense of dread upon Thssa.


    Her smile faded slightly as she answered Elowen''s question, "Your father has a ne too."


    She remembered riding in Lysander''s private jet before.


    "Yay, Dad has a ne too! He''s amazing!" Elowen''s dimples deepened with her bright smile, her little


    face radiating pure delight.


    "Mom, where are we going?" Sophia always had a knack for asking the most crucial questions.


    Thssa wasn''t sure herself; the escape had been so abrupt that she hadn''t even nned a


    destination.


    Looking towards the cockpit, she asked Callum, "Where are we going?"


    "To the airport." Callum replied. "Lysander can easily find us if we stay in the country. We need to get


    abroad."


    Lysander''s reach was extensive within the country, and they would never be free of his grasp here. But


    abroad, his power would be significantly diminished.


    "Oh, okay." Thssa acknowledged, dismissing the topic.


    But Atticus picked up on their conversation. His mother was trying to flee with them, and she didn''t


    want his father to find them. Were his parents separating for good?


    Regardless, he was resolute in his decision to stand by his mother''s side. That was for sure.


    It wasn''t long before the ne touched down on the expansive tarmac of the airport.


    Thssa disembarked with the children and Evelyn. But rather than ushering them onto amercial


    flight, Callum''s first move was to make a call.


    "Can you wipe the surveince footage of Starhaven between ten and ten-twenty? Is it doable?"


    Callum spoke into the phone with urgency.

 Chapter 1039

    Chapter 1039


    The other side of the phone responded, and Callum frowned. "Impossible? Aren''t you the so-called


    best hacker in Starhaven?"


    Whatever the response was, Callum had lost his patience to continue the conversation. "Fine, if you


    can''t make this buck, someone else will."


    With that, he ended the call.


    Callum''s brow furrowed as he pondered his next move. His phone had buzzed with an update that the


    reporters hadn''t managed to corner Lysander, and Lysander had made it back to Royal Estates.


    The news wasn''t good. He knew Lysander would find out in no time that Thssa and the kids were


    Belongs ? to N?velDrama.Org.


    gone.


    Knowing who Lysander was too well, Callum knew that Lysander would surely trace Thssa''s escape


    route in no time.


    If Lysander found out which way they had gone, they''d be sitting ducks.


    They had arrived by ne, and while the road traffic wouldn''t give them away, Starhaven''s skies were


    nketed with radar surveince. With a simple radar check, their whereabouts would be as clear as


    day to Lysander.


    Drowning in his worries, Callum was suddenly distracted by a tug at the hem of his shirt. Looking down,


    he saw Thssa''s eldest son, his little hands responsible for the gentle pull.


    The kid had the same striking features as Lysander, a spitting image, just pint-sized. Callum felt an


    instinctive twinge of fear at the resemnce but quickly remembered he was just a kid.


    "What''s up, little man?" Callum asked, his voice softening.


    "Callum, are you looking for a hacker? I can help you out." Atticus said with an earnest expression, his


    youthful face belying theplexity of the task he was volunteering for.


    "You?" Callum was astonished.


    Atticus nodded confidently. "Yeah, I can hack into the security systems. I just need aputer."


    Callum was skeptical. The best hacker in Starhaven had failed, and now a four-year-old was offering to


    step in?


    "Callum, my brother is really good. He''s aputer prodigy. He learned all aboutputers in


    preschool." Dorian piped up in support of his sibling.


    A twitch of amusement passed over Callum''s face. He needed a top-notch expert, not preschool


    proficiency.


    "My brother''s the best, Callum. Please believe him." Elowen chimed in. Her pride in her brother was


    evident.


    "Atticus, I appreciate that you want to help." Callum said with a chuckle, dismissing the notion as child''s


    y.


    But Thssa could see Callum''s disbelief. "Are you worried about Lysander tracking us through the


    surveince footage?" she asked.


    "Yeah." Callum admitted, his tone serious.


    "Please give Atticus a try. He''s a whiz withputers; he might be able to do it."


    "Really?" Callum asked, needing confirmation yet again.


    "Yes, we''re running out of time. Do you have aptop we can use? Please give it to Atticus. He can do


    it." Thssa insisted, her faith in her son unwavering. She had seen Atticus infiltrate Bruce''s devices


    and erase the videos that were being used to ckmail her.


    It was because of that very deletion that she could flee without looking back.


    Leaving Lysander was something she had longed to do but never managed. Today was an opportunity


    that couldn''t be squandered.


    And they absolutely couldn''t afford to be dragged back by Lysander. If he caught them now, any future


    attempts at escape would be pure fantasy.


    Moreover, she did not want to have any contact with Bruce and his family.


    The best course of action was to distance themselves from all this strife.


    Seeing Thssa''s earnestness made it hard for Callum to believe it was a joke. He nced between


    her and Atticus, and soon his astonishment gave way to eptance.


    After all, wasn''t it just a little while ago that he''d witnessed young Sophia confidently appraising the


    authenticity of precious stones? Now, if little Atticus was aputer genius, what was there not to


    understand or ept?


    "I''ll get theptop." Callum said, heading toward the ne.


    Meanwhile, the team of ten elite programmers that David had rounded up were fervently tapping away


    at their keyboards, fully engrossed in their mission to breach the radar surveince that nketed the


    skies above Starhaven.

 Chapter 1040

    Chapter 1040


    Callum hauled over theptop and dragged an extra chair up for Atticus to sit down and get cracking on


    hacking the surveince system on the spot.


    The pressure was on; they knew that Lysander might have already rallied his tech troops and started


    scouring the monitors.


    A second''s dy could blow their cover wide open.


    Wiping the surveince footage clean was critical, a race against time.


    Atticus booted up theptop, and his little fingers danced across the keyboard at lightning speed. His


    cute, boyish features were a mask of serious concentration, so absorbed in his task that the world


    around him might as well not exist.


    Thssa, the other three kids, Evelyn, and Callum huddled around Atticus, watching in awe as his


    fingers blurred over the keys, almost creating afterimages.


    They were all breathing slowly as if treading on eggshells, terrified of distracting him.


    ...


    Meanwhile, on the other side of the town, Lysander''s ten coding elites was also in nonstop action.


    They''d just cracked the radar code and were gearing up to check the Starhaven surveince when their


    screens went ck. Not just one, but all ten.


    The tech wizards were stunned.


    "Mr. Sinir, the footage has been wiped. It was all nk." one of the programmers reported.


    Lysander''s handsome face was as cold as an oing storm. How could he forget that his son,


    Atticus, was aputer prodigy?


    "Get the terrestrial surveince! With audio! Pull up every camera around Star Harbor Vi and check


    every road!" Lysandermanded with the authority he was born with.


    He had personally witnessed the ne taking off from the Star Harbor Vi''s courtyard. The ne''s


    noise would be audible throughout its flight.


    While ground traffic wouldn''t be disturbed by the flight, the sound of the ne would be unmistakable.


    "Right away!"


    The programmers got to work, each hacking into a different intersection''s surveince feed.


    Back at the airport, Atticus finished erasing the Starhaven airspace footage and finally let a smile crack


    his concentrated expression. "Done." he announced with a sense of triumph, snapping theptop shut


    and wiping the sweat from his brow.


    Callum was astounded ¡ª it had only taken two minutes!


    The so-called best hacker in Starhaven had told him it would take at least five.


    But Atticus did it in two, erasing the footage without a trace.


    Callum was both surprised and enlightened. True talent could be found in the most unexpected ces;


    those who boast about their skills weren''t necessarily the best.


    "Alright, time to roll out." Callum said, his tension easing now that the surveince was out of the


    picture. Without it, Lysander would have a much tougher time tracking them. Their journey ahead was


    now a lot smoother.


    He ushered Thssa and the others onto a private jet bound for Weston Country.


    Callum wouldn''t risk buying tickets and leaving a paper trail for Lysander to follow. Fortunately, the


    airline''s owner was an old friend who owed him a favor. Because of that, he secured for Callum seven


    unlisted seats on the flight with no check-in required.


    This way, they could leave the country without leaving a trace. Even if Lysander tried, he wouldn''t be


    able to find them.


    They boarded the jet. Ten minutester, it took off into the sky, heading for Weston Country.


    Thssa gazed out at the clouds through the window, seeing the sky a deeper blue, the clouds an


    even purer white, the golden sunlight filtering through them and casting a heavenly glow.


    Belongs ? to N?velDrama.Org.


    Breathing in deeply, Thssa relished the view only avable from high above, feeling a profound


    sense of rxation.


    This was the air of freedom, elusive and precious.

 Chapter 1041

    Chapter 1041


    After hacking through awork of surveince systems with the help of ten ace programmers,


    Lysander had finally traced the thunderous noise that had set him on this frantic chase to Starhaven


    Airport.


    He descended upon the airport with his crew, urgency etched in every line of their bodies as they


    scanned the throngs of travelers with relentless precision.


    The airport buzzed with tension as Lysander''s team moved through the crowds. Their presence cast a


    shadow of unease over the passengers. In a mere ten minutes, they had vetted every transient, yet


    This is the property of N?-velDrama.Org.


    there was no sign of Thssa or the children.


    Lysander''s chiseled features were set in a mask of icy determination. The heat of his anger simmering


    beneath the surface, threatening to erupt like a volcano and consume everything in its path.


    "Check all the flights that took off in thest twenty minutes!" hemanded coldly.


    The information came back quickly.


    Three nes had departed in that critical window; one headed to Merid Country, another to Yonder


    Country, and thest one to Weston Country.


    "Contact the pilots. Instruct them to be on the lookout for any passengers traveling with quadruplets


    and report back immediately!" Lysander ordered.


    David acknowledged themand and hurried off to make it happen.


    Meanwhile, high above the grounded chaos, Thssa gazed out the airne window and basked in


    the unfamiliar sensation of relief. She was finally free, free to live a simple and liberated life away from


    it all.


    The children had only ever known the steady chug of a train as their most advanced form of travel.


    The ne ride had been a delight, but now, soaring even higher in amercial jet, they were


    Eager little faces jostled for a peek out the window, marveling at the clouds and the blue sky they were


    used to admiring from below. Now, they were flying above them, looking down upon fluffy white


    "The sun looks like a fried egg on top of the clouds! It''s so fun!" Elowen eximed, her small hands


    pressed against the ss in awe.


    "Where? Let me see. I want to look too!" Dorian squeezed in beside his sibling, eager to catch a


    glimpse of the whimsical scene Elowen described.


    Thssa wrapped her arms around her children, her smile mirroring their joy. Their wonder and


    happiness were hers to share, as she too experienced the novelty of flying.


    "Excuse me, ma''am, what would you like for your meal? We have pasta, boxed lunches, and fruits." the


    flight attendant asked, pushing the cart down the aisle with a practiced smile.


    Thssa zoomed back to the reality and settled the children back into their seats.


    "How much for each?" she asked, the question spilling out before she could catch it.


    "Everything isplimentary on board, ma''am. We aim to serve our passengers with the utmost care."


    the flight attendant responded with a courteous and warm smile.


    Thssa blushed slightly, feeling a tad embarrassed. Her had only been on trains, where you had to


    pay for your meals.


    "I''ll take five boxed lunches, please. Thank you," Thssa said, recovering herposure.


    "Five?" The attendant nced at the four children seated around Thssa with mild curiosity. "Are all


    of these children yours?"


    "Yes." Thssa replied without hesitation.


    "They look about the same age. They''re all yours?" the attendant inquired further.


    "They''re quadruplets." Thssa exined.


    "Quadruplets? That''s quite rare, and they''re adorable." the flight attendant remarked with a genuinely


    warm and affectionate smile at the children.

 Chapter 1042

    Chapter 1042


    Thssa offered a polite, charming smile. "Yep, quadruplets."


    "Ma''am, you''re incredible. Having twins is already quite a feat, but you''ve gone and had four at once!"


    The flight attendant was brimming with warmth, her smile infectious as she struck up a conversation


    with Thssa.


    "Yup, my mom''s a superhero; she popped us four munchkins out just like that. And my dad''s pretty


    amazing too at reproduction." Elowen chimed in with her disarmingly cute nod, dropping a bombshell in


    her innocent chatter.


    Thssa''s eyes went wide, and she quickly covered Elowen''s little mouth, smiling awkwardly at the


    flight attendant. "We''ll all have the lunch boxes, thank you."


    Elowen, the cutest and most animated of the bunch, must have picked up some interesting lingo from


    her ymates at preschool toe out with such a statement.


    Thssa felt so embarrassed she could almost dig a hole with her toes.


    "Here are your lunch boxes. Please enjoy your meal." the flight attendant said, sensing Thssa''s


    difort and tactfully not pursuing the quadruplet topic any further.


    After cing the lunch boxes on the tray tables, she gave Thssa a nod and Elowen a look with


    adore and sympathy before moving along with her cart.


    "Um..." Elowen, whose mouth was still covered, stayed still. Her big, sparkling eyes rolled around,


    looking both shrewd and adorably naive.


    Realizing she was still covering her daughter''s mouth, Thssa quickly removed her hand and


    caressed Elowen''s soft cheek, her tone a mix of affection and resignation. "Sweetie, who taught you


    those things?"


    "My friend Dn." Elowen exined in her tender, childish voice, "He knows my siblings and I are


    quads. He said my dad must be super strong, and he''s jealous because he wants a brother or a sister


    too, but his dad doesn''t want to."


    Dn again, that little rascal and Mr. Ethan''s nephew, always filling Elowen''s head with such ideas.


    How could such a young kid know so much?


    Thssa smiled and ruffled her little one''s hair. "Hungry, huh? Let''s eat."


    "Yeah, my tummy''s gonna cave in! I want to eat, and I think I could eat two portions." Elowen dered,


    kneading her round belly.


    Her expression was irresistibly endearing.


    The other three tykes also craned their necks in anticipation of the meal.


    Thssa opened the lunch boxes for them one by one.


    Behind them, Callum sat with Evelyn, both opting for lunch boxes from the flight attendant who, Callum


    noticed, was wearing a headset.


    Curiosity stirred within him; he''d flown plenty of times but had never seen an attendant dish out meals


    with a headset on.


    This flight attendant was an anomaly, and it piqued Callum''s suspicions about her reasons for wearing


    it.


    He had overheard her exchange with Thssa ¡ª after all, on a ne, the confined space made every


    conversation crystal clear.


    The attendant had been marveling at Thssa''s quadruplet, seemingly innocuous, but Callum sensed


    something off.


    Two hourster, the ne touched down safely at Weston Country Airport.


    Callum led them out of the terminal where a car was already waiting.


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    "Please get in, and I''m taking you all somewhere." Callum said.

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    Chapter 1043


    Thssa, Evelyn, and the four children all got into the car.


    "Mom, I''m so hot! Can we please get some ice creams?" little Elowen tugged at Thssa sleeve, her


    plea melting into the stifling air of the car. The child''s eyes, wide and hopeful, were enough to soften


    the hardest of hearts.


    The temperature in Weston Country soared even higher than back home. Stepping off the ne had


    been like walking into an oven. Despite the cool refuge of the car, the muggy weather made it hard to


    breathe, leaving everyone parched and restless.


    "I want ice cream too, Mom. It''s too hot," whispered Sophia, her eyes gazing imploringly at Thssa.


    "Mom, me too! I want two ice creams!" pouted Dorian.


    Even little Atticus, who had been quiet, piped up, "Mom, it''s so hot, and I need an ice-cold drink."


    Thssa''s heart ached as she looked at the children. It was one in the morning, and although the kids


    had dozed a bit on the flight, the heat of Weston County was merciless.


    Lack of restbined with the heat could lead to heatstroke, and she knew all too well that children


    were more vulnerable than adults. Heatstroke wasn''t like amon cold; it could be life-threatening.


    Turning to Callum, who sat in the passenger seat, she voiced her concern, "May I stop somewhere with


    a shop to pick up some frozen treats to cool the kids down?"


    The van had plenty of room, with Thssa and Elowen in the middle row, Callum in the front beside the


    driver, who was focusing on the road. But even with space to spare, the air felt thick and heavy.


    ¡°Yeah, Mr. Gordon. Let¡¯s get them some popsicles before we head on. The kids are too small. They


    can¡¯t endure like us adults.¡± Evelyn said. She put her hands on Dorian¡¯s face, which was reddened and


    almost fevering. She was also worried about the children.


    "Up ahead there''s a convenience store. We can stop there. My apologies for the rush; I didn''t prepare


    as well as I could have." Callum said, aware of the potential danger for the children. He couldn¡¯t risk


    their lives just to get a few minutes quicker.


    He felt guilty for not anticipating every need, given the urgency of their departure.


    The n to help Thssa escape had been thrown together hastily. Callum had managed to map out


    This is the property of N?-velDrama.Org.


    the escape route and handle the major details, but some of the smaller ones, like the children''s


    "Mr. Gordon, you''ve done enough for us already. We''re more than grateful." Evelyn said, her voice


    Her gratitude stemmed deep. Without his help, she and Thssa wouldn''t have been able to make


    such a smooth getaway with the kids.


    They wouldn''t have even made it out of Starhaven, let alone the country.


    Traveling required ID checks and ticket purchases. The moment they booked tickets, Lysander would


    have been alerted to their whereabouts and tracked them down. This was why Thssa had endured


    and stayed by Lysander''s side, unable to leave with her children.


    "No need to be formal, Evelyn." Callum replied, his voice gentle.


    The minivan pulled up in front of a quaint little grocery store.


    Thssa and Evelyn ushered the kids inside.


    As soon as they entered, the four little ones scampered towards the freezer section, their tiny legs


    carrying them as fast as they could go. They were too short to see over the edge of the freezer, so they


    stood on tiptoes and peered eagerly at the ice cream selection.


    "Let Mama help you." Thssa said, making her way over and opening the freezer door for her eager


    children.

 Chapter 1044

    Chapter 1044


    "Mom, I want the chocte fudge one." Elowen pleaded, her cherub cheeks flushed with excitement.


    "I want the old-school vani." Sophia raised her hand, eager to voice her choice.


    "I want that fruit sorbet." Dorian licked his lips, already longing for the taste of ice cream before even


    having a bite.


    "I want that popsicle." Atticus chimed in, his cute little face all aglow.


    Thssa took note of everyone''s requests, fetched their preferred vors from the freezer, and handed


    each child their treat. She then grabbed several more ice creams and a few bottles of chilled water and


    headed to the checkout counter.


    Callum stood there with wallet in hand. "Put it on my tab." he said.


    He signaled Thssa to ce the items on the counter.


    Thssa, not wanting to feel more indebted to Callum, offered politely, "I should pay, really. I can''t


    thank you enough as it is."


    "Your card is from back home; if you swiped it, there would be a transaction record. Lysander can trace


    it in no time, pinpointing when and where you spent money. Plus, this is Weston Country; your home


    currency couldn¡¯t fly here." Callum exined.


    Thssa was taken aback, nearly making a blunder. "Then I must trouble you, Mr. Gordon. Once


    things settle down, I''ll get some local currency."


    Callum gave her an assuring smile and told the cashier to ring them up.


    After paying, the kids were contentedly munching on their ice cream, little faces quickly smeared with


    cream and syrup, looking like adorable messy kittens.


    Thssa watched them and felt a heartwarming glow.


    Once in the car, she handed the driver and Callum the extra ice creams. "Cool off a bit."


    Callum took two popsicles without any fuss. "Good idea. Have one yourself, cool down."


    He unwrapped one for the driver and kept one for his own enjoyment.


    "Will do." Thssa replied, passing one to Evelyn.


    "I''ll just have some ice water. Weird, howe Weston Country is so hot?" Evelyn said, taking a bottle


    from the bag and unscrewing the cap before taking a sip.


    "Weston Country is tropical. It''s hotter than most ces. But the heat doesn''tst all year ¡ª just three


    months of peak temperatures." Callum provided some insight.


    "Three months! Gosh, you could practically cook in this heat." Evelyn eximed, her habitual


    She had beenining all the time when she lived with Thssa and the kids. It became her habit;


    she¡¯din upon she opened her mouth.


    Her words were casual, but Callum took notice.


    He nced at them through the rear-view mirror and said, "Sorry for the rush. This ce is a bit out of


    the way, which means Lysander won''t think to look here. Once we get a chance, we can relocate to


    This is property ? N?velDrama.Org.


    another country if needed."


    Realizing her mother''sints had struck a chord with Callum, Thssa quickly exined, "Mr.


    Gordon, my mom''s justmenting on the climate, not ming you. We''ll get used to it. Adapting is


    part of life, no matter where you are."


    "Yeah, yeah, I was just remarking on the weather. Didn''t mean to sound ungrateful or anything." Evelyn


    added, realizing she might have spoken too freely.


    Back home, one could be blunt and speak their mind, knowing the family would tolerate all ws


    without taking offense. But elsewhere, some decorum was necessary even with the closest of friends.


    "Don''t worry. I''m not upset. I was just discussing future ns. If you really can''t stand the climate here,


    we can always consider moving." Callum said with a light-hearted smile, easing their worries.


    "Oh, alright, as long as you don''t mind, that''s fine." Evelyn sighed in relief, anxious not to have upset


    their host.


    After all, they were in a foreignnd. They had to rely on Callum''s kindness with no other options at


    hand.

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    Chapter 1045


    Callum had no real ties to them, and his connection with Thssa was barely more than an


    acquaintance''s.


    Helping them out had already been a stretch, and if he ever got fed up and left them to fend for


    themselves, they''d be left homeless.


    Deep down, Evelyn was a bundle of nerves, her mind buzzing with the fear of being abandoned and


    left with nowhere to turn.


    "Evelyn, you need to rx." Callum reassured her, his voice steady and kind. "I brought you guys out


    here, and I''ll see it through. If you need something, just let me know, and I''ll do what I can to help out."


    "Callum, you''re really sweet." Elowen said with a grin, her face smeared with ice cream, making her


    irresistibly cute.


    Callum couldn''t help but chuckle at her sweet words.


    They drove for what felt like an eternity until they arrived at a vi nestled in the countryside, a vi


    called Moon Retreat.


    By the time they got there, daybreak had kissed the sky.


    The city was a furnace, but it was pleasantly cool out here in the country. The vi was cocooned in


    lush greenery, an ocean of foliage that seemed to stretch into infinity.


    Even the breeze that swept through was fresh with the scent of nature, a cool salve to the oppressive


    heat they''d left behind.


    "From now on, this is your home." Callum announced as they arrived. "You''ll find it''s got everything you


    need. There''s a garden out back and plenty of pantry staples inside ¡ª you won¡¯t need to buy anything.


    If you run out of anything, just let me know, and I''ll have it sent over."


    Evelyn gaped at the vi like a kid in a candy store, her eyes wide with wonder. The ce was


    luxurious, sprawling over a vast expanse, with nothing but well-maintained greenery and a variety of


    vegetables surrounding it.


    The ce was a verdant paradise, an emerald escape from the world, secluded yet blissfully peaceful.


    "Mr. Gordon, are you for real? Letting us stay in this amazing ce?" Evelyn was over the moon.


    "Of course, Evelyn." Callum affirmed.


    "But why? Why are you being so good to us? Don''t tell me you''ve got a thing for my Thssa!" Evelyn


    blurted out, her words as straightforward as they were surprising.


    At her words, Thssa''s face flushed with embarrassment. She quickly chided Evelyn, then turned to


    Callum with an apologetic smile, "Sorry, my mom just speaks her mind. Please don''t take it to heart."


    "No worries, you all should head in and get some rest. It''s been a long haul." Callum suggested.


    All text ? N?velD(r)a''ma.Org.


    "Sure, Mr. Gordon. Why don''t youe in and take a break too?" Thssa suggested, ushering the


    kids into the grand hallway of the vi.


    Callum watched her retreat. A soft glow of affection emerged in his eyes.


    The kids, who had slept through the drive, were now wide awake with curiosity about the new ce


    and showed no signs of wanting to sleep. They raided the fridge, pulling out an assortment of ice


    creams.


    Elowen, the little gourmand, had already started her feast.


    "Elowen, take it easy, honey. Too much of that and you''ll get a tummy ache." Thssa warned, her


    words barely out before the sky was filled with the thunderous roar of an engine.


    Could it be a ne flying overhead?


    For some reason, Thssa''s heart began to race with an unexinable anxiety.

 Chapter 1046

    Chapter 1046


    "Mommy, I''ll stop after this one." Elowen cooed, her voice as sweet as the cherry atop her sundae. She


    yfully stuck out her little pink tongue, licking the whipped cream that graced her ice cream.


    "Mommy, I don''t want to go to bed yet. I want to y with the airne." Dorian tugged at Thssa''s


    pants. His tiny finger was pointing at arge model ne disyed on a stand in the living room.


    "That''s not a toy, sweetheart. It''s a model, and it''s not for ying," Thssa gently tried to discourage


    Dorian''s request.


    Even though Callum had allowed them to stay in his mansion, it didn''t mean they could treat it as their


    own. They had to be careful with the belongings inside. Breaking something would be a nightmare to


    exin.


    Callum caught on to Thssa''s hesitation. A warm, reassuring smile spread across his face as he said,


    "It''s alright, let him y. The model''s just collecting dust anyway. It''s not often it catches someone''s


    eye."


    "Mommy, can I really y with it?" Despite Callum''s permission, Dorian still sought his mother''s


    approval before daring to touch the model.


    Thssa looked down at Dorian. His big, hopeful eyes were brimming with the pure desire to explore


    and y.


    How could she say no and watch his little heart break?


    She couldn''t bear it, so she stroked Dorian''s hair and said gently, "Go ahead, but be careful not to


    break it."


    "Yeah, okay! Thanks, Mommy! thanks, Callum!" Dorian''s eyes sparkled with excitement. After


    expressing his gratitude, he dashed towards the model, carefully touching its wings and fusge.


    Thssa''s lips curved into a smile as she watched Dorian''s ted exploration. Her gaze lifted to meet


    Callum''s kind eyes, his demeanor always so approachable andforting, without any pressure.


    "Mr. Gordon, you should get some rest. You''ve had a long night, and you must be tired." Thssa


    suggested.


    Callum''s smile took on a teasing edge. "I''ve told you, please just call me Callum. No need for


    formalities."


    Thssa felt a bit embarrassed being corrected on the name, but she didn''t want to let Callum down.


    With a shy voice, she relented, "Callum, please go have a rest."


    "Alright, I''ll be in the downstairs bedroom if you need anything. You and the kids should get some rest


    too." Callum said with genuine concern.


    "Sure." Thssa nodded.


    As Callum started towards his room, a sudden, thunderous sound of a ne descending startled


    everyone.


    Callum stopped in his tracks, his face tightening as he looked outside.


    Thssa''s heart sank at the noise, her nerves on edge as she peered through the doorway.


    A sleek, ck ne had touched down in the yard. Its rotors were whipping the surrounding trees and


    tall grass into a frenzy.


    Thssa''s newly found peace was shattered. Her breath was caught in her throat, and her limbs


    stiffened with tension.


    Callum, too, remained still. He frowned.


    Were they already here?


    The ne''s door swung open, and a pair of polished leather shoes stepped out, their shine a stark


    contrast to the dirt and grass.


    Following those shoes, Lysander emerged, tall and imposing, with amanding presence. His


    handsome face was set in a cold, unyielding expression, his aura both intimidating and


    This is property ? N?velDrama.Org.


    unapproachable. He strode toward the vi, nked by several bodyguards who had also disembarked.


    Lysander had arrived.

 Chapter 1047

    Chapter 1047


    Thssa froze as she saw him. Her body began to tremble uncontrobly, and her heart was racing


    like a runaway train. Her breaths was shallow and desperate.


    Great terror enveloped her whole being.


    Lysander strode into the foyer, his presence stirring the air like an unwanted spirit. The pressure


    seemed to plummet, the air growing dense and tight around them.


    As Thssa locked eyes with Lysander, who descended upon the room like some devil incarnate, she


    felt as if his icy eyes were vortexes, set to devour her very soul.


    Fear seeped into her bones, her heart erratic as a hailstorm in spring ¡ª moments of calm shattered by


    sudden, chilling strikes.


    Lysander was closing in, and Thssa stood petrified. Her limbs forgot their very purpose. Panic


    wed its way up from the pit of her stomach.


    Suddenly, a shadow loomed before her, severing the intense gaze between her and Lysander.


    Callum stepped in front of Thssa, his handsome face set in a stern line as he squared off against


    Lysander. "Mr. Sinir, what brought you to my humble abode so early in the day?"


    Lysander''s gaze was sharp and cold as steel, a storm of anger swirling in his eyes.


    "Taking my woman and children without a trace of remorse, don¡¯t you, Mr. Gordon?" Lysander''s voice


    This is property ? N?velDrama.Org.


    was a chilling whisper, frost lining each word.


    Callum suppressed the dread rising within him and managed a calm exterior. He chuckled lightly, "Ms.


    Everhart mentioned she fancied a trip. What''s the harm in a little tourism?"


    He had underestimated Lysander and thought his reach was limited to domestic soil where he had


    eyes everywhere.


    Never did he expect that Lysander''s influence was formidable even abroad.


    Callum thought that his n to whisk Thssa away was wless and that their escape route was


    beyond Lysander''s grasp.


    Yet, within mere hours, Lysander had found them and pinpointed their location with no opportunity left


    for them to seek refuge elsewhere.


    "Really? She came with you willingly, the whole family in tow?" Lysander raised an eyebrow, his


    predatory gaze shifting past Callum to fix on Thssa.


    Meeting his icy stare, Thssa''s heart skipped a beat. Her hands clenched at her sides, tension


    coursing through her.


    Distracted by her ice cream, little Elowen perked up at Lysander''s voice. Her bright eyes turned


    towards the sound, and there stood her strikingly handsome father.


    Her face lit up. She abandoned the ice-cream and toddled at full speed towards Lysander, "Daddy!"


    Reaching him, she wrapped her small arms around his legs, rubbing her cheek affectionately against


    his trousers, not caring for the creamy smudges and traces of her runny nose she left on the pristine


    fabric.


    Thssa''s heart raced, fearing for Elowen''s innocence.


    Lysander was a man of immacte habits, any speck of dirt was enough to incite his wrath.


    Now, with his trousers smeared, Thssa expected his fury to double.


    But instead, Lysander gently patted Elowen''s tiny back, his voice softening, "Did you miss me?"


    Elowen nodded vigorously, "Uh-huh, I missed you so much, Daddy. I''m so d you''re here! Are you


    Thssa was speechless.


    Elowen, bless her heart, was none the wiser. She truly believing they were just on a family trip. Yet her


    longing for her father was palpable.


    Just hours apart from Lysander, and Elowen''s affection was evident.


    They say daughters are their father''s shadows; little Elowen was the very definition of a daddy''s girl.

 Chapter 1048

    Chapter 1048


    Lysander''s gaze was deep and brooding. A cold,manding aura emanating from him, silencing the


    chatter around.


    He ignored Elowen''s small talk; he wasn''t here for sightseeing, and he certainly didn''t believe Thssa


    had brought the kids here for a holiday either.


    Little Dorian, who had been engrossed in a model airne, paused and looked up as Lysander


    entered. His almond-shaped eyes sparkled like stars, instantly losing interest in the toy ne and


    dashing toward his father with tiny, hurried steps.


    "Daddy, you''re here!" Dorian ran up to Lysander, wrapping his small arms around his other leg,


    nuzzling his head against him in an affectionate gesture filled with love for his father.


    Atticus walked out of the room, holding Sophia''s hand, his young eyes fixed on Lysander, yet not


    showing the same excited delight as Elowen and Dorian.


    Atticus'' handsome little face was puffed up, his thoughts unreadable. While Sophia, with her cherubic


    and adorably cool features, beamed with joy but restrained herself, gazing reservedly at Lysander.


    That was when Evelyn emerged from the room and caught sight of Lysander standing in the hall. She


    gasped, almost unable to catch her breath. Her heart raced with fear.


    After taking a deep breath, she mustered the courage to speak, her voice trembling, "You... you...


    you¡­ How did you get here so quickly?"


    She had hoped, as Callum had said, that they were beyond Lysander''s reach and that they could live


    quietly here. Her dream had barelysted a few hours before turning into a nightmare.


    Lysander had tracked them down, dropping into the vi as if from nowhere!


    With an icy nce, Lysander silenced Evelyn, who shivered under his gaze and was too frightened to


    utter another word.


    His presence was overwhelming, not something the average person could contend with.


    Seeing the children and both Thssa and Evelyn, his anger stirred, barely contained. His re turned


    to Callum, who was standing protectively in front of Thssa. "Move aside!"


    Callum''s heart sank under Lysander''s intimidating presence, but he didn''t budge. He made a promise,


    This is property ? N?velDrama.Org.


    and he wasmitted to helping Thssa to the end.


    "Lysander, you''re nothing to Thssa. What right do you have to control her?" Callum held Lysander''s


    gaze defiantly.


    Lysander''s patience had run dry; he wouldn''t waste any word with Callum. Hemanded his


    bodyguard, "Throw him aside, and break his legs!"


    The bodyguard stepped forward forcefully, grabbed Callum, and threw him to the side.


    Callum, shielding Thssa, stumbled as he was shoved away.


    A path was cleared between her and Lysander. Thssa''s heart raced with panic, her limbs failing her.


    "Ouch!" A groan escaped Callum as the bodyguard struck. Pain etched in his voice.


    Thssa''s eyes widened with shock as she rushed to protect Callum, struggling to pull the bodyguard


    away.


    "Stop! Don''t hurt him, please don''t!" she pleaded while tugging at the bodyguard.


    But the bodyguard was relentless, his fists pounding down on Callum, who grunted with each blow.


    Desperation took hold of Thssa. In a frantic move, she wrapped her arms around Callum and


    shielded him with her own body from the bodyguard''s punches.


    The moment Thssa embraced him, ripples of emotion stirred through Callum, and his body was


    tensing.


    The bodyguard''s fist, poised to strike Thssa''s back, suddenly hung in the air. He looked to Lysander


    for direction.


    Thssa was shielding Callum; should he continue?

 Chapter 1049

    Chapter 1049


    The bodyguard, staring at Lysander, saw his eyes went red with fury and sensed the chill of anger


    seeping into the surrounding air. The bodyguard froze, eyes dropping in submission, anxious to avoid


    the wrath.


    When Lysander saw Thssa throw herself in front of Callum, ready to take the hit meant for him, his


    heart felt like it was pierced by a shard of ice. Rage ignited from deep within, spreading like wildfire


    through his veins and threatening to consume him whole.


    "Thssa, do you even realize what you''re doing?" Lysander''s voice was tight with suppressed anger.


    His gaze was icy.


    Thssa, realizing the bodyguard had halted and that she was still embracing Callum, quickly let go


    and turned to face Lysander. Her breath trembled as she met his furious, crimson stare, tears spilling


    over. She pleaded, "Please let Callum go. He was just trying to help me. None of this is his fault. I''ll go


    back with you."


    Going back meant facing the consequences, enduring his towering rage, submitting to whatever


    punishment he deemed fit.


    Lysander''s eyes fell on her tears, each one like a needle-sharp icicle, stabbing into his heart with a


    cold, dull ache.


    His jaw clenched. His eyes grew colder and more unforgiving than a winter storm.


    "Fine!" The word came out heavy and strained. He stepped forward, grabbed Thssa''s wrist, and


    pulled her to his side.


    Her body mmed against his solid chest. And suddenly, her heart thumped wildly like a red-hot iron in


    a forge, pulsing with heat.


    His arm, strong and powerful, wrapped around her waist, holding her tight against his abdomen. Even


    through the fabric, Thssa could feel the solid heat of his body.


    Her face flushed hot, breath catching, pupils constricting, as if she were a lobster boiled bright red, too


    scared to move a muscle.


    Lysander''s profound eyes held her captive, as bottomless as the night sky. Her heart pound in silent


    panic.


    "Take the kids and Evelyn away!" Hismand was directed at the bodyguard.


    With that, he turned and walked away with Thssa in tow. The bodyguard hurried to escort the four


    children.


    "I can walk on my own. I can walk on my own!" Evelyn stammered in panic as the bodyguard


    approached her, just as intimidating as Lysander in her eyes.


    Lysander led Thssa onto the ne, followed by the children and Evelyn.


    The air was as stiff as ice inside the cabin; the atmosphere was so tense and suffocating.


    In Lysander''s presence, the pressure felt crushingly low, stifling any desire to breathe too deeply.


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    Thssa hung her head, not daring to let even a sliver of her gaze stray towards Lysander.


    The ne engines roared to life and began its ascent.


    Then, a scream echoed from the vi''s grand hall. It was Callum''s cry of agony.


    Despite the loud whir of the ne, Callum''s pain tore through the noise and pulled at Thssa''s


    nerves. She lifted her head in rm and anger and red at Lysander.


    "What have you done to him? You promised you wouldn''t hit him again!" Thssa''s voice was charged


    with emotion.


    Lysander''s cold gaze met hers, a fury smoldering in his eyes. "You''re worried about him?"


    Her eyes wavered, her heart skipped a beat. Her voice was tight through gritted teeth as she spat out,


    "Lysander, you''re cruel and heartless. Who would ever want to stay by your side?"


    After her words, Lysander''s eyes turned to ice, his expression chilling further.

 Chapter 1050

    Chapter 1050


    Evelyn could feel the ice in Lysander''s aura, and she scrambled to smooth things over.


    "Look, Thssa didn¡¯t mean anything bad. She just took us out for a trip. Once the trip is over, we¡¯ll


    head back. The kids were even asking why their dad didn¡¯te along for the vacation." she said, her


    voice tinged with panic, uncertain if Lysander would believe that Thssa wasn¡¯t attempting to flee.


    Lysander was an intense man. His presence was dominating, and his style of action was swift and


    unforgiving. He didn¡¯t hold back when he beat Callum.


    Evelyn was terrified Lysander might harm Thssa. She rambled on in desperation, hoping to defuse


    the tension.


    But Lysander seemed not to hear her as if she were invisible. His deep eyes locked onto Thssa as a


    silent pressure.


    The air grew thick, almost suffocating. Thssa felt a chill run down her spine, her body tensing


    ufortably.


    Her anger at Lysander, which had erupted just moments before, was now retreating under his intense


    gaze.


    Though she was in the right, she felt forced to bow her head in front of Lysander.


    Her indignation wilted under his cold, prating stare. Her eyes dropped, and she nervously twisted


    her hands together. She had wanted to confront Lysander, demand an exnation, but instead, she


    found herself subdued, like a child caught misbehaving.


    Lysander remained silent, but his oppressive silence and menacing gaze were more intimidating than


    any words, evoking dread.


    ...


    Meanwhile, at Moon Retreat, Callumy on the ground with his broken leg. He gasped in pain and


    sweat beaded on his forehead.


    "Why did you break his leg?" one of the bodyguards asked, shocked that his colleague had actually


    broken Callum''s leg.


    The offending bodyguard was a bit confused and said, "Didn''t Mr. Sinir order us to do this?"


    This bodyguard was rtively new and took Lysander''s orders very seriously, not daring to ck off.


    The other bodyguard made a facepalm and was exasperated. "That was before Mr. Sinir promised


    Ms. Everhart that he wouldn''t hit Callum anymore..."


    "Ah, I didn¡¯t catch that. What do we do now?" Upon hearing this, the new bodyguard realized his


    mistake and started to panic.


    "Mr. Sinir has already taken off on his ne so probably won¡¯t find out. Let¡¯s get him to the hospital,


    and he should recover after some time." another bodyguard suggested.


    "Right, I''m calling emergency services now." the remorseful bodyguard said and pulled out his phone.


    Callum, still on the ground, listened to their conversation. Despite the pain in his broken leg and his


    He finally understood where the problemy. The flight attendant on the ne was the issue. Lysander


    took advantage of the uniqueness of the quadruplets. He had the flight attendant to keep an eye on the


    passengers and report immediately once the quadruplets were spotted.


    That way, Lysander could track which country Thssa flew to.


    But how did he find out they had gone to the airport in the ne?


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    Callum had sensed something off about the flight attendant, but he thought that since Atticus had


    wiped the radar tracking, Lysander couldn''t possibly find out where their ne hadnded, let alone


    know they had taken a flight out of the country. So even with his suspicions about the flight attendant,


    he lowered his guard.


    It turned out, the very thing he suspected was indeed the problem.

 Chapter 1051

    Chapter 1051


    Lysander was even more ruthless than he had imagined.


    The bodyguard''s words echoed in his ears.


    Lysandermanded to break Callum''s legs, and it was a tactic to coerce Thssa intoing with


    him willingly. Later, Lysander promised Thssa he would cease the violence, but the bodyguard took


    This is the property of N?-velDrama.Org.


    it upon himself to carry out the brutal act.


    In the end, it was Lysander''s order, wasn''t it? The man was known for his cold efficiency and his refusal


    to show mercy in any endeavor.


    Shortly, an ambnce arrived at Moon Retreat and took Callum away.


    ...


    Lysander''s ne touched down at Weston Country Airport.


    He led them straight to arge aircraft parked on the tarmac, where they were greeted by a hostess


    standing at the ne¡¯s entrance.


    She wasn''t dressed in the typical flight attendant''s attire, but rather in a sharp business suit that hinted


    at extensive professionality.


    The hostess politely ushered Thssa and the children into the cabin, and it was only then that


    Thssa realized they were the sole passengers.


    "I want a window seat!" Elowen dered, scrambling onto a seat by the window with youthful


    eagerness.


    "I want to sit by the window too." Dorian chimed in, iming another spot. Once settled, he peered out


    with the same fascination as the day before. The skies had offered them a whole new spectacle they


    were keen to behold again.


    Atticus and Sophia, though silent, naturally gravitated toward the window seats as well.


    All four youngsters had staked their ims on the coveted spots.


    Seeing this, Thssa quickly intervened, "Atticus, Sophia, pleasee sit with Dorian and Elowen.


    You can''t just hog the seats like that; there might be other passengers."


    The hostess, standing by with a smile, respectfully interjected, "Ms. Everhart, there''s no need to worry.


    Please, feel free to sit wherever you like. This isn''t amercial flight; it''s Mr. Sinir''s private jet."


    Thssa''s eyes widened in disbelief. A private jet? She had thought only airlines owned nes and


    scheduled flights for travelers. The idea that Lysander owned a jet as grand as amercial airliner


    shattered her conception of wealth.


    "Wow, so my dad owns a private jet this big? It''s even cooler than Callum''s ne!" Dorian eximed


    with the enthusiasm of a true aviation aficionado.


    The hostess corrected him, "Mr. Sinir doesn''t own just one private jet; he has several."


    "Several? Like, toys?" Dorian''s mouth formed a perfect ''O'' of astonishment.


    "If you want to y, one day I''ll fly one out to Royal Estates just for you," Lysander''s deep voice


    resonated as he entered the cabin.


    Thssa was speechless. Toy models were one thing, but actual nes for y?


    "Oh yes! I get to y with a real ne! Dad, you''re the coolest!" Dorian jumped up from his seat in


    excitement, only to bump his forehead against the seat back with a resonant ''thud.''


    Thssa winced in sympathy, "Did that hurt, honey?"


    Dorian rubbed his forehead, stuck out his tongue yfully, and insisted, "It''s okay, it''s okay. It doesn''t


    hurt a bit."


    Thssa couldn''t help butugh at his eagerness, which made pain secondary to his joy. As she


    looked up, she met Lysander''s profound and mysterious eyes, captivating and as deep as a void.


    A shiver ran through her.


    "Elowen, I''ll sit next to you." Thssa quickly averted her eyes, moving to the seat beside her


    daughter. She tried to avoid further eye contact with Lysander and alleviate her embarrassment.

 Chapter 1052

    Chapter 1052


    Sitting in the airne, everything felt disturbingly normal, except for the low cabin pressure.


    This is property ? N?velDrama.Org.


    Hourster, the aircraft touched down on a t stretch ofnd behind the Royal Estates.


    Thssa had noticed the vast, open space behind the Royal Estates early on but had no idea what it


    was for.


    Only now did she realize that it was a private airstrip exclusive to the Royal Estates!


    It was impressive enough when someone had their own parking lot, but Lysander had an entire airstrip


    at his disposal!


    Thssa''s perspective had been broadened time and again when she lived by Lysander¡¯s side. She


    had witnessed phenomena she''d never even imagined; poverty really had limited her imagination.


    The wealthy could possess anything and everything. It was only her own mind that set boundaries on


    what could exist.


    Back at the Royal Estates, Fitch greeted them with a mix of reverence and warmth. "Ms. Everhart,


    Evelyn, dear children, wee back! I''ve been waiting for you all at the house for two days now."


    Seeing them return eased the tight knot of worry that had formed in Fitch''s chest. He had been on pins


    and needles, anxious that something untoward might befall Thssa and the children once they''d left


    the safety of the Royal Estates, or worse, that they might disappear on his watch.


    "Fitch, I''m so tired, and I want to take a nap." Elowen murmured, her little lips puckered and her eyes


    barely open.


    Fitch nced over to see the other children, each with their heads drooping, clearly exhausted.


    "Young masters and mistresses, let''s get you to your rooms for some sleep. Your bed sheets have


    been freshly changed. They''re very cozy." Fitch said, quickly motioning for the staff to lead the drowsy


    brood to their bedrooms.


    "Um, could I get a driver to take me back to Star Harbor Vi?" Evelyn asked with a nervous chuckle,


    clearly out of her element.


    She couldn''t possibly stay at the Royal Estates. Lysander hadn''t even married Thssa, making even


    Thssa presence there somewhat questionable, let alone hers. She residing there would be even


    more inappropriate, without any real status or im.


    Besides, being around Lysander''s icy and intimidating aura was too much for her; she felt oppressed


    and ufortable all over her body.


    She''d be better off back in her own home ¡ª a ce where she could rx.


    She addressed Fitch with her request, not daring to approach Lysander directly.


    Fitch didn¡¯t have the authority to make such a decision, so he looked to Lysander and sought approval.


    Thssa understood her mother''s feelings and didn''t want her to feel pressured to stay. She was used


    to being under Lysander''s imposing influence, but why should her mother suffer alongside her?


    Thssa cast a pleading look toward Lysander. "I can just get her an Uber, and that''ll be fine."


    All that mattered was Lysander''s consent for Evelyn to leave.


    "Get a driver for Evelyn." Lysandermanded with a deep, resonant voice.


    Thssa''s tension eased in that instant.


    Evelyn, who hadn''t expected much, was suddenly overwhelmed with gratitude. "Thank you, thank you


    so much."


    "Pleasee with me, Evelyn." Fitch said and led her away.


    "Alrighty." Evelyn responded, ncing back at Thssa with a look of reluctant parting mixed with


    concern. "Thssa, I''m heading out."


    "Sure. Please text me when you get home." Thssa said.


    "Will do." Evelyn replied and followed Fitch out of the Royal Estates.

 Chapter 1053

    Chapter 1053


    Thssa watched as her mother''s silhouette faded from view. Then, she lowered her gaze and turned


    for the bathroom. Her eyes collided with the piercing gaze of Lysander, sharp as a de poised before


    her, threatening to pierce flesh at the slightest misstep.


    Hershes quivered, her breath hitched, and she quickly averted her eyes. "I''m going to check on the


    kids."


    Her intended path to the bathroom shifted to the children''s rooms.


    Lysander made no move to stop her. She gently pushed open each door and found the little ones


    sound asleep, lost in slumber so deep that mere minutes had pulled them under. The day''s hustle had


    clearly worn them out.


    Seeing their peaceful slumber, Thssa couldn''t bear to wake them. Instead, she closed the doors


    quietly and tiptoed away.


    But as she turned, she stumbled into a solid, scorching chest. She hurriedly stepped back, only to find


    the door at her heels, leaving her with no escape.


    Lysander¡¯s grip tightened around her waist and pulled her close. His firm abdomen sent a dangerous


    signal, burning her skin and stalling her breath. Her pupils were dting.


    "It''s time to settle our score!" Lysander¡¯s handsome face was cold as he spoke, and with that, he swept


    her off her feet.


    Thssa gasped, instinctively wrapping her arms around his neck.


    Lysander¡¯s presence was overwhelming - his arms were strong and decisive, and his cold aura


    enveloped herpletely.


    She didn''t dare to resist, not even allowing herself to breathe too loudly.


    He strode quickly to the main bedroom, kicked the door shut with a swift motion, and ced Thssa


    on the bed. He loomed over her. His eyes, pining her down, were profound as the night and cold as


    frost.


    "You escaped from the hotel... was it to elope with Callum? Since when did you two have a affair?"


    She conspired with Susan to drug him, abandoned him in his feverish state, and left the hotel for Susan


    to take her ce!


    She fled disregarding his plight just to run away with Callum? And she even took his children with her!


    The thought of her actions was like a simmering volcano in Lysander¡¯s heart, ready to erupt and


    devastate all if not for his iron self-control.


    "I didn''t! I was really just traveling..." Thssa¡¯s heart skipped a beat under his intense scrutiny, and


    she hurried to exin.


    How could he misunderstand what happened between her and Callum?


    This is property ? N?velDrama.Org.


    He would never know the real reason she wanted to leave was his overwhelming control and


    possessiveness, which suffocated her.


    His cruelty and ruthlessness chilled her to the core, inciting panic.


    He even drove his own nephew to death; what wouldn''t he do?


    All she wanted was to live a free and unbound life with her children. Was that so wrong?


    But she could never voice these thoughts to Lysander. He had warned her countless times not to


    entertain the idea of leaving him, or she would face dire consequences.


    Even those around her would suffer.


    As long as she insisted it was just a trip, he had no grounds to use her of fleeing.


    Lysander¡¯s gaze turned icy cold. His aura became more oppressive and dangerous.


    His facial features tensed. He gripped Thssa¡¯s chin; his words gritted through clenched teeth, "If this


    mouth wouldn¡¯t tell the truth, perhaps it should be silenced!"


    "I ¡ª mmph..." Thssa tried to speak, but her lips were fiercely sealed.


    Lysander¡¯s kiss was domineering and ferocious, devoid of any warmth, so cold her breath seemed to


    freeze.


    His kiss was not just a kiss; it was also a bite.


    Thssa¡¯s lips felt numb and pained. Her brows furrowed as she put her hands up to push him away,


    "Mmm, no... ah..."


    Her words of resistance were muffled. Her lips were torn by his bite.

 Chapter 1054

    Chapter 1054


    Thssa''s cry of pain was barely a whisper, her body curling instinctively as her hands, which had


    been braced against his broad chest, went limp. A tingling sensation relentlessly raced up her spine


    like an electric current.


    Lysander''s dominant breaths were hot on her face and stole her breath away. Her lungs screamed for


    air, and her mind was fogging over.


    Lysander devoured her like a beast. His kisses were fierce and wild, yet his eyes betrayed not a hint of


    warmth.


    Feeling her resistance, his anger red even more. His hand cradled the back of her head and locked


    her in ce as his tongue invaded, iming every part of her and siphoning her breath, her


    sweetness...


    It wasn''t until Thssa''s face turned a desperate shade of red, her breaths short and suffocating, that


    Lysander finally released her.


    Thssa''s lips were swollen and numb with a fiery pain. She gasped for air, her eyes brimming with


    tears. Hershes were heavy with the weight of her helplessness and panic, like prey in the jaws of a


    predator.


    Before she could catch her breath, Lysander''s strong hands gripped her shoulders and flipped her over.


    She was no longer lying on her back but face down.


    This position brought back the memories of humiliation that she''d endured being with him.


    Her heart pounded with fear and resistance.


    "No, please don''t do this to me..."


    "Ah..."


    Her protests and pleas drowned beneath the wave of Lysander¡¯s relentless assertion.


    "Dare to flee anymore?" His voice was an icy low growl. He gripped her chin and forced her to meet his


    gaze.


    Thssa stared into his eyes, where a storm of restrained rage was brewing. Her heart trembled and


    her skin prickled with cold sweat.


    She was caught between enduring his wrath and fearing his ruthless dominance. She spoke through


    chattering teeth, "Don¡¯t you want to know why I fled?"


    If punishment was inevitable, there was no point in holding back. Not everyone wanted to stay by his


    side and be his woman.


    And not everyone could withstand his fierce and untamed nature.


    He was relentless and his energy was boundless; each encounter left her drained, and she had no


    intention of being consumed by him anymore.


    "Heh, can you even admit it?" Lysander''sugh was cold, his eyes turbulent with unspoken emotions.


    Wasn¡¯t it simple - seduced by Callum, thinking she could escape for an ordinary, happy life with him?


    Lysander''s breathing grew heavier as he fought back the sting of betrayal.


    He had thought that Thssa''s heart fully belonged to Leopold so that she never had room for him.


    But how quickly after Leopold''s death had she been willing to flee with Callum!


    She even drugged him in cahoots with Susan and left him in that hotel room while Susan tried to


    seduce him!


    For Callum, she would stoop to pushing other women his way!


    "I... uh..." Thssa''s intended words were on the tip of her tongue when Lysander''s presence


    consumed her sensation. Her speech fragmented, unable to form aplete thought.


    She clutched the bed sheets tightly.


    Why did she run?


    He never understood her. He never considered her feelings, and certainly never understood.


    She had nothing to hide.


    She escaped because he was merciless to Leopold. He pushed him to death to protect the Sinir


    This is the property of N?-velDrama.Org.


    Group''s interests.


    He was a devil, and she refused to stay by his side or to let their children be near him.


    His every act of cruelty and indifference peeled away at her. Her humiliation, her pain, all went unseen.


    She refused to stay without dignity, a mere call away at his whim.

 Chapter 1055

    Chapter 1055


    She wanted to leave him to live a life of freedom and spontaneity. Was that really so wrong?


    She only teamed up with Susan to drug him because she had her back against the wall.


    Susan had ckmailed her with a video of her mother, leaving her with no choice but toply.


    Her rush to leave the hotel was to seek out Atticus and erase the video from Bruce''s possession, to


    remove the leverage Bruce''s family held over her.


    Only by erasing the threat could she find true liberation.


    Why did it have to be so hard for her, simply wanting a life without constraints? It was as if she had


    triggered his wrath, and he had gone mad with tormenting her.


    Thssa''s eyes brimmed with tears, her jaw clenched in an effort to suppress the despair and pain


    welling up inside her.


    At her most distressed, she could no longer bear it and whispered, "Lysander, my stomach... it hurts so


    badly..."


    Her words were strained, voicing the physical agony she felt.


    Lysander, with his face flushed from his heated anger, had a voice as hoarse as gravel and eyes as


    unforgiving as ice. Upon hearing her, he spat out, "You''re lying to me again!"


    Last time at the Crest Summit hotel, when Lysander wanted to take her to the security room to check


    the surveince, she imed a stomach-ache to avoid it, which was a ploy to cover for the people who


    had kidnapped her!


    And now, she was trying the same trick.


    Thssa''s body convulsed in pain. Sweat beaded on her forehead and dripped onto the bed, seeping


    into the pure cotton sheets.


    "I... I¡¯m really having a stomach-ache..." she insisted through clenched teeth, gripping the bed sheet


    tightly.


    Lysander didn''t believe her; he was convinced she was ying games, and he showed no mercy.


    Suddenly, he caught the metallic scent of blood.


    His eyes found a streak of crimson.


    His expression darkened.


    She wasn''t lying this time.


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    Lysander hurriedly picked up the clothes from the floor and dressed swiftly, buttoning up with rapid


    precision.


    He found Thssa''s clothes in the dresser and dressed her quickly. Then, he scooped her up in his


    arms and strode toward the exit with urgency.


    Thssa clung to his shoulder, breathing heavily, enduring the sharp pain in her abdomen. Through


    her blurred vision, she saw beads of sweat forming on Lysander''s handsome, tense face.


    For a moment, her vision wavered, and she fancied that his strained, sweat-drenched appearance was


    due to nervousness...


    Was he nervous about her?


    No, that couldn''t be.


    She was less than dirt in his eyes; how could he possibly be nervous about her?


    The sweat on his face was probably just due to exhaustion.


    Lysander rushed to the car. He ced Thssa inside and buckled her seat belt.


    He jumped into the driver''s seat and sped off.


    They arrived at the hospital quickly.


    Lysander, carrying Thssa, strode into the emergency ess and shouted, "Doctor! We need a


    doctor here, now!"


    His voice was tight with urgency.


    Doctors and nurses hurried over, instructing Lysander to bring Thssa into the emergency room.


    She was ced on the operating table, and Lysander was asked to wait outside.


    Lysander''s eyes flickered with emotion as the doors to the operating room closed and the "In Surgery"


    light illuminated. Sweatyered his forehead and dripped down his chiseled face.


    He paced, breathing raggedly, waiting outside the operating room.

 Chapter 1056

    Chapter 1056


    David arrived and found Lysander sitting on the waiting bench just outside the operating room. An air of


    heavy tension encircled him like a storm cloud. Beads of sweat dotted his taut forehead, and his eyes,


    usually so controlled, had a reddish tinge, revealing his inner turmoil.


    The operation room door was sealed shut, the red light glowing with the words "In Surgery", signaling


    the gravity of the moment without a word needing to be spoken.


    Only Thssa could have this effect on Lysander, stripping him of his usualposure, leaving him


    visibly on edge.


    David stood before Lysander, delivering his report with due respect, "Mr. Sinir, I''ve spoken with Elliott


    behind bars. Bruce was also part of the kidnap. It was Bruce who took Thssa to the hotel room."


    The security footage had been conveniently corrupted, leaving no visual record of Thssa''s abduction


    into the room.


    Thus, aside from Thssa herself, no one knew who had brought her to that hotel room.


    Lysander had sent David to dig up the truth but never expected the trail to lead to Bruce.


    All text ? N?velD(r)a''ma.Org.


    David had barely finished speaking when Lysander''s presence turned even more piercing. The tension


    was so thick that it seemed to choke the very air from the room.


    David could sense Lysander''s barely restrained fury and carefully continued, "Mr. Sinir, Bruce was


    Ms. Everhart''s father. He must have kidnapped her for a ransom and took her to the hotel room... He


    must have been nning to hand her over to someone else, and that person was Elliott. But then, Mr.


    Gordon intervened. He drove Elliott away and saved Ms. Everhart..."


    Davidid out the scenario, piecing it together from the evidence at hand.


    Even though Bruce had taken Thssa to that hotel room, David couldn¡¯t to believe a father would


    harm his daughter.


    Could anyone be that monstrous?


    Surely, even Bruce must have a shred of conscience left.


    As soon as David finished, Lysander''s icy gaze skewered him and caused him to flinch and lower his


    head in admission of a possible misstep, "Mr. Sinir, I''m just specting. The real truth, though, I''m


    afraid only Ms. Everhart knows..."


    Had he spoken out of turn?


    Lysander''s look was terrifying, as if he were about to strike David down where he stood.


    Lysander''s features were sharp as a sculpted ice, and his eyes swirled with a blizzard of emotions.


    Could it be that Thssa was covering up for Bruce, trying to absolve him of the crime?


    What an obedient daughter. Despite being kidnapped by her own father, she was still protecting him


    from exposure.


    But there had to be a deeper reason, one that involved protecting Callum. Was it Elliott or Callum that


    Bruce intended to hand her over to?


    Judging by Thssa''s behavior, it was almost certainly Callum!


    Only for the sake of shielding Callum would Thssa risk so much to hide the truth.


    Thinking this, Lysander clenched his teeth. His anger stirred up a cold, restrained storm within him,


    punctuated by a throbbing pain deep inside, like a thorn lodged in his heart, unnoticed until it shifted,


    sending sharp stings through his nerves.


    "Bruce has been living toofortably. It''s about time he learned some hard lessons. The stock


    market''s been too stabletely; it could use a little shake-up." Lysander''s voice was harsh, chilling to


    the bone.


    David instantly understood Lysander''s implication and nodded in agreement, "Right away!"


    Over the years, Bruce had swindled substantial amounts from various women, but all his money was


    managed by his wife, Lucy, who had a passion and knack for ying the stock market.


    She had made significant wealth from the stock market, and that was why her family managed to live a


    If Lysander was nning to destabilize the stock market, it was likely to drive Bruce''s family to


    bankruptcy.


    As David prepared to leave, the "In Surgery" light went out. He hurriedly alerted Lysander, "Mr. Sinir,


    the OR door is open."


    Lysander''s gaze shot towards the door in an instant.


    As the doctor emerged, Lysander stood up anxiously. His towering figure loomed over the doctor as he


    asked, "How is she?"

 Chapter 1057

    Chapter 1057


    Dr. Bet said, "The patient was pregnant. She showed signs of a potential miscarriage due to some


    strenuous activity."


    "What?" Lysander was thunderstruck.


    Thssa was pregnant!


    Seeing the worry etched deeply across Lysander''s face, Dr. Bet quickly added, "Fortunately, she


    was sent here on time. We''ve put her on a therapy to support the pregnancy. With some rest, she


    should be able to recover."


    Dr. Bet''s soothing voice was meant to ease the tension that had tightened every muscle in


    Lysander''s body, to reassure him that there was no need for panic.


    Strenuous activity? David caught the underlying meaning behind the doctor''s words. He struggled to


    keep a straight face, coughing lightly into his fist to hide the smirk that threatened to surface.


    Lysander had only just got Thssa back. His passion and rage must had been fiery, so his touch


    would be far from gentle, without even knowing about her pregnancy.


    Relief washed over Lysander as the doctor assured him there would be nosting problems. His heart,


    which had been racing like a trapped bird, finally began to slow.


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    At that moment, Thssa was wheeled out of the operating room by the nurses and doctors.


    Lysander approached, his gaze softening as he took in the sight of her lying on the sickbed. Her


    Seeing her so vulnerable melted the frost in Lysander''s steely eyes, giving way to tendrils of


    tenderness that enveloped him.


    Thssa caught Lysander''s intense gaze, and she couldn''t help but remember his brute force back at


    Royal Estates. Her breath hitched, and she found herself unable to meet his eyes. Hershes casting


    long shadows as she looked away.


    She was settled into a room. An IV drip delivered the medication to support her pregnancy. She was


    had never crossed her mind.


    No wonder she had been feeling nauseoustely.


    When had it happened?


    Was it that day in Lysander''s office when he had punished her against the ss door, indifferent to her


    humiliation, while David walked by outside,ing and going?


    Or was it in the backseat of the car with him overindulged?


    There had been multiple instances where his discipline had been swift and without precaution.


    Lost in her thoughts, Thssa felt the bed dip beside her and turned to see Lysander sitting next to


    her. The icy edge once present in his handsome features had now softened into his usual stoic


    demeanor.


    "Does your stomach still hurt?" he asked, his voice low and gravelly with concern.


    Thssa''s breathing was uneven as she looked into his deep-set eyes. They were the same eyes that


    had red at her furiously at Royal Estates, but now they held a calm, and even a hint of... tenderness.


    Her lips parted as she attempted to speak, her voiceing out raspy. "It doesn''t hurt."


    She hadn''t spoken for a while, and now realized how hoarse and sore her throat was. A while ago, no


    matter how loudly she had cried out, Lysander didn¡¯t relented.


    Lysander reached for the ss of water on the nightstand and held the straw to Thssa''s lips. "Drink


    some water. It''ll help."


    Thssa didn''t want to ept his kindness. Her throat was parched, and she felt extremely


    ufortable.


    But the thought of epting anything from Lysander after what he had done was too much; she


    couldn''t let go of her hurt that easily.


    She stared at the straw, lips pressed tightly shut, unwilling to take a sip.

 Chapter 1058

    Chapter 1058


    Thssa refused to drink. But Lysander wasn''t budging either; he held out the ss in a silent


    showdown. She wouldn''t sip; he insisted.


    Lysander, gripping the ss a tad tighter, nudged it closer to her lips. When she wouldn''t open her


    mouth, he deftly popped a straw between her lips and forced her to take it.


    "Come on, drink up." Lysander urged in a deep, velvety voice. "Your lips are not just swollen, they''re


    cracking. You need to moisturize."


    Thssa had been stubbornly standing her ground, not wanting to take even a sip of the water he


    offered. But he had the gall to just go ahead and put the straw in her mouth.


    Was she not even in charge of her own drinking now?


    Her eyes, pools of defiance, red at Lysander, locking with his deep-set gaze. Those eyes held an


    authority that seemed to brook no argument.


    And was there concern?


    Was she imagining it?


    "Please drink. Getting mad at someone is no reason to neglect your own health." he said, his deep


    eyes coaxing her to take a sip.


    Thssa''s brows knitted together, her breathsing in short bursts of anger. But despite her


    irritation, he had a point. Punishing herself for someone else''s mistake was foolish.


    She bit down on the straw, sucking in the warm water that soothed her parched throat, quenching the


    dryness with much-needed hydration.


    She was so thirsty that once she started, she couldn''t stop. The water disappeared in one long gulp.


    She even choked a bit as she swallowed too quickly.


    Thssa released the straw and coughed. As she did, pain tugged at her stomach, and she


    instinctively cradled her belly. Her face creased with difort.


    Upon seeing her action, Lysander quickly pressed the button to call the nurse. His handsome face


    tensed with barely concealed worry.


    In the midst of her coughing, a warm hand suddenly pressed against her chest. Her breath hitched,


    panic rising, fearing Lysander was about to do something else overbearing. Her body tensed in


    anticipation.


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    But then, his hand began to pat her gently and rhythmically, helping to steady her breathing. "I told you


    to drink, not to down it like it''s a race. No one''speting with you." he chided softly, his brows knitted


    in a mix of reprimand and concern.


    Thssa listened, somewhat taken aback by his tone. It wasn''t the domineering edge she was used to;


    it sounded more like worry. A worry that showed through me.


    Did he actually care about her?


    No, that couldn''t be. He was probably just concerned about the baby she was carrying.


    After so many letdowns, Thssa didn''t dare hope anymore, let alone believe that Lysander had an


    ounce of pity or care for her.


    "Wasn''t it you who told me to drink?" she retorted.


    "I told you to drink slowly, not to chug it. Did I say to gulp it down?" Lysander replied.


    Thssa was silent.


    Fine, he was right. She couldn''t argue with that.


    But drinking was her business, so as choking. Why was he more anxious than she was?


    Soon, the doctor rushed over upon hearing the sound of the bell.

 Chapter 1059

    Chapter 1059


    Seeing the doctor arrive, Lysander swiftly stood up and cleared the space beside Thssa''s bed for


    the doctor to check on Thssa. However, his face betrayed his irritation as he spoke with a clipped


    tone, "Took you long enough."


    The doctor, feeling the chill emanating from Lysander''s formidable presence, was sweating buckets. He


    nervously stuttered his response, "Mr. Sinir, I assure you, I will be here in seconds next time."


    Thssa, sensing the frosty danger surrounding Lysander that made the doctor almost cower, took a


    deep breath and said, "The doctor got here as fast as he could. Your attitude isn''t exactly helping


    anyone rx, you know."


    Lysander shot Thssa a fleeting nce but held back any retort. He simply said to the doctor, "She''s


    got a pain in her belly. Please check it out and make it quick."


    Hearing the urgency in Lysander''s voice, Thssa felt a bitter twist at the corner of her mouth. There it


    was, the truth she had anticipated ¨C his concern was for the child she carried, not for her.


    So, Thssa, don''t kid yourself into thinking he cares for you, and squash any foolish hopes right now.


    The doctor, now aware of the abdominal pain, also grew anxious. He pulled out his stethoscope and


    ced it against her belly to listen intently.


    Seeing the doctor''s serious demeanor, Thssa held her breath and stayed silent so as not to disturb


    his concentration.


    Lysander remained quiet too. His aura was stillmanding and deep.


    After a few moments, the doctor asked Thssa, "Did the paine on suddenly, or was there a


    cause?"


    "I choked on some water and coughed a few times. It pulled at my stomach so it hurts." Thssa


    replied earnestly to the doctor''s inquiry.


    The doctor nodded understandingly and advised, "Coughing can indeed shake the stomach, and since


    you''re still recovering from a potential miscarriage, it''s expected to feel ufortable. Try to rest as


    much as possible and minimize coughing."


    "And the baby? How''s the baby doing?" Thssa''s eyes, clear and anxious, were fixed on the doctor.


    The thought that a few coughs might jeopardize the life she was nurturing was unbearable.


    Thssa adored children. Otherwise, she wouldn''t have chosen to keep the four children from an


    unexpected pregnancy, despite not knowing the father''s identity and having to give up her studies.


    Over the years, she had the children around her. Their endearing and cute antics had healed her,


    making her affection for them boundless.


    "From what I can tell, everything seems stable. Just rest and eat some nd, easily digestible food to


    keep up your strength." the doctor instructed.


    Thssa visibly rxed hearing that the baby was safe. Her swollen, dry lips slightly moved as she


    whispered, "Thank you, doctor."


    "You''re wee. Please take care and rest up." the doctor said with a smile and left the room after


    giving Lysander a respectful nod.


    Lysander returned to Thssa''s bedside. He gaze at her intently. He had seen her concern for the


    unborn child, her genuine affection, and her wholehearted protection.


    Her maternal love seemed to absolve her of any past mistakes.


    Sitting down, Lysander took her hand in his, the dry, rough texture of his palm meeting hers. Thssa''s


    heart skipped a beat at his touch. Her hand instinctively flinched, intended to withdraw but held back by


    reason.


    She was still connected to an IV drip, and any sudden movement might dislodge the needle, causing


    unnecessary stress that could harm the baby.


    Although Thssa didn''t move, Lysander felt her slight tremor the moment he held her hand. He gently


    This is the property of N?-velDrama.Org.


    squeezed her hand andforted her with his deep, resonant voice, "You''re pregnant. Why didn''t you


    tell me earlier?"


    "Would you have stopped treating me so harshly if I had?" Thssa asked, her voice tinged with hurt


    and anger.


    At her words, she felt Lysander''s grip on her hand tighten ever so slightly.

 Chapter 1060

    Chapter 1060


    Lysander''s gaze grew icy as he stared down at Thssa. "So, you knew you were pregnant and still


    chose to run off with Callum?"


    The chill in his presence filled the hospital room, making the air seem thick and hard to breathe.


    Thssa could feel the icy shift in his aura, his evasive answers, and the sharpness of his hawk-like


    stare. All were signs of danger.


    It was supposed to be Thssa holding him ountable for his wrongdoings, but with a twist of his


    words, she found herself the target of usation.


    She was suddenly made to be the unforgivable one.


    Facing his inscrutable eyes, she felt her pupils constrict and her eyshes flutter. Her delicate brows


    furrowed.


    She managed to hide the hurt and difficulties within her heart, and she said, "I only just found out about


    the pregnancy myself."


    A flicker of moisture glinted in Lysander''s eyes. "If you had known, would you have stayed instead of


    going with Callum?"


    He couldn''t let the subject go.


    Thssa met his gaze, feeling the pressure of his grip tighten on her hand. It was so intense that her


    fingers squeezed together, and the back of her hand arched, causing her to panic.


    She feared that the needle might break her vein and that her hand would swell from the medicine


    seeping into her flesh.


    "Lysander, you''re hurting me." she said with a pained expression, her breathing tense.


    Regaining his senses, Lysander realized he was squeezing her hand ¡ª the one connected to the IV


    drip ¡ª and quickly let go.


    He looked away, evidently embarrassed. "I didn''t mean to grip so hard."


    Thssa was taken aback. Was he actually exining himself to her?


    Lysander was known for his domineering ways. His pride always prevented him from ever exining


    All text ? N?velD(r)a''ma.Org.


    his actions to anyone.


    Thssa was caught off guard by his sudden change, unsure of how to respond.


    "It''s fine, the IV is still intact," Thssa replied, also averting her gaze, breaking eye contact with


    Lysander.


    An awkward silence filled the space between them.


    With Lysander present, the air always felt heavy. His presence was always impossible to ignore.


    After a few seconds of difort, Thssa feltpelled to break the silence.


    "I..."


    "You..."


    Just then, Lysander also began to speak.


    They both spoke at once. Thssa quickly held back and insisted cautiously, "You first."


    Without any pleasantries, Lysander pressed on, "You haven''t answered myst question."


    Thssa''s clear eyes blinked back at him, slightly bewildered. She was momentarily lost as to which


    question he meant. Then it hit her ¡ª before she cried out in pain, Lysander had asked if she would


    have stayed if she knew about the pregnancy.


    It was a question she had never considered herself.


    But now Lysander was forcing her to think about it, to find an answer that wouldn''t provoke his anger.


    If she had known about the pregnancy earlier, she probably would have still chosen to leave with


    Callum.


    She knew all too well that staying with Lysander meant no future and no happy ending. More than that,


    she couldn''t bear his cruelty.


    Staying by his side would only mean a future of torment and pain.


    If she had known earlier about the child, she would have been even more determined to find a way to


    leave, a way that Lysander could never track, to disappearpletely.


    She would find a ce where no one knew her, give birth to the child, and raise them, along with her


    other four babies.


    Even without love, she would find happiness.


    Not like now, without any real status, let alone love. Staying by Lysander''s side meant enduring


    injustice without a chance to vent her grievances.

 Chapter 1061

    Chapter 1061


    Continuing a life like this, by his side, would drive her mad eventually.


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    But she couldn''t dare let Lysander know her true feelings.


    After a moment of contemtion, she locked eyes with him and asked, "If you had known I was


    pregnant early on, would you have married me? Because I wouldn¡¯t leave if you said ''yes''."


    Her earnest, watery eyes sought his. Her voice was tinged with a challenge.


    And just like that, the question was tossed to him.


    She knew all too well that he would never marry her. He had warned her more than once not to aspire


    to the title of Mrs. Sinir; she was simply out of her league.


    Even Zephyr had warned her that a country bumpkin like her could never match up to Lysander, who


    was expected to marry a woman of high society, someone his equal.


    The only reason she had managed to stay by his side was thanks to the four children.


    Even if she hadn''t been Bruce''s daughter, Lysander would never have considered marrying her!


    Her question was a smokescreen, intended to deflect his probing and cover up her own true feelings.


    As Lysander gazed into Thssa¡¯s clear, serious eyes and heard her probing question, his eyes


    darkened, and his chiseled facial features tensed up fiercely.


    He had thought about marrying her once. When he first learned five years ago that she was the woman


    who had saved his life with her own body, he had considered bringing her home to meet his parents


    and discuss marriage.


    But then he found out she was Bruce''s daughter, child of the man he despised most in this world, and


    his hatred extended to her. Marrying her became an impossibility.


    Later, when he discovered she had secretly given birth to four of his children, the thought of marriage


    crossed his mind again.


    But then he learned she was the woman his nephew, Leopold, couldn''t forget. They had been in love


    for two years, had talked of marriage, and had cherished each other.


    Even if they had separated five years ago due to a misunderstanding, their hearts were still entwined.


    Any contact between Thssa and Leopold left Lysander feeling gloomy and irate, irrational and angry.


    The words of his father, who had cautioned him, often echoed in his mind - Lysander, never marry a


    woman who doesn''t have you in her heart, or you''ll end up as miserable as I did.


    He would wake up from nightmares in which his parents died tragically in a car ident.


    Lysander¡¯s profound eyes stayed fixed on Thssa¡¯s sincere gaze, his own bing as unfathomable


    as a hole.


    "Are you hungry? What would you like to eat?" After a brief silence, he evaded her question with a


    concerned tone in his voice.


    Thssa¡¯s gaze shifted, as if snapping back to reality. Her eyes was void of the hope that had flickered


    there before. "I could go for some turkey and wild rice soup." she replied casually.


    She didn''t dwell on his non-answer. It seemed unimportant, though the sense of disappointment


    weighed heavily on her heart, as heavy and solid as a stone.


    At her request, Lysander pulled out his phone and made a call.


    Soon enough, someone arrived with the food. Thssa sat up and was ready to eat on her own.


    "Don''t move, just open your mouth." Lysander said. He cradled the bowl in his hands and scooped up


    the soup. He intended to feed her himself.


    Thssa felt ridiculous. She was only suffering from a stomach-ache, not incapacitated in any way.


    She could manage to eat on her own.


    But with Lysander¡¯s dominating presence, it was hard for her to protest. Reluctantly, she opened her


    mouth and allowed him to spoon-feed her the soup.


    Lysander was surprisingly patient. Spoonful by spoonful, his movements were gentle as he fed her.


    Sunlight streamed through the window, casting a soft glow on the pair, creating an illusion of tranquil


    domesticity.


    For a moment, Thssa got lost in a daydream. She imagined an older version of herself, ill and


    hospitalized, with Lysander by her side to take care of her.


    Her thoughts were drifting far away when a brash voice shattered the stillness of the room, "Lysander,


    <pe out! I want to know who''s been using the birth control pills I found at Central Ring Vi!"

 Chapter 1062

    Chapter 1062


    The words "birth control pills" rang through the air, and a tension gripped Thssa¡¯s nerve. She turned


    to the door, her spoonful of soup from Lysander still half-swallowed.


    Amelia rushed in.


    It was her who yelled just now.


    Amelia strode into the hospital room, her eyesnding on Lysander sitting by the bed with a bowl of


    soup in hand and spoon poised; it was obvious that he was feeding Thssa.


    Lysander, always so aloof and icy, who had never shown a scrap of warmth or paid anyone a second


    nce, was actually spoon-feeding a woman!


    Amelia was astonished by the sight, then a scornful chuckle escaped her lips. She nced at Thssa


    and remarked, ¡°Do you think you¡¯re a three-year-old with a scraped knee, faking up the cutesy act to


    get spoon-fed?¡±


    Thssa¡¯s cheeks were puffed out with the mouthful of soup, giving her a somewhat dazed and


    endearing look.


    Thssa¡¯s breath grew heavy as she was stung by Amelia¡¯s barb.


    Swallowing the soup, she retorted, ¡°I didn¡¯t ask him to feed me; he wanted to.¡±


    She instinctively turned to Lysander upon saying this, locking eyes with his deep, knowing gaze. But


    she paused, and her breath tightened.


    His innate aura of authority always managed to unsettle her heart.


    ¡°Oh please,¡± Amelia sneered, ¡°You mean you don¡¯t like Lysander and he¡¯s the one clinging to you?


    Countless women had tried every trick just to be Lysander¡¯s girlfriend, and he¡¯d dismissed them without


    a second thought. Do you really think he¡¯d cling to a country bumpkin like you? Take a good look in the


    mirror and weigh your own worth!¡±


    Amelia had always loathed Thssa back when Leopold was alive. She med her for Leopold''s


    struggle in the past five years. It was Thssa who Leopold worked tirelessly to win back. He built up


    his career just so he might stand a chance with her.


    For five years, Leopold had clung to the hope of being with Thssa, his determination fueling his


    every move.


    And what had his efforts led to?


    Thssa ended up with Lysander, and they had four kids together!


    This was a fatal blow to Leopold. Amelia was convinced that Leopold¡¯s demise wasn''t only due to the


    explosion; it was also the despair at losing Thssa that drove him to his end.


    So, Thssa was indirectly responsible for his death.


    Amelia hated Thssa utterly and was itching to destroy her. However, with Lysander¡¯s protection,


    Amelia never had a chance to act on her malicious desires.


    At thest Sinir family g, Amelia had conspired with Charlotte to frame Thssa for stealing the


    Sinir heirloom bracelet. They had hoped that the public scrutiny would force Lysander to abandon


    Thssa and send her to jail.


    But their n had failed.


    Now, Amelia¡¯s hatred for Thssa deepened with every encounter. She was enraged every time she


    saw Thssa.


    Amelia¡¯s words pierced Thssa¡¯s already scarred heart. She was acutely aware of her humble


    background, far from the grandeur of the Sinir dynasty, and how she was no match for Lysander.This is property ? N?velDrama.Org.

 Chapter 1063

    Chapter 1063


    Once again, Amelia''s snide remark that Thssa was just a country bumpkin stung deeper than she


    cared to admit.


    Her brows furrowed, and she shot Amelia a look of displeasure.


    "What are you staring at? Did I say something wrong?" Amelia snapped and rolled her eyes.


    Lysander mmed his bowl of chicken soup onto the nightstand with a thud that resonated through the


    room,manding attention.


    Amelia''s bravado wavered under Lysander''s imposing presence. Her face morphed into a mix of


    ttery and deference as she addressed him, "I may have been a bit harsh just now, but everyone


    knows Thssa wormed her way into your life with her cunning. Just look at Faye; she''s been pining


    for you for a decade. You joined the army, and she enlisted, too, to be close to you. You became a


    CEO, and she was right there as your secretary. Ten years, and she hasn''t managed to secure a


    proper ce by your side, let alone the right to bear your children.


    And Charlotte, she adored you. She was betrothed to you, promised through a deal between Zephyr


    and the Ravensong family. But Zephyr called off the engagement in public because of Thssa''s


    schemes. She''s out to eliminate all the women around you!"


    ording to Amelia, both Faye and Charlotte had already been intimate with Lysander. It was


    But they were not good enough to be favored by Lysander and have his child.


    Faye had it worse, not even a title to her name.


    Then Thssa appeared. In just a few months, she had ousted Faye, dismissed Charlotte, and


    ascended to her position.


    Amelia didn''t hide her resentment and disdain for Thssa as she spilled her thoughts to Lysander.


    She was trying to open Lysander''s eyes to Thssa''s true nature, to make him despise her, and


    ideally, cast her out and leave her with nothing.


    Thssa clutched the bed sheet behind her, and she didn¡¯t utter a rebuttal to Amelia¡¯s nder.


    This is property ? N?velDrama.Org.


    If Amelia seeded in tarnishing her reputation in front of Lysander, and if she insisted on making him


    detest her and discard her as a "scheming" woman, Thssa would have to be grateful to her.


    Why would she object to Amelia helping her cause?


    Lysander''s deep-set eyes turned to Amelia with a look of displeasure. His handsome face was clouded


    with irritation. "Are you done with the bbers? What do you want?"


    His aura of quiet authority left Amelia speechless.


    She could hardly believe what Lysander had said.


    After her heartfelt usations about Thssa''s maniptions, Lysander simply dismissed them as


    bbers?


    Oh, how ironic. No matter what Thssa had done or schemed, it was all inconsequential in


    Lysander''s eyes. He cared only about her as a person, not her actions.


    Amelia''s forced a disappointedughter. It seemed impossible to make Lysander punish Thssa.


    She''d have to take matters into her own hands. She was determined to show Thssa how capable


    she was and make it clear that the Sinir family''s doors were not open to her.


    Suppressing her feelings of hurt and anger, Amelia got back to the point, "Didn''t you give me back the


    keys to Leopold''s Central Ring Vi? I went there today to clean up and found a box of birth control pills


    hidden behind a couch cushion, with three pills missing. Were they yours, from bringing a woman


    there, or were they from Leopold''s time?"


    After settling Leopold''spany affairs, Amelia had gone to his private residence to look for traces of


    his life, hoping for some sce for her nostalgia.


    But what she hadn''t expected was to find an open box of birth control pills on the couch ¡ª an


    unpleasant reminder that someone else had been there.

 Chapter 1064

    Chapter 1064


    That birth control pill pack was used?


    The question from Amelia sent a sudden chill through Lysander; his deep-set eyes darkened, and an


    icy edge cloaked his aura.


    Upon hearing Amelia mention she found a pack of birth control pills at the vi Leopold left behind,


    Thssa''s nerves tightened, and her heart hitched to her throat.


    Damn it, the pills were found!


    After she had sent Lysander away earlier, she forgot about the half-empty pack of pills beneath the


    sofa cushion, which she failed to put away.


    And now, Amelia had found them.


    Those pills were for her mother, Evelyn, who had been raped by Bruce ¡ª a torment that left her


    shattered. If Evelyn were to get pregnant with Bruce''s child, it would only add to her despair.


    So, without hesitation, Thssa bought the pills for Evelyn to prevent a future burden.


    But she couldn''t have foreseen that Lysander would storm in that very night, furious upon discovering


    her lies. She hadn''t been with her mother¡¯s house-hunting; she had gone to meet Callum in secret.


    She met with Callum to learn about Leopold''s affairs, and it was that night Callum revealed to her the


    house she¡¯d sold was now under Leopold¡¯s care. That was because he wanted to provide her with a


    home in Starhaven.


    All text ? N?velD(r)a''ma.Org.


    Callum handed her the mansion¡¯s contract and keys.


    Little did she know, her mother would endure such an ordeal that night...


    The tension in the hospital room was palpable. The air grew thin, making breathing seemborious.


    Thssa''s heart was fraught with unease. She dared not look at Amelia, and even less so at Lysander.


    She had once deceived him, iming the birth control was just a precaution against his unexpected


    desires.


    She had even shown him a buy-one-get-one-free pack of untampered pills to assuage his suspicions.


    Now, the other pack ¡ª the one that had been used ¡ª was exposed, and she had no exnation, for


    she couldn''t reveal Evelyn''s plight.


    Amelia, seeing Lysander''s stern countenance and the suddenly chilling air about him, pushed eagerly,


    "Lysander, answer me. Was it you who brought a woman into that vi and used those pills, or was it


    Leopold?"


    Amelia asked again, her expression fraught with tension as she looked at Lysander, craving the answer


    she desired.


    How she hoped it was Leopold who had brought a woman there, had intercourse, and used the pills


    afterward.


    That way, at least Leopold had been with another woman, and that woman might even be carrying


    Leopold''s child.


    There might still be a chance for her to hold a grandchild, for a piece of Leopold to remain in this world.


    As Amelia finished her query, Thssa felt her heart pounding in nervous anticipation. She turned her


    gaze instinctively towards Lysander.


    Her breaths were shallow and slow, her heart rhythm erratic. She braced for the turmoil and dread of


    being torn apart.


    In the midst of her intense anxiety, Lysander''s cold voice broke the silence. He looked at Amelia and


    said, ¡°I stayed there for a few days before I returned you the house. Who do you think used the birth


    control pill there?¡±


    The hope in Amelia''s eyes crumbled, plummeting into an endless abyss. Her tense shoulders sagged.


    Tears welled up and flowed freely as she cried, "My poor son, what your fixation was for? Look at other


    men of rich families - all have a bevy of women and bastards aplenty! Yet you, you''ve been ensnared


    by one woman, for all these years still alone, blind to any other woman..."


    Amelia wept, pouring out her heart''s grief and sorrow.


    The loss of her son had already taken half her life, and now, thest glimmer of hope for Leopold to


    leave behind an heir was shattered.


    Her heart ached as though it was being sliced apart.


    When Thssa heard Lysander''s answer, relief washed over her amid the shock.

 Chapter 1065

    Chapter 1065


    As Amelia''s tirade pierced the air, Thssa¡¯s heart was also twisted in agony.


    Leopold''s passing was a wound within her that refused to heal.


    It was her fault. Guilt over Leopold''s death would shadow her for the rest of her life.


    "The vi was Leopold¡¯s legacy; please take good care of it." Lysander said to Amelia. His presence


    wasmanding and his voice was a deep rumble. It was a peculiar form of sce.


    Returning Leopold¡¯s belongings to Amelia was Lysander¡¯s act of kindness.


    Amelia said nothing more. Her sobs punctuated her exit from the hospital room. She had arrived with


    hope, now dashed, leaving her with boundless disappointment and sorrow.


    The doctor, passing Amelia just outside the door, moved toward Thssa''s bedside. He nodded in


    greeting to Lysander before inquiring about Thssa¡¯s condition. "How''s your appetite? Have you had


    lunch yet?"


    "My appetite¡¯s fine, and I''ve eaten." Thssa responded.


    "Good, good. Expectant mothers should eat well and get plenty of nutrients. Given yourplications,


    it''s even more crucial for you." the doctor advised.


    Amelia, just stepping out, froze at the doctor''s words. Her crying face turned shocked, and her heart


    trembled.


    What? Thssa was pregnant?


    For how along?


    Whose child was she carrying?


    Amelia couldn''t wait. With a mix of excitement and trepidation, she spun on her heel and charged back


    into the room, making a beeline for Thssa''s bed.


    The doctor was scared at her sudden intensity.


    Lysander reacted quickly. He stepped in front of Amelia and blocked her path, trying to prevent any


    harm to Thssa.


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    "Lysander, let me through. I have to ask her something!" Amelia tried to bypass Lysander to reach the


    bed.


    Lysander raised a hand and barred her way. "What do you think you''re doing?"


    Thssa, startled by Amelia''s fervor, sat up defensively in bed.


    Amelia was on the verge of copse, struggling against Lysander while crying out to Thssa, "Tell me


    the truth, Thssa. Whose child is it? Is it Leopold¡¯s?"


    Amelia yearned for a piece of Leopold to remain in this world.


    Thssa¡¯s eyes widened at question.


    How came Amelia to assume this?


    Lysander¡¯s expression tensed and darkened.


    Amelia¡¯s patience burned out as none of Thssa and Lysander spoke. She cried loudly, ¡°Thssa,


    say something and tell me! Leopold had been to your country home and stayed with you there. Was it


    that time? Was it that time he fathered your child?¡±


    Amelia was yearning for Leopold¡¯s heir.


    Leopold was gone, but if he had left a child, it would be a sce for her, a mourning mother.


    Lysander''s expression was steely, his aura chilling, his piercing gaze turning to Thssa.


    Under his intense scrutiny, Thssa''s heart skipped. Her body tensed, and her breaths came in short


    gasps.


    Amelia, desperate for an answer, cried and struggled to reach Thssa, wanting to grab her shoulders


    and shake the truth out of her.


    But Lysander was immovable, unwavering in his blockade.


    With her heart racing in frantic beats, Amelia bellowed, "Thssa, speak to me! Tell me, is this


    Leopold¡¯s child?"

 Chapter 1066

    Chapter 1066


    The hospital room was fraught with a palpable tension. Amelia''s voice was demanding. Lysander stood


    there, a silent sentinel, his aura icy and restrained. Despite his efforts to keep Amelia at bay, it was


    clear from the sharp, frostbitten contours of his face that a tempest of rage was brewing beneath the


    surface, held back only by his formidable self-control.


    Just a moment before, the doctor had been dispensing advice to Thssa with a breezy tone and


    reminding her of the precautions she needed to take during her pregnancy.


    But now, Amelia burst into the room, frantic and demanding to know if the child Thssa was carrying


    belonged to another man.


    The easy atmosphere was shattered.


    The doctor, sensing the icy chill emanating from Lysander, was petrified toe any closer. It felt as if


    Lysander cold presence alone could freeze the entire room.


    With a voice trembling with fear, the doctor quickly excused himself. "It seems you have some family


    matters to attend to. I''ll leave you be. Call me if you need anything."


    He gave them a cursory nod and fled the room as if any dy might trap him in the crossfire of their


    domestic crisis.


    "Out with it, talk to me!" Amelia''s voice was shrill with urgency, her face a mask of sweat and tears.


    Thssa''s breaths came in harsh gasps. As a mother herself, she understood Amelia''s anguish all too


    well. There was no greater sorrow in the world than a parent outliving their child, especially one they


    had cherished so dearly.


    Her heart ached as if it were being torn apart, but she had to reveal the cruel truth to Amelia.


    "No, the child I''m carrying... it''s not Leopold''s!" This revtion threatened to extinguish thest flicker of


    hope in Amelia''s heart.


    But it was the bitter truth.


    "I took the kids and fled to the countryside. I had no idea Leopold was there before I entered the room.


    We barely spoke two words before Lysander arrived and took me and the kids away. There was no


    chance for anything to happen between Leopold and me!"


    Thssa''s face was ashen. Her eyes were clear and resolute, her words firm and decisive.


    Even if Lysander hadn''t arrived when he did, nothing would have happened between her and Leopold


    either. She had made it clear to him long ago that there would never be anything between them. She


    wanted him to forget her and start a new life.


    She had never given him any hope, always rejecting him decisively.


    This is property ? N?velDrama.Org.


    She turned Leopold away and hoped he would find happiness elsewhere. There was no way she would


    have entangled herself with him again, let alone bear his child.


    Upon hearing Thssa''s words, Amelia''s shaking frame froze, her eyes wide as the stars within them


    seemed to fall. She was stunned into silence.


    Then, after a suspended moment, tears cascaded down her cheeks. Her voice was breaking as she


    cried out in denial, "No, you''re lying! Leopold loved you; there''s no way nothing happened when you


    were alone together! The child you¡¯re carrying is his! It has to be his!"


    As Amelia screamed, she lunged toward Thssa''s bedside. Her hands were wing at the air, ready


    to tear into Thssa and shake the truth out of her ¡ª that the child must be Leopold''s.


    Lysander''srge hand pressed against Amelia''s shoulder and held her back. As Amelia grew more


    frantic, his grip tightened and pushed her away. He growled with a cold fury, "Enough! She''s not lying!


    She was trying to escape with the kids, and I caught them just after she saw Leopold!"


    Thssa''s eyes widened in disbelief. She was shocked that Lysander believed her story and was


    taking her side.


    After the secret of her four children was discovered, Thssa had fled with them in a harrowing


    escape, only to be captured again by Lysander.


    Back then, Lysander had found her and Leopold at her family home. After dragging her back, he


    confronted her and used her of trying to elope with Leopold and the children.


    She had no way to exin that bumping into Leopold was a mere coincidence. Lysander had refused


    to believe her then, convinced she was guilty of betrayal.


    And now, he believed her as she told the same story to Amelia?

 Chapter 1067

    Chapter 1067


    Thssa never expected Lysander to believe that her escapade with Leopold wasn''t an attempt at


    elopement.


    Amelia staggered backward; her eyes zed over in shock at Lysander''s words. A profound sadness


    swiftly morphed into a rigid mask of indifference.


    Her body, fueled by impulse and irritation, suddenly weakened, and she copsed onto the floor. She


    with mor, fell eerily silent, as if all life had been drained from her.


    Thssa watched Amelia crumble. Her heart twisted in sympathy and shared anguish.


    Leopold''s death was a wound in her own heart that had yet to heal.


    The once noisy hospital room quieted down. A heavy nket of sorrow filled the air, pressed down on


    their chests, and made every breath feel like a burden.


    Lysander pulled out his phone and dialed Payton Sinir. "Payton, pleasee to the hospital and


    take Amelia back with you."


    Payton had been informed by a servant that Amelia had gone to the hospital from Leopold''s vi, which


    they were supposed to clean. After finding the birth control pills there, Amelia had stormed off to


    confront Lysander, and of course, the servant had ryed this to Payton.


    When Payton heard Amelia was out to see Lysander, he knew she was there to cause a scene and


    hurried to the hospital.


    He was already there by the time Lysander called.


    Soon after, Amelia was escorted away by Payton.


    The room fell into a brooding silence, but the icy atmosphere that lingered was suffocating, making


    Thssa feel as if she were choking.


    Lysander turned around. His prating gaze fixed on Thssa as he strode over to the bedside.


    Her eyes met his, deep and abyssal, a ce where one wrong step could mean utter destruction.


    The predatory danger in his approach made Thssa''s heart pound in fear.


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    He moved closer. His intimidating presence prickled her skin, sending a wave of panic through her as


    she instinctively inched back.


    But she was on a narrow hospital bed, an IV hooked to the back of her hand, with no room to retreat.


    Lysander''s shadow loomed over her, his hand mping on her chin, his eyes cold and sharp as talons.


    "Whose child is it?" he hissed. His voice wasced with barely contained rage.


    The tremor in Thssa''s eyes and the flutter of hershes betrayed the sharp pain in her heart.


    Did he doubt her fidelity?


    Just moments ago, she had been surprised by his unconditional trust, and now he was full of suspicion


    and interrogation.


    So, his earlier disy of belief was only to appease Amelia.


    Thssa''s heart, which had just begun to warm, chilledpletely.


    She bit back the pain, took a deep breath, and asserted with all the conviction she could muster, "It''s


    yours!"

 Chapter 1068

    Chapter 1068


    Though Thssa felt a pang of disappointment at Lysander''s questioning, she would never joke about


    something as serious as their child.


    Beyond her intimacy with Lysander, she hadn''t so much as held hands with another man. And yet, he


    had the gall to doubt the paternity of her child!


    His gaze met hers. Her eyes were defiant in their destion. The corners of his thin lips curled into a


    mocking sneer. "Really? Shall I list all the lies you''ve told me one by one? Perhaps I should write them


    down andpile a book for you to pore over."


    Hisrge hand grasped her chin, lifting her face to meet his brooding, handsome features. They were


    mere inches apart, his breath, heavy with anger, fanned across her face, stealing her breath and


    causing her eyshes to tremble.


    Thssa''s heart constricted as she looked into his eyes and asserted firmly, "I didn''t lie to you. The


    child is yours!"


    She knew she had told him many lies, but each one was born from desperation. She wanted to protect


    those dear to her, unwilling to lose the people who mattered most. She had no choice but to keep


    certain truths from Lysander.


    The secrets she kept from him were harmless, causing him no injury, no loss. It was all to shield her


    mother.


    As Lysander''s gaze bore into her, unwavering and intense, his silence was oppressive, and his


    presence was suffocating.


    She had seen that unwavering gaze many times before.


    How many times had he believed in her words, only to be deceived again and again, eroding his trust


    to the point of utter disappointment?


    He faced her; his deep eyes were cold as ice and captured hers. "You went to great lengths to hide that


    you were taking birth control pills at Central Ring Vi, and you imed you weren''t deceiving me!"


    As he leaned in closer, his lips almost devilishly near hers, each word he uttered struck her like ice,


    threatening to freeze her solid.


    Her heart skipped as she began to confess the reasons for her secrecy.


    A rough touch seized her chin, and an intimidating aura smashed her heart. She feared, almost


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    intending to spill out the truth that she had been hiding.


    But the words halted on her lips.


    She had worked so hard to keep her mother''s humiliation secret, going through all difficulties to delete


    the incriminating video from Bruce''s possession.


    To reveal what Evelyn had suffered would be no different from broadcasting that video.


    She couldn''t speak!


    "What is it? Speak!" Lysander''s eyes were hard, his voice a low growl of demand.


    Thssa''s breath trembled, and she swallowed the truth she intended to reveal. Under Lysander''s icy


    gaze, she stammered, "I... I got the pills mixed up. I mistook the birth control for vitamins..."


    "Do you take me for a fool?" His grip on her chin tightened. His voice came out through gritted teeth,


    and his breaths were heavy with fury.


    A pain sharp as broken bones shot through her chin. She winced; her nerves were pounding: "I really


    did get the pills mixed up..."


    She stubbornly insisted on her story, admitting the birth control was indeed consumed by her.


    Lysander watched her intently, his anger palpable. "Fine, very well... At the hotel beneath Crest


    Summit, it was Bruce who kidnapped you, yet you insisted that it was only Elliott and that Callum saved


    you! You''re protecting Bruce, but who are you covering for now?"


    His grip was like a vise, tightening ever more. Thssa gasped for air through the pain.


    Enduring the agony, she stubbornly said, "Because Bruce is my father. I didn''t want him to go to jail..."


    She knew she couldn''t keep the truth from Lysander forever.


    He would eventually uncover the truth about the kidnapping and Bruce.


    And she had her story ready.


    Lysander''s heart felt as though it had been shot by her words. It was a dull, painful throb. Even now,


    she was unyielding.

 Chapter 1069

    Chapter 1069


    Lysander''s icy gaze zed with a crimson fury, his cheeks twitching slightly as he struggled to contain


    his anger. The woman before him had repeatedly provoked him and tested his patience to the brink of


    madness.


    He could end it all with the truth and put an end to the torment.


    Yet, as he watched her defiant agony, his heart ached even more than hers.


    "Bruce locked you up in that room, didn''t he? Did he hand you over to Callum? How much did Callum


    pay him? What exactly happened between you two in that room?" Lysander''s voice was strained. His


    temples throbbed with suppressed rage as he gave her onest chance toe clean.


    Thssa''s heart clenched in disbelief, "Is that what you think of me? That I could be sold and bought,


    that I¡¯d casually sleep with another man? So, how low am I to you."


    Her voice wasced with self-mockery. Although her chin and heart were all aching with a suffocating


    pain, she managed a bitter smile.


    "If that''s not the case, then what are you hiding?" Lysander ground his teeth, pressing her for an


    answer.


    "I told you. It was to protect Bruce, my father." Thssa clung to her reason.


    Bruce had threatened her before he left. If she exposed him, he would release the video of him


    harming her mother. If she turned on Bruce, her mother''s dignity would be at risk, and she might not


    survive the scandal.


    She couldn''t take that risk.


    Lysander''s hawk-like eyes bore into her, his facial muscles taut with anger. Seeing Thssa''s resigned


    defiance, his disappointment amplified.


    His next words were like a spear to her heart.


    "Is it Callum¡¯s child?" Lysander barely managed to get the words out, his breathing ragged with fury


    and disbelief.


    The barrage of questions he had fired at her was meant to afford her the chance to refute his


    suspicions.


    But her reactions seemed to confirm them one by one!


    That night, she had lied about going to see her mother, but she was actually meeting Callum. Then she


    returned and popped three emergency contraception pills. But they didn¡¯t work, and that child had been


    conceived that very night.


    Otherwise, why would she, the victim of an abduction, go out of her way to cover for her captor, to


    protect her rendezvous with Callum?


    And then, she fled with Callum and the four kids in tow...


    Wasn''t it all because Callum was the father of the child she was carrying?


    All text ? N?velD(r)a''ma.Org.


    Hearing Lysander''s usation, Thssa''s pupils constricted sharply.


    She stared at his handsome face, now tight with tension. His eyes were terrifying. Suddenly, he


    seemed like a stranger to her, as if she had never truly known him, as though they were just passersby


    in each other''s lives.


    The more she looked, the more she felt a bitterughter rising within her. Indeed, she had never


    prated his veneer, so how could she im to truly know him?


    He actually suspected that the child she was carrying was Callum''s!


    By thinking so, he believed she had been intimate with Callum!


    So in his eyes, she truly a cheap and easy woman.


    "What else do you want me to say when you won''t believe the truth?" Thssa''s voice was calm,


    resonating with the profound realization that there was nothing more painful than a heart that had given


    up hope.

 Chapter 1070

    Chapter 1070


    Lysander''s breath was heavy, his eyes smoldered a deep crimson, and a vein throbbed at his temple.


    His jaw was clenched tight, and the hand gripping her chin was so tense that the veins on the back of


    his hand stood out.


    This woman, even now, acted as if he couldn''t care less, still deceiving him!


    Her aloofness and nonchnce, all fueled Lysander''s rage. He really should just strangle her! His grip


    tightened.


    "Ouch, that hurts..." Thssa winced, her features contorted with pain. She struggled to breathe as the


    pain was unbearable. A pained cry escaped her throat.


    Lysander''s red eyes flickered. Her cry of pain seemed to tug at his nerves, fueling his fury to the point


    he wanted to kill her, yet his hand involuntarily loosened its grip.


    "I will get to the bottom of the truth! You¡¯d better stay put and behave yourself!" Lysander grounded out


    the icy words through clenched teeth, let go of her chin, and stormed out of the hospital room.


    The oppressive coldness withdrew, and the sharp pain in her jaw eased as Thssa''s tensed body


    slumped. Her hands propped her up on the bed. She bent over as she gasped for air, her rapid


    breathing turning into coughs.


    "Cough, cough cough..." The abdominal pain red up again with each cough.


    Thssa immediately covered her belly with her free hand, trying to ease the pain by cradling her


    stomach.


    Earlier, when her coughing had started, Lysander had shown a sh of concern and instantly called for


    a doctor. But now, hearing her cough, he didn''t even look back as he strode out of the room.


    Thssa was all too aware of the stark difference in his behavior. Initially, he had believed the child she


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    carried was his, which exined his earlier concern. But now, suspecting that the child might be


    Callum''s, he couldn''t care less about the fate of the baby, let alone her feelings.


    Holding her belly, Thssaughed bitterly, her eyes stinging with unshed tears.


    Why had he never considered her situation or cared for her feelings, yet insisted on keeping her tied to


    him?


    Why was he so domineering?


    Letting her go would spare them both the constant suspicion and anger.


    Wouldn''t it be better for them both if she could just leave?


    Sitting back against the pillows, Thssa tried to calm her pained and ragged breaths. She went from


    self-mockery to a gradual stillness of emotion.


    She knew that her distress could threaten the baby, so no matter how aggrieved or miserable she felt,


    she had to console herself, regte her mood, and find peace. Only then could she protect her child.


    Even if Lysander didn''t believe the child was his, it was still hers, and she would love her child


    regardless.


    ...


    Lysander, cold as ice, returned to the Sinir Group headquarters.


    A somber mood had descended over the entire Sinir Group, affecting every employee. They all


    tiptoed around their tasks, fearful of making the slightest mistake.


    David entered the CEO''s office to report, "Mr. Sinir, the stocks that Lucy invested in have plummeted


    within an hour. Her family is facing financial ruin."


    Lysander''s gaze lifted. A sharp, icy stare focused on David.


    David shivered under that gaze anxiously and uneasily. "Mr. Sinir, is there a problem?"


    David asked tentatively.


    "Did Amelia call you?" Lysander''s voice was cool and firm, not asking but stating.


    David, head bowed, reported, "Amelia said she needed to speak with you urgently. I thought, with you


    being at the hospital and all, that it wouldn''t interfere..."


    David''s voice trailed off, waiting for Lysander''s response, hoping not to have added fuel to the fire.

 Chapter 1071

    Chapter 1071


    It was David who had told Amelia that Lysander was at the hospital for Thssa, and it was also him


    giving away the hospital¡¯s address.


    Amelia had called in a frenzy, insisting she had urgent business with Lysander, about Lysander.


    Concerned with the urgency of the situation, David had divulged the hospital''s whereabouts.


    He thought he had simply mentioned Lysander''s whereabouts to a member of the Sinir n, not


    foreseeing the trouble it would stir.


    "Wouldn¡¯t interfere, you say? Well then, heading off to work in Afrnd for a month shouldn''t be an


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    interference either. Pack your bags and leave today!" Lysander''s handsome face was a mask of


    thunderous fury, a chilling aura surrounding him that felt like it could freeze a man solid. His words left


    no room for debate; they were a decree.


    David was taken aback, inwardly rebelling against the idea.


    Afrnd was notorious for its harsh environment and instability. Heading there was tantamount to


    signing up for a month of suffering.


    It was clear Mr. Sinir was punishing him.


    David panicked, but he dared not question Lysander about his mistake. Mr. Sinir was in a towering


    rage, and any word from David might just make his punishment all the more severe.


    "Yes, sir. I''ll book my flight immediately." David managed to say, quickly nodding his acquiescence.


    With a dismissive wave of his hand, Lysander sent David scurrying out of the office. Only once he was


    in the hallway did David realize his back was drenched in sweat, beads of perspiration dotting his


    forehead.


    Wiping the sweat from his brow, David felt a flush of embarrassment. He wondered for the umpteenth


    time what Thssa had done to ruffle Mr. Sinir''s feathers this time. Whenever she stirred the pot, he


    was the one who got burnt.


    He couldn''t count the number of times he''d been dragged into Thssa''s messes. He must be the


    most unfortunate assistant ever.


    The boss had a lover''s quarrel, and instead of taking it out on his girlfriend, he took it out on his right-


    hand man.


    David wept without tears. He was indeed a hapless soul.


    Back in his office, David hastily booked his ticket and started packing for Afrnd. The trip was


    unavoidable if he wanted to quell Mr. Sinir''s wrath.


    As he packed, David dialed Thssa''s number. The call rang for a while before she picked up.


    Thssa was surprised to hear from David at such an hour.


    "David, what can I do for you?" she asked, her tone light and tinged with humor.


    Thssa had always been good at managing her emotions. Over the years, she had faced countless


    setbacks, each day a struggle. If she had been faint-hearted, life''s burdens would have crushed her


    long ago.


    But her optimism and self-regtion had always kept her spirits high, enabling her to find joy amid the


    hardships. She believed that everything else was trivial in the grand scheme of life, and that there was


    no obstacle too great to ovee.


    "Guess where I''m off to?" David said, trying to keep the conversation light.


    "What would I be awarded with if I guess right?" Thssa asked yfully.


    "Can¡¯t believe you¡¯re in the mood to talk about prizes." David was taken aback but managed augh.


    He had assumed that with the boss in such a foul mood, the entirepany would be under a cloud of


    gloom and that Thssa, at the very least, would be also miserable. Yet here she was, speaking


    breezily, seemingly unbothered by it all.


    "Why should I be down? Is there something I''m supposed to be upset about?" Thssa asked him in


    return.


    Her response amused David. He couldn''t help but release a chuckle and felt rxed a bit.


    "I''m packing for Afrnd." he confessed, dropping the guessing game.


    "Oh, well, bon voyage!" Thssa responded without missing a beat, her voice devoid of any surprise


    as she wished him well on his journey.

 Chapter 1072

    Chapter 1072


    David paused from packing his desk. He leaned his body against it with hands firmly nted on the


    surface. He was fully engaged in a lighthearted conversation with Thssa on the phone.


    "Don''t you want to ask why I''m heading to Afrnd?"


    "Business trip, what else?" Thssa''s tone was casual. "It''s not like you''re going because of me,


    right?"


    "You hit the nail on the head." David said, a smile ying on his lips despite his impending relocation to


    Afrnd.


    "How am I to me? I''m not even part of yourpany, and I haven''t stirred up any trouble. How on


    earth did I get you banished to Afrnd?" There was an innocence in Thssa''s voice.


    "You didn''t stir up trouble? The whole Sinir group was on pins and needles all afternoon. Mr. Sinir


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    was so livid; he could scare a ghost. Who else but you could get Mr. Sinir so riled up without getting


    your hands dirty and still manage to drag others down with you?"


    "Are you saying you took the fall for me?" Thssa asked, then chuckled. "You''re giving me too much


    credit. You have no idea how my mandible was hanging by a thread. You''re just going to Afrnd, while


    my mandible is practically in pieces here."


    "Well, it''s not broken, is it?" David retorted.


    Thssa went speechless.


    Well, thanks a bunch, David. You must really be rooting for my chin to snap. Hanging around Lysander


    has really rubbed off on you. Nopassion whatsoever. You''ve be a real piece of work. She


    thought.


    "Safe travels to Afrnd, David. I hope you have the time of your life. Go there pale ande back


    tanned, and maybe bring back a beautifuldy from there to call your bride." Thssa quipped before


    abruptly ending the call.


    Now, it was David who went speechless.


    Life was rough. Being shipped off to the harsh environment of Afrnd by Mr. Sinir was bad enough,


    but then he was teased by Thssa.


    Were these two conspiring against him?


    ...


    In the meantime, chaos erupted at the Bruce¡¯s family mansion.


    Bruce had tolerated Lucy for years just because she controlled the purse strings and she had a golden


    touch with stocks ¡ª money in her hands could double.


    That was why he had bitten his tongue and endured Lucy''s ways for years.


    But what was she telling him now?


    The stock market was in turmoil, and the stocks she had poured their fortune into had plummeted


    within two hours, wiping out all their wealth!


    "Divorce! I want a divorce! I can''t wait another second!" Bruce roared, veins bulging on his forehead as


    he mmed his dinner te down.


    The te shattered with a crash on the granite table, shards flying everywhere and narrowly missing


    Lucy as she dodged them just in time.


    Regaining herposure and seeing Bruce''s chest heaving with fury, Lucy quickly tried to soothe him,


    her tone gentle and pleading, "Bruce, please don''t be mad. The money''s gone, but at least we''re still


    together as a family. We can always make more money."


    "Don''t touch me!" Bruce shoved Lucy away and stood up abruptly.


    ring at her with fierce eyes and spitting with anger, he said, "Let''s get one thing straight, Lucy! I care


    about the money, not about being ''a family'' with you! If it wasn''t for the money, I would''ve left you ages


    ago! But you, you had to gamble all our savings on the stock market, and now it''s all gone! We''re


    broke, and I don''t have to feign a family with you anymore! We''re going for the legal affairs right now,


    and we''re getting a divorce!"


    Bruce pointed an using finger at Lucy, baring his teeth with rage.


    For years, he had willingly handed over his earnings to Lucy, trusting in her knack for the stock market,


    believing that she could double the money in no time.

 Chapter 1073

    Chapter 1073


    Otherwise, how could they possibly afford a vi in the upscale Starhaven neighborhood, living the high


    life even without a job?


    Now that the money was gone, Bruce had no reason to hold back his anger towards Lucy. The masks


    were off.


    Seeing Bruce''s unyielding stance, Lucy''s face contorted with rage, but fear soon took over as she


    broke down in tears, "Bruce, please, don''t do this. Please just forgive me this once. It was a slip-up,


    and I swear it won''t happen again!"


    Lucy had set her sights on the potential windfall from a certain stock. Dreaming of a big score, she had


    thrown all their wealth into the market.


    Stock trading was all about taking risks and having the nerve. If you were too timid, you''d never make a


    dime.


    Over the years, Lucy had reaped substantial dividends from the market, growing bolder with each


    sess. And so, with a wave of her hand, she had plunged all of their savings into the stock market.


    But this time, their ship had capsized so quickly and disastrously.


    "I can''t trust you anymore. We''re getting a divorce. Let''s go, a divorce!" Bruce was livid; his fury boiling


    over as he grabbed Lucy''s arm and dragged her towards the door.


    But Lucy wouldn''t budge. She plopped down on the floor, clutching the leg of the dining table to anchor


    herself so that Bruce couldn''t drag her away.


    She sobbed, "Bruce, please, calm down. Think about our daughter. She''s not married yet. If we


    divorce, it will ruin her chances of finding a good match. We can make the money back. Please, you


    may just think of a way to get some money, and I promise to double it, triple, even tenfold... Our fortune


    will return!"


    For years, these were the words she used to coax Bruce into handing over every penny he made.


    And indeed, she had managed to double the money Bruce earned, which is why he had always


    willingly entrusted his earnings to her.


    But now, Bruce struggled in vain to pull Lucy out for a divorce.


    Her words made him release his grip. He panted as he red at Lucy, "How sure are you?"


    Seeing a glimmer of hope, Lucy quickly wiped away her tears and assured him, "One hundred


    percent!"


    "Damn it! I''ll trust you one more time!" Bruce stormed off towards the study.


    "Bruce, let''s figure out how to make money." Lucy hurriedly got up and followed him.


    "Don''t follow me! Go mind your own business!" Bruce snapped back at her angrily.


    Lucy froze, not daring to follow any further.


    Bruce entered his study and mmed the door shut to show Lucy his anger.


    Disgusted and infuriated by Lucy, Bruce was desperate to take his mind off his rage. He sat at his desk,


    pulled out his phone, opened a folder, ready to watch that video about Evelyn to soothe his anger. With


    that video in hand, he could simply ckmail Thssa and the money woulde rolling in.


    He opened the file on his phone, ready to view the video. Then, he would call Thssa and threaten


    her into sending money.


    But the folder was empty!


    He couldn¡¯t believe his eyes. He exited and reopened it, but it was still empty!


    What was happening?


    Bruce booted up hisputer in a frenzy and opened the folder where the video was supposed to be.


    It was still empty!


    The video had vanished into thin air!


    Bruce was shocked.


    He grabbed his phone and dialed Thssa''s number.


    Thssa was lying in her hospital bed and resting with her eyes closed when the sudden ring of her


    phone on the nightstand jolted her awake. She picked up the phone, the sight of that particr number


    tensing her up instantly.N?velDrama.Org: owner of this content.

 Chapter 1074

    Chapter 1074


    Even though Thssa''s phone didn''t have Bruce''s number saved, she recognized thest digits


    shing on the screen and knew who was calling.


    What on earth did Bruce want now?


    She remembered the day Bruce had worked with Daniel to kidnap her. In a desperate move to prevent


    Bruce from releasing that damning video of Evelyn, Thssa had done everything in her power to keep


    Belongs ? to N?velDrama.Org.


    Bruce''s involvement under wraps.


    Eventually, Lysander found out, but it was through his own investigation, not her doing.


    Could it be that Lysander had made his move, getting the cops to nab Bruce? Was this call a desperate


    plea for help?


    With spection swirling in her mind and the relentless vibration of the iing call setting her nerves


    on edge, Thssa felt a tide of unease wash over her. She really didn''t want to answer, full of loathing


    for the man she deemed scum. But the persistent shing of those digits was like a siren call,


    impossible to ignore.


    Taking a deep breath, her finger swiped the screen at the veryst second before the call would drop.


    Silence hung in the virtual space until Bruce''s icy voice cut through, "Thssa, have you been messing


    with my phone?"


    Bruce''s sinister question froze Thssa''s breath in her throat. She now knew why he had called.


    It seemed he had realized the video was missing from his phone.


    After merely a day and night, he noticed the video in his phone had disappeared.


    Who in their right mind regrly checks such content?


    She felt a wave of nausea at the memory of Atticus hacking into Bruce''s home security system, where


    they saw Bruce leering at hisputer screen. Disgust and hatred churned within her¡ªBruce was no


    ordinary man; he was a sick freak!


    The very thought that he''d likely been watching that video regrly to satiate his twisted desires made


    her skin crawl.


    "Isn''t that just hrious," she spat out, teeth clenched. "Your phone''s glued to you 24/7. How would I


    even touch it? Oh, I''d love to get my hands on your phone alright, to delete that video so you could


    never threaten me again!"


    She wasn''t about to confess, but she was done being bullied by Bruce.


    Bruce, hearing the defiance in Thssa''s voice, sensed something was off. His phone was his shadow,


    always with him because it held many secrets¡ªsecrets that couldn''t be exposed, especially not to his


    wife, Lucy.


    He was always extra careful with his phone, keeping it close to guard against Lucy''s prying eyes.


    If Lucy couldn''t get her hands on his phone, what chance did Thssa have?


    And it wasn''t just the phone; the video on hisputer had vanished too.


    Thest time Thssa had been in his house, she''d been under his watchful eye, confined to the living


    room and never venturing near his study, let alone hisputer.


    So, it wasn''t Thssa who had deleted the videos from his phone andputer?


    How then did they disappear?


    Could Lucy be behind this?


    Realizing that Thssa remained unaware of the missing video, Bruce abruptly adopted a falsely


    genial tone. "Calm down, dear. You may not be my daughter, but you are, after all, the daughter of a


    woman I once loved. That makes you family. Why would I threaten you?"


    "Shut your mouth!" Thssa snapped back, her breathing jagged with fury, her hand trembling with


    rage as she gripped the phone. She wished she could confront Bruce right then and there and put an


    end to the despicable creature he was.

 Chapter 1075

    Chapter 1075


    How could he have the audacity to im he ever loved her mother? Whenever Bruce brought up her


    mother¡¯s name now, Thssa was consumed by a rage so fierce she could kill him.


    To hear the name Evelyn from Bruce''s lips was an insult to her memory!


    "Don''t make me sick. Your daughter is Susan! I have nothing to do with you!" Thssa growled with


    fury.


    The hatred she had for Bruce was once a suppressed whisper, but now it roared unrestrained.


    "Calm down, will ya? I''m in a decent mood for now, but if you keep up with that nasty talk, I might just


    get riled up enough to let slip something you''d rather keep under wraps," Bruce threatened over the


    phone.


    "What the hell do you want?" Thssa hissed through clenched teeth.


    Bruce was still holding that damn video over her head ¨C a pure bluff at this point, as he had no leverage


    left.


    "Here''s the thing," Bruce, touching his nose on the other end, said, "I''m a bit strapped for cash at the


    moment. Why don''t you wire me a cool two million?"


    He said it as if it was the most natural request in the world, without a hint of politeness.


    Thssa was so enraged sheughed, "Why should your financial woes be my concern? Your


    precious Susan climbed the socialdder and snagged Lysander, didn''t she? Go ask her for the


    money! Leave me out of it!"


    "Hey, listen¡­" Bruce started, but the line went dead.


    Furious, Bruce tossed his phone on the desk, a sinister glint in his eyes.


    Thssa, what makes you so bold? You''ll spend your life dancing to my tune! He thought.


    Back in the hospital room, Thssa tossed her phone aside after ending the call. The simmering


    anger, which she had barely contained, red up once more with Bruce''s call, pulling at her nerves and


    causing her stomach to churn with difort.


    She gently caressed her belly, soothingly whispering, "It''s okay, baby. Mommy didn''t mean to get upset.


    I promise, no more anger."


    Her rage hurt not only herself but the precious life inside her.


    Bruce''s shameless words were simply intolerable.


    Before the video was erased, she would have been at Bruce''s mercy, ready to sell her soul to give him


    the two million.


    But things were different now. She had Atticus erase the leverage Bruce held over her. She would


    never be threatened by him again.


    Taking deep breaths, Thssa calmed herself down. She had to admit, her anger stemmed not only


    from Bruce''s vile threats but also from remembering Evelyn''s words.


    This is property ? N?velDrama.Org.


    Evelyn had been at the Draven International Hotel that day too, intending to meet Thssa when she


    witnessed Susan, disheveled, exiting Lysander''s room before heading to Joshua''s.


    Susan had been in Lysander''s room, her clothes in disarray.


    Had she seeded? Had she slept with Lysander?


    The mere thought of Susan''s state being due to Lysander sparked an inexplicable fury and frustration


    in Thssa.


    Earlier, she even explicitly mentioned to Bruce that Susan had snagged Lysander and told him to ask


    her for money directly. It was just a ploy to extract information from Bruce about the closeness between


    Susan and Lysander.


    If Susan was in a position to ask Lysander for money, to have a say in his presence, didn''t that imply


    they had been intimate?


    Yet, Thssa was too cowardly to even hear the answer.


    In a moment of impulsiveness, she had thrown out the idea of Susan climbing the socialdder with


    Lysander, and then hung up without waiting for a reply.


    She wanted to seem indifferent, but in the heat of the moment, her deepest feelings betrayed her with


    impulsive words, and shecked the courage to face the truth.

 Chapter 1076

    Chapter 1076


    Lost in a sea of conflicting thoughts, Thssa was brought back to reality by the sound of the hospital


    Belongs ? to N?velDrama.Org.


    room door opening. Someone hade in.


    With her keen senses, Thssa nced toward the door and saw Evelyn and Hertha stride in, their


    faces etched with urgent concern.


    Evelyn rushed to Thssa''s bedside with an anxious expression, tenderly taking her hand. "Thssa, I


    was beside myself when I heard you were hospitalized. You were fine at lunch; what on earth


    happened that you ended up here?"


    She held Thssa''s hand, squeezing it gently as if trying to transfer some of her own warmth to


    Thssa''s chilly fingers.


    "I''m okay, Mom. How did you find out I was in the hospital? Who told you?" Thssa was curious. She


    hadn''t been at the hospital long and hade straight from the Royal Estates. If Lysander hadn''t said


    anything, how could Evelyn have known?


    "Remember I saved Fitch''s number? I called him to check on you and the kids, and he told me you


    were admitted," Evelyn exined, her gaze full of sorrow as she examined Thssa''s bruised chin.


    "Your chin is all purple. Did Lysander hit you?"


    "What? Lysander hit you? That scoundrel!" Hertha red up upon hearing Evelyn''s words, rolling up


    her sleeves in a huff. "I swear, if I see Lysander, I''m gonna give him a piece of my mind!"


    Thssa appreciated Hertha''s protective rage, knowing she truly cared and wanted to defend her, but


    the thought of anyone standing up to Lysander seemed oundish. She hurried to reassure Evelyn and


    Hertha, "It''s not what you think. Lysander didn''t hit me."


    "Then what''s with your chin? And why were you suddenly hospitalized?" Hertha pressed, eager for


    answers.


    Thssa looked at Evelyn, who was seated beside her bed holding her hand, then turned her gaze to


    Hertha standing nearby, her face filled with worry.


    The profound and genuine concern in their eyes overwhelmed her.


    In theirpassionate gaze, Thssa''s battered heart felt instantly mended.


    She was loved and worried about by her family; she was fortunate.


    "Lysander was questioning why I ran away. He grabbed my chin a bit too hard, and I bruise easily. I''m


    in the hospital for a precautionary measure to safeguard the pregnancy," Thssa exined calmly,


    her tone moreforting than rmed.


    "What, you''re pregnant again?"


    "What, you''re pregnant again?"


    Hertha and Evelyn eximed in unison, both staring at Thssa with a mixture of astonishment and


    shock.


    Once the surprise settled, Hertha eagerly reached out to touch Thssa''s belly, her palm resting on the


    soft curve. "You mean to say there''s a new life¡ªor rather, lives¡ªgrowing in there?"


    Evelyn''s face went pale with worry, "You''re pregnant again?"


    Thssa''s first pregnancy had been a harrowing experience, delivering quadruplets and barely making


    it through alive. The thought of her going through that ordeal again was terrifying.


    Instead of feeling joy at the news of the pregnancy, Evelyn''s first reaction was concern for Thssa''s


    well-being and whether she could survive another trip through the gauntlet.


    Smiling, Thssa nodded at Hertha, who bent over to feel her stomach, and then at Evelyn, who had


    stepped back to give Hertha space. "Yes, Mom. The kids are going to have little brothers or sisters.


    You''re going to be a grandmother to a few more kids."

 Chapter 1077

    Chapter 1077


    Evelyn gazed at Thssa''s smiling face with a mixture of affection and concern. With a heavy sigh, she


    brushed away a tear from the corner of her eye. "Oh, honey, you¡¯re so strong for carrying another one.


    But sometimes, being strong isn''t all it''s cracked up to be. It''s you who bears the brunt of it all."


    The love in Evelyn''s eyes was the kind that only a mother could have for her daughter - a love that


    ached with empathy for the hardships her child endured.


    While others might rejoice at the prospect of a new addition to the family, only a mother could truly


    grasp the suffering and struggle that mighte with it.


    Thssa was expecting again, unwed, with four little ones already at home and no formalmitment


    from Lysander. Now, being pregnant again, would he marry her out of obligation to the child she was


    carrying?


    Evelyn hoped more than anything that Thssa would secure her ce and not be left vulnerable,


    subject to the whims of fate.


    Thssa recognized that her mother''s concerns were rooted in profound love. She grasped Evelyn¡¯s


    hand in hers, squeezing gently in reassurance. "Mom, let''s set aside any other worries for now. Our


    primary focus should be on ensuring the baby¡¯s health and safety. Regardless of everything else, this


    little one is my treasure. As a mother, my role is to love them fiercely. All other concerns don¡¯t apply to


    them. They''re innocent in all this."


    She understood Evelyn''s fears about hercking status despite her growing family, as well as the risks


    involved in childbirth.


    In that moment, a sense offort and happiness filled her. She, too, was someone''s child, loved and


    cared for by a mother.


    Thssa was grateful that she had rushed home that fateful day to save Evelyn. Without that, she


    would have been motherless.


    Evelyn knew her daughter''s love for the children was boundless. No amount of talking would change


    Thssa''s mind; she would carry this child to term.


    Evelyn yfully scolded her, "The baby isn''t even born yet, and you''re already spoiling them. Who


    knows how you''ll dote on them once they''re here!"


    "Oh,e on, Evelyn. Look at Atticus, Dorian, Elowen, and Sophia. They''re not spoiled in the least.


    Such sweet, well-mannered little darlings," Hertha chimed in, standing up straight after patting


    Thssa''s belly.


    "They are well-mannered because I raised them," Evelyn dered with a hint of pride.


    With sudden seriousness, Evelyn turned to Thssa. "You''re carrying Lysander''s child again. You need


    to think about your future, as well as the kids''. Consider finding a way to marry Lysander. It would be


    best for you and the little ones."


    It was an old tune, Evelyn always thinking about Thssa settling down, especially with Lysander, the


    father of her children.


    A marriage would give the kids a stable home.


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    Moreover, with Lysander''s wealth rivaling that of a small kingdom, Thssa wouldn''t have to worry


    about life''s trials and tribtions anymore.


    Thssa''s smile stiffened at the urgency in Evelyn''s eyes, unsure of how to respond.


    Lysander''s trust in her had waned, even doubting the paternity of the unborn child.


    The idea of marrying him seemed like a distant dream; even the prospect of getting along well had


    turned into an extravagant wish.


    Recognizing her friend¡¯s unease, Hertha, Thssa''s closest confidant, swiftly stepped in. "Thssa


    needs to prioritize her health at the moment; she''s still in a delicate state. Once she''s more stable, she


    can start making ns for the future. Isn¡¯t that right, Thssa?"


    Snapping back to the moment, Thssa realized Hertha was trying to ease Evelyn''s worries. Her smile


    returned, and she reassured her mother, "Exactly, Mom. Don¡¯t fret. Once the baby is born, I''ll let you


    take the reins again. Nobody raises sweet and sensible kids better than you do."


    Evelyn chuckled, yfully tapping Thssa¡¯s forehead with her finger. "You little rascal, always


    knowing just what to say to cheer me up."

 Chapter 1078

    Chapter 1078


    Upon seeing Evelyn''s smile, Thssa felt a wave of relief wash over her.


    Back in the day, when it was just her and her mom raising four kids, Thssa spent most of her time


    working to make ends meet, while Evelyn stayed home to care for the little ones.


    The four kids were Evelyn''s pride and joy, raised by her own hand, and the source of all her bragging


    rights.


    Thssa''s words of praise hit Evelyn right in the feels, and she couldn''t help but beam with happiness.


    The somber mood that had been pressing down on them lifted with a few words from Thssa, and


    Evelyn squeezed her hand again. Noticing Thssa''s chapped lips, she said with concern, ¡°Let me get


    you some water.¡±


    She got up to grab the water pitcher, only to find it empty.


    ¡°I''ll go fetch some water,¡± Evelyn said, taking the pitcher with her as she left the room.


    No sooner had Evelyn left than Hertha plopped down beside Thssa''s bed, her face lit up with the


    kind of curiosity that only the juiciest gossip could inspire.


    ¡°So, I heard from Evelyn that you took offst night with a guy named Callum, and you even made sure


    to take your four munchkins with you. What gives? Is there a little something-something going on


    between you and Callum?¡±


    Hertha''s face was alight with mirth, her eyes dancing with eager anticipation as she waited for the


    scoop.


    Hertha lived for gossip, whether it was someone else''s dirtyundry or the scandalous tales of her


    closest friends. When it came to Thssa''s life, her interest was more piqued than ever.


    Thssa had once been sweet on Leopold, but he''d been gone for some time now. Surely, she


    couldn''t be expected to pine forever for a man who''d left this world, could she?


    Caught off guard by Hertha''s eager gaze, Thssa felt her heart skip a beat.


    Had she really not thought it through, leaving with Callum and the kids? Even her best friend thought


    she had feelings for Callum, taking off with Lysander''s children in tow.


    No wonder Lysander had jumped to conclusions.


    Thssa had been so desperate to get away from Lysander and so rattled by Bruce''s threats that all


    she could think about was escaping the turmoil. She hadn''t paused to consider the implications of


    running off with Callum.


    ¡°Come on, Thssa, don''t leave me hanging,¡± Hertha nudged, giving her a gentle shake.


    Snapped back to reality by Hertha''s prodding, Thssa looked into her friend''s gossip-thirsty eyes and


    responded with a sigh, ¡°You know me. How could I possibly bring chaos into someone else''s life, being


    a single mom?¡±


    ¡°Self-control is one thing, but a fluttering heart is another,¡± Hertha said. ¡°You never seemed to want to


    stay by Lysander''s side, no matter what. Could it be because you never really had the hots for him?¡±


    Hertha''s question sent Thssa''s heart into overdrive, the kind that left her feeling flustered and out of


    control.


    The thought of her rtionship with Lysander stirred anxiety within her, causing her heart to race out of


    control.


    She had never felt the inclination to stand by Lysander, and was it because she hadn''t truly harbored


    feelings for him?N?velDrama.Org: owner of this content.


    No, that wasn''t it.


    She was wary of Lysander, afraid of his ruthless methods and cold-heartedness.


    Who would want to stay by the side of a heartless devil?


    ¡°Hertha, what on earth are you thinking? How could there be anything romantic between Callum and


    me? We''ve barely known each other,¡± Thssa said,ing to her senses. She yfully flicked


    Hertha''s forehead, feigning annoyance.


    ¡°Then why did you leave with Callum? And why did he agree to take you? If there''s no love between


    you two, it makes no sense that you''d run off together,¡± Hertha pressed. She had been so wrapped up


    in work recently that she hadn''t spent much time with Thssa.

 Chapter 1079

    Chapter 1079


    Hertha had no clue about the whirlwind of events that had blown through Thssa''s life recently. She


    just couldn''t wrap her head around it.


    Callum had only known Thssa for a short while, so why on earth would he willingly whisk Thssa


    and her whole brood away from Starhaven?


    If it wasn''t for love, what else could drive a man to such reckless lengths for a woman?


    "It wasn''t an elopement, I told you," Thssa sighed, shaking her head at Hertha''s insatiable appetite


    for romantic gossip, which apparently knew no bounds.


    "Then what was it?" Hertha''s eyes, round and eager, stared at Thssa, waiting expectantly.


    Despite her probing, Thssa hadn''t given a straight answer.


    "It was me who asked Callum to help me escape from Lysander," Thssa finally admitted, knowing


    full well that Hertha''s tenacious nature wouldn''t let the matter rest until she had an answer.


    "You wanted to escape Lysander? But why?" Hertha gasped in surprise.


    Why, indeed?


    Because he had driven Leopold to his demise, his cruelty was unyielding, never once considering her


    feelings.


    Beside him, she felt like a puppet without thoughts, subjected to his every whim. He never knew the


    pain she suffered, the humiliation she endured.


    She yearned for a life unchained, simple, and free.


    The thought of the real reason clenched her heart in pain. The desire to flee the conflict, to live in


    peace, was her vain hope¡ªa hope constantly crushed by Lysander''s controlling grip.


    Thssa''s hand, resting on the bed, clenched slightly as she faced Hertha''s expectant gaze. She


    opted for the most rtable excuse, "An unfruitful affair is better ended sooner rather thanter. I don''t


    want to waste my youth."


    Hertha''s eyes flickered, her curiosity morphing into sympathy. She understood Thssa¡ªwhat woman


    would want to stay with a man who would nevermit to her?


    It wasn''t just a drain on the spirit, but also a waste of precious time.


    Hertha reached out, stroking Thssa''s head with aforting touch, as one might soothe a little


    kitten. With an affectation of worldly wisdom, she said, "Ah, I get it, you''ve suffered enough. If only I


    This is property ? N?velDrama.Org.


    could bear the pain for you."


    Thssa was at a loss for words.


    Are you consoling me, or are you taking a dig at me?


    Letting out a sigh, Hertha pressed on, "But what about Callum? Why would he agree to take you with


    him? Is he secretly pining for you?"


    That was the million-dor question. After all, Callum and Thssa weren''t close, and he had no


    reason to risk offending Lysander by helping her flee.


    Unless he was smitten with Thssa, indifferent to her brood of four with another on the way,


    determined to take her away to a new life!


    To go through such lengths for her, his feelings must be deep indeed.


    Thssa lightly tapped Hertha''s head, saying, "Can''t your mind wander to more serious matters?"


    Hertha pouted, rubbing her head, then shook Thssa''s arm, coaxing, "Come on, spill it. I really can''t


    fathom his motives, and I bet I''m not the only one."


    Hertha''s question reminded Thssa that her frequent, almost fated encounters with Callum, coupled


    with her efforts to disguise the turmoil caused by Bruce''s actions, could easily lead to misinterpretation.


    Not just Lysander, but even Hertha could misconstrue the nature of her rtionship with Callum.


    "He''s helping me because of Leopold," Thssa confided in Hertha, her best friend, whom she could


    tell anything.


    "Leopold?" Hertha eximed in shock.

 Chapter 1080

    Chapter 1080


    Hertha just couldn''t wrap her head around what Callum had to do with Leopold.


    Seeing the bewildered look stered across Hertha''s face, Thssa let out a heavy sigh and began to


    unravel the tale.


    After listening, the light bulb went off for Hertha. "Oh, I get it now! Callum was Leopold''s best bud, kind


    of like you and me."


    Thssa nodded in agreement.


    With her eyes wide as saucers, Hertha fixed her gaze on Thssa. "Are you saying Leopold''s dying


    wish was for you to leave Lysander? And Callum is helping carry out Leopold''sst request?"


    "Yep," Thssa replied.


    Callum had tried to convey that very message in their conversations, and it made sense. While Leopold


    was still kicking, he''d often expressed a wish to whisk Thssa away to somece Lysander would


    never find them. Back then, Thssa had vehemently rejected Leopold''s proposals, hoping to quash


    his feelings so he could start fresh, fall for someone else, and get on with his life.


    As Leopold''s confidant, Callum must have known all about Leopold''s n.


    So, after Leopold had passed, Callum set out to fulfill his friend''s final desire.


    Putting two and two together, Hertha''s curiosity waned. "Well, when you put it like that, I understand.


    This Callum sounds like a stand-up guy, loyal to the core. I''d love to meet him if I ever get the chance."


    "He''s abroad," Thssa said, "meeting him might be a bit of a stretch."


    "He didn''te back with you guys?" Hertha asked, surprised.


    Thssa shook her head, her heart clenching as she recalled Callum''s screams over the ne''s din.


    Guilt washed over her; she felt responsible for whatever harm hade to him.


    At seven in the evening, Lysander returned to Royal Estates, finding the kids sprawled on the couch,


    This is property ? N?velDrama.Org.


    engrossed in their toys.


    His formidable presence filled the room, prompting the kids to turn their heads and spot Lysander''s


    towering figure stepping inside.


    The four little ones dropped their toys and scampered toward him on their stubby legs.


    "Daddy, where''s Mommy?" Elowen, the most spirited of the bunch, barreled into Lysander''s legs. Her


    tiny arms wrapped around him as she tilted her head back to search his face with bright, expectant


    eyes.


    Dorian toddled over too, tugging at Lysander''s pant leg. "Daddy, why didn''t Mommye back with


    you?"


    Sophia halted a step away from Lysander, her lower lip trembling, tears brimming in her eyes. She was


    always a bit wary of Lysander, too shy to approach him on her own.


    Next to her, Atticus stood not out of timidity but a certain aloofness.


    "Daddy, where did you take Mommy when we went to bed?" Atticus demanded, his young brow


    furrowing in a show of discontent.


    Hearing all four kids moring for their mother, Lysander''s gaze darkened, his aura imposing.


    Thoughts of Thssa in the hospital and the baby on the way made his breath grow ragged with a mix


    of pain and fury.


    Looking down at Elowen and Dorian''s innocent eyes filled with naive anticipation, he fought to subdue


    his anger.


    Bending down, he lifted Elowen into his arms and gently pinched her chubby cheek. His voice was a


    deep but gentle rumble, "Aren''t you happy to see Daddy, huh?"


    Elowen pouted adorably, her voice milky sweet as she replied, "I wanna be with both Mommy and


    Daddy. I like Daddy and Mommy both. When Mommy took us away yesterday, I kept asking why Daddy


    wasn''ting."


    Her words were like honey, soothing Lysander''s irritation and turning his sorrow into something akin to


    joy.


    The kids loved not just their mom but him too, their dad. Even as Thssa took them away, they kept


    him in their hearts.

 Chapter 1081

    Chapter 1081


    The feeling of being constantly cherished melted away the wrath that had been simmering in


    Lysander''s heart.


    A trace of a smile curled the corners of his mouth as he pressed his cheek against Elowen''s tender


    face. The soft, squishy sensation was like a balm to his soul.


    No wonder Thssa loved to snuggle with the kids.


    "Ouch, that''s prickly," Elowenined, her neck retracting slightly as Lysander''s stubble brushed


    against her. She shook her little head to dodge his scratchy cheek and patted his face with her small,


    chubby hands.


    "Daddy, why do you have hair on your face? It''s so prickly," she said, touching it tentatively before


    quickly withdrawing her hand.


    N?velDrama.Org: owner of this content.


    "It''s called a beard, sweetheart," Lysander replied gently. "Daddy didn''t shave yesterday."


    Lysander''s beard grew fast, necessitating daily shaves.


    Skip a day, and you''d be dealing with a prickly five o¡¯clock shadow.


    Burning with feverst night, he had chased after Thssa and the children until this afternoon, without


    a wink of sleep.


    The exhaustion,pounded by the ordeal, only elerated the growth of his stubble.


    "Then go shave, Daddy. Beards aren''t handsome, and Mommy won''t like it," Elowen chimed, kicking


    her legs, ready to hop out of his arms.


    Lysander paused, looking at her for a few seconds before agreeing, "Alright."


    He bent down, ced Elowen on the ground, and made his way to the bathroom.


    Upon his return, his face was clean-shaven, entuating his handsome features and giving him a


    distinguished demeanor.


    "Wow, Daddy''s back to being handsome Daddy!" Elowen pped her little hands joyfully upon seeing


    him, brightening the mood.


    Lysander gave Elowen a tender nce before his gazended on Atticus'' cute, boyish face. "Atticus,


    With that, Lysander led the way to Atticus'' room.


    Atticus hesitated, ncing at his younger siblings, unsure of what his father wanted with him alone.


    His siblings looked on with puzzlement and a tinge of envy.


    Daddy wanted to see their brother alone ¨C was there a special treat in store?


    Blinking, Atticus didn''t move until Dorian nudged him gently and said, "Daddy must need something.


    Go see what you can help with."


    "Yeah, like helping Mommy," Elowen agreed, nodding vigorously.


    Understanding, Atticus hurried to his room. Inside, he saw Lysander sitting on his bed.


    Approaching, Atticus asked, "Daddy, did you need something?"


    "Could you retrieve radar surveince footage from over a month ago, the same way you deleted it?"


    Lysander asked, his gaze prating.


    Atticus'' eyes widened in surprise. "Daddy, how did you know I deleted the radar surveince?"


    "The footage fromst night ¨C you deleted it. Don''t think I didn''t notice," Lysander stated.


    Atticus chuckled, scratching the back of his head sheepishly. "Sorry, it only took a few seconds, and I


    didn''t realize it would be that easy."


    Lysander was at a loss for words.


    His ten tech experts hadbored for over ten minutes and couldn''t crack the radar''s security, yet Atticus


    had done it in seconds!


    "Can you retrieve all the surveince footage from and around Fortune Restaurant dating back 40


    days?" Lysander revealed his purpose.


    "Is this you asking for my help, Daddy?" Atticus inquired.


    Lysander nodded, his gaze solemn. "Yes."


    Atticus beamed. "Great! I can help Mommy with a big problem, and now I can help Daddy, too!"

 Chapter 1082

    Chapter 1082


    Lysander''s piercing gaze locked onto Atticus, his voice firm and steady. "Apart from helping your mom


    in deleting the radar surveince, what else have you done?"


    "To... to hack into awork..." Atticus began, but then he remembered the promise he made to


    Thssa - a promise meant to be kept from everyone, including his dad. He couldn''t spill the beans.


    His words suddenly lodged in his throat, and he gaped at Lysander, who was staring him down with an


    imposing intensity that made Atticus'' heart race with fear.


    Normally, Atticus wouldn''t be intimidated by Lysander. He¡¯d stare right back, furrowing his little brow.


    But now, under Lysander''s prating gaze, Atticus'' eyes wavered, and he dropped his head, falling


    This is the property of N?-velDrama.Org.


    silent.


    Lysander''s deep voice probed, "Whosework did you hack into?"


    Atticus hung his head, his mind racing with panic.


    "Speak up!" Lysander demanded, his tone cold as steel.


    Startled, Atticus'' shoulders shook, and he blurted out, "I hacked into Mommy''s officework. She left


    some documents at work and didn''t want to go back for them, so she asked me to copy them over to


    herputer at home."


    After speaking, Atticus looked up at Lysander with anxious, doe-like eyes, worried that his dad would


    see through the lie.


    "Why all the secrecy?" Lysander asked, his gaze unwavering.


    "Because I promised Mommy that I wouldn''t tell anyone. She was afraid of getting scolded by her


    boss," Atticus mumbled, looking up through hisshes, his head still bowed, afraid that not meeting


    Lysander''s eyes would anger him further.


    His demeanor was a mix of guilt and innocence.


    Lysander, seeing Atticus'' downcast expression, thought he had frightened him. His tone softened as he


    spoke, "Don''t worry, your mom''s boss won''t find out. Turn on theputer and copy the video files I


    need."


    Returning to the matter at hand, Lysander waited.


    "Okay," Atticus quickly said, pulling out his tablet from a drawer and turning his back to Lysander as he


    booted it up, silently relieved that his quick thinking had kept his secret safe.


    As theputer started, Atticus asked, "Daddy, did Mommy go to work today? When will she be


    back?"


    It was already the afternoon, which was usually the time she returned home. Why was it that only his


    dad hade back and not his mom?


    Lysander''s eyes deepened slightly, his voice low as he answered, "She''s fallen ill and is in the


    hospital."


    "What? Mommy''s sick? Is it serious? I want to see her," Atticus said, his voice filled with surprise and


    concern.


    "It''s nothing too bad. She''s just resting at the hospital and will be back in a couple of days," Lysander


    reassured him.


    "Alright," Atticus responded weakly, though his mind was still on his mother.


    Distracted, his usual quick code-breaking skills slowed down. What would normally take him two


    minutes now took ten, but eventually, he managed to transfer all the surveince footage from the past


    40 days at the Fortune Restaurant onto hisputer.


    "Daddy, that should be everything," Atticus said, turning to face Lysander.


    Lysander reached out and patted his son''s head gently, "Good job, son. You can go and take a break


    now."


    Atticus paused, then obediently left the room. If his dad didn''t invite him to watch the copied footage


    together, he figured it was best not to ask.


    Once Atticus had left the room, Lysander sat down at theputer and began reviewing the videos


    one by one.


    He scrutinized everything from the moment Callum entered the diner to when Thssa walked in, and


    all the details of her leaving just 12 minutes after entering the private booth.

 Chapter 1083

    Chapter 1083


    There were no security cameras in the private booth, leaving the events within its walls shrouded in


    N?velDrama.Org: owner of this content.


    mystery.


    However, the surveince footage from the hallway revealed that when Thssa emerged from the


    room, her expression was downcast, suggesting unhappiness. Despite that, her clothes were neat, her


    face bore no sign of distress, and she clutched a sheaf of papers in her hand.


    It was the deed to the vi Leopold had left her!


    After leaving the restaurant, Thssa hailed a cab and disappeared into the night.


    Two minutester, Callum strolled out of the private booth, his departure casual, as if nothing of


    consequence had urred.


    The security footage offered no grounds for suspicion. It seemed improbable that much could have


    transpired within the private booth in just ten minutes.


    On that day, Thssa''s meeting with Callum likely revolved around epting the vi Leopold had


    bequeathed to her.


    Coincidentally, that very evening, Thssa and her mother moved into the new vi. Thssa even


    purchased birth control pills, downing three of them!


    He had discovered the birth control pills in her drawer once, and she had lied through her teeth,


    iming they were just a precaution against any unexpected moves on his part.


    If she had taken the pills, why the need for deception?


    Was there a deeper reason? Or were the pills not meant for her at all?


    These thoughts deepened Lysander''s brooding gaze.


    That night, Thssa wasn''t the only one at the vi; Evelyn was there too, already asleep by the time


    he arrived.


    Could it be that the pills were actually for Evelyn?


    Evelyn wasn''t married, and as far as he knew, there were no men in her life. So why would she need


    birth control?


    A chilling aura enveloped Lysander as he reached for his phone, intent on calling David.


    Then it hit him; he''d sent David off to Afrnd today. He was probably already there.


    Instead, he dialed his chief of security, "Check the logs. I need to know who came and went from the


    Vibrant Oasis Residences 40 days ago."


    At that time, Evelyn was still living there. It was on the evening when Thssa received the vi from


    Leopold that she moved with Evelyn to Central Ring Vi.


    "Right away, Mr. Sinir," the chief of security responded with due respect.


    After deleting the video files on Atticus''puter, Lysander left his room and headed downstairs.


    There, his four little rascals sat on the couch, their tiny legs swinging above the floor in unison, like a


    row of well-behaved little penguins.


    Hearing him approach, they all turned their innocent eyes toward him and simultaneously tilted their


    heads - an adorable sight to behold.


    "Daddy, when''s Mommying home from the hospital? Can we go see her?" Elowen slid off the


    couch and scurried over, her big eyes full of concern.


    Lysander nced at Atticus, who guiltily looked away, having spilled the beans to his siblings in a


    moment of worry.


    Bending down to Elowen, Lysander gently said, "Be good, focus on school, and she''ll be back before


    you know it."


    "So, being good at school means I can see Mommy sooner? I''ll be the best student ever," Elowen


    replied, a mix of hope and sadness in her voice.


    Turning to Fitch, Lysander ordered, "Get them bathed and to bed early, please."


    "Of course," Fitch answered, summoning the staff to prepare the children for bedtime.


    Back in his study, Lysander wasn''t waiting long before his chief of security called back.


    "Mr. Sinir, that day Bruce visited the Vibrant Oasis Residences. He went to Ms. Everhart''s apartment


    and stayed for just over forty minutes," reported the chief.


    Hearing this, Lysander''s sharp eyes deepened with a storm of thoughts.

 Chapter 1084

    Chapter 1084


    Susan was absent for a full 24 hours. When she finally arrived home at 9PM, her demeanor was


    downcast, and she walked unsteadily due to intoxication.


    This is property ? N?velDrama.Org.


    Clutching the door frame for support, she fumbled with her shoes in the foyer. The sound of stifled sobs


    from the living room caught her attention, and she looked up to find Lucy, her eyes red and swollen


    from tears, turning toward her with a glimmer of hope.


    Expecting to share the day¡¯s family troubles with her daughter, Lucy was taken aback by the strong


    scent of alcohol enveloping Susan. Her maternal concern took precedence as she approached her


    wayward daughter.


    "Susan, honey, who were you out drinking with now? You''ve got to take it easy with the booze, you


    know," Lucy chided gently.


    Susan, shoes finally exchanged forfortable slippers, nced at Lucy through bleary eyes and


    managed a wry chuckle. "What, you think girls can''t hold their liquor? I can drink most guys under the


    table."


    Lucy''s face was a mix of exasperation and concern. "That''s not the point, sweetheart. It''s dangerous for


    a girl to be out drunk like that. And you''ve always been so keen on snagging a man like Lysander. If


    you''re not careful, if you lose... you know, your first time, Lysander might look down on you."


    Lucy''s voice held the weight of experience, her adviceing from a ce both protective and


    conservative.


    Ever since Susan was little, Lucy ingrained in her the importance of self-preservation, particrly when


    it came to matters of the heart and body.


    "Guard yourself," Lucy would advise, "especially from those boys who only have one thing on their


    minds. Aim high, catch the eye of someone with real prospects."


    Lucy''s worldview held a strong belief in a man valuing a woman¡¯s first time, and she never hesitated to


    impress this upon Susan. "Save yourself for someone like Lysander; it''s the key to winning his affection


    and his sense of responsibility toward you."


    Susan''s simmering emotions boiled over at her mother''s words. She red at Lucy with fiery


    indignation. "I''m sick of hearing this, Mom! Twenty years of the same old speech! Who says Lysander


    would despise me if I''m not his first? Look at Thssa¡ªshe was with Leopold for two years before she


    met Lysander. She wasn''t ''new,'' and Lysander didn''t care one bit!"


    Her voice was a crescendo of bitterness and resentment. "As long as I am beautiful, as long as


    Lysander finds me attractive, nothing else should matter. I''m done being shackled by your outdated


    beliefs!"


    Thssa''s past rtionship with Leopold was no secret to those at Starhaven College. Their campus


    romance had been the talk of their generation. Susan, in her quest to win over Lysander, had made it


    her business to know Thssa''s history.


    Learning that Thssa had been with another man before Lysander, yet still held a special ce in his


    heart, stirred a toxic blend of anger and envy within Susan.


    Despite listening to her mother, abstaining from love and intimacy in anticipation of a wealthy suitor, her


    advances towards Lysander had been coldly rebuffed¡ªnot once, but twice.


    What did sheckpared to Thssa? Why was she treated differently?


    Overwhelmed by feelings of inadequacy and jealousy, Susan spiraled into despair.


    Her outburst, loud and piercing, left Lucy stunned. Lucy, already burdened with her own sorrows, had


    soughtfort from Susan, only to be met with her daughter''s fury.


    Shaken, Lucy''s emotions spilled over, and she broke into heart-wrenching sobs. "What have I done to


    deserve this?" she wailed. "My husband wants a divorce, and now my daughter turns against me too!


    I''ve ved over this family, and this is the thanks I get? Why is my life filled with such misery?"

 Chapter 1085

    Chapter 1085


    Tears streamed down Lucy''s face as she pped her thighs in a fit of despair, cursing her luck and


    everyone else''s.


    Susan wasn''t in a good ce either, fuming as she watched Lucy''s tantrum. Once upon a time, she


    would have wrapped her in aforting hug, but now, with her own nerves frayed to their ends, she


    couldn''t muster the patience. After all, she''d just lost her virginity to a man old enough to be her father!


    After being unceremoniously booted out from Lysander¡¯s room, an unbearable heat and restlessness


    consumed her body - an desperate craving for a man''s touch, fueled by the spiked drink. It all stemmed


    from her unwavering confidence and conviction that Lysander would sumb to the drug''s effects and


    her charm, leading her to drink without a second thought.


    But she had overestimated her allure.


    Lysander chose to endure the fiery torture coursing through his veins rather than bear her presence,


    kicking her out with disgust.


    The spot where his foot connected still throbbed, but the ache in her heart was far worse.


    Susan watched Lucy''s outburst with trembling rage, her eyes brimming with tears that threatened to


    spill over.


    Lucy was having her own meltdown. The day''s events had overwhelmed her, and she feared their


    family was on the brink of copse. Her voice cracked as she cried out her frustrations and pain.


    "What in the world is going on here?" Bruce emerged from his study, where he had been stewing in


    silence, only to find Susan and Lucy at each other''s throats.


    He hurried over to Susan and spoke with fatherly concern, "Susan, have you been drinking? Go wash


    up and get some rest."


    "I can''t sleep!" Susan snapped back, clearly out of sorts.


    This is the property of N?-velDrama.Org.


    "What''s got into you? Your father and I have given you everything ¨C the best food, clothes, and


    education. We raised you with loving care, sent you to learn piano and ballet. Did we do all of that for


    you to defy us?" Lucy retorted through her tears.


    Susan exploded, "So what if I defy you? I don''t need you to control me anymore! I''ll make my own


    choices and deal with my own consequences!"


    With that, she stormed off to her room.


    "Susan!" Bruce called after her, then turned to Lucy with a fierce re, "If you can''t stand this family,


    then get out!"


    He shot Lucy a venomous look before following Susan.


    Lucy sat on the floor in shock, her tears suspended on her eyshes, before copsing into sobs. "All


    my hard work for this family... it''s all for nothing..."


    Bruce caught up with Susan just as she was closing her bedroom door, holding it open with his hand.


    He gave her a cating smile, "Susan, don''t be mad. Your mother is just... difficult."


    Susan rolled her eyes and sat on the bed, still breathing heavily.


    Bruce sat down beside her, his smile strained as he tried tofort her, "Susan, you''ve been gone all


    night. Did you make any progress with Lysander?"


    Susan turned to him in shock, "Who told you that?"

 Chapter 1086

    Chapter 1086


    Bruce could tell by Susan¡¯s expression that something was up. It looked like there might actually be a


    chance for Susan and Lysander.


    Intrigued, Bruce¡¯s eyes sparkled with interest as he eagerly inquired, "So, how far has it gone with you


    two?"


    Susan''s irritation grew under Bruce''s anxious gaze. She was fuming overst night''s debacle, where


    her seduction of Lysander had backfired,nding her in the arms of some old geezer instead.


    The more she tried to push the memory away, the more her parents brought it up.


    Her mood, just beginning to settle, red up again. She pushed Bruce with a huff, "Get out, I need


    some rest!"


    Bruce stood, noting Susan''s evasive look and the way her eyes darted away, hiding something about


    Lysander from him.


    His smile faded, reced by a chill in his gaze, "What''s the deal, Susan? You''ve flown the coop, and


    now you''re keeping secrets from your old man? You think you''ve be too good for us? If Thssa


    hadn''t told me about you cozying up to Lysander, were you nning on keeping it under wraps


    forever?"


    Susan, who''d already kicked off her shoes and climbed into bed, yanked the covers up to her chin. But


    at Bruce''s insinuations, she tore the nket from her face, her eyes welling up with anger and hurt as


    N?velDrama.Org: owner of this content.


    she red at him.


    "Why don''t you trust your other daughter then? Believe whatever she says! If I had really snagged


    Lysander, do you think I''d be in this mess?" she retorted, her breathsing in gasps.


    Her parents were blind to the humiliation and distress she''d suffered, only fixated on herting


    Lysander for their gain. Her emotions erupted violently.


    Bruce, taken aback by her outburst, locked eyes with her tearful gaze, not seeing triumph but the look


    of someone who''d been wronged.


    It dawned on him that something unpleasant might have happened to Susan.


    His expression softened with concern, and he moved closer, "Did something happen? Tell me, and I''ll


    sort it out for you."


    Susan''s gaze flickered away, wiping the tears that had fallen, "It''s nothing... just feeling a bit sore about


    not being Lysander''s girl, that''s all."


    The foolishness of the previous night, not ending up with Lysander but losing her virginity instead, was


    a secret she couldn''t bear her parents to know. They would just add to the chorus calling her a fool.


    Susan swallowed her grievances.


    "Don''t worry about it. Every failure brings you closer to sess. There will be other chances. Don''t let it


    get you down," Bruce consoled her, then hesitated before adding gently, "There''s been a crisis at


    home. You weren''t here during the day, but your mother and I had a huge fight."


    "Don''t you two always?" Susan said, looking away.


    "This was different. Your mother yed the stock market and lost all our savings."


    "What?" Susan turned sharply, her eyes wide with shock, "You mean we''re broke? How am I supposed


    to rely on you to grease some palms to get me close to Lysander?"


    "Calm down, kiddo. Your mom¡¯s a wizard with stocks- this market hup was just a fluke that hit us


    hard. Give her a bit of seed money, and she¡¯ll turn it around in a heartbeat," Bruce said, his faith in


    Lucy''s stock-picking skills unshaken. Theirfortable lifestyle wasn''t just the result of his hustling;


    Lucy''s savvy investments yed a significant role.


    Otherwise, how could they, without a business or family fortune, live in luxury and in a mansion?


    He was convinced Lucy would earn the money back. The real headache now was finding the capital to


    start over.

 Chapter 1087

    Chapter 1087


    "Come on, Mom really needs the cash. Can''t you just give her some?" Susan urged impatiently.


    Bruce rubbed the back of his neck with difort, "I''ve already given all the cash I had to your mother


    - everyst dime. I thought you had a decent amount saved up from your allowance. Could you maybe


    help her out until we get back on our feet?"


    "You two are useless, draining our savings like a leaky faucet!" Susan snapped, frustration clear in her


    voice.


    Bruce braced himself for his daughter''s contempt and pushed on, "How much money do you have


    saved up right now?"


    "That pocket money you gave me? It''s been gone for ages!" Susan replied, her face stone-cold.


    "What?" Bruce felt a wave of disappointment wash over him.


    "But, I''ve made some of my own," Susan added, her tone shifting.


    "You''ve made your own? How much?" Hope flickered in Bruce''s eyes again.


    Susan''s eyshes fluttered down, shielding the dark shadows and the sense of humiliation in her eyes


    as she said, "Two hundred and fifteen thousand."


    "Sweetheart, you''ve made two hundred and fifteen thousand on your own? That''s incredible! You''re


    truly your father''s daughter," Bruce beamed with pride.


    Belongs ? to N?velDrama.Org.


    Hearing her father''s praise brought a littlefort to Susan, but it did little to dispel the hurt lurking in


    her eyes.


    She kept her gaze lowered, unable to meet Bruce''s proud look, and said, "I''ll give you two hundred


    thousand to invest in the stock market. The remaining fifteen thousand, I''ll keep for myself."


    In truth, she had only earned fifteen thousand from her gig as a model. The rest, the two hundred


    thousand, came fromst night. Susan had thought that after sleeping with Joshua, he would take


    some responsibility for her, maybe even provide financial support.


    However, when Joshua sobered up, he pulled his pants up and treated her like a stranger, iming


    there was something wrong with his drink. He gave her two hundred thousand aspensation for the


    trouble, all the while threatening to investigate the incident thoroughly if she didn''t ept it. He


    insinuated knowledge of her involvement in the drugging, implying she should take the money and


    disappear.


    Her grand ambitions shattered, Susan had no choice but to swallow her pride and ept the money to


    keep the peace.


    "That''s my girl. Just transfer the money to my ount, and you can rest up," Bruce said joyfully, exiting


    her room quickly to let her be, gently closing the door behind him.


    ...


    At an upscale restaurant, Richard was apologizing to Joshua for the unfortunate incident.


    "Mr. Joshua, I am truly sorry about the unpleasant incident that urred at our hotel. It was apse in


    our service, and I deeply regret any inconvenience it caused you. Please allow me to drink three


    sses as a sincere apology," Richard said earnestly, lifting his ss to Joshua before downing it in


    one go.


    The previous night, Susan had barged into Joshua''s room and taken advantage of him while he was


    intoxicated.


    Richard was shocked when he heard about the incident and feared offending Joshua.


    Unaware of any issue with the drinks from the previous night, Richard thought Joshua was the only one


    who had been affected.


    Joshua, usually a picture of kindness and amiability, now had a stern expression, his presence


    Watching Richard down three shots of strong alcohol, Joshua''s eyes were cold and piercing, "Was it


    you who let that woman into the g?"

 Chapter 1088

    Chapter 1088


    If Susan couldn''t get into the g, she wouldn''t be able to work her schemes.


    Joshua believed this wasn''t just Susan acting on her own¡ªit was an organized conspiracy at y.


    Richard suppressed the burn of the whiskey in his mouth and, with earnestness, addressed Joshua, ¡°At


    vintage collectibles. An amateur like Susan? I didn''t invite her at all. Upon investigation, I found that our


    hotel''s receptionist gave her the invitation and even provided a room key behind our backs. We''ve


    taken care of the receptionist."


    "What''s in it for a receptionist to do something like that for another woman?" Joshua asked, his


    expression darkening.


    Joshua had been living abroad and seldom returned home, and each time he did, he encountered such


    incidents. He couldn''t help but suspect someone was scheming against him in the shadows.


    "I''ve looked into it," Richard continued. "Susan, though not a big name in the modeling scene, doesn¡¯t


    hold back when ites to her entourage. She even has a personal assistant, who happens to be the


    receptionist¡¯s boyfriend. She''s been squeezing the poor guy, holding back three months'' worth of his


    sry, promising payment if he helped her pull off her little stunt this time."


    So, Susan''s assistant conspired with his girlfriend to secure Susan an invitation to the g, and even


    This is the property of N?-velDrama.Org.


    Joshua''s room key.


    "How are you going to deal with the receptionist and the assistant?" Joshua asked, his gaze icy.


    "The receptionist was fired and lost a quarter''s wages. We''ve gone to the police to start legal


    proceedings, using her of leaking trade secrets, her boyfriend of instigation, and we''re nning to


    take Susan down with them." Richard revealed, hisst statement hanging tentatively.


    After all, Joshua had been involved with Susan, and suing her would risk exposingst night''s affair


    since the police would need to collect evidence and understand the full context.


    Richard was uncertain whether Joshua was willing to disclose the events ofst night to the police.


    "Dealing with the leakage of trade secrets is manageable. As for Susan, I''ll handle her myself," Joshua


    said firmly.


    Richard nodded, understanding, "Alright, Mr. Joshua, rest assured, this breach of customer


    confidentiality by our staff will be taken very seriously. We will definitely give you a satisfactory


    resolution."


    With that, Richard went to pour more whiskey into Joshua''s ss.


    Joshua nced at the amber liquid and said, "No more drink for me. I have a flight to catch soon."


    After the mishap followingst night''s drinking, how could he not learn his lesson?


    Richard paused, bottle in hand, and looked at Joshua with concern. "Mr. Joshua, you''re heading


    back?"


    "I''ve been dyed two days already. I need to attend a meeting with Mr. Falconer," Joshua said,


    without touching his food.


    Richard expressed his regret, "I''ve let you down, Mr. Joshua. You''vee all this way to find that jade


    bead, yet I haven''t been able to locate it. But don''t worry; now that you''ve sent me the picture, I will do


    everything in my power to find it and will contact you as soon as I have it."


    "Then I''ll have to trouble you with it," Joshua replied without ceremony.


    When it came to finding antiques in the country, only Richard had the right connections and direction.


    "You''re too polite, Mr. Joshua," Richard said.


    Joshua stood up, "I should go; my driver is waiting outside."


    "Let me walk you out," Richard said, rising to see Joshua off.


    ...


    In the hospital bed, Thssay restlessly, her thoughts lingering on her little ones, wondering if they


    had already gone to bed.


    At dusk, Evelyn and Hertha brought her food and assisted her with a bath. Evelyn insisted on staying


    the night to take care of her.


    Thssa told her to go home and rest, emphasizing that she was only on bed rest, notpletely


    immobile.


    Unable to argue, Evelyn agreed to leave, promising to return in the morning. As for Hertha, she had


    work the next day and also left.

 Chapter 1089

    Chapter 1089


    Alone in her hospital room, Thssay back against a stack of pillows, her gaze fixed on the ceiling


    as she tried to summon sleep. Despite the day''s exhaustion and the relief of having her IV drip finally


    N?velDrama.Org: owner of this content.


    removed, sleep remained elusive.


    Suddenly, a noise at the door startled her. After everything she had been through, her senses were on


    high alert. Tension gripped her as she called out, "Who''s there?"


    The door swung open, spilling a sliver of light from the hallway into the dim room, casting a gentle glow


    around the edges of the darkness.


    A tall, imposing figure stood in the doorway, silhouetted against the light. The man was dressed in a


    tailored ck suit, with matching trousers and shirt that entuated hismanding presence.


    Even in silence, Lysander''s aura was palpable¡ªhis mere presence seemed to fill the room with a


    deep, oppressive force.


    Thssa held her breath as she recognized Lysander''s striking good looks, his sharp features causing


    her heart to flutter uncontrobly.


    What could he want at thiste hour?


    The memory of his anger earlier that day, his fingers tight on her chin, made her grip the sheets in


    nervous anticipation.


    Lysander advanced into the room without turning on the lights, stopping beside Thssa''s bed. The


    weight of his presence was overwhelming, and she stiffened, watching him warily as he loomed over


    her.


    He reached out a hand, and in a panic, Thssa turned her head away, desperate to avoid his touch.


    Lysander''s hand paused momentarily, his piercing gaze locking onto her. Eventually, he gently used his


    index finger to coax her face back toward him, while his thumb tenderly traced over the bruised skin of


    her chin.


    The rough touch of his thumb, warm against her skin, made the sore area throb with a mixture of pain


    and a strange heat, as if igniting a fire within her.


    Her voice tight with caution, Thssa demanded, "Lysander, what do you think you''re doing?"


    Sensing her guarded tone, Lysander''s eyes softened with a hint of concern. "Does it hurt?" he asked,


    looking directly into her eyes.


    Thssa was taken aback. She had expected another outburst from him, not this low, maic voice


    inquiring about her pain.


    Did he not know how much force he had used, and how much it had hurt her?


    Annoyed, she retorted, "Why don''t you try it yourself and find out?"


    Lysander hesitated, then took her hand in his.


    Her wrist caught in his firm grasp, Thssa tried to pull away, her voice rising in rm, "What are you


    doing?"


    But Lysander was unyielding, lifting her hand to his chin and instructing her in a husky voice, "Go on,


    squeeze. Use all your strength. Let me feel it."


    Thssa''s eyes widened in disbelief, her fingers involuntarily gripping his chiseled jawline, which


    exuded a raw, masculine charm.


    She knew that no matter how hard she tried, she was unlikely to cause him any difort. Trying to


    pinch him would only be masochistic.


    With a swift motion, Thssa pulled her hand back. "Leave me be. I want to sleep!"


    "You don''t want to see me?" Lysander queried, a tinge of something indefinable in his voice.

 Chapter 1090

    Chapter 1090


    Thssa thought to herself that at least he had the decency to realize she didn''t want to see him.


    If he knew that, why didn''t he leave?


    Impatiently, Thssa reached out to push him away, "Scram, will you?"


    But he caught her hand in hisrge grip, and with a gentle pull, she found herself spun around into the


    fortress of his chest. His broad torso enveloped her with a powerful and secure embrace.


    His dominant presence, the distinctly masculine scent of him, seeped into Thssa''s being, causing


    her heart to race like a deer caught in headlights.


    In that moment, Thssa''sposure shattered. She tried to pull her hand free while awkwardly


    leaning back, attempting to put some distance between them.


    Lysander, however, took a step forward, one foot on the bed, the other still on the floor, leaning over


    her.


    Overwhelmed by his forceful demeanor and strength, Thssa found herself lying back on the bed.


    Lysander hovered over her, his deep-set eyes locking onto her flustered gaze, "What are you hiding?"


    His voice, low and maically intimidating, made her heart shrink in fear.


    A frown creased Thssa''s forehead, sensing trouble, "Hiding? What am I supposed to be hiding?"


    "Rather be misunderstood than exin? You''d let them think the child isn''t mine instead of rifying


    who''s been taking the birth control! What exactly are you trying to hide?" Lysander''s question was


    direct, his index finger pressing against her cheek, indenting the soft flesh and forcing her to face him,


    leaving no room for evasion.


    Thssa''s pupils dted, her heart tightened, the uneasy premonition now a loud rm in her head.


    Had he discovered her mother''s secret? Being vited by Bruce was a devastating blow to her mother,


    but for Lysander, would he mock her? Take perverse pleasure in her pain?


    After all, Bruce was the man responsible for the death of Lysander''s parents, and her mother had, in


    her youth, genuinely loved Bruce, even shared intimate moments with him.


    The irony of being assaulted by a past lover in herter years would seem like a cruel joke to most.


    This is property ? N?velDrama.Org.


    Thssa feared Lysander''s potential mockery, his schadenfreude, and the psychological toll it could


    take on her mother. That''s why she had gone to such lengths to keep the secret from him.


    "The pills were mine! I mistook them for vitamin tablets and took them by ident!" Thssa insisted,


    her eyes pleading as she tried to maintain herposure.


    Her story remained consistent.


    But she heard Lysander let out a scornful chuckle, "Really? Before the night you and your mother


    moved to Central Ring Vi, Bruce showed up at Vibrant Oasis Residences. Stayed for over forty


    minutes. Was he just discussing life and dreams with your mother?"


    He had investigated and discovered that Bruce was at Vibrant Oasis Residences that day!


    Thssa''s mind went nk with panic; her eyes widened as she stared at Lysander, hismanding


    presence pinning her down, an invisible force sapping her strength.


    Breathing heavily from fear, she looked into his steady, certain eyes.


    He had pieced it together - the contraception was for Evelyn, confirming an encounter between her and


    Bruce.


    No more words from her could change his mind; he was only waiting for her to admit the truth about


    Evelyn and Bruce.


    Thssa felt a crushing despair, her vision clouding with darkness. She took a breath, closed her eyes,


    then opened them again to meet Lysander''s intense gaze, her voice trembling.


    "It was my mother who took them. I just wanted to protect her, that''s all. I''m begging you, please don''t


    let this get out."

 Chapter 1091

    Chapter 1091


    Lysander wielded a formidable force, his power and influence far surpassing her capacity to challenge.


    Every attempt to stand against him left her battered and bruised. Her only recourse was to humble


    herself and plead for her mother''s safety.


    With all her might, she guarded a secret desperately, as if she had spun a cocoon to protect herself


    and her mother within its silken threads. However, Lysander effortlessly tore through its fragile shell,


    leaving her exposed and vulnerable, as if caught in the harsh re of a spotlight- naked and


    defenseless.


    His gaze bore into her- a chilling blend of beauty and severity, as if he could peer into the very depths


    This is the property of N?-velDrama.Org.


    of her soul through the windows of her clear, frightened eyes. Thssa''s heart fluttered with panic, her


    breath trembling as despair took hold. Then, breaking the silence, Lysander''s voice, deep and


    resonant, entered the scene.


    "I could keep your secret," he said, "but what''s in it for me?"


    Thssa blinked, her gaze locking onto his - a collision with his deep, probing eyes that seemed to


    threaten to swallow her whole.


    Her heart skipped a beat at his insatiable look, well aware of the predatory hunger it disguised. With


    her pulse erratic, she swallowed hard, feeling the air around her grow colder as she spoke, "I could


    bear you a child. Isn''t that benefit enough?"


    "I''m talking about right now," he growled, his Adam''s apple bobbing with the gravel in his voice.


    Understanding his meaning, Thssa knew it was better to steer the situation than to let him take the


    reins in a frenzy. Straightening up, she pressed a brief, deliberate kiss on his lips and pushed away,


    "There''s your benefit."


    Before she could retreat, Lysander''s firm grip encased the back of her head, tilting her face up for


    another forceful kiss. His lips imed hers with fervor.


    "Mmm..." Her breath was stolen as his lips locked onto hers, sending electric shivers through her


    senses. His breath, hot andmanding, filled her lungs, owning her every inhtion.


    The kiss was intense and wild, as if he wished to meld her into his very being.


    Initially, Thssa thought to resist, but as oxygen grew scarce and her mind foggy, her body softened,


    sumbing to his will.


    Lysander''s kisses softened until she gasped for air, and only then did he release her. His lips grazed


    her ear in a whisper, "There''s no need to hide from me."


    His breath was hot and domineering against her skin, causing her to shrink away with a ticklish shiver.


    Instinctively, her arms wrapped around him, her voice quivering, "I had no choice."


    His moist lips trailed from her ear down to her reddened lips, teasing, lingering.


    His voice, raspy like the tide, broke the silence, "Your mother and Bruce were always entwined in such


    affairs. Why the desperate secrecy?"


    His words snapped Thssa back to reality, her hazy gaze snapping open, heart sinking.


    A cold dread spread from within, her limbs chilling.


    Lysander genuinely believed that her mother and Bruce had always shared such a rtionship,


    considering whatever happened to be the consequences of their own actions.


    Deep down, he scorned and ridiculed her mother.


    Thssa cupped his face, gently pushing him away to halt his advances. Her eyes, now lucid and filled


    with sorrow, met his.


    "The child within me is fragile, and I must avoid any further tumult. Please, go back to the little ones


    waiting for you."

 Chapter 1092

    Chapter 1092


    Lysander gazed into Thssa''s eyes, depths swirling with a kind of moist turbulence.


    His voice was husky as water, his lips grazing hers with the teasing promise of a predator before the


    pounce¡ªsensual, dangerous, deadly.


    "What''s running through that pretty little head of yours? Did I say I was going to do anything?"


    Lysander''s virile scent wrapped around Thssa''s lips, making her body shiver.


    She clutched at his shirt, her fingers gripping the fabric over his chest. "Aren''t you just torturing


    yourself?"


    ying with fire and yet not allowing themselves to get burned, wasn''t he the one who would suffer?


    Men usually bear the brunt of these half-finished games.


    "I''m quite content," Lysander murmured before catching her flushed lip between his teeth, his breath


    growing heavy.


    Thssa trembled under his teasing, a delicious sensation uncontrobly spreading throughout her


    body, making her breathing tighten.


    "If you don''t get back, the kids will start their fussing again. If you took them away just to make them


    unhappy, then you might as well give them back to me." Her voice wavered, betraying a softness she


    hadn''t noticed.


    Lysander bit her lip a little harder, a punitive nip.


    "Ouch..." Thssa winced, her body contracting as she red at him.


    "What devious thoughts are you entertaining now, hm?" His deep, intense gaze seemed to punish as it


    bore down on her.


    Thssa''s eyes were bright, brimming with defiance as she met his gaze. "When have I ever


    entertained devious thoughts?"


    "Give the kids back to you so you can continue to run away with them?" Lysander''s voice drew out the


    question provocatively.


    She paused, her determined gaze flickering, blinking rapidly. "That''s not what I was thinking."


    "It better not be," Lysander said, his index finger tilting her chin upward.


    "Don''t change the subject. I want you to go back. As their mother, I''d have to be hospitalized to not be


    with them, and with you, their father, not at home, they''ll be distressed." Thssa''s heart clenched at


    the thought of her little ones with teary eyes, crying for their parents.


    "Don''t worry, they''re already asleep," Lysander finally addressed her concern directly.


    "Asleep?" Thssa was surprised.


    "Mhm." Lysander''s voice was so low and maic that it seemed to drip with honey, his eyes lingering


    on her blushing lips, her sea-ss eyes, her pale cheeks. His Adam''s apple bobbed.


    Thssa was damnably enticing; he wanted nothing more than to devour this little temptress, to show


    her his strength, to make her soft, to make her cry.


    However, remembering the child she carried, he forcefully curbed the heat coursing through him, the


    pounding in his chest.This is property ? N?velDrama.Org.


    "I still need an answer to my earlier question," Lysander''s deep gaze softened as he looked into her


    eyes.


    Thssa''s pupils flickered, her heart skipping a beat.


    She didn''t speak immediately; instead, she held his gaze steadily. His chiseled face was enigmatic in


    the dim light, his expression serious and intense.


    It seemed she had no escape from his question.


    Had she tried to sidestep the topic only to be cornered?


    Did he really want to see her squirm, to have her reveal her mother''s involvement with Bruce?


    "I respect my mother''s wishes," Thssa replied, her gaze dropping, no longer meeting his.


    "Are you afraid that I might find out?" Lysander''s finger continued to lift her chin, forcing her to look at


    him, refusing to let her hide.

 Chapter 1093

    Chapter 1093


    ¡°Yes, after all, she''s the kids'' grandma. I was worried that if you find out she''s still tangled up with


    Bruce, you''d cut her out of their lives in a heartbeat,¡± Thssa said, summoning the courage to lock


    eyes with Lysander, her grip on his shirt tightening once more.


    Lysander, currently under the impression that his mother''s affair with Bruce was nothing more than a


    consensual fling, already looked down on her with such contempt, ridiculing her.


    What would his reaction be if he knew the truth that his mother had been assaulted by Bruce? Would


    he actually apud such a horror?


    Confronting Lysander, Thssa''s heart ached with a pain that was all too familiar.


    As her daughter, she felt powerless to protect her own mother, unable to defend her against the


    mockery and scorn.


    Lysander''s influence was colossal, towering, and omnipotent. Defying him could result in him ensuring


    she''d never see her four children again within minutes.


    Torn between defending her mother''s honor and securing visitation rights for her little ones, Thssa


    struggled to navigate both ends, gasping for air as if drowning.


    ¡°If you know, why on earth would you let her be involved with him?¡± Lysander''s gaze chilled


    considerably, his presence bing suffocating.


    Thssa felt a stabbing pain in her heart.


    Would her mother or she ever want anything to do with Bruce if it were up to them? They wished he''d


    just disappear, never to cross paths with that vile man again.


    However, Bruce had assaulted her mother, even recorded it, nearly driving her mother to her grave.


    With that video, Bruce had held a noose around her mother''s neck, a constant threat. Though the video


    was gone, the psychological scars it left on Evelyn remained.


    Thssa had to tread carefully, knowing a single misstep could trigger her mother¡¯s trauma. She


    couldn¡¯t allow such a thing to happen; the sheer terror of potentially losing her mother again was too


    great.


    The secret had to be kept at all costs, hidden from the prying eyes of the world.


    ¡°Speak up!¡± Lysander''s voice was low and pressing when she didn''t respond immediately.


    Thssa snapped back to reality, her delicate brows knitting together. ¡°I can''t control that. It''s my


    mother''s choice, and I don''t fully understand it, just like I don''t understand you. You hate me, hate that


    I''m Bruce''s daughter. You could easily abandon me, yet you insist on keeping me close!¡±


    Her words struck a nerve, and Lysander''s aura turned frigid in an instant. His eyes narrowed, sharp as


    a hawk''s, locking onto her with a predatory intensity.


    Caught in his gaze, Thssa felt panic rising. ¡°Did I say something wrong?¡±


    Lysander clenched his jaw, his masseter muscles tensing with the effort. ¡°There wille a day!¡±


    With those words, he released her chin, stood up, and left the hospital room. His retreating figure was


    as cold and sharp as a de, his presence dominating and intimidating.


    Thssa watched him go, her breath trembling.


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    ¡°When he says there wille a day, does he mean the day he''ll finally cast me aside without a


    second thought?¡±


    She longed for that day, knowing that separating from Lysander would mean regaining control over her


    own life. All she hoped for was the chance to still see her children once she was free.


    Her attempt to escape had been resolute, yet Lysander had managed to drag her back.


    And now, discovering she was pregnant, he even dared to doubt the paternity of the child!


    Lysander¡¯s attitude and actions chilled her to the bone, making her even more aware that she and


    Lysander were never meant to walk the same path. They could never be together.

 Chapter 1094

    Chapter 1094


    Three dayster, Thssa was discharged from the hospital. She headed to the office, feeling guilty for


    having missed several days of work.


    Ethan hummed a tune while passed by the secretary''s office on his way to his own workspace.


    Suddenly, he stopped, doubled back, and leaned against the door frame, eyes wide with surprise as he


    spotted Thssa inside. "Well, I''ll be damned, Thssa, you''re actually back at work?"


    At the sound of his voice, Thssa turned to see Ethan with an astonished look on his face. She


    sheepishly said, "I skipped work for four days, Mr. Ethan. Feel free to deduct whatever amount from my


    sry, no need to hold back."


    Ethan chuckled as he sauntered in, casually crossing his arms over his chest. He leaned back against


    her desk and looked at her, "You call that skipping work? More like sending me on a roller coaster of


    emotions."


    Thssa''s sudden disappearance with her children and the global manhunt initiated by Lysander had


    scared the daylights out of Ethan. If she hadn''t been found, Lysander would''vee knocking,


    demanding answers from him. As her employer, it was his responsibility to keep track of her


    whereabouts.


    If Lysander had set his sights on Ethan for answers, he might''ve ended up like David, who had


    somehow crossed Lysander and got shipped off to Afrnd. Just the thought made Ethan shudder;


    David''s month-long ordeal in Afrnd was an unforgettable experience given the merciless conditions.


    Ethan was well aware of the consequences of crossing Lysander¡ªconsequences that remained


    unknown yet all the more threatening.


    Hearing the implications in Ethan''s words, Thssa understood the extent of Lysander''s influence and


    domination. If she had truly managed to escape, Ethan and everyone else connected to her would


    have been dragged into the mire.


    With a tinge of regret, Thssa said, "I''m sorry, Ethan. Next time I n on running away, I''ll make sure


    to resign first."


    Ethan nearly lost it, straightening up with a mix of horror and humor in his wide-open eyes. "You think


    there will be a next time? Aren''t you scared that your dear Lysander will just lock down the entire world


    in response?"


    Thssa believed Lysander had the means to do that. With more than one private jet at his disposal


    and an entire airport of airlines under his thumb, there wasn''t much he couldn''t do.


    During her hospital stay, as shey in bed reflecting, she had an epiphany regarding a question that


    had been bothering her. She had wondered how Lysander pinpointed their flight to Weston Country,


    especially when Atticus had deleted all surveince footage of their route to the airport, and Callum''s


    friend had gotten them on the ne without leaving a trace. It hit her one night¡ªthe overly enthusiastic


    Belongs ? to N?velDrama.Org.


    stewardess on the ne who had asked about her quadruplets.


    Lysander must have instructed major airlines to keep an eye out for passengers, with the key detail


    being quadruplets. A sighting of quadruplets on a flight would lead straight to her and her children.


    After all, the odds of quadruplets appearing on a flight on that particr night were slim to none. Once


    spotted, it would undoubtedly be her and the kids.


    Seeing Ethan''s mix of shock and relief, Thssa offered a smile, though only she understood the


    bitterness and self-deprecation hidden within it.


    "When did Lysander be ''my dear'', Ethan?" she quipped lightly.


    "He''s the father of your children, if not yours, whose else could he be?" Ethan replied matter-of-factly.


    Thssa''s smile lingered, though it did not reach her eyes. "You''re from the same elite circles, Ethan.


    How many heirs have children with women outside their social sphere yet share their lives with


    someone else? Not to mention the countless ordinary folks who have children together yet lead


    separate lives."


    "Lysander is not like those yboys," Ethan stated without a second thought.


    "And how is he different?" Thssa challenged.


    "You''ve been by Lysander''s side for so long; haven''t you noticed anything different about him? Have


    you ever seen any other woman near him?" Ethan countered.


    As Lysander''s friend, Ethan was convinced of his loyalty and integrity; Lysander wasn''t the type to love


    lightly.

 Chapter 1095

    Chapter 1095


    Before Thssa entered the picture, Lysander had his fair share of admirers, but he never spared


    them a second nce.


    Once Thssa appeared, she became the sole focus of his attention.


    Could she really not see it?


    Thssa lowered hershes thoughtfully and replied, "What about Charlotte or Faye? Weren''t they


    both interested in him?"


    "Charlotte, riding on the coattails of her grandfather''s casual remarks and her ties to the Ravensong


    family board, has always paraded around Lysander like she''s already won him over. But has Lysander


    ever given her the time of day? And Faye, who has secretly pined for Lysander for a decade and stuck


    by his side for years¡ªif Lysander had any interest in her, do you think she''d have been let go so


    easily?" Ethan challenged.


    "And how do you know Faye hasn''t been in Lysander''s bed? How can you be certain that Lysander


    fired her not because shepromised hispany''s interests? Or maybe Lysander just got bored of


    her," Thssa asked with a calm demeanor.


    Lysander was a man who prioritized his interests above all else. If anyone threatened those, he''d cut


    ties without a second thought, regardless of past affections.


    Take Leopold, for instance. After that smartphone debacle, Lysander insisted that Leopold take full


    responsibility for the mishap, despite Leopold''s argument that it was the Sinir group''s product and


    therefore their issue to address.


    Lysander refused to ept that it was the Sinir group''s liability, and it ended up driving Leopold to


    his grave!


    Leopold was Lysander''s own nephew, and if he could be that ruthless with family, what chance did an


    unrted woman stand?


    He could cast someone aside without batting an eye.


    The thought of Leopold pained Thssa''s heart.


    "You..." Ethan was taken aback by Thssa''s misconceptions about Lysander.


    After a moment of surprise, he chuckled, "It seems you really don''t know Lysander. You haven''t been


    around him long enough."


    Not enough time to grasp Lysander''s true nature.


    "I don''t know him," Thssa admitted.


    Lysander was enigmatic, moody, and unpredictable. How could she truly grasp his character?


    Belongs ? to N?velDrama.Org.


    "Alright, take your time to figure him out," Ethan nodded, casually slipping one hand into his pocket and


    letting the other hang at his side before turning to leave the office.


    Halfway out, he paused, looked back at Thssa, and teased, "Just don''t get any more bright ideas


    about running off, ''Your Highness.''"


    Thssa was at a loss for words.


    Calling her ''Your Highness,'' Ethan must have been really spooked.


    "Understood, ''Big Shot,''" Thssa retorted.


    Ethan stopped in his tracks and chuckled, "Taking advantage of me, are you?"


    "Not at all. Someone has to respond to the titles Mr. Ethan dishes out," Thssa replied with mock


    seriousness.


    Ethan nodded, "Good. Still got some sass in you. I guess Lysander hasn''t punished you after all."


    "You''re mistaken, Mr. Ethan. I''m just making the best of a bad situation. Can''t go around with a sour


    face all the time," Thssa rified.


    Lysander''s temper was notorious, and she had nearly suffered a miscarriage due to his punishment.


    "I''ve noticed you''ve picked up some cunning tactics, getting more and more like Lysander by the day.


    You two really do act like an old married couple," Ethan remarked.

 Chapter 1096

    Chapter 1096


    Ethan finished speaking and swiftly exited the office, his presence fading like thest rays of dusk.


    Thssa''s smile, a mere whisper on her lips, dissolved into the air, leaving behind a gaze heavy with


    unspoken sorrows.


    Only she knew the painful truth hidden within her heart - she and Lysander were like parallel lines in a


    geometry book, never destined to meet.


    Thssa hadpleted all the previous tasks, and now, as she officially started her work, she found


    herself with little to do.


    Seated before herputer, she felt adrift in a sea of boredom, the hours stretching out like an endless


    prairie.


    In the afternoon, her lull was broken by Ethan''s return, bearing new instructions.


    "Thssa, we areunching a campaign for ourtest smartphone. There''s a shoot scheduled at six at


    the ad agency''s studio. I need you to deliver the prototype," Ethan instructed.


    "Sure thing," Thssa replied, her voice a mixture of obedience and zeal.


    With a burst of newfound energy, she grabbed the sleek new device and hailed a cab to the ad agency.


    Inside the studio, the air buzzed with artistic fervor. Photographers fiddled with lighting, makeup artists


    painted faces with the precision of Renaissance painters, and the set crew choreographed the space


    with practiced ease.


    Unnoticed, Thssa entered the scene, her presence blending into the whirlwind of activity like an


    invisible ghost.


    If she remained ignored, unable to pass on the prototype or convey Mr. Ethan''s specific instructions,


    particrly emphasizing the phone''s camera capabilities, she would fail in her mission.


    Clearing her throat, she announced, "Hello everyone, you all seem incredibly busy. I''m Thssa from


    Crawley Electronics, Mr. Ethan''s assistant. I''ve brought the new smartphone prototype for today''s


    shoot."


    Her voice cut through themotion, turning heads and drawing eyes toward her.


    From invisible to center stage, Thssa suddenly found herself bathed in the spotlight. She greeted


    the curious nces with a nod and a smile, her cheeks warming with the sudden attention.


    "Ah, you''re Mr. Ethan''s assistant? Ms. Everhart, our director is just in the lounge. I''ll take you to him,"


    offered the photographer, setting aside his camera to guide her with polite attentiveness.


    Gratefully, Thssa followed. However, as she moved through the studio, a prickling sensation crawled


    up her spine, giving her the eerie feeling of being watched. ncing back, she found everyone once


    again immersed in their tasks. Shrugging off the feeling, she chalked it up to her nerves.


    In the lounge, Thssa conveyed Ethan''s requests to the director, who wore a smile as polished as his


    words.


    "Conveying through intermediaries can muddy the message. How about this, Ms. Everhart? Stay and


    oversee the shoot yourself. That way, we can ensure all of Mr. Ethan''s requirements are met. What do


    you say?" the director suggested.


    His smile hinted at his true intent- to avoid any me should the final ad not meet Crawley''s high


    standards. By inviting her to direct, any potential fault could be deftly passed onto her.


    She knew the game well¡ªthe corporate chessboard where every yer was a master of their craft.


    With a professional smile, Thssa responded, "Zane, I''m happy to offer guidance, but keep in mind


    This is the property of N?-velDrama.Org.


    that I''m an assistant, not an ad guru. I can instruct on how to highlight the phone''s features, but the


    nuances of advertising¡ªthe model''s charisma, the angles, and overall impact¡ªare in your domain."


    She would weave Mr. Ethan''s vision into the ad, but if professional issues arose, they would rest


    squarely on the agency''s shoulders.


    Thssa wasn''t about to shoulder me that wasn''t hers to bear.


    "Of course, we''re professionals here. We''ll handle the professional aspects," Zane agreed with a


    confident nod.


    With an understanding reached, Thssa stayed, immersing herself in the world of ad production.

 Chapter 1097

    Chapter 1097


    Zane ushered Thssa into the photo studio.


    The crew had everything set up and ready to roll. The makeup artist had worked her magic on the


    models, who were now being directed by the photographer to take their ces on the set, posing with


    smartphones in hand.


    The moment the model stepped onto the stage, the spotlights hit her face, revealing a heavyyer of


    foundation that sat on her skin like a freshly stered wall. Her eyelids were painted in stark yellow and


    green, hershes as long as paintbrush bristles, and her lips were coated in a garish shade of red.


    She looked more like a clown than anything else, and the bright lights only intensified the effect, casting


    a ghoulish aura around her. Her natural features were buried beneath the makeup; it was impossible to


    discern what she actually looked like.


    Thssa caught sight of the model and blinked in shock. "Is this really the look for a smartphone ad?


    It''s downright terrifying," she whispered to Zane.


    "You don''t know the half of it," Zane replied with a grin. "Our tagline this time is: ''Don''t judge until you


    see the whole picture. With a Crawley smartphone, you capture the real you!''"


    Half-understanding, Thssa mused, "So, the model will wash off the makeup to reveal her true self


    This is the property of N?-velDrama.Org.


    Zane gave her a thumbs-up. "Ms. Everhart, sharp as ever."


    Thssa chuckled but remained silent. Advertising wasn''t her forte, and she preferred not toment


    further.


    The shoot kicked off with the model making all sorts of exaggerated,ical faces that could make


    one question the meaning of life. Suddenly, someone tossed her the new Crawley smartphone. She


    examined the phone briefly.


    "Cut! That''s a wrap for the clown makeup. Let''s go for a more natural look," the photographer


    announced.


    The makeup artist sprang into action, removingyers of makeup and prepping the model for her next


    appearance. It was only then that Thssa could see the model''s true appearance.


    And what a surprise it was¡ªSusan! Thssa had been in the studio for two hours and only now


    recognized the model as Susan!


    As Thssa observed Susan on the stage, their eyes met. Susan''s gaze was filled with resentment


    and malice, but it vanished as quickly as it appeared, leaving one to wonder if it was just an illusion.


    But Thssa knew better. Given the tension between them, it was a miracle they hadn''te to blows.


    Susan''s spiteful stare was to be expected.


    It seemed Thssa''s earlier feeling of unease wasn''t imagined¡ªit was Susan''s watchful eyes on her.


    Intrigued, Thssa wondered why Susan, who usually disyed pride, would willingly take part in an


    ad that portrayed her in an unttering light.


    Soon, the shoot wrapped up, and the photographer dered, "Great work today, everyone. That''s a


    wrap!"


    Thssa was free to leave, but after three hours at the studio and plenty of water, she needed a


    restroom break.


    After freshening up, Thssa returned to wash her hands, only to find Susan at the mirror, touching up


    her makeup.


    Thssa had no intention of interacting with her and reached for the tap. Unexpectedly, a ssh of


    water struck her- the cold droplets shing with her warm skin, causing her to shudder in irritation.


    Thssa shot a re at Susan.


    "Oops, my bad! The tap just went wild, and look, the water sshed right onto you. Oh, I get it now¡ªit


    must''ve been drawn to someone with a... cold demeanor," Susan said with mock surprise, her voice


    dripping with sarcasm before turning dark.


    Fury bubbling, Thssa''s breath grew heavy with anger. She couldn''t stand Susan''s smug expression


    any longer. With a swift motion, her hand flew up and pped Susan squarely across the face.


    The sound of the p echoed through the room, crisp and resounding.

 Chapter 1098

    Chapter 1098


    Susan''s perfectly made-up face was suddenly marred by a fierce p that sent her foundation flying


    like snowkes in the air. A sharp sting radiated across her cheek, and a buzzing filled her head.


    Clutching her face, she red furiously at Thssa, baring her teeth in a snarl, "How dare you hit me!"


    Thssa snorted coldly, grinding her teeth in anger as she retorted, "It''s exactly you I intended to


    smack!"


    She could never forget how Susan had coerced her into spiking a drink, forcing her to deliver the


    tainted cocktail to Lysander in the private booth!


    Just like Bruce, Susan was despicable, using a video of her mother to threaten her. Thssa had long


    wanted to give Susan a piece of her mind for her infuriating arrogance.


    "I''m going to tear you apart, you wretched bitch! How dare youy a hand on me!" Susan shook with


    rage, her hands wed as she lunged toward Thssa, her face twisted with malice.


    But Thssa was prepared for a catfight. As Susan charged, Thssa sidestepped, causing Susan to


    stumble into the void. With a swift motion, Thssa yanked Susan''s hair, tilting her head back sharply.


    "Ah, it hurts, it hurts!"


    The strength Susan gathered to charge at Thssa was released the moment her hair was pulled by


    Thssa, leaving her at Thssa''s mercy, without even a chance to retaliate.


    The pain was so intense Susan thought her scalp might rip off.


    "Say it, who''s the real trash here!" Thssa demanded, her voice heavy with fury.


    Years of physicalbor had given her an edge in strength over the pampereddies. After spending five


    years working the rougher edges of the city, she had encountered her fair share of tough characters.


    Without having honed some serious chops, how could she ever stand up to those fierce women?


    Thssa had mastered the art of keeping her cool under fire, but if someone deliberately picked a


    fight, she was ready to go all in.


    Susan had previously held power over her, wielding thatpromising video as leverage. Thssa


    Belongs ? to N?velDrama.Org.


    hadn''t dared take risks, fearing for her mother''s well-being.


    Now, with the video safely erased by her hands, why would she tolerate Susan''s insolence any longer?


    "It''s you! You''re the trash!" Susan''s breath heaved as she spat out the words defiantly.


    "I wonder if your mouth is as tough as your scalp!" Thssa yanked Susan''s hair again, pulling so hard


    it seemed her scalp mighte off like a wig.


    But Susan''s hair was all too real, and the pain all too acute.


    "Ah, let go! Thssa, you lowlife, I''ll kill you!" Susan''s face contorted with rage, veins bulging on her


    forehead as she tried to w at Thssa.


    Thssa dodged Susan''s iling hands, stepping back and nting a foot on Susan''s lower back,


    pinning her in a helpless arch.


    "Only someone as shameless as you would stoop to any low to get into a man''s bed. And you have the


    nerve to call others names?" Thssa taunted.


    "That''s just any man? That''s Lysander we''re talking about. How many women dream of being with him?


    And aren''t you the same, hanging around him, hoping for scraps of affection?" Susan gasped, caught


    in Thssa''s grip, her back arched painfully.


    "If you think you can, then steal him away!" Thssa gritted her teeth.


    "You think I won''t? Drugging Lysander was just the first step to get closer to him, and I''ll have plenty of


    chances in the future. Your days of arrogance are numbered!" Susan vowed spitefully, maintaining her


    humiliating posture, her gaze fixed venomously on Thssa from her upside down view.


    Closer to Lysander?


    What did she mean?


    Had something actually happened between Susan and Lysander that night?


    Hearing this, Thssa''s heart sank with a pain she tried to ignore, mistaking it as anger towards


    Susan''s shamelessness and brazen tactics.

 Chapter 1099

    Chapter 1099


    ¡°Ain''t this n of yours still up in the air? Don¡¯t get too cocky!"


    Thssa''s anger red in an instant, igniting like a bonfire that had been waiting for a spark. Every


    slight, every insult she had swallowed over the past weeks zed into a fury.


    Just seeing Susan made her blood boil.


    With a sudden move, Thssa grabbed a fistful of Susan''s hair and yanked her down, bending


    Susan''s body further.


    "Ow!" Susan screamed, her back feeling like it was about to snap.


    Thssa smacked the other side of Susan''s cheek, sending her into a daze.


    Thssa hissed through clenched teeth, "I need to teach you a lesson, or you''ll really start thinking


    you''re some kind of royalty!"


    Another p, and Susan''s vision started to blur.


    "That''s for threatening me!"


    A third hitnded, and Susan''s eyes widened in shock, her whole body throbbing in pain.


    "And that''s for calling me names!"


    Thssa raised her hand again.


    Susan, tears streaming down her face, begged for mercy. "Stop, please stop!"


    Thssa paused, her face a mask of cold fury. "Who''s the trash now?"


    Susan, tearful and defeated, had no choice but to admit, "I am... I''m the trash..."


    Her voice broke into sobs.


    Thssa, looking down at Susan''s pathetic act, felt her hatred intensify. Her raised hand trembled with


    tension but she couldn''t hold back and delivered another sharp p. The crying woman''s face went


    nk as she stared at the ceiling in shock.


    Thssa, breathing heavily, let go of Susan''s hair and kicked her away.


    Susan fell to the floor in a heap.


    "If you see me again, you better walk the other way, or it''s going to be a smack down every single


    time!" Thssa threatened.


    Susan, who had always been pampered, trembled with rage. Pointing at Thssa, she hissed, "You''re


    going to regret this. I''ll spread your mom''s scandal all over the inte for everyone to see just how


    trashy she is!"


    Her words stepped on Thssa''s rawest nerve. Thssa lunged at her, grabbing Susan''s hair with one


    hand and squeezing her face with the other, pulling outward.


    "Say one more word, and I''ll tear that mouth of yours apart!" Thssa spat out, her rage barely


    contained.


    Susan wasn''t just insulting her mother; she was threatening her!


    "Ah! Let go, you''re going to split my mouth open..." Susan''s cheeks were painfully gripped by


    Thssa''s fierce hands, stretching her mouth so wide it felt like it would tear.


    "That mouth of yours never has anything good toe out of it; maybe it would be better torn apart!"


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    Thssa''s grip tightened, her hand shaking with fury.


    Her rage had reached its peak.

 Chapter 1100

    Chapter 1100


    Thssa had said it inly enough, but her actions could only cause Susan pain without actually


    tearing her mouth.


    If her intent was genuine, she would''ve grabbed each side with her hands and yanked outward with all


    her might, easily tearing it.


    "Thssa, you''ve lost it! Let go of me!" Susan''s teeth chattered with pain, yet her defiance was


    unyielding.


    "I''ve gone mad, sure, but killing you wouldn''t even be a crime!" Thssa yanked Susan''s head back by


    her hair with one hand while the other wed at her face, pulling hard.


    Susan''s face, already stinging from a prior p, throbbed with pain as Thssa''s fury became evident.


    If Susan didn''t back down, Thssa might actually follow through with her threat.


    Susan was a master of deception and maniption, skilled at taking verbal hits if it meant securing her


    own safety.


    "I''m sorry, I''m so sorry," she blurted, trying to appease Thssa. "You''re the bigger person here, don''t


    stoop to my level. I swear, I won''t breathe a word of this to my dad. If he asks about my injuries, I''ll just


    say it was a workce spat, you know, just colleagues shing."


    Thssa''s rage cooled slightly upon hearing the plea, and she released Susan. She dusted off her


    hands with a look of revulsion, as if Susan herself was filth.


    Thssa snorted contemptuously, sparing Susan onest nce before striding out of the restroom.


    Her disgust for Susan was genuine, as was her rage. Yet Thssa wasn''t irrational enough tomit


    a crime of passion. Killing Susan would only bring her own downfall.


    She was a mother, a daughter, loved and needed by many. She couldn''t afford to make a mistake that


    would devastate her family.


    So, no matter how much she loathed Susan, Thssa restrained herself from causing serious harm.


    Susan''s chest heaved with rage, her eyes zing as she watched Thssa''s retreating figure. Her


    hands clenched so tightly on the cold marble floor that her nails screeched, the pain going unnoticed.


    The searing pain on her face and head,pounded by her inner turmoil, was close to breaking her.


    How could she register the pain in her hands when her entire being was ame with fury?


    After Thssa left, Susan let out a feral scream, "Ah! Thssa, I will destroy you!"


    Struggling to her feet, she caught her reflection in the mirror, observing her disheveled appearance.


    Her cheeks bore the stark imprint of Thssa''s hand, swollen like a butchered pig.


    The sight fueled her rage even further, her breathsing in sharp gasps.


    This was just her bad luck- not only stooping to some demeaningmercial for a quick buck but also


    running into Thssa of all people.


    What a curse!


    Meanwhile, Thssa stormed out of the advertising agency, heading for the curb to hail a cab when


    her phone rang.


    It was Lysander.


    Her heart skipped a beat; even a call from him felt oppressive.


    Frowning, she answered, "What''s up?"


    She fought to keep her voice level to hide the anger that still simmered within.


    "Something wrong? You sound upset," Lysander''s deep voice came through the phone, concerncing


    his words.


    Thssa was taken aback for a moment, then chuckled. He was probably worried about the baby, not


    her. She couldn''t forget how coldly he''d treated her when he doubted the child was his, devoid of any


    "No, everything''s fine. What do you need?" Her tone was cool, almost distant.


    Content held by N?velDrama.Org.


    After Evelyn imed to have seen Susan leaving Lysander''s room, Thssa had her suspicions but


    wasn''t certain of any indiscretion between them.


    However, after Susan''s tant admission today, Thssa knew without a doubt¡ªthey slept together.


    At that moment, she felt a blend of anger, sorrow, and a burning sense of betrayal.


    She wasn''t sure if her outburst at Susan was more about the insult to her mother - an unforgivable


    transgression - or about Susan''s ims of closeness with Lysander.


    Perhaps, it was both.


    Detecting the coldness in Thssa''s voice, Lysander''s eyebrows drew together slightly, "Who''s got you


    riled up?"

 Chapter 1101

    Chapter 1101


    "No, I wouldn''t dare be upset. I don''t even have the right to be autonomous, let alone get angry. If that''s


    all, I''m going to hang up now."


    "Hold on!" Themanding voice of Lysander boomed through the speaker just in time.


    Thssa gripped her phone tighter, knowing better than to just cut the call abruptly. Taking a deep


    breath to steady herself, she asked, "Is there something else?"


    "Where are you? I''lle get you," Lysander demanded without room for debate.


    "I''m at the Crawley Group, workingte," Thssa blurted out, intending to mislead him before


    promptly ending the call.


    Ever since the cloud pendant, which contained a hidden tracker and was given to her by Lysander, was


    melted down, he could no longer pinpoint her exact location.


    Thssa didn''t want Lysander toe for her; she needed some space to think.


    And why should every aspect of her life be controlled by him?


    After hanging up, she hailed a cab and provided the driver with the address to Star Harbor Vi, eager


    to spend some time with her mother.


    Whenever she felt utterly down, she yearned for thefort of her mother''s shoulder to lean on, to be


    coddled, even if it came with a soft scolding. It still brought her peace of mind.


    At least, she knew she had a mother''s love - the love of someone who truly cared for her.


    Love can indeed heal all wounds, especially the love of parents.


    With parents, life is a source of sce; without them, only the journey remains.


    As long as her mother was with her, she would always be her child, cherished and cared for. If she was


    gone, all that would be left was loneliness and the need for bravery.


    Therefore, she would do anything in her power to protect Evelyn from any distress or harm, ensuring


    that no damaging footage would ever see the light of day.


    Before long, Thssa arrived at Star Harbor Vi. The lights inside were weing.


    Pushing the door open, she found Evelyn sitting motionless on the sofa, lost in thought and visibly


    lonely.


    Her heart ached at the sight.


    "Mom, why are you still up?" Thssa called out gently.


    At the sound of her voice, Evelyn snapped out of her reverie, turning to see her daughter with a sparkle


    returning to her eyes and a smile spreading across her face. "Thssa, you''re back. I thought you


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    were at the Royal Estates tonight."


    During Thssa''s hospital stay, Evelyn had been by her side every day. When Thssa was


    discharged and wanted to get back to work, Evelyn didn''t object. She understood her daughter''sck of


    security; without a job, there would be no ie.


    For someone with nothing else to rely on, the loss of ie could feel like the sky was falling.


    Having waited for Thssa without her returning, Evelyn had assumed she''d gone to the Royal


    Estates. But here she was, home.


    "I skipped the Royal Estates today to be with you," Thssa said with a smile, settling beside her


    mother on the sofa. She wrapped an arm around Evelyn, resting her head in the crook of Evelyn''s arm,


    ying the part of the doting child.


    Evelyn chuckled affectionately. "Look at you, still acting like a little girl."


    "I''ll always be your little girl," Thssa replied with a grin.


    "That''s for sure. Have you had dinner yet?" Evelyn asked, her voice warm with happiness.


    "Not yet. Work rante, and I''m both tired and hungry," Thssa pouted, allowing herself to be her


    most authentic self around her mother.


    "Starving at this hour? I''ll fix you something," Evelyn said as she stood and headed to the kitchen.


    Left alone on the sofa, Thssa fought boredom until her phone buzzed with an iing call.


    It was Lysander.


    She hesitated for a moment before answering.


    Lysander''s deep, cool voice came through, tinged with irritation, "The Crawley Group is empty. Where


    the hell are you?"


    Thssa remained silent, her heart sinking.


    Had he actually gone to the Crawley Group to look for her?

 Chapter 1102

    Chapter 1102


    When Thssa thought about Lysandering to the Crawley Group to pick her up, only to find that


    she wasn''t there, a secret thrill of delight bubbled up inside her. She felt a wicked urge to giggle.


    After all, Lysander was always so domineering; letting him taste defeat once in a while didn''t seem


    such a bad thing.


    But before Thssa''s mirth could fully bloom, the icy tone on the other end of the phone call sent


    shivers down her spine. Even through the digital connection, his authoritative presence was palpable.


    Quickly masking her amusement, Thssa steadied her grip on the phone and cleared her throat,


    "After we hung up, I caught a cab. You didn''t actually go to the Crawley Group, did you? I mean, I


    thought you were kidding. After all, who would presume to trouble a big shot like you for a mere lift?


    That would be downright presumptuous of me!"


    Her words were a deliberate attempt to feign innocence and deflect any me for standing him up. And


    yet, her tone was dripping with irony¡ªnot directed at Lysander, but at herself.


    A man like Lysander, practically royalty in the Starhaven business empire, wouldn''t ordinarily stoop to


    collect someone like her¡ªa mere assistant.


    As Thssa finished her spiel, her phone suddenly felt as cold as ice in her hand. Despite the


    sweltering heat outside, nearing forty degrees, her phone seemed to have plunged to freezing


    temperatures.


    She couldn''t see Lysander''s face, but she could well imagine his menacing scowl and the frosty aura


    surrounding him now.


    Well done, she had managed to infuriate Lysander yet again.


    Feeling the chill creeping through the phone, Thssa''s newfound bravado started to wane, and a hint


    of panic tinged her voice, "Look, I''m already home. If there''s nothing else, I''ll just hang up now."


    Without waiting for a reply, she ended the call.


    Lately, too many things had happened.


    Thssa felt a mix of fear, resentment, and frustration towards Lysander¡ªespecially since he doubted


    the paternity of her unborn child. That single second of suspicion was enough for her to keep her


    distance from him for a lifetime.


    And then there was the affair with Susan. The mere thought of them together in bed made Thssa''s


    skin crawl. It was her fault¡ªshe had been ckmailed by Susan into drugging Lysander, leaving him


    vulnerable at the hotel for Susan to take advantage.


    She knew she couldn''t me Lysander¡ªit was her own wrongdoing¡ªbut the idea of him actually


    being with Susan was suffocating, like a lump of cotton stuck in her chest.


    Out of nowhere, anger red up within her.


    In the past, she never would have dared to hang up on Lysander. But now, weighed down by a


    multitude of troubles, she found herself with a temper to match.


    Inside the Rolls-Royce, Lysander''s presence was chilling to the bone. The temperature in the car


    seemed to plummet in response to his mood. He pulled the phone from his ear and stared at the


    screen.


    She had really hung up on him.


    His handsome face clouded like a stormy winter''s eve, presaging a blizzard.N?velDrama.Org: owner of this content.


    She was growing bolder by the day.


    With a flick of his hand, he tossed the phone onto the seat and ordered the driver, "Let''s go!"


    The driver, trembling with fear, fumbled to start the car. Being in the same space as Mr. Sinir after


    he''d made a call was agonizing. The man''s aura could drop ten degrees with a single word.


    The poor driver was sweating bullets, hoping he wouldn''t end up like David, exiled to some infernal


    outpost in Afrnd.

 Chapter 1103

    Chapter 1103


    The driver''s hands gripped the wheel with white-knuckled intensity, his focus unyielding as he


    navigated the streets with the precision of a seasoned pilot. A single mistake was not an option.


    Meanwhile, Thssa had just finished a phone call and, without Lysander''s icy presence to oppress


    her, she felt an immense sense of relief wash over her.


    Now pregnant, Lysander wouldn''t dare touch her in her condition. This was her chance to turn the


    tables and show him what it felt like to be under someone''s thumb.


    As for the consequences after the baby was born, she''d cross that bridge when she came to it. For


    now, it was all about sweet, sweet vengeance.


    "Thssa, dinner''s ready! Come and eat it while it''s hot," Evelyn called out from the kitchen. Her voice


    carried the warmth of maternal love as she set down a te of spaghetti.


    Thssa turned to see her mother''s kind face and took a deep breath. In her mother¡¯s presence, the


    troubles of the world seemed to melt away, and she was determined not to let anything spoil the cozy


    atmosphere they shared.


    "I''ming!" Thssa replied, standing up and approaching the dinner table. She inhaled the aroma


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    of the spaghetti and grinned. "Mom, it smells amazing. No one can make spaghetti like you. You can''t


    find this kind of deliciousness outside."


    Evelyn blushed with pride at thepliment, though she yfully scolded her daughter with a mock


    stern look. "Oh, stop buttering me up. You think those fancy chefs out there don''t know how to whip up


    a decent dish?"


    "Of course, they don''tpare to you, Mom. Yours has that special touch," Thssa said with a


    giggle, her eyes crinkling into crescents, radiating a yful and endearing charm.


    "Just like you, always charming," Evelynughed. "Eat up, dear. It won''t taste as good once it cools


    down."


    "Alright," Thssa replied and dove into her meal, savoring each bite with audible pleasure.


    But just as she was twirling her second forkful of spaghetti, the doorbell rang, cutting through the cozy


    evening.


    "Who could that be?" Thssa wondered aloud with a hint of suspicion in her voice.


    After everything that had happened, both Thssa and Evelyn were cautious about opening their


    doors.


    Living in Star Harbor Vi, they had their privacy, and few knew where to find them. Unexpected


    visitors at this hour were unusual.


    Could Bruce have discovered their address ande looking for them?


    The thought of Bruce showing up made Thssa''s heart tighten, and her body tensed in defense.


    Evelyn, too, seemed to catch on to the potential danger. Her rxed demeanor shifted to one of panic.


    "What do we do?" she stammered, her hands starting to tremble.


    Seeing her mother so distressed reminded Thssa of the trauma they had both endured. A public


    scandal or any further exposure to Bruce''s torment could break Evelyn.


    Thssa had been working tirelessly to keep their secret safe, even if it meant lying to Lysander.


    Grasping her mother''s hand, Thssa offered reassurance through the warmth and steadiness of her


    own palm. "Mom, stay calm. Sit down, I''ll check who it is. We have a peephole, and we don''t have to


    open the door if we don''t want to. It''s okay."


    Evelyn managed topose herself enough to sit back down, though each chime of the doorbell made


    her visibly anxious.


    Thssa approached the door, her nerves on edge.


    Who could be visiting at thiste hour?


    She tiptoed to the peephole, dreading the sight of someone she despised. Slowly, she peered through


    the small ss lens and found herself staring into a pair of deep, starry eyes set in a striking face¡ªa


    visage that made her heart skip a beat.

 Chapter 1104

    Chapter 1104


    It was Lysander!


    When Thssa caught sight of the figure standing at her door, her heart, which had been pounding in


    her chest, eased for a mere moment before tensing up again.


    His gaze flickered to the peephole as if he could lock eyes with her through the tiny lens. His deep,


    fathomless eyes seemed like pools capable of drawing in one''s very soul.


    The sight sent Thssa''s heart plummeting, panic setting in.


    Quickly stepping down from her tiptoes, she averted her gaze from the peephole, her hand instinctively


    smoothing over the frantic beating of her heart.


    Separated by merely a door, Thssa''s pulse raced like a drum at the proximity of Lysander.


    If she had refused to open the door, it might have further provoked him. He was still polite enough to


    ring the doorbell, but if she hadn¡¯t caught the hint and let him in, it would only take him a second to tear


    the door down.


    Just a door, after all, couldn''t possibly have stood in Lysander''s way.


    Surrendering to the inevitable, Thssa opened the door, revealing the tall,manding figure before


    her. His towering presence immediately filled the space, casting his shadow over Thssa''s petite


    form.


    Her already anxious heart contracted, and she forced a weing smile, unaware of how awkward


    and fearful it appeared.


    "Oh, it''s you, Lysander. What brings you here?"


    His piercing gaze swept over her feigned smile, and he stepped inside.


    Thssa instinctively moved aside, making room for him to pass. As Lysander crossed the threshold,


    the breeze that followed him brushed against Thssa''s face, the sheer force of his presence causing


    her breath to hitch.


    The air felt invaded as he entered, the atmosphere growing tense.


    Evelyn, who had been terrified it might be Bruce at the door, sprang up from her seat upon seeing


    Lysander, masking her fear with a forced warmth. "Lysander, what a surprise.¡±


    Her eyes darted to the dining table, spotting the half-finished bowl of spaghetti Thssa had left


    untouched.


    Trying to be hospitable, she offered, "Have you had dinner yet? Thssa hasn''t finished hers, and


    there''s more in the pot. Would you like me to fix you a bowl?"


    Before Evelyn could get an answer, Thssa interjected, "Oh, it''ste; Mr. Sinir must have already


    dined. Besides, a simple bowl of spaghetti hardly suits Mr. Sinir''s refined pte, right, Mr. Sinir?"


    Thssa stepped forward, positioning herself in front of Evelyn as if to shield her from any fallout of


    Lysander''s potential wrath.


    Her words, though gentle and seemingly supportive of Lysander, carried subtle tones of mockery upon


    closer inspection.


    Lysander¡¯s deep gaze turned towards her, and she sported a smile on her lips. Her clear, cold eyes met


    his with an air of detachment.


    Recalling the aversion he had once expressed for humble meals during a visit to her family in


    Hollowbrook, Thssa was now using his own words to taunt him.


    She really knew how to hold a grudge, remembering it even after a considerable amount of time had


    passed.


    Thssa held her head high, unflinchingly meeting Lysander''s gaze, and made no move to retract her


    words.


    Lysander, recognizing her defiance, was the first to look away, addressing Evelyn, "Actually, I haven''t


    eaten."


    Caught off guard, Evelyn quickly recovered, "Right away, then. I''ll just go warm it up for you."


    She hurried to the kitchen, leaving Thssa with a furrowed brow, blinking in disbelief. Hadn''t she


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    made it clear enough that Lysander wasn''t wee to dine here?


    As Thssa pondered his audacity, she noticed Lysander settling into the very chair she had upied


    before, picking up a fork and helping himself to the spaghetti on the table.


    She gasped, "That''s my dish."


    Lysander simply nced at her, silent, and continued to eat.

 Chapter 1105

    Chapter 1105


    Thssa rolled her eyes and muttered under her breath.


    She had tried to warn him but to no avail. Wasn''t he the least bit grossed out that he was eating the


    spaghetti she had already twirled on her fork, with her saliva all over it?


    Evelyn, holding a fresh te of steaming spaghetti, was about to set it down in front of Lysander when


    she noticed that he was already digging into the one Thssa had been eating from.


    Evelyn shot Thssa a surprised look, realizing that Lysander had taken the initiative himself. She


    ced the extra te beside Lysander and turned to Thssa, "Sweetie, you sit and eat. I''m beat. Off


    to bed for me."


    With that, Evelyn spun on her heel and headed to her room.


    Evelyn might have been a straight-shooter and liked to nag Thssa and vent her frustrations, but she


    was no fool.


    She knew she''d be the third wheel if she stayed. So, she briskly retreated to her room, leaving them to


    their privacy.


    Thssa could read Evelyn''s mind like an open book. Her mother would rant about Lysander hogging


    her youth without taking responsibility, yet she also orchestrated opportunities for them to be together.


    Thssa could never quite figure out her mother''s angle.


    Thssa slid into the seat next to Lysander, exactly where Evelyn had deliberately ced the


    spaghetti, obviously to position her close to him.


    Thssa pursed her lips, picked up a fork, and elegantly started eating her spaghetti.


    "Do you need something from me?" she asked between bites.


    He had first shown up at the Crawley Group and then had followed her to Star Harbor Vi. It must be


    something significant for him to make the trip twice.


    "Eat now, talkter," Lysander''s deep voice resonated with a note ofmand.


    Thssa pressed her lips together. She mmed up.


    They ate in silence, the only sounds being Thssa''s delicate slurping of the spaghetti and the soft


    clink of cutlery. Not a peep was heard from Lysander.


    Curiosity got the better of her, and she nced at Lysander. He ate his spaghetti with such grace and


    poise, not a sound to be heard.


    How does he manage that?


    Thssa could never eat spaghetti without making some noise ¨C something that highlighted the gap


    between them. Those small details always seemed to emphasize their differences.


    Feeling a lump in her throat, Thssa focused on finishing her meal. When she looked up again,


    Lysander was done as well.


    She stood up to clear the tes and wash them in the kitchen. Coming back, she intended to ignore


    Lysander and head straight to her room.


    But just as she passed the dining table, Lysander''s baritone voice halted her, "Sit."


    Thssa paused, took a deep breath, and fought the urge to walk away.


    Why should she listen to him?


    But his unspoken authority was not something she could easily dismiss.


    She reluctantly turned back and sat across from him, lifting her cool gaze to meet his. "What do you


    want to talk about?"


    "Are you avoiding me?" Lysander''s voice lifted slightly at the end.


    This is property ? N?velDrama.Org.


    Thssa''s hands tightened in herp. "The baby is not just yours; it''s mine too. I''m going to have this


    child!"


    "Still angry?" Lysander inquired, fully aware of why Thssa had been distant these past few days.


    She was upset because he had mistakenly thought the baby was Callum''s, due to a mix-up with birth


    control pills.


    But her evasive and deceitful behavior had naturally aroused suspicion. If she had nothing to hide, no


    betrayal, why the secrecy? Anyone would have doubts in such a situation.


    Despite being stood up, Lysander had stille to find her, knowing she was still furious.


    The mention of it set Thssa off, and she stood up abruptly, her chair scraping back loudly against


    the floor.

 Chapter 1106

    Chapter 1106


    "Seriously, what difference does it make if I''m mad or not? Does it change anything for you?" Thssa


    stood before Lysander, her breath uneven with emotion, as sheid her feelings bare.


    Her words were more than just a disy of anger; they were the stark truth.


    Even after the misunderstanding about the paternity of her unborn child was cleared up, and it was


    confirmed that the child was indeed his, Lysander hadn''t bothered to offer a single exnation or an


    apology.


    It was as if suspecting her, treating her with disdain was his right, and even after the truth came to light,


    he remained aloof, untouchable, acting as if someone like her didn''t deserve an apology.


    Whether she was angry or not, he remained on his high horse, seemingly unaffected by her emotions.


    Thssa felt wronged, swallowing her pride like a bitter pill, without even the right to im justice for


    herself.


    If she couldn''t stand up to him, couldn''t she at least escape?


    Lysander''s gaze was fixed on her as she stood there, her eyes a stormy sea of defiance and fury, her


    chest rising and falling with each breath- an embodiment of hurt and indignation.


    Casually resting his hand on the table, his eyes never left her. "You and Callum were getting too cozy


    for my liking," he said. "You saw him behind my back that day, and then there was a box of consumed


    birth control pill at home. You kept the whole thing about birth control from me. After seeing Callum,


    you were all sneaky, and then you ran off with him. I tried to trust you, but I just couldn''t convince


    myself."


    For the past few days, Lysander had been seething with anger, his temper frayed.


    Furious with Thssa for running off with Callum, he was even more incensed that she chose to


    endure suffering rather than expose Bruce''s kidnapping scheme!


    She seemed resolute in shielding Bruce, driven by thoughts of their father-daughter bond, despite his


    scoundrel nature - less than human in his deeds.


    Bruce had never fulfilled any paternal duties; he never yed the part of a father beyond sharing DNA.


    Yet, she defended him fiercely!


    How could Lysander ept her as hispanion when she was so loyal to Bruce?


    He and Bruce shared a hatred that could not coexist under the same sky. If Thssa distanced herself


    from Bruce, cut ties, Lysander might have been able to slowly conquer her heart and consider


    marriage.


    But with her deep bond with Bruce, even if Lysander won her heart, how could he marry her?


    If he married her knowing she would suffer to protect Bruce''s crimes, it would be an unforgivable


    disrespect to his own parents.


    All these thoughts tormented Lysander, making him restless. He hadn''t reached out to her in days.


    However, when the hospital informed him of Thssa¡¯s discharge and Ethan mentioned that she had


    gone to work that day, his concern red.


    The realization that Thssa, who had almost miscarried, was not resting at home but working fueled


    his worry.


    His anxiety overtook his anger, and despite his reluctance to see her, the thought of her fragile health


    and their unborn child brought him to her.


    At Lysander''s words, Thssa, still in the midst of her anger, looked at him in astonishment.


    She had never heard Lysander speak so extensively; his words were usually brief and authoritative.


    But now, he had actually spoken a lengthy piece to her without pausing.


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    He was exining why he had doubted the paternity of her child.


    Thssa was taken aback. Had he really just exined himself?


    The proud and cold Lysander, who usually dismissed others without a second thought, had actually


    taken the time to offer her an exnation?

 Chapter 1107

    Chapter 1107


    Thssa''s eyes flickered with surprise, but it was quickly overshadowed by a sarcastic, bitter chuckle.


    This is the property of N?-velDrama.Org.


    "What good is an exnation now?"


    The emotional scars he had inflicted on her seemed beyond repair.


    She couldn''t forget the icy, piercing re he gave her when he heard from Amelia about the consumed


    box of birth control pills found at Central Ring Vi. His anger was palpable, and his forceful grip on her


    chin felt as if her jaw might snap, disregarding the child growing inside her.


    Yes, she had deliberately kept her meeting with Callum from him, and she had lied about the pills, but


    her reasons were her own.


    His hasty conclusion, without any investigation, that the child wasn''t his left her feeling utterly betrayed


    and disappointed.


    Lysander''s deep-set eyes caught the indifference in hers, and it felt like his heart was being squeezed.


    His Adam''s apple bobbed as he asked in a low, maic voice, "You''ve been at work all day. Are you


    feeling alright?"


    Thssa averted her gaze, her voice neutral. "I''m fine, really. You needn''t worry. I''ve been through


    childbirth before; I know how to take care of myself and protect my child better than anyone."


    Today wasn¡¯t just about work; it also included a scuffle with Susan, from which she emerged victorious.


    She had been careful to shield her belly during the fight, so she knew there was no cause for concern.


    Hearing Thssa''s detached words, as if she were severing ties with him, Lysander''s gaze deepened.


    "Aren''t you curious how I found out?"


    It was a relief that she was unharmed, and he deftly changed the subject.


    Thssa snapped back to reality, looking at him. "With all the talent you have at your disposal, it would


    have been easy for you to investigate my meeting with Callum, wouldn''t it?"


    She had never doubted that he would seek out the truth, nor had she panicked; she had nothing to feel


    guilty about.


    "I may have a team, but they''re no match for our four-year-old son," Lysander said.


    "What?" Thssa was taken aback, blinking in astonishment at Lysander. "You had Atticus help you


    investigate?"


    "When you took the kids and ran, didn''t you also have him erase the surveince footage of your


    escape?" Lysander''s intense gaze challenged her.


    Thssa faltered, her eyes downcast, before admitting, "We don''t have the luxury ofmanding a


    team like you do. We have to rely on our own."


    Atticus was part of their escape; he was one of their own.


    "So, you''ve never really considered me one of your own?" Lysander''s probing eyes held hers.


    Caught off guard, Thssa met his gaze and read the serious question in the depths of his eyes. She


    offered a wry smile, "Haven''t you always held all the cards?"


    The implications of her words were vast.


    If they were to be a family, they would be one. But he would never make her part of his family.


    Lysander, astute as ever, caught the drift of her words, circling back to the unresolved issue of whether


    he would ever trulymit to her.


    His gaze narrowed slightly. "Tonight, we''re going back to Royal Estates."


    Thssa resisted from the depths of her soul. "I''m not going back. I promised to spend the evening


    with my mom."


    Lysander''s icy gaze fixed to her; the weight of his presence and the intensity of his stare caused


    Thssa''s heart to skip a beat and her steps to involuntarily retreat.


    The air between them grew tense and chilly, and just as Thssa felt she could bear no more, the ring


    of a cell phone broke the silence¡ªit was Lysander''s.

 Chapter 1108

    Chapter 1108


    Thssa stood frozen, her gaze locked on Lysander''s pocket, unable to ignore the buzzing of a cell


    phone.


    Lysander''s sharp eyes darted to his phone as he fished it out of his pocket. His brows, usually as


    straight as an arrow, furrowed almost imperceptibly. He handed the phone to Thssa, saying, "Take


    it."


    "Me?" Thssa pointed at herself in disbelief.


    This was Lysander''s own phone. He was asking her to answer it?


    Were they really that close now that she could just pick up his calls?


    The people he knew were either business moguls or blue-blooded aristocrats.


    But she didn¡¯t know any of them. What on earth would she say?


    While Thssa hesitated, Lysander urged her, "Hurry up."


    The phone continued to vibrate in his steadfast grip.


    Seeing the persistent vibrations, Thssa realized she had to act fast or the call would disconnect.


    Lysander''s demeanor was unmistakable. She took the phone from his hand, only to discover it was a


    video call, not just a voice call.


    And the caller ID read Fitch!


    A video call from Fitch to Lysander?


    Could it be the kids calling?


    Understanding dawned on Thssa in an instant, and her hesitation turned into excitement as she


    pressed the answer button.


    The screen filled with the big, bright eyes of not one but four children, their longshes fluttering


    adorably.


    What was this?


    All four kids huddled in front of the phone, eyes wide with anticipation?


    "Atticus, Dorian, Elowen, Sophia, what are you guys up to? Pressing your faces against the camera to


    give your dad a fright?" Thssa''s lips curled into a smile as her tone shifted to one of warmth and


    tenderness.


    No matter how upset she was, her irritation melted away at the sight of the children, reced by a


    glowing maternal affection and gentle patience.


    "Wow, it''s Mommy!" Elowen''s voice was filled with glee, her eyes going wide with surprise, making


    them look even more like shiny marbles on the screen.


    "It''s really Mommy!" Dorian''s voice echoed Elowen¡¯s excitement. "Wow, Fitch didn''t lie to us, finding


    Daddy means finding Mommy too."


    They had called Lysander hoping he would lead them to their mother, but they hadn¡¯t expected to see


    her face as soon as they dialed his number. It was a delightful surprise.


    "Mommy, um, I''ve missed you so much." Sophia''s big, round eyes brimmed with tears as she pouted,


    her voice quivering on the edge of a cry.


    Her pitiful look tugged at the heartstrings.


    Seeing Sophia on the verge of tears, Thssa''s heart clenched with empathy. She quickly reassured


    her, "Don''t cry, Sophia. Mommy''s here. Mommy missed you all too."


    She had been staying in the hospital for days and had indeed missed her children terribly. Even though


    Content held by N?velDrama.Org.


    Lysander hadn¡¯t brought them to the hospital, and she was too stubborn to go to the Royal Estates, her


    heart was always with her four little ones.


    "Daddy''s a big meanie! He said if we were good in school, we''d get to see Mommy. We''ve been good


    for days, and he still hasn''t taken us to see you," Atticus took the phone, holding it at arm''s length so


    that all their faces could be clearly seen on the screen. His young brow was furrowed with indignation.


    Thssa was taken aback by Atticus'' outspoken criticism of Lysander, and she nced at Lysander


    apprehensively, worried that Atticus might have upset him.


    But Lysander stood there, an aura of calm around him, his deep eyes fixed on her.


    Thssa gave him a nervous smile and said, "He¡¯s just a kid..."

 Chapter 1109

    Chapter 1109


    "Dad''s such a big meanie, not taking us to see Mommy, humph!" Atticus pouted adorably, his little


    frown punctuating each word.


    "Yeah, Daddy''s a big meanie, we don''t like him anymore. Daddy, don''te back, just live with


    Mommy outside!" Dorian crossed his arms and tried to look tough, though his attempt was more cute


    than intimidating.


    Thssa''s heart skipped a beat; trouble seemed to find her family in waves. Rushing to smooth things


    over, she exined into the phone, "Mommy was in the hospital these past few days, and you guys


    had school. The timing was just off."


    "Call''s over, we''re heading back to Royal Estates now," Lysander''s deep voice filled the space with


    authority.


    "Then you better hurry back, we''re waiting for you," Atticus instructed in the final second before the call


    ended.


    As the video call dropped, the cherubic faces of the four little ones vanished from the phone screen.


    Thinking of her children waiting for her, Thssa didn''t wait for Lysander to speak up. "I''ll go tell my


    mom, and I''ll be ready to leave immediately."


    ...


    Back at Royal Estates, after ending the video call, Atticus and Dorian exchanged a knowing smile.


    They raised their hands and high-fived, their eyes crinkling with mischief.


    Fitch, witnessing the kids'' antics, was initially confused by their celebratory gesture. But when he


    remembered the content of their conversation on the call, it clicked.


    The kids were really pulling out all the stops to get both their parents toe home.


    So young, yet so shrewd, their minds worked at lightning speed.


    Atticus had even coordinated his act with Dorian wlessly.


    What would they be capable of when they grew up?


    Thssa quickly informed Evelyn that she needed to be with her four children at Royal Estates.


    Evelyn, fully understanding the urgency, said, "Go, dear, it¡¯s gettingte, and I''m off to bed myself."


    "I''lle back tomorrow afternoon, and I''ll see if I can bring the kids with me," Thssa said.


    "That would be wonderful, dear. I miss them too," Evelyn replied with longing in her voice.


    "Alright then, sleep well. I''m off, call me if you need anything," Thssa said before heading out.


    Thssa and Lysander set off together, the car ride shrouded in an ufortable silence, making the


    act of breathing a bit more difficult.


    Thssa looked out of the car window at the passing scenery, using it as a distraction from the


    N?velDrama.Org: owner of this content.


    awkward silence.


    The driver was steady at the wheel, sensing the stark contrast to the icy tension that had enveloped


    Lysander earlier.


    It seemed Ms. Everhart had managed to soothe the beast in Mr. Sinir, sparing him any coteral


    frostbite.


    Before long, they arrived at Royal Estates. Thssa was the first to jump out of the car as soon as it


    stopped.


    The children had been waiting eagerly for Thssa, and at the sound of the car''s engine, they burst


    out of the house.


    "Mommy!"


    All four little ones shouted in unison, racing towards her and diving into her arms.


    Thssa staggered back a step under the force of their enthusiastic charge, but her face was alight


    with joy. "My darlings, Mommy''s missed you so much."


    "Mmm, we missed Mommy too," Dorian nuzzled against Thssa''s belly, expressing how much he had


    missed her.


    Just as Thssa was about to hug Dorian, Lysander''srge hand grasped the boy''s cor and pulled


    him away, "Stay away from your mother!" hemanded with a half-joking sternness.

 Chapter 1110

    Chapter 1110


    "Aw,e on, let go!" Dorian iled his arms and legs in the air. "You big meanie, Daddy, let me go!"


    Lysander held him aloft, then set him down to one side, his deep-set eyes looking intently at him. "Say


    that one more time, and I''ll tan your hide!"


    Dorian paused, his little hands immediately covering his behind,rge eyes blinking up at Lysander, lips


    pursed, refraining from uttering another word.


    In that moment, the thought crossed his mind: Daddy is kind of scary when he''s mad.


    Thssa, upon hearing Lysander¡¯s words, felt a surge of fear. Swiftly, she stepped forward, embracing


    Dorian protectively in her arms. Addressing Lysander, she pleaded, ¡°He knows he made a mistake.


    Please, forgive him this once.¡±


    Earlier, when Atticus had called Lysander a ¡°big meanie¡± on the phone, Lysander''s whole aura shifted,


    and Thssa had every reason to believe he was keeping score for ater showdown. Now, Dorian


    had called Lysander a ¡°big meanie¡± again, it seemed he was practically handing Lysander a reason to


    spank Dorian.


    The very thought of Lysander spanking Dorian made Thssa''s heart ache. Throughout the children¡¯s


    growth, she had never had the heart toy a finger on them. Even the slightest scrape or bump had


    always sent her into a state of worry.


    Her children were obedient, sensible, and polite. They didn''t act up without reason.


    "Really?" Lysander nced at Thssa, then turned his gaze back to Dorian.


    Feeling the chill in his eyes, Dorian''s little hand tightened on Thssa''s pants, seeking protection and


    Sensing her child''s fear, Thssa gently stroked Dorian''s head and softly said, "Dorian, he''s your dad.


    You can''t call him a meanie. It''s rude and disrespectful. Understand?"


    "But Daddy just grabbed me." Dorian nuzzled his head against Thssa''s leg, the picture of injustice.


    "Your mom''s expecting, and we can''t have you bumping into her belly," Lysander said in his deep,


    resonant voice.


    Thssa looked incredulously at Lysander. He had suddenly grabbed Dorian by the cor and pulled


    him away from her, not because he was settling scores, but because he was worried about Dorian


    bumping into her belly?


    She hadn''t even been that careful herself.


    After ncing at Lysander, Thssa regained herposure to find four pairs of curious and excited


    little eyes staring at her, their gazes shining.


    Dorian, who had felt wronged just moments before, now radiated joy. His eyes sparked as he


    eximed, "Mommy, are you gonna have a baby brother or sister for us?"


    Atticus, with a mix of shock and amazement, wore an expressive look on his cute little face. "Mommy,


    you''re pregnant? I promise never to jump into your arms again."


    Elowen chimed in, "I get it now. Daddy didn''t bring Mommy back home because she was getting ready


    to have our baby brother or sister!"


    Sophia nodded firmly, "Yeah, Daddy was hiding Mommy while she was expecting our sibling!"


    Thssa was mortified.


    The children''s words were ripe for misinterpretation, and with so many house staff around.


    Thssa''s cheeks flushed as she awkwardly exined, "Mommy was in the hospital for a few days.


    Your dad was probably just worried about me getting disturbed and not resting well, so he didn''t take


    you to see me."


    Thssa made the exnation for Lysander to the kids.


    After she finished, the little ones looked at her with their innocent, puzzled eyes, then at Lysander, as if


    they had grasped her meaning.


    Atticus sneaked a look at Lysander, then dropped his gaze, feeling guilty for leading the charge in


    calling him a meanie. Now, after hearing Thssa''s exnation, he knew he was wrong.


    His voice was soft but audible to everyone present.


    "Daddy, I''m sorry. I shouldn''t have called you a meanie."


    Seeing his brother Atticus apologizing, Dorian quickly added, "Daddy, I''m sorry too. You''re not a


    meanie. You''re the best dad we could ever love."

 Chapter 1111

    Chapter 1111


    When Lysander received the apologies from his two boys, the dark clouds that had been hanging over


    his face parted like curtains, and a warm smile broke through like sunlight after a storm. His lips


    This is the property of N?-velDrama.Org.


    twitched in a near imperceptible smile; he wasn''t even aware he was doing it.


    "It''ste, time for bed," he said, his voice carrying a natural tone with an undertone of authority not to


    be questioned.


    The children, overjoyed by the news from their mother about the uing addition to the family, felt a


    deep sense of security. They obediently headed to their bedrooms for the night.


    Though Thssa had initially intended to tuck them in, to her tender heart''s surprise, they insisted she


    rest early instead. They made promises to look after their future sibling and reassured her that they


    could sleep on their own.


    After seeing her children to their rooms and softly closing each door, Thssa turned and nearly


    collided with the tall, shadowy figure of Lysander standing silently behind her. She caught her breath


    with a start, patting her chest.


    "What are you doing standing there? You scared me," she said.


    Lysander naturally took her hand, "Time for bed," and led her upstairs.


    Thssa was surprised; he had waited in the living room all this time just to take her to bed?


    She didn''t resist, but as they reached the door of the master bedroom, she paused. Lysander looked


    back, "Something else on your mind?"


    Despite the deception she had yed on him and the lingering irritation he felt, he had seen the


    genuine motherly love she radiated towards their children today. Even with their issues, she upheld his


    image as a good father, refraining from speaking ill of him to the kids.


    This softened Lysander''s anger considerably, and his gaze upon her became gentler.


    "No, nothing," she said. "I''m pregnant, and the pregnancy is delicate. I need peace. I''ll rest in the guest


    room next door, to avoidplications." Without waiting for a response, Thssa headed to the next


    room.


    Her expression calm, her gaze detached, as if her decision was truly for the sake of the child and not a


    reluctance to share a room with him.


    Lysander watched her enter the guest room and close the door without a word.


    Inside, Thssa leaned against the door, inhaling deeply to dispel the heaviness in her heart.


    After meeting with Susan and learning she had been intimate with Lysander, Thssa couldn''t face


    him as before, and she certainly didn''t want him close.


    ...


    The next day, Thssa went to work and wasplimented by her boss, Ethan.


    "The advertisers are thrilled with yesterday''s shoot; it''s all set for a sessful campaignunch. I heard


    you were directing on-site, Ms. Everhart. Looks like there¡¯s a bonus in it for you this month," Ethan said


    with a smile.


    "Thank you, Mr. Ethan. If I get a bonus every month, I¡¯d wake upughing from my dreams," Thssa


    joked.


    "Keep up the good work and you just might. I''m not stingy when ites to rewarding good work,"


    Ethan encouraged.


    "Will do, I''ll give it my all," Thssa replied, not one to downy her ambitions.


    "Oh, and this afternoon we have a meeting with a stock market client. We''re scheduled to hit the golf


    course together. You''lle along," Ethan added, assigning her the next task.


    "Why does it always have to be in the afternoon? Can''t we schedule these things during business


    hours?" Thssa quipped.


    "The client is only avable after their work hours. They''re considering investing two hundred thousand


    in Crawley Electronics but are worried about the vtility of the stock market and prefer a direct


    investment," Ethan exined.


    Thssa nodded, "Got it. Do I need to prepare any documents?"


    "Have all ourpany''s product information on hand," Ethan instructed.


    "Understood, Mr. Ethan," Thssa affirmed, ready to tackle the day''s challenges.

 Chapter 1112

    Chapter 1112


    Thssa had readied the data for thetest smartphone from the Crawley Group, along with the


    information for the previous electronic gadgets.


    After clocking out, she followed Ethan to the golf club.


    She knew this ce; she had been here once with Hertha, who was pursuing ric, creating a so-


    called "chance" encounter in her bid to win his heart.


    Unfortunately, her n backfired. Not only did she fail to catch ric''s attention, but their friendship


    also took a nosedive.


    This golf club was a yground for the elite, a ce where the rich and famous kicked back.


    N?velDrama.Org: owner of this content.


    It was known for its steep fees.


    Their client was already waiting, decked out in a gray and white tracksuit, topped with a white visor,


    swinging his golf club with ease.


    Ethan, with Thssa in tow, approached and greeted, "Bruce, hope we haven''t kept you waiting too


    long."


    The man about to take a swing paused, looked over his shoulder, and upon seeing Thssa, a fleeting


    shadow crossed his face. He then turned to Ethan with a smile, "Mr. Ethan, d you could make it.


    Come over for a drink."


    Handing his club off to a nearby caddy, he led the way to a shaded seating area under arge parasol.


    Thssa''s mood plummeted at the sight of this so-called client. Her grip tightened around the folders


    as realization dawned on her.


    Bruce was the client?


    Was he seriously about to invest two hundred thousand in stocks?


    Where on earth did he get that kind of money?


    Just days ago, he had called her, threatening to release the video unless she wired him two million.


    She had t-out refused. And now, Bruce suddenly had the funds?


    Even more perplexing was the fact that Lysander had uncovered evidence connecting Bruce to her


    kidnapping.


    Why hadn''t he turned over the evidence to the police?


    Why was Bruce still free instead of behind bars?


    Seeing Bruce now, Thssa wished nothing more than for him to be taken away by the police, locked


    up forever, and never to be seen again.


    "Ms. Everhart, what are you waiting for? Come join us," Ethan said, noticing Thssa had fallen


    behind.


    "Oh, right. On my way," Thssa replied, snapping back to reality and walking over.


    Ethan and Bruce sat opposite each other, with Bruce cing a prepared ss of juice in front of Ethan,


    saying, "Mr. Ethan, have a drink to beat the heat."


    Then, turning to Thssa, he put on a show of courtesy, "Ms. Everhart, don''t just stand there, have a


    seat."


    "No thanks, I''m fine standing," Thssa replied, her face emotionless.


    Ethan was somewhat aware of the tension between Thssa and Bruce, so when Thssa showed


    clear reluctance, he did not insist.


    He steered the conversation back to business, "So, Bruce, you''re interested in purchasing shares of


    ourpany but have concerns about their stability, is that it? I''ve had my secretarypile all the


    information on our products, not just the new releases but also the electronics we''ve sold in the past.


    Our market performance has been rock-solid for thest three years; there''s nothing to worry about."


    As Ethan spoke, Thssa, catching his cue, ced the stack of documents she was holding onto the


    table.


    Bruce nced at Thssa and then said to Ethan with a chuckle, "No rush, let''s not hurry through this.


    My wife will have a look at the documents; she just stepped out to the restroom and will be back


    shortly."


    "Sure, no problem," Ethan replied, picking up his ss of juice and taking a sip.

 Chapter 1113

    Chapter 1113


    Thssa stood silently behind Ethan, her gaze fixed on his hands.


    "Ah, Mr. Ethan, I''ve heard so much about you! What a pleasure to finally meet," Lucy said, bustling


    over to stand beside Bruce, her greeting to Ethan rushed but warm.


    Ethan looked up at her with a polite, businesslike smile. "Hello."


    "Hello, hello! I''m Lucy, Bruce''s wife," she said, nodding vigorously as if to emphasize her identity,


    fearing someone might not make the connection.


    "Please, have a seat," Ethan offered.


    Bruce tugged at her sleeve, barely concealing his disdain, and muttered, "Sit down, will you?"


    If it weren''t for Lucy''s uncanny insights into the stock market, Bruce wouldn''t dream of bringing her


    along to potentially embarrass themselves.


    With a hurried smile, Lucy took her seat.


    "Here''s the portfolio of all the products from the Crawley Group. Take a look and see how stable it


    seems," Bruce said, sliding a stack of documents across the table to her.


    Lucy flipped through the pages, examining the data carefully, then confidently dered, "Alright, we''re


    buying into the Crawley Group stocks!"


    Bruce nudged her arm as a reminder to slow down.


    Did she think this was a fire sale at the supermarket?


    "Maybe we should look a bit closer?"


    Lucy pointed to a section of the dossier featuring the Crawley Group''stest smartphone, the Lipo, yet


    to hit the market. "Take a look at this - theirtest phone in development. Although it''s not released yet,


    I¡¯m confident it¡¯ll be bound to top the electronics charts once it hits the shelves."


    "How can you be so sure?" Bruce asked.


    "Just look at the phone''s camera feature¡ªhigh resolution, fantastic rity. And the tagline, ''Unseen is


    unsaid; Lipo lets you see it all in a sh!'' Plus, this ad campaign is just brilliant. While many phones


    flood the market with various features, Lipo stands out with its pioneering camera focus. Once it


    As she spoke, Lucy gestured to the print ad in the materials¡ªa before-and-after portrayal. The top half


    showed a woman with heavy, clown-like makeup, while the bottom half revealed her without the


    disguise, holding the phone, looking effortlessly stunning.


    This is the property of N?-velDrama.Org.


    Bruce followed her finger to the ad, recognizing the model with a start¡ªit was Susan!


    So, Lucy had seen Susan modeling for the Lipo phone! No wonder she was buzzing with excitement.


    Ethan, maintaining his amiable expression, added meaningfully, "Lucy''s right. We''re focusing on


    marketing this phone, and the ads are ready tounch. If the phone sells well, the model in the ads is


    bound to shoot to fame too."


    At the prospect of Susan bing a star, Lucy''s excitement grew. "Yes, we''ll buy into the Crawley


    Group stocks right now."


    Despite past tensions with Susan, Lucy couldn''t help but feel pride and joy for her daughter''s potential


    rise to fame.


    Caught up in the moment, Lucy whipped out her phone and quickly invested the two hundred thousand


    Bruce had entrusted to her into the Crawley Group.


    Bruce watched nervously from the sidelines, unsure of what to say.


    After sealing the deal, Lucy''s attention turned sharply to Thssa, her earlier fluster reced by a


    biting sarcasm.


    "It just urred to me, Ms. Everhart, you''re Mr. Ethan''s secretary, right? Didn''t you have four kids with


    Mr. Sinir? Instead of being by his side, you''re here with Mr. Ethan. What''s the matter, hoping to add


    branches to another man¡¯s family tree with your ''fertile'' belly?"


    Lucy''s hostility towards Thssa was palpable, and she didn''t hold back her spiteful words, even in


    Ethan''s presence.


    Thssa''s expression hardened. "There¡¯s a remarkable skill some folks possess," she retorted icily, "a


    knack for never speaking a kind thought!"

 Chapter 1114

    Chapter 1114


    Ethan was seething inside after Lucy''s brazenment, chewing over the rumor about him and


    Lysander as if it were a piece of juicy gossip.


    She had some nerve, spouting off like that in front of him.


    As his expression changed, Thssa spoke up.


    With a smirk that didn''t quite reach his eyes, Ethan retorted, "Someone who can never speak kind


    thought, well, sounds more like a barking dog to me."


    Lucy''s face flushed with embarrassment, her intent tosh out at Thssa thwarted. Thssa hadn''t


    called her a dog outright; it was Ethan who had uttered the word.


    Without any real grounds for aeback, she forced augh, then turned to Ethan with a sycophantic


    smile. "Mr. Ethan, I apologize for the spectacle. To be frank with you, Thssa is the result of my


    husband''s indiscretion. I just worry she might follow in her mother''s footsteps- shameless and fickle,


    always have one eye on what they already have and the other on what they don¡¯t. I wouldn''t want you


    This is the property of N?-velDrama.Org.


    to be misled."


    Ethan was about to respond when a chilling,manding voice cut through the air.


    "My business is not up for public debate. Speaking ill of someone under my wing¡ªlooking for trouble,


    are we?"


    The voice carried an intimidating force that demanded attention.


    Everyone turned toward the source and saw Lysander striding in, nked by his bodyguards. His tall,


    Thssa held her breath at the sight of him; his powerful aura was overwhelming.


    Lucy paled at Lysander''s words, her earlier bravado vanishing into thin air. She stood up, her eyes


    darting around in panic. "Mr. Sinir, I¡­"


    Bruce also rose, eyeing Lysander warily.


    Ethan chuckled and stood to greet Lysander. "Lysander, fancy seeing you here! I would''ve sought you


    out right away. Come, have a seat."


    He gestured Lysander to take his own spot.


    Lysander, ustomed to such deference, seated himself without a word.


    Ethan quickly offered him a ss of juice but then hesitated, remembering it was Bruce''s choice and


    likely not up to Lysander''s standards.


    "Waiter," Ethan called. "Bring us your finest juice, please."


    The waiter scurried off to fulfill the request.


    Noticing Thssa still standing, Ethan nudged her. "Ms. Everhart, please, take a seat. Lysander''s here


    now; no need to stand on ceremony."


    Thssa hesitated, not wanting to sit, but Ethan''s encouraging look made it clear she should join them.


    Reluctantly, she sat beside Lysander, feeling the chill of his aura even more acutely.


    Lysander''s gaze was fixed on Lucy, silent yet oppressive, brimming with danger.


    Lucy shivered under his stare, never having encountered someone whose mere look could be so


    terrifying.


    "Will you p yourself, or shall I have someone do it for you?" Lysander''s voice was icy and grave.


    Lucy looked desperately to Bruce for help.


    Bruce quickly interjected, "Lysander, my wife misspoke, and I apologize on her behalf. Please, be


    generous and forgive her this once."


    "Your apology is worthless and only adds to the annoyance," Lysander responded, his handsome face


    grim and his piercing gaze as if skewering Lucy and Bruce a thousand times over.

 Chapter 1115

    Chapter 1115


    Bruce''s pride was deted like a popped balloon, his face flushed with the shame of public


    embarrassment. His heart raced with panic as he shot Lucy a re that could kill. If only Lysander


    would just get rid of her, he could wash his hands of this mess.


    Lysander''s gaze shifted to his entourage of bodyguards. "Help her out!" hemanded.


    The bodyguards, each a towering figure of muscle and brawn, began to move. These weren''t just any


    hired guns; they were trained fighters. If theyid their hands on Lucy, her pretty face might not stay so


    pretty.


    Lucy''s legs turned to jelly, and she stumbled back a step, her voice quivering with fear. "I¡­I''ll do it, Mr.


    Sinir. Please, I¡¯ll handle it myself."


    The bodyguards paused, allowing her the space. Lucy, fighting back tears, raised her hands and


    pped herself across the cheeks. "It''s all my fault, I deserve this for speaking out of turn!"


    "That''s not nearly enough!" Lysander''s voice was icy, gripping the room with its authority.


    Lucy''s heart skipped a beat. Clenching her teeth, she pped herself again, harder this time. "I


    deserve it, I do! I''ll never speak out of turn again!"


    The ps resounded with a sharp ''smack, smack,'' her cheeks burning from the force she used. She


    had to make it convincing, fearful that Lysander would demand more if he wasn''t satisfied.


    Her cheeks stung painfully, her head buzzed, and a ringing echoed in her ears. She was relentless in


    her self-punishment.


    All the while, she acknowledged her mistake, hoping to quell Lysander''s anger.


    Bruce watched from the sidelines with cold approval, thinking she got what she deserved.


    After the self-inflicted punishment, Lucy looked up at Lysander with panic in her eyes, trying to gauge if


    he was appeased.


    Lysander''s expression remained intense, but his piercing gaze now turned to Thssa. "Are you


    satisfied?"


    He was seeking Thssa''s approval. If she wasn''t satisfied, Lucy would have to continue the pping.


    This is the property of N?-velDrama.Org.


    Thssa caught Lysander''s intense look, recognizing that he was seeking justice for her, standing up


    for her. Under different circumstances, she would have been grateful for his support. However, the


    thought of the night he spent with Susan made her heart clenched painfully, preventing any sense of


    joy.


    After all, Lysander was on Lucy''s side.


    His defense of her now seemed only a temporary gesture.


    Thssa''s breath trembled as she tried to speak through her difort. "A couple of ps for a few


    careless words, I doubt she''ll be speaking out of turn again."


    She didn''t want to prolong the ordeal.


    Ethan, taking control of the situation, said, "Take a seat. You haven''t finished your juice, and wasting


    them isn''t a good habit."


    Lucy nced warily at Bruce, no longer daring to stay close to Lysander.


    Bruce, however, didn''t even spare her a look, nonchntly sitting down with a fake smile, feigning


    admiration. "Mr. Sinir, your decisiveness is admirable. I''m much more at ease knowing you''re


    watching out for Thssa."


    Upon hearing Bruce''s insincere words, Thssa shot him an angry look.


    Lysander''s hand rested casually on the table, but the veins on his hand stood out, his eyes cold as


    daggers when he looked at Bruce.


    "Mr. Sinir, your juice is ready," cooed a voice, artificially sweet.


    The waitress approached, cing the juice in front of Lysander with eyes that openly flirted.


    Thssa''s elegant brows furrowed in disapproval as she recognized the so-called waitress ¨C it was


    Susan!

 Chapter 1116

    Chapter 1116


    Susan strut around in her low-cut, tight tee and a skirt that flirted dangerously with the upper reaches of


    her thighs. With a deliberate bend, she set down the juice in front of Lysander.


    As she leaned forward, the view down her shirt was unobstructed, and as her hips cocked up, the


    already short hem of her skirt lifted, offering a glimpse of her backside!


    Her seductive, fawning demeanor was obvious.


    What man wouldn''t be tempted, and what woman wouldn''t scoff at such a disy?


    She was tantly unting her voluptuous figure to entice Lysander, that much was clear.


    Thssa saw Susan''s coy smile filled with ingratiation aimed at Lysander, and felt a stab of difort,


    as if her heart was being squeezed. She quickly averted her gaze, refusing to witness such a scene


    and mentally insisting that no matter how close Susan got to Lysander, it was none of her business.


    "Mr. Sinir, do try this," Susan cooed, cing a specially prepared juice on the table before Lysander,


    eager for his attention despite his stoic demeanor. "I made it myself; it''s delicious."


    Despite being rebuffed countless times, Susan couldn''t suppress the yearning to win Lysander over,


    her heart fluttering with desire.


    "Take it away! I never ept anything from strangers, especially unknown beverages. Who knows if it''s


    tainted?" Lysander''s gaze was icy as he dismissed her, his words sharp and cutting. Though he


    seemed to be criticizing the drink, his insinuation was clear- Susan was the unclean element with


    impure intentions.


    Susan¡¯s hand trembled, holding the juice; Lysander''s formidable presence pinned her yearning heart in


    ce. Even if Susan mustered all her courage, she couldn''t dare to leave the drink before him.


    Retracting her hand slightly, Susan''s pride wouldn''t allow her to retreat without a fight. Her family''s


    financial downfall, from riches to rags because of her parents'' failures, haunted her.


    If she couldn''ttch onto Lysander, she''d be doomed to humiliating gigs like yesterday''s clown act for a


    meager paycheck. But if she could just attach herself to Lysander, even without marriage, she''d have


    ess to untold wealth.


    Wasn''t Thssa living proof, having swindled over a billion through her proximity to Lysander?


    Suppressing her resentment and discontent, Susan maintained a smile and turned to Thssa, saying


    sweetly, "Thssa, I remember you like these. Here, have this one."


    If she wanted to get closer to Lysander, she needed him to see how close she was to Thssa. Last


    time, at the Draven International Hotel, it was her newfound rapport with Thssa that had lowered


    Lysander and Joshua''s guard, leading them to drink the spiked beverage.


    As Susan attempted to ce the juice before her, Thssa pushed the ss back toward Susan''s


    This is the property of N?-velDrama.Org.


    chest.


    "I couldn''t possibly, Susan. How could I dare to drink anything you''ve prepared? Especially when


    you''ve made it yourself ¨C I''m even more cautious. What if, likest time, you''ve tampered with it? I


    wouldn''t even know how I died, would I?" Though Thssa''s tone seemed light, her words were icy


    and pointed.


    She didn''t spell it out, but her implication was clear- the drug in the drinks at the Draven International


    Hotel had been Susan''s doing.


    Lysander''s prating gaze shifted to Thssa, and he saw the hostility in her eyes when she faced


    Susan. He suddenly understood that the drug in the wine wasn''t administered by Thssa; it wasn''t a


    ploy to bring him and Susan together.


    Instead, it was Susan who had drugged the wine, using herself as bait, drinking the tainted beverage to


    lower his guard and seduce him, then making her move on his room.

 Chapter 1117

    Chapter 1117


    If Thssa wasn¡¯t the one who spiked the wine, then why, knowing full well that he was in misery, his


    body nearly consumed by an internal inferno, did she choose to bolt from the hotel, leaving the door


    wide open for Susan to swoop in?


    It didn''t take long for Lysander toe up with an answer- she had likely taken advantage of his


    difort, running off with the children while he was unable to intervene!


    How desperate was she to get away from him that she''d exploit his condition, upy his time, and


    even nt other women in his path?


    Susan, hearing Thssa bring up that day at the hotel and the threat of being drugged, felt a shiver of


    dread. Her eyes flickered anxiously towards Lysander, terrified he might learn that she was the one


    who had tampered with his drink, and that he''d unleash his fury upon her.


    She quickly changed the subject. "You don¡¯t want the drink, huh? Well, never mind then, I''ll have it


    myself."


    With a sense of urgency, Susan plunged the straw into her juice ss and took several vigorous sips,


    swallowing with exaggerated gulps to prove the juice was fine.


    Thssa eyed Susan''s heavily made-up face. It was so pristine, showing no signs of the ps she had


    delivered just the day before.


    Her face should have been swollen from the force of the blows.


    How could it be that overnight, Susan¡¯s face looked as if nothing had happened?


    N?velDrama.Org: owner of this content.


    Had she used some secret trick to quickly reduce the swelling?


    To worm her way back to Lysander''s side, Susan clearly went to great lengths.


    In contrast, Lucy''s face was still puffy from just a couple of ps, looking like a boiled ham hock.


    "Susan, we''re discussing business with Mr. Ethan here. We''re thinking of using the two hundred grand


    you gave us to buy shares in the Crawley Group. Why don''t you sit down and take a look at the


    materials?"


    Bruce had observed the entire scene¡ªhow Susan tried to ingratiate herself with Lysander, and how


    Lysander brushed her off. He saw Susan''s humiliation but felt powerless to express his anger, speaking


    up just in time to spare her any further embarrassment.


    "Oh, investing in the Crawley Group, huh? How''s that looking?" Susan feigned interest, turned around,


    and took a seat by Lucy, barely ncing at Lucy''s puffy face, devoid of any concern.


    No need to ask; Susan knew it must have been the consequence of Lucy''s run-in with Lysander.


    Her own face had experienced simr swelling after Thssa''s ps the day before, but she had iced


    it down quickly. Today, the marks still lingered on her face but remained concealed beneathyers of


    foundation.


    Thssa watched as Susan flipped through the papers, and a remark from Bruce suddenly clued her


    in on the origin of the two hundred thousand dors.


    It was Susan''s money. Susan, just a small-time model with expensive tastes¡ªa single handbag costing


    tens of thousands¡ªdidn''t make enough to cover her expenses.


    Where did she get two hundred thousand dors for Bruce to y the stock market?


    Could it be Lysander''s doing, a payoff after a night together?


    As Thssa pondered this, her gaze drifted involuntarily to Lysander.


    At that moment, Lysander''s deep, piercing eyes met hers, and in that instant of eye contact, Thssa


    thought of the intimate encounter between him and Susan and the subsequent payoff. Her heart


    clenched, her breathing quickened, and she instinctively bit down on her teeth.


    Her look, filled with annoyance, broke away from his gaze.


    "Mr. Ethan, if we''re done for today, I''ll be heading out," Thssa said to Ethan, eager to leave.

 Chapter 1118

    Chapter 1118


    Ethan, usually so adept at reading the room, especially Lysander''s mood, found himself in a tight spot.


    In the presence of Lysander, Thssa boldly sidestepped him and directly asked Ethan if she could


    take her leave.


    Momentarily flustered, Ethan shot Thssa a nce before offering a sheepish smile in Lysander¡¯s


    direction. "Does Mr. Sinir feel that Ms. Everhart haspleted her tasks?" he asked, cleverly


    tossing the ball into Lysander''s court.


    For Lysander, it was a straightforward decision. If he stated that Thssa''s work was done, she would


    be free to leave; otherwise, she would remain.


    Content held by N?velDrama.Org.


    Thssa, well acquainted with Ethan''s shrewdness, wasn''t surprised by his maneuver, shifting her


    gaze to Lysander.


    Lysander''s expression remained inscrutable, maintaining a cool demeanor as he tapped his long


    fingers on the tabletop. His eyes revealed nothing of his thoughts.


    Before Lysander could respond, Susan, who had been flipping through some documents, chimed in


    casually, "Ms. Everhart, these papers included the advertisement I shot yesterday. You were such a


    help directing that shoot and made our campaign sizzle. If I hit the big time, you bet you''ll be the first


    one I thank, my dear sister."


    Susan''s words seemed gracious, thanking Thssa, but the undertone was clear¡ªself-promotion at


    Thssa''s expense. If Susan''s star rose, she would be the celebrity, while Thssa remained the


    invisible assistant. How could the two bepared?


    Having just been snubbed by Lysander, Susan was looking to regain some ground at Thssa''s


    expense. Thssa despised Bruce¡¯s family''s attempts to connect with her. She could let the first part


    slide, but Susan''s "my dear sister" hit a nerve.


    "Oh, you should definitely thank me. Without my help, you wouldn''t have tasted a few of those


    ''delicious pies'' that everyone finds unforgettable, right, Lucy?" Thssa said with a mocking smile, yet


    her eyes were ice-cold.


    Lucy, hearing this, felt her cheeks burn in embarrassment. She touched her face, feeling a sting of pain


    and looked at Susan in confusion and rm.


    What did Thssa mean by that?


    Was Susan pped too?


    Lucy was clueless about Susan''s ordeal since Susan had imed an overnight work session at a hotel


    to avoid telling her parents about the humiliating incident.


    Bruce''s gaze was filled with a mixture of concern and confusion as he looked at Susan.


    Under the weight of her parents'' probing eyes, Susan''s face flushed with embarrassment and panic.


    She didn''t want her parents to find out about being pped by Thssa¡ªit was too shameful. So, she


    had lied about workingte.


    But now Thssa had spilled the beans, and Susan felt her pride crumbling, her difort burning


    within her. She quickly closed the documents, trying to shift the conversation. "Mom, Dad, it''s a good


    idea to invest in Crawley Group''s stocks. With the ad campaign I''m leading, the new phone is bound to


    sell like hotcakes, and Crawley''s stock will soar."


    "That''s what your mother suggested, so we''ve invested two hundred thousand in Crawley''s stocks,"


    Bruce revealed.


    "Well, that''s great. I mean, I''m the kind of person who can make two hundred thousand in no time.


    Money is no object," Susan boasted, throwing a smug nce at Thssa.


    That look was like a dagger to Thssa''s heart.


    Susan was deliberately unting the two hundred thousand in front of Thssa, boasting about her


    night with Lysander and the hefty sum she had gained.

 Chapter 1119

    Chapter 1119


    Thssa''s breath hitched for a moment as she rose from her seat. "The client has already purchased


    the stocks. My work is done for today, Mr. Ethan. I''m heading out."


    She couldn''t stay a minute longer. In a room with Susan and Lysander, it felt like a thorny prison.


    Without another word, she turned to leave.


    "Stop!" Lysander''s deep voice echoed. Though just one word, the sheer authority in it was impossible


    to ignore.


    Thssa paused mid-step, closed her eyes, and took a deep breath topose herself before turning


    back with a professionally courteous smile stered on her face. "Mr. Sinir, is there something


    else?"


    "Join me for a round of golf. If you y well, you can leave," Lysander stated.


    "Mr. Sinir, I''m quite the golfer myself. I could join you for a game," Susan volunteered eagerly, her


    wordsced with an urgency that betrayed her wish for Thssa to leave immediately so she could


    stay with Lysander.


    "Indeed," Lucy chimed in, bolstering her daughter''s im. "We''ve had Susan in golf lessons since she


    was a child. She''s attended quite a few courses, you know."


    Lucy cast a superior nce at Thssa and continued, "Our Susan is not like some country bumpkins


    who have nothing but the smell of the farm about them and no real skills to speak of."


    They had invested in Susan''s upbringing with the intention of her mingling with the elite, sharing their


    interests, and cultivating rtionships with the wealthy bachelors.


    Oh, this family was quite the spectacle, Thssa thought, unting their supposed nobility while


    stepping on others they deemed beneath them.


    A me of anger began to spiral within Thssa, and she couldn''t hold it back any longer. She let out a


    N?velDrama.Org: owner of this content.


    lightugh and said, "Who says country folks can''t do anything? Golf? That''s something I''ve grown


    tired of ying, and you''re still making a fuss over it?"


    "You''re blowing smoke! You know how to golf? I don''t believe it for a second! I''ve taken thousands of


    golf lessons since childhood just to get decent at it, and I''m still far from professional. And here you are,


    iming you''re so over it? Have you ever even taken a single golf lesson?" Susan scoffed, her words


    dripping with disbelief and mockery.


    "Is that so? One lesson with my coach beats your thousand. An extraordinary teacher brings forth


    exceptional students. I can only say the coaches you¡¯ve hired are mediocre," Thssa retorted coolly.


    "My coaches are some of the most renowned on the market! Who¡¯s your coach? I doubt your coach


    could beat that with just one lesson!" Susan shot back, visibly irritated.


    Thssa''s gaze drifted leisurely towards Lysander as she replied, "My coach doesn''t just take on any


    student and prefers to stay out of the limelight. Not everyone is privileged enough to know his name."


    "Keep bragging," Susan snapped, standing up with barely contained anger. "Prove it in a match against


    me. All this talk is just hot air unless you can back it up!"


    It wasn''t just a challenge to Thssa; Susan was set on proving her worth in front of Lysander,


    determined to establish her superiority.


    Thssa had long despised this family, especially Bruce and Susan, who had used a video of her


    mother to ckmail her!


    She had always swallowed her anger, but now presented with an opportunity to turn the tables, she


    wasn''t going to let it slip away.


    "Alright, one game to settle it. Let''s see who can drive the ball farther!" Thssa epted Susan''s


    challenge without hesitation.


    "Fine, I''ll go first!" Susan dered, confident of victory.


    In her eyes, Thssa was just full of hot air. The idea that one lesson could surpass a thousand of hers


    wasughable!

 Chapter 1120

    Chapter 1120


    As Susan finished her taunt, she beckoned a caddy over with a casual wave. "Bring me the best club


    you''ve got here."


    The caddy nodded and quickly returned with the requested equipment.


    This is property ? N?velDrama.Org.


    Club in hand, Susan shot a challenging re at Thssa, who responded with a slight, amused smile,


    remaining silent.


    "Susan, we all believe in you!" Lucy pumped her fist energetically in Susan''s direction, making a


    cheering gesture. After her show of support, she nudged Bruce''s arm, urging him to show some spirit.


    Bruce gave a small nod, choosing to stay quiet. Caught between a rock and a hard ce¡ªhis loyalty


    split between the daughter who''d grown up by his side and the one he''d publicly acknowledged¡ªit


    wasn''t clear whom he should support. He decided it was best toy low.


    When Lucy had boldly dered in front of Thssa and Lysander that Thssa was his illegitimate


    daughter born outside of marriage, neither had objected.


    This confirmation led Bruce to believe that Thssa hadn''t revealed to Lysander that she wasn''t his


    biological daughter. In Lysander''s eyes, Thssa was still his child!


    Could this be the reason why Lysander ordered the arrest of Elliott and the manager of Crest Summit


    Hotel but spared him?


    Bruce learned that Elliott had confessed to Lysander about his involvement in Thssa''s kidnapping.


    Knowing he had been part of the plot against Thssa and yet Lysander hadn''t sent anyone to arrest


    him had Bruce on edge, fearing the police mighte for him at any moment. Yet, days passed


    without incident.


    He had been puzzled, but now he thought he understood the reason.


    Lysander, out of consideration for Thssa, had refrained from having him arrested. Thssa, likely


    believing her mother''s video was still on his phone, hadn''t dared make a move or tell Lysander the


    truth.


    After all, the safety of her mother''s video was tied to his own. If anything happened to him, the video


    would be exposed in a desperate act of self-preservation.


    Susan stepped onto the green, assumed a poised stance, and with a style all her own, took a few


    practice swings before striking the ball. It flew across the sky, tracing a graceful arc beforending on


    the turf.


    The ball didn''t make it into the hole, stopping just a meter away¡ªan impressive feat for someone who


    had swung just once. Most people required several attempts to sink the ball.


    Wasn''t Thssa the one who said it was all about distance?


    With that shot, Susan felt certain she could beat Thssa.


    Once she had finished, Susan turned towards Thssa with a smug grin. "Your turn."


    As Thssa approached, she simply said, "Pass me the club."


    Susan instantly swung the club behind her back, scoffing, "This is my personal club, stored here for my


    use. If you need one, use one of the standard clubs. After all, this is my private property."


    Why would she give Thssa any advantage with her superior equipment?


    Ethan watched their rivalry with amusement, chuckling to Lysander, "These sisters are quite the


    spectacle."


    Lysander''s deep, icy gaze flickered towards him.


    Ethan promptly zipped his lips and busied himself with a ss of juice, deciding it was better to stay


    quiet.


    Thssa rolled her eyes at Susan, strolled up to the tee, and picked up a standard club from the


    ground. Holding the club awkwardly, she fumbled with her grip several times before finding the right


    hold.


    "Ha, doesn''t even know how to hold a club and she''s bragging about winning," Susan jeered from a


    distance.


    "Thssa, seems like your so-called ''coach'' isn''t much of an expert. Probably just a hustler," Susan


    added, her voice dripping with scorn.


    Thssa ignored her, continuing to adjust her stance.


    Suddenly, a pair of strong hands enveloped hers, their calloused warmth contrasting with Thssa''s


    delicate skin. Her heart skipped a beat.


    Without turning around, she felt the solid strength of a muscr chest press against her back, a


    powerful aura enclosing her in an imprable shield.

 Chapter 1121

    Chapter 1121


    Thssa stiffened, the hairs on the back of her neck standing up. She didn''t need to nce over her


    This is property ? N?velDrama.Org.


    shoulder to know who it was.


    "You..." Thssa began to speak.


    "Don''t move, just swing the club like I showed you," came Lysander¡¯s deep, resonant voice, his warm


    breath brushing against her sensitive skin behind her ear, sending a tickle down her neck. Hisrge


    hand enveloped hers, guiding her to adjust her grip on the golf club.


    Pressed against Lysander''s muscr, warm chest, Thssa could feel the rise and fall of his breath,


    making her own breathing heavy and her heart erratic.


    With his arms encircling her, teaching her the stance for a golf swing, they looked intimate and


    suggestive from afar.


    Moments ago, Susan had been mocking Thssa, but the sight before her left her wide-eyed in shock.


    Jealousy and resentment made her breathing erratic, and she fixated her gaze on the pair wrapped up


    in each other, grinding her teeth in silent fury.


    Lucy was equally stunned by the scene, her previous confidence frozen in ce.


    Ethan sipped his juice, chuckling, "All that set-up, I knew Lysander had something up his sleeve."


    Meanwhile, Thssa was blissfully unaware of the envious stares and hostile res directed her way.


    Lysander''s formidable presence enveloped her, making her breath feel almost involuntary.


    Once he had positioned her correctly and she had a firm hold on the club, Lysander''s velvety voice


    whispered in her ear, "Swing it like this¡ªquick, urate, and precise, one good shot."


    After sharing his secret, Lysander stepped back, his prating gaze fixed on Thssa.


    As the heat from his body receded, and his dominant aura retreated, Thssa''s consciousness


    snapped back into ce, her heartbeat normalized, and her breathing steadied.


    Following the posture Lysander had set for her, Thssa took a deep breath, focused on the white golf


    ball, and swung with all her might.


    The ball soared through the air in a graceful arc.


    Susan watched the ball take flight, her heart racing with nervous unease. Silently, she prayed it


    wouldn''t fly too far or sink into the hole.


    But then, right before her eyes, the ball sailed past hers and dropped precisely into the hole a short


    distance away.


    Susan''s heart plummeted.


    Thssa watched the ball disappear into the hole and turned around with a smile, "I won!"


    Susan''s face twisted with vexation and anger, "You cheated, getting Lysander to coach you. That''s not


    a fair win!"


    Thssa retorted, "Lysander is my coach, and I don''t recall us agreeing that coaching on the spot was


    against the rules?"


    Thssa had dared to challenge Susan with golf¡ªa game she was not adept at¡ªconfident that


    Lysander would step in when it mattered. Her earlier conversation had hinted at Lysander being her


    coach, and he had just given her a private lesson.


    If she had lost, how embarrassing it would have been for Lysander as her coach? To salvage his pride,


    he wouldn''t have let her lose.


    The oue was a bet well won.


    "What? Lysander is your coach?" Susan was dumbfounded, her disbelief ping-ponging between


    Thssa and Lysander, recalling Thssa''s earlier insinuations about her ''extraordinary'' coach while


    she had scoffed and taunted.


    Damn, she had lost to Thssa and had managed to offend Lysander!


    Susan felt like she was on the verge of a breakdown.

 Chapter 1122

    Chapter 1122


    Susan''s heart was pounding out of her chest as she faced Lysander standing beside Thssa like a


    towering oak. His very presence was intimidating, and Susan cursed her rotten luck.


    Only moments ago, she had belittled Thssa''s golf coach, and now she realized, to her horror, that


    Thssa''s coach was none other than Lysander himself!


    Facing Lysander felt like standing in a lion''s den. ncing at his striking, chiseled features, she


    instinctively took a step back, panic etched across her face.


    "Mr. Sinir, I wasn''t speaking about you. I meant the coach that Thssa mentioned, not¡­not you¡­I


    had no idea she was talking about you."


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    Susan''s attempt at an exnation made her feel like she was sinking deeper into quicksand. Once she


    finished, she noticed Lysander''s icy gaze piercing her, and she mped her mouth shut, overwhelmed


    with fear and confusion.


    Lucy, too, had just pieced together that the coach Thssa had been talking about was Lysander.


    Susan had insulted Lysander to his face!


    She felt a wave of secondhand embarrassment for Susan and nudged Bruce urgently, signaling for him


    to somehow bail Susan out of this mess.


    Bruce rolled his eyes without responding. Aside from her knack for the stock market, Lucy was clueless


    about pretty much everything else. He had seen through Thssa''s ploy from the start, while Lucy had


    blindly cheered her on. Now, with Susan having bad-mouthed Lysander in his very presence, her


    chances of ever winning him over were shot.


    Bruce had witnessed Thssa''s cunning firsthand. Even he had been outsmarted by her, left hanging


    off a cliff. She was no ordinary woman; otherwise, how could she have so thoroughly captured


    Lysander''s attention?


    "Bruce, Lucy, now that we''ve wrapped up today''s business, is there anything else? Are you staying to


    y a round of golf?" Ethan strolled over, his voice calm and collected.


    "No, no, we''ve aplished our main goal of discussing the Crawley Group with Mr. Ethan. We''ve


    invested, and now it''s time to head back and await the news," Bruce replied quickly, seizing the


    opportunity Ethan had given them to exit gracefully.


    "Mr. Sinir, Mr. Ethan, we''ll take our leave. Enjoy your game; we wouldn''t want to spoil your fun,"


    Bruce said, bowing and scraping as he grabbed Lucy''s hand and tugged her to leave.


    Lucy got the hint, but she was concerned about leaving Susan behind.


    Without their support, wouldn''t Susan be even more vulnerable?


    Susan, quick to read the room, chimed in, "Yes, yes, we wouldn''t want to interrupt Mr. Sinir and Ms.


    Everhart''s game."


    Hastily, she sidled up to Lucy, clinging to the hem of her jacket, desperate not to be left behind in this


    den of lions.


    Once the trio hastily departed, Thssa''s professional smile faded. She turned to Lysander and said,


    "I''ve yed my part. Can I go now?"


    Lysander''s deep gaze shifted to her. "Let''s leave together."


    "You and Mr. Ethan haven''t started your game yet. I don''t want to disrupt. I''ll head out on my own; you


    two can continue," Thssa said, her voice seemingly calm but deliberately putting distance between


    herself and Lysander.


    Without waiting for his response, Thssa turned and walked away, leaving Lysander to watch her


    retreating figure, enveloped in the quiet gravity of the night.


    He was well aware of her efforts to keep her distance. She''d rather walk alone than be with him, just


    like the night before, finding any excuse to sleep separately.

 Chapter 1123

    Chapter 1123


    "Looks like you''ve got yourself in hot water with your girlfriend, huh? Gonna chase after her and


    smooth things over." Ethan strolled over, leaning against the fence beside Lysander and watching


    Thssa''s retreating figure.


    He teased with a grin, "When she called you her coach earlier, you two seemed pretty chummy. What


    happened, she beats Susan at mini-golf and suddenly it''s goodbye Mr. Nice Guy? Are all women that


    fickle? Give me the lowdown so I can just give up on love already."


    As Ethan spoke, he nudged Lysander''s arm and looked at him sideways.


    Lysander turned. His gaze was sharp and piercing as a gust of cold wind whipped around Ethan.


    Feeling the intensity of Lysander''s presence, Ethan quickly held up three fingers in a mock surrender,


    "Forget I said anything."


    Lysander cast a fierce look at Ethan and strode away.


    Ethan let out a long breath and patted his chest, muttering to himself, "All talk and no game, man. If


    you''re gonna y, at least y for keeps."


    He was curious about Lysander''s secrets, but he knew those weren''t the kind of stories you could just


    pry into without consequence.


    The golf course was expansive, and it took Thssa a good fifteen minutes to reach the clubhouse


    entrance, with its imposing step. She was so focused on the ground that she didn''t see the person in


    front of her and identally kicked his leg ¨C the same leg that was clearly injured and propped up by


    This is the property of N?-velDrama.Org.


    crutches.


    "Ouch!" a pained voice eximed.


    Instantly looking up, Thssa apologized, "Oh my gosh, I''m so sorry. I wasn''t looking¡ª"


    One foot still inside, the other stepping out, she reached out to help the person she had inadvertently


    hurt. Then she recognized him and a look of surprise and delight crossed her face. "Callum, it''s you!"


    she eximed


    As she spoke, her hand steadied his arm. She was guilt-ridden that her inattention might have caused


    him more pain.


    Callum, hearing the familiar voice, focused his gaze and saw Thssa. A relieved smile broke across


    his gentle features, "Thssa, what a coincidence."


    "Totally," she replied, her hand still on his arm. Her eyes dropped to his leg encased in a cast and


    suspended slightly off the ground to avoid contact.


    "Your leg..." Thssa''s breath hitched. Her tone was heavy with regret.


    She remembered clearly the day Lysander had found her and the child and taken them away by


    helicopter. She had heard Callum''s cries of pain as Lysander''s bodyguard had beaten him.


    His leg must have been injured by Lysander''s bodyguard then.


    "I''m so sorry; this is all my fault," Thssa said as shame and apology etched in her voice. If she


    hadn''t asked Callum to help her escape, he wouldn''t be in this condition.


    Callum, seeing the worry furrowing her brow, maintained his gentle and calming demeanor, "It''s alright.


    It''ll heal with time. Don''t me yourself, or everything I''ve done would be for nothing."


    "Don''t worry, I won''t stay with Lysander forever. I''ll find a way to leave him," Thssa assured Callum


    with determination.


    No sooner had she spoken than the air around them seemed to shift, a chill creeping in as if an


    unwee presence had drawn near.

 Chapter 1124

    Chapter 1124


    Callum lifted his gaze. Spotting a familiar figure approaching, his gentle smile swiftly retreated into an


    austere mask of seriousness.


    Thssa felt the air shift and turned to see Lysander striding towards them with a thunderous


    expression. His aura was sharp as an icy winter gale swept in, which chilled to the bone.


    Her heart instinctively clenched; her eyes were wide with wariness and panic.


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    "Are you trying to cripple his hand, too?" Lysander''s frosty voice cut through the distance before he


    even arrived.


    Thssa''s eyes flickered. She snapped back to the present and realized she was still holding onto


    Callum''s arm. Their close proximity could easily be mistaken for a pair of long-lost lovers reunited.


    She quickly withdrew her hand and turned again to face Lysander. He was already upon them, his


    domineering presence stifling her breath.


    As he closed in, he seized Thssa''s wrist and yanked her towards him, away from Callum.


    Stumbling from his force, Thssa brushed against his torso before hastily stepping back. Her face


    was painted with rm, "Lysander, it was an ident¡ªI bumped into him and was just trying to help..."


    She hurried to exin, desperate not to let any misunderstanding incriminate Callum.


    She had already been the cause of Callum''s broken leg; if his hand suffered because of her, she could


    never forgive herself.


    Lysander''s unfathomable eyes swept over her flustered features. And he turned his icy gaze to Callum,


    "Mr. Gordon is also in this golf course? What a coincidence."


    Callum managed a wry smile in response. He slightly curved his lips and responded, "A reporter


    wanted an interview and chose this spot."


    "Mr. Gordon¡¯s business had now involved receiving reporter¡¯s interviews?" Lysander remarked, his


    casual tone belied by the underlying pressure.


    Callum faced Lysander squarely, "Turns out the reporter knew I was at the hotel in the foothills of the


    Crest Summitst time and the incarcerated hotel owner requested to meet me. So the reporter wanted


    the scoop on my involvement with the case. The environment is really quaint here so the reporter


    arranged the interview here."


    He was clear that his presence wasn''t nned to coincide with Thssa''s.


    "Well, isn''t that a stroke of luck," Lysander said sharply while ushering Thssa across the threshold,


    leaving Callum at the door.


    His imposing figure forced Callum to retreat with his crutches to clear the way.


    As Thssa was pulled past Callum, she glimpsed his faltering steps and worried so much for his


    stability. Only when he steadied himself did she breathe a sigh of relief.


    Her concern for Callum, however, did not go unnoticed by Lysander, whose aura grew colder still.


    Inside the ck Rolls-Royce, Lysander practically threw Thssa onto the seat. His broad chest


    descended upon her, enclosing her in a suffocating embrace; the air pressure in the car was


    plummeting and making it hard to breathe.


    Panic-stricken, Thssa looked up at Lysander as her mind was racing with memories of his past


    rages. Her whole heart clenched in fear. She was not as resilient as before, no longer able to withstand


    his wrath without consequence.


    There was the matter of her unborn child, the pregnancy just barely stable. If she bore the brunt of


    Lysander''s fury, she feared the worst.


    "Lysander, please, calm down!" she pleaded.


    "And why couldn''t you have stayed calm earlier?" His gaze was abyssal, his presence terrifyingly


    intense.


    "I''ve exined it to you. I only helped him because I identally bumped into him. It was truly an


    ident. I would have helped anyone in that situation," Thssa pushed his searing chest.


    Her hands were captured, held high above her head and pinned against the seat, leaving her


    vulnerable before him.

 Chapter 1125

    Chapter 1125


    Thssa''s eyes shimmered like the restless surface of the ocean with fear and surprise in their depths,


    "What are you nning to do?" she asked.


    "You didn''t want to leave with me all because you''re rushing to see him, right? Since when does life


    hand out so many coincidences?" Lysander''smanding presence enveloped her.


    Both Callum and Thssa had offered exnations, but he just refused to believe them. The way


    Callum looked at her wasn''t a simple affection of friendship.


    Thssa''s pupils dted with distress.


    Did he really think that her urgency to leave and her refusal to go with him was all for the sake of


    meeting Callum?


    A surge of anger bubbled up within her like boiling water on the verge of spilling over.


    Her breath became erratic, and with a sh of indignation, she retorted, "Are you really clueless about


    why I don''t want to go with you?"


    "And how would I know, hmm?" Lysander''s voice was maic and tinged with frustration, his jaw


    muscles tensing as he ground his teeth.


    Struggling for a moment, Thssa tried to push away his hands that pinned her arms, but to no avail.


    Annoyed, she locked eyes with him and burst out, "You and Susan were flirting like high school


    sweethearts, all lovey-dovey. That night she must''ve made you quite happy, huh? If two hundred


    thousand bucks can get someone to wait on you hand and foot, why wouldn''t you jump at the deal?


    Even after she cursed you out, you let her off the hook. If I had cursed you, I bet you would''ve chopped


    me into pieces by now!"


    Lysander''s gaze darkened as he stared at her. Her chest heaved with anger, and like a wildcat, her


    eyes zed with the force of her true words.


    Was she really getting worked up and jealous because he was involved with another woman? It


    seemed as unlikely as the sun rising in the west.


    Releasing one of her hands, Lysander lifted her chin with his index finger and stared intently into her


    eyes. "Who said I was involved with her that night?" he quipped.


    Thssa blinked in surprise, "What are you saying?"


    "Do you even have the gall to ask that? Did you even consider what you put me through by running


    away and leaving me alone in the hotel, huh?" Lysander''s thumb caressed her chin as if she were his


    small pet.


    "How did you spend the night then?" Thssa asked with her nerves taut.


    Could it be that she had misunderstood the whole thing? Maybe nothing had happened between


    Lysander and Susan that night?


    "A cold shower can put out a fire. Who said a woman is necessary?" Lysander countered.


    Thssa blinked in astonishment, "Then five years ago, why did you¡­?"


    She trailed off, too embarrassed to finish the sentence.


    That night five years ago, Lysander had been feverish because he was intoxicated by some drug, and


    that was why he couldn''t control his desire for her.


    "Because it was you," he said softly, his voice a low seduction. "You caught me and you kissed me...¡±


    Her scent and her kindness opened his floodgates. He could¡¯ve controlled his desire, but he lost it


    himselfpletely because of her touch and kiss. It was uncontroble.


    That night was hisplete surrender in all his life. It was also the first time he''d ever lost control of his


    body.


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    He''d been trained to resist even the strongest aphrodisiacs, but with Thssa, for the first time, he was


    helpless. Seeing her again, he still felt that same irresistible pull toward her.


    Lysander''s voice was a low rumble. His hypnotic and enticing tone seeped into Thssa''s very soul.


    She was shocked, and her heart was stirring with tumultuous ripples.


    What was he saying? That night, he''d been with her just because she was the one there?


    What did he mean? Did he mean that he had feelings for her?


    This realization sprouted quietly in Thssa''s heart, causing ripples across her heart and making her


    heart race like a drum.

 Chapter 1126

    Chapter 1126


    Thssa''s heart was a storm-tossed sea as she gazed up into Lysander''s deep, enigmatic eyes. In


    their depths, she could see the swirling tempest of desire he fought to restrain.


    It was like that electrifying night five years ago when, amid a symphony of thunder, he pressed her


    beneath him and sealed her lips crazily as shes of lightning yed over their entwined bodies.


    Now, looking into Lysander''s sharply chiseled face, Thssa''s emotions catapulted back to that night¡ª


    she was trembling and panic-stricken, her pulse racing, her body ensnared by an unknown peril.


    The only difference was that five years ago, she only faced the peril of her body being conquered. But


    now it was her heart.


    Lysander''s hot breath brushed incessantly against Thssa''s face. His powerful presence elerated


    her heartbeat and nearly stopped her breath.


    His prating gaze locked onto her as he noticed the flush that crept over her cheeks. All of a


    sudden, her feminine scent invaded his senses and brought every cell in his body to life.


    His body was beyond his control just like what it did five years ago.


    Lysander swallowed hard, leaned down, and captured her lips with precision and force.


    "Mmm..." Caught off guard, Thssa''s eyes widened as his lips melded with hers; a tingling sensation


    spread rapidly through her body and turned her blood into honey.


    Lysander''s kiss was dominant, intense, a siege upon her senses. Soon, Thssa''s breathing was


    entirely at his mercy. The air thinned around her. With her free hand, she instinctively pushed against


    his chest, but the scorching contact made her fingertips twitch and her whole body shudder. Her heart


    rmed, and she hastily retreated her hand with fear.


    Sensing her sensitivity, Lysander''s body ignited with a burning heat. Supporting the back of her head,


    he kissed her more fiercely. Their breaths mingled heavily in the charged air.


    In no time at all, Thssa was left dazed and breathless; her mind was a foggy haze struggling for air.


    Only then did Lysander release her and let their lips part with a lingering connection. His damp mouth


    traced a path along her cheek to the tender skin behind her ear, his breath teasing her and making her


    neck twitch. Her breath was so hitched as she gasped for air.


    "How do you n to leave me this time, hmm?" Lysander''s husky voice rumbled against her ear, his


    lips grazing her earlobe as a form of punishment.


    Thssa''s foggy consciousness began to clear slightly. She gasped lightly, thinking that he surely


    heard what she said with Callum.


    Thssa said, "I thought you and Susan were willing partners, so I felt it would be better off if I stepped


    aside for you both."


    She had to admit that her words to Callum were not just well-considered but alsoced with spite.


    Lysander paused, her words feather-light yet piercing his heart, making it clench.


    "Why help her if you were so unwilling?" Lysander murmured against her ear as he kissed it. His


    dangerous aura was threatening to invade her at any moment.


    The itch behind Thssa''s ear was intense, but her heart skipped a beat at his question.


    Was Lysander asking why she helped Susan get close to him?


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    As Thssa''s awareness sharpened, she realized that the misunderstanding between her and


    Lysander was as thin as a sheet of ss¡ªif only she could shatter it, everything would be clear.


    She had helped Susan get closer to Lysander because Susan had ckmailed her with a video of her


    mother. To protect her mother, she had no choice but toply.


    But if she spoke the truth, Lysander would mock and ridicule her mother. That would be another blow to


    Evelyn.


    Lysander had already scorned her for what he perceived as Evelyn''s lingering attachment to Bruce. If


    he learned that Evelyn had been forced by Bruce, he might feel vindicated and that Evelyn deserved it.


    As Thssa wrestled with whether to reveal the truth to him, Lysander''s voice, cold and hoarse, broke


    the silence, "You are so eager to escape that you''d push me towards another woman, huh?"

 Chapter 1127

    Chapter 1127


    Thssa''s eyes widened a fraction, her mind jolted awake. Lysander had just provided an answer to


    the question that had been perplexing her and sparing her the mental gymnastics ofing up with an


    excuse.


    "I regret it, I really do!" Thssa said hastily.


    As Lysander looked up, his deep-set eyes fixed on her, "What kind of regret?"


    Locked in the gaze of his oceanic and glossy eyes, Thssa knew she had to appease him or he


    wouldn''t let her off the hook.


    Her breath hitched, and she lifted her head to nt a soft kiss on his lips, lingering for just a moment


    before she attempted to lie back down.


    As she started to pull away, hisrge hand cradled the back of her head and he deepened the kiss.


    Her chest pressed against his, leaving no space between them. She could feel the heat emanating


    from his solid chest and the powerful beat of his heart, which seemed to drive her own pulse into a


    frantic race.


    Thssa''s breathing grew heavy as she responded to his kiss, and the gesture itself seemed to


    pleasure him. Lysander''s eyes gleamed with knowing satisfaction as his kiss was bing more


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    At the height of their kiss, Thssa suddenly felt an unusual tension in his body.


    A wave of rm rushed through her mind. His dangerous aura was intensifying, and he seemed ready


    to exact swift justice.


    But she was still pregnant.


    Just as Thssa was about to resist, Lysander released her. His thumb gently wiped the saliva from


    her lips. His eyes darkened, his voice husky and low, "I''ll let you off this time. In the future, you''re


    forbidden from any contact with other men, got it?"


    His lingering annoyance still revolved around Callum¡¯s issue.


    She had already exined to him that she had bumped into Callum by ident and never expected to


    encounter him here.


    "I really just tripped and instinctively reached out to steady him. I wasn''t rushing to meet him," Thssa


    reiterated, insisting she hadn''t lied.


    "Just because you see it that way doesn''t mean he does," Lysander stated, his words icy and


    authoritative.


    The way Callum had looked at her was anything but simple. Besides, Callum was no stranger to self-


    defense; he had skills. Nevertheless, he had let a bodyguard strike himself without retaliation or even


    an attempt to dodge at the Weston Country.


    Why?


    He was trying to elicit Thssa''s sympathy by making her witness his beating.


    Knowing Lysander''s irrationally domineering nature, Thssa realized he wouldn''t let the matter slide


    unless sheplied.


    She said, "Fine, if you ever catch me with another man, feel free to chop off my hands, okay?"


    Lysander pulled out a wet wipe, took hold of her hand, and meticulously cleaned her palms and fingers,


    not missing a single spot.


    This was the hand that had supported Callum.


    "If it happens again, I need to chop the man¡¯s hands instead of yours," Lysander said firmly.


    Hearing his words and catching the sternness in his eyes made Thssa''s heart contract with fear.


    She''d rather maim her than let anyone else suffer consequences on her behalf.


    "Please get up; I want to sit. Lying down like this is ufortable," Thssa deflected, shifting the


    subject as she addressed him.

 Chapter 1128

    Chapter 1128


    Lysander''s expression darkened momentarily, a flicker of concern passing through his deep-set eyes.


    He straightened up and gently pulled Thssa to her feet, urging her to sit up properly beside him.


    "Feeling any difort?" he inquired.


    Last time, he''d been oblivious to her pregnancy and had nearly caused a miscarriage. He couldn''t


    afford to make that mistake again.


    Thssa was taken aback to see Lysander anxious. She was actually being pampered because of her


    condition, a rare experience for her with Lysander.


    "No, I feel quite alright," she replied.


    "Hungry? What would you like to eat?" Lysander''s voice was still husky, not yet back to its usual timbre.


    "Anything light would be fine," Thssa responded without fuss. She hadn''t eaten since getting off


    work and naturally, her stomach was growling.


    Times had changed; she couldn''t just ignore her hunger anymore, especially with a little one growing


    inside her. Even if she wasn''t hungry, the baby would be.


    "Hmm." Lysander''s voice resonated with a maic syble.


    He took out his phone and dialed Fitch, "Prepare a light dinner."


    After giving the instructions, he hung up.


    Thssa looked at him with surprise. For the first time, she felt truly indulged¡ªwhatever she craved,


    he would have the kitchen whip up. Just moments ago, she couldn''t stand the sight of Lysander just


    because she doubted that there was an affair between him and Susan.


    Now that he said himself that there was nothing between them, her mood lifted substantially and she


    found him pleasing.


    However, if there was no connection between him and Susan, why he did let Susan''s harsh words slide


    so easily?


    That was a riddle Thssa couldn''t solve.


    As she watched him, Lysander''s prating gaze suddenly met hers and made her heart skip a beat.


    She quickly averted her eyes, sitting up straight and pretending not to have been peering at him.


    "You have a question?" Lysander''s deep voice inquired.


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    Thssa panicked. She could still refrain her thought if he didn¡¯t read it; but if she still refused to say


    after he had seen through her, she¡¯d feel stuck and he¡¯d be overthinking.


    ncing at him hesitantly, she asked, "Susan called my coach ragtag, which was clearly an insult to


    you. Why weren''t you angry?"


    "Do you want her to end up like Lucy, with a p across the face?" Lysander countered.


    Thssa blinked, shaking her head dumbly.


    "Won¡¯t you feel bad for her if she got pped?" he pressed further.


    She would rather suffer herself than betray Bruce, the man who had kidnapped her, all because of the


    father-daughter bond she presumed they shared.


    He had obliged her wishes by sparing Bruce and her dear sister Susan.


    Thssa was stunned and confused by his question, "Why would I feel bad for her?"


    The thought was ludicrous. Feel bad for Susan? She would relish seeing Susan get a p, the more


    brutal, the better.


    Just yesterday, she had pped Susan herself, and the marks were now concealed underyers of


    thick foundation. If not for that, Lysander would know just how much she¡¯d "feel bad" for her dear sister.


    Lysander let his gaze drift from her face, saying no more.


    The ck Rolls-Royce journeyed smoothly on the asphalt road below.


    ...


    Meanwhile, Susan fumed in her silver Mercedes parked at the golf course. While she was looking


    outside, her eyes were venomous with rage and filled with resentment as well as frustration.


    She had seen with her own eyes how Thssa flirted with Callum at the entrance until Lysander


    arrived. He whisked Thssa away, and the two of them disappeared into the car and got all chummy


    inside it.


    Lysander wouldn''t even give Susan a second nce. If she tried to seduce him, he''d reject her with a


    disdainful kick, a rejection so cold that it still pained her belly.

 Chapter 1129

    Chapter 1129


    He treated Thssa with such domineering affection. They were really close to each other, and


    Lysander even sought her love.


    Where did she fall shortpared to Thssa?


    Once, a virgin like her could take it slow. Now that she was no longer one, her prospects for winning


    Lysander''s favor had diminished. She had to hasten her steps; only by securing Lysander could she


    find peace.


    She suddenly remembered Callum.


    Thssa seemed to favor him and unabashedly engaged with him in full view of everyone. And Callum


    had mentioned he could help her.


    Susan''s gaze calcted as she looked toward the clubhouse entrance.


    "Susan, have you been swamped with worktely? Why are you never home at night?" Lucy asked


    with concern.


    "Yeah, swamped," Susan replied curtly, her eyes still venomous as she stared out the car window. "I


    need to make money. How else am I going to give you two hundred thousand to y the stock


    market?"


    She didn''t tell her parents about the hardships she endured outside. There was no point in doing so;


    they would only me her. And telling them about her own grievance and bad shapes only offered


    them ammunition to criticize her.


    She had to secure the title of Mrs. Sinir on her own.


    Back at home, Susan pulled Bruce aside into the study, away from Lucy''s ears, "Dad, send me the


    video you have that''s ckmailing Thssa."


    "What are you nning? Getting back at Thssa for earlier?" Bruce asked warily.


    Susan''s face twisted with loathing, "Thssa''s gone too far. She has been provoking me time and


    again so I''ll teach her a lesson she won''t forget."


    She recalled how Thssa had defied her threats by pinning her down and pping her fiercely the


    day before. That debt of humiliation had to be settled.


    Bruce tried to calm her, "Don''t be rash. You need a n."


    "How could I n when she¡¯s stepped on me?" Susan snapped, her anger ring at the thought of her


    recent indignities.


    "Susan, I know you''re looking to get even with Thssa, but I''ll be straight with you - the videos from


    my phone andputer are all gone," Bruce confessed.


    "What? How could you lose something so important?" Susan felt as if she''d been struck. She had


    thought she could get back at Thssa anytime, but now the videos were gone!


    "I don''t know. Maybe your mom found out and deleted them," Bruce always had such doubt. But since


    Lucy didn¡¯t press him, he couldn¡¯t just confront her about it.


    "My mom is more trouble than she''s worth!" Susan huffed.


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    "Maybe it''s saved somewhere else. I''ll ask your mom again," Bruce suggested.


    ...


    At Royal Estates.


    Thssa walked in to find her four adorable little ones sitting at the dining table. With spoons in hand,


    they were tucking into their kids'' meals with gusto. Elowen, in particr, with her chubby cheeks


    smeared with soup, looked irresistibly cute.


    "Mommy,e eat. Today''s food is so yummy," Elowen eximed, her bright eyes sparkling as she


    waved her spoon enthusiastically.


    Thssa smiled softly and sat down beside Elowen, "Let me taste how good it is."


    Elowen scooped up some soup and moved it toward Thssa''s mouth, making an "Ahh..." sound.


    Thssa opened her mouth, epting the spoonful of soup


    After swallowing, she praised, "Mmm, delicious."


    Elowen''s eyes shone with pride, and she scooped up another spoonful, offering it to Lysander. "Daddy,


    you eat too. It''s really good."


    Thssa''s surprise was evident. Elowen, she thought, it''s one thing to feed me - I don''t mind your drool


    - but offering it to your father with his fastidious ways? Isn''t that asking for rejection?


    Anxious, Thssa watched as Lysander''s icy demeanor softened, his eyes gazing at Elowen with a


    depth that surprised her.

 Chapter 1130

    Chapter 1130


    Just as Thssa was worrying about Elowen, bracing herself for the chance that Lysander would


    decline Elowen''s offer and leave her crestfallen, she witnessed something that left her gobsmacked.


    There she was, pondering how to gracefully defuse the awkwardness that had settled between them


    like an uninvited guest, when Lysander bowed his head, opened his mouth, and ate the spoonful of


    food Elowen had offered.


    Thssa was even more astonished than before. Lysander, the epitome of cleanliness, possibly


    bordering on germophobic, had just eaten food that could well have been graced by Elowen''s saliva


    or... worse?


    She found it more surprising than if the sun had decided to rise from the West.


    Elowen''sughter rang out, clear and bell-like. Her voice, tender and sticky-sweet, questioned, "Daddy,


    isn''t it yummy? They added egg yolk, some cheese, and bits of bacon in it."


    A connoisseur of fine dining in her own right, Elowen could decipher every ingredient with just one


    taste.


    Lysander had never been one for sweets; the vor in his mouth was a bit off to him, but seeing


    Exclusive ? material by N?(/v)elDrama.Org.


    Elowen''s joyous, adorable demeanor, he responded with a muted tone, "Mmm, delicious."


    Hearing this, Elowen giggled behind her hands. Her eyes were crinkling into lines, her dimples


    deepening on her cheeks ¨C an embodiment of exuberant cuteness.


    Thssa, watching from the sidelines, was infected by Elowen''s happiness. Her heart also turned into


    a fluffy cloud of contentment. Elowen''s exuberant cuteness was practically melting her heart.


    While Thssa was still beaming, Lysander suddenly lifted Elowen; he took her seat and settled her on


    hisp.


    And so, Thssa found herself sitting beside him.


    "Wow, sitting on Daddy''sp for snack time is the best." It was Elowen''s first time enjoying the privilege


    of sitting on Lysander''sp for a meal, and she was both surprised and thrilled.


    Of all four kids, Elowen was the most affectionate. Now that she was cradled by Lysander and sitting at


    the edge of the dining table, the other three kids were envious but didn''t speak up orpete for the


    spot.


    Thssa couldn''t help but wonder why Lysander had suddenly hoisted Elowen onto hisp.


    Then she saw him bring over a bowl of soup and ce it in front of her, his voice deep and resonant as


    he said, "Eat up."


    Was he really offering her such special service?


    Taken aback yet touched, Thssa quickly responded, "Sure, you too."


    After a polite hesitation, she picked up the spoon and started eating. The creamy sweetness spread


    from her taste buds, gliding down her throat, soothing her from the inside out.


    ...


    The next day, Thssa overslept. By the time she woke up, Lysander had already gone to the office,


    and the kids were at school.


    After breakfast, she asked Fitch to drive her out of Royal Estates and dropped her at the bus stop


    where she caught a bus to work.


    As she boarded, the bus was full with no seats avable. A high school boy offered her his seat.


    Thssa declined out of politeness, but the boy insisted, and given her pregnancy, she didn''t refuse


    further and took a seat.


    The bus journey was smooth.


    "Leopold Sinir is dead, and here you are, going about your days cheerfully and acting like nothing


    happened. How do you manage to do it?"


    A woman''s voice, filled with suppressed pain and anger, came from the seat next to Thssa.


    The name Leopold was like an electric shock to Thssa''s system. She turned sharply and her eyes


    met those of the woman beside her. Under a ck baseball cap, her long hair was pulled into a


    ponytail that slipped through the back.


    Her gaze, fierce and full of malice, bore into Thssa.


    It was Debby!


    She hadn''t driven herself; she had taken the bus, presumably to confront her?


    Facing the strong hatred in Debby''s eyes, Thssa''s breathing grew heavier, "No one wanted this to


    happen."

 Chapter 1131

    Chapter 1131


    "If it weren''t for you, he''d still be alive!" Debby eximed; her hatred was so strong that she had to


    clench her teeth and tense her body to refrain her urge tosh out at Thssa.


    Thssa was enveloped in sorrow, her voice trembling with the weight of her words, "Wasn''t he with


    you before? Why did it all just... end?"


    She had told Leopold over and over again to move on, to fall for someone else, to marry and have a


    family.


    To stop holding onto the fantasy that he¡¯d be with Thssa.


    When she had seen him dining with Debby, Thssa had felt genuine happiness for him from the


    depths of her heart.


    "?¦Á?''¦Ó ¦Ã¦Ï¦Ô s¦Å¦Å? ¦§¦Å w¦Ás ?¦Ôs¦Ó ¦Ôs??g ?¦Å ¦Ó¦Ï g¦Å¦Ó ¦Á r¦Å¦Á?¦Ó?¦Ï? ¦Ï¦Ô¦Ó ¦Ïf ¦Ã¦Ï¦Ô!" ?¦Å??¦Ã''s ?¦Á??s, r¦Ås¦Ó??g ¦Ï? ¦Ó?¦Å


    ??¦Á?r, ?¦Ôrl¦Å? ??¦Ó¦Ï f?s¦Ós ¦Ó?¦Á¦Ó s?¦Ï¦Ï¦Ê w?¦Ó? ¦Á ??x ¦Ïf ?¦Å¦Ár¦Ó¦Á??¦Å ¦Á?? f¦Ôr¦Ã.


    ¦¥¦Í¦År¦Ã ¦Ó?¦Ï¦Ôg?¦Ó ¦Ïf L¦Å¦Ï¦Ñ¦Ïl? l¦Åf¦Ó ?¦År ?¦Å¦Ár¦Ó r???l¦Å? w?¦Ó? ¦Ñ¦Á??.


    ¦§¦Å ?¦Á? ???¦Å¦Å? s?¦Ár¦Å? ?¦Å¦Áls w?¦Ó? ?¦År, ¦Á?? ¦Å¦Í¦Å? ¦Ó¦Å??¦Å? ¦Ó¦Ï ?¦År w?¦Ó? ¦Á g¦Å?¦Ól¦Å w¦Ár?¦Ó?. ¦¢¦Ô¦Ó ¦Ó?¦Á¦Ó w¦Ás


    ¦Ï?l¦Ã ?¦Å?¦Á¦Ôs¦Å ¦³?¦Ál¦Áss¦Á ?¦Á? ?¦Å¦Å? ?? ¦Ó?¦Å s¦Á?¦Å r¦Ås¦Ó¦Á¦Ôr¦Á?¦Ó. ¦§¦Å ?¦Á? ¦Ôs¦Å? ?¦Å??¦Ã ¦Á?? ¦Ó?¦Å?r ??¦Ó??¦Á?¦Ã


    ¦Ás ¦Á ¦Ñ¦Áw? ¦Ó¦Ï ¦Ór¦Ã ¦Ó¦Ï g¦Å¦Ó ?¦År ?¦Å¦Ál¦Ï¦Ôs


    Af¦Ó¦År w¦Ál¦Ê??g ?¦År ?¦Ï?¦Å ¦Ó?¦Á¦Ó ?¦Á¦Ã, ?¦Å ?¦Á? ?¦Á?¦Å ?¦Ó ?l¦Å¦Ár ¦Ó¦Ï ?¦Å??¦Ã ¦Ó?¦Á¦Ó ¦Ó?¦År¦Å w¦Ás ?¦Ï f¦Ô¦Ó¦Ôr¦Å f¦Ïr ¦Ó?¦Å?


    ¦Á?? ¦Ó?¦Á¦Ó s?¦Å s?¦Ï¦Ôl? s¦Å¦Ó ?¦År s?g?¦Ós ¦Ï? s¦Ï?¦Å¦Ï?¦Å ?¦Åw.


    ?¦Å??¦Ã w¦Ás ¦Åx¦Ór¦Å?¦Ål¦Ã ¦Ñ¦Á??f¦Ôl.


    S?¦Å ?¦Á? f¦Áll¦Å? f¦Ïr L¦Å¦Ï¦Ñ¦Ïl? ?¦Ôr??g ?¦Ïll¦Åg¦Å, ¦Á s¦Å¦Í¦Å?-¦Ã¦Å¦Ár ¦Ô?r¦Åq¦Ô?¦Ó¦Å? l¦Ï¦Í¦Å ¦Ó?¦Á¦Ó s?¦Å ¦Ñ¦Ôrs¦Ô¦Å? ¦Å¦Á?? s¦Ó¦Å¦Ñ


    w?¦Ó? ¦Á ?¦Ás¦Ï???s¦Ó?? z¦Å¦Ál.


    ¦¥¦Í¦Å? ?¦Å??g ¦Ôs¦Å? ?¦Ã ??? w¦Ás ¦Á ?¦Ål?g?¦Ó, ¦Ás l¦Ï?g ¦Ás ?¦Ó ?r¦Ï¦Ôg?¦Ó ?¦År ?l¦Ïs¦År ¦Ó¦Ï ¦Ó?¦Å ?¦Á? s?¦Å ¦Á?¦Ïr¦Å?.


    ¦¢¦Ô¦Ó ?¦Ïw, L¦Å¦Ï¦Ñ¦Ïl? ?¦Á? ??¦Ïs¦Å? ?¦Å¦Á¦Ó? ¦Ï¦Í¦År ¦Á l?f¦Å w?¦Ó?¦Ï¦Ô¦Ó ??s l¦Ï¦Í¦Å.


    ¦§¦Å ¦Ñr¦Åf¦Årr¦Å? ?¦Å¦Á¦Ó? ¦Ó¦Ï ?¦Å??g w?¦Ó? ?¦År!


    ?¦Å??¦Ã w¦Ás ?¦Ï?s¦Ô?¦Å? ?¦Ã ¦Ñ¦Á??, ¦Á?g¦År, gr?¦Åf, ¦Á?? ?¦Á¦Ór¦Å?.


    ¦©¦Ó w¦Ás ¦Áll ¦³?¦Ál¦Áss¦Á''s f¦Á¦Ôl¦Ó.


    ??¦Ïw??g ¦³?¦Ál¦Áss¦Á l?¦Í¦Å? ?? R¦Ï¦Ã¦Ál ¦¥s¦Ó¦Á¦Ó¦Ås, s¦Ï s?¦Å w¦Ï¦Ôl? ?¦Á¦Ó?? ¦Ó?¦Å ?¦Ôs ¦Ó¦Ï ¦Ó?¦Å ?r¦Áwl¦Å¦Ã Gr¦Ï¦Ô¦Ñ ¦Å¦Í¦År¦Ã


    ?¦Ïr???g ?¦Ôs¦Ó ?? ?¦Ï¦Ñ¦Ås ¦Ïf ?¦Ï?fr¦Ï?¦Ó??g ¦³?¦Ál¦Áss¦Á.


    "Y¦Ï¦Ô ¦Álr¦Å¦Á?¦Ã ?¦Á¦Í¦Å L¦Ãs¦Á??¦År ¦Á?? f¦Ï¦Ôr ???l?r¦Å? w?¦Ó? ???. W?¦Ã ?¦Ï¦Ôl??''¦Ó ¦Ã¦Ï¦Ô l¦Å¦Ó L¦Å¦Ï¦Ñ¦Ïl? g¦Ï? Y¦Ï¦Ôr


    ???¦Å??s?¦Ï? l¦Å? ??? ?¦Ïw? ¦Á ¦Ñ¦Á¦Ó? ¦Ïf ?¦Ï r¦Å¦Ó¦Ôr?!" ?¦Å??¦Ã s¦Ñ¦Á¦Ó ¦Ó?¦Å w¦Ïr?s ¦Ï¦Ô¦Ó; ?¦År ¦Í¦Ï??¦Å w¦Ás ?¦Å¦Á¦Í¦Ã w?¦Ó?


    l¦Ï¦Á¦Ó???g.


    S?¦Å ?¦Á? ¦Álw¦Á¦Ãs ?l¦Á?¦Å? L¦Ãs¦Á??¦År f¦Ïr L¦Å¦Ï¦Ñ¦Ïl?''s ?¦Å??s¦Å. ¦¢¦Ô¦Ó s?¦Å w¦Ás ¦Áls¦Ï ¦Ó¦Ï ?l¦Á?¦Å.


    ¦³?¦Ál¦Áss¦Á w¦Ás ?r¦Ïw???g ?? s¦Ålf-?l¦Á?¦Å ¦Á?? g¦Ô?l¦Ó. Upd§Ñted at Dr§Ñ§Þan§àvels.c§à§Þ


    ¦¢¦Ô¦Ó w?¦Á¦Ó ?¦Ï¦Ôl? s?¦Å ?¦Ï?N?velDrama.Org: owner of this content.


    ??ll??g ?¦Års¦Ålf ¦Ó¦Ï ¦Á¦Ó¦Ï?¦Å f¦Ïr ?¦År ¦Ñ¦Ár¦Ó ?? L¦Å¦Ï¦Ñ¦Ïl?''s f¦Á¦Ó¦Å?

 Chapter 1132

    Chapter 1132


    Just as the bus came to a halt at a stop, Debby stood up, nudged her foot against Thssa''s legs


    blocking the way, and strode off the bus.


    As the bus pulled away, Thssa''s heart felt like it had been left behind. It was suspended in mid-air


    and heavy with pain.


    Thssa was distracted all day long. With her mind somewhere else, she was constantly making


    mistakes in the tasks Ethan had set for her.


    "Ms. Everhart, you seem out of sorts," Ethan said, eyeing the documents Thssa handed him riddled


    with typos. It was clear that she wasn¡¯t herself. "Look, you''ve got two hours left. So why don''t you head


    home and rest?"


    "Mr. Ethan, I''ll get my act together. I promise I..." Thssa wanted to perform well, but the gloom and


    distress wouldn''t lift.


    "Trouble with Lysander? A little sweet talk and a man will be putty in your hands. Especially Lysander.


    He''s a piece of cake," Ethan quipped, lifting his head to indulge in a bit of gossip.


    W?¦Á¦Ó ¦Ó¦Ï ?¦Ï?


    ¦¥¦Ó?¦Á?''s ?¦Ôr?¦Ïs?¦Ó¦Ã ¦Á?¦Ï¦Ô¦Ó L¦Ãs¦Á??¦År w¦Ás ?rr¦Å¦Ñr¦Åss??l¦Å. ¦©f ?¦Å ?¦Ï¦Ôl??''¦Ó g¦Å¦Ó ?¦Ô??¦Ã ?¦Å¦Ó¦Á?ls fr¦Ï? L¦Ãs¦Á??¦År


    ???s¦Ålf, ?¦Å''? ¦Ñr¦Ã ¦Ó?¦Å? ¦Ï¦Ô¦Ó ¦Ïf ¦³?¦Ál¦Áss¦Á.


    N?velDrama.Org: owner of this content.


    ¦¥¦Ó?¦Á? ¦Ê?¦Åw ¦Ó??s w¦Ás ?¦Ïs¦Ã, ?¦Ô¦Ó ?¦Å ?¦Ï¦Ôl??''¦Ó ?¦Ål¦Ñ ?¦Ó ¨C ??s ??¦Ó¦År¦Ås¦Ó w¦Ás ¦Ñ?q¦Ô¦Å? ?¦Ã ?¦Ï?¦Å ¦Ï¦Ó?¦År ¦Ó?¦Á?


    L¦Ãs¦Á??¦År.


    ¦³?¦Ál¦Áss¦Á w¦Ás ¦Ó¦Á¦Ê¦Å? ¦Á?¦Á?¦Ê ?¦Ã ¦¥¦Ó?¦Á?''s ¦Á?r¦Ô¦Ñ¦Ó ??¦Á?g¦Å ¦Ïf ¦Ó¦Ï¦Ñ??.


    S?¦Å s¦Ór¦Ôggl¦Å? ¦Ó¦Ï ¦Ê¦Å¦Å¦Ñ ¦Ô¦Ñ w?¦Ó? ??s ¦Ñ¦Á?¦Å ¦Ô¦Ñ¦Ï? s¦Å¦Å??g ¦Ó?¦Å ¦Å¦Ág¦År, g¦Ïss?¦Ñ-?¦Ô?gr¦Ã l¦Ï¦Ï¦Ê ¦Ï? ??s f¦Á?¦Å.


    "?r. ¦¥¦Ó?¦Á?, w¦Å w¦År¦Å ??s?¦Ôss??g w¦Ïr¦Ê," ¦³?¦Ál¦Áss¦Á r¦Å????¦Å? ???.


    "A?¦Å?..." R¦Å¦Ál?z??g ?¦Å ?¦Á? g¦Ï¦Ó¦Ó¦Å? ?¦Árr?¦Å? ¦Áw¦Á¦Ã w?¦Ó? L¦Ãs¦Á??¦År''s ¦Áff¦Á?rs, ¦¥¦Ó?¦Á? ?¦Ï¦Ôg?¦Å? ¦Ó¦Ï ¦Å¦Ás¦Å ¦Ó?¦Å


    ¦Áw¦Êw¦Ár??¦Åss. "G¦Ï ¦Ï?, ¦Ó¦Á¦Ê¦Å ¦Ó?¦Å r¦Ås¦Ó ¦Ïf ¦Ó?¦Å ?¦Á¦Ã ¦Ïff. ¦³?¦Å r¦Å?¦Á????g ¦Ó¦Ás¦Ês ?¦Á? w¦Á?¦Ó ¦Ó?ll ¦Ó¦Ï?¦Ïrr¦Ïw. ¦©''?


    ?¦Ï¦Ó ?? ¦Á r¦Ôs?."


    "Alr?g?¦Ó ¦Ó?¦Å?, ¦Ó?¦Á?¦Ê ¦Ã¦Ï¦Ô, ?r. ¦¥¦Ó?¦Á?." ¦³?¦Ál¦Áss¦Á ????''¦Ó ¦Ñr¦Åss f¦Ôr¦Ó?¦År. ¦§¦År ?¦Ï¦Ï? w¦Ás ¦Ó¦Ï¦Ï s¦Ï¦Ôr ¦Ó¦Ï ?¦Å


    ¦Ñr¦Ï?¦Ô?¦Ó?¦Í¦Å.


    L¦Å¦Á¦Í??g w¦Ïr¦Ê ¦Ów¦Ï ?¦Ï¦Ôrs ¦Å¦Árl¦Ã, s?¦Å ¦Ñ¦Ï??¦År¦Å? w?¦År¦Å ¦Ó¦Ï g¦Ï. ¦³?¦Å ¦Ê??s ¦Á¦Ó R¦Ï¦Ã¦Ál ¦¥s¦Ó¦Á¦Ó¦Ås ?¦Á??¡¯¦Ó ?¦Å¦Å? ¦Ï¦Ô¦Ó


    ¦Ïf s??¦Ï¦Ïl ¦Ã¦Å¦Ó, ¦Á?? ¦¥¦Í¦Ål¦Ã? ?¦Á??¡¯¦Ó f???s?¦Å? ?¦År s??f¦Ó.


    ¦¥¦Í¦Ål¦Ã? ?¦Á? f¦Ï¦Ô?? ¦Á ?¦Ï? ¦Ás ¦Á ?l¦Å¦Á?¦År w???? f???s?¦Å? ¦Á¦Ó s?x ¦Å¦Í¦År¦Ã ¦Å¦Í¦Å???g.


    W????¦Å¦Í¦År ?¦Ås¦Ó??¦Á¦Ó?¦Ï? s?¦Å ??¦Ïs¦Å, s?¦Å w¦Ï¦Ôl? ?¦Å ¦Ál¦Ï?¦Å.


    S¦Ó¦Å¦Ñ¦Ñ??g ¦Ï¦Ô¦Ó ¦Ïf ¦Ó?¦Å ?r¦Áwl¦Å¦Ã Gr¦Ï¦Ô¦Ñ ?¦Ô?l???g, s?¦Å l¦Ï¦Ï¦Ê¦Å? ¦Ár¦Ï¦Ô?? ?l¦Á?¦Êl¦Ã. ¦³?¦Å s?¦Ó¦Ô¦Á¦Ó?¦Ï? w¦Ás


    ¦Ñ¦År¦Ñl¦Åx¦Å? l?¦Ê¦Å ?¦År ¦Ïw? fl¦Ï¦Á¦Ó??g l?f¦Å w?¦Ó? ?¦Ï ?¦Ï?¦Å ¦Ó¦Ï g¦Ï. Co?tent §àf Dra§Þa?ov§Öls.c§à§Þ

 Chapter 1133

    Chapter 1133


    "My boss let me off work two hours early, and here I am, just standing on the curb, clueless about


    where to go next," Thssa mused, her gaze drifting over the endless stream of cars, still at a loss.


    Content ? N?velDrama.Org 2024.


    "Where are you? I''lle pick you up. I''ve been bored out of my mind, too, with no one to hang with.


    Can''t believe you''re flying solo as well," Hertha eximed with a hint of surprise in her voice.


    "Nah, just tell me where you are. I''ll grab a cab over there, no need for you toe get me," Thssa


    replied.


    Hertha rattled off her location.


    Before long, Thssa arrived at the address, a bar where the technicolor lights danced over Hertha,


    who was sipping on a drink while enjoying the performance of a singer crooning at the bar.


    Thssa made her way over and settled down beside her, asking, "What''s with the daytime bar-


    hopping?"


    "J¦Ôs¦Ó ¦Ê?ll??g ¦Ó??¦Å," ¦§¦År¦Ó?¦Á s¦Á??, s?¦Á¦Ñ¦Ñ??g ?¦Á?¦Ê fr¦Ï? ?¦År r¦Å¦Í¦År?¦Å. S?¦Å ¦Ñ¦Ôs?¦Å? ¦Á fr¦Ås?l¦Ã ¦Ïr?¦År¦Å? ?¦Ô??¦Å


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    F¦Å¦Ål??g ¦Ñ¦Ár??¦Å?, ¦³?¦Ál¦Áss¦Á ¦Ó¦Ï¦Ï¦Ê ¦Á gr¦Á¦Ó¦Åf¦Ôl s?¦Ñ ¦Á?? ¦Ás¦Ê¦Å?, "W?¦Á¦Ó''s ¦Ô¦Ñ w?¦Ó? ¦Ã¦Ï¦Ô? Y¦Ï¦Ô l¦Ï¦Ï¦Ê ¦Å¦Í¦Å? ?¦Ïr¦Å


    ?¦Ïw? ¦Ó?¦Á? ¦© ¦Á?."


    "J¦Ôs¦Ó f¦Å¦Ål??g l¦Ï?¦Ål¦Ã, ?r¦Á¦Í??g s¦Ï?¦Å r¦Ï?¦Á??¦Å. W?¦Ó?¦Ï¦Ô¦Ó l¦Ï¦Í¦Å''s ?¦Ï¦Ôr?s??¦Å?¦Ó, ¦©''? ¦Ás l¦Ï?¦Ås¦Ï?¦Å ¦Ás ¦Á


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    ???¦Ó¦Á¦Ó?¦Ï? ¦Ïf ¦Á l¦Ï¦Í¦Ål¦Ïr? ¦Ñ¦Ô¦Ñ.


    ¦§¦År ?¦Ï???¦Ál ¦Åx¦Ñr¦Åss?¦Ï? ¦Á?? l?¦Í¦Ål¦Ã ?¦Á?¦Ó¦År ?r¦Åw ¦Á ?¦Ôrs¦Ó ¦Ïf l¦Á¦Ôg?¦Ó¦År fr¦Ï? ¦³?¦Ál¦Áss¦Á.


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    s??gl¦Å?¦Ï¦Ï?," ¦³?¦Ál¦Áss¦Á ¦Ó¦Å¦Ás¦Å? w?¦Å? s?¦Å ¦Ó¦Ï¦Ï¦Ê ¦Á?¦Ï¦Ó?¦År s?¦Ñ ¦Ïf ?¦År ?¦Ô??¦Å.


    "¦©''? ?¦Ï¦Ó ?¦Ôs¦Ó ¦Á?¦Ã?¦Ï?¦Ã, ¦Ï¦Ê¦Á¦Ã? ¦© ?¦Á?''¦Ó ?¦Ôs¦Ó ¦Ñ??¦Ê ¦Á?¦Ã¦Ï?¦Å. L¦Ï¦Í¦Å''s g¦Ï¦Ó ¦Ó¦Ï ?¦Å ¦Ó¦Ï¦Ñ-s?¦Ålf w?¦Ó? s¦Ï?¦Å¦Ï?¦Å ¦©


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    "S¦Ó?ll ?¦Ô?g ¦Ô¦Ñ ¦Ï? Al¦Ár???" ¦³?¦Ál¦Áss¦Á ¦Ñr¦Ï?¦Å?. S?¦Å ?¦Á? ¦Ê?¦Ïw? ?¦År fr?¦Å?? f¦Ïr ¦Ã¦Å¦Árs ?¦Ô¦Ó ?¦Á? ?¦Å¦Í¦År s¦Å¦Å?


    ?¦År f¦Áll f¦Ïr ¦Á?¦Ã?¦Ï?¦Ã. ¦­¦Ïw s?¦Å w¦Ás s??¦Ó¦Ó¦Å? ?¦Ã Al¦Ár??.


    "L¦Å¦Ó''s ?¦Ï¦Ó g¦Ï ¦Ó?¦År¦Å. ¦©''? ¦Ór¦Ã??g ¦Ó¦Ï g¦Å¦Ó ¦Ï¦Í¦År ??? ¦Á?? s¦Å¦Ó ?¦Ã s?g?¦Ós ¦Ï? ?¦Åw ?¦Ïr?z¦Ï?s," ¦§¦År¦Ó?¦Á w¦Á¦Í¦Å?


    ¦Ïff, ?¦Ïw??¦Ás¦Ó. S?¦Å r¦Á?s¦Å? ?¦År gl¦Áss ¦Á?? ¦Ó¦Ï¦Ï¦Ê ¦Á g¦Å?¦År¦Ï¦Ôs g¦Ôl¦Ñ, ¦Ó?¦Å l?q¦Ô¦Ïr''s ?¦Ôr? ¦Ñr¦Ï?¦Ñ¦Ó??g ¦Á s?¦Ár¦Ñ


    ??ss.


    S¦Å¦Ó¦Ó??g ?¦Ïw? ?¦År gl¦Áss, s?¦Å ¦Ó¦Ôr?¦Å? ¦Ó¦Ï ¦³?¦Ál¦Áss¦Á w?¦Ó? ?¦År ¦Ó?¦Ñs¦Ã ¦Å¦Ã¦Ås, "S¦Ï, s¦Ñ?ll. W?¦Á¦Ó''s g¦Ï¦Ó ¦Ã¦Ï¦Ô


    ?¦Ïw?? S?¦Ár¦Å w?¦Ó? ?¦Å ¦Á?? l¦Å¦Ó''s f?g¦Ôr¦Å ?¦Ó ¦Ï¦Ô¦Ó ¦Ó¦Ïg¦Å¦Ó?¦År."


    ¦³?¦Ál¦Áss¦Á r¦Å?¦Ï¦Ô?¦Ó¦Å? ?¦År ¦Å??¦Ï¦Ô?¦Ó¦År w?¦Ó? ?¦Å??¦Ã ¦Å¦Árl?¦År ¦Ó?¦Á¦Ó ?¦Á¦Ã.


    "J¦Ôs¦Ó ¦Ó???¦Ê??g ¦Á?¦Ï¦Ô¦Ó L¦Å¦Ï¦Ñ¦Ïl? ?¦Á¦Ê¦Ås ?¦Ã ?¦Å¦Ár¦Ó ?¦Å¦Á¦Í¦Ã," ¦³?¦Ál¦Áss¦Á ?¦Ï?f¦Åss¦Å?, ¦Åx?¦Ál??g ¦Á s¦Ïrr¦Ïwf¦Ôl


    ?r¦Å¦Á¦Ó?. "¦©f ?¦Å''? ?¦Å¦Í¦År ?¦Å¦Ó ?¦Å, ?¦Å ?¦Ï¦Ôl?''¦Í¦Å ?¦Árr?¦Å? s¦Ï?¦Å¦Ï?¦Å ??s f¦Á??l¦Ã ¦Á¦Ñ¦Ñr¦Ï¦Í¦Å? ¦Ïf, ?¦Á? ¦Ê??s, ¦Á??


    l?¦Í¦Å? ¦Ï¦Ô¦Ó ¦Á ?¦Á¦Ñ¦Ñ¦Ã l?f¦Å." Re§Ñd at Dra§Þan§àvels

 Chapter 1134

    Chapter 1134


    ric nonchntly plopped down between them. He scanned Hertha with his mischievous, almond-


    shaped eyes, "That''s a line I should be telling you. Still not over me yet?"


    Hertha was immediately stirred at his jab; she rolled her eyes, "Oh, please. Don''t tter yourself. You''re


    no Hollywood heartthrob. Do you really think I''d go out of my way to chase you?"


    It was absurd that ric thought she hade to the bar chasing after him. Sure, there was a time


    when she had been somewhat asking about him and scouring her contacts to ''identally'' bump into


    him, tailing him like some love-struck fool.


    But ever since that fiasco on the golf course, when she identally hit him with a ball and he scolded


    her with such harsh words, she took a stand. She was done with him, resolved to move on and set her


    sights elsewhere.


    She had no idea why she could meet him whenever she went. She really didn¡¯t follow his trail for these


    times.


    "So what you''re saying is you''ve got a crush on some new starlet?" ric''s narrow eyes flicked towards


    Hertha. The light in his eye went dim, a shift even he didn''t notice.


    "Not just any starlet. The new heartthrob Dominic has a look that hit me right in the feels. Every time I


    see him, my heart just goes wild, racing like there''s no tomorrow. If I could get a lead on his


    whereabouts, I''d spare no expense," Hertha gushed, her arms hugging herself as she daydreamed


    with the giddiness of a smitten girl.


    Back when she fell for ric, it was love at first sight, and she dove headfirst into a relentless pursuit.


    Al¦Ár?? ¦Ê?¦Åw ¦§¦År¦Ó?¦Á w¦Åll; s?¦Å w¦Ás ¦Á s¦Ô?¦Ê¦År f¦Ïr ¦Á ?¦Á??s¦Ï?¦Å f¦Á?¦Å, l?¦Ê¦Å ??s ¦Ï??¦Å ¦Ô¦Ñ¦Ï? ¦Á ¦Ó??¦Å.


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    s¦Ó¦Á?? ¦Ó?¦Å ¦Ó¦Ås¦Ó ¦Ïf ¦Ó??¦Å."


    "¦©''ll f¦Áll f¦Ïr w?¦Ï¦Å¦Í¦År ¦© ¦Ñl¦Å¦Ás¦Å, ¦Ó?¦Á?¦Ê ¦Ã¦Ï¦Ô ¦Í¦År¦Ã ?¦Ô??!" ¦§¦År¦Ó?¦Á s?¦Á¦Ñ¦Ñ¦Å? ?¦Á?¦Ê, ?rr?¦Ó¦Á¦Ó¦Å? ?¦Ã Al¦Ár??''s


    Exclusive ? material by N?(/v)elDrama.Org.


    ?¦Ï??¦Å?¦Ó. S?¦Å ¦Ó?l¦Ó¦Å? ?¦År ???? ¦Ô¦Ñ ?¦Åf?¦Á?¦Ól¦Ã, r¦Ïll??g ?¦År ¦Å¦Ã¦Ås.


    ¦³?¦Å¦Ã w¦År¦Å ¦Áll s¦Á¦Ó ¦Á¦Ó ¦Ár¦Ï¦Ô?? ¦Ó?¦Å ¦Ó¦Á?l¦Å. ¦³?¦Ál¦Áss¦Á ?¦Ô?g¦Å? ¦§¦År¦Ó?¦Á''s ¦Ár? g¦Å?¦Ól¦Ã. As ¦§¦År¦Ó?¦Á l¦Ï¦Ï¦Ê¦Å? ?¦Á?¦Ê,


    s?¦Å s?¦Ï¦Ó ?¦År ¦Á l¦Ï¦Ï¦Ê ¦Ó?¦Á¦Ó s?l¦Å?¦Ól¦Ã ¦Ñl¦Å¦Á?¦Å? f¦Ïr ?¦År ¦Ó¦Ï ¦Ê¦Å¦Å¦Ñ ?¦År ?¦Ï¦Ïl ¦Á?? ?¦Ï¦Ó ¦Ó¦Ï ¦Ó¦Ár??s? ?¦År ¦Ïw?


    r¦Å¦Ñ¦Ô¦Ó¦Á¦Ó?¦Ï?.


    W?¦Á¦Ó ¦Ê??? ¦Ïf w¦Ï?¦Á? ¦Ï¦Ñ¦Å?l¦Ã ¦Á???¦Ó¦Ó¦Å? ¦Ó¦Ï f¦Áll??g f¦Ïr ¦Å¦Í¦År¦Ã ?¦Á? s?¦Å ?¦Å¦Ó? ¦©¦Ó w¦Ás s¦Ålf-s¦Á?¦Ï¦Ó¦Ág¦Å.


    ¦§¦År¦Ó?¦Á w¦Ás ¦Á?¦Ó¦Ô¦Áll¦Ã q¦Ô?¦Ó¦Å l¦Ï¦Ã¦Ál, ?¦Ï¦Ó ¦Ó?¦Å ¦Ó¦Ã¦Ñ¦Å ¦Ó¦Ï fl?¦Ñ-fl¦Ï¦Ñ ?? l¦Ï¦Í¦Å. S?¦Å ????''¦Ó ?¦Å¦Å? ¦Ó¦Ï s¦Á¦Ã s¦Ô?? ¦Ó???gs


    ?¦Ôs¦Ó ¦Ó¦Ï s¦Ñ?¦Ó¦Å Al¦Ár??.


    G¦Å¦Ó¦Ó??g ¦Ó?¦Å ???¦Ó fr¦Ï? ¦³?¦Ál¦Áss¦Á''s g¦Ås¦Ó¦Ôr¦Å, ¦§¦År¦Ó?¦Á w?¦Ó??r¦Åw ?¦År g¦Áz¦Å, s¦Ó¦Ár??g ¦Á¦Ó ¦Ó?¦Å ¦Ó¦Á?l¦Å¦Ó¦Ï¦Ñ ¦Á??


    s?l¦Å?¦Ól¦Ã f¦Ô???g.


    S?¦Å ?¦Á? ?¦Å¦Í¦År ¦Ór¦Ôl¦Ã l?¦Ê¦Å? ¦Á?¦Ã ?¦Á? ?¦Åf¦Ïr¦Å. ¦³?¦Å ¦Ï?¦Å s?¦Å l?¦Ê¦Å? ?¦Ôs¦Ó ¦Ó¦Ôr?¦Å? ¦Ï¦Ô¦Ó ¦Ó¦Ï ?¦Å ¦Á ¦Ñl¦Á¦Ã?¦Ï¦Ã w?¦Ï


    ¦Ór¦Å¦Á¦Ó¦Å? w¦Ï?¦Å? l?¦Ê¦Å ??s¦Ñ¦Ïs¦Á?l¦Å f¦Ás??¦Ï?.


    W¦Ás?''¦Ó ¦Ó??s ?¦Ôs¦Ó ¦Ás¦Ê??g f¦Ïr ??s¦År¦Ã?


    W?¦Ã ¦Åls¦Å w¦Ï¦Ôl? s?¦Å ?¦Å s¦Ï ?¦Ïl?? Updated at Dr?manov§Öls.c§àm


    W?¦Ó? ¦Ó?¦Á¦Ó s¦Á??, ?¦Å ?¦Ïw?¦Å? ??s ?r??¦Ê ?? ¦Ï?¦Å g¦Ôl¦Ñ, s¦Ó¦Ï¦Ï? ¦Ô¦Ñ, ¦Á?? w¦Ál¦Ê¦Å? ¦Áw¦Á¦Ã w?¦Ó?¦Ï¦Ô¦Ó ¦Á ?¦Á?¦Êw¦Ár?


    gl¦Á??¦Å.

 Chapter 1135

    Chapter 1135


    Watching her struggle with a mix of helplessness and heartache, Thssa couldn''t help but ask, "If you


    still care so much, why pretend it doesn''t bother you?"


    "What good does it do to care? It just gives him more power to hurt me more," Hertha replied with a


    grim face. She stared at the retreating figure of ric in the distance, murmuring to herself.


    Thssa heard her and understood all too well.


    ?¦Ár??g f¦Ïr ¦Á ?¦Á? w?¦Ï ????¡¯¦Ó l¦Ï¦Í¦Å ¦Ã¦Ï¦Ô ?¦Á?¦Ê ¦Ï?l¦Ã ?¦Á?¦Å ¦Ã¦Ï¦Ô f¦Áll ?¦Å¦Å¦Ñ¦År ¦Á?? ¦Áll¦Ïw ??? ?¦Ôr¦Ó ¦Ã¦Ï¦Ô,


    ??¦Ó¦Å?¦Ó?¦Ï?¦Áll¦Ã ¦Ïr ?¦Ï¦Ó. A?? ¦Ã¦Ï¦Ô''r¦Å l¦Åf¦Ó ¦Ñ¦Ïw¦Årl¦Åss, w?¦Ó? ?¦Ï¦Ó???g ¦Ó¦Ï ?¦Ï ?¦Ô¦Ó g¦Ô¦Ár? ¦Ã¦Ï¦Ôr ¦Ïw? ?¦Å¦Ár¦Ó.


    ¦§¦År¦Ó?¦Á w¦Ás ¦Á ¦Ó¦Ås¦Ó¦Á?¦Å?¦Ó ¦Ó¦Ï ¦Ó?¦Á¦Ó, ¦Á?? ¦³?¦Ál¦Áss¦Á w¦Ás ¦Ó?¦Å s¦Á?¦Å.


    Content ? N?velDrama.Org 2024.


    ¦³?¦Ál¦Áss¦Á ????''¦Ó ¦Ór¦Ã ¦Ó¦Ï s¦Ó¦Ï¦Ñ ?¦År fr¦Ï? ?r??¦Ê??g ¦Á?¦Ã?¦Ïr¦Å. ¦©?s¦Ó¦Å¦Á?, s?¦Å s?g?¦Ál¦Å? ¦Ó?¦Å ?¦Ár¦Ó¦Å??¦År ¦Á??


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    ?? ¦Ï?¦Å g¦Ï.


    ¦³?¦Å¦Ã w¦År¦Å ¦Å??¦Ï¦Ã??g ¦Ó?¦Å?r ?r??¦Ês w?¦Å? ¦§¦År¦Ó?¦Á s¦Ô??¦Å?l¦Ã l¦Ï¦Ï¦Ê¦Å? ¦Ás ?f s?¦Å''? s¦Å¦Å? ¦Á g?¦Ïs¦Ó. S?¦Å ?¦Ô?g¦Å?


    ¦³?¦Ál¦Áss¦Á''s wr?s¦Ó ¦Á?? ¦Ñ¦Ï??¦Ó¦Å? ¦Á?¦Å¦Á?, s¦Á¦Ã??g, "L¦Ï¦Ï¦Ê, ?¦Å¡¯s s?¦Ïw??g ??s ¦Ór¦Ô¦Å ?¦Ïl¦Ïrs."


    F¦Ïll¦Ïw??g ¦§¦År¦Ó?¦Á''s g¦Ås¦Ó¦Ôr¦Å, ¦³?¦Ál¦Áss¦Á s¦Áw Al¦Ár?? w?¦Ó? ¦Á? ¦Ï¦Ô¦Ór¦Ág¦Å¦Ï¦Ôsl¦Ã ?r¦Åss¦Å? w¦Ï?¦Á?. ¦§?s ¦Ï?¦Å ¦Ár?


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    ??s f¦Á?¦Å ¦Ás ?¦Å fl?r¦Ó¦Å? w?¦Ó? ?¦År.


    ¦³?¦Å w¦Ï?¦Á?, sw¦Á¦Ã??g ?¦År ??¦Ñs s¦Å?¦Ô?¦Ó?¦Í¦Ål¦Ã, r¦Ås¦Ñ¦Ï??¦Å? ¦Ó¦Ï Al¦Ár??''s ¦Á?¦Í¦Á??¦Ås w?¦Ó? ¦Á ?¦Ï¦Ã s??l¦Å, ¦Á??


    ¦Ó?¦Å?r ¦Å¦Ã¦Ås w¦År¦Å f?ll¦Å? w?¦Ó? ¦Ô?s¦Ñ¦Ï¦Ê¦Å? ?¦Ås?r¦Å f¦Ïr ¦Å¦Á?? ¦Ï¦Ó?¦År.


    S¦Å¦Å??g ¦Ó??s, ¦³?¦Ál¦Áss¦Á q¦Ô??¦Êl¦Ã r¦Å¦Á??¦Å? ¦Ó¦Ï ?¦Ï¦Í¦År ¦§¦År¦Ó?¦Á''s ¦Å¦Ã¦Ås.


    ¦§¦År¦Ó?¦Á ????''¦Ó ?¦Å¦Å? ¦Ó¦Ï s¦Å¦Å ¦Ó¦Ï ¦Ê?¦Ïw w?¦Á¦Ó Al¦Ár?? w¦Ás g¦Ï??g ¦Ó¦Ï ?¦Ï w?¦Ó? ¦Ó?¦Å w¦Ï?¦Á? ?¦Åx¦Ó. Co?tent of


    Dr?manov§Öls

 Chapter 1136

    Chapter 1136


    Thssa, who stood nearby, noticed the spectacle unfolding before her too. ric, the town''s charming


    Casanova, was being treated like a little boy with his ear firmly in the grip of his mother. The kicker was


    he couldn''t even throw a fit; he could only plead for mercy.


    Hertha was in stitches, and Thssa couldn''t contain her amusement either. A grin cracked through


    her previously bitter expression.


    Catching sight of Hertha and Thssa snickering, ric''s embarrassment deepened. With a


    you don''t let go, I''m really going to lose it!"


    "Oh, I''m shaking in my boots," Angelina snorted, one hand on her hip, the other still twisting ric''s


    ear, forcing him to keep his head bowed in submission.


    With a scowl, Angelina chastised him, "Now you''re concerned about your reputation? What about our


    family''s reputation when you''re out there romancing every Jane and Jill?"


    A?g¦Ål??¦Á ?¦Ás¦Ó ¦Á ??s?¦Á??f¦Ôl gl¦Á??¦Å ¦Á¦Ó ¦Á w¦Ï?¦Á? ?¦Å¦Ár?¦Ã w?¦Ï, ¦Ô?¦Ó?l ?¦Ï?¦Å?¦Ós ¦Ág¦Ï, ¦Á¦Ñ¦Ñ¦Å¦Ár¦Å? q¦Ô?¦Ó¦Å


    ¦Ñl¦Å¦Ás¦Å? ?? Al¦Ár??''s ¦Å??r¦Á?¦Å. ¦­¦Ïw, s¦Å¦Å??g ??? r¦Å¦Ñr??¦Á??¦Å?, s?¦Å s¦Ó¦Ï¦Ï? s?l¦Å?¦Ól¦Ã. S?¦Å w¦Ás ?¦Ôs¦Ó


    ?¦Ï¦Ñ??g s?¦Å ?¦Ï¦Ôl? ?¦Á¦Í¦Å ¦Á r¦Ï?¦Á?¦Ó?? ¦Ås?¦Á¦Ñ¦Á?¦Å w?¦Ó? Al¦Ár?? l¦Á¦Ó¦År.


    ¦³?¦Å w¦Ï?¦Á?''s ??¦Å¦Å¦Ês ¦Ñ¦Ál¦Å? ¦Ô??¦År A?g¦Ål??¦Á''s r¦Å¦Ñr??¦Á??. W?¦Ó? ¦Ó?¦Å ?r¦Ïw?''s l¦Á¦Ôg?¦Ó¦År r??g??g ?? ?¦År


    ¦Å¦Árs, s?¦Å ¦Ó¦Ôr?¦Å? ¦Á?? fl¦Å? w?¦Ó? ?¦År w¦Ï¦Ô??¦Å? ¦Ñr??¦Å.


    "Y¦Ï¦Ôr l¦Á?¦Ã fr?¦Å?? ?¦Ás l¦Åf¦Ó. ¦­¦Ïw, ¦Ã¦Ï¦Ô''r¦Å ?¦Ï???g w?¦Ó? ?¦Å," A?g¦Ål??¦Á ?¦Ï??¦Á??¦Å? ??s s¦Ï?. S?¦Å


    r¦Ål¦Å¦Ás¦Å? Al¦Ár??''s ¦Å¦Ár ¦Á?? s¦Ór¦Ï?¦Å ¦Ï¦Ô¦Ó ¦Ïf ¦Ó?¦Å ?¦Ár.


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 Chapter 1137

    Chapter 1137


    "Seriously, what''s your beef with Georgia? Why can''t you stand her?" Angelina was at her wits'' end


    with him.


    "It''s simple, I just don''t like her. She''s so skinny, like a walking skeleton. Every time I see her,


    something inside me just recoils," ricined, looking visibly annoyed.


    "And what''s your type, then?"


    "I like a girl with some curves, a bit on the plush side, and cute," ric said off the top of his head.


    "Do you even have a girlfriend like that? If she''s a decent girl, I wouldn''t give you any grief if you settled


    down with her," Angelina went with his words, betting that he was just making excuses.


    "Of course, I do. And things between us are great," ric asserted.


    "¦³?¦Å? w?¦Ã w¦År¦Å ¦Ã¦Ï¦Ô ??¦Ó¦Ó??g ¦Ï? g?rls ¦Á¦Ó ¦Ó?¦Å ?¦Ár ?¦Ôs¦Ó ?¦Ïw?" A?g¦Ål??¦Á s?¦Ï¦Ó ?¦Á?¦Ê.


    "¦³?¦Á¦Ó w¦Ás ?¦Ôs¦Ó ?¦Å?¦Á¦Ôs¦Å w¦Å ?¦Á? ¦Á l?¦Ó¦Ól¦Å f?g?¦Ó. ¦© w¦Ás ¦Ór¦Ã??g ¦Ó¦Ï g¦Å¦Ó ¦Á r?s¦Å ¦Ï¦Ô¦Ó ¦Ïf ?¦År," Al¦Ár?? ?l¦Ôr¦Ó¦Å? ¦Ï¦Ô¦Ó


    w?¦Ó?¦Ï¦Ô¦Ó ¦Ó???¦Ê??g.


    "R¦Å¦Áll¦Ã? A?? w?¦Ï ?s s?¦Å? ?¦Ï¦Ås s?¦Å ¦Å¦Í¦Å? ¦Åx?s¦Ó? ¦©''? g¦Å?¦Ô??¦Ål¦Ã ?¦Ôr?¦Ï¦Ôs," A?g¦Ål??¦Á ?r¦Ïss¦Å? ?¦År ¦Ár?s


    ¦Á?? s??r¦Ê¦Å? ¦Á¦Ó ???, r¦Å¦Á?¦Ã ¦Ó¦Ï ?¦Á¦Ó?? ??? ?? ??s l?¦Å.


    "J¦Ôs¦Ó w¦Á?¦Ó ?¦År¦Å, ¦©''ll g¦Ï f??? ?¦År," Al¦Ár?? s¦Á?? ¦Á?? ¦Ó¦Ôr?¦Å? ¦Ó¦Ïw¦Ár?s ¦Ó?¦Å ?¦Ár.


    A?g¦Ål??¦Á w¦Ás l¦Åf¦Ó s¦Ñ¦Å¦Å??l¦Åss. S?¦Å ¦Ó?¦Ï¦Ôg?¦Ó ¦Ó?¦Å ?¦Ãs¦Ó¦År¦Ã w¦Ï?¦Á? w¦Ás ¦Åls¦Åw?¦År¦Å. W?¦Ã ¦Ó?¦Å ?¦Ár, ¦Ïf ¦Áll


    ¦Ñl¦Á?¦Ås?


    S?¦Ñ¦Ñ??g ¦Ï? ¦Á ?¦Ô??¦Å s?¦Å ??s¦Ó¦Ï¦Ï¦Ê f¦Ïr ¦Á ?¦Ï?¦Ê¦Ó¦Á?l, ¦§¦År¦Ó?¦Á s¦Á¦Ó s¦Ôl¦Ê??g, ¦Ï?l?¦Í?¦Ï¦Ôs ¦Ó¦Ï ?¦År ¦Årr¦Ïr. S¦Ô??¦Å?l¦Ã,


    ¦Á l¦Árg¦Å ¦Ñr¦Ås¦Å??¦Å ¦Ó¦Ï¦Ï¦Ê ¦Ó?¦Å s¦Å¦Á¦Ó ?¦Ås??¦Å ?¦År, ¦Á?? ¦Á f¦Á??l?¦Ár f?g¦Ôr¦Å ¦Å?¦Ó¦År¦Å? ?¦År l??¦Å ¦Ïf s?g?¦Ó.


    ¦³¦Ôr???g ?¦År ?¦Å¦Á?, s?¦Å s¦Áw Al¦Ár??''s ?¦Å¦Í?l?s?l¦Ã ?¦Á??s¦Ï?¦Å f¦Á?¦Å, ??s ¦Ôs¦Ô¦Áll¦Ã ??s???¦Å¦Í¦Ï¦Ôs ¦Å¦Ã¦Ås ?¦Ïw


    s?¦Ïw??g ¦Á r¦Ár¦Å s¦År?¦Ï¦Ôs?¦Åss. ¦§¦Å r¦Å¦Á??¦Å? ¦Ï¦Í¦År ¦Á?? s?¦Á¦Ó??¦Å? ¦Ó?¦Å ?¦Ô??¦Å fr¦Ï? ¦§¦År¦Ó?¦Á''s gr¦Ás¦Ñ.


    "W?¦Ã ¦Ár¦Å ¦Ã¦Ï¦Ô s¦Ó¦Å¦Ál??g ?¦Ã ?¦Ï?¦Ê¦Ó¦Á?l?" ¦§¦År¦Ó?¦Á ??s¦Ó???¦Ó?¦Í¦Ål¦Ã r¦Å¦Á??¦Å? ¦Ï¦Ô¦Ó ?¦År ?¦Á?? ¦Ó¦Ï s?¦Á¦Ó?? ¦Ó?¦Å


    ?r??¦Ê.


    "¦©s ¦Ó??s ¦Ál?¦Ï?¦Ïl? Ar¦Å ?¦Ã ¦Å¦Ã¦Ås ?¦Å?¦Å?¦Í??g ?¦Å, ¦Ïr ¦Ár¦Å ¦Ã¦Ï¦Ôrs?" Al¦Ár?? r¦Å¦Ó¦Ïr¦Ó¦Å?.


    ¦§¦År¦Ó?¦Á, r¦Å¦Á?¦Ã ¦Ó¦Ï g¦Å¦Ó ?¦Á?, gl¦Á??¦Å? ¦Á¦Ó ¦Ó?¦Å ?r??¦Ê ?? ??s ?¦Á??¡ª¦³?¦Ál¦Áss¦Á''s ?¦Ô??¦Å s?¦Å ?¦Á? ?¦Å¦Å?


    ?r??¦Ê??g¡ª¦Á?? ?¦Åfl¦Á¦Ó¦Å?, ¦Ô?¦Á?l¦Å ¦Ó¦Ï ¦Í¦Å?¦Ó ?¦År fr¦Ôs¦Ór¦Á¦Ó?¦Ï?.


    "¦© ?¦Å¦Å? ¦Ó¦Ï ¦Ó¦Ál¦Ê ¦Ó¦Ï ¦Ã¦Ï¦Ô f¦Ïr ¦Á s¦Å?," Al¦Ár?? s¦Á??, s¦Å¦Ó¦Ó??g ?¦Ïw? ¦Ó?¦Å ?¦Ô??¦Å gl¦Áss.


    Exclusive ? material by N?(/v)elDrama.Org.


    Af¦Ó¦År s¦Ñ¦Å¦Á¦Ê??g, ?¦Å g¦Ï¦Ó ¦Ô¦Ñ ¦Á?? ?¦Å¦Á?¦Å? f¦Ïr ¦Á ¦Ñr?¦Í¦Á¦Ó¦Å ?¦Ï¦Ï¦Ó? ?? ¦Ó?¦Å ?¦Ár.


    ¦§¦År¦Ó?¦Á, ¦Ñ¦Ôzzl¦Å?, l¦Ï¦Ï¦Ê¦Å? ¦Á¦Ó ¦Ó?¦Å ??r¦Å?¦Ó?¦Ï? Al¦Ár?? ?¦Á? g¦Ï?¦Å ¦Á?? ¦Ó?¦Å? ?¦Á?¦Ê ¦Á¦Ó ¦³?¦Ál¦Áss¦Á f¦Ïr g¦Ô??¦Á??¦Å.


    "¦©''ll s¦Å¦Å w?¦Á¦Ó ?¦Å w¦Á?¦Ós. W¦Á?¦Ó f¦Ïr ?¦Å, ¦©''ll ?¦Å r?g?¦Ó ?¦Á?¦Ê," ¦§¦År¦Ó?¦Á s¦Á??, s¦Á¦Í??g f¦Á?¦Å f¦Ïr ?¦Års¦Ålf ?¦Åf¦Ïr¦Å


    f¦Ïll¦Ïw??g Al¦Ár?? ¦Ó¦Ï ¦Ó?¦Å ?¦Ï¦Ï¦Ó?. New ch§Ñpter av?ble on Dr§Ñman§àvels.c§à§Þ

 Chapter 1138

    Chapter 1138


    "Huh? Didn¡¯t you catch that?" ric asked with a leisurely drawl, his piercing gaze locking onto her and


    bringing her pressure.


    He enunciated each word clearly for emphasis, "I said, you''re going to y the part of my girlfriend and


    Hertha blinked her wide, doe-like eyes at him, swallowing a gulp of astonishment. If she thought she


    had misheard him the first time, ric''s repetition left no room for doubt.


    She certainly wasn''t hallucinating.


    "You want me to pretend to be your girlfriend and meet your grandad? You''ve got some nerve! I mean,


    ying your girlfriend in front of Georgia was one thing, but meeting the family is a whole different ball


    game. You''re really going to bring a fake?"


    Hertha had never done anything like this and certainly didn''t have the guts for it.


    "I''ve got it covered. What are you scared of?" ric said coolly, a teasing smile ying at the corner of


    his mouth. "What, you''re afraid that my family willtch onto you and drag you into marriage after you


    met them?"


    Hertha bristled at the challenge. She raised her neck with her chin defiantly tilted, "What do I have to


    be scared of? If anything, you should be worried. Imagine if your family actually wanted you to marry


    me. You''d really be stuck then!"


    "Don''t worry, they won''t be interested in you. You just have to block this one move and help me call off


    the engagement with the Reed family. You like the famous actor Dominic, right? Once this is done, I¡¯ll


    Exclusive ? material by N?(/v)elDrama.Org.


    get you a one-on-one with him. How about that?" ric offered. He was half-persuading and half-


    tempting.


    "You serious?" Hertha couldn''t believe her ears.


    Could ric really get her a private meeting with Dominic?


    The temptation was strong.


    She was utterly infatuated with Dominic and was his number one fan.


    "Of course I''m serious. You think I carry the Falconer surname for nothing?" ric assured her


    confidently.


    "Alright, it''s a deal! No going back on your word." Hertha agreed immediately; the offer was just too


    tempting to pass up.


    Raising a fist, Hertha extended her pinky; her slightly chubby cheeks tilted up towards ric.


    She had been on a diet and had slimmed down, but after falling out with ric, she¡¯d turned tofort


    eating and quickly regained her former roundness.


    ric watched her gesture, and waspletely baffled, "What are you doing?"


    Hertha stepped forward, grabbed his hand, and locked pinkies with him, "Pinky swear, for a hundred


    years we''ll never dare; whoever breaks it is a rotten egg!"


    ric found this funny, "Childish."


    "More childish than you?" Hertha shot back, rolling her eyes as she led the way out of the booth.


    ric simply smiled and followed.


    Hertha sidled up to Thssa, who was sitting at the bar, and whispered something into Thssa¡¯s ear.


    Thssa''s eyes widened in surprise, and then sheughed, "Go on then, I''ll catch a cab backter."


    "Alright, just be safe," Thssa said as she epted the keys, offering a polite farewell nce at


    ric to signal her concern for Hertha''s well-being. Co?tent of Dr§Ñm§Ñ?ovels.c§àm


    "That''s good to hear," Thssa replied.


    With that, ric and Hertha left the bar.

 Chapter 1139

    Chapter 1139


    Angelina stood rooted to the spot, her expression grave as she watched ric emerge from the bar


    with a woman by his side. Her eyes narrowed, scrutinizing the stranger with a silent intensity.


    Hertha, who had been leading the way, caught sight of the matronly figure awaiting them. Memories of


    Angelina''s firm grip on ric''s ear back at the bar sent a shiver of fear through her. Her steps faltered,


    and she slowed down, waiting for ric to catch up. Clutching at his shirt sleeve with tentative fingers,


    Content held by N?velDrama.Org.


    she sought shelter beside him, the very picture of a timid bride afraid to meet her inws.


    ric nced at her, a smirk ying on his lips as he noticed her trailing behind him and her small,


    nervous steps; her demeanor made her look like a bashful newlywed.


    Hertha''s anxiety mounted as she contemted facing ric''s mother. Her grip on ric''s hand was


    tentative until she felt hisrger, warm hand envelop hers.


    Theforting touch sent a tremor through her. She looked up into ric''s eyes, and his nod gave her


    a silent boost of confidence.


    Taking a deep breath, Hertha steeled herself and tried to calm her racing heart.


    ric, holding her hand firmly in his, walked with measured steps toward Angelina.


    "Mom, this is the woman I''ve been telling you about, the one I''m crazy about," ric said.


    Hertha''s heart skipped a beat at his words, and she stared at him in disbelief. His profile was resolute


    and fiercely attractive.


    Hadn''t their conversation earlier been strictly business? When did he start saying he was crazy about


    her?


    "So, you''re ric''s girlfriend?" Angelina''s voice snapped Hertha back to reality.


    Hertha turned to face the scrutinizing gaze; her nervousness evident as she fumbled with ric''s hand.


    "Yes, I am..." she managed to say.


    "Mom, why so harsh? Look at you, you are scaring the poor girl," ric interjected, sensing Hertha''s


    difort. Her palm was sweaty, and she seemed unable to speak clearly in front of Angelina.


    Squeezing Hertha''s hand in support, he faced his mother.


    "Whoa there, I haven''t even started yet, and you''re already jumping to her defense?" Angelina retorted


    with a chuckle, her domineering presence softening a bit.


    Turning to Hertha, she inquired, "What do you do for a living?"


    "I''m a jewelry designer," Hertha replied meekly.


    "And your parents? What do they do?" Angelina pressed on.


    "Mom, what are you doing? Are you conducting an interrogation?" ric''s patience waned.


    Hertha straightened up and answered, "My parents are both retired judicial personnel."


    Angelina nodded, taking in the details of Hertha''s family background, then turned her critical gaze to


    ric, "What''s the meaning of this? Bringing the youngdy to a bar to fool around?" Co?tent of


    Dr§Ñm§Ñ?ovels.c§àm


    "It''s not his fault; I wanted toe here," Hertha interjected quickly.

 Chapter 1140

    Chapter 1140


    Hertha was on the brink of nodding off when ric stepped in front of her, his protective stance


    unmistakable as he spoke to Angelina with firm conviction, "Look, we''ve had a tiff, okay? I was sulking


    so I hit the bars, and she came looking for me to see what kind of trouble I was stirring up. Like I said, I


    was only chatting up that girl in the bar to get a rise out of her."


    Hearing ric''s words, Hertha was momentarily thrown off. Her eyes were wide with disbelief as she


    nced at his profile. His features were chiseled, a blend of gentle curves and masculine angles¡ªa


    Content held by N?velDrama.Org.


    certain softness that could enchant any woman and matched with a rugged charm that was all man.


    The damned allure of him was intoxicating. The more Hertha looked, the more she felt head over heels.


    And his words also sent her heart racing. So, he had crafted an image for his mother¡ªa picture of


    them as a love-struck couple going through a silly squabble.


    Angelina, skeptical, let her gaze drift past ric to Hertha, who was shielded behind him. She asked


    pointedly, "How did you feel while seeing him flirt with another woman?"


    Hertha blinked, realizing Angelina was addressing her. She stepped out from behind ric and looked


    straight at her with her big doe eyes, asking, "Can I be honest?"


    "Of course, I expect nothing but the truth. Lies are a waste of breath," Angelina replied.


    Taking a deep breath, Hertha said boldly, "I wanted to castrate him, and see how he''d ever touch


    another woman after that!"


    ric turned sharply toward her and hissed a warning, "Hertha!"


    His voice was low butden with a heavy dissatisfaction with her choice of words.


    Angelina was taken aback, her beautiful eyes wide as she stared at Hertha in utter shock, as if she had


    heard the most scandalous confession.


    Realizing her words had sparked an intense reaction, Hertha quickly tried to backtrack, "I just meant


    that''s how angry I was. I didn''t actually want to...you know..."


    Angelina burst intoughter, "You remind me of myself when I was young!"


    Hertha''s anxious exnations were caught in her throat as she stood there, dumbstruck.


    "Let''s head back. Your grandfather is waiting at home," Angelina said abruptly and headed to her car


    first.


    She settled inside, waiting, while ric stepped forward and told her, "You go on ahead. I''ll drive her


    and we''ll be right behind you."


    "That''s fine, but make it quick," Angelina said before signaling her driver to pull away.


    Once Angelina''s car had left, ric locked eyes with Hertha. She suddenly became aware of the warm,


    mmy palm still enveloping her hand. It felt like a jolt of electricity that made her heart flutter, so she


    hastily withdrew her hand.


    ric, realizing he was still holding her hand, let his grip loosen, and after she pulled away, he closed


    his hand on empty air, clenching it lightly.


    Freeing her hand, he quipped, "You''ve got a ruthless streak by wanting to castrate me."


    "Then just go home by yourself. I''m not going with you!" Hertha dered before turning to leave.


    Hertha just huffed and rolled her eyes, shaking off his hand and striding ahead.


    Dra§Þanovels.c§àm


    "Hey, you''re going the wrong way! My car''s over here," ric called out to her retreating figure.


    Redirected, Hertha followed the sound of his voice as ric unlocked the car.


    Recognizing the flickering light, she pulled the door open and climbed into the passenger seat first.

 Chapter 1141

    Chapter 1141


    ric strode confidently to the driver''s seat and revved up the engine.


    Half an hourter, they pulled into the grand driveway of Falconer Mansion, an estate that boasted the


    grandeur of an old castle; its design steeped in aristocratic elegance.


    As they entered the mansion, everywhere looked opulent. The walls were adorned with oil paintings


    that Hertha recognized as masterpieces.


    The floors were a testament to luxury itself with gleaming marble that screamed expensive.


    The grand chandelier cascaded from the ceiling of the living room with its sparkling crystal.


    The life of the Falconers was something she couldn¡¯t imagine, which was no less than Lysander¡¯s,


    Hertha mused.


    Following ric through the grand hall, Hertha noticed three figures lounging on plush sofas. One was


    ric''s mother, Angelina, whom she had met before. The other two were an elderly couple. The old


    grandmother.


    The old man, white-haired as well, rested heavily on a cane. His face was calm but his eyes were


    keenly sizing her up ¨C he was definitely ric''s grandfather.


    All three looked on with the curiosity reserved for novelties, their gazes unwavering. Just moments


    before, Hertha had been admiring the Falconer''s exquisite taste; now her heart was in her throat from


    nerves, instinctively she sidled closer to ric forfort.


    ric took her hand and led her forward, but Hertha''s feet seemed to have other ns, retreating


    backward. A misstep made her lose her bnce, and her legs gave way ¨C shended with a thud on


    her knees.


    ric turned, startled out of his usual calmposure by the sight of Hertha on the ground.


    Exclusive ? material by N?(/v)elDrama.Org.


    What on earth was this woman doing?


    Angelina was speechless.


    Was this woman truly so spineless?


    "Dear, get up now, there''s no need to be so afraid on our first meeting." Beatrice said, hurrying to help


    Hertha up.


    Hertha, her face flushed with embarrassment, quickly clutched ric''s hand and used his strength to


    pull herself up. She offered a sheepish smile, "I came in such a rush so I forgot to bring a gift. That''s


    why I was a bit afraid. I¡¯ll surely bring something you like next time."


    Deciding to own her blunder with a sweet tongue, Hertha apologized to Beatrice and Remington


    Falconer for herck of a gift.


    ric gave her a sidelong nce, amused. Wasn''t she supposed to be tough as nails? And yet here


    she was, buttering them up quite skillfully.


    "Ha-ha, such a courteous youngdy. Come, sit down," Beatrice said with a kind smile, gesturing for


    her to join them on the sofa.


    Hertha, unsure of what to do next, looked to ric for guidance.


    "My dear, how long have you and our ric been seeing each other?" Beatrice inquired with a gentle


    and weing demeanor. Updated at Dra§Þ??§àvels.c§àm


    Hertha opened her mouth to respond.


    "But you''re engaged to Georgia," Angelina interjected sharply.

 Chapter 1142

    Chapter 1142


    Hertha was in a right state of panic. She hadn''t exchanged a single word with ric before arriving,


    and she was clueless about how to field the barrage of questions his folks might throw at her.


    To top it off, Angelina had a point. ric and Georgia were practically betrothed.


    Just a moment ago, ric had propositioned her: help him break off the engagement, and in return,


    he''d arrange a private meeting with Dominic for her.


    But the guy hadn''t given her the faintest clue on how to help him get out of the engagement.


    Beatrice and Remington exchanged a knowing nce before Remington spoke up thoughtfully,


    "Angelina, if ric doesn''t have the hots for Georgia, we just need to find the right moment to have a


    heart-to-heart with her family. Matters of the heart can''t be forced."


    "Absolutely," Beatrice chimed in. "If it weren''t for true love, Remington and I would have split eons ago."


    Beatrice wasn''t exactly blue-blooded. She came from humble beginnings and had fallen head over


    heels for Remington when they were both young. Against all odds, they ended up together. Throughout


    the years, Beatrice had faced her fair share of hardships in the Falconer family because of her


    background, but her love for Remington gave her the strength to ovee any obstacle to stay by his


    side.


    And weren''t they the picture of happiness now?


    Sharing a tender gaze, the depth of their affection was in to see ¨C each had eyes only for the other.


    Hertha couldn''t help but feel admired.


    "But ric''s big brother is about to tie the knot with Miss Suttner. If he can make a strategic alliance


    through marriage, why can''t ric?" Angelina wasn''t easily swayed by the old couple¡¯s reasoning.


    ric had a cousin two years his senior, who was effectively running the Falconer empire, while ric


    managed just a handful of subsidiaries. Angelina was worried that ric¡¯s cousin might clinch the CEO


    position of the Falconer Group for good.


    ric had a reputation for being adies'' man, so his own family harbored doubts about his leadership


    potential. If he married a woman from a non-influential family, then his power wouldn''t expand. That


    would only diminish his chances of vying for the CEO seat.


    Angelina came from a prestigious family, and it was her support that had helped ric''s father secure


    the helm of Falconer Group in the first ce.


    Ideally, ric''s father should have passed down the CEO title to him, but his cousin was more discreet


    Content ? N?velDrama.Org 2024.


    and was about to marry Miss Suttner. With that marriage, he''d surely gain the support of the Suttners.


    And what did ric have? His high-profile antics had soured his image with thepany''s board


    members. Now, he was also bucking against marrying Georgia Reed. Was he trying to sabotage his


    own future?


    Angelina had quizzed Hertha about her family background to weigh the pros and cons.


    ¡°Ahem, oof, my heart...¡± Suddenly, Remington coughed and clutched at his chest, looking quite


    distressed.


    ¡°Dear...¡± Beatrice rushed to his side.


    After patting his chest soothingly, she said in frustration, ¡°Dad, did I say something to upset you again?¡±


    ¡°You''re not upsetting me; you''re upsetting ric''s girlfriend. She''s right here, and you keep harping on


    about Georgia,¡± Remington chided mildly.


    Angelina had already sussed out Hertha. Not only had she witnessed ric being quite familiar with


    other women in Hertha''s presence, but she also knew Hertha''s character. Co?tent belo?gs to


    Dra§Þ?n§àv§Öls.c§àm


    She wasn''t the sensitive type, but she was no pushover when it came to temperament.


    If it weren''t for Remington feigning a heart episode and pressing her to bring ric back with a suitable


    partner, she wouldn¡¯t indulge ric to bring Hertha back.

 Chapter 1143

    Chapter 1143


    When Hertha received the probing text from Angelina, her lips twitched¡ªwas Angelina trying to spur


    her into action, or was this some kind of insinuation?


    It dawned on her that Angelina''s earlier inquisitions, which seemed like a warm eptance, were


    Exclusive ? material by N?(/v)elDrama.Org.


    actually a strategic move¡ªto win the battle, she had to know her enemy well.


    The cunning and machinations of the high society dames were indeed sophisticated. Hertha, a low-tier


    woman in this game of social chess, was admittedly no match.


    She was still foolishly believing in their good intentions of others as others betrayed her.


    "ric told me he had zero feelings for Georgia and that he''d definitely call off their engagement. That''s


    the only reason I agreed to be with him. Our tiffs are all because of Georgia," Hertha retorted, not


    ying into Angelina''s narrative of her indifference to ric''s past flings, but rather countering it.


    Between the lines, she was dering the depth of her and ric''s connection.


    ric, who had been hesitating about how to defend Hertha, was taken aback by her rebuttal but


    watched her with a mix of surprise and delight.


    The woman sure had a sharp tongue when it came to the critical moment.


    "You knew about his engagement to the Reed family''s daughter, so why would you still get involved


    with him?" Angelina fired back. She was always one step ahead. Having navigated the treacherous


    waters of high society for years, she could handle this effortlessly.


    Hertha was no match for her, evident as she was left speechless and humiliated by the question.


    "It was me who insisted on being with her," ric interjected hastily.


    "I told her there was nothing between me and Georgia, not even hand-holding. Plus, every time I see


    Georgia, I feel nothing but aversion. It''s impossible for us to be together. That so-called fianc¨¦e is


    nothing but an arrangement between you and the Reed family. I never acknowledged her as my


    fianc¨¦e, nor did I ever agree to the engagement."


    As ric spoke, he took Hertha''s hand in his, gripping it firmly in front of Remington, Beatrice, and


    Angelina, his face a canvas of devoted affection.


    "I only love her. She''s the only one I''ll marry in a lifetime!" he dered with unwavering conviction.


    Hertha felt the warmth of his palm against hers. The heat of his palm caused her heart to race


    uncontrobly like a drum.


    If she hadn''t known this was all an act, she might have believed ric''s derations were genuine!


    The guy wasying it on thick¡ªwhat would he do if all the promations were overturned?


    Remington eximed, "I will take care of it. We''ll negotiate with the Reed family. Our Falconer family is


    willing to invest a hefty five hundred million in the Reed Group''s new venture, provided they''re willing to


    annul the engagement they arranged with your mother." Co?tent belo?gs to Dra§Þ?n§àv§Öls.c§àm

 Chapter 1144

    Chapter 1144


    Remington made his decision not just because of that thing ric said, but also because Hertha had


    just fearlessly countered Angelina''s remarks.


    He saw the love between ric and Hertha.


    And if they were in love, well, things were going to be a whole lot easier.


    "Father, do you even hear yourself?" Angelina said with discontent.


    "That settles it then," Remington dered to Angelina. "That engagement with the Reeds was your


    doing; none of us, including ric, agreed to it. It''s hardly an engagement, just you cozying up to the


    Reeds. Now, the Falconers are willing to shell out half a billion to clean up your mess. So cool it, would


    you?"


    Though Remington no longer ran the Falconer empire, his words carried weight and efficiency.


    He said they would invest half a billion into the Reed Group, and sure enough, the Falconers would


    soon open to fulfill that promise.


    Angelina wanted to retort, but seeing Remington¡¯s set in a look that brooked no further argument, she


    backed down. Even so, the discontent stewed in her.


    "Sweetheart, haven''t had dinner yet, have you? Our kitchen''s whipping up something special as we


    speak. Why don''t you stay?" Beatrice was warmly inviting Hertha to stay.


    "Grandma, I really shouldn''t..."


    "Stay for the meal, then I''ll drive you home," ric said, squeezing her hand with an earnestness that


    seemed to mirror true lovers'' fervor.


    ric''s apparent reluctance to part with Hertha was not lost on Beatrice and Remington, who were


    grinning from ear to ear at the sight.


    "Exactly. At least stay for lunch. Take it as a gesture from us here," Remington said, his demeanor


    instantly softening from the stern front he presented to Angelina. He was now looking kindly upon


    Hertha.


    Faced with such warmth, Hertha found it a mistake to refuse. She felt it was difficult to say no.


    "Thank you both." Hertha replied, thinking to herself that she might as well see this through. Once the


    deed was done, ric would have no grounds to say she hadn''t put in the effort, and then he''d have to


    help her meet Dominic, the star she was crazy about.


    That was all because she became infatuated with Dominic recently.


    She had agreed to ric''s absurd request just because she could meet Dominic face-to-face.


    "There you go. No need for thanks, we''re all family here," Beatrice said. She was growing fonder of


    Hertha by the minute.


    So ric had a thing for cushy girls, she mused. Good, very good. The prospect of chubby


    grandchildren delighted her.


    Angelina was the least pleased. Casting a sidelong nce at ric and Hertha''s sped hands, she


    felt there was something off.


    Even in the throes of love, you don''t hold hands all the time. She thought.


    The more they tried to show, the more dubious it seemed.


    "I''ll go check on the meal preparations," Angelina said, using it as an excuse to leave the living room


    for the kitchen.


    "Hertha, what would you like to eat? I''ll have the kitchen whip it up for you," Beatrice offered.


    "No need to bother, really. I''m easy to please and I like everything," Hertha said so politely.


    "Then I''ll make sure the chef prepares us a feast," Beatrice said with a smile and headed for the


    kitchen.


    Upon entering, she found Angelina leaning against a counter, arms crossed, stewing.


    "Trying to meddle in your own son''s love life now, are you?" Beatrice approached. New ch?pter


    av?ble o? NovelDrama.Org


    "What do you mean by that?" Beatrice inquired.Content ? N?velDrama.Org 2024.

 Chapter 1145

    Chapter 1145


    "Hasn''t he gotten himself into enough scrapes?" Angelina said with a sigh. She knew him better than


    anyone else.


    "I have a n to test whether their feelings are genuine. You go ahead and mingle with the guests. I''ll


    take care of things in the kitchen," Beatrice suddenly had a sh of inspiration. She gently pushed


    Angelina''s arm, assuring her with a nod.


    "Do you really have a way?" Angelina couldn''t quite believe it.


    "Just trust me and go. The meal will be ready soon," Beatrice said with a hint of mystery in her voice.


    Angelina could just leave the kitchen.


    About forty minutester, the dining table wasden with an array of delectable dishes, with a focus on


    seafood.


    Hertha was summoned to sit at the table with ric by her side, which was a picture of a young couple


    meeting the family.


    Beatrice was the epitome of warmth and politeness as she served Hertha, saying, "Hertha, you must


    be starving. Help yourself to plenty."


    Hertha gratefully epted the servings Beatrice offered her, along with a small bowl of soup, and said


    politely, "That¡¯s very kind of you, Mr. and Mrs. Falconer."


    Beatrice nodded affectionately, thendled another bowl of soup for ric.


    For Hertha, it was aforting bowl of chicken soup, and for ric, it was a tangy seafood bisque.


    "Hertha enjoys seafood, so we¡¯ll swap." ric, wincing at the fishy smell, was about to swap bowls.


    But before he could act, Beatrice interjected sternly, "I made that especially for you. Drink it up. No


    swapping."


    ric''s hand, poised to exchange the bowls, froze at his grandmother''s unexpected severity.


    Hertha interpreted this as Beatrice''s special love for ric; the soup must be nutritious, a health


    booster meant just for him. To waste it would be a shame.


    She quicklyughed it off, "Go on, drink it. That''s your grandma''s love in a bowl. I''ve got my own soup


    right here."


    "Yes, Hertha is such a considerate girl," Beatrice said, her smile returning.


    Not wanting to make a fuss over soup, ric downed the seafood bisque.


    Watching him finish, Beatrice encouraged Hertha, "Now you, dear. We whipped this up just for you."


    Hertha nodded andplied with Grandma''s kindness, sipping the soup.


    After enjoying more of the meal, as the evening wore on, Hertha began to feel a bit off. Her body


    seemed to grow increasingly hot with sweat drenched her back. It was just too hot there.


    "I should head back and take a shower to cool down a bit," she thought.


    Announcing her departure, she said, "It''s gettingte. I should be going. I''ll take my leave now, Mr. and


    Mrs. Falconer."


    "Oh, I couldn''t possibly impose..." Hertha demurred.


    Hertha found herself at a loss for words to refuse.


    ric tugged at his tie, feeling the heat as well. His body was ufortably warm. "The living room is


    indeed too warm. I''ll go up to my room for a shower. Grandma, please look after Hertha for me."


    Updated at Dra§Þ??§àvels.c§àm


    "Of course, go on. I''ll take good care of her," Beatrice said, her smile tender and grandmotherly.


    The maid arrived and announced the guest room was prepared.


    "Hertha, let me show you to your room. Have a nice shower and get some rest," Beatrice suggested.Content held by N?velDrama.Org.

 Chapter 1146

    Chapter 1146


    "Hertha, go on in. You''ll be staying in this room tonight." Beatrice led Hertha to a door on the second


    floor, her smile warm and maternal as she motioned for Hertha to enter.


    "Thank you," Hertha replied, fighting off the difort in her body with a brief response.


    She had nned to head home after dinner. ric had even agreed to drive her back after their meal.


    But who could''ve predicted that right after they ate, she''d be ovee by an intense heat, her body


    drenched in sweat, her clothes clinging to her skin?


    The sticky difort made waiting to get home unbearable. She longed for a shower, and as luck


    would have it, Beatrice had offered her the use of one and a room to rest. It seemed quite reasonable


    as an arrangement out of respect.


    Staying the night didn''t seem like a big deal to Hertha, especially since it was just a guest room, so she


    agreed.


    Content held by N?velDrama.Org.


    Entering the luxurious room left Hertha momentarily dumbfounded. The quality of the decor was


    unmistakably upscale, a stark contrast to the ordinary.


    The Falconer family had spared no expense, even in their guest rooms, their wealth evident in every


    detail. Truly, they were a family of means.


    Hertha took a brief moment to examine her surroundings before urgently seeking out the bathroom.


    The sweat was pouring from her, and she desperately needed to freshen up.


    The bathroom was easy to find, just around the corner from the entrance. The door was ajar, and


    Hertha pushed it open, intent on reaching the shower. She took a few steps forward when she


    suddenly realized there was someone in front of her, and it was a man!


    The man was shirtless, his lean and attractive upper body d only in dress pants. His chest was lean


    but firm, his skin taut, exuding a wild beautyced with a masculine allure. His stomach was devoid of


    any excess fat, toned just right, his arms long and strong.


    It was the type of physique Hertha liked, not overly showy but radiating a masculine charm, both


    enchantingly beautiful and robustly male.


    Hertha''s heart raced at the sight, her cheeks flushing as she gasped, rooted to the spot.


    Hearing the noise, ric turned to look at Hertha. His narrow, phoenix eyes captured her in a nce.


    He saw her standing there, eyes wide as bells, her expression a mix of surprise and panic.


    With a yful lift of his eyebrow, ric teased, "Are you joining me for a bath?"


    Despite her instant attraction to ric, she had never seen him shirtless before.


    Now, with her body already aze with heat, sweat constantly emerging, both her body and heart


    ame, her heart threatened to stop, her breath caught, her eyes fixed on ric. Re§Ñd at


    NovelDrama.Org

 Chapter 1147

    Chapter 1147


    Hertha¡¯s words were a jumbled rush as she turned to leave.


    ric took long strides to catch her, his grip firm on her wrist.


    Hertha''s heart skipped a beat as she turned to face his piercing gaze, those captivating eyes making


    her heart racing as if it might leap right out of her chest.


    He leaned in close, his breath just inches from her face, the heady scent of his masculinity enveloping


    her.


    Hertha''s heart wasn''t just racing now. Her cheeks were ame as if she had just pulled fresh cookies


    from the oven.


    Flustered, she tried to pull away. Her voice was tinged with panic, "What are you doing? Let go of


    me..."


    As she panicked, ric¡¯s other hand covered her mouth, his voice a maic whisper at her ear, "Shh,


    keep it down. Someone¡¯s eavesdropping outside."


    Eavesdropping?


    Hertha''s eyes widened in shock. Who would be listening in? And what were they listening for?


    While Hertha was still reeling, ric''s husky voice returned, his lips grazing her ear as he murmured,


    ¡°My mom and grandma probably suspect something about us. They orchestrated this little scenario,


    sending you to my room to see how we''d interact, while they''re outside listening in..."


    Just moments ago, ric had sensed something fishy when Beatrice and Angelina had headed to the


    kitchen together. His mother was a shrewd woman. She was definitely testing them.


    ric''s chest pressed against Hertha''s back, and he was just as feverish as she was. Sweat was


    soaking through his shirt. Even through the wet fabric, the heat of his body set Hertha¡¯s heart fluttering


    with nervous anticipation.


    Especially with his deep voice so close, warm breath tickling her neck, teasing the tender skin there


    until it felt like a feather dancing across her heart. Her body shivered, and she shrank into herself.


    Her voice was small and helpless, "What do we do now?"


    The thought that Beatrice and Angelina were outside listening in was terrifying! If they seemed too


    N?velDrama.Org: owner of this content.


    distant with each other, all would be undone.


    She had agreed to help ric break off his engagement with Georgia, after all.


    ¡°It¡¯s okay. Just follow my lead,¡± ric said in a rough whisper, his voice thick with restraint.


    His body was unusually hot, as if a fire zed within him, threatening to consume him¡ªespecially now


    pressed against Hertha. His throat tightened, his blood churning with the effort to hold back.


    Hertha''s clothes clung to her damp skin, outlining her voluptuous figure. A few strands of her hair stuck


    to her rounded face, making her both endearing and seductive.


    ric was on the edge, wanting nothing more than to tear away her clothes and kiss her fiercely.


    ¡°What should I do?¡± Hertha asked at a loss.


    ric turned the shower on, letting the cold water cascade over them both.


    ¡°Ah, oh...¡± Having been feeling as if she might melt from the heat, Hertha hadn¡¯t expected the sudden


    cold shower. The shock of the temperature change made her cry out and shiver. Updated at


    Dr§Ñmanovels


    ¡°Are you okay?¡± ric asked with concern, adjusting the shower to a warmer temperature.

 Chapter 1148

    Chapter 1148


    Beatrice shed a knowing smile before walking away. To her, it seemed crystal clear that ric and


    Hertha were an item, and it set her mind at ease.


    Angelina, on the other hand, was far from convinced. She found it hard to ept the idea that ric


    truly had feelings for Hertha. Could her son, the perennial yboy, have really nned to settle down?


    Was he truly smitten enough to forsake all others for just one woman?


    No, Angelina couldn''t buy it. She had a nagging suspicion that something was amiss. So, instead of


    leaving, she lingered by the door, eavesdropping.


    "Sorry, I''ll be more careful next time," ric apologized to Hertha, his voice a husky rasp through the


    steamy air.


    Hertha had just finished berating ric for turning the shower too cold. Hearing his strained voice, she


    instinctively took a step back, sensing danger.


    "Next time? I''ve had enough trouble for today," Hertha said, avoiding his gaze while inching backwards.


    The bathroom atmosphere was thick with steam, a sultry mist that seemed to weave an invisible web


    between them. The warm water was supposed to cool things down, but Hertha felt the heat rising¡ªnot


    just within her, but within the whole room.


    N?velDrama.Org: owner of this content.


    Hertha''s heart raced out of rhythm, pounding faster and faster.


    ric noticed that Hertha had stepped on a soap. He reached out swiftly, "Watch out!"


    "Ah!" But he was a moment toote. Hertha''s feet slipped, and her whole body started falling


    backward.


    ric caught her, and to prevent her head from hitting the hard tile floor, he twisted, taking the brunt of


    the fall on his own back, with Herthanding on top of him.


    "Ouch!" Hertha was dazed from the fall, her face pressed against something warm. Wincing from the


    pain, she lifted her head and realized she had buried her face right between ric''s legs!


    Hertha lifted her head, her face burning with embarrassment. If word of this got out, her reputation


    would be tarnished forever!


    She gasped, trying to push herself up. But her hair was snagged. The more she hurried to free herself,


    the more it hurt. She had to lower her head again.


    With his back against the floor and shoulder des aching, ric winced and sat up, looking at Hertha,


    "Get up, please. I can''t take this..."


    The pain on his back was killing him and he needed to check it. But he got up only to find Hertha was


    pinning down his legs.


    Panic only added to Hertha''s disarray. With her head bowed, she tugged at her hair, pain shooting


    through her scalp with every pull. "My hair is caught in your zipper."


    "In such a rush to unzip, do you really want to...?"


    "Stop here!" Hertha snapped back, her face flushed with anger.


    There were no cameras here, just the two of them, and still, he was taking advantage of her.


    "It was only a joke. Why so angry?"


    The hair didn''t budge, but the zipper gave way. Content of Dra§Þ??ovels


    Hertha''s face turned an even deeper shade of red.

 Chapter 1149

    Chapter 1149


    Outside the bathroom door, Angelina''s cheeks flushed into a deep crimson as she overheard the


    sounds emanating from within. ric and Hertha were in there, and it seemed they were getting quite


    intimate.


    Content held by N?velDrama.Org.


    Good Lord, she hadn¡¯t expected to hear such conversations. Hertha wasining that ric wasn''t


    being forceful enough.


    Angelina couldn''t bear it any longer. Her face burned with embarrassment as she quickly covered it


    with her hands and scurried away.


    Inside the bathroom, with theirbined efforts, Hertha''s hair was finally free.


    Hertha scrambled to her feet, desperate to leave.


    ¡°Hold on, you go ahead and shower. I''ll step out,¡± ric called out to her.


    She turned around and saw ric pushing himself off the floor, grimacing with pain as he stood up.


    After he rose, he brushed past her and exited the bathroom. He even went to close the bedroom door,


    in case Beatrice or Angelina came to eavesdrop again.


    Hertha stood in the bathroom, her heart racing, the heat of the moment still lingering. She strained her


    ears for any sound from outside. At first, there were ric''s footsteps. Soon, all was silent.


    Her shoulders rxed slightly. She considered to just leave but her clothes were soaked and she was


    inplete disarray.


    How would she exin herself to Beatrice and Remington if she just left? And she couldn''t possibly


    fulfill the promise she''d made to ric.


    With gritted teeth, Hertha made up her mind. She locked the bathroom door, stripped off her wet


    clothes and took a warm shower. Then she wrapped herself in the oversized bathrobe hanging there¡ª


    it hung on her like a dress and must have belonged to ric.


    Stepping out of the bathroom, she saw ric sitting on the edge of the bed, now wearing casual shorts


    that revealed his muscr calves, his torso still bare.


    Seeing him reignited the warmth she''d just calmed, her face flushing again as she quickly turned to


    leave.


    ¡°Hertha,e here,¡± ric called to her.


    Hertha''s feet froze, yet she didn''t turn around. She was nervous, ¡°What do you want? I was heading to


    the guest room."


    ¡°I think my back was hurt, could you help me with some ointment?¡± ric requested.


    Hertha hesitated, recalling how he had hurt his back earlier.


    After all, he was injured because of her.


    It was her responsibility to tend to his wound.


    Approaching him, she observed his bare torso and felt her breathing hitch, her heartbeat erratic.


    Co?tent of Dr§Ñm§Ñ?ovels.c§àm


    ric turned to show her his back. ¡°Is it bruised?¡±

 Chapter 1150

    Chapter 1150


    Hertha''s cheeks red a fiery red as she hastily retorted, "Get over yourself. Who''d want to sleep with


    you? If I didn''t want some alone time with Dominic, do you think I''d agree to y your little girlfriend


    charade to appease your family?"


    "Why are you standing so far away, then? Afraid I''ll gobble you up?" ric''s lips curled into an amused


    smirk, his tone teasing and rxed.


    "It''s because I''m afraid you won¡¯t be able to control yourself!" Hertha blurted out defensively.


    "Trust me, with all the women I¡¯ve met, you don''t light my fire," ric replied, his voice as cool as a


    cucumber.


    N?velDrama.Org: owner of this content.


    Deted, Hertha''s temper red up in a sh, "Oh, so you feel aplished? I bet you''re as worn out


    as an old nail!"


    Hertha was undefeated in a war of words.


    The smile that had been ying at the corner of ric''s mouth vanished, and his gaze turned steely as


    he looked at Hertha. "Are you even ady? How can you spout such talk?"


    "Can''t you tell if I¡¯m a woman? What, are you blind?" Hertha shot back.


    ric took a deep breath, visibly annoyed, and nodded, "Yeah, I must be blind. Maybe it¡¯s time I found


    out for myself if you''re really a woman, and showed you if I¡¯m as worn out as you im!"


    "How do you propose doing that?" Hertha retorted without thinking.


    ric¡¯s eyes widened incredulously, doubting whether her remark was intentional, just to get a rise out


    of him.


    He stared at her, perplexed. Hertha met his gaze with a hint of confusion in her eyes. Their eyes


    locked, and an unspoken energy seemed to grow between them, seeping into their hearts.


    Hertha''s pulse quickened as she took in his devilishly handsome features. His narrow, seductive eyes


    locked onto hers, like a fox ensnaring its prey, her heart pounding uncontrobly.


    ric¡¯s gaze lingered on Hertha''s dewy appearance, her wet hair clinging to her fair skin, droplets of


    water trailing down, her petite and slightly voluptuous figure enveloped in his bathrobe, giving her an


    innocent yet sensual allure.


    His Adam''s apple bobbed, and the heat he had been trying to suppress surged to his core, tensing his


    body.


    Just as the air between them grew thick with tension, Hertha pinched her thigh hard to snap back to


    reality.


    She averted her eyes and mumbled, "Your back''s just a bit bruised, nothing serious. It should be fine in


    a few days. I should go to another room now."


    Her eyes darted around, avoiding ric''s gaze. Without waiting for a response, she turned and walked


    away.


    ric shifted his gaze away, making no attempt to stop her.


    Hertha calmed herself down said with a shaky voice, "Granny, I think I¡¯ve wandered into the wrong


    room. This is ric¡¯s room, isn¡¯t it? The guest room is next door, right?" New ch§Ñpter av?ble on


    Dr§Ñman§àvels.c§à§Þ

 Chapter 1151

    Chapter 1151


    "I''m fine, really," Hertha insisted, trying her best to im her stay in the guest room. If it hadn''t been for


    her clothes getting soaked, she wouldn''t be in this predicament. She had put her clothes to the washing


    machine, hoping to slip back into them once they were finished and head home.


    "Oh, sweetheart, don''t overthink it. Just bunk down in ric''s room for the night. I''ve got milk for you


    two. Have some and get to bed early. The air conditioning in the living room was cranked up too high


    earlier. I don''t want you getting heatstroke." Beatrice said with a warm smile.


    Bncing a ss of milk in each hand, she handed one to Hertha. "Here you go, drink up. It''ll take the


    edge off the heat."


    Hertha felt awkward refusing Beatrice''s kindness, especially since she had gone out of her way to bring


    it over personally. It would seem quite rude to reject her offer.


    Besides, even after a shower, Hertha still felt a bit overheated, probably from the air conditioning being


    set too high. The shower had done little to cool her down.


    Maybe the milk would help.


    "Thanks," Hertha epted the milk from Beatrice and drank down.


    Seeing her finish, Beatrice''s smile grew even brighter. She took the empty ss and handed Hertha


    the other one, "This one''s for ric. He''s beenining about the heat too."


    Hertha had initially nned to leave and avoid ric, but Beatrice''s words put her in a tight spot. If she


    refused, it might raise suspicions about her and ric not being a genuine couple.


    Caught between a rock and a hard ce, Hertha reluctantly took the second ss with a smile,


    "Alright, I''ll take it to him."


    "That''s my girl. Now you both get some rest. I''ll close the door for you," Beatrice said, beaming as she


    watched Hertha head back into the room.


    Hertha felt like she was walking into the lion''s den, and it was toote for a getaway.


    Biting the bullet, she continued the charade with ric.


    Back at ric''s side with a ss of milk, her smile vanished in front of him. She said irritably, "Here,


    Content held by N?velDrama.Org.


    your grandma''s looking out for you. Drink up, will you?"


    She extended her hand, offering him the ss.


    ric nced at it and frowned. "What''s this?"


    "Milk. I just had a ss, and it really cools me down. It''s quite relieving," Hertha exined.


    Hearing Hertha say the milk could soothe the heat, he didn''t think twice. He took the ss from her


    hands and gulped it down. Content of Dra§Þ??ovels

 Chapter 1152

    Chapter 1152


    "Look, my grandpa just told me that he''d invest half a billion into the Reed Group to help me dodge this


    engagement bullet. If we blow our cover now, it''ll all go up in smoke. Better you stay put here," ric


    weighed the pros and cons, offering his take.


    "Then where am I supposed to sleep?" Hertha nced around. There was only one bed in the whole


    room.


    "I''ll take the bed, and you get the floor," ric dered.


    Hertha frowned, "Why don''t you sleep on the floor?"


    "I''ve got a sour back; the floor is too hard," ric shrugged nonchntly, ying the wounded card.


    Hertha clenched her fists, fighting the urge to punch him, but restrained herself upon seeing the spray


    bottle in his hand.


    It was a special spray for bruises and sprains.


    She marched over, snatched the spray from his grip and pressed down hard over the bruises on his


    back.


    A few sprays weren''t enough. She went for a few more.


    ric winced, "You got something against my injury?"


    "I''ve got something against you!" Hertha huffed, tossing the spray aside, ready to im the bed.


    ric''s eyebrows arched. He had anticipated her move. He swiftly copsed onto the bed, sprawling


    out to im his territory, "Ouch, my back''s killing me. I need to sleep on something soft."


    Not only did he lie on the bed, but he also stretched out full starfish style, hogging the entire space.Content held by N?velDrama.Org.


    Hertha, her foot barely on the edge of the bed, found itmandeered by ric. Her next step was


    forcibly halted.


    Fuming, she red at ric sprawled on the bed. "Are you even a gentleman to fight ady for a bed?"


    "Why don''t youe over here and test if I am?" ric teased with a raised eyebrow and a sly grin.


    "You..." Hertha choked on his flippant words, growing angrier by the second. She was determined to


    fight back the bed.


    She kicked off her shoes, climbed onto the bed and shoved his leg aside with one foot.


    As ric''s leg jerked away, Hertha quickly imed the vacated spot. She threw herself onto the bed


    and pushed against him, intent on shoving him off.


    Refusing to sleep on the floor was herst stand of defiance.


    Her hand barely touched ric''s waist when he tensed, his hand instinctively grasping hers. With a


    swift roll, he pinned her beneath him, "Are you trying to boot me off the bed?"


    "Let me go!" Hertha demanded, angercing her voice.


    Hertha was speechless.


    The atmosphere shifted, suddenly charged with an unspoken tension. Updated at Dr?manov§Öls.c§àm


    Realizing theirpromising position, Hertha''s mind buzzed, her eyes wide and blinking up at him.


    ric gazed down at her. Their proximity was so close that they could even feel each other''s breaths.

 Chapter 1153

    Chapter 1153


    His throat tightened. He slowly bowed his head, his lips inching closer to hers.


    Hertha''s breathing was ragged, her mind a mushy mess. As ric''s lips drew near, she swallowed


    hard and closed her eyes slowly.


    Seeing her with eyes shut, eyelids fluttering like butterfly wings, her breathing heavy and erratic, ric


    knew she was nervous.


    His lips brushed against hers.


    Hertha felt his breath fan across the bridge of her nose, the undeniable masculine scent overpowering


    her senses, sending her heartbeat into a frenzy.


    ric''s lips grazed hers, and Hertha shivered, sweat beads forming on her forehead.


    But ric''s kiss didn''t linger. It was just a brush against her lips before he whispered teasingly in her


    ear, "Thinking of turning this act into reality?"


    His low murmur tickled Hertha''s ear, sending a shiver down her spine. Her heart skipped a beat; her


    eyes flew open and saw his yful gaze.


    Embarrassed and furious, she kicked out and sent him tumbling off the bed.


    "ric, you jerk!" Hertha eximed, sitting up quickly.


    Having felt the impact against his leg, ric had rolled off the bed on his own. He sat on the floor with a


    mischievous grin on his face. "So you''re really going all out for the bed, huh? Fine, it''s yours. I''ll crash


    on the floor."


    He was used to sleeping alone, which was boring. Now with someone to challenge him for the bed, he


    couldn''t resist the temptation to tease Hertha, ready to concede the bed if she gave in.


    He''d never met a woman as funny as her. His usual flings were always sopliant, afraid to cross


    him. They were utterly dull.


    The floor was carpeted with soft wool. It wasn''t cold to sleep on in summer.


    N?velDrama.Org: owner of this content.


    ricy down right there.


    Hertha red at him, "If you''d just given in sooner, you wouldn''t have been kicked, would you?"


    She settled herself into the bed confidently, pulling the nket over her stomach and closing her eyes


    to invite sleep.


    Resting his head on his arms, ric did the same.


    The room quieted down with only the sound of their breathing filling the space.


    Before long, Hertha had fallen asleep.


    But in thetter half of the night, she felt increasingly hot. She kicked off the nket, her body


    drenched in sweat. She was tossing and turning, unable to get back to sleep.


    Parched and overheated, Hertha got up to find some drinking water.


    In the dark, she forgot ric was on the floor beside the bed. She stumbled and fell right on top of


    ric.


    "Ouch!" A muffled groan escaped ric as Hertha pressed against him, her scent filling his nostrils. His


    already heated body tensed further, on the verge of snapping. Co?tent §àf Dra§Þa?ov§Öls.c§à§Þ


    "Oh, I''m so sorry, I didn''t mean to..." Hertha scrambled to get up.


    Hearing his husky voice, Hertha''s breath hitched. Her heart raced, and her body melted into his


    embrace.

 Chapter 1154

    Chapter 1154


    ric felt Hertha tense up against his chest, her heartbeat pounding against him, which also drove his


    own pulse to race.


    The heat between them grew intense, his lower abdomen tight with longing. ric''s breath was heavy


    as his hands sped Hertha''s waist. His desire was driven by the soft, plush sensation.


    Drenched in sweat, ric couldn''t bear the heat any longer. He leaned down and captured her lips with


    precision.


    "Umm..." Hertha¡¯s lips were suddenly sealed by his fervent kiss. Her eyes widened, a tingling sensation


    N?velDrama.Org: owner of this content.


    spreading throughout her body.


    Sparks seemed to fly in the air, a feeling of a storm meeting the earth keeping Hertha taut.


    This was her first kiss. To think it was with the man she fancied, a mix of surprise, numbness, and a


    hint of fear filled in her mind. Her heart was fluttering like a startled deer.


    Hertha''s breathing was rapid and shaky, a mix of fear and shyness in her trembling, yet there was a


    flicker of anticipation deep down in her heart.


    She also felt the unbearable heat in her body.


    She thought a sip of water might help, but then ric''s kiss seemed to ease that parched feeling.


    Could it be not the temperature, but something in the milk they had shared earlier?


    Lost in her thoughts, Hertha didn''t notice ric had already slid off her bathrobe, hisrge hand


    caressing her vulnerable spots.


    Hertha gasped, her body bending like a shrimp, "Umm..."


    ric released her lips, nibbling at her ear, his voice a husky whisper, "Your first time?"


    Hertha trembled with fear, "We have agreed that it was just to help you break off the engagement..."


    "I''ll convince my grandpa to let me marry you, and not everything I said was a lie," ric''s kisses trailed


    down from her ear to her neck, to her glowing corbone.


    Hertha''s breath hitched, "What wasn''t a lie? That you''d marry me, or that you love me?"


    "Yeah," ric grunted, his voice rough and indistinct, lost to desire, no longer listening to Hertha''s


    words.


    His kisses continued downward, and Hertha, despite her fear, rxed her grip on his head.


    Sensing her acquiescence, ric murmured, "I''ll be gentle..."


    Swayed by his words, Hertha''s eyes brimmed with tears, and slowly, she let go.


    With her permission, ric''s kisses grew more fervent.


    The moonlight was soft and gentle outside. But inside, the two lovers entwined, lost in passion.


    ...


    Back at the bar, Thssa finished her juice and walked out with Hertha¡¯s car keys in her hand.


    She got into the car and drove off. Co?tent §àf NovelDrama.Org

 Chapter 1155

    Chapter 1155


    Thssa nced in the rear-view mirror. To avoid any mistake in her judgment, she deliberately turned


    at an uing intersection.


    The ck vehicle that had been on the straight path promptly mimicked her maneuver, tantly


    running a red light just to keep up.


    Realizing this, Thssa''s nerves tensed. She floored the gas pedal and sped up.


    The pursuer matched her eleration. It was no longer a discreet tail but an overt chase.


    Memories of a past abduction shed in her mind, spurring Thssa¡¯s panic. She dared not stop,


    pushing her car faster in an attempt to get rid of the relentless follower.


    Yet, her driving skills were average at best, and no matter how hard she tried, she couldn''t escape the


    car behind her.


    Before she knew it, she found herself on a rural stretch of road, away from the usual traffic, alone with


    her pursuer.


    Thssa¡¯s unease grew as she saw the surroundings.


    As she contemted her next move, the car behind suddenly sped up and overtook her. Then it


    swerved in front, blocking her path.


    Thssa''s car was still barreling forward. She gasped at the sight, mming on the brakes with all her


    might.


    The tires screeched against the pavement, emitting the acrid smell of rubber burning. Just a heartbeat


    before collision, her car shuddered to a halt.


    Her body lurched forward from the inertia, only to be snapped back by her seat belt.


    After a violent jolt, everything stood still. Her heart raced as she gasped for breath, staring at the car


    before her.


    The door of the ck car swung open, revealing a figure in a leather miniskirt and a tight ck tee, her


    curves tantly on disy¡ªit was Debby!


    It was her tailing Thssa.


    Debby strode over to Thssa¡¯s car, standing at the driver¡¯s door and tapping on the door.


    Still shaken and furious, Thssa didn¡¯t get out but rolled down her window and snapped, ¡°Debby, do


    you have any idea how dangerous it is? What the hell are you thinking?¡±


    With a sullen face, Debby crooked her finger, ¡°Get out. We need to talk.¡±


    Her demeanor was brash, and with the deste road ahead, Thssa didn¡¯t want to step out. She


    Exclusive ? material by N?(/v)elDrama.Org.


    frowned and retorted, ¡°If you¡¯ve got something to say, say it. Don¡¯t waste my time. I need to get home.¡±


    ¡°If you don¡¯t get out, I¡¯ll torch your car,¡± Debby threatened, pulling a lighter from her pocket, igniting it


    and tilting her head slightly with a bubblegum bubble popping from her mouth. Her hand hovered


    menacingly close to Thssa¡¯s car tire.


    ¡°Are you crazy?¡± Thssa cried out in a panic, unlocking the door and pushing it open.


    Thssa, too frazzled to recognize her whereabouts, blurted, ¡°What on earth do you want to say?¡±


    Debby gestured towards the dark, lush depths of the forest, ¡°Look there. Don¡¯t tell me you don¡¯t


    recognize it?¡± Updated at Dra§Þ??§àvels.c§àm


    Withdrawing her gaze, Thssa frowned and asked warily, ¡°It¡¯s just a wood. What¡¯s so strange about


    it?¡±


    Debby let out a coldugh, ¡°That¡¯s Leopold¡¯s graveyard; don¡¯t you remember?¡±

 Chapter 1156

    Chapter 1156


    "Wait, it¡¯s Leopold''s graveyard?" Thssa gasped, taking a more scrutinizing look around. She had


    attended Leopold''s funeral, but it was during the day.


    And she hade uninvited. The Sinir family had explicitly forbidden her from attending. She had to


    take a cab, snuck in through a side entrance and watched from a distance, saying her silent goodbyes


    to Leopold.


    Her heart was a wreck then, too consumed by grief to take note of her surroundings.


    Now, as Debby brought up the fact that they were standing in Leopold''s resting ce, Thssa was


    taken aback and began to examine her surroundings with intent.


    It was dark with no streetlights for guidance, only the weak glow of their car''s headlights.


    As Thssa scanned the area, a faint sense of familiarity crept in. She had driven here in a panic,


    trying to shake off the car that was tailing her, and had ended up in Leopold''s graveyard.


    "It''s night time, and there are no lights. The world has too many roads that look the same. How can I


    tell where we are just by a few trees?" Thssa replied to Debby, her voice tinged with frustration.


    "Excuses!" Debby retorted, her gaze piercing and intimidating.


    The rural road was naturally dark and eerie. As Thssa met Debby''s grim and fierce stare, she felt a


    chill go down her spine.


    She took a step back instinctively, eyeing Debby warily.


    Debby closed in on her, her expression dark. "He''s been lying here for over a month. Have you even


    bothered to visit?"


    "I''ll visit him tomorrow. It¡¯s toote now, and it''s pitch-ck. What could I possibly see?" Thssa


    defended herself cautiously.


    But Debby kept advancing. As Thssa nervously stepped back, her foot caught on a stone and she


    stumbled.


    Content held by N?velDrama.Org.


    Debby grabbed her arm in an firm grip and dragged her along, "Fear not the ghosts, but the dark? I''ve


    got a shlight. I¡¯ll light your way. Go see for yourself how lonely he''s been lying there!"


    Debby''s hold was firm, and she pulled Thssa with determined steps toward Leopold''s tombstone.


    Releasing Thssa''s arm, Debby fished out a shlight from her backpack and flicked it on. The beam


    hit Leopold''s photo on the tombstone.


    The photo was ck and white, the light casting a stark contrast on his youthful, sun-kissed smile.


    Such a young face, so vibrant and full of life, now reduced to a picture on a gravestone.


    Leopold, once a real and joyful presence in Thssa''s life, was now just a memory buried under the


    earth.


    On the day of his burial, she could only watch from afar, unaware of the exact location of his grave or


    which photo adorned it.


    Now, faced with his image, all the sorrow and pain she had held back flooded her senses, and tears


    streamed down her face.


    Thssa covered her mouth, sobbing.


    "Are you this upset just by seeing his photo?" Debby said with a mocking tone.

 Chapter 1157

    Chapter 1157


    Debby said to her, her voice thick with emotion.


    Tears streamed down Thssa''s face as she covered her mouth, her heart aching as though it were


    submerged in the depths of the ocean, struggling for breath.


    After Leopold wasid to rest, indeed, she hadn''te to visit him. She didn¡¯t have the courage,


    fearing that the sight of his photograph would unleash a torrent of grief she couldn''t control.


    She felt even less deserving of visiting him. The Sinirs had forbidden her from stepping foot near


    Leopold''s grave, and she hadn''t figured out how to face him.


    Now, cornered by Debby and facing his tombstone, her heart felt as though it had been carved out of


    her chest.


    Debby recounted her own heartaches, and Thssa could now understand her sorrow.


    She had always assumed that Debby''s opposition against her stemmed from the petnce of a spoiled


    heiress, intent on iming Leopold for herself out of sheer possessiveness.


    But it turned out that Debby truly loved Leopold, more deeply than Thssa could have ever imagined.


    Love as deep as the sea, as painful as its depths.


    "Answer me!" Debby demanded, her breathing in ragged gasps.


    Belongs ? to N?velDrama.Org.


    But Thssa remained silent, choking back sobs.


    Seeing Thssa in such anguish, Debby''s emotions crumbled. Pain and rage burst forth as she


    grabbed Thssa''s cor violently. "Talk to me, damn it!"


    In front of Leopold''s resting ce, Thssa refused to engage in a brawl with Debby. She knew


    Leopold would never want to see them fighting. All her emotions were soaked in sadness, her body too


    weak to resist Debby''s shaking.


    Her tears fell like pearls slipping off a string, endlessly tumbling down.


    The sight of Thssa''s grief only fueled Debby''s pain and hatred. She held onto Thssa''s cor with


    a fierce grip, ring at her venomously. "It should have been you who died, not him! Why are you still


    here? Why didn''t you die!"


    Debby''s growl was a mix of anger and loathing, all the pain of the past month channeled into her re.


    Thssa shared Debby''s anguish. She understood why Debby hated her so.


    Debby had loved Leopold so deeply, and his death had brought her unbearable pain. The one she


    med the most was Thssa, the cause of Leopold''s broken heart.


    If it weren''t for Leopold falling for Thssa first, Debby would have been with him long ago.


    Thssa regretted it all. Why had she ever gotten involved with Leopold? If she hadn''t, none of the


    subsequent events would have happened. He would have had his first love with Debby, might have


    married her and lived happily.


    But who could have predicted that a single night''s mistake would lead to a lifetime of missed


    opportunities, ultimately costing Leopold his life.


    Fate was beyond anyone''s control.


    Thssa didn''t want Debby to fall into the same abyss of despair as Leopold.


    Only by moving past the pain could she start living a fulfilling life again. Co?tent §àf NovelDrama.Org


    "Bullshit!" Debby roared. "Thssa, you heartless woman, you''re the one who should be dead!"


    In a sudden fury, Debby pulled a rope from her backpack and began to tie Thssa''s wrists tightly.

 Chapter 1158

    Chapter 1158


    Debby flung the rope with a swift motion, snaring it around Thssa''s neck. Her eyes bulged with a


    wild ferocity as she hissed, ¡°Call the cops, you think I''m scared?¡±


    While she spoke, Debby frenziedly wrapped the rope around Thssa, who was in a panic,


    desperately trying to back away and pull the rope off herself.


    But Debby hade prepared. Fueled by rage, her strength vastly overpowered Thssa¡¯s.


    No matter how hard Thssa tried, she couldn''t push Debby away.


    Finally, Debby tied Thssa up tight with the hemp rope, knotting it securely. With her forceful shove,


    Thssa stumbled and fell in front of Leopold''s tombstone. Then, with swift and unhesitating


    movements, she bound Thssa to the tombstone.


    ¡°Debby, what the hell are you doing? This is illegal, you know. Let me go now, and I might let this slide.


    Exclusive ? material by N?(/v)elDrama.Org.


    Otherwise, you''re going to have thew to answer to!¡± Thssa red at Debby, panting with rage.


    ¡°I don''t even care about my own life anymore, you think I''m afraid of jail?¡± Debby secured thest knot


    and stood up, looking down at Thssa with a grimace of pain and anger.


    Hearing this, Thssa''s pupils shrank in rm as she stared at Debby.


    Facing someone who seemed to embrace death, Thssa knew her words were futile. People like that


    could be truly terrifying and capable of anything.


    ¡°Debby, for God''s sake, this is Leopold''s grave. If you do something drastic, don''t you think he''d be


    pissed at you? You loved him, and you wouldn''t want to disturb his peace, would you?¡±


    Thssa shifted her strategy, trying to appeal to Debby''s emotions.


    ¡°He''s gone; how can he me me? I''m doing this for him. He loved you so much, why don''t you go join


    him? Then he won''t be alone anymore.¡±


    Debby''s countenance sank into gloom, her face revealing a deep sorrow. She unzipped her side bag


    and pulled out two bottles.


    Thssa watched her warily, panic setting in as Debby opened the bottle and began to douse the


    perimeter of Leopold''s grave with the liquid.


    The smell hit Thssa and her heart clenched in terror.


    It was gasoline!


    Debby had brought gasoline with her and was now pouring it around Leopold''s grave.


    What was she nning to do?


    Thssa''s fear intensified. She had been followed for days? Re§Ñd at Dra§Þan§àvels


    The encounter on the bus wasn''t a coincidence. It was Debby lying in wait.


    But how did she know that Thssa would take the bus that morning?


    ¡°You''ve been stalking me, but how did you know I''d take the bus today?¡± Thssa asked, her voice


    <pced with suspicion and fear.

 Chapter 1159

    Chapter 1159


    "Every morning at that same ungodly hour, I''d be there on the bus, waiting for you. And today, you


    finally showed up," Debby said when she tossed the cap of the water bottle away, standing in front of


    Thssa and lifting the bottle high as she began to douse her with gasoline.


    The biting stench of fuel assaulted Thssa''s senses, almost suffocating her as the liquid soaked


    through her clothes, sending a shiver of cold through her muscles.


    She clenched; fear and scare had upied her mind.


    "Debby, stop this madness," Thssa pleaded with a trembling voice. "If I die, you can¡¯t escape this as


    well. The cops will be all over you in no time..."


    "I''ll go with you then. What''s death to be feared if one you love the most has gone?" Debby answered.


    "But think of your parents, your siblings, and your friends who care about you..." Thssa tried to reach


    into Debby''s dwindling grasp on life. As long as she had someone to care for, she wouldn¡¯t go extreme.


    She''s clearly trying to die with Thssa.


    But Thssa couldn''t afford to die now. She carried a new life within her; this wasn''t just about her


    anymore. Two lives would be gone if she¡¯s dead.


    And she had four little angels at home who needed their mother. Also, she had her own mother to take


    care of. Her mother would be so agonized if she¡¯s dead.


    "Parents?" Debby scoffed and lowered her voice. "They''d rather see me chained in a loveless


    marriage. I refuse to rot in that prison..."


    Getting married to someone she didn''t love was just another form of imprisonment which led to a life


    sentence to unhappiness.


    Her heart had died with Leopold, and what remained was a walking corpse.


    As Debby finished her grim speech, she had emptied the bottle on Thssa and discarded it with a


    tter on the ground.


    Thssa''s panic rose. Debby¡¯s deste expression showed she was beyond reason, determined to


    embrace death and take Thssa with her.


    Just then, Debby pulled out a lighter and was ready to strike.


    Content held by N?velDrama.Org.


    "Debby, don''t do this!" Thssa''s voice broke. She was desperate, "Leopold wouldn''t want this. He


    wouldn''t want to see me die like this. If you burn me, I''ll be unrecognizable even to him in the afterlife.


    How could I keep himpany then?"


    Thssa knew Debby held some belief in the afterlife. And it was why she wanted to send her down to


    join Leopold. That was her twisted fixation.


    So Thssa used Debby¡¯s belief to persuade her.


    Thssa''s heart was racing and she was panic-stricken.


    Debby waspletely insane; she was acting out in crazy behaviors and losing all her marble.


    The fumes mingled with the eerie darkness of the graveyard, wrapping Thssa in a nket of terror


    that made her heart pound wildly.


    Debby stepped back out of the circle, her face pale and detached as she addressed Thssa from the


    other side of the deadly ring, "I''ll ignite the outer ring of gasoline. If it burns through the grass and


    reaches you, it means Leopold wants you with him. Go peacefully," Debby said, her voice hollow. "But


    if the fire dies before it reaches you, maybe he doesn''t want..."  Dra§Þa?ov§Öls.c§à§Þ


    A wave of pain hit her heart as she said it. If Leopold didn¡¯t want her dead, it would mean that he still


    loved and cared for her despite his demise.


    It didn''t matter though. Debby had nothing left after Leopold died. If sparing Thssa meant fulfilling


    hisst wishes, so be it.

 Chapter 1160

    Chapter 1160


    The mmability of gasoline was notorious, and with the slightest spark, it ignited with a whoosh.


    mes licked around the perimeter of the grave, snaking up like tongues of fire and encircling


    Thssapletely. The heat scorched her face; it was searing and terrifying.


    Thssa thrashed violently in panic. She was desperately trying to break the ropes that bound her, but


    Debby had tied them too tightly.


    No matter how much she struggled, she couldn''t break free.


    "I''m out of here. You''re on your own," Debby''s voice cut through the ring of fire, its words barely audible


    over the roar of the mes to Thssa''s ears.


    Thssa was beyond reason. Her mind was filled with the sounds of roaring mes and mounting


    panic.


    She fought against her restraints with all her might, but the ropes wouldn''t budge.


    Debby, with her shlight in hand, walked away, climbed into her car, and nced back at the fiery


    circle. She stepped on the gas and drove off into the night.


    The zing circle illuminated the graveyard. The ce was as bright as day.


    Through the mes, Thssa saw the many headstones, and beyond them were the ominous woods,


    where monsters seemed ready to emerge and tear her apart.


    Huge terror enveloped Thssa. On one side was the pitch-ck distance; on the other, the fire so


    close it could consume her at any moment.


    Her primal instinct to survive made her struggle ceaselessly. The phone slipped out of her pocket due


    to her thrashing.


    Belongs ? to N?velDrama.Org.


    The phone rang, and Thssa looked down through her tears to see that it was Lysander calling.


    Desperate, she tried to reach the phone, but it was on the ground, far from her bound hands and feet.


    The phone screen glowed persistently, with "Lysander" shing over and over, as she frantically tried to


    slide the answer button. But she couldn''t, and eventually, the ringing stopped and the screen went


    dark.


    Her hope was extinguished and her mind was plunged into despair and darkness.


    With blurry eyes, Thssa looked up to see the grass within the circle catching fire, creeping closer


    and closer.


    It wouldn''t be long before the mes reached her. And with the gasoline soaked into her clothes, it


    would only take a spark to consume herpletely.


    Shivering in terror, she curled up, trying to distance herself from the spreading mes, but they showed


    no sign of stopping.


    Fear and despair thickened with each passing moment.


    Her breath trembled, and her tears flowed freely.


    So would she lose her life here?


    No, she couldn''t die here. She was pregnant, with children at home who needed her, and had a mother


    to look after.


    But the grass was aze at her feet now; just a little further and the gasoline would ignite.


    Thssa pulled back her feet in terror, trying to keep the mes at bay.


    But the fire crept closer, consuming her hope bit by bit.


    Suddenly, the screech of tires on asphalt pierced the night, signaling a vehicleing to a swift halt.


    The urgency of the sound suggested someone wasing fast.  Dra§Þan§àv§Öls


    Was someone passing by?


    Clinging to this sliver of hope, she yelled with all the strength she had left.

 Chapter 1161

    Chapter 1161


    It was Lysander!


    Tears streamed down Thssa''s face as she caught sight of him. Just then, the mes reached her


    feet, igniting the gasoline that soaked her clothing.


    With a whoosh, the fire exploded on Thssa, spreading rapidly over her.


    "Thssa!" Lysander roared, sprinting forward to smother the mes with his own body.


    But the gasoline on her made it impossible to extinguish the firepletely, though his efforts did


    reduce the ze enough for the ropes binding her to snap.


    Lysander''srge hands worked swiftly to rip the ropes from Thssa''s body, his heart pounding as he


    struggled with her clothing.


    If he could just get her clothes off, the fire would lose its fuel.


    The fire scorched Thssa''s skin, the pain sharp and searing. She gasped for air, trying her best to


    fight through the agony.


    Lysander tore at her clothes with desperate speed, disregarding his own clothes as they caught fire.


    In mere seconds, he had stripped away Thssa''s ropes and garments, flinging them aside. He


    shrugged off his jacket and used it to beat out the mes on Thssa''s body, even as his own trousers


    smoldered.


    After extinguishing the fire on Thssa, he scooped her up and bolted from the fiery circle.


    Cradled in his arms, Thssa''s body trembled while sweat beaded on Lysander''s forehead.


    He clutched her tight as if she were a fragile, priceless treasure that might shatter in his embrace.


    Ignoring the fire climbing his pant leg, he strode quickly to his car,ying Thssa down before finally


    snuffing out the mes on his clothes.


    With smoke billowing from his leg, he wasted no time jumping into the driver''s seat and speeding away.


    Thssay in the back, her breaths ragged, consciousness fading, hair singed and brittle.


    ncing back at Thssa''s limp form, Lysander''s heart was knotted and twisted with anguish and


    urgency.


    "Thssa, hold on. We''re almost at the hospital..." His voice was hoarse, words spilling out in a rough


    whisper as he drove.


    He spoke to give her hope, to urge her to hold on and not give up.


    Thssa struggled to breathe, her eyelids heavy, her consciousness slipping.


    Exclusive ? material by N?(/v)elDrama.Org.


    She really wanted to open her eyes, but she found it hard to breathe, so reopening eyes was almost


    impossible.


    "Thssa, stay awake. Think of the baby inside you. There''s a baby, and if something happens to you,


    the baby won''t make it either..." Lysander''s voice was thick with emotion; he kept talking to her and


    stroking her will to survive.


    If she gave up her will to live, Lysander couldn''t bear to think of the consequences.


    Yes, she was carrying a child so she couldn''t die. If she¡¯s dead, the baby would be lost too.


    She mustn''t die.


    Thssa could hear Lysander''s voice, and she breathed with all her might.


    Dra§Þa?ov§Öls.c§à§Þ


    "Thssa!" Hearing her cough, Lysander was filled with relief. He pressed the elerator to the floor.


    "Help! Somebody help!" Lysander burst through the doors, his voice echoing with urgency.

 Chapter 1162

    Chapter 1162


    Doctors and nurses arrived in a sh, taking Thssa from Lysander''s arms and rushing her on a


    gurney toward the emergency room.


    Lysander followed until the swinging doors of the ER halted his pace.


    He stood at the threshold, and his brow furrowed as the lights within flickered to life. The usually


    A nurse approached, noticing one of his pant legs burned in half. His high-quality suit was jagged and


    his sturdy calf was bore all red and blistered. Some blisters had burst and oozed blood in a shocking


    disy.


    He seemed oblivious to his own injury. His intense gaze was fixed on the big ¡°On Surgery¡± on ER


    doors.


    "Sir, your leg is burned; you might want to have that looked at in the treatment room. Infections can be


    quite troublesome," the nurse said with genuine concern.


    "No need," Lysander dismissed her mid-sentence, his icy stare not wavering from the ER doors, not


    sparing her a single nce.


    Intimidated by his brooding and intimidating aura, the nurse stepped back, clutching her medical kit and


    walking away.


    Lysander''s gaze lingered on the words "On Surgery" and knew it would be a while. He settled on a


    nearby waiting chair and pulled out his phone.


    "Trace Thssa''s movements today. Find out who she''s been in contact with," he ordered his head of


    security.


    After ending the call, his eyes tightened further as he continued to watch the ER doors; his presence


    was dark and ominous.


    The half-hour wait felt like an eternity to Lysander. When the doors finally swung open, he stood


    instantly and addressed the exiting doctor, "How is she?"


    Recognizing Lysander as the CEO of the Sinir Group, one of Starhaven''s most influential figures,


    the doctor replied with utmost respect, "The patient arrived in time. She wasn''t burned, just suffered


    from smoke inhtion. We''ve administered oxygen and dealt with it on time. She''s out of danger now."


    Lysander''s tense muscles rxed slightly, his eyes narrowing as he inquired further, "And the baby?"


    "The patient''s resilience ismendable, and the baby is unharmed," the doctor reassured him.


    Lysander had informed the medical team of Thssa''s pregnancy before she was whisked into the ER.


    A visible sense of relief washed over him as his oceanic pupils dted.


    Thssa was wheeled out with an oxygen mask on her face and an IV drip in her arm, but her eyes


    were open.


    Sitting beside her, Lysander''s gaze softened, his handsome face showing the remnants of exhaustion,


    "Are you feeling any difort?" he asked in a deep, soothing voice.


    Her hair was partly singed and untreated, adding to her disheveled appearance and stirring a mix of


    anger and concern in him.


    As Thssa''s eyes met his, she saw the furrowed brow and the intense aura around him.


    Was he worried about her?


    A warm surge filled her heart, and her look softened toward him. Read at NovelDrama.Org


    She shook her head slightly, indicating she was alright.

 Chapter 1163

    Chapter 1163


    His calloused fingertips brushed against the delicate skin of her forehead, sending shivers down her


    spine and causing her heart to race in a fluttering rhythm that seemed to lose its regr beat.


    She clutched the bed sheets behind her, holding on until Lysander straightened up and put some


    distance between them. Only then did her pulse begin to settle.


    Lysander looked down and saw she inhale through that oxygen mask. He asked with his deep,


    maic voice, "Are you hungry?"


    The doctor had said that after a few minutes of oxygen session, she could remove the mask and eat.


    Thssa shook her head; she wasn''t hungry. She''d had her fill of juices at the bar, and now she only


    needed to use the bathroom.


    But she was still tethered to the oxygen, unable to move, and it was getting urgent.


    "Point to where it hurts," Lysander said, his voiceced with concern as he noticed the furrow in her


    brow that hinted she was enduring some difort.


    She lifted her hand and pointed towards the restroom. She needed to go there badly.


    Understanding dawned on Lysander as he sat on the edge of the bed, picked up the oxygen tank, and,


    with a surprising assertiveness, scooped her into his arms.


    Thssa was caught off guard by this sudden, domineering move. She had been prepared to wait until


    after her oxygen session to relieve herself.


    But Lysander, seemingly more anxious than she was, hoisted the oxygen tank and carried her off


    towards the restroom with determined strides.


    Startled, she instinctively wrapped her arms around his neck for bnce, lest she fall.


    As she looked up at him, her eyes wide with disbelief. She could see the chiseled profile of his face,


    which was attractively sharp and alluring.


    Her heart wavered just by gazing at him.


    While she was lost in her thoughts, he kicked open the restroom door, walked in, and gently set her


    down on the toilet seat.


    Holding the oxygen tank in one hand and keeping the mask secure on her face with the other, he


    maintained a stooped posture by her side.


    Thssa was taken aback while she was looking at his tall frame crouched before her in an awkward


    position. It was hard to imagine anything making Lysander, a man of such power and stature, bend so


    humbly.


    Yet here he was, squatting before her, simply to ensure she could use the restroomfortably.


    "What are you waiting for? Need help?" Lysander¡¯s piercing gaze met hers.


    Thssa caught her breath and was suddenly self-conscious. She quickly averted her eyes, looking


    down at the baggy hospital pants she was wearing.


    She knew Lysander meant for her to undress and use the toilet, but with him squatting right there, how


    could she possibly go about it?Content held by N?velDrama.Org.


    Thssa was taken aback. Her cheeks flushed even redder.


    But the juice she''d consumed earlier was pressing urgently upon her, and the thought of an ident


    was far more humiliating.


    Putting embarrassment aside, she stood up, slid down her pants, and sat on the toilet seat. Co?tent §àf


    Dra§Þa?ov§Öls.c§à§Þ


    Thssa hung her head low, her gaze falling to the floor, only to notice something odd about Lysander


    ''s stance.


    Her heart skipped a beat, and she looked up with concern as she studied Lysander standing before


    her.

 Chapter 1164

    Chapter 1164


    Thssa nced at Lysander''s leg and then up at him. Worry and tension were clear as day in her


    clear eyes.


    Lysander caught her concern and attempted to downy the injury, "It''s just a scratch, no big deal."


    Despite his casual words, Thssa saw the harsh reality¡ªarge swath of his calf was burned,


    several blisters had popped, and the mingling of blood and pus was a gruesome sight.


    He must have gotten burned while rescuing her.


    Her heart clenched with a mix of guilt and anxiety.


    After finishing in the bathroom, she stood up and was ready to leave.


    Lysander reached out to carry her, but she quickly stepped away, heading for the door to dodge his


    embrace.


    She had been first carried in because she was totally unprepared, but now she had to make her own


    way out. Her legs were not hurt; she just needed oxygen


    The person who hurt his leg was Lysander, and the thought of making him carry her was unbearable.


    Walking with resolute steps, Thssa left the bathroom. Lysander didn''t press further and followed her


    with the oxygen tank in tow.


    Back at the bedside, Thssa reclined and gestured for Lysander to set the tank down, her gaze then


    returning to his leg, silently urging him to tend to his wound.


    Lysanderplied with cing the tank back but didn''t leave her side. Instead, he sat down by her


    bed, locking eyes with her as if afraid she''d vanish the moment he looked away.


    Thssa, seeing that he hadn''t moved to treat his injury, checked the oxygen tank anxiously. It had a


    timer showing how much time was left¡ªjust five minutes remaining.


    As soon as the timer hit zero, Thssa quickly removed the oxygen mask and, barely catching her


    breath, urged Lysander, "Go to the infirmary and get that leg looked at now."


    "If I leave, who''s going to watch over you?" he replied.


    Stunned by his concern, she gazed at his handsome face. There was a warmth in his typically cold


    demeanor that left her dazed and incredulous.


    It made her sway and feel incredulous.


    After watching him for a moment, she felt that his deep-set eyes were trying to suck her in. Thssa


    was startled and drifted back to her senses, "I can look after myself. You need to take care of that


    wound, or you might end up with an infection or even worse, a permanent limp. It wouldn''t do for your


    poise."


    "Would you hold that against me?" he asked suddenly.


    Her heart skipped a beat. Already feeling an inexplicable warmth towards him, his question left her


    flustered. She could feel her heart racing erratically.Content ? N?velDrama.Org 2024.


    Lysander''s expectant eyes dimmed with a hint of disappointment as he heard her.


    "Rest here," he stowed his gaze and said coldly, turning to leave the room.


    Some fifteen minutester, Lysander returned. Instinctively, Thssa''s eyes darted to his leg. Seeing it


    neatly bandaged and treated, she felt a wave of relief wash over her.


    Dra§Þanovels.c§àm


    Lysander sat down on a chair by the bed, pulled out his phone, and made a call for room service.


    After he hung up, Thssa asked him, "How did you find me?"

 Chapter 1165

    Chapter 1165


    Curiosity got the better of Thssa as she pondered how Lysander had pinpointed her location with


    such precision, especially given that she hadn''t even picked up the only phone when he called.


    Gazing into her eyes with his deep-set ones, Lysander said, ¡°Atticus tracked your cell''s location.¡±


    It wasn''t just a single call he had made to her; it was over a dozen. Each call went through, but she


    hadn''t answered any.


    This unusual urrence tipped Lysander off that something was wrong.


    He had Atticus trace Thssa''s phone and send him the coordinates.


    By the time he made thatst call to her, he was already speeding toward the cemetery.


    As his car neared its destination, the sight of mes was reaching for the sky above the gravesite. He


    was desperate so he floored the pedal to get there as fast as possible.


    Thssa understood and nodded. Her narrow escape from death owed as much to Lysander''s timely


    rescue as it did to her son''s intervention.


    Without that timely location tracking, Lysander might have been greeted by nothing more than a


    charred corpse.


    "Why on earth were you at Leopold''s grave at this hour?" Lysander''s handsome face hardened, his


    aura chilling the air around them like a sudden snowfall.


    Sensing his anger, Thssa fought to suppress her inner panic, feigning confidence as she replied, ¡°I


    had no intention of being here sote, believe me. It was a spooky, pitch-ck ce without a single


    streetlight. I was there because Debby was on my tail. I was trying to shake her off and somehow


    ended up driving here. That woman''s lost her mind. She tied me to Leopold''s headstone and wanted


    me to ''join'' Leopold...¡±


    "Do you wish to join him?" Lysander asked, his voice cold as ice.


    Startled by his abrupt detachment, Thssa froze.


    What kind of question was that?


    Content held by N?velDrama.Org.


    Did he think she wanted to die?


    ¡°Of course not. Why else would I be screaming for help?¡± Thssa retorted.


    She felt that everyone around her was losing their minds. Debby¡¯s actions were somewhat


    understandable, driven to extremes by grief. But Lysander? He was usually soposed and icy. Now


    he seemed to be showing a hint of madness too.


    Asking if she wanted to ''join'' Leopold was basically asking if she wanted to die, wasn''t it?


    The question sent shivers down Thssa''s spine.


    Her off-the-cuff response seemed to thaw Lysander''s icy demeanor a bit, but his chiseled face


    remained as stern as ever.


    "Debby will pay for what she''s done!" Lysander''s chilling words echoed with resolve.


    A shiver ran through Thssa, and she asked cautiously, "What are you nning to do?"


    Debby''s attempt to burn her alive was a clear vition of thew. Thssa was no saint, and she knew


    Debby should take the toll.


    Yet, if it was an act of solo madness, Thssa didn''t want Debby''s family to suffer for her actions.


    After all, they were innocent.


    Lysander''s deep-set eyes met hers, "What would you have me do?"


    Thssa paused.


    Was he actually asking for her input?


    Could she decide what price Debby would pay?


    "Can we just report this to the police and let them handle it ording to thew?" Thssa was


    stunned for a while before posing the question to Lysander. Re§Ñd at Dra§Þan§àvels


    His question caused Thssa''s heart to constrict.

 Chapter 1166

    Chapter 1166


    Thssa averted her gaze.


    Why would he ask her opinion if the decision wasn''t hers to make?


    "I don''t know. That¡¯s for you to decide," she managed to say; her voice was barely above a whisper.


    Lysander''s rough hands gently grasped her chin, lifting her face to meet his. Their noses almost


    touched, and his masculine and scorching breath caressed her face.


    "So if I decide, what then, hmm?" His deep, resonant voice carried an undertone of danger.


    "That will be your call," Thssa replied, her heart fluttering wildly from hismanding presence and


    her breath thickened.


    Seeing hershes quiver and sensing her nervousness, Lysander suddenly let out a low chuckle. His


    breath tickled her cheek, causing her heart to skip a beat.


    Before she could catch her breath, Lysander''s protruding nose brushed against hers, their breaths


    mingling. Hisrge hand cradled the back of her head and drew her into an intimate embrace.


    "Not keen on punishing Debby, are you?" his mellow voice was vibrating in Thssa''s ear.


    Her pulse raced, and she gasped for air. "It''s not that..." her voice betrayed her obvious turmoil.


    Pleased with her reaction, Lysander pressed a few light kisses on her lips. His voice was husky with


    tenderness, "Just rest easy and stop overthinking."


    The rest was up to him.


    He would definitely punish Debby!


    He received the security chief¡¯s call, saying that Debby had waited for Thssa on the bus that


    Belongs ? to N?velDrama.Org.


    morning, stalked her throughout the day, and finally cornered her at Leopold''s graveyard.


    Debby had bound Thssa to Leopold''s tombstone. She doused her in gasoline and threatened to


    burn her alive and send her down to join Leopold!


    Lysander felt a surge of rage fill his chest.


    Debby would pay for her actions!


    He continued to shower Thssa with kisses, from her flushed lips to her cool cheeks, and down to the


    delicate skin behind her ears.


    He cherished her as if she were a treasured possession, which was long lost and finally returned. His


    heart was still palpitating and overbrimming with protective affection.


    Thssa, enveloped in his tender kisses, felt her heart pound and her breath quicken. His hot breath


    on her skin made her neck tingle, and she instinctively wrapped her arms around his back.


    They hugged and kissed; their affection was as intense as that of long-lost lovers reuniting in a ze of


    passion...


    Lost in the sudden outpouring of Lysander''s affection, Thssa''s mind grew hazy with emotion.


    Then there came a sudden knock at the door of the hospital room.


    Lysander''s warmth vanished as she pulled away, his expression darkening. His piercing gaze turned to


    the door as the bodyguard entered with lunch, "Come in!" Re§Ñd at NovelDrama.Org


    The bodyguard, looking sheepish and apologetic, carried in the meal and set it on the table before


    quickly exiting.

 Chapter 1167

    Chapter 1167


    David had been exiled to Afrnd and hadn''t returned, leaving the entire bodyguard squad around


    Lysander on edge. They tightened their belts, vignt and tense.


    Lysander, however, didn''t dwell on their mistakes. He opened the bag and took out a bowl of creamy


    soup. Approaching the bed, he scooped a spoonful and said, "Have some; having enough food will


    help you recover soon."


    He brought the spoon to her lips, but Thssa was flustered. She quickly took the spoon and bowl


    from his hands, "I can eat by myself. You should eat too. You''re hurt. You need the nourishment for a


    speedy recovery."


    Hearing her concern, Lysander''s mood brightened. He didn''t insist on feeding her, instead returning to


    the table to eat his own bowl of soup.


    ...


    Debby tossed and turned in her bed, unable to find sleep.


    Her mind was racing with thoughts of Thssa.


    Had she been burned alive?


    Did the grass catch fire?


    Did the mes reach Thssa?


    If the grass didn''t ignite, Thssa would survive, merely scared but unharmed as the fire from the


    gasoline around the grave died out.


    But if it did catch fire, Thssa would be charred and burned alive.


    The image of Thssa engulfed in mes sent a shiver through Debby, mixing fear and regret within


    her.


    Yet the thought of Thssa surviving left her unsatisfied and her thirst for revenge unquenched.


    If Thssa was dead, Debby would be uneasy; if alive, she would be unwilling.


    Tangled in this conflict, she tossed and turned and couldn''t find rest.


    Until she heard noises downstairs in the vi and felt someoneing, and not just one person was on


    their way¡ªthemotion was a big one.


    Startled, Debby dressed and descended the stairs, only to find her mother speaking with several police


    officers.


    "You must be mistaken. My Debby was home all night and wouldn''tmit murder or arson," Carina


    said, her face a mask of disbelief as she calmly tried to exin to the officers.


    "The evidence is conclusive. There''s no room for argument," an officer said sternly, and turning to see


    Debby at the stairwell, he stepped past Carina, approaching her with his badge outstretched, "Debby,


    Content held by N?velDrama.Org.


    we suspect you''re involved in an arson and murder case. Pleasee with us to assist the


    investigation. This is a warrant for your arrest."


    Carina, jarred by Debby''s sinister demeanor and her question, stepped back; her lips were quivering


    with shock as she mumbled, "Debby, what are you thinking...?"


    Carina followed, weeping as she watched her daughter being pushed into the police car, "My dear


    Debby..." she cried.


    Hearing her mother''s sobs, Debby felt a sharp pain. Her sinister facade crumbled and revealed sorrow.


    Her eyes burned and her tears spilled over. Re§Ñd at Dramanov§Öls


    Before getting into the car, she looked back at Carina and said, "Mom, go back. Don''t be sad. Pretend


    you never had me."


    With that, she turned and boarded the police car without looking back.

 Chapter 1168

    Chapter 1168


    Dawn broke with the sun''s gentle rays sneaking through the curtains, casting a soft, serene glow upon


    the faces of the slumbering couple sprawled on the floor.


    In the tranquility of the room, the light added a touch of homely peace to their sleeping forms.


    Hertha woke cocooned in ric''s embrace, the sunlight teasing her closed eyelids until it robbed her of


    her drowsiness.


    She slowly opened her eyes to a canvas of skin radiating warmth and a distinctly masculine scent.


    Her mind buzzed to life, vividly reying the previous night''s passionate entanglement with ric. Her


    cheeks were flushed with the memory.


    With rity came the realization that her face was nuzzled against ric''s chest, and his steady


    heartbeat was now drumming in her ears¡ªstrong and vibrant.


    Good Lord, this was no dream; she had actually slept with ric!


    She had been with the man who had captured her heart at first sight, with whom she had fallen madly,


    irresistibly in love.


    It was like hitting the jackpot!


    Hertha was a mix of excitement and fear.


    Exclusive ? material by N?(/v)elDrama.Org.


    Her heart thrummed, pounding against her ribcage as she lifted her head. ric''s arm draped over her,


    falling aside limply.


    Propping herself up on her hands against the cashmere carpet, she turned to behold ric. He was


    closing his eyes and deep in slumber, showing no sign of waking.


    His hair was in a punk style that framed his rebelliously handsome face ¡ªa face that made Hertha''s


    heart skip a beat.


    She looked at his high nose bridge and his alluring lips; his features and contour seemed to have been


    crafted to perfection, which fit Hertha¡¯s taste.


    She tentatively touched his nose, then his lips; her heart was fluttering at the thought of those very lips


    having kissed her the night before, her cheeks reddening at the thought.


    Suddenly, ric stirred in his sleep, turning over.


    Startled, Hertha quickly withdrew her hand and blurted out in defense, "Don''t get the wrong idea; it was


    an ident. I didn''t mean to touch you."


    No response came. She peered closer and saw that his eyes were still closed, his breathing even. He


    was still sound asleep.


    Hertha, feeling like a guilty thief, let out a relieved sigh and carefully rose from the floor. She was


    cautious not to awaken ric.


    Only then did it dawn on her that they had spent the night on the floor!


    She had actually spent an entire night on the floor with ric!


    And more than that had transpired.


    Thankfully, the carpet was a clean and soft cashmere.


    In the living room downstairs, Beatrice, Remington, and Angelina were enjoying breakfast. Re§Ñd at


    Dra§Þan§àvels


    Angelina asked, "Shouldn''t we call them down for breakfast?"

 Chapter 1169

    Chapter 1169


    "Mom, how''d you know those two wore each other outst night?" Angelina asked with curiosity.


    Being a woman of the world herself and a mother of a grown son, she could read between the lines of


    Beatrice''s insinuation, that the young lovebirds was reveling in passion the night before.


    "Of course I know," Beatrice replied, her smile was widening, and there was a twinkle of knowing


    mischief in her eyes. "I personally prepared the soup they had. And I even delivered them milkter."


    Angelina was astonished.


    Without further question, she knew there was something up with the milk ¨C they were likely the kind


    that made the young ones restless and unable to keep their hands off each other.


    Content held by N?velDrama.Org.


    Seeing Angelina''s gobsmacked expression, Beatrice simply chuckled and returned to her breakfast


    without another word.


    After they finished eating, Remington reached out his hand to Beatrice, suggesting, "Let''s take a stroll


    in the garden to work off some of that breakfast."


    Beatrice ced her hand in his, and together, supporting one another, they left the dining room for a


    walk in the garden.


    Left alone at the table, Angelina felt a cloud of gloom overshadow her mood instead of joy.


    She was just poking at her food when her phone buzzed ¨C it was a call from Georgia Reed¡¯s mother,


    Juliet.


    Angelina hurriedly answered.


    After a bit of small talk, Juliet got straight to the point, "My husband says that if ric marries Georgia,


    the Reeds will back him all the way. We''ll help him rise in the Falconers, and eventually, he''ll be at the


    helm. Look at Jeremiah Falconer now ¨C he''s at his peak and having so many shareholders in his


    pocket. If ric doesn''t step up soon, he''ll miss his chance."


    Angelina''s heart sank. She was already worried, and Juliet''s words only added to her anxiety.


    Jeremiah, ric''s cousin, was indeed way more promising than ric, and Remington seemed


    inclined to pass the CEO baton to him.


    Despite appearing hands-off, the old man still held the ultimate decision-making power. He cared only


    for who could keep thepany reins tight and profitable.


    With Jeremiah about to tie the knot with a Suttner heiress and gain Suttners'' backing, he was set to be


    the victor.


    Then ric would always be one step behind and never able to turn the tables.


    If they didn''t seize the current opportunity, ric''s future would be even bleaker.


    "Juliet, don''t you worry. ric is absolutely set on marrying Georgia. She''s such a catch ¨C beautiful and


    sweet. It''s ric''s good fortune to have her," Angelina assured Georgia''s mother with a smile.


    "Well then, let''s set a date for their engagement ceremony and get the wedding ns rolling to bolster


    ric''s position sooner rather thanter," Juliet pressed, her eagerness fueled by her lovely daughter''s


    affection for ric.


    "I''ll talk to ric and get back to you ASAP. You have my word," Angelina promised.


    After some more pleasantries, they ended the call.


    Angelina''s lips curled into a chilling smile, and she gestured for her to sit, "Please, have breakfast.


    Eloise, bring out Ms. Kensington''s breakfast from the kitchen."


    Hertha was not a coward; she was determined to fight for what she wanted.


    Dr?§Þan§àvels


    As Eloise set the breakfast before Hertha, earning a thankful nod, Hertha politely began, "About ric


    and I..."


    "ric''s had his share of women; you''re not the first he''s brought home," Angelina interjected before


    Hertha could finish, her voiceced with a chilling mirth.


    Hertha felt a sting in her heart as her smile froze in ce.

 Chapter 1170

    Chapter 1170


    Hertha clenched her fist on the table, her smile fading as she fixed her gaze on Angelina.


    Angelina said to her with a fake smile, "Do you know why I brought you back here?"


    It wasst night that Angelina had asked ric to fetch histest fling and bring her home.


    Taking a deep breath, Hertha braced herself for what was toe.


    Angelina picked up a cup of coffee beside her, took a sip, and set it down before continuing, "It''s to


    appease his grandfather. The old man''s got a weak heart, and he''s been worried sick about ric''s


    yboy ways."


    Angelina had thought ric was just having another fling, so she didn''t hesitate to bring Hertha home.


    But she hadn''t expected that ric would really sleep with her.


    Feeling like she''d shot herself in the foot, Angelina regretted her decision.


    "His grandfather said yesterday that if ric truly liked me, he''d pay a fortune to call off the


    engagement with the Reeds," Hertha said with a serious look.


    Angelina let out a cynical chuckle to dismiss her naivety.


    "His grandfather said that just to keep you on the hook. He wants you to willingly stick around ric


    and bear his children. Did he ever mention ric marrying you? No, right?"


    Hertha''s brows furrowed, her heart hanging by a thread upon hearing Angelina''s words.


    "Do you know why ric''s grandfather is so worried about him? Because he has a lot of girls outside


    and none of them want to bear his child. He fears ric being taken advantage of and that his vitality


    was sapped by those women, leaving him unable to carry on the Falconer lineage. That''s why he''s


    keen on finding a woman to charm into bearing an heir. Old money families care most about their


    progeny."


    Angelina took another sip of coffee as she was schooling Hertha on the Falconers'' mindset.


    Hertha''s expression turned cold as she retorted, "Stop lying to me. How does he know for sure I''d want


    to have ric''s child?"


    "It''s a gamble," Angelina admitted. "So they tell you about the huge sum to break off the Reed


    engagement, sweeten the deal, and keep you around to let you two have the milk. They gave you both


    tonics¡ªyours designed for women''s vitality, ric''s for men''s. Then they served you a ''special'' milk to


    stoke the fires of passion¡­"


    Angelina''s gaze was sharp and serious as sheid it all out for Hertha.


    Hertha''s eyes widened in shock. Just now she was able to counter Angelina and saying she was full of


    shit.


    But now, Angelina''s words hit like a sucker punch, sending what little hope Hertha had plummeting.


    She''d been yed by Beatrice and the Falconers, thinking they had been kind and caring.


    What a fool andughing stock she was.


    Seeing Hertha''s grief-stricken face, Angelina said with a slight smile, "The old man''s coddling you to


    ensure you bear ric''s child. Once ric marries Georgia, even if he doesn''t care for her, the


    Falconers will have their heir. Georgia, being from a respected family, will understand the stakes. She''ll


    y the stepmother and raise another woman''s child as her own." Co?tent of Dr?manov§Öls


    Her fists were clenched on the table, her breath trembling.Content held by N?velDrama.Org.

 Chapter 1171

    Chapter 1171


    Angelina didn''t hold her tongue; instead, she delivered a crushing blow to Hertha.


    No matter how many other women ric entertained, he was bound to end up marrying Georgia. Her


    influential family could give him the boost he needed to be powerful and snatch the CEO position


    at Falconer Enterprises.


    Hertha was just one of his many conquests, nothing more.


    Suddenly, Hertha grasped the brutal pecking order. Her heart felt as if it was being crushed under a


    boulder, leaving her breathless and gasping for air.


    How could she have believed ric''s sweet nothings? She was fooled into thinking his promises of


    undying affection and exclusivemitment were genuine.


    Knowing full well it was all a charade, she still deluded herself into thinking he meant every word and


    had willingly surrendered herself to him.


    The realization thatst night''s folly was nothing but a cruel joke made her chest ache with every


    Belongs ? to N?velDrama.Org.


    breath.


    Angelina pulled open a drawer in the dining room sideboard, taking out a check she had prepared


    earlier, pen poised at the ready.


    She scribbled a figure of two million dors, tore off the check, and extended it towards Hertha with a


    haughty tone, "Here''s two million. Just consider itpensation for yourpanyst night. I trust you


    know what to do next."


    Hertha nced at the check, the zeros blinding her.


    She swallowed the pain in her heart, masking her sorrow with a carefree smile, "You''re not running low


    on cash, are you? Giving me a check with only two million written on that?"


    She waved the check in the air nonchntly with a mocking smirk on her face.


    Angelina frowned. She was taken aback, "What?"


    Herthaughed hollowly, "As you said, it''s all just a game. So why take it so seriously? Surely ric


    spends more than two million on his girlfriends. If you really want to cut ties, two million hardly seems


    enough. Besides, who deals in checks these days? You think you can send someone packing without


    cold hard cash?"


    Angelina had expected tears and desperate clinging. She had her dismissive retorts prepared.


    But she hadn''t anticipated Hertha''s brazen demand for money, her face alight with the smug


    satisfaction of having yed ric for a profit.


    Instantly, Angelina felt a knot of anger in her chest.


    Just another money-grubbing woman, she thought. She''d seen and dealt with too many of them.


    "Two million in cash is doable, but that''s my final offer. Take it or leave it, there won''t be a penny more."


    Was this a threat?


    Did she imply she''d ruin ric''s wedding if she didn''t get paid now?


    This woman was no easy prey. Co?tent of Dr§Ñm§Ñ?ovels.c§àm


    Fuming, Angelina took a deep breath. Her high-societyposure kept her anger at bay.


    "Fine," she said with strained calmness, "but you''d better keep your word, or you''ll regret it."

 Chapter 1172

    Chapter 1172


    Angelina felt a lump in her throat as Hertha insinuated that she¡¯d slept with ric, and even worse, that


    ric ended up footing the bill?


    How could there be such a shameless woman?


    Hertha slept with a man and then imed she yed him.


    That was taking ¡®ying the field¡¯ to a whole new level.


    Had she known Hertha was this kind of woman, Angelina wouldn¡¯t have offered her a dime, let alone


    any form ofpensation.


    But now the words were already out, and Hertha had her sights set firmly on the two million.


    It was toote for Angelina to take it back.


    Boiling with silent rage, Angelina didn¡¯t speak. She just snatched the check Hertha handed her,


    whipped out her phone, entered the ount number, and transferred two million.


    Hertha¡¯s phone buzzed in her pocket, signaling the arrival of the funds. She nced at the message:[


    two million credited.] That was fast indeed.


    Witnessing thevishness of the wealthy, Hertha smirked at her phone and said to Angelina with a


    snide grin, ¡°Got the cash. I¡¯m outta here. Goodbye, no, let¡¯s make that a farewell.¡±


    With that, she stood up and left.


    As she reached the door, Hertha bumped into Remington and Beatriceing back from their morning


    walk. Beatrice greeted her warmly, ¡°Hey Hertha, you¡¯re up. Had breakfast yet?¡±


    The thought of those two hearty breakfast bowls and Angelina''s words filled Hertha with resentment


    towards Beatrice and Remington. She brushed past Beatrice without a word, not even sparing her a


    nce.


    Seeing Hertha storm off, Beatrice exchanged a curious look with Remington and asked, ¡°What¡¯s gotten


    into that girl?¡±


    Remington shook his head thoughtfully; he was just as clueless about Hertha¡¯s mood swing.


    She was all bubbly and warm yesterday; what made her ignore them today?


    Beatrice and Remington stepped inside the house.


    Just a second before they entered, Angelina sternly instructed the housekeeper, Eloise, ¡°Keep your


    mouth shut about this, got it?¡±


    Eloise nodded, visibly shaken.


    No sooner had she spoken than Beatrice and Remington walked in, hand in hand. Angelina was still


    seated at the breakfast table where a full, untouched breakfasty.


    Beatrice asked Angelina, ¡°What¡¯s with Hertha rushing off like that?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s okay. They¡¯ll understand your good intentions,¡± Angelina replied with a smile, the picture of a good


    girl.


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    ¡°Yeah, I just want them to settle down soon. It¡¯s not often ric falls for a girl, and he needs to seize


    the chance. Otherwise, he¡¯ll just keep ying the field, and that''ll be even harder. His whole life could


    be ruined by dalliances.¡± Beatricemented with heartfelt concern. Updated at Dr?manov§Öls.c§àm


    Angelina looked away, choosing to remain silent.


    ¡°Worn out. Let¡¯s catch a few winks,¡± Beatrice said, pulling Remington by the hand back towards their


    bedroom.

 Chapter 1173

    Chapter 1173


    This was the life of the elderly, a serene and tranquil existence.


    In his room, ric slept soundly, his dreams filled with warm embraces of Hertha, whose slightly plump


    figure provided aforting softness to hold. The scent of her femininity was a siren''s call, tempting


    him to kiss her over and over again.


    Still ensnared by the dream, ric''s lips puckered as he imagined continuing his affections for Hertha.


    But as his consciousness abruptly surfaced, he opened his eyes to find his arms hugging nothing but


    air.


    Hertha was no longer by his side. Scrambling to his feet, he realized he was on the floor. A nce at


    the bed revealed it too was empty, no sign of Hertha anywhere in the room.


    Couldst night''s passionate encounter have been just a figment of his dreams?


    A sense of loss washed over ric as his gaze dropped to the floor. There, on the cashmere carpet, a


    splotch of red caught his eye.


    The bloodstain was none other than Hertha''s.


    Her virginity was given to him.


    It was the undeniable evidence of their stormy night of love.


    Remembering what he had said to Hertha before they made love, ric felt a tightness in his throat.


    He said that what he said to his grandpa wasn''t all a lie. His words to his grandpa were that he liked


    her and would marry her.


    Finally, Hertha agreed and gave herself to him.


    Rushing to the bathroom for a quick shower and throwing on clothes, ric hurried downstairs, anxiety


    wing at him.


    Downstairs, only his mother Angelina sat at the breakfast table, a full, untouched meal opposite her.


    ric strode over and asked, "Mom, where''s Hertha?"


    Angelina looked up, her gaze sharp and severe. "You have the nerve to ask about her? She threw a


    tantrum this morning, refused breakfast, and demanded two million, iming you owe her."


    "What? She asked you for two million? That''s absurd." ric couldn''t believe it.


    "Do you think I''m lying? She came down in a huff, using you of taking advantage of herst night.


    She wanted hush money, said if I paid her, she''d leave us alone forever. That''s ckmail, pure and


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    simple! What kind of gold-digger did you bring into the Falconer family? It''s a disgrace."Angelina''s


    anger was palpable as she spoke.


    ric''s face darkened, his jaw clenched. "That can''t be true. She''s not like that."


    "Still don''t believe me?" Angelina retorted, pulling out her phone to show the transaction record. "Here,


    see for yourself."


    The sight of Hertha''s name as the recipient felt like a punch to ric''s gut, his expression turning even


    more grim.


    "I told you," Angelina continued, "only the daughters of noble families have virtue and decency. Look at


    the women you find outside, all after your fortune."


    "Enough!" ric''s voice thundered as he cut her off, his re sending a clear message that silenced


    Angelina.


    Without another word, ric stormed out of the house, leaving his mother with a sly smirk on her face.


    Her rationalization was that whatever she did was for her son''s own good.


    If ric were to lose his ce as the head of the Falconer group, that would be the real regret of his


    life.


    "Eloise, go tidy up the young master''s room," Angelinamanded after a moment, then paused,


    reconsidering. "Never mind, I''ll do it myself."

 Chapter 1174

    Chapter 1174


    Angelina tasked Eloise with tidying up the living room while she made her way to her son ric''s


    bedroom, intent on handling the aftermath herself. Pushing open the door, she was hit by a wave of


    intimacy that seemed to linger in the air.


    The room felt unusually warm and the humid air clung to her face, carrying a hint of something


    unspoken.


    The thought of her son spending the night with a woman like that stirred a fury within her, and she


    cursed Hertha under her breath countless times.


    Suppressing her annoyance, Angelina moved to the bed to change the sheets, but to her surprise, the


    sheets suggested someone had sat there, but there was no sign that anyone had actually slept in the


    Content held by N?velDrama.Org.


    bed.


    Impossible, she thought. Could it have been Hertha who tidied up in the morning? But ric was the


    Knowing her son well, Angelina was certain that ric was the type to toss his nkets aside upon


    waking and never bothered to fold them. It seemed even less likely that he would have made the bed


    himself.


    As Angelina pondered the situation, her gaze drifted to the floor, where a sh of red caught the corner


    of her eye. She was about to look away when the color seized her attention, and she focused sharply


    on it.


    What she saw made her heart skip a beat. There, on the floor, was a stain of blood.


    Had ric and Hertha actually slept on the floor?


    Hertha, with her reputation as a yer, was still a virgin?


    Last night, ric had taken Hertha''s first time.


    Angelina was originally filled with contempt and disdain in her heart for promiscuous women like


    Hertha.


    Now that Angelina saw the smear of red on the ground, she was shocked and overwhelmed with


    disbelief instead.


    The sight of the red stain on the floorplicated her feelings towards Hertha. If she was as loose as


    rumored, how could she be a virgin?


    But if she was a decent girl, why would she say those things to Angelina, take two million dors, and


    leave without a second nce or any intention of clinging to ric?


    Modern girls were truly a puzzle.


    With a sigh, Angelina rolled up the cashmere rug, resolving to clean it herself.


    ...


    ric drove away from the Falconer residence, scanning the streets for any sign of Hertha. He dialed


    her number, and the phone rang for an eternity, but no one answered.


    A frown creased his brow, and his mood soured. Hertha had left without a word that morning. Was she


    really angry with him?


    But why? Surely, she owed him an exnation.


    When ric tried calling her again, he was met with an immediate rejection. Staring at his phone


    screen, he exhaled deeply and tossed the device onto the passenger seat.


    Gripping the steering wheel tightly, he pressed on the elerator, speeding up the car.


    Meanwhile, Hertha sat in the back of a taxi, the ringing of her phone breaking through the silence. She


    saw ric''s name shing on the screen and felt a tug at her heart, followed by a faint ache.


    "Miss, did you get your heart broken?" The driver in the front seat chimed in.


    The driver''s words from the front seat snapped her back to reality. She wiped away her tears with a


    defiant swipe of her hand and said in a hardened tone, "Heartbreak? What''s that? Love is a joke.


    Money is what matters."


    The driver probed further, "Then why the tears?"


    "I''m crying because I don''t have enough money. I''ve got to work hard and earn my own," Hertha said


    stubbornly, drying her tears and putting on a face of cold determination.

 Chapter 1175

    Chapter 1175


    The driver chuckled at her words but said nothing more.


    Hertha had nned to head straight to the office, but as they drove past a serene wend park, she


    noticed shepherds tending to their flocks in the distance.


    The sight of pure whitembs grazing carefree on the lush green grass, interspersed with tranquil


    ponds, painted a scene as idyllic as fluffy clouds dotting a spring sky.


    This peaceful vista tugged at her heartstrings, and Hertha hastily asked the driver to pull over.


    Stepping out of the car at the edge of the wend park, she wandered absentmindedly towards the


    grazing sheep. The fuzzymbs, unafraid of her presence, ambled over to her side, nuzzling against


    her legs, taking a bite of grass, then nuzzling her again.


    The gentle contact prompted Hertha to squat down and stroke themb¡¯s woolly head. The softness


    felt soothing under her touch, offering a balm to her aching heart.


    The shepherd, a woman with sun-kissed skin and an honest demeanor, approached with a warm smile.


    "You''ve got a kind aura about you," she said. "Thembs can tell; they really like you."


    Hertha turned to the shepherd, a bittersweet smile creeping onto her face. "It''s easier to be amb, isn''t


    it? No worries as long as there''s grass to munch on."


    "But once they grow up, they''ll be sold off, ending up as meals for folks like us," the shepherd woman


    said matter-of-factly. "Their joyes from not overthinking things, just living in the moment."


    The words struck a chord in Hertha, as if awakening her to a simple truth.


    Human suffering often stems from thinking too much and overlooking the present moment.


    To enjoy and be content with the now is to find happiness.


    Suddenly, rity dawned on Hertha, and her smile lost its heaviness. "Thank you," she told the


    shepherd. "I feel better now."


    "What for?" The shepherdughed heartily, oblivious to Hertha''s earlier distress.


    Hertha paused, then smiled, realizing that the sorrows and joys of others were not always our own to


    She continued to sit on the grass for a while longer, ying with thembs as the sun grew stronger.


    Eventually, Hertha sought refuge under arge tree, shading herself from the intensifying sunlight.


    She then called Thssa.


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    At that moment, Thssa was resting in the hospital, having just finished breakfast when her phone


    rang.


    "Hey, Hertha, about your car, I''ll have someone drop it offter." Thssa had borrowed Hertha''s car


    the night before, and it was probably still parked by the cemetery.


    Thssa would have to call a tow truck to bring it back.


    "No rush. I just wanted to chat," said Hertha, her voice betraying a newfound maturity,cking its usual


    bubbly confidence.


    Hertha only sounded this grown-up when something was wrong, and Thssa, being her best friend,


    knew her all too well.


    "What''s up? Did something happen with ric?" Thssa asked with concern.


    Hertha''s heart sank a little more, and after a brief silence, she replied, "No, it''s nothing like that. Just


    had a bit of a run-in with a dog. It''s left me feeling a bit down."


    "What? You were bitten by a dog? Did you get a rabies shot?" Thssa''s worry spiked through the


    phone.

 Chapter 1176

    Chapter 1176


    Getting bitten by a dog was noughing matter.


    If that mutt was carrying a virus, Hertha could be in real danger.


    Thssa was seriously worried about Hertha''s safety.


    Over the phone, Thssa''s voice wasced with shock and concern. Hertha just chuckled and said,


    "It''s okay, it''s all been taken care of, and they even forked over some cash for the trouble."


    "That dog owner is really something else. Who walks their dog without a leash?" Thssa was still


    fretting for Hertha.


    Listening to Thssa''s disjointed ramblings about the dog, and its owner, Hertha suddenly felt a rush


    of happiness.


    It was as if the clouds had parted and the sun was shining just for her.


    Hertha giggled until she snorted, then asked, "Thssa, you got home okay by yourself yesterday,


    right?"


    Hearing Hertha''sughter through the phone, Thssa knew her friend was fine and felt a wave of


    relief.


    When the conversation shifted tost night''s events, Thssa hesitated. If she mentioned that Debby


    had stalked her, tied her to Leopold''s tombstone, and nearly got her roasted alive, Hertha would


    undoubtedly me herself for leaving first.


    Hertha was already downcast from the dog bite; worrying her further just didn''t feel right.


    "It was fine. Just make sure you keep an eye on that bite, okay? Get your shots on time and don''t take


    it lightly," Thssa said.


    Hertha''sughter grew louder, almost uncontroble. She loved when Thssa referred to ric as a


    dog, evenparing him to a rabid one.


    "What''s so funny? Did I say something wrong?" Thssa asked with a mix of curiosity and concern,


    puzzled by Hertha''s boisterousughter.


    Tears of mirth ran down Hertha''s face as she wiped her eyes and replied, "No, you didn''t say anything


    wrong. It''s just that talking to you is so much fun. You always know what to say to cheer me up."


    "Care to exin what''s got you so amused?" Thssa asked, still feeling lost.


    "You care about me."


    "Of course, I care about you. If I don''t, who will?" Thssa retorted with feigned annoyance.


    "That''s true. Nothing beats having a bestie. Men are nothing," Hertha said with a dismissive air.


    "You went home with ric yesterday; did it go well?" Thssa asked, concerned.


    "Let''s talk about it when we meet up. It''s a long story," Hertha replied, sidestepping the question.


    After a bit more chatting, Hertha hung up the phone.


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    No sooner had Thssa ended the call than Lysander walked in, his tall and imposing frame lowering


    the room''s temperature with his mere presence.


    Thssa turned to see him and feltpelled to exin even though he hadn''t asked, "That was


    Hertha on the phone, just a quick catch-up."


    His aura made her feel as if silence was an admission of guilt, a peculiar sensation indeed.


    "Hmm," Lysander grunted, holding the hospital discharge papers in his hand and saying in his deep,


    maic voice, "You''re cleared to leave."


    "Okay, I''ll get right up," Thssa quickly responded, throwing off the covers and attempting to get out


    of bed.


    But Lysander was upon her in an instant, scooping her up before she could protest.


    Caught off guard, Thssa instinctively clung to his neck, his warmth seeping into her palms as his


    powerful presence enveloped her.


    Her face flushed with heat, and she squirmed ufortably, protesting, "Put me down; I can walk on


    my own."


    Lysander''s deep gaze flickered over her as he said, "Be still. It''ll save you some pain."


    Thssa was at a loss; did wanting to walk on her own mean she was being difficult?


    Did being cradled in his arms equate to being sensible?


    His logic was beyond her.


    With long strides, Lysander carried Thssa into the elevator, down to the ground floor, and settled her


    into his car. From the hospital room to the car, her feet never touched the ground.


    It was almost ironic; he was the one with the injured leg, yet he acted as if she was the one who


    couldn''t walk.

 Chapter 1177

    Chapter 1177


    Lysander slid into the backseat of the car, hisrger-than-life presence filling the space entirely.


    Thssa nced at his legs, noting he had changed into a fresh pair of jeans which concealed any


    sign of injury. He had walked with her earlier, his stride steady, betraying no hint of difort.


    Thssa still felt uneasy when she thought of the scene yesterday when she saw the skin on his legs


    reddened with several blood blisters.


    Turning her head, she eyed his profile with concern. "Did you get those wounds on your leg checked


    today?"


    Lysander turned his deep-set eyes toward her, a subtle tremor in his gaze. She was showing concern


    for him.


    Clearing his throat, he replied, "Yeah, they''ve been taken care of."


    Thssa gave him a small nod, relieved. "Good."


    As she was about to look away, Lysander suddenly wrapped an arm around her waist and, with a firm


    pull, hoisted her onto hisp.


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    Thssa yelped, her cheeks flushing as she turned to re at him. "Lysander, what are you doing?"


    She was going to get off, but Lysander wrapped his arms around her waist and anchored her to sit on


    hisp, his cheek against the side of her face, his masculine, hot breath blowing on her ear. "You know


    exactly what I want to do, don''t you?"


    His husky voice and hot breath sent shivers through Thssa, her heart pounding wildly.


    She struggled briefly, attempting to pry his hands away and move back to her seat.


    "Ah..." Lysander winced, a sharp pain evident in his voice.


    Thssa''s movements froze, her voiceced with anxiety. "What''s wrong, did I hurt you?"


    "You know it hurts, and yet you move." His voice was a low, throaty growl.


    Thssa stilled, not daring to aggravate his injury. After all, he had been hurt trying to save her.


    "We''re in a car, and you''re still injured. Can''t you be a little more behaved?" she asked, her tone almost


    pleading.


    "It''s just a leg wound; it''s not getting in the way." He nuzzled her ear lightly.


    The ticklish sensation made Thssa squirm. "Stop it, I just got out of the hospital. I just want some


    peace."


    "I''ll give you peace." Lysander''s lips found hers, demanding and insistent.


    He conquered her protests, stealing her breath away, leaving no room for resistance.


    Thssa''s initial stiffness gave way to breathlessness, her body melting into his embrace, sumbing


    to his domineering kiss.


    Only when her eyshes fluttered, signaling her near suffocation, did Lysander finally release her.


    He held her close, allowing her to rest against his chest as they both gasped for air.


    Lysander, too, was breathing heavily, his eyes intense, his body radiating heat but restrained by sheer


    will.


    His hand gently stroked her back, soothing her.


    His lips glistened, and he reached for his phone, calling the driver. "Come on, drive."


    Thssa''s consciousness flitted, realizing Lysander had nned this all along. Otherwise, why would


    he have the driver wait elsewhere until he was done kissing her?


    Thssa snapped back to consciousness, noticing that she was still sitting on Lysander, and that it


    wouldn''t be good for the driver to see the scene. She hurriedly straightened up and sat down in the


    nearby seat, but her chest was still heaving, and her breathing wasn''t calming.


    "Back to Royal Estates or over to Star Harbor Vi?" Lysander asked, unexpectedly seeking her input.

 Chapter 1178

    Chapter 1178


    To Thssa''s surprise, Lysander, who was typically domineering and decisive, was actually asking for


    her opinion. This was a change from his usual manner, where he''d make decisions for her without any


    room for discussion.


    Caught slightly off guard, Thssa met Lysander''s deep eyes; he was still waiting for her response.


    "Let''s head to Royal Estates," Thssa said softly.


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    She was missing the kids.


    Today was Saturday, and the little ones were off school, but Evelyn had to work overtime. Evelyn


    usually had just one day off a week, on Sundays.


    Thssa had called Evelyn the night before to let her know she was at Royal Estates.


    Besides, returning to Star Harbor Vi wouldn''t make sense; it was empty at the moment.


    Hearing Thssa''s decision to go back to Royal Estates, a subtle shift flickered in Lysander''s gaze. His


    voice, low and maic, confirmed, "Alright."


    She had started to see Royal Estates as a second home, and knowing this seemed to please him more


    than thepletion of a multi-million-dor deal.


    Soon, the car pulled up in the driveway of Royal Estates.


    Eager to avoid being carried by Lysander again, Thssa quickly opened the car door and stepped


    out. She just choked on the smokest night and had no problem walking at all.


    As she made her way to the entrance, the cheerful, youthful voices of children reached her ears.


    She paused, turning towards the sound, and saw four little figures chasing each other around an


    airne, thoroughly engrossed in their game.


    The ne was sleek with a rounded nose, painted in blue and white.


    Thssa recognized that ne; it was the same private ne Lysander had used to bring her and the


    kids back from Weston Country.


    After that ne hadnded at the Royal Estates airstrip, it had never left.


    Dorian had cheekily expressed a wish for a ne to y with, and to Thssa''s amazement, Lysander


    had agreed.


    So, had a real private ne be a toy for the children?


    Only someone with Lysander''s boldness and wealth could pull off such a stunt.


    Seeing the children''s diminutive forms, Thssa quickened her pace to join them.


    Only as she got closer did she see Dorian and Atticus ying tag around the ne, while Elowen and


    Sophia were busy decorating the ne''s surface with colorful markers.


    The four little ones were having the time of their lives.


    Hearing their joyfulughter, Thssa felt her heart lighten.


    In a tender voice, she called out, "Sweethearts, what are you ying?"


    Upon hearing the familiar and dearly missed voice, eight little eyes filled with hope and anticipation


    turned towards her. Four pairs of starry eyes, initially stunned, suddenly sparkled with recognition.


    Dorian and Atticus stopped their chase and started running towards her with their little legs moving as


    fast as they could.


    "Mommy!"


    "Mommy!"


    The kids called out excitedly as they ran.


    "Mommy, waaa, Mommy!" Elowen also dropped her markers, her round little body rolling towards


    Thssa like a bouncy ball.


    Sophia took a moment longer to register what was happening. As her siblings nearly reached


    Thssa, she finally snapped out of her daze, dropped her markers, and dashed towards Thssa.


    "Mommy!"

 Chapter 1179

    Chapter 1179


    Her voice was soft and tender as she called out weakly.


    Thssa squatted down, arms wide open, ready to catch her children as they raced towards her.


    Suddenly, a towering figure loomed over her, and before she knew it, Lysander had stepped in front of


    her, scooping up the four little ones headed her way.


    Like ducklings in a row, the children''s round bodies were instantly cradled in Lysander''s long arms.


    "Hey, Dad, let go, I want Mom!" Dorian protested, struggling in Lysander''s embrace, his little hands


    pushing against his father''s sturdy chest, trying to wriggle free and jump into his mother''s arms.


    Elowen wasn''t happy either. "I want a hug from Mom."


    Atticusined, "I helped you find Mom yesterday, and you promised we could y with her."


    Sophia chimed in softly, "Mommy, I want Mommy."


    Thssa was puzzled; Lysander had never stopped the kids from running to her before. Why was he


    suddenly preventing their affectionate reunion?


    As her confusion grew, Lysander''s calm voice broke through, "What did I tell youst time? Have you


    forgotten already? Mommy has a baby brother or sister in her belly, and we need to be gentle,


    remember?"


    Lysander was teaching the little ones a lesson.


    Thssa''s heart skipped a beat at his words, and she suddenly realized why Lysander had acted this


    way. She, too, had just remembered the new life growing inside her.


    She had the instinct to protect the baby, but faced with her four children, her love for them made her


    eager to embrace them, temporarily forgetting the delicate one in her womb.


    Lysander, however, was always mindful of it.


    The children were very understanding; they couldn''t grasp Lysander''s actions at first, but upon hearing


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    his exnation, they immediately understood his intentions.


    Dorian calmed down and said obediently, "I understand, I''ll be very careful not to bump into Mommy


    and protect the little baby in her tummy."


    "Good," Lysander said, ruffling Dorian''s hair in approval.


    "Dad, if you need me for anything, I''ll still help you quickly," Atticus said, his voice softening as he


    grasped his father''s concern for his mother.


    "Okay, I''ll be careful," said Elowen, her big, bright eyes blinking understandingly.


    "I like the new baby," Sophia cooed.


    Finally, Lysander released them.


    Once free, the children dashed towards Thssa, slowing down instinctively just before reaching her,


    approaching with soft steps. They looked up at her with their sweet, innocent eyes.


    "Mommy, Fitch said if we yed here for a while, you''de back, and he was right." Atticus told


    Thssa.


    It was Saturday, no school, and the kids had been looking for their mother since they woke up.


    Fitch had been creatively distracting them, coaxing them to finish breakfast and then to y outside, all


    to divert their attention.


    In truth, Fitch had no idea when Thssa and Lysander would return.


    Thssa nced gratefully at Fitch, who stood to the side; Thssa could imagine the ruckus when


    the children wanted to find her, and she appreciated Fitch''s patient guidance and care.


    Fitch received Thssa''s thankful gaze and nodded respectfully, signaling his acknowledgement and


    silentlymunicating that it was his duty, no thanks necessary.


    "Mommy, can I touch your belly?" Dorian asked, looking up with his youthful innocence. He was curious


    to feel what it was like for his sibling to y inside his mother''s belly.


    Thssa came back to the present and responded to Dorian, "Of course you can, but there isn''t much


    to feel yet. The baby is still very small, not even fully shaped."


    "Really? Let me feel," Dorian said, taking small steps forward. He gently touched Thssa''s belly,


    being extremely careful as if afraid to hurt the baby.


    After feeling her belly, he looked up at Thssa with his bright eyes, full of wonder, and eximed, "It''s


    like a little fish swimming around, so magical."


    Thssaughed at his adorablement, "That''s just your imagination, sweetheart. You can''t really


    feel anything at this stage."


    As she spoke, she felt a deep gaze upon her. Turning her head, she locked eyes with Lysander, whose


    profound eyes were filled with an unspoken conversation of love and protection for their growing family.

 Chapter 1180

    Chapter 1180


    Those gazes were too deep, catching Thssa off guard and making her heart skip a beat. She


    averted her gaze instinctively.


    She couldn''t fathom why Lysander was looking at her like that.


    Had she said something wrong, or was there a problem with what Dorian had mentioned earlier?


    "Mommy, when can the little onees out and y with us?" Elowen''s voice was sweet and melodic,


    her question innocent.


    The sudden intervention of the adorable tot provided Thssa with a graceful exit from an awkward


    situation.


    "They won''t be ready to y for another eight or nine months," she said, looking at Elowen.


    "Is that a long time?" Elowen, confused about the concept of time, tilted her head and asked.


    "Yes, darling, it''s quite a long time," Thssa replied gently, stroking Elowen¡¯s little head.


    "Mommy, can you y with us now? Like, y ne?" Elowen tugged at Thssa''s sleeve, her eyes


    full of hope.


    "ne games?" Thssa was puzzled.


    Elowen''s bright eyes turned to Lysander, and she toddled over to him, tugging at his sleeve with a


    cooing voice, "Daddy, you be the pilot, mommy be the flight attendant, and we can be the passengers.


    Let''s y takeoff, please."


    Thssa finally understood. Elowen was suggesting they y ''house'' ¨C the game most beloved by


    children.


    And she wanted Lysander, the stern and aloof CEO, to join in a child''s game of make-believe.


    Wasn''t that just asking for trouble?


    How could Lysander possibly want to engage in such childish y?


    Thssa forced a smile, trying to smooth things over for Elowen, "It''s okay, if you''re busy, we could ask


    Fitch to join."


    Before she could finish, Lysander nced at her, bent down to scoop up Elowen, and pulled out his


    phone from his pocket. With a few taps, the airne door swung open.


    Thssa was speechless.


    She was so short-sighted that it was the first time she''d seen a ne that could be operated by a cell


    phone.


    She had thought Lysander''s silence was an agreement to her earlier suggestion.


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    But in the next moment, she saw Lysander striding towards the ne, Elowen in his arms.


    As he stepped onto the ne, he nced over his shoulder and said in a deep voice, "Aren''t you


    Thssa stood frozen in ce, bewildered.


    Was the CEO really about to engage in a game of airnes with the kids?


    Thssa couldn''t believe it, yet the scene before her was indisputably real.


    It seemed that even a man as serious and cold as Lysander could be softened by the innocence of


    children.


    Especially these endearing little ones, who were his own flesh and blood.


    Indeed, the power of a father''s love could conquer all.


    She had once thought Lysander didn''t like children, but after spending time with them, she realized he


    was quite fond of them, especially Elowen.


    In front of Elowen, the formidable CEO, the man known for his icy demeanor, was transforming into a


    doting dad.


    Not just Thssa was stunned; even Fitch was taken aback by Lysander''s behavior.


    After his initial surprise, Fitch watched Thssa usher the other three children onto the ne and help


    Lysander settle them into their seats.


    Dorian piped up, "Captain Daddy, it''s time to fly the ne. Mommy needs to push the food cart and


    serve us ne meals."


    "Yeah, and I want spaghetti." Elowen said with excitement.


    "I''ll have the rice." chimed in Atticus, his face adorable as ever.

 Chapter 1181

    Chapter 1181


    "I...I''d like a soda," Sophia blurted, her cheeks flushed with excitement.


    "Alright, kiddo, you guys getfy and I''ll hit the cockpit," Lysander answered them in a deep voice


    and took a long stride, literally heading towards the cockpit of the airne.


    Lysander was ying along with the kids'' game, and he was all in.


    Fitch couldn''t help but let a fond smile spread across his face as he watched the scene unfold. He had


    seen Lysander grow up, and ever since the tragedy that took his parents, Lysander had be a


    fortress of solitude,ughter and love seemed to be barred from his life. He had no woman by his side,


    and he was always the lone wolf, his aura screaming ''no trespassing'' to the world.


    Over time, he had be the embodiment of cold indifference, a man who seemingly disowned the


    very concept of kinship.


    But the loneliness that gnawed at his heart, the solitude that was his only constantpanion, was


    Content ? N?velDrama.Org 2024.


    invisible to the world.


    Since Ms. Everhart and her children had arrived at Royal Estates, the harsh edges of Lysander''s


    demeanor had softened, even warmed.


    Perhaps others couldn''t see it, but Fitch could. He had watched Lysander grow up; he understood the


    subtle shift in the man''s aura better than anyone else.


    As he witnessed Lysander finally stepping onto the path of happiness, Fitch felt a tremble in his breath


    and a warmth in his eyes. He wiped away a tear from the corner of his eye and slipped away quietly,


    leaving Lysander to his family, giving them the space and time to build their warm togetherness.


    Lysander and Thssa spent the morning ying with the kids, who were now joyfully exhausted.


    After lunch, the children retreated to their rooms for their naps.


    Thssa was tired too. She had just stepped out of Elowen''s room and was about to head to the guest


    bedroom upstairs when she bumped right into Lysander''s solid chest.


    Before she could gasp in surprise, she was swept off her feet, cradled in Lysander''s arms.


    "Lysander, what are you doing?" Thssa asked, her eyes widening with astonishment.


    "Time for a rest," came Lysander''s deep, husky reply.


    Thssa was speechless. She wanted to protest ¨C she wasn''t Elowen, she wasn''t a four-year-old who


    needed to be carried around.


    Lysander''s strides were long and purposeful as he ascended the stairs and pushed open the door to


    the master bedroom.


    Thssa didn''t even get the chance to tell him he had got the wrong room before Lysander had strode


    in, kicked the door shut behind them, and set her gently on the bed. His chest enveloped her, his


    breaths quick and warm against her face.


    Her heart raced as she looked into his eyes, feeling the rough cadence of his breathing. "I thought we


    were just resting? I should go to the guest room," she said.


    "The guest bed''s broken, had to junk it," Lysander''s voice was low and gravelly.


    "That''s quite a coincidence, isn''t it? It breaks right after I use it?" she asked, half suspecting this was


    his doing.


    "It''s just that coincidental," Lysander affirmed with certainty.


    Thssa was at a loss for words as she locked eyes with him, a delicate heat growing between them,


    the air seemingly thickening with every breath.


    Her breathing grew more erratic, her heartbeat uncontroble.


    Lysander''s gaze was intense, his voice a deep growl as he leaned closer, "You know, Elowen reminds


    me a lot of you."


    Thssa''s heart skipped as she blurted out, "Lysander, have you fallen for me?"


    He didn''t speak, but his eyes glistened, emotion flickering within them, growing more pronounced as


    his excitement built.


    He leaned down and captured her lips in a heated kiss.


    Their fervent embrace, the pressing of their hearts against each other, beat in a wild, shared rhythm.

 Chapter 1182

    Chapter 1182


    The kiss was unlike any they had shared before.


    Lysander''s lips moved against hers with a fierce intensity, a sense of urgency that betrayed long-buried


    emotions stirring to life.


    Thssa''s senses were engulfed by the heat of his kiss. Her breathing became erratic, matching his


    heavy pants, her heart racing like a kettle on the boil, threatening to spill over.


    Her head spun with dizzying delight, and she found herself responding to his kiss without restraint.


    Her subtle response did not go unnoticed. Lysander''s heart skipped a beat, sending ripples through his


    being. His passion intensified, his abdomen tightened, and he was on the brink of losing control.


    In their embrace, Thssa could feel the change in him. Her foggy mind registered rm, sensing the


    impending risk. Her eyes fluttered open, and her hands, pressed against his chest, gently pushed him


    away.


    Lysander¡¯s deep trance was shattered by her light touch. His eyes, previously shrouded in desire, now


    flickered with a touch of coldness.


    Was his fervent kiss not enough? Could she not feel the depth of his feelings?


    Was her resistance a rejection?


    Thssa picked up on the slight shift in him, his kisses cooling from their fiery passion. As his lips


    briefly parted from hers, she took the opportunity to catch her breath and managed to gasp out, "This


    can''t happen. Think about the children."


    Lysander''s icy gaze wavered, the chill receding, leaving only a smoky tenderness. He understood now;


    her reluctance was not a rejection but concern for the children.


    His lips moist, he traced the outline of her mouth, descending slowly to nibble at her earlobe. His hot


    breath on her sensitive skin sent shivers down her spine.


    "Do you feel it? Do you see how much I care for you?" His husky voice vibrated against her ear,


    sending shock waves through her, her eyes widening, her heart momentarily stilled.


    Even her breath seemed to pause.


    The weight of his body pressed against her, his muscr chest firm and radiating heat through the


    fabric, scorching her heart. Their skin touched, and she could feel the steady beat of his heart, a


    throbbing echo that drove her own heart to race in tandem.


    Thssa froze, her breathing ragged, her heart''s rhythm lost.


    Earlier, Lysander had remarked how much Elowen, their daughter, resembled her, and it was no secret


    that Lysander adored Elowen above all.


    In an unguarded moment, Thssa had asked if he had fallen for her.


    His response was a searing kiss. And now, his voice, heavy with emotion, questioned whether she


    understood his feelings for her.


    This man, this extraordinary man, could he truly have feelings for her?


    As Lysander''s kisses trailed down her neck, she winced slightly at the tender spot he had imed, an


    indication that he wanted her to address his earlier question.


    Thssa''s clear voice, breathless and hurried, finally admitted, "I feel it."


    He definitely hurt her on purpose to make her answer his words.


    Lysander lifted his gaze, his eyes scanning her from head to toe, his voice barely a growl, "And you?


    What about your feelings?"


    Thssa was taken aback. Was he asking if she cared for him as well?


    She stared into his eyes, as fathomless as the night sky, feeling as though they could consume her


    Exclusive ? material by N?(/v)elDrama.Org.


    soul if she looked too long.


    Overwhelmed and sensing danger, she quickly averted her eyes and changed the subject. "Get up. I


    really need to use the bathroom."


    Lysander''s brows furrowed ever so slightly, recognizing her evasive maneuver. Her flushed face


    seemed to confirm her urgency, and for a moment, the tension hung in the air, as palpable as the


    unspoken words between them.

 Chapter 1183

    Chapter 1183


    Lysander drew in a heavy breath, stood up, and released her.


    Thssa scrambled to her feet and hurried to the bathroom.


    Shutting the door, she perched on the toilet seat, pressing a hand to her wildly beating heart, trying to


    calm the frantic rhythm.


    But even with her hand pressed firmly and drawing several deep breaths, her heartbeat continued to


    thrash uncontrobly.


    Lysander¡¯s ragged breathing seemed to echo in her ears, his husky voice,den with anticipation,


    lingering in her mind, refusing to dissipate, driving her heart into a frenzy.


    Panic-stricken, this was the chaos of panic, of wanting to flee, of not knowing what to do.


    Content held by N?velDrama.Org.


    She had never imagined that Lysander could fall for her.


    A man like Lysander, his affections were too deep, too intense, domineering and possessive, and she


    feared she couldn''t bear it or ept it.


    Even if he did like her, he wouldn''t marry her. She could never be more than a secret lover, hidden


    away. The Sinirs would never allow her to marry Lysander, and Lysander himself would never marry


    her.


    What was the point of such a rtionship with no future?


    Thssa remained on the toilet, reluctant to emerge.


    Suddenly, there was a knock on the bathroom door, jolting Thssa back to reality. She looked


    towards the frosted ss door, seeing Lysander¡¯s tall, imposing silhouette.


    It was Lysander knocking, urging her out.


    Thssa pinched the waistband of her pants and called out, ¡°I¡¯m... uh, gonna be a while. Big business,


    you know.¡±


    After she spoke, Lysander''s tall figure lingered at the door for a while before walking away.


    As his ominous presence left, Thssa''s taut nerves rxed slightly. She remained seated on the


    toilet, mulling over her thoughts.


    After what seemed like an eternity, Thssa finally stepped out to find Lysander lying on the bed, his


    prating gaze fixed on the ceiling, lost in thought.


    Hearing her, he turned his eyes towards her, and seeing her hesitation, beckoned her with a low,


    maic voice, ¡°Come here.¡±


    It was a simple request, yet delivered with an innate authority that made Thssa feel oppressed.


    Like an unspokenmand, Thssa took steps towards the bed.


    Lysander sat up and reached out his hand. Thssa''s breath hitched, but she ced her hand in his.


    Hisrge palm enclosed hers, drawing her onto the bed, guiding her to lie down. His rough hand slid to


    her waist, then to her stomach.


    Lysander paused, his deep gaze locked on hers. After a second, he removed her hand and continued


    to gently stroke her belly.


    Realizing his intent, Thssa¡¯s body rxed, allowing his hand to continue its gentle exploration.


    After a while, not sensing anything unusual, Lysander bent down, his ear against her stomach.


    Updated at Dr?manov§Öls.c§àm


    Thssa was taken aback and slightly overwhelmed.


    Was he trying to hear the baby¡¯s movements?

 Chapter 1184

    Chapter 1184


    Lysander lifted his head, gazes like deep pools of midnight gazing into hers.


    Thssa couldn''t hold his stare. Her eyes darted away in a futile evasion.


    He shifted closer, pulling her into an embrace that was both unexpected and inescapable. Thssa


    squirmed briefly.


    Lysander''s arms were unyielding, his voice a lowmand, "Time for bed."


    At his words, Thssa realized he had no ulterior motives and ceased her struggles, allowing him to


    hold her.


    Her ear pressed against his chest, the steady thrum of his heartbeat echoed, causing her own to


    quicken with a mixture of rm and something else at the memory of his earlier question.


    "Being pregnant on your own must''ve been tough," Lysander''s voice was a husky whisper in the


    darkness.


    Thssa floundered, caught off guard by his sudden reference to her past pregnancy.


    She had gone through the experience once before, giving birth to quadruplets.


    Perhaps he''d brought it up because she''d mentioned children taking four to five months before they


    start to stir in the womb. He must have realized she knew the ropes of pregnancy well.


    "It was alright," Thssa said, her voice a soft murmur, "I had food and shelter, and a hospital ready to


    wee me when it was time. There were people to take care of me; everything went smoothly."


    Her pregnancy and childbirth had been overseen by her mother''s vignt care.


    Without her mother, the journey would have been a harrowing one.


    But with her mother''s help, it wasn''t all that bad. And afterward, having her adorable children for


    Over thest five years, aside from the fatigue of earning a living and the sting of gossip for being an


    unwed mother, she had her children''spany, and that healed all wounds swiftly.


    Thssa left much unsaid, but Lysander could sense the bittersweet struggle of a single mother in her


    gentle words.


    He pulled her petite body closer, resting his chin atop her head as he held her, drifting into sleep


    together.


    ...


    Four dayster.


    Content ? N?velDrama.Org 2024.


    Hertha reached out to Thssa, urgencycing her words over the phone.


    "Thssa, you''ve got to take the day off and be with me. I can''t handle this on my own."


    "What''s the matter? Why the panic?" Thssa asked with concern.


    But now her mother was at her wits'' end, insisting on the blind date or threatening to cut ties.


    Hertha was out of excuses.


    Hence the call to Thssa, looking for a lifeline. Content of Dr§Ñm??ovels.c§àm


    "How are things going with ric?" Thssa inquired, aware of Hertha''s crush.


    "Not great," Hertha answered without hesitation, the annoyance palpable in her tone.


    Thssa heard the disappointment in her friend''s voice and asked, "So, do you want to go on this blind


    date?"

 Chapter 1185

    Chapter 1185


    "So, what''s your n?" Thssa could only go along with what Hertha had in mind.


    "Juste with me, and I''ll y it by ear," Hertha said, knowing that the real reason she wanted


    chance to be her cunning self.


    Without Thssa, she''d chicken out at the crucial moment, worried about messing things up,


    especially with a guy who had a PhD from abroad.


    "Alright, I''ll take the afternoon off to be there with you," Thssa agreed.


    "You''re the best, Thssa, love ya! Mwah!" Hertha teased yfully.


    That afternoon, Thssa asked Ethan for a half-day off and headed to the restaurant Hertha had


    mentioned.


    Hertha was already waiting at the entrance. Seeing Thssa, she warmly linked arms with her and


    said, "I see him. He''s over there by the window. Let''s head straight over."


    Arm in arm, they approached the cozy corner of the restaurant where a man sat, the very picture of a


    schr with his rimless sses and neither slim nor chubby build.


    He wore a crisp white shirt, set off by a ssic blue and red striped tie, and had the sort of handsome


    look that stood out in a crowd, exuding a learned charm.


    "Hi there, you must be Spencer?" Hertha greeted him with a smile.


    The man looked up, nced at Hertha, then at Thssa, and stood up with a polite smile, "Yes, I''m


    Spencer. Which one of you is Ms. Kensington?"


    "This is Hertha Kensington, and I''m her best friend, here for moral support," Thssa introduced.


    "Please, have a seat." Spencer gestured warmly to the chairs opposite him. He beckoned the waiter


    Belongs ? to N?velDrama.Org.


    and passed the menus to them.


    "Take a look, whatever you girls feel like eating," he suggested, encouraging them to choose.


    With a broad grin, Hertha said, "Why don''t you pick, Spencer? We''re not picky eaters."


    "Sure, but don''t hesitate to speak up if you want something else," Spencer offered.


    He asked the waiter for the restaurant''s signature dishes and added a few more to the order.


    The waiter took the menus and went off to prepare their meal.


    Spencer looked at Hertha with a genteel smile and asked, "What do you enjoy doing in your spare


    time, Ms. Kensington?"


    The standard pattern of a blind date - inquire about hobbies.


    Hertha awkwardly tugged at the corner of her mouth, secretly pulling on Thssa''s sleeve, hoping for


    some assistance.


    This formic dating ritual was beyond her.


    Thssa, sipping water, sensed Hertha''s plea for help and spoke up, "She''s a jewelry designer and


    she likes to draw."


    Saying that might just frighten Spencer off, though.


    As Spencer''s enthusiasm seemed to soar, Hertha quickly interjected, "No, no, I can''t be anyone''s


    teacher. Besides, you''re the academic one. How could a cker like me teach you? My friend only told


    you half the story; I design jewelry but don''t actually enjoy drawing. I love visiting bars and having a


    drink." Updated at Dr§Ñmanovels


    Her blunt admission caused Spencer''s smile to freeze momentarily.


    Several familiar faces entered, and one man in particr made Hertha''s heart sink.

 Chapter 1186

    Chapter 1186


    The man was none other than ric.


    He had a look that set him apart from the crowd, with piercing, narrow eyes that seemed to hold


    secrets of their own, and a sinfully handsome face that blurred the lines between masculine charm and


    feminine allure.


    His presence was maic, a walking invitation to both envy and desire, and there was no mistaking


    Material ? N?velDrama.Org.


    him for anyone else.


    By his side trailed three women. The one keeping pace with him, Hertha recognized immediately¡ªit


    was Angelina, with whom she had crossed swords just a few days ago.


    Trailing behind were two more women. One of them, a youngdy, was all too familiar to Hertha. It was


    Georgia, the rake-thin beauty whose advances ric had declined twice with Hertha''s help. Despite


    her high-end fashion and meticulously applied makeup, the gauntness of her cheeks betrayed a certain


    world-weariness.


    Georgia was arm-in-arm with a middle-aged woman, dripping in jewelry and dressed to the nines,


    obviously a woman of wealth. Hertha surmised that this must be Georgia''s mother.


    What could bring ric and his mother, along with Georgia and her own, to a restaurant like this? A


    brief flicker of thought and Hertha realized¡ªthey were likely discussing a union between the two


    families.


    While Hertha''s gaze lingered on ric''s entourage, she caught his sharp eyes ncing her way. In that


    split second of eye contact, she swiftly diverted her gaze, feigning ignorance of his presence.


    Her hand, hidden beneath the table, clenched tightly as she turned to face Spencer with a forced smile.


    "There''s nothing like hitting a bar for a drink and some music now and then. If you''re into painting,


    Spencer, I could show you a trick or two when I''m free."


    She had intended to shock him with her supposed vices and send him packing, but ric''s presence


    had thrown her off. The fiery words she had prepared got stuck in her throat, and she found herself


    speaking to Spencer with a demure tone that masked her inner turmoil.


    Spencer, who had initially been taken aback by her mention of bars, thinking her to be a party girl,


    rxed when she continued. His schrly smile returned, soft eyes behind his sses offering a look


    of gentle understanding, as he tried to cover his briefpse inposure.


    "Then let me express my thanks in advance, Ms. Kensington. I''ll toast you," Spencer said, pouring


    coffee into Hertha''s cup and raising his in a toast.


    Hertha responded in kind, clinking cups with Spencer and downing her coffee in one go¡ªa bold


    gesture that he matched by finishing his own.


    Beneath the table, her hand found Thssa''s leg and gripped it tightly, seeking to steady her nerves


    and resist the urge to look back at ric. Co?tent of Dr§Ñm§Ñ?ovels.c§àm


    Since Hertha had resolved to act as if she didn''t know ric, Thssa followed suit, pretending not to


    recognize him either.

 Chapter 1187

    Chapter 1187


    ric''s piercing gaze lingered on Hertha as he walked past her, with Angelina trailing behind. The


    Belongs ? to N?velDrama.Org.


    moment Angelina''s eyes met Hertha''s, a flicker of cold surprise crossed her face, but it vanished as


    quickly as it appeared, and she continued to cheerfully usher Georgia and her mother to keep up.


    It was only after the group had passed that Hertha allowed her tense shoulders to rx.


    "Do you know those people?" Spencer''s voice suddenly cut through the air.


    Thssa was about to speak, but Hertha beat her to it, "No, we don''t."


    Her answer was emphatic, causing Spencer to pause.


    ric, who had taken a seat behind them, stiffened at her resolute response, throwing a chilling nce


    in Hertha''s direction.


    Unaware of ric''s reaction, as she was facing away from him, Hertha could clearly see the confusion


    on Spencer''s face.


    Seeing Spencer''s puzzled look, she chuckled and exined, "We''re just average middle-ss folks.


    Those people are clearly from the high society, the cream of the crop¡ªway out of our league."


    She put a pointed emphasis on "high society." The people at the next table, including Georgia and her


    mother, turned to nce at her upon hearing her words.


    Angelina quickly changed the subject, "Georgia, what''s your favorite dish? Why don''t you pick


    something for us? It''s not every day that our families get together like this, and we''re here to discuss


    the union between you and ric, no need to let outsiders spoil the mood."


    With her roundabout way, Angelina''s words were clearly meant for Hertha''s ears.


    "Sure, I''ll pick something. ric, what do you fancy? I''ll start with your favorites," said Georgia, ever so


    considerate.


    "Look at this sweet girl, how thoughtful she is. Come, sit next to ric. It''ll make it easier for you two to


    discuss the menu," Angelina said warmly, quickly swapping ces with Georgia, ensuring she was


    seated next to ric.


    Georgia was more than eager to be closer to ric and without hesitation sat beside him, leaning in


    with the menu so close their heads were nearly touching. "ric, what do you think we should order?"


    It was an intentional move by Georgia. She wanted to be close to ric and also for Hertha to hear


    how well she got along with him.


    Though Hertha and ric pretended not to know each other, Georgia was well aware that they were


    quite familiar, having witnessed their intimate interaction before.


    To ric, Hertha was just one of many conquests.


    What a stroke of bad luck today, Georgia thought, running into Hertha while discussing marriage with


    ric.


    ric remained still, his sharp gaze fixed on Hertha across the room.


    Hertha, overhearing Georgia''s coquettish tone with ric, felt a pang in her heart as she recalled


    Angelina''s words about reality.


    Spencer looked pleasantly surprised, not expecting such a considerate gesture on their first meeting. It


    seemed like a sign of approval, an indication that she was satisfied and interested in a future with him.


    Dra§Þa?ov§Öls.c§à§Þ


    His spirits lifted like a boy who had caught the attention of a girl, Spencer enthusiastically and tenderly


    offered food to Hertha.

 Chapter 1188

    Chapter 1188


    Georgia sensed something was off when she noticed ric''s gaze drifting towards Hertha, who was


    seated at the next table. Hisplexion changed, indicating an internal shift that didn''t go unnoticed.


    Georgia, who had been brimming with warm enthusiasm, suddenly felt like she had been doused with a


    bucket of ice water. The chill ran from head to toe, leaving her feeling hurt and rejected even as she


    leaned in closer to ric, her dismay inly written across her face.


    Juliet, Georgia''s mother, didn''t take kindly to her daughter being sidelined. Her features clouded over


    with discontent as she turned to Angelina and said, "What''s the deal with your son? Is he not interested


    in sharing this meal with us?"


    Angelina hurried to smooth things over with a cating smile. "Well, not at all," she assured. "It''s just


    that ric''s been feeling under the weather today, a bit of a stomach bug, you know. That''s why he


    looks a bit off. It''s actually quite touching that he still wanted toe out and spend time with Georgia


    despite not feeling his best."


    Upon hearing this, Juliet''s concern was immediately piqued. "ric, you''re not feeling well? You should


    have said something sooner. We could have rescheduled for another day."


    But ric was barely listening to their exchange. His attention was fixated on Hertha, who seemed to


    be thoroughly enjoying the meal Spencer was enthusiastically serving her. They exchanged smiles,


    Content ? N?velDrama.Org 2024.


    and the way Spencer looked at Hertha was with unabashed affection.


    It was clear that Spencer had taken a liking to Hertha, and she was responding in kind. Their


    interaction was intimate enough that they might as well have been feeding each other.


    This blind date, it appeared, was a sess.


    Four days earlier, ric had been intimate with Hertha, and upon waking, he had expected that they


    woulde to some agreement about their future.


    However, Angelina had told him that Hertha had taken two million dors and left without a word¡ª


    suggesting she was only after his money.


    ric refused to believe it until he drove to her workce, only to find that she hadn''t shown up. Calls


    went unanswered. His investigation revealed that she had gone on a shopping spree at the mall,


    spending a cool half a million in a single day.


    Two million reduced to one and a half.


    The disappointment was crushing¡ªwas she really just after his money? Did she think so little of him


    that two million would suffice to reel him in and cut him loose at will?


    ric''s face darkened with these thoughts, his breathing tinged with pain. Every interaction between


    Hertha and Spencer was like a thorn in his side, an anguish he couldn''t easily dismiss.


    "ric, since you''re not feeling well, maybe we should go somewhere else to eat," suggested Georgia,


    snapping out of her stupor. Despite the blow to her pride, she remained determined to win ric''s


    heart.


    His scowl unexpectedly softened as he came back to the present, a teasing smile ying on his lips.


    "Well, since we''re already here, why bother moving? I''m fine, really. You go ahead and order. I''ll enjoy


    anything you pick."


    "Sounds good," ric replied with a small smile.


    Unseen by ric, Hertha nheless overheard every word exchanged between him and Georgia.


    When ric said he''d enjoy anything Georgia chose, it was as if Hertha''s heart had been sucker-


    punched. New ch§Ñpter av?ble on NovelDrama.Org


    Spencer was delighted by her reaction, eagerly offering her more food, his face alight with anticipation,


    waiting for Hertha to take another bite.

 Chapter 1189

    Chapter 1189


    Hertha had barely managed two bites of the food before she could no longer feign enjoyment. As the


    forkfuls piled up, her stomach revolted against the heavy cream and cheese.


    Forcing herself to swallow, a wave of nausea hit her, and she felt the urge to vomit. She clenched her


    teeth and endured, swallowing the mouthful of food before excusing herself, "I''m just going to pop to


    the loo, back in a jiff."


    Spencer nodded understandingly, "Sure thing."


    "Hey, Thssa,e with me, will you?" Hertha beckoned her best friend before heading out.


    Once inside the restroom, Hertha leaned over the basin and heaved a couple of times, trying to keep


    down the culinary disaster.


    Thssa rubbed her back soothingly and offered some sisterly advice, "If you''re not into it, don''t string


    Spencer along. It''s not fair to him; he''s an innocent in all this."


    Only a true friend could cut to the heart of the matter with such candor.


    Hertha rinsed her mouth out, took a deep breath to steady herself, and faced Thssa. "I know. I''m


    going to settle the bill, and once we''re out of this restaurant, I''ll make things clear to him."


    She had been ready toe clean to Spencer already, but then ric had barged in with Georgia,


    both families in tow to discuss wedding ns.


    The sight of ric, the losses she''d suffered at his hands, ignited a stubborn pride in Hertha. She didn''t


    want to give him the satisfaction of seeing her down. So, she had chatted with Spencer as if they were


    the oldest of friends.


    But there was ric, seated behind them, cozying up to Georgia, every word a needle to Hertha''s


    heart.


    "Just say you''re full and leave it at that," Thssa suggested, seeing Hertha''s difort.


    "Right," Hertha agreed with a nod.


    After a moment to collect herself, Hertha and Thssa stepped out of the restroom, only to find ric


    leaning casually against the wall, his narrow eyes fixed on them, obviously waiting.


    Seeing ric, both Hertha and Thssa halted.


    Thssa let go of Hertha''s shoulder, "You two talk. I''ll head out."


    With Thssa gone, Hertha frowned and met ric''s mocking gaze. Her heart skipped despite herself,


    recalling his earlier words to Georgia, like how he''d enjoy anything she chose.


    ?Material ? N?velDrama.Org.

 Chapter 1190

    Chapter 1190


    Hertha was utterly aggrieved. Not only had she lost her virginity, but now she was being looked down


    upon andbeled as a gold digger.


    After her night with ric, she had genuinely believed they could confront the Falconer n, that their


    staged romance might turn into a real one, and there could be a real future with him.


    But then Angelina dropped a bombshell: Hertha was nothing but a means for Beatrice and Remington


    to secure an heir for ric.


    To make her willingly bear ric¡¯s child, Remington had shamelessly lied about offering a whopping


    half a billion to break off ric''s engagement to Georgia. They even plied them with that potent tonic,


    which after drinking, set them aze with desire.


    One dose wasn''t enough, Beatrice personally delivered another batch of that concoction, fearing that


    Hertha and ric wouldn''t get intimate.


    The stark reality of the situation made it impossible for Hertha to doubt the truth in Angelina''s words.


    Moreover, wasn''t ric at the restaurant today, discussing wedding dates with Georgia? This all but


    confirmed that Remington¡¯s words were just a ruse, and the engagement between ric and Georgia


    was far from being called off.


    Devastated after leaving the Falconer estate, Hertha felt as if she''d been chewed up and spat out. In a


    fit of retail revenge, she stormed the mall, indulging in designer handbags and shoes.


    A staggering half a million dors spent on just two items.


    Later, staring at the designer loot, she did regret the impulsive spree. She wasn''t one to chase after


    But what was done was done. Hertha decided to let it go.


    Yet ric used this as ammunition to mock her, which set her off like a cat with its tail stepped on, her


    fury unleashed as sheshed back with some choice words.


    With a huff, Hertha turned on her heel and left, leaving ric with a grimace etched on his face as he


    watched her retreating figure.


    His jaw clenched, muscles taut, he red at her departure with a brooding intensity.


    As she rounded a corner and vanished from his sight, ric found himself impulsively following her.


    He rounded the wall to find Hertha at the checkout, finalizing her purchase.


    Seeing her there, alone at the register, a throbbing pulse hammered at ric''s temple, the onset of a


    headache fueled by anger.


    It seemed Hertha¡¯s words weren¡¯t just spoken in the heat of the moment, they were her truth.


    She approached him, seemingly only for the money, while with Spencer, it was genuine affection¡ªshe


    wouldn¡¯t even let Spencer pay for a meal.


    Yet she took for granted the Falconer family¡¯s two million, spending a cool half a million without batting


    an eye.


    After all, he had taken her virginity, and it was he who had initiated their intimacy.


    Those fleeting encounters were nothing more than satisfying carnal needs. Co?tent belo?gs to


    Dra§Þ?n§àv§Öls.c§àm


    He had never been serious, except with Hertha¡ªhe wanted to be sincere just this once, and to fight for


    a genuine rtionship with her.


    But his one attempt at earnestness had been yed for a fool.


    The anger within ric spread through his entire being, his breaths ragged, his chest heaving with


    each turbulent emotion.Belongs ? to N?velDrama.Org.

 Chapter 1191

    Chapter 1191


    After settling the tab, Hertha turned and caught a glimpse of ric standing a short distance away, his


    brief nce before diverting her eyes and striding away.


    Back at her seat, Hertha''s mood had clearly taken a nosedive, her mind elsewhere.


    Spencer chuckled, "Ms. Kensington, are these dishes not to your liking? Should we order something


    else?"


    He was ted because Hertha seemed quite taken with him.


    Lost in thought, Hertha didn''t hear Spencer''s words. Her mind was still on what ric had said earlier.


    In such a short time, he had dug up information on Spencer.


    He knew Spencer was a prodigal son with a Ph.D., earning a hefty six figures a year, and even knew


    she had spent a small fortune in a single day.


    That snake, ric, had been secretly investigating her connection with Spencer.


    What right did he have to probe into her life?


    Seeing Hertha unresponsive, Spencer felt a touch awkward.


    Thssa noticed Hertha''s distracted state and gently nudged her arm to get her attention.


    Startled back to reality, Hertha turned to Thssa, who signaled towards Spencer, "He''s asking if you


    want to order more."


    Quickly snapping back to the present, Hertha politely smiled at Spencer, "No, thank you. We''re quite


    full. We''ll just sit for a little while longer before we leave."


    "Alright then," Spencer replied.


    At the table behind them, ric had returned. Georgia spotted him and greeted him with open arms,


    affectionately linking her arm through his, "ric, are you feeling any better? Should we take you to the


    hospital?"


    Georgia''s arm intertwined with ric''s, an intimate gesture that he instinctively found repulsive. He was


    about to shake her off when he caught sight of Hertha smiling at Spencer. Containing the urge, he


    didn''t push Georgia away. Instead, he teased her warmly, "Much better, thanks to your caring nature.


    Marrying you would surely bring me a life of bliss. Let''s sit, we shouldn''t dy discussing our wedding


    ns."


    Georgia''s face lit up with unconcealed joy.


    Had ric finally seen the light? Instead of rejecting her, he was weing her and wanted to talk


    Belongs ? to N?velDrama.Org.


    about their future marriage.


    It was everything she hoped for.


    Georgia didn''t care about the number of women ric had been with before. A wealthy bachelor like


    him, which one hadn''t had a few flings before settling down?


    As long as after marriage, she became his wife, he reined in his ways, and focused solely on the Reed


    family, that was all that mattered.


    Just as her mother had said, let bygones be bygones. Possessing ric''s future was all she needed.


    Beaming, Georgia sat down with ric''s arm still in hers, tenderly serving him food.


    After sipping coffee for a while, Spencer said, "I''ll go pay the check."


    Hertha stopped him, "No need, I''ve already taken care of it."


    Spencer froze, a hint of disappointment in his voice. "How could I let you pay?"


    Dr?§Þan§àvels


    Fantastic.


    At the adjacent table, ric''s gaze turned even colder.

 Chapter 1192

    Chapter 1192


    "Hey, ric, don''t just push your food around. Georgia made this te just for you," Angelina observed


    her son''s restraint, worrying that he might have had another sh with the Reeds and quickly nudged


    him.


    ric tore his gaze away, picked up his fork, and speared a piece of food, putting on a contrived smile


    as he appeased Georgia, "Delicious, you really get me."


    Hertha couldn''t stand to hear anymore about ric and Georgia''s perfect rtionship or the wedding


    ns they were discussing. She tugged at Thssa''s arm, stood up, and said, "Let''s get out of here."


    Spencer hastily grabbed his briefcase, trailing behind her, and they both made their exit.


    As Hertha''s group left the restaurant, ric''s forced smile crumbled, a surge of bitterness washed over


    him, and he dropped his fork onto the table with a tter.


    Georgia, sensing his mood shift, felt her cheerfulness sink, and cautiously asked, "ric, are you


    feeling alright?"


    "Yeah, I think I''m gonna head back and rest. You guys enjoy the meal," ric said with a cold edge,


    standing up abruptly to leave.


    He never intended toe today, but his mother had insisted. He nned to make it clear to Georgia


    and her mother that he wanted to call off the engagement with the Reeds.


    But then Hertha walked in, and everything changed.


    Seeing Hertha so close with that guy drove him mad with jealousy. Inexplicably, he found himself acting


    out just to spite her.


    Once outside the restaurant, Spencer suggested, "I''ve got movie tickets; let''s go."


    Hertha declined, "No, thanks. I''ve got some urgent stuff to take care of at home. You should head back


    Exclusive ? material by N?(/v)elDrama.Org.


    too."


    She had insisted on paying the bill herself as a way to owe nothing to Spencer, ensuring that if they


    parted ways, there would be no hard feelings.


    She nned to tell her motherter that there was no spark with Spencer and to have her mother


    exin things to the matchmaker.


    Spencer asked, "Something came up?"


    Thssa, trying to ease the awkwardness, chimed in with a forced smile, "Yeah, she''s got a design


    deadline. It''s due tomorrow."


    "I see, workes first. Let me drive you guys home," Spencer offered, understandingly, reaching for


    his car keys.


    "No need, we''ll handle it. Wouldn''t want to hold you up, and I''ve got my car here," Hertha quickly pulled


    out her keys to show him, just to make sure he didn''t think she was brushing him off.


    "Alright then, we''ll catch up over the phone," Spencer said.


    After Hertha and Thssa left in Hertha''s car, Spencer''s phone rang ¨C it was Hertha''s mother inquiring


    about how things were going.


    Spencer, already in his thirties, was eager to settle down now that he''d found someone suitable, to


    avoid anyplications.


    "Let me discuss it with Hertha first and I''ll get back to you," her mother responded with a rare moment


    of caution. Re§Ñd at Dramanov§Öls


    ric, just stepping out from the restaurant, overheard Spencer''s phone call and caught the gist of it.


    The frustration and malice within him grew denser, enveloping him like a dark cloud.

 Chapter 1193

    Chapter 1193


    Hertha had already talked about marriage with Spencer now.


    To Hertha, ric thought he was probably just a punchline to some private joke.


    Oh, the irony. ric, the dashing heir to the Falconer fortune, a man who moved through social soirees


    with a swagger, always had women moring for his attention, eager to share his bed.


    He was the one who ended flings, never the one left high and dry.


    And yet, Hertha had yed him for a fool, took his money, and left.


    Thinking she could just walk away, tie the knot with someone else without anyplications? As if.


    Did she really think she could treat ric like a pushover?


    Fuming, ric''s muscles tensed as he stormed off to his Porsche and sped away.


    Spencer didn''t notice anything strange at all, and with the happy feeling that he was about to make


    things right with Hertha, he got in his car and drove away.


    Hertha, meanwhile, was driving with her friend Thssa to the Royal Estates.


    "What did you and ric talk about just now?" Thssa asked.


    She had stepped aside at the restroom to give Hertha and ric a moment alone.


    But after their chat, Hertha seemed even more upset.


    "He threw some snide remarks my way, I snapped back, and that was that. No deep conversation,"


    Hertha exined.


    "Are you two still ying this ''I''m mad at you, and you''re mad at me'' game?" Thssa couldn''t help but


    find the humor in their dynamic, "Are you really ready to give up on him?"


    "He and I are from different worlds. There''s no hope, so what''s there to give up on?" Hertha replied,


    sounding like a philosopher suddenly, her words deep and meaningful.


    "You don''t want to end up like me, do you?" Thssa''s voice dropped, tinged with sadness. She knew


    Hertha well. Despite her tough exterior and carefree attitude, Hertha was the clear-headed one who


    never lost sight of what was truly important.


    Hertha gripped the steering wheel firmly, ncing at Thssa. After hearing Angelina''s words, she''d


    decided to take the money and run,rgely considering Thssa''s current predicament.


    She feared ending up in an awkward and difficult situation like Thssa''s¡ªbing someone''s


    secret lover, without any official status, even if children were involved, not being acknowledged by the


    elite.


    And if she wanted to leave, it wouldn''t be easy. The possessiveness of men like ric was


    overwhelming; if he didn''t let go, she couldn''t leave.


    Content ? N?velDrama.Org 2024.


    Hertha was determined not to end up like Thssa, which was why she had resolutely taken the


    money and left, at least to preserve her freedom.


    It was just a man, after all. There would be others.


    "I actually admire your courage," Thssa confessed sincerely.


    As they were talking, suddenly, a figure burst in front of the car, arms wide, trying to stop them. Read at


    NovelDrama.Org


    But the car wouldn''t stop on a dime, and it hurtled straight toward the person. Hertha''s heart leaped to


    her throat.


    Thssa gasped in shock, bracing for impact.

 Chapter 1194

    Chapter 1194


    Thssa and Hertha were scared out of their wits, gasping for air as panic took hold. Hertha had


    mmed on the brakes with all her might, her body rigid with tension.


    The car continued to skid forward, on a collision course with disaster, but the woman standing defiantly


    in front of them, arms wide, showed no intention of moving. Resigned, she closed her eyes and stood


    her ground.


    Miraculously, the car screeched to a halt mere inches from the woman. The abrupt stop sent Thssa


    and Hertha lurching forward, nearlyunching them through the windshield if not for their seat belts


    snapping them back into ce.


    After a few shaky breaths, they settled back into their seats, hearts still racing.


    Thssa, still reeling from the shock, peered ahead to see a middle-ageddy dressed to the nines,


    exuding wealth and propriety. She certainly didn¡¯t appear to be unhinged.


    Yet, they had no idea who this woman was or why she would risk her life to stop their car.


    As Thssa puzzled over the situation, the woman opened her eyes, visibly shaken by the proximity of


    death. Without a moment''s hesitation, she strode to the passenger door and began pounding


    frantically.


    Content ? N?velDrama.Org 2024.


    Thssa could see the urgency in the woman''s eyes as she knocked, so she rolled down the window.


    With a voice thick with desperation, the woman said, ¡°You must be Thssa; I''ve seen your picture. I


    know my daughter has done wrong, but she''s so young, blinded by love for a man, which led her


    astray. You''re safe now, and I beg you to forgive her, to drop this matter. Please, I''m begging you.¡±


    Her plea was fervent, her emotions raw.


    Thssa was taken aback. She wracked her brain to ce the woman, to recall if they had ever met.


    But sifting through her memories, Thssa was certain this was their first encounter.


    Despite meeting for the first time, Thssa deduced from the woman''s words that she must be


    Debby''s mother.


    Only Debby fit the description of someone who, out of excessive love, could err in such a way. And now


    her mother was pleading for leniency.


    Thssa recalled how Lysander had rescued her from the fire and had asked how she wanted to deal


    with Debby. They hadn''t reached an agreement, and Thssa had since disengaged from the issue,


    no longer concerned with Debby''s fate.


    And now, suddenly, someone was begging for her forgiveness on Debby''s behalf?


    Debby''s mother choked up as she spoke, pleading with Thssa, "You have children; you understand


    the heartache and despair of being locked up for 20 years. I know she was wrong to treat you that way.


    If you want to punish her, say five or six years, but with 20 years, by the time she gets out, it''ll be too


    Debby''s mother was sincerely looking out for her daughter''s future.

 Chapter 1195

    Chapter 1195


    Thssa''s heart ached for Debby''s plight, torn between empathy for her suffering and an inability to


    forgive the madness that had almost cost Thssa her life in a raging fire.


    The searing pain of mes licking her skin, the ever-present threat of being engulfed and burned alive


    ¡ªit was a memory that still sent shivers down her spine.


    Thssa''s delicate brows furrowed as she turned to Debby''s mother, "Honestly, I haven''t pursued it,


    nor did I call the cops. If you really want to beg for mercy, go to Lysander. It''s his leg that got burned in


    the fire, and he''s the one seeking justice."


    It was the truth; her intervention would do no good.


    At the mention of Lysander''s injury, Debby''s mother''s eyes widened, her already tremblingposure


    shattered, fear washing over her face as if she''d seen a ghost.


    Her knees buckled, and she copsed to the ground, tears streaming, "It''s all Debby''s fault; her actions


    hurt Lysander. I''m willing to offer my own leg to atone for his pain, just let him take his anger out on me,


    Content ? N?velDrama.Org 2024.


    and let him burn off my leg."


    Caught off guard, Thssa hurriedly opened the car door, rushing to help her up, "Please, don''t kneel,


    get up, you really mustn''t..."


    But Debby''s mother was as immovable as if her legs were welded to the ground, sobbing and pleading


    for Thssa to relent and spare her daughter.


    Thssa sighed helplessly, "Everything I told you is true. I haven''t pursued it. If you insist, go find


    Lysander. I have no power here."


    "Lysander cares for you, and you¡¯re the mother of his four children. He will listen to you. Just tell him,


    I''m willing to have him burn off a leg if it''ll calm his wrath and go easy on Debby," Debby''s mother


    begged, looking up at Thssa through her tears.


    Hearing her earnest words, Thssa''s heart was heavy. She had warned Debby, urged her to think


    twice, to consider her loving parents, her siblings, and her friends who cared for her.


    But Debby was possessed, tying her up and setting the fire with a delirious determination.


    And now, her mother was willing to sacrifice a limb for a lighter sentence.


    Only a mother''s love could drive such a profound sacrifice.


    Thssa stood rooted, unable to lift her, nor could she agree to such a request. Few could sway


    Lysander once his mind was set. To plead for Debby''s clemency would be a death wish.


    Everyone must bear the consequences of their deeds.


    If she had the heart to attempt murder, she must face the consequences. Your daughter''s 20 years are


    precious, but is Thssa''s life worthless? Don''t kneel here and make us sick; there''s no reason for a


    victim to forgive a cold-blooded killer. Re§Ñd at Dramanov§Öls


    Hertha''s wordsshed out like mes, scorching as she rebuked Debby''s mother.

 Chapter 1196

    Chapter 1196


    Thssa listened silently, her eyes fixed on nothing in particr as she absorbed the world around her.


    She knew her friend Hertha was defending her honor, and she couldn''t help but agree with her fiery


    words.


    Debby wouldn''t have done well getting out of jail early if she hadn''t figured it out.


    Hertha nced at Debby''s mother, who was still on the ground, wailing and crying,pletely ignoring


    the advice being offered to her.


    Hertha''s anger boiled over as she snapped, "Do you think hobbling on one leg to buy your daughter''s


    freedom is helping her? You''re only making things worse. She''ll be more demanding, more


    reckless. Let me be clear, we are not going to plead for your daughter, and we certainly won''t forgive


    her. Thssa nearly lost her life. Who showed her any sympathy or pity? You want to stay on your


    knees? Fine, then stay there."


    With thosest biting words, Hertha grabbed Thssa''s hand and steered her around the front of the


    car, opening the passenger door to let her in.


    Just then, a sleek ck Rolls-Royce glided smoothly towards them, its engine purring as it pulled up


    Belongs ? to N?velDrama.Org.


    behind Hertha''s car. The door swung open, and out stepped Lysander, a vision of elegance and


    authority.


    Dressed in a ck suit with a short-sleeved shirt and a neatly tied tie, his mere presence seemed to


    thicken the air, the atmospheric pressure dropping and instilling a sense of foreboding.


    Thssa''s eyes locked onto Lysander as he emerged. His face was a cold mask of aristocratic beauty,


    his stride purposeful as he approached. The air seemed to ripple with his presence, slowing breaths


    and chilling hearts.


    Hertha''s grip on Thssa''s hand loosened instinctively, fearful of what Lysander might do if he saw


    them too close.


    Debby''s mother, too, noticed Lysander and her pleading expression immediately turned to one of sheer


    terror. Her body began to tremble involuntarily.


    Moments before, she had been able to articte her pleas to Thssa to spare Debby, but now, in


    Lysander''s presence, she was struck dumb, gripped by fear and dread.


    Because deep down, she knew that Hertha was right.


    Why should the victim forgive someone who had tried to kill her?


    Lysander reached out to Thssa, his intense gaze locked on hers. Without a word, the air around


    them seemed to grow heavy with his unspokenmand.


    Thssa, feeling a sudden wave of panic, hesitantly reached out her hand to meet his. His firm grip


    enveloped her delicate hand, pulling her close to his side. His other arm wrapped around her waist,


    drawing her into the protective circle of his strong body, providing her with a fortress of security.


    His icy gaze swept over to Carina, who had been shivering on the ground, and it was as if his stare


    alone could freeze her in ce, halting even her trembles, draining the color from her face.


    The chauffeur stepped out of the Rolls-Royce and stood by Lysander, waiting for instructions. "Mr.


    Sinir."


    "Get rid of the nuisance," Lysandermanded in a voice that was as cold as the wind.


    Carina, who had been sobbing and begging just moments ago, was now silent, too frightened to protest


    as the chauffeur dragged her away. Content of Dra§Þ??ovels


    Did she say something wrong? Hertha wondered, as Lysander''s formidable eyes bore into her.

 Chapter 1197

    Chapter 1197


    ¡°Next time you introduce her to the wrong crowd, I won''t be so lenient,¡± Lysander''s icy words hung in


    the air as he strode with Thssa towards his sleek ck Rolls-Royce.


    Thssa was silent, her heart aching for Hertha as she cast a worried nce over her shoulder.


    Hertha stood rooted to the spot, blinking in confusion as she watched Lysander and Thssa''s


    retreating figures.


    What was Lysander implying? What did he mean by using her of bringing Thssa into the wrong


    crowd?


    It was not like she had expected Carina to g down their ride, pestering Thssa like that.


    "Damn, Lysander is one tough cookie," Hertha mused to herself. "The guy doesn''t let anything slide,


    does he?" But then again, seeing how fiercely protective he was of Thssa, Hertha can''t help but feel


    happy for her.


    The revtion that Debby once tied Thssa to a tombstone and tried to burn her alive was something


    Thssa had never shared with Hertha. Now, hearing the full story, Hertha felt a chill run down her


    spine. Thank goodness Lysander hade to Thssa''s rescue; otherwise, she might not have made


    it.


    Considering Lysander saved Thssa, Hertha decided to let his threats slide this time. After watching


    them get into the Rolls-Royce, she got into her own car, made a U-turn, and drove off.


    Inside the Rolls-Royce.


    Lysander sat in the driver''s seat while Thssa upied the passenger''s. She was stifled by his


    overpowering presence, barely daring to breathe too loudly, let alone make any other move.


    She sat rigid, eyes fixed straight ahead, until Lysander leaned over. His imposing shadow enveloped


    her, and the familiar scent of his cologne sent her heart racing. She blinked, her body tensing in


    anticipation of his next move.


    But he merely reached for the seat belt and buckled her in. Only then did Thssa realize she had


    been sitting there, foolishly forgetting to strap herself in.


    After securing her seat belt, Lysander clicked his own into ce and started the car, driving off


    smoothly onto the asphalt road. The atmosphere inside was so quiet it was almost haunting.


    "Got nothing to say?" Lysander''s voice, deep and resonant, broke the silence.


    Thssa started, then turned to look at his profile¡ªchiseled, handsome, and imposing. Just one


    nce was enough to make her heart skip a beat, struck by both his authority and his allure.


    Content ? N?velDrama.Org 2024.


    After a moment, she managed a timid reply, "About what?"


    Lysander''s aura suddenly turned frosty, his voice dropping to a cold whisper, "She''s been introducing


    you to men?" Co?tent of Dr?manov§Öls


    Men?


    Thssa''s heart lurched in rm, and she looked at Lysander in bewilderment.

 Chapter 1198

    Chapter 1198


    Lysander''s topic leap was so sudden that Thssa was momentarily caught off guard, trying to catch


    the thread of conversation.


    Who was Lysander referring to when he mentioned ''the man''?


    Was it ric, or Spencer?


    After all, she had met with two men that day.


    But seeing Lysander sit there, his presence chilling like a frosty winter''s eve, as if thunder and lightning


    were his tomand and snowkes danced at his brooding, oppressive mood, Thssa quickly


    realized who he was talking about.


    It definitely wasn''t ric; ric was his best mate, and she and Hertha had met him several times


    without Lysander ever breathing fire and brimstone her way.


    It was the meeting with Spencer today that had set him off.


    Thssa did not wish to be caught in the eye of the storm, so she hurried to rify, ¡°You¡¯ve got it all


    wrong. Today, Hertha was going on a blind date, and she was scared to go alone. So, she asked me to


    tag along. The guy we met today is Hertha''s date, not mine.¡±


    His threatening stance earlier, telling Hertha that if she ever dragged Thssa to meet someone else,


    he''d not let it slide, had been about Spencer, not Debby''s mother.


    But how on earth did Lysander know about her whereabouts today?


    She understood when she used to wear a ne with a tracker, which meant Lysander knew her


    every move. That ne had long been pawned off, the cash still sitting in her bank ount. She


    didn''t have any tracking devices on her, so how did Lysander know she had met someone today?


    Could it be ric had phoned Lysander?


    As Thssa finished her exnation, Lysander''s deep gaze flicked her way, a look that was one-third


    oppressive, one-third icy, and the rest purely scrutinizing.


    It made Thssa¡¯s palms clench slightly, unsure what he meant.


    Did he not believe her?


    Concerned about dragging Hertha into this, Thssa added, ¡°Hertha''s mom was pressuring her to


    date, threatening to disown her if she refused. She couldn¡¯t say no and thought she¡¯d reject the guy on


    the spot, but was afraid to do it alone. So, she dragged me along for moral support. I was really just


    there as a friend for her.¡±


    ¡°Can you guarantee he wasn¡¯t sizing up both of you?¡± Lysander¡¯s voice, cold as a cier, seemed to fly


    low across the car''s interior, striking right at Thssa¡¯s heart.


    Her heart skipped a beat as she met his gaze. She remembered how, when she and Hertha arrived,


    Spencer¡¯s eyes had flitted between the two of them, appraising.


    So, Lysander was bothered, displeased?


    The man was too possessive. Just a nce from someone else, and he was ruffled?


    Despite the car''s heating, Lysander''s icy aura made the air almost too cold to bear, raising


    goosebumps on Thssa¡¯s arms.


    Hugging herself, she spoke with a weak, cating tone, ¡°I get it. I won¡¯t go with her to any more dates.¡±


    Thssa thought to herself, ¡°Could you be any more domineering?¡±


    Content ? N?velDrama.Org 2024.


    His possessiveness was overwhelming. Was this why he had relentlessly pursued her when she tried


    to escape before? Content of Dra§Þ??ovels


    Now, his possessiveness seemed even stronger, and more forceful.


    When did it begin?

 Chapter 1199

    Chapter 1199


    Thssa''s heart skipped a beat, thrown off rhythm by the memory of his response to her question that


    day. Her pulse raced erratically, seeking escape from the turmoil within.


    She quickly averted her gaze, refusing to look at his profile any longer, focusing straight ahead, and fell


    silent.


    Lysander, the kind of man whose emotions were as intense as his possessiveness, was suffocating


    and painful.


    She was just an ordinary woman, unable to bear the weight of his oppressive affection.


    Nor could she imagine a life indefinitely by his side without any formal acknowledgment. All she


    yearned for was a simple, tranquil existence.


    The car pulled to a stop in the driveway of the Royal Estates.


    Experience had taught her if she didn''t hurry out, Lysander woulde and scoop her up in a princess


    Material ? N?velDrama.Org.


    carry that was as embarrassingly intimate as it was heart-fluttering, making her feel utterly


    ufortable. Especially with so many servants around, their eyes inevitably catching the scene,


    leaving her blushing and shy.


    So the moment the car came to a halt, she hastily pushed the door open and stepped out onto the solid


    ground, heading towards the house.


    Behind her, the sound of the car door closing signaled Lysander''s exit. She quickened her pace, nearly


    running into the living room.


    Fitch, the head butler, was directing the staff in their cleaning when he saw her. He greeted her with


    respectful politeness, "Ms. Everhart, wee back."


    "Yes, thank you. Carry on," Thssa replied cordially.


    No sooner had she spoken than she felt an imposing presence behind her. A looming shadow


    enveloped her before she could react, her feet lifted from the ground, and her body was suspended in


    air.


    Thssa gasped in surprise, her hands instinctively reaching for something stable to prevent a fall.


    As always, she found Lysander''s neck, her body steadied, her panicked heart found its pace, and her


    anxious eyes met the handsome face inches from hers.


    His solid chest pressed against her, radiating an unshakeable strength and a potent masculine scent


    that teased her cheeks.


    Her heart, yet to settle, began to race once more.


    Her heartbeat, right against the spot where Lysander''s chest met her left breast, was for him.


    His deep eyes flickered, his gaze intense as he saw her startled look. His throat tightened, and he


    carried her swiftly upstairs.


    The staff, led by Fitch, caught off guard by Lysander carrying Thssa, quickly lowered their heads,


    pretending to see nothing, busying themselves with their tasks, lest they draw Lysander''s ire.


    It was vexing. She''d tried all day to avoid this very situation, only to find herself still in his arms.


    "Mmm." Thssa was caught off guard, her lips sealed.


    Lysander''s breath was hot and heavy, his passion enveloping her senses. Co?tent of


    Dr§Ñm§Ñ?ovels.c§àm


    The kiss deepened, heating with every second. His strong hand gripped her slender waist, pulling her


    close to him.


    Thssa, feeling the change in his body, widened her eyes in rm.

 Chapter 1200

    Chapter 1200


    Thssa snapped back to reality and hurriedly pushed at him.


    Her push was gentle and seemingly insignificant, but it was enough to signal Lysander that she didn¡¯t


    want to.


    Lysander caught her misbehaving hand and ced it firmly on his waist, inviting her to wrap her arms


    around him.


    He released her lips, his breath heavy and raspy, hot puffs brushing against her face, moist kisses


    her ear.


    The deep resonance of his breathing tickled the delicate skin behind Thssa¡¯s ear, causing her to


    involuntarily shrink her neck.


    Her long eyshes were moist, her eyes shimmering with unshed tears, as Thssa gasped, ¡°Stop it,


    you''re just tormenting yourself."


    He knew full well she couldn''t right now.


    Yet, he continued to fan the mes.


    Wasn''t that just making it harder on himself?


    Lysander''s hoarse voice brushed her ear, ¡°What did you have?¡±


    His voice, low and fluid, vibrated against Thssa¡¯s eardrum, tightening her nerves.


    He was still circling around the fact that she had a meal with Hertha and Spencer.


    Lysander could be pettier than a little kid when he wanted to.


    Thssa cautiously replied, ¡°We ordered Hertha¡¯s favorites. I just had a bit on the side.¡±


    ¡°So, what did you have?¡± Lysander''s lips grazed her earlobe yfully.


    That teasing act made Thssa squirm, her neck itching, her heart fluttering uncontrobly.


    Material ? N?velDrama.Org.


    Gasping, she pleaded, ¡°Meatloaf with mashed potatoes, fish sticks, and barbecued chicken wings¡­¡±


    ¡°Hmm,¡± Lysander grunted, his voice rough, finally sparing her ear.


    His face buried in her neck, his rugged breaths slowed, no further actions taken, just pressing down on


    her, holding her, as if restraining something.


    Thssa didn¡¯t move either, her hands stayed wrapped around his waist, not pulling away.


    His waist was lean and packed with a sense of strength that she could feel even through the fabric,


    dangerous and overwhelming.


    Lysander breathed deeply, his grip firm yet controlled.


    Thssa¡¯s own breathing was heavy, her arms lightly encircling his waist, trying to calm her erratic


    heartbeat and breath.


    After a while, Lysander lifted his head, rolled over, andy beside Thssa, finally releasing her.


    As his heavy, warm body withdrew, Thssa''s shoulders rxed, her eyes closed as sleep brewed.


    Lysander turned to look at her, and upon seeing her eyes closed, he murmured, ¡°Tired?¡±


    ¡°Yeah, I want a nap. Stop talking to me,¡± Thssa responded without opening her eyes.


    So, she simply didn¡¯t meet his gaze, enduring his scrutiny with her eyes shut.


    Lysander watched her, noting her eyes darting beneath her delicate eyelids, a clear sign of her anxiety.


    His presence made her nervous.  NovelDrama.Org


    Lysander''s face tensed slightly. He rose from the bed, pulled the nket over her, and left the room


    quietly.


    With all these thoughts, Thssa tossed and turned, breathing deeply, yet sleep eluded her.

 Chapter 1201

    Chapter 1201


    Thssa''s mind was a storm of thoughts, and no matter how hard she tried to force herself, sleep


    remained elusive.


    Tossing the idea of rest aside, she reached for her smartphone, the sleek new recement for the one


    that had met its fiery demise in a bizarre bonfire ident. It had probably been reduced to shards by


    now.


    The new phone had been gifted to her by Lysander on the day she was discharged from the hospital.


    He had made a point of delivering it personally. The phone felt substantial in her hand, its metal body


    cool and heavy, its design a blend of modern elegance and understated luxury.


    Content ? N?velDrama.Org 2024.


    When Lysander handed her the phone, it contained just one contact - his own, simply saved as


    "Lysander." Thssa had smiled, a mix of amusement and affection, upon discovering he was literally


    her number one ¨C and only ¨C contact. His childishness could even outshine Atticus on asion.


    Over time, Thssa had added the numbers of those close to her, rebuilding her circle bit by bit.


    Suddenly, she found herself missing her four little ones. ncing at the clock, she noted it was just


    past two in the afternoon ¨C the kids would still be at school.


    With a pang of longing, Thssa opened her photo album, hoping to soothe her heart with their


    images, only to remember that the album was empty. The realization hit her; she had yet to fill this new


    phone with memories. All the photos of her children''s growing years, previously stored on her old


    phone, were gone. She silently vowed to take more photos once they returned.


    As she thought of her children''s innocentughter, a contented smile found its way to her lips, and


    before she knew it, she had drifted off to sleep.


    She awoke to the sound of the bedroom door bursting open and small feet pattering towards her. The


    innocent voices of her four little ''bundles of joy'' filled the room, ovepping in a chorus of excitement.


    "Mommy, no more napping, wake up! It''s dinner time!" Atticus chirped as he ran towards her.


    "Mommy, the sun''s gone to bed, and if you don''t wake up, the moon will nibble your ears," Dorian


    warned, plopping down beside her.


    "Mommy, it''s yummy time! So much good food; it smells delicious," Elowen toddled over, her chubby


    hands gesturing grandly to indicate the feast awaiting them downstairs.


    "Mommy, wakey-wakey..." Sophia added softly.


    Surrounded by their childish affection, Thssa turned to see four cherubic faces peering down at her,


    their eyes bright and expectant.


    Her heart swelled with happiness at their milk-scented innocence, and she greeted them with a smile,


    "My darlings, you''re back..."


    Thssa sat up, swung her legs over the side of the bed, and dered, "I bet you''re all starving. Let''s


    go have dinner."


    Hand in hand with her children, Thssa walked into the living room where the dining table was indeed


    Content of Dra§Þ??ovels


    Had Lysander arranged for these dishes to be prepared especially for her?

 Chapter 1202

    Chapter 1202


    Thssa was lost in thought when she saw Lysander descending the stairs. He was d in his


    lounging pajamas, a sleek grayish-ck silk that shimmered subtly under the light, without a single


    wrinkle to mar its smoothness.


    A simple pair of pajamas, yet he wore them with an air of distinction.


    His innate aura ofmand, an effortless nobility, and a rxedposure made one instinctively


    wary of crossing him.


    Thssa forced a polite smile, greeting him, "Lysander, you''re up. Dinner''s ready."


    She gestured vaguely toward the dining table with a slight lift of her hand.


    She hadn''t seen him since he left the master bedroom at noon and had no idea where he had been.


    Now, seeing him in his pajamas suggested he had gone to sleep in another room¡ªbut why? The only


    Material ? N?velDrama.Org.


    other bedroom upstairs had a broken bed, or so he''d imed. Was he bluffing her again?


    Lysander¡¯s deep gaze swept over her briefly before settling on the table, seeming pleased with the


    spread. He pulled out a chair and sat down, beckoning Thssa, "Come, sit."


    "Oh, sure," Thssa snapped back to reality, about to settle the children.


    Fitch was quick on the uptake; before she could move, Fitch had already led the children to sit opposite


    Lysander, arranging their cutlery for them.


    With no other option, Thssa took her ce beside Lysander as the server set their tableware.


    Lysander picked up his fork and served Thssa a piece of fish onto her te, saying, "It''s all your


    favorites. Eat up."


    His deep, resonant voice filled her ear.


    Startled, Thssa nced at him, meeting his eyes, which held a hint of amusement.


    She smiled awkwardly in return and began to eat the fish he''d given her. "Alright, I''ll have some. Don''t


    forget to eat yourself."


    She didn''t overthink it. It seemed Lysander had indeed specially prepared these dishes for her.


    She hadn''t mentioned liking them; it was just that these were the dishes ordered, and she had been


    hungry at the time.


    Lysander had even asked about her lunch and had these dishes prepared by the afternoon¡ªand so


    abundantly!


    What was he up to? Was he still angry?


    Men could be terrifyingly petty.


    "Mama, try mine! The cream puff cake is delicious," Elowen said, offering Thssa a spoonful of cake


    with her chubby little hands, her round cheeks smeared with cream, giving her the look of a kitten.


    It was a sight that brought a smile to anyone''s face.


    Thssaughed softly, leaning in to take a bite from Elowen''s spoon, and praised, "Yummy."


    "I love you the most, Mommy," Elowen beamed, her big eyes crinkling and dimples deepening with her


    smile.


    Thssa ruffled Elowen''s hair and replied, "I love you too."


    Knowing Lysander, he had prepared these dishes for her, likely expecting her to finish them.


    If she couldn''t, she would inadvertently hit a nerve. New chapter av§Ñble o? Dr§Ñm§Ñnovels


    Thssa had finally enjoyed a few days of peace and did not want to provoke Lysander again.


    The mirth in his gaze was swiftly reced by a dark, icy stillness.

 Chapter 1203

    Chapter 1203


    "Maybe I shouldn''t let Mom have any more," little Elowen mused with innocent concern, her blue eyes


    Belongs ? to N?velDrama.Org.


    wide with worry. "What if it makes her belly burst?"


    "Mom''s got a brother or sister for us in there," she added softly.


    Elowen nodded her understanding dutifully, "Okay, Mommy, you eat less. Don''t burst your belly."


    The little one was genuinely worried, believing one could truly eat until they burst.


    Thssa chuckled warmly, her gentle smile spreading across her face as she said, "Alright, dig in


    everyone."


    With her words, the four little kids quietly nibbled on their food, adorably and daintily spooning bites into


    their mouths.


    Thssa couldn''t help but let her smile linger as she watched their soft, cute, and sensible little faces.


    Seeing the kids engrossed in their dinner, she too turned her attention back to her te.


    Her selection was aforting spread: the three dishes Lysander specially prepared for her.


    When each dish was reduced to half, Thssa felt full, even a bit overstuffed, and couldn''t eat another


    bite.


    But there sat Lysander, her towering and intimidating husband, casting a cold and shadowy presence


    that seemed to press down on her at all times.


    If she didn''t finish her meal, he would erupt like a volcano, fierce and sudden.


    Despite feeling ufortably full, Thssa soldiered on with her meal.


    It''s strange how the body works¡ªwhen you''re hungry, everything tastes divine, and the appetite is


    voracious. But when full, even the most delicious morsels lose their allure and be hard to swallow.


    Thssa forced another bite of the rich beef stew, but her stomach rebelled against the greasiness.


    As she persevered, a wave of nausea overcame her.


    Suddenly, her fork was snatched from her grasp.


    Lysander''s icy voice chided her, "Are you a pig? If you can''t eat it, don''t force it!"


    Thssa gagged, the stew proving too much, and she spat it out onto the napkin on the table.


    She frantically reached for a tissue, wiping her mouth, then looked up at Lysander with panicked eyes,


    meeting his hard, displeased gaze.


    His handsome face was tight with anger.


    Thssa''s nerves spiked as she rushed to exin, "These are the dishes you had specially prepared


    for me. Of course, I wanted to finish them. Otherwise, you''d be upset."


    Lysander frowned, his aura growing colder, barely containing his rage.


    In her eyes, he was such an unyielding and heartless tyrant!


    "Go do whatever you need to do once you''re full!" Lysander spoke in a low and frosty tone.


    Had he ever said she had to finish everything?


    Thssa was stunned, looking at Lysander incredulously. Wasn''t he forcing her to finish? Had she


    misunderstood his intentions?


    The former was easier for Thssa to believe, thetter was beyond herprehension, utterly


    unbelievable. New ch?pter av?ble o? Dra§Þ§Ñn§àv§Öls.c§àm


    The children were still eating, and by the time she finished her shower, they would likely be done¡ª


    perfect timing to join them in y.


    Lysander watched her retreating figure, his breaths sharp and tight, a dull ache in his chest.

 Chapter 1204

    Chapter 1204


    The trepidation Thssa felt toward Lysander, the suspicion that gnawed at her, the subconscious


    belief that he was out to torment her, weighed heavily on his heart.


    Though she hadn''t said anything, he sensed the barricade she had erected around her heart.


    Belongs ? to N?velDrama.Org.


    Imprable, it stood defiant against all his efforts, unmoved by his attempts.


    In the world of business, Lysander was a force to be reckoned with; his desiresmanded reality, and


    the fates of others seemed to bend at his will. But the human heart, that was something he could not


    Especially, the heart of a woman.


    "Daddy, why aren''t you eating? Have some fish," Elowen''s sweet, lisping voice broke through his


    thoughts. She clumsily scooped up a piece of fish with her tiny spoon, her small hand reaching out


    toward Lysander''s te.


    Her arm wasn''t long enough to reach his te, so she just held out her hand, her innocent, hopeful


    eyes fixed on Lysander.


    Her voice, so tender and endearing, brought Lysander back to the present. His gaze softened as he


    looked at Elowen, her adorable, milk-toothed smile touching something deep within him and easing the


    pain in his heart.


    His expression softened, he picked up his te, and epted the fish from Elowen with a low,


    resonant "Thank you."


    Elowen giggled, her voice bubbly as she said, "You''re wee, Daddy. Eat up."


    The little one beamed with joy, her smile reminiscent of Thssa''s¡ªboth beautiful and charming.


    Children are simple, easily contented with a word of praise or a thank you.


    What would it take to bring that same happiness to Thssa?


    After her bath, dressed and refreshed, Thssa descended the stairs to find the four children clustered


    around Lysander on the couch, all of them engrossed in the television.


    "Peppa Pig" was ying, Elowen''s favorite cartoon.


    The children''s eyes were glued to the screen, and Lysander, sitting among them, shared their rapt


    attention as he joined them in watching the show.


    Touched by the scene, Thssa paused on the stairs. It was such a warm, harmonious picture.


    She stopped, pulled out her phone, aimed the camera at them, and pressed the shutter button.


    Coincidentally, as she took the picture, the four children and Lysander turned their heads toward her,


    their gazes meeting the camera lens.


    The moment they all looked her way, the image was captured, frozen in time.


    Seeing the photo, Thssa''s lips curved into a pleased smile. "This picture turned out great."


    "Wow, Mommy''s sneaking pictures of us," Elowen''s chubby hand covered her mouth as sheughed


    with delight.


    "Mommy, why did you take our picture?" Dorian asked with youthful curiosity.


    Her bright eyes caught sight of Lysander nearby. With a burst of inspiration, she mbered onto his


    Thssa hesitated, not immediately taking the picture, but instead, she nced at Lysander, seeking


    his approval. Elowen had just plopped herself onto hisp without warning and demanded a photo. She


    wondered if Lysander would be okay with it.  NovelDrama.Org


    "What are you waiting for?" Lysander''s deep voice broke the silence, his intense gaze meeting


    Thssa''s.


    Coming back to reality, Thssa locked eyes with Lysander. Seeing him embrace little Elowen and


    adjust her posture, she understood he was inviting her to take the picture.


    He wasn''t angry after all.

 Chapter 1205

    Chapter 1205


    Thssa lifted her phone, aiming it at Elowen and Lysander. "One, two, three, cheese! Perfect shot."


    "I wanna take a picture too! I wanna be in it with Daddy!" Dorian, seeing how well Elowen and Lysander


    were posing together, also shuffled over.


    Thssa called out, "Atticus, Sophia, scoot over next to your dad. I''ll snap a few shots of you all."


    The four kids eagerly gathered around Lysander. Elowen nestled into Lysander''s embrace, Atticus


    leaned against his arm, Sophia gently held onto his sleeve, and Dorian, the rascal, climbed onto


    Lysander''s back, wrapping his little arms around his neck.


    Lysander, surprisingly, wasn''t miffed. Instead, his deep gaze remained fixed on her, waiting for her to


    capture the moment.


    This took Thssa aback.


    It seemed Lysander was more fond of the kids than she had realized.


    Realizing Lysander''s paternal affection, Thssa felt a wave of relief and joy wash over her.


    Her four kids were loved by their dad; they weren''t the pitied fatherless tots others made them out to


    be.


    Thssa felt a tear at the corner of her eye as she raised her phone and snapped a photo of the four


    kids with Lysander.


    After the shot, the kids crowded around, eager to see the image on her phone. Thssa opened the


    photo album and showed them.


    "Wow, I love this photo!" Elowen beamed, seeing her happy face captured on screen.


    "I don''t," Atticus pouted, his cute face scrunching up. "Mom''s not in it."


    His words instantly sparked a realization in the other three kids.


    "Right, mom''s not there!" eximed Elowen. She tilted her head, thinking hard, then had a brainwave.


    She took Thssa''s phone, walked over, and handed it to Lysander. "Daddy, can you take a picture of


    us with mommy?"


    With that, she skipped back to Thssa''s side, ready for the shot, with Atticus, Dorian, and Sophia


    lining up next to her, all eyes on Lysander.


    Lysander lifted the phone and took a few pictures.


    But Elowen sensed something was still amiss. Looking at Lysander seated on the couch and then back


    at Thssa, her eyes lit up with a final piece of the puzzle.


    She tugged on Thssa''s hand, pulling her toward Lysander.


    Thssa thought Elowen wanted her to take back the phone to check the pictures Lysander had just


    taken.


    Thssa was stunned. Did Elowen seriously want her to sit on Lysander''sp? New ch?pter av?ble


    o? NovelDrama.OrgBelongs ? to N?velDrama.Org.


    Elowen, you''re daddy''s little girl. You can get away with anything, but I''m not so bold, thought Thssa.

 Chapter 1206

    Chapter 1206


    The scorching breath tickled the edges of Thssa''s ear, carrying an invasive scent of peril.


    Her body tensed, frozen in ce, her pupils dted, eyes flickering with uncertainty.


    Lysander''s words were eerily familiar. Weren''t they the same ones she''d uttered to him not too long


    ago?


    Back then, when little Elowen had offered Lysander some homemade cookies, Thssa, worried that


    he''d refuse and hurt the child''s feelings, had advised him, ¡°Don¡¯t reject the kindness of a child; it might


    break their heart.¡±


    Now, Lysander had turned her words back on her. How could she possibly refuse?


    But sitting on hisp, this way¡ªwhen a child does it, it¡¯s the sweetness of a father-daughter bond.


    And her? Sitting on Lysander¡¯sp, it could only seem awkward, the sort of thing to set tongues


    wagging and minds wandering.


    Thssa squirmed ufortably, her body rigid, her cheeks burning, she reminded him, ¡°Your leg is


    still injured. Shouldn¡¯t you be more careful?¡±


    His leg, after all, was still recovering from that nasty burn.


    ¡°It¡¯s fine,¡± Lysander murmured in his deep, resonant voice, his hand circling her waist to pull her closer,


    adjusting her seating.


    Just as he would with Elowen, cradling her small frame, he enveloped Thssa, creating the image of


    her nestled safely in his arms.


    Although Thssa was an adult, next to Lysander, her petite form seemed childlike in his strong, broad


    Exclusive ? material by N?(/v)elDrama.Org.


    embrace.


    Feeling the masculine scent of him, being held like a child, her face turned a deeper shade of red and


    her breathing grewbored. But Lysander''s words left her unable to struggle or protest, and she didn¡¯t


    dare to.


    Behind her was the heat of Lysander''s abdomen, a constant reminder of the potential danger, warning


    her that any reckless movement might switch on his predatory instincts, and she¡¯d be truly caught in


    the wolf¡¯s den.


    So even with her embarrassment and difort, she remained still, enduring the closeness.


    Sensing herpliance, Lysander was pleased. His deep eyes shifted to Elowen, who was holding up


    the phone, ¡°Go ahead and take the picture.¡±


    Elowen, beaming like a blooming flower, lifted the phone, stepped back, and the other children


    gathered around, peering at the screen with sparkling curiosity.


    ¡°Mommy, you look so worried. Give us a smile,¡± Elowen said earnestly, herrge, luminous eyes


    shifting from the phone to Thssa, urging her to look happier for the photo.


    Caught off guard, Thssa realized she was supposed to present her best self for the picture. She


    forced a smile, feeling Lysander''s warmth at her back and the innocent, charming faces of the children


    before her.


    Her heart was torn between the fear of Lysander turning into a wolf and the pure joy of the children''s


    innocence.


    ¡°Daddy, Mommy smiled, now it¡¯s your turn,¡± Elowen chimed in.


    He was so stunning that a single nce could intoxicate the soul. New ch?pter av?ble o?


    NovelDrama.Org


    ¡°Mommy, Daddy¡¯s smiling. Now look at the camera,¡± Elowen¡¯s sweet voice pulled Thssa back from


    her trance.


    With a flustered smile, she posed for the photograph.

 Chapter 1207

    Chapter 1207


    Seeing her parents smile, Elowen''s face lit up with satisfaction as she pressed the record button on the


    camera.


    "Daddy looks so cool, and Mommy''s so pretty!" Elowen beamed after taking the picture.


    Behind Elowen, her three little siblings chimed in with their own praises.


    Dorian dered, "Mommy''s the most beautiful mommy in the whole world."


    "Absolutely," Atticus agreed, nodding along with Dorian''s statement.


    Sophia added timidly, "And Daddy''s the most handsome daddy ever."


    "Yeah, the most handsome!" Elowen eximed, her voice bubbling with enthusiasm.


    Exclusive ? material by N?(/v)elDrama.Org.


    Fitch busied himself at the dining table, clearing away after the meal, but his nce kept darting over to


    the cozy scene unfolding on the couch.


    He couldn''t help but smile at the sight of Lysander and Thssa, along with their children, enjoying


    each other''spany. Indeed, the kids were right; Lysander and Thssa were a sight for sore eyes,


    a match made in heaven.


    Basking in the children''spliments, Thssa felt a surge of joy but also a prick of danger as she


    realized her current predicament. Quickly, she stood up from Lysander''s embrace and hurried over to


    the kids, taking the phone from them, "Let me see."


    The phone screen disyed a photo of her and Lysander. He was holding her as they sat on the


    couch, his handsome face partially obscured by her shoulder, his lips curled in a sexy smile, his deep


    eyes gazing into the camera as if they were looking right at her.


    The blend of his stunning good looks and brooding intensity, even in a photo, sent a wave of panic


    through Thssa as she locked eyes with his ocean-deep gaze on the screen.


    There she was, nestled on Lysander''sp, her cheeks flushed with a rosy tint, looking ridiculously


    happy.


    Two people who shouldn''t possibly expect a future together were now immortalized in an embrace.


    At the sight of this photo, Thssa''s heart felt as if it had been pricked by something sharp. What


    should have been a moment of bliss was suddenly tinged with pain.


    With a swift motion, Thssa put her phone in her pocket and told the kids, "Alright, it''s gettingte. It''s


    time for you to take your baths and then off to bed."


    "Mommy, I wanna sleep with you and Daddy tonight," Elowen pleaded with a pout.


    Thssa''s heart skipped a beat as she nced apprehensively at Lysander before replying to Elowen,


    "The bed''s too small, sweetheart. There''s not enough room. How about after your bath, Ie and


    sleep in your room with you?"


    Regaining herposure, she looked up at her mother and nodded obediently, "Okay, I''ll sleep with


    Mommy."


    After the children were bathed and tucked into bed, Thssa spent extra time soothing Elowen to


    sleep before moving on to the other children''s rooms to ensure they too were settled for the night.


    With all four little ones asleep, Thssa prepared to return to Elowen''s room to join her for the night,


    but she was intercepted by Lysander, "You seem to forget how big the master bed is." Updated at


    Dra§Þ??§àvels.c§àm


    Was she genuinely concerned for him?

 Chapter 1208

    Chapter 1208


    Lysander''s grip was firm and strong, his palm exuding a warmth that signaled power and danger.


    Thssa dared not resist for fear of being torn apart.


    When they returned to the room, Thssa pulled away from his grasp and strode towards the bed. "I''m


    beat," she said, feigning tiredness. "I want to sleep. Don''t you need a shower? Go freshen up."


    "Join me," Lysander''s voice resonated with a low maic timbre.


    Thssa whirled around in shock, her eyes wide and frantic. "What... what did you just say?"


    "Help me shower," Lysander replied. "Took a hit to the leg, you know. Can''t risk getting it wet; might get


    infected. You''re all about tending to my wounds, aren''t you?"


    She was at a loss for words. The excuse was bulletproof.


    After all, his leg was hurt while saving her. She couldn''t just abandon him.


    Taking a deep breath, Thssa forced a smile. "Fine, I''ll help you."


    In the bathroom, she began to help him undress. Standing so close, her head barely reached his


    shoulder. At a decent height of five-foot-five, she was not short by any means, but next to Lysander''s


    towering frame, she seemed petite.


    Her fingers worked on the buttons of his shirt¡ªone, two...


    Concentrating on the task at hand, she avoided his gaze. As his shirt fell open, his lean, well-defined


    muscles began to reveal themselves¡ªthe ruggedness of his Adam''s apple, the tautness of his chest¡ª


    all exuding a raw, masculine allure.


    The heavy scent of his pheromones filled the air, entangling with Thssa''s breathing.


    She had started with pure intentions, her mind void of wayward thoughts. But as she glimpsed the body


    beneath his clothes, her heart began to falter, her breathing slowed to a shallow rhythm.


    She tried focusing solely on his shirt buttons, yet her peripheral vision kept catching glimpses of his taut


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    skin and muscr lines, irresistibly drawing her eyes, tempting her heart.


    Lysander watched from above with a deep interest, his gaze shifting from evaluative to amused.


    He saw the natural hue of her face turn to excitement, herplexion shifting from pale to flushed. As


    she undid thest button of his shirt, even her earlobes reddened.


    Despite their many encounters, she still blushed, still showed shyness.


    Seeing her bashful demeanor, Lysander felt a surge of satisfaction.


    At least it proved she couldn''t resist his physique.


    He stood still, letting Thssa proceed with the task.


    After the shirt, came the pants. She hesitated but, remembering how he had been injured in her


    defense, she mustered the courage and reached for his belt.


    The belt buckle, however, was sophisticated and she struggled to undo it.


    Frustrated, she fumbled with the buckle until Lysander''srge hand covered her smaller one, his voice


    deep and teasing, "Can''t figure it out, huh?"


    Thssa''s hand trembled beneath his rough touch. She tried to withdraw but couldn''t.


    A glint flickered in Lysander''s eyes, pleased by her admission.


    His deep gaze fixed on her as he instructed, "Now, pull the belt through." Co?tent of Dr?§Þ??ov§Öls.c§àm


    Thssa blinked in astonishment and did as told.


    The belt slid out, and she swallowed nervously.


    "Zipper," Lysander coaxed gently.

 Chapter 1209

    Chapter 1209


    Thssa couldn''t take it anymore¡ªthe embarrassment was too much. She almost turned on her heel


    to leave.


    But then she thought of his injury, of how he was still recovering, and she suppressed the urge.


    Her hands trembled as she slowly unzipped his jeans, her forehead beading with sweat, her breath


    tight in her chest.


    As soon as she pulled the zipper down, Lysander wrapped his arms around her waist, pulling her close


    with a firm tug.


    He held the back of her head, his lips iming hers in a fierce and fiery kiss that stole her breath and


    Material ? N?velDrama.Org.


    spun her world.


    In the steamy heat of the bathroom, their passion rose quickly, filling the space with an intoxicating


    mist.


    At work, Thssa received great news from Ethan; the new smartphone ad campaign shot by Susan


    had been a hit, skyrocketing sales.


    This was indeed fantastic news.


    But Thssa was preupied with something else.


    "So, does this mean the Crawley Group'' stock is going through the roof? With Bruce''s family having


    invested two hundred thousand dors, they must be rolling in it, huh?" she asked.


    Ethan smiled, shaking his head with a hint of mystery.


    Seeing him shake his head without a word, Thssa''s curiosity piqued. "Mr. Ethan, what do you mean


    by that? Did Bruce strike it rich or not?"


    Leaning in just a bit closer, Ethan shared with a secretive tone, "They lost everything."


    "What?" Thssa gasped, not fully understanding the intricacies.


    "But didn''t the new smartphone sell like hotcakes? How could the stock fall?" she pressed.


    "The new smartphone from the Crawley Group did sell exceptionally well, and they invested because


    they believed in its future. But you see, apany''s stock doesn''t just depend on one aspect; it''s about


    the overall health and multiple sectors," Ethan exined. "We''re on fire in the smartphone market, but


    we''ve been bested inputers by an up-anding brand. The profits fromputers are much


    higher than from smartphones. Overall, the Crawley Group'' profits are down, and that''s caused the


    stock market to tremble and stocks to fall," Ethan said with a smile.


    Thssa got it, but Ethan''s smile didn''t sit right with her.


    "Mr. Ethan, people usually frown upon hearing their stocks have plummeted. Why do I get the feeling


    you''re actually enjoying this?"


    After all, a drop in stock value affects thepany.


    Ethan, as the boss, seemed unusually joyful for someone who had just lost money.


    "I''m happy the new smartphone is a hit," Ethan replied, dodging the real issue.


    "No, I mean..."


    "So, you''re happy because of Bruce¡¯s misfortune?" Thssa asked, astonished.


    With that, he stood up and left the secretary''s office.


    Thssa found him odd and his words mismatched. Re?d at Dr?m§Ñ?§àv§Öls


    Deep into her work, Thssa''s phone rang with an unfamiliar number.


    But when she saw thest digits, she knew it was Bruce.


    Her nerves tightened, and after a moment''s hesitation, she answered.

 Chapter 1210

    Chapter 1210


    Hearing Bruce''s venomous threat, Thssa felt a lump of air trapped in her chest, anger tensing her


    entire body. She clenched her teeth and spat out, "Bruce, I''ve recorded this call. You threaten me again


    and I swear I''ll see you behind bars for good!"


    She was immensely relieved that she had asked Atticus to hack into Bruce''s phone andputer,


    eradicating the disgusting videos he had taken.


    Otherwise, Bruce, that rabid dog, would truly scatter those videos everywhere!


    Bruce was fuming, his blood boiling. The two hundred thousand he had painstakingly gathered had


    vanished in a matter of days. Now, his family of three had barely two hundred thousand to their name!


    For someone who once unted assets in the hundreds of millions, this financial decimation was a


    cataclysmic blow, especially for someone as greedy and avaricious as Bruce!


    He was desperate to recoup his losses.


    The first person he thought to squeeze was Thssa, for some quick cash.


    He had assumed that with leverage over her, she would be easy to manipte. But to his surprise,


    Thssa stood her ground, utterly unfazed by his threats and even dared to intimidate him!


    Furious, Bruce snarled, "Thssa, you dare talk to me like that? Are you not worried that I''ll release the


    videos of your mother on the bed? Letting everyone see just how loud she screams, how wanton she


    is!"


    Thssa felt her skin crawl with revulsion, the urge to vomit overwhelming her.


    How could such a vile creature, a lowlife, not drop dead?


    Shaking with rage, Thssa retorted, "Bruce, I haven''t even reported yourst kidnapping stunt to the


    cops, and that''s been thest shred of mercy from me. You want money, go beg your daughter for it!


    I''m not your daughter, so stop calling me!"


    Exclusive ? material by N?(/v)elDrama.Org.


    With teeth gritted and a low growl of anger, she hung up the phone with a vengeance, tossing it aside.


    She rested her head in her hands, her breathing erratic, emotions in turmoil.


    If only she could, she''d personally end the monstrous Bruce with her own hands!


    But even in her fury, she had too many concerns to actuallyy a finger on him.


    Lysander knew about Bruce''s part in her kidnapping, yet he had taken no action, allowing Bruce to


    roam free.


    This puzzled Thssa. If Lysander knew of Bruce''s evil deeds, why didn''t he apprehend him as he had


    the hotel manager?


    It would be far better for Lysander to take action than for her to report to the police herself. At least with


    Lysander''s influence, Bruce wouldn''t dare to go off the deep end.


    Her reluctance to report him stemmed from her concerns.


    The resulting scandal would be public, and the destructive power of gossip immense. The uninformed


    masses would surely vilify her mother, unleashing a torrent of online abuse. Content of


    Dra§Þ??ovels


    She couldn''t bring herself to report Bruce''s kidnapping to the police. If pushed to the brink, there was


    no telling what he might say.


    The videos might have been deleted, but Bruce still had a tongue.

 Chapter 1211

    Chapter 1211


    Thssa felt her breath quiver as she pieced together the dominoes of cause and effect that led to this


    moment. It was a cocktail of humiliation and helplessness - humiliation on behalf of her mother and


    helplessness in the face of their stark reality.


    Bruce, on the receiving end of a hung-up call from Thssa, was livid. His temple veins bulged


    menacingly as he fought the urge to m his phone to the ground.


    Lucy caught his wrist just in time. "Easy there, tiger," she said, her voiceced with worry. "We''re


    already broke. If you break that phone, we won''t even have the money to buy a new one."


    Her face was a canvas of sorrow, eyes still glistening with the remnants of tears. Tentatively, she


    probed, "So, did Thssa agree to lend you the cash?"


    "Fat chance!" Bruce spat out the words like venom.


    Lucy flinched under his roar but persisted, her voice soft, "But she''s your daughter. How could she


    refuse to help in your time of need?"


    What Lucy didn''t know was the full extent of Bruce''s despicable actions, nor the fact that he had


    discovered Thssa wasn''t actually his daughter.


    She had been crying in the other room when Bruce had threatened Thssa over the phone and


    hadn''t heard a word of their conversation. It was only Bruce''s near-smash of the phone that had


    brought her out.


    Bruce red at her with pure loathing. "What daughter? I never yed the father role in her life, never


    provided for her. Why the hell should she help me?"


    "And why did she agree to help Susan get close to Lysander?" Lucy asked, her confusion mounting.


    The mention of that deal sent Bruce over the edge. His teeth clenched, his forehead veins more


    pronounced, he red at Lucy as though wishing her out of existence.


    "Did you mess with my phone orputer? Did you lose my files?" Bruce demanded, his voice a sharp


    de as he closed the distance between them.


    Bruce had kept his vition of Evelyn and the subsequent video a secret, considering the semnce


    of a marriage he and Lucy still had. He had been wary of Lucy controlling all their investments in the


    stock market, aware that she was the only one who could cash out when necessary.


    He''d maintained a facade of harmony for the sake of money, even hiding his affair with Evelyn to keep


    the peace.


    Now, with every penny gone, there was no more facade to keep. Bruce was ready to burn the bridge


    with Lucy.


    Intimidated by his menacing demeanor, Lucy stumbled backward, stammering, "I didn''t touch your


    phone orputer. I don''t know anything about any missing files."


    Bruce grabbed her cor in a vice grip, his veins throbbing. "Stop lying to me! Tell me, did you touch my


    phone orputer?"


    But now, with the two hundred thousand from Susan squandered, Bruce was beyond fury. There was


    Content ? N?velDrama.Org 2024.


    no holding back; it was time for a showdown.


    He didn''t even fear the repercussions of Lucy learning about the video with Evelyn. Co?tent of


    Dr?manov§Öls

 Chapter 1212

    Chapter 1212


    Bruce was relentless, his eyes zing with fury as he demanded confirmation once again, "Are you


    sure you didn''t touch my phone orptop?"


    "I, Lucy, have always been upright and honest. If I did something, I''d own up to it. I refuse to take the


    fall for something I didn''t do!"


    Bruce glowered at her for a moment, then released her cor with a forceful push, his jaw clenched


    tight, his expression dark and menacing.


    So, the video hadn''t been deleted by Lucy. That meant she didn''t know about his fling with Evelyn, let


    alone the existence of any incriminating footage.


    But how had the video on his phone vanished into thin air?


    Bruce''s mind raced to Thssa''s recent change in demeanor. She was no longer the pushover she


    used to be, responding to him with defiance instead ofpliance, even going so far as to threaten


    him!


    Could it be Thssa who had deleted the video?


    She was craftier than he had given her credit for, managing to erase the files on his phone and


    Was Thssa trying to slip from his grasp, to free herself from his threats? If so, she was ying a


    child''s game. He wouldn''t be outyed that easily!


    "What''s so damn important about your phone andptop? Are you cheating on me again with some


    other woman?" Lucy snapped back to reality, shoving Bruce with a force that belied her rage.


    Bruce stumbled backwards, then red at her with a dangerous intensity, "You better watch your tone.


    If you keep pushing me, I''ll push back hard!"


    "What, you want to hit me now?" Lucy gasped in disbelief.


    Bruce¡¯s behavior was different today. All his pretense had fallen away, revealing someone brutal,


    ruthless, and seemingly capable of murder.


    Lucy couldn''t ept this version of Bruce. She tried to suppress his dangerous aura with her own


    fierceness and bravado.


    "Quiet down!" Bruce bellowed, his anger boiling over as he raised his fist to strike.


    Lucy saw his clenched fist, ready to unleash all its force upon her. She was dumbstruck, frozen in


    shock.


    "That''s enough!" An anguished cry came from Susan at the top of the stairs.


    Bruce''s fist stopped mere inches from Lucy''s cheek. He turned to see Susan, whose face was streaked


    with tears, storming towards them.


    Bruce lowered his fist.


    Susan approached and cast a resentful nce at Lucy before turning her wrath on Bruce.


    Lucy didn''t want a divorce. Her resolve weakened, and she reached out for Susan''s arm, "Susan, I..."


    "Shut up!" Susan snapped, her voice raw with emotion. "You¡¯ve beenining about his affairs


    every day, yet you won''t leave him! What are you trying to prove? He''s always been this way. If you


    won''t divorce him, then turn a blind eye. If you can''t stand him, then set yourself and everyone else free


    with a divorce!" Read at NovelDrama.Org


    Exclusive ? material by N?(/v)elDrama.Org.


    "Susan, you should stay out of this matter. It''s between the two of us," Bruce said, trying to regain


    some control.

 Chapter 1213

    Chapter 1213


    "Susan, what the heck are you saying?" Bruce''s voice was tinged with a mix of frustration and dismay


    as he reacted to Susan''s harsh words.


    "Isn''t it true though? Neither of you can give me what I want, and you just drag me down! I''m fed up


    with both of you!" Susan yelled before storming back upstairs.


    With a loud m, she shut the door of her room, her sobs muffled within its confines.


    Susan¡¯s parents had no clue about where the two hundred thousand hade from. It was the money


    that she had paid her own price for in humiliation!


    That ring yet precious money didn''t just fail to multiply under her parents'' care. It vanished in days,


    as if her youth had been gambled away with it.


    No one could fathom the agony and rage churning in her heart.


    Seeing Susan''s outburst, Bruce and Lucy exchanged a look of silent understanding. With a snort,


    Bruce retreated to his study.


    Material ? N?velDrama.Org.


    After crying her eyes out, Susan caked on makeup to hide her puffy eyes and headed to the hospital.


    In the hospital''s dressing room, Callum Gordon just had the cast removed from his leg. The doctor


    advised, "You''ll still need crutches for a few months. Try not to put weight on the injured leg. After two


    to three months of rest, you should be walking on your own."


    "Thank you, Doctor," Callum replied, his voice gentle and polite.


    "You¡¯re wee," said the doctor, smiling in return.


    "Congrats, Mr. Gordon, on getting that cast off. Must feel good to lighten the load," Susan said as she


    walked in, smiling. She handed him a bag of nutrients, "Heard you were getting your cast off today, so I


    thought I''d drop by."


    Callum nced at the gifts in her hand¡ªshe was well-prepared, wasn''t she?


    "What do you want, Susan?" Callum asked bluntly, not in the mood for small talk.


    Taking the initiative, Susan sat down and faced him. "Do you remember what you said to me outside


    the Draven International Hotel, Mr. Gordon? If I wanted to win over Lysander, you could help me,


    right?"


    A subtle ripple disturbed the serenity in Callum''s eyes, his mouth curling into an amiable smile. "After


    such a good chance at the hotel, you still haven''t managed to snag Lysander?"


    Mentioning that night paled Susan''splexion. She had failed to seize the moment, failed to enchant


    Lysander, losing not only her chance but also her confidence in seduction.


    It was a humiliation for her.


    Yet, in the shift of his gaze, warmth turned to frost.  Dr?§Þan§àvels


    Susan frowned, "What conditions?"


    Money was tight for her. Could she meet Callum''s demands?


    "You need to sabotage the rtionship between Thssa and Lysander, making them break up,"


    Callum stated.

 Chapter 1214

    Chapter 1214


    "Alright, I¡¯m in," Susan blurted out without a second thought.


    She had braced herself for some outrageous demand, and now felt a wave of relief wash over her.


    Even if Callum hadn''t mentioned it, she would''ve moved heaven and earth to sabotage Thssa and


    Lysander''s rtionship and drive a wedge between them!


    Only with Thssa out of the picture could Susan have a shot at standing by Lysander''s side.


    Callum''s lips curled into a smirk. "You can go now," he said to Susan.


    "That''s it? You haven''t even told me how you''re going to help me," Susan said, her confusion evident.


    Callum, leaning on his cane, rose to his feet and walked away without another nce at Susan. "I only


    work with smart people."


    Susan was about to follow him, but his words rooted her to the spot. She was afraid that saying


    anything more might make her look foolish in his eyes.


    But with Callum leaving her without any hints, just a promise to help her win Lysander, she felt lost.


    What was supposed to be her next move?


    ...


    Thssa was getting ready to leave work when her phone rang ¨C it was from Hertha.


    She quickly picked up the call, eager to hear what her friend had to say.


    "Thssa, guess how my blind date turned out?" Hertha couldn''t wait to tell her as soon as Thssa


    answered.


    "No idea," Thssa replied. "Just spill it, will you?"


    "Well, I was all set to tell my mom to gently reject Spencer, but before I could even open my mouth,


    she''s telling me how much Spencer likes me. He called her, said he felt a connection, and now he''s


    nning to visit in a few days to formally ask for my hand. My mom''s over the moon,ughing in her


    Content bel0ngs to N?vel(D)r/a/ma.Org.


    sleep with joy. How am I supposed to break it to her now?"


    Hertha was distressed.


    She had intended for her mother to turn Spencer down, but now, Spencer had seized the initiative.


    If she tried to tell her mother now that she wasn''t feeling it and wanted to reject Spencer, her mom


    would probably twist her ear, use her of not knowing a good thing when she saw it, and threaten to


    disown her.


    Hertha chickened out and didn''t speak up.


    "Then what are you going to do? Just wait for Spencer toe asking?" Thssa asked, trying to


    make her friend understand the gravity of the situation.


    "If you say you''re not into him now, it''s easier to call it quits. But once he''s made an official move, it''s


    much more difficult. Ending it then will cause more gossip and hurt for both of you."


    "I get it, I do. I want Spencer to be the one to tell my mom it''s not working out and to bow out


    graciously." Hertha knew the score. She was calling Thssa to figure out a good n.


    Thssa wanted to be there for her friend, but remembering Lysander''s reaction the day before, she


    hesitated.


    "Hertha, I don''t think I can be there for you today, especially not to meet another guy," Thssa said


    with regret but feltpelled to be honest with her friend.


    "What? Why?" Hertha was truly baffled.


    It was clear that Lysander was on a vengeful purpose to make Thssa to apologize.

 Chapter 1215

    Chapter 1215


    Hertha paused for a second before asking curiously, "How on earth did Lysander find out you were with


    me when we saw Spencer? Didn''t you take the afternoon off to go with me? Has he got some kind of


    radar on you?"


    "Nah, I doubt it. That tracking ne he gave mest Christmas has been turned into scrap metal.


    I''ve checked around and there''s nothing that could be containing a tracker," Thssa replied while


    rummaging through her stuff.


    Belongs ? to N?velDrama.Org.


    "It must be ric Falconer ratting us out to Lysander!" Hertha''s thoughts quickly turned dark, and her


    anger red up.


    "Who knows," Thssa admitted, having harbored the same suspicion.


    "It''s definitely that jerk. I''m gonna give him a piece of my mind!" Hertha fumed, gritting her teeth, then


    abruptly ended the call, all fired up and ready for a showdown.


    Thssa, still holding her phone, wanted to urge Hertha to cool off. But it was already toote.


    Well, let Hertha and ric sort out their own mess.


    Thssa slung her backpack over her shoulder and stepped out of the Crawley Group building.


    Reaching the curb, she was about to head across the street to wait at the bus stop when a sleek ck


    BMW pulled up alongside her. She stepped aside, thinking she was in the way, but the car crept along


    with her instead.


    Stopping in her tracks, Thssa looked at the BMW with a mix of curiosity and caution.


    The back window rolled down to reveal a man''s face. He had a kind and approachable look, his genteel


    charm was both soothing and inviting.


    "Callum!" Thssa gasped in surprise. She had thought someone was deliberately blocking her path,


    but thest thing she expected was to see Callum, whom she hadn''t seen in ages.


    Thest encounter had been a brief one at the entrance of a golf club, right before he was swarmed by


    reporters asking about the Crest Summit Hotel scandal.


    And now, they crossed paths again half a monthter.


    Callum''s handsome face was adorned with a gentle smile as he warmly said to Thssa, "Long time


    no see. I''ve actually been looking for you."


    Thssa was taken aback. She pointed at herself in disbelief, "Looking for me? Why?"


    Since thest time Callum had helped her escape, only to be caught by Lysander, the two hadn''t


    discussed running away again.


    She figured they had both silently agreed to drop the matter.


    Beyond their shared goal of escape, it seemed there wasn''t much else for her and Callum to talk about


    or connect over.


    Unlike Lysander, who was always sparing with his words, his brevity forcing others to guess his


    intentions.


    After a moment''s hesitation, Thssa reasoned that if Callum had something to discuss, and the


    roadside was indeed no ce for it. So she climbed into the car. New ch§Ñpter av?ble on


    Dr§Ñman§àvels.c§à§Þ


    Settling into the back seat, she noticed a cane resting beside Callum''s leg and asked with concern,


    "How''s your leg? Is it any better?"


    "Much better, thanks. Just got the cast off today. I should be back to normal in a few weeks," Callum


    replied with a grin.


    Thssa''s gaze dropped. She apologized with regret, "I''m sorry. It''s my fault you got hurt."

 Chapter 1216

    Chapter 1216


    Callum chuckled, a warm and approachable aura around him as he casually lifted his hand and ruffled


    Thssa''s hair gently. His voice was soft and soothing, "Silly girl, no need to apologize. It''s not your


    fault, and I''ve never med you. I only me myself for not being sharp enough to evade Lysander''s


    quick pursuit."


    Thssa blinked in surprise. Callum had just tousled her hair!


    By the time she gathered her thoughts, his hand had already retreated, his face donning its usual smile


    as he continued to speak to her.


    There was no hint of awkwardness or tension from the gesture, and it felt so natural that Thssa


    questioned if she was reading too much into it.


    This was just Callum being Callum, showing the same gentle affection not only to her but to everyone


    by yfully ruffling their hair.


    Seeing his easygoing demeanor, Thssa blinked away the shock in her eyes, trying to regain her


    It was funny, he was the one who had touched her head, yet she was the one feeling embarrassed.


    "No, you''ve done more than enough, and I''m grateful for everything you''ve done for us. Lysander is just


    too powerful. Even if he hadn''t found us that day, he was bound to catch up to us eventually," Thssa


    reassured Callum, urging him not to be too hard on himself. It wasn''t his oversight. Lysander''s


    influence was just too vast for the average people to contend with.


    Thssa was focused on her conversation with Callum, unaware that Ethan, who had just stepped out


    of the Crawley Group''s office, had spotted her getting into the car. He whipped out his phone and


    snapped a quick photo of them.


    Callum caught a glimpse of the man standing at the Crawley Group''s entrance from the corner of his


    eye. A fleeting sparkle passed through his warm eyes, but it was gone in an instant.


    "Let''s not talk about this now. Let''s go grab some lunch," Callum shifted the topic, instructing the driver,


    "Head over to Fortune Restaurant, please."


    The car started and drove away.


    Back at the Crawley Group entrance, Ethan leanedzily against the door frame, too impatient to head


    to his own car and sent the photo to Lysander right there and then.


    Ethan loved a good piece of gossip, especially when it involved Lysander.


    Any chance to get the scoop on Lysander was too good for him to wait even a second.


    After sending the photo, Ethan messaged, [Lysander, you might want to dial up the charm, buddy. Ever


    heard of the ''hair ruffle'' move? Works like a charm ondies. Why not give it a try?]


    With a smirk, he stared at his phone, waiting for Lysander''s response.


    Minutes ticked by without a peep from the screen. As he watched, Ethan felt a chill seep through the


    disy, half-convinced his phone would crack from the cold if he kept up this mockery of Lysander.


    Shaking off the eerie sensation, Ethan chuckled to himself.


    He knew it wasn''t his phone icing over. It was the icy rage emanating from Lysander on the other end.


    Content bel0ngs to N?vel(D)r/a/ma.Org.


    Even without seeing Lysander in person, Ethan could picture his handsome face darkened, brooding


    like a stormy sky on the brink of unleashing its fury.


    He was ying with fire, tempting the tiger''s wrath.


    Meanwhile, in the Sinir Group''s presidential office.


    Lysander held his phone, staring at the photo on the screen.


    Callum faced the car window, his expression brimming with tenderness as he stroked Thssa''s hair.


    Re§Ñd at Dra§Þan§àvels


    And Thssa didn''t pull away!


    This image stung Lysander''s eyes, the air around him dropping in pressure, threatening to turn to ice.

 Chapter 1217

    Chapter 1217


    In the Fortune Restaurant.


    This time, Callum didn''t opt for a private booth. Instead, he took a seat at one of the diner''s tables in


    the main eating area, the hum of conversation and clinking of cutlery surrounding them. Once settled,


    he gged down a waitress and started to order their meal.


    Thssa eyed him curiously. "Mr. Gordon, is there something urgent you wanted to tell me?" she


    asked. Throughout their car ride earlier, he''d managed to sidestep any serious conversation.


    A gentle smile yed on Callum''s lips. "I''d much prefer if you called me Callum," he replied with an


    affable warmth.


    Thssa felt a tinge of embarrassment. She had called him Callum at their first encounter out of


    surprise, without thinking too much. Now that she was collected, she leaned towards using "Mr.


    Gordon" as it seemed more polite and more proper.


    In an attempt to mask her awkwardness, Thssa picked up her cup of coffee and took a sip, feeling


    the warmth of the diner''s signature blend.


    Noticing her difort, Callum didn''t press the issue. He cradled his own coffee cup, seemingly


    absorbed in the simple act of holding it. His casual and natural gesturesplemented the easy smile


    that made him so approachable.


    "Actually, the reason I asked to meet today is a personal matter," he confessed.


    Thssa looked up, her expression open and expectant. Callum had never before spoken to her about


    his personal life. Their interactions had always revolved around their mutual acquaintance, Leopold


    Sinir.


    "Debby was foolish for what she did, to say the least. I''d like to apologize on her behalf," Callum said,


    his kind eyes meeting hers earnestly.


    Taken aback by his words, Thssa stammered, "Mr.¡ªCallum, why would you apologize for Debby?


    What''s your role in this?"


    She''d started to default to "Mr. Gordon" out of habit, but remembering his earlier request, she quickly


    corrected herself.


    His sudden seriousness indeed caught her off guard. How could Callum be apologizing for Debby?


    Sensing her confusion, Callum exined, "Debby''s my cousin."


    It suddenly clicked for Thssa. She''d never known about the connection between Callum and Debby.


    "Debby''s been infatuated with Leopold for years. My own rtionship with him started partly because


    Content rights by N?velDr//ama.Org.


    of her," Callum continued, delving into the tale of how he and Leopold met, grew to know each other,


    and developed a deep friendship.


    "In the early days, Debby was so obsessed with Leopold that when she found out he was going


    overseas, and given I was abroad too, she asked me to help him out. Eventually, I met Leopold and


    was impressed by his determination. We were both in the throes of starting our own ventures, shared


    Thssa listened to Callum''s recollections, to the story of Leopold''s entrepreneurial journey.


    Thssa''s heart sank, her brows knitting together.


    Callum looked at her intently and continued, "He said he needed to be strong, to be outstanding.


    Only with sufficient wealth, powerful influence, and a status thatmanded respect, would he have a


    chance to be with her again." New ch?pter av?ble o? Dra§Þ§Ñn§àv§Öls.c§àm


    Though Callum didn''t specify, Thssa knew who he was talking about.


    Her heart felt as though it was being torn.

 Chapter 1218

    Chapter 1218


    At the outset, Callum had arranged to meet Thssa at the Fortune Restaurant, ostensibly to chat


    about Leopold.


    Now, sitting in the Fortune Restaurant for the second time, Leopold remained the unwee topic of


    their conversation.


    Every mention of Leopold sent a pulse of pain through Thssa''s heart.


    Why was Leopold so stubborn and so foolish? Did he really believe that she insisted on breaking up


    with him because he wasn''t influential enough?


    If she cared about family background or wealth, she wouldn''t have been with him when she thought he


    was just an average college guy, oblivious to the fact that he was from a top-tier family.


    For Thssa, it was never about lineage or power. If she chose someone, their pedigree meant


    nothing. And if she hadn''t made up her mind about someone, not even a king could keep her by his


    side.


    Her idea of happiness was simple: to love each other, be united, and strive for a shared humble life.


    She had decisively ended things with Leopold because she couldn''t bear the fact that he had been with


    another woman, and she herself had been deceived, robbed of her innocence.


    She couldn''t erase the image of Leopold in bed with Isabe Everhart from her mind, nor could she


    ignore the despair that came with her own vition.


    That night had ensured she and Leopold could never be together again.


    Later, she found out she was pregnant and gave birth to quadruplets.


    With every passing day, the gap between her and Leopold grew wider.


    The problems between them couldn''t be fixed with mere effort. Sadly, she hadn''t told him soon enough.


    Thssa clenched her hands in herp, her body taut with difort, biting her lip to hold back the


    Content bel0ngs to N?vel(D)r/a/ma.Org.


    tears threatening to spill from her eyes.


    The regret she owed Leopold would haunt her for a lifetime.


    Callum noticed her reddened eyes, the shimmer of unshed tears she fought to control.


    Seeing her struggle tugged at his heartstrings.


    Leopold''s passing was a wound that hadn''t healed for him either. Leopold was his good friend and his


    excellent business partner.


    He could still remember the thunderous shock, the grief that had enveloped him when he heard the


    news, as if the skies above had turned ck.


    Each mention of Leopold was like a thorn in his side, throbbing with pain.


    He believed Thssa felt the same.


    Thssa looked up, pushing back the tears, her eyes red as she tried to steady her voice, determined


    not to let it crack.


    "Do you want me to plead for Debby?" Thssa asked, voice quivering despite her best efforts.


    After speaking, she quickly grabbed a tissue to dab away the tears that escaped her control,


    apologizing hastily, "Sorry, I lost myposure." New chapter av§Ñble o? Dr§Ñm§Ñnovels


    If Thssa showed no emotion when speaking of Leopold, that would have worried Callum more.

 Chapter 1219

    Chapter 1219


    His expression was earnest, a look of concern etching his features. Beneath the warmth of his eyes, a


    pool of shared sorrow mirrored her own.


    Belongs ? to N?velDrama.Org.


    It dawned on her that Callum wasn''t the type of guy to mock others'' misery. The passing of Leopold


    had hit him hard, too.


    Thssa dabbed away the tears forming at the corners of her eyes, took a deep breath to calm her


    emotions. Once she felt a bit more collected, she met Callum''s gaze. "The situation with Debby isn''t


    something I can dictate," she said. "It''s not just about me. Lysander''s leg also got burned, and he''s out


    for justice."


    She steered the conversation back on track. Callum had recounted Debby''s love for Leopold and


    Leopold''s struggles abroad, trying to persuade her to empathize with Debby, to let her off the hook.


    Unfortunately, the decision wasn''t hers to make.


    Callum''s grip on his mug tightened, his brows knitting together as he wrestled with his thoughts


    internally. Finally, he spoke up, "Could you talk to Lysander? You''re the only one who can get through


    to him."


    Just as he finished his plea, the waitress arrived with their order.


    The dish was too hot to handle, and when the waitress set it down, she lost her grip. The broth


    sshed out, quickly soaking Thssa''sp.


    "Ah!" Thssa jumped up reflexively, frantically brushing the scalding liquid from her thighs.


    "Oh no! I''m so sorry, miss, it was an ident, I truly apologize..." The waitress was on the verge of


    tears, apologizing profusely.


    "Thssa!" Callum was also seized with concern. Instinctively, he stood up, forgetting his injured leg


    until a sharp pain reminded him, and he copsed back into his chair.


    But without missing a beat, he grabbed his cane and hobbled over to Thssa as quickly as he could,


    bending down to inspect her thigh.


    She was wearing a knee-length pencil skirt, and the dark fabric was visibly soaked in arge patch,


    standing out against the rest.


    The broth from the freshly served dish was scalding.


    Worried about Thssa''s injury and caught up in the moment, Callum didn''t think twice about propriety


    and reached to lift her skirt to check for burns.


    As he flipped the hem of her ck skirt, Thssa''s fair and delicate thigh was exposed, the tender skin


    slightly reddened like a blooming rose.


    At the sight, Callum''s heart skipped a beat, sending ripples through his chest.


    Thssa had been preupied with concern for Callum''s leg, fearing his injury might worsen, and


    hadn''t noticed his movements.


    By the time she realized what was happening, Callum had already lifted her skirt, his gaze intense and


    focused on her leg.


    "What the hell is going on here?"


    With the voice approaching, the air in the room grew tense, the atmosphere turning turbulent.


    The voice was too familiar, causing Thssa''s heart to flutter in panic as she turned towards its source.


    A tall, dark figure approached. It radiated an icy, foreboding presence. It was Lysander, his handsome


    face thunderous like a stormy night sky, terrifying in its intensity. Updated at Dr§Ñmanovels


    "If your hand can''t behave, perhaps it''s time to render it useless!"

 Chapter 1220

    Chapter 1220


    With a thud, Callum''s cane hit the ground, and without its support, his body pitched forward, bringing


    him to his knees.


    His wrist was gripped in Lysander''s vice-like hand, the pain of his bones threatening to snap slithering


    into his heart like a venomous snake.


    Grimacing through the pain, the muscles in his cheeks taut with the effort to endure, Callum''s usually


    gentle eyes now sparkled with defiance and a hint of mirth as he looked up at Lysander and said, "That


    insecure, huh? Even if you snuff me out, you think you''ll find peace of mind?"


    Lysander saw the mockery on Callum''s face, and something within him stirred. His voice was cold and


    ominous, cutting through the air, "And what if I do?"


    He tightened his grasp.


    A sickening "crack" echoed as Callum''s wrist bone fractured.


    "Ugh!" Callum stifled a groan, managing not to scream out loud.


    "Callum!" Thssa cried out in rm, rushing over. She saw the agony etched on his face, sweat


    beading on his forehead as he knelt by the table, his injured leg trembling slightly, his hand shaking as


    if it were a leaf in the wind.


    Lysander stood like a statue of icy intent, his aura oppressive, making everyone else hard to breathe.


    Even after breaking Callum''s wrist, his grip did not relent.


    Thssa¡¯s heart was pounding with urgent concern. She reached for Lysander''s hand in an attempt to


    pry it loose, but despite her efforts, his hand remained immovable.


    His gaze was as dark and piercing as the edge of a de.


    In this tense standoff, Thssa''s anxiety for Callum''s safety skyrocketed. She pleaded, "Lysander, let


    Belongs ? to N?velDrama.Org.


    him go. If you keep this up, his hand will be ruined."


    Lysander''s chilling gaze turned towards her, its icy edge momentarily startling her into silence.


    "Thssa, think carefully about how you should be talking now!" Lysander''s cold voice was a stark


    reminder, his chilling presence sending shivers down her spine.


    Thssa blinked rapidly, desperate to change the situation.


    Callum had done nothing to deserve this. He shouldn''t be caught up in her problems.


    He was once fine, until Lysander''s bodyguard broke his leg, and now Lysander himself was snapping


    his wrist.


    If she didn''t do something, she would only cause Callum more harm.


    Thssa moved her hands towards Lysander''s face, cupping his cheeks, and pressed her lips to his.


    In the second their lips met, Thssa''s eyshes quivered.


    Lysander''s eyes flickered with surprise, but his body remained unyielding and cold.


    Her soft, trembling tongue caused havoc between Lysander''s lips.


    A surge went through Lysander''s heart, his eyes shook, and he released Callum''s wrist. One arm


    wrapped around Thssa''s waist, the other cupped the back of her head, turning a passive kiss into an


    aggressive one. New chapter av§Ñble o? Dr§Ñm§Ñnovels


    Callum''s released hand caused his body to slump to the floor.

 Chapter 1221

    Chapter 1221


    Callum''s breath hitched, paincing through his body with eachbored inhale. Tremors ran down his


    spine as he caught sight of Lysander and Thssa lost in each other''s embrace.


    Lysander held Thssa tightly, his kisses fierce and passionate, while Thssa gently cradled his


    face, eagerly responding to his fervor.


    The two were in their own world, their kisses deep and full of desire. The heavy, ragged breaths that


    they shared were audible in the quiet of the room, telling tales of longing and possession.


    Callum felt a tremor go through his body, which suddenly seized up at the sight. A dark shadow


    flickered across his usually warm eyes.


    He clenched his teeth, his body rigid with the effort of holding himself together.


    "Mr. Gordon, your hand looks really bad. Let me call 911 for you," a concerned waiter said, noticing


    Content bel0ngs to N?vel(D)r/a/ma.Org.


    Callum''s limp hand.


    The waiter kept his eyes downcast, not daring to look at Lysander and Thssa, who were still


    entwined. Lysander''s earlier aura of menace had the waiter on edge, afraid that even a nce might be


    seen as an insult ¡ª that it could result in a broken wrist like Mr. Gordon.


    Callum was pale and cold. He stared at Lysander and Thssa, who were still locked in a fiery kiss.


    His eyes betrayed a restrained torment, and he did not respond to the waiter.


    Worried by Callum''s pallor and thinking he was in too much pain to speak, the waiter took the initiative


    and dialed for emergency services.


    Thssa had kissed Lysander impulsively to quell the storm of anger around him, but she hadn''t


    expected his dominating response.


    Only when Thssa felt weak in the knees, breathless from his intense affection, did Lysander finally


    release her.


    She leaned against his sturdy frame, spent, while Lysander''srge hand stayed pressed against her


    back, keeping her close.


    Despite the heat of the moment, Lysander''s gaze turned icy as he looked back at Callum, as if none of


    the passion from his kisses had touched his eyes.


    "Watch yourself!" Lysander tossed the words over his shoulder, scooped Thssa into his arms and


    strode out of the restaurant with determined steps.


    Left behind, Callum slumped against a chair, his good hand clenched into a fist.


    His gaze was fixed ahead, teeth gritted, as he silently bore the inner turmoil and fury.


    The corner of his eye caught a sharp glint. The injuries he''d sustained wouldn¡¯t be in vain.


    If it meant that Thssa would see Lysander''s true colors ¡ª how brutal, cold, and ruthless he could be


    ¡ª then all the pain was worth it.


    Back in Weston Country, Callum had deliberately provoked Lysander, leading to an assault by his


    bodyguards. Though skilled in self-defense, Callum had neither fought back nor resisted.


    He had wanted Thssa to see firsthand Lysander''s extreme and cold personalities.


    Callum sought precisely this oue.


    Yet, the sight of Lysander''s fervent kiss had struck a nerve in Callum, igniting a fierce anger and


    tightness in his chest. Co?tent of Dr?§Þ??ov§Öls.c§àm


    He began to understand the agony Leopold must have felt in life. It was indeed unbearable!


    ...

 Chapter 1222

    Chapter 1222


    Thssa could feel Lysander''s anger seeping into her skin like a frigid breeze, tensing every muscle in


    Content rights by N?velDr//ama.Org.


    her body. She dared not take his mood lightly.


    Her longshes flickered as she looked up at him. "Callum came to see me today. It was about Debby.


    I didn''t have any ulterior motives, and I definitely don''t n on running away again..."


    She was cut off abruptly as Lysander''s hand mped around her chin, his deep-set eyes shing a


    warning chill. "If you even think of running away again, it won''t be just his legs I''ll break!"


    A twinge of pain shot through Thssa''s jaw where he held her, causing her to furrow her brow. "You''re


    hurting me."


    There was a fleeting softness in Lysander''s gaze as he slightly eased his grip.


    Feeling a bit of relief, Thssa continued, "He''s Debby''s cousin, and he was hoping you''d show her


    some mercy, maybe lessen her sentence."


    She didn''t hide anything from Lysander, telling him everything about her conversation with Callum that


    was centered around Debby''s situation.


    Lysander tilted her face up to his with his index finger, his stern visage confronting her. "So, are you


    pleading for her?" His voice was low and frosty.


    Locking eyes with him, Thssa''s heart tightened. She had always been wary and frightened of


    Lysander, especially now, with him in such a furious state.


    Her fear deepened.


    But the more she shrank back, the angrier Lysander might be. Only by facing him head-on could


    she clear away his doubts.


    "Maybe reducing it by half, to say, ten years, wouldn''t be so bad," Thssa ventured.


    Lysander''s gaze turned piercing, the chill in the car so palpable that the air felt thin.


    Fearing his reaction, Thssa hurriedly added, "I''m not looking to forgive Debby. I just don''t want to


    owe Callum anything."


    His eyes bore into her, waiting for her to continue.


    Taking a deep breath, Thssa went on, "Callum risked his own safety to help me and the kids get


    away, which cost him a broken leg. I owe him for that. If settling Debby''s matter can repay that debt,


    then Callum and I are square."


    As she spoke, Thssa kept an eye on Lysander''s expression, avoiding to provoke him further.


    She had chosen her words carefully, trying to be as clear and straightforward as possible.


    Lysander''s icy demeanor thawed slightly. In the dim light of the car, his face was an unreadable mask,


    shifting between shadow and light.


    "You want to be even with him?" he asked, his voice a deep rumble.


    Nodding eagerly, Thssa confirmed, "Yes, owing someone just doesn''t sit right with me. It feels like I


    have to be more lenient with them. If I don''t owe anything, I can follow my own heart without any guilt."


    Her earnest gaze met Lysander''s, her clear eyes reflecting sincerity.


    Lysander watched her quietly, his expression unreadable and his eyes growing deeper still.


    With him staring her down, Thssa''s initial confidence ebbed away, reced by a creeping panic.


    "You..."


    "Okay," Lysander said abruptly.


    Thssa blinked in confusion, not immediately grasping what his agreement meant.


    When it dawned on her, her eyes widened in surprise. "You agree?" Re§Ñd at NovelDrama.Org


    She had expected pleading for Debby to be an uphill battle, and yet, Lysander had agreed so easily!

 Chapter 1223

    Chapter 1223


    "Seriously? He got down on one knee for you?" Lysander''s voice, deep and slightly out of tune, broke


    the silence as he quizzed Thssa.


    He was toying with her chin, forcing her to look up into his eyes, leaving no room for evasion.


    Content bel0ngs to N?vel(D)r/a/ma.Org.


    "What are you talking about?" Thssa struggled to keep pace with his thoughts.


    "He was on his knees, hiking up your dress!" Lysander''s words were tinged with barely contained rage.


    The moment he had stepped into the restaurant, his gaze hadnded on a scene that set his blood


    boiling. There was Callum, down on one knee in front of Thssa, a hand lifting the hem of her skirt,


    looking at her thighs.


    The mere image was enough to stoke the fires of fury within Lysander, his aura turning sharp and cold


    as ice.


    Realization dawned on Thssa, and she hurried to rify, "It''s not what you think. The waitress


    identally spilled soup on me and he was just checking to see if I had been scalded."


    At the time, Thssa herself had been taken aback by Callum''s sudden gesture.


    Lysander''s eyes narrowed, his brows knitting together in a frown as he released her chin and began to


    lift her skirt, revealing her fair leg beneath.


    The skin was a bit red from the burn, but thankfully, the damage was superficial.


    Lysander''s scowl eased as he sat up and reached for the wet wipes in the glovepartment, pulling


    one out and gently wiping the reddened spot on her leg.


    The wipe¡¯s cool touch brought relief to Thssa''s skin.


    As he sat back, the imposing presence of Lysander''s frame receded, easing the pressure on Thssa.


    Supporting herself on the car seat, she also sat up.


    She watched as Lysander discarded the used wipe and took out another, continuing to cool the burn on


    her leg.


    Thssa couldn''t help but think, she wasn''t really hurt, why was he so meticulously doing this?


    Was he being overly concerned?


    "It wasn¡¯t serious; it doesn''t hurt," she assured him, trying to convince him that another wipe wasn''t


    necessary.


    Lysander''s piercing gaze lifted to meet hers, his hands remaining busy, not only cleaning the spot that


    was reddened but also the rest of her leg.


    After a full wipe-down, he was still not satisfied. He pulled out another and handed it to her, "Clean off


    wherever he touched you!"


    Thssa was at a loss for words.


    She had thought wrong. She had assumed he was worried about the burn, but it turned out he was


    intent on erasing any trace of Callum''s touch.


    His possessiveness was pathological.


    Silently grumbling inside, she took the wipe and ran it over her entire leg.


    Regaining herposure, she addressed him, "Is that better now?"


    Lysander''s eyes swept over her once before he turned to the driver andmanded, "Drive!"


    They cruised along the smooth asphalt road.


    Thssa asionally stole nces at Lysander. His tall frame was rigid with formality, his presence


    Lysander was not the kind of man just anyone could aspire to.


    After a brief pause, Thssa ventured, "So, I''ve repaid Callum''s favor. Does that mean I owe you one


    now?"

 Chapter 1224

    Chapter 1224


    Lysander''s gaze was as chilling as a winter storm, sending an involuntary shiver down Thssa''s spine


    as she inched backward, her eyes wide with fear.


    She had merely spoken the truth, unable to fathom what had suddenly ignited Lysander''s wrath.


    His eyes were as dark and unfathomable as the ocean depths, sharp as a rapier''s edge, bore into her


    without a word, yet their piercing intensity spoke volumes more than any speech could.


    An oppressive aura enveloped Thssa, her heart pounding faster with each passing second.


    Cornered against the car door, she felt trapped with no more room to retreat.


    Lysander''s arm shot forward, and Thssa''s heart skipped a beat. Instinctively bracing to evade, she


    was caught off guard as hisrge hand sped her wrist, pulling her firmly back into her seat.


    "What''s there to fear?" His voice filled the confined space of the car.


    Thssa''s shoulders tensed, her eyes darting to his hand gripping her wrist. His fingers were long and


    well-defined, his skin pale and cool to the touch¡ªjust like him, aloof and silent.


    She had intended to wriggle free, but the memory of Lysander effortlessly snapping Callum''s wrist


    halted her movements. A chill crept up her spine, spreading a wave of dread throughout her body.


    Thssa, frightened and on edge, managed a timid, "Nothing... nothing at all."


    Did he not realize what she feared?


    With just one sentence from her, the atmosphere around him had turned icy, the kind of cold that could


    freeze a person solid.


    It was intimidating and bone-chilling.


    Lysander released her wrist and averted his gaze. He resumed his rigid posture, focusing on the road


    ahead as if nothing had transpired.


    Thssa cautiously shifted, settling into her seat, wary of making any sudden movements that might


    provoke him again.


    He was an enigma, unpredictable and inscrutable.


    The mood in the car, already heavy from Lysander''s sudden ire, grew even more oppressive.


    Though Lysander had returned to his original posture, the coldness emanating from him had not


    dissipated, making the already cramped space feel even more suffocating.


    Thssa remained silent, her heart still racing.


    The tensionsted until the car pulled up to the Royal Estates.


    The driver''s voice broke the silence, "Mr. Sinir, Ms. Everhart, we''ve arrived."


    Content rights by N?velDr//ama.Org.


    Thssa didn''t rush to open the door, fearful of upsetting Lysander again. She cautiously nced at


    him, waiting for him to exit first.


    Lysander''s piercing look sent a jolt of panic through her, just as it had before.


    He held back whatever storm brewed within, merely ncing at Thssa before stepping out of the


    car.


    She followed suit. Lysander was striding ahead with long, confident steps and Thssa scurried


    behind.


    "Daddy, Mommy, you''re back! Look what we built¡ªa house! Now the big bad wolf can''t get us," Elowen


    said, her round face beaming as she pointed at the block structure. Read at NovelDrama.Org


    "Yes, it''s very sturdy. Daddy, Mommy, me, and my brothers and sisters can all live in it," Elowen said


    with a nod, her voice sweet and mature.

 Chapter 1225

    Chapter 1225


    Today, Lysander only lingered on the edge of the y mat for a few seconds before striding away,


    marching upstairs with a visage that was stormy and dark as a winter''s night.


    Thssa watched Lysander''s retreating figure, exhaling a breath she didn''t realize she''d been holding.


    Her body rxed, but her heart remained taut with unease, wondering what had ruffled his feathers.


    She had alreadyid out the reasons for her meet-up with Callum today, and he had epted her


    exnation.


    Why was he suddenly in a huff again?


    Thssa had never been able to fully read Lysander.


    "Mama, does Daddy not like our new house?" Elowen''s little face turned towards Thssa, her


    expression one of tiny heartbreak as she asked in a timid voice.


    Thssa quickly soothed her, "No, sweetheart. Daddy''s just busy with work, and he¡¯s gone to take care


    of it."


    Material ? N?velDrama.Org.


    "Yeah, Daddy loves his work, so we should build him an office!" chimed in Dorian, his eyes lighting up


    with the idea.


    "And a desk!" added Atticus.


    "And bookshelves, and aputer!" Sophia chimed in, letting her imagination run wild.


    "Okay, let¡¯s build with the blocks together!" Elowen regained her cheer, grabbing hold of the colorful


    pieces and resuming her construction.


    The other three children were equally absorbed in their y, creating a cacophony of joyousughter.


    After putting the four children to bed that evening, Thssa headed to the master bedroom to shower


    since all her clothes were there. Not visiting the master bedroom would mean no clothes to change


    into, and taking clothes out to shower elsewhere would seem overly deliberate, possibly tipping


    Lysander off to her evasiveness.


    When Thssa entered the master bedroom, Lysander was nowhere to be seen. He must have been


    busy working in the study.


    With a sense of relief, she picked out her clothes and stepped into the bathroom for a shower.


    Meanwhile, Lysander was poring over a contract when his phone buzzed with a call from Ethan in the


    study.


    Sliding to answer, he opened the speaker and continued to scrutinize the document.


    Ethan''s teasing voice came through, "Lysander, you haven''t had a spat with Ms. Everhart, have you?


    I''d hate to be the cause of any discord between you two over a mere photo¡ªthat would weigh on my


    conscience."


    Ethan¡¯s words were probing, gauging Lysander''s mood. Anger would confirm a quarrel with Thssa,


    while a calm tone would suggest she had mollified him.


    Ethan never missed an opportunity to dig for Lysander''s gossip.


    "Really? You wouldn''t want us to fight?" Lysander inquired, his tone betraying nothing amiss.


    Denied any juicy details, Ethan felt a twinge of disappointment but still voiced his wish for harmony


    between Lysander and Thssa.


    "Mind your own business in the future when ites to my affairs!" Lysander''s voice was harsh, his


    mood clearly soured.  Dra§Þa?ov§Öls.c§à§Þ


    Now, he was irked about something else.


    Ethan paused, then chuckled, "Got it, I''ll steer clear of meddling from here on out. By the way, have you


    looked over that contract?"

 Chapter 1226

    Chapter 1226


    Lysander didn''t respond, his attention seemingly glued to the contract in his hands.


    Ethan didn''t get an immediate answer, but the rustle of papers through the receiver was a dead


    giveaway¡ªLysander was scrutinizing the document.


    Content bel0ngs to N?vel(D)r/a/ma.Org.


    Undeterred, Ethan continued, ¡°I took your advice and jacked up the prices on those old Crawley Group


    Group''s taken a hit of several million¡ªjust like that. Our stocks plummeted in a matter of days,


    investors bleeding cash left and right.¡±


    But of course, the real kicker was two hundred thousand Bruce¡¯s family had sunk in¡ªthey were seeing


    red, not a dime back in sight!


    Lysander was ying a dangerous game, a gambit that threatened to starve not just one fish but the


    entire pond.


    This was coteral damage at its most ssic.


    Ethan had truly gone the extra mile to put Bruce in a tight spot.


    And all of it orchestrated by Lysander''s guiding hand.


    ¡°ording to the contract, the Sinir Group is set to funnel half a billion into Crawley Electronics.


    Those overstockedputers you''ve been sitting on? Dump them back on the market at the original


    price or roll out a sale¡ªeither way, they''ll sell. Add the sales from your spanking new smartphone line,


    and in ten days, you''ll triple what you''ve lost this week. Stocks will bounce back. And that half a billion


    from Sinir? Icing on the cake. You''re about to pull a rabbit out of the hat with billions to spare. Why


    wouldn''t you jump at the chance?¡±


    Lysander''s cool and calcted voice filled the space.


    Hearing Lysander''s n, Ethan let out a heartyugh. ¡°Oh Lysander, no wonder they say you''re a titan


    of industry. Everything you touch turns to gold. You''ve even got the stock market eating out of your


    hand, ying it with such finesse. In less than a fortnight, you''ve lined my pockets with billions. If only I


    had a brain like yours.¡±


    Ethan''s jest carried a tone of genuine admiration for Lysander''s shrewd intellect.


    No wonder he sat atop the Starhaven business elite, a veritable king of clout.


    When Bruce approached Ethan about buying a stake in the Crawley Group, Ethan had thought of him


    as just another investor.


    That was until a chance encounter with Lysander on the golf course, following a round where Bruce


    had been discussing Crawley Group products.


    After Bruce''s family had departed, Lysander approached Ethan with a proposal for a partnership.


    Lysander reaching out to him for a partnership? Ethan was over the moon about it. Lysander hadn''t


    even disclosed the details before Ethan eagerly agreed.


    When Lysander suggested he suppress sales of the oldputers to cause a dip in Crawley Group''s


    stock, Ethan was taken aback. Wouldn''t that be a financial hit?


    But Lysander had a n. He instructed Ethan to draft a contract for the Sinir Group''s massive


    investment in Crawley Group.


    Without dy, Ethan set to work on the contract, following Lysander''smand to the letter¡ª


    overstockingputers and watching as billions seemingly evaporated.


    Under normal circumstances, Ethan would never have agreed to such a risky move. A wrong turn and


    hispany could face ruin.


    But this was Lysander''s idea¡ªa man who never went wrong in the world of business.


    Even with bankruptcy breathing down his neck, Ethan followed through.


    Now, he was on track to make more than he''d earned in an entire year in less than half a month.


    Lysander had no time for idle chatter. He hung up and closed the contract. Then he stood up, leaving


    his study behind.


    The soft material clung to her, wet spots blooming into a flesh-toned hue that matched her skin¡ªpale


    with a blush of warmth, utterly enticing.  NovelDrama.Org


    His eyes traced the outline of her waist beneath the nightgown, slender and seductive.


    Lysander''s eyes deepened as he stepped forward.


    Catching sight of him, Thssa paused, her ease reced by a sudden tension.

 Chapter 1227

    Chapter 1227


    Thssa made her way to the edge of the bed, poised to sit down, when suddenly she felt a firm grip


    around her waist and her body lifted into the air.


    Lysander''s muscr chest pressed against her as he spun her around and pinned her down onto the


    soft bedding beneath them.


    Panic fluttered in Thssa''s chest, her eyes wildly searching until they locked with Lysander''s piercing


    gaze. It was as if his sharp eyes had captured the flickering light within her own.


    Her heart was ensnared just as firmly.


    Lysander''srge hand cradled her face, his deep-set eyes shadowed and voice husky, "How do you


    n on repaying what you owe me?"


    Thssa''s breath hitched at his low, gravelly question, "What?"


    "Your debt of gratitude," he murmured, his rough voice like the pouring rain.


    Her heart raced at his implication. Was he referring to the favor she now owed him because of that


    passingment she made earlier? That she had repaid Callum and in turn, indebted herself to


    Lysander? Was he still holding onto that grudge?


    "I... I mean..." Thssa stammered.


    Before she could utter another word, Lysander had leaned in close, kissing her lips with a punishing


    intensity.


    His kiss was overpowering, punishing, and yet, oddly tender. A tingling sensation began at the meeting


    of their lips, zipping straight to her heart, then rippled out to every inch of her being.


    Thssa felt her entire body melt into cotton, her limbs going limp as if she were nothing more than a


    puddle of water.


    She gasped for air, nearly suffocating, until Lysander finally released her, leaving her breathless. His


    damp kisses trailed down to the sensitive skin beneath her ear, his warm breath sending shivers down


    her spine.


    "Now we''re even," he said, his voice a deep rumble.


    Thssa''s dazed mind snapped into rity, her eyes widening slightly.


    One kiss was all it took to settle her debt?


    What had he been so upset about before?


    Lysander lifted his head, his gaze still smoldering, "What''s wrong? Not satisfied?"


    Thssa blinked herself back to reality, "No, it''s not that. I just didn''t expect..."


    "Didn''t expect what?" Lysander probed.


    "That your favors could be repaid so... easily," Thssa replied.


    Lysander stayed silent, his intense stare unwavering. After a half-second pause, he stood up and


    walked towards the bathroom.


    Turning her head towards the bathroom, she watched as Lysander''s tall, lean silhouette disappeared


    behind the door.


    During their kiss, she had felt the changes in his body. She had warned him before¡ªif he couldn''t


    restrain himself, if he continued to kiss her with such fervor, he would be the one to suffer. New ch§Ñpter


    av?ble on Dr§Ñman§àvels.c§à§Þ


    After all, it was usually the man who found it unbearable, who couldn''t hold back the desire.


    For a straight woman like herself, it was far less impactful.


    Yet, he simply wouldn''t listen.Content bel0ngs to N?vel(D)r/a/ma.Org.

 Chapter 1228

    Chapter 1228


    At night, the bar was alive with the pulse of music and the thrum of the young seeking sce from the


    grind of life.


    Hertha sat alone nursing a drink, observing the crowd as they gyrated with wild abandon on the dance


    floor, their bodies contorting to beats that spoke a universalnguage of release.


    The kaleidoscope of lights danced across her face, casting her in a transient glow as she watched the


    revelers lose themselves to the rhythm.


    She wasn¡¯t there to escape, but to confront a turmoil that gnawed at her soul, an unsettling that refused


    to be quelled.


    Her contemtive sipping was interrupted by the sudden eclipse of the dance floor spectacle. A figure


    loomed, d in a beige button-down that spoke of casual elegance, obscuring her view and disrupting


    her reverie.


    Hertha''s ss paused mid-way to her lips, her eyes, misty with confusion, met the striking visage that


    now scrutinized her. They were sharp, almost fox-like eyes, framed by a face that could turn heads and


    break hearts. His gaze caught the neon glimmers, mesmerizing her for a heartbeat too long.


    With just one nce, her calm pulse quickened as though infused with a fresh vigor.


    "You call me here and start drinking without me?" ric''s voice cut through the thumping bass, his tone


    Wasn''t it she who had summoned him?


    Despite the cacophony, Hertha realized she''d been caught staring and quickly averted her gaze. To


    ease the awkwardness, she took a long sip from her ss, hershes casting shadows to hide her


    emotions. "Take a seat, I''ve got something to tell you."


    ric settled down with a nonchnt sprawl, his legs stretched out and hands resting on his knees.


    "I was talking to you just now. Didn''t you hear me?" ric said, his irritation about Hertha''s recent date


    lingering as he deliberately prodded for a reaction.


    Hertha''s suppressed difort erupted, mming her ss down on the table and ring at ric.


    "You''re right. I''m just an ordinary person raised from the roots, unaware of your high society''s unwritten


    rules!"


    ric frowned, his expression darkening. "What are you even talking about? Is that what I meant?"


    Material ? N?velDrama.Org.


    He''d merely wanted her to feel his presence, to emphasize that he''de to join her for a drink. How


    had she missed the point and escted it to a matter of their social standing?


    ric''s brows furrowed deeper, his stern visage turning frosty. "Hertha, don''t push it. Don''t think I won''t


    get real with you."


    Her words were cutting and loaded with innuendo.  NovelDrama.Org


    ric was truly angered now, and felt an ufortable blockage within.

 Chapter 1229

    Chapter 1229


    After that night, Hertha began to distance herself from him, even taking his mother''s money before


    leaving! Could it really be because she found himcking?


    Wasn''t she satisfied that night?


    No, she''s a woman who''s just tasted the forbidden fruit. How could she know enough to be dissatisfied


    with him?


    After her deration, Hertha prepared to continue her drinking spree by picking up her ss.


    ric watched her with blurry, drunken eyes. He reached out, snatched the ss from her hand and


    mmed it down onto the table with a thud.


    Hertha was like a cat with its tail stepped on. She instantly bristled, ring at ric. "What the hell are


    you doing? You think you''re too good for us, don''t you?" she snapped.


    Her emphasis on "us" was heavy, her eyes burning with anger and mockery to cover the sadness in


    them.


    Considering her intoxicated state, ric tried not to take her harsh words to heart.


    He took a deep breath, trying to keep his emotions in check, and asked, "You keep using me of


    tattling¡ªwhat''s that about? And who exactly are ''us''?"


    He had this nagging feeling that Hertha was being particrly prickly towards him tonight, as if she had


    an axe to grind.


    But there had to be a reason for her sharp change, didn''t there?


    Hertha let out a sarcasticugh. "Have the guts to ask, do you? I simply wanted Thssa to meet


    someone, and you go calling Lysander, telling him she''s seeing another guy! Causing trouble between


    Thssa and Lysander, just to make me miserable, to give me heartache? What, it''s fine for you to


    court Georgia Reed, but heaven forbid I look for my own love?" Hertha used.


    Yes, it was she who had called ric here. She''d summoned him to settle the score!


    She really hadn''t expected him to be such a snitch!


    Hearing Hertha''s words, the anger ric had been suppressing was on the verge of breaking free.


    He gritted his teeth, exhaled deeply and tried desperately to keep his cool. "Yes, your quest for love is


    so noble, beyond reproach!" he said, his words dripping with sarcasm.


    "So you''re admitting you tattled?" Hertha''s tipsy gaze fixed on him, searching for a definitive answer.


    ric nced at her. "Even if I had a problem with you, I wouldn''t stoop to upsetting Lysander and


    Thssa''s rtionship."


    But he hadn''t expected to be thought of like this!


    In her eyes, he was the sort of man who would sabotage Lysander and Thssa''s rtionship just to


    Material ? N?velDrama.Org.


    make Hertha feel guilty!


    Even to be seen as a backstabber, a snitch, someone who enjoyed making others look bad!


    Being misunderstood like this, ric felt deeply hurt.


    "Really not you?" Hertha questioned, puzzled.


    "Hertha! Don''t push me to my limit," ric finally lost his grip on his temper and said angrily. Updated at


    Dr§Ñmanovels


    He did not like being misjudged.


    "I''m just double-checking." Hertha rolled her eyes at him.

 Chapter 1230

    Chapter 1230


    "Seriously, Hertha? This is what you dragged me out for?" ric asked with a raised brow, his casual


    attire contrasting sharply with the urgency in his voice.


    "What else? My bestie gets bulldozed by that jerk Lysander, and you think I''m just gonna let it slide?"


    Hertha retorted, her fiery spirit matching her fiery hair.


    "If you hadn''t dragged her to that blind date, she wouldn''t be in this mess," ric pointed out.


    He knew Hertha was kicking herself over the whole situation, yet he couldn''t resist poking at her sore


    spot.


    Hertha''s breathing deepened, and with a flicker of her eyelids, she shot him a re that could freeze


    hell over. "I get jittery on dates, okay? She''s my one and only best friend. Who else was I supposed to


    bring along, you?"


    Content rights by N?velDr//ama.Org.


    "Why would you get jittery?" ric pressed, his tone turning serious.


    "Isn''t it obvious? Because it''s terrifying! I''m not some heartless yboy like you!" Hertha snapped back.


    ric had a reputation for being a heartbreaker, a smooth operator who''d charmed his way through a


    string of romances. His sweet nothings were legendary, at least until he got what he wanted. Then,


    poof! Like a magician''s act, the sweet talk vanished.


    Hertha had witnessed first-hand his prowess in wooing women as well as his ruthless side.


    Just like Lysander with Thssa, all take and no give.


    Hearing her blunt words, ric felt a twinge in his chest, as if shards of ss were lodged in his heart,


    causing a mix of pain and frustration.


    Hertha''s nerves over the blind date were because she cared too much, worried about being rejected or


    ending up alone.


    Why get worked up over something bound to fail?


    In her eyes, her true love was Spencer. For him, she''d pinch pennies and skip meals.


    For ric? She saw him as a fool. Once she had her cash, she''d spend without a second thought.


    ric''s hands clenched on his knees, his usual sultry, nted eyes now stripped of their charm,


    reced with a simmering anger as he stared at Hertha.


    No woman had ever infuriated him like this.


    Hertha felt the shift in the air, and it scared her. The powerful stance she was known for softened, and


    with a blink, she stammered, "What... what are you going to do?"


    He wouldn''t really hit her, would he?


    The usually fearless Boss Lady Hertha was now intimidated by ric''s wrathful gaze.


    Just as she was about to make a run for it, ric spoke up, "Well, I wish you luck on your blind date,


    hope you find true love! Bartender, bring us ten bottles of whiskey!"


    His voice was stern as he ordered, his face a mask of severity.


    Whiskey ¨C that was no light drink from the bar.


    His words congratted Hertha on finding love, but his eyes were full of anything but joy.


    Hertha, who had been about to stand, sat back down, frowning at him. "What do you need the liquor


    for?"


    She had once doggedly imed to adore him ¨C was it all for the two million bucks?


    Was it his family''s wealth she was after, not him as a person? Was their supposed love at first sight just


    an act? Re§Ñd at Dra§Þan§àvels


    Deep down, ric held out hope, hoping it wasn''t all about the money.


    ric''s eyes, once filled with a glimmer of hope, dimmed with pain as he looked away. The bartender


    set down ten opened bottles of whiskey on their table.

 Chapter 1231

    Chapter 1231


    Raising his ss, he beckoned to her, "Drink up."


    Hertha red at him furiously, snatched the ss from his hand and said with a huff, "Fine, I''ll drink!


    Here''s to you and Georgia tying the knot and popping out a bunch of kids soon!"


    With that, she downed the whiskey in one gulp.


    "Hey..." Seeing her knock it back, ric wanted to stop her, but it was already toote.


    Whiskey is strong stuff, and she was going to get drunk fast.


    The fiery liquor scorched Hertha, making her grimace in difort.


    ric couldn''t help but chuckle at the array of expressions crossing Hertha''s face, "You know, anyone


    would think you''re drowning your sorrows over my engagement to Georgia rather than offering


    congrattions."


    His teasing words were taken to heart by Hertha.


    Inside, Hertha felt as if she had been doused with spirits, a burning bitterness spreading rapidly through


    her chest, far more intense than the spiciness on her tongue.


    Compared to the intoxication in her heart, the taste in her mouth seemed quite mild.


    Hertha fought through the difort and lifted her eyes. A mist began to form in her eyes as she


    looked across at ric.


    It was hard to tell if the tears were from the alcohol or a broken heart.


    Seeing her like this, ric''s teasing manner faded, reced by seriousness as he looked at her


    intently.


    "Hertha, you..."


    "I''ve had my drink, why aren''t you drinking then?" Hertha''s grip tightened as she stared him down, "I


    sincerely wish you and Georgia all the best ¨C won''t you do the same for me and Spencer?"


    Her words were sharp, a facade masking her inner turmoil.


    ric''s eyes flickered, noticing the tears brimming in hers. He had been concerned about her, but her


    statement turned his worry into a lump in his throat.


    She truly wanted to be with Spencer. She didn''t want to take any chances with others'' blessings.


    Otherwise, it was as if they were cursing her love.


    ric swallowed hard, his grip on his ss tightening, "Of course, I wish you two all the best!"


    With that, he tipped his head back and finished his drink in one go.


    He had just beenughing at Hertha for drinking in a way that would get her drunk, and now he had


    made the same move, blissfully unaware.


    He poured another round for both Hertha and himself.


    Both were insistent on toasting each other, their pride at stake, drinking ss after ss.


    Soon, ten bottles of whiskey were emptied.


    Hertha copsed, passed out on the table.


    ric, slightly more lucid, tapped her cheek lightly, "Hey, Hertha, get up and go on drinking, or don''t


    you want to toast to my happiness?"Content bel0ngs to N?vel(D)r/a/ma.Org.


    There was no response from Hertha. She was deep in a drunken slumber.


    He stood up, staggered over to Hertha, lifted her from the table, and slung her arm over his shoulder,


    leading her out of the bar. New ch§Ñpter av?ble on NovelDrama.Org


    At that moment, Georgia and her friends walked into the bar, brushing past ric.


    Georgia''s expression darkened, the greeting stuck in her throat, unspoken.

 Chapter 1232

    Chapter 1232


    Georgia blinked, snapping back to reality. She turned to her friend with a half-smile and said, "Go


    ahead and have fun. Don''t wait up for me."


    With a serious look etched across her face, she trailed behind ric.


    Georgia''s friend knew better than to intrude. She understood Georgia''s need to handle her own affairs


    and thus stayed back, allowing her the space she desired.


    ric, steadying a limp Hertha, stumbled out of the buzzing bar. He nced around at the city''s


    nightlife that was alight with the neon glow of signs and the dizzying shes of lights. His vision blurred,


    casting double images, and his head swam with dizziness.


    He shook his head, trying to sober up, but the world only spun faster. He swayed, nearly copsing and


    taking Hertha down with him. Thankfully, he staggered, crossing his legs awkwardly to regain his


    bnce while clutching Hertha, who was out cold, heavy as a sack of potatoes in his arms.


    As ric faltered, Hertha nearly slipped straight from his embrace, but with ast-ditch effort, he


    tightened his hold and pulled her back against him. She slumped against him, as limp as overcooked


    spaghetti.


    Material ? N?velDrama.Org.


    ric teased, "Hertha, you haven''t been skipping meals, have you? You''re as heavy as a Thanksgiving


    turkey!"


    He remembered Hertha''s recent weight loss sess. She had slimmed down, so much so that he had


    blurted out she looked like a "skinny monkey" and not in a ttering way. Perhaps spurred by his


    insensitivement, she had bounced back to her former self in just a couple of months.


    A little plush, with a slender face and curves in all the right ces.


    Now as ric enclosed her waist, his hands sank into the soft, cushiony feel of her, not bad at all.


    Unconscious, Hertha leaned on ric''s shoulder, unresponsive to his banter.


    ric yfully prodded her chin, his eyes squinted teasingly at her. "Like a pig. Drinking with a man out


    in the open and getting so stered. Aren''t you worried about what I might do?"


    But Hertha was out for the count, hearing none of his words.


    Georgia watched as ric, swaying in the middle of the street with Hertha in his arms, made his way to


    a nearby hotel. She was about to approach and offer help when ric looked up, set his sights on the


    hotel beside the bar, and decisively walked Hertha towards it.


    ric had intended to drive Hertha home, but upon leaving the bar, he realized he was too intoxicated


    too to get behind the wheel. He considered calling a cab, but then he didn''t know where Hertha lived,


    and his head was spinning so badly that he feared he might pass out in the cab and leave Hertha


    unprotected.


    So, ric decided to check into a nearby hotel, get a room for Hertha to sleep off the alcohol, and wait


    until morning to ensure she got home safely.


    He entered the hotel lobby.


    Seething, Georgia quickened her pace, getting ahead of ric and purposely waiting in the elevator for


    him toe.


    ric''s head was lolling, his consciousness waning, yet his arms were locked firmly around Hertha.


    Even as his body swayed, he never once thought of letting her go. Read at NovelDrama.Org


    All that existed for him was the path to the room where he could put Hertha to rest. He was oblivious to


    anything else around him.

 Chapter 1233

    Chapter 1233


    Even as he stumbled into the elevator, he didn''t recognize that the person inside was Georgia. His


    vision blurred, he merely registered the presence of someone, assuming it was just a random stranger.


    With Hertha in tow, he entered the elevator and pressed the button for the floor indicated on his


    keycard.


    Once they reached their floor, he led Hertha out of the elevator, his steps unsteady as he searched for


    their room number.


    Georgia followed behind him, watching his struggle and how he clung to Hertha. It twisted her heart like


    a string being pulled taut, the pain leaving her breathless.


    Jealousy turned her eyes a fiery red.


    She had never seen ric so concerned for a woman, treating her with such precious care.


    Even though he was so drunk he seemed seconds from copsing, he was forcing himself to stay


    upright, concentrating hard to maintain consciousness, holding Hertha close as he staggered with her


    towards the room.


    ric must be worried that if he passed out, some viin might take advantage of Hertha!


    Content rights by N?velDr//ama.Org.


    When had he ever shown such concern for a woman?


    At least, he had never cared for Georgia that way. He had always been cool and distant with her.


    And it irked Georgia to no end. She was clearly more attractive than Hertha. She came from a more


    distinguished family, had a more refined air, and even a better figure.


    Why did ric never give her a second nce? Why was he always so attentive to Hertha, who


    seemed so inlypared with him?


    ric had agreed to discuss engagement ns with her just the day before, but that was because they


    ran into Hertha at the restaurant! ric became distant afterward, eventually leaving Georgia and the


    two elders behind.


    Georgia could tell that ric treated Hertha differently than he did to any other woman. With others, it


    was merely flirtation. But with Hertha, it seemed he was seriously invested.


    Georgia wasn¡¯t afraid of ric''s casual flings. She feared his earnestness.


    The more she thought about it, the more furious and pained she felt. Meanwhile, ric was still


    searching for the room. His vision was foggy, his consciousness fading.


    He was on the brink of copsing.


    Georgia quickly stepped forward, steadying ric with her grasp. Her face shifted from anger to a


    forced smile. "ric, is that really you?"


    He lifted his groggy eyes, barely making out the person before him. He squinted, trying to bring her into


    focus.


    Finally, the figure before him became slightly clearer, and he recognized her. "Oh, it''s you, Georgia..."


    "Yes, it''s me. How did you get like this?" Georgia asked with feigned concern, ncing briefly at


    Hertha. "Did Ms. Kensington join you for drinks?"


    "It''s this way. I''ll help," Georgia said, guiding ric along.


    When they arrived at the door, Georgia took the keycard from ric''s hand and opened the door,


    helping both him and Hertha into the room.

 Chapter 1234

    Chapter 1234


    ric was a dead weight, and Georgia, thin as a rail, could barely budge him.


    When she finally heaved him up, creating some space from Hertha, Georgia''s strength gave out. Her


    grip slipped, and ric crashed down on top of Hertha.


    Hertha groaned in pain, frowning in difort.


    ric stirred slightly, then rolled off and sprawled onto the bed, regaining a bit of consciousness.


    Georgia''s heart raced, her hand pped over her mouth, terrified that ric or Hertha would wake up.


    After a few tense seconds, Herthay still as a statue, showing no signs of waking.


    ric, on the other hand, took deep breaths with his eyes shut tight in difort, his brow furrowed.


    He pressed a hand to his forehead, seemingly shielding his eyes from the piercing light of the room.


    Seeing that both were still out cold, Georgia''s anxiety settled.


    She approached ric again. Summoning all her strength, she managed to maneuver him onto the


    other bed.


    Georgia had assumed ric wanted to bring Hertha here for a nightcap, but she didn''t expect him to


    be so stered that he''d booked a double room.


    Two beds in the room meant ric hadn''t had any untoward intentions toward Hertha.


    But this setup worked to Georgia''s advantage.


    After getting ric onto the other bed, she was panting from exertion, looking down at the unconscious


    man before her.


    Georgia''s expression tensed as she steeled her resolve. Tonight, she would have ric. It was the


    perfect opportunity.


    If she seeded, and considering the mutual interest in a union between their families, she could


    secure her marriage to him.


    That was why she had followed him here, why she had helped him into the room.


    Her mother was right. To capture ric, she couldn''t be the prim and properdy. She couldn''t be


    willful and petnt. Nobody here would tolerate or indulge her high-maintenance tempers. She had to


    be cunning to get what she wanted.


    And tonight, fate was on her side, presenting her with a drunken ric.


    Content bel0ngs to N?vel(D)r/a/ma.Org.


    Georgia looked at ric''s handsome face and thought of her n.


    With determination, she strode forward, closed the door, and ignored Hertha, who was out like a light


    on the other bed.


    Whatever Georgia was about to do with ric on the other bed wouldn''t be Hertha''s concern.


    Just as she reached thest button, ric suddenly lifted his hand and grasped Georgia''s wrist.


    His palm was feverish, the heat sending a shiver through Georgia''s heart, her pulse racing.


    Breathless, she nced at ric nervously. Co?tent of Dr?manov§Öls


    The room was dim, she couldn''t tell if he was truly awake.

 Chapter 1235

    Chapter 1235


    Hearing ric murmur Hertha''s name, Georgia felt as if her heart had been stabbed, a cocktail of pain,


    anger, resentment, and jealousy coursing through her.


    Her breathing was once tense with anticipation, but now heaved with indignant fury.


    The realization hit her like a ton of bricks¡ªif she didn''t seize tonight''s opportunity, she''d lose her


    chance to be his bride forever!


    ric''s heart had wandered towards Hertha. Georgia knew her path to his life would only get tougher if


    he had feelings for Hertha.


    She had been smitten with ric since childhood, and had finally managed to broker a potential union


    between the Reeds and the Falconers.


    But ric seemed indifferent to her, avoiding her at every turn.


    Her heart ached, but this only fueled her determination. She took a deep breath and continued to peel


    off his shirt, even as ric caught her hands, trying to stop her. She brushed his hands aside and


    persisted in undressing him.


    "Hertha, don''t y with fire..." ric''sst shred of reason resisted, but his body was already betraying


    him, his voice husky, his chest burning up.


    At the mention of Hertha''s name, Georgia''s heart twisted with pain, but she pressed on, slipping off his


    trousers.


    She whispered softly, "Pretend I''m Hertha. You brought me to your room, surely not just to sleep?


    Wouldn''t it be a disservice to your passion if we didn''t do anything?"


    ric''s head spun, his eyes hardly able to open, thinking he must be dreaming, his brow furrowed in


    confusion.


    Georgia leaned in, her lips inching towards ric''s. The closer she got, the more she felt his feverish


    breath.


    Just as their lips were about to meet, the bedside phone rang out abruptly. The shrill tone broke


    through the tension, halting Georgia''s advances.


    Annoyed, she nced at the phone, tempted to ignore it, but the insistent ringing continued.


    Roused by the noise, ric stirred. Georgia was startled, quickly straightened up and picked up the


    phone, her voice low and tense. "Hello, what is it?"


    She fought to contain her irritation.


    Of all the times for a call, it had to be now, interrupting her intimate moment.


    It was the hotel front desk. "Good evening, there seems to be a problem with the identification provided


    for your room. The passport is expired and can''t be epted. Could you pleasee down to rectify


    the situation?"


    "An expired passport was epted for registration, and now you say there''s a problem? What were


    you doing earlier?" Georgia retorted impatiently.


    The front desk apologized, "We''re very sorry, it was our new staff member who checked you in, and


    she wasn''t aware of the policy. However, we''re currently under strict scrutiny, and the police are here


    checking for guests with ID issues. If you can''te down, they''ll have toe up for an inspection."


    Belongs ? to N?velDrama.Org.


    The mention of policeing up for a check sent Georgia into a panic. Swallowing her anger, she


    replied, "I''ll be right down."


    If the police came up and saw the scene, all her efforts would be in vain.


    She''d go down, present her valid passport, and then return to continue where she and ric had left


    off.


    Shended solidly on ric. Updated at Dra§Þ??§àvels.c§àm


    "Ugh!" ric, deep in slumber, grunted as Hertha''s weight pressed down on him. With a swift roll, he


    reversed their positions, pinning Hertha beneath him.


    "Hertha, I gave you a chance to say no, and you didn''t take it," he growled. "Now, let''s see if I''m as


    rough or as gentle as you think!"


    With that, he bent down and fiercely captured Hertha''s lips with his own.

 Chapter 1236

    Chapter 1236


    Georgia approached the hotel front desk, her heart pounding in her chest as she spotted two police


    officers poring over guest registrations. It appeared to be a routine check to ensure all guest


    information was urate and up-to-date.


    "Hi there, I''m staying in room 2203," Georgia announced, stepping forward to make herself known to


    the authorities.


    One of the officers looked at her skeptically, "The room was registered under a gentleman''s name, with


    an expired passport."


    Georgia''s face flushed with anxiety as she quickly tried to exin the mix-up. "He''s my boyfriend. He


    Material ? N?velDrama.Org.


    didn''t realize his passport had expired, so he identally used it for the booking. If there''s a problem, I


    can give you my info instead." She held out her driver''s license as she spoke.


    The officer didn''t take the card from her, still uncertain. "You im to be this man''s girlfriend. Do you


    have any proof?"


    Georgia felt her temper rising at the question. She had a notorious bad temper, but the thought of ric


    and Hertha, still asleep and potentially waiting for her toe back and, well, ''seal the deal'' with ric,


    made her reconsider her immediate reaction.


    She took a deep breath, reining in her anger, and addressed the officer with as muchposure as


    she could muster. "The gentleman''s name is ric, he''s the second son of the Falconer Group. I''m


    Georgia, the Reed Group heiress. There''s been talk of our engagement all over the news. You can look


    it up if you don''t believe me."


    The officer nced at the name on the driver¡¯s license ¨C indeed it read ''Georgia'' ¨C and his partner


    quickly checked the news on his phone. There, prominently featured in recent headlines, was the news


    of a proposed union between the Reed and Falconer families.


    "Ah, my apologies, Mr. Falconer and Ms. Reed. Your rtionship is not in question," the officer said


    after confirming the news.


    "But why would Mr. Falconer use an expired passport knowingly?" the other officer asked, still cautious.


    Georgia fought off a wave of panic, "He was drunk, not really aware of what he was doing. I apologize


    on his behalf."


    Her politeness seemed to do the trick. "No harm done. Just make sure it doesn''t happen again, Ms.


    Reed. We''ll update the registration with your information, and then you can get some rest," the second


    officer said, handing Georgia''s license back to the hotel clerk for the records.


    Georgia nodded her thanks to the officers, turned, and headed back to her room. As soon as she was


    out of sight, her face twisted into a grimace. She was furious at the interruption and eager to get back


    to her schemes.


    Back in front of the room, she opened the door, her heart leaping with anticipation as she prepared to


    approach ric. But the sounds that greeted her stopped her. In the dim light, she could make out the


    silhouettes of two figures on the bed, moving together in a rhythm of passion, their breaths heavy and


    intertwined.


    The other bed was empty.


    Georgia wanted to scream, to rage, but she feared drawing the attention of the police. Tears streamed


    down her face, her sobs muffled by her own hand mped over her mouth. Updated at


    Dr?manov§Öls.c§àm

 Chapter 1237

    Chapter 1237


    She had only gone downstairs for a moment. And in that brief time, ric and Hertha had done


    something she had been eager for!


    It should have been her with him, not Hertha!


    Georgia seethed with jealousy and resentment, her breathing in heavy, ragged gasps as tears


    streamed down her cheeks unbidden.


    As the couple on the bed seemed to settle into an even rhythm of breath, yet showing no signs of


    waking, Georgia''s emotions exploded. She marched over, grabbed Hertha, and hauled her to the other


    bed in the room.


    The sight of clothes strewn across the floor made Georgia want to torch Hertha''s outfit right there and


    then!


    But she had to keep her cool. There was still a chance, and she couldn''t afford to slip up now.


    She picked up the discarded garments and dressed Hertha back. Then, she stripped off her own


    clothes and slid next to ric.


    Georgia tried to kiss ric, hoping to stir something within him. But he was as unresponsive as a log.


    The previous physical satisfaction and the numbing effects of alcohol had him sleeping like a baby.


    Nothing Georgia did could rouse him.


    Impatient yet helpless, Georgia was beside herself with rage, her breaths were sharp and her tears


    flowed freely.


    Her ns were in ruins, all for Hertha''s benefit!Belongs ? to N?velDrama.Org.


    A part of her wanted to strangle Hertha right there, but with the police still at the hotel, it would mean


    throwing her own life away.


    Defeated, Georgia had no choice but to pull the covers over herself and ric.


    As time passed and the stars gave way to the sun''s cycle, morning arrived.


    Sunbeams sneaked through the curtains and crept across Hertha''s face, the warmth waking her up.


    Shielding her eyes, Hertha frowned and slowly became aware of her surroundings. It took a moment


    for her to recognize where she was.


    Wait, a hotel?


    How did she end up in a hotel?


    Relief washed over her as she saw her clothes were intact.


    She stared, and then swiftly turned back for a better look. There were two people on another bed, a


    man and a woman, both partially covered. Content of Dr§Ñm??ovels.c§àm


    Recognizing the faces, Hertha gasped in shock, shrieking, "Oh!"


    Hertha''s eyes widened at the sight, her temples pounding with the rapid beat of her pulse.

 Chapter 1238

    Chapter 1238


    "What the hell have you two done right in front of me?" Hertha couldn''t take it anymore. She pointed an


    using finger at ric, her breath heavy with fury as she spoke, her face flushed with anger.


    ric, still in a daze, was jolted awake by Hertha''s voice. He blinked the sleep from his eyes and


    looked at Hertha, who sat across from him on the other bed, her face twisted in rage.


    Then his gaze fell on Georgia, whoy beside him. His eyes snapped open as he took in the situation,


    inspecting himself before looking back at Georgia.


    Realization dawned in his smoldering eyes as he saw the state he and Georgia were in, and they filled


    with disbelief.


    What had happened? Last night, he was sure he had been holding Hertha.


    Georgia woke up too, sitting up abruptly as the covers slid off her. She scrambled to pull them back,


    covering herself as she hurriedly tried to exin to ric, "ric, you were drunkst night. I don''t


    me you. We''re engaged, after all. We were bound to be husband and wife eventually."


    Her words confirmed what had happened between ric and her.


    ric''s expression darkened with incredulity and denial as he looked from Georgia to Hertha.


    He definitely had too much to drinkst night, but he remembered, albeit hazily, that it was Hertha he


    had been with.


    Could he have been mistaken?


    Hertha also caught the implication of Georgia''s words. They had slept together, and right beside her!


    Hertha had been ckout drunkst night, with no memory of what had transpired.


    All she knew was the scene that greeted her this morning.


    Her heart felt like it had been smashed with a hammer. Breathing heavily, she let out a bitterugh and


    said, "So you two lovebirds decide to get it on with me as a live audience? You high-society folks sure


    know how to party. It''s eye-opening. I''m out!"


    With that, she threw off the covers and marched towards the door, not even bothering to put on shoes,


    her bare feet pping against the floor as she fought back a surge of bitter emotion.


    "Hertha!" ric called out, trying to follow her, but then he realized his own embarrassing state. He


    Belongs ? to N?velDrama.Org.


    hastily wrapped himself in the covers and bent down to grab his clothes off the floor.


    As he dressed, he demanded, "You better exin what the hell happenedst night!"


    Georgia, intimidated by his stern tone, started to sob and said, "Last night I saw you staggering outside


    the hotel, holding onto Hertha,pletely stered. I was worried, so I followed and even got a room


    for you and Hertha. But then you suddenly grabbed hold of me and wouldn''t let me leave. I thought,


    we''re going to be married anyway, so I didn''t refuse."


    ric, though he had been drunk, had fragmented memories of the night. He did remember


    encountering Georgia.


    Once dressed, he stood with his back to the bed and said firmly, "Get dressed and talk to me upright."


    "I''m ready," Georgia said.


    ric nced at her and then at the bed, which was stark white. Co?tent belo?gs to Dra§Þ?n§àv§Öls.c§àm


    "You ever had a boyfriend?" ric asked sternly.

 Chapter 1239

    Chapter 1239


    Georgia was fuming, her heart seething with thoughts of revenge. Learning that ric frequented


    nightclubs and had a string of casual flings that often ended in one-night stands, she decided to get


    even, sleeping with her dates.


    ric''s face was taut with tension when he learned it. He had also been with Hertha and knew too well


    that there would be no signs of virginity to be discerned if it was Hertha with himst night. This left him


    unable to figure out who he had actually spent the previous night with.


    Hertha was totally drunk and clueless about what happened, while Georgia adamantly imed it was


    her who had been with him. Despite his fragmented memory and the hazy recollections from the


    alcohol, ric couldn''t be sure.


    Irritated, he sshed water on his face and said, ¡°Look, Georgia, you know I see a lot of women.


    Sleeping together doesn''t mean anything.¡±


    His words cut deep, and Georgia couldn''t hold back any longer. Sheshed out, her voice rising with


    Content bel0ngs to N?vel(D)r/a/ma.Org.


    indignation, ¡°ric, what the hell are you trying to say? That you can just hit it and quit it? We were


    practically engaged, remember?¡±


    ric''s pet peeve was Georgia''s high-maintenance attitude, her tendency to raise hell over anything.


    Her shrill voice was giving him a headache.


    Covering his ears with his hands, he waited for her tirade to subside before finally letting go. Standing


    up and turning his back to her, he said, ¡°It''s gettingte. We should both head home.¡±


    With that, he strode out of the room, leaving Georgia alone with her grievances.


    ¡°ric, why are you doing this to me? What did I ever do to you?¡± Georgia shouted after his retreating


    figure, tears streaming down her face. In response, she only heard the door m shut.


    ric was gone, without offering a single word offort to her.


    Devastated, Georgia copsed into sobs.


    Meanwhile, Hertha left the hotel, not bothering to hail a cab. She walked on so fast that she couldn''t


    feel the pebbles against her feet. Despite knowing that ric had been with other women, and even


    more intimately with Georgia, seeing them together was too much for her. Her heart was in agony, and


    she walked on aimlessly, not knowing where she was going or what she intended to do.


    Sitting on the steps, she stared at the blood oozing from the wound in her palm. The physical pain


    seeped into her heart, and she finally broke down in tears. Re§Ñd at Dramanov§Öls


    "Ow, ow, it hurts so much," Hertha cried out loud.

 Chapter 1240

    Chapter 1240


    "You''re so brave, honey. And thatdy over there is brave too. She must''ve had a rough patch. Don¡¯t


    tease her." The little boy''s mom replied and led him away.


    Kids often just scratch the surface, but adults see deeper. If it was just a simple tumble, she wouldn''t be


    crying her heart out like that.


    It''s clear she''s dealing with something more, using the fall as an excuse to have a good cry.


    Gasping for breath, Hertha¡¯s vision blurred by tears. She watched the mother and son walk away,


    blinking tears that fell from her eyes.


    Content rights by N?velDr//ama.Org.


    Looking at her palm, she could see the abrasions where the stone had cut her.


    Sure, it hurt, but not enough to cry over. Hertha wiped away her tears, flicked the pebbles from her


    hand and clenched her aching palm.


    She took a deep breath, trying to ease her pain.


    No matter how deeply she breathed, the heaviness in her chest and the suffocating ache persisted,


    making her eyes uncontrobly well up with tears.


    She had never imagined that ric sleeping with Georgia would hit her so hard, her heart felt as if it


    had been scooped out.


    Hertha was usuallyid-back and lively, rarely one to weep.


    But this time, tears flowed freely.


    From the distance, a tall figure approached. The figure bent down to look at Hertha, surprise in his


    voice, "Hertha, is that really you?"


    Hearing her name, Hertha looked up abruptly, her eyes meeting Spencer''s refined, handsome face,


    concern shining behind his sses.


    Seeing a familiar face only made her more flustered. She quickly wiped her tears and turned her face


    away.


    But her attempt to hide was too hasty, and Spencer still saw the tears on her face and the blood in her


    palm. His expression immediately filled with worry as he grasped her hand and asked, "What


    happened to your hand?"


    Hertha tried to pull away, but when she couldn''t free herself, she just slumped down and blinked back


    tears, "Nothing, just took a fall."


    Spencer examined her palm, noting the gravel-imprinted cut and nced at her knees, which were


    scraped too, blood mixing with dirt trickling down.


    He understood, "That must hurt. You need to clean up your wounds. There''s a pharmacy just ahead.


    Wait here, I''ll go get some iodine for you."


    His eyes conveyed urgency as he let go of Hertha''s hand and hurried to the pharmacy.


    When he returned with the iodine, he found Hertha still sitting on the same ce. Unconsciously, his


    tense heart rxed a bit.


    He was careful, but still worried about causing her pain, so he looked up gently asking, "Does it hurt?"


    Hertha shook her head and managed a smile, "Crying over a fall, I must look pretty pathetic, right?"


    She felt embarrassed to be seen crying by Spencer.


    If anyone found out the real reason for her tears, she''d probably beughed at even more. Co?tent §àf


    NovelDrama.Org


    Seeing her smile, Spencer''s expression also softened into a smile.

 Chapter 1241

    Chapter 1241


    Hertha cradled her palm upwards as Spencer gently swabbed it with a cotton swab soaked in iodine,


    his touch as tender as a whisper.


    "If it hurts, just tell me. I''ll be as gentle as I can," his voiceced with concern.


    Hertha chuckled, "Are you kidding? Your moves are as light as a feather."


    Spencer smiled, looking up at her with a glint of humor in his eyes. "Good, as long as it doesn''t hurt."


    He bowed his head again, focusing on the small task at hand with dedication.


    His breath, soft and steady, danced across Hertha''s palm, teasing her skin in a way that was both


    ticklish and tantalizing.


    Hertha had been rxed, not giving the situation much thought, but the sensation of his breath on her


    skin sent a ripple through her heart, stirring an unexpected feelings.


    She suddenly became aware that the person kneeling before her, holding her hand so tenderly, was a


    man.


    Her unguarded heart suddenly felt subtle changes, and the urge to withdraw her hand was strong.


    But Spencer was so concentrated in cleaning the cut, seemingly without any ulterior motives. To pull


    away now would make her seem awkward.


    Hertha''s hand twitched slightly, but she resisted the impulse and allowed Spencer to keep holding it,


    continuing to clean the cut.


    Unbeknownst to Hertha, ric had been looking for her and had just rounded the corner. He was about


    to call out to her when he saw Spencer crouched before her, his expression one of focused gentleness,


    and Hertha with a faint blush on her cheeks and an awkward gaze, her eyes filled with nothing but


    Spencer.


    The two of them together exuded a sense of peaceful timelessness, as if they existed in a bubble


    Content bel0ngs to N?vel(D)r/a/ma.Org.


    where no one else could prate.


    ric swallowed the words he was about to say, his brows furrowing slightly as he silently turned and


    left.


    He had asked the hotel staff to check the surveince footage outside the hotel and had followed the


    direction Hertha had gone, intending to exin his drunken stupor from the previous night.


    But he hadn''t expected to find her with Spencer.


    It must have been Hertha who called Spencer over. Otherwise, how could he be here just by chance?


    As he walked away, his spirits sank, a heavy mood pressing on his chest.


    After Spencer finished, he noticed her bare feet and said with a gentle tone, "Why did youe out


    here barefoot? Lift your foot, let''s see if you''ve been hurt by the stones." Co?tent belo?gs to


    Dra§Þ?n§àv§Öls.c§àm


    Hertha felt embarrassed, "I forgot to put on shoes."


    In that rush, she hadn''t thought of anything else but escape.

 Chapter 1242

    Chapter 1242


    Spencer cradled Hertha''s foot gently in one hand while his other hand, armed with a cotton swab


    soaked in iodine, meticulously cleaned the gravel wounds on her sole. Lifting his head, his cultured


    gaze met hers as he answered, ¡°Thepany I work for is nearby, and my ce isn¡¯t far from here


    either. I walk to work every day. Passing through this park is part of my routine. Didn¡¯t expect to run into


    you today, though.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re going green, doing your bit for the environment and getting in shape at the same time. Pretty


    admirable,¡± Hertha remarked.


    ¡°How did you end up here today?¡± Spencer asked as he finished tending to her feet, steering the


    conversation back to the original topic.


    Hertha¡¯s heart sank as she recalled the reason for her being in the park. The anger and pain she had


    managed to suppress began to flood back in like a rising tide.


    She couldn¡¯t believe ric and Georgia could be so brazen, taking her to their love nest. Didn¡¯t they


    worry she¡¯d wake up and catch them in the act?


    She cursed herself for sleeping so soundly. If only she had woken up while they were in the throes of


    passion, she could have snapped them photos with her phone, watched them, and had thestugh!


    Fuming at the thought of ric and Georgia together in bed, a sharp pain jabbed at Hertha¡¯s heart. She


    clenched her fists, fighting the piercing sensation.


    Looking down to avoid Spencer¡¯s earnest eyes, she said, ¡°I was at a barst night. Couldn''t drive after


    drinking, so I crashed at a nearby hotel.¡±


    Hearing about her night at the bar, Spencer¡¯s polite smile faltered, and his warm aura stiffened slightly.


    Sensing his change in demeanor, Hertha quickly withdrew her foot from his grasp and looked away.


    ¡°It¡¯s gettingte. You should be heading to work,¡± she said, her tone abruptly distant.


    Her sudden aloofness snapped Spencer back to reality. His expression softened, and he smiled again.


    ¡°Don¡¯t be upset. I didn¡¯t mean it that way. I¡¯m just surprised you really drink. I thought you were joking


    during our blind date when you mentioned it.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re wrong. Why would I joke? I like hitting the bars, love my drinks, adore handsome men, and I''m


    fickle too. I¡¯m into whichever male celeb is hot at the moment,¡± Hertha said, her expression cool.


    Spencer could tell she was irritated.


    Trying to appease her, he said, ¡°Lots of girls are into celebs. It''s pretty normal. We have many in the


    This is the property of N?-velDrama.Org.


    office who are starstruck.¡±


    ¡°Do you think that¡¯s normal?¡± Hertha challenged.


    Spencer smiled reassuringly. ¡°Of course.¡±


    Then he pulled out his phone and dialed his boss. ¡°Hey, I need to take the morning off.¡±


    After hanging up, he pocketed his phone.


    ¡°What do you need the time off for?¡± Hertha asked, puzzled.


    Hertha blinked in surprise. ¡°I didn¡¯t ask you to take me home.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s not necessary. I can walk,¡± Hertha declined. It was embarrassing enough to be caught crying in


    public, and she hadn¡¯t been carried like this before by any man except her father. Read at


    NovelDrama.Org


    ¡°Whoa!¡± Hertha gasped, and instinctively grabbed onto his shoulders to bnce herself.


    With Hertha on his back, Spencer strode forward through the park.

 Chapter 1243

    Chapter 1243


    Hertha squirmed ufortably in Spencer''s arms, "Spencer, put me down. I can walk on my own."


    "You''re not wearing shoes, and if you step on something sharp, it''s going to hurt like hell. Don''t worry,


    it''s just a short walk to the curb where we can hail a cab," Spencer exined his reason for carrying


    her.


    Hertha looked up and saw that the distance from the park to the street was indeed very short. Even


    with Spencer carrying her, it would only be a few steps.


    So, she stopped resisting and let him carry her.


    Once they reached the curb and while waiting for a cab, Hertha asked him to put her down.


    But Spencer said, ¡°I¡¯d rather keep you up here. I just disinfected your foot, and if you stand on the


    ground, you might pick up more germs.¡±


    It sounded like a stretch, but she couldn''t really argue.


    After all, she was the tomboy who never fussed over cleanliness, while he was the suave gentleman


    Content bel0ngs to N?vel(D)r/a/ma.Org.


    who always seemed spotless.


    After a short wait, a taxi pulled up. Spencer gently ced Hertha inside before sliding in beside her.


    Hertha had wanted to refuse his offer to escort her home, but remembering how he had taken the time


    to call his boss for leave, she realized that it¡¯s impossible to turn him down.


    Soon, they arrived at Hertha''s apartmentplex.


    Spencer got out of the cab and rushed around to her side. As she stepped out, he was already there,


    crouching down in a position that made it easy for him to lift her onto his back.


    Feeling the warmth from his back, Hertha fidgeted, "We''re home now. I really can walk on my own."


    "You''re shoeless, just in case..."


    "Okay, okay, I get it." Hertha interrupted before Spencer could finish, already knowing the germ-rted


    argument he would make.


    It seemed like his obsession with cleanliness was a bit too much!


    If she imed it was no big deal, that she was tough enough to handle a few germs, she''de off as


    a careless woman.


    He knew where Hertha lived and carried her to her front door, knocking politely.


    The door swung open instantly, and Hertha''s mother Kimberly was momentarily taken aback to see a


    man carrying her daughter on his back. But recognizing Spencer, her surprise turned to joy, and she


    stepped aside, eximing warmly, "Spencer and Hertha are back! Come in." Updated at


    Dr?manov§Öls.c§àm


    Spencer walked Hertha inside, setting her down gently on the couch.

 Chapter 1244

    Chapter 1244


    Kimberly called out, hurrying towards the kitchen.


    Her actions were so tant that even Hertha, who wasn''t one to catch on quickly, understood what her


    mother was implying. She actually thought that Hertha had spent thest night with Spencer, and she


    was also thrilled about it!


    Her daughter hadn''te home all night and was back with a man the next morning, and she wasn''t


    the slightest bit worried¡ªinstead, she was over the moon!


    Was she that afraid of Hertha bing an old maid?


    Annoyed, Hertha called out, "Mom, stop fussing, I''m not hungry."


    Kimberly turned around, chiding her gently, "Oh, honey, even if you¡¯re not up for breakfast, Spencer


    must be starving. I''m making it for him, not you."


    "He''s got work today," Hertha said, her face falling.


    "Is that so?" Kimberly asked, a hint of disappointment in her voice as she turned to Spencer, "Do you


    have to rush off to work?"


    "I took a half-day off today," Spencer replied with a smile.


    "Oh, that''s great, that''s just great! You two sit down for a bit, breakfast is pretty much ready. I¡¯ll just


    warm it up and throw in a few extra goodies," Kimberly said, her disappointment vanishing as she


    cheerfully headed back to the kitchen.


    Hertha looked at Spencer, her emotions on her sleeve, and he caught her using gaze. He paused


    This is the property of N?-velDrama.Org.


    for a moment, his eyes darting away, but not awkwardly. He sat down beside her and exined, "I


    haven''t eaten anything this morning; I''m indeed kind of hungry."


    It seemed Hertha was embarrassed¡ªthat must be why she was so eager for him to leave, not wanting


    him to stay any longer.


    But Spencer had other ns.


    "Then stay and eat. I''m going to change," said Hertha, her tone neutral.


    She stood up and walked towards her room when her father, Ashton Kensington, emerged from


    another room. Upon seeing her, he asked sternly, "Where the hell were youst night?"


    "I..." Hertha tried to exin, but Spencer stood up and called out, "Mr. Kensington."


    Ashton turned around and saw Spencer, his stern expression instantly shifted to a warm smile. "Oh


    Spencer, my boy, you''re here! Did you bring Hertha home?"


    "Yes," Spencer replied.


    Spencer nced at Hertha, who still stood there with a hurt look on her face. He nodded at her with a


    reassuring smile, signaling that she had nothing to worry about.


    Receiving his kind gaze, Hertha swallowed down her bitterness and difort and walked into her


    room, closing the door behind her. Read at NovelDrama.Org


    Her parents were so fond of Spencer, treating him even better than they treated her!


    Had they already pegged him as their son-inw?

 Chapter 1245

    Chapter 1245


    After a refreshing shower and slipping into clean clothes, Hertha returned to the living room only to find


    her parents seated on the couch with Spencer. They had serious looks on their faces, clearly deep in


    discussion about something important.


    Her heart sank with a sense of foreboding.


    Indeed, she overheard her mother say with augh, ¡°All right, it¡¯s settled then. Engagement at the end


    of next month, and we¡¯ll have a wedding by year¡¯s end.¡±


    ¡°I agree, but this is a big step. We should discuss it with your parents before making any final


    decisions,¡± Ashton added, clearly satisfied with Spencer. After all, a guy like him marrying Hertha would


    be a stroke of luck.


    He was handsome and well-educated. He had a good job and knew how to take care of others. He was


    the kind of man any parent would wee with open arms.


    Spencer''s face was adorned with a polite, warm smile as he said, ¡°I¡¯ve already talked it over with my


    parents. They said it¡¯s up to me, but of course, both our parents should definitely have a formal meeting


    together. Are you avable the day after tomorrow? My parents mentioned they could join us for a meal


    then.¡±


    ¡°Oh yes, of course, we have time,¡± Kimberly eagerly chimed in, almost tripping over her words in her


    anxiety to not let this opportunity slip away.


    Unable to bear it any longer, Hertha took a deep breath and stormed in front of them, her voice tinged


    with anger, ¡°You¡¯re nning my life behind my back? Did anyone even think to ask for my opinion?¡±


    Her outburst drew their attention, and all three turned to look at her simultaneously.


    Seeing Hertha upset, Spencer shifted awkwardly, his gaze dropping in embarrassment.


    Kimberly was upset that Hertha''s rudeness had put Spencer in such an awkward spot. She stood up,


    positioned herself between Hertha and Spencer and chastised her daughter sternly, ¡°Hertha, can''t you


    speak nicely? Spencer is such a catch, and if you don''t marry him, who will you marry? Your father and


    I want only the best for you. Besides, haven''t you taken a shine to him as well?¡±


    Content rights by N?velDr//ama.Org.


    Hertha was speechless. How desperate were her parents to marry her off this quickly?


    How could they discuss her preferences in front of the man in question, bolstering his ego and putting


    her at a disadvantage?


    ¡°Mom, when did I ever tell you I liked him?¡± Hertha, already in a sour mood, tried to keep her


    Her question only made Spencer more ufortable, his hand subconsciously adjusting his sses


    to hide his difiture.


    Trying to preserve Spencer''s dignity, Ashton also stood up and sharply scolded Hertha, ¡°Hertha, we''ve


    indulged your whims at home, but you¡¯re an adult now. There''s a time and ce for everything!¡±


    ¡°I¡ª¡± Hertha wanted to retort but stopped upon seeing her parents'' unwavering support for Spencer.


    Their hearts had been stolen by Spencer. No words of hers would bring them back to reality.


    She realized that any further argument would only reinforce their view of her as childish and


    headstrong.


    ¡°That child, still mming doors,¡± Kimberly muttered with disapproval. She then turned to Spencer with


    a warm, friendly smile and said, ¡°Spencer, dear, Hertha can be a bit hot-headed, but she has a kind


    heart. She''s incredibly sincere. You¡¯ll see once you get to know each other better, that she''s actually


    very nice.¡± New ch§Ñpter av?ble on Dr§Ñman§àvels.c§à§Þ


    Spencer retained his polite smile, exuding an air of genteel manners and dutiful respect.

 Chapter 1246

    Chapter 1246


    Spencer knew full well that Hertha was looking for an excuse to hurry him out the door, but he feigned


    ignorance, insisting on staying for breakfast purely to discuss marriage ns with Hertha''s parents.


    Despite his schrly appearance, calm and gentle demeanor, Spencer had a penchant for lively


    Demure, quiet girls didn''t appeal to him. His own personality was reserved. His work life was already a


    monotonous two-point routine, dull and uneventful.


    If his wife were to share his temperament, life would be utterly tasteless.


    But someone like Hertha, with her vivacious and carefree nature, was the sort of girl who can catch his


    eye.


    On their blind date, when she mentioned how she loved hitting the bars for a drink or going on


    shopping sprees, Spencer paused for a moment¡ªnot out of fear but attraction.


    This is the property of N?-velDrama.Org.


    He had braced himself for another inefficient matchmaking attempt, only to find an interesting girl who


    didn''t bother with pretenses or y the sophisticate.


    Even today in the park, Hertha didn''t hide a thing, openly sharing how she had gotten drunk at the bar


    the previous night and crashed at a nearby hotel.


    Her candor was a surprise to Spencer, and it piqued his interest even further.


    He had expected her to dodge his questions with some flimsy excuse, like the other girls who were


    keen to protect their image and save face at any cost.


    But not Hertha. She was forthright and unfiltered. And Spencer admired that honesty all the more.


    When he had asked Hertha why she was at the park, he had already guessed that the scent of alcohol


    on her meant she had been drinking, given the proximity of a nearby bar.


    Hertha''s response confirmed his suspicions, and what surprised Spencer was herck of a child''s fib to


    gloss over the facts. She was straightforward about it.


    "Alright, if you like it, that''s what matters. Let''s eat."


    Upon hearing Spencer''s deration of his type of girl, Kimberly and Ashton exchanged a knowing look.


    It was hard to hide the joy and excitement in the eyes of the elderly couple.


    Finally, someone appreciated their daughter''s fiery and straightforward character instead of finding fault


    with it.


    They were over the moon.


    Kimberly cheerfully beckoned Spencer to take a seat at the dining table.


    Spencer remainedposed, the very picture of refinement. Even when slighted by Hertha, he didn''t


    take offense. Instead, he sat down peacefully for the breakfast with her parents.


    This only made Hertha''s parents all the more approving.


    ...


    "Did you sleep with Georgiast night, huh?" Angelina''s words were blunt and sharp, cutting straight to


    the chase.


    Overhearing this sensitive conversation, the servants discreetly bowed their heads and scattered from


    the dining area, busying themselves elsewhere to avoid the wrath that might spill over onto them. New


    ch?pter av?ble o? NovelDrama.Org


    "Ouch! Mom, let go!" ric winced in pain, raising his hands in a surrendering gesture.

 Chapter 1247

    Chapter 1247


    "You! You''re such a bastard!" Angelina fumed, releasing his ear and giving the back of his head a


    smack ¨C a gesture that brought back memories of how she would chide him during his childhood.


    Remington Falconer and Beatrice had just returned from a leisurely stroll outside when they overheard


    the heated exchange between Angelina and ric.


    Grasping the gravity of the situation from their conversation, Remington let go of Beatrice''s hand in a


    huff. Leaning heavily on his cane, he shuffled over to ric with a shaky resolve and began to thwack


    him with it.


    "You shameless cad! Didn''t you swear that Hertha was the only one for you, that you would marry no


    other? You seduce the poor girl, ruin her reputation, and then you have the gall to go after Georgia!


    Who was it that imed to detest Georgia and was so adamant about calling off the engagement?"


    As Remington berated ric, he continued tond blows with his cane.


    ric raised his hands defensively, trying to protect himself from the hits, but he didn''t utter a word in


    his own defense.


    Angelina grew anxious, "Dad, Dad, please stop, cool down."


    This is the property of N?-velDrama.Org.


    She rushed to Remington''s side, gently took the cane from his grasp and made sure he was supported.


    "Cough, cough..." Remington was so worked up that he began to cough and wheeze, gasping for air as


    he addressed ric, "I had five hundred million set aside for you, and now you''ve gone and slept with


    the girl. How am I supposed to face them and call off the engagement now, huh?"


    Remington was bitterly disappointed. He thought he had not been mistakenst time, believing that


    ric truly had feelings for Hertha and was turning over a new leaf.


    He had gone to great lengths to prepare for ric''s wedding, only for the young man to dere his


    intent to break off the engagement with Georgia.


    How could they possibly call off the wedding now?


    ric''s usually carefree demeanor was gone. He sat solemnly, his mood low.


    What happened the previous night gued him. Both he and Hertha had been drunk, and he hadn''t


    expected Georgia to enter their room.


    He remembered being intimate with a woman, fully believing it was Hertha.


    Yet, when morning came, it was Georgia lying beside him.


    Besides, witnessing the tender moment between Spencer and Hertha in the park this morning only


    added to his unrest and pain, feelings that had yet to subside.


    Facing his grandfather''s usations and scolding, he felt powerless to retaliate.


    "What are you going to do now?" demanded Remington, pointing his cane at ric with fierce anger.


    "What else is there to do but marry Georgia? They''re already betrothed, after all," Angelina stated


    resolutely.


    "And what about Hertha?" asked Beatrice.


    Though Hertha hadn''t said goodbye when she left, both Beatrice and Remington felt that as long as


    she and ric were together, that was what mattered.


    ric shot Angelina a look of disdain, but the fact that Hertha had taken two hundred thousand and


    was involved with another man was undeniable. Co?tent belo?gs to Dra§Þ?n§àv§Öls.c§àm


    Even if he wanted to counter Angelina''s words, he couldn''t find the grounds to do so.


    "Ah well, let it be, then. You have to sort it out yourselves. We can''t manage it for you anymore."

 Chapter 1248

    Chapter 1248


    Beatrice gently took Remington by the hand, and the two elderly figures shuffled back to their room,


    their movements slow and unsteady.


    ric watched his grandparents leave, his heart heavy with worry. He had been on the verge of calling


    out to them. They were his and Hertha''sst hope.


    If they gave up, then all hope would indeed be lost.


    "Grand..." ric began, but before he could finish, Angelina''s hand mped over his mouth, muffling


    his words.


    This is the property of N?-velDrama.Org.


    Remington and Beatrice, advanced in their years and hard of hearing, didn''t catch ric''s muffled call.


    Frustrated, ric shoved Angelina''s hand away and burst out, "Mom, why do you always have to be


    against me?"


    Angelina, taken aback by his usation, felt a stab of pain in her heart. "You ungrateful boy," she


    "Yeah, I''m your only son, so why do you keep picking on me?" ric frowned, his voice rising as he


    recalled the morning''s events, which made him feel like he was suffocating.


    He had never felt this distressed over a woman before.


    Just this once, he wanted to be serious, and yet Angelina seemed to thwart him at every turn.


    "What? Picking on you?" Angelina, incredulous, pointed to herself, her heart shattering. She had


    poured her soul into nning for her son¡¯s future, and it had all been misconstrued as antagonism.


    "ric, let me tell you something," she said, her voice heavy with emotion. "Everyone else can criticize


    me, say I''m meddling. Your grandparents can even use me of trying to cozy up to the Reeds to


    secure my influence, and I¡¯ll take it with no exnations. But not you!"


    Tears welled up in Angelina''s eyes as she looked at her son, her voice firm yet filled with sorrow.


    ric, seeing his mother in such distress, looked away, quietly seething.


    Angelina swallowed hard, then continued, "You have no idea how many people in thepany are


    backing your cousin Jeremiah Falconer. He''s about to marry the Suttner heiress. He has the support of


    thepany veterans with a major family backing him. The Falconer Group is practically in his hands


    already. And you? Look at yourself! You¡¯ve wasted your days in frivolity without a care in the world!


    What have you ever aplished? If you lose the Reed family''s support, you''ll be ousted from the


    Falconer family and left penniless once Jeremiah takes over the Falconer Group!"


    By the end, Angelina''s voice was low butced with frustration and disappointment.


    "Isn''t there still Dad and Grandma and Grandpa?" ric retorted, looking up defiantly.


    "If that''s the case, what''s so bad about Jeremiah taking over the Falconer Group?" ric tried to


    console Angelina, taking a contrary stance. "I''ve never been cut out for corporate management


    anyway. Maybe living as an ordinary person wouldn''t be so bad¡ªgoing to work, making enough to


    support myself. A simple, unremarkable life and what''s wrong with that?" Updated at Dra§Þ§Ñn§àv§Öls.c§àm


    Angelina had always been heartbroken over ric''s transformation, unable to fathom what had caused


    her son to be so indifferent.

 Chapter 1249

    Chapter 1249


    Angelina was at her wit''s end. She''d been trying to pull ric out of the mire, yet he seemed


    determined to march to the beat of his own drum in the opposite direction.


    This is the property of N?-velDrama.Org.


    No matter how hard Angelina tugged at him, he wouldn''t budge, and it was wearing her down. When


    she heard histest stunt, she was so furious, "You''re driving me up the wall, you know? You think


    being an average Joe is easy? Don¡¯t forget, you''re a Falconer. Do you really think you''llnd on your


    feet once you''re cut off from the Falconer fortune? Jeremiah will see to that!"


    "Mom, it''s not as grim as you''re making it out to be..." ric tried to interject.


    But Angelina had heard enough, "Enough! Since you''ve already bedded Georgia and there''s an


    engagement in the works, just set a date and get married with her. It''s non-negotiable."


    Afterying down her words, Angelina stormed back to her room. She shut the door with a thud and


    took several deep breaths to calm her seething anger.


    After college, ric had started working at the Falconer Group''s headquarters, but within a year, he


    had been shuffled off to a branch office to serve as the general manager. Since that move, he''d


    changed. His once meticulous and ambitious demeanor had ckened, his passion had fizzled out,


    and he seemed utterly indifferent to the affairs of the main office. Worse still, he''d begun to squander


    his days in frivolity and excess.


    Angelina had tried to find out what had happened during that pivotal year at the headquarters, but her


    son remained evasive, never addressing her concerns directly.


    He wouldn''t talk, and Angelina couldn''t find any answers on her own. It was a mystery how a bright,


    motivated young man like him could be transformed into a cavalier yboy who acted as if the world''s


    troubles were none of his business.


    Watching Angelina retreat to her room, leaving no room for discussion, ric''s frustration boiled over.


    He punched the table in anger.


    He wouldn''t marry Georgia!


    What era did they think they were living in? Was he supposed to marry every woman he slept with?


    Besides, Georgia had been with others and hadn''t been forced into marriage, had she?


    ...


    Meanwhile, Thssa was settling into her new job at the Crawley Group. Ethan had stopped by her


    office to drop off some paperwork.


    As he was about to leave, Thssa called out, "Mr. Ethan..."


    Ethan paused and raised an eyebrow, "What''s up? Got a bonus and want to treat me to dinner?"


    His voice was lighthearted, teasing.


    "Serious stuff?" Ethan straightened his cor, ying along. Co?tent of Dr?manov§Öls

 Chapter 1250

    Chapter 1250


    Last time when Thssa was with her friend Hertha for a blind date, Lysander seemed to know every


    detail as if he had been there himself.


    She suspected that ric must be the one who called Lysander to spill the beans.


    But this time was different. As she got into the car, there was no one familiar on the street, no


    passersby who might recognize her. How on earth did Lysander find out?


    After some thought, Thssa concluded that it must have been Ethan who saw her and tipped off


    Lysander.


    After all, Lysander''s buddies were always in his corner, a bunch of gossipy meddlers eager for a juicy


    story. If she and Lysander ever had a falling out, those guys would be the first to grab the popcorn,


    especially Ethan.


    Ethan''s teasing smile paused for a moment before it broadened. He crossed his arms and said


    leisurely, "Lysander gave me a heads-up yesterday, told me to mind my own beeswax."


    "What''s that supposed to mean?" Thssa asked, puzzled.


    Material ? N?velDrama.Org.


    Ethan looked at her and exined, "I was just chilling with my phone when I caught that moment of


    Callum ruffling your hair¡ªstraight out of a teen drama. I couldn''t hog the show all to myself. I had to


    share it with Lysander. And then I got a warning from him."


    Thssa''s heart jumped to her throat, a mix of surprise and rm quickly morphing into annoyance.


    "Mr. Ethan, it''s a real shame you''re not a paparazzo with that nosy streak of yours. If you were, the


    others wouldn''t stand a chance."


    Noticing Thssa was genuinely miffed, Ethan sobered up, no longer jesting. "Alright, alright, I''m sorry.


    It won''t happen again, I swear. Plus, Lysander has already warned me off. From now on, I''m blind and


    deaf to whatever you do, whomever you''re with. I won''t see a thing, won''t hear a thing."


    His words were a clear dig at her.


    Thssa lifted the pile of documents in her hand, threatening to toss them at Ethan.


    Ethan quickly made his escape from the secretary''s office and bolted back to his own, realizing the


    absurdity of the situation.


    "Wait a sec, I''m the boss. Since when do I run from my own secretary?" Ethan chuckled to himself.


    He felt thoroughly whipped by Lysander and Thssa.


    But, it was all in good fun.


    After Ethan left, Thssa dropped the documents on her desk and let out a heavy sigh.


    Her heart raced with nerves and fear.


    She had thought Lysander only knew about her meeting with Callum at the diner, but he had also seen


    the photo Ethan sent him¡ªthe one with Callum stroking her hair.


    No wonder Lysander was so furious yesterday, even going so far as to break Callum''s wrist.


    When she got home, however, he didn''tsh out at her, even agreeing to her suggestion to lessen


    Debby''s punishment.


    It was only thanks to the baby she was carrying that she dodged a bullet this time.


    Lysander might be cold and merciless, but he was tender when it came to the kids. New ch§Ñpter


    av?ble on NovelDrama.Org


    In a sh, Thssa scoffed at herself. How could that be possible? He couldn''t possibly like her.

 Chapter 1251

    Chapter 1251


    The documents Thssa had to work on were for the new smartphone ad campaign for the Crawley


    Group.


    Thetest smartphone needed a fresh ad campaign, and they were sticking with the same agency that


    had nailed itst time.


    That afternoon, Thssa found herself at the agency''s headquarters, overseeing the shoot herself.


    Content bel0ngs to N?vel(D)r/a/ma.Org.


    Thanks to the previous ad''s hit, the agency''s head honcho had a fair bit of faith in Thssa''s


    judgement, leaving the creative direction in her hands.


    The gig this time required a model with faux wings, ying the part of an angel and ascending into the


    sky with the phone in hand, capturing snapshots.


    The pitch was catchy, ¡°Lipo, crystal rity no matter how high you soar. Snap your beauty from the


    heavens, a celestial experience.¡±


    Zane, the agency''s lead,id out the shoot''s specifics to Thssa, aiming to nail the concept.


    Thssa nodded, "Sounds good. Roll with it. I''ve got to head back to the office this afternoon."


    "Come on, don''t bail on us. Without you here, we''ll be doing retakes for days. Stay until we wrap this


    up, then you can jet," a female voice chimed in.


    Thssa turned towards the sound and saw Susan sauntering in, backpack slung over her shoulder,


    her hair in a high ponytail, chewing gum with a smirk on her lips.


    Seeing Susan never did Thssa any favors mood-wise. She smiled thinly, "Susan, that was quick. No


    need for the heavy makeup anymore, I see."


    The jab hit home¡ªSusan knew Thssa was poking at theirst encounter when she had pped


    Susan. Her face darkened, the gum suddenly tasteless. Spitting it out, she hissed, "Disappointed,


    aren''t you? I''m still the lead here. I need Ms. Everhart''s guidance to ace this."


    Thssa nced at the discarded gum, still gleaming with Susan''s spite, as distasteful as the woman


    herself.


    "If Susan can''t cut it, we can always recast," Thssa''s voice was icy.


    Ken, sensing the tension thick enough to cut, stepped in to smooth things over, "Ms. Everhart, you


    might not be aware, but we''re under contract with Susan. We can''t rece her just yet. Plus, the


    Crawley Group has their input on the ad. You might as well stick around and make sure it''s done right."


    Thssa shot Zane a look that said it all, "We''re all here to work, no need to grovel."


    With that, she headed to the set, dismissing Susan with her indifference.


    Thssa had always known how to separate personal grudges from professionalism.


    Since the Crawley Group had their stakes in the ad, it made sense to stay on set. No need to let


    Susan''s presence drive her away.


    Susan watched Thssa check the props, her expression a storm of envy and venom. Did Thssa


    think she was untouchable just because of Lysander''s backing?


    What would she be without him?


    And that flip in attitude only fueled Susan''s bitterness even more.


    Susan was at her breaking point. New ch§Ñpter av?ble on Dr§Ñman§àvels.c§à§Þ


    But with her finances in ruins, she had to earn a paycheck.


    Biting back her rage, she strode towards the studio exit, where the makeup artist was waiting.

 Chapter 1252

    Chapter 1252


    The Rolls-Royce slid gracefully into the parking spot. As the door swung open, Lysander stepped out


    with the soft click of his glossy leather shoes on the pavement. He was the epitome of elegance in an


    immacte ck suit that didn''t have a single wrinkle.


    Tall and imposing, his aura was one of regal intimidation. His mere presence made everything around


    him dim inparison.


    Susan¡¯s heart skipped a beat at the sight of Lysander. Despite the countless times he had rejected her


    and his consistently cold demeanor towards her, she couldn''t help her infatuation.


    Even if he was to push her away, even with a harsh shove, she couldn¡¯t rein in her adoration for


    Lysander. Which woman wouldn¡¯t fall for such an outstanding and handsome man?


    Like a moth to a me, she knew pursuing him was a fool''s errand, yet she couldn''t control the instinct


    to draw near.


    After exiting the car, Lysander turned and strolled towards the photo studio.


    Susan felt her heart flutter and quickly turned, heading back to the studio. Inside, she saw Thssa


    busily arranging props on the set.


    Rushing over, Susan approached Thssa with a smile that was seeking favor, a stark contrast to her


    earlier haughty attitude. "Thssa, I''m sorry, I wasn''t thinking straight earlier. I was holding a grudge


    because of that time you punched me, and I got a bit snippy with you."


    Thssa looked up incredulously.


    Content bel0ngs to N?vel(D)r/a/ma.Org.


    Susan apologizing? Had she taken some happy pills?


    "Don¡¯t look at me like that," Susan continued, "I really do realize I was wrong. I''m about to shoot this


    action-packed ad and I''m not sure if the harness will hold me properly. I''m a bit anxious about it."


    "And?" Thssa prodded, unsure of Susan''s angle.


    "We''ve got this prop to test the harness''s weight limit. Could you help me out backstage with the rig? I¡¯ll


    hang a prop simr to my weight, and if the harness can take it, I¡¯ll feel so much more at ease during


    the shoot," Susan said with a reassuring smile.


    Thssa eyed her warily. "Why should I help you?"


    "It''s all for the job, right? If I''m nervous, I might mess up the shoot over and over. If I screw up, you


    won''t be able to clock out and go home to your kids. But if I''m confident, we¡¯ll wrap up quickly and you


    can go home early, spend time with your little ones. Sounds good, right?"


    Susanid out her reasoning.


    "Can''t you ask someone else?" Thssa wasn''t convinced.


    "I don''t really get along with others here. No one''s willing to help me. With something like testing the


    harness, I have to fend for myself. Everyone else would rather see me fail andugh," Susan said with


    a pout.


    Thssa thought about it. It made sense.


    Susan''s arrogance and insincerity didn''t exactly endear her to anyone. Maybe everyone around did


    dislike her.


    And if Susan finished early, Thssa could indeed head home sooner.


    After a moment¡¯s hesitation, Thssa agreed. Re?d at Dr?m§Ñ?§àv§Öls

 Chapter 1253

    Chapter 1253


    Thssa''s hands worked the controls of the prop, a vintage chandelier, with a nervous twitch. She was


    taking care of the setup while Susan was adjusting the rigging.


    As Susan let go, she gave the chandelier an extra push, causing it to swing dangerously.


    Just then, Lysander entered the studio.


    The timing couldn''t have been worse. The chandelier was swinging higher and higher, and the hook


    hadn''t been secured properly. In a split second, the prop flew off its mooring, hurtling straight towards


    Lysander.


    His icy gaze snapped towards the iing danger.


    It was about to crash down on him when Susan cried out, "Mr. Sinir, watch out!" In a swift move, she


    lunged forward, pushing Lysander out of the way. The chandelier crashed down onto her instead, the


    sharp pain of impact forcing a muffled groan from her lips as it struck her shoulder de.


    The prop bounced off Susan and ttered to the ground.


    Grimacing in pain, Susan managed to lift her eyes to Lysander. "Mr. Sinir, are you alright?" she


    asked, her voice strained.


    Lysander''s piercing eyes locked onto her. "What happened?" he demanded, his voice a deep,


    controlled rumble.


    The rest of the crew realized something had gone wrong, and that it involved Lysander. They dropped


    their tasks and hurried over, their faces filled with concern, asking if he was hurt.


    Zane, the assistant director, went pale with fright and began to loudly demand ountability. "Who was


    in charge of the chandelier? Step forward!"


    Hearing themotion from behind the scenes, Thssa quickly stepped out to see what was


    happening. As she emerged, she saw Lysander standing in the midst of the crowd, an imposing figure


    with a stern face and an untouchable aura.


    In front of him stood Susan, slightly hunched over, her shoulder seeping blood that stained her shirt


    and dripped to the floor, her expression twisted in pain.


    "Ms. Everhart, were you operating the chandelier? Do you realize how dangerous this was? You could


    have hit Mr. Sinir! Thankfully, Susan pushed him out of the way and took the hit herself. If that prop


    had hit Mr. Sinir''s head, we could have been looking at a fatality!" Zane scolded her, his words a mix


    of reprimand and a way to deflect me from himself.


    Thssa caught on to what had happened from Zane''s tirade. She looked at Lysander innocently,


    about to exin that it wasn''t her fault.


    Susan spoke up despite her pain, saying, "Mr. Sinir, the chandelier is usually quite safe when


    operated correctly. Perhaps Thssa wasn''t familiar with it, which led to the ident. Please don''t


    me her."


    Content rights by N?velDr//ama.Org.


    "Mr. Sinir, that''s not true. I was operating it just fine backstage. It''s the prop that malfunctioned,"


    Thssa interjected, stepping forward to rify.


    "I''ll check it right now," Zane volunteered.


    He returned to Lysander''s side and reported, "Mr. Sinir, the prop is intact. There''s nothing wrong with


    it. It was indeed a mishandling of the chandelier that caused the ident." Re§Ñd at Dramanov§Öls


    Thssa''s heart skipped a beat at his words. He suspected her!

 Chapter 1254

    Chapter 1254


    Thssa''s eyes widened in disbelief as she looked at Lysander. His usation was clear: he believed


    she had seen himing and had deliberately manipted the stage prop to hit him.


    Her eagerness to exin wilted under the weight of his suspicion. The disappointment was a heavy,


    suffocating presence in her chest.


    She met his deep gaze, her brows furrowing slightly as she said, "I was behind the curtain. I couldn''t


    see anything in the front and I had no idea who¡¯sing."


    How could she have known he was there if she couldn''t see?


    Lysander''s gaze was intense and unwavering, his eyes exerting an immense pressure.


    The atmosphere around Thssa grew tense, the air heavy with unspoken words.


    Susan quickly interjected, "Mr. Sinir, I''m just relieved you''re alright. Even with my own injuries,


    knowing you''re safe makes it all bearable."


    It was only then that everyone noticed Susan was hurt.


    Zane hurried over to check on Susan''s back, which was bleeding profusely.


    With concern, Zane addressed Lysander, "Mr. Sinir, Susan''s injury looks pretty bad. Can we get her


    to the hospital first?"


    Only then did Lysander''s piercing stare break away from Thssa. His voice was cool and detached,


    "Go ahead."


    "Alright, I''ll have the staff take her now," Zane said, helping Susan towards the exit.


    As Susan left, she nced back at Lysander and Thssa.


    Thssa stood her ground, her face pale, the very picture of someone wronged but without the means


    to defend herself.


    Lysander exuded a chilly aura, his eyes still fixed on Thssa with evident suspicion and mistrust.


    Susan couldn''t help the smug feeling that flickered in her eyes. She had been looking for a way to drive


    a wedge between Lysander and Thssa, and this incident was the perfect opportunity.


    Moreover, she had seized it. Not only had she nted the seed of doubt in Lysander''s mind about


    Thssa''s intentions, but she had also positioned herself as his savior. Surely, this would make him


    see her in a new light.


    After all, she was injured in her attempt to save him. It was a worthy sacrifice.


    Susan got into the car, and the staff drove her to the hospital.


    Back in the studio, the oppressive presence of Lysander cleared the room, leaving only him and


    Thssa.


    Thssa''s clear eyes held nothing back as they met Lysander''s. She had exined everything. She


    really couldn''t see the front behind the curtain. How could she have known of his arrival, let alone to


    target him with the prop?


    Lysander was always perceptive. He could figure out the oddities of the situation if he wanted to unless


    he had chosen not to trust her.


    After a while, Lysander''s intense gaze shifted away, and he turned to leave.


    Thssa watched his retreating figure, confused by his silence.


    Thssa, jolted from her thoughts, hurried after him.


    As she neared, he suddenly grabbed her wrist and pulled her along with an iron grip, leading her away


    with the same fierce warmth he had always had. Re§Ñd at NovelDrama.Org


    Content bel0ngs to N?vel(D)r/a/ma.Org.


    His rough touch pressed against her skin, a different kind of overpowering.

 Chapter 1255

    Chapter 1255


    Lysander was at the wheel, silent as the grave, while Thssa felt it best to keep her own counsel too.


    She gazed out of the window, watching the world slip by in reverse.


    Her mind was a jumble, too preupied to take in the passing traffic. It was only when the car came to


    a stop that she realized they were at Star Harbor Vi.


    He had brought her to her mother''s ce.


    Coming back to herself, Thssa turned to Lysander. The car was parked, but he was still gripping the


    steering wheel with a steely resolve, his gaze fixed straight ahead, his aura icy.


    ¡°There¡¯s a hole in the screen, in as day for all to see,¡± he said suddenly, his voice a low thrum.


    Thssa was taken aback, her mind reeling.


    He was saying there was a hole in the screen¡ªa hole that meant even if she was behind it, she could


    still see what was happening in front. He was implying that she was lying!


    He still believed she had deliberately dropped the prop on his head to harm him!


    Thssa was stunned, scrambling to remember and picturing the screen in her mind. Then it hit her.


    The design on the screen included a cell phone image with an empty screen¡ªcut out to make a


    statement about the boundless content within, a marketing gimmick suggesting a world of color and


    depth inside the device.


    She hadn¡¯t paid it any mind at first, not until Lysander brought it up, and that¡¯s when she realized the


    significance of that detail.


    Material ? N?velDrama.Org.


    Thssa was so shocked she momentarily lost her grasp on speech.


    ¡°Are you so desperate for freedom?¡± Lysander¡¯s cold voice continued.


    His icy, prating stare was fixed on Thssa, his handsome face set in a dark scowl.


    Thssa¡¯s shock shattered, taking her heart with it.


    In Lysander¡¯s eyes, she was so eager for liberty, so desperate to escape from his hold that she would


    consider taking his life!


    ¡°I didn¡¯t mean to. It was Susan who asked me to adjust the rig, to test its load-bearing capacity. I had


    no idea an ident would happen.¡±


    Thssa¡¯s voice was heavy with effort. She truly didn¡¯t know he wasing, nor expected the prop to


    fly his way.


    Yes, she yearned for freedom, but she had never wished for his death.


    He was the father of her four children, the father of the child she was carrying. How could she wish him


    dead?


    No matter how much she resented or med him, she could never let her children lose their father.


    Lysander closed his eyes, taking a deep breath, his voice icy as ever, ¡°Get out!¡±


    Thssa hesitated, then pushed the door open and stepped out.


    As soon as she closed the door, the ck Rolls-Royce sped away.


    Lysander was convinced she had intentionally thrown the prop at him, aiming to kill him.


    No exnation would change his mind.


    Once a rift forms, trust is hard toe by.


    It wasn''t until Lysander¡¯s car had vanished from sight that Thssa gathered herself and walked back


    into the house. Updated at Dra§Þ§Ñn§àv§Öls.c§àm


    ¡°Mom!¡± she called out with concern.


    ¡°Mom, what¡¯s wrong?¡± Thssa hurried over, sitting beside Evelyn, her worry evident.

 Chapter 1256

    Chapter 1256


    Evelyn gazed at Thssa with sorrow etched deep in her eyes. "Thssa, I got the sack today," she


    said, her voice tinged with despair. "The boss said I was too clumsy, that I couldn''t even clean properly.


    Am I just useless? I can''t seem to do anything right."


    For a while, Evelyn had worked as a janitor, grappling with the bitterness and the hard graft of the job. It


    was only now that she truly understood the struggle of working out in the world. Even in a job as


    seemingly simple as cleaning, there was istion and reprimand.


    She felt a newfound empathy for Thssa and the hardships she had faced while working away from


    home. Every day Thssa came home exhausted, and there she was adding to her daughter''s burden


    with scolding words and undue pressure. It was truly improper.


    Thssa''s heart was already heavy, and Evelyn''s confession only tightened its grip. A warmth spread


    in her eyes as she wrapped her arms around Evelyn''s back, hugging her close. "Mom, it''s okay. You


    can rest at home, maybe join the asional line dancing in the park. You don''t need to work. Who says


    you''re useless? You raised four kids, and that makes you the greatest."


    "No, I''m not. I''m tarnished. I was brainwashed by Bruce, tormented, living a life worse than death."


    Evelyn''s words were heavy with pain, her fingers clutching at Thssa''s shirt.


    Thssa felt her shirt dampen, warmth seeping through to her skin.


    To her shock, her mother was crying!


    In that instant, Thssa''s ownposure shattered, tears streaming down her face as she clung to


    her mother.


    Fighting back the bitter tears, she consoled Evelyn, "Mom, don''t talk like that. You''re a victim too. It''s


    Bruce who''s the monster. He''ll get what''sing to him one day. You''re the best mom anyone could


    ask for."


    Evelyn''s grip on Thssa''s shirt tightened, creasing the fabric as she fought to hold back her inner


    turmoil.


    Thssa could feel her mother''s body tense with pain, a clear sign of Evelyn''s anguish.


    With a trembling voice, Thssa spoke with remorse and guilt, "Mom, I''m sorry, I''m so sorry. I''ve been


    too busytely, not spending time with you."


    She knew her mother was struggling emotionally, yet she had been too wrapped up in her own life,


    leaving Evelyn to suffer alone.


    She was at fault for her negligence.


    "You''re busy with work. You don''t need to be with me," Evelyn said, her spirits low, yet still considering


    Thssa''s well-being.


    Evelyn, who used toin and criticize Thssa, had be sensitive and mncholic now.


    Thssa would rather endure her mother''s daily nagging and scolding than see her this despondent.


    Thssa released Evelyn''s shoulders, looked her straight in the eye and said firmly, "Mom, I''m going to


    take a week off work. I''ll take you on a trip to rx a bit. How do you think? Or we could go back to


    Content rights by N?velDr//ama.Org.


    Hollowbrook and help Aunt Astrid with her garden."


    "Won''t Astrid worry if she sees me like this?" Evelyn was aware of her troubling state.


    "But what about your job?" Evelyn asked, concerned.


    "It''s fine. My boss is understanding. Taking a few days off won''t be an issue," Thssa reassured her.


    "Besides, I''ve been longing for a travel myself, but I had no one to go with. Now I have my dear mom to


    join me." Co?tent belo?gs to Dra§Þ?n§àv§Öls.c§àm


    Thssa tried to summon a smile, to lift Evelyn''s spirits.


    Hearing that Thssa wanted to travel and that she could apany her, Evelyn finally nodded her


    agreement.

 Chapter 1257

    Chapter 1257


    Thssa crept into the kitchen and whipped up a quick dinner. After making sure her mother was fed


    andfortably tucked into bed for the night, she retreated to her room and dialed Ethan''s number.


    "Mr. Ethan, I need to ask for an extended leave of absence," she said when the call connected.


    "A long leave? Why? Is it because of what happened today at the client''s office? Are you scared? It''s


    all good now; we''ve dealt with it," Ethan reassured her. He had heard about the incident at the photo


    shoot.


    Susan had been injured and hospitalized, which meant the ad campaign they were working on had to


    be postponed.


    Since Lysander had escorted Thssa away from the scene, it was clear to Ethan that Lysander didn''t


    me her for the mishap.


    "It''s not that. I just need to rest for a bit and clear my mind. Please, Mr. Ethan, just say yes," Thssa


    pleaded earnestly.


    Understanding that she wished to travel, not out of fear or distress from the day''s events, Ethan''s tone


    softened. "Alright, if it''s for a bit of fun, I''ll grant you the leave. If you''re worried about the incident,


    Content bel0ngs to N?vel(D)r/a/ma.Org.


    though, there''s no need to back down or fear any repercussions from thepany. The doors of


    Crawley Group are always open to you."


    Thssa''s eyes welled up with gratitude at Ethan''s words.


    Even Ethan, who wasn''t particrly close to her, trusted her implicitly. But Lysander, the man who


    shared her bed every day, doubted her. The bitterness and hurt she felt were likely due to this stark


    contrast and sense of abandonment.


    After hanging up with Ethan, Thssa had intended to sleep but then thought it necessary to tell


    Lysander about her travel ns.


    Hisck of trust was his issue, but whether to tell him about her trip was another matter.


    If she were to leave Starhaven without a word, he would probably be furious.


    She opened the contacts on her phone, found Lysander''s name. As she was about to dial, the sting of


    his words in the car earlier pricked at her heart.


    Part of her didn''t want to call him out of spite.


    But reason prevailed over impulse, and she pressed his name, dialing his number.


    Instantly, a cold, impersonal voice came from the other end, "Sorry, the number you have dialed is


    switched off."


    Switched off?


    She hit the end call button but continued to stare at Lysander''s name on the screen.


    And now, following the day''s unfortunate events, he had switched off his phone.


    Thssa couldn''t help but think he did it deliberately to avoid her. Updated at Dr?manov§Öls.c§àm

 Chapter 1258

    Chapter 1258


    Early the next morning, Thssa packed her bags and set off with her mother.


    Their destination was her mother¡¯s hometown of Rivertown in Eldoria.


    Thssa had looked up Eldoria online and found it to be a ce of picturesque beauty- with rolling


    hills, serene waters and lush greenery. It seemed like the perfect spot for a rxing getaway. Besides,


    it was Evelyn¡¯s birthce, and perhaps being there would lift some of her mother''s spirits.


    They had booked ne tickets for the trip.


    After a two-hour flight, they arrived at Eldoria Airport.


    Holding her mother¡¯s hand, Thssa walked to the curb to hail a cab, nning to head to the hotel she


    had booked.


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    Traveling light with only a few changes of clothes, Thssa believed in the ease of minimal baggage¡ª


    after all, they were on vacation, and there was no sense in being weighed down by unnecessary items.


    Soon, they arrived at the hotel. Thssa set down their luggage and took a moment to rest before


    turning to Evelyn, ¡°Mom, there¡¯s a park nearby. Let¡¯s go check it out.¡±


    Back in Starhaven, Evelyn always worried about bumping into Bruce or other acquaintances.


    But there was no need for such concerns in Rivertown. They were surrounded by strangers, free to


    explore without hesitation.


    Evelyn had been cooped up in Starhaven, avoiding public gatherings and seldom stepping out, likely


    for fear of running into Bruce.


    Remaining in such a stifling environment wasn''t good for anyone''s well-being.


    A walk outside could help alleviate some of the pent-up stress.


    Evelyn nodded, ¡°Sure, that sounds nice.¡±


    Arm in arm, the mother and daughter made their way to the nearby man-made park.


    The park was a triumph of greenery, with vibrant trees and fragrant flowers, and theke water was


    crystal clear.


    Strolling along theke shore, the scent of flora carried by a gentle breeze was invigorating. Thssa


    felt a sense of rxation she hadn¡¯t experienced in a long time.


    She wondered if it was just her imagination, but the water in Eldoria seemed clearer, and the breeze


    softer and more pleasant than back in Starhaven.


    It had been a while since she had felt such a liberating sense of peace.


    Chatting with Evelyn, Thssa remarked, ¡°Mom, don¡¯t you think the air here in Eldoria feels fresher


    than back in Starhaven?¡±


    For the first time in a while, Evelyn¡¯s usually worried face cracked a smile, ¡°Yes, it¡¯s definitely fresher.


    There¡¯s nothing like the air from home.¡±


    Seeing her mother smile, Thssa¡¯s mood lifted.


    As long as her mother was happy, that was all that mattered.


    As they walked, Thssa¡¯s eyes caught a figure leaning against the railing of an artificial bridge. A man


    with a cane was gazing at the tranquilke, seemingly lost in thought, oblivious to the world around


    him.


    Something about the man¡¯s silhouette seemed familiar.


    With a hint of surprise, Thssa approached and realized it was Callum!


    ¡°Mr. Gordon, what are you doing here?¡± Thssa asked in astonishment.


    Callum turned around at the sound of her voice. Seeing Thssa, his somber eyes lit up with


    recognition.


    ¡°Thssa? What a coincidence!¡± Callum said with a warm smile, then turned to greet Evelyn. Re§Ñd at


    NovelDrama.Org


    Thssa felt terribly sorry for Callum.

 Chapter 1259

    Chapter 1259


    Evelyn cast a worried nce at Callum''s leg, and then to his hands, sighing with a mix of regret and


    apology, "Your leg was broken by Lysander''s bodyguard, right? You were just trying to help us out, and


    look what happened to you."


    "Don''t talk like that," Callum gently chided her, "It''s not on you. Plus, I wanted to help, you didn''t twist


    my arm. My leg might be busted, but it''ll heal in a few months. So don¡¯t worry." Callum''s demeanor was


    always so mild and easygoing, making him incrediblyforting and pleasant to be around.


    Here he was, the one who got hurt, and yet he''s the one offeringfort.


    Compared to Lysander, it was like seeing the stark contrast between benevolence and cruelty.


    Just yesterday, Thssa had identally knocked over a prop, nearly hitting Lysander, and he


    immediately suspected her of harboring a grudge.


    No matter how she exined, he wouldn''t buy it.


    But with Callum, whose leg and wrist were clearly injured because of Thssa, he was still full of


    kindness, counseling them, not wanting them to me themselves.


    That was the difference between people.


    "Mr. Gordon, you really are one of the good ones," Evelyn marveled with gratitude.


    Callum''s warm smile spread across his face as he looked at Thssa and asked, "What brings you two


    here, then?"


    "I was just showing my mom around, doing the whole tourist thing. Never imagined we''d bump into you


    as soon as wended. It''s a small world, isn''t it?" Thssa remarked.


    Thest thing she expected was to encounter a familiar face in this ce.


    "Sure it is a small world. Feels like fate," Callum agreed, then as if something struck him, he asked,


    "Where are you staying? I''m over at that hotel." He pointed to a hotel not too far from the artificialke.


    Thssa was surprised, "Really? We''re staying there, too."


    Who would''ve thought, without any prior nning, they''d run into each other and end up at the same


    hotel?


    Callum chuckled, "We must be cosmically linked. Hey, you haven''t had lunch yet, have you? There''s


    this diner nearby, let''s go grab some grub together."


    Thssa hesitated for a moment, recalling how thest time she went to eat with Callum, Lysander


    had shown up and crushed Callum''s wrist.


    She was practically haunted by the fear of Lysander.


    "Scared Lysander might show up again? Thssa, this is Eldoria, not Starhaven." Callum grinned at


    her, gently reminding her.


    He saw right through Thssa''s hesitation.


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    Meeting his smiling eyes, Thssa felt a twinge of embarrassment. Her panic over Lysander was all


    too evident.


    To any observant person, it was clear what she was worried about.


    "Alright, let''s go," Thssa agreed. "This time it''s on me."


    Callumughed, "You should''ve treated me to a meal ages ago."


    He spoke lightheartedly, putting no pressure on Thssa, as if they were old friends. Re§Ñd at


    Dra§Þan§àvels


    "Like how I have a crush on you and you never noticed?" Callum threw out suddenly, in a teasing tone.


    It was a yful remark, but it packed quite the punch.

 Chapter 1260

    Chapter 1260


    "What?" Thssa gasped, her eyes wide with shock as she looked up at Callum.


    Evelyn also wore an expression ofplete surprise, her gaze fixed on Callum.


    "I''m just joking. Look at how you both scared." Callum''s face broke into an easygoing smile, his tone


    light and teasing.


    Seeing Callum''s rxing chuckle and hearing his assurance that it was all in jest, Thssa''s heart


    finally eased.


    Her shocked and astonished expression softened into a yful smile as she said, "You''d better be


    joking. Falling for me can only bring bad luck."


    She wasn''t trying to scare Callum. She was serious.


    Lysander was not someone to be trifled with.


    Anyone who got close to her would have Lysander to answer to, and Callum had already had two


    encounters with her¡ªresulting in a broken leg and a fractured wrist.


    And that was just from approaching her as a friend. If he truly fell for her, Thssa feared for his life.


    It wasn''t an overreaction. There were precedents.


    If Leopold hadn''t loved her so dearly, he might still be alive.


    A suffocating pain clenched Thssa''s heart at the thought of Leopold.


    Leopold had be the untouchable wound in her soul¡ªone that left her breathless at the slightest


    touch.


    "You really have a dark sense of humor. I''ve never heard of bad luck from liking someone," Callum


    quipped.


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    "It''s not humor. It''s a grim fact," Thssa replied, a warning to Callum not to jump into the fire.


    "Look here, Mr. Gordon. Thssa''s already a mother of four children, only fit to romance the kids'' dad.


    You''re quite the looker, Mr. Gordon, with a great personality to boot. You should find a simple girl to


    marry." It was Evelyn, who had always been pushing Thssa to settle down, now advising Callum.


    By "simple", she meant a woman without kids and with an uplicated love history, someone who


    could marry and have children without drama.


    Even Thssa''s mother thought it was better for Callum not to fall for Thssa.


    Just as she had said, it would only bring misfortune.


    Callum was a good man, and Evelyn didn''t want to see anything happen to him.


    "Talk like that and people will start to think you''re all looking down on me," Callum said with a gentle


    warmth in his smile, as if a spring breeze graced his face.


    Though it sounded like banter, his words held a sincere undertone.


    Many truths are often spoken in jest, making rejection less awkward.


    Soon, they arrived at the restaurant, where a cheerful waiter greeted them.


    They took their seats by the window, and the waiter brought over a menu. Thssa handed the menu


    to Callum.


    "Mr. Gordon, after you."


    "How about I order something with garlic? Thssa, you can''t seem to call me by my first name."


    Callum teased. New ch?pter av§Ñble o? Dr?§Þan§àv§Öls.c§àm


    Thssa paused for a moment, then realizing his point. She said, "Just a few days apart, and Mr.


    Gordon has turned into Mr. Comedian."


    "Alright, alright, let''s order. I''m starving," Evelyn intervened, tired of their mutual modesty.

 Chapter 1261

    Chapter 1261


    "Evelyn, how about you order for us?" Callum said as he passed the menu to Evelyn.


    Evelyn didn''t decline. She grabbed the menu and casually ordered a few dishes. While they were


    waiting, she mentioned she had a stomach ache and excused herself to use the restroom.


    At the table, it was just Thssa and Callum left alone.


    In the past, this kind of situation wouldn¡¯t have fazed Thssa in the slightest, but Callum had just


    confessed his feelings for her. Because of that revtion, Thssa couldn''t help but feel awkward in


    front of him. She had never considered the possibility that Callum might like her.


    She took a sip from her drink, trying to mask her difort.


    "Debby¡¯s sentence got reduced. Thank you." Callum suddenly broke the silence.


    Thssa put down her ss. "Don''t mention it. You helped me out big time in the past, so I owed you


    one," she replied, making it clear that she viewed this as settling a debt.


    Callum, sharp as ever, got the hint. His smile faltered for a moment but quickly returned. "Helping


    Debby out was worth breaking my wrist for," he said, lifting his ss to take a sip.


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    The conversation stalled, and the atmosphere grew a bit tense. Thssa kept drinking to conceal her


    embarrassment.


    Fortunately, the waiter interrupted them soon by bringing their dishes. "Enjoy your meal," he said


    politely.


    Thssa noticed there were five dishes instead of the four they ordered. She called out to the waiter,


    "Excuse me, we only ordered four dishes. Why are there five? Is there a mistake?"


    She remembered Evelyn ordering, and there were definitely only four dishes requested.


    The waiter, who was about to walk away, came back with a smile. "The extra dish was ordered over the


    phone by someone for your table."


    Ordered over the phone?


    Who knew they were dining here and could order for them?


    Thssa was puzzled and looked at the five dishes. Four were what Evelyn had ordered, but the extra


    dish was a te of deep-fried salty fish, which gave off a pungent smell.


    Who would be so nosy as to order them a salty fish?


    Curious, Thssa asked the waiter, "Can you tell us who made the order?"


    "It was an anonymous call, for Callum Gordon," the waiter replied.


    For Callum?


    Thssa nced at Callum, who looked just as confused as she did. Clearly, he had no clue what was


    going on.


    Was someone insinuating that Callum was a ''salty fish'' who would never seed?


    "No, thank you," Thssa said.


    "Mr. Gordon, have you managed to rub someone the wrong way here?" Thssa inquired.


    Thssa shrugged. "That¡¯s curious then." Updated at Dra§Þ§Ñn§àv§Öls.c§àm


    Pickled food?


    That term struck a nerve with Callum, and he grasped the meaning behind the salty fish in an instant.

 Chapter 1262

    Chapter 1262


    Callum''s smile faded, and a shadow seemed to dance across his eyes, casting a solemn hue over his


    usually gentle features.


    Unaware of the shift in his demeanor, Thssa picked up her fork and said, ¡°Let¡¯s eat. I¡¯m starving.¡±


    She forked a piece of fish, tasted it, and nodded in approval. ¡°It¡¯s good. Not too salty, not too nd.


    Content bel0ngs to N?vel(D)r/a/ma.Org.


    Just perfect.¡±


    Noticing Callum hadn¡¯t started eating, Thssa asked politely, ¡°Mr. Gordon, why aren¡¯t you eating? Is


    something wrong with the food?¡±


    Callum''s eyes softened, masking the earlier intensity, and he smiled warmly. ¡°No, I was just lost in


    thought for a moment.¡±


    With that, he picked up his fork, deliberately avoiding the fish and opting for other dishes instead.


    After dinner, Evelyn mentioned she needed to rest, so Thssa linked arms with her as they made


    their way to the hotel elevator. Their rooms were on the 20th floor, so they''d have to ride up.


    Callum also decided to retire, and the three of them stepped into the elevator together. Thssa


    pressed the button for the 20th floor.


    Callum hadn¡¯t made a move to select a floor for a while, so Thssa turned to him, ¡°Mr. Gordon, aren¡¯t


    you going to press your floor?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m staying on the 20th floor, too.¡± he replied.


    ¡°Oh, I see. Most of the guest rooms are on the 20th floor, aren¡¯t they?¡± Thssa said with a friendly


    smile.


    ¡°That seems to be the case.¡±


    They chatted until the elevator halted on the 20th floor. Thssa and Evelyn walked towards their


    room, while Callum, leaning on his cane, trailing behind them. ¡°Which room are you in? May I have a


    look?¡± he offered.


    ¡°This way,¡± Evelyn guided.


    Thssa swiped her key card and they all entered the room. Callum followed, asking, ¡°Do you mind if I


    ¡°Of course not,e in!¡± Evelyn weed him heartily.


    ¡°Take it slow,¡± Thssa cautioned, making room for Callum¡¯s cautious gait, afraid he might stumble.


    With no chairs in the hotel room, Callum sat on the bed, but he was far from a man of few words.


    Sociable and easygoing, he struck up a conversation with Evelyn with ease.


    ¡°So, Thssa is your only daughter?¡± he inquired about Evelyn¡¯s family life.


    ¡°Yes, just one daughter. I was young and foolish once, fell for the wrong person,¡± Evelyn sighed.


    ¡°And you, Mr. Gordon, have you ever been in love?¡± Evelyn asked curiously.


    ¡°I was too busy chasing a career when I was younger. Now, pushing thirty, I haven¡¯t had a real


    romance, which is something I regret,¡± admitted Callum, revealing that he hadn¡¯t even experienced a


    first love.


    ¡°Really? With your qualities and aplishments, there haven¡¯t been any girls who¡¯ve shown interest


    in you?¡± Evelyn was surprised that Callum had never been in a rtionship.


    Thssa sat up straighter, her expression turning serious.


    Meeting Callum in Eldoria had felt different to her. His gaze seemed more intense than before.


    Was it possible that Callum had really developed feelings for her? Co?tent of Dr§Ñm§Ñ?ovels.c§àm


    No, that couldn¡¯t happen. It would be a frightening prospect.


    She didn¡¯t want to be a burden to anyone ever again.


    She was signaling to him not to fall for a woman like her, weighed down by her past and


    responsibilities.

 Chapter 1263

    Chapter 1263


    "Sorry, I need to go to the restroom," Evelyn mumbled, her stomach churning in difort.


    As soon as Evelyn left, the room was left with only Thssa and Callum again, and the awkwardness


    that had started at the dinner table seemed to intensify, hanging in the air like a thick fog.


    "Um, you want some water? I''ll go pour you a ss." Thssa said, getting up to head towards the


    pitcher on the nightstand. As she passed by Callum, he suddenly reached out and grabbed her hand.


    Thssa gasped, her eyes wide as she turned to look at him. Callum''s eyes, warm and soothing,


    locked onto hers, his expression turning serious and tender.


    "I''m single, you''re single¡ªthat''s enough. We can work through everything else," Callum said, knowing


    what was on her mind. He cared for her, for the person she was. Her children and her surroundings


    were none of his consideration.


    He finally understood what Leopold had gone through.


    No wonder Leopold didn''t care about her past and whether she had children or not, he just wanted to


    be by her side.


    Love could indeed make you throw caution to the wind.


    Thssa''s wrist trembled in his grip, and his words struck her like lightning. She was about to pull


    away when the door burst open, a dark, chilling presence sweeping through the room like an icy draft


    that made the skin crawl.


    Thssa turned to the door and her heart skipped a beat. There, in a shadowy silhouette, was


    Lysander.


    His profile was enigmatic against the dim light, his stride purposeful as he entered the room.


    Lysander in Eldoria? Why was he here?


    While Thssa was still reeling in shock, Lysander quickly approached, yanking her wrist from


    Callum''s grasp and pulling her to his side.


    His icy re bore into Callum. "Care to lose another leg of wrist?"


    Callum met his piercing gaze without flinch, countering the chill with a calmness of his own. "Lysander,


    are you here in Eldoria on business?"


    Thssa, equally curious, stared at Lysander''s profile. She hade to Eldoria for a getaway; what


    could possibly bring him here?


    As Lysander''s grip tightened, she winced in pain, her eyebrows knitting together. She tried to twist her


    wrist free, but it was futile.


    Lysander¡¯s anger was palpable even in the depths of his dark eyes.


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    "If you don''t like the fish, I can turn you into one!" Lysander''s voice was cold, slicing through the


    tension.


    Thssa blinked in confusion. "The salted fish we had was your doing?"


    Callum''s lips curved into a wry smile. "Whatever are you afraid of bying all this way?"


    "If you''re tired of living, I wouldn''t mind helping you out. Just stay away from my woman!"


    With that warning, Lysander dragged Thssa out of the room.  Dra§Þanovels.c§àm

 Chapter 1264

    Chapter 1264


    Thssa felt her heart plummet as Lysander''s razor-sharp words cut through the air, leaving her


    stunned and wounded. "Lysander, can''t you think nicely, just once?" she implored, disbelief etching her


    features.


    "Running off from Starhaven to Eldoria to shack up in a hotel room¡ªisn''t that all about dodging prying


    eyes? How else should I think?" Lysander''s voice was a low rumble, deep and icy, his piercing gaze


    stabbing at Thssa like a sword.


    His wordsnded like a heavy fist on Thssa''s chest, which caused a relentless pain.


    "I brought my mom to Eldoria for a vacation, and I just happened to run into him. That¡¯s all, take it or


    leave it," Thssa retorted, striding away without looking back, not towards their room but towards the


    elevator with determined steps.


    Lysander''s control and oppression were suffocating her, making it hard for her to breathe.


    Her mood had been sour for too long, without a single moment of happiness.


    This is the property of N?-velDrama.Org.


    If this oppression from Lysander continued, it was only a matter of time before she would break.


    Suppressed feelings always find a way to erupt when pushed too far.


    Lysander''s constant suspicions of ndestine meetings with Callum, his extreme actions time and


    again, never once did he consider her perspective, her feelings.


    As Thssa hurried to the elevator, Lysander''s shadowed gaze followed her. She pressed the button,


    seething with anger and suppressing the rage within.


    She was like a child stewing in her own fury.


    Lysander''s brows furrowed as he followed her with long strides. As the elevator arrived, Thssa


    stepped in, and Lysander followed suit.


    His towering presence filled the space, and Thssa instinctively moved aside to put distance between


    them. His aura was like a frigid wind, chilling her skin and making her breath hitch.


    Neither of them spoke when the elevator descended, the air thick with tension. Thssa knew she had


    been too harsh with him earlier.


    Given Lysander''s temperament, he was bound to be displeased. He was a king in his own right,


    unused to defiance.


    And she had defied him.


    Though it had been a momentary loss of control, now, with her temper cooled, she felt a twinge of fear.


    Lysander stood beside her, an unspoken pressure emanating from him.


    The atmosphere was taut.


    Thankfully, the elevator reached the ground floor soon, and Thssa hastened out.


    Lysander was right behind her, but she ignored him, walking briskly toward the artificialke, her pace


    unyielding.


    "Watch it!" Suddenly, a strong arm encircled her waist, yanking her backward.


    Her body lifted off the ground, saved from a dangerous misstep.


    "You''d walk off a cliff if it was in front of you!" Lysander''s voice was a furious growl beside her ear.


    If Lysander hadn''t pulled her back, she''d be iling in the water.


    Catching her breath, she said, "I didn''t see that the path ended."


    "Your head''s in the clouds if you can''t see what''s right in front of you," Lysander chided. Content of


    Dr§Ñm??ovels.c§àm


    She could even feel his strong heartbeats against her back, as if he too had been shaken by the near-


    miss.


    Was Lysander worried about her?

 Chapter 1265

    Chapter 1265


    In the deepest recesses of her heart, Thssa knew she was regarded as nothing but despicable.


    With this thought heavy on her mind, she pried Lysander''s hands from her waist and stepped back, her


    clear eyes shifting from his face to the distance as she remarked, "I was so furious that I couldn''t see


    straight."


    "Furious? What right do you have to be furious?" Lysander''s piercing gaze locked onto her, his


    presence icy and formidable as he scrutinized her.


    If anyone had a right to be angry, it was him.


    Yet there she was, acting as if she had the bigger temper!


    The day Lysander refused to listen to her, convinced she had purposely hurled the prop at him with


    lethal intent, Thssa felt suffocated by frustration.


    She had been bottling up her feelings, searching for an outlet. Now faced with Lysander''s interrogation,


    she didn''t want to hold back any longer. Turning to meet his eyes, she voiced the pain in her heart, "I


    never imagined that, even Susan is more credible than me in your eyes! Lysander, what am I to you? A


    ruthless schemer capable of anything? Or a fickle lover always chasing new thrills?"


    If Lysander had even a shred of trust in her, he would never believe she wanted to kill him.


    And he certainly wouldn''t suspect her of having secret rendezvous with other men!


    All of these usations stemmed from one thing. he had already painted her as such a person in the


    depths of his heart.


    So, he would always assume the worst whenever anything happened.This is the property of N?-velDrama.Org.


    He never truly trusted her.


    Confronted by Thssa''s challenge, Lysander''s gaze darkened, his deep voice resonating as he said,


    "You''ve tried to escape from me over and over, even running off to Weston Country with Callum. What


    am I supposed to think?"


    She seemed desperate to flee him at all costs.


    It was reasonable for him to suspect that she might even kill him to liberate herself.


    "Why do you think I wanted to escape, don''t you know?" Thssa shot back.


    "Know what?" His eyes, reflecting the shimmering surface of theke, seemed to emit a forbidding


    glow, inspiring dread.


    Biting her lip, Thssa felt a tumult of emotions crashing within her, pain so acute even breathing hurt.


    After a fierce internal struggle, she decided to reveal the thoughts that had been gnawing at her for too


    long.


    "If I don''t say it, I''ll suffocate," she thought, then she said, "I can''t withstand your ruthlessness and


    cruelty! You pushed Leopold to his death, even if he was your own kin. What am I then? What are the


    children to you?"


    And one point was even more crucial. no matter how long she stayed by his side, he was never going


    to marry her. She was doomed to live in constant fear and anxiety, always feeling insecure.


    Zephyr had made it very clear to her once that her status wasn''t fit for marriage to Lysander, and their


    history was too fraught with animosity.


    Grandma Sybil''s death wasn''t directly her mother''s fault, but she was implicated nheless. Zephyr


    loathed her and her mother so badly that he would never allow her into the Sinir family.


    That much was evident when Zephyr forbade her from attending Leopold''s funeral.


    And between her and Lysander, there was an unbridgeable chasm.


    With clenched fists, Thssa conveyed her sorrow to Lysander.


    Anger steamed from his nostrils as he bit down on his mrs, containing the turmoil inside. Content


    belongs to Dra§Þan§àv§Öls


    So, she had always believed that he had been the one to drive Leopold to death!


    She had never let go of Leopold.

 Chapter 1266

    Chapter 1266


    Lysander''s aura was a tempest of icy fury, a blizzard that froze the fiery anxiety in Thssa''s heart,


    cleaving it in two with the chill of a winter''s night.


    Her heart clenched with pain at the words he uttered.


    Her breathing hitched as she gazed into Lysander''s face, a portrait of frosty severity. With a faint smile,


    she quipped, "If you wanted to kill me, you should''ve let me fall into theke and drown. Don''t worry. I


    can''t swim and I wouldn''t have stood a chance."


    Material ? N?velDrama.Org.


    A tremor shook Lysander''s icy gaze, a hidden sting in his eyes as his breath, cold and trembling,


    brushed against her face. Through gritted teeth, he warned, "If you''re going to die, you''ll die by my


    hand!"


    With that, he scooped her up in his arms.


    Instinctively, Thssa wrapped her arms around his neck, but as she realized what he was doing, she


    started to push him away. "Put me down!"


    His hand pinched a vulnerable spot on her waist.


    That tender area, already delicate, recoiled under the strength of Lysander''s grip. Thssa''s body


    curled like a shrimp, a sharp gasp escaping her before she tensed up.


    Her face paled, and she red at him. "What are you doing?!"


    "Watch your behavior, or else you know what I''m capable of," Lysander shot her a chilling nce as he


    carried her away.


    His words caused a flush of embarrassment to rush to her cheeks, her pale skin turning a deep


    crimson.


    She held her breath, choosing silence. Arguing with Lysander was a battle she always lost.


    If he wanted her dead, why did he save her from drowning? And despite his anger and hatred, why did


    he still hold her?


    Thssa could never quite understand Lysander. His domineering ways left no room for her will.


    He carried her into the hotel.


    Passersby nced their way, curiosity etched on their faces. Thssa felt like an exhibit,


    ufortable under their gaze.


    This time, she tried a different approach. "Lysander, let me down. I can walk on my own."


    "Shut up!" His curt reply brokered no argument.


    Thssa fell silent.


    They reached the elevator, and Lysander pressed the button for the 20th floor, ascending in silence.


    Evelyn offered an apologetic smile. "Mr. Gordon, I''m sorry. Thssa wants to change her situation too,


    but shecks the means."


    Evelyn had overheard the altercation from the bathroom.


    Such scenes were all too familiar to her. She had witnessed Lysander''s possessive outbursts over


    Thssa time and again, and hade to ept the harsh truth that although he imed her, he


    would never marry her. Co?tent of Dr§Ñm§Ñ?ovels.c§àm


    They had only been on a simple trip, yet Lysander had tracked them down.

 Chapter 1267

    Chapter 1267


    Callum snapped back to reality and noticed Evelyn''s furrowed brow, her face etched with worry and


    guilt. His smile returned, easing the tension in the air, "Hey, what are you talking about? You don''t owe


    me an apology. This kind of stuff happens all the time, no biggie."


    "That''s a relief," Evelyn replied, her voice trembling slightly with the weight of her concern.


    No sooner had the words left her mouth than the door burst open. A gust of formidable energy charged


    into the room, tugging at everyone''s nerves.


    Evelyn turned to see Lysander carrying Thssa into the room, his stern face tight with displeasure.


    Evelyn''s heart sank, her voiceced with panic and worry as she uttered, "Thssa..."


    Callum''s gaze darkened upon seeing Lysander''s hold on Thssa, his fist clenching at his side.


    Under the watchful eyes of her mother and Callum, Thssa felt her difort grow, twisting in


    Lysander''s arms. His sharp nce sent a clear message, and she stilled, as if doused in icy water.


    The mere thought of being seen in such apromising position was bearable when it only involved


    strangers, but this was different. Here she was, in front of her mother and Callum, held close by


    Lysander in a manner that was far too intimate.


    Her dignity felt trampled, as if Lysander had ground it into the dirt beneath his leather boots, a burning


    humiliation.


    Lysander''s piercing gaze swept over Evelyn and Callum, his voice low and icy as hemanded, "If


    you know what''s good for you, leave us!"


    His blunt, domineering words left Thssa breathless, her eyes wide with disbelief and fear.


    What was he saying?


    Was he suggesting they leave so he could...? And say it right in front of her mother and Callum?


    Evelyn, cowed by Lysander''s presence, turned pale but managed a weak smile. "Of course, we''ll just


    be going now."


    With her head bowed, Evelyn left the room.


    Lysander''s words had struck a chord in Callum, his breathing bing heavy. Despite the challenging


    re, Callum slowly rose, leaning on his cane, and made his exit.


    Once Callum was out, Evelyn, still under Lysander''s intimidating gaze, shut the door behind her.


    She turned to Callum, her face ashen, "Mr. Gordon, let''s get out of here."


    This is the property of N?-velDrama.Org.


    After all, who would want to stick around and hear the intensity of what might transpire behind that


    door?


    Without another word, she walked away.


    Callum cast onest, lingering nce at the closed door, his eyes clouded with sorrow, before he


    turned away and followed Evelyn.


    He strode over to the nightstand and picked up the phone, dialing the front desk, "Send someone up to


    change the sheets." Read at NovelDrama.Org


    The moment the words left her mouth, Lysander''s icy gaze froze her in ce.


    His eyes burned with anger as they fixed on her. What he heard and what hetched onto was herst


    sentence.

 Chapter 1268

    Chapter 1268


    Thssa''s heart skipped a beat under Lysander''s piercing gaze, and she found herself instinctively


    stepping back.


    "Did I say something wrong?"


    Lysander''s towering frame advanced towards her, his chilling presence closing in. Thssa retreated


    again, but her steps were no match for his rapid approach. He reached her, his hand snaking around


    This is the property of N?-velDrama.Org.


    her waist, pulling her forcefully against the hard ne of his abdomen. His cold eyes bore into hers.


    "Clean? Why is it clean?"


    Blinking, Thssa was momentarily confused by his question. "The sheets are fresh, no one''s slept in


    them. Aren''t they clean?"


    "Touched by someone with purposes, can they still be clean?" His index finger tipped her chin up, his


    frosty gaze locking with hers.


    A shiver ran down Thssa''s spine as she suddenly understood his insinuation. He was disgusted that


    Callum had been sitting on the bed.


    But that bed was for her mother to sleep in, what did it have to do with him?


    "Lysander, I told you, we just happened to meet..."


    Before Thssa could finish, her lips were seized in a fierce kiss. He ravaged her mouth, leaving no


    corner untouched.


    He sucked on her lips with such intensity that it seemed he wanted to devour her whole.


    The domineering gesture carried both punishment and rage.


    Thssa soon found herself gasping for air, her brain starved of oxygen. She was on the verge of


    suffocation.


    Her eyes widened in panic, and as she instinctively inhaled deeply, she was filled with Lysander''s


    robust masculine scent and the overpowering sweetness of his kiss.


    "Cough..." Her desperate breaths were too rushed, and she choked on her own saliva.


    A cough wracked her throat, but the sound was trapped as her mouth was still sealed by his.


    Just when she felt like she was going to pass out from difort, Lysander released her lips, his


    handsome faceing close to her ear, his warm breath tickling her cheek as he spoke in a low,


    maic voice, "This is what drowning feels like. How did you feel?"


    Gasping for fresh air, Thssa''s chest rose and fell rapidly. Hearing his words, she shook her head. It


    was unbearable, terrifying.


    The feeling of suffocation from Lysander''s kiss, the choking sensation¡ªit was a brief moment she


    would never forget.


    "Do you still want to drown in theke?" Lysander straightened up, his finger once again lifting her chin.


    Thssa shook her head. "No."


    Her words had been in jest, but he had taken them seriously, punishing her with a simtion of


    drowning.


    He was too domineering and too forceful with her.


    His piercing look made Thssa shudder with fear, her entire being suffused with dread.


    His possessiveness was so intense it left her speechless.


    All she could do was suppress any resistance or anger and nod obediently. Read at NovelDrama.Org


    Otherwise, he might really do something to her.


    She knew that when Lysander got angry, he could be truly fierce, without restraint.


    If he wasn''t angry, he might consider the child she was carrying and spare her.

 Chapter 1269

    Chapter 1269


    Thssa couldn''t help but feel a twinge of fear at Lysander''s icy gaze, which pierced through her like a


    de of winter. She quickly averted her eyes and scurried towards the kitchen where a ss of


    untouched water sat next to the kettle.


    "I''ll get you something to drink," she said, her voice barely above a whisper.


    Thssa reached for the ss, intending to hand it directly to Lysander, but hesitated. Her hand


    paused in mid-air before she opted for an empty ss instead, filling it with fresh water from the tap.


    The abandoned ss had been filled for Callum just moments before Lysander''s arrival. Given


    Lysander''s disdain for anything remotely associated with Callum, even sitting on the same sheets, she


    dared not offer him a ss intended for another man. It wasn''t worth risking his wrath on the off-chance


    he would find out.


    She approached Lysander with the new ss of water, offering it to him with a tentative smile. "Here,


    have some water."


    Lysander''s deep-set eyes flicked to the ss and then back to her. "What about you? Aren''t you


    thirsty?" he asked, his voice smooth yet edged with something she couldn''t quite ce.


    Thssa forced a smile. "I¡¯ve had some earlier," she replied. "Your saliva, remember?" She trailed off,


    her tone yfully mocking.


    Her attempt at humor, meant to needle him, was softened by her warm, impish grin that sparkled like


    the morning sun¡ªaforting, prating light that seemed to fill the room.


    Lysander''s gaze shifted, a ripple of something unspoken passing through him. With a deft movement,


    he lifted her chin. "Maybe you should have another sip?" he suggested, his voice low and possessive.


    Thssa recognized that intense look in his eyes¡ªno one knew it better than she did. The fear


    returned, and she quickly stepped back to avoid his touch. "No, I''m not thirsty. You drink," she insisted,


    pushing the ss toward him, her heart pounding against her ribs.


    She was a fool to think she could jest with him when he was in a better mood. Lysander was a real


    tiger, a dangerous man who could snap at any moment.


    He took the ss from her without a word, his long, masculine neck working with each swallow.


    Thssa watched, transfixed by the sight, feeling a surge of something primal and intoxicating.


    Content rights by N?velDr//ama.Org.


    Lysander''s gaze slid to the nightstand beside the bed, and he cleared it with a sweep of his arm before


    taking a seat himself. He then pulled her close, guiding her down onto hisp. Re?d at


    Dr?m§Ñ?§àv§Öls

 Chapter 1270

    Chapter 1270


    So, while they waited for the sheets to be changed, was she seriously not even allowed to sit on the


    bed?


    Thssa was feeling a bit upset. Even if she couldn''t lounge on the mattress, perching on the


    nightstand would''ve been fine, right? Why on earth did she have to sit on hisp?


    With her back against his sturdy chest, Thssa could feel the heat emanating from his body. She


    tensed up, holding her breath as if that could make her invisible.


    Her heart was pounding like a jackhammer, hisrge hands encircled her waist, and his hot breath


    cascaded down her neck, reminiscent of a predator panting over its prey ¨C desperate to devour her but


    restrained.


    Thssa''s heart was all over the ce, a bundle of nerves.


    As the seconds ticked by, the wait felt like an eternity.


    She wished someone woulde to her rescue, but it was just the two of them in the room. Her mom


    and Callum had been shooed away by him.


    And since he was the one who sent them away, they wouldn''t return until he left.


    Thssa racked her brain, trying to figure a way out of his grip.


    Standing up was futile. His arms were locked around her, keeping her firmly in ce.


    She needed an external force.


    Just as Thssa was exhausting her mental strategies, there was a noise at the door.


    Startled, Thssa quickly turned her head to see two housekeepers pushing a cleaning cart into the


    room.


    Upon witnessing the scene, the housekeepers froze, a flicker of surprise crossing their faces before


    they hastily said, "Oh, sorry to intrude. If now''s not a good time, we cane backter."


    They were about to retreat.


    Thssa¡¯s face was as red as a ripe tomato. She smacked Lysander''s hand and stammered, "Get up,


    will you? They''re here to change the sheets."


    Her tone was far from pleasant. Lysander had insisted on her sitting on hisp, and now they were


    caught in this awkward situation by the housekeepers, with her still perched on his legs.


    She was thin-skinned, and being seen like this by others made her feel utterly embarrassed.


    Thssa smacked the back of Lysander''s hand again, mutteringints that left the housekeepers


    both shocked and in awe.


    After all, the man they were looking at was strikingly handsome, with an extraordinary presence. His


    suit was impably tailored, and he wore a wristwatch that was clearly worth a fortune.


    He exuded an air of affluence that made it clear he was a big deal, not someone they''d want to cross.


    Content bel0ngs to N?vel(D)r/a/ma.Org.


    Others might have fawned over him, flirting shamelessly to get close to someone like him.


    But here Thssa was hitting him and speaking with a tone of reproach?


    However, as surprised as they were, they didn''t dare linger, quickly turning to leave.


    Lysander''s deep voice halted them, ¡°Wait!¡±


    Hismand, spoken without anger but full of authority, made the housekeepers freeze in their tracks,


    turning towards him with a mix of respect and fear.  Dra§Þan§àv§Öls


    Even without knowing his status, his mere presence in the room demanded attention.

 Chapter 1271

    Chapter 1271


    Thssa bolted upright, a rush of awkwardness propelling her to take several steps forward, distancing


    herself from Lysander as if that could somehow diffuse the embarrassing air from moments ago when


    she found herself perched on hisp.


    She nced back after a few paces and caught the surprised looks from the hotel staff. With a


    sheepish grin, she tried to alleviate the tension in the air, lifting a hand in a shaky wave and chuckling,


    "Carry on, please."


    The housekeeper masked her own difort, nodding with a polite wariness, "Of course, we''ll have


    this done in no time."


    As the staff began briskly tending to the bed nearest the door, their nervous haste was palpable¡ªthey


    were clearly itching to swap out the linens and make themselves scarce.


    Thssa knew exactly what was running through their minds¡ªthey had seen her on Lysander''sp


    and must have thought they''d interrupted a private moment.


    The mere thought of them imagining her and Lysander together in bed sent a blush to her cheeks, hot


    as boiling water scalding her skin.


    While she squirmed in her difort, Lysander remained the picture of casual repose, lounging


    against the nightstand with one leg stretched out, the other bent, his hands resting casually on his


    knees. His gaze, fixed on Thssa, was calm and unfathomable, as if she were the only person in his


    world.


    Feeling the weight of his cool stare at her back, she shivered involuntarily, her skin prickling with


    unease as if she were prey under a predator''s watchful eye.


    She forced augh, "I''ll just step out for a bit."


    "Hold it right there!" Lysander''s voice, cool andmanding, stopped her in her tracks.


    Thssa turned, her heart pounding, to meet his prating gaze¡ªdeep and dark as the ocean''s


    abyss, capable of drowning one''s soul.


    "Mr. Sinir, is there something you need?" she asked meekly.


    Mr. Sinir? The formality seemed to chill the air around them further, the room''s temperature


    plummeting with his displeasure.


    His oppressive aura had everyone on edge.


    The housekeepers, who hadn''t exchanged a single word with Lysander, now sweated profusely, feeling


    This belongs to N?velDrama.Org - ?.


    the pressure drop in the room.


    They finished their task quickly. They were eager to escape, bowing and scraping, "All set for you. Rest


    assured it''s all clean. Have a great day."


    Thssa''s face, just beginning to regain its normal color, med red again at their words. ''Have a great


    day''¡ªcould there be a hidden meaning?


    "Come here," Lysander demanded.


    Thssa''s feet felt welded to the floor. Her mind screamed to flee, but her body responded to


    Lysander''smand, drawing her towards him.


    Ultimately, she found herself beside him.


    "You think you can slip away from me that easily?" Lysander arched an eyebrow, reaching out his hand


    to her. New ch?pter av?ble o? Dra§Þ§Ñn§àv§Öls.c§àm


    Thssa eyed his open palm, hesitated, then ced her hand in his.


    Her heart clenched at the implication. What did he mean?

 Chapter 1272

    Chapter 1272


    Seeing her shocked, Lysander sneered, his reference to Callum as clear as day.


    Thssa bristled with anger, her eyes shimmering with rage as she shoved at Lysander''s broad


    shoulders. "I have no clue what you''re spouting!" she snapped, her voice a tempest.


    The storm in Lysander''s deep-set eyes darkened, hisrge hand cupping her face so firmly it contorted


    her features. "You don''t understand?" he growled, his voice a low rumble. "Then let me spell it out for


    you."


    Without another word, he dipped his head and captured her lips in a fierce, silencing kiss.


    "Mmph..." Thssa''s breath hitched, her hands pushing against his shoulders in vain.


    His frame was a fortress of muscle and sinew, immovable.


    No amount of shoving on her part could budge him. Instead, her efforts only drained her strength,


    leaving her limp.


    Feeling her resistance wane, Lysander cradled the back of her head, deepening the kiss, iming with


    a hunger that left no room for doubt.


    Thssa''s mind was fogged fromck of oxygen and the overwhelming presence of Lysander.


    Her head spun, her senses filled with nothing but his overpowering breath warming her face, his heavy


    exhtions against her nostrils.


    Her cheeks med, whether from asphyxiation or from the heat of his kiss, she couldn''t tell.


    Eventually, Lysander released her, but he didn''t pull away immediately. Instead, he held her close, his


    face pressed against hers, as if to steady his own breathing.


    Now free to breathe, Thssa gasped for air, her lungs aching for it.


    When she had somewhat recovered, she realized Lysander was still sprawled on top of her, his deep


    breaths tickling her ear.


    The intense heat of his presence pulled at Thssa''s nerves and quickened her heartbeat.


    After several heavy breaths, Thssa managed to find her voice. "The sheets are fresh now. I''m going


    to bed," she meant for him to take the hint and leave.


    Lysander''s brows knitted, his voice husky as he replied, "Then sleep."


    Thssa was at a loss. "How can I sleep with you lying on top of me?"


    "Mom''s going to want to hit the hay soon. You might as well book your own room," she suggested,


    trying not to sound too exasperated.


    "She won''t be blindsided," Lysander murmured against her neck, rolling off her to lie beside her.


    Seizing the moment, Thssa sat up and nced back at him before heading for the door.


    "You think you can just walk away?" Lysander''s voice, dark and resonant, stopped her in her tracks.


    Thssa stiffened, then turned to face him. "I need to be with my mom."


    Lysander remained prone, his gaze flicking towards her. "Watch your behaviour, and you can stay a


    few more days. Otherwise, you know the consequences."


    Arguing with him was futile. He''d only get angry and do something rash, and if her mother was here to


    Content rights by N?velDr//ama.Org.


    witness it all, it would be an even greater concern for her. Updated at Dra§Þ??§àvels.c§àm


    Suddenly, the mattress dipped behind her, Lysander''s substantial weight pressing down.


    Thssa tensed, about to turn around when Lysander''s arm encircled her, pulling her into his embrace.


    Instinctively, she squirmed, but Lysander''s iron grip held her fast. "Don''t move," hemanded.

 Chapter 1273

    Chapter 1273


    "Otherwise, I can''t promise I won''t do something drastic," Lysander''s voice, husky and low, teased the


    delicate skin behind Thssa''s ear.


    Paralyzed by his proximity, Thssa froze. "I''m carrying your child, for heaven''s sake. Don''t mess


    around."


    "I''m aware." His voice was a dark whisper, his nose lightly grazing the tender skin of her earlobe,


    inhaling the subtle scent of her.


    "Just sleep," he murmured, his voice soden with emotion it seemed to drip with intensity.


    The warm breath from his lips tickled the sensitive skin behind her ear, sending a shiver down her


    spine.


    She instinctively tried to shrink away, but as she did, her cheek brushed against his firm, resilient skin,


    igniting an itch in her heart she struggled to ignore.


    Thssa knew he was hurting because of a fire he had stoked himself.


    She shrugged her shoulders, attempting to shake off the arm that held her close.


    Lysander''s raspy voice took on an icy edge, "If you move again, I''ll really do something."


    This belongs to N?velDrama.Org - ?.


    A tingle shot through Thssa''s scalp, and she ceased all movement, too afraid to provoke him further.


    "Sleep," came themand from Lysander.


    Did he mean to sleep while holding her?


    He had traveled miles just to hold her as they slept?


    Wasn''t he still angry, suspicious she was out to harm him? Was that anger now quelled?


    Thssa had never been able to fully understand Lysander, nor fathom his thoughts.


    She had assumed sleeping in his embrace would be impossible, yet before she knew it, she had drifted


    into a deep slumber.


    Feeling the woman in his arms rxpletely, her breathing even and defenses lowered, Lysander


    knew Thssa was asleep.


    He gently disengaged his arm, stood to switch off the bedsidemp, theny down beside her, pulling


    her back into his embrace.


    Holding her soft body close, Lysander rxed, his lips resting in her hair, kissing softly. The tension that


    had built up over several days began to dissipate.


    Gradually, he too fell asleep.


    He had gone to the studio that day to pick her up because the kids were moring to see their mother.


    But no sooner had he stepped inside the studio than a prop was hurled towards his head.


    The prop was as heavy as an adult and sharply edged. Had it hit him, he would have been lucky to


    escape with his life.


    Thest time someone had tried to harm him was five years ago, on a helicopter.


    Poisoned and brawling with the assant, he had tumbled into an old, dpidated barn in Hollowbrook.


    How dare Thssa did that, even if it was an ident!


    Yet, learning that she hade to Eldoria and that Callum was there too, his agitation grew


    uncontroble.  NovelDrama.Org


    ...


    The next morning, Thssa stirred from her slumber, attempting to move but feeling bound as if by


    chains.


    She was wrapped in Lysander''s arms, immovable. His embrace was like a cage.

 Chapter 1274

    Chapter 1274


    Her face was pressed against Lysander''s chest, his shirt still on from the day before, carrying the


    rugged scent of his masculinity and the warmth of his body.


    As Thssa breathed in, the scent filled her nostrils and her heart fluttered back to wakefulness.


    She held her breath, gently pushing away the arms Lysander had wrapped around her, and carefully


    got out of bed, trying not to wake him.


    After freshening up in the bathroom with a quick brush of her teeth and a ssh of water on her face,


    Thssa was ready to slip out of the room quietly. But when she looked back at the bed, she saw


    Lysander''s eyes wide open, observing her.


    Caught off guard, she offered a coy smile. "You''re up early."


    "Not as early as you," Lysander replied, sitting up and stretching his long legs as he walked towards


    her.


    His intense presence drew nearer, and Thssa stepped back instinctively.


    "What''s for breakfast?" he asked, stopping half a step away from her, his gaze lowered towards her.


    "No idea," she shrugged.


    "What do you feel like eating?" his voice was a low rumble.


    "I haven''t decided yet. I was thinking of checking in on my mom first to see what she''s up for," Thssa


    lifted her eyes to meet his gaze.


    Content bel0ngs to N?vel(D)r/a/ma.Org.


    Lysander held her stare silently.


    Her heart pounded as if it were trying to escape her chest, and just when she thought he might object,


    his deep voice granted permission, "Go ahead."


    Thssa''s eyes lit up with surprise. She nced at his handsome face, certain he meant it, and quickly


    turned to leave.


    As she watched her retreat, Lysander headed to the bathroom to freshen up himself.


    Stepping out of the room, Thssa realized she had no idea where Evelyn was staying.


    Her intention had been to find her mother the night before, but Lysander''s embrace had lulled her to


    sleep before she could.


    She had slept right through to the morning, oblivious to where Evelyn had ended upst night.


    Pulling out her phone, Thssa dialed Evelyn''s number.


    It was picked up quickly, and Evelyn''s voice came through, "Thssa, finally remembering your


    mother, huh?"


    The words made Thssa feel a twinge of guilt.


    "Mom, where are you?" she asked, concerncing her voice.


    "I''m down in the hotel diner. Come on down for breakfast and refuel yourself," Evelyn said before


    hanging up.


    With a flushed face, Thssa pocketed her phone and took the elevator to the ground floor, not giving


    another thought to Lysander.


    He probably didn''t need her to fuss over him. If he wanted breakfast, he''d have a hundred ways to sort


    it out without her worrying.


    As she approached, both Evelyn and Callum looked up at her. Content of Dr§Ñm??ovels.c§àm


    Callum''s usual gentle smile and easygoing demeanor were a wee sight.


    "What brings you here alone? Where''s him?" Evelyn nced behind Thssa, curious.


    "He didn''te," Thssa replied.

 Chapter 1275

    Chapter 1275


    ¡°Evelyn snagged it for me. Plus, I think a traditional breakfast hits the spot just right.¡± Callum shed a


    hint of a smile, his eyes locked on Thssa. His lips curled in amusement, but a shadow of disquiet


    lurked in his gaze.


    The message Evelyn left on Thssa¡¯s voicemail earlier didn¡¯t need any decoding, especially not for a


    grown man like Callum.


    She spent the night with Lysander.


    Despite knowing that she and Lysander had been intimate before, sharing four kids between them, the


    stark realization of what Thssa and Lysander had done felt like a lump in Callum¡¯s throat.


    ¡°Yeah, I just grabbed the breakfast for him. You sit, I''ll fetch you some grub,¡± Evelyn said, starting to


    stand.


    ¡°Mom, sit down. I can get it myself,¡± Thssa insisted.


    As Thssa walked toward the buffet, Evelyn settled back into her seat with a sigh. "When will this


    ever end?"


    Callum, attempting to lighten the mood, reassured her, ¡°There wille a day when we¡¯ll find a way


    through this. Let¡¯s eat, Evelyn.¡±


    With a gentle smile, he took a bite of his burger.


    Evelyn nodded, biting into a donut, too. Neither mentioned the issue at hand again, but both knew


    exactly what weighed on their minds.


    Thssa and Lysander were like a modern-day Romeo and Juliet, a couple that burned fiercely


    despite knowing it could never be. That was the real concern.


    Thssa returned with a bowl of oatmeal with some salmon.


    ¡°You used to hate salmon, didn¡¯t you? What made you change your mind?¡± Evelyn asked in surprise.


    Picking up a piece of salmon with her fork, Thssa replied, ¡°I don¡¯t know. I just started liking them.¡±


    ¡°It was when you were pregnant with the quads five years ago that your tastes changed. Who knows


    how many you¡¯re carrying now,¡± Evelyn muttered.


    Sitting right beside them, Callum overheard thement. A chill ran up his spine. ¡°You¡¯re pregnant?¡±


    he asked, his voice tinged with a mix of astonishment and pain.


    Thssa continued to eat her oatmeal and salmon calmly, confirming, ¡°Yeah, almost two months.¡± She


    had been pregnant thest time when she ran off to the Weston Country with Callum, but she hadn¡¯t


    known it then.


    Hearing her affirmation, the sense of loss in Callum¡¯s eyes deepened.


    ¡°Mr. Gordon, shall I get you something to drink?¡± Evelyn asked, attempting to ease the tension.


    Callum looked down and quietly declined, ¡°No, thanks.¡±


    This is the property of N?-velDrama.Org.


    She knew Callum was a good man, and she couldn¡¯t drag him into her personal hell. A silent rejection


    was the most decisive kind.


    Callum forced a smile and said, ¡°No, they haven¡¯t.¡± Updated at Dra§Þ§Ñn§àv§Öls.c§àm


    ¡°You silly girl, isn¡¯t Hertha hung up on that ric guy?¡± Evelyn chuckled.

 Chapter 1276

    Chapter 1276


    ¡°What do you consider to be right?¡± A cold voice resonated through the room.


    He hadn¡¯t arrived yet, but his presence was already felt by everyone nearby.


    Without turning, Thssa knew it was Lysander.


    She didn¡¯t look back, continuing to eat her oatmeal, lost in her own world, when the seat beside her


    was taken by a towering figure with an unmistakable aura.


    As Lysander sat down, a chill seemed to emanate from him, making Thssa slow her spoonfuls of


    oatmeal.


    Callum¡¯s face turned even sourer, his previously amiable gaze darkening.


    Evelyn offered a nervous smile and greeted, ¡°Mr. Sinir, you¡¯re up early. What would you like? I¡¯ll go


    get something for you.¡±


    ¡°Mom, let me,¡± Thssa stood up, her steps taking her towards the breakfast buffet.


    Lysander was a man of unpredictable moods, quick to anger.


    No one knew what might set him off, and if Evelyn irritated him, the oue wouldn''t be pretty.


    This belongs to N?velDrama.Org - ?.


    Of course, Thssa couldn¡¯t let her mother take that risk.


    She picked out a bowl of in oatmeal and a side of pickles for Lysander, cing them before him on


    the table.


    Evelyn panicked at the sight of Thssa¡¯s choices and scolded, ¡°What are you doing giving Mr. Sinir


    these?¡±


    Thssa was baffled by her mother¡¯s words, as if Lysander wasn¡¯t human and didn¡¯t have the same


    needs. The buffet offered simple fare like doughnuts, cereals, oatmeal, and pickles.


    This wasn¡¯t some grand five-star establishment. It was just a modest hotel, and modest food was what


    they provided.


    ¡°Mom,¡± Thssa called out, a gentle reminder.


    Evelyn stopped, biting her tongue, not daring to look at Lysander, fearing his reaction and what he


    might do to Thssa.


    The atmosphere tensed, thick with apprehension, as Evelyn feared they might be chased away like the


    day before.


    But then Lysander¡¯s deep voice broke the silence, ¡°I¡¯ve never tried pickles with oatmeal before. It¡¯s


    worth a taste.¡±


    With that, he picked up a pickle with his fork and took a bite.


    Evelyn looked up incredulously, worrying he would spit it out in disgust.


    Lysander was a man of privilege. Surely, he hadn¡¯t eaten such simple food before.


    Such fare was not for those with delicate stomachs, especially not for a first-timer.


    While Evelyn was on edge, Lysander swallowed the pickle and, to everyone¡¯s surprise, a smile yed


    on his lips, ¡°Not bad.¡±


    While Evelyn was fraught with nerves, Thssa remained calm, continuing to eat her oatmeal and


    salmon.


    Suddenly, a chuckle broke the silence.


    Thssa and Evelyn turned towards the source of the sound, only to see Callum¡¯s lips curled into a


    smirk.


    Lysander lifted his eyes to meet Callum¡¯s gaze.


    His words were tinged with hostility.


    Lysander¡¯s stare became icy as he focused on Callum.


    Thssa paused, unaware of the implications of the salted fish. Re§Ñd at NovelDrama.Org


    Callum¡¯s sudden im that Lysander liked it stirred curiosity. Was there a deeper meaning?


    If anything else happened to him, it would be truly tragic.

 Chapter 1277

    Chapter 1277


    Seeing her mother''s demeanor, Thssa realized that Callum''s earlier remark was directed at


    Lysander. She quickly forked some salmon onto Lysander''s te, chuckling awkwardly, "Here, try this. I


    think it¡¯s quite tasty too."


    After speaking, she caught Lysander''s leisurely, converging gaze.


    Thssa''s smile froze as she averted her eyes and bowed her head, focusing on her oatmeal.


    This belongs to N?velDrama.Org - ?.


    What did it have to do with her? Wasn''t it him who said it was tasty?


    In her panic, Thssa ate too quickly and almost choked on a grain of oatmeal that caught in her throat


    and she coughed violently.


    Lysander, who had been brooding just moments before, looked at her with sudden concern and patted


    her back, scolding gently, "Can''t you eat a bit slower?"


    After several coughs, Thssa finally caught her breath, red at Lysander and retorted, "If you


    weren''t so intimidating, I wouldn''t have had to rush."


    Lysander''s brows furrowed slightly, "Did I say anything to scare you like that?"


    Thssa exhaled, "It''s when you say nothing at all that''s the scariest."


    "Where were you nning to go for fun today?" Lysander suddenly asked.


    Thssa was momentarily confused by his leap in conversation.


    Then it dawned on her that they hade to Eldoria for a vacation, and naturally, they couldn''t just


    stay in the hotel all the time.


    But what did Lysander mean by asking? Did he intend to join them?


    Thssa and Evelyn had discussed on the ne to visit the quaint Riverside Town to row down the


    tranquil river. The town boasted serene scenery, ancient history, with old-world architecture lining the


    waterways. The weeping willows and vibrant flowers along the river was a picturesque scene.


    Thssa had seen some photos posted by tourists online and decided to take her mother rowing there.


    Unexpectedly, two more people joined.


    Lysander came along, and so did Callum. Evelyn had said it would be too boring for Callum to stay at


    the hotel alone, and that getting out for some fun would be good for his spirits.


    However, there was only one boat left.


    That meant the four of them were to share one boat.


    Thssa didn''t mind, but she worried about Lysander''s willingness.


    "Evelyn, give me a hand, let''s get on the boat first," Callum said, leaning on his cane and making his


    way onto the boat.


    "Easy, I''ve got you," Evelyn hurried over to assist Callum onto the boat, where they both took their


    seats.


    The boat was small, fitting a maximum of four people.


    On either side of the boat, there was room for two people to sit. Evelyn and Callum settled on one side,


    leaving the other side vacant.


    Thssa felt that with Lysander present, they could hardly enjoy anything.


    It would be best if Lysander left.


    Lysander nced at her with his deep, cool eyes, an intimidating presence about him, "Who said I''m


    going back?"  NovelDrama.Org


    Thssa stood on the shore, stunned.


    "Aren''t youing?" Lysander''s cold voice snapped Thssa out of her daze.


    She hurriedly stepped onto the boat.

 Chapter 1278

    Chapter 1278


    Sitting on a weathered wooden bench by theke, Thssa leaned into Lysander''s side, her gaze


    meeting that of her mother, Evelyn, who sat opposite. Lysander''s presence was somanding that


    even as Evelyn tried to focus on Thssa, her peripheral vision kept betraying her, drawn to the man


    beside her daughter.


    A shiver of difort ran through Evelyn as her eyes unintentionally brushed past Lysander. Quickly,


    she averted her gaze to the calm waters of theke, trying to find sce in the scenery. Weeping


    willows draped their tendrils across moored boats, their wispy branchesically resembling toupees


    on balding dolls. It was a sight both enchanting and amusingly quaint.


    Evelyn''s attention was caught by a modest fishing boat bobbing not far off, its silhouette against the


    shimmering river. Suddenly, with the grace of a dancer, a fish leaped from theke, arcing perfectly


    through the air beforending on the very boat Evelyn had been observing.


    The fisherman, who''d been dozing in wait for the right moment to haul in hiss, was jolted awake by


    the p of the fish against his cheek. Bursting intoughter, he eximed, ¡°Well, ain''t that the luck! A


    catch while napping, that''s some fine fortune!¡± With glee, he scooped up the fish and secured it in his


    This is the property of N?-velDrama.Org.


    bucket.


    Evelyn, who had been so engrossed in the scene, couldn''t help but let out augh. It had been ages


    since she had witnessed such a vivid slice of life, and the moment swept the clouds from her mood like


    sunlight through a clearing mist.


    Thssa watched her motherugh¡ªa true, heartfeltugh¡ªand she felt a warm sense of relief. She


    had brought Evelyn on this little getaway to lift her spirits, fearing that too much time spent cooped up


    in Starhaven might lead her down a dark path again. After a past suicide attempt, Thssa couldn''t


    bear the thought of a second.


    As Thssa smiled, a strong arm wrapped around her shoulder, pulling her gently into a broad and


    sturdy chest. The subtle scent of sandalwood from the man''s body enveloped her, a fragrance so


    familiar it caught her off-guard. Her heart skipped a beat, and she found herself holding her breath,


    overwhelmed by the intimacy of the moment.


    Countless nights had been spent in the embrace of such a chest, surrounded by thisforting scent.


    Now, that same scent filled her lungs in the open air, triggering memories of their shared slumber.


    Without pushing him away¡ªafter all, it was just a simple hug and nothing more¡ªThssa epted


    silently. Her heart fluttered as she inadvertently locked eyes with Callum, who sat across from them.


    His gaze was clouded with a mncholic shadow. His previously warm eyes now seemed to carry a


    chill that mirrored the cool breeze brushing against their skin.


    Just as she was about to speak, Callum looked away, mimicking Evelyn''s retreat to theke''s calming


    scenery. The air somehow felt cold to Callum, a reflection of his internal frost. A once ardent heart felt


    as if it had been covered in ice, the difort instant and unsettling.

 Chapter 1279

    Chapter 1279


    But she didn''t push Lysander away.


    It wasn''t that she didn''t care about Callum''s feelings, but she wanted to make it clear to him that pining


    for her was meaningless.


    Thssa was brooding when out of the corner of her eye, she caught a glimpse of a pair of piercing,


    deep-set eyes. She tried to look away, but Lysander''s icy gaze pulled her back.


    Their eyes met.


    His eyes seemed to swirl with a blizzard, threatening to consume her very soul.


    Thssa''s heart pounded like a drum inside her chest. What had she done now to upset him?


    Locked in a stare with Lysander, her heart racing, she worried he might lose it on the boat. When he


    lost his cool, it was a disaster.


    "Look! There''s a bird diving for fish¡ªit''s fascinating! It can swim and even dive underwater for several


    minutes withouting up," Evelyn suddenly eximed, pointing excitedly at the surface of theke.


    This belongs to N?velDrama.Org - ?.


    Evelyn''s voice broke through Thssa''s tension and embarrassment. She quickly turned to Evelyn with


    a smile and said, "Indeed. There are so many wonders in the world that we''ve yet to see. We should


    really get out travelling more and explore the world."


    "I''m not getting any younger, and there''s not much time left to wander," Evelyn sighed softly.


    Her words sent a shiver through Thssa. She always feared Evelyn¡¯s morose talk, worried she might


    do something rash¡ªthat''s why she had brought her on this trip.


    And yet here was Evelyn, sounding downcast again.


    Thssa''s cheeks turned pale with concern.


    How she wished she could return to her mother''s side to hug her and ease her worries.


    But Lysander held her tightly, preventing her from escaping.


    "You can still wander the world at a hundred, let alone at fifty!" Lysander''s deep, maic voice


    suddenly rang out.


    He was responding to Evelyn''s earlierment, offering her reassurance.


    Thssa was surprised. She turned to nce at him, his ruggedly handsome features sharp and


    resolute, exuding a potent masculine charm.


    His allure made Thssa''s breath catch. Charming men always had a way of stirring one¡¯s soul.


    Moreover, his words were meant tofort her mother.


    "Ah!" Thssa''s body lurched with the motion.


    Lysander''s arms wrapped around her, keeping her from being thrown overboard. New ch§Ñpter av?ble


    on NovelDrama.Org


    "Ssh!" Caught off guard by the sudden jolt, Evelyn tumbled into theke suddenly.


    Water sprayed everywhere as Evelyn iled on the surface, crying out, "Help!"


    Her plea for help was cut short as she began to sink.

 Chapter 1280

    Chapter 1280


    The boat steadied momentarily, and Thssa''s breath hitched as she saw her mother plunge into the


    water. Panic overtook her senses, and she leapt to her feet, darting toward the spot where her mother


    had disappeared, screaming out loud, "Mom!"


    Evelyn struggled in the water, her body sinking and rising, gulping down water until she could no longer


    resurface, her form descending into the depths.


    "Mom!" Thssa''s heart raced, threatening to burst from her throat as she frantically prepared to dive


    in after her mother.


    Her hands had just grazed the edge of the boat when a strong grip seized her, pulling her back.


    "Let me go. I have to save my mom!" Thssa instinctively tried to shake off the restraint.


    Lysander''s voice cut through, "Can you even swim? Jumping in would be suicide."


    "I don''t care! My mom''s drowning, can''t you see? Let go of me, I have to save her!" Tears streamed


    down Thssa''s face as she struggled fiercely, trying to break free from Lysander''s grasp.


    "Mmm..." Evelyn floundered at the surface, her fate as uncertain as a fish leaping from the water.


    Thssa''s heart was in knots, desperation fueling her attempts to shake off Lysander''s hold, "Let go of


    me. I have to save her!"


    Lysander''s gaze was icy as he looked at her, his eyes a wintry abyss.


    "Someone helps!" Callum, using his cane for support, rose to his feet and shouted across to a nearby


    fisherman for assistance.


    The fisherman heard the call for help and quickly grabbed a life ring and plunged into the water.


    But it was toote. Evelyn had already sunk below the surface.


    Thssa stared at the now calm water, her pupils dted with terror, her scalp tingling as she cried out,


    "Mom!"


    Content rights by N?velDr//ama.Org.


    Her lips quivered and her face turned ashen, her legs going weak.


    Lysander watched her panic-stricken expression, his face tense and hisplexion grave. Even in her


    fear, she hadn''t thought to seek his help.


    She would rather leap to her own death than ask him for assistance, never considering in her frantic


    state that he might be a person she could trust.


    Suddenly Lysander clenched his jaw and released Thssa''s wrist.


    Now free, Thssa wobbled, ready to plunge into the water to rescue her mother.


    But a tall, dark figure jumped first, diving into the river.


    Thssa stumbled to the edge of the boat, watching as Lysander disappeared beneath the surface,


    bubbles popping and then calm returning.


    Both Lysander and her mother were gone!


    Staring at the tranquil water, Thssa''s eyes widened with tears falling.


    Her body felt limp, and she copsed onto the deck of the boat.


    "Thssa!" Callum approached, leaning heavily on his cane, witnessing her despair, yet unable to


    help.


    One hand on his cane, the other hanging on his neck because of the broken wrist, he was unable to


    offer any assistance.


    He couldn''t even muster the strength to pull Thssa to her feet.


    It was Lysander!


    He was holding Evelyn.


    Lysander''s hair was drenched, but his face, misted with droplets, still shone in the sunlight.


    He tugged Evelyn along, swimming toward the boat. New ch?pter av?ble o? NovelDrama.Org


    Thssa''s heart was ignited with hope.


    As they reached the side, Thssa reached out to help.

 Chapter 1281

    Chapter 1281


    Lysander leapt gracefully,nding on the deck with the ease of a cat afterwards.


    Having been submerged for a tad too long, Evelyn was dazed and coughing, her consciousness


    muddled by the water.


    "Mom, how are you feeling?" Thssa''s voice trembled as she saw her mother''s distress, tears


    streaming down her cheeks.


    She ced her hands on Evelyn''s chest, pressing down rhythmically, trying to expel the swallowed


    water.


    Despite feeling weak and drained from fear, Thssa summoned all her strength to perform CPR on


    This belongs to N?velDrama.Org - ?.


    Evelyn.


    Lysander watched as Thssa sobbed and pressed on her mother''s chest, her legs shaking


    uncontrobly. He pushed Thssa aside and took over.


    After a couple ofpressions, Evelyn sputtered out the water, her coughing growing more forceful.


    "Mom, you''re awake. You scared me to death." Thssa''s legs gave out, and she knelt beside Evelyn,


    her face pale with tears.


    "Thssa..." Seeing her daughter, Evelyn was instantly overwhelmed by emotions. The brush with


    death had shaken her to the core, and the relief of waking was palpable.


    "Mom..." Thssa couldn''t hold back her emotions any longer and wrapped her arms tightly around


    Evelyn.


    She had been terrified of losing her mother. This trip was meant to be a pleasant getaway, a chance for


    Evelyn to rx.


    If it had ended in tragedy, Thssa would forgive herself.


    Evelyn cried too, fully aware of her daughter''s fear. She held Thssa close, her tears mingling with


    her daughter''s.


    Lysander stood up, his towering figure casting a protective shadow over the embracing pair.


    His deep-set eyes, damp from the rescue, seemed cold yet profound.


    Callum stood to the side, his worry also palpable. He had felt helpless during the crisis, hindered by his


    injured arm and leg.


    Then Lysander''s gaze met Callum''s. There was a mix of defiance and a trace of dark clouds in


    Callum''s eyes.


    Lysander''s gaze was firm and icy, a strong beam that seemed to repel all darkness.


    Callum broke the intense eye contact first, turning to look at Thssa and Evelyn instead.


    "Mom, are you sure you''re okay? Should we go to the hospital just in case?" Thssa''s concern was


    evident as she propped up Evelyn''s shoulders.


    Evelyn wiped away her tears and reassured her daughter. "I''m fine, darling. No need for a hospital visit.


    Don''t worry."


    "Mom, let''s go back tond. It''s too dangerous out here." Thssa said, helping Evelyn to her feet.


    As they stood, Thssa''s eyes met Lysander''s deep-set ones.


    He didn''t seem the slightest bit disheveled from the plunge. New ch?pter av§Ñble o?


    Dr?§Þan§àv§Öls.c§àm


    "Thank you for saving my mom," Thssa said to Lysander.


    After speaking, she averted her gaze and helped Evelyn to a seat on the side.

 Chapter 1282

    Chapter 1282


    Before long, the boat docked at the shore.


    With a gentle hand, Thssa helped Evelyn up onto thend. They needed a ride back to the hotel.


    Lysander hailed a cab, and soon the group of four were on their way back to the hotel.


    Callum, who was nursing a twisted ankle,gged behind.


    With concern etched on her face, Thssa quickly escorted Evelyn back to their room.


    Lysander followed suit. Turning around, Thssa found his towering frame beside her. She took a


    deep breath and tried to shake off the heaviness in her chest.


    "Mom¡¯s and my clothes are all in this room," she said to Lysander. "Did you bring any clothes with you?


    If not, you might want to hit up the mall for a new outfit. Yours are soaked through."


    What she was really saying was that she and her mother needed privacy to change clothes.


    Lysander had imed their room the day before, and Evelyn had to bunk elsewhere for the night. After


    today''s ordeal, Thssa was determined not to let him disce her mother again.


    "It''s fine. I can find another room." Sensing Thssa''s wary of Lysander, Evelyn stood to leave.


    But Lysander turned and strode out of the room after a brief nce at Thssa.


    Once he was gone, Thssa let out a sigh of relief and helped Evelyn settle back down.


    "I''ll grab the clothes. You should take a warm shower first." Thssa rummaged through their suitcase


    ¡ªit was packed with a few changes of clothes for the trip.


    She handed a set to Evelyn and waited outside while her mother showered.


    After a while, Evelyn emerged, and it was Thssa''s turn.


    Exiting the steamy bathroom, Thssa found Evelyn sitting on the bed, her eyes zed over, lost in


    thought, devoid of their usual spark.


    Thssa dreaded seeing her mother like this. She sat beside her and asked softly, "Mom, what''s on


    your mind?"


    Evelyn snapped back to reality and nced at Thssa. "I''m thinking about Lysander."


    Thssa waited for her to continue.


    "Why would someone of his stature leap into the water to save me? He gotpletely drenched. He


    must have done it for you. He''s kind to those around you, yet he won''t marry you."


    The thought weighed heavily on Evelyn''s heart.


    Thssa felt a pang in her chest at her mother''s words, her gaze dropping slightly.


    Should she tell her mother that Lysander had hesitated for a long time before deciding to save her?


    That he only jumped in when he saw her sinking and couldn''t bear it any longer?


    This belongs to N?velDrama.Org - ?.


    Would that disappoint her?


    Besides, Thssa had stopped fretting over whether Lysander would marry her.


    She had given up on that a long time ago.


    And now, even if Lysander wanted to marry her, she wouldn''t ept.


    "Mom, don''t overthink it. If you''re tired, why not take a nap?" Thssa suggested.


    Evelyn looked at the bed where she had sat in her wet clothes, dampening the sheets.


    "I''ll call the front desk to have them change the sheets," she said while waiting for the call to connect.


    Co?tent belo?gs to Dra§Þ?n§àv§Öls.c§àm


    Soon enough, someone answered. Thssa said, "This is room 201. Could we get a change of sheets,


    please?"


    Thssa was surprised. She hadn''t expected a refusal.

 Chapter 1283

    Chapter 1283


    Yesterday, the hotel staff werepliant when Lysander rang them up, requesting a change of bed


    sheets.


    So why was it that today she got the cold shoulder when she made the call?


    ¡°It was different yesterday,¡± the front desk clerk replied in a tone that was as dry as overcooked turkey.


    "How is it any different?" Thssa pressed on, her frustration simmering.


    ¡°Because yesterday¡­¡± the clerk started before biting her tongue, letting out a sigh that could dete a


    parade balloon, ¡°Alright, fine. We¡¯ll change the sheets for you this time. But do us a favor and try not to


    douse them then, okay?¡±


    ¡°This is lousy service! We¡¯re checking out. We won¡¯t stay at this ce any longer,¡± Thssa fumed,


    feeling the tant disparity in treatment.


    The front desk had some kind of favoritism going on. Yesterday, Lysander called and the clerk was all


    over it like white on rice, with the staff showing up to change the sheets in a heartbeat.


    But today, they treated her like she was asking for the moon when she called.


    ¡°You¡¯re wee to check out. A gentleman has been eager to move in,¡± the clerk said with a tone that


    suggested they had been waiting for them to leave.


    Thssa was stunned. Were they really waiting for them to vacate the room?


    Was this mysterious gentleman Lysander?


    After all, he had stayed in this room just the day before, and she had asked him to leave today.


    Was Lysander trying to push her out so he could book the room and have a reason to kick Evelyn out?


    Thssa felt a bitter sting in her chest, as if her heart was being brined in saltwater.


    She wanted to protect her mother, yet Lysander seemed intent on rubbing salt in her wounds, wanting


    to drive her mother away.


    And to think she had believed Lysander was trying to help her reason with Evelyn?


    She realized he didn¡¯t care about her feelings or her mother¡¯s at all.


    He was all about iming territory and possession!


    With a heavy heart, Thssa snapped at the phone, ¡°We¡¯re checking out right now!¡±


    She mmed the phone down.


    Her mother had had an ident, and she was already shaken to her core, longing to take a nap with


    her to recuperate.


    But instead, she faced this heartburn-inducing debacle.


    Having heard Thssa¡¯s phone ordeal, Evelyn suggested, ¡°Let¡¯s just make do and get some sleep,


    honey. There aren¡¯t many hotels around, and who knows how long it¡¯ll take to find another.¡±


    Thssa¡¯s eyes welled up, looking at Evelyn, ¡°Mom, I¡¯m sorry¡­¡±


    ¡°Silly girl, there¡¯s no need for apologies between mother and daughter,¡± Evelyn chided gently, patting


    her daughter¡¯s head.


    She really should take her mother away and find another hotel.


    Content bel0ngs to N?vel(D)r/a/ma.Org.


    Yet her mother was right. There weren''t many options nearby.


    That could easily waste an extra hour or two.


    Better to rest now and give their tired bodies and souls a respite first. New ch?pter av?ble o?


    Dra§Þ§Ñn§àv§Öls.c§àm


    Thssa caved, ¡°Mom, let¡¯s just sleep on the other bed. The one with the wet sheets won¡¯t do.¡±


    Back at the hotel front desk.


    Callum handed her a card, ¡°Good job.¡±

 Chapter 1284

    Chapter 1284


    When Thssa woke up, it was already past three in the afternoon.


    Her mom was still asleep, so she quietly got out of bed. Her stomach was growling with hunger,


    thinking about heading down to the diner to grab some food.


    As she approached the door and swung it open, she nearly bumped into the man outside.


    The guy had a handsome face with a smile in his eyes and an approachable aura that made him seem


    easy to get along with.


    It was Callum.


    Thssa blinked in surprise before greeting him politely, ¡°Mr. Gordon, didn¡¯t you catch a nap?¡±


    After speaking, she nced toward Callum''s cane, noticing a bag hanging from it, filled with what


    looked like takeout boxes.


    He was favoring one foot, unable to put weight on it and using the cane for support, while his other foot


    stood firm on the ground, one hand wrapped in a bandage slung around his neck. He was clearly in a


    bit of a bind.


    This is the property of N?-velDrama.Org.


    But even with his hobbling, he had brought some food for them.


    Callum''s face held a gentle smile as he said warmly, ¡°Missed lunch, didn''t we? I got us some food from


    the diner downstairs. Let''s eat.¡±


    Hearing Callum''s words, Thssa felt a small tug at her heartstrings, realizing he had indeed brought


    the takeout for her and her mother.


    ¡°Thssa, who is it?¡± called out Evelyn from inside.


    Thssa looked back and replied, ¡°It¡¯s Mr. Gordon.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re up,¡± Callum called into the room.


    ¡°Mr. Gordon,e on in,¡± said Evelyn warmly.


    Thssa stepped aside, ¡°Mr. Gordon, pleasee in.¡±


    Callum didn¡¯t stand on ceremony, limping his way inside.


    Watching him struggle to walk, Thssa instinctively reached out to help him. But then, she hesitated


    as a thought struck her, and she let her hand drop, giving up the idea of assisting him.


    Her life was already a mess. She couldn¡¯t drag Callum into it.


    She couldn¡¯t let him get the wrong idea.


    He had joked before about liking her, making her realize that she had to keep her distance from


    Callum.


    ¡°Mr. Gordon, let me help you,¡± Evelyn stepped forward, guiding Callum and taking the bag from his


    cane.


    Evelyn instinctively helped Callum towards the nearest bed to sit down.


    Normally, this would be amon gesture since there were no chairs in the room and guests usually


    sat on the bed if there wasn''t much fuss about it.


    But Thssa remembered how Lysander had insisted on changing the sheets just because Callum


    had sat on the bed the day before.


    Although there weren''t any chairs in the room, there was a small leather sofa by the window. It was just


    a bit out of the way, and not the first ce someone would think to sit when entering the room. Co?tent


    of Dr§Ñm§Ñ?ovels.c§àm


    Callum was just about to sit on the bed when he paused at Thssa''s suggestion.


    He was stuck in a halfway sit-stand that was all kinds of awkward.

 Chapter 1285

    Chapter 1285


    Then Callum hobbled towards the windowsill, leaning heavily on his cane.


    "Take it easy. I''ve got you," Evelyn said without furtherment, helping Callum to the windowsill


    where he could sit down.


    She then turned and red at Thssa, "I''ve never seen you fuss over such trivial matters before."


    Thssa''sshes fluttered down, and she remained silent.


    "Don''t be too hard on Thssa," Callum chimed in, his voice as mellow as ever, a picture of


    unppable calm. "The lunch I brought for you is all freshly made, not leftovers. Try it to see if you like


    it."


    His easygoing nature only fueled Evelyn''s impression that Thssa was taking advantage of him.


    Her brows knit together, she scolded Thssa again, "Look at him, you could learn a thing or two


    about grace."


    "Yes, Mom, I will," Thssa quickly replied, eager to stave off another lecture.


    This is the property of N?-velDrama.Org.


    She opened up the lunchbox, and the aroma of the food instantly wafted out as the lid was lifted.


    Both Thssa and Evelyn were famished. The smell of the food made their stomachs audibly rumble.


    Evelyn felt a tad embarrassed, patting her belly and chuckled, "Look at me, bing as much of a


    foodie as Elowen."


    She gave Callum an apologetic grin, but he maintained his genial smile. "You''re just hungry, Evelyn.


    Let''s eat," he said.


    "Yeah," Evelyn agreed, handing a lunchbox to Thssa before grabbing one for herself and starting to


    eat.


    Thssa sat on one bed while Evelyn on another.


    Callum sat by the window, his eyes softening as he watched them tuck into their food, a wave of


    mncholy and guilt washing over him. "Evelyn, I''m sorry, when you fell into the water, I should have


    been the first to jump in after you, but I curse my useless legs and hands... I''m not much use to


    anyone."


    Hearing his words, Thssa looked up at him and quickly reassured him, "Mr. Gordon, don''t me


    yourself. We''re so grateful for what you''ve done. With your condition, jumping in wouldn''t have helped.


    Besides, you were the one who called the fisherman to save my mother."


    Thssa was truly grateful. Callum had been incredibly helpful in her eyes.


    Yet she couldn''t help but feel like a burden to him.


    "After all, it was Lysander who pulled Evelyn ashore. You''re probably more grateful to him right now,"


    Callum said, his gaze dropping slightly, as if he had missed his chance to be the hero.


    At the mention of Lysander''s name, Thssa felt a heaviness in her chest akin to a stone weighing her


    down.


    Her words were not of gratitude but carried a mix of me and hurt. Re§Ñd at Dra§Þan§àvels


    If Lysander had acted as soon as Evelyn fell into the water, she wouldn''t have been struggling for so


    long.


    It was only when he saw her determination to save Evelyn at all costs that Lysander finally dived into


    the water.

 Chapter 1286

    Chapter 1286


    Thssa shoveled forkfuls of mashed potatoes into her mouth, her gaze cast down at theforting


    swirl of her meal, avoiding any eye contact with Callum or Evelyn as she concealed the tumult of


    emotions within her.


    Callum didn''t mention Lysander, and that was fine by Thssa. She wasn''t ready to think about him


    just yet. But the mere mention of his name brought back the terrible memories on the boat, when


    Evelyn had fallen into water with no one could help.


    Lysander''s first instinct hadn''t been to save Evelyn. Instead, he tried to stop Thssa from diving in


    after her mother.


    If Lysander had jumped into the river to save Evelyn immediately, Thssa wouldn''t have been so


    frantic.


    His attempt was just to stop Thssa from jumping herself, and his pretense of concern was nothing


    but an excuse.


    In Lysander''s heart, he didn¡¯t take Evelyn as his family or friend.


    This thought triggered a bitter surge of self-mockery in Thssa.


    Evelyn was her mother. How could Lysander value Evelyn when he seemed to barely care for Thssa


    herself?


    Moreover, considering the strained history between Evelyn and Bruce, it was already a miracle


    Lysander didn''t despise Evelyn outright. How could he possibly hold any warmth for her?


    This is the property of N?-velDrama.Org.


    When Evelyn had been struggling in the water, Lysander probably felt a twisted sense of relief that she


    was finally getting hereuppance.


    The idea that he''d wish for Evelyn''s death was ghastly, yet there it was. How could Thssa expect


    Lysander to rush to save someone he secretly longed to see suffer?


    Thssa understood this twisted logic all too well, and that¡¯s why she never sought Lysander''s help


    from the beginning.


    Upon hearing Thssa''s ount¡ªthat Lysander had only acted when it was clear Evelyn was nearly


    drowning¡ªa thick wave of disappointment and sorrow washed over Evelyn from deep within.


    She had felt grateful to Lysander for saving her, but Thssa''s words painted a different picture.


    Lysander had let her flounder, perhaps even relishing her desperation. He still harbored hatred toward


    her.


    Even if Bruce wasn''t Thssa''s father, the undeniable fact of Evelyn''s past romance with Bruce was


    enough to sour Lysander''s feelings. How could he be gentle with a woman who had been intimate with


    his enemy?


    Evelyn felt like a burden to Thssa. Perhaps it was her past with Bruce that made Lysander unwilling


    to fullymit to Thssa.


    With a gloomy mood, Evelyn''s appetite waned, and her pace of eating slowed.


    Overhearing the conversation, Callum piped up, "Well, let''s be fair. Lysander did save Evelyn in the


    end. He''s a military man, a strong swimmer. A small river like that is a walk in the park for him."


    He seemed to be making excuses for Lysander, but to Thssa, his words stung.


    Sure, Lysander was trained, swimming was as easy as breathing to him. But he hadn''t reacted to save


    Evelyn immediately.


    If Evelyn had drowned, it wouldn''t have made a difference to him¡ªperhaps he would even find some


    relief in it.


    "Mr. Gordon, we''re heading back to Starhaven this afternoon. What about you?" Thssa asked, trying


    to change the subject as she took another bite of her meal.


    This trip to Eldoria was supposed to clear her mind. But on the contrary, it had brought more


    embarrassment to her mother. It felt pointless now. Going home seemed the only sensible option.


    She wanted to drop the topic of Lysander and steer the conversation elsewhere.


    "We''ll take the train. I can book them on my phone, no worries," Thssa said politely. Read at


    NovelDrama.Org


    "My injury makes it tough to get around, so I can''t see you off. You''ll be fine getting to the station on


    your own, right?" Callum asked, always mindful of etiquette.

 Chapter 1287

    Chapter 1287


    Mentioning Thssa¡¯s four kids brought a sparkle to Evelyn''s eyes, her heart swelled with warmth. But


    then, the thought of them staying with their father and beyond her reach whenever she wished to see


    them cast a shadow over her spirits.


    After they finished eating, Thssa and Evelyn started to pack their bags, getting ready to hit the road.


    Callum had intended to see them off, but Thssa insisted, ¡°You should rest that injured leg of yours,


    just head back to your room. No need to trouble yourself with the ups and downs.¡±


    ¡°Have you guys booked your ride?¡± Callum asked, always sweating the small stuff.


    ¡°It''s all set,¡± Thssa assured him.


    ¡°Alright then, I won''t see you out. Safe ride.¡± Callum conceded.


    Dragging their suitcases, Thssa and Evelyn stepped into the elevator and descended to the hotel


    lobby.


    Thssa handed her room key and ID to the receptionist with a curt, ¡°Checking out!¡±


    She couldn''t shake off the irritation from earlier when she called the desk to request fresh sheets and


    the receptionist answered with a tone dripping with condescension.


    A vacation was supposed to be joyful, yet it seemed wherever they went, they stumbled upon


    snobbery, souring the mood.


    The receptionist nced over her shoulder at Thssa''s brusque tone and processed the checkout


    with an air of impatience.


    Thssa, already harboring a grudge against this receptionist, now felt her patience wearing thin at the


    receptionist¡¯s dismissive behavior.


    Barely containing her anger, Thssa said coldly, ¡°Keep up this attitude, and I''ll be on the phone to


    The receptionist turned, her face a mask of indifference, ¡°Exactly which part of my service seems poor


    to you? Aren¡¯t I processing your checkout as you asked?¡±


    Just as Thssa was about to escte the confrontation, Evelyn stepped in and tugged at her arm,


    ¡°Let it go. Let¡¯s just get out of here as soon as possible.¡±


    All Evelyn wanted was to get back home and have a good rest.


    Yielding to Evelyn''s persuasion, Thssa shot the receptionist a re but let the matter slide.


    The checkout waspleted swiftly, and the receptionist handed back her ID.


    Thssa snatched it and retorted, ¡°Now you can give that room to the gentleman you were so eager to


    Content rights by N?velDr//ama.Org.


    please!¡±


    With that, she wheeled her suitcase around and stormed off.


    ¡°Mom, you don¡¯t get it, this isn¡¯t just discrimination,¡± Thssa fumed as they walked.


    She knew this was Lysander¡¯s doing! Co?tent §àf Dra§Þa?ov§Öls.c§à§Þ


    That man ¨C cunning in business and petty in personal grievances ¨C had a knack for maniption.

 Chapter 1288

    Chapter 1288


    "Thssa, why the rush? Hold up for me," Evelyn called out, panting slightly as she tried to keep up.


    Thssa had hailed an Uber.


    They were now waiting outside the hotel for their ride.


    Just as they settled into position, a sleek white Lamborghini pulled up beside Thssa.


    She stepped aside with Evelyn, giving the car some space to park.


    The window glided down to reveal a striking face that seemed to glisten in the sunlight.


    It was Lysander.


    Thssa''s heart skipped a beat at the sight of him, and she instinctively tightened her grip on Evelyn''s


    hand.


    Lysander''s piercing gaze fell on Thssa for a moment before shifting downward to the hands sped


    tightly together. Thssa appeared nervous, perhaps even fearful of him.


    "Need a lift?" Lysander''s deep voice broke the silence.


    Evelyn was about to reply, but Thssa pulled her back and stepped forward. "You''re blocking the way.


    Our Uber will need space to stop."


    "The Uber won''t being," Lysander said, his voice rich and enigmatic.


    Thssa''s eyes flickered with confusion. "What did you do to the Uber driver?"


    How could Lysander possibly know she had ordered an Uber? And even the specific driver?


    Lysander''s eyes grew dark as the depths of the ocean, fixating on her. "You seem to care about


    everyone else," he said, the chill in his voice unmistakable.


    Everyone but him.


    Feeling the coldness in his stare, Thssa''s brows knitted together, her breath catching. Although she


    was deeply upset by his actions, she still dared not truly provoke him. She knew the consequences.


    Her mother had already endured enough humiliation today, and she couldn''t risk any further distress.


    "I''m just concerned about whether my ride ising or not," Thssa responded, implying that her


    concern was for the ride itself rather than the driver.


    "Get in," Lysandermanded.


    This belongs to N?velDrama.Org - ?.


    Still, Thssa stood her ground. Was he expecting her to get in and leave her mother behind?


    "No, thanks. My mom and I are heading to the train station, back to Starhaven. If Mr. Sinir wants to


    y his games, he can do that on his own."


    With that, Thssa turned and reached for her phone to find another Uber.


    But when she unlocked her phone, a message popped up. "Sorry, your Uber ount has been frozen."


    Thssa was speechless. Her Uber ount was frozen!


    How did Lysander manage that?


    She had sessfully called an Uber just moments ago.


    It was as if no matter what she did, Lysander was one step ahead to take control. He knew she was in


    Eldoria, and he knew about her Uber order.


    Could there be something wrong with her phone?


    As Thssa pondered, a new message shed on her screen.


    A WhatsApp message from a contact named Atticus.


    Seeing her son''s name, Thssa quickly opened the message.


    Thssa simply replied, "?"


    It turned out her own son had frozen her ount? New ch§Ñpter av?ble on Dr§Ñman§àvels.c§à§Þ


    Did it mean the Uber she had ordered was also canceled by Atticus?


    With this revtion, all of Thssa''s confusion dissolved.


    Her own son Atticus had been monitoring her every move in cahoots with Lysander.

 Chapter 1289

    Chapter 1289


    Atticus, the apple of Thssa¡¯s eye, was now in cahoots with Lysander.


    "What''s got you so jumpy and giggly, Thssa?" Evelyn sidled up, craning her neck to peek at


    Thssa''s phone with curiosity.


    "Messages from Atticus," Thssa said, handing over her phone without a fuss.


    Evelyn couldn''t help but chuckle at the message. "Look at it. That little boy has already turned his back


    on us."


    Before Evelyn could ponder any longer, that white Lamborghini of Lysander¡¯s roared to life behind


    them, zooming past anding to a halt with a dramatic ir.


    Lysander, arm casually resting on the open window, fixed his gaze on Thssa, his tone brooking no


    argument, "No one else is giving you a ride now. Still want to make it to the train station?"


    He even knew she was heading to the train station!


    Atticus must have been tracking her phone all the time. What a little rascal. She''d have to give him a


    piece of her mindter.


    With Lysander around, no one else would dare offer Thssa a lift.


    Thssa nced at Evelyn with worry, "Mom..."


    This is the property of N?-velDrama.Org.


    "Ah, you just go first. I can leave tomorrow, or hitch a ride with Mr. Gordonter," Evelyn sighed,


    knowing full well that Lysander wouldn''t extend his offer to her.


    "I meant both of you!" Lysander''s voice cut through the air.


    At his words, Thssa spun around, her eyes wide with disbelief and surprise.


    Evelyn was equally taken aback and wondering if she had misheard.


    His presence was overwhelming, a single nce from him enough to send a shiver down Evelyn''s


    spine.


    "What are you waiting for?" Lysander urged.


    Thssa snapped back to reality.


    Lysander stepped out of the car, his towering figure imposing a silent pressure.


    Thssa instinctively shuffled back, caught in his aura of authority.


    He cast a deep, searching look her way, his hand reaching out.


    Expecting him to grab her chin like before, Thssa closed her eyes, bracing for the inevitable.


    But instead of the anticipated pain, she felt the weight of her luggage being lifted. Opening her eyes,


    she saw Lysander cing their suitcase in the trunk.


    The car sped towards the train station, driven by someone Thssa didn''t recognize. She and Evelyn


    sat in the back while Lysander upied the passenger seat.


    Soon enough, they reached the train station.


    "Thanks for the ride, and you can head back now," Thssa said, taking her suitcase.


    Both mother and daughter exchanged bewildered looks.


    What was Lysander up to? Escorting them aboard the train?


    Evelyn mused, "He''s not nning toe with us, is he?"


    Thssa''s eyes widened in realization.


    That must be it. With Atticus in the picture, finding out which train they were on was a cakewalk for


    Lysander. Re§Ñd at Dramanov§Öls


    His overwhelming presence and icy aura made Thssa edge away, her breath catching.


    "So scared of me?" Lysander''s piercing gazended on her, his voice a quiet rumble.

 Chapter 1290

    Chapter 1290


    The oppressive aura in the room was palpable, making Thssa''s heart skip a beat. She shook her


    head resolutely, "No, it''s not that."


    Before Lysander could make a move, Thssa subtly shifted closer to him, her hip just grazing his


    side. The brief contact was like a spark between two live wires, sending a jolt of electricity through them


    both.


    Lysander''s arm casually draped over her waist, his hand firmly but gently encircling the slender curve


    of her midsection. Even with his light touch, the raw strength in his grasp was undeniable, and


    Thssa couldn''t help but feel a twinge of nervousness.


    She thought he would make a bold move right there on the train, in full view of the other passengers.


    But instead, his hand just began a gentle, circr motion over her belly, as if he were soothing a child


    within.


    This belongs to N?velDrama.Org - ?.


    Surprised by his tender action, Thssa realized that Lysander was trying tofort the baby inside


    her. She had mistaken his intent, assuming the worst¡ªthat he was beyond caring about propriety or


    her feelings.


    His warm hand continued its gentle caress, and the tension in Thssa''s body began to melt away.


    She could feel the steady, powerful beat of his heart through the thin fabric separating them, and it


    soothed her own frantic pulse gradually.


    Lysander watched her with a softened gaze, a rare departure from his usual icy demeanor. It was as if


    the first rays of morning sunlight had thawed the surface of a frozenke.


    He was silent, simply gazing at her with an intensity that spoke volumes.


    Evelyn was seated in an aisle seat behind them. With just a nce, she could see the intimate


    interactions unfolding between Thssa and Lysander. The way he held her, and the gentle light in his


    eyes, made him look like a man enraptured by love.


    Evelyn caught her breath. Could it be that Lysander was actually harboring feelings for Thssa?


    Otherwise, why would he look at her with such tenderness? But if that was the case, why hadn''t he


    married her?


    Lysander''s disdain likely extended to any woman associated with Bruce, especially Evelyn. After all,


    Bruce had pursued Lysander''s mother while still involved with Evelyn. If she were in Lysander''s shoes,


    she would resent such a woman for not keeping her man in check, allowing him to wreak havoc on


    another''s life. Co?tent §àf Dra§Þa?ov§Öls.c§à§Þ

 Chapter 1291

    Chapter 1291


    Evelyn''s gaze fell as she grappled with an inner torment that refused to dissolve, a pang of self-


    reproach vivid in her eyes.


    The train was quick, reaching Starhaven in just two hours.


    From the moment they disembarked, Thssa could sense that something was off with Evelyn. As


    they stepped out of the station, Thssa preempted any discussion, turning to Lysander and saying, ¡°I


    need to get back to Star Harbor Vi to be with my mom.¡±


    No sooner had she spoken than a sleek ck Rolls-Royce rolled up beside them, the door swinging


    open to reveal a man in a crisp suit.


    Thssa did a double-take. The man seemed both unfamiliar and eerily recognizable.


    Upon closer inspection, recognition dawned on her face. It was indeed an old acquaintance.


    ¡°David, how on earth did you get so tanned?¡± Thssa blinked, half-convinced her eyes were


    deceiving her.


    But after a more careful look, the features were unmistakably David''s, though his skin had taken on a


    deep bronze as if he''d spent considerable time basking in the Afrnd sun.


    David grinned, his pearly white teeth standing out against his darkened skin.


    ¡°Ms. Everhart, Evelyn, Mr. Sinir, please get in the car,¡± he said, his tone a mix of respect and


    familiarity as he courteously held the door open.


    Thssa stood rooted to the spot, her gaze questioning as she looked to Lysander. She had made her


    intentions clear about returning to Star Harbor Vi, but Lysander hadn''t responded yet.


    ¡°Get in,¡± Lysander said with a deep, inscrutable look.


    With that, he slid into the passenger seat.


    Thssa hesitated, relieved he hadn''t insisted on sharing the backseat.


    Turning to Evelyn, she said, ¡°Mom, let¡¯s get in.¡±


    She held the door, allowing Evelyn to climb in first.


    Evelyn seemed out of sorts, her movements mechanical as she entered the vehicle.


    As the car elerated onto the asphalt road, an eerie silence enveloped the interior despite the


    presence of four people. Thssa sat closely next to Evelyn, their arms entwined, leaning on each


    other.


    ¡°Mr. Sinir, did you enjoy your trip to Eldoria?¡± David asked, his voice light, trying to lift the


    atmosphere.


    Lysander¡¯s only response was a sidelong nce.


    David touched his nose, a gesture to cover his awkwardness.


    This is the property of N?-velDrama.Org.


    ¡°We went in the morning and came back in the afternoon. How much fun do you think we had?¡±


    Thssa said, breaking the silence to spare David further embarrassment.


    At her words, Lysander¡¯s dark gaze flicked to the rear-view mirror.


    ¡°Oh,¡± was all David replied, signaling he got the message, then fell silent again.


    But barely a second passed before he caught Lysander¡¯s pointed look¡ªa silent reminder of something.


    Realizing what his boss meant, David quickly caught on. Read at NovelDrama.Org


    His tone was yful, inviting Thssa into the light-hearted banter.


    ¡°Why?¡± Thssa inquired, ying along.

 Chapter 1292

    Chapter 1292


    "Come on, you can''t just ask ''why'' right off the bat. You''ve gotta take a guess first," David chimed in,


    lightening the mood with the tacit approval of Mr. Sinir.


    He didn''t need to say a word ¨C Mr. Sinir''s eyes were practically nudging him to pipe up.


    "Mom, take a guess. Why do you think David''s turned into such a dark knight?" Thssa teased, her


    lips curling into a smile as she nudged Evelyn yfully.


    Evelyn had been down in the dumps the whole trip, and Thssa wanted to cheer her up by drawing


    her into the conversation.


    Evelyn lifted her gaze, nced ahead, then turned to Thssa, her voice still heavy with emotion,


    "What else could it be? He''s tanned, obviously."


    Davidughed heartily. "Sharp as a tack, you got it in one!"


    Thssa didn''t find the joke all that funny. It was more like dry humor, if you ask her.


    "Guess again ¨C which sun do you think kissed me so deeply tan?" David kept his eyes on the road as


    he drove and spoke.


    "Besides the zing sun of Afrnd, where else could you get such a quick tan? Have you looked in


    the mirrortely?" Thssa quipped with augh.


    "I dare not. I''m afraid I wouldn''t see my own face," David joked back.


    "Isn''t it strange," he mused, "that we all share the same sun, yet it feels so different depending on


    where you are? Some ces scorch like the Sahara, others are as cold as the Arctic. It''s kinda like


    people ¨C some are warm as a summer''s day, others as frosty as winter."


    With that, David shot a nce at Lysander ¨C the man who was as chilly as the metaphorical tundra he


    was alluding to.


    Thssa''s heart skipped a beat at David''s words, worried for him.


    David was not only bold but apparently had nerves of steel to openly call Lysander an iceman to his


    Content rights by N?velDr//ama.Org.


    face. Wasn''t he afraid of being sent on a one-way trip to the Arctic?


    Lysander''s icy gaze swept over David, silent but speaking volumes more than words ever could.


    David chuckled awkwardly, "It''s all about the distance from the sun, you see. The closer you are, the


    hotter it gets. Mr. Sinir and Ms. Everhart here must be feeling that heat being so close to each


    other."


    "Zip your mouth, or I''ll zip it for you," Lysander''s cold voice broke the silence.


    Thssa felt a twinge of worry for David. His trip to Afrnd seemed to have emboldened him to a


    daring extent.


    Seeing Lysander''s growing irritation, David wisely dropped the banter and got straight to the point. "Mr.


    Sinir, onest thing, I promise, and then I''ll shut it."


    "Say it and shut up!" Lysander snapped.


    David fell silent.


    "Are we heading back to Royal Estates?" he ventured to ask.


    "To Star Harbor Vi," Lysander stated in his deep voice. New ch?pter av?ble o? Dra§Þ§Ñn§àv§Öls.c§àm


    Thssa had been worried he''d want to go straight to Royal Estates, but hearing those words, her


    tense heart finally settled.


    For now, Thssa had to be mindful of her mother''s feelings. She held Evelyn''s shoulder a little tighter


    in silent support.

 Chapter 1293

    Chapter 1293


    The car pulled to a gentle stop in the quiet neighborhood of Star Harbor Vi.


    Thssa and Evelyn stepped out, and with a soft purr, the Rolls-Royce sped away into the night.


    Back home, as darkness enveloped the sky, Thssa busied herself with unpacking, sorting through


    only had lunch and dinner was yet to be had.


    "I''ll whip up some spaghetti," Evelyn replied, rising to head for the kitchen.


    Thssa didn''t insist on helping. Having something to do was good for Evelyn¡¯s spirits.


    After the meal, Thssa urged her mother to get a good night''s sleep and to let go of all worries.


    ...


    A weekter.


    Ethan strolled into the office building, holding a bouquet of flowers. He caught sight of Thssa as he


    entered the lobby and greeted her with a smile, "Ready to call it a day?"


    "Time''s up, and no overtime pay means no point in sticking around," Thssa quipped back.


    "How about you stayte today, and I''ll throw in an extra drumstick tomorrow?" Ethan teased, wagging


    his finger yfully.


    "Keep the drumstick for your girlfriend. I wouldn¡¯t want to intrude on your date," Thssa retorted,


    making to leave.


    "Girlfriend? Why don¡¯t I know if I had one?" Ethan looked genuinely puzzled.


    Thssa nced at the vibrant roses in his hand, wrapped with precision and dotted with baby''s


    breath - unmistakably a lover''s bouquet.


    "No girlfriend, Mr. Ethan? Then, what are these flowers for?" she asked.


    "These," Ethan said with a wink, "are to persuade you to stayte with me."


    Thssa raised an eyebrow. "Are you nning to use me as a shield to fend off family expectations?"


    She said it half in jest.


    Ethanughed heartily, "You¡¯re way funnier than me. I wouldn¡¯t dare use you as a decoy, not with


    Lysander around. Can you imagine what trouble I¡¯d be in if I irritate Lysander?"


    Thssa was speechless.


    She didn''t appreciate being the subject of jests about herplicated rtionship with Lysander.


    The truth was, Thssa and Lysander''s rtionship was awkward, to say the least. They weren''t


    lovers or spouses, yet she was carrying Lysander''s child and was often seen in hispany. In a word,


    their rtionship was ndestine.


    Thssa''s mood soured.


    Noticing her reaction, Ethan dropped the teasing. "I was hoping you''de with me to the hospital to


    visit Susan."


    Without another word, Thssa stormed off. Co?tent §àf NovelDrama.Org


    Ethan backpedaled, following her. "Come on, don''t be like that. Can''t you keep your personal grudges


    apart from work?"


    "What ''work'' do I have with her? It''s all personal," Thssa fumed, marching forward.


    With the bouquet in hand, Ethan kept pace with Thssa, trying to reason with her.

 Chapter 1294

    Chapter 1294


    "Then you go ahead, Mr. Ethan. I''d rather not mix in," Thssa said without turning back.


    "But Susan got hurt trying to save Lysander. You should go and thank her on his behalf," Ethan paused


    his stride, not following her anymore.


    Thssa''s brisk walk came to an abrupt halt.


    Her hands clenched tightly. Her breathing became uneven. She turned, ring at Ethan, and said,


    "Yes, she saved Lysander, and the one who was saved is Lysander! That''s his business, what does it


    have to do with me? On what grounds should I thank her for him?"


    This was the thorn in Thssa''s heart.


    Lysander believed that she had deliberately manipted the wire, intending to hit him with a prop.


    He thought she wanted him dead!


    Thssa couldn''t forget the icy, cold look in Lysander''s eyes at that time¡ªhis eyes swirling with a


    blizzard and a chilling disappointment.


    Yes, he had looked at her with disappointment.


    This belongs to N?velDrama.Org - ?.


    He was convinced that she was the culprit and had tried to hit him on the head, to take his life.


    He had never trusted her.


    As Thssa spoke with agitation, her breath heaving, tears involuntarily welled up in her eyes.


    She looked up, blinking, trying to force the tears back.


    What was she upset about? What right did she have to be upset?


    There was nothing between her and Lysander. Mutual distrust was normal and natural, wasn''t it?


    Ethan hadn''t expected his words to upset Thssa so deeply.


    The hand holding the bouquet drooped, and his face lost its usual teasing smile, reced by a serious


    expression.


    "Do you know what kind of rumors Susan is spreading out there?" Ethan asked her.


    Thssa blinked back her tears and looked at him again, "What rumors?"


    She slowly regained herposure.


    "She''s saying you''ve been with Lysander for so long, bore him four children and still haven''t secured a


    firmmitment. You must be feeling unbnced. With Leopold Sinir gone, if Lysander were to die


    too, the Sinir Corporation would fall to your son. You''d be the power behind the throne."


    "What?" Thssa was shocked. Susan was smearing her like this!


    "I''m suggesting you visit the hospital to show your gratitude as Lysander''s woman, to thank her for


    saving him. If you thank her in this way, people will see that you care about him. It''ll discredit her lies


    and silence the rumors."


    Ethan was actually looking out for Thssa''s best interest.


    Thssa''s brow furrowed slightly, "Let her say what she wants. I don''t care anymore."


    She looked away, gazing toward the horizon.


    Hearing Ethan''s words, Thssa''s resolve wavered, her heart instantly aching.


    Thssa''s hands clenched tightly. She was filled with helplessness, pain, and ack of choice. Re§Ñd at


    Dramanov§Öls


    "Fine, I''ll go with you," Thssa finally decided.


    Visiting a woman she despised took enormous courage.


    Ethan drove Thssa to the hospital.


    Even before they entered the ward, they could hear voicesing from inside.

 Chapter 1295

    Chapter 1295


    Sitting at the edge of the bed, Lucy gave Susan a warm smile as she peeled an apple. "Susan, you''re


    practically a heroine for saving Mr. Sinir. A few scratches? Totally worth it."


    Bruce chimed in from across the room, his voice filled with admiration. "Absolutely, Susan. After this,


    Mr. Sinir is definitely gonna see you in a new light."


    Thssa froze just outside the door, her body shaking with anger at the sound of their voices.


    Thest thing she wanted was to see their smug faces.


    Especially Bruce ¨C he was the one who had ruined her mother, leaving her in an emotional wreck.


    She wished she could kill him.


    Pretending to be all warm and fuzzy with Susan''s family was something Thssa just couldn''t


    stomach.


    Ethan noticed Thssa''s fury and stopped beside her. He could see her clenching her jaw, her cheeks


    trembling with rage.


    He was well aware of the bad blood between Thssa and Bruce''s family. Gently cing a hand on


    her shoulder, he whispered, "Those who aim to achieve great things must endure sometimes. Do it for


    your children, Thssa."


    Thssa''s tense body gradually rxed as she took Ethan''s words to heart. She took a deep breath,


    then let it out slowly, trying to calm the storm within.


    Once she feltposed enough, she walked into the room with Ethan by her side.


    Susan was sitting up in bed, engrossed in a mobile game, while Lucy sat beside her, feeding her the


    peeled apple. Bruce was busy pouring hot drink.


    This belongs to N?velDrama.Org - ?.


    As Thssa and Ethan entered, no one looked up.


    "Susan, how are you feeling? Any better?" Ethan asked, his professional smile as a CEO practiced and


    polite.


    Lucy turned at the sound of their voices. Her first instinct was to hurl insults at Thssa, but the sight of


    Ethan made her swallow her venom.


    Forcing a grin, she buttered up to Ethan. "Mr. Ethan, what brings you to visit Susan? Are these flowers


    for Susan? That¡¯s so nice of you."


    Lucy took the bouquet eagerly, bending over backwards in her enthusiasm. She sniffed the flowers


    before showing them to Susan. "Look, it''s from Mr. Ethan. He''s brought you these."


    Dropping her phone, Susan clutched the bouquet to her chest, her eyes softening coyly as she looked


    up at Ethan. "Mr. Ethan, you''re the most considerate man I''ve ever met. Even visiting a patient, you


    bring flowers."


    "You''ve got it wrong. These aren''t from me; they''re from Thssa," Ethan corrected her.


    Lucy and Susan''s smiles froze on their faces, their gazes shifting to Thssa, filled with resistance and


    hostility.


    Standing amid the crowded ward, Thssa remained silent, trembling with loathing for Susan and her


    family.


    If Ethan weren''t there, she''d have thrown them on the floor without a second thought.


    This was the rumor Susan had been spreading for the whole week ¨C that Thssa had tried to kill


    Lysander. Re?d at Dr?m§Ñ?§àv§Öls


    Ethan nudged Thssa gently, urging her to speak.


    Since she was there, she might as well clear her name.

 Chapter 1296

    Chapter 1296


    Thssa''s gaze on Susan was like staring at a snake in the grass. With each smug curl of Susan''s


    lips, a smoldering anger built within her, itching to leap forth in the form of a stinging p across her


    smirking face.


    And then there were the others, Lucy and Bruce, tightening her chest with scorn.


    But Ethan was right. Even if she couldn''t muster the will to do it for herself, she had to think about her


    children.


    Swallowing the bile of her rage, Thssa spoke up, "Mr. Ethan''s right. The flowers were meant for


    Susan, as a thank you for saving Lysander."


    Susan reared up like she''d been struck by lightning, her face twisting into an ugly snarl as she pointed


    usingly at Thssa. "Thank me? What right have you to thank me on behalf of Lysander? You''re


    nothing to him. Just a ything he hasn''t grown tired of yet. Soon enough, he''ll kick you to the curb.


    And here you are, shamelessly offering thanks in his stead. How dare you?"


    Bolstered by her act of heroism, Susan''s arrogance knew no bounds.


    She dared tosh out at Thssa, even with Ethan present, not caring if word got back to Lysander.


    After all, she believed in Lysander''s eyes, Thssa was an attempted murderer while she was his


    This is the property of N?-velDrama.Org.


    savior.


    Lysander''s newfound favor towards her was undeniable, a sentiment recently affirmed when he had


    sent her some fruit as a gesture of his concern.


    Thssa had been biting back her fury while addressing Susan, but thetter''s vitriolic usations


    were thest straw. With a rage that burned like wildfire and threatened to burst from her chest,


    Thssa lunged forward in an unanticipated move.


    With a swift motion, her hand flew out and "smack!"¡ªthe p cracked across Susan''s cheek with an


    echo that reverberated through the ward.


    Susan''s face jerked to the side, her eyes wide with shock, her cheek stinging fiercely as a ringing filled


    her ears.


    Lucy, who had been delicately peeling an apple, a gift from Lysander as precious as a golden apple


    from Greek mythology, stood frozen. She had been moments away from feeding it to Susan, elevating


    her status with each bite.


    But before Susan could bite the fruit, her face was violently turned aside by Thssa''s blow.


    The apple in Lucy''s hand hovered as confusion took over.


    Bruce was the first to snap out of the daze. His beloved daughter had been pped, the same


    daughter currently held in high esteem by Lysander, the daughter upon whom Bruce was pinning his


    hopes for future wealth.


    That bastard child, Evelyn''s offspring from an affair, had dared to strike his blood!


    "Who gave you the right to hit my daughter?" he bellowed.


    Ethan immediately spun around, shielding her with his body. Upd§Ñted at Dr§Ñ§Þan§àvels.c§à§Þ


    The boiled water cascaded over Ethan''s back, drenching him through his clothes.


    A muffled groan of pain escaped Ethan''s lips, his face contorted briefly in agony.

 Chapter 1297

    Chapter 1297


    Thssa gripped Ethan''s hand, urgency etched across her face as she attempted to rush him out of


    the ward to tend to the burn on his back.


    Just as they reached the threshold, a formidable presence loomed over them.


    She nearly collided with the figure stepping through the door. Halting abruptly, Thssa lifted her gaze


    and met the piercing eyes of Zephyr.


    Dressed in a button-up with short sleeves, his attire was traditional with a serious edge. Despite his


    years, an aura of authority seemed to radiate from him.


    His eyes were sharp as a hawk''s, giving Thssa a cursory nce before settling on her hand


    intertwined with Ethan''s.


    His gaze darkened and turned icy.


    Feeling her heart sink under that intense stare, Thssa hadn''t even processed her difort when


    another man showed up. Tall and foreboding, he wore a crisp ck shirt, exuding an air of nobility and


    depth.


    It was Lysander!


    The sight of him immediately made Thssa''s tense. She realized she was still holding Ethan''s hand


    and quickly let go as if it were a hot potato.


    She averted her gaze to the wall, unable to meet the eyes of either Zephyr or Lysander.


    Ethan was the first to speak up, ¡°Susan''s family just had an ident with some boiled water that spilled


    on me. Thssa just wanted to get me to a doctor.¡±


    Perhaps Zephyr''s intent was indecipherable to them, but Lysander''s icy, oppressive gaze was not lost


    on Ethan.


    Lysander had never truly cared for any woman other than Thssa. His possessiveness over Thssa


    was so intense it bordered on the extreme.


    A mere lingering nce from another man at Thssa was enough for him to wish he could gouge out


    the offender''s eyes, let alone someone touching her hand.


    Zephyr gave Ethan a cursory nce and, continued into the room without a word.


    Thssa quickly stepped aside to clear the way.


    "Oh Mr. Sinir, thank you so much foring. I''m sure Susan will recover much faster with you


    arrival.


    Thssa felt a wave of disgust. She couldn''t understand how a societal leech like Bruce, who had


    ruined countless women and tormented so many families, could still be thriving.


    Susan had been boiling with rage, ready to unleash a torrent of curses on Thssa and even


    considering using a broom to beat her senseless.


    Her eyes had locked on the broom leaning against the wall, her impulses gearing up to act, when


    Zephyr and Lysander appeared.


    In an instant, her anger and ferocity vanished, reced by a disy of tears and a pose of victimhood.This is the property of N?-velDrama.Org.


    Susan spoke while deliberately showing them her swollen cheek marked by distinct handprints,


    resembling a mountain range stamped onto her face. New ch?pter av§Ñble o? Dr?§Þan§àv§Öls.c§àm


    It was only logical that the Sinirs would not stand by idly after Susan had saved Lysander,


    considering someone might be targeting him with ulterior motives.

 Chapter 1298

    Chapter 1298


    As Zephyr spoke, Susan¡¯s families exchanged knowing smiles, their faces lighting up with such joy that


    it seemed as if beams of happiness might burst from their eyes.


    Susan, whose heart had been seething with anger moments before, felt a wave of calm wash over her


    at Zephyr''s words. She couldn''t help but crack a smile. That smile, however, pulled at her tender


    cheeks, and she winced with the sting.


    She quickly covered her face with her hands.


    Lucy was the first to catch on. With a ttering smile, she said to Zephyr, "Our dear Susan is utterly


    devoted to Mr. Lysander. If she could stay by his side, she''d guard him day and night without a


    second''s hesitation. Even if it meant risking her own life, she wouldn''t flinch."


    Lucy saw an opportunity and seized it, hoping to position Susan closer to Lysander. If Susan could


    snag the role of Lysander''sdy, the doors to fortune could swing wide open for them.


    Bruce chimed in, "Absolutely, Susan was just telling us how she can''t bear the thought of Lysander in


    danger without someone by his side. She wishes she could be with him around the clock."


    The ambitions of the Bruce family wereid bare for everyone to see.


    Should Susan find her ce beside Lysander, what need would her family have to worry about money


    again?


    Bruce had gambled away a lifetime of savings in the stock market, thanks to Lucy''s ill-advised trading.


    He''d been like a headless fly ever since, buzzing around in constant agitation without direction.


    He''d called Thssa several times, demanding money, but was refused every time.


    He no longer had any control over Thssa and needed to prop up Susan to keep the cash flowing.


    After all, she was still his flesh and blood.


    Thssa had long known about Susan''s designs on bing Lysander''s woman and the lengths to


    which she would go for that. There had been that incident with the drugged wine, hoping to seduce him


    in his vulnerable state.


    Now, she was leveraging her role in saving Lysander to seek a ce by his side.


    Watching the eager faces of the family, Thssa sneered inwardly with disdain.


    Her gaze inadvertently drifted to Lysander, who stood just a step outside the ward. Their eyes met, his


    imprable gaze seeming to pierce through her.


    The intensity of his stare caused Thssa''s heart to skip, and she quickly looked away.


    If he was so grateful to Susan, let him show his gratitude himself. Susan had always wanted to be his


    woman, and granting her wish would be the ultimate thank-you.


    Lysander''s deep eyes clouded with annoyance as he saw Thssa''s drifted gaze.


    "You''ve been kind," Zephyr said, "but Lysander doesn''t need a woman right now. Wouldn''t want his


    future wife getting jealous. The Sinir family has already taken care of the hospital bills, so there''s no


    need for you to worry."


    He couldn''t stand by and watch Bruce¡¯s family nder Thssa. He had brought her here to clear up


    the rumors that she was out to harm Lysander, not to fuel them further.


    After all, he was telling the truth.


    C¨°ntens bel0ngs to N?(v)elDr/a/ma.Org


    With that statement, Susan cast another shadow on Thssa''s character, implying she was fickle and


    flirtatious¡ªsupposedly Lysander''s woman, yet entangled with Ethan. Re?d at Dr?m§Ñ?§àv§Öls


    Ethan snapped, "Susan, what nonsense are you talking about!"


    Her face wore the mask of someone oppressed and forced into admitting unfounded usation.

 Chapter 1299

    Chapter 1299


    Zephyr cast a restrained nce at Ethan and quipped, "Mr. Ethan, you¡¯re not busy these days? Got


    time to hang around here?"


    Now Ethan saw the potent sting of being wrongfully used. He felt a connection to Thssa''s


    grievances, which was the bitter taste of being unjustly cornered.


    Ethan replied professionally, "Susan''s a model working for our partner. She''s shooting amercial for


    ourtest smartphone line. Checking in on her is part of my job."


    "Then carry on," Zephyr said dismissively and turned to Lysander, "Let''s go, Lysander."


    Beyond a fleeting nce at Thssa and Ethan''s intertwined hands when he first entered the room,


    Zephyr hadn''t looked Thssa''s way again.


    He led the way out of the ward.


    Lysander''s dark eyes bore into Thssa. Since his arrival, she hadn''t uttered a word to him, nor had


    she offered any exnations. She even seemed to be avoiding his gaze.


    The atmosphere around Lysander grew so cold it seemed to seep into the very walls of the room.


    This is the property of N?-velDrama.Org.


    Even a single exnation would have eased his mind.


    But Thssa just remained silent. When Susan used her of harboring resentment for ruining a


    potentially good thing and seeking revenge, Thssa offered no rebuttal.


    Lysander felt a pang of disappointment. Not because he believed Susan''s words, but because of


    Thssa''s refusal to defend herself.


    She was still plotting to distance herself from him, to sever their tiespletely!


    "Aren''t youing?" Lysander broke the silence first, his voice a low, maic drawl.


    Under the pressure of his presence, Thssa''s gaze finally met his.


    Locking eyes with him, her resolve crumbled. No matter the grudges she held, his mere words could


    topple the defenses she had painstakingly erected.


    "Of course, I''ming. Who said I wasn''t?" Thssa shot back, her brief resistance giving way.


    Overhearing their exchange, Zephyr halted and turned back, eyeing Lysander sternly, "What''s the


    matter? Grandma''s not around and now you''re noting home?"


    Lysander nced sideways at Zephyr and said, "I¡¯ll head back with you."


    With that, he strode off towards Zephyr.


    Thssa stood at the doorway of the ward, watching Lysander''s retreating figure.


    As he grew more distant, her heart felt as if it was being submerged by the sea, bringing a sour and


    aching pain.


    His attitude had made his choice clear. New ch§Ñpter av?ble on NovelDrama.Org


    It was a clear message to her. Lysander had a new woman in his life, and she was going to be the one


    to marry him.

 Chapter 1300

    The chances of marrying Lysander were pretty high if the woman was recognized by Zephyr.


    Susan couldn''t mask her disappointment as she realized her moment of ying the heroine had all been for naught. She had


    imagined herself basking in Lysander''s affection, standing proudly by his side for all to see in the future.


    Even if she didn''t end up marrying him, bing hisdy like Thssa seemed pretty likely. But before Lysander could even


    utter a word, Zephyr had shot her down.


    The higher Susan''s hopes had soared, the deeper her spirits now plunged.


    She was fuming, and she wasn''t about to let Thssa off the hook. She spitefully reminded Thssa that her days of bliss were


    numbered, that Lysander would soon marry another woman.


    Thssa snapped out of her daze, her mncholic gaze sharpening as she red at Susan. "Save your pity for yourself. After


    all you''ve schemed, all you got was just a medical bill," she spat out before storming out of the ward.


    ¡°You¡ªargh!" Susan choked on her anger. The previous p from Thssabined with the stinging words, sent her into a


    fury. She grabbed the bouquet from the bedside table and hurled it to the ground, screaming at the top of her lungs.


    "Susan, calm down," Lucy pleaded, trying to soothe her daughter.


    Bruce''s face was like thunder. He had thought his daughter was about to transform from a nobody into a phoenix. Now all they


    had got a mere coverage of the medical expense! His ns to cash in crumbled, and how could he not be angry?


    Meanwhile, Ethan found the whole spectacle rather amusing.


    What a bunch of phonies, he thought to himself. They flip-flopped faster than actors in a y, changing their tune to suit whoever


    they faced. He had never seen such hypocrisy up close.


    "Susan did save Lysander. It''s only right that he covers the medical fees," Ethan remarked nonchntly before following


    Thssa out.This belongs to N?velDrama.Org - ?.


    The family was left seething at Ethan''s words, their cheeks burning with humiliation.


    "Damn it!" Susan eximed, tossing a pillow violently to the floor, her face twisted with rage.


    Lucy continued to pat her back soothingly. "Susan, try to stay calm, dear. You''re still injured, and the doctor said you need rest.


    Don''t do anything rash that might worsen your wounds."


    The injury on Susan''s shoulder de could easily tear open if she wasn''t careful. But she couldn''t swallow the bitterness of


    defeat, turning to her mother in frustration. "Didn''t you hear what Thssa and Ethan said? | saved Lysander and got nothing but


    just the hospital bill!"


    And she might be left with a big scar on her back.


    "Didn''t Zephyr leave a bodyguard to


    protect you?" Lucy tried to offer some


    sce. "| know that al age


    Thssa fs jnfpratti an I''m angry


    tod lBet we need to keep our cool for


    now. Lysander is already having


    doubts about Thssa. Their


    rtionship is fragile and ready to


    break. That''s when you make your


    move." Please read the original


    content at NovelDrama.Org.


    Seeing her daughter pped by Thssa and then rejected by Zephyr, Lucy was livid.


    But what could they do? They had no choice but to bide their time and wait for another opportunity.


    "Your mom''s right, Susan. You still


    have a chance. With Lysander''s


    bodyguard here, you UENO


    ander qngough Nh Having a


    b iach is a privilege, one that


    even Thssa doesn''t have. So,


    you''re still in the game," Bruce finally


    regained hisposure. Please read


    the original content at


    NovelDrama.Org.


    Though Lucy was known for her fiery temper and wasn''t one to back down from a fight, she always knew what to do when it truly


    mattered, and her advice was often spot on.


    That was a big reason why, despite


    his disdain for Lucy, Bruce ie COR


    gone through wittnaldivers


    es, her suggestions were so


    sound that even he couldn''t help but


    agree. Please read the original


    content at NovelDrama.Org.

 Chapter 1301

    Susan''s anger subsided a bit after her parents talked her down.


    Thssa stepped out of the hospital wing, adamant that Ethan should get his back checked out at the surgical clinic.


    "I''m really okay. It just stung a bit when the boiled water sshed on me, but it''s all healed now," Ethan said, not too keen on the


    idea.


    ¡°Better safe than sorry. You''re the CEO of the Crawley Group. What if you end up with a burn scar for life?"


    Thssa felt a pang of guilt. It was in trying to shield her that Ethan had been scalded.


    "I''m not a delicate guy. Besides, a man with scars is just a man with stories¡ªno big deal." Ethan walked beside Thssa, noting


    her return to her usualposed self.


    He couldn''t help but voice his confusion.


    "It''s weird, you know? In the past, if someone as much as looked at you the wrong way, Lysander would react like they poked a


    bear. Today, you caught my hand, but he didn''t even flinch," Ethan observed.


    Thssa chuckled softly, "Didn''t you hear his grandfather? He''s got a newdy, one he''s nning to marry."


    Lysander Sinir''s fascination with her was finally fading.


    Once he got tired of her, he became indifferent. It was only because his interest was fresh that he had such a strong desire to


    stake his im.


    And now, he was moving on.


    It was for the best, Thssa thought. She could be free to live her own life.


    Yet, the thought of her children having a stepmother still sent a stabbing pain through her heart.


    "| don''t think that''s it. Lysander isn''t the fickle type," Ethan said. Among their group, Lysander was the most devoted. Otherwise,


    after a fleeting encounter and just one night together with Thssa, he still remained faithful to her memory for five years, even


    believing she was dead.


    "He is unpredictable and inscrutable. How could you possibly understand him?" Thssa replied, stopping in her tracks. "Here


    we are. There''s a doctor inside. Go have a look, and I''ll wait for you out here.¡±


    They chatted all the way to the outpatient department of the clinic.


    Seeing Thssa''s insistence, Ethan would seem too fussy if he refused again, so he entered the exam room.


    The doctor asked him to remove his shirt.


    He did so, and after examining, the doctor said, "You''ve got blisters from the burn. You''ll need to apply ointment regrly. I''ll


    prescribe a burn cream for you to use at home."


    Spurred by Thssa''s earlierment, Ethan asked, "Will it leave a scar?"


    He didn''t actually care about scars. It


    was just that the topic had b mM


    brought u By Frseal nd now he


    TS oa otously repeating the


    question to the doctor. Please read


    the original content at


    NovelDrama.Org.


    "That depends on how well it heals


    and on your body''s ic co


    respeegaones= scarring


    than ers. Even if it''s minor, there


    could be some scarring,¡¯ the doctor


    answered. Please read the original


    content at NovelDrama.Org.


    Thssa sat outside, hearing the conversation within clearly.


    From her perspective, Ethan''s concern about scarring indicated that, despite his words, he did care about it.


    A heavy sense of guilt weighed on Thssa''s heart.


    Again, she''d dragged someone else into her troubles.


    "Hey, let''s get going. What are youFrom N?velDrama.Org.


    daydreaming about?" E han waved \


    hand indront oF Thssa''s face to


    S her out of her thoughts. Please


    read the original content at


    NovelDrama.Org.

 Chapter 1302

    Thssa snapped back to reality, rising to her feet to see Ethan¡¯s yful grin. Despite the levity on his face, she remained grave.


    ¡°Mr. Ethan,¡± she said with stern sincerity, ¡°no matter what happens from now on, don¡¯t take the fall for me. | can¡¯t bear the


    thought of dragging anyone else into my mess.¡±


    Ethan¡¯s animated smile froze slightly at her words. It seemed almost inappropriate to keep up the joking demeanor when she


    was this serious.


    Sobering up, he replied, ¡°How can you call it a mess? | stepped in willingly to shield you from the heat, and you shouldn¡¯t me


    yourself for that.¡±


    Before Thssa could respond, Ethan continued, ¡°Besides, it was your delicate face at stake. If that scalding water had hit you,


    it could¡¯ve ruined your looks. But me? I¡¯m a guy, tough skin and all. Even if | get a scar, it''ll just be on my back, nothing to worry


    about.¡±


    Ethan was grateful he¡¯d been quick enough to intercept the boiled water intended for Thssa. Otherwise, she wouldn¡¯t be


    standing here, unscathed.


    Thssa felt a pang of bitterness as Ethan¡¯s words sank in, and her eyes welled up with tears uncontrobly.


    Even Ethan cared enough to spare her pain, while Lysander just remained oblivious.


    Ever since Lysander believed she had tried to kill him with a rigged prop, his demeanor had turned noticeably frostier.


    He didn¡¯t trust her, nor did he care about her well-being.


    Realizing she was losing herposure, Thssa quickly tilted her head up, blinking back the tears.


    With a self-deprecating and sourugh, she said, ¡°So what if my face gets ruined? It¡¯s not the end of the world. Might even be a


    blessing in disguise.¡±


    Perhaps if she were disfigured, Lysander would lose hisst shred of interest and kick her to the curb once and for all. Then, she


    wouldn''t have to entangle herself with him anymore.


    Ethan read between the lines of her words¡ªshe was desperate to escape Lysander.


    So desperate that she¡¯d rather face disfigurement than stay with him.


    Abandoning his usual joviality, Ethan spoke earnestly to Thssa, ¡°You really shouldn''t be so hard on yourself. It was me who


    brought you here to visit Susan, hoping to squash the rumors she was spreading. It backfired, but consider it my mistake to


    make up for, okay? Don¡¯t carry that burden.¡±


    He had heard about Susan spreading rumors that Thssa was out to end Lysander¡¯s life, and those whispers had quickly


    reached Zephyr¡¯s ears.


    If Zephyr resorted to his measures, Thssa and Lysander would have no chance of staying together.


    Back in his day, Zephyr was a force to be reckoned with, with countless foes falling at his feet.


    His ruthlessness was key to his sess¡ªonce he set his mind to something, he showed no mercy.


    Lysander had inherited his strong will and cold-heartedness from Zephyr.


    Raised by Zephyr from a young age, Lysander was taught every trick in the book, even surpassing his mentor in decisiveness


    and resolve.


    After Lysander¡¯s father passed, Zephyr was heartbroken. He would not risk another tragedy on his grandson.


    On most matters, Zephyr might


    indulge Lysan e-putnbiwlterthis


    Ife wat!stake. Please read the


    original content at NovelDrama.Org.


    Then, Zephyr would show no leniency.


    That''s why Ethan was genuinely


    worried for Thss CSugantSO


    espace brsve to be a lethal


    blow. Please read the original content


    at NovelDrama.Org.


    Pushing back her tears, Thssa


    exhaled a heavy eonenne faced \


    an-agi eo: TWh you helping


    7 |''m just an ordinary employee in


    yourpany.¡± Please read the


    original content at NovelDrama.Org.


    Ethan met her query head-on, ¡°I¡¯m helping you because | feel | owe you.¡±


    ¡°What?¡± Thssa thought she¡¯d heard the world¡¯s biggest joke.


    Ethan felt he owed her?This is the property of N?-velDrama.Org.


    What could he possibly owe her for?

 Chapter 1303

    She worked for him, earned bonuses, and pulled in a paycheck that was unmatched anywhere else.


    She had been in Ethan''spany, and it had been the most contented, mostfortable job with the most satisfying pay she


    ever had.


    When Ethan saw the surprise on her face, he cracked a wry smile and said, "Thest few times, | sent you to negotiate with


    Lysander and you clinched the deal. It was no ident¡ªI saw potential in your rtionship with Lysander. | actually intentionally


    leveraged your personal connection to benefit my ownpany."


    Thssa''s finely arched brows twitched ever so slightly. Though she was well aware of these machinations, she didn''t expect


    Ethan to openly tell her.


    ¡°Recently, a lot of things happened because of the Crawley Group''s coboration with the Sinir Enterprises. Even Leopold


    Sinir thought that..." Ethan trailed off, unable to finish.


    Leopold was a good kid. He was an ambitious and hardworking man.


    And yet, he had lost his life over this deal, and every time Ethan thought about it, his heart ached so fiercely that he struggled to


    breathe.


    It was then that he realized how terribly wrong his actions had been.


    At the mention of Leopold''s name, Thssa''s heart clenched painfully, and the tears she had managed to fight back now


    threatened to burn her eyes once again.


    The name Leopold had be her unspeakable sorrow.


    "Stop," Thssa pleaded, her voice heavy as she fought back tears, urging Ethan to say no more.


    "| know your guilt. You shielded me from that scalding water once, preventing burns, and I''ve helped you with the contracts.


    We''re even now. No debts, no regrets, and no need for self-reproach."


    With these words, Thssa turned and walked away.


    She feared that if she stayed any longer, her tears would flood like a breached dam, making her more embarrassed in front of


    Ethan.


    Ethan didn''t follow her. He stood still, watching Thssa''s sorrowful retreating figure.


    His hand hanging by his side curled slightly, his breathing quickened.


    Leopold had been a sun-kissed youth who loved racing, but a tragic ident during a corporate deal had robbed him of his life.


    At first, Ethan hadn''t realized his mistake. But as time passed, he came to a stark realization. If he hadn''t signed that contract


    with Leopold, if he hadn''t handed Leopold''s job over to Sinir Enterprises, perhaps Leopold would still be alive.


    The moment this realization hit, Ethan''s heart twisted in agony.


    Just the thought brought a mist of tears to his eyes, the pain was unbearable.


    He imagined how much those who cared for Leopold must have suffered at his loss.


    Caught in his reflections, Ethan noticed Thssa was about to leave the hospital grounds.


    He snapped back to reality and hurried after.C¨°ntens bel0ngs to N?(v)elDr/a/ma.Org


    "Thssa, get in. I''ll drive you home,¡± Ethan offered as he opened the door to his car.


    Thssa didn''t even nce his way and said, "No need, | don''t want to hold you up. I''ll catch a cab."


    Ethan''s smile faded, "What, not even going to afford your boss that little courtesy?"


    Thssa gave him a sidelong look.


    He appeared so anguis ed justo)


    m oxaha Mow he could


    affo j such a light-hearted smile.


    Please read the original content at


    NovelDrama.Org.


    People in high ces do have a


    knack for emotional aaifity,!


    segmniggshiawitching between


    sorrow and levity. Please read the


    original content at NovelDrama.Org.


    Without further ado, Thssa got


    into the car and aye pgcaddesss,"|


    ¡®Herero Star Harbor


    ."


    Please read the original content


    at NovelDrama.Org.

 Chapter 1304

    Inside the Sinir manor, the atmosphere was dense with tension. Zephyr''s gaze was sharp as a hawk''s, locking onto Lysander


    who was seated across from him.


    "| told you before, give it three months to see Thssa''s true colors, and you''d cut ties with her. What''s it been now? Six


    months?"


    Zephyr''s stern look bore down on Lysander, his tone usatory andden with disappointment.


    Lysander was dressed in a bespoke ck suit, meeting Zephyr''s piercing gaze with his own, which were deep and dark as a


    midnight sky.


    "She''s not the kind of person you think."


    "Really?" Zephyr let out a bitter chuckle, as if he''d just heard the world''s biggest joke. His face hardened, and a hollowugh


    escaped his throat.


    ¡°Not that kind of person? She ousted Faye Brennan and conveniently moved into your home, not to mention she''s Bruce''s


    daughter. The apple doesn''t fall far from the tree, you know?"


    Zephyr''s eyes, turbid with anger, trembled slightly.


    He knew all too well that Bruce was the homewrecker from the past, the man because of whom Belinda had abandoned


    everything to elope, ultimately leading both herself and Bat Sinir to a tragic car ident.


    Zephyr''s hatred for Bruce was just as intense as Lysander''s.


    However, being a man with a military background, Zephyr wouldn''t seek personal vengeance.


    Bruce''s wrongdoings were condemnable on a moral level, but there was no direct link to Belinda and Bat''s death.


    Even if Zephyr wanted to put Bruce behind bars, he had no legal grounds.


    But that didn''t mean Zephyr didn''t harbor resentment.


    ¡°Faye was fired for her own misdeeds. She bribed our staff and her actions inadvertently led to Grandma''s passing. Those are


    the undeniable facts. Grandpa, you can''t just pin all the me on Thssa."


    Lysander spoke with a calmposure, his intelligence shining through as he patiently exined the sequence of events to


    Zephyr.This is the property of N?-velDrama.Org.


    "Don''t start talking about your grandmother..." Zephyr clutched his chest, pained at the mention of his wife. His heart ached as if


    ants were gnawing at it.


    His beloved, the woman who had been by his side for a lifetime, Sybil, had not passed away from natural causes, but due to the


    indirect actions of someone with malicious intent.


    Whenever he thought of Sybil, Zephyr felt a pain so deep he could hardly breathe.


    He always med himself for failing to protect her.


    "Grandpa..." Seeing Zephyr gripping his chest in pain, Lysander moved closer, concern etched on his face as he gently


    supported the older man.


    Zephyr pushed his hand away, clearly disappointed at him, not wanting his concern.


    As his hand was brushed aside,


    Lysander''s brows ele. gtightly,\


    d bis eyes fle With ards of


    sotrow, like stars dimmed by grief.


    Please read the original content at


    NovelDrama.Org.


    "If it wasn''t for Thssa''s mother


    pressuring Sybil to give her blessi


    for your marri eqathatasss, Ghe


    wWouida''thive een so distressed.


    She wouldn''t have missed that


    broom on the floor and fallen, losing


    her life." Please read the original


    content at NovelDrama.Org.


    Zephyr''s voice carried a heavy sorrow, his breathing ragged.


    As the pain in his heart slowly


    subsided, he removed the hand fi


    his chest and | aked at\painting on


    the wa ndscape of rolling hills


    and tranquil waters, the epitome of


    freedom and contentment. Please


    read the original content at


    NovelDrama.Org.


    It was a piece painted by Sybil.


    Whenever Zephyr looked at that painting, he was submerged in his memories of Sybil.


    His heart was heavy with grief.


    ¡°Lysander, you''re blinded to that woman''s tricks," Zephyr said, his eyes still on the painting, but his words clearly meant for


    Lysander.

 Chapter 1305

    Zephyr''s voice was firm, unwavering as he shot down Lysander''s attempts at defense. "She''s manipting the whole situation,


    using her mother to strong-arm you into marrying her. Wants to be Mrs. Sinir so she can lord it over everyone, look down her


    nose at the whole world. She''s dangerous, Lysander, can¡¯t you see that?"C¨°ntens bel0ngs to N?(v)elDr/a/ma.Org


    "But Grandpa..." Lysander tried to cut in, a plea in his voice.


    Zephyr waved him off, refusing to let him continue.


    He knew Lysander was about to make excuses for Thssa again. To Zephyr, it was clear as day that the boy was under her


    spell.


    He couldn''t see the truth, wouldn''t believe that Thssa was the ambitious, ruthless type.


    Just like Bat couldn''t see that Belinda was going to betray him until it was toote.


    And in the end, the bitter truth was right there. Belinda didn''t just betray Bat, she was even ready to elope with another man.


    Bat, in his desperation to keep her, lost everything, even his life.


    Lysander''s father had already been imed by a woman like that. And now, Lysander was tangled with another.


    Zephyr would not stand idly by and watch his grandson fall deeper into such mess.


    With Leopold gone, Lysander was thest hope for the Sinir legacy.


    The agony of burying his own children was a pain Zephyr had endured twice. He could not bear it a third time.


    "You know better than anyone why Leopold died. And yet, you still want to make excuses for Thssa? That she''s not a siren


    leading men to their doom?" Zephyr''s gaze sharpened, his eyes like those of a hawk, piercing Lysander''s resolve.


    There was no room for debate, no more time for Lysander to discern Thssa''s true nature¡ªthe facts were alreadyid bare.


    Lysander, usually soposed, now had his brows knit together, his presence heavy with unspoken thoughts.


    Zephyr pressed on. "She was cold-hearted enough to use an ¡®ident to try to murder you. Can you really not let go of sucha


    viper? Lysander, you''ve always been sharp and astute. How can you be so blinded by this woman?"


    Zephyr''s heart raced with frustration, watching helplessly as Lysander sumbed to Thssa''s allure.


    ¡°And look at what happened to Leopold, all because of that woman. My poor son..." Amelia entered, tears streaming down her


    cheeks.


    For five years, Leopold had never forgotten Thssa. Because of her, he was no longer the cheerful, sunny boy he once was.


    He had be somber and extreme.


    So extreme that he jumped to his death.


    At the thought of Leopold''s tragic end, Amelia''s heart was filled with pain and suffocation.


    "Don''t cry, Amelia. You and Payton


    are still young. You restenaeso1"!


    other gh ASahY Offered a


    athered constion. Please read


    the original content at


    NovelDrama.Org.


    He understood her grief. The loss of a son was a mother''s worst nightmare.


    "How can | even think of having


    another child? I''m terrified it''| eat yp


    like Leopold, | cant gethroug that


    pail aq in,¡± Amelia sobbed, her body


    shaking with each cry. Please read


    the original content at


    NovelDrama.Org.


    "It won''t happen again. Just keep a closer eye on him this time," Zephyr soothed.


    "Just like | keep an eye on Lysander,"


    he said, turning his gaze back to


    Lysander. His voice left no room for


    argument. Tomorrowayoull Greet" |


    Joshyaisidatight¨¦r Joshua and | go


    way back, and you owe a lot to him


    for looking after you while you were


    abroad. The Sinir and Whitman


    families have always been close.


    Marrying Joshua''s daughter would


    be the best oue for everyone."


    Please read the original content at


    NovelDrama.Org.

 Chapter 1306

    Lysander''s face was etched with shadows as he heard Zephyr''s words, his eyes a cold abyss.


    "Susan is Bruce''s daughter too, Grandpa. You even went to see her today. Why be so biased against Thssa? She might''ve


    slipped up this time, nearly hit me, but | want to believe her and give her another chance," Lysander said earnestly.


    Zephyr was right. Lysander was in too deep. He had fallen for Thssa, and he never knew that loving a woman could feel like


    this.


    Overpoweringly wanting to im her, boiling with anger at the slightest contact she had with another man.


    If she tried to escape, to ignore him, his heart would feel like it was missing a piece.This belongs to N?velDrama.Org - ?.


    He couldn''t understand before why Leopold was so fixated on a woman, unable to forget her for five years.


    He thought Leopold was just too young and too vulnerable to temptation.


    But now that he was in the same boat, and he realized love was beyond control.


    When did he fall for Thssa? Even he himself couldn''t tell.


    Maybe it was that night in the old barn five years ago, when their fates intertwined, that he began to harbor feelings for her.


    Otherwise, why would he have waited five years under the belief that she was gone?


    ¡°Lysander! Do you even know what are you saying?" Zephyr was incredulous, his face trembling as he stared at Lysander.


    "It''s not that | hold no bias against Susan. She had genuinely saved you, got hurt because of rescuing you! You said it yourself,


    give credit where it''s due. Bruce is the man | despise most in this life, and I''ll be damned if any of his kin set foot in the Sinir


    family!"


    Zephyr was a tempest of fury, his breathing heavy.


    "Grandpa, please calm down. Don''t wreck your health over this..." Amelia hurried over, soothing Zephyr''s back.


    She wiped away a tear herself, the thought of Leopold bringing fresh sorrow.


    Lysander was pale, his voice low, "Thssa¡¯s pregnant now. It''s mine."


    "What?" Zephyr''s head snapped up, his gaze shifting from shock to disbelief and then to a tragic, hollowughter.


    "She''s pregnant again," he muttered with a sardonic chortle. This Thssa was far craftier than he''d imagined.


    The first time she and Lysander were together, she conceived four children, stealthily bore them and raised them, all to worm her


    way into the Sinir family one day.


    For her own ends, the woman could indeed y the long game.


    Now that her attempted mischief was exposed, she dropped the pregnancy bombshell once again.


    She hoped to ride on her child''s coattails, to have her child take over the Sinir group once Lysander was out of the picture, to


    reap the rewards without lifting a finger?


    It only confirmed the rumors Susan had spread. Thssa, a woman with a heart of stone, was as venomous as a viper.


    "If she''s pregnant, let her have the


    child. The Sinir formly eure


    and Ms. Whitrraanoet ind your


    cnnarett xs for Thssa, once the


    child is born, we''ll give her a sum and


    send her on her way." Please read the


    original content at NovelDrama.Org.


    After the initial shock and sorrow, Zephyr''s mind cleared.


    "Grandpa, Thssa was entangled


    with Leopold for a while. Wh cAthe


    child she¡¯ cargyiau\ischis? Amelia


    Eneaisl tear-streaked eyes looking


    up at Zephyr with an anxious hope.


    Please read the original content at


    NovelDrama.Org.


    With both Lysander and Zephyr present, she wanted Zephyr to take charge, to ask Lysander the burning question. Could the


    child Thssa was carrying be Leopold''s?


    She had caused a scene at the


    hospital before, confronted T.


    about it, bu onlytobersBut ¨¦d. But


    ADS dn''t shake her hope,


    desperately wishing that the child


    belonged to Leopold. Please read the


    original content at NovelDrama.Org.

 Chapter 1307

    At least Leopold''s bloodline would continue if that¡¯s the case.


    No sooner had Amelia posed her question than Zephyr and Lysander turned to look at her in unison.


    In Zephyr''s cloudy eyes, shock mingled with a flicker of hope.


    Lysander''s gaze, however, was dark as a stormy sky and cold as ice. It wasden with reproach toward Amelia.


    "I''ve told you before, the child Thssa is carrying is mine! It can''t possibly be anyone else''s!" Lysander''s voice cut through the


    air, decisive and brooking no argument.


    ¡°How can you be so sure it''s yours? What if she was unfaithful with Leopold behind your back? Then the child could be


    Leopold''s," Amelia retorted, clinging to a sliver of hope.


    "She hasn''t been with him; I''m certain of it!" Lysander replied, his tone as cold as steel.


    ¡°Lysander, maybe Amelia has a point. Shouldn''t we have a paternity test just to be sure?" Zephyr suggested, seeking Lysander''s


    consent with a tentative look.


    "Nonsense!" Lysander snapped, rising in anger and storming out of the Sinir residence, his stance unequivocally clear.


    Zephyr and Amelia exchanged nces as they watched Lysander''s retreating figure, a frosty silhouette of indignation.


    The hopeful light in Amelia''s eyes was quickly doused by a wave of disappointment.


    And the weight of the world seemed to settle in Zephyr''s aged, milky eyes.


    The next day, Thssa didn''t go to work.


    She had deliberately asked Ethan for the day off to spend time with Evelyn at home.


    In the afternoon, Thssa took Evelyn to the preschool to pick up her kids.


    It had been days since she''d seen her little ones, and she missed them dearly.


    She brought Evelyn along, hoping the yful and cuddly nature of the children would brighten her spirits.


    Waiting at the preschool gate, they soon saw teachers leading out a line of children, each as adorable as a button.


    Before long, Thssa spotted her four little children among the crowd.


    She tugged at Evelyn''s sleeve and eximed, "Mom, look! The kids areing out."


    Evelyn peered into the courtyard, and upon seeing the four little darlings, her sorrowful eyes were suddenly brimming with light.


    She waved into the yard and called out, "Atticus, Dorian, Elowen, Sophia!"


    At the sound of her voice, the


    children looked up and Seauicre iad


    Thssa and yeh ther eyes


    spakea''as they scampered toward


    them without waiting for the


    teacher''s signal. Please read the


    original content at NovelDrama.Org.


    ¡°Mommy, Grandma!" the little ones chorused, rushing into their arms.


    Thssa enveloped them, the sweet scent of them intoxicating her senses and lifting the heaviness from her heart.


    "Mommy, I''ve learned a new dance! |


    want to show you,¡¯ Elowen saigher


    pubig\face beaming as she twirled


    and danced. Please read the original


    content at NovelDrama.Org.


    Then, looking up at Thssa, she asked, "Did you like it, Mommy?"


    "It was beautiful," Thssa assured her.


    "Then why aren''t you smiling?"


    Elowen''s bright eyes searched


    Thssa''s face. she potigedher


    rpathes hacdbecbrne more silent than


    before. Usually, Thssa would greet


    them with a beaming smile, but her


    expression was marred by worry


    today. Please read the original


    content at NovelDrama.Org.


    In her own way, Elowen was trying to make her mommy smile again.


    C¨°ntens bel0ngs to N?(v)elDr/a/ma.Org

 Chapter 1308

    Thssa knew her daughter like the back of her hand. If she was asking that question, she was surely just trying to lift her


    spirits.


    The worry etched on her face was so apparent, even the kids had taken notice.


    Thssa felt a pang in her heart but managed to coax a smile on her face, gently ruffling Elowen¡¯s hair and softly said,


    "Mommy''s smiling, see?"


    With that, a smile stretched across her lips, reassuring Elowen that she was indeed happy.


    "Hooray, Mommy finally smiled!" Elowen cheered, bouncing around in excitement.


    ¡°Mommy, you should smile more, and you''re prettiest when you smile,¡± Dorian said, tilting his little head as he gazed at


    Thssa, his voice soft and endearing.


    "You''re wise beyond your years, kiddo. Your mommy''s happiest with you all around." Evelyn, standing to the side, felt her eyes


    well up with tears. She''d been alone at home for days, feeling lonely and sad.


    Now, with the children''spany, her spirits were finally lifting.


    ¡°Mommy, let''s go home," Sophia said, reaching out to take Thssa''s hand. She hadn''t seen her for days and missed her


    terribly. All she wanted was to go back home with Thssa.This belongs to N?velDrama.Org - ?.


    "Mom...," Thssa hesitated, ncing at Evelyn helplessly.


    The kids had been staying at Royal Estates, Lysander''s vi.


    If they went back now and Lysander found out, would he blow his top?


    Evelyn, not Thssa, was the one who fretted now. Remembering Lysander''s ruthless ways and his coldness toward Thssa


    sent a chill down her spine.


    Thssa caught Evelyn''s plea for help in her eyes. She knew all too well the worry about Lysander''s reaction that used to


    govern every decision she made.


    But now, Lysander probably thought she wanted his head on a tter!


    She had nothing left to lose.


    Things hade to such a pass. It might be time toy all cards on the table.


    With resolve, Thssa tightened her grip on Elowen and Sophia''s hands and dered, "Let''s go. We''re heading home together.


    Mommy will cook something delicious for you."


    At the promise of a tasty treat from Thssa, the kids¡¯ excitement was palpable, their joy uncontroble.


    Seeing Thssa resolved to take the kids home, Evelyn''s heart was heavy with worry.


    What would happen when Royal Estates¡¯ staff came to pick up the kids and found them missing? Would theye knocking at


    Star Harbor Vi?


    But Thssa was adamant, and all Evelyn could do was swallow her fears and follow her daughter''s lead.


    Meanwhile, parked unobtrusively on the side of the preschool, a sleek ck Rolls-Royce remained still.


    Lysander''s deep-set eyes watched in silence as two adults led four children away.


    The setting sun cast long shadows behind them, creating an image of warmth and contentment on the asphalt road.


    His gaze was distant and thoughtful.


    His driver David asked cautiously, "Mr. Sinir, shall we follow them?"


    Lysander''s eyes flickered back to the present, his voice a low rumble, "No, let them go."


    The preschool was at a crossroads, with three possible routes for the car to take.


    David smoothly guided the car down the road that took the opposite direction from Thssa.


    Lysander had nned to pick up the


    kids, but upon arri ies e jugt stayed


    l the cagwatehing ssaugh


    and chatter with the children intently.


    Please read the original content at


    NovelDrama.Org.


    Now, as he saw Thssa leading the children away, he made no move to stop them.


    Hadn''t Lysander always kept the children at Royal Estates to keep a hold over Thssa?


    Yet now, he seemed to allow


    Thssa to take the chjldrer-v¡éitii | |


    Wasihendisager interested in


    using them as leverage? Please read


    the original content at


    NovelDrama.Org.


    David was perplexed, but the


    enigmatic ito\ ite enaployer


    wee alwayabeyon his


    comprehension. Please read the


    original content at NovelDrama.Org.


    The car glided along the road as Lysander pulled out his phone and dialed his butler, Fitch.


    ¡°We won''t need to pick up the kids from preschool for a while," Lysandermanded in his deep voice.


    Fitch was surprised, "And when shall we resume the pickups?"

 Chapter 1309

    "I''ll let you know when it¡¯s time," Lysander said, ending the call abruptly.


    David''s hands clutched the steering wheel firmly as he carved out a moment to nce at Lysander. "Mr. Sinir, where to now?"


    Had Mr. Sinir really instructed Fitch to stop picking up the kids for a while? Did that mean the kids were going to stay at


    Thssa''s ce for the time being?


    Since when had Mr. Sinir be so charitable?


    Of course, that was a question he dared not voice out loud.


    Lysander, massaging the bridge of his nose, looking a tad weary, replied, "The office."


    "Alright," David responded, spinning the wheel to change direction. He took a quick glimpse of Lysander in the rear-view mirror.


    The usually stern and formidable man seemed enveloped in a faint air of mncholy today.


    "Mr. Sinir, it''s after hours. Are you heading back to the office to work overtime? You seem beat. Maybe you should head home


    and have a rest," David blurted out, concern for his boss''s well-being.


    ¡°Are you missing Afrnd now?" Lysander shot back a deep, prating look.


    David mped his mouth shut instantly.


    Thssa and Evelyn returned to Star Harbor Vi with the four kids in tow.


    The children were buzzing around Thssa and Evelyn, bouncing off the walls with joy.


    ¡°Mommy, | won first ce in the preliminary round of the gourmetpetition again! My teacher said if | make it through the next


    round, | canpete abroad," Elowen gushed, clutching Thssa''s clothes, her dimpled smile utterly charming.


    She was sharing her joy with her mom.From N?velDrama.Org.


    "Wow, our little Elowen''s going international! That''s amazing!" Thssa pinched her chubby cheek.


    "Yeah, | agree," Elowen beamed with pride.


    "Elowen, modesty is a virtue. Remember?" Dorian reminded her.


    "Modesty? Is that something | can eat?" Elowen tilted her head in confusion.


    Dorian sighed, "Foodie sees the world only through the lens of a menu.¡±


    m a foodie, and | n to taste all the delicious food the world has to offer," Elowen dered with pride, not in the least bit


    offended by Dorian''s teasing.


    Watching the kids so full of life and adorably cute, Evelyn''s smile seemed soldered to her face, never once faltering.


    The once quiet and empty house was now infused with warmth and life, reminiscent of days gone by¡ªwhen they were strapped


    for cash but brimming with happiness.


    "Thssa, you y with the kids for a bit. I''ll go make dinner," Evelyn offered.


    Thssa stopped her, "Mom, you y with the kids. I''ll take care of dinner."


    With that, she headed to the kitchen.


    She could tell having the kids around lifted Evelyn''s spirits immensely.


    She had tried to take Evelyn on vacation to rx, but to no avail.


    But now, with the kids back, sparks had returned to Evelyn''s eyes.


    Just let Evelyn spend more time with the kids. Thssa didn''t mind taking on a bit more.


    Thssa whipped up the kids'' favorite curry chicken, crispy fries, and shrimp soup.


    The family of six gathered around the


    dinner table, just li alq.aimes ll!


    epiRy Bae! neal Withughter.


    Please read the original content at


    NovelDrama.Org.


    The kids were relishing every bite.


    Thssa watched them happily, but


    deep down, there waga knot


    ssuypittiat Wldn'' dissolve.


    Please read the original content at


    NovelDrama.Org.


    Back when they were penniless, she never felt this burdened.


    Unlike now, even amid the bliss, a


    sense of panic lingered a remaster


    ich the qqrafree (ay OF ie past was


    n nce; within reach. Please read


    the original content at


    NovelDrama.Org.

 Chapter 1310

    Thssa thought that the joy of being with her kids wouldn¡¯tst for long.


    Once Fitch reported to Lysander that the children were missing, he''de looking for them, for sure.


    But to Thssa¡¯s surprise, things didn''t turn out that way. The children had been staying at Star Harbor Vi with her for several


    days now. During this time, it was Evelyn who drove them to and from school, everything proceeding as smoothly as if Lysander


    didn¡¯t know they were gone.


    This situation was unnervingly abnormal.


    Lysander hadn''t noticed the kids were missing?C¨°ntens bel0ngs to N?(v)elDr/a/ma.Org


    Impossible!


    It might be understandable not to notice for a few hours, but now it had been days.


    And Lysander hadn''te looking.


    Nor had he called her.


    Thssa found the situation increasingly suspicious. The more smooth things were, the more on edge she felt, like the eerie


    calm before a storm.


    But seeing Evelyn so happy, Thssa chose not to dwell on her doubts.


    She let Evelyn carry on with the school runs while Thssa got back to work.


    Upon her return to the Crawley Group, Ethan said, ¡°Thssa, perfect timing. Come on, let''s go check out themercial shoot.¡±


    ¡°Whatmercial shoot?¡± Thssa had been out of the loop for a few days.


    ¡°The new smartphone campaign,¡± Ethan exined. ¡°The whole thing got put on ice after Susan''s ident. They''ve supposedly


    found a new face for it, and we need to take a look. If we like what we see, we''ll direct the shoot on the spot. If not, it''s back to


    the drawing board.¡±


    Thssa got it. She was to visit the ad agency and oversee themercial shoot.


    But thest thing Thssa wanted was to go there, risking a run-in with those she''d rather avoid. Besides, that ce was a


    hotbed of drama, the very same ce where Lysander had mistakenly thought she tried to crush him with a prop.


    The very thought of going back there cast a shadow on her heart.


    ¡°Mr. Ethan, why don''t you go on your own? I''ll stay here and handle the paperwork,¡± Thssa said, maintaining a polite smile.


    ¡°There''s no paperwork left to handle now. What, you nning on twiddling your thumbs in the office?¡± Ethan asked, looking at


    her leisurely.


    ¡°What? | haven''t been at work for days. Shouldn''t there be a mountain of paperwork?¡± Thssa was genuinely surprised.


    Ethan''s lips curled into a smile as he said, ¡°That''s not a problem. I¡¯ve finished it.¡±


    Thssa was surprised. ¡°Mr. Ethan, you mean you''ve been doing my job for me. Maybe you should just hire another secretary.¡¯


    ¡°Forget it. You know Lysander and how protective he is. | could hire a dozen secretaries and he¡¯d find a way to send them


    packing,¡± Ethan said, quite aware of Lysander''s temperament and the fate of his previous assistants.


    Well...


    Ethan had a way of making Thssa feel guilty. Because of her joining in, Ethan¡¯s office had lost two secretaries.


    Now it was just her, and she was frequently arrivingte or taking days off.


    And Ethan had taken on the tasks of the secretary himself when she was away.


    Thssa felt a twinge of guilt.


    ¡°Alright, l''lle with you,¡± Thssa


    conceded, rememb fiagahacshel "|


    her oink skofetary left in Ethan''s


    office. Please read the original


    content at NovelDrama.Org.


    If it had been before, Betty might have apanied Ethan, but now there was only her.


    Ethan shed a grin. ¡°That¡¯s the right move. What''s there to avoid? Running away isn¡¯t a solution.¡±


    Thssa cringed internally. She had


    barely exchanged a few worth


    Ge WES already dispensing


    life lessons. Please read the original


    content at NovelDrama.Org.


    She wasn''t avoiding the situation.


    She genuinely didn''t eaiiogom


    i vay of burning into usan was


    as¡°appealing as swallowing a fly.


    Please read the original content at


    NovelDrama.Org.


    But Ethan had cleared her workload, and persisting in her refusal seemed really inappropriate.

 Chapter 1311

    Ethan and Thssa arrived at themercial shoot location soon.


    The ad agency representative greeted them with a warm smile, "Mr. Ethan, wee. Care for a drink?"


    Zane handed Ethan a bottle of mineral water, but conspicuously left Thssa empty-handed.


    And then there was that look ¡ª a nce shot her way, loaded with an unmistakable distaste.


    Thssa was baffled, clueless about what she might''ve done to rub Zane the wrong way.


    Ethan noticed Zane''s reactions and, with a knowing smirk, passed his own water bottle to Thssa, "Ms. Everhart, you take


    this."


    Thssa knew Ethan was trying to avoid awkwardness, nudging Zane to respect her.


    But she needed none of it.


    She understood why Zane discriminated against her, his gaze brimming with rejection because shecked a pedigree like


    Ethan''s. She was "merely" an assistant.


    In this day and age, snobs were a dime a dozen.


    No point in bickering with a snob.


    "No need, Mr. Ethan. I''m not thirsty," Thssa declined gracefully.


    "Okay," Ethan replied curtly, before tossing the water bottle back to Zane. "Take it back, then. Your hospitality is a bit too much


    for me."


    Zane was red-faced and flustered, then he took the water back.


    Ethan''s expression cooled as he strode ahead.


    Thssa hurried up to follow.


    "Let''s check out the studio. The models should be in there," Ethan said over his shoulder to Thssa.


    "Sure," she acknowledged.


    Stepping into the studio, they were greeted with a palpable tension. This sort ofmanding presence wasn''t something just


    anyone could muster.


    It was all too familiar to Thssa. Instinctively tensing, she was now facing a tall, striking figure, a man of undeniable


    handsomeness.


    It was Lysander, again.


    He stood by the backdrop, observing the hole on it.


    Above the backdrop, ropes from the rigging were being lowered right where Lysander stood.


    David''s voice came from behind the canvas, "Mr. Sinir, this rigging was tricky to angle, and you can''t really see the scene


    outside through that hole."


    Hearing this, Thssa''s heart skipped a beat, instantly realizing that David was recreating the scenario when she was doing the


    rigging.


    Lysander was assessing the angle, determining which direction was best suited for an ident.


    Confronted with this scene and hearing David''s words, Thssa felt her heart sink.


    ¡°Lysander, you''re here too!" Ethan eximed, hopping onto the set and making a beeline for Lysander.


    ¡°Lysander, are you here for a business meeting?" Ethan casually bantered, as though they were old pals.This belongs to N?velDrama.Org - ?.


    Lysander''s deep-set eyes flicked


    Honerels him, Tele eS mM


    catching Thssa Rabin. His Gaze


    swapeavel Her before returning to


    Ethan, his voice a low rumble,


    "Scoping out the site." Please read


    the original content at


    NovelDrama.Org.


    "Isn''t site scouting usually Captain Payne''s gig? Since when are you interested in detective work, Lysander?" Ethan teased.


    "Mr. Sinir, we''ve examined it. From


    that angle inside, you r ally gait) Bee


    gyquiside thioug that hole,"


    igor. emerged from behind the


    canvas, reporting in. Please read the


    original content at NovelDrama.Org.


    "Okay," Lysander grunted, his gaze shifting back to Thssa standing off the tform.


    Feeling his eyes on her, Thssa quickly looked away, unwilling to meet his gaze.


    "Ah, | get it now. Lysander is here to


    oS Everhart :


    intgriegtad.dvslips Sirings into a


    a grin. Please read the


    original content at NovelDrama.Org.

 Chapter 1312

    Ethan shed a knowing smile and looked towards Thssa.


    Thssa got the message loud and clear. Lysander was here to survey the scene to ascertain the events of that day, to


    determine whether Thssa''s actions had been deliberate or not.


    It meant that Lysander was here to clear her name.


    In the past, Thssa might have been grateful for Lysander''s gesture, but now her heart had turned cold. No matter what


    Lysander did, it no longer stirred anything inside her.


    ¡°Mr. Ethan, if there''s nothing more | can help today, | think I''ll head out now," Thssa said, turning to leave.


    She had barely taken a step when her wrist was caught. Thssa turned around to meet Lysander''s deep eyes, and her heart


    skipped a beat.


    His hand, still calloused and rough from years of hard work, gripped her delicate skin like an electric current threatening to y a


    tune on her heartstrings.


    Thssa instinctively jerked her hand away, "Mr. Sinir, please mind your behavior."


    She stared at him and spoke in an icy tone.


    But Lysander didn''t let go. Instead, he held on tighter, his deep-set eyes locked onto hers. "Where are you off to? I''ll give you a


    lift."


    He had been brooding over the idea that Thssa was out to get him, not once considering investigating the matter further.


    After some time to cool off, even with his grandfather''s biased views against Thssa, he couldn''t believe she would actually do


    something so drastic.


    So, he had called David to reenact the scene of that day to test the feasibility.


    It was truly an ident.


    Lysander wasn''t one to believe in idents. He always suspected ulterior motives.


    The chances of a real ident were too slim. If it had been anybody else, he wouldn''t have bothered to prove their innocence.


    Anyone who threatened his life would face his wrath without mercy.


    Better to err on the side of caution than to let a guilty person go free!


    But Thssa was his exception. He hade himself to clear her name.


    Thssa pulled her hand back with force, her eyes shining fiercely as she spoke, "No need, you should go take care of your


    Susan."


    ¡°Just when | hear my name, what''s going on?" At that moment, Susan entered the studio.


    After a period of recovery, she was out of the hospital, dressed down in a conservative T-shirt and jeans, which was a rare sight.


    She walked in holding a folder.This belongs to N?velDrama.Org - ?.


    Seeing Lysander, her expression bloomed like a rose, "Lysander, you''re here too."


    She moved towards him with a happy stride, but Lysander''s sharp gaze stopped her in her tracks.


    Susan froze, halting her advance, her face freezing mid-smile before rxing again, trying to win him over.


    ¡°Lysander, did youe to see me knowing I''m back on set today? That¡¯s so kind of you!" She spoke with feigned joy.


    After getting discharged, she had been eager to resume the postponedmercial shoot.


    Little did she expect to encounter Lysander right here at the studio.


    Her eyes saw only Lysander; no one else mattered to her.


    She didn''t even spare a nce at Thssa.


    Seeing Susan fawning over Lysander with such a sycophantic smile, Thssa felt nauseous.


    "Ugh..." Thssa''s stomach churned, and she retched to the side.


    Her morning sickness was just


    starting to kick in, d-SusansO""


    rentipnscact Lertainly disgusted


    her further. Please read the original


    content at NovelDrama.Org.


    Unable to control herself, she vomited.


    "Thssa!" Lysander furrowed his


    brows in concern. He sigpped chiser


    mediates, hia Gang gently stroking


    h Saar trying to provide some


    comfort. Please read the original


    content at NovelDrama.Org.


    He had read up on it - women often


    experienced mornigg,siokness airing


    mn) early stayes!OF pregnancy. Please


    read the original content at


    NovelDrama.Org.

 Chapter 1313

    Thssa''s breath hitched, her stomach cramped in difort¡ªa mix of loathing for Susan and a deep, chilling hurt from


    Lysander''s previous suspicion towards her.


    His hand traced her back, and even through the fabric, she could feel the warmth of his palm, the roughness of calluses tender


    against her skin.


    It sent a shiver down her spine with a mix of fear and palpitations.


    Taking a step forward, she dodged Lysander''s touch. "Mr. Sinir, thedy you care about is here now. You should be tending to


    her," Thssa said coolly, not even sparing Lysander a nce before she turned to leave.


    Lysander''s heart twisted at her sarcasm. His brows furrowed, a cold aura enveloping him.


    "Thssa, wait up! I''ve got these documents here, and | can''t make heads or tails of them. Can you help me out?" Susan called


    out, hastening to block Thssa''s path.


    She waved the papers with a smile stered on her face, addressing Thssa cheerfully.


    Hearing Susan mentioning documents from her father felt like a branding iron searing Thssa''s heart, burning with the pain of


    fresh wounds.


    Was Bruce about to reveal publicly what he had done to Evelyn?


    Thssa''s heart leapt to her throat as she reached out to snatch the papers.


    But Susan hoisted them up high, making them out of Thssa¡¯s reach.


    "Susan, what the hell are you ying at?" Thssa''s voice quivered with rage, her eyes zing.


    ¡°What? | didn''t say anything. Why are you getting so worked up?" Susan replied, her lips curled in a sly grin.


    That day in the hospital, when Susan''s hope of staying by Lysander''s side had been dashed, she trembled with hatred. If she


    couldn''t have Lysander, she would make sure Thssa neither.


    Her dear dad was quite the character, with a bedpost notched by countless conquests.


    He had a peculiar habit of recording every encounter in a file, even printing them out on paper. The descriptions of the women


    and their performances were lurid.


    Although Thssa didn''t know what Susan was up to, her instincts screamed trouble.


    Panic and worry consumed her, terrified that the ordeal with Evelyn and Bruce woulde to light, especially now that her


    mother had only just begun to recover from the emotional turmoil.


    With her chest heaving in fury, Thssa roared, "Give me the damn file!"


    "If | feel like it, | will. But now that you want it, I''m inclined not to!" Susan taunted, lifting her hand even higher.


    Suddenly, the documents were snatched from her grasp.C¨°ntens bel0ngs to N?(v)elDr/a/ma.Org


    Susan whirled around to see Lysander holding the papers, her bravado crumbling into silent fury.


    Lysander pinched the files, ready to flip it open.


    Thssa''s heart raced as she lunged forward, "Don''t open it!"


    Lysander didn''t dodge, allowing her


    to clutch the files sieges isl \


    sirgied nek Wa st, pulling her


    close as he gazed down at her, "Still


    feeling unwell?" Please read the


    original content at NovelDrama.Org.


    Thssa couldn''t care less about


    Lysander''s concern. Her hands


    trembled violent ag ehetride(o leer


    the fleapar In her haste, she aimed


    to rip even the folder''s cover, but her


    shaking fingers were too weak.


    Please read the original content at


    NovelDrama.Org.


    Seeing her struggle, Lysander took the folder from her hands, "Let me.¡±


    With that, he opened the folder.


    Thssa was petrified, her heart in


    her throat, eyes Bele with, tertdrde |


    spe soseanted! bdn t open it!" Please


    read the original content at


    NovelDrama.Org.


    But it was toote. Lysander had already flipped it open, revealing pages of A4 paper filled with text.

 Chapter 1314

    Thssa''s heart skipped a beat as she watched Lysander flip open the folder. Time seemed to crawl to a halt, each tick of the


    clock stretching into eternity. She could hear her own heavy breathing, her pulse thundering in her ears, heart leaping to her


    throat as she reached out desperately.


    But in that split second her hand lunged forward, Lysander deftly shifted his grip, avoiding her touch.


    She grasped at thin air, shock painting her face as she turned to face Lysander, whose calm and handsome features had now


    transformed into a tempest of icy wrath. His usually eyes red crimson, anger pulsing through the veins on his hand clutching


    the documents.


    Thssa was petrified, her breath caught in her chest as she watched the fury ze across Lysander''s face, like an imminent


    volcanic eruption that chilled her to the bone.


    Witnessing Lysander finally confront the contents of the folder, Susan couldn''t hide the smug triumph on her face.


    Ethan and David had been in a fog, unsure why Thssa had been so anxious about a mere folder. But now, as they saw


    Lysander¡¯s reactions afterying eyes on those documents, they understood.


    Exchanging a knowing look, Ethan and David remained silent. Lysander was on the razor''s edge of rage, and whoever spoke out


    at this moment was in for misfortune.


    Thssa had given up on trying to snatch back the folder. Her heart felt like a heavy stone, pounding against her ribcage, each


    beat a hammer strike.


    Trembling, her body shook uncontrobly as she watched the frost on Lysander''s face grow thicker, his eyes bloodshot with fury.


    He flipped through the pages¡ªfirst, second, third, fourth... By the time he¡¯d scrutinized all the pages, his handsome face became


    a mask of cold fury, his temples throbbing with visible veins.


    An icy aura enveloped him, freezing even the air around them, his presence so powerful it was suffocating.


    As Lysander finished reading, his blood-red eyes cut sharply toward Thssa.


    Her heart quivered under his piercing gaze, her muscles tensing in involuntary response.


    ¡°Look what your father had done! He must pay with his life!" Lysander seethed through clenched teeth, his eyes aze as he


    hurled the folder at Thssa.


    The icy breath of his anger brushed against Thssa''s face, her own breath crystallizing in fear.


    She pressed her hands against the folder instinctively.


    Lysander turned abruptly and walked away.


    ¡°Lysander, | had no idea my dad had done such vile things. | found this folder in our study and thought | should bring it to you,¡±


    Susan''s voice feigned anxiety. "To think Thssa¡¯s mother and my dad, how despicable they were..."


    "Shut up!" Lysander stopped dead, his razor-sharp gaze slicing toward Susan.


    The frozen, lethal look in his eyes,


    coupled with the d pgiqwiGti! |


    angereperihivers down Susan''s


    spine. Please read the original


    content at NovelDrama.Org.


    Lysander was terrifying now, almost scaring her to death.


    Susan shuddered, her eyes wide with fear as she faced Lysander.


    His cheeks twitched with rage, his


    temples bulged, and his CMMs ve


    eyes glinte withchnyhBoks could


    Kil) Satna be riddled with


    countless arrows now. Please read


    the original content at


    NovelDrama.Org.C¨°ntens bel0ngs to N?(v)elDr/a/ma.Org


    Rooted to the spot, Susan''s heart pounded as she took a step back.


    She had hoped to shape her image in


    front of Lysander, to reveal feos


    father, Br cg, hadwhsholiere


    Tss s mother, hoping Lysander


    would see Thssa in the same light.


    Please read the original content at


    NovelDrama.Org.

 Chapter 1315

    But Lysander didn''t just hold a grudge against Thssa. He had it in for her whole family. "Listen," he spat out venomously,


    ¡°none of you will get off scot-free!" With that, he stormed off, leaving a heavy air of animosity behind him.


    David snapped out of his daze and hurried after him, while Susan was left behind, stunned. It was Thssa''s mother and her


    father''s scandal that started all this mess, why was Lysander''s fury also directed at her?This is the property of N?-velDrama.Org.


    Thssa''s breath quivered as she slowly flipped open the folder. On the first page, the name "Belinda" was written in bold, ck


    letters.


    No wonder Lysander''s demeanor turned icy the moment he opened the folder.


    The first page detailed Belinda''s profile.


    Bruce shamelessly documented every woman he''d been with, including the intimate encounters, described in disturbing detail.


    As Thssa read through the text, she felt choked by disgust and hatred, wishing she could kill Bruce right away.


    The profile revealed that Belinda and Bruce had met in an upscale beauty salon, where Bruce worked as a charming


    cosmetologist. He sweet-talked Belinda, ying the role of a man trapped in an unhappy marriage. He spun lies about wanting


    to divorce his ''vicious'' wife and marry Belinda, iming he needed a hefty sum to appease his wife for the divorce.


    It was the same story he had used to dupe Evelyn.


    Blinded by Bruce''s sweet nothings, Belinda gave him a considerable amount of money in her infatuation. When she discovered


    that Bruce had no intention of leaving his wife, she confronted him. To keep this wealthy woman on the hook, Bruce pacified her


    with talk of eloping together¡ªa mere charade to him. But Belinda took it to heart, willing to abandon her family for him.


    The document went on to detail every sordid liaison between Bruce and Belinda¡ªthe locations, the times, the acts...


    Thssa felt her eyes burn with rage, her hands gripping the papers tightly, her whole body shaking with anger and loathing.


    Turning the page, the narrative continued with the affair between Bruce and her own mother, Evelyn. Evelyn was single, and


    Bruce was drawn to her youthful looks and free-spirited nature.


    Even as he was entangled with


    Belinda, he couldn''t bear to part with


    Evelyn. He dangled the ospecd of |


    sant will Bshad to keep Evelyn


    ke all the while telling her that


    his involvement with Belinda was just


    a means to an end¡ªto amass


    enough money to leave his wife and


    marry Evelyn. Please read the original


    content at NovelDrama.Org.


    When Evelyn learned of his wife and


    his murky dealings with Belinda, she


    ended things with eee


    tuallygedrette Mifosing Evelyn.


    ee all the women, his marriage


    was one of necessity, Belinda was a


    financial scheme, but Evelyn... with


    her, it was about desire and joy.


    Please read the original content at


    NovelDrama.Org.


    After their breakup, Brucemented


    their separation for a long west


    When he encounte deivelyrcagehi


    lain cestrdir GN sel and


    attempted to kiss her, but she


    resisted. Unable to ept her


    rejection, Bruce assaulted her. Please


    read the original content at


    NovelDrama.Org.


    That twisted man had chronicled everything¡ªthe assault on Evelyn, the time, the ce, the process, his feelings, and Evelyn''s


    reaction.

 Chapter 1316

    Thssa''s tears trembled as they fell, sshing onto the paper.


    Her heart tightened, anger and frustration making her breath shake, her body feeling unsteady as it staggered backward.


    "Thssa, are you alright?" Seeing her ovee with grief, Ethan stepped forward, steadying her shoulders with his hands, his


    voiceced with concern.


    Susan had been terrified by Lysander''s furious re, but as he stormed off, she snapped back to reality and marched over to


    Thssa, her voice haughty, "This is all because of you. Now Lysander even hates me."


    Her words cut through Thssa like a sharp knife.


    With tearful eyes, Thssa red back at Susan, her voice trembling with rage, "Do you know who the woman on the first page


    is? She''s Lysander''s mother, Belinda!"


    "What?!" Susan froze, shock coursing through her, a cold sensation rising from the soles of her feet to the crown of her head.


    Her father had an affair with Lysander''s mother!


    As the enormity of her mistake dawned on her, Susan realized she had not only fueled Lysander''s hatred for Thssa but also


    destroyed her own chances.


    She was familiar with the contents of the folder. Belinda had died while nning to elope with Bruce.


    Susan gasped, suddenly realizing why Lysander had said that no one from Bruce''s family would escape the consequences.


    Susan''s legs went weak, as if death was just around the corner.


    Ethan, still unclear about what had transpired, grasped the situation upon hearing Belinda¡¯s name.


    Lysander had lost his parents at a young age, and their deaths were no ident.


    The whole sordid story of Belinda''s affair and demise was detailed in that file, exining Lysander''s fury and misery.


    "Thssa, let me take you home," Ethan offered, his hand on Thssa''s shoulder, feeling her body tremble with anger and


    sorrow.


    As Thssa''s boss, it pained him to see her this way.


    Thssa took a deep breath, trying to expel the heavy, angry air from her lungs, and handed Ethan the folder, "Please burn it,


    Mr. Ethan."


    The existence of that file was an additional torment for the women involved.


    Bruce, that monster, was beyond redemption!


    He deserved the worst of fates!


    ¡°Alright, I''ll do it now," Ethan said, taking the folder from Thssa. He pulled out a lighter from his pocket and set the papers


    aze without a nce, a sign of respect for both Thssa and Lysander.


    The humiliating documents turned to ash soon.


    Thssa watched the remaining embers, a suffocating feeling in her chest making it hard to breathe.


    The words in the folder could be


    burnt to ash, but the events thay"


    VY


    reggrdenihati Kabpened; how could


    they ever be erased? Please read the


    original content at NovelDrama.Org.


    Ethan drove Thssa back to Star Harbor Vi. As she entered the house, she saw her mother mopping the floor.


    Her busy silhouette was just as she remembered.


    Thssa''s eyes instantly welled up, and she moved to embrace her.


    Evelyn stopped, feeling Thssa


    cling to her like a child. She igdher


    chore an genthyhalethssa¡¯s


    hanes, A r voice filled with tenderness,


    "Did something upset you today?"


    Please read the original content at


    NovelDrama.Org.


    Fighting back tears, Thssa shook her head, "No. It''s just... it feels so good to have you, Mom."


    "Sweetheart, I''m always here for you,


    aren''t |?" Evelyn said itfea stifle! her


    weC¨°ntens bel0ngs to N?(v)elDr/a/ma.Org


    i ag cont¨¦lting as a luby.


    Please read the original content at


    NovelDrama.Org.

 Chapter 1317

    Thssa blinked back her tears, revealing a smile tinged with relief. "Yeah, it''s just better with Mom around."


    "Why are you home so early?" Evelyn asked, her brows knitting with concern. Typically, it was Evelyn who went to pick up the


    kids before Thssa got off work.


    ¡°Are you worried they gave me the boot?" Thssa chuckled, her eyes crinkling at the corners.


    In the past five years, Evelyn''s greatest fear had been Thssa losing her job. If that happened, they''d be up a creek without a


    paddle.


    ¡°No, darling, I''m just scared you ran into some trouble," Evelyn said, her gaze soft and full of maternal love.


    Back in the day, they pinched pennies, but now they were sitting pretty¡ªno need to panic, right?


    "I''m fine, Mom. Everything''s peachy as long as you''re by my side," Thssa said, hugging Evelyn tightly.


    After all, a kid with their mom is a blessed thing indeed.


    ¡°Alright, sweetie, you''re carrying a little one now. Go rest in your room," Evelyn suggested.


    With an obedient smile, Thssa let go of her mother and headed to her bedroom.


    After the emotional roller coaster of the day, Thssa was indeed exhausted. Lying on her bed, she drifted off to sleep in no


    time.


    Evelyn tidied up the living room and settled on the couch for a brief respite when the cell phone in Thssa¡¯s handbag began to


    ring.


    Who could be calling?


    Evelyn fetched the phone from the handbag, puzzled by the unknown number shing on the screen without a saved contact


    name.


    Maybe it''s a scam call, she thought.


    But the phone kept ringing persistently.


    Worried it might be something urgent from Thssa''spany, Evelyn decided to answer.


    As soon as the call connected, she was met with the vitriolic tirade of an angry old man.


    "Thssa, you little tramp, just like your mother! You had the nerve to get Lysander to throw me in jail! Just you wait¡ªI''ll spill


    every dirty little secret your mother had with me!"


    The words were a barrage of scorn and arrogance, each one striking Evelyn like a physical blow.


    It was Bruce''s voice, spewing venom at Thssa!


    Seething with rage, Evelyn shot back, "Bruce, you bastard, you deserve it! Thssa''s not your daughter, stop harassing her!


    Lysander did the world a favor locking you up. Go to hell!"This is the property of N?-velDrama.Org.


    With that, she hung up, her breathing in ragged huffs.


    That scoundrel Bruce, hadn''t he done enough damage?


    And now he was after her daughter!


    Her poor Thssa, always looked down upon by Lysander due to her past with Bruce.


    Evelyn had seen the way Lysander looked at Thssa¡ªit was clear as day he had feelings for her.


    If he loved Thssa, why not marry her?


    It must be because of her¡ªLysander


    despised Bruce, des sed hee Solhle


    nen on Thssa.


    Please read the original content at


    NovelDrama.Org.


    No, she couldn''t let Thssa suffer


    because of her an pages. sad!


    te sequal achettt uture for her


    daughter. Please read the original


    content at NovelDrama.Org.


    She''d tell Lysander the truth¡ªThssa wasn''t Bruce''s daughter!


    Evelyn could no longer heed Thssa¡¯s belief that Lysander would be tired of her and set her free.


    She didn''t know if Lysander would let


    Thssa go, but she was Sues Sicule


    thing: if Th assa oaltined to bear


    tha bide of being Bruce''s daughter,


    Bruce would be the death of her.


    Please read the original content at


    NovelDrama.Org.


    With a sense of urgency, Evelyn dashed out the door and hailed a cab to Royal Estates.

 Chapter 1318

    Set in the high-stakes world of luxury and power, the Sinir estate was a beacon of wealth and prestige. Lysander Sinir,


    dressed in a sharp ck shirt and tailored trousers, exuded an aura of untouchable authority, his presence as chilling as a


    winter''s gale. His eyes, cold and calcting, held a glint of danger.


    Striding out of his grand mansion, he was followed closely by his trusted aide, David, who hurried to deliver thetest news. "Mr.


    Sinir," David reported breathlessly, "Bruce has been caught up in allegations of fraud and moneyundering. He''s been taken


    into custody."


    Since returning from themercial shoot, Lysander had moved swiftly against Bruce. Previously, the man''s deceit was limited


    to moral transgressions, hardly enough to warrant legal action. But now, everything had changed. Lysander held in his hands the


    evidence needed to bring Bruce down for his financial crimes.


    With an icyposure, Lysander settled into the back of his Rolls-Royce, while David, his footsteps echoing his anxiety, took the


    driver''s seat. As he started the engine, he reported to Lysander, "Captain Payne is asking for more evidence."This is the property of N?-velDrama.Org.


    "We''ll get it," Lysander replied, his voice as cold as steel. "Trace the origin of every penny he''s invested in the stock market. And


    find a witness for the fraud charges."


    "Yes, Mr. Sinir." David affirmed, nodding solemnly.


    As the Rolls-Royce began to pull away from Royal Estates, a sudden figure dashed into the path of the luxury vehicle. David,


    with quick reflexes, mmed on the brakes, narrowly avoiding a collision. The car jerked to a halt, and while David was still


    reeling from the close call, he recognized that the woman in their way was Thssa¡¯s mother, Evelyn!


    Evelyn approached the car in a state of utter urgency, resting her hands on the window, pleaded, "Lysander, | need a moment of


    your time. Could you spare a few minutes for a few words?"


    Despite her desperation, Evelyn was cautious not to overstep her bounds with Lysander. David, wary of his boss''s foul mood,


    subtly signaled to Evelyn that this was not the best time to trouble Lysander. Yet, consumed by anxiety, Evelyn ignored the


    warning and continued, "Lysander, it will only take a few minutes..."


    David watched nervously, fearing Evelyn''s boldness might provoke Lysander''s ire.


    "Get in!" To everyone''s surprise,


    Lysander''s stern vaice.gu thecuytl |


    ths fepgtoncue bid of anger. Please


    read the original content at


    NovelDrama.Org.


    David was taken aback, but he quicklyplied, unlocking the vehicle''s doors for Evelyn.


    Evelyn hesitated for a moment.


    Realizing Lysander had indegddnVited


    ¡®ij in, She gpeneOth¨¦ tear door and


    slid into the seat behind him. Please


    read the original content at


    NovelDrama.Org.


    The moment she entered the car, the


    weight of Lysander''s fouriilee she 00


    presence flledthe SECS pressing


    doWnd er usually fiery spirit,


    rendering her meek and cautious.


    Please read the original content at


    NovelDrama.Org.

 Chapter 1319

    Evelyn settled into the car seat, her heart pounding as David turned the ignition and the vehicle smoothly transitioned onto the


    asphalt.


    She stole a nce at Lysander''s intimidating profile, hesitating for wnat seemed like an eternity, unsure how to broach the topic.


    Lysander was an imposing man, his mere presence enough to instill panic, even when he uttered not a single word.


    No wonder Thssa couldn''t escape his grasp.


    It took every ounce of courage for Evelyn to finally speak up. "Lysander, | came here to tell you a truth. Thssa isn''t Bruce''s


    daughter.¡±


    Those words seemed to suck the air out of the car, dropping the temperature several notches.


    She paused, too afraid to continue, waiting for Lysander''s response.


    Suddenly, the car jerked to a stop; David had mmed on the brakes.


    "I''m sorry, Mr. Sinir." he apologized promptly, his attention havingpsed at the revtion, missing the traffic light ahead.


    Lysander''s handsome face was a mask of tension, his mood as foreboding as the calm before a blizzard.C¨°ntens bel0ngs to N?(v)elDr/a/ma.Org


    His eyes shimmered with an icy glow.


    ¡°What did you say?" Lysander''s voice was a cold whisper, tinged with barely perceptible agitation.


    David knew better than to speak. He knew the question was meant for Evelyn in the backseat.


    She shivered under Lysander''s chilly aura and stammered, "I... | was with Bruce years ago, but when | discovered his infidelities,


    | left him without a second thought."


    Evelyn paused, trying to read Lysander''s reaction. His chiseled profile gave away nothing but seemed to radiate a frost that


    could freeze the very air around them.


    With trepidation, she continued, "After we split, | was so angry, | went out drinking with my best friend. | got so drunk that some


    guy took me home, and by the time | woke up... we''d slept together. Thssa was conceived that night. She''s that man''s


    daughter, not Bruce''s.


    "| didn''t tell you before because | was ashamed of my mistake, afraid Thssa would me me. But two months ago, she found


    out she wasn''t Bruce''s child herself. It was when Bruce needed a blood transfusion after an injury, and Thssa was ready to


    donate, but their blood types didn''t match. That''s when she realized Bruce couldn''t be her father."


    Evelyn could feel the tension escting in the car.


    With the car back in motion, David drove with utmost care, not daring to make another mistake.


    Evelyn''s heart pounded against her


    ribcage, but she had made up eit t |


    ind to,reyeal HOU to Lysander


    ahd was determined to see it


    through. Please read the original


    content at NovelDrama.Org.


    "| asked her why she didn''t tell you.


    She said she tried, but she realized


    your hold over her wasn tustabout


    role iacailgenal you thought


    she was Bruce''s daughter, you might


    let her go. But if you knew she wasn''t,


    you''d never despise her, and her


    chances of escaping you would be


    even slimmer." Please read the


    original content at NovelDrama.Org.


    Evelynid out everything, her voice trembling with the weight of her confession.


    Now that Bruce was behind bars, Evelyn feared Thssa would suffer because of him.


    She had to make it clear to Lysander that Thssa was not rted to Bruce in any way.


    When she finished, the chill inside the


    car was palpable, as if the se cual


    had shift d from Sty Sumimer to


    AaGahNer in an instant, leaving a


    trail of goosebumps on everyone''s


    skin. Please read the original content


    at NovelDrama.Org.

 Chapter 1320

    Evelyn shivered, her eyes nervously trailing Lysander''s back. Her heart was a jumbled mess of uncertainty,pletely in the


    dark about what Lysander was actually thinking.


    David didn''t dare to even breathe too loudly either.


    He had just returned from a trip to Afrnd, and thest thing he needed was to get caught up in the storm because of whatever


    Evelyn had stirred up. That would be utterly unfair to him.


    Lysander had always had a mixed feeling for Thssa. He loved her deeply, but also hated her because she was the daughter


    of Bruce.


    But now, Evelyn dropped a bombshell ¡ª Thssa isn''t Bruce''s daughter!


    Even to an outsider like David, this revtion sent a thrill through his veins. As for Lysander, wouldn''t hearing this news send him


    over the edge?


    But David wasn''t sure if Lysander was more excited or enraged by the news.


    Thssa had been ying a dangerous game, keeping this truth from Lysander all this time.


    After years as Lysander''s right-hand man, David knew his boss well. Lysander hated deception the most.


    And the one deceiving him was Thssa, about something so significant.


    ¡°Lysander, | told you this because | want you to know that Thssa shouldn''t bear the brunt of your hatred for Bruce. She''s truly


    innocent." Evelyn''s voice trembled, her words hanging in the air without a response from Lysander.


    "Are you done?" Lysander''s voice was icy, his deep tones suddenly cutting through the silence.


    It wasn''t loud, but it was enough to freeze Evelyn in ce, her heart pounding even harder.


    "Y-Yes..." Evelyn stammered.


    If she hadn''t received that call from Bruce, she wouldn¡¯t have known he had been arrested ¡ª thanks to Lysander.


    She had rushed over to Lysander out of fear for Thssa getting entangled in Bruce''s mess, hoping to convince Lysander not to


    take out his anger on Thssa.


    She had expected Lysander to react strongly to the news, but he hadn''t said a word.


    What was Lysander thinking? The man was an enigma.


    ¡°Keep your eyes on the road!" Lysander''s sternmand snapped the tension in the car even tighter.


    David jolted and quickly refocused, "Yes, of course."


    He drove with renewed concentration, and soon, they pulled up in front of the police station.


    Lysander got out, and David followed.


    Seeing the police station, Evelyn''s entire body shook with fear. She had onlye to tell Lysander the truth, and now he brought


    her here?


    Was he going to throw her in jail, too?


    No, she couldn''t go to jail.


    Evelyn was a woman of humble beginnings. She was normally brave and fearless, but faced with a crisis, she crumbled.


    C¨°ntens bel0ngs to N?(v)elDr/a/ma.Org


    Thest time she came to the police


    station was when Lysander''s


    grandmother, Sybil had passe@\\''


    Aysadder''Strandfather had


    thought she was responsible for


    tripping Sybil, leading to her death,


    and had her hauled off as a murder


    suspect. Please read the original


    content at NovelDrama.Org.


    She was terrified, wailing and begging at that time.


    Now, with Bruce already in custody, and Lysander taking her to the station, was she next for the cell?


    Evelyn sat in the car, unwilling to move.


    Lysander had already walked towards the station.


    David noticed Evelyn hadn''t gotten


    out. He turned back genthargeu,


    "Mg, Rendltorl tS Okay. You can


    come out now." Please read the


    original content at NovelDrama.Org.


    Evelyn''s eyes were wide with fright,


    her words jumbled in her panic


    haven''t d ng anythiiGabrong, | won''


    goto fal . My daughter''s at home


    waiting for me. | need to go back."


    Please read the original content at


    NovelDrama.Org.


    +


    She pushed the car door open and stumbled out, ready to flee.


    But David reached out, steadying her by the elbow.

 Chapter 1321

    Evelyn was rattled, her emotions raw as she wrenched herself away from David''s grasp, tears brimming in her eyes as she


    red at him. "I won''t go, | refuse to set foot in the police station. Don''t you dare try to stop me!"


    With those words, she made to leave.


    But David was quick, stepping in front of her to block her path. Seeing her in such a frantic state, he tried to soothe her fears.


    "Ms. Pendleton, you''ve got it all wrong. Mr. Sinir isn''t sending you to the mmer. He just needs you to testify."This is the property of N?-velDrama.Org.


    A flicker of panic gave way to confusion in Evelyn''s tearful gaze. "Testify?" she asked, incredulous. "To what?"


    "About Bruce''s fraud," David rified.


    The realization that she wasn''t being carted off to jail calmed Evelyn considerably, and she followed David into the police station.


    Inside the precinct, Captain Payne was briefing Lysander on the Bruce case.


    "We''ve practically got him nailed for moneyundering. He''s conned a fair share of women over the years, amassing a small


    fortune by illicit means and then plowing that money into the stock market, looking to double it. Moneyundering through


    investment. But to nail him for fraud, we''re going to need a witness to attest where that cash really came from."


    As Captain Payneid out the situation to Lysander, Evelyn caught Lysander''s piercing gaze. It sent a shiver down her spine, a


    mix of dread and panic seizing her.


    Evelyn was usually assertive at home in Thssa''s presence, but she found herself shrinking away outside of it, especially


    under Lysander''s intimidating stare. She felt her courage crumbling to dust.


    She could barely hold his gaze for a second before she quickly looked away, unable to withstand the pressure of his scrutiny.


    "She''s the witness," Lysander''s voice cut through the tension with a chilly edge.


    Captain Payne turned to Evelyn, his tone matter-of-fact. "Pleasee with me. We need to get your statement."


    Though Captain Payne spoke softly, the inherent authority in his voice still made Evelyn flinch. She looked helplessly at David.


    David nodded at her reassuringly. "It''s okay, just tell them what you know, that''s all."


    Taking a deep breath to steady her nerves, Evelyn followed Captain Payne into the interrogation room.


    The room was dim, with a single harsh light hanging over the table creating an ominous atmosphere. Evelyn sat down, her body


    tense with anxiety. She had never faced such a situation in her life, and it was a true test of her mental resolve.


    Captain Payne sat across from her, a notebook in hand, a recorder set up on the table.


    Once Evelyn seemed ready, Captain Payne began. "You knew Bruce, right?¡±


    Evelyn nodded, her voice barely above a whisper. "Yes, | knew him."


    ¡°And what was the nature of your rtionship?" Captain Payne''s voice remained even.


    The question felt like a needle to


    Evelyn''s heart, full of ao


    pain. Her c Rast i Sew asa


    cha apter, a wound that bled


    anew with each recollection. Please


    read the original content at


    NovelDrama.Org.


    But Lysander needed her testimony


    to put Bruce behind bar cand so, 1\


    {3 theaaonypEVeiyn was


    patra to rip open her scars for all


    to see. Please read the original


    content at NovelDrama.Org.


    "We used to be an item," she


    admitted, her voice tin withoiT1


    bi teres, friet& @0 plete liar;


    th¨¦re¡¯s not a single honest bone in


    his body!" Please read the original


    content at NovelDrama.Org.


    Evelyn''s chest heaved with the force of her emotions as she recounted her story.

 Chapter 1322

    "Take a deep breath, Ms. Pendleton. We''re just taking your statement in a regr investigation. No need to let your emotions get


    the better of you, alright?" Captain Payne soothed her.


    Evelyn''s hands were clenched tightly on the tabletop, her knuckles whitening as she fought to suppress the raging storm within.


    With a shaky breath, she replied, "I''m fine now. Go on."


    "So, can you tell me everything that happened when you were with him?" Captain Payne inquired.


    She recounted the days of her youth with Bruce, sparing no detail for Captain Payne.


    Bruce had initially deceived her, iming he was a bachelor.


    Only after she had fallen head over heels did she discover not only was he married, but he was also entangled with a wealthy


    woman.


    Upon learning this, Evelyn decisively ended things with Bruce.From N?velDrama.Org.


    Later, under the pretense of providing her and her daughter Thssa with a stable home, Bruce came back, siphoning her


    money.


    Captain Payne zeroed in on the crux of the matter, "How much money did he take from you in total?"


    "Three million at first, and then it ballooned to one billion and thirty million," Evelyn recounted.


    The three million came from selling the circr pendant that Lysander had given to Thssa, and the one billion was siphoned


    from the Sinir Group''s coffers¡ªhacked by Atticus.


    The additional thirty million was also pilfered from Lysander''s ounts.


    She had been out of her mind, handing over such vast sums to Bruce without a second thought.


    ¡°We''ll track the transactions through his ounts. He won''t be able to escape justice as long as you can prove he ckmailed


    you," Captain Payne assured her.


    "He did!" Evelyn asserted vehemently.


    ¡°Alright, that''s everything we need for now. Thank you for your cooperation," Captain Payne said politely.


    With the statementplete, Evelyn finally rxed a bit. She stood up and walked out of the interrogation room.


    As she exited, she saw Bruce being escorted through the precinct lobby by the police.


    He caught sight of Evelyn and instantly knew why she was there¡ªher presence meant trouble for him.


    Now that his facade had crumbled, Bruce turned feral. He lunged toward Evelyn, spouting vitriol like a mad dog.


    ¡°Evelyn, you backstabbing wench! Here you are to kick me while I''m down, huh? If you dare say a word to the cops, I''ll end you!


    Don''t forget how you writhed beneath me not long ago!"


    Bruce''s snarling face and clenched teeth conveyed a desperate wish to grab Evelyn and shake her violently.


    The police intervened in time to prevent him from getting close. Deeming him too unruly, one officer delivered a sharp kick to


    Bruce''s knee, bringing him to the ground.


    Though Bruce didn''t manage to reach Evelyn, his venomous words cut into her like a knife, each insult stabbing at her heart.


    Humiliated and pained, she staggered back, reeling from Bruce''s demonic outburst and his vile usations.


    ¡°Hold on, Ms. Pendleton," Captain Payne steadied her with a reassuring hand.


    ¡°Evelyn, don''t you spread lies, or you''ll regret it!" Bruce, kneeling from the blow, continued his threats through gritted teeth.


    "And who are you going to make


    regret anything?" Lysaneler''s tomn¨¦ring


    fi ures mowed forward,


    detivering a punishing kick to Bruce''s


    face. Please read the original content


    at NovelDrama.Org.


    Lysander''s aura was formidable, his


    forehead vein eee eager


    not for moral restraint,


    perso nies alt with the likes of


    Bruce right then and there. Please


    read the original content at


    NovelDrama.Org.


    Bruce spat blood, his teeth dislodged, joining the crimson flow.


    Seeing this, Evelyn was petrified, momentarily forgetting her grief.


    "Ms. Pendleton, let me escort you


    out," offered Captain Payne, still


    supporting her Cangenied aot


    BOVeTBAIECaltion from Bruce, he


    instructed his officers before leading


    Evelyn away, "Lock him up and wait


    for sentencing!" Please read the


    original content at NovelDrama.Org.

 Chapter 1323

    The police hauling Bruce pulled him to his feet and dragged him toward the detention center.


    Outside the precinct, Captain Payne said to Evelyn, "I''ll have a squad car take you home."


    Evelyn snapped back to reality, "No need, I''ll just hail a cab. I''ve got cash on me, really, it''s no trouble at all."


    Fear crept into Evelyn''s voice. She wanted nothing to do with the likes of Bruce, and she was even more reluctant to get


    entangled with the police.


    Captain Payne read the panic in her eyes and didn''t press the issue. After all, with Bruce behind bars, Evelyn was safe.


    ¡°Alright then, take care on your way," Captain Payne said before turning back to the station.


    Evelyn walked to the curb and gged down a taxi. Instead of heading to Star Harbor Vi, she directed the driver to the Vibrant


    Oasis Residences, eager to check in on her old card-ying friends.


    It was a coping mechanism for Evelyn. Whenever she was down or didn''t want her daughter to worry, she''d find sce in a


    game of cards.


    Meanwhile, inside the precinct, Lysander red in disgust at the bloodstain on the floor and the single drop that had marred his


    shiny leather shoes during his altercation with Bruce.


    He felt revolted.


    David noticed Lysander''s aversion to Bruce''s blood and quickly offered, "Mr. Sinir, I''ll fetch you a new pair of shoes from the


    car.


    Lysander was a man often on the move for work, so he had kept a spare set of clothes and shoes in his vehicle.


    Shortly after, David presented Lysander with a fresh pair of shoes.


    Lysander swapped out the blood-spattered pair and, with a cold nce at David,manded, "Throw away this pair.¡±


    With that, he strode out of the police station.This belongs to N?velDrama.Org - ?.


    David was about to pick up Lysander''s shoes barehanded when the sight of the blood made him queasy. Instead, he grabbed a


    stic bag, used it to cover his hand, picked up the shoes, and dumped them into a trash can.


    Then he hurried to catch up with Lysander and drove off.


    "Mr. Sinir, where to now?" David asked as he started the car.


    "Star Harbor Vi," Lysander replied, the address rolling off his tongue.


    He had heard everything Evelyn said earlier.


    The revtion that Thssa wasn''t Bruce''s daughter had sent waves through his once-still heart.


    It was as if a knot that couldn''t be untied had suddenly been loosened, offering a sense of redemption and relief.


    If Thssa wasn''t Bruce''s atelil


    there was no cantycias bd vendetta


    bepwean them. Please read the


    original content at NovelDrama.Org.


    His grandfather would have no grounds to object to their union.


    But hearing that Thssa had always


    known the truth and kentyt hiadah !


    it Hh


    stiieda fue that reced the


    fleeting joy. Please read the original


    content at NovelDrama.Org.


    Beyond the anger, a continuous pain lingered.


    So, she''d rather live with the burden of a vendetta than be with him.


    He thought of the time when Thssa was kidnapped by Bruce.


    It must have been Bruce who had intended to harm her.


    And yet, she''d rather let that


    man¡ªwho nearly vited, hee-wblk


    frepthanitel hin the truth about her


    parentage. Please read the original


    content at NovelDrama.Org.


    She was avoiding him as if he were a venomous snake.

 Chapter 1324

    She''d rather spare a scumbag like Bruce than let him know the truth.


    She''d rather have him think that she and Bruce are father and daughter than be with him after clearing up the misunderstanding.


    Five years ago, he''d promised to take care of her. He even took her to home to introduce her to his grandparents.


    If it weren''t for Zephyr''s intervention, he would''ve married her before finding out she was Bruce''s daughter.From N?velDrama.Org.


    But truth turned out that she didn''t want to marry him.


    To escape from him, she was willing to bear the burden of a deep-seated vendetta.


    All because she couldn''t let go of Leopold, with him upying her heart entirely.


    Even Leopold''s good buddy, Callum Gordon, received special treatment from her.


    She''d rather be close to Callum than to him.


    Lysander thought about it, and his typically unyielding heart seemed to bleed and ache profoundly.


    As a child, his father had warned him never to fall for a woman who didn''t love him, or else the oue would be grim.


    Yet, he didn''t heed his father''s advice.


    He followed in his father''s footsteps, falling for a woman who didn''t harbor feelings for him, a woman who wanted to flee from


    him.


    So this was the pain of unrequited love¡ªsharp and bitter.


    But he was not like his father. He would never give up!


    He was going to find her now, marry her, and keep her by his side for life.


    "David," Lysander suddenly spoke.


    David, always cautious, responded, "Mr. Sinir, what can | do for you?"


    Lysander inquired, "What''s usually needed for a proposal?"


    "What?" David was taken aback, hardly believing what he''d heard.


    Mr. Sinir was talking about proposing?


    But to whom?


    Thssa?


    It must be Thssa. Aside from her, there was no other woman in Lysander''s life.


    This was fantastic new. Thssa''s waiting had finally paid off.


    Although David himself had never been in love, he''d watched his fair share of roms.


    "A proposal can''t go without a ring," he eagerly suggested.


    Aring?


    Lysander''s eyes narrowed slightly. The ne he''d given Thssa had been dissolved.


    There were no gifts from him left on Thssa.


    Buying a ring for Thssa wasn''t a bad idea.


    ¡°Let''s go to the mall," Lysander instructed.


    "Alright," David, more excited than Thssa, quickly turned the steering wheel.


    Lysander was going to propose to Thssa, and soon she''d be able to openly be with him.


    Although he wasn''t the one being proposed to, David''s mood soared with joy.


    Thssa was finally going to reap the rewards of her long suffering!


    Arriving at the mall, Lysander walked into the most upscale jewelry store.


    Upon seeing the distinguished


    Lysander approach, pe\sale


    veshhim@altiously and with


    palpable trepidation. Please read the


    original content at NovelDrama.Org.


    "Mr. Sinir, what kind of ring are you


    looking for?" the saledy askegyy)


    nervousl finding tyserlcer too


    Henaalee and his aura too imposing


    to even look him in the eye. Please


    read the original content at


    NovelDrama.Org.


    Lysander asked in his low, resonant voice, "What ring is suitable for a proposal?"


    "Oh, a proposal," the saledy


    gasped in surprise. She hadn!


    of Mr. Sinir beuwna¡¯ brlfi¨¦nd,


    ThekeWeren''t even rumors of one,


    why the sudden proposal? Please


    read the original content at


    NovelDrama.Org.


    As a loyal fan of Lysander''s, the saledy''s heart shattered.

 Chapter 1325

    But she didn''t dare ck off, putting her heart into presenting the rings on disy.


    "The in bands are sturdy and practical, the intricate designs are eye-catching, and the ssic ones never go out of style. It all


    depends on what your girlfriend prefers," the saledy said with a pleasant smile.


    Lysander''s brows furrowed slightly. He hadn''t anticipated that buying a ring could be such a hassle. "Wrap them all up," he said


    decisively.


    The sales associate was stunned, almost thinking she had misheard. She asked again for confirmation, "Mr. Sinir, are you


    sure you want all of them?"


    "Do | need to repeat myself?" Lysander lifted his eyes, a hint of displeasure in his gaze.


    The sales associate''s heart skipped a beat, and she quickly apologized, "No, of course not. I''ll get them all wrapped up for you


    right away."


    She hurriedly beckoned a colleague to help, and together they started packaging every ring from the disy. They had never


    encountered such a big purchase before. Their faces couldn''t help beaming with joy.


    David wasn''t surprised by Lysander''s actions. That was just like his boss¡ªnever stingy when it came to the woman he loved. He


    wished to give her the very best of everything.


    Previously, Lysander had custom-ordered a ring called Remembrance with an Azure Star sapphire in it¡ªa gem unique in the


    whole world. He had arranged for the sapphire to be nestled inside a cloud design, a secret surprise for Thssa. His love for


    her was intense, yet he carried it with a quiet passion.


    When the rings were all packaged, Lysander handed his card to David, who went to process the payment. Momentster, David


    came backden with severalrge bags.


    Their next stop was Star Harbor Vi.


    David thought about the uing proposal and felt his heart swell with happiness. Even the car seemed to speed along more


    eagerly.


    Evelyn entered the Vibrant Oasis Residences card room.


    The elderly wasn''t ying cards as usual but had gathered to pore over some gossip on their smartphones, gasping and tsk-


    tsking.


    "Good Lord, is that Evelyn who used to y cards with us?"


    "That''s her, for sure. She always seemed so prim and proper, but look at her now, chasing after men."


    "That''s normal, isn''t it? A woman living single for so many years without a man would be odd."


    "Even if she longed for a man, getting married would be respectable. But carrying on with a married man? Look at her, unting


    herself in his bed. Tsk, tsk... She should be collecting some virtue for her daughter and grandchildren.¡±


    Evelyn''s heart raced as she overheard the chatter.


    She rushed forward, "What are you reading?"


    The card yers turned their heads, giving her a nce filled with mockery and scorn.


    "Oh, Evelyn, we never thought you''d be so inept at both cards and choosing men. You''ve taken up with a married man and


    you''ve been brazen in bed. You have no shame."


    "Your daughter having so many kids out of wedlock. Is she following in your footsteps with men on the side?"


    Stung by their words, Evelyn''s mind buzzed, her chest heaving with emotion. She lunged to snatch the smartphone.


    "Watch your mouths! Or I''ll sue you for defamation!" Evelyn was panting with fury.From N?velDrama.Org.


    The phone was in the hands of the


    card room''s owner, who didn¡¯ e


    but let Ev grap Stal with a


    BROT I truth is right before you.


    We''re not ndering you. Take a look


    for yourself." Please read the original


    content at NovelDrama.Org.


    Evelyn gripped the phone, a short video ying on the screen.


    The video showed captions using


    Evelyn of seducing a m riednaahl


    ce, ad sharielessly engaging in


    a with him without a thought for


    N family. Please read the original


    content at NovelDrama.Org.


    Below the text was a photo of a


    young Evelyn and Bruce. Bruce was


    kissing Evelyn, both qfthism @6kig


    Su Dll cropped from


    oulders up and with Evelyn''s bare


    shoulders in view, suggested she


    wasn''t wearing anything! Please read


    the original content at


    NovelDrama.Org.


    At that image, the tightly wound string in Evelyn''s mind snapped.


    A wave of humiliation engulfed her in an instant.

 Chapter 1326

    "Evelyn, you always seemed so savvy and straightforward, how could you stoop to this?" the voice of a woman from the


    community center''s card room cut through the air, her finger jabbing usingly in Evelyn''s direction.


    "| can''t believe it. | used to invite you for a card games whenever | had spare time, and now this? Seducing a married man?


    Have you no shame?"


    Even a usually friendly olddy, who often yed bridge with Evelyn, was shaking her head in disapproval.


    "And don''t you dare sit at my card table again. | fear your touch might taint my cards," a stern-faced elder spat out, her index


    finger wagging in the air as she scolded Evelyn.


    These were the same people who used to share gossip and camaraderie with her over a friendly game. Yet now, these so-called


    friends were looking down on her with disdain, their scornful gazes and a sea of harsh words threatening to drown her.


    Evelyn''s breath quivered, and her trembling hands caused the smartphone to tter to the ground.


    She staggered back, overwhelmed with humiliation and shaking with indignation, tears streaming down her face as she shouted,


    "Enough! You don''t know anything, so how can you judge me this way when you know nothing about the backdrop? You''re the


    useless ones! All you do every day is y cards, lose money, and gossip around. What else are you good for?"


    Her voice was near hysterical, her pain and rage swirling like a blizzard within her.


    She pointed shakily at those who had verbally attacked her.


    When times were good, they were warm and generous to her. But let one scandal arise, and not a single one of them would try


    to see things from her perspective, as if she were their sworn enemy all the way.


    Now Evelyn saw the cruel truth: her so-called friends were nothing but a pack of treacherous, heartless gossipmongers!


    "We might not do much, but at least we don''t go around seducing other women''s husbands. Shame on you for trying to shift the


    me," retorted one of the card yers with a sneer.


    Evelyn''s tense breathing deted as if punctured, her pain immense as tears flooded her eyes, and thest shreds of hope in her


    heart crumbled.


    "Fine, I''m shameless! You''re the virtuous ones, and you have your dignity!" Evelyn tossed the woman''s phone to the ground and


    stumbled away, her body rocking as if drained of all strength.


    She moved like a lost soul, her energy seemingly sapped.


    Evelyn had always cherished her reputation above all else.


    But in just a moment, in front of a group of self-righteous peers, her lifetime of pride had vanished into thin air.


    She felt as exposed as if she''d been stripped bare and paraded down Main Street, the feelings of humiliation and suffocation


    unbearable.


    The card room members followed her out, pointing andughing at her staggering figure as she made her way onto the road,


    their cruel words cutting through the air.


    Evelyn walked on, her face streaked with tears, her eyes hollow. Cars swerved to avoid her numb form as she crossed the


    street. She was oblivious to the danger.


    Thankfully, the drivers reacted in


    time, swervin pgpaking fo bord


    disaster Please read the original


    content at NovelDrama.Org.


    The driver shouted out the window at


    Evelyn, "Get out of the He ifyaute)


    (ing for rouble Bon you wander


    into the street like that!" Please read


    the original content at


    NovelDrama.Org.


    With a scowl, the driver sped off,


    leaving his wor shangitty ofel¡±


    Fly ike &''curse. Please read the


    original content at NovelDrama.Org.


    Her heart felt as though it had been run over, the pain sharp and sudden.


    Was she so filthy, so unworthy of this world?


    As Evelyn stood there, her gaze empty, her cellphone rang from her pocket.


    It was an unknown number.


    With a spiritless motion, Evelyn answered the call.


    From N?velDrama.Org.

 Chapter 1327

    On the other end, a woman''s voiceshed out, "Evelyn, you''ve got no shame! | can¡¯t believe you''ve been fooling around with


    Bruce. You''re old enough to know better! Don''t you know he¡¯s got AIDS? If you''ve been with him this year, you''re definitely


    infected! What goes aroundes around!"


    The woman was Lucy.


    She knew that Bruce had been arrested, and that Susan had found a folder Bruce kept, which documented every woman he''d


    been with, including dates and explicit details.


    Lucy hadn''t expected that two months ago, Evelyn had fallen into Bruce''s bed!


    Bruce had been diagnosed with AIDS three years ago. Although Lucy loved him, she hadn''t been intimate with him for years.


    Lucy''s words struck Evelyn like a thunderp, sending a bone-chilling numbness throughout her body.


    All her vitality turned to dust.


    Bruce had AIDS, and he had forced himself on her without taking any precautions.


    So, it was certain that she was now infected.


    It was a contagious disease, after all.


    She thought about her adorable grandchildren; how she shared meals and yful moments with them every day.


    What if she had passed it on to those little angels?


    They were right. She was a sinner, tainted. If she were to die, she felt she should at least do so far away from everyone.


    Evelyn was in the depths of despair.


    Through her hollow gaze, she saw a truck speeding towards her.


    With a grimace and an unexpected surge of strength, she ran towards the oing truck, throwing herself in front of it.


    The truck driver was startled by the figure darting in from the side. He mmed on the brakes, but the truck couldn''t stop in time.


    It sent Evelyn flying.


    She soared through the air,nding several meters away like a discarded rag doll, blood spilling from her mouth and a gruesome


    dent in her forehead.


    She was gone before she could even close her eyes.


    "Oh my God! Evelyn''s been hit!" shouted the card yers who had rushed out to see themotion.Copyright N?v/el/Dra/ma.Org.


    The faint-hearted scrambled back


    nee to hide, while Ly aver epUlls


    ide, yates e tragedy


    , too shocked to immediately


    wif 4 help. Please read the original


    content at NovelDrama.Org.


    After doing everything in his power to halt the truck, the driver was gasping, overwhelmed with horror.


    Seeing the person he had hit motionless on the ground, he froze. It was his first ident in all his years on the road, and it had


    imed a life.


    His legs felt like jelly as he waited a few seconds before opening the door and stepping out.


    He approached Evelyn, but at the


    sight of her condition, he cainn


    bring him elf tpitonek Hk? His hands


    theMhi g, he took out his phone and


    called the police and the ambnce


    immediately. Please read the original


    content at NovelDrama.Org.


    A woman from the card room, known


    for loving gossip but not for malice,


    saw the severity of Eve a''s ident


    dk avshe pia She quickly


    BIL, Thssa''s number. Evelyn


    was a regr at the card games, and


    sometimes Thssa would stop by,


    so the woman knew how to reach


    her. Please read the original content


    at NovelDrama.Org.

 Chapter 1328

    Thssa had dozed off for a short nap, but upon waking up, she found the house eerily quiet¡ªEvelyn was nowhere to be seen.


    She searched every nook and cranny of their cozy suburban home, but her mother remained elusive.


    Just then, her cellphone began to ring with an urgency that sent a chill down her spine. She picked up the call, her heart


    thumping against her chest.


    "Thssa, your mom had an ident. Oh, it''s bad, honey, real bad. You need to go to the hospital right away. The ambnce


    just took her..." The voice on the other end belonged to a friend of Evelyn''s from the card room. Her tone was a mixture of


    breathless panic and morbid excitement.


    Thssa''s world spun. It felt as if her blood had turned to ice, her entire body numbed by the shock. The phone slipped from her


    trembling fingers, crashing onto the floor.


    It took a moment for her to regain some semnce ofposure. Breathing unevenly, she stumbled towards the door, her mind


    a chaotic whirlpool of fear and frustration.


    Shakily, she made her way out of the house, trying to muster the strength to rush to the hospital. But that woman''s words echoed


    in her mind, painting a gruesome picture that sapped her strength, leaving her legs as wobbly as overcooked spaghetti.


    As she lurched out the door, a sleek ck Rolls-Royce pulled up in the driveway. David greeted her with a warm smile, "Ms.


    Everhart.¡±


    He thought to himself, Thssa probably didn''t know about the surprise Mr. Sinir had nned for her. The man had splurged


    on an array of engagement rings, ready to pop the question. Those star-crossed lovers were finally going to seal their fateful


    bond. David genuinely felt happy for Thssa.


    But Thssa had no time for pleasantries or for David''s cheerful ignorance. Weak-kneed, yet determined, she hurried past him,


    intent on hailing a cab to the hospital. The distress in her heart made her limbs feel like jelly, and even though she tried to move


    quickly, her legs betrayed her, nearly making her fall.


    "Thssa!" A strong arm caught her just in time, and a deep, concerned voice filled her ears. "Thssa, what''s wrong?"


    Choking back sobs, Thssa clutched at Lysander''s clothes with trembling hands. "Take me to the hospital... please, the


    hospital..."


    Her fear was so profound that not even tears woulde.


    All she knew was that Evelyn had been in a horrific ident, but the details, the state of her well-being, were terrifyingly


    unknown.


    Lysander''s eyes darkened with concern as he took her shaking hand. "Alright, we''ll go to the hospital.¡±


    He scooped her up in his arms and strode swiftly to the car.


    Once inside, he instructed David with amanding tone, "Speed to the hospital.¡±


    Sensing the gravity of the situation, David set aside his earlier joy and started the car.


    They sped along the streets, the hospital drawing nearer with every passing second.


    Thssa''s breath shuddered, and her


    body trembled unco iqligbig;63''she


    yed sid forher mom''s safety.


    Please read the original content at


    NovelDrama.Org.C¨°ntens bel0ngs to N?(v)elDr/a/ma.Org


    Her cold hands were enveloped by


    Lysander''srger, calloused


    ones¡ªhands t Hhgretie fat ota


    rid rt Uritamiliar with hard work,


    their warmth unable to prate the


    icy fear that gripped her. Please read


    the original content at


    NovelDrama.Org.


    Lysander held tightly, pulling her


    trembling form close to his ¡é es


    offering sil t pomTofTany warmth.


    oh POR he had no idea what had


    transpired, he was there to face it


    with her. Please read the original


    content at NovelDrama.Org.


    Now in her distraught state, she wouldn''t be able to articte her fears even if he had asked.


    Before long, the car pulled up to the hospital.

 Chapter 1329

    Thssa''s legs were limp as she sprinted through the hospital corridors, searching frantically for a doctor. When she finally


    spotted one, she blurted out, "Excuse me! Have you seen ady brought in in emergency? Her name''s Evelyn Pendleton.¡±


    "Are you her family?" the doctor inquired.


    "I''m her daughter." Thssa replied, a tremor in her voice.


    At the mention of her rtion, the doctor''s eyes dropped, his expression somber. "I''m sorry to tell you this, but the patient was


    pronounced dead at the scene. She was brought here for... postmortem care. You can find her in the morgue.¡±


    "What!" Thssa''s whole body shook violently, thest thread of hope within her snapping.


    It felt like a thunderp had gone off in her head, leaving her so unsteady she could hardly stand.


    "Thssa..." Lysander caught her as she nearly copsed, noting her ashen face and quivering lips. His heart also twisted


    painfully.


    He had sensed trouble but never imagined Evelyn had died in a car crash.


    "Let me help you to the morgue,¡± Lysander said, his voice rough with emotion as he supported Thssa''s trembling frame.


    Without his aid, she might have crumpled to the ground.


    Biting her lip, Thssa followed Lysander toward the morgue in despair, each movement feeling like a descent into hell.


    Upon arriving, they encountered the mortician, who was preparing Evelyn''s body.


    Thssa saw her mother lying on the cold, hard b, her face under the harsh light, marred by blood not fully cleaned, the left


    side of her skull caved in from the car crash.


    Had the doctor not informed her beforehand, Thssa would have never recognized her own mother.


    Evelyn was beyond recognition, a sight too gruesome to bear.


    The moment Thssaid eyes on her, thest vestige of strength she had been clinging to evaporated, and grief engulfed her


    like a tidal wave.


    "Mom!" she cried out in agony, her heart quivering, breath short.


    She reached out, wanting to touch her mother, but the sight of Evelyn''s disfigured face made her hesitate, fearing even the


    slightest touch might cause her pain.


    "Mom..." Thssa sobbed, her body going limp with sorrow and shock.


    Lysander enveloped her with his broad chest, providing the support she desperately needed, his hands steadying her shoulders


    to keep her upright.


    "Mom, why? Why did this happen? Weren''t we supposed to stick together? Why..."


    Overwhelmed by her grief, Thssa''s breath caught, her world went dark, and she fainted.


    "Thssa!" Lysander eximed with concern, scooping her up and hurrying toward the hospital''s emergency wing.


    A few steps in, he felt a warmth on his hands. Blood! Thssa was bleeding!From N?velDrama.Org.


    His eyes darkened with worry, and he


    rushed her to the emer encyTeofr!


    j voigetepod sft eommanding.


    ! bic she needs help, now!" Please


    read the original content at


    NovelDrama.Org.


    The urgency in Lysander''s voice


    spurred the medical staff int om


    immediat aetiqubyahder aid


    Thss on the gurney, and the


    doctor swiftly wheeled her away to


    the ER. Please read the original


    content at NovelDrama.Org.


    "She''s pregnant,¡± Lysander stated, his voice tight with anxiety.


    "Understood, Mr. Sinir. Please wait


    here," the doctor Soleqeefeort


    0 Shing ThsseInts e emergency


    r and closing the door behind


    them. Please read the original


    content at NovelDrama.Org.


    Lysander''s footsteps halted abruptly as the door shut, cutting off his view of Thssa.


    His heart constricted with worry and fear.

 Chapter 1330

    Lysander stood like a solemn statue outside the emergency room, his usually stoic face now etched with worry. The intense


    concern in his deep-set eyes was undeniable as he fixated on the glowing sign above the door, each illuminated letter searing


    into him like a harsh, unbearable light.


    With each passing second, his anxiety grew more acute.


    David hurried over, his face a mask of serious tension as he briefed his boss, "Mr. Sinir, the inte is blowing up with rumors


    that Evelyn was with Bruce, iming she broke up a family. The online vitriol is vicious."


    The insults hurling through cyberspace were far worse than David''s sanitized report. The hateful slurs were almost too much to


    bear.


    David couldn''t fathom why people could be so venomous, especially towards someone they didn''t even know, spewing such


    heartless bile.


    Lysander''s face turned stormy, his voice icy as hemanded, "Tell Captain Payne to throw the book at Bruce! | want the


    maximum sentence.¡±


    "Understood. I''ll make sure the captain gets the message,¡± David nodded, before reluctantly continuing, "After Evelyn left the


    police station, she didn''t head straight to Star Harbor Vi. Instead, she ended up at Vibrant Oasis Residences¡¯ card room, where


    she was met with judgmental stares and whispers from her old friends..."


    His voice trailed off, sensing the difficulty of continuing.


    A chilling re from Lysander urged him on, the implied threat in his boss''s eyes enough to tighten his spine.


    Swallowing hard, David delivered the rest of his report, "Before her tragic ident, Evelyn received a call from Lucy. Right after


    hanging up, she... she ran to a speeding truck."


    The weight of the news hung heavy in the air. Today was supposed to be the day Lysander proposed to Thssa, but instead,


    tragedy had struck. Thssa had lost her mother¡ªhow immense her pain must be.


    Lysander clenched his jaw, his eyes zing with fury. "Find out what was said on that call!"


    "I''m on it," David assured, already on the move.


    Phonepanies briefly recorded call content for quality and security purposes. With Evelyn''s number in hand, David made his


    way to the telmunications provider and soon uncovered the shocking truth.


    Even the seasoned David was stunned into numbness upon hearing the devastating revtion¡ªBruce had AIDS and had


    infected Evelyn.


    This had to be the final blow that pushed Evelyn over the edge.


    Upon returning to the hospital with the grim facts, David reported back to Lysander, whose icy gaze now held a storm of rage and


    suppressed fury.


    Bruce, the despicable bastard, knew he was infected and still passed it on to Evelyn!From N?velDrama.Org.


    Lysander''s contempt was palpable.


    "Inform the hospital tp-take aml


    cautianEwkh Evelyn''s body," he


    ordered coldly. Please read the


    original content at NovelDrama.Org.


    David promptly conveyed the instructions.


    Two months had passed since


    Bruce''s assault on Evelyn. She m


    have been carnipgshe Vius ahd


    siftpr & Bidident, covered in blood,


    there was a risk of infection if anyone


    in the hospital came into contact with


    her. Please read the original content


    at NovelDrama.Org.


    With David''s timely warning, the


    medical staff Riis GetRtl


    xs regspyred fi Mat they were


    t i" every precaution, including


    wearing gloves. Please read the


    original content at NovelDrama.Org.


    Only when he knew they were being careful did David allow himself a moment of relief.


    An hourter, the door to the emergency room finally swung open.


    Lysander strode forward, his face tense with anticipation, "How is she?" he asked.

 Chapter 1331

    Dr. Bet removed his mask, a look of sorrow shadowing his features as he turned to Lysander. "I''m sorry, sir. We couldn''t


    save the baby."


    The words echoed in Lysander''s head, chilling him to the core. His heart felt as though it were being pierced by needles, the pain


    unbearable.


    "And Thssa?" Lysander''s voice was tense with concern as he quickly shifted his question to the doctor.


    "Ms. Thssa will be fine. She just needs some time to recover," Dr. Bet reassured him.


    Only then did Lysander''s rigid shoulders slightly rx.


    A nurse wheeled Thssa out of the emergency room, her gaze hollow as she stared at the sterile ceiling tiles, herplexion


    as pale as the hospital sheets.


    Lysander felt his heart clench at the sight of her lifeless state.


    He walked alongside the doctor, apanying Thssa to her room.


    After ensuring Thssa was settled, the doctor and nurse left, leaving Lysander sitting at the bedside, his heart aching as he


    watched her. His voice was deep and soothing as he spoke, "Getting better is all that matters now."


    "Why did my mother go out?" Thssa''s voice was deste, hoarse and fragile, as if the weight of her grief had crushed even


    her vocal cords.


    "She wasing to tell me that you''re not Bruce''s daughter,¡± Lysander replied, a bitter edge to his voice.


    If Evelyn hadn''t gone out, she wouldn''t have met with that ident.


    Upon hearing Lysander''s words, tears welled up in Thssa''s eyes, spilling over and tracing paths down her cheeks.


    Evelyn had been worried about Bruce''s shadow looming over her daughter, even in her final moments, her thoughts were for


    Thssa''s wellbeing.


    Thssa¡¯s tears struck a chord in Lysander''s heart, and he could feel her sorrow.


    He reached out, his thumb gently wiping away the tears at the corner of her eye, his voiceden with tenderness, "You''ve just


    had a miscarriage. You shouldn''t cry now, it''s not good for your eyes..."


    Miscarriage!


    The term hit Thssa like a ton of bricks, a stark reminder of the loss she had suffered.


    Her heart, already shattered, seemed to fracture even more.


    She had been so careful, so protective of her unborn child, and yet, it was gone.


    And now, Evelyn too had left her.


    The pain was suffocating, tears flowing unrestrained, her heart in agony.


    Lysander took her cold hand into his, trying to warm her and to ease her pain even a little.


    "You still have me, and our four children." His voice was a low, mncholic rumble.


    He had never allowed himself to feel


    such sorrow for another''s grefom


    before, but eqingyThaTASsa SO


    Ent heart felt heavy as if


    weighed down by stone, acutely


    feeling her suffering. Please read the


    original content at NovelDrama.Org.


    Thssa closed her eyes and turned her head away, "I want to sleep now."


    She had only her children left now. Lysander meant nothing to her.


    "Sleep then. I''ll stay with you," Lysander said softly.


    However, Thssa gently withdrew


    her hand from his JERE


    sed, her yoiceBaely above a


    Isper, "No need. | can''t sleep with


    you here." Please read the original


    content at NovelDrama.Org.


    Her voice was soft, the effort to pull


    away feeble, but it was. that ef


    wepkogss tbat d¨¦dmed to wield the


    greatest power. Please read the


    original content at NovelDrama.Org.


    It struck Lysander right in the heart, the pain sharp and sudden.


    Even in her most vulnerable and helpless moment, she had never thought to lean on him.


    From N?velDrama.Org.

 Chapter 1332

    Lysander''s palm twitched faintly, still feeling the cool touch of her fingers lingering in his hand.


    The chill seemed to seep right through to his heart.


    His deep eyes shifted towards Thssa. Her eyes were closed, clearly not in the mood to engage with him. Pretending to sleep,


    her tremblingshes betrayed her inner turmoil.


    She couldn''t possibly be sleepy, could she? The pain in her heart was so deep. How could she find rest?


    She simply didn''t want hispany, that much was evident.


    With a misty look in his profound gaze, he spared her onest nce before stepping out of the room. She was in a fragile state,


    and any more words from him would only serve as a sting.


    She wanted solitude, so he would grant it to her.


    Thssa''s eyes remained shut, but every tiny nerve within her was on edge, attuned to every sound in the room.


    The moment she sensed Lysander leaving the hospital room, her pent-up emotions crumbled. Tears spilled from her eyes, and


    her chin quivered as she wept a muted, heart-wrenching sob.


    Curled up, she clutched the nket, crying softly yet fiercely.


    Her body arched as an invisible wound seemed to tear open near her belly, pulling at her muscles with a twitching pain.


    Thssa shivered with the intensity of her agony, reaching down to caress her belly. Aside from the sharp pain, it felt unchanged,


    yet a little life that had been growing there was now an angel in heaven.


    It was her child, the one she had protected with her very life.


    On the same day that her mother passed away, her baby also left her.


    She felt so helpless that she was unable to save anyone.


    Outside the ward, Lysander was seated on a bench. He could hear Thssa''s cries, raw and primal. It was as if something was


    tearing his heart, each pull bringing pain.


    His eyes misted over, filled with sorrow.


    He knew that the pain he felt was nothingpared to the agony engulfing Thssa.


    How he longed to go to her, to hold her close, to kiss her repeatedly and to tell her that she still had him.


    But she had refused, holding back her immense grief instead of crying in front of him. Her determination to withdraw her hand


    from his gentle grasp reminded him that she didn¡¯t want him.


    His presence only added to her repression, bringing her more pain.


    By his side, she wouldn''t even allow herself to cry.


    Knowing her resistance to him, Lysander¡¯s fists clenched, his handsome face cast in gloom.


    Three days passed, and it was time for Evelyn''s funeral.


    Dressed in the traditional garments of mourning, Thssa was there to bid her mother farewell.


    Her four children followed, each of them crying softly.


    "Grandma, when you''re in heaven, please don''t forget us," Elowen sobbed, trying to get the words out.


    "Grandma, you can''t teach me how to


    fold paper boats anymore Sophia!


    ofisgh {av the ars from the


    corners of her eyes. Please read the


    original content at NovelDrama.Org.


    "Grandma, | won''t be naughty


    anymore. I''ll listen 19 yous¡± mofidh''s


    ofiss gareithe TaGdest his heartbreak


    palpable. Please read the original


    content at NovelDrama.Org.


    "Grandma..." Tears streamed down Atticus¡¯ cheeks like pearls slipping off a broken string.C¨°ntens bel0ngs to N?(v)elDr/a/ma.Org


    They had previously attended


    Leopold''s funeral with ange


    Fes eR eir


    ohdierStan


    ding of death was vague.


    Please read the original content at


    NovelDrama.Org.


    They had yet to fully understand the finality of losing someone.

 Chapter 1333

    But ever since Leopold passed away, he never showed up again.


    Atticus had even looked up the meaning of death on the inte.


    The little ones began to grasp a deeper understanding of death, knowing that when someone dies, they leave forever.


    Now, their beloved Grandma Evelyn, who loved them most, had also died.


    They could still hear Grandma''s voice echoing in their ears.


    But they knew they would never see her again, never taste her cooking and never hear her story-telling.


    They would never be able to learn how to make paper airnes from her again.


    It was as if the sky above had darkened with their sorrow.


    Thssa, clutching a ck and white photo of Evelyn, led the way.


    Hearing the children¡¯s cries, tears cascaded down her face like a torrential downpour.


    She was now someone without a mother, never again to act spoiled in front of her, never to hear Evelyn urge her to get married.


    The funeral was held in the small town of Hollowbrook, where everyone who knew Evelyn came to pay their respects.


    Evelyn''s sister, Astrid Pendleton, was so ovee with grief that she fainted several times.


    Astrid, already suffering from arthritis and bearing immense sorrow, could barely stand. She couldn''t make it through the entire


    funeral, even though it was only a short walk from their home to the grave site. Isabe Everhart''s mother had to support her all


    the way to the graveside.


    Evelyn''s gravestone had already been erected, the epitaph inscribed.


    Astrid was heartbroken, weeping at the base of the stone, "Sis, why''d you have to leave your beloved daughter and


    grandchildren behind? If you didn''t want city life, you could alwayse back and farmed with me. Oh, sis, now even you''re


    gone, how am | supposed to go on alone..."


    Her sobs were so intense that she nearly passed out from the sheer force of them.


    Seeing Astrid in such despair, Thssa went to help her up. She was also a mess of tears, but she had to be strong now,


    especially for Astrid.


    Astrid had lost her daughter and husband when she was young, and Evelyn had been her only remaining kin.


    Now, with Evelyn gone, Astrid was truly alone.


    "Auntie, you still have us. We will always be here for you," Thssa said, trying to console the weeping Astrid.


    Isabe stood by her mother, holding her hand tightly, realizing the preciousness of her mother''s presence.


    She had never liked Evelyn much, for her sharp tongue, and she never won in an argument with her.


    But now, seeing Evelyn lying beneath a mound of earth, she felt a pang of regret.


    Evelyn was a woman of deep passion, remaining unmarried her whole life because of one man, only to meet a tragic end.


    Looking at Evelyn''s photograph, Isabe felt a sharp pain in her heart.


    Love, it seems, can truly be lethal.


    Leopold was a living testament to that.


    At the entrance to Hollowbrook, a


    sleek ck Rolls-Royce was


    witha m  nsideyWHEse deep: set


    eyes re filled with sorrow, gazing


    at the nearby graveyard. Please read


    the original content at


    NovelDrama.Org.


    His gaze was fixed on etiam in


    her mourning Eletileony


    Bei was ht


    trying to support her aunt. Please


    read the original content at


    NovelDrama.Org.


    Her frail figure seemed as if it could be toppled by the next gust of wind.


    It wrenched his heart.This belongs to N?velDrama.Org - ?.


    "Mr. Sinir, perhaps we should go


    over," suggested David SACI


    Tre seat noYGING tysander Ss


    fi oa at the grave site ahead.


    Please read the original content at


    NovelDrama.Org.

 Chapter 1334

    Lysander''s voice was hoarse, low, "No need."


    Thssa didn''t want him at Evelyn''s funeral. His presence would only push her further away.


    Besides, it was the townsfolk attending Evelyn''s funeral now. In such moments of raw emotion, people cried openly and shared


    their grief without pretense.


    If he showed up, the air would stiffen, and the natural flow of mourning would be disrupted by his presence.


    His arrival would turn a heartfelt goodbye into a stifled affair, where the focus might shift to reverence and status-seeking towards


    him.


    Lysander''s decline of David''s suggestion hung in the air as they watched the funeral from a distance silently.


    His eyes lingered on Thssa, who stood by the graveside. Her face, framed by the traditional white mourning attire of the West,


    appeared even more fragile and paler.


    She was still in her recovery from miscarriage, yet she bore this immense sorrow.


    Lysander''s heart ached with a hidden pain. He wished he could to go to her, to wrap her in his arms and give her strength, and to


    be her steadfast support.


    But he couldn''t. His presence would only cause her more pain, more rejection and more turmoil.


    So, he chose to watch from afar.


    Now, he understood how Thssa must have felt when she wasn''t allowed to attend Leopold''s funeral¡ªwatching from a


    distance when the man she loved was buried, denied even the right to bid him onest farewell.


    Back then, she must have been in agony and despair.


    Just like he was now.


    He had never understood why, if she was barred from attending, she would still hide and watch from the sidelines. Now, he had


    be the Thssa of that time.


    He understood all her feelings.


    It was indeed extremely painful.


    The funeral ended, and the mourners gradually made their way back to the vige.


    Lysander¡¯s eyes were misting, and he instructed David, "Let''s leave."


    They couldn''t risk being seen there.


    Following orders, David quickly started the car and reversed, driving away from the vige.


    Once they reached the asphalt road, Lysander said, "Stop here."


    David obeyed, pulling to a stop on the road, though it offered no view of Thssa.


    He didn''t question Mr. Sinir''s motives. He simply followed orders.From N?velDrama.Org.


    That night, the four children ba


    Uwe After fi y soobiy


    i torsheep, veNied went to


    a s room. Please read the


    original content at NovelDrama.Org.


    Astrid was sorting through Evelyn''s belongings, her face wet with tears.


    Thssa rushed to her side, helping


    her, "Auntie, please don ie goad If


    yau grief peri yo and


    ething happens, what will | do?"


    Please read the original content at


    NovelDrama.Org.


    Astrid''s tears flowed as she shakily


    sorted through the coll gtionoO TT)


    cloth JA had left


    b RANE the years. Please read


    the original content at


    NovelDrama.Org.

 Chapter 1335

    Astrid¡¯s eyes, stained with the tracks of tears, lifted to meet Thssa''s gaze. "You must be hurting more than me," Astrid


    whispered, her voice thick with emotion. "Don''t hold it back. Cry if you need to¡ªit might ease the pain a little."


    Hearing Astrid''s words, the dam of Thssa''s self-restraint burst, and tears began to flood. She wrapped her arms around Astrid,


    sobbing uncontrobly like a helpless child.


    Astrid held her close, sharing in her sorrow.


    After some time, it was Astrid who first found the strength to stem her tears. She gently patted Thssa''s back and said with


    heartfelt sincerity, "Thssa, have you thought about what you''ll do in the future?¡±


    Thssa wiped away her tears with a trembling hand, her voice hoarse from the weight of her grief. "I''ve decided to stay here


    with the kids," she told Astrid, her face still wet from crying. "We''ll make a life in the countryside with you, working thend."Copyright N?v/el/Dra/ma.Org.


    Not long ago, she and Evelyn had pulled the children out of daycare. Lysander hadn''te to see them for several days.


    When she was discharged from the hospital and went back to the country to take care of Evelyn''s funeral, she fetched the kids


    from the Royal Estates without a peep from Lysander.


    She wondered if Lysander had given up on them, on her taking the kids away.


    So she resolved to keep the children in the countryside and to live a simple life there. It would be tough, but she was determined


    to make ends meet, to provide an education for her kids and to see them off to college someday.


    Being with her children was all that mattered now.


    With a kind smile, Astrid patted her hand and nodded. "Good. If you don''t know how to farm, I''ll teach you."


    Astrid had secretly hoped Thssa would stay in the countryside with her. The city, no matter its allure, wasn''t home. After years.


    of toil as aborer, only the family homestead offered a true sense of belonging.


    Besides, the children''s father was a man of considerable influence.


    If Thssa went back to the city and he took the children away again, what then?


    Staying in the countryside could somewhat provide a safe distance from the powerful man''s reach.


    Though Astrid lived alone in the country, she had been kept informed about Thssa''s situation through Evelyn''s phone calls.


    "Alright," Thssa finally said with a sniffle, managing a small smile. "I''ll learn to farm from my dear Auntie Astrid." Together, they


    started to sort through Evelyn''s belongings.


    "These clothes, we can take to your mother''s grave siteter. These jewels, they were hers¡ªkeep them safe," Astrid instructed


    as she sorted through the items.


    She handed Thssa an old red box. Insidey a pair of gold earrings, a gold ring, and a jade pearl¡ªout of ce among the


    precious metals.


    The jade pearl was exquisite, its


    emerald hue vibrant and clear.


    Thssa wasn''t fa liarayitkt OTF}


    iques arcyehtiire jade, but her time


    with Lysander had given her a crash


    course in valuables, especially after


    she had identally broken several


    of his artifacts. Please read the


    original content at NovelDrama.Org.


    The jade pearl, with its lustrous depth and rich color, was clearly authentic, possibly even a precious antique.


    Holding the jade pearl up, Thssa asked, "Auntie, was this jade pearl also Mom''s?"


    Astrid nodded. "Yes, your mother


    treasured that piece the most. She


    loved card games sold\aang Ol"


    ble thidgs,''b it never this jade


    pearl. She lost a lot of jewelry to


    those games, but she never once


    thought of parting with this." Please


    read the original content at


    NovelDrama.Org.


    Clutching the jade pearl, Thssa


    handed the box back sg eerie Ome


    espiyreernoee untie. Wear


    t |


    you like, or sell them if you


    need to." Please read the original


    content at NovelDrama.Org.


    Astrid shook her head, refusing. "I can''t take these. They''re your mother''s legacy."


    She wasn''t one to covet wealth, especially not from her own sister''s.


    "I''ll sell them and transfer the money to your bank ount. Then you can treat yourself to whatever you fancy," Thssa insisted


    with a gentle firmness.

 Chapter 1336

    Although Astrid never revealed where Evelyn''s collection of glittering jewelry came from, Thssa had her suspicions. It must be


    the handiwork of Bruce when he was at his charming best.


    Bruce had a silver tongue, especially when it came to wooing women with shiny trinkets. And poor Evelyn had been utterly


    beguiled, ensnared by his sweet nothings.


    Bruce was such a loathsome creature that Thssa could barely contain her urge to tear him to pieces!


    Why on earth would she want to hold onto anything that bastard had given Evelyn?


    Jewelry was just ordinary stuff, after all. Selling it for cash made sense, to buy Astrid some treats, maybe a hearty steak and


    some medical care.


    As for the jade pearls, they had the look of an antique.


    If it was truly an antique, it had to be worth pretty much. Bruce, that penny-pincher, wouldn''t part with something so valuable for a


    woman, would he?


    That''s why Thssa was convinced the jade pearl couldn''t possiblye from Bruce. They must have a story behind them. So


    she decided to keep the pearl.


    "Thssa, | don''t need any fancy treats, I''m not a child anymore,¡± Astrid insisted, unwilling to let Thssa sell Evelyn''s jewelry. It


    was, after all, a tangible memory of Evelyn. Without it, even that smallfort would be gone.


    Gently patting Astrid''s hand, Thssa reassured her, "Auntie, trust me, | know what I''m doing. | would never dishonor Mom''s


    memory. Having this jade pearl is enough."


    How could she possibly keep anything from Bruce, the man who had made her mother''s life so miserable?


    To hold onto anything he gave her mother would be the ultimate disrespect.


    She intended to erase every trace of Bruce that lingered around her mother.


    She hoped her mother would never have to encounter Bruce''s soul, in this life or the next.


    ¡°Alright, if you''ve made up your mind, then that''s that," Astrid said with tearful eyes. "It''s gettingte, you should go to bed."


    "Sure, Auntie, you should get some rest too," Thssa said, soothing her aunt until shey down. Then she left Astrid''s room.


    She had intended to sleep with the kids, but after they had cried themselves to sleep, she didn''t want to disturb them.


    Instead, she headed to a spare room.


    Their vi was a gift from Lysander, well-furnished and totally different from their former dpidated home.


    The decor was exquisite, but lying in the well-appointed room, Thssa felt none of the warmth she''d known in their old house.


    There was neither sense of home, nor familiar scents or sounds.


    From N?velDrama.Org.


    As shey in bed, thoughts of her


    mother brought fresh t as, andshe


    : ledt t ne gavend NH ercet letting


    ou soak her hair and warm her


    a Please read the original


    content at NovelDrama.Org.


    Huddled beneath the nkets and


    sobbing, a chill sudden! rept Gp on


    neta was front Y8ri Able


    tenes that could be felt without


    seeing it. Please read the original


    content at NovelDrama.Org.


    Her heart skipped a beat, and she threw back the covers to peer toward the edge of the bed.


    Ashadow loomed, a tall and lean figure whose intense gaze seemed to emit an eerie glow in the moonlight,manding yet


    terrifying.


    "Ah!" Thssa¡¯s heart contracted in shock, and she instinctively sat up, scooting backward.


    "Don''t be afraid. It''s me." The man


    quickly drew near, set on eon Beane


    ac


    of the be ¡°is re ed for


    Thss s waist, drawing her close


    as his deep, resonant voice conveyed


    concern. Please read the original


    content at NovelDrama.Org.


    Recognizing Lysander''s voice, Thssa''s first instinct was to push away his hands. "Don''te any closer!" she muttered.

 Chapter 1337

    The tears she had just fought back now cascaded down once again.


    Her heart ached as if she was suffocating. Thest person she wanted to see at this moment was Lysander.


    Lysander felt her trembling hands as she tried to push him away. Her slender waist now seemed even more fragile, quivering


    uncontrobly.


    Lysander''s heart ached. He didn''t let go, instead wrapping his arms around her, pulling her into his embrace. His arms held her


    tight, his chin resting on her head as he exhaled a worried breath. " Let me hold you."


    Thssa had intended to push him away, but his arms were strong, and her own petite frame could not budge him in the


    slightest.


    His warm breath fanned the top of her head, and she could clearly smell the familiar scent of sandalwood on him, a scent that


    had be etched into her very bloodstream over countless nights.


    His deep voice was filled with destion and tenderness, insisting on holding her close.


    Her trembling body felt the defined strength of his chest and the steady beats of his heart.


    It pulled at her own aching heart, syncing their rhythms.


    Thssa stiffened, every cell in her body quivering sharply.


    She didn¡¯t want his touch, yet her body, familiar with his presence, longed for his embrace.


    A fearful realization struck Thssa as her body yearned for his arms around her.


    She lifted her shaky hands to push him away, "Please go. I''m begging you not to bring the kids away from me. They''re all | have


    left."


    Hearing her trembling voice, Lysander''s heart felt as if it had been viciously struck by a sharp de, a dull pain throbbing within.


    He had hurt her deeply in the past, and now she was so wary of him.


    Lysander breathed heavily, his voice calm yet silent.


    Thssa mistook his silence for refusal and resisted even more fiercely. Straightening up, she determined to get rid of his


    embrace. "Lysander, | have nothing left. Can''t you just leave me be?"This belongs to N?velDrama.Org - ?.


    Her breath shook, her voice frail and powerless, her despair and helplessness overwhelming.


    Leave her be?


    Those words pierced Lysander''s heart, muddling his senses.


    She was still thinking about escaping him.


    Lysander''s breath burned, his voice low and husky with emotion, "Why didn''t you tell me sooner that you weren''t Bruce''s


    daughter?"


    If she gave him any other reason, no matter how absurd, he would have chosen to believe her.


    "There''s no reason. It¡¯s none of your business," Thssa stubbornly replied.


    "Sure, whether you speak or not is


    your business," Lysander ese ican!


    Oath mapncalte mine Come


    viii rf to the town hall tomorrow,


    we''re getting married." Please read


    the original content at


    NovelDrama.Org.


    He let go of her, no longer holding her


    in the darkness, his eeppyes O1"!


    cespestiy tied ofr ssa. Please


    read the original content at


    NovelDrama.Org.


    "What?" Thssa was startled by his words, "Lysander, do you know what you are saying?"


    He hade to her bedside in the dead of night, dering they would marry!


    All because she wasn''t Bruce''s daughter?


    "I''m not crazy. You''ll see tomorrow," Lysander said, his gaze never wavering from Thssa.


    In the dark of night, although he


    couldn''t make out her ieatiesren


    could see her enystalliad @yes


    sneering with tears, shining like


    the diamond ne he once gave


    her. Please read the original content


    at NovelDrama.Org.

 Chapter 1338

    Breathing ragged and heart racing, Thssa stared at Lysander, her words deliberate and tense, "I''m not one for daydreams,


    and I''d appreciate it if Mr. Sinir didn''t try to force them on me!"


    Her statement, though resolute, carried an undertone of self-deprecation, echoing like a speck of dust in its insignificance.


    Once upon a time, she had indeed fantasized about marrying Lysander, and she had asked him more than once if he would ever


    take her as his wife. What was his response?


    He told her not to daydream!


    Now she was wide awake and clear-minded, and her only desire was to stay far away from Lysander.


    Yet there he was, showing up in the dead of night, proposing to her!


    Shock gave way to a bitter, mocking destion in Thssa.


    Lysander caught the rejection in her voice, along with the deste tone of a heart that had been wounded and scarred.


    His own heart clenched as though gripped by an invisible hand, the pain tightening its hold, making even his breaths heavy and


    labored.


    "Get some rest. I''lle for you in the morning," Lysander''s deep, smooth voice broke the silence as he stood and walked away.


    Thssa propped herself up in bed, the moonlight casting a ghostly glow on his retreating silhouette. She didn''t want to see him


    leave, but his overpowering presence was etched into her vision.


    The soft moonlight painted his dark figure with a frosty sheen, reminiscent of a winter''s night when leaves are coated with ayer


    of frost.


    It was a sight that sent an involuntary chill through her heart, an urge to flee.


    Lysander walked out the door and closed it gently behind him.


    The sound of the door shutting unleashed the tears Thssa had been holding back. Shey back down, her heart drowning in


    a wave of sour anguish.


    The next day, Thssa''s eyes snapped open to the morning sun so bright it nearly blinded her.


    Shielding her eyes, she came to full awareness. She got out of bed and went to check on the children, only to find their room


    empty!


    Asense of crisis hit her. Had Lysander taken the kids away?


    Panicked, she rushed outside and then saw four small figures in the vegetable patch, clustered around Astrid.


    ¡°Astrid, Mom loves green beans. Let''s pick extra for her," Atticus¡¯ little hands were full of green beans, yet his eyes were still on


    the nt, picking more.


    ¡°Alright, you pick more so | can cook them for your momter," Astrid said fondly, patting Atticus¡¯ head.


    Despite her eyes still swollen fromst night''s crying, the sight of the four adorable children brought a warm smile to her face.


    ¡°Astrid, you like potatoes, right? Look how many | dug up!" Elowen held two potatoes with her chubby hands.


    C¨°ntens bel0ngs to N?(v)elDr/a/ma.Org


    The potatoes were smeared with


    earth, and so were Elowen''s little


    hands. She be dyacsttile, Grid as


    spp ipeashee her face with her hand,


    streaks of dirt drew whiskers on her


    cheeks, making her look like a little


    tabby cat. Please read the original


    content at NovelDrama.Org.


    ¡°Elowen, you''re so funny with mud all over your face," Dorian giggled, hisughter as clear as a bell.


    Elowen and Dorian were the household''s jesters.


    Wherever they were,ughter and joy were never far behind.


    "Do you want to y with mud too, Dorian?" Elowen asked mischievously.


    ¡°No way!" Dorian protested.


    "Let''s be little kitties together."


    Elowen chased after D rian, henyittle


    ii moving fastChanis ready to


    Ss ie Dorian¡¯s face with earth.


    Please read the original content at


    NovelDrama.Org.


    "| don''t wanna be a kitty. Astrid, save


    mel!" Dorian bolted, runniag airctest \


    ung Astad, pany & evade


    Etowen''s yful pursuit. Please read


    the original content at


    NovelDrama.Org.

 Chapter 1339

    The little tykes were using Astrid as a maypole, dancing around her in the open field, their joyful giggles andughter echoing


    around.


    Thssa''s heart, which had been strung tight with worry, finally settled.


    Thank goodness, the children were still here.


    She had been struck by panic when she couldn''t find them in their rooms earlier ¡ª her heart had nearly leapt from her chest.


    Especially after Lysander¡¯s uninvited visitst night, she feared he might have snatched the children away too.


    ¡°Mommy, you''re up!" Sophia stood in the vegetable patch, clutching two heads of lettuce in her little hands.


    Her big round eyes sparkled with delight upon seeing Thssa, and she announced her happiness with glee.


    At her words, the other three munchkins looked up too, casting their tender, trusting gazes toward Thssa.


    Four pairs of eyes were filled with love and reliance, shining even brighter than the morning sun.


    "Yep, I''ming! I''ll help you all pick some veggies," Thssa said,ing out of her daze and moving towards them.


    "Thssa,e and take the kids back to wash up. We''ve nearly got enough for a meal. I''ll start cooking, and we''ll be ready to


    eat in no time," Astrid called out, swinging open the garden gate, herding the kids out.


    ¡°Mommy, look at the potatoes | helped Astrid dig up! Aren''t they huge?" Elowen trotted over, her pigtails bouncing, and presented


    two big potatoes in her small hands to Thssa.Copyright N?v/el/Dra/ma.Org.


    "Wow, Elowen, you''re digging up potatoes now? That''s amazing. Do you like eating potatoes, too?" Thssa gently wiped a


    smudge of dirt from Elowen''s cheek with her thumb.


    "Yes, | love them! Potatoes are the best. You can make fries, chips, braised potatoes, steamed potatoes, baked potatoes,


    mashed potatoes... so many yummy dishes!"


    Food was Elowen''s forte. If she had tasted something once, she knew exactly what went into making it. And now, she tilted her


    head with utmost seriousness as she spoke about her favorite food.


    ¡°How about we ask Astrid to make some potato chips for youter?" Thssa offered tenderly.


    Having the children by her side was aforting balm to the ache of losing her own mother.


    "Yeah!" Elowen nodded excitedly.


    In no time, Astrid and Thssa had whipped up breakfast, and the family sat down to eat in the living room.


    That''s when an uninvited guest arrived.


    Arms crossed and a smirk ying on her lips, Isabe said, "Having breakfast, | see. You were crying your eyes out yesterday,


    and now you''re all cozy and happy. It seems Evelyn was expendable for you, after all."


    Isabe''s words were a dagger to Thssa''s heart. Her hand froze in ce, and she looked up at Isabe with a furrowed brow,


    her voice heavy with suppressed rage, "You should''ve drowned in that pond when you had the car crash. If you can''t say


    anything nice, then just shut up!"


    Her mother had passed away, leaving the entire family in excruciating pain.


    Did their grief mean they were not allowed a semnce of normal life anymore?


    Were they expected to wallow in despair, unable to eat, and follow Evelyn to the grave?


    Isabe''s tongue was as sharp as ever, spewing whatever she pleased without a care for others¡¯ feelings.


    "Thssa, don''t spout on me. You''ll get what''sing to you sooner orter!" Isabe huffed and stormed off.


    Isabe had once found herself in a


    burning car with Leopold. She bad)


    jumped into,a pomhtGaseape the


    Spas Hing and crying for help


    while Leopold utterly ignored her.


    Please read the original content at


    NovelDrama.Org.


    In the end, she had dragged herself


    ashore, but the memory had left


    raw wound in cheatt |Geopofdnad


    ppaferted tose her die rather than


    show her a shred of pity. On that


    ount, she had been utterly


    defeated by Leopold. Please read the


    original content at NovelDrama.Org.


    Meanwhile, a sleek ck Rolls-Royce


    rolled in at the edge of he vittags\\ \


    Hehe fagsrmeRONS onder and


    h | Siteter was none other than


    Thssa''s home. Please read the


    original content at NovelDrama.Org.

 Chapter 1340

    Lysander navigated the streets with a sense of grim determination, his car cutting through the city like a silent specter. The glove


    compartment held his birth certificate, a symbol of themitment he had dered the night before. He had vowed to marry


    Thssa, and today was the day for him to make good on that promise.


    Marrying Thssa had always been in Lysander''s ns, but life had thrown a wrench into the works. Leopold¡¯s arrival had


    shattered any illusions by revealing the truth¡ªthat Thssa¡¯s heart belonged to another.


    The specter of his father¡¯s fate loomed over him; a man who had met a tragic end for marrying a woman in love with someone


    else. His grandfather had always warned him not to follow in his father''s footsteps, to stay lucid. He could indulge in the physical


    allure of Thssa but should never take her seriously.


    To marry her would be a dangerous move. It would transform him into a man like his father, desperate to win her love.


    Hatred also brewed within Lysander for Bruce, the culprit of his parents¡¯ downfall. Bruce had meddled in their marriage, deceived


    his mother and convinced her to elope with him¡ªa man so vile that every fiber of Lysander¡¯s being recoiled in disgust.


    By extension, Lysander had once resented Thssa, for she carried the blood of that despicable man. Whenever Lysander felt a


    softening towards her, the thought of her lineage would turn his heart to ice.


    He hated his own inability to erase her from his life for good. Out of sight, out of mind would be the greatest kindness he could


    afford himself, but it was an impossible feat.


    The mere thought of her vanishing from his life, of Thssaughing and living happily with another man, left him breathless


    with a suffocating sense of loss.


    So, even though she was Bruce¡¯s daughter, even though her heart sheltered Leopold, even though her actions were reminiscent


    of her mother Belinda¡¯s betrayal, he could not let go of her.


    He had punished her with extreme measures, brought her to the brink of despair, yet he could not let go.


    Until the ident with the rigging equipment that nearly crushed him, Lysander thought Thssa wanted him dead so she could


    be free.


    The pain in his heart was sharper than his rage. It was then that he truly understood his father''s feelings. Loving a woman so


    deeply that the prospect of death at her hands was preferable to living without her.


    Later, once his anger had cooled and


    he had investigated the scene with


    David, Lysander had ae the ciith


    The reprenpersiing e€ rigging


    uld have been unable to see him


    through the hole in the backdrop. It


    was just an ident. Thssa had


    not intended to harm him. Please


    read the original content at


    NovelDrama.Org.This belongs to N?velDrama.Org - ?.


    He had been about to clear the air


    with her when Susan arrived


    clutchin afolderya GokSier


    ate Bruce''s victims, including


    both his and Thssa¡¯s mothers.


    Please read the original content at


    NovelDrama.Org.


    But Thssa was Bruce''s daughter!


    In that moment, the pain of losing his


    parents and the hatred toward hi


    enemy conver dyqter tra¨¦istrom


    of priati¨¦Acthrough gritted teeth,


    Lysander told Thssa that he would


    not spare anyone from Bruce''s


    lineage. Please read the original


    content at NovelDrama.Org.


    The trap he had been setting for Bruce was finally sprung, and he alerted the police. However, to convict Bruce of fraud, they


    needed a solid witness.

 Chapter 1341

    And Thssa''s mother was the key witness, as Bruce had once swindled billions from Evelyn.


    By chance, Evelyn came to him that day, revealing that Thssa was actually not Bruce''s daughter. The news was like a ray of


    light piercing through the dark storm clouds of his rage and bitterness.


    In that moment, he decided he would marry Thssa! He would never let her go for as long as he lived.


    She was carrying his child, and was already the mother of his four other children. For this life, he only had the intense desire to


    keep Thssa by his side forever.


    Leopold was gone, no longer a threat to him, and Thssa wasn''t Bruce''s daughter. He had no reason not to marry her.


    And the most important thing was that he loved her, and he wanted to make her his wife.


    Whether she agreed or not was irrelevant. The desire to make her his was his alone.


    Lysander''s sleek ck Rolls-Royce made its way straight to Thssa''s home.


    Thssa and the children were seated around the dining table enjoying a meal, having just endured a nasty exchange with


    Isabe, who Thssa had sent away with some sharp words.


    Now, harmony was restored to the household as they ate, until someone entered through the door.


    This person brought with them a chill that seemed to spread through the room.


    Thssa, thinking it was Isabe returning to annoy her again, spun around in irritation. "Can''t you take a hint and leave us


    alone?"


    But before she could finish her sentence, she caught sight of Susan, who was decked out in heavy makeup, dressed in shorts


    and a belly-baring top.


    Thssa paused mid-sentence.


    Susan''s trendy outfit was the epitome of urban glitz and mour,pletely out of ce amid the pastoral serenity of the


    countryside.This belongs to N?velDrama.Org - ?.


    Thssa frowned, clearly annoyed. "What are you doing here? There''s nobody for you."


    Thssa knew all too well that Susan was after Lysander.


    That woman was shameless, dead set on bedding Lysander, and now she had even followed them out to the countryside.


    "When Isabe said this was your ce, | didn''t believe it." Susan looked around therge, well-decorated vi in surprise. It was


    truly where Thssa lived.


    She had always assumed Thssa came from some backwater vige, that her family was poor and their home shabby. She


    never imagined Thssa''s living conditions would be so good.


    Did Isabe give Susan their address?


    Thssa caught the implication in Susan''s words.


    That Isabe, always siding with


    anyone who was eee


    regcistrrsenmel e was still


    obsessed with making Thssa¡¯s life


    miserable. Please read the original


    content at NovelDrama.Org.


    It was infuriating. The ps she gave Isabe before were clearly not enough to teach her a lesson.


    "What are you here for?" Thssa''s tone was unfriendly, and she had never been one to mince words with unwanted guests.


    The four little ones put down their


    utensils, climbed off their ch irsyqnnd


    toddled o ex tq Gusai They ooked


    Up at r with fierce expressions,


    forming a barrier between Susan and


    their mother. Please read the original


    content at NovelDrama.Org.


    Atticus wrinkled his young brow and huffed, "If my mom doesn''t wee you, neither do we!"


    ¡°Exactly, Auntie Wall-Paint, Isabe''s ce is over there, please go join her!" Dorian crossed his arms over his chest, pouting


    defiantly.


    ¡°Our food isn''t that good anyway; you should go eat at Isabe''s," Elowen chimed in, hands on her hips, her cute face looking


    worried.


    She thought Susan hade to mooch off their breakfast. Her favorite treats were not to be shared with someone her mother


    disliked.


    Susan nced down at the four


    children at her feet and let out a cold


    laugh. "So Evelyn ot emycdacl O1"


    ted, ard ridwhe''s facing the


    death sentence. She''s not around to


    suffer through it or to help you with


    these four kids, is she?" Please read


    the original content at


    NovelDrama.Org.

 Chapter 1342

    Here again, came another uninvited guest talking about Thssa¡¯s mother, the most grievous topic that she was trying her best


    to avoid.


    Each mention of Evelyn felt like a new step trampling over Thssa¡¯s already bruised soul, as if there was a dagger wedged in


    her heart. And with each visitor''s words, it was pushed deeper, twisting the pain into something almost unbearable. And then, as


    if on cue, another would arrive to press down on the hilt of the de, slicing through the tender flesh of her heart, threatening to


    split it in two.


    Thssa choked on the agony, unable to bear it any longer. In a fit of rage, she leapt to her feet, her eyes zing with fury as


    she red at Susan. "Get out! Just get the hell out of my house and stop talking about your damn father!" she spat.


    Her hands were shaking with anger as she advanced on Susan, intent on shoving her out the door. The very mention of Bruce


    was like poison to her¡ªBruce, that despicable, filthy man who thankfully was on death row, a small mercy that seemed like


    divine justice.


    But death was too good for him. He should suffer the most gruesome of fates, drawn and quartered, begging for a death that


    would note!


    Susan staggered back, taken aback by Thssa''s outburst. In Susan''s eyes, she had always been the city girl, the one with the


    world at her fingertips, while Thssa was just some backwoods nobody, reeking of poverty. Susan felt above her, and the mere


    contact made her skin crawl.


    With a haughty flick of her wrist, Susan dodged Thssa''s touch. "Don''t you darey a finger on me! | came here out of pity,


    Thssa, to do you the courtesy of telling you the truth about how your mother died!"


    "My mom died in a car crash, what ¡®truth¡¯ is there to tell?" Thssa retorted, her rage palpable as her fiery gaze bore into Susan.


    ¡°Oh, really? Did you even hear the official determination of the crash? Evelyn drove straight into that truck. It was ruled a suicide.


    Evelyn''s at fault herself. Even in death, the driver bears no me," Susan snapped coldly.


    Thssa''s heart skipped a beat, her eyes widening in shock. "What did you say?"From N?velDrama.Org.


    Achill crept over her, a sense of foreboding settling in.


    Astrid stood up, her voice firm. "Youngdy, you''d better watch what you''re saying!"


    Everyone in town knew that Evelyn had died in a car ident¡ªnothing more, nothing less. Suicide? It was unthinkable.


    Susan pulled out her smartphone, scrolling to the page with the official police report, and shoved it in Thssa''s face. "See for


    yourself.¡±


    Despite her reluctance to believe anything Susan said, Thssa couldn''t help but look.


    The four little ones, sensing the


    tension, stepped b ktogive Ol


    Tpgsaraalebl view. Astrid leaned


    in closer as well. Please read the


    original content at NovelDrama.Org.


    The official statement confirmed it:


    Evelyn had indeed driven he COM


    headfirst into thectrude !Fhe river


    Hedleral''dSoerately to brake but


    couldn''t stop in time. It was ruled a


    suicide. Please read the original


    content at NovelDrama.Org.


    Acold shiver shot up Thssa''s spine as she read, her whole body going numb with shock, her palms icy with dread.


    Astrid gasped, stepping back as if the


    words had physically ay ck fet) \T\


    el nhadainass hens ed life.


    w could she have done this to


    herself? Please read the original


    content at NovelDrama.Org.


    Why?


    What had Evelyn gone through?

 Chapter 1343

    What could have driven such an optimistic and resilient woman down this path of no return?


    Susan nced at Thssa and Astrid, a satisfied smirk on her face as she continued, "Just before Evelyn died, she got a call


    that shook her to the core, sent her running straight toward a running truck. Want to know who she was talking to? What was


    said?"


    By now, Thssa and Astrid were so grief-stricken they were practically catatonic.


    They had no interest left to deal with Susan.


    Without waiting for a response, Susan yed the voicemail on her phone. The call had been from her mother, Lucy.


    She had been right there, making sure Lucy''s words were recorded.


    The yback of Lucy''sst conversation with Evelyn started, every word loud and clear.


    Lucy used Evelyn of seducing Bruce and shamelessly sleeping with him. Then she dropped the bombshell.


    Bruce had AIDS!


    At the mention of AIDS, Evelyn''s sobs became audible over the recording¡ªdespair, and then the sound of a phone smashing to


    the ground. The shattering noise was quickly followed by the screeching brakes of a vehicle and the ear-piercing skid of tires on


    asphalt.


    Hearing this, Thssa trembled, her lips quivering. She felt utterly drained of strength.


    Even though she wasn''t Evelyn, just listening to that recording made her feel the desperation and agony that Evelyn must have


    felt.


    Why wasn''t she by her mother''s side? If she had been there, she could have offered warmth andfort, helping her mother


    through the ordeal.


    Evelyn might not have met such a horrific end.


    Thssa''s body swayed, and she copsed into a chair.


    ¡°Mommy, are you okay?" Her two kids, seeing Thssa''s distress, gathered around her, their little hands gripping hers.


    The other children surrounded Astrid, who was equally shocked and seated, their tiny hands trying to lend her some warmth.


    Susan was relentless, hurling one revtion after another, with no regard for her own parents.This belongs to N?velDrama.Org - ?.


    "Do you know why Evelyn stepped out into the road? Because she was vilified by everyone, pointed at and called shameless. My


    dad had posted a picture of her from when she was younger, in bed with him, along with text saying she seduced him. This clip


    went viral instantly. Wherever Evelyn went, she was met with scorn."


    "Though Lysander have had the video


    removed from all tforms, vy


    hada copy npieph¨¦aecrha assa,


    cee AbdK: Susan stepped closer,


    thrusting her phone in front of


    Thssa. Please read the original


    content at NovelDrama.Org.


    Just the sight of that photo was enough to stab at Thssa''s eyes.


    Watching the video, her already trembling heart fractured further, tightening with unbearable pain.


    "Do you know what drove my dad to


    release the video? It was Lysander


    taking Evelyn to the police station to


    identify my dad for fraud. Fuanpthing


    epysonienaiiatid ined


    Evelyn out of a vast fortune. Because


    of her testimony, he was convicted.


    Knowing he was done for, he asked


    me to release the prepared text and


    video online. Little did we expect the


    video to catch fire like it did, turning


    Evelyn into a target for public hatred."


    Please read the original content at


    NovelDrama.Org.


    "Stop!" Thssa roared in anguish. She couldn''t bear to listen anymore.


    But Susan was far from done.


    "Why do you think Lysander had the


    video taken down from everywhere?


    He was the one who pushed Evelyh)


    ¡®pieseipaaaraehs fad: He didn''t


    t twice about her safety, not even


    bothering to escort her home, leaving


    her to fend for herself. That''s what


    led to this tragedy, isn''t it?" Please


    read the original content at


    NovelDrama.Org.


    "Stop it! Get out, you''re not wee here!" Atticus couldn''t take it anymore. He stood up, his small frame rigid as he pointed to


    the door, his young voice loud and angry.

 Chapter 1344

    Dorian sprinted over, his little hands pushing against Susan''s leg with all his might. Tilting his head back and sticking out his


    neck, he shouted up at her, "Don''t you dare talk smack about my dad in front of my mom!"


    From out of nowhere, Elowen produced a raw egg and, with a flick of her wrist, pelted it squarely onto Susan''s face. The egg


    exploded, covering Susan¡¯s face in a gooey mess.


    Hands on her hips, Elowen scowled and warned in a feisty tone, "Baddy, beat it or I''ll keep serving you eggs!"


    Susan shivered as the egg dripped down her cheeks, raising a hand to wipe the mess from her face and revealing a twisted,


    furious expression. She red down at the children.


    "You little brats asking for trouble, throwing eggs at my face! You¡¯re just like your mothers, tossed aside by men and left with


    nothing but trouble!"


    "Shut your mouth!"


    "Smack!"


    Ovee by a surge of hatred and fueled by her grief, Thssa¡¯s body, previously weakened by sorrow, now surged with anger


    and strength. She rushed forward and pped Susan right across the face.Copyright N?v/el/Dra/ma.Org.


    The p sent Susan staggering backward, her head snapping to the side. Her ears rang, her mind went nk.


    Her face, smeared with egg, bore the angry red imprint of Thssa''s hand, twisted in anger like a grotesque mask.


    Susan turned, her eyes zing with fury at Thssa, her chest heaving with rage. Her manicured nails, sharp as talons, reached


    out menacingly towards Thssa.


    Thssa was already drained by the pain of Evelyn¡¯s loss. She had used up herst reserves of energy with that p.


    Now, her limp body was on the verge of copse. As Susan lunged at her, she saw Susan¡¯s sharp ws aiming for her throat,


    ready to tear into her flesh and leave her bleeding.


    She was too weak to even step back.


    Just as Susan''s hands reached for her throat, Thssa closed her eyes.


    But then, a cold but familiar scent filled the air, and the expected pain never came. Thssa''s eyes flew open.


    Lysander was standing before her,


    blocking Susan''s adyanias, He O''''"


    eq Su¨¦an''s Wrist stopping her in


    her tracks. Please read the original


    content at NovelDrama.Org.


    His presence wasmanding, his angr face stern and authoritative.


    The moment Thssa saw him, her heart ached, each breath sharp as a de.


    "Who do you think you''re going to kill?" His voice was cold and full of menace.


    "Lysander, I...uh..." Susan''s vicious


    expression melted ees poe


    him. She osambted for ords to


    Earahoce but before she could


    speak, she was kicked away by


    Lysander. Please read the original


    content at NovelDrama.Org.


    She was sent flying,nding on the


    ground like a rag doll, her body


    aching as if it had fallen apart. She


    winced, then crawled t wards O\Y


    Ler eBsn exin


    hefself, "Lysander, | was just trying to


    scare her, | didn''t really mean to kill


    her. Lysander, | did it for you.


    Remember, when Thssa wanted


    to take you out, | was the one who


    saved you. | was ready to die for you.


    Can''t you see my devotion?" Please


    read the original content at


    NovelDrama.Org.

 Chapter 1345

    Every woman would go crazy for the chance to be close to him. Susan would fight tooth and nail for even a sliver of an


    opportunity to get near him.


    And now, she was just one step away from closing that distance. If she could drive a wedge between Thssa and Lysander,


    she would be the one standing by his side.


    For that, she''d risk her parents¡¯ safety without a second thought.


    Her father had AIDS, and he would die sooner orter. Her mother, clinging to such a pathetic excuse for a man, was a lost


    cause. The constant fights and the refusal to divorce had drained Susan of any filial affection.


    Her parents had gambled away their life savings, and even thest money she''d earned had been squandered.


    Susan could foresee it - her parents woulde begging for money, indifferent to the hardships she endured, as long as she


    filled their coffers.


    After all, Bruce loved nothing but money, and Lucy loved Bruce more than her own daughter.


    What use were such parents?


    Destroying them seemed the only logical step.


    Bruce was in jail, which worked out perfectly. Susan knew all his dirty secrets, so, armed with an old sex tape of Bruce and


    Evelyn, she crafted a scandalous narrative and leaked it online.


    If she was going down, she''d take everyone with her.


    Evelyn had to die. Only with Evelyn gone would Thssa hate Lysander.


    Susan reached for Lysander''s legs, only to be met with a scowl and a swift kick that sent her sprawling.


    "Get out of here, you bitch!"


    "Daddy!"


    The kids had been terrified, witnessing Susan''s attempt to harm their mother. They were too young to stop her.


    But then, in the nick of time, their father arrived.


    The four little ones gathered around Lysander, clutching at the hem of his trousers, looking up with faces filled with panic, fear,


    and sorrow for their mother.


    "Daddy, that meandy was awful. | had treated her a raw egg to eat," Elowen said with a trembling voice, still shaken.


    "If | were a superhero, I''d use my power punch to make her spit blood," Dorian dered, fists clenched.


    "Daddy, | want to smash her with our


    vintage baseball b tl" Spphiacseid ||


    empatt hands fritnicking the


    action. Please read the original


    content at NovelDrama.Org.


    "Daddy, | can hack her information,


    and drain her bank  unt! Aatieus


    ffed, fyrjoustatthe thought of


    someone bullying his mom. Please


    read the original content at


    NovelDrama.Org.


    The children were angry, unable to tolerate the injustice they witnessed.C¨°ntens bel0ngs to N?(v)elDr/a/ma.Org


    "No worries, she''ll be punished,"


    Lysander replied in isdeep Gatling


    gre tamneut ook at Thssa.


    Please read the original content at


    NovelDrama.Org.


    Their eyes met, hers brimming with tears, her lips and chin quivering with shock or perhaps heartache.


    Seeing her like this sent a sharp pain through Lysander''s heart. He took a step toward her.


    "Thssa."


    "Don''t touch me!" Thssa recoiled just as he reached out to her.

 Chapter 1346

    Lysander''s hand hovered in the air, a moment of hesitation in his steely gaze as he looked deeply at her.


    Her frantic retreat was a clear sign of resistance. Trembling on unsteady legs, she still managed to dodge his touch.


    Pain shaded his eyes, and his voice resonant with hurt, "Are you feeling unwell?"


    Propping herself on the kitchen counter, Thssa lifted her tear-filled eyes to his. She took a deep breath, attempting to exhale


    the heavy sorrow that weighed on her heart. Her voice quivered as she asked, "Was it you who had my mom go to the police


    station to use Bruce of fraud?"


    Lysander''s piercing eyes fixed on her, seeing the grief and despair in hers.


    Her eyes shone with unshed tears, defiant in her resolve not to let them fall.


    The anguish and despair were evident, but she refused to let a single sob escape, especially not in front of him.


    Seeing her like this caused a dull ache in Lysander''s heart. He knew how much Evelyn''s death had affected her.


    "Yes, | asked her to testify," Lysander admitted gravely, his voice low.


    As soon as he spoke, Thssa''s tears breached their barriers, her breathing shaky. "The video that went viral¡ªthat was you


    having it taken down from everywhere?"


    Her voice trembled, struggling to form coherent sentences. She wanted to hear the words from Lysander himself. If he denied it,


    she could cling to a shred of hope¡ªthough she wasn''t even sure what she was hoping for.


    Asking these questions was like backing herself into a corner, shattering thest vestiges of hope with each query.


    "Yes, the video shouldn''t be spread," Lysander responded without hesitation, his tone firm as he watched Thssa.


    The video had gone viral in just an hour, while he was at the mall picking out rings, unable to intervene promptly. By the time he


    saw it, the frenzy it had caused was enough to drown the subject of the video.


    Upon learning of the video, he had it removed immediately and quashed the spreading rumors.


    Hearing Lysander''s confirmation extinguished thest glimmer of hope in Thssa¡¯s heart. Her heart shattered, the shards


    piercing her from within, the pain stifling even her breath.


    "Did you ever consider that Bruce might seek revenge when you asked Evelyn to testify?" Thssa''s grip on the counter


    tightened, her nails digging into the surface, numb to the pain. Her legs wobbled from the intense heartache, threatening to give


    out.


    She had suffered a miscarriage not long ago and had endured extreme sadness. The emotional roller coaster had taken its toll,


    and she was now barely hanging on.


    Asking that question had drained her of all strength. Before Lysander could answer, her body staggered backward, on the verge


    of copsing.


    "Thssa!" Lysander rushed forward, his arms wrapping around her waist.


    "Mommy!" The four little ones hurried over, concern etched on their faces.


    "Thssa!" Astrid stood up, her frame stooped with worry for Thssa.


    And Susan, who had been kicked out


    by Lysander, realiz fqwyasisa\


    ard bay er any mind.


    Please read the original content at


    NovelDrama.Org.


    She got up, nced inside the house


    and saw Lysander holding Trgsa,


    O was qgpale-@darghost, looking


    frail and close to joining Evelyn.


    Please read the original content at


    NovelDrama.Org.


    Wiping the egg from her face, she red at the scene with a venomous and vengeful look.


    Lysander''s handsome face was tight


    with concern. His us Iyinser@Rable


    sngertiaid''a tender light as they


    gazed at Thssa. Please read the


    original content at NovelDrama.Org.


    This belongs to N?velDrama.Org - ?.

 Chapter 1347

    Susan''s eyes narrowed as she peered through the crack in the door, her gaze fixated on Lysander, whose normally stoic face


    was softened by a look of genuine concern.


    And the object of his tenderness? The very woman Susan loathed to her core¡ªThssa.


    The sight twisted Susan''s heart into a tight knot of rage and venom.


    Damn that Thssa, why didn''t she just drop dead? With her frail, sickly act¡ªwhom was she trying to fool?


    Was it all just to garner Lysander''s pity?


    Susan watched, her breathsing in harsh, ragged pulls as Lysander cradled Thssa in his arms, his eyes revealing a depth


    of emotion he''d never shown before.


    She seethed with a hatred so fierce it made her chest heave. But she couldn''t barge in now, not without facing Lysander''s wrath.


    He''d surely turn on her if sheid a finger on Thssa.


    So, biting back her resentment, Susan stormed away.


    It didn''t matter. She had time on her side, and she''d make sure that Thssa and Lysander''s paths diverged permanently.


    After all, Thssa was starting to believe that Evelyn''s death had Lysander''s fingerprints all over it.


    No one could forgive the person responsible for their mother''s demise, especially Thssa, whose bond with her mother was


    unbreakable.


    Thssa''s world had crumbled with her mother''s passing, and thest person she could stomach was the ones who drove her


    mom to death.


    As pain clutched at Thssa''s heart, her vision swam and her legs buckled, almost sending her to the ground if not for


    Lysander''s firm grasp.


    His arms had held her many times before, their strength and tension once setting her pulse racing and her breaths short.


    But now, the very same arms felt like chains, tightening around her and suffocating her.


    As consciousness wed back into her mind, she weakly pushed against him, her effort barely a whisper of strength.


    With a feeble voice, she used, "You had always despised my mother. Now that she''s gone, you must be pleased."


    Thssa''s push was feeble, but Lysander could feel the pressure against his arm as though it were a boulder crushing his chest,


    making it hard to breathe.


    "I never hated your mother," he said, his voice rough with emotion.


    Sending Evelyn to the police station had been a spur-of-the-moment decision, especially since Bruce was locked up at the time,


    which should have meant safety for her.


    It was onlyter, after David investigated thest call Evelyn received, that they learned the truth. It was Lucy who had called,


    telling Evelyn about Bruce''s HIV status.


    Those words had been the final blow for Evelyn.


    "You''re lying!" Thssa''s hands trembled, tears streaming down as she stared at Lysander, breaths jagged with grief.


    He hadn''t hated her mother?


    From the beginning, he resented her


    because of her mo erydjesddO


    peaffisidisdainfor Bruce extended


    to her mother. Please read the


    original content at NovelDrama.Org.


    And although he had cleared Sybil''s


    death of any direct link to Evelyn,


    still believed t ther ebthelpled a


    SEBS emise like his


    grandpa. All signs pointed to his


    contempt for her mother. Please read


    the original content at


    NovelDrama.Org.


    Thssa took a shaky breath and


    faced Lysander, her voice quivering


    with every word, "When we were


    Eldoria, you sau psx rstber ff o


    9 waxer Vou can swim, yet you


    waited until she was nearly drowning


    before you rescued her! And the


    bedding in my room, just because


    she had sat on my bed once, you


    demanded they be changed!" Please


    read the original content at


    NovelDrama.Org.


    Not to mention that he''d gone so far as to manipte the front desk staff into evicting her mother just to get her out!


    If all these actions weren''t proof enough of his disdain, what was?


    From N?velDrama.Org.

 Chapter 1348

    Thssa shouted, her head spinning. She was overwhelmed by grief and agitation, to the point where she felt she might


    copse any moment.


    "Thssa!" Lysander wrapped his arms around her, holding her trembling form steady, preventing her from falling.


    "Let me go..." Thssa managed to gather some sense ofposure and pushed against him once more.


    She wanted nothing to do with him right now; she just wanted to be as far away from him as possible.


    Some mistakes simply couldn''t be forgiven, just like he couldn''t forgive her when he thought she was Bruce''s daughter.


    Lysander didn''t let go, instead, he held her even tighter. Seeing her pale face, he scooped her up in his arms.


    Striding towards the door, he called out to Astrid, "Take care of the kids, and we''ll be right back."


    "Oh, okay." Astrid said in a bewildered and timid tone.


    The four little munchkins were about to follow, but stopped when they heard their father''s words.


    Their father had asked Astrid to take care of them, which meant they were not to follow.


    The little ones were always understanding, and seeing that both their mom and dad were clearly not in a good ce, they


    refrained from following, not wanting to cause any more trouble.


    "Kids, let''s continue with our meal," Astrid said as she led them back to the dining table.


    They had only eaten half their breakfast when all themotion started.


    Lately, Astrid''s arthritis had been acting up.


    "Astrid, take a seat, please. Be careful,¡± Atticus stepped forward to adjust her chair for her.


    "Alright, you sit down too," Astrid nodded her approval.


    Lysander carried Thssa to the car and gently ced her inside.


    Regaining a bit of her strength, Thssa struggled fiercely, "Lysander, what are you trying to do! Let me go!"


    "Stay still!" Lysandermanded as he buckled her in with the seat belt, then he returned to the driver''s seat and started the


    car.


    As the car pulled away, Thssa''s panic surged, her breathing erratic. Her eyes, bright with unshed tears, red at Lysander.


    "Lysander, are you insane? What do you want to do?"


    She remembered all the times when he''d taken his frustrations out on her, disregarding her feelings and nearly driving her to the


    brink.


    Now that she was hanging on by a thread, would he still not let her be?


    Lysander nced at her with his deep-set eyes, his hands firmly on the wheel, "Don''t be afraid. | won''t hurt you. I''m taking you to


    the city hall."


    Thssa froze, and she asked in shock, "Why are you taking me to the city hall?"


    Out of the corner of her eye, she caught sight of a birth certificate in the glovepartment.


    It was Lysander¡¯s birth certificate!


    Suddenly, Thssa remembered


    what Lysander had spoken to wor Taist


    joi¡ì wherEneiuhepee &dly showed


    up¡¯in her room and sat beside her


    bed. Please read the original content


    at NovelDrama.Org.


    He said he wanted to marry her, to make her his wife.C¨°ntens bel0ngs to N?(v)elDr/a/ma.Org


    She had thought it was a cruel joke.


    But now, he was trulytaldng 660d


    the pity halido bet harried! Please


    read the original content at


    NovelDrama.Org.


    She had asked him countless times


    before if he would Nite


    apspres hadavEys een a resolute


    no. Please read the original content


    at NovelDrama.Org.


    He even told her not to daydream!


    And yet, here he was now actually taking her to the city hall to tie the knot!


    But sadly, she no longer wanted to be his bride.


    "Stop the car. Let me out!" Thssa''s breathing was ragged, her voice intense.


    Lysander nced at her with a stern look. "When we get there, I''ll stop."


    He was doing it again, forcing her into something she didn''t want!

 Chapter 1349

    Thssa had reached her breaking point. She felt suffocated by his domineering attitude and his iron-fisted control. She refused


    to listen to him any longer.


    Her hands trembling with urgency, Thssa fumbled with her seat belt, trying to push open the car door with all her might, but it


    wouldn''t budge¡ªit was locked tight.


    Turning, she red at him, her breaths uneven with a mix of desperation and helplessness, ¡°Lysander, | don¡¯t want to marry you!


    Don''t you hear me? | don¡¯t want to marry you! Let me out, or I''ll bite my tongue and end it all!¡±


    With that, she stuck out her tongue, feigning a grim resolve to bite it off.


    ¡°What are you doing!¡± Lysander¡¯s eyes narrowed as he mmed on the brakes, bringing the car to an abrupt halt. His eyes were


    filled with a mix of tension and severity.


    ¡°Unlock the door, I''m getting out!¡± Thssa said, her voice quivering with threat.


    Seeing the resolve in her eyes, the light in Lysander¡¯s gaze seemed to shatter into fragments, leaving him looking deste and


    wounded.


    ¡°Stay put. I''ll take you home.¡± He knew she would rather face death than be forced into marriage with him.


    If he pressured her further, it would only push her over the edge.


    She had just lost her mother, a time of immense grief and vulnerability. Perhaps when her heart healed, she mighte to


    ept his proposal.


    ¡°There''s no need for you to take me anywhere. You can leave. Evelyn and Bruce had their history, and you hated her. Now she¡¯s


    gone because of you, so let''s call it even. And that ridiculous ¡®contract lover¡¯ deal we talked about? Look, I''ve got nobody in my


    heart now, nothing could be emptier. So consider that arrangement over! From now on, let''s just not see each other anymore!¡±


    Not see each other anymore?


    Those words pierced Lysander like thorns, thrumming painfully in his chest.


    Unlike the dull irritation of the past, it was a deep, cutting pain this time.


    She had always been like this, not wanting to stay with him.


    Thssa tried the door again.


    After a couple of futile pushes, she turned back to him, her eyes filled with anger and despair.


    That look squeezed his heart with an agonizing grip.


    Lysander''s breath came in ragged pulls. ¡°Stay put,¡± he insisted, ¡°I''ll take you home.¡±


    With that, he restarted the car and made a U-turn.


    Thssa, unsecured by a seat belt, swayed slightly. She quickly steadied herself with the grab handle, stabilizing her body and


    her tumultuous emotions.


    She said nothing more, allowing him to divert their path from the one leading to the city hall back to her home instead. It was the


    greatest concession Lysander was willing to make.


    If she continued to resist, he might resort to extreme measures, forcing her into a marriage registration.


    She couldn''t bear the thought of entering the Sinir family''s estate again. It was a cage to her.


    Marriage was a shackle, and once it was locked around her, escaping would be nearly impossible.


    The short drive from the road to her house passed in silence, both Thssa and Lysander lost in their own thoughts.


    The cramped space of the car was filled with tension, grief, and an air of suffocation.


    Thssa was rigid, her body


    exhausted, her heart bat regrand


    TI like a


    searing pain. She had no strength left


    to speak. Please read the original


    content at NovelDrama.Org.


    Lysander, on the other hand, was in


    somber intensity, his d meaporalt


    nunspokerl ily He couldn''t


    exin what happened with Evelyn.


    Please read the original content at


    NovelDrama.Org.


    Yes, he had asked Evelyn to testify because her statement had triggered Bruce, leading to the public release of the video by


    Susan.


    And when Lucy called Evelyn, it was the final straw that broke her.


    If only he had known that thest


    time Evelyn had been with Bruce was


    under coercion, hg qeusiotic have


    Sohail to testify. He had believed


    that every encounter between Evelyn


    and Bruce was consensual. Please


    read the original content at


    NovelDrama.Org.


    This belongs to N?velDrama.Org - ?.

 Chapter 1350

    By the time David dug up the details of Lucy and Evelyn''sst conversation, the truth hit Lysander like a lightning.


    Evelyn''s recent intimacy with Bruce wasn''t consensual; she had been coerced.


    Bruce and Evelyn''s rtionship was far from the love story Lysander had imagined. Instead, Evelyn had been suffering from


    Bruce''s threats and maniption.


    "Was it you who bought the morning-after pills for your mother?" Lysander asked Thssa, his deep voice tinged with


    suppressed anguish.


    He had mistakenly believed the pills were for Thssa after finding two missing from the pack, assuming she had been involved


    with Callum in some secret affair. He had even punished her harshly for that.


    Now, reflecting on the dates in the files, it was clear that Evelyn must have been the one taking the pills.


    Thssa had kept silent to protect her mother from the shame of Bruce''s vition.


    But he had only added to her pain in her darkest hours.


    Memories of his past misjudgments stung Lysander''s conscience like a swarm of bees, each sting marking a wound he had


    inflicted upon Thssa.


    If only he had known the full extent of her and her mother''s suffering, he would have given Thssa the strength to put Bruce


    behind bars earlier, not driving Evelyn to an untimely death.


    Hearing Lysander''s question, Thssa''s heart clenched. Indeed, she had bought those pills for Evelyn, guarding her secret with


    the utmost care, fearing for her mother''s safety.


    Yet, despite her vignce, Evelyn had slipped away from her.


    "I don''t want to talk about the past. Just stay out of my life from now on!"


    Thssa''s voice was cold and resolute, her gaze fixed on the world outside the window. She couldn''t bear to look at Lysander ¡ª


    afraid that even a nce would make her heart betray her.


    He was dangerous to her in every sense. She needed to keep her distance, not feel her heart skip every time she saw him.


    That was a bad omen.


    To entrust her heart to a man like Lysander would be her undoing.


    Her words were a lead weight in Lysander''s chest. The dull ache spread through him.


    She hated him so much now, and he understood that feeling all too well.


    His way of hating was to keep her close, never allowing her to stray, while her way of hating was a clean break, free of debts.


    Lysander''s grip on the steering wheel


    tightened, his knuc 6s yepite tHe


    of ftild back his sorrow.


    Please read the original content at


    NovelDrama.Org.


    At the pinnacle of power, he could control everything but the heart of the woman he loved.


    Now, he could empathize with Leopold''s agony of unrequited love. The pain was indeed excruciating.


    The car pulled to a stop in the driveway of the vi.


    Thssa opened the door and


    stepped out. As if expecting her


    response, she turned sharply. Tears


    brimming in her eyes, s e said! 1!


    Gates BEEK {your life. The


    kids and | will make do in the


    countryside. If you want to see them,


    you can visit. But | won''t hand them


    over to you. If you try to take them


    away, I''ll end my life right in front of


    you. They''re all | have left. Without


    them, there''s no point in living."


    Please read the original content at


    NovelDrama.Org.


    With those words, Thssa turned and walked away, her tears finally breaking free.


    It was truly over between her and Lysander.


    The moment Evelyn died and the


    unborn child was | tAqsor


    thy momer ah) possibilty between


    them extinguished. Please read the


    original content at NovelDrama.Org.


    C¨°ntens bel0ngs to N?(v)elDr/a/ma.Org

 Chapter 1351

    Lysander stood motionless as he watched Thssa''s slight figure disappear into the house. Deep sorrow settled in his dark,


    fathomless eyes, like the abyss itself pulling him under.


    When she turned cold, she was truly ruthless, leaving no room for mercy.


    They all said he was cold-hearted, but in front of Thssa, he held out his burning heart, only for her to douse it with chilling


    indifference. His fiery heart now bore the scars of her rebuff.


    She had even threatened her own life in her desperation to avoid him. She knew exactly how to press his buttons, aware of what


    mattered to him the most.


    The old Lysander took advantage of her resilience, which allowed him to control and punish her fearlessly.


    Because he knew, she wouldn''t give up no matter how he acted. No matter the hardship, she''d survive ande back the next


    day as the same optimistic woman, unbowed and unbroken.


    But now, everything had changed.


    He didn''t dare take the risk.


    Thssa had lost too much, her emotions teetering on the edge of a precipice. Pushing her too far might indeed be the end of


    her.


    He preferred her alive and away from him rather than not existing at all.


    Watching Thssa enter the house, Lysander returned to his car and drove away.


    Inside, four children still sat at the breakfast table. All but Elowen picked at their food listlessly, their appetites gone. They had


    just witnessed a serious argument between their parents.


    Worried about the possibility of their parents splitting up, they dreaded the thought of not seeing them together, basking in the


    warmth of their love.


    As they pondered how to mend the rift, Atticus looked up to find Thssa walking in. His gaze brightened, and he immediately


    dropped his fork and ran to her.


    ¡°Mom, you''re back!¡± he said, tilting his head up to look at her, his eyes instinctively scanning for his father.


    Not seeing Lysander, disappointment crept into his expression.


    ¡°Mom!¡± the other three chimed in, crowding around her.


    With hopeful eyes, they too looked behind her for Lysander. Elowen asked, ¡°Mom, why didn''t Dade back with you?¡±


    ¡°He had to take care of something. He''lle to visit when he misses you guys,¡± Thssa exined gently.


    ¡°From now on, we''ll live here in Hollowbrook, okay? We won''t go back to Starhaven,¡± Thssa proposed to her children.


    That ce was filled with too much pain and humiliation. She couldn''t bear to return.


    ¡°Wherever you are, Mom, that''s where we''ll be,¡± Atticus said sensibly, taking the lead.


    ¡°But what about Dad? Will he alsoe to live with us?¡± Elowen longed to be with her father.


    ¡°He is very busy, and the countryside


    isn''t really for him,¡± TpssaC OTT!


    jently exin be Elowen. Please


    read the original content at


    NovelDrama.Org.


    Hearing this, Elowen realized her


    father wouldn''t be | Sp Ly Rit


    little head thodp¨¦d 1h


    {


    disappointment, and said nothing


    more. Please read the original


    content at NovelDrama.Org.


    ¡°It''ll be us four, Mom, and Astrid, just like before!¡± Dorian concluded.


    Although he too wished to be with


    their father, but if their ther did''t


    old he audhEbiig it up. He


    Fe stood by his mother''s side.


    Please read the original content at


    NovelDrama.Org.


    Hearing her children''s words, Thssa fought the tears welling up in her eyes.


    Yes, just like before, except one was missing, and everything had changed.


    Copyright N?v/el/Dra/ma.Org.

 Chapter 1352

    A month had passed and Thssa''s spirits had improved significantly.


    On this day, she was in the vegetable farm nting with her aunt Astrid.


    Ared Volkswagen pulled into their driveway.


    It was the first time in a month that a car had entered their property.


    Thssa was deep in the task of sowing seeds and didn''t notice the arrival.


    Astrid, standing with a better view, saw the red car driving into their yard and nudged Thssa''s arm, saying, "Thssa, we''ve


    got guests. | hope it''s not some trouble?"


    Hearing Astrid''s worry about trouble, Thssa''s heart tensed. She quickly looked up towards the yard and saw the red


    Volkswagening to a stop.


    She knew this car all too well.


    Her expression changed dramatically as she dropped her farming tools and raced excitedly toward the car.


    Startled by Thssa''s reaction, Astrid called out anxiously, "Thssa, be careful..."


    A month ago, a confrontation had erupted when a woman named Susan came looking for Thssa, and Lysander showed up


    too. The memory of that intense encounter still sent shivers down Astrid''s spine.


    Thssa''s legs carried her swiftly toward the vehicle. At that moment, the car door opened, and out stepped Hertha Kensington,


    removing her sunsses and instantly spotting Thssa sprinting towards her.


    Hertha smiled, opening her arms wide, and began running towards Thssa as well.


    They met halfway and embraced happily.


    "Thssa, I''ve missed you so much!"


    "Me too. So nice to see you, Hertha!"


    Both were radiant with the joy of reunion.


    Astrid, initially worried that someone hade to cause Thssa trouble, was relieved to see Thssa hugging the woman,


    recognizing her as Hertha.


    Astrid walked out of the farm, smiling, and called out to Hertha and Thssa, "Come on in. Let''s not leave our guest standing."


    Thssa, snapping back to reality, released Hertha and took her by the hand, leading her towards the house. "Our homegrown


    veggies are so much more delicious, much better than what you''d find in the big city. You must try them."


    Thssa could always be her most authentic self around Hertha.


    "Yeah, | love homegrown produce the most! City veggies are all pesticides and additives, nothing beats your natural home


    farming."


    Hertha''s hand gripped Thssa''s, herughter bright and cheerful.


    Once inside, Thssa ushered Hertha to sit on the sofa and brought her some coffee.


    Hertha, feeling at home from her


    previous visit with Evelyn and the


    kids, knew Th s5q/@dtbin Grand


    Vili But Bs She scanned the house,


    she noticed it felt eerily quiet and


    asked with concern, "Thssa, where


    are the four kids?" Please read the


    original content at NovelDrama.Org.


    Had Lysander taken them to live with him?


    "They''re at the local kindergarten now," Thssa exined. "Just down the road in our vige."


    "In the vige kindergarten? But your kids are each a genius in their own right, what can they learn there?" Hertha asked in


    surprise.


    Simple arithmetic and basic literacy might be child''s y for Thssa''s brood, who likely found the curriculum boring.


    Thssa responded, "But it gives them a chance to socialize with other kids and teachers every day."


    Even though the vige kindergarten


    taught basic lessons, unlike the) 11)


    vanced qurrodiin of tarhaven


    | Ee Kindergarten, it had its


    benefits. Please read the original


    content at NovelDrama.Org.


    "That''s true," Hertha nodded, her face softening. "As long as you and the children are together, that''s what matters."Copyright N?v/el/Dra/ma.Org.


    Hertha''s expression then turned


    somber, tinged with guilt. "Th


    I''m sorry. | did tkpo@hboufEve yn''s


    day sia Unt it was toote. | was so


    caught up in my own troubles at that


    time, so | couldn''t make it to her


    funeral." Please read the original


    content at NovelDrama.Org.

 Chapter 1353

    When Evelyn passed away, Hertha was in the thick of her own family drama, with her parents constantly pushing her to settle


    down and get married. She was so overwhelmed that she forgot to visit or call Thssa for a while.


    It was onlyter that she heard the news.


    Thssa managed a smile and said, "It''s okay, it''s all in the past now."


    As she spoke, she cradled her cup of coffee, hershes casting shadows on her cheeks, a veil for her sorrow.


    The mere mention of her mother could wrench Thssa''s heart with grief.


    Hertha reached out, gently patting Thssa''s shoulder infort. "Don''t be upset, sweetie. Evelyn''s spirit wouldn''t want you to


    be sad.¡±


    If anyone understood Thssa, it was Hertha. How could she not sense Thssa''s deep-seated pain?


    Thssa set down her ss and smiled broadly, "I''m fine, really. The pain''s behind me."


    "You should be happy now, you know. You''re finally free from Lysander''s clutches,¡± Hertha remarked.


    The twists and turns of it all had been ryed to Hertha by David.


    Thssa med Lysander for indirectly causing her mother''s death. She also believed that Lysander had always detested


    Evelyn, which was why he had driven her to her end. Just as he had done with Leopold.


    Lysander was cold-blooded and heartless. He was even capable of tormenting his own nephew to death.


    What then would he spare for a woman like Evelyn who was a total stranger to him, and worse, entangled in an illicit affair with


    his sworn enemy?


    Thssa was anguished by Evelyn''s death, and had cut all ties with Lysander. She had eventually found her release.


    Hearing Lysander''s name from Hertha''s lips, Thssa''s already aching heart clenched tighter, her breath catching in a surge of


    pain.


    A month had gone by, and Lysander hadn''t shown up again. He had truly vanished from her world.


    Thssa ought to feel ted, yet the mention of his name sent sharp pangs through her heart.


    Why did joy evade her when it should have been within grasp? Her heart had a will of its own, it seemed.


    Thssa nodded but sidestepped the topic, her mind drifting to another matter. "What about you? How are things with ric?"


    Hertha heaved a sigh. "Don''t even start. You have no idea what I''ve been through."


    "What happened?" Thssa was all ears.


    "| went to ric''s ce, and his


    grandmother served \some ak!


    ile


    we efided U21eeping together


    that night." Please read the original


    content at NovelDrama.Org.


    "What?! You and ric..." Thssa''s eyes widened in shock, but Hertha quickly mped a hand over her mouth.


    ncing toward the kitchen warily,


    Hertha whispered, Hgepdt AGHA Wil


    yoy? Wecant Rive your aunt


    overhearing this." Please read the


    original content at NovelDrama.Org.


    Thssa nodded, signaling she''d keep her voice low.


    Hertha released her, and Thssa leaned in, gossip-hungry and curious. "So, are you and ric an item now?"This belongs to N?velDrama.Org - ?.


    The usually bubbly Hertha frowned.


    "No way. His family is a piece.oh


    work, VE pA She''s like


    oneloft ose nightmare


    mother-inws from TV dramas."


    Please read the original content at


    NovelDrama.Org.


    "What do you mean?" Thssa was all too eager to learn more, having never heard these stories from Hertha before.

 Chapter 1354

    "The day | hooked up with ric, his mom handed me a cool two million to stay away from him," Hertha confessed to Thssa,


    not skirting around the truth.


    Thssa''s jaw dropped, "Did you take the money?"


    "Of course! She gave it to me voluntarily. Why pass up free cash? Plus, it''s not like ric got a free ride," Hertha said as if it were


    the most obvious thing in the world.


    With wide eyes, Thssa was a mix of shock and admiration. "ssic Hertha."


    "You know it," Hertha replied, but her voice tinged with a hint of sadness.


    Thssa knew Hertha like the back of her hand. Her friend was usually fearless, the kind of woman who wouldn''t flinch if the sky


    fell down. But now, Hertha seemed to be wrestling with something heavy.


    This wasn''t like the usual Hertha she knew.


    Unless life had thrown her a curveball, Hertha''s spirits wouldn''t be this low.


    Plus, Hertha hadn''t contacted her over the past month, which showed that she was tangled up in some serious troubles.


    "What''s up, Hertha? What''s bigger news than your fling with ric?" Thssa probed.


    Hertha''s eyes, round and solemn, met Thssa''s as shemented, "Sometimes I''m just too greedy for my own good, and it


    never ends well. | thought ric cared about me. We were downing shots at the bar, totally stered, and he took me to a hotel


    room ¡ª a double, mind you. And the next morning, | wake up to find him in bed with Georgia Reed, the two of them naked as


    jaybirds."


    Thssa gasped, her shock eclipsing the earlier revtion about Hertha and ric.


    So, Georgia had slept with ric while Hertha was right there on the next bed? Good heavens, if she were in Hertha''s shoes,


    she''d be devastated.


    It took Thssa a moment to collect herself before she could speak again.


    "So, you and ric...?"


    "No chance in hell," Hertha shook her head, her voice resolute. She had already decided to give up on ric, but that night at his


    ce had reignited her hope for something more.


    But with his mother paying her off and ric''s tryst with Georgia, the blows came one after another. Hertha realized any future


    with ric was impossible.


    "And you..." Thssa began to ask.


    But Hertha cut in, "Lately, Spencer''s been discussing our marriage ns with my parents."


    "Spencer''s talking marriage with your parents already?" Thssa was astounded. Could things really be moving that fast?


    "There''s been a misunderstanding. | was going to turn Spencer down, but he hasn''t given me the chance. | n to set things


    straight, tell him about my past with another guy, and that he shouldn''t waste his time on me."


    Hertha believed in honesty as the best policy.


    After all, Spencer was a decent guy, and she had no intention of leading him on.


    Thssa nodded, "Good for you. You


    should be the one to depigle @Herther


    tiga Sofmeone Please


    read the original content at


    NovelDrama.Org.C¨°ntens bel0ngs to N?(v)elDr/a/ma.Org


    She hadn''t realized just how much


    had happened in Heripas lifeduring


    teins Hadn''t been in touch.


    Please read the original content at


    NovelDrama.Org.


    "Right, | almost forgot. | came with some news," Hertha circled back to the original topic.


    "What is it?" Thssa asked, curious.


    "Bruce has been sentenced to death,


    fast-tracked execution, II eycalready


    Ro) mile ya) a shared


    t fe she got from David. Please


    read the original content at


    NovelDrama.Org.


    Thssa paused for a moment, a sense of relief and closure reflecting in her clear eyes.

 Chapter 1355

    Bruce, that despicable man, was finally gone for good!


    "If it hadn''t been for Evelyn testifying that he had conned her out of over a billion dors, Bruce would never have received such


    a harsh sentence. It was all thanks to Evelyn."


    Hertha sighed with a heavy heart, "Such a shame that Evelyn paid with her life for it."


    At the mention of this topic, Thssa''s breathing becamebored with grief. The intricacies and the reasons behind it all had


    be too tangled to exin or unravel.


    "Thssa, Hertha, dinner''s ready,e and eat," Astrid called out, carrying a tray of food from the kitchen.


    "Coming!" Thssa quickly replied. She took Hertha by the hand and they both made their way to the dining table.


    Hertha took a bite of Astrid''s braised green beans andplimented, "Delicious, sweet and tender. It really tastes different from


    what | get in the city."


    Astrid''s face beamed with a smile as she said, "d you like it, help yourself to more."


    She served another helping onto Hertha''s te.


    Today marked the day Bruce was executed by firing squad.


    After the execution, the police notified his next of kin toe and im the body.


    Lucy, upon seeing Bruce''s body lying on the gurney, could no longer contain her trembling body and burst into loud,


    uncontroble sobs, throwing herself beside Bruce.


    "Oh, Bruce, you heartless wretch, you''ve let me down your whole life, and now in your old age, you go and leave me first. Why


    did you have to abandon me?"


    "Mom, get over here!" Susan pulled Lucy away before she could touch Bruce. Panting with anger, she said, "Get a grip. He had


    AIDS, and there''s blood all over him. Aren''t you afraid of getting infected?"


    Lucy looked at Susan through tears, "You don''t understand. Ever since your father knew he was sick, he''s kept his distance, to


    avoid infecting me, we''ve never been intimate since. Even though he always talked about divorce, his actions were always


    protecting me. Susan, maybe you can''t fathom what it''s like to love someone, but your father and | shared true love. | was never


    worried about getting infected because | wasn''t afraid. | loved him, and if | did get infected, then we''d just die together. | never


    imagined he wouldn''t die of the disease but would leave this way."


    Lucy said amid sobs.


    Susan listened with a twisted face, unable toprehend her parents¡¯ so-called love. As far back as she could remember, her


    parents were always quarreling.


    Bruce had countless affairs with other women. Lucy was clearly upset, but she never brought herself to divorce him.


    How could Lucy call this distorted marriage love?


    Susan couldn''t see a shred of love


    between them, only betrayal, Ql


    stubbornness, nd er@lfance ruce


    Seay rd Lucy stubbornly


    refused to divorce. This suffocating


    marriage should have ended long


    ago! Please read the original content


    at NovelDrama.Org.


    "Don''t talk to me about your disgusting love. It''s grating on my ears!" Susan spat with revulsion.


    Lucy, with tears welling up, nced


    at ea then reached out a-om


    tremblin handy ag o touch


    Brided est time. There was a


    bullet hole on his forehead, the fatal


    wound. Please read the original


    content at NovelDrama.Org.


    Her hand touched his face, her cold fingertips felt a lingering warmth.


    That touch ignited something within her, her shaking intensified and her breath caught.


    In that moment, her heartbeat


    seemed to sync with hisst. As


    Lucy''s tears fel she hipered¡±


    "Bice bid fou think death would free


    you from me? Wait for me for just a


    few hours. | won''t leave your side


    even as a ghost." Please read the


    original content at NovelDrama.Org.


    Copyright N?v/el/Dra/ma.Org.

 Chapter 1356

    Susan stood next to Lucy, disbelief etched across her face. She had ceased any attempt to stop Lucy from touching Bruce, but


    Lucy''s words had shocked her to the core, sending tremors through her body and draining the color from her cheeks.


    Lucy wasn''t afraid of catching whatever had taken Bruce. She wasn''t afraid of dying at all. Susan had thought that once Bruce


    was gone, her mother would finally be free. No more walking on eggshells every day, no fear of Bruce''s infidelity, of his nights out


    on the town.


    She had dreamed of a life where she could spread her wings with her mom, live on their own terms. Yet, her mom was dering


    she wanted to join Bruce in death!


    Susan didn''t look at Bruce''s lifeless body. Her gaze was fixed on her tear-streaked mother.


    The words that Lucy said left her reeling, pale-faced and numb.


    Watching her mother weep, Susan felt a well of despair deep inside her. She had never felt loved, not truly, in this house.


    Her father had been a phnderer, charming various women, ying with their hearts and pocketbooks. To him, money was the


    be-all and end-all.


    And her mother? She only had eyes for her father. Any affection Susan received was simply because she was Bruce''s daughter.


    If she didn''t carry Bruce''s blood, Susan doubted Lucy would care at all.


    Her childhood was a cacophony of endless quarrels. She was sick of it; their fights sent her trembling, locking herself away in her


    room.


    But they never cared. Beyond their own squabbles, Susan was an afterthought.


    Each time she shut herself away because of their fights, it was she who had to soothe her own difort and fear.


    As she grew, their apparent concern was a facade. They just wanted her to be a money-making machine, to charm wealthy men


    and to line their pockets. They had never truly cared for her.


    The incident with the two hundred and fifteen thousand was a case in point.


    They were quick to gamble it away in the stock market, never sparing a thought for how hard she''d worked for it, or what she had


    endured to get it.


    When she came home that day, exhausted and downcast, they didn''t notice at tall. They just wanted the money, and when they


    got it, they rushed to invest it.


    And when that money¡ªearned through her own sacrifices¡ªwas lost, they didn''t reflect. They just became more greedy, more


    desperate to push her towards Lysander''s bed.


    Only by securing Lysander iets)


    they have a neyerndinigstreal of


    West) te read the original


    content at NovelDrama.Org.


    They imed to love her, but their love was actually for themselves.


    Bruce loved money and himself, while Lucy loved Bruce and money.


    What was Susan but a sacrifice for their family''s altar?


    Watching Lucy hold Bruce''s face,


    sobbing as if her heart was b ny,


    Susan clenched BRIS 0 ighly


    AAR WhSle body shook, her lips


    turning a ghostly white. Please read


    the original content at


    NovelDrama.Org.


    Despair, coldness, anger, and loathing filled her.C¨°ntens bel0ngs to N?(v)elDr/a/ma.Org


    With a trembling voice, Susan spoke,


    "Mom, this is thest time I''ll call you


    that. Do whatexerygstant bites:


    dsyured Phidury you together with


    him. You''ll be together for eternity,


    inseparable in life and death!" Please


    read the original content at


    NovelDrama.Org.

 Chapter 1357

    Lucy''s hand, gently caressing Bruce''s cheek, suddenly stiffened. She turned her head to look at Susan, catching the resolute


    expression on her daughter''s face.


    Lucy''s breath caught, tears spilled over hershes, and she clenched her teeth with a fierce intensity. Finally, the grip of her jaw


    slowly rxed.


    Her face was ashen, void of any color, a solitary tear traced her cheek. With a raspy voice she spoke to Susan, "You''ve been a


    good girl, a real good girl. From now on, you gotta take care of yourself."


    With those final words, Lucy summoned all her strength and hurled herself at a nearby pir.


    There was a sickening crack, her head split open, blood gushing. She copsed on the spot, lying in a growing pool of crimson.


    After a couple of short gasps, she was gone, not even a whisper of ast word remained.


    Susan watched in horror as her mother died in front of her.


    Lucyy there, eyes still open, as if fixed on Susan in her final moment.


    The dam of emotions Susan had been holding back burst, and she crumbled to the floor, sobbing uncontrobly.


    Her screams filled the mortuary, but it wasn''t just grief for her parents¡¯ passing. It was a cry of confirmation, a realization that she


    never really mattered to them.


    They loved only themselves and their money; she was nothing to them.


    Even after Bruce''s monstrous deeds, Lucy remained unwavering in her loyalty, choosing to follow him in death. They never


    considered what their daughter''s life would be without them.


    Lucy felt she had lost everything, yet also nothing. It was as if nothing had changed. No more pretenses, no one to coerce her


    into making money for them.


    Shouldn''t she feel relief? Then why did her heart ache so fiercely, and the world around her plunged into a darkness filled with


    pain and despair?


    Susan hired a professional funeral service to handle her parents¡¯ affairs.


    She kept her promise, burying Lucy and Bruce together, their ashes mingled in a single urn.


    If Lucy so adored Bruce, then let their remains be forever intertwined, as she had wished.


    The funeral concluded. Susan stood before her parents¡¯ headstone, the afternoon sun scorching and relentless.


    She squinted against the re, her hands clenched tight as she whispered to the stone, "The pain that woman caused me, she''s


    going to pay it all back!"


    Had it not been for Thssa, she


    would have been Ligsieis ly


    ago. If sh hac besh/Kis, Pe would


    Enfant sent Bruce to prison, and


    her mother wouldn''t have chosen


    death. Please read the original


    content at NovelDrama.Org.


    All of it was because Thssa had usurped her rightful ce by Lysander''s side, setting off this chain of events!


    Moreover, Thssa had to die. Only with her gone would Lysander''s side be open for her.


    She once thought that if she could drive a wedge between Lysander and Thssa, she could take Thssa''s ce.C¨°ntens bel0ngs to N?(v)elDr/a/ma.Org


    Now, she realized she was wrong.


    Even though Thssa apd Lysander


    re estranged) is still fixated


    or¡¯her, blind to anyone else. Please


    read the original content at


    NovelDrama.Org.


    Only in Thssa''s death would Lysander be able to see someone else, to see her!


    Susan had once saved Lysander''s


    life, and with Thssa out of tle (1)


    pi tur shepolllse hat act of


    kindness to get close to him. Please


    read the original content at


    NovelDrama.Org.


    Thssa had to die. Only then could Susan take her ce by Lysander''s side.

 Chapter 1358

    Susan stepped away from the cold, marble gravestones, her heart heavy with loss. Yet as she dialed Callum''s number, a sly


    smile yed at the corners of her lips, her grief momentarily disced by a cunning ploy.


    "Mr. Gordon, how have you been holding up?" she cooed into the phone, her voice dripping with feigned concern.


    "Cut to the chase," came Callum''s icy reply.


    Their rtionship was strictly business. There was no warmth there. If Susan was calling, she wanted something. Empty


    pleasantries were useless to him, and he had no desire to hear them.


    Susan didn''t bother with any more niceties. Sheughed and said pointedly, "We had an agreement, didn''t we? To drive a wedge


    between Lysander and Thssa. That goal has been achieved. Do you have any idea what | had to sacrifice to make that


    happen?"


    "I''m all ears," Callum responded, his tone as t as a pancake.


    Susan''s fists clenched until her knuckles turned white. She fought to hold back the rage and sorrow as she said, "My parents are


    dead. It''s because | showed Lysander and Thssa those incriminating files my dad had hoarded. Lysander flipped and had my


    dad thrown in jail. Then Thssa''s mother testified, sealing my dad''s fate with usations of fraud and moneyundering. He


    was fast-tracked to the electric chair, and my mom... she couldn''t handle his death; she followed him to the grave.¡±


    "Oh, congrats on reaching your goal," Callum said with a hollow indifference that stunned Susan to the core.


    Human emotions, Susan realized bitterly, are not universal. Her agony was nothing but a passing tale to Callum, an insignificant


    blip void of any real impact.


    Callum couldn''t possibly understand her heartache and loss. Even though she had paid dearly, to him, it was all just part of the


    game.


    Susan took several deep breaths to steady herself and quell the turmoil within. She quickly regained herposure and said


    calmly, "Even though Lysander and Thssa have split, I''m still no closer to Lysander. It''s unfair, and | can''t stand it."


    "That''s your problem, not mine," Callum said, about to disconnect the call.


    Anticipating his hang-up, Susan hurriedly blurted out, "Mr. Gordon! | need your help. If you turn me down, I''ll spill the beans to


    Thssa. I''ll tell her about our little scheme to ruin her rtionship with Lysander. Considering how stubborn she is, do you think


    she''ll ever forgive you once she finds out what you''ve done behind her back?"


    Susan knew Callum had followed Thssa to Eldoria. She didn''t know exactly what had transpired between them there, but


    Thssa''s coldness to Lysander upon her return was telling enough. Something unpleasant must have happened in Eldoria, and


    Callum was involved.


    It was because of Callum that Thssa''s image of Lysander had been tainted, allowing Susan the chance to fan the mes of


    Thssa''s resentment.


    Callum''s voice dropped an octave, a dangerous edge to his words. "Susan, if you have a death wish, just say it!"


    His anger was palpable, seething through the phone.Copyright N?v/el/Dra/ma.Org.


    Susan had crossed a line with her


    threats, and she knew it. "Let''s n


    get heated, Mr, Geydan) Beal rid out.


    Np n 86d e beneficial for both


    of us," Susan''s voice softened,


    ying the card of mutual


    advantage. Please read the original


    content at NovelDrama.Org.


    "Mutual benefit? It seems this whole


    situation is only adyapageoG@


    soy¡é ators gripping his


    phone tightly. Please read the original


    content at NovelDrama.Org.


    Confined to Eldoria, still recovering


    from injuries to his | gang wpe


    Jorg RSs He had no choice


    but to listen. Please read the original


    content at NovelDrama.Org.

 Chapter 1359

    But everything that went down in Starhaven, he was clued in.


    Thssa hated Lysander with a fiery passion because of her mother''s death, even going so far as to cut him out of her life


    completely.


    Someone had spilled the beans to him. He''d yed it cool all this time, just to keep himself out of the mess.


    "Mr. Gordon, you get a thing for Thssa, don''t you? That''s why you''re so hell-bent on driving a wedge between her and


    Lysander!" Susan didn''t mince words.


    When a guy goes out of his way to break up a woman with another man, isn''t it usually because he''s got the hots for her and


    wants a clear shot?


    "You''ve got it all wrong. Thssa, a woman with four kids? Not my cup of tea," Callum denied tly.


    "Mr. Gordon, you might fool others, but can you fool yourself?" Susan scoffed. "If you''re not into her, then you wouldn''t mind if |


    spill the beans on our little coboration to Thssa, right?"


    Callum clenched his teeth. "Susan, do you want to end up together with your parents?"


    "Easy, tiger. I''m just looking to borrow something to help you and Thssa hit it off, that''s all,¡± Susan said with a flippant tone.


    "What''s that?" Callum perked up. He did fancy Thssa and could now understand why Leopold had been willing to die for her


    love.


    Love can drive someone insane.


    He hade back to fulfill Leopold''sst wish, but as he got closer to Thssa, he started slipping into Leopold''s shoes, feeling


    what Leopold felt for her. To experience the agony of unrequited love. To understand why, in matters of the heart, Leopold chose


    a path of no return.


    And in this role-y, Callum fell for Thssa himself, too.


    Her resilience, her kind-hearted bravery, her moral rity, and her radiant beauty¡ªit wasn''t just her looks that had him


    spellbound, but also her selfless nature, her unwillingness to burden others.


    Just as he wished, he felt Leopold''s heartache, the pain of loving someone he could never have, and why he''d chosen death


    over living without her.


    But now, Callum himself was caught in the same snare. In too deep to extricate himself.


    He should have told Susan to buzz off. If she wanted to tattle to Thssa, let her. If Thssa hated him, so be it. But now, he


    couldn''t. He was afraid of Thssa''s scorn. So, he asked Susan what she needed.


    "A helicopter and some explosives," Susan said, her eyes burning with vengeance.


    Callum tensed up. "What do you need those for?"


    "To blow Lysander up! With Lysander


    out of the picture, nobody''s


    competing with you for eles oo)


    Plus, | don''t wan Thetassa Stave


    Hi 161 Cah have him, neither will


    she! If Lysander''s gone, Thssa will


    never have him in this lifetime, and


    her kids will grow up fatherless. You


    can swoop in,fort her, and take


    on everything shees with. How


    perfect." Please read the original


    content at NovelDrama.Org.


    Susan spewed her madness.


    "You really have a death wish!" Callum''s anger simmered barely under the surface.


    "Yeah, | don''t want to live anymore.


    My parents ditched me, and I''m |


    with no kin on isepaft The


    Li3arid¨¦i] Wanted is out of reach. If |


    can''t have him, I''ll destroy him!"


    Susan''s voice was twisted. Please


    read the original content at


    NovelDrama.Org.


    "If you don''t want to live, I''ll grant you


    that wish!¡± Call pia fenifer is


    ir Pledse read the original


    content at NovelDrama.Org.


    This text is ? N?velDrama/.Org.

 Chapter 1360

    Callum had someone deliver a helicopter and some explosives to Susan.


    It was all because her ambition knew no bounds. She actually had the guts to plot against Lysander!


    When women go wild, they really outdo men in madness. No one dared even think about taking Lysander out, but Susan had the


    audacity!


    And was Lysander an easy target? Far from it. The guy was no regr Joe. He had a unique status and was always nked by


    bodyguards. Plus, after thest mishap with Thssa¡¯s clumsy attempt that nearly hit Lysander, his grandfather must have


    doubled the protection.


    Even if you couldn''t see the guards around Lysander, you could bet your bottom dor there were plenty of heavies lurking in the


    shadows, ready to pounce.


    Most likely, Susan would get a bullet in her head before she could even make her move.


    But hey, if Susan wanted to sign her own death warrant, why should Callum stop her? She was digging her own grave after all. If


    she bit the dust, then Callum would have one less threat to worry about. There was no reason for him to refuse.


    In Hollowbrook, after a hearty meal, Thssa and Hertha lingered a bit longer in conversation before Hertha sighed, "I should be


    heading back. Got work tomorrow and | don''t fancy driving in the dark. My driving skills aren''t exactly top-notch, and I''d hate to


    rear-end someone on the way home."


    Thssa couldn''t help but notice that Hertha seemed much more grounded than before. The Hertha of old time was


    scatterbrained and impulsive, never thinking of the consequences. Now, she seemed to be more cautious.


    "Alright, | won''t keep you if you''ve got work. But take a long break sometimes ande stay for a few days with me,¡± Thssa


    said with a hint of reluctance, but not wanting to hold Hertha back from her responsibilities.


    "Yeah, I''ll take my annual leave ande over for a proper holiday. Such a shame | didn''t get to see the kids today," Hertha


    lamented. She''de to catch up with Thssa and to share thetest gossip from Starhaven, but as the godmother, she also


    missed those four little bundles of joy.


    Their lively and adorable smiles were like balm to the soul. But now, having barely finished lunch, she had to leave before the


    kids returned.


    Thssa waved goodbye as Hertha''s car pulled away. She watched until the vehicle was a mere dot in the distance before


    heading back inside.


    Hertha gripped the steering wheel firmly, ncing in the rear-view mirror to see Thssa¡¯s diminishing figure. A warmth crept


    into her eyes ¡ª parting after a reunion did tug at the heartstrings.


    Blinking back tears, Hertha told herself it was okay, they would meet again soon. Or she''d quit her job and join Thssa in the


    countryside for a life of farming!


    As sheforted herself with these thoughts, a ck Rolls-Royce approached from the opposite direction, gleaming with


    prestige in the evening sun.


    Hertha had seen this car more times than she could count¡ªit was Lysander!


    Oh Lord, Lysander was here again! Was heing for Thssa?


    Hertha''s mncholy was instantly reced by shock. She quickly veered to the side of the road, allowing Lysander''s car to pass.


    The Rolls-Royce glided past her modest red car.


    Peering over, Hertha caught a


    glimpse of the driver ¡ª Jariefioure


    ith 354g Restaura of sharp


    nls ¡°ce, an aura of of


    elegance, exuding an air of divinity.


    Please read the original content at


    NovelDrama.Org.


    It really was Lysander! Her heart skipped a beat.From N?velDrama.Org.


    Thssa had just been told how


    good she''d finally escaped


    ci gluties/ Sot Two


    HodFs? d passed before he showed


    up again in the countryside? Please


    read the original content at


    NovelDrama.Org.


    As an outsider, Hertha felt a surge of concern for Thssa.


    And as Hertha craned her neck to get


    a better look at Shi (; hisdespy |


    Sor aneEe fleeti Siy met hers.


    look sent a shiver down her


    spine. Please read the original


    content at NovelDrama.Org.

 Chapter 1361

    Chapter 1361


    Hertha''s heart skipped a beat, and she quickly averted her gaze, unable to hold Lysander''s piercing stare any longer.


    The man was downright horrifying. Even a single second of eye contact was enough to send shivers down her spine and nearly


    induce a panic attack.


    She hurriedly started her car, a sleek and inconspicuous sedan, and took off down the street. She had considered going back to


    help Thssa, but it seemed now that her presence would onlyplicate matters.


    Lysander, although cold and detached towards Thssa, had never truly harmed her.


    At most, he had left Thssa bedridden after bedroom activities, something that, in the grand scheme of things, was a private


    matter between the two of them.


    Lysander wouldn''t really hurt Thssa.


    If Hertha insisted on staying, she might only distract her friend, making it harder for Thssa to stand up to Lysander. So, it was


    best for her to leave.


    Hertha drove away, leaving the drama in her rear-view mirror.


    Thssa returned inside the cozy home, helping her aunt shuck corn in the kitchen.


    Suddenly, the sound of a car engine caught her attention, and her ears perked up. She listened closely¡ªyes, someone was


    driving in!


    Could it be Herthaing back?


    Thssa hurried outside, hoping to continue their unfinished conversations, to share a bed with Hertha like old times, hiding


    under the nkets and whispering secrets.


    But as soon as she stepped out and saw the ck Rolls-Royce in the courtyard, her smile froze.


    She turned on her heel to head back inside.Copyright N?v/el/Dra/ma.Org.


    "Thssa!" The deep, maic voice called from behind her, filled with an inherent authority.


    Thssa stopped in her tracks, her breathing erratic. Her once calm demeanor was now a whirlpool of agitation.


    Her heart sank, ached, and felt as if it was stung by a bee¡ªsharp and raw pain.


    The hands by her sides clenched, and she took a deep breath.


    The air around her seemed to chill as a familiar scent of sandalwood drifted to her, a signature fragrance of the man she knew all


    too well.


    Without looking back, Thssa knew Lysander had approached. His cold aura and domineering presence were enough to make


    her breathing hitch.


    "I''ve been abroad on business this past month, only got back this morning," Lysander''s voice was low and soothing, yet it did


    little to calm the storm within Thssa.


    He hadn''t stayed away because he wanted to, nor had he forgotten her or their children.


    It was just that after thest visit to Hollowbrook, his grandfather had piled on a heap of overseas work.


    What was meant to be three months¡¯ worth of work, he crammed into one by working overtime, day and night. And as soon as he


    was finished, he rushed back home.


    Without rest, he had hurried here.


    He knew his grandfather was worried


    he would seek out T agsa again" |


    wamradhil''d go abroad to cool


    down, to forget her. Please read the


    original content at NovelDrama.Org.


    But how could one forget a person who had settled so deeply in the heart in such a short time?


    Hearing Lysander''s exnation, a


    sharp pain shot through Thssa!


    breath. She di ¡®HupeedrOund rer


    vomne adl\ahd clear. "The kids are


    still at daycare. They haven''t returned


    yet. You might want to wait." Please


    read the original content at


    NovelDrama.Org.


    With that, she began to walk back inside.


    She had said before that if Lysander wanted to see the kids, he was wee anytime.


    Thus, she wouldn''t stop him from interacting with them. But she didn''t want anything more to do with him herself.


    She attributed his arrival to his desire to see the children and nothing to do with her.


    Just as Thssa took a few steps,


    her wrist was seized in a fir ip;


    the calloused haath ts familiar


    rough xture, causing a jolt of


    electricity to shoot through her skin,


    painfully tingling. Please read the


    original content at NovelDrama.Org.


    Thssa reacted sharply, trying to pull her hand away. "Mr. Sinir! Please, keep your distance!"

 Chapter 1362

    Chapter 1362


    Lysander''s grip tightened around Thssa¡¯s hand, unyielding, not allowing her to pull away. His handsome features were set ina


    determined, almost domineering expression, his eyes locking onto hers.


    In the depths of his gaze, like the dark waters of a secludedke,y a month''s worth of longing for her.


    "It''s been a month, Thssa. Hasn''t your heart eased even a bit?" Lysander''s voice, low and maic, inquired.


    During this past month, he''d been abroad not just for work but to give Thssa time¡ªtime to find sce, to heal from the loss of


    her mother.


    He knew that once her mood lightened, discussions of marriage would flow much more smoothly.


    Thssa couldn''t pry her hand from his grasp; his palm was like a vice, holding her fiercely. If she struggled too much, she''d only


    hurt herself.


    Just like every time before, his overbearing confinement left her more wounded the harder she fought.


    He was the same as ever, imperious, never considering her feelings.


    Thssa''s breaths were uneven, and she gave up resisting, her eyes cold as she met Lysander''s stare. "Your parents have


    been dead for so many years. Have you foundfort yet?"


    Her gaze was unwavering, steadfast with a glint of hatred, fearless, and tinged with stubborn anger.


    It shook Lysander to his core, his heart feeling as if hammered by a massive force.


    The strength in his fingers eased.


    Sensing the loosening grip, Thssa quickly withdrew her hand and turned, heading inside the house.


    Lysander stood frozen, watching her retreating figure disappear into the house, his brows slightly furrowed, his dark eyes tinged


    with sorrow.


    Thssa still med him for urging Evelyn to go to the police and testify against Bruce for fraud, which in turn provoked Bruce,


    leading to Evelyn''s demise.


    He understood her pain all too well; when his parents passed, he was shrouded in darkness for over two decades, never quite


    emerging from the shadows.


    Thssa and her mother had only each other, their bond far deeper than what he had with his parents.


    Her mother''s death would undoubtedly cause her immense suffering.


    Lysander flexed the hand that had held Thssa''s wrist, the coolness of her skin seemingly lingering in his palm.


    It was like the chill of morning dew, seeping into the soul, chilling the heart.


    So this was how it felt when Thssa harbored hatred for him¡ªan unavoidable, heart-wrenching coldness.


    Once, he had kept her close in the name of hatred; each punishment, each encounter, must have been a torturous ordeal for her.From N?velDrama.Org.


    Now, she returned this hatred, not by


    staying to torment vers t broom


    pus ng hip aly, Watieg to never


    he again in this lifetime. Please


    read the original content at


    NovelDrama.Org.


    Her hatred for him was pure and piercing, free of any reluctance or longing.


    Aclean break, an eternal farewell...


    A look of weary resignation crossed


    Lysander''s ONC. tures He |


    dthe house ie B choosing


    arene disturb her Ante Please read


    the original content at


    NovelDrama.Org.


    Suddenly, a thunderous roar filled the


    sky¡ªthe sound of a Malet eye


    approa ThoviHt\was still a


    Peakten Thssa''s vi,


    Lysander''s keen senses picked it up


    immediately. Please read the original


    content at NovelDrama.Org.

 Chapter 1363

    Chapter 1363


    Lysander nced skyward, a surge of adrenaline coursing through his veins as he spotted a helicopter slicing through the air,


    hurtling toward the Thssa family estate at breakneck speed.


    Years of training had honed his instincts to a razor''s edge, and every fiber of his being screamed danger.


    With a face set in grim determination, he yelled into the house, "Thssa, grab Astrid and get out here¡ªnow!"


    Barely pausing for breath, Lysander bolted inside, his features taut with the urgency of impending battle.


    Inside, Thssa was shucking corn with Astrid, oblivious to the threat. At the sound of Lysander''smanding voice, she


    mistook it for another of his domineering tactics, the kind he used to make her bend to his will.


    She didn''t move, her mind stubbornly rehearsing her newfound independence. She had finally cut ties with Lysander and was


    determined not to be under his thumb ever again.


    But in the next heartbeat, Lysander''s towering figure stormed in, grabbed Thssa¡¯s hand, and dragged her toward the door.


    "Boom!"


    Before they had taken two steps, a bomb hurtled from the distance, striking the Thssa estate with deadly precision.


    The vi erupted in an explosion, bricks and debris flying, walls copsing in a cloud of dust and destruction.


    "Ah!" Astrid''s scream tore through the chaos, a sound of pure terror.


    ¡°Auntie!¡± Thssa cried out, her mind reeling from the st. The world seemed to shatter around her, paralyzing her with shock.


    But Astrid''s screams cut through her haze of disbelief, filling her with a desperate, aching sorrow.


    As Astrid''s cries pierced the air, Thssa''s body moved on instinct, her legs carrying her back toward the house, back to rescue


    her aunt.


    Just as she turned to run back inside, the wall beside her gave way with a thunderous crash.


    "Thssa!" In the nick of time, Lysander leaped forward, shielding her with his body, both of them tumbling to the ground.


    And then, with another deafening "boom," the wall copsed on top of Lysander.


    "Ugh!" Lysander grunted, the full weight of the wall bearing down on him, a muffled groan escaping his lips.


    Beneath him, Thssa was trapped, but Lysander''s elbows propped up, his body forming a protective cocoon around her.


    Despite the debris raining down on his back,cerating his flesh and grinding his bones, his arms remained unyielding, never


    once faltering in their support.


    As dust filled the air and the earth seemed to split open, Thssa heard Lysander''s pained voice amid the roar of the copse.


    She snapped back to reality, her eyes


    wide with terror. Through the haze of


    dust, she saw eaganyStchetron


    Ipparare andor some face, blood


    trickling from his lips, his arms


    shaking with the effort of holding up


    the world for her. Please read the


    original content at NovelDrama.Org.


    "Lysander!" Seeing his condition,


    Thssa¡¯s heart clenched with a


    sharp pain, tears siceathing do SoWn er


    Fage aa shpropped herself up and


    wrapped her arms around him.


    "Lysander, what''s happened to you..."


    Please read the original content at


    NovelDrama.Org.


    The noise of the copsing house had ceased; no more walls or dirt fell. Lysander''s head throbbed with a searing pain. Several


    bricks had struck him during the copse.


    His vision blurred, but seeing Thssa unharmed brought a faint smile to his bloodied lips.


    C¨°ntens bel0ngs to N?(v)elDr/a/ma.Org


    Her tears seemed to ease his pain


    slightly. Coughing up a om


    mustered t thegtod Rs r¨¦ngth to


    cM Tales "From now on, we owe


    each other nothing. Take the kids and


    live well..." Please read the original


    content at NovelDrama.Org.


    With hisst word spoken, Lysander''s consciousness slipped away, his body''s full weight copsing onto Thssa.


    Thssa¡¯s propped-up body buckled under him, her heart shattering like a hammer had struck it.


    Clutching Lysander''s still-warm body, she trembled and pleaded, "Lysander, wake up, please don''t sleep..."

 Chapter 1364

    Chapter 1364


    Thssa fought to contain the fear and pain welling up inside her, convincing herself that Lysander had merely fallen asleep.


    She called out to him, certain he would awaken.


    But no matter how loudly she called his name, there was no response.


    Her hands, wrapped around his back, felt a warm, sticky liquid. Even without looking, she knew it was Lysander¡¯s blood.


    Before he had copsed, his mouth had been oozing fresh blood.


    Her cheek brushed against his, still warm to the touch, his skin firm and masculine as ever.


    Trembling, Thssa cradled Lysander''s face in her hands, gently lifting his head to face her. Through her tear-blurred vision, she


    saw blood flow from a gash on his head, cascading across his thick brow, past his handsome eyes, and even trickling down his.


    nose to his lips.


    The scene was a dagger to Thssa''s heart, the pain so intense it threatened to suffocate her. Yet, a sliver of hope lingered ¡ª


    Lysander was just injured, merely unconscious, and he would recover.


    Her breath caught in her throat, and with shaking hands, she reached out to feel his breath.


    The robust, deep breaths of the past were now so faint they were almost imperceptible.C¨°ntens bel0ngs to N?(v)elDr/a/ma.Org


    Realization struck; her hand froze mid-air, her pupils dted, and her body became rigid as tears momentarily forgot to fall.


    Then, an agonizing pain spread from her core, threatening to tear her apart.


    "No! Lysander, don¡¯t die! Please don''t!"


    A heart-wrenching cry tore from Thssa''s depths, a cry of unbearable pain.


    Clutching Lysander''s lifeless body, she struggled to sit up, cradling his limp form in her arms, sobbing uncontrobly, her voice


    choked with tears. "Lysander, I''ll take you to the hospital. Please stay with me, don¡¯t you dare sleep..."


    Her entire body shook as she attempted to reach for her cell phone to call for an ambnce, but the fear of leaving Lysander


    alone, even for a moment, paralyzed her.


    She couldn''t bear to let him go, her heart aching as if cleaved by a knife, making it hard to even breathe.


    Dazed and trembling, she looked around for her phone, but her mind was nk on its whereabouts.


    She wanted to set Lysander down to search for the phone, but the fear that it might be a final act of separation was


    overwhelming.


    Crying in despair, her voice weak, she pleaded, "Lysander, please wake up. If you just wake up, I''ll forgive everything. | won''t


    drive you away again... Please, wake up..."


    When the vigers heard the explosion, their first instinct was to flee.


    They rushed out of their homes, and when the chaos subsided, they gathered around Thssa''s house to see what had


    happened.


    To their shock, they found Thssa clutching a man, her cries heart-wrenching, while Astrid was buried under the rubble, her


    whereabouts unknown.


    The vigers whispered among themselves, pointing and specting.


    Through the swirling dust, Thssa


    saw the vigers. Still mote ie cstee


    Lysander''s warrrcboy, Wer voice


    dedh eas she yelled, "Please,


    someone call 911, hurry! | beg you..."


    Please read the original content at


    NovelDrama.Org.


    "Thssa, don''t panic. I''ll call for help. Just stay calm," an elderly neighbor reassured her while dialing emergency services.


    "Thank... thank you..." Thssa''s voice shook.


    As she spoke, Lysander''s body slumped backward, his unconscious form offering no resistance.


    Realizing he was about to fall,


    Thssa pulled him closer,


    d him


    hands tings ehehe


    tiodt, A ir foreheads touching. His


    blood smeared over her, but she did


    not care in the least. Please read the


    original content at NovelDrama.Org.


    Through misty eyes and a body chilled with fear, Thssa whispered, "Lysander, the doctors will be here soon. Just hang on.


    Don''t give up, or I''ll never forgive you..."


    In the sky, Susan maneuvered the


    helicopter with a distant Se sl


    droppin ombsonthssa s vi.


    Sh ched as Thssa''s home


    crumbled, no one emerging from the


    wreckage. Please read the original


    content at NovelDrama.Org.


    The sky was a haze of dust and debris, obscuring her view of the aftermath. But she was certain no one inside could have


    survived.


    She had never flown a helicopter before, having spent just half an hour learning. It seemed her crash course had paid off.

 Chapter 1365

    Chapter 1365


    Susan''s lips curled into a triumphant smirk as she swiftly maneuvered the helicopter back to base.


    She had deceived Callum. How could she ever dream of killing Lysander? He was the epitome of excellence, with his enchanting


    charm and deep pockets.


    One day, Lysander would be hers, all hers. Only by his side could she bask in thep of luxury, with never a worry about the


    mundane necessities of life.


    How could she possibly extinguish the life of the man she adored and yearned for so deeply?


    Her true target was Thssa¡ªthe thorn in her side.


    It was because of Thssa that she couldn''t catch Lysander''s eye. Even if she managed to sever the ties between Thssa and


    Lysander, he would still be fixated on Thssa.


    As long as Thssa drew breath, no woman coulde within a mile of Lysander¡ªand that included Susan. That''s why she


    was so hell-bent on eradicating Thssa from the picture.


    Only with Thssa out of the way could she have a shot at getting close to Lysander.


    Minutester, the ambnce and the first responders arrived.


    Astrid was extracted from the rubble, unconscious and barely hanging on.


    Lysander and Astrid were rushed to the local hospital for treatment.


    Thssa followed closely behind the ambnce, her body soaked in blood that was not her own. Her clothes were a grisly


    tapestry of red, the blood mixed with dirt painting a harrowing scene.


    The paramedic aboard the ambnce asked her, "Are you injured too? Speak up so we can take care of you right away.¡±


    Thssa, her breaths short and her eyes brimming with tears, shook her head. "I''m fine¡ªit''s his blood. Please, you have to save


    him. I''m begging you."


    She was a cocktail of cold, shock, and fear, her body shaking uncontrobly.


    Inside the ambnce, two medics were frantically attending to Lysander''s wounds.


    His clothes had been cut away to reveal his back, marred by five deep, stone-inflicted gashes from which blood oozed


    relentlessly. They worked to stem the flow, stuffing wads of cotton into the wounds, but the blood seemed to have a will of its


    own, refusing to be contained.From N?velDrama.Org.


    Half the ambnce seemed littered with blood-soaked cotton.


    Thssa watched in helpless panic, her heart in a vice that only tightened, the pain intensifying to an unbearable pitch.


    The brief journey to the hospital felt like an eternity to Thssa.


    Finally, they arrived.


    Doctors, nurses, and Thssa


    herself helped carry Lysande form


    the ambu ano eve Steor was a


    date against the reaper as they


    rushed him toward the emergency


    room. Please read the original


    content at NovelDrama.Org.


    ¡°Excuse me, please move aside! We need to get through¡ªit''s an emergency," a doctor called out urgently to the onlookers


    blocking the way.


    Thssa followed closely, her steps


    heavy yet hurried, until they reach


    the doors of the emperaticy-foom, AS


    theyrvareeled Lysander in, a nurse


    stopped Thssa. "Family members


    should wait outside, please." Please


    read the original content at


    NovelDrama.Org.


    Thssa paused, her tear-blurred


    eyes straining for one ae glimpse of


    lass


    ne ex tigoughthe''g s doors,


    put SI


    she could see was a blur.


    Please read the original content at


    NovelDrama.Org.


    Then, she slumped to the floor, her entire body shaking from the coldness of the ceramic.

 Chapter 1366

    Chapter 1366


    The ER doors swung shut, the bright red letters spelling out "EMERGENCY" casting an ominous glow.


    Thssa slumped to the ground, her heart wrenching painfully, her breathsing in heavy,bored gasps as if the entire sky


    above her head had turned to darkness.


    Her hands, propped against the cold floor, were covered in blood. It was a shocking sight, the crimson smears tugging at her


    heartstrings with a stinging, blinding pain.


    Trembling breaths caused tears to fall one by one, and as she shakily lifted a hand, her tear-blurred eyes saw nothing but the


    dark red of blood.


    All of it belonged to Lysander.


    Back in the ambnce, the medics had used cotton to staunch Lysander''s bleeding, but the cotton quickly reddened, and the


    blood from his wounds seemed to flow incessantly.


    Images of Lysander in the ambnce shed through Thssa''s mind, her heart squeezing in sharp pain.


    Down the hallway in front of the ER, a nurse dashed toward the doors, nearly tripping over Thssa, who was sitting on the


    floor.


    Luckily, the nurse managed to stop just in time. She was carrying an armful of medical supplies, which almost spilled onto the


    floor in her abrupt halt but were steadied just in time.


    Looking down at Thssa with a start, the nurse blurted out, ¡°Miss, there''s a first aid room not far from here. You should get


    yourself cleaned up. I''ve got to deliver these supplies to the patient inside the ER; | can''t help you there. If you can stand, you''ll


    need to make your own way.¡±


    With that, the nurse hurried off toward the emergency room.


    Struggling to her feet, Thssa tried to follow the nurse into the ER. She wanted to see how Lysander was doing.


    But as she barely steadied herself, the nurse had already entered the ER, closing the door behind her.


    That door once again severed the distance between her and Lysander.


    It was like the separations in their lives: the first was because Lysander hated her, the second because she hated him.


    But now, she didn''t want to hate him. She just wished for him to survive, to live unscathed.


    As long as he was alive, she would do anything he asked, never resisting him again.


    Barely standing, Thssa leaned on the ss door, trying to see inside.


    Though the ER doors were made of ss, she could see nothing.


    As she strained to look, the door suddenly swung open from the inside, causing her to stagger, nearly falling over.


    The nurse who opened the door quickly steadied Thssa by the shoulders and said urgently, ¡°Who are you to the patient? He''s


    lost a lot of blood and urgently needs a transfusion.¡±


    ¡°Take mine, I''m type B!¡± Thssa said with urgency and a panic-stricken gaze.


    She extended her arm, offering her blood to the nurse.


    Understanding her desperate desire to save a life, the nurse regretfully informed her of the harsh reality.


    ¡°The patient is type AB; our hospital is short on that blood type.¡±


    ¡°What?¡± Thssa''s head spun with dizziness, fearing that Lysander might suddenly pass away.


    At that moment, her mind was a whirlwind of chaos.


    ¡°Think! Does he have any rtives? Get them here to donate blood, quick!¡±


    Tears streaming down her face,


    Unser pleaded, aang ne


    ewithand bduld you please


    lend me yours?¡± Please read the


    original content at NovelDrama.Org.


    Her voice quivered with urgency, her eyes begging for help.


    ¡°Calm down; I''ll lend you my phone.


    Wait here, let me clean our pads''|


    Si, The nursed ha assa out,From N?velDrama.Org.


    h ate


    a tray with a bottle of iodine


    on it. Please read the original content


    at NovelDrama.Org.


    She instructed Thssa to stretch


    out her hands. Seeing them eneeaied


    ith bload pratdetthe hurSe''s own


    hands go numb with worry. Please


    read the original content at


    NovelDrama.Org.


    Eager to make the call, Thssa cooperated and extended her bloodied hands.

 Chapter 1367

    Chapter 1367


    ¡°Where does it hurt? Are you in a lot of pain? Why are you shaking like a leaf?" The nurse, seeing Thssa''s trembling hands,


    couldn''t help but feel concerned.


    Through tears, Thssa choked out, "It''s his blood, not mine..."


    In that heart-stopping moment when the wall came crashing down, it was Lysander who dashed forward and tackled her to the


    ground, shielding her with his own body. He became her human cushion, taking the brunt of the falling debris on his back while


    she miraculously walked away unscathed.


    Otherwise, it would have been her in the emergency room or, worse, lying in the morgue by now.


    Lysander had saved her life.


    When the nurse heard that the blood on Thssa''s hands was "his," she paused, knowing without the full picture that something


    terrible had happened.


    As she swiftly cleaned Thssa''s hands with iodine, she said, "Your husband must really love you. These days, a man who


    would risk his life for the woman he loves is a rare find indeed."


    Love?


    The word dropped like a warm droplet into Thssa''s heart, rippling through her soul, spreading a bittersweet ache so intense it


    took her breath away.


    Was it love that drove Lysander to save her without a second thought?


    Indeed, who in this day and age would risk their life for someone else?


    What else but love could drive such a sacrifice?


    Even strangers could see what she had only juste to realize.


    ¡°All done. You need to make a call now; we can''t waste any more time. The patient won''tst much longer." The nurse efficiently


    finished cleaning Thssa''s hands and thrust a cell phone into her grip.


    Without a moment''s hesitation, Thssa dialed Isabe''s number, her memory sharp with several phone numbers at her recall.


    The phone was picked up after a single ring. "Thssa, how''s Lysander?"


    Although Isabe had answered an unknown number, she knew instantly it was Thssa calling.


    Thssa''s voice, trembling but trying to stay calm, said, "Isabe, he''s in bad shape. He''s lost a lot of blood and needs a


    transfusion urgently. His blood type is AB-positive. I¡¯m begging you, please go around the vige and find anyone with the same


    blood type. Bring them to the hospital. I''ll reward them handsomely for their blood donation. If it''s money they want, they can


    name their price. Anything, as long as theye to donate for Lysander."


    Her voice broke into sobs as she spoke.Copyright N?v/el/Dra/ma.Org.


    "Okay, I''ll get on it right away. Don''t worry, | won''t let Lysander die." Isabe hung up and rushed to find vigers with AB-positive


    blood.


    Lysander was the head of the Sinir family and the CEO of the Sinir Group. He was known for his ruthless efficiency but


    also his dashing looks and wealth. A man of his caliber was a rare specimen indeed.


    Aonce-in-a-century catch!


    It would be a tragedy to lose him.


    Although Isabe''s heart belonged to Leopold, she still harbored some admiration for Lysander.


    Leopold''s death had left her in sorrow for a long time. If Lysander were to die, it would be the end of the world''s supply of


    handsome men.


    That would be such a waste.


    Besides, if she helped Lysander now,


    once he recovered, he''d surely bE


    generous with hi i\fdle.-Jan


    Igapel Wee in need of money. So, no


    matter how she looked at it, this was


    a favor she had to do. Please read


    the original content at


    NovelDrama.Org.


    Immediately after, Thssa called


    David. She had memorized NSO


    number b ck when\sfihitas


    Ebay the return of over a billion


    dors to Lysander as a ploy. Please


    read the original content at


    NovelDrama.Org.


    The moment the call connected,


    Thssa couldn''t hold back HN


    tears. "David, Lyserid¨¦?.| he''s in


    GENGACAAition in the ER. His life''s


    hanging by a thread. Could you


    pleasee?" Please read the


    original content at NovelDrama.Org.

 Chapter 1368

    Chapter 1368


    ¡°What? I''ll be right there!" David, a man who had weathered many storms, felt his head buzz with shock upon hearing Thssa¡¯s


    words.


    Lysander was injured, and not just a scratch ¡ª he was in the emergency room fighting for his life!


    The severity of being in the ER meant it had to be grave.


    Wasn''t Mr. Sinir abroad on business? How on earth did he end up at Thssa''s doorstep and severely injured?


    David didn''t have the chance to voice these questions, but he felt he already knew the answer¡ªLysander must have been so


    desperate to see Thssa that he flew back from overseas and went straight to her ce.


    After hanging up the phone, Thssa, her voice choked with sobs, handed the cell phone back to the nurse. "Thank you..."


    "No problem. Maybe you should change clothes when you get a chance; you''re covered in blood. The hospital can provide a


    gown," the nurse suggested gently.


    Thssa shook her head. Changing clothes was thest thing on her mind. She just wanted to hunker down by the ER doors


    and wait for any news of Lysander.


    Seeing her resolve, the nurse didn''t press further. She was about to leave when Thssa suddenly grabbed her hand, her voice


    laced with anxiety and panic. "Nurse, my aunt was brought here too. How is she doing?"


    Thssa had been preupied with Lysander, whose wounds were distressingly severe. She feared he might slip away at any


    moment and hadn''t had the time to inquire about Astrid.


    The thought of Astrid tightened the knot in her stomach again. Astrid''s ambnce had arrived at the hospital first, and Thssa


    still had no clue about her whereabouts.


    ¡°What''s your aunt''s name?" the nurse asked, her voice filled with concern.


    Normally, nurses only manage their own emergency rooms and don''t answer questions about other areas to avoid giving out


    incorrect information and facing the family''s wrath.


    However, seeing Thssa''s distress and knowing she wasn''t the type to cause trouble, the nurse decided to help without a


    second thought.


    ¡°Astrid Pendleton," Thssa replied, her tear-swollen eyes filled with a mixture of nervousness and hope, her lips pale and


    trembling.


    She dreaded the possibility of a devastating answer.Copyright N?v/el/Dra/ma.Org.


    ¡°Astrid, you say? There''s a man with her. She wasn''t as badly hurt, and she''s been moved to a ward after treatment," the nurse


    informed her.


    Relief washed over Thssa as she learned Astrid was safe and in a ward. Her heart, which had been lodged in her throat,


    finally settled.


    Akind-hearted local had called the ambnce for Astrid and apanied her to the hospital.


    Knowing that this good Samaritan


    was looking after Astrid allo o


    Thssa amare St peace to


    Ahotedier Satire being on Lysander,


    who was still in the ER. Please read


    the original content at


    NovelDrama.Org.


    "Hurry, family members! Has your


    rtive arrived yet? The patient


    urgently needs a bloga trgnsti6i0r


    wontendket much longer," an


    urgent voice called from behind. The


    ER doors swung open, and a doctor


    appeared, his expression taut with


    urgency. Please read the original


    content at NovelDrama.Org.


    Hearing the doctor¡¯s words, Thssa¡¯s briefly eased heart clenched tight once again. She paced helplessly, her mind racing with


    worry.


    She had called Isabe, but there was no sign of her yet. A dy in a blood transfusion was serious, and it could mean life or


    death.


    The doctor was racing against time, not a second to lose.


    Missing the golden hour for


    treatment could mean yeenses"


    vi rant fg wore Vanish rom hers


    f AS Her children would lose their


    father. Please read the original


    content at NovelDrama.Org.

 Chapter 1369

    Chapter 1369


    ¡°Oh, what am | to do? What am | to do?¡±


    In a moment of desperate ingenuity, Thssa grabbed the doctor''s arm, her voice urgent, "Please, can you check if any of the


    doctors or nurses here have AB-positive blood? I''ll pay handsomely¡ª50 million dors to whoever can donate their blood for my


    husband!"


    That sum represented Thssa''s entire life savings. The 50 million dors hade from the payout for her cloud pendant


    ne, a gift from Lysander that had to be melted down from the boutique.


    She was ready to gamble all her possessions against the reaper''s clock for a chance to save Lysander.


    The doctor, clearly troubled by the request, still instructed the nurse, "Go, see what you can do..."


    ¡°Right away," the nurse replied, hurrying off.


    Just then, at the end of the emergency room corridor, four little cherubs suddenly appeared, bouncing toward Thssa like little


    beach balls.


    "Mommy!"


    The kids, with their tiny legs, raced towards Thssa as fast as they could.


    Already on the verge of a breakdown, Thssa''s heart was heavy with worry. Seeing her children, her heart clenched with pain,


    and tears gushed forth like a torrential downpour.


    The kids gathered around her feet, their little rosy cheeks tilted up.


    ¡°Mommy, take my blood. It can save Daddy!" Atticus rolled up his sleeve to show his slender, pale little arm, ready for the needle.


    "| can give blood, too; | have lots! However much Daddy needs,¡± Dorian chimed in, his innocent eyes brimming with tears.


    "I''m a bit plump; | have more blood, and I''m not scared of the pain. Take mine!" Elowen, usually squeamish about pain, offered


    her chubby little arm, her youthful eyes filled with determination.


    "Use mine. Mosquitoes love my blood; Daddy will surely like it too," Sophia said, tilting her head up, her short hair giving her a


    cool yet cute demeanor. Usually timid, she was incredibly brave now.


    The children''s innocent words echoed in Thssa''s ears, transforming her despair into hope, like beams of light piercing the


    darkness of a room, filling it with brightness.


    Isabe arrived shortly after, panting as she spoke to Thssa, "The kids overheard me on the phone and insisted oning.


    They said they all have AB-positive blood and could donate to Lysander. | thought instead of going from house to house in the


    vige, wasting time when some might not even know their blood type, I''d bring the kids straight here."


    Thssa wiped away her tears and turned to the doctor, "Can the children donate blood? Will it harm them in any way?"


    "It''s safe as long as we don''t take too much," the doctor assured.


    "Doc, take mine!" Atticus stepped forward, extending his little arm, his eyes earnest.


    "Take mine!" Dorian pushed forward, his cheeks flushed with resolve.


    "| have more blood, take mine!" Elowen, too, pressed closer.


    ¡°And mine!" Sophia walked right up to the doctor''s side.


    The doctor nced down at the four


    adorable children. The atient O11


    yregded 6IO6E; and waiting


    re would be toote. Please


    read the original content at


    NovelDrama.Org.


    With a firm resolve, the doctor said, "Come with me!"


    He turned and entered the emergency room, and the four little ones followed without a nce back.


    Anxious, Thssa tried to follow but


    was stopped by a nyt (sq whocseits, |


    Avid magidln wait outside."


    ease read the original content at


    NovelDrama.Org.From N?velDrama.Org.


    Tears streaming down her face,


    Thssa watched her ghildrencfaflow


    Kae rents he ery room,


    rle


    ss but to wait outside. Please


    read the original content at


    NovelDrama.Org.


    The nurse sighed with admiration, "You''ve raised four very sensible and brave children.


    At the nurse''s words, Thssa burst into tears once again.


    Her four children were always her beacons of light in moments of despair.

 Chapter 1370

    Chapter 1370


    The ER doors mmed shut once again.


    Thssa paced the hallway outside, her legs shaking with anxiety, yet unable to stop her restless movement.


    The nurses had moved on to their other duties, leaving her alone with her worry.


    Isabe stood off to the side, asionally ncing at the bold "EMERGENCY" sign above the doors and then back at Thssa,


    who was visibly shaken.


    After a few minutes, Isabe''s patience wore thin. "Can''t you just sit down for a bit instead of pacing like that?" she snapped with


    a hint of irritation in her voice.


    Thssa turned to Isabe, tears in her eyes and her voice hoarse from sorrow. "You sit if you want. | can''t... | just can''t sit


    down," she managed to say, her inner turmoil making it impossible to rest.


    Isabe let out a huff, her voiceced with annoyance. "Your worrying isn''t going to change anything. We still have to wait for the


    doctor to give us the news. Might as well wait calmly than torture yourself like this." She flopped down onto the nearest bench,


    crossing her arms defiantly.


    Thssa rasped, "It''s easy for you to wait because they aren''t your flesh and blood. You can be calm..."


    Inside the ER were her four children and their father. Any harm to any of them would be the end of her.


    Her loved ones were the cause of her ceaseless worry, a feeling an outsider like Isabe could never understand.C¨°ntens bel0ngs to N?(v)elDr/a/ma.Org


    Isabe''s expression shifted as she scoffed. "Lysander? How is he your kin? Did he marry you? Are you his wife? You sure have


    a high opinion of yourself!"


    Thssa felt a sinking feeling at Isabe''s words and gave her a quick nce but said nothing more.


    As time ticked away, the ER doors remained closed, and Thssa''s anxiety worsened.


    Amid her growing panic, a disturbance echoed down the emergency corridor.


    A formidable presence approached.


    Thssa turned instinctively and saw an elderly man with silver hair, tall and stillmanding despite the years, nked by a


    group of men in ck suits.


    His gaze was sharp, his demeanor grave.


    It was Zephyr Sinir!


    Behind him followed David, Richard, alongside half a dozen bodyguards, all striding quickly toward the ER.


    Seeing this entourage, Thssa''s already on-edge heart skipped a beat, her panic intensifying.


    Zephyr, with the intensity of a hawk,


    made his way to Thssa angOl''''


    peg hiaddapoice demanding,


    ow is Lysander?" Please read the


    original content at NovelDrama.Org.


    Concern and tension filled his pale eyes.


    Thssa''s voice trembled under his intimidating aura. "He''s... he''s in there, getting emergency care."


    "I''m asking about his condition! Don''t dodge the question!" Zephyr''s voice rose with anger.


    Zephyr had never had a fond


    impression of Thssa. To him


    was maniptive pa taeitch ot


    onyrad she bewitched Leopold into


    a reckless infatuation, but she was


    also the reason Leopold had lost his


    life! Please read the original content


    at NovelDrama.Org.


    The Sinir family had already lost


    one man to this wo @qndo


    ander Was Infeopardy because of


    her too! Please read the original


    content at NovelDrama.Org.


    Zephyr''s resentment was palpable, mixed with profound worry for Lysander.

 Chapter 1371

    Chapter 1371


    Lysander was the prodigy of the Sinir family, a man who had been groomed personally by Zephyr from an early age to lead


    the esteemed family. Once, he was sharp, sagacious, and ruled with an iron fist, never second-guessing himself over trivial


    matters, let alone allowing someone to cloud his judgment.


    But ever since he met Thssa, he found himself breaking his own rules, showing her leniency, and losing hisposure


    around her, and now, it seemed he was even willing to risk his own life.


    On the way to the hospital, Zephyr had already had his people dig up the details: someone had bombed Thssa¡¯s family vi,


    causing the structure to copse, and it was while shielding Thssa that Lysander had been buried beneath the rubble and


    gravely injured.


    Had it not been for his attempt to save Thssa, Lysander¡ªalways quick on his feet¡ªcould have easily escaped the copsing


    building unscathed.


    But for Thssa¡¯s sake, he had sustained serious injuries.


    Zephyr was beside himself with grief, his worry and pain suppressed into smoldering anger.


    ¡°Losing too much blood... the doctors are doing everything they can to transfuse..." Thssa''s voice trembled as she responded


    to Zephyr¡¯s stern and piercing interrogation, her face ashen.


    She, too, wanted to know Lysander''s condition, but she was in the dark, left only to wait.


    "Doing everything they can?" Those words mped around Zephyr''s heart with the weight of despair. He felt drained of strength,


    staggering backward, his body no longer able to support itself.


    Thssa reached out to help, but...


    "Zephyr..." David was quicker, catching Zephyr from behind.


    Thssa''s outstretched hand clenched the air before falling limply to her side.


    Zephyr''s breaths becamebored, almost too much to bear. Lysander had been in the military for years, and even when he had


    been ambushed five years ago, he hadn¡¯t sustained such grievous injuries.


    Yet now, for a woman, he was on the brink of death.


    Seeing Zephyr¡¯s agony, Thssa¡¯s heart ached, but what could she say? Any attempt atfort seemed futile, given the gravity


    of the situation.


    At the height of their sorrow, the door to the ER opened.


    The doctor emerged, his mask concealing his expression, but his forehead glistened with sweat.


    Upon hearing the sound of the emergency room door, Thssa¡¯s nerves tensed, her eyes darting toward the doctor.


    She moved to approach him, but Zephyr straightened up and hurried over; the man who once stood tall and unyielding was now


    hunched and tremulous like an old willow in the wind.


    "Doc, how is he?" Zephyr¡¯s voice was strained, the tremble in his words betraying his concern.


    The doctor''s gaze was urgent and


    sorrowful as he addressed Zephyr.


    "The patient took a hit to the hea


    from a falling briekyyeeVe mareiged


    tO top the Bleeding, but the head


    trauma is severe. Our medical


    facilities here are limited¡ªwe


    urgently need to transfer him to a


    better-equipped hospital, and time is


    of the essence. Any dy could be...


    fatal." Please read the original


    content at NovelDrama.Org.


    "What?" Zephyr swayed, nearly copsing from the blow.


    David steadied Zephyr, the doctor¡¯s words sapping his strength as well, barely managing to keep Zephyr from falling.


    He had thought Lysander was just


    seriously injured, b thecealit


    opens, teidring on the edge


    of life and death. Please read the


    original content at NovelDrama.Org.


    Thssa''s eyes widened, her body shook, and her legs gave way beneath her, nearly copsing like a rag doll.


    "Careful!" Richard, quick to react, caught her faltering figure.


    As he held her, Richard¡¯s hands were


    smeared with the bloga tronter''


    body. stibtly ttnder that made his


    heart skip a beat. Please read theThis text is ? N?velDrama/.Org.


    original content at NovelDrama.Org.


    With concerncing his voice, he said, ¡°Ms. Everhart, are you alright?¡±

 Chapter 1372

    Chapter 1372


    Tears streamed down Thssa''s cheeks, her breath shaky and suffocating. Her mind was spinning with the doctor''s words.


    Lysander had sustained a severe head injury and needed to be transferred to another hospital urgently, or his life would be in


    danger.


    She had thought it was just excessive blood loss, but the situation was far more grave.


    Her grip on Richard''s arm trembled as she parted her lips to speak, but overwhelming grief choked her words; her heart and


    throat felt stuffed with cotton; she couldn''t utter a single word.


    After the initial shock, Zephyr managed topose himself, though his hands shook as he pulled out his cell phone. He looked


    calm, but his entire body trembled as he dialed Dr. Everest. "Fire up your jet ande to Hollowbrook County Hospital. We need


    to transfer Lysander to your facility. It''s a head injury¡ªbring your best gear and make it fast!"


    Once he hung up with Dr. Everest, he called his security team.


    With a trembling but authoritative voice, Zephyrmanded, "! need ten choppers here pronto, and bring ten teams to secure


    Lysander''s transfer back to Starhaven!"


    As Zephyr finished his orders, four little munchkins followed a nurse out of the emergency room. The kids had their sleeves


    rolled up, revealing chubby arms with tiny needle marks. They pressed cotton balls against the small punctures on one arm.


    Their little faces were streaked with dried tears, their usually lively expressions now tinged with fatigue and sorrow. Their youthful


    eyes nced at Zephyr before searching the crowd for Thssa.


    Upon seeing Thssa supported by Richard, their sorrowful eyes seemed to brighten momentarily as they toddled toward her.


    "Mommy!"


    Zephyr, still trembling, looked deeply and hopefully at the children. He was about to say something to them when they brushed


    past him and ran straight to Thssa.


    His hopeful gaze turned to one of loss and pain, his eyes darkening with bitterness and anger as he watched Thssa.


    This woman not only had put Lysander in a hospital bed, his fate uncertain, but she had also forced his children to donate blood


    at such a young age.


    Did she even have a heart?


    Thssa straightened up and embraced her running children, her breath caught in a suffocating pain. She smelled the sweet


    scent of milk on them as her tears fell freely.


    She wanted to say something, to tell them that their father was in danger and that she didn''t want anything to happen to him¡ª


    that she would take all the pain and risk in his stead.


    But what use were those words? They couldn''t change the situation, and she couldn''t take Lysander''s ce in suffering.


    Why did Lysander have to save her?


    He could have made it out; he didn''t need to be crushed by that falling wall.


    It was all because of her.


    The guilt and pain in Thssa''s heart nearly drowned her like a raging sea.


    All she could do was hold her


    children close to fin agimrade sr


    light tg each h¨¦tbreath. Please read


    the original content at


    NovelDrama.Org.


    "Bring the kids over here!" Zephyr ordered sternly.


    Quickly, the bodyguards pulled the children from Thssa''s embrace.


    "Atticus, Dorian, Elowen, Sophia!" As


    her arms emptied, Thalessa@eaheu


    ges frantically father children. Please


    read the original content at


    NovelDrama.Org.From N?velDrama.Org.


    But the bodyguards were ae


    and swift, Pogo


    redieienerthi ren. Please read the


    original content at NovelDrama.Org.


    "Mommy!" Atticus struggled violently in the bodyguard''s arms, kicking and iling.


    The bodyguard secured his tiny hands and feet, preventing further struggle.


    ¡°Mommy, | want my mommy!" Dorian also resisted, crying out loudly.


    The bodyguard promptly covered his mouth, denying him the chance to call out.

 Chapter 1373

    Chapter 1373


    "Mommy!" Elowen''s voice quivered with fear.


    The bodyguard scooped her up and made for the exit.


    "Momny..." Sophia''s small frame squirmed in fright.


    Clutched tightly in the bodyguard''s arms, she, too, was carried out alongside Elowen.


    Their struggles and cries gradually faded into the distance.


    Thssa, weak but determined, tried to follow. "Give me back my children..."


    She barely took two steps before a burly bodyguard blocked her path. Thssa halted, her eyes swimming with tears as she


    faced him.


    "Move aside, let me go to my children!" Thssa gasped for air.


    "Sorry, Ms. Everhart, don''t bother chasing them. It''s no use," the bodyguard said.


    Thssa knew it was futile to argue with the bodyguard. She turned her teary eyes to Zephyr, pleading, "Please, leave the


    children with me. They are my flesh and blood..."


    "They might be your flesh and blood, but you''re not fit to be a mother!" Zephyr spoke with a mix of sadness and fury.


    His eyes were clouded yet intense, fueled by pain and anger. "A month ago, after Lysander returned from Hollowbrook, he was in


    a slump. | knew you had clouded his judgment; his whole world revolved around you. To help him move on, | orchestrated a little


    problem at the overseas firm, forcing him to work abroad. It was supposed to be a three-month job. | thought that in three


    months, he''de to his senses, that pining over a woman wasn''t worth it. But he stubbornly finished the three-month workload


    in one!


    Afterpleting the job, he secretly came back to the country to see you, and now he''s in this perilous situation! You viperous


    woman, wasn''t it enough to destroy Leopold? Now you''re after my Lysander, too! Cough... cough..."


    Zephyr''s voice broke as he descended into a fit of coughing, his physical and emotional pain nearly overwhelming him.


    "Zephyr, please calm down. Mr. Sinir is still counting on you..." David, steadying Zephyr, was anxious as he patted his back.


    Zephyr couldn''t afford to copse now; he was the only hope for Lysander.


    His connections, his power, were unmatched.


    Zephyr took a deep breath, trying to suppress the turmoil inside him. He wanted to stay calm, to not lose his temper, but how


    could he when Lysander, the boy he raised and had such high hopes for, was fighting for his life in the ER?


    How could he not be enraged?From N?velDrama.Org.


    Thssa''s breath shook. Zephyr''s words hit her like a bombshell.


    So, Lysander hadn''te to


    Hollowbrook in a month an)


    Zephyr had se ¡®anu atSadForwork.


    Halted WoiRe tirelessly to shorten


    his time away, to sneak back under


    Zephyrs radar to see her. Please


    read the original content at


    NovelDrama.Org.


    And she had been so cold, so distant.


    If only she had been more heartless, pushed him awaypletely.


    Then, he wouldn''t be lying critically injured because he tried to save her.


    Amid the overwhelming grief, the roar of choppers filled the sky above the hospital.


    Zephyr''s gaze sharpened, and he


    instructed the doctersa| ies Om")


    parea peer ironment. Bring


    IL MiSs out; his ride is here." Please


    read the original content at


    NovelDrama.Org.


    No sooner had Zephyr finished


    speaking than Dr. Everest, cinlnis


    teg shed in with a medica


    e ge ailing medial


    team in tow. Please read the original


    content at NovelDrama.Org.

 Chapter 1374

    Chapter 1374


    Dr. Everest hurried over to Zephyr, his steps echoing in the sterile silence of the hospital corridor. "Where''s Lysander?" he asked,


    his voiceced with urgency.


    "In the ER," Zephyr replied, his voice thick with anxiety.


    As they spoke, a gurney wheeled out of the ER, carrying the unmoving form of Lysander.


    Thssa''s heart clenched in her chest, and she strained to catch a glimpse of him, desperate for even the slightest reassurance


    about his condition.


    But her view was blocked by a sea of sterile blue drapes, creating a barrier that kept her from seeing what she needed most.


    The gurney was enveloped in a sterile cocoon, wrapped in those same blue drapes that obscured Lysander from view.


    Thssa''s hope to see him one more time seemed like a luxury too far out of reach.


    Dr. Everest quickly gathered his medical team and took charge, hurrying Lysander out of the local hospital''s care.


    Zephyr, David, and the bodyguards all followed the gurney, a somber procession moving through the sterile corridors.


    Thssa fought to keep her legs from buckling beneath her, trailing behind them. She needed to see Lysander, if only for a


    moment.


    Richard was right on their heels, his steps just as hurried.


    Outside, in the sprawling hospital garden, a helicopter waited. Its size wasrger than the average chopper and was able to


    amodate up to ten people.


    Dr. Everest and the other doctors swiftly loaded Lysander into the helicopter''s cabin.


    Zephyr climbed aboard without hesitation, David right behind him.


    Once they were secure, the helicopter took off urgently, followed by other aircraft circling overhead, part of a protective escort for


    the medical flight.This text is ? N?velDrama/.Org.


    The thunderous roar of the engines reverberated through the small county hospital, a disy of power that shook themunity.


    Onlookers craned their necks, curiosity piqued by the spectacle, while the more timid hid in the hospital''s corners, fearing the


    worst.


    The medical staff, privy to the gravity of the situation, watched the aircraft disappear into the distance, their expressions a mix of


    worry and breathless anticipation.


    Lysander, a man of such stature and respect in themunity, nowy at death''s door.


    If the level of care awaiting him wasn''t up to par, it could mean the end of the line.


    Such a remarkable figure, whose legacy seemed almost untouchable, would leave an irreceable void if he were to fall.


    Thssa looked up, her breath catching in her throat as the aircraft vanished into the sky. Her body trembled with sorrow, tears


    swirling in her eyes, her sobs suppressed by a throat constricted with grief.


    Those nes carried more than her beloved Lysander; her four children were on board as well.


    In the span of half an hour, everyone she held dear had been whisked away, leaving her alone, staring into the distance,


    engulfed by despair.


    The choppers swiftly became specks in the sky before disappearing altogether.


    Thssa continued to gaze upward at the contrails etched across the sunset sky where the nes had passed.


    The setting sun cast a brilliant


    disy of colors across the clQugs\


    the dazzli ghygerettecting in


    eatral tear-filled eyes, giving


    them a golden sheen like the waters


    of a mournful river. Please read the


    original content at NovelDrama.Org.


    The light glinted off the jade pearl around her neck, making them sparkle with an almost blinding radiance.


    Richard, standing beside her, noticed the sh of light reflecting from the jade pearl.


    "Zephyr will do everything in his


    power to save Lysander oudonitl |


    ed. to wOEhy sonic, Re said,


    Wie to offer somefort. Please


    read the original content at


    NovelDrama.Org.


    Pulled from her trance of sorrow,


    Thssa turned to find ichard) {1


    ioe


    reseatryasmet es met, the


    tedrs she had been holding back


    spilled over. Please read the original


    content at NovelDrama.Org.


    Blurring her vision, she hastily wiped away the tears as if ashamed to let Richard see her so vulnerable.


    "Mr. Richard, why didn''t you go with them?" Thssa asked, her voice cracking, barely more than a hoarse whisper.

 Chapter 1375

    Chapter 1375


    The sadness in her voice was so profound that it left her throat raw and hoarse.


    Richard had arrived with Zephyr and the others, and it was only natural that he''d leave with them, too.


    "When you called David, | happened to be right there with him. Hearing that Lysander was in danger, | just had toe along.


    Now that they''ve gone to do everything possible to save Lysander, there''s no use in me going too."


    Richard''s words were eerily calm.


    Thssa looked up at him, her eyes brimming with tears, her heart a mix of anxiousness and hope, as she asked, "Zephyr can


    certainly save him, right?¡±


    Lysander couldn''t die. He just couldn''t. How could such a strong man like him possibly die?


    She couldn''t bear the thought of losing him...


    "It''s not certain, but he¡¯ll try everything in his power to," Richard replied to Thssa.


    Zephyr¡¯s world revolved around Lysander; he had poured his soul into nurturing him, and Lysander was his pride and joy. He


    would undoubtedly leverage all his connections and influence to save Lysander.


    As for the oue, Richard wasn''t one to specte.


    Hearing Richard say that Zephyr would go to great lengths to save Lysander, Thssa felt a tumult of emotions inside her: relief


    and hope, yet also a suffocating distress.


    Relieved that Zephyr was there to do everything in his power.


    Hopeful that Lysander would recover.


    Distressed that Lysander, who always seemed invincible, had been so grievously injured trying to save her.


    Thssa couldn''t express the guilt that weighed on her conscience.


    She was teetering on the brink of sorrow, oblivious to Richard''s gaze fixated on the string of jade pearl around her neck.


    "Where did you get this jade pearl?" Richard finally gave in to his curiosity and asked.


    The main reason he hadn''t left with Zephyr was to learn the origin of the jade pearl.


    Startled by his question, Thssa took a moment to register what he had asked.


    They had just been discussing Lysander, and now Richard had abruptly shifted the topic to her jade pearl. She struggled to keep


    up with the sudden change.


    Following Richard''s gaze to her neck, she nced down. Only then did she realize he was referring to the jade pearl she wore.


    Thssa fought to push down the overwhelming sadness within her, trying to answer his question with aposed voice, "It


    was my mother''s.Copyright N?v/el/Dra/ma.Org.


    "Your mother''s?" Richard''s curiosity deepened.


    Thssa nodded, "After my mother


    passed away, | found t ejade pesitlin


    Regt BONEN Sorta through


    heft belongings. It looked like an


    antique, so | kept it." Please read the


    original content at NovelDrama.Org.


    She had sold the rest of the gold and silver jewelry and transferred the money into Astrid''s ount.


    But the jade pearl, her mother had clung to it through thick and thin, never willing to part with it for any sum of money.


    Thssa thought that it must have been very important to her mother, so she always kept it close.


    "Did your mother know Joshua


    Whitman when she was yourg?)\ |


    nchastagersbOthbiesse grew


    i fee his words tinged with


    excitement. Please read the original


    content at NovelDrama.Org.


    "Joshua?" Thssa was puzzled for a moment, then remembered.


    Joshua was an elder whom Lysander


    had respected, a gentle and ki raat


    man. Lys ner heshetehsintrSduced


    Hep Aft Shee He was also a


    wealthy businessman. Please read


    the original content at


    NovelDrama.Org.


    Could her mother have known Joshua?


    Thssa wasn''t sure.

 Chapter 1376

    Chapter 1376


    Thssa looked perplexed, the details of the situation clearly eluding her grasp.


    Richard took a deep breath, deciding it was time toy out the whole story for her.


    "Do you remember when Lysander took you to meet Joshua that one time?" Richard asked.


    Thssa gave a slight nod; the memory etched deeply in her mind.


    She recalled how, during that encounter, Susan had spiked Lysander and Joshua''s drinks, leading her to believe something had


    happened between Lysander and Susan. The thought had gnawed at her for quite a while.Copyright N?v/el/Dra/ma.Org.


    It was onlyter that she discovered Lysander hadn''tid a finger on Susan. That very incident was why the dinner had left such


    asting impression on Thssa.


    "Joshua had some business with me," Richard steered the conversation back on track. "He asked me to find a piece of jade


    jewelry, and I''ve scoured every antique store and collector''s shop but never came across anything like it. Yet, the one you''re


    wearing around your neck is the spitting image of what Joshua''s been searching for."


    As he spoke, Richard pulled out his phone and flicked to a photo.


    The image on his screen showed the exact jade piece in question. Though it was just a photo, the jade''s teardrop shape and


    emerald rity were unmistakable. It was a genuine antique, indistinguishable from the piece draped around Thssa''s neck.


    Thssa nced from the image on Richard''s phone to the jade piece she wore, her eyes widening in astonishment. "Are you


    saying Joshua''s been searching for this, my mother''s piece?"


    "It seems so. I''ve done my homework. This jade piece is said to have once belonged to an ancient empress, a unique relic from


    the early Middle Ages. There''s no chance of a second genuine article out there," Richard exined. Having promised Joshua to


    track down the jade, he was well-versed in its history and characteristics.


    "Why is Joshua after this jade piece? Did he give you a reason?" Thssa''s voice trembled with a mix of grief and anxiety.


    Adisconcerting feeling began to grow inside her.


    "He told me once, years ago, he had a fling with a woman at a bar and left this piece of jade with her. After that, she vanished


    without a trace. He''s been looking for her ever since," Richard replied to Thssa''s question.


    Thssa''s eyes widened in shock as if a thunderp had exploded in her mind. She staggered backward, the realization hitting


    her¡ªcould Joshua possibly be her...


    She dared not continue the thought.


    She remembered her mother telling her that Bruce wasn''t her birth father because in her youth, heartbroken by Bruce''s betrayal,


    she had sought sce in a bar and, in her despair, ended up with a stranger, which led to Thssa''s birth.


    Evelyn had only mentioned it in passing and never said that the man had left her a piece of jade.


    But now, her mother''s keepsake, the jade piece that Joshua was scouring the world for...


    Could the stranger from Evelyn''s story actually be Joshua?


    "Thssa, if you have doubts, | can


    reach out to Joshua and have hi


    come back an¡éitake & datemity test


    vid , Richard offered, noting the


    shock and disbelief that crossed her


    face. Please read the original content


    at NovelDrama.Org.


    "Who says that¡¯s yours? It''s clearly


    mine!" Isabe, who had been mM


    eavesdroppin ILload Sudly


    sfenped idiWvard and snatched the


    jade pearl from Thssa''s neck, her


    voice filled with outrage. Please read


    the original content at


    NovelDrama.Org.


    "Thssa, you thief! How dare you steal my jade pearl and im it as your own! You''ve always had sticky fingers, haven''t you?


    This was my mother''s, left to me!"


    Isabe''s breath was heavy with anger, and she trembled as she clutched the jade piece taken from Thssa, a droplet of green


    tears hanging in the air.


    After her furious outburst at


    Thssa, Isabe turned to Richard


    with a pleading look. "Please


    listen to epson, THiS hers; it''s


    rhine! mother was too wild in her


    youth and had an affair, and my


    father never knew. | am the child


    born from that affair. | am Joshua''s


    daughter, Mr. Richard. Please don''t


    get it wrong!" Please read the original


    content at NovelDrama.Org.

 Chapter 1377

    Chapter 1377


    Isabe was almost breathless as she pleaded with Richard, her voice trembling and eyes glistening with unshed tears. She was


    desperate to make him believe her. She knew who Joshua was¡ªa global tycoon with a business empire that spanned


    continents.


    He was also Lysander''s mentor, someone even Lysander looked up to with great respect.


    How could Thssa, a country bumpkin raised in the sticks, possibly be Joshua¡¯s daughter?


    How could she, after being kicked to the curb by the Sinirs, suddenly transform into the daughter of a business magnate like


    Joshua?


    Why should Thssa be so lucky? To be adored by Lysander and now to be recognized as Joshua¡¯s daughter?


    Isabe was eaten up with jealousy, resentment, and rage!


    She had witnessed everything that happened when Zephyr arrived at the hospital.


    She saw how Zephyr could barely stand Thssa, even issuing a cold ultimatum that she was never to show her face around


    Lysander again, iming she wasn¡¯t fit to be the mother of his children, then taking away Thssa¡¯s four children from her


    without hesitation.


    Isabe found the scene incredibly satisfying.


    Thssa, who had always overshadowed her, was finally discarded by the Sinir family.


    The grand vi Lysander had built for her crumbled to dust.


    And Lysander, with his fate hanging in the bnce, had no time to care for her.


    Zephyr had snatched Thssa¡¯s children and spoken those heartless words to her.


    Isabe couldn¡¯t contain her glee¡ªThssa was finally getting hereuppance.


    Leopold had adored her, yet she spurned him, leading to his tragic end.Copyright N?v/el/Dra/ma.Org.


    Why should she continue to thrive, to rise like a phoenix from the ashes?


    Isabe''s sense of injustice was overwhelming, so when Susan contacted her for Thssa¡¯s address, she spilled the beans


    without hesitation. Just to make sure Thssa suffered.


    She hadn¡¯te to the hospital to donate blood for Lysander because of Thssa; she couldn¡¯t bear to see such an outstanding


    man like Lysander perish.


    It didn¡¯t mean she wished any well for Thssa!


    Isabe had seen Thssa¡¯s fall from grace, her descent into nothingness.


    So why was Richard now telling her


    that Thssa was Joshua''s


    180 Kat


    daughter? datas da had been


    seakcatng \Sr her all these years,


    never giving up the hunt! Please read


    the original content at


    NovelDrama.Org.


    That was Joshua¡ªthe business


    magnate whose reach xtended fan


    Ww. de, |fsTHaleasawere his


    daughter, she would bask in endless


    wealth and luxury. Please read the


    original content at NovelDrama.Org.


    Alifetime offort, with influential people to have her back, bing her rock-solid support.


    Isabe could not ept it¡ªshe refused to see Thssa turn from a nobody into a somebody!


    Thus. She grabbed Thssa¡¯s jade


    pearl, iming it as Nea niStelt


    ¡°aie fee BAU buchter she


    Be that extravagant wealth!


    Please read the original content at


    NovelDrama.Org.


    ¡°Isabe, hand over the jade pearl!¡± Richard demanded sternly, his face set in an imcable frown as he confronted Isabe.

 Chapter 1378

    Chapter 1378


    Richard extended his hand to Isabe, his expression icy, his gesture not an invitation but amand.


    At that moment, Isabe''s face was a canvas of raw emotion¡ªshocked, grief-stricken, defiant.


    She nced at Richard''s outstretched hand and then, with a sudden movement, tucked the jade pearl behind her back. Her


    voice trembled with passion as she dered, "This was my mother''s, Richard, and | won''t hand it over to you! I''ll go to Joshua


    myself and exin everything!"


    With those words, Isabe turned on her heel and sprinted away.


    Richard took off after her, his long strides eating up the distance.


    Behind him, Thssa, overwhelmed by sorrow and struck by the revtion of her paternity, could no longer hold herself upright.


    Her head spun, her vision speckled with bursts of light, and her body, exhausted, pitched forward.


    Out of the corner of his eye, Richard saw Thssa copsing and doubled back, catching her just in time. Thssa''s eyes were


    closed, her body limp; she had fainted.


    Panic edged his voice as he called out, "Thssa,e on, wake up!"


    He shook her gently, but she was unresponsive.


    Gripped by worry and the knowledge that Thssa was Lysander''s beloved, Richard knew he couldn''t let anything happen to her


    ¡ªnot when it would devastate Lysander, whether or not he awoke from his own ordeal.


    Swiftly, Richard scooped Thssa into his arms and made a beeline for the hospital.


    Bursting through the emergency doors, he bellowed, "Doctor! We need a doctor here. Someone''s passed out!"


    The ER doctors, scarcely having had a moment to rest, were summoned by Richard''s urgent cries.


    The attending doctor, who had just treated Lysander, looked at the bloodied woman in Richard''s arms and asked in rm, "Has


    this patient been untreated all this time?"


    He had noticed the bloodied woman earlier, assuming she was stained with someone else''s blood, not realizing she herself was


    injured.


    Now, with Lysander gone, this patient had copsed. Could it be that the blood was her own, from shock due to blood loss?


    "It''s not physical injuries; it''s a series of emotional wounds," Richard exined. "External wounds are visible, but the scars on the


    inside are hidden."


    The consecutive blows, the turmoil¡ªit was more than most could bear.


    For Thssa to have endured this far was already a testament to her strength.


    Understanding the situation, the doctor motioned for Richard to ce Thssa on the gurney and wheeled her into the


    emergency room.


    Richard watched as the doors to the ER swung shut behind them. He looked down at his blood-stained hands, then headed to


    the restroom to clean himself up.


    Pulling out his phone, he dialed Joshua.


    "Joshua, | found the jade pearl, but a


    woman has taken it. If hees to


    ol don''t pelea Word she says.


    J eke sure you get the jade pear!


    back." Please read the original


    content at NovelDrama.Org.


    Both seasoned yers in the


    cutthroat world of business, Jos


    didn''t need to kfurthesqubstions;


    Heundarsibd the gravity of


    Richard''s call. With a curt


    acknowledgment, he ended the call.


    Please read the original content at


    NovelDrama.Org.


    Richard returned to the waiting area outside the emergency room. The doors were still closed before him.


    From N?velDrama.Org.


    He stood there, his mind racing with


    unease. He had failed to protect


    Joshua from the ecto


    ven International So el, and


    although he had promised to retrieve


    the jade pearl, the critical moment


    had slipped through his fingers. Now,


    the jade pearl was in someone else''s


    hands. Please read the original


    content at NovelDrama.Org.

 Chapter 1379

    Chapter 1379


    Isabe, bold as brass, swiped something right out in the open, spouting all kinds of nonsense. She really must have a death


    wish!


    She was just taking advantage of Thssa being on her own, without Lysander watching her back. Isabe thought she was.


    above everyone else, turning the truth on its head!


    How dare she im Thssa''s jade pearl was stolen from her? The nerve!


    Richard didn''t delve too deeply, but he believed Thssa through and through. The jade pearl was a legacy from Thssa''ste


    mother.


    Thssa had grown up without a father, raised single-handedly by Evelyn.


    And there was Isabe, with both parents alive and kicking, suddenly spouting some cock-and-bull story about her mother


    having an affair and giving birth to her out of wedlock. Such a tant fabrication.


    An hourter, the ER doors swung open. Richard approached the doctor and asked, "How is she?"


    "The patient is weak and went into shock from the stress. Some IV fluids should set her right," the doctor exined.


    Hearing that Thssa would be okay, Richard let out a sigh of relief. "Thank you, Doc."


    As Thssa was wheeled out, her blood-stained clothes had been reced with a hospital gown. Her frail bodyy on the bed,


    looking vulnerable and pale.


    Following the nurse to the ward, Richard sat beside the bed for ten minutes. He noticed Thssa''s eyelids fluttering ¡ª a sign she


    wasing to. Lowering his gaze, he watched her intently.


    Thssa''s consciousness slowly surfaced, and she opened her eyes to find a magnified, handsome face with clear, wide eyes


    staring back at her.


    Startled, her heart skipped a beat, and she instinctively shrank back, but upon recognizing Richard, her fear eased.


    "Mr. Richard, why are you staring at me like that?" she asked.


    Realizing he had frightened her, Richard sat up straight, chuckled, and said, "Sorry, | just couldn''t help watching you''re about to


    wake up. How are you feeling now?"


    Thssa''s tension eased a bit more. "I''m fine.¡±


    "Could you get in touch with David? See how Lysander is doing?" Thssa''s first thought upon waking was of Richard reaching


    out for news about Lysander.


    Richard was momentarily taken aback; then, a small smile yed at his lips. "I thought you''d be anxious to hear if we got the


    jade pearl back. But no, you don''t seem to care about them at all, just Lysander."


    There was a teasing note in Richard''s voice.


    Thssa knew he was as much of aCopyright N?v/el/Dra/ma.Org.


    gossip as Ethan, but she agnityit ithe


    [email protected]</a> fd Re want her


    svi ecliss with Lysander to be


    their idle chatter. Please read the


    original content at NovelDrama.Org.


    Her eyshes fluttered down as she murmured to herself, "Right, he was so badly hurt. It hasn''t been that long. How could there


    be any news yet."


    It had only been an hour, but to


    Thssa, it felt like half aceptuni had


    s enhaarOWes constantly


    amine bia concern for Lysander and


    their children. Please read the original


    content at NovelDrama.Org.


    "Don''t be sad. The doctor said you


    need to rest and keep calm. Getting


    too upset could lead or preseidni.\


    n'' wortyel IIR¨¦ep Ni eye on any


    news about Lysander and let you


    know the moment | hear anything,"


    Richard reassured her, seeing the veil


    of sadness in her eyes and stopping


    the jests. Please read the original


    content at NovelDrama.Org.


    He realized that making light of Thssa and Lysander''s situation, especially with Lysander''s fate hanging in the bnce, was


    truly inappropriate.


    "Thank you..." Thssa said softly.


    "What do you think about Isabe snatching the jade pearl?" Richard asked, curious about her feelings.


    He wanted to know if Thssa had any interest in acknowledging Joshua as her father. The moment she found out, she didn''t


    seem thrilled but rather frightened.

 Chapter 1380

    Chapter 1380


    Thssa''s face froze for a second, her breath catching slightly. She knew what Richard was asking.


    He wanted to know if she was willing to go through with a paternity test with Joshua to acknowledge him as her father.


    The word ¡®father¡¯ was something she had once yearned for, something she had desperately wanted.


    As a child, she would see other kids being cherished by their dads, showered with affection, and she, too, had longed for that ¡ª


    for her own father to appear.


    She had wanted to feel that paternal love, to have someone looking out for her mom as well.


    But as she grew up, the arrival of Bruce shattered all her beautiful illusions about fatherhood.


    To her, the term ¡®father¡¯ became synonymous with a nightmare.


    Though it was a mistake ¡ª Bruce was not her father ¡ª it was this mistaken bond of blood that caused Lysander to despise her to


    his core, finding ways to torment her relentlessly.


    It was because of Bruce that her rtionship with Lysander had plummeted to rock bottom, beyond any chance of warming up


    again.From N?velDrama.Org.


    And it was because of him that her mother suffered endlessly, enduring humiliation, ultimately passing away with eyes still full of


    sorrow.


    Thssa was truly terrified of the word ¡®father¡¯, afraid of any stranger who might suddenly im to be her dearest kin.


    With a pained breath, Thssa turned her face away, not answering Richard''s question.


    Seeing Thssa''s anguish and her refusal to respond, Richard tactfully dropped the subject, offering her a gentle out. "| respect


    your decision. You''re not well right now. Focus on getting some rest."


    Three dayster.


    Isabe, clutching the jade pearl, had inquired her way to a high-end, leisurely coffee shop where she finally encountered


    Joshua.


    The ambiance of the coffee shop was serene. Joshua sat at a table with a coffee cup in hand, savoring his drink, while opposite


    him sat a barista skillfully preparing another brew.


    Isabe exchanged a nod with the bodyguard stationed outside before walking in. She spotted Joshua dressed in a simple,


    te-gray t-shirt, which gave him an air of distinction. Despite his age, his demeanor was refined, gentle, and steady.


    He exuded an aura of cultured, understated luxury.


    As the barista worked, white steam


    swirled around Joshua, the aroma of


    coffee filling th gore With Silver


    Haya bat mid the mist, looking


    almost ethereal as if he were about


    to ascend to a higher ne. Please


    read the original content at


    NovelDrama.Org.


    Isabe gripped her purse tighter, slowly approaching him.


    Before arriving, she had rehearsed


    what she would say u ga meeting! \


    4 Shug, Bypinthis bre ence, his


    intfate nobility was not something


    easily approached. Please read the


    original content at NovelDrama.Org.


    Overwhelmed, Isabe found the words she had prepared slipping away.


    She edged closer to Joshua, managing a tentative smile, "Joshua, I''ve been looking for you for three days.


    Hearing her, Joshua lifted his serene


    gaze to meet hers and ced hist | \


    @ fee cynen ¡®Ae dbIE, signaling to


    th¨¦ barista. "You can take off now."


    Please read the original content at


    NovelDrama.Org.


    The barista, having just poured six cups of coffee, nodded with a smile and excused himself.


    "Sit," Joshua said.

 Chapter 1381

    Chapter 1381


    Although Joshua wasn''t looking directly at Isabe, she knew he was addressing her.


    She hurriedly took a seat opposite Joshua, shing a sycophantic smile. "Joshua, I''ve heard you''ve been searching for a jade


    pearl from the Middle Ages. That piece has always been with my mother. She told me once, after a night of indiscretion at a bar,


    she met a man, and then | came along. That man gave her a jade pearl, but she was afraid my father would find out, so she


    never sought him out again."


    Isabe''s heart was pounding with nervousness, but she managed to convey the story she had carefully prepared.


    Her purpose in seeking out Joshua was to let him know that she was his daughter! She had overheard the conversation between


    Richard and Thssa outside the hospital.


    Richard had said that Joshua once met a woman in a bar and gave her the jade pearl, and he had been searching for both the


    pearl and the woman for years without sess.


    Seizing upon this information, Isabe fabricated the story about her mother, trying to make Joshua realize that the woman he


    had met all those years ago was her mother and that she was his daughter.


    If she could be acknowledged as Joshua''s daughter, she would bask in wealth and privilege beyond measure.


    And winning Lysander''s heart might not be so impossible after all! After all, Joshua and Lysander shared a mentor-protege


    rtionship.This text is ? N?velDrama/.Org.


    Moreover, the Sinir family always valued social parity in their alliances. If she could be Joshua''s daughter, she would be


    deemed worthy of a union with the Sinirs.


    Everyone loves to climb the socialdder, especially when it''s as grand as the Whitmans.


    After Isabe finished her tale, Joshua ced a cup of coffee before her and looked at her with a noble gaze. "The jade pearl,


    did you bring it?"


    He seemed uninterested in Isabe''s excited speech; he just wanted to know if she had the jade pearl.


    Isabe paused, taken aback. She had thought Joshua would be moved by the news about the woman from his past, that there


    would at least be some ripple of emotion.


    But he was far calmer than she had anticipated.


    Could this be theposure of a sessful, sagacious person?


    With this thought, Isabe, without doubting any further, extracted the carefully preserved jade pearl from her bag and presented


    it to Joshua with both hands. "Joshua, take a look. This is definitely authentic."


    Joshua took the jade pearl from her hands, examining it closely. The color, the pattern¡ªit was indeed genuine, the very one he


    had given away all those years ago.


    After confirming its authenticity,


    Joshua sped the jade pearl in


    hand, his expr sigg enlinctin, still


    eee een "Ms. Everhart,


    you''ve delivered the jade pearl. If


    there''s nothing else, you may leave."


    Please read the original content at


    NovelDrama.Org.


    "What?" Isabe was shocked and


    panicked, sone yaaa Joshua. fash


    pearl is the on


    YOuuanh You gown just ae away


    from sleeping with her? Don''t you


    have any sense of responsibility?"


    Please read the original content at


    NovelDrama.Org.


    Moments ago, Isabe could still contain her emotions, showing respect and submission.


    But now, with Joshua showing no signs of acknowledging her as his daughter, she felt rebuffed, and her words lost their restraint.


    Joshua''s gaze turned icy as he stared at the agitated Isabe. "Do you know why you''re able to see me here?"


    Isabe leaned forward, her hands


    braced on the coffee table, her


    eyes¡ªheavy with makeyg¡ª sting |


    bag at voshua With indignation.


    Seeing his stern face, her heart


    skipped a beat, and she asked in


    confusion, "What do you mean?"


    Please read the original content at


    NovelDrama.Org.


    Joshua lowered his gaze, picked up his coffee cup, and took a leisurely sip. "If | hadn''t made my whereabouts known, you would


    have never found me. Do you know why | let you find me?¡±

 Chapter 1382

    Chapter 1382


    Isabe listened intently to Joshua''s words, and suddenly, everything clicked.


    She had exhausted her contacts, seeking any scrap of information about Joshua without sess.


    Then, out of the blue, a friend mentioned that Joshua was having coffee at a local caf¨¦. She couldn''t get there fast enough.


    She had thought her friend shared the tip because of their close bond, privileged to know Joshua''s whereabouts before anyone


    else.


    But no, it was Joshua himself who had leaked his own location, intentionally letting her know he was at the caf¨¦.


    Isabe couldn''t fathom Joshua''s game n. A sense of unease crept over her, but still, she asked with a puzzled tone, "Why?"


    "You''re searching for me, not just to show me the jade pearl but to announce that you''re my daughter, aren¡¯t you?" Joshua lifted


    his gaze, his eyes shifting from their earlier aristocratic cool to the shrewd depth of a business mogul.


    Under the weight of his intense stare, Isabe felt her resolve wobble. She had steeled herself for three days for this moment.


    Yet, with just one look from Joshua, all her mental fortifications crumbled.


    Her gaze darted away as she stammered, "I¡ªI am, of course, your daughter..."


    Joshua''s chuckle was light butden with meaning. "Too bad I''m only interested in the jade pearl, not in finding some daughter.


    Since your mother betrayed your father, it¡¯s probably best to keep this matter under wraps. Otherwise, you and your mother


    might just end up disowned and homeless.¡±


    With that, he stood up to leave.


    Isabe¡¯s eyes widened in shock, her breathing in ragged gasps.


    She had brought the jade pearl to assert her ce as Joshua''s daughter, yet what did he say? He only cared for the jade pearl,


    not his daughter?


    And he even threatened her with disownment and homelessness for her and her mother if she insisted on causing a scene?


    How could this be happening?


    Why was Joshua''s y so different from what she had anticipated?


    Refusing to ept this, Isabe dashed to the door, blocking Joshua''s exit, her voiceced with desperation and indignation.


    "Why don''t you want to find your daughter?"


    "I''m looking for a daughter with genuine blood ties, not some imposter like you." Joshua''s patience had worn thin. He shot her a


    cold nce and sidestepped her to leave. He was done with the charade; his objective wasid bare.


    Struck by his words, Isabe felt her mind go nk, her body trembling with the impact.


    Joshua knew she was an impostor?


    Then, the intel about him being at the caf¨¦, which was passed to her, was just a bait to lure her in and hand over the jade pearl


    personally?


    As the realization of Joshua¡¯s intentions dawned on her, anger contorted her face, and she kicked at the ground furiously.


    Joshua had yed her!


    A true fox of the business world!


    He didn''t even have to lift a finger; he simply used her, making her willingly return the jade pearl to his possession.


    It was her impatience and greed that blinded her to Joshua''s true intentions, leading her to bring the jade pearl without a second


    thought.


    And to think, after she swiped the


    jade pearl from Thssa, wi om


    Renae ent three days had


    passed, TS ther Richard nor


    Thssa had confronted her for its


    return. Please read the original


    content at NovelDrama.Org.


    It was as if nothing had happened at all.


    Knowing that Richard and Joshua were acquainted, Richard must have informed Joshua about the theft.


    She had been too eager, tooThis text is ? N?velDrama/.Org.


    impulsive, desperate to re


    Thssa and reonielones


    danger thinking that stealing the


    jade pearl and a smooth lie would


    deceive Joshua. Please read the


    original content at NovelDrama.Org.


    Her haste for sess had stripped her of her senses, turning her into aughingstock, yed like a fiddle.


    The more Isabe thought about it,


    the angrier she became, er chest! |


    aving ny Funcand her fists


    clenched tight, her face twisted with


    rage. Please read the original content


    at NovelDrama.Org.

 Chapter 1383

    Chapter 1383


    Why was it that she, Isabe, had wed her way up with all her might, only to end up scorned by rk and rejected by


    Leopold, who would rather die than have her?


    And yet Thssa, who wanted nothing more than her four kids, ended up catching the eye of Lysander and even scored a rich,


    high-flying daddy.This text is ? N?velDrama/.Org.


    Isabe burned with resentment. Anyone could rise from the ashes, but Thssa? That was uneptable!


    She couldn''t stand seeing Thssa on top. Her family was in even more dire straits, so she should have stayed down in the


    dumps instead of getting lifted up by some benefactor and shining even brighter than her!


    Over the past three days, as Thssa''s health improved, she spent her time tending to Astrid in the hospital.


    The kids were whisked away by Zephyr, leaving no word behind.


    Her heart was heavy with thoughts of Lysander. She tried calling David for news, but he wasn''t picking up.


    Maybe Zephyr had mped down, forbidding David from contacting her.


    Astrid had had her arm crushed, and struggled to eat with her hand in a sling.


    Carefully, Thssa spoon-fed her, taking every caution.


    As Thssa kept vigil by Astrid''s side, she shared how Lysander was seriously hurt trying to save her and how Zephyr had taken


    the children away.


    Zephyr had evenid down thew forbidding Thssa from seeing her kids or Lysander ever again.


    Having already lost her mother, Thssa was now barred from seeing her own children.


    Astrid knew Thssa must be in agony, yet she suppressed her pain, caring for her as if nothing was wrong.


    With a soft sigh, Astrid said, "Thssa, tomorrow, head to Starhaven. What you yearn for is there."


    Thssa¡¯s body was in Hollowbrook, but her spirit was elsewhere, her heart knit to the people of Starhaven.


    At that, Thssa paused, her spoonful of soup frozen midway to Astrid''s lips. She understood what her aunt meant.


    The pain she had been holding back began to seep into her heart like a rising tide.


    Swallowing the bitterness, she replied, "I''ll make ns once you''re discharged."


    With Zephyr blocking her path, a tri


    to Starhaven Eo beau :


    apiekYand alone. Please


    read the original content at


    NovelDrama.Org.


    Her heart ached for Lysander and the


    kids, but with Zephyr jnitoe Wayns!


    uid Bring (Rem together.


    Please read the original content at


    NovelDrama.Org.


    David''s silence was proof of Zephyr''s blockade.


    As Thssa fed Astrid, a man''s voice


    suddenly rang out at theqoog, O1"


    breathless Gnd Uident. Please read


    the original content at


    NovelDrama.Org.


    "Thssa! I''ve got news for you!" It was Richard, panting from haste at the doorway.


    Her heart leaped to her throat.


    Was Richard bearing news of Lysander?


    How was Lysander, and had the surgery been a sess?

 Chapter 1384

    Chapter 1384


    The moment Thssaid eyes on Richard, it was as if she had received a message from Lysander himself. Her hands trembled


    so much that she nearly dropped her bowl of soup.


    "Whoa there, careful with the soup," Astrid eximed, her voice a mix of surprise and concern as she saw the bow! wobble


    dangerously in Thssa''s grip.


    Snapping back to reality, Thssa steadied the bowl, cing it on the nightstand before rushing towards Richard with legs that


    felt like jelly.


    As she moved, her knees buckled, nearly sending her tumbling to the ground, but with a forceful push, she rebounded and


    staggered to Richard''s side. Her clear eyes shimmered with deep anxiety as she asked, "Mr. Richard, how is Lysander?"


    Taking a deep breath to calm his racing heart, Richard met Thssa''s expectant gaze. He swallowed hard, searching for the


    right words, and finally said, "The surgery went well overall. Lysander is out of immediate danger."


    Out of immediate danger.


    Those words allowed the tension that had gripped Thssa for days to ebb away with a heavy sigh of relief.


    Tears streamed down her face in an instant. Lysander was alright, atst!


    The worry that had consumed her heart for three days was finally put to rest.


    ¡°Lysander''s out of danger. Why are you crying?" Richard asked, his voice tinged with bewilderment.


    Shouldn''t she be rejoicing at the news? Yet there was Thssa, letting tears fall.


    Hastily wiping away her tears, Thssa exined with urgency, "It''s just... I''m so relieved, happy tears, you know? He''s going to


    be alright, and that''s all that matters."


    "Don''t get too happy, though," Richard cautioned suddenly.


    His words instantly tightened the strings of Thssa''s calmed nerves, her voice now edged with panic, "What do you mean?"


    Richard''s eyshes fluttered down, a sad acknowledgment of the harsh truth that he could not conceal. "Lysander is ina


    vegetative state. The doctors say there''s only a five percent chance he''ll wake up."


    Boom!


    The news struck Thssa like a thunderbolt, ravaging her newly blossomed hope and turning it into a deste ruin.


    "What... what did you say?" she stammered, her body going numb with shock.


    The warmth that had begun to return to her body was swiftly reced by a chilling dread.


    Richard''s voice was heavy with sorrow, "You need to prepare yourself mentally. Lysander may remain in this state for the rest of


    his life."


    The rest of his life?


    The words pierced Thssa¡¯''s heart like a sharp knife. She staggered backward, her newfound tears of joy transforming into


    torrents of despair.


    "Oh dear, what are we going to do?


    The father of the children is in a,


    vegetative sta Hopedi¨¦thi GO


    Happen¡¯ Actria, lying in her hospital


    bed, could hardly bear the grim news,


    her heart aching at the thought.


    Please read the original content at


    NovelDrama.Org.


    If this outsider felt such pain, how much more devastating must it be for Thssa, the one directly affected by the cruel strike of


    fate?


    Biting her lip, tears cascading like


    pearls ou a broken Sele Trelestes


    nesetants hitparate hier eart


    vate as if bound by invisible


    strings. Please read the original


    content at NovelDrama.Org.


    Then, turning back to Richard, .


    dered with a resolute voice, ''


    must take care of pe


    doctors estiqne tHere? st ee


    perdert''ch hance for him to wake up,


    right? I''ve seen it on TV. They say


    that with meticulous care, talking and


    interacting with someone in aa


    can increase their chances of waking


    up." Please read the original content


    at NovelDrama.Org.


    Lysander had been injured trying to save her, and she couldn''t just sit around and do nothing.


    Even if Zephyr objected, she must find a way to be there for Lysander.


    "Your resolve is admirable, but how do you n to get close to Lysander?" Richard posed the critical question.Belongs to ? n0velDrama.Org.


    With Zephyr in the picture, Thssa might not even get the chance to see Lysander, let alone care for him.

 Chapter 1385

    Chapter 1385


    Thssa bit her lip hard, her heart torn with agony and difort.


    Richard had posed a question that represented her most formidable dilemma to date. She had no clue how to bridge the gap to


    Lysander.


    "| might have a solution, if you''re willing," Richard suddenly offered.


    Thssa''s gaze, which had been steeped in despair, shot up, filled with hope and earnestness as she looked at Richard. "What


    is it?"


    "Be Joshua''s daughter," Richard said with a matter-of-fact tone. "Joshua and Zephyr are old college buddies, and the


    Whitmans and the Sinirs go way back. If you were Joshua''s daughter, it would be perfectly natural for Joshua to introduce you


    to Lysander. Zephyr would have no grounds to object."


    Thssa''s delicate eyebrows knitted together, and she looked at Richard, her eyes brimming with tears.


    Richard''s handsome face held a steady gaze, waiting for her response.


    Thssa''s breathing grew erratic, and through clenched teeth, she managed to say, "Mr. Richard, please contact Joshua for me.


    | want to take a paternity test with him."


    Though she was utterly disillusioned with the concept of a father, and the very word cast a deep shadow over her heart, she was


    willing to confront these demons for a chance to care for Lysander.


    Seeing her resolve, the tension in Richard''s eyes eased. However, his voice still carried a bit of roughness from the stress earlier


    as he said, "Alright, I''ll make the call."


    Thssa had finallye around to the idea of taking the paternity test with Joshua.


    Richard''s visit wasn''t just to update her on Lysander''s situation but also to fulfill a duty.


    After Joshua¡¯s incident at Richard¡¯s family''s hotel, Richard promised Joshua that he would find the jade pearl and resolve all


    rted issues. And, of course, that included helping Joshua reconnect with his daughter.


    After leaving the hospital thest time, Richard had met with Joshua and conveyed Thssa''s reluctance to acknowledge her


    father.


    Joshua appeared ridden with guilt and despair. He gave Richard a mission: to make Thssa voluntarily want to acknowledge


    him as her father.


    He had missed out on twenty-eight years of fatherhood and was deeply remorseful. He didn''t want to force Thssa; he just


    wanted her toe back to him willingly.


    Richard had agreed to help, and he had seeded, finally making amends for his previous failings.Belongs to ? n0velDrama.Org.


    Richard made the call, and soon, Joshua arrived in Hollowbrook County.


    Thssa saw the middle-aged man once again in the hospital.


    Thest time she saw him, ae


    introduced him as a highly res


    tycoon, $ meanerwicle Lea Lysander,


    stodda Ne pinnacle of society. She


    felt like even looking at him was an


    overreach. Please read the original


    content at NovelDrama.Org.


    But now, as she saw him again, he leaned on a dark green cane, not out of necessity, but as an essory¡ªa symbol of status


    and position.


    His gaze upon her was gentle and kind, a smile ying on his lips. "Thssa, we meet again. You seem to have lost quite a bit


    of weight since thest time."


    She was naturally slender, and now she looked even more fragile.


    Hearing concern from a stranger,


    Thssa¡¯s heart clenched with a


    myriad of emotigns Rok morhent,


    sppwariedto open up and ept


    his care, but the cost of vulnerability


    was too high, she had learned. Please


    read the original content at


    NovelDrama.Org.


    Before she could even begin to


    ept his kindness, Thssa ¡ã y


    shut down, NTRS ee ael ess.


    ¡°Pashlew itman, let''s get the


    blood test done. If it proves I''m your


    daughter, | only ask for one thing."


    Please read the original content at


    NovelDrama.Org.

 Chapter 1386

    Chapter 1386


    Joshua peered into Thssa''s eyes, those steely pools of determination, and saw not the excitement of discovering her father


    but a subdued torrent of sorrow.


    His lips curled into a wry smile, his interest piqued. "Everyone else goes to great lengths to im me as their father, yet you


    seem reluctant. Are you agreeing to this paternity test just to ask a favor of me?"


    It was a rarity indeed. Someone was actually indifferent to the prospect of being the daughter of Joshua, a titan of international


    business?


    This was a stark contrast to Isabe, who had eagerly sought the title, even willing to nder her mother with infidelity to win his


    paternal recognition.


    Suppressing her inherent dread of the word ¡®father¡¯, Thssa''s voice wavered with emotion as she addressed Joshua, "That''s


    right. If you don¡¯t agree to my terms, then there''s no point in taking the test. It''s not necessary."


    Joshua''s mouth twitched into a half-smile. "Well, let''s hear it then. What''s your demand?"


    "If the test proves I''m your daughter, | don''t expect anypensation for the years you''ve missed. | only want you to persuade


    Zephyr to let me take care of Lysander," Thssa said, her voice steady but her breathing uneven as she locked eyes with


    Joshua.


    In other words, aside from caring for Lysander, she wanted nothing else.


    Joshua scrutinized Thssa, a flicker of surprise in his gaze.This text is ? N?velDrama/.Org.


    Thssa was only asking for a favor, nothing more¡ªno money, no power, no extravagant demands for property, vehicles, or


    unreachable connections.


    She wanted none of it, just a single favor.


    Last time, it had been Lysander who introduced Thssa to Joshua, and he was well aware of the extraordinary bond between


    them.


    Now, with Lysander seriously injured and dered by doctors to be in a vegetative state¡ªa life sentenced to a bed, awakening


    only a matter of luck¡ªJoshua felt a profound sense of loss and distress.


    Lysander was such a promising young man, and their rtionship had always resembled that of a mentor and prot¨¦g¨¦. Though


    they never formally acknowledged it, the unspoken depth of their connection was undeniable.


    And here was his estranged daughter, determined to care for his apprentice. Deep down, Joshua was willing. He couldn''t bear


    the thought of Lysander trapped in an endless slumber.


    Yet, Thssa''s singr request surprised him.


    "If you don''t agree, then never mind.


    I''ll figure something out on Own


    Thssa''s oige called ott as she


    Tata eins silent stare, her


    hopes waning. She turned away,


    ready to leave. Please read the


    original content at NovelDrama.Org.


    But Joshua''s voice halted her. "| agree to your request.¡±


    Thssa froze, her back to Joshua,


    closing her eyes and taking a de


    breath. She ha resolve Sohtront


    the tah Ofer paternity, to face the


    man who might be her father, to


    ovee the fear associated with


    that word. Please read the original


    content at NovelDrama.Org.


    But when the moment arrived, the


    word ¡®father¡¯ signified more t aninst


    a word¡ª hen jt epedsamted a living,


    SOMA Werson¡ªThssa felt the


    weight of her barriers pressing down,


    stifling her breath. Please read the


    original content at NovelDrama.Org.


    She needed to constantly regte her breathing and mentally reassure herself so as to appear effortless as she agreed to the


    paternity test with Joshua.

 Chapter 1387

    Chapter 1387


    Thssa and Joshua had just finished having their blood drawn at the hospital.


    "The results should be ready by tomorrow at the earliest," the doctor informed them.


    Thssa turned to Joshua and said, "You might as well head back now. Once the resultse out, I''ll get Richard to give you a


    call. That way, you won''t have toe here again."


    Richard was about to speak up when Joshua interjected, "Why bother Richard with ying messenger? I''ll give you my number,


    and you can call me directly."


    With that, he extended his hand towards Thssa. She understood that he was asking for her phone.


    Frowning delicately, Thssa replied, "My phone was crushed under the rubble earlier, and | haven''t had the chance to get a


    new one yet."


    Joshua''s eyebrows lifted slightly. Thssa being without a phone meant he couldn''t get in touch with her. For some reason, her


    indifferent and nonchnt attitude towards whether he was her father unsettled Joshua. She didn''t even want his phone number,


    let alone keep in touch with him in the future.


    There were so many people moring to have his number, while she seemed to not care about it at all.


    Perhaps it was because he was so used to sycophants and gold diggers that Thssa¡¯s focus only on those she cared for, her


    disinterest in fame and fortune, sparked his curiosity.


    Pulling out his own phone from his pocket, without logging out any critical apps, he saved his other phone''s number in it.


    Then he handed the phone to Thssa and said, "You can use this one. It''s got my number in it, listed under my name. Of


    course, you can change the contact name if you want. Just call me when the resultse out."


    Joshua held the phone out, but Thssa didn''t reach out to take it.


    Instead, she met his gaze and said, "I''ll just get a pen and paper."


    She turned and walked to the nightstand by Astrid''s hospital bed and pulled out a medical notebook and a pen, then she


    approached Joshua again, saying, "Just write your number down for me. I''ll call you from a payphone once | have the results."


    Joshua''s outstretched hand, still holding his phone, was left hanging as Thssa made no move to take it. He wasn''t


    embarrassed, though. He pocketed the phone back naturally, took the notebook and pen and wrote down his name and number.


    His eyes, cool and assessing, stayed on Thssa. "Will you really call me?"


    Taking back the notebook, Thssa¡¯s expression wasposed as she answered, "As long as you don''t forget what you''ve


    promised me, of course | will."


    With that, she returned to Astrid''s bedside, dismissing Joshua from her attention.Copyright N?v/el/Dra/ma.Org.


    "Joshua," Richard intervened, seeing


    the exchange and ae the cee


    exin on Tae Ralf


    sony. verhart is not in the Bea


    of ie right now, so she might


    seem a bit brusque." Please read the


    original content at NovelDrama.Org.


    Thssa''s aloof and unfriendly demeanor was even making Richard, an outsider, ufortable.


    Anyone else discovering they had a


    wealthy father would be over}


    and ea tg pleases ut Th assa


    Beaten, indifferent to her


    newfound paternal connection.


    Please read the original content at


    NovelDrama.Org.


    If it weren''t for the chance to care for Lysander, she probably wouldn''t even want to see Joshua''s face.


    Before Richard could finish, Joshua raised his hand in a silencing gesture.


    "Richard, | appreciate all the effort


    you''ve put into finding the ja Gall


    for me," Joshua sai, aring ack to


    ealiyelt Some across any antique


    deals in the future, you''ll be the first


    one | call." Please read the original


    content at NovelDrama.Org.


    His words were a clear expression of gratitude towards Richard.

 Chapter 1388

    Chapter 1388


    Joshua had always been a man of clear boundaries between his professional and personal life.


    Favors were debts to be repaid, and grudges were not to be left unattended.


    Richard had done him a solid by tracking down those elusive jade pearls and their owner.


    In gratitude, Joshua knew the best way to show his appreciation was to throw more business Richard''s way.


    Richard was touched by his gesture and replied, "Can''t thank you enough for looking out, Joshua.¡±


    With a final nce back at Thssa, Joshua turned on his heel and left.


    Richard followed suit, stepping out into the crisp air.


    Outside the hospital, Joshua turned to Richard and asked, "Did you say Thssa''s mother passed away in a car ident just a


    month ago?"


    "Yeah, tragic ident," Richard confirmed.


    Acar ident?


    The news made Joshua pause, a sigh escaping him. "That''s a damn shame," he said before striding towards his car.


    Richard headed to his own ride and drove off.


    Back in the hospital room, Astrid held Thssa''s hand, her tone earnest. "Thssa, what if he really is your biological dad? Why


    didn''t you talk to him properly?"


    Astrid had been awake during the exchange between Thssa and Joshua, and she had overheard every word.


    She had seen Thssa''s reluctance, and it concerned her.


    Clutching Astrid''s hand, Thssa could be her true self with her aunt. "Auntie, I''m scared. | don''t want to have any expectations


    of a father anymore."


    Expectations led to disappointment.


    Hope led to despair.


    Bruce''s appearance had sparked a hope for some semnce of warmth or kindness from a father figure, even if he turned out to


    be a scoundrel. But Bruce was nothing but deceit and cruelty, even threatening Thssa''s mother''s life.Content is property of N?velDrama.Org.


    He had used his im as her father to extort and terrorize her.


    The very word "father" filled Thssa with fear and despair.


    And Lysander, ming her for Bruce''s sins, had taken out his wrath on her with a cold ferocity.


    She cursed the role of the father every torturous night.


    Finally free from the disaster Bruce


    had brought into her life, know}


    wasn''t he real dad tke Baden


    eas of this stranger iming


    to be her father cast a lingering


    shadow. Please read the original


    content at NovelDrama.Org.


    With such a burden on her heart, how could she possibly hold any hope for this new imant?


    So, she chose to shut the door to her heart, unwilling to let unnecessary trouble find her.


    Astrid, understanding Thssa''s


    plight, nodded and presi noOll)


    f her, Sheknevathesi terness her


    ni¨¦ce must have held inside. Please


    read the original content at


    NovelDrama.Org.


    The next morning at ten, Thssa


    went to collect the peeegy coi")


    r ults sheand Vashi ad taken


    after helping her aunt with breakfast.


    Please read the original content at


    NovelDrama.Org.


    Finding no report on the counter, she approached the doctor on duty.


    ¡°Excuse me, have the paternity test results for Thssa and Joshuae in yet?"


    "They''ve already been picked up," the doctor informed her.


    "What?" Thssa''s confusion quickly turned to anxiety. "Can you tell me who took them?"

 Chapter 1389

    Chapter 1389


    "It was me," a familiar voice called from behind.


    Thssa spun around and found herself looking up at Joshua''s tall frame. He was a striking figure, ruggedly handsome with a


    touch of distinguished intellectuality. Silver streaked his temples, and although wrinkles creased his face, they couldn''t mar the


    youthful elegance that still clung to his features.


    His gaze softened as it met Thssa''s, a hint of tenderness flickering in his eyes.


    Caught off guard by his presence, Thssa''s eyes dropped to the document he was holding¡ªthe test report.


    She had yet to learn its contents.


    But Joshua had read it.


    So, what did it say?


    Was she really Joshua''s daughter?


    She didn''t particrly care who was her biological father, but she found herself yearning for a 99% match in that moment. It


    would mean she could care for Lysander.


    If not, looking after Lysander would be as challenging as scaling Mount Everest.


    Thssa''s hands, clenched involuntarily, anxiety bubbling within her.


    Seeing her fixated on the report and wearing a look of concern, Joshua chuckled, "Finally, | see you care about our connection."


    Her indifferent demeanor the day before had stung him a bit.


    Lifting her gaze, Thssa was in no mood for banter. "What does it say?" she demanded, all business.Copyright N?v/el/Dra/ma.Org.


    "Join me for a trip to Starhaven tomorrow. I''ll take you to the Sinir estate," Joshua didn¡¯t give a direct answer, leaving her with


    these words before turning to leave.


    Thssa watched his retreating figure, her heart a whirlwind of emotions.


    Was Joshua''s invitation to visit the Sinir estate a sign that he would fulfill her request?


    Could she truly be Joshua''s daughter?


    Though she hadn''t read the results, Joshua''s demeanor spoke volumes.


    The man was an enigma. If he had nned to fetch the results today, why hadn''t he simply told her yesterday? Why leave his


    phone number? It seemed redundant.


    Yet, all that mattered to Thssa was the chance to care for Lysander at the Sinir residence.


    The rest was secondary, and she had no interest in prying further.


    Thssa bought a new ouifit for herself. Her home had copsed, burying all her belongings under rubble.


    She had been wearing hospital gowns for days. Now, with the impending visit to the Sinir estate, she couldn''t afford to look


    casual and informal.


    She treated herself to several outfits and did the same for Astrid.

 Chapter 1390

    Chapter 1390


    Thssa felt the unweing hint in Zephyr''s gaze, as piercing as a hawk''s, and her heart sank, her eyes casting downward.


    She knew Zephyr had no affection for her, that his heart harbored a profound resentment towards her.


    Her presence now would surely have him cursing her a thousand times over in his mind.


    Yet, even at the risk of igniting Zephyr''s wrath, Thssa had toe. She couldn''t abandon Lysander.


    "Zephyr, let me introduce you," Joshua began, oblivious to Zephyr''s darkening countenance. "This is my newly acknowledged


    daughter, Thssaa. In time, | n to give her my family name, make her a Whitman."


    Joshua''s timely intervention eased Thssa''s difort. She quickly nced at him, finding a gaze filled with the warmth of old


    friendship towards Zephyr.


    The genial expression seemed to plead for peace, to be too kind to shatter.


    Especially by Zephyr. He hade out personally to greet Joshua.Belongs to ? n0velDrama.Org.


    The Sinir and the Whitman families had been friends for generations, and it would be a travesty to let an old friendship be


    spoiled over a mere woman.


    Zephyr''s hawk-like focus shifted from Thssa, and when he looked back at Joshua, his face wore a polite smile once again.


    "Joshua," he said in a tone that was both casual and pointed, "the world''s full of con artists these days. They don''t just steal


    hearts, they steal identities, too. Watch yourself."


    Zephyr wasn''t the least bit surprised at Joshua''s introduction of Thssa as his daughter. Instead, he calmly warned Joshua to


    beware of frauds.


    He didn''t believe for a second that Thssa was Joshua''s blood.


    This woman was cunning, a master of deception who had ensnared both Leopold and Lysander in her web.


    The Sinir family had given her an ultimatum: she was to have no contact with any of their kin anymore.


    Yet here she was worming her way to Joshua now! She truly was a menace.


    Zephyr''s sidelong nces towards Thssa were filled with hostility and revulsion.


    Hearing Zephyr''sments, Thssa''s hands clenched slightly. She could tell he was insinuating she was the fraud pretending


    to be Joshua''s daughter.


    Joshua chuckled lightly, addressing Zephyr, "You''re absolutely right, Zephyr. | dide across a con artist recently. A woman


    iming to be my daughter showed up with jade pearls. Luckily, I''m not so easily fooled by sweet talk."


    Thssa looked at Joshua in surprise.

 Chapter 1391

    Chapter 1391


    Joshua stepped out of the car first, but instead of heading straight for the Sinir family''s front door, he stood by the car door, his


    intentions clear as he waited for her to join him.


    He was there to shield her from Zephyr''s potential cold shoulder, to prevent the mortifying scenario of her being left out in the


    cold, both literally and figuratively.


    Walking side by side with Joshua, she felt somewhat protected. Even if Zephyr had any objections or intended to make things


    difficult for her, Joshua''s presence and timely introductions would be her social protector.


    With Joshua by her side, she could enter the Sinir family''s threshold with less embarrassment, smoothly and with some


    semnce of grace.


    Realizing Joshua''s thoughtful approach, Thssa couldn''t help but feel grateful.


    At the very least, he was genuinely trying to help her secure the opportunity to care for Lysander.


    His attention to detail was impressive.


    Joshua led the way, supporting Zephyr with one arm while turning back to remind Thssa not tog behind.


    As Thssa approached the entrance, the security didn''t stop her. Following in Joshua''s footsteps, she entered the grand hall of


    the Sinir''s estate.


    Joshua helped Zephyr settle into a couch and took a seat beside him.


    Meanwhile, Thssa stood awkwardly next to Joshua, tense and nervous as if the spacious living room had no ce for her.


    She could only stand by Joshua''s side, bing his shadow, invisible to the others.


    "Thssa, take a seat across from us," Joshua said with a friendly tone, noticing her attempt to shrink into the background.


    ¡°Let''s have a chat with Zephyr, share some stories about the family history."


    Hearing Joshua''s words, Thssa suddenly uneasy. She nced quickly at Zephyr and saw his face set in a grim displeasure,


    but he remained silent.


    She hesitated, unsure about sitting down.


    Joshua shot her a yful scolding nce and said, "Come on, silly girl, I''m talking to you. Take a seat."


    Though it sounded like a teasing, Joshua was actually offering her a way to avoid embarrassment.


    He was preventing her from appearing too humble in the Sinir family, ensuring she at least had the right to sit and converse.


    Thssa certainly understood Joshua''s intent.


    He had gone out of his way to make her feel included, and if she didn¡¯t cooperate now, it would be a disservice to his kindness.Belongs to ? n0velDrama.Org.

 Chapter 1392

    Chapter 1392


    Back when Evelyn was alive, Thssa had heard bits and pieces about a chance encounter Evelyn had with a stranger at a bar.


    Evelyn had glossed over the details, as if reluctant to dwell on the memory of that man.


    It was only now that Thssa learned the full story of how her mother met that man years ago.


    It turned out that it was her mother who had rescued Joshua from the clutches of a local tough.


    But why had her mother been so reticent about sharing the details?


    "Ah, it was a doomed affair," Joshua suddenly sighed with a tone tinged with regret.


    Zephyr''s voice wasced with a hint of sarcasm, "How many entanglements did you have in your youth, Joshua? You probably


    have so many kids out there you couldn''t track them all down if you tried."


    Thssa felt a pang in her heart at Zephyr''s words. She had been moved by Joshua''s recollections of meeting her mother, but


    Zephyr''sment soured the moment, filling her with a sense of bitterness as she looked at Joshua.


    Could it be that Joshua was a scoundrel like Bruce with a trail of women in his wake?


    She had always harbored a deep aversion to the word ¡®father¡¯, and the thought of Joshua being anything like Bruce was


    repulsive.


    "Zephyr, you''ve got me all wrong. In my younger days, the only women in my life were my wife and that one time at the bar with


    Thssa''s mother," Joshua rified, ensuring Thssa heard him as well.


    That night, it was Evelyn who had initiated their encounter, and Joshua had been drugged by some local thugs. Evelyn''s actions


    were an attempt to save him.


    ¡°How can you be so sure she''s your daughter?" Zephyr challenged, his voice sharp.


    Zephyr never had a high opinion of Thssa. To him, she was nothing more than a scheming, maniptive woman who wed


    her way up using underhanded tactics and yed people against each other - the very type he despised the most.


    And now, Thssa was about to leap to the status of Joshua''s daughter, a move that Zephyr couldn''t stomach.


    Thssa felt a vice grip around her heart. Zephyr''s attitude was as repelling and hostile as ever. Even without directly saying it,


    his disdain for her was palpable.


    Zephyr didn''t believe she was Joshua''s daughter.


    And Thssa was uncertain herself as well, which was why she felt so anxious.


    "People can lie, but medical results


    don''t," Joshua counter d. Hepatlet


    tthe paternity 2St From his pocket


    ahd showed it to Zephyr. Please read


    the original content at


    NovelDrama.Org.


    Pointing at the bold letters on the


    document, he said, '' ee gous


    percent probahijity ofa \s


    Nea See rtionship. It''s in


    ck and white. You can''t fake that."


    Please read the original content at


    NovelDrama.Org.


    Zephyr''s gaze followed Joshua''s pointing finger, and the words on the paper burned into his eyes like a searing me.


    Even if he didn''t want to believe that


    Thssa was Josh a''s\daugbter te


    stay tggthia floor him had left him


    no choice. Please read the original


    content at NovelDrama.Org.


    To Thssa''s surprise, Joshua had been carrying the paternity test results with him all along.


    Belongs to ? n0velDrama.Org.

 Chapter 1393

    Chapter 1393


    Could it be that he went yesterday to fetch the paternity test results on his own just to show them to Zephyr today, to quash his


    doubts?


    Joshua had brought her to meet Zephyr, seemingly more prepared than she could have ever been.


    ¡°Well, congrattions on finding your long-lost daughter," Zephyr said with an icy edge, his words clipped and harsh.


    Though he was speaking of congrattions to Joshua, there wasn''t a hint of warmth or genuine goodwill in his voice. His tone


    suggested sarcasm more than anything else.


    So what then if Joshua had proven Thssa was his daughter? She still had nothing to do with the Sinir family.


    Zephyr didn''t immediately toss Thssa out this time, and that was out of courtesy to Joshua. Had it not been for Joshua''s


    presence, he wouldn''t have allowed her to set foot within the Sinir family''s threshold.


    Joshua seemed so eager to share the joy of finding his daughter after all these years, but Zephyr couldn''t share in that joy or


    truly wish him well.


    The love of his life, Lysander, was now lying in a hospital bed and reduced to a vegetative state.


    The pain and hurt in his heart was something no one else could possibly understand!


    And to make matters worse, it was all because of Thssa! His disdain for her was boundless, hatred barely scratching the


    surface of his emotions.


    How could the fact that she was Joshua''s daughter sway his opinion of her?


    ¡°Zephyr, | know it''s tough with Lysander in such a state, but you''ve got to believe in miracles," Joshua said, gently patting


    Zephyr''s back, his voice soothing as he shifted the conversation to Lysander.


    At the mention of Lysander''s name, Thssa sat up straight, her nerves tensing as she watched Zephyr''s expression.


    Zephyr''s usually clouded eyes suddenly filled with sorrow at the mention, his voice bing heavy.


    The facade he''d been maintaining crumbled, his upright posture suddenly stooped, an air of age and world-weariness


    enveloping him in an instant.


    "You said it yourself, him waking up would be a miracle. But how many miracles are there in the world?" Zephyr said, his voice


    laden with grief, a sense of helplessness creeping in.


    Sybil was his beloved, and he was always spry and radiant in herpany. Since her passing, Zephyr had seemed to lose his


    spirit and zest for life.


    Then Leopold''s passing was another blow.


    And now, Lysander''s ident added more bitterness in his heart.


    One tragedy after another had nearly broken Zephyr.Copyright N?v/el/Dra/ma.Org.


    "Zephyr, back when | was a young


    man, you told me to never give up, to


    keep fighting until the very end no


    matter how hard things got," Joshua


    said, his voice heavy, wits, co


    rerpinigende. "You said even if it''s an


    enemy, we should set aside


    grievances for amon goal if they


    can help. Once the goal is achieved,


    then you can settle personal scores.


    You told me opportunity means


    racing against time, to put aside all


    grudges and pick the right allies. The


    one who wins that race against time


    is the ultimate winner." Please read


    the original content at


    NovelDrama.Org.


    Zephyr caught the hidden meaning in Joshua''s words. His eyes, deep with sorrow, now sharpened as he asked, "What are you


    trying to say?"


    "You just said miracles are rare in this world. They''re hard toe by, but they do happen. Thssa is one of those miracles,"


    Joshua said, steering the conversation back to his main point.


    All his preceding words had been leading up to this moment.


    Hearing Joshua finally get to the purpose of their visit, Thssa clenched her fists, her eyes locked on Zephyr, waiting for his


    reaction.


    Without a second thought, the mere


    mention of Thssa sparked


    rejection in Zephys Bob ever?


    ranttion hename! If you''vee


    here just to talk about her, then you


    might as well leave right now!" Please


    read the original content at


    NovelDrama.Org.


    Zephyr was agitated. He stood up as if to escort his guests out.


    His restraint thus far had been for the


    sake of maintaining the long ay¡éing


    friendshi between\tte Sinciair and


    Bro ties, It did not mean he


    could ept Thssa, not even for


    Joshua''s sake. Please read the


    original content at NovelDrama.Org.

 Chapter 1394

    Chapter 1394


    As Zephyr turned to leave, Thssa''s heart raced, a mix of panic and desperation seizing her. She started to rise, intent on


    pleading for him to stay, but Joshua beat her to it, standing with an air of resolve.


    With his eyes fixed on Zephyr''s retreating form, Joshua said, "Thssa gave birth to quadruplets for Lysander, a miracle in its


    own right. If she can perform miracles like that, | believe she can make another one happen by taking care of Lysander."


    His words were no longer veiled implications of Thssa''s intent but an explicit deration of why they hade to visit Zephyr


    together.


    Zephyr''s already fragile nerves jolted at the statement. He stopped in his tracks and spun around, his eyes clouded with anger.


    "Do you have any idea what she''s done before?" he spat at Joshua. "She once took a prop and smashed it over Lysander''s


    head. If it weren''t for someone stepping in to take the blow, Lysander would have been left in a vegetative state from that


    moment!"


    As Zephyr spoke, his breathing grew erratic, his fury mounting with every word.


    "You know what? When she failed that time, she used some trick to lure Lysander to Hollowbrook, and he ended up hit by a


    copsing wall, which left him in the state he''s in now! It¡¯s all her doing! And you''re telling me to let her take care of Lysander? It''s


    His voice broke into a fit of uncontroble coughing.


    like you''re sending him off on hisst journey!


    "Zephyr!" Joshua stepped forward, concern furrowed on his brow.


    But before Joshua could reach him, David rushed in from outside. He reached Zephyr first, gently patting his back in a calming


    gesture. "Zephyr, please calm down. I''ve looked into that prop incident at Lysander¡¯s request. From behind that screen, it¡¯s


    impossible to see anything clearly. Even if there was a hole in it, the angle from the rigging wouldn''t allow anyone to see through.


    The investigation already proved that it was an ident on Ms. Everhart¡¯s part, not intentional.¡±


    David had overheard Zephyr''s heated words as he entered the room and quickly stepped in to support him and to clear up the


    misunderstanding.


    Since returning from the hospital, Zephyr had been adamant with David ¡ª no contact with Thssa, no answering her calls. Any


    disobedience would be met with immediate dismissal.


    David wasn''t afraid of losing his job. He feared that if he were dismissed, he might lose any chance to visit Lysander in the


    hospital. After so many years of working with him, David knew Lysander''s gruff exterior masked a warm heart. He had learned a


    great deal from Lysander, enjoyed a generous sry, and had grown to view him not only as a boss but as a dear brother. His


    loyalty was unwavering.


    Even without a paycheck, David wanted to stay informed about Lysander''s condition. So, despite his own feelings, he obeyed


    Zephyr''s orders and cut off all contact with Thssa.


    He even ignored her attempts to


    reach out. It was all to ensure he


    could remain at the re ir ganp A


    t aheleompan y''s affairs and


    yeas


    asionally assist Zephyr with


    family matters. Though it kept him


    busy, at least he stayed in the loop


    regarding Lysander''s health. Please


    read the original content at


    NovelDrama.Org.


    Hearing David''s exnation, a wave


    of relief washed over Ths sgachier\


    est Igosened Stig tly, though


    hojecits still clenched at the sight of


    Zephyr. Please read the original


    content at NovelDrama.Org.


    She knew convincing Zephyr to let her care for Lysander was hard, but she was determined not to give up.Copyright N?v/el/Dra/ma.Org.


    Zephyr took a deep breath, trying to


    steady his ragged breathing. He


    weakly waved ay etl Sigrating


    sRarAnB ender needed his support,


    yet his breaths were still shallow and


    labored, a visible sign of his declining


    health. Please read the original


    content at NovelDrama.Org.

 Chapter 1395

    Chapter 1395


    "David, have you been hanging around Lysander so much that you''ve fallen under this woman''s spell too?" Zephyr''s voice held a


    note of disbelief as he turned his prating gaze towards his friend.


    "Zephyr, |..." David started, but Zephyr cut him off with a sharp gesture.


    "Save it, David. | don¡¯t want to hear it.¡±


    His eyes then shifted to Thssa with a look so fierce that it made her heart, already pounding with anxiety, skip a beat.


    "I''m beat. Show thedy out now," Zephyrmanded wearily, rising from his seat and making his way upstairs, his body


    language dismissive and fatigued.


    Thssa couldn''t bear the thought of missing her chance. With a burst of desperation, she followed him a few steps and called


    out, "Zephyr, please give me a chance to care for Lysander! I''ll tend to him with all my heart. | believe he will wake up one day.¡±


    Zephyr froze mid-step, his breathing grew heavier with anger. He turned, his hawkish gaze piercing Thssa once more, "If you


    really care about him, then stay away! He''ll wake up on his own without you hovering over him!"


    ¡°But the doctor said he only has a five percent chance of waking up! And I''ve done my research, the best way to bring someone


    out of aa is to constantly stimte them with the presence and voices of those they care about, which includes touch! No


    one knows his needs better than | do. | just want to repay him for saving my life. Please, let me do this, Zephyr!" Thssa


    pleaded with fervor, her eyes beseeching him.


    Her words might havee across as brazen or shameless, and while they could easily be misunderstood, Thssa was willing


    to face any misjudgment if it meant she could take care of Lysander.


    ¡°Have you no shame?" Zephyr''s index finger trembled as he pointed at her, incredulous at her audacity to suggest such intimate


    care.


    Joshua stood agape, equally shocked by Thssa¡¯s bold statement.Copyright N?v/el/Dra/ma.Org.


    David, however, wasn''t as surprised. He knew Thssa''s cunning and calcting side all too well. She may have seemed fragile


    and demure, but when push came to shove, even he found himself outmaneuvered by her.


    Just as Joshua was about to defend


    Thssa, a heavy thud feet ve ae


    through th opm Th ssa had


    Fobca iter knees before Zephyr,


    stunning everyone present. Please


    read the original content at


    NovelDrama.Org.


    Zephyr''s already formidable demeanor intensified with disdain.


    Joshua was caught off guard. He


    moved to help her up, utit wasyidd


    wi Thgsa Add thrown away all


    ? ene for her pride and knelt


    before Zephyr. Please read the


    original content at NovelDrama.Org.


    Even David was taken aback by this unexpected move.


    Thssa¡¯s clear eyes filled with a


    do-or-die resolve, and she implored,


    "I''m begging you, let me take cate Pi


    Lysander I deyensdhing in my


    FENEr olvcte myselfpletely. He


    risked his life to save me because he


    cares for me. Let someone he cares


    about be by his side. It could be the


    emotional tether he needs to pull him


    back to us." Please read the original


    content at NovelDrama.Org.

 Chapter 1396

    Chapter 1396


    Thssa spoke with a measured tone, her voice betraying a depth of emotion that belied her outward appearance of calm.


    Inside, her heart was a tempest of nerves, swirling with anxiety and fear.


    This was herst shot. If Zephyr remained unmoved, she was out of options.


    She knelt on the ground, her hands clenched at her sides in tight fists, waiting for Zephyr''s response.


    In those agonizing few seconds, her breathing grewbored, her heartbeat thunderous in her ears - the sound of her own


    trepidation loud and clear.


    Joshua watched Zephyr with an expectant gaze, rooting for him to agree from the bottom of his heart. For Thssa''s eptance


    of Joshua as her father hinged on this one condition.


    If Zephyr refused, Joshua would have failed to fulfill his promise to Thssa. Any hope of bridging the gap in their strained


    rtionship would be much more difficult.


    "Zephyr," David interjected softly, his eyes downcast as he too made a case for Thssa, "Mr. Sinir''s greatest concerns have


    always been for Ms. Everhart and their kids. If she were to care for him, it might just add his chances of waking up."


    David had been a witness to the tumultuous saga between Lysander and Thssa. No one could stir Mr. Sinir''s emotions


    quite like Thssa could.


    For a man in aa to have any hope of awakening, he needed something from the outside world to spark his emotions. If


    nothing could rouse him, how could he ever regain consciousness?


    Zephyr''s grip tightened on the stair rail, his aged hand''s knuckles white with tension, his breath uneven. His eyes, clouded with


    complex emotions, flickered with sorrow and anger, indecision gripping him.


    Even if he couldn''t bear Thssa, he had to face a harsh truth - Lysander had always had a soft spot for this woman.


    Lysander showed interest in Thssa that he never showed for any other woman. He was indifferent to others, but Thssa was


    the exception. Only she could stir Lysander''s emotions, provoke him, and potentially draw him back to consciousness.


    But Zephyr''s resistance to Thssa was still potent and profound. He had managed to drive her away from Lysander once


    before. Was he really going to allow her back and to wreak havoc once more?


    Yet, without her emotional stimulus, what if Lysander never woke up? What if he remained a vegetable for life?


    Lysander was his pride, the pir of the Sinir family. If he became a shell of a man, what would be of the Sinirs''


    future?


    It was a dilemma that tormented Zephyr - whichever decision he made, the agony was his alone.


    Sweat beaded on his forehead as he wrestled with the decision, his body taut with the weight of it.


    And Thssa was also fraught with tension, her heart twisted like a braid, so tight she could barely breathe.


    In the silence that hung heavy over


    the room, Zephyr''s voic finatiy bloke


    thro oh pgsd yecrsbtuie, "You can


    care for him, but you''ll be under


    surveince 24/7!" Please read the


    original content at NovelDrama.Org.This text is ? N?velDrama/.Org.


    Finally, Zephyr had relented.


    Joshua''s words had struck a chord


    with Zephyr''s own principles -


    faced with a couristdoal, h¨¦ could


    sk? Git osteerel vendettas to work


    together with an adversary. Please


    read the original content at


    NovelDrama.Org.


    Once the goal was achieved, then he could settle personal scores.


    Zephyr couldn''t stand the thought of


    Lysander sleeping his life away. With


    someone like Thal gaeho edule |


    | giv g him a chance to


    awaken, Zephyr was willing to take


    that chance. He couldn''t let this


    opportunity slip away. Please read


    the original content at


    NovelDrama.Org.

 Chapter 1397

    Chapter 1397


    Even if Zephyr loathed Thssa, it was out of the question to gamble with Lysander''s well-being.


    Yet Zephyr couldn''t shake his mistrust of Thssa. To ensure Lysander''s safety, he feltpelled to have someone keep eyes


    on Thssa around the clock.


    ¡°Alright, | agree!" Thssa replied promptly upon hearing Zephyr''s terms.


    With a heavy heart, Zephyr turned and began his ascent up the staircase. Each step seemed more burdensome than thest,


    his weary frame struggling against the gravity of his situation.


    His body was worn and weak, but he mustered all the strength he could not to copse.


    Lysander was in dire need of him now, and if he faltered, it would be as if he were abandoning his boy to fate.


    So, no matter how exhausted or feeble he felt, Zephyr couldn''t let himself fall.


    Watching Zephyr climb the stairs, Thssa''s previously tightened heart began to unwind, and her tense body suddenly went


    limp, copsing into a more rxed state.


    Witnessing her relief, Joshua rushed to her aid. "Thssa, get up. Zephyr has given his word!" he eximed, his usually


    composed demeanor giving way to excitement.


    Joshua, who had always been the epitome of elegance, having seen much of the world, was visibly moved. He had tensed up


    seeing Thssa kneel, fearing Zephyr would be a tough nut to crack, but thankfully Zephyr had consented in the end.


    Perhaps it was because Zephyr loved Lysander so deeply that he would not let slip even the slightest chance that might awaken


    his grandson.Copyright N?v/el/Dra/ma.Org.


    With Joshua''s support, Thssa stood up with shaky legs. She wobbled a bit when putting weight on her feet, prompting Joshua


    to steady her quickly.


    Once Thssa was stable, she turned her gaze toward the person aiding her, ready to say thanks, but when she realized it was


    Joshua, and that a man she hardly knew was this close to her, a wave of difort and alienation washed over her.


    She withdrew her hand quickly, stepping back to keep some distance, and said with a strained and distant look, "Thank you."


    Joshua felt a moment''s embarrassment at her withdrawal but quickly reassured himself.


    It was all right. Thssa had only recently acknowledged him as her father. It was natural for her to be reserved and maintain a


    polite distance. With time, he believed they would grow closer.


    ¡°Let''s go to the hospital together to see Lysander," Joshua suggested.


    "I''ll take you," offered David.


    Now that Zephyr had agreed to let Thssa care for Lysander, taking them to see him shouldn''t be seen as defiance, David


    thought.


    "Thank you, David." Thssa replied eagerly upon hearing she could see Lysander.


    It had been five days since the incident, five days since she hadst seen Lysander.


    When Lysander was untouchable and


    controlling, she wis qdishe @)


    id hinder dy, perhaps forever.


    Please read the original content at


    NovelDrama.Org.


    But now, with Lysander''s life hanging


    in the bnce and confined to a mM


    hospital bed, the merefite-y


    aDBErBE VE like centuries to


    Thssa. She was desperate to see


    him and to be at his side. Please read


    the original content at


    NovelDrama.Org.


    David drove Thssa and Joshua to the hospital, which was the best in Starhaven.


    Lysander was staying in a deluxe suite, and David led Thssa and Joshua there.


    Upon learning which room Lysander


    was in, Thssa wee Con


    Ss stopAga Bn ame¡± s. Everhart,


    please wait. You can''t just barge in


    there." Please read the original


    content at NovelDrama.Org.


    Thssa''s heart sank, riddled with confusion. "Why?"


    Had Zephyr changed his mind, deciding not to let her care for Lysander after all?

 Chapter 1398

    Chapter 1398


    Thssa was practically bouncing on her toes with anticipation to see Lysander. However, as she approached the door, David


    blocked her path. It inadvertently set off a whirlwind of worry in her mind that Zephyr had once again changed his mind about


    allowing her to tend to Lysander.


    The roller coaster of emotions from excitement to disappointment left her feeling uneasy and anxious.


    Seeing Thssa¡¯s nervousness, David quickly rified, ¡°This is a sterile ward. You need to wear a sterile gown before entering


    to keep from bringing in any germs from outside.¡±


    Upon hearing this, Thssa realized her carelessness and nodded hastily, saying, ¡°Of course, I''ll get changed into a sterile gown


    right away.¡±


    With that, she hurried to the medical office beside Lysander''s room.


    Her eagerness to see Lysander had made her forget the crucial details. He was still in a critical condition, and his wounds hadn''t


    fully healed. This was the most crucial time for his recovery.


    Any infection could be catastrophic.


    She chastised herself for her earlier recklessness, grateful that David had intercepted her in time.


    After Thssa, David and Joshua dressed in sterile gowns and donned hats and masks, they entered Lysander''s room.


    Two burly guards in ck suits stood at the door. If it were anyone elseing to visit Lysander, they wouldn''t let them through


    without a fight.


    But they didn¡¯t stop Thssa and herpany, knowing David was leading the way. Zephyr had authorized David to visit


    Lysander freely.


    Inside the room, two doctors and several nurses were attending to Lysander, with the nurses responsible for changing his IV


    fluids and handling his day-to-day care.


    The doctors remained on standby in case of any emergencies, ready to make swift decisions and provide immediate treatment to


    avoid any dy in critical care.


    Zephyr¡¯s protective measures for Lysander were incredibly thorough andprehensive.


    Initially seated by Lysander''s bedside, the doctors stood up as David led the group in, eager to report on Lysander''s condition for


    the day.


    ¡°The patient has received his nutrition and anti-inmmatory injections. His condition is stable, much the same as yesterday,¡±


    one of the doctors informed them.Belongs to ? n0velDrama.Org.


    ¡°When can we expect his wounds to heal?¡± Thssa asked, her voice heavy with concern. The air in the room felt dense and


    suffocating as her heart clenched with worry.


    She knew that Lysander''s head injury was the reason he hadn¡¯t woken up yet, his condition bordering that of aa.


    It was an internal injury, and as a witness to the ident, Thssa was painfully aware of the numerous physical injuries


    Lysander had sustained.


    Each external wound was a reminder of the blood that had seeped from his flesh, and just the thought of Lysander''s injured state


    made her heart tighten and ache.


    ¡°The external injuries should heal within a month, but the nerve damage to his brain is moreplicated. Nerve repair is quite


    difficult,¡± the doctor spoke frankly to Thssa.

 Chapter 1399

    Chapter 1399


    David stillmanded respect within his circle.


    On the bedy Lysander quietly, the man Thssa hadn¡¯t seen for days.


    Five days apart felt like an eternity to her.


    As she approached, Lysander¡¯s figure became clearer.


    Hey on the hospital bed, dressed in the gown typical of the hospital, a light nket draped over him.


    Near the bed, a heart monitor beeped steadily, its lines dancing with life, a testament that he was still with them.


    His head was wrapped in white bandages, stained with the brown of antiseptic, indicating the extent of his head injury.


    The once icy and imposing man nowy still, his sharp features softened, so quiet it squeezed everyone''s heart.


    His thick eyebrows, always bristling with intensity, were now rxed. His eyes closed, the longshes casting shadows on his


    cheeks, hiding his usually piercing gaze.


    His handsome nose still stood proud, but without its usual edge, and his lips were pale¡ªnotmanding and fiery as they used


    to be.


    The once domineering and aloof man now seemed so fragile, as if he could slip away at any moment.


    Seeing Lysander in such a state, a pang of sorrow struck Thssa, her eyes burning with tears as her breath trembled,


    ¡°Lysander, I¡¯m so sorry.¡±


    Her voice shook, even as she tried to control her emotions, the sobs spilled out.Copyright N?v/el/Dra/ma.Org.


    Other than an apology, nothing else seemed adequate to express her remorse.


    It was to save her that Lysander had ended up like this.


    In a way, Zephyr was right¡ªit was her presence that had brought him to this state.


    If Lysander hadn¡¯t met her, he would be thriving, still dominating the business world as a tycoon beyond reach.


    He wouldn¡¯t know about the existence of his four children. He would have followed Zephyr¡¯s ns, married Charlotte Ravensong


    and lived a happy family life. He would grow old surrounded by his children and grandchildren peacefully.


    Rather than lying here, uncertain if he would even see old age.

 Chapter 1400

    Chapter 1400


    Her gaze lingered on Joshua''s face for a second before shifting to David, silently seeking his consent.


    David was the representative of Zephyr, and if she wanted some alone time with Lysander, it was imperative to have David''s


    permission.


    When Thssa met his eyes, David''s brow furrowed slightly. Zephyr had spoken that they would agree to Thssa taking care


    of Lysander only if she was under surveince 24/7.


    It was risky for her to be alone with Lysander now, especially in his hospital ward. After all, Lysander was at his most vulnerable


    period of recovery. A minor mishap could be fatal.


    Thssa noticed David''s hesitation and realized she was asking too much. With a hint of regret, she said, "Never mind, it was


    too much to ask for. I''m sorry."


    Her apology stemmed from an awareness that her request had put David in a tough spot.


    "Mr. Sinir''s external injuries haven''t healed yet, and | need to stay close by, just in case we need to call a doctor immediately,¡±


    David exined why they couldn''t leave.


    Thssa nodded in understanding. "I get it, | wasn''t thinking it through, my apologies. I''ll just... keep himpany for a little


    longer."


    Her gaze drifted back to Lysander. He had remained motionless, not even a twitch of his fingers. Their conversation seemed not


    to impact him at all.


    Normally, his eyes would''ve snapped open by now. As a former soldier, years of training had sharpened his senses to wake at


    the slightest disturbance, even in sleep.


    But now, he seemed untethered from the world around him.


    Watching Lysander''s serene face, Thssa¡¯s heart grew heavier.


    After ten minutes in the hospital ward, Thssa requested to see Dr. Everest, and David escorted her to his office.


    With earnest sincerity, Thssa inquired about Lysander''s condition from Dr. Everest.This text is ? N?velDrama/.Org.


    Joshua was right. The only way to help Lysander was to quickly devise a care n and take effective actions. Mere sadness


    wouldn''t help.


    Dr. Everest exined, "Lysander is in excellent physical shape, so the external wounds are not an issue. They will heal with time.


    The head injury, however, is severe. Not only is there nerve damage, but there are also clots in his brain. Some people can


    absorb these clots on their own while others can''t."


    "What can be done to help him absorb the clots?" Thssa asked.


    ¡°After his external wounds have healed, you can apply warmpresses to his head daily to promote blood cirction, which


    might help the clots dissipate. As for the nerve damage, continuous stimtion through speech or physical movement is


    necessary. If a miracle urs and he responds to the stimtion, it means his nerves are reacting, and he''s close to waking up."


    Dr. Everest detailed Lysander''s current state to Thssa.


    Understanding what needed to be


    done, Thssa wiped t e teargaWay


    i) Bete indearidoe Everest, "l


    see. Thank you, Dr. Everest." Please


    read the original content at


    NovelDrama.Org.


    A monthter, Lysander was


    discharged. His inlyries\agd, Oat


    hegled, andthe b ndages on his


    head were removed. Please read the


    original content at NovelDrama.Org.


    Back at Royal Estates, Thssa took care of him with the help of the household staff.


    The estate was surrounded by


    bodyguards around the clock, an


    imprable f reepgscolSeckrrhy


    arangediby''Zephyr. This was partly


    to prevent any external threat and


    partly to keep an eye on Thssa.


    Please read the original content at


    NovelDrama.Org.


    In the past, being under such close watch would have made Thssa feel uneasy and suffocated.


    But now, she hardly had the luxury to worry about her own circumstances.

 Chapter 1401

    Chapter 1401


    All of Thssa''s attention was fixated on Lysander.


    Every morning, she would prepare a nutritious breakfast, patiently spoon-feeding Lysander who was unconscious and unable to


    swallow on his own.


    Mimicking the way Lysander used to coax her into eating porridge, Thssa would take a mouthful herself and then seal her lips


    to his, transferring the food from her mouth to his.


    When he wouldn''t swallow, she''d gently push the food to the back of his throat and follow it with a sip of water, allowing the liquid


    to help the food slide down into his stomach.


    The only downside to this method was its slowness.


    Asingle meal could take over an hour, but Thssa remained patient, feeding him bite by bite.Content is property of N?velDrama.Org.


    Lysander needed to eat well to maintain his strength, to fend off illness, and to have the possibility of waking up sooner.


    At night, it was Thssa''s responsibility to bathe him.


    Stripping off his clothes, she''d catch sight of the plethora of scars marring his body, and her breath would catch, her heart


    squeezing in pain.


    These marks were all for her, remnants of his heroism.


    Holding back tears, she''d carefully wipe his body down with a warm towel. Once, his physique might have made her blush, but


    now, all she felt was only endless ache.


    She cleaned him with delicate care, avoiding the still-healing wounds, afraid of causing him any pain. She treated him with the


    tenderness one might afford a priceless work of art.


    As she bathed him, she''d talk to him, "Lysander, I''m sorry. I''ll never say we''re through again, that we owe each other nothing.


    Just wake up, and I''ll agree to anything. You want to go to the city hall and make it official? My answer will be yes."


    Time flew, and a year passed.


    Lysander''s external scars had healed so well they were barely visible. He was kept clean and tidy, but he still remained in a deep


    slumber, unresponsive to the world around him.


    Day in and day out, Thssa would wash him, speak to him in a soft voice, "Lysander, I''m sorry. It''s my fault you''re trapped in


    this sleep. I''ve apologized a thousand times over this past year. When will you forgive me? Please wake up."


    But Lysander''s eyes remained shut, offering no response.


    Tears fell from Thssa''s eyes.


    Time raced on, another year passed.


    Lysander still did not wake.


    With a bittersweet smile at the corner


    of her lips, Thssa would shave


    him. "Dr. Everest suggested thesen


    small ai aleeied nerves


    on.


    intd\aet That the pain might wake


    you. But | can''t bear to hurt you.


    You''ve been asleep for two years,


    Lysander. Why won''t you show me


    any sign? Is it because you can''t


    forgive me yet?" Please read the


    original content at NovelDrama.Org.


    The electric razor buzzed softly in her hand as she gently pushed it across Lysander''s stubble.


    As always, she talked to him, but the only reply was the steady hum of the razor.


    Another year slipped by, and


    Lysander had been i alegme for"


    torre yearscall his vital signs were


    normal. Please read the original


    content at NovelDrama.Org.


    Thssa kept him immactely


    clean, lying in bed, ashandedrne


    ey, tu€only perpetually asleep.


    Please read the original content at


    NovelDrama.Org.


    The atmosphere at Royal Estates had been somber for three years.

 Chapter 1402

    Chapter 1402


    "Thssa, | heard that Dr. Funke is hosting a seminar at the Starhaven International Hotel this afternoon. Let''s camp out at the


    conference room doors. We''re bound to catch him there," Hertha Kensington said as she packed her bag and phoned Thssa.


    She was in a rush, needing to corner Dr. Funke for Thssa.


    Dr. Funke was a renown figure in integrative medicine, known for his elusive nature. Unless he disclosed his whereabouts


    himself, he was nowhere to find.


    He''d dropped off the radar for three years, with no one knowing his location. However, whispers of his presence spread in the


    city recently.


    Hertha had gotten wind of this through Spencer.


    Rumor had it Dr. Funke had a knack for revivinga patients,bining traditional acupuncture with modern pharmacology to


    work miracles.


    Given Dr. Funke''s esteemed reputation, Hertha had urged Thssa to seek him out for Lysander''s treatment.


    But geniusese with their quirks, and getting Dr. Funke tomit was another story.


    Whether they could persuade the doctor was up to Thssa.


    ¡°Alright, I''m on my way. Let''s meet at the Starhaven International Hotel," Thssa replied, her Bluetooth headset in ce as she


    drove and talked to Hertha.


    "Take it easy on the road. Lysander''s counting on you. We can''t have anything happen to you," Hertha cautioned.


    "| know." Thssa said, ending the call with a tap on her headset.


    Twenty minutester, Thssa and Hertha met at the entrance of the Starhaven International Hotel.


    Hertha had slimmed down over the past three years, yet she was more stunning than ever. Her hair, now in waves, shone with a


    seaweed blue hue. Her outfit was a white, figure-hugging tee paired with a chic pencil skirt, the epitome of style and beauty.


    She had shed her youthful chubbiness, emerging with a refined femininity.


    "You''ve upped your game since bing a mom," Thssa teased, appraising her friend''s look. "Motherhood really does bring


    out the vanity in a woman."


    "Shh, keep it down, that''s our little secret," Hertha whispered, pulling Thssa close and gesturing for silence, her eyes darting


    around to ensure no one overheard their conversation.


    "Don''t you know my situation? It''s one thing to whisper sweet nothings in private, but out here? Walls have ears," Hertha said in


    a hushed tone, relieved to find no others around.


    Thssa chuckled at her friend''s cautiousness, "Got it. Let''s get moving, Dr. Funke''s seminar is about to end now."


    Taking Hertha by the hand, Thssa led the way to the elevator.


    The conference was on the twentieth floor.


    As the elevator doors slid open at


    their destination, Thssa and


    Hertha step afere aeona


    &hingithle nference room. A sea of


    professionals in tailored suits, oozing


    with schrly charm, headed their


    way. Please read the original content


    at NovelDrama.Org.


    The seminar had concluded!


    Thssa quickly guided Hertha out of the elevator, searching for Dr. Funke.


    But each face was unfamiliar, not a single one known to them!


    Hertha tugged at Thssa''s hand


    and whispered, ¡®Ive neves see Dr! |


    . pou have a photo of


    him?" Please read the original


    content at NovelDrama.Org.This text is ? N?velDrama/.Org.


    Thssa gasped, "You were in


    charge of the resear 08 DicKURe |


    digp tgerirtiol ee How would | have


    his photo?" Please read the original


    content at NovelDrama.Org.


    With a pang of panic, Herthamented, "Oh no, | forgot to check his picture."

 Chapter 1403

    Chapter 1403


    Thssa stood in the bustling lobby of the Starhaven International Hotel, feeling a tidal wave of embarrassment crashing over


    her. She and Hertha had bolted across town to confront Dr. Funke, yet neither of them could pick the man out of a lineup.


    Just as Thssa was about to chalk this up as a lost cause, Hertha ¡ª with herrger-than-life personality and a knack for bold


    moves ¡ª leaned in and whispered, "Don¡¯t be disappointed. Watch this."


    Before Thssa could even wonder what Hertha had up her sleeve, Hertha cleared her throat and called out with the confidence


    of a rockstar, "Dr. Funke, I''ve admired you for years. I''d love to finally meet you in person, please give me this chance!"


    Thssa''s jaw dropped.


    The entire room seemed to freeze, every pair of eyes suddenly fixed on them. Thssa¡¯s heart raced, and she reached out to


    silence Hertha, but it was toote.


    Feeling the weight of the stares from a group of distinguished elder doctors who had been heading towards the elevator,


    Thssa forced a smile and chuckled awkwardly. "Sorry, sorry..."


    Hertha, oblivious to the social faux pas she had justmitted, continued unabashedly, "| admire Dr. Funke for his exceptional


    talent, hismanding presence, and his... his dashing looks!"


    Her tribute was cut short by a rich, heartyugh from behind them.


    "That''s the first time I''ve received such ttering public praise," said a voice filled with mirth.


    Both Thssa and Hertha turned to see a gentleman approaching. He was around five feet five, with salt-and-pepper hair and a


    bit of a paunch. While others sported sharp suits, he wore a simple navy tunic that hinted at ssical charm ¡ª a stark contrast to


    the rest of the crowd.


    Beside him stood a tall, rakishly handsome man with an air of roguish charm.


    It was ric Falconer!


    At the sight of ric, Hertha''s usually unshakeable confidence wavered, her gaze darting away as she instinctively shuffled


    behind Thssa for cover.


    Dr. Funke, now standing before them, regarded Hertha with a twinkle in his eye. "Singing my praises behind my back, and now


    shy when | show up? How curious."


    Hertha tugged at Thssa''s sleeve, silently pleading for her to take over.


    Having sessfully lured Dr. Funke into the open with her unconventional strategy, it was now Thssa¡¯s turn to shine.


    It wasn''t Dr. Funke she was avoiding ¡ª it was the man by his side, ric!


    What were the odds of running into him here?


    "Dr. Funke, | hold you in high esteem


    as well," Thssa quickly interjected,


    "for your medical e extise thao l''


    pyre atithra admiration.


    ere''s a patient I''d like you to have a


    look at. May we have a moment of


    your time to discuss this privately?"


    Please read the original content at


    NovelDrama.Org.


    Her plea was as much an attempt to rescue Hertha from the awkward situation as it was an acknowledgment of Dr. Funke''s


    skills.


    Dr. Funke''s gaze shifted to Thssa,


    sizing her up before speakin ian)


    tone that was beth tidnd gentle,


    YON ALLE ¡®ve done your homework


    beforeing. Come back when


    you''re ready." Please read the original


    content at NovelDrama.Org.


    With that, he made his way to the elevator, effectively dismissing Thssa''s request before it even took off.


    Desperate, Thssa moved to follow,


    but ric was already at Dr. Funke''s


    side, proposing, "Dr. poe linsry\


    pperie thaGastits of the


    cofnterence. On behalf of the Falconer


    Group, I''d like to extend a formal offer


    of coboration. Let''s find a quiet


    ce to talk, shall we?" Please read


    the original content at


    NovelDrama.Org.


    Content is property of N?velDrama.Org.

 Chapter 1404

    Chapter 1404


    "Mr. Falconer, I''ve still got something to do today. Let''s catch up another time," Dr. Funke paused, shing a polite smile at ric


    before stepping into the elevator.


    ric lingered at the elevator entrance, not joining him inside. The roguish grin that usually yed on his face was reced by a


    more formal expression. "Alright, I''ll contact you another day. Have a good day."


    No sooner had he finished speaking than the elevator doors slid shut.


    ¡°Hey, Dr. Funke..." Hertha stepped forward, about to say something when the doors closed.


    Watching the elevator descend, Hertha pushed ric''s arm irritably, "What are you ying at? You knew we were here to see


    Dr. Funke, and you just let him leave!"


    ric''s arm swayed to the side with her push. Turning his mischievous eyes to her, the familiar yful spark was still there.


    ¡°Hertha, three years have passed and you''re still as brash as ever!"Content is property of N?velDrama.Org.


    "Who''s brash? ric, you think you can lecture me?" Hertha red at him sideways, clearly annoyed.


    "You guys catch up, I''ll head down," interjected Thssa, noticing Hertha and ric¡¯s reunion tinged with unspoken feelings. The


    way they looked at each other spoke volumes of their longing despite the bickering that ensued.


    Deciding to leave them alone, Thssa didn''t want to y third wheel any longer.


    Just as she finished speaking, another elevator arrived. She stepped in and closed the door behind her.


    ric nced briefly at the elevator before turning back to Hertha with a sly squint, "The first time you saw me, you asked for my


    contact information, trying to reel me in. Now, you¡¯re throwing yourself at a doctor old enough to be your dad without even


    meeting him? Hertha, has three years without me left you that thirsty?"


    Confronted with his usual cavalier remarks, Hertha scoffed as if unbothered, "Back then, | was drawn in by your looks, but turned


    off by your character. Now, I''m attracted to Dr. Funke''s character. As for looks, | can get past that, can''t I?"


    Her words were deliberate, aimed at riling ric, pretending she had lost all interest in him.


    But only her heart knew the truth: the moment she saw him, the feelings she''d suppressed for years reignited, her heart


    pounding with renewed fervor.


    Yet things were different now. She couldn''t be as impulsive as before, chasing after someone on a whim.


    Three years had matured Hertha.


    The older one gets, the better they can control their impulses. They will think twice before acting, instead of just following their


    immediate desires.


    "What did you say? You really fell for Dr. Funke?" ric was provoked by Hertha''s words, his lean frame closing in on her.


    "You must have had your eye on


    plenty of guys these past three mM


    years!" ric wag sers£¤Eon¨¦-son of


    the Falddrl¨¦? family, who exuded an


    aristocratic aura, his presence


    naturallymanding and


    intimidating. Please read the original


    content at NovelDrama.Org.


    The moment he got angry, that aura of him seemed to intensify.


    As he approached, Hertha felt the wave of his imposing presence, stepping back until her heels hit the wall.


    ric braced his hand against the


    wall, encircling Hertha etweer the |


    I and pigbddy1ooking down at


    het with a mix of panic and defiance.


    Please read the original content at


    NovelDrama.Org.


    Hertha had slimmed downpared


    wens years age faigiete


    3 morg deliodte, some curves


    Ss ed to have filled out a bit more.


    Please read the original content at


    NovelDrama.Org.

 Chapter 1405

    Chapter 1405


    Hertha was more feminine than before.This text is ? N?velDrama/.Org.


    Three years had passed, yet they hadn''t left a single mark on her. Instead, they seemed to have sculpted a richer, more


    voluptuous aura around her.


    The color of deep ocean blue of her hair, cascaded down her shoulders, was as breathtaking as a mermaid''s.


    Her big, round eyes darted about nervously, her longshes veiling her lids in a panicked flutter, like a rabbit caught in a snare.


    ric thought back to that night three years ago, how fiery she had seemed. But in truth, she was as fierce as a paper tiger¡ª


    crumbling into vulnerability at the first true test.


    Up close, her faint scent ofvender teased ric¡¯s senses, bringing back the memory of that night.


    Clumsy, yet tender.


    His voice tightened in his throat,ing out low and husky. "Hertha, answer me!"


    ric''s gravelly tone was like electricity to Hertha''s ears. Despite her outward resistance to him, her body melted at his words.


    Panic-stricken, she gazed into his handsome, serious eyes¡ªthose eyes that now bore into her with a mix of desire and severity,


    a captivating blend that was impossible to ignore.


    As he stood close, his masculine presence enveloped her, and she could distinctly smell the light mint and tobo on him.


    Her heart raced uncontrobly.


    Hertha felt her strength waning, her hands braced against the wall behind her for support, to keep herself upright.


    Under ric''s intense gaze, she was about to exin that she had onlye to confront Dr. Funke with Thssa, hoping he


    would treat Lysander. They hadn''t done their research on what Dr. Funke looked like, so her strategy was to force him to reveal


    himself.


    She hadn''t seduced any man in the past three years.


    "| was just..." Hertha began.


    But a sickeningly sweet voice cut her off.


    ¡°ric, here you are. You promised we''d leave together after the meeting. Why didn''t you wait for me..."


    The voice was deliberately coquettish, sending shivers down Hertha¡¯s spine.


    Hertha stopped mid-sentence,


    peering through the gap in ric¡¯


    arms towards ene


    vomne an gatht soaks dripping in


    jewels, made her way towards them


    on high heels, her tiny waist swaying.


    Please read the original content at


    NovelDrama.Org.


    It was Georgia Reed!


    Seeing Georgia brought back the memory of finding her in bed with ric three years ago.


    It was like a needle to her brain, a


    surge of revulsion rising within


    Hertha. Pushing Al Fieawayonel \\


    erect fMaw!tHany men | see is


    none of your damn business! Go y


    house with your fianc¨¦e and stop


    poking your nose into my affairs!"


    Please read the original content at


    NovelDrama.Org.


    ric stumbled back from her shove, his irritation ring. She was just as fierce as ever.


    Before he could retort, Georgia


    stepped forward, ee to isan


    with a hostile ile ra\ aunt''s always


    aan You have no shame,


    always luring other women''s men!"


    Please read the original content at


    NovelDrama.Org.


    Hertha bristled with anger at Georgia''s words. She didn''t need a lecture from her of all people.

 Chapter 1406

    Chapter 1406


    Hertha''s round, doe-like eyes fixed on Georgia with a fiery re, irritation ready to spill from her lips in a heated tirade.


    But suddenly, ric extricated his arm from Georgia''s grasp, casting her an annoyed nce. "Georgia, cussing someone out as


    soon as you see them, is that what you''d call cultured? Don''t make me think you haven''t even finished elementary school!"


    Atric''s words, the anger boiling inside Hertha simmered down to a mere half of its fury.


    What was going on?


    Was ric actually standing up for her?


    Wasn''t Georgia his fianc¨¦e?


    Three years prior, ric and Georgia''s engagement party had set the town of Starhaven abuzz, with every major media outlet


    moring to cover the event. The ceremony was bothvish and grand, and itsted two days¡ªmuch more extravagant than


    most engagement parties.


    Hertha wanted nothing to do with news about ric, wishing to remain ignorant of his engagement to Georgia.


    But television, social media, news alerts¡ªeverywhere she turned, the splendor of ric and Georgia''s engagement was


    broadcasted.


    Even if there was a shred of longing left in Hertha for ric, it was thoroughly extinguished by the grandeur of that engagement


    party.


    Three years after their engagement, Hertha didn''t know why ric and Georgia hadn''t wed, but she was certain they had been


    intimate.


    She didn''t know how many times, but she was crystal clear about one instance¡ªthey had truly slept together.


    If once they''d shared a bed, then surely there must have been more after their engagement.


    Now, ric was not siding with his own fianc¨¦e but defending her, an outsider.


    This took Hertha by surprise.


    The harsh words she had prepared for Georgia were swallowed back.


    Georgia''s arm, once entwined with ric''s, was released into the air, and her heart followed suit.


    Hearing ric''s reproach, she pouted in hurt, "She was the one being rude to you. | was just sticking up for you, ric. How can


    you me me?"Belongs to ? n0velDrama.Org.


    "She''s right. We should both mind our own business!" ric retorted, his gaze at Georgiaced with disdain.


    From the moment his mother had tried to set him up with Georgia, ric had never taken a liking to her.


    Three years ago, ending up in bed with Georgia was the result of his drunkenness¡ªhe had dreamed she was Hertha, only to


    wake up and find Georgia beside him.


    It was a mistake that gnawed at him.


    "ric! I''m your fianc¨¦e. It''s my right


    to care about you. What do you mean


    ¡®minding my own business 2CE90U


    kegp thisiup) rit }Gve a word with my


    parents and pull their investment


    from the Falconer Group. Let''s see


    how you fare as Vice President then!"


    Please read the original content at


    NovelDrama.Org.


    Georgia''s chest heaved with anger as she spoke, her words a tant threat.


    She had been patient with ric up


    to a point, cooing and cuddli


    now, utterly digregadded and even


    tae ecause of another woman,


    her highborn temper red


    uncontrobly. Please read the


    original content at NovelDrama.Org.


    Georgia was no pushover. Raised in thep of luxury, she was the precious darling of her household, coddled and adored.


    She got everything she wanted. No one dared to scorn or reprimand her. Who was ric to reproach her over another woman?


    The one thing Georgia loathed the most was swallowing her pride.


    Upon hearing her ultimatum, ric''s


    agitation showed as he yanked at his


    tie, his expression cake


    Pointin Aheglevat¨¦r, Re :


    chalk ed Georgia, "Go on then, tell


    your parents. Have them pull the plug


    on their investment. Tell them they


    needn''t prop up me, the


    good-for-nothing. Go ahead, now!"


    Please read the original content at


    NovelDrama.Org.

 Chapter 1407

    Chapter 1407


    ric''s face was a portrait of barely-contained fury.


    Georgia could tell he was truly pissed, her heart skipping a beat as her usual haughty attitude took a nosedive. In a meek voice,


    she said, "ric, I... | didn''t mean what | said just now."


    "Just go!" ric ground out between clenched teeth, a low growl in his voice. The eyes that usually sparkled with charisma now


    zed with a quiet rage, forbidding Georgia toe any closer.


    Georgia froze, startled by the anger in his voice.


    ric continued, his voice rising, "And | meant every word | said. You go tell your parents right now. Go on, hurry up!"


    Thest words came out in a roar.


    He had been living this repressed, suffocating life for three years. He couldn''t take it anymore.


    Tears started to well in Georgia''s eyes from fear and pride alike. She was too proud and too stubborn to simply give in to ric.Belongs to ? n0velDrama.Org.


    With a mix of hurt and anger, she nced at ric with mournful eyes and then shot a furious look at Hertha before she spun on


    her heel, hit the elevator button and stepped inside.


    She was afraid that if she stayed even a second longer, her temper would erupt, and she''d end up throwing a tantrum, hurling


    objects, orshing out at ric.


    Right now, they were only engaged, not yet married. She had to listen to her mother, to control her temper, not to break things


    and not to hit anyone.


    Otherwise, ric would be even less likely to marry her.


    She needed to bear it, to bide her time. Once she married ric, she could let her temper fly freely.


    As the elevator doors closed, Georgia could no longer hold back. She was so enraged that her face contorted as she kicked the


    elevator wall, her chest heaving with anger, cursing under her breath, "That shameless Hertha, | swear, one day I''ll make her


    disappear from this world! And ric, you damn scoundrel, just wait until we''re married, I''ll show you who''s boss!"


    "Argh!" She was so furious that she wanted to scream, but she could only growl in a low voice.


    She should have never agreed to apany ric to that meeting today. Then she wouldn''t have had to witness his encounter


    with Hertha.


    Out of sight was out of mind. She then wouldn''t have been so agitated and tormented.


    ric had his share of flings, but as long as she became Mrs. Falconer, why should she care about his dalliances?


    Why couldn''t she just remember her mother''s advice?


    Their wedding was approaching, just in a month!


    Just one more month, and she could


    be Mrs. Falconer as she'' alwayst \ \


    aes Wenn fe picking fights


    ric at such a critical time?


    Please read the original content at


    NovelDrama.Org.


    Georgia was frustrated and fuming. She had to go back to her mother, to seek her counsel and to figure out a n.


    Back on the 20th floor, Hertha had


    witnessed the entire spat betwee |


    isigelkicaagh ing somewhat


    g ly that she was the cause of it.


    Please read the original content at


    NovelDrama.Org.


    She scratched her head awkwardly.


    ¡°Aren''t you going to chase after her, maybe exin to her?" Hertha asked, a hint of apology in her tone.


    ric snapped back to reality, his handsome eyes now held a mature man¡¯s restraint and depth.


    "Do you really want me to patch


    things up with her?" ric''s anger \


    ¡®eg subsided, AS Wise Slightly


    h ee as he posed the question.


    Please read the original content at


    NovelDrama.Org.

 Chapter 1408

    Chapter 1408


    ric''s gaze was too intense that it unsettled Hertha.


    His eyes seemed to hold a lingering thought of her, as if wondering if she had an opinion on whether he should reconcile with


    Georgia.


    To an outsider, it might seem like he was genuinely asking for her advice. But in reality, what happened between him and


    Georgia was none of Hertha¡¯s business.


    Meeting ric''s piercing eyes, Hertha''s heart fluttered with increasing panic. She quickly averted her gaze and stammered,


    "Whether you patch things up with her or not is your deal. Thssa is waiting for me downstairs, | should go.¡±


    With that, she rushed to the elevator, stepping into the first one that arrived. Just as she was about to hit the close button, ric''s


    tall figure entered, standing close beside her.


    The elevator doors slid shut, and Hertha pressed the button for the ground floor.


    In the confined space, it was just Hertha and ric. He was standing within an arm''s reach of her, his faint scent of peppermint


    and tobo lingering in the air, mixed with a strong masculine presence.


    It was the aroma of a primal choice, the same as the first time she met him¡ªher cheeks flushed, heart pounding and her entire


    being yearning to be near him.


    Even after three years, the sensation hadn''t diminished in the slightest.


    Hertha fought to control her breathing, not allowing herself to look back at him or show any sign of her inner turmoil.


    Her inability to meet his gaze earlier was out of fear that he would see right through her¡ªthat she hadn''t let go of him at all deep


    down.


    Because of her guilt, her nervousness, she felt utterly exposed.


    If she had truly moved on, she could face him fearlessly and look him in the eye without hesitation.


    "Why didn''t you go down with Georgia?" Hertha blurted, trying to mask the quiver in her voice.


    Her question echoed awkwardly in the elevator''s silence.This text is ? N?velDrama/.Org.


    ric nced at her obliquely, able to see the top of her head and her profile from his angle.


    Although she had slimmed down, there was still a touch of baby fat on her face, giving her maturity an edge of cuteness.


    The sight of her mature yet adorable profile made ric''s breath catch and his heartbeat falter.


    Three yearster, he still had feelings for Hertha.


    In contrast to his indifference towards Georgia¡ªno matter how much she flirted in front of him, he felt nothing but annoyance.


    "You heard her," ric responded


    coolly. "She''s going back toin


    to her parents, trying to\cut Sf their


    iquasterents in mypany and turn


    me into a nobody without any


    backing. | can''t exactly stop her from


    tattling, can |?" Please read the


    original content at NovelDrama.Org.


    At his words, Hertha turned to look at ric, her eyes notpletely devoid of sympathy.


    Over the years, ric had ascended from managing a branch to bing the Vice President of Falconer Group, with his father


    being the President.


    As his influence within thepany grew, it seemed inevitable that he would eventually take over Falconer Group.


    His rapid rise to the VP position wasrgely thanks to the support from the Georgia Reed''s family.


    They had backed him, introduced him


    to new business, and secured thd ¡®|


    | alty. ofthe cOrapany''s ey


    veterans, which in turn elerated


    his promotion. Please read the


    original content at NovelDrama.Org.


    If the Reed family withdrew their


    support or turned against hina, Beg


    veterans right abanidan him too.


    ACA OUS tumble from his lofty


    perch back into the mire. Please read


    the original content at


    NovelDrama.Org.


    The thought of losing everything over a spat with Georgia was an impractical loss, by any measure.

 Chapter 1409

    Chapter 1409


    Anyone in their right mind would have settled down with Georgia by now, cozying up to the Reeds, wouldn''t they?


    Hertha cracked a smile and said, "ric, you''re not exactly basking in sunshine, and your brain''s not firing on all cylinders


    either."


    ¡°Hertha, I''m really not in the mood for your sass now!" ric snapped back, anger edging his voice.


    "I''m not sassing you. If you''re so keen on snagging the CEO spot at Falconer Group, then just tie the knot with Georgia and get


    in good with the Reeds. They''ve got the clout to make your dreamse true soon. Why on earth were you fighting with Georgia


    about anyway?" Hertha pressed, her tone serious.


    ¡°What do you think our fight was about? It was about defending you, wasn''t it?" ric blurted out without thinking.


    People could say he climbed thedder thanks to the Reeds, that they looked down on him.


    But hearing it from Hertha, it stung. It felt like a heavy stone pressing on his chest, making it hard to breathe.


    Atric''s words, Hertha froze, her eyes wide with disbelief.


    He had argued with Georgia because of her! He had risked all he had achieved in the past three years just to stand up for her?


    Could it be that she still held a ce in his heart?


    This realization sent Hertha''s pulse racing, the emotions she had kept at bay surged like the tide, threatening to overflow.


    Feeling the intensity of her gaze, ric was moved. He stepped closer and reached out, wanting to caress her cheek.


    His fingertips barely grazed her skin, the heat of the touch felt like a burn to Hertha, who instinctively stepped back to keep


    distance between them.Content is property of N?velDrama.Org.


    Avoiding his gaze, she stammered, "You don''t have to do this for me. If you hadn''t stepped in, | would have torn her apart myself.


    You''re the one who held me back. Georgia might not see it, but | do. You act like you''re defending me, but really, you''re


    protecting her. You''re afraid I''ll hit her again, aren''t you?"


    She was rejecting ric''s kindness.


    The possibility of rekindling anything with ric, especially after three years and with him being engaged, was not on her


    agenda.


    Hertha''s fiery temper was no mystery to ric. She hadshed out at Georgia before.


    Her words seemed to make sense. Yet, to ric, they brought an unexpected pang of hurt.


    His hand, which had been reaching for her cheek, fell back to his side. His eyes were clouding with a sense of loss.


    Just then, the elevator reached the lobby, and the doors slid open.


    Hertha quickly squeezed past him and darted out. Her eyes scanned the hotel foyer frantically for Thssa.


    Spotting her friend sitting in the lounge area, Hertha hurried over.


    Grabbing Thssa''s arm, she pulled


    her up and they bolt dif the


    Hestha,whisbeldt urgently, Let''s get


    out of here, now!" Please read the


    original content at NovelDrama.Org.


    Seeing Hertha''s panic, Thssa didn''t ask any questions. They ran to the car and jumped in quickly.


    "Drive, Thssa, drive!" Hertha urged.


    Buckling up, Thssa started the engine and asked curiously, "What happened? Did ric try to eat you alive or something?"


    "Worse than that. | realized I''m not


    over him! The closer he gets rye


    ae aie at him,


    vin st''SWith that? I''m not afraid of


    him, |''m afraid of myself!" Please read


    the original content at


    NovelDrama.Org.


    Hertha took a deep breath and patted her chest, still shaken.


    Thssa nced at her in the rear-view mirror and inquired, "What actually went down between you two? You seem frantic."


    "The problem is nothing happened,


    but | still can''t control myself Res


    why it''s s aly. ppayit GA BIOS to him


    Sass out. | don''t want to end


    up like you," Hertha said. Please read


    the original content at


    NovelDrama.Org.

 Chapter 1410

    Chapter 1410


    When Hertha dropped that bombshell, Thssa''s grip on the steering wheel tightened so sharply it might have squeaked.


    She spared a quick nce at Hertha, who was lounging in the passenger seat, and a wry smile yed at the corners of her


    mouth. "What''s wrong with me? My kids have a dad now. Honestly, that''s not so bad."


    Hertha and Thssa were the best of friends, who had weathered storms together. There were hardly any secrets between


    them.


    Which is why they spoke so freely, without holding back.


    And that¡¯s why Hertha didn''t hesitate to sprinkle a little salt on Thssa''s wounds.


    "Yeah, your kids have a dad, but are you any happier now than when you were flying solo? Let''s not even start on whether the


    kids are happier. What about you? Are you happy?"


    Hertha''s big, round eyes fixed on Thssa with concern.


    Once upon a time, when Thssa was a single mom, juggling four kids and as many jobs, life was like spinning tes on sticks.


    But in that bustling household,ughter was the soundtrack to their lives, with the kids'' antics as the main event.


    Since discovering Lysander was the father of her children, Thssa''s days had be a tightrope of tension and fear. She had


    tried to keep the kids under wraps, always dreading the day Lysander would discover their existence and take them away.


    But her worst fears hade true. Lysander had found out and, just as she had dreaded, imed the children.


    Thssa went from being rich in love to the poorest soul around overnight.


    Losing her children was like losing the whole world.


    Hertha could now empathize with that pain.


    Thssa''s hands were steady on the wheel as she threw a sidelong nce at Hertha, who was clearly waiting for a response.


    She knew what Hertha was getting at.


    When her children were taken, she had indeed felt the earth crumble beneath her.


    But now, her perspective had shifted. She felt that her kids being with their dad, and her keeping Lysander in her life, was a


    kindness that fate had granted her¡ªthe greatest blessing she could ask for.


    Had she never met Lysander, never known he was the father, sure, she could''ve raised her kids alone. But deep down, each


    child would harbor a profound sense of loss.


    The absence of a father''s love is something that can take a lifetime to heal.


    It''s like her own story. Growing up fatherless, she had longed for that rtionship yet feared it too.


    "No matter what, | have no regrets. Some hardships, once you get through them, lead to spring," Thssa replied to Hertha.


    Copyright by N?v/elDrama.Org.


    Hertha deted a bit. She had hoped


    to hear Thssa express some


    comints about erehGouhters


    Aer, so she wouldn''t have


    to suffer so much. But all she got


    was Thssa¡¯''sck of regret. Please


    read the original content at


    NovelDrama.Org.


    Hertha couldn''t understand,


    "Thssa, no offense, but you''ve gat


    a bit of a mart egnahds irfenere


    may ekedismy kids under wraps, no


    way would | let their dad find out.


    These days, what woman with kids


    needs a man, huh?" Please read the


    original content at NovelDrama.Org.


    ¡°Look, isn''t that ric watching us leave?" Thssa''s gaze was fixed on the rear-view mirror, tactfully changing the subject.


    "Where?" Hertha craned her neck to


    look, and sure enough, that was) (1


    Aaesiarena tite otel exit, his


    tatt figure shrinking in the mirror as


    the car drove away. Please read the


    original content at NovelDrama.Org.


    Had ric actuallye chasing after them?


    Chasing after Hertha?


    What for?

 Chapter 1411

    Chapter 1411


    Hertha nced at the rear-view mirror, the figure of ric shrinking into the distance. A sigh of mncholy escaped her lips.


    ¡°Fate without destiny, that''s the cruelest thing," Hertha mused.


    At that moment, ric stood by the curb outside the hotel, his roguish, hawk-like eyes brimming with a sense of loss as he


    watched Thssa and Hertha''s car fade away.


    Hertha had bolted out of the elevator with such haste, clearly avoiding him.Content is property of N?velDrama.Org.


    Once out, she''d grabbed Thssa''s arm and hurried away. She just didn''t want to get too involved with him anymore.


    She''d once fallen head over heels for him,unching into a relentless pursuit.


    But now, she was not only pushing him towards Georgia but also avoiding him like the gue.


    She''d even admitted to being won over by Dr. Funke''s character, which led her to confess her feelings to the doctor.


    Indeed, she seemed fickle, a woman whose heart flitted from one to the next.


    Realizing this, ric felt not just a surge of anger but also a profound sense of loss.


    He had once looked down on Hertha, casually dismissing her fervent advances. But now, as her interest waned, he struggled to


    breathe under the weight of his own disappointment.


    Half an hourter, Thssa dropped Hertha off at Gulfstream Community, a cozy residentialplex.


    Hertha had purchased a three-bedroom, two-bath unit there.


    "Thssa,e on up for a bit,¡± Hertha invited sincerely after stepping out of the car.


    Being good friends, Thssa didn''t stand on ceremony.


    "Sure, I''d love to."


    Hertha led Thssa into her home, and as they entered, they were greeted by aforting scent of babies.


    Just the aroma was intoxicating.


    Inside, two adorable toddlers yed on a foamy y mat, rolling a ball back and forth, giggling with the pure joy of childhood.


    Near the door sat a chubby two-year-old boy with big, round eyes and a small mouth, the spitting image of Hertha.


    By the couch was a two-year-old girl in pink overalls and a cute Peter Pan cor shirt. Her pigtailed hair framed a heart-shaped


    face, her almond eyes sparkled, and dimples appeared when she smiled, reminiscent of a cute young fox.


    "Julian, Helena, mommy''s home!"


    Hertha''s heart melted at the sight OF


    children, HerOiKe gattened as


    she stepped forward, slipping off her


    shoes. Please read the original


    content at NovelDrama.Org.


    The kids had been enjoying their


    game, but at the sound ef thei


    sywojoe thai fice instantly


    Anise up with joy as they looked up.


    Please read the original content at


    NovelDrama.Org.


    "Mommy!"


    The boy, Julian Kensington, pushed himself up and toddled towards Hertha, arms outstretched.


    The girl, Helena Kensington, her little face flushed with urgency, tried to stand but lost bnce and plopped back down on the


    y mat.


    Seeing her brother scooped up and herself still on the ground, Helena burst into tears.


    "Don''t cry, Helena. Aunt Thssa¡¯s got you," Thssa quickly picked up the little girl, gently wiping away her tears.


    The baby girl was so endearing that


    her presence filled with that


    comforting sc rotientioentes just just


    lk Tiag s own Elowen when she


    was that age¡ªirresistibly lovable,


    melting hearts on sight. Please read


    the original content at


    NovelDrama.Org.

 Chapter 1412

    Chapter 1412


    ¡°Aunt Thssa, can | have a hug?" Helena nestled softly into Thssa''s embrace, her chubby little arms wrapped around


    Thssa''s neck, and her plump cheeks rubbed affectionately against Thssa''s face.


    Tiny tears transferred onto Thssa''s skin, soft and cool, melting right into her heart.


    ¡°Of course, Helena. Aunt Thssa loves you to the moon and back," Thssa cooed, leaning in to press her cheek gently


    against Helena''s.


    Hertha came into the room, carrying Julian with a beaming smile. "I told you toe up with me. | couldn''t carry both munchkins


    by myself."


    Hertha''s face lit up with joy whenever she saw her two adorable children, a happiness that radiated from within.


    She felt that her greatest achievement in life was giving birth to two bright and lovely kids.


    Three years ago, the night Hertha agreed to help ric break off his engagement, she believed his sweet nothings, thinking he


    truly cared only for her and would marry her.


    Naively, she agreed to sleep with him. Little did she expect that from just that one night, she would be pregnant.


    And with twins, no less!


    Hertha was stunned just like Thssa, finding herself expecting before marriage!


    But having been the godmother to Thssa¡¯s four kids, and with her love for children, the moment Hertha discovered her


    pregnancy, she made a resolute decision. She would have her babies and raise them on her own as a strong, independent


    single mother!


    She couldn''t possibly turn to ric, especially after witnessing him in bed with Georgia and with their wedding on the horizon.


    ric''s mother, Angelina, in an attempt to humiliate her, even offered her a hefty sum to stay away from ric.


    With the Falconer family acting so ruthlessly, how could she shamelessly approach ric to acknowledge their children?


    So, she gave birth to them secretly. Like Thssa once did, she became a joyous single mother.


    Hertha was confident that as long as she kept her distance, ric would never discover the existence of their two children. Nor


    would she ever let the Falconer family take them away.


    "Ms. Kensington, you''re back. I''m sorry, | was busy cooking and couldn''t tend to the little ones," Bridget apologized as she


    emerged from the kitchen, holding a spat.


    Bridget, a simple woman in her fifties, was the babies¡¯ nanny. She was hired to take care of the children and manage the


    household chores.Belongs to ? n0velDrama.Org.


    Hertha was a sessful jewelry designer and earned afortable living. Supporting two children and affording a nanny was


    well within her means.


    As for why Hertha didn''t ask her own


    mother for help with the kids, it was


    because she had nevertald EO"!


    pesentsitheiste had be a


    mother! She went even further than


    Thssa in keeping secrets. She


    hadn''t even told her own parents!


    Please read the original content at


    NovelDrama.Org.


    In other words, Hertha''s parents werepletely unaware that they had two grandchildren who were already two years old!


    When Hertha fell pregnant, she


    fabricated a story about being sent


    abroad for work for agaay. eelee


    sesluderseltin her own


    purchased home with a nanny to


    care for her, stealthily giving birth and


    raising her children in secret. Please


    read the original content at


    NovelDrama.Org.


    "Bridget, don''t worry. You don''t have


    to apologize. You manage alos


    and care Hanaenena be


    eful


    rhore ," Hertha said, ever


    understanding and appreciative.


    Please read the original content at


    NovelDrama.Org.


    Bridget had been with Hertha since her pregnancy, looking after her and the children all this time.

 Chapter 1413

    Chapter 1413


    Bridget was a kind woman, a hard worker with a heart of gold. Over the years, she had been caring for Hertha and the twins


    wholeheartedly.Content is property of N?velDrama.Org.


    "Don''t say such things," she chuckled, "you pay me a fair wage, and looking after you is part of my duty. Ms. Kensington, Ms.


    Everhart, | bet you haven''t eaten yet. I''ve got one more dish to whip up, and then dinner is served." With that, Bridget bustled


    back into the kitchen.


    Hertha and Thssa each cradling a child, settled onto the couch.


    Little Helena wiggled out of Thssa''s arms, and though Thssa thought she was off to y, the toddler fished out a pack of


    cookies from between the couch cushions instead.


    Clutching a chocte chip cookie, she held it up to Thssa, "Auntie Thssa, have a cookie."


    ¡°Mama wants one too." Julian wriggled out from Hertha¡¯s holding, grabbed a cookie, and offered it to Hertha with all the


    seriousness of a grown-up. "Mommy, open your mouth."


    He himself opened his mouth wide, mimicking the action he wanted Hertha to take. His innocent eyes were filled with tender


    love.


    It was a heartwarming sight for Hertha.


    Surrounded by such pure love, she obliged with an "Ahh".


    Julian promptly ced the cookie in her mouth.


    Helena followed suit, coaxing Thssa to open up. As Thssa ate the cookie, she smiled and tousled Helena''s soft hair.


    "Thanks, Helena. Did you hear Bridget say we hadn''t eaten, so you brought us the cookies?"


    "Uh-huh," Helena nodded vigorously.


    "You''re such a sweetheart. You know, Elowen was just as thoughtful and adorable when she was at your age,¡± Thssa said,


    gently caressing Helena¡¯s cheek, her mind drifting to her own four children.


    Apang of longing surged through her at the thought of her four little darlings. It had been three years since Zephyr took the


    children away from the hospital and forbade her from seeing them. And with all her energy focused on caring for Lysander, she


    hadn''t had the chance to fight for her right to see them.


    Hearing Elowen''s name, Hertha asked with a mix of curiosity andint, "Thssa, does Zephyr really not allow you to see


    your children even once?"


    Thssa''sshes fluttered down as she nodded.


    "That''s cruel! He won''t let you see


    your children or let them see hej


    mother? Isnit ha asraithey''l resent


    kateient ey grow up?" Hertha was


    indignant on Thssa''s behalf.


    Please read the original content at


    NovelDrama.Org.


    "| heard from David that Zephyr sent


    the kids to a military-st le boarding |


    ool, Theyre Hot Bowed to just


    come and go," Thssa replied.


    Please read the original content at


    NovelDrama.Org.


    "What? To a boarding school so young? Those ces are tough. Can the kids handle it?" Hertha was deeply sympathetic.


    "David mentioned that Lysander grew up in a military school as well." Thssa only knew about her children''s lives through


    David''s updates.


    "So, Zephyr is grooming your kids just


    like he did to Lysander. Looks like he


    does care about them in his ewan


    way. But kegping youtiom them is


    jdstltos cruel to both you and the


    kids. Maybe once Lysander wakes


    up, you''ll have a chance at a family


    reunion. After all, Lysander can stand


    up to Zephyr," Hertha mused. Please


    read the original content at


    NovelDrama.Org.


    Then, as if struck by a sudden idea, Hertha eximed, "Wait, | know how we can get Lysander the best treatment!"

 Chapter 1414

    Chapter 1414


    Thssa shook off her funk and asked curiously, "How?"


    "We gotta visit Dr. Funke."


    ¡°But Dr. Funke won''t even give us the time of day," Thssamented.


    "Didn''t Dr. Funke promise ric a dinner to sign some contract or something? We can just go with ric," Hertha suggested.


    "But..."Copyright by N?v/elDrama.Org.


    "No buts about it, leave this to me," Hertha proimed, her indignation fueling her resolve.


    The next morning, Hertha made her way to the Falconer Group, striding with determined steps toward the elevator.


    No sooner had she reached the reception desk than she was stopped, "Miss, may | ask who you''re here to see?"


    Every corporate receptionist is like a human radar for new faces.


    Spotting an unfamiliar one, they intercept, preventing any potentially ill-intentioned visitor from disturbing the upper echelons of


    thepany.


    Hertha had to pause, but she put on a cheery smile and told the receptionist, "I¡¯m an old friend of your VP. Just need to chat with


    him about something."


    "Do you have an appointment?" the receptionist asked, her expression stern, leaving no room for flexibility.


    "Do | need an appointment to see an old friend?" Hertha was taken aback.


    "During business hours, you need an appointment to meet with our VP. If you don''t have one, | can''t let you through," the


    receptionist insisted.


    Hertha swallowed her rising temper.


    When did ric get so high-and-mighty that he required appointments?


    Whatever, she needed his help, so she held it in.


    Maintaining her grin, she told the receptionist, "Sorry, let me just give him a quick call."


    Pulling out her phone, the same one she''d had for three years, Hertha scrolled to ric¡¯s number.


    She hadn''t dialed it once for three years. She wondered if ric still used that number.


    Ever since she''d stumbled upon ric and Georgia sharing a bed, leaving the hotel that morning in a huff, she hadn''t spoken to


    him again.


    Then her pregnancy came, and fearing the gossip, she cut off all contact with the outside world.


    ric¡¯s number had been cocooned in her phone for three years.


    Now, she was dialing it again after all this time.


    Her heart fluttered with uncertainty, not knowing if the call would even connect.


    Then the dial tone beeped through.


    The call went through!


    ric hadn¡¯t changed his number in three years!


    A few ringster, the call was answered.


    Her heart pounded, adrenaline


    coursing as she scrambled f


    right wor sput\then Gil Ghfamiliar


    rhale ybide Came through, ¡°Ms.


    Kensington, how can | assist you?¡±


    Please read the original content at


    NovelDrama.Org.


    That voice wasn''t ric¡¯s!


    Baffled for a moment, she asked, "Who''s this? Isn¡¯t this ric¡¯s number?"


    "Hello, I''m Alistair, Mr. Falconer¡¯s


    assistant. Mr. pleco in aor)


    aecaulicy ptidneis ith me. Do


    yeu need to speak with him?" Please


    read the original content at


    NovelDrama.Org.


    Relief washed over Hertha upon realizing she had a direct line to ric.


    "| do need to speak with him, but j


    has to be aon <ornte fonversation,¡±="" sp\said="" \pidase="" read="" the="" original<="" p=""></ornte>


    content at NovelDrama.Org.


    Alistair nced at the caller ID showing just one word: Hertha.

 Chapter 1415

    Chapter 1415


    This name was always on the tip of ric¡¯s tongue, and sometimes he would stare at the contact number on his phone, lost in


    thought, his finger hovering over the call button but never quite making the connection.


    Alistair figured the woman must mean a lot to ric.


    Now, the very same woman was calling ric directly, and if Alistair were to turn her away, Mr. Falconer would surely be angry.


    So, taking the initiative, Alistair replied, "Come on up to the 28th floor please, to the Vice President''s office."


    ¡°But the receptionist won''t let me through," Hertha protested.


    "Just hand her the phone, I''ll talk to her."


    Hertha did as told, and the receptionist''s demeanor shifted from frosty indifference to cordialpliance as she spoke into the


    phone. Returning the phone to Hertha, she showed a weing smile, "Right this way, Ms. Kensington. Please take the elevator


    up to the 28th floor."


    Hertha noticed the change in the receptionist''s behavior but chose not to engage, taking her phone back and stepping into the


    elevator.


    Upon reaching the 28th floor, Hertha found herself a stranger in the Falconer Group''sbyrinth of power and prestige, unsure


    where the Vice President''s office was. She nced around and decided to venture left.


    Suddenly, the sound of an argument spilled out from one of the rooms.


    Hertha paused, curiosity drawing her gaze toward the source of themotion, only to see a que that read ¡®Conference


    Room rather than ¡®Office¡¯.


    She was about to move on when a woman''s imperious voice cut through the air.Belongs to ? n0velDrama.Org.


    ¡°ric, give me a straight answer in front of all the shareholders! Will you marry me or not? If you won''t, Michael, Adrian, George


    ¡ªthey won''t back you anymore! There would be no point in you ying Vice President then! Marry me, and they''ll rmend


    you as the rightful head of the Falconer Group tomorrow!"


    That voice was Georgia¡¯s! She was pressuring ric into marriage in front of thepany''s shareholders!


    Georgia''s words were a p in the face to ric''s pride. She was pretty much saying that ric''s sess hinged solely on


    marrying her, or else he''d plummet from grace.


    It sounded like she was calling ric a kept man.


    Did Georgia even like ric?


    Surely, she shouldn''t push him into a corner to get him to marry her even if she loved him.


    Hertha stopped in her tracks, her ears tuned to the drama unfolding within.


    "Georgia, this is the Falconer Group''s medical project meeting, not your Reed family circus. If you want to throw a tantrum, do it


    on your own turf!" ric''s voice was strained with suppressed anger as he attempted to reason with her.


    But Georgia was relentless. "Without the Reed family''s support, would you even be here discussing strategies with the top


    brass? You''d still be scraping by in some small-time firm! ric, just pick a wedding date today in front of all these shareholders,


    and they will petition the current CEO tomorrow to name you the head of the Falconer Group. Your cousin Jeremiah Falconer


    won''t stand a chance at this position then. Just say the word, and I''ll have mom and dad set it all up!"


    Georgia''s words were a mix of threat and enticement, desperate measures to make ric hers.


    Hertha felt disgusted. What a brainless, domineering woman, giving no one a moment''s respite.


    No wonder ric wouldn''t marry her.


    Yet, cornered by Georgia''s ultimatums, ric managed to keep his cool. It was impressive restraint.


    "Georgia, how many times have you


    caused a scene at the office? | may


    tolerate it once, tawigecblib adntttink


    rap patiehdelis endless! To hell with


    this Vice President title!" ric


    exploded, kicking the table before


    storming out. Please read the original


    content at NovelDrama.Org.


    He wrenched open the conference room door,ing face-to-face with Hertha, who had inadvertently be an eavesdropper


    in his eyes.


    ¡°Oops, just passing by. | didn¡¯t hear a thing," Hertha said with a nervous chuckle, meeting ric''s furious gaze.


    "ric, don''t you dare walk away


    from me! I''m your fianc¨¦e. Ist wiidng


    f me,agk yours Merry me?"


    Ofgia''s angry voice followed them


    out. Please read the original content


    at NovelDrama.Org.


    Without a second thought, ric


    grabbed Hertha by the waist, pulli


    her close as a shi Kd agtinst Georgia,


    Hid woibelseed with venom, "My


    fianc¨¦e has changed. She''s got more


    charm in ten minutes than you''ve had


    your entire life!" Please read the


    original content at NovelDrama.Org.


    With that, he pulled Hertha¡¯s face to his and nted a fierce kiss on her lips.


    Hertha''s eyes widened in shock, caughtpletely off guard by his action.

 Chapter 1416

    Chapter 1416


    ric''s ragged breath fanned across Hertha''s face, his longshes brushing her cheek, sending shivers down her spine like a


    current of electricity. His alluring face was inches away, his lips pressed fervently against hers.


    It was the tremble, the heart-racing, the thrill she had dreamed of countless times, where she and ric were locked in a


    passionate embrace, just like this.


    Hertha felt as if her toes were curling.


    For three years, she had daydreamed and nightdreamed about this man.


    Hertha was no innocent like Thssa. When she missed a man, she entertained vivid dreams of rolling in the hay with him,


    kissing him endlessly, sleeping with him through countless imagined encounters.


    Now, her dreams wereing to life. She could feel ric''s potent masculine presence enveloping her, his kiss intense with an


    undercurrent of spite and anger.This text is ? N?velDrama/.Org.


    Yes, spite and anger.


    Hertha''s softened heart snapped back to reality abruptly. She ced her hands on ric''s face and pushed him away, her wide,


    watery eyes filled with indignation as she panted, "ric, | am not a pawn for you to use in your games with your fianc¨¦e!"


    She hated being used as a tool, just as Thssa had been treated by Lysander, especially being used by ric as a strategy to


    get under Georgia''s skin!


    ric''s striking eyes held hers, and beneath the anger, there was an undeniable longing that had surged unbidden when he


    kissed her.


    It was the same desire that had roared within him three years ago, the night they had crossed the point of no return, his body


    moring for her.


    "| never saw you as a pawn." ric''s voice was hoarse, tinged with raw emotion.


    He had suppressed his feelings for three long years. He had wanted to find Hertha, to exin to her that he didn''t want to be


    with Georgia. He just wanted to be with her.


    But the memory of that night in the hotel, when Hertha saw him with Georgia and stormed out, haunted him. He had chased after


    her, only to see her with Spencer, looking so happy and content, a stark contrast to how she was with him.


    ric knew women, and he knew they only showed their softest side to the man they truly cherished. Seeing Hertha''s affection


    for Spencer had made him step back.


    After that, Hertha had vanished from his life, no longer appearing before him and never reaching out.


    Meanwhile, his mother had pushed


    him into an engagementwite O11


    nDy sisting athe was


    h acl to make it right since he


    had slept with her. Please read the


    original content at NovelDrama.Org.


    ric thought, if he had made a mistake, he might as well live with it.


    His mother was right. If he had


    slipped up and got rineglvedoaith!


    it to her to take


    responsibility. Please read the


    original content at NovelDrama.Org.


    After all, he was bound to marry


    someday, and of al be\worne held


    wey ner but Hertha had truly


    stirred his heart. Please read the


    original content at NovelDrama.Org.


    Marrying any of the others made no difference to him.


    Why not Georgia then? At the very least, his mother adored her.

 Chapter 1417

    Chapter 1417


    For the past three years, ric often found his thoughts drifting back to Hertha. He often thought of her captivating spirit and


    unwavering loyalty to her friends¡ªhow she would go to the ends of the earth for them.


    Time and again, he''d hover over the buttons of his phone, itching to dial Hertha''s number. But the thought that she might have


    already settled down with Spencer held him back. He didn''t want to intrude on her life.


    But his hesitation only seemed to embolden Georgia''s aggressive behavior.


    The role of Vice President at Falconer Group was something his mother had pushed him into, and the seat of President was


    another of her ambitions for him as well.


    None of it was what he truly wanted.


    ¡°ric, get your hands off her!" Georgia snapped out of her shock when she saw ric kiss Hertha. Her eyes zed with fury as


    she stormed forward, pushing Hertha away from ric with such force that tears welled up in her eyes. "What did you just say?


    She''s your fianc¨¦e now? I''m not even a tenth as feminine as she is, huh? Who is she anyway? Just a regr Jane from the


    working ss. Can she support you in your career? She can''t evene up with two million without asking your mother for it!"


    Pointing usingly at Hertha, then at ric, Georgia was gasping with indignation, her eyes swimming with tears. Before ric


    could respond, she continued in a piercing tone, "ric, I''ll assume you only said that to upset me! Apologize to me now, and I''ll


    forgive you. I''ll even get my parents to keep backing you in business!"


    Just the day before, Georgia had witnessed ric''s tender reunion with Hertha at the Starhaven International Hotel. In a moment


    of weakness, she''d had a row with ric and regretted it the moment she stormed out of the hotel. Then she went to her mother


    for advice.


    Her mother had told her to bide her time, to show the grace of a woman.


    Georgia had intended to do just that, but then, ric had called her mother to break off their engagement first thing in the


    morning.


    Georgia couldn''t hold back any longer, and that''s why she was in Falconer Group''s boardroom causing a scene now, demanding


    ric marry her in front of thepany''s executives. She wasn''t going to let him call off the engagement. Not by a long shot.


    "Hertha, are you okay?" ric rushed to Hertha''s side, steadying her.


    Georgia had pushed her so hard that Hertha had stumbled backward. ric was both worried and guilt.


    Ignoring Georgia, he reached out to Hertha first. The moment his palm touched Hertha''s arm, she felt a jolt of electricity.


    She quickly stepped back, putting distance between them, and said with an aloof tone, "I''m fine. Deal with your own mess first."


    Copyright by N?v/elDrama.Org.


    "ric, youe here now! Don''t you


    dare touch her again!" Georgia


    shrieked, her evessstiegltg acihe


    s\grit aflAluite almostforting


    Hertha. She''d been too slow to


    separate them when ric kissed


    Hertha. Please read the original


    content at NovelDrama.Org.


    Frustrated, furious, and on the brink of a breakdown, she watched as ric reached out for that woman again. It was like pouring


    gasoline on the raging fire in her heart.


    Georgia couldn''t stand it. She marched forward, grabbed ric''s arm, and yanked him toward her.


    Three years ago, she''d followed a


    drunken ric, who was with an


    equally Intoxicated testa, tes Abte


    act int¨¦nd¨¦d to take advantage


    of ric''s inebriated state to seduce


    him but was interrupted by a call


    from the front desk about an


    passport issue. Please read the


    original content at NovelDrama.Org.


    By the time she''d dealt with it and


    returned to the room, she found m


    ric and Her ajggether! Ktow she


    fel thasahre mix of shock,


    resentment, and hysteria that had


    overwhelmed her that night three


    years ago. Please read the original


    content at NovelDrama.Org.

 Chapter 1418

    Chapter 1418


    ric''s mere touch sparked a vtile memory in Georgia''s mind. It took her back three years to a wild night in the hotel room, a


    memory that now scorched her brain and assaulted her senses.


    It drove her mad.


    She could turn a blind eye to ric¡¯s flings with other women, but not with Hertha! She had seen the feverish madness in ric''s


    eyes, which was why she felt such a strong sense of a heart-stabbing anger.


    With a fierce tug, Georgia yanked ric away from Hertha, her movements desperate and rough.


    ric could feel her almost pathological madness in the force of her grip. It was suffocating and revolting.


    Annoyed, he wrenched his arm free and told Georgia with a dark look, ¡°Enough! I¡¯ve made it crystal clear to your mother over the


    phone yesterday¡ªI''m calling off the engagement! And if the Reed family wants to pull their investment from my business, just do


    it!¡±


    ¡°Georgia, let¡¯s get this straight. Thest thing | need is your forgiveness! If your parents want to withdraw their support, then go


    on, don''t drag it out and threaten me further!¡±


    Threaten?


    At the sound of that word, tears breached Georgia''s eyes, cascading down her cheeks.


    Shaking with fury and gasping for breath, she red at ric, "Do you want to end up amoner like her?"


    "What''s wrong with being amoner? Earning a living with her own hands is far better than a woman who can only rely on her


    parents like you!" ric''s words cut sharp.


    He despised Georgia''s attitude towards hardworking folks like Hertha. Sure, Georgia was a high-society heiress, but she paled in


    comparison to any everyday worker.


    She had no skills, incapable of holding down a job. Without her parents¡¯ financial support, she''d probably starve! A do-nothing,


    living-off-her-parents woman looking down on someone who earns their keep? How ironic.


    ¡°Living off her parents?" Was ric talking about her? Georgia thought in fury.


    Her heart felt like it had been stabbed, the pain acute.


    ric had a knack for targeting her vulnerabilities.


    ¡°ric!" she screamed hysterically, her chest heaving, tears flowing unchecked.Content is property of N?velDrama.Org.


    "You jerk, I''ll go back right now and have my parents pull their investment! And I''ll wait for you toe begging to me!"


    With clenched teeth, Georgia spat out her words, shot Hertha a venomous look and stormed off.


    Hertha blinked, momentarily stunned by Georgia''s hateful gaze.


    With a quiet chuckle, she thought to


    herself how ridiculous the whole


    scene was Gopyasaltad Pres years


    Wittoet her around to win ric over,


    and now she med Hertha? Please


    read the original content at


    NovelDrama.Org.


    Thepany''s executives emerged


    from the meeting room. They wer


    seasoned yers ytte\Gorporate


    dameaviid Witnessed the dramatic


    scene unfold. Now they remained as


    calm as if nothing had happened.


    Please read the original content at


    NovelDrama.Org.


    Such theatrics were nothing new to them. Georgia had caused scenes at the office before. To them, it was nothing out of the


    ordinary.


    ¡°Mr. Falconer, your partnering with


    Dr. Funke to expand the Falc roliaal


    Group''s armagentiGal aivision


    ckaine ke a solid n,¡± Michael said


    to ric, bringing the focus back to


    business. Please read the original


    content at NovelDrama.Org.

 Chapter 1419

    Chapter 1419


    "| agree. Go ahead with your n," George said, pping ric on the shoulder with a reassuring thud.


    "The Reeds have really thrown you a lifeline in business. Try not to burn bridges with them," Michael reminded ric before he


    left. After casting a meaningful nce at Hertha, he made his exit.


    One by one, the rest of the stakeholders filtered out of the room.


    At the conference room door, only Hertha and ric remained.


    The once bustling space quieted down, and the air seemed to thicken with an odd tension that made Hertha feel uneasy, her


    heartbeat picking up pace.


    "Um, | actually..."Content is property of N?velDrama.Org.


    "Sorry you had to see that circus," ric cut in before she could continue, his normally carefree eyes clouded with a certain


    gravity.


    The roguish charm that usually danced in his eyes seemed to have dimmed, leaving him looking decidedly deted.


    He was apologizing to Hertha for having to witness such an unbing scene.


    He was frustrated with himself, too. Anyone could''ve seen him in that state, but thest person he wanted to be seen like that by


    was Hertha.


    And yet, she had witnessed it.


    ric felt as if his pride had been dragged through the mud, and he couldn''t bear to face Hertha.


    After that apology, he turned to leave.


    Hertha stood stunned, her mouth agape, struggling to reconcile the image of the embarrassed, guilt-ridden man before her with


    the mboyant, carefree ric she knew.


    The nonchnce that once defined him was now overshadowed by restraint.


    And that restraint was heart-wrenching to see.


    Snapping back to reality and noticing ric walking away, Hertha hastily called out, "ric, | need your help with something.¡±


    ric stopped in his tracks, his hands clenching at his sides, but he didn''t turn around.


    At that moment, Alistair hurried over. He noted ric''s troubled expression and Hertha standing behind him near the conference


    room door.


    Alistair sensed trouble brewing. ric had been in a meeting today, and it wouldn''t have been the first time Georgia had caused


    a scene in the boardroom.


    This time, Hertha may have stumbled upon it, and Hertha was the one person ric cared about the most.


    "Mr. Falconer, | apologize, | told the


    reception to let Ms. Kensington up. |


    Miele for her to watigvoworiee


    Crates n¨¦ery f at the


    ? fence room door,¡¯ Alistair


    apologized, bowing slightly in


    acknowledgment of his mistake. He


    may have really messed up this time.


    Please read the original content at


    NovelDrama.Org.


    ric lifted his hawk-like eyes and said sternly to Alistair, "Go attend to your business!"


    Alistair looked up in surprise, hardly able to believe that Mr. Falconer wasn''t holding him ountable for his blunder! The relief


    was so sudden that Alistair almost couldn''t believe it.


    ¡°What, you want to forfeit all your holidays?" ric asked.


    ¡°No, no, I''m on it right away. Have a good day, Mr. Falconer, I''ll vanish," Alistair quickly responded, throwing a nce at Hertha


    before hurrying off.


    He had dodged a bullet with Mr. Falconer, and it was all thanks to Hertha. Had it been any other day, a single mistake could have


    cost him his vacation for half a year.


    Hertha stepped up to ric, tilting


    her head back to meet his strikingly


    handsome face. She cr ssetheri\!


    aeqe advan bi smile, "Who


    uld''ve thought that the


    free-spirited second son of the


    Falconer family, the lord of Sapphire


    Skyline, would find corporate life so


    stifling?" Please read the original


    content at NovelDrama.Org.


    Seeing the amusement in her


    expression, ric''s already


    embarrassed demeanor grew 6aldet,


    witha @oide tinged with


    difort, he said, "Did youe all


    the way to Falconer Group just to get


    augh at my expense?" Please read


    the original content at


    NovelDrama.Org.

 Chapter 1420

    Chapter 1420


    "| just never expected that ric, who always looked down on me, could end up living such a pathetic life," Hertha said, her smile


    fading as she spoke.


    Her big, round eyes watched ric with a mix of amusement and pity.


    Georgia had the nerve to spout such ugly words in front of all the higher-ups at hispany, clearly riding on the coattails of the


    Reed family''s influence.


    She hadn''t even married ric yet, and she was already suffocating him. If she did tie the knot, she''d definitely strut around,


    controlling every aspect of ric¡¯s life.


    ric would be nothing but a puppet, danced around by the Reeds and Georgia at their whim.


    ric closed his eyes for a moment and took a deep breath. Thest thing he wanted was to bemented with pity, the way


    Hertha was looking at him now. But it seemed like his fears had a way ofing true.


    "The world of the elite isplicated¡ªyou wouldn''t understand," ric tried to exin, but found himself at a loss for words.


    His current situation, wasn''t it all of his own making? No matter what he said, he couldn''t dissociate himself from it. What was the


    point of exining to Hertha?


    With a lightugh, Hertha retorted icily, "Yeah, | wouldn''t understand the life of the elite. After all, I''m just an ordinary Jane, a


    commoner. Every penny | use, | earn with my own two hands. Unlike you guys, born with a silver spoon in your mouth and never


    had to worry about a day''s work or what''s for dinner.¡±


    ric''s previous offhand remark had struck a nerve.


    What did he mean she wouldn''t understand the life of the elite? In the end, he was just like his mother, Angelina, looking down


    on her! At least Angelina had the decency to offer her two million to walk away. ric, could crush her spiritpletely with just a


    few words.


    "| didn''t mean it." ric realized he had misspoken.


    He just meant to convey that the ties between his family and the Reeds wereplicated, too tangled to exin in a few words.


    He hadn''t intended for Hertha to take it the wrong way.


    ¡°Let''s just drop it, | don''t have time to figure out what you mean. | came to you today for a request," Hertha interrupted him. "I


    won''t beat around the bush. Yesterday, when Thssa and | went to see Dr. Funke, it was for Lysander. We were in such a hurry


    that we forgot to check Dr. Funke''s picture. It was just a strategy to draw him out."


    Needing ric''s help, Hertha had no choice but toy her cards on the table.


    ric chuckled, "That''s typical of you, Hertha, always full of surprises. What if Dr. Funke took you seriously? How would you


    have handled that?"


    He had misunderstood her. He thought she had actually fallen for Dr. Funke''s medical skills and character.


    Even if she was fickle, she wasn''t foolish.


    "Didn''t Thssa say it herself? Many people admire Dr. Funke''s medical prowess, and she''s one of them. Dr. Funke is smart.


    How could he not see through our intentions?" Hertha rolled her eyes at him.


    With Thssa by her side, she wasn''t worried about not being able to handle the situation.


    Hertha and Thssa had always worked seamlessly together, never missing a beat.


    Besides, Thssa would never just stand by and watch her fall into a dilemma.


    The unspoken trust between her and Thssa was always there.


    ric finally understood. He had


    actually believed Herth werds to \


    ke-yesterday! anes


    any cones his judgment. Please


    read the original content at


    NovelDrama.Org.


    After hearing Hertha''s exnation,


    ric felt a weight lift off his


    shoulder 8 A At ipecveaTeaat, ¡®it proved


    thatther past pursuit of him had been


    genuine, not just a facade. Please


    read the original content at


    NovelDrama.Org.


    "So, you want me to persuade Dr.


    Funke to ept your adeniratiqn For


    medical skis? ric asked,


    Iddking at her with a rxed air.Content is property of N?velDrama.Org.


    Please read the original content at


    NovelDrama.Org.

 Chapter 1421

    Chapter 1421


    Ayful smirk lifted the corners of ric''s mouth, his eyes¡ªsharp and mischievous with a hint of roguish charm¡ªonly rxed


    in front of Hertha.


    "What are you on about?" Hertha rolled her eyes, dismissing the unnecessary banter. "Who needs him to ept, anyway? | just


    need you to convince him to meet us once. Thssa said she''s willing to put up fifty million for Dr. Funke toe out of


    retirement and treat Lysander."Content is property of N?velDrama.Org.


    Dr. Funke was well versed in both traditional and modern medicine, and he might just be the miracle worker they needed for


    Lysander.


    Lysander was ric''s best mate, and after three years in aa, his condition weighed heavily on ric''s mind as well. If Dr.


    Funke could cure Lysander, nothing could be better.


    "You don''t need to meet him," ric said abruptly.


    ¡°What do you mean? You won''t help us?" Hertha''s temper red, and she was moments away from throwing a punch at ric.


    "No. I''ll convince Dr. Funke to treat Lysander myself,¡± ric quickly rified.


    Hertha''s clenched fist rxed, and she managed a smile at ric. "Try talking to him first, but if he''s not willing, we''ll still need


    you to introduce us."


    She was grateful for her quick reflexes. Otherwise, ric might''ve taken a fist to the face.


    ric caught her smiling eyes, which seemed to sparkle even more with her deliberate grin, like phosphorescence dancing


    across ake and into his heart.


    Caught off guard, ric felt a flutter and leaned in closer. "If it works out, what''s in it for me?"


    As he leaned in, the faint scent of mint and tobo from his shirt enveloped her, sending her pulse racing. His devilishly


    handsome face was now just inches from hers, the allure almost too much to resist, making her breath uneven.


    Hertha took a step back, her eyes wide with surprise. "ric, you''re the vice president of the Falconer Group. Isn''t it beneath you


    to ask for favors from amoner?"


    Seeing her nervous reaction, ric straightened up and teased, "Scared | might ask for money?"


    "What kind of favor are you talking about?" Hertha asked, trying to regainposure.


    ¡°Let''s say you reward me with a ride to send you home," ric suggested nonchntly.


    Aride home?


    rm bells rang in Hertha''s head. Thest thing she wanted was for ric to discover where she lived and stumble upon her


    secrets.


    "No need, I''ll treat you to dinner some other time. It''s gettingte, | should go," Hertha quickly excused herself and hurried off.


    She had taken the day off work and


    drove straight home, her mind filled,


    with thoughts of theytwbaitle- ?


    chBIUBS W¨¦iting for her. Every fear


    and panic melted away at the


    prospect of seeing her kids. Please


    read the original content at


    NovelDrama.Org.


    Ever since bing a mother,


    Hertha understood Thssa¡¯s Oxst!


    Ci ign¡é-and faelngSal the more.


    r children were her world and her


    vulnerability. Please read the original


    content at NovelDrama.Org.


    Hertha pulled up to the Gulfstream Community, got out of the car, and saw Bridget watching over the kids at the yground''s


    slide.


    She was about to join them when a familiar male voice sounded from behind. "Hertha, so this is where you live."


    The voice was unmistakably ric''s, and it instantly tensed Hertha''s nerves.


    Panicked, she turned around to see


    ric standing there with thet O11


    @ aracterigac aan his eyes as


    always, looking straight at her. Please


    read the original content at


    NovelDrama.Org.


    Dread filled her. Her children were right there by the slide. If they saw her and called her ''Mommy,'' ric would undoubtedly


    hear!

 Chapter 1422

    Chapter 1422


    Hertha''s heart pounded like a drum solo as she whipped her head around. At the yground, there was a scene sweet enough


    to be painted on a postcard: a toddler was cautiously climbing the steps to the slide, with Bridget hovering anxiously like a


    protective hen, her head bowed, hands ready to catch the little one at the slightest wobble.


    Perched at the top of the slide was another little nugget of cuteness, Hertha''s son, Julian, prepped and primed for the thrill of the


    descent. His gaze was locked onto the spot where Hertha stood. Just one focused look and he''d spot her for sure.


    At that realization, Hertha gasped silently and averted her face, striding with purpose toward ric.


    Reaching his side, she grabbed his arm instinctively and steered him away from the scene.


    They sidled up beside a house, its walls serving as a shield from Julian and Helena¡¯s sight. It was only when they were safely out


    of view that Hertha''s tense heart allowed itself a timid sigh of relief.


    Lifting her eyes to ric, she met his gaze, those narrow eyes twinkling with mischief and a hint of something more flirtatious.


    Their eyes met, and Hertha''s knees turned to jelly, her rm morphing into something that fluttered like butterflies in her


    stomach.


    It was those very eyes, devilish and full of promise, that had made her fall head over heels for ric three years ago. And she


    hadn''t been able to shake him since.


    Now, with that same look, how in the world was she supposed to resist?


    "Why are you giving me that look?" Hertha''s cheeks blushed a shade of pink as she red at ric, half-annoyed and half-


    flustered.


    Was he trying to charm her again?


    He was practically still engaged to Georgia, for heaven''s sake. He was off-limits, and no matter how much Hertha''s heart ached


    for him, she wouldn''t let herself go there.


    Besides, she constantly reminded herself to keep a distance from ric. She couldn''t risk ending up like Thssa, who''d had


    her children snatched away from her arms.Copyright by N?v/elDrama.Org.


    Her children were her Achilles'' heel. She''d never let anyone, especially not ric,y a finger on them.


    No sooner had Hertha finished her thought than ric''s gaze slid down to his arm with a roguish smirk. "You''re already touching


    me. Is it a crime if | return the favor with just a nce?"


    Hertha was about to


    retort¡ªsomething about him bei


    shameless¡ª wae en, sheristiowet his


    eyas. Bei hand was clutching his


    arm, her grip strong enough to push


    his sleeve up and expose his arm''s


    sinewy, tan lines. Please read the


    original content at NovelDrama.Org.


    Their skin touched, and the warmth


    from his arm mingling with hers,


    sending a sho wayedtheat &¡ã


    sfrnigattoiner eart. It felt as though


    she''d grabbed a heated iron, and she


    jerked her hand away with a jolt.


    Please read the original content at


    NovelDrama.Org.


    Avoiding his gaze, she stammered, "Touching? That wasn''t touching. | was just... pulling you out of the way."


    "What''s got you so riled up that you


    need to pull me away? Is there


    something ov py thektddiepatk


    ypy\dan''t want me to see?" ric''s


    curiosity piqued as he made to peer


    around the house toward the


    yground. Please read the original


    content at NovelDrama.Org.


    Hertha''s heart leapt into her throat, the fear of ric spotting her kids kicking in. She reached out and yanked on his cor,


    pulling him back toward her.


    Her movement was both swift and forceful, and it sent ric stumbling a step closer into her personal space.

 Chapter 1423

    Chapter 1423


    Hertha barely came up to rie¡¯s shoulder, and as he stumbled beside her, his entire frame seemed to press down upon her,


    casting a shadow that enveloped her in its dark embrace. His gaze, which had been looking downward, met Hertha¡¯s face head¡ª


    on.


    Flushed with worry and anxiety, her cheeks bore a touch of pink, and her round, doe¡ªlike eyes were wide with surprise as they


    locked with his.


    ric hadn¡¯t expected to be this close to her se abruptly. He could feel her breath, quick and erratic, and the subtle scent of her


    body wash was unmistakable in the air.


    Awarmth spread through his lower belly, his throat tightening in response.


    Impulsiveness was ric¡¯s hallmark. He was never one to deny himself what he wanted.


    He lowered his head, his lips inching closer to Hertha¡¯s.


    The sight of his handsome face loomingrger before her, his breath warm upon her skin, sent Hertha¡¯s heart racing, her


    thoughts a tangled mess.


    Every inch of her body screamed to kiss him, yet her rationality held her back.


    Just as ric¡¯s lips were about to im hers, Hertha put up her hand, blocking him, her eyes wide with refusal. ¡°ric, this is too


    much,¡± she protested. ¡°In the corridor outside the meeting room, you acted out to spite your fianc¨¦e, and now this? By what right


    do you think you can kiss me?¡±


    ric¡¯s advance halted, his lips now touching only the coolness of Hertha¡¯s fingers. The heat from his lips shed with the chill


    of her fingertips, a fiery dance that sparked something wild within.


    Capturing her hand that had stopped his kiss, ric¡¯s voice was husky as he spoke, ¡°Isn¡¯t this what you wanted?¡±


    As he spoke, his fingertips gently caressed Hertha¡¯s arm, the rough touch against her smooth skin sending a tantalizing shiver


    through her.


    Hertha realized she was clutching his cor, pulling him down towards her, an action that was as ambiguous as it was


    suggestive.


    It looked like she was the one pulling him in for a kiss.


    Quickly, she let go of his cor, withdrawing her other hand from his grasp, and took a step back to put some distance between


    them. Her gaze darted around without focus, her voice losing its confidence as she said, ¡°You''re overthinking it. | just didn¡¯t want


    you to scare the kids in the neighborhood.¡±


    ¡°Scare them? Do | look that terrifying?¡± ric arched an eyebrow, his Adam¡¯s apple bobbing slightly, trying to suppress the desire


    that had been stirred.


    She had been so persistent in her pursuit of him because of his looks, and now she was


    1/2


    21-02


    dismissing him as if he were some kind of boogeyman. He had merely wanted to check out the local yground, and here she


    was, worried he''d frighten the local children with his


    uptown vibe. Please read the original


    content at NovelDrama.Org.


    Whatever pleasure ric had fel


    moments before wean r¨¦ced


    by anabyalide. Please read the


    original content at NovelDrama.Org.


    ¡°It''s not that you''re scary, it¡¯s just


    you''ve got this aura about you, not


    like the folks from around he


    parents a the yorsuhe afe mostly


    e Iv¡¯ ey''re not used to seeing


    someone like you. If they get


    intimidated, it''ll spoil their fun with


    the grandkids. | was concerned you''d


    be a disturbance, that¡¯s why | pulled


    you aside Please read the original


    content at NovelDrama.Org.


    Hertha, who had been at a loss for words to exin her earlier urgency, suddenly found herself with a usible excuse.


    But she hadn''t anticipated ric¡¯s follow-up question, which once again put her on the spot.Content is property of N?velDrama.Org.


    ¡°You don¡¯t have kids, nor do you have elders to watch them for you. How would you know how these grandparents would react


    to me?¡± nic inquired, his eyebrows lifted inquisitively, his captivating eyes hinting at something more.


    Hearing this, Hertha¡¯s heart skipped a beat. She had been proud of her quick wit, but now she felt like she had just shot herself


    in the foot


    Damn, how could she answer this question without raising ric¡¯s suspicions?

 Chapter 1424

    Chapter 1424


    210


    Hertha was wracking her brain, trying toe up with an answer.Belongs to ? n0velDrama.Org.


    nc¡¯s intense gaze was fixed on her, waiting for her response with stern anticipation.


    The seriousness of his stare left Hertha nowhere to hide. She felt a chill in her heart, her eyes darting around as she desperately


    searched for an excuse.


    But that¡¯s the thing about people, the more anxious they are, the less likely they are toe up with a good idea.


    ¡°Having trouble with the question?¡± ric asked, his eyebrow raised inquisitively as she remained silent.


    ¡°Of course not,¡± Hertha quickly retorted, finally finding her voice. ¡°I used to help Thssa with her four kids, you know. | spent a


    lot of time with Thssa¡¯s mother, Evelyn Pendleton, taking care of those children. So, | understand the concerns of the elderly.


    They worry about strangers who look too stern, fearing they might be kidnappers, or they stress over offending someone from an


    affluent household, fretting about making life difficult for themselves and the kids. You wouldn''t understand the fears of the less


    fortunate.¡±


    As ric pressed her for an answer, Hertha finally had her eureka moment. She hurriedly exined to ric, speaking quickly


    and breathlessly from her nerves.


    The conversation circled back to the divide between the elite ss and themoners.


    She hadn¡¯t meant to imply anything, but ric took it to heart.


    ¡®Do you care that much about social ss?¡± he frowned slightly.


    Was it the reason why she took the two million offered by his mother and left? Did she believe deep down that she could never


    marry him because of their social ss disparity?


    Hertha paused, a light chuckle escaping her as she grasped his implication. ¡°ric, you slept with me, taking your mother¡¯s two


    million was the least of what | deserved! It¡¯s not about social differences. It¡¯s about who¡¯s truly a match. Do you get it?¡±


    ¡°And you think I¡¯m not a match?¡± he asked, seizing the opportunity to probe deeper.


    For three years, he¡¯d been smothered by Georgia¡¯s fiery temper, often missing Hertha¡¯s straightforwardness and boldness.


    Out of all the women he¡¯d been with, it was Hertha he missed the most, and he couldn''t fathom why. Perhaps it was because she


    was the only one he had feelings for.


    Hertha was stunned. ric was actually asking her such questions. He had a fianc¨¦e, and asking her such a question seemed


    quite out of ce.


    There was no chance for her and him.


    ies


    ¡®Hertha, | haven¡¯t stopped thinking about you in the past three years...¡±


    ric¡¯s confession was abruptly interrupted by a sudden voice.


    Hertha, you''re back?


    The voice drew their attention


    Hertha and ric turned to see


    Spencer approaching. Tall and


    refined, with a schrl alt abautl |!


    i ce goleH med sses


    ahd carried two stic bags filled


    with groceries¡ªvegetables, meats,


    toilet paper, soy sauce, and even


    ingredients for a hearty Please read


    the original content at


    NovelDrama.Org.


    ster Please read the original content


    at NovelDrama.Org.


    He epitomized pc eee


    read the original conten ht


    Drainshovels.


    Seeing Spencer Hertha felt like she had been thrown a lifeline. Her tension eased instantly, and she walked towards him with


    relief. ¡®Spencer, did you hit the supermarket?¡±


    It wasn¡¯t a question but a casual greeting, the kind of mundane exchange that could have passed between them a hundred


    times, as natural and sinct as any between long-term


    partners.


    Watching Hertha approach Spencer, ric noted the tone of ease and familiarity of their exchange,


    It was like the everyday talks between his own parents.


    It was clear¡ªthey had thefortable, natural rapport of a married couple.


    And with that, ric¡¯s desire to confess his love for Hertha sank like a stone.

 Chapter 1425

    Chapter 1425


    The warmth in ric¡¯s heart had no chance to surface before it was cruelly drowned in the ocean.


    His face darkened as he watched Hertha and Spencer exchanging greetings casually.


    Still holding onto a thread of hope, he questioned, ¡°You both live here?¡±


    ¡°Yeah, is there a problem?¡± Hertha answered without hesitation, her eyes calm and steady after an initial flicker of panic.


    ¡°Mr. Falconer, I''ve heard Hertha mention you before. It¡¯s worth celebrating to see old friends, isn¡¯t it? I¡¯ve just picked up some


    stuff for a barbecue tonight, why don¡¯t you join us?¡± Spencer invited with a friendly smile.


    ¡°Oh,e on! He¡¯s now the Vice President of Falconer Group, busy managing a huge business empire. He¡¯s much too


    unavable for a casual dinner with us,¡± Hertha said, her voice cool as she declined on ric¡¯s behalf.


    Thest thing she wanted was for ric to linger. How could she possibly want him to stay for dinner?


    Especially when her kids mighte back home any minute now. That would push her world to a whirlwind.


    Hertha was eager to send ric away now. But to him, her excuses sounded like a


    different message.


    Hertha was mocking him, suggesting he only got the Vice President position because of the Reed family¡¯s connections.


    And that his busy schedule was filled with obligations to the Reeds.


    ric felt a sharp pain in his heart, as if it had been pricked by needles. His very bones felt as if they were soaked in brine,


    heavy and sour.


    Three


    years can witness a lot.Copyright by N?v/elDrama.Org.


    In the end, Hertha had married Spencer! They lived together, and the way theymunicated was distinctly that of a married


    couple.


    Yes, three years ago Hertha had said it herself that her interest in ric was fleeting, but her feelings for Spencer were genuine.


    Spencer was a good match for her, the one to share her life with.


    She had taken the Falconer family¡¯s money and spent it without a second thought, but she wouldn¡¯t let Spencer spend a dime


    more than necessary. What a harsh reality.


    Her earlier words echoed in ric¡¯s mind. He wasn¡¯t right for her, while Spencer was the


    112


    (TAT


    perfect match.


    How foolish he had been to think he could start over with Hertha after three years. He once looked down on Hertha, but now, he


    was the one left in the dust.


    If you don¡¯t seize fate at its peak, you would miss it for a lifetime. Everyone pays a price for their arrogance and foolishness.


    ric¡¯s heart trembled with pain, but


    he maintained a mocking,codle


    is facespre¨¦derving thest shred


    of his dignity. Please read the original


    content at NovelDrama.Org.


    ¡°You lovebirds enjoy your meal. I¡¯ve


    got work to do. I''ll Re effghessial "''


    strats batand driving away.


    Please read the original content at


    NovelDrama.Org.


    Hertha stood by Spencer, watchi


    ric¡¯s car dis earcinto the O


    disrarae! Pidase read the original


    content at NovelDrama.Org.


    As the sleek, blue¡ªgray Maserati faded away, Hertha finally let out a sigh of relief.


    That was close. ric had almost discovered her children.


    As tough as she was, she couldn¡¯t stand against the Falconer family, so the best strategy was to keep her children¡¯s existence a


    secret from them.


    ¡°Sorry about that, | didn¡¯t mean to give him the wrong idea.¡± Hertha said, snapping back to reality and apologizing to Spencer.


    Spencer''s lips curled with a smile that held a tinge of bitterness.


    ¡°You like him, don¡¯t you? Why didn¡¯t you exin?¡± he asked.


    ¡°Ah, liking someone and seeing the reality are two different things. Anyway, do you think you¡¯ve bought too much for just us to


    eat?¡± Hertha deflected, eyeing the bags in Spencer¡¯s hands.


    ¡°| bought it to share with you guys,¡± Spencer said, his voice soft.

 Chapter 1426

    Chapter 1426


    Chapter 1426


    ¡°You really shouldn¡¯t have, I¡¯m starting to feel bad about this,¡± Hertha chuckled, scratching her head.


    Spencer lived in the same apartmentplex, so when ric had asked Hertha if they both resided there, she confirmed it


    without hesitation. They were even in the same building, albeit on different floors.


    So, Hertha¡¯s response to ric wasn¡¯t totally a lie.


    ¡°Oh c¡¯mon, you''re always dropping by with cookies or a pie for me. It¡¯s just being neighborly, no need for any awkwardness,¡±


    Spencer said with an amiable smile.


    ¡°Mommy, Uncle Spencer!¡±


    When Hertha and Spencer chatted, two sweet, cooing voices rang out, their little owners excitedly calling out for Hertha and


    Spencer.


    The adorable lilt in their voices instantly melted Hertha¡¯s heart. She turned around, looking down to see two little cherubs


    toddling towards her, their short legs carrying them as fast as they could, like a pair of bouncy balls rolling their way.


    Julian huffed and puffed as he ran, while Helena¡¯s pigtail bounces charmed the world with each step she took.


    All of Hertha¡¯s nerves and difort vanished instantly, reced by the glow of maternal love radiating from within.


    Quickly stepping forward, she bent down to scoop up the little one leading the charge.


    ¡°Julian,e to Mommy!¡± Hertha lifted Julian, nuzzling her cheek against his soft little


    face.


    The tender, squishy feeling was like hugging a marshmallow, overwhelming Hertha withBelongs to ? n0velDrama.Org.


    adoration.


    ¡°Mommy, | want a hug, too!¡± Helena, born an hour after Julian and slightly more delicate, had never managed to outrun her


    brother.


    It was always Julian who raced into their mother¡¯s arms first, with Helena trailing behind, her cheeks flushed with effort.


    Spencer was about to set down his things to pick up Helena, but feeling a twinge of sympathy, Hertha quickly said, ¡°Let me, it¡¯s


    okay, I¡¯m strong enough to handle both.¡±


    With that, she bent over and gathered Helena into her embrace.


    Holding a two-year-old child in each arm was no trouble at all.


    Holding Julian in her right arm and Helena in her left, Hertha had already shared a tender


    1/2


    17:17 Please read the original


    content at NovelDrama.Org.


    moment cheek to cheek with Julian.


    Now she showered Helena ith ihe


    same aff ctjonprraetng at her even


    GREOUINS presence. The sweet


    scent of baby filled her nostrils, and


    her heart melted. Please read the


    original content at NovelDrama.Org.


    ¡°Oh, my precious little ones, Mommy


    loves you both more than NGlcees aah


    say, Hert a.coppdh neribve


    vai ing like the softest cotton,


    ready to burst from the depths of her


    being. Please read the original


    content at NovelDrama.Org.


    Before she had children of her own, Hertha had always been affectionate towards Thssa¡¯s kids, but now that she had


    Julian and Helena, her love towards children had doubled.


    It was true that people always found their own children more lovable and more delightful.


    Hertha treasured every day with her children by her side and couldn''t bear the thought of ever losing any of them to the Falconer


    family.


    ¡°| forgot to bring drinks when we came out, and the kids were getting thirsty. | was just about to head up for some when | saw


    you and Spencer downstairs, Bridget exined with a warm smile, touched by Hertha¡¯s love for the children.


    Bridget was familiar with Spencer, as he was a regr at their family dinners.


    ¡°| just ran into Hertha downstairs moments ago. We were about to head up to your ce for a potluck dinner,¡± Spencer added,


    maintaining his polite smile as he slightly lifted the bag he was carrying.

 Chapter 1427

    Chapter 1427


    Because his hands were full, Spencer couldn''t scoop Helena up earlier.


    Realization dawned on Bridget, and she hurried over to take the bags from Spencer''s hands. "Wow, Spencer, you''ve got quite


    the haul here! Let me help you with that. I''ll go whip up a nice stew for us."


    Bridget was both enthusiastic and diligent.


    Spencer didn''t protest, letting Bridget take the bags from him. He stepped forward and took Helena from Hertha''s arms. "Come


    here, Uncle Spencer''s got you."


    Helena didn''t resist. In fact, she seemed eager to be held by Spencer.


    Hertha, who had been holding the two kids, could manage for a while, but her arms were starting to ache now. Without a word,


    she let Spencer take Helena.


    Helena looked up at Spencer with her big, sparkling eyes, her voice soft and curious, "Uncle Spencer, are you our daddy? All the


    kids in the neighborhood have daddies, but my brother and | don''t."


    This question caught both Spencer and Hertha off guard. Hertha quickly intervened, "Helena, Uncle Spencer is not your daddy.


    Your daddy... he''s off on a mission in outer space to save the gxy.¡±


    Hertha was telling a tall tale, of course. Their real dad had just been sent packing by her.


    Lucky for her, she had sent him away just in time. Otherwise, he would have witnessed the two children running up to call her


    "mommy".


    He would have also heard Helena asking why they didn''t have a daddy.Content is property of N?velDrama.Org.


    ric was no fool. He would definitely have guessed that Helena and Julian were his kids if he heard their words.


    "Like a superhero off to space?" Julian asked, his curiosity piqued.


    "Yep, just like a superhero, with glowing eyes and all," Hertha confirmed with vigorous nods, serious as a judge.


    The kids were still young and gullible, likely to believe any stories she made up.


    But when they got older, she feared her fibs wouldn''t hold up.


    Well, she thought, one step at a time. When the kids grew up, she''d find other excuses. No one was going to take her children


    away.


    The kids didn''t ask any more questions.


    Spencer gave Hertha a meaningful look that left her feeling awkward, but she didn''t offer any exnation as they both entered


    the apartment building.


    Back at Hertha¡¯''s ce, Bridget was bustling in the kitchen, while the kids were ying in the toy room.


    Hertha and Spencer sat on the couch.


    Spencer had been wanting to ask her


    something, and now sepmeqikeithe


    right moment. 86) You Saw him


    Aah How did it feel?" Please read


    the original content at


    NovelDrama.Org.


    Hertha was snacking on some fruit, and paused at his question, well aware that the ¡®he¡¯ referred to ric.


    She replied, "No feelings, really. Just helping out a friend. | won''t be seeing him again."


    "Do you really think you can go your


    whole life without anymare, contact


    hi Speier asked seriously.


    Please read the original content at


    NovelDrama.Org.


    Three years prior, Spencer had


    nned to propose to Hertha. He had


    discussed it with ney Barge¡±


    waiustekeutts @ it official. But


    th¨¦n Hertha came to him and


    confessed her love for another man


    named ric, and revealed that she


    was pregnant with his children.


    Please read the original content at


    NovelDrama.Org.


    That revtion had hit Spencer like a ton of bricks.

 Chapter 1428

    Chapter 1428


    Before Hertha sought him out, Spencer had always thought Hertha had special feelings for him.


    Otherwise, why would she care so much about saving him a few bucks?


    They say when a woman is penny-pinching for a man, it''s because she''s got visions of white picket fences and kids ying in


    the yard¡ªcasting every penny towards a future together.


    Spencer had thought just that. He figured Hertha was sweet on him, dreaming of a cozy household. And it didn''t hurt that he was


    quite taken with her easygoing nature¡ªgenerous, hearty, and without pretense.


    It had been ages since he''d found a woman he could just rx with.


    So, he decided to settle down with Hertha. He met her parents, even suggested a sit-down between both of their parents to talk


    wedding bells and all that jazz.


    He thought it would all fall into ce smoothly¡ªhim and Hertha tying the knot under the beaming smiles of their parents, having


    kids, and living the dream together.


    But the night before the big parental meet-and-greet, Hertha came to him. She was straightforward, telling him she''d fallen for


    ric, and she was carrying his children.


    Spencer was in the midst of nning the family rendezvous at the hotel when she dropped the bombshell. All his hopes and


    dreams shattered in that instant.


    The woman he thought he''d spend his life with suddenly became a distant stranger.


    It felt like a knife to his heart, and he couldn''t swallow the news she''d so casually tossed at him.


    But then Hertha continued, ¡°I''m telling you now so you can cut your losses. Don''t waste your time on me. There''s still time for


    you to find someone else. With your catch, you''ll surely find a better woman to marry.¡±


    With that, Spencer had his lightbulb moment¡ªHertha was an honest and considerate woman, which is why she told him the


    score when it mattered most.


    Awoman with less scruples would''ve kept mum, married him knowing full well it wouldn''t work out with ric, and let him y


    daddy to another man''s children for a lifetime.


    Spencer was heartbroken at first, and he did me Hertha for getting his hopes up only to dash them.


    But he came to terms with it eventually. He was even thankful to Hertha for spilling the beans in time. Otherwise, he''d have been


    in way over his head.


    And as fate would have it, Hertha ended up buying an apartment in his neighborhood. Chance had them bumping into each


    other in theplex. Seeing her with the baby bump, Spencer became more protective of her naturally.


    Gradually, they grew into friends.Belongs to ? n0velDrama.Org.


    Hertha let out a wry smile, her gaze on the floor though her eyescked focus. ¡°I didn''t have a choice in this.¡±


    If she could have her way, she''d be


    with ric, starting a family and


    spending a lifetime together Het Kids


    both mom and


    dad in a healthy home environment.


    And, honestly, she was so into ric


    that her heart skipped a beat every


    time she saw him. Please read the


    original content at NovelDrama.Org.


    If she had the freedom of choice,


    she''d be with ric in a hearbegtn


    rather than-spending GaSife without


    ase estan to him. But his social


    ss was out of her league. Please


    read the original content at


    NovelDrama.Org.


    Besides, ric was practically


    engaged now, and no matterchow 1)


    yt te onesie he ties of


    interest would likely see them


    married in the end. Please read the


    original content at NovelDrama.Org.


    She wouldn''t be the third wheel between ric and his Georgia.


    "Ms. Kensington, the fondue''s ready. Can you help me bring out the broth?" Bridget called from the kitchen.


    "On my way!" Hertha shot up from her seat.


    Just as she was about to head over, a strong hand clutched her wrist, pulling her back down onto the couch.

 Chapter 1429

    Chapter 1429


    ¡°Let me. The pot is heavy." Spencer said with a note of concern, heading toward the kitchen.


    It made sense. Spencer had the kind of steadiness and strength that made handling the heavy pot a safer bet.


    She was a woman, and not just any woman, but one who had grown notably thinner and more delicate after the birth of her


    children. The fatigue of motherhood had sapped some of her strength, leaving her less equipped for such tasks.


    Without a word, Hertha watched Spencer''s tall frame disappear into the kitchen, her gaze slightly unfocused.


    Over the past three years, Spencer had been extraordinarily kind and gentle with her. He took care of her in every possible way,


    attending to the smallest details of her life.


    To an outsider, it might seem as though he was her husband. His kindness stirred a blend of guilt and helplessness in Hertha''s


    heart.


    She knew there would never be any romantic possibilities between them, no shared future. Yet Spencer continued to treat her


    with such tenderness that she couldn''t help but wonder if he still harbored feelings for her.


    ¡°Hertha, what are you daydreaming about? Dinner''s ready," Spencer called out in a cultured tone.


    Snapping back to reality, Hertha managed an awkward smile and took her seat at the table, reverting to her usual warm and


    friendly self.


    "Spencer, here''s your fork. Try this sesame sauce | got the other day. | think it''s absolutely divine." She began to mix the dressing


    for him, their interaction as easy as two best friends.


    ¡°| can handle it. Don''t worry, | won''t get the wrong idea," Spencer said, taking the bottle from her with a polite smile. He could see


    right through Hertha''s careful charade. Her overly enthusiastic warmth andck of boundaries were her way of signaling that she


    saw him as nothing more than a friend, urging him not to read too much into their interactions.


    Her daydreaming earlier must have been about this very issue.


    Spencer was a sharp man, and after three years of being close to Hertha, he hade to understand her quite well. He could


    deduce her thoughts from a single nce or gesture.


    "Ha, you really have a sixth sense, don''t you? You see right through me. By the way, why haven''t | seen you on any dates


    lately?" Hertha asked with a chuckle.


    "I''ve got a girlfriend now. Why would | need to date?" Spencer casually replied while preparing a te of thinly sliced roast beef.


    "What?"


    The news hit Hertha like a thunderbolt. She was stunned momentarily. Her gasp of astonishment caught the attention of Julian


    and Helena, who had been ying contentedly on their colorful foam mats.


    The two little ones looked up at Hertha with their big, innocent eyes ¡ª eyes as endearing and curious as two teddy bears, filled


    with concern.


    ¡°Mummy, what''s wrong?" Julian''s young brow furrowed in confusion.


    ¡°Mummy, are you okay? Helena will blow on it to make it better," Helena said, her chubby hands struggling to push herself up


    from the floor.


    "Ms. Kensington, did you burn


    yourself? You should run it u


    some xa " Bridget EalPas She


    chrteSlit of the kitchen with a bowl


    of freshly washed sd, her voice


    laced with worry. Please read the


    original content at NovelDrama.Org.


    Realizing that everyone had


    misunderstood her exmation,


    Hertha quickly rifi vo, G51!


    fing didntGburh'' myself | was just


    surprised by Spencer¡¯ good news. It''s


    okay, don''t worry. Helena, keep


    ying, Mummy will feed you ina


    bit." Please read the original content


    at NovelDrama.Org.


    She rushed to soothe the children''s


    emotions. Her little ones mi


    young, but they were @oredid y


    pe et love for her was not just


    dependency, but also concern.


    Please read the original content at


    NovelDrama.Org.


    Hertha felt a warmth in her heart.


    "You seem more worked up about this than my own parents would be," Spencer remarked with a chuckle, casting an amused


    nce her way.


    This text is ? N?velDrama/.Org.

 Chapter 1430

    Chapter 1430


    Hertha took a hearty gulp of her soda, a cheeky grin spreading across her face as she turned to Spencer, "I''m just so stoked for


    you, man. Congrats! When the big dayes around, you must send me an invitation."


    As she spoke, Hertha grabbed a couple of cans from the cooler, popped one open for Spencer and another for herself. She


    raised her can towards him, "Here''s to you. I''d toast with a beer, but soda will have to do for now."


    Her sincerity was unmistakable. She was genuinely thrilled for Spencer. At least he hadn''t been hurt or be cynical about


    love because of anything she''d done.


    Spencer, who had always talked about tying the knot, now had a girlfriend. It seemed like wedding bells were just around the


    corner.


    Without any pretense, Spencer clinked his can against Hertha''s and nced over at Helena, who had settled back onto her


    beanbag chair, a warm smile on his lips. "Thanks for the well-wishes. | hope to have a little girl as adorable as your Helena


    someday."Belongs to ? n0velDrama.Org.


    The way Helena had worried over Hertha, eager to rush over to her side, had truly touched Spencer.


    Helena was just a tiny bundle herself, yet her first instinct was to look out for the ones she loved most.


    Perhaps the greatest treasure in this world was having children of your own.


    "Ha, you think so? | think Helena¡¯s pretty cute, too. I''m sure once you''re hitched, you''ll have a smart and pretty daughter," Hertha


    replied with augh.


    "Fingers crossed," said Spencer, his kind eyes twinkling behind his wire-rimmed sses. He was the epitome of a family man:


    caring, considerate, and genuinely fond of kids.


    Any woman lucky enough to marry him was bound to be happy. He always treated women with utmost respect and affection.


    Hertha managed a smile, but she felt a twinge of bitterness inside. It seemed like she was destined to remain single for life.


    After dinner, Spencer left.


    Hertha and Bridget fed the twins respectively.


    The adults had enjoyed a fondue dinner, whereas the babies had their own specially prepared meals.


    Since Helena and Julian were still too young to eat on their own, and Hertha didn''t want them to go hungry or be


    undernourished, she decided to feed them herself. There would be plenty of time to encourage independence when they were


    older.


    At bedtime, Hertha cuddled up with her two little bundles, telling them stories until their eyes drifted shut.


    Once the children were asleep, Hertha finally took a moment for herself and headed to the bathroom for a shower.


    Over at Royal Estates, Thssa filled the tub with warm water before returning to the bedside to prepare Lysander for his bath.


    She bathed Lysander daily, knowing


    how much he valued cleanli sghie


    would fee| unopnfoH@ble if he didn''t


    wash Wer day. Even now in his


    vegetative state, she didn¡¯t forget his


    habit. Please read the original


    content at NovelDrama.Org.


    She positioned the wheelchair next to


    the bed, lifted him gently, his arm


    over her shoulder, her other aT


    wrapped rqunqnsistbng waist.


    Dedbite his weight pressing down on


    her, bending her spine with the


    burden, she held firm, inching him


    towards the wheelchair before


    carefully setting him down. Please


    read the original content at


    NovelDrama.Org.


    For three years, she had been moving


    Lysander from the bed to the


    wheelchair, ONS birpstesthec 1"


    bathrognmifor hi KigBath every day. At


    first, she needed Fitch''s help, but as


    her strength and technique improved,


    she could manage the entire process


    herself. Please read the original


    content at NovelDrama.Org.


    In the steamy bathroom, Thssa knelt beside Lysander, unbuttoning his silk pajamas one by one.


    With each button undone, his muscr chest was revealed, his skin''s texture exuding a sensual masculinity.


    His muscles, as always, were a perfect blend of strength and beauty.

 Chapter 1431

    Chapter 1431


    Thssa crouched down, feeling Lysander''s breath on the crown of her head. His exhale was warm and forceful, synchronizing


    with her own breathing, making it slow and heavy.


    For three years, she had bathed him, and each time, her body reacted to his. No matter how many times she saw him, it always


    felt like the first, a mix of fascination and heartache.


    She wished for a miracle, for him to suddenly open his eyes, grab her wrist, and demand in that imperious tone of his, "What are


    you doing? Keep staring and I''ll pluck those eyes right out!"


    But miracles never happened.


    Thssa''s hope had gradually sunk into a deep, aching dread. She feared that Lysander might never wake up.


    Lost in her thoughts, she had already stripped him down. Supporting his weight, she prepared to lift him into the bathtub.


    Water had pooled on the tiles, which she failed to notice. Her feet slipped on the slick surface.


    "Ah!" Thssa yelped, her heart skipping a beat. Her first instinct was to protect Lysander from falling. She clutched at him and


    used all her strength to keep him upright.


    But their bnce was lost, and they both slid to the floor.


    Shended on her bottom with a thud, her back emitting a dull grunt, and her head smacking the ground.


    "Ouch!"


    Lysander''s body copsed onto hers, the impact sending a shock through her chest.


    The pain from the double assault caused her head to spin, her heart nearly stopping.


    She held her breath for a moment and waited for the disorientation to pass.


    Thankfully, she had managed to pull Lysander down on top of her in the moment of the fall, preventing him from hitting the floor.


    Another fall could have been disastrous for him in his vegetative state.


    With Lysander''s face pressed against hers, she could feel the firmness of his skin and the warmth of his temperature. His breath


    and warmth were normal, at least proving he was still very much alive.


    She shouldn''t have been distracted by the fear of Lysander not waking up for three years. Him being alive was the best oue,


    wasn''t it?


    With a furrowed brow, Thssa eased the pain in her tailbone and then propped herself on Lysander''s shoulders, attempting to


    push him off.


    Only by pushing him away could she get up. It wasn''t a good time to call for help either, considering Lysander was stark naked.


    How embarrassing it would be if someone walked in on them.


    Even though Lysander was


    unconscious, she c jo e?


    fa Gohity. She had to


    protect it. Please read the original


    content at NovelDrama.Org.


    ¡°Lysander, I''m so sorry." she apologized guiltily while pushing against his shoulders.


    Lifting him slightly, she began to wiggle out from underneath.


    But as she moved, she felt a stirrin


    against her wAra\ is \asensetl


    she hadninekpet nced for three


    years. Please read the original


    content at NovelDrama.Org.


    Now, however...


    Belongs to ? n0velDrama.Org.


    Thssa''s pupils dted, her heart


    leaping into her throat. Holding up his


    shoulders, she trie elook ions ''


    evs penvdiceltretnbling with


    excitement, "Lysander, you''re


    responding, aren''t you? Lysander, it''s


    Thssa, look at me!" Please read


    the original content at


    NovelDrama.Org.

 Chapter 1432

    Chapter 1432


    It had been three years¡ªthree long years of silence and stillness¡ªwhen finally, Lysander showed signs of reaction. Thssa''s


    heart surged with emotion, her eyes stinging with tears that threatened to spill over.


    She propped Lysander up by his shoulders, desperately seeking eye contact, but his head lolled forward, devoid of the will to


    hold itself up.


    Thssa''s hands trembled slightly, one hand supporting his shoulder, the other gently cradling his face, lifting it so she could


    look at him directly.


    Through her teary haze, she saw that Lysander''s eyes remained closed, his handsome face tranquil, showing no sign of change.


    The flicker of hope in Thssa¡¯s heart plummeted immediately.This text is ? N?velDrama/.Org.


    Everything before her confirmed the harsh reality: Lysander had not yet awakened.


    Her frantic heartbeat gradually subsided, her breath slowing from its initial panicked pace.


    Gently, sheid Lysander back down on the ground. Standing up, she helped him into a seated position, taking in every detail of


    his form with a rity that belied her earlier panic.


    She hadn''t been mistaken. Lysander had indeed responded. At the very least, he had some awareness now.


    This was a significant breakthrough.


    And where there''s progress, there''s hope.


    Thssa fought to contain her excitement, maneuvering Lysander into the bathtub to soak in the warm water. She poured in


    some shower gel and meticulously bathed him, her hands moving over his back as the steam from the bath fogged the air and


    warmed her cheeks, her heart pounding¡ªnot just from the heat of the room, but from a shy bashfulness.


    The intimacy of aman and a woman in such close quarters was bound to elicit shyness in Thssa, no matter how routine the


    task had be.


    ¡°Lysander, am | being too rough? Does your back hurt?" Thssa murmured, half to herself, half to him.


    Even without a reply, she continued to converse with Lysander, a daily ritual she had maintained for three years.


    "I''m scrubbing a bit harder in case your back itches," she said to the silence.


    ¡°Lysander, rest assured, | will find a way to wake you up," Thssa vowed, her voice thick with emotion, her resolve unwavering.


    Her confidence had wavered before, but she felt a change in Lysander today. She saw it with her own eyes and the light in her


    dim world brightened once more.


    The next day, Thssa drove to Hertha''s workce.


    Hertha was hunched over herputer, engrossed in a sketch, when a knock on her desk startled her. She looked up and saw


    Thssa. "Thssa! What a surprise to see you here at the office!"


    The surprise was a delight, making Hertha feel cherished in Thssa''s heart.


    "Shh, keep it down, will you? Don''t disturb your colleagues," Thssa reminded her with caution.


    Hertha''s enthusiasm was as infectious as ever.


    "Oh, right. Let''s go to the break room,"


    Hertha said, a We assas aiid


    apg aueinenen et eS bustled


    about, fixing eee a cup of


    coffee. Please read the original


    content at NovelDrama.Org.


    "Sit down, Hertha. I''ve got some good news to tell you," Thssa said, cutting to the chase.


    Hertha ced the coffee in front of Thssa. "Try this. | brought from home,¡± she offered.


    "Isn''t today the day ric is meeting


    with Dr. Funke?" Thssa as


    getting st aightyorkipomnt: er mind


    Wad wibli ly VF cused on finding a cure


    for Lysander, and everything else


    seemed trivial. Please read the


    original content at NovelDrama.Org.


    "I''ve texted him this morning," Hertha


    an ''He''s LMC nerwit Dr.


    nke at five. ASO METS dus not to


    rry about it. He''s confident he can


    persuade the doctor." Please read the


    original content at NovelDrama.Org.


    Thssa nodded, taking a sip of the coffee. Her resolve was clear: she would do anything to bring Lysander back to the light.

 Chapter 1433

    Chapter 1433


    ric was Lysander''s good friend, and he was determined to y his part in helping Lysander¡¯s recovery.


    Thssa knew how eager ric was to help, but her confidence was on shaky ground. What if ric couldn¡¯t persuade Dr.


    Funke toe on board?


    The desperation to get Dr. Funke to treat Lysander was eating Thssa up. Just yesterday, Lysander had started showing signs


    of improvement. If they could keep the momentum going, he might wake up soon.


    But time was a fickle friend. If they missed this chance, who knew when Lysander might show another sign of life?


    They simply couldn''t let this window of opportunity close on them.


    With a sense of urgency in her voice, Thssa said, ¡°We need to suss out where ric and his crew hang out for dinner. We''ll


    book the private dining room next to theirs. If ric can¡¯t seal the deal, we''ll be there to cut Dr. Funke off at the pass.¡±


    ¡°But what if Dr. Funke refuses? Cornering him might not change his mind,¡± Hertha pointed out.


    Thssa¡¯s eyes hardened with resolve. ¡°I''ll make sure he agrees to treat Lysander.¡±


    Hertha was swept up by Thssa¡¯s unwavering gaze and found her own determination bolstered.


    ¡°| love that confidence! I''ll get the scoop right now. And if Dr. Funke ys hardball, | swear I''ll drag him to Royal Estates myself!¡±


    Infused with righteous indignation, Hertha whipped out her phone and shot a message to ric.


    ric responded immediately.


    Hertha excitedly shared the details to Thssa, ¡°5:30 PM at the Emerald Restaurant, the Harmony Room.¡±


    ¡°Perfect, I''ll take care of things this afternoon then,¡± Thssa said, standing to leave.


    ¡°Don''t go alone, wait for me,¡± Hertha reminded her.


    That afternoon, Thssa and Hertha arrived at the Emerald Restaurant together on time.


    Following a waiter, they were about to slip into the private room when they heard voices near the entrance.


    ¡°Dr. Funke, | hear you''re back in the game not just to heal, but to scout out some fresh talent,¡± ric''s voice floated through the


    air.


    ¡°You''ve done your homework, Mr. Falconer. Every practitioner dreams of finding a sessor. I¡¯m no different,¡± Dr. Funke


    admitted without reservation.


    ¡°Quick, let''s get inside,¡± Thssa urged in a low voice, pushing Hertha into the neighboring room of the Harmony Room to avoid


    being seen. They were there as a backup n in case ric failed to convince Dr. Funke, not to sabotage ric¡¯s efforts.


    Thssa and Hertha quickly slipped into the private room next door while ric and Dr. Funke were led by the waiter into the


    Harmony Room.


    ric was the epitome of courtesy as he handed the menu to Dr. Funke. ¡°You''re the man of the hour. You do the honors.¡±


    ¡°You''ve got a different style from the other suits I¡¯ve met,¡± Dr. Funke chuckled.


    Dr. Funke had recently published a


    new edition of his book on hi


    techniques nd sov¨¦fallsbrmpanies


    Ratecianicy the publishing rights.


    He had been courted by quite a few


    other executives. Please read the


    original content at NovelDrama.Org.


    Those business types, with their cunning gestures and airs of superiority, were nothing like ric¡¯sid-back vibe.Copyright by N?v/elDrama.Org.


    ¡°To be honest, if it wasn¡¯t for family


    obligations, | wouldn''t be in busi


    I''d rather an ondinaryrife,


    fledlsei i \v ric said, a roguish


    smile ying on his lips. Please read


    the original content at


    NovelDrama.Org.


    Dr. Funke let out a soft chuckle and


    took a sip of his water. ¡°You might


    have the wrong idea ebput ocifnary!


    forks: aney Break their backs every


    day just getting by. They don''t have


    time for freedom when life''s


    pressures are enough to bend them


    in half.¡± Please read the original


    content at NovelDrama.Org.


    ¡°Dr. Funke, are you still willing to work with me?¡± ric furrowed his brows, sensing that he may not have won the doctor over


    entirely.

 Chapter 1434

    Chapter 1434


    Dr. Funke paused, a smile creeping onto his face as he set down his water ss on the tabletop. "ric, if | were solely looking


    for a businessman to partner with, you wouldn''t stand a chance of having dinner with me."


    "| get it, Dr. Funke. You''re after a businessman with a bit of ir," ric replied, his furrowed brows rxing into a light, teasing


    grin. He reached for the pitcher beside him and topped up Dr. Funke''s ss with a little more water.


    Assured that Dr. Funke bore no ill will, ric rxed. Before long, the server brought over their dishes, and ric swapped out


    Dr. Funke''s ss for a clean one, uncorked a bottle of wine and poured him a drink.


    "Dr. Funke, in light of our serendipitous meeting, we simply must toast to it today," he insisted.


    Dr. Funke seemed like an ordinary-looking man in his fifties, speaking with humor and wit, yet there was a sincerity to him. He


    quickly put up his hand to stop ric from pouring the wine for him. "I can''t drink, | still have to driveter."


    "lll call a cab to take you hometer. It''s not every day we hit it off like this. We can''t do without a drink," ric said, resolutely


    pouring Dr. Funke a ss nheless.


    Then, he poured one for himself.


    Dr. Funke chuckled. "It seems Mr. Falconer is quite the charmer. You must have quite a following ofdies."


    ric hesitated, then asked with curiosity, "How can you tell I''m adies'' man?"


    Dr. Funke just smiled.


    "Have some food, please." ric said, using the serving utensils to dish out food for Dr. Funke.


    "See, that''s your answer," Dr. Funke gestured at ric''s actions.


    Anyone like ric, who took care of others, showing it in every little detail and even serving food naturally, carried a maic


    field of likability. They would attract women easily, and once a woman is drawn in, resistance is often futile.


    Such men are good men if faithful; if fickle, they are scoundrels. Every scoundrel has a charm that easily captures a woman''s


    heart.Material ? of N?velDrama.Org.


    ric was momentarily taken aback, thenughed, "Dr. Funke, you do have a great sense of humor." Naturally handsome, his


    smile was captivating.


    Even a man of fifty like Dr. Funke couldn''t help but be dazzled.


    Dr. Funke took a bite of his food, a smile ying on his lips, "Mr. Falconer, did you bring the contract with you today?"


    "Right here," ric replied, pulling the


    contract from his briefcase and


    sliding it across the tablet, HOT"!


    keae\htad!domne alone to


    negotiate with Dr. Funke, even


    leaving his assistant behind, so


    naturally, he carried the contract


    himself. Please read the original


    content at NovelDrama.Org.


    Dr. Funke took the contract, looked it over carefully, and signed his name at the bottom without hesitation.


    ric was puzzled by his decisiveness, and asked, "Don''t you want to ask about the specifics? Aren''t you worried there might be


    a catch?"


    Dr. Funke closed the contract and


    said, "It''s all there in ck and white.


    Youll distribute my book.on


    acy pegetne reaKayced to hospitals,


    schools, and bookstores, maximizing


    its impact and educating more


    people about acupuncture. Plus,


    there''s a bonus for me. What''s not to


    understand?" Please read the original


    content at NovelDrama.Org.


    Dr. Funke was straightforward, and


    ricughed, "Dr. Funke, by turni


    your exclusive teehgiquk¡¯s info S Book


    fongd hate, you''re ensuring the


    legacy of acupuncture thrives


    through the generations. You''re the


    true hero here." Please read the


    original content at NovelDrama.Org.


    He lifted his ss to Dr. Funke, "This one''s to your spirit of preserving and passing on the culture of acupuncture."

 Chapter 1435

    Chapter 1435


    Dr. Funke couldn''t resist the charm of a good toast, so he lifted his ss to clink with ric¡¯s, and together they drained their


    drinks to thest drop.


    ric had the gift of gab, and as he shared drinks with Dr. Funke, he spun tales that made the doctor''s heart swell with joy.


    As the dinner was about to be over, and with Dr. Funke evidently in high spirits, ric decided it was time to broach the day''s


    most pressing matter.


    "Dr. Funke, your humanitarian spirit is known far and wide. You can''t stand by and watch a patient suffer, can you?" ric''s eyes


    shimmered with a drunken mirth as he looked at Dr. Funke.


    Despite his rosy cheeks, Dr. Funke¡¯s mind remained clear. Sensing the underlying message in ric¡¯s words, he replied, "Mr.


    Falconer, if there''s something on your mind, I¡¯m d to listen."


    ¡°Well, I''ll be straight to the point then," ric said, his typically roguish gaze turning earnest and serious. "I have a friend,


    Lysander, who had an ident three years ago. Took a nasty hit to the head and has been in aa ever since. Dr. Funke,


    you''re known for your miraculous acupuncture skills. Could you, perhaps, treat him?"


    Dr. Funke had a peculiar habit when it came to healing. He only treated those he felt drawn to help. Otherwise, he wouldn''t take


    on the case.


    In his own words, he treated those he felt a karmic connection with. With so much suffering in the world, it was impossible to


    attend to everyone. He was no saint, after all.


    Whether he would agree to treat Lysander hinged entirely on whether he wanted to.


    ric had waited until the evening''s revelries had reached their peak before bringing up his request, hoping to maximize the


    chances of a favorable answer.


    "Is this Lysander the same man those two women were inquiring about the other day?" Dr. Funke inquired.


    "Yes, Lysander is not only the father of one of the women''s four children but also my best friend,¡± ric revealed without


    reservation.Material ? of N?velDrama.Org.


    ¡°One of those women is a mother, and the other is still single, if | recall. The single one confessed her feelings to me just the


    other day, and I''m still waiting to see whates of it. Perhaps you should leave this matter to me, Mr. Falconer," Dr. Funke said


    with a hint of longing, rising to his feet to leave.


    ric felt a sudden sobering rity at Dr. Funke''s words.


    Was Dr. Funke interested in Hertha?


    "Dr. Funke, wait a second..." ric quickly followed, trying to catch up with the doctor.


    He had barely taken a few steps when he bumped into Dr. Funke''s back, forcing him to halt.


    Before he could speak, he saw Dr. Funke''s gaze fixed ahead. Following the doctor''s gaze, he saw two women standing in their


    path.


    The taller one was Thssa, standing at about five-foot-five, d in stylish jeans and a crisp white blouse, casually tucked into


    her belt, exuding an air of elegance.


    Beside her was Hertha, slightly


    shorter, with her curls cascadin ever


    her shoulders, wearing Wide te jeans


    apiiiadan tshionable tank top, with a


    sheer kimono draped over her


    shoulders ¡ª effortlessly sensual.


    Please read the original content at


    NovelDrama.Org.


    They stood in front of Dr. Funke, effectively blocking his way.


    Thssa''s face was etched with


    solemnity, while Hertha wore a


    mischievous inp@angar hh


    AIBA Hey Dr. Funke, what a


    coincidence to bump into you so


    soon. Fate really does love augh,


    doesn''t it?" Please read the original


    content at NovelDrama.Org.


    Dr. Funke''s lips curled into a smile,


    and with eyes twinkling with humor


    and wisdom, he replied) quie Ae!


    opineidenaeiintted This fate


    wouldn''t happen to be you following


    me here to continue your love


    confession, would it?" Please read


    the original content at


    NovelDrama.Org.


    "What?" Hertha''s forced grin froze awkwardly on her lips.

 Chapter 1436

    Chapter 1436


    Hertha was in a state of utter panic. Surely Dr. Funke couldn''t think that her flustered babbling two days ago was some kind of


    love confession!


    Hadn''t Thssa already exined to him that many admired his medical skills?


    Could it be possible that he didn''t get the implication?


    Hertha felt like she''d fallen into a hole and was iling about, unable to climb out.


    With a gasp of rm, she shot a quick nce at ric standing behind Dr. Funke, then forced a chuckle and said, ¡°Dr. Funke, |


    truly admire your work. Ever since | was a little girl, | dreamed of bing a doctor, but | was never quite sharp enough to cut it.


    So, | guess | just look up to those who can, like you.¡±


    She was desperately trying to straighten out the mess she''d made the day before.


    "Is that so? I''ve been on the lookout for an apprentice with the right spark, and since you''re interested in medicine, | might


    consider taking you under my wing,¡± Dr. Funke said with a smile tugging at the corner of his lips, his gaze unwavering on Hertha.


    The subtext in his eyes was crystal clear.


    Hertha''s heart raced with anxiety. She blurted out, ¡°Dr. Funke, you might be better off taking on a male apprentice to avoid any


    misunderstandings. You know, in case Mrs. Funke gets the wrong idea.¡±


    ¡°My wife passed away ten years ago. I''m currently single," Dr. Funke replied.


    His words couldn''t be more transparent. He wasn''t only looking for an apprentice. He was also in search of a new partner.


    rm bells rang in Hertha''s head. The pit she had dug for herself the other day was about to be her grave. Her gaze darted


    around frantically, looking for an escape. But she was at a loss for words, with no excuse in sight.


    Just when Hertha didn''t know which way to turn, ric stepped in just in time, ¡°Dr. Funke, | think you might be barking up the


    wrong tree. She''s already spoken for.¡±


    At those words, Hertha''s head snapped towards ric, whose face was flushed with the warmth of wine. His normally


    mischievous eyes held a seriousness that was rare.


    While Hertha was grateful to ric for swooping in to save her, her heart sank when he mentioned she was married. A wave of


    profound disappointment washed over her. She longed to distance herself from ric, but hearing him so casually reference her


    marital status made her feel defeated.


    Because in saying that, it was clear to Hertha that any possibility of being with ric was out of the question.


    ric had assumed that Spencer was her husband.


    And she couldn''t exactly exin the misunderstanding to ric without raising suspicion.


    Her current situation was precarious.


    If ric were to dig deeper, he would


    undoubtedly disco theexistence!


    rAwovahten, She couldn''t


    afford to lose, especially not like


    Thssa, who hadn''t seen her


    children for three years. Please read


    the original content at


    NovelDrama.Org.Material ? of N?velDrama.Org.


    So, she had to endure despite the heartbroken feelings.


    Hertha gave an awkward, servile chuckle, ¡°Heh, yeah, | wouldn''t want to make my husband jealous.¡±


    Thssa, who was standing nearby,


    blinked in confusion at the disjomitet


    hone baKveerrric and


    rtha. Since when did Hertha have a


    husband? Please read the original


    content at NovelDrama.Org.


    Just as she was about to speak up,


    she felt Hertha''s hand-aixingher


    segebpimebion the soft flesh. Please


    read the original content at


    NovelDrama.Org.


    Turning to Hertha, Thssa found Hertha¡¯s blinking eyes.


    Thssa instantly understood the silent message from Hertha and remained silent.

 Chapter 1437

    Chapter 1437


    Thssa squared her shoulders and looked at Dr. Funke sincerely. "Hertha''s tied the knot, Dr. Funke. She wasn''t around long


    enough to learn much from you. But if you''re serious about taking on an apprentice, | can rmend someone."Belongs to ? n0velDrama.Org.


    Human desires are a tricky business, and even a man of Dr. Funke''s medical brilliance wasn''t immune. Hertha''s ruse of a


    confession to get close to the good doctor must have sent the wrong message his way, making him think she wanted to be more


    than just his student.


    That simply wouldn''t do.


    They couldn''t give in to Dr. Funke''s request, yet they couldn''t afford to rub him the wrong way either. They needed to y to his


    interests to coax him into treating Lysander.


    "You''re offering me an apprentice, or something else?" Dr. Funke''s eyes narrowed as his smile faded into a serious expression.


    ¡°An apprentice. She''s sharp, a quick learner. And if you''re looking for a date, well, | can set that up too," Thssa replied with


    unwavering confidence.


    She held his gaze without flinching.


    She and Hertha had been waiting just outside the private dining area the whole time, and when ric followed Dr. Funke out,


    she suspected that ric had failed to persuade him to treat Lysander.


    Now, it was her turn to convince Dr. Funke, and it might be theirst chance, too. She needed to meet his demands, to sweeten


    the deal so he''d have no reason to refuse treating Lysander.


    Dr. Funke''s scrutinysted only a second before he let out a chuckle. "I''m not desperate forpanionship. I''m picky. If | weren''t,


    would | still be single?¡±


    "| know, and I''ll make sure you''re satisfied," Thssa said calmly.


    ric and Hertha exchanged surprised nces, both clearly confused.


    Since when did Thssa have such resources for matchmaking? They were out of the loop.


    "The apprentice and the date, are they the same person?" Dr. Funke inquired.


    "No," Thssa replied promptly. "If you''re interested in an apprentice, | can introduce you to a young woman. She is ex-military,


    trained to follow orders, and an eager learner. As for a date, | can scour the Matchmaker website for the perfect match."


    ¡°Matchmaker website?¡± Dr. Funkeughed. "As | said, I''m not just anyone''s cup of tea."


    "You prefer someone lively, someone who takes the initiative, right? There are plenty of women like that on dating sites. I''ll find


    someone to your liking, and all you''ll have to do is invite us to your wedding," Thssa said confidently.


    Her assurance seemed to sway Dr. Funke. "You''re certain you can pull this off? What''s in it for you?"


    "| can. All | ask is that you agree to treating Lysander with all your expertise. In return, I''ll find you an apprentice and a date,"


    Thssa stated, revealing her true intent.


    She might have once been just a secretary, but the time spent with Lysander and Ethan Crawley had taught her a thing or two


    about negotiation.


    To get someone to agree to your terms, you need to exude confidence, certainty, and a sense of invincibility.


    The key to winning people over lies in impressing them with your demeanor and abilities.


    Lysander''s secret to his business conquests was his imposing presence and his reputation for getting things done.


    "So, I''d be taking on a patient, while


    you''re tasked with altering stevens


    two others You ealyethink you can


    Handle: " br Funke said, skepticism


    tinged with curiosity as he


    scrutinized Thssa. Please read the


    original content at NovelDrama.Org.


    "Just give me your word, and I''ll make


    it happen. If you don''t, we''ll prete


    this conversati ppeveritok (ce.


    Thpreaale Stil plenty of other doctors


    out there who can treat Lysander. We


    can always look elsewhere," Thssa


    countered boldly. Please read the


    original content at NovelDrama.Org.


    Hertha and ric were both taken


    aback, worry ree BAEC OR


    gecesi adt) Wasn''t Thssa


    eee Dr. Funke''s ire, pushing him to


    refuse outright? Please read the


    original content at NovelDrama.Org.

 Chapter 1438

    Chapter 1438


    Thssa felt the anxious nces from ric and Hertha, but she didn''t let them distract her. Her


    gaze stayed firm and clear on Dr. Funke, showing her determination and poise.


    She wanted to make it clear to Dr. Funke that she had the leverage to ask for his help, but also the


    strength to walk away if needed.


    She was essentially gambling on Dr. Funke''s reluctance to let go of a promising apprentice and the


    potential romantic match Thssa was confident she could arrange for him.


    If she seemed too desperate, it might backfire, making her appear weak and powerless, the kind of


    person who easily got pushed around or rejected.


    But as someone strong and confident, showing genuine sincerity while also hinting at other options,


    she was more likely to seed.


    Dr. Funke fell silent, his usually yful demeanor turning grave as he stared at Thssa, almost as


    if he was about to get angry.


    The air around them grew tense and heavy.


    Thssa met Dr. Funke''s intense gaze, uncertain of his final decision.


    As time slowly passed, the atmosphere turned almost solid with anticipation, and Thssa''s


    heartbeat quickened, fearing Dr. Funke might send her away to seek help elsewhere.


    Truth be told, she had no one else to turn to. Dr. Funke was Lysander''sst hope.


    Zephyr had already exhausted all other options, and no other doctor could help Lysander.Belongs to ? n0velDrama.Org.


    Dr. Funke was the final chance for Lysander to awaken, and Thssa was terrified of losing that


    hope.


    In the midst of her escting anxiety, Dr. Funke burst outughing unexpectedly. "Well done, to


    have such spirit at such a young age, impressive."


    Seeing Dr. Funke''s unburdened smile, Thssa was momentarily stunned. "Dr. Funke, does this


    mean...?"


    ric and Hertha exchanged a nce, both filled with confusion.


    But when Hertha caught ric''s eyes, her heart skipped a beat, and she quickly looked away, afraid


    her resolve to give up on him might crumble again under his enchanting gaze. After all, when


    Hertha got infatuated and impulsive, she could be quite unreliable.


    "Making a house call and getting so much in return, it''s worth more than a mountain of gold. I''d be a


    fool to refuse," Dr. Funke dered with a heartyugh.


    Hearing Dr. Funke''s agreement, a wave of joy surged through Thssa, but she managed to


    contain her excitement from bing too extravagant.


    Hertha was also ted, and she nced at ric, her eyes sparkling with happiness.


    With a flushed face from the wine, ric also showed a smile.


    Even though Dr. Funke hadn''t started treating Lysander yet, his agreement was already a victory in


    itself.


    "Great, I''ll bring the apprentice to you tomorrow," Thssa said, her words crisp and efficient as she


    mapped out the n. "Once the apprenticeship is formalized, you can start diagnosing and treating


    Lysander, and I''ll get started on introducing you to potential dates."


    "Sounds good, I live at Harmony Estates, Building 3, Suite 2003," Dr. Funke responded, ready to


    leave.


    ric quickly followed up. "Dr. Funke, let me arrange a ride for you."


    He knew Dr. Funke had his fill of drinks earlier.


    After ric and Dr. Funke left the restaurant, Hertha couldn''t contain her joy any longer. She


    grabbed Thssa''s arm and shrieked with excitement, "Ah, Thssa, you''re amazing! You


    convinced that entric Dr. Funke, and he agreed to treat Lysander! That¡¯s a miracle!"

 Chapter 1439

    Chapter 1439


    Hertha was practically bouncing with excitement as she spoke, her energy seemingly boundless.


    Thssa''s shoulders, tense just moments before, suddenly rxed, and a wave of joy brought a


    glistening wetness to her eyes.


    Lysander''s body had shown reflexive movements the day before, a promising sign that his nerves


    were slowly regaining sensation. Combined with Dr. Funke''s treatment, the chances of him waking


    up were growingrger andrger.


    Anxious yet thrilled, Thssa clung to the hope of Lysander''s awakening, a hope she had nurtured


    for three long years. She prayed this time, Lysander would fully recover.


    "Thssa, let''s head out. It''s gettingte now. You need a good rest." Hertha, having calmed down


    from her earlier exuberance, was the voice of reason.


    "Yeah," Thssa nodded, exiting the restaurant with Hertha.


    Outside, ric and Dr. Funke were nowhere to be seen. They must have left already.


    The autumn night was cool, and the gentle breeze caressed their flushed faces, bringing a


    refreshing rity to their thoughts. "Hertha, you go on ahead. I''ve got something to take care of,"


    Thssa said.


    "What is it?" Hertha asked, concern edging her voice.


    "Remember? I need to introduce an apprentice to Dr. Funke," Thssa reminded her.


    The realization dawned on Hertha, "I''lle with you, then."


    "No need, you''ve got the kids waiting for you at home. They need their mom to tuck them in. I can


    handle this myself. You¡¯d better head back now, don''t keep the little ones waiting too long."


    Thssa knew all too well the deep bond between a mother and her children. Without their mom,


    the kids might not sleep well. Having not seen her own children for three years, Thssa''s longing


    was a thick, dense ink, and she wouldn''t let Hertha''s children suffer the same pain.


    Thinking of her own Julian and Helena, Hertha''s heart melted. She couldn''t bear the thought of


    them feeling neglected.


    So shepromised, "Alright, I''ll head home. Call me if you need anything."


    They parted ways, each driving off in their respective cars.


    Material ? of N?velDrama.Org.


    Thssa headed toward Hollowbrook to find the apprentice for Dr. Funke, while Hertha drove


    toward the cozy suburb of Gulfstream Community, her mind upied with thoughts of Julian and


    Helena.


    "Crash!"


    Suddenly, her car collided with the one in front. The violent jolt threw her forward, her head


    mming against the steering wheel, a wave of dizziness overwhelming her.


    She hit the brakes in panic, her car still nudging the one ahead.


    Fighting the stars in her vision and the waves of dizziness and pain, Hertha pressed down on the


    brake pedal.


    The car jerked to a stop.


    She tried to unbuckle her seat belt, wanting to check on the other vehicle, but her head was heavy,


    and she felt a warm liquid trickling down from her scalp, across her forehead, and onto her eyelids.


    The pain was intense, her body too weak to even lift her arms.


    From the car ahead, a door swung open, and a woman in high heels strutted over to Hertha''s car,


    angrily pounding on the window. "What kind of driving is that? Didn''t you see the car stopped


    ahead? Do you have any idea how expensive my car is? Get out here, you''re not leaving without


    coughing up thirty grand today!"


    Hertha could barely process the shrill voice that was making her already throbbing head feel like it


    was about to explode.


    She tried to lift her head, to make sense of the blurry figure outside, but her consciousness was


    fading, "I didn''t mean to¡ª"


    Her voice trailed off as her body slumped, and she lost consciousnesspletely.

 Chapter 1440

    Chapter 1440


    "Hey, what are you doing? ying possum?" The woman was tapping Hertha¡¯s car window. Upon


    seeing the person inside slumped over, she began to bang on the ss with even more fury.


    She thought the driver was faking to dodge responsibility.


    Peering through the window, she spotted the crimson blood trickling down the woman''s face,


    staining her neck. Her hair was scattered over her shoulders, partially covering her face, but the


    shocking blood drew the eye.


    A shiver ran down Georgia''s spine. Crap, the driver''s bleeding, she really passed out, and she''s not


    faking it.


    She hurriedly pulled open the car door, which thankfully was unlocked as the driver had been about


    to get out and deal with the ident.


    The door swung open with Georgia''s tug, and she leaned in close to the driver, gently shaking her


    by the clothes, her voiceced with anxious concern, "Hey, are you alright?"


    No response came, so Georgia nudged the driver''s forehead with her index finger, gently lifting the


    woman''s head, "Do you need me to call for an ambnce?"


    She couldn''t finish her sentence, her voice catching in her throat.


    Material ? of N?velDrama.Org.


    She got a clear look at the woman''s face ¨C those long, curledshes, the slightly chubby cheeks, it


    was Hertha!


    The sight of Hertha froze the goodwill on Georgia''s face instantly, a sh of anger and hatred swept


    through her eyes, and she quickly let go of Hertha and stepped back.


    Standing by the car, watching Hertha passed out inside, Georgia''s breathing was ragged, fury


    churning within her.


    Seeing Hertha injured, especially a head wound with unstoppable bleeding, filled Georgia with an


    unprecedented sense of satisfaction.


    This wretched woman had beenpeting with her for ric for the past three years!


    ric had once turned down a strategic marriage with the Reed family for her.


    And now, engaged to her, it was Hertha''s appearance that made ric insist on breaking off their


    engagement, even willing to give up his position as CEO of the Falconer family empire just to be rid


    of her!


    ric''s determination to call off their engagement was all thanks to one person ¨C Hertha.


    Before Hertha came along, she and ric had their fights, but he had never mentioned breaking off


    the engagement, and certainly not with such resolve.


    Since Hertha caught ric''s eye, he had been adamant about canceling the engagement with


    Georgia. He was ready to turn his back on the support of the Reed family and the vice-presidency


    of the Falconer Group, all to break off the engagement, even saying how being an ordinary civilian


    wasn''t so bad!


    He actually wanted to give up his life of privilege to live a mundane life with Hertha.


    Infuriated by ric''s unwavering stance, Georgia felt like her head was about to explode. She


    desperately wanted ric to change his mind and marry her in an instant.


    But however fervent her wished, she felt utterly powerless to change the reality of the situation.


    Georgia had sought advice from her mother, who always asked her to keep her cool.


    But how could she stay calm when ric was about to annul their engagement and run off to


    Hertha?


    Just moments ago, her car was stopped at a traffic light in the middle of a phone call with her


    mother,ining about her predicament and begging for a solution to get ric to marry her


    soon.


    She was so engrossed in the conversation that she didn''t notice the light turn green and was still on


    the call when her car was suddenly rear-ended.

 Chapter 1441

    Chapter 1441


    Georgia stared through the car window at the grievously injured Hertha, her eyes brimming with


    malice. Her chest heaved with rage, the tidal waves of loathing for Hertha etched deep upon her


    face.


    The blood seeping from Hertha''s forehead mingled with her hair, dyeing it a dark crimson. Georgia


    felt not an ounce of pity. As she looked upon Hertha''s condition, a wicked thought sparked in her


    mind.


    What if Hertha never received medical attention and just died? Surely, Georgia couldn''t be med.


    It was Hertha who rear-ended her car. All she did was fail to call the cops or an ambnce in time.


    Even if Hertha died, nobody could pin it on Georgia.


    With that thought, Georgia''s heartbeat quickened, her breath grew rapid and her gaze upon Hertha


    turned venomous.


    If Hertha were to die, there would no longer be this woman in the world, and ric would have to let


    go no matter how much he yearned.


    Without Hertha, ric''s life and heart would belong to Georgia!


    The more she thought about it, the more fiercely Georgia''s heart pounded, her eyes glinting with


    spite, her soul teetering on the brink of good and evil.


    At this moment, every fiber of her being was steeped in malevolence.


    Belongs to ? n0velDrama.Org.


    She had just been on the phone with her mother, venting her frustrations, begging her to find a way


    to convince ric not to call off the engagement and to marry her sooner rather thanter.


    But her mother was powerless in this situation, fretting helplessly without a solution in sight.


    For the first time, Georgia felt the crushing sense of helplessness that came from desperately


    wanting someone she couldn¡¯t have.


    And now, as if by divine intervention, fate had handed her a chance to turn her impotence into


    power. After all, it was Hertha who crashed into her car. If she died, it would have nothing to do with


    Georgia.


    "Beep beep..." The ring horns from the cars behind grew incessant since Hertha and Georgia''s


    ident had caused a traffic jam at the intersection.


    Georgia heard the mor but remained indifferent, her expression a sinister mask as she watched


    the bleeding Hertha trapped in the car.


    She didn''t move, nor did she make a call. She was purposely stalling for time.


    Even if the crash wouldn''t im Hertha''s life, the continuous bleeding could, if left unattended for


    too long.


    "Hey,dy, if you''ve had a crash, at least pull your car to the side," someone from the line of


    impatient drivers called out as they stepped out of their vehicle.


    Sensing someone approaching, Georgia quickly masked her malevolent gaze, feigning panic and


    fear as she stammered to the approaching driver, "Sir, it''s her fault. She rear-ended me, and now


    she''s hurt. I have no idea what to do now. I''m so scared, I¡¯m just... I¡¯m just frozen."


    Her im of being "frozen" was a flimsy excuse for not calling for help, a way to avert potential


    me.


    The driver nced inside and saw the other driver slumped over the steering wheel, head


    wounded, hair matted with blood.


    "Quick, call the cops and get an ambnce, for heaven''s sake! If you don''t hurry, she might die!"


    The driver urgently eximed upon assessing the situation.


    Feigning near tears, Georgia pleaded, "Sir, please don''t scare me. This is my first time dealing with


    something like this. I don''t know the number for the police or ambnce, what do I do, what do I


    do..."

 Chapter 1442

    Chapter 1442


    "Look, I''m guessing this kind of thing is a bit over your head. Let me call the cops for you, and you


    dial 911, tell them there''s been a car crash and someone''s hurt."


    The driver was managing the situation while he whipped out his cell to call the local police.


    He was trying to cut down the time it would take to handle the crash. Every minute saved could be a


    minute closer to saving a life.


    "Okay, okay, I''m calling for an ambnce." Georgia''s voice was small and shaky, her nerves getting


    the best of her.


    She spun in ce, patting her pockets like she couldn''t find her phone.


    After a minute of fumbling, as if it finally dawned on her, she dashed to her car to look for her


    mobile.


    By that time, the driver had already hung up with the police and noticed Georgia still searching. The


    woman in the car was still bleeding from her forehead, and it was gut-wrenching to see.


    The driver went ahead and dialed for an ambnce, too.


    Five minutes had passed since his call to the police when Georgia finally found her phone. She was


    visibly distraught and gasping for air as she thanked him, "Sir, I can''t thank you enough. I''d be lost


    without your help, I wouldn''t even know where to start."


    While Georgia said this on the surface, she was seething with irritation inside.


    Mind your own business!


    Did he really think Georgia Reed, the heir to the Reed family fortune, wouldn''t know how to call the


    police and an ambnce after a crash?


    The driver politely responded, "No worries, saving lives is what''s important."


    Soon enough, the police and ambnce arrived.


    They rushed Hertha to the hospital, and after assessing the scene, the police cleared the cars to the


    side. The road was open again, and the city''s hustle and bustle resumed as if nothing had


    happened.


    ...


    Thssa returned to Hollowbrookte into the night. She parked her car in the driveway of her


    home.


    Copyright by N?v/elDrama.Org.


    Three years ago, a vi built for her family by Lysander was destroyed by a bomb dropped from a


    helicopter, leaving her and her aunt homeless.


    Later, Thssa used the $200,000 she''d saved from her secretarial job to clear the rubble from the


    original site and had a modest two-story house built.


    It wasn''t as luxurious as the vi, but it was enough for her and her aunt.


    After exchanging brief pleasantries with her aunt at home, Thssa headed over to a friend''s ce


    in the same vige.


    The rural nights were quieter than the city''s. Most of the vige homes were shut after eight o''clock,


    with residents either watching TV or getting ready for bed.


    Thssa knocked on the door, and a voice called out from inside.


    As the door opened, a warm glow spilled out, cutting through the darkness and illuminating


    Thssa''s face.


    "Thssa, what brings you back all of a sudden? I was just talking to Astrid this afternoon, and you


    weren''t home," Lydia said, surprised to see her.


    Lydia was Thssa''s childhood friend, and they had grown up together. They were close, but after


    Thssa got into college, Lydia chose to join the military instead of pursuing her studies. So they


    hadn''t seen each other in a while.


    Lydia was a tall girl, standing at 5''9". With a short haircut and a forthright personality, she looked


    much like a tomboy.

 Chapter 1443

    Chapter 1443


    Growing up with a steady diet of World War II movies, Lydia had always dreamed of serving her


    country, of one day taking down the enemy with valor and pride. As soon as she was old enough,


    she enlisted, eager to turn her childhood dreams into reality.


    Tonight, Thssa caught Lydia''s surprised gaze with a knowing smile. "Lydia, I''ve got something to


    discuss with you."


    "Youe back in the middle of the night to talk? This must be something big," Lydia said with


    wide-eyed curiosity as she ushered her friend inside.


    After Thssa greeted Lydia''s parents with a warm hello, they retreated to Lydia''s bedroom for


    some private talks.


    Lydia poured a ss of drink for her friend. "Sit down, don''t fuss. I''ve got some serious business to


    talk about," Thssa said, setting the ss aside and pulling Lydia down beside her.


    "What''s this? A matter of national importance? You look so stern; it''s giving me the jitters," Lydia


    said, her voice deep and boyish.


    "You''re back home out of the service now, looking for something to do, right? How about I set you


    up with a great opportunity?" Thssa said, her clear eyes locking onto Lydia''s.


    "You came all this way just to help me find a job? Somehow, I feel like there''s more to it," Lydia said,


    her skepticism clear.


    Lydia wasn''t one to be easily fooled. Her military background had honed her instincts sharp as a


    tack.


    "It''s not simple, that''s for sure. But hear me out." Thssa took a sip of water, clearing her throat


    before she continued, "You''ve heard of Dr. Samuel Funke, haven''t you? He''s a renowned physician,


    known far and wide for his expertise in acupuncture and Western surgical techniques. He''s looking


    to take on an apprentice in traditional medicine, and I''ve rmended you."


    "What? You think I can learn medicine? I don''t know the first thing about it," Lydia said,


    overwhelmed by the sudden leap.


    "You''re quick-witted, Lydia. Of course you can handle it. Besides, your grandma''s been bedridden


    since her fall. Imagine if a master acupuncturist could treat her, she might just get back on her feet.


    And if Dr. Funke won''te himself, once you''ve learned, you can treat her yourself. Wouldn''t that


    be something wonderful?" Thssa tried to persuade her.


    "Alright, I''m in!" Lydia said, pping her thigh decisively.


    Thssa had hit home with a single point: if Lydia could master the art of acupuncture, she might


    heal her grandmother and restore her mobility.


    Lydia had been raised by her grandmother while her parents worked far from home. The bond


    between them was deep and unique. When her grandmother took a bad fall and became paralyzed,


    Lydia left the military early to be by her side, afraid that if she waited any longer, she might lose the


    chance to be with her.


    Now, with the opportunity to learn from a world-famous doctor and use that knowledge to help her


    grandmother, Lydia had no reasons to decline. She would throw herself into her studies, master the


    medical skills quickly, and race against time to save her beloved grandmother.


    "Great, pack your bags, then. We''re heading to Starhaven now," Thssa said.


    "Now? So sudden?" Lydia was taken aback.


    "I have to introduce you to Dr. Funke tomorrow morning. If we don''t leave tonight, we''ll miss the


    perfect time at eight o''clock," Thssa exined.


    She had looked it up. In the world of traditional medicine, apprenticeships often began with a


    ceremony at eight in the morning. Missing that felt like a bad omen.


    When it came to following tradition, Thssa was not one to break the rules.


    "Okay, let me just grab a few things." Lydia was all efficiency, packing her suitcase in under two


    minutes with her clothes folded neatly.


    Content is property of N?velDrama.Org.


    As they stepped out of the house, Thssa''s phone rang.


    It was ric. "Mr. Falconer, what a surprise to hear from you."


    "Have you and Hertha made it back? I''ve been trying to dial Hertha''s number, and there''s no


    answer," ric''s voice wasced with concern.

 Chapter 1444

    Chapter 1444


    "Didn''t Hertha pick up your call?" Thssa inquired.


    ric had arranged for a ride-share to take Dr. Funke home not too long ago, and he was supposed


    to call Hertha to check in after Dr. Funke was safely inside.


    But if Hertha didn''t answer ric''s call, could it be that she was worried he''de looking for her


    late at night, potentially disturbing her while she put the kids to bed?


    With two little ones to tuck in, thest thing Hertha needed was ric, their biological father, finding


    out.


    Thssa figured Hertha must''ve worried that if she answered, ric might hear the children''s


    voices in the background, so she decided to just not pick up. As Hertha''s best friend, Thssa


    knew she had to cover for her and keep ric from suspecting anything.


    Before ric could respond, Thssa added, "She''s probably taking a shower. Don''t worry. She


    must be home by now."


    "Must be? Weren''t you with Hertha?" ric picked up on the uncertainty in Thssa''s voice.


    "I had promised to help Dr. Funke find an apprentice, remember? So I drove to Hollowbrook


    overnight, and Hertha drove herself home," Thssa exined.


    "Alright, just be safe on your way back," ric said before hanging up.


    After ending the call with ric, Thssa dialed Hertha''s number.


    ric''s questioning had made her a bit anxious either, and she wanted to check on Hertha herself.


    The phone rang for a while, but was not answered as well.


    Until an impersonal automated voice finally said, "I''m sorry, the number you have dialed is currently


    unavable."


    Thssa''s heart sank. Why wasn''t Hertha answering even her calls?


    Maybe she had her phone on silent and had fallen asleep with the kids?


    Worrying now was futile. She wasn''t in Starhaven now and couldn''t just pop over to Hertha''s ce.


    She returned home with Lydia and set off for Starhaven, taking Astrid along. The reason for bringing


    Astrid was that her aunt''s rheumatism red up again, and this trip to Starhaven was a chance to


    get some treatment at the Starhaven Hospital, too.


    By the time they reached Starhaven, it was past one in the morning.


    Thssa booked three rooms in the hotel closest to Dr. Funke''s house, insisting Lydia and Astrid


    get some rest.


    After a shower, she checked her phone again. Still no callback from Hertha.


    Something felt off, and worry gnawed at Thssa. She dialed Hertha''s number once more.


    This time, the phone was off.


    Copyright by N?v/elDrama.Org.


    Hertha had turned off her phone?


    What was going on?


    Thssa''s mind raced. She tried calling Hertha''s nanny, Bridget, but again no answer.


    Could they have simply fallen asleep, and Hertha''s phone died?


    Trying to suppress her growing anxiety, Thssay down in bed. She tossed and turned for ages


    before finally dozing off, only to be roused by the first light of day.


    She hadn''t slept deeply and woke up as soon as dawn broke. Quickly getting ready, she went to


    Lydia''s room.


    Lydia, ustomed to military discipline, always woke up early. By the time Thssa arrived, she


    was already washed up and dressed.

 Chapter 1445

    Chapter 1445


    It was a few ticks past seven in the morning now.


    With Lydia in tow, Thssa hurried towards Dr. Funke¡¯s residence.


    Once they reached Dr. Funke''s doorstep, Thssa rang the doorbell, but no one seemed to be


    stirring inside.


    After a couple of minutes, the door swung open to reveal Dr. Funke in slippers and pajamas, his


    face clouded with the grogginess of early morning. ¡°You¡¯re quite the early bird, huh?¡±


    ¡°Well, you know what they say, the early bird catches the worm. I did promise to introduce your new


    apprentice to you yesterday,¡± Thssa replied with a breezy confidence. Just then, her pocket


    buzzed with the sound of an iing call.


    She pulled out her cell phone and saw that it was a callback from Hertha. With a polite smile to Dr.


    Funke, she excused herself, ¡°Sorry, I need to take this call.¡±


    Stepping aside, she answered the call, but she was greeted by an unfamiliar male tone. ¡°Hello, this


    is the Traffic Police Department. May I know what your rtion is to the owner of this phone?¡±


    Traffic Police?


    A chill sank into Thssa¡¯s stomach, and a rush of concern was flooding her. ¡°I¡¯m a close friend of


    hers. Why is her phone with the Traffic Police?¡±


    ¡°Your friend was involved in a car identst night and has been taken to the hospital.¡±


    ¡°What?¡± Thssa felt her heart clench.


    ¡°How serious is it? Which hospital is she at?¡± Thssa¡¯s voice trembled with urgency, her mind


    racing.


    She had called Hertha the previous night, and when there was no answer, a nagging worry had set


    in. But now, reality seemed far grimmer than she had feared.


    ¡°She¡¯s at Starhaven Hospital. You¡¯ll have to speak with the hospital for more details.¡±


    Hertha¡¯s ident and the uncertainty of her condition cast a dark shadow over Thssa¡¯s morning.


    Her well-nned day was suddenly in disarray.


    ¡°I see. Thank you,¡± Thssa hung up, her heart pounding with anxiety. She turned to Dr. Funke,


    preparing to exin her emergency and that she would have to postpone their meeting until she


    sorted out Hertha¡¯s situation.


    But before she could utter a word, Dr. Funke chuckled dismissively, ¡°Trying to weasel out of this, are


    you? I¡¯ve seen this trick before. First, butter me up, thene up with excuses to dodge the deal.


    We had an agreement yesterday, and you¡¯re going to honor it today. If you can¡¯t, don¡¯t bother


    coming back.¡±


    His expression darkened, his patience with Thssa wearing thin, suspecting her of deceit.


    ¡°No, it¡¯s not like that. My friend, she¡¯s...¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re going to tell me your friend had a car ident, and it¡¯s touch-and-go, right? Heard that one


    before. What are the odds, just when you need to fulfill my request, there¡¯s a life-or-death


    emergency? If you don¡¯t want to introduce a apprentice, just say it. I¡¯m not desperate to treat


    Lysander,¡± Dr. Funke interjected with a scoff.


    Thssa¡¯s anxiety spiked at his words. She had done so much just to get Dr. Funke to treat


    Lysander. If she disappointed him now, Lysander could lose his only chance at recovery.


    But what about Hertha? If she didn¡¯t rush to her friend¡¯s side and something terrible happened, how


    could she forgive herself?


    Torn between her best friend''s plight and her children''s father''s sole chance at a cure, Thssa felt


    as if she was being torn apart. Choosing between two people she held dear was excruciating.


    Her heart was a taut string, ready to snap at any further strain.


    ¡°Enough, just leave now.¡± Dr. Funke nced at Thssa with disdain and moved to close the door.


    ¡°Wait!¡± Thssa lunged forward, stopping the door with her hand, her clear eyes swirling with


    desperation as she fought to contain her inner turmoil.


    Even though it was difficult, she made her decision with resolve. ¡°Dr. Funke, just give me five


    minutes. I made you a promise, and I have no intention of breaking it.¡±Belongs to ? n0velDrama.Org.

 Chapter 1446

    Chapter 1446


    Dr. Funke nced at the hand she had ced against the door, a smirk ying at the corner of his


    mouth. "Five minutes? What can you possibly fix in five minutes?"


    "Thssa gave her word she''d introduce you to an apprentice today, and she''s not one to break a


    promise. Dr. Funke, I get that you''ve only just met Thssa and you aren''t quite familiar with her


    yet, but I can vouch for her character. There''s no need to doubt her integrity. How about a little


    trust?" Lydia, who had been silently observing from the sidelines, finally spoke up.


    Dr. Funke''s demeanor towards Thssa was a tad too stern, bordering on harsh. Even though he


    was a renowned physician, using the threat of withholding medical care to pressure someone else


    was beyond unreasonable.


    This approach was quickly souring Lydia''s impression of the doctor. In her mind, doctors were


    selfless heroes, dedicated to healing and saving lives. The idea of a doctor demanding such


    preposterous conditions before agreeing to provide medical care, or using threats against a


    patient''s family, was unheard of to her.


    Dr. Funke''s gaze shifted to Lydia, his expression unyielding, his eyes scrutinizing her. "And who


    might you be? Since when do you get a say here?"


    "I..." Lydia started, her expression faltering for a moment. She stepped forward, ready to have it out


    with Dr. Funke. Having served in the military, her sense of justice was unwavering, and when she


    got serious, it was as if she was gearing up for a fight.


    Sensing the situation escting, Thssa quickly interjected, standing between Lydia and the


    doctor. Her eyes were imploring Lydia to keep her cool.


    They needed Dr. Funke to treat Lysander now. Offending him was not an option.


    Taking the cue from Thssa''s look, Lydia took a deep breath, reined in her temper, and shifted her


    gaze away, no longer wanting to witness Dr. Funke''s insufferably arrogant demeanor.


    Turning back to the doctor, Thssa spoke up, "I didn¡¯t get the chance to introduce her earlier. This


    is the apprentice I''ve been meaning to introduce to you. Her name is Lydia. She¡¯s served seven


    years in the military, highly disciplined, and a quick learner. You wouldn¡¯t want an apprentice who''s


    fond ofing inte and leaving early, right?"


    "Lydia, huh? But she looks like she could be a linebacker, not exactly the sweet type," Dr. Funke


    remarked with a cursory nce at Lydia.


    Copyright by N?v/elDrama.Org.


    "Are you looking for an apprentice or a date?" Lydia retorted, her straightforward nature getting the


    best of her.


    "I''m in the market for both," Dr. Funke replied unabashedly.


    Lydia¡¯s eyebrows knitted together in annoyance. "Just so you know, I agreed to be your apprentice


    but nothing more. So don''t get any other ideas!"


    "I haven''t decided on taking you on as an apprentice yet," Dr. Funke countered.


    Thssa felt her heart sink amid their verbal spar. The situation with Hertha was still unresolved,


    and now there was this newplication.


    Just as Lydia was about to snap back at Dr. Funke, Thssa stopped her, her voice a mix of


    pleading and negotiating, "Dr. Funke, please, can you spare me five minutes? I need to make a


    quick call and I will be right back to exin everything."


    Dr. Funke shot her a look, "Go ahead."


    "Thank you, Dr. Funke," Thssa said, nodding in appreciation.


    Without leaving the room, Thssa dialed ric''s number in front of both Dr. Funke and Lydia.


    The phone rang only once before it was picked up. "Mr. Falconer, Hertha was in a car identst


    night. She¡¯s at Starhaven Hospital now, and I have no idea what her condition is. I can''t leave right


    now, could you please go check on her?"


    "What? I''m on my way!" ric''s voice came through the phone,ced with urgency and rm.


    Thssa could hear the screech of tires from ric''s abrupt stop.


    Before Thssa could say another word, ric had hung up.


    Hearing ric''s promise to head to the hospital straight away gave Thssa a slight reprieve from


    her worries.

 Chapter 1447

    Chapter 1447


    Someone had gone to check on Hertha, so there was no rush for Thssa now. She could take her


    time resolving Dr. Funke''s issue before heading to the hospital.


    After hanging up the call, Thssa walked back to the entrance where Dr. Funke stood waiting. "I


    mentioned yesterday that I''d rmend someone disciplined and quick to learn as your


    apprentice. Lydia isn''t just self-controlled. She also follows the rules to a tee and learns fast. She


    checks all the boxes," she said with a hint of pride.


    It was Thssa''s way of saying she kept her promise. She really had found a suitable apprentice


    for Dr. Funke.


    "Ha, I doubt many can endure such a tough mentor," Lydia quipped, giving Dr. Funke a sidelong


    nce with a light chuckle.


    "Don''t go iming mentors left and right. I''m not your mentor yet," Dr. Funke retorted with a bit of a


    snarl.


    "As for you," Lydia snorted derisively, "a doctor who''s all about the bottom line, nitpicking and


    intimidating. Treating patients with threats? I''d never stoop to acknowledge someone like you as my


    mentor!"


    "Lydia, don''t speak to Dr. Funke like that." Thssa interjected, seeing the argument between Lydia


    and Dr. Funke escte. She was a bundle of nerves, worried that Lydia''s words would provoke Dr.


    Funke into outright refusing to treat Lysander. She feared nothing more than Lysander missing his


    timely chance for treatment.


    If swallowing her pride and groveling could secure Dr. Funke''s services for Lysander, she''d do it


    without a second thought.


    Thssa was on edge, anxious not to botch this apprenticeship arrangement.


    Suddenly, Dr. Funke erupted into heartyughter. Hisughter tensed Thssa further, her nerves


    taut as she looked at him, filled with trepidation.


    Lydia was equally puzzled, and she asked, "What''s so funny, old man?"


    After his chuckles subsided, Dr. Funke regarded Lydia with an appreciative gaze.


    Yes, appreciation.


    "In all my years of practice, no one''s dared to call me out directly. That''s right, I''m all about the gains


    and can be a real piece of work. Still, those who beg for my services never breathe a word against


    me, only ttery and sycophancy. You, on the other hand, are refreshingly blunt, calling out my


    faults right off the bat. Aren''t you afraid I''ll just walk away and refuse to treat your friend''s husband?"


    Dr. Funke was actually admitting his ws. Instead of getting angry at Lydia''s usations, he


    seemed genuinely amused now.


    Thssa was baffled, unable toprehend Dr. Funke''s change of attitude.


    Material ? of N?velDrama.Org.


    Lydia paused, and then, realizing he was serious, she said, "If deep down, you never intended to


    treat my friend''s husband, no amount of fawning would make you agree. And even if you did, you


    wouldn''t give it your all. A half-hearted doctor is worse than none at all. If you were truly inclined to


    help, you wouldn''t make it so difficult. So, does it really matter whether or not I offend you?"


    "You do have a point," Dr. Funke conceded with a smile.


    Thssa was at a loss.


    Had Dr. Funke never intended to treat Lysander from the start?


    Thssa felt as if a cloud had settled over her, her spirits as damp as a heavy fog.


    "You old coot, that''s just dirty y! Thssa, let''s get out of here!" Lydia grabbed Thssa''s arm,


    ready to storm off.


    "And where do you think you''re going? Weren''t you here to ask for apprenticeship? Why note


    in?" Dr. Funke''s voice suddenly called out.

 Chapter 1448

    Chapter 1448


    Thssa and Lydia had just turned to leave when Dr. Funke''s words brought them to a halt.


    Thssa mulled over what Dr. Funke had said, her heart, which had sunk to her shoes, now


    thrumming wildly in her chest again. She spun around, her eyes alight with excitement, "Dr. Funke,


    do you mean..."


    Lydia was equally astonished, "You agreed?"


    "What else? Did it sound like I was inviting you two in for lunch?" Dr. Funke said, hands sped


    leisurely behind his back.


    "Why?" Lydia asked, puzzled. Dr. Funke had clearly refused her moments earlier, stating he wasn''t


    ready to take on the role of her mentor.


    "I''m a glutton for punishment, I suppose. I enjoy it when people give me a hard time." Dr. Funke


    threw over his shoulder, disappearing into the house.


    Lydia and Thssa exchanged wide-eyed nces, both utterly baffled by Dr. Funke''s words. They


    blinked at each other, signaling their shared bewilderment.


    Indeed, the temperament of a genius has always been a peculiar thing.


    And unpredictable.


    "Shall we go in?" Thssa asked Lydia.


    "Of course! Are we really going to walk away empty-handed?" Lydia retorted. She linked arms with


    Thssa, leading her inside.


    Thssa''s question had been a way to gauge Lydia''s attitude, to see if she still wanted to pursue


    medical tutge under Dr. Funke.


    It was clear to Thssa that Lydia and Dr. Funke were like oil and water, engaging in verbal


    sparring the moment they exchanged words.


    If Lydia was having second thoughts, Thssa wouldn¡¯t force her.


    The night before, on their way to Starhaven, Thssa had shared the real reason she wanted Lydia


    to apprentice under Dr. Funke¡ªit was to fulfill two conditions that would convince Dr. Funke to


    come out of retirement and treat Lysander''s illness.


    Lydia understood Thssa''s intentions.


    But if Lydia really didn''t want to go through with it, Thssa would respect her decision.


    To Thssa''s surprise, Lydia didn''t hesitate to lead the way into Dr. Funke''s residence.


    Dr. Funke''s ce was tidy but stark,cking the warmth of a lived-in home.


    As they entered, Dr. Funke was in the midst of his morning routine, brushing his teeth and washing


    his face.


    Thssa and Lydia stood awkwardly in the living room until Dr. Funke emerged from the bathroom,


    "Sit down, why are you standing like statues? Make yourselves at home, or do I need to y host?"


    His words were an invitation to rx.


    Thssa and Lydia shared a nce before Lydia, taking the lead, guided them both to the couch to


    sit down without further ceremony.


    "Dr. Funke, when do we start the apprenticeship?" Lydia asked eagerly.


    "Stop calling me Dr. Funke. Just call me ''Old Man''," Dr. Funke suggested.


    Lydia was speechless, and so was Thssa.


    Neither of them had expected that the entric and demanding Dr. Funke would have such an


    unusual preference¡ªto be called ''Old Man''.


    He was barely past fifty¡ªnot really old by any standard.


    Soon after, Dr. Funke returned from his room dressed in a formal suit. With his hair slicked back, his


    rigid and quirky demeanor took on a more profound and artistic air.


    Seeing his stern attire, Thssa and Lydia instinctively sat up straighter.


    Belongs to ? n0velDrama.Org.


    "Lydia,e here," Dr. Funke called.


    Lydia stood up, and Thssa remained seated until Dr. Funke''s gaze fell on her, "And what are you


    still sitting there for? Come over and officiate."


    Realizing he was addressing her, Thssa hurried to her feet.

 Chapter 1449

    Chapter 1449


    The trio gathered before a small shrine dedicated to Dr. Funke¡¯s ancestors. The shrine featured a


    pastoral painting depicting a countryside vige,plete with a majestic pine tree that seemed to


    wee visitors. In the center, there were two candles, casting a sacred aura over the scene.


    Dr. Funke flicked his lighter, igniting the candles with reverence.


    ¡°Lydia,e,¡± Dr. Funke said, ncing back at her.


    Content is property of N?velDrama.Org.


    Without hesitation, Lydia mimicked Dr. Funke¡¯s actions, cing her incense in the holder.


    Next, Dr. Funke poured six shots of clear, strong liquor. He turned to Lydia and said, ¡°After this,


    you¡¯ll officially be my apprentice. It¡¯s not toote to back out now.¡±


    ¡°If I was the type to get cold feet, I wouldn¡¯t be here! Enough talk, let¡¯s drink.¡±


    Thssa¡¯s eyes widened in surprise.


    Lydia¡¯s forthright manner was nothing short of daring, and Thssa feared she might have offended


    Dr. Funke.


    To her surprise, however, Dr. Funke didn¡¯t seem bothered by Lydia¡¯s brashness. Instead, he


    laughed heartily and clinked sses with her.


    Before Dr. Funke could take a sip, Lydia downed her shot in one swift gulp. ¡°Ah, that¡¯s the stuff! It¡¯s


    been too long!¡±


    Lydia looked like she was savoring the moment, while Dr. Funke stood momentarily stunned. He


    then let out a chuckle and finished his shot as well.


    Following the same ritual, Lydia toasted Dr. Funke with the remaining two shots.


    With that, the ceremony wasplete, and Lydia was now Dr. Funke¡¯s sole apprentice.


    ¡°Starting the day after tomorrow, you¡¯ll join me at my clinic to learn medicine,¡± Dr. Funke announced,


    eager tomence his teachings now that he had taken on a disciple.


    ¡°Dr. Funke, when are you avable to check on Lysander?¡± Thssa asked anxiously.


    She had done so much just to secure Dr. Funke¡¯s expertise.


    ¡°What¡¯s the rush? Go and make arrangements. I¡¯ll visit him tomorrow morning,¡± Dr. Funke replied


    after giving Thssa a reassuring nce.


    ¡°Alright, I¡¯lle to pick you up tomorrow morning,¡± Thssa said.


    ¡°No need. Just give me the address, and I¡¯ll make my own way there.¡±


    Thssa¡¯s brow furrowed with worry, fearingplications.


    ¡°Rest assured, since I¡¯ve made a promise, I will ensure your husband receives the best care,¡± Dr.


    Funke said, sensing her concern.


    With his assurance, Thssa felt relieved. ¡°Okay, then we won¡¯t keep you any longer, Dr. Funke.


    See you tomorrow.¡±


    After leaving Dr. Funke¡¯s house, Thssa sped off towards Starhaven Hospital.


    The words of the police officer still echoed in her mind. Hertha had been in a car ident the night


    before, and the outlook wasn¡¯t good.


    Thssa should have gone to Starhaven Hospital immediately, but she had to prioritize Lysander¡¯s


    treatment opportunity, leaving ric to handle Hertha¡¯s situation.


    So far, ric hadn¡¯t called her, and Thssa was anxious about Hertha¡¯s condition.


    ric arrived at Starhaven Hospital as fast as he could. He only knew that Hertha had been taken


    there for treatment but had no idea where she was.


    Rushing into the hospital, he grabbed a nurse and asked frantically, ¡°Where¡¯s Hertha?¡±


    The nurse was startled by his intense anxiety and quickly replied, ¡°Sir, please calm down. We have


    many patients here. If you¡¯re looking for someone, you should inquire at the appropriate


    department.¡±


    Feeling a throbbing pulse in his temple, ric realized he had been too abrupt, his urgency causing


    him to loseposure.


    He hastily let go of the nurse¡¯s cor, took a deep breath, and asked, ¡°There was a woman involved


    in a car identst night, brought in by ambnce. Her name is Hertha. Which room is she in,


    and how is she doing?¡±

 Chapter 1450

    Chapter 1450


    ric fought to suppress the rising tide of anxiety and concern within him, struggling to sound


    composed when he finally found the words to ask. His heartbeat thundered in his ears, fearful of


    hearing the worst possible news.


    After all, a car ident can range from a minor scrape to a major catastrophe. In the worst-case


    scenario, it could mean a one-way trip to the morgue. Best case, it might involve a few broken


    bones or some scrapes and bruises.


    The very thought of the word "morgue" made ric''s blood run cold, and he silently prayed he


    wouldn''t hear it from the nurse''s lips.


    The nurse, her cor crumpled from ric''s anxious grip, tried topose herself despite the


    imposing presence of the man before her.


    ric, with his striking looks and noble demeanor, was clearly a man of wealth and influence,


    exuding an intimidating aura that was both frightening and inexplicably thrilling.


    The nurse, barely in her twenties, had never encountered such a handsome man in the flesh.


    Stealing a nce at ric, she felt her heart flutter with a mix of fear and attraction.


    Though he had been somewhat rough with her moments before, she was still eager to assist him.


    "Sir, pleasee with me. I''ll help you find the information you need," the nurse said, leading ric


    to the surgical ward.


    Upon inquiring at the nurse''s station, they learned that a woman named Hertha was in the intensive


    care unit.


    "Intensive care?" ric''s entire body tensed, hisplexion turning ashen, his heart constricting as


    if caught in a vice.


    "The patient''s file is here. Take a look," the head nurse said, handing over Hertha''s medical records


    to ric.


    The doctor''s handwriting was a scribbled mess, indecipherable to ric, especially in his current


    state of mind. He flipped through the pages haphazardly, then, unable to discern the medical jargon,


    demanded, "Please, just tell me how she''s doing."


    The head nurse, taken aback by hismanding presence, replied, "The patient sustained a head


    injury. She was bleeding profusely upon arrival, but thankfully, we managed to stabilize her. She''s


    been in intensive care for observation. If she doesn''t develop a fever or any otherplications,


    she''ll be moved to a regr room."


    She''s alive!


    Clutching onto those words, ric''s heart, which had been wound up tight, finally began to uncoil.


    "As long as Hertha''s alive, that''s all that matters," he thought.


    "I need to see her," he said, moving to leave.


    Content is property of N?velDrama.Org.


    "Sir, you can''t go in just yet," the head nurse called after him. "The ICU has strict regtions.


    Patients are off-limits to visitors during observation. Give it half an hour; she''s due to be transferred


    to a regr room soon, and then you can see her."


    Understanding the gravity of ICU restrictions, ric paused. Bringing in outside germs or viruses


    could be disastrous for the patients.


    "By the way, sir, there''s still the matter of Ms. Hertha''s medical bills. If you''re a rtive, would you


    mind settling the ount?" the head nurse asked, handing ric the billing statement.


    Without hesitation, ric took the paperwork. "I''ll take care of it."


    Half an hourter, Hertha was transferred to a regr ward.


    ric entered the room to find her lying on the bed, her head wrapped in bandages, an IV dripping


    into the back of her hand, and a heart monitor beeping steadily on the nightstand.


    The vivacious, lively woman he knewy silent and still, a stark contrast that unsettled ric. A


    heavy ache settled in his chest¡ªthis must be what heartache felt like.


    He approached the bedside, watching Hertha''s peaceful face. Her paleplexion was a grim


    reminder of her ordeal. Her longshesy motionless over her closed eyes. If not for the


    reassuring rhythm of the heart monitor, she could have been mistaken for dead.


    The sight twisted ric¡¯s heart in agony.

 Chapter 1451

    Chapter 1451


    ric dragged a chair over to the side of her hospital bed, his piercing eyes soft with concern


    despite the scolding tone of his voice. ¡°Seriously, what''s with you? It was bad enough when you


    were tailgating me, and now you''re doing it to someone else, nearly getting yourself killed. Not


    everyone''s going to cut you ck like I do, you know.¡±


    While taking care of the hospital bills, ric had called the traffic police to check on the details of


    Hertha¡¯s ident. They confirmed she rear-ended someone else, which led to her own injuries.


    The news that Hertha had rear-ended another car both irritated and amused him.


    It irritated him because, really, couldn¡¯t Hertha take better care of herself?


    It amused him because she was still the same old scatterbrained Hertha, always lost in thought and


    clumsy, especially behind the wheel.


    ¡°Lucky for you, you got away with just a scare this time. What if you hadn''t been so lucky? What if it


    had been the end of the line for you? Then what? You¡¯d be gone, sure, but what about me?¡± ric


    muttered to the sleeping Hertha, his voice tinged with a mix of me and worry.


    He had never opened up to Hertha about his feelings, and now that she couldn¡¯t hear him, his worry


    made him reveal more than he intended.


    After all, no one else was listening; it was just him and his own confessions.


    Little did he know, at the very moment he voiced his concerns, someone halted abruptly at the door


    of the hospital room.


    Georgia stepped back, pressing herself against the wall outside the room to stay out of ric¡¯s line


    of sight.


    Every word ric had said, clear andplete, had been overheard by Georgia. Her heart felt as


    though it were being pierced, a wave of anger and resentment flooding her, almost drowning her


    breath.


    Gracefully, she exited the room, hiding behind the wall. Her breathing was uneven, her eyes filled


    with rage and hurt, her fists clenched as she fought the resentment boiling inside her.


    ric had just implied that if Hertha died, he¡¯d be lost without her! How deeply must ric care for


    Hertha to confess such sincere thoughts while shey unconscious?


    Everyone knew ric as a charming yboy, changing partners as easily as clothes, never really


    falling for anyone. So, none of his flings could be jealous of another; they were merely temporary


    comforts for his solitude¡ªfun while itsted and easily forgotten.


    Material ? of N?velDrama.Org.


    Yet here was this notorious yboy, apparently having fallen for a woman, confessing such


    profound emotions while shey unresponsive.


    And, of course, it had to be Georgia who overheard it all, her heart aching with jealousy, anger


    nearly driving her mad.


    She took deep breaths, trying to calm the storm of emotions threatening to overwhelm her,


    restraining herself from bursting out and confronting ric.


    The day before, it was Georgia who had apanied Hertha to the hospital, watching as she was


    rushed into the emergency room. Once Hertha was admitted, the doctors took charge, and there


    was nothing Georgia could do to interfere.


    Following the surgery, Hertha was moved to the ICU. Unfortunately, during those 12 hours, no one


    except medical staff could enter the ICU unless there wereplications.


    Georgia had hoped for an opportunity to cause Hertha a little mishap but found herself unable to do


    so.


    She had timed Hertha¡¯s transfer to the regr room, nning to create that little ''ident'' for


    Hertha, only to discover she was a step toote. ric was already at Hertha''s bedside, uttering


    those tender, indulgent words that stung Georgia to the core.

 Chapter 1452

    Chapter 1452


    In the hospital room, ric couldn''t contain his inner turmoil as he poured his heart out to Hertha,


    only to be met with the beeping of the heart monitor as his sole response.


    Herthay motionless on the bed, eyes shut, so still it seemed as if ric was the only soul in the


    room.


    The once feisty Hertha, who loved to banter with ric, nowy silent as if she were nothing more


    than a breathing statue.


    A heavy pain settled in ric''s chest.


    The thought of Lysander, who had suffered a head injury and beatose, tormented him. He


    dreaded the thought of Hertha sharing the same fate.


    The feelings he had suppressed within his heart for three long years could no longer be contained.


    People can be quite peculiar. When the person they deeply loved was doing well, they would often


    have countless concerns and would restrain their strong longing, avoiding reaching out to them. But


    when the person encountered trouble and they realized there was a possibility of losing them


    forever, the emotions in their hearts could no longer be hidden, and they couldn''t help but reveal


    them.


    Taking a deep breath, ric leaned in close to Hertha, gently lifting her unencumbered hand, his


    thumb softly caressing the back of it. His voice was hoarse with emotion. "Hertha, I''m sorry. I


    missed you for three years, but..."


    He paused, swallowing the painful lump in his throat, the rest of his sentence remaining unspoken.


    ¡°But now you''re Spencer''s wife. No matter how much I yearn for you, what can I do? I can''t make


    you stray, and I refuse to be the viin in your marriage to Spencer,¡± he thought.


    Outside the room, Georgia struggled to contain the whirlwind of emotions within her, attempting to


    heed her mother¡¯s advice to stay calm andposed.


    However, the words spoken by ric inside the roomnded like a brutal punch to her already


    bruised heart, igniting the simmering rage into a furious ze that she could no longer suppress.


    Bursting from behind the door, Georgia stormed into the room, nearly hysterical, shouting as she


    approached ric, "ric, do you even hear yourself? I''m your fianc¨¦e, and you''re herementing


    over missing three years with another woman! Where does that leave me?"


    Her piercing voice echoed in every corner of the room.


    ric¡¯s sorrow was instantly reced by tension as he looked up to see Georgia, fuming,


    advancing toward the bedside.


    His heart clenched, and he stood up abruptly, blocking Georgia just before she reached the bed, his


    hand pressing against her shoulder as he pushed her back. "Georgia, if you want to lose it, go


    home!"


    As he spoke angrily, ric measured his strength, pushing Georgia out of the room.


    Belongs to ? n0velDrama.Org.


    He was anxious; Hertha had just been transferred from the ICU to a regr ward and was still in a


    critical state. Georgia''s shrill voice could deafen anyone, let alone Hertha, who had suffered a head


    injury. Any carelessness could be life-threatening.


    Desperately, he tried to get Georgia out of the room.


    "ric, let go of me!" Georgia was on the edge of a breakdown, her anger boiling over as she had


    come to confront ric.


    ric, in his single-minded focus on another woman, treated her rudely, physically pushing her out


    of the room without a hint of gentleness, causing her shoulder des to ache from the force.


    Feeling uncherished only fueled Georgia¡¯s fury, her heart close to bursting with anger.


    But ric wouldn''t listen to her; his mind was consumed with thoughts of Hertha. If he allowed


    Georgia to continue her tirade in the room, Hertha''s life could be at risk at any moment.

 Chapter 1453

    Chapter 1453


    Even if it meant shattering her pride, ric was determined to eject Georgia from the hospital room.


    No matter how fierce or defiant Georgia was, her frail figure stood no chance against ric''s


    towering presence. With a significant height and strength advantage, ric easily ushered her out


    of the room despite her struggles. He even had the audacity to shut the door behind him, ensuring


    that Hertha could rest without disturbance from themotion outside.


    ric¡¯s actions struck directly at Georgia''s heart.


    He knew exactly how to push her buttons. The more she loathed something, the more meticulously


    he''d go about it, punctuating his every move with infuriating precision.


    She couldn''t stand the thought of him caring for Hertha, yet there he was, handling her roughly


    while showing the utmost care to close the door gently, as if the mere whisper of sound would


    shatter Hertha''s peace.


    Blinded by rage, Georgia''s hand flew up, aiming a p at ric''s face.


    She was a spoiled heiress, pampered and adored by her parents all her life. Impulsive and


    unbridled, she never considered the consequences of her actions.


    Anger demanded release.


    Georgia¡¯s face twisted in fury, her hand cut through the air, aiming for the wless canvas that was


    ric''s face.


    But moments before her strike couldnd, her wrist was caught in an iron grip.


    "Georgia, I''ve had enough of you!" ric snarled, his voice a frigidsh as he held her wrist. "Get


    out! I don''t want to see your face again!"


    With that, he flung her hand away.


    Stumbling backward, Georgia barely managed to steady herself when she saw ric pull out his


    phone and dial. "Mom,e to Starhaven Hospital and take Georgia away. From today onward,


    you either lose the Reed family as your inws or you lose me as your son. Your choice!"


    "No, don''t call Angelina!" Georgia realized ric was phoning his mother and lunged for the phone.


    Her brazenness stemmed from the belief that Angelina wouldn''t easily allow ric to call off the


    engagement with the Reed family. If ric disowned even his own mother, then Georgia knew she


    would truly be out of options.


    As she pounced, ric held the phone just out of reach. In her haste, Georgia stumbled right into


    his arms.


    The very second their bodies touched, ric caught the acrid scent of her heiress arrogance. His


    face contorted with disgust, ready to shove her away, when a voiceced with mockery rang out.


    "Cozying up at the door of Hertha''s hospital room doesn''t seem quite appropriate, does it?"


    ric turned towards the voice and saw Thssa approaching down the hallway, apanied by


    a tall, slender woman he didn''t recognize.


    Upon seeing Thssa, ric felt the same rush of anxiety he experienced with Hertha, worried


    about being misunderstood. He steadied Georgia by her shoulders and pushed her away with


    visible disdain. "Do I need your permission to call my mother? Georgia, you''re overstepping your


    bounds! Leave now! I can''t stand another second in your presence!"


    Pushed aside, Georgia felt ric''s contempt piercing her like a stiletto heel, further wounding her


    already battered heart.Copyright by N?v/elDrama.Org.


    Consumed by pain and anger, she trembled with fury, her fists clenched so tightly that her nails dug


    into her palms, yet she felt no pain.


    "Why should I leave?" she roared. "Hertha rear-ended my car. She''s entirely at fault and owes me


    two million in damages!"

 Chapter 1454

    Chapter 1454


    "What did you just say?" ric nced at Georgia in disbelief.


    Indeed, ric had called the traffic cops to get the scoop on the ident, but he hadn''t gotten the


    nitty-gritty, only that Hertha had rear-ended someone. Little did he expect that the other party


    involved was Georgia!


    Thssa was equally shocked. "You mean, Hertha''s car crash happened because she collided with


    you?"


    When Thssa had arrived, she was puzzled as to how a simple fender-bender could have left


    Hertha so severely injured. But knowing that Georgia was the other driver, it all made sense.


    "Exactly. She rear-ended my car and ended up seriously injuring herself. I called the ambnce


    right away, but who knew she''d be driving like a bat out of hell and end up like this. The police have


    already determined fault - it''s all on Hertha! My car''s been totaled because of her, and she needs to


    compensate me for the entire vehicle! If it hadn''t been for the airbags in my car, I''d be the one in the


    hospital with serious injuries."


    Georgia stood with her chin held high, her voice fierce and unapologetic, devoid of guilt or remorse.


    If she hadn''t wasted time, Hertha might have gotten treatment sooner and wouldn''t be in such a bad


    state. But Georgia didn''t show a shred of such sentiment.


    "I''ll pay you the two million. Now get out," ric''s normally yful eyes hardened with suppressed


    anger. He spoke with certainty and determination to Georgia, pointing to the exit, signaling her to


    scram.


    "You''re paying for her?" Georgia red up like a cat with its tail stepped on, ring at ric. "What


    are you to her, and what right do you have to pay for her? ric, everything you have now was


    granted to you by the Reed family. Your money is mine. Isn''t it ridiculous that you''re using my


    money to pay me back?"


    Georgia was trembling with rage.


    ric''s eyes gleamed with sarcasm as he suddenly chuckled. "Georgia, every business venture is


    my own doing. What does the money I''ve made have to do with the Reed family? You''re not even


    married to me yet, and you''re already eyeing all my assets. What, once we''re married, I be


    nothing but your cash cow?"


    Hearing her own schemesid bare, Georgia''s haughty demeanor faltered, and she looked away,


    stammering, "I didn''t mean it like that. I just meant, we''re going to get married eventually, and after


    marriage, our assets would be shared."


    "Who says I''m marrying you? Go back to your family and clear this up!" ric grabbed Georgia by


    the sleeve and dragged her away.


    Her shouting was disturbing Hertha''s rest. He had told Georgia to leave, but she clung on,


    continuing to make a scene that would only disturb Hertha further.


    ric had stayed because there was no one else to look after Hertha, but now with Thssa here,


    he could drag Georgia away with a clear conscience.


    Despite her protests, Georgia followed as ric pulled her along.


    All her annoyance stemmed from ric being with Hertha. As long as ric left and wasn''t by


    Hertha''s side, Georgia would feel a bit better. So, she was happy to leave with ric.


    ric moved quickly, and it wasn''t long before he and Georgia were gone.


    Thssa took a deep breath, twisted the doorknob of the hospital room, and stepped inside.


    Upon seeing Hertha, her head wrapped in gauze, lying motionless on the bed, the sight pierced


    Thssa''s heart like a red-hot needle, bringing tears to her eyes.


    Worriedly, she rushed to Hertha''s bedside. Seeing her in such a frail state, Thssa''s breath caught


    in her throat. This scene brought back memories- ones she had seen before with Lysander.Content ? N?velDrama.Org.

 Chapter 1455

    Chapter 1455


    Back then, Lysander too had his head wrapped in bandages, lying still on the bed, and eventually


    he becameatose. The image haunted Thssa, each memory a weight dragging her heart to


    the ocean floor, a mixture of heartache and pain.


    She couldn''t bear to see anyone she cared about end up in a vegetative state¡ªnot again.


    Hunched over, Thssa stood by Hertha''s bedside, tears swirling in her eyes, her voiceden with


    guilt. "Hertha, I''m so sorry. I should never have let you drive home alonest night..."


    N?velDrama.Org content rights.


    Lydia stepped up beside her, offering aforting hand on her shoulder. "Thssa, the doctor said


    it''s a severe concussion. With proper rest, she''ll be fine. She won''t end up like...well, you know."


    Earlier, when Thssa and Lydia had arrived, they''d checked in at the nurse''s station for an update


    on Hertha. Thankfully, she''d been moved from the ICU to a regr room; the worst was over.


    Straightening up, Thssa wiped away the tears and introduced her friend to Lydia with a quivering


    voice. "This is Hertha, the one I''ve told you so much about. We met back in college. She''s a


    wonderful person."


    "If she''s your friend, she''s my friend too. Don''t worry, she''ll pull through," Lydia reassured her.


    In the midst of their conversation, Thssa''s phone rang. She nced at the screen and saw it was


    Bridget calling. Excusing herself, she stepped out of the room to take the call.


    "Thssa, why didn''t Ms. Kensingtone homest night? The kids woke up crying for Mommy


    this morning, and I had no idea what to tell them. She''s never stayed out all night before."


    Bridget had put the kids to bed the previous evening, thinking it waste and Hertha would be home


    soon. But as she lulled the children to sleep, exhaustion took over, and she too drifted off. Morning


    came all too quickly.


    The children awoke and began their search for Hertha, their cries for Mommy growing more


    desperate by the minute. It was only then that Bridget remembered to check her phone, finding a


    missed call from Thssa and returning it immediately.


    The sudden absence of their mother had sent the toddlers into a panic; their sense of security was


    shattered.


    Hearing this, Thssa''s heart ached even more. Hertha''s ident had left the most vulnerable


    ones suffering¡ªher children, at the tender age of two, were at the height of their attachment to their


    mother. Without Hertha by their side, they felt both panicked and afraid, worried about being


    abandoned.


    "Hertha was in a car identst night, Bridget. I only found out this morning," Thssa exined.


    "What? Ms. Kensington had an ident? How is she now?" Bridget''s voice trembled with concern.


    "She''s out of danger, just under observation now."


    "Mommy, I want Mommy..."


    "Mommy, does Mommy not want us anymore..."


    The children''s voices, tinged with tears, were heart-wrenchingly sweet and desperate.


    Unable to stand the thought of the children in distress, Thssa quickly responded, "Bridget,


    Hertha''s at Starhaven Hospital. Can you bring the kids over? Seeing their mom will help them feel


    better."

 Chapter 1456

    Chapter 1456


    Thssa ended the call, a wave of concern washing over her as she gazed upon Hertha, lying still


    in the hospital bed.


    Being a mother herself, Thssa understood the deep bond between a mother and her children.


    The sound Hertha probably longed for the most right now was the voices of her little ones.


    Maybe, just maybe, if she could hear them call out "Mommy," she might wake up sooner?


    Thssa and Lydia were keeping a vignt watch over Hertha when the soft, tender voices of two


    little angels echoed from the doorway.


    "Excuse me, nurse," a tiny voice quivered, "we''re looking for our mommy. She was in a car ident


    and got hurt. My heart is breaking; I want to see her." The little girl''s voice was filled with fear and


    innocence, melting the hearts of anyone who heard.


    "Yeah, nurse," piped up the little boy, his wordsced with concern. "Mommy loves us best, and we


    love her most. She''s hurt and in pain, and I want to blow on it to make it better."


    The nurse, her heart swelling with affection, softened her voice. "Sweethearts, what''s your


    mommy''s name? If you tell me, I can help you find which room she''s in."


    "Thank you, they''re looking for their mother, Hertha," Bridget interjected, recalling the room number


    Thssa had given but which had slipped her mind in the rush of concern.


    "Hertha, yes, she''s in this very room," the nurse indicated, pointing to a nearby doorway.


    "Thank you so much," Bridget said gratefully, ushering Julian and Helena towards the room.


    At that moment, Thssa appeared at the door to greet them, just in time to meet Bridget, who was


    leading the two little cherubs by the hand.


    "Bridget,e in," Thssa beckoned.


    "Aunt Thssa!"


    Upon seeing her, the children''s eyes lit up. Releasing Bridget''s hand, they scampered towards


    Thssa with their little legs.


    Thssa quickly knelt to embrace them, whispering softly, "Julian, Helena, it''s so good to see you.


    But I need to discuss something with you. We must keep our voices down, and when we see your


    mommy, you can look but don''t touch, okay?"


    "Why not? I want to hug Mommy," Helena pouted, her plump cheeks puffing out adorably as she


    tilted her head in confusion, her bright eyes shimmering with longing.


    "I want to kiss Mommy''s boo-boo," Julian said, his young brow furrowing into a worried frown.


    Thssa exined gently, "Your mommy has some very serious injuries, and noise could make her


    hurt more. If we identally touch her head, it could lead into a life-threatening situation. So, we


    can only look and not touch, alright?"


    Thssa wanted the children to see Hertha, to reassure them and let them know that their mother''s


    absence wasn''t due to ack of love, but because she couldn''t physically be with them.


    However, all of this was contingent upon ensuring Hertha¡¯s safety.


    Material ? of N?velDrama.Org.


    Thssa had read a novel once where the male protagonist, diagnosed with a severe concussion,


    was on the mend until an inadvertent push to the head by the female lead resulted in his death. To


    prevent such a tragedy, Thssa couldn''t allow such a thing to happen.


    Julian and Helena were particrly attached to Hertha, and Thssa knew that seeing her might


    make them want to leap into her arms. The consequences of any sudden movements could be


    disastrous, so she had to prepare them in advance.


    Although Julian and Helena were young, the gravity of what "life-threatening" meant had been


    exined to them through stories. They understood that it meant possibly never seeing someone


    again, and this knowledge made them immediately cautious at Thssa''s words.

 Chapter 1457

    Chapter 1457


    Helena''s eyes brimmed with glistening tears as fear and worry held her in their tight grip. She fought


    back the urge to cry and nodded her head, showing a maturity beyond her years.


    Julian''s little cheeks were flushed, his expression a mix of fear and concern as he gave a confused


    nod.


    "You two are doing great," Thssa said tenderly, stroking their hair and taking their hands as they


    approached Hertha''s bedside.


    "Mommy..." Helena looked up with her small head and saw Hertha lying motionless in bed, her


    wounds wrapped in bandages. Tears surged from her eyes as she felt both heartache and fear- fear


    of losing their mommy.


    Julian''s lips puckered as he, too, was on the verge of tears.


    They halted more than a meter from Hertha''s bed, not daring toe closer.


    Thssa had told them not to touch Mommy, or she might die. They were terrified of their mommy


    dying, so they didn''t dare to approach.


    As the children began to cry, Thssa''s heart melted. She quickly crouched down and scooped


    Helena into her arms.


    Seeing them, Bridget hurried over and picked up Julian.


    "Don''t cry, Helena. Your mommy''s just hurt. She needs some time to rest, and she''ll be okay. No


    tears now. When your mommy''s better, she''ll tell you bedtime stories and tuck you in at night. Don''t


    be afraid," Thssa soothed, wiping away Helena''s tears.


    "And you, Julian, you''re the big brother. You have to set an example for your sister. No crying,


    okay? If you cry, your mommy will worry even more," Bridget cooed,forting Julian.


    After all, they were just two-year-olds. No matter how mature they seemed, they were still children


    with a limited capacity to handle such situations.


    Julian raised a small hand to wipe away his tears, pursing his lips in an effort to stop himself from


    crying. "Julian won''t cry, and Helena won''t either. Mommy will get better soon."


    He wasforting himself as much as his sister.


    Helena''s little red lips quivered as she sniffled, trying to hold back her tears, but they kept falling,


    tugging at the heartstrings of anyone who saw her.


    "There you go, you''ve seen Mommy. She''s hurt and can''te home to sleep with you for a few


    days. You must listen to Bridget, okay? When your mommy''s better, she''lle back, and you''ll see


    her healthy and smiling again. Can you go back with Bridget now?" Thssa asked the children in a


    gentle, negotiating tone.


    "Okay, we''ll wait for Mommy," Julian agreed obediently.


    With Julian on board, Helena naturally followed suit.


    Bridget cast a hurried nce at Hertha, taking in the severity of her injuries, and sighed with a


    heavy heart. She then led the two children out of the hospital room.


    Watching Bridget walk away with the little ones, Thssa felt a warmth in her eyes. She missed her


    four children terribly. It had been three years since she had seen them. Sometimes, in the still of the


    night, her longing choked her.


    Perhaps when Lysander woke up, she would have the chance to see her four treasures again. They


    would be seven now, surely even more understanding.


    Bridget, with Julian and Helena in tow, reached the elevator and waited for its arrival.


    Material ? of N?velDrama.Org.


    The elevator dinged, and the doors slid open.


    "The elevator''s here!" Helena ran toward it just as a man stepped out. Her forehead bumped into


    the man''s leg.


    "Hey there, kiddo, you alright?" ric, who had hurried out of the elevator, quickly bent down to


    check on the little tot.

 Chapter 1458

    Chapter 1458


    Helena lifted her tiny head, her beautiful, youthful eyes sparkling with curiosity as she gazed up at


    ric. In that split second, her eyes shimmered with awe at the sight of ric''s features, and in her


    sweet, mushy voice, she said, "Mister, you''re so handsome. My mommy likes pretty people."


    ric, who had just been concerned about whether he''d identally bumped into the little one,


    couldn''t help but melt at the sight of her chubby, squishy face, as adorable as a freshly baked bun.


    Her voice tugged at his heartstrings, instantly soothing the irritation that Georgia had stoked in him.


    The girl¡¯s eyes, reminiscent of his own, struck a chord within him.


    This resemnce stirred something deep within ric''s soul.


    He took Helena''s hand and walked her over to the elevator bank, where he crouched down to her


    level, softening his voice as he spoke, "Kiddo, thanks for saying I look nice. What''s your mommy''s


    name? Are you saying your mommy prefers pretty people over your daddy?"


    ric''s brow furrowed in puzzlement. Considering the girl¡¯s looks, her parents must have some


    impressive genes. How could her mom not cherish the father of her children and instead fancy other


    handsome men?


    "My mommy, she''s called..."


    "Sir, I''m so sorry. My little one bumped into you. Please ept my apology on her behalf; children


    can be quite mischievous."


    Helena, about to reveal that her mommy was called Hertha, was interrupted.


    Aunt Thssa always referred to her mommy by that name.


    Bridget stepped forward, lifting Helena into her arms, and apologized profusely to ric.


    Hearing Bridget''s voice, ric looked up to see a middle-aged woman cradling the little girl who had


    collided with him, her words brimming with regret.


    It seemed this child belonged to her¡ªa stranger''s child.


    For some unknown reason, a hint of disappointment flickered in ric''s heart. He stood up,


    assuring Bridget, "It''s fine. She''s just a child. But you should keep a closer watch on her. If she runs


    into an elevator alone, it could lead to trouble."


    Material ? of N?velDrama.Org.


    "Yes, yes, of course. Thank you for the reminder, sir. I''ll be sure to keep a closer eye on her from


    now on," Bridget said, nodding eagerly, taking his advice to heart.


    ric''s gaze lingered once more on the little girl in Bridget''s arms. She was adorable, with pudgy


    cheeks and innocent, endearing eyes. Perhaps it was their shared feature that made ric feel


    connected to her.


    But despite this connection, she was someone else''s child.


    Snapping back to reality, ric was about to take his leave when he caught a glimpse of a little boy


    standing next to Bridget. The boy appeared to be about the same age as the girl, and he too bore a


    striking resemnce to ric.


    A chord struck within ric, and he asked Bridget earnestly, "Are both these children yours?"


    Bridget quickly reached out to hold Julian''s tiny hand and replied with a simple honesty, "Yes,


    they''re twins¡ªour pride and joy. Their mom and dad are quite attractive, so they''ve turned out to be


    quite the cherubs."


    Just then, Thssa emerged from the hospital room, intending to fetch some hot water. As she


    stepped out into the corridor, she saw Bridget with the twins, engaged in conversation with a man.


    And that man was ric!


    Good heavens, Bridget had unwittingly brought the twins face to face with ric!


    Julian and Helena were ric''s own flesh and blood! If ric recognized the children...

 Chapter 1459

    Chapter 1459


    Thssa''s heart leaped into her throat as she considered the consequences. In a moment of


    anxiety, she noticed Helena''s gaze drifting toward her from the safety of Bridget''s arms.


    With her heart skipping a beat, Thssa moved quickly, almost without thinking. She slipped behind


    the corridor''s wall, letting it shield her from view.


    Thest thing she needed was for Helena to call out "Aunt Thssa" and draw attention. If that


    happened, ric would surely piece together her familiarity with the children. ric, a shrewd and


    prominent figure in the Falconer Group, wouldn''t miss a beat.


    If he discovered her connection to the kids, he would inevitably uncover that they were Hertha''s¡ªa


    truth that Hertha had gone to great lengths to conceal. She had invested in a new home and hired a


    nanny, all to keep her children hidden from the prying eyes of the Falconer family, fearing they might


    try to take them away.


    If Thssa''s carelessness led to Hertha losing her children, she would never forgive herself.


    Hidden behind the wall, Thssa''s heart pounded with fear that Helena might have seen her. The


    situation was as tense as the time she had worried about Lysander discovering her own four


    children.


    In the midst of her panic, ric''s voice echoed through the hallway. "Lucky parents, to have such


    adorable twins. You should get in the elevator before it leaves again."


    With a courteous step aside, ric allowed Bridget and the twins to enter the elevator.


    He had never been particrly fond of children, but seeing these two strangers stirred something


    warm in him. Perhaps he wasn''t as indifferent to kids as he thought; he simply hadn''t had the


    chance to have his own.


    Despite his many affairs, ric had always been careful, never allowing any woman to bear his


    child. The only exception was Hertha. Now, Hertha was married to Spencer, and there was no


    mention of any children.


    The idea of him and Hertha having a child seemed far-fetched to ric, and bitterness tinged his


    thoughts.


    Watching the numbers on the elevator descend, ric snapped back to reality and headed toward


    Hertha''s hospital room. As he turned the corner, he spotted Thssa nervously clutching a


    thermos, her demeanor tense.


    ric called out, "Thssa, what''s wrong? Is there some issue with Hertha?"


    His heart hitched with the question, concerned that Hertha might be in trouble.


    N?velDrama.Org content rights.


    Startled from her thoughts by the sound of her name, Thssa turned to see ric and let out a


    sigh of relief.


    Patting her chest, she said, "No, no, Hertha''s fine. Don''t worry, ric. Didn''t you just drop Georgia


    off? What brings you back here?"


    Thssa probed carefully. She was unsure of what Bridget might have told ric or if he had


    recognized Julian and Helena. She couldn''t ask outright; that would be admitting to something she


    was desperate to hide. So she settled for feeling him out.


    As she spoke, Thssa''s clear eyes watched ric intently, searching for any sign that might


    reveal what he knew.

 Chapter 1460

    Chapter 1460


    "My mom swung by and whisked Georgia away. I can''t stand the sight of her right now," ric said,


    his toneced with irritation as he mentioned the name ¡°Georgia,¡± his expression visibly


    ufortable as he responded to Thssa''s inquiry.


    "I was worried that Georgia''s yelling might have disturbed Hertha, so I came to check in," ric


    added quickly, trying to offer some exnation.


    Not a word about the kids slipped through ric''s lips, and Thssa felt the knot in her chest


    loosen with relief. This meant ric hadn''t recognized Julian and Helena, and Bridget hadn''t let


    anything slip.


    It made sense, after all. Julian and Helena were a perfect blend of Hertha and ric. Helena had


    ric''s eyes, but her nose and mouth were pure Hertha.


    And Julian? He had ric''s features¡ªhis brows, nose, and mouth¡ªbut his eyes were all Hertha,


    large and round, a distinguishing trait.


    Even if ric had bumped into the kids, he wouldn''t make the connection that they were his own.


    "Hertha''s fine, she just needs some peace and quiet to recover. No need to worry yourself sick,"


    Thssa reassured him. "You should head back before your fianc¨¦e gets jealous and storms over


    here to make a scene."


    With that, Thssa began to leave, but ric caught her arm. His usual devil-may-care attitude


    giving way to seriousnessced with a tinge of anxiety.


    "Thssa, my engagement to Georgia was forced."


    ric was desperate to convey to Thssa that he had no feelings for Georgia and didn''t want to


    be tied to her in conversation anymore.


    It was as if clearing the air with Thssa would somehow reach Hertha upon waking, as if this


    confession would ry his true feelings. Because Thssa and Hertha were best friends,


    confidantes through and through. ric believed that once Hertha woke up, Thssa would surely


    pass along his words.


    "Whether it was forced or not, the fact that you and Georgia have yed house is undeniable. Be a


    man of your word and take responsibility for Georgia," Thssa said sternly before walking away


    with her thermos.


    ric felt a sting in his heart upon hearing her words. Hertha had really told Thssa everything,


    even the most private matters!


    She must have been furious and scornful, recounting how she woke to find him and Georgia


    sharing a bed. That moment in the hotel, Hertha''s anger was palpable as she stormed out, severing


    whatever affection she had left for him.


    Breathing heavily, ric returned to the hospital room and cast another nce at Hertha. Seeing


    not only Thssa but another woman, Lydia, caring for her, he felt reassured enough to leave.


    "Excuse me, which room is Hertha in?"


    ric had just stepped out when he spotted a tall, lean man with gold-rimmed sses, asking the


    nurse about Hertha''s room with an anxious expression.


    ric recognized him instantly¡ªit was Spencer!


    The sight of Spencer set ric''s already troubled heart aze with fury. He stormed over and


    grabbed Spencer by the cor. "You,e with me!"


    As Spencer braced for a fight but then recognized ric, he dropped his guard and followed.


    At the end of the corridor, Spencer said, "Mr. Falconer, you can let go of my cor now, can''t you?"


    Without a word, ric''s fist connected with Spencer''s face, his anger causing his eyes to twitch with


    intensity.


    Copyright by N?v/elDrama.Org.


    In a low growl, he spat out, "Spencer, what kind of husband are you? She''s been in a car crash,


    lying in this hospital for over twenty-four hours, and you''re just showing up now! She didn''te


    homest night, and you didn''t think to look for her?"

 Chapter 1461

    Chapter 1461


    Spencer took the punch like a champ, his cheek swelling and throbbing with pain. He pressed his


    tongue against the inside of his cheek, puffing it out into a bulge. As his tongue retreated, the bulge


    subsided, but the redness and swelling remained.


    Adjusting his skewed sses, Spencer turned to look at the fuming ric and said with unnerving


    calm, "Mr. Falconer seems rather concerned about her."


    ric locked eyes with Spencer, whose gaze was calm but carried an undercurrent of hidden fury


    behind the lenses.


    A sudden realization struck ric. He cared for another man''s wife, and Spencer was probably


    jealous. ric was restraining his anger, not letting it burst forth.


    It was Spencer, as Hertha''s husband, who should be the most concerned for her. ric had no right


    even to show concern for Hertha.


    His earlier impulsiveness had led to him hitting Spencer, and now he felt in the wrong,cking a


    solid footing. But ric, ustomed to a life of privilege and ttery, was not the kind to easily


    apologize.


    ncing away, he said, "Hertha is an old friend of mine. I think my concern is justified."


    "Seems Mr. Falconer is aware that you are just an old friend of Hertha''s. Nothing more than that. If


    there''s nothing else, I''d appreciate it if you didn''t disturb Hertha''s life in the future."


    Spencer''s words seemed calm and indifferent, but they cut sharply through the air.


    With that, Spencer turned on his heel and left.


    ric, his heart stung, watched Spencer walk confidently towards Hertha''s hospital room.Content ? N?velDrama.Org.


    The more ric had cared and the angrier he had be, the more pain he now felt in his heart.


    Indeed, he no longer had any ce in Hertha''s life.


    Spencer and Hertha were the married couple. Whatever happened, they were the ones bound


    together, facing challenges and supporting each other.


    He was, at best, an outsider.


    What right did he, an outsider, have to meddle in Hertha''s affairs or to rebuke her husband for not


    being immediately aware of her ident?


    He realized that missing out on Hertha for three years meant missing out on all the details of her


    life. From now on, he wouldn''t y a central role in any event concerning Hertha.


    ric''s heart felt submerged in seawater¡ªsunk and bitter.


    For the first time, he experienced the regret and frustration of not cherishing someone when he had


    the chance. But what good were regret and frustration now? He was powerless to change the


    situation.


    He had naively thought that by cutting ties with Georgia, he could make it up to Hertha. In his


    rashness, he had forgotten that Hertha was married to Spencer. His rtionship status, whether


    single or otherwise, had no bearing on Hertha.


    Head bowed in profound disappointment, ric left the hospital.


    Thssa, after fetching some water, returned to the hospital room and saw Spencer sitting


    anxiously beside Hertha''s bed. Without surprise, she remarked, "It was Bridget who called you,


    right?"


    "Yeah, why does she have to be so stubborn? If she''d just reconcile with her folks and tell them


    about her two kids, I bet they''d help out. They could take some of the load off her shoulders, at


    least. It''s gotta be better than going it alone." Spencer''s worry for Hertha was evident.


    "You still don''t quite understand Hertha," Thssa said, setting the kettle aside.

 Chapter 1462

    Chapter 1462


    ¡°Hertha was mortified by the thought of her parents shouldering her responsibilities.¡± Thssa tried


    to exin this to Spencer.


    "What''s the big deal? They''re her own parents, not strangers," Spencer couldn''t grasp the concept.


    Hertha was an only child, and despite having fallen out with her family over her refusal to marry


    Spencer three years ago, Spencer often counseled her parents. They had since forgiven her and


    wanted her back home. However, they were too proud to reach out to her first.


    Could Hertha really go three years without contact, keeping her parents in the dark about her two


    children, depriving the grandparents of watching them grow?


    "Hertha might seem carefree, but she''s actually very proud. I''ve encouraged her to visit them from


    time to time. She''lle around; it''s just a matter of time," Thssa said.


    Spencer opened his mouth to speak about bumping into ric but then thought better of it and


    remained silent.


    The next day, Thssa woke up early, freshened up, and instructed Fitch to prepare a splendid


    breakfast to wee a guest.


    Today, Dr. Funke was set to visit Royal Estates to treat Lysander.


    Securing Dr. Funke''s help had been no small feat for Thssa, and she was determined not to give


    the doctor any less than a warm wee.


    At eight in the morning, Dr. Funke arrived on schedule.


    Thssa greeted him politely, "Dr. Funke, wee! I hope you haven''t had breakfast yet, please,


    join us first."


    With a gesture, she signaled Fitch, who promptly stepped forward, attempting to take Dr. Funke''s


    medical bag.


    However, with a slight but firm step back, Dr. Funke made it clear he would not hand it over.


    Embarrassed, Fitch retracted his hand but kept a polite smile. "Please, Dr. Funke, have a seat over


    here."


    Dr. Funke nced at Fitch and then turned to Thssa. "I''ve eaten already. No need for such a


    fuss. I promised to see your husband today and won''t dy. Where is he?"


    Dr. Funke referred to Lysander as Thssa''s husband. For simplicity, she had never corrected the


    assumption that she and Lysander were married.


    Dr. Funke''s efficiency cut through the formalities, and Thssa led him upstairs to Lysander''s room.


    For three years, Lysander had been lying in bed, impably groomed by Thssa herself. Despite


    hisa, he hadn''t wasted away, his robust form maintained, his once olive-toned skin now a


    porcin pallor adding to his noble yet chilling demeanor.


    Dr. Funke set the medical bag aside and took Lysander''s wrist to feel his pulse. His concentration


    was palpable.


    Thssa stood by, barely breathing, not daring to disturb Dr. Funke''s examination.


    Material ? of N?velDrama.Org.


    The room was steeped in silence when suddenly, authoritative footsteps approached.


    Thssa turned to see Zephyr, d in a camel-hued trench coat, stride in with a grim face and


    piercing eyes, exuding an air of fierce determination.

 Chapter 1463

    Chapter 1463


    Behind Zephyr trailed a cadre of burly bodyguards, cloaked in ck, sending a shiver of intimidation


    through Thssa''s heart.


    "Thssa, who gave you permission to bring some quack doctor to treat Lysander?" Zephyr


    thundered, his voice heavy with fury.


    His gaze was stern, shooting daggers at Dr. Funke.


    Thssa''s heart skipped a beat, worried that Dr. Funke would take offense and refuse to treat


    Lysander. But to her relief, Dr. Funke remained stoic, seriously examining Lysander''s pulse,


    seemingly unaffected by Zephyr''s imposing presence.


    Thssa quickly stepped forward, blocking Zephyr''s path to prevent him from getting close to Dr.


    Funke, her words tumbling out in a frantic plea, "Zephyr, Dr. Funke isn''t some quack doctor. He''s a


    renowned doctor with a holistic approach. He''s brought countless patients out ofas. I thought


    that if Dr. Funke treated Lysander, he might wake up soon..."


    Zephyr''s piercing gaze turned icy as he retorted, "Are you saying the doctors the Sinir family has


    consulted are inferior to this man you''ve brought? This Dr. Funke, this so-called renowned doctor, is


    nothing but a half-baked medic! What can he possibly cure? Step aside. No one makes decisions


    about Lysander''s care without my consent," Zephyr demanded unequivocally.


    After hismand, he signaled to one of the bodyguards, who promptly stepped forward and pulled


    Thssa away.


    Outnumbered, Thssa tried to stand her ground, to protect Dr. Funke from any disruption, but she


    was no match for the towering bodyguard and was forcibly separated.


    As Zephyr approached Dr. Funke, ready to physically remove him, the doctor released Lysander''s


    wrist.


    Rising, Dr. Funke was neither embarrassed nor fearful; instead, he addressed Zephyr with calm


    authority, "The problem is simple: the stagnated blood is pressing on nerves. Years of this


    unrelieved pressure is why he''s remained unconscious."


    "We''ve heard that diagnosis before. What good does it do? Without a treatment, it''s all empty talk!"


    Zephyr scoffed dismissively.


    Throughout these three years, Zephyr had sought out numerous esteemed doctors from all over the


    world. They could all diagnose the cause of Lysander''sa, yet none could cure him.


    Zephyr was familiar with Dr. Funke''s reputation. Though he had some recognition in the medical


    community, his entric nature and capricious willingness to treat patients based on some


    nebulous notion of ''fate'' made Zephyr skeptical.


    Many had sought Dr. Funke''s help only to be turned away. To Zephyr, such behavior was a


    chatan''s theatrics,cking any substantial medical prowess.


    After all, why would a true healer choose fate over fees when deciding whom to treat?


    To Zephyr, a doctor who didn''t prioritize patients above all else was no true healer, and thus he had


    never considered soliciting Dr. Funke''s services, let alone trust him.


    "Zephyr..." Thssa began, but before she could finish her plea, Dr. Funke spoke with a serene


    assertiveness that cut through the tension.


    Material ? of N?velDrama.Org.


    "Treating the symptoms of blood stagnation is quite manageable. With cooperation from the patient


    and family, I can disperse the blood clots in his brain within two weeks. Subsequently, with a


    progressive rehabilitation n, Lysander could be awake within two months."


    Hope flickered in Thssa''s heart upon hearing Dr. Funke''s words. No doctor before had dared to


    guarantee a cure for Lysander, let alone provide a timeline for his awakening.


    Dr. Funke''s confidence suggested he had full faith in his abilities, and for the first time in a long


    while, Thssa dared to believe in a miracle.

 Chapter 1464

    Chapter 1464


    Zephyr was initially furious, on the verge of throwing Dr. Funke out on his ear. But upon hearing Dr.


    Funke''s im, he gazed at him incredulously. "Are you saying that Lysander could wake up within


    two months?"


    There was a confidence in Dr. Funke''s voice that Zephyr couldn''t ignore.


    The renowned physicians he''d consulted before, even the esteemed Dr. Everest, had never dared


    to make any promises about when Lysander might awaken.


    Yet there was Dr. Funke, this self-proimed miracle worker who had the audacity to guarantee that


    with his treatment, Lysander coulde to in just two months!


    Zephyr was not the kind of man to let some quack tamper with Lysander''s health, risking more harm


    than good.


    But Dr. Funke''s words had struck a chord.


    For three long years, Zephyr had exhausted every resource, consulted countless doctors to cure


    Lysander, all in the hope of seeing him wake up sooner. And now, out of the blue, this man was


    telling him he could make it happen in two months. Even if Zephyr had his doubts about the man,


    those words shook his skepticism to the core.


    Dr. Funke met Zephyr''s imposing, murky gaze with a steady eye. "As long as the family follows my


    treatment n, I assure you he''ll wake up within two months."


    "How..."


    "How do we cooperate?"


    Thssa was about to ask when Zephyr''s impatient words cut in front.


    Thssa looked at Zephyr in surprise, seeing the mix of restraint and excitement on his weathered


    face, watching as a glimmer of hope ignited in his clouded eyes.


    Her heart mirrored his feelings ¨C a tumultuous blend of tion and hope.


    She had sought out Dr. Funke with a sense of desperation, not expecting much. When Dr. Funke


    had first examined Lysander, she had prepared herself for the worst.


    But now, Dr. Funke''s words offered the best possible oue, and her breath caught with


    excitement.


    "I''ll administer daily acupuncture with silver needles, and I¡¯ll prescribe some herbal concoctions. You


    will need to steep the herbal concoctions and ensure he drinks them. Talk to him regrly, and


    move his limbs to maintain muscle memory. In two months, we''ll see the results," Dr. Funke


    answered with earnest assurance.


    Zephyr''s expression was a turbulent sea of excitement, conflict, and lingering doubt.


    To him, Dr. Funke was still a stranger, an unknown variable. He longed for Lysander''s recovery but


    struggled to ce his trust in the promises of a man he barely knew.


    "Do you dare to guarantee that he''ll wake up in two months?" Zephyr asked again, the doubt in his


    voice palpable.


    Hearing this, Thssa looked anxiously at Dr. Funke, worried he might walk away from the


    challenge.


    Copyright by N?v/elDrama.Org.


    But Dr. Funke''s voice was firm. "I guarantee he''ll be better in two months. If I fail, I''ll surrender my


    medical license, pay the Sinir family twenty million dors, and face the scorn of the media."


    Dr. Funke was putting his entire career on the line.


    The suspension of his license was not even the most severe part of his vow. What truly


    demonstrated hismitment was the willingness to face the media''s censure. Dr. Funke knew full


    well the Sinir family''s influence was immense; should they choose to discredit him publicly, his


    reputation would be destroyed in an instant. If the Sinirs spoke out, the narrative of Dr. Funke


    being a hack would spread like wildfire, and he would be condemned globally.


    He dared to make such a perilous oath because he was absolutely sure of his ability to cure


    Lysander.


    Zephyr saw the resolve and seriousness in his eyes.


    With his breathing growing ragged from a cocktail of anticipation and repression, Zephyr took


    several deep breaths before finally setting his heart and making a firm decision.

 Chapter 1465

    Chapter 1465


    "Okay, I''ll take your word for it this time. If you cure him, the Sinir family is willing to shell out two


    billion for your house call fee. Plus, we''ll sing your praises in every major media outlet, hailing you


    as a miracle worker!"


    Zephyrid out his offer.


    Over these past three years, he had consulted no fewer than ten doctors and spent a small fortune,


    yet none of them could bring Lysander out of his slumber.


    If Dr. Funke could actually wake Lysander up, no amount of money would be too much.


    The prospect of two billion would send any sane person over the moon, but Dr. Funke''s next words


    left Zephyr gobsmacked.


    Copyright by N?v/elDrama.Org.


    "The patient''s wife has alreadypensated me, and once I ept a favor, I do not double-dip,"


    Dr. Funke stated.


    The patient''s wife? Was he referring to Thssa?


    Zephyr''s murky gaze, sharp and hawk-like, swiveled towards Thssa.


    Feeling the piercing intensity of Zephyr¡¯s stare, Thssa''s heart skipped a beat, her face the picture


    of difort. She was about to rify that she hadn¡¯t imed to be Lysander''s wife.


    But before the words could leave her lips, Zephyr''s attention had already shifted back to Dr. Funke.


    "When can we start?"


    "Right now," Dr. Funke said, and after a pause, he added, "I have a custom when I practice. I need


    complete silence while I¡¯m inserting the acupuncture needles. Any noise can throw off my precision,


    and being off even by a millimeter can affect the treatment''s oue."


    "I understand," Zephyr said cooperatively. He turned to his bodyguards and instructed, "Stand guard


    outside the door. Don¡¯t let anyonee in and disturb us."


    "Understood!" The bodyguards nodded, exiting the room and closing the door behind them to stand


    watch.


    Assured of privacy, Zephyr said to Dr. Funke, "You can begin. No one will disturb you."


    Dr. Funke was about to speak when Zephyr, anticipating his words, interjected, "We''ll just be here to


    assist you. After all, we are the ones who know Lysander''s condition best. If you need anything,


    we''re here to help."


    Thssa shot Zephyr a surprised nce. When he said ''we'', was he including her in that?


    Throughout these three years, Zephyr had never shown her any kindness. Suddenly being looped


    in with him left Thssa flustered.


    Dr. Funke didn¡¯t say anything more. He pulled out his set of silver needles and expertly found


    Lysander¡¯s acupuncture points. His movements were swift, precise, and unforgiving as he inserted


    the needles into Lysander''s head.


    Thssa stood to the side, watching anxiously, her breathing slowed. She was so concerned about


    disturbing Dr. Funke that she was afraid to even breathe too loudly.


    Before long, Dr. Funke''s forehead was beaded with sweat from his intense concentration.


    And Lysander''s head was studded with needles, yet he remained still, seemingly oblivious to the


    pain.


    But Thssa''s heart was in knots, her breathing choked with empathy.


    As she watched, Dr. Funke began to twist the needles one by one, driving them deeper with each


    turn.


    With every inch the needles sank into Lysander''s head, Thssa''s heart tightened, as if the pain


    were hers to bear.


    The room was deathly quiet, the silence so profound that everyone could only hear their own


    breathing. The atmosphere was taut, stifling, and nobody dared to breathe too loudly.


    In the blink of an eye, over two hours had passed.


    Dr. Funke removed all the needles from Lysander''s head and meticulously ced them back into


    his needle case.


    After packing away his medical supplies, he stood up, nced at Thssa, and turned to Zephyr.


    "Today''s treatment is finished. I''ll write up a prescription shortly. You¡¯ll need to brew the herbal


    remedy and make sure he drinks it."

 Chapter 1466

    Chapter 1466


    Lysander had been in a tense session of treatment, and Zephyr had been fixated on every move Dr.


    Funke made. By the end, sweat beaded on Zephyr''s brow, a testament to his concern.


    The moment thest of the silver needles were plucked from Lysander''s head, Zephyr''s tension


    ebbed away. Coming back to the moment, he replied to Dr. Funke, "Don''t worry, we''ll make sure he


    drinks it."


    "Given that the patient''s in aa, administering the meds might be tricky, but it''s crucial that you


    find a way to get him to take them. The treatment won''t work otherwise. I''ve used the needles to


    open up his meridians. The medication needs to flow through these channels to stimte blood flow


    and reduce stasis," Dr. Funke reminded them again, concerned that they might take shortcuts, and


    the medicine might not reach Lysander''s stomach.


    Dr. Funke shared his medical philosophy,pelling Zephyr to take the task seriously. "We''ll make


    sure he takes it. You needn''t worry, Dr. Funke," Zephyr assured.


    His eyes, cloudy with worry, swept meaningfully over Thssa, who lowered hershes in a faint


    flush of embarrassment.


    Though Zephyr didn¡¯t say it aloud, Thssa knew what his look implied. For years, she had been


    the one to feed Lysander.


    Since Lysander couldn''t chew or even swallow properly on his own, she had resorted to mouth-to-


    mouth feeding.


    This was no secret at the Royal Estates; it wasmon knowledge, and Zephyr''s probing gaze


    confirmed that he knew about her methods.


    After Dr. Funke prescribed the medicine, Zephyr took the prescription, saying, "I''ll go fill this."


    "I''lle with you," Thssa offered quickly, trailing behind him.


    Copyright by N?v/elDrama.Org.


    Zephyr didn¡¯t refuse, and as they reached the grand entrance of the Royal Estates, he abruptly


    stopped.


    Thssa, caught off-guard, nearly crashed into his back but managed to halt just in time.


    Regaining herposure, she met Zephyr''s piercing, judgmental stare.


    "iming to be his wife already, even though Lysander hasn¡¯t woken up?"


    A heavy feeling sank in Thssa''s heart; she knew Zephyr wouldn''t let the issue slide so easily.


    The scorn and mockery in his eyes were palpable.


    Taking a deep breath, Thssa replied evenly, "I''ve never told anyone that I''m Lysander''s wife. I


    only said that he''s the father of my child. Dr. Funke misunderstood, and I couldn''t correct him. After


    all, who but a family member would go to such lengths to arrange treatment for him?"


    Zephyr''s gaze did not soften. Instead, it grew more serious. "What did you offer Dr. Funke to coax


    him out to treat Lysander?"


    Dr. Funke was notoriously reclusive and not easily persuaded to treat anyone.


    What could Thssa possibly possess that could sway Dr. Funke to take on Lysander''s case, a feat


    more enticing than a fortune of two billion?


    Under Zephyr''s skeptical and harsh gaze, Thssa did not hide the truth. "I promised to find him an


    apprentice and to set him up on a dating site."


    "Those conditions... they wouldn''t happen to involve you, would they?" Zephyr''s voice sharpened,


    his eyes shing with anger and contempt.


    To Zephyr, Thssa had always seemed like the kind of woman who yed all her cards to achieve


    her ends, unscrupulous and willing to sacrifice her dignity. Otherwise, how could she have ensnared


    Leopold to the point of losing his life?


    And then there was Lysander, who had been injured trying to save her, now lying in aa for


    three long years.

 Chapter 1467

    Chapter 1467


    Now Zephyr found Thssa bargaining her soul to a man well into his fifties, all to save Lysander. It


    wasn''t something he''d thought she could never do.


    Thssa''s pupils contracted sharply, feeling a sting of offense. She fought to keep the hurt and


    rage from surfacing, though her voice still trembled with indignation as she spoke.


    "Dr. Funke is looking for a disciplined, avable apprentice with a keen ability to learn, someone to


    pass on the art of medicine. He also wants a lively, witty woman to share his life with. Which criteria


    do you suppose I fit, Zephyr?" Thssa challenged, chin held high.


    Before Zephyr could respond, she continued, her irritation clear, "I agreed to find Dr. Funke a


    suitable apprentice, and to introduce him to potential partners until he finds satisfaction. Those are


    the terms I agreed upon! Zephyr, don¡¯t you dare define me with your narrow-minded judgments!"


    "Don''t fool yourself into thinking that just because you''ve found a doctor to treat Lysander, you''re fit


    to marry into the Sinir family. I will never allow a fickle woman like you to be part of it!"


    Zephyr, stung by Thssa''s retort, huffed angrily, leaving a biting remark before storming out.


    His promise to let Thssa care for Lysander was born from necessity, given Lysander''s inability to


    look after himself. It was clear to him that she was the most suitable caregiver.


    The intimacy required for such care was delicate.


    Lysander, when conscious, couldn''t stand the touch of another woman. In hisatose state,


    letting a stranger tend to him was risky¡ªnot only due to unfamiliarity with his routines but also for


    fear of triggering a stress response that could worsen his condition.


    The mere breath of life he held could be extinguished by such a reaction, a loss too great to risk.


    Zephyr''s insistence on Thssa''s care was driven by fear of losing Lysander, not an eptance of


    her rtionship with him.


    If it weren''t for Thssa, Lysander wouldn''t be in this state to begin with. That''s why Zephyr stood


    firmly against any union between them.


    Swallowing her frustration as Zephyr departed, Thssa took a deep breath, reminding herself to


    stay calm. Lysander''s recovery under Dr. Funke''s care was paramount.


    As Thssa prepared to head upstairs, she saw Dr. Funke descending the stairs with his medical


    bag in tow.


    "Dr. Funke, please stay for dinner," Thssa said politely.


    "No thanks, I''m not one for dining at others'' homes," Dr. Funke replied.


    Walking alongside him to see him out, Thssa expressed her gratitude, "Dr. Funke, thank you for


    steadfastly treating Lysander."


    She had been genuinely worried, fearing Zephyr¡¯s stubbornness would provoke Dr. Funke to leave


    with his medical bag and nullify all her efforts.


    "You are wee. If I''ve promised to treat Lysander, I''ll see it through, unaffected by any


    distractions," Dr. Funke exined his indifference to Zephyr''s attitude.


    His entric nature meant he seldom took patients; but once he did, no words from others would


    shake his resolve. He was in it till the end.


    Understanding his principle, Thssa was deeply grateful as she said, "Dr. Funke, you are truly a


    good doctor."


    "Don''t praise me yet. Wait until Lysander is cured," Dr. Funke replied, then left the Royal Estates.Copyright by N?v/elDrama.Org.

 Chapter 1468

    Chapter 1468


    In the evening, Fitch had brewed the medicine, and Thssa, holding the steaming mug,


    approached Lysander''s bedside to feed him.


    She attempted to coax the liquid between Lysander''s lips with a spoon, but his mouth remained


    firmly closed, rejecting the nourishing brew.


    It seemed that Lysander stillcked the ability to swallow on his own.


    With a sigh, Thssa reverted to their established routine. She sipped the medicine, and then,


    leaning over Lysander, she gently pried open his lips to transfer the liquid into his mouth.


    Back when Lysander''s presencemanded every room, it was he who would initiate their kisses,


    assertively parting her lips and iming her breath with the fervor of a conqueror.


    He would lead her breathlessly into the depths of a passionate embrace.


    Now, the roles were reversed. It was she who would softly press her lips to his, nudging his mouth


    open to feed him, to aid him in swallowing.


    For three years, she had persisted in this daily act of intimacy, repaying each kiss he had once


    given her.


    Oh, how she longed for Lysander to take the initiative again, for him to awaken with that assertive


    spark she remembered.


    Three years of unteral effort had taught Thssa the toll of one-sided gestures¡ªnot just the


    physical toll, but the emotional drain as well.


    The one who initiates craves a response, a sign that their efforts are not in vain, that they are


    acknowledged and desired.Content ? N?velDrama.Org.


    But silence, theck of response, only magnifies despair, deepening the ache of hope unmet.


    Thssa yearned for Lysander''s response, for him to awaken, to exhibit any sign of conscious will.


    And she knew, when Lysander had kissed her in days past, he too must have sought a response. A


    response would have at least confirmed he wasn''t alone in his desires.


    Herck of reaction could only have signaled to him that she felt nothing for him, not deep down.


    In those days, she had been too reserved, too panicked to reciprocate his advances, and he must


    have felt the same disappointment that now gued her.


    With a bitter taste in her mouth, Thssa administered the medicine, carefully ensuring that each


    spoonful made its way past Lysander''s lips. When the mug was empty, she wiped away the traces


    from his mouth, then her own.


    Gazing at Lysander with profound tenderness, she murmured, "Lysander, for three years I''ve kissed


    you, bathed you, more times than you ever did for me. Surely, whatever penance you''ve sought has


    been served. When you wake, we''ll settle the score. You owe me a wealth of kisses, and a


    multitude of baths..."


    Her voice was soft, tinged with a sad smile, her eyes alight with fierce hope for the day Lysander


    would open his eyes.


    Dr. Funke had promised that Lysander would awaken within two months, and she clung to that


    promise with all her heart.


    She longed to be the first sight he beheld upon his return to consciousness.


    Continuing her soliloquy, Thssa gently caressed Lysander''s face.


    His features were sharp, his skin taut, exuding a masculine maism. Even after three years of


    slumber, his allure remained undiminished. The absence of sunlight had only made his skin paler,


    enhancing his handsome features.


    A smile crept across Thssa''s face as she traced his cheek with her thumb¡ªa gesture she would


    never dare with Lysander awake, a gesture that filled her with warmth, as if caressing a child''s face.


    After a moment''s tenderness, Thssa wheeled the chair into the bathroom to help Lysander with


    his bath.


    The room filled with steam, misting her eyes and flushing her cheeks. With a towel in hand, she


    gently washed over every curve and contour of his body.


    In this intimate space, where the air was warm and thick, Thssa cared for Lysander with a


    devotion that transcended the years of silence between them.

 Chapter 1469

    Chapter 1469


    The next morning, after finishing her breakfast, Thssa received a call from Joshua Whitman.


    "Go home for lunch today," Joshua said on the phone.


    "Go home? To which home?" Thssa asked, puzzled.


    "Back to the Whitman family. Your sister''s back in town, and Matilda too. They''d like to have lunch


    with you," Joshua replied with a seriousness that matched his words.


    Her sister?


    Rosalind Whitman?


    The so-called sister Rosalind was the child Joshua had with his current wife, Matilda.


    It had been three years since Thssa and Joshua had recognized each other, and he had taken


    her to meet the Whitman family only once before, introducing her to this new set of rtives.


    She suddenly had a half-sister and a half-brother ¨C Joshua''s children with other women,pletely


    unrted to her mother.


    Thssa was ufortable with this arrangement. Joshua had wanted her to live with the


    Whitman family, but she couldn''t bear the thought of staying with strangers, especially when she


    wanted to devote herself to caring for Lysander. So she had declined Joshua¡¯s offer and moved into


    Royal Estates.


    "Please give them my regards. I really don''t have time..." she began.


    "You haven''t seen them in a year. Doe by, won¡¯t you? Leave Lysander with the staff at Royal


    Estates. It¡¯ll be fine. Lunch is at noon, so don''t bete," Joshua didn''t leave any room for Thssa


    to refuse, and hung up the phone.


    Thssa couldn¡¯t argue.


    After all, it was Joshua who had fought for her chance to care for Lysander.


    If it hadn''t been for Joshua taking her to the Sinir family, she might never have met Zephyr, much


    less convinced him to let her look after Lysander.


    N?velDrama.Org content rights.


    She had promised Joshua that if he secured this opportunity for her, she would be his daughter.


    And having decided to fulfill the role of Joshua''s daughter, that included dealing with his family.


    At noon, Thssa entrusted Lysander to Fitch, asking him to take good care of him, and then she


    set off for the Reed family home.


    Joshua had bought a vi in Starhaven, located in the suburbs surrounded by an idyllic setting of


    lush greenery.


    Thssa had been there once before, and now, a yearter, she returned.


    Parking her car in the verdant driveway, she walked into the grand hall.


    "Joshua, you''d bettere clean with me. Do you really only have Thssa as an illegitimate


    child? I don''t want to find out a few years down the line that you have another secret son or


    something!" Joshua''s wife Matilda snapped, hardly concealing her irritation.


    Dressed in a fur coat, with shy nails and a meticulous makeup, Matilda exuded a chilly elegance.


    "Dad, I''ve heard you''ve been quite generous with Thssa over the past few years. Can you even


    tell who your real daughter is?" Rosalind, usually graceful and refined, spoke with an edge of


    impatience.


    She had only been abroad for a year of study, and in that time, her father seemed to have shifted all


    his affection to Thssa, the newfound daughter.


    Rosalind felt a bitter taste in her heart. She had always been her father''s little princess, the sole


    recipient of his love, and now another woman had emerged to share what she felt was her exclusive


    right to his affection.


    Rosalind was deeply unsettled.


    "Don''t worry, I won''t take a penny from the Whitman family fortune," Thssa entered, her


    expression cool and detached.

 Chapter 1470

    Chapter 1470


    The three people in the room turned as Thssa entered.


    Rosalind rose gracefully, a practiced smile ying on her lips. "Thssa," she cooed, her voice


    honeyed with charm, "I didn''t mean it that way. You''ve been such a help to Lysander and the


    Sinirs. I''m sure they''ll show their gratitude. You don''t need to worry about any benefits from us.


    Compared to the Sinirs, what could we possibly offer?"


    N?velDrama.Org content rights.


    Rosalind had a way with words, and as she locked eyes with Thssa, her gaze was liquid warmth,


    her smile brimming with intellect. It was a disy of breeding in every nuanced expression.


    When Thssa had first met Rosalind three years ago, she was struck by her poise, her elegance,


    and her well-read charm.


    She was everything Thssa felt she could never be.


    Back when Isabe Everhart and Faye Brennan taunted Thssa, calling her a bumpkin, she


    hadn''t cared much. She had written them off as mean-spirited, targeting her out of spite. But after


    meeting Rosalind, with her air of cultured grace and the unmistakable scent of academia about her,


    Thssa truly understood what it meant to be refined, to be a truedy raised in a world of privilege


    and high education.


    Standing before Rosalind, Thssa couldn''t help but feel like the epitome of a bumpkin.


    Even now, as Rosalind had muttered aint to Joshua, she seamlessly shifted her demeanor


    when facing Thssa, elevating her while slyly belittling her in the process.


    Everybody knew Thssa''s role with the Sinirs was hardly official; she was not Lysander''s wife.


    Her position was precarious at best, and the idea of receiving benefits from them was a stretch.


    Thssa met Rosalind''s gaze with a cool smile. "Thank you for your concern, dear Rosalind, but


    I''m quite capable of fending for myself without any handouts."


    "Of course," Rosalind replied, the picture of modesty. "You grew up in the countryside, handling


    everything life threw at you. You''ve weathered more storms than I''ve seen rainy days. I only know


    my arts andnguages¡ªbeyond that, I''m practically helpless."


    Thssa was speechless. Any attempt to argue would make her appear ungracious.


    "Come now, let''s not stand on ceremony. The meal''s ready," Joshua chimed in, gesturing for


    Thssa to take a seat at the dining table.


    Rosalind exchanged a knowing look with her mother, Matilda. Their silentmunication was a


    testament to their bond.


    At the table, Joshua took the head seat, with Thssa on the shorter side. Matilda and Rosalind sat


    opposite him, their cement clearly delineating family from outsider.


    Joshua served Thssa a generous helping of braised beef¡ªtender and glistening with a rich,


    savory ze. "Eat up, Thssa. You''re too thin," he said with a smile.


    Though it was a sumptuous dish, Thssa felt a twinge of difort epting it from Joshua.


    Despite being her biological father, they shared no real emotional connection.


    Furthermore, a deep-rooted fear of her father lingered in her heart. She never reached out to


    Joshua and was wary of any kindness he showed.


    Instead of the beef, Thssa picked up a piece of steamed broli, biting into it with a crunch. "I''ve


    always preferred lighter meals," she exined. "Meat just isn''t my thing."

 Chapter 1471

    Chapter 1471


    Thssa turned down Joshua''s kindness, locking her heart away to keep from setting herself up for


    another letdown.


    Once, she had thought Bruce was her dad. She had longed for a father''s love even amid Bruce''s


    true colors as a scoundrel. But Bruce was rotten to the core, wounding her over and over again,


    leaving scars that ran deep.


    She had be utterly disenchanted with the idea of a father. She couldn''t dare to let herself be


    vulnerable to that kind of disappointment again.


    Joshua tried to lighten the mood, offering her a piece of fried chicken with a smile, "Here, have


    some of this, it''s full of protein."


    Thssa was about to respond when Rosalind interjected with a forced smile, "Thssa, look how


    much Daddy cares for you. You should eat what he''s given you. Otherwise, he''ll be so disappointed.


    At home, it''s always us serving him, and he''s never once served us. You''re getting the royal


    treatment."


    As she spoke, Rosalind shot a look across the table at Joshua. Her eyes were heavy with unspoken


    grievances, but she masked them well.


    "Exactly, Thssa, eat up," Joshua chimed in. "I didn''t know about you before, and I missed out on


    your growing up. I owe you over twenty years of a father''s love. I''m sorry, and I hope you can


    gradually ept my care."


    Joshua was no fool; he could tell Thssa held her distance, her heart sealed off, unwilling to blend


    into the Reed family.


    Her constant vignce made Joshua''s heart ache.


    Thssa was his daughter, and he wanted to make amends, but she wouldn''t ept his attempts


    at generosity.


    Ever since acknowledging Thssa as his own, Joshua had tried to provide for her financially, but


    she had turned down every offer.


    Rosalind had somehow caught wind that he''d been trying to give Thssa money for years and had


    just confronted him about it earlier.


    Thssa didn''t want to hear any more of this. Picking up her fork, she took a bite of her sd and


    said, "Thanks, but I can serve myself. I''ll just take what I fancy."


    She wanted Joshua to stop serving her, to avoid stoking Rosalind''s jealousy.


    Rosalind had been the Whitman family''s darling girl, pampered by her brother and adored by her


    parents. The sudden appearance of Thssa, a strangerying im to a share of their father''s


    affection, was bound to stir difort.


    Content ? N?velDrama.Org.


    Especially with Joshua showering Thssa with attention in front of Rosalind, it was an invitation for


    resentment.


    Thssa didn''t need another adversary.


    "Alright, serve yourself," Joshua conceded. Just seeing Thssa ept the piece he offered was


    enough to make him content.


    The meal proceeded quietly, with Thssa eager to finish and leave.


    Joshua''s intention was for her to integrate into the Whitman family, to be familiar with them,


    which is why he had invited her to dinner.


    But Thssa knew she could never truly be a part of the Whitman family. All their pleasantries were


    merely for show.


    Midway through the meal, Matilda elegantly set down her utensils, dabbed her mouth with a napkin,


    and said, "Joshua, when will you introduce Rosalind to Lysander? Three years ago, Zephyr


    discussed the marriage between Rosalind and Lysander. Because of Zephyr''s suggestion, Rosalind


    has been waiting for three years."


    At these words, Thssa''s grip on her fork tightened involuntarily.

 Chapter 1472

    Chapter 1472


    Although Thssa didn''t want to hear what Matilda had to say, every word seemed to pierce her


    ears without missing a beat.


    Anything rted to Lysander was a sensitive topic for Thssa. Even without preparing herself to


    listen, her ears instinctively caught every word.


    Three years ago, Zephyr had discussed with Joshua the possibility of arranging a marriage between


    Rosalind and Lysander?


    Rosalind had waited for Lysander for three years because of Zephyr''s words?


    Thssa''s nerves tensed, and a chill spread through her body.


    She remembered that three years ago, when she visited Susan in the hospital, Zephyr had


    suddenly appeared, and while refusing to let Susan stay by Lysander''s side, he had mentioned that


    Lysander was to marry Miss Whitman.


    At the time, Thssa thought Zephyr''s words were just to reject Susan and to make it clear to her


    that there was no future with Lysander.


    But it was true!


    The person Zephyr had chosen for Lysander to marry was none other than Rosalind Whitman!


    Matilda''s sudden mention of this matter caught Joshua off guard, and he nced worriedly at


    Thssa before saying to Matilda, "The Sinirs haven''t brought up this matter. Let''s not talk about


    it anymore."


    Joshua had agreed to Zephyr''s request for an arranged marriage because he hadn''t known then


    that Thssa was his daughter, nor that she and Lysander had four children together.


    He thought Thssa was just another woman in Lysander''s life, bound to part ways eventually.


    He hadn''t realized the depth of Thssa and Lysander''s connection.


    Content ? N?velDrama.Org.


    Had he known earlier that Thssa was his daughter and that she and Lysander had pledged


    themselves to each other, he would never have agreed to Zephyr''s proposal for Rosalind and


    Lysander.


    Matilda, fully aware of Thssa and Lysander''s rtionship, brought up the topic out of the blue,


    putting Thssa in an awkward position.


    Joshua, concerned for Thssa''s feelings, tried to change the subject.


    "Lysander has been in aa for three years, and Thssa has been taking care of him. Everyone


    can see her devotion," Joshua said.


    "The Sinirs haven''t mentioned Lysander and Rosalind''s engagement because of Lysander''s


    condition these past years. Zephyr is probably worried about Rosalind turning him down. Just


    because the Sinirs are silent, doesn''t mean we should ignore the issue," Matilda said, as if she


    couldn''t grasp Joshua''s hint, sticking to her original subject.


    After speaking, she nced at Thssa with a noblewoman''s disdain, adding, "Thssa is tending


    to Lysander as a hired caregiver, just like Royal Estates'' staff. The staff gets paid, and isn''t she the


    same? Which of Royal Estates'' employees doesn''t care for Lysander?"


    She implied that Thssa was no different from any other employee hired to care for Lysander.


    "Mom, Lysander is so aplished, and handsome too. Any woman would be moved by just one


    nce at him. You can''t reduce Thssa''s feelings for Lysander to those of a servant for her


    master," Rosalind interjected, her brows arching as if she was defending Thssa, but her


    insinuation was clear: Thssa''s affection for Lysander was unrequited and self-imposed.


    Listening to their exchange, Thssa felt a suffocating pressure. She set down her silverware and


    said, "I''ve lost my appetite. I''ll be going now."


    With that, she stood up and left.


    Joshua hurried after her, calling, "Thssa..."

 Chapter 1473

    Chapter 1473


    Thssa didn''t slow her stride as she marched into the yard, swiftly opened the car door, and


    nced back at Joshua.


    "You better head back. Don''t keep your family waiting," she said curtly.


    With those words, she slid into the driver''s seat and drove off.


    But Joshua felt a sting in his heart from her words. Thssa still didn''t consider the Whitman family


    as her own.


    He had once suggested that Thssa take their surname, but she had refused. She had said that


    she preferred being listed under her aunt and uncle-inw''s name in the family records. They had


    no children of their own, and she wanted to be their sole heir.


    So, Thssa''sst name remained Everhart. Even though she had acknowledged Joshua as her


    father, she had never truly epted him as family.


    Content ? N?velDrama.Org.


    Joshua knew that he could never make up for over twenty years of absent fatherhood in just a few


    moments, but Thssa''s resistant attitude still left him feeling defeated.


    As he watched Thssa''s car disappear into the distance, Joshua returned to the living room, his


    brow furrowed in frustration. He reproachfully said to Matilda, "What were you thinking, bringing up


    the marriage agreement between Lysander and Rosalind? A perfectly good family meal, ruined!"


    "Joshua, get this straight¡ªit''s Zephyr who has issues with Thssa and doesn''t want her marrying


    into the Sinir family. That''s why he suggested Lysander and Rosalind''s engagement. Without


    Rosalind, another debutante would just swoop in to im Mrs. Sinir''s title. I was merely fighting


    for Rosalind''s chance to be with Lysander. How is that wrong? If the title of Mrs. Sinir isn''t going


    to our family, it will go to someone else. Do you really want to see Lysander marry another woman


    and have no ties to us?" Matilda retorted, her irritation clear.


    "I will fight for Thssa''s chance to be with Lysander," Joshua dered with a cold snort, seeing it


    as his only chance to make amends to Thssa.


    Matilda stood up, fuming, "Joshua, you would neglect our own flesh and blood, Rosalind, for that...


    that bastard? Lysander is a catch that many women are after, and you are giving him to that bastard


    just like that?"


    Worried about family harmony, Joshua softened his tone, "Don''t call her that. I''ve told you before, if


    it weren''t for Thssa''s mother saving me from those thugs twenty years ago, I''d be dead. I''ve


    searched for Thssa''s mother for over two decades. Now she''s gone, leaving behind her only


    daughter, who is also my child. Of course, I need to make up for my absence and repay her


    mother''s life-saving grace," he reasoned with Matilda.


    Matilda''s chest heaved with anger. "It''s the Sinir family who doesn''t want Thssa. It''s not me!


    I''m just trying to secure the position of Mrs. Sinir for Rosalind."


    She knew Joshua''s kindness towards Thssa was driven by gratitude and guilt. But it didn''t


    soothe the ache in her heart.


    Her husband had been intimate with another woman, and she couldn''t even reproach him or that


    woman¡ªthat was the real thorn in her side.


    Thssa''s very existence was a constant reminder that her husband had been with someone else


    and had fathered a child!


    To her, it was a humiliation, causing pain with every beat.


    How could she ever genuinely ept Thssa?


    "I''ll handle this. You stay out of it," Joshua said firmly.


    "I''m off to ss. You two can keep arguing!" Rosalind suddenly eximed, dropping her fork with a


    tter on the dining table.

 Chapter 1474

    Chapter 1474


    Rosalind was about to stand up and leave when Joshua said, ¡°Your ss isn¡¯t until eight, and it¡¯s


    only six now. Stay home and rest. I¡¯ll step out.¡±


    With that, he cast a worried nce towards Matilda and exited the living room, tactfully leaving the


    space for Rosalind and her.


    ¡°Rosalind, let your dad go out. You stay home and get an extra hour of rest,¡± Matilda said as she


    approached, wrapping her arm around Rosalind¡¯s with a mother¡¯s tender concern.


    When Rosalind was born, Joshua was over the moon with his daughter. And because she was as


    beautiful and charming as a picture, she quickly became the darling of the Whitman family.


    Matilda also adored her daughter, thinking of her as a delicate little marshmallow, so endearing that


    she longed to give her the very best the world had to offer.


    Rosalind looked at Matilda with her intelligent, pleading eyes. ¡°Do you really think you can convince


    Dad to help me win over Lysander?¡±


    ¡°Absolutely, don¡¯t you worry about your stubborn old dad. A little pillow talk tonight and he¡¯lle


    around. Plus, with Zephyr on our side, it¡¯s a sure thing. Zephyr wouldn¡¯t have called me to share the


    news that Lysander will wake up within two months if he didn¡¯t think it was certain,¡± Matilda assured


    her with confidence.


    Originally, Rosalind had been studying abroad, where Matilda had looked after her, asionally


    flying back to Starhaven to see Joshua. It had been a year of constant travel.


    Sending Rosalind abroad was Matilda¡¯s way of abandoning any hopes for an alliance with the


    Sinir family through marriage. With Lysander in aa for three years, it was likely he¡¯d be


    incapacitated for life. Matilda would never allow her daughter to marry a man who was practically a


    living ghost, and Rosalind herself had no desire for such a marriage.


    So after two years of waiting in Starhaven with no change in Lysander¡¯s condition, Matilda had


    arranged for Rosalind to study abroad.


    It was an escape from the proposed marriage to the Sinir family.


    Then Zephyr called Matilda with the news of a doctor, a miracle worker who personally guaranteed


    that Lysander would awaken within two months.


    Upon hearing that Lysander would soon recover, Matilda realized that Rosalind could be Mrs.


    Sinir, a position just shy of royalty! She hastily arranged for Rosalind to drop her international


    studies, transferred her courses back home, and rushed back to Starhaven.


    The lunch invitation for Thssa was also a strategic move, a subtle hint to let her know that


    Rosalind was the one intended for Lysander.


    ¡°Yeah, with Zephyr backing us, we can¡¯t lose,¡± Rosalind nodded, fully trusting her mother¡¯s words.


    ...


    That evening.


    After giving Lysander his bath and speaking to him for an hour, Thssa went over to herputer


    to work on her design sketches.


    Throughout the three years of caring for Lysander, Thssa had kept herself busy. She had


    pursued graduate studies at Starhaven College, and given her unique circumstances, she applied


    to study remotely, only going to the campus for exams.


    Thssa took her studies seriously, always ranking among the top of her ss, and the school


    turned a blind eye to her at-home learning arrangement.


    N?velDrama.Org owns all ? content.


    She had continued her major in jewelry design, a passion she had followed since her


    undergraduate days.


    In college, she had majored in jewelry design and minored in secretarial studies. However, she had


    dropped out beforepleting her degree.


    Since then, her career had been aligned with her minor, working as a secretary. Jewelry design


    positions often required formal qualifications, which shecked without a college diploma, so she


    stuck to secretarial work.


    But Thssa¡¯s true love was always jewelry design.


    So, for her master''s, she chose to dive back into the world of jewelry design.


    She enjoyed designing, and on the side, it allowed her to take on frence work online, earning


    some extra cash for herself.

 Chapter 1475

    Chapter 1475


    After wrapping up her online course for the day, Thssa returned to Lysander''s side, admiring the


    peaceful expression on his handsome, sleeping face. Leaning down, she nted a tender kiss on


    his cheek and whispered, "Goodnight, Lysander."


    With quiet steps, she left the master bedroom and retreated to the guest room for the night.


    The next morning, Dr. Funke arrived to continue Lysander¡¯s treatment. As he finished inserting


    acupuncture needles, Rosalind walked in.


    Spotting Dr. Funke as he was about to leave, Rosalind called out, "Dr. Funke, could you please tell


    me how Lysander is doing? When do you expect him to wake up?"


    Dr. Funke hesitated, ncing towards Thssa, unsure if he should discuss a patient''s condition


    with someone he didn''t know.


    Thssa gave a slight nod, indicating it was alright for Dr. Funke to share Lysander''s condition.


    Even if Dr. Funke kept it from Rosalind, she would have asked Zephyr, who would have felt obliged


    to inform her of Lysander''s condition. Thssa didn''t want Zephyr to think she was overstepping


    her bounds, acting as if she were thedy of Royal Estates and giving Rosalind the cold shoulder.


    With Thssa''s approval, Dr. Funke answered Rosalind, "He''s improving. I expect him to wake


    within the next two months."


    With that, Dr. Funke departed with his medical bag.


    Rosalind thanked him, then turned to Thssa and said with a warm smile, "Thssa, thank you


    for tirelessly looking after Lysander in my stead."


    Looking after Lysander in her stead?


    The words pricked Thssa''s heart like thorns, sending an ufortable twinge through her.


    Rosalind always appeared so cultured and graceful, with an air of sophistication that made it hard to


    find fault in her words. Yet somehow, she always managed to irk Thssa.


    "I look after Lysander because Zephyr allowed it. I didn¡¯t do it in anyone¡¯s favor," Thssa replied


    coolly. "You haven''t eaten yet, have you? The kitchen just finished preparing dinner. Why don''t we


    sit down together?"


    "No, that''s alright. I''ll take a quick peek at Lysander and then head to my ss," Rosalind declined


    the invitation to dine, making her way upstairs to Lysander''s room.


    "Ms. Whitman, Mr. Lysander is resting," Fitch, the butler, tried to intercept her.


    For years, no one but Thssa and the Royal Estates staff had entered Lysander''s room. Ms.


    Whitman had not once visited him, and now that Lysander was rumored to be close to awakening,


    she had suddenly be attentive?


    Without a backward nce, Rosalind dismissed Fitch''s attempt. ¡°I¡¯ll just have a quick look. I won''t


    disturb him."


    Fitch exchanged an apologetic nce with Thssa, feeling that he had failed to stop Rosalind.


    N?velDrama.Org owns all ? content.


    Seeing Fitch''s guilty expression, Thssa reassured him, "It''s fine, go on with your duties."


    Each day that followed, Dr. Funke treated Lysander, and Rosalind was present. After each session,


    once Dr. Funke left, Rosalind would observe Lysander for a moment and then depart.


    Rosalind''s visits were sanctioned by Zephyr, and Thssa was in no position to object.


    ...


    Before they knew it, two months had passed.


    Thssa cared for Lysander with unwavering dedication, and the day he was expected to wake


    drew near. Lysander was showing signs of consciousness; his eyelids fluttered, and through the thin


    skin, she could see his eyes moving, indicating he might wake at any moment.


    Thssa remained ever vignt, staying by Lysander''s side, hoping to be the first person he saw


    upon awakening.

 Chapter 1476

    Chapter 1476


    After lunch, Thssa received a call from a professor at Starhaven College, reminding her of an


    uing exam in the afternoon and advising her to arrive early to avoid beingte.


    Thssa quickly packed her bag and got ready to leave.


    Fitch approached with a sense of duty.


    "Ms. Everhart," he inquired, "when should Dr. Funke''s medicine be prepared?"


    It was crucial that Thssa administer the medication to Lysander at the perfect time, as the


    potency and freshness of the remedy were essential. Typically, she would start preparing the


    medicine after lunch, ensuring it was warm and ready for Lysander to consume. However, since


    Thssa would be away for the afternoon, preparing it at noon would mean it would be cold and


    stale by the time she could administer it.


    ncing at the clock, Thssa realized it was already one o''clock, and her exam was at two. There


    was no way she could prepare the medicine, feed it to Lysander, and still make it in time.


    "We''ll just have to prepare it when I get back," she decided. "It¡¯s fine for Lysander to take the


    medicine in the afternoon."


    "Alright," Fitch agreed.


    With her backpack slung over her shoulder, Thssa stepped out the door.


    Shortly after her departure, Zephyr arrived at the Royal Estates, apanied by Rosalind.


    Upon Zephyr''s arrival, the staff at the Royal Estates stood at attention, with Fitch ready at his beck


    and call.


    Zephyr, with Rosalind by his side, proceeded to Lysander''s room to pay him a visit. Lysander was


    still bedridden, but hisplexion had improved.


    N?velDrama.Org content rights.


    Rosalind stood next to Zephyr, gazing at Lysander, whoy motionless on the bed. She had often


    seen him before his illness, as he and Joshua shared a mentor-mentee bond. Lysander was eight


    years her senior and, at twenty, was the epitome of youthful vigor and handsomeness.


    As a teenage girl, Rosalind harbored a crush on the dashing Lysander, daydreaming of marriage


    when she''de of age. However, Lysander always saw her as just a child, brushing off her chatter


    with a prompt to do her homework.


    Now, seeing Lysander incapacitated, Rosalind felt a heavy weight on her chest. It was


    unfathomable that such a capable, impressive man could be so utterly dependent.


    The greater one''s stature, the more poignant their downfall.


    Zephyr, who cherished Lysander above all, bore the deepest sorrow for his once-proud grandson,


    now bedridden for three years.


    Turning to Fitch, Zephyr inquired, "Has Lysander taken his medicine today?"


    Fitch replied, "Not yet. Ms. Everhart had an exam to attend and ns to prepare the medicine upon


    her return to ensure it''s fresh for Lysander."


    Dissatisfied, Zephyr pressed, "The medication is always given at noon. Why dy it? What if this


    change affects the oue? Can you bear that responsibility?"


    Fitch, flustered, apologized, "Sir, forgive us. It was an oversight. However, Ms. Everhart is usually


    the one to administer the medication..."


    "Are you implying that the Royal Estates cannot function without her?" Zephyr retorted sternly.


    Fitch, anxious, rified, "That''s not what I meant."


    "Prepare the medicine. If she''s not here, someone else will have to give it to Lysander," Zephyr


    commanded unequivocally.


    "Yes, right away," Fitch responded, knowing his ce as a servant.


    Zephyr, the Sinir family''s most authoritative figure, was to be obeyed without question.


    Before long, the medicine was brought to the master bedroom.


    Zephyr took the medicine with a grave look and instructed Fitch, "Step out and wait by the door.


    Ensure we''re not disturbed."

 Chapter 1477

    Chapter 1477


    "Of course," Fitch nodded, backing out of the room and gently closing the door behind him.


    Zephyr handed a spoonful of medicine to Rosalind. "Here, you give Lysander his medicine."


    "Oh, uh..." Rosalind blinked, a bit dazed by the sudden task, but quickly took the spoon from


    Zephyr''s hand.


    She walked over and sat beside Lysander''s bed, scooping up a spoonful of the liquid and carefully


    bringing it to his lips.


    Just as the spoon touched his mouth, the medicine dribbled out, spilling down his chin and onto his


    neck.


    "I''m so sorry, I didn''t realize Lysander wouldn''t open his mouth," Rosalind gasped, hastily setting the


    medicine on the nightstand and grabbing a tissue to wipe the spill from his neck. She was


    inexperienced in caregiving, her movements awkward and frantic.


    Zephyr watched from the sidelines, his voice deep and seasoned with age. "Do you know how


    Thssa usually administers his medicine?"


    Rosalind, having finished wiping Lysander¡¯s face clean, stood up and silently shook her head. She


    had never seen Thssa give Lysander his medicine and obviously had no idea.


    "She uses her mouth," Zephyr said simply.


    Rosalind''s eyes widened slightly, the words ''uses her mouth'' striking her not only as a shock but as


    a blow.


    She knew that Thssa looked after Lysander at the Royal Estates, but she had never imagined


    their rtionship to be so intimate.


    Her mother had told her that Thssa was just like any other servant at the estate, dealing only


    with the trivialities of Lysander''s care. She hadn''t expected such closeness between them!


    Rosalind had harbored a crush on Lysander since her teenage years, and now, the thought of her


    beloved exchanging daily kisses with another woman soured her heart.


    "If you''ve decided to marry Lysander, you must understand everything about him and ept his


    entire past," Zephyr said earnestly.


    He didn''t intend to hide the fact of Lysander''s rtionship with Thssa.


    The call to Rosalind''s mother, revealing that Lysander would awaken in two months, was to honor a


    three-year-old marriage agreement with the Whitman family.


    If the Whitman family couldn''t ept Lysander''s three-yeara or his history with another


    woman, Zephyr wouldn''t force the issue. There were plenty of heiresses eager for a chance with


    Lysander.


    If Rosalind was unwilling, Zephyr would not hesitate to call off the engagement on Lysander''s behalf


    to avoid wasting his time.


    If Rosalind could ept it, he would fully support her union with Lysander; if not, he would find


    someone else for Lysander.


    Rosalind looked at Zephyr''s serious face and listened to his solemn words. She was smart enough


    to understand that he was presenting her with a choice.


    N?velDrama.Org content rights.


    After a few seconds of hesitation, she responded with conviction, "I know about Lysander and


    Thssa''s past rtionship, and that they have four children together. I can ept and embrace all


    of Lysander''s past, and if I marry him, I will love those four children as if they were my own."


    Zephyr was looking for just this kind of attitude. Hearing her assertiveness, his expression softened.


    "Alright, go on and give Lysander the medicine. Use your mouth; you''ll have to get used to it."


    Rosalind didn''t hesitate. "Okay."


    She turned back, picked up the medicine, took a sip, and leaned toward Lysander''s lips, bending


    down slowly.


    As she drew closer, Rosalind felt Lysander''s robust breath on her face, his masculine scent making


    her heart race.


    Before their lips could even touch, her heart was already in chaos. She found herself almost eager,


    longing for the sensation of kissing him.


    Just as Rosalind''s lips were about to meet Lysander''s, a deep cough rumbled up from his throat.

 Chapter 1478

    Chapter 1478


    The sound of the cough was startlingly clear.


    Rosalind froze mid-motion, her mind rippling like a stone had been cast into a still pond. Her blood


    surged through her, leaving her momentarily paralyzed.


    N?velDrama.Org owns all ? content.


    Zephyr stood by the bedside, having heard Lysander''s voice as inly as Rosalind had. His pupils


    dted with urgency as he quickly stepped forward, pulling Rosalind back. With a trembling voice,


    he addressed the figure on the bed, "Lysander, are you awake? Open your eyes and look at me, it''s


    Grandpa."


    After three long years, there was finally a sign of life from Lysander. The wait seemed to be over!


    For three years, Zephyr had been cloaked in worry and suppressed emotions. Now, his heart raced


    with an intensity that shook his very being.


    Rosalind, so nervous she swallowed the medicine in her mouth, didn''t even bother to wipe the


    residue from the corner of her mouth. Her eyes were wide as she stared at Lysander. The thought


    of him awakening sent waves of excitement through her.


    Zephyr watched over Lysander with shaky, hopeful eyes. Though Lysander didn''t respond to his


    words, his eyelids fluttered, and one could see his eyeballs moving, straining to open. Zephyr''s


    heart hung in suspense, his gaze fixed on Lysander''s eyes, yearning for the moment they would


    open.


    Another cough escaped Lysander, his longshes trembling with the effort to see once more.


    The room was silent, a hushed expectancy filled the air. Zephyr held his breath, waiting alongside


    Lysander, sharing in the man''s struggle to reconnect with the world.


    After an agonizing half minute, Lysander''s eyes slowly opened. The light flooded his vision, and


    after so long in darkness, it was overwhelming. He closed his eyes briefly, letting them adjust, and


    then, with an effort that had the room holding its collective breath, Lysander''s eyes opened again.


    This time, a sharp glint flickered in their depths- profound and unfathomable.


    His gaze met Zephyr''s aged but ted face. Lysander''s lips moved, a hoarse and dry sound


    emerged, "Grandpa..."


    His voice was raspy from disuse, but the single word was like a symphony to Zephyr''s ears.


    "Oh, Lysander, you''re finally awake," Zephyr said, tears streaming down his weathered cheeks.


    He was a soldier, not one to shed tears lightly, but the sight of Lysander''s awakening, the end of


    three years of worry and heartache, was enough to break his stoic demeanor.


    Sitting by the bed, Zephyr supported Lysander''s shoulders with hands that were wrinkled and


    shaking from emotion. "Lysander, it''s good that you''re awake, so good."


    Every ounce of perseverance over the past three years, every penny spent on treatments - it was all


    worth it now.


    "Grandpa, how long have I been asleep?" Lysander asked, his head heavy with confusion and


    disorientation.


    Wiping the tears from his eyes, Zephyr replied, "Lysander, you''ve been out for three years. Do you


    know how worried I''ve been?"


    Lysander''s eyes narrowed, a chill passing through them. "Three years? What about Thssa?"


    His voice was rough with worry, and as he attempted to sit up, he found his waistcked strength


    and he couldn''t rise.


    Zephyr, seeing him strain, quickly pressed him down, urging him to lie still. "You''ve just woken up,


    don''t move around. I''ll call the doctor right away."


    With that, Zephyr dialed Dr. Funke, informing him of Lysander''s awakening and urging him toe


    quickly.


    "Grandpa, where''s Thssa?" Lysander persisted, his eyes locked on Zephyr, demanding news of


    Thssa.


    Zephyr''s heart sank. Even after three years of unconsciousness, Lysander''s first concern was


    Thssa. The first thing upon waking was to ask about her.

 Chapter 1479

    Chapter 1479


    Thank goodness he''d made the call to bring Rosalind back in time.


    Zephyr didn''t give Lysander a straight answer. Instead, he said, "Lysander, during these three years


    you''ve been out of it, it''s been Rosalind who''s been by your side. She''s been the one feeding you,


    giving you your meds, bathing you. She''s been there for every little thing."


    With that, he turned to Rosalind, waving her over to join them.


    Obedient as ever, Rosalind walked to the bedside, a sweet smile on her face. "Lysander, you''re


    awake. That''s wonderful."


    Content ? N?velDrama.Org.


    Seeing Rosalind, Lysander''s brows furrowed slightly. He found it hard to believe Zephyr''s words.


    "You''ve been taking care of me all this time?"


    Rosalind paused for a moment, ncing at Zephyr. His eyes, though weary, were fixed on her with


    unwavering certainty, bolstering her confidence.


    She understood Zephyr''s approach and turned back to Lysander, her reply both earnest and


    composed. "Yes, Lysander. Don''t you remember? Your granddad arranged our engagement three


    years ago. As your fianc¨¦e, it was only right for me to take care of you after your ident. The


    medicine was bitter, but I didn''t mind. If it would help you, a little bitterness was nothing to me."


    Zephyr was pleased; Rosalind was catching on quickly. He always appreciated dealing with smart


    people.


    Lysander, getting a firm confirmation, noticed the traces of medicine on Rosalind''s lips, evidence


    that she had just been tending to him.


    Could it really be that Rosalind had been the one looking after him all along?


    Yet Lysander wasn''t entirely convinced. "That ident... Did anything happen to Thssa?" he


    asked, his voice tight with worry.


    His memory was stuck on the moment Thssa''s house had been bombed. To save her from injury,


    he had tackled her to the ground, shielding her from the bricks and rubble with his own back. The


    last thing he remembered before cking out was Thssa''s terrified eyes and her tears.


    Even though he had protected Thssa from the falling walls, he couldn''t be sure that she hadn''t


    been hurt.


    Zephyr was irked. He had already told Lysander that it was Rosalind who had taken care of him,


    and yet Lysander was still preupied with Thssa!


    After a moment of contemtion, Zephyr spoke gravely, "The Thssa you''re so worried about is


    fine. You saved her, but when she heard you were in a vegetative state, she avoided you like the


    gue. She hasn''t inquired about you once in three years. I don''t even know where she''s gone."


    Upon hearing this, Lysander felt his heart sink with disbelief and pain. "What did you say?"


    "I said, Thssa abandoned you after finding out about your condition. How could she care about


    someone who''s incapacitated? Such a heartless woman isn''t worth your concern." Zephyr repeated


    his earlier statement, hoping to bring Lysander to his senses.


    He couldn''t fathom why someone as outstanding as Lysander would waste his life pining for a


    woman who had turned him into a dependent!


    Zephyr was determined not to let the woman ruin Lysander''s life.


    Lysander''s eyes narrowed as he grappled with heavy disappointment. His heart, which had been


    still for three years, throbbed painfully upon awakening.


    "Lysander, don''t be sad. I''ll never leave you. I''ll stay by your side forever," Rosalind said tenderly,


    her cultured voice soothing the tense air.


    She moved closer, her hands sping Lysander''s with a mix of pity and passion, her gaze full of


    empathy and love.

 Chapter 1480

    Chapter 1480


    Lysander''s gaze rested upon Rosalind, the once clingy little girl who used to buzz around him,


    calling his name with every other breath. She had bloomed into adulthood, her upbringing in the


    artistic Whitman family evident in her learned grace and literary air.


    N?velDrama.Org content rights.


    Especially those eyes; once brimming with childish innocence, they now held a mature, captivating


    charm. They were like the deep, reflective pools of an autumnke, hinting at a gentle and soulful


    spirit.


    But no matter how much Rosalind had matured, in Lysander''s eyes, she remained a child, a sister


    in his heart.


    Lysander tried to pull his hand away from her gentle grasp, but his body felt as though it was held in


    ce by an invisible force, and he could barely muster any strength. Even sitting up seemed an


    impossible task, his arm heavy as if filled with lead.


    "Rosalind, you''re still young. You should be with someone more... suitable," Lysander rasped, his


    eyes flickering down to where her fingers enclosed his wrist.


    A tear lingered in Rosalind''s eyes, halted by his words as if struck, but her impable manners


    allowed her to release his hand. With a soft and virtuous demeanor, she replied, "Lysander, I''m not


    that young anymore. I''m 25. Other women my age are already married with children."


    Before Lysander could speak, Rosalind hurriedly cut him off, "You''ve just woken up, you''re still very


    weak. You need time to recover. Don''t worry about anything else; just focus on getting better."


    "Yeah, Rosalind''s got a point," chimed in Zephyr, smoothing over the tension. "You''ve only just


    come around. Getting your strength back is what''s most important right now. Everything else can


    wait."


    As they spoke, Dr. Funke entered the room. After examining Lysander, he concluded, "The patient


    has been unconscious for three years. His muscle memory has deteriorated, and his motor


    functions haven''t fully returned. With a few days of rest and rehabilitation, he should gradually


    recover."


    "Thank you, Dr. Funke," Zephyr said, a stark contrast to the anger he had first felt towards the


    doctor.


    Dr. Funke''s medical expertise had won Zephyr over, especially after so many other expensive


    doctors had failed to heal Lysander, and he had done it without charging a dime. Zephyr couldn''t


    help but respect him.


    "Don''t mention it. The patient is essentially on the mend now. Continue with the rehabilitation, and


    he should be fine. I won''t be making further visits," Dr. Funke said before packing his medical bag


    and taking his leave. His treatment for Lysander had reached its conclusion.


    After seeing off Dr. Funke, Zephyr approached Lysander''s bedside and asked, "Is there anything


    you''d fancy eating, Lysander?"


    Shaking his head, Lysander replied with a hoarse voice, "I''d like some time to myself."


    Zephyr''s expression faltered, understanding that Lysander was likely troubled by thoughts of


    Thssa. However, he couldn''t bring himself to offer even a half-hearted exnation on her behalf.


    "Alright, you rest up. If you need anything, just call. There''s someone right outside the door," Zephyr


    said before signaling to Rosalind, and the two of them left the room.


    Downstairs, a puzzled Rosalind asked, "Are you really going to let me take credit for Thssa''s


    care? Once Lysander is better, the truth wille out. The staff at Royal Estates know it was


    Thssa looking after him."


    Rosalind had agreed to go along with Zephyr''s version of events under pressure, without having


    had the chance to think it through. Faced with a tough situation, she had no choice but to rise to the


    challenge.


    "Just keep looking after Lysander, and I''ll handle the rest," Zephyr replied with a deep and


    commanding tone. He then summoned all the servants of Royal Estates and sternly addressed


    them, "For these past three years that Lysander has been in aa, it was Rosalind who single-


    handedly cared for him. She fed him, washed him, and took care of every little thing. Thssa


    never set foot in Royal Estates. If anyone dares to slip up, forget about staying in Starhaven."


    Fitch looked on in surprise. "Sir, Ms. Everhart has been tirelessly..."


    "Fitch, dock three months'' pay! And if you want your family to go hungry, keep talking!" Zephyr''s


    piercing gaze shot towards Fitch, his authority unyielding.

 Chapter 1481

    Chapter 1481


    Fitch choked up, unable to utter another word. Despite his sympathy for Thssa, he couldn''t risk


    the safety of his own family.


    Having instructed the staff, Zephyr added, "Pack up all of Thssa''s belongings quietly and toss


    them out of Royal Estates."


    "Be careful with your tasks. If Lysander catches even the slightest hint, it''ll be on your heads!"


    Zephyr warned again.


    While Lysander was still bedridden and unable to wander around, Zephyr intended to erase every


    trace of Thssa from Royal Estates without a sound. He couldn''t let Lysander harbor any more


    thoughts of Thssa. That woman was nothing but trouble. If Lysander continued to hold out hope


    for her, and something went wrong again, they might not be so lucky as to cheat death a second


    time.


    ...


    After finishing her exams, Thssa rushed back to Royal Estates.


    Lysander had been showing signs of waking from his long slumber, and she wanted to be by his


    side as soon as possible to avoid the distress of him waking to find her absent.


    Upon reaching the gates of Royal Estates, two stoic guards in ck blocked her path.


    "Ms. Everhart, you are no longer wee at Royal Estates," one of them stated tly.


    A sinking feeling hit Thssa as she nervously asked, "Why?"


    "We''re just following orders from Lysander," replied the other guard.


    Lysander''s orders?


    Thssa''s mind raced, a surge of tion overwhelming her. "Lysander''s awake? He is, isn''t he?"


    This was marvelous news! Lysander hade around just as she''d hoped, even sooner than she''d


    anticipated.


    Anxious to see him, she attempted to move past the guards, who firmly blocked her way. "Ms.


    Everhart, we''ve already told you, you''re not toe here anymore."


    "Just let me see him, just a nce. If he still wants me gone, I won''t linger, I''ll leave right away,"


    Thssa tried to negotiate.


    "No, Lysander doesn''t want to see you!" The guard''s tone was decisive and resolute.


    "Why?" Thssa couldn''tprehend. She had cared for Lysander for three years, eagerly


    awaiting his awakening, only to find that his first act upon waking was to send her away.


    "We just follow orders," the guard replied, his voice cold and unyielding.


    Frowning, Thssa''s heart was heavy with confusion and pain.


    "At least let me collect my belongings," she said, still hoping for a chance to see Lysander and


    speak to him directly.


    "Your belongings are here. Take them and leave," the guard stated, pulling a suitcase from behind


    the courtyard wall and handing it to her.


    Her belongings were already packed?


    N?velDrama.Org owns all ? content.


    A sharp pain shot through Thssa''s heart, the sting of rejection and sorrow washing over her like


    a bitter wave.

 Chapter 1482

    Chapter 1482


    Thssa bowed her head, her gaze lingering on the suitcase before her, a bittersweet sensation


    churning in her gut.


    She had imagined being there for Lysander the moment he awoke, continuing to care for him,


    sharing countless words she''d stored up just for him. She wanted to tell him how much she''d longed


    for his awakening over these past three years, to talk about their future and dreams.


    But to her dismay, Lysander''s first act upon waking was to send her away. He wouldn''t even grant


    her the courtesy of a final meeting.


    Thssa yearned to confront Lysander, to demand why, but the bodyguard was adamant, barring


    her entry, leaving her with a thousand unaskable whys.


    Dragging her suitcase, Thssa could do nothing but leave the grandeur of Royal Estates behind.


    As she drove toward Star Harbor Vi, her mind was a whirlwind of memories. The countless


    moments she had spent caring for Lysander flooded her thoughts.


    Recalling his words just before the ident haunted her; he had said, "We''re square now, no debts


    between us."


    That phrase clenched her heart.


    It dawned on her why Lysander had sent her away. He had dered their ounts settled three


    years ago. No debts meant no need for goodbyes.


    The weight of those words struck her deeply. Thssa wondered if Lysander had felt a simr sting


    each time she had uttered them in the past, if her words had wounded him as deeply as his now


    wounded her.


    He had once insisted on marriage, yet she had med him for her mother''s untimely death,


    stubbornly drawing a line between them and vowing to sever ties forever.


    Who could have predicted he would risk his life to save hers?


    Torn between resentment for his indifference to her mother¡¯s fate and a lifetime of gratitude for


    saving her, she couldn''t unravel the knots of their shared past.


    Thssa''s homing to her sprawling Star Harbor Vi was marked by eerie silence. The


    spacious, sunlit rooms only amplified the solitude that now gripped her heart.


    Even breathing seemed an effort.


    She slumped onto the couch, lost in a void of inactivity, her heart hollow and weighed down by an


    overwhelming sense of emptiness.


    There had been a time when she lived in a cramped sixty-square-meter rental with her four children


    and Evelyn, a life of struggle but brimming with joy. Back then, she was always bustling with


    purpose, fueled by necessity.


    But now, with her mother gone and her children sent to a military academy by Zephyr, she was cut


    off from them. Her daily purpose, caring for Lysander, was no longer needed now that he had


    woken up.


    N?velDrama.Org content rights.


    She felt like a discarded pawn, suddenly bereft of direction and hope. Lost in a fog of confusion, her


    heart felt hollowed out.


    The loss of life''s purpose was a profound kind of anguish, a hollowness that seemed to carve out


    her soul.


    Amid the weight of her heavy breaths on the couch, Thssa''s phone rang, its melody dragging her


    from the depths of despair. She fished it out of her pocket and saw Hertha''s name on the caller ID.


    Quickly swiping to answer, she took a deep breath, her voiceden with concern, "Hertha, how are


    you feeling now? Are you better?"

 Chapter 1483

    Chapter 1483


    Two months ago, Hertha had been in a terrible car ident thatnded her in the hospital for


    surgery. Thankfully, she hade out of it with her life intact. After a two-week stay in the medical


    center, she was discharged, with Bridget taking on the role of caregiver.


    During that time, Thssa had her hands full tending to Lysander and couldn''t find a moment to


    visit Hertha. She wondered how her friend was faring in her recovery.


    "I''m up and about, feeling pretty good, actually. Just that my head tends to hurt like the dickens from


    time to time," Hertha said.


    "Your biggest issue was the concussion," Thssa reminded her. "You''re supposed to take it easy


    for six months. Don''t you go taking that lightly."


    "Yeah, I''m on leave from work for half a year. I had this big design project I was working on, and the


    office is breathing down my neck to get back and hand over the drafts. But every time I so much as


    think too hard, my head starts throbbing something fierce. How am I supposed to get any designs


    out?" Herthamented.


    She couldn''t afford to lose her job. With two kids to feed and Bridget''s sry to cover,


    unemployment would mean her children going hungry and having to let Bridget go. Without her,


    there would be no one to look after the little ones.


    Wouldn''t that just be piling on the misery?


    Having been through her own share of tough times, Thssa understood Hertha''s predicament all


    too well. A concussion was no joking matter; poor recovery could leave lifelong consequences, or


    worse, cost you your life.


    Thssa pondered for a moment and then offered, "If you trust me with it, I can work on the


    designs for you. Once they''re ready, you can give them to yourpany."


    N?velDrama.Org owns all ? content.


    "But don''t you have your hands full with Lysander? It''s a critical time for him, isn''t it? If you''re not


    careful, you could miss that window," Hertha said, not wanting to impose on Thssa''s precious


    time. Her job was nothingpared to Lysander''s potential awakening.


    "He''s awake now. He doesn''t need me anymore," Thssa said, trying to mask the heaviness in


    her voice.


    Still, her words were tinged with a profound sense of loss.


    "What? What did you say? Who''s awake?" Hertha was so shocked by the news that she could


    barely speak, struggling to grasp who had woken up.


    Then it hit her, and she asked in disbelief, "Are you saying Lysander is awake?"


    Hertha¡¯s heart raced with nervous excitement as she asked the question, sensing the magnitude of


    the moment for Thssa.


    Thssa had been caring for Lysander for three years, hoping for his awakening every single day.


    Who could maintain such dedication to someone in aa for that long?


    Thssa''s efforts and perseverance had finally paid off. Her prayers were answered, weren''t they?


    Hertha felt a mix of tension and joy on behalf of her friend.


    "Yeah, Lysander''s awake," Thssa replied, her tone much moreposed than Hertha''s


    excitement.


    "Now that he''s awake, you should be by his side even more, showing him just how devoted you''ve


    been," Hertha said, hoping Thssa and Lysander would find their happily ever after.


    Hertha had initially harbored reservations about the cold and distant Lysander, even supporting


    Thssa''s decision to cut ties and be strangers. But after Lysander risked his life to save


    Thssa, she couldn''t help but see him in a new light and believed that he would always protect


    Thssa.


    How many men would risk their own lives to save their partners? Even some of the most loving


    couples couldn''t manage that. Yet Lysander, the so-called ''ice king,'' had done just that.


    "I didn''t get to see him," Thssa said somberly. "The moment he woke up, he had me thrown out


    of Royal Estates. They even tossed my luggage out after me."


    "What?" Hertha was taken aback. Moments ago, she had been warming up to Lysander, but now


    she was grinding her teeth in frustration. "That Lysander, what an ungrateful jerk! You took care of


    him for three years, and he doesn''t have a shred of gratitude! By kicking you out of Royal Estates,


    does that mean he doesn''t want anything to do with you anymore?"


    "I guess so. He said we were even before he fell into thea," Thssa confided in Hertha.


    The two of them had always been open books to each other, sharing every secret and every worry.

 Chapter 1484

    Chapter 1484


    "Fine, that jerk made his bed, now he can lie in it! Thssa, are you free right now? Why don''t you


    come over to my ce? We could really use a good chat." Hertha was quick to shift gears, cursing


    Lysander under her breath and no longer trying to push Thssa towards him.


    Knowing that Thssa was now on her own, Hertha was aware that solitude could lead to


    overthinking. So she invited Thssa over, knowing that a lively atmosphere could help shake off


    the blues.


    "Sure, I''ll be there soon." After hanging up the phone, Thssa got moving.


    Driving her car, Thssa arrived at the Gulfstream Community.


    As she approached Hertha''s building, she spotted a tall, devilishly handsome man lingering outside.


    Dressed in ck cks and a crisp white shirt with the sleeves rolled up to his elbows, his lean


    arms added to his allure.


    It was ric!


    Seeing him, Thssa''s internal rm bells went off.


    ric saw Thssa first, his eyes lighting up as he approached her. "Thssa, you''re here to see


    Hertha, right?"


    Meeting ric''s smirking gaze, Thssa tensed up. "It''s Tuesday, shouldn''t you be at work?"


    He was loitering outside Hertha''s building of all ces! He couldn''t possibly be here to see Hertha,


    could he?


    "I took the day off." ric''s lips curled into a mischievous smile. "You lead the way, I''ll follow."


    Without revealing his intentions, he positioned himself behind Thssa.


    But Thssa saw right through him. Instead of moving forward, she turned around and scrutinized


    him with a wary look. "Mr. Falconer, why aren''t you at home sleeping on your day off instead of


    hanging around someone else''s building? What are you up to?"


    Content ? N?velDrama.Org.


    "It''s just that Hertha was injured before, and I wasn''t aware when she got discharged from the


    hospital. I didn''t have a chance to send her off. They say when a good friend is hurt, you should


    warm their heart with a visit and a get-well gift. I''ve had this gift ready for over a month, and today I


    finally found the time to drop by and check on her."


    ric kept his smile, not beating around the bush and admitting he was here to see Hertha.


    "Why don''t you just go up then?" Thssa asked.


    "I''m not sure exactly which apartment is hers," ric replied, maintaining his charming yet polite


    smile.


    His awkward confession didn''t match his confident demeanor. He had followed Hertha before, knew


    she lived in the Gulfstream Community, and even knew the building number, but not her specific


    floor or apartment.


    Thssa was taken aback for a moment, then offered a politely distant smile. "On behalf of Hertha,


    I thank you, Mr. Falconer, for your concern. We appreciate the thought, but no need for a gift. You


    should go back, and I will let Hertha know you had her in your thoughts."


    Joke''s on him ¨C she certainly couldn''t lead ric to Hertha''s ce. What if he saw Hertha''s two


    kids?


    That would be a disaster.


    Hertha hadn''t disclosed her address to ric, likely worried that it would expose her children¡¯s


    existence to him.


    "That just wouldn''t do. The sentiment needs to be delivered in person," ric insisted, determined


    as he headed towards the building, set on visiting Hertha''s home.


    Thssa frowned slightly, caught in a bind.


    Just then, a refined male voice called her name from behind. "Thssa, are you here to see


    Hertha?"

 Chapter 1485

    Chapter 1485


    Thssa spun around, and there was Spencer, sporting a crisp blue shirt and te-gray cks,


    striding toward her with a plump chicken in his grasp.


    Relief washed over Thssa as she greeted him, ¡°Spencer, did you go grocery shopping?¡±


    Spencer?


    The name struck ric like a hammer to the heart, his steps faltered, and he turned, the carefree


    smirk wiped clean off his face.


    Indeed, Spencer approached, a lively hen clutched in his hand.


    ric¡¯s gaze fixed on the chicken¡¯s clucking beak, a shiver running down his spine, his skin crawling


    with goosebumps. Rooted to the spot, paralyzed with dread, he couldn''t move an inch.


    Since childhood, ric had harbored an irrational fear of beaked creatures, chickens most of all!


    And now, as fate would have it, Spencer was parading the very object of his phobia. ric felt


    trapped, his blood running cold with rm.


    ¡°Yep, picked up a chicken to make a hearty soup for Hertha¡ªhelp with her recovery,¡± Spencer said,


    reaching Thssa''s side with a gentlemanly smile.


    Then, spotting ric not too far off, he added, ¡°Mr. Falconer, you missed out on the mealst time.


    Stay for some chicken soup, will you?¡±


    With that, he lifted the chicken a tad higher, unting its quality, hinting at the savory broth it would


    yield. In a show of good faith, Spencer edged closer to ric, chicken in hand.


    Confronted with the chicken¡¯s beak, ric¡¯s deep-seated fear surfaced. He dodged behind


    Thssa, panic-stricken, urging Spencer, ¡°Keep that thing away from me. Take it away!¡±


    Thssa turned to find ric cowering behind her, hisplexion ghostly pale.


    What on earth had gotten into him?


    Before she could puzzle it out, ric thrust something into her hands, his voice quivering with


    urgency. ¡°Give this to Hertha for me. I¡¯ve got to go!¡±


    Without another word, ric fled to his car, revved the engine, and sped off, leaving a trail of


    exhaust in his wake.


    N?velDrama.Org content rights.


    Thssa stood there, baffled. ¡°What just happened?¡±


    The usually poised and graceful ric Falconer, always suave and a bit wicked, had bolted in sheer


    panic!


    It wasical, really, and Thssa couldn''t help but want tough, having never seen this side of


    ric.


    Spencer adjusted his sses and remarked, ¡°Mr. Falconer seems to have a fear of chickens.¡±


    Thssa was speechless. She''d never heard of a grown man being terrified of a mere chicken.


    Hertha was in stitches when Thssa ryed the encounter with ric. Sheughed so hard she


    doubled over, her infectious cackle filling the room.


    ¡°ric, afraid of a chicken? That¡¯s just hrious!¡± Tears streamed down Hertha¡¯s cheeks as she tried


    to regainposure. ¡°And here I thought he was so smooth with thedies. To think he¡¯s got such a


    weakness¡ªI¡¯ll just have to lock him in a room with a live chicken from the market if I ever need to


    put him in his ce. Imagine the chaos!¡±


    ¡°Easy there, don¡¯tugh yourself into a concussion,¡± Thssa cautioned, noting the intensity of


    Hertha¡¯sughter.


    ¡°No worries, I can handle it,¡± Hertha chuckled, dabbing at her tear-streaked face with a tissue.


    ¡°Mommy, who¡¯s ric? Do you not like him?¡± Helena toddled over, her big, innocent eyes brimming


    with curiosity.

 Chapter 1486

    Chapter 1486


    When Hertha caught a glimpse of her darling''s eyes, a mirror image of ric''s, and saw the soft,


    chubby cheeks framed in innocence and childlike wonder, her heart swelled with love. But then, in a


    sh, her smile vanished, reced by a wave of panic and dread.


    Content ? N?velDrama.Org.


    Her little one blinked her big, round eyes and looked up at Helena with serious intent. Crouching


    down to eye level, Hertha said with gravity, "ric is a stranger, sweetie. I don''t know him, and you


    have nothing to do with him. Mommy won''t mention that man again, okay?"


    Hertha spoke with a firm seriousness, and Thssa barely held back augh.


    Wasn¡¯t Hertha spilling the beans here?


    Fortunately, her two little treasures were just two years old, still blissfully unaware and far from the


    child prodigies that Thssa''s four munchkins were. Otherwise, any bright child could have pieced


    together the man¡¯s identity from Hertha''s words alone, ''you have nothing to do with him.''


    But Helena and Julian were too young, at the tender age of two, to read between the lines. They


    could only understand the literal meanings of words, not the subtext.


    Helena, tilting her head cutely and looking up with sparkling eyes, said in her soft, adorable voice,


    "Mommy, you should talk about him. You look so happy when you do, and I like it when you''re


    happy."


    "I like Mommy happy too!" Julian chimed in, clutching a toy as he toddled over, gazing earnestly at


    Hertha.


    With such devoted love from the two little ones, Hertha''s heart melted. She caressed their soft


    heads with tender affection, her lips curving into a smile as she said, "As long as my little angels are


    by my side, happy and healthy, Mommy is the happiest."


    "Yeah! We''ll always be by your side, as your little angels!" Julian and Helena nodded in unison, their


    voices ovepping in earnest agreement.


    Their earnest, endearing expressions were like those of two little penguins, utterly adorable, making


    anyone yearn to pinch their plump cheeks.


    "Alright, my darlings. Mommy will always do everything to protect you. I''m going to have a chat with


    Aunt Thssa, so you scamps go on and y," Hertha said gently.


    Obediently, the little ones held hands and waddled off towards the yroom.


    With the children gone, Hertha turned to Thssa, her expression serious. "It''s good you stopped


    ric in time, or he would''ve found out."


    "How did he even know where you lived?" Thssa asked, her curiosity piqued.


    "Well, remember that time at the Starhaven Hotel? I bumped into him, and he offered to drive me


    home. I refused, but he followed me to the neighborhood. I was terrified he''d see Julian and


    Helena," Hertha recounted.


    "He followed you? Do you think he''s serious about you?" Thssa sensed something different in


    ric''s behavior, as though he wasn''t just toying around.


    "Serious about me? He''s engaged and still wants to mess around with me. What do you think he''s


    up to?" Hertha replied, her toneced with contempt.


    She could never forget the image of ric and Georgia together in bed three years ago. It was an


    eternal thorn in her side.


    "Hertha''s right," Spencer interjected, emerging from the kitchen where he''d been stewing a pot of


    chicken soup. He sat down across from them and added, "ric thinks Hertha and I are married.


    He probably won''t cause trouble as long as you keep him from finding out about the kids.


    Eventually, he''ll give up pestering you."


    Thssa blinked in surprise. "ric thinks you two are married?"


    She nced between Spencer and Hertha, finding the misunderstanding new to her ears. For


    years, Spencer and Hertha had been nothing more than friends.


    "That time he followed me downstairs, Spencer happened toe back home, and ric got the


    wrong idea all on his own. It''s got nothing to do with us," Hertha rified.


    Thssa gave a thumbs-up, half-amused. "Well yed, you two."


    Despite mistakenly believing that Hertha was married to Spencer, ric continued to linger around


    her apartment, showing concern and even sending her gifts.

 Chapter 1487

    Chapter 1487


    It seemed, indeed, that ric had truly fallen for Hertha. Otherwise, a charmer like ric would


    never waste his time on a married woman.


    Yet, it was a ssic case of the right person at the wrong time.


    ...


    Gripping the steering wheel tightly, ric floored the elerator, speeding along the asphalt road.


    With the convertible top down, the wind swept his hair back, but it did nothing to cool his fevered


    mind.


    He knew Hertha was married to Spencer, yet he couldn''t help worrying about her. He feared she


    wasn''t resting enough after her concussion and might suffer long-term effects. Wanting to reassure


    himself of her well-being, he used the excuse of dropping off a gift to see her, though he knew she


    already had someone caring for her.


    It wasn''t his ce to worry, but he couldn''t control the urge to see her.


    The situation remained unchanged. Spencer had gone shopping and made Hertha some delicious


    food. They were truly living together, leading a simple yet blissful life.


    N?velDrama.Org owns all ? content.


    And he was just an outsider.


    ric was painfully aware of the reality, yet he couldn''t bear the thought of cutting ties with Hertha.


    Letting go of someone, he realized, was such a torturous ordeal.


    Returning home, ric found Angelina sitting in the living room, waiting for him.


    "You were supposed to have dinner with the Reed family today. Where did you run off to?"


    Angelina''s sharp gaze fixed on ric as he walked in, her tone full of reproach.


    ric didn''t want to engage, heading straight for the stairs.


    Infuriated, Angelina stood up swiftly and blocked his way, her voice tinged with anger. "Is this how


    you treat your mother? Did you not hear me?"


    ric looked at her leisurely, delivering a nonchnt retort. "You¡¯re more like Georgia''s mother."


    With that, he attempted to walk away, but Angelina grabbed his ear, eximing, "You''re rebelling


    against me, aren''t you?"


    In the past, Angelina had often twisted ric''s ear without resistance, but his time, he angrily


    pushed her hand away. His face hardened with rage as he said, "I''ve told you before, it''s either you


    call off the engagement with the Reed family, or I''m no longer your son! Since you refuse to break it


    off with the Reeds, from now on, I''m not your son, Angelina! You can''t control me!"


    Angelina, shocked and betrayed, widened her eyes. "What did you say, you ungrateful child! If you


    don''t want to be my son, I might as well beat you to death and let you be reborn!"


    Seizing a broom from nearby, she struck ric''s back forcefully.


    ric stood tall, not trying to block the blows. Though painful, he endured them, biting down hard.


    The physical pain was nothingpared to the intense agony of his heart.


    As he left Gulfstream Community that day, he knew he could never see Hertha again; they were


    never meant to be. The pain of forever losing her weighed heavily on him, profound and unyielding.

 Chapter 1488

    Chapter 1488


    Angelina was fuming, convinced that a few good smacks would have ric begging for mercy like


    he used to, calling her "Mom" in jest and pleading for her to stop, promising to ept any of her


    conditions in exchange for a little extra pocket money.


    But this time, she miscalcted. She struck him repeatedly, putting all her strength behind each


    swing of the broomstick against ric''s back. The sound alone could have made onlookers wince in


    sympathy.


    Yet, ric didn''t utter a single plea for mercy. Not a word escaped him as he clenched his fists,


    enduring the pain in stoic silence.


    Material ? of N?velDrama.Org.


    Angelina was taken aback by his newfound resilience, even more infuriated by his silent defiance.


    Her strikes grew fiercer, the broom swishing through the air with increased vigor.


    "Say something, will you?" Angelina demanded, her voice thick with anger as she red at ric.


    But ric remained stubbornly silent, a far cry from the carefree man who used to seek his mother''s


    forgiveness at the slightest hardship.


    "Oh my, what in the world are you doing? Are you trying to kill him?" Beatrice and Remington


    Falconer had just returned from a walk when they witnessed Angelina furiously beating ric with


    the broom.


    Beatrice, heart aching for ric, rushed forward, snatching the broom from Angelina''s grasp, her


    voiceced with indignation.


    Angelina, catching her breath, tried to exin her actions to Beatrice with a calmer demeanor.


    "Three years ago, it was ric who got involved with Georgia, and that''s when their engagement


    was officially announced. Now he''s got it in his head to call off the engagement! The Reed family


    found out it was because Georgia threw a small tantrum in front of him, so they invited him over for


    dinner today to apologize personally. He stood them up! Made me look like a fool in front of the


    Reeds!"


    Beatrice and Remington were well aware of the tangled web of ric''s romantic entanglements.


    They had once believed he was serious about Hertha, even considering shelling out a hefty sum to


    dissolve his engagement with Georgia so he could marry Hertha, hoping that marriage would make


    him settle down.


    But it turned out Hertha was only in it for the thrill, severing ties with ric after a single night in


    exchange for a payout. Not long after, ric became involved with Georgia, making the dissolution


    of their engagement even moreplicated.


    Now, three years had passed, and not only had ric refused to marry Georgia, but he was also


    adamant about breaking off the engagement.


    Beatrice felt for ric but agreed with Angelina''s point. She stopped Angelina from hitting him again


    and turned to ric with a heavy heart.


    "ric, you and Georgia seemed to be doing so well. What''s the reason for calling off the


    engagement now? Matters of the heart aren''t to be taken lightly. How can you simply switch


    between getting engaged and breaking it off?"


    ric, grimacing from both the physical pain and the weight of his decision, replied, "Grandma, it''s


    precisely because matters of the heart are serious that I can''t drag this out with Georgia any


    longer."


    "What''s the matter?" Remington stepped forward, leaning on his cane, his expression grave.


    ric nced at Angelina, still seething, took a deep breath, and finally said, "Georgia has a


    temper. She''s disrupted meetings at the office more than once, yelling at me in front of


    shareholders. I can''t take it anymore."


    Remington and Beatrice exchanged a look, both at a loss for words.


    Angelina retorted, "That''s only because you''ve been neglecting her, dragging your feet on the


    marriage. She was just anxious. Besides, her mother already scolded her, and she''s promised not


    to do it again. Can''t you forgive her just this once?"


    "Is this really about forgiving her just once?" ric replied, his tone firm.

 Chapter 1489

    Chapter 1489


    "For the past three years, how many tantrums has she thrown in front of me? How many scenes


    has she caused? How many times have I forgiven her? Every single time she promises to change,


    but it neversts more than a few days before her true colors show again! She''s all high and mighty


    now, and we''re not even married yet. Can you imagine what it would be like if we were? It would be


    a never-ending drama!" ric said, frustration clear in his voice.


    Georgia''s princess-like attitude might work on someone else, but he was at his wit''s end!


    With that, ric stormed off towards the staircase.


    Angelina red at ric''s retreating back and vented to Beatrice and Remington, "Can you believe


    him? He''s thirty and still can''t keep his cool!"


    Angelina was truly worried.


    Remington pondered for a moment before saying, "ric has a point. Marrying the wrong person


    can lead to a lifetime of misery. If their personalities sh so much, maybe it''s better to..."


    "Dad, what are you saying? The Reed family has done so much for ric, turning him from a


    nobody into the vice president of the Falconer Group. Think about all they''ve invested. The stakes


    are too high for a simple break-up now."


    Beatrice sighed. "Why can''t this kid give us a break? Look at Jeremiah, he''s been a blessing.


    Married to Ms. Suttner without a hitch, and now he''s sessfully managing our overseas


    operations, making everything prosper."


    "Jeremiah has always been bright and sensible, steady in his decisions, while ric has been


    reckless, acting without thinking of the consequences. It''s just their nature," Remington sighed.Content ? N?velDrama.Org.


    Hearing the elders praise ric''s cousin Jeremiah and list ric''s faults made Angelina worry more


    than ever. Her greatest fear was the elders settling on Jeremiah as the heir, dismissing ric''s


    potential.


    Over the years, she had done everything to support ric, promoting him from aid-back manager


    in a small firm to the vice president of the Falconer Group, all to ensure he''d one day outshine


    Jeremiah and take over as the CEO of the Falconer Group.


    At this crucial point, ric couldn''t afford to mess up.


    "ric is just being temperamental. He''spetent; look how he''s brought the Reed family on


    board, creating so much value for our family,¡± Angelina defended him, worried that the elders might


    believe rked ability.


    "Creating value is one thing, but hispatibility with Georgia is another," Beatrice pointed out.


    "Young people can adjust their personalities. I''ll go up and talk some sense into him. He''ll see


    reason," Angelina said with a smile, then headed upstairs.


    Back in his room, ric took off his shirt and examined his back in the mirror. It was marked with


    red welts, some bleeding, a shocking sight.


    Beside one particrly nasty welt, there was a faded scar, an old wound from three years ago when


    Hertha had pushed him, causing him to hit the edge of a nightstand.


    Seeing that old scar, ric remembered the night Hertha had spent in his room, and his heart


    ached.


    "Does it still hurt?" A female voice asked from the doorway.

 Chapter 1490

    Chapter 1490


    ric snapped back to reality when he saw Angelina enter the room. Frowning, he quickly moved to


    the side of the bed to grab his clothes, intending to get dressed.


    Noticing the blood-stained white shirt he was about to put on, his back wound still untreated,


    Angelina marched over and snatched the shirt from his hands.


    ¡°The shirt is dirty, for heaven''s sake! Can''t you find a clean one?¡± she scolded, exasperated.


    ¡°I wish I could change more than my shirt. Why won¡¯t you let me?¡± ric shot back, his usual


    charming and yful eyes now filled with helpless irritation as he looked at Angelina.


    N?velDrama.Org content rights.


    Angelina red back at him, frustrated by his stubbornness. ¡°Do you have any idea what your


    grandparents said? They think you''re not as good as Jeremiah! If you don¡¯t step up and take


    advantage of the Reed family''s support, the moment your cousin Jeremiahes back from


    abroad, you won''t stand a chance inpeting for the CEO position!¡±


    Though retired, Remington still held the reins of both the Falconer family and the Falconer Group.


    Whoever Remington favored for the CEO position would undoubtedly be the chosen one.


    ric¡¯sck of initiative was a disappointment to Remington, risking his shot at the Falconer


    Group''s leadership!


    This was a lifetime opportunity, and there he was, treating it like child''s y. Angelina was beside


    herself with worry for him.


    ¡°Let him take the CEO spot then! He¡¯s more suited for it than I am!¡± ric retorted through gritted


    teeth, barely containing his anger. His ambition never aligned with being a CEO; it was all Angelina


    pushing him towards it.


    Unable to contain her anger, Angelina pped ric across the face, infuriated. ¡°How could you


    say that? What is the point of all my hard work over these years? You¡¯re going to be the death of


    me!¡±


    ric¡¯s face turned slightly, his tongue touching his cheek as he gave Angelina a bloodshot look.


    ¡°Wasn¡¯t it enough for my dad to be CEO all his life? That''s your dream, not mine!¡± he countered, his


    words striking Angelina deeply.


    ¡°You¡­ If you don¡¯t want to be CEO of the Falconer Group, then get out! I have no son like you!¡±


    Angelina was pierced by his words, her breathing heavy with emotion.


    He dared to say being CEO was her dream, not his. She had poured her heart and soul into


    nning his future, and he was treating it all with disdain. Angelina was both furious and


    heartbroken.


    After her outburst, she waited for ric to apologize, to beg her not to send him away. After all,


    without the Falconer family''s backing, he was just another ordinary person. No one would indulge


    him, and hisvish spending woulde to an abrupt end. How could ric, known for his


    extravagant lifestyle, ever cope without money?


    Instead, ric picked up the dirty shirt from the floor, nced at Angelina, and said, ¡°You said it!¡±


    With those words, he turned and left.


    Angelina was in disbelief; ric had actually walked out!


    ¡°You step out of this house today, and don¡¯t you evere back!¡± she shouted after him.


    ric paused, his expression cloudy and angry, but after a second, he continued on without looking


    back.


    Watching ric¡¯s departing figure, Angelina was stunned. He had actually dared to leave the


    Falconer family!


    It wasn''t until ric¡¯s car had driven away that Angelina snapped out of her shock, realizing he had


    truly left. Fuming, she kicked at the ground, pacing back and forth, utterly infuriated by her son.


    ¡°You think you¡¯ve grown wings now? I¡¯ll see how far you can fly without money. You¡¯lle crawling


    back!¡± she muttered to herself, then pulled out her phone and called the bank to freeze all of ric¡¯s


    ounts.


    As ric drove to a hotel, intending to rest there, he discovered his bank cards were frozen,


    unusable. He didn¡¯t need to guess twice to know this was Angelina¡¯s doing.


    Was this her way of forcing him toe back?

 Chapter 1491

    Chapter 1491


    This time, ric was determined not to go back.


    With nowhere to stay, he gave his good friend Ethan a call.


    Ethan took him in.


    Upon learning that he had run away from home with his bank ount frozen, Ethan pped him on


    the shoulder and said, ¡°How about youe work at mypany? I can pay you a sry every


    month. It won''t make you rich, but hey, you won''t starve.¡±


    He said it in jest.


    ¡°Alright, just set me up with a job, and I''ll start tomorrow,¡± ric immediately responded.


    ¡°You serious about working at my ce?¡± Ethan was surprised. It was just a joke, but ric took it


    seriously.


    ric was the scion of the Falconer Group, once a vice president. For someone who had lived in


    luxury his whole life, was he really ready to settle for a minor position?


    ¡°What, you think I was joking?¡± ric asked Ethan seriously.


    In ric¡¯s eyes, Ethan saw not the flirtatiousness one might expect but a calm, stillke. Ethan


    knew then that ric meant business. As friends, Ethan certainly couldn''t let ric starve.


    ¡°It just so happens we''reunching a new jewelry line, and the team''s all green. They could use a


    project manager. You start tomorrow,¡± Ethan said.


    ¡°Aren''t you worried about your team taking issue with me parachuting in as manager?¡± ric asked.N?velDrama.Org content rights.


    ¡°Ha, with the Falconer Group''s VP stepping in to manage our little project, who''din? They


    should be thankful I''m not used of wasting talent,¡± Ethan quipped.


    ric just smiled, saying nothing.


    ...


    A monthter.


    Thssa took over the iplete jewelry design project from Hertha and finished the design within


    a month. Thepany was thrilled with Thssa''s designs, attracting bids from threepeting


    firms.


    The design department manager asked Thssa to meet with the firstpany''s representative to


    discuss the design concept, hoping to spark their interest in purchasing.


    At seven in the evening, Thssa arrived at the designated restaurant. Thepany


    representative hadn''t arrived yet, so she waited at a table by the window.


    About ten minutester, a rugged male voice said, ¡°Thssa, is that you?¡±


    Turning around, Thssa saw a man in a navy-blue suit. His physique was robust, evidence of


    regr workouts, and a neatly trimmed mustache sat above his lips, his thick eyebrows adding to


    his masculine aura.


    Thssa recognized him immediately - Joshua''s son, Reginald Whitman, her half-brother! It had


    been three years since theyst met.


    Thssa was surprised. ¡°Mr. Whitman, what are you doing here?¡±


    ¡°Calling me Mr. Whitman feels so formal. Just call me Reginald,¡± he said casually, taking a seat


    opposite her.


    ¡°I was here to meet with a jewelry designer about a project. I didn¡¯t expect to find you sitting here.


    Could it be that you''re the designer?¡± Reginald asked, setting his briefcase down, his tone even.


    Thssa replied, a bit lost, ¡°The main designer is my best friend. She got injured, so I''m here to


    present the design concept on her behalf.¡±


    ¡°Reginald, why didn¡¯t you wait for me?¡± Another man approached them just as Thssa finished


    speaking.

 Chapter 1492

    Chapter 1492


    Thssa turned around, her eyesnding on a face that radiated a gentle and schrly charm. The


    man, Callum Gordon, wore frameless sses and his lips curved into a warm, spring breeze-like


    smile.


    N?velDrama.Org owns all ? content.


    Seeing him, Thssa''s eyes widened in surprise. "Mr. Gordon!"


    It had been three years since shest saw Callum!


    Three years ago, Callum had been in a sorry state, with a broken wrist and leg courtesy of a scuffle


    with Lysander, bandages wrapping his injuries. Now, however, he was the picture of health, as


    charming and refined as the day they first met.


    Upon hearing her voice, Callum turned and was momentarily surprised. "Thssa!"


    After a brief pause, realization dawned on him, and he shed a warm smile. "So, you''re the


    designer for this project. What a coincidence."


    "I was actually about to exin that I''m not the lead designer," Thssa started.


    Reginald interjected, "Since you two are acquainted, I''ll spare the introductions. Callum and I are


    business partners; I handle the domestic production of jewelry while he takes care of international


    sales. We''re two halves of a whole; indispensable to one another. So, when ites to jewelry


    designs, both of us need to be on board."


    To ensure Thssa understood, Reginald borated, "I evaluate the designs from a production


    standpoint, focusing on factors such as manufacturing feasibility and craftsmanship. Callum, on the


    other hand, gauges market trends and consumer preferences overseas."


    Producing and selling jewelry, much like fashion, relies on achieving a bnce between


    manufacturability, craftsmanship, and market appeal. Only when a design meets these criteria can it


    seed in the market and be profitable.


    Thssa nodded in understanding. "Of course, ourpany has taken all of that into ount.


    Whether it''s target demographics or craftsmanship, I''ve preparedprehensive documentation.


    Here, please take a look."


    After sitting down next to Reginald, Thssa handed over the prepared documents for their review.


    The documents detailed the design philosophy, materials, and target demographics.


    After Callum and Reginald finished reviewing the documents, they closed the folder.


    Thssa watched them anxiously, her career¡ªand by extension, Hertha''s¡ªhanging in the bnce.


    Beforeing, her manager had hinted that since Hertha had been out recovering for so long


    without contributing to thepany, she might be let go if this design didn''t sell.


    Hertha had two kids to support and Bridget''s sry to pay. If this project failed, her family would be


    in dire straits.


    So, Thssa was particrly eager for Callum and Reginald''s feedback.


    After they closed the folder, Thssa looked from Callum to Reginald, anxious for their response.


    "I''ve looked over your target audience, focusing mainly on couples and wedding bands. I think it''s a


    good direction, considering most jewelry purchases are made by soon-to-be-married couples,"


    Callum approved of her design.


    Thssa let out a sigh of relief, but still looked nervously at Reginald, uncertain of his opinion.


    Reginald, stroking his beard thoughtfully with his deep gaze fixed on Thssa, said, "Don''t worry,


    we have one more person whose input we need on your design."


    Thssa was surprised; she thought it was just the two of them today.


    As she pondered this, Reginald took out his phone and sent a message.


    Just then, the waiter served their meal, politely suggesting, "Enjoy your meal."


    Thssa, making conversation, asked, "Mr. Gordon, Mr. Whitman, shall we start eating now or wait


    for the other person to arrive?"


    The meal was on her, as thepany had promised to cover the expenses.

 Chapter 1493

    Chapter 1493


    As soon as Thssa finished her question, she saw Reginald twist around in his seat, waving


    towards the door. ¡°Rosalind, over here!¡±


    Following his gesture, Thssa noticed Rosalind, dressed a crisp white blouse paired with a sleek


    ck pencil skirt, her hair cascading over her shoulders. With an aura of elegance and intelligence,


    she maneuvered a wheelchair towards them.


    N?velDrama.Org content rights.


    Seated in the wheelchair was a man initially obscured by the door. As Rosalind pushed him closer,


    Thssa finally got a good look at him. With striking features and amanding presence, even


    seated, he radiated an air of undeniable charisma and authority.


    d in a tailor-made ck suit, he seemed to eclipse everything around him, his piercing gaze


    locking onto Thssa, making the air around them feel almost solid.


    Despite being in a wheelchair, his majestic aura remained unaffected.


    Thssa¡¯s heart skipped a beat at the sight of him!


    It was Lysander!


    Why was he in a wheelchair? Did it mean that even though he had regained consciousness, he


    ended up disabled?


    As Thssa stared at Lysander, she found herself frozen, her usually steady heart now racing as


    though it might leap out of her chest. It had been three years since theirst real encounter. His


    eyes, still as deep and mesmerizing as ever, seemed capable of drawing one¡¯s soul into their


    depths.


    As they locked eyes, Thssa¡¯s heart raced even faster, her breathing bingbored.


    ¡°Rosalind, Mr. Sinir, wee. Please have a seat,¡± Reginald said, standing up to greet them.


    Callum, seizing the moment, also rose from his seat.


    The dining table was rectangr, with Callum and Reginald initially seated on one of the longer


    sides and Thssa opposite them. With the arrival of Lysander and Rosalind, a rearrangement was


    necessary to amodate Lysander¡¯s wheelchair, which required more space.


    Quick to adapt, Callum moved to sit next to Thssa, allowing Lysander to face them across the


    table, with Reginald and Rosalind sitting opposite each other to ensure everyone could fit.


    Taking the initiative, Callum signaled for the waiter to bring two more sets of silverware. With a


    smile, he addressed Lysander across the table, ¡°Mr. Sinir, it¡¯s been a while. After three years, you


    still seem as imposing as ever.¡±


    Lysander didn¡¯t even spare Callum a nce; his intense gaze remained fixed on Thssa, making


    her feel almost suffocated under its weight.


    Initially, Thssa had managed to meet Lysander¡¯s gaze, but as time passed, she couldn¡¯t


    withstand the pressure and diverted her eyes, nervously sping her hands together on the table.


    ¡°Lysander, the doctor mentioned you should increase your calcium intake. Try some shrimp,¡±


    Rosalind suggested tenderly, cing a shrimp in Lysander¡¯s bowl.


    Lysander?


    The way she said his name was incredibly endearing. Even Thssa, upon hearing such words, felt


    a softening in her heart. Surely, Lysander must relish being addressed so affectionately.


    Had Rosalind been taking care of him all this while?


    Thssa felt a pang of difort at the thought.


    ¡°Thssa, you should have some shrimp too. You¡¯ve always loved them,¡± Callum interjected,


    cing a peeled shrimp in her bowl ¨C a gesture of care he had taken upon himself.


    Thssa caught her breath, instinctively ncing towards Lysander.

 Chapter 1494

    Chapter 1494


    Lysander''s gaze was heavy and prating, locking onto Thssa with an intensity that felt almost


    tangible. The moment Thssa caught those piercing eyes, her heart sank, and she couldn''t help


    but feel cornered.


    "Oh, right, shrimp tastes better with sauce," Callum suddenly chimed in, his fork smoothly swooping


    into Thssa''s te to pick up a shrimp. He dipped it into the sauce bowl with a practiced motion


    and brought it up to Thssa''s lips.


    "Here, try this. It''s much better now."


    Thssa snapped back to reality, immediately backing her head away at the sight of the shrimp so


    close to her mouth, nervously mumbling, "I can do it myself."


    She took up her fork, taking the shrimp from Callum, whose eyes were soft and smiling at her.


    He was the same as ever, his eyes always twinkling with kindness, exuding an approachability that


    was hard to deny. Even his gestures of goodwill were difficult to reject outright.


    Under Callum¡¯s watchful gaze, Thssa, feeling too embarrassed to refuse, tasted the sauce-


    dipped shrimp.


    "Is it good?" Callum asked warmly.


    Thssa tugged at her lip awkwardly, replying, "Yeah, it''s delicious."


    The smile in Callum''s eyes deepened, radiating warmth. "Let me peel another one for you..."


    "I''ve got it," Thssa hurriedly picked up another shrimp, starting to peel it herself to prevent Callum


    from doing it again.


    As she focused on her task, she dared not even nce at Lysander across the table.


    Despite looking down, she could feel his oppressive gaze on her, making her feel as if she were on


    pins and needles.


    She hadn''t expected Callum to peel shrimp for her, especially since Callum and Reginald were her


    clients. She couldn''t afford to offend them, fearing it would jeopardize Hertha''s project and


    potentially cost Hertha her job.


    Yet, Lysander''s overwhelming presence was equally hard to ignore.


    "Look at me, all clumsy," Rosalind said with a gentle, knowing smile. "Mr. Gordon is so attentive to


    Thssa, I should take note. Shrimp dipped in sauce is indeed tastier. Lysander, hold on, let me


    peel one for you."


    With a soft and slightly coquettish tone, Rosalind reached out with elegant fingers, taking a shrimp


    from Lysander''s te. Mimicking Callum, she peeled it awkwardly, dipped it in sauce, and offered it


    to Lysander, saying, "Here, Lysander, open up."


    Hearing Rosalind''s tender voice made Thssa stiffen, instinctively raising her head only to meet


    Lysander''s deep, cold gaze, sending a shiver through her heart.


    In that moment, as she looked up, Lysander epted the shrimp from Rosalind, breaking contact


    with Thssa to turn his attention to Rosalind. His icy demeanor softened for the first time with a


    smile. "You certainly know my taste well; the seasoning is just perfect."


    Rosalind, seeing Lysander not only eating the shrimp she offered but alsoplimenting her


    understanding of his taste, was overjoyed. Her smile lit up her face, and dimples added to her


    charm.


    "Of course, I''ve been following you around since we were kids; I know your tastes."


    Watching Lysander and Rosalind exchange looks filled with unspoken emotions, Thssa felt as if


    her heart was being squeezed tight.


    Was this why Lysander was so eager to push her out of Royal Estates? To clear the way for


    Rosalind?


    So be it. Three years of care could be seen as repaying his life-saving grace. From now on, she and


    Lysander would be strangers.N?velDrama.Org content rights.

 Chapter 1495

    Chapter 1495


    Wasn''t this exactly what she had always wanted?


    Thssa''s breath grew heavy, her heart constricted with a pain she couldn''t hide. She averted her


    gaze, continuing to peel the shrimp in her hands, trying her hardest not to look at Lysander and


    Rosalind.


    "Rosalind, tone it down, will you? We''re in public. When you two get home, you can show affection


    to your fianc¨¦ however you want. We''ve got a whole crowd here and dinner hasn''t even started.


    Don''t fill up on your lovey-dovey nonsense before we''ve even eaten." Reginald joked, seemingly


    advising Rosalind to keep it low-key, but to Thssa, it felt like a severe blow.


    Lysander was Rosalind''s fianc¨¦?


    The thought pierced Thssa''s already aching heart sharply.


    Rosalind and Lysander were engaged?


    Such big news, and Joshua hadn¡¯t told her. And he wanted to make up for neglecting her? It was all


    lies.


    Whenever she and Rosalind had conflicts, Joshua was always secretly supporting Rosalind, wasn¡¯t


    he? Even arranging her children''s father to be engaged to Rosalind.


    Thssa felt like a clown, trampled into the mud over and over again, a spectacle for others''


    amusement.


    The shrimp in her hand suddenly felt unbearably heavy; something so light now seemed impossible


    to hold.


    "Bro, focus on your meal. No one asked you listen to us," Rosalind yfully scolded Reginald, even


    putting a piece of steak into his bowl as if to quiet him, yet her face was alight with joy at his teasing.


    "Getting shy over this? What will you do on your wedding night, hide under the bed out of


    embarrassment?" Reginald teased Rosalind further.


    The mention of the wedding night was like a hammer brutally striking Thssa''s heart. She could


    no longer stay seated. Setting down her shrimp, she grabbed a napkin to wipe her hands, her face


    pale as she said, "Excuse me, I''m feeling a bit unwell. Please, go on without me. I should leave."


    "Rosalind has a degree in design. I was thinking she could provide some feedback for your


    company''s designs. Don''t you want to hear it?" Reginald mentioned.


    Thssa nced at Lysander involuntarily. His smile had vanished, his gaze deep and


    unfathomable, seemingly fixed on something beyond Rosalind. His handsome face was cold, not


    even sparing her a sidelong nce.


    Feeling suffocated, Thssa looked at Rosalind and said, "Ms. Whitman, take your time. If you


    have any feedback, just text me. I really need to rest, but please, enjoy your meal."


    With that, she turned and left.


    "Thssa, you don''t look well. Let me walk you out," Callum offered, rising to apany her.


    Lysander''s grip tightened on his chair, his presence chilling.


    "Lysander, have some hot meal, warm yourself up," Reginald said as hedled some hearty fish


    chowder into a bowl and set it before him.


    "You''ve just started to recover; you need to stay rxed. Stress isn¡¯t good for your recovery,"


    Reginald advised.


    "Really, Lysander, your health is what matters most," Rosalind chimed in, encouraging him.


    N?velDrama.Org content rights.


    Lysander''s icy gaze softened, his tense expression rxing slightly as he replied in a low, resonant


    voice, "I''m perfectly fine. What makes you think I''m not?"


    Rosalind and Reginald paused, exchanging looks.


    Rosalind smiled and said, "Then eat up, have some chowder to nourish yourself."

 Chapter 1496

    Chapter 1496


    Lysander nced at the chowder on the table before his gaze shifted to the documentsid out in


    front of him. With a casual air, he said, "I''m not hungry. Let me see those papers."


    "Oh, these ones?" Rosalind picked up the documents that were in front of Reginald.


    As Lysander reached out, she handed them over to him.


    Lysander flipped through the pages, from the first to thest. It was a jewelry design proposal,


    complete with design concepts and sketches. Though only partial sketches were included, they


    were enough to reveal the designer''s skill.


    Lysander''s deep gaze turned to Reginald as he asked, "Did Thssa design this?"


    Reginald shrugged, "Of course."


    Hearing this, Lysander''s expression hardened. It had been three years since hest saw her,


    transitioning from a secretary to a jewelry designer. Avoiding all contact with him and never stepping


    foot in Royal Estates again, was this her way of striving for a career? And her method involved


    getting close to Callum?


    This thought made Lysander''s temples throb, a hidden pain stirring within him.


    Three years ago, her rtionship with Callum was ambiguous. Had she been with Callum all this


    time?


    "Lysander, do you think this design works?" Rosalind, noticing Lysander''s tense demeanor and the


    shift in his aura, blinked and asked tenderly.


    Closing the file, Lysander said, "You''re the designer, you decide."


    He put the documents on the table and began to push his wheelchair, turning to leave.


    Rosalind, anxious, looked towards Reginald for help.


    Reginald said, "Mr. Sinir, don''t rush. Let Rosalind push you back. There are steps at the


    restaurant entrance, so be careful not to trip."


    After saying this, Reginald gave Rosalind a meaningful nce.


    Rosalind quickly caught up and grabbed the wheelchair''s handles. "Lysander, it''s my fault. I didn''t


    realize you were tired. I''ll take you back now."


    Lysander remained silent but stopped pushing the wheelchair, allowing Rosalind to take over.


    It had been a month since Lysander''s awakening, and though he had regained motor function in


    most of his body, his legs remained weak, confining him to a wheelchair.


    Content ? N?velDrama.Org.


    After medical check-ups showing normal results, the doctors suggested that his leg''s motor nerves


    hadn''t recovered yet. They mentioned that with time and rehabilitation, the nerves would likely


    regain function faster.


    Lysander rarely went out, but today, Rosalind had taken him for a change of scenery. On their way,


    Reginald texted Rosalind, asking her to review some design sketches and give her opinion.


    So, Rosalind brought Lysander along, not expecting to encounter Thssa! And to find out the


    design sketches were Thssa''s work!


    In the car, with the driver in front and Rosalind and Lysander in the back, Rosalind noticed


    Lysander''s stern expression and his silence throughout the ride. She said apologetically, "Lysander,


    I''m sorry. I had no idea Thssa would be at the meeting. If I had known, I wouldn''t havee. I


    hate to see you upset."


    Lysander''s jaw was set, his voice deep as he responded, "She''s not worth my upset."


    Rosalind gazed at Lysander, struck by his profile¡ªsharp, handsome, noble, almost regal in his


    beauty, breathtakingly so. His current aloof demeanor and his words made Rosalind''s heart race


    with excitement.


    Had Zephyr''s advice worked? Was Lysander beginning to dismiss Thssa, looking down on her?


    If Lysander could clear his heart of her, Rosalind saw a chance to make a ce for herself there.

 Chapter 1497

    Chapter 1497


    Zephyr''s move was a real stroke of genius, pulling the rug out from under them.


    Rosalind couldn''t help but feel a secret thrill, though she kept her face neutral.


    "It''s my fault, really," she said, "I''ve overworked you. Once we''re back, you should just rest."


    Lysander didn''t say a word, and Rosalind, picking up on the cue, fell silent as well.


    Thssa had already turned down Callum, insisting she didn''t need a ride from him. But he was


    adamant about taking her home.


    It was her own fault for not driving today. Thinking she might indulge in a few drinks, she had opted


    for a cab ride to avoid driving under the influence. Little did she know, this would be Callum''s


    excuse to offer her a ride back.


    Sitting in the backseat, Thssa watched the scenery sh by in reverse through the window.


    Callum, behind the wheel, asionally nced at her through the rear-view mirror. Noting her


    mncholic gaze out the window and the furrow in her brow, he said, "It''s been three years, but you


    seem even thinner than before."


    His words, floating in the quiet of the car, pulled Thssa back to the moment. She blinked, her


    eyshes fluttering slightly, and replied, "I''m about the same, actually. But you, you''ve recovered


    well, looking even more dashing."


    "Thanks for thepliment," Callum said, a smile in his eyes. "How are things with you and


    Lysander?"


    "It''s... the same," Thssa replied instinctively, turning her gaze back to the window, reluctant to


    delve into her rtionship with Lysander.Material ? of N?velDrama.Org.


    Suddenly, Callum hit the brakes hard, causing Thssa to lurch forward. She quickly steadied


    herself against the seat, asking worriedly, "What happened?"


    "There''s been an ident up ahead. The road''s blocked," Callum exined.


    Looking ahead, Thssa saw that a car had hit a pedestrian, who nowy on the ground, while the


    driver had stopped and was trying to negotiate with the injured party. However, the negotiation


    wasn''t going smoothly, causing a traffic jam.


    With Callum''s caring to a halt, a line of vehicles behind them also stopped.


    The driver tried to reason with the person on the ground, offering to take them to the hospital for a


    comprehensive check-up and cover all medical expenses. However, the person refused to get up,


    demanding money instead.


    The sound of car horns filled the air.


    Finally, a passenger from the ident vehicle stepped out, approached the person on the ground,


    and said, "Ma''am, my driver has already offered to take you to the hospital for a full check-up. We''ll


    cover any medical costs. Why are you still lying here?"


    "I won''t go to the hospital. Just give me fifty thousand in cash, and I''ll check myself. How do I know


    you''re not in cahoots with the doctors? They might say I''m fine. Then, if I get sickter, who do I turn


    to?¡±


    The person on the ground was a woman, her voice loud and clear despite her disheveled and dirty


    appearance. Her face smeared with dirt, making it hard to identify her, but her voice was


    unmistakably feminine.


    "Doesn''t look like you''re hurt that badly to warrant fifty thousand, does it?" the passenger retorted.


    Through the car window, Thssa could see clearly that the passenger was Rosalind!


    So, it was Rosalind''s car that had hit someone!


    Could Lysander be in the car too?


    Thssa''s gaze shifted to the front, spotting a sleek ck limousine. Lysander had to be in the


    back seat.


    Concerned about his well-being, especially with his already fragile health, Thssa didn''t want any


    trouble that might hinder his recovery. Having looked after Lysander for three years to help him


    regain his health, she couldn''t afford any setbacks now.


    Thssa opened the car door and stepped out, approaching the woman on the ground. "You say


    you''re injured, right? Then, let''s follow the proper procedure. We''ll call the police to handle the


    ident and dial an ambnce to take you to the hospital. These are official numbers; there''s no


    conspiracy."


    With that, Thssa took out her phone, ready to make the call.


    "Don''t call!" the woman on the ground suddenly stood up, grabbing Thssa''s phone to stop her.

 Chapter 1498

    Chapter 1498


    Thssa raised her hand high, keeping her phone out of reach, and then nced down at the


    woman''s legs, a cold smirk spreading across her face. "Weren''t you just lying on the ground,


    iming that you couldn''t get up or walk? Howe you''re suddenly as lively as a spring chicken?"


    The woman faltered, her act falling apart.


    "I...I was just flustered because..." she stammered, clearlycking conviction.


    Rosalind was taken aback. "So, you were just trying to scam us, huh? If you don''t get lost, I''m


    calling the police!"


    "No, no, don''t call. I''m leaving. I''m leaving!" The woman hastily retreated.


    Thssa then turned to Rosalind. "It''s all good now."


    Rosalind wanted to thank Thssa, but remembering that she was Lysander''s ex and had four kids


    with him, she felt a twinge of difort, and the words of gratitude just wouldn''te out.


    "If it weren¡¯t for this situation, your car wouldn¡¯t be blocked," Rosalind said tly before heading to


    her car.


    Thssa paused for a moment, understanding Rosalind¡¯s implication. Rosalind was saying that


    Thssa¡¯s intention wasn¡¯t solely to aid her, but rather to clear the way for herself.


    It didn¡¯t matter to Thssa though. Her assistance wasn''t merely for the sake of receiving a thank


    you from Rosalind.


    Resuming her path to her car, Thssa passed the sleek limousine, inadvertently meeting


    Lysander''s intense gaze. His eyes, profound and prating, sent a chill down her spine, causing


    her heart to race.


    Even after all this time, Thssa still felt that familiar panic whenever she locked eyes with


    Lysander.


    Unable to hold his gaze, she quickly looked down, walked past the car, and got into Callum''s car.


    Parking in the middle of the road was generally not allowed unless there was an incident, so


    Thssa had no choice but to return to Callum''s car.


    As the limousine drove away, Callum started the car.


    He asked, "So, you and Lysander arepletely done, huh?"


    His question picked up the conversation they had before they stopped.


    Thssa was taken aback, her heart feeling as if it was squeezed tight.


    Were she and Lysander really over?


    N?velDrama.Org owns all ? content.


    She had spent so much effort trying to escape Lysander, even getting Callum to help her and the


    kids make a getaway. Now that Lysander had indeed pushed her away, why did her heart feel so


    suffocated?


    Thssa took a deep breath and said, "Have you not dated anyone in these three years? At your


    age, most people start thinking about settling down."


    She didn''t want to delve into her and Lysander''s affairs with Callum. Her own feelings were muddled


    enough; how could she exin them to someone else?


    "I''ve spent three years trying to get over Leopold''s death. He taught me that love can be lethal. I


    haven''t dared to try."


    Callum''s words made Thssa''s heart tighten. It had been a long time since she''d heard Leopold''s


    name from someone else, and hearing it now still brought a long-lost ache.


    "Leopold chose that path to win your freedom," Callum continued.


    "What do you mean?" Thssa was stunned.

 Chapter 1499

    Chapter 1499


    Three years ago, she had this nagging feeling that Leopold''s death was fishy, but couldn''t pin down


    why. No one ever spoke up about it, and now, with Callum''s words, her heart clenched, and her


    body tensed up.


    Callum''s hands were firmly on the steering wheel, talking about it as if it were just another day, but


    the slight tension in his voice betrayed his unresolved feelings.


    ¡°He called me the night before he died. He wanted to use his death to create a scandal, to pressure


    Lysander into giving up his CEO position at the Sinir Group. Without Lysander in power, he


    couldn''t control you anymore, and you''d be free. He was so naive; what''s one life against absolute


    power? Even in death, he couldn''t shake Lysander¡¯s hold.¡±


    Callum couldn¡¯t forget that night, the despair in Leopold¡¯s voice when he had called.


    A young man, gone in the blink of an eye.


    Thssa¡¯s breathing stopped, tears falling, her heart trembling with pain. ¡°So, it was me. I was the


    cause of his death.¡±


    She had always thought Leopold died from the stress of the ident, cornered by Lysander.


    If Lysander hade forward to rify that the ident was caused by the Sinir Group¡¯s


    subsidiary, Leossa Electronics, due to manufacturing defects, and not Leopold, shifting all me to


    Leossa Electronics would have been enough.


    But Lysander refused to admit the faulty with Leossa Electronics. It was only then that she


    realized Leopold couldn''t withstand the public pressure and the outrage of the victims'' families'',


    leading him to his demise.


    It turned out, Leopold''s death was his own scheme, using his life to create a scandal in hopes of


    dethroning Lysander from the Sinir Group- all for her freedom.


    How could Leopold be so foolish? She wasn''t worth his sacrifice. And how did he not see that even


    in death, he wouldn''t be able to shake Lysander¡¯s foundation?


    Even three yearster, Thssa¡¯s heart ached as if being sliced open.


    ¡°Now that you and Lysander are strangers, it fulfills Leopold¡¯sst wish,¡± Callum suddenly said,


    shifting the mood.


    N?velDrama.Org content rights.


    Thssa was too deep in her grief to absorb his words.


    In the back of the sleek limousine, Rosalind noticed the tension radiating from Lysander, knowing he


    had just seen Thssa.


    The incident she couldn''t resolve was effortlessly handled by Thssa in just a few words. While


    she could easily surpass Thssa in her area of expertise, dealing with thugs wasn¡¯t her forte. That


    moment surely made Lysander think less of herpared to Thssa, fueling Rosalind¡¯s sense of


    defeat.


    Desperate to recuperate her image in Lysander¡¯s eyes, Rosalind maintained a gentle smile. ¡°If it


    weren¡¯t for Thssa, I would¡¯ve had a hard time. She really knows how to handle bullies. Perhaps


    she was eager to rush home with Callum, which prompted her to deal with it.¡±


    Rosalind watched Lysander¡¯s reaction, noting his colder demeanor.


    ¡°Aren''t you thirsty?¡± Lysander asked, his gaze fixed ahead, devoid of emotion.


    Rosalind paused, confused.


    ¡°Have some water and stop talking,¡± Lysander said.


    Rosalind was at a loss for words. She got it; Lysander found her annoying.


    All her effort was to make Lysander aware that Thssa was with Callum, to make him despise


    Thssa even more. But it seemed she overdid it, irking Lysander instead.


    ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll keep quiet,¡± Rosalind said, taking the hint.


    ¡°Slow down and follow the car ahead,¡± Lysander suddenly instructed the driver.

 Chapter 1500

    Chapter 1500


    The car pulled up just outside the gates of Star Harbor Estates, and before they could enter,


    Thssa told Callum to stop.


    "Thanks for the ride. This is fine," Thssa pushed the car door open and stepped out.


    Her spirits were low because she was still enveloped in the sorrow of Leopold''s reason for his


    passing.


    With a quick thanks, Thssa walked towards the vi area, her soul seemingly detached from her


    body.


    Suddenly, a figure burst from behind a trash can, her hair wild and her appearance eerily unnerving.


    She dashed to Thssa''s side, grabbing her shoulder and shing a small knife, its de gleaming


    dangerously close to Thssa''s neck.


    Her series of movements were finished in an instant, leaving no chance for Thssa to react.


    By the time Thssa realized what was happening, the cold metal of the de was pressed against


    her neck, a slight push away from cutting through her skin.


    Fear reced Thssa''s mncholy in an instant as she clearly felt the cold touch of metal


    pressing against the skin of her neck.


    "Who are you? What do you want?" Thssa asked with panic in her voice.


    "Thssa, you wretch, it¡¯s been three years and why you are still not dead yet? It''s all because of


    you that I lost my parents and ended up homeless! You wouldn¡¯t let me go even when I was on the


    streets, trying to take away the fifty thousand dors that was almost in my grasp!" The woman


    holding Thssa''s shoulder spat out with venom, her breath heavy and her knife-wielding hand


    trembling with rage.


    Material ? of N?velDrama.Org.


    Thssa''s heart skipped a beat, suddenly recognizing the voice that sent shockwaves through her


    mind¡ªit was Susan!


    She was the beggar who threw herself in front of Rosalind''s car, attempting a scam for fifty


    thousand dors just moments earlier.


    Susan had literally be a beggar!


    Overwhelmed, Susan inadvertently applied too much pressure, and the de nicked Thssa''s


    neck, sending a sharp pain coursing through her.


    Thssa was so nervous that her body tensed, leaning back to distance herself from the de.


    She hastily said, "Susan, calm down, let me go, and I''ll give you the fifty thousand dors right now."


    "Thssa!" At that moment, Callum pushed his car door open and rushed forward, calling out


    nervously.


    From the car, he had seen someone lunge from behind the trash can and grab Thssa. He


    wanted to intervene, but the attacker was too fast. Just as he realized Thssa was in danger, the


    knife was already at her neck.


    By the time Callum could react, the situation had escted.


    "Don''te any closer, or I''ll kill her!" Susan became crazier. She had one hand in a death grip on


    Thssa''s arm and one across Thssa''s neck, holding a knife to her throat.


    Should her emotions get the best of her, a mere flick of her wrist could slit Thssa''s throat.


    Thssa''s heart raced, her nerves on edge.


    Realizing his approach might worsen the situation, Callum abruptly stopped, raised his hands in


    surrender, and started to negotiate with Susan. His voice was heavy with concern, "Just calm down,


    let her go, and I''ll give you a hundred thousand dors."


    Susan paused, then burst into maniacalughter, filling the air with an echo. It was unusually


    ghastly.


    "So, her life is worth that much, huh? You rich folks are all stingy, literally trying to save a life with


    just a hundred thousand dors. Ten million, and that¡¯s the final offer! Otherwise, I''ll kill her right


    now!" Susan was so hateful that she gritted her teeth and said grimly. For the past three years, she


    had lived worse than an animal, struggling to find her next meal, and had been tormented by


    hunger.


    There were times she nearly starved to death. The agony of being on the brink of death was


    unbearable, and she vowed never to endure that despair again.

 Chapter 1501

    Chapter 1501


    She thus bit the bullet and put away her pride, doing everything from begging on the streets and


    scamming strangers to dumpster diving and crashing into people for injury ims.


    Yet, she still couldn''t make ends meet. She knew she had to get a great sum if she wanted to


    escape this cycle of poverty.


    Even if Thssa herself wasn''t wealthy, Callum, a businessman, definitely was!


    Ten million dors?


    Susan was shooting for the stars with that request. Thssa was taken aback, finding Susan''s


    demand so naive as well.


    Callum was merely an acquaintance of her. How could she expect him to fork over ten million


    dors for her?


    N?velDrama.Org content rights.


    "Susan, Mr. Gordon and I have no rtionships. Why on earth would he give me ten million dors?


    Be realistic. The reality is you get the money you can. Let me go, and I''ll give you two hundred


    thousand dors. That''s all I have," Thssa pleaded for her life.


    Susan was in a very unstable state right now. Her grip on the knife trembled with hatred. A slip of


    her hand could end Thssa''s life.


    Thssa couldn''t die, especially not at Susan''s hand. She hadn''t seen her four little treasures in


    three years, missing them desperately. She couldn''t bear the thought of leaving this world without


    seeing them onest time. She was sure they missed her just as much.


    "I''ll do it! I''ll give you ten million. Just let her go, now!" Callum''s anxious voice emerged after


    Thssa finished.


    He stood with his hands raised, neither advancing nor retreating, his usually cheerful eyes now filled


    with anxiety and concern. He was determined as he said to Susan.


    Susan paused. She scoffed and said to Thssa, "You''re still ying duplicity as before, Thssa!


    Always saying you wanted nothing to do with Lysander, yet you were always by his side, being his


    prized possession. Now you say you have nothing to do with Callum, but in fact, you and Callum


    are already a couple and have slept together so many times, right? Otherwise, how could he agree


    to exchange ten million dors for your life without hesitation?"


    Susan said as she pressed the knife against Thssa''s throat. The pale, delicate skin was shed


    and blood oozed out along the de in a gruesome way.


    Thssa winced, trying not to move or breathe too heavily, fearing she¡¯d lose her life due to any


    further aggression from Susan.


    "Don''t do this. Just tell me your bank ount, and I''ll transfer the money right now. Please, let her


    go..." Callum was distressed; his breath hitched and his plea was urgent.


    "Ten million is far from enough. I want a hundred million!" Susan suddenly decided that ten million


    wouldn''t be enough for the rest of her life, thus she raised her demand.


    "I... " Callum was going to respond.


    "What makes her worth a hundred million to you?"


    Before Callum could respond, a deep,manding voice cut through the tension.


    Thssa saw Rosalind rolling a wheelchair towards them. The man in the wheelchair had an aura


    of cold, untouchable beauty. It was Lysander! His sharp gaze passed over Thssa and fixed on


    Susan with disdain, chillness, and intensity.


    Susan''s hand trembled more noticeably now, her voice a mix of panic and anger, "If you don''t give


    me a hundred million, I''ll slit her throat right now! Let this worthless woman disappear from the


    world!"


    "I dare you to do it. She''s nothing but a discarded pawn. If she''s such a nuisance, then by all


    means, end her misery," Lysander offered.

 Chapter 1502

    Chapter 1502


    "What?" Susan gasped in shock. She had thought with Lysander showing up, squeezing some cash


    out of the situation would be smoother since Lysander was loadedpared to Callum. But


    Lysander''s demand for her to just off Thssa took her by surprise.


    This was a curveball she hadn''t seening.


    Thssa felt her heart sink, disbelief washing over her as she stared at Lysander. What had he just


    said?


    Was she just someone discarded?


    Callum, anxious and displeased, confronted Lysander, "Mr. Sinir, what are you rambling about?


    In crucial times like this, saving life matters the most. Don''t provoke Susan."


    "Oh, worried about your sweetheart biting the dust? If you''re so fond of her, why not take her


    ce?" Lysander shot Callum a look, his demeanor unbothered.


    "You..." Callum was livid, ready to retort but realized it was futile. Any word from him would only put


    Thssa in greater danger. Clenching his jaw in frustration, he remained silent.


    And to Lysander, Callum''s silence was an admission of his rtionship with Thssa.


    Lysander''s handsome face turned even colder, his presence chilling to the bone. With a deep,


    prating gaze, he turned to Susan, "Just do it, kill her now. No dilly-dallying! The murder you


    commit will be a great chance for us to hand you over to the cops first thing and watch you rot in jail.


    How''s that for a worry-free life?"


    "Lysander, stop using the reverse psychology! Thssa used to be your woman, so can you really


    bear to see her dead?" Susan snapped back to her senses, her anger ring.


    A cold smirk yed on Lysander''s lips as he said in amusement, "You said it, she ''used to be.'' My


    fianc¨¦e now is Rosalind, and Rosalind is quite bothered by my past with Thssa. You killing her


    would erase my past, making Rosalind happy."


    Rosalind, upon hearing this, felt a mix of emotions - nervousness, panic, yet a sliver of delight.


    She stepped forward, her voice slightly shaky, "Yes, yes! With Thssa gone, I won''t have to worry


    about Lysander rekindling old mes. Lysander and I can marry and live happily ever after!"


    Thssa listened to Lysander and Rosalind''s duet wishing for her demise. Her heart felt like it was


    plunging into the abyss, struggling for air, the pain as sharp as a knife.


    The sharpness she felt at her throat moments ago was now vanished. She just felt as numb as hell.


    Lysander and Rosalind were getting married. Rosalind was unsettled by his past with her, so he''d


    rather have her dead. He was as cold and ruthless as ever, cutting ties without a second thought.


    Anyone deemed useless to him was to be killed at any moment.


    Until today, Thssa had naively thought she held a special ce in Lysander''s heart.


    Now, it was clear she was no different than anyone else to him. The moment he lost all feelings for


    her, his desire to see her dead was as fervent as ever.


    "You two think you can use me to kill Thssa? Dream on, you pair of snakes! If I do it, you''ll just


    hand me over to the cops. I''d rather beg on the streets than rot in jail!" Susan, piecing together


    Lysander and Rosalind''s plot, began to panic, even her grip on the knife faltering. She knew


    Lysander well - his cold-heartedness meant he was capable of anything he put into words!


    Content ? N?velDrama.Org.


    He had truly discarded Thssa and was now captivated by Rosalind. To win Rosalind''s favor, he


    was willing to use someone else to eliminate Thssa, clearing any obstacles in his path to


    Rosalind without a second thought.


    Was she foolish enough to trade her freedom to facilitate Lysander''s romance with another woman?


    Fuming, Susan tossed the knife aside, kicked Thssa away, and bolted.


    Thssa, caught off guard by the kick, suddenly stumbled forward and was on the verge of falling.

 Chapter 1503

    Chapter 1503


    Lysander''s chilly eyes narrowed, his hands gripping the wheels of his wheelchair, ready to push


    himself towards Thssa.


    "Thssa!" Callum, quick on his feet, rushed forward to support Thssa. His voice wasced with


    concern, "Thssa, are you badly hurt? Should I take you to the hospital right now?"


    Thssa swallowed hard, her throat aching as if shed by a knife, her heart constricting with pain.


    Her voice trembled as she replied, "No need, I''ll just head home, clean the wound with some


    antiseptic, and p on a band-aid."


    She steadied herself, silently slipping her hand out of Callum''s grasp. With her back to Lysander,


    she could feel his cold, merciless stare piercing through her.


    It sent chills down her spine and a stabbing pain in her heart.


    Without looking back or catching Lysander''s eye, she stumbled forward.


    Callum, worried, watched her faltering steps. Knowing she wouldn''t want his help, he kept a


    respectful distance, silently apanying her home.


    Lysander watched as Callum and Thssa¡¯s departure figures toward the same direction.


    He tightened his grip on the wheelchair and his veins were bulging on his hand back. His handsome


    face was tense, his eyes cold, and his cold aura was nearly enough to freeze the air around him.


    Rosalind, ever so observant, noticed Lysander''s instinctive move to push his wheelchair forward as


    Thssa almost fell and his icy and taut gaze followed Thssa as she left.


    Deep in her mind, she realized something then ¨C Lysander hadn''t moved on from Thssa. He was


    angry when Thssa was close to Callum, and he was nervous enough to clench his fists when


    she was in danger. Despite thinking Thssa was with Callum, his care for her was undeniable.


    Earlier, when Thssa was kidnapped, the kidnapper demanded an outrageous ransom, first ten


    million, then upping it to a hundred million, showcasing a greed that knew no bounds. Even if they


    had given her all that money, she wouldn''t have simply let Thssa go ¨C her ambitions would only


    grow, potentially ending Thssa''s life even after receiving the ransom.


    Lysander had used reverse psychology, feigning indifference to trick the kidnapper into believing


    that killing Thssa would only make her a tool in a murder, leading to incarceration.


    Content ? N?velDrama.Org.


    This maneuver ensured that Thssa could leave there unscathed.


    He was really using his wisdom to protect Thssa''s personal safety.


    Rosalind stood by Lysander. As she watched his deep gaze following Thssa''s departure, her


    heart ached with the realization. She had thought that Lysander''s recent cooperation and pleasant


    demeanor towards her signaled his moving on from Thssa and epting her instead.


    But it didn¡¯t strike her that she was mistaken.


    After a moment, Rosalind took a deep breath, managing her emotions before suggesting,


    "Lysander, let''s head back."


    Lysander, maneuvering his wheelchair, headed for the extended limousine. Once in the car, he


    called his security chief, "Deploy a team to catch a vagrant, a woman goes by the name Susan!"


    "Because she kidnapped Thssa?" Rosalind said. Hearing Lysander''s orders to catch the


    kidnapper, she just couldn''t hide her disappointment.


    Lysander''s care for Thssa went far beyond what she had imagined. She had thought the ordeal


    with the kidnapper was over after Lysander''s clever bluff. Little did she know, Lysander was still


    taking steps to apprehend the culprit.

 Chapter 1504

    Chapter 1504


    "You don''t need to worry about these things. Just focus on your sses," Lysander said to Rosalind


    with a calm voice, like an older brother reassuring his little sister.


    Rosalind didn''t respond; she just gazed intently at Lysander. She admired his strikingly handsome


    profile, the deep-set eyes framed by longshes, the prominent nose, and his thin, sensuous lips.


    He was so stunningly handsome with an air of aristocratic coldness.


    Rosalind felt her heart flutter just as it did when she was fifteen. She was still smitten with him and


    filled with a girlish infatuation.


    N?velDrama.Org owns all ? content.


    But this perfect, breathtakingly handsome man didn''t belong to her.


    In her heart, Rosalind felt a mix of loss and deep-seated frustration. She had been better educated


    than Thssa, had more refined manners, and even her presence was more dignified.


    She also looked more stunning than Thssa.


    And yet, why Lysander favored Thssa over her?


    Taking a deep breath to soothe the ache in her heart, Rosalind suddenly asked, "Is it because


    Thssa''s eyes remind you of my sister?"


    Lysander, who had been typing a message to his head of security on his phone, paused abruptly at


    her words. Looking up at her with a serious expression, he said sternly, "I hope I don''t hear you say


    that again!"


    Rosalind''s heart skipped a beat as she saw the hidden anger in Lysander''s eyes, realizing she had


    misspoken. She hurriedly apologized, "I''m sorry, Lysander. I won''t say it again."


    She knew all too well that her sister was a taboo subject for Lysander; mentioning her sister,


    especially out of jealousy towards Thssa, was a grave mistake.


    After apologizing, Rosalind still felt uneasy, sensing the chilly atmosphere around Lysander and not


    daring to look at him anymore.


    ...


    Thssa, her heart aching and breath heavy, made it to the front door of the vi and realized


    Callum had been following her all along.


    With a weary voice, she said, "Mr. Gordon, thank you for being willing to go to great lengths to save


    me earlier. I''m really tired today and would like to rest. I¡¯ll treat you with dinner the other day."


    "There''s no need for thanks between us. Just go inside and rest. I won''t disturb you, I just want to


    make sure you''re safe. I''ll leave once I see you''re inside," Callum said, his tone gentle and


    reassuring. He was always giving people a sense of warmth like the caring big boy living next door.


    Thssa nodded, thanked him again, and went inside.


    Callum reminded her to lock the door behind her.


    Once Thssa had closed the door, Callum turned to leave. The moment he turned around, the


    smiling look in his eyes faded to a more somber, serious expression.


    Driving his car, Callum dialed a number he hadn''t called in three years. He was prepared for it to be


    disconnected, but to his surprise, the call connected, ringing persistently.


    Patiently waiting, Callum was about to hang up, thinking it wouldn''t be answered, when suddenly, a


    woman''s voice, calm yet tinged with madness, came through.


    "Mr. Gordon, you''ve finally called. It''s been three years. I''ve been waiting for your call!"


    "Where are you?" Callum asked through clenched teeth.

 Chapter 1505

    Chapter 1505


    The woman provided the address.


    Callum drove his car and quickly reached the location she mentioned.


    It was an old neighborhood, with alleyways twisting and turning, houses with cracked walls and


    peeling paint.


    Callum navigated several alleys before finding the house number.


    Entering, Susan was sitting in front of a vanity mirror, brushing her tangled hair. She looked into the


    mirror and said somberly, ¡°The Sinir family is still unaware of the nes and bombs you lent me


    three years ago. So if I spill the beans to Lysander, what do you think will happen?¡±


    Callum stood in the doorway, blocking the iing light and casting the already dim room into


    deeper gloom. His expression darkened as he said, ¡°Susan, you begged me for those nes and


    bombs, and you were the one who bombed Thssa¡¯s house in Hollowbrook! You think you can


    ckmail me with this now?¡±


    ¡°It was my doing, but the tools of the crime were provided by you. If the Sinir family doesn¡¯t know,


    then it¡¯s fine. But if they do, do you think they¡¯ll treat you any differently than they treat me?¡± Susan


    turned with a sinister smile on her face.


    Life had driven her to the brink of madness over these three years.


    When Thssa¡¯s mansion in Hollowbrook was bombed, Lysander got seriously injured trying to


    save her.


    Zephyr, after ensuring Lysander was out of danger, immediately started investigating the incident


    and found out it was her doing. He had his people p her dozens of times and even swelled her


    face.


    If it weren''t for her once saving Lysander, Zephyr would have killed her on the spot.


    Because she had saved Lysander once, Zephyr spared her life. But he ordered a nationwide ban on


    her, making it impossible for her to find any work or for any business to dare hire her.


    Zephyr wanted her to fend for herself!


    These past three years, she¡¯d been living a life ghost-like and on the verge of copse!


    Callum gazed at Susan¡¯s crazed eyes. His face turned grim with anger, ¡°You could have said this


    three years ago!¡±


    ¡°I didn¡¯t say anything only since I waited for you to call me! Because you and I are in the same


    boat.¡± She answered.


    ¡°Shut up, I¡¯m not in the same boat as you!¡± Callum was furious and disgusted at the sight of Susan.


    He refused to be lumped together with her.


    ¡°Deny it all you want. Just meet my demands, and this secret stays a secret!¡± Susan said with a


    scoff.


    ¡°Send me the ten million dors you promised to give and I won''t breathe a word to the Sinir


    family about your involvement in the bombing of Thssa¡¯s mansion three years ago!¡± Susan


    revealed her motive. She was desperate for money; only with enough money could she survive.


    ¡°I don¡¯t have ten million, only half a million. Take it or leave it.¡± Callum''s face was cold, and he could


    barely contain his anger.


    Content ? N?velDrama.Org.


    ¡°You were willing to pay ten million to save Thssa! What, you value her life more than your own?


    Let me tell you, if I talk to the Sinir family, with Zephyr¡¯s power, he¡¯ll surely ban you too and make


    you fend for yourself! I can risk my face, but can you? If you can¡¯t risk your face being the


    underss, you can only wait for death!¡±


    Susan was furious, incredulous that Callum would only offer half a million for a secret that


    concerned his life!


    ¡°What do I care what you think? There¡¯s half a million, take it or leave it! If you take it, keep your


    mouth shut. If not, go ahead and snitch!¡± Callum said coolly and menacingly.


    Susan gritted her teeth and said, ¡°Transfer it to me, and I promise I won¡¯t talk! I can¡¯t believe you¡¯re


    such a fool for love! What¡¯s so good about Thssa that you¡¯d spend a fortune on her?¡±


    Callum took out his phone, transferred half a million, and looked at her with disdain, ¡°Don¡¯t meddle


    in what doesn¡¯t concern you. It¡¯s not good for you.¡±


    As Callum finished speaking, they heard someone in the alley say, ¡°Right, the woman named Susan


    lives in there.¡±

 Chapter 1506

    Chapter 1506


    Susan''s phone buzzed with a notification of a deposit, but before she could even crack a smile, her


    nerves tensed up abruptly.


    "Who''s looking for me?" Susan asked, warned.


    In this world, Susan was alone. Her mother had followed her father in a suicide on the day of his


    death. Her rtives and friends, knowing she had fallen on hard times and was practically living


    hand to mouth, steered clear of her. How could they possibly be seeking her out?


    She had been living in this rundown, dpidated ce for over two years, and not once had anyone


    come looking for her.


    Why would someone suddenly be asking for her now?


    The old house was poorly insted against sound, and the deep, narrow alleys echoed every word.


    Even with voices not far off, Susan could hear them from inside.


    Content ? N?velDrama.Org.


    Callum nced vigntly towards the source of the voices, his voice a hushed whisper, "Did you tick


    someone off today without realizing? Does Lysander strike you as the type to wait until the next day


    to settle a score?"


    Susan''s eyes widened in shock. Panicked, she was at her wits'' end, "Lysander sent someone after


    me? Over Thssa?"


    "What else?" Callum replied, his gaze dripping with disdain.


    Susan really had the audacity to pull a knife on Thssa, even injuring her. She must have a death


    wish!


    "Lysander''s supposed to marry Rosalind and use my hand to get rid of Thssa, right?" Susan


    mumbled, confusion clouding her thoughts. Then, like a lightbulb moment, rity struck.


    "Damn, I''ve been yed! I need to bolt. Cover for me, will you?" Susan quickly pocketed her phone


    and slipped out the back door.


    One advantage of such old houses was their two exits. If the front door waspromised, the back


    door was an escape hatch.


    Only now did Susan realize the truth. Lysander had tricked her into thinking Thssa was


    discarded. It was actually all a ruse to get her to spare Thssa.


    The hundred million she was supposed to get had been reduced to a mere pittance of 500,000


    because of Lysander''s meddling, and it didn''t sit well with Susan when she thought it through.


    But survival was paramount. Lysander was no Zephyr. She''d probably either get her arm or leg


    broken and be a cripple.


    Seeing Susan make a run for it, Callum acted swiftly by locking the front door from the inside and


    following her out the back, making sure to secure it behind them.


    They had barely been gone two minutes when two bodyguards dressed in ck arrived at the door.


    They were knocking politely at first. When no answer came, they knocked harder, still with no


    response.


    Exchanging a nce, they sensed something was off and kicked the door down, sweeping the


    interior only to find it empty. Noticing the back door, they realized Susan had fled that way.


    "Let''s chase her!" they shouted, taking off after her.


    Susan wove through the alleys and made her way to the main road. She was about to break into a


    sprint when Callum grabbed her arm.


    "Let go!" Susan snapped with fury in her eyes, mistaking him for one of Lysander''s men. But upon


    seeing it was Callum, her anger softened.


    "Get in the car; I''ll get us out of here," Callum said.


    ncing back towards the alley, though the bodyguards hadn''t caught up yet, Susan felt it was only


    a matter of time. As a malnourished woman, she couldn''t outrun them. But it would be perfect if she


    could escape with a car.

 Chapter 1507

    Chapter 1507


    Without a second thought, Susan jumped into Callum''s car.


    Callum hit the gas and the car sped away.


    An hourter, they pulled up at Starhaven Airport.


    Susan was surprised, "Why are you bringing me to the airport?"


    "If Lysander''s decided toe after you, he won''t stop until he''s got you. If you stay in Starhaven,


    you''ll be caught sooner orter. Just hide abroad," Callum exined calmly.


    "What am I supposed to do overseas? I don''t know anyone there; I''ll just end up starving..." Susan


    protested, reluctant to leave the country.


    Life was already tough for her in her homnd, and now Callum was suggesting she go abroad!


    Life would be even tougher in a foreignnd.


    Callum red at her furiously, "Fine, you don''t want to go abroad? I''ll just call Lysander right now to


    tell him you''re here. You''ll be caught sooner orter, so might as well be now!"


    With that, he actually pulled out his phone, ready to make the call.


    "Don''t call him!" Susan panicked, grabbing Callum''s hand to stop him. Just the mention of


    Lysander''s name had her breathing heavily in fear. She had been resistant to the idea of going


    abroad, but now, thinking it over, she realized Callum was right. If she stayed in Starhaven,


    Lysander would catch her eventually.


    Lysander was a biggie. With his influence in Starhaven, how could she ever hope to hide?


    Only by going abroad could she ensure her safety.


    "I''ll go abroad. Just tell me which country, and I''ll go," Susan looked at Callum as if he was her


    savior.


    She could not afford to be caught by Lysander; the consequences would be dire. It had been three


    years, yet Lysander''s feelings for Thssa were still so deep. Not only had he tricked her into


    saving Thssa, but he was also now settling the scores with her.


    Lysander''s actions were all because he cared too much for Thssa. She had messed with


    someone Lysander cared about, and now she was a wanted woman in the entire city.


    Susan was so envious of Thssa. Why did she get the affection and protection of two men while


    Susan was reduced to a fugitive, living a life on the run?


    "My private jet is at the airport. The captain will take you to Weston Country. You''ve managed to


    survive in Starhaven; you''ll find a way to make it in Weston Country," Callum said emotionlessly,


    opening the car door for Susan to get out.


    Before leaving the car, Susan asked with a bitter tone, "You''re helping me because you''re worried


    that if Lysander catches me, I''ll tell him you were the one who supplied the ne and the explosives


    three years ago."


    Callum''s jaw tensed, but he remained silent.


    Susan, on the other hand,ughed derisively, "You''re worried about this secret getting out not


    because you fear Lysander''s wrath, but because you''re afraid Thssa will see your true colors and


    despise you deeply, right?"


    Callum''s gaze turned fierce, and he clenched his teeth as he shot her a look, "Shut up! Are you


    going or not? If not, I''m calling Lysander!"


    "You seemed miffed. Struck a nerve, have I? Ha..." Susan''sugh was tinged with sorrow.All content ? N/.?vel/Dr/ama.Org.


    "That slut Thssa really had her means. She even managed to capture your heart in such a short


    time. But Callum, I feel pathetic for you. Thssa will never love you. She doesn''t even love


    Lysander. She could abandon her ex-boyfriend and watch him die without a shred ofpassion of


    responding to his sentiment. She only considered herself, so she could never care for you! You''d


    better face reality sooner rather thanter!"


    After her piece, Susan got up and left the car without looking back.


    Callum clenched his teeth, his usually smiling eyes now filled with darkness and suppressed rage,


    his grip on the steering wheel tightening.

 Chapter 1508

    Chapter 1508


    Two dayster, at Royal Estates.


    The head of security approached Lysander with a careful air of guilt, "Mr. Sinir, Susan has


    escaped. We''ve looked for two days but haven''t been able to track her down."


    "Did you check the passenger lists for trains, nes, and buses?" Lysander''s voice was a deep


    rumble.


    If they couldn''t find her in Starhaven, there was a chance she used public transport to go


    somewhere else.


    The security head nodded, "We''ve checked. There''s no record of Susan buying a ticket."


    Lysander''s presence turned icily formidable.


    The security head, sensing the mounting pressure, nodded with a nervous apology, "Mr. Sinir, I


    failed in my duties. I''ll definitely intensify the search for Susan immediately."


    Lysander waved him off.


    The security head bowed and retreated.


    David rushed in from outside. Seeing the tense departure of the security head, he cast a curious


    nce his way before approaching Lysander, "Mr. Sinir, I''ve set up a meeting this afternoon with


    a team from a jewelry design firm. We''re meeting at the equestrian center to discuss a partnership.


    You shoulde with me."


    Lysander gave him a deep and somber look.


    David quickly exined, "During the three years you were away from thepany, your cousin,


    Payton Sinir, took charge. Under his management, thepany has been losing rather than


    gaining. This jewelry design project, which I''ve undertaken in your name, marks your return to the


    company."


    If Lysander intended to get back in and take over the Sinir group once more smoothly and


    logically, he¡¯d naturally start with a project. He¡¯d use the sess of the project to runch the


    shareholders'' meeting and reim his position as president at the meeting.


    For the past three years, David had been in name only the president''s assistant. But as Payton had


    his own aides, David was basically sidelined.


    David longed for the days when he worked closely with Lysander, filled with purpose and energy


    every day. Having a goal, a promising career path, and a high sry made him feel motivated.


    All content ? N/.?vel/Dr/ama.Org.


    Now, drawing a meager sry that didn''t match his position, his status in thepany dwindling by


    the day, he felt sidelined, a nonentity to snobbery colleagues who now dared to belittle him.


    David believed it was time to return to thepany''s former glory with Lysander''s awakening.


    Thus, he negotiated a jewelry development project with a leading design firm. The project was a


    means to regain real power.


    Lysander''s deep gaze rested on David without immediate response.


    David waited, his breathing cautious, for Lysander''s decision.


    Each passing second was fraught with anxiety for David.


    If Lysander refused, all his efforts would have been in vain. As the president''s assistant, failing to lift


    the weight of a project would be a personal defeat.


    "Go get the car," Lysander finally said after a pause.


    David''s anxious heart leaped with huge joy, and he quickly responded, "Right away, I''ll get it ready."

 Chapter 1509

    Chapter 1509


    At the equestrian center in Starhaven.


    Hertha, decked out in her sporty chic, linked arms with Thssa as they trailed behind the head of


    their design team towards the heart of the horse racing track.


    Leaning closer to Thssa, Hertha lowered her voice to a whisper, ¡°So, I heard from the boss that


    the client from ourst meeting wasn¡¯t too thrilled with our designs. Looks like we¡¯ve got a fresh shot


    today.¡±


    Thssa replied with a hint of regret, ¡°Hertha, I¡¯m really sorry. I think I blew it.¡±


    Their previous clients were Reginald and Callum, and just when things seemed to be falling into


    ce, Rosalind and Lysander showed up, with Reginald seeking Rosalind¡¯s input. Given Rosalind¡¯s


    status as Lysander¡¯s fianc¨¦e, it was a given she wouldn''t be thrilled with Thssa¡¯s designs.


    All content ? N/.?vel/Dr/ama.Org.


    Although Thssa excused herself midway through the dinner, it didn¡¯t take a genius to figure out


    that Reginald¡¯s rejection of her designs had Rosalind¡¯s fingerprints all over it.


    Lysander even mentioned that day how Rosalind was sensitive about his past rtionship with


    Thssa. To Rosalind, Thssa was a thorn in her side, eagerly waiting to be plucked.


    ¡°Hey, no need for apologies. It¡¯s their loss for not picking your brilliant designs!¡± Hertha reassured


    Thssa.


    The bond between them was strong, and Hertha hated to hear Thssa beat herself up.


    ¡°Hertha, maybe it¡¯s better if you and the manager handle this new client without me. Bring me here


    is a mistake. I¡¯m afraid I might drag you down again,¡± Thssa confessed,cking confidence. She


    wasn¡¯t familiar with the nuances of jewelry design or how to engage clients effectively.


    The design team manager had mentioned that failing to secure the previous client nearly cost


    Hertha her job. But considering her five-year tenure at thepany, they decided to give her


    another chance. If they couldn¡¯t satisfy this client, Hertha would be forced to leave.


    Despite being on medical leave, Hertha was summoned by the design team manager for onest


    opportunity to prove herself.


    Thssa was even more nervous, worried about spoiling things again.


    ¡°Why would you think you¡¯re dragging us down? I only sketched the first few designs; you crafted all


    the rest. Without you to exin the inspiration behind each piece, how can I possibly do them


    justice? You¡¯re here to boost my confidence. Just rx, and if things don¡¯t work out, I¡¯ll just find


    another job. No pressure.¡±


    Hertha¡¯sforting words were light and encouraging.


    After hearing it, Thssa took a deep breath so as to ease her nerves.


    ¡°Donovan, fancy meeting you here again,¡± someone called out ahead of them.


    Donovan, leading the way, stopped to warmly greet the neer, ¡°Mr. Ethan, a pleasure as


    always. It¡¯s destiny that brings us together.¡±


    ¡°Indeed, it¡¯s fate. Let me introduce you to our new project director, ric Falconer,¡± Ethan stepped


    aside, revealing ric standing behind him.


    With a signature mischievous smirk, ric extended his hand, ¡°Pleased to meet you.¡±


    ¡°Ah, so that¡¯s Mr. Falconer. The honor is mine,¡± Donovan, thrilled to be in the presence of such


    distinguished individuals. As he shook hands with ric, he noticed that ric was having his eyes


    on Hertha, who stood behind him.


    Something dawned on him. Stepping aside, Donovan introduced, ¡°This is our department¡¯s


    designer, Hertha Kensington. And this gentleman is the Falconer Group¡¯s very own ric Falconer,


    now moonlighting as the Crawley Group¡¯s project director. Talent truly knows no bounds.¡±


    Hertha, with wide, astonished eyes, stared at the man before her, recognizing him instantly.


    Wasn¡¯t he the vice president of the Falconer Group? What was he doing leading projects at the


    Crawley Group?


    ¡°Donovan¡¯s right, meeting here must be fate. Ms. Kensington, I¡¯ve heard much about your


    exceptional talent. Today, I look forward to seeing it for myself,¡± ric¡¯s gaze, full of charm, settled


    on Hertha as he extended his hand, awaiting hers.

 Chapter 1510

    Chapter 1510


    Hertha''s eyes widened as she stared at ric, still finding the reality of his presence hard to


    believe.


    There he was, in the flesh ¨C ric himself! So, the words she had just heard were also true, right?


    Hertha raised her hand, yfully pping at ric''s outstretched hand, and said in a brash manner,


    ¡°ric, are you out of your mind? Giving up a cushy VP position at Falconer Group to work for


    someone else?¡±


    Donovan, overhearing this, panicked at Hertha''s blunt approach, fearing she might offend. His jaw


    dropped as he quickly interjected, ¡°Mr. Falconer, Hertha had a car ident a while back and hit her


    head pretty bad. If she¡¯s speaking out of turn, please don¡¯t take it to heart...¡±


    ric, however, seemed unfazed andughed it off, ¡°I think it¡¯s not so much that the ident


    affected her, but that she¡¯s always been this way. Otherwise, why would she always speak without


    thinking first?¡±


    Donovan, initially worried ric was upset with Hertha, was about to exin further when he


    recalled the conversation. He said in surprise, ¡°Mr. Falconer, you knew Hertha from before?¡±


    ¡°Knew him? More like I was out of my mind to have ever followed him around like some celebrity!¡±


    Hertha rolled her eyes at ric, reverting back from her initial shock.


    She detested when people suggested she wasn¡¯t all there upstairs. ric used to tease her like this


    in the past, and now here he was, doing it again in front of her manager. It was a wonder Hertha¡¯s


    temper hadn¡¯t red up on the spot.


    ¡°Huh? Hertha, you actually chased after Mr. Falconer!? You¡¯ve got some nerve by going after


    anyone you please. First Eamon, then Ambrose, and now I find out you even had a thing for Mr.


    Falconer!¡± Donovan scolded Hertha, a mix of jest and authority in his tone, typical of an interaction


    between a boss and his employee.


    ¡°Donovan, didn¡¯t you say it yourself? I must have really damaged my brain in that ident, or else


    how could I have been so blind as to chase after him?¡± Hertha didn¡¯t bother to argue.


    Thssa observed Ethan watching the banter with a smile, guessing that the buyer might be him,


    and ric was the project director with the final say in whether to purchase their jewelry designs.


    If Hertha managed to upset ric, their chance at this coboration could be ruined again.


    Thssa nudged Hertha gently, signaling her to stop talking.


    But Hertha, caught in her emotions, couldn¡¯t see the bigger picture. Feeling someone pushing at her


    arm, she shrugged it off and continued her tirade at ric, ¡°Weren¡¯t you sitting pretty with the


    support of the Reed family, firmly in your VP chair? What, did Georgia scold you so harshly you quit


    your cushy job as the Reed family¡¯s golden boy to be a nobody at Crawley Corp?¡±


    The memory of seeing naked ric and Georgia in the same bed three years ago still infuriated


    Hertha. And to overhear Georgia causing a scene in ric¡¯s office, demanding marriage or


    threatening to ruin him in front of all those shareholders!


    Was this the fall from grace she had mentioned?


    Hertha¡¯s words made ric¡¯s smile vanish, and even his usually yful eyes turned serious and


    cold. His aura was intensifying the air.


    Thssa urgently tugged at Hertha¡¯s sleeve, whispering, ¡°Hertha, stop...¡±


    Hertha finished without thinking. Sensing ric¡¯s expression change and Thssa¡¯s reminder, she


    realized that she seemed to have said too much. She''s really not saving any face for ric by


    revealing his shorings in front of onlookers.


    Feeling guilty, she quickly averted her eyes and looked down on the ground, ¡°I was just imagining


    things. Don¡¯t take it seriously.¡±


    Donovan was sweating bullets, wishing he could literally gag Hertha to stop her from speaking


    further.


    N?velDrama.Org content rights.


    ric might currently be a director at Crawley Corp, but he was also the Falconer family¡¯s second


    son ¨C a man not to be trifled with. Hertha¡¯s straightforward, impulsive nature always seemed tond


    Donovan in hot water.


    Sensing the tension, Ethan stepped in to lighten the mood, ¡°The horses are ready. How about we


    pick one and enjoy some riding today?¡±

 Chapter 1511

    Chapter 1511


    He gave ric''s shoulder a gentle pat.


    ric''s gaze, previously fixed in a serious stare at Hertha, shifted away as he let out a sigh of


    frustration, "Weren''t we here to discuss the design proposal with Donovan? The horseback riding


    can wait. Let''s focus on work first."


    Thssa remained silent, her suspicions confirmed - Ethan and ric were indeed the buyers this


    time.


    Hertha, too, had an ''aha'' moment, gasping in surprise. Her widened eyes darted between ric and


    Ethan constantly.


    Catching on to her train of thought, Ethan said with a smile, "ric is the director of Crawley


    Jewelry''s development. He has the final say on the design proposals."


    With those words, Hertha''s attention snapped back to ric, noticing his now stern, slightly


    annoyed expression.


    Her heart was beating like a drum. Crap, she thought, she¡¯d mess this one up again.


    Earlier, she had tried to reassure Thssa, saying losing a job wasn''t the end of the world - they


    could always find another. But deep down, she knew that finding another job in jewelry design


    wasn''t that simple. Besides, her family''s expenses were high, and without any savings, she couldn''t


    afford to be unemployed, not even for a little while.


    Losing her job meant she couldn''t even pay Bridget''s sry, let alone afford form for the kids.


    Looking at ric, she quickly changed her expression to one of eagerness, stepping forward and


    saying to him, "Mr. Falconer, you must be exhausted. Want me to rub your shoulders?" she said as


    she was already rubbing gently for his shoulders.


    ric nced at her feigned enthusiasm, puzzled by her sudden eagerness. He gently pushed her


    hands away, saying, "Keep your distance. I wouldn''t want your ''brilliant'' ideas sshing over to me."


    With that, he turned and headed towards the lounge area.


    Hertha paused but quickly realized this might not be the end of it.


    ric''s willingness to joke meant he wasn''t truly mad. Perhaps there was still a chance to make


    amends.


    N?velDrama.Org content rights.


    "Mr. Falconer, wait up," she called, following him.


    Thssa and Donovan trailed behind.


    Upon reaching the lounge area, Hertha was all over the ce, wiping down a chair for ric. Once


    it was clean, she said in a servile tone, "Mr. Falconer, please, take a seat. Can I get you some


    juice?"


    ric gave her a look, questioning, "What happened to your earlier confidence?


    "Well, you were just having a bad dream before, Mr. Falconer. Now we''re back to reality. How about


    some apple juice?" Hertha replied, her smile pleasing.


    Ethan couldn''t stand it any longer and interjected, "Ms. Kensington, I''m the boss here. Are you sure


    you''re sucking up to the right person?"


    "But didn''t you say ric has the final say on the design proposal?" Hertha didn''t hold back her


    response to Ethan.


    "Who said the design proposal was going to Crawley Group?" From behind, a confident voice


    chimed in.


    Everyone turned towards the source of the voice, only to see a man pushing a wheelchair forward


    with a person seated in it, whose chiseled face was exuding an aura of nobility and grace.


    Lysander had arrived!

 Chapter 1512

    Chapter 1512


    Thssa felt her breath tighten as David wheeled Lysander towards their group. Her body tensed,


    and a sharp, yet subtle, pain ignited deep within her heart.


    Seeing Lysander brought back the harrowing memory of being held at gunpoint by Susan just two


    days prior. Lysander''s eyes were merciless, his handsome face cold as ice as he coldly urged


    Susan to end Thssa''s life. Only with her gone could the rift in Rosalind''s heart be healed,


    allowing he and Rosalind to be together without reservations.


    It was then Thssa realized that, in Lysander''s eyes, her existence was nothing but a barrier to his


    and Rosalind''s happily ever after.


    The dull ache in her heart had somewhat eased over the past two days, but seeing Lysander now,


    that suffocating, intricate pain resurfaced with a vengeance.


    Thssa only managed a fleeting nce at Lysander before averting her gaze, her eyes falling to


    the tabletop.


    "Lysander, here you are!" Ethan eximed with genuine warmth as he approached.


    Lysander was a close friend, and they had spent countless nights out at the Sapphire Skyline. With


    Lysander having been in aa for the past three years and Ethan focusing on his career, it had


    been ages since the Starhaven quartet had gathered like this.


    The sight of a now lucid Lysander filled Ethan with the joy of reuniting with an old friend.


    ric quickly joined Ethan''s side as well.


    Originally, Ethan had intended to take over wheeling Lysander from David, but ric beat him to it,


    effortlessly dismissing David and taking charge of Lysander''s wheelchair himself.


    "Lysander, it''s been three years, but you''re finally back among us. Dr. Funke''s medical skills are


    truly exceptional. It''s no wonder Thssa agreed to all his unusual demands just to have him treat


    you," ric said, his voice filled with emotion.


    At ric''s words, a frown marred Lysander''s brow, and he turned a sharp, prating gaze on


    ric.


    "What did you say?" he asked.


    ric momentarily faltered under the intensity of Lysander''s stare, worrying he had misspoken.


    "Ah, sorry, I won''t mention your illness in public anymore," ric quickly apologized, thinking


    Lysander was concerned about his reputation being affected by the admission of his three-year


    incapacitation.


    "It''s not that. Who did you say brought in Dr. Funke?" Lysander asked, his tone serious and


    imposing, not missing a beat.


    Hearing Lysander''s question, Thssa''s heart skipped a beat, and she looked up at ric with


    worry in her eyes.


    ric chuckled, "It was Thssa of course. She agreed to help Dr. Funke secure a highly capable


    apprentice and even promised to find him a date on a dating site in exchange for his services. You


    have no idea that Dr. Funke is quite the entric. Money alone won''t persuade him to treat


    someone; it''s all about ying by his rules and the elusive factor of fate."


    So, it was Thssa who had arranged for his treatment, not as his grandfather had told him¡ªthat


    upon learning of his vegetative state, Thssa had avoided him like the gue, never once


    visiting?N?velDrama.Org content rights.


    Lysander''s attention was solely on ric''s initial revtion; the rest of the conversation barely


    registered. His deep gaze found Thssa, who had been watching the scene unfold with surprise.


    Their eyes met, and the intensity in his stare felt like a direct assault on her heart.


    Thssa''s heart fluttered, and she quickly lowered her gaze, picking up her water ss to sip and


    mask her difort.


    "Lysander, what brings you to the equestrian center today?" ric asked as he wheeled Lysander


    toward the rest area.


    David, following closely, chimed in, "I had a meeting with Donovan about some jewelry design


    purchases. Mr. Sinir is preparing to return to the Sinir Group and came to oversee my


    dealings."

 Chapter 1513

    Chapter 1513


    "Well, this just got interesting, didn''t it? How many design proposals does Donovan''s team have on


    the table this time? Weren''t we supposed to be the buyers?" ric chuckled, teasing as he wheeled


    Lysander over to the lounge table.


    N?velDrama.Org content rights.


    Donovan quickly stood up, overly eager to please as he poured coffee for Lysander, "Mr. Sinir, I


    indeed scheduled a meeting with yourpany''s David to discuss purchasing a design proposal.


    Mr. Ethan also messaged mest night expressing interest in acquiring ourtest designs. I thought


    it was just Daviding, so I arranged for both, thinking of going with whoever made the more


    reasonable offer. I didn''t expect you toe as well..."


    Donovan didn''t hide his nervousness, his hands trembling as he poured the coffee.


    Initially, he thought David was just a minor yer, who was unlikely to offer a high price for a jewelry


    design proposal as a buyer.


    Since David was the first to arrange a meeting, he agreed to discuss it, feeling it would be rude to


    cancel. His n was to meet both clients simultaneously, to see whether the Crawley Group or


    David would make a better offer, giving him options.


    But the ''minor yer'' he had thought brought with him a major figure Donovan dared not offend.


    Donovan was so terrified. He was terrified of upsetting Lysander.


    Thssa and Hertha exchanged surprised nces. Donovan had the audacity to invite two clients


    topare prices simultaneously. And they were Starhaven''s leading figures!


    Lysander, Ethan, and ric were all influential figures in Starhaven, not to be trifled with.


    Yet, Donovan had managed to bring them all together!


    Thssa and Hertha wisely remained silent, not wanting to be implicated.


    Lysander lifted his gaze slightly to look at Donovan, who was pouring coffee, noticing his trembling


    hands and jumpy demeanor.


    Lysander''s deep voice sounded, "Your idea fits for a businessman. The world of business does


    require bold attempts."


    Donovan''s grip on the coffee pot paused, realizing Lysander wasn''t upset about him inviting David


    and Ethan at the same time. Overjoyed and grateful, he bowed slightly, "Yes, yes, thank you, Mr.


    Sinir, for your understanding..."


    Ethan, fiddling with his coffee cup, said, "Donovan, you''ve put the Crawley Group in quite the spot.


    How can the Crawley Grouppete with the Sinir Group financially? The oue is clear


    when youpare us with the Sinir Group, isn''t it?"


    "Wealthy as the Sinir Group may be, it will only purchase products of equivalent value. No need


    to be pessimistic, Mr. Ethan." Lysander said.


    His mysterious gaze briefly met Thssa''s across the room. When they happened to lock their


    eyes, Thssa felt a jolt, her brows furrowing slightly. She sensed a hidden message in his words.


    What did he mean by only purchasing products of equivalent value? Was he implying that the


    jewelry designs she and Hertha had crafted weren''t worthy of The Sinir Group''s purchase?


    Thssa was sure that Lysander had reviewed the documents and design sketches she and Hertha


    had left during their business discussion with Reginald and Callum.


    Was Lysander subtly dismissing her and Hertha''s designs?


    "Exactly, Mr. Ethan, no need for gloom. Hiring me as your project director was the best decision


    you''ve made. I assure you, you won''t leave empty-handed," ric said with a sly grin while gently


    patting Ethan on the shoulder.

 Chapter 1514

    Chapter 1514


    Ethan, with his usual yful tone, quipped, "Looks like Lysander''s ying the generous host


    tonight, or else how would we get a piece of the pie?"


    Hertha let out augh and said, "Since you are no longer interested in our designs, Mr. Sinir,


    perhaps we shouldn''t waste any more of your time."


    She maintained a professional, fake smile, her round, sparkling eyes cheerfully looking at Lysander.


    Her words clearly suggested it was time for Lysander to leave.


    Hertha was fiercely protective. Thssa had looked after Lysander for three years, never leaving


    or being careless. She was tirelessly seeking out doctors to cure Lysander''s ailment. Yet, as soon


    as Lysander got better, he had Thssa ousted from Royal Estates without so much as a goodbye.


    He was not even willing to see her face.


    Hertha felt it was unjust for Thssa, feeling a sense of indignation on her behalf. So, her mind was


    filled with bias while seeing Lysander.


    "Who said I don''t want yourpany''s designs?" Lysander countered, his deep gaze shifting from


    Hertha to Thssa. His gaze was deep as a slight smile formed on his lips, his voice low and


    maic, "A designer who used to be a secretary surely must bring interesting works."


    Content ? N?velDrama.Org.


    Thssa¡¯s heart skipped a beat, knowing Lysander was referring to her. At this moment, she


    couldn''t decipher Lysander''s intentions. He had previously dismissed her design proposals, yet now


    he found them ''interesting.''


    Under Lysander''s oceanic gaze, Thssa felt her heart pounding, and she was ufortably on


    edge.


    "I apologize, I need to use the restroom. Excuse me for a moment," she said, her voice tight.


    She stood up.


    Noticing Thssa''s paleplexion, Hertha said, "Thssa, let mee with you."


    "No need. You have to present our design proposal to the client soon," Thssa reminded her with


    a look, signaling Hertha not to act impulsively.


    With two clients present, even if Lysander wasn''t buying, ric and Ethan might. If both designers


    left the scene, it could negatively impact the presentation of their designs.


    If they messed up with both clients, Hertha''s future would be bleak.


    Understanding Thssa''s well-intentioned advice, Hertha sat down. Turning her attention back to


    ric again, she pulled out their joint jewelry design proposal from her briefcase and handed it to


    ric, "Mr. Falconer, take a look. This is the collection Thssa and I designed together."


    Hertha engaged only with ric.


    Donovan, noticing her snub of Lysander and David, felt a wave of anxiety. Luckily, he had printed a


    copy of the design proposal before leaving, which he carried in his briefcase. He quickly retrieved


    the proposal, respectfully offering it to Lysander, "Mr. Sinir, please have a look."


    Lysander didn¡¯t take the document but nced at David instead.


    David immediately understood, taking the document.


    "Have a seat," Lysander told David.


    David, pleasantly surprised, obediently sat down beside Lysander, who then wheeled himself away


    from the lounge area.


    In the restroom, Thssa turned on the tap, washed her hands, and then sshed her face with


    water. She hoped the cold water would stimte her skin, calm her nerves, and wake her up.


    Rosalind and Lysander were the real couple blessed by both Lysander and Joshua. And she was


    merely a passerby in their story.


    From now on, she''d find a way to see her children and stop entangling herself with Lysander''s life.


    Being a stranger might not be so bad after all.

 Chapter 1515

    Chapter 1515


    Thssa kept soothing herself that it was time to move on.


    Staring into the mirror, she took in her pale reflection and her wretched face streaked with tears as a


    self-deprecating smile twisted her lips.


    "Thssa, it''s been three years. Why are you still such a wreck? Why can''t you live freely for


    yourself just like everyone else?" She said to herself.


    Yeah, living freely, not caring about anyone who didn¡¯t matter.


    From now on, the only people who matter in her life would be her four kids and her aunt.


    With some effort, Thssa managed to adjust her emotions, wiping her face dry with a tissue


    before turning to leave the bathroom.


    As she stepped out, she identally bumped into a wheelchair, losing her bnce and instinctively


    lunging forward.


    "Ah!" she eximed, trying to steady herself, only to lock eyes with Lysander''s distinct,


    breathtakingly handsome face.


    Her breath hitched, and she struggled to keep from falling forward.


    But panic only made things worse.


    Unable to regain her bnce, she fell into the wheelchair and right into Lysander''s arms. Her chest


    happened to crash right against his solid chest, her face against his, their noses bumping. Before


    she could even flinch from the pain, her lips unintentionally found his.


    N?velDrama.Org owns all ? content.


    The sequence of events was both swift and unexpected.


    Thssa felt that the cool sensation on her lips and the robust breath of the man were striking her


    face with that familiar, intoxicating masculine scent that enveloped her, making her heart race so


    fiercely.


    Her eyes widened as she was staring at Lysander''s face, so close and striking.


    Realizing she was in his arms and her lips still pressed against his, she scrambled to get up,


    pushing against the wheelchair armrest in panic, "I''m so sorry, I didn''t mean to bump into..."


    As she tried to stand up in a frantic manner, a strong hand grabbed her wrist and pulled her down.


    Thssa, who had managed to brace herself, fell into Lysander''s embrace again. Her heart


    suddenly raced and she was in such a frenzy.


    Lysander''s chiseled face was inches from hers so she could see each of his pores. His stic and


    manly skin made her heart flutter uncontrobly.


    "Thinking you can just kiss and run? Life''s not that easy, is it?" Lysander''s voice, low and chilly,


    echoed in Thssa''s ear.


    His hot breath on her sensitive ear made her shiver as she quickly exined, "No, I really didn''t see


    the way forward. I didn''t know there was someone there."


    "Are you saying I''m so short you couldn''t see me?" Lysander''s deep tone carried a hint of irritation.


    Thssa''s heart skipped a beat. Realizing the huge misunderstanding, she exined hastily, "No, I


    was upset so I failed to the way forward..."


    Despite he¡¯s bound to a wheelchair with his injured legs, she would never look down on him.


    How could she possibly look down or mock him for being in a wheelchair?


    Worried he might think she disrespected him, Thssa earnestly rified.


    "Upset? Weren''t you happy with Callum? You''re the type to cut off anything that upsets you. How


    could you be upset?" Lysander''s grip on Thssa''s wrist tightened as he forced her to meet his


    gaze.


    Their eyes locked, and he could see every emotion reflected in hers. Her eyes, clear and wide with


    panic and tension, were filled with the fear of intimacy with him.


    What was she afraid of? Making Callum jealous?


    "Callum is just a client interested in buying designs. We''re not together," Thssa rified.

 Chapter 1516

    Chapter 1516


    Although Lysander and Rosalind had secretly agreed to marry, which was brokered by their


    families, Thssa knew her story with Lysander was over. She had no intention of imagining a


    future with him as well.


    The day he stood there and let Susan kill her to ease Rosalind''s insecurities and remove the thorn


    from Rosalind''s side, was the day Thssa''s heart was deeply wounded. Her hopes in Lysander


    crumbled into utter disappointment.


    But realizing the truth didn''t mean she was open to misinterpretations. She didn''t want to drag


    Callum into this mess. Callum could''ve met and fallen in love with someone else.


    She feared the rumors linking she and Callum might tarnish his reputation and deter women who


    admired Callum from approaching him.


    So, she had to make it clear that her and Callum were nothing but acquaintances.


    Lysander''s gaze darkened, fixed intently on Thssa.


    Feeling his grip on her chin loosen, she held her breath and continued, "Callum and I haven''t seen


    each other for three years. Thest time you saw me with Callum and Reginald at the diner, was


    our first meeting in these three years to discuss this time¡¯s jewelry design project."


    Lysander''s brows furrowed, "Then what have you been doing these three years?"


    Learning he was in aa, she avoided him like the gue. Then why did she go through all the


    trouble to find Dr. Funke to treat him?


    Thssa tensed, her breathing quickened under Lysander''s deep-set gaze.


    Was he unaware that she had been caring for him for three years?


    Wasn''t she the one he had ordered to be kicked out of Royal Estates the moment he woke up?


    Knowing to pack her bags but clueless about her constant presence by his side these years?


    "During the three years, I''ve been..." Her words were cut off by the ringtone from Lysander''s phone.


    "Go ahead, answer it," Thssa suggested.


    She pushed herself up from the wheelchair''s armrests, careful not to lean all her weight on


    Lysander.


    As she spoke, she freed her chin from Lysander''s grasp, propped up her body, and stood up.


    Lysander didn''t stop her, his deep gaze following her every move, his breathing heavy. He had


    assumed she and Callum had been together these past years as lovers.


    He just learned that there was nothing between them. So, what had she been up to all this time?


    Realizing Thssa and Callum had nothing between them, Lysander felt an uncontroble surge of


    emotion, his breathing roughened.


    All content ? N/.?vel/Dr/ama.Org.


    The kiss she left on his lips suddenly felt warmer.


    "The phone''s about to stop ringing. Aren''t you going to answer it?" Thssa stood in front of


    Lysander. Noting his deep gaze fixed on her and hisck of intention to pick up the call, she urged


    him on.


    Lysander''s gaze softened, and he slowly pulled out his phone from his pocket.


    Thssa identally caught a glimpse of Rosalind''s name on his screen.


    It was Rosalind calling!


    Seeing that name, Thssa felt a sharp pain in her heart as if nicked by a de.


    The pain made her grip tighten momentarily before she stepped away, leaving Lysander to his


    fianc¨¦e.


    Lysander nced at Thssa''s retreating figure but didn''t stop her. He swiped to answer, his voice


    neutral, "What''s up?"


    "Lysander, I''m at Royal Estates. Why can''t I find you?" came Rosalind''s anxious voice.


    Since Lysander woke up, Rosalind had been visiting Royal Estates daily to share meals with him¡ª


    lunch and dinner without miss.


    Now, at lunchtime, Lysander wasn''t home.


    For over a month, aside from the asional outing arranged by Rosalind, Lysander had always


    been at home.

 Chapter 1517

    Chapter 1517


    Rosalind had grown ustomed to the wave of joy that would wash over Lysander every time she


    visited Royal Estates.


    And she also preconceived this belief that she was Lysander''s rock, his sole reason for venturing


    outside.


    But today was different. Rosalind panicked in an instant, as if something were slowly slipping away


    from her hand.


    "I''m out discussing business with my executive assistant, so grab some lunch on your own,"


    Lysander spoke with patience.


    "Where are you? Let mee find you. I worry about you being out alone..." Rosalind''s voice was


    soft and caring.


    "With my executive assistant here, there''s nothing to worry about. Be good and have lunch on your


    own," Lysander replied before hanging up the call.


    Sitting on the living room sofa at Royal Estates, Rosalind had barely mustered the courage to insist


    on joining Lysander when she realized he had already ended the call.


    He was so authoritative that he wouldn''t even let her finish her sentence. In that moment, Rosalind


    was struck by the realization of whom she was dealing with¡ªLysander, a man of immense power,


    who could turn the tide with a mere flick of his wrist.


    He was ustomed to giving orders, not taking them. How could she have thought that her mere


    month ofpanionship could make him reliant on her and make him heed her words?


    Lysander''s temporary inability to stand or walk didn''t make him cripple or live depend upon others.Content ? N?velDrama.Org.


    Rosalind was suddenly bing lucid. The more she realized, the heavier her heart felt, tangled


    with a sour difort.


    Securing a ce in Lysander''s heart now seemed an even more daunting task.


    Fitch and the staff meticulously served a steaming meal at the dining table, politely nodding, "Ms.


    Whitman, lunch is served."


    Lifting her gaze, Rosalind''s eyes shimmered with distress, "Did you serve Thssa the same way


    when she was at Royal Estates?"


    She couldn''t understand why she wasparing herself to Thssa¡ªperhaps she was losing her


    mind. But at this moment, the words just popped into her head, and without much thought, she


    asked this question.


    As soon as the words left her mouth, she regretted them. Everyone knows it''s foolish topare


    oneself to a lover''s ex. No matter who was better off, she''d lose if shepared in that way.


    After all, Thssa and Lysander shared a profound history and four adorable children.


    What did she and Lysander have? Aside from her decade-long unrequited love for Lysander, there


    was absolutely nothing.


    "Never mind, forget I asked," Rosalind said in sorrow.


    Yet, Fitch answered, "Ms. Whitman, when Ms. Everhart was here, it depended on different time


    scales. Sometimes Lysander would have us attend to her meticulously, and other times he''d order


    us not to interfere. We didn¡¯t dare to do anything when they argued, so Ms. Everhart would then


    cook for herself..."


    Rosalind hadn''t wanted an answer. But Fitch''s detailed response only deepened the wound in her


    somber heart.


    Thssa argued with Lysander and wasn''t cast out of Royal Estates? She even cooked for herself?


    Her position was that of thedy of the house!


    How many dared to argue with Lysander in the world? How many could actually stand up to him?


    Most would bend over backward to please him.


    Who would dare to argue?


    But Thssa did.


    Only someone Lysander cherished could boldly argue with him.

 Chapter 1518

    Chapter 1518


    "I''ve had enough!" Rosalind fumed as she thought further. After saying it with her face set in a grim


    line, she stood up and stormed out.


    "Ms. Whitman, about the lunch..." Fitch took a step after her, clearly troubled.


    "Just eat it yourselves!" Rosalind tossed back over her shoulder and quickly made her exit from


    Royal Estates.


    Before this visit, she had been lost in a daydream where Lysander was dependent on her and


    couldn''t live without her.


    But a trip to Royal Estates today had brutally snapped her back to reality, making it painfully clear


    that others might chase after Lysander, but he would never need or miss anyone!


    What was she, Rosalind, in all this?


    ...


    Thssa returned to the lounge area, finding Hertha exining a design concept to ric. She took


    a seat next to ric, her finger tracing over a design on the document as she vividly shared her


    vision and ideas with him, "This ne, shaped like a star, was inspired by a night when I was


    walking home and looked up to see a sky full of stars. People always talk about wanting the stars


    and the moon. So I figured I could design a diamond star ne straight away. Maybe people will


    capture the stars and the moon if they wear it."


    ric, initially genuinely interested in the design talk, found his attention drifting closer to Hertha.


    Her lively and cheerful nature, the spark in her eyes as she spoke about her designs, her optimism


    and enthusiasm for the future, and the asional whiff of her perfume that titited his nose were


    all drawing him in. His gaze then became fixed on Hertha without himself realizing it.


    He noticed every little gesture and every expression of hers that pulled at his heartstrings.


    Memories of a night spent together three years ago began to resurface in his mind.


    ric, who had sworn off women for three years, felt a tightness in his throat, his eyes on Hertha


    turning intense and deep.


    Thssa walked in just to catch ric''s overtly smoldering look towards Hertha.


    To any smart onlooker, it was clear what that gaze meant.


    Didn''t ric think Hertha was married to Spencer? Why then was he looking at her with such


    unguarded intensity?


    Content ? N?velDrama.Org.


    Just as Thssa was about to speak, Ethan motioned for her to keep quiet, signaling not to disturb


    ric and Hertha.


    Thssa opened her mouth, then closed it, choosing instead to sit back down in her original spot.


    Hertha, engrossed in her exnation, paused to wait for ric''s response.


    What she received wasn''t his voice but the heat of his masculine breath whispering against her ear


    and sending tingles down her ear skin. Her heart skipped a beat, and she turned sharply, their eyes


    locking and eyshes nearly brushing against each other¡¯s. Their lips were just an inch apart as her


    breath whiffed to his nose,


    They were on the verge of a kiss.


    As her breath and scent enveloped him, ric''s throat tightened and his heart raced; he was


    tempted to pull her in for a fierce kiss.


    But the wide-eyed shock on her face and her terrified expression kept his impulse at bay.


    ric swallowed hard.


    Hearing the sound, Hertha, who had once been intimate with him, knew all too well what it meant.


    She gasped in shock and her heart pounded erratically. She quickly pulled back, her eyes wide with


    rm as she called out, "What...what are you doing?"

 Chapter 1519

    Chapter 1519


    She pointed at ric, her words stumbling over each other.


    "I was listening to your design pitch. What else could I possibly be doing?" ric snapped back to


    reality, a sly grin spreading across his face as he said.


    "You should¡¯ve acted like a good listener if you were listening to my pitch. Why were you leaning in


    so close? We almost kissed just now!" Hertha gasped, her voice a mix of rm and fright.


    "It was you who turned around suddenly. We almost kissed because of that. I know I''m quite the


    looker, and many women find me irresistible, but you didn''t have to be so eager especially with all


    these eyes on us."


    ric said with a roguish charm. His gaze swept over Ethan and Thssa as if to say they were


    witnesses. It was Hertha who had leaned in and almost caused the kiss. He was entirely meless.


    Ethan, ever the loyal friend, chimed in, "Yeah, Ms. Kensington, it was you who turned around so


    suddenly. Anyone who didn''t know better might think you were trying to make a move on my


    company''s lead project manager."


    Ethan''s lips curved into a teasing smile as he took a sip of his water.


    Feeling wronged, Hertha''s eyes blinked rapidly as she defended herself, "I only turned around in


    surprise because I felt his breath on my ear."


    "No need to exin. Exining is just making excuses. Haven''t you heard?" ric said with a


    laugh.


    Hertha''s face flushed with urgency.N?velDrama.Org content rights.


    Thssa couldn''t stand it any longer. She was fully aware that ric was the one who had initiated


    the flirtation. Yet, there he was, calm and collected, while Hertha was all over the ce.


    How could Thssa let her good friend be at a disadvantage?


    She smiled and said, "Mr. Falconer, you know full well that Hertha is taken, so you should be


    keeping your distance to avoid any misunderstandings. Was it necessary to lean in so close just to


    hear the n? Hertha''s voice is loud enough. We could hear her perfectly from across the table;


    there was no need to get that close to hear her."


    Just as Hertha was struggling to find the right words, Thssa''sment gave her the confidence


    she needed. She lifted her chin and said, "Exactly! You could have easily sat across from me to


    listen!"


    "Hertha, it was you who came over to my side," ric replied coolly.


    Hertha was taken aback,


    Right, she had moved over to ric''s side and was eager to share her design ns. ric hadn''t


    moved an inch. She was contradicting herself.


    Seeing Hertha at a loss, Thssa gave her a boost, "Hertha moved closer so that Mr. Falconer


    could better see the ns. Mr. Falconer could have seen everything clearly if he just sat up straight.


    Why the need to lean in and bow your head?"


    "Oh, that''s right. Ms. Everhart just mentioned why did I lean so close, knowing Hertha is taken,


    right? Then Ms. Everhart, knowing full well about Lysander and Rosalind''s affair, why are you so


    concerned about Lysander?"


    Thssa blinked. Her heart raced, caught off guard by ric''s boldness of saying anything.


    She was about to retort when Lysander wheeled himself over.


    He arrived just in time to hear ric''sment. His deep, resonant voice filled the air, "She''s


    concerned about me? How did you see it, ric?"


    "Hey, you are here," ric said nonchntly. Smiling at Lysander, he continued, "Thssa has


    been looking after you for three years and tirelessly searching for doctors. If that''s not a concern,


    what is?"


    As ric finished speaking, Thssa''s breath hitched, her nervous gaze turning towards Lysander.


    At that moment, Lysander''s deep, profound eyes also found hers.


    In an instant, their gazes locked, and the air between them thickened.

 Chapter 1520

    Chapter 1520


    Locking eyes with Lysander, Thssa felt a surge of excitement burning in the abyssal depths of his


    gaze. Her heart started racing uncontrobly, a flurry of emotions she couldn''t quite understand. Yet,


    after merely a second, she found his intense stare too overwhelming and had to look away.


    She picked up her ss of water, taking a sip to mask her nervousness.


    It wasn''t that she couldn''t meet his gaze; it was just like she had said earlier. Why bother getting


    close to him knowing he was already spoken for?


    She had said the same about ric, and she wasn''t any different in this respect.


    ric was right. Why should she feel any different towards Lysander knowing that Lysander and


    Rosalind were already secretly promised to each other through their families'' arrangements?


    Just before, at the bathroom door, Rosalind had called Lysander to check in on him.


    It was time to step back for everyone''s sake.


    Seeing Thssa avert her gaze, Lysander casually shifted his own, pushing his wheelchair forward.


    "Mr. Sinir, you''re back," David stood up, greeting him and pushing Lysander to the table.


    "How''s the proposal looking?" Lysander asked.


    David reported honestly, "I think the proposal is quite solid as a whole..."


    "The Crawley Group has decided to make the purchase," ric interrupted David. He had seen the


    passion in Hertha''s eyes and her emotional investment in the design when she discussed the


    proposal with him. It was a design with soul.


    For the Crawley Group to make the product based on this design was particrly meaningful for


    Hertha. Plus, it was a guaranteed financial win.


    Whether in design or writing, when creators poured their heart and soul into their work, it would


    cause a big ssh. That was an unchanging truth throughout time.


    Effort and dedication eventually paid off, and ric recognized Hertha''smitment. He was


    willing to invest in Hertha''s efforts.


    ric made the decision on behalf of Ethan, who didn''t object but smiled, taking a sip from his


    ss. He trusted ric''s judgment. He appointed him as the project director. It revealed an


    unconditional faith in his capabilities.


    David paused, turning to ric with a serious tone, "Mr. Falconer, we had already discussed


    purchasing the proposal with Donovan."


    N?velDrama.Org owns all ? content.


    "Donovan also said it''s not about who came first but who has a better connection with the project


    and offers a more reasonable price," ric responded naturally.


    Though ric and Lysander were friends, business was still business. And in the business world,


    everyone looked out for their own interests.


    Being new to the Crawley Group, ric aimed to produce results and generate profits, showcasing


    his value.


    Donovan, caught between two eager buyers, didn''t want to offend either. He was happy the design


    was well-received but worried about causing a rift between the Sinir Group and the Crawley


    Group over it.


    If theirpany caused these two to be enemies, they''d be marked forever.


    Finding himself in a bind and unable to mediate, Donovan simply offered an awkward smile, silent.


    "Mr. Sinir..." Unable to argue with ric, David turned to Lysander for support.

 Chapter 1521

    Chapter 1521


    David wanted to smooth Lysander''s return to the Sinir Group and his return to the presidency by


    purchasing the designs and producing the jewelry for the project.


    Only with Lysander back in the president''s seat would his position as executive assistant be of any


    real significance and power.


    Otherwise, within Sinir Group, he''d always be sidelined, a mere figurehead.


    Lysander, silent, picked up the portfolio from the table and began flipping through it.


    While Lysander reviewed the ns, a hush fell over the room; nobody dared to interrupt his


    concentration.


    Minutester, Lysander closed the portfolio and made a statement that stunned everyone, ¡°The


    design n was a coboration between two people. How about this: Crawley Group buys the first


    half, while Sinir Group takes the second half.¡±


    ¡°The first half was my sketches, the second half was Thssa¡¯s,¡± Hertha blurted out instinctively.


    ric¡¯s sharp and nted eyes widened in disbelief at Lysander¡¯s statement.


    Thssa was equally surprised; she had never heard of splitting a design n to sell it in halves.


    David was shocked, then swiftly moved to tion, ¡°Mr. Sinir, that¡¯s brilliant!¡±


    Trust Lysander toe up with a smart solution to a tricky problem. It seemed there was no


    business challenge Lysander couldn¡¯t tackle.


    David¡¯s admiration for Lysander deepened.


    ¡°What do you think, Donovan?¡± Lysander¡¯s prating gaze shifted towards Donovan.


    Hertha and Thssa, being the designers, had no say in who the ns were sold to; that decision


    rested with the project manager.


    Thus, Lysander addressed Donovan directly.


    Donovan, taken aback, responded with earnest nervousness, ¡°Of course, I have no objections. As


    long as Mr. Falconer, Mr. Ethan, and Mr. Sinir agree, everything is fine by me.¡±


    After all, these were two industry titans; how could he possibly object?


    Moments ago, he was fretting over how to untangle this century¡¯s dilemma. Now, Lysander had


    presented a fair and dispute-free solution. Donovan was too thrilled and grateful for words.


    Lysander¡¯s deepened gaze then shifted to ric.


    Feeling the weight of Lysander¡¯s intense and somewhat intimidating stare, ric quickly agreed,


    ¡°Absolutely. I think it¡¯s a viable proposal. There¡¯s money to be made for all of us.¡±


    How could he refuse under Lysander¡¯spelling look? Unless he fancied his tongue numb.


    Lysander¡¯s solution was indeed genius. He was particrly drawn to the passion Hertha showed for


    her designs. The Crawley Group buying the first half also meant acquiring Hertha¡¯s work.


    And the Sinir Group taking thetter half meant securing Thssa¡¯s designs.


    Thssa was Lysander¡¯s woman; how could he allow her creations to fall into anyone else¡¯s


    hands?


    It was a win-win only a mind as nimble as Lysander¡¯s could concoct in such short order.


    ¡°Alright, it¡¯s settled,¡± Lysander dered.


    ¡°Fantastic. Mr. Sinir, Mr. Falconer, Mr. Ethan, let¡¯s toast,¡± Donovan couldn¡¯t hide his tion after


    having effortlessly sold the designs.


    Before this meeting, he had braced himself for disappointment, prepared to face rejection and the


    unpleasant task of firing Hertha.


    Now, with the designs sold, a huge weight was lifted off his shoulders; no need to concoct a reason


    to fire Hertha anymore.


    Donovan poured beverages for everyone.


    Hertha, overjoyed at not having to worry about losing her job, raised her cup towards the group with


    a bright smile, ¡°ric, Mr. Ethan, and Mr. Sinir, you guys truly have an eye for quality. Thssa


    and I poured our hearts into these jewelry designs! They¡¯re not something just anyone can


    appreciate. It takes real connoisseurs like you to recognize their value.¡±


    Lysander¡¯s gaze softened as he looked towards Thssa.


    Really?


    All her personal feelings were poured into these designs?N?velDrama.Org owns all ? content.

 Chapter 1522

    Chapter 1522


    Thssa was on edge about Hertha''s blunt nature, worried she might blurt out something earth-


    shattering. Quickly, she clinked sses with Hertha, offering a diversion, "Here''s to you, the grand


    designer," she said, raising her beer. "Didn''t you mention you''ve never been horseback riding and


    really wanted to try it?"


    Thssa was trying to steer the conversation away from any potential deal-breakers. After all, the


    Crawley Group and the Sinir Group hadn''t inked their contract yet, and anything could happen


    until they did.


    She feared Hertha might, in a moment of excitement, say something that would rub Lysander the


    wrong way and jeopardize the deal.


    Thssa didn''t know Lysander well, but she was aware of his unpredictable moods. One moment


    he was all smiles, and the next, he could turn on someone with incredible speed.


    Hadn''t Rosalind and Lysander shot down their design proposal when she had pitched it to Reginald


    and Callum?


    And now, Lysander was in a bidding war with Ethan and ric for the same unaltered ns.


    Indeed, Lysander''s moods could change on a dime.


    Hertha, with her eyes wide with excitement, caught on and eagerly chimed in, "Oh yes, I''d


    absolutely love to go horseback riding. Mr. Sinir, Mr. Ethan, r... Mr. Falconer, and you too.


    Plus, David and Donovan, I''ll toast with coffee instead of wine before I head out."


    After making her rounds at the table and draining her ss, Hertha, with a yful nod to the


    gentlemen, grabbed Thssa and headed for the racecourse.


    Once they were a bit away, Thssa leaned in and whispered, "Are you sure about this? You''re still


    recovering from that concussion."


    She was just finding another topic so Hertha wouldn''t talk too much, because if she did, she''d spill


    the beans.


    Hertha was undeterred, "Of course! I''ve always wanted to ride, but my folks never allowed it. Now''s


    my chance, and I''m not backing down."


    "But your health..." Thssa fretted.


    "Don''t worry, my brain is nearly mended. I''ll pick a gentle horse and take it slow," Hertha reassured


    her.


    "Alright," Thssa conceded.


    "Are you joining in?" Hertha asked.


    Thssa shook her head, "I''m too scared."


    "No worries, I''ll lead, and you can follow. Take it slow and easy," Hertha encouraged.


    All content ? N/.?vel/Dr/ama.Org.


    "I''d rather not. I can''t handle the bouncing," Thssa admitted.


    Hertha chuckled and gave a sneaky smile, "You''ve been bumping around so much that you''re


    psyching yourself out, aren''t you?"


    Thssa, who quickly got her meaning, instantly blushed and swatted Hertha''s arm in


    embarrassment, "Stop it, we''re in public. That''s not appropriate."


    Hertha was still the same, always ready with a cheeky joke. That was utterly annoying.


    "What''s the harm? We''re speaking so softly that no one else can hear," Hertha whispered back.


    From a distance, Lysander watched as Thssa and Hertha yfully bickered, theirughter and


    vibrant energy shining brightly under the sun and casting a warm glow that flickered in Lysander''s


    heart.


    "Ethan, let''s go riding," ric suggested. After proposing the idea to Ethan, he turned to Lysander,


    "How about a wager along with Donovan, Lysander? Bet on who wins between Ethan and me."


    He was challenging Ethan to a horse race.

 Chapter 1523

    Chapter 1523


    "Um, well..." Donovan stuttered. He was ncing nervously between Lysander and ric and was


    unable to string his words together coherently. He definitely didn''t have the nerve to bet with


    Lysander.


    Lysander''s wealth was leagues beyond his own - he was just a humble manager, not in a position to


    gamble away his savings.


    Lysander, with a look of disdain, briefly turned his deep-set gaze towards ric and said, "Do you


    think everyone''s as keen on betting over everything as you are?"


    ric''s lips twitched, "Fine, you guys watch the game. I''m off to ride with Ethan."


    ric cast a longing nce at Lysander''s legs.


    If only Lysander wasn''t confined to a wheelchair, they could have witnessed his impressive


    horsemanship.


    Unfortunately, with Lysander''s current condition, that spectacle was off the table.


    ric and Ethan headed towards the racetrack, with David wheeling Lysander in the same


    direction. Politely turning back, David invited Donovan, "Donovan, care to join us?"


    Content ? N?velDrama.Org.


    "Oh, yes, of course..." Donovan, ttered by the invitation, hurriedly grabbed his briefcase and got


    up.


    At the racecourse.


    Hertha picked out a lean horse and changed into her riding gear. Striking a pose in front of


    Thssa, she asked, "Thssa, do I look cool or what in this outfit?"


    "Absolutely dashing," Thssa chuckled and nodded.


    "Ha, I thought so too. Growing up, I always admired those heroic knights on their steeds in the


    movies. Now it''s finally my turn," Hertha said with a beaming smile.


    "Just be careful. Safety first," Thssa reminded her yet again.


    "Got it, I''ll be careful," Hertha assured her, then approached her horse.


    Following the staff''s demonstration, she sessfully mounted the horse. With a gentle flick of the


    reins, the horse took off.


    The moment the horse started moving, Hertha leaned back dramatically.


    "Hertha!" Thssa''s heart skipped a beat in fright.


    Thankfully, in the next moment, Hertha regained her bnce, sat upright, and started to guide the


    horse with the reins in her hand.


    Seeing her be morefortable with the reins, Thssa''s heart finally settled down.


    "You and Hertha must share a deep bond," a deep, maic voicemented from behind.


    Thssa, who had just calmed down, tensed up again. Turning around, she saw Lysander in his


    wheelchair, pushed by David.


    Noticing Thssa''s attention, David let go of the handle and nodded slightly towards her before


    moving away, leaving Lysander and Thssa some space.


    Back when Lysander was unconscious, there wasn''t a moment Thssa didn''t wish for him to wake


    up. Now that he was awake, seeing him brought a sudden sense of unfamiliarity and tension.


    "Hertha and I have been through thick and thin together, so of course we''re close," Thssa


    replied, her heartbeat quickening at Lysander''s question.


    "Would you consider those three years as we going through thick and thin?" Lysander''s deep gaze


    fixed on Thssa as he suddenly asked.


    The moment ric had mentioned his grandfather''s interference, Lysander understood. The truth


    was, Thssa had been the one by his side for those three years. It was Thssa who had cared


    for him, not Rosalind!


    "When will you and Rosalind decide to get married? Let me know. I''ll make sure to attend,"


    Thssa said, her heart pounding even harder at his question, but she fought to keep her emotions


    in check. She needed to stay clear-headed to avoid falling too deep.

 Chapter 1524

    Chapter 1524


    Thssa''s question was met with Lysander''s brooding, icy gaze. He seemed upset.


    But Thssa thought, she was only addressing the reality issue. After all, Lysander and Rosalind


    had been paired up by their families, and a wedding was inevitable.


    By expressing her willingness to attend their wedding, Thssa was showing she didn''t mind him


    marrying another woman. It was her way of proving she had moved on, that she harbored no undue


    feelings towards him.


    Wouldn''t that also signal that she posed almost no threat to Rosalind? Since she had no designs on


    Lysander, wouldn''t harm his marriage to Rosalind, and would even bless their union, there was no


    need for Lysander to consider extreme measures to reassure Rosalind.


    For Lysander, it meant not having to eliminate an obstacle and spared him the trouble of exining


    things to Rosalind.


    Wasn''t it a win-win situation?


    Why then, was he angry?


    Lysander''s deep gaze fixed on Thssa. Her direct and decisive question felt like a brick, striking


    hard at the hope that had begun to flicker in his heart.


    Anger and pain coexisted in his heart.


    He wasn''t one for sentimentality and rarely indulged in such emotional questions. After finally


    oveing his reservations, he had asked her if the past three years meant as much to her as they


    did to him. Did she feel for him as deeply as she did for Hertha?Content ? N?velDrama.Org.


    Her failure to answer was one thing, but asking about his wedding to Rosalind? Even expressing a


    wish to attend?


    Did she really want him to marry Rosalind that badly?


    The light of hope in Lysander''s eyes extinguished, his low voice was intimidating as he said, "My


    affairs with Rosalind are none of your concern!"


    Thssa''s heart skipped a beat, and she looked down, nodding, "You''re right, I shouldn''t meddle in


    your private matters, Mr. Sinir. Enjoy your time here; I''ll take a break over there."


    Thssa''s long eyshes veiled the deep disappointment in her eyes as she walked past


    Lysander, not sparing him a nce, heading straight for the resting area.


    Lysander''s handsome face tightened, his aura chilling, his gaze fixated on the racetrack but saw


    nothing. His jaw was taut as his teeth tensely clenched.


    Meanwhile, at the racecourse, ric and Ethan donned their riding gear and mounted their horses.


    ric chose a splendid white steed with a lightning-shaped tuft of hair on its forehead¡ªa rare and


    speedy breed.


    ric''s riding was the epitome of grace and valor. His handsome features,bined with his


    gant riding, made him look every bit the knight in shining armor as he chased after Hertha.


    Unlike Hertha''s cautious approach, ric rode with confidence and ir. He was about to catch up


    when he called out to her, "Hertha, are you on a Sunday stroll? Pick up the pace!"


    Hertha heard someone call her name and instinctively turned back to look, a turn that made her,


    who was already bad at horseback riding, lose her bnce. Her eyes widened in terror as she


    screamed, "Ahhhh!"


    The horse, indifferent to her plight, continued forward. As Hertha swayed and was on the verge of


    falling, ric''s heart raced. He tightened the reins, reaching her in the nick of time, wrapping an arm


    around her waist and pulling her onto his horse.


    The sudden movement dislodged Hertha''s wig, sending it flying off her head. Pressed against


    ric''s chest, she had no time to enjoy the warmth before noticing her wig was gone. Panicking,


    she covered her head, "Ah, my hair, my hair is gone!"

 Chapter 1525

    Chapter 1525


    ric paused, his gaze drifting downwards, only to catch sight of Hertha''s bald head. Though there


    were hints of bluish hair sprouting, for a woman, that was as good as being bald.


    A flicker of surprise crossed ric''s eyes. Just moments ago, Hertha sported her usual sea-green


    locks, and he hadn''t noticed anything amiss.


    To think she was wearing a wig, and her real hairstyle was a bald head? That didn¡¯te to him.


    This revtion left ric stunned, his lips twitching involuntarily.


    Hertha always had a way of surprising him, often leaving him speechless and in awe at her


    unpredictability.


    While ric was caught in his surprise, Hertha''s heart raced with panic. Her voice was trembling as


    she shouted, ¡°Stop, ric, make the horse stop now!¡±


    ¡°It''s alright; it''s cooler this way. Let Lightning give us a spin. It''s more thrilling than a car ride,¡± ric


    said with a smirk ying on his lips.


    Cooler?


    Hertha felt a prickle of difort at those words, as if her heart was being pierced by fine needles.


    So, ric had seen her bald head after all. It felt as humiliating as being stripped naked and


    paraded through the streets.


    Flushed with embarrassment and anger, Hertha yelled, ¡°Who wants to go for a ride with you! ric,


    you jerk, let me down, I want to get off!¡±


    ¡°You don''t know how to ride, then I''ll carry you¡­¡± ric tried to insist.


    Hertha, with her back to him, couldn''t see his expression, but the image of ric staring at her bald


    head and mocking her filled her mind.


    Her face reddened with urgency and fury, her voice sharp and on the verge of tears, ¡°Let me down,


    or I swear I''ll jump off this horse!¡±


    After saying this, panic-stricken and on the brink of tears, Hertha tried to leap off.


    Feeling her impulsiveness, ric''s heart skipped a beat, and he quickly wrapped his arms around


    her to prevent her from doing anything rash.


    His voice softened, ¡°Don''t be rash, I''ll stop the horse.¡±


    With that, he skillfully slowed the galloping horse to a halt.


    N?velDrama.Org content rights.


    Just as the horse stopped, Ethan rode past them, turning his head to say with augh, ¡°You were


    going pretty fast. Why stop?¡±


    Hertha felt Ethan''s gaze on her bald head and immediately covered it with her hands, her face


    burning with embarrassment.


    Only then did ric see Hertha''s demeanor, She was blushing with shame, deeply afraid of others


    seeing her bald.


    ric was surprised. Hertha, usually so carefree and unconcerned with appearances, was actually


    self-conscious about her hair. No wonder she was so angry before.


    ric said, ¡°It doesn''t matter. You look great even without hair.¡±


    Hearing this, Hertha''s anger red even more. She turned to re at him, her chest heaving with


    emotion as she yelled, ¡°ric, stop looking at me. Turn your head away!¡±


    Seeing Hertha''s genuine distress, ric quickly said, ¡°I''m just speaking the truth.¡±


    ¡°You¡­¡± The more she wanted ric not to see her in this embarrassed state, the more he kept


    talking about it.


    Hertha, both embarrassed and annoyed, angrily stomped on ric''s foot, ¡°Hmph!¡±


    ¡°Ouch! Are you trying to kill me?!¡± ric yelped, hopping on one foot, looking aggrieved.

 Chapter 1526

    Chapter 1526


    "Hmph, that''s what you get for making fun of me!" Hertha rolled her eyes at him, spun around, and


    dashed towards where her wig had fallen.


    Without the wig to hide behind, she felt more than just the chill on her scalp; her whole spine was


    shivering. It was as if she was a clown being watched by everyone.


    All content ? N/.?vel/Dr/ama.Org.


    Thinking about it made her scalp feel even cooler and her embarrassment grew, prompting her to


    quicken her steps towards her wig.


    ric snapped out of his daze. Seeing Hertha go to pick up her wig, he quickly followed her.


    Picking up the wig and dusting off the bits of grass sticking to it, Hertha couldn''t wait to put it back


    on.


    Just as she adjusted it, ric''s voice came from behind, "If you hate being bald that much, why did


    you cut it? Just curious?"


    Hertha jumped, startled at how quickly he caught up. Was he here to mock her?


    Turning around, she snapped at ric, "You think I wanted to shave my head? The doctor had to do


    it after my head was injured during the car ident!"


    When the bandages were removed, she discovered she had be bald. Her captivating and sexy


    blue hair was all shaved off by the doctor! She had cried at the time, and Thssa had tofort


    her for ages.


    It was so embarrassing, ric seeing her bald, and from such a close distance too! ric must be


    laughing at her deep inside his mind.


    What a miscalction. Hertha¡¯s reputation was all ruined just because she overestimated her


    horse-riding skills. Allowing ric to see her bald, he would probably mock her for a lifetime.


    Thssa seeing her bald didn''t bother her much, and when Spencer saw it, she just joked about


    adding another bulb in her house.


    But ric seeing her made her feel panicked and utterly humiliated as if her world was copsing.


    Hearing her exnation, ric''s teasing expression suddenly turned serious. He looked at her teal


    wig and said earnestly, "It''s okay, your hair will grow back. It''s already starting to, so you''re not


    completely bald. There''s no need to feel embarrassed."


    ric¡¯s words came from the heart, which was protecting her dignity andforting her.


    So, it was the car crash that had left her bald, not some thrill-seeking choice to shave her head.


    Realizing the true reason, ric suddenly regretted speaking to her in a teasing tone earlier.


    No wonder she was so panicked and angry when her wig fell off.


    He hadn''t seen her bald when he visited her in the hospital; she had been unconscious, her head


    wrapped in bandages.


    Seeing ric turn around tofort her instead of mocking her, Hertha felt even more disoriented,


    her gaze flitting around, "I don¡¯t want to ride anymore. Just bring the horse back for me."


    After saying this, Hertha walked towards the starting point.


    After the horse-riding event, Lysander set a time for signing the contracts, instructing Donovan to


    prepare the paperwork. With that, the business meeting concluded.


    ric and Ethan left together, David pushed Lysander away, and Thssa, along with Hertha, got


    into Donovan''s car to leave the equestrian center.


    ...


    Three dayster, the official signing took ce.


    Hertha''s designs were sold to the Crawley Group, while Thssa''s were bought by the Sinir


    Group.


    Considering Thssa wasn''t an employee of the designpany, splitting the profits was tricky.


    So, Donovan came up with a solution, offering Thssa a job contract on the spot to work


    alongside Hertha.


    Thssa, about to graduate and worried about finding a job, was more than happy to ept the


    offer to join her friend at thepany. She signed the employment contract right away.

 Chapter 1527

    Chapter 1527


    When the Sinir group paid up for the design, the deal was fairly split with Thssa.


    Thssa and Hertha were about to dive into a whirlwind of activity. Selling their design was just the


    tip of the iceberg; they also had to work closely with the buyer''spany, helping them turn the


    designs into actual pieces of jewelry.


    On their way back, Hertha couldn''t help but ask Thssa, "Thssa, is there really no chance of


    you and Lysander getting back together? I mean, when he was signing the contract today, he barely


    nced at you."


    Thssa sighed, a touch of mncholy in her voice, "His fianc¨¦e now is Rosalind, and they''re thick


    as thieves. Any more contact between us, and I''d just be stirring up trouble... I can''t be the wedge


    driving them apart."


    Or else, it would be like giving someone the perfect excuse to take her out. She hadn''t even seen


    her kids yet; she wasn''t ready to die. Being a thorn in Lysander''s side was a scary thought.


    "Ah, I really feel for you, but there''s not much I can do," Hertha sighed.


    Before Lysander woke up from his slumber, Hertha had been daydreaming about a happy ending


    between Thssa and Lysander, especially after everything they''d been through together.


    But the moment Lysander woke up and immediately kicked Thssa out of Royal Estates,


    announcing his rtionship with Rosalind, Hertha was dumbfounded and furious with Lysander.


    But what could she do, being a small voice in a vast world?


    "It''s okay. We''ve got our business to focus on. These days, you can''t rely on men, only a career can


    be your true anchor," Thssa said,forting Hertha instead.


    Hertha managed a smile but said nothing more.


    Today, Thssa hade over to Hertha''s ce, bringing ingredients for a ssic barbecue to


    celebrate Thssanding a job.


    As they took the elevator up, they noticed new neighbors moving into the apartment across from


    Hertha''s. The suite had been empty for a while, but now movers were busy bringing in furniture.


    "Careful, just set it down over there," directed the new owner from inside.


    Hertha''s spine stiffened at the familiar voice. Peering through the open door, she caught sight of a


    man with a charismatic aura and those unmistakable, fox-like eyes.


    Her breath hitched, "ric!"


    She couldn''t help eximing his name.


    ric, hearing someone call him, turned around and was equally surprised to see Hertha and


    Thssa. He stepped out, "Hertha, Thssa, you guys..."


    Noticing the groceries in their hands, he quickly put two and two together, "Oh, Hertha, you live on


    this floor? Having a barbecue tonight, can I crash?"


    Hearing ric''s request to join made Hertha''s rm bells ring, she blurted out, "Absolutely not!"


    "Why not?" ric pressed.


    Hertha''s mind raced, desperately searching for an excuse, "Because, because..."


    Because she had two kids at home, and if ric saw them, what then?


    Hertha was scrambling for a reason, the more frantic she became, the harder it was to think of a


    good excuse.


    "Because her husband would be jealous!" Thssa, thinking on her feet, jumped in to save the day.


    Grasping at this lifeline, to make ric believe it, Thssa added, "Yeah, Hertha''s husband


    Spencer would definitely not appreciate it. You know how it is."


    "Ah, right, right, it''s a family dinner. It wouldn''t be appropriate to bring you along," Hertha nodded


    vigorously, ying along with Thssa''s quick thinking.


    Thssa truly hade up with a solid and convincing excuse on the spot.N?velDrama.Org owns all ? content.

 Chapter 1528

    Chapter 1528


    ric''s charming eyes narrowed into a yful smirk as he teased, "Thssa is part of your family


    too?"


    Before Hertha or Thssa could react, ric continued, "Since friends are wee to dine with


    you, why can''t I join?"


    Hertha immediately wrapped an arm around Thssa''s shoulders, dering with conviction,


    "Thssa is practically family, not an outsider at all. Of course, she can dine with us. Besides,


    having Thssa over doesn''t make Spencer jealous. He''s more than happy to take care of all the


    chores."


    Hearing this made ric feel a twinge of difort. It was clear how much Hertha cared about


    Spencer''s feelings.


    But he quickly reassured himself that he had already decided to let go of any romantic feelings for


    Hertha and to simply treat her as a friend. And as a friend, what''s wrong with joining them for a


    meal?


    "Spencer can''t even handle you making male friends?" ric crossed his arms, leaning back with a


    casual air, his sharp eyes peering at Hertha, "Or is it that there''s ack of trust between you two?


    Spencer doesn''t feel secure? If there''s trouble in paradise, why not..."


    "You''ve got it all wrong!" Hertha cut him off before he could finish, blinking rapidly and speaking with


    a hint of nervousness, "Spencer and I are very much in love. Don''t make things up! I just don''t want


    any misunderstandings..."


    Not wanting misunderstandings?


    ric''s heart ached a bit more uncontrobly.


    However, seasoned in the ways of love, he had mastered the art of concealing his feelings. No


    matter how much it hurt, he maintained a carefree and somewhat roguish demeanor.


    "Seems like you don''t really consider me a friend, eh? Moving in next door on my first day, and you


    don''t even invite me over for a meal. You''re breaking my heart."


    "What? You''re the new neighbor?" Hertha eximed, her eyes wide with surprise. She had seen


    ric directing movers around the house but hadn''t thought much of it.


    ric living in a Falconer family mansion was one thing, but moving into this modest apartment


    complex was entirely unexpected!


    She thought ric was just overseeing the work, never imagining he''d be her neighbor!


    Hertha''s face drained of color, "ric, you did this on purpose, didn''t you?"


    "This is the employee apartment Mr. Ethan arranged for me. What would I be doing on purpose?"


    ric replied, his gaze scrutinizing Hertha.


    ric was seriously considering making his mark at the Crawley Group?


    "ric, have you lost your mind? Turning your back on the luxury of the Falconer family and


    choosing to live here, pretending to be just another employee in your buddy''spany? Moving


    into a ce that''s beneath your status?" In her distress, Hertha couldn''t help butsh out at ric.


    ric moving in was no small matter. Running into him every day, and the secret of her children,


    Julian and Helena, would be impossible to keep hidden.


    Hertha was genuinely terrified of ric finding out about her children and possibly fighting her for


    custody.


    ric was momentarily stunned by Hertha''s outburst. He hadn''t said anything to provoke such a


    reaction, so why was she so agitated?


    ric''s yful smile faded as he frowned, fixing Hertha with a stern look, "Did you hit your head or


    something? Are you not feeling well? What did I do to you?"


    "No, it''s just..." Hertha started to exin.


    Content ? N?velDrama.Org.


    "Hey, hey, let''s just calm down," Thssa quickly intervened, holding Hertha''s hand to soothe her.

 Chapter 1529

    Chapter 1529


    Smiling, Thssa turned to ric, "Of course, we consider you a friend. Aren''t you busy right now?


    Wait until we get the barbecue ready, thene over."


    "But..." Hertha started to protest.


    "Let''s go, let''s start getting the stuff we need." Thssa interrupted Hertha, pulling her towards her


    house.


    Once inside, shutting the door behind them cut off ric''s prying eyes.


    Hertha, in a fluster, said, "Thssa, why did you invite ric over? How can we have him over for


    dinner at our ce?"


    "Trust me, I know how to keep a secret. The more you push ric away, the more suspicious he''ll


    get. Didn''t you see him almost catching on just now?" Thssa exined.


    Blinking, Hertha calmed down and thought about it. True, ric had already sensed something was


    off and hadn¡¯t started digging yet. If they aroused his suspicions further, and he started


    investigating, the consequences could be dire.


    Her situation couldn''t withstand scrutiny.


    "So, what do we do now?" Hertha asked nervously.


    "Contact Spencer and Bridget. Tell Bridget not to bring the kids back just yet and to take them to


    Spencer''s ce for a bit. After Spencer sorts them out, he¡¯lle over for the barbecue and


    pretend to be your husband," Thssa instructed calmly.


    "Okay, okay, I''ll call Bridget now to keep the kids out a little longer and note back yet," Hertha


    said, quickly grabbing her phone to call Bridget.


    Meanwhile, Thssa quietly began to stash away all signs of the kids at Hertha''s ce.


    Toys, baby bottles, everything was tucked away in closets to ensure that when ric arrived, he


    wouldn¡¯t find a trace.


    After the call, Hertha started to prepare for the meal.


    Amid their hectic preparations, the doorbell suddenly rang, sending Hertha and Thssa¡¯s hearts


    racing. They exchanged worried nces.


    "Did ric really get so impatient he''s already here for dinner?" Hertha fretted. "Thssa, did you


    get all the kids'' stuff hidden?"


    As Thssa crammed thest of the tiny shoes into a closet, she reassured, "All set, we can open


    the door."


    Content ? N?velDrama.Org.


    Only after ensuring everything was in ce did Hertha approach the door and swing it open.


    Ready to chide ric, she paused, seeing instead Spencer''s elegantly handsome face.


    "Spencer, it''s you. Wee back," Hertha said, her voice softening as she smiled.


    Then, she noticed ric standing behind Spencer, arms crossed, leisurely scrutinizing her and


    Spencer''s interaction with a smirk, "Spencer, seems like your ce in the family isn''t too strong, eh?


    Having to ring your own doorbell?"


    Hertha''s heart sank. Had ric seen through their pretend marriage? Was ric really that


    perceptive?


    As Hertha tensed, Spencer calmly and gracefully replied, "I usually get off workter than Hertha,


    so I''m used to her being home first. And I like her opening the door for me¡ªit means she''s the first


    person I see."


    This unexpected show of affection took everyone by surprise.


    ric had intended to embarrass Spencer, yet Spencer''s smooth retort left him feeling blocked and


    somewhat envious, despite the undeniable fact of Spencer and Hertha''s "marriage."

 Chapter 1530

    Chapter 1530


    Hertha was on pins and needles, wondering if ric had figured out her and Spencer weren''t


    actually married.


    The moment she heard Spencer''s voice, it was like a lightbulb went off. She whipped her head


    towards ric, ready to back up Spencer''s story, only to catch a glimpse of embarrassment and


    dejection in ric''s captivating eyes.


    Her initial urge to revel in his misfortune suddenly vanished. In that moment, she couldn''t help but


    feel a pang of sympathy for ric.


    Her heart softened, and she chirped, ¡°Spencer,e on in. And you too, don''t just stand there at


    the door.¡±


    Spencer''s response was a nonchnt grunt, the kind of interaction that spoke volumes about their


    faux-marital familiarity. It was devoid of any awkwardness or excessive politeness. It was only in


    such close rtionships that conversations flowed effortlessly.


    And right then, ric saw this effortless dynamic between Hertha and Spencer. Despite his


    reluctance to ept it, the fact was staring him in the face: Hertha was married, and evidently,


    happily so to Spencer.


    As ric felt a twinge in his heart, Spencer turned to him with a smile, saying, ¡°Mr. Falconer,


    please,e in...¡±


    ric was about to decline, his interest piqued earlier when he saw Thssa and Hertha with bags


    full of ingredients for a ssic barbecue, momentarily tempted to invite himself over for dinner.


    But seeing Spencer and Hertha''s apparent closeness made him rethink stepping inside.


    Just as he was about to excuse himself, Hertha, with a beam, said, ¡°Oh, Mr. Falconer, doe in.


    I''ve put together a barbecue from scratch today. Care to taste my culinary skills?¡±


    Hertha''s smile, her eyes squinting ever so slightly, resembled orbs half-hidden, shimmering with


    warmth and allure, causing ric''s heart to skip a beat.


    He was about to turn and leave, but Hertha''s gaze made him reconsider.


    Taking a deep, steadying breath, he masked his difort with his usual cheeky smile, ¡°Well, with


    such a warm invitation, how could I refuse?¡±


    With that, he strutted into the house.


    Hertha stepped aside to let him through, watching ric enter the living room before turning to


    Spencer with a grateful blink.


    Having Spencer y along and allowing Bridget and her kids to stay at his ce temporarily had


    been a godsend, preventing ric from stumbling upon the truth.


    N?velDrama.Org owns all ? content.


    Her gratitude towards Spencer was evident in that meaningful nce.


    Spencer simply nodded, silently telling her it was nothing.


    After their silent exchange, they moved into the dining room where Thssa was setting the table.


    She turned to greet ric, ¡°Mr. Falconer, wee, please, have a seat.¡±


    ric, never one to stand on ceremony, took the seat of honor and teased, ¡°Hertha, looks like you


    and your husband are living the high life, indulging in barbecue every now and then. I can''t even


    match this kind of gourmet lifestyle.¡±


    He grabbed a piece of meat and popped it into his mouth without waiting for anyone else.


    Hertha couldn''t help butugh, ¡°You''re the vice president of the Falconer Group, and you''re telling


    me you can''t afford a simple barbecue? Who are you kidding?¡±

 Chapter 1531

    Chapter 1531


    Hertha has always been the kind of person who speaks her mind, never afraid to put ric on the


    spot.


    ric knew Hertha all too well; if she wasn''t ribbing him, she wouldn''t be Hertha.


    As he casually munched on his food, ric said, "I''ve cut ties with my mom, got kicked out of the


    Falconer n, just a regr Joe now, no ''young master'' talk, please. I''m doing worse than you


    guys; at least you have your own ce, while I''m stuck living in whatever digs my boss throws my


    way. Who knows, if he wakes up on the wrong side of the bed one morning, I could be out on the


    street. If it everes to that, Hertha..."


    ric paused, giving Hertha a look before his gaze shifted meaningfully towards Spencer, who was


    sitting across from him. His look was pretty straightforward.


    Finally, his eyesnded on Spencer, shing a mischievous smile, "You and Hertha wouldn''t mind


    taking me in, would you?"


    What was ric on about? Asking to crash with them!


    Hertha felt a pang in her heart, her pulse racing. That ric, always causing her stress, making her


    heart skip beats with his antics.


    Today, his visit for a day of barbecue had nearly sent her over the edge, scrambling to get


    everything in order, just so he wouldn''t bump into Julian and Helena.


    If he moved in with them, how could she keep hiding things?


    Hertha chewed on her fork, her heart pounding, nervously ncing at Spencer, her eyes practically


    begging him: reject him, you must reject him! He can''t move in with us!


    Spencer didn''t look at Hertha, his usually gentle gaze hardened as it met ric''s, and after a few


    tense seconds, he finally spoke, "Mr. Falconer, with your skills, I doubt any boss would let you go


    that easily. And if by some chance you do get kicked out, I''m sure you''ll have another, better


    opportunity waiting for you."


    The response, neither an eptance nor a direct rejection, was as polite a refusal as theye.


    Hertha breathed a sigh of relief, her heart still racing, and quickly grabbed a piece of steak from the


    grill, cing it on Spencer''s te with a goofy smile, "Eat up, love..."


    Seeing Hertha serve Spencer with the fork she just had in her mouth, the gesture so natural and


    unbothered.


    "Ah, you know me too well, love my steak medium-rare," Spencer''s smile was warm and


    affectionate, unabashedly taking a bite.


    Watching this, ric felt a sting in his heart. Suddenly, he couldn''t bear to watch their lovey-dovey


    exchanges anymore, his mischievous demeanor fading as he said, "Where are the mugs? I could


    use a cup of coffee."


    "The mugs are in the kitchen. I''ll get them," chimed in Thssa, who had been quietly sitting to the


    side, ready to stand.


    ric replied, "No need, I''ll get it myself."


    He stood up, heading for the kitchen. He just wanted to break away from the sight of Hertha and


    Spencer''s intimate moments together.


    He tried to tell himself not to care, after all, Hertha and Spencer were married, but his heart wouldn''t


    listen.


    Seeing their seamless interaction felt like a series of stabs to his heart, painful and unavoidable.


    As ric stepped into the kitchen and opened the cupboard, Hertha, who was still eating, caught a


    glimpse of him through the ss door.


    N?velDrama.Org owns all ? content.


    Her heart skipped a beat, her eyes widening in panic.


    Oh no, the baby bottles are all stored in that cupboard!

 Chapter 1532

    Chapter 1532


    Hertha felt a shiver run down her spine, her blood seemingly flowing backward in shock. Her scalp


    tingled with fear, and shepletely forgot to chew the bite of food she had just taken.


    When Thssa saw the look of astonishment on Hertha''s face, she too suddenly realized whaty


    inside the cupboard - it was the kids'' sippy cups and cartoon-themed tes!


    ric had opened it!


    Thssa was just as terrified for Hertha.


    Frozen for a moment, Hertha quickly stood up and dashed towards the kitchen, her mouth still full of


    food, mumbling in a hurried, muffled voice, "ric, you''re our guest, please sit down, I''ll get it..."


    But by then, ric had already opened the cupboard door, revealing two adorable sippy cups and


    the yful, cartoon-themed tes inside.


    He paused, his eyebrows knitting together slightly.


    Hertha, in her panic, raced towards the kitchen. As she neared the entrance, her foot slipped on the


    glossy tile floor, propelling her forward.


    "Ah!" Hertha screamed in fright, instinctively reaching up to protect her wig from falling off again.


    But as she fell forward, bracing for the painful impact with the ground, her eyes shut tight in


    anticipation.


    ric turned around just in time to catch Hertha as she hurled towards him, her face pressing


    against his.


    The warmth of ric''s cheeks, their masculine sticity, radiated a heat that was naturally higher


    than that of a woman''s. As Hertha''s face pressed against ric''s, the scorching heat transferred to


    her heart in an instant, sending shivers down her spine.


    Her heart raced, not only from the fear of ric discovering the kids'' secret but from an


    uncontroble infatuation.


    ric, initially feeling a bit down, now found Hertha in his arms, soft as cotton and fragrant as lilies,


    invigorating his senses. His heart, as if infused with fresh blood, beat vigorously, reigniting his


    masculinity. His heart skipped a beat, a clear sign of being smitten.


    Just as Hertha had dashed into the kitchen, Thssa also got up, intending to follow. But after


    taking just one step, she saw Hertha fall into ric''s embrace.


    Their close embrace, cheeks against cheeks, with ric¡¯s hands still on Hertha¡¯s back, transformed


    the moment from rming to intimate. The temperature in the room seemed to rise a few degrees.


    All content ? N/.?vel/Dr/ama.Org.


    Thssa stood frozen, torn between moving forward and retreating too obviously, ncing


    worriedly at Spencer. Beneath his sses, his usually gentle eyes now held a hint of coldness as


    he watched Hertha and ric.


    Yet, Hertha and ric remained in their embrace, like a scene straight out of a movie, neither willing


    to let go first. The atmosphere thickened with tension and awkwardness.


    Thssa raised her hand to her lips, coughing lightly, "Ahem..."


    She was signaling to Hertha.


    Hearing Thssa''s cough, Hertha snapped back to reality, her heart resuming its frantic beat,


    boiling like water on a stove, leaving her face flushed.


    Quickly steadying herself, Hertha pushed away from ric, her face a mix of confusion and


    embarrassment, saying, "The floor was just too slippery. I lost my bnce."


    "It''s okay, d you didn''t fall," ric said, noticing Hertha''s nervousness and embarrassment. He


    turned away, slightly embarrassed himself.


    Then, looking past Hertha to Spencer outside the kitchen, he exined, "She almost fell, I just


    caught her in time, it was an ident..."

 Chapter 1533

    Chapter 1533


    ric and Hertha had just shared a moment, their bodies brushing against each other in a way that was too intimate to ignore. Spencer was right


    outside. He must have seen everything


    Even though Hertha was married to Spencer, and ric wasn''t happy about it, thest thing he wanted was to ruin their rtionship.


    He didn''t want Spencer to get the wrong idea, be jealous, or angry. After all, if Spencer got upset. Hertha would surely feel it too. And ric


    couldn''t stand the thought of Hertha being unhappy.


    Spencer looked away from them, reaching for a piece of meat, and said, "It''s fine. Thanks for catching her, or she would''ve ended up with another


    concussion.¡±


    Watching Spencer''s reaction, ric frowned, almost imperceptibly.


    Why did it seem like Spencer didn''t really care about Hertha?


    His words thanked ric for saving Hertha, but his actions suggested he was unfazed by their close contact or the risk of her getting hurt!Upstodatee from Novel(D)ra/m/a.O(r)g


    It was like the time Hertha had been in a car ident and ended up in the hospital overnight. Spencer, her husband, had only found out she was


    missing when he rushed to the hospital the next day!


    Even ric, practically a stranger inparison, had known about Hertha''s hospitalization before Spencer did


    On the surface, Spencer and Hertha seemed like a loving couple, but when it came to the big things in life, Spencer''s concern for Hertha seemed


    lacking!


    This realization made ric question whether Spencer truly loved Hertha


    Seeing ric staring at Spencer with a serious expression, Hertha swallowed nervously, trying to break the tension with augh. "Yeah, ric, thanks


    for that. Otherwise, I would''ve been face-nting into the dirt again. risking another concussion, and possibly losing my job."


    ric turned to her, his gaze intense. ¡°ls yourpany giving you trouble?"


    There was a seriousness in his eyes that suggested he was ready to confront her managers on her behalf.


    Hertha had finally made a breakthrough with her designs and stabilized her job; she didn''t want anyplications.


    "No, I''m just worried about not being able to work if I get injured.¡±


    ric nodded and turned his gaze toward the cupboard.


    Hertha''s breath hitched. She wanted to rush over and close the cupboard door, butmon sense held her back.


    She knew jtwas toote. ric had.


    already:seen what was inside the~


    cupboard. Rushing over now.would


    only make her look more suspicious.


    As ris eyes fixed on the items in


    Xu


    the cupboard, Hertha''s heart


    pounded, her mind racing for an>


    exnation for the baby bottles and


    children''s cutlery. Content.belongs


    to NovelDrama.Org 7


    How could she exin it without raising ric¡¯s suspicions?


    In the midst of Hertha¡¯s anxious thoughts, ric spoke up, "Do you and Spencer have a child?"


    After asking, ric''s heart tensed, his eyes locked on Hertha. He didn''t know why he was so nervous, afraid of what her answer might be.


    Curiosity had driven him to ask, yet.


    he feared-her response would bea


    daggerto his heart, even though it


    wasnone of his business whether


    Hertha and Spencer had achild.


    But still, he couldn''t help feeling anxious.

 Chapter 1534

    Chapter 1534


    Hertha''s mouth opened slightly. and under ric''s sharp, fox-like gaze, her heartbeat raced, tight and fast. She wanted to say yes, that she and


    Spencer were expecting a child, but deep inside, a heavy shackle held her back, rendering her speechless.


    Just as Hertha was about to speak, Thssa¡¯s voice chimed in, "You must''ve seen the baby bottles and children¡¯s dinnerware in the cupboard. I got


    those because I was feeling nostalgic about my four little ones. I bought those baby items tofort myself, and had them delivered to Hertha''s ce


    by mistake. Hertha signed for them, and she was supposed to give them to me, but I figured my kids are already seven years old; they''ve outgrown


    bottles and such. So, I told Hertha to keep them for her future babies. Hertha and Spencer aren''t nning on kids yet, right Spencer?¡±


    After finishing, Thssa turned to Spencer.


    Caught mid-bite, Spencer paused, then nodded.


    Grasping the lifeline Thssa had thrown her, Hertha quickly added, "Yeah, those were Thssa¡¯s, a kind of pay-it-forward gesture. It''s been tough


    for her; her kids were only four when they left her. It''s been three years since shest saw her little ones. Who knows how tall they''ve grown or what


    habits they''ve picked up...¡±


    Hertha had been at a loss for how to exin the baby items to ric. Thssa''s exnation was logical and fitting. a testament to someone who''d


    once hidden her children with care and cunning.


    Indeed, the person Thssa had to deceive back then was the powerful, wise Lysander. Managing to keep her children hidden from Lysander for


    months, Thssa clearly had a sharp, clever mind.


    Keeping ric in the dark was, therefore, more than manageable.


    Seeing Hertha ept Thssa¡¯s exnation, the tension in ric''s eyes eased significantly.


    It was as if a weight had been lifted.


    "I see, I thought you guys had a child seeing the baby items in your cupboard," ric exined.


    Hertha. inwardly sweating bullets, forced a rxed smile, "Oh, it¡¯s just a misunderstanding. Let me get you a mug. Please, go have a seat for dinner.


    You''re our guest; it wouldn''t be right to have you fetching things.¡±


    Suddenly polite, ric, unustomed to such formalities from Hertha, obediently left the kitchen.N?velDrama.Org owns all ? content.


    Hertha poured coffee for ric, and they continued their dinner, conversation flowing awkwardly.


    Finally, the-meal ended, andto


    expedite¡¯ ¡°ric''s departure, allowiig


    Herthacto tidy up and think about


    fetching the kids, Thssa asked,


    "Mr Falconer, are you free. now?"


    "What''s up?" ric inquired


    Thssa replied, "I came here in Hertha''s car, and since she''s got dishes to do, could you give me a lift back?¡±


    Hearing Thssa¡¯s unceremonious request¡ª a sign of true friendship¡ªricughed, "Of course, let''s go."


    ric led the way out, with Thssa following.


    The moment the door closed behind


    them, Hertha copsed onto a dining


    chair, wiping the sweat from her¡±


    brow "Oh, thank goodness for


    Thssa. That was too close.¡±


    Spencer, while tidying up, asked calmly, ¡°When I came in, I saw ric directing the movers. He¡¯s moving into our neighborhood. What''s your n


    now?"


    He could help her once but not always.


    Hertha sighed


    ¡®I don''t know what''s gotten into him.


    He had acfallout with his mother and


    got kick¨¦d out of the Falconer >


    family-So, what, now he''s justa


    regr Joe?¡¯ Hertha asked Spencer


    in-eonfusion.


    -


    "Does it matter whether he''s Mr. Falconer or not?" Spencer said, "No matter who he is, he''s the father of your children.¡±


    Spencer Just spouted truths she wasn''t ready to face

 Chapter 1535

    Chapter 1535


    Thssa and ric were crammed together in the elevator, descending swiftly when it halted at the 10th floor. The doors slid open to reveal two


    young kids, nked by a pair of women


    One of the women, in her twenties, was strikingly beautiful with a gentle smile gracing her lips.


    The other, about fifty, was immediately recognizable to Thssa as Bridget!


    At her feet were the two little munchkins, Julian and Helena!


    Seeing Bridget. along with Julian and Helena, made Thssa''s heart skip a beat, her breath catching in her throat.


    Oh boy, she had managed to keep ric from noticing the kids¡¯ stuff, but now there was no avoiding him meeting them face-to-face!


    Would the kids recognize her, calling her Aunt Thssa?


    Her heart was racing with nervousness.


    Just as she was wrestling with her anxiety, she caught Bridget''s warm smile directed at her, about to say something. Thssa¡¯s breath stalled, her


    mind swirling with apologies.All content ? N/.?vel/Dr/ama.Org.


    Hertha, I''m so sorry, I didn¡¯t mean for ric to bump into the kids...


    Before Bridget could speak, the younger woman beside her apologized with augh, ¡°Sorry, we were actually headed to the 20th floor, meant to only


    press the up button, but the kids, being their yful selves, hit the down button too.¡±


    The woman had barely finished speaking when Julian and Helena craned their little heads, ncing over at Thssa and ric.


    Thssa felt her heart leap into her throat.


    Just as the kids were about to lock eyes with her, the elevator doors closed, cutting off their gaze.


    Thssa couldn''t see the kids anymore.


    Once the doors were shut, the elevator resumed its descent.


    Thssa let out a sign of relief,


    chuckling ightly, trying to finda


    neutraltopic, ¡°Those two kids were


    quite the handful, adorable really. My


    kids-used to love ying with


    elevator buttons too.¡± Content


    b¨¦longs to NovelDrama.Org ~


    It wasn''t just small talk; she was also probing, seeing if ric had any suspicions about the two children.


    The 10th floor was where the Spencer family lived, and the 20th was Hertha¡¯s.


    It must have been the kids wanting to leave the Spencer''s, making a fuss to go back home, leading Bridget to take them to the elevator.


    And who was that younger woman? Thssa didn''t recognize her, adding to her curiosity.


    ¡°Kids will be kids, always up for a bit of mischief,¡± ric responded nonchntly.


    Thssa nced at him, noting his calm demeanor, his fox-like eyes slightly downturned, seemingly unbothered and certainly not suspicious.


    Thssa felt a bit more at ease.


    ertha¡¯s kids had distinctive


    eatures, theirl had eyes


    resembling ric¡¯s though not oN


    strikinglycsimr, and the boy had~


    erthaS eyes but ric¡¯s nose= not


    immediately recognizable as~~


    betenging to either parent I utless


    offe looked closely. Content belongs


    to NovelDrama.Org


    ric likely wouldn¡¯t jump to the conclusion that they were his.


    But just moments ago, things were.


    too closeforfort. Had the kids


    called fer Aunt Thssa, asking her


    to take them to their mom Hertha,


    she''c d have been at a loss for words.


    ¡°Though, I must say, those kids looked familiar,¡± ric mused, stroking his chin, his suspicion rekindling.


    Thssa¡¯s heart, just settled, clenched tightly once again.

 Chapter 1536

    Chapter 1536


    ric quirked an eyebrow, "Do those kids look familiar to you?"


    Thssa''s heart started to race, and she blinked rapidly, scrambling for a n.


    Suddenly, ric''s face brightened with realization, "I''ve got it! I saw those two at the hospital before!¡±


    Turning to Thssa, he exined, "When Hertha had that car ident and was hospitalized. I bumped into these kids in the elevator. Never thought


    they lived in the same building as Hertha. Last time. it was a nanny with them, but today. it was their mom."


    Though it had been over a month, the young girl''s piercing eyes were unforgettable. They had the same almond shape as his, which made them


    stand out in his memory. He had felt an inexplicable connection to the girl at the time, probably because of their simr eyes, he thought.


    And now, they had crossed paths again.


    Thssa nervously swallowed, forcing a smile, "Oh, so you''ve seen them before..."


    Finding no words to respond, she could only echo his statement. She, too, remembered the awkward encounter between ric and Helena at the


    hospital.


    Phew..


    Since ric believed the young woman was the kids'' mother, he wouldn''t suspect Hertha. Thssa felt a wave of relief.


    Just then, the elevator reached the ground floor. Stepping out, Thssa urged, "Mr. Falconer, it''s gettingte. We should hurry."


    The longer ric stayed, the greater the risk of Hertha''s kids being exposed.


    Now that Ataric was nning to stay


    in the building regrly, running into


    the kids would be inevitable.


    Thgsa feared it was only a matter


    of tine before he discovered


    Hertha¡¯ s secret.


    <


    Poor Hertha.


    True to his gentlemanly nature, ric drove Thssa back to Star Harbor Vi.


    Before she got out of the car, ric suddenly asked, "What exactly happened between you and Lysander?¡±


    He could tell there was tension between Thssa and Lysander, a clear sign of a falling out.


    During the three years Lysander was


    ina, Tissa had stayed at


    Royal Estates, dedicating herself to>


    his care. ¡®She went to great lengths


    to secure treatment from Dr. Funke


    for kysander, meeting even the most


    derfianding of his conditions.


    Now that Lysander was awake, albeit still wheelchair-bound, why did Thssa move out of Royal Estates instead of continuing to care for him?


    What had gone wrong between them?


    ric had witnessed the trials of


    Lysanderar and Thssa¡¯''s :


    rtionship, enduring through the


    toughest times, seemingly onthe


    verge of a happy ending. Why then


    had they separated? Content


    b¨¦longs to  ~N?velDrama.Org: owner of this content.


    Thssa''s hand froze on the car door handle, ric''s straightforward question weighing heavily on her heart.


    She kept reminding herself that estrangement from Lysander was for the best. trying to appear indifferent. Yet, merely hearing Lysander''s name


    tugged at her heartstrings.


    With a heavy sigh, Thssa looked down, ¡°He and Rosalind are a match made in heaven. I was just passing through. Let''s not talk about me and


    him in that way anymore.¡±

 Chapter 1537

    Chapter 1537


    As Thssa stepped out of the car, ric''s voice caught her off guard, "If you really love Lysander, you shouldn''t let minor setbacks defeat you. True


    lave means fighting through the storms to be together.¡±


    Thssa''s breath hitched, but she continued to move, closing the car door behind her with a wave, "Goodbye, Mr. Falconer.¡±


    Turning, she made her way toward the apartmentplex. The word ¡®love¡¯ had never crossed between her and Lysander.


    Did Lysander love her? He had never said.


    And did she love Lysander? The mere thought choked her, a crushing pressure.


    She had told herself to let go, believing that being strangers with Lysander was for the best. Now, someone else had taken her ce by his side. She


    should have felt relieved, yet her heart ached with a relentless pain. Wanting to let go but being unable to was the true agony.


    Knowing it was impossible but still clinging on was the ultimate helplessness.


    Thssa suddenly understood the persistence Leopold had shown her. Each time she urged him to move on and find another woman to marry, it was


    like twisting a knife in his heart.


    Ironically, she had thought she was doing him a favor.


    In this life, she had wronged Leopold, who had even sacrificed his life to free her from Lysander''s control


    Now, achieving freedom was the least she could do to honor Leopold¡¯s memory. Only by letting go could she truly be free. Owing Leopold in this life,


    she vowed to repay him in the next. though she knew there was no chance now.


    Thinking of Leopold, Thssa''s heart clenched in pain.


    She arrived home to find her aunt, Astrid, waiting on the couch, concern evident in her eyes, ¡°Thssa, what''s wrong? Did someone hurt you?"


    Astrid stood and approached her, noticing Thssa¡¯s red, tear-filled eyes struggling to hold back the tears, her anxiety grew.


    After her mother, Evelyn, had passed away, Thssa and Astrid had grown closer, finding sce and warmth in each other.


    Seeing Astrid! s concerned look,


    Thssacfelt a lump in her throat ~


    and qui¨¦kly embraced her, '' ¡®Auntie,


    I''m okay. It''s just... I had somesreally


    spieychili today, and it got me all


    teary..." Content belongs ta¡±


    NovelDrama.Org -


    In her aunt''s embrace, she found a mother''s warmth, bing a vulnerable little girl seekingfort


    "So that''s it, huh? No more spicy food for you then," Astrid said with a relieved smile, gently patting Thssa on the back, soothing her like a child


    "Yeah," Thssa sighed, feeling somewhat better after the hug. She let go and asked, "Auntie, have you eaten yet?"


    Thssa had previously brought


    Astrid to Stafiaven from


    Hollowbrook> mainly because .


    Astrid''s arthritis was acting up, and


    Thssa wanted her to seek


    treatrsent i in Starhaven. For over a


    manth, Astrid had stayed ins


    Starhaven, supporting Thatassa,


    without returning to Hollowbrook.


    ~


    I''ve eaten already. I saved some dinner for you, but I guess you''re full from that chili feast.¡± Astrid said warmly.


    "Oh, right. Youmentioned checking


    the dating site''updates today. I saw


    a message from a 52-year-old ¡°


    woman ifiterested in your info. I I


    replied.on your behalf and set wpa


    datefor tomorrow morning atten,¡±N?velDrama.Org owns all ? content.


    Asttid recalled, bringing up-the


    itffportant detail. Contentbelongs to


    ¡ê


    "Really? Let''s check out her profile," Thssa said, heading toward theputer.

 Chapter 1538

    Chapter 1538


    Before heading out to her job, Thssa had one task for Astrid: keep an eye on the online dating tform for any interest in Dr. Funke''s profile, to


    see if anyone wanted to meet him in person.


    Thssa had promised Dr. Funke she''d find him a match, no matter what.


    Lately, she had introduced Dr. Funke to quite a fewdies, but none seemed to click with him.


    Most of the meet-ups didn¡¯t go beyond the first date.


    There was only one exception, who had actually agreed to have lunch with him the day after their first meet-up. But, it ended there. with just one meal


    shared between them. The deal-breaker? She couldn''t handle Dr. Funke¡¯s quirky personality and his penchant for being enigmatic in everything he


    did. She chose to step back from pursuing anything further with Dr. Funke


    After several failed attempts, Thssa was back on the hunt for Dr. Funke¡¯s potential match.


    Since her new job kept her busy, she enlisted her aunt Astrid''s help to monitor the dating site.


    It was also a way to keep Astrid upied, preventing her from feeling lonely and idle at home.


    Spotting a profile picture of a woman who seemed to be Dr. Funke''s type, Thssa realized she might need to take a day off work to assist Dr. Funke


    with this potential date.


    Gulfstream Community.


    Bridget returned to Hertha¡¯s ce with her two kids and a young woman in tow.Upstodatee from Novel(D)ra/m/a.O(r)g


    Upon entering, they found Hertha casually sitting at the dining table, engrossed in her smartphone, while the sound of dishes being washed echoed


    from the kitchen.


    ¡°Mommy!¡± Julian¡¯s eyes lit up at the sight of Hertha, and he bolted towards her.


    ¡°Mommy!¡± Helena followed, her tiny legs wobbly and unsteady, making one worry she might fall.


    Luckily, despite the haste, she managed to keep herself bnced, narrowly avoiding several falls.


    Bridget watched from behind, her heart skipping beats with every wobble.


    The tender calls melted Hertha¡¯s heart. She quickly set aside her phone and opened her arms to wee her little treasures.


    ¡°Julian, Helena, you''re back! Mommy


    missed you so much.¡± Hertha saicy


    engulfiag them ina hug, their cheeks


    pressed together, overwhelnred with


    maternal love.


    7


    Suddenly, Hertha looked up at Bridget with a panicked expression, asking, ¡°Bridget. did you run into Thssa?¡±


    Considering Thssa and ric had


    left just moments before Bridget.and


    the kids returned, the timing was too


    close forfort! Content belongs


    to  _


    Thssa had left with ric, and if Bridget ran into Thssa, that meant she also encountered ric..


    Oh, dear!


    Just picturing the scene made Hertha¡¯s heart race.


    Before Bridget could respond, Helena''s lively voice chimed in, ¡°We saw Aunt Thssa in the elevator, with a man...¡±


    Oh no! They did meet! Hertha felt a chill run down her spine. Did ric see Julian and Helena? Did he suspect anything?


    Hertha looked at Bridget, fear evident in her eyes.


    Bridget, unsettled by Hertha¡¯s gaze,


    nervously said, "Ms. Kensington, is


    there a problem? We were waiting N


    for the elevator on the 10th floor x


    when the doors opened, and I saw


    s. Everhart with aman inside: But


    wecdidn''t get in, the doors closed


    quickly, and they went down. We


    didn¡¯t even get a chance to say Ni...


    ¡±


    No greeting?


    Well, that¡¯s a relief!


    Hertha¡¯s anxious heart finally settled upon hearing Bridget¡¯s exnation

 Chapter 1539

    Chapter 1539


    ric only caught a brief glimpse, and it seemed he hadn''t recognized the kids. If he had, things wouldn''t be this peaceful right now.


    Hertha''s heart, previously racing with fear, finally settled down.


    She smiled, saying. "All is well. Bridget. you''ve been such a help."


    Bridget let out a sigh of relief. responding, "It''s what I''m here for.¡±


    "Mummy, Emmeline is so kind. She gave me candy," Julian said with his sweet, youthful voice, his chubby little hand clutching a brightly wrapped


    piece of candy. his cute face beaming with joy.


    Kids are simple to please: a single piece of candy can bring them immense happiness.


    "Julian, sweetie, we say thank you when someone gives us something," Hertha said tenderly, patting his little head


    "Uh-huh," Julian nodded vigorously, turning back to the young woman standing behind him. "Emmeline, thank you for the candy.¡±


    "Thanks, Emmeline. I love you so much," Helena chimed in yfully, smiling at the young woman. Her pockets were stuffed with candies, all from


    Emmeline


    That''s when Hertha¡¯s attention shifted to the young woman whe had entered with Bridget.


    As their gazes met, the young woman smiled warmly. "Don''t mention it. You two are adorable. I hope to have two lovely kids like you someday.¡±


    Her words were a response to the children but were directed at Hertha


    Hertha offered a polite smile, "You surely will."


    Then she looked at Bridget. hoping for an introduction to this woman.


    The woman looked around the room with curiosity, then asked, "Where''s Spencer? Bridget mentioned he was here."


    Caught off guard, Hertha blinked and said, "Spencer? He''s in the kitchen..."


    Before she cowd finish, the woman


    walked towatds the kitchen to find


    Spencer, apron-d, standing by the


    sink wasting dishes. Her gentle


    smile immediately turned to surprise


    as she eximed, ¡¯Spencer, you''re


    doifig the dishes?" Content belongs


    to¡¯ o


    ¡°Emmeline, you''re here," Spencer turned around, spotting Emmeline at the door. He ced thest clean dish in the cupboard, wiped his hands, and


    approached her.


    His gaze softened as he looked at Emmeline. "Did you have to wait long? I''ll make you dinner."


    Seeing Spencer''s tender look towards the woman, Hertha realized who she must be!


    She must be Spencer''s new girlfriend!All content ? N/.?vel/Dr/ama.Org.


    Here she was, having her guest''s boyfriend do her dishes.


    How embarrassing and guilt-inducing!


    Hertha quickly exined, "Emmeline, I''m so sorry. Today was an exception, which is why Spencer helped out. Rest assured, I won''t impose on him


    like this again.¡±


    Emmeline''s warm smile had vanished, and even the most understanding person would mind their partner cooking and doing dishes for another


    woman!


    A hint of displeasure settled in


    Em meline¡¯s eyes as she said, ¡®Ms.


    Kensington, your children are indeed


    delightful. When Spencer and.+get


    marti¨¦d, we''ll also have two.


    adarable kids.¡±


    ¡°


    Hertha felt an awkward pang. Emmeline''s words. seemingly unchanged, carried apletely different weight in this new context


    Initially, Enameline''sment was


    froma genuine affection for =


    children, Now, it servedasa >


    reminde to Hertha that her kids


    werenot Spencer''s, hinting she


    shauld not bother him. Content


    b¨¦longs to  ~


    She and Spencer would have their own children


    The atmosphere turned noticeably awkward for Hertha.

 Chapter 1540

    Chapter 1540


    Hertha forced augh and said, ¡°Well then, I''ll send my best wishes your way in advance.¡±


    Spencer, sensing Emmeline¡¯s discontent, quickly took off his apron, took her by the hand, and said, "Let''s head back. I''ll whip up some spicy chili for


    you.¡±


    Spencer was always so refined and gentle, his considerateness made it hard for anyone to stay mad at him. It was Spencer''s refinement, his good


    nature, and his culinary skills that had drawn Emmeline to him in the first ce.


    Now, even though she harbored some resentment towards Hertha, Spencer''s soothing words melted her anger away.


    "Okay." she nodded.


    "Hertha, we''ll be heading off then," Spencer informed Hertha, and then led Emmeline away.


    Hertha smiled as she watched them leave. Once they were out of sight, her smile faded, and she felt her face stiffen from the forced cheeriness.


    Guilt, self-reproach, embarrassment.


    She had overstepped, treating someone else''s boyfriend as if he was hers tomand. She was in the wrong.


    The thing was, over the past three years, Spencer had frequentlye over for meals, and it had always been him who cleared the table and


    washed the dishes afterward.


    Gradually, Hertha had grown ustomed to assigning these tasks to Spencer without a second thought.


    She hadn''t realized her mistake until today, when Spencer''s girlfriend came to confront her about it. She finally understood that Spencer''s visits were


    acts of friendship, but she had taken his kindness for granted. She was wrong. and she resolved not to do it again. After all, even if she and Spencer


    were close friends, he was someone else''s partner, someone else''s future husband.


    From now on, she would try not to leave the kids at Spencer''s ce or trouble him anymore.


    ¡®Mommy, tis gummy bear is so


    sweet, yott should try it," Helena said,


    unwrapping a candy. Her chubby


    little hands held the gummy bear,


    already bitten in half, sticky with her


    saliva, .


    -


    She offered the half-eaten gummy bear to Hertha, her beautiful, almond-shaped eyes filled with love for her mommy, eager to share something


    delicious.


    Hertha snapped back to reality,


    hesitating-at the sight ofthe <>


    saliva-gdated gummy bear, but the


    love in-Helena''s tender gaze was too


    much to resist. It was as if ste


    wanted to give her the wo! Id.


    Hertha opened her mouth without hesitation and epted the candy, saying gently, "Thank you, my sweet Helena."


    "Mommy, you''re wee. Is the candy sweet?" Helena asked, tilting her head with a joyous smile, her voice as delightful as a silver bell


    Hertha nodded, "Sweet."


    After all, this was Spencer and Emmeline''s "happiness candy." How could it not be sweet?


    "Mommy, have some chocte,¡± Julian said, offering a whole piece of chocte to Hertha.


    Hertha epted it gratefully and ate it.


    "Yum!" Hertha nodded in approval.


    Julian''s smile broadened, his joy evident, even happier than if he¡¯d eaten the chocte himself.N?velDrama.Org: owner of this content.


    Bridget watched this heartwarming


    interaction, relieved to see the


    children back with Hertha. She then


    said, "Ms-Kensington, I''d like to


    reques''a day off tomorrow. I have


    some-personal matters to attend to


    at-home; one day should be>


    efough."


    Hertha felt a bit uneasy; she had to work the next day.

 Chapter 1541

    Chapter 1541


    But remembering how Bridget had been a rock for her, taking care of the kids while she was recovering from the car ident, Hertha felt she couldn''t


    possibly say no this time. Bridget had been juggling caring for her and the kids without a break for days on end.


    This time, Bridget needed the time off for a family matter, and Hertha knew it would be heartless to refuse.


    "Alright, Bridget, take tomorrow off. I''ll call in a day''s leave at the office," Hertha said.


    "Thank you, Ms. Kensington,¡± Bridget sighed with relief, her gratitude palpable.


    "Don''t mention it, I should be the one thanking you.¡± Hertha replied.N?velDrama.Org: owner of this content.


    The next day, Thssa was up at the crack of dawn, sharing a quick breakfast with Astrid before getting ready to meet Dr. Funke and the woman he


    was set up with.


    After Thssa left, Astrid was clearing the table when she noticed Thssa had left the woman''s profile on the coffee table. Astrid grabbed the


    documents and rushed out, but Thssa had already driven off.


    Panic set in for Astrid. Thssa had specifically printed those documents for Dr. Funke to review during the blind date, having been asked by Dr.


    Funke himself to arrange this with detailed information on the woman.


    Having overheard Thssa''s conversations with Dr. Funke, Astrid knew he was not one to be trifled with¡ªdemanding, with a peculiar personality.


    She knew Thssa was going to have a tough time without those documents.


    After much deliberation, Astrid decided to take a cab and deliver the documents herself, grateful she knew the meeting ce from her chat with the


    woman the day before.


    Thssa arrived at the caf¨¦ at nine, an hour before her meeting with Dr. Funke was scheduled. She opened her bag to give the documents onest


    look, only to find she hadn''t brought them.


    Should she go back?


    Traffic was at its peak, and a round trip would take over an hour¡ªnot enough time.


    Just then, Astrid called to say she was on her way with the documents, easing Thssa¡¯s worries. She told her aunt to be careful.


    A few minutester, Astrid arrived, documents in hand. "Did I hold you up?" she asked


    "No, no, Dr. Funke hasn''t arrived yet," Thssa gratefully said.


    Macias goed then," Astrid nodded,


    about to leave when a middle- aged


    man entered. He was dressed ive a


    suit and tie, not particrly tal-or


    S riking, but his demeanor bl¨¦nded


    huenor with a touch of elegance.


    C¨¦ntent belongs to


    nq


    He nced at\thssa and then at


    Astrid, who4Qoked graceful despite


    her age, her-hair almost entirely =>


    gray. "THssa, youre really


    skimping on effort now, bringing


    someone who''s halfway to the grave


    fora blind date,¡± he remarked.


    <


    N


    Thssa turned to see Dr. Funke


    approachingsrealizing he mistook


    Astrid forhis date. She was about te


    correct him when Astrid, stung by~


    his woktts, retorted, "How dare you


    speak to me like that? Callingme


    hatfway to the grave? Haveyou no


    d¨¦cency?"


    Astrid was usually the picture ofposure, rarely losing her temper unless truly provoked

 Chapter 1542

    Chapter 1542


    Astrid was fuming, her cheeks flushed with frustration. Meanwhile, Thssa was doing her utmost. rushing from one hospital to another to ensure


    Astrid received the best care. Thankfully, Astrid''s condition was showing signs of improvement.


    But Dr. Funke''sment, especially made in front of Thssa, was like rubbing salt in the wound. How could he be so insensitive?


    With a sidelong nce at Astrid, Dr. Funke coolly stated, "I never misjudge a situation.¡±


    "Oh,e on... You..." Astrid was at a loss for words, ready to give Dr. Funke a piece of her mindN?velDrama.Org: owner of this content.


    Thssa quickly stood up, gently taking Astrid by the arm, soothing her, "Auntie, please, don''t get worked up. Have a seat and rx for a bit.¡±


    She helped her aunt to a chair by the dining table.


    Then, turning to Dr. Funke, she said, "Dr. Funke, this is my aunt. She just dropped by to deliver some documents for me. Please, take a seat. The


    lady you''re supposed to meet for the blind date hasn''t arrived yet."


    It was then Dr. Funke realized his mistake; the person in front of him wasn''t his blind date but Thssa''s aunt.


    But apologizing was not something Dr. Funke was known for. Without a word, he took a seat at the table.


    Thssa poured some coffee for Dr. Funke and her aunt, trying to make small talk to lighten the mood


    She could sense the tension between her aunt and Dr. Funke, so she tried to defuse the situation by mentioning the woman Dr. Funke was supposed


    to meet still hadn''t shown up for their 10 o''clock appointment.


    She also thanked her aunt for delivering the documents, saving her from beingte, knowing well that Dr. Funke detested tardiness.


    "Thanks to my aunt, I didn''t have to go back for these documents. Dr. Funke, perhaps you could''ve reviewed Adide''s information beforehand?"


    Thssa suggested, handing over the documents to Dr. Funke, hoping he''d be a bit nicer to her aunt.


    Dr. Funke flipped through the documents without responding to Thssa or acknowledging Astrid, maintaining his aloof demeanor.


    Thssa caught her aunt''s displeased look and gave her a reassuring nce, signaling her not to take it to heart.


    Hertha was up at dawn, as she needed to prepare breakfast for the kids.


    She steamed some potatoes and saut¨¦ed chicken breast, making a delicious mashed potato and chicken breast meal for the kids.


    After feeding them, it was already 9:20 AM.


    Hertha let the kids y on the foam mat with their toys while she browsed through her phone on the couch.


    She was deep into watching some videos when Ethan''s call came through


    The client''s CEO was on the line!


    Hertha answered promptly, ¡°Mr. Ethan, what can I do for you?"


    "Hertha, we''ve started working on


    your designs, but we''re facing some


    issues ¡®with a few of them. Wewneed


    to.discuss this," Ethan exined.


    "What issues? Can I help right now?" Hertha sat up. always serious about her work.


    It''s tooplex to exin over the phone. Can you meet me at Fortune Restaurant? We need to talk face to face."


    ¡®But..." Hertha tried to mention shex


    had taker the day off, but Ethan had


    already. hung up before she could


    exin. She didn''t even get achance


    ta: o-rify, Content belongs: to


    SNovelDrama.Org


    Reluctantly, Hertha called Donovan to exin the situation.


    "Hertha, this is about your job. If we,


    upset the''client, it could mean _


    compensation from our end. Please


    weigh the options,¡± he urged:


    After advising her, Donovan too ended the call

 Chapter 1543

    Chapter 1543


    Hertha was in a bind


    Donovan was insistent on her presence. But what about the kids?


    Bridget had taken the day off due to a family emergency. There was no way Hertha could ask her toe back.


    Relying on Spencer was out of the question. After yesterday''s favor, his girlfriend had caught a glimpse of their interaction and wasn''t too pleased.


    Hertha couldn''t be the reason their rtionship hit the rocks.All content ? N/.?vel/Dr/ama.Org.


    And pushing off work wasn''t an option either.


    After much deliberation, Hertha decided to take the kids along.


    Ethan had mentioned over the phone that he wanted to discuss something in person. Since it was Ethan, Hertha felt there was no cause for concern.


    She nned to bring the kids to the diner, asking the staff to keep an eye on Julian and Helena while she and Ethan talked. After the discussion,


    she''d leave immediately.


    With this n in mind, Hertha, along with Julian and Helena, headed out.


    Fortune Restaurant.


    Thssa, Astrid, and Dr. Funke had been waiting for over forty minutes. It was already 10 AM when Adide, who had agreed to a blind date, sent


    Thssa a message canceling at thest minute.


    Thssa''s heart tightened at the message, worriedly ncing at Dr. Funke, unsure how to exin the situation.


    "Is there something on my face?" Dr. Funke, catching Thssa¡¯s gaze, asked with a hint of suspicion.


    Thssa quickly shook her head, stammering, "Adide messaged... she went to another blind date location and won''t make it.¡±


    Upon hearing this, Dr. Funke''s


    demeanor darkened, an aura of


    displeasure-enveloping him. =


    ¡®Thsse; you promised me twos


    thingsin exchange for treating.


    Lysander. Now that I''ve cured him,


    areyou trying to brush me off?"


    As he spoke, a formidable presence filled the air, making it almost palpable.


    Thssa, sensing the tension, looked past Dr. Funke to see Rosalind wheeling Lysander towards them.


    Lysander, dressed in a sleek, handmade ck suit, exuded an air of elegance and authority, even seated in a wheelchair. His striking features were


    tight with displeasure, his presence undeniablymanding.


    Rosalind, pushing the wheelchair, appeared somewhat embarrassed.


    As Thssa was about to respond to Dr. Funke, the sight of Lysander stopped her cold, words failing her.


    Astrid, disliking Dr. Funke''s tone with


    Thssa, st@od up to defend her


    friend. "Howean you say that?


    Thssahas been diligently t ying:


    to find:you a match. She''s upte


    everyaright, scouring dating sit¨¦s to


    notimiss any potential candidates


    f¨¦n you. How can you use her of


    not caring?¡±


    ¡°During Lysander''s treatment, she indeed made every effort. But what about now? Barely after Lysander''s recovery, she sets me up with a no-show.


    Isn¡¯t that neglect?" Dr. Funke argued.


    "The one who should be grateful to you for my treatment is me,¡± Lysander spoke up, his voice deep and authoritative.


    Was this Thssa¡¯s children¡¯s father, Lysander?


    Dr. Funke, too, turned to see Lysander, looking well, though confined to a wheelchair.


    After a brief assessment, he remarked, "Mr. Sinir, it''s been a month. Haven''t you stood up yet?"

 Chapter 1544

    Chapter 1544


    Before Lysander could even utter a word, Dr. Funke added, "It seems like the person taking care of you hasn''t taken my advice to heart."


    Rosalind, already embarrassed, grew even more flustered upon hearing Dr. Funke''s remark. She hurried to exin, "I''ve been taking good care of


    Lysander every day, keeping your instructions in mind, and following them to the letter. It might just be a matter of time before Lysander can stand on


    his feet again..."


    Dr. Funke gave Rosalind a sharp look, then turned to Lysander, saying, "I only remember giving my advice to Thssa. After all, it was Thssa who


    invited me to treat you, and she was the one who agreed to my terms. I only recognize the person who sought me out.¡±


    Rosalind''s grip on the wheelchair''s armrest tightened, her heart racing with tension and worry.


    Ethan had asked Lysander to meet at the diner to discuss some business matters


    Thest time Lysander went out for a work meeting, Rosalind hadn''t apanied him, which left her feeling quite defeated. This time, she insisted


    on joining Lysander no matter what.All content ? N/.?vel/Dr/ama.Org.


    But little did she expect that upon arriving at Fortune Restaurant, she would find Dr. Funke and Thssa there. in the midst of a conversation about


    Lysander¡¯s treatment!


    Dr. Funke''s earlierment had pierced through the veil of lies she and Zephyr had maintained.


    Being as sharp as he was, Lysander must have realized upon hearing Dr. Funke''s words that it wasn''t Rosalind who had been caring for him during


    his three-yeara, but Thssa.


    It was Thssa, not Zephyr, who had asked Dr. Funke to treat Lysander, contrary to Zephyr¡¯s im that Thssa had distanced herself from


    Lysander after he becameatose.


    Caught in her lie in front of Lysander, Rosalind felt her heart pounding with unease and anxiety.


    As the veil of shame was lifted, she braced herself for the inevitable fallout.


    Amidst Rosalind''s panic, Lysander didn''t look back at her. His deep, obsidian eyes were fixed on Thssa across from him.


    "She agreed to your terms, and I''m here to fulfill them," Lysander said.


    Thssa met Lysander''s gaze, feeling her heart skip a beat at the intense focus in his onyx-like eyes. It was as if he was scrutinizing her, attempting


    to peer into the depths of her soul.


    Thssa''s heart, which had just settled, was once again thrown into turmoil, stirring up waves of emotion.


    His eyes seemed to consume her very soul, causing Thssa¡¯s heart to flutter. She quickly averted her gaze, unable to withstand his intense stare


    any longer.


    She feared that her carefully guarded heart might once again be breached.


    "Lysander, I understand what you


    mean, but Intra man of my word.


    Since it was 5 Thssa who made the


    agreement with me, it has to be her


    who falfills it," Dr. Funke said, ?


    softening his tone in front ofS


    Lysander but remaining adamant.


    "Why do you have to be so difficult..." Astrid protested, feeling indignant on their behalf.


    "Since Adide couldn''t make it, you''ll have to stand in for her," Dr. Funke suddenly suggested, turning to Astrid.


    "What?" Astrid was taken aback.


    Thssa was also surprised, "Dr. Funke, what do you mean?¡±


    ¡°Your aunt''s single, right?¡± Dr. Funke inquired.


    "Yes," Thssa replied, confused


    "Then it''s settled. She''ll be my blind date for today," Dr. Funke dered


    "


    never nned on going on a blind.


    ate!" Astrid eximed, shocked.


    that she I had been roped into this


    nexpected situation just for


    jelivering some documents:


    cal


    In 5


    o need to-worry about that now. I


    ind my first i impression of you quite


    favorable,¡± Dr. Funke remarked, then


    lanced at his watch, "We''ve still got


    some time. How about we catch a


    mevie?"


    ¡°


    a


    @O


    This man was indeed as entric as the rumors suggested. Moments ago, he had beenmenting her halfway to the grave


    And now, he seemed quite taken with her!


    Thssa, both nervous and astonished, quickly interjected, "Dr. Funke, my aunt. she..."


    "Going to the movies, are we? It''s been ages since Ist watched one. Where shall we go? Make a decision.¡±


    Just as Thssa was about to reject Dr. Funke''s sudden whim, Astrid surprisingly agreed to go watch a movie with him!

 Chapter 1545

    Chapter 1545


    Thssa''s nerves were on edge, and her surprise was palpable as she gawked at Astrid. Just moments ago, her aunt was at odds with Dr. Funke,


    and now she was agreeing to go to a movie with him? What in the world was happening? Was it a case of ¡®opposites attract¡¯?


    Dr. Funke promptly whipped out his smartphone, purchased two tickets on the spot, and said to Astrid, ¡°The mall''s cinema, show starts in half an


    hour. Let''s head out.¡±


    Astrid sprang to her feet, eagerly matching Dr. Funke''s pace. ¡°Let¡¯s hit the road!¡±


    ¡°Auntie...¡± Thssa voiced her concern, attempting to follow.


    Astrid halted, turning back to address her, ¡°Thssa, head back home, alright? I''ll watch the movie and have Dr. Funke drop me off afterward. You go


    catch some Z''s."


    With that, Astrid proceeded to follow Dr. Funke, leaving Thssa behind.


    Obediently, Thssa didn''t follow; understanding that tagging along on what seemed to be a date between Dr. Funke and her aunt would only make


    her a third wheel. As she watched Dr. Funke and Astrid exit the diner, Thssa¡¯s thoughts were a tangled mess of confusion and mncholy.


    Today was supposed to be the day she had set Dr. Funke up on a blind date. How had her aunt be involved? She knew her aunt''s immediate


    eptance was to spare Dr. Funke any embarrassment. thinking of Thssa¡¯s feelings first and foremost. Yet, it all felt so bizarre to her.


    Lost in her thoughts, Thssa


    suddenly felt piercing gaze on her


    back. Without needing to look, she.


    knew it was Lysander watching her,


    causing-her whole body to tense-up


    instantly. She half-turned, managing


    a for¨¦ed chuckle, "Please, ge ahead,


    emjoy your meal. I''ll be heading


    back.¡±


    Rosalind and Lysander were here for a date, after all. She certainly didn''t want to y the unwanted role of a third wheel.


    ¡°Hold it right there!¡± Just as Thssa was about to leave, Lysander¡¯smanding voice halted her in her tracks. She didn¡¯t want to stop, but there


    was something almost maic about Lysander¡¯s words that made her body involuntarily obey.Upstodatee from Novel(D)ra/m/a.O(r)g


    ¡°It saves David the trouble of calling you. We need to discuss some technical aspects of your design,¡± Lysander''s deep voice conveyed.


    A wave of relief washed over Thssa¡¯s anxious heart. So, he wasn''t trying to keep her here to witness his and Rosalind''s lovey-dovey moments, but


    for work? Since it was about work, there was no escaping it.


    Thssa took a deep breath, adjusted her mindset, turned around, and managed a polite smile, ¡°May I know which aspects of the design Mr. Sinir


    wishes to discuss?


    ¡°Lysander left-all the design


    materials witt¡¯me. I''ll hand them


    over to yau in a bit,¡± Rosalind chimed


    in. AS soon as Rosalind finished =


    speakigg, Lysander¡¯s deep gaze>


    shifted towards her, his calmvoice


    leaving no room for debates Give me


    th¨¦ materials, and you head back.¡±


    Despite Lysander¡¯s calm demeanor,


    a quilty Rosalind could immediately


    tell from histone that he was both.


    displeased¡¯and angry with her. AX <


    sinking+eeling took hold of her¡±


    makitg her feel miserable as she


    attempted to argue, ¡®Lysander, I''m


    nat tired, I promised to be-with you


    today...¡± Content belongs t to


    Lysander¡¯s sharp and imposing look silenced her mid-sentence, scaring her into silence. She could tell, Lysander was genuinely angry! Because he


    had seen through her lies! It was Thssa who had looked after him for three years, not her!

 Chapter 1546

    Chapter 1546


    Lysander didn''t publicly call her out or me her, which was more than enough to save her face.


    Rosalind had always been known for her intelligence and grace. Seeing that Lysander was upset, she naturally wouldn''t go against his wishes.


    She took the project materials out of her backpack and handed them to Lysander, ready to leave. Still worried, she asked, "How will you get home


    later?"


    "That''s none of your concern.¡± Lysander said.


    A tear welled up in Rosalind¡¯s eyes, which she fought hard to suppress, and then she turned and walked away.


    As she passed by Thssa, she nced at her and saw Thssa looking at her curiously. She quickly averted her gaze, not wanting Thssa to


    see her reddened eyes. She didn''t want to be the butt of Thssa''s joke!


    Rosalind quickened her pace and bumped into someone at the entrance of the diner, nearly falling. The person caught her, steadying her shoulders.


    "Ms. Whitman, are you alright?¡±


    David had just entered the diner when Rosalind bumped into him. Thankfully, he managed to steady her shoulders in time, or she would have fallen


    right inte his arms.


    Rosalind, with her eyes red, nced at David and then quickly looked away, saying in a hurry, "I''m fine!"


    After saying that, she walked past David and hurried away.


    In that moment when Rosalind looked up, David clearly saw her eyes, red and watery like those of a frightened rabbit.


    She was obviously holding back tears.


    That look, vulnerable and pitiful, was like a pebblending in David''s heart. causing an unprecedented flutter within him.


    David snapped back to reality, startled by his own reaction. Was he getting sick?


    David quickly refocused and walked into the diner, pushing Lysander''s wheelchair to the table.


    Thssa hesitated for a moment before followingN?velDrama.Org owns all ? content.


    As they sat dawn, Ethan and ric


    walked in antisaw Lysander, David,


    and Thssa at the table. ric =>


    joked, ¡°with Lysander here, it''s as


    who eviffe ent vibe. Even the ?


    inseparable BFF can be put ¨¦ aside to


    rush over here, right Ms. Everhart?"


    ric''s ips scurled in a teasing smile.


    He was.r raking fun of Thssa for


    rushing ¡é over as soon as she heard


    Lysander would be there, noteven


    waiting for Hertha. Content belongs


    to NovelDrama.Org -


    Thssa inwardly scorned ric. She had clearly told him yesterday that Lysander''s future bride was Rosalind, and she was just passing through


    Lysander¡¯s life.


    Yet, today, he was still joking about her and Lysander.


    Thssa said, "I got here first. to set up a date for Dr. Funke.¡±


    She wasn''t here for Lysander, nor was she eager to see him as ric had suggested.


    Lysander was still there, and she didn''t want him to think she harbored any inappropriate thoughts about him


    "Ms. Everhart,you don''t really need


    to exin," ric said casually,


    taking a seat at the table, inwardly - NS


    sighing that he was trying to helps


    Thsga, and she wasn''t oO


    appreciative. Did she really want


    Lysander to be taken by Rosalind


    that badly? Content belorigs to


    NovelDrama.Org


    "Your tongue seems to have gatten too freetely.¡± Lysander said, casting a deep nce at ric.


    Feeling the pressure, ric immediately shut up, "I''ll just drink water, not saying anything.¡±


    As ric picked up his ss to drink, the door opened, and Hertha walked in with two adorable kids, immediately scanning the diner for Ethan.

 Chapter 1547

    Chapter 1547


    The moment she spotted him, sitting near the entrance in the most conspicuous booth, ric!


    His charming face was a ma for eyes. and Hertha recognized him instantly!


    Her breath hitched, she quickly grabbed her children''s hands, her heart pounding, holding her breath, silently and swiftly moving forward!


    As she walked, she silently prayed, please don''t see me, ric, please don''t notice me!


    How naive she had been, thinking Ethan would discuss work without bringing ric. Didn¡¯t she realize that ric, being the project director, would


    definitely be involved in such major design decisions?N?velDrama.Org owns all ? content.


    Luckily, ric was drinking his coffee, his gaze obscured, not looking towards the entrance.


    Hertha. with her children, made a nerve-wracking escape from the, not yet sighing in relief when she looked up to see two figures approaching!


    A middle-aged couple, heads down, chatting andughing, heading toward the restaurant.


    Oh no, it was Hertha''s mother and father!


    Despite three years of absence, how could she not recognize her own parents?


    Her steps halted, holding her children''s hands, frozen, as she watched the approaching pair. Now, where could she hide?


    The elderly couple, still sharing augh. suddenly noticed the two adorable children ahead.


    Kimberly, her heart swelling with affection, gazed at the cherubic little ones, saying, ¡°Oh, look at those children, darling. That boy, he looks just like our


    Hertha did as a child


    Ashton, looking at the plump little


    angels, coulde''t hide his delight,


    sighing, ¡°Kertha¡¯s always been too.?


    stubborrt_not contacting us for taree


    years.{f she had married Spencer,


    her children would probably be just


    astevely, and we''d be grandparents


    b£¤now.¡± Content belongs-to


    ¡°Indeed, I wortder whose good


    fortune it is to have such adorable


    grandkids; Kimberlymented, =


    recallinghow Hertha had stubborfly


    refused t to marry Spencer, leading


    Kimberly to drive her out in afit of


    anger. _- S


    Hertha had been truly heartless, not reaching out to them for so many years.


    And Kimberly,pride getting the


    better of hersnadn''t reached out to


    Hertha either. Every time she was


    about toGial Hertha¡¯s number, the¡±


    memoty of Hertha¡¯s resolute gaze


    as she left home would torment


    Kipaberly, anger preventingher from


    faking the call. Content,belongs to


    Hearing her parents¡¯ discussion, Hertha felt a pang of sadness. As they came closer, she hurriedly turned around, not wanting her parents to see her.


    But it was toote. After observing the children, Kimberly looked up at their mother, curious about the woman whe bore such adorable kids


    Her eyes met a familiar face, the one she longed for in her thoughts.


    Hertha turned swiftly, but Kimberly excitedly called out, ¡°Hertha, is that you... uh...


    Kimberly couldn''t finish her sentence before Hertha suddenly stepped forward, covering her mouth.


    ¡°What are you doing, you...¡± Ashton, thinking his wife was in danger, was about to take a swing at Hertha.


    Hertha lifted her eyes, panic-stricken, and whispered to Ashton, "Dad. it''s me, shh, please keep it down...¡±


    ¡°Mommy!¡± Julian and Helena ran to Hertha''s side, clutching at her jeans, their young brows furrowed in confusion and fear, ring defensively at


    Ashton.


    Meanwhile, back in the restaurant, ric set down his cup, casually digging at his ear with a finger, puzzled, ¡°Did anyone else hear someone outside


    calling for Hertha, and kids calling for mommy...

 Chapter 1548

    Chapter 1548


    The moment Thssa heard it, her nerves instantly tensed up. Could it be that Hertha wasing with the kids?


    If ric found out, it would be dangerous.


    Thssa quickly said, "You must be hearing things, none of us heard anything.¡±


    "Really? I swear I heard it clear as day," ric said. He then stood up and walked towards the exit.


    No particr reason, just wanted to check if he was really hallucinating.


    Could it be his obsession with Hertha had him hearing things?


    He couldn''t be that far gone, could he?


    Seeing ric heading out, Thssa was about to stop him. but it was toote. He reached the door and leaned out to look.


    Thssa''s breath tightened, worried that it really was Hertha.


    At that moment, ric saw the street outside was empty, not a soul in sight.


    Looks like he really was hallucinating.


    ric shook his head slightly and returned to the diner.


    Two minutester, Hertha poked her head out from behind a wall. peeping towards the restaurant''s entrance. Not seeing ric, she breathed a sigh


    of relief.


    She had just overheard ric¡¯s words, scaring her into dragging her kids and parents to hide behind the diner''s wall.


    Thankfully, they hid in time, and ric didn''te any closer. Just one more step, and she and the kids would have been exposed.


    Hertha snapped back to reality, facing her parents¡¯ puzzled, questioning looks.


    She couldn''t exin everything ina


    few words, om she kept it brief, "Dad,


    Mom, these¡¯ are my twins, a boy


    named J Julian and a girlnamed.


    Helena Julian, Helena, say hi te:


    Grandpa Ashton and Grandma


    Kimberly.


    6


    &


    ?


    ~


    "Grandpa, Grandma.¡±


    "Grandpa, Grandma.¡±


    Julian and Helena obediently tilted their little heads, their voices soft and sweet, calling out to Ashton and Kimberly.


    The sweetness in their voices immediately melted Kimberly''s heart, who loved children to bits.


    "Oh, what good kids. so well-behaved," Kimberly immediately responded warmly to the little ones.N?velDrama.Org owns all ? content.


    Ashton also looked at the two cherubs with a face full of kindness.


    "Mommy, what does Grandpa and Grandma mean?¡± Helena suddenly asked, tilting her head in curiosity.


    Hertha wastaken aback, not quite ~


    Sure hawsto respond. She was a


    organizing her thoughts to answer


    whe Kimberly and Ashton each


    picked up a child. Content belongs


    to  -


    Kimberly, with a face full of affection, told Helena in her arms, "Grandpa is your mommy''s daddy, and Grandma is your mommy''s mommy.¡±


    Helena nodded in understanding, then asked another unexpectedly profound question.


    "Why does mommy have a daddy, and me and brother don''t have one?" Helena''s beautiful eyes looked up at Kimberly, filled with innocent curiosity.


    Kimberly''s smile froze for a moment as she realized the gravity of the question. She then turned a serious gaze towards Hertha.


    Ashton¡¯s gaze also turned stern, looking at her.


    Feeling uneasy under her parents¡¯


    scrutinizing gaze, Hertha awkwardly


    chuckled and hurriedly confessed ¡ª


    before any urther interrogation, x


    ¡®Mom, Bad, I had a boyfriend In


    secreta while back. We broke. up,


    and.that''s when I found out-twas


    pregnant. There was no other way, I


    had to give birth..." Content belongs


    to

 Chapter 1549

    Chapter 1549


    As soon as Hertha finished speaking. she could feel her parents¡¯ gaze sharpen, their expressions a mix of shock and disappeintment, as if they were


    thinking, "Why can''t she be more responsible?"


    Before they couldunch into a lecture, Hertha quickly said, ¡°Dad, Mom, my boss is waiting for me at the restaurant to go over some work stuff. I was


    just worried about him finding out I brought the kids¡ªnopany wants their employees turning the workce into a daycare. Could you watch them


    for a bit? And please, don''te by the restaurant; we can''t let my boss see you with the kids or I might lose my job.


    Kimberly opened her mouth, about to say something, but Hertha cut her off before she could get the words out.


    ¡°Just take the kids back home. I''ll head there as soon as I finish work.¡±


    After reassuring Julian and Helena to listen to their grandparents, Hertha watched as her parents, with a kid in each arm, walked away from the


    restaurant. She let out a sigh of relief.


    She had been worrying about who would watch the kids, and then, as if by some miracle, her parents showed up. It was like the universe was on her


    side.


    Composing herself and putting on a smile, Hertha entered the restaurant.


    Meanwhile, ric was puzzled. While he was deeply engrossed in his drink, he could''ve sworn he heard someone calling out for Hertha, and even


    the sound of kids calling for their mommy. But when he looked outside, there was nothing.


    Was he starting to hear things now?


    He wondered how much Hertha actually meant to him, that he was beginning to hallucinate her voice.


    ric had had his fair share of girlfriends in the past, usually forgetting about them after a little while, not even remembering their names. But Hertha


    was different. It was as if she had nted a seed in his heart after just one night together.


    Lost in thought, he looked towards


    the door andsaw a woman in jeans


    and a ongssleeve T-shirt with ~~ >


    seafoargreen wavy hair walkingin.


    Her cumvy figure and big, round.eyes


    full. of a yful and sensual I qura¡ªit


    was unmistakably Hertha. Content


    belongs to NovelDrama.Org ?


    ric blinked, thinking his eyes were ying tricks on him. He rubbed them and looked again, but it was still Hertha


    "I must be really sick, even starting to hallucinate,¡± ric muttered to himself.


    Yesterday, he had been at Hertha''s


    ce for hotpot, and theN?velDrama.Org owns all ? content.


    a mosphere { fad left a strong


    impression''en him. After dropping N


    Tha assa off and heading back tox


    Gulfstream Community, he found


    hims instinctively walking towards


    Hertha $s apartment. He was''about


    tering the doorbell when fe


    remembered it was supposed to be


    her and Spencer''s private time. Not


    wanting to intrude, he hesitated and


    eventually walked away. Content


    belongs to NovelDrama.Org


    That night/lying in bed just a


    corridor r away from Hertha''s N


    apartment, ric was tormented by


    thoughts of what Hertha and ~


    Spencer might be doing, tossing and


    turaing with jealousy and unrest.


    Probably it was theck of sleep that was causing him to hear and see things.


    "Sick, huh? You should see a doctor; sitting here won''t make it better,¡± Hertha said, approaching him and pping him on the shoulder in a friendly


    manner.


    As she got close, her delicate scent enveloped him, and the touch on his shoulder sent a jolt through ric.


    He straightened up instantly, his fox-like eyes wide with surprise and disbelief, ¡°It really is you!"


    "What, you can''t recognize me after just a day? Maybe you are sick.¡± Hertha teased, reaching out to touch ric''s forehead.


    Her coal fingertips on his hot forehead made ric''s heart skip a beat, his breathing quickened at the intimate contact

 Chapter 1550

    Chapter 1550


    Here is the revised trantion, taking into ount cultural context and ensuring thenguage flows smoothly for an English-speaking audience:


    Hertha was blissfully unaware of ric''s odd behavior and hadn''t noticed anything amiss in her own actions either. She touched ric''s forehead to


    check for a fever andpared it to her own, before withdrawing her hand and remarking, "You''re not running a fever.¡±


    Her puzzled gaze met ric''s, which was loaded with emotion, his Adam''s apple bobbing noticeably. Having had children, Hertha could easily


    decipher the meaning behind ric''s gaze. It sent a flutter through her heart, and her cheeks flushed with heat as she realized her action might have


    been a bit forward for a man. To skirt around the awkwardness, she averted her gaze, adopting a smile and a joking tone to lighten the mood.


    "No worries, you''re not sick. Just don''t scare yourself. You''re Mr. Ethan''s golden boy; he''d be beside himself if you were ill."


    Changing the subject, Hertha walked over and sat next to Thssa, casting a nce at the full table with David, Lysander, and Ethan, pointedly


    ignoring ric at the end. With a smile, she asked, "Everyone''s here. Are bothpanies keen on discussing craftsmanship?¡±


    Ethan exined, "I called Mr. Sinir over. We bought your design drafts, and Mr. Sinir bought Thssa''s. I figured since we acquired the designs


    together, discussing the craftsmanship as a group would be ideal, saving us from scheduling another meeting.¡±


    Ethan''s main motive, however, stemmed from gossip ric had shared about a potential rift between Thssa and Lysander. Having witnessed the


    ups and downs of their rtionship, Ethan saw an opportunity to potentially reconcile the two by facilitating more interaction between them, especially


    now that Thssa had left Royal Estates. He had nned to call Thssa to join them, but upon arriving, he found she was already there.


    ric, touching his nose, said, "Mr. Ethan, you could''ve given me a heads up that Hertha would be here."


    The revtion had spared him a moment of panic, fearing he''d been hallucinating!


    "By the way, Hertha, were you outside just now, someone calling for you?" ric suddenly remembered the earlier mix-up, seeking to validate his


    own senses.


    Hertha''s nerves tensed up again at


    ric''s question. Oh no! ric was


    still hung up¡¯ on that? He must have>


    heard the-kids calling for momay:


    Admitting to it would only raiseemore


    questions about the childrenfrom


    fic.


    oF


    Her eyes darted around as she ~~.


    forced asmile. I came straight in


    Why would I linger outside? There''s


    no one I know around here; who


    waollld I be talking to?¡± Content


    belongs to  ~~Upstodatee from Novel(D)ra/m/a.O(r)g


    "You''re sure you weren''t outside?" ric pressed, still puzzled.


    "Of course, I wasn''t. Why would I lie about something so trivial?" Hertha responded, a tad more defensively, as if she were on the verge of getting


    upset.


    ric dro pped the subject, his brow


    furrowing in frustration. Even though


    he wasn''t hallucinating, the nagging.


    thought ofa delusion bothered him.


    Considering his carefree lifestyle, the


    idea oF bel ng unsettled by a woman


    to th¨¦ point of distraction seemed a


    disservice to his ea sygoing


    reputation. Conten belongs to


    Seeing ric''s silence, Hertha quickly looked away and addressed Ethan. "Mr. Ethan, about the craftsmanship issue, can I see the documents?¡±


    All she wanted was to wrap up and leave as soon as possible.

 Chapter 1551

    Chapter 1551


    Julian and Helena, though led away by their parents, were practically strangers to the couple, having met their inws for the first time.


    Hertha was worried sick that the kids would be frightened or throw tantrums from not seeing her for a long stretch, fearing her parents wouldn''t be


    able to handle their meltdowns.


    "Take a look at this," Ethan said, pulling some documents from his briefcase.


    As Hertha started to focus on the jewelry designs, Thssa shot a meaningful nce at Lysander.


    Lysander was holding the documents for the designs she was supposed to work on, yet he hadn''t handed them over to her.


    She looked at Lysander, but he seemed not to notice her gaze, leisurely sipping his tea as if he wasn''t in any rush to get down to business.


    Seeing Lysander ignoring her, she politely said, "Mr. Sinir, is there anything in those documents I can help with?"


    If her look wasn''t hint enough, Thssa''s words certainly were direct.


    After she spoke, her hopeful eyes met his as he calmly ced his teacup down, his deep gaze flicking over to her, saying. "No rush."


    Thssa was puzzled. What did he mean by no rush''? Wasn''t the whole point of this meeting to tackle work-rted issues? Hertha had already


    dived into work mode, and here she was, still waiting for the documents, being told to take it easy!N?velDrama.Org owns all ? content.


    Thssa had always found Lysander¡¯s thoughts elusive, and now mere than ever.


    After about half an hour, Hertha had meticulously exined the technical issues with the designs to Ethan.


    Ethan''s response was, "l don''t sweat the small stuff; just discuss it with our project manager.¡±


    Hertha gritted her teeth, "Mr. Ethan, you''re such a jerk! Why didn''t you say so earlier? I''ve been talking my mouth dry for nothing!"


    Ethan offeredker a cup of water


    with a teasiny remark, "Ms.


    Kensington; have some tea. Maybe


    it''s best t you sit closer to our director,


    he''s abit hard of hearing. I thought


    he might''ve misheard the important


    details you were sharing.¡± Content


    belongs to NovelDrama.Org ?


    Hertha was at a loss for words.


    Sipping the water Ethan handed her, she hurried through her exnation to save time and possibly get home sooner.


    Without objection, she moved her


    chair next to ric, pointing out thie


    details i in the documents she had


    previously discussed with Ethan.


    Hertha was earnest, and ric initially focused on the documents. However, his gaze gradually shifted to Hertha''s face.


    Her big eyes and the ssic rosy-cheeked face, possibly flushed from irritation or haste, resembled a ripe apple.


    The more he looked, the more tempting it became, sweet and tender, reminiscent of the time he and Hertha first got entangled.


    ric''s gaze turned dreamy, admiring Hertha''s side profile, her slightly chubby cheeks adding to her charm.


    The more he looked, the sweeter she seemed to him


    Midway through her exnation, Hertha felt ric''s warm breath on her cheek, a bit heavy, which felt oddly off.


    She abruptly stopped talking. turned around, and her wide eyes met ric''s intense gaze, sparking an almost tangible fire between them.


    Feeling the heat from ric''s stare,


    Hertha''s heart skipped a beat. The


    next second, she flicked ric on


    the forehead, eximing, '' ''ric, I''m


    here''talking my throat dry, and


    yottre daydreaming on mel? Content


    b¨¦longs to NovelDrama.Org =

 Chapter 1552

    Chapter 1552


    Hertha''s booming voice caught ric off guard, jolting him back to reality.


    Hertha''s eyes were wide as saucers, and because they were so close, her spit evennded on his face.


    ric leaned back a bit, creating some space between them, instantly dissolving the previous moment of closeness with Hertha''s shout.


    ric quipped, "I thought I saw a mosquito on your face. I was about to smack it dead, but you scared it off with that roar.¡±


    "A mosquito an my face and I didn''t feel it?¡± Hertha touched her face, puzzled.


    ric, with all the confidence in the world, retorted, ¡°Of course, who feels a mosquito before it bites? It''s the itch afterwards that gives it away. You got


    lucky: it flew off before it could bite, scared off by you.¡±


    ric''s serious demeanor didn''t betray a hint of deceit. When it came to charming women, he was a pro.


    He had honed his ability to improvise on the spot during his various flirtations, able to concoct any excuse without missing a beat


    Hertha, seeing how convinced ric seemed, began to doubt herself. Could it be that she had wronged him?


    Was he genuinely just trying to help her with the mosquito?


    Feeling suddenly unsure, Hertha''s voice dropped, ¡°Maybe I got it wrong then. Let''s get back to the topic. I don''t want to repeat myself a third time.¡±


    "Sure thing, Ms. Kensington,¡± ric replied smoothly.


    Ethan watched all of ric''s expressions, silently amused. Knowing ric for years, he was well aware of his friend''s tactics with womenN?velDrama.Org owns all ? content.


    ric''s excuse, so noble and


    convincing that even Hertha bought


    it, impressed Ethan. Yet, he had >


    never seen ric look at a woman"


    with such an earnest gaze before.


    To Ethan, ric''s usual look was


    one-of amusement or desire; never


    s¨¦tious. Content belongs To


    NovelDrama.Org


    But his gaze toward Hertha was different, making Ethan realize for the first time that ric might genuinely have feelings for her.


    Was Hertha really that special to ric?


    This was getting interesting.


    Lysander, on the other hand, remained indifferent. He knew of ric''s ways with women and had little interest in them


    Thssa, observing how close


    Hertha and ric were, felt a sense


    of worry for Hertha ric, a N


    seasoned yer, and Hertha, N


    inexperienced I in love, seemed like a


    misrgich Thssa couldn''t help


    but feel anxious for Hertha, knowing


    how easi y Hertha had fallen for


    ric''s charms three years ago.


    ~


    Poor Hertha, thought Thssa, her fate seemed so twisted.


    Worriedly, Thssa wondered what the future held for Hertha and ric.


    After finishing her discussion on the project, Hertha looked up at ric, asking, "Any more questions, Mr. Falconer?¡±


    "Got the gist of it.¡± ric nodded.


    "Well then, ,if there''s nothing else, I''ll,


    be on my¡± ¡®way. " Standing up, Hertha


    gave-Thssa a look, a silent signal,


    and¡¯ headed for the exit. Content


    Selongs to NovelDrama.Org -


    Thssa sensed Hertha''s urgency and didn''t hold her back, guessing she must be anxious to get back to her child.


    Watching Hertha leave, ric felt a twinge of disappointment, murmuring, ¡°So eager to leave mypany?


    Her hasty departure couldn''t help but make him wonder if it was his presence that drove her away.

 Chapter 1553

    Chapter 1553


    Ethan tuned into ric''s frustration with the keenness of someone who''s been there. Standing up, he adjusted his cor and crafted a smooth exit for


    ric, "Looks like it''s all yours, Mr. Sinir. ric, let''s hit the road.¡±


    "Ah, right, Lysander, make sure you and Thssa have a good chat. Nothing to be shy about, we''ll head out first." ric shot Lysander a teasing


    lock, hinting that it was a perfect moment for some personal talk.


    After receiving a re from Lysander that could freeze hell over, ric couldn''t help but chuckle, grabbing his documents and making a quick escape.


    Cutside, Hertha was on the curb, hailing a cab. ric approached, offering a ride, "Let me give you a lift."


    Without a second thought, Hertha declined, "l wouldn''t want to trouble a busy man like Mr. Falconer.¡±


    Just then, a taxi pulled up. Hertha swung open the doer, jumped in, and urged the driver to go before she even gave an address.


    Watching the taxi disappear, ric felt certain Hertha was avoiding him. Why else the rush? Was it because of yesterday, when he visited her ce


    and their idental touch in the kitchen made Spencer jealous? Spencer might look like a gentleman, but he wasn''t that forgiving. Probably yed it


    cool in public but had a row with Hertha afterwards.


    The thought soured ric''s mood.


    He used to have the upper hand, but now, missing his chance with Hertha, he was just the third wheel


    Right, Hertha was off-limits now, a married woman. He had to keep his distance


    "ric, you''re zoning out! The taxi''s long gone.¡± Ethan called from the driver''s seat, never having seen ric this downcast before.


    ric was known for his carefree spirit, always breezy around women. But now...


    Love, it seemed, was not all roses, turning even the happiest soul gloomy.


    Just another day for Ethan to doubt love''s worth. Better to stay detached, unencumbered by romantic entanglements.


    Snapping back to reality, ric climbed into the car, and Ethan drove off.


    Back at the restaurant


    Thssa sat opposite Lysander, now just the three of them with David


    With the crowd thinned, Lysander


    might feel more at ease discussing


    work. Thssa ventured, Mr.


    Sinir, about the design process...


    N?velDrama.Org: owner of this content.


    "Have you had breakfast?" Lysander suddenly lifted his gaze. his deep, dark eyes locking onto hers


    His stare, though soft, was intense enough to take one¡¯s breath away.


    Thssa nodded quickly, "Yes, have you, Mr. Sinir?¡±


    ¡®I have, Lysander replied, handing


    documents to David but keeping is


    gaze-on Thssa. "Come with''me to


    Royal Estates."


    ="


    With that, David understood the cue, helping Lysander up and heading out.


    Thssa froze, puzzled. Weren''t they supposed to talk shop? And now Lysander was inviting her to Royal Estates?


    As she hesitated, Lysander''s intense


    gaze bore into her, "What are you


    waiting for? Want to share my:


    wheelchair and get a push. 1007?"

 Chapter 1554

    Chapter 1554


    Thssa snapped back to the present, locking eyes with Lysander. "Mr. Sinir, if you''re worried about eavesdroppers, we could just book a private


    room. Taking work discussions to your home doesn''t really seem appropriate, does it?"


    Thssa was firm on not going to Sinir Manor.


    Lysander had kicked her out of Sinir Manor the moment he woke up, and now he was inviting her back? Wasn''t this some kind of twisted joke?


    She was not some kind of servant to be summoned and dismissed at will


    Besides, it was Rosalind who was now taking care of Lysander, probably living at Sinir Manor too.


    Going there would only show her how close Lysander and Rosalind had be.


    Why would she put herself through that torture?


    No sooner had Thssa finished speaking than Lysander''s deep, maic voice filled the air, "What''s wrong with that?"


    His brows arched in challenge. his handsome face a blend of beauty and authority that made hearts race involuntarily.


    Thssa, who had been so confident, suddenly felt as if she was the one being unreasonable.


    Blinking, her words came out less certain, "Well, it''s just not proper, considering the difference between men and women."


    "Since when does discussing work depend on gender? Sinir Manor isn''t just home to one woman," Lysander said, turning his head away to look


    straight ahead.


    David immediately caught Lysander¡¯s cue, pushing him forward.


    Taking a deep breath, Thssa watched Lysander''s retreating figure, her refusal clearly unsessful.N?velDrama.Org owns all ? content.


    His words lingered; Sinir Manor housed other women too, obviously referring to Rosalind.


    So despite Rosalind already moving into Sinir Mancr, he still wanted her toe over for work discussions?


    Hadn''t he mentioned before that she was a thorn in Rosalind¡¯s side, that Rosalind was uneasy about their past?


    Even going so far as to have Susan confront her, suggesting her death would remove the thorn from Rosalind''s heart.


    And now, bringing her back to Sinir Maner, wasn''t this just provoking Rosalind further?


    What was Lysander thinking?


    One moment, he was willing to let -.


    her be fled for Rosalind''s peace of


    mind, the next, he didn''t care atiout


    Rosalind s feelings by inviting her


    back. .?


    -


    Seeing Lysander nearing the restaurant''s exit, Thssa hurried to catch up.


    It was just a work discussion, after all. If it upset Rosalind, that was Lysander''s problem, not hers


    Besides, this was between Lysander and Rosalind. Why worry so much?


    It would bg''a good test of her ~~


    resilience: The day she could seer¡±


    Lysander and Rosalind together


    without feeling a thing would-be the


    day''s she truly moved on. Content


    belongs to


    Since Lysander used a wheelchair, his vehicle of choice was a spacious, modified limousine, offering plenty of room andfort for him


    Inside the limo, Lysander sat in his wheelchair while Thssa took the seat beside him, with David driving towards Sinir Manor.


    This was the first time Thssa had shared such a confined space with Lysander since he woke up, the proximity making her heart race


    uncontrobly.


    Lysande ¡®spresence WER]


    commanding, his scent of Zz


    sandalwood filling the air, adding to


    Thgse s nervousness, to the point


    whete she couldn''t even bring


    herself to nce at him. Content


    b¨¦longs to  =


    She turned her gaze to the window, watching the world zoom by in reverse.


    Lysander remained silent


    The drive was filled with an awkward silence until they finally arrived at Sinir Manor.


    David got out of the car first, opening the door for Lysander.


    Thssa, concerned about Lysander''s ability to get out, also stepped out to offer her help.

 Chapter 1555

    Chapter 1555


    As they gently lowered the wheelchair to the ground, Thssa let out a sigh of relief. Assisting David with the makeshift wheelchair had proved to be


    a bit of a workout,


    No sooner had she exhaled a weary breath than Lysander''s deep gaze found hers, just as she looked his way.


    "I''m not saying you''re heavy; it''s just been a while since I''ve done any physical work, feeling a bit out of shape," Thssa quickly rified, hoping


    Lysander wouldn''t think she wasining about his weight.


    Who knew his weight better than she did? For three years, she had carried him to his wheelchair, into the shower, and back to bed every single day.


    She never once thought of him as a burden.


    Especially today, with David''s help, she had even less reason toin


    "You''ll get your chance to exercise once my leg''s better,¡± Lysander quipped, diverting his gaze as he pushed his wheelchair forward.


    Thssa instantly got the hidden meaning behind his words, her face flushing with a mix of embarrassment and irritation


    Did Lysander think he could say such provocative things just because they were on his turf? As if he and Rosalind were an item! Why was he making


    these flirtatious jokes with her?


    Feeling awkward, Thssa snapped back to reality only to find David watching her with a mix of amusement and curiosity, making her feel even more


    ufortable.


    She tried to deflect, "David, standing so firm in your role as assistant, you must know which scandals to delve into and which to avoid, right?"


    "Of course, I never gossip about Mr. Sinir''s personal affairs,¡± David imed, though his grin suggested otherwise. He then hurried after Lysander.


    Thssa felt even more out of ce.


    She regretteding to Royal Estates.


    Lysander, with hismanding presence, was untouchable, and now on his own grounds, he seemed even more formidable.


    And she felt like a rabbit in a lion''s den,pletely at his mercy.


    Fuming, Thssa clenched her fist at Lysander''s retreating back and followed them inside.


    "Lysander David, Ms. .." Fitch ~~


    began, ready to greet Ms. Whitman,


    but upen seeing who it was, quickly


    corrected himself: "Ms. Everhart,


    wee back."


    To Fitch''s surprise and delight, it wasn''t Rosalind who returned with Lysander.


    "Have the kitchen prepare lunch," Lysander ordered


    "Right away! Ms. Everhart, you love seafood, I''ll let the kitchen know to make some,¡± Fitch dered before dashing off to the kitchen.


    Thssa


    She wanted to call after Fitch but it was toote; she was only at Royal Estates for a work discussion, not to stay for lunch.N?velDrama.Org: owner of this content.


    "Mr. Sinir, the jewelry


    craftsmanship isn''t that


    complicated. I can cover it in half an


    hour, and-it''s only 10:30 am, "she


    reminded him, hinting at the cuirent


    timeas if to say lunch at 11 was too


    ear?y.  ~~


    =


    She wanted to make it clear she didn''t n to stay for lunch


    Lysander cast amanding nce towards David, "You can take off now."


    David paused, then understanding Lysander''s intent, nodded, "Thank you, Mr. Sinir.¡±


    With that, he left Royal Estates.


    Having worked with Lysander for years, David knew his boss well. Inviting Thssa over was definitely not just about business.


    He wasn''t about to stick around and third-wheel


    Sensing what was happening, Thssa quickly followed David, "David, wait up. Let''s leave together. I''ll be quick with Mr. Sinir''s briefing..."


    If David left, how would she get back? Was she expected to walk out and hail a cab? That would be an hour''s walk to the nearest taxi stand.


    "Ms. Everhart, I''m off the clock now,


    and I ve got other things to attend to.


    Can¡¯ twait, sorry," David excused


    himself, practically sprinting¡¯ away.

 Chapter 1556

    Chapter 1556


    Watching David dash off without a backward nce, Thssa couldn''t help but grumble inwardly, thinking, "Some things never change. David''s still


    the same old dog."


    Always pushing her to the forefront


    Turning around, Thssa''s lips curled into a forced smile as she faced Lysander, feeling both awkward and pressured.


    "Take a seat on the couch, let''s get to work," Lysander said, wheeling himself over to the sofa.


    Thssa quickly took a seat opposite him, as Lysander ced the documents David had left on the coffee table: "Focus on the craftsmanship of the


    ring. The other four designs can be summarized briefly.¡±


    "Understood," Thssa nodded.


    She picked up the documents, scanning through them. They didn''t contain all of the design drafts, just five that needed detailed descriptions of the


    craftsmanship used in their production process.


    The first page featured a ring Thssa had designed, with a wave-like band and a small tiger head doodle as its decoration.


    She had chosen the tiger head motif because all four of her kids were born in the Year of the Tiger.


    She missed her children terribly.N?velDrama.Org: owner of this content.


    This ring was a product of her longing for her kids, a way to express her feelings of missing them.


    "The band and tiger head could be crafted in tinum, with tiny diamonds used to represent the fur, giving the ring a touch of luxury,¡± she suggested.


    "Diamonds can easily fall off, and using them for fur might not achieve the desired effect,¡± Lysander''s deep voicemented.


    "I''l think of something else,¡± Thssa hurriedly replied, noticing Lysander''s focused gaze on the draft, which seemed purely professional, easing her


    nerves and allowing her to immerse herself in the task at hand.


    After a moment''s thought, she continued, "How aboutbining tinum and gold? We can use tinum for the texture of the fur and fill in the


    recesses with gold to mimic the color of tiger fur. I haven''t seen many rings on the market thatbine tinum and gold like this. It could be a


    trendsetter and potentially create quite a buzz."


    "Do you really like this design?" Lysander suddenly locked up, his deep, dark eyes locking onto Thssa''s.


    In that moment, he saw the spark in


    Thssa''s eyes as she talked ahout


    the craftsmanship, as if she could


    already envision the finished ~


    product, her gaze filled with O


    affection. Content belongs 10


    -


    Meeting Lysander''s intense stare, Thssa instinctively hid the excitement that had surged within her.


    Answering-his question, she said,


    "Every designer loves their own


    creations. If they didn''t, those


    designs would have already { been


    discarded.¡±


    Lysander nodded slightly, "Continue."


    Thssa was surprised, "So, my craft suggestion was approved?¡±


    "Yes," Lysander''s voice rumbled softly.


    Thssa''s spirits lifted, surprised at the swift approval. She had been worried Lysander might give her a hard time.


    With the approval secured, Thssa proceeded to discuss the remaining drafts.


    As she had predicted, she finished presenting them all within half an hour, and Lysander agreed to each one.


    It was only 11 a.m.


    Seeing the-work was done, and with


    nothing else pending, she said, "ME.


    Sinir, if there''s nothing else, i)


    just..."


    ="


    "Lysander, lunch is ready in the kitchen," Fitch hurried over, interrupting her.


    "Serve it," Lysander directed


    Fitch nodded briskly, quickly organizing the servants to bring the dishes to the table.


    Several maids came forward, tray in hand, and scon the table was adorned with an array of exquisite seafood dishes.


    Thssa''s smile twitched slightly at the corners. So, lunch at 11 itis?

 Chapter 1557

    Chapter 1557


    "Come on, dig in," Lysander said, wheeling himself to the dining table.


    Thssa had no excuse to refuse anymore. If the meal wasn''t ready, she might have found a way to dodge the invitation, but now that everything


    was served, turning him down would seem downright rude.


    She moved to the dining table and, out of courtesy, sat opposite Lysander. She sat up straight, her posture stiff, not touching her fork.


    Lysander raised an eyebrow at her. "What are you waiting for? Dig in."


    "Aren''t we waiting for Rosalind?" Thssa asked.


    Since she entered, Thssa hadn''t seen Rosalind around. She assumed Rosalind might be resting in her room


    She had already assumed that Rosalind lived here, especially since Fitch almost slipped and called her Ms. Whitman, confirming her residence at


    Royal Estates.


    At Thssa''s question, Lysander''s handsome face suddenly turned cold.


    The chilling aura around him tensed Thssa''s nerves. "Did I say something wrong?¡±


    As a guest at Royal Estates, it wasn''t her ce to start eating without waiting for the futuredy of the house, was it?


    Lysander didn''t answer directly but picked up a shrimp, peeled it, and ced the meat in Thssa''s bowl.


    This gesture surprised Thssa. "Mr. Sinir, this..."


    It felt awkward! She remembered thest meal where Rosalind was the one peeling shrimp for Lysander, and all he had to do was eat.


    And now, he was peeling shrimp for her!


    What right did she have to have Lysander serve her in such a manner?


    "After taking care of me for three years, why did you choose to leave Royal Estates on the day I woke up?¡± Lysander¡¯s deep voice suddenly asked.


    Hearing this, Thssa''s heart skipped a beat, surprised at his question. She wanted to blurt out, wasn''t it you who sent me away?


    She opened her mouth but didn''t ask.


    After thinking it over, she realized the convoluted situation.Upstodatee from Novel(D)ra/m/a.O(r)g


    It was Rosalind who had driven her away from Royal Estates!


    How did Rosalind have the power to


    send her ¡®away? It was because she


    relied on Zephyr and the Reed -


    family¡¯ s arrangement with: Lysander!


    Rosalind had the authority as the futuredy of Royal Estates to send an unrted person away!


    Thinking this way, whether it was Rosalind or Lysander who sent her away, it didn¡¯t seem to make much difference.


    Deciding to exit-gracefully, she didn''t


    want to ruinthe rtionship


    between tysander and Rosalind. It->


    Ls


    a


    was better not to be a thorniin


    Rosal; ind s side, an annoyance that


    Lysander would be better off¡±


    without. Content belongs 10¡ã


    NovelDrama.Org =


    Thssa said, "Taking care of Mr.


    Sinir was my way of repaying a


    debt. Three years ago, if you hadn''t


    shielded refrom that copsing


    wall, I might have died. Seeking ¡é ax


    doctorfor you was also in )


    repayment. It was because of me


    youwrended up in this state, {couldn''t


    ji8t abandon you. But now that


    you''re awake, my debt is repaid.


    We''re even now, staying at Royal


    Estates is unnecessary." Content


    belongs to NovelDrama.Org


    Thssa spoke casually, seemingly indifferent.


    As if she was just stating a fact of life.


    Her words, and the nonchnt way she spoke them, deeply wounded Lysander''s heart.


    He paused in his shrimp peeling, lifting his gaze sharply to Thssa.


    Feeling the weight of his stare, Thssa instinctively panicked, lowered her head, and took a bite of the shrimp in her bowl.


    Lysander clenched his jaw, his heart burning with turmoil and disappointment.


    He continued peeling the shrimp, finished it, dipped it in sauce, and ced it in Thssa''s bowl. "Rosalind doesn''t live here."

 Chapter 1558

    Chapter 1558


    Lysander suddenly spoke.


    Thssa paused, processing Lysander''s response to her earlier query. Was it meant as an exnation?


    Rosalind didn''t live in the Royal Estates, so what did Lysander mean by saying there were other women there besides her?


    It wasn''t until she noticed a maid waiting quietly to the side that Thssa realized what Lysander meant by ¡®other women''¡ªhe was probably referring


    to the maids.


    She was genuinely surprised to learn that Rosalind didn''t share a residence with Lysander.


    "Oh." Thssa murmured, her voice trailing off as she continued to eat the shrimp Lysander had peeled and dipped in sauce for her, cing it into


    her bow!


    Lysander remained silent, diligently peeling shrimp after shrimp, all of which he ced in Thssa''s bowl.


    To mask the tense and awkward atmosphere of dining with Lysander, Thssa kept stuffing shrimp into her mouth


    She ate as many as Lysander peeled.


    Soan, the table was cluttered with shrimp shells, and the te was emptied


    Feeling overwhelmingly full and unable to take ancther bite, Thssa suddenly stood up and said, "Mr. Sinir, I''m stuffed. Thank you for the meal,


    but I... I should be heading out..."


    "Uh-huh." Lysander''s voice was a low murmur, not making any attempt to stop Thssa from leaving.


    With his permission, Thssa hurried out.


    She felt like she would burst if she ate any more.


    Was Lysander doing this on purpose? Peeling a whole table''s worth of shrimp for her alone to eat, without touching any himself¡ªwas this his way of


    getting back at her?


    After Susan failed to eliminate her, was Lysander now trying to stuff her to death to remove the thorn in Rosalind''s side?Upstodatee from Novel(D)ra/m/a.O(r)g


    The thought alone made Thssa shiver with dread, quickening her pace to leave.


    Expecting to have to walk and hail a.


    cab, Thatassa was surprised wher


    the driver, Mike, approached her''in


    the yard, saying, "Ms. Everhart, get


    in I''l drive you home." Content


    belongs to  ~~


    "Does Lysander know about this?" Thssa hesitated, not wanting Mike to get into trouble.


    "He knows. Please, get in," Mike replied


    So, Lysander had allowed Mike to drive her home?


    Not having to walk and hail a cab was definitely a plus. Without further hesitation, Thssa opened the car door and got in.


    Lysander sat by the dining table, his gaze fixed on the door, listening to the sound of the car engine starting up and fading into the distance


    His jaw was clenched tight.


    When he had woken up, Zephyr told


    him tha Thssa had distanced


    herself from him, fearing she would?


    be dragged down by his condition as


    a conyatose patient. Deep down; he


    refused to believe Thssa was that


    kind of person.


    oe


    Yet, seeing how close she and Callum appeared, he feltpelled to consider Zephyr''s words, feeling both disappointed and angry with Thssa


    However, uponearning that


    Thssa and-Callum weren''t


    involved remantically, and that it >


    was Thatassa who had sought ol out


    Dr. Funke to treat him, and had


    taker care of him for three years, a


    sireng hope surged within him.


    As long as Thssa cared about him and was willing to stay by his side, he was ready to ovee any obstacle to marry her.


    His decision to bring her home was to understand her true feelings.


    Yet, she had said that taking care of him and finding a doctor was merely her way of repaying a debt of gratitude,


    Now that he was awake, she considered her debt repaid, and they owed nothing more to each other.


    Yes, they owed nothing more to each other, a sentiment she had expressed three years ago.

 Chapter 1559

    Chapter 1559


    Before he slipped into unconsciousness, he made a promise to her, swearing on his life to protect her. After that, they would be even, no debts


    between them.


    Their story had ended three years ago, on a day soaked in blood...


    Yet, he still harbored the foolish hope that Thssa would change her mind and agree to marry him...


    Hertha returned to her parents¡¯ house.


    Kimberly and Ashton were busy ying with the kids.


    "Julian, Helena, are you guys hidden yet? Grandma''s done counting anding to find you," Kimberly said with a voice full of tenderness and


    warmth.


    "We''re hidden.¡±


    "We''re hidden.¡±


    The two little ones replied with their soft, cute voices.


    Hertha looked towards the source of the voices and saw one little tyke trying to squeeze under the sofa, failing miserably with his little bottom sticking


    out.


    Anacther was hiding behind the curtains, shoes peeking out, thinking he waspletely invisible by pressing further into the drapes¡ªa ssic case of


    ''if I can''t see you, you can''t see me.¡¯


    Cnly kids could be so innocently clueless.


    Of course, Kimberly immediately saw through their amateurish hide-and-seek tactics, barely containing herughter.


    Just as she was about to seek them, she caught sight of Hertha walking in. Instead of continuing the game, she said, "Oh my, Julian and Helena are


    so well hidden, Grandma can''t find you anywhere.¡±


    While saying this, she gestured to Ashton, whispering, "Keep an eye on the kids."


    Then she turned to Hertha with a serious expression and beckoned her over, lowering her voice, "We need to talk. In the study!"


    Hertha knew by her mother''s demeanor that she was in for a lecture, a reckoning for past deeds.


    She nced at Ashton, stuck out her tongue yfully, and followed her mother to the study.


    Kimberly closed the door and


    pped her onthe arm, frustrated,


    "Hertha, how-have I always taught N


    you? To keep yourself respectable,


    to understand the importance of


    self- worth, to protect yourself. What


    have: ayou done? You went and got


    ySHirself pregnant before marriage,


    and now the kids are growing up


    without a father!¡±


    Hertha pouted, rubbing her sore arm, "Mom, it''s not what I wanted... If I had a choice, who would want this..."


    "What do you mean you had no choice! Spencer was a catch, if you had married him, you and Spencer''s kids would be two by now, and they


    wouldn''t be fatherless!" Kimberly couldn''t get over the past.N?velDrama.Org: owner of this content.


    Her anger made her chest heave, speaking in a low tone to Hertha.


    She kept her voice down, not wanting the children to overhear; after all, they were innocent.


    Hertha said, "Mom, you don''t understand. When you all wanted me to marry Spencer, I was already pregnant. If I had married him without telling him


    the truth, wouldn''t that have been deceiving him? It wouldn''t have been fair to him."


    "What? You were already pregnant at that time?" Kimberly was astonished, this waspletely unexpected


    "You, you''ve really done it now!" Kimberly was both furious and at a loss for words to scold Hertha


    Hertha quickly.stepped forward,


    gently pa ting-her back, trying to


    calm her Mom, please dontbe


    mad. tstbeen three years. I didn¡¯t¡±


    trouble you with my pregnancy;


    knowing you wouldn''t forgiverme.


    That''s why I never even told''you


    about giving birth..." Content belongs


    to


    Her parents, both retired civil servants, came from a very traditional background.


    They would never have epted her being pregnant out of wedlock and choosing to keep the baby, so Hertha had kept it a secret from her parents


    from pregnancy to date.


    "You..." Kimberly turned sharply to Hertha, seeing her stubborn and unrepentant demeanor, she was both heartbroken and angry.


    Hearing that Hertha had gone


    through childbirth alone, Kimberly''s


    heart bled for I her, sighing with a


    mixture of pain and affection, ''Oh,<


    Hertha, if we hadn''t met today, were


    you nning to cut us off for geod?


    Nat even contacting us for,


    something as big as giving birth,


    how could you make us so


    heartbroken..."

 Chapter 1560

    Chapter 1560


    Over the years, Kimberly couldn''t wrap her head around why Hertha had refused to listen to her. They had all agreed on a wedding date with


    Spencer, and yet, Hertha had t-out rejected the idea of marrying him. She''d rather have a fallout with her parents than tie the knot with Spencer.


    Kimberly was beside herself with frustration, unable toprehend why Hertha was being so stubborn. Spencer was a catch by any standard ¡ª a


    stable job, a simple family background, and above all, he was mature, steady, considerate, and kind. Not to mention, the man knew his way around


    househeld chores. Marrying him would mean a life offort for Hertha.


    But for reasons Kimberly couldn''t fathom, Hertha turned her back on the idea of marrying Spencer, leading to a major argument between her and her


    mother. Hertha was even willing to leave her family home rather than marry him


    This decision deeply hurt Kimberly. Over the past three years, though Kimberly often thought of reaching out to Hertha, every time she dialed her


    daughter''s number, memories of Hertha''s defiance made her so angry that she''d hang up the phone


    Now. understanding the reason behind Hertha''s refusal to marry Spencer and the hardships Hertha had endured brought a mix of urgency, anger,


    and sympathy to Kimberly''s heart.


    She couldn''t find it in herself to me Hertha anymore.


    Though Hertha hadn''t shared all the details, Kimberly, being a woman and a mother herself, knew all too well the difficulties of childbirth and the


    struggles thate with it. And to think Hertha went through all that without her mother by her side to offer care, it was all Hertha, enduring the pain


    and hardship on her own.


    With these thoughts, Kimberly felt an overwhelming sense of empathy and guilt, her eyes welling up with tears.


    "Mom, I''m okay. don''t worry," Hertha said, seeing the pain in her mother''s eyes, quickly trying tofort her.


    Wiping away her tears, Kimberly locked at Hertha and said, "Be honest with me, have you been holding a grudge against us these past three years?


    You went through childbirth and raising a child all on your own, without even contacting us. Did you take to heart what I said about not considering me


    your mother if you left?"


    Kimberly regretted her harsh words more than anything. Her angry remark had caused her daughter to suffer so much.


    "It''s not like that, Mom. I just didn¡¯t know how to bring it up," Hertha hurried to reassure her, hearing the self-reproach in her mother''s voice.


    Seeing her mother like this broke Hertha''s heart too.


    Throughout these three years, she


    missed her parents terribly. But


    thinking abslit how she had .


    disobeyed them and hurt them, and


    fearing-their reaction to her ~~ >


    pregriancy and childbirth out of


    wedlock, Hertha didn''t wantto


    cause them any more wotry, so she


    stayed out of touch. Content


    belongs to NovelDrama.Org


    ~


    To discover that it was her mother''s regret over a hastily spoken word that kept them apart made Hertha''s resolve crumble.


    Tears overflowed as Kimberly said, "From now on, whatever decisions you make, I''ll support you. I won''t force you to follow our wishes anymore..."


    Kimberly''s strong stance in the past had made Hertha afraid to speak her truth. Hertha had suffered in silence, too scared to return home.


    This was her only daughter, the


    precious girl she''d always held =~


    close. she couldn''t believe she had


    been 80 oblivious, upset for years


    over Hertha s reluctance to Marry


    the-man they chose for her. Content


    b¨¦longs to NovelDrama.Org =


    The bitterness was Hertha''s to bear, but the pain was felt deeply by her parents.


    Thankfully, they crossed paths with Hertha again; otherwise, Kimberly feared when she might see her daughter next


    Hearing her mother''s words, Hertha choked up, tears streaming down her face as she embraced her mother, seekingfort like a little girl once


    again,


    Despite the hardships of the past


    three years, if the sleepless nights


    caring for er children, and the ~~


    breakdowns, Hertha had never lets


    herselfery. But now, faced with her


    mother''s guilt and affection, Her


    def¨¦nses were shattered, and she


    wept openly. Content bngs to


    NovelDrama.OrgN?velDrama.Org owns all ? content.


    Three dayster.


    As ric was leaving work, heading back to Gulfstream Community, his phone rang. It was Angelina, calling him for the first time since he had left


    home.


    Hesitating for a moment, ric picked up the call.

 Chapter 1561

    Chapter 1561


    "I''ve heard about it. You''re ving away at the Crawley Group, making what, a grand a month? That wouldn''t even cover your daily coffee run!"


    Angelina''s voice dripped with sarcasm.


    ric''s gaze darkened as he responded, "If that''s all, I''m hanging up.¡±


    "Wait!" Angelina cut in quickly, "Your grandpa wants to see you, says you shoulde home for dinner.¡±


    "I''m tied up today, I''l call Grandpa myself tomorrow." ric didn¡¯t want to get entangled in a conversation with Angelina more than necessary. If his


    grandpa wanted to see him, he would get in touch directly.


    "You don''t want toe home, do you?" Angelina pressed just as he was about to end the call.


    "So what if I don¡¯t?" ric retorted, his voice tinged with defiance.


    Was it that easy for Angelina to summon him back to the Falconer household after she''d been the one to cast him out?


    He knew it. Angelina was using Grandpa as bait, trying to trick him into returning


    He refused to be led around by Angelina anymore, refused to listen to her whims!


    "Fine, if you don''t want toe home, that''s your call," Angelina said, her tone less forceful than ric had expected, taking a step back.


    ric frowned, wondering what game Angelina was ying now.


    Before he could speak, the voice of Remington Falconer came through the phone, "ric, you''ve been away for more than ten days now. Grandpa


    misses you. Why don''t we have dinner together today?"


    That truly was his grandpa!


    No matter how much ric resisted Angelina, he couldn''t use the same harsh tone with his grandpa.


    Grandpa had always been there for him, even willing to spend a fortune to annul his engagement with Georgia when things gotplicated.


    "Alright, Grandpa, where shall we eat?" ric''s tone softened instantly.All content ? N/.?vel/Dr/ama.Org.


    "Your grandpa remembers you love a good steak, so how about we meet at W&W Restaurant? It''s close to your office too,¡± Remington suggested.


    "See you soon, then," ric said before hanging up.


    Though he had reached his apartment, he turned his car around and left.


    Twenty minutester, ric arrived at W&W Restaurant.


    The ce was upscale and luxurious, with a romantic ambiance perfect for dates.


    Scanning the room and not spotting


    ~


    his grandpa or Angelina, he was


    about ? call his grandpa whena¡¯


    familfar voice made his skin crawl,


    "ric, you''re here!" Content belongs


    to  ig


    Turning around, he indeed saw Georgia, her face slightly gaunt.


    Seeing Georgia instantly put ric on edge, his defenses up. "Georgia, what are you doing here?"


    "Angelina told me you arranged to have dinner with me here today," Georgia said as if it were the most natural thing in the world.


    ric''s face tightened, a storm brewing in his sharp eyes.


    He''d been duped, his grandpa and Angelina teaming up against him?


    He had underestimated Angelina''s cunning!


    "You got itivrong. It was my mom -.


    who artanged this, not me. If you''re


    looking for a date, go talk to her,¡±


    ric said emotionlessly, turning to


    leave. ...


    ig


    "ric!¡± Georgia called after him,


    catching up. & &nd clutching him rom


    behind, her apologies flowing, "I''m


    sorry, ric, I was wrong. Angeling


    and Mam already gave me a tatking


    to. I won ''t ever treat you like that


    again, please, just forgive me this


    ofice." Content belongs ta~

 Chapter 1562

    Chapter 1562


    Georgia wrapped her arms around ric, pressing her cheek against his back. It felt like he could feel her breath through the fabric. a gentle whisper


    against his skin.


    A wave of repulsion surged deep within ric, and he shrugged her off, spinning around with a scowl. "Georgia, I''ve made myself crystal clear. I will


    never marry you in this lifetime! You''re just wasting your time on me!"


    His gaze was firm,ced with disdain.


    From the get-go, he had never harbored any affection for Georgia. It was all his mother''s doing, thinking she was clever, insisting on a union with the


    REELRETIA


    His protests fell on deaf ears


    He cursed himself; why did he let things go too far that drunken night three years ago?


    Georgia''s lips trembled, tears rolling down her cheeks. "ric, I''ve had a crush on you since middle school. It''s been 13 years. Why can''t you


    consider my feelings for once?"


    "I''m telling you to move on for your own good! Don''t tell me you don¡¯t understand!¡± ric''s tone was icy.


    Marrying a man who neither loved her nor could stand her tantrums would never bring her happiness.


    Nor would he ever be content or willingly be a devoted husband.


    Neither of them would find happiness.


    Forcing this rtionship would only destroy them both.


    "But I truly love you. I can''t live without you..." Georgia stepped forward, attempting to grasp his hand, her eyes brimming with tears.


    ric recoiled, refusing to let Georgia touch him. His desire to turn and walk away whenever he saw her was strong; how could he possibly stand her


    touch?


    "Please, have some dignity. Don''t cling to someone like me, a regr guy. It''s not doing your career any favors!"


    He still reriembered how Georgia, -


    full of herself, had told him ~


    everything he had was thanks to the


    Reed Group. Without them, he was


    nothing! Content belongs 10


    NovelDrama.Org -


    How could he ever rise to be the vice president of the Falconer Group?


    She was the Reed Group''s heiress; he was supposed to cater to her, marry her!


    Georgia paused, her words clearly hitting a nerve.


    He''d rather walk away from everything than marry her.


    She had truly driven him to embrace a life of mediocrity.


    Jealousy, resentment, anger, and sorrow swirled in Georgia''s heart.


    What was so wrong with her that ric would rather give up wealth and status than marry her?


    Georgia bit her lip, tears streaming


    down as she looked at ric. "What


    can Ido to make you forgive me? Il


    is anyting you say, just forgive


    *


    "Find someone else to marry. You''re the Reed Group''s heiress; there must be plenty of men interested in marrying you," ric said


    Georgia became agitated, "No, I don''t want anyone but you!¡±


    "Didn''t you just say you''d do anything I asked?" ric pressed.


    "Anything but leaving you," Georgia quickly covered her previous statement''s loophole.


    "See, you''re still the same as before,


    your word means nothing. You


    ilieRilele ESE than a pancake! ~~


    Georgia, {ve put up with you for oy


    three years, and it''s always thes Same


    withyou. You agree to things; then


    immediately show your true colors. I


    will never marry you in thig lifetime!"


    With that, ric''s expression darkened further, and he turned to leave.


    N?velDrama.Org owns all ? content.

 Chapter 1563

    Chapter 1563


    Georgia hurried forward, blocking his path with a plea in her eyes, "This time it''s for real. I swear I''ll change. No more screaming or pressuring you."


    It had taken a lot of effort to convince Angelina to do her this favor, and even more so for Angelina to persuade Remington to arrange a meeting with


    ric.


    This chance, if she lost it, her and ric''s future would be over.


    "Get lost!" ric, who had managed to keep his temper in check until now, was visibly agitated.


    His usual demeanor wasid-back and charmingly mischievous, but Georgia was the only one who could drive him to the brink of fury.


    ric''s raised voice had caught the attention of other diners, with some turning their heads curiously towards him and Georgia.


    A waiter, sensing the brewing storm, approached cautiously and asked, "Sir, Ma''am, is there anything I can help you with?"


    "We have a reservation by the window. Could you please seat us there? The booking''s under the number 135..." Georgia said, maintaining her


    composure.


    She knew she had to keep her cool. Only by staying calm could she hope to win ric over.


    She couldn''t afford to lose her temper again. If she couldn''t control her fiery heiress temperament, she''d lose the love of her life for sure.


    "Right this way, please," the waiter said after checking the reservation, leading them politely.


    Georgia wanted to follow, but noticing ric hadn''t moved, she stayed put. She knew if she walked away, ric might just leave.


    Standing in front of him, her eyes were pleading. desperately seeking his attention.


    And ric, his sharp, fox-like eyes were filled with anger, staring back at her with an intensity that screamed for her to move away.


    Georgia tried once more, her eyes


    welling up, ¡®Remington asked me to


    check on you; see how much you''re


    eating, if your appetite''s alright, if


    you''re tog fired to eat. How can I


    report b back to him if you don''t eat?


    Reming on cares so much abol


    YOU, WO ried you''re losing weight,


    cencerned you''re not doirig well on


    your own, not eating properly. He


    went through all this trouble to have


    you over for a good meal, and if you


    let his kindness go to waste..."


    N?velDrama.Org owns all ? content.


    "Enough, stop it!" ric cut her off, turning to follow the waiter.


    He decided to stay for the meal, not wanting to embarrass his grandfather!


    Seeing ric finally agreeing to stay, Georgia quickly dried her tears and followed him, a triumphant smile on her face.


    Cnce seated by the window, Georgia naturally took the seat across from ric.


    The waiter mentioned, "It seems you''ve already ced your order. I''ll go ahead and get your meals ready."


    "Please, make it quick,¡± Georgia urged.


    ric, wanting to avoid looking at Georgia, gazed past her.


    His eyesnded on a couple ata


    nearby: table. The man pulled outa


    small: red velvet box, revealing-a


    tinum ring as he openedit.


    From where-ric sat, he could see


    the man holding the box out to the


    woman; saying in a gentle tone,


    Emmeline, I''ve fallen for you, and I


    want a future together. Will you


    magry me?"


    -


    Emmeline, tears welling up in her eyes from the proposal, nodded through her tears, "Yes, I''ll marry you..."


    The man smiled, taking her hand and sliding the ring onto her finger.


    That man, wasn''t that Spencer?


    Seeing this, ric''s handsome face darkened, and he stood up abruptly, striding towards Spencer''s table.

 Chapter 1564

    Chapter 1564


    Georgia thought ric was about to bail on dinner again. Reacting almost reflexively, she rose from her seat, blocking his path with the urgency of


    someone trying to hold onto thest shred of hope.


    "ric, our food''s almost ready. Can''t you wait just a bit longer?" she pleaded, desperate to keep him seated. Every twitch, every sigh from him sent


    her heart into a frenzy.


    ric, visibly impatient, nced at Georgia blocking his way and frowned, "Move!"


    "ric, please don''t go, I..." Georgia was about to beg, lowering her stance as much as she could.


    But with Spencer about to slip a ring onto Emmeline''s finger, ric didn''t have the luxury of time to spar with Georgia''s pleas. He gently pushed her


    aside by her head and strode over to Spencer''s table, grabbing Spencer''s hand mid-gesture and leaning in, his face darkened with anger, "What do


    vou think you''re doing? Proposing to another woman?"


    ric''s voice was heavy with usation, seething with anger.


    Was Spencer cheating?


    Here he was, married to Hertha, yet dining under romantic candlelight and proposing to another woman in a restaurant?


    How had ric never realized Spencer was capable of such betrayal?


    Juggling two women, promising futures to others he had no intention of keeping!


    Although ric admitted to his own wed nature, he''d never gone as far as making empty promises to others.


    How dare Spencer...


    Spencer looked up, meeting ric¡¯s furious gaze behind his sses, his voice firm, "Let go of me!¡±


    "Spencer, you want to keep this up?" ric''s anger intensified, ring at Spencer, who, caught in the act of infidelity, still seemed defiant.


    Was he not afraid of Hertha finding out?


    The standoff between them, a silent battle of wills, continued unbroken.


    Emmeline, whe-had been trying to


    put the ring.an during this


    interruption; withdrew her hand o


    quickly, tipping the ring on herself


    beforestanding up to confront":


    ric; "What''s your problem? What


    areyou trying to do?" Cont tert


    bel ongs to NovelDrama.Org ?


    ric turned, his piercing gazending on Emmeline.


    His eyes, captivating even in their coldness, seemed to cast a spell of enchantment on whoever theynded on.


    Caught off guard, Emmeline blinked rapidly, "Why are you looking at me like that?"


    Narrowing his eyes slightly, ric responded, "You seem familiar. Have we met before?¡±


    Emmeline''s eyes widened in recognition, "That day, you were with a woman in the elevator, right?"


    ric¡¯''s unique appearance, both -.


    mesmerizing and handsome, was


    not easily forgotten. Even a brief


    encaunter was enough to make a


    lasting I impression on Emmeline.


    All content ? N/.?vel/Dr/ama.Org.


    Suddenly, it clicked for ric too. He had seen her outside the elevator at Gulfstream Community, the mother of those two aderable kids.


    A smirk yed at the corners of ~~.


    ric''s, mouth, his toneced with


    mockery, ''A married man and a¡±


    single mother, what a perfecbmatch


    of deceit!" Content belongs. to


    swnovel.


    "What are you talking about?¡± Emmeline''s voice was a mix of anxiety and urgency.


    She could tell ric was insinuating something about her and Spencer.


    When Spencer heard ric mention "a single mother," his expression changed, catching the underlying meaning in ric''s words instantly.

 Chapter 1565

    Chapter 1565


    That day in the elevator, ric caught a glimpse of the kids! And there they were, tagging along with Emmeline, leading him to assume Emmeline


    was their mom.


    He couldn''t let ric dig any deeper; otherwise, Hertha''s secret about the kids would be out in the open. Hertha had gone through hell and back just


    to keep her children under wraps, away from ric''s knowledge. He couldn''t let Hertha''s efforts go to waste because of him.


    Spencer yanked his hand free from ric''s grip, irritation clear in his voice as he snapped, "Mr. Falconer, do you always stick your nose where it


    doesn''t belong?"


    "What do you mean by ¡®where it doesn''t belong?" ric straightened up. his gaze fierce and angry as he locked eyes with Spencer. "If you were a


    nobody to me, I wouldn''t even bother looking your way. But you''re Hertha''s husband! A married man, and here you are, proposing to another woman.


    How can you justify that to Hertha?"


    The words came out filled with indignation and rage. Had ric not been restraining himself, he would have thrown a punch at Spencer right then and


    there.


    "You''re saying what? Spencer is married?" Emmeline was so shocked she could barelypose herself.


    Spencer saw Emmeline''s growing misunderstanding. She had just epted his proposal, and if Emmeline got the wrong idea, his chance at


    marriage would slip away again. Standing up abruptly, Spencer cast a nervous nce at Emmeline, then turned back to ric, anger tinting his voice


    "Stop spouting nonsense here!"


    "Oh, feeling the heat? Still hiding from thisdy that you''re a married man, huh? Spencer, you really are the lowest of the low! Hertha waits for you to


    come home every evening, and here you are, wining and dining with another woman!¡± ric scoffed coldly.


    "Well, Spencer, I never knew you were this kind of person..." Emmeline, in a fit of anger, tried to fling the ring she was wearing at him.


    Quick as a sh, Spencer stepped forward and grabbed Emmeline¡¯s hand, "Emmeline, don''t listen to him: I''m not that kind of person..."


    "Then exin why others are saying you''re married!" Emmeline demanded, struggling to free her hand, her breathsing in short gasps.


    Spencer realized her reluctance 10


    push him awayroutright, her


    questioning>there was still hope for


    him. If he didn''t clear the air now, he


    might never get another chance. lt


    had taken three years of dating-to


    find someone like Emme ingyand


    now it was all about to go-down the


    drain. How many sets of three years


    did one have in life to wait? Content


    belongs to


    Under Emmelige''s urgent gaze,


    Spencer hadho choice but to admit,


    "It was Hertha''s idea to trick him.


    Hertha add I are just friends, whic


    you kngw. Hertha and I aren''t


    margied, It''s just a misunderstanding


    ornis part, you can ask anyone if


    y6U don''t believe me.¡± Content


    belongs to


    Worried that Emmeline wouldn''t take his word for it, Spencer went into detail about the whole scheme, even mentioning witnesses.N?velDrama.Org owns all ? content.


    Listening to Spencer, Emmeline was


    utterly confused. She always knew


    Hertha was-Spencer''s friend, and


    their unusually close rtionship did


    make herwonder. But when rie


    used Spencer and Hertha of


    being spouses, her world seemed to


    coffapse, thinking Spencer ¡ì was


    conspiring with Hertha texdeceive


    her. Now, hearing his side, she was


    baffled.


    So, it was only ric who was deceived by Hertha and Spencer''s act? That meant Hertha and this ric had some sort of romantic connection?


    Hearing Spencer''s confession, ric was a mix of disbelief and overwhelming excitement, "What did you say, say that again?"


    Spencer took a deep breath, deciding there was no point in hiding anything anymore, "You heard me right. Hertha and I aren''t husband and wife; you


    just thought so. Emmeline is my girlfriend...¡±


    Upon hearing Spencer''s rification, a storm of emotions raged within ric¡ªexcitement, relief. He turned on his heels, dashing out of the diner.

 Chapter 1566

    Chapter 1566


    Georgia witnessed a series of unexpected actions from ric. First, he interrupted a couple''s proposal, and then he dashed outside in a hurry.


    Worried that ric might leave for good, Georgia grabbed onto his shirt as he briskly walked away. "ric, you promised we''d have dinner together!¡±


    she eximed.


    Up until that moment, Georgia had managed to keep her temper in check, heeding her mother''s advice to always coddle ric. But seeing him about


    to run off ignited Miss Georgia''s temper in an instant. Gasping for breath in her fury, her voice wasden with usation as she clung onto him.N?velDrama.Org owns all ? content.


    ric turned around, confronted by Georgia''s shrill, angry demeanor, and could no longer contain his irritation. Angrily, he shrugged her off. "It was


    my mom who promised you, not me!" he snapped.


    Without another word, he stormed out of the restaurant. He knew Georgia wouldn''t change. Her earlier disy of vulnerability, pleading for his


    forgiveness, was just a ploy. Once forgiven, she''d revert to her domineering ways. Conceding to her would only embolden Georgia, allowing her to


    trample over his dignity.


    Thankfully, his decision to dine was merely to honor his grandfather, not because he believed Georgia''s words. In less than ten minutes, Georgia had


    reverted to her condescending and imperious nature.


    ric couldn''t bear the thought of enduring such a woman by his side.


    Thrown off by ric''s rejection, Georgia stumbled, nearly crashing inte a nearby table. By the time she regained herposure, ric had vanished


    from the restaurant.


    Furious, Georgia iled her arms in.


    the air and stamped her feet,


    screaming, *Ah! ric, how could


    you do this to me again! You think (ll


    justlet go? Think again!¡± Content


    belongs to NovelDrama.Org ~~


    Georgia''s scream echoed throughout the restaurant, drawing wary and curious nces from other patrons.


    Emmeline, startled, leaned closer into Spencer''s embrace, whispering, "Spencer, what''s happening?¡±


    Spencer wrapped his arms around Emmeline, cautious not to provoke Georgia further, and whispered in her ear, "A love triangle..."


    Emmeline froze, shocked not just by


    his words butby the ticklish


    sensation. his breath caused on her


    ear, sending a shiver down her =


    spine. hat tingling feeling wag like


    an efectric current, spreading.


    threugh her body and making her


    biBod buzz. Content beloays to


    NovelDrama.Org


    Emmeline''s cheeks flushed red. In front of the man she liked, a simple action from him made her feel utterly vulnerable


    "Okay." Emmeline responded shyly, her head nodding in agreement.

 Chapter 1567

    Chapter 1567


    Georgia and ric had just resettled at their table when the waiter approached with their order. Spotting Gecrgia in the corridor, he offered a polite,


    "Miss, your steak..."


    Georgia spun around, her eyes zing with fury at the waiter. Catching sight of the steak tray he carried, her irritation boiled over. She marched


    forward, swiping the tray from his grasp, eximing, "The evening''s ruined, why bother eating now? Couldn''t you have been a bit quicker?¡±


    The steak, fresh from the grill, tumbled onto the waiter, eliciting a sharp hiss of pain.


    Startled and in pain, the waiter stumbled back, dropping the tray with a cry.


    The ttering tray narrowly missed Georgia''s feet. She instinctively stepped back, ring at the waiter. "So, it''s my fault you''re slow? And you dare


    get mad?" she snapped.


    "This is supposed to be a fine-dining ce, right? Is this the kind of service you offer? Do you have any idea who I am? Could you afford the


    consequences if I were injured? Get your manager now!" Georgia demanded, hands on her hips, her anger palpable.


    The waiter''s hand was burned red, trembling from the pain, but he hastily responded, "Miss, please, don''t be upset. We''ll rece your steak..."


    "Of course, you''ll rece it. And you''ll apologize on your knees! Your dy caused my husband to leave without eating. You''ve ruined our evening!


    How do you n to make this right?" Georgia''s rage knew no bounds.


    The manager rushed over, assessing the mess before scolding the waiter, "What have you done? You''ve upset our guests!¡±


    With his head down, the waiter clenched his teeth, saying nothing


    After reprimanding the waiter, the


    manager tured to Georgia with a


    respectfubione, ¡®Ms. Whitman, oo


    please, Jet''s calm down. We''ll offer


    you aplimentary meal of double


    the value and have the waiter


    pslogize."


    ol


    jab)


    This isn''t just about an apology


    anymore. Because of your staff''s


    negligence, my husband left without


    dinner. Do you understand today


    was crucial for mending our <


    rtionship? Just one dinner could


    have made everything right, and now


    he''s''gone, our rtionship more


    strained than ever. All because of


    your waiter! Besides kne¨¦ling and


    apologizing, I expectpensation


    of $20,000 for the damage caused!"


    Georgia''s demands were


    outrageous.


    The waiter, upon hearing the demand for $20,000, looked up in shock and fear.


    Coming from a humble background, working part-time to pay for college, $20,000 was an astronomical sum for him.N?velDrama.Org: owner of this content.


    Pale with fear, the young waiter begged, "Miss, I served as quickly as I could. The kitchen staff can attest to that. Please, forgive me..."


    "Why should I forgive you? You'' ve


    made a mistake, strained my ~~ ?


    rtionship, and now you argue?


    Kneel:and apologize this instant!¡±


    Georgiamanded, pointigy


    aceusingly.


    -


    Trembling with humiliation and fear, the waiter was at his breaking point.


    But as he was about to kneel, a hand reached out, pulling him back up. "Don''t kneel!"

 Chapter 1568

    Chapter 1568


    The waiter turned around to see a woman holding him up, preventing him from bowing down as he had been about to do.


    This woman was the same one who had just epted a man''s proposal.


    It was Emmeline!


    Her eyes were resolute as she spoke to the waiter, "We all saw what happened. It was clearly her being unreasonable, and she even burned you.


    She should be the onepensating!¡±


    Hearing Emmeline''s words, the waiter felt a surge of emotion he hadn''t expected. He had been insulted and cursed at, yet had felt no urge to cry until


    now. A stranger standing up for him and iming justice on his behalf suddenly overwhelmed him.


    He clenched his fists and stood up straight.


    "Who even are you, sticking your nose where it doesn''t belong?" Georgia, hearing Emmeline, pointed at her with a haughty arrogance.


    Emmeline was about to reply when Spencer pulled her close, using his tall frame to shield her. He faced Georgia and said sternly, "Put your finger


    down. Pointing at people all the time, didn''t your mother teach you the basic respect due to others?¡±


    "You dare say I''m rude! You all heard him, he''s personally attacking me. I''m calling the pelice right now!" Georgia was livid, her chest heaving with


    anger.


    Spencer remained calm and collected, "Go ahead, call them. If you don''t, I will. You''ve burned this young waiter and are trying to extort money from


    him. All of us here are witnesses."


    "You!" Georgia was fuming, unable to outtalk Spencer, so she turned her wrath towards the restaurant manager, knowing full well the manager


    recognized her.


    Crossing the Reed family meant trouble!


    "Manager, right? Speak up! It''s either he apologizes by bowing down three times andpensates me with two hundred thousand in damages, or


    your restaurant goes bankrupt and you''ll never live down the shame in Starhaven! Choose!" Georgia used the Reed family''s influence to threaten the


    manager.


    The manager, having worked hard for his position, knew this incident could ruin him, sending him back to square one, with no chance of recovery.


    Unable to offend the customer but


    within his rights to manage his staff,


    he stern Iytold the waiter, "Get down


    on your R knees and apologize. Maybe


    Ms. Whitman will be merciful and let


    youff with a smaller VT


    corpensation. " Content hefongs to


    NovelDrama.Org =


    Hearing the manager taking her side, Georgia smirked arrogantly at Spencer and Emmeline, as if their interference was futile.


    After all, she was the Reed family¡¯s heiress. What she wanted, she got!


    The waite[; panicked, lookedto  -o


    Spencer and Emmeline for help,


    realizing Ms. Whitman was not¡¯


    someone to be trifled with, orelse


    the manager wouldn''t be sO ¡°fearful.


    N?velDrama.Org: owner of this content.


    Spencer scoffed, "l always wondered why ric wouldn''t marry a rich heiress like you, always hung up on Hertha. Now it''s clear.¡±


    "What did you say?" Georgia, thinking she was about to triumph, was taken aback by Spencer''s words, her pride crushed in an instant,


    She had always had the upper hang.


    in other matters, but in pursuing NI


    ric, she was always the onedeft


    wanting. This was her greatest


    solirce of pain and helplessness.


    Spencer hit her where it hurt most, publicly stating the man she loved didn''t love her back but loved another woman instead


    "No wonder ric didn''t choose you. Who could stand someone with your temperament? He was right!" Spencer replied, hitting the nail on the head.


    Spencer was being honest.


    He had never met Georgia before and assumed she was like any other woman, perhaps a bit whimsical but fundamentally kind


    Now, seeing her true colors as someone who was arrogant, domineering, and a bully, he knew kindness was far from what she could offer.

 Chapter 1569

    Chapter 1569


    ric must have been at his wit''s end with her outrageous behavior. No way he''d take her back, not even for millions.


    "Who do you think you are, talking about me like that! Just wait, I''ll sue you until you''re broke!" Georgia couldn''t take it anymore. She hated it when


    people pointed out her ws, especially when it came to the one thing she cared about the most.


    Georgia was fuming, literally spinning in ce with anger.


    "And you! Get down on your knees and apologize! And after that, cough up $200,000 for my emotional distress!" Georgia was on a rampage,shing


    out at anyone in her path, pointing furiously at the waiter.


    The waiter''s fists were clenched so tight from holding back that they were shaking. Seeing the kind stranger about to be dragged to court by Georgia


    the waiter couldn''t hold back any longer and said, "Ms. Whitman, are you upset because you''re worried your little kitchen request got leaked?"


    "What nonsense are you spouting!¡± Georgia was livid with embarrassment and rage.


    "You had the kitchen slip something into one of the steaks meant for that gentleman who just left. But he left before he could eat it, and now you''re


    taking your anger out on me, flipping steaks to destroy the evidence!" Realizing his job was gone anyway, he decided to reveal the truth. If he kept


    quiet, he''d be on the hook for the $200,000 and drag the kind stranger down with him.


    The waiter knew it was time to stop being timid.


    Hearing the waiter''s usation, Spencer turned to Georgia with a serious look, "What did you give ric?"


    It clicked that today was supposed


    tobe a significant day for Georgia?


    and ric''s reconciliation. Spencer


    suddenly asked, suspicion rising,


    "Youdidn''t give ric some kind of...


    love I pation, did you?" Content


    b¨¦longs to  =


    Trying to seduce ric as a way to make amends? Georgia''s methods were despicable.


    Spencer couldn''t help but feel a bit sorry for ric.


    Georgia''s previously defiant gaze started to waver, as she retorted, "You''re ndering me, and that''s just one more thing I can sue you for!"


    "The steak¡¯s still on the floor. Just get a professional to check it, and we''ll see who''s ndering who," the waiter chimed in.


    "I happen to know a doctor. I''ll call him right now.¡± Spencer said as he pulled out his phone, adding. "I know ric. I''l call him too, have hime


    over as a witness."


    Hearing Spencer was calling ric,


    Georgia panicked. If ric found. out


    she wag resorting to such tactics for


    his forgiveness, he''d only despise


    her ore. She''d lose any chance of


    getting back together with him.


    Cdntent belongs to


    Flustered and red in the face, she


    blurted, "Whytbother calling? Got


    nothing better to do? Today''s Just =


    not my day, running into all you,


    troublemakers! I''ve got important


    things to do and no time to argue


    with you!"


    =


    With that, she stormed off. Though her pride remained unyielding, her guilt was evident.


    "Spencer, you should still call ric, let him know what happened at the restaurant,¡± Emmeline suddenly suggested.


    N?velDrama.Org: owner of this content.

 Chapter 1570

    Chapter 1570


    Spencer nced over at Emmeline, just as he was about to speak, a loud crash thundered from behind them.


    Spencer and Emmeline quickly turned around, only to find the young waiter they had seen earlier, copsed on the floor, his back having mmed


    into a chair, causing the racket. Beads of sweat dotted his forehead, his breathing heavy and panicked.


    It was only after Georgia had left that he visibly rxed, slumping to the ground in relief.


    Spencer stepped forward to help the waiter up. "It''s okay. no worries. If that woman bothers you again, give this guy a call."


    Spencer pulled out his phone, scrolled to ric''s contact, and showed it to the waiter. ric was probably the only one who could handle Georgia''s


    arrogance.


    The waiter quickly bowed in thanks. "Sir, thank you so much, I can''t thank you enough.¡±


    "Don''t mention it. That burn looks pretty bad, you should get it treated right away,¡± Spencer said with concern. The waiter''s hand, initially just


    reddened, now sported blisters from the burn - no small matter.


    "Thank you, I''ll see to it right away," the waiter said, bowing before attempting to leave.


    The manager stopped him in his tracks. "Where do you think you''re going during your shift?"N?velDrama.Org: owner of this content.


    "Manager, my hand is injured like this. It wouldn''t be proper for the customers to see me serving food like this. I''m just going to treat my wound and


    then I''ll be right back," the waiter tried to exin.


    "Personal errands onpany time? Do you not want your pay for today?" the manager retorted.


    The waiter, who could have borne


    the insult in silence, could no longer


    contain his frustration and anger at


    being constantly belittled. He AN


    clenchedChis teeth, swallowed his~


    pride and anger, lifted his blistered


    hand: lnbuttoned his uniform; threw


    it arr the ground, and with algaze full


    oFsuppressed rage, he stared at the


    manager: ''l quit! Consider tonight''s


    wages a gift for you to get your eyes


    washed!"


    With those words, the waiter strode out of the diner, his departure resolute, leaving behind any trace of his former timidity.


    A person''s potential is often unleashed when they have support; without it, they''re hesitant, constantly weighing their options. But with support, their


    confidence surges.


    "You''ll regret this! The diner won''t take you back after this!" the manager shouted after the departing figure of the waiter.


    Emmeline, unable to stand the


    managers attitude, muttered, Not


    standing¡¯ up for your own staff,¡±


    treating them less than human, a


    ce like this is bound to gaunder


    eventually.¡±


    -


    The manager spun around, his


    demeanor threatening, aware that


    having antagonized Georgia, his ->


    days wefe now numbered. And new,


    with the waiter gone, he was left


    withaut anyone to cover for r fim if


    Georgia sought revenge. Goren


    belongs to  ?


    Seeing the manager''s hostile stance, Spencer quickly positioned Emmeline behind him and said, "We pay at the counter, right? We''re done here, let''s


    go settle the bill."


    With that, he took Emmeline by the hand and headed to the front, wary of any trouble from the manager.


    Fortunately, they left the diner without further incident, the manager not daring to follow.

 Chapter 1571

    Chapter 1571


    Stepping out of the restaurant, the air outside felt noticeably fresher.


    Throughout the incident, Spencer had been her silent guardian, shielding her from any potential harm. Emmeline could feel the protective aura he


    exuded, wrapping her in a cocoon of safety.


    Her heart was filled with joy, affirming her belief that she had chosen the right person. She looped her arm through Spencer''s and nestled closer, her


    face lit with a yful smile as she locked up at him. "Spencer, you really outdid yourself today. I''m so impressed.¡±


    With a doting smile, Spencer lightly tapped her nose. "That''s nothing. Wait until you try my cooking. You won''t need to step out and deal with such


    messes anymore.¡±


    "Ckay, I''lle over tomorrow and see what you can do in the kitchen.¡± Emmeline tightened her grip on his arm, her affection for him growing even


    stronger.N?velDrama.Org owns all ? content.


    ric was driving at breakneck speed toward Gulfstream Community, his mind racing!


    He kept reying what Spencer had said earlier¡ªSpencer and Hertha were not actually married; it was all a ruse to deceive him!


    Had Hertha lied about being Spencer''s wife just to push him away and make him marry Georgia?


    Did she think that once he was engaged to Georgia, he would definitely marry her?


    He was determined to tell her that it was over between him and Georgia, that he wouldn''t marry her. He was even ready to give up his status as the


    Falconer family''s second son if necessary!


    ric was a bundle of nerves, eager to get to Hertha''s ce to tell her he wouldn''t marry Georgia and that she didnt need to hide the fact that she


    wasn''t married.


    What usually took over twenty minutes, ric managed to halve the time, arriving at Gulfstream Community in just over ten minutes.


    He parked the car, jumped out, and rushed toward her building with fluid, determined strides.


    As the elevator ascended, the numbers shing by seemed to echo ric¡¯s heartbeat, elerating as he neared Hertha''s floor. His heart pounded


    fiercely in his chest.


    Soan, the elevator halted at the twentieth floor. ric stepped out and hurried to Hertha''s door, ringing the bell impatiently.


    When there was no answer, he pressed the bell over and over, desperate.


    As he was about to press the bell again, the door swung open, revealing a weary-looking Hertha


    Seeing ric, she was about to protest, "What are you doing...¡±


    But before she could finish, ric¡¯s actions left her frozen, her eyes wide and her breath caught.


    Upon seeirig her, ric immediately.


    stepped I Rrward, pulling her into-a¡±


    tight embrace, his breath hot and


    heavy at her ear, conveying aff ¡®his


    pent- up urgency and excitement.


    This unexpected move made Hertha stiffen, her heart racing uncontrobly.


    The next moment, realizing what


    ric was doing, Hertha''s eyes


    sparkled WIth T realization. She


    pushed hirm away with all her might,


    her face flushed from his embrace,


    her volte tinged with anxiety and


    anger, ¡°ric, what are you doing!


    Gaming here to embrace me, aren''t


    you afraid my husband riiighte


    back..¡±


    ¡°You still want to lie to me, that you and Spencer are not actually married!¡± ric''s eyes narrowed as he confronted her with the truth.


    Hertha''s heart skipped a beat, confused and flustered, she stumbled over her words, "What are you talking about?¡¯


    "Am I talking nonsense?¡± ric¡¯s


    fingers gently-grasped Hertha''s chin,


    pushing herback into the apartment


    step by sfep, a smirk ying on his


    lips, ¡°Tet me, Hertha, why keep the


    fact that you''re single a secret? Is


    there some deep, dark secret you''re


    trying to hide from me?¡± Content


    belongs to


    Hearing ric¡¯s words, Hertha''s heart fluttered like a trapped bird, pounding wildly.


    Ch no, did ric find out about the kids? He was already inside!

 Chapter 1572

    Chapter 1572


    Total panic mode.


    ric just showed up, uninvited, crowding her space without any warning, pushing her back into the house.


    If he discovered the kids, she''d be in tears for sure.


    In her frantic state, her temper red. She swatted ric''s hand away from her chin and red at him, fury mixing with embarrassment. "And why


    should I tell you anything? Get out of my house!¡±


    Desperate, she ced her hands against ric''s chest, trying to push him away.


    Her hands, through the fabric of his shirt, felt the coolness of his skin against the warmth of ric''s heart.


    The icy touch of her fingertips against his burning skin felt like an electric shock, sending a shiver through him.


    ric''s gaze darkened, his grip firm on her wrists, neutralizing her attempts to push him away.


    She was petite, barely reaching his shoulder, and as he looked down at her, a mischievous smirk yed on his lips. "So, did I guess right? Are you


    really hiding something from me, is that why you''re so flustered? Let''s see what you''re so desperately trying to keep from me."


    His breath was warm on her face as he leaned closer, their body heat mingling, making her already flushed face burn even hotter.


    Her heart pounded uncontrobly.


    Before she could react, ric straightened up, creating a safe distance between them and walked towards her room.


    Snapping back to reality and realizing where ric was heading, she held her breath, inhaled sharply, and quickly turned around to intercept him.


    How could she let ric discover her secret?


    But ric moved swiftly, covering the distance to the room in a few strides, reached for the doorknob, and pushed the door open.


    "No!" she cried out.All content ? N/.?vel/Dr/ama.Org.


    But it was toote; ric had already opened the door, his gaze instantly scanning the room, his handsome face freezing in shock.


    Seeing ric open the door and lock


    into the room, she stood frozen, her


    eyes wide as saucers, her blood


    feeling like it was turning taice.


    For a moment, the world seemed to stand still, her heart hammering in terror.


    This was it. Did ric finally discover the kids?


    Her heart, which had seemed to stop


    fora second, resumed its frantic.


    pace, as if a coiled spring had been


    released, bounding with intense


    beats. ..


    ig


    Regaining herposure, she looked at ric anxiously, bracing herself for the impending panic.


    ric''s expression was grave as he took in the room, then he stepped inside.


    She hurried after him, only to see ric walk up to the bed and stare at the pink Peppa Pig bedsheet spread out on it.


    He frowned, then turned to her and asked, "Is this your big secret?"


    Clutching her hand nervously, she awaited ric''s interrogation.


    After running into her parents that


    day, to prevent ric from bumping


    into herand the kids, she had left


    Juliaryand Helena at her parents¡¯


    house, asking them to look after the


    chitdren. Content belongs 1 to


    id


    Given that ric was now living in the same neighborhood, she had been avoiding him, ensuring he hadn''t seen her with Julian and Helena.


    But, it was only a matter of time before a slip-up or coincidence would lead to ric seeing them together.


    To be safe, she had decided to keep Julian and Helena with her parents, thus avoiding any chance encounters with ric.

 Chapter 1573

    Chapter 1573


    ric''s sudden appearance at her doorstep, barging into her bedroom of all ces, caught herpletely off guard.


    Her bed, always shared with her kids, was adorned with cartoon-themed sheets that screamed childhood innocence. It was a no-brainer for anyone


    walking in to realize kids lived there.


    Back when she pretended to be Spencer''s wife, she could spin tales with ease. But now that ric knew the truth about her and Spencer¡ªthat she


    was indeed single¡ªit was clear as day to him that kids were part of the equation.


    Her heart raced, panic setting in. Facing ric''s interrogation, she initially fumbled for words, unsure how to exin her situation


    But then. she steeled herself.


    Taking a deep breath, she calmed down, lifted her chin, and met ric''s gaze with a defiant stance. "Yes, this is my secret, ric. Don''t think just


    because you''re the Falconer family''s golden boy, you can do whatever you please!"All content ? N/.?vel/Dr/ama.Org.


    She was ready to fight tooth and nail if he dared to challenge her for her kids.


    "You''ve always been unpredictable, not one to follow the rules. Why hide this?" ric''s unexpected response threw her off.


    "Who''s being unpredictable?" She began to retort but stopped short, realizing the implication in ric''s words. Surprised and somewhat excited, she


    looked at him.


    ric stepped closer, "Liking cartoon themes is nothing to be ashamed of. Did you really think I''d judge you for having kid-like sheets, so much so


    that you''d fabricate a marriage with Spencer? Can you get any more childish?"


    As ric loomed closer, her heart, momentarily calmed by her own resignation, fluttered anxiously ance more.


    What was ric implying?


    He hadn''t jumped to the conclusion of her having kids but thought she herself enjoyed the childish decor?


    She had braced herself for a showdown with ric, only to realize he had no clue about her secret child with him.


    Her heart raced yet again, cautiously


    aligning withhis assumption. "Yes,


    that''s mysecret! Here I am, thirty ¡é


    years oldrworried about being -


    mocked dl for liking something av


    three-year old would, especially by


    yOu ''  oN


    ol


    "Why especially by me?" ric pressed, his eyes sparkling with an intense curiosity.


    Was she concerned about his opinion because she cared about him?


    "Is it because I hold a special ce in your heart?" ric''s voice turned seductive.


    Backed against the wall withno


    escape, she stared at ric, a


    flustered. "Special? No, it''s because


    you can be quite harsh.¡± Content


    Belongs to  =


    "How am I harsh? Can my words really be that lethal?¡± ric leaned in, his broad chest nearly enveloping her.


    His face, infuriatingly handsome, drew closer.


    In such close proximity, his breath -.


    on her fa face, her heart, which never


    ceased to love him, ignited with¡±


    passion. Her body yearned topull


    hin closer, to kiss him fiercely.


    But years of resilience had taught her maturity; she wouldn''t act recklessly on impulse.


    "Of course, they can be lethal," she managed to say.


    "Really? Let''s see about that,¡± ric murmured, lifting her chin and sealing their fates with a kiss.

 Chapter 1574

    Chapter 1574


    ric''s thin lips, without any warning, captured hers in a kiss that ignited a fire between them, as intense and sweet as molten honey.


    His distinct masculine scent enveloped her entirely.


    The urge to kiss him, long suppressed, could no longer be contained. Blood rushed through her veins, her body heating up in anticipation of his


    embrace.


    Holding her breath, her heart seemed to forget how to beat, her eyes wide as she stared at ric''s face close to her cheek


    He was more striking than any woman, with a temper as gentle as his features were delicate and resilient, his face brushing against hers, leaving her


    cheeks feeling hot and flushed.


    Frozen in ce, unable to control her boiling blood, ric deepened the kiss, prying her lips apart in a conquering motion


    He had only intended to scare her a bit, but ance his lips met hers, a tightness gripped his throat, his body''s desires nearly overwhelming him


    instinctively craving more.


    Kissed into submission, her breath mingled with his ragged inhales.


    Suddenly, the memory of waking up disheveled in bed with Georgia three years ago shed through her mind


    That image, sharp as a knife, pierced her fervor-filled heart, bringing a stinging pain that cocled her down.


    The heat receded, and reason swiftly returned.


    Her eyes, which had slowly closed, snapped open as she pushed ric away forcefully, wiping her mouth angrily, "ric, what are you, a dog?


    Always biting people?¡±


    "It''s because you said my words were venomous, so I thought to let you taste them, see if they could kill you." ric¡¯s gaze remained intense, his


    desire not abated.


    But seeing her tense and embarrassed, worried he had scared her or made her feel disrespected, he tried to cover his intense longing with a jest.


    "You''re sick! I meant you have a sharp tongue, not actual poison!" she countered, her chest heaving


    Frustrated with her lingering feelings for ric and even mere irritated that he disregarded her situation by showing up to tease her.


    Especially when it was clear he and.


    Georgia were the ones to marry in¡±


    the futdre, yet he still wouldn''t leave


    her aut of their triangle, making her


    position even more ufortable.


    Did he ever consider that she was a living, breathing person who could feel hurt, pain, and embarrassment?


    All she wanted was to walk away from this hopeless rtionship with dignity. Was that so wrong?


    "I''m sorry for all the harsh words in the past. You actually look better with a bit more weight, too skinny and you lose your charm,¡± ric suddenly


    apologizedN?velDrama.Org owns all ? content.


    Hearing the first part, she thought he genuinely felt sorry, but his backhandedpliment instantly spiked her blood pressure.


    Taking a deep breath, she retorted, "You''re the one with a sharp face, your whole family has sharp faces!"


    "I meant it as apliment..." ric tried to exin


    n


    Just shut up£¤.ghe snapped. ¡°I lied


    about marrying Spencer just so


    you''d stop barging into my house, ~~


    into my. dom! It''s disrespectful tog


    womaRrsure, we''ve been together,


    but we have no rtionship POW.


    Please, respect my personalspace,


    okay?" Content belongs tg?


    NovelDrama.Org


    She stood there, chin up, furious and flushed, telling ric off.


    Her anger was a mask for the uncontroble desire she felt towards him.


    Blushing could be from anger, not love.


    Flushed and furious could mean outrage, not a body yearning for him.


    Noticing she was serious, her big, round eyes ring at him, truly disliking his uninvited visits to her home and room.


    ric''s expressjon cooled, "I''m sorry


    for the trouble I''ve caused. Hearing


    igy Spencer today that you two


    weren''t 4Ctually married got me 100


    excited and I lost control. I promise,


    fromm iow on, won''te over


    without your permission, letalone to


    yGur room.¡± Content biigs to


    NovelDrama.Org


    A woman''s private space is not for a man to invade lightly.

 Chapter 1575

    Chapter 1575


    Treating him like he was just some random guy, huh?


    Makes sense, though. ric''s reputation precedes him - a notorious yboy, his exploits are the talk of the town. Which self-respecting woman


    wouldn''t keep her distance?


    Especially given their...plicated history. She was right to worry he might lump her in with the kind of women he could easily flirt with


    But ric¡¯s earnest apology caught her off guard


    Seeing him looking so guilty, so sincere in his apology, the anger that had filled her seemed to dete. Suddenly, she felt like maybe she''d been


    making a mountain out of a molehill.


    She let out a sigh, softening her tone, "You should leave; I need to rest.¡±


    "I was trying to exin about me and Georgia..." ric started, eager to rify that marriage was off the table for him and Georgia, that even as an


    average Joe, he wouldn''t tie the knot with her.


    But she cut him off, "Didn''t you just say you wouldn''t bother me? Were you lying?"


    She didn''t want to hear anything about him and Georgia.


    Just the mention of their names together brought back memories of that night three years ago, of them sharing a bed, of what they''d dene.


    Those memories were like a thorn in her heart, painful at the slightest touch, so she avoided it at all costs


    "No," ric halted, quickly trying to reassure her.


    With a downward nce of his longshes, ric said, "Get some rest. I''ll head back now. If anythinges up, call me. I''ll be right over.¡±


    He lived just across the street, making it easy for him toe over anytime.


    "I got it, now please, just go," she urged him out.


    Without another word, ric left.


    The moment the door closed behind him, her tense body suddenly rxed, her heart racing as if it might stop


    She had genuinely feared ric had figured out she had secretly had his child.


    But ric, being the unconventional


    thinker that he is, didn''t go there.


    Instead; he thought her love for -


    cartoon motifs at her age meant she


    wag just young at heart, hence the


    yful decor.


    -


    All in all, it was a relief he hadn''t discovered the existence of the kids.


    Leaning against the door from the inside, she took a deep breath


    Cutside, ric stood by the closed door, feeling, despite theck of admission, that she still cared about him.


    Why else would she care so much about what he thought of her?


    Plus, it had been three years, and she was still single, with no boyfriend in sight


    That had to mean she still harbored feelings for him, right?


    As long as she was single, he believed there was still a chance for him


    With that thought, ric¡¯s long-clouded mood brightened significantly, a smile spreading across his face.


    Back in his-apartment, he grabbed .


    his phone to call Ethan, "Ethan, \urich


    is onme tomorrow. Pick whatever


    you ¡°fancy.¡±


    =


    Lucky for ric, Ethan had arranged for him to live in this neighborhood, right next door, no less.Upstodatee from Novel(D)ra/m/a.O(r)g


    Ethan was his guardian angel!


    The fact that Ethan had arranged for


    him to live next door was a perfect


    coingidence, but indeed, Fthanthad


    dane him a huge favor. Content


    Selongs to  =


    "What''s up, struck gold?" Ethan teased over the phone.

 Chapter 1576

    Chapter 1576


    "Don''t worry about money, it''s so pedestrian. There are far more interesting things in this world than money." ric said.


    Ethan was taken aback. The typicallyid-back, affluent yboy, ric, uttering such sentimental words waspletely out of character.


    It was as if he had be apletely different person.


    Something must be up.


    Ethan asked cautiously, "Dude, are you in some kind of trouble? Just spill it, man. We''re brothers; no need to beat around the bush.¡±


    Ethan was sure ric needed a favor.


    Otherwise, why the sudden philosophical musings?


    Hearing the seriousness in Ethan''s voice, ricughed, "Chill, man, I''m not asking for anything. Just inviting you for some grub."


    "Oh? Something good happened? Share the joy, man," Ethan rxed a bit.


    "What else could make me happy? You know the usual,¡± ric said nonchntly.


    "About a woman?" Ethan guessed right away. He knew ric''s tastes better than ric''s own mother.


    Money might not always bring joy to Ethan, but a woman who caught his eye was a different story.


    "Sort of."


    "Things moving fast, huh?" Ethan''s voice came through the phone.


    ric was pouring a drink and paused, then, with a teasing tone, said, "Ethan, be honest, did you do this on purpose?¡±


    "What do you mean ''on purpose¡¯? I''m lost."


    "The apartment you hooked me up with, making her my neighbor.¡± ric didn''t hide it, openly admitting that things were indeed progressing with her.


    Though it wasn''t anything official yet, just knowing she and Spencer weren''t an item meant he was already halfway there.


    "What are you saying?" Ethan was both surprised and amazed. "The apartment I got for you is next to hers? That''s just too coincidental...¡±


    ric coulehtell from his surprised -.


    tone that Ethan wasn''t faking it, and


    there was no reason to. It seemed


    Ethan genuinely didn''t know >


    beforehand.


    It looked like fate really did bring them together. Ethan randomly assigning apartments and ending up cing him next to her.


    Fate works in mysterious ways, indeed!


    ric felt even better, his recent moodiness dissipated.


    "Enough talk, lunch is on me tomorrow. A feast," ric ended the call.


    Meanwhile; after settling her


    emotions; She returned to her roam,


    greeted by the sight of her ~~


    bedspread, duvet, and pillows all


    adorhed with characters from


    "Peppa Pig."


    The pink little pig''s eyes seemed to stare at her, as if wanting tomunicate. The childishness filled the room, reminiscent of a kindergarten.


    She suddenly understood how ric must have felt seeing her room''s decor, finding it both amusing and ridiculous.


    Thinking about ric''s misunderstanding, she couldn''t help butugh and feel embarrassed at the same time.


    Oh dear, ric actually thought she


    liked thiskind of decor, thinking her


    to be chitdlike. Fora thirty-year-old


    woman 110 privately enjoy such


    childish things, anyone would find it


    anALIsing. Content belongs.to


    -


    Though it was a perfect misunderstanding, there was no way to exin it


    She began to feel ashamed


    Climbing into bed, she pulled the cover over herself, too embarrassed to face anyone.


    As she was squirming, her phone rang.


    Reaching out, she grabbed the phone and answered the call.


    All content ? N/.?vel/Dr/ama.Org.

 Chapter 1577

    Chapter 1577


    "So, I''ve gottae clean about something. Today, ric caught me proposing to Emmeline at the diner, got the wrong end of the stick, and was all


    but ready to throw down right there. I had no choice but to spill the beans about us not actually being married."


    Spencerid it all out for her to grasp the whole story.


    That exins why ric was in on the truth.


    Turns out, he stumbled upon Spencer popping the question to Emmeline.


    And here he was, ying the knight in shining armor, thinking Spencer was double-dipping. Was she supposed to be grateful for his misced


    chivalry?


    "Oh, no worries, got it." She replied calmly, her mind racing until it hit her, sitting up suddenly, "Wait, back up. You proposed to Emmeline?¡±


    The news of Spencer and Emmeline''s engagement was like a bombshell to her.


    "Mhm."N?velDrama.Org owns all ? content.


    "And she said yes?" She was on pins and needles, but hopeful.


    "She did," Spencer confirmed


    "Congrats! I''ll definitely be there, toasting to your happiness!" She offered her sincere well-wishes


    She had always felt guilty for holding Spencer back for three years due to her own issues.


    Now Spencer had found someone he genuinely liked and who was willing to take the plunge with him.


    She was genuinely happy for them, feeling a weight lifting off her shoulders.


    Spencer getting hitched was a relief, she hadn''t stood in his way after all.


    The thought of Leopold, who had lost both his youth and his life for love, was a chilling reminder.


    She feared Spencer might end up in a simr tragic tale, which would have been heart-wrenching.


    Thankfully, Spencer wasn''t as obsessive, and it was a relief to see him chasing the right kind of love.


    "Let''s worry about the wedding toastter,¡± Spencer remarked.


    After exchanging a few more pleasantries, they ended the call.


    Initially retting over ric''s


    unexpected intrusion, now that she


    knew the full story and heard about


    Spencer s uing nuptials, her


    mind-eased, and she drifted off to


    sleep shortly after closing I her eyes.


    The next morning, while she was brushing her teeth at around eight, an urgent doorbell rang


    Toothbrush in mouth and cheeks bulging with foam, she shuffled to the door and swung it open


    Instantly, ghavish bouquet of fiery


    red roses-was thrust into her view;


    monopolizing her sight with their¡¯


    captivating hue, their fragrance


    seeping into her, lifting her Spirits.


    The roses were fresh, their velvety petals still kissed by the morning dew, vibrant and inviting.


    It''s hard fora woman to resist the


    allure of such a magnificent


    bouquet; and she instinctively


    adored it, but her curiosity quickly


    shifted to the man behind the


    flowers.


    od


    ~


    ~~


    ric''s charming face peered from behind the roses, his lips curved in a devilishly handsome smile, his presence enchanting.


    "Good morning," ric greeted.


    There she stood, baffled, foam still at the corners of her mouth, squinting at him, "ric, you been up all night ying Robin Hood with flowers?"


    "Such beautiful eyes, but why use them to spin tales? I bought these, didn¡¯t steal them," ric quipped with a cheeky grin.


    "Why on earth did you buy flowers out of the blue?" She thought he''d lost his marbles.


    "For you, obviously," ric dropped the bombshell.


    "Cough, cough...¡± She choked on the foam in her mouth from the shock.


    After a fit of coughing, she stared at him incredulously, "What did you say, for me? Are you sure you''ve got the right person?¡±

 Chapter 1578

    Chapter 1578


    ric was looked at as if he were some sort of spectacle. Was ric alright? Perfectly fine, and


    here he was, presenting her with roses! At first nce, she was indeed taken aback by the beauty


    and fragrance of the roses, instinctively charmed. But when she saw ric was the one giving


    them, she tried to snap back to reality. She reminded herself not to be swayed by ric. This man


    was charming yet dangerous, a no-go zone. Otherwise, the crush she had managed to control for


    three years might be uncontroble around him again.


    ric''s smile was wickedly charming, his handsome features bing even more striking as he


    laughed, enough to make anyone swoon. His voice, maic, said, ¡°The flowers are right in front of


    you. Who else would they be for?¡± Her heart raced, ric¡¯s gesture making her heart flutter


    uncontrobly. But she had to restrain herself. Over these three years, her biggest achievement was


    learning to control the impulse to throw herself at ric.


    She was a mother of two now. If she didn¡¯t keep herself in check, she risked losing her children.


    Compared to her own feelings, having her children with her was what mattered most. She forced a


    smirk, barely hiding her disdain, and told ric, ¡°Sorry, but I have no respect for home-wreckers,


    and I have no intention of bing one!¡± With that, she retreated inside, grabbed the door without


    hesitation, and shut it.


    ric instinctively tried to block the door with the flowers, not stopping, a push and pull, until the


    door suddenly caught the entire bouquet, squashing it, particrly the petals. Seeing the bright,


    fiery roses getting crushed felt like they were being crushed against her own heart, her breath


    hitching. She quickly opened the door again. The crushed petals, once perfectly wrapped around


    the buds, fell in a cascade, leaving a trail of fiery red on the ground. From vibrant beauty to


    withering¡ªit all happened in a sh.


    Upstodatee from Novel(D)ra/m/a.O(r)g


    Her heart ached, as if foreseeing Leopold¡¯s fate, in that moment, projecting Leopold onto ric. It


    filled her with panic and fear. ¡°ric, what are you doing?¡± She wasn¡¯t angry, nor did she forcefully


    send him away, but asked with a slight panic in her voice. ric could sense her tone softening a


    bit. He replied, ¡°I hadn¡¯t finished speaking, you closed the door, so of course, I had to block it.¡±


    ¡°Haven¡¯t I made myself clear? What more is there to say?¡± she asked, still fearful.


    Even though ric stood unharmed before her, the thought of what happened to Leopold still


    haunted her. Leopold¡¯s persistent pursuit of Thssa, ending in tragedy for unrequited love, She


    was deeply worried the men around her might end up the same. Because of what happened with


    Leopold, she was always on guard, afraid of experiencing such a loss again. She wasn¡¯t usually


    driven by emotion, yet the thought of anyone close to her meeting a tragic end frightened her.


    ¡°Do you know why I work at Crawley Group? I told my mother I had to break off my engagement


    with Georgia. Otherwise, I¡¯d rather not hold the title of Falconer Group¡¯s second son,¡± ric


    exined earnestly. ¡°And I did exactly that. Can¡¯t you see my determination?¡± ric said. His gaze,


    intense, fixed on her. His handsome, almost ethereal appearance was exactly her type, and his


    eyes, filled with deep emotion, shimmered like the surface of ake, mesmerizing. Her heart


    skipped a beat, as if missing a half-step in its rhythm.

 Chapter 1579

    Chapter 1579


    Her heart was racing, nearly out of control, as she tried to keep her emotions for him in check. Her breath quickened, her cheeks flushed with the


    heat of intense love, yet thest shred of reason in her mind screamed at her to resistpletely falling for him. She clenched her fists so tightly that


    her nails dug into her skin, using the pain to keep her grounded.


    "Talking to me won''t change anything. I epted two hundred thousand from your mother years ago to end all ties with you," she said, her voice calm


    and devoid of excess emotion.


    "ric, to a woman like me, every man is just a fleeting fancy. I fell for you at first sight, but then my heart wandered to Eamon, and after that, to


    Spencer. And now, I''ve realized I only truly love myself. Do you understand?" Despite the turmoil of feelings for ric churning within her like molten


    lava, she coldly delivered these indifferent words to him


    Part of her restraint was fear¡ªfear of letting ric discover she had borne him two children. She knew he could use them to manipte her, stripping


    her of her autonomy. Moreover, she couldn''t trust ric not to fight her for custody. Cn the other hand, she still hadn''t gotten over the shock of seeing


    ric and Georgia in bed together.


    Though she knew ric had been with many women before, seeing it with her own eyes was a different story. She could ept his past rtionships


    unseen, but the image of ric and Georgia together, naked and entwined, was seared into her memory, impossible to forget. Even though ric


    was now estranged from his family, trying to break off his engagement with Georgia, she couldn''t bring herself to ept him


    Listening to her, ric''s charming smile faltered, his expression turning solemn. "So, you''re saying you don''t like me anymore?"


    "Yes, exactly!" she admitted.


    "I see," ric Said, his voice tinged


    with sadnegsbefore he turned and


    walked away. As she watched ric


    disappear into his house, her OF


    clencired fists rxed, and shel


    exhaled a weary breath. Holding


    back had been too exhausting.


    The moment ric turned his back,


    her heart feltas if it had been


    hollowed qut. A brief wave of loss ~


    washed aver her, then she smiled¡±


    Relieved she had managed to


    contre! her impulsive love, yetbitter


    forfalling for someone she shouldn''t


    Have. .~


    N?velDrama.Org: owner of this content.


    Looking down, she saw the floor


    scattered with rose petals, remnants


    of the vibrant roses that nowy ~~


    waiting tg wither. In love''s bloom,


    the flower symbolizes joy. In its


    decay: t s just another nt. -


    eptance I is key, she thought


    Grabbing a broom, she swept away


    the petals.


    After breakfast, she got dressed and was about to head out when she opened her door to find ric standing there, still holding a bouquet of flowers.


    "It''s the same bouquet from earlier. I removed the outer, damaged petals and made it into a smaller arrangement. It''s for you. Put it in a vase on your


    dining table; it might brighten up your meals.¡± ric handed her the flowers.


    She was taken aback.


    ric said, "Flowers can be rearranged after they wilt, and love can be rekindled after it''s lost. None of it is impossible.¡±


    Hearing this, her heart skipped a beat.

 Chapter 1580

    Chapter 1580


    How was she supposed to exin to ric that it wasn''t about losing love?


    Her feelings for him hadn''t diminished one bit.


    It was just that life, with all its harsh realities, demanded they keep their distance.


    She said, "The bouquet is nice, but I don''t fancy the smell of flowers during dinner. It overshadows the aroma of the meal. I prefer the scent of a


    hearty stew or a freshly baked pie, something more... down-to-earth."


    She managed a tight-lipped smile, maintaining a facade of politeness.


    With that, she stepped outside, gently closing the door behind her, leaving ric and his flowers out in the cold.


    ric''s hand, outstretched with the bouquet, paused mid-air for a moment. But he quickly recovered, setting the flowers down at the doorstep and


    following her, saying, "I know love can''t fill our bellies. I know I was too much of a dreamer before, not cut out for the daily grind. But I''ve cut ties with


    the Falconer family. I''m just a regr guy now, ready to deal with the nitty-gritty of daily life, including groceries and bills."


    She nced back at him with a smile, stepping into the elevator without a word.


    ric followed her in.


    The elevator ride was surprisinglyfortable, without a hint of awkwardness.


    "Speaking of, does Spencer live in this building too?" ric suddenly asked about Spencer.


    "Yeah, what about it?" she responded.


    "And here I was, thinking you two were an item, seeing how seamlessly you both acted in front of me. Spencer always seems to being home


    with groceries at the same time as you. I used to think you were married. Now that I know you''re not, what am I supposed to think?" ric asked with


    a hint of jest in his tone, though it was clear he was probing for more.


    He had no real right to be using her of anything.


    "You catch on pretty fast,¡± she said with augh.


    Although ric was usually sharp, he had been surprisingly slow on the uptake about her having a child.


    He hadn''t suspected a thing, even after spotting baby bottles in her cupboard and the child-like d¨¦cor in her room.


    She should be thankful that ric hadn''t applied his usual perceptiveness to guessing she had a child.


    "Fast? I''ve been in the dark for quite a while," ric retorted


    As they reached the ground floor, ric offered, "Heading to work? Let me drive you."Upstodatee from Novel(D)ra/m/a.O(r)g


    She pressed her car key, unlocking her vehicle with a beep, "I can manage on my own. Take care on the road.¡±


    After exchanging quick goodbyes, she got into her car and drove off.


    Watching Rer leave, ric settled


    into his. own car. It didn''t matter, te


    was patient. He believed he''d


    eventually find a way back into her


    heart. . ~


    -


    Her desk wasn''t far from Thssa''s at work.


    Both were on shift today.


    During a lull, she rolled her chair over to Thssa to dish about her recent encounters with ric.


    Thssa, wide-eyed with surprise, asked, "He knows you and Spencer aren''t married?¡±


    "Yeah, he found out. And then he


    showed up atmy doorstep,


    confronting:me about why I lied to >


    him. Youshould''ve seen him, acting


    all betrayed like he''d stumbled gpon


    a long-lost lover. I''ve never seen him


    likesthat before..." she recounted, her


    es round with confusioir, Content


    belongs to


    "Maybe, just maybe, he''s genuinely fallen for you? Wants to be with you?" Thssa suggested.


    "Come on, we''re talking about ric,


    the yboy, nat Lysander, the loyal.


    ric, seriously in love with one


    woman? ¡®Sonnds like a fairy tale to: ~


    me. He chases after any woman.


    that cajches his eye, enjoys the thrill


    of the''chase, and then moves on


    onae he''s bored. He''s got amillion


    Ways to woo a woman, but when it


    comes to breaking up, it''s always the


    same straightforward, no-nonsense


    approach.¡±

 Chapter 1581

    Chapter 1581


    Hearing that ric was genuinely interested in her sounded like a punchline to a joke. Digging into ric''s past revealed a parade of almost fifty ex-


    girlfriends - some were instant connections, others took a bit of charm and pursuit from ric''s end. Yet, eventually, they all ended up the same way:


    discarded when the novelty wore off, without so much as a by-your-leave.


    Getting emotionally involved with a notorious yboy like ric was a joke in itself. Knowing this all toc well made her fiercely guard her impulses,


    determined not to recklessly charge forward as she had done three years ago


    Now, with ric and Georgia on the outs, and him throwing tantrums at home, he suddenly decided to pursue her. If he got bored again, or if there


    was a chance to mend things with Georgia, he''d go crawling back to her and smoothly slide into an arranged marriage with the Reed family, leaving


    her with nothing but heartache and wasted time.


    Better not to start anything at all. That way, she could keep her dignity intact.


    When Thssa shared her resolve, there wasn''t much to be said against it.


    "Speaking of, how are things between you and Lysander now?" she asked, shifting the concern towards Thssa.


    "He invited me over for dinner at his ce,¡± Thssa replied


    "Dinner? Is he trying to make amends with you?" she asked, slightly surprised


    Shaking her head, Thssa said, "l don''t know. He seems pretty happy with Rosalind now. I''m not about to make the same mistake twice."


    "Right. You need to stand your ground, Thssa. Don''t let Lysander charm you back into his life. You''ve finally found your freedom; don''t get sucked


    back into his world. Remember, the moment things got rough, he was quick to kick you out of Royal Estates.¡±


    Keeping herself grounded was one thing, but ensuring Thssa remained clear-headed was another. Both sisters seemed to have more than their


    fair share of romantic turmoil


    She had naively thought she could


    change Ataric, tame the notorious¡±


    yboy tomit to her and her


    alone; Three yearster, she realized


    justhow foolish she''d been, flow


    staek in a difficult situation. Content


    b¨¦longs to NovelDrama.Org =


    Thssa''s story was no less


    heartbreaking.¡¯ A seemingly perfect


    re ationship-ended in betrayal, ~


    followed?y an unexpected oo


    pregnancy, leaving her a single.)


    mother, And when she finally-found


    the=father of her child, his family


    I58ked down on her disdainfully.


    Lysander¡¯s intentions towards Thssa were nothing serious, merely a fling in his eyes.


    For the sisters, the dream of a happy marriage and aplete family seemed more like a fairy tale.


    "I know, I won''t be fooled. Don''t worry," Thssa assured her.


    "That''s good to hear," she replied, feeling scmewhat relieved


    Their conversation was interrupted as Donovan approached


    Spotting Donovan, she quickly slid back to her workstation


    Donovan nced at them and said,


    "Prepare yourselves, we have 0¡ã


    visitors from the Crawley Group and


    the Sipir Grouping over for a


    tour-at noon. You two will bein


    charge of hosting them." Content


    b¨¦longs to NovelDrama.Org =N?velDrama.Org owns all ? content.


    "Why us?" she couldn''t help but ask.


    It didn''t seem like hosting visitors from the Crawley Group and the Sinir Group had anything to do with them directly.

 Chapter 1582

    Chapter 1582


    Hearing the question, Thssa also turned her head to lock at Donovan, sharing the same puzzled expression.


    "Your designs, one bought by the Crawley Group, the other by the Sinir Group. You''re both in charge of crucialmunication. If not you, then


    who should greet them?" Donovan''s reasoning was indisputable


    However, she was always good at finding a different angle to argue from


    "We''re designers, not part of the hospitality team. Find someone else," she said with firm resolve


    Donovan''s demeanor softened, almost pleading as he smiled at her. "Come on, it''s because of your brilliance that thepany got to work with both


    the Crawley Group and the Sinir Group. You''re our lucky charm. When we have important guests, of course, it''s more presentable to have our


    lucky charm greet them."


    She rolled her eyes at Donovan. "Lucky charm, huh? Seems like you''ve forgotten who wanted to fire me before.¡±


    Donovan was the type to change his stance with the wind, a trait she disliked, but since he was her boss, she''d been tolerating him while keeping a


    pleasant facade.N?velDrama.Org: owner of this content.


    Now. seeing Donovan trying to charm her into weing the Crawley Group, she was disgusted and despised him even more.


    ". you''re not ane to hold grudges, right? I was wrong before, and I apologize. If I ever talk about firing you again, I''ll step down as manager myself!"


    Donovan stood up straight, making a solemn promise.


    Before she could respond, Donovan added, "Miss, our little lucky charm, the representatives from the Crawley Group and the Sinir Group will be


    here any minute. Please, just agree to wee them..."


    Neglecting the representatives of the Crawley Group and the Sinir Group was akin to offending both entities, a mistake Donovan could not afford.


    Being called ¡®Miss¡¯ by Donovan made her feel somewhat satisfied; she wasn''t trying to make things difficult for him intentionally, but she couldn''t stand


    his bullying demeanor.


    Besides, she didn''t want to lose her job. With a child to support and bills to pay. she couldn''t afford to be petty.


    "Alright, let''s go greet them,¡± she conceded, knowing when to pick her battles.


    She stood up, and Thssa did too. Thssa had recently joined thepany and wasn''t as familiar with everything yet, so she''d been following her


    lead.


    Since she had agreed, it was natural for Thssa to agree as well.


    In thepany lobby, the reception staff were already in ce, lined up neatly, each person attentive and cautious


    She and Thssa had just arrived when the guests did.


    Leading the greup was ric,


    dressed in awhite shirt with the


    sleeves rolled up to his elbows, ~~


    revealing oned arms. The top two


    buttors 5 of his shirt were undone,


    offering a glimpse of his masculine


    altdre.


    oF


    He was the epitome of rugged charm!


    As soon as he arrived, the female employees lining the sides couldn''t keep their eyes off him, their gazes following ric¡¯s every move


    Some couldn''t even manage to hide their adoration, openly swooning over him.


    ric caught the looks from the corner of his eye, his lips curving into a mischievous smirk, clearly pleased with the effect he had.


    Following him was David, dressed in a ck shirt and trousers, the typical attire of someone from Lysander''s professional circle, all in ck.


    Standing next to ric, David seemed quite ordinary.


    Seeing ric made her breath catch slightly, her nervousness palpable.


    Just that rriorning, she had rejected.


    ric''s advances, and now XN


    encountering himina professional


    se ting, she couldn''t help butmix


    personal feelings with work: Content


    belongs to


    Just the sight of ric, with his charming bad-boy vibe, made her heart flutter uncontrobly.


    She instingtively stepped back, only.


    to have her hand caught. Turning.


    around, she met Thssa''s =


    encauraging gaze, urging herto hold


    her ground and not to run away.

 Chapter 1583

    Chapter 1583


    Taking a deep breath, she calmed herself down. She forced a smile, the kind you''d reserve for official asions, straightened her posture, and


    walked towards ric.


    Just then, a female employee rushed over, identally bumping into her before cutting in front, showering ric withpliments. "Mr. Falconer,


    we''ve all been eagerly awaiting your visit. You''re truly a VIP in ourpany.¡±


    The woman was practically swooning, eagerly extending her hand for a handshake with ric.


    It was clear as day to any onlooker; she was trying to use work as an excuse for some physical contact. The way she looked at ric, her eyes


    practically sparking with interest.


    She stopped in her tracks, no longer moving forward, watching the employee fawn over ric. It was like seeing a ghost of her past self.


    ric, however,pletely ignored her, stepping around her to approach.


    Seeing him, she managed a professional smile, "Mr. Falconer, wee to ourpany for the tour.¡±


    ric had already been watching her, his smile deepening as he approached and stopped in front of her, looking down at her with a soft lock, "It''s


    good to see you again, Designer Hertha."


    His words, artfully chosen, informed the earlier flirty employee that his visit was specifically for Hertha


    The employee blinked in surprise, shot a quick, embarrassed nce at Hertha, and quietly moved back into line.


    Understanding ric''s intention, Hertha looked at the employee with sympathy, suppressing the urge to scold ric, she smiled wryly, "Mr. Falconer


    really does seem to have a lot of free time, managing to meet with a busybody like me now and then.¡±


    ric raised an eyebrow, a yful challenge in his gaze.


    Was she suggesting he was intentionally creating opportunities to see her?


    He admitted it freely.


    After all, pursuit required a thick skin.


    "Indeed, to see Hertha, I''ve even postponed meetings with several major clients interested in our jewels," ric confessed, his interest in visiting the


    designpany being purely for her.


    His straightforward admission caught her off guard, leaving her momentarily at a loss for words.


    "Ms. Everhart Mr. Sinir was


    supposed toe, but Zephyr had


    scheduled adoctor S appointment to


    check orMr. Sinir''s leg, so he¡±


    couldny make it," David quickly


    stepped in, exining why Lysander


    wasn''t there to see Thssa, hoping


    te prevent any misunderstanding.


    ric had made his intentions clear, he was here for her.


    And Lysander; who was supposed to


    be Thssa officialpanion,


    was conspicuously absent! David ¡ª>


    worried 1 ¡®Fhssa might think OO


    Lysander deliberately chose not to


    visitdier, hence the quick oo


    exnation.


    oe)


    Lysander had always been quick to support Thssa''s jewelry designs, obviously because they were her creations.N?velDrama.Org: owner of this content.


    Being close to Lysander for years, David knew exactly what his boss was thinking


    Thssa quickly replied, "It''s just apany visit, there was no need for him toe personally. David is thorough, I''m sure he will cover everything


    needed.¡±


    "This isn''t justa simple visit, Mr.


    Sinir interitied toe see you,


    but couldnt get out of his oo


    appointrivent with Zephyr..." David"


    tried toclear things up for his boss,


    to avoid any possible <o roisunderstanding="" on="" thssa''="" ss="" part.="" content="" belongs="" to="" noveldrama.org<="" p=""></o>


    Thssa: "......


    She felt awkward, ncing around at the people nearby.


    With David''s words, was he suggesting her rtionship with Lysander was out of the ordinary?


    Her nce confirmed it; everyone was indeed looking at her with a peculiar curiosity.

 Chapter 1584

    Chapter 1584


    Thssa had just started her new job and was still navigating the tricky waters of building stable rtionships with her colleagues. She wanted nothing more than to focus on her work and avoid any preconceived notions they might have about her.N?velDrama.Org owns all ? content.


    David''sments, however, insinuated something more between her and Lysander, making her position ufortably conspicuous.


    Thssa nced around at her colleagues, quickly averting her gaze to maintain a polite smile. She addressed David, "Mr. Sinir is a busy man. If he has time, it''s only right he spends it with his fianc¨¦e, not worrying about checking in on me. Even without Mr. Sinir''s instructions, I''mmitted to doing my job well and ensuring the Sinir Group doesn''t regret this design purchase."


    Despite her efforts to mitigate the situation, Thssa knew her words did little to quell the spection about her and Lysander''s rtionship, but it was better than not addressing it at all.


    Realizing Thssa''s concern, David chuckled, "Ms. Everhart is a responsible designer."


    David tactfully refrained from bringing up Lysander again, sparing Thssa from bing the target of office gossip.


    After all, Lysander was a well-known figure in Starhaven, a man many could only dream of meeting, let alone being closely associated with. If word got out about Thssa and Lysander, jealousy was guaranteed.


    David suddenly understood that his earlierment was more harmful than helpful, despite his intentions to ingratiate Thssa with Mr. Sinir. He hoped for a reconciliation between the two, imagining a happier, more content Lysander, instead of the brooding, icy figure he had be.


    "Mr. Falconer, David, let''s move this to the lounge for a more detailed discussion," Hertha interjected just in time.


    Donovan quickly agreed, "Yes, to the lounge. We''ve prepared all the necessary background information."


    ric pulled his gaze from Hertha, setting aside his personal feelings, and said, "Lead the way."


    With a gesture of invitation, Hertha stepped aside, and Thssa positioned herself to wee ric and David. The minor disruption was swiftly navigated, and the workflow was back on track.


    Hertha and Thssa led the way, with ric and David following closely behind. Donovan and two female employees trailed after them.


    In the lounge, the projector was


    l


    already set up with the documents disyed, and a woman stood nervously by, ready to start the. presentation. She looked up as the


    guests entered, her smile polite yet tense.


    Hertha was surprised to see Spencer''s girlfriend, Emmeline, standing by the projector. Emmeline was unexpectedly part of theirpany.


    Hertha waspletely unaware of this development beforehand.


    Thssa also recognized Emmeline, having seen her before in Hertha''s building with Bridget and the kids, Julian and Helena. She couldn''t hide her curiosity.


    "Ourpany sure has a knack for


    hiding talents, not just with two great designers but also a single


    mother who''s bncing work andet


    love," a teasing male voice suddenly echoed from behind, startling Hertha into turning around. ric''s smirk was evident, his eyes briefly flicking to Emmeline.


    He was referring to Emmeline as the single mother, mistakenly thinking Julian and Helena were her children.


    Hertha panicked, realizing ric had


    kel.ne


    completely misunderstood the situation with the kids. Her heart raced as she struggled to maintain focus, nervously responding to. ric''s veiled jab, "Mr. Falconer, you sure have a way with words. Anyone not in the know would think you''re payingpliments, when in fact you''re quite the master at


    backhandedpliments."

 Chapter 1585

    Chapter 1585


    Hertha always had a way of talking to ric that was blunt and direct, no beating around the bush.


    Her aim was to keep ric''s focus on her, to prevent him from digging into whether Emmeline was a single mom or not.


    It was incredibly coincidental when Emmeline, apanied by Julian and Helena, was about to take the elevator and ran into ric. This allowed him to witness Emmeline with her two kids.


    And when Spencer proposed to Emmeline, ric just happened to catch them in the act. So, in ric''s mind, Emmeline was a single mom who had Spencer wrapped around her finger.


    "What are you on about, Hertha? My words are exactly what they seem, no hidden meanings," ric retorted, his striking eyes challenging Hertha. "Is that so? Seems like Mr. Falconer enjoys poking his nose into other people''s business," Hertha quipped back with a smirk, ready to spar verbally.


    What did it matter to him if someone was a single mother? Why was he so invested?


    Hertha''s eyes, round and direct, locked onto ric, her stance clearly confrontational.


    ric''s gaze met hers, intensity meeting intensity.


    Even though they were surrounded by people, it felt like they were the only two in the room, their focus solely on each other.


    Hertha''s stare was filled with defiance, though beneath it, she was anxious, worried that ric''s probing might reveal the true identity of the children''s mother.


    And ric, his eyes softening, saw a glimpse of the old Hertha - always ready to bicker, always challenging him, but with a heart full of warmth, ready to leap towards him.


    Donovan, witnessing the tension between Hertha and ric, felt his anxiety spike.Upstodatee from Novel(D)ra/m/a.O(r)g


    Having worked at the designpany for years, Hertha''s fiery temperament was well known to Donovan.


    He was terrified that Hertha might inadvertently offend ric, a man of considerable influence.


    Sweat beaded Donovan''s forehead as he stepped forward, attempting to diffuse the tension.


    "Mr. Falconer is just showing


    concern for our team members, a sign of his kindness. We should


    appreciate Mr. Falconer''s


    recognition of your talent, Hertha," Donovan interjected, trying to steer the conversation towards gratitude.


    Hertha nced at Donovan, catching the serious and warning look in his eyes.


    She got the message loud and clear: antagonizing ric was off-limits if she wanted to keep her job.


    As a mother, Hertha knew she had to prioritize her children above all else, even if it meant swallowing her pride.


    Taking a deep breath, Hertha


    ???;|


    managed to suppress her anger, forcing a smile, "Donovan''s right, thank you for thepliment, Mr. Falconer."


    "Donovan, this doesn''t concern you. Go back to your office and keep busy," ric said, his attention never wavering from Hertha, his tone showing clear irritation at the


    interruption.


    "This..." Donovan hesitated, caught off guard.


    "I enjoy our arguments, Hertha. With him here, how can we get into it properly?" ric said sternly, leaving no room for argument. Hertha was speechless...


    Enjoy arguing? What kind of preference was that? Had the constant bickering with Georgia scrambled his brains?


    Donovan was just as baffled.

 Chapter 1586

    Chapter 1586


    Because Donovan wasn''t sure whether ric was genuinely angry or just throwing a fit.


    Who actually enjoys arguing?


    If that wasn''t sarcasm, then what was it?


    Great, Hertha''s snide remarks earlier had definitely offended ric.


    "Mr. Falconer, actually..." Donovan began, trying to apologize and fix the mess Hertha had made.


    ric was losing patience: "Didn''t you hear what I just said?"


    Donovan was taken aback by ric''s sharp re and stammered, "Yes, yes, I''ll head back to my office right away..."


    Wiping the sweat from his forehead, Donovan turned to leave.


    "Hey, is there a meeting going on here? Howe I wasn''t invited?"


    Just as Donovan took a few steps, a towering man walked in, followed by another man.


    The neer was Reginald, a burly man with a full beard, dressed in a sharp navy suit, exuding a rugged and slightly rogue charm.


    And trailing behind him was Callum, tall, slender, with an air of refined grace.


    Donovan froze, panic-stricken, and blurted out, "Mr. Whitman, pleasure, pleasure to have you at ourpany. May I ask what brings Mr. Whitman to our humble abode today?"


    Despite Donovan''s outward veneer of warmth, politeness, andposure, inside, he was a mess.


    ric''s unpredictable behavior had already set him on edge.


    And now, with the Reed Group''s crown prince making an appearance, Donovan felt utterly out of his depth with three heavyweights in the room.


    "Donovan, about that jewelry design


    fromst time, ourpany didn''t


    say we weren''t interested, just thatN?velDrama.Org owns all ? content.


    we needed time to think. But


    ???


    went ahead and sold the design to someone else while we were deciding. That''s not ying fair," Reginald said, his intimidating gaze locking onto Donovan. Content


    belongs to NovelDrama.Org


    Donovan''s knees buckled, and he stammered, "Well, Mr. Whitman, that was all Hertha and Thssa''s doing. They found the client, I just... signed off on it..."


    Donovan had just thrown Hertha and Thssa under the bus without warning.


    Hertha and Thssa exchanged shocked nces, realizing they''d been unexpectedly betrayed.


    Reginald''s menacing gaze shifted to Hertha.


    Just as Hertha was about to speak, ric stepped forward, shielding her with his body, and faced Reginald: "The design was purchased by contacting the design firm directly. Mr. Whitman, with your extensive experience in the business world, you should understand that until a deposit is paid, the goods are fair game for a moremitted buyer."


    Reginald frowned at ric. Though born into a family of culture, Reginald had grown up abroad, mingling with rough crowds in his youth, which lent him an air of menace.


    His unsmiling gaze was intimidating, enough to cow the faint-hearted.


    Donovan, for one, was trembling like a leaf, too scared to make a peep.


    As ric met Reginald''s fierce gaze head-on, the air between them crackled with tension.


    Seeing things were about to


    escte, Thssa quickly intervened, positioning herself between Reginald and ric to break their standoff. She said to Reginald, "It was my decision, along with Hertha and the manager to move on to another client because


    we


    were led to believe you were no


    longer interested. If you''re looking to ce me, I''ll take it." Content


    belongs to NovelDrama.Org


    Reginald''s gaze softened slightly as he turned to Thssa, his hostility dialing down a notch, ready to speak.

 Chapter 1587

    Chapter 1587


    A hurried voice cut through his thoughts.


    "Bro, you''re actually here! Hurry up, we need to get to the hospital. Dad''s been in a car ident, they''re trying to save him, and Mom''s called us all to be there!"


    Rosalind burst into the room, breathless and panting, clearly having run all the way.


    After getting the call from their mother, Rosalind had immediately tried to reach Reginald by phone, but when she couldn''t get through, she called Reginald''s assistant. The assistant told her he was here, and since Rosalind was nearby, she made a beeline for the ce.


    "What?" Reginald''s expression darkened, visibly tensed.


    Hearing Rosalind mention that Joshua had been in a car ident and was in critical condition, Thssa couldn''t help but feel her own heart tighten. "Let''s go, we need to hurry," Rosalind urged Reginald, anxiety coloring her tone.


    Reginald turned to leave, but after a few steps, he paused as if remembering something, then turned back and grabbed Thssa by the arm. "Come with me!"


    Reginald''s grip was firm, causing Thssa''s arm to ache, but she didn''t dare resist, fearing she might dislocate her arm.


    She frowned slightly but followed Reginald as they quickly left the room.


    Rosalind paused, surprised that Reginald would bring Thssa along but seeing them already on their way, she didn''t stay behind and quickly followed.


    ric made a move to follow, but Hertha grabbed his hand, stopping him in his tracks.


    ric turned to look at her. Reginald had taken Thssa, and he felt obliged to bring her back.


    During their confrontation moments earlier, Thssa had stepped in to defuse the situation, standing up for him. How could he stand by and watch Thssa be put in a potentially dangerous situation without doing something?


    Hertha saw the determination in ric''s eyes to save Thssa and shook her head seriously, signaling him not to pursue. Whether ric knew that Thssa was Reginald''s sister or not wasn''t clear to Hertha, but she was well aware of this fact. Reginald taking Thssa along was surely to have her join them in visiting their mutual father.


    Initially tense and ready to confront Reginald, ric''s resolve softened slightly at Hertha''s calming gesture.


    His heart, which had been tight, loosened a little as he looked down at her hand in his.Upstodatee from Novel(D)ra/m/a.O(r)g


    Though it was a brief touch, the warmth from her palm had spread to his swiftly making its way to his heart and stirring his pulse


    Realizing where his gaze had fallen, Hertha''s face flushed, and she quickly let go of his hand.


    In a moment of awkwardness, her gaze shifted away. "Um, Reginald wouldn''t harm Thssa..." "Oh," ric responded nonchntly.


    He swallowed, then said, "It''s almost lunchtime. Is yourpany hosting a meal?"


    Hertha replied, "Yes, they are."


    "But I''d rather have lunch with just you," ric said.


    His words were so sudden that Hertha felt both flustered and thrilled.


    She nced nervously at Donovan, worried about his reaction.


    Donovan, catching the spark between Hertha and ric, quickly said, "Hertha, go have lunch with Mr. Falconer Thepany will cover it. Your job today is to ensure Mr. Falconer and David are well taken care of, introducing them to ourpany''s culture and history..."


    "Oh, I''ve got


    care


    some things to take


    on lupypany, so I''ll passe


    . Mr. Falconer and Hertha


    can go," David chimed in swiftly.


    He wasn''t about to y third wheel.

 Chapter 1588

    Chapter 1588


    David didn''t even wait for Donovan to try to charm him into staying; he just left.


    ric, treating Donovan like he was invisible, turned to Hertha and said, "Hertha, shall we?"


    Hertha rolled her eyes at him. She initially wanted to decline. Why on earth would she want to dine with him?


    But it turned out he was using the guise of work to have lunch with her. Donovan had mentioned that entertaining ric was her main task for the day. So, quitting wasn''t an option. She had no choice but to join him for lunch.


    "Let''s grab some barbecue," ric suggested.


    "No way, I''m craving hot pot!" Hertha wasn''t about to let him have his way. She didn''t have the slightest interest in barbecue. Nothing could beat the aroma of hot pot.


    "Alright then, hot pot it is," ric immediately agreed, surprising her.


    Hertha shot him a puzzled look. "ric, since when did you be so spineless? I decide what we eat, and you just go along with it? Aren''t you going to put up a fight?"


    "Spine doesn''t fill the stomach. I''ve even given up my title as the Falconer family''s second son; what do I need spine for?" ric said with a yful smile, teasing her.N?velDrama.Org owns all content.


    The yful light in his eyes seemed casual, but it was filled with unspoken affection. His seemingly simple words were actually a deration. He had renounced his affluent lifestyle and the engagement to Georgia, all to pursue her.


    His words, and the way he looked at her, made Hertha''s heart skip a beat. She quickly looked away, her heart racing as she said, "Hot pot then, since thepany''s paying.''


    With that, she quickened her pace. ric caught up with her in a few strides.


    At the hot pot restaurant, Hertha ate


    voraciously, ric attentively


    prepared the food, making sure Hertha''s bowl was never empty. Noticing Hertha''s hair almost


    ??? ???


    dipping into the pot, he chuckled and said, "Slow down, I won''t steal your


    food..."


    As he reached out to tuck a stray lock of hair behind her ear, Hertha abruptly pulled away, looking at him with a mix of fear and defiance. "Why are you touching my hair? You trying to embarrass me by pulling off my wig?"


    Hertha''s hair was still short, barely grown back, making her wig her shield, a semnce of dignity. If her wig were to be pulled off, she''d feel as exposed as if she were stripped naked in the street, utterly defenseless.


    A previous incident during a horseback ride, where her wig had been blown away, leaving her bald in front of ric, haunted her for nights. This fear made her dreadfully wary of ric touching her hair, fearing embarrassment.


    ric paused, hurt by her instinctual reaction of distrust and defense. Did she really see him as such a joker? Her actions silently wounded him.


    ric clenched his fist slightly,


    withdrawing his hand, and with a forced smile, he said, "There''s plenty of food, no need to cook your hair. I just wanted to keep it out of the pot. It''s not like we''re going to eat it, right?"


    Continuing to prepare the hot pot, ric yed at cool. Hertha blinked, realizing her misunderstanding. She tucked her hair behind her ear and


    edup her chopsticks to resume eating, "A heads-up would''ve been enough. I can handle it. My hair is t¨¦o precious, and I can''t afford another mishap."


    ric nodded, acknowledging her words. Hertha then ced some food into ric''s bowl. "Your turn to eat. Don''t just watch me."

 Chapter 1589

    Chapter 1589


    She served him a slice of roast beef, her silent apology hanging between them. Not voicing her


    regret was Hertha''sst stand of defiance. After speaking, Hertha lowered her head and continued


    with her meal. ric nced at the piece of beef Hertha had ced in his dish, pausing for a


    moment before a knowing smile broke across his face. This smile was a genuine one, stemming


    from deep inside. He got her message loud and clear. The pair resumed their dinner in a


    comfortable silence.


    As they were nearing the end of their meal, ric tilted his chin towards something behind Hertha,


    ¡°Check out that poster behind you.¡± Turning, Hertha found herself staring at arge advertisement


    on the wall. It read: "Today''s Special: Celebrate our owner''s anniversary with a 60% discount for


    couples." Such a deal! Essentially, a meal worth a hundred bucks would only cost forty! The offer


    was indeed tempting.


    Hertha turned back to ric, saying, ¡°That ad doesn¡¯t apply to us.¡± ¡°We could be a couple,¡± ric


    suggested casually, serving her more beef. Hertha paused mid-chew, ¡°We¡¯re not a couple.¡± ¡°We


    could be, anytime you want,¡± ric replied, his eyes ¨C narrow and gleaming ¨C fixed on Hertha, his


    casual tone belying his earnest feelings.


    He had attempted a confession with flowers earlier that day, hoping not to be rejected again. Yet,


    ric wasn¡¯t disheartened, seizing this moment to express his feelings once more. If his intentions


    weren¡¯t clear enough in the morning, now ric wasying his heart bare, telling her he wanted to


    pursue her, to have her as his girlfriend.


    How could Hertha remain unaffected in the face of such adoration? Her heart raced, words of


    consent teetering on the edge of her lips. Her body, her heart, yearned for him ¨C to be with him, to


    share passionate kisses, to be his. But reality forced her to rein in her desires fiercely. Once a


    rtionship is tarnished, it''s hard to cleanse. Moreover, she feared exposing her children to


    potential harm and dreaded the pain of a love without fruition.


    Hertha struggled to keep her emotions in check, feigning indifference, ¡°It¡¯s on thepany¡¯s dime


    anyway, why bother saving?¡± Her words implied she wasn¡¯t willing to pretend to be ric¡¯s


    girlfriend, not even for the sake of a discount. She''d rather pay full price than y pretend with


    ric.


    Upstodatee from Novel(D)ra/m/a.O(r)g


    Seeing the hope in ric¡¯s eyes fade was disheartening, but he didn¡¯t give up, encouraging her,


    ¡°Eat up, lean meat''s good for hair growth.¡± Hertha snapped her head up, ring at him through


    gritted teeth, ¡°ric!¡± He had touched a nerve! Any lingering guilt she felt towards him evaporated


    with his words!


    ric''s mischievous grin was infectious, his teeth gleaming as he chuckled, ¡°Never thought you¡¯d


    be caught in a bind, huh?¡± ¡°ric, keep it up and I¡¯m cutting ties with you!¡± Hertha fumed. ¡°Isn¡¯t that


    the case already?¡± ric retorted. Realizing the implication of his words, Hertha''s face flushed with


    heat. Grabbing a piece of lettuce from her te, she tossed it at ric, ¡°Here, eat some greens.


    Maybe it''ll purify your dirty mind!¡±

 Chapter 1590

    Chapter 1590


    ric caught the lettuce she tossed his way and dunked it into the hotpot, all the while wearing a grin. "I didn''t say anything; you''re the one overthinking things."


    "See, you always shift the me for your own actions and words onto others. Lucky for me, I cut my losses early," Hertha retorted, rolling her eyes at ric.


    Words spoken without intent, heard with all the more.


    Hertha''sment made ric pause, his heart tightening a bit as his narrow, hawk-like eyes locked onto hers.


    A shadow of sorrow and deep introspection lingered in his gaze.


    Was it his fault Hertha wasn''t with him?


    Did her words imply her attraction started with his looks but ended with his personality?


    "Why are you looking at me like that? I''m just stating facts! Go ask any of the women you''ve dated; they''d all think the same," Hertha said between bites, not sparing any feelings.


    But ric, thick-skinned as ever, wasn''t one to take offense.


    For Hertha, teasing him was the best pastime.


    ric just smirked without a word, continuing to add more ingredients to the hotpot.


    Realizing why Hertha had pulled away gave him something to work on. As long as he knew the reason, he could try to adjust in a way she''d appreciate. It was a step up from being in the dark.


    ric thought to himself.


    Meanwhile, Reginald was speeding towards Starhaven Hospital, with Rosalind and Thssa in the backseat. Rosalind sat a fair distance from Thssa, irritated by the contrasting ways Lysander treated them.


    Rosalind couldn''t hide her difort,ining, "Why did you bring Thssa along? She''s got work, you know."


    "You know she''s your sister, and


    Dad''s always worried about her the most. If things go south, at least he can see her onest time," Reginald exined, gripping the steering wheel firmly as he drove.  S


    "Stop talking nonsense! Dad''s going to be fine," Rosalind hastily countered, trying to ward off the ill omen Reginald had spoken.


    Thssa remained silent, her brows furrowed, her hands clenching unconsciously on herp.


    Although her rtionship with


    Joshua, her father, was distant, iet


    was Joshua who had enabled her to meet Zephyr and take care of Lysander.


    Deep down, Thssa was grateful to Joshua.N?velDrama.Org owns all ? content.


    Over the past three years, Joshua had often visited her under various pretexts, treating her with kindness and warmth.


    She might not have deep feelings for Joshua, but she didn''t harbor any resentment either.


    Hearing Reginald hint at Joshua''s possible demise made her heart clench with worry.


    As they parked at the hospital and rushed towards the emergency room, they found Matilda anxiously waiting outside.


    Beside her a man in a bespoke


    ck suit exuded a stern and


    daunting presence from his


    wheelchair, his noble and sovel


    aura palpable.


    He was positioned to overlook the emergency room, his profile sharp and strikingly handsome.


    It was Lysander!


    The moment Thssa saw him, her breath hitched, and her already anxious heart skipped a beat.

 Chapter 1591

    Chapter 1591


    Hearing some noise, Lysander turned around, his gaze falling upon them. His eyes were deep and dark, like a ck hole, drawing you in. Just one look, and it felt like your heart was sinking, ready to be swallowed whole by his intense stare.


    Thssa met his gaze and felt her heart skip a beat, just as she was about to speak.


    Rosalind rushed over in a hurry, positioning herself right by Lysander''s side, effectively blocking Thssa''s view and cutting off her line of sight to him.


    Tears were swirling in Rosalind''s eyes as she looked up at Lysander, her voice weak and sorrowful, "Lysander, how''s my dad doing? I came as soon as I got the news. Please, he has to be okay..."


    As she spoke, a tear fell from her eyes,nding on the back of Lysander''s hand. That tear was warm, almost burning, as if it scorched his skin. His heart gave a slight twitch as he looked down at Rosalind, his voice low and soothing, "Don''t worry, he''ll be alright."


    "Okay, I trust you. My dad has to be okay," Rosalind said, wiping her tears away. It seemed Lysander''s wordsforted her significantly, as the worry on her face visibly lessened.N?velDrama.Org owns all content.


    "Lysander, what brings you to the hospital?" Rosalind asked.


    "I was here for a check-up and saw Matilda rushing over, so I followed her," Lysander exined.


    His gaze then shifted past Rosalind, settling on Thssa who stood a few meters away from the emergency room. She seemed hesitant, as if wanting toe closer but was full of doubts.


    She was still the same - hesitant, timid, cautious - it was both heart-wrenching and frustrating.


    After waking up, Lysander was told by Joshua that Thssa was his illegitimate daughter. At first, Lysander was surprised, but thinking back to events from three years ago...


    Bruce wasn''t Thssa''s father, and her mother had never married. The identity of Thssa''s real father had always been a mystery.


    It turned out, during hisa, Thssa''s real father appeared - his mentor, Joshua!


    And he had mistakenly thought Bruce, that scoundrel, was Thssa''s father, causing her much undeserved hurt.


    Now knowing the truth, Lysander was filled with regret and guilt.


    Yet now, Thssa treated him as a stranger, leaving him no chance to make amends for his past mistakes.


    Now, with Joshua injured, all his children were here to show their concern, but Thssa stood far away, wanting to care yet keeping her distance.


    What was she so insecure about? Joshua was her father, that was a fact. Did she really need to feel so cautious about showing concern for her own dad?


    "Thssa,e here," Lysander called out, his voicemanding yet maic.


    Thssa paused, not moving immediately but standing still, looking slightly lost. Should she go over to him?


    Seeing Lysander lean forward,


    bypassing her to look at Thssa,


    Rosalind felt a storm of jealousy


    brewing inside her. Her mood, initiallyuplifted by Lysander''s


    el


    comfort, was now overshadowed by resentment.


    She stepped aside, her gaze towards Thssa cold and sharp, her tone icy, "Lysander asked you toe over, what are you waiting for? Don''t act as if we, the Reeds, are bullying you. It was Reginald who brought you here to see dad. If he hadn''t insisted, you probably wouldn''t even bother visiting. Now you''re making it look like we''re keeping you from seeing him."


    Rosalind couldn''t help but vent her frustration, unable to control her emotions.


    Jealousy made it hard to keep her feelings in check.


    She knew it wasn''t right to show hostility towards Thssa in front of Lysander, but at that moment, she couldn''t help herself.


    "Rosalind, she''s your sister. Watch your tone. Dad wouldn''t be pleased if he heard you speak like that," Reginald chided Rosalind in a brotherly manner.


    "It''s alright, I''m fine," Thssa


    interrupted, stopping Reginald from


    scolding Rosalind further. She


    ovel


    stepped forward, not taking Rosalind''s spot, but standing couple of steps away from Lysander, ensuring Rosalind remained the closest to him.


    "Mr. Sinir, did you need something?" Thssa asked.

 Chapter 1592

    Chapter 1592


    The mood darkened as Lysander''s handsome face was shadowed by Thssa''s distant tone.


    His piercing gaze fixed on her, an aura of authority surrounding him without a word of anger, he spoke, "Standing all the way over there, how do you expect to stay updated about Joshua''s condition?"


    Thssa''s breath hitched, understanding Lysander''s reason for calling her over was to allow her to openly show her concern for Joshua.


    Her hesitations and fears were all too clear to Lysander.


    Once exposed, the heaviness in her heart surprisingly lifted quite a bit.


    Taking a deep breath, Thssa let go of the pressure weighing on her heart, choosing to remain silent.


    Matilda broke the silence, "Before going in, Joshua kept holding my hand, asking for all of you toe. He''s worried he might not make it..."


    Her voice trailed off as she wiped away a tear.


    Thssa felt her heart tighten, her facade of calm cracking with visible concern.


    Rosalind burst into tears, "So, it is really that serious. Oh, Dad, please, you have to be alright...¡±


    Reginald, who had previously made a grim remark in the car, now felt his calm demeanor falter upon hearing his own mother speak of his father''s grave injuries. He pulled out a cigarette, lighting it up and taking deep drags to stabilize his mood.


    After blowing out a cloud of smoke, realizing there was another gentleman present, he offered a cigarette to Lysander.


    Before Lysander could reach out, Thssa urgently interjected, "He can''t smoke!"N?velDrama.Org owns all ? content.


    Her sudden step forward, driven by concern, drew surprised looks from everyone present.


    Especially from Rosalind, whose ssic, intelligent eyes first widened in shock at Thssa, then shifted into a barely concealed mix of anger, jealousy, and annoyance.


    When did Thssa be the first to care for Lysander?


    Lysander''s deep gaze turned towards Thssa, his eyes revealing a stir of emotions beneath the surface.


    Was Thssa still concerned about him? An instinctive reaction is hard to fake.


    Reginald''s offer to smoke had Thssa immediately stepping in to advocate for his health, knowing well the details of his condition after caring for him for three years.


    Dr. Funke, whom Thssa had sought for his treatment, must have clearly outlined the dos and don''ts to her.


    She had etched these daily living precautions deep in her memory, hence her prompt intervention against smoking.


    Seeing Thssa''s caring expression, the coldness surrounding Lysander melted away, his eyes softening, filled with emotion as he looked back at


    her.


    Reginald nced at Thssa,


    realizing the implication of her


    words Lysander was still on his path to recovery, and indulgences like cigarettes were certainly off limits.


    He quickly retracted his hand, saying, "You''re still in that wheelchair; better not smoke then."


    Reginald was always


    straightforward. He put the cigarette


    back into the pack, took another deep drag from the one between his lips, and exhaled, letting the smoke swirl around.


    Matilda waved away the smoke, telling Reginald, "Why don''t you smoke somewhere else? Just in case the doctores out and sees you like this, they might think we don''t care about your dad. Content


    belongs to NovelDrama.Org


    "Alright, I''ll head to the smoking area. Call me immediately if there''s any update," Reginald said before turning to leave.

 Chapter 1593

    Chapter 1593


    Watching Reginald''s retreating figure, Matilda muttered with a mix of frustration and disappointment, "Over thirty and still so unreliable. No wonder his dad was considering bringing in a son-inw to take over the Reed Group..."


    Matilda, Reginald''s biological mother, had watched her son grow from a mischievous child into a rebellious teenager. At one point, he even went off the rails, getting mixed up with a bad crowd andnding himself in a major mess. If it weren''t for Joshua''s connections, that incident could havended Reginald behind bars for life.


    After that scare, Reginald cut ties with his questionable friends and came home to help Joshua with the family business. Despite years inmerce and Joshua''s mentoring, it was clear Reginald wasn''t cut out for it, his demeanor more suited to an ouw than a businessman.


    No amount of corporate grooming seemed to shed his rough edges or make him a better businessman. Without Joshua constantly cleaning up his messes, the Reed Group would have crumbled long ago.


    Now, with Joshua seriously injured in a car ident, the future of the Reed family hung in the bnce, causing Matilda great worry, especially over her wayward son.


    Whether Matilda intended her mutterings to be heard or not, those around her caught every word.


    Joshua''s n to find a son-inw to inherit the Reed Group seemed more urgent than ever, and Lysander was his top choice.


    This was why Joshua had been so keen on arranging an engagement between Rosalind and Lysander. With Rosalind by his side, Lysander would essentially inherit the Reed Group.


    Rosalind and Lysander, a power couple in the making, promised to elevate both their families to unrivaled heights.


    And Thssa? She was just a humble designer, no match for Rosalind.


    Thssa''s spirit dimmed as she stepped back, apologizing, "Sorry, I got carried away and overstepped with Mr. Sinir. Please, don''t take it to heart."


    She exined her impulsive concern for Lysander as just that a moment of impulse.


    Rosalind snapped back to reality,


    regretting her jealousy over Thssa and neglecting Lysander quickly saying, "Lysander, good thing you didn''t take that cigarette from my brother. The doctor said you can''t smoke. Your healthes first."


    l


    "Yes, Lysander," Matilda added, her voiceced with sorrow, "We don''t know the full extent of Dad''s condition. If something serious happens, the Reed Group is counting on you, and Rosalind''s future is in your hands."


    Rosalind and Matilda encircled Lysander, one offering tender concern, the other burdened with heavy expectation, both tearful. Lysander should have beenforting them.


    Yet, seeing Thssa distancing herself, he felt an inexplicable irritation.


    Frowning, he said firmly, "Joshua will pull through. He''s strong and will lead the Reed Group for many more years. Don''t be pessimistic."


    He deliberately sidestepped Matilda''s hint about his engagement to Rosalind.


    Matilda, exchanging a nce with Rosalind, felt a twinge of


    l


    disappointment. Her words were meant to make Lysander


    acknowledge his engagement in front of Thssa, rifying who he was meant to marry.


    But Lysander dodged the topic.


    Matilda, undeterred, mentioned, "Zephyr mentioned that by next year at thetest, Rosalind should marry into the Sinir family."Upstodatee from Novel(D)ra/m/a.O(r)g


    Lysander''s expression turned cold, "My grandfather''s decision doesn''t dictate mine."

 Chapter 1594

    Chapter 1594


    Lysander''s voice was firm and brooked no argument.


    Thssa couldn''t help but look up at Lysander, and for some reason, when she heard him speak those words, she felt a sense of relief wash over her.


    Rosalind felt her heart sink, filled with difort and a sense of humiliation. Her mother had meant well, attempting to assert her position in front of Thssa by having Lysander acknowledge her as his fianc¨¦e, aiming to make Thssa tone down her behavior and understand who the realdy of the Sinir household was! It was supposed to be a win-win move, securing Lysander''s acknowledgment while putting Thssa in her ce.


    But Lysander had just dered that Zephyr''s decision wasn''t his own doing! What was Lysander implying? Did he not want to marry her? Rosalind''s breathing became erratic, filled with difort, anger, and a sense of injustice, yet she couldn''tsh out.


    Matilda, faced with rejection, was also taken aback. She was about to speak when the emergency room doors opened, drawing everyone''s attention to the entrance.


    A doctor in a white coat emerged, and as Thssa moved forward to inquire, Matilda and Rosalind rushed to the doctor first.


    "How''s my dad doing?"


    "Doctor, is my husband alright?"Upstodatee from Novel(D)ra/m/a.O(r)g


    Rosalind and Matilda asked anxiously.


    Thssa took a few steps forward then stopped, her gaze anxiously fixed on the doctor, but she


    remained silent. Because in front of the doctor there was no space for her, and she had no right to openly show Concern for Joshua. She was merely an illegitimate daughter, having only dined with the Reed family a couple of times, and Joshua had only shown her sporadic care. Even if she had rushed to the doctor, what could she have said? im Joshua as her father? She hadn''t even called him ''dad'' once.


    I


    Lysander remained where he was, his deep gaze fixed on Thssa. Her hesitant, concerned yet insecure demeanor caught his eye, stirring emotions deep within him like a stone thrown into ake, creating ripples of empathy and pain Thssa had never experienced a father''s love, and now that she had finally found her father, she still had to act so humbly and cautiously.


    In contrast to Rosalind, who had been cherished and adored by her parents, Thssa was like a water lily on theke, having to fend for herself from a young age, without a father''s love and a mother too upied with her own life to care. Perhaps understanding what it was like to grow up without parental affection made Lysander empathize with Thssa''s situation even more, and it was this understanding that made him feel even more for her.


    The doctor removed his mask and told Matilda and Rosalind, "The surgery was a sess, the patient is out of danger, and with a month of rest, he should recover fully."


    Hearing that Joshua was safe, Thssa heaved a deep sigh of relief, her tense shoulders finally rxing.


    Matilda was profusely thankful, "Thank you, doctor, I can''t thank you enough." Her son being a disappointment, Matilda couldn''t bear the thought of losing Joshua. If something happened to Joshua, the Reed Group would be thrown into chaos, and Reginald was not capable of handling the situation. The Reed Group needed Joshua at the helm now more than ever.


    "Thank goodness, mom, dad''s going to be alright," Rosalind said, relieved. She then quickly turned and walked over to Lysander, kneeling down, grabbing his hand with tears in her eyes, and said emotionally, "Lysander, my dad''s going to be fine, the doctor said he''s out of danger, I''m so relieved..."


    "Uh-huh," Lysander responded, his voice carrying a single syble filled with a multitude of unsaid words.

 Chapter 1595

    Chapter 1595


    Thssa watched as Rosalind held Lysander''s hand in such a natural, intimate way, without any sign of wanting to pull away. It was clear this wasn''t their first time sharing such a touch; only familiarity could breed such effortless intimacy.


    Suddenly, Thssa remembered how Lysander used to react to any woman''s touch, including idental ones, with anger and demands for ountability. Susan was a prime example; her attempts to touch Lysander often ended with her being metaphorically kicked to the curb. Yet now, Lysander seemed perfectlyfortable with Rosalind''s touch.


    It was obvious he had grown to ept, even wee, Rosalind''s touch, moving beyond mere tolerance to preference. Realizing this, Thssa felt a heavy weight press down on her heart, a dull ache that made it hard to breathe. She held her breath, trying to suppress the pain, striving for an air of indifference. But reason couldn''t suppress the truth in her heart.Upstodatee from Novel(D)ra/m/a.O(r)g


    "Since he''s okay, I''ll be heading back now," Thssa said weakly, preparing to leave. She didn''t have the courage to stay and witness more of Rosalind and Lysander''s intimacy. Although Lysander had mentioned that Zephyr''s decision didn''t reflect his own, he hadn''t rified his intentions regarding marrying Rosalind. Perhaps he didn''t want to wait for next year; maybe he nned to marry Rosalind sooner for her peace of mind, even going as far as to eliminate Susan for Rosalind''s sake.


    Thssa couldn''t forget how Lysander had defended Rosalind against Susan''s threats with such resolve, as if Thssa''s life mattered little to him. Rosalind truly was his heart''s desire; he probably couldn''t wait to marry her.


    As Thssa turned to leave, no one tried to stop her. Matilda watched her go, a flicker of hatred in her eyes. Thssa''s mere presence was a constant reminder that her husband had been with another woman, an obstacle in her heart she couldn''t overlook.


    Rosalind initially ignored Thssa, but followed bysander''s gaze until Thssa was out of sight. Snapping back to reality, Rosalind noticed Lysander still looking in Thssa''s direction, feeling a sting of jealousy. Yet, for the sake of appearances, she smiled warmly at Lysander, "Lysander, my dad will be out soon. Let me move you to the side."


    As she reached for the wheelchair''s handle, Lysander''s deep voice interjected, "No need, I can manage You all take care of Joshua. I


    wouldn''t want to be in the way


    with my mobility issues." Saying so, he began pushing his wheelchair towards the end of the hallway.


    Rosalind, wanting to follow, was stopped by Matilda, who advised, "Your father is the priority right now. And give Lysander some space. With men, you need to maintain a bnce, not cling too tightly The tighter you cling, the more they want to escape."


    "How do you know that?" Rosalind replied, her tone a mix of frustration and disbelief.


    "I''ve lived it, dear. Look at your father, a sessful man who chose me and has been with me all his life," Matilda said with a hint of pride.


    "And yet, he still had a child with another woman," Rosalind retorted, her voiceced with bitterness and prejudice against Thssa.


    "What are you trying to do, stab me in the heart?" Matilda replied, hurt by Rosalind''s words.

 Chapter 1596

    Chapter 1596


    Seeing Matilda''s agitated expression and the impact she felt, Rosalind realized she had misspoken and hurriedly said, "I''m sorry, Mom. I shouldn''t have said that."


    Matilda, breathing heavily with a mix of anger and frustration, eximed, ¡°I can''t believe I let myself be mocked by my own husband''s secret child! How useless can I get?"


    Her words were not just spoken in anger but were a true reflection of her feelings and grievances.


    When she found out that Joshua''s daughter was Thssa, Matilda struggled to ept this reality, feeling a mix of distress and anger. She was also extremely averse to Thssa, not wanting to see her at all. Every time she saw Thssa, it was a reminder that her husband had been with another woman and even had a child with her. It was evidence of her husband''s betrayal!


    But no matter how unwilling she was to ept this or how much anguish she felt, the fact remained that her husband''s child with another woman was already grown up. Apart from trying to suppress her pain and ept reality, what else could she do?


    "Mom, I''m sorry..." Rosalind, feeling guilty for her words, apologized.


    Just then, doctors and nurses wheeled Joshua out of the emergency room. Matilda, putting her distress aside, hurried to check on Joshua.


    Various monitors beeped around him, his chest wrapped in bandages, with his hospital gown partially open, revealing bandages stained with iodine. His eyes were closed, unconscious.


    Matilda, still worried, asked the doctor, "Why is he still unconscious? Is it serious?"


    "The effects of the anesthesia haven''t worn off yet. He should wake up in about three hours," the doctor exined. Only then did Matilda''s worries begin to subside.


    "Thank you, doctor."


    Despite her grievances about


    Joshua having a child outside their marriage and the pain it caused her Matilda was still deeply concerned for him, afraid something worse might happen to him. She had spent her life with this man, and to learn about his past affair and child in their twilight years was devastating.


    Matilda had been through stages of breakdown, pain, and me toward Joshua. She had even considered divorce, thinking it would end the turmoil over whether he had been with another woman. But no matter how angry or conflicted she felt, or how harshly she spoke, deep down, she couldn''t bear the thought of divorcing Joshua. Even after his mistake, she couldn''t bring herself to leave him. N?velDrama.Org owns all ? content.


    This, perhaps, is the nature of love and marriage - full of contradictions, pain, and struggle, but also holding on to the memories of happier times, unable to let go. Having loved deeply and still in love, how could one easily let go?


    Rosalind, walking beside the hospital bed, seeing her mother''s concern for Joshua, understood the depth of her mother''s love for her father, and vice versa. She realized the magnitude of the hurt her offhandment had caused her mother.


    Joshua had exined to Matilda, Rosalind, and Reginald that his rtionship with Evelyn happened before he was married to Matilda. Moreover, Evelyn had saved him when he was still striving for sess. He was grateful to Evelyn, and he wanted his family to also feel gratitude toward her.


    Joshua shared this to encourage


    them to treat Thssa kindly and to ept her as part of their family from the bottom of their hearts. Rosalind, having received a good education, didn''t reject Thssa as part of her family. But learning about Thssa and Lysander''s


    rtionship and their four children made it impossible for Rosalind to view their sisterly rtionship equally. Hostility naturally arose, and she found it hard to let go. She thought her mother probably


    couldn''t let go of Thssa''s existence either.

 Chapter 1597

    Chapter 1597


    The presence of one person had driven a wedge between mother and daughter, a thorn in their hearts that hurt with every touch.


    Rosalind and Matilda, along with the doctors and nurses, wheeled Joshua into a hospital room. His injuries weren''t severe, so he was ced in a regr room instead of the ICU.


    Matilda asked the doctor, "What can he eat when he wakes up?"


    "Some light, easily digestible food," the doctor replied.


    "Okay, thank you," Matilda said with evident tension.


    "No problem, call us if you need anything."


    Thssa made her way to the hospital lobby when a pregnant woman holding a medical report stopped her in her tracks.


    Thssa tried to sidestep her, but a glimpse of the woman''s face brought a surprising sense of familiarity that made her do a double-take.


    The woman was beautiful, dressed in elegant maternity wear, her belly prominently disyed, indicatingte pregnancy.


    Thssa gasped, "Su, Amelia..."


    If she wasn''t mistaken, this was Amelia! Leopold''s mother! And she was pregnant!


    Three years ago, Amelia was forty-five, which made her forty-eight now. And yet, she was expecting!


    Seeing Thssa''s shock, Amelia''s lips curled into a wry smile, her eyes still carrying a deep-seated hatred. "Don''t call me Aunt, you''re not worthy!" Thssa felt her heart sink. Amelia still harbored hatred for her, evident in her spiteful gaze.


    "Three years ago, my son died because of you. Three yearster, I meet you again, this harbinger of bad luck. I hope my baby learns to recognize you and steers clear!" Amelia''s words were sharp as she turned and walked away, hand on her belly.Upstodatee from Novel(D)ra/m/a.O(r)g


    It took


    death, and another year of


    The Pold''s she finally got pregnant. Content belongveling


    to


    Now a high-risk pregnancy, she had to be careful about everything, including avoiding stress.


    But seeing Thssa, she couldn''t


    help butsh out, wanting both.


    hurt


    r and to protect her une et


    from Thssa''s influence.


    She had finally gotten a second chance at motherhood and wouldn''t let anything jeopardize it.


    Thssa stood frozen, watching Amelia walk away, her heart heavy as if weighed down by a massive stone.


    Callum had told her that Leopold


    had acted foolishly in his attempt to secure


    hatred had persisted.


    her freedom, and t


    She couldn''t unlink herself from Leopold''s death, a source of perpetual guilt and pain.


    "Why are you still standing here?"


    Lost in her sorrow, Thssa jumped at the sound of a deep voice behind her.


    Turning, she saw Lysander in a wheelchair, alone.


    Instinctively concerned, she asked, "Isn''t anyone here to help you with the wheelchair?"


    "I can manage," Lysander said.


    "You''re here for Joshua''s payment, right? Let me help you," Thssa offered, moving to assist him. "No need, you can go," Lysander insisted.


    Pausing, Thssa hesitated before lowering her hand, "Alright then, just be careful."


    With that, she turned and walked away, unaware of Lysander''s deep gaze following her every step.

 Chapter 1598

    Chapter 1598


    Thssa paused at the hospital''s entrance, her feet hesitating on the steps leading down from the grand doorway. Hospitals, with their sterile smell and the constant buzz of anxious energy, always put her on edge, but today felt different. As she took a step into the fresh air, a shiver of unease ran through her. Something wasn''t right.


    Turning on her heel, she saw Lysander struggling with his wheelchair, inching his way down the steps with considerable difficulty. Her heart skipped a beat. Before she could shout a warning, the wheelchair tipped dangerously, threatening to throw Lysander to the ground.


    Years of quick thinking and faster reflexes kicked in. Thssa leaped forward, her steps swift and sure, catching the wheelchair just as it was about to crash. With a heave, she righted it, but not without consequence. The wheel scraped down her leg, leaving a trail of pain in its wake before pinning her foot against the cold concrete.


    A sharp hiss of pain escaped her lips, a sound she couldn''t muffle in time. The whole ordeal, terrifying and quick, left no room for hesitation. Lysander''s eyes, filled with concern, immediately found hers. "Are you hurt?" he asked, his voice edged with worry.


    Ignoring her throbbing leg, Thssa quickly reassured him, "I''m fine," even as she maneuvered the wheelchair safely down the remainder of the steps, her every movement careful to prevent another mishap.


    Once on solid ground, she couldn''t help but scold him, "There''s a ramp on the side, Lysander. Why didn''t you use it? You can''t just act like everything''s the same as before. This isn''t like walking through a park."


    Her words carried a mix of


    carriedN?velDrama.Org owns all content.


    frustration and worry. Did he not realize the danger he''d put himself in? If she hadn''t turned back when she did the fall could have been disastrous, especially given his


    history of injuries. Content belongs


    to NovelDrama.Org


    Lysander''s gaze hardened with concern. "You''re hurt. Let''s get a doctor to look at that," he insisted, clearly not convinced by her attempts to brush off the injury.


    Thssa, ever the protector, tried to deflect, stepping back to escape his piercing stare. Yet, she couldn''t evade the intensity of his concern, which made her heart flutter in an all too familiar way. Trying to regain some control, she quickly changed the subject, "I''m fine, really. Just got my foot caught for a second. It doesn''t even hurt anymore."


    "Are you sure?" Lysander pressed, still not convinced.


    "Absolutely," Thssa confirmed, pulling out her phone with a decisive motion. "I''ll call David. He can give you a ride home."


    She had assumed Lysander was just running an errand, not attempting to navigate his way out of the hospital premises alone. Clearly, Lysander being on his own was a safety risk, and with Rosalind likely tied up caring for Joshua, it fell upon her to ensure he got back safely.

 Chapter 1599

    Chapter 1599


    The moment Thssa dialed the number, a phone rang just a stone''s throw away. The timing was so impable that she couldn''t help but follow the sound. She saw David approaching.


    Quickly hanging up, Thssa said, "Oh, you made it. Mr. Sinir is ready to head back. Could you give him a lift?"


    David nced at Lysander and saw his chiseled features stiffen, his eyes locked onto Thssa. It was clear what his boss wanted.


    Ever the perceptive one, David caught on immediately and said, "Ms. Everhart, we''re headed the same way. Why don''t you join us?" "No need, I''ll just grab an Uber back," Thssa replied before walking toward the street.


    David wanted to call after her, but her decision seemed final, leaving him speechless.


    He awkwardly turned to Lysander, scratching his head, "Mr. Sinir, should I, maybe, try and get Ms. Everhart toe with us?" Lysander''s handsome face was cold and tense. "No need."


    It was clear Thssa wanted nothing more to do with him. Before hisa, they had agreed to part ways, free of any debts to each other. She had willingly taken care of him for three years, even ensuring he received the best medical care, all to repay a life-saving debt.


    Now that he was awake, her obligation was fulfilled.N?velDrama.Org owns all content.


    Her every action, every detail, was a deliberate attempt to maintain distance between them.


    He had said it before hisa-that from then on, they owed each other nothing.


    With both parties having made their decision, why force anything?


    With that, Lysander wheeled himself toward the car, leaving David worried for both him and Thssa but understanding that in matters of the heart, only the people involved can truly make a move.


    David drove Lysander back to Royal Estates, where Zephyr was already waiting in the grand hall alongside Lysander''s cousin, Payton.


    Payton and Zephyr were lounging by the coffee table, enjoying some tea.


    "Amelia''s pregnant now, so make


    sure you take good care of your wife. Don''t let her go to her check-ups alone; it''s too risky. As ker husband, you should be there for her. It''s not easy to wee a child into the world, so make sure nothing goes wrong this time," Zephyr advised Payton, emphasizing the importance of family. Content


    belongs to NovelDrama.Org


    As Payton refilled Zephyr''s tea cup, the aroma filled the air, "The Sinir Group is swamped right now, with several projects just kicking off. I barely have a moment to spare for Amelia, but I''ve got several bodyguards on her, ensuring her safety."


    "A bodyguard can never rece a husband''s care. You had to step in for Lysander and manage The Sinir Group when he was in aa, but now that he''s awake and back, it''s time to hand the reins back to him. You should be able to spend more time with Amelia now," Zephyr replied, savoring the tea.


    Payton''s grip on the teapot tightened, a sh of resentment in his eyes, but he quickly masked it with a smile. "Granddad, Lysander''s still recovering, and it wouldn''t be good for his health to dive back into work so soon. I''m more than willing to bear this burden for him."


    No sooner had he said this than David wheeled Lysander into the room.


    The noise caught Payton and Zephyr''s attention, and they both looked up.


    Seeing Lysander, Zephyr''s face lit up with a pleased smile, "Lysander, you''re back. How did the check-up go?"


    "Lysander, wee back. Why didn''t you let me know earlier? I would havee to pick you up," Payton said, his words dripping with a toote concern.

 Chapter 1600

    Chapter 1600


    Lysander caught the sly twinkle in Payton''s eye, his handsome face a mask of cool depth and his gaze unfathomably dark. He had seen through Payton''s intentions long ago.


    David had been aware of Payton''s ambitions for a while now, knowing that Payton yearned to take over Lysander''s role. That''s why David was so eager to have Lysander return to the Sinir Group, hoping a venture into the jewelry business would restore him to his CEO status. Listening to what Payton had said to Zephyr earlier, David''s tension was palpable, his grip on the wheelchair tightened subconsciously.


    Under the varied gazes of Payton and Zephyr, Lysander finally spoke, "All is well, no need for concern."


    His answer held a double meaning. It could address Zephyr''s genuine worry, as well as counter Payton''s feigned concern.


    "That''s a relief," Zephyr exhaled.


    Payton''s smile faltered momentarily, though he quickly recovered, saying, "Yeah, good to hear. But, how about your leg? Did the doctors mention when you might be up and walking?"


    "No word," Lysander replied tersely, not looking at Payton but turning to Zephyr, "Grandpa, what brings you here?"


    "I wanted to be here when you got back, to find out firsthand how you''re doing," Zephyr answered.


    Payton clearly felt the cold shoulder from Lysander and, sensing he was unwee, didn''t linger. Standing up, he said, "Alright then, rest up. There''s a pile of work waiting for me at the office, I better head back."


    As Payton passed by Lysander, he suddenly stopped, turned back, and said, "Oh, by the way, I heard you and David areunching a jewelry line under the Sinir Group''s name? Jewelry market''s tough these days. Be careful not to bite off more than you can chew. The Sinir Group won''t be there to catch you if you fall..."


    After Payton''s words, Lysander''s eyes shed with sharp anger. Payton, catching the icy fury in those eyes, felt a twinge of fear but was mostly smug, his lips curling into a slight grin before he turned to leave.N?velDrama.Org: owner of this content.


    Passing by David, he gave him a warning nce. Payton knew the real reason behind David and Lysander''s jewelry venture: it was a y to restore Lysander to his rightful ce at the helm of the Sinir Group.


    That position, once coveted by his son but never attained, was now his. How could he possibly give it up so easily? Even to fulfill his son''sst wish, he wouldn''t hand over the CEO title back to Lysander!


    After Payton left, Zephyr let out a deep sigh, setting his teacup down on the coffee table, suddenly losing the taste for tea. He wasn''t at all surprised by Payton''s words to Lysander. He had known Payton''s intentions all along.


    Never having had a taste of the good life, one might not miss it, but Payton had savored the sweet nectar of power and pleasure thates with being at the top. How could he step down so easily? Once a man''s desires are unleashed, they''re hard to rein back in.


    "Lysander, don''t rush yourself. What you need to focus on now is getting your leg back in shape, standing on your own two feet again," Zephyrforted Lysander.


    "Whether I stand or not, it makes no difference to cousin," Lysander responded.

 Chapter 1601

    Chapter 1601


    No matter if he stood up or not, Payton Sinir was always going to cling to the CEO position at Sinir Enterprises like it was his birthright, and he wasn''t about to let go. Worse, he was intent on sidelining him, cutting him off from any ties to Sinir Enterprises. His earlier words had made that painfully clear.


    "Your cousin''s got nothing on you when ites to business. Ever since he took over Sinir Enterprises three years ago, thepany hasn''t copsed, but it''s been bleeding money. Sinir Enterprises used to be top dog, but now it''s been overtaken by Draven Group''s curiosity shop, slipping to second ce. At this rate, Sinir Enterprises will be bled dry. For the sake of thepany, he''lle around eventually. No need to rush it," Zephyr said.


    "By the way, did your cousin mention you and David are working on a jewelry project?" Zephyr zeroed in on the key point, asking Lysander Sinir. "How far along is the project?"


    "We''ve purchased the designs, and the production process is all set up. We''re about to start manufacturing the final products." Lysander didn''t hold back when it came to work.


    "You bought the designs? Which designer? You know, in the jewelry business, the designer''s fame is everything. A piece of jewelry branded with a well-known designer''s name can skyrocket in both price and sales," Zephyr expressed his concern.


    He hoped this project would pave the way for Lysander''s smooth return to Sinir Enterprises.


    "The designer is Thssa Everhart," Lysander said.


    "Thssa, doesn''t ring any bells as a famous designer..." Zephyr pondered for a moment, then something clicked, and his expression darkened. He looked sharply at Lysander, "This Thssa, she wouldn''t happen to be the mother of your child, would she?"


    "That''s her," Lysander confirmed.


    "Ridiculous!" Zephyr mmed his coffee mug down, ring at Lysander. "You''re treating a major project like child''s y. What are you thinking?" "Who said anything about child''s y?" Lysander countered.


    "Thssa didn''t even finish college. I mean, it''s one thing for her to have been a secretary; almost anyone can be trained for that. But now we''re talking about a designer, a role that requires technical skill. She doesn''t have a college degree, how can she possibly design? By buying her designs, aren''t you just funneling money to her?" Zephyr''s hawk-like eyes clouded over as he stared at Lysander, his breathing uneven with anger.


    "She took care of me for three years and even found a doctor to cure my illness. Doesn''t she deserve to be paid?" Lysander responded calmly, though his words shocked Zephyr causing him to gasp as if a lie had been exposed, leaving himN?velDrama.Org owns all ? content.


    breathless. "During those the v


    years, Rosalind Whitman was studying abroad. She did take care of me for a short period after returning, but considering Rosalind and I were engaged, it made more sense to say she was the one


    looking after me all along." Content


    belongs to NovelDrama.Org


    Zephyr knew he couldn''t keep the secret forever. Lysander was too sharp, too intelligent.


    "So, you arranged for Rosalind to stay by my side, bribed the servants at Royal Estates to all say it was Rosalind taking care of me, and made Thssa disappear after she learned I was in aa? And you barred her from entering Royal Estates?" Lysander pressed Zephyr.


    The tension in the air was palpable, as if it could solidify.


    Fitch and the other servants, upon hearing Lysander''s questioning, bowed their heads in fear, trembling, daring not to breathe too loudly.


    Zephyr took a moment topose


    himself before saying, "If it hadn''t


    been for her you wouldn''t have been so severely injured in the first ce leading to youra. Her taking care of you for three years was her way of making amends. Once you woke up, there was no reason for her to stay at Royal Estates. I had the servants pack her things, sparing her the trouble of doing it herself to avoid any further hardship."


    Zephyr was speaking his truth.


    After all, there was no future for Thssa and Lysander, so why bother dwelling on it?


    Lysander felt a pang in his heart, his gaze sharpening. "What did you say?"


    The day he woke up, it wasn''t Thssa who left Royal Estates of her own ord; it was Zephyr who had her belongings thrown out and had her kicked out?


    A surge of emotion, tooplex to name, raced through Lysander''s heart. He turned to David and ordered, "Get the car ready. We''re going to Star Harbor Vi!"

 Chapter 1602

    Chapter 1602


    In a daze, David snapped to attention at once, replying with a firm, "Yes, sir!"


    He immediately began to push Lysander''s wheelchair towards the exit.


    "Stop right there!" The deep, decisive voice of Zephyr rang out.


    Instinctively, David couldn''t bring himself to defy Zephyr''smand and halted in his tracks.


    Zephyr rose from his seat, striding swiftly to Lysander, blocking his path, his voice filled with frustration, "Where do you think you''re going? To see Thssa?"


    Lysander was nomittal, "And if I am?"


    Zephyr, holding back his anger, retorted, "I''ve told you before, stop entangling yourself with Thssa. Hasn''t she caused enough trouble for the Sinir family?"


    "She hasn''t done anything. How has she stirred trouble for the Sinir family?" Lysander reasoned. "It was me who insisted on keeping her by my side, and me who chose to save her. She never asked for anything in return."


    During his days of leisure at home, Lysander had revisited the entire sequence of events since meeting Thssa. Thssa had always been there passively, and even though she had borne him four children, she had never asked him for anything, not even a penny.


    "That''s precisely her cunning, manipting people''s hearts, and that''s what''s truly terrifying," Zephyr said, his voice heavy with worry for Lysander, "Think of your father. Didn''t his obsession with a woman lead to his downfall?"N?velDrama.Org owns all content.


    Lysander felt a sting in his heart. The


    oue of his parents was a sore spot, and touching it felt like suffocation: Gripping the


    wheelchair''s armrest tightly, his eyes coldly fixed on Zephyr, Lysander retorted, "My father is my father, I am me, Belinda is Belinda, Thssa is Thssa. They''re not the same, there''s no need topare." Firmly, hemanded, "David, let''s go."


    With a jolt, David resumed pushing Lysander''s wheelchair, making a detour around Zephyr. Zephyr''s face turned a shade darker with anger, "What about Rosalind if you go to her now?" "I''ll exin everything to Joshua when he wakes up," Lysander replied without looking back. David didn''t slow down; instead, he quickened his pace, helping Lysander into the car.


    Despite Zephyr''s anger, he was powerless to stop Lysander. Once Lysander set his mind on something, he saw it through, no matter what.


    Thssa took a cab back to Star Harbor Vi. Her aunt, Astrid Pendleton, wasn''t home, having been asked out on a date by Dr. Funke.


    Thssa was both curious and


    amused that Dr. Funke had been asking her aunt out consecutively for several days. She had initially thought that Dr. Funke''s sudden date request was just to spite her for setting him up with a no-show date. But it seemed Dr. Funke was


    genuinely interested! Content


    belongs to NovelDrama.Org


    Thssa pondered; ever since her uncle passed away, her aunt had been single. It was nice that she might find someone in herter years.


    After taking a shower and slipping


    into her nightgown, Thssa sat on the sofa, lifting her legs. From her knee to her calf, there was arge area of bruising, evidently scraped by the wheelchair''s wheels. A mere touch sent a sharp, burning pain through her, making her hold her breath and quickly retract her hand, not daring to touch it again.


    The pain was searing when the shower water hit the wounded area. She hadn''t realized the extent of the injury until now, wearing a skirt and seeing


    the size of the bruise. Without any medication at home for bruises or sprains, all she could do was wait for it to heal on its own.

 Chapter 1603

    Chapter 1603


    Thssa let out a sigh, finally finding a somewhatfortable position for her legs, when the doorbell rang.


    She hurried to the door, expecting her aunt, a smile blooming on her face, "Aunt ra, how was your day with¡ª"


    Her greeting was cut short at the sight of David standing at the doorway, pushing a wheelchair. Seated in it was a presence too imposing to ignore. It was Lysander!


    His striking features, noble as a marble statue, seemed tomand the elements, his aura icy and unapproachable.


    Seeing Lysander, Thssa''s smile vanished, her nerves tightening, a wave of anxiety washing over her. "Lysander, what brings you here?"


    Lysander''s dark eyes lifted to her. She was in a nightgown, her hair damp, a mist of water vapor wrapping around her. Her dark hair draped over her pale cheeks, creating a stark contrast, like a lily fresh from the water.


    Just the sight of her like this made Lysander''s gaze darken, his throat tightening.


    Without responding to Thssa, Lysander nced behind him.


    David quickly got the hint, let go of the wheelchair, and left.


    Lysander wheeled himself into the house, and Thssa quickly made room for him.


    As he settled by the sofa, Thssa, slightly tense, offered, "I''ll get you a cup of tea." "No need. Come, sit," Lysander steadied his wheelchair, his gaze flicking to her.


    His voice carried an authority that was hard to defy.


    Even in her own home, Thssa found herself drawn by hismanding presence, obediently sitting across from him.


    As soon as she sat, Lysander''s sharp eyes caught sight of arge bruise on her leg, rming in its intensity. His eyes narrowed, "Did you hurt yourself just now?"


    He had heard her cry out in pain when she was helping him down the stairs earlier.


    He had asked if she was hurt, and she had denied it.


    She had lied! The injury looked severe.


    Realizing his concerned gaze on her leg, Thssa hastily pulled down her dress to cover the bruise, "It''s just a scratch, really." Her attempt to conceal the injury was interrupted by his firm grasp, his hand warm and strong, a touch both familiar and strange.


    Her heart skipped a beat, freezing her actions, as she looked up into Lysander''s intense gaze.


    "When will you stop avoiding my questions?" Lysander''s voice, deep and reproachful, filled the space.


    Thssa didn''t even notice when he


    e


    had wheeled closer, his e


    ming, his breath


    presence


    on


    her face, stirring familiar. feelings.


    "I" She faltered, attempting to exin.


    "Don''t speak," Lysander cut her off, releasing her hand and lifting her leg with an authoritative ease.


    His touch wasmanding, leaving no room for objection.


    His rough palm against her soft skin


    current that raced to her hectrice


    sent a jolt through her, an


    leaving her feeling weak.


    Thssa instinctively tried to retract her leg, but Lysander firmly held it in ce, "Don''t move!"


    His voice was a lowmand.


    He lifted her leg onto hisp, leaning in to examine the bruise.


    As he drew closer, the faint scent of sandalwood from him teased her senses, memories of pastN?velDrama.Org owns all ? content.


    vel.n


    entanglements rushing back,


    making Thssa''s heart race, her breath catch.  S

 Chapter 1604

    Chapter 1604


    She barely dared to breathe too loudly, terrified that any sign of her uneven breaths or racing heartbeat would give away how she truly felt, possibly leading to misunderstandings.


    It irked her, knowing full well that Lysander was head over heels for Rosalind, that Rosalind was the one he nned to marry. And yet, he''d go to such lengths to make Rosalind happy, even if it meant letting Susan metaphorically ''eliminate'' her, removing the thorn in Rosalind''s side once and for all.


    Despite understanding the futility of her feelings toward Lysander, that they could never be, she had resolved to treat him as a familiar stranger. But whenever he came too close, her body betrayed her, tingling uncontrobly, her heartbeat quickening. She despised this weakness in herself, thisck of control.


    Lysander gently lifted Thssa''s leg onto hisp, leaning in to inspect the bruise on her leg. It was just a bruise, no cuts or scrapes. He straightened up, his deep gaze meeting Thssa''s, and asked, "Do you have any ice at home?"


    "In the freezer, down below," Thssa replied. This was the first time she had held his gaze for more than a few seconds. Seeing his calm demeanor, she realized her leg was still resting on his, his thigh warm against her skin. The warmth spread up her leg to her heart, coloring her cheeks red.


    Thssa quickly withdrew her leg, stating, "I''ll get it."


    "Stay put, I''ll get it," Lysander insisted, making his way to the freezer. Soon, he returned with arge block of ice, pulled a throw from the couch to wrap it, and gently lifted her leg back onto hisp.


    Thssa realized what he intended and hurriedly offered, "I can do it myself."


    Ret


    "Don''t move," Lysander''s firm hand gripped her leg. Thssa stayed still, letting her leg rest on his. He held her ankle with one hand while reaching for the wrapped ice with the other. His fingers brushed her skin inadvertently, the roughness of his touch against her soft skin sending a shiver through her. Thssa stiffened, her heart skipping a beat. Thankfully, her reaction was internal, hidden from view, saving her from


    embarrassment.


    It was frustrating. No matter how many times she reminded herself to see Lysander as just another stranger, her body reacted to him with rming sensitivity. Lysander secured her leg, cing the ice on the bruised area.


    Once the ice was in ce, Lysander looked up at Thssa, "Why downy your injury?" Thssa fluttered her eyshes, avoiding his gaze, "I didn''t want you to feel indebted."


    "Do you really think we can live


    without owing each other anything?" Lysander''s voice was deep, husky unsettling Thssa''s heart. She knew the intensity of his gaze all too well, daring not to meet it, her eyes casting about aimlessly. N?velDrama.Org owns all content.


    "Isn''t that what we''re doing now?" Thssa countered. Was she not distancing herself, letting go of all grievances to sever ties with him?


    A twinge of pain crossed Lysander''s


    heart. His voice deepened, "I was reckless, pushing your mother to testify at the police station against Bruce to pin the me on him That led Bruce to harbor resentment, unleashing those scandals.


    Those scandals had weighed heavily on Evelyn Pendleton, driving her to a breaking point.

 Chapter 1605

    Chapter 1605


    Lysander had been carrying a weight of guilt, fully aware that Thssa med him for the events that had transpired.


    "Before I lost consciousness, the promise I made to you, you didn''t take it to heart, did you?"


    Three years ago, he had risked his life to save Thssa, and right before falling into aa, he told her that from then on, they would be even. He owed his life to her mother, and with histest act, they were squared away.


    "I didn''t," Thssa started to object.


    Lysander said, "You''ve looked after me for three years, hired the best doctors to cure my illness. Don''t you think, with all this care and the effort in finding a doctor, that I owe you?"


    "|"


    "And today, you got hurt trying to save me. Doesn''t that add to my debt?" Lysander''s deep, probing eyes fixated on her, his questions firing one after another.


    His presence was intense, and with his barrage of questions, Thssa felt even more flustered, her well-prepared arguments slipping away, leaving her unsure of how to respond.


    "You don''t owe me anything." After struggling to piece her words together, that was the only statement she could muster, unable to find any reason to back up her im.


    "The day I woke up, it wasn''t your choice to leave, but my grandfather who asked you to go. Why didn''t you tell me?" Lysander, seemingly ignoring her defense, continued to press.


    Thssa''s eyes widened in shock and surprise as she looked into his.


    She instantly understood; it wasn''t Lysander who had sent her away, but Zephyr.


    "I thought it was your decision." Thssa felt a weight lift off her chest.


    Lysander nodded, realizing the misunderstanding his grandfather had caused.


    No wonder Thssa had said those harsh words, iming she only took care of him to repay a debt and that her obligation ended when he recovered, implying there was


    ???


    need for her to stay at Royal Estates. had been under such


    She


    misconception, uttering those words out of frustration.


    "I thought you couldn''t wait to leave." Lysander remarked.


    Thssa had an epiphany, nodding in agreement.


    No wonder Lysander had been so cold towards her in their recent encounters.


    With this misunderstanding cleared, the barrier between them seemed to diminish, and Thssa felt a weight off her shoulders. Yet, being in close proximity to Lysander after three years apart made the moment all the more awkward. The tension made her breathing slow and her gaze unsure where to rest.


    "About you and Rosalind-"


    "That was a match my grandfather and Joshua arranged. I never agreed to it. Once Joshua wakes up, I''ll make things clear," Lysander volunteered information about Rosalind before Thssa could inquire.


    "But weren''t you two already engaged?" Thssa asked anxiously. Even if the engagement was arranged by others, the closeness between Lysander and Rosalind seemed real, didn''t it?


    Thssa couldn''t hide her concern as she spoke, but quickly tried to mask her emotions, lowering her gaze, "Sorry, I shouldn''t have asked "


    Lysander caught her agitation, and his eyes briefly noted the white scar on her neck. Sharp as he was, he immediately understood Thssa''s


    concern.


    He exined, "Thest time Susan


    took you hostage, her ambition knew no bounds. No amount of money would have satisfied her.


    had to use reverse psychet


    letting her think we didn''t care about you. If she killed you, she wouldn''t get any money and would end up in jail. It wouldn''t be worth if for her, so the only option was to let you go."


    Thssa''s understanding dawned. Her breath hitched, her heart racing. The man before her shed his cold demeanor, radiating warmth and brilliance.Upstodatee from Novel(D)ra/m/a.O(r)g


    In that moment, she found him irresistibly gentle and wished nothing more than to be in his arms.

 Chapter 1606

    Chapter 1606


    Thssa''s gaze was intense, filled with a moving depth as she looked at Lysander. In that moment, all the shadows that had clouded her heart vanished, the weight that had pressed on her chest felt lifted. Her distance and misunderstandings towards Lysander melted away. He wasn''t involved with Rosalind in the way she had imagined, and he hadn''t cold-heartedly let Susan go after her; he had been trying to save her. When he woke up, it wasn''t him who had pushed her out of Royal Estates, but Zephyr''s doing, even keeping him in the dark about it. The cold-hearted actions she thought were from Lysander were all misunderstandings. It was like the sun breaking through a cloudy sky, scattering all the shadows, filling her world with light.


    Lysander''s deep gaze locked onto Thssa, witnessing the shift in her eyes from shock and surprise to a sudden realization and deep emotion. Seeing the unshed tears in her eyes, a color of deep, uncontroble affection, made Lysander''s heart skip a beat, his eyes glistened, and a surge of excitement bubbled up from within.


    After locking eyes with him for a while, Thssa noticed his intense, excited gaze. Her heart fluttered, understanding what that look meant. Realizing her gaze might be too inviting, she panicked, quickly averting her eyes, nervously saying, "Thank you for saving me from Susan''s hands that time, otherwise I wouldn''t have lived to see another sunrise!"


    Before she could finish, her words were cut off as Lysander''s hand pressed against the back of her head, pulling her into a passionate kiss. Lysander captured her lips, sealing them, delving deep, his tongue intertwining with hers, tasting her sweet breath. Her tender, sweet touch, the taste between their lips, ignited a fire within Lysander, his blood boiling with excitement. Unable to resist wanting more, he kissed her more fiercely, more eagerly. Thssa felt Lysander''s robust, fiery breath on her face, heating her already flushed cheeks, his kiss dominating, wild, stealing her senses within seconds, leaving her dizzy and weak. Lysander''s hands supported her back, his rough palm caressing her, igniting a wildfire within her. His hand wandered lower, about to lift her skirt.


    Thssa, in a daze, suddenly snapped to attention, grabbing his hand, eyes wide, struggling to break from his kiss, "Lysander, stop!" She tried to push him away, her efforts futile against his strength.


    Lysander didn''t force her, releasing her lips but not letting go, one hand on her leg, the other supporting her head, their foreheads touching as he calmed his ragged breathing, "Okay, I''ll stop, just stay still for a moment." His voice was low and husky, dripping with emotion.


    Thssa''s heart pounded like a drum, heeding his request not to move, their foreheads pressed together, both catching their breath. Over those three years, Thssa had taken care of Lysander,Upstodatee from Novel(D)ra/m/a.O(r)g


    including bathing him every Dial


    She had seen his body countless times. But that was when Lysander was unconscious, without any awareness. Now, with Lysander awake, kissing her, even though she was more than familiar with his body, her heart still fluttered, her reaction undeniable and intense.


    "It''s been three years since I''ve touched you''ve missed you so much," Lysander suddenly whispered, his voice a maic draw. Thssa''s heart skipped, her face flushed with heat, pushing against his chest in a fluster, "Don''t do this, you''re still injured


    "It''s okay, it won''t affect that," Lysander''s voice was low and gruff, filled with unspoken desire.

 Chapter 1607

    Chapter 1607


    "Thssa, you could''ve just admitted it," Richard Draven said, initially eager to stick around for the drama until Lysander''s icy re hit him.


    Rubbing his nose, he added, "Uh, I''ve got things to handle back at my antique store. Take it easy, Lysander."


    No sooner had he spoken than Lysander grabbed a fork from the dining table and hurled it his way.


    Luckily for Richard, he was quick on his feet; otherwise, he''d have been hit.


    Getting involved in Lysander''s personal drama was like ying with fire, and Richard knew it too well. But then again, Lysander''s drama was the kind everyone secretly wanted a piece of, given how rare it was.


    Thssa sat there, head bowed, biting her lower lip, her hands on herp twisted in nervous tension, bearing the weight of Lysander''s piercing gaze as if it was tearing her apart. Moments before, she was passionately defending herself, but now, faced with a circr pendant and an unexpected addition of twenty thousand dors to her ount, she was at a loss for words.


    Lysander''s oppressive gaze then shifted to Fitch, who was waiting on the sidelines: "Take it away!"


    Fitch cautiously approached, picked up the circr pendant with both hands, and headed to the backyard, his back drenched in sweat. He had been pondering over how to investigate the theft of the circr pendant, but in no time, the truth hade to light. The thief was none other than the woman Lysander had brought home! It was beyond belief.


    After Fitch left, only Lysander and Thssa remained by the dining table. The air around Thssa felt oppressively thick, a sharp, chilling gaze drilling into her, sending shivers down her spine.


    "What''s there to exin?" Lysander''s voice was cold and harsh.


    Thssa grew even more anxious and conflicted, her fists clenched tighter, breathing bing erratic, with nothing to say. She couldn''t exin. If she did... Lysander would discover the secret of their children.


    If he knew she had secretly borne his children, the consequences would be dire. He disliked children


    and certainly didn''t want her to have his. His feelings towards her were nothing but hatred, using her as an outlet for his anger. If he found out about the four children she bore him, even if he didn''t care for them, he would take them away from her side. Being separated from her children, to her, would be the ultimate torment. And for the children to live with a father who didn''t want them wouldn''t bring them happiness either. So, she absolutely couldn''t let Lysander discover the secret of the children.


    Her silence was as good as an admission of guilt. Lysander clenched his jaw, his presence bing even more foreboding as


    he grabbed her wrist. His roughs


    palm, calloused and strong, made Thssa''s heart skip a beat. She looked up to meet his furious gaze, her body tensing in fear.


    Lysander pulled her up and led her upstairs, kicked the bedroom door open, dragged Thssa in, and mmed the door shut, tossing her onto the bed. Thssa yelped, caught off guard, andnded on the soft bed. She sensed danger and quickly sat up.


    Lysander''s tall figure approached, casting a shadow over her, enveloping her entirely. Panicked, Thssa tried to back away, but there was nowhere to go. She shrank back, eyeing his looming, masculine presence warily.


    Lysander leaned in, his fingers gently


    grazing her chin, his face cold and menacing. told you, as long as you''re mine, you could have anything. If you wanted something, all you had to do was ask. Why sneak around?" His voice was low


    and angry, his breath hot on her face. The danger in his voice made Thssa''s heart tremble. Content


    belongs to NovelDrama.Org


    Under the immense pressure, Thssa attempted to exin, "It''s not what you think..."Upstodatee from Novel(D)ra/m/a.O(r)g


    "Then what is it?" Lysander''s sharp gaze was prating and ice-cold, bearing down on her. Thssa felt like she was suffocating. His overwhelming presence,bined with his powerful masculinity, enveloped her. Every pore of Thssa''s being was saturated with tension.

 Chapter 1608

    Chapter 1608


    ric Falconer deftly caught the lettuce she tossed his way and dunked it into the hotpot, his smile unwavering. "I didn''t say a thing. You''re the one jumping to conclusions."


    "See? Always acting innocent and then ying the me game. Good thing I cut my losses early," Hertha Kensington huffed, rolling her eyes at ric.


    Words spoken without intent, heard with deep meaning.


    Hertha''s remark momentarily froze ric, his heart tightening as he turned his slender, hawk-like gaze towards her.


    A shadow of sorrow and depth lingered in his eyes.


    Was it his fault that Hertha wouldn''t be with him?


    Did her words mean her affection for him started with his looks but ended with his personality?


    "Why are you looking at me like that? I''m just stating the facts! Go ask any of your exes, they all think the same," Hertha said between bites, never missing a chance to tease him.


    After all, ric had a thick skin; nothing she said could truly upset him.


    Teasing him was Hertha''s favorite pastime.


    ric just tugged at the corners of his mouth silently and continued to add more ingredients to the hotpot.


    Now that he knew why Hertha had pulled away, all he had to do was adjust his behavior to match her preferences. It was better than being clueless as before, he thought to himself.


    Meanwhile, Reginald Whitman was speeding toward Starhaven Hospital, with Rosalind and Thssa seated in the back. Rosalind kept her distance from Thssa, envious of the attention Lysander showed Thssa over her.


    Rosalind couldn''t hide her difort any longer. "Bro, Thssa has to work. Why drag her along?"


    "You know she''s your sister. Dad''sN?velDrama.Org owns all content.


    been most worried about her. If he''s on hisst breath, having Thssa by his side would mean he could die peacefully," Reginald replied, his grip on the steering wheel firm.


    "Stop talking nonsense! Dad''s going to be fine," Rosalind snapped back, eager to ward off any bad luck Reginald''s words might bring.


    Thssa remained silent, her brows knit together in worry, her hands unconsciously tightening around each other.


    Though her rtionship with Joshua


    Whitman was distant, it was Joshua


    who had facilitated her reuniork with Car, allowing her the chance to


    care for Lysander.


    Deep down, Thssa was grateful to Joshua.


    Over the past three years, Joshua had found various reasons to visit her, always treating her kindly and with warmth.


    She didn''t feel a strong attachment to Joshua, but she didn''t dislike him either.


    Hearing Reginald mention Joshua''s potential death made her heart clench with worry.


    Arriving at the hospital, the three rushed towards the emergency room, where Matilda was already waiting anxiously.


    Beside her a man in a bespoke


    ck suit exuded a stern andmanding presence from his


    wheelchair. His profile was strikingly handsome, with sharp, elegant features.


    It was Lysander!


    The sight of him made Thssa''s breath catch, her already anxious heart skipping a beat.

 Chapter 1609

    Chapter 1609


    "Is it here?" Thssa asked, her finger hovering uncertainly over the spot.


    Lysander''s hand lifted, enveloping hers with a warmth that felt rough yet soothing. The moment their skins touched, Thssa''s heart skipped a beat, her hand momentarily freezing in ce.


    She took a deep breath, trying to calm herself.


    Holding her hand gently, Lysander ced it over his heart. "It hurts right here. Can you feel it?"


    Laid against Lysander''s chest, Thssa could feel the steady and powerful beating of his heart through her palm. It was a rhythm that spoke of strength and a certain masculine charm unique to him.


    That heartbeat, pulsing beneath her hand, seemed to echo through her, quickening her own heartbeat.


    Thssa, who had just managed to steady her breathing, found it suddenly erratic again. She looked up at Lysander, both nervous and incredulous. "Your heart hurts? Did I identally hit you too hard?"


    "Mhm," came Lysander''s deep, resonant reply.


    Panicked and fearing the worst, Thssa attempted to withdraw her hand to call for an ambnce.


    But Lysander held it firmly in ce, his grip insistent. "You''ve crashed into my heart."


    His voice, rich and smooth as a well-yed cello, stopped Thssa in her tracks. She stared at him, eyes wide and shimmering with disbelief. "What did you say?"


    She had been worried she might have physically hurt him, but his unexpected confession left her stunned.


    "You''ve been in my heart for a while now, but now you''re even deeper," Lysander said, his gaze intense yet yet filled with a tenderness she hadn''t seen before. Gone was the usual dominance, reced instead by a softness asforting as the spring sun.


    For a moment, Thssa felt as if time had stopped, their eyes locked in a moment that seemed to capture the very essence of Lysander''s confession.


    As seconds ticked by, her heartbeat began to recover, then raced, thundering like a drum in her chest. And in her palm, she felt his heartbeat, fast and fierce in O response to her own.  S


    The Lysander she knew had always been cold, distant, and imperious To see this softer side of him, and to


    left her feeling out of her depth.  SN?velDrama.Org owns all content.


    hear such words of affect" anda.n


    Shifting her gaze away, she tried to lighten the mood. "You''re still joking, so I guess you''re alright."


    "Am I alright? Aren''t you worried about me?" Lysander asked, a hint of yfulness in his voice.


    Thssa''s cheeks burned with embarrassment and a mix of nervous excitement. "Of course I''m worried," she protested. How could she not be?


    She had feared he might have injured himself further, especially given his current mobility issues. Her concern for him was genuine, even if she struggled to express it.


    Lysander''s happiness was evident, much like his reaction to their earlier passionate kiss. Even the fall couldn''t dampen his spirits, and he chuckled softly.


    "And what about you?" he asked, tightening his grip on her hand over his heart, giving her no chance to escape.


    "What?" Thssa was momentarily lost for words.


    "Do you love me?" Lysander asked directly.


    At his question, Thssa''s heart seemed to freeze, her entire being jolted by the sudden rush of emotion.

 Chapter 1610

    Chapter 1610


    Lysander''s gaze was intense and filled with anticipation as he looked at Thssa. For the first time, his usually unshakable confidence was reced by nerves. Despite being a titan in the business world, where he navigated deals with unwavering certainty, Thssa brought out an uncertainty in him that he couldn''t shake off.


    Whenever he thought of Thssa, he realized he was profoundly in love with her a kind of love that propelled him to protect her at all costs, even if it meant putting himself in harm''s way.


    Lysander had struggled with this feeling, recalling his father''s warning not to fall too hard for a woman, especially one who might not reciprocate his feelings. This advice had made him hold back his emotions, iming Thssa as his own but never truly opening his heart to her.


    However, after a three-year separation that felt like a lifetime, Lysander''s first sight upon waking was Thssa, and in that moment, he decided to live in the present and cherish the person in front of him, regardless of the future.


    Unable to contain his feelings any longer, even without knowing if Thssa shared his sentiments, Lysander poured out his heart to her. Her passionate response to his kiss earlier had given him hope that she might feel the same way about him.


    With a racing heart, Lysander confessed his love and asked Thssa if she loved him back. It was a leap of faith for a man who never took risks without assurance.


    Thssa was taken aback, and her hesitation sent waves of anxiety through Lysander, fearing a rejection that would confirm his deepest insecurities.


    Just then, the ringing of a


    smartphone broke the tension.


    Thssa quickly answered the call learning that her aunt had fainted and Dr Funke was attending to her. Instantly, concern took over, and she prepared to leave immediately. N?velDrama.Org owns all ? content.


    As she turned to inform Lysander, she found him struggling to stand, his legs failing him. Despite the effort causing his face to tense and his brows to furrow, Lysander refused to give up, showing his determination to be strong for Thssa.


    Seeing his struggle, Thssa rushed to his side, trying to help him up, but his weight was too much for her to manage alone. Reluctantly, she let go and ran out to call David for help.


    This moment underscored the depth of their connection and the challenges they faced, not just physically but emotionally, as they navigated the uncertainties of their future together.

 Chapter 1611

    Chapter 1611


    After Thssa stepped out, Lysander didn''t pause for even a moment. cing his palms against the floor, he gathered all his strength, attempting to push his upper body up and desperately trying to get his legs to move.


    But no matter how much effort he put into it, his legs remained unresponsive.


    It had only been a couple of minutes since Thssa had left when she returned to find Lysander had managed to prop himself up slightly, his rear end hanging in the air as he tried to force his legs to stand.


    His forehead was dotted with beads of sweat from the effort, indicating he was on the verge of standing up.


    Thssa''s heart raced, and she abruptly stopped in her tracks, signaling David to pause as well. They stood behind Lysander, watching him with anticipation, hoping he could stand.


    In that tense moment, Lysander pushed himself to his highest point yet, but his hands could no longer support his body, and he struggled to stand. However, his legs still felt nothing, and his arms, overwhelmed by the strain, gave way, causing him to fall back to the ground with a muted thud. "Lysander!" Thssa''s heart skipped a beat as she rushed forward.


    Hearing Thssa''s voice, Lysander felt an even stronger surge of frustration. He clenched his teeth and pounded his fist onto his leg, his breathing rough andbored.


    In an instant, Thssa understood the depth of Lysander''s frustration and agony.


    He had always been on top, untouchable, a figure standing at the pinnacle. Suddenly being unable to stand was a blow to his dignity.


    Thssa took his fist in her hands,forting him with tender words, "Lysander, don''t rush yourself. Recovery takes time. You need to give yourself that time."


    David quickly came over too, squatting down to support Lysander''s other arm, adding, "Mr. Sinir, Ms. Everhart is right." Lysander''s cheeks tensed, his jaws clenched tight. He understood the logic, but time... how much time would it take?


    Three years, five years, a decade, or even twenty?


    How long would he have to sit in a wheelchair?N?velDrama.Org owns all content.


    Sitting in a wheelchair meant he couldn''t even embrace the woman he loved with all his strength.


    Thssa''s earlier hesitation to respond to his question was somewhat rted to his condition.


    And now, he couldn''t return to his original state.


    Even wanting an answer, he couldn''t take the lead.


    If he could move freely, when Thssa started to walk away to answer the phone, he could have grabbed her, pulled her close, encircled her waist, tipped her chin up so she had to face him, not allowing her to dodge, making her answer his question before she


    could take the call. Content belongs


    to NovelDrama.Org


    But his disability limited him, and even Thssa turning to answer the phone was a moment he couldn''t physically catch.


    Together, Thssa and David helped Lysander back into his wheelchair.


    Thssa then suggested, "I''m


    heading to Dr. Funke''s. My aunt has


    faint don''t youe with


    me?dt''ll be good for Dr. Funke to take a look at your legs too."  S


    "No need," Lysander replied, his tone cold.


    David looked at Lysander incredulously, unable to grasp why he would refuse.


    Didn''t he want to spend time with Thssa? Now that she was inviting him, he was refusing!


    Moreover, visiting Dr. Funke could


    provide an opportunity to examine his legs. Dr. Funke had revived him from a vegetative state; perhaps he could cure his legs too.


    And visiting Thssa''s aunt together could have been a chance to nurture their rtionship further.


    Thssa was taken aback by the refusal, slightly stunned, she nodded, "Alright then, you should rest. I''ll go see my aunt."

 Chapter 1612

    Chapter 1612


    Thssa drove herself towards Dr. Funke''s clinic.


    Meanwhile, David, with Lysander in tow, headed back to Royal Estates.


    Throughout the drive, David was visibly upset, puzzled over what was going through his boss''s head. It was clear he cared deeply for Thssa. His visit to Star Harbor Vi was specifically to see her. Yet, when Thssa invited him to visit her aunt together, Lysander coldly declined.


    David couldn''t wrap his head around Lysander''s decision. Stopped at a traffic light, he couldn''t help but ask, "Mr. Sinir, why did you turn down Ms. Everhart''s invitation? Is there something you''re worried about?"


    ncing back at Lysander, David saw him slightly lift his gaze, giving him a fleeting look before replying with a cool tone, "The first time Dr. Funke agreed to treat me, it was because Thssa met two of his challenging conditions. Each condition was quite demanding."


    Suddenly, it all made sense to David. Lysander''s refusal to apany Thssa was out of concern that Dr. Funke might make things difficult for her again. He was considering Thssa''s feelings.


    Understanding Lysander''s concerns, David felt a sense of rity. He had initially thought the conversation between Thssa and Lysander might have led to some discord. It was rare for Lysander to make a move and seek out Thssa, and a misunderstanding should not lead to their separation.


    Thssa quickly arrived at Dr. Funke''s clinic. At the clinic''s entrance stood a tall, slender woman in a white coat, with short hair, an androgynous face, and a posture as straight as a soldier''s.


    This was Lydia, Thssa''s childhood friend who had served in the military for several years. She was waiting for Thssa.


    "Thssa, you''re here. Your aunt''s in the acupuncture room. I''ll take you there," Lydia said, cutting straight to the chase and leading Thssa to the


    room.


    Arriving at the door, they found it locked.


    Anxious, Lydia led Thssa to a window. Peering inside, they saw Astrid lying on a hospital bed, with Dr. Funke administering acupuncture.Upstodatee from Novel(D)ra/m/a.O(r)g


    Dr. Funke had a habit of requiring


    silence during his sessions. He needed to concentrate fully, without any distractions. Hence, he would lock the door to ensure no interruptions.


    Seeing Dr. Funke performing acupuncture on her aunt, Thssa was both shocked and bewildered. Dr. Funke offering to perform acupuncture on her aunt without any conditions? It was unheard of! Wasn''t he known for not easily agreeing to treat anyone without demanding something in return? How did he end up administering acupuncture to her aunt so swiftly?


    Thssa curiously looked at Lydia, who was just as puzzled, shrugging her shoulders to indicate she was also in the dark about Dr. Funke''s intentions.


    After nearly half an hour of waiting, the door finally opened. Thssa and Lydia quickly turned around to see Dr. Funke stepping out, looking somewhat exhausted.


    Thssa immediately asked, "Dr. Funke, how''s my aunt doing?"


    Dr. Funke''s gaze was stern as he looked at Thssa, "She only has you for family. How have you been taking care of her? She''s severely deficient in energy, has poor cirction, and is suffering from arthritis. Simply sitting in an


    al conditioned movie theater for


    over an hour was enough to make


    her faint. That wouldn''t happen to just anyone. It''s obvious her health is in poor condition!" Content belongs


    to NovelDrama.Org


    Thssa felt deeply ashamed by Dr. Funke''s words. "You''re right, Dr. Funke. I''ve been neglecting her care."

 Chapter 1613

    Chapter 1613


    "Realizing your mistakes, what good does that do? Can it undo the damage done to her health?" Dr. Funke said with a weight in his voice. "Come on, Thssa has already admitted her fault. Why keep badgering her? That''s on you. Besides, Thssa isn''t a doctor. How was she supposed to know how to care for someone already in frail health? If she knew how to take care, wouldn''t she have done so already?" Lydia defended Thssa, firing back at Dr. Funke.N?velDrama.Org: owner of this content.


    Dr. Funke shot her a nce, "An ungrateful viper."


    "I''ve only known you for a few months through the medicalmunity. Thssa and I, we''ve been thick as thieves since we were kids. You think thatpares?" Lydia retorted.


    Thssa, standing by, felt her heart sink, nervously tugging at Lydia''s sleeve, signaling her to stop before Dr. Funke got angrier.


    She was treading lightly, not wanting to offend Dr. Funke, but what he said next took her byplete surprise.


    "Right, she''s not a doctor. She doesn''t know how to care for someone. But I am a doctor, and from now on, I''ll be taking care of Astrid. I''ll make sure her health improves!"


    Dr. Funke wasn''t just speaking out of anger; his tone sounded like a promise!


    Thssa''s eyes widened in disbelief, "Dr. Funke, are you serious?"


    "Do you think I''m joking?" Dr. Funke was back to his usual self with his dry humor.


    Thssa and Lydia exchanged a quick look, their eyes filled with both shock and delight.


    Especially Thssa, who excitedly said, "Dr. Funke, you mean you want to take care of my aunt for the rest of her life?"


    "Wouldn''t it ruin the surprise if I spelled everything out?" Dr. Funke said, his serious expression delivering the most romantic words. Thssa was overjoyed.


    "Thssa," at that moment, Astrid called out her name from inside the house.


    "Yes!" Thssa quickly responded, hurrying over to find Astrid attempting to get up. She rushed to help her.


    Astrid was still weak, speaking softly, "What joke are you and Dr. Funke up to?"


    "Auntie, we''re not joking. Dr. Funke


    said he wants life, to get your


    to take care of you for


    the rest of


    health back on track. Dr. Funke is a man of his word, once he says something, it''s as good as done. Isn''t that right, Dr. Funke?"


    Thssa said excitedly, looking back at Dr. Funke.


    Astrid also looked towards Dr. Funke, her eyes filled with curiosity and disbelief.


    She had heard their conversation at the doorstep but couldn''t believe it.


    Dr. Funke walked in, looked at Astrid, and said, "Of course, your well-being is now my responsibility. Your niece might not know how to care for you, but leave it to me."


    "Did you hear that, Auntie? No more frequent trips to the hospital for you!" Thssa, supporting Astrid''s shoulders, was moved to tears.


    She had feared her aunt would end up alone in her old age, but now, she had found someone, a highly skilled doctor, no less.


    He could treat her at any moment and take good care of her.


    She never imagined that a mix-up at a blind date would fulfill Dr. Funke''s wish to find apanion, give her aunt someone to rely on in her old


    age, and address her healte


    issues.


    It was a win-win-win, an oue too good to be true!


    Seeing Thssa so happy made Astrid smile as well.


    Seeing their joy, Dr. Funke''s lips curled into a smile, just as his phone rang.


    Picking up, he heard the voice of David, the assistant to the CEO of the Sinir group.


    "Dr. Funke, our Mr. Sinir would like to invite you to Royal Estates to treat his leg, the price is negotiable."

 Chapter 1614

    Chapter 1614


    Thssa, standing to the side, overheard Dr. Funke''s phone conversation with someone from Royal


    Estates, requesting his services to treat Lysander''s legs. Without hesitation, Dr. Funke declined.


    After hanging up, Dr. Funke tossed his phone aside with a scoff, muttering, ¡°All they care about is


    money!¡±


    Thssa knew Dr. Funke was irate because Royal Estates had tried to lure him with cash to treat


    Lysander''s legs. Using money to seek medical help is the norm, a standard practice in seeking a


    doctor''s services. But Dr. Funke was different. He wasn''t someone who could be swayed by


    financial incentives. His decision to treat someone never hinged on the amount of money offered.


    Take, for instance, how he treated Astrid without once mentioning fees, purely out of goodwill.


    Astrid, understanding that Dr. Funke had refused to treat Lysander, couldn''t help but lean towards


    Lysander''s side, considering he was a father of four. Her worried nce met Thssa''s, both


    sharing a moment of concern. Astrid realized Thssa was also worried about Lysander and turned


    to Dr. Funke, starting to say, ¡°Samuel, maybe we could...¡±


    ¡°Dr. Funke, what else could possibly be needed?¡± Thssa cut Astrid off, probing Dr. Funke for any


    other conditions he might have. Astrid shot Thssa a puzzled look, seeing her serious profile.


    Thssa had interrupted Astrid''s plea, taking it upon herself to ask Dr. Funke directly if he had any


    other demands.


    Astrid was momentarily surprised but quickly grasped Thssa''s intent. Thssa was concerned


    that asking Dr. Funke to do something against his will, especially when he had alreadymitted to


    treating her, could strain their budding rtionship. In a fragile partnership where one party is


    already offering unconditional support, making additional demands could be bothersome. Thssa


    didn''t want to jeopardize the delicate bond between Astrid and Dr. Funke, hence her timely


    intervention.


    Astrid had watched Thssa grow up and knew her well. Thssa always preferred to shoulder


    burdens herself rather than inconvenience others. When would Thssa ever learn to think of


    herself first? Astrid felt a mix of heartache and helplessness.


    Dr. Funke nced at Astrid before fixing his gaze on Thssa, his expression stern. ¡°You want me


    to treat Lysander''s legs?¡± It was clear what was being asked without needing to spell it out. ¡°Yes,


    conventional medicine has little to offer for Lysander''s condition. I was hoping someone with your


    exceptional skills in traditional healing could help Lysander. I believe under your care, he could truly


    make a recovery,¡± Thssa said, not shy about praising Dr. Funke. Everyone likes to hear


    compliments, and Thssa meant every word; Dr. Funke''s skills were indeed remarkable.


    Dr. Funke chuckled, unimpressed. ttery was nothing new to him, and he was immune to its


    charms. ¡°What do you think I''mcking?¡± Instead of stating his demands, Dr. Funke turned the


    question to Thssa. Caught off guard, Thssa hesitated, unsure of how to respond. She wasn''t


    close enough to Dr. Funke to know what he might want or need.


    Seeing her struggle, Dr. Funke smiled and said, ¡°I appreciate your desire to help Lysander, but I''m


    currentlymitted to treating your aunt and can''t spare the time.¡± Thssa''s brows furrowed, her


    breath hitching slightly, clearly distressed by Dr. Funke''s implication of refusal to treat Lysander.N?velDrama.Org: owner of this content.

 Chapter 1615

    Chapter 1615


    The sight of Lysander struggling to rise from the ground, his efforts failing and the resulting frustration as he beat his legs, tore at Thssa''s heart. Lysander, once standing tall and unbeatable, faced the brutal reality of his immobilized legs-a catastrophic blow to a man of his stature. His pride wounded, his confidence crushed under the weight of his condition, his soul tormented. The thought of Lysander living under such torment, every day shadowed by despair, caused Thssa''s heart to ache with a dull pain.


    "I''m fine, Dr. Funke. Please, tend to Lysander first. I''m alright, really. Look at me, I can walk, eat, and sleep-there''s nothing major wrong with me," Astrid insisted upon hearing Dr. Funke''s reluctance to treat Lysander due to her own health issues. She hurried out of bed, taking a few steps forward and spinning around to prove her point, eager to free up Dr. Funke''s time for Lysander.


    Her show of strength only made Dr. Funke more adamant: "Your body is severely weakened. Without intervention, you won''tst much longer. Don''t doubt a doctor''s advice; I won''t be swayed."


    Astrid was shocked. What did Dr. Funke mean that she wouldn''tst much longer?


    Thssa, too, grew anxious, quickly saying, "Then please, Dr. Funke, focus on my aunt. As for Lysander..."


    "If you''re set on getting treatment for Lysander, there''s a way," Dr. Funke mentioned.


    Hope lit up in Thssa''s eyes as she eagerly asked, "What way?"


    "Let my apprentice attend to him with acupuncture," Dr. Funke gestured toward Lydia standing beside him. Following his gaze to Lydia, Thssa saw her bewildered expression.


    Lydia, usually so confident, was now nervous: "I''ve only been studying medicine for three months. How can I possibly perform acupuncture on someone?"


    "Is it your own abilities you doubt, or do you doubt me as your mentor?" Dr. Funke challenged.


    Lydia hesitated for a moment, then shook her head, "That''s not what I meant..."


    "Take your sister with you and bring the acupuncture needles," Dr. Funke cut her off, moving to assist Astrid to sit by the bed and bending down to massage her leg. "Does this hurt?"


    Pressing precisely on the sore spot, Astrid grimaced in pain, "Yes, it hurts a lot."


    "Alright, I''ll proceed with the


    acupuncture," Dr. Funke announced, reaching for the needles. Lydia, still uneasy, thought to argue further with Dr. Funke but seeing him start treating Astrid, she held back.


    Exchanging a nce with Thssa, they silently left the medical room, closing the door behind them.


    "What do we do now?" Lydia asked Thssa.


    "Grab your medical kit. We''re heading to Royal Estates," Thssa instructed.


    Lydia yfully pped Thssa on the shoulder, teasing, "Are you sure about this? You''re really letting me treat Lysander?"


    The p pushed Thssa forward a bit, but she regained her bnce, turning back to Lydia, "Is there a problem?"Exclusive ? material by N?(/v)elDrama.Org.


    "I''ve been practicing for less than


    three months. And all my


    n¨¦t


    acupuncture practice has been on dummies, never real person. Treating Lysander now, wouldn''t that be like using him as a guinea pig" Lydia couldn''t believe the situation.


    Thinking it over, Thssa realized the risk involved in letting Lydia perform acupuncture on Lysander, treating him essentially as a test subject. But Lydia was trained by Dr. Funke himself!


    "Let''s go. To Royal Estates," Thssa firmly took Lydia''s hand, decisively leading her away.

 Chapter 1616

    Chapter 1616


    Thssa, with Lydia in tow, made her way to the grand entrance of the Royal Estates. The sight of two security guards stationed at the gate was no surprise. As Thssa approached, ready to exin her presence and ask them to inform Lysander of their arrival, the guards bowed slightly, saying, "Ms. Everhart, please, after you..."


    Their respectful demeanor took Thssa aback. These were the same guards who, not so long ago, had unceremoniously tossed her belongings outside the estate, coldly informing her that she was no longer wee at Royal Estates.


    Now, their attitude had done aplete one-eighty, treating her with such politeness and respect that it was almost disorienting. Thssa guessed this change of heart must''ve been Lysander''s doing. With the misunderstanding cleared, he must have issued new instructions regarding her. Being weed back into Royal Estates felt reassuring.


    Holding Lydia''s hand firmly, Thssa led her past the guards without any resistance. They walked through the manicured garden, reaching the open doors of the Royal Estates mansion. As they stepped inside, Thssa was immediately struck by the scene unfolding before her.


    Lysander was seated in a wheelchair, his handsome face set in a grim expression. He was turned away from the door, allowing Thssa a view of his stern profile. Rosalind knelt beside him, gripping the armrest of his wheelchair, her eyes red from crying.


    "I know Dad''s still on the mend, but you talking about calling off the engagement now? Aren''t you worried it''ll just make things worse for him?" Rosalind pleaded, a single tear trailing down her cheek.


    "Joshua''s tougher than that," Lysander replied, his voice as cold as ice.


    "But I''m not!" Rosalind eximed,


    her tears falling freely now. She


    clung to the wheelchair, her


    l.ne


    knuckles white from the strain. "Is it because you don''t find me attractive? Grandpa Zephyr and my dad, they both wanted this marriage for us. Marry me, and the Whitman Group is yours, you''d have everything you need to build your empire. Why call it off?" Content


    belongs to NovelDrama.Org


    Lysander nced over with a look that silenced rooms. ¡°I don''t need handouts to build my empire.¡±


    His voice, deep andmanding, left no room for argument. He was a man who didn''t rely on others to achieve his dreams.


    Rosalind, caught by his intense gaze,


    felt her heart race. It dawned on her how naive she had been, thinking the Whitman Group would be enough to sway Lysander. But he was a titan in his own right, someone who could make or breakpanies overnight. The realization made her retreat, both physically and emotionally. N?velDrama.Org owns all content.


    As she turned away, she caught sight of Thssa and Lydia standing at the entrance. Rosalind''s


    embarrassment at being seen in such a state fueled her anger, which she directed at Thssa with a chilly sneer, "Really, Thssa, here to freeload a meal again? And you brought a friend to mooch off us too? How low have you sunk?"


    Lydia, taken aback by Rosalind''s rudeness, stepped forward, ready to defend Thssa.

 Chapter 1617

    Chapter 1617


    Thssa caught her just in time, giving Lydia a look that screamed, "hold your horses."


    Just then, Lysander wheeled around, his gaze locking onto Thssa.


    Lydia, who had been blocking Thssa''s view, got a good look at the man before her. Her eyes widened, her expression turned solemn, and she snapped to attention, standing tall and straight like an oak tree, feet together, and saluted Lysander with military precision, announcing loud and clear, "Sir, yes, sir!"


    Thssa: ""N?velDrama.Org owns all ? content.


    ...


    This sudden shift in Lydia''s demeanor left Thssa gobsmacked. She flicked her gaze between Lysander and Lydia, bewildered. Lydia stood there, all seriousness and respect, even a tad nervous, saluting Lysander like she was in the presence of a general.


    Thssa blinked in confusion, wondering what on earth was going on.


    Why was Lydia addressing Lysander as if he were a high-ranking officer?


    Rosalind, who had been eyeing Thssa, was also caught off guard by this turn of events, her curiosity piqued.


    Lysander lifted his gaze, giving Lydia a brief once-over with his deep, soulful eyes, and said in a low tone, "We''re not on duty here, no need for salutes."


    "Understood, sir!" Lydia responded, lowering her hand but keeping her posture rigid and straight.


    Rosalind caught on, a smirk ying on her lips as she coolly remarked, "Leave it to me to bring along someone who knows how to butter up the boss."


    Rosalind was usually the epitome of grace and knowledge. But today, she was riled up by something Lysander had said.


    She hade to the Royal Estates, intending to look after Lysander as usual, but no sooner had she arrived than Lysander told her not to bother anymore. He was going to talk to Joshua and call off their engagement.


    The moment Rosalind heard


    I


    Lysander mention ending their engagement, panic set in. She pressed him for a reason, but all he


    said was that they weren''t suited for marriage.


    In her desperation, Rosalind yed the Whitman Group card, a move she woulde to regret as foolish.


    Seeing Thssa''s arrival, Rosalind directed all her frustration and irritation towards her.


    Jealousy clouded her judgment, making her unusually brash.


    To make such an irrationalment about Thssa, in Lysander''s presence, was clearly a dig.


    Thssa was about to retort when Lysander stepped in, his voice stern, "Rosalind, watch your words. Don''t be disrespectful to Thssa and her friend."


    Lysander''s reprimand left Rosalind stunned and even more aggrieved. Not only was he breaking off their engagement, but he was also taking Thssa''s side.


    This only fueled her already simmering emotions, making her feel even more agitated and breathless.


    But with Lysander there, she had no choice but to swallow her anger.


    Turning his attention back, Lysander noticed Lydia carrying a medical kit and brought the conversation back to the matter at hand, "So, what


    brings you here?" Content of


    ?wnovel


    Thssa nced at Lydia, expecting her to exin.


    to


    But Lydia, standing as rigid as ever in Lysander''s presence, seemed too nervous to even twitch, let alone speak.


    So, Thssa took it upon herself to exin.


    "Her name''s Lydia, my childhood


    buddy and the star pupil of Dr.


    Funke. Royal Estates called Dr. Funke for a consultation, but he was tied up so he sent his prot¨¦g¨¦ here to check on your legs," Thssa said.


    UMS


    "When did Royal Estates call Dr. Funke?" Lysander''s piercing gaze shifted to Fitch, standing nearby.

 Chapter 1618

    Chapter 1618


    Fitch, trembling under Lysander''s intimidating gaze, hurried forward to report, "Lysander, I honestly don''t know, I''ve never dealt with this before. But Ms. Everhart, she really cares about you. She just wants to see you back on your feet as soon as possible..."


    Thssa, shocked, chimed in, "I was right there when Dr. Funke got the call. Someone''s offered to pay for your treatment. I asked Dr. Funke what was needed..."


    Realizing she might have said too much, she abruptly stopped.


    But it was already toote. Lysander''s prating gaze turned towards her, making Thssa''s breath catch.


    Once words are out, you can''t take them back.


    Lysander looked at Thssa, her cautious demeanor causing him a pang of heartache.


    He had avoided joining Thssa for the visit to Dr. Funke''s clinic, fearing Dr. Funke might take advantage of her willingness to help.


    He didn''t want to put Thssa in a difficult position.


    But it seems he had anyway.


    "What did he ask for?" Lysander''s voice was low and tinged with care, a stark contrast to the difort he felt at the thought of Thssa being put in a tough spot.


    Standing to the side, Rosalind could clearly sense the gentle and tender concern Lysander had for Thssa, something she had never witnessed before.N?velDrama.Org owns all ? content.


    Her heart filled with envy, difort, and frustration.


    She had always known Lysander to be cold and distant, a man who seemed incapable of warmth.


    But, as it turned out, it wasn''t that he couldn''t show warmth; he just wouldn''t show it to her.


    To Thssa, he was as warm as a hot summer day, but to her, he was as cold as the midwinter ice. Feeling defeated and helpless, Rosalind could only watch.


    Thssa, Sensing Lysander''s imposing demeanor, quickly said "He didn''t ask for anything special. My aunt just mentioned it, and he agreed to send his assistant over to check on you."


    Thssa was being deliberately vague, not wanting to embarrass Lysander orplicate his rtionship with Dr. Funke any further.


    To satisfy Dr. Funke''s request, Thssa had even introduced her own aunt to Dr. Funke, making her his new girlfriend.


    Now that Astrid was officially with Dr. Funke, Thssa had some influence.


    Her request for Dr. Funke to send someone for a consultation was perfectly reasonable.


    Lysander trusted Thssa''s words, appreciating her good intentions and not wanting to let her down.


    He said to Lydia, "Don''t just stand there, let''s get this check-up started."


    Lysander was ready to cooperate.


    Lydia, snapping back to reality, felt awkward and nervous, clutching the strap of her medical bag tighter Facing Lysander, her nervousness escted, making her heartbeat race.


    Normally, she was confident and skilled in her practice, able to diagnose and treat with ease.


    But now, confronted with Lysander, her mind was a mess, and she didn''t know where to start.


    Hesitating, she said with a shaky breath, "I... I think I need to use the restroom first..."


    "I''ll show you where it is," Thssa quickly offered.


    Once they reached the restroom and the door or was closed behind them


    Qssa turned to Lydia, concern


    etched on her face. "What''s going on? You''re sweating bullets."

 Chapter 1619

    Chapter 1619


    Lydia clutched Thssa''s hand, her fingers trembling slightly with nerves as she whispered, "Was that guy really the father of your kids?" "Yeah, that''s Lysander," Thssa confirmed.


    "Oh my gosh, so he really is ourmander! I thought it was just a coincidence of names." Lydia gasped in shock.


    Her excitement mixed with anxiety, Lydia confessed, "When I was in the army, Lysander was our unit''smander, and I was one of his soldiers. After he was discharged, I never got the chance to see him again. And now, to think I''m about to treat him like ab rat..."


    That was her former boss, a devilishly tough training officer. How could she not be nervous about not only meeting him again but also having to administer injections to him?


    It made sense now why Lydia had saluted Lysander so formally upon seeing him; Thssa finally understood the reason behind Lydia''s unusual behavior earlier.


    Trying to offer somefort, Thssa said, "Try to rx, just think of him as any other guy."


    "But he''s not just any other guy, how can I possibly do that?" Lydia struggled to find her calm.


    "Listen," Thssa held Lydia''s hand tighter, trying to offer sce, "the person you''re treating now isn''t yourmander; it''s Lysander, the father of my children. Just think about helping me by treating my kids'' dad, and maybe that will help you rx."


    "Alright, I''ll give it a shot." Lydia took a deep breath, attempting to adjust her mindset.


    After spending a few moments collecting herself in the restroom, Lydia emerged with a resolved expression and a determined look in her eyes, ready to face whatever came next.


    Thssa quickly followed her out.


    Lysander was still waiting by the sofa, with Rosalind having taken a seat next to him, iming the spot beside Lysander for herself.


    Both of them watched as Lydia and Thssa approached.


    Lydia took a chair and ced it in front of Lysander, saying, "Commander, could you please extend your arm?"


    Lysander did as asked.


    Just as Lydia was about to check his pulse, her hand paused momentarily, overwhelmed by her past reverence and awe for Lysander, making her hesitant to touch him.


    Some people are ced on such a high pedestal in your heart that even the slightest touch can send your heart racing and your cheeks flushing. But the pausested only a second, and Lydia managed to grasp Lysander''s wrist to take his pulse.


    The moment of contact indeed made her heart flutter, but Lydia focused, steadying her breathing and her heartbeat, trying to calm herself down.Belonging to N?velDrama.Org.


    However, the more she tried to calm her nerves, the more erratic her breathing and heartbeat became, even affecting her ability to urately measure his pulse.


    To get a proper reading, Lydia''s hands kept exploring Lysander''s wrist, seeking the right spot.


    Rosalind, watching from the side, couldn''t help feeling uneasy at the sight of Lydia handling Lysander''s hand. She coldly remarked, "Is this supposed to be a medical examination? It looks more like you''re taking advantage of him.


    Seems like anyone can pretend to be


    a doctor these days." Content


    belongs to NovelDrama.Org


    Jealousy and irritation doubled in Rosalind''s heart as another woman seemed to be encroaching on Lysander''s attention.


    Lydia, feeling misunderstood and


    irked, shot Rosalind a sharp look Rosaling''s usation, however, inadvertently calmed Lydia down, helping her finally find Lysander''s pulse and focus on her task.


    "You''re putting on an act now?" Rosalind scoffed.


    "Don''t talk; you''ll distract the doctor and affect her judgment," Thssa had to interject, urging Rosalind to keep quiet.


    Lydia''s fumbling with Lysander''s


    wrist didn''t raise any suspicion for Thssa, she knew Lydia was just too nervous and struggling to find the pulse due to her immense respect for Lysander.


    "Others might be eyeing Lysander, but you act as if it''s nothing to you. You must not have any real feelings for Lysander," Rosalind snidelymented to Thssa.


    Lysander''s gaze lifted, meeting Thssa''s eyes.

 Chapter 1620

    Chapter 1620


    Thssa caught Lysander''s gaze, which was heavy with a mix of pressure and suspicion.


    Her heart fluttered uneasily under his scrutiny. Flustered, she said, "Lydia is just performing a routine check-up. It''s not really anyone''s ce to interfere. Too much meddling could cloud her judgment. Rosalind, I''d advise you to keep it down. You''re disrupting her concentration."


    Thssa dodged Rosalind''s probing with an answer that sidestepped the question of liking or disliking. After all, was there really any reason to be jealous when Lydia was simply examining Lysander?


    Upon hearing Thssa''s response, Lysander''s eyes dimmed with disappointment, and he averted his gaze, focusing intently on Lydia as she continued her examination.


    Rosalind watched Lysander''s reaction closely, a smug sense of triumph flickering through her.


    It seemed she had sessfully sown a seed of doubt in Lysander''s mind about Thssa.


    Seeing Lysander''s demeanor towards Thssa grow colder brought Rosalind a twisted sense of satisfaction.


    Meanwhile, Thssa breathed a sigh of relief, grateful that Rosalind hadn''t pressed further on her ufortable question. She honestly didn''t know how she would''ve responded.


    The room fell silent, allowing Lydia to focus on her task.


    After a couple of minutes, Lydia released Lysander''s hand, speaking with cautious precision, "Your overall health is excellent, but the fact that you''re having trouble standing might be rted to neural pressure in your brain. Dr. Funke mentioned acupuncture could aid in recovery."


    "Lydia, haven''t you been trained in this area? Why don''t you give Lysander the acupuncture treatment?" Thssa suggested.


    It was a show of confidence in Lydia and a hope that Lysander could be treated.


    Since Dr. Funke had declined to make house calls, sending Lydia in his stead, Thssa ced her trust in Lydia, believing in her capacity to treat Lysander based on Dr. Funke''s endorsement. Despite his entricities, Dr. Funke was a stickler for medical ethics; he wouldn''t have sent Lydia if he doubted her skills.


    So, Thssa trusted in Lydia''s medical expertise.


    "But I..." Lydia hesitated, her nerves frayed. She had never performed acupuncture on a real person before, and her first patient was to be the highly esteemed and somewhat intimidating Lysander.


    The pressure was immense, and she was hesitant to proceed.


    Rosalind, noticing Lydia''s hesitation, couldn''t help but smirk. "You''re not nning to use Lysander as a guinea pig for your first real attempt at acupuncture, are you?"


    Rosalind''s earlier annoyance with Lysander seemed to have dissipated somewhat, allowing her to address him by name again.


    Lydia''s breath hitched, annoyed and stressed by Rosalind''s antagonistic presence.


    Despite giving Rosalind a re, Lydia knew she couldn''t ignore the truth in her words nor hide it from Lysander.


    "Sir, she''s right. I''ve never performed


    acupuncture on a real person before. Until now, I''ve only practiced on models marked with acupoints. You''re my first patient, and I''m feeling quite apprehensive.


    "However, Dr. Funke has confidence in you, and so do I," Thssa interjected just as Lydia seemed ready to back out, ensuring both Lydia and Lysander were aware of her belief in Lydia''s capabilities.


    Lydia was Dr. Funke''s prot¨¦g¨¦, personally trained in the art and science of medicine by him. He taught her the essence of his craft, sparing no detail.


    Moreover, Lydia''s diligence and


    discipline were unmatched; she was


    at Dr. Funke''s clinic from dawn till


    late evening, absorbing twice as


    much as an ordinary student i


    single day. With a natural aptitude for medicine and an exceptional understanding, three months of training under Dr. Funke Was equivalent to years for someone


    else.


    Lydia bit her lip, understanding Thssa''s anxieties. She wanted Lysander to recover swiftly, for he was the father of her children.


    Confronted with Thssa''s resolute and clear gaze, Lydia''s wavering resolve solidified.N?velDrama.Org owns all ? content.

 Chapter 1621

    Chapter 1621


    Thssa had so much faith in her, and Lydia knew she needed to muster up some of that confidence in herself too.


    Taking a deep breath, Lydia looked Lysander squarely in the eyes and said, "If you''re willing to put your trust in me, I''m confident I can hit every single point with precision!"


    "Being precise doesn''t necessarily mean you can cure him," Rosalind interjected, aiming to undercut Lydia''s confidence.


    "No doctor can guarantee a hundred percent cure rate to their patients," Lydia responded firmly. "All we can do is give it our all..."


    "So, after all is said and done, you''re just using Lysander as your guinea pig. My Lysander is too noble to be treated like ab rat!"


    "Rosalind, give it a rest," Lysander remarked, his gaze stern as he nced at Rosalind, a subtle reprimand in his eyes.


    Rosalind felt a lump form in her throat, overwhelmed by a sense of injustice. She was only trying to look out for Lysander, and yet, he was reprimanding her! Couldn''t he see how much she cared for him?


    With a huff, Rosalind turned her back, refusing to look at Lysander, sulking silently.


    Thssa watched anxiously, unsure of what Lysander''s decision would be. She hoped he would agree to Lydia''s treatment, especially since Dr. Funke waspletely off the grid, engrossed in researching her aunt''s illness. If he wasn''t willing, no one could persuade him otherwise. Just as Thssa''s anxiety was reaching its peak, Lysander''s voice, deep and maic, broke the silence, "Begin."


    Lydia paused, taken aback by surprise and then, overwhelmed with joy. Lysander was willing to let her proceed! His willingness meant he trusted her! Earning the trust of someone she greatly admired filled Lydia with both excitement and happiness, more thrilling than winning a million-dor lottery. "Alright!" Lydia nodded vigorously.


    As she reached for the acupuncture needles, she nced at Thssa, noticing her tense expression melting away into relief.


    Lydia pulled out the needles,


    positioning herself behind Lysander, searching his head for the precise points to insert them. Just as she was about to proceed, a sudden over


    her Despite several attempts, she couldn''t bring herself to insert the needle. Belonging to N?velDrama.Org.


    wave of nervousness wa Met


    Even though Lysander had agreed to her treatment, the thought of him being such a respected and stern leader weighed heavily on her.


    "Hesitation now? Want to end up runningps with weights?" Lysander''s authoritative voice rang out.


    "Sir, I apologize!" Lydia immediately snapped to attention, setting aside her doubts to focus solely on the task at hand, following the procedure she had learned.


    The needle that had been hesitating


    in her hand now found its mark on Lysander''s head with precision and speed. There was no hesitation; the needle''s cement was perfect, not a millimeter off.


    It was as if she was holding a firearm at a shooting range, initially hesitant to shoot. But at the


    commander''s order, she focused


    intently, squeezed the trigger and hit the bullseye with no deviation.


    The sess of the first needle bolstered Lydia''s confidence. One by one, she inserted the remaining needles into all the necessary points. Standing by, Thssa watched Lydia''s fluid and urate movements, a smile of satisfaction spreading across her lips. She knew Lydia would do just fine.


    After finishing with the head, Lydia moved to Lysander''s legs, inserting needles to stimte the points and bring sensation back to his legs.


    Just as she was about to insert a needle into a critical point, someone burst in, announcing, "Mr. Sinir, we''ve dispatched a team to apprehend Dr. Funke at his clinic!"


    At the mention of Dr. Funke''s name, Lydia''s steady hand twitched, causing the needle to slip slightly.


    "Mhm!" A muffled grunt escaped Lysander''s throat.

 Chapter 1622

    Chapter 1622


    "Lysander!" Thssa''s voice was tight with worry, echoing through the room.


    Lydia realized she had made a slight mistake, the acupuncture needle had veered off course. With a shock, she quickly withdrew it, rushing to check on Lysander. "Chief, how do you feel?"


    Anxiety and concern filled Lydia''s eyes, alongside a palpable dread. Her hand had slipped, causing the needle to miss its mark. Lysander must be in pain, but pain was the least of her worries. The real fear was that this mistake might worsen his condition.


    Lysander''s furrowed brow rxed slightly, his voice rough with the sting of pain, "I''m okay."


    "Mr. Sinir!" David hurried over, his face a portrait of concern. Seeing Lysander with acupuncture needles sticking out of his head and several in his leg, he realized there had been a mishap while Lydia was treating him at the moment he had walked in to report.


    David med himself, hanging his head in apology, "Mr. Sinir, I''m sorry, I didn''t know you were in the middle of treatment."


    Lysander steadied his breath, his gaze sharp on David, "What did you say just now?"


    "I said I''m sorry."


    "The sentence before that." Lysander was stern.


    David got the message, repeating the report he had made upon entering, "Now, the bodyguards are probably already at Dr. Brown''s clinic..."


    Thssa was shocked, about to speak, when Lysander cut her off with a cold voice, addressing David, "David, since when do you take matters into your own hands? Who taught you that habit?"


    David could see Lysander was angry. He had called Dr. Brown, offering to pay him for treating Lysander, and even sent bodyguards to forcibly bring Dr. Brown, all out of his own initiative. He was just trying to help Lysander.


    When they visited the Star Harbor


    Vi, David saw Lysander''s


    frustration at his inability to stand,


    his anger vented on his own legs et


    David saw how much Lysander


    wanted to stand and walk like a with


    normal person again, to bea Thssa without worries, to return to the Sinir Group as its CEO.


    Being by Lysander''s side for so many years, David''s primary task had always been to solve problems


    for him. Now, faced with such a n¨¦


    significant challenge, David''s


    el


    immediate reaction was to step up and solve the problem for Lysander.


    Since Thssa said Dr. Brown''s assistance woulde with conditions, and Lysander was reluctant to put Thssa in a


    difficult position, David took it


    himself to persuade Dr. Brown,


    upon


    resorting to force if money didn''t work! But he hadn''t anticipated


    upsetting Lysander. Content belongs


    to NovelDrama.Org


    David nodded, admitting his mistake with trepidation, "Mr. Sinir, it was my initiative. I just wanted to see you recover soon, I was too hasty."


    "Call the bodyguards back now!" Lysander ordered sternly.Belonging to N?velDrama.Org.


    David didn''t dare disobey, promptly executing themand, "Right away!"


    Pulling out his phone, he dialed the bodyguards. "What?" Hearing the response, David was startled and couldn''t hide it. Covering the mouthpiece, he ryed to Lysander, "They''re almost at Royal Estates."


    Lysander''s handsome face darkened, his eyes sharply fixed on David. David, visibly frightened and stammering, said, "Mr. Sinir, I''ll personally apologize to Dr. Brown..."

 Chapter 1623

    Chapter 1623


    Just as they were talking, the bodyguard ushered Dr. Funke into the room.


    Dr. Funke was still in hisb coat, having been hauled over before he could even change. Yet, instead of showing any signs of resentment for being dragged in, he wore a mocking smile as he walked into the room.


    "Master," Lydia called out nervously, holding a set of acupuncture needles in her hands.


    Seeing Dr. Funke, Thssa greeted him with a guilty and apologetic tone, "Dr. Funke."


    "I see the cement on the head isn''t bad, but what about the leg here? Why are we missing a needle?" Dr. Funke approached Lysander, inspecting the needles ced in him, and began giving Lydia an impromptu lesson.


    Embarrassed, Lydia admitted, "I misced one."


    "The most crucial needle in the leg and you misced it? You''ve never made such a rookie mistake during practice. What, not used to working on a real person?" Dr. Funke quizzed.


    David was taken aback. What was Dr. Funke saying?


    His apprentice was using their esteemed Lysander for practice?


    Their prestigious Mr. Sinir, treated as a test subject? Could Mr. Sinir tolerate this?


    Shocked, David feared for Lydia''s future.


    Daring to use Lysander as a test subject, was she out of her mind?


    As surprised as David was, he couldn''t help but nce at Lysander, noticing his face darken like an ink spill, clearly upset.


    Lydia, good luck to you.


    Hearing Dr. Funke openly refer to Lysander as a test subject sent


    chills down Lydia''s spine. She


    nced at Lysander worriedly andet


    quickly replied, "Master, I would''ve been urate if not for his intrusion that startled me, causing the needle to veer off course..."


    Lydia indicated David.


    David immediately stiffened up, apologizing, "Dr. Funke, my apologies. It was my ignorance, not recognizing your esteemed name or your apprentice. It was foolish of me to summon you in such a manner. If you''re upset, feel free to punish me; I won''tin."


    Dr. Funke merely nced at David


    briefly, paying him little mind, and


    took the needle from Lydia.


    Squatting down, he began a


    hands-on lesson, "See, there''s a difference between a human and a mannequin in ab. Humans can move at any time, whereasExclusive ? material by N?(/v)elDrama.Org.


    mannequins do not. So, when you''re


    needling a person, you need to


    stabilize the area with one hand,


    ensuring swift, precise, and forceful insertion to guarantee sess."


    As he exined, Dr. Funke inserted the needle into a point on Lysander''s leg.


    As the needle prated, Lysander couldn''t help but let out a muffled groan of pain.


    "Lysander!" Thssa called out in rm, her heart leaping into her throat again.


    She stepped forward, but Dr. Funke and Lydia were by Lysander''s side, blocking her approach. Besides, they were treating Lysander, and she didn''t want to intrude.


    Hearing his pained groan, her anxiety and tension soared.


    "See, just like that. Now, try the other leg for me," Dr. Funke said, unaffected by the surroundings and continuing his instruction to Lydia.


    Lydia, sweating bullets, quickly nodded, "Yes, Master."


    Usually, no one felt pain when Dr. Funke applied needles.


    But this time, Lysander''s reaction was clearly more painful than when Lydia had made her mistake.


    Lydia couldn''t help but wonder, was Dr. Funke doing this on purpose?


    "Dr. Funke, David has already apologized. It was his idea to have you brought here by the bodyguard, and it has nothing to do with Lysander. You don''t need to take it out on him, making Lysander-suffer like this," Rosalind couldn''t stand it anymore and confronted Dr. Funke, visibly upset.

 Chapter 1624

    Chapter 1624


    Lydia could tell that Dr. Funke was letting personal grievances interfere with his professional duties, but she dared not voice it aloud. Hearing Rosalind''s blunt critique, Lydia couldn''t help but admire her. Ms. Whitman sure didn''t mince her words, speaking her mind without reservation. Thssa clenched her fists, furious yet powerless to speak. She couldn''t bear to see Lysander in pain, but Dr. Funke had indeed given him the treatment. If she spoke out and Dr. Funke decided to retaliate by refusing to treat Lysander or preventing Lydia from administering the treatment, what then? So, even though her heart ached for Lysander, she prioritized the bigger picture.


    "If you think my medical skills arecking, feel free to have your security escort me out. Otherwise, quit questioning my technique!" Dr. Funke retorted with a scornful smile to Rosalind.


    "I..."


    "Rosalind, it''s gettingte. You should visit your father in the hospital!" Lysander interjected, effectively telling Rosalind to leave. His tone left no room for argument.


    Rosalind understood Lysander was subtly pushing her away, thinking she was causing a scene. Her mood, just beginning to recover, plummeted once again. She took a few deep breaths to calm her frustration before turning to leave.


    David, ever observant, noticed Lysander''s displeasure and realized his presence was only exacerbating Dr. Funke''s irritation, especially since Dr. Funke''s remark was a dig at him. He had thought Lysander would be furious at being treated like a guinea pig, but to his surprise, Lysander calmly epted their care. Clearly, he had misjudged the situation.


    With respect, he said, "Mr. Sinir, Dr. Funke, Ms. Everhart, if there''s nothing else, I''ll take my leave."


    "Go ahead," Lysander allowed.


    With Lysander''s permission, David bowed his head and exited Royal Estates.


    After the briefmotion, Lydia,


    now more focused under Dr. Funke''s


    supervision, meticulously


    administered another treatment to


    §Ö


    Lysander, following the technique Dr. Funke had just shown her. Before Dr. Funke''s arrival, Lydia had always felt a bit nervous about


    treating Lysander. But noExclusive ? material by N?(/v)elDrama.Org.


    with Dr.


    Funke teaching her firsthand, her confidence grew. This time, her technique was precise, without a single mistake.


    Yet, when she administered thest treatment, Lysander still grimaced in pain, his leg trembling slightly. What went wrong? She was sure she had done everything right, gently even. Why did it still hurt Lysander?


    Lydia looked puzzledly at Dr. Funke. Dr. Funke, however, praised her, "This time, you did it perfectly. Well done."


    Then it dawned on Lydia. The pain


    wasn''t due to any mistake on her part but was inherent to the area being targeted. In other words, Dr Funke had been administering` proper care to Lysander all along, without any malice.


    Lydia smiled in relief, "It''s all thanks to your teaching, master."


    Thssa, who had been anxiously listening to Lysander''s pained cries, finally approached him as the session ended, bending over with concern, "Lysander, how are you feeling now?"


    Seeing the sweat beading on his forehead, Thssa''s heart ached with him. Lysander was known for his high tolerance to pain. If it was so bad that he couldn''t help but vocalize it, it must have been excruciating.


    With heavy breaths and weary eyes, Lysander managed to say, "I won''t die."

 Chapter 1625

    Chapter 1625


    Here is the revised trantion for better uracy and cultural adaptation:


    His response was tinged with detachment, making Thssa''s heart ache and quiver with difort. Lysander was distancing himself from her; she could feel it. But why?


    Just a while ago at Star Harbor Vi, he was so gentle with her, even shared a passionate kiss. Was it because she hadn''t answered his question? Or was it something Rosalind said, suggesting she didn''t like him, and he took it to heart? She hadn''t expected Lysander to be so sensitive.


    It was just a question she hadn''t answered. And honestly, she didn''t know how to answer it. She felt she had no right to love Lysander. She was carrying the burden of a life lost a debt she owed to Leopold Sinir forever. Leopold had sacrificed himself to grant her freedom, fulfilling hisst wish.


    Now that she finally had her freedom, what right did she have to return to Lysander? To even entertain the thought of liking him seemed like a betrayal to Leopold''s memory. So she couldn''t respond to Lysander''s question.


    Thssa straightened up, her eyes downcast, hiding all her heavy thoughts and emotions, remaining silent.


    Minutester, under Dr. Funke''s guidance, Lydia removed all the acupuncture needles. Dr. Funke exined to Lydia, "The fact that he felt pain in his legs during the session is a good sign. If there was no sensation at all, it would likely mean a lifetime in a wheelchair, rendering the acupuncture useless. Remember the level of his pain and document it every time. This way, we have something topare."


    Thssa realized then that feeling pain was actually a positive sign. Lydia quickly noted down Dr. Funke''s words, grateful she hadn''t doubted him. It could have hurt the doctor''s feelings, and she wouldn''t want that. Despite his quirks, Dr. Funke was not petty. His medical skills were exceptional, and he never showed bias against his patients.


    Lydia''s respect for Dr. Funke grew even more.


    David drove away from the Royal Estates,ing to a stop when he saw a red car parked by the roadside. Rosalind was there, angrily kicking stones, looking sullen.


    David parked nearby and approached her, asking concernedly, "Ms. Whitman, is there a problem with your car? Can I give you a lift?"


    Rosalind turned, letting out a sigh, and continued to kick the stones in frustration "I care so much for Lysander, but he just doesn''t see it. Thssa doesn''t think of him at all, yet he''s so good to her. How am I not better than her?"


    As someone who had witnessed the ups and downs of Lysander and Thssa''s rtionship, David knew Rosalind was destined for


    heartbreak. He consoled her, "Ms:" Whitman, you''re uniquely beautiful and intelligent, iparable really. You''re you, and there''s no need topare with anyone else."


    Rosalind turned to him, hope lighting up her eyes. "Really? You think I''m prettier than Thssa?"N?velDrama.Org owns all ? content.


    David was about to rify his point, but seeing the spark in her eyes, he couldn''t bring himself to disappoint her and nodded. Rosalind smiled brightly, her mood lifting instantly knew it, I''m way prettier than Thssa. Thank you, David. You''re a good person, truly looking out for Lysander. And bringing Dr. Funke here was a brilliant move. If gentle persuasion doesn''t work, sometimes you have to be firm!"


    With that, Rosalind got into her car, ready to leave, and told David, "I''m heading off now, bye."


    As she tried to start the car, it wouldn''t turn over. Seeing David getting into his car to leave, she called out in a panic, "David, wait! You jinxed it; now you have to drive me back!"


    The revised text maintains the original plot and character rtionships while ensuring cultural and linguistic fluency for an English-speaking audience.

 Chapter 1626

    Chapter 1626


    David had just fired up the engine when he heard Rosalind''s words. He promptly hit the brakes and stuck his head out the window. "Hop in!" he called out to her.


    Rosalind pushed open the passenger door and climbed into David''s car, settling into the front seat.


    "My car was totally fine until you mentioned it might be broken. And then, just like that, it actually broke down. How do you exin your uncanny uracy?" Rosalindined, a hint of frustration in her tone.


    David, slightly embarrassed, grinned. "Just a coincidence."


    "That''s one heck of a coincidence. Working so closely with Lysander, I bet these ''coincidences'' happen more than just asionally. No wonder Lysander trusts you so much," Rosalind said, a yful smile dancing on her lips.N?velDrama.Org owns all content.


    David tightly gripped the steering wheel, sparing her a nce before asking, ¡°You really like Mr. Sinir, huh?"


    "Of course, I''ve had a crush on him since my teenage years. It''s just a shame that back then, he only had eyes for my sister and couldn''t see me at all," Rosalind affirmed.


    Her eyes sparkled differently at the mention of Lysander, filled with longing and admiration.


    David nodded silently, wanting to advise her to give up. Her fondness for Lysander was bound to be a journey of disappointment. It would be better to let go sooner rather thanter to avoid unnecessary heartache.


    But he didn''t quite know how to break it to her.


    "Just spit it out, no need to beat around the bush," Rosalind noticed David''s hesitation and encouraged him to speak frankly.


    "I don''t want to upset you," David cautioned.


    Rosalind paused, considering that whatever David was about to say could potentially anger her. She wasn''t in the best of moods to begin with, and hearing something upsetting could only make things worse.


    She was about to suggest he keep it to himself, but her curiosity got the better of her. She really wanted to know what he thought could provoke her anger.


    "Go ahead, I promise I won''t get mad," Rosalind finally said, driven by her curiosity.


    "Mr. Sinir and Thssa have four


    kids together. They are deeply


    .ne


    devoted to each other, and it''s really hard for anyone else to get in between them. I think you might be better off setting your sights on someone new," David sincerely advised.


    His heart went out to Rosalind for chasing after Lysander with no sess. He felt a pang of sympathy for her and decided to share his genuine thoughts.


    Rosalind''s expression instantly


    hardened, her voice dropping as she angrily retorted, "David, I was just being posite with my earlier praises. You don''t need to forget your ce and tell me what to do! Whether I should give up on Lysander or not is none of your business!" Content


    belongs to NovelDrama.Org


    After finishing her sentence, Rosalind leaned back against her seat, staring straight ahead, visibly upset.


    Although she had promised not to get angry, David''s words struck a nerve. She would have lost her temper with anyone else, but since it was David, she tried her best to control her frustration, having promised to keep her cool.


    David, sensing Rosalind''s anger and frustration, gripped the steering wheel tighter, choosing to remain silent.


    He knew all too well about


    Rosalind''s stubborn affection for


    Lysander and understood her


    unwavering feelings. Having been by


    Lysander''s side for years, David had seen many women obsess over Lysander, only to end up


    heartbroken. They wasted their


    youth and ended up worse off.


    Former secretary Faye Brennan was a prime example, still locked up in prison to this day.


    Then there was Charlotte Ravensong, who had her family arrange an engagement with Lysander. Fortunately, she backed off in time without wasting too much of her life or ending up in a dire situation.


    David''s advice stemmed from a fear of seeing Rosalind follow in Faye''s footsteps.

 Chapter 1627

    Chapter 1627


    Since persuasion was futile, he had no choice but to let go.


    As dusk fell, the streets of Starhaven came alive, bathed in the glow of neon lights and the buzz of activity.


    Thssa and Hertha found themselves at a bustling street food stall, indulging in a feast of grilled delights, apanied by chilled beers.


    In her usual bold fashion, Hertha popped the beer bottle open with her teeth and filled Thssa''s ss to the brim. "Thssa, I''m in a foul mood today, and you have to join me for a drink," she dered.


    Thssa didn''t stop her from pouring the drink, saying, "I''m with you tonight, all the way."


    Hertha looked up, surprised, and thenughed. "Really? After three years of sobriety, you''re finally going to drink with me?"


    "Yes, it''s been three years. Time flies. I wonder how Atticus, Dorian, Elowen, and Sophia are doing at their boarding school." Since Zephyr had taken Thssa''s children from the hospital, she hadn''t seen them.


    Over these years, she had been devoted to taking care of Lysander, maintaining a clear head to ensure she made no mistakes. Now that Lysander was better and no longer needed her constant care, she felt free to live as she wished.


    Each evening, Thssa found herself missing her children, wondering if they were alright.


    "Your kids are geniuses and incredibly adaptable. Don''t worry; they''ll be fine," Hertha said, trying tofort Thssa.


    "Let''s drink to our tragic love lives," Hertha proposed, raising her ss.


    Thssa raised hers in return, and they both downed their beers, lost in their thoughts.


    Hertha poured another round, her


    voice tinged with mncholy. "Did you know, ric tried to reconnect


    hel


    with me a few days ago? He said left the Falconer family to work at Ethan Crawley''spany, all to stand up to the Falconer family and to cancel his arranged marriage with Georgia Whitman. He told me he could never marry Georgia and asked if I could be with him..."


    When ric had said those words, Hertha hadshed out at him. It was a defense mechanism, to hide her turmoil and to stayposed.Exclusive ? material by N?(/v)elDrama.Org.


    But she knew her heart had raced at his words, her emotions in turmoil.


    She was a hopeless romantic, and without constant reminders to keep her feelings in check, she might have impulsively agreed to ric''s


    proposal.


    Just like three years ago, she had agreed to meet ric''s family without a second thought, losing herself to him.


    "What do you think?" Thssa asked.


    "What can I think? I wanted to say yes in the moment, to ric of all people ¨C so dangerously handsome and alluring. But I couldn''t get past seeing him with Georgia, nor could I risk exposing Julian and Helena," Hertha sighed.


    It was a shame, really. She could have had a passionate love affair with a man like ric, but reality and its constraints held her back. Reality always came with too many considerations, too many restrictions, sucking the joy out of life.


    She could feel her hormones screaming for ric, but her reason forced her to keep her desires at bay.


    As Thssa took another sip, she shared her own troubles: "Lysander confessed his feelings to me." "What!" Hertha nearly dropped her beer bottle in shock.

 Chapter 1628

    Chapter 1628


    Hertha''s eyes widened in disbelief, her hand fumbling to catch the wine bottle slipping through her fingers. She ced it on the table, took a gulp of cold water, and leaned closer to Thssa with an expression of sheer astonishment, as if she had just discovered a new continent. "Wait, what did you just say? Lysander confessed his feelings to you?"


    She dug her finger into her ear, as though clearing it out: "Did I hear that right?"


    Thssa, sipping from her wine ss once again, nodded, "You heard it right."


    "Holy cow, what did he say? Did he go all, ''I love you''?" Hertha asked, curiosity getting the better of her.


    Thinking of Lysander''s aloof and detached demeanor, as if he regarded everyone and everything with a chill as cold as ice, and his strikingly handsome face that could make the gods jealous. And there he was, in his lofty pride, standing at the apex of society.


    The very idea that a man so unique in the world had told Thssa "I love you"!


    Hertha felt a rush of excitement on Thssa''s behalf. If it had been her, she probably would''ve been so thrilled she''d freeze up, her heart racing, maybe even faint on the spot.


    It was the kind of scenario every woman dreamed of but hardly ever experienced.


    And yet, this incredible stroke of luck had happened to her best friend, Thssa. How could she not be thrilled?


    Thssa caught Hertha''s gaze, her eyes wide as saucers, glittering with curiosity and not wanting to miss a single detail.


    Thssa couldn''t help butugh. Was Hertha overreacting?


    "He didn''t say ''I love you,'' but the message was clear-he likes me, wants to be with me."


    "He wants to be with you? What did you say?" Hertha was shocked again. For someone like Lysander to express a desire to be with someone was


    rare.


    But he had said it to Thssa, which meant something significant. It was shocking proof that Lysander was serious about Thssa.


    Thssa admitted, "I was so stunned, I couldn''t even respond."


    Hertha nodded understandingly,


    get


    "Makes sense. After all, being around Lysander with his overwhelming presence, it takes lot of courage just to breathe, let alone respond to such heart-stirring words. I remember freezing up when ric confessed to me, too."


    Suddenly, Hertha paused, a thought striking her, Wait a minute, didn''t Lysander initially push you away? And he even said he intended to be with Rosalind, considering you a thor in her side. How did things change so quickly?"


    Hertha had been fuming when Thssa first shared those bits, mentally cursing Lysander up and down.


    And now, she was all ears for Thssa''s update.N?velDrama.Org owns all ? content.


    Thssa put her wine ss down, ready to rify things for Hertha.


    It turned out to be a


    misunderstanding orchestrated by Zephyr in Lysander''s name. Lysander had been clueless about it. Moreover, his supposed rejection was a ruse to save her from Susan''s clutches, not a wish for her demise.


    Hertha''s eyes lit up with realization, "So that''s what happened. It sounds like Lysander did have you in his heart after all."


    "And the kicker," Thssa continued, her mood dipping, "he even asked me if I loved him."

 Chapter 1629

    Chapter 1629


    Gazing at the amber hue of her whiskey, Thssa seemed lost in thought.


    "Of course, he poured his heart out to you, so what did you feel? How did you respond?" Hertha, anxious and eager for details, pressed Thssa for her reaction to Lysander''s confession. This was crucial; it could define the trajectory of their future rtionship.


    Thssa and Lysander had been entangled in aplicated dance for three years, a dance that had produced four beautiful children. If they could make it work, it would be nothing short of perfect. But the ball was in Thssa''s court now.


    Hertha made it clear that no matter Thssa''s decision, she had her unwavering support.


    Exhaling deeply, Thssa''s voice was tinged with mncholy, "I dodged the question. I didn''t answer him."


    She had evaded the question then, and even when Rosalind had teased her about her feelings for Lysander, she hadn''t confronted her true emotions head-on.


    "The million-dor question, then," Hertha leaned in, "Is he just the father of your kids to you, or is there something more? Do you have romantic feelings for him?"


    That was the question Lysander probably wanted the answer to as well. After all, beyond responsibility, love was the cornerstone of any rtionship. Without it, life seemed bleak and uninspiring.


    Clutching her ss tighter, Thssa felt her heart heavy, as if it were soaked in saltwater, both aching and burning. She struggled to breathe, her gaze lifting to meet Hertha''s, "K think...do love him. It pains me to see him hurt, and I get this sour feeling in my stomach seeing him with another woman, even angry. But then I remember his


    ruthlessness, the way he can be so cold, and it makes me want to push him away, unable to let go of his past actions."


    "That''s love, honey, no doubt about it," Hertha reassured her, refilling her ss. "The emotions that spring up without your control, that''s love. The feelings you rationalize, those are just the harsh realities of life talking."


    Taking a sip, Hertha shared her own truth, "Like me, if I followed my heart, I''d be inseparable from ric, maybe even keep him tied to my bed, catering to my every whim." Her confession was raw, a testament to the trust between them.


    Thssa''s cheeks zed with embarrassment, casting nervous nces around, "Keep it down, will you... We''re in public."


    Realizing her volume, HerthaN?velDrama.Org owns all content.


    lowered her voice, continuing, "But logic reigns in my desires. I can''t get past catching ric with Georgia and I worry about the kids finding out. So, I keep my distance. When he confessed, I turned him down,shing out instead."


    "And you, Thssa, it''s the same. Your jealousy over Lysander''s interactions with other women proves you have feelings for him. Your hesitation is due to your worries, the harsh realities of life weighing on you. I know you can''t move past your mother''s death, believing Lysander yed a part, nor can you forgive yourself for Leopold''s death. You think you''re responsible, that you don''t deserve love, especially not with Lysander, Leopold''s brother. So, you avoid dealing with Lysander''s feelings."


    Hertha''s words struck a chord, reaching deep into Thssa''s heart. Indeed, no one understood her better than Hertha.


    Such is the bond of true friendship.

 Chapter 1630

    Chapter 1630


    Thssa lifted her ss, toasting to Hertha with a warm smile, "No one understands me like you do, Hertha. Here''s to our friendship that never fades."


    "To evesting friendship!" Hertha responded with a heartyugh, clinking her ss against Thssa''s before downing her drink in one go. Unbeknownst to them, a rugged man at the next table had been watching them closely all this while.


    Impressed by their gusto, the burly man approached them with his drink in hand. His voice was gruff as he said, "Ladies, I must say, I admire your spirit. Let me buy you both a drink."


    Turning around, Thssa and Hertha were met with the sight of a towering figure, broad and sturdy, his upper body bare and revealing a tapestry of tattoos across his flesh. Among the intricate designs, a fearsome dragon tattoo wrapped around his beefy arm stood out, its head perched on his shoulder while its tail slithered down to his wrist. His appearance was intimidating, with a bushy beard framing his face and his brawny arms signaling strength and perhaps trouble.N?velDrama.Org owns all ? content.


    Sensing his domineering presence, Thssa and Hertha dared not offend him, worried that causing a scene might bring unwanted trouble their way.


    After a quick, knowing nce at each other, both decided it was best to avoid making a scene.


    To avoid any confrontation, Hertha forced augh and poured half a ss of wine for herself and Thssa, offering a polite toast, "Thanks for the offer, sir. We appreciate it."


    They raised their sses to him and quickly sipped their drinks, hoping this gesture would encourage him to leave. However, the man stayed put, showing no signs of leaving.


    He pulled out his phone, his eyes flitting between Thssa and Hertha with a predatory gleam as he cheekily suggested, "You know, I''m quite the amodating guy, especially if I''m tied up in bed. I follow orders without any fuss. How about it,dies? Fancy adding me on WhatsApp? I''m at your beck and call."


    Hearing this, Thssa and Hertha were struck by a cold fear, their eyes meeting in a moment of panic.


    Oh no, Hertha thought, regretting her earlier casual manner which might have led this brute to misinterpret their friendliness.


    What now?


    Thssa was nervous.


    Rejecting him outright might provoke him into making a scene or worse, and they were no match for his brute strength.


    But adding him on WhatsApp? That was an even more unpleasant thought.


    Hertha, usually bold and outspoken, felt a traditional restraint at this moment. Faced with a thug-like brute, she couldn''t muster the courage to stand her ground.


    Her heart pounded as she


    reluctantly took out her phone, about


    to scan his code, when suddenly, a hand appeared out of nowhere,


    snatching the man''s phone,


    effectively blocking the QR code.


    Hertha and Thssa looked up in surprise.


    Standing before them was a man in a pink dress shirt and beige chinos, his lithe frame exuding an easy elegance. His features were striking, with narrow, fox-like eyes that seemed to draw people in.


    It was ric!


    ric had arrived!


    e


    The sight of ric instantly eased the tension Hertha had been feeling, her fear and anxiety melting away. For the first time, she felt a profound sense of safety in ric''s presence.

 Chapter 1631

    Chapter 1631


    ric slung his arm around the burly guy''s shoulder, his voice dropping to a delicate whisper, "Hey, these twodies are like sisters to me, we''re super tight. Why don''t you hit them up on WhatsApp? Better yet, add me first. I''ve got a thing for rugged, masculine guys like you. Plus, I''m really into spicing things up in the bedroom, if you know what I mean. Add me, and I''ll make sure they add you..."


    ric, with his devilishly charming looks and a body that could easily make both men and women do a double-take, was dressed in a pink shirt that only amplified his allure. His physique was lean and more stunning than that of most women. The way he modted his voice was a performance in itself, perfectly capturing the essence of mboyance.


    Watching ric''s antics and hearing his words left Hertha in utter shock, her eyes wide and mouth agape, nearly choking on her own spit.


    "Holy smokes, does ric even realize what he''s saying?"


    "When he gets all dolled up like that, no woman stands a chance. Who can rte?"


    Hertha''s heart was racing, nearly leaping out of her throat. Thssa was equally stunned, witnessing a side of ric they were totally unprepared for.


    The burly guy, realizing ric was a man, nched, taking several steps back, "Bro, uh, I mean, sis, let''s keep it normal, yeah? You and your ''sisters'' enjoy your drinks. I''ll head back to my table."


    With that, the burly guy beat a hasty retreat, wiping the sweat off his forehead. He was a straight shooter, through and through. The idea of being hit on by another man was too much for him.


    "Too close a call," he thought, shaken.


    Once the burly guy was gone, ric''s facade dropped, and he turned to Thssa and Hertha, "Still drinking?"


    Clearly upset, ric''s mood shift didn''t go unnoticed by Hertha and Thssa, who were also rattled by the earlier encounter. Standing up, Thssa dered, "No more drinks, let''s head home."


    Hertha quickly gathered her things, nodding in agreement, "Yeah, no more, let''s go home."


    ric shot them a look and started walking towards his car, with Hertha and Thssa following sheepishly. They had all been drinking and couldn''t drive, leaving ric to take them home.


    S


    In the car, ric finally addressed the elephant in the room, "Hertha, what were you imagining about me back there?"


    It had to be Hertha''s doing; the burly


    guy''sments were too on the


    nose. Hertha knew all too well the


    extent of


    r own bluntness; there


    was nothing she wouldn''t say. Flushing with embarrassment, she realized admitting to it would expose her feelings for ric. And her pride wouldn''t allow it.


    Defiantly, she retorted, "Don''t tter yourself. I wasn''t imagining anything about you."


    "Bound to the bed, at your beck and call, fulfilling your fantasies. You think someone would make that up?" ric fumed.


    Caught out, Hertha knew she''d been too loud, letting private musings be public knowledge.


    "I was talking about someone else. Don''t you know I''ve got a new crush?" she blurted out.N?velDrama.Org owns all ? content.


    ric mmed on the brakes, his frustration palpable, "Hertha!"

 Chapter 1632

    Chapter 1632


    ric was fuming, his heart a tinderbox ignited at the thought of Hertha fancying someone else, dreaming of having her way with another man in bed. It was like a firecracker had been set off in ric''s chest, ring his temper instantly. How could she fancy someone else, fantasizing about being with another man in bed?


    ric mmed the brakes, his gaze shooting daggers at Hertha. Hertha, jolted forward by his sudden stop, nearly hit her forehead against the back of the passenger seat. She quickly steadied herself, barely avoiding injury. Shaken, her first concern was for Thssa, "Thssa, are you alright?" Thssa, clinging to the back of the driver''s seat, shook her head, "I''m fine."


    Hertha, irritated, red at ric, "Are you crazy, mming the brakes like that? What if you had given me another concussion? I''m still not over thest one!"


    ric, already seething, felt his anger dete a bit at her retort. His impulsive braking, he realized, had been reckless. Swallowing his pride, he mumbled an apology, "Sorry, it won''t happen again."


    "Is there going to be a next time? We''re not riding with you anymore!" Hertha huffed, turning her gaze away in a mix of anger and pride.


    ric,ing back to his senses, restarted the car, knowing Hertha was upset. He didn''t press her further on the topic. But the thought of her liking someone else, fantasizing about being with them, left ric feeling all kinds of messed up.


    They reached Star Harbor Vi first. Thssa told ric to stop at the entrance, sparing him the trouble of having to drive out again.N?velDrama.Org owns all ? content.


    Stepping out, Thssa walked towards her house, only to see someone standing at the door. The person was dressed in a sleek blue turtleneck under a ck and white checkered shirt, paired with navy slim-fit trousers and dark shoes. Standing tall and elegant, his presence was the epitome of grace, his eyes always holding a gentle smile.


    It was Callum Gordon, the very definition of gentlemanly charm. Thssa, surprised, asked, "Callum Gordon, what brings you here?"


    With a warm smile, Callum''s soft voice filled the air, "I''ve been waiting for you."


    "Waiting for me?" Thssa was puzzled, unsure of the reason behind his visit. As she unlocked the door, curiosity got the better of her, and she looked back at him.


    Callum, still smiling, gently asked, "Aren''t you going to invite me in?"


    Realization dawning, Thssa stepped aside, weing him politely, "Mr. Gordon, please,e in."


    Callum entered without another


    word, taking a seat on the sofa. Busy


    in the kitchen, Thssa poured


    some tea and set the cup before


    mete


    Callum, saying, "Mr. Gordon, please


    have some tea."


    Callum thanked her with a nod but didn''t reach for the cup. Instead, he urged, "Don''t fuss, sit down."


    Thssa sat opposite him, waiting for him to speak first. Choosing his words carefully, Callum began, "Here''s the thing, Reginald and I areunching ¨¤ jewelry project together. Reginald made the mistake of listening to his sisterst time, not buying your design, which then went to the Crawley Group and the Sinir Group. Mr. Whitman and I regret not securing your designs right away. I''m here to inquire about yourpany''s next jewelry line?"


    Before Thssa could respond, Callum hastily added, "Rest assured, if the designs are yours and Ms. Kensington''s, we''ll definitely buy them."


    Thssa, initially not surprised,


    found herself amused by Callum''smitment, "Mr. Gordon, you''re ready to buy our next designs


    without even knowing what they''ll be like?"

 Chapter 1633

    Chapter 1633


    Thssa and Hertha''stest design project was a hit, something Callum and Reginald realized toote, kicking themselves for not jumping on the opportunity to invest. It seemed illogical, even reckless, for seasoned businessmen like them to pre-order the next project without even a glimpse of the design. What if, knowing they had a guaranteed sale, Thssa and Hertha decided to ck off and cobble together something subpar? Wouldn''t they worry about that?


    But Callum was resolute, his nod firm. "Yes, we''ve decided to purchase whatever youe up with next. Because it''s your creation, Thssa. Anything from you is bound to be exceptional."


    His words, spoken with a seriousness that reced his usual yful gaze, made Thssa''s heart flutter with unease.


    "Mr. Gordon, this is no small matter..."


    "Did you notice I dressed differently today?" Callum shifted the conversation from business to something more personal, catching Thssa off guard. She blinked, taking a moment to really look at him. Indeed, he wasn''t wearing his usual monochromatic attire. Instead of beige or khaki shirts paired with ck trousers, today he sported a blue id shirt, trendy slim-fit pants, and stylish leather shoes, giving him a youthful vibe.


    This look was oddly familiar to Thssa, stirring a sense of d¨¦j¨¤ vu.


    As she puzzled over it, Callum''s voice, smooth andforting, revealed the answer: "Yes, this was Leopold''s favorite style."


    The mention of Leopold''s name sent a sharp pang through Thssa''s heart, her breathing hitching. Callum''s outfit, a mirror of Leopold''s preferred youthful fashion, brought back a flood of memories. Leopold, with his sunny disposition and chestnut brown hair, always favored blue id shirts. The man before her now seemed to blur into the image of Leopold from her memories.


    It felt like a vice gripped her heart, the pain and breathlessness overwhelming.


    "You still love him, don''t you? You haven''t forgotten him," Callum''s direct question struck deep, forcing Thssa to face her unresolved feelings. Clutching her chest, struggling for air, she deflected, "Mr. Gordon, I''d rather not talk about the past."


    Suddenly, Callum was kneeling before her, his gaze intense and


    filled with. "Thssa, don''tBelonging to N?velDrama.Org.


    run from your heart. You still love Leopold, and as his best friendl know everything about him. Let me love you in his stead. Being with me... it''s like being with him..."


    The proximity of Callum''s earnest, almost incredulous confession widened Thssa''s eyes in shock


    and turmoil. She instinctively p


    back, trying to create distance


    between them, her voice shaking. "MAGordon, you''re upset. You should go home." His seriousness frightened her; it was madness.


    Callum remained still, pressing her, "Why do you shy away? Is it because of Lysander? Leopold traded his life for your freedom. Now that you''re free, you can pursue love again, and I can be the one to love you in Leopold''s ce. Why do you resist?"


    The gentle warmth usually found in Callum''s eyes was reced with a stern, almost dark intensity. Thssa felt scared, her anxiety peaking at his unyielding stance.


    With a resolve born of desperation, she retorted coldly, "Yes, I still love Leopold, and no one can rece him in my heart! Your being his friend changes nothing. Even Lysander, as close as he was to Leopold, can''t take his ce in my heart. What makes you think you can? Content


    belongs to NovelDrama.Org


    As the echoes of her deration faded, Thssa noticed a disturbance at the door, which she hadn''t closed upon entering. Someone was there, but who? Her eyes darted to the doorway, apprehensive about what or whom she might find.

 Chapter 1634

    Chapter 1634


    Here is the revised trantion of the provided text, adjusted for cultural andnguage uracy:


    Yet, the doorstep was empty, not a soul in sight.


    It must have been her imagination; she thought someone hade.


    Thssa snapped back to reality, only to find Callum''s earnest, warm eyes fixed on her. The initial eagerness in his gaze faded to a dim light, finally sinking into a deep, heavy sorrow.


    At first, Callum had been staring into Thssa''s eyes, but as she finished speaking, his gaze gradually fell. His face clouded over as he looked down, hisshes casting a shadow over his eyelids.


    He was filled with the impulse to love Thssa in ce of Leopold, thinking perhaps his status as Leopold''s best friend might endear him slightly to her.


    Yet, he hadn''t expected to rank even lower in her eyes than Lysander.


    Leopold had a firm, irreceable ce in Thssa''s heart.


    Callum stood up, his expression dim, and said to Thssa, "I''ll try, for myself, to make you fall in love with me. Three years ago, I told you I liked you. I thought I could spend three years forgetting you, falling for someone else, but I couldn''t do it. Liking you has be the goal of my life, and one day, I''ll make you like me back."


    "Callum, why do you do this to yourself?" Thssa was distressed, in a rush, not wanting his affection.


    "You said the same to Leopold once, didn''t you? Back then, I didn''t understand Leopold''s persistence, but now I do. Liking someone is an obsession, a belief, not something that can be changed on a whim."


    "People can change..."


    "But we''re not most people," Callum cut her off, refusing to let her give him a reason to be rejected.


    He wasn''t sure when he fell for Thssa, maybe when he first saw her, being bullied, her pitiful look making him want to protect her, or when he saw her radiating maternal love, so gentle and kind to her child.


    That was when he felt a flutter in his heart.


    As they got to know each other better, he saw her integrity, kindness, resilience, and relentless self-improvement.Belonging to N?velDrama.Org.


    It was like she shone with a light that deeply attracted him.


    Love came silently, unexpectedly, leaving no time to close off his heart.


    "The journey is tough, but I won''t


    give up. Take care, and let me know when you have the design ready," Callum said, then turned and walked away.


    §Ù§Ú§Þ


    Thssa opened her mouth to say something, but Callum had already left her ce in quick steps.


    She didn''t even get the chance to stop him.


    Watching the direction Callum left, Thssa felt a suffocating difort.


    She didn''t want Callum to be another Leopold, but how could she stop it?


    She rejected his confession, but he wouldn''t listen.


    Thssa closed her eyes, exhaling deeply, feeling helpless and sad.


    §Ö


    The words she just spoke to Callum, she herself didn''t know if they were true or false, couldn''t distinguish the weight of Leopold in her heart, whether it was love or guilt. Content


    belongs to NovelDrama.Org


    Her refusal to respond to Lysander''s feelings was majorly because of Leopold, that much was undeniable.


    ric and Hertha lived in the same apartmentplex, on the same floor. ric had walked Hertha home, and they entered the elevator together.


    In the confined space, it seemed easier to talk.


    ric nced at Hertha''s slightly chubby cheek, asking, "Who were you daydreaming about while you were having barbecue with Thssa?" "Definitely not you," Hertha shot back, turning to nce at him.


    "I know it''s not me. I''m asking who it is," ric tried to keep his annoyance in check.


    "Why should I tell you? You''re nobody to me," Hertha retorted, her demeanor bristling with defiance.


    This revised trantion aims to


    maintain the integrity and emotional depth of the original text while


    ensuring that it reads naturally and fluently for an English-speaking audience.

 Chapter 1635

    Chapter 1635


    ric took a deep breath, unable to hold back any longer. He nodded slightly, grabbed Hertha by the throat, and pulled her close to him. Grinding his teeth, he said, "Won''t spill the beans, huh? Let''s see how tough you really are!"


    As he spoke, his grip moved from her throat to her face, distorting it as he leaned down and captured her lips.


    The series of actions, from the chokehold to the face grab and then the kiss, were executed swiftly and with deadly uracy.


    Hertha was taken aback, shocked, and bewildered.


    She had no time to react.


    Her pupils dted, her breath was stolen, and as he drew the oxygen from her, Hertha''s body went limp and numb.


    Her mind couldn''t keep up with the pace of her body. As the elevator doors opened, ric, supporting her head with one hand and wrapping his other arm around her waist, kissed her passionately, stumbling out of the elevator with her.


    They made their way into Hertha''s apartment, kissing passionately, spinning around, until Hertha was flipped onto the couch.


    ric had intended only to punish her, but once their lips met, he lost control, desiring more, his blood boiling with heat.


    He pinned Hertha on the couch, their kissing escting from gentle to fervent, as he pried her mouth open.


    Hertha''s heart had already been defenseless against ric, and his intense kisses only made every cell in her body scream in response.


    Her mind was a nk te, focused only on the present moment.


    They embraced each other, their kisses igniting a fiery passion, the temperature around them soaring, oblivious even to the sounds from the kitchen. "Cough, cough..." Suddenly, a cough sounded from beside the couch.


    Hertha and ric were too immersed to notice.


    "Cough!" The coughing grew louder.N?velDrama.Org owns all content.


    ric was the first to hear the external noise, releasing Hertha''s lips. Still dazed from the kissing, Hertha reached out for ric''s lips again.


    But at that moment, ric turned his head to see a middle-aged woman standing beside the couch, wearing an apron and holding a spat, watching their passionate embrace.


    Hertha pecked ric''s lips once more, eager to continue.


    ric, cing his hand on her cheek, warned, "Someone''s here..."


    "ric, don''t make excuses..." Hertha mumbled, her gaze flickering, her breath heavy, longing for a love without consequences.


    "Hertha, snap out of it!" The woman holding the spat eximed in frustration.


    Her words struck Hertha like lightning, her head clearing instantly as she looked up to see the woman before her, gasping in surprise, "Mom!" "Mom?" ric looked at Kimberly in astonishment, realizing it was Hertha''s mother.


    "You''re a bit early with that ''mom," Kimberly chided.


    "Mom, what are you doing here?" Hertha asked nervously.


    "So you remember I''m your mother. Look at what you''re doing!" Kimberly couldn''t bear to watch, her expression a mix of embarrassment and disapproval.


    God, the first time Hertha was caught in a passionate kiss with a man, and it had to be by her own mother, live and in-person.


    This was mortifying.


    Hertha''s face flushed with


    embarrassment, and she quickly


    hugged ric, hiding her face.


    behind his, as if by concealing


    herself, ric would bear the embarrassment for her.


    e


    As she hid her cheek brushed against ric''s face, their skin touching, sending another jolt electricity through them both tingling and intensely warm.


    ric''s breath hitched.

 Chapter 1636

    Chapter 1636


    The touch against his cheek was soft and sweet, sending a rush of excitement that made ric tighten his grip around Hertha''s waist in an attempt to steady the overwhelming emotions threatening to burst free. Heat flushed his face.


    Hertha, with her cheek pressed to ric''s, felt the warmth radiating from him like a scorching kettle, burning against her skin. A pang of excitement shot through her, electrifying her from head to toe. Her body stiffened, toes almost curling.


    She was only trying to avoid her mother''s probing gaze and preserve her dignity, never anticipating this near miss. Her heartbeat skyrocketed, "thump, thump," with her cheeks turning crimson. Nervous, at a loss, and excited, her hands clung tightly around ric''s neck. Their embrace grew even more suggestive.


    Kimberly, having seen it all before, instantly knew what was up. The pair seemed barely able to contain themselves. Had she not been there, they might have already retreated to the bedroom. Tsk, tsk, these kids, not even married and already not caring about anything but their moment of joy.


    Kimberly, speechless, took a deep breath and said, "How long do you n to keep this up? I''m still here, or do you intend to treat me like I''m invisible and carry on?"


    Jolted, Hertha realized she was still holding onto ric and quickly let go, even pushing him slightly, trying to distance herself from any implied intimacy. But her actions were as telling as if admitting to a hidden treasure. ric, too, felt awkward but didn''t dwell on the minor push.


    He straightened up, sat up properly, adjusted his shirt cor, wiped the corner of his mouth, and shed Kimberly a mischievous smile: "We didn''t know you were home."


    "Oh, please. If you knew, you''d probably have booked a hotel," Kimberly cut him off. "I don''t usually stay here. Just had a whim to drop by today, and what do I find? Quite the spectacle. Lucky me," Kimberly mocked.


    Hertha, wiping her mouth, froze at her mother''s words. Panic surged through her, her spine stiffening! Oh no, if her mother was here, does that mean Julian and Helena were too? Where were the kids, ying in the yroom?


    Hertha quickly nced towards the yroom. The door was shut, hiding any signs of life behind it, ominously quiet. But it was very likely Julian and Helena were there, ying t wouldn''t make sense for the kids'' grandmother to visit without them.


    She had video-called the kids yesterday, and both little rascals had expressed how much they missed her and wanted to sleep over. She had calmed them by saying she''d ask their grandmother to bring them over tomorrow. Could it be because of thatforting promise, her mother brought the kids over?


    Staring at the closed door of the yroom, Hertha''s heart bounced back and forth, terror gripping her. Meanwhile, Kimberly and ric were oblivious to Hertha''s concerns.


    ric chuckled at Kimberly, "We''re not usually like this. Just got carried away today. Must be your lucky day, bringing good fortune our way too."


    "What do you mean, ''carried away''?" Kimberly frowned. "Tell me, what exactly is going on between you and my daughter? When are you nning to get married? I''ll have you know, if you intend to marry my daughter, you must ept her two..."


    Kimberly wasying down thew


    with ric when Hertha, in a panic, jumped up from the couch and covered her mother''s mouth. "Mom, mom, please, hold back a bit. Modern rtionships aren''t all about the endgame, it''s about enjoying the journey, right? Mom, he''s got urgent matters to attend to, can''t stay long. Let him go, and I''ll exin everything to you," Hertha pleaded, muffling her mother''s words, nervously covering for ric. N?velDrama.Org owns all ? content.


    After her plea, she turned, giving ric a look, signaling him to y along and make his exit quickly.

 Chapter 1637

    Chapter 1637


    ric caught Hertha''s frantic signals and with a cocky grin, quipped, "Hertha, are you having a face spasm? Why the funny faces at me?" Hertha: "..


    Is this what a face spasm looks like? I just want you to get lost! You''re the twisted one! Damn it, ric, ying dumb with my expressions, huh? Just wait till I get my chance; I''ll show you!


    Kimberly pulled Hertha''s hand away, scolding, "Child, I''m not stopping you from dating. I was just asking about your future ns. Why won''t you let me speak?"


    Kimberly shot Hertha a re.


    Hertha''s heart raced, nearly leaping out of her chest, scared of her mother mentioning her two kids. ric was still in the dark about her having two children. If he found out, he''d surely trace the information back to them, and their secret would be out. She didn''t want to end up like Thssa, losing her kids without marrying their father.


    "Mom, I just thought...we can handle our stuff on our own," Hertha hedged. Both were tough nuts to crack; she really was in a tight spot.


    "If Hertha''s willing, I''d marry her right now, quirks and all. Not just two, but even a hundred wouldn''t scare me off," ric suddenly chimed in, clearly trying to charm Kimberly.


    Hertha took a deep breath and shot ric a re. This guy, seriouslycking in tact, didn''t he see her trying to smooth things over with her mom, hoping to bluff their way through? And here he was, ying right into her mom''s hands! If her mom pressed him to marry her, she wondered how he''d wriggle out of that.


    Catching Hertha''s re, ric pretended not to notice.N?velDrama.Org owns all content.


    Kimberly corrected, "I wasn''t talking about two quirks. She''s got more than that, I was saying..."


    "Mom, isn''t yoursagna in the


    oven?


    the high cutting Kimber


    gonna burn!" Hertha,


    panicking, quickly pointed


    the kitchen, cutting Kit


    W


    "Ah, mysagna!" Kimberly looked towards the kitchen, smelled the burn, pped her thigh, and hurried off to the kitchen. Caught up in the argument, she forgot she was cooking.


    Once Kimberly dashed to the kitchen, Hertha quickly approached ric, lowering her voice to a threat, "Just go, or else I''ll..."


    "What? Kiss me again?" ric raised an eyebrow.


    Hertha''s cheeks med, "You kissed me first!"


    "But you seemed to enjoy it. Marrying me wouldn''t be so bad," ric teased, with a mischievous tone.


    Hertha''s heart fluttered; she bit her lip to calm herself, "ric, I don''t want to waste words. Just go!"


    She dragged ric to the door, about to open it, when suddenly the doorbell rang. Someone was outside, pressing the bell.


    Hertha froze! It couldn''t be the kids,


    could it? Maybe her dad was back from taking the kids out for a y


    and


    319


    now they wereing up.


    §ß§ñ

 Chapter 1638

    Chapter 1638


    Hertha was a bundle of nerves, her hand still clutching ric''s arm, frozen in ce, too scared to answer the door.


    The doorbell rang again, pulling at Hertha''s nerves like a relentless tug-of-war. Her heart pounded like a drum solo, her scalp tingled, and her breath seemed to freeze in her lungs.


    She nced at ric in panic, only to find him casually tilting his head, those captivating eyes fixed on her, a mischievous smirk ying on his lips, exuding a carefree and slightly roguish vibe.


    Seeing his rxed demeanor made Hertha think of the possibility that her little munchkins might be outside. If she opened the door now, they would run straight into this irresponsible man who might at any momentpete with her for their attention.


    Hertha felt like she was on the verge of a breakdown.


    Without thinking, she gripped ric''s arm tighter, ready to drag him away and stuff him into a room.


    Just as she moved, ric chuckled lightly, "I''m curious to see who''s at the door, making you this scared."


    With that, he stepped forward to open the door.


    "No..." Hertha''s eyes widened, about to stop him, but it was already toote.


    ric swung the door open.


    As the door opened, Hertha held her breath, her heart seemingly stopping, her eyes shut tight, not daring to witness the scene unfolding before her, bracing for the agony of anticipation.


    At the door stood Spencer, exuding a schrly vibe, with Emmeline by his side.


    The two were cuddled up together, Emmeline''s arm around Spencer''s shoulder, both wearing content smiles, clearly basking in their love. So, it was Spencer and his girlfriend.


    ric raised an eyebrow, looking back to see Hertha with her lips pursed, eyes closed, in a state of fear and reluctance to face the reality. Her unwillingness to face the situation sparked a thought in ric.


    What, was Hertha still hung up on Spencer? Knowing he was with another woman made her unable to face him?


    And what about him? Could she face him being with Georgia without any concern?


    Both men she had once loved, yet why did she seem to care more about Spencer than him?N?velDrama.Org owns all content.


    Spencer had a new girlfriend, and she couldn''t face him, but when he had a fianc¨¦e by his side, she acted as if nothing was wrong.


    Just now, she had even initiated a


    kiss with him, without any regard for his engaged status? Was she just looking for a frivolous,


    no-strings-attached fling?


    ric thought he was quite the yboy, but it seemed Hertha was even more fickle.


    Love ''em and leave ''em was her specialty, it seemed.


    But if she loved ''em and left ''em, he could ept that. At least he was among the many men she had loved and then forgotten. But why was Spencer different?


    Why couldn''t she face him now that he had a new girlfriend?


    In those few seconds, ric''s mind raced, attributing Hertha''s nervousness to her inability to face Spencer.


    Annoyed, ric''s words dripped with


    sarcasm, "Your ex shows up, and you can''t even open your eyes? Afraid he misunderstand seeing you with me? His girlfriend is right here You care so much about what he thinks, what about his girlfriend''s feelings?"


    Hertha''s heart skipped a beat. What was ric talking about?


    Her ex-boyfriend? Weren''t her little darlings supposed to be at the door?


    ?


    She opened her eyes in shock, her gaze colliding with ric''s, who was


    looking at her with a cold smirk 1.4


    those bewitching eyes filled with mockery and anger.


    Hertha was utterly confused. Why was ric looking at her like that?

 Chapter 1639

    Chapter 1639


    She hadn''t done anything to provoke him!


    She couldn''t care less about him, diverting her gaze from ric''s furious eyes towards the door, catching a glimpse of Spencer and Emmeline standing there.


    Her heart, racing with nerves, finally settled down. It wasn''t her two little angels at the door after all.


    She''d thought her dad had shown up with the kids, ringing the doorbell.


    Letting out a deep sigh of relief, she thought, "Man, that was a close call. Feels like my heart''s running a marathon. A few more scares like that, and I''ll be on my way to a heart attack."


    Clearly, ricing over was a no-go from now on. Way too risky.


    Hertha managed a smile, strolling over to warmly greet them, "Spencer, Emmeline, you made it! Come in, make yourselves at home."


    "Sure, thanks, Ms. Kensington," Emmeline replied with her sweet smile, linking her arm through Spencer''s as they stepped inside.


    ric, ready to join them, turned towards the house.


    Hertha quickly grabbed his arm, nudging him towards the door, her smile fading as she gave him a sideways look, "The exit''s that way. Take care, won''t you?"


    ric frowned in displeasure, "Hertha, isn''t it a bit obvious you''re treating me differently?"


    "I sure am, so what? You gonna eat me up? Your ce is right across the street. Bye now," Hertha pushed him out the door, pointing towards his house across the way.


    Then, she retreated indoors, shutting the door behind her.


    Left out in the cold, ric''s mood soured further. He exhaled a frustrated breath and headed home.


    Thinking about how Hertha still seemed to care about Spencer''s opinion, it was clear she hadn''t moved on from Spencer.


    A bitter taste filled ric''s mouth.


    Three years ago, when he''d rushed out of that hotel and saw Hertha with Spencer, their closeness, he''d chosen to walk away silently, not stepping forward to rify. He''d decided to bow out, letting Hertha and Spencer be.


    If he hadn''t stepped back then, if he''d exined how he''d mistaken Georgia for her that drunken night, that he had no feelings for Georgia, only for Hertha...


    Maybe then, she wouldn''t have ended up with Spencer, and they could''ve had a future together.


    But regretting it now, three yearster, was toote.


    There''s no such thing as a pill for regret.Exclusive ? material by N?(/v)elDrama.Org.


    "Hertha, who was that?" Kimberly asked, wiping her hands on her apron as she emerged from the kitchen.


    Spotting Spencer on the couch, her face lit up, "Spencer, it''s you..."


    Kimberly had always adored Spencer, having once hoped to match him with Hertha, seeing him as the perfect son-inw.


    Her joy was cut short upon noticing the woman next to him, arm in arm, clearly a couple.


    Kimberly''s smile stiffened briefly before warming up again, though not as effortlessly as with Spencer, "This youngdy must be Spencer''s girlfriend. You two make a lovely pair."


    Then, shooting a nce at Hertha, her eyes conveyed a hint of disappointment for not cherishing such a catch.


    "Thank you, you look so young," Emmeline said with a smile.


    Spencer greeted Kimberly, "Kimberly, I heard you were in town and wanted to stop by."


    "You''re thoughtful. I was just making dinner; stay and join us. Hertha, invite your boyfriend over for dinner too."


    Kimberly realized someone was missing, her eyes scanning around, "Oh, where''s your boyfriend?"

 Chapter 1640

    Chapter 1640


    Hertha tiptoed over to her mom with a pleasing smile, wrapping her arm around hers. "Mom, he had to take off early. Remember I mentioned he had some things to handle?"


    But inside, she was muttering under her breath, ric, that unlucky dude, is definitely not my boyfriend.


    Right now, he might have stormed out, working at the Crawley Group, but once things settle down, he''s expected to take over the family fortune. And the catch? Marrying Georgia!


    Raised in luxury, ric isn''t cut out for a life of simplicity and struggle. He''s just not tired of the struggle yet. Once he''s had enough, he''ll go crawling back to the Falconer family and into his mother''s ns.


    Hertha had seen this storyline unfold in countless TV shows. Never trust a man, born and raised in opulence, to adapt to a simple, ordinary life for the sake of love.


    That''s why Hertha wasn''t buying ric''s current confession of love. It was too risky, potentially costing her own happiness and peace of mind. Ever since bing a mother, the rose-colored sses of love had gradually lifted from her eyes.


    Spencer looked over at Hertha, surprised. He knew the "boyfriend" they were discussing was ric. Hertha had always been resistant to ric. It was surprising that in such a short time since their meeting, they had progressed to a romantic rtionship.


    That day, after ric ran into him proposing to Emmeline at the restaurant and found out that Hertha and he were not really married, ric must have sought Hertha out. At this moment, Spencer finally let go of thest bit of attachment he had for Hertha.


    He had spent three years trying to win her over, without sess, while she had fallen for ric in less than a month. Clearly, she couldn''t let go of ric, and Spencer realized he shouldn''t reserve a ce for her in his heart anymore.


    Instinctively, he took Emmeline''s hand, cherishing their current happiness. With a gentle smile, he asked, "What about Julian and Helena? Didn''t theye?"


    Hertha had mentioned to Spencer that Julian and Helena were staying with their grandparents. Hertha was equally curious, having wanted to ask the same question but never finding the right moment.


    She had worried earlier that the kids might be at home or downstairs ying fearing ric might bump into them and get scared. Now, with everyone aware of her two children, she felt relieved.


    Kimberly exined, "They''re at home with their granddad. They were napping when I left, and I didn''t have the heart to wake them up. It would''ve been toote."


    Understanding dawned on Hertha,


    el


    and she nodded in relief. Spencer noticed Hertha''s expression and pieced together her earlier nervousness when ric was around. He realized Hertha hadn''t yet told ric about the kids.


    Spencer stood up with Emmeline, politely excusing themselves to Kimberly, "We should get going. Let you and Hertha have dinner."Belonging to N?velDrama.Org.


    Kimberly tried to persuade them to stay, "Oh, but I''ve already cooked dinner. Why don''t you stay and eat before you go?"


    Spencer, still smiling, nced at Emmeline and then back at Kimberly, "I promised her a night out. We''re getting married soon and want to enjoy thesest moments of courtship."


    Emmeline, touched by Spencer''s affectionate look, felt enveloped in happiness, sensing sweetness in the air.

 Chapter 1641

    Chapter 1641


    Emmeline clung tighter to Spencer''s arm, snuggling closer to him, and with a smile, she said to Kimberly, "Yeah, after dinner, we''re nning to catch a movie."


    "Oh, is that so? I won''t keep you then. You muste over for dinner sometime," Kimberly replied.


    "Sure, we''d love to," Spencer politely responded, leading Emmeline away.


    Emmeline rested her head on Spencer''s arm, feeling incredibly sweet. Before visiting Hertha''s ce, she had felt a certain distance between her and Spencer. Despite their rtionship and his proposal, Emmeline couldn''t shake off the feeling that she couldn''t quite reach his heart.


    He was gentle with her, but something seemed to be missing.


    Now, however, that distance had vanished. Spencer seemed more considerate of her feelings.


    He kept her words close to his heart and prioritized her needs over appeasing others, refusing others for her sake. This made Emmeline incredibly happy and touched.


    Her heart felt as sweet as if it was coated in honey.


    After Spencer and Emmeline left, Kimberly''s expression instantly fell. She turned to Hertha with a scolding look, "Sit down and tell me, who exactly is that man?"


    Hertha meekly walked over and sat down on the sofa, sitting upright as if facing judgment, "He''s just a boyfriend I recently met. We''ll be breaking up in a few days."


    She dared not raise her parents'' hopes, knowing well that a future with ric was impossible.


    "What? Just met and breaking up in a few days? What are you even saying? When did you be so casual? Rtionships aren''t something to be taken lightly," Kimberly burst out, visibly upset.


    She continued, pointing her finger in


    the air, scolding Hertha, "How I raised you, to value and respect yourself,because if you don''t, you''re the one who''ll suffer! And the way you two entered the house, what were you nning on doing on that couch?"


    At the mention of the couch, Kimberly suddenly realized she was sitting where Hertha and that man had been passionately kissing.


    Embarrassed, she shifted ufortably towards the edge of the sofa, "You''re washing the cushions today."


    "I just washed them a few days ago," Hertha protested.


    "A few days? You mean to tell me you and your boyfriend were like this yesterday when I wasn''t here?" Kimberly''s tone sharpened, making her point clear.


    Hertha blushed, realizing her mother''s implication.


    Did her mother really think she and ric had done something on the sofa?


    Today was merely an ident, a moment of lost control leading to their kiss.


    When ric kissed her, it was like a lightning strike, leaving her brain nk, lost in the moment, simply following her desires and bodily reactions, craving his kiss, even pulling him closer in response.


    But, after cooling down, she realized how impulsive she had been.Exclusive ? material by N?(/v)elDrama.Org.


    Knowing ric was engaged to Georgia, merely going through a rough patch, it was inevitable he would marry Georgia.


    And there she was, kissing ric as if they couldn''t bear to part, which was utterly inappropriate.


    Her mother''s assumption that they had done more on the sofa was even more outrageous.

 Chapter 1642

    Chapter 1642


    Hertha couldn''t let her mom get the wrong idea any longer. Clearing her throat, she put on a serious face and said, "Mom, what are you even thinking? He just came over to my ce today. We didn''t even get a chance to do anything before you walked in on us."


    "Are you ming me now?" Kimberly''s voice rose with a mix of concern and irritation.


    Hertha quickly reassured her, "No, no, not at all. I''m actually grateful you showed up. Otherwise, I might have made a mistake that so many women fall for, getting swept away by a handsome face."


    As she spoke, Hertha moved closer to Kimberly, yfully putting her arm around her mother''s shoulder, and said in a cajoling tone, "I should be thanking you, mom, for showing up just in time to stop me from making a mistake. This guy, ric, he''s just too good-looking. It''s almost criminal."


    "Enough with your sweet talk, what''s this guy''s name?" Kimberly got back to the point, allowing Hertha to continue, though she was wary of the conversation spiraling into absurdity.


    "His name is ric," Hertha said, her voice barely above a whisper.


    She had hoped to sidestep further interrogation, but it seemed her mother was not ready to let it go just yet.


    "Do you really only know him for a few days?" Kimberly asked, looking at her daughter with a seriousness that demanded the truth.


    "Yeah," Hertha nodded, feeling a bit guilty.


    "Why do I feel like I''ve seen him before? Especially those eyes, they seem so familiar," Kimberly suddenly frowned, puzzled.


    Hertha''s heart skipped a beat, worried her mother might connect the dots between ric''s eyes and Helena''s, potentially guessing the truth.


    Trying to divert her mother''s train of thought, Hertha interjected, "Mom, there are lots of people with striking eyes. You probably saw someone simr somewhere and it just stuck with you."


    "No wonder you keep dating guys with those kinds of eyes. The father of your children had those same kind of eyes, didn''t he?" Kimberly looked at Hertha knowingly.


    Hertha blinked in surprise.


    "Helena''s eyes resemble her dad''s, right? You must have really loved their father once. Can''t let go even now?"


    The conversation had veered off course. They were supposed to be discussing ric, and now they were onto the topic of the children''s father?


    What was even more daunting was that ric was indeed the father of her children. They were talking about the same person; only her mother was


    unaware.


    Worried about where the


    conversation might lead, Hertha quickly changed the subject, "I''ve moved on, mom. If I hadn''t, why would have broken up with him? Look, I''m even dating again. Ljust happen to have a thing for men with striking eyes, that''s all." ContentExclusive ? material by N?(/v)elDrama.Org.


    belongs to


    "If you like him, then don''t break up so easily. I don''t approve of you treating rtionships like child''s y," Kimberly lightly tapped on Hertha''s forehead with her finger.


    Hertha felt cornered.


    She realized she had fallen into her mother''s trap. The conversation had made a full circle, with her mother subtly advising her to take her rtionships seriously. And in trying to pacify her mother, she had inadvertently confirmed ric as her boyfriend. She had nned to im they would break up soon to escape anymitment, but now she found herself stuck.


    "But mom..."


    "But what? You''re already thirty. Do you n to stay single forever? In a few years, you''ll be in your mid-thirties, and it''ll be even harder to find someone. He doesn''t know about the kids yet, does he? Keeping it a secret isn''t the way. You should find the right time to tell him. If he can ept it, great; if not, it wasn''t meant to be," Kimberly said, her wordsced with concern and a


    touch of sorrow.


    Kimberly and Hertha''s father had once been fond of Spencer, a man they thought was perfect for Hertha. But Hertha, in her stubbornness, had missed out on a good man, and, following in the footsteps of a close friend, ended up a single mother to two children.


    Now, as Hertha approached her thirties, Kimberly couldn''t help but worry about her daughter''s future - a future where she might end up alone, with her children busy in their own lives, leaving her in solitude.

 Chapter 1643

    Chapter 1643


    Finding a partner for the golden years, someone to chat with and keeppany, seemed like a sensible goal to Kimberly. But she wasn''t the type to bulldoze over others'' wishes. Anyone who wanted to be with Hertha would have to ept her two children as part of the package. No ifs, ands, or buts about it.


    Hertha offered a forced smile, cating her mother, "Yeah, yeah, I got it."


    Knowing her mother''s stance made things easier for Hertha. She''d just wait a few days and then tell her mom that ric couldn''t wrap his head around the idea of stepchildren, leading to a natural split.


    Perfect n!


    Three dayster, Hertha and Thssa were window-shopping at the mall when Hertha shared her scheme, including the part about breaking up with ric over her kids, as staged for her mother''s benefit.


    She could tell her mom was disappointed. She had hoped for a son-inw only to find he couldn''t ept Hertha''s children. Back to square one in worrying about Hertha''s future.


    Thssa chuckled, "You''ve really outdone yourself with this act."


    "I had no choice. I couldn''t give the game away. Oh, Thssa, now I get how you felt back in the day. It''s nerve-wracking," Herthamented, clinging to Thssa''s arm forfort.


    Suddenly, Hertha spotted some familiar-looking jewelry on disy. "Thssa,e check this out. These are our designs!"


    The left side of the disy was dedicated to pieces from the Crawley Group, designed by Hertha, while the right side showcased the Sinir group''s collection, Thssa''s handiwork.


    As they were browsing, a few customers showed interest in Hertha''s designs, trying them on and eventually making purchases.


    In contrast, although people


    checked out Thssa''s pieces, after some inquiries and trial fittings, t they


    decided against buying these


    Watching the sales assistant put the jewelry back, Hertha and Thssa exchanged puzzled looks.


    Hertha, ever the extrovert, asked, "How do these two brands fare in sales?"


    "The


    better. The Sinir group''s pieces et


    the Group''s jewelry sells


    get a lot of looks but fewer buys," the sales assistant exined.


    "Why''s that?" Hertha inquired.


    W


    Thssa, equally curious, waited for the answer.Belonging to N?velDrama.Org.


    The assistant didn''t hold back. "The Crawley Group''s pieces are by a designer known as ''J,'' who has a bit of a reputation in the design world. A quick online search brings up her portfolio. On the other hand, the Sinir group''s pieces are by W,'' likely a neer. There''s hardly any info or previous work of hers online. Jewelry from lesser-known designers doesn''t appeal to many customers."


    Thssa frowned slightly.


    So, the Sinir group might''ve taken a loss on her designs? Could this affect Lysander?


    Worry started to creep in.

 Chapter 1644

    Chapter 1644


    Hertha saw the crestfallen expression on Thssa''s face and tightened her grip on Thssa''s arm. With a polite tone, she said to thedy behind the counter, "We''d really appreciate your help with this..."


    Then, guiding Thssa away from the counter, Hertha could see that her friend was still deeply troubled. Leaning in closer, she whispered, "Thssa, you''re just starting out in the design world. Having your work produced and up for sale is already a huge achievement. When I first started in this industry, I began as an assistant. I didn''t even have the chance to sketch my own designs, let alone see them made and sold."


    "This industry is all about building up experience. It took me years to gain even a modest reputation. And even now, my name is barely knownpared to the big shots. It''s a long road ahead, but don''t be disheartened. Give it a few years, and you''ll definitely surpass me," Herthaforted Thssa.


    Thssa turned to look at Hertha, about to exin that her worry wasn''t about her own work not selling, but rather concern for Lysander''s situation.


    He had just returned to the Sinir group, and this project was his first upon returning. If it failed, would the veteran shareholders of the Sinir group start doubting Lysander, thinking his intellect and business acumen had declined during his three-yeara?


    Before Thssa could voice her concerns, a familiar voice caught their attention.


    "None of these pieces have sold?"


    Thssa stopped mid-sentence and turned around to see David standing in front of the counter, inquiring about the situation with the attendant. The attendant replied, "Yes, people seemed interested at first, but as soon as they heard the designer''s name wasn''t well-known, they backed off."


    David, with a look of concern, instructed, "Try to promote them more actively. Maybe organize some events to encourage purchases. It''s imperative we improve sales for this jewelry line; we really need to push this, okay?"


    The attendant nodded earnestly, "Of course, I''ll do my best."


    After giving his instructions, David turned and spotted Thssa and Hertha not far off, watching him. He smiled and greeted them, "Ms


    Kensington, Ms. Everhart, fancy


    seeing you here."


    Thssa, with Hertha in tow, approached David. "David, do you have a moment? There''s something I''d like to discuss with you."


    David thought for a moment and then agreed, "Sure."


    At the cafe in the mall.


    Thssa ordered three Americanos and, after some small talk, dove into the heart of the matter. "David, if this jewelry project doesn''t go well, will it significantly affect Lysander?"


    el.n


    David paused at the question, pondering before responding. "During Mr. Sinir''s three-year absence, his cousin Payton took over thepany''s management. Even I was sidelined. With Mr. Sinir now awake and wanting to reim his position, it''s proving to be quite the challenge. We hoped the sess of this jewelry line would help pave the way for his return, showing the shareholders his


    sharp business acumen and leadership skills at the next board meeting..."


    These were internal matters of the Sinir group and quite personal to Mr. Sinir, which David ideally shouldn''t share with Thssa.


    However, given the tense situationExclusive ? material by N?(/v)elDrama.Org.


    and fearing that Mr. Sinir might not only face difficulty re-entering thepany but could also be stripped of his future presidency, David decided Thssa should know about the precarious position Lysander was in.


    Moreover, since the design was Thssa''s creation, its market performance was somewhat tied to her as well.


    Hearing David''s exnation, Thssa''s worries intensified. It was as she feared: the jewelry project was crucial for Lysander.


    And the stakes were incredibly high.


    Failure could mean a fall from grace into the mire.

 Chapter 1645

    Chapter 1645


    Always perched high above others, like a monarch of his domain, Lysander couldn''t possibly stomach beingbeled as intellectually challenged, no longer fit to navigate the treacherous waters of the business world.


    Thssa''s breath tightened with worry. "Is the market really that tough right now? Is there any way to turn things around?"


    David''s expression was grim as he shook his head. "I''m not sure. The new jewelry line has only been out for a few days, and the sales are looking grim. Maybe running some promotional deals could warm the market up a bit."


    Though David''s response was nomittal, Thssa knew the situation was dire. In the jewelry business, a designer''s reputation is paramount. Creations by unknown designers need time to be polished, to gain the eptance and recognition of consumers.


    And how long that polishing takes can vary widely-from a year or two to perhaps even three to five years.


    But the shareholders of the Sinir Group wouldn''t grant Lysander the time needed to prove the sess of his decision.


    They''re only interested in short-term gains. If the project is in the red or if the market hits a downturn, they would quickly question Lysander''s capabilities.


    This whole affair weighed heavily on Thssa''s heart.


    Hertha, sitting nearby and noticing the somber mood between David and Thssa, tried to lighten the atmosphere with a chuckle. "Ohe on, who is Lysander? He''s a legend in the business world. There''s nothing he can''t handle. Don''t worry too much; it''ll all work out."


    Thssa nced at Hertha, her spirits undeniably unlifted by the reassurance.


    In the past, Lysander was indeed a myth, a legend. His decisive and iron-fisted approach never missed. Everyone else could only look up to him. But now, after a head injury that left Lysanderatose for three years, even leading doctors to dere he might remain in a vegetative state for life, his status was undoubtedly shaken.


    The news of Lysander bing a vegetable, despite efforts to keep it under wraps, had leaked.


    The folks at the Sinir Group were all too aware of Lysander''s predicament.


    From the moment he fell into aa, he was no longer on his pedestal.


    Moreover, this jewelry project involved purchasing designs from an unknown designer-her. And inside the Sinir Group, some were aware of her rtionship with Lysander.


    el.n


    The fear was that the shareholders would argue Lysander''s brain injury had impaired his judgment, making him susceptible to beauty and leading to poor decisions, thus causing the jewelry project to flop and pushing them to oppose him.


    After parting ways with David, Thssa remained sullen.


    Uncertain of Lysander''s current state, she sat on her couch, idly flipping through TV channels.


    Suddenly, she stumbled upon a channel mentioning Lysander''s name.


    Her heart skipped a beat, and she quickly flipped back.


    The reporter was at a hospital, with Joshua lying in bed in the background, and Lysander sitting in a wheelchair nearby, attentively beside him. Rosalind stood to Lysander''s left, peeling an apple to feed Joshua.


    Holding a microphone, the reporter announced to the audience, "Reports indicate that today, Rosalind of the Whitman Group and former Sinir Group CEQ Lysander have officially gotten engaged at the hospital, with Mr. Whitman of the Whitman Group acting as the witness. The union between Rosalind, an heiress of an international conglomerate, and Lysander, former CEO of the Sinir Group, signals a powerful alliance. What kind of business empire will this partnership create? We''ll have to wait and see."


    What? Lysander and Rosalind are publicly engaged?


    Hearing this news, Thssa felt her heart clench.N?velDrama.Org owns all content.

 Chapter 1646

    Chapter 1646


    The reporter droned on, but Thssa was miles away, her focus entirely on the figure behind the journalist - Lysander. She observed his expressions, his gestures, catching his lips moving, forming words.


    Though the broadcast only carried the reporter''s voice, leaving Lysander''s words swallowed by silence, Thssa''s heart raced as she tried to catch what he was saying, desperately attempting to read his lips despite herck of skill in lip-reading.


    She missed most of what was said, but thest few words were crystal clear.


    "I agree!"


    If she saw right, those were indeed his words!


    Realizing the context in which he said those words sent a sharp, acute pain through Thssa''s heart, making her breath catch.


    Then, on the TV screen, Joshua shed a satisfied smile, taking Rosalind''s hand and cing it in Lysander''s, binding their hands together with a look ofplete contentment.


    Rosalind, looking both elegant and sweet, sneaked peeks at Lysander, radiating happiness.


    Even without hearing the words, Thssa understood the situation all too well.


    Lysander had agreed to an engagement with Rosalind. Was that the meaning behind those three words he uttered?


    Why?


    Hadn''t Lysander exined to her,


    just a while ago, that his


    engagement to Rosalind was a


    decision made behind the scenes by


    Grandpa Zephyr and Joshua,


    without his consent, and that it


    wouldn''t count?


    It was after that exnation that she, carried away by the moment, had responded to his kiss, so passionately that her wheelchair had toppled over.


    And now, in such a short time, Lysander had agreed to this alliance with Rosalind?


    Recalling David''s recent words, along with Rosalind''s remarks she overheard at the hospital, Thssa thought she grasped Lysander''s motives.


    His investment in a jewelry ventureBelonging to N?velDrama.Org.


    had tanked, cutting off his return path to the Sinir group leadership. Marrying Rosalind, however, would grant him control over the entire Whitman Group, given that it was Rosalind''s dowry. Content belongs


    to


    With the Whitman Group at hismand, reiming the presidency of the Sinir group would be a walk in the park, wouldn''t it?


    So, was Lysander choosing Rosalind over her, all for the sake of his career and status?


    This realization left Thssa with a bitter taste, a turmoil of emotions churning within her.


    Clutching the remote so tightly her knuckles turned white, she was barely aware of the physical strain.


    Finally, the reporter left the hospital room, and silence settled. Joshua, still holding Rosalind and Lysander''s hands together, refused to let go, wanting their grip on each other to tighten.


    Relying on an oxygen tank, his body weak from the ident, the crash had taken a significant toll on him.


    Rosalind was Joshua''s beloved


    daughter, and the ident had only


    intensified his concerns for her. He


    feared leaving her behind without ensuring she was in good hands, worried she might suffer in the future.

 Chapter 1647

    Chapter 1647


    Rosalind had always lived a sheltered and privileged life, never really facing hardship. If she ever crossed paths with misfortune or ill-intentioned people, she might not make it through unscathed.


    Thssa, on the other hand, was cut from a different cloth. Growing up under tough circumstances, she had tasted all vors of life-the good, the bad, the bitter, and the sweet. She had been through the wringer ande out the other side stronger for it.


    Even if the unthinkable happened, Thssa would weather the storm without much difficulty. Rosalind, in contrast, might crumble under the weight of real adversity.


    That''s why Joshua, their father, chose to worry more about his delicate youngest daughter. He decided to entrust Rosalind to Lysander, believing that only in his care could he find peace of mind.


    Even contemting his untimely demise, Joshua felt reassured knowing Rosalind would be looked after.


    Though he carried a sense of guilt when it came to Thssa, his bond with Rosalind, who had grown up by his side, held a deeper connection. Guilt, it seemed, could never outweigh favoritism.


    "Dad, you''re overthinking things. The doctors said that with proper rest, you''ll recover just fine," Rosalind reassured Joshua.


    Upon waking, Joshua felt an urgency to settle his affairs, as if preparing for the worst. This made Rosalind anxious.


    Joshua sighed, a mix of resignation and fatigue in his voice, "I used to think I was still young. This ordeal made me realize I''m not as invincible as I thought. Life is unpredictable. While I''m still here, I want to sort everything out, so I''ll have no regrets, even if something happens."


    "Dad, stop talking like that. You''re going to be fine. You have to live to be a hundred," Rosalind said, her voice tinged with fear at the thought of losing her father.


    "Joshua, don''t be so pessimistic.


    Even someone like me, who was in aa for three years, can wake up and seize life''s possibilities. You''ll get better," Lysander chimed in, trying to lift Joshua''s spirits. Content


    belongs to NovelDrama.Org


    Lysander had lost his parents at a young age, and aside from the warmth and love of his grandparents, Joshua had been a mentor and a guardian, offering him care and guidance.


    To Lysander, Joshua was more than a business partner; he was like a parent.


    Joshua nodded, "Lysander, your promise to marry Rosalind has taken a huge weight off my shoulders. I feel like a burden has been lifted, and even the doctors say that''s good for my recovery."


    Rosalind''s lips curled into a smile at her father''s words, her heart swelling with happiness.


    Just a while ago, she was jealous of Thssa, upset over Lysander''s coldness towards her. But after confiding in her father, who then spoke to Lysander about their engagement, Lysander agreed.


    The joy and happiness were overwhelming, almost catching Rosalind off guard, but she weed the doubling of her happiness.


    She was d she didn''t listen to


    el


    David''s advice to give up on her desire to marry Lysander. She persevered, and now, Lysander had agreed to their marriage. She eagerly anticipated the day she would be Lysander''s wife.


    Feeling Rosalind''s excited grip, Lysander subtly withdrew his hand from beneath Joshua''s. His


    profound gaze met Joshua''s,


    l


    reassuringly saying, "The doctors are right So, Joshua, no more stressing. Just take it easy." Content belongs


    to NovelDrama.OrgN?velDrama.Org owns all content.


    Joshua managed a weak smile, "Has Thssa not heard I''ve been hospitalized? She hasn''t visited me. Rosalind, could you find Thssa tomorrow and bring her here? It''s been too long since I''ve seen her."


    At the mention of Thssa''s name, Rosalind''s smile vanished, reced by a sour twinge of jealousy.

 Chapter 1648

    Chapter 1648


    Rosalind nced nervously at Lysander, only to find him wearing a tight expression, his deep-set eyes unreadable and mysterious. It was impossible to decipher his thoughts.


    When Joshua suddenly mentioned Thssa''s name, she half-expected Lysander to react somehow. But he didn''t. Not one bit.


    Lysander had just agreed to an engagement with her, and now, with Joshua bringing up Thssa, Rosalind feared that Lysander hadn''t moved on from Thssa and might call off their engagement.


    Torn between speaking up and the fear of seeming petty to Lysander-which might give him a reason to break things off-Rosalind was caught in a dilemma. In the end, she chose to hide her difort, responding to Joshua''s suggestion with a forced chuckle.N?velDrama.Org owns all content.


    After a few more moments of awkward small talk, Lysander left the hospital.


    Thssa turned off the TV after a news report about Lysander and Rosalind''s engagement made headlines, leaving her feeling suffocated. Her phone pinged with a news alert: "Sinir Group''s former CEO engaged to Whitman Group''s heiress Rosalind, a powerhouse union set to build a business empire!"


    Opening Twitter, she was bombarded with posts about Lysander and Rosalind''s engagement. The news had spread like wildfire across social media tforms within minutes of the announcement.


    The pain in Thssa''s chest tightened, making it hard to breathe. It seemed Lysander had made his intention clear to the world; he wasmitted to marrying Rosalind, leaving no room for doubt or retreat. If Lysander hadn''t allowed it, their engagement news wouldn''t be public. It would have been a private agreement between Zephyr and Joshua at most. Lysander''s consent meant it was official.


    Now, with the news public, Thssa felt her heart constrict with a pain so intense it left her breathless. Despite preparing herself for the inevitability of bing strangers with Lysander, this confirmation shattered her.


    She had nned to cook dinner that afternoon, but now, overwhelmed by emotional pain, she lost all appetite.


    Struggling to her feet, Thssa went back to her room andy down, a wave of profound sadness washing over her, threatening to drown her in grief. Tears quickly filled her eyes as she bit her lip, trying to mask the pain.


    Life had be increasingly lonely for her. Once, she had her mother, children, and aunt toe home to a lively household that recharged her spirits no matter how tired she was, thanks to the cheerful energy of her children.


    But now, her home was silent and empty. Her mother had passed away, heraunt had moved in with Dr. Funke, and her precious children had been taken by the Sinir family to a military-style boarding school. She hadn''t seen them in three years.


    The thought of her children''s tender embraces, once a balm for her soul, now intensified her longing and istion, leaving her with no one to turn to.


    Hugging herself, Thssa felt an


    overwhelming chill and loneliness, her body shivering with cold. She bit her lip harder, trying to stem the tide of emotions. But the floodgates had opened, and as she pictured her children''s adorable, cuddly faces, she could no longer hold back her tears. Her chin quivered, and tears streamed down her face.


    She covered herself with a nket, hiding in its folds, allowing herself to cry unrestrainedly. In that moment it felt as if her world had copsed, crying until she was exhausted Finally, wearied from her tears, she fell asleep.

 Chapter 1649

    Chapter 1649


    Hertha was scrolling through her news feed when her jaw nearly hit the floor. Without wasting a


    second, she scrambled for Thssa''s number and called her up, ready to give Lysander a piece of


    her mind.


    Just a few days ago, Thssa had been telling her how Lysander had called off his engagement


    with Rosalind, and how it wasn¡¯t Lysander who had kicked Thssa out of the Royal Estates. The


    misunderstanding was cleared, and Lysander even confessed his feelings to Thssa.


    And now, Lysander was announcing his engagement to Rosalind?


    Was he just ying games with Thssa?


    Men are dogs. Not a decent one in the bunch!


    Hertha, panicking, tried calling Thssa, only to find her phone was turned off.


    That couldn¡¯t be right; Thssa never turns off her phone.


    After trying again with the same result, Hertha started to worry. She drove over to Thssa¡¯s ce


    and rang the doorbell for what felt like an eternity, but no one answered.


    Something felt off, and Hertha¡¯s worry deepened.


    For the past three years, aside from her visits to the Royal Estates to take care of Lysander,


    Thssa had always been a homebody. Now, with no reason to visit the Royal Estates, where else


    could she go?


    What if Thssa had seen the news and done something rash?


    The thought sent a shiver of fear through Hertha. She kept ringing the bell, but to no avail.


    This was bad. Really bad. When someone who¡¯s usually reachable suddenly isn¡¯t, it¡¯s always a bad


    sign.


    Exclusive ? material by N?(/v)elDrama.Org.


    Pacing anxiously at Thssa¡¯s doorstep, Hertha was at a loss for what to do next or who to turn to


    for help.


    In her most desperate moment, a name popped into her head. There was only one person she


    could call now.


    Personal grievances had to be set aside. Finding Thssa was all that mattered.


    Hertha dialed ric¡¯s number, and before he could even ask what was wrong, she blurted out,


    ¡°Thssa¡¯s gone missing! I¡¯m terrified she might do something stupid. I can¡¯t find her anywhere.


    What if something happens to her?¡±


    By the end, Hertha¡¯s voice was choked with tears. Thssa was her best friend, her only true friend


    in this world, and she just couldn¡¯t bear the thought of losing her.


    Thssa had grown up without a father and had never known a father''s love. Now in her thirties,


    even though she had reconciled with her biological father, Joshua, he showed tant favoritism


    towards his younger daughter,pletely disregarding Thssa¡¯s feelings.


    And Thssa¡¯s beloved mother had passed away three years ago.


    Her precious treasures had been taken away by the Sinir family.


    She was all alone, with not a soul in the world to call her own, a thought that was heart-wrenchingly


    sad.


    Now with Lysander set to marry Rosalind, the blow to Thssa must have been devastating.


    Hertha was terrified for her friend.


    ric had been holding a grudge against Hertha for paying more attention to Spencer than to him,


    but hearing her cry melted his heart instantly. Trying to console her, he said, ¡°Don¡¯t worry. I¡¯ll call


    Lysander and talk to him. He should know what¡¯s going on.¡±


    After reassuring Hertha, ric called Lysander. There was a moment of silence when the call


    connected.


    The first thing ric said was straight to the point: ¡°Lysander, is Thssa with you? Hertha says


    she¡¯s unreachable, and we¡¯re worried something might have happened to her.¡±


    ¡°Unreachable?¡± Lysander¡¯s grip on his phone tightened, his brows furrowed, a chill settling around


    him.

 Chapter 1650

    Chapter 1650


    Hertha had been anxiously pacing in front of Thssa''s house for over twenty minutes when ric


    finally arrived.


    Seeing his familiar figure, Hertha felt a wave of relief wash over her. Up until that moment, she had


    been a mess, flustered and frantic, unsure of what to do next.


    The moment ric appeared, it was as if she had found an anchor in the storm. She hurried over to


    him, "ric, what''s the word? What did Lysander say?"


    "He''s on his way over. He''s got the keys to Thssa''s ce," ric replied.


    Seeing the worry and urgency in Hertha''s eyes, ric felt a pang of sympathy. He reached out and


    gently touched the top of her head as one might soothe a small kitten, "Hey, don''t worry. It''s going to


    be okay."


    ric was so close that when he lifted his hand, a faint scent of mint wafted towards Hertha, tickling


    her nose with that distinctly masculine aroma.


    His touch was gentle, reminiscent of a caring older brotherforting his little sister, sparking


    something deep within Hertha. A lump formed in her throat, and unexpectedly, her heart fluttered,


    caught off guard by her feelings for ric.


    It was odd, she thought. She could usually face tough situations on her own, biting down hard and


    never letting a tear fall. But the moment someone came along offering support, making her feel


    safe, she was moved, overwhelmed with emotion.


    Especially when that someone was ric, the man she had secretly held dear for three long years.


    Tears welled up in Hertha''s eyes, her nose turning red, the urge to cry overwhelming her.


    ric, noticing the tears glistening in her big, round eyes, panicked, "Hey, don''t cry, okay? You don''t


    need to worry about Thssa. She''s a grown woman, has faced her fair share of storms. She''s


    tough, she''ll get through this. She won''t do anything rash."


    He thought Hertha''s tears were for Thssa''s struggles, not realizing she might also be reacting to


    their close moment.


    Realizing she was showing too much emotion, Hertha quickly wiped away her tears, trying to cover


    up, "It''s just...this time it''s different. Thssa always had the kids around, they were her strength.


    But now, with her children taken by the Sinir family, she''s all alone. It''s dangerous when you''re in


    pain and there''s no love to surround you."


    Despite her attempts to hold back, tears streamed down her face.


    She and Thssa shared a decade of friendship, closer than sisters.


    The thought of Thssa being so utterly alone, her loved ones gone, even the man she loved


    marrying someone else, left Hertha heartbroken and anxious.


    Exclusive ? material by N?(/v)elDrama.Org.


    Poor Thssa, why did she have to suffer so?


    It was the first time ric had seen Hertha truly cry. Her tears, bitter as the sea, stirred something in


    him, making him share in her sorrow and drawing out his empathy. He reached out, his thumb


    gently wiping away her tears, his touch warm and reassuring.


    Hertha felt a surge of warmth at his touch, prompting her to step back quickly, wiping her face to


    hide her fluttering heart. She nced away, trying to mask her turmoil.


    ric felt the warmth of her tears on his fingertips, a tangible reminder of the moment shared,


    stirring emotions deep within him.


    Heforted her, "You''re Thssa''s best friend. Believe in her strength, her resilience."


    "Mr. Falconer, Ms. Kensington, what brings you two here, standing at the doorstep?" A voice called


    from a distance, breaking the intense moment.


    Hertha and ric turned to see Callum, with his gentlemanly charm and a smile in his eyes,


    approaching.


    Hertha took a deep breath, pushing back her tears. Crying in front of ric was one thing, but she


    wouldn''t let her guard down in front of others.


    ric, however, greeted Callum with a frosty stare, "Mr. Gordon, seems like an odd time for you to


    show up."


    "I had an appointment with Thssa about some jewelry designs. I just wanted to check on her


    progress. What about you, Mr. Falconer, Ms. Kensington? Is your visit to Thssa work-rted?"


    Callum replied, his smile unwavering, effortlessly deflecting ric''s hostility.

 Chapter 1651

    Chapter 1651


    He always spoke with a hint of a smile, his words slow and deliberate, exuding a kind of genteel


    politeness that made it difficult for anyone to take offense. It felt like if you were too harsh with him,


    you''d only be in the wrong.


    "Mr. Gordon came to talk business with Thssa, but why didn''t he call her first? She''s gone off the


    radar, and we can''t find her anywhere," Hertha said, worry lining her voice.


    "What? Thssa is missing?" Callum''s usual smile faded into a look of concern and apprehension.


    He quickly pulled out his smartphone and dialed Thssa¡¯s number. The phone rang, breaking the


    tense silence.


    Inside, Thssa, who had just woken up, realized her phone had died. She had just plugged it in


    and powered it back on when the call came through. She answered.


    Callum¡¯s voice, filled with worry, came through: ¡°Thssa, where are you? Are you alright?¡±


    Before Callum could finish, an agitated Hertha snatched the phone from him, her voice trembling


    with relief and fear, ¡°Thssa, you finally answered! Where have you been? You had us scared to


    death.¡±


    Hertha¡¯s urgency and the hint of tears in her voice tugged at Thssa¡¯s heartstrings. ¡°I¡¯m at home.


    My phone died,¡± she hurriedly exined.


    N?velDrama.Org owns all ? content.


    ¡°So, you''re home. We''re right outside,e open the door,¡± Hertha said. After Thssa agreed,


    Hertha hung up, realizing she was holding Callum''s phone. With a slight apology, she handed the


    phone back to Callum, ¡°Sorry, I was just... really worried.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s okay, I understand how you feel,¡± Callum reassured her.


    Momentster, Thssa opened the door to find the three of them standing there, a mix of relief


    and concern on their faces, ¡°You all came together? Come on in.¡±


    Seeing Thssa safe and sound, Hertha¡¯s anxiety melted away. She linked arms with Thssa in a


    sisterly fashion, ¡°I rang the doorbell so many times, why didn¡¯t you answer? Do you know how


    worried I was?¡±


    Realizing the extent of Hertha''s worry, Thssa apologized, ¡°I was sleeping deeply, didn¡¯t hear it.¡±


    ¡°Well, as long as you¡¯re okay. I¡¯d rather have worried for nothing,¡± Hertha said, her voice still shaky.


    Thssa invited Hertha, ric, and Callum to sit on the couch, saying, ¡°I¡¯ll make some tea for us.¡±


    After preparing the tea, Thssa returned to the living room to find Hertha and ric sitting


    together, leaving only the seat next to Callum open. Without overthinking, she took the open seat


    and began distributing the tea cups, starting with Callum, who was closest, ¡°Tea?¡±


    ¡°Thanks,¡± Callum said, epting the cup with a soft, affectionate gaze.


    Just then, the sound of wheels turning approached the door. Thssa turned to see David pushing


    Lysander into the room. Lysander¡¯s gaze was icy, piercing as he looked at her sitting next to Callum,


    their hands almost touching as they held their tea cups. The air around Lysander seemed to chill


    even further, his presence as cold as ice.

 Chapter 1652

    Chapter 1652


    The moment Thssa spotted Lysander entering the room, her heart skipped a beat, seizing up as


    if caught in a freeze frame.


    Turning around, she found herself locked into Lysander''s icy, profound gaze. His eyes were like two


    dark voids, capable of sucking in anyone''s soul with their chilling depth.


    A sudden stiffness took over Thssa''s body when she realized her hand, holding a teacup, was


    inches away from brushing against Callum''s, who was also holding his cup. The proximity of their


    hands was unspokenly intimate.


    She quickly withdrew her hand, ncing back at Lysander only to find his attention had already


    shifted away. His deep voice broke the silence, directed at ric, "Cut the random calls. If this


    happens again, you know the consequences."


    Belonging to N?velDrama.Org.


    With that, he wheeled himself away, leaving a tense atmosphere in his wake.


    "Lysander, I swear I wasn''t lying. Thssa really did go MIA for a while. How was I supposed to


    know she was just asleep at home?" ric''s voice carried a mix of frustration and innocence, but it


    was met with nothing but the sound of Lysander''s retreating wheels.


    David, who had followed Lysander in, caught the tail end of the exchange. Feeling slightly awkward,


    he shot ric and Thssa a sympathetic look before hurrying out after Lysander.


    From the moment Lysander had appeared, Hertha found herself on edge, her grip on ric''s arm


    tightening unconsciously. Only when Lysander had left did she realize how closely she was holding


    onto him.


    ric winced slightly at the grip, turning to face Hertha. Their eyes met, and for a brief moment, it


    felt as though sparks flew between them.


    Hertha was mesmerized by ric''s captivating eyes, shining with an almost fox-like allure. Her


    heart raced uncontrobly, thumping loudly as if on a rollercoaster of emotions.


    ric, observing her flustered state, couldn''t help but notice how her cheeks had flushed a rosy red,


    reminiscent of a ripe apple.


    His gaze inadvertently drifted to her hand on his arm, a gesture usually reserved for couples. Her


    tight grasp sparked a sliver of hope in ric''s heart.


    Unintentional actions were often the truest reflections of one''s feelings, ric mused. Hertha''s grip


    on his arm, was it a sign she harbored feelings for him?


    Just as ric was about to revel in the thought, Hertha, catching her breath, realized the intimacy of


    their posture. She quickly released her grip and scooted away, her gaze flitting away as she


    stammered, "Lysander''s presence is just so overpowering. I couldn''t help but feel intimidated, you


    know. Even in a wheelchair, hemands such respect..."


    Hertha nced sideways at ric, gauging his reaction.


    As the warmth and pressure of her grip left his arm, ric felt a void form in his heart. Swallowing


    hard, he averted his gaze, muttering, "There''s nothing to be afraid of."


    It was a clumsy attempt to ease the awkwardness between them.


    "You''re just as scared, don''t pretend," Hertha retorted with a roll of her eyes.


    ric wondered, was his apprehension towards Lysander that obvious? He felt a twinge of


    embarrassment and subconsciously touched his nose.


    Watching Lysander''s retreating figure, Thssa''s gaze turned distant. The remnants of tears in her


    eyes began to sting again.


    Her fists clenched involuntarily, her breathing grew heavy. Lysander''s brief appearance had ignited


    a spark of hope in her, only for it to be extinguished as swiftly as he left. Not a word was exchanged


    between them, and yet, his departure left her feeling as though she had been cast into an abyss,


    gasping for air amidst the pain.

 Chapter 1653

    Chapter 1653


    Even the sudden engagement to Rosalind went without exnation.


    Right, what status did she hold, anyway? She wasn¡¯t anybody to Lysander, why would he feel the


    need to exin anything to her?


    Thssa snapped back from her gloomy thoughts, catching Callum¡¯s soft gaze on her. She blinked


    away her sorrow, tucking away her emotions, and said to Callum, ¡°Mr. Gordon, your tea¡¯s ready. It¡¯s


    at the perfect temperature now.¡±


    Though she kept her tone polite, Callum noticed the puffiness of her eyes, aware she had been


    crying, clearly heartbroken.


    But why?


    It must be because of the engagement news between Lysander and Rosalind today.


    N?velDrama.Org owns all ? content.


    In that moment, Callum realized, Lysander meant more to Thssa than she let on, more than she


    admitted to having feelings for him.


    Callum hid his own flurry of emotions, offering a small smile, ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll have it then.¡±


    Thssa quickly turned to serve Hertha and ric as well.


    ¡°Mr. Falconer, Hertha, would you like some tea too?¡± Thssa offered politely.


    Hertha wasn¡¯t in the mood for tea, her wide eyes fixed on Thssa, filled with confusion, ¡°Did


    Lysander really just leave you hanging?¡±


    Just the mention of Lysander¡¯s name sent a sharp, burning pain through Thssa¡¯s heart.


    She lowered her gaze, pulling out a bag of sunflower seeds from the coffee table drawer, handing it


    to Hertha, ¡°Have some snacks.¡±


    She really didn¡¯t want to talk about Lysander right now.


    Hertha, being Thssa¡¯s best friend, understood her all too well.


    Thssa changing the subject clearly indicated her reluctance to discuss Lysander.


    She had locked herself away, probably overwhelmed by thoughts of him.


    Catching on, Hertha wisely didn¡¯t pursue the topic further.


    Grabbing a handful of sunflower seeds, she cracked one open, noticing ric watching her with a


    scrutinizing look.


    She offered the bag to ric, ¡°Want some?¡±


    ric smirked, taking a handful from her, joining in the snacking.


    For a while, the room was filled with the sound of them eating sunflower seeds, the atmosphere


    turning slightly awkward.


    Thssa kept her eyes down, masking her sadness.


    ¡°Hey, Thssa, have you had dinner yet?¡± Hertha suddenly asked, curious.


    ¡°No,¡± Thssa replied almost reflexively.


    ¡°Thiste and still no dinner? Come on, let¡¯s go grab some street food.¡± Hertha stood up, linking


    arms with Thssa, ready to head out.


    ric stood up as well, ¡°I haven¡¯t had dinner either.¡±


    ¡°So, all of us to the street food stalls?¡± Hertha¡¯s eyes sparkled with the idea, turning to him.


    ¡°What¡¯s street food?¡± ric squinted slightly, puzzled.


    ¡°You don¡¯t know what street food is?¡± Hertha sounded surprised, teasing, ¡°Wow, the Falconer family


    heir, so detached frommon life, only knows about fancy ces, unaware of the simple joys of


    usmon folks.¡±


    Stung by her words, ric straightened up, ¡°Well, it¡¯s about time I start adapting tomon life.


    Let¡¯s go, show me these street food stalls. I¡¯m curious to see what¡¯s so special about them!¡±

 Chapter 1654

    Chapter 1654


    ric grabbed Hertha''s hand, ready to lead the way.


    Hertha yanked herself back, shaking off his grip with a look of disdain. "Oh, please, let''s just go by


    ourselves. If youe along and start acting all high and mighty, we''ll have to babysit you the


    whole time, which will ruin our appetite."


    With augh, she looped her arm through Thssa''s. "It''ll just be us girls, free and easy. We can


    chat about whatever we want. How great is that?"


    ric opened his mouth to protest, but Hertha cut him off, "Zip it, will you?"


    ric: "..."


    She called him delicate, and he couldn''t even argue back?


    As Hertha and Thssa took a few steps, Hertha suddenly paused, turning to address Callum still


    lounging on the sofa. "Mr. Gordon, you should head back. Thssa will ring you up once her


    designs are ready. No need to swing by her ce."


    Callum stood up. "You''re hitting a food truck and not inviting me?"


    His eyes, gleaming with a hint of mischief, flitted between Thssa and Hertha, clearly hoping for a


    free meal.


    N?velDrama.Org owns all ? content.


    Thssa was about to say something when Hertha quickly interjected, "Mr. Gordon, it''s a girls'' night


    out. We''ve got loads of girly stuff to talk about. Boys will just cramp our style."


    With the conversation steered that way, Callum and ric didn''t have much choice but to back


    down.


    Callum gave ric a look, chuckling, "Mr. Falconer, after you."


    He gestured for ric to lead the way.


    ric, clearly annoyed, just nced at him and left on his own.


    "Enjoy your dinner, I''ll be off then." Callum bid Thssa goodbye and made his exit.


    Finally free from the guys, Hertha, smiling reassuringly at Thssa, took her arm, and they headed


    out together.


    The night was alive with neon lights, and the food truck area was bustling with activity.


    Around six or seven in the evening, it was peak time, and the ce was jam-packed.


    People of all ages were gathered, sitting around, chatting andughing heartily, enjoying their meals


    without the stiff formalities of high society. It was all about doing whatever felt right.


    Hertha poured Thssa a beer, her voice bubbly and uplifting. "Thssa, forget about men. Aside


    from continuing the family line, they''re not much help to women. We can live just as fabulously on


    our own. Let men be like leaves in the wind."


    Thssa knew Hertha was trying to cheer her up. Even though she hadn''t mentioned a word about


    the news, Thssa knew she had seen it.


    She understood her current turmoil.


    Lifting her beer, Thssa epted Hertha''sfort. "You''re right. I should focus on my career."


    With that, Thssa tilted her head back, downing the beer in one go.


    The bitter taste, mingling with a hint of sharpness, flowed down her throat to her heart, making it


    sting with a sort of numbness.


    The pain in her heart seemed to settle into a calm.


    "Exactly! You''re making waves in the jewelry industry. Stick with it, and who knows? In a few years,


    you could be a world-renowned designer, raking in millions, if not billions! Then, you''ll have your


    pick of men," Hertha said with a grand gesture, full of boldness.


    Thssa smiled, not replying, but reached for the beer bottle to pour herself another.


    The two of them drank merrily, each drowning their sorrows in alcohol.


    Unbeknownst to them, from the moment they started drinking, they had caught someone''s attention.


    After about two hours of drinking, their senses dulled, Hertha and Thssa leaned on each other,


    staggering down the street.

 Chapter 1655

    Chapter 1655


    Hertha was on a bender, staggering down the street while belting out a tune, a scene straight out of


    ate-night bar crawl.


    The neon lights painted them in surreal colors as traffic lights flickered by, a vibrant dance against


    the city''s bustling night and its chilling embrace.


    Suddenly, their world of neon was shadowed by two looming figures, their presence blotting out


    even the drunken rity from their eyes.


    Thssa and Hertha sensed the oddity and looked up, only to find a burly figure, his arms inked


    with a dragon tattoo, blocking their path.


    The man''s gaze was menacing, his face rugged and shadowed by a thick beard, the very picture of


    a thug.


    This intimidating face seemed oddly familiar.


    Hertha, through her haze of alcohol, pointed at the man obstructing their way and slurred, "Buddy,


    you''re in our way," her body swaying unsteadily.


    The burly man grabbed her arm, pulled her towards him with a yank, and she collided against his


    broad, meaty frame.


    Hertha felt a wave of disgust and was about to resist when the man twisted her arm behind her


    back, trapping her neck in his grip.


    "Let her go!" Thssa, sobering up quickly from the shock, yelled at the man, attempting to pull


    Hertha back to safety.


    The man sneered, "Thought you could escapest time, did you? Even brought a fancy boy to mess


    with me. Not this time."


    With that, he grabbed Thssa too, dragging them both towards a van.


    They were thrown inside, their hands and feet swiftly bound with ropes prepared in advance, and


    duct tape sealed their mouths.


    Back to back, Thssa and Hertha struggled against their bindings, unable to utter a word.


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    Hertha, now sobering up, writhed in an attempt to scream for help, her muffled cries filling the van.


    Thssa could feel Hertha''s terror, fighting against the ropes in vain, unable to break free.


    The van sped down the asphalt road, the open windows sending their hair into disarray, Hertha''s


    wig flying off in the chaos.


    Arriving at a motel, the burly man parked and prepared to unload his captives, only to discover one


    of them was bald!


    Having a fetish for beautiful hair, he was disgusted by baldness above all.


    Seeing Hertha''s bald head, he sneered with distaste, "Dammit, a baldie? Ruins my mood!"


    With a rough shove, he pushed Hertha onto the street, "Get lost! Don''t ruin my day."


    Hertha stumbled, nearly falling, but managed to steady herself just in time.


    Frantically, she turned back, only to see the man dragging Thssa towards the motel, her friend


    resisting every step of the way.


    Thssa''s fear was palpable, her feet dragging against the ground as she leaned back, trying not to


    move forward, but the burly man''s brute force was too much.


    Her slender frame stood no chance against his bulk, and she was quickly pulled into the motel''s


    entrance.


    Watching in horror, Hertha felt a surge of fear, her scalp tingling at the sight. She started to move


    forward to help Thssa but then abruptly stopped.

 Chapter 1656

    Chapter 1656


    Hertha didn''t pursue any further. Instead, she bolted in the opposite direction, her hands bound


    behind her back and her mouth sealed with tape, utterly incapable ofing to Thssa''s rescue.


    If she tried to approach, she''d undoubtedly get caught by the brute again, leaving Thssa in peril


    and herself in a bind.


    Desperate, Hertha dashed into the middle of the road, hoping to catch the attention of any passerby.


    But in this secluded area, not a soul was in sight. Frantic, Hertha had no choice but to run even


    farther, in search of someone, anyone.


    Meanwhile, the brute had pushed Thssa into a motel, where a woman, an aplice, had


    already prepared a room for them. Thssa was flung into the room with such force that shended


    directly on the bed. The alcohol-induced haze in her brain cleared instantly from the shock of the


    fall, reced by immense fear.


    Thssa immediately tried to get up, nning to escape. But after stumbling just a few steps, the


    brute shoved her back onto the bed. Wiping the corner of his mouth, his greasy, menacing eyes


    filled with lust as he advanced towards her.


    In a coarse, raspy voice, he taunted, "Littledy, you slipped awayst time, and that guy really


    ticked me off. The mental scars I got? You''re going to make up for all of them..."


    With that, he lunged at Thssa, pinning her down, eagerly trying to kiss her face. Thssa was hit


    with a disgusting scent, reminiscent of spoiled bacon, making her gag. Terror and fear overwhelmed


    her. She twisted her face away, trying to evade his greasy lips while a cry for help barely escaped


    her throat, sounding more like a weak whimper.


    "You''re feisty, huh? I like that even more, ha..." The brute, unable to kiss her, was fueled by anger


    and an even stronger desire to dominate. The more defiant the woman, the more he relished it. He


    reached out with his greasy hand, attempting to undress Thssa, "Come on, enjoy it, it''ll all be


    over in ten minutes..."


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    He grabbed the cor of Thssa''s shirt, pulling hard. As her shirt tore, Thssa felt a chilling


    sensation on her skin, fear and dread spreading wildly within her, casting a shadow of despair.


    No, she couldn''t let this happen! Thssa kicked out fiercely, only for the brute to catch her ankle,


    dragging her underneath him. The humiliation was unbearable, a torment worse than death for


    Thssa.


    "Ha, you can''t escape! Just give in!" The bruteughed triumphantly, leaning in for another kiss. As


    that sausage-like, greasy face hurried closer, Thssa''s pupils dted, her heart clenched tight,


    stars of despair twinkling before her eyes.


    "Bang!"


    "Freeze, hands up!"


    Just as the brute was about tond his kiss, the door suddenly burst open, and amanding


    voice echoed through the room. The sudden intrusion sent a wave of panic through the brute,


    stopping him in his tracks. He turned, ready to curse out the intruder, only to meet the barrel of a


    gun pointed right at him, held by a uniformed police officer. The officer''s finger was poised on the


    trigger, ready to put a hole through the brute''s mortal flesh.

 Chapter 1657

    Chapter 1657


    The burly man was terrified, immediately raising his hands in a gesture of surrender, "Don''t shoot, I


    haven''t done anything yet, please don''t shoot..."


    His voice was thick with desperation.


    The arrogance and lust that had filled him moments ago had vanished in an instant.


    He was just a thug, looking for a taste of the forbidden fruit, but he wasn''t ready to lose his life over


    it.


    The cop kept the gun trained on him while pulling out handcuffs. Stepping forward, he secured the


    man''s hands behind his back.


    "Thssa! Are you okay?" Hertha burst into the room, her heart tightening at the sight of Thssa


    lying on the bed, a look of utter despair in her eyes. She quickly tore off the tape sealing Thssa''s


    mouth and anxiously untied the ropes binding her hands.


    The moment the ropes fell away, Thssa seemed to breathe anew. She wrapped her arms around


    Hertha, crying softly, her fear pouring out.


    Hertha held her tightly, gently patting her back, trying to offerfort, "It''s okay, you''re safe now...


    don''t be afraid."


    Despite herforting words, tears streamed down Hertha''s face too.


    The past few hours had been a nightmare, filling her with terror.


    When she had run to the roadside seeking help, luck had been on her side as a police car passed


    by. Hertha had gged it down, and after being rescued, she exined the situation to the officers.


    With her guidance, the officers quickly made their way to the motel, and with the authority of thew


    behind them, the front desk clerk dared not conceal which room the burly man had taken Thssa


    to.


    Knowing the exact room saved precious time, and when the officers burst in, the burly man hadn''t


    managed to do anything yet.


    Thank goodness for the roadside police car, thank goodness the burly man hadn''t had the chance,


    thank goodness the worst hadn''t happened.


    Thssa clung to Hertha''s clothing, biting her lip, trying not to cry, but tears fell unchecked, her


    previous terror still unassuaged.


    As her fear and despair were released, Thssa''s body shook slightly.


    Feeling her tremble, Hertha''s heart ached even more, her tears falling freely, "Thssa, I''m so


    sorry, I shouldn''t have suggested we go to that diner..."


    If they hadn''t gone out, none of this would have happened. Hertha could only imagine the fear and


    despair Thssa must have felt.


    Thssa released Hertha, her eyes watery as she shook her head, "It''s not your fault. Don''t think


    like that. You saved me. If not for you, I... I could have been ruined."


    If Hertha hadn''t arrived with the police in time, Thssa''s fate could have been sealed.


    Theyforted each other, Thssa wiping the tears from Hertha''s cheeks, Hertha doing the same


    for Thssa.


    Their movements were almost synchronized, each wiping away the other''s tears, and then, despite


    the tears, they smiled.


    But those smiles were tinged with so much bitterness and helplessness.


    Yet, from that moment, they understood a profound truth: a woman can only rely on herself. Only


    through self-rescue, independence, confidence, and self-sufficiency can she truly shine.


    Romance and men, in crucial moments, they''re unreliable. Love and men can leave a woman


    battered and bruised.


    The folly of drowning sorrows over a man, risking everything, is the height of foolishness.


    Women must be strong and independent, shining brightly on their own. Happiness is self-made,


    never dependent on others.N?velDrama.Org owns all content.

 Chapter 1658

    Chapter 1658


    Thssa and Lysander''s tangled love story began three years ago, and to this day, it remained


    unresolved, leaving her heart bruised and battered.


    Countless nights saw Thssa sobbing into her pillow, nursing her wounds alone in the darkness of


    her room. With each breakdown, she found a way to heal, only to crumble all over again, each cycle


    leaving her heart more exhausted than before. This time, she nearly lost herself entirely after


    drowning her sorrows in too much wine, saved only by a twist of fate.


    In that moment of liberation, Thssa found a sudden peace within her heart. Lysander was


    marrying Rosalind. Let him. She realized there was no need to mourn a love that was never hers to


    keep. Calmness became her new creed. Why torment herself over something beyond her control?


    Hertha had her own epiphany. She admitted she had been too blinded by love, or rather, infatuation


    with ric''s charm. She had thrown caution to the wind, resulting in two beautiful children she didn''t


    regret. But now, knowing that ric and Georgia were meant to be, Hertha understood that dwelling


    on ric''s sweet nothings was just self-torment. When she faced danger, it was her own strength


    that saved her. Hertha embraced the lesson that a woman must never depend on anyone but


    herself for her salvation.


    "Nn, you''re done! Come with us to the station!" The police officers dragged the burly man out of


    the motel room. As he was led away, the burly man shot a menacing nce back at Thssa and


    Hertha, his eyes filled with unfulfilled malice and a hint of a threat, as if to say, "I''ll be back for you."


    He regretted letting Hertha escape. He had thought the isted location would ensure his deeds


    remained undiscovered until it was toote. But luck was on Hertha''s side when she stumbled upon


    a police patrol that stormed the room just in time. The burly man''s overconfidence in his knowledge


    of the area was his downfall. He had underestimated Hertha''s luck.


    The threatening look from the burly man made Thssa and Hertha''s hearts skip a beat, fear


    momentarily gripping them. But then he was gone, taken away by thew. Leaning on each other


    for support, Thssa and Hertha left the motel behind and returned to Star Harbor Vi.


    Thssa found some clothes for Hertha, suggesting, "Take a hot shower, rx."


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    "And you? You should shower too," Hertha responded with concern.


    "I''ll use the other bathroom," Thssa said.


    After washing away the scent of alcohol and the grime of a long night, they felt their tension ebb


    away. Exhausted, they shared a bed, drawing courage from each other''s presence, hoping the


    nightmares would stay away. They slept till noon, a deep, dreamless sleep that left them both


    feeling refreshed.


    The moment Thssa opened her eyes to the sunlight filtering through the curtains, she shielded


    her eyes and felt an unprecedented sense of relief wash over her. A smile yed on her lips as she


    realized that some burdens, once let go, lose their power to hurt.

 Chapter 1659

    Chapter 1659


    Three days passed, and Thssa received an invitation from a professor at Starhaven College to


    attend the graduation g. She had justpleted her master''s in Jewelry Design and even had


    her diploma in hand. This time, her mentor suggested she attend the g, mentioning that alumni


    would be there, many of whom were sessful figures in the design world with considerable


    renown. Attending the g offered a chance towork within her field. Thssa, now fully focused


    on her career, epted the professor''s invitation.


    Starhaven College, the banquet hall. The buffet wasvish, with champagne sses stacked into


    small towers, filled with red wine for anyone''s taking. Men and women mingled with ease, their


    movements and conversations reflecting a blend of elegance andposure. Wearing a simple


    ck evening dress, Thssa approached Dr. Jamal to greet him: "Dr. Jamal."


    "Thssa,e over here, I''d like you to meet two people," Dr. Jamal led Thssa towards a man


    and a woman. The man wore sses and had a clean,forting appearance. The woman, in a


    red evening dress, exuded a sexy yet understated beauty.


    "Lance, Zoey, this is the talented student in jewelry design I''ve been telling you about. Meet


    Thssa," Dr. Jamal introduced.


    "Nice to meet you, I''m Thssa. It''s a pleasure meeting you both," Thssa extended her hand to


    Lance and Zoey.


    "Hello. Dr. Jamal mentioned he had a particrly gifted student this year. Turns out it''s you. You''re


    quite stunning," the woman in the red dressplimented, her poise in every gesture and word


    making her feel very at ease.


    ttered, Thssa responded, "Thank you for thepliment. But I''ve still got a lot to learn


    compared to you both."


    "Thssa is not only talented but modest too," Lance joked, his gaze shifting to Zoey.


    "I haven''t yet had anymercial sess, so I can''t consider myself truly skilled. It''s the designers


    with best-selling pieces who have real talent," Thssa said.


    "Commercial sess isn''t just about the design; it''s also about the designer''s fame," Zoey


    mentioned, then had an idea, "Now that you''ve graduated, you should enter some design


    competitions to build your name."


    "Exactly, enteringpetitions is the quickest way for a designer to gain recognition," Lance


    agreed.


    "Lance, isn''t ourpany hosting the Star Creative Contest? You''re in charge of that, right? How''s


    it going?" Zoey asked Lance. They worked at the samepany but in different departments.


    Exclusive ? material by N?(/v)elDrama.Org.


    Lance replied, "We''re still in the preliminary rounds."


    "The entry hasn''t closed yet, right? Thssa, you should enter thepetition. Winning would


    skyrocket your fame, making you more recognized than some who''ve been in the business for


    years," Zoey suggested Thssa try her luck in the contest.


    Thssa, both surprised and excited, asked, "Really, can I really enter?"


    "Of course," Lance confirmed.


    "I''m just worried I might not qualify due to myck of experience," Thssa shared her concern.


    "Lance, does what your girlfriend says count for anything?" Zoey yfully looked at Lance.


    Lance immediately adopted the role of a dutiful boyfriend, nodding, "Absolutely."


    "Great, then Thssa''s application is in your hands. Don''t be too strict with the requirements; her


    talent is what matters," Zoey rested her hand on Lance''s shoulder, their professional talk peppered


    with obvious affection for each other.

 Chapter 1660

    Chapter 1660


    Lance looked at Zoey, his eyes full of affection, and said, "So, we''re ying the ''girlfriend'' card


    now? Don''t worry, I''ll handle Thssa''s registration. She''s a perfect fit. Inpetitions like these,


    who cares about work experience? It''s all about the dazzle of the designs."


    Zoey beamed at Thssa, "Hear that? You''re totally in. Add Lance on WhatsApp, and you can sign


    up tomorrow."


    Thssa quickly pulled out her phone, her manners polished yet modest, and humbly said to


    Lance, "Let me add you as a contact."


    "Sure thing," Lance responded, whipping out his phone with ease.


    Once they were connected, Thssa felt a wave of relief wash over her. She raised her ss in a


    toast, filled with gratitude towards Lance and Zoey, and also made a special mention of Dr. Jamal


    for introducing her to them.


    The next day, Thssa reached out to Lance and signed up for the Azure Star jewelry design


    competition.


    Just after sending the registration email, the sound of her doorbell echoed through her apartment.


    Closing herptop, Thssa went to answer the door, a spontaneous smile lighting up her face as


    she said, "Hertha, I just signed up for¡ª"


    But her excitement froze mid-sentence as she saw Rosalind standing there, not Hertha. Her smile


    faded, her voice losing its warmth as she asked, "What brings you here?"


    Seeing Thssa reminded Rosalind of the four children Thssa had with Lysander, who was soon


    to be her own husband. The sight of Thssa choked her up.


    Thssa was a thorn in her side, a constant irritant in her marriage, and there was nothing she


    could do about it.


    Gone was Rosalind''s usual grace and intellect, reced now by resentment and bitterness as she


    said, "I didn''t want toe here, but my father insisted on seeing you. I guess I had to make the


    effort."


    Thssa''s brows knitted slightly, "Why does he want to see me?"


    She remembered the car ident that had left Joshua, her father, in a critical condition. She had


    been worried sick until the doctors assured her of his safety. Since then, she hadn''t visited him,


    partly because she felt out of ce.


    Rosalind and Matilda had made their disdain for her crystal clear, and with them taking care of


    Joshua, her presence would only serve to worsen their animosity towards her.


    "Why he wants to see you? How should I know? Just go, and you''ll find out," Rosalind snapped, her


    tone icy.


    Thssa hesitated, aware of Rosalind''s underlying issue with her potentially iming a stake in the


    Whitman family fortune. Visiting Joshua could indeed exacerbate Rosalind''s grievances.


    N?velDrama.Org owns all ? content.


    Yet, Joshua was her father. Blood ties weren''t easily ignored, and refusing to see him might hurt


    him.


    Recalling how, three years ago, Joshua had warmly weed her back into his life and even


    secured her a chance to care for Lysander, Thssa''s resolve softened.


    In light of Joshua''s past kindness, she couldn''t bring herself to outright ignore him. She still felt a


    duty to consider his feelings.


    "Go ahead, I''ll follow shortly," Thssa finally said.

 Chapter 1661

    Chapter 1661


    Rosalind shot her a look but didn''t say anything, just turned and walked away.


    Thssa went back inside, changed into her formal attire, and drove off.


    At the hospital entrance, Rosalind was waiting for her.


    As Thssa walked by, Rosalind''s voice was cool, "Just a heads-up, Dad''s really fragile right now.


    The doctor said the car crash hit him hard, and he needs proper rest. Getting upset could really do


    a number on him. You better not rile him up!"


    Thssa paused for a moment but didn''t turn back, heading straight into the hospital.


    She made her way to the surgical ward and upon reaching the room door, saw Matilda gently


    feeding Joshua some porridge.


    It was clear from the way Matilda looked at Joshua, full of tenderness, and how carefully she fed


    him, that she genuinely loved him.


    Joshua had just taken a spoonful of the in porridge when he spotted Thssa at the door. He


    quickly swallowed and said, "Thssa,e in, please."


    Thssa''s gaze lowered before she walked in, cing the fruit she¡¯d brought on the bedside table


    and casually asked, "How are you feeling?"


    Joshua, visibly moved by her concern, nodded and said, "Much better, you see, I''m getting


    stronger."


    Matilda shot Thssa a re, her dislike in as day.


    Then she scooped another spoonful of porridge, bringing it to Joshua''s lips, "Come on, eat up


    before it gets cold."


    Joshua waved her off, "No more, you can take it away."


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    His intention was clear: he wanted Matilda out of the room.


    Matilda wasn''t fooled. She could tell what Joshua was hinting at. Swallowing her frustration, she


    stood up and left the room.


    "Thssa, take a seat, don''t just stand there," Joshua said, gesturing to a chair by the bed as he


    propped himself up.


    Thssa didn''t hesitate and sat down, taking a moment to really look at Joshua. He was in a blue


    and white striped hospital gown, an oxygen tube under his nose, his lips pale, and hisplexion


    worse for wear.


    Though his life was no longer in danger, he looked much worse than before.


    "You need to rest more, don''t overdo it," Thssa said with a concern she found surprising.


    She had always thought she had no special feelings for Joshua, her father, but knowing he was in a


    life-or-death situation had her heart pounding with worry.


    Seeing him so weak now tightened something in her chest.


    She couldn''t help but worry about him.


    Joshua''s lips twitched into a grateful smile, "Your words mean more to me than a couple of days in


    the hospital."


    "This ident wasn''t just any ident; all the necessary responsibilities have been dealt with. The


    at-fault party has paid up and faced detention. This incident is closed, but it''s had a profound impact


    on me," Joshua sighed.


    Thssa realized he was getting to the point and listened intently.


    "We only have this one short life, time flies. When you think you''re still young, you''re actually not.


    Time waits for no one. We must do what we need to do while we still can, leave no room for


    regrets," Joshua said, his voicecking its usual strength.


    "What is it you want to do?" Thssa asked him.

 Chapter 1662

    Chapter 1662


    She noticed it too¡ªsince the car ident, Joshua seemed to have aged years, not just days. Even


    the hair at his temples had turned significantly grayer. His overall vitality seemed diminished, not as


    robust as before.


    When Thssa asked him how he was feeling, Joshua cast a weathered nce her way without


    directly answering her question. Gazing ahead with a mncholy look, he let out a soft sigh and


    said, ¡°The doctors told me about my condition. My spleen ruptured in the ident, and there was


    internal bleeding. Luckily, I was rushed to the hospital in time, but you know how crucial the spleen


    is to a person''s health. Even though my life was saved, my body will age more quickly now. Who


    knows, one day, I might just...¡±


    ¡°No, that''s not going to happen. Medical science hase so far; with the right treatment, you''ll


    gradually recover,¡± Thssa quickly interjected, cutting off his words. His defeatist talk terrified her.


    Though Thssa and Joshua hadn¡¯t spent much time together and their emotional bond was thin,


    deep down, she couldn¡¯t help but worry about him, afraid of what might happen to him. The


    connection of blood was mysterious; even without much interaction, concern for one another was


    still a natural response.


    Moreover, Thssa had witnessed too much loss and separation. Each goodbye was a long


    torment for those left behind, a source of deep pain. Her cousin had drowned at a young age, and


    her uncle had died of grief soon after, leaving her aunt alone in her sorrow. Having seen her aunt''s


    agony, the despair of losing both a daughter and a husband, Thssa knew the depth of that pain


    was indescribable. Then, when Leopold passed away, followed by her mother, Thssa had


    endured the pain of losing loved ones all over again. She was truly frightened of experiencing more


    loss.Belonging to N?velDrama.Org.


    So when Joshua began his sentence, Thssa already braced herself for the worst, her heart


    tightening in fear of that dreaded word. Joshua stopped speaking, seeing Thssa''s anxious


    expression, he felt somewhatforted. At least it proved Thssa cared about him, not as


    indifferent as she seemed on the surface.


    Joshua said, ¡°What I¡¯m most worried about is you and Rosalind.¡± Thssa tensed up. He was


    worried about her and Rosalind? Did she really mean that much to him? Never having been firmly


    chosen before, Thssa felt her heart tighten and her nose sting at his words. For someone who


    had lost all forms of love, to suddenly hear someone express concern for her was indescribably


    touching and poignant.


    As Thssa¡¯s nose began to tingle with emotion, Joshua continued, ¡°I''m confident about you,


    though. There¡¯s no obstacle you can¡¯t ovee. No matter the adversity, you always manage to


    fight your way to a brighter ce.¡± Thssa was puzzled, her brows lightly furrowed.


    Joshua went on, ¡°Rosalind, on the other hand, has been pampered her whole life, never having


    faced real adversity or been hardened by life''s challenges. She''s not as resilient. I see her


    obsession with Lysander as a potential downfall. If she loses hope of being with him, she might not


    be able to recover, bing despondent, maybe even doing something reckless.¡±


    Thssa looked up sharply, shocked and disbelieving at Joshua¡¯s words, guessing what he was


    about to imply next. The touch of emotion she felt was still lingering in her heart when Joshua''s


    words struck her anew. The disappointment and self-mockery she felt in that moment were as


    intense as the initial touch of feeling loved. Oh, how she had thought she might finally receive a


    father''s love.

 Chapter 1663

    Chapter 1663


    She had once thought she was someone''s top priority in life.


    But it turned out to be just her imagination.


    If she hadn''t harbored hope, she wouldn''t be drowning in such disappointment and despair.


    Thssa curled her lips into a bitter smile, choosing not to respond, and continued to listen to


    Joshua speak.


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    ¡°I hope, before my timees, to see Rosalind¡¯s wedding bells ring. I know Lysander well; once he


    marries Rosalind, he¡¯ll never let her down. Handing her over to him, I can rest easy.¡±


    Those words hit Thssa like a wave of acid, anger surging to her heart. She nearly stood up in


    agitation but managed to suppress it, clenching her fists tight. Digging her nails into her palms, she


    used the pain to calm herself down.


    Her breath trembled as she stared at Joshua with clear, wounded eyes, ¡°Do you even realize that


    Lysander is the father of my four children?¡±


    Rosalind is your daughter, but am I not?


    You let your beloved daughter take over the father of my children, and you call this love?


    What kind of logic is that?


    She held back the rest of her thoughts, keeping them buried in her heart. But her quivering breath


    betrayed the anger and pain she felt inside. Yet Joshua seemed oblivious to her fury, her suffering.


    He said, ¡°I know, I know Lysander is the father of your children. If it were possible, I¡¯d wish for you to


    marry Lysander too, to give the kids aplete family. But Zephyr has made his stance clear; he¡¯ll


    never allow you to be a Sinir. No matter your history with Lysander, there¡¯s no future. But


    Zephyr likes Rosalind, and only she can marry Lysander without issue.¡±


    Joshua''s words stabbed at Thssa¡¯s heart, each one bringing a fresh wave of pain, leaving her


    internally bleeding. She clenched her fists tighter, enduring the searing pain inside. Even as she


    was struggling to breathe from the pain, she refrained fromshing out at Joshua. She was fearful


    of agitating him, of causing any strain on his health. But Joshua, seemingly unaware of her breaking


    point, went on.


    ¡°Besides, having your sister step in as a stepmother to your children is far better than a stranger. At


    least, Rosalind won¡¯t harm your kids. She¡¯ll treat them well.¡±


    Thssa gritted her teeth, forcing herself to endure the torment and pain, without uttering a word.


    Joshua wasn¡¯t done, continuing, ¡°Previously, Zephyr and I tried to arrange an engagement between


    Lysander and Rosalind, but Lysander always refused. Without his agreement, we couldn¡¯t force


    them together. This time, I merely mentioned it, and Lysander agreed. Even allowing the


    engagement news to be public. What does this tell you? It shows that Lysander¡¯s novelty with you


    has worn off, and he¡¯s beginning to ept Rosalind. Deep down, he knows that being with Rosalind


    is the right choice. Marrying her means taking over the vast Whitman Empire. Men are rational


    creatures; to them, love is just an essory. Compared to their careers, love and women don''t hold


    much weight.¡±


    Joshua''s initial words only fueled Thssa''s inner turmoil and disappointment, making her feel like


    she had lost a father''s love that was never hers to begin with. But Joshua''sst statement cut deep


    into Thssa''s heart, splitting it in two, leaving her breathless with pain.


    Lysander¡¯s eptance of the engagement with Rosalind, because his excitement with her had


    faded, choosing the most suitable partner to step into matrimony.


    Such stark reality, such a heartbreaking truth.

 Chapter 1664

    Chapter 1664


    The pain in her heart was so intense it circled back to tranquility. It was the kind of peace that felt


    like her heart had turned to ashes. Thssa gave a cold chuckle before replying to Joshua, ¡°Did


    you ask me here just to say this?¡±


    ¡°Thssa, give up on Lysander. You two can''t be together. I''ve heard that Callum has taken a liking


    to you. Callum is gentle, tender-hearted, and easy-going. If you spend your life with him, I''d be at


    ease. I want you to be happy,¡± Joshua said earnestly.


    The irony and destion of his words struck Thssa. Happy? How hollow that sounded. He was


    urging her to give up on her children''s father, simply to clear the path for his youngest daughter.


    Pushing her towards another man was just to secure his daughter''s future without worry. He never


    considered her needs and feelings, nor what would be of her four children. iming to wish


    her happiness, his actions were merely making way for his daughter.


    Although Thssa didn''t have many expectations of being with Lysander and was aware of the


    deep issues between them, being advised to step aside for Joshua''s daughter felt entirely different.


    This false veil of paternal concern, so eager to harm, showed Thssa once more the cruelty of


    being unchosen, the destion.


    ¡°You''re overthinking it. I won''tpete with her. How you n her life is your business, but please


    don''t arrange mine,¡± Thssa said before turning to leave. No heartbreaking tears, no hysterical


    outbursts. Her words were as calm as if Joshua had brought up nothing more significant than the


    weather.


    Joshua said nothing more as he watched Thssa leave the hospital room. Herposure


    surprised him. He had expected tears, a struggle with pain. But she showed no signs of distress.


    Thssa proved stronger and more resilient than he had imagined.


    As Thssa stepped out, Matilda entered, asking Joshua with concern, ¡°Well, did she agree?¡±


    Joshua lied: ¡°She did.¡±


    ¡°Really!¡± Matilda''s face lit up with joy. She hugged Joshua and kissed him, saying, ¡°Honey, I knew


    you could make it happen. I love you so much.¡±


    Joshua was the only one who could clear the path for Rosalind''s marriage. And it was Matilda''s


    influence that hardened his resolve, choosing Rosalind over Thssa. After the ident, Matilda


    took care of him, whispering sweet nothings, ttering him until Joshua naturally leaned towards


    Rosalind.


    As Thssa hurried away from the hospital, she saw Lysander getting out of a stretched Lincoln,


    pushing a wheelchair. The moment she saw Lysander, her heart clenched, her breath lost its steady


    rhythm. Thinking Lysander hadn''t seen her, she quickly looked away, but his deep gaze caught


    hers. Their eyes met, and his intense gaze was like a beam of light cutting through her gloomy


    heart, breath-takingly painful.


    Thssa quickly diverted her gaze, pretending not to see Lysander and walked straight ahead. She


    intentionally took a longer route to widen the distance between them. As she walked, she could feel


    Lysander''s sharp gaze on her, making her heart race and her pain intensify as they came closer. At


    their closest distance, her heart beat furiously, a mix of panic and a strange hope that he might call


    out to her.Exclusive ? material by N?(/v)elDrama.Org.

 Chapter 1665

    Chapter 1665


    However, as she drew closer, she distinctly felt that piercing, icy gaze shift away from her, the


    oppressive force retreating, growing more distant by the second. She bit her tongue, resisting the


    urge to look back.


    It was only after the pressure hadpletely vanished and she had put a significant distance


    between them that she finally allowed herself to nce back, just in time to see Lysander pushing a


    wheelchair into the hospital¡ªa fleeting glimpse before he disappeared inside, out of sight.


    The moment Lysander vanished, Thssa¡¯s tightly wound emotions copsed. She had been


    fiercely holding back, trying not to let the heartache overwhelm her, but now, the intense pain burst


    forth from the depths of her heart like a flood, engulfing her whole being. Tears welled up, and a


    wave of pain washed over her, leaving her legs weak. She stumbled to a nearby bench and sat


    down, gasping for air, struggling to breathe. By the time she caught her breath, tears were


    streaming down her face.


    She felt the crushing pain and despair of being abandoned by the world. Joshua had said that since


    Rosalind had been coddled from a young age, her ability to cope was weaker, so he chose to fulfill


    Rosalind''s wishes. And because Thssa was stronger, able to face whatever setbacks came her


    way, he asked her to step aside, to make way for Rosalind.


    But he never considered that she, too, was human¡ªthat she could feel pain, that she could suffer,


    that she might reach her breaking point. Was being strong meant to be so cruelly hurt, so easily


    forsaken? If so, perhaps strength was a mistake. She could forgive anyone who hurt her, but


    Lysander''s detachment, his indifference, made her crumble, shattering all her resilience.


    Thssa watched her tears fall to the cobblestone, blending into the cracks, until the stones before


    her were soaked. A heavy weight seemed to press on her heart, a deep, throbbing pain that madeN?velDrama.Org owns all ? content.


    even breathing feelborious. Her hand clenched on the stone as she mentally urged herself to


    calm down.


    She had realized days ago that in this world, you can only rely on yourself. Only by shining bright


    can you avoid being hurt. Only by awakening can you remain unharmed, fearless. Piece by piece,


    Thssa¡¯s battered heart began to heal, steadying her once more.


    A woman''s strength is found in healing from hurt after hurt, in bing clear-headed, independent,


    and invincible through self-recovery.


    The jewelry designpetition proceeded smoothly. Thssa made it through the preliminary


    rounds with her Dogwood Blossom series, advancing to the semifinals.


    The day she received the notification for the semifinals, Thssa was ecstatic. She immediately


    picked up her phone to share the good news with Lysander. But as she held the phone, her heart


    suddenly sank. All the joy faded in an instant.


    Over the past three years, as she took care of theatose Lysander, she had grown ustomed


    to sharing every bit of happiness with him. It seemed she was still in the habit of sharing her joy with


    Lysander.


    Suddenly, she realized that she and Lysander were now on separate paths; he hadn''t reached out


    to her, and she hadn''t tried to contact him either. The person she once couldn''t wait to share her


    happiness with was no longer in her world. It still hurt, but she wasn¡¯t going to dwell on it.


    Thssa quickly shook off the feeling and called Hertha instead.

 Chapter 1666

    Chapter 1666


    "You made it to the semifinals, congrats!" Hertha''s voice bubbled with excitement as she ryed the fantastic news to Thssa.


    "Thank you," Thssa replied, her smile audible even through the phone.


    "Hey, how about we celebrate tonight?" Hertha suggested, about to propose hitting up a local BBQ joint before the memory of theirst misadventure made her swallow her words.


    "Let''s skip it. It''s prettyte, and it''s not exactly safe out. How about we save the big celebration for when you snag the championship?" Hertha offered.


    "Alright, I''ll give it my all," Thssa didn''t hold back, knowing well that she nned to leave nothing on the table for thispetition.


    Hertha was about to continue the conversation when the doorbell rang, cutting her off. "Someone''s at the door, gotta hang up," she told Thssa before ending the call.


    Opening the door, Hertha was greeted by the sight of her parents, a surprise that brought a wide smile to her face. "Dad, Mom, you''re here!"N?velDrama.Org owns all ? content.


    "Mummy!"


    "Mummy!"


    Before she could properly greet her parents, two adorably tender voices called out from below. Looking down, Hertha''s heart melted at the sight of her two little cherubs, Julian and Helena, toddling over with their arms outstretched.


    Their tiny hands grabbed at Hertha''s jeans, big, dewy eyes looking up at her with pure love and adoration. Meeting their gaze, Hertha felt a surge of emotion, quickly scooping each child into her arms.


    After nting a kiss on each of their cheeks, filled with maternal warmth, she said, "Julian, Helena, you''re here! Mommy missed you so much." "Mommy, I missed you too, so much I couldn''t even eat my dinner," Helena''s sweet, childlike voice said before she nted a soft kiss on Hertha''s cheek.


    The scent of baby powder filled the air, and Julian''s gentle peck brought a spark of joy to Hertha''s heart. "I missed you too, Mommy," he murmured, his little lips puckered in an adorable fashion.


    "I''m sorry, my toves. Mommy''s been


    so busy with a new project at work, I haven''t been able to visit you at


    grandma and grandpa''s," Herth ?


    spoke with a hint of guilt, making her way into the living room with the


    twins in her arms.


    As she settled on the couch, listening to their cute stories about their time with their grandparents, Kimberly caught a glimpse of a man exiting the elevator across the hall. Tall, with striking features, he headed straight to the apartment opposite Hertha''s, unlocking the door and disappearing inside.


    Kimberly recognized him


    immediately as the man Hertha had briefly mentioned dating. Despite their initial approval, the rtionship had soured when he expressed difort with Hertha''s children, leading to their breakup. Content


    belongs to NovelDrama.Org


    Thinking about it, Kimberly felt a tightness in her chest. It was rare for Hertha to date, and to see it end over something so precious to her was unsettling.


    Could there be a chance for reconciliation, considering the man lived so close? Were they somehow destined to ovee this hurdle?


    With these thoughts swirling in her mind, Kimberly returned to the kitchen, her heart heavy with concern for her friend''s happiness.

 Chapter 1667

    Chapter 1667


    Kimberly decided it was time to have a heart-to-heart with that man. After all, it''s not every day that Hertha finds someone she clicks with so well. Why wait for some distant stroke of fate when the right person could be right in front of you?


    Determined, Kimberly set aside her shopping bag, untied her apron, and got ready to head out.


    Hertha noticed her mother''s hurried demeanor and asked curiously, "Mom, where are you off to?"


    Kimberly paused mid-step, looking at Hertha with a guilty flutter in her eyes, and said, "We''re out of soy sauce. I''m just going to run to the store and grab some."


    "Why don''t I go? You keep cooking," Ashton offered, standing up to leave.


    Kimberly quickly shut him down, "No need, I''ll go. Just sit down, will you!"


    With that, she hurried out, carefully closing the door behind her to keep Hertha from seeing her once she was outside.


    Once the door was securely closed, Kimberly took a moment to make sure it was properly shut, ensuring no one inside could see her. Then, she quickly made her way to ric''s doorstep and rang the doorbell.


    After a minute, the door opened.


    ric stood there, tall and well-built, wearing a cream-colored shirt, ck trousers, and ck leather shoes. The top two buttons of his shirt were undone, revealing a hint of his appealing physique and his captivating,zy yet alluring eyes.


    Kimberly was taken aback by his appearance, understanding now why her daughter was so smitten.


    ric, seeing a woman he didn''t recognize at first, was instinctively on guard. But recognition dawned on him the next second.


    She was Hertha''s mother; he had seen her at Hertha''s house before.


    As Kimberly stared, obviously flustered, ric broke the silence, "Can I help you?"


    Snapping back to reality, Kimberly said, "Yes, I needed to talk to you about something."


    She peeked inside, asking, "May Ie in?"Exclusive ? material by N?(/v)elDrama.Org.


    ric stepped aside, weing her in with a "Please,e in."


    Kimberly didn''t hesitate and walked in, taking in the cozy, cream-colored decor of ric''s ce. The furniture was minimalistic, catering to the tastes of the modern youth.


    "Have a seat," ric offered, fetching a bottle of water from the fridge and handing it to Kimberly.


    Kimberly smiled, declining the water, "I''m fine, thank you. Let''s sit. I came to talk about you and my daughter."


    ric, realizing the conversation was about Hertha, sat opposite Kimberly, waiting for her to continue.


    Kimberly didn''t beat around the


    bush, "You and my daughter were together because there was an attraction, feelings for each other, right?"


    ric hesitated for a moment, wondering if Hertha had shared their brief fling from three years ago with her mother.


    Indeed, three years ago, they had dated, but it hadsted only a day.


    ric nodded, unable to deny the past, "Yes."


    At that time, there had been genuine feelings between them.


    Kimberly nodded, relieved, then continued,


    because she has two kids,


    you''re struggling with thet


    belongs to NovelDrama.Org


    ric frowned, puzzled, "What are you talking about?"

 Chapter 1668

    Chapter 1668


    Seeing ric''s stern expression, Kimberly thought she had touched upon a topic he couldn''t stomach, and that he was about to lose his temper. She quickly said, "It wasn''t right for Hertha to hide from you that she was a mom before you two got together, but she had her reasons. It was all because she felt too deeply..."


    "Don''t worry, I know what kind of person Hertha is," ric reassured Kimberly.


    When Kimberly first mentioned that Hertha had a child, ric was indeed taken aback. But now, hearing Kimberly exin that Hertha had hidden the fact that she was a mother, ric''s mind raced to the time Hertha had treated Thssa''s child as her own and even dered to Lysander that the child was hers.


    She had hidden the truth not just from Lysander, but from him as well.


    ric had originally thought Hertha was a widow, which made him keep his distance. It was onlyter that he found out the child wasn''t actually Hertha''s.


    Kimberly must be talking about this.


    This misunderstanding had been cleared up long ago, and ric was already well aware of the whole story.


    Hearing ric say he understood what kind of person Hertha was, Kimberly nodded in relief, taking his words as a sign there might still be a chance for reconciliation.


    "So, do you think you could consider getting back together with Hertha? Don''t worry, if you ever want kids of your own, as long as your rtionship is stable, it''s still possible," Kimberly pressed on, seizing the moment.


    ric was a bit scrambled. Did Hertha''s parents really think Thssa''s four children were actually Hertha''s?


    Had she not told them the truth?


    What kind of story had she spun to her parents?


    ric stroked his chin, asking doubtfully, "What did Hertha tell you about how we broke up?"


    "Just recently, she said you couldn''t handle her being a single mom, and that''s why you two split," Kimberly ryed Hertha''s exact words to ric. ric''s eyes narrowed in confusion, but then a spark of intrigue lit up his gaze.N?velDrama.Org owns all ? content.


    It had been three years since he and Hertha had parted ways, yet Hertha had told her parents they had only just broken up recently, with the reason being his inability to ept her supposed status as a single mother.


    But the thing was, she wasn''t a single mother at all.


    Was she hiding the truth from her parents, using it as an excuse for their breakup?


    Had she used the same excuse with Spencer?


    Hertha truly was a mystery, ric mused. How many boyfriends had she had over the years, and how many times had she used that excuse with her parents?


    As ric pondered, he suddenly remembered something else Hertha had said - about her fantasies with other men that weren''t him.


    Did Hertha have a new boyfriend?


    The thought made ric''s heart clench, but he managed a slight smile and told Kimberly, "She might have misunderstood. I said I needed to think about our rtionship, not that I wanted to break up."


    "Really?" Kimberly''s eyes lit up, visibly cheered by the news but then bing anxious again, "So, what do you mean by ''thinking about your rtionship''? That could be


    vel


    §Ö


    interpreted in many ways, depending on who''s listening." Content belongs


    to NovelDrama.Org


    ric nced at Kimberly''s hopeful, anxious expression. He leisurely twisted open a bottle of water, took a slow sip without a rush to answer.

 Chapter 1669

    Chapter 1669


    Kimberly was practically pacing the floor with impatience, urging, "Come on, spill it. What''s on your mind?"


    ric set his water bottle down on the coffee table, his eyes¡ªmysteriously captivating-fixed on hers. He was undeniably handsome.


    "I''ve been thinking," ric said, "about how to transition from being boyfriend and girlfriend to husband and wife."


    Ah, Hertha, you''re ying games with other guys, using me as a shield to deceive your parents and then pretending to be a single mom to break up in their eyes.


    Since you''ve admitted we''re an item, don''t me me for taking matters into my own hands.


    Kimberly''s heart skipped a beat, her excitement palpable.


    She had gotten the answer she was hoping for!


    He was reconsidering his rtionship with Hertha¡ªeither they break up, or they get married!


    Poor Hertha, with such ack of confidence, immediately assuming he wanted to break up, never realizing he wanted to give her a stable home.


    Kimberly, overjoyed, could hardly contain her excitement, blurting out, "Heck yes, I knew you were a responsible guy. I''m cooking dinner; I''ll call you when it''s ready."


    "Kimberly..." ric began.


    But Kimberly cut him off, "No need to be polite. We''re practically family. It''s totally normal to share a meal. You had to rush offst time and missed dinner. I felt really bad about it."


    Kimberly had once harbored hopes that Hertha and Spencer could reconcile, that they might get back together, until that day Spencer and Emmeline showed up at Hertha''s ce, all lovey-dovey, and Spencer mentioned he and Emmeline were tying the knot soon.From N?velDrama.Org.


    That was the moment Kimberly gave up on the idea of Spencer and Hertha getting back together.


    Now, with Hertha hitting thirty and still single, Kimberly was genuinely worried about her daughter''s marital prospects.


    With a decent man right here, she was determined to seize the opportunity for Hertha.


    "Alright then, take care," ric didn''t insist further, standing up to see Kimberly off.


    Reaching the door, Kimberly turned


    around saving politely yet with ane


    beaming smile, "Alright, no need to


    sem


    out. Go rest up." Content


    W


    belongs to NovelDrama.Org


    Though she said no need, her face lit up with joy. Turning back, Kimberly caught a glimpse of ric''s casually mesmerizing eyes.


    Her heart paused, hesitantly saying, "You know, you remind me of someone..."


    You look just like my granddaughter, Helena, especially those eyes.


    "Really? Look like who?" ric asked.


    "My family''s..." Kimberly started to say her granddaughter but then remembered Hertha had mentioned the kids had a different father. Not wanting to imply Hertha saw ric as just a stand-in and potentially hurt their rtionship, she quickly a distant little nephew of mine, also has those captivating eyes."


    changed the subject, "Likely


    ric just smirked, saying nothing more.


    "Go rest up; I''lle to get you soon," Kimberly said, her smile returning. With that, she went inside.


    Hertha was inside, ying with the kids, and turned curious at her mother''s return, asking, "Mom, did you get the soy sauce?"

 Chapter 1670

    Chapter 1670


    Kimberly merely nced at Hertha and replied with an emotionless face, "Forgot."


    Hertha was speechless. Her mother had gone out specifically to pick up soy sauce, and after all that, she forgot?


    And what was with that icy attitude? Had someone upset her?


    Confused, Hertha looked over at her father, Ashton, who met her gaze. Understanding the question in her eyes, Ashton shook his head, indicating he was just as clueless about what was bothering Kimberly. He hadn''t done anything to upset her, that was for sure.


    "Mommy, let''s y choo-choo train! You be the passenger, and I''ll be the conductor," Julian said, tugging at Hertha''s sleeve with his chubby little hands.


    Looking down, Hertha saw Julian''s round, cherubic face gazing up at her, his big, innocent eyes full of anticipation.


    His adorably earnest expression nearly melted Hertha''s heart.From N?velDrama.Org.


    ¡°Alright, my little conductor. Helena and I will be your passengers. Off we go!" Hertha quickly snapped out of her thoughts about the forgotten soy sauce and immersed herself in the yful, heartwarming interaction with the children.


    Soon after, Kimberly had finished preparing the meal and set the table, but she didn''t immediately call Hertha and the kids to eat. Instead, she took off her apron and was about to head out again.


    Seeing this, Hertha asked with concern, "Mom, dinner''s ready. Where are you going now?"


    Kimberly didn''t even look at her as she replied, "To get the soy sauce."


    "But dinner''s already made. Why do you need soy sauce now?" Hertha was puzzled.


    ¡°For next time,¡± was all Kimberly said, her response trailing off as the door closed behind her.


    She didn''t give Hertha a chance to ask any more questions, just left and shut the door.


    Hertha blinked, utterly baffled, and turned to Ashton. "Dad, did you and Mom have a fight or something?"


    Ashton, looking just as confused, shook his head. ¡°No, we''ve been fine."


    "Then why is Mom acting so weird?" Hertha still couldn''t figure it out.


    "It''s just a phase, you know, menopause. You have to be understanding," Ashton tried to exin on Kimberly''s behalf.


    Hertha nodded, somewhat


    enlightened. The temper of a


    woman going through menopause could indeed be unpredictable, ring up without any apparent reason.


    "Should we start eating?" Hertha asked.


    "Let''s wait for your mom," Ashton suggested.


    Meanwhile, Kimberly had made her way straight to ric''s doorstep and rang the bell. After only two rings, the door opened.


    Upon seeing ric, Kimberly''s face lit up with a smile. "Dinner''s ready. Why don''t youe over and join us?"


    ric nodded and stepped out, closing the door behind him.


    Following him, Kimberly suddenly remembered something. "Oh, I


    forgot to ask-what''s your name


    you?"


    again? How should I address


    "I''m ric," he answered, leading the way.


    "Right, right, ric. Such a lovely name," Kimberly said, beaming with joy.


    Reaching her own door, Kimberly saw ric pause and quickly stepped forward to unlock the door.


    Inside, Hertha had just finished a


    round of games with the kids.


    Hearing the door, she stood up, holding the little ones by the hand and announced, "Grandma''s back. Let''s go have dinner. Are you hungry?"


    S

 Chapter 1671

    Chapter 1671


    "Mommy, I''m so hungry," Helena nodded, her little hands patting her round tummy. "Mommy, Julian is hungry too," Julian tipped his head back to look up at Hertha.


    "Well, let''s get some dinner," Hertha''s face lit up with a mother''s gentle smile as she turned, leading the two children by the hand.


    As soon as she walked in, she saw a tall, fit figure with a strikingly handsome face and sharp, fox-like eyes staring back at her in shock and confusion, fixated on her and the two children she was holding.


    Hertha''s eyes widened, her breath hitched, and her heart started pounding wildly, her grip on Julian and Helena''s hands unintentionally tightening. Oh my goodness, what was she seeing? ric had walked in, ric had actually walked in!


    Completely unprepared, she saw rice in, and he had seen her two children too!


    ric moved closer to her, his expression growing more solemn, and Hertha''s heartbeat raced even faster.


    His figure gradually filled her vision, like the skying down upon her, pressing her downpletely.


    Hertha stared at ric, forgetting to breathe.


    When ric reached her, those beautiful fox-like eyes nced down at the two children before looking back at Hertha, asking seriously, "What did they just call you?"


    Hertha, already dazed, was further taken aback by ric''s question. Her wide eyes stared at ric''s questioning gaze, blinking guiltily, but she dared not answer.


    Because she couldn''t.


    "Uncle, why are you being so mean to my mommy? You''re not pretty when you''re mean," Helena said, looking up at ric with her little head tilted back, her plump lips pouting in grievance.


    Mommy was hers to protect, and she didn''t want anyone bullying her.


    "Don''t be mean to my mommy!" Julian clenched his little fists, waving them in the air in front of his chest, his tender brows furrowed into a little knot, looking fiercely adorable.


    ric could hear the children''s references to Hertha loud and clear, his heart stirring with a storm of emotions!


    His usually cheeky gaze was now filled with anger and resentment as he stared at Hertha, "Are they yours? Biologically?"


    He recognized the children, having


    seen them once in the hospital and


    another time near Hertha''s


    apartment. He had thought they were Emmeline''s, assuming Spencer was marrying a single mother.


    It turned out, these children weren''t someone else''s; they were Hertha''s!


    No wonder Kimberly had been speaking so oddly to him earlier, mentioning his concerns about Hertha''s two children!


    It wasn''t a misbelief that Thssa''s children were Hertha''s, but that Hertha actually had two children!


    ric''s expression was serious, a mix of shock and difficulty in epting the situation, his narrow eyes gradually reddening.


    Hertha, intimidated by ric''s stance, stepped back slightly, her grip on the children''s hands sweating.From N?velDrama.Org.


    ric stepped forward, pressing in, his eyes reddened with inquiry, "Speak up, are they or are they not biologically yours?"


    "Bad uncle,


    our housegu''re not wee in


    don''t bully my mommy!"


    Julian broke free from Hertha''s grasp, running up to ric, his little face turning red with urgency, pushing against ric''s leg with all his might.


    Seeing this, Kimberly hurried over, picking Julian up, nervously addressing ric, "ric, you just said you wouldn''t mind that Hertha you has two children. Why the sudden change of attitude?" Content


    belongs to NovelDrama.Org


    ric''s sharp gaze turned to Kimberly, instantly realizing, during their earlier conversation, he had overthought it.


    She had been talking about Hertha''s biological children all along, not Thssa''s!


    It was he who had ced too much hope on Hertha!

 Chapter 1672

    Chapter 1672


    ric cast a deep, lingering look at the child cradled in Kimberly''s arms before ncing down at the little boy tugging at his jeans, pushing against him with his small hands.


    Both children called Hertha "Mom," which meant... they were both Hertha''s!


    They looked so young, barely over a year old!


    In the three years since Hertha had started seeing Spencer, how many other men had there been? Two kids already!


    Deep down, ric had been holding onto a thread of hope for a reconciliation with Hertha. But seeing this, all his hopes shattered like ice on ake sted by a bomb. The jagged shards sliced through his heart, causing a raw, searing pain.


    His gaze shifted back to Hertha, his eyes¡ªred and narrow with disappointment, anger, and resentment. Hertha''s heart skipped beats under his stare, guilt rendering her speechless as her lips quivered, unable to form words. All her fearsid bare in that moment, overwhelming her senses. Faced with ric''s scornful look, her heart raced with unease, words failing herpletely.


    "Hertha, you''ve really outdone yourself! Just as you wanted!" ric spat out through clenched teeth, his eyes brimming with unshed tears as he turned and strode away.


    "Hey, ric..." Kimberly called out from behind, hoping to stop him. But ric didn''t look back, walking out and mming the door behind him.


    Once inside his own house, the


    world seemed to quiet down as he fought back tears. He knew it was


    time to let go of Hertha for good. Some things, once done, can''t be undone. He had clung to


    a slive tons


    hope for reconciliation with Hertha, which was why he had resisted marrying Georgia and had even faced off with his mother, risking his ce in the Falconer family. But now, that sliver of hope that had kept him going was brutally snuffed out.


    Heartache clouded his vision with darkness, a moment of despair and helplessness washing over him. Leaning on the kitchen counter, head bowed, teeth clenched, and eyes reddened, ric took deep breaths, reminding himself it was time to let go.


    Back at Hertha''s ce, Kimberly faced the closed door, confusion and mncholy written all over her face as she turned to Hertha,menting, "What a mess this has turned into."


    Ashton, having witnessed everything, took Helena from Kimberly''s arms, frustration evident in his voice, "Was that man someone you invited over?" Hertha, equally puzzled, looked at her mother. Why on earth had she called ric over?


    Kimberly, sensing the usatory nces from her husband and daughter, felt wronged, her expression turning sour as she defended her actions, "I was only trying to help Hertha find some stability, someone to lean on in the future."Exclusive ? material by N?(/v)elDrama.Org.


    It was indeed Kimberly who had invited ric over, exining her earlier fib about needing to buy soy sauce. This left Hertha unprepared to hide her children, leading to ric''s discovery of them and the revtion that she had two kids.

 Chapter 1673

    Chapter 1673


    ric''s reaction wasn''t one of doubt that the kids were his, but rather, he thought she had them with another man?


    The moment Hertha recalled the look of disappointment and heartbreak in ric''s eyes when he looked at her, her heart sank, and her breathing became heavy.


    "You could have at least given Hertha a heads-up before inviting someone over. Now look at the mess..." Ashton sighed, his anxiety palpable. Kimberly had told him about catching Hertha kissing a man at her ce, which was a boyfriend-girlfriend thing. She also mentioned that the guy had issues with Hertha having two kids, and that''s why they broke up.


    Even though Ashton had never met the guy, he now guessed that the visitor today was ric, the very man Kimberly had described.


    Kimberly''s intention to help Hertha reconcile was clear to Ashton, but inviting someone over without a heads-up was something he couldn''t agree with.


    "Are you ming me? Don''t you know your own daughter''s character? I was afraid she''d make excuses to avoid it if I told her in advance. I was busy in the kitchen, inviting someone over for dinner, hoping we could sit down and talk things out. Is that so wrong?"


    Kimberly burst into tears, feeling her good intentions were misunderstood as meddling.


    "I''m not ming you. I''m just saying, let''s consult with each other before doing anything in the future..." Seeing Kimberly cry made Ashton feel guilty. "Would consulting you even make a difference?" Kimberly sobbed.


    "I..."


    "Enough, Mom and Dad, stop fighting. It''s all because of me." Hertha interrupted her parents'' argument, feeling guilty for causing them so much worry.


    She knew she had been stubborn,


    chasing love three years ago and disappointing a good man like Spencer. And now, insisting on staying single to not burden a good man like Spencer, her stubbornness had only caused her parents more worry.


    It was her headstrong pursuit of romantic love and personal freedom, rather than settling for marriage without true feelings, that had her parents so worked up.


    "If you really want me to get married,


    I will. I''ll sign up on a dating site in a


    few days, go on some dates. I''m sure I''ll find someone who won''t mind that I have two kids." With that, Hertha picked up Julian and walked to the dining table.


    S


    Turning back to see her parents still standing stiffly, she said, "Mom, Dad,e eat."


    Her calm andposed demeanor made Kimberly and Ashton even more worried than her previous refusals. Herpliance was more rming to them than her stubbornness.


    Exchanging worried nces, Kimberly and Ashton cautiously approached the table, Ashton cing Helena in her booster seat.


    Kimberly served the children''s favorite dishes as usual. Once the kids began eating, the adults slowly started their meal, too.N?velDrama.Org owns all ? content.


    Kimberly, who had been crying just moments ago, was now cautiously silent, fearing Hertha might mention signing up for dating sites again, until finding someone who didn''t mind her having two kids and


    getting married.


    Although she wished for Hertha to settle down, she didn''t want her to rush into marrying just anyone, especially someone they knew nothing about. "Hertha, try this duck soup. Your mom made it especially for you," Ashton said, trying to lighten the mood. He smiled as he ced a bowl in front of her.


    Hertha mumbled a thanks, her head bowed.


    "Mummy, was that man who was here earlier my daddy?" Helena suddenly looked up with her big, curious eyes at Hertha.


    At Helena''s question, Kimberly''s heart skipped a beat, curiously looking at Hertha for her response.

 Chapter 1674

    Chapter 1674


    With her mother''s anxious and hopeful gaze bearing down on her, Hertha guiltily looked away and hurriedly shoveled food into her mouth. She was at a loss for what to say.


    She had kept the truth from her parents because ric hadn''t met the kids yet. She thought once ric saw the children, he''d surely suspect they were his.


    But reality yed out far differently than she anticipated. Upon meeting the two kids, ric flew into a rage, infuriated, convinced the children were hers with another man.


    And now, Helena, out of the blue and from who knows where, had picked up the word "Daddy" and shockingly asked if that stern uncle from earlier was their father.


    Hertha was truly at a loss for words.


    If she confirmed it, her mother, Kimberly, would immediately seek out ric to inform him, pushing Hertha and ric to provide aplete family for the children.


    But Kimberly didn''t know that ric was promised to Georgia, and three years ago, Hertha had seen ric and Georgia in apromising situation, a memory she couldn''t shake.


    Hertha, from a humble background, felt she couldn''t possibly match up to ric, a man from such a wealthy family. Angelina had made it crystal clear three years ago.


    Two million dors were paid not just for her past with ric but for her future silence as well, instilling in her a sense of her ce.


    "Hertha, the kids are asking you something,e on, speak up," Kimberly urged, seeing Hertha focused solely on her meal, her anxiety palpable.


    Kimberly had asked Hertha the same question before, to which Hertha denied ric being the father.


    But now, with the kids posing the question again and witnessing Hertha''s evasive demeanor, Kimberly harbored hope.


    Hertha struggled internally but


    quickly masked it with a smile, feigning calm as she told Helena,


    "Helena, you''re still young. Whoe


    you''re older, I promise to tell you who your dad is. Let''s not randomly pick dads for now, okay?"


    Her words effectively denied ric''s paternity.N?velDrama.Org owns all ? content.


    Helena''s face fell at the response, her spoon slowing in her bowl.


    Julian, too, had been watching Hertha with hopeful eyes, but they dimmed at her words, his spoon aimlessly stirring his food.


    Kimberly''s budding hopes were dashed, her demeanor deted as she served Hertha more food, "Eat up."


    Hertha quickly returned to her meal, falling silent.


    That night after Kimberly and


    after Kimberly and


    Ashton took the kids away, Herthet


    was left alone, curled up on


    , enveloped in meet


    She dialed Thssa, pouring out the day''s events.


    "What? ric thinks the kids are yours with another man?" Thssa was incredulous.


    "He didn''t say it outright, but that


    was the implication," Hertha admitted, her fear of ric discovering the truth about the children shing with the profound disappointment that he didn''t care. In his eyes, what was she? Fickle, flirtatious, carelessly jumping from one bed to another, even having children out of wedlock and continuing her reckless ways?


    No need to wonder, Hertha knew exactly how ric saw her.


    A wave of sadness washed over Hertha, leaving her feeling destely cold.

 Chapter 1675

    Chapter 1675


    ```markdown


    "So, what''s your n now? Keep letting ric be in the dark, or are you going to spill the beans?" Thssa couldn''t believe it either. ric actually thought Hertha''s baby was fathered by someone else.


    The ball was in Hertha''s court now.


    "I''m really torn," Hertha admitted. "If I tell him, I''m scared he''ll try to take my baby away. If I don''t, it eats me up inside being misunderstood like this. What must he think of me, to jump to the conclusion that the baby is someone else''s!"


    Thinking about it got Hertha both angry and frustrated.


    After all, ric was the man she had loved for so long.


    The idea of her image being so tarnished in ric''s eyes bothered her more than she wanted to admit, leaving her heartbroken.


    "I get where you''reing from," Thssa, having been through her fair share of troubles, could empathize with Hertha''s situation. "Ugh, Thssa, what should I do?" Hertha was at her wit''s end.


    "You could try talking to ric, see where he stands with Georgia right now," Thssa suggested. "I mean, you can''t keep this secret forever. Sooner orter, ric''s going to find out he''s the dad. Maybe now''s the time to prepare for his reaction."


    Hertha thought it over and realized she was right. She had been so focused on hiding the child, wanting to keep ric from finding out, but he''d ended up suspecting anyway.


    And even though ric currently believed the child was with another man, the truth woulde out eventually.


    By then, she''d be on the defensive.


    Thssa''s words were like a lightbulb moment for Hertha.


    She suddenly sat up straight on the couch, her mood lifted, and said to Thssa, "You''re the best, sis. I feel so much better after talking to you. I know what I need to do now. I won''t keep you any longer. Love you, muah!"


    After hanging up, Hertha got up and went straight to ric''s ce, knocking on his door.


    It took a while before the door finally opened, revealing a worn-out ric.


    His usually neat and handsome hair was a mess, looking like a bird''s nest.


    His strikingly beautiful face was marred by exhaustion.


    Hertha was curious, "What happened to you, get mugged or something?"


    Seeing her, ric was slightly


    l


    surprised, but herment immediately irritated him. "Hertha, t in the mood for jokes!"


    I''m


    He tried to close the door, but Hertha quickly wedged her way in, saying assertively, "Go sit on the couch. We need to talk."


    Hertha didn''t wait to be invited, heading straight for the couch to sit down.


    ric, scratching his head, reluctantly followed and flopped down onto the couch.


    He looked at her lifelessly and said, "Spit it out."


    He had already decided to give up on her, not wanting to drag things out any longer.


    Hertha cleared her throat, trying topose herself before getting t the point. "So, how are things with


    you and Georgia now?" get


    belongs to NovelDrama.Org


    ric frowned, clearly annoyed. "What does that have to do with you anymore?"


    "This is going nowhere if you''re


    going to be like that. I came here because I wanted to tell you that those two kids of mine..." Hertha was


    about to reveal that he was the father of her twins.


    But before she could finish, ric''s phone rang, its melodious ringtone cutting her off.From N?velDrama.Org.

 Chapter 1676

    Chapter 1676


    ric didn''t pick up the phone right away. He shot Hertha a nce with those stunning, fox-like eyes of his, noticing her wide eyes fixed on him, clearly not in the mood to make small talk.


    He could tell she wanted to talk about her two kids.


    Internally, he felt a wave of irritation wash over him, instinctively dreading the conversation.Belonging to N?velDrama.Org.


    She had kids with another man, and now she wanted to discuss her past with that guy in front of him? Talk about a stab in the heart.


    Seeing the caller ID sh as Georgia, any other day he would''ve hit ''decline'' without a second thought, not wanting to hear anything Georgia had to say.


    But now, to avoid having to listen to Hertha boast about her exploits with another man, he reluctantly answered the call.


    "What''s up?"


    "ric, could you open the door, please? Aunt Angie and I are at your doorstep."


    Georgia''s voice was soft through the phone, a deliberate attempt to suppress her usual haughtiness, pretending to be gentle with ric.


    ric''s brow furrowed. Georgia and Angelina were at his doorstep? Had they been snooping around to find where he lived?


    They were like bad pennies, always turning up.


    He barely had a moment''s peace.


    He was about to hang up, but catching sight of Hertha''s expectant gaze, those round, puppy-dog eyes waiting on him, it was clear she was eager to share about her children with him.


    He was baffled. How could Hertha have the nerve to talk to him about her kids with another man?


    It was as if she didn''t care about his feelings at all!


    The more ric thought about it, the angrier he got. To spite Hertha, he responded, "Hold on, I''ll be right there."


    With that, he stood up to open the door.


    "ric, have you had dinner yet?" Georgia greeted him with a smile, her face lighting up.


    The moment Angelinaid eyes on


    ric, her expression turned to one of concern, and she said with a touch of pity, "ric, you''ve lost so much weight. Are you alright?"


    ric brushed off their pleasantries and turned to walk inside. Georgia, arm in arm with Angelina, followed him in.


    Georgia''s smile froze the moment she Hertha sitting on the couch,


    her


    vance rising like a f


    y losing her temper rich,


    there.


    Angelina gave her hand a reassuring pat, signaling her to stay calm.


    Georgia clenched her teeth, fighting to keep her anger in check.


    Hertha turned around, spotting Georgia and Angelina. She stood up, knowing well that these two were not to be underestimated.


    Just as she was about to greet


    them, Angelina said with a sarcastic tone, "Seems like two million doesn''tst long these days. Three years and it''s gone. The quickest way to make money is by clinging to men. What did they call such women back in the day?"


    Georgia chimed in, "Back in the day, there was a ce for women looking to make a quick buck off men. It was called a brothel."


    Their words were a tant insult!

 Chapter 1677

    Chapter 1677


    Hertha''s good nature evaporated in an instant, reced by a ze of anger that surged up into her chest. Known for not taking any lip, Hertha stormed a few steps towards Georgia and Angelina, her presence fierce as she red at them and barked, "What''s with thete-night yapping, huh? Whose unruly mutts got loose, biting everyone in sight? Rabid dogs belong in the pound, not breathing this fresh air!"


    "You..." Georgia, instantly riled up by Hertha''s biting words, was about to retaliate when Angelina swiftly grabbed her hand, stopping her mid-gesture.


    Their mission was to persuade ric toe home, to show him Georgia had shed her diva-like attitude, promising a change from her former self. But if Georgia were to engage in a shouting match with Hertha, it would only push ric further away. The bigger picture mattered, of course, but so did handling foes.


    "Arguing with us won''t get you anywhere. You took my two million, promising not to hassle ric anymore, and yet here you are, in his house. Isn''t that backtracking? If you had any decency, you''d leave right now!" Angelina assertively told Hertha.


    Hertha nced at ric, expecting some form of support as Angelina and Georgia bullied her, yet he just stood there, clenching his jaw, a clear sign of holding back immense frustration, but without any intention to intervene.


    Her heart sank. Turning to Angelina, she said, "What my principles are isn''t for you to define! Whether I leave or stay is my choice. You better watch your mouth!"


    After ring at Angelina, Hertha quickly left, refusing to look back at anyone in the house. Her visit was meant to discuss their children with ric, to talk about their future. But with ric taking Georgia''s side by default, failing to address the conflict between her and Angelina, Hertha felt utterly disappointed. Thankfully, she hadn''t revealed that the children were his; otherwise, she would have dug herself into an even deeper hole.


    Fuming and disillusioned, Hertha returned home. Georgia, impressed by Angelina''s handling of the situation, nced at her admiringly. Angelina had managed to send Hertha packing with just a few words, sparing Georgia a potential spat and the embarrassment in front of ric.


    Patting her hand in aforting manner, Angelina gently turned to ric and said, "ric, living on your own without anyone to look after you, where do you even eat? Look at how thin you''ve be. You shoulde back home. Mom was wrong to argue with you; please forgive her ande home."Belonging to N?velDrama.Org.


    ric, his eyes narrow and tinged with red, stared intensely at Angelina, "Was it you who offered Hertha the two million that morning three years ago?"


    ric pieced together crucial


    information from the exchange


    between Angelina and Hertha. Three years prior, Angelina had told them that Hertha had demanded two million early one morning in


    exchange for cutting ties with ric. Now, their argument and the story Angelina had previously spun didn''t align. The only logical exnation was that Angelina had been lying to him.


    Caught under ric''s prating gaze, Angelina realized her slip-up. Too much time had passed, and she


    had forgotten how she had


    framed the story of Hertha demanding two million from her to ric and their friends, Remington Falconer and Beatrice. Her recent argument with Hertha seemed to have inadvertently revealed something.


    With a flustered look, Angelina stammered, "How could it have been me initiating it? It was Hertha who asked for it. I was puzzled at the time; you were about to marry her, so why would she need money from me? Then she said she wasn''t with you for marriage but for your money, which made me angry, so I gave her the two million..."


    ric stepped closer, his demeanor more imposing, "Not telling the truth yet?"

 Chapter 1678

    Chapter 1678


    Angelina stumbled back two steps, her hands clutching Georgia''s arm tightly as ric''s imposing demeanor bore down on her. Even someone as assertive as Angelina was left floundering under the weight of his anger.


    Seeing ric on the verge of exploding, Georgia stepped in front of Angelina, protecting her, and retorted with her chin held high, "Angelina already told you, it was Hertha who came begging for the $200,000. You know how Hertha can''t resist the sight of easy money. Angelina was just going with the flow."Belonging to N?velDrama.Org.


    "Going with the flow?" ric''s gaze sharpened, filled with anger as he turned it on Georgia.


    Georgia flinched under his stare, her initial bravado fading instantly. She stumbled backward, nearly falling, if not for Angelina catching her from behind.


    ric grabbed Georgia by the shoulders and pulled her aside, his gaze fixed on Angelina. "You can keep your secrets. I''ll just tell my cousin right now that I''m done with the Falconer estate. Let him have it all!"


    Angelina was left gasping for breath, her anger constricting her chest, as she stared at ric in disbelief and heartbreak. "ric, that''s cold. You''re just like your father!"


    Clutching her chest, worried her fury might actually trigger a heart attack, she spat out her words.


    ric scoffed, "Of course, I''m my father''s son. Who else would I be like?"


    His demeanor turned icy, "Spill it!"


    His booming voice made Angelina tremble, and seeing the red rage in his eyes, she knew he was serious. If she didn''t speak up, ric, with his stubborn streak, would surely call his cousin on the spot and renounce all ims to the Falconer legacy.


    After years of maneuvering,


    including arranging a marriage


    between ric and Georgia, all to ensure ric would take over the Falconer estate, Angelina''s biggest fear was seeing him throw it all away in a fit of pique.


    "Fine, I''ll talk," Angelina finally conceded through clenched teeth.


    Georgia looked at Angelina fearfully, not wanting her to reveal the truth and potentially reconcile ric with Hertha.


    "Shut up!" ric shot Georgia a warning nce before she could protest further.


    Georgia bit her lip, staying silent.


    Seeing ric''s determination to uncover the truth, Angelina took a deep breath, trying to calm her nerves before admitting, "Yes, three years ago, it was me who offered Hertha $200,000 to leave you. But you know what? She didn''t even try to fight for you. She just took the money and agreed to my terms without a second thought." Content


    belongs to NovelDrama.Org


    Angelina paused as she noticed ric''s eyes, usually so sharp, now shimmering with unshed tears. His jaw clenched so tightly it trembled, his body rigid with anger and pain.


    This was a side of ric Angelina had never seen before, and it made her heart plummet.


    Concerned, she softly called his name, "ric."


    As she reached out to touch his shoulder, ric jerked away, "Don''t touch me!" he growled, the tears in his eyes refusing to fall. Betrayal by a loved one left a unique kind pain, a heartache as if it were constricted by a rusted chain, each breath pulling tighter, more painfully than thest.

 Chapter 1679

    Chapter 1679


    "Angelina, you''ve wrecked my chance at happiness!" ric''s voice trembled with pain, his breath ragged as he bit out the words at Angelina.


    Angelina was taken aback. Seeing ric like this tore at her heart, yet her stubbornness held: "I did it for your own good, you know. Only by marrying Georgia could you reach the pinnacle of your career."


    ric''s jaw clenched, his body rigid with anger and pain: "For my good? Have you ever bothered to ask what I actually want? Your husband might be a big-shot CEO at Falconer Enterprises, but with his nose always to the grindstone, you barely see him all year. Haven''t you had enough of feeling lonely? Even if you haven''t, I sure have! I don''t want to be at the top if it means being alone for life!"


    By the end, ric was gasping for breath, choking on his words.


    All his life, he''d craved his parents''pany, but they were always too caught up in their careers. His father was perpetually abroad, and his mother managed the domestic operations until his cousin took over as they got older.


    The first thing his mother said upon her return was urging him to outshine his cousin and take over as president of Falconer Enterprises.


    ric was utterly disappointed. He never cared for fame, fortune, or status. All he wanted was a happy, united family.


    His parents couldn''t give him a childhood filled with their presence.


    And now, they expected him to be just like them!


    ric couldn''t do it.


    He dreamed of a simple life, growing old with someone by his side, not chasing after power and wealth!


    "How can you say that? You''re dismissing my entire life over one thing?" Angelina, deeply hurt, responded to ric: "You don''t have to go along with


    my ns. You could continue your rtionship with Hertha, but you don''t get to dismiss my life''s work!"


    Angelina had her pride, proud of her aplishments. ric''s denial of what she took pride in deeply wounded her.


    ric let out a bitterugh: "Hertha


    and I


    not a never get back together,


    you sent her away with two


    million dors three years ago. We''ve missed our chance forever."


    "Why?" Angelina couldn''t help asking.


    ric''s expression was one of sorrow and destion: "She''s with another man now... and they have two children."


    This was also why he had taken


    Georgia''s call, why he had let Georgia and Angelinae over, and why, despite seeing Angelina provoke Hertha, he hadn''t stepped in to defend her.


    S


    Because he had decided to let go. Once decided, he shouldn''t leave any room for misunderstanding about a possible reunion.


    "What?" Angelina was shocked, disbelief written all over her face.Belonging to N?velDrama.Org.


    She and Georgia exchanged a quick, puzzled look, both hiding their surprise and confusion.


    ric massaged his temples, a headache brewing: "Just leave, I need to rest."


    "ric..." Georgia began, but before she could say more, ric cut her off with no patience left.


    "Leave!" Hismand brooked no argument.


    Georgia, feeling wronged and


    to


    was pulled away by


    "Let''s go, ric.


    rest. We''ll leave for now


    belongs to NovelDrama.Org


    Angelina hurriedly bid ric goodbye, dragging a fuming Georgia out with her.


    Hertha had two children? This mystery deepened.

 Chapter 1680

    Chapter 1680


    Georgia was dragging her heels, not ready to leave. It had been ages since shest saw ric, and now, after hardly exchanging a few words, she was being pulled away. How could she possibly be okay with that?


    Angelina tugged at her, but Georgia kept looking back at ric with longing eyes.


    There he was, ric, hands braced on the diner''s table, head bowed, the very picture of defeat and disinterest. Not a single look of longing for her, not a nce her way.


    Just one look at ric, and Georgia''s heart twisted in pain, her annoyance biting at her lower lip.


    She had poured all her love into this man, yearning to be with him against all odds, and yet he wouldn''t even spare her a nce!


    Georgia was heartbroken, furious!


    How could she possibly be inferior to Hertha? When it came to family background, she was leagues above Hertha!


    In terms of looks, she was slim and stylish, miles ahead of the pudgy Hertha!


    But ric, oh ric, had eyes only for Hertha!


    Georgia felt her chest heave in anger.


    Angelina could sense another one of her tantrums brewing and hurriedly pulled her away.


    Once they hit the sidewalk, Georgia couldn''t take it anymore. She shook off Angelina''s grasp and screamed out loud, "Ah!"


    Angelina quickly covered her mouth, "What are you doing? People will think you''re nuts!"


    Georgia pushed her hand away, panting, "Why? Why doesn''t ric like me! That wench Hertha, she''s already had kids with another man, and he''s still hung up on her!"


    Seeing Georgia in such a state, Angelina was speechless, disappointed. Her tantrums were infamous, ready to explode at any moment.


    No wonder ric wasn''t interested.


    Who would fancy a woman with such a sharp tongue, sparing no one''s feelings?


    If it weren''t for the prestige of the


    Whitman family, she wouldn''t want


    to spend another minute with Georgia, let alone y matchmaker with her own son!


    Georgia''s only saving grace was her affluent background.


    "Georgia, calm down. Let''s dig into Hertha''s past first. Knowing your enemy is the key to victory," Angelina tried to soothe her.


    Georgia red at Angelina, "Why bother investigating that tramp Hertha? She''s already had kids with another man. How is someone so low worth my time?"


    Angelina sighed inwardly. There''s nothing worse than someone who won''t listen to reason.


    Georgia was a lost cause, squandering every advantage she had.


    Three years ago, she had the upper hand, having spent a night with ric, which led to their engagement. All she needed to do was y her cards right, and ric would have married her. N?velDrama.Org owns all ? content.


    After all, ric had benefited from the Whitmans, climbing to the position of Vice President.


    With time and a little push from the Whitmans, Georgia and ric could have easily tied the knot.


    But Georgia, with her arrogance, was


    always at odds with ric,


    nes


    embarrassing him in public and at


    o`


    Falconer Group shareholder meetings, causing him to lose face.


    Frustrated, ric had called off their engagement.


    Georgia''s current predicament was entirely of her own making.


    "If you don''t want to dig deeper, then let''s drop it and head back," Angelina said, no longer willing to argue, and led Georgia home.


    After dropping Georgia off, Angelina wasted no time in contacting her connections to thoroughly investigate Hertha.

 Chapter 1681

    Chapter 1681


    Five hourster, aplete investigation reportnded on Angelina''s desk. Her eyes nearly popped out of her head at what she saw! Hertha, aside from her rtionship with ric, had been involved with a man named Spencer. But that rtionship fizzled out after a few months. Hertha had given birth to twins after her split from Spencer. Based on the twins'' birth dates, there was a real possibility they were ric''s!


    Hertha had been clear about her encounter with ric at the Falconer estate, which was also her first time. This ruled out the possibility of Hertha fooling around with another man before her visit to the Falconer estate.


    It was puzzling. Hertha and Spencer were on the verge of tying the knot, so why the sudden breakup? If the twins were indeed Spencer''s, wouldn''t they have marched straight to the altar instead of parting ways? The only usible exnation was that Hertha was carrying another man''s child. And that child belonged to ric!


    Reviewing the data, Angelina, reverse-engineering the dates, was both shocked and amazed to discover the children were indeed ric''s!


    "Angelina, what are you up to? Dinner''s ready, I''ve called you a couple of times but you didn''t respond," Beatrice pushed open the door to the study and entered, concern in her voice.


    Angelina''s heart skipped a beat. She quickly gathered the papers and stashed them in a drawer, masking her shock with a smile. "Oh, nothing, just got caught up in a document. I was so focused I didn''t hear you..."


    Beatrice walked over, eyeing her curiously before ncing at the drawer and reaching to open it. "You''ve stepped back from thepany, what document could possibly have you this engrossed? Let me see."


    Angelina''s heart raced, fearing Beatrice would discover the secret. She grabbed Beatrice''s hand yfully, "Mom, it''s nothing, just a little personal hobby of mine. Let''s go out for dinner."


    Beatrice chuckled at her coaxing, "Look at you, all grown up and still secretive about your hobbies."


    "Oh dear, caught by mom," Angelina yfully swayed Beatrice''s arm.


    Laughing, Beatrice didn''t pursue it further.


    Before leaving the study, Angelina nced back at the desk drawer, her heart still racing. This was something Beatrice and Remington couldn''t find out. Otherwise, ric''s chance of taking over the Falconer Group would be doomed.


    After venting to Thssa about ric over the phone, Hertha fell into a troubled sleep. Meanwhile, Thssa, after hanging up, spent the night working on her design sketches. She had made it to the next round of thepetition and had only ten days to turn her sketches into a finished product for the models to showcase. With the clock ticking, she worked tirelessly. Engrossed in her work, she


    eventually fell asleep at her desk. Exclusive ? material by N?(/v)elDrama.Org.


    Outside, a drone hovered near Thssa''s window, its infrared light piercing through the ss, scanning the inside. The red beam danced


    across Thssa''s sleeping face


    unnoticed by her. After lingering for a while, the drone veered off heading towards a park not far from Star Harbor Vi, where it began to descend.

 Chapter 1682

    Chapter 1682


    The dronended on the edge of a flowerbed, and a young boy around seven, with strikingly handsome features and an inherently icy demeanor, approached it. His deep, dark eyes seemed to carry a chill as he picked up the device. Removing the camera attached to it, he tucked it into his backpack.


    "Mom, are you okay? Do you miss us?" The boy''s face puffed slightly, his youthful brows furrowing in concern, as if the longing he felt was about to spill out from his eyes.


    He pulled out his smartphone, ready to review the footage captured by the drone. Suddenly, he felt a formidable presence behind him, eerie and imposing. He spun around, his heart racing, only to be met with the sight of a tall figure in a military uniform. Looking up, he saw a stern-faced man standing behind him.


    "Atticus Sinir, do you have any idea what the consequences are for sneaking out of the military academy?" The man''s voice was authoritative and strict.


    Atticus Sinir, who had been studying at the academy for three years and was Thssa''s pride and joy, stiffened for a moment before snapping to attention, gripping the drone tightly, fearing discovery. He replied solemnly, "Sir, I wasn''t aware."Exclusive ? material by N?(/v)elDrama.Org.


    "Return immediately and run tenps with full gear!" Themand boomed with authority.


    "Yes, sir!" Atticus responded without a hint of protest. The rigorous military discipline he had been subjected to over the past three years had taught him the importance of obedience and respect.


    He knew he had broken the rules and had to face the consequences. But his longing for his mother was overwhelming, pushing him to sneak out just for a chance to catch a glimpse of her. Worried about rming his mother, he opted to watch her from afar.


    He couldn''t leave the academy yet. If he was caught meeting his mother recklessly, not only would he face punishment, but his mother might suffer consequences as well. So, Atticus Sinir chose to secretly watch over his mother.


    As Dean led the way out, Atticus lingered for a moment, ncing back at a window still aglow with light. His young, dark eyes were filled with yearning. Just one more year, and he would be free to see his mother openly. He just had to endure.


    Three dayster.


    Kimberly brought Julian and Helena over to Hertha''s ce. While Kimberly was busy cooking, Hertha took the kids downstairs to y on the slide, Once they were tired,


    Herthaled them back inside fool


    some water. Just as the elevator doors were about to close someone on the outside pressed the button to keep them open.


    The moment the doors opened, Hertha saw the person waiting to enter: ric, with his lean figure and strikingly beautiful, almost ethereal features. It had been three days since theirst ufortable encounter, and seeing him now caught Hertha off guard


    Instinctively, she pulled the children closer to her side and moved further into the elevator. ric, with his captivating eyes, nced over at her without any intention to avoid her and stepped inside.


    The elevator doors closed, confining


    the four of them in an


    e


    ufortably tight space, sending Hertha''s heart into an erratic beat Holding the children close, she remained silent, head lowered Julian and Helena, curiosity piqued, stared at ric with wide, innocent eyes.


    After a moment, Julian asked, "Mommy, why does this bad man have eyes just like Helena''s?"

 Chapter 1683

    Chapter 1683


    Julian''s question had barely left his lips when ric''s gaze dropped, his eyes meeting Julian''s.


    The resemnce between Julian''s bright, round eyes, full of life, and Hertha''s was uncanny. It was as if they were carved from the same mold.


    Turning to the girl next to him, ric noted the striking simrity in their eyes and, surprisingly, their height. Could the two kids be of the same age? A frown crept onto ric''s face, his curiosity piqued.


    Hertha, catching Julian''s question and ric''s scrutinizing look, felt a surge of panic. "There are plenty of people with almond-shaped eyes in the world, it''s not unusual for some to look alike," she hastilymented, trying to dismiss the implication.


    Julian, scratching his head, seemed only half convinced.


    ric''s brow furrowed deeper, his tone abrupt, "Twins?"


    "Excuse me?" Hertha stalled, taken aback.


    ric nodded towards the two kids at their feet. "Your children."


    Hertha, though inwardly trembling, managed a nod. "Yes."


    "And their father?" ric hadn''t intended to pry further into Hertha''s life but found himself asking regardless.


    "A young man with almond-shaped eyes," Hertha replied, her gaze fixed on the elevator buttons, her voice nonchnt.


    When would the elevator reach their floor? She couldn''t bear another moment alone with ric; too much longer, and her secret might unravel.


    Her blood raced, fearing ric might


    dig deeper, but he remained silent, his attention returning to the two adorable kids. Their eyes, each


    unique yet sharing an innoce


    reminded ric of clear, untainted windows to their souls, evoking a sense of tenderness. Content


    belongs to NovelDrama.Org


    As Hertha''s heart pounded under ric''s gaze, the elevator dinged open. She quickly ushered the kids out, not looking back as she hurried to her apartment.


    ric followed.


    He watched Hertha fumble for her keys, his own emotions in turmoil As he reached for his keys, an epiphany struck him. He paused, his gaze tightening on Hertha just as she was about to shut her door.


    In ast-ditch effort, ric wedged his foot in the door, halting its closure and startling Hertha, who instinctively pushed back against the door.


    "What are you hiding, Hertha? Is there something you''re not telling me?" ric pressed, his foot preventing the door from closing.


    Hertha''s temples throbbed with panic, her attempts to close the door intensifying. "ric, have you lost your mind? Whatever we had is over. Why would I hide anything from you?"


    "Really? Then tell me the birthdays of your kids," ric countered, reaching for Hertha.


    Dodging his grasp, HerthaFrom N?velDrama.Org.


    inadvertently let the door swing open, allowing ric to step inside She quickly scooped up the kids, attempting to escape, but ric caught her by the cor, pulling her and the kids back.


    "The kids'' dad, a young man with almond-shaped eyes? Who''s older, you or me?" ric challenged, locking his hand around her chin as he drew her back.

 Chapter 1684

    Chapter 1684


    ric''s fingers gently caressed Hertha''s jawline, his voice maic and alluring.


    Curious little heads peeked out from Hertha''s embrace as the two children gazed up at ric with wide, inquisitive eyes.


    Before Hertha could respond to ric''s question, his gaze met the soft, enchanting eyes of the little girl. They were striking, with corners that curved up invitingly, just like his own.


    How had he never considered that this could be his own daughter?


    And the little boy, upon closer inspection, shared his features too, though his eyes mirrored Hertha''s exactly.


    The innocence in the children''s eyes melted ric''s heart in a way he couldn''t exin.


    Startled by ric''s words, Hertha turned her head away, shaking off his hand, and retorted, "Why are you so full of yourself, always thinking everything''s about you? The ''heartthrob'' I mentioned isn''t you!"


    As she attempted to flee, ric swiftly moved to block her path.


    Towering like a wall, he stopped Hertha in her tracks. He stepped forward, reaching out to take the children from her arms.


    Hertha''s rm bells went off, her eyes widening in defiance, "ric, stop right there! Don''te any closer!"


    ric halted, his gaze filled with confusion and scrutiny as he looked at her.


    Caught in ric''s piercing gaze, Hertha''s heartbeat quickened, guilt making her avoid his eyes, "If you don''t believe me, I''ll just call the kids'' father over to confront you. See if he has the same eyes."


    "Your eyes darting around... you''re thinking about which of your friends has simr eyes, who coulde and y act for you, aren''t you?" ric''s calm demeanor saw@ight through her lie.


    Hertha still tried to bluff, "Nonsense, why would I stage such a thing?"


    "Why not? Didn''t you and Spencer pretend to be a couple right in front of me before? To deceive me, you two even acted quite the loving pair. All this while, I was wondering why you and Spencer would put on such a show for me. It turns out it was to hide the fact that you had my children!"


    ric now understood all of Hertha''s previous actions.


    It wasn''t to drive him away, but to keep her secret hidden!


    At ric''s revtion, the two little ones looked curiously at Hertha.


    Julian''s big, round eyes widened in earnest confusion, "Mommy, are Helena and I really this mean man''s kids?"


    "Yeah, Mommy, did you and him make us?" Helena added, nodding along with her brother''s question.Exclusive ? material by N?(/v)elDrama.Org.


    Despite being just over two years old, the kids had picked up on the concept of parents from cartoons-they knew that babies


    come


    from a mommy and a daddy


    together, not just a mommy alone.


    Hertha froze, already overwhelmed by handling ric, and now Julian and Helena started asking questions too.


    Feeling the weight of three pairs of eyes scrutinizing her, her blood ran cold with anxiety.


    Hugging the children close, she stared resolutely at ric, "Don''t tter yourself too much. I had no intention of hiding anything from you!"

 Chapter 1685

    Chapter 1685


    Hertha gave a vague answer and turned to leave.


    "Why are you so determined to hide them? Afraid I''ll take the kids?" ric didn''t follow her, instead standing his ground.


    A chill ran down Hertha''s spine, her heart skipped a beat, and she abruptly stopped.


    She could run, she could deny it, but ric''s question hit a nerve, like stepping on her tail.


    Her instinct to flee was firmly suppressed, forcing her to face reality.


    Her grip on the two children tightened, her breathing grew heavy. She gritted her teeth, turned around, and said with seriousness and caution, "I told you, they''re not yours!"


    "I just found one of Helena''s hairs on you, do I need to get a DNA test?" ric lifted his left hand, pinching a fine hair between his finger and thumb.


    At a nce, it wasn''t clear, but upon closer inspection, it was indeed a hair. Hertha''s own hair was still growing back, covered by a teal wig.


    But the hair in ric''s hand was ck and long! It couldn''t be anyone''s but Helena''s.


    Hertha''sst bit of resistance crumbled. Angrily she retorted, "ric, I will never let you take the children!"


    Seeing her tense, ric understood her feelings. He calmly said, "Don''t worry, I''m not here to take the kids. You''ve raised them; I know you can''t be apart from them."


    ric understood Hertha''s fears. Hertha was Thssa''s best friend, and she had witnessed firsthand how devastated Thssa was when the Sinir family took her child.


    Hertha was terrified of feeling the same loneliness and pain as Thssa, so she hid the children from him.


    Because he understood her, he couldn''t bear to see her upset.


    ric''s attitude slightly eased Hertha''s tension.Belonging to N?velDrama.Org.


    He noticed her arms, holding the two children, were trembling slightly.


    The kids were over two years old; holding one was a struggle, let alone two for so long. She must have been at her limit.


    ric stepped forward, offering to take one child.


    Hertha, wary, dodged, "What are you doing? You just said you weren''t going to take them!"


    ric


    be so tense. I''m just trying to lighten your load. Look at your arms, they''re trembling. Don''t they ache?"


    you at her earnestly, "Don''t


    Hertha didn''t reply, her arms indeed sore.


    "Rx, let''s sit down and talk this out." ric took Helena into his arms.


    The little one was soft, like a doughnut, and up close, she smelled faintly of milk, a scent soforting it brought out a strong protective instinct in him.


    This was ric''s first time holding such a small child, his own child at that. He was overwhelmed with emotion, carefully holding her, afraid of hurting her.


    Helena ced her tiny hand on ric''s shoulder, her eyes bright with curiosity and joy as she stared at him.


    ric''s heart melted. He couldn''t resist pinching her chubby little cheeks, "Don''t be scared, I''m not the bad guy. I''m your dad."

 Chapter 1686

    Chapter 1686


    When ric wasbeled the "bad uncle" by the kids, it stung a bit. But now, he had the chance to set the record straight.


    "Are you really my daddy?" Helena''s eyes sparkled with hope, her voice soft and sweet.


    "Absolutely," ric replied with a confidence that brooked no argument.


    Even without a DNA test, he felt in his heart that Hertha''s twins were his. They seemed just over two years old, and timing-wise, it matched up perfectly with when he and Hertha had been together.


    Initially, ric panicked at the news of Hertha having twins, thinking they were born at different times to different fathers. But learning they were indeed twins, born at the same time, made everything click. They had to be his, especially since that night with Hertha was her first time. Helena, reassured by ric''s confirmation, beamed at her mother, her eyes shining like stars in the night sky. Her joy was unmistakable.


    Hertha felt a twinge of jealousy. The kids had always been her little buddies, relying solely on her. But now, knowing they had a dad, and seeing them so happy about it, especially allowing ric to hold Helena without any hesitation, stirred mixed feelings in her. Yet, the radiant smile from her daughter melted her heart, overshadowing her fleeting jealousy with maternal love.


    ric, cradling Helena, settled on


    the couch, while Hertha, with Julian in her arms, joined them. Julian, though held by Hertha, kept his gaze fixed on ric, intrigued by the earlier adult conversation.


    This "bad uncle" was actually their dad? How fascinating!


    Noticing Julian''s stare, ric smiled warmly, gently introducing himself, "Buddy, let''s get properly acquainted. I''m your dad, ric. What''s your full name?"


    Extending his hand, ric waited for


    Julian''s response. Julian, initially


    hesitant and still processing his emotions from seeing ric scold his mom a few days ago, scrutinized


    ric carefully, as ifmutinized


    hisFrom N?velDrama.Org.


    face to memory.


    ric''s smile never wavered, his hand suspended in air, his eyes conveying a father''s love.


    After a brief moment, Julian timidly


    l


    reached out, his small hand grasping ric''s. That simple touch sent a wave of emotion through ric, unlike any handshake he''d ever experienced. It was exhrating and profound-acknowledgment from his son felt like a magical bond forming.


    "Hi, I''m Julian," the little boy introduced himself, his voice soft but filled with curiosity.


    Indeed, the connection between father and son was undeniable, a testament to the incredible nature of familial ties.

 Chapter 1687

    Chapter 1687


    "Julian, what a sweet name. So, your sister must be Helena, right?" ric gently took Julian''s small hand, his smile barely containing his delight. His tone was softer than ever before.


    "Yeah, Daddy! You''re so smart, guessing my name just like that!" Helena, sitting beside ric, pped her hands joyously in praise.


    Hertha looked at Helena in amazement.


    What''s happening here? They''ve just met ric and Helena''s already calling him Daddy?


    That escted quickly!


    Feeling a pang of jealousy, Hertha''s spirits sank even lower.


    "See? Daddy''s got lots of tricks up his sleeve. I''ll show you just how amazing I can be," ric turned back, his eyes twinkling as he spoke to Helena. Receivingpliments from his daughter made ric''s heart swell with joy, more so than closing any million-dor deal.


    "Yeah, yeah, sure!" Helena nodded eagerly. "Daddy, you should stay and live with us."


    Helena, ever the social butterfly, grabbed ric''s hand, suggesting he stay over.


    ric was about to agree without hesitation.From N?velDrama.Org.


    Seeing ric open his mouth to respond, Hertha gasped, quickly interjecting, "Oh, but he has work, plus he lives just next door, so it''s no trouble for him toe over and y..."


    She didn''t wait for ric to ept, immediately shutting down the idea of him moving in.


    What a joke, she thought. She and ric were practically strangers; why would he move in with her?


    After the incident with Angelina and Georgia teaming up against her, with ric standing idly by, Hertha was furious. She hadn''t forgiven him yet.


    Rejected, ric felt a wave of disappointment but kept a brave face for the children.


    "Yeah, Daddy''s just next door, always here when you need me," he concurred, following Hertha''s lead.


    Hertha was nervous, her secret about the children finally discovered by ric, though he promised not to fight her for them.


    Still, she couldn''t shake off her anxiety, wishing for someone to bolster her courage.


    ncing towards the kitchen, she noticed her mother''s absence.


    It then dawned on her, having been inside for quite some time, that the house was unusually quiet. Could her mother not be home? Didn''t her mothere over today to help with the kids?


    Maybe she stepped out to grab some groceries?


    Without backup, Hertha was on her own.


    She forced a smile, addressing the children, Julian, Helena, why don''t you head to the yroom for a bit? Mommy and your daddy need to talk. I''ll call you when dinner''s ready."


    "Daddy''s eating with us, right?" Helena tilted her head, hitting Hertha with the ultimate question.


    Caught off guard and met with


    ric''s pleading gaze, as if to say, Yes, I''m staying for dinner. I''ve missed ourst two chances to eat together, and I''m not missing this one.


    Hertha didn''t want ric to stay for dinner, but how could she disappoint her daughter?


    Biting the bullet, she answered, "Yes, we''re all eating together!"


    ¨¦


    "Yay! Let''s go y, Julian!" Helena, bubbling with excitement, jumped off the couch, grabbing Julian''s hand as they scampered off to the yroom.


    Hertha''s face fell as she turned to confront ric.


    Before she could speak, the sound of keys turning in the door echoed from outside.

 Chapter 1688

    Chapter 1688


    Hertha was like a deer caught in headlights, her eyes darting to the door in panic.


    Oh no, her mom was back!


    Of all the times for her mom to return!


    Hertha leaped up, rushing to ric, grabbing his shoulders with a tense expression.


    ric, with a smirk ying on his lips and his charming eyes lifting in amusement, looked at her mischievously.


    "What''s the rush? Can''t wait any longer?"


    "Cut the crap, get up!" Hertha pulled him to his feet, looking around desperately for a hiding spot.


    But the key was already turning in the lock, the door about to open.


    Hertha held her breath, pressing down on ric''s shoulders, forcing him to crouch down. She bent over, trying to shove him under the couch.


    The gap was tiny, nowhere near big enough for ric''s arm, but Hertha wasn''t thinking clearly about the size of the gap, only that she had to try and fit him in!


    "Hertha, what are you doing?" Kimberly walked in, surprised to see Hertha pushing a man''s head down, trying to squeeze him next to the couch. Kimberly hurried over.


    Hertha''s heart skipped a beat, and as she turned, she met Kimberly''s questioning gaze.


    With an awkward smile, Hertha hadn''t even begun to exin when ric started to resist, raising his head and straightening his shoulders with a frown, "Hertha, where exactly are you trying to hide me? This gap is so small, even if you tten me like a pancake, I won''t fit!"


    Kimberly caught the key words in ric''sint: hide, squeeze?


    Her mind unwillingly conjured images of Hertha and ric kissing passionately on the couch, Hertha attempting to undress ric.


    Such a scenario was thrilling, too intimate for Kimberly to even continue pondering.


    Kimberly''s face flushed, she grabbed Hertha''s ear, scolding with embarrassment, "Hertha, you little rascal, haven''t I made myself clear? He has issues with you having two kids, he''s not going to be with you! He came here to break things off, and you''re still dragging him into this? Are you that desperate?"


    "Ow, ow, ow, Mom, you''re hurting me!" Hertha winced in pain, her ear feeling like it was about to be twisted off.From N?velDrama.Org.


    ric, realizing Kimberly''s words


    were a jab at him and seeing


    Hertha''s pitiful state, chuckled, "Kimberly, oh, I mean, Mom, you''ve got it all wrong. I''m not here to break things off with Hertha. If anything, I like her too much to do that. It


    was


    albmy idea toe here, all my initiative, it''s not her fault..."


    "What?"


    "What?"


    Kimberly and Hertha eximed in shock, both looking at ric bewildered.


    Seeing ric''s matter-of-fact face, Hertha ground her teeth in frustration, thinking, ric, you''ll pay for this embarrassment when we''re alone!


    ric, catching her challenging gaze, grinned provocatively.


    Kimberly, stunned by ric''s words, released Hertha''s ear and asked seriously, "ric, what are you trying


    §Ö


    to say? One moment you''re cold to my daughter, the next you''re here trying to patch things up. What do you want? Be straightforward, don''t waste our time. Yes, my daughter has two kids, and we''re not hiding that. If you ept them, I''m okay with you dating her. If not, then stay away. If it''s over, let it be over for good!"


    "I''m the father of Hertha''s children. I have no intention of avoiding responsibility for her and our kids," ric exined earnestly.

 Chapter 1689

    Chapter 1689


    Hertha gasped, desperately wanting to shut ric up before he could spill any more secrets. But with her mother standing right there, any attempt to silence ric would only make her seem guilty. Her initial impulse to shove ric under the couch was to keep her mother from finding out the truth. Her mother didn''t know the kids were ric''s, and Hertha wanted to keep it that way. Once her mother found out, she''d lose any control over the situation. But the secret was out now!


    Kimberly''s eyes widened like saucers as she looked back and forth between ric and Hertha, her finger trembling in the air as she stammered, "Hertha, is it true? What he just said, is it true?"


    "Hertha, no need to put on a show in front of Mom," ric chimed in. The way ric called Kimberly "Mom" made her ears tingle with joy. She had never heard such a sweet sound before.


    Hertha shot ric a re, ming him for putting her in this awkward position.


    "Out with it, Hertha! Is what he said true?" Kimberly was losing patience, her tone sharp.


    Buckling under the pressure, Hertha muttered a weak, ¡°Yeah.¡±


    Hertha''s simple acknowledgment sent Kimberly into a frenzy, "Oh my stars! He really is Julian and Helena''s father!"


    After her initial excitement, Kimberly remembered Hertha''s earlier lies, smacking her arm in frustration, "You little rascal, when I asked you if ric was the father, you beat around the bush, saying he wasn''t! Why keep it a secret? What''s there to hide?"


    Hertha rubbed her sore arm, feeling wronged.


    ric quickly defended her, "Don''t me Hertha. It was my own fault for not realizing the kids were mine."


    "Hold your horses, I''ll get to you in a moment! One at a time, no rush!" Kimberly shot ric a look, making him touch his nose sheepishly.


    And so, Kimberly began her


    interrogation, asking Herth it.


    What happened between you t threeyears ago? If you were both single, how did ite to this?"


    "It was all a misunderstanding..." ric started.


    "I took two hundred thousand from his mother..." Hertha blurted out simultaneously, annoyed at ric for trying to cover for her.


    ric, caught off guard by Hertha''s honesty, was about to correct her statement.


    Hertha continued, "His mother


    offered me two hundred


    leave him, and I took the money. OfFrom N?velDrama.Org.


    left him..."


    ¨¦n.swnovels


    "You little mercenary! When did you be so greedy?" Kimberly was livid, poking Hertha''s forehead.


    "No wonder you had the money to buy a house! You don''t feel guilty, spending that money?" Kimberly scolded.


    "Why should I feel guilty? I used the father of my children''s family money to buy a house for them. Why should I feel guilty about that? Isn''t that the Falconer family''s responsibility?" Hertha retorted.


    "Exactly, Mom, it''s my responsibility. Please don''t me Hertha," ric quickly interjected, hoping to defuse the situation.

 Chapter 1690

    Chapter 1690


    When Kimberly heard ric exin, she immediately cooled down her temper towards Hertha. Her initial anger was partly for show, to keep others from ming her daughter. She thought it better to scold Hertha herself than let others do it, hoping it might diffuse the situation and spare Hertha from outside criticism.


    Given ric had taken responsibility, Kimberly found no reason to keep chastising Hertha. She ceased her scolding, and when she turned to face ric, her expression softened into an apology. "ric, I had no idea about your history together. If I had known, I never would have allowed Hertha to take that money, much less break up with you."Belonging to N?velDrama.Org.


    "There''s been a misunderstanding," ric attempted to rify, though he struggled with where to start.


    Three years ago, ric too believed that it was Hertha who had approached his mother for $200,000 to end their rtionship, and that her affections were merely for financial gain. This misunderstanding led ric to step back, especially when he saw Hertha with Spencer. To him, a woman who was with him just for money couldn''t truly love him, no different from the others he''d dated. But it was only days ago that he discovered the truth; his mother had tricked both of them. Hertha, known for her strong will, must have epted the money and likely gave his mother a piece of her mind too. Kimberly, charmed by ric''s respectful demeanor, warmed up to him immediately. "If it was all a misunderstanding, that''s a relief. Now that it''s cleared up and you two have children, perhaps it''s time to consider marriage?"


    "Yes, Mom-"


    "Shut it!" ric was about to agree with Kimberly and discuss marriage when Hertha sharply interrupted, frowning at her mother. "Mom, please stay out of this. He and I will figure it out."


    "You silly girl, what''s there to figure out? You both love each other and have kids together; it''s meant to be," Kimberly scolded, her brows furrowed in frustration.


    After the lessons learned three years ago, Kimberly was not about to let Hertha''s stubbornness lead the way again. She knew the pain of missed opportunities and wasn''t about to let Hertha waste more precious years.


    "Mom, our situation isn''t something that can be summed up so easily," Hertha sighed, feeling trapped. She wanted to be with ric and create a family for their children, but theplexities of the Falconer family''s social standing felt insurmountable.


    Moreover, the thought of ric''s one night with Georgia, so open and intimate, made her skin crawl with unease. Unable to forgive that night, Hertha found herself at a loss.


    ric, feeling the weight of Hertha''s words, looked down, his heart heavy.


    Kimberly, undeterred, said, "Don''t act like you''re the only one who''s ever been young and in love. Don''t overthink it; cherish what you have. You''ll never regret it. Don''t wait until it''s toote and live with regret."


    Before Hertha could respond, Kimberly directed ric to the dining table, announcing dinner was ready ric, eager to please, quickly took his ce at the table with a smile, embodying the role of the dutiful future son-inw.

 Chapter 1691

    Chapter 1691


    Hertha rolled her eyes at him and went to the yroom to call the kids for dinner.


    ¡°Daddy!" Helena wiggled her little legs excitedly and ran towards ric.N?velDrama.Org owns all ? content.


    The sweet baby voice calling out "Daddy" was melting hearts all around.


    ric turned around to see Helena running towards him, like a little marshmallow, all soft and adorable, straight into his heart.


    Overwhelmed with fatherly love, ric quickly stood up, took big strides forward, and scooped Helena into his arms, his smile gentle and loving: "Helena, time for dinner."


    His voice instinctively turned sing-song.


    Looking up, he saw Hertha walking over with Julian, who was looking up with those big, round eyes filled with envy at Helena in his arms.


    A surge of affection moved ric. He stepped forward, knelt down, and with his other arm, lifted Julian too: "Julian, buddy, let daddy give you a hug too."


    As he said this, ric cheekily rubbed his cheek against Julian''s little face.


    The previously stern-faced Julian burst into a tender, innocent smile.


    Hertha, full ofints against ric, was about to scold him when she saw Julian''s smile. She couldn''t help but smile too, her eyes misting with emotion.


    Happy for the children''s joy and touched by her own hardships over the past three years.


    She thought the children were too young to understand anything, but she realized they understood everything. Their longing for a father was far beyond her imagination.


    Kimberly, carrying dishes out from the kitchen, saw ric holding the two kids and also smiled warmly, saying, "Dinner''s ready." Helena turned her head, her almond-shaped eyes sparkling as she boasted: "Granny, I have a daddy now, look, he''s my daddy!"


    "I have a daddy too! Daddy''s holding me, I''m in daddy''s arms!" Julian couldn''t hide his joy, proudly telling his grandmother.


    He had misunderstood ric before, thinking he was bullying their mom and was full of hostility towards him, even calling him the mean uncle.


    But since their mom acknowledged the mean uncle as their dad, Julian was overjoyed.


    He and his sister now had a dad, no longer the children others said were unwanted.


    Kimberly nodded repeatedly: "Yes, yes, granny knows you''ve got a daddy now, and granny''s happy for you too."


    Kimberly said, her eyes warming.


    Such lovely children. She''d felt so sorry for her two grandchildren,


    pitying them for growing up wil


    a father''s love. Now, knowing they


    had a dad, they were ecstag


    She too was happy for them.


    Hertha, watching from the side, was surprised by every word from the children. She thought having a dad would just make them happy not that they would boast about it.


    To boast about something, you must be thrilled to the core.


    She realized she''d deprived the children of their father''s love for three years.


    Hertha began to me herself, feeling guilty towards the children.


    "Hertha, don''t just stand there,e and eat. Let''s also talk about you and ric''s wedding," Kimberly said, gazing at Hertha, who was still standing dazed.

 Chapter 1692

    Chapter 1692


    The moment Hertha''s mind buzzed, she knew her mother wouldn''t let her off the hook so easily.


    At the dinner table, without waiting for Kimberly to make arrangements, Hertha took the initiative: "Mom, after we finish dinner, why don''t you take the kids back with you? I''d like to have a word with ric alone."


    "Why can''t we discuss whatever it is with everyone here?" Kimberly was hesitant, suspecting Hertha might not have the best ideas. This wasn''t the time for Hertha''s whims.


    "Mom, actually, I also have something I want to discuss privately with Hertha. Tomorrow, I''lle by to pick you and the kids up," ric unexpectedly supported Hertha, speaking up for her. He really needed to have a serious chat with Hertha alone. There are things that can only be said when no one else is around.


    Kimberly was about to protest, but seeing ric''s determination, she relented.


    After dinner, Kimberly, coaxing Julian and Helena, left with them.


    With her mother and the kids gone, Hertha was ready for a showdown with ric!


    She rolled her eyes at him forcefully: "Who told you to start calling my mom ''mom''?"Exclusive ? material by N?(/v)elDrama.Org.


    "Your future wife did," ric replied with a mischievous grin curling at the corners of his mouth.


    Hertha raised her hand to knock on his head: "Who''s your future wife! And when did I ever tell you to call her ''mom''?"


    ric caught her wrist with precision, pulled her close with a firm tug, and suddenly, her chest collided against his. A faint, refreshing fragrance wafted up, tightening ric''s throat.


    Her soft body hit his chest like a fluffy cotton ball, making ric''s heart skip a beat. Hertha, caught off guard, fell into his arms, the lean, powerful allure of masculinity exuding a sexy force. The resilience of his skin made Hertha''s heart race.


    l


    She held her breath, eyes wide, looking up at ric. His devilishly handsome face was too close, pulling a her, tempting Hertha''s heart. t. She was a normal woman, with desires, and after three years of solitude, Hertha''s body yearned even more keenly.


    Just this collision set Hertha''s mind racing, her blood boiling, her face instantly flushed with heat. ric


    looked down, his narrow, fox-like et


    eyes locking with hers. In that


    instant, three years of l


    and


    desire surged through their bodies, blood rushing, throats tightening.


    ric swallowed, slowly leaning closer to Hertha. His robust masculine scent gradually enveloped Hertha''s face, making her breathing grow erratic, her heart pounding like a startled deer.


    Her eyes were dazed, watching as ric''s sensual lips came closer, her brain foggy, breaths short, slowly closing her eyes.


    But the anticipated kiss didn''te. Instead, ric pulled her into his embrace, her cheek brushing against his hot cheek, his chin resting on her shoulder, chuckling softly. The chuckle made her chest vibrate.


    Hertha''s muddled senses, jolted by hisugh, snapped back to rity. She opened her eyes, awkward and flustered, saying, "What are youughing at?"


    "You just admitted you''re my future wife, which is great," ric''s maic voice whispered in Hertha''s ear. His excitement wasn''t just from their close contact but also from her inadvertent admission.

 Chapter 1693

    Chapter 1693


    As he spoke, his breath tickled the delicate skin behind Hertha''s ear, sending a shockwave of sensations - a mix of tingles, numbness, and itchiness through her. Hertha''s body shivered, snapping back to reality. She ced her hands on his chest and pushed him away, blinking rapidly in denial, "Since when did I admit to being your future wife? Don''t tter yourself."


    Despite her loud and assertive tone, Hertha''s heart was racing uncontrobly, her eyes darting away from ric''s gaze. When did ric be so cunning and maniptive, baiting her into his trap so effortlessly? He had fabricated a story, iming his future wife had asked him to call her "mom", just to trick her into revealing she hadn''t asked for such a thing. So childish! What good did winning an argument do? "You''re backtracking on your own words not even a minuteter?" ric crossed his arms, looking at her leisurely.


    "As for reneging on promises, no one beats you at that game!" Hertha countered, hands on her hips, visibly frustrated. "How have I ever reneged on my promises?" ric retorted.


    "You were the one who said you''d be responsible and that you only had eyes for me! That was the only reason I agreed to... you know. And then, you were off with Georgia in a heartbeat! Your words never meant anything;pared to you, I''m barely a drop in the ocean!" Hertha''s anger escted with every word. The sight of ric and Georgia together in bed three years ago was a hurdle Hertha could never ovee.


    ric''s mischievous expression darkened, his tone somber, "So, you''d rather raise our child alone than contact me because of that?"


    He had thought it was because Angelina offered her two million dors to leave him, wounding her pride, that she had so ruthlessly kept him in the dark. So, it was because of that.


    Hertha turned away, huffing, "You can think of it that way!"


    "That night, I was drunk. I thought it was you..." ric stepped closer, his hands reaching for her shoulders, trying to exin earnestly.


    The moment he touched her, Hertha recoiled as if electrocuted, "Don''t touch me!"


    She stepped back quickly, her chest heaving, her eyes misty, "Do you know how Thssa broke up with Leopold?"N?velDrama.Org owns all ? content.


    ric frowned, his gaze turning mncholy.


    Hertha let out a bitterugh, tears spilling from her eyes, "Leopold stept with Thssa''s cousin. Later, he tried to exin that he mistook her cousin for Thssa. Thssa broke up with him decisively!"


    "I never understood Thssa''s decision, but now I get itpletely." Hertha wiped away her tears.


    "Please leave, I''m exhausted and need to rest. You can visit the child whenever you want, but there''s no chance for us," Hertha said sadly, turning towards her room.


    ric didn''t leave; instead, he followed her insisting stubbornly, "Who says it''s impossible just because you say so? I refuse to ept a breakup! Hertha, I don''t get it. Before meeting you again, I''ve been with many women, and you didn''t mind. Why can''t you let go of that one time with Georgia?"


    Hertha spun around, her chest heaving, tears mixing with her words, "Because I saw it with my own eyes, ric. How can thatpare to anything else?"


    Hertha was on the verge of hysteria; loving someone was so exhausting. Despite the insurmountable obstacle in her heart, knowing she should let go, she couldn''tmand her heart to do so.


    ric stood frozen, his narrow eyes wounded by her tears, his heart in turmoil. Moved by a sudden impulse, he stepped forward, enveloped Hertha in his arms, and kissed her passionately.

 Chapter 1694

    Chapter 1694


    Hertha''s breath was stolen away, a mix of difort and helplessness washing over her as she tried to push ric away. But ric had one arm wrapped tightly around her waist, holding her firmly in ce, not allowing her to break free. His other hand cradled the back of her head, pressing into a fierce kiss that Hertha, despite her best efforts, couldn''t escape.From N?velDrama.Org.


    ric''s longing for Hertha was too intense, her words had deeply stirred him. Once his lips met Hertha''s, he didn''t want to let go. Moreover, since their separation, it had been three years since he''d been with a woman, his physical desires overpowering his reason. Kissing Hertha passionately, he couldn''t help but scoop her up and stride towards the bedroom.


    Pushing Hertha down onto the bed, his kisses became more fervent. At first, Hertha''s mind fiercely resisted, but her body couldn''t deny its longing for ric. Gradually, she melted under his kisses, her mind going nk. As ric kissed her again, Hertha''s eyshes fluttered.


    ric was a master of seduction, capable of conquering any woman''s resistance if he wished. Hertha''s heartfelt confession made ric understand her true feelings. He instantly knew she didn''t dislike him; her hesitance was due to his past with Georgia. To erase her doubts, he knew the best way was to make her his woman again!


    ric''s kissing skills soon left Hertha limp under his onught. What began as a heated argument turned into passionate intimacy. That night, Hertha, in a daze, sumbed to ric''s stunning looks and expert touch. Time passed, and only when Hertha was exhausted and asleep did ricy down beside her, wrapping his arms around her.


    Waking up, Hertha found herself enveloped in ric''s embrace, his arms forming a circle around her. His body warmth was higher than hers, providing aforting warmth and a sense of security. Her gaze fell upon ric''s lean chest, his healthy tan skin and well-defined muscles exuding masculine beauty. Remembering how she was engulfed by his embrace the previous night made Hertha''s blood rush, her face unconsciously heating up at the memory.


    el.n


    She had decided to cut all ties with ric, yet they had shared the most intimate moment! How could there be no ties between them? As Hertha berated herself, she suddenly remembered she had resisted him! Yes, she had pushed ric away, refusing him, but he had insisted, forcefully taking their rtionship to the next level!


    With this realization, Hertha felt empowered, biting down hard on ric''s chest.


    "Ouch!" ric, jolted from sleep,


    instinctively sat up. Clutching the bitten area, he turned to see Hertha''s big, cound eyes, filled with a mix of grievance and anger.


    ric frowned, saying, "Hertha, what are you, a werewolf? Biting people like that!"


    Releasing his grip, he checked the bitten spot and was shocked to see a deep mark, even bleeding where her teeth had sunk in!


    "Damn! You''ve broken the skin; do I need a rabies shot now?" ric cursed, his fox-like eyes ring at Hertha with indignation.


    "Rabies shot? ric, how can you be


    so crude? Get out of my bed!"


    Hertha fuming, sat up and kicked ric in the waist. Dodging her kick,


    ric slipped out of the bed the nkets falling to the floor

 Chapter 1695

    Chapter 1695


    Hertha''s eyes widened in shock, her breath caught in her throat as she quickly averted her gaze, using her hand to block the peripheral vision. Her voiceced with frustration, she shouted, "ric, for heaven''s sake, put some clothes on!"


    Just moments before, ric had been awkwardly trying to regain hisposure after Hertha had kicked him. Seeing her embarrassment, he rxed, crossed his arms, and smirked, "Come on, it''s not like you haven''t seen it before. What''s there to be shy about?"


    Hearing those words, Hertha''s anger red even more. ncing around, her eyesnded on a mug on the bedside table. She grabbed it and hurled it at ric.


    "You jerk! Taking advantage of me and then mocking me!"


    ric caught the mug effortlessly, nced at it, and teased, "Whoa, trying to murder your husband, are we?"


    "Get lost! Who''s your wife?" Hertha snapped back, taking a quick nce at him.


    Even though it was just a brief look, she saw more than she intended.


    Blushing furiously, Hertha bit her lip, got up, and quickly turned to go into the bathroom, eager to end the interaction with ric.


    As soon as she turned on the shower, before she could even start to rinse off, there was a knock on the bathroom door.


    "What now?" she snapped, looking towards the door. Through the frosted ss, she saw a figure standing there.


    Who else could it be but ric?


    Hertha clenched her teeth even tighter, thinking, ric really knows how to be a pain.


    "The door, open it. I need to take a shower too," ric''s deep voice sounded so matter-of-fact.


    Hertha angrily retorted, "Go shower at your own ce, with your clothes on!"


    "My clothes are too nasty to wear," ric responded.


    "Then wrap yourself in a nket and go," Hertha countered.


    Last night was a mistake, she thought. She wanted to forget everything about it and wished ric would just disappear from her sight.


    "If someone sees me like that, they might think we''re up to no good," ric said with a mischievous tone.


    "I''m not sneaking around with


    anyone, least of all you. Now leave


    me alone, I need to shower!" Hertha was on


    §Ò§Ý§Ö


    e verge of exploding with


    anger.


    She had never realized how audacious ric could be, always speaking his mind without a filter.


    In this battle of wits, she felt utterly outmatched.


    Hertha couldn''t chase ric away, so she hoped he would at least stop bothering her while she showered. She quickly washed up, dressed, and tried to ignore him as much as possible.


    "Fine, you go ahead. I''ll wait," ric finally said.


    Hertha stole a quick nce at the door, saw ric still standing there, then quickly looked away, continuing her shower without giving him another thought.


    Just as shethered up, Hertha heard a noise at the door.


    She quickly turned off the shower and listened closely. Someone was fumbling with keys, about to enter.N?velDrama.Org owns all ? content.


    Oh no, could it be her mom?


    Hertha tensed up, nced towards the frosted ss, and saw ric was still there.


    Damn it!


    Her bathroom was right by the living room, meaning anyone entering through the main door would have a clear view straight to the bathroom.


    The mere thought of her mom walking in and seeing ric standing there, in all his glory, made Hertha''s breath hitch.


    In a panic, she rushed to the door, flung it open, and yanked ric inside the bathroom.


    Just then, the main door swung open.

 Chapter 1696

    Chapter 1696


    ric stumbled into Hertha with such force that their bodies collided, prompting an involuntary gasp from Hertha as if her soul was being lightly brushed. ric tensed up, his eyes misty, locking his gaze with Hertha, who was merely inches away. It was as if he could feel her heartbeat, thundering wildly like a storm surge.


    After a night of calm, the storm within ric rose again. His hands found her waist, pulling her closer. Their bodies rubbed against each other, igniting sparks in the steam-filled bathroom, making Hertha''s body burn with heat. She looked up at ric with wide eyes.Material ? N?velDrama.Org.


    "Hertha, what on earth are you doing in there making such a racket?" Kimberly''s voice approached the bathroom. Panic struck Hertha. She tried to push ric away, her heart racing.


    Her mother was actuallying. The door wasn''t locked. If her mother came in and saw them like this, it would be even more embarrassing than just finding ric alone! Hertha''s heart raced, wishing she could just disappear.


    Seeing her panic, ric stepped back and swiftly closed and locked the bathroom door just as Kimberly''s footsteps neared. The series of actions were swift and smooth.


    Just as the lock clicked, Kimberly arrived, asking from behind the door, "Hertha, are you in there?" Seeing the door shut, Hertha''s panic subsided slightly. Through the frosted ss, she could see Kimberly''s silhouette.


    While pulling ric behind her, she tried to sound normal, "Mom, I''m just taking a shower." As she spoke, ric, hidden behind her, squeezed her shoulders as if giving a massage.


    "Ah!" Hertha yelped, not used to the firm touch, and shot ric a fierce re. ric blinked innocently and shrugged, as if to say he was only trying to help her rx.


    "Hertha, what''s wrong? Open the door!" Kimberly, concerned by the yelp, knocked on the door.


    "Oh, it''s nothing, I just slipped but I''m


    fine now," Hertha quickly made up


    an excuse. If her mother knew ric was in the shower with her, she


    would be furious, and the embarrassment would be


    ovel.n


    unbearable.


    Fortunately, with no lights on in the bathroom, it was hard to see clearly from the outside, especially how many people there were. Hertha pulled ric behind her, worried her mother might see two shadows through the frosted ss. At least with her in front, it would be less noticeable.


    "Why are you showering at noon?" Kimberly nagged.


    "I was too tiredst night, fell asleep without


    for it powering. Just making up


    for it now," Hertha exined, feeling more guilty than ever. Her heart raced with nervousness and guilt.


    "What were you doingst night that made you so tired? And where''s ric? Isn''t he with you?" Kimberly asked.


    At the mention of ric''s name, Hertha''s blood ran cold, fearing her mother might suspect something. She shot ric a quick re and answered, "He left yesterday."


    "He left? How did your talk go?" Kimberly was curious. She was there to find out how Hertha and ric nned to proceed, especially with a baby on the way.


    "Not... not much..." Hertha finished weakly, taking a deep breath to calm her racing heart. One scare after another, she thought, this could literally give her a heart attack.

 Chapter 1697

    Chapter 1697


    "You, youngdy, must''ve skipped the heart-to-heart again. Fine, let''s chat after your shower. I''ll start tidying up your room." Kimberly was on the verge of snapping back, but then she thought better of it. Arguing now would get them nowhere.


    What?


    Her mom was going to clean her room!


    Hertha''s heart, which had just started to calm down, was now racing again. Panic clouded her mind.


    Her and ric''s clothes were still strewn all over the room, unattended. The moment her mom stepped in, she''d see the chaotic scene.


    She would definitely guess what had happened.


    What to do, what to do?


    Hertha was so anxious she began to pace, identally stepping on ric''s foot in the process.


    "Hertha!" ric''s voice, damp from the shower, deep and rich, was about to give her a piece of his mind.


    But before he could continue, Hertha covered his mouth.


    She had to stretch to reach, bringing their bodies close together.


    Feeling her warmth, ric tensed up, his gaze darkening as he looked down at her.


    The heat from his body transferred to hers, making her blood rush and her body scorchingly hot. Realizing her mistake, Hertha''s eyes widened as she stared at ric, who was only inches away.


    Outside, her mother was about to enter the room and discover the mess. Inside, she had identally provoked this man, who seemed ready to pounce at any moment, like a rey ofst night''s events.


    Caught between a rock and a hard ce!


    Hertha felt like she was about to be ttened!


    She noticed ric''s Adam''s apple bob, that sexy throat movement, signaling his current state.


    And here they were, in the midst of chaos, and he was still thinking about... those things!


    Hertha''s heart skipped a beat, and she quickly released his lips, stepping back hurriedly.


    The wet tiles were slippery, and in


    her haste, Hertha''s feet slid from under Ker. Trying not to scream, she gasped, iling her arms trying to regain her bnce.


    But it was no use. Just as she was about to fall t on her face, a strong arm wrapped around her waist, pulling her back into ric''s embrace.


    Their hearts were so close, Hertha could no longer hear her own heartbeat, only ric''s strong and steady one.


    And ric, he could feel her heart racing, like a frightened deer''s.


    Their eyes locked, and for a moment, time seemed to stand still.


    Only their elerated heartbeats filled their senses, as the steam from the shower enveloped them, raising the temperature around them.


    ric looked into Hertha''s wide


    eyes, like shimmering ck orbs et


    moist, her longshes dewy. Was it nervous tears or just the steam clinging to them? N?velDrama.Org owns all ? content.


    Looking at her made ric''s mouth go dry, his lips unconsciously moving closer to hers.

 Chapter 1698

    Chapter 1698


    Hertha''s breathing hitched, her eyshes fluttered, and as she closed her eyes, she could feel ric''s hot breath on her cheek, his lips inching closer and closer, almost about to kiss her when-


    "Hertha, why can''t I open your room?" Suddenly, Kimberly''s voice echoed from outside the door.


    Hertha''s mind raced, shocked, she opened her eyes wide and saw ric''s handsome face so close to hers. Hastily, she pushed him away with one hand and nervously responded to her mother outside, "Oh, the door lock is acting up..."


    After she spoke, Hertha twisted her face in guilt, amazed at her own ability to lie on the spot.


    "The lock''s broken? What a hassle, can''t even get into the room. I''ll go out and buy a new one," Kimberly said before leaving.


    Only after hearing the door close did Hertha let out a huge sigh of relief, nearly scared to death.


    Her heart was like a roller coaster, soaring and diving, thrilling yet terrifying.


    Just as Hertha rxed, ric''s deep, teasing voice sounded in her ear: "I helped you out. How are you going to thank me?"


    Hertha looked at him incredulously, "Have you no shame? When did you ever help me?"


    "The keys are on the dining table," ric said.


    Seeing his amused expression, Hertha instantly understood-ric had locked the room from the outside when he came out. That''s why her mother couldn''t open the door.


    Hertha chuckled mockingly, "Didn''t know you had psychic abilities. So impressive, why don''t you be a fortune-teller?"


    After speaking, Hertha grabbed a bathrobe hanging in the bathroom, wrapped it around herself, and stepped out.


    She immediately picked up the keys to unlock the door, swiftly gathered the clothes scattered on the floor, not bothering to sort whose were whose, and threw them all into the washing machine, followed by the bedsheets.


    After adding detergent, she started the washing machine.


    Having done all this, she quickly went back to her room to change into a fresh set of clothes.


    Properly dressed, her tense nerves finally rxed a bit.


    She had nned to take a nice shower, but now, even after changing, she felt ufortably sticky.


    No matter, dealing with her mother''s imminent return was the top priority.


    Scouring her wardrobe, Hertha realized not a single piece of clothing would fit ric.


    Taking a deep breath, she approached the bathroom door and knocked: "ric,e out!"From N?velDrama.Org.


    "What? I''m not done showering," ric said.


    "You still feel like taking a shower at my ce? Go back to your own house!" Hertha fumed, anxious, while he seemed utterly rxed.


    "I took off my clothes here; it''s only right I wash here," ric argued.


    "What kind of logic is that! Hurry up and get out, or you won''t be able to leave once my momes back!" Hertha was frantic.


    "Then I won''t leave. Might as well


    have a chat with your mom about what we discussed yesterday," rio''s words were provocatively yful.


    "You!" Hertha, boiling with anger, disregarded everything, yanked the bathroom door open, and threw the bathrobe at him: "Put this on and get out, go back to your house!"


    Hertha was flushed and serious, not in the mood for jokes.


    "Only if you forgive me, stop holding a grudge for what happened three


    the moment to negotiate.


    years ago, then I''ll go, tel


    w


    Missing this chance, he would lose the opportunity to seek Hertha''s forgiveness forever.


    Three years ago, he had drunkenly slept with Georgia, it was his mistake. No matter the reason, it was his fault.


    If Hertha didn''t forgive him this time, he might never have the chance to earn her forgiveness again.

 Chapter 1699

    Chapter 1699


    Hertha gritted her teeth, forcing out each word: "ric, you''re threatening me, aren''t you!"


    "It''s not a threat, I just desperately want your forgiveness," ric replied earnestly. "Hertha, I want to marry you. I''ve never felt so strongly about marrying someone before."


    The ric standing before her seemed like a different person, earnest and focused. Usually, he was carefree and charming, as if nothing in the world could bother him.


    His sudden seriousness and depth of emotion caught Hertha off guard.


    His words softened her heart a bit. She relented, "Just go back, I''ll think about it."From N?velDrama.Org.


    "Really?" ric''s eyes lit up.


    "Do you think I''m like you, not keeping my word?" Hertha red at him.


    ric''s lips curled up, his serious expression instantly reced with his usual rogue charm.


    He put on his robe and walked out.


    As he passed Hertha, he leaned in to steal a kiss.


    Startled, Hertha dodged and pped him on the back, "Trying to sneak one by me, huh? Get lost! And quick about it!"


    ric left with augh as carefree as a blooming flower, walking barefoot to the door and leaving.


    Only when ric hadpletely left did Hertha finally rx.


    Thinking back to their physical closeness fromst night to this morning made Hertha''s heart race and her cheeks flush.


    Despite her reservations, her affection for ric remained unwavering; her body betraying her feelings towards that scoundrel!


    ric''s earlier confession about wanting to marry her had indeed shaken her resolve.


    Letting go of someone you deeply love is painful.


    Compared to oveing her reservations and epting him, giving up seemed even more heartbreaking, and the pain wouldst longer. When Hertha said she''d consider it, she truly meant it.


    She was lost in thought at the dining


    table when Kimberly came back,


    carryin


    a lock and hammer, ready


    to break the door lock, only to find the door already open.


    "Hertha, are you fooling me again? What are you hiding in there that you won''t let me see?" Kimberly said as she walked into Hertha''s room, checking the curtains and wardrobe.


    Finding nothing, she felt a bit disappointed and sat down across from Hertha, "Come on, out with it. How did your talk with ric go?"


    Just then, a knock on the door.


    "I''ll get it, you stay," Kimberly stopped Hertha, standing up and swiftly opening the door.


    Seeing ric, Kimberly''s face lit up


    with a warm wee, "ric, you''re here! Come in. I was just asking Hertha about your talk yesterday. That girl won''t tell me a thing. Now that you''re here, spill it. What are your intentions with Hertha?"


    "Kimberly, I want to marry Hertha," ric said straightforwardly.


    "Really, that''s wonderful!" Kimberly was overjoyed.


    Hertha stood up in shock, ring at ric from a distance.


    Since when had she agreed to marry him?

 Chapter 1700

    Chapter 1700


    ric peeked inside the house, and upon catching sight of Hertha''s shocked expression, he quickly averted his eyes. Seizing the moment, he said to Kimberly, "If you agree, we can get our marriage license tomorrow and start nning the wedding right away. Don''t worry, I''ll give Hertha the wedding of the century, one she''ll never forget."


    This was the best news Kimberly had heard in three years. She couldn''t stop smiling, saying, "Yes, yes, yes, I''ll go grab her ID right now. You should head home and get yours too."


    ric, beaming like a kid on Christmas morning, eximed, "Great, I''ll go home and get my ID right away."


    With that, ric left, barely containing his excitement.


    Once he was gone, Hertha approached Kimberly with a worried look, "Mom, are you really that eager to send your daughter off? You barely know anything about ric''s background and you''re already rushing me into marriage with him?"


    Kimberly''s face fell, and she shot Hertha a reproachful look, saying, "A family that can casually hand out two million to make a problem go away isn''t exactly poverty-stricken, now is it? Your dad and I did some digging yesterday. This ric is quite the catch, a real-life prince charming from the Falconer Group. We''re talking genuine, blue-blooded royalty here."


    Hertha was in disbelief. Her mother had actually investigated ric!


    But it was true, a quick inte search revealed all there was to know about ric''s background.


    Hertha asked, "And you found nothing about him being a notorious yboy? Plus, his mother offered me two million to leave him, clearly looking down on our family. Are you sure you want to push me into this fire?"


    "I spent all night up, worrying and checking into this, Hertha. I know about ric''s past and present. My daughter isn''t marrying some heartbreaker. But ric, he''s different with you," Kimberly insisted, her tone turning serious.


    Hertha was puzzled, "Different how?"


    "Sure, ric used to be a bit of adies'' man, hitting all the hotspots, but ever since your breakup, he hasn''t been seen at any of those ces. Not a single scandal in three years That tells you something. It means he''s changed, for you. When a man reforms for a woman, it means he really cares," Kimberly borated, her argument seemingly foolproof.


    "Mom, how did you even know when we broke up?" Hertha asked, confused.


    "That was easy, I just worked it back from when you got pregnant," Kimberly replied.


    With years of wisdom on her side, Kimberly was confident in her insights.


    Hertha, impressed, gave her mother a thumbs-up, "Genius. But, Mom, you might be wrong. He didn''t quit his yboy ways because of me; it''s because of his fianc¨¦e, Georgia. Did you know about her?"


    "Of course, I did," Kimberly snorted, giving Hertha a sideways nce. "Don''t treat me like I''m clueless. I''ve got all the dirt on ric''s love life these past three years from my sources."


    "After you two split, ric got


    engaged to Georgia Whitman, but they never made it down the aisle. Recently he left his family''s empire to work as a project director at Crawley Group, all to break free from his engagement with the Whitmans. It''s clear as day." Material ? N?velDrama.Org.


    el


    "Don''t you see? ric''s engagement was nothing but a family arrangement. His rebellion and departure were all about getting out of that engagement, because he couldn''t forget you and wanted a fresh start."


    Hertha''s jaw nearly dropped at her mother''s analysis, "Mom, where are you getting these wild theories?"


    "Wild theories?" Kimberlyughed, giving Hertha''s forehead a yful tap. "You''re just too naive, which is why you''re still single at thirty!"

 Chapter 1701

    Chapter 1701


    Hertha blinked innocently, puzzled at the usation of being naive.


    Kimberly pressed on, "Do you really think it''s just by chance he moved next door? Come on!"


    "It''s just a coincidence," Hertha insisted.


    "Only you would believe that. In a ce as big as Starhaven, with its myriad neighborhoods, he ends up right next to you? Use your head!"


    It was as if a lightbulb went off in Hertha''s head, a moment of sudden rity.


    Right, of all the neighborhoods in Starhaven, why did ric Falconer choose hers, and not just the same area but the same building, the same floor?


    If ric hadn''t known where she lived before moving, she could chalk it up to coincidence. But he knew. She''d actually believed in mere happenstance, but her mother''s words sparked a realization: ric''s affection for her was indeed profound.


    "But Mom, that''s just spection. What if it''s not like that?" Hertha still harbored doubts about ric''s persistence.


    "That''s why I''m testing him," Kimberly revealed.


    "Testing him? You practically told him to grab his passport and marry me. That''s not testing; that''s handing me over on a silver tter," Hertha was confused.


    Kimberly''s smile held a hint of mischief, "You think you''re not naive? Marriage isn''t just about having a passport in hand. When I told him to get his passport, I was gauging hismitment."


    "Didn''t you break up with him because of his mother''s disapproval? A man in love will ovee any obstacle to be with you. If he brings that passport, shows he''s determined to marry you. If not, and hees up with excuses, then he''s not ready. Either way, you''ll know if marriage is in the cards."


    Hertha was duly impressed, "You''re right; experience doese with age."N?velDrama.Org owns all ? content.


    "But Mom, he''s already at odds with his family. Going back to discuss the passport, even if he gets it, he might never be wee in the Falconer household again. He could lose his standing," Hertha raised another concern.


    "Did you fall for him because of his status?" Kimberly challenged.


    Hertha was taken aback but quickly denied, "Of course not."


    1


    "Then there you go. If he gets that passport, it proves hismitment. to you. He''s still the same man, the father of your child, status be damned Your dad and I aren''t shallow. Your happiness is what matters, not wealth or socia standing. Those thingse and go; why fret over them?" Kimberly''s progressive stance was clear.


    Hertha, not usually one to get emotional, felt her eyes well up at her mother''s words.


    In that moment, she realized just how deeply her mother loved her.


    Holding back tears, Hertha hugged her mother tightly, "Mom, I never noticed before how beautiful you are."

 Chapter 1702

    Chapter 1702


    Hertha''s pout worked like a charm on Kimberly. Three years ago, they had a massive fallout, and in a moment of anger, Kimberly had harshly told Hertha that once she left home, she should nevere back.


    Stubborn as ever, Hertha took those words to heart and indeed hadn''t returned in three years, nor had she ever called.


    During these years, with no news from Hertha, Kimberly was consumed with worry and longed to reach out, but her pride got in the way.


    She regretted those harsh words deeply. After all, no matter how headstrong her daughter was, she was still her daughter. How could she have told her to never return?


    Now that they had reconciled, Kimberly was fullymitted to thinking of her daughter''s well-being.


    Hugging Hertha tightly, Kimberly smiled, "Of course, I was quite the belle of the ball in my younger days."


    "And my mom was the brightest star of them all," Hertha replied with a grin.


    On this Saturday, Hertha couldn''t wait to visit Star Harbor Vi.


    Thssa Everhart was busy sketching out some designs when Hertha, sitting beside her, animatedly shared the events of the past few days.


    "Did you and ric really... you know?" Thssa asked, curiosity piqued.


    "Ha, you used me of gossiping before, and look at you now, all fired up with curiosity. It''s a shame there''s no mirror here; you''d see your face is more animated than a tabloid journalist''s," Herthaughed, not embarrassed in the slightest.


    Thssaughed along, "Don''t change the subject. Did you and ric end up rolling in the hay?"


    "Yeah," Hertha nodded vigorously, "Last night. It was thrilling."


    Thssa blinked in disbelief, "Hertha, weren''t you the one who was bothered by his past with Georgia?"


    "How could you just jump into bed with ric like that?"


    "Yeah, I was upset about itst night, didn''t want to forgive him. But he was so.. persuasive, you know? When I stormed off to the room, he followed, wrapped his arms around me, and kissed me passionately. My brain just short-circuited."


    Hertha gave Thssa a suggestive look, nudging her shoulder, "I''m not exactly the innocent type when ites to men. You get me." Thssa facepalmed, teasingly, "Hertha, you''re hopeless."


    "Ha, takes one to know one," Hertha boasted proudly.


    "Eh?" Hertha suddenly realized something, surprised, "You''re missing the point. I told you all this and you''re not curious about how my mom could dig up ric''s love life from the past three years, but only ask about me and him?"


    Thssa avoided Hertha''s


    drawing,


    g gaze, focusing on her


    "Your mom has her ways.


    It''s not strange for her to find things


    out." N?velDrama.Org ? content.


    UMS


    "I''m just really curious, when did my mom get to know someone who''s so informed about ric?" Hertha pondered, chin in hand. "Cough," Thssa just coughed lightly, saying nothing.


    Realizing Thssa''s off behavior, Hertha suddenly pointed at her, "Did my mom call youst night?"


    "I''m busy with my drawing here. If you''ve got nothing else, go find something to y with," Thssa dodged, trying to shoo Hertha away.

 Chapter 1703

    Chapter 1703


    The more she dodged, the more Hertha was convinced: "So, the all-knowing friend my mom keeps talking about is you, Thssa."


    Cornered, Thssa had no choice but to admit, "When your mom called me, I couldn''t just y dumb, could I?"


    "You spilled the beans about me and ric to my mom?" Hertha gasped in shock.


    "I didn''t mention his fling with Georgia," Thssa confessed, noticing Hertha''s stunned expression. She knew she had messed up and begged for forgiveness, "Hertha, I''m so sorry I didn''t consult you first before I let slip about ric. It was my mistake. But your mom was so upset on the phone yesterday. I couldn''t bear letting her worry without knowing anything, so I told her. I promise, I won''t say another word in the future."


    Coming back to her senses and seeing Thssa''s guilty face, Hertha embraced her, "Thssa, you''ve actually done me a huge favor. My mom is truly a mastermind; she has this one move to test ric, to see if his love for me is genuine, if he truly wants to marry me, if he''s really faithful to just me. Without my mom, I''d still be clueless."


    Thssa froze, thinking Hertha would scold her, but instead, she was grateful.


    It made sense. Hertha and her mother were so close that some things were hard to express directly. Thssa, acting as a mediator, managed to convey everything clearly, allowing Kimberly to ept the situation with more understanding.


    Rxing, Thssa gently patted Hertha''s back, "That''s good then, let''s wait for the oue."Material ? N?velDrama.Org.


    "Yeah, that''s all we can do now. But," Hertha released Thssa, looking worried, "how about you and Lysander Sinir? Did he really get engaged to Rosalind Whitman?"


    The news of Lysander''s engagement to Rosalind had been all over the ce, and he hadn''t made any effort to rify things.


    Hertha was worried about Thssa.


    Mentioning Lysander caused Thssa''s spirits to dip, a wave of sadness washing over her, "Let''s not talk about him, okay?" With that, Thssa sat up straight and continued with her sketching.


    Understanding Thssa''s feelings, Hertha decided not to bring up the topic that saddened her friend.


    She took a closer look at Thssa''s design sketch, dominated by shades of blue with distinctive gemstones. "Is this for the semifinal round?" Hertha inquired.


    "Yeah, the semifinal is in five days. need to finish the design and then make the actual piece for the model to wear during the show," Thssa


    replied.  assa


    ¨¦n.swnovels


    "Wow, your design is amazing! You''re definitely going to take first ce in the semifinals," Hertha eximed.


    "Don''t be so sure. There''s a lot of talent out there from all over, I dare not aim too high. I''ll be satisfied just to make it to the finals," Thssa modestly responded.


    "Keep pushing forward, give it your all, and you''ll have no regrets," Hertha encouraged, patting Thssa on the shoulder.


    Five dayster, the jewelry designpetition''s semifinal round proceeded as scheduled. The venue was a grand shopping mall, with an elegantly and luxuriously constructed stage. After the designers took their seats, several sponsors were introduced by the organizers.


    As they weed thest sponsor, the organizer''s demeanor noticeably shifted to one of reverence and eagerness as they hurried to the entrance, "Mr. Sinir, wee Your presence is truly the highlight of ourpetition. Right this way, please."


    Mr. Sinir?


    Hearing that name, Thssa''s heart skipped a beat, and she instinctively looked towards the entrance.

 Chapter 1704

    Chapter 1704


    Lysander was the epitome of elegance and authority, dressed in a bespoke ck suit that entuated his distinguished aura. His presencemanded attention without a word, his features sculpted as if by the hands of a master artist, exuding an air of nobility and grace.


    He made his entrance, seated in a wheelchair, with a woman of intellect and grace pushing him forward. That woman was Rosalind!


    They were surrounded by a throng of people, moving at a pace that was neither hurried nor slow.


    The event organizers were practically tripping over themselves to cater to Lysander, showering him withpliments and eager to please.


    "Mr. Sinir, it''s been years since we''ve seen you grace the business world with your presence. Without you, it''s like we''ve been missing our kingpin. No one can match your charisma. Now, with your union to the Whitman family, it''s a powerhouse alliance. The business world will practically be at your and the Whitman family''s feet."


    Lysander remained silent, his deep gaze fixed straight ahead.From N?velDrama.Org.


    The organizers continued to brown-nose: "Ms. Whitman is the embodiment of intellect and elegance, a beauty unmatched. She''s the perfect match for Mr. Sinir."


    Rosalind smiled and nodded at the organizer''s words; she enjoyed hearing them.


    She loved hearing how well-matched she and Lysander were, believing it to be true herself. In her eyes, no one could be a better fit for Lysander than she was, both in status and in beauty.


    Thssa watched them approach, hearing every word said by the organizer. Everyone knew about Lysander and Rosalind''s engagement. The organizer hailed them as a perfect match, and while Rosalind smiled in agreement, Lysander said nothing, offering no opinion.


    Having been by Lysander''s side for so long, Thssa felt she understood him. His silence was his assent.


    Men, she thought, always cing power and status first.


    Now, with the Sinir Group under Payton Sinir''s control, Lysander had no foothold to return to. But to reim a position of power and defeat Payton, taking over the Whitman Group was his only path.


    And the only way to take over the Whitman Group was through marriage to Rosalind! Joshua Whitman had made it clear that marrying Rosalind would grant


    Lysander the Whitman Groel


    dowry.


    as a


    el


    Previously, Lysander had opposed the idea of marrying Rosalind, perhaps because he was strong enough on his own. But now, in a bid to turn his fortunes around, he had announced his engagement to


    Rosalind without hesitation. Content


    belongs to NovelDrama.Org


    To Lysander, love was just a game in the realm of romance, and those who took it seriously were bound to lose.


    As Thssa contemted this, her heart felt as if it were being squeezed, making it hard to breathe under the weight of her emotions.


    When Lysander had confessed his feelings for her, she was initially shocked, thrilled, and even swayed. She had almost confessed her feelings in return.


    Looking back, she was relieved she hadn''t. It would have been a mistake, turning her affections into a mere joke.


    Lost in her mncholic thoughts, Thssa suddenly felt the piercing gaze of Lysander. His deep, cold eyes locked onto hers, sending a shiver down her spine.


    Quickly, she averted her gaze, turning away and sitting up straight, pretending as if she hadn''t been looking at all.


    Taking a deep breath to calm her nerves, Thssa reminded herself of Lysander''s formidable presence. Just one look from him could instill a sense of apprehension.


    She needed a moment to steady her roiling emotions.


    But why was Lysander still using a wheelchair? Had Lydia not been able to heal him?

 Chapter 1705

    Chapter 1705


    Thssa had been swampedtely, pouring her soul into designing drafts andpeting. She hadn''t even thought to check in with Lydia. "Lysander, the turnout today is insane, just look at the sea of contestants," Rosalind struck up a conversation, trying to break the ice.


    Her words were bubbling with excitement, yet no reply came. Snapping back to reality, she turned to Lysander, only to find him staring intently in a particr direction, his gaze deep and thoughtful, as if he was lost in something profound.


    Curiosity piqued, Rosalind followed his gaze, and her eyesnded on Thssa, seated in a spot that was hard to miss!


    Even from the back and side, Rosalind recognized her instantly. Thssa''s pure aura was unmistakable. Her slightly chubby cheeks, her skin glowing like the moon, and her hair tied in the simplest ponytail made her look innocently youthful, almost like a high schooler!


    Even Rosalind, another woman, couldn''t help but steal more nces, let alone a man?


    Seeing Thssa, Rosalind''s previously buoyant mood plummeted, a wave of irritation surging within her.


    Her breathing became erratic, and her eyes darkened with jealousy and anger as she red at Thssa, her grip tightening on the armrests of her wheelchair.


    "Ms. Whitman, Mr. Sinir, you''re in the VIP section, right this way, please," the event organizer invited Rosalind and Lysander with respect. Ironically, the VIP seats were right next to Thssa, separated only by an aisle. Lysander merely needed to nce sideways to see Thssa. Rosalind had seen the way Lysander looked at Thssa, with such focus and depth. Her heart already swirling with jealousy and rage, she now had to sit next to Thssa with Lysander.


    How could Rosalind ept this?


    She told the organizer, "This spot is too busy. If someone bumps into Lysander, that wouldn''t be good. Could we switch seats?"


    "Oh dear, my apologies, I wasn''t thinking. Mr. Sinir, my apologies. How about that spot over there? It''s much quieter," the organizer said, hitting himself on the forehead in a moment of self-reproach.


    "No need," Lysander said sinctly, his gaze fixed on the stage ahead, showing no intention of moving.


    After the organizer''s eager head-nodding and bowing only to receive a two-word response from Lysander, he turned awkwardly to Rosalind, seeking her approval.


    Suppressing her unease, Rosalind smiled at Lysander, "I''m just thinking of your safety."


    "Let''s sit down, thepetition is about to start," Lysander interrupted, motioning for her to take the seat beside him.


    Rosalind, with a plethora of prepared remarks, found herself unable to voice them, feeling stifled but forced to maintain a facade of grace and poise She nodded at the organizer, saying, "No need to change seats then, we''ll stay here."


    "Alright, let me know if you need anything," the organizer said, leaving with a relieved sigh.


    Thssa, noticing Lysander and Rosalind seated nearby, couldn''t help but sneak a nce their way.


    velFrom N?velDrama.Org.


    Rosalind''s lightughter filled the air, "Thssa, fancy seeing you here. Why didn''t you say something earlier? We could have given you ride. Most people your age are already making a name for themselves in the design world. Surely, you''re not still dabbling in these entry-levelpetitions?"


    Rosalind''s words struck a chord in Thssa, leaving her feeling blocked and belittled.

 Chapter 1706

    Chapter 1706


    Thssa knew it, Rosalind was targeting her.


    Despite being engaged to Lysander, Rosalind still saw her as a thorn in her side.


    Thssa maintained a polite and professional smile as she responded, "I''ve had to fend for myself since I was young, hustling through life. I had to drop out of college to take care of four kids. When they got older, I managed to squeeze in three years of night sses. Of course, my time was limited. How could I possiblypare to those born with a silver spoon, never worrying about their next meal, getting everything they ever wanted handed to them on a silver tter?"


    Thssa''s words were a perfect retort to Rosalind''s snide remarks, dignified yet poignant, resonating with those who understood the undertones of her struggle.


    Lysander''s eyebrows twitched almost imperceptibly, his deep gaze flickering towards Thssa, a hint of emotion swirling in his eyes.


    She never mentioned the three years she spent taking care of him, which had undoubtedly set back her career ambitions.


    Yet, she never used it to gain favor in his eyes.


    In contrast, Rosalind, who hadn''t cared for him for even a day, had been abroad studying when he needed help. She rushed back home only when he was about to wake up, iming she had been the one by his side for three years, shamelessly taking credit for Thssa''s sacrifice.


    Compared to Thssa''s humility, Rosalind''s selfishness was ringly obvious.


    Yet, for Lysander, it was Thssa''s unassuming nature that irked him even more!


    Lysander casually shifted his gaze away, looking towards the exhibition.


    Rosalind choked on her breath, caught off guard by Thssa''s words. She quickly looked at Thssa, ready tosh back, but then she saw the way Lysander looked at Thssa, that deep gaze filled with unmistakable fondness.


    The warmth in Lysander''s eyes was like a dagger to Rosalind''s heart, causing her a sharp pain.


    She struggled to breathe, taking a


    few seconds to recover, then swallowed the anger Thssa''s words had sparked, saying, "If your mother had been more reputable, maybe you wouldn''t have grown up without a dad, living like some fatherless child."


    Rosalind''s words med Thssa''s hardships on her mother, insinuating that Thssa was illegitimate!


    Thssa''s heart clenched, her eyes shooting daggers at Rosalind, the atmosphere turning icy, ready to retaliate.


    Lysander uncapped a bottle of water, handing it to Rosalind with a low, maic voice, "The air''s dry, watch your throat, maybe talk less."


    Rosalind, feeling unexpectedly


    pampered, hadn''t anticipated Lysander would personally offer her


    a bottle


    of water, let alone care for


    her well-being.


    Her bruised ego momentarily healed, she eagerly took the water from Lysander''s hand, obediently saying, "Okay, I''ll be quiet," before taking a big gulp. From N?velDrama.Org.


    Thssa''s anger was doused with cold water upon witnessing Lysander''s gesture, not only extinguishing her rage but also chilling her heart.


    She understood all too well; Lysander was protecting Rosalind, sparing her from difort.


    And as for the hurtful words Rosalind had thrown at her, it was just her bad luck. Whether she felt good or not, she had to swallow it alone. Thssa swallowed her grievances, her gaze falling, remaining silent.


    The temperature around seemed to drop suddenly, a chill creeping up from the soles of her feet, spreading through her veins, making her shiver. She clenched her hands on her chair to steady herself, to avoid shivering, lest she became aughingstock.

 Chapter 1707

    Chapter 1707


    It wasmon knowledge that Lysander and Rosalind were engaged and destined to tie the knot. Lysander''s defense of Rosalind was expected, but when reality hit, Thssa''s sense of loss was more profound than she had anticipated.


    As she sat, the buzz of the fashion show began to fill the air.


    Models, each sporting a number tag, strutted onto the runway, showcasing the glittering jewelry designed by a slew of talented designers. The tags they wore matched the designers'' entries, connecting each piece of jewelry to its creator.


    With each model''s walk, Thssa found her attention shifting, her eyes keenly observing the craftsmanship and creativity of each piece. The event was a melting pot of talent, with jewelry ranging from vibrant and colorful to quirky and avant-garde, some even exuding a strong cultural vibe.


    "Wow, everyone here is so talented," Thssa couldn''t help but marvel.


    Then, another model took to the stage, draped in a stunning strapless blue gown, her neck, ears, fingers, and wrists adorned with matching sapphire jewelry. Her confident catwalk caught everyone''s eye, not just for the mesmerizing blue that shone under the spotlight, but also for her impable figure.


    Thssa''s heart skipped a beat, her nerves taut. The model was showcasing her design.


    But it wasn''t just the runway debut of her work that had Thssa on edge-it was the model herself, Susan!


    Despite the heavy makeup, Thssa recognized her immediately. Susan, the woman who had kidnapped her and vanished without a trace, had somehow made a bold appearance at the jewelry designpetition.


    After the ordeal, Thssa had gone to the police, hoping to see Susan apprehended. But the police had no leads Susan had disappeared. And now, here she was, walking the runway.


    Thssa watched, her body tense, as Susan approached the edge of the catwalk, her smile radiant and full of confidence.


    As Susan neared, her eyes met


    Thssa''s. There was a briefN?velDrama.Org ? content.


    moment of stiffness in her


    expression, but she quickly


    recovered, maintaining the


    el


    professional smile of a model and


    continued her walk. Content belongs


    to NovelDrama.Org


    Reaching the end of the runway, Susan posed, showcasing the jewelry. As she turned to walk back, disaster struck. Her foot twisted awkwardly.


    "Ah!" Susan''s cry echoed through the venue as she fell, the ring on her hand breaking, the sapphire dislodging, and even the stones from her earrings scattering across the stage.


    The audience gasped in shock.


    Someone yelled, "The ring just broke, and the earrings'' stones flew off! Is this some kind of stic design? Are we ying pretend at a kindergarten show?"


    The incident turned the sophisticated event into a scene straight out of a daytime drama, leaving Thssa, and everyone else, in utter disbelief.

 Chapter 1708

    Chapter 1708


    Right after the man spoke, most of the audience got to their feet, voices raised in outrage against the designer. "Who came up with this design? It''s like they''re not taking thispetition seriously at all! Such disrespect!" "We came all this way to see a fashion show, and you''re giving us a kiddie toy parade? Are we a joke to you?"


    Thssa saw Susan trip and fall on the runway, her breath already caught in shock, and then hearing everyone''s condemnation of her as the designer tightened the nerves in her body even more.


    Before she could think of a way to defend herself, Susan got up from the floor, an innocent look on her face, and addressed the audience, "I didn''t fall on purpose. The ankle bracelet designed by the designer had a tack in it that was digging into my foot. I''ve been enduring the pain all the way here, but when I turned, the tack pierced deeper, and the pain was unbearable, that''s why I stumbled."


    As she spoke, Susan bent down to remove the ankle bracelet, showing the tack to everyone. "Look, I''m not lying. And my foot, it''s been pierced and is bleeding."


    "This design isn''t just a toy; it''s a malicious piece. The model did nothing wrong; why would the designer want to harm her?" the man who had led the charge earlier said indignantly.


    He sessfully set the mood for the entire venue.


    The crowd began to grow angry, "Organizers, bring out this designer! Let everyone see who she is! Being unprofessional can be forgiven, but having no morals means she shouldn''t stay in this industry!"


    "Exactly, this isn''t just about harming the model, but also deceiving the customers! The jewelry designs are supposed to be sold to us after thepetition! If anyone bought her designs, wouldn''t they end up all bloodied and injured?"


    "Bring out the designer, let everyone see her face, and ban her from the design world forever!"


    The crowd was loud and angry.


    The organizers couldn''t control the situation anymore. Cody, who had warmly weed Lysander earlier was trying to calm the enraged crowd and looked helplessly


    el.neN?velDrama.Org owns all ? content.


    don''t you have anything to say about this?"


    towards Thssa, "Ms. Ever


    His gaze made everyone turn towards Thssa.


    Seeing the number on her, some overly excited individuals charged at her, ready to attack.


    "hical designer, instead of debuting to scam customers, better you leave the design world now!"


    The person, his nails long and w-like, lunged at Thssa fiercely. Thssa''s pupils dted, her hands raised to protect her face, bracing for the impact.


    Her body tensed, trembling, her eyes shut tight.


    But the anticipated pain never came.


    She suddenly opened her eyes, lowering her hands, to see amanding figure standing in front of her. The man was dressed in bespoke ck suit, exuding an unapproachable elegance and authority, even from the back.


    It was Lysander!


    air of


    He was in his wheelchair, blocking her from the assant. The man''s ws were inches away from Lysander''s face before realizing who he was confronting the top-tier Lysander. The assant''s pupils widened in fear, quickly retracting his hand and stepping back to apologize, "I''m sorry, Mr. Sinir. I meant no disrespect to you. My issue is with the hical designer behind you!"


    With that, the man shot a venomous look over Lysander''s shoulder at Thssa.


    Thssa, her heart still racing from the scare, tightened further under his gaze, overwhelmed with a sense of injustice and distress. She stood up, insisting, "The piece Susan was wearing isn''t my design!"

 Chapter 1709

    Chapter 1709


    "You''re still making excuses!" the man bellowed, pointing a menacing finger at Thssa.


    "Ah!" Suddenly, as he pointed at Thssa, Lysander lifted his cane and struck the man''s hand, eliciting a cry of pain. The man quickly turned to Lysander, only to meet his icy re. Swallowing his anger, the man bowed his head in a show of respect, unable to voice his fury.


    Lysander''s voice, deep and tinged with restrained anger, cut through the tension. "Whether or not she''s behind the design, you weren''t harmed. Why the rush toy hands on her? What are you hiding? Who put you up to this?"


    His words went straight to the heart of the matter.


    The man who confronted Thssa was a stranger to her, with no apparent reason to harbor such resentment over a mere design.


    People are driven by their own interests. If someone threatens those, they be the enemy.N?velDrama.Org ? content.


    The designs up for auction hadn''t even reached the bidding stage yet, and this gentleman hadn''t purchased anything from Thssa. Did he really have a reason to be this enraged with her?


    Caught off guard by Lysander''s sharp interrogation, the man stumbled over his words, his gaze darting around guiltily. "Look, Mr. Sinir, what are you implying? I was just... standing up for what''s right. Nobody sent me. I just can''t stand seeing injustice."


    "Since this designer is under Mr. Sinir''s protection, I''ll... I''ll just leave," the man said, bowing hastily before turning to leave as if fearing he''d be unable to escape if he dyed any longer.


    Thssa watched Lysander''s retreating back with gratitude. He had shielded her from harm.


    Yet, the ordeal wasn''t over; the mess still needed her attention.


    She stepped forward, approaching the podium.


    Thanks to Lysander''s intervention, the previously hostile crowd held their tongues, watching silently as she took the stage. Thssa moved beside Susan, her gaze icy as it swept over her.


    Susan met her eyes and, for reasons she couldn''t fathom, felt a shiver run down her spine. Thssa seemed to carry a bit of Lysander''s imposing aura. Was it possible that spending time with Lysander had lent her a touch of hismanding presence?


    In a frosty tone, Thssa demanded, "Give me the anklet in your hand, and hand over all the jewelry you''re wearing."


    Susan was incensed. Who was Thssa to order her around like that?


    She was about to refuse when she felt an icy stare drilling into her back. It was Lysander''s unmistakable gazeden with a pressure that no one else could muster.


    Feeling as though she was being enveloped by a cold mist, Susan had no choice but toply.


    She reluctantly removed all her essories and handed them over to Thssa.


    Thssa examined the jewelry


    closely, then shot Susan a sharpe look before turning to address the audience. "The design of this jewelry is indeed mine, but the


    craftsmanship is not."


    "Isn''t that a contradiction?" someone from the crowd couldn''t help but interject.


    Thssa looked toward the voice and saw it was Rosalind.

 Chapter 1710

    Chapter 1710


    From the moment Rosalind entered the room, it was clear she had it in for Thssa. Seeing Thssa''s design hit a snag, Rosalind couldn''t help but revel in her misfortune. Rosalind had always seen her as a thorn in her side.


    When Thssa nced over at Rosalind, Lysander''s deep, icy gaze alsonded on her. His piercing eyes sent a chill through the air. Rosalind immediately changed her tune from taunting Thssa to adopting a sweet and gentle demeanor. She sidled up to Lysander, whispering, "Lysander, you went out of your way to help her, and she didn''t even thank you. It breaks my heart to see you like this. Don''t worry, I won''t say another word."


    After her gentle plea, Rosalind guided Lysander back to their seats, seeking thefort of his presence. It wasn''t concern for Lysander that motivated her; it was pure jealousy of Thssa! Her design had a hup, and Lysander had stepped in to save the day! Lysander was her fianc¨¦, the man she was going to marry. How could hee to another woman''s rescue? Especially Thssa!


    Rosalind''s heart was already a whirlwind of jealousy. Her earlierment was meant to embarrass Thssa! But under Lysander''s reproachful gaze, she had no choice but to suppress her feelings, showing him only tenderness.


    Her mother, Matilda, had warned her about her cousin Georgia''s fate. Georgia could have married ric if she hadn''t been so quick to anger and jealousy, leading to ric leaving and refusing marriage. Rosalind was determined not to make the same mistake as Georgia! No matter what, she had to appear caring and gentle.


    When Thssa saw Lysander and Rosalind together again, the


    closeness between them stabbed at her heart? She quickly diverted her gaze to the audience, continuing "I''m not contradicting myself. The designs of these jewels are indeed mine, but the finished product isn''t my work."


    "And these thumbtacks were clearly tampered with. They''re not part of my original design."


    "Evidence? What evidence do you


    have that you didn''t make these Susan demanded loudly. Her question set the crowd murmuring, clearly skeptical of Thssa''s im. N?velDrama.Org ? content.


    Cody, the organizer, was feeling the pressure. This contest, backed by several sponsors with contracts promising them their pick of the designs, was his baby. The sponsors'' funds far outweighed the cost of the jewelry, making the event profitable for him. But now, with the contest in jeopardy and facing potential refunds to the sponsors, Cody was in a bind. Content belongs


    to NovelDrama.Org


    Regardless, he knew the show must go on. He couldn''t let one contestant''s issue derail the entire event.

 Chapter 1711

    Chapter 1711


    The organizer stepped forward, addressing Thssa with a tone ofpromise. "Ms. Everhart," he began, "let''s make a deal. For Mr. Sinir''s sake, we''ll let this whole situation slide. It won''t go public, and you''re still wee in the design world. How about you gracefully bow out of thispetition, as if you never participated? Deal?"


    Thssa''s heart clenched, and she immediately refused. "I''m sorry, Cody, but we need to get to the bottom of this issue, and I cannot withdraw from thepetition."


    If she let this go without contesting, everyone would assume she used cheap stic to craft jewelry and even used her of endangering customers with tacky designs. Her reputation would be tarnished beyond repair.


    Cody''s promise of silence didn''t mean the story wouldn''t leak. Bad news always has a way of spreading far and wide, a truth known since time immemorial.


    She couldn''t naively take Cody at his word.


    Besides, if she didn''t clear the air now, she''d lose any future chance to exin herself.


    Now was the best opportunity to prove her innocence. Missing it would mean no amount of damage control could cleanse her name afterward.


    "You-" Cody choked on his words, frustration evident as he exhaled sharply.


    If it weren''t for Lysander''s influence, he would''ve had her escorted out already.


    Thssa defended herself, "I submitted my jewelry piece to the organizing teamst night, encased in a delicate blue box. Every material I used is genuine. Pure tinum and sapphires-nothing of mine is stic!"


    "How could that be? I''m the model showcasing your designs. When I received the piece, it was nothing but cheap stic! Are you using the show''s crew of stealing your real jewelry now?" Susan sneered with doubt.


    The crowd''s opinion leaned towards Susan since Thssacked physical proof. Empty ims held no weight.


    Thssa firmly countered Susan, "Is it possible you switched them?"


    1


    "You''re using me!" Susan panicked her eyes darting and breathing uneven, "I was under constant surveince while wearing the jewelry. How could I possibly switch it? You''re clearly lying!"


    Susan insisted, "You''re just a nobody from the sticks, barely two years into college and without a diploma! What


    makes you think you can inN?velDrama.Org owns all ? content.


    a jewelry designpetition? You''ve never held a decent job in your life. Where would you get the money for real jewelry? You''re poor and desperate for fame, so you resorted to using stic, thinking you could fool everyone. But the audience isn''t blind!"


    To lend credence to her ims, Susan loudly outed Thssa''s background.


    iming she was a nobody from the countryside, too poor to afford genuine materials for her designs.


    "Really, a country girl in a high-end jewelry designpetition? What a joke!"


    "Ha, what a farce," someone in the audience jeered, igniting a wave of mockery towards Thssa.


    Though Lysander''s presence prevented physical confrontation, his current involvement with Rosalind emboldened the crowd. They pointed and sneered at Thssa, their words sharp and merciless.


    Their taunts buzzed in Thssa''s ears, a relentless swarm. The public humiliation was suffocating, her face pale with distress.


    Yes, she didn''t finish college, but every design was her creation. To have her pastid bare was a humiliation beyond words.


    As Thssa felt a chill envelop her, the entrance door swung open, and a confident male voice filled the room, "Who said she''s from the countryside? She is the daughter of the Whitman family, a true heiress!"

 Chapter 1712

    Chapter 1712


    Thssa''s gaze was drawn to the source of the sound, and there, making his way through the crowd, was Joshua, impably dressed in a navy blue suit. The sides of his face bore the subtle marks of time, lending him a rugged charm. He leaned on a cane, moving with a slight limp, but the air of a business magnate clung to him, undeniable and imposing.


    As Joshua entered, drawing many an eye, Thssa felt a pang of surprise, her breath catching slightly. The moment Joshua walked in, Thssa''s heart skipped a beat, an involuntary response to his presence.


    "Dad! What are you doing here?" Rosalind hurried forward to greet him, attempting to link her arm through his. Joshua gave her a brief nod, then smoothly sidestepped her attempt, making his way directly towards the stage.


    Rosalind''s enthusiasm met with disappointment, leaving her feeling deted as she watched him move past her to the end of the tform. Climbing the stairs with effort, Joshua made his way towards Thssa, his limp more pronounced.


    Thssa watched him approach, her heart softening at the sight of his struggle. She went to him, offering her arm for support. Joshua didn''t refuse her help, his face breaking into a look of gratitude for her gesture.


    With Thssa''s assistance, Joshua reached the front of the stage, where he stopped before Susan, his expression turning serious.


    "Thssa isn''t some countryN?velDrama.Org owns all ? content.


    bumpkin fresh off the farm; she''s my


    daughter, Joshua Whitman''s


    daughter. Do you really think the


    Whitman family can''t aff tinum jewelry? You''re underestimating us," he dered


    with conviction.


    Susan, taken aback by Joshua''s interrogation, stepped back, intimidated by hismanding presence. Meanwhile, the crowd,


    ???


    which had been quick to criticize Thssa moments before, fell silent, shocked by the revtion of her true identity. Human nature being what it is they were quick to judge when they thought Thssa was vulnerable, but the news that she was Joshua Whitman''s daughter changed everything.


    Previously, they were all too ready to verbally attack her, seeing her as alone and defenseless. Lysander''s intervention had brought a brief reprieve, and his closeness with Rosalind led some to believe he was just a good Samaritan. But now, with Joshua Whitman himself dering Thssa his daughter, her status was transformed entirely.


    The crowd murmured amongst themselves, their envy palpable. A reporter broke through the noise with a question: "Mr. Whitman, it''s well-known you have a son and a daughter, Reginald and Rosalind Whitman. There''s never been mention of a second daughter, especially not one already grown. Could you shed some light on her background?"


    Rosalind looked at Joshua, eager to


    hear his response. She had never epted Thssa as her sister and viewed her with nothing but


    resentment. Thssa''s appearance threatened not only her father''s affection but her rtionship with Lysander. Thssa was an


    adversary in her eyes. Rosalind had taken some pleasure in Thssa''s difficulties, only to be taken aback by their father''s public


    acknowledgment. The sight of her usually doting father supporting Thssa filled Rosalind with a bitter jealousy.

 Chapter 1713

    Chapter 1713


    She was dying to see how her father would exin Thssa''s background!


    Joshua nced at the reporter who had asked the question, pondering without opening his mouth, his expression growing stern.


    The atmosphere turned tense.


    Thssa understood the challenge Joshua faced; this was an attempt to expose the turmoil in Joshua''s private life.


    For someone like Joshua, a CEO of a major corporation, any scandal regarding his personal conduct could directly impact hispany''s stock prices, far beyond just the fame and profits of a jewelrypetition.N?velDrama.Org owns all ? content.


    Thssa stepped forward and said, "Mr. Whitman has been nothing but kind and generous in taking me under his wing as his goddaughter. Is there a problem with that?"


    As soon as she spoke, Lysander''s deep eyes turned coldly towards her. Thssa felt a chill directed at her, and as she followed that sensation, she met Lysander''s icy gaze. His look was sharp as a sword, causing Thssa''s heart to skip a beat.


    Did she say something wrong? Why was Lysander looking at her that way?


    And after she had spoken, Joshua looked at her incredulously.


    Seizing the moment, the reporter pressed on: "Can you tell us when this father-daughter rtionship started? How much allowance does your godfather give you each month?"


    Hearing this, Thssa''s head buzzed, her blood running cold as she realized what the reporter had insinuated.


    He thought she was being financially supported by Joshua!


    This kind of goddaughter and godfather gimmick was typically spun in the entertainment world, often implying a financial arrangement.


    She had simply intended to deflect


    any negative impact on Joshua''s reputation, to protect hispany''s stock prices, without considering the implication of her words.


    No wonder Lysander had looked at her with such a sharp, cold gaze. Thssa was momentarily at a loss for words.


    el


    Joshua stepped forward, positioning Thssa behind him and stood tall, responding seriously, "Her words were merely out of consideration for me, her father. She didn''t want to tarnish my reputation. She''s a good daughter, and I certainly can''t be a selfish father. Yes, she''s myo biological daughter, born from an encounter with a woman in a bar thirty years ago. I''ve been searching for her for many years and only found her three years ago. We''ve done a paternity test; she''s my biological daughter!"


    Joshua actually admitted to having a daughter out of wedlock!


    Rosalind''s anxious anticipation turned to difort as Joshua unabashedly disclosed Thssa''s identity.


    Her own father, disregarding the future of thepany and the interests of the Whitman family, publicly acknowledged Thssa as his daughter! How important was Thssa to him!


    As Joshua finished, the reporters went wild, snapping photos and recording, some even live-streaming the event.


    The reporter pushed further, "Mr.


    Whitman,ing forward about your daughter today must be to protect her. So, how much financial support did you provide for her participation in the jewelry


    competition?"


    At this, Joshua''s face fell, filled with guilt. Thssa hadn''t asked him for a single penny in three years.


    Even her participation in thispetition was something he had only learned about an hour ago.

 Chapter 1714

    Chapter 1714


    The journalist''s questions were not only putting Thssa on the spot but also making things difficult for Joshua. Digging up the fact that Joshua had a daughter out of wedlock was one thing, but asking about how much allowance he provided Thssa each month was crossing a line. It was a tant attempt to probe the nature of the rtionship between Joshua and his daughter, Thssa.


    Joshua looked at Thssa with a face full of guilt. A wave of whispers and murmurs swept through the audience.


    "Joshua''s loaded, and yet he doesn''t take care of his own daughter. Not knowing about her before is one thing, but now? He''s not living up to his responsibilities as a father. I can''t believe he''s that kind of person."


    "What''s so surprising about that? These rich folks create their own public images. Remember how Joshua and his wife used to unt their loving, devoted rtionship in public? And now this bombshell about an illegitimate daughter means he''s been cheating on his wife! It''s all a facade. Don''t be so quick to believe."From N?velDrama.Org.


    "Yeah, his image is shattered. Who knows if she''s the only child he has out there."


    Although the voices in the crowd were hushed, every word was clear enough to be heard.


    Hearing the audience''s judgment of Joshua, Thssa''s breathing tightened, and she felt a blockage in her heart. She stood up, facing the journalist who had asked the intrusive question, and said, "I have $50 million in contest assets! The cost of producing my entry was only $200,000! With $50 million, covering $200,000 is more than manageable!"


    "How do we know you''re telling the truth? Even if you do have $50 million, what if you didn''t want to spend it on your entry and instead used cheap materials to cut corners and scam us? As far as I''m concerned, all I''ve seen is a bunch of stic products with tacks in the anklets, clearly meant to sabotage me!" Susan regained herposure andunched another verbal attack on Thssa.


    "The materials I submitted for my entry are genuine, with no deceit!" Thssa argued fiercely.


    "Then show us the proof. Even if you''re ady of high society, without evidence, there''s no way to prove these stic products aren''t your doing," Susan said, hands on her hips, her posture defiant.


    Her words stirred the audience into agreement.


    "Exactly, only tangible evidence can clear your name."


    "Even thedies of high society can be stingy and unwilling to spend money, let alone someone who came out of nowhere."


    Thssa felt a suffocating


    sensation, as if she was about to drown in a sea of usations. She was at a loss for words, unable to exin why her entry had turned into stic products,plete with tacks in the anklets. Content


    belongs to NovelDrama.Org


    Standing on stage, Thssa looked extremely ufortable. Seeing her distress, Lysander couldn''t stand by any longer. He began pushing his wheelchair towards the stage.


    But before he could get far, a man briskly walked from backstage, his voice booming, "The evidence is right here!"


    The man''s voice captured the attention of everyone in the room. Tall and dressed in a royal blue suit with gold thread checks, he exuded an air of refined elegance. He was holding a 12-inch jewelry boxas he quickly approached Thssa.


    This man was Callum Gordon!


    As Callum reached Thssa''s side, Lysander''s grip on the wheelchair''s armrest tightened, and the wheels screeched to a halt. His muscles tensed, a cold aura enveloping him as his gaze fixed on the stage, motionless.


    "Callum, that''s the jewelry box I submitted to the show!" Thssa noticed the box in Callum''s hands and hurried forward to meet him.


    Callum handed her the box. As soon as Thssa took the box, she opened it to reveal her original creations: nes, earrings, bracelets, and anklets made of genuine gold, silver, and precious stones.

 Chapter 1715

    Chapter 1715


    Thssa hurriedly opened the box, revealing the gleaming piece to the assembled press.


    "Here''s the real deal I submitted to the show! Genuine gold and silver, with real gemstones to boot! We''ve got an expert right here who can verify it on the spot!" Thssa eximed, her voice brimming with urgency.


    Susan shot Callum a venomous look, her anger barely contained. "Even if your original is legit, it doesn''t prove you didn''t enter thepetition with that cheap knockoff, trying to sabotage my piece!"


    Just as Thssa was about to retort, Callum, with his striking looks and serious demeanor, addressed Susan. "I have surveince footage that proves Thssa''s design was swapped with the counterfeit. This was a setup."


    In his hand, he held a USB drive.


    Surveince?


    Susan''s heart skipped a beat, a sh of panic crossing her eyes. But she quickly regained herposure,ughing it off. "Well, if there''s footage, let''s see it. Show everyone Thssa''s ''innocence"!"


    Callum, gripping the USB tightly, replied, "That''s exactly my n."


    He then approached the event organizer, Cody, whispered something to him, and they both headed backstage.


    Momentster, therge screen at the venue lit up with video footage.


    It showed Susan sneaking into the storage area, looking around to make sure she was alone before swiftly finding Thssa''s original piece and exchanging it with an identical jewelry box she had prepared.


    The real jewelry box was then taken by Susan.


    As the video ended, murmurs and sighs filled the room, all eyes turning towards Susan.


    "So, it was the model who set up the designer!"


    "Such a malicious scheme, to sabotage someone else to this extent."


    In an instant, Susan was the target. of everyone''s scorn. She stared disbelief, muttering to herself, "No,


    how could there be suret


    W


    "Susan, anything else to add?" Callum''s gaze was stern as he confronted her.


    "You''re lying, that footage is fake! The surveince was supposed to be" Susan, frantic, lunged at Callum.


    Before she could reach him, two police officers appeared from backstage, quickly subduing Susan and handcuffing her.


    As Susan was led away, she


    screamed iMaterial ? N?velDrama.Org.


    din defiance, "Thssa et


    you bitch, why do you always


    lucky? I''ll make you


    y for this!"


    W


    SO


    "Quiet down, behave yourself!" the officersmanded, urging her to calm down.


    With Susan''s removal, the scandal finally came to a close.


    The man who had been leading the heckling against Thssa had already sneaked away once the tide turned against him.


    Those in the audience who had


    spoken ill of Thssa now sheepishly apologized, "Ms. Everhart, we''re sorry for


    l


    misunderstanding you earlier. You''re a talented designer, and your work truly speaks to the soul." Content


    belongs to NovelDrama.Org


    "Yes, Ms. Everhart, our apologies. We let our passion for design get the best of us. Please, don''t hold it against us."


    Following the apologies, there was a strong demand for Thssa''s piece to be included in thepetition.


    This was partly to make amends for the misunderstanding and partly because Thssa''s design was genuinely beautiful and artistic.


    Seeing this, Cody announced with a smile, "Ms. Everhart''s design has soul, creativity, and deserves to be in thepetition!"


    "Next up, we have the voting by our sponsors!" Cody dered, his voice filled with enthusiasm.

 Chapter 1716

    Chapter 1716


    The audience members all returned to their seats, and the buzz of chatter quieted down as the reporters settled back into their spots, cameras at the ready.


    Susan was escorted away by the police, and Thssa''s heart, which had been hanging by a thread, finally rxed a bit. She came back to the moment and noticed Callum''s eyes, twinkling with a smile, fixed on her.


    "Thank you," Thssa said, her tone polite.


    If it weren''t for his timely arrival, bringing with him her original jewelry designs and the video evidence of Susan switching out her pieces, she doubted the ordeal would have been resolved so smoothly today.


    Callum, unexpectedly, lifted his hand and gently patted her head, his voice warm and smile tender, "No worries."


    Caught off guard by Callum''s gesture, Thssa didn''t even have a chance to dodge.


    Feeling a bit awkward about being patted on the head unexpectedly, especially with so many eyes on them, Thssa could only nod slightly and head towards the audience, with Callum following closely behind.


    Down below, Lysander''s gaze was intense, following every move Callum and Thssa made. His aura turned icy, especially upon seeing Callum''s casual touch on Thssa''s hair, his jaw tensing with irritation.


    Rosalind returned to Lysander''s side and, noticing his sour mood, mistakenly thought it was her performance that disappointed him. She moved her chair closer to him, resting her head gently against his shoulder, and softly apologized, "Lysander, I''m sorry. I got carried away by the crowd''s energy earlier and doubted Thssa. It''s clear how talented she is in jewelry design. She wouldn''t jeopardize her future over something so trivial."


    Lysander''s chilly demeanor wasn''t soothed by Rosalind''s gentle voice; if anything, it aggravated his restlessness.


    He was about to push Rosalind''s head away from his shoulder when he saw Thssa approaching. Her gaze fixed on Rosalind leaning against him, with Callum close by her side, almost hand in hand with her.


    Lysander''s expression darkened momentarily before he gently drew Rosalind closer, his movements tender and reassuring. In a low, soothing voice, he assured her, "I know, I trust you."


    Rosalind''s spirits lifted at Lysander''s


    trust, and she hugged him, cooing, "Lysander, you''re always the best to me. I love you so much."


    WMaterial ? N?velDrama.Org.


    Her embrace was warm and gentle, like a princess clinging to her favorite teddy bear, serene and content.


    Lysander, watching Rosalind''s profile, smiled softly, his eyes and expression filled with tenderness.


    All of this was witnessed by Thssa.


    Despite the sweetness of the scene, Thssa''s heart felt as if it was bound by rusted chains, aching and suffocating.


    She diverted her gaze, lowered her eyshes, and no longer looked their way, quickly taking her seat.


    Callum took the seat next to her shortly after.


    Then, Joshua, leaning on a cane, made his way down as well. Rosalind greeted him warmly, "Dad,e sit here. We''ve got a spot for you."


    Joshua approached with a smile, and Rosalind quickly wiped the chair next to her, waiting for him to take a seat.


    The event resumed as if the drama that had unfolded was merely a brief interlude.


    Cody, microphone in hand,


    continued, "This time, we have three sets of designspeting


    el.


    awards. The first set is fro or thre


    contestant number 5, Zoey


    Zoey?


    Thssa''s curiosity piqued, she looked over to the designers'' area and indeed found Zoey, radiating warmth and elegance, smiling and waving at her.

 Chapter 1717

    Chapter 1717


    Thssa couldn''t help but return the smile, acknowledging the greeting.


    Cody kept the energy high as he announced, "Our second showcase is by contestant number eight, Heidi. Following her is number three, Thssa."


    As Cody introduced the designers, their creations were presented in grand, velvet-lined disy cases on the stage, each apanied by a voting box for the audience to cast their ballots.


    Cody, ever the showman, exined the voting process with a grin, "We have ten patrons here tonight, each with a single vote to cast. Our esteemed patrons will vote for the design that resonates most with their personal aesthetic. The designer with the most votes will be crowned the winner of this semifinal round!"


    This method of voting was seen as both fair and transparent by everyone involved.


    The patrons were handed a piece of paper and a pen, simply asked to write down the number of their preferred design. Staff would collect the votes for tallying.


    Soon enough, the votes were counted, and Cody held the results in his hand.


    A wave of nervous anticipation washed over Thssa; she couldn''t help but nce over at Zoey, who was also looking her way. Their eyes met in a moment of shared anxiety.


    Zoey, usually so stoic, offered Thssa a warm, encouraging nod.


    Thssa nodded back, a small gesture of camaraderie before they both turned their attention back to Cody.


    He teased the audience a bit longer,


    holding onto the suspense before finally diving into the results, "I know everyone''s on the edge of their


    seats, wondering who out of ou ne?


    three talented designers has taken


    are in


    the lead. Well, the results are in my hand, and let me tell you, our patrons have exquisite taste."


    Cody''s preamble did little to ease Thssa''s nerves.


    Finally, he announced, "Contestant number five, Zoey, with three votes! Contestant number eight, Heidi, also threevotes! And contestant number three, Thssa, three votes!"


    The room was stunned into silence at the unexpected tie.


    Thssa''s eyes widened in shock; a three-way tie was thest oue she had expected.Material ? N?velDrama.Org.


    Callum, sitting beside her, leaned in and quipped, "Three champions, now that''s something you don''t see every day."


    "It can''t be a tie across the board," Thssa murmured, still in disbelief.


    Cody then added, "Well, it seems like a tie, but actually, there''s a twist. We have ten patrons, but only nine votes have been counted. It turns out Mr. Sinir has been holding onto his vote ying a bit of a wildcard. So, let''s find out, who will Mr. Sinir''s Vote go to?"

 Chapter 1718

    Chapter 1718


    Cody truly lived up to his role as the host. He had a knack for smoothing over any awkward situation with his witty remarks, turning potential disasters into moments of light-hearted fun.


    As soon as he spoke, all eyes were drawn to Lysander, seated at the front. The decision of who would win the contest ultimately rested in his hands. Unfazed and as imposing as ever, Lysander''s icy demeanor didn''t waver. His piercing gaze locked onto Cody, betraying no emotion. Rosalind, sitting by his side, gracefully took the nk sheet of paper from in front of him with a polite smile. "Let me make the choice for you, Lysander," she said.


    Without any objection from Lysander, his silence was as good as consent.


    Cody, seizing the moment,ughed and joked, "Mr. Sinir and his fianc¨¦e are such a lovey-dovey couple, aren''t they? United in thought and action. Having Ms. Sinir cast the vote on behalf of Mr. Sinir is just like the man himself making the decision."


    In doing so, Cody not onlyplimented Lysander for indulging his fianc¨¦e but also rified that Rosalind''s vote was as valid as Lysander''s, maintaining the fairness of the contest.


    This quip not only ttered Lysander but also silenced any potential whispers among the audience.


    Thssa watched Rosalind scribble a number on the sheet, her eyshes casting shadows as she turned away, no longer looking at Lysander and Rosalind. She had already resigned herself to not winning; she knew Rosalind''s animosity towards her was too strong, especially after siding with Susan earlier. This vote wasn''t going to be in her favor.


    But soon, Rosalind folded the paper, handing it over to a staff member, and the result quickly made its way to Cody.


    After ncing at the paper, Cody''s smile deepened. He turned towards the audience and the press, raising his voice to announce, "Mr. Sinir''s vote goes to contestant number 3, designer Thssa! Our champion of this rematch is Thssa!"


    What?


    Thssa''s head shot up in disbelief, her eyes wide as she looked at Cody. The shock was palpable, a surprise so unexpected she hadn''t prepared herself emotionally.


    She had thought her chances of winning were slim, but Rosalind had chosen her design!


    As the room erupted in apuse,


    Thssa was still processing the news. She turned to see Callum pping, his eyes warmly


    ver


    congratting her, "Congrattions,


    I always knew you had it in you."


    Only then did it sink in for Thssa that she had indeed won. A smile broke across her face as she responded to Callum, "Thank you." Thank you for your praise and your unwavering faith in me.


    "Everyone''s congratting you, stand up and wave to them," Callum whispered, leaning in to give her a gentle nudge.


    Sess wasn''t just about talent; it was also about mastering social grace. To go far, one had to learn how to navigate the world.


    Nodding, Thssa stood up, faced the crowd behind her, and bowed humbly, "Thank you, everyone. I''ll continue to work hard."


    Just then, Zoey stood up and


    approached her. Dressed in an ivory


    business suit, her makeup


    impable, she exuded both the


    efficiency of the workce and an


    undeniable allure.


    Reaching Thssa, Zoey extended her hand, "Congrattions, Thssa. I knew you could do it."N?velDrama.Org owns all ? content.


    As Thssa shook her hand, she couldn''t help but feel grateful, responding with a heartfelt, "Thank you."

 Chapter 1719

    Chapter 1719


    "Keep it up, let''s push through together," Zoey encouraged.


    Moved by her words, Thssa nodded vigorously.


    After shaking hands, Zoey cautiously nced towards Lysander before returning to her seat.


    As Thssa was about to sit, Cody announced, "Let''s have our champione up for a speech."


    Under Cody''s watchful eye, Thssa reluctantly returned to the stage, took the microphone, and delivered a heartfelt thank-you speech.


    Handing the microphone back to Cody, she descended the stage, only to see Rosalind pushing Lysander in his wheelchair, both heading towards the exit.


    Lysander had left, showing no interest in the presentation of the design works.


    Watching them leave, Thssa felt a heaviness in her heart. Winning should have been exhrating, yet the joy was muted without being able to share it with the person she wanted to the most.


    No sooner had Thssa stepped off the stage than a staff member ushered her backstage to register her banking details.


    Zoey and Heidi had alreadypleted their registration and were on their way out as Thssa entered.


    While Thssa was filling out her information, she overheard a conversation.


    "Cody, could you possibly allocate design number three to me?" It was Joshua''s voice.


    "Ha, Mr. Whitman, of course. We were already nning to give the champion designer''s work to you," Cody replied with a heartyugh. Turning around, Thssa saw Joshua leaning on a cane, while Cody excused himself, mentioning he had other matters to attend to.


    Now alone with Joshua, Thssa straightened up and asked, "Are you one of the sponsors for this event?"


    Joshua responded with a smile, "I wish. I found out about the contest toote to sponsor it."


    "Then why are you receiving a design?" Thssa was puzzled, as she thought only sponsors were eligible to receive works.N?velDrama.Org ? content.


    "Lysander authorized me to receive his portion," Joshua exined. "He mentioned it to Cody before leaving. Cody knows how to handle these situations."


    Understanding dawned on Thssa; Joshua was receiving Lysander''s share.


    The conversation dwindled, leading to an awkward silence.


    With a slight frown, Thssa said, albeit awkwardly, "Thank you, for standing up for me earlier."


    "It''s what a father should do," Joshua replied, maintaining a gentle smile.


    He sighed, then added, "I know I''ve wronged you by favoring Rosalind in choosing a partner, but it was for your own good. Thssa, you''re always in my heart, and I hope you can understand that."


    Joshua''s guilt over preferring Lysander for Rosalind, and thus supporting Thssa unconditionally, ever at the risk of his own reputation, was evident.


    Though Thssa appreciated his support, his words left her feeling cold. She managed a wry smile and said I understand, and thank you for your help this time."

 Chapter 1720

    Chapter 1720


    Getting engaged to Rosalind, and even marrying her, was Lysander''s choice. Thssa knew this deep down. If Lysander wasn''t willing, nobody could force him. Joshua was dead set on setting up Rosalind with Lysander, that much was true, because Rosalind was his beloved daughter. Of course, he wanted the best man for her.


    In Joshua''s eyes, Thssa could neverpare to Rosalind. Thssa never harbored any illusions that Joshua would treat her better than he did Rosalind. She always knew where she stood.Material ? N?velDrama.Org.


    "Careful, Lysander. Let me help you," Rosalind said, guarding him by his wheelchair, helping him navigate the ramp into the van to avoid any mishaps. Once Lysander was safely in, she signaled to David to stow the ramp away. While directing David, she shot him a look of disdain.


    In Rosalind''s mind, David was on Thssa''s side. Why else would he have advised her to give up on Lysander and find someone else? His advice was nothing but a ploy to clear the way for Thssa to step in! Because of that, Rosalind harbored a grudge against David and was quite irked.


    David, catching Rosalind''s disdainful nce, paused, unable to react before Rosalind got into the vehicle and closed the door, cutting off his view. David was puzzled, wondering what he had done to offend Rosalind.


    The car glided smoothly on the asphalt road. Sitting next to Lysander, Rosalind asked in her gentle, intellectual manner, "Lysander, what shall we have for dinner?"


    "Back to Royal Estates. Whatever the kitchen has prepared," Lysander responded casually, his gaze fixed ahead.


    His calm reply made Rosalind beam with joy: "Great, the chefs at Royal Estates always make delicious meals, all to my liking." Rosalind was in high spirits. Lysander''s willingness to chat and answer her simple question signaled his growing eptance of her.


    It seemed her decision to vote for


    vel.n


    Thssa was the right one! Her antagonism towards Thssa hadn''t faded, but Rosalind was smart enough to act appropriately ording to the situation. Just moments ago, Joshua had announced Thssa was his illegitimate daughter, Rosalind''s biological sister. Attacking Thssa publicly at this juncture would only reveal her selfish motives too clearly. Not only would it disappoint Lysander, but it would also invite public criticism for ostracizing her own sister.


    Her vote for Thssa was not only an act of magnanimity, showing sisterly love, but also a way to curry favor with Lysander. Even though


    she was engaged to Lysough et


    Rosalind was acutely aware that he still harbored feelings for Thssa. Thssa had a special ce in his heart, always.


    Lysander''s recent action, standing up for Thssa against a rude audience member, was proof of his care for her. He clearly wanted


    Thssa to win. By aligning her


    actions with Lysander''s desire


    Rosalind aimed to win his approval. And it paid off-Lysander''s


    demeanor towards her softened significantly.


    She was confident the media would portray her and Thssa in a positive light, highlighting their sisterly bond and support for each other. Rosalind was happy not just because Lysander was being kinder to her, but also because she felt she had won this round.

 Chapter 1721

    Chapter 1721


    After thepetition, Joshua offered to give Thssa a ride home, but she politely declined.


    As she watched Joshua''s car pull away, Thssa lowered hershes, about to hail a cab, when a


    smooth voice stopped her. "Thssa."


    Turning around, Thssa caught sight of Callum approaching her with a gentle smile.


    She blinked in mild surprise. "Mr. Gordon, you haven¡¯t left yet?"


    "I was waiting for you," Callum replied, his eyes twinkling with a neighborly warmth.


    "Waiting for me?" Thssa echoed, puzzled.


    "Yeah, I thought I might give you a lift. Saw you almost got into Mr. Whitman''s car and figured I¡¯d be


    driving home solo," Callum shared with a tenderugh.


    Thssa teased, "Mr. Gordon, so formal, waiting around to y my chauffeur?"


    "The honor would be all mine," Callum replied, the picture of a gentleman. "Skipping out on my


    private invite topete, huh? Strutting your stuff in thepetition isn¡¯t a bad way to make a


    name for yourself."


    Callum then smoothly shifted the conversation to work.


    Feeling a bit sheepish, Thssa said, "Right now, I¡¯m just an unknown designer. Even if I create the


    perfect piece, it¡¯s tough to make sales. I wouldn¡¯t want to cause you any losses."


    "If every designer thought as much about the business side as you, we¡¯d all starve," Callum joked


    as he opened the car door, inviting Thssa inside.


    Thssa hesitated, not keen on being driven around, but before she could refuse, Callum added,


    "Hop in. We can talk about Susan on the way."


    Hearing Susan''s name piqued Thssa''s interest enough to get her into the car, especially since


    she was eager to know more about the recent events.


    Once they were on their way, Thssa finally spoke up. "Thanks for earlier. Without you, I wouldn¡¯t


    have been able to clear my name."


    Exclusive content ? by N?(v)el/Dr/ama.Org.


    "We¡¯re well beyond formalities at this point, aren¡¯t we?" Callum said with a gentle smile.


    Without waiting for her to ask, he exined, "I was there at the start, sitting amidst the audience.


    You might not have noticed me. When I saw Susan take that tumble on the runway, I knew she was


    up to no good, so I snuck backstage to dig around for the truth."


    Catching Thssa''s reflection in the rearview mirror, he continued, "Luckily, there wasn¡¯t enough


    time for Susan to move your piece out of the venue. I found the jewelry box in her locker. Got the


    staff to pull up the surveince footage."


    "So that¡¯s how it was. Thank you for digging up the evidence. Your timing couldn¡¯t have been more


    perfect. Otherwise, my reputation would be mud by now," Thssa expressed her heartfelt


    gratitude.


    "There¡¯s just one thing I don¡¯t get," Thssa frowned slightly, voicing her confusion.


    "What¡¯s that?" Callum asked.


    "How did Susan know what my design looked like in advance to create a stic knock-off?"


    Thssa pondered. It was a mystery she couldn¡¯t solve on her own. Susan''s scheme would have


    required at least a day''s prior knowledge of Thssa¡¯s design to fabricate a convincing fake. "And


    how could she be so sure she¡¯d be modeling my piece?"


    Hearing this, Callum also fell into thought. "That¡¯s a good question. We¡¯ll have to ask Susan directly.


    Let¡¯s head to the police station."


    With that, Callum steered the car towards the police station, ready to confront the mystery head-on.

 Chapter 1722

    Chapter 1722


    Thssa didn''t argue back. To get the answers she needed, confronting Susan directly was the


    best approach. After all, Callum was only there to uncover the truth for her. How could he possibly


    know the details of how Susan set her up?


    They soon arrived at the police station. Susan was locked up, crouched in a cell, looking defeated


    and as miserable as a stray dog caught in a storm.


    "Susan, get up. You''ve got visitors!" The officer banged on the metal door authoritatively.


    Lifting her head slowly, Susan''s dim gazended on Thssa, and then on Callum standing beside


    her. Her eyes suddenly sparked to life. Scrambling to her feet, she rushed to the bars, gripping them


    tightly, her voice urgent as she addressed Callum, "Why did it take you so long to get here?"


    Thssa immediately stepped in front of Callum, eyeing Susan warily, "Mr. Gordon was gathering


    evidence for me. Why are you so bitter towards me?"


    Susan''s gaze tried to pierce past Thssa, fixated on Callum with a clear plea in her eyes. Callum,


    usually smiling, now had a look of stern warning directed at Susan.


    Seeing the shift in Callum''s expression, Susan''s briefly brightened eyes dimmed again, fear taking


    over. She lowered hershes, only to sharply look up again, her gaze fierce as she spat at


    Thssa, "What are you here for, to gloat?"


    "Watch your mouth!" The officer rapped on the door again, a threatening reminder to Susan.


    Intimidated by the authority, Susan slightly moderated her tone but her breathing was heavy with


    anger, her eyes still brimming with hatred and ferocity as she red at Thssa, her grip on the


    bars whitening her knuckles.


    "You stole my designs, swapped the genuine materials for cheap knockoffs. There''s surveince


    footage and evidence against you. You can''t deny it!" Thssa''s voice was cold as sheid out


    Susan''s crimes.


    N?velDrama.Org ? content.


    "The footage was supposed to be deleted. How could it still be shown? I refuse to ept this!"


    Susan, clearly agitated, red back at Thssa.


    "Did you really think deleting the footage would be the end of it? Haven''t you heard of data


    recovery?" Thssa mocked her naivety. Susan was despicable, resorting to any means necessary


    to achieve her ends.


    "What! Data recovery?" Susan was taken aback, clearly unaware that the deleted footage could be


    restored. Her confidence at the exhibition, openly persecuting Thssa, was based on the belief


    that with the footage gone, she was safe.


    Her shock at seeing the footage yed back was palpable; despite her efforts to delete it, there it


    was, for all to see. Indeed, data recovery had revealed her deception and persecution of Thssa,


    leading to her arrest.


    Susan, hands reaching through the bars, ws out in anger, shouted at Callum, "Why the hell did


    you help her? I swear, you''re the reason I''m in this mess!"


    As Susan lost control, Thssa quickly pulled Callum back, ensuring they were out of harm''s way.


    The officer approached, handcuffing Susan''s outstretched hands and scolded, "Calm down, or I''ll


    have to use the taser!"


    The mention of the taser made Susan freeze in fear, her body shaking not just with anger but with


    fright. Her chest heaved as she red at Thssa, eyes bloodshot, struggling to contain her rage.


    "Susan, just tell me, who put you up to framing me?" Thssa''s voice was firm, demanding the


    truth.


    "I did it because I can''t stand you. Who else would I need?" Susan hissed through clenched teeth.

 Chapter 1723

    Chapter 1723


    "If you spill the beans about who''s pulling the strings, you could get off with a p on the wrist,"


    Thssa said. "But if you keep ying tough, you''ll be carrying the can alone!"


    "How could you possibly have produced an identical set of stic items so quickly after only seeing


    my design while getting your makeup done? Who gave you that box of stic items?" Thssa


    asked sternly.


    She hade to the police station to get to the bottom of this.


    Susan didn''t immediately respond to Thssa, her gaze involuntarily shifting to Callum standing


    behind her.


    "Come clean, and we might just let you off the hook!" Callum threatened.


    Hearing Callum''s words, Susan''s eyes widened with fear.


    She looked back at Thssa, biting the bullet, "No one''s behind this! I saw your design while at the


    audition for the event organizers. You didn''t see me, but I saw you. I sneakily took a photo of your


    work and had someone create an identical set of stic items."


    "I''ve had it with you, wanted you to crash and burn!" Susan spat venomously at Thssa.


    Seeing Susan''s fierce demeanor, Thssa realized she was dealing with someone who had lost all


    reason, no longer a sane person.


    "So, it was your idea to model for my design?" Thssa asked coldly.


    "Yes!" Susan confessed without hesitation, ring at Thssa, her chest heaving with rage.


    Thssa scoffed, "Don''t worry, I''ll see this through to the end. Since you''re taking full responsibility,


    then you''ll bear all the consequences!"


    With that, Thssa turned and walked away.


    Callum followed her.


    Behind them, Susan screamed hysterically, "Thssa, you bitch, why does all the good fortune


    gravitate towards you? Why does everyone love you? I was raised to be superior, my status far


    above yours. How is it that a nobody from the sticks ends up thriving while I end up behind bars!"


    Susan continued her tirade, but Thssa couldn''t hear her anymore; she had quickened her pace,


    eager to leave the police station and Susan''s voice behind.


    Susan still couldn''t see where she went wrong. Her downfall was entirely of her own making.


    She spent all her energy on bringing others down instead of elevating herself, which was a recipe


    for disaster.


    The chill of thete autumn night was biting.


    Thssa rubbed her face with her hands, trying to stay warm.


    Turning around, she saw Callum halt and, noticing her cheeks flushed from the cold, he quickly took


    off his coat and draped it over her shoulders, "It''s getting really cold out here. Don''t catch a chill."


    As he was about to put the coat on her, Thssa stepped back, leaving Callum holding the coat


    mid-air, unsure whether to move forward or retreat.


    "Mr. Gordon, thank you for apanying me to the station to uncover the truth. I''ll take a cab


    home; you should head back too," she hurriedly said before walking towards the curb.N?velDrama.Org ? content.


    "Thssa, be my girlfriend! Lysander and Rosalind are tying the knot, what are you waiting for?"


    Callum''s unexpected proposal stopped her in her tracks.

 Chapter 1724

    Chapter 1724


    Before Thssa could even turn around, Callum was already in front of her, his hands pressing


    down on her shoulders, his eyes - warm and earnest - locked onto hers. "Thssa, I told you three


    years ago, I''ve been in love with you. I''ve waited three years; don''t you know by now how I feel?"


    The grip Callum had on Thssa''s shoulders was firm, betraying his emotional turmoil. His gaze,


    too, turned desperate.


    This intensity from Callum sent a wave of panic through Thssa. Her eyes, wide and shimmering,


    were just about to respond.


    Suddenly, from the corner of her eye, she spotted a sleek ck limousine gliding past, its presence


    commanding, impossible to ignore. The windows were down, and inside, a man with deep, piercing


    eyes watched her, reminiscent of a wolf in the night. The city''s neon lights flicked through his gaze,


    casting a haunting luminescence akin to the glow of a predator''s eyes in the darkness.


    It was Lysander!


    Even from just a glimpse of his eyes, Thssa recognized him. The man in the car was Lysander!


    A chill ran down Thssa''s spine, her heart racing with unease.


    She hastily stepped back, escaping Callum''s grasp, took a deep breath, and said, "Mr. Gordon, love


    isn''t something you can force. Don¡¯t waste your time on me. Lysander''s marriage to Rosalind has


    nothing to do with me. Whether I date or he gets married, it¡¯s irrelevant. I appreciate your help today


    in clearing my name. Rest assured, I''ll give you a third of the reward money."


    "It¡¯s not about the money..."


    "It¡¯ste, Mr. Gordon. You should head home. I need to go as well." Thssa cut off Callum¡¯s


    response, straightforward and firm, then turned away, heading towards the sidewalk.


    The limousine had already merged back into the traffic. Just then, a taxi came along. Thssa


    hailed it, got in, and rode away.


    Material ? N?velDrama.Org.


    Callum, watching the taxi disappear into the distance, clenched his fists in frustration, his once


    tender eyes reflecting a cold re.


    Sitting in the taxi, Thssa took several deep breaths to calm her racing heart.


    She had made it clear to Callum when he confessed three years ago not to waste his time.


    Yet, he stubbornly waited.


    This realization weighed heavily on Thssa. She didn¡¯t want a repeat of the Leopold Sinir


    incident but epting someone¡¯s feelings just to prevent that was not an option either.


    She could not betray her own heart or be irresponsible with love.


    Callum¡¯s passionate expression earlier had put her under immense pressure.


    She could see he was serious about her, but she couldn¡¯t honor his feelings.


    Rejecting Callum was not because she saw Lysander; she had meant to reject him anyway.


    Callum¡¯s obsession was still deep. How could she make him let gopletely?


    Thssa was troubled, her mind racing back to Susan¡¯s usations earlier, insisting she was the


    mastermind behind her own framing.


    But something didn¡¯t sit right with Thssa.


    "Driver, can you turn around, please? Back to the police station." With Callum there earlier, there


    were things Thssa couldn¡¯t inquire about. She wanted to ask Susan again, especially how she


    ended up modeling at the jewelrypetition while being on the police radar.


    Back at the station, Thssa registered her visit, and an officer led her to see Susan. Another


    officer mentioned Susan was taken to the visitor''s room, where someone was already speaking with


    her.

 Chapter 1725

    Chapter 1725


    "Wait here for a bit, alright? Let thest visitor leave before you go in," the officer instructed


    Thssa, guiding her to sit on a bench outside the visitor''s room.


    Thssa nodded, and the officer hurried off to attend to other duties.


    She found herself sitting against the wall, pondering curiously. Susan had no known family left in the


    world. Who could possibly know she was locked up here, looking to have a word with her?


    Driven by curiosity, Thssa leaned closer to the wall, hoping to catch a snippet of the conversation


    from the other side.


    Indeed, muffled voices seeped through, the wall''s instion leaving much to be desired.


    "Callum, you''ve deceived me again!" Susan''s voice,den with anger, reverberated.


    Callum? He came back to see Susan?


    At the mention of that name, Thssa felt a pang of curiosity. She hadn''t expected Callum to be the


    visitor.


    "I haven''t lied to you," Callum responded, his tone calm.


    "Not lied? It was you who convinced me toe back, arranged for me to model at the jewelry


    competition. You''re the one who had me switch Thssa''s designs, assuring me the surveince


    was wiped and all I had to do was use Thssa of fraud on stage! But then you turned the


    tables on me, showing Thssa''s original work and ying the surveince for all to see. You set


    me up to be jailed, didn''t you?" Susan''s voice trembled with fury, demanding answers from Callum.


    Originally, when she had kidnapped Thssa but failed to kill her, it was Callum who had arranged


    for her toy low abroad. Though life had been tough overseas, it was safe. Suddenly, Callum had


    someone bring her back, promising a return to her modeling career and a shot at a normal life.


    After years of living in exile, constantly on the run and despised, Susan was fed up. But even worse


    was the discrimination and rejection she faced abroad.


    It was this intolerance that had driven Susan to agree to return, only to find herself trapped by


    Callum once more.


    Instead of starting anew, she was now behind bars.


    "Your visa was expired anyway. Even if you hadn''te back, you''d have been deported right into


    Lysander''s hands. Do you think you''d stand a chance of surviving once Lysander got hold of you?"


    Callum''s voice was chilling.


    From N?velDrama.Org.


    Susan scoffed, her voice dripping with sarcasm. "Callum, after all this effort, isn''t it just to show off


    to Thssa, make her feel indebted to you, so you can swoop in and y the hero? So, did you


    confess your love to her after leaving the station? Did she ept you?"


    "Whether she epts me or not is between us, and it''s none of your business!" Callum struggled to


    contain his anger.


    "Is that so? Then why use me? Callum, I''m not a tool for your pursuit of Thssa. You better find a


    way to get me out of here. Otherwise, I can''t guarantee I won''t spill about the discord you sowed


    between Thssa and Lysander three years ago," Susan''s eyes darkened with malice.


    Thssa''s grip tightened, her body tense.


    The content of this dialogue both shocked and chilled her.


    "Who would believe the word of a lunatic!" Callum bit back.


    "A lunatic? I''m far from it. I remember everything about what happened. Have you forgotten, Mr.


    Gordon? Maybe I should jog your memory?" Susan''s voice wasced with a coldugh.


    Thssa''s eyes widened, her ear pressed against the wall, listening intently.


    What exactly had Callum done three years ago?

 Chapter 1726

    Chapter 1726


    "Susan, you better shut your trap!" Callum gritted his teeth, his anger barely contained.


    This was the police station, after all. He couldn''t afford tosh out at Susan in full view of everyone.


    But Susan just tilted her head back andughed, a sharp, unnerving cackle that made one''s skin


    crawl.


    After herughter faded, her expression turned venomous. She leaned in close to Callum and


    hissed, "Remember three years ago, Callum? When you came to me to ruin Lysander and


    Thssa''s rtionship, to drive a wedge between them? Mr. Gordon should recall that pretty well,


    shouldn''t he?"


    "I seized the moment to sabotage Thssa during the y rehearsal, making sure the prop fell right


    towards Lysander''s head, framing it as Thssa''s attempt to kill him. That was just the beginning of


    their troubles. Later, when Thssa and her mother visited Eldoria, you orchestrated their boat


    ident, causing Thssa''s mom to fall overboard. You knew Lysander, being ex-military, wouldn''t


    dive in without assessing the situation first, making Thssa desperate and helpless to save her


    own mother."


    "You were well aware that Thssa and Lysander were already on thin ice, and nothing mattered


    more to Thssa than her mom. If Lysander didn''t jump in to save her immediately, Thssa would


    surely suspect his intentions, believing he wanted revenge on her mom, willing to watch her drown!"


    "Stop it!" Callum''s voice was a threatening whisper, his breathing heavy with suppressed rage.


    But Susan was beyond reason, driven mad by the threat of imprisonment Callum held over her.


    How could she keep these secrets bottled up any longer?


    "Then, back at the hotel, you made sure the front desk refused to let Thssa and Evelyn


    Pendleton check out, forcing them to stay, all to turn Thssa against Lysander! Making her believe


    it was all Lysander''s doing, aiming to iste her mom!"


    Susan had dug into their past after Thssa and Lysander returned from Eldoria, uncovering these


    sordid details.


    Exclusive content ? by N?(v)el/Dr/ama.Org.


    "And if you think that was bad, there''s worse. How do you think Thssa would feel knowing all


    this, huh?"


    Ignoring Callum''s darkening expression, Susan smiled wickedly, "When my dad was jailed, you


    goaded him into using old photos of Evelyn, creating a scandalous video suggesting Evelyn was a


    homewrecker, spreading it for the world to see. Evelyn was reviled, all because of that rumor you


    helped spread, leading her down a path of no return!"


    Outside, Thssa, overhearing this, felt her world shatter. Her blood ran cold, her breathing tight,


    herplexion ghostly pale.


    "Susan, shut up!" Callum couldn''t contain himself any longer, his voice a low growl. His fists


    clenched, veins bulging, his jaw muscles trembling with rage as he red at Susan, "Just wait, I''ll


    get you out of here. But if you utter a single word of this to anyone, you know what''sing for


    you!"


    "Mr. Gordon, I''ll be waiting for your rescue. As long as you keep me safe, I won''t speak a word of


    what you don''t want said," Susan finally said with a smirk.


    Callum shot her a lethal nce before turning to leave.


    As he opened the door to exit, his eyes caught Thssa, who had been eavesdropping, sitting on


    the waiting bench, her ear practically glued to the wall.


    The moment she saw him, their eyes locked.


    In that instant, Callum''s eyes went from shock to fear, then to guilt, and finally, silence.


    He just stood there, looking at Thssa, wordlessly.


    Thssa''s eyes, wide with shock, anger, and betrayal, stared back at Callum.


    Though no words were exchanged, the air was thick with emotion¡ªa tumultuous mix of trust


    shattered, disillusionment, despair, and rage.


    Thssa clenched her fists so tightly her body shook, ring at Callum as she spat out, "So, this is


    it!"


    With that, she turned and stormed away.


    Once, she had thought Lysander was the devil incarnate, and Callum, a gentle, generous soul, her


    savior from Lysander''s clutches, always there to support her unconditionally.


    But now, she realized Callum was the true monster, the greatest deceiver of them all.

 Chapter 1727

    Chapter 1727


    Three years ago, Callum was the mastermind behind her mother''s untimely death. Yet, he yed


    the role of a good guy,forting her, being kind to her all this while. Was all this just to make her


    feel indebted to him, to develop feelings for him? What a terrifying person!


    Callum watched Thssa storm off, seething with anger. He wanted to chase after her, but his feet


    felt like they were filled with lead. From the look in Thssa''s eyes just moments ago, he knew she


    had overheard his entire conversation with Susan. She knew everything he had done. Now, she


    absolutely despised him. All his efforts were in vain.


    From N?velDrama.Org.


    As Thssa settled back into the taxi, the conversation between Susan and Callum reyed in her


    mind, causing a tumult of emotions: anger, sorrow, guilt¡ªall intertwining. Anger at Callum for


    resorting to such tactics to be with her. Sorrow that her mother was harmed by someone she


    trusted. Guilt for misunderstanding Lysander, for pushing him away time and again. Thssa''s


    breathing was erratic, her chest heaving, her fists clenched tight, struggling to contain the pressure


    building inside her.


    The taxi driver noticed her agitated state from the moment she got in the car¡ªher breathing heavy,


    on the verge of tears yet holding back, angry but not venting.


    "Miss, just let it all out," the driver advised. "Keeping it all bottled up can drive a person crazy."


    "I''m fine," Thssa said, fighting back the hot, stinging tears. "I just saw someone''s true colors


    today and realized I''ve been misunderstanding someone else."


    "If you''ve seen someone''s true colors, then just cut them off from now on. And if you''ve


    misunderstood someone, go clear things up, apologize, and ask for their forgiveness. The person


    you misunderstood must feel so wronged, carrying all that hurt. If you don''t rify things, they might


    feel that way for the rest of their life. Life''s too short, just solve the problems as theye."


    The driver''s optimistic advice felt like a balm to Thssa, easing the tight knot of tension inside her,


    making her problems seem less insurmountable.


    "You''re right, thank you. I feel much better now," Thssa said, grateful for the driver''s perspective.


    "Exactly, nothing''s too big to handle," the driver added.


    "Then, I''m not going to Star Harbor Vi anymore. Please turn around; I need to go to Royal Estates


    and clear up years of misunderstanding with him," Thssa decided, wiping away the tears from


    her eyes, resolute in her decision.


    "Alrighty, hold tight, turning around now," the driver said cheerfully, swiftly steering the vehicle in a


    new direction.

 Chapter 1728

    Chapter 1728


    En route to Royal Estates, Thssa rehearsed her apology to Lysander in her mind, trying to


    untangle the misunderstanding that had lingered between them for years. She had once wrongfully


    used him of being behind her mother''s demise, a plot actually orchestrated by Callum, leaving


    Lysander unfairly med. She knew she owed him an apology for her coldness.


    Feeling somewhat prepared, her car pulled up at the gates of Royal Estates. Stepping out, she


    approached the security guard, "I''m Thssa, I need to see Lysander."


    Exclusive content ? by N?(v)el/Dr/ama.Org.


    "Ms. Everhart, pleasee in," the guard replied, respectfully ushering her through.


    To Thssa''s surprise, her ess to Royal Estates remained unrestricted. The mansion''s doors


    stood weingly open, light spilling out into the night, creating a beacon of warmth in the


    darkness.


    Ascending the stone steps, Thssa''s eyes immediately searched for Lysander. Spotting him


    seated near the couch, her heart began to race, but before words could escape her, Rosalind


    appeared. Dressed in a silk nightgown, her hair damp, she moved with a grace that captivated the


    room, settling beside Lysander with a familiarity that spoke volumes. Her gaze on him was filled with


    an unspoken promise, her smileden with allure.


    "Lysander, it''s gettingte, we should head to bed," she whispered, her voice a melody of


    temptation.


    The sight struck Thssa hard, her steps faltering, her heart pounding. Rosalind, in such intimate


    proximity to Lysander, suggested a closeness Thssa hadn''t anticipated.


    Lysander, catching a glimpse of Thssa, softened momentarily before responding to Rosalind,


    "Alright, help me to the elevator, let''s call it a night."


    His response felt like a dagger to Thssa''s heart, her pain so acute it stifled her breath. With no


    courage left to confront what she had seen, she turned and left Royal Estates behind.


    As she stepped outside, tears breached her defenses, the chill night air entuating the sting of


    her emotions, mirroring the cold despair enveloping her heart.


    She hade to clear the air, to seek forgiveness for her unjust usations against him. Instead,


    she witnessed a moment of intimacy between Lysander and Rosalind, rendering her intentions


    meaningless. Lysander''s life had moved on, with or without her understanding, their shared past no


    longer bearing significance.


    Even if she rified the misunderstandings, it seemed futile now. Lysander and Rosalind were a


    unit, likely engaged, their lives intertwined far beyond what Thssa had anticipated.


    Understanding the unspoken intimacy of their interaction, Thssa''s heart ached with a profound


    sorrow. She had braced herself for this possibility, yet witnessing their closeness firsthand left her


    breathless with grief.


    "Ms. Everhart, are you leaving? Do you need a ride?" the guard asked, his concern evident as


    Thssa hurried past, a clear reflection of her turmoil.

 Chapter 1729

    Chapter 1729


    Just moments after she had stepped inside, Thssa found herself hurrying out again, her eyes


    fixed on the ground in a vain attempt to hide the tears that threatened to spill. With a voice she


    forced to be calm, she said, "No, it''s fine, I''ll just catch a cab back."


    Brushing past the bodyguard, she quickened her pace towards the sidewalk.


    Back at Royal Estates, Lysander had gestured for Rosalind to head upstairs alone. He stood by the


    door, his gaze lingering on the cobblestone path illuminated by streetmps, his handsome face


    taut with tension, his eyes as deep and stormy as the ocean.


    Thssa finally stopped at the base of the hill, copsing onto an old bench, its paint faded by the


    sun to a dull red. The dam holding back her emotions finally broke, and tears fell in heavy drops,


    darkening the wood with their wetness.


    It was as if the pain soaked into the very depths of her heart, growing heavier with each moment of


    umtion.


    Once, escaping Lysander''s orbit, breaking free from his presence, was all she ever dreamed of.


    But now, having achieved that dream only to witness him with another woman, the pain was


    unbearable.


    When had Lysander managed to carve such a deep niche in her heart? The thought of forgetting


    him seemed impossible now.


    From N?velDrama.Org.


    Allowing her tears to fall unchecked, it took a while for Thssa to catch her breath, to regain some


    semnce of control. Only then did she realize how leaden her legs felt, her knees aching with a


    sharp pain that furrowed her brow at the slightest movement.


    Normally, a walk from Royal Estates to the base of the hill took an hour, but in her haste and


    distress, Thssa had made the journey in half that time, her frantic pace masking the exhaustion.


    Rubbing her sore knees, she tried to soothe the physical ache that mirrored the one in her heart.


    Thssa, why do this to yourself?


    Lysander was to marry Rosalind. Whatever they did was their right, and she, now merely an


    outsider, had no ce in their world.


    The next day, Thssa was still in bed when her phone''s insistent ringing woke her.


    "Thssa, have you seen the news today?" Hertha''s voice was a mixture of shock and excitement.


    Bleary-eyed and confused, Thssa mumbled, "What news?"


    "Oh my god, I knew you hadn''t seen it!" Hertha eximed. "It''s about you and the Whitman family.


    You need to check your phone now. It''s big news."


    Sitting up, Thssa ended the call and opened the news link Hertha had sent.


    The headline screamed scandal: The CEO of the international conglomerate, the Whitman Group,


    admits to having an illegitimate daughter. Joshua''s image as a devoted husband shatters, all for


    legitimizing his love child.


    The article detailed how, at a recent jewelry designpetition, Joshua had publicly acknowledged


    Thssa as his daughter, breaking the facade of a man devoted solely to his wife. This revtion


    had sent the Whitman Group''s stocks tumbling, threatening thepany with catastrophic losses.


    Could this giant of the industry face closure soon?


    The Whitman Group on the brink of copse?


    Thssa''s heart raced as she absorbed the news.

 Chapter 1730

    Chapter 1730


    After Joshua had put everything on the line to help her, leading to a scandal that threatened to tank


    the Whitman Group, Thssa felt the weight of the world on her shoulders. The news only added to


    her stress. The losses were too great for her to bear alone.


    What could she possibly do to turn things around?


    Thssa quickly got out of bed, freshened up, and decided to seek out Joshua for some answers.


    Just as she was about to head out, she bumped right into Hertha, who had hurried over in a frenzy.


    "Thssa, where are you off to?" Hertha grabbed Thssa by the shoulders, her voiceced with


    curiosity and urgency.


    "I was going to find Joshua, to see what''s going on," Thssa replied honestly.


    "Let''s hold off on seeing him for now. Come, I''ve got a video for you to watch. I can''t fathom what


    Joshua was thinking, trying to solve hispany''s crisis in such a way!" Hertha eximed, clearly


    infuriated, as she led the way inside.


    "What? Joshua found a way to deal with the crisis?" Thssa was taken aback, not expecting


    Joshua to have devised a solution so quickly.


    Just moments ago, she was worried about Joshua.


    And in the next, Hertha was telling her that Joshua had already figured out how to cope. No wonder


    he was so calm in front of the reporters yesterday, openly revealing her as his daughter without


    showing any concern for the negative impact it might have. He must have had a contingency n


    all along.


    But what exactly was his n?


    Hertha settled onto the couch and gestured for Thssa to join her. "Thssa, take a look. The


    Whitman Group is holding a press conference, and it''s being live-streamed."


    N?velDrama.Org ? content.


    Thssa sat beside Hertha, watching the live broadcast on the tablet together.


    The press conference was indeed for the Whitman Group, with three people present: Joshua,


    Rosalind, and Lysander!


    Joshua began, "Regarding my daughter Thssa, I owe everyone an exnation. She is indeed


    my biological daughter, but she was born before my marriage, from a rtionship with another


    woman. I have never betrayed my marriage."


    "But, as far as we understand, Reginald is older than Thssa, which means after you had


    Reginald with your wife, you had Thssa with another woman. How do you exin this?" One


    reporter, well-prepared, challenged Joshua''s family history.


    So, Joshua''s exnation didn''t hold water.


    Joshua responded, "My son was born out of wedlock, before my current wife and I were married."


    "So, you''re saying you did betray love," another sharp reporter interjected.


    Joshua couldn''t exin that he had been tricked into being with Thssa''s mother, and even if he


    did, the public would likely not believe him, making things worse.


    "The purpose of today''s press conference," Joshua continued, "is firstly to rify that I have not


    betrayed my marriage, only love, and my wife understands me, which is all that matters. I don''t care


    about public opinion. Secondly, I''m announcing some good news: my daughter Rosalind is set to


    marry Lysander Sinir, CEO of the Sinir Group, the day after tomorrow at ten in the morning.


    Following their marriage, I will step down as CEO of the Whitman Group, and Lysander, my son-in-


    law, will take over. The Whitman Group and the Sinir Group will officially merge."


    "Holy smokes, Rosalind''s getting married to Lysander!" Hertha eximed, dropping a bombshell as


    she waspletely taken aback by Joshua''s announcement.

 Chapter 1731

    Chapter 1731


    She couldn''t believe it. All this time, Thssa thought Joshua hade up with some genius


    strategy to pull the Whitman Group out of its slump. But no, his grand n was to ride on


    Lysander''s coattails to save thepany''s reputation!


    After all, Lysander was a titan in the business world, a name that could send shivers down the spine


    of hispetitors. His prowess and audacity were beyond question.


    With Joshua stepping down, the personal reputation issues guing the Whitman Group''s CEO


    would vanish, allowing the stock to recover. And with Lysander''s international renown, his taking


    over would surely lure more partners to the Whitman Group.


    More partnerships meant a better reputation, which, in turn, meant only one thing for thepany''s


    stocks: they were going up.


    Joshua was a sly old fox, alright. This move would only make the Whitman Group stronger.


    Turning around, Thssa saw Hertha looking utterly dejected. She couldn''t help but burst out in


    indignation, "What in the world is Joshua ying at? For three years, he keeps you hidden from the


    media, and the moment he acknowledges you, he marries off his youngest daughter to Lysander


    and hands over thepany. Is he recognizing you or using you?"


    The more Hertha thought about it, the angrier she became. Just yesterday, she thought Thssa


    was finally getting the fatherly love she deserved. But today? Today was an entirely different story.


    Did any of them even consider Thssa''s feelings?


    It seemed Thssa was just there to be exploited.


    N?velDrama.Org ? content.


    "And Lysander! He imed to have feelings for you, and now, out of nowhere, he''s marrying


    Rosalind! He''s not in love with you. He''s in love with power, with the endless wealth!" Hertha was so


    worked up she half-wished she could yank those three out of the tablet screen and give them a


    piece of her mind.


    Thssa merely offered a bitter smile, saying nothing.


    Then came Rosalind''s speech, thanking everyone for their care and looking forward to her


    marriage.


    The camera then shifted to Lysander. His strikingly handsome features, his majestic presence, even


    seated in a wheelchair, silent and expressionless, were enough tomand respect and instill a


    sense of awe.


    Watching Lysander on the screen, Thssa felt as though he was looking right at her, his


    prating gaze seeming to peer into her very soul, causing her heart to ache.


    The reporter boldly asked, "Mr. Sinir, what''s your primary reason for marrying Rosalind from the


    Whitman Group? Is it to solve thepany''s crisis, or is it out of love?"


    "Wow, that reporter''s got guts, hitting Lysander with such a direct question," Hertha eximed, now


    thoroughly intrigued.


    She quickly looked at Thssa and asked, "What do you think? Why is Lysander marrying


    Rosalind?"


    Thssa pressed her lips together, her eyes still fixed on Lysander''s. It was as if Lysander had this


    magical aura that made it impossible to look away once you locked eyes with him.


    "It''s impossible to guess what he''s thinking; otherwise, he wouldn''t be Lysander," Thssa said


    quietly.


    Hertha pondered, "True, Lysander''s always been unpredictable. But I still want to know, is it for


    status, wealth, or does he genuinely love Rosalind?"


    As she finished, Hertha focused intently on the live feed on the tablet.


    The room fell silent after the reporter''s question, everyone eagerly awaiting Lysander''s response,


    hoping to catch a bombshell news story.


    Everyone wanted to know if the notoriously cold-hearted Lysander could genuinely love the woman


    he was about to marry.

 Chapter 1732

    Chapter 1732


    Thssa was glued to her tablet screen, her gaze locked on Lysander''s strikingly handsome face


    through the digital barrier, staring into his deep, mysterious eyes. Despite knowing that Lysander


    was about to marry Rosalind, Thssa couldn''t help but wonder if Lysander truly liked Rosalind.


    At that moment, under the watchful eyes of the public, Lysander''s gaze, as unfathomable as a ck


    hole capable of consuming Thssa''s soul, fixated on the camera. He parted his lips slightly and


    finally spoke, "This is a matter between us, it''s none of anyone else''s business." His voice, low and


    maic, carried an immense deterrence, leaving his statement ambiguously impactful and


    silencing any further curiosity.


    The reporter, somewhat disheartened, retracted the microphone, "Wishing Mr. Sinir and your


    future wife a lifetime of happiness." Then, the camera shifted away to Joshua, continuing the


    interview elsewhere.


    In that second, as Lysander''s profound gaze was cut off, Thssa felt like her soul had been set


    free, her heart skipping a beat as she was jolted back to reality, her breathing instinctively


    quickening.


    "This Lysander, still so arrogant. Why couldn''t he just answer the reporter''s question directly?"


    Hertha, disappointed, grabbed the tablet and turned it off, "Enough of this, what''s the point? The


    Whitman and the Sinir family drama, it''s like they''re the only news worth following. Why should


    we care?"


    Hertha vented out, turning to see Thssa''s difort. She moved closer, cing aforting


    hand on Thssa''s shoulder, "Thssa, there are plenty of good men out there. Lysander''s loss,


    not yours. Now that he''s getting married, you''re free to find someone truly worth your time."


    Thssa swallowed hard, her thoughts returning to the scene she witnessed at Royal Estates the


    previous evening, feeling a pang of sorrow. She raised her hand, wiping her face as if to erase the


    sadness. "Right, Lysander''s marriage is his business. By the way, how are things with you and


    ric?" Thssa changed the subject, not wanting to dwell on Lysander and Rosalind''s impending


    marriage any longer.


    "ric''s been acting like he''s got cold feet. It''s been days with no word from him. My mom even


    thought it would be a good test for him, but I bet after he returned to the Falconer''s, he just doesn''t


    want to leave!" Hertha finished her rant, grabbing a ss of water from the coffee table and gulping


    it down. She had thought ric was eager to marry her, but his silence since returning home proved


    otherwise. Hertha''s irritation was palpable.


    Material ? N?velDrama.Org.


    "Let''s go out for dinner," Thssa suggested, understanding Hertha''s mood wasn''t much better


    than her own. "Sure, let''s turn our sorrows into appetite and have a feast," Hertha replied.


    At the Falconer Mansion, amidst the Falconer family''s estate, ric looked around cautiously. Not


    seeing his mother, he sneaked into Angelina''s study and shut the door, beginning his search. Ever


    since Hertha''s mother had told him she agreed to their marriage, ric had used his grandfather''s


    name as an excuse to return to the Falconer household. He hadn''t mentioned his engagement to


    Hertha to his family, knowing his mother, Angelina, would never approve. Better to secure the


    marriage certificate first and deal with the consequencester. He had searched his mother''s room,


    his father''s study, and now hoped luck would be on his side in his mother''s study.

 Chapter 1733

    Chapter 1733


    ric had turned the house upside down, rifling through every drawer without finding a trace of the


    family register. His anxiety was mounting when his eyesnded on the safe in the corner of the


    room. ric knew his mother was always cautious, safeguarding their most vital documents


    meticulously.


    Considering the family register was an essential item, could it be locked away in the safe?


    Without hesitation, ric decided to try his luck with the safe. He first entered his sister Angelina''s


    birthday as the code, but it was wrong. Next, he tried using his father''s birthday, but no luck there


    either.


    Could it be his own birthday?


    As ric was about to enter his birthdate, the room door swung open abruptly, flooding the room


    with light and catching him off-guard.


    "ric, what are you up to?" Angelina''s voice wasced with tension.


    Startled, ric turned to see his mother striding toward him, her presence overwhelming.


    Straightening up and abandoning his attempt to crack the safe, ric tried to y it cool: "Mom..."


    Angelina, ignoring his initial attempt at conversation, approached the safe, reset the failed attempt,


    and turned to ric with a stern look. "What''s this, ric? You go off and live on your own for a


    while ande back picking up bad habits from those troublemakers, learning to steal now?"


    Feeling the weight of her words, ric''s frustration bubbled to the surface. "Mom, show some


    respect. What do you mean ''troublemakers''? And what''s this about me picking up bad habits? Can''t


    you speak without being so harsh?"


    "Me, harsh?" Angelina pointed at herself incredulously, letting out a coldugh. "Am I the harsh one,


    or have you just turned your back on us for someone else? You came back with the intention of


    stealing from us, didn''t you? I was wondering why you suddenly showed up. I thought maybe you''d


    reconciled with Georgia and arranged for you two to meet, but you kept dodging it. I knew


    something was up!"


    Fuming, Angelina continued, "Tell me, what did that Hertha ask you to steal from us this time to


    satisfy her greed?"


    From N?velDrama.Org.


    ric''s face darkened in defense of Hertha. "Don''t talk about her like that. She''s not what you think.


    You were the one who insulted her with money, causing her to leave so abruptly. I haven''t even


    brought it up to grandma and grandpa yet, and here you are trying to muddy the waters."


    "I insulted her? She seemed pretty happy taking the money!" Angelina retorted, escting the


    argument.


    "If it''s not money she sent you for, then what?" Angelina suddenly asked, more seriously.


    ric, visibly aggravated, responded, "Stop insulting me by insinuating I''m stealing. I was merely


    taking what belongs to me as a part of this family."


    Seeing his admission of intending to take something, Angelina opened the safe in anger, grabbed


    the contents, and confronted ric. "What is it that you want?"


    The moment ric saw the dark red family register on top, the very thing he had been searching for


    days, his eyes lit up. Without hesitation, he grabbed the register.


    "This is all I needed. I''m leaving now." Without waiting for a response, ric turned and quickly left.


    Angelina, watching his hurry, froze for a second before a realization hit her.


    "ric, stop right there!" she shouted after him.

 Chapter 1734

    Chapter 1734


    How could ric possibly listen to Angelina? After all the struggle, he had finally gotten his hands


    on the family registry document. Just one step out the door, and he could marry Hertha, start his


    own little family, living happily ever after with his wife and kids!


    ric broke into a run from his brisk walk, his heart pounding with nervous excitement. If he had


    wings, he''d fly straight to Hertha, dragging her to get their marriage license.


    "Where do you think you''re running off to, you little rascal!" Angelina saw ric bolting and


    panicked, rushing after him.


    ric didn''t look back, his long legs carrying him swiftly towards freedom. Just a bit further, and


    he''d escape Angelina''s dictations for good.


    Seeing she couldn''t catch up, Angelina desperately called out to the maid sweeping at the door,


    "Iris, close the door! Don''t let ric out!"


    Iris, always obedient to Angelina who paid her wages, immediately dropped her broom and rushed


    to lock the door.


    "Iris, what are you doing? Move!" ric reached the door, yanking Iris aside in his attempt to


    escape.


    Just as the door cracked open and ric prepared to burst out, the family registry document was


    snatched from his grasp.


    Instinctively reaching to grab it back, ric saw Angelina hide it behind her, stepping back to avoid


    his reach, panting, "ric, stop! Or I swear, I''ll tear this document to shreds!"


    ric froze, ring at Angelina with a serious and stormy expression, "I''m a Falconer too, aren''t I? I


    have every right to use that document!"N?velDrama.Org ? content.


    "Don''t think I don''t know what you''re nning with it!" Angelina, veins throbbing with anger, stared


    at ric, "You''re nning to marry Hertha with it, aren''t you?"


    ric''s face turned even darker, his tone serious and filled with suppressed anger, "Since you


    know, then hand it over!"


    He reached out his hand towards Angelina.


    Although Angelina had guessed ric''s intention, hearing him admit it and seeing his determined


    stance broke her heartpletely.


    She had always been plotting for his future, fighting for his share in the Falconer Group''s


    leadership. But what was he doing?


    He had always opposed her, always resisted her will.


    She could forgive his youthful recklessness before, but not this time. He was nning to marry


    Hertha in secret, intending to keep it hidden from her and the entire family!


    Angelina felt a cold despair, her voice filled with sorrow and anger, "Since ancient times, marriage


    has required the consent of both parents, an introduction to both families. And here you are,


    nning to sneak away with the family registry, marrying amoner behind everyone''s back.


    You''ve disappointed me deeply!"


    Tears filled Angelina''s eyes as she spoke with profound sadness.


    ric, too, was furious, his breathing deep and controlled as he tried to suppress the turmoil inside,


    "Stop calling her amoner. Everyone is born to a family, no one''s nobility here!"


    "You''re still defending her!" Angelina roared.


    "Can''t you just let me be?" ric shouted back, his frustration and resentment boiling over like a


    volcano ready to erupt, unable to bear the pressure any longer.

 Chapter 1735

    Chapter 1735


    "Did you just yell at me?" Angelina''s eyes widened, tears falling heavily as she looked at ric with


    disbelief and deep sorrow.


    Her son, whom she had cherished and raised with all her love, the son for whom she had made


    countless ns and sacrifices, had raised his voice against her!


    Angelina felt as if her heart was shattered, her years of hard work and dedication crushed to dust,


    leaving her in profound agony.


    With tears streaming down her face, Angelina nodded, "Oh, so you''re all grown up now, spreading


    your wings, even learning to yell at your own mother, ric. How could you treat me like this?"


    Realizing that his words had genuinely hurt Angelina, ric blinked, moving closer to try and


    exin, "Mom, I¡ª"


    "Don''t call me mom!" Angelina choked up. "I don''t have a son like you!"


    "What''s going on here? What''s all this shouting about?" Remington Falconer entered the room,


    supported by Beatrice, and asked sternly.


    Seeing Angelina in tears and ric looking defeated, Remington sighed and said to Angelina,


    "ric''s finally home for a few days, and this is how you greet him? Can''t you sit down and talk


    things out without making a scene? He''s your only son; do you really want to cut ties with him?"


    Tears filled Angelina''s eyes, her face a picture of grievance, "Dad, he''s bing unbearable,


    acting on his own without consulting us. He''s being led astray by that woman..."


    "Mom, I''ve told you, stop bad-mouthing Hertha," ric, initially feeling guilty for raising his voice at


    Angelina, couldn''t bear hearing his mother nder Hertha.


    "You..." Angelina was furious, about to retort.


    Remington, with a stern voice, intervened, "Enough, everyone,e sit down at the coffee table


    and let''s sort this out calmly."


    Guided by Beatrice, Remington sat on the couch, and ric followed suit.


    Angelina, feeling lost, clenched the family register in her hand.


    "Angelina, what are you standing around for? Come sit," Beatrice said.


    Angelina snapped back to reality, intending to pass the family register to Iris to put it away.


    Catching the gesture, Beatrice said, "Bring that here too. The argument was about that document,


    wasn''t it?"


    With Iris pausing to see what Angelina would do, Angelina reluctantly took back the register, told Iris


    to carry on with other tasks, and sat down by the coffee table.


    Handing the register to Beatrice, Angelina took the initiative, "Mom, this boy, he''s learned to be


    sneaky, even stealing from his own family, taking the family register with who knows what intentions!


    You know, if someone were to misuse it for illegal purposes under our names, that would be a


    disaster."


    "Mom, you know I took the family register to marry Hertha, and here you are, making up stories! Do


    you really see me as someone who would break thew?" ric couldn''t stand his mother''s twisting


    of the truth.


    "ric, what did you just say? You''re marrying Hertha? I thought she took the settlement to cut all


    ties with you?" Remington was astonished.From N?velDrama.Org.

 Chapter 1736

    Chapter 1736


    Hearing Remington''s question, Angelina instinctively tensed up, about to speak, but ric cut in first.


    "Grandpa, this was all Mom''s doing. She framed Hertha."


    ric then spilled everything to Remington and Beatrice about how three years ago, Angelina offered Hertha two million dors to leave him, and falsely imed that it was Hertha who approached her demanding the money.


    Remington was so furious he started coughing violently, his fingers trembling as he pointed at Angelina, "You, you... How could you sabotage your own son''s happiness? What on earth are you trying to achieve?"


    Angelina became anxious, her face a mask of distress as she pleaded with Remington, "Dad, I was only thinking of what''s best for ric. He''s brought home so many women before, and none of those rtionshipssted. I didn''t believe he could find a good match on his own. And Hertha, with her background, she couldn''t possibly offer ric anything of substance. ric marrying Georgia would be the best match."


    Angelina remained stubborn in her conviction.


    "You... How can you not see the error of your ways?" Remington was deeply hurt and sighed, "You''ve spent the better part of your life helping ric''s dad manage the Falconer Group. Now that the Falconer Group is on the right track, ranking among the top ten internationally, I know you''ve poured your heart and soul into it and don''t want to see it taken over by outsiders. But ric''s cousin, Jeremiah, he''s not an outsider."


    "Dad, that''s not what I meant. I just wanted ric to be morepetitive, not to be weakened or led astray by women from outside our circle," Angelina said on the surface, but inside, she was storming.


    She knew deep down that Remington had already decided to pass the Falconer Group onto Jeremiah, ric''s cousin, excluding ricpletely!


    In Remington''s heart, Jeremiah was family, but to Angelina, there was only one heir, and that was ric!


    She had only one son. If ric couldn''t step up, then all that she and her husband had fought for would be handed over to someone else!


    How could she ept that?


    "Hertha is not the person you think she is," ric still objected to Angelina''s badmouthing Hertha, his expression serious.


    "Will you shut up!" Angelina scolded ric, frustrated with his apparentck of ambition.


    "Enough, he''s already thirty years


    old. If you keep scolding him like a child, now can he grow up? How can he stand on his own two feet?" Remington angrily told Angelina.


    Angelina red at ric, furious but speechless.


    "ric, you mentioned getting your family register, are you nning to marry Hertha?" Remington then turned to ask ric again.


    "Yes, Grandpa, Hertha, her parents,


    and I


    return ve agreed that as soon as y replied to his grand ric


    we can get married," ricN?velDrama.Org ? content.


    "Alright, today your grandfather will decide for you. You should choose your own marriage," Remington stated gravely.


    ric was overjoyed, "Really, thank you, Grandpa!"


    "Mhm." Remington nodded, his aged gaze sternly shifting to Angelina, "Give him the family register."


    "Dad, why are you letting him make a mess of things?" Angelina panicked, unwilling to hand over the family register.


    "Give it to him! If you truly want him to grow, you need to learn to let go!" Remington''s authoritative tone brooked no argument.


    This was amand from an elder to a younger member of the family.


    Although Angelina had held a


    powerful position at the Falconer Group, her role too had been granted by Remington. Even though


    Remington was now retired, his


    word was stillw within the


    Falconer Group and even more so at home, where he was the family''s most formidable figure.


    With Remington adopting such a firm stance, Angelina, of course, dared not disobey.

 Chapter 1737

    Chapter 1737


    She reluctantly pulled out the household registration book.


    ric had been watching it the entire time. Seeing Angelina finally take it out, he immediately reached over, snatched the document from her hands, and said cheerfully, "Grandma and Grandpa, thank you so much!"


    After saying that, he nced back at Angelina. His eyes were filled with guilt. He knew his mother was still against him marrying Hertha. If he persisted, his mother would be furious.


    From a young age, his mother had meticulously arranged everything for him, always ensuring he never came short. Going against her wishes would definitely hurt her. As a son, he didn''t want to cause his mother any pain, butpared to his guilt, he was more afraid of losing Hertha.


    ric only gave Angelina a nce, said nothing, and quickly left with the registration book.


    Beatrice watched ric''s retreating figure with a smile, "Look at him, so eager to get married to the love of his life, happy as ark and off in a sh."


    "He used to be such a party animal. It''s not easy to find someone who can make him settle down. He should treasure her," Remington said earnestly, gently patting Beatrice''s hand.


    After saying that, Remington looked up to meet Angelina''s dissatisfied gaze and advised, "Let him go. Don''t make him resent you for life."


    Resent her for life?


    That sentence stabbed Angelina''s heart like a needle. Her hand clenched tightly on the sofa.


    In her view, if she didn''t help ric secure the leadership of the Falconer Group, that''s when he would resent her for life!


    What''s a woman worth? Men''s interest in women was merely for the novelty. Once that wore off, the woman meant nothing.


    ric''s current obsession with Hertha was because he hadn''t obtained her, making him act so irrationally. Once he truly did, it wouldn''t be long before he grew tired of her.


    Then, he would realize he had neither the sweetness of love nor the vast empire of the Falconer Group. He would truly have nothing!


    No, she couldn''t just sit by and watch. She had to stop ric from marrying Hertha!


    Driving with the registration book, ric was thrilled and rushed towards Hertha''s ce.


    After days of waiting, he finally got his hands on the document. He could soon call Hertha his wife. The thought made ric''s heart race with excitement, and he sped up even more.


    Thssa and Hertha were both preupied. At lunch, Hertha couldn''t help but drink, ranting wildly to Thssa, one moment toasting to their single lives, the next Cursing ric and Lysander.


    The meal ended with Hertha drunk.


    Thssa had no choice but to help Hertha to the car and drive her home herself.


    Hertha was heavily intoxicated and needed to sleep it off.


    As they were nearing Hertha''s home in the Gulfstream Community, a ck BMW suddenly rushed towards them at the intersection, looking like it was going to crash into them.


    Thssa, terrified, quickly turned the steering wheel, but it was toote. The car mmed into theirs.


    With a loud crash, Thssa''s head hit the steering wheel. She instantly felt dizzy, trying to lift her head, but it felt as heavy as a ton of bricks.Material ? N?velDrama.Org.


    She struggled to keep her eyes open,


    wanting to call for help, but a warm sensation flowed from her head into l


    her eyes, pain piercing through her heart Her head grew dizzier, her vision darkened, and she lost consciousness.

 Chapter 1738

    Chapter 1738


    ric''s car was jolted violently, and once it came to a stop, he realized he had hit another vehicle. Rushing out, he went to check on the upants of the other car.


    At first nce, he saw a woman slumped over in the passenger seat, her face turning towards him, and his heart skipped a beat as he eximed, "Hertha!"


    It was Hertha''s car he had hit!


    Beyond shocked, his gaze thennded on another woman passed out in the driver''s seat, her head resting against the steering wheel, blood trickling down from it.


    Although he couldn''t see her face clearly, the shape of her body and her attire were unmistakable to ric. It was Thssa!


    "Hertha, Thssa!" ric grew even more frantic.N?velDrama.Org ? content.


    He initially wanted to open the door and get them out but then remembered the first-aid training he had received: never move injured persons carelessly.


    Halting his actions, ric immediately called 911, then dialed the police to report the ident.


    Soon after, the police and an ambnce arrived. The officers quickly assessed the situation, and the paramedics lifted Thssa and Hertha into the ambnce. ric hurriedly followed.


    Feeling extremely anxious, he arrived at the hospital to find Thssa rushed into the emergency room, while Hertha was taken to a ward. ric urgently asked the doctor, "How are they doing?"


    The doctor replied, "The passenger is fine; she was just drunk and passed out. The driver, however, has a head injury and is in critical condition." "What?" ric''s mind went nk. Thssa had a head injury and was fighting for her life. This could mean life or death.


    Years ago, Lysander had suffered a head injury and was bedridden for three years!


    The Sinir family had done everything to bring him back from death''s door.


    Now, Thssa had a head injury, and if anything happened to her...


    ric couldn''t bear to think further, shivering at the thought.


    He nced at the words "Emergency Room" and took out his phone with trembling fingers to dial Lysander''s number. The call was quickly answered.


    ric, choked by fear and guilt, managed to say, "Lysander, Thssa''s in the hospital being resuscitated."


    There was silence on the other end, but even through the phone, ric could feel Lysander''s icy and oppressive aura.


    His fear and anxiety growing, ric hurriedly said, "I had just picked up the family records from my mom, rushing to get a marriage license with Hertha. I was driving too fast; I never thought I''d hit Thssa and Content


    Hertha''s car... I''m so sorry


    belongs to NovelDrama.Org


    "Which hospital?" Lysander''s voice was frosty and tense.


    Without wasting a moment, ric ryed the hospital''s name to Lysander.


    Then, without another word, Lysander hung up.


    ric pocketed his phone and washed his face with his hands, feeling helpless and worried.


    Thssa, please be okay. Otherwise, Lysander will have my head.


    After pacing outside the emergency room for twenty minutes, Lysander


    arrived, seated in a contes


    David pushing him.


    to NovelDrama.Org


    His presence seemed to lower the temperature around them, sending a chilling cold that seemed to seep into the bones.


    Seeing him, ric was too scared approach, timidly watching as he came closer. His breathing grew tense, and he barely managed to whisper, "Lysander..."


    "How did the doctors put it?" Lysander''s gaze, cold and deep, fixed on ric.


    ric nervously replied, "They said she hit her head and is in critical condition."

 Chapter 1739

    Chapter 1739


    "Rescue?" Those words struck a nerve in Lysander, his gaze sharp as ice, making ric''s legs feel like jelly.


    "I''m sorry, Lysander, I didn''t want this to happen either. It just... happened out of nowhere," ric confessed, visibly distressed and in pain.


    He had been on cloud nine, heading to meet Hertha, imagining they might already be on their way to the city hall to get their marriage license if it weren''t for the ident.


    Instead, he was stuck in the hospital, anxiously waiting and fearing the worst.


    Lysander''s gaze shifted from ric to the emergency room door, his jaw clenched tight, a clear sign of his rising tension.


    Seeing Lysander silent, ric wisely chose not to say more.


    The atmosphere in the emergency room corridor grew increasingly heavy, suffocating.


    After a nerve-wracking half-hour wait, the door swung open, and a doctor stepped out.


    The moment Lysander saw the doctor, he eagerly moved forward, intent on inquiring about the situation. ric, however, beat him to it, striding over with long steps: "Doctor, how''s Thssa doing?"


    "Just some superficial injuries, nothing serious. Just make sure the wounds don''t get infected," the doctor exined.


    Hearing this, ric''s pent-up tension finally dissipated, and he gratefully thanked the doctor.


    Lysander, on the other hand, could only watch from behind, confined to his wheelchair, as ric, tall and obstructive like a wall, spoke to the doctor about Thssa''s condition.


    Because of the wheelchair, he had lost the chance to reach the doctor first.


    This was the difference between him and those who could stand.


    "Lysander, did you hear that? Thssa is going to be okay; she just needs a few days of rest," ric said, turning back towards Lysander, expecting to see a shared relief on his face. Instead, he was met with Lysander''s cold, unapproachable expression, his deep-set eyes making ric uneasy. After sharing the good news, ric received no response, only watching as Lysander began to wheel himself away towards the exit.


    David quickly stepped forward to assist Lysander with his wheelchair.


    Confused, ric asked, "Lysander, aren''t you going to wait for Thssa?"


    Lysander offered no reply, simply continuing on his way out of the emergency ward.


    Soon after, the doctor and a nurse wheeled Thssa out of the emergency room, and ric hurried over to meet them.


    Upon ric''s request, Thssa was ced in the same room as Hertha.


    ric spent around five hours in the room when Hertha finally woke up, her head throbbing with pain, "Where am I?"


    "Hertha, you''re awake!" ric rushed to her side.


    The sight of ric immediately reminded Hertha of his


    disappearance over thest foul


    days, the reason she had drowned her sorrows in liquor.


    Now, seeing him, her temper red, and she raised her hand to strike him, "ric, you heartless jerk, how dare you show up!"


    ric caught her hand, pulling her


    into an embrace, his voice tingedet


    with a boyish hurt, "Hertha, I''m sorry for making you wait." Conte


    belongs to NovelDrama.Org


    "Don''t give me that!" Hertha snapped, struggling to free her hand.


    "Shh, keep it down, you''ll wake Thssa," ric gestured for her to lower her voice.N?velDrama.Org ? content.


    "Thssa? Hertha eximed,


    looking around, only then noticing


    they were in a hospital, with Thssa lying in the bed next to hers.


    UMS


    Hertha was shocked, "Thssa, what happened to you?"


    She pushed ric away and rushed to Thssa''s side.

 Chapter 1740

    Chapter 1740


    ric quickly stepped in front of Hertha. "Thssa is out cold right now, and it''s her head that''s injured. We shouldn''t disturb her; it could be dangerous."


    Hertha found her path blocked by ric''s arm. Unable to get by, she tilted her body to get a better look at Thssa. She saw that Thssa''s forehead was wrapped in gauze, her eyes closed,pletely motionless.


    Hertha strained her memory, trying to piece together what had happened.


    All she remembered was drinking at a bar with Thssa, and after getting drunk, Thssa had helped her into the car.


    Beyond that, Hertha''s memory was a nk. She couldn''t remember a thing.


    Looking at ric, her expression filled with confusion and worry, she asked, "What happened exactly?"


    Hertha''s intense, worried gaze made ric shift his eyes away, feeling guilty and evasive. He stuttered, "I got the household registration book."


    "What, you got the household registration book?" Hertha was shocked, gripping ric''s sleeve excitedly. "How did you get it? Wait, I''m asking about Thssa. What happened to her, not the household registration book."


    Just as Hertha was about to press for details, she realized ric was dodging the question. Her nerves tensed, and she asked sternly, "What happened?"


    "I got the household registration book. I was so thrilled I rushed to find you and wasn''t watching my speed. I hit your car," ric blurted out the cause of the ident, bracing himself.


    "What, you were the one who injured Thssa like this?" Hertha was stunned, her breathing erratic as she grabbed ric''s sleeve and started hitting him. "You jerk, why did you hit us?"


    ric didn''t fight back, letting her hit him, silent throughout.


    After a while, Hertha, out of breath and exhausted, stopped hitting him. "Why didn''t you dodge?"Material ? N?velDrama.Org.


    ric''s eyes, usually bright, were downturned. "It''s my fault. I deserve it."


    Hertha''s lips quivered, and tears swiftly filled her eyes. She dived into ric''s arms, sobbing, "You jerk, you disappeared without a word, and then youe back and hit us! Do you know why I was drinking? Jerk, did you think it was easy for me to trust you?"


    Amidst her tears, Hertha voiced her grievances.


    Before sobering up, her heart felt unbearably heavy.


    And after sobering up, it felt as if her heart was stung by a bee.


    "I''m sorry, it''s my fault. I was undercover with the Falconer family for four days to get that household registration book. I was so excited after getting it, I ended up hitting your car. Thank God you''re both okay, or I''d never forgive myself," ric''s voice was hoarse with guilt,forting Hertha as he held her.


    ||


    Hertha cried in his arms, letting out all her pent-up feelings. After a while, she asked with a sniffle, "What did the doctor say?"


    Even though she was relieved ric was back, Hertha was more worried about Thssa.


    "The days of rest and


    said it''s a superficial


    injury. A


    avoiding infection should do


    hel


    trick," ric reported truthfully.


    Hertha felt reassured, straightened up, and pushed ric away, "I''m going to check on Thssa."


    She walked over to Thssa''s


    bedside quietly, carefully observing her. Seeing that Thssa seemed to be in a stable condition, she let out a huge sigh of relief.


    "What would you like to eat? I''ll go get it," ric offered softly.


    It was alreadyte evening, around seven or eight, and neither Hertha nor Thssa had had dinner. Surely they were starving by now.


    "Just something light," Hertha replied.


    "Alright, I''ll be back in a jiffy," ric said before leaving the room.


    Hertha sat by Thssa''s bed, keeping vigil.


    Thinking about Thssa''s situation made her feel incredibly sympathetic and protective.

 Chapter 1741

    Chapter 1741


    Growing up without a father had always been tough for Thssa, but losing her dearest mother a few years back was the final blow. Her children were her anchor, yet the Sinir family had sent them off to a military boarding school, making it impossible for her to see them.


    Just when she finally found her father, he poured all his affection into Rosalind, continuously hurting Thssa without a second thought. And Lysander, the father of Thssa''s children, who should have been her knight in shining armor, was set to marry her half-sister. After facing one blow after another, Thssa was left all alone, now lying on a hospital bed with not a soul in sight tofort her.


    The thought of Thssa''s trials and tribtions twisted Hertha''s heart in agony. She cared for her deeply.


    Luckily, the injuries weren''t serious this time.


    As Hertha was drowning in her worry for Thssa, a slight movement under Thssa''s eyelids signaled her awakening. "Thssa," Hertha whispered excitedly.


    Thssa slowly opened her eyes, greeted first by the strong scent of antiseptic. As her gaze settled on the sterile white ceiling, her eyes drifted to meet Hertha''s concerned ones. She attempted to sit up, only to be hit by a wave of pain.


    "Easy there," Hertha cautioned, gently pressing her down. "You''ve hurt your head. Don''t move too hastily."


    Thssay back down, her mind racing back to the events that led her here.


    "Was it a car crash? Did the person responsible run off?" Thssa asked anxiously.N?velDrama.Org ? content.


    Hertha replied with a hint of regret, "No, it was ric. He''s out grabbing dinner for us as a way to make amends."


    "ric?" Thssa was taken aback.


    "I''m here, need me?" ric''s voice,ced with jest, filled the room.


    As both Hertha and Thssa turned ertha an


    their gaze towards him, he walked in holding a meal box. Hertha quickly stood up to take it from him, saying, "You should head back to Gulfstream Community to clean up and rest. I''ll take care of things here."


    "It''s gettingte, are you sure you can manage alone? I can stay and help," ric offered.


    After apologizing to Thssa for his


    lack of control over the car, Hertha, unable to hide her annoyance,. pushed him towards the door, "Thssa doesn''t forgive you, now off you go!"


    Hertha''s attitude clearly pained ric, who looked desperately towards Thssa for some form of forgiveness.


    Thssa, seeing his genuine remorse, said just before he left, "It was an ident, I don''t me you."


    ric''s face lit up with relief at her words, and he gratefully nced back at Hertha.


    Moved by Thssa''s kindness, Hertha''s eyes filled with tears. She knew Thssa was the mostpassionate person around.


    "Go freshen up. I''ll stay with


    Thssa," Hertha said to ric, her tone much softer after Thssa''s forgiveness. She had initially taken a hard stance on ric to protect Thssa''s feelings, knowing deep down Thssa would have found it difficult not to forgive him.


    Now that Thssa had voiced her forgiveness, there was no need for Hertha to be harsh anymore.


    ric, overjoyed by the turn of events, promised, "I''ll be right back."

 Chapter 1742

    Chapter 1742


    Three dayster, Thssa was almost back to her old self.


    ric was busy packing her suitcase while Hertha folded her clothes, feeling sorry for Thssa with every piece sheid down.


    "Thssa, you''ve been in the hospital for two days, and aside from me and ric looking after you, not a single soul hase to visit. Howe you''re so alone?" Hertha spoke the harsh truth. Thssa was all by herself, without a single person to care for her. It was just too lonely.


    "Actually, my aunt called yesterday. I told her I was doing fine, just so she wouldn''t worry. If she knew I was in the hospital, she''d definitelye to visit," Thssa said with a smile, trying tofort Hertha. That smile was her way of saying she wasn''tpletely alone; she cared more about not worrying those who cared about her.


    "Your aunt''s arthritis is being treated by Dr. Funke. They''ve really hit it off, which is great. She definitely shouldn''t be worried," Hertha nodded, understanding.


    "So, see? I''m not alone. Don''t worry about me," Thssa said, patting Hertha on the shoulder,forting her instead.


    "How could I not worry about you? I''m your best friend. And what about Lysander? Doesn''t he know you''re hurt and in the hospital? Even if you can''t be together, you can still be friends, right? Not even a call or a visit!" Hertha''s real grievance, it seemed, was with Lysander.


    She was full ofints about Lysander. When Thssa was hurt in the past, he was the first to fret over her, even getting himself badly injured in an attempt to save her.


    Times change, and so do people.


    Now Thssa was hurt, and Lysander seemed not to care at all.


    "Actually, Lysander dide," ric interjected, dragging the suitcase, responding to Hertha''sints.


    "What? He did? When?" Hertha asked, surprised and eager.


    Thssa looked up, her eyes also filled with a mix of confusion and hope.


    "It was when Thssa was in the emergency room. I called Lysander, and he rushed over. After the doctor said Thssa would be fine, he left," ric revealed to both Thssa and Hertha.


    Hearing this, Thssa''s gaze fell, hiding the emotions swirling in her eyes.


    Hertha, fuming, blurted out, "What a jerk! Hees to the hospital and doesn''t even stop by to see her? What''s he ying at!"


    Hertha was about to continue her rant against Lysander when ric gave her a look, urging caution. She paused, looking at Thssa, whose eyes were downcast, her long eyshes veiling her expression,


    clearly hiding her sadness. Content


    belongs to NovelDrama.Org


    Sensing the mood, Hertha didn''t continue. Instead, she helped Thssa up, changing the subject as the three of them left the room together.Material ? N?velDrama.Org.


    Walking down the corridor, they suddenly saw doctors and nurses rushing towards another room.


    In hospitals, a running medical team usually meant a life-or-death situation was unfolding.


    The room the team rushed into was


    right in front of Thssa and her friends Not wanting to block the way they stopped, watching themotion from a distance.

 Chapter 1743

    Chapter 1743


    In the sterile white of the hospital room, the air was pierced by heart-wrenching cries, "My baby, oh please, nothing must happen to you!" "Amelia, let go of the child. The doctors are here; you need to let them see him," a man''s voice, thick with urgency, broke through the chaos. Hearing this desperate exchange, Thssa felt a heavy drop in her heart.


    Amelia? That voice... it belonged to Amelia''s husband, Payton, also known to many as Leopold''s father!


    Realizing the gravity of the situation, Thssa''s nerves tensed, and she hurried towards the room.


    Hertha, sensing the urgency, supported Thssa, apanying her to the room.


    ric, not far behind, left their luggage aside and followed.


    As Thssa entered, she saw Amelia clutching a baby to her chest, sobbing uncontrobly, "My dear Derek, what''s wrong? Open your eyes and look at mommy. I''ve already lost your brother; I can''t lose you too."


    While crying, Amelia gently rubbed her cheek against the baby''s, whoy motionless in her arms, silent.


    Payton, crouched by Amelia''s side, reached out in an attempt to take the child, his face twisted in desperation, "Amelia, it''s been three years since we lost Leopold. You need to let go. This is our youngest, Derek. He''s in danger of suffocating. You''re holding him too tight; he could die. Please, hand him to me so the doctors can treat him. Only they can save our son now."


    "No, I can''t," Amelia protested, her grip tightening around the baby, as if fearing that loosening her hold would result in her child''s death.


    "Leopold''s situation was different!"


    Payton stomped his foot, his voiceced with frustration. Their son was in a critical condition, and without immediate medical intervention, they risked losing him.


    Yet, Amelia, still trapped in the pain of losing Leopold, was too anxious and protective, refusing to let go, leaving the doctors powerless.Material ? N?velDrama.Org.


    Seeing that he couldn''t wrestle the


    child from Amelia''s arms, Payton, in a fit of desperation, eximed, "Amelia, are you still running from the truth? You and I both know how Leopold died. He took his own life out of guilt! He tried to sabotage Lysander, resulting in the death of two workers! To cover his tracks, he pressured Lysander until he couldn''t take it anymore and jumped from the eighth floor. You begged Lysander to keep Leopold''s actions a secret to preserve his reputation!"


    Thssa, about to step forward and mediate, froze at Payton''s words. Her body shook as if struck by lightning, her blood running cold.


    What? Leopold''s death was a suicide? Not caused by Lysander?


    "Your coddling led him down the wrong path. We''ve already lost one son; do you want to lose another? I''m telling you, we''re not getting any younger If we lose another child, we might never have another chance to be parents. Do you really want to hold on to him until it''s toote?" Payton''s voice was a mix of


    exhaustion and anger. Content


    belongs to NovelDrama.Org


    He hadn''t wanted to dredge up the past or use their eldest son''s reputation as leverage, but their youngest''s life hung by a thread.


    If he didn''t speak up, Amelia wouldn''t face reality.


    Wide-eyed, tears streaking her face, Amelia trembled as she stared at Payton. His words, each one sharper than thest, pierced her heart deeply. Payton said her indulgence had doomed Leopold. Such a devastating blow.


    Ovee with grief, Amelia''s cries filled the room, her world crumbling around her.

 Chapter 1744

    Chapter 1744


    "I spoiled Leopold; it was my doing that led him to his demise. If only I had been firm, arranged a proper match for him instead of letting him chase after that Thssa, he wouldn''t have strayed from the right path. My son, Leopold, it''s Mom who failed you."


    Amelia, releasing one hand from the infant she held, clutched at her hair, howling in agony.


    Her inner fragility hadpletely shattered. For years, Leopold''s death had been a thorn in her heart, a hurdle she could never seem to ovee.


    Now, with Paytonying bare the true cause of Leopold''s demise, Amelia''s facade crumbled. She had always med Thssa and Lysander for Leopold''s fate, as if harboring that resentment was the only way she could survive.


    For all these years, she never dared to face the real reason behind Leopold''s death, fearing that acknowledging it would strip her of the courage to go on living under her pretense.Material ? N?velDrama.Org.


    It was a terrifying thought, and Amelia had managed by convincing herself that Thssa and Lysander were to me for Leopold''s death. That belief allowed her to hate them, to carry herself with an air of superiority.


    She had forgotten that it was she who had knelt before Lysander, begging him not to publicize Leopold''s misdeeds, to let her son leave this world with dignity, not branded as a murderer even in death.


    Now, Payton''s blunt revtion had shattered Amelia''s defenses.


    Seeing Amelia''s guard down, Payton quickly swooped in to take the child from her arms, immediately handing the baby over to a doctor. "Hurry, save him, please!"


    "My baby, don''t take my baby away!" Amelia,ing to her senses, tried to retrieve her child. Payton held her back, urgently shouting to the doctor, "Take the child for emergency care, now!"


    As a father, he was fighting for his child''s life with every ounce of speed he could muster.


    The doctor hurried out of the room with the child.


    Amelia''s distress escted; she strained towards the direction the doctor had gone, her screams tearing through the air, "My baby, my baby!"


    "Amelia, let the doctors do their work. They''ll bring our baby back to us," Payton said, breaking down as he held her tight, tears streaming down his face.


    "Sob, sob, Payton, we can''t lose another child, we can''t," Amelia, clutching Payton''s hand, trembled as she cried.


    Through her tears, she suddenly saw


    someone standing in front of her. Pausing, she then grabbed a pillow


    from the bed and hurled it with aff her might at Thssa. "Get out Thssa, just get out! You jinx! What


    are you doing here?" Content


    belongs to NovelDrama.Org


    Hertha, quick to react, pulled Thssa aside as the pillow flew past them, caught squarely by ric.


    Hertha, clearly annoyed, addressed


    Amelia, "You just admitted that your son was led astray by your own coddling, so why call Thssa a


    jinx? She''s done nothing wrong!"


    Hertha and Thssa had believed that Leopold''s death was forced by Lysander, not anticipating that Leopold had taken his own life out of guilt.


    They couldn''t have imagined that


    Leopold, so vibrant and full of life, would go to such lengths to frame Lysander, endangering the lives of workers in the process, and ultimately sacrificing his own.


    What a mess this all was.


    "Shut your mouth! What right do you have to judge my son!" Amelia, shaking with fury, red at Hertha, teeth clenched in rage.

 Chapter 1745

    Chapter 1745


    If it hadn''t been for Payton''s firm grip, she would have already lunged forward to scratch the faces of Hertha and Thssa.


    "You-" Hertha began, her voice charged with emotion, but Thssa stopped her. Thssa nced at her and shook her head gently, "Let''s go."


    Her voice was hoarse. After she spoke, she turned and walked away quickly.


    "Thssa!" Hertha hurried after her.


    ric, seeing the loathing in Amelia and Payton''s eyes as they watched Thssa and Hertha leave, tried to clear the air. "Thssa was also here for a check-up a few days ago. She just happened to pass by this room and got curious. It wasn''t intentional; please don''t misunderstand."


    After exining, ric followed Hertha and Thssa.


    Thssa was walking so fast down the corridor that Hertha was almost unable to keep up.


    "Thssa, don''t walk so fast. Wait for me," Hertha said as she jogged over and reached out to grasp Thssa''s arm.Material ? N?velDrama.Org.


    A warm tear fell, by chance, onto the back of her hand. Hertha was startled and, with a nervous hand, lifted Thssa''s face. As soon as she did, Hertha saw her tear-streaked face and froze, quickly saying, "Thssa, don''t cry. Why are you crying?"


    At Hertha''s words, Thssa''s nose tingled even more, and her tears flowed even more freely.


    Hertha''s heart ached at the sight, and she pulled Thssa into a hug. "Thssa, don''t cry. It''s not your fault, nor is it Lysander''s fault. You heard them, didn''t you? Leopold was the one who caused those two workers'' demise; it was his own guilt that led him to his end."


    Saying this made Hertha feel upset too. The heartache was palpable. Leopold, such a stand-up guy, to have met such an end was trulymentable. It was a thought that could sadden anyone who heard it.


    Suddenly, Hertha understood why Thssa was crying.


    Leopold''s story was indeed a tragedy.


    Pel


    Thssa, clutching at Hertha''s clothes, couldn''t stop sobbing. Between her sobs, she said, "Leopold went astray trying to secure my freedom. I''ve wronged Lysander for three years." Content


    belongs to NovelDrama.Org


    Leopold''s death had nothing to do with Lysander. On the contrary, Lysander had taken the me to protect Leopold''s reputation, silently bearing the misjudgment for three years.


    He knew the truth behind Leopold''s demise, yet faced with her usations, he didn''t offer a single exnation.


    And she had mistaken his silence for admission.


    Hertha patted Thssa''s back, trying tofort her. "Don''t cry, Thssa. The past is behind us. We need to look ahead. As for


    misunderstanding Lysander fone


    three years, you can clear it up with him. Don''t let the misunderstanding continue."


    "It''s toote," Thssa choked out, feeling that even if she wanted to clear up all the misunderstandings with Lysander, he might not want to hear about their past anymore.


    He had moved on, with someone new by his side. The past misunderstandings probably didn''t matter to him anymore.


    "How can it be toote? If you want,


    it''s never toote, Thssa. Happiness is something you fight for!" Hertha, holding Thssa by the shoulders, looked into her eyes with her own round ones, serious and encouraging.


    "Hertha, Thssa, look! It''s the live stream of Lysander and Rosalind''s wedding!" ric, holding his phone, hurried over.

 Chapter 1746

    Chapter 1746


    "What? Lysander and Rosalind are getting married today?" Hertha eximed, snatching the smartphone from ric''s hands in disbelief.


    Thssa looked up, startled, her cheeks still streaked with tears she hadn''t yet wiped away. She was shocked to see the phone in Hertha''s hand.


    "Thssa, look, this is really Lysander and Rosalind''s wedding!" Hertha handed the phone to Thssa.


    The video on the screen showed avish scene at the Starhaven International Hotel''s grand ballroom.


    The ce was dripping in luxury, with massive crystal chandeliers hanging from the ceiling, creating an atmosphere of opulence and grandeur. The guests were a sea of suits and couture, clearly a gathering of the cr¨¨me de cr¨¨me, mostly business moguls and high society figures. After a quick sweep through the guests, the camera focused on a stageid out with a red carpet, nked by bunches of fiery red roses, blending wealth and romance seamlessly.


    The emcee, microphone in hand, was delivering the opening speech of the ceremony.


    ¡°Ladies and gentlemen, wee to the wedding of Mr. Sinir and Miss Rosalind. The auspicious moment is upon us shortly, please bear with us as the bride and groom make their grand entrance."


    Seeing this, Hertha grabbed back the phone, urgently saying to Thssa, "Thssa, let ric drive you to the Starhaven International Hotel, you''re the only one who can stop this wedding!"From N?velDrama.Org.


    Thssa swallowed hard, her eyes closed lightly, and she gently shook her head.


    "Thssa, what do you mean? Aren''t you going to stop Lysander?" Hertha asked, puzzled and anxious.


    Thssa''s hands, hanging by her sides, clenched tightly. For a moment, she wanted to throw caution to the wind and rush over to tell Lysander she didn''t want him to marry Rosalind.


    But the memory of herst visit to the Royal Estates, intending to confront Lysander about a misunderstanding involving her mother''s death, only to find Rosalind in her nightgown, seductively inviting him upstairs for a rest, his hand tenderly stroking hers with a fond expression, quelled her impulse. Her fists tightened then rxed, she shook her head, "It''s his choice, I have no right to interfere."


    If Lysander didn''t want to marry Rosalind, nobody could force him.


    Now that she knew Leopold''s death had nothing to do with him, and that Lysander hadn''t targeted her


    mother, her heart had easel?


    towards Lysander, but that was all.


    For Lysander, it made no difference.


    If she showed up now, she''d only turn into theughingstock of the event.


    "What? Thssa, you really won''t stop Lysander and Rosalind''s wedding?" Hertha couldn''t believe


    It was clear to her that ne


    loved Lysander deeply, yet she chose to suppress her feelings and let another woman have him!


    Hertha, ever impulsive, couldn''t stand it anymore. She grabbed Thssa''s hand and started dragging her out.


    ¡°What are you doing, Hertha?" Thssa asked as she was pulled along.


    "What does it look like? I''m taking you to crash a wedding!" Hertha vented in frustration.


    If Thssa didn''t act now, Lysander would truly belong to someone else!


    As they hurried down the corridor, about to turn toward the elevator - a bit too swiftly - they nearly bumped into someoneing the other way. Thankfully, Hertha stopped just in time.


    Ready to snap at the person, Hertha''s anger turned to surprise upon recognizing a familiar face, ¡°Lydia, you''re here!"


    Thssa also spotted the tall,


    slender figure of Lydia, asking


    uncertainly, "Lydia? What are


    doing here at the hospital? Is my aunt alright?"

 Chapter 1747

    Chapter 1747


    Thssa felt a knot forming in her stomach. Lydia had been under Dr. Funke''s wing, learning the ropes of medicine, spending her days almost glued to Dr. Funke and her aunt. Lydia showing up here could only mean one thing: her aunt must need medical attention.


    Seeing the worry stered all over Thssa''s face, Lydia quickly reassured her, "No, no, don''t fret. I''m here for you. What''s the n now with your discharge?"


    As she spoke, Lydia gestured to the bag of apples she brought a ssic get-well-soon gesture.


    "How did you know I was in the hospital?" Thssa asked, curiosity piqued.


    Hertha chuckled sheepishly, "It was me who called Lydia. I knew you didn''t want to worry your aunt since she''s not in the best of health. But Lydia is a doctor and your childhood buddy. I figured her visiting wouldn''t be an issue. Someone had to check on you during your hospital stay, right?"


    "Just got here and you''re already leaving?" Lydia nced over their preparations to leave.


    Hertha exined, "Thssa was bored out of her mind here; said it''s better to be at home. I was just about to take her to Lysander and Rosalind''s wedding-to stop it."


    "You''re taking Thssa?" Lydia looked puzzled between Hertha and Thssa.


    Given that today was Lysander and Rosalind''s wedding, shouldn''t Thssa be the one most distressed?


    Why would Hertha be the one to take her?


    Thssa looked down, choosing to remain silent.From N?velDrama.Org.


    Hertha sighed, a tone of resignation in her voice, "I tried convincing Thssa to crash the wedding, but she just said that it''s Lysander''s choice and no one can stop him."


    After a moment of reflection, Hertha had to admit Thssa might be right. If Lysander truly didn''t want to marry Rosalind, not even a gun to his head would make him do it.


    They had reached the point of marriage; it must be what Lysander wanted.


    Thssa''s presence there would likely change nothing.


    "There''s something I''m not sure if I should mention," Lydia hesitated, her usually decisive demeanor reced with worry.


    Thssa looked up, sensing the gravity of the situation.


    Lydia, always so direct and never one to beat around the bush, seemed unusually hesitant, signaling to Thssa that something significant was up.


    Hertha''s curiosity was piqued, her


    e


    straightforward nature pushing her to prompt, "Out with it, then. Don''t leaveus hanging. Are you trying to give us a heart attack?"


    Lydia looked to Thssa for permission, who nodded, "Go ahead, I can handle it."


    Only then did Lydia speak up, "I''ve been treating Lysander for a while and discovered he''s experiencing phantom limb sensations."


    "What''s that supposed to mean?" Hertha interjected, anxious.


    Thssa, too, was on edge, awaiting Lydia''s exnation.


    "I asked Dr Funke the same question, Lydia continued. "He said that Lysander experiencing phantom sensations means his brain can no longer control his leg movements. It''s likely he''ll be disabled for life."


    "What?" Thssa''s world came crashing down, her body trembling with the shock of the revtion.


    How could this be happening?


    "I''ve discussed this with Lysander. His initial reaction was to smash a mug, but after calming down, he made me promise not to tell you," Lydia went


    on.


    "So, you''re saying Lysander, now


    elket


    facing disability, thinks he''ll hold Thssa back and has chosen to leave her for Rosalind?" Hertha, ever the drama enthusiast, quickly connected the dots, her mind racing with scenarios straight out of a soap opera.

 Chapter 1748

    Chapter 1748


    Hertha''s expression was one of shock and confusion as she looked from Lydia to Thssa, eagerly awaiting their reactions. She had a hunch that Lysander''s decision to marry Rosalind was driven by a significant reason.


    Catching Hertha''s nce, Lydia too turned her anticipation towards Thssa, knowing that her reaction would be most telling in this situation. Thssa, visibly shaken, her breathing heavy with emotion, locked eyes with Lydia. "Is everything you just said true?" she managed to choke out, her voice strained as if each word was a struggle.


    Lydia nodded softly, "Yes, it''s all true. Remember, you were there during Lysander''s first treatment session. When he showed signs of pain, Dr. Funke considered it a positive sign. After several acupuncture sessions and thorough examinations, Dr. Funke concluded that Lysander was experiencing phantom limb sensations."


    "And you''re saying when he realized he might be permanently disabled, he smashed a ss? How long did it take for him to calm down?" Thssa''s eyes brimmed with tears as she asked, her heart aching at the thought of Lysander''s turmoil.


    She couldn''t imagine the magnitude of the blow to Lysander, a man who had always been on top of the world, suddenly facing a life-altering reality. It was devastating enough for him to fall from grace, but epting a future with permanent disability was even more heart-wrenching.


    "It took about five minutes for him to regain hisposure. He made me promise not to tell you," Lydia replied, understanding the gravity of her revtion. "But now, with him marrying someone else, I couldn''t keep it from you any longer. You and Lysander shouldn''t miss out on a chance at happiness because of this."N?velDrama.Org ? content.


    "Sorry for putting you in this


    position," Thssa said, her voice heavy with a mix of gratitude and sorrow, realizing the bitter truth that Lysander had been hiding his condition from her, hoping against hope that he would recover. Content


    belongs to NovelDrama.Org


    "Thssa, what are you waiting for? Go find Lysander. I believe that as long as you two are together, miracles can happen," Hertha urged, unable to bear seeing her friend in such pain.


    With a determined look, Thssa wiped away her tears and headed for the elevator.


    "I''ll lead the way. I know exactly where Lysander''s wedding is taking ce. Let''s take my car," ric said, pulling along his luggage as he stepped up to the challenge.


    Navigating through the streets at breakneck speed, ric, with


    Thssa, Hertha, and Lydia in tow, made several daring moves to get to the Starhaven International Hotefas quickly as possible. Despite Hertha''s warnings about driving safely especially after a nerve-wracking journey filled with traffic light breaches, ric reassured her of his cautious driving.


    Upon arrival at the Starhaven International Hotel, they were immediately met with a formidable security presence. The hotel, fully booked for the wedding, was on high alert to prevent any disruptions to Lysander and Rosalind''s ceremony.


    As they attempted to enter, a burly security guard blocked their path, stating firmly, "The hotel is closed to visitors. Please find somewhere else to go."

 Chapter 1749

    Chapter 1749


    ric nced back at Thssa, who was visibly agitated. Her brows furrowed in worry; it was clear she was itching to get inside.


    Turning to the bouncer, ric said, "I''m a friend of the groom, here by invitation. Aren''t guests allowed inside?"


    The bouncer, familiar with ric, hesitated nheless. "I need to see your invitation."


    This bouncer was part of Lysander''s security team, no stranger to ric and aware of his close friendship with Lysander. But today, the bouncer was acting under orders not just from Lysander, but also from Joshua. Joshua had been explicit: no invitation, no entry. It was their necks on the line otherwise. Just a guy on the job, the bouncer couldn''t shoulder such risk.


    ric began to panic, "I... I forgot my invite at home."


    "That won''t do. Please retrieve your invite, then you can enter," the bouncer insisted.


    Before ric could respond, Hertha pulled him and Thssa aside. In a hushed tone, she plotted, "ric, remember how we got Thssa out of that hotel room before?"


    "Diversion?" ric guessed.


    "Exactly," Hertha nodded, "we use the same trick. Distract the guards, and Thssa slips in."


    ric eyed the bouncers dubiously. "There are six of them. You sure we can lead them all away?"


    "One of us for every two," Hertha said.


    ¡°That''s tooplicated. Let''s just knock them out," Lydia suggested bluntly.


    Without waiting for a response, Lydia strode towards the bouncers, gesturing them over with a flick of her wrist. The bouncers looked at her as if she''d lost her mind. As she approached, her hand moved swiftly, chopping one on the neck. Before the bouncer could react, he was out cold. The other bouncernged at her, but with another swift motion, Lydia had him down too.


    "Secure the entrance! We''ve got trouble!" More bouncers rushed towards themotion.


    Lydia met them head-on, fists and feet flying.


    Hertha was in awe, "Damn, girl!"


    Giving Lydia a thumbs-up, Hertha grabbed Thssa and dashed into the hotel, "Hurry, Thssa, we''ve got a window!"


    More bouncers attempted to blockBelongs to (N)?vel/Drama.Org.


    their path, but ric engaged them, clearing a way for Thssa. Amidst the chaos, Thssa finally made it to the banquet hall.


    On stage, Lysander sat in a wheelchair, dashing in a suit and bow tie, his hair slicked back, already in the groom''s spot. Rosalind, in a stunning white dress, looked every bit the princess. Joshua, holding her hand, led her down the aisle towards Lysander. Seeing this, Thssa''s heart pounded with urgency.

 Chapter 1750

    Chapter 1750


    The bride, her arm looped through her father''s, made her way slowly towards the groom. "This moment," the officiant announced into the microphone, his voice echoing through the hall, "is sacred. Let us bear witness to a wedding filled with love and devotion."


    Apuse filled the air.


    As the music swelled, a sweet, melodious tune, Rosalind beamed with happiness. Supported gently by Joshua, she took each step towards Lysander with grace and anticipation.


    Finally, she stood before Lysander. Joshua, with a tender touch, ced Rosalind''s hand in Lysander''s. It was a careful gesture, one that resembled entrusting a precious treasure to another''s care.


    Lysander''s gaze was intense as he looked at Rosalind, not moving his wheelchair or attempting to approach her. As he tightened his grip on the armrests, preparing to reach out, a voice pierced through the crowd, "I object to this marriage!"


    The statement, loud enough for all to hear, drew every eye to its source. A woman, dressed in simple attire with a bandage across her forehead, stood with a solemn face and piercing, clear eyes fixed on Lysander.


    At the sound of her voice, Lysander''s deep gaze wavered for a moment, his breathing growing heavy.


    Joshua turned to see Thssa pushing through the crowd towards the stage. His previously smiling face darkened, and his eyes, aged with wisdom, fixed sternly on Thssa, warning her to stop and retreat. It was clear from his demeanor that Thssa was not wee; Joshua had not informed her of the wedding, indicating his stance. She was not to disrupt Rosalind and Lysander''s special day.


    Yet, Thssa persisted.Exclusive content ? by N?(v)el/Dr/ama.Org.


    Understanding Joshua''s protective wish for Rosalind to marry Lysander, to ensure his beloved daughter was cared for did not deter Thssa Armed with the truth and unwilling to sacrifice her own happiness any longer, she boldly continued towards the stage.


    As Thssa approached, Rosalind''s nerves red. She tugged at Joshua''s hand, silently pleading for him to intervene. With their wedding on the line, she feared the worst.


    Joshua gestured for security, ready to escort Thssa away. But a cold,manding look from Lysander stopped him. Lysander''s silent. message was clear: no


    guard


    Regardless, the wedding couldn''t proceed if Thssa wasn''t heard.


    With the attention of every guest upon her, Thssa stood between Lysander and Rosalind, took a deep breath, and voiced the plea she''d prepared, "Lysander, I can''t stand by and watch you marry someone else. Can you not go through with this?"


    "Thssa, what right do you have to stop our wedding?" Rosalind, driven by impulse, tried to confront Thssa but was held back by Joshua.


    "Easy," Joshua whispered, his eyes urging Rosalind to patience. "Let''s see what Lysander decides."


    "But Dad, she''s here to ruin our wedding," Rosalind protested, frustration in her voice.


    Joshua silenced her with a stern look. Thssa''s presence on the stage was allowed by Lysander. Rosalind''s objections were futile. The continuation of the wedding hinged solely on Lysander''s response.

 Chapter 1751

    Chapter 1751


    Since he promised to marry Rosalind, and showed up today all dressed up, even ready to go through the wedding ceremony, it''s clear he''s made up his mind to marry her. Once Lysander makes a decision, no one can sway him, not even Thssa.


    Now, Joshua could only wait and see what Lysander would do. Although Rosalind was reluctant, she trusted her father wouldn''t lead her astray and remained silent, although sullenly.


    Lysander lifted his gaze, locking eyes with Thssa, his lips parting slightly, "And what right do you have to ask me not to marry someone?"


    His voice, deep and resonant, still carried thatpelling force, causing Thssa''s heart to skip a beat. Nervously, she said, "I... I am the mother of your child."


    Lysander''s eyes visibly dimmed as he looked away, "You should leave."


    Hearing Lysander''s response, a wave of joy washed over Rosalind. She quickly nced at Joshua. With Lysander asking Thssa to leave, it seemed their wedding wouldn''t be ruined after all!


    Joshua gently squeezed Rosalind''s hand, urging her to stay calm and wait to see what would happen next.


    But Thssa, upon hearing Lysander''s words, felt her heart sink with disappointment. Then, Lysander wheeled himself over to Rosalind, reaching out his hand to her. Rosalind, ted, quickly took his hand.


    The officiant, seizing the moment, stepped forward, "May the bride and groom join hands¡ª"


    But before he could finish, Thssa


    snatched the microphone from him. Holding the microphone, she blocked Lysander and Rosalind''s path, her breathing heavy. She


    stared at Lysander intentlye


    her voice filled with urgency and seriousness, "Lysander, you always wanted an answer, right? Here it is. Plike you! I love you!" Belongs to (N)?vel/Drama.Org.


    Her voice, amplified by the microphone, echoed throughout the venue. The crowd was abuzz with whispers, all eyes on Thssa. From the back, Hertha cheered ecstatically, "Go, Thssa!"


    She and ric had just managed to slip past the security and into the wedding, arriving just in time to hear Thssa''s confession. What a thrill!


    At that moment, Thssa couldn''t


    pay any mind to the reactions


    around her. All her focus was on Lysander, her heart pounding as ifat were about to leap out of her chest. §Ö Watching Lysander, she was a bundle of nerves. Because whether Lysander would proceed with the


    wedding to Rosalind depended


    entirely on him.


    If he rejected her and chose to continue with the wedding, what would she do? She didn''t want to leave in disgrace.


    "Thssa, have you lost your mind?" Rosalind, hearing Thssa''s deration, panicked and red at her. Then, she too anxiously watched Lysander, fearing that Thssa''s sweet words might sway him and end her wedding.


    The room fell silent, everyone


    waiting for Lysander''s response. Thssa could hear her own heartbeat, thumping loudly, filled with nervous anticipation. She always been too scared to


    §²§Ö§Ñ§Ý


    reciprocate Lysander''s feelings, but today, she finally took the step to openly acknowledge her feelings for him¡ªat someone else''s wedding.


    With her soul on edge, Thssa watched as Lysander''s lips began to move, about to speak.

 Chapter 1752

    Chapter 1752


    Thssa''s heart clenched, tension radiating through her as she awaited Lysander''s response.


    "What did you just say?" Lysander''s voice, low and maic, cut through the silence. Although it might have been too soft for others, Thssa was right in front of him, hearing every word clearly.


    She blinked, suddenly realizing Lysander had asked her a question. The words she had spoken didn''t seem to have registered with him. Locking eyes with Lysander, her heartbeat skipped. Clutching the microphone tighter, she spoke to Lysander, enunciating every word clearly, "Lysander, I like you! I''ve liked you since three years ago. It was all those misunderstandings that had me holding back, running away from you. I don''t want you to get married-not to stop your wedding because you''re the father of my child, but because I like you!"


    Finally, Thssaid bare her true feelings, clear and unequivocal, to Lysander.


    Nervousness left her palms sweaty.


    Confessing to Lysander again, in front of an audience no less, had her back drenched in sweat.


    As her words hung in the air, Thssa felt the weight of curious nces upon her, the pressure immense.


    Yet Thssa had no time to gauge the reactions of others; her anxious yet hopeful gaze was fixed on Lysander, whose deep, ocean-like eyes were fixed on her in return.Belongs to (N)?vel/Drama.Org.


    His stare made Thssa''s heart race even faster, her grip on the microphone tightening.


    Two secondster, Lysander''s lips curved into a slight smile, his voice, resonant and pleasing, asked, "How can you prove that you like me?" Thssa froze. She was waiting for Lysander''s answer, yet he countered with another question, not directly responding to her confession.


    She looked at Lysander, blinking, puzzled on how to prove her affection for him.


    How could she?


    Rosalind, who had been anxiously hoping for Lysander to reject Thssa, panicked at his question. She quickly stepped forward, intending to push Lysander away.


    Her hand hadn''t even touched the armrest of Lysander''s wheelchair when Joshua pulled her back.


    Rosalind


    filled wined around, her eyes


    Det


    filled with frustration and confusion, but Joshua shook his head gently,


    signaling her not to asion,


    Lysander was his own man, known for his decisiveness. Once he made up his mind, no one could sway him.


    Rosalind understood Joshua''s gesture, but her heart was far from at ease.


    Lysander was about to marry her, about to be her husband, and yet Thssa had burst in, disrupting her wedding! Her gaze towards Thssa was filled with anger.


    Then, Thssa took a deep breath


    and


    R approached Lysandeme


    Rosalind watched, puzzled


    a was about to t


    belongs to NovelDrama.Org


    Thssa leaned in, her lips finding Lysander''s with precision, kissing him gently, cautiously.


    She feared rejection, so she dared not be too bold.


    But fer wanted proof of her


    feelings, a kiss seemed the simplest, of she


    rect form of evidence she


    could think of. Contengs to


    A kiss, after all, is the most straightforward way for lovers to express their affection.


    The moment Thssa''s lips touched Lysander''s, she felt his warmth envelop her, sending shivers down her spine.


    Soon after, she noticed Lysander''s breathing grow heavy, his strong scent enveloping her, overwhelming her senses.


    Just as Thssa was about to pull away, a firm hand on the back of her head deepened their kiss.


    Lysander''s kiss was urgent, demanding, asking questions without words.

 Chapter 1753

    Chapter 1753


    In a fleeting moment, Thssa''s gentle breath intertwined with Lysander''s vigorous exhale.


    Lysander kissed her with a mix of urgency and intensity, savoring Thssa''s long-missed


    sweetness. The instant Thssa''s lips touched his, Lysander felt a tightness in his throat, and his


    entire being seemed to freeze. She had indeed proven she liked him. And Lysander''s excitement


    was far more intense than Thssa could have imagined. He had waited for her affirmation for what


    felt like an eternity, and finally, it had arrived.


    Initially, Thssa was tense and unsure, but realizing that Lysander was willingly kissing her, and


    his strong hands were firmly cradling the back of her head, she couldn''t easily pull away. Suddenly,


    it dawned on her; this was Lysander''s way of answering her. A wave of joy surged through her


    heart, and her body gradually rxed, responding to Lysander''s kiss.


    The guests, who had been eagerly watching and waiting for Lysander''s reaction, burst into excited


    murmurs and cheers upon seeing Lysander and Thssa kiss. What was supposed to be a


    wedding turned into a sensational scene of another woman making a bold move on the groom,


    igniting a fiery kiss that left every onlooker thrilled.


    Hertha, watching from below, screamed excitedly, "Oh, this is too thrilling! Go, Thssa!" While


    Hertha cheered and apuded enthusiastically, ric stood by her side, his face breaking into a


    smile at her happiness. Caught up in the moment, he leaned down and nted a kiss on Hertha''s


    cheek. Hertha immediately covered her cheek, turning to look at ric, only to find him smiling


    contentedly, his gaze filled with affection. While Hertha had been happy for Thssa, ric''s tender


    look now sent her cheeks blushing. She yfully swatted at ric''s arm, "Stop it!" Saying so, she


    buried her face in her hands, looking down at her toes with a shy smile.


    "Dad, let me go! It''s my wedding!" Rosalind, witnessing Lysander and Thssa kissing, felt a sting


    of betrayal and struggled to confront Thssa and Lysander, to separate them. Her white weddingBelongs to (N)?vel/Drama.Org.


    dress had be a joke. Today, she was supposed to be the bride, yet her groom was kissing


    another woman. How could she just stand by? Rosalind was both embarrassed and pained.


    Joshua, holding Rosalind''s hand, tried to lead her away, "Rosalind, let''s go down. We can discuss


    the weddingter." Rosalind, no longer willing to listen to Joshua, angrily shook off his hand, falling


    apart as she used, "You''ve always been stopping me from confronting them. She''s your


    illegitimate daughter, isn''t she? This wedding was for her, wasn''t it? You''re using me to make up for


    what you owe her!" Rosalind was breathless with anger towards Joshua. Joshua, taken aback,


    hadn''t expected Rosalind to think so poorly of him. Feeling both wronged and helpless, he tried to


    reason with her, "Rosalind, listen to me, let''s just leave the stage and change, okay?"


    "No!" Rosalind, defiant, lifted her dress and charged towards Thssa, pulling her away from


    Lysander''s embrace! Pointing at Thssa, she yelled furiously, "Is stealing men a family tradition of


    yours? Your mom stole my dad, and now you''re after my man!"

 Chapter 1754

    Chapter 1754


    Joshua wanted to intervene, but it was toote. In a burst of impulsivity, Rosalind had already dragged Thssa aside andshed out with harsh words.


    Before Joshua could even utter a word, Lysander lifted his gaze, his deep eyes sternly sweeping over Rosalind as hemanded in a voice that brooked no argument, "Rosalind, what are you on about? Apologize this instant!"


    Shock and hurt shed across Rosalind''s face, her eyes welling up with tears as she retorted, "Why should I apologize? I didn''t say anything wrong!" Thssa wiped her mouth, her patience wearing thin. In the past, she might have remained silent, not bothering to defend herself or her honor, letting things spiral out of control.


    But this time was different. Rosalind''s words were a direct attack on her deceased mother, a woman who could no longer defend her own name against such nder.


    Stepping forward, Thssa faced Rosalind head-on, her voice firm, "Ms. Whitman, watch yournguage. Your father was the one framed, and had it not been for my mother''s intervention, you wouldn''t be standing here today. She sacrificed her own reputation to save him, and instead of gratitude, this is how you repay her?"


    The venue, already swarming with reporters eager to catch a glimpse of Lysander and Rosalind''s wedding, erupted into chaos at the scene unfolding before them. Scandal, after all, sold better than the sweetest of love stories, and the journalists were relentless, capturing every moment.


    The more heated the argument, the more sensational the story became.


    In an era where sensationalism reigned supreme, everyone was after the biggest scoop.


    As Thssa finished her piece, shes from cameras flickered incessantly.Exclusive content ? by N?(v)el/Dr/ama.Org.


    The shing lights stung Rosalind''s eyes, fueling the indignation and resentment brewing within her. "Look at all these cameras. Decided to make up a story for the press, have you?" she used Thssa bitterly.


    "My story stands, whether you believe it or not. Ask your father," Thssa replied, her tone resolute, then turned to Lysander, adding, "And as for stealing men, it was you who came between us. I was with him first, for longer, and he''s the father of my child. If it weren''t for your interference, we would still be together."


    Lysander''s gaze on Thssa was intense yet tender, seeing her in a new light as she stood up for their past, making him realize how much he truly mattered to her.


    "When did I evere between you two? You split up on your own!" Rosalind shot back, clinging to her version of the story.


    Thssa could have spared Rosalind''s feelings, but Rosalind''s tant attempt to tarnish her reputation and paint herself as the victim left Thssa no choice.


    "As a designer, my reputation is


    everything. I cannot afford to have it ruined," Thssa stated, her voice steady and proud. "Lysander was bedridden for three years, and I was by his side, caring for him day and night. I turned to traditional remedies to bring him back to health. Yet, you and the Sinirs took all the credit and had me


    expelled from Royal Estates. Is that not true?"


    Rosalind panicked, her eyes darting around for an ally but finding none. With the truthid bare, her position weakened dramatically.


    Sensing Rosalind''s distress, Joshua


    l


    took her hand, offering support. "Let''s keep family matters private and not air our dirtyundry in publict''s time to leave the stage," he said, gently guiding Rosalind away.


    UMS


    Thssa, regaining herposure, reached for Lysander''s wheelchair, ready to exit the drama, when suddenly, amanding voice filled the air, halting everyone in their tracks.

 Chapter 1755

    Chapter 1755


    "Halt! The wedding between Lysander and Rosalind must proceed today!"


    At the sound of that voice, Thssa stopped dead in her tracks, panic-stricken as she turned towards the source. There stood an elderly man, dressed in a distinguished suit, exuding an air of authority and strictness, his expression stern. Despite his advanced years, he carried an aura of solemnity as unwavering as an ancient oak.


    He walked towards the stage with a steady pace!


    Seeing the man, Thssa''s heart skipped a beat.


    It was Zephyr!


    With Zephyr''s arrival, Thssa instinctively tensed up.


    Although she had managed to win Lysander back from Rosalind, Zephyr had never approved of her.


    He had always been against her rtionship with Lysander.Belongs to (N)?vel/Drama.Org.


    Now that Zephyr was here, he was undoubtedly here to seek justice for Rosalind!


    Thssa felt isted and powerless. How could she possibly stand up to them?


    As Thssa fretted, she suddenly felt ayer of warmth cover the back of her hand. Looking down, she saw Lysander''srge handforting her.


    His hand, just as before, was rough with callouses, dry yet warm.


    Resting on the back of her hand, it always sent a thrilling sensation through her.


    Thssa looked up to meet Lysander''s deep gaze.


    In the past Thssa would have felt panic at the sight of Lysander''s unfathomable eyes, a chill running through her heart. But now, looking into his deep eyes gave her an inexplicable sense of reassurance.


    While Thssa and Lysander shared this moment, Zephyr had already taken the stage, his hawk-like gaze briefly meeting Joshua''s.


    Joshua immediately understood, leading Rosalind back to her original position.


    Zephyr approached Lysander, his sharp gaze barely ncing disdainfully at Thssa before focusing on Lysander, and he said in


    a deep voice, "Let''s proceed with the wedding as nned. Anyone irrelevant, I will take care of Everything that was supposed to be yours will be returned to you!"


    It was clear Zephyr was proposing a deal to Lysander!


    What belonged to Lysander, was it not referring to the Sinir Group? Was it not about being the head of the Sinir family?


    Since Lysander had been in aa for three years, the position of CEO of the Sinir Group had been filled by Payton, who also managed to win over the group''s veterans, building his own faction.


    For Lysander to reim his position as CEO of the Sinir Group now seemed impossible.


    Zephyr was using Lysander''s future, forcing him to choose the marriage he had arranged for him!


    Realizing the implications of Zephyr''s words, Thssa was shocked, ncing at Zephyr in surprise, then anxiously at Lysander.


    Her grip on the wheelchair''s armrest tightened unconsciously, her breathing erratic, her heart filled with turmoil and anxiety.


    This anxiety was different from before; previously, she had been in control of the situation, but now she had lost all control, with others making decisions and choices for her.


    She wondered what Lysander would choose, knowing how he always respected Zephyr''s wishes.

 Chapter 1756

    Chapter 1756


    Lysander locked eyes with Zephyr, his gaze as piercing as that of a hawk. After a brief moment, he broke the silence, "I choose Thssa!"Exclusive content ? by N?(v)el/Dr/ama.Org.


    He chose Thssa!


    Upon hearing those words, Thssa''s heart skipped a beat, a mix of surprise and excitement lighting up her face as she looked at Lysander. Her eyes, brimming with emotion and gratitude, involuntarily welled up with tears.


    His words provided her with a sense of security she had never felt before, calming her anxious heart in an instant.


    Finally, someone had chosen her first, affirming her worth in such a profound way. She never knew being valued could feel this blissful. Rosalind, hearing Lysander''s choice, could hardly believe her ears. Her already resentful expression turned to one of shock and disbelief.


    Her lips quivered slightly as she asked, "Lysander, what did you say?"


    Lysander''s gaze shifted back to Rosalind, his handsome face serious andposed. "I choose Thssa. Did you get that?"


    Rosalind felt as if she''d been struck, her body nearly giving way beneath her.


    Joshua stepped in to support her, his face stern, uttering not a word. Any words now were meaningless, only serving to exacerbate the situation.


    He had been overly confident, thinking that since Lysander had chosen to attend the wedding with Rosalind, nothing could sway his decision.


    But it turns out, even the strongest will wavers in the face of someone they care for. And for Lysander, Thssa was that person.


    Just Thssa expressing her feelings was enough for Lysander to forsake all else and stand by her.


    "Absurd!" Zephyr eximed furiously. "Lysander, I''m giving you one more chance to choose!"


    He couldn''t believe that despiteying out such a temptation, Lysander would forsake everything just for Thssa.


    During the three years Lysander had


    been bedridden, the Sinir


    Corporation was headless, teetering


    ol.n


    on the brink of internal chaos. Zephy had appointed Payton,


    §Õ§Ý§ñ


    take over as acting CEO to manage thepany.


    That temporary position hadsted three years, and with growing power, Payton''s ambitions swelled.


    He didn''t just want to be the acting CEO; he aimed for the official title, craving all the authority and wealth it entailed.


    Thus, he began to win over thepany''s veterans and build his own faction. Those who were loyal to Lysander were either sidelined or dismissed.


    The Sinir Corporation was no longer what it used to be. From the board members to the employees, all were Payton''s people.


    Lysander''s return as CEO seemed a distant dream.


    David came up with a n for Lysander to make aeback through a project. If the project seeded and benefited the Sinir Corporation, Lysander would have a legitimate reason to return.


    However, the project was now stalled, adding to Lysander''s difficulties in reiming his position.


    Zephyr had been aware of this


    situation but had never intervened, using it to pressure Lysander into marrying Rosalind. The Sinir


    Corporation was Zephyr''s strol


    bargaining chip to force Lysander''s hand.


    Lysander responded firmly to Zephyr, "I don''t want this opportunity!"


    Then, turning to Thssa with a calm and collected demeanor, he said, "Let''s go."


    Snapping back to reality, Thssa quickly began to push Lysander''s wheelchair, leaving the scene behind.


    "Lysander..." Rosalind took a step forward, wanting to follow, but Joshua held her hand and led her back, saying, "Rosalind, let''s go."


    There was no point in chasing after them now. The moment had passed.

 Chapter 1757

    Chapter 1757


    Rosalind turned, tears streaming down her face, and with a voice heavy with emotion, she whimpered, "Dad..."


    Hearing her call him that way tugged at Joshua''s heartstrings. He wrapped Rosalind in his arms, soothing her gently, his gaze filled with sorrow as he watched Thssa and Lysander walking away.


    He had two daughters, yet Lysander could only choose one. It was an impossible situation, and Joshua knew one of his girls was bound to get hurt. From the beginning, he tried his best to fulfill Rosalind''s wishes, favoring her over Thssa, not wanting Rosalind to lose the love of her life. If Rosalind were to marry Lysander, her future and safety would be secured, and Joshua wouldn''t have to worry about her anymore.


    Thssa, on the other hand, had always been the resilient one. Even if she lost Lysander, she would only be upset for a while before bouncing back, ready to live her life with her usual positivity and optimism.


    So Joshua chose to satisfy Rosalind''s wishes at the expense of Thssa. But in the end, things turned out quite differently.


    Zephyr watched as Lysander walked away, anger in his voice as he said, "Lysander, think this through. If you leave now, you can forget about ever getting a dime from the Sinir Group! Are you sure you want to give up everything for her?"


    At his words, Thssa stiffened, pausing for a moment.


    Until Lysander''s voice broke the silence, "Why stop? Keep going."


    Snapping back to reality, Thssa quickly continued pushing the wheelchair, parting the crowd that automatically made way for them to leave.


    Paparazzi swarmed around, taking pictures and videos of Thssa and Lysander, as well as capturing moments of Rosalind and Joshua.


    The live stream of the event split into several frames, capturing every moment, and the inte was abuzz with reactions. Unbeknownst to Thssa, she was the talk of the town.


    When Hertha saw Thssa finally making her way with Lysander, she was overjoyed and rushed to greet them, Thssa, you were incredible back there! I was cheering for you from the sidelines, did you hear me?"


    Thssa gave her a small smile and nodded in acknowledgment.


    "Lysander, my car''s outside. Let''s get going," ric stepped forward to greet Lysander.


    Soon, the four of them left the hotel, only to find Lydia still taking on a few bodyguards in a skirmish outside.Exclusive content ? by N?(v)el/Dr/ama.Org.


    Lydia was swift and strategic, managing to keep the guards at bay while ensuring she didn''t seriously hurt them.


    Hertha was astounded to see Lydia still fighting against four bodyguards, "Lydia, you''ve got some moves! Aren''t you tired fighting all by yourself?"


    Lydia, distracted, nced back and


    saw Thssa pushing Lysander out.


    Her face lit up with a victorious


    "You guys made it! That''s


    Sesome! Ah!"


    But her moment of distraction cost her a punch to the eye, making Lydia cry out in pain.


    The bodyguard pressed his advantage, ready to strike again, when Lysander''smanding voice thundered, "Stop!"


    The bodyguard''s fist halted just an inch from Lydia''s nose at themand. Quick on her feet, Lydia kicked him back, causing him to stagger.

 Chapter 1758

    Chapter 1758


    "Lydia, are you okay?" Hertha rushed over, supporting Lydia with concern. She observed Lydia''s face, noticing a ck eye that made her look like a one-eyed panda.


    Hertha couldn''t help but let out a chuckle.


    Lydia turned around, puzzled, "What''s so funny?"


    ¡°Nothing, just that you''ve turned into a national treasure, quite amusing." Hertha didn''t hide her amusement.


    Realizing what Hertha meant, Lydia touched her bruised eye, wincing at the sudden pang of pain: "Ouch..." Lydia sucked in a breath through her teeth.


    "How bad is it? Should we head to the hospital?" Thssa, pushing Lysander along, asked with concern.


    "Hey, what''s the hospital for? It''s just a scratch. I''ll just apply some traditional medicine when we get back, it''ll be fine by tomorrow. Don''t forget, I''m practically a doctor now," Lydia boasted, trying to downy the injury with a bravado smile.


    "That''s true." Thssa remembered Lydia was learning medical skills from Dr. Funke, so a minor injury like this was nothing to her.


    "Mr. Sinir!" David approached briskly.


    Dressed in a silver-gray suit, he looked very formal, havinge for Lysander''s wedding. Yet, he found Lysander outside the hotel, surrounded by bodyguards sporting various bruises.


    David, puzzled by the scene, looked to ric for an exnation.


    ric shed a grin, patting David on the shoulder, "You''ve arrived just in time. Take Mr. Sinir back, I''ll escort thedies."


    By ''thedies,'' it was clear he meant Hertha and Lydia, subtly excluding Thssa as part of Lysander''s entourage.


    David''s mood, initially dampened, brightened upon understanding ric''s n: ¡°Mr. Sinir, I''ll get the car ready."


    He hurried to the stretch li


    lowering the steps for Thssa,Exclusive content ? by N?(v)el/Dr/ama.Org.


    Hertha and Lydia to say their goodbyes before he assisted Lysander into the vehicle.


    ric, ever the gentleman, gestured for thedies to proceed: "Ladies, after you."


    "Lydia, let''s go," Hertha said, linking arms with Lydia as they stepped into ric''s car.


    The car glided smoothly down the asphalt road, with David firmly in control of the wheel.


    ncing in the rearview mirror,


    David saw Thssa sitting close to


    Lysander, who looked straight ahead, while Thssa, with her eyes fixed on Lysander''s profile, leaned on him, showing a mix of


    W


    gove


    dependence and affection that David hadn''t seen in a long time,


    With just a nce, David quickly shifted his focus back to the road.


    The intimacy between Thssa and Lysander was a sight David hadn''t witnessed for quite a while.


    However, this time, it was Thssa who looked at Lysander with a fond, §Ö clingy gaze, not the other way around as it used to be. Previously, Thssa seemed to passively


    ept Lysander''s assertiveness, but


    today, she was the initiator. Content


    belongs to NovelDrama.Org


    A woman''s gaze filled with security and reliance towards a man is unmistakably genuine.


    What had happened?


    He was only slightlyte, yet it seemed he had missed a pivotal moment.


    What groundbreaking news did he miss out on?


    As David pondered, a satisfied smile formed on his lips.

 Chapter 1759

    Chapter 1759


    No matter what news he might have missed, as long as Lysander and Thssa were back on good terms, as long as Lysander could be happy and content, that was all that mattered.


    Throughout the journey, neither Lysander nor Thssa mentioned their destination. But David, having his own ideas, soon had the car pulling up in the driveway of Royal Estates.Exclusive content ? by N?(v)el/Dr/ama.Org.


    David got out first, unfolded the ramp, and Thssa, pushing Lysander''s wheelchair, made their way toward Royal Estates.


    David didn''t follow. Instead, he said to Lysander, "Mr. Sinir, I''ll head back now."


    Without waiting for a response, David drove off.


    Entering the grand hall, Fitch, hearing themotion, came out to greet them, "Lysander''s back..."


    His greeting was automatic until he caught sight of Thssa, his surprise quickly turning to excitement, "Ms. Everhart, you''re here! Have you had lunch yet? I''ll ask the kitchen to whip something up..."


    Seeing Thssa and Lysander return to Royal Estates together was something he had not expected, and Fitch was visibly flustered with excitement. Thssa nodded at Fitch with a smile, acknowledging his greeting.


    Fitch, thrilled, hurried off to the kitchen to arrange lunch.


    "Lysander, you must be tired. Let me take you upstairs to rest," Thssa said softly, pushing him towards the elevator.


    Once in the master bedroom, Thssa expertly wheeled him to the side of the bed, then bent down to lift him.


    Just as her hands touched Lysander''s waist, his hands enveloped hers. The warmth from his grip made Thssa pause and look up, locking eyes with him.


    His gaze was deep, like the vast night sky, capable of drawing Thssa''s soul into its depths. Meeting his eyes, Thssa''s heart skipped a beat, herposure slipping as she asked, "What''s wrong?"


    "What are you doing?" Lysander''s voice was low and husky.


    The moment her hands touched his waist, his primal instincts surged, his blood heating up.


    Thssa, as if it were the most natural thing in the world, said, "Helping you into bed to rest."


    "You, help me?" Lysander narrowed his eyes slightly.


    "Is there a problem?" Thssa countered. "For those three years I took care of you, this is how I always got you into bed."


    "Just you?" Lysander was astonished. Even though he had lost weight, he was still over 180 pounds. Thssa, so slight and slender, could manage that?


    "Yeah, just me," Thssa nodded.


    Seeing the skepticism in Lysander''s eyes, Thssa smiled and added, "At first, really couldn''t manage, but gradually I built up the strength Plus got the hang of the technique, and could easily get you settled in bed."


    Lysander listened, his gaze softening at her lighthearted exnation, her eyes shimmering like the clear waters of a spring.


    Catching her hands, Lysander pulled


    Thssa to her feet, his rough hands gently caressing her warm palms. His touch was filled with tenderness, his eyes fixed on her gently as he spoke in a low, resonant voice, "You''ve worked hard. Content


    belongs to


    Though she made it sound easy, Lysander could imagine the daily strain and fatigue of moving him in and out of bed, the dedication she showed day in and day out.


    Thssa paused, a wave of


    emotions welling up in her, a mix of bittersweet satisfaction. She smiled faintly, "It''s worth it, as long as you''re awake. All of it."


    After a moment, she added, "You need to rest more now, for your recovery. Let me help you onto the bed."


    As she bent down to lift him, Lysander''s strong hand gripped her slender waist.


    The touch was incredibly tender, yet Thssa froze, her body heating up instantly, her face flushing with warmth.

 Chapter 1760

    Chapter 1760


    Thssa quickly stepped back, evading Lysander''s reach, her words tumbling out in a rush, "Lysander, what are you doing?"


    Her gaze flitted around, unable to meet Lysander''s eyes directly.N?velDrama.Org ? content.


    Even though she had just confessed her feelings to Lysander that day, it had been a while since theyst saw each other. There was a certain unfamiliarity between them, making his sudden intimate gesture somewhat ufortable for Thssa.


    Lysander opened and closed his hand, as if trying to hold onto the warmth from Thssa''s waist, the softness of her touch lingering in his palm. He silently retracted his hand, his eyes locked on Thssa, "I was just helping you up; no need to bend over."


    He exined why he had tried to wrap his arms around her waist.


    Thssa understood his intention and blinked, asking, "Aren''t you going to rest?"


    "I can manage on my own." With that, Lysander propped himself up with his hands on the bed, pushing himself up to sit on it.


    Thssa was taken aback. Then, she watched as Lysander maneuvered his legs onto the bed. He settled back against the headboard, pulled the covers over himself, and nced at her, "Come on, get some rest too."


    "I..." Thssa hesitated.


    "What, was everything you said at the wedding just a lie?" Lysander interrupted before she could finish, his voice tinged with skepticism.


    His intense gaze unnerved Thssa, and she quickly replied, "Of course not, I wasn''t lying."


    "Thene here." It was a simplemand from Lysander, as imperious and stoic as he''d always been.


    After a moment''s pause, Thssa slipped off her shoes and climbed onto the bed. Because Lysander was sitting at the edge, she had to move towards the inside. She was extremely cautious, afraid of identally touching him.


    But the more careful she was, the more prone to mistakes she became. As she attempted to scoot further in, her hand slipped, and her legnded heavily on Lysander''s, not only pressing down on him but also causing a sharp pain.


    "Sorry, sorry, I didn''t mean to. Did


    that hurt? Let me rub it for you," Thssa apologized frantically, §Ö§ä moving to the other side of the bed. She lifted the covers and began massaging Lysander''s leg, asking, "Did I press down here?"


    Lysander watched her, his face expressionless, and remained silent regardless of how she pressed.


    Thinking she hadn''t found the right spot, Thssa continued to search, "Is it here?"


    She looked up for confirmation.


    "Stop wasting your effort," Lysander suddenly said.


    Thssa''s hands froze before slowly lifting her head to meet his gaze, but Lysander averted his eyes.


    Even though his face was impassive and he said nothing, Thssa understood the emotion behind his words and what he meant by telling her not to waste her effort.


    Remembering Lydia''s words,


    Thssa felt a sudden pang of difort, but didn''t remove her hands. Instead, she kept massaging his leg, smiling, "How can this be a waste of effort? The doctor said rehabilitation is crucial for recovery."


    As Thssa was getting into her stride, Lysander suddenly gripped her wrist, pulling her towards him. His face, stoic and solemn, was now inches from hers, his breath warm on her skin as he said, "These legs will never recover. Do you regret what you said at the wedding now?"


    The pressure on Thssa''s wrist was intense, causing her pain. She winced and looked into his eyes, which were filled with a deep, anxious turmoil.

 Chapter 1761

    Chapter 1761


    The moment he saw her furrow her brow, his previously stormy demeanor dimmed, and he let go of her hand, averted his gaze, and said in a gloomy voice, "You should go."


    Thssa''s eyes shook fiercely. What did he say? He was asking her to leave?


    "Lysander, I..."


    "Go! Don''t make me say it a third time!" Lysander, holding back his anger, spoke in a low, tense voice.


    That brief furrow of her brow had said it all.


    After all, how could she ept a man who was now partially paralyzed?


    Panic seized Thssa. Why was Lysander suddenly asking her to leave?


    She moved closer, embracing him, her cheek pressed against his chest, and she distinctly felt Lysander''s body stiffen for a moment.


    Thssa said urgently, "I won''t go. Even when you were in aa, I never despised you, so how could I despise you now for not being able to stand on your legs? I''ve said it, I like you, I love you, and I won''t leave you..."


    Thssa spoke both urgently and passionately.


    Lysander''s rigid body visibly rxed. He lifted her chin to meet her eyes, incredulously asking, "What did you say?"


    Thssa repeated her words: "I said, I will never leave you."


    "Can you let go of Leopold?" Lysander suddenly asked, his eyes piercing into hers, not missing any subtle expression.


    Thssa''s eyes flickered with curiosity at Lysander. "Why would you ask that?"


    Why bring up Leopold all of a sudden?


    "Weren''t you the one who told Callum that Leopold will always have a ce in your heart, irreceable by anyone?" Lysander''s index finger tilted her chin up a bit more, bringing her closer, forcing her to look into his eyes.


    Thssa was startled, suddenly realizing Lysander had overheard her conversation with Callum!Belongs to (N)?vel/Drama.Org.


    Callum had visited her home,


    intending tomission a design


    from her, and had unexpectedly


    confessed his feelings. To reject et


    Callum and make him give up, she had told him that no one could take Leopold''s ce in her heart, not even Lysander.


    At the time, she thought she heard something at the door, but when she looked back, she saw nothing.


    So, it had been Lysander who hade and, after hearing her words, left.


    Thssa quickly exined, "That was just a reason to reject Callum. You took it seriously?"


    "Was it really just to reject him?" Lysander''s eyes fixed on her, sharp and serious.


    Thssa nodded, "Of course."


    Suddenly, something urred to her. She grabbed Lysander''s hand that was lifting her chin, and with wide, luminescent eyes, she asked him, "After hearing what I said, did you purposely get engaged to Rosalind, marry her, to get back at me?"


    Lysander gave her a leisurely nce, "I''m not that petty."


    "Then why did you suddenly ept being with Rosalind?" Thssa pressed.


    Lysander had always been resisting


    Zephyr''s attempts to arrange a


    marriage for him, always refusing to be with Rosalind. But the day after he overheard her conversation with Callum, the media exploded with news of his engagement to Rosalind.


    Could it not be a ploy to upset her in retaliation?

 Chapter 1762

    Chapter 1762


    "Making others happy isn''t such a bad thing, you know." Lysander pulled Thssa into his embrace, his words a gentle reply to her earlier query. Leaning against the broad expanse of Lysander''s chest, Thssa paused for a moment, absorbing his words. Being with Lysander had sharpened her intuition; she often grasped his meaning immediately.


    He was talking about making others happy.


    Which meant his agreement to marry Rosalind was for her happiness, for Joshua''s, for Zephyr''s.


    That once indomitable Lysander, whom no one could influence, had suddenly embraced such a passive stance.


    Was it because of his leg?


    The thought plunged Thssa into a deep, somber mood.Belongs to (N)?vel/Drama.Org.


    Just as she was engulfed in her sorrow, Lysander''s deep, maic voice filled the air again. "I''m curious about your reaction, too. Seeing me marry another woman, would you really stand idly by?"


    Thssa''s heart clenched in an instant, and she sat upright in surprise, her big, dewy eyes fixed on Lysander. "Wait, was this a trap?"


    If she guessed correctly, Lysander''s marriage to Rosalind was a ploy to provoke her into action, to confess her feelings for him?


    Was all this nned by him?


    Oh my God, that''s terrifying!


    She thought her boldness in attempting to disrupt the wedding was a sign of newfound courage.


    But it was all part of Lysander''s scheme.


    Lysander was still the same cunning person, always several steps ahead.


    Was Rosalind merely a pawn to test her feelings?


    But then, how could he be sure she would act to stop the wedding?


    Amidst her astonishment, Thssa voiced her doubt, "What if I hadn''te to stop the wedding?"


    Lysander''s thickshes fluttered slightly as he spoke, "Then Rosalind and I would have lived as husband and wife, a life without ripples." Thssa froze, her heart suddenly racing with panic.


    At that moment, she realized Lysander''s gamble wasn''t just about testing her feelings; it was about cutting off his own retreat.


    If she hadn''t stepped in, it would have meant she didn''t hold him in her heart.


    Continuing to wait would have been futile. Marrying Rosalind, a match everyone expected, would have been his next best step.


    Without Thssa''s love, he would


    fulfill the wishes of Rosalind,


    el


    Joshua, and Zephyr, marrying Rosalind and living a life of quiet desperation.


    It was the most tragic, the most helpless oue imaginable.


    Thssa suddenly understood the depth of Lysander''s despair.


    He was willing to trade his own happiness for the satisfaction of others.


    Realizing this, Thssa felt both heartache and remorse. She buried her face in Lysander''s chest, her arms wrapping tightly around his neck, her voice tinged with apology and guilt. "Lysander, I''m sorry misunderstood you, misunderstood somuch. I''ve been too cowardly, too afraid to confront my own feelings..."


    It was her evasion that almost cost them a lifetime of happiness.


    Listening to Thssa''s tender voice, Lysander felt a warmth spreading through him, his breath bing ragged. Tilting her chin up, his voice rough with emotion, he asked, ''m giving you one more chance to leave. Do you want it?"


    His gaze was intense, piercing.


    Without a moment''s hesitation, Thssa shook her head vigorously. "No, I don''t want to leave. I want to stay by your side forever..."


    "Good, because you no longer have a choice." With those words, Lysander''s voice dropped to a whisper before he passionately kissed her.

 Chapter 1763

    Chapter 1763


    "Uh..." Thssa was caught off guard, her breath stolen before she could react. She was startled at first, but then her body rxed, melting into his embrace as she reciprocated the kiss.


    Lysander cradled the back of her head, deepening the kiss, savoring the sweet taste of her lips, that long-missed, intoxicating sweetness that drove him wild.


    After dropping Lydia off at Dr. Funke''s clinic, ric drove Hertha home.


    On the way, ric couldn''t wait to discuss their future ns with Hertha.


    "Hertha, Thssa and Lysander have already gone home. When do we get our marriage license?" ric asked, stealing nces at Hertha while he drove.


    "Focus on the road, will you? Haven''t you learned anything from that car identst time?" Hertha crossed her arms and rolled her eyes at ric from the back seat.


    "Alright, we''ll talk about it when we get home," ric said, meek as amb, heeding Hertha''s words.


    The rest of the journey was silent.


    ric drove quietly.


    Soon, they arrived at the parking lot of Gulfstream Community.


    Hertha got out first, striding towards the building. ric quickly locked the car and followed.


    Catching up to her, he asked, "Hertha, when can I meet your mom?"


    "Don''t start with ''your mom'' this and ''your mom'' that. I haven''t agreed to marry you yet," Hertha hadn''t gotten over the disappointment and irritation that had been building for days.


    ric panicked, "Hertha, how can you say that? You said, as long as I bring the household register, we can go and register."


    Hertha chuckled, "That was my mom who agreed to that, not me."


    "Right, your mom agreed, so I made it happen! I brought the household register!" ric tried to prove his sincerity.


    "Well, if it was my mom who agreed, maybe you should marry her." Hertha''s words left ric speechless.


    "No way, I need to see your mom, to make her keep her promise and have you marry me!" ric grabbed Hertha''s hand, refusing to let go.


    Hertha yanked her hand away, seemingly exasperated, "I''ve never seen anyone so shamelessly persistent."Material ? N?velDrama.Org.


    Just then, the elevator arrived, and Hertha walked out briskly.


    ric followed swiftly, "I''m shamelessly persistent because I''m sticking with you, what are you going to do about it?"


    Hertha entered her apartment, and


    el


    ric followed. As she tried to close the door, he stopped it with his hand, pushing it open and walking in as if it was the most natural thing, extending his hand towards her: "Give me your phone."


    Hertha asked, "Why do you need my phone?"


    "To call your mom. Tell her how you''re backing out. I finally get the household register, and now you''re getting cold feet!" ricined, frustrated.


    "Who''s backing out? Let''s see who''s really being shameless here," Kimberly''s voice, filled with amusement, suddenly came from the kitchen.


    Both Hertha and ric turned


    source of the voice,


    to see Kimberly walking


    only


    apron on, a broad smile, ''er with an


    face.


    Hertha eximed in surprise, "Mom!"


    ric, equally surprised, chimed in, "Mom!"


    Kimberly responded cheerfully, "Hey. I made some pork rib soup today. Both of you should have some."


    Hertha jumped up from the couch, puzzled, "Wait, mom, why do you respond when I call you, but also when he does?"


    "We''re all family here, why the formality?" Kimberly said with a twinkle in her eye.


    "Who''s family with him!" Herthained.

 Chapter 1764

    Chapter 1764


    ric was gearing up for aeback to Hertha''s remark when the door to the children''s room swung open, and two little bundles of joy, toddling on their tiny legs, came rushing out, closely followed by Ashton.


    "Daddy, Mommy, you''re back!"


    "Daddy, Mommy, we missed you so much!"


    Julian and Helena, like little penguins, wobbled their way towards ric and Hertha, their adorable voices melting hearts along the way.


    ric''s previously sullen face instantly lit up with joy. He hurried over, bending down to scoop Julian and Helena into his arms, gently pressing his cheek against Helena''s soft little cheek, and then doing the same to Julian.Exclusive content ? by N?(v)el/Dr/ama.Org.


    The tender touch of their innocence was enough to melt ric''s heart.


    "Daddy''s back, and so is Mommy. We''re getting married, so you''ll always have us to love and care for you. Aren''t you excited?" ric couldn''t wait to share the good news with Julian and Helena.


    Julian nodded vigorously, beaming: "Yeah, so happy! Daddy and Mommy are getting married!"


    His joy was so palpable it seemed like he could almost fly.


    "Daddy, if you and Mommy are getting married, does that mean you''ll sleep together? Where will we sleep then?" Helena tilted her head, her big, curious eyes fixed on ric, posing a question that went straight to the soul.


    ric paused, instinctively ncing at Hertha.


    Sure enough, Hertha''s face was a shade of red, a mix of embarrassment and annoyance. She stepped forward, taking Helena from ric''s arms into her own, exining, "Mommy isn''t going to marry him just yet. I''m still mad, not cooled down."


    Saying this, she cast a worried nce at her father. It was so awkward, especially with her parents there, and ric brazenly telling the children about marriage, prompting such an embarrassing question from them.


    "It''s my fault, shouldn''t have made you wait so long, but I wanted to make sure everything was perfect. That''s why I took a bit longer. Here, I I''ve even brought the household registration booklet," ric quickly apologized, realizing the reason behind Hertha''s reluctance. Content


    belongs to NovelDrama.Org


    Knowing the reason meant they could work towards a solution, as the fear was not in the unknown but in theck of understanding.


    They had agreed earlier that once he brought the household registration booklet, they could immediately get married.


    However, due to a driving mistake,


    he had hit Hertha and Thssa,nding Thssa in the hospital. He had spent the past few days taking care of Hertha and Thssa which dyed their marriage registration.


    Now, discharged from the hospital, his first order of business was to rush to get married, even before they had the chance to get the registration.


    With everything finally settled, ric was eager to make Hertha his wife, legally binding her to him.


    "Don''t make it sound so sweet, who knows what you''re really up to?" Hertha rolled her eyes at ric.


    "Where''s the household registration booklet, let me see it," Kimberly didn''t wait for Hertha''s response, her smile fading as she turned to ric.


    "In my pocket," ric quickly retrieved the household registration booklet from his suit pocket, handing it over to Kimberly.


    He had kept the booklet on him at all times, ready for the moment they could get married, safeguarding against any mishap.


    Getting his hands on that booklet hadn''t been easy, and losing it was not an option.


    Kimberly, wiping her hands on her


    apron, took the booklet from ric, flipping through it, satisfied, she smiled: "Good, I came prepared too, brought the booklet from home. Bob, go fetch ours."


    With that, she signaled to Ashton.

 Chapter 1765

    Chapter 1765


    Ashton didn''t utter a word, just nodded at Kimberly''smand and headed to the room to grab their family records.


    ric was over the moon, while Hertha''s eyes widened in shock. Turning to her mother, she eximed, "Mom, are you serious?"


    "Sweetie, when have I ever joked about something like this?" Kimberly chided, her tone yful yet firm.


    In just a few moments, Ashton was back, handing over the documents to Hertha. "Go on, the sooner you leave, the sooner you''re back. Your mom''s pork rib stew is almost ready."


    Hertha was taken aback, ncing at the documents and then at her father. Were her parents really that eager to see her married off?


    "What are you waiting for? Take these and go! It''s 1:40 now, the registry office opens at 2. If you hurry, you can be the first in line. Get it done ande back home for lunch," Kimberly urged, nudging Hertha''s arm, signaling her to take the documents quickly.


    Hertha was still dazed. She had been eagerly waiting for ric toe back with the documents, but as time passed, her anticipation turned to disappointment, doubting ric''s feelings for her.


    Once doubt creeps in, that intense anticipation just fades away.


    Just when she was about to give up, ric returned, documents in hand, urgently wanting to marry her.


    She was confused, unsure whether to hold on to her anticipation or give in to her disappointment.


    While Hertha hesitated, ric took the documents from Ashton, wrapped an arm around her shoulders with an intimacy that faced both Ashton and Kimberly, and said with a smile, "We''ll get going now. We''ll try to be back soon for Mom''s delicious pork rib stew."


    With that, he took the documents, still arm in arm with Hertha, and headed for the door.


    Julian and Helena took a few steps after them, "Daddy, Mommy!"


    "Julian, Helena, be good, just y around the house, and wait for your daddy and mommy toe back," Kimberly stopped them, guiding them to sit by the dining table.


    Hertha didn''t say a word, letting ric lead her away.


    She was both confused and a bit dazed.


    Was she really getting married to ric? It felt surreal, like a dream.


    After the anticipation had been gradually worn down during the wait, the moment they were actually heading to the registry office didn''t excite her as much as she had imagined.


    On the contrary, ric was thrilled, his face beaming with a smile all the way there.


    For safety, he didn''t speed, driving at a normal pace until they reached the registry office at 2:10 PM.


    e


    They were ten minuteste, and there were already two couples line ahead of them. ric and, Hertha had no choice but to wait their turn.


    Twenty minutester, it was finally their turn.


    ric, with a beaming smile, handed over the documents to the clerk, "We''re getting married, thank you for your help."


    The clerk took the documents, beginning the registration process.


    Suddenly, a voice filled with surprise rang out, "ric, what are you doing? You''re marrying this woman?"N?velDrama.Org ? content.

 Chapter 1766

    Chapter 1766


    The girl''s exmation was both surprised and loud, drawing the attention of ric and Hertha, as well as curious nces from everyone around them.


    As ric and Hertha turned, they saw Georgia, clutching a toddler about two years old, ring angrily at ric.


    ric barely nced at the boy before confronting Georgia with an expressionless face, "Who I marry is none of your business!"


    "What did you just say, ric? Say that again!" Georgia stormed forward, clutching the little boy even tighter.Belongs to (N)?vel/Drama.Org.


    Georgia was about to invade ric''s personal space when Hertha couldn''t stand by any longer. ric was her man now, and she had decided to leave the past behind and embrace their future together. She wasn''t going to let any woman get close to him!


    Quickly stepping forward, Hertha shielded ric, crossed her arms, and stood her ground against Georgia. "We''re both free to marry, thew allows it, and so does morality. I won''t let anyone mess this up!"


    "Move aside, I''ll deal with youter!" Georgia shoved Hertha aside, taking two steps towards ric and thrusting the child in front of him, her voiceced with frustration and anger, "ric, look at him, he has your eyes!"


    Over the years, ric had grown tired of Georgia''s clinginess and her diva attitude.


    With a dismissive, even scornful tone, he said, "Move, you''re not stopping me and Hertha from getting married."


    He walked past Georgia, taking Hertha by the shoulder, and led her back to the registration desk.


    The clerk handed them each a form to fill out. ric eagerly began to fill his, and Hertha, without hesitation, started writing her information with a ck ink pen.


    Georgia, feeling ignored, watched as ric, holding his paperwork firmly, was determined to marry Hertha. Unable to hold back any longer, she hugged the child closer and tearfully dered, "His name is r, he was just added to the family registry. He''s your son, ric!"


    Georgia''s voice echoed loudly, drawing curious and entertained nces from everyone around.


    Hertha felt as if she was being


    pricked by thorns, her hand holding the pen froze in shock as she looked up at Georgia, her breathing erratic and eyes welling up with tears as she stared at ric.


    Her heart sank as she turned back to ric, who was equally shocked disbelievingly staring at Georgia.for a moment before biting back angrily, "Georgia, what madness is this now!"


    "I''m not mad, what I''m saying is true. Do you remember that night at the hotel three years ago?" Georgia, tears in her eyes, somehow calmed down, speaking seriously to ric.


    That night at the hotel three years ago!


    Those words pierced Hertha''s heart, causing her immense pain and disappointment.


    Hertha clenched the pen, her body going cold as she stared at Georgia.


    Georgia, holding a toddler and teary-eyed, looked like a woman scorned.


    And there she was, about to marry the father of that child. To outsiders, she must look like the other woman, an interloper!


    Hertha''s heart, just beginning to ept her marriage to ric, was shattered once again. She felt like a fool, aughingstock standing there.


    ric was petrified, staring at Georgia. Her serious and earnest demeanor made it hard for him to disbelieve, shaking his conviction.


    Because that night, three years ago, was a hurdle they could never ovee.

 Chapter 1767

    Chapter 1767


    He still thought that night three years ago was just something between him and Georgia. He never imagined it would result in a child!


    "Georgia, do you realize what you''re saying?" ric warned sharply.


    If Georgia was using this as a tactic to sabotage his and Hertha''s wedding, he wouldn''t let her get away with it!


    "Let''s talk it over. Bring Hertha with you, and let''s head to the caf¨¦ next door," Georgia said calmly, holding the child as she walked out of the city hall.


    ric looked at Hertha with a mix of regret and guilt, attempting to hold her hand. "Hertha..."


    "Don''t touch me!" Hertha snapped, pulling away and walking ahead.


    She wasn''t the type to run from a problem. If Georgia was ready toy things out, she was ready to understand them in detail. This way, she could make an informed decision about where to go from here.


    ric''s attempt to hold Hertha''s hand was futile, leaving him feeling hollow and pained inside. Watching Hertha follow Georgia, he picked up the family register from his work desk and followed them.


    In the caf¨¦, with its tranquil atmosphere, ric and Hertha sat on one side, with Georgia and the child opposite them. The little boy was quite handsome, with striking eyes that bore a resemnce to ric.


    His eyes, curious yet timid, were fixated on ric and Hertha as he snuggled into Georgia, too scared to move. Georgia gently stroked his head, soothingly saying, "r, don''t be scared. He''s not a bad man. He''s your dad."


    r, the little boy, didn''t speak, his eyes still timidly fixed on ric and Hertha.


    After calming r, Georgia


    addressed the matter at hand. She sternly said to ric, "Three years ago, you and were together at a hotel, and ended up pregnant. I told my family, and they pressured you into an engagement with me. You went along with it, and after our engagement, I realized I was pregnant. Do you remember? After we got engaged, I went abroad for a year under the pretext of studying business. The truth is, I wasn''t


    learning business; I was away giving birth..."


    ¡°Georgia, be responsible with your words!" ric suppressed his anger, unwilling to believe Georgia''s words any longer. He had umted enough disappointment over thest three years.


    Indeed, Georgia went abroad for a


    year after their engagement, supposedly to learn business with


    vel


    her father. But given Georgia''s arrogant and domineering personality, if she had beenExclusive content ? by N?(v)el/Dr/ama.Org.


    pregnant with his child, wouldn''t she have used that to force him into marriage immediately? How could she possibly go abroad to secretly have the child and then return alone?


    "You still don''t believe me, do you? What I''m saying is true!" Georgia said, distressed. "I know using the child to force you into marriage would have been more


    l


    straightforward, but I didn''t want to do that. I wanted you to marry me because you truly wanted to, because you really loved me, not because of obligation. That''s why I kept the child a secret."


    Georgia exined why she hadn''t disclosed the existence of their child.

 Chapter 1768

    Chapter 1768


    Hertha listened with a grave expression, her hands clenched tightly on the table.


    ric nced back at her, noticing the struggle she was trying to hide.


    In a mix of panic and anger, he confronted Georgia, "Stop lying, Georgia. You''d do anything to marry me!"


    Knowing Georgia as he did, if she were pregnant with his child, she would''ve made it known immediately, even making it the talk of the town. Using the child as leverage was the fastest way to get him to marry her.


    Why would she give up such an opportunity for aughable reason and go abroad to have the child alone, only to bring him back now?


    Georgia was hurt, incredulous as she looked at ric, "This kind of person?"


    Tears welled up in her eyes as she spoke to ric, hurt, "What kind of person do you think I am in your eyes?"


    "You know exactly what kind of person you are!" ric said sternly, his face cold.Material ? N?velDrama.Org.


    Over the past three years, Georgia had been spoiled, willful, and aggressive, disying all the arrogance and sharpness of a pampered heiress.


    ric had seen her true colors!


    And because he had seen her true colors, he found it hard to believe her words.


    The idea that she hid the existence of their child to make him fall in love with her and willingly marry her was something ric found too simplistic to believe.


    Seeing ric''s resolute attitude, Georgia''s tears fell as she choked up, "Everything I''ve told you is true. Even your mother doesn''t know about the child. I didn''t tell her because I wanted you to fall in love with me, to marry me willingly. If you don''t believe me, we can get a paternity test..." As she spoke, Georgia tightened her grip on her child.


    Feeling his mother''s distress, the child spoke in a tender voice, "Mommy, don''t cry..."


    He raised his little hand to wipe away Georgia''s tears.


    Hearing the child call out "Mommy Hertha''s heart trembled violently, her own vulnerabilities touched. She understood the genuine concern and tone of a child for their mother.


    The child''s voice was soft, filled with a hint of timidity as heforted Georgia, even reaching out to wipe her tears. Wasn''t it just a child''s heartache and guilt for seeing their mother upset and feeling helpless?


    Seeing this, Hertha could no longer stay seated. She stood up, her expression cold, "You two talk. I''m leaving!"


    With that, Hertha turned and walked away.


    ric stood up to follow her, "Hertha..."


    He reached for Hertha''s hand but she quickly shook him off. She turned, her gaze wounded yet icy, "Deal with your own mess. I''m going home."


    Without another word, she left.


    Seeing that Hertha was truly angry ric panicked. He was about to follow her when Georgia, holding the child stood up urgently, "ric, let''s go to the hospital for a DNA test!"


    Georgia''s words stopped ric in his tracks. He turned, his anger directed at her with a re, then looked down at the child in her arms.


    The child, indeed, had his eyes - beautiful and almond-shaped, looking back at him timidly. The sight was somewhat pitiful.


    Could this child really be his son?

 Chapter 1769

    Chapter 1769


    ric felt a wave of uncertainty wash over him.


    "Fine! Georgia, if he''s not my son, I never want to see you again!" ric agreed to go through with the DNA test. He wanted to settle this matter once and for all, both for himself and to let Georgia move on for good.


    With that, ric was the first to leave the coffee shop, and Georgia hurriedly followed, clutching the child in her arms. ric drove while Georgia sat in the back with the child. The ride to the hospital was silent.


    At the hospital, ric had his blood drawn first. When it was the child''s turn, the little one burst into tears, unable to stop crying. Georgia could barely hold him.


    Seeing this, something tugged at ric''s heart. He took the child from Georgia''s arms and held him, letting the boy sit on hisp. He tried to soothe him, "Come on, little man, it''s just a small prick. Don''t be scared."N?velDrama.Org ? content.


    The little boy looked up at him, eyes brimming with tears, a sight so pitiful it was hard to bear.


    ric almost decided to call it off when suddenly, he remembered how happy Helena and Julian would call him daddy, how they too would cuddle up in his arms, all soft and adorable.


    If he showedpassion now, what about Helena and Julian? They had just found out he was their dad. Was he going to let them lose a father again? That would be too cruel!


    With this thought, ric no longer considered the little boy''s feelings and stretched his arm towards the nurse to have the blood drawn. The child didn''t resist, but when the needle pierced his skin, he flinched violently. ric held him firmly, and the child''s cries filled the room.


    Georgia tried tofort from the side, "Don''t be scared, r, it''ll be over soon. Shh... Don''t cry..."


    Thankfully, the nurse finished


    quickly, and ric pressed a cotton ball on the prick. Once the bleeding stopped, he tossed the cotton bal away and handed the child back to Georgia. "Let''s go. We''ll have the results in two days." Content


    belongs to NovelDrama.Org


    Saying so, ric led the way. Georgia, holding the child, quickly followed. "ric, do you know why I was at the city hall this afternoon?"


    "I don''t have the time to care!" ric responded without looking back.


    Georgia frowned but still shared, "The city hall isn''t just for marriage licenses; it''s also where you register a child''s birth. I went there to


    register r. He''s been with ine


    official documents since birth, making hospital visits a nightmare."


    "I''ve been holding off on registering him, hoping he could carry yourst name, be part of your family registry. But you seem so opposed to me, he it feels like we''ll never marry. But the kid''s growing, and how can he go on without documents? Reluctantly, I r¨¦gistered him under my name, Reed..."


    "It doesn''t matter to me what hisst name is!" ric got into his car.


    Georgia approached, about to open the door and get in, but found it locked. ric started the car and drove off, leaving Georgia and the child behind.


    Watching the car disappear, Georgia kicked the ground in frustration. "ric, you''re the worst!"

 Chapter 1770

    Chapter 1770


    Georgia stood steaming as she watched the car drive away, her breath heavy with frustration. Yet, her anger didn''tst long. Quickly, she set her child down, stood them upright, and pulled out her smartphone. "Mom," she said, dialing her mother''s number, ¡°I had ric go to the clinic for a paternity test. I''m leaving it in your hands now."


    Once she received a reassuring response, Georgia hung up, relieved. She scooped up her child and hailed a cab to leave.


    After leaving the caf¨¦, Hertha didn''t go straight home. She sat in the back of the taxi, her expression somber as she gazed out the window at the passing scenery, feeling miserable. As she watched, she suddenly felt something wet trickle down her cheeks. Reaching up, she wiped her face and looked at her hand. Tears. She was actually crying! The usually carefree and bold Hertha was crying! Georgia''s words had struck a deep chord, severing any hopes she had of being with ric.


    She had tried to overlook ric''s one-night stand with Georgia from three years ago, hoping for the sake of their children, she could move past it and marry him. But learning that Georgia also had ric''s child was too much. Both of them had children with him! Where did that leave her? Insisting on being with ric wouldbel her the other woman! But what truly made it impossible for her to ept him was her unwillingness to forgive ric for having a child with another woman.


    Deciding to let go was one thing, but why did it hurt so much more? It turned out that facing a new hurt after trying to ept and move past the initial pain was far more excruciating.


    Thssa and Lysander had taken an afternoon nap together. Thssa woke up to find Lysander sitting up in bed, looking refreshed. She quickly sat up, surprised. "When did you wake up?"


    "About half an hour ago."


    "Why didn''t you wake me?¡± Thssa asked.


    Lysander softly touched her nose, smiling. "You looked so peaceful sleeping; I didn''t have the heart to wake you."


    Thssa pouted. "I guess you were just as considerate when Rosalind was staying at Royal Estates, huh?" With that, she swung her legs out of


    bed.


    UMS


    "She stayed in the guest room. When she slept or woke was none of my business," Lysander suddenly rified.


    Thssa paused mid-motion and


    turned around sharply. "You mean


    vel


    you never shared a room with Rosalind? Then what I saw that day..."


    "What did you see?" Lysander''s gaze was intense, probing.N?velDrama.Org ? content.


    Thssa felt a bit guilty and avoided his gaze. "Nothing... nothing important."


    "You came to see me that night for a reason?" Lysander''s voice was deep and smooth.


    Confused, Thssa blinked. ¡°You knew I was there that night?"


    l


    That night, she had just learned that her mother''s death had nothing to do with Lysander. He had never targeted her mother. It was all Callum''s doing, misleading her to believe Lysander was behind it, aiming for her mother''s life.

 Chapter 1771

    Chapter 1771


    Excited, she rushed to Royal Estates, eager to clear the air with Lysander, to confess her misunderstanding. But what she found was Rosalind, fresh from a steamy shower, d in a sultry nightgown, inviting Lysander to retire for the evening. Far from declining, Lysander, with a casual arm around Rosalind, apanied her into the elevator, heading to the second floor to unwind. In that moment, Thssa felt a sharp sting of jealousy and turned to leave, her heart heavy.


    She had assumed, since Rosalind''s move to Royal Estates, that she and Lysander were sharing more than just space¡ªthat their rtionship had crossed into intimacy. Imagine her surprise when she discovered that Lysander and Rosalind weren''t even roommates! To Thssa, this revtion was nothing short of a delightful shock.


    "So, you saw us together in the elevator," Lysander admitted without reservation,ying bare the facts. Thssa''s eyes widened in disbelief. "That was intentional?"


    Indeed, it was. He had deliberately let her witness his cozy moment with Rosalind, aiming to stir her emotions. It turned out, he had been orchestrating her reactions all along, setting the stage for her to make a dramatic entrance and im him as hers. He was still Lysander, the man who seemed to hold the world in the palm of his hand.Exclusive content ? by N?(v)el/Dr/ama.Org.


    She believed she hade to him after a fierce internal battle, only to realize it had all been part of Lysander''s grand design. Lysander beckoned her closer with a wave of his hand, his gaze both tender andmanding, impossible to resist.


    Thssa, initially rising from the bed, found herself drawn back under his spell, crawling back to his side, her eyes sparkling with curiosity. "What do you want?"


    With a flirtatious lift of her chin, Lysander locked eyes with her, his intent clear as he probed, "So, it''s alright for you to flirt with Callum, but I can''t have my moments with other women?"


    Thssa caught on to his game, realizing his jealousy was a ploy to provoke her. "I didn''t expect you to be both domineering and so... cunning," Thssa smiled, taking his hand in hers, her eyes alight with amusement.


    He had overheard her private conversation with Callum, not just hurt but also angered by their closeness. Was he jealous of her time spent alone with Callum? To think, he''d use the same tactic to rile her up. Such a petty man.


    With augh, Thssa teased, "What if I never took the bait? What if I was too dense to see your n and just wished you well instead of crashing the wedding?"


    Lysander''s demeanor darkened, his


    gaze sharpening. Thssa, taken aback by his sudden seriousness, attempted to lighten the mood, but Lysander''s voice dropped an octave. "If you hadn''t shown up, I might have actually married Rosalind. You wanted that oue, didn''t you? I''d be satisfying everyone else, at the expense of my own desires. Why wouldn''t I?"


    Thssa''s nerves tingled with rm. "I was wrong to question your intentions. Here I am, aren''t I? I couldn''t stand the thought of losing you to someone else..."


    Facing Lysander, her eyes sparkled


    I


    with warmth a coy smile ying on her lips. Her gaze was gentle and beautiful her demeanor sweetly obedient. Lysander, moved by her expression, couldn''t resist cupping her chin and leaning in to capture her lips.


    Caught off guard, Thssa''s body tensed as his kiss deepened, her heartbeat racing under hismanding presence. Feeling her stiffen, Lysander gently cradled her head, intensifying the kiss, and in that moment, all barriers between them melted away.

 Chapter 1772

    Chapter 1772


    Thssa was initially stunned, feeling Lysander''s passion envelop her. Gradually, her body rxed, lost in the fervor of Lysander''s kiss.


    They were so caught up in the moment, with the temperature rising between them, when suddenly there was a knock on the door. A cautious voice of the servant pierced the heated atmosphere, "Lysander, is it dinner time, or shall we wait a bit longer?"


    Hearing the voice, Thssa jolted, pushing Lysander away reflexively. Though she and Lysander were officially an item now, she was still shy. Being caught kissing Lysander would turn her beet red.


    Sensing her difort, Lysander let her go, pulling her into aforting embrace to help her catch her scattered breath.


    The servant, receiving no reply, quietly retreated.


    Thssa leaned against Lysander''s broad and warm chest, taking deep breaths to calm herself from the whirlwind Lysander had stirred in her heart. Her cheek against his chest felt the powerful masculinity, and right by her ear, over Lysander''s heart, she could hear his steady and strong heartbeat.Belongs to (N)?vel/Drama.Org.


    It wasforting for Thssa, a feeling of happiness spreading in her heart. It had been a while since shest heard his heartbeat.


    During the three years she took care of him, she would listen to his heartbeat every night before sleep, a reassurance before she could allow herself to rest.


    Since Lysander had awakened, it had been ages since shest listened to his heartbeat.


    Hearing it again brought her immensefort and joy.


    Thssa reached out, hugging Lysander, basking in his warmth, her voice soft and slightly coquettish, "Lysander, aren''t you going to ask where our kids are?"


    Since his awakening, Lysander hadn''t once asked about the kids.


    This made Thssa wonder if he had forgotten about them.


    "The kids are at boarding school, doing really well," Lysander''s deep voice responded.


    He had gotten updates from Zephyr and had seen videos of the kids at school.


    Thssa hadn''t seen the kids for three years and was unsure how they were faring, undoubtedly missing them dearly.


    His grandfather was harsh in his


    methods, taking the kids away from


    Thssa and not allowing her any


    contact for three years. Content


    belongs to


    Knowing how much Thssa adored the kids, one could only imagine how hard it was for her.


    Lysander continued, "The kids are


    disciplined, waking up at 7 AM,


    followed by breakfast and then sses. Elowen is as chubby as ever, enjoying her meals. Atticus and Doriamarepeting in their


    studies, both top of their ss.


    Sophia has taken a liking to


    antiques, winning severab


    competitions and bing a young appraiser."


    These updates were all from Zephyr.


    Listening to Lysander, Thssa felt both relief and a pang of sadness, her eyes welling up with tears.


    She hadn''t expected the kids to thrive so well without her.


    It was just her struggling to cope without them.


    Thssa, fighting back the tears, responded calmly, "As long as they''re happy, that''s all that matters."


    Though Thssa hid her emotions


    well, Lysander could sense the


    turmoil within her. He tightened his


    embrace, gently saying, "The boarding school is strict. In a year, they''ll be out."


    A year seemed like an eternity to Thssa, who wished she could see her beloved children the very next day.


    But with Lysander''s words, she knew she had no choice but to wait, holding back her longing for her children.

 Chapter 1773

    Chapter 1773


    She nodded, her voice filled with hope, "Alright, I''ll wait another year. After a year, I can see them."


    "When we have a moment, maybe on a school open day, I''ll take you to see them," Lysander finally relented, sensing the depth of Thssa''s longing for the children.


    "Really?" Thssa''s face lit up with surprise and delight as she looked at Lysander.


    Gently ruffling her hair, Lysander spoke warmly, "Of course, it''s true."


    Though visiting the children would require Zephyr''s consent, and he had to convince Zephyr to let Thssa go, he couldn''t bear to see her in such distress.


    He was determined to make it happen.


    "Fantastic!" Thssa beamed, suddenly filled with a new energy.


    Sitting up, she smiled at Lysander, "Let''s get up and have some dinner, shall we?"


    With that, she quickly got out of bed, moving to Lysander''s side to help him up, but before she could start, she saw Lysander moving his legs, already sitting on the edge of the bed.


    Thssa felt a bit awkward, unsure of what to do next.


    Lysander nced at her, raising an eyebrow, "Could you move aside a bit?"


    "Huh?" Thssa, puzzled, didn''t catch his drift at first.


    He nodded towards something behind her, and turning around, she saw the wheelchair, realizing what he meant. She was about to pull the wheelchair closer when Lysander said, "No need, I''ve got this."


    Thssa''s hand stopped midway, pulling back as she stepped aside to let him through.


    Lysander reached out, effortlessly pulling the wheelchair to the bedside, and with practiced ease, he seated himself in it.


    His movements were smooth and decisive.


    Curious, Thssa asked, "Have you always managed getting in and out of bed by yourself?"


    "What else? If I''m to use this wheelchair for the foreseeable future, I better do it myself," Lysander replied casually.


    But Thssa felt a heavy heart upon hearing his words.


    The casual mention of a future bound to a wheelchair carried a cruel, burdensome reality.


    For someone as proud and aplished as Lysander, a lifetime in a wheelchair was not a blow to his dignity but a trampling of a life once filled with superiority.


    Lydia mentioned that Lysander took merely five minutes toe to terms with the harsh reality.


    Thssa couldn''t help but admire Lysander''s inner strength, yet she could imagine the devastating impact of those five minutes on him.


    Caught in her thoughts, Thssa


    snapped back to reality as she saw


    Lysander pushing his wheelchair


    forward. Quickly catching up, she offered with a cheerful tone, Let me push you."


    Without a word, Lysander allowed her to take the handles of the wheelchair.


    Together, they took the elevator


    down to the ground floor, where they found Fitch instructing a servant. Mid-sentence, he noticed Thssa and Lysander, immediately halting his conversation to approach Lysander respectfully, "Lysander, the kitchen has prepared the meal. Shall I have it served now?" Content


    belongs to


    Lysander gave him a measured look before responding, "What do you think?"


    Fitch, momentarily taken aback, quickly replied, "Right away, I''ll see to it."N?velDrama.Org ? content.

 Chapter 1774

    Chapter 1774


    Thssa and Lysander were cozied up at the dinner table, indulging in a delicious meal. Just as they were about to finish, Thssa''s phone rang. She picked it up to see Hertha calling. Without hesitation, she answered.


    "Thssa, what are you up to? Oh, right, you''ve just pulled off a wedding heist, must be all lovey-dovey with Lysander, sickeningly sweet. Unlike me, feeling like I''ve been put through the wringer, heart, liver, spleen, stomach, and kidneys, all aching," Hertha''s voice came through the phone,den with a wish-to-cry despondence.


    Sensing something was off with Hertha, Thssa asked, "What''s wrong?"


    "It''s too much to exin over the phone. Can we meet in person? Do you have time?" Hertha sighed.


    Hertha, usually so vibrant and cheerful, sounded so downhearted that Thssa sensed something serious was amiss.


    Covering the mouthpiece, she looked over at Lysander for approval, "Hertha needs me, is it okay if I step out for a bit?" Lysander dabbed his mouth with a napkin and asked, "Are you done eating?"


    "Yeah, I''m full," Thssa nodded.


    "Go ahead, then," Lysander said.


    Quickly putting down her fork, Thssa hurriedly stood up, promising, "I''ll be back before 8 p.m."


    "Mhm," came Lysander''s low, maic affirmation.


    With a smile, Thssa said, "Then I''m off."


    Grabbing her jacket, she headed out while Lysander instructed Fitch, "Have the driver take her."


    "Right away, sir," Fitch sprang into action.


    Thssa found Hertha by theke in the park.


    She was sitting on a bench, facing theke. The breeze lifted her wig slightly, casting a long, lonely shadow under the streetlights.


    Seeing her like this, Thssa''s heart


    ached. She approached, draping an arm around Hertha''s shoulders, and tried to lighten the mood, "What''s got our ''sunshine'' so down? Is it that time of year when the sunshine starts to fade?"


    Hertha snapped back to reality, leaning into Thssa''s embrace with a heavy breath, "Thssa, you know, I was finally ready to let go of the past, not to dwell on ric''s history, and build a family with him, give our kids a whole family. We were supposed to get our marriage license today..."


    "That sounds great, though. Where''s the license? Let me see it?" Thssa probed gently, trying to uncover more about Hertha''s situation.


    Hertha swatted Thssa''s extended hand away with a mournful look, "It fell through, we didn''t get it."


    "What happened? Why did it fall through?" Thssa pulled her close, sharing the cool breeze off theke.


    Hertha''s eyes dimmed, tears falling


    as she recounted the day''s events, "Three years ago, that night between Georgia and ric... Georgia got pregnant with ric''s child, and the kid''s over two years old now."


    "What?" Thssa was taken aback, expecting only a minor spat between Hertha and ric, not a revtion of this magnitude!Material ? N?velDrama.Org.

 Chapter 1775

    Chapter 1775


    Hertha, with her eyes brimming with tears, looked at Thssa, her lips quivering as she said, "I can convince myself to overlook ric''s past, but I just can''t bear the thought of my kids having to share their dad with someone else..."


    As she spoke, tears streamed down Hertha''s cheeks.


    She had been feeling down and miserable all afternoon, alone with her thoughts, but she hadn''t really let it all out until now.


    But with Thssa by her side, all her pent-up emotions came flooding out, and Hertha sobbed uncontrobly.


    Seeing her friend in such distress, Thssa wrapped her arms around Hertha, gently patting her back, soothing her, "Let it all out, honey. Crying might make you feel a bit better..."


    Hertha clung to Thssa''s clothes, crying her heart out. After a while, though, her sobs subsided, and she suddenly straightened up, did a little stretch, and then made a motion as if she was going to jump into theke.


    Thssa''s heart skipped a beat, and she quickly grabbed Hertha, eximing with a relieved yet serious tone, "Hertha, what are you thinking! No man is worth this kind of nonsense! Remember, you''re a mother of two! No one in this world loves your kids more than you do. Imagine how lost they''d be without you!"


    Hertha turned around, her eyes still red but now with a smile, and said, "Do I look like someone who''d do something stupid? I wouldn''t punish myself for someone else''s mistake. I just wanted to say goodbye to the past."


    With that, Hertha picked up a rock and hurled it into theke. The stone plunged into the water with a ssh, breaking the calm surface.


    Realizing her mistake, Thssa finally breathed a sigh of relief, understanding that Hertha had merely intended to throw the stone, not herself.


    After throwing the rock, Hertha shouted towards theke, "Ahh!"


    The vast expanse of theke seemed to swallow her shout, diminishing all her pain.


    "All the pain seems so trivial in front of this endless water, all the burdens seem to lighten," Hertha said, feeling relieved. She then proimed, "Why feel bad over some jerk? I decided to ditch him three years ago! Ditching him again now doesn''t make a difference!"


    Thssaughed, realizing Hertha had already found her own closure without much consoling.N?velDrama.Org ? content.


    Hertha, now looking a bit brighter despite her tear-stained face, said, "Thssa, totally get how you felt back then. No matter how tough, things get, beingforted by the warmth of children makes


    vene


    everything bearable. M


    makes us strong; with kids, nothing else matters."


    "Exactly, protecting ourselves and our kids is what''s most important," Thssa replied.


    "Damn right! To hell with men, let them be!" Hertha said with a mix of frustration and resolve.


    Just as she was about to sit down, her phone rang. It was her mother calling.


    Hertha wasn''t in the mood to answer, but Thssa nudged her, "Pick it up, your mom''s worried about you."


    Sliding to answer, Hertha was


    immediately greeted by Kimberly''s irritated voice, "Did you and ric elope to the Pacific? Why did you log out of your live stream ount? I''ve cooked dinner, and it''s gotten cold, then warm, then cold again! How can you be so thoughtless? We''ve been waiting at home to have dinner together. Didn''t you hear me?"


    Kimberly and Hertha''s dad had been waiting at home for ages, not daring to call at first not wanting to interrupt Hertha and ric''s marriage registration. They waited and waited, and with the civil affairs office closed, there was still no sign of Hertha and ric. Kimberly''s patience had worn thin, leading to a scolding over the phone. Hertha, not sure how to respond, carefully tried to exin.

 Chapter 1776

    Chapter 1776


    \"What the heck happened? You better spill the beans!\" Kimberly was always on edge, having spent the whole morning pacing the floor, waiting for Hertha and ric toe back with their marriage license. And then, to top it all off, Hertha hits her with a bombshell over the phone!


    Kimberly''s heart skipped a beat, instantly boiling over with frustration.Exclusive content ? by N?(v)el/Dr/ama.Org.


    \"Mom, I can''t even begin to exin over the phone. I''ll fill you in when I get back,\" Hertha pleaded urgently.


    She had dyed going home precisely because she feared her mom''s intense interrogations, dreading the inevitable showdown.


    Before Kimberly could get a word in, Hertha had already hung up.


    \"Man, my life''s like being in the trenches every single day!\" Hertha murmured to herself as she slipped her phone into her pocket, letting out a long sigh of relief.


    Thssa stood up, cing aforting hand on Hertha''s shoulder. \"Come on, let''s get you home.\"


    Hertha gave her a weary look, saying, \"Guess I don''t have much choice.\"


    Avoidance wasn''t an option; she had to face the music, sooner orter.


    Thssa had been dropped off by their chauffeur, ke, who had been waiting outside all this while.


    As they emerged, ke quickly opened the car door, \"Ms. Everhart, Ms. Kensington, please, after you.\"


    Hertha couldn''t help but tease Thssa, \"Look at you, rubbing shoulders with Lysander and getting the VIP treatment now.\"


    Thssa shot her a yful re. \"Is this really the time for jokes?\"


    \"You sound just like my mom,\"ughed Hertha.


    Thssa couldn''t help but smile, admiring Hertha''s resilience. Despite the emotional rollercoaster, she managed to bounce back, cracking jokes even after such a


    O


    heart-wrenching episode by theke.


    Thssa knew she couldn''t do the same if she were in Hertha''s shoes.


    The drive was smooth, and soon they were at Hertha''s apartmentplex.


    Stepping out of the car, Hertha said, \"Alright, you better head back. I can take it from here.\"


    \"You sure you don''t want me to stick around?\" Thssa asked, worried.


    \"Nah, better you don''t witness my mom''s meltdown. Head back,\" Hertha insisted.


    After a moment, Thssa advised, \"Just try to sweet-talk your mom, okay? She only wants what''s best for you.\"


    \"Got it,\" Hertha responded, then turned and walked away without looking back.


    Thssa signaled ke to drive off.


    Approaching the elevator, Hertha suddenly noticed a man standing there, not seeming to wait for the elevator but staring intently in the direction of the pedestrians.


    His eyes caught her off guard, making her jump. \"Holy moly!\" She clutched her chest, taking a closer look only to realize it was ric. Instantly, her anger red up, and she smacked him on the chest, eximing, \"What are you doing lucking around here? You nearly scared me to death!\"


    ric quickly grabbed her wrist, pulling her closer, and said earnestly, \"Hertha, you''re finally back.\"

 Chapter 1777

    Chapter 1777


    ric still carried that faint scent of mint and tobo, a fragrance that Hertha found captivating.


    Her heart softened at the familiar scent, but then she quickly remembered ric''s affair with Georgia, and her defenses shot up. Irritation red, and she shoved ric away forcefully, "ric, get your filthy hands off me!"


    Pushing ric caused Hertha to stagger several steps backward, her strength surprising even herself.


    ric took a step back, his gaze filled with sorrow as he looked at her. He swallowed hard, pain evident in his voice, "Hertha, I''ve done a paternity test for the kid. It''s not even certain he''s mine. You know what Georgia is like; cunning and maniptive. Who knows what she''s plotting now?" Hertha, heartbroken, let out a coldugh, "It doesn''t matter if the child is yours or not. The fact that you were involved with her is undeniable!" At her words, a pained expression crossed ric''s face, and he hurriedly tried to exin, "I was drunk that night. If I had been sober, nothing would''ve happened between us... and..."


    He paused, then continued, "And, haven''t you already forgiven me for that mistake?"


    Hertha scoffed, crossing her arms angrily, "Who said I forgave you?"


    "How could you agree to marry me if you hadn''t forgiven me?" ric asked.


    "Have the nerve to bring that up? Wasn''t it you who constantly used my mom to pressure me into marrying you?" Hertha spat out the words in anger, revealing her true feelings in the heat of the moment.


    ric was visibly hurt, murmuring, "I pressured you?"


    "Isn''t it obvious?" Hertha retorted.


    ric gave a bitter smile, nodding in admission, "Yes, I pressured you....."


    He hung his head, a picture of dejection.


    Seeing his state, Hertha realized she


    might have been too harsh. She wanted to offer some words offort, but remembering the current state of their rtionship, she bit her lip, made a tough decision, and didn''t say anything tofort him. Taking a deep breath, she walked past him, pressed the elevator button-the elevator was already on the ground floor, so the doors opened quickly. Hertha stepped inside, pressed the button for her floor, and then frantically hit the door close button, intentionally putting distance between herself and ric.


    ric stood with his back to Hertha, only turning around when he heard the elevator begin to ascend.Exclusive content ? by N?(v)el/Dr/ama.Org.


    He watched the numbers on the elevator disy climb, frustration gripping him as he ran a hand through his hair.


    He had arrived first, nning to visit


    Hertha''s ce. As he was about to knock, he overheard Kimberly''s


    comints from inside, saying,


    "Howe Hertha and ric aren''t back yet? I hope nothing''s gone wrong again!"


    ric stopped knocking, realizing Hertha hadn''t returned yet.


    By all ounts, Hertha should have been home before him. Her absence meant she didn''t want toe back.


    Lacking the courage to face


    Kimberly, ric decided to wait


    downstairs, hoping to ca


    and perhaps have a proper


    discussion about how to face


    Kimberly together. But it seemed Hertha had already closed her heart, unwilling to engage further.


    Feeling utterly dejected, ric was lost, unsure of what to do next.


    Upon returning home, Hertha opened the door to find her parents, Kimberly and Ashton, sitting at the kitchen table with stern expressions, clearly in a bad mood. They both stood up upon seeing her.


    Their demeanor suggested a confrontation was imminent. Hertha stepped back, panic-stricken, pleading, "Mom, please, just calm down and let me exin!"


    "What''s there to exin? Hand it over!" Kimberly demanded sternly, extending her hand towards Hertha.


    Confused, Hertha looked at her mother''s outstretched hand, "What are you talking about?"


    "Your marriage certificate, what else!" Kimberly said firmly.

 Chapter 1778

    Chapter 1778


    Hertha was at her wit''s end, giving Kimberly a look that was loaded with difort. "Mom, please, just hear me out before you jump to conclusions." "Alright, let''s hear it then. I''m curious about what excuse you''ve conjured up this time," Kimberly said, her face dropping into a look of expectancy as she stared down Hertha.


    Truth be told, Hertha and ric hadn''t returned yet, and Kimberly had a hunch, which is why she had asked Hertha for the marriage certificate, clinging onto a sliver of hope.


    But now, seeing Hertha''s helpless expression, Kimberly''s fleeting hope vanished into thin air.


    Her daughter had returned alone, not with ric. Clearly, there was a significant issue.


    Knowing she could no longer hide the truth, Hertha nced at her father standing sternly behind Kimberly, waiting for her to continue.


    With a heavy sigh, Hertha said, "ric... he''s had a child with another woman..."


    "What!" Kimberly gasped, her eyes widening in shock, her whole body freezing.


    She knew there was a problem but hadn''t imagined it to be this severe.


    That scoundrel ric, to have a child with another woman and then im he wanted to provide aplete family for his and Hertha''s child? Ridiculous!


    "That bastard, I swear, when I see him, he''s going to be picking his teeth up off the floor!" Ashton was livid, pounding his fist on the table in anger. Before Hertha could exin, he had thought maybe his daughter was just being stubborn.


    But it turned out, she''d run into a real jerk!


    "Oh, my stars, what are we going to do now?" Kimberly,ing back to her senses, found it hard to ept the reality and slumped into a nearby dining chair.


    "Mommy!" At that moment, Julian and Helena, who had been ying in the toy room, burst through the door, scurrying over with their little legs, calling out with their tender voices.


    The two little darlings, hugging


    Hertha''s legs, looked up at her with their big, innocent eyes. Helena, with


    her chubby little face, asked in a soft voice, "Mommy, why didn''t daddye back with you?" Content


    belongs to NovelDrama.Org


    Helena peeked around Hertha, looking for ric, and her bright, hopeful eyes immediately clouded with disappointment.


    Julian, initially wanting to ask the same question, chose not to upon hearing his sister''s inquiry. He looked up and said, "Mommy,


    was so yummy, we had a bowl already. There''s still some left in the pot, you and daddy should have some too."


    Grandma''s Mac and Cheese


    Hearing the thoughtful words from her son warned Hertha''s heart. She knelt down to their level, gently touching their soft cheeks, fighting back tears as she said, "Alright mommy will have some of Grandma''s Mac and Cheeseter. It''s my favorite too." Exclusive content ? by N?(v)el/Dr/ama.Org.


    §©§­§°§´


    "What about daddy? Won''t he have some with you?" Helena tilted her head, her eyes filled with anticipation.


    Despite only meeting their father a few times, Helena''s attachment to him was deep.


    Hertha, trying to keep the mood light, rubbed Helena''s head and said, "Daddy has some very important work to do and won''t be able to join us today."


    It''s often said that daughters are their father''s little angels, and it seemed to hold true in this case.


    Helena had only met ric a few times, yet her every question was about him.


    If ric heard this, he''d probably be over the moon with pride.


    "When will daddy be able toe then?" Helena persisted with her questions.

 Chapter 1779

    Chapter 1779


    Her little cheeks puffed out slightly, her big, sparkling eyes fixed on Hertha, making her look like an adorable doll that almost melted Hertha''s heart. She didn''t want to let the kids down, but things were way beyond her control.


    Hertha couldn''t just spill the beans to her; she had to y the long game.


    She said, "He suddenly had to take care of some urgent business; he''s gone on a trip and it''ll be a while before he''s back. As for when, even Mommy doesn''t know."


    Listening to Hertha spin her tales, Kimberly sighed deeply, "What a mess, I wonder how you''ll sort this one out?"


    Kimberly had lowered her expectations to just wishing Hertha would get married, but now, it seemed like Hertha couldn''t even start her own family. ¡°Mom, let''s not show the kids this kind of negativity," Hertha gently reminded Kimberly.


    "Alright, alright, do whatever you want; I''m out!" Kimberly stood up, waving her hand dismissively as she headed to the kitchen, looking utterly exhausted.


    Not to mention Hertha, even she couldn''t ept a man who had children with another woman.


    Originally, Kimberly was all in favor of Hertha marrying ric, but who knew ric would turn out to be such a scoundrel, cheating on her and even fathering a child!


    If Hertha continued to entangle herself with him, she''d never find peace. Better to cut the ties quickly and move on!


    Realizing her mother''s stance, Hertha understood that her mother had given up, truly stepping back.


    This was what she had wanted, yet a wave of profound sorrow hit her, making it almost impossible to breathe.


    Deciding to give up on ric had been painful at the moment, but time had dulled the pain, and she had moved on, no longer feeling that agony.


    But now, after all the ups and downs with ric, thinking they could start over only to give up again, the sense of loss and pain returned, engulfing her heart.


    Hertha held her breath, fiercely


    suppressing these unwee emotions, constantly reminding


    was


    herself that it was no big deal. It just one guy. Sure, it''s hard to find a three-legged frog, but good men? They''re a dime a dozen!


    ric returned to his ce, knowing full well that Hertha''s parents were also home right across the hall from


    te


    him, but without the DNA test results, hecked the courage to face Hertha''s parents.


    Just as he sat down on the couch, Remington called him.


    ric frowned but answered, "Grandpa..."


    "You don''t sound too upbeat. What''s wrong, work wearing you out?" Remington asked with concern.


    ric replied, "No, Grandpa, what''s up?"


    "Oh, you''ve had the family register out for a few days now, did you and Hertha tie the knot or what?" Remington had been curious for few days but thought to give the young folks some time before asking.


    Today, though, Beatrice had been reminiscing about how adorable ric was as a chubby little boy, specting how cute ric''s kids would be.This content is ? N?velDrama.Org.


    Thinking about ric''s future children made Remington eager to see his great-grandchildren, prompting him to call.


    "Grandpa, I need your help," ric said, his voice soft and filled with a sense of vulnerability.


    "What''s wrong, you run into some trouble?" Remington''s worry deepened.


    It was rare for ric to talk to him in such a lost and vulnerable tone.

 Chapter 1780

    Chapter 1780


    ricid out the whole situation to Remington over the phone.


    Silence fell on the other end.


    Feeling anxious, ric probed, "Grandpa, are you still there?"


    With a huff of frustration, Remington replied, "ric, I''ve got to ask, just how many hearts did you break in your youth? Tell me straight, aside from Georgia, how many other women have you had fleeting flings with? If we resolve this issue, another one''s just going to pop up. It''s never-ending!"


    "Grandpa, you know those were just casual encounters, nothing serious..." ric''s voice softened as he tried to coax some sympathy from his grandfather, hoping he could pull him out of this mess.


    Only his grandfather could help him now.


    Taking a deep breath, Remington asked, "And the child, is it really yours and Georgia''s?"


    ric hesitated, admitting, "I''m not sure yet. We''re waiting for the DNA test results."Exclusive content ? by N?(v)el/Dr/ama.Org.


    "What are you nning to do if the child is yours?" Remington pressed.


    "I don''t know, Grandpa, that''s why I need your help. I don''t want to marry Georgia. I want to be with Hertha," ric confessed his dilemma. "But that''s your child!" Remington eximed, his voiceden with anger.


    "What are you suggesting, Grandpa?" ric sensed his grandfather''s disapproval and stopped his pleading to ask for his opinion.


    "If the child is indeed yours, you marry Georgia. A child needs a family. If not, then you''re free to pursue Hertha," Remington provided his verdict. "No way!" ric tly refused.


    "What did you say?" Remington''s tone hardened.


    Gritting his teeth and clutching the phone tighter, ric firmly told Remington, "Hertha has my children, twins, over two years old now! If marry Georgia, what happens to Hertha and the kids? They need a family too!"


    ric''s deration was fueled by a mix of defiance and desperation.


    He had promised Hertha he wouldn''t fight her for the children, wouldn''t let her lose them.


    Thus, he had kept the existence of his and Hertha''s twins a secret from the Falconer family.


    Because once the Falconer family knew about the children, their fate would no longer be in his and Hertha''s hands.


    But now, facing his own marital dilemma, he had to take a stand!


    "You, what did you say?" Remington was taken aback, shaking with emotion and disbelief.


    "I said, I''m not marrying Georgia, no


    §Ö


    matter what!" After saying his piece,


    ric Kung up, tossed the phone onto the couch, and ran his hands through his hair in frustration.


    Meanwhile, Remington, still holding the disconnected call, trembled with excitement and looked incredulously at Beatrice.


    Seeing his look of astonishment, Beatrice''s curiosity was piqued, and she pressed, "What did ric tell you?"


    Rem prompting Beatrice to


    Remington, still in shock, failed to


    l


    nudge him impatiently, "Come on, spit it out! You''re killing me here!"


    Finally snapping out of it, Remington shared with a mix of excitement and astonishment, "We''ve got great-grandchildren, twins."


    "What, what?" Beatrice was instantly shocked, "You mean, ric has children?"

 Chapter 1781

    Chapter 1781


    Remington was nodding like an excited child, "Yeah, yeah, just now ric admitted it himself, he and Hertha have twins, a boy and a girl, over two years old now..."


    He held up two fingers to show their age, trembling slightly from his excitement.


    Beatrice couldn''t contain her joy, "Well, what are we waiting for? Let''s go bring our little great-grandchildren back home..."


    Linking her arm through Remington''s, she couldn''t help but smile as they headed for the door.


    Just then, Angelina strode in with purpose.


    "Mom, Dad, where are you off to?" Angelina, always one to get ahead of things, stopped Remington and Beatrice in their tracks.


    The joyful expression hadn''t even faded from Remington and Beatrice''s faces when they looked up to see Angelina. Beatrice gripped Remington''s arm a bit tighter, smiling at Angelina, "Oh, we''re just stepping out for a bit."


    Knowing Angelina had a bone to pick with Hertha and wasn''t her biggest fan, having previously concocted a n involving a hefty sum to break ric and Hertha apart, Beatrice wisely chose not to divulge the real reason for their outing.


    Angelina, however, looked gravely serious, "Mom, Dad, there''s something I need toe clean about. Juliet just called me, Georgia had ric''s son! ric was in such disbelief, he even went for a paternity test!"


    Angelina was clearly upset.


    Remington and Beatrice didn''t look too surprised, Remington asking, "And the results?"


    Angelina whipped out her phone, pulled up a picture, and handed it to Remington, "Of course, the boy is ric''s! What he did, does he not remember? Doubting the results now?"


    The paternity test results on the phone screen showed a 99% father-son match, making Remington step back in shock.


    Beatrice quickly steadied him, turning to Angelina, "Let''s talk about this when we get back, your dad and I have urgent matters to attend to!"N?velDrama.Org holds this content.


    She was stern.


    Angelina couldn''t believe it, "Mom, Dad, haven''t you always wanted ric to have kids? Now he does, and you! seem to not care at all? What could possibly be more important than ric''s child?"


    "Well, what do you suggest we do?" Beatrice asked, frowning.


    "Obviously, we should bring ric''s child back home, the mother too," Angelina insisted.


    Beatrice and Remington exchanged


    a look, knowing all too well


    Angelina''s obsession with Georgia''s influential family, thinking that marrying ric into it would boost the Falconer Group, securing the CEO position for him.


    But they knew she never considered what ric truly wanted.


    With a heavy heart, Remington


    looked away, while Beatrice


    pondered for a moment, "You go talk to her family, we''ll catch up with ric to see what''s going on We''ll regroup this evening." Content


    belongs to NovelDrama.Org


    "Alright, be safe on your way," Angelina stepped aside, letting them pass.


    Beatrice, supporting Remington, hurried off; their main concern now was to find out where ric''s children with Hertha were.


    Meanwhile, ric received a message from Georgia, a picture.


    Opening it, he was struck dumb by the paternity test results, disbelief written all over his face.


    In a fit of anger, he threw his phone onto the couch!

 Chapter 1782

    Chapter 1782


    ric was pacing back and forth, a storm brewing within him. He had been clinging to the hope that Georgia was ying tricks, that the child couldn''t possibly be his. But reality had just pped him hard in the face!


    Hertha had already stopped forgiving him. Finding out about his son would be the final nail in the coffin for their rtionship!


    As ric stewed in his frustration, his abandoned phone on the sofa started ringing again. ncing over, the sight of Georgia''s name shing on the screen ignited a fiery rage within him. With gritted teeth and a swift bend, he powerfully shut the phone off.


    The ringing ceased, and a haunting silence took over. But ric''s turmoil was far from quieted.


    After sulking around the house for a bit, as the evening sky darkened, there came a noise at the door. Lifting his head slightly, ric saw the door swing open and a figure step in.


    It was Ethan Crawley, tall and dashingly handsome, with a smirk dancing on his lips. He nonchntly flicked on the light switch, "ric, what are you up to? It''s dark as heck in here, why no lights?"


    As light flooded the room, ric squinted, shielding his eyes from the sudden brightness. In a defeated tone, he asked, "Ethan Crawley, what brings you here?"Exclusive content ? by N?(v)el/Dr/ama.Org.


    "It was us who asked him to bring us!" That''s when Remington and Beatrice stepped forward from behind Ethan, their expressions stern as they addressed ric.


    The sight of Remington and Beatrice startled ric out of his gloom, "Grandpa, Grandma, what are you doing here?"


    With Beatrice''s support, Remington quickly approached ric, his face stern with annoyance, "We''re here to see our great-grandchildren! Where are Hertha and your kids?"


    Earlier, when ric had informed Remington about the twins he had with Hertha, Remington had been over the moon with joy. He wouldn''t be able to sleep tonight if he didn''t get to see his great-grandchildren.


    Hearing Remington''s words, ric paused, ncing bewilderedly at Ethan, who simply shrugged as if to say he was just the messenger. Standing up, ric started to panic, "No, Grandpa, I just told you about them, I didn''t mean for you toe looking."


    Now what? He had promised Hertha that he wouldn''t fight her for the children. If his grandparents knew where the kids were, they''d surely rush to bring them into the Falconer family fold. Just imagining Hertha''s despair at that prospect was enough to envisage a scene of utter chaos.


    "Nonsense, if you won''t let us see the kids, how are we supposed to support you in marrying Hertha?" Beatrice chided ric with a sharp nce.


    ric was at a loss for words, turning to Ethan in a plea for help. But Ethan deliberately looked away, pretending not to catch his desperate gaze. This was a situation even he couldn''t smooth over.


    ric, feeling utterly helpless, ran his


    fingers through his hair, unsure of what to do next. Initially, he had sought his grandparents'' help in hopes of winning Hertha back. But now, things had spiraled out control, and even with his


    no


    grandparents'' help, it seemed an insurmountable task.

 Chapter 1783

    Chapter 1783


    ric knew his top priority was earning Hertha''s forgiveness. If he could win her back, everything else would fall into ce. But without her approval, even moving heaven and earth-or his entire family-wouldn''t make a difference.


    But how could he exin this to his grandparents?


    After mulling it over, a forced smile crept onto ric''s face as he turned to his grandparents and said, "Grandma, Grandpa, I know you mean well wanting to help me out, but Hertha''s pretty mad at me right now. If we stir things up with her kids, I''m afraid she might never forgive me..."


    ric decided honesty was the best policy with his grandparents. After all, sincerity always wins the day with them.


    Remington and Beatrice exchanged a look, a mix of seriousness and surprise on Remington''s face as he asked, "Are you saying you promised Hertha not to tell the Falconer family about the child?"


    They were wise, seasoned by life''s many trials. A single sentence from ric, and they grasped the underlying implications.


    ric sighed and nodded.


    Beatrice, taken aback, said, "That girl really is something. Most people would use a child as leverage to climb the socialdder, but she doesn''t even want the Falconers to know the child exists. Does she not want to marry you?"


    Remington added, "She''s got spunk. Remember when Drunken Butterfly tried to bribe her with two million to leave you, ric? Her actionspletely took us by surprise then, too."


    "Exactly, when most girls would show their ''loyalty'' by turning down the money to prove their love, she took the two million and imed she yed you, avoiding any losses!" Beatrice recalled, highlighting Hertha''s uniqueness.


    "So, you both understand she''s not an easy woman to handle. Let''s not cross her boundaries, or I might really lose her for good," ric pleaded with a hint of desperation in his voice.


    It was his moment of frustration that had let slip the secret about his child with Hertha to his grandparents. Now, the only way to keep it under wraps was to have their cooperation.


    "Young man, you''re still talking about ''handling things. When ites to people especially someone like Hertha, it''s about winning her over with sincerity," Beatrice chided ric. Belongs to (N)?vel/Drama.Org.


    ric nodded in agreement, eager for his grandparents to leave. After all, Hertha and the kids were just next door, and it was only a matter of time before the secret was out. He was almost sure Hertha would want to strangle him.


    "Grandma Grandpa, it''s gettingte, and you haven''t had dinner yet. Let me take you out to eat," ric said, his voice dripping with eagerness as he helped his grandparents to their feet, guiding them ahead of him.


    Remington and Beatrice didn''t object.


    Wanting to send his grandparents home quickly, ric chose a restaurant close to their neighborhood, hoping for a swift dinner.


    Just as they ordered and were waiting for their food, a familiar voice rang out, "Hey, can I get a box of beer delivered to my ce?"


    ric turned at the sound, spotting the slightly plump, adorably petite Hertha. Their eyes met.


    In that instant, waves of longing and guilt washed over him, but the emotions were fleeting, reced by the sudden realization that Remington and Beatrice were right beside him.


    His breath hitched, fearing the impending interaction between Hertha and his grandparents, especially the possibility of bringing up the child. Just as he feared, both grandparents turned their heads to look at Hertha.

 Chapter 1784

    Chapter 1784


    ric jumped up, trying to block their view. "Grandpa, Grandma, let me get you some tea..."


    His awkward attempts were in vain.


    "Hertha, is that really you? It''s been years, and you''ve grown into such ady," Beatrice stood up, delightedly approaching Hertha.


    Her face was filled with a kind smile as she warmly greeted Hertha. She walked up to her, gently cing her hands on Hertha''s shoulders, giving her an up-and-down look before saying with augh, "Hertha, thest time I saw you three years ago, you were still a bit of a tomboy. Look at you now, all grown up and charming."


    Hertha recognized them as ric''s grandparents, whom she had met three years ago at ric''s ce, thanks to Beatrice''s meddling, which had led her to get involved with ric. She still remembered Angelina''s words, saying that Remington and Beatrice just wanted a woman to bear ric''s children, and it didn''t matter who the woman was. Those words had deeply hurt her.


    Because of that, Hertha didn''t have much fondness for Remington and Beatrice. She stepped back, avoiding Beatrice''s touch, and forced a smile, "Oh, Beatrice, it''s been a while. You haven''t changed a bit."


    Beatrice''s smile stiffened for a moment but then returned to warmth as she said, "Ah, you''re such a charmer. Haven''t had dinner yet, have you? Come, sit down with us, let''s catch up."


    Beatrice invited Hertha, who stood still. Beatrice looked towards ric, frantically signaling him to invite Hertha to join them. That silly boy, always talking about making good rtionships, and here he was, missing a golden opportunity.


    Seeing Hertha reminded ric of their awkward encounter at the elevator, and knowing how angry she was, he hesitated to risk upsetting her further without making any progress. But his grandma was hinting at him; if he didn''t step up, wouldn''t that show hecked courage?


    With a forced smile, pretending nothing had happened, ric said to Hertha, "Hertha, what a coincidence! It''s fate, isn''t it? To honor this serendipitous meeting, why not join us for dinner?"


    Hertha rolled her eyes at him, bluntly saying, "I''m busy!"


    With that, she walked over to the cashier, paid with ease, and told the restaurant owner, "Don''t forget to deliver the beer to my ce."


    "Sure thing, the usual, won''t forget!" the owner replied with enthusiasm.


    Beatrice, unable to pursue further, could only watch as Hertha confidently walked away. That girl''s spirit was something else.


    Returning to the table, Beatrice


    sighed and said to Remington, "This


    kid has met his match. She didn''t


    ever spare an old woman i


    any face."


    "Let it be, considering how much the Falconer family has hurt her, it''s already good she even greeted you," Remington said.


    Beatrice nced at Remington but said no more.


    ric watched Hertha''s retreating figure, feeling somewhat dejected. Ethan came over, pped him on the shoulder, and teased, "Looks like every dog has its day. The once untouchable ric has finally met his match in a woman." Exclusive content ? by N?(v)el/Dr/ama.Org.


    ric gave him a look, "What do you know about love, you who believes in nothing?"


    Ethanughed, "You talk about love


    buts


    at you. When you were


    you were happy. Now that you''re in


    love, you look like a lost p''re in

 Chapter 1785

    Chapter 1785


    "Back off, buddy. Sooner orter, you''ll end up wrapped around somedy''s finger," ric teased, shoving him lightly to deflect the ribbing.


    He made his way to the dining table, aiming to soothe any tension with his grandparents. Luckily, they hadn''t brought up anything about kids this time. Otherwise, he was pretty sure Hertha would''ve knocked his teeth out right then and there.


    Dinner was a quiet affair for Remington and Beatrice, too. Both seemed lost in their own worlds, barely touching their food.


    After the meal, Ethan took on the duty of driving Remington and Beatrice home, while ric trudged back to his apartment, head full of thoughts.


    He kept going over the advice Remington had shared with him at dinner. To win Hertha''s heart, he needed to be someone her kids couldn''t live without.


    A light bulb went off in ric''s head. That was it! He finally had a clue!


    The old saying was true: there''s no substitute for experience!


    The next afternoon.


    Hertha was dozing off at her desk when her phone suddenly buzzed to life, waking her up. Squinting, she saw it was a call from her mom. Wiping the drool off her chin, she quickly answered, "Hello?"


    "Hertha, the kids are gone!" Kimberly''s voice tore through the phone, panic-stricken.


    Hertha''s brain buzzed. "What did you say?"


    Kimberly, trembling with fear, replied, "I was watching the kids y on the slide downstairs. I got distracted chatting with Mrs. Wilson from the next building over for just a moment, and when I looked back, they were gone! I''ve searched the entireplex, but I can''t find them anywhere!"This content is ? N?velDrama.Org.


    Hearing her mother''s ount, Hertha felt dizzy, her blood running cold with shock.


    The moment she heard the kids were missing, it felt like the sky had fallen.


    But she couldn''t afford to panic. Her mother was calling her for a decision, and if she lost it, all hell would break loose.


    Trying to keep herposure,


    Hertha said, "Mom, try to stay calm.


    Keep looking around theplex, and ask the security to check the CCTV footage. I''m on my way back now."


    "Alright, I''ll go to the security booth and ask them to check the footage," Kimberly said hurriedly, hanging up to rush to the security booth.


    Hertha bolted from herpany,


    barely making it a few steps before her manager stepped in her way.


    "Hertha, it''s not time to cloo War


    out yet.


    Thinking of leaving early?"


    Hertha looked up, her eyes wide and brimming with tears, her desperation palpable as she shoved past her manager. "Move! I''ll deal with the consequencester!"


    With that, she raced off like a shot.


    Arriving at theplex in record time, Hertha saw Kimberly still frantically calling out for Julian and Helena, panic written all over her face. Hertha rushed over, grabbing her mother''s arm. "Mom, any luck?"


    Turning to see her daughter, Kimberly''s face crumbled, tears streaming down as her hands shook. "No, nothing. We''ve checked all the security footage, but there''s no sign of where they might have gone..."


    Hertha felt numb, her mind a void. The thought of her children being lost was unimaginable.


    Trembling, she pulled out her phone, muttering, "I''ll call the police. They''ll help us find them..."

 Chapter 1786

    Chapter 1786


    Hertha''s fingers trembled as she was about to dial for the police when a woman''s voice chimed in.


    "Hey, are you guys looking for your kids?"


    Hearing the word "kids," Hertha instantly looked up at the neer - ady who often chatted with her mom over coffee.


    Before Hertha could respond, Kimberly nodded anxiously: "Yes, we''re looking for our kids. Have you seen them?"


    "I was just crossing the street over there and saw two kids who looked a lot like yours, Julian and Helena, hanging out with a man I didn''t recognize. I thought I was seeing things," thedy exined.


    With a strange man?


    Hertha''s heart clenched in fear. She urgently asked, "Where did you see them?"


    "Right by the KFC on the corner." Thedy gestured vaguely.


    KFC!


    Hertha''s mind raced to locate a KFC she often passed on her way to work. She had never been inside but knew exactly where it was.


    She immediately sprinted in that direction.


    "Hertha!" Kimberly called out, then quickly thanked thedy before chasing after Hertha.


    Hertha ran without stopping, her feet barely touching the ground until she reached the KFC. Once inside, her eyes darted frantically around. The ce was crowded, but none of the faces were familiar. Just as panic was about to set in, she spotted a familiar face in a corner.


    A strikingly handsome man with a devilish charm, his eyes sparkled with mischief, and his smile was utterly captivating.


    ric was hard to miss.


    And


    munchkins, happily gnawing on chicken drumsticks and fries, their


    de him, were two little feet swinging joyfully nee


    ith every bite. Exclusive content ? by N?(v)el/Dr/ama.Org.


    ric, with a roguishly tender smile, leaned in and asked, "Julian, Helena, enjoying your food?"


    "Mhm, yummy," Helena nodded vigorously, her beautiful eyes gleaming with joy as she looked at ric. "Eat up then. And do you love daddy?" ric gently ruffled Helena''s hair.


    "Love daddy!" Helena''s voice was bubbly with happiness, her eyes shining bright with adoration for ric.


    "And what about you, Julian? Do you love daddy?" ric then turned to Julian, who was busy with his chicken.


    Julian nodded, "Love, but daddy, you gotta make mommy like you too, or we can''t stay with you."


    The little boy was wise beyond his years.


    ric''s face lit up with a beaming


    smile as he tousled Julian''s hair, "Of


    course you''ll have to put in a


    good


    W me with your mommy...


    Ouch!"


    His sentence was cut short by a p on the head. Turning around with a grimace, ready to argue, his eyes met Hertha''s furious gaze. ric''s anger melted into a sheepish grin, "Hertha, you''re here..."


    With hands on her hips, Hertha grabbed ric''s ear, her voice filled with righteous fury, "ric, are you out of your mind? Who told you to take the kids without saying anything? Do you have any idea how scared my mom and I were?"


    e

 Chapter 1787

    Chapter 1787


    Hertha was still shaken, her heart pounding in her chest.


    How could she survive if the kids were really gone?


    ric, that unreliable man, why couldn''t he ever get his act together?This content is ? N?velDrama.Org.


    He had the audacity to take the kids away without telling anyone, clearly trying to upset her.


    ¡°Ouch, ouch, Hertha, let go..." ric winced as he stood up from his chair, hunched over in pain, his face contorted as he pleaded with Hertha.


    Hertha had a grip on his ear just like his mother used to do.


    Hertha didn''t immediately let go, instead, she huffed, "Think you''ll do that again?"


    ¡°Never, never, just let go. Everyone''s watching, don''t I get any dignity?" ric nced around at the onlookers enjoying the show, feeling even more embarrassed.


    "You sneak off with the kids, not caring if my mom and I are dead or alive, and you''re worried about your dignity!" The more Hertha thought about it, the tighter she twisted his ear.


    "Ahhh..." ric grimaced in pain.


    Kimberly wasing back from a KFC run when she saw Hertha, one hand on her hip, the other twisting ric''s ear while he bent over, neck stretched, offering no resistance.


    The bystanders were all chuckling at the scene.


    Kimberly hurried over, pulling Hertha away, "Hertha, let him go..."


    Hertha released her grip and turned to see it was her mother, saying with a pout, "Mom, he..."


    "I know, let me handle this," Kimberly


    cut her off, pushing Hertha aside


    ??


    and stepping forward, her face dark with anger as she scolded ric, "What''s wrong with you, not taking any responsibility! Acting like you''re some kind of lowlife. I''m d my daughter didn''t marry you, what would we have done then?"


    Kimberly was venting, airing both old and new grievances against ric.


    She had once hoped to marry Hertha to him, but then he had a child with another woman.


    She hadn''t settled that score yet, and now he was messing with Hertha''s kids. Kimberly was at her breaking point.


    ric tried to exin with a soothing tone, "Kimberly, listen, it was an ident, I just wanted to take the kids out for something they''d like to eat..."


    "Shut up, don''t call me Kimberly!" Kimberly snapped. She used to not mind ric calling her that, but now it felt like a cruel joke.


    ric paused, knowing Kimberly was genuinely angry.


    Any more attempts at charm would only disappoint her further.


    Kimberly red at him, then turned to pick up the two kids from their seats, one in each arm, and headed for the door, "Come on, let''s go home with grandma. Don''t go off with strangers anymore. Whatever you want to eat, grandma will buy it for you."


    Before, Kimberly couldn''t have lifted both kids at once; her strength just wasn''t there.


    But now, fueled by anger and the adrenaline from the shock, all she could think about was getting the


    kids away, and she managed to pick them both up effortlessly. Content


    belongs to NovelDrama.Org


    Julian and Helena looked from Kimberly to Hertha, then cast sympathetic nces at ric.


    They were too shocked to speak.


    Seeing her mother leaving, Hertha quickly followed, but ric stopped her, "Hertha...¡±

 Chapter 1788

    Chapter 1788


    This time, Hertha didn''t pull away. Instead, she turned around, her gaze a stormy mix of anger and sorrow, and asked, "What now?" In her eyes, ric saw exhaustion.


    Was it his fault she felt this way?


    All he wanted was to be with her.


    Swallowing the lump in his throat, ric managed to say, "I was hoping... we could be together..."


    "Let''s wait for the results of that paternity test," Hertha shot back, slipping her hand from his and turning to walk away.


    Her words were the final blow that knocked ric down.


    He was left speechless, unable to continue the conversation, much less brave enough to share the results with Hertha.


    Their rtionship already felt like it was separated by mountains and rivers, and those results were like a stone door, blocking any passage between him and Hertha.


    How could he dare to tell her the truth?


    Watching Hertha''s retreating figure, ric felt a deep sense of helplessness.N?velDrama.Org holds this content.


    Hertha and her mother took the kids home, lecturing Julian and Helena along the way about the dangers of wandering off with strangers, stressing how worried they''d be if anything happened. "You might never see Mommy and Grandma again if a bad person finds you," they exined.


    "But Daddy isn''t a bad person," Helena innocently remarked.


    Hertha was at a loss for words.


    Helena continued, "We knew he was Daddy, that''s why we went with him. He said he''d take us to get some yummy food."


    Julian chimed in, "It was our first time trying KFC. The fries and chicken wings were so good."


    Hearing this, Hertha felt a twinge of guilt. She took Julian into her arms and said softly, "Did you really enjoy KFC?"


    "Yes, it was yummy!" Julian nodded enthusiastically.


    "I''m sorry never took you there


    before; I thought it was junk food et


    not good for your health. But


    you


    like it, we can go more often, okay?" Hertha said, feeling apologetic.


    Though KFC was just around the corner from their apartment, she had never taken the kids there, citing the reasons she just mentioned. "Okay," Julian agreed, ever so obedient.


    "Mommy, will Daddye with us next time?" Helena turned to Hertha, her big doe eyes shining with hope.


    Hertha paused, uncertain how to answer her daughter''s question.


    Just yesterday, she had lied to the kids, telling them ric was away on a long business trip, and now here he was, secretly taking them out for KFC to win their affection,


    She really didn''t know what else she could say to keep hiding the truth from them.


    Telling them the truth felt too cruel.


    They were still so young, having just experienced their father''s love after two years of absence, only to potentially lose it again.


    As Hertha debated what to say,


    Kimberly spoke up, "Next time you


    want fries and chicken wings,


    Grandma will make them for you et


    We''ll eat at home, it''s cleaner. Who knows what kind of additives they put in the food outside."

 Chapter 1789

    Chapter 1789


    Hertha finally felt a wave of relief wash over her as the issue with Helena was finally put to rest. She quickly agreed, adding, "Yeah, yeah, grandma''s cooking is the best, so clean and just as tasty as KFC."


    The kids didn''t say another word after that. After all, it''s pretty easy to please children; a good meal usually does the trick.


    Once she got the kids to bed and they drifted off to sleep, Hertha finally rxed and called Thssa to recount the day''s events.


    Thssa was shocked. "ric really jumped the gun this time, didn''t he? Whisking away the kids without a word, he could''ve given someone a heart attack."


    "Tell me about it. I used to think he was alright, but it turns out he''s the kind of guy who doesn''t think about anyone else! I must''ve been out of my mind to have fallen for him so hard. Being a sucker for good looks really bites, huh?" Hertha sighed.


    "What''s done is done, no point in regretting. The main thing is the kids are safe," Thssa consoled.


    "Speaking of which, how are things with you and Lysander now? Cleared up all those misunderstandings, I hope?" Hertha suddenly remembered, having been too caught up with her own worries to ask about Thssa and Lysander''s situation.


    "I actually thought Lysander had been living with Rosalind, but it turns out nothing happened between them. They''ve always kept their distance," Thssa exined, her voice filled with relief.


    Hertha eximed, "Lysander is such a catch, so devoted and pure. He''s never involved with other women, just totally into you. Plus, he''s handsome and outstanding. Thssa, you''ve got a good one."


    Thssa could hear the teasing in Hertha''s voice but didn''t argue. Lysander was indeed a great guy.Exclusive content ? by N?(v)el/Dr/ama.Org.


    "It''ste, and you''ve had a shock. Try to get some rest," said Thssa.


    "Okay, you too."


    As soon as Thssa hung up, the door opened and Lysander wheeled in.


    "Your bestie filling you in on her troubles again?" he asked with his deep, soothing voice.


    Thssa turned, a wave of warmth washing over her at the sight of him.


    She moved forward, pushing his


    wheelchair, replying, "Yeah, r?


    that wealthy scion, is really giving everyone a headache at the critical moment."


    "I''ve never seen ric so invested in a woman before. Hertha has changed him; he''s just starting to find his way, lots to learn, which is normal," Lysander said, seemingly defending ric.


    That was unexpected.


    Lysander usually kept to himself, not one to meddle or take sides.


    But ric was his good friend, and it seemed Lysander would still stand up for him when it mattered.


    "He doesn''t need to learn; he''s missing a screw. But it''s their issue to solve, and us worrying won''t help," Thssa quickly changed the subject.


    After wheeling Lysander to the bed,


    she sat down and began massaging his legs, saying, "The jewelry designpetition''s finals areing up in a few days. I''ll need to workte on the designs tonight. Will you be okay sleeping on your own?


    Thssa waited for a response, but getting none, she looked up curiously only to find Lysander''s deep eyes intently fixed on her.


    That look was all too familiar to her. Her cheeks reddened, and she became flustered, stammering, "What''s wrong, is there something on my face?" She even touched her face in a self-conscious gesture.


    Lysander''s lips curved into a smile as he said, "I can stay up with you while you work. We''ll sleep when you''re done."


    Thssa immediately protested, "No, you can''t do that. Staying upte is bad for your health."


    But Lysander gently lifted her chin, his eyes full of affection as he whispered, "Before, sleeping alone was fine. But now, without you, I just can''t sleep..."

 Chapter 1790

    Chapter 1790


    Thssa''s cheeks flushed with warmth, and her heart skipped a beat as she gazed into the eyes of the man before her. Not only was he incredibly handsome, but he was also the man of her dreams. His deep, melodious voice spoke words of affection that stirred her soul.


    How could she possibly resist?


    In just a few seconds, Thssa''s heart was pounding wildly. She desperately wanted to cup his face in her hands and nt a fervent kiss on his lips. But then she remembered her design project was far from finished, and with thepetition just days away, this was a pivotal moment for her career. Logic overcame emotion, and Thssa quicklyposed herself. She turned her face away from Lysander''s hand, which was gently lifting her chin, and with a flushed face and a yful tone, she said, "I can''t spend the night with you today; I''ve got work to do. I''m a career woman, you know."


    Her words had a teasing undertone, suggesting a flirtatious back-and-forth between them.


    Lysander, hearing this, was delighted. A soft smile yed on his lips as he said, "I''ll keep youpany."


    Thssa turned back in disbelief. "What did you say?"


    She half expected Lysander to tease her back, questioning her im of being a career woman, especially since she was just starting out in thepetitive world of jewelry design. At thirty, many designers had already made a name for themselves, while she was just taking her first steps.


    Her sry wasn''t much to speak of, yet here she was, boldly iming to be career-oriented!


    She had spoken without thinking, more in jest than seriousness, fully expecting Lysander to mock her.


    But instead of teasing, he offered to stay with her.


    Lysander''srge hand gently took hers, his thumb softly caressing the back of her hand in an intimate gesture that spoke volumes of his affection.


    "I''ll stay with you while you work. If there''s anything you don''t understand, you can ask me," he said.


    Hearing Lysander''s words, Thssa felt a lump form in her throat, and her eyes began to well up with tears.


    She was easily moved, and just a little bit of support and understanding from Lysander was enough to make her overwhelmed with emotion.


    Without saying a word, Lysander


    looked up, intending to speak, but stopped short when he saw her teary eyes. His own eyes widened in surprise, his expression turning serious. "What''s wrong?"


    He quickly reviewed hisst words, wondering if he had said something to upset her.


    Thssa quickly withdrew her hand


    and, in a flustered manner, wiped away a tear, avoiding Lysander''s gaze. "It''s hothing, just some dust from the ceiling got into my eyes," she said, pretending to rub O something out of her eye.


    Lysander watched her for a moment, then understood the reason behind her tears. Was she moved by his words?


    She was indeed easily satisfied. Just the promise of hispany during ate work night was enough to bring her to tears.


    He hadn''t realized before how little it took to make her happy.


    Reflecting on their past, filled with mutual hurt and suspicion, Lysander acknowledged that he had never truly understood what she wanted.


    All she sought was understanding and support-such simple needs.


    Taking Thssa''s hand, he said, "Let''s go to the study."


    "Okay, I''ll try to finish up as soon as I can so we can rest early," Thssa replied, standing up and moving behind Lysander, pushing his wheelchair.


    In the study, Thssa sat at the


    desk, deeply engrossed in herThis content is ? N?velDrama.Org.


    designs, while Lysander sat beside her, his gaze fixed on her profile. She was focused on her work, and he, on her

 Chapter 1791

    Chapter 1791


    The Whitman family''s mansion was aze with lights. Rosalind sat on the couch, sulking. Her father had promised to sort things out for her, but days had passed without a concrete n. Her patience was wearing thin. She had been looking forward to her life with Lysander after their wedding, but then Thssa made a dramatic entrance on the big day itself, stealing her groom right from under her nose. All her beautiful dreams were strangled in their cradle! If she had never hoped, she wouldn''t feel so heartbroken now. It was the shattering of those hopes that made everything so unbearable.


    "Joshua, would you please say something? You went to see Zephyr today, what happened? Is he not going to stand up for your daughter?" Matilda had been asking Joshua for a while, trying to keep her annoyance in check at first, speaking softly. But Joshua just hung his head in silence, pushing Matilda to her breaking point. She exploded, raising her voice and angrily pounding on Joshua''s shoulder. Rosalind, with tears blurring her vision, looked up at Joshua, waiting for his response. Joshua''s body shook slightly from the impact, then he sat up straight, knowing he couldn''t keep silent any longer. Matilda and Rosalind were on the verge of breaking down. With a pained expression, he nced at Rosalind and then at Matilda beside him, and reluctantly shared the sad news: "Zephyr can''t make a decision this time either..."


    "What?" Matilda gasped.


    Rosalind''s tears burst forth.


    Seeing the shock and distress on both Matilda and Rosalind''s faces, Joshua quickly added, "Zephyr did share some news, Rosalind. After hearing it, you can decide if you still want to marry Lysander."


    "Is there some plot by the Sinir family to make Rosalind back out?" Matilda red at Joshua, furious.


    Joshua, filled with regret and helplessness, revealed, "Lysander will never walk again..."


    "What?" Matilda was stunned once more.


    Rosalind sharply lifted her head, herThis content is ? N?velDrama.Org.


    tears still clinging to hershes, too shocked to fall, staring at Joshua in disbelief. She couldn''t believe this was true. After a few seconds,


    Matilda was the first to rec


    her


    words slightly stuttering, "Is, is there some mistake? Didn''t they hire a renowned traditional healer? Weren''t they saying his legs would soon recover?"


    "That conclusion came from the traditional healer himself." Joshua, though Zephyr had asked him to keep it a secret, feltpelled to reveal this to Rosalind and Matilda now. "At first, the healer thought it could be cured, but after a period of treatment, it became clear it was hopeless." Joshua continued, "Lysander knows about this. He chose to be with Rosalind because he was aware of his condition."


    "You mean, he chose me to avoid being a burden on Thssa?" Rosalind, eyes wide in shock and disbelief, voiced her spection.

 Chapter 1792

    Chapter 1792


    Matilda saw Rosalind''s tears streaming down her face and quickly went to hug her, whispering words of sce, "Oh, sweetie, don''t cry. Some things, some people... they just aren''t meant for us."


    Her tone had shifted dramatically. Just moments ago, she was pressing Joshua for assurances, hopeful that Zephyr could keep his leadership role and allow Rosalind and Lysander to marry. She hadn''t paid much mind to the history between Thssa and Lysander either.


    But now, hearing Joshua reveal that Lysander might never walk again, she began to console Rosalind, suggesting Lysander wasn''t her destiny after all.


    Rosalind, her beliefs shattered, clung to her mother''s clothes and wept unrestrainedly in her arms. Matilda gently stroked her back, offering the softestfort she could muster, "Let it out, honey. Sometimes, crying can make things a little easier."


    Joshua, observing the mother-daughter embrace, understood clearly that they no longer sought the Sinir family''s approval. It dawned on him that Rosalind couldn''t ept a Lysander who was less than whole.


    With a heavy sigh, Joshua rose and walked upstairs.N?velDrama.Org holds this content.


    Five dayster, the jewelry designpetition''s final round proceeded smoothly. The format was simr to the semifinals, with designers presenting their creations modeled for the audience. However, unlike the semifinals where judges picked the winner, the final round winners were decided by votes from both the television and live audience, making it broader and more democratic.


    Having learned her lesson, Thssa


    was meticulous from drawing the initial designs to the final jewelry making, taking extra precautions to ensure her work remained


    BUT


    untouched. Only after confirming everything was in order did she submit her piece to the organizers the day before thepetition, specifically inquiring about the security of her work. Content


    belongs to NovelDrama.Org


    The organizers reassured her of the utmost confidentiality, promising a repeat of the semifinal debacle was impossible. Comforted by their assurance, Thssa felt relieved.


    The day of thepetition saw a


    el


    bustling venue, but this time, Lysander was by Thssa''s side, not apanying Rosalind as before. Feeling his presence, Thssa looked at Lysander and found tranquility. He noticed her gaze, intertwined his fingers with hers, palm to palm, sharing a warmth that was beyondpare.


    Their eyes met for a brief moment, and Thssa, initially nervous, found her calm, confidently focusing on the stage.


    After the host''s lengthy introduction, thepetition officially began. The semifinalists, along with the top three designers from other regions, totaled nine contestants.


    The first model hit the runway showcasing the first contestant''s ruby collection, dressed in an


    emerald green strapless gown. The contrast between the dress and the red ruby jewelry highlighted the gems'' brilliance under the dazzling lights, showcasing luxury in its full glory.


    The audience''s enthusiastic apuse indicated their appreciation for the first designer''s work, setting a high bar and leaving Thssa feeling the weight of thepetition. Everyone was exceptionally talented, making her anxious about how her own creations would be received.

 Chapter 1793

    Chapter 1793


    The spotlight shifted, bathing the stage in a striking blue hue. Out came the second contestant''s piece, modeled by a tall, statuesque woman draped in a daffodil-yellow evening gown. The dress, with its daring thigh-high slit in the front and a mermaid tail dragging gracefully behind, perfectly entuated the model''s figure.


    d in the soft yellow of the gown, the model exuded an air of fresh elegance, reminiscent of the first breezes of spring.Exclusive content ? by N?(v)el/Dr/ama.Org.


    But it was the jewelry that stole the show. Adorned with dazzling shades ofvender, the pieces shimmered with an ethereal light. Thssa was visibly taken aback, her pulse racing with a mixture of shock and awe.


    Instinctively, her grip tightened around Lysander''s hand, which he had been holding all along. She couldn''t tear her eyes away from the runway, from the jewelry that seemed to echo her own designs, leaving her rooted to the spot.


    Lysander, feeling Thssa''s tension, also turned cold, a chill emanating from him as he too noticed the uncanny resemnce between the jewelry on disy and Thssa''s creations.


    Onstage, the model continued her walk, confident and poised, while Thssa stood frozen, disbelief and anger swirling within her.


    How could it be that the second contestant''s piece looked exactly like her own design? Every detail, from the color palette to the style, was identical. And yet, she wasn''t the one being credited.


    The realization that her design had been showcased first, before she even had a chance, was suffocating.


    It couldn''t just be a coincidence that their designs were so simr. But how could this have happened?


    Panic-stricken, Thssa turned to Lysander, seeking his counsel, unsure of what to do next.


    Lysander squeezed her hand reassuringly, suggesting, "Let''s not jump to conclusions. Maybe there''s been a mix-up with the models and the designs. Let''s wait and see."


    His words were a balm, and


    Thssa clung to the hope that a simple error could exin the situation If it was just a matter of swapping the model''s number with the right designer, then the issue could be resolved without much fuss.


    As the second model exited the stage to thunderous apuse, Thssa''s anxiety gave way to anticipation. It was almost her turn, and she was eager to see how her actual design would be presented.


    The stage lights dimmed, reced by a soft purple glow. The next model emerged, and Thssa''s heart stopped.


    It was Susan.


    How could it be Susan? Thssa thought, her mind racing. Wasn''t she supposed to be in custody, awaiting trial for her previous misdemeanors?


    And yet, there she was, not just released but standing on the runway, representing Thssa as her model.

 Chapter 1794

    Chapter 1794


    Susan stepped onto the catwalk in a palette of purples, from her dress to her essories, all matched in varying shades of violet. Her makeup mirrored the hues of her jewelry, creating a monochrome effect that, while cohesive, didn''t do the jewelry any favors. Contrasting colors could have made her jewels pop, drawing immediate attention to them. Instead, the matching tones meant that the audience''s focus was more on Susan''s overall look rather than the standout pieces she adorned.


    This approach often diminished the impact of the jewelry itself.


    Thssa, watching from the audience, felt a jolt of shock surge through her the moment sheid eyes on Susan''s essories. Her heart raced, blood pumping in reverse as she stood up abruptly, unable to remain seated.


    The reason for her reaction? Susan''s jewelry was identical to that worn by the second model!N?velDrama.Org holds this content.


    The second model''s outfit and jewelry were in contrasting colors, which highlighted the sparkle and design of the jewels instantly. Susan, model number three, had chosen a monochromatic scheme, requiring a more discerning look to appreciate the nuances of the jewelry. Thus, the audience''s reaction was slower.


    But Thssa, the designer behind the jewelry for thispetition, had her attention riveted on the pieces. When Susan appeared, Thssa''s designer''s eye cut through the color scheme directly to the craftsmanship. It was her design, replicated exactly as on the second model!


    Initially, Thssa had been willing to give the organizers the benefit of the doubt, perhaps a mix-up in the model and design pairing. But now, it was clear: someone had giarized her work!


    Rising to her feet, Thssa became the center of attention in the silent room. Anger and disbelief painted her face as she stared at Susan still parading on the stage.


    For a designer, having your work copied is the ultimate fear, and Thssa was living that nightmare.


    Lysander, too, noticed Susan and


    the controversy unfolding. Pushing through the crowd in his wheelchair, he made a beeline for the judges table, where he confronted Wyatt, the head organizer-a man more imposing than Cody, with a slick, salesman-like demeanor


    Wyatt, familiar with Lysander''s once fearsome reputation in the business world, felt a flicker of his old fear. But then he remembered Lysander''s current state-a former mogul now confined to a wheelchair, stripped of his former power.


    S


    Despite Wyatt''s reluctance to halt thepetition, Susan continued her performance on stage, treating the disputed jewelry as mere essories to her ensemble.


    Lysander''s expression turned icy, a chill emanating from him as he sensed Wyatt''s dismissive attitude. The air around him grew colder, his presence unyielding.

 Chapter 1795

    Chapter 1795


    Lysander dered, "Let''s halt the contest and look into it. A quick investigation will reveal the truth!"


    While Thssa sketched her designs, Lysander was always by her side. He had seen, even contributed to, all of her work. How could he not know whether Thssa''s creations were genuinely her own?


    No sooner had Lysander finished speaking than the audience began to unrest, not even waiting for Wyatt''s response. They rose to their feet in protest, shouting, "Number three, get off the stage, you giarist, get out!"


    Some even started throwing things at the models on stage.


    Susan, who had been strutting confidently, suddenly found herself hit by a projectile. She let out a scream and hurried backstage, trying to protect her head. But the damage was done. The audience had noticed the identical designs of contestants two and three, sparking outrage.


    Especially among the college students who hade with the intention of learning, their anger was palpable.


    "Who''s contestant number three? Come forward and admit your mistake!"


    "Yeah, apologize publicly and get out of the fashion design world!"


    "Publicly apologize, get out of the fashion design world!" This became the chant of the crowd, echoing loudly.N?velDrama.Org holds this content.


    The scene quickly spiraled out of control, into chaos.


    Thssa, initially furious, found herself paralyzed with fear upon hearing the crowd. She was the victim in this scenario, yet the audience, blinded by their fury, turned against her.


    At first, Thssa felt anger, but now it was mixed with a sense of injustice and a feeling of powerlessness.


    Seeing the situation deteriorate, the


    host quickly grabbed the


    microphone, trying to calm the crowd, "Everybody, please, let''s not jump to conclusions. We''re as in the dark as you are. We''re pausing the contest to investigate this matter thoroughly and promise to resolve this satisfactorily. Can we please have a moment of silence?"


    Wyatt, realizing the gravity of the situation only after the host announced a pause for


    investigation, turned to Lysander with a nervous smile, "Mr. Sinir, rest assured, we''re halting the contest and will conduct a thorough investigation to provide justice to the wronged party."


    Lysander knew these were just titudes. In the past, he would


    have physically ejected such a


    Scoundrel from his presence. Butet


    now, confined to a wheelchair, he couldn''t even if he wanted to, his physical disadvantage making it impossible to confront people the way he used to.


    Lysander''s icy gaze swept over Wyatt before he wheeled himself over to Thssa, taking her hand, and signaling her to sit.


    Thssa,ing back to her senses, met Lysander''s profound gaze. There was a warmth in his eyes, calming and reassuring.


    Understanding his intent, she gripped Lysander''s hand tighter. His palm was dry and warm, aforting presence that helped stabilize her racing heart. She sat down.


    Lysander''s thumb gently caressed the back of Thssa''s hand, a simple yet profoundlyforting gesture.


    Thssa managed a weak smile at him, signaling she was alright, no need to worry.


    Seeing Thssa was momentarily safe, Lysander pulled out his phone, dialing David, "Bring some backup, we''ve got a situation here."

 Chapter 1796

    Chapter 1796


    Thssa listened quietly as Lysander made a call, sitting beside him without uttering a word, her eyes filled with unwavering trust.


    Earlier, she had seen her creation unceremoniously paraded on stage, leaving her feeling utterly dejected. For a moment, her mind was a whirlwind of thoughts.


    But now, sitting next to Lysander, hearing him methodically handle the situation and instruct David to bring people over to sort things out, she found a sense of unprecedented calm. It was as if with Lysander by her side, there was nothing to fear.


    As soon as Lysander hung up, a crew member from the event approached Thssa, saying, "Hello Thssa, your design seems to be strikingly simr to another designer''s work. Our boss would like you to discuss this backstage."


    The staff member''s tone was polite enough. Thssa nodded, "Alright, I''ll head there now."


    She was about to get up when Lysander took her hand. Turning back, she met his deep gaze,den with concern.


    "I''lle with you," he said, then let go of her hand to maneuver his wheelchair.


    Thssa willingly moved behind him, gripping the handles of the wheelchair, and started pushing him forward. She didn''t refuse Lysander''spany. From the moment they decided to be together, she was prepared to be inseparable from him. Moreover, with Lysander by her side, she felt even more at ease.


    As they made their way to the backstage, the audience in the front started gossiping and pointing fingers.


    "Another designer got called backstage just now, and here goes another. Definitely, one of them is a copycat!"N?velDrama.Org holds this content.


    "Seriously, to think they had the audacity to showcase identical designs on the runway! Such nerve!"


    "They must have some strong backing to be this bold."


    "Please, everyone, let''s stay calm. Our team is investigating the matter, and we promise to give you a satisfying exnation once we have one. Can we please quiet down a bit?" The host tried to maintain order amidst the growing noise,


    Pne


    And every word of that chatter reached Thssa''s ears, making her grip on the wheelchair tighten involuntarily. It felt like thosements were targeted at her, making her feel incredibly ufortable. She took a deep breath, trying to stay calm and ignore the murmurs. Innocence proves itself; the truth would


    vindicate her.


    Thssa and Lysander reached the backstage. Wyatt was in conversation with a tall, striking woman with an elegant demeanor and exquisite makeup.


    Thssa recognized her immediately it was Zoey, her senior, who had introduced Thssa to the jewelry designpetition.


    "Zoey, as an employee of our


    company and a talented designer how do you exin the simrity between your work and that of contestant number three today?" Wyatt asked Zoey.

 Chapter 1797

    Chapter 1797


    Thssa couldn''t believe her ears when she heard the news. The person behind the identical designs was none other than Zoey!


    Zoey''s creations were an exact mirror of her own!


    How could this possibly happen?


    Zoey, visibly shaken, turned to Wyatt and said, "Wyatt, I''ve been in the design game for years. You know my caliber. How could I ever stoop to giarism? Those designs are mine, through and through. I can''t fathom why the third designer''s work looks just like mine!"


    After saying this, she instinctively nced towards the entrance and locked eyes with Thssa for a fleeting moment. Her gaze briefly darted to Lysander, who was in his wheelchair, before she quickly looked away.


    It was as if seeing Thssa was like encountering an unwee stranger.


    Thssa, on her part, was stunned.


    She had never imagined that the designer, whose work mirrored her own, would be Zoey, someone she had always looked up to!


    Before Wyatt could respond, he noticed Thssa and Lysander entering.


    He immediately put on a warm smile, approached Lysander, and said, "Mr. Sinir, with your busy schedule, I''m surprised you have the time to delve into this minor issue. Rest assured, we will conduct a thorough investigation. We won''t wrong any designer, nor will we overlook any misconduct." Thssa could tell that Wyatt''s smile was forced, even carrying a hint of malice.


    It was clear that he didn''t hold Lysander in high regard but feltpelled to pretend otherwise.


    Was Wyatt overly bold, or had Lysander lost his once formidable influence?


    Observing Wyatt''s demeanor gave Thssa her answer. Wyatt was an opportunist, now that Lysander seemed to have lost his clout, Wyatt was ying the game of favoritism.


    This realization made Thssa even more irate.


    Not only was she angry for herself, but she also felt indignant on behalf of Lysander!


    Thssa had always been fiercely protective, fighting tooth and nail for her own kids. Seeing someone disrespect Lysander sparked her fury.


    With a coldugh, she coolly said to Wyatt, "For such a prestigiouspetition, it''s astonishing that you allowed two identical designs to make it to the stage. Such a fundamental mistake would never have happened under Lysander''s watch."


    Lysander, picking up on Thssa''s defense, shot her a profound nce.


    Wyatt, facing Thssa''s directness,


    replied with a tone as smooth as butter but with words as sharp as a knife: "Ms. Everhart, if you had simply followed the rules and submitted your work without issues, we wouldn''t be facing such a predicament, causing discontent among our audience. Remember, it''s not just the designers, models, and spectators here - we have


    journalists from TVworksBelongs to (N)?vel/Drama.Org.


    broadcasting live." Content belongs


    to NovelDrama.Org


    "The fallout from this incident on live TV exposes thework to significant risks and brings the organizers, us, considerable negative impact, perhaps even substantial financial loss,¡± Wyatt said, his smile hiding the chill in his words.


    Thssa, now even more enraged, refused to take the me, "Wyatt, I handed in my designs yesterday, specifically asking if they would be kept secure and free from issues Your team assured me there would be no problems. If something has gone awry today, surely the responsibility lies with the organizers? Don''t you check the designs before the show?"


    el


    ?????


    "You seem to be quite cavalier with your usations. Each designer''s work is unique and original. Our staff has no right topare them beforehand. The designers'' submissions are only unveiled and presented to the models halfan hour before the show starts. Therefore, the organizers cannot be held ountable!" Wyatt asserted.


    Just as he finished, a disturbance at the backstage entrance signaled a new arrival.


    David emerged, nked by a group of bodyguards dressed in ck, making his way to Lysander and respectfully said, ¡°Mr. Sinir..."

 Chapter 1798

    Chapter 1798


    Lysander fixed his gaze on David and said, "The piece Thssa brought over yesterday has been ripped off. I need you and your team to uncover the truth ASAP."


    By directly addressing the issue of Thssa''s work being copied, Lysander showed his unwavering trust in her.


    David promptly stood at attention and respectfully responded, "Understood, Mr. Sinir!"


    After issuing his response, David began delegating tasks to his security detail. "The four of you, stay here to ensure Mr. Sinir and Ms. Everhart''s safety. The rest of you,e with me. We''re going to get to the bottom of this."


    With that, David and a few of his bodyguards headed straight for the security office.


    Wyatt, seeing this unfold, was filled with objections. This was his turf, and David had bypassed his consent to head straight for the security office. Wyatt wanted to intervene but was intimidated by themanding presence of David''s bodyguards, deciding against any rash actions.


    He followed David a few steps before turning back to Lysander. Noticing the imposing figures of the bodyguards standing beside him, Wyatt hesitated to approach. His previously arrogant demeanor had vanished, reced with a fawning smile as he said to Lysander, "Mr. Sinir, this seems a bit much. I already told you, our organization will thoroughly investigate this matter and provide a fair resolution to the designers..."


    Thssa, standing by Lysander''s side, had witnessed Wyatt''s cowardly flip-flopping. "Wyatt, that''s not what you said earlier. You med me for causing a scene, iming your organization suffered losses because of me!"


    He had outright used her of giarizing someone else''s work!


    But now, seeing David arrive with bodyguards, Wyatt quickly changed his tune, promising justice.


    ¡°This...¡± Wyatt was at a loss for words. He had assumed Lysander, now seemingly alone and without even a bodyguard in sight, waspletely vulnerable.


    He thought Lysander, no longer the Sinir Group''s president or the presumed son-inw of the Whitman Group, was devoid of any significant influence.


    Wyatt had mistaken Lysander for an easy target, someone he could freely disrespect.


    The previous respectful treatment Lysander received, due to his engagement to Rosalind and his prospective role in the Whitman Group, was based on his perceived status.


    But now, after Thssa''s dramatic intervention and Lysander publicly breaking off his engagement with Rosalind a scandal that had


    el


    spread city-wide - Wyatt had assumed Lysander was just anBelongs to (N)?vel/Drama.Org.


    ordinary man, perhaps even seen as


    Vulnerable due to his physical


    condition.


    Yet, Lysander''s security team remained formidable,manding respect and caution.


    Now, Wyatt couldn''t even muster a rebuttal to Thssa, his frustration evident as he turned to Zoey with a scowl. "What were you thinking?


    After years in design, to haveet


    work at such a crucialpetition be identical to a neer''s? Now we''re in this mess, and it''s thepany that has to clean up after you!"


    Zoey had been standing aside, awaiting Wyatt''s investigation. Suddenly confronted with his usations, she felt aggrieved, her head bowed and her expression troubled, she quietly said to Wyatt, "I don''t know how this happened..."


    "Zoey, there''s definitely something fishy going on. Let''s just wait for the final investigation results," Thssa reassured her.


    Thssa was grateful to Zoey for introducing her to the jewelrypetition.


    However, in light of today''s events, she remained calm and confident, knowing the design in question was her genuine creation, with several ideas contributed by Lysander himself.

 Chapter 1799

    Chapter 1799


    Even if Thssa''s ideas might align with others at times, the chances of her and Lysander having the same brainwave, and with the same person no less, were next to impossible. The fact that another designer''s work showcased both her and Lysander''s unique ideas could only mean one thing: someone had ripped off her creation!Exclusive content ? by N?(v)el/Dr/ama.Org.


    What she hadn''t expected was for the culprit to be someone she held in high regard, Zoey.


    But Thssa was always one to separate personal feelings from professional ethics. Gratitude is one thing, but if Zoey really did giarize her work, she wouldn''t just let it slide! Zoey had been in the design world long enough to know the cardinal sin of copying someone else''s work, and the consequences that came with it.


    When Zoey looked up, locking eyes with Thssa, there was no evasion, no guilt, but rather a hint of defiance. Thssa felt a sinking feeling, ufortable, but she didn''t voice it out. She diverted her gaze, knowing that arguing now wouldn''t change anything. It was best to wait for the investigation results.


    Two groups were on the case: one led by Wyatt, and the other by David. Thssa and Lysander spent about half an hour backstage, waiting, until Wyatt''s team arrived with several staff members in tow.


    The head of the investigation team reported to Wyatt, "All designs submitted were under strict confidentiality. The staff didn''t tamper with them. However, there was a mishap when submitting the designs yesterday."


    "What kind of mishap? Exin," Wyatt urged, his nerves on edge.


    "One of the staff identally knocked over Zoey''s design box, revealing its contents. Ms. Everhart was there to submit her own work. She could''ve left right after but chose to sit at the front desk, bombarding the staff with questions. It wasn''t until after Zoey''s designs were reboxed and secured that she left."


    "Oh?" Wyatt''s voice trailed, filled with suspicion as he nced at Thssa.


    The staff member continued, "During that time, Ms. Everhart would have seen Zoey''s designs."


    The implication was clear.


    Wyatt chuckled and turned to Thssa, probing, "Ms. Everhart, do you have an exnation? You saw Zoey''s designs yesterday, didn''t you?"


    Thssa frowned, "I sat down to ask about the security of the submissions, worried about a repeat of the preliminary round debacle!"


    "Did you see a staff member knock over a design box?" Wyatt pressed.


    e


    "Yes, I saw a staff member fumble and knock it over, but I didn''t pay attention to the design itself. I didn''t see what was in that box!" Thssa''s response was genuine.


    "If you had left right after submitting your work, you might have imed ignorance. But you stayed, sitting not far from where the staff was picking up the designs, bombarding another staff member with questions. Wasn''t that to get a


    e


    closer look at the spilled designs?" Wyatt''s gaze was scrutinizing, almost usatory.


    Thssa grew frustrated, "I''ve told you, I was only inquiring about the integrity of the submission process, fearing a repeat of the earlier mix-up. I didn''t pay any mind to the spilled designs!"


    "Do you have proof? Can anyone corroborate that you didn''t see?" Wyatt countered.

 Chapter 1800

    Chapter 1800


    Thssa was anxious, just about to exin, when Lysander''s cold voice cut through, "Do you have any proof she saw it?" "I..." Wyatt began to speak.


    But then David arrived with several others, "Mr. Sinir, we''ve reviewed the CCTV footage."


    David''s arrival interrupted Wyatt.


    David handed his phone to Lysander, having copied the CCTV footage for review.


    Lysander took the phone from David and scrutinized the footage, with Thssa leaning over to watch as well.


    The video showed Thssa delivering her artwork, sitting at the bar, and asking the staff questions.


    Throughout the footage, Thssa''s gaze was fixed on the staff, not even a nce was spared for anything else around.This content is ? N?velDrama.Org.


    "This proves it. I didn''t see what was inside that tipped-over box," Thssa asserted to Wyatt, pointing at the evidence on the phone.


    Wyatt, his bravado deting, blinked and was about to view the footage on the phone when a voice sliced through from the entrance, "Thssa, this contest was never meant for you. A secretary dabbling in jewelry design?"


    The dig was clearly aimed at Thssa.


    Tensing up, Thssa turned to see Payton, decked out in a suit, making his entrance nked by bodyguards, the epitome of an executive.


    He gave Thssa a fleeting nce,


    1.n


    his eyes quickly shifting to Lysander, a sneer ying on his lips, "Oh, dear brother, why put yourself through all this? For her, you ended up in aa, and now, look at you, barely able to move. And here you are, taking on the whole jewelry world for her again. Hardly seems worth it, does it?"


    Payton''s words dripped with scorn.


    Thssa''s heart clenched tighter.


    He was right; Lysander''s current state was because of her. Had it not been for him saving her, he wouldn''t be like this now.


    The mention of the past made it difficult for Thssa to breathe.


    But Lysander seemed unfazed, "This isn''t the ce for you, cousin."


    His gaze on Payton was icy.


    Seeing Payton, Wyatt quickly bowed and scraped, "Mr. Sinir, you''ve arrived. This is exactly where you belong. Looking for a smoke?"


    Wyatt''s demeanor towards Payton


    was that of a servant to a master, a


    stark contrast to his treatment of


    Lysander. He eagerly pulled out a


    cigarette, offering it to Payton with a sycophantic gesture that was


    nauseating.


    Payton, taking the cigarette, gave Wyatt a dismissive nce, "Wyatt, always the keen observer."


    After cating Wyatt with a mere


    sentence, Payton turned back to


    Lysander, "Cousin, you might not be aware, buty I''m the main investor in this jewelry contest. I was too busy to attend earlier, but upon hearing about a giarism incident, Phad to see for myself. As the primary sponsor, shouldn''t I inquire about what happened?" Content belongs


    to


    "You owe Thssa an exnation. Who copied her design?" Lysander''s tone was firm and cold.


    He believed in Thssa from the start.

 Chapter 1801

    Chapter 1801


    Next to her, Zoey grew anxious and quickly said, "Mr. Sinir, there must be some kind of misunderstanding. I absolutely did not copy Thssa''s designs!"


    Since her design was identical to Thssa''s, Lysander''s usation of copying was clearly directed at her, wasn''t it? Beingbeled a giarist would be a stain she could never wash away.


    Zoey was a bundle of nerves.


    From the corner of his eye, Payton nced at her and said, "The truth doesn''t matter. What matters is that Thssa shouldn''t even be here."


    With that, he gave a knowing look to his bodyguard behind him.


    The bodyguard promptly got the hint and passed a file to Payton, who started flipping through it. "Thssa, you dropped out after your sophomore year and didn''t even finish college. Though you were studying jewelry design, you minored in administrative assistant studies, but the highest position you ever held was as a secretary. Someone without a college degree participating in an international jewelrypetition is quite the joke, isn''t it?" He closed the file with a snap and handed it to Thssa.


    Thssa just nced at the file before fixing a stern look on Payton.


    His lips curled into a cold sneer, his gaze sharp and filled with animosity.


    Thssa could tell that Payton harbored deep resentment towards her, all because of Leopold!


    Payton was Leopold''s father. The man had only ever had one son, and after Leopold''s heartbreak turned him down a path of self-destruction, Payton, like Amelia, med Thssa for everything.


    So, this was his form of retaliation.


    Thssa retorted, "I might not have graduated back then, butter, I got into Starhaven College for a master''s in jewelry design and properlypleted my three-year course, graduating this year. Did Mr. Sinir miss these details, or did you choose to ignore them on purpose?"


    She had faced enough criticism over her educational background in the past.


    But she had smartened up, pursued a graduate degree, and there was no longer a question mark hanging over her qualifications.


    Payton, aiming to belittle her using her education, would find his ns thwarted.


    Payton held the file out to Thssa for a while, but she didn''t take it. Without showing annoyance, he snapped back to reality and handed the file back to his bodyguard.


    He took the cigarette Wyatt had just given him and put it between his lips. Wyatt, ever so eager to please, immediately stepped forward with a lighter to ignite Payton''s cigarette.


    With the cigarette lit, Payton took a drag and exhaled a ring of smoke, seemingly nonchnt as he told Thssa "So what? A designer


    who''s jumped on the bandwag


    mid-way can''t possibly match up to those who''ve been in the field for years with a portfolio of work. To win, you''ve stooped pretty low, resorting to copying."


    Zoey, overhearing this, let out a huge sigh of relief.


    But Thssa was furious, "Mr. Sinir, without evidence, your usation is nder!"


    "What need is there for evidence?


    I''m the top dog here; my word is


    n¨¦


    law!" Payton''s tone grew forceful, his gaze shifting to Lysander in a


    challenging manner, "Isn''t that right, my dear cousin? The business world


    operates on such rules. Whoever


    pays the piper calls the tune."


    ||Exclusive content ? by N?(v)el/Dr/ama.Org.


    Lysander''s eyes were cold and piercing as he stared down Payton; his deep voice filled with authority "That might be the case in front of sycophants like Wyatt, where your word is gospel. But in front of me, your words hold no water. Content


    belongs to NovelDrama.Org


    "Is that so? Then how do you propose to prove her innocence?" Payton sneered, took a deep inhale from his cigarette, and deliberately exhaled the smoke towards Lysander.


    The smoke swirled in front of Lysander''s stoic face, adding ayer of tension to the already charged atmosphere.

 Chapter 1802

    Chapter 1802


    Watching the scene unfold, Thssa clenched her fists in fury, her gaze burning into Payton with unbridled anger. He had the audacity to blow smoke right in Lysander''s face¡ªa gesture of supreme disrespect!


    Thssa seethed with rage, more incensed than if she herself had been the target of such humiliation. Her breathing turned rapid, teeth gritted in anger, ready to confront Payton''s audacity. But before she could speak out, David stepped forward, positioning himself between Lysander and Payton, cutting off Payton''s contemptuous stare.


    With a forced smile, he addressed Payton, "Mr. Sinir, we''re in the middle of an investigation. Rest assured, you''ll be the first to know once we have any updates."


    Payton nced at David with disdain, easily brushing him aside with a scoff. "You''re nothing but Lysander''spdog, barking up the wrong tree."


    His strength was undeniable as he pushed David aside, stepping closer to Lysander, radiating hostility. David''s face flushed with a mix of embarrassment and shame. It wasn''t the first time Payton had insulted him, but it was the first time in front of Lysander and Thssa. His pride and dignity felt utterly crushed in that moment.


    A wave of humiliation and difort surged within him. He bit down hard, struggling to maintain hisposure. Payton, now wielding significant power, was not someone they could easily confront. Like Lysander, they had to bide their time.


    Seeing Payton advance on Lysander, Thssa couldn''t hold back any longer. She grabbed the handles of Lysander''s wheelchair, pulling him back to put some distance between him and Payton. Stepping in front of Lysander to block Payton''s path, Thssa''s face was a mask of


    serious anger. "Mr. Sask of


    maybe


    it''s time you started collecting some good karma for your little boy. Less of the nasty talk, fewer indecent deeds."


    Thssa had witnessed Payton and Amelia''s youngest at the hospital, going into shock and being rushed away for emergency care. The image of Payton and Amelia, frantic with worry, was etched in her mind. By appealing to Payton''s concern for his son, Thssa hoped to deter him from further harming Lysander and David.


    Payton, as the CEO of the SinirThis content is ? N?velDrama.Org.


    group, held considerable influence in


    both the business and political arenas. Many, eager for his favor, would go to great lengths to please him, much like Wyatt. Lysander was no match for Payton in his current state. To make Payton halt his humiliations, Thssa had no choice but to leverage what Payton held dear.


    At Thssa''s words, Payton''s expression darkened instantly, his eyes narrowing into slits of hatred. His hand, previously rxed, now formed a tight fist, as if fighting the urge tosh out physically to vent his frustration. Yet, Thssa stood her ground, her gaze unflinching and pure, reminiscent of a crystal-clear gem.


    The intensity in her eyes seemed to quench the fiery rage in Payton''s heart. Reluctantly, Payton unclenched his fist, scoffing at Thssa, ¡°You should save that advice for yourself! As a designer, resorting to giarism is a disgrace. Once the truthes out, you can kiss your career goodbye!"


    No sooner had Payton finished than Wyatt slithered up, groveling, "Mr. Sinir, we have a staff member who ims that designer Thssa specifically asked to see Zoey''s work."


    "Is that so? Bring that staff member here," Paytonmanded.

 Chapter 1803

    Chapter 1803


    Wyatt quickly had the person brought over.


    The so-called staff member was a woman in her forties, dressed inly, with a bare face and an expression of distress.


    As soon as she entered and saw Thssa, she became agitated, pointing at her and saying, "Yesterday, while I was organizing the collections, it was her who came to me, asking to take a look at Zoey''s designs. Yes, her. I''m certain of it.¡±


    Thssa''s expression darkened. She sternly said, "Lyinges with legal consequences. When have I ever sought you out? Before this, I hadn''t even met you!"N?velDrama.Org holds this content.


    It was aplete fabrication; Thssa was truly seeing this woman for the first time.


    "I''m not lying. You found me yesterday, all secretive, wanting to see Zoey''s work. You said you admired Zoey and just wanted to catch a glimpse of her creations, no harm meant," the woman said, her voice filled with urgency, pointing usatorily at Thssa.


    Thssa frowned, looking at the woman with a mix of confusion and shock. She truly was meeting this woman for the first time and couldn''t fathom why she would use her of such a thing.


    Zoey, furious, turned to Thssa and eximed, "Thssa, I introduced you to this jewelrypetition because I saw potential in you as a star student of your professor. Not only do you not appreciate it, but you also betray my kindness by giarizing my work for the finals! Is winning that important to you?"


    Thssa was left flustered by Zoey''s emotionally charged usations, struggling to defend herself.


    Indeed, it was Zoey who had invited her to participate in this designpetition, and she was grateful.


    But wasn''t Zoey the one who should be used of giarism?


    She was the real creator!


    Why had the tables turned, and all evidence now pointed to her as the giarist?


    Just as Thssa was nervously cornered, unable to exin, she felt a hand grasp hers from behind, its dry warmth instantly heating her cold hand.


    Turning, she saw Lysander approaching, hisrge hand firmly holding hers, pulling her to his side and giving a reassuring squeeze. His deep gaze met hers, signaling her to stay calm.


    Locking eyes with Lysander, in the depth of his gaze, Thssa''s chaotic heart found some peace.


    Before, she had felt a barrier between them, his deep, unfathomable eyes usually instilling fear.


    Now, though his eyes remained profound, they seemed to shimmer with aforting light, and looking into them, she felt an inexplicable sense of calm.


    This must be the magic of trust.


    Lysander''s cold gaze shifted to the woman who had used Thssa, his voice low and intimidating as he asked. "You said she came asking to see the designs? When? Where? Under what circumstances?"


    ¡°I... uh...¡± The woman, intimidated by Lysander''s inherent aura of iciness and the overpowering presence hemanded, found herself


    lov


    instinctively cowering. Content


    belongs to NovelDrama.Org


    Faced with Lysander''s barrage of questions, for which she had not prepared answers, she stumbled over her words, even stepping back.


    She looked towards Wyatt for help.


    Catching her nce, Wyatt became flustered and snapped, "Why are you looking at me? Just answer the question!"

 Chapter 1804

    Chapter 1804


    The middle-aged woman''s panic skyrocketed when Wyatt pressed her for the truth. Torn between sticking to her previous story oring clean, Wyatt''s stern gaze sent shivers down her spine, making it crystal clear what he meant by "the truth."


    Thinking quickly on her feet, she said, "It was just yesterday when she came to drop off her artwork. After asking the receptionist a question, she came looking for me. She asked for a little favor - to sneak a peek at Zoey''s submissions. Since I''m in charge of handling and organizing the submissions, I knew exactly which piece was Zoey''s. She looked at me with such earnest eyes, I just... I caved, and I showed her Zoey''s design." Her exnation was far more coherent this time around.


    Thssa, visibly agitated, stepped forward and eximed, "That''s a tant lie! I never approached you, nor did I ask for any such thing!" "The janitor was there cleaning; she heard everything. She can vouch for me," the woman said, a mix of panic and confidence in her voice. Thssa''s brows furrowed deeply at this, and then Wyattmanded, ¡°Bring the janitor here.¡±


    No sooner had he spoken than someone arrived with the janitor, as if they had been prepared for this moment.


    Upon seeing the janitor, Thssa was bbergasted. The woman, named Daryl, was a young janitor she recognized from her days at the Sinir group!


    After three years, Daryl was still in the same position.


    Daryl nced back at her, then, with a smile, approached Wyatt and said, "I overheard your conversation just now from outside. Yes, I did hear Thssa asking thisdy here to show her Zoey''s designs, and eventually, she did."


    Thssa was shocked. How could Daryl tantly lie like that?


    Then, turning her gaze towards Payton, who was now cozily sidling up to Wyatt with an obsequious grin, she said, "Mr. Sinir, it''s clear now. Ms. Everhart deliberately viewed Zoey''s designs yesterday, copied them overnight, and submitted them as her own today."


    The realization of a deliberate set-up dawned on Thssa. They were presenting fabricated evidence to frame her.


    Feeling a whirlwind of emotions,


    Thssa knew she couldn''t let this false usation stand. Not only would it be unfair to her, but it would also signify Payton''s victory over Lysander!


    This wasn''t just about her; it was about her and Lysander standing or falling together.


    Clearly, Payton had orchestrated this trap not only to tarnish her reputation but also to suppress Lysander, who had a promising jewelry project in the works, all designed by Thssa.


    Lysander''s return to the Sinir group, possibly even contending for the presidency, hinged on the sess of this jewelry project.


    But if the project failed, Payton


    would use it as a pretext to im Lysander was past his prime, unfit for his role in the Sinir group, effectively crushing his chances of reiming the presidency


    Payton was killing two birds with one stone.


    Thssa and Lysander were in this together for better or worse.


    Thssa was beyond worried. Her own downfall was one thing, but the thought of dragging Lysander down with her was unbearable.


    If Payton managed to crushN?velDrama.Org holds this content.


    Lysander now, his arrogance would


    know no bounds. Today''s public humiliation of Lysander and David would be just the beginning. What''s to stop him from trampling over Lysanderpletely in the future?


    Outraged and desperate, Thssa coldly confronted Daryl, "How much did Wyatt pay you to spin this tale?"


    Daryl, taken aback, retorted, "Your usation is an insult to my character! You need evidence to make such ims. What proof do you have that Wyatt paid me off?"


    ¡°And what proof do you have," Thssa shot back, ¡°to im I asked her to show me Zoey''s designs?"

 Chapter 1805

    Chapter 1805


    "I''m telling you, I heard it!" Daryl insisted, his tone brooking no argument.


    "Oh, so you must''ve been bribed by Wyatt, then!" Thssa shot back, her words dripping with sarcasm.


    "I''m going to call the cops right now and tell them you''re framing me!" Daryl threatened, whipping out his smartphone as if to dial.


    "Go ahead, make my day," Thssa retorted, unfazed.


    "Enough!" Payton suddenly intervened, his tone firm and serious. "Thssa, in front of all these witnesses, you continue to dodge the truth. Admit your mistake, and I might go easy on you."


    "She doesn''t need your leniency!" From the entrance, a voice rang out, stopping everyone in their tracks.


    They all turned to see a tall, distinguished-looking man walking in, a smile ying around his lips.


    It was Callum!


    Thssa felt a jolt in her heart upon seeing him.


    She remembered overhearing his conversation with Susan outside the interrogation room at the police station. The things they discussed shook her to the core, challenging everything she thought she knew.N?velDrama.Org holds this content.


    Her breathing became erratic, her body tensed up in defense.


    Callum was not the gentleman he appeared to be on the surface.


    Everyone thought he was a good guy, but in reality, he was a wolf in sheep''s clothing, a heartbreaker!


    What was he doing here now?


    Thssa red at Callum, her bodynguage screaming wariness.


    Lysander, noticing Thssa''s reaction, was taken aback. Even if Thssa hadn''t reciprocated Callum''s affections, shouldn''t they at least be friends? Seeing Callum, why would she react like this?


    "Mr. Gordon, do you have something important to say?" Thssa asked, her voiceced with caution and cold detachment.


    Callum, however, kept his gentle smile, softly saying, "I''m here to reveal the truth."


    With that, Callum took out his phone, opened a recording app, and yed a conversation.


    A male voice said, "This is contestant number three, Thssa''s design. You must replicate it exactly for today."


    A female voice asked, "Why?"


    The man exined, "You''re


    contestant number two. Your model walks the runway first tomorrow. If you use Thssa''s design for the opening, when Thssa''s original pieee follows, it will look like a copy."


    The woman, frustrated, asked, "But why use her design? My work is just as good. Can''t my design beat hers?"


    The man replied, "You saw what


    happened in the semifinals. Thest vote decided everything. Thssa has connections, Rosalind is her


    e


    sister, Lysander is her ex. Thatst vote, no matter what, would go to her Lysander is also attending the finals. Don''t you see?"


    "But this time it''s the audience voting!" the woman protested.


    The man''s voice hardened, "Just do as you''re told. Thises straight from the top investor. It''s not about who wins or loses; it''s abouto ensuring Thssa''s downfall."

 Chapter 1806

    Chapter 1806


    Thssa was thunderstruck; the recorded conversation was an outright setup to frame her!


    The voices were familiar, too familiar. Thssa was certain she knew them both.


    She turned to Zoey, her eyes zing with disbelief and rage.


    The man''s voice... it hit her. It was Lance, Zoey''s boyfriend!


    She had only met Lance once at their graduation party, heard him speak just that one time, but Thssa could never forget Lance''s voice, especially when he was with Zoey. There was no mistaking it!


    Zoey, under Thssa''s usatory gaze, lowered her head, her eyes darting everywhere, clearly panicked.


    Her hands clenched, her thoughts a tangled mess.


    What was Lance thinking? Hadn''t he promised there would be no trace, that nobody would ever find out?


    Why was there a recording?


    The tension in the room was palpable as the recording continued to y.


    Zoey said, "Why should we dance to the tune of the main investor? Can''t we just do our own thing?"


    At that moment, Zoey genuinely hesitated about going through with their n.


    Lance replied, "Zoey, haven''t you


    always wanted to make a name for yourself? You''ve been designing for years, but you''re still unknown. Thispetition is your chance to shine. It''s being broadcast live, covered by media nationwide, spotlighting the winner. If you win, not only will the Whole country recognize your name, but you could also make waves internationally. This is your shot at fame!"


    Zoey protested, "But why can''t I dream of winning on my own merits?"


    Lance countered, "I''ve already


    exined this. The semifinals were a lesson. You didn''t clinch first ce even then; how do you expect to break through in the finals?" Content


    belongs to NovelDrama.Org


    Zoey was torn, her passion for design shing with the harsh reality of her situation.


    Thispetition represented a golden opportunity for recognition.


    Missing it could mean waiting indefinitely for another chance to emerge from obscurity.


    Lance was right. Thssa had the support of the Sinir Group and Lysander, a once-dominant powerhouse in the industry.


    How could Zoeypete against Thssa''s connections, especially when she hadn''t even secured the top spot in the semifinals? After a brief pause, Zoey made up her mind, ¡°Okay, I''ll start working on it right away. Make sure I win tomorrow."


    Zoey had her own design ready, and she had the means to produce jewelry. Replicating a set of jewels was no big deal for her.


    Lance reassured her, "Just follow


    the


    and you''ll be the champi


    Aftomorrow, you''ll be aN?velDrama.Org holds this content.


    world-renowned jewelry designer."


    That assurance sealed the deal for Zoey, and she went on to replicate the jewelry Lance had provided her.


    As the recording ended, all eyes in the room turned to Zoey.

 Chapter 1807

    Chapter 1807


    There were res filled with anger, oppression, and usation.


    In that moment, Zoey found herself drowning in a sea of stares, feeling like she was about to suffocate. She stumbled backward, panic-stricken, and blurted out, "No, this wasn''t my idea..."


    Before she could say another word, Lance rushed in, his voice filled with urgency, "That recording isn''t real, it must be a fake, doctored by someone with a grudge!"


    He made his way to Zoey''s side, seemingly to offer support, but in reality, he was there to stop her from saying anything more.


    It wasn''t over yet. How could they just admit defeat?


    Feeling utterly alone, Zoey turned sharply to look at Lance. His arrival was a smallfort, but his words and his attempt to silence her broke her heart.


    She and Lance had been in love for three years, and he had always treated her well, but in that moment, she started to doubt. Was Lance truly good to her, or was he just using her to climb thedder?


    Over the years, she had been Lance''s most prized designer, with his promotions and raisesrgely due to her designs. Yet, she always seemed to stay in the same ce.


    Thssa looked at Lance and Zoey with a mix of anger and sadness, "Lance, Zoey, when Dr. Jamal introduced me to you, I admired you. You climbed to where you are on your own merit, which is impressive. But I never imagined you''d conspire against a neer like me. How could you do this, betraying Dr. Jamal''s teachings?"


    "Thssa, don''t be misled by the recording. It''s a fake, aimed at framing us. Zoey and I have always been honest, relying solely on our skills, never resorting to tricks," Lance adjusted his sses and exined to Thssa.


    Wyatt, who had been at a loss for words, finally caught up and hurriedly added, "Exactly, that recording doesn''t hold up to scrutiny. It''s obviously doctored. If someone were really out to harm, why would they record it, leaving such clear evidence? It''s ridiculous."


    Callum, with a smirk, said, "You''re mistaken. It''s not just an audio recording, but a video. I only yed the audio part."


    "That''s ludicrous, videos with audio? Ourpany''s surveince is all silent," Wyatt scoffed, finding the idea absurd. Callum replied, "You might not know, but there''s technology capable of recovering audio from a video."


    "What?" Wyatt was taken aback. He quickly exchanged looks with Lance, receiving a firm nod, before retorting with a sneer, "Mr. Gordon, are you trying to pull a fast one? If Lance and Zoey really were setting up Thssa, why would they doit in front of a camera? Whomits a crime out in the open, let alone gets caught on camera and leaves such obvious evidence?"


    "They were careless. Plus, they deleted the surveince footage immediately, thinking they''d covered their tracks," Callum exined.


    "You''re just making things up!" Wyatt


    was furious, turning his anger


    towards Callum, then quickly


    vel.ne


    nced at Payton, worried about


    messing things up. Content belongs


    to NovelDrama.Org


    Callum continued, "You brought two witnesses to use Thssa of copying Zoey''s work, wasn''t that just hearsay?"N?velDrama.Org holds this content.


    Wyatt, pointing at Callum, retorted, "You just admitted it, you''re the one speaking without proof!"


    He then looked towards Payton, seeking approval for his quick dismissal of Callum''s ims.


    "You''re wrong. I''m not just speaking without proof because the deleted surveince can be recovered," Callum said with a smile.


    "That''s nonsense. It''s impossible to recover deleted footage so quickly," Wyatt argued, his face turning red.


    "There''s someone who can," Callum stated.


    "Who?" Wyatt demanded.


    Callum didn''t answer. Instead, his gaze shifted towards the entrance.


    .ne


    A boy, around seven or eight years old, walked in. He was strikingly handsome, with a dignified posture, resembling Lysander in both dooks and presence.


    The moment Thssa saw the boy, her heart leapt to her throat, and she eximed with joy, "Atticus!"

 Chapter 1808

    Chapter 1808


    Thssa recognized him instantly¡ªher son, Atticus Everhart! Though he had grown taller and


    older, he was still the child she had raised. His features, his demeanor, and that inherent warmth


    about him drew Thssa¡¯s gaze and tugged at her heartstrings the moment he appeared.


    Ovee with emotion, she ran towards him and, just like in the past, squatted down to be at eye


    level with him. But now, squatting made her even shorter than Atticus, forcing her to look up at him


    instead. With her hands on his shoulders and tears in her eyes, Thssa examined Atticus closely,


    confirming in her heart that this really was her child.


    Unable to hide her longing, Thssa embraced Atticus tightly, pouring all the years of missing him


    into that hug. Holding him, she eximed excitedly, ¡°Atticus, it really is you, Atticus. You¡¯ve grown


    so much, nearly as tall as your mom now¡­¡± After all, he was still just a seven or eight-year-old kid.


    Atticus stiffened for a moment, unustomed to being hugged after three years, but soon rxed,


    knowing that the person embracing him was his mom¡ªthe mom he remembered every day while at


    military school. Atticus gently hugged Thssa back, his voice still young as he said, ¡°Mom, stand


    up, don¡¯t squat, your legs will go numb.¡±


    Belongs to (N)?vel/Drama.Org.


    As Atticus said this, he also tightened his embrace, helping Thssa to stand. Hearing the long-


    missed term "mom," Thssa felt a surge of emotion and tears instantly welled up in her eyes. She


    cried with relief and joy as Atticus helped her up. Letting go of Atticus, she steadied herself on his


    shoulders, her vision blurred with tears, and looked at him closely, ¡°My Atticus has really grown up.


    If you grow any more, mom might not even recognize you.¡±


    Seeing Thssa cry, Atticus, who was usually reserved, felt his eyes grow warm. He raised his


    hand to wipe away her tears, trying to keep his voice steady as he said, ¡°Mom, no matter how long,


    I''ll always recognize you.¡± Atticus¡¯s words brought Thssa to tears again. The child before her was


    the treasure she had longed for day and night. Three years had passed, and he had grown from a


    little treasure into a big one.


    ¡°Mom, don¡¯t cry, or you won¡¯t look pretty anymore. Dad might startining,¡± Atticus said, his


    youthful voice teasing slightly. Thssaughed through her tears, quickly wiping her face, and took


    Atticus to Lysander¡¯s side, saying, ¡°This is your dad, you haven¡¯t greeted him yet.¡±


    She had been so caught up in the joy of reuniting with Atticus that she almost forgot to introduce


    him to Lysander. Atticus looked Lysander up and down with a cool gaze. The man, once towering


    and unapproachable, now seemed smaller, seated in a wheelchair. Lysander still wore a bespoke


    ck suit, dignified and elegant, yetcking his usualmanding presence. Atticus knew his dad


    was in a wheelchair because his legs wouldn¡¯t carry him. And today, it was because of his dad''s


    inability to stand that Payton and Wyatt had gathered to bully his dad and mom!


    Looking at Lysander, Atticus felt both aggrieved and pained, enduring the ache in his heart without a


    word, appearing expressionless. But Lysander, gripping the armrests tightly, fixed his gaze on his


    son, Atticus. The little guy looked so much like him, a miniature version of his younger self. He even


    saw in his eyes the same pride and resolve that he had as a young man. Lysander was proud of


    Atticus! Yet, he was unable to pave the way for him or shield him. Now, he was just a man confined


    to a wheelchair, dwarfed even by his own son.

 Chapter 1809

    Chapter 1809


    Atticus probably wouldn''t even call that man "dad."


    Lysander''s eyebrows furrowed slightly, the light in his eyes dimming.


    "Dad, don''t worry, I won''t let anyone bully you or Mom!" Just as Lysander was silently grieving, Atticus''s youthful voice suddenly spoke up.


    Lysander''s dim gaze lit up like a switched-onmp at the sound of Atticus. His eyes could hardly hide the excitement.N?velDrama.Org holds this content.


    What did he just call him? He called him dad!


    That single word, "dad," dispersed all the clouds in Lysander''s heart, and his furrowed brows finally rxed.


    "Atticus Sinir, what are you doing here instead of being at the military academy? Did you sneak out, does your drill sergeant know?" Payton finally couldn''t sit still any longer, walking up to Atticus Sinir and confronting him with the authority of an elder. His words were meant to suppress him.


    "I''ll call your drill sergeant and have him take you back," Payton said, pulling out his phone to make the call.


    Thssa was about to snatch his phone away. She and Atticus had just reunited, and now Payton was trying to have someone take Atticus away again. She wouldn''t have it.


    Before she could act, Atticus''s calm voice rang out: "No need to call, I got permission to leave for today from my drill sergeant. I have a leave slip." Saying so, Atticus took the leave slip out of his pocket and showed it to Payton. The leave slip even had the drill sergeant''s stamp on it. Payton nced at it, realized the leave slip was real, and irritably put his phone back in his pocket. "What are you doing here, kid?"


    "I knew my mom had a jewelry


    designpetition today. I saw on


    TV they were using her of giarism. Tknew she was in trouble, so I immediately asked for leave toe here. I didn''t waste time on the way either. I hacked into all the surveince footage from before and after the contest, even restored the deleted parts, and managed to extract the audio as well."


    Atticus spoke to Payton with a very calm tone, his voice t without any hint of fluctuation. But his words stunned everyone present.


    Especially Wyatt, who was so shocked he couldn''t speak. The person Callum mentioned who could restore deleted videos and retrieve surveince audio was this boy, not even ten?


    Payton was dumbfounded, staring at Atticus Sinir in total disbelief. When he had set everything up, he hadn''t considered Atticus Sinir at all, since he had been at the military academy for three years and hadn''t shown up. He didn''t just forget about Atticus Sinir; he also assumed that being at the academy, Atticus wouldn''t be aware of what was happening outside.


    He had known before that Lysander and Thssa''s son Atticus was aputer prodigy, having hacked into the Sinir group andted several billion at the age of four His major at the academy was also rted toputers. Now, his skills withputers had deepened even more. Restoring videos and audio was child''s y for him!


    "Is what they''re saying true? Did you really tell them to do this?" Atticus then asked Payton, doubtfully.


    Payton was left speechless.

 Chapter 1810

    Chapter 1810


    Wyatt saw Payton cornered by a barrage of questions from a kid who was barely seven, and quickly stepped in to smooth things over.


    "How could that possibly be his intention? Besides, that video might not even be real," Wyatt was still trying to wiggle his way out with excuses.


    "Wyatt, just now, you were so quick to bring in two people to falsely im my mom copied thatdy''s work, all without a shred of evidence. Yet now, with both audio and video evidenceid out before you, you''re calling it fake. Are you behind this? Why else would you keep defending thatdy?" Atticus Sinir spoke to Wyatt in a calm, yet cutting manner.


    Wyatt wasn''t afraid of direct usations or harsh words, but this straightforward, piercing approach left him speechless.


    Just moments ago, Wyatt was all slick talk, but faced with Atticus Sinir''s calm demeanor, his face froze.


    Looking around nervously, he retorted, ¡°I''m the head of the organizers. I decide who gets protected!"


    "Is that so? Unfortunately, it''s not up to you," Atticus Sinir said with a smile, chilling and distant, reminiscent of Lysander''s, carrying an indescribable sense of pressure.


    Wyatt was taken aback, asking subconsciously, "What do you mean?"


    Thssa was clueless about the meaning behind those words, too caught up in the joy of seeing her son, barely noticing the tense atmosphere.


    Just when everyone was puzzled, Callum stepped forward to answer Wyatt''s question, "While the audio was ying, the outdoor jumbotron was also showing the surveince video with sound."


    Wyatt was shocked, his eyes widened as he quickly nced at Payton, worried about offending him.


    Before he could say anything, Callum added, "Oh, and by the way, all of our backstage conversations were also broadcast live on the stage''s big screen."


    Callum said this with a gentle smile on his lips.


    He always kept a smiling face, but it


    never reached his eyes. At firstBelongs to (N)?vel/Drama.Org.


    nce, one might take him for a friendly-guy-next-door, but over time, it bes clear he''s a ''smiling tiger using his grin to maskall emotions.


    As he yed the recording on his phone, he had also turned on the live broadcast feature.


    Meaning, everything said backstage was being broadcast live to the big screen outside.


    Both the media and the audience got to know the full story in real time.


    Hearing this, Wyatt''s pupils shrank in shock, his face full of astonishment, left with no strategy.


    Looking towards Payton for help, he


    saw Payton taking deep drags from his cigarette, the smoke swirling around him, seemingly concealing his irritation but in reality magnifying it.


    Seeing Payton''s state, Wyatt knew he was upset.


    Sweat beaded on his forehead as he hurriedly said, "Let''s call it quits here, move out, everybody!"


    The scene, meant to investigate the truth but actually aimed at framing Thssa, was forced to disperse.


    After saying this, Wyatt quickly led Payton out through the back door of the backstage.


    He didn''t dare let Payton exit


    through the main entrance, worried


    el


    about being surrounded by the audience or the media, bombarding them with questions and causing a scene. That would make the


    situation even more uncontroble.


    With Wyatt and Payton gone, the venue fell into silence.


    Lance was holding Zoey''s arm, initially to stop her from admitting to copying Thssa''s work, but now, it served as a pir of support.

 Chapter 1811

    Chapter 1811


    Lance tightened his grip around Zoey''s arm and took a small step back, his eyes darting nervously between Atticus Sinir, David, Callum, Thssa, and Lysander. Noticing Thssa''s gaze fixed on them, Lance''s voice trembled slightly as he said, "We''re just workers here..."


    "Lance, take Zoey and leave," Thssa finally said.


    "What?" Zoey was incredulous, staring at Thssa. After everything that had happened, she was letting them go?


    Thssa nodded toward the back door where Wyatt and Payton had disappeared, urging, "Go."


    It wasn''t that Thssa didn''t want to hold Lance and Zoey ountable, but she had always harbored a sense of gratitude towards them. As they said, they were just employees following orders, caught in a situation not of their making. The time for reckoning was not now, under such tense circumstances.


    With Thssa''s confirmation, Zoey looked at her, disbelief and shock in her eyes. She had never expected Thssa to let her off the hook so easily. Hesitating for a moment, Lance then led her away.


    "Um, if there''s nothing else, I should probably get going too..." Daryl, who had been frozen in ce throughout the confrontation, suddenly snapped back to reality and awkwardly made to leave.


    Another middle-aged woman quickly followed him, ready to leave as well.N?velDrama.Org holds this content.


    "Stop right there!" Thssa stepped forward, blocking their path.


    "Ah, Thssa, it''s been a while, hasn''t it? Let''s catch up some other time, I really must be going now..." Daryl said with a nervousugh, trying to sound casual.


    Thssa, however, was not in the


    mood for pleasantries, her


    expression cold as she addressed


    them. "Daryl, we have no quarrels why target me? And you," she turned her sharp gaze to the woman beside Daryl, "I''ve never even met you before. Why lie?"


    The woman looked panicked under Thssa''s intense scrutiny. Seeing Wyatt and Payton had already fled, she realized there was no point in continuing the charade.


    With a pitiful look, she exined, "I didn''t want to, but Wyatt threatened me. He said he''d fire me and cklist me across the industry if didn''tply. My daughter''s in high school and we''re really struggling financially. My parents are elderly and sick... Without my job, my family wouldn''t be able to make ends


    meet."


    Her voice broke as she spoke, the hardship and struggle of her life written all over her face.


    Thssa''s expression softened slightly. "You can go," she said. Having climbed her way up from the bottom, Thssa understood the desperation and hardship that can drive people to act against their better judgment.


    Hearing she was free to leave, the woman grasped Thssa''s hand, tears in her eyes. "Thank you, thank you so much. You''re truly kind..."


    Choking back tears, she bowed deeply in gratitude, "I''m sorry!"


    After finishing her apology, she quickly left through the back.


    Seeing the woman leave, Daryl attempted a cating smile. "Thssa,e on, we used to be colleagues, friends even. I was misled this time, can''t you forgive me just this once?"


    "Friends, really? And yet, you


    conspired against me. I asked if you had any reasons for your actions, but you imed you were telling the truth. gave you a chance, and you chose not to take it," Thssa said


    cofely.


    S

 Chapter 1812

    Chapter 1812


    "I got blinded by money. I''m sorry, Thssa. Just forgive me this once..." Daryl pleaded with a mix of urgency and guilt.


    "I never want to see you in Starhaven again!" Thssa turned her gaze away, refusing to look at Daryl anymore.


    Especially since they were colleagues before, had a decent rtionship - that''s what hurt Thssa the most. Being betrayed by a stranger was one thing, but being persistently persecuted by someone who imed to be a friend cut much deeper.


    As soon as Thssa finished her sentence, Daryl tried to say something, but David stepped in, blocking her path, and said sternly, "Please leave. Are you going to book your own ticket out of Starhaven, or should I arrange someone to do it for you?"


    David''s words weren''t a threat; they were a clear indication of an order about to be carried out.


    Daryl, taken aback, gave David a quick look and realized he was taking Thssa''s words as a directmand. She knew arguing with David was futile.


    Thssa was essentially banishing her from Starhaven forever. But Starhaven, a ce dripping with wealth, was where she believed her fortuney. It was here among the movers and shakers that she hoped to encounter a wealthy suitor.Belongs to (N)?vel/Drama.Org.


    Leaving Starhaven meant resigning herself to a life at the bottom, never able to turn her fortunes around.


    And Thssa, by aligning herself with Lysander, not only became a designer but also had someone like David taking her words as orders! Now, she was being pushed out of Starhaven!


    Daryl couldn''t ept this. She red at Thssa, saying heatedly, "Thssa, are you rushing me out because you''re afraid I''ll find someone better than you? Someone more sessful, with a higher status?"


    Daryl''s words were filled with resentment and anger, not just towards Thssa but also reflecting her frustration and despair over the years spent in the shadows, doing whatever it took in hopes of crossing paths with a wealthy gentleman, a chance that never came.


    Thssa looked at Daryl incredulously. Did she even hear what she was saying?


    Seeing the resentment and


    unwillingness in Daryl''s eyes, Thssa scoffed, "Your ambitions are too grand, far beyond your reach. You don''t belong in Starhaven."


    Thssa had always known about Daryl''s ambitions. Even when she was just a janitor, she dreamt of catching Lysander''s eye, her gaze following him every time he came around, even fantasizing about


    winning his favor. Content belongs


    to NovelDrama.Org


    S


    But three years had passed, and she failed to recognize her own issues, ming her surroundings instead.


    Daryl, provoked by Thssa''s words, tried to confront her but was stopped by David in time.


    Under David''s restraint, Daryl


    shouted at Thssa, waving her arms in fory, "Thssa, what do you think you are? You''re nothing but a country bumpkin who got lucky with Lysander! Do you think you''re better than everyone else?"


    "Shut up and get out!" David snapped, dragging Daryl out.


    Atticus Sinir quickly stepped forward, positioning himself in front of Thssa, and asked with concern, "Mom, are you okay?"


    Thssa smiled, shaking her head, "I''m fine."


    "Mom, don''t take thatdy''s words to heart. She''s just jealous," Atticus Sinir tried tofort Thssa, worried she might be upset.


    "I know, I''m okay, don''t worry," Thssa responded gently, patting Atticus''s head.


    She really didn''t take Daryl''s words to heart. After years of struggling from the bottom up, she had heard it all.


    If she took every harsh word to heart, she would have been overwhelmed by her own anger long ago.


    Daryl''s malicious intentions were her own, and Thssa refused to let them affect her.

 Chapter 1813

    Chapter 1813


    How she and Lysander ended up here today, only she knew best.


    Callum asked, "Which way are we heading out? Front door or back door?"


    Those who had framed Thssa had sneaked out the back door since it was devoid of spectators and the press, essentially making their escape. Exiting through the front door, however, meant facing the gaze and inquiries of the audience and media.


    Thssa was about to speak when Lysander''s voice cut through, "Front door."


    With that, he took the lead, pushing the wheelchair towards the front exit. Those who had framed Thssa had fled, but she was determined to leave through the front door with dignity, proving her innocence. As for how to deal with the audience and media''s scrutiny, the choice was theirs to make.


    Thssa quickly moved forward, helping to push Lysander''s wheelchair, joining him in the exit through the front door. Even though Lysander hadn''t exined why they should exit through the front, Thssa trusted his judgment. Atticus and Callum exchanged looks and followed suit, with several bodyguards in tow.


    As Thssa pushed Lysander out the front, they found themselves on what felt like a runway, under the spotlight. The spectators, seeing someone emerge, instantly erupted into a frenzy, standing up and shouting towards Thssa and Lysander. The crowd was too loud and numerous, making it impossible to discern what was being said; the ce was buzzing with noise.


    The press, seizing the opportunity, swarmed in, microphones in hand, bombarding Thssa with questions: Ms. Everhart, regarding the usations of giarism against you, what''s your take copied your designs for the


    "Zoey


    vekne


    competition, proving your work was good enough to win. How do you feel about that?" "Ms. Everhart, will you be holding Zoey and the organizers ountable? Are you


    considering awsuit or seeking


    compensation?"


    Reporters bombarded her with questions, eagerly pushing microphones towards her, desperate for her response. Thssa was visibly ufortable, unustomed to such a scene and unsure of how to react.


    In her moment of panic, Lysander


    grasped her hand reassuringly. Thssa understood, bending down


    elN?velDrama.Org holds this content.


    to listen as Lysander whispered, "Just walk with your head high and don''t bother answering." With newfound resolve, Thssa straightened up and continued pushing Lysander forward, ignoring the barrage of questions from the reporters.


    The bodyguards efficiently kept the press at a safe distance from Thssa and Lysander. Amidst the chaotic and noisy scene, under the gaze of admiration and apuse, Thssa and Lysander quickly left thepetition behind.


    Once they reached the open space outside, Thssa finally felt a sense of relief. She stopped and turned to see Callum and Atticus approaching them. Seeing Atticus and Callum together made Thssa''s heart clench. She looked tenderly at Atticus and said, "Atticus,e to mom."

 Chapter 1814

    Chapter 1814


    Atticus Sinir thought his mom was just being sweet, so he happily made his way over to Thssa.


    Thssa grabbed his hand, pulling him close to her and Lysander, and with a cool tone, she said to Callum, "Mr. Gordon, regardless, thanks for sticking up for me earlier."


    With that, she was ready to leave with Atticus in tow.


    Atticus, though young, could tell there was some tension between his mom and Callum.


    Before he could ponder further, Callum''s voice trailed after them, "Thssa, can we talk alone for a moment?"


    Thssa paused, her posture stiffening, but she didn''t turn around.


    Atticus felt Thssa''s grip on his hand tighten. He looked up at her, noticing her furrowed brows and serious expression.


    Weren''t his mom and Callum good friends? Why did it seem like they were almost strangers now?


    As Atticus was lost in thought, Lysander''s deep, maic voice broke the silence, "We''ll wait for you in the car."


    Thssa nced at Lysander, surprised. She hadn''t decided whether to talk to Callum alone, and here was Lysander, seemingly okay with it? Wasn''t Lysander supposed to be wary of Callum?


    Why would he suddenly agree to let her talk to Callum alone?


    Without waiting for Thssa to respond, Lysander wheeled himself towards the car, telling Atticus, ¡°Come on, Atticus."


    Hastily, Atticus followed, helping the bodyguard load Lysander into the vehicle before climbing in himself.


    As he shut the car door, he gave Thssa an encouraging look.


    With her son''s support, Thssa felt a wave of calm. She turned back to Callum, "Let''s talk over there by the fountain."


    They headed towards a grand column near the hotel''s side, where few people wandered, and the column itself offered privacy from prying eyes. Choosing this spot for their conversation was perfect since its openness meant avoiding the awkwardness of being alone in an enclosed space.


    Following her, Callum caught a glimpse of Thssa''s icy demeanor, his heart wrestling with itself before he finally spoke up, "Thssa, did you overhear my conversation with Susan at the police station that day?"


    UMSN?velDrama.Org holds this content.


    Thssa let out a scornfulugh, "I did. Had I not identally heard your chat with Susan, I would''ve never known that it was you who secretly sabotaged my mother three years ago, pinning it on Lysander."


    She had been under the mistaken belief that Lysander was indirectly responsible for her mother''s death.


    Because of this misunderstanding, she had kept her distance from Lysander, refusing to admit she had fallen for him long ago.


    It almost led him to marry Rosalind.


    Callum''s expression turned painful as he earnestly said to Thssa, "Thssa, was too in love with you back then, trying to get you away from Lysander and I chose the wrong way to do it. I''ve been trying


    to make amends..." Content belongs


    to


    "Make amends? How can you possibly do that?" Thssa mocked, her mother would nevere back, how could he ever make up for that kind of hurt?


    "Thssa, you haven''t told Lysander about this, have you?" Callum suddenly asked.


    He had been observing Lysander


    and Thssa''s reactions closely.


    el


    Thssa was extremely cold towards him, while Lysander seemed to maintain his usual, demeanor - indifferent but cautious,cking the anger Thssa showed.

 Chapter 1815

    Chapter 1815


    So Callum guessed that Thssa hadn''t shared what she heard at the police station with Lysander yet. Thssa averted her gaze, looking away without saying a word. Though she remained silent, Callum understood the answer. Thssa hadn''t told Lysander, proving that deep down, she wasn''t as cold-hearted as she appeared. He still had a chance in Thssa''s heart.


    "Thssa, do you know why I was able to show up at the semifinals right away, with the surveince footage repaired?" Callum asked again.


    "To make amends?" Thssa countered.


    Callum paused before responding, "During the jewelry design contest semifinals, someone swapped your piece with a stic fake. It was all Susan''s doing. Atticus fixed the footage, and he asked me to bring it to thepetition to prove your innocence."


    Thssa''s eyes widened in shock. Atticus had been helping her all along! Her son had always been supporting her from the shadows, and she was clueless about it.


    "And for the finals, knowing you were in trouble, Atticus sought me out immediately to help find evidence to clear your name. His unwavering trust in me to reach out, doesn''t it mean he trusts me?" Callum said.


    Thssa let out a lightugh, "That''s because he only sees what''s on the surface, not knowing who you truly are."


    "No, it''s because he can tell I genuinely want what''s best for you both. Even a seven-year-old gets it, don''t you see my intentions?" Callum urged, his toneced with desperation. His earnest expression, his urgency to get Thssa to understand his feelings.


    Thssa paused, then realized whatBelongs to (N)?vel/Drama.Org.


    he was implying. She was slightly annoyed yet amused, "Under the guise of looking out for me, you hurt those close to me, pinned it on someone else, and expect me to understand you?" Content belongs


    to NovelDrama.Org


    "That''s not what I meant. I know I messed up before, I''ve reflected on my actions, and I truly regret them. I''m just asking for a chance to make things right," Callum pleaded earnestly.


    Thssa had reached a state of


    calm, unshaken by whatever Callum said. She didn''t want to harbor any special resentment towards him. Thssa closed her eyes, took a deep breath, and upon opening them again, she addressed him, "Callum, I''m not telling Lysander because I''m not looking to stir up trouble, not because I want to spare his feelings. I''m letting this go. From now on, let''s just go our separate ways. You have your life, and I have mine, let''s not interfere with each other anymore."


    With that, Thssa turned and walked away. Callum was about to call out to her, but seeing her


    determined stride, he stopped himself, Erowning at her retreating figure, his eyes drooped, hiding the disappointment within. If only moving on was as easy as saying it, he wouldn''t have been holding on for three years. The longer time passed, the more he understood how


    Leopold felt back then. Content


    belongs to NovelDrama.Org


    Thssa returned to the car, watching through the window as Atticus and Lysander chatted, both seeming at ease. The heartwarming scene of father and son together warmed her heart too.


    Inside the car, Lysander asked Atticus, "Did you know your mom was in trouble?"


    "I had been using a drone to keep an eye on her, then I installed a tracking app on her phone," Atticus admitted openly.


    After he finished, Lysander''s deep gaze turned to him, "You did what?"

 Chapter 1816

    Chapter 1816


    This kid, he''s taken things a step further than I ever did back in the day.


    He actually went and rigged Thssa''s phone with a tracking system, just so he could keep tabs on her every move.


    The moment Atticus caught wind of this, he could see that Lysander was steaming mad.


    He got all jittery, cautiously saying, "I just missed mom so much, and you know how military school is... they don''t exactly let us out for family visits..."


    So, that was his way of keeping in touch with Thssa''s whereabouts.


    He was just overly concerned about his mom.


    Lysander''s gaze narrowed dangerously as he leaned in closer to Atticus, his voice low and maic, "You didn''t eavesdrop on things you shouldn''t have, did you?"


    Atticus Sinir blinked in confusion, not quite catching Lysander''s drift at first. But the serious look on his dad''s face was a dead giveaway that this was serious business.


    Then it hit him, and he quickly held up two fingers, saying, "I would never listen in on mom when she''s in the shower or anything. And she doesn''t even take her phone with her to the bathroom or shower anyway."


    After making his point clear, hoping to show his sincerity, Lysander''s expression didn''t soften. Those prating eyes still held a hint of suspicion. Seeing his father''s scrutinizing gaze, Atticus blinked in bewilderment, clueless about what more Lysander was driving at.Belongs to (N)?vel/Drama.Org.


    Lysander, seeing the genuinely puzzled look on Atticus''s face, felt a wave of relief and ruffled his hair gently, his voice softening, "Good to know. Remember, there''s a line when ites to privacy, especially between men and women. Your mom is ady, after all."


    He was just a kid, after all. There were things he wouldn''t understand yet, and judging by his confused reaction, he hadn''t overstepped those boundaries.


    Lysander then felt at ease.


    "Yeah, I get it," Atticus Sinir nodded, understanding. "We''ve covered respect and privacy in school, how everyone''s entitled to their wn personal space. Even


    when ites to parents. Content


    belongs to NovelDrama.Org


    What Thssa walked into was this tender moment of Lysander smoothing Atticus''s hair and the boy nodding obediently, a picture of fatherly love and filial respect.


    It lifted the gloom from Thssa''s heart, and she opened the car door, asking softly, "What are you two chatting about so happily?"


    "Uh, mom, we were just..." Atticus Sinir started.


    But a quick nce from Lysander, a silent reminder, made Atticus''s smile freeze a bit, and he quickly covered, "Nothing much, just small talk..." Lysander''s deep gaze shifted to Thssa, his voice smooth as silk, "All done?"


    Thssa managed a smile, replying, "Yeah, we were just talking about how Atticus managed to sneak out and find you."


    "Callum''s a great guy; he''s helped mom a lot before. I figured he''d be the best bet for getting things done, and he was more than willing to help out Atticus Sinir exined why he sought Callum''s help.


    "Atticus, you''re the best for knowing when to seek help. But let''s not bother Callum anymore. He has his owndife, and we shouldn''t disturb


    hip


    Thssa said with a smile.


    "Why not?" Atticus Sinir asked, curious and puzzled.


    Lysander replied, "You should just listen to your mom; not everything needs a ''why.""


    After saying this, he instructed the driver, "Let''s go."


    As the car started moving, Thssa inquired, "Where to?"

 Chapter 1817

    Chapter 1817


    Lysander said, "Let''s head back to Royal Estates."


    "Actually, could you drop me off at the military academy first?" Atticus Sinir spoke up.


    As soon as he said this, both Thssa and Lysander turned to look at him, their eyes filled with reluctance. They had only just reunited, and now Atticus Sinir was going back to the academy?


    After Atticus spoke, he saw his parents looking at him with eyes full of longing, making his heart ache. He too didn''t want to part with them so soon. But, rules were rules.


    Atticus said, "I got a half-day leave from the drill sergeant, and it''s almost over. I have to go back. Can''t break my word."


    Lysander felt proud of his words: "That''s my boy, a soldier through and through."


    "How are your siblings adjusting to their studies?" Thssa knew they couldn''t keep Atticus any longer, but she still couldn''t help feeling sad. Kids grow up, find their own ce in the world, and need to spread their wings. Her love couldn''t be the chain that held them back. The best kind of love was letting go when it''s time, allowing them to soar freely.


    Thssa was still worried about Dorian, Elowen, and Sophia. This time, she only saw Atticus. She hadn''t seen the other three, and it weighed on her heart.


    Atticus said, "They''re doing great. Especially Dorian. He''s like a fish in water, getting along with everyone. He''s the center of attention, and even the instructors like him."


    "And Elowen, ever since she joined the academy, the cafeteria''s menu got a major upgrade. She could probably eat the ce out of house and home."N?velDrama.Org holds this content.


    "Sophia''s incredible too. She''s helped a lot of students by identifying fake jewelry, saving their parents from getting scammed. Even our instructors like to have her check out any jewelry before they buy it."


    Speaking of his siblings, Atticus''s eyes sparkled as he proudly shared their aplishments. Listening, Thssa''s smile widened, her eyes moistening with tears. Even though she hadn''t seen her children, hearing about their school life from Atticus allowed her to picture their lively and popr selves, filling her with both joy and longing.


    "Mom, what''s wrong? Did I say something wrong?" Atticus suddenly stopped, anxiously looking at Thssa, noticing the tears in her eyes.


    Thssa snapped back to reality, quickly wiping her tears away, "No, no, of course not. You described everything wonderfully. I just miss your siblings so much..."


    She didn''t hide her longing for her children.


    Atticus nodded, looking down, "Sorry, Mom. They couldn''t get leave permits, so they can''te out. And only Grandpa has been able to visit us."


    He felt bad for not being able to bring his parents to the academy to see his siblings.


    Seeing Atticus''s guilty face,


    Thssa felt a pang of heartache reassuring him, "It''s okay, you have nothing to apologize for. You''re still a kid, and your dad and I will find a way to visit you all at the academy."


    "Really?" Atticus''s eyes lit up with excitement. Clearly, he too was hoping for his parents to make the¡Á effort to visit them. His ssmates often had parentse to see them, but for them, it had only Grandpa for the past three years. They had grown ustomed to the cycle of hope and disappointment.


    Now, hearing his mom say they''de to visit, that spark of hope in Atticus reignited.


    "Of course, it''s true," Lysander confirmed firmly, his assurance unwavering.

 Chapter 1818

    Chapter 1818


    This time, it wasn''t just a nod from his mom, but also a thumbs up from his dad that lit up Atticus''s face with visible joy. "Awesome! Elowen and Sophia are gonna be over the moon!"


    Atticus Sinir wasn''t just happy for himself; he was genuinely thrilled for Elowen and Sophia too.


    Seeing Atticus so chuffed, Thssa felt a warm glow in her heart, gently ruffling his soft hair.


    It had been three years since she''d seen her own kids, and now, reuniting brought a tender warmth to her heart, easing feelings of longing and solitude.


    Being with those who matter made fame and fortune seem trivial.


    Soon, the car pulled up at the military academy''s entrance, and Atticus knew it was time to get out. Turning back, he looked at Lysander and Thssa reluctantly: "Mom, Dad, I gotta go."


    Hearing the reluctance in Atticus''s voice, Thssa couldn''t help but feel her eyes moisten, but she managed to keep the emotion at bay, smiling at Atticus, "Let me walk you to the gate."


    Atticus didn''t respond right away but looked at Lysander for approval.


    "Go ahead, I''ll wait for your mom here in the car," Lysander said.


    Brightening up, Atticus took Thssa''s hand, "Mom,e on, but let''s take it slow."


    With Atticus''s support, Thssa got out of the car.


    Holding her hand, Atticus led her excitedly towards the front, proudly introducing, "Mom, look, this is where me and my siblings go to school. Impressive and majestic, right? And let me tell you, the instructors are so cool! They might be strict during lessons, but they''re really good to us." Thssa could hear the pride in Atticus''s voice and followed his gaze towards the school. Standing at the gates were two young men in military uniforms, their posture impable, exuding a sense of dignity.


    The school''s exterior resembled a formidable fortress, with national gs around, creating a solemn and sacred atmosphere that was deeply moving. It was a profound feeling of patriotism.Belongs to (N)?vel/Drama.Org.


    Taking in the school''s surroundings and the solemn atmosphere, Thssa could understand Atticus''s pride and felt a deep connection to his emotions.


    Coming back to the moment, Thssa told Atticus, "It indeed looks like a great school. I''ll make sure to thank your instructors when I meet them."


    Thanking them for educating her


    child so well, instilling in him love for his family and country, and teaching him right from wrong at such a young age was indeed rare and


    commendable.


    "Mom, the school gate is opening; I gotta go in now," Atticus said, looking towards the gate as a soldier opened it for him since his leave had ended, specially opened for his return.


    "Alright, hurry on then," Thssa said, guiding Atticus towards the gate.


    The punctuality of the school and Atticus''s strong sense of time made Thssa appreciate the military academy''s strict discipline, prompting her to adopt a simr level of seriousness.


    As Atticus walked into the school, he turned around in thest second before the gate closed to wave at Thssa.


    Standing still, Thssa saw Atticus waving at her and quickly raised her hand to wave back, her face always wearing a smile.


    Once the gate closed, cutting off her view of Atticus, the tears she had been holding back fell.


    These tears wereplex, not just


    for the sorrow of parting with Atticus but also for the pride in having such a sensible child and the


    overwhelming joy from feeling


    Atticus''s deep love.


    After standing at the gate for a while, Thssa wiped her tears and turned to walk back.


    By the car window, Lysander had been watching Thssa from a distance, his gaze profound and thoughtful.

 Chapter 1819

    Chapter 1819


    He could tell Thssa was deeply attached to the kids. It tugged at his heartstrings seeing her like that. After all, it had been three years since he''dst seen his own children. He knew exactly how Thssa felt. His eyes, usually so deep and unreadable, now betrayed a hint of sorrow. But when Thssa turned around, he quickly looked away, fixing his gaze on the road ahead and smoothing out his expression to pretend he hadn''t been watching them at all.


    Thssa opened the car door and got in, still radiating a sense of reluctance to leave. "When can we go visit the kids at school?" she asked.


    "The second Sunday of every month is visitation day. It''s the end of the month now, so just two weeks to go until we can see them," Lysander answered her question.


    Thssa nodded, buckled up, and leaned back in her seat, falling silent. Although two weeks seemed a long wait, she understood the school''s policies.


    "Got enough energy for one more errand?" Lysander suddenly asked.


    Thssa opened her eyes wider, intrigued. "What errand?"Belongs to (N)?vel/Drama.Org.


    "It''s about Susan," Lysander didn''t hide it.


    Thssa blinked, taken aback by the sudden mention. It was a lot to process on the spot, but then she remembered just how much trouble Susan had caused. And why was Susan out modeling at the finals instead of being detained by the police? That was suspicious indeed. Thssa wanted to get to the bottom of it.


    "I''m up for it. Let''s go," she said.


    Lysander then instructed the driver, "Drive."


    As the car turned around and headed in the opposite direction, Thssa asked, curious, "Didn''t Susan run away after her runway fiasco? Where are we going to find her?"


    After all, with all the bridges Susan had burned, fleeing the scene after being booed and heckled off the stage would have been anyone''s natural response.


    "She couldn''t escape. My security team has her under control," Lysander''s voice was low but firm.


    Despite his authoritative aura,


    Thssa noticed a change in him. He was different from before; he used to disdain exining anything to her. She had to guess everything on her own. But now, he answered every question she had, providing reassurance at every turn. It was aforting change. No more constant anxiety and unease around him.


    Thssa nodded, understanding. "So, you''ve already taken care of it."


    Lysander had always been one step ahead, ensuring Susan couldn''t cause more trouble by escaping again. Susan was a walking disaster, and if she had managed to get away, who knew what kind of mess she''d create next time.


    After a while, the car pulled up in front of a bar. Thssa followed Lysander inside, and as they passed by a private booth, they heard loud screams.


    "Ah, stop, don''t touch me! If you do, you''ll regret it!" The screams didn''t evoke sympathy; instead, they were filled with a defiant arrogance.

 Chapter 1820

    Chapter 1820


    In the dimly lit VIP lounge, a stern voice cut through the tension. Thssa''s heart sank. That voice... it was David''s!


    And the woman who had screamed just moments ago? Susan!


    Before Thssa could even process the situation, a sharp "p" echoed through the room.


    The sound of a palm striking flesh was unmistakable, and from the intensity alone, Thssa could tell the victim must have been in excruciating pain, probably swelling up by the second.


    "Stop, please, no more!" Susan''s pleas for mercy were heartbreaking.


    That''s when Lysander''s cool voice brought Thssa back to reality. "This is the ce. Open the door."


    Jolted into action, Thssa hesitated for a fraction of a second before pushing the door open with trembling hands.


    The scene that greeted her was even more chaotic than the sounds had suggested. Two burly men had Susan pinned on a couch, while another held her head back, pping her relentlessly as David watched, his expression ice-cold.


    The sight sent shivers down Thssa''s spine.


    Hearing themotion, David turned to see Lysander and Thssa. His stern face softened slightly as he approached Lysander and reported, "Susan hasn''t confessed yet who pulled strings to get her into the finals."


    The significance of David''s wordsBelongs to (N)?vel/Drama.Org.


    wasn''t lost on Thssa. Under normal circumstances, Susan should have been behind bars, yet here she was, participating as a mode in a high-stakes jewelrypetition. It was clear someone with considerable influence had orchestrated her release and participation.


    As Lysander''s piercing gaze fixed on Susan, the guards ceased their pping but kept her immobilized on the couch. Tears streamed down Susan''s face, one side visibly swollen as she looked up and met Lysander''s steely eyes. The fear in her heart was palpable, yet ¨¤ sudden burst of defiance seemed to overtake her.


    "Lysander, you have no right to control me! You''re nothing now. If you cross me, I''ll make sure the people backing me won''t let you off easily Susan''s outburst was a mix of anger and desperation, her bold words shing with the fear in her eyes.


    Thssa couldn''t stand Susan''s disrespect towards Lysander. Angrily, she retorted, "Keep yelling, and I''ll shut you up for good!"


    Susan responded with venom, spitting towards Thssa. "You''re the scum here, Thssa! Why don''t you just drop dead? Everyone would be better off without you!"

 Chapter 1821

    Chapter 1821


    "Watch your mouth!" Lysander''s voice rose in anger, his wordsced with fury.


    Susan really had no idea what she was messing with, spewing such venom at Thssa! Every word she said was a direct hit to Lysander''s breaking point. Thssa''s life was something he had fought tooth and nail for, and no one had the right to hurt her.


    No sooner had Lysander''s words faded than a bodyguard grabbed Susan by the hair, delivering two sharp ps that whipped her head violently to one side. The first p dislocated her jaw, and with the second, her neck twisted, leaving her face permanently skewed, unable to turn back. Pain exploded in Susan''s jaw like a bone had snapped, agony so intense it felt like her brain would burst. Her twisted neck sent waves of pain so severe it felt like her head might fall off, sweeping through her nerves. Susan cried out in agony, "Ah, it hurts so much!"


    Even as she screamed, she didn''t hold back, gasping, "Lysander, how dare you resort to vignte justice! I''ll sue you, sue you till you''re behind bars!" "Vignte justice? You clearly have no idea of the sins you''vemitted!" David snorted coldly.


    At that moment, a man around thirty-five entered, his authoritative presence instantly filling the room. "Sorry I''mte, Lysander," he said, his voice carrying a formal yet intimidating air.


    Thssa looked at the neer, recognizing him at second nce. It was Payne! She remembered him well; he was Lysander''s friend. Once, in over her head trying to investigate something, Thssa had sought out Payne. Even then, she had sensed that Payne was no ordinary man. Seeing him again sent a shock through Thssa, realizing Lysander must have called him.


    Without much small talk, Lysander''s gaze shifted back to Susan, stating, "An habitual criminal. She kidnapped Thssa before, the one I had you put on the wanted list. Then she tried to swap real jewels with stic ones at a jewelry contest, and now, God knows who she''s persuaded to frame Thssa for giarism."


    In just a few sentences, Lysanderid all of Susan''s crimes bare.


    Payne looked at Susan with a hint of amusement, seeing her pitiful state, unable to straighten her head, crying miserably With a slight chuckle, Payne said, "So it''s you, huh? I''ve been looking for you for months. A woman, making my team run


    around."


    Approaching Susan, Payne tried to force her face to turn towards him, to look him in the eye. She had been avoiding eye contact, keeping her head turned away, which wasn''t eptable.


    "Ah, it hurts, stop, my neck''s going to break!" Susan screamed in pain. Her neck was already twisted, and keeping it in one position was bearable, but any attempt to force it back was excruciating.


    Far from letting go, Payne exerted more force, turning her head towards him, "Didn''t think about how much it hurts others when you were framing them, did you? Nowat''s your turn, and you know pain?"


    Payne''s voice was cold and unyielding. As he forced her head to turn, a crisp "crack" sounded from Susan''s neck.N?velDrama.Org holds this content.

 Chapter 1822

    Chapter 1822


    "Ah!" Susan''s scream echoed through the private room, sending shivers down everyone''s spine.


    Thssa, hearing her cry, felt her heart skip a beat-it was genuinely terrifying.


    Yet, it seemed like she was the only one affected. Everyone else in the room seemed indifferent, as if scenes like this were all too familiar to them. Just moments before, Susan was holding her head sideways, not feeling particrly distressed. But now, as Payne twisted her neck around, it felt like her head was about to part ways with her body.


    The pain was unbearable, making it hard to breathe, with tears and snot running all over her face.


    Payne, with a cold expression, sternly asked Susan, "Ready to talk now? Who''s the mastermind behind all this?"


    "You... you..." Susan gasped for air.


    Payne moved his neck, causing a series of intimidating cracks, unlike the sound of Susan''s neck that seemed on the verge of breaking.


    Payne spoke slowly, his tone full of authority, "This isn''t some kind of off-the-books interrogation. The evidence against you, item by item, is allid out right here. I''m just asking you a question, understand?"


    Hearing his words, Susan trembled with fear. She had earlier used Lysander of using unauthorized methods since he wasn''t a public official. But Payne, he was a bona fide cop.


    His actions, all aimed at catching criminals and conducting interrogations.


    Even if they killed her, it would be considered justified.


    Susan, now terrified out of her wits, struggled to breathe, tears streaming down her face, her body shaking. In a desperate bid to save herself, she finally caved, stuttering, "I''ll talk, I''ll... The man behind me... The man behind me is... Joshua!"


    "What?"


    Susan''s revtion left Thssa in shock.


    She had been eagerly waiting for Susan to reveal the mastermind, already having someone in mind.


    She had thought it was Callum.


    After all, Callum had previously conspired with Susan, engaging in activities that harmed her and framed Lysander.


    Their coboration wasn''t something out of the ordinary.


    But to Thssa''s surprise, Susan named Joshua!


    How could it be Joshua?N?velDrama.Org holds this content.


    Lysander, upon hearing Susan''s confession, was skeptical. His voice deepened as he warned, "Lying will only make things worse


    Susan, in panic, with tears and snot mingling, hurriedly insisted, "I''m not lying, I swear. It was Joshua who had me released from custody, and he''s the one with the authority to let me continue as a model in the


    jewelrypetition..." Content


    belongs to NovelDrama.Org


    Thssa was in disbelief, struggling to ept the truth of Susan''s words.


    How could it be Joshua?


    Previously, during the semifinals,


    when Susan had switched her jewelry designs, Joshua had stepped forward to vouch for her, openly acknowledging her as his daughter to prove her capacity to produce authentic jewelry. Content


    belongs to NovelDrama.Org


    That moment felt like genuine protection from Joshua, at least offering Thssa a sense of fatherly love.


    Her deste heart had begun to warm up a bit.


    And now, Susan was telling her that Joshua was the one who allowed Susan to continue causing trouble in the finals!


    How could she believe, how could she ept this?


    "How can you prove he''s the one behind this?" Payne, sensing Thssa and Lysander''s skepticism, pressed Susan for proof.

 Chapter 1823

    Chapter 1823


    "I''ve got a phone. I can call him," Susan said through tears.


    Payne nced up and nodded towards one of the bodyguards, "Get her phone."


    No sooner had he spoken than the bodyguard reached into Susan''s pocket to retrieve it. Susan squirmed and twisted in difort, her expression contorted with pain, but soon enough, the bodyguard had her phone in hand.


    When they tried to unlock it, it asked for a password. "What''s the pin?" the bodyguard asked.


    Susan, without hesitation, gave it up.


    The bodyguard unlocked the phone, scrolled through the contacts, and found Joshua''s name. He opened the call log and showed it to Payne. There were indeed two calls logged.


    Payne signaled to the bodyguard, "Call him."N?velDrama.Org holds this content.


    Understanding the cue, the bodyguard dialed the number. The ringtone tightened Thssa''s chest with anxiety. She was nervous about Joshua answering, yet dreading the consequences if he did. If Joshua answered, it would prove Susan wasn''t lying. Despite her unwillingness to believe, if Joshua was indeed aiding and abetting the enemy, she had to ept it.


    As Thssa''s heart hung in suspense, the call was answered. Joshua''s distinguished and aged voice came through, "What now?"


    The moment Thssa heard Joshua''s voice, all her hopes shattered, plunging her into despair.


    At this moment, Susan, tearful and


    unsure of what to say, looked at Payne for guidance. Payne signaled the bodyguard to bring the phone Susan''s ear, letting her speak. Joshua answering with a "What'' now?" was proof enough of Susan''s ims. No matter what Susan said now, the oue couldn''t be


    What lin


    changed.


    Through sobs, Susan cried into the phone, "Joshua, please help me. I''m going to die, I really am..."


    "What trouble have you gotten into


    Pet


    now?" Joshua''s voice was frustrated and exasperated. "Susan, I''m warning you, this is thest time. you cause any more trouble, no matter how useful you are to me, I won''t bother with you again Joshua retorted sharply.


    "I know, I know. I promise there won''t be a next time. Please, send someone to save me. I''m at Dark Bar..." Susan pleaded urgently.


    Before she could finish, the phone was hung up by the bodyguard. Susan was relieved she managed to mention the bar''s name, but remembering her predicament, she broke down crying again.


    Payne returned to Lysander''s side and said, "It''s confirmed. It''s Joshua."


    He didn''t wait for Lysander''s


    l


    response, noticing how Lysander''s grip on his wheelchair had tightened, veins bulging with the strain. epting that Joshua was the culprit must be hard for him. After all, Joshua was a mentor and friend to Lysander, someone he deeply respected. The thought that Joshua would protect someone as vile as Susan was unimaginable.


    Payne looked again towards Thssa, seeing her troubled expression. With Joshua having only recently acknowledged Thssa as his daughter, to then turn around and shield her tormentor, it was bound to be painful for her.

 Chapter 1824

    Chapter 1824


    Payne said, "I bet Joshua will be here any minute with his crew."


    After a pause, he nced at Thssa, then at Lysander, and continued, "Let''s bail, leave her behind."


    Even without Payne spelling it out, Lysander got the drift.


    Leave the bait to catch a bigger fish.


    Otherwise, nabbing Susan now wouldn''t reveal the depth of her ties with Joshua.


    Lysander told David, "Let''s get out of here."


    With that, he began pushing the wheelchair out, while Thssa cast onest look at Susan before turning to follow Lysander.


    Lysander and Thssa were the first to exit the private room, followed by Payne, David, and a few bodyguards, leaving Susan alone inside. The bodyguards left Susan to her own devices, and without their support, she copsed onto the couch, her neck hitting the backrest. The pain brought tears to her eyes. She propped herself up with her hands, struggling to sit upright.


    Watching Thssa and the others leave, she felt trapped. Her neck was so badly hurt that moving it seemed impossible. Standing was a challenge, let alone walking. Any vibration from walking felt like it could shatter her spine. She doubted she could even make it out of the bar alive.


    All she could do was brace herself against the couch, trying to keep her shaky neck upright, waiting for someone toe to her aid.Belongs to (N)?vel/Drama.Org.


    On the drive back, Thssa sat in the car, staring out the window as the scenery flew by in reverse. It seemed she was looking at thendscape, but her mind was elsewhere.


    Lysander''s deep, resonant voice broke the silence, "What''s on your mind?"


    Thssa snapped back to reality, her gaze shifting towards Lysander, and she said with a hint of sadness, "Nothing much."


    Though she didn''t say it, Lysander could guess the turmoil she was feeling. "Let''s wait and see how things unfold. There''s always a reason why things happen."


    Thssa''s difort


    The source of Th


    was the suspicion that Joshua was


    supporting Susan behind the


    scenes. Knowing full well that Susan


    had set her up, and yet helping her, felt like a p in the face to Thssa.


    Not long ago, Joshua had publicly acknowledged Thssa as his daughter, defending her talents and rifying her capabilities in jewelry design during apetition. And now, he seemed to be siding with Susan, who had frequently sabotaged Thssa. It was a bitter pill to swallow.


    "I guess it doesn''t matter. I never really had his love to begin with, so there''s nothing to be disappointed about," Thssa said with a bitterugh, her words tinged with resignation.


    Her attempt to sound indifferent only highlighted how much she still cared.


    Lysander reached out, pulling her close, and whispered, "You have me now..."


    He was ready to give her all the love she missed out on - the fatherly affection she never felt, the romantic love she hadn''t experienced. He wanted to fill those voids for her.


    These thoughts stayed unspoken, but his embrace conveyed his deep affection and the silent promises he made to her.


    In that moment of silence, their mutual support spoke volumes, conveying all the emotions that words could not. Their bond, silent yet profound, was everything they needed.

 Chapter 1825

    Chapter 1825


    In the dimly lit Eagle''s Nest Bar, Joshua was nowhere to be seen. Instead, it was Reginald who stormed in with a few cronies in tow. Without a moment''s hesitation, he aggressively confronted the bar manager, barking, "Where''s that little tramp Susan?"


    To think his father, Joshua, had him running errands to deal with some floozy.


    The big corporate decisions? Out of his reach. Joshua even came close to handing over the entire empire to his son-inw, Lysander! It was as if he waspletely written off as Joshua''s son!


    It became crystal clear to Reginald that the Whitman family fortune was never meant to be his. Yet, here he was, dealing with his father''s trivial messes!


    Fury boiled within Reginald.


    The manager knew of Susan, thanks to Lysander''s explicit instructions before he left. "The woman in the private booth is Susan," he had said. Intimidated by Reginald''s menacing aura, the manager pointed towards the booth in a panic.


    Reginald didn''t even bother with a thank you. He just red at the manager and stormed towards the booth.


    Finding the booth door shut, Reginald''s patience snapped. He kicked the door open with a resounding thud.


    Susan had been propping herself up on the couch, desperately trying to keep her neck from any further injury, maintaining the same position until her arms nearly froze.


    Her arms were trembling, clinging to the hope that Joshua would arrive soon. "Just a little longer," she thought, pushing herself to endure.


    The sudden crash of the door being kicked open sent Susan into shock; her hands gave way, and she copsed onto the couch.


    Especially her neck,nding harshly against the couch, pain so intense it nearly sent her soul flying.


    "Ah, help me, I''m dying!" Susan screamed in terror, a sound so heart-wrenchingly pitiful.


    Reginald, seeing Susan, was reminded of his father''s disregard for him.


    Fuming and finding no other outlet for his rage, he targeted Susan, the "little tramp."


    He marched over, grabbed her byBelongs to (N)?vel/Drama.Org.


    the cor, and yanked her up from the couch, seething, "What''s your" deal with my dad? Why''s he so damn concerned about you?"


    Susan''s neck twisted painfully under his grip, the agony shooting through her nerves made her gasp for air, too pained to even scream.


    She inhaled sharply, her face turning ghostly pale as her body stiffened, immobile.


    Reginald, mistaking her silence for


    disdain, grew even more enraged He threw her back onto the couch, pointing at her and bellowing, "I''m talking to you! Did you not hear me?"


    Susan crashed onto the couch once more, her neck pain so severe she felt like she was on death''s doorstep.


    Seeing Reginald storming towards her again, she knew if she didn''t speak up, it might very well be the end of her.


    Barely able to endure the pain, she blurted out, "I''m your dad''s mistress!"


    Her admission stopped Reginald in his tracks, his steps halting as he stared at her in disbelief and anger. "What did you say?"


    He couldn''t have heard that right.


    This woman just imed to be his dad''s mistress!


    Wasn''t Thssa the only secret child his dad had?


    134


    Pain causing her chest to heave, Susan Looked earnestly at Reginald and repeated, "I''m your father''s woman. If you don''t believe me, call him and ask!"


    Lu

 Chapter 1826

    Chapter 1826


    Reginald''s eyes widened in disbelief as he stared at Susan. "What did you say?"


    "You heard me loud and clear, didn''t you? Why ask again!" Susan retorted, her tone firm.


    Despite the pounding headache that felt like her head was splitting apart, she couldn''t afford to show any signs of weakness or cry out in pain. No one cared about whether she was hurting anymore.


    Ever since her parents passed away, it felt as though no one in the world cared about her feelings or whether she was suffering.


    Losing her parents made Susan realize how cold and malicious the world could be. Just surviving had be an uphill battle.N?velDrama.Org holds this content.


    She was no longer the pampered darling she used to be, cherished in the palms of her loving parents.


    It was the harshness of the world that made Susan cherish the memory of her parents even more, regretting that her desire to be Lysander''s woman had led to their demise.


    But there were no second chances in life.


    Without her parents, life became even tougher.


    Reginald stood before her, his gaze fierce. "Good, I''ll be ridding my mother of a problem!"


    With that, he bent down and grabbed Susan by the neck, squeezing hard, intending to choke the life out of her.


    "Ah..." Already in pain, Susan felt her throat constrict, her headache intensifying, as she started to lose consciousness, her eyes rolling back, foam forming at her mouth.


    Reginald, on the brink of rage, was too engrossed in his fury to notice Susan''s deteriorating condition.


    Just as Susan''s body began to convulse, a stern voice called out from behind, "Reginald, stop this instant!"


    Hearing the familiar voice, Reginald turned to see Joshua standing there, his expression grave.


    Reginald, still harboring fear for his father, instinctively released his grip. Susan copsed onto the couch like a deted balloon, convulsing, foam still dribbling from her mouth.


    Joshua rushed to Susan''s side, checking her condition. Her situation was dire; her neck was broken, and she was barely hanging on. Joshua red at Reginald, "What were you thinking? This is a human life we''re talking about. Do you n to end up behind bars again? Let me tell you, if she dies, I can''t save you this time!"


    Reginald retorted angrily, "Do you even care about Mom anymore? Having an illegitimate daughter, Thssa, was bad enough! Now you''re keeping another woman on the side!"


    "You..." Joshua was speechless with


    rage. Finally, be sighed and said,


    "She''s not someone I''m involved with, but it''splicated and not something I can exin right now. Regardless, you shouldn''t have even thought about killing her. Don''t you realize how many charges are already against you? Do you really want to add an irreversible one to the list?"


    Joshua was utterly disappointed in his son, a true lost cause.


    "I barely touched her, and she''s all convulsing and foaming at the mouth like an ant that''s been stepped on!" Reginald scoffed.


    He had not expected Susan to be so fragile, reacting as if she were made of paper, crumbling at the slightest touch.


    Grinding his teeth, Joshua red at Reginald before hastily dialing 911.


    No matter what, Susan couldn''t die, especially not at Reginald''s hands.


    Soon, the ambnce arrived and took Susan away.


    When Thssa and Lysander arrived back at the Royal Estates they were greeted by a tall, slender woman with short hair standing at the entrance, holding a medical kit. She didn''t enter, just waited there.


    Seeing Thssa and Lysander approach, she turned to face them, her gaze lingering.

 Chapter 1827

    Chapter 1827


    Thssa''s eyes brightened with surprise as she recognized the figure before her, "Lydia, you made it! Why didn''t youe in?"


    "Fitch mentioned you all had stepped out, so I decided to wait here for you," Lydia responded.


    As Thssa, pushing Lysander in his wheelchair, drew closer, she took a better look at Lydia''s face and noticed some dark bruises under her eyes, signs of a healing ck eye. Those bruises were remnants of thest time Lydia had thrown herself into a fray to help Thssa crash a wedding, ending up in a scuffle with the security team. The marks hadn''tpletely faded yet.


    Thinking back to Lydia standing her ground against four, all to help her make a dramatic entrance at the hotel to stop Lysander and Rosalind''s wedding ceremony in the nick of time, Thssa couldn''t help but admire her bravery and was immensely grateful. "If it weren''t for your help, I wouldn''t have been able to make it into the hotel so smoothly and stop the ceremony," Thssa warmly said to Lydia as if she were family, "Why wait outside? Come in and make yourself at home."


    As she spoke, she ushered Lydia inside.


    Lydia seemed a bit tense, especially upon seeing Lysander, her demeanor instantly filled with a deep respect, and she straightened up, saying, "Good day, sir!"


    Thssa was momentarily taken aback, almost forgetting that Lydia used to serve under Lysander, who was hermanding officer.


    Lysander gave her a brief look and said, "Just call me Lysander, no need for formalities."


    He had retired from service and was no longer inmand.


    "This..." Lydia struggled with the informality, unsure how to call him by his first name.


    Seeing Lydia''s dilemma, Thssa suggested with a smile, "If it makes you morefortable, you can call him Mr. Sinir, it''s okay."


    "Well, if that''s alright, then Mr. Sinir it is," Lydia said, scratching the back of her head awkwardly.


    Once inside, Thssa made sure Lysander wasfortably seated on the couch before hurrying to prepare some refreshments for Lydia.


    Fitch, noticing the gesture, quickly intervened, "Ms. Everhart, allow me. Please, have a seat and enjoy your visit with Ms. Everhart."


    Fitch was overly cautious, aware that he had unintentionally made Lydia wait outside, fearing Lysander''s disapproval.


    Thssa, noticing Fitch''s


    anxiousness, didn''t object and sat down with Lydia, starting a casual conversation, "How have Drunke and my aunt been doing recently?"


    Lydia, still somewhat rigid, nodded, "They''re doing quite well, actually Dr. Funke has been personally administering acupuncture for my aunt''s arthritis, and it''s beeno improving."


    After answering Thssa''s question, Lydia quickly remembered her purpose for visiting, "I''vee for Mr.Sinir''s routine check-up and acupuncture session. It''s that time of the week again."


    Even though Dr. Funke had concluded that Lysander''s condition was unlikely to improve, he still insisted Lydia continue with the weekly check-ups and treatments.Belongs to (N)?vel/Drama.Org.


    Lydia didn''t fully understand the reasoning but followed the doctor''s orders diligently.


    Before Thssa could respond, Lysander''s deep voice cut through the room, "Is there still a need to continue with these treatments?"

 Chapter 1828

    Chapter 1828


    Lydia''s expression froze, unsure of how to respond to Lysander''s words.


    Seeing the atmosphere turn awkward, Thssa quickly chimed in, "Of course, it''s still worth a shot. Who knows, miracles do happen. We''ve got to trust in the doctor''s perseverance."


    As she spoke, Thssa squatted beside Lysander, a smile ying on her lips, clearly trying to coax him.


    Lydia awkwardly tugged at the corner of her mouth. Just then, Fitch came over with a tray, cing a cup of tea on the coffee table. "Ms. Everhart, your tea," Fitch said politely.


    Fitch''s arrival eased Lydia''s difort slightly. She quickly picked up the cup of tea, mumbling a "Thanks" before starting to sip. The rim of the cup hid her face and her gaze towards Lysander, effectively masking her unease.


    Lysander averted his gaze, locking eyes with Thssa. Her face was lit with a smile, her eyes curving into crescents, radiating gentleness and warmth towards him.


    Such a tender expression could melt the ciers within one''s heart.


    Lysander took a deep breath, pushing down the turmoil inside. "Then let''s go with the doctor''s n," he said.


    Upon hearing this, Lydia''s hand, holding the cup, paused abruptly, incredulous.


    Lysander had clearly been resistant to the idea of getting a shot just moments ago, and now, his attitude had changed?


    Thssa''s influence must be enormous!


    The Lysander Lydia knew was always firm and meticulous; his word wasw, and no one dared oppose him.


    She had never seen Lysander so approachable and amiable.


    Yet, it took Thssa just one sentence to change Lysander''s troubled tone.


    Indeed, no matter how formidable one is, they can''t escape the spell of love.


    Lydia hadn''t even managed to swallow her tea before hastily setting down the cup, preparing to speak. Realizing she couldn''t talk with her mouth full, she quickly swallowed and then asked Lysander, "If... Mr. Sinir, may I take your pulse now?"


    Thssa looked surprised. "Why not wait until after dinner for the consultation?"


    "No, no, I better not stay for dinner, promised Dr. Funke I''d be back two hours to prepare some medicine," Lydia said, herughter tinged with a hint of nervousness.


    She wasn''t good at refusing people, especially with Lysander present, making her even more visibly tense.


    Seeing Lydia so anxious and pressed for time, Thssa didn''t insist.


    After all, even if Lydia were persuaded to stay for dinner, she''d be ufortable, which would hardly be ideal.


    "Alright then," Thssa said, turning to Lysander for his opinion. "How about we check your pulse now to see how you''re doing?"


    Lysander''s gaze, filled with affection,


    met hers, his voice no longer that of the aloof, imperious man but rather that of an ordinary, domestic man. hatever you think is best."


    Thssa smiled at Lydia. "Alright, let''s take your pulse now."This content is ? N?velDrama.Org.


    Lydia watched the exchange between Thssa and Lysander her mind reeting from the sweetness of their interaction, so much so that it felt like her taste buds were O blossoming.


    The Lysander she saw today at Royal Estates was aplete reversal of her previous impression of him.


    She had always thought of him as a stern, aloof, and unapproachable figure.


    Yet here he was, showing a gentle side that she never knew existed, and she was witnessing it firsthand!


    If this got back to the soldiers who used to be under Lysander''smand, they''d probably never believe it. But this was the reality.


    Lydia was stunned.


    It wasn''t until Thssa pushed Lysander towards her that she snapped back to reality.


    "Lydia, you can take his pulse now," Thssa said, breaking the silence.

 Chapter 1829

    Chapter 1829


    Lydia suddenly snapped back to reality, her actions haphazard as she eximed, "Okay, okay, I''ll check his pulse right now."


    She quickly reined in her astonishment, taking Lysander''s hand in hers, trying her best to calm the storm inside her and steady her nerves as she prepared to take his pulse.


    Thssa noticed Lydia''s hands trembling slightly as she held Lysander''s wrist, as if she were incredibly nervous, almost scared.


    Seeing this, Thssa couldn''t help but chuckle. "Lydia, maybe you need a cup of tea to calm your nerves?"


    In her current state, how could she urately assess Lysander''s condition?


    Realizing she was indeed too tense, Lydia took a deep breath and said, "No, no, I''m fine... I just need to close my eyes, that''s all..."


    She didn''t dare voice the thought that floated through her mind next: And not get fed up with your lovey-dovey stuff.


    Even if she feltfortable joking with Thssa, she wouldn''t dare tease Lysander in the same way.


    With her eyes closed, Lydia focused on taking Lysander''s pulse, proving her point that shutting the outside world out allowed her to stabilize her mind and concentrate on the task at hand.


    Meanwhile, Thssa stayed silent, not wanting to disturb Lydia''s concentration.


    After checking both wrists, an impatient Thssa asked, "Well? How is he?"


    Lydia responded, "Mr. Sinir''s overall health is quite good. But his leg... it''s not something that''ll heal overnight. It''s going to take consistent treatment over time."


    Thssa was overjoyed at the news. "So, you''re saying there''s still hope for Lysander''s leg?"


    Hearing Lydia mention before that Lysander might never stand again had pained Thssa deeply, almost suffocating her with sorrow.


    Lysander, so proud and unyielding, how could he ept a future where he couldn''t stand on his own two feet?


    Knowing this, Thssa had resolved to throw caution to the wind and rush to his side.


    Life was too short to waste on indecision.


    Those you care for, you chase after without a second thought, lest you regret it for a lifetime.


    It was this very determination that had driven Thssa to decide on eloping.


    Now, hearing that there was still hope for Lysander''s leg, Thssa felt an immense joy, even more so than Lysander himself.


    Seeing her so ted, Lydia hurried to


    temper her expectations, "I mean, there''s hope with treatment, but I can''t guarantee the extent of recovery."


    Her words implied that despite the treatment, Lysander might still end up unable to stand.


    Thssa''s smile stiffened a bit, not


    ????


    out of disdain for Lysander''s condition, but knowing how much Lysander himself cared about his ability to stand.


    His earlier question to Lydia, asking


    if


    treatment, revealed his frustration


    3 was still a point in continuing


    distress over his condition.


    He had once stood tall,manding respect and admiration from all.


    To fall from such heights into despair was a cruel fate.


    Thssa wanted to bring joy back into Lysander''s life.


    But faced with this fragile hope, she couldn''t help feeling a bit disheartened.


    However, she quickly rallied, her smile returning as she said, "It''s okay. Like you said, there''s hope with treatment. We can''t give up."


    "If you never stand again, would you be disappointed?" Lysander suddenly spoke, his deep gaze fixed on Thssa.


    His eyes, deeper than the ocean, showed a depth Thssa had never seen before.


    It made Thssa''s heart sink in response.N?velDrama.Org holds this content.

 Chapter 1830

    Chapter 1830


    Thssa locked eyes with Lysander, his deep gaze holding a world of unspoken words. In that moment, she realized what he was hinting at-he was testing if his injury truly mattered to her.


    Had her reaction led him to misunderstand?


    Lydia, who had been rummaging through a first aid kit for some needles, froze upon hearing Lysander''s words, sensing an impending storm between Thssa and Lysander. Panic fluttered in her heart.


    Turning around, she hurriedly said, "Mr. Sinir, actually..."


    "Disappointed? Never." Before Lydia could finish, Thssa caught on, responding to Lysander with seriousness and candor.


    When Lysander had voiced his concern, Thssa was initially taken aback, not expecting such a direct question.


    But as she grasped the true meaning behind his words, her heart sank.


    Under Lysander''s intense gaze, she found her answer.


    In that moment, the world around them faded away, their eyes only for each other.


    Thssa spoke her truth, "No matter what, I''ll stand by you. You''ll always be the most important person to me. My worry was never about your injury itself, but the fear you might lose hope."


    Her words were from the heart, her urgency in asking Lydia about Lysander''s leg, and the disappointment upon hearing an uncertain prognosis, stemmed not from disdain but from deep concern for Lysander.


    To truly care for someone is to prioritize their feelings above all.


    Lydia, caught off-guard by Thssa''s heartfelt deration, stood with her mouth agape, her eyes darting around, seeking refuge.


    Goodness, she felt like a third wheel, an intruder on Thssa and Lysander''s intimate moment.


    For the first time, she realized how ringly out of ce she was, feeling the full weight of being the odd one out.


    She had metaphorically eaten bowls of Thssa and Lysander''s ''couple''s feast,'' feeling increasingly full from their disy of affection. Lydia''s desperate nce found Fitch, seeking his support.


    Fitch, catching her plea, quickly averted his gaze and made a beeline for the kitchen, acknowledging his role as an unwanted presence. But while he could escape, Lydia could not.


    With Fitch gone, Lydia felt even more awkward, resorting to covering her eyes, pretending to be oblivious to the world around her. Unbeknownst to her, Thssa and Lysander were lost in their own bubble, unaffected by her difort.


    After Thssa''s confession, Lysander''s icy demeanor softened, his voice low and warm, ¡°Come here."N?velDrama.Org content rights.


    He reached out his hand, and Thssa, with a radiant smile, walked over, cing her hand in his.


    Lysander pulled her close, wrapping


    an arm around her waist and seating her on hisp. His hand gently caressed her face as he looked into her eyes, whispering, "I''ll remember what you said forever. No backing out."


    Thssaid her hand over his, letting his rough fingers tenderly trace her cheek, "Yeah, make sure you remember, so I won''t have reasons to."


    Lydia, though she had covered her eyes, could hear everything. A shiver ran through her as she dared to peek through her fingers.


    L.ne


    Oh my, the sight of Thssa sitting


    on Lysander''sp, with his arm around her and his hand caressing her face, was too intimate, sending Lydia''s heart racing.


    What had she stumbled upon? It felt like she was witnessing a real-life romance drama unfold before her eyes.

 Chapter 1831

    Chapter 1831


    Do these two ever consider anyone else''s feelings when they''re unting their love?


    Right now, Lydia just wanted to crawl into a hole. As a single person, was it really fair for her to be bombarded with this much PDA?


    Thssa, lost in Lysander''s tender gaze, suddenly snapped back to reality. She quickly removed Lysander''s hand from hers, stood up, and turned around to see Lydia covering her face, frozen like a statue.


    Thssa immediately realized Lydia must be feeling awkward. After all, she had never been in a rtionship and here she was, witnessing such an intimate moment between her and Lysander.


    For someone who''s been single for ages, this was indeed a test of the soul.


    Thssa chuckled awkwardly, apologizing, "Lydia, sorry about that. We got carried away and didn''t think about you still being here."


    Hearing Thssa''s voice, which sounded surprisingly normalpared to the love-drenched tones she used with Lysander, Lydia dared to lower her hands from her eyes. She saw Thssa had already stepped away from Lysander, maintaining a respectful distance.


    Her moment of embarrassment eased a bit, and she managed an awkwardugh, saying, "No worries, I''ll just go ahead and give Mr. Sinir his acupuncture. It''ll save time and keep me from holding you guys up."


    Lydia''sment about not wanting to hold them up made Thssa blush.


    Even though Lydia might not have meant it that way, Thssa couldn''t help but feel a bit shy about it.


    Lysander remained silent, his mood stabilizing now that he understood Thssa''s thoughts. As for the unspoken women''s secrets, he, being a man, didn''t dwell too much on it.


    Lydia quickly fetched the acupuncture needles from the medical kit and approached Lysander, taking a deep breath before saying, "Mr. Sinir, are you ready?"


    "Go ahead," Lysander said.


    "Alright." Lydia mustered all her courage, holding the needle ready to begin Lysander''s treatment.


    This was Lydia''s second time administering acupuncture to Lysander. The first time, she was nervous, but luckily, Dr. Funke arrived just in time to save the day.


    This time, she was on her own, as Dr. Funke wouldn''t being to her rescue.


    To say she wasn''t nervous would be a lie.N?velDrama.Org content rights.


    After all, she hadn''t done this often, and the patient in front of her was no ordinary person but someone she had once deeply respected. Her nervousness was doubled.


    Lydia''s hand, holding the needle,


    trembled slightly as she hesitated. Then, Catching Thssa''s worried yet hopeful gaze, she felt a in her heart.


    UMS


    Though Thssa hadn''t spoken a word, Lydia could see the profound hope in her eyes.


    If there was even the slightest chance of healing Lysander, Thssa wouldn''t give up.


    In that moment, all her hopes were pinned on Lydia.


    That look was a deep trust and reliance on her.


    Meeting Thssa''s gaze steadied Lydia''s nervous heart.


    With Thssa''s trust fueling her, what was there to be nervous about? All she needed was to give it her all.


    With that thought, Lydia focused on


    the needle and the acupoints,


    urately locating the spot on ne?


    Lysander''s head and inserting the needle with steady precision.

 Chapter 1832

    Chapter 1832


    Lysander closed his eyes, his face devoid of any emotion. Meanwhile, Thssa watched from the side, her heart tightening with each insertion of the silvery needle, her brows furrowing slightly.


    Just as Lydia was concentrating on the acupuncture, Lysander''s phone in his pocket began to ring. Fortunately, the ringtone didn''t disturb Lydia, who continued her work unfazed. However, the phone kept ringing. Though Lydia seemed unaffected, the continuous ringing was bound to be a distraction.


    Seeing Lysander with his eyes closed, expressionless and unable to move, Thssa walked over, reached into Lysander''s pocket, and took out the phone, seeing that the caller ID showed Captain Payne.


    She looked at Lysander and said, "It''s Captain Payne calling. Should I answer it for you?"


    "Answer it," Lysander uttered.


    Thssa nodded, slid the answer button, and put the call on speaker.


    Payne''s voice came through the phone, "Lysander, Joshua indeed took Susan from the bar. Reginald was giving Susan a hard time, and Joshua gave him an earful."


    There was clear annoyance in Payne''s voice. Hearing this, Thssa felt a sense of despair. Joshua was indeed the man behind Susan, with no twist in the tale.


    If Joshua was helping Susan set her up, why did he bother to acknowledge her as his daughter during the semifinals? Pretending to be the good father in public, while secretly aiding Susan in her schemes? What did he stand to gain from this?


    Thssa stood frozen, lost in her thoughts without asking Lysander how to respond, immersing herself in her reflections. When she came back to reality, she saw Lysander watching her with his eyes open.


    "What should I say?" she asked, realizing her oversight.


    As soon as she spoke, Payne on the other end heard her and said, "Oh, is Ms. Everhart on the line? Is Lysander busy?"


    "He''s currently undergoing treatment and can''t really talk," Thssa told Payne.


    "Alright then, I''ll let you go. Tell him to take care of himself," Payne, ever considerate, had called to update Lysander about the Susan situation. Knowing Lysander was upied, he didn''t want to intrude further.


    Even though Payne had his people leave, the bar was full of his informants. The moment Joshua showed up, he''d know. And whatever happened in the bar, Payne would be well informed.N?velDrama.Org holds this content.


    He had intended to update Lysander about the situation, not expecting Thssa to answer. His earlier remarks must have upset Thssa again. With a brief exchange of pleasantries, Payne ended the call.


    Thssa didn''t put the phone back into Lysander''s pocket but left it on the coffee table, casually telling Lydia, "Please continue, there shouldn''t be any more interruptions now."


    She seemed to brush off the incident Payne reported as if it was just a minor disturbance to Lysander''s treatment. Lydia, not overthinking it, resumed her acupuncture on Lysander.


    In the afternoon, after Lydia had left, Thssa wheeled Lysander upstairs for rest Once he wasfortably on the bed, she turned to leave, only for Lysander to grasp her wrist with a firm hold.


    Thssa looked back at him, asking gently, "What''s up?"


    "I just want you to stay with me for a while," Lysander said. "But I have things to do..."

 Chapter 1833

    Chapter 1833


    Lysander gently pulled Thssa onto the bed, looking somewhat exhausted. "Let''s catch some sleep, recharge our batteries before we tackle anything else," he said with a weary smile.


    Seeing Lysander so affectionate and genuinely tired, Thssa''s heart softened. With a warm smile, she caressed his hand, saying, "Alright, let''s rest for a bit."


    She had nned to catch up on the news, especially after the morning''s jewelry design contest had turned into such a spectacle. She was sure the news would be buzzing with stories about her and Zoey by now.


    What those stories might say, Thssa couldn''t be sure until she saw them for herself. But seeing Lysander in such a state, she couldn''t bear to leave him just to check the news.


    The day had been eventful, starting with the giarism fiasco at the jewelry contest, followed by the unexpected arrival of big-shot investor Atticus, which had thrilled her. Then, there was the interrogation of Susan and the shocking revtion that Joshua was the mastermind behind it all!


    It had been an emotional rollercoaster for Thssa, and her heart felt like it could barely keep up.


    Lying in bed together, Thssa and Lysander soon fell asleep in each other''s arms.


    A weekter.


    After breakfast, Lysander said to Thssa, "I want to take you somewhere."


    "Where?" Thssa asked curiously.


    "You''ll see," Lysander replied with a smile, sparking Thssa''s curiosity further. It was unlike Lysander to be so mysterious.


    Without further questions, they set off. Their car came to a stop outside a children''s home.


    Getting out of the car, Thssa''s heart sank at the sight of the orphanage sign, a wave of mncholy washing over her.


    "Why are we here?" she asked Lysander, a hint of unease in her voice.


    Lysander, pushing his wheelchair, simply said, "Let''s go inside and see."N?velDrama.Org holds this content.


    Despite her apprehensions, Thssa followed.


    Their arrival seemed unannounced, as the staff barely acknowledged them, adding to Thssa''s unease.


    Walking through the orphanage, they


    were eventually met by a tall,


    l.ne


    imposing man who respectfully said,


    "MA


    Sinir, they''re waiting inside."


    Thssa inferred that this man was coordinating with Lysander, likely arranged by their mutual contact, Payne.


    Following the man down a long


    corridor lined with rooms, they stopped outside a particr door.


    BAZUMS


    The man gestured silently towards it


    Pushing Lysander to the doorway, Thssa was shocked by the scene inside.


    est


    BUT


    A woman was tenderly feeding a toddler boy milk. The woman, her neck in a cast, was cradling the child, a look of love and patience her face as she said, "Caden, sweetie, this is premium form mommy got just for you. Mommy didn''t abandon you; I just couldn''t protect myself, let alone you. But once mommy makes it big, you''ll be the first Ie for..." Content


    belongs to NovelDrama.Org


    The woman hadn''t noticed them yet, absorbed in her moment with the child.


    Hearing her words, Thssa was stunned.


    This woman was Susan, and the toddler she imed as her son was over two years old.

 Chapter 1834

    Chapter 1834


    Susan''sughter froze as she noticed the shadows at the door. Lifting her gaze, she saw Lysander and Thssa standing there, her maternal instincts kicking in as she quickly shielded the child behind her back, her voiceced with tension. "What are you doing here?"


    Thssa''s expression was icy as she retorted, "That''s my line! Why are you here, and whose child is that?"


    Susan''s grip on the child''s hand tightened, her entire body tensed up as she snapped, "That''s none of your business!"


    Perhaps sensing Susan''s tension or the tight grip, the child hidden behind her started wailing loudly.


    Thssa instinctively stepped forward, her mother''s heart unable to ignore the sound of a child in distress, even if the child wasn''t hers.


    But Thssa''s step forward only heightened Susan''s panic. She jumped up, clutching the child closer, and backed away to the corner of the room, her voice fierce as she warned, "Don''te any closer, or I swear, I''ll do something to this child!"


    Her hands were trembling as she spoke, even going so far as to grasp the child''s neck, her eyes darting desperately.


    Thssa froze, her concern evident


    as she took in the sight of the little boy''s tear-filled eyes, his face a¨¨ picture of fear and helplessness. His round face had a hint of boyish charm, but his frightened demeanor suggested a tough upbringing.


    Taking a step back, Thssa tried to de-escte the situation. "Okay, I won''te any closer. Just calm down."


    She retreated behind Lysander,ying her hands on his wheelchair to signal her intention to stay put.N?velDrama.Org holds this content.


    Just as Susan seemed to rx, a nce at Lysander''s prating gaze sent shivers down her spine. Her body tensed up again, her hand still on the child''s neck.


    "Take Lysander and leave! Just go!" Susan''s voice was filled with desperation.


    Fearing Susan might lose control, Thssa quickly wheeled Lysander out of the room. As they hesitated outside, uncertain of their next move, Lysander simply said, Let''s go


    Thssa, understanding his


    intention, pushed him away from the scene. The child''s cry echoed behind them, tugging at Thssa''s heartstrings. But soon, Susan''s gentle voice could be heard


    vel


    comforting the chinelo


    Thssa''s worries even as her grip on the wheelchair tightened, her face clouding over.


    Exiting the building, Thssa paused, her gaze fixed ahead, but her words were meant for Lysander. "I know who that child is."

 Chapter 1835

    Chapter 1835


    Lysander seemed unfazed, as if he had expected as much. "Tell me about it," he said coolly.


    "It''s Joshua''s," Thssa eximed.


    Because Susan had Joshua''s child, she had him wrapped around her finger, forcing him to help her!


    Thssa remembered, three years ago, her mother Evelyn had told her she saw Susan sneaking out of Joshua''s room, clearly after something had happened between them, and then heading into Lysander''s room.


    At the time, Thssa didn''t know Joshua was her father and thought Lysander was the type to y the field, leaving her utterly disappointed in him. Onlyter did she find out that Lysander had kicked Susan out, and nothing had actually happened between him and Susan.


    So, what Evelyn saw was a mix of truth and lies. That night, Susan had indeed been with Joshua!N?velDrama.Org holds this content.


    And the child she had seen earlier, looking to be just over two years old, must have been conceived around that time, three years ago, making the timing just right.


    But when had Susan informed Joshua about the child? And when had Joshua started helping Susan?


    Susan''s character, once again, showed Thssa what it meant to be truly despicable.


    Not only did she leave her own child in an orphanage, but she also used her child''s life to ckmail someone who was practically a stranger! She was utterly unfit to be a mother!


    Thssa, a mother of four herself, had faced her fair share of hardships but had always kept her children close, showering them with the tenderest love. No matter how tough things got, she never let her children suffer in the slightest.


    But Susan She abandoned her child


    in an orphanage while he was still so young, using him to manipte Joshua and even threaten Thssa, who was an outsider to the whole situation.


    What if Thssa had been cold-hearted and ignored her threats?


    Would Susan really harm the child?


    The thought alone made Thssa sick to her stomach.


    "So, that''s why Joshua has been helping her," Lysander concluded, having guessed the child''s paternity.


    Years ago, Susan had drugged a drink intended for Thssa, but Joshua ended up consuming it.


    Later, Lysander learned from


    Richard Draven that Joshua


    Susan had indeed been in and et


    fact that deeply hurt Joshu


    Wa


    a


    Richard felt guilty about the whole ordeal.


    But after that night, Susan hadn''t pursued Joshua further.


    For years, there had been no interaction between them, and Lysander thought the matter had been settled. Little did he know, a child was involved!


    "So, Susan just told Joshua about the child but didn''t say where the child was," Thssa deduced.


    If Joshua had known where his child was, he would never have allowed the child to stay in an orphanage.


    "Susan was cautious of Joshua but


    not of our people, which is why we were able to see her visiting the child Lysander confirmed Thssa''s guess.

 Chapter 1836

    Chapter 1836


    "What do we do now?" Thssa turned to Lysander, seeking his opinion.


    Realizing that Joshua had been helping Susan because they shared a child together, and Susan was using the child to manipte Joshua, everything started to make sense.


    Joshua was in the dark about the child''s whereabouts, but they had stumbled upon that information.


    Given Susan''s long list of offenses, they could apprehend her now.


    However, theplication was that she had the child with her.


    Susan''s frantic demeanor earlier suggested she wouldn''t hesitate to use the child as leverage if backed into a corner.


    The fate of that child was uncertain under those circumstances.This content is ? N?velDrama.Org.


    Lysander met Thssa''s gaze, his eyes drilling into hers as he spoke in a low, maic tone, "What do you think?"


    "Me?" Thssa was taken aback.


    "What should we do now?" Lysander rified.


    Thssa quickly caught on-Lysander was leaving the decision up to her, considering Joshua was her father and the little boy, her half-brother.


    Hating Joshua was her right, just as disregarding the child''s safety was within her freedom to choose.


    Of course, opting to help Joshua find the child, to ce her trust in him once more, was also her prerogative.


    Hesitating, Thssa lowered her gaze, her eyshes concealing the emotions swirling in her eyes.


    Lysander''s gaze remained deep and patient, waiting for her.


    He knew she was torn, wrestling with her thoughts, and he didn''t rush her, giving her time to contemte.


    Looking down at her feet, Thssa pondered for a moment before looking up again, her eyes clear and determined.


    "Let''s give them some time to sort this out themselves," she suggested, her voice carrying a hint of plea.


    After all, the decision not to arrest Susan right away wasn''t hers to make-Payne was the lead on this case.


    If he decided to proceed with the arrest, they would have to follow through.


    Lysander met Thssa''s earnest gaze, unsurprised, almost as if he had anticipated her choice. He uttered a low, affirmative grunt in response. With Lysander''s acknowledgment, a smile tugged at Thssa''s lips. "Let''s head home."


    She nudged Lysander towards the car.


    Before uncovering the child''s existence between Susan and Joshua, Thssa had felt conflicted and frustrated, wondering why she always seemed to be the one left behind.


    Joshua had chosen to support Rosalind over her without a second thought, disregarding Thssa''s feelings in the process.


    Between her and Rosalind, Joshua''s choice was understandable-after all, Rosalind was his cherishede youngest daughter, the apple of his eye who had grown up by his side.


    Thssa, on the other hand, was just an unexpected result of a fleeting encounter, someone who had never really shared a bond with him, let alone any father-daughter affection.


    His decision to side with Rosalind wasprehensible.


    But what was Susan to him? Why would he choose to help Susan at her expense?


    Was she really inferior even to an outsider?


    Understanding the existence of a child between Susan and Joshua shed light on her situation.


    Among his children, she was the one readily forsaken.


    Yet, even with this realization, Thssa found no room in her heart for hatred.


    After everything she had been through, she hade to terms with her situation. Hatred would only breed more pain.


    She couldn''t control the choices of


    others, but she could manage her own emotions. Keeping herself open-minded and happy was the biggest responsibility she owed to herself.

 Chapter 1837

    Chapter 1837


    Hatred, they say, stems from a love that runs so deep that the resulting scars never truly heal. And indifference? Well, that''s the absence of any feeling at all.


    When Thssa and Joshua discovered their father-daughter bond, it wasn''t merely a heartwarming reunion. Thssa needed Joshua''s help to gain entry into the Sinir family, to secure a chance to care for Lysander during his time of need. And Joshua did just that. During the most challenging three years of Lysander''s life, Thssa had the privilege of being by his side. This was the most meaningful thing Joshua had ever done for her, and she was endlessly grateful for it. This alone was enough for her; she dared not ask for more.


    Hertha was flipping through the news one morning, and what she saw nearly made her drop her phone in shock.


    In just a few days, Thssa had be a household name! Not because she had won a top prize in some jewelry design contest, but for something even more spectacr! Zoey, a long-time yer in the jewelry scene, had been caught red-handed giarizing Thssa''s designs in a desperate attempt to win. This only meant one thing: Thssa''s creations were extraordinary. To win, one had to mimic her brilliance!


    This revtion set the inte aze, and Thssa became an overnight sensation. Everyone was dying to get their hands on her pieces. However, being new to the scene, Thssa''s designs were scarce in the market.


    But then, it came out that the Sinir group had, quite some time ago, purchased an entire collection of Thssa''s designs. They were already out there, shining in disy cases, ready for sale. Social media was on fire, with fans coordinating visits to stores showcasing Thssa''s jewelry.


    Hertha was so pumped reading all thements that she jumped out of bed, threw on some clothes, and dabbed on makeup, ready to join the frenzy. She arrived at the mall, and holy moly, it was packed! People were everywhere, cramming around the jewelry counter, snatching up Thssa''s designs. This was the very same counter Hertha and Thssa had browsed before, back when no one bothered with Thssa''s pieces, and only a few had shown interest in Hertha''s.


    Now, the tables had turned.


    Thssa''s designs were flying off


    the shelyes, while Hertha''s sat untouched. In just minutes, Thssa''s stock was wiped@lean. Hertha was gobsmacked.


    "Are you buying or not? Move it or lose it!" someone snapped, shoving past Hertha, who was still in a daze. She got jostled around, losing her footing, until a sudden "thud had her seeing stars. N?velDrama.Org content rights.


    A child''s cry sliced through the chaos: "Ow, that hurts!"


    Hertha realized in horror she''d bumped into a kid. She spun around,


    all apologies, "Oh my gosh around,


    I''m so sorry, I didn''t mean to..."


    "Just great, an adult crashing into a kid. Can''t you see he''s hurt?" a parent scolded.


    As Hertha braced to apologize, she locked eyes with the parent. Her jaw dropped.


    "It''s you!"

 Chapter 1838

    Chapter 1838


    The woman standing before Hertha was none other than Georgia, someone she hadn''t seen in a long time!


    As Hertha''s eyes adjusted and focused on the child in Georgia''s arms, realization dawned on her. This child was the same one she and ric had seen Georgia holding at the city hall when they were about to apply for their marriage license.


    Previously, the child hadn''t cried. His big, doe-like eyes, full of innocence and curiosity, had looked up at her. Those eyes, unblemished by the world, bore a striking resemnce to ric''s.


    The moment Hertha firstid eyes on the boy, her heart had skipped a beat.


    Now, seeing the child again, Hertha felt a mix of surprise and a deeper, more turbulent emotion stirring within her.


    The boy was crying, his mouth wide open, and tears the size of peas rolled down his cheeks. On his forehead, arge bump had formed, obviously from bumping into her just moments ago.


    Hertha was shocked to encounter Georgia here, but upon seeing the child''s bump, her mind raced not with thoughts of past grievances but with concern. Rushing to check on the boy, she asked, "Hey there, little guy, how are you feeling? Does your head hurt?"


    Seeing Hertha, Georgia''s initial surprise quickly morphed into hostility as she stepped back, clutching the child away from Hertha''s reach. Her expression turned fierce as she used Hertha, "Look what you''ve done! You''ve hurt my child! How are you going to make this right?"


    Georgia pointed usingly at Hertha while holding the child tightly, her face twisted in anger.


    Knowing she was at fault for bumping into the child, regardless of her past with Georgia, Hertha responded with a calm and sincere tone, "Let''s take him to the hospital for a check-up. Don''t worry, I''ll cover all the expenses."


    Realizing the gravity of the situation, especially with the child having a bump on his forehead which could potentially be serious, Hertha proposed they act immediately.


    However, Georgia, grasping Hertha''s


    arm to prevent her from leaving, retorted angrily, "Do you even realize whose child you''ve hurt? I''m calling ric right now to show him what kind of heartless person you are, attacking a child!"


    Hertha, intent on takingN?velDrama.Org holds this content.


    responsibility, was momentarily taken aback by Georgia''s words. Her stubbornness kicked in, and without trying to leave, she shrugged off Georgia''s grip with a light chuckle, "Go ahead, call him. But just so you know, any dy in getting this child the care he needs because of your actions is on you."


    It was absurd. She had been pushed identally into the child and had immediately offered to help.


    Yet, Georgia twisted the narrative, using her of intentionally harming the child and branding her a viin.


    Hertha was curious to see how Georgia would spin the story further.


    "You''re not scaring me! I''m calling him right now!" Georgia, ignoring the child''s cries and not bothering to soothe him, frantically pulled out her phone and dialed ric.


    Despite having called ric several times recently without a response, Georgia was prepared for the worst, ready to confront and embarrass Hertha in front of ric, whom she believed favored Hertha over her.


    Georgia was determined to make the situation as ufortable as possible for Hertha, to show ric the true colors of the woman he cherished.


    As these thoughts raced through her mind, Georgia braced herself for ric''s continued silence. However, to her surprise, the call connected.

 Chapter 1839

    Chapter 1839


    From across the room, ric''s voice came through the phone,ced with impatience, "Georgia, have you lost your mind? Why on earth are you calling me now?"


    He was utterly fed up with Georgia.


    Despite his clear disinterest, shown by his constant rejection of her calls, Georgia persisted in dialing his number relentlessly.


    His annoyance knew no bounds!


    However, when Georgia faced a sudden mishap, ric, surprisingly, picked up the phone.


    But Georgia quickly regained herposure and got straight to the point, "Hertha has gone and bumped r''s head hard enough to crack it open. How vile must one be toy hands on a child! ric, if you don''t intervene now, I''m calling the cops this instant to have her arrested for assault!" Hearing this, Hertha was bbergasted. Georgia had the audacity to twist the facts and blow the situation out of proportion, painting herself as the victim when in reality, she was the spiteful one.


    At the mention of Hertha''s name, ric''s irritation vanished, reced by a calm resolve. "Where are you? I''m on my way," he said, his voice firm andposed.


    Georgia sneered internally, knowing full well that the mention of Hertha was the only reason ric would show up.


    Despite Georgia sending ric the paternity test results, proving r to be his son, ric had remained distant, unwilling to ept them, let alone meet with her.


    His reluctance to even see her was evident.


    But now, with Hertha in the picture, he was quick to respond.


    Georgia couldn''t deny the sting of rejection, but her frustration and indignation were far stronger.


    In looks, family background, and


    education, she saw herself as n eyes, she felt utterly defaric''s


    than Hertha. Yet, in


    Unwilling to concede defeat, Georgia gave ric the address and hung up decisively, confident he woulde. When ric hurried over, weaving through the crowded mall to a quieter corner, he found Hertha and Georgia. The two women were seated on a bench, Hertha sitting upright, her gaze fixed on the child in Georgia''s arms. The toddler, a little over two years old, had stopped crying but his face was still streaked with tears.


    His teary eyes looked timidly at


    Hertha


    a clean


    She clung to Georgia''s shirt, sign of his


    insecurity. Conte


    vels


    to


    Georgia, holding the child, deliberately avoided looking at Hertha, as if beneath her notice.


    Seeing this, ric quickly approached, his first words filled with concern, "Hertha, are you alright?"


    He had rushed over, slightly out of breath.


    Hertha stood up, intending to step toward him but then reconsidering their awkward situation.


    Stepping forward seemed tooThis content is ? N?velDrama.Org.


    forward; stepping back, too


    calcted. So, she stood her ground and said, "The kid''s got a huge bump on his forehead. I suggested a hospital visit, but Georgia refused."


    "It was you who did it on purpose!" Georgia used as she stood up, her voice filled with emotion.

 Chapter 1840

    Chapter 1840


    The moment Georgia heard that first word from ric, her heart skipped a beat, knowing it was him. She had been eagerly anticipating this moment, finally getting to meet ric face-to-face.


    But her excitement quickly turned to disappointment when his first concern was for Hertha, not even his own child. The anticipation that filled Georgia''s heart was reced with an aching void upon hearing ric''s words. She felt dizzy with anger, immediately turning her frustration towards Hertha.


    No matter what was said, Georgia''s primary mission became tarnishing Hertha''s reputation in front of ric.N?velDrama.Org content rights.


    Hertha, faced with Georgia''s usations, remained surprisingly calm. "Look, in the hustle and bustle of the mall, people bump into each other all the time. I didn''t even see who was behind me. It was an ident, caused by the crowd pushing. I immediately suggested taking your child to the hospital and offered to cover all expenses, but you refused, insisting on calling ric instead. What do you expect him to do? He''s not a doctor," Hertha exined with a serene tone that took Georgia by surprise.


    Georgia was worried that ric might believe Hertha over her, potentially ruining her ns to embarrass her. She quickly turned to her son, her expression a mix of eagerness and agitation, "r, tell us, did she bump into you on purpose, or was it just an ident?"


    The little boy, intimidated by the question, sought refuge in Georgia''s embrace without answering.


    Georgia''s voice grew more urgent, and slightly harsher, as she pressed on, "r, don''t be afraid. He''s your dad, and he''ll stand up for you. Just tell the truth."


    Hertha, feeling ufortable with


    the pressure Georgia was putting on


    the child, was about to say something when she realized the implication of Georgia''s words ric was being acknowledged as the father.


    Before she could dwell on Georgia''s coercion, Hertha''s attention shifted to rie, curious about his reaction. Noticing his guilty demeanor and the way he avoided her gaze, Hertha immediately sensed something.


    Hoping against hope, she asked ric, "The paternity test results are in, aren''t they?"


    She had been avoiding ric, trying not to dwell on theirplicated rtionship, which meant she never inquired about the paternity test they had supposedly taken.


    Despite ric''s evasive response,


    Hertha saw the truth in his eyes. Any


    sliver of hope she had harbored vanished, leaving her with a bitter


    laugh, a mix of self-mockery and sorrow, "I see, I understand now."

 Chapter 1841

    Chapter 1841


    Three years ago, she caught ric and Georgia in a moment of naked truth, tangled in sheets together. It was clear they had a connection. So, they had a child together. Wasn''t that the natural progression of things?


    Yet, she clung to a sliver of hope, fooling herself into believing the child in Georgia''s arms wasn''t ric''s.


    Was she in denial about Georgia, or was she still harboring fantasies about ric?


    "Hertha, listen to me, the only child I acknowledge is ours..." ric pleaded, desperate to get his point across.


    "Shut up!" Hertha snapped, her voice sharp as she red at ric, teeth clenched in anger and anxiety. "ric, I will never have a child with you in this lifetime!"


    With that, she shot Georgia a look and stormed off.


    ric, that jerk, had the audacity to bring up their child in front of Georgia! Didn''t he realize that was a secret she intended to keep buried?


    If Georgia found out about her child with ric, she would undoubtedly spread the word to the Falconer family. And knowing the Falconers, they would stop at nothing to take her child away from her!


    Angelina had made it crystal clear back then. Beatrice and Remington were so kind to her, merely because they wanted her to bear ric''s children. As for the mother''s ce in the Falconer household, that was of no concern to them!


    The situation between Hertha and ric was beyond repair.


    At least for now, ric seemed to have a shred of decency, not to let slip the secret of their two children to the Falconers.


    But if Georgia were to find out by ident, it wouldn''t be long before the Falconer family caught wind of it.


    She would lose her children and be left with nothing!


    That was Hertha''s worst nightmare.


    She couldn''t stay any longer, or ric might just reveal her secret.


    As Hertha began to leave, ric hurried after her, "Hertha, please, don''t be mad..."


    Her statement had been a ruse to


    conceal the existence of their


    children, and ric realized


    that he nearly let their secteN?velDrama.Org holds this content.


    slip in


    front of Georgia.


    He was about to try and soothe things over with Hertha when someone grabbed his arm from behind.


    "ric, the child is hurt, you can''t just ignore that," Georgia implored urgently.


    ric froze, watching Hertha walk


    away. He sighed in frustration and turned back to face Georgia, casting a resentful nce at the child in her arms Why would you bring such a small child to a crowded ce like this?"


    "We came to have some fun. It wasn''t this crowded when we arrived. All these people showed upter," Georgia''s tone softened after Hertha left. Her anger had been directed at Georgia alone.


    ric took another look at the young boy in her arms, noticing his distinctive eyes and realizing the resemnce to himself.


    The child, sensing ric''s gaze, shrank back into Georgia''s embrace, his eyes timid and fearful, arge bump visible on his forehead.


    ric exhaled sharply, frustration


    evident. "Hertha said she was taking


    him to the hospital for a check-up. Why didn''t you go? As his mother, can you be so indifferent to your child''s well-being?"


    Georgia bristled at the usation, "Indifferent? If I didn''t care, would I have given birth to him and raised him? ric, can''t you see I''m trying?"

 Chapter 1842

    Chapter 1842


    ric was at a loss, unable to discern whether Georgia truly cared for their child or was utterly


    indifferent to the child''s safety. On one hand, she did give birth to the child and raised him. But on


    the other, when the child was injured, instead of rushing him to the hospital, she called ric,


    forcing him to show up. The bump on the child''s forehead seemed of no concern to her, as she


    hadn''t yet taken him to get it looked after.


    If it were Hertha''s child, she would''ve ovee any obstacle, setting aside all disputes, to first


    ensure the child was seen by a doctor, finding peace only when certain the child was alright. Now a


    father himself, ric, though not having spent much time with Julian and Helena, felt a profound


    love for them. Should Julian or Helena be injured, he''d be equally anxious. He would put aside all


    conflicts, focusing on treating the child''s injury, rather than dwelling on the grievances between


    adults.


    But Georgia? Her first reaction to the child''s injury wasn''t concern but to me Hertha, using the


    incident to force him into appearing. In Georgia''s world, she always came first. No one else could


    im the primary spot in her heart, not even her own child, whose well-being didn''t seem as crucial


    as the issues she wanted to deal with. This was the fundamental difference between Georgia and


    Hertha. Georgia, to an extreme, cared only for her desires, oblivious to the feelings of others.


    Hertha, appearing carefree and light-hearted, genuinely cared for those important to her, especially


    her children, whom she considered paramount.


    ric''s affection for Hertha might very well stem from her innate kindness, a quality that Georgia


    lacked significantly. Unfortunately, Georgia would never understand why she fell short. Suppressing


    his disdain for Georgia, ric said, "What''s the point of arguing now? Let''s just take the child to the


    hospital." With that, ric turned and walked away.


    Georgia, in a panic, took a few steps forward, "ric, what are you trying to say?" ric, nearly


    speechless with frustration, turned and said, "Let''s go, what are you waiting for?" He shot Georgia


    an irritated look before walking off quickly.


    Georgia finally got the hint; he wanted her to follow him to the hospital! He intended to apany


    the child himself! Realizing this, the anger in Georgia''s eyes was quickly reced with joy, and she


    hurried after ric, clutching the child tighter and whispering, "Daddy''s taking you to the hospital


    now, sweetie. You''ll feel better soon."


    N?velDrama.Org holds this content.


    ric, leading the way, heard what Georgia said to the child and couldn''t help but find it ironic. He


    was taking the child to the hospital, and that was supposed to make everything better? It was


    probably just Georgia convincing herself.


    Luckily, there was a hospital not far from the mall. ric helped with the check-in at the emergency


    department, where after a brief examination and a few questions, the doctor assured them it was


    nothing serious, just some superficial bruising, and advised care at home. Hearing the doctor''s


    reassurance, ric felt a wave of relief wash over him.

 Chapter 1843

    Chapter 1843


    ric quickened his pace as he headed for the hospital exit, with Georgia following closely behind, holding their child in her arms. Just as they were about to leave, ric suddenly stopped in his tracks, a deep frown on his face as he stared ahead.


    Coming towards them in hurried steps was a middle-aged woman, someone ric recognized all too well.


    "ric, where''s r?" Angelina rushed over, her expression anxious. Initially, she hadn''t noticed Georgia standing behind ric.


    Upon reaching them, she quickly asked her question, only then noticing Georgia and the child in her arms.


    Angelina''s eyes lit up as she moved past ric towards Georgia. "Georgia..." Before she could say more, her gaze fell on the child in Georgia''s arms, her expression turning ecstatic as she reached out to touch the child''s cheek. "Oh my, this must be my grandson r, isn''t he just adorable? Come to grandma, let me hold you."


    Angelina excitedly took the child from Georgia, her face radiating joy and affection.


    However, upon noticing the bump on the child''s forehead, her expression turned serious with concern. She asked ric, "Did you see a doctor? What did they say about this bump on my grandson''s forehead?"


    ric knew immediately that Georgia must have called Angelina here, probably exaggerating the child''s injury.


    He could guess that Georgia had bad-mouthed Hertha, adding fuel to the fire.


    Casting a displeased nce at Georgia, ric reluctantly answered Angelina''s question, "It''s nothing serious, just a superficial wound."


    "You, how can you be so careless as a father? Your child has such a big bump on his forehead, and you don''t seem to care at all!" Angelina scolded, hitting ric''s shoulder in frustration.


    The child seemed frightened, his eyes timid. Held in Angelina''s arms, he tried to squirm away but had nowhere to hide, eventually just nestling against her.


    Thinking the child was just being coy, Angelina''s heart melted. She held him closer, cooing, "r, it''s okay, don''t be scared. Grandma''s here to protect you. I won''t let any meandy hurt you, and I''ll make sure your dad takes good care of you..."


    Her words were clearly meant for ric.


    Hearing this, ric felt his blood boil, knowing Georgia must have smeared Hertha''s name with her exaggerated tales.


    He was unhappy with Angelina''s misunderstanding of Hertha and said sternly, "Mom, don''t jump to conclusions. Hertha didn''t hurt anyone. It was just an ident!"


    Angelina''s expression hardened as she retorted, "Did I even mention Hertha? If you''re so sure it was her, it only means she must be at fault!" "Mom, stop it, or I''ll really get mad!" ric fumed.


    "Whimper, please don''t fight, I hate fighting... The child in Angelina''s arms suddenly began to whimper like a frightened little animal, covering his ears, a shadow of fear across his face.


    ric paused, realizing the impact their argument might have on the child.


    Angelina also calmed down, gently


    patting the child''s back and


    whispering soothing words, "r,


    sweetheart, don''t cry. It''s all


    grandma''s fault. I won''t argue


    anymore, no more tears..." Content


    belongs to NovelDrama.Org


    Georgia looked at r with worry, saying, "r has alwayscked a father''s love, which is why he''s so timid and a bit introverted."


    Her words hit ric hard, making his heart skip a beat.N?velDrama.Org holds this content.

 Chapter 1844

    Chapter 1844


    ric''s face was a mask of frosty seriousness as he nced at r. The little boy, though adorable in appearance, seemed to shrink in on himself, his timidity and skittishness painting a picture of someone struggling with deep-seated fears.


    Compared to the vibrant and cheerfully vivacious Helena and Julian, it was likeparing night and day.


    Georgia was clearly pushing the Falconer family''s buttons with precision!


    Sure enough, upon hearing this, Angelina shot ric a look filled with both self-reproach and annoyance. Concerned about frightening the child, she softened her tone and chided, "ric, this is all on you. You''ve been an absent father, and you need to make amends for theck of love you''ve shown."


    ric''s face darkened immediately, his anger boiling over as he retorted, ¡°This is all Georgia''s doing! First off, I never asked her to have the child! If I had known she was pregnant, I would have never allowed it to happen! And secondly, she''s not fit to be a mother. What''s the point of having a child if you don''t love them?"


    With that, he stormed off, leaving Angelina and Georgia in shock.


    Hertha, on the other hand, had raised their two children without a father''s presence, yet she managed to nurture them into lively, cheerful, and adorable kids who brightened ric''s day whenever they called him ''Daddy''.


    Such sunny and lively children were like a balm to his irritated soul.N?velDrama.Org holds this content.


    Hertha had single-handedly raised their children without once reproaching him for his absence or using the children as leverage to manipte him into doing something.


    But Georgia!


    When the child was hurt, her first reaction wasn''t concern for his well-being, but how she could use the incident to manipte ric into showing up. The child''s timidity was not met with support orpanionship from her, but with usations ofcking fatherly love. What was her next move? To use the child''s struggles as an excuse to force ric into marrying her and providing a plete'' family?


    ric didn''t need to guess; he knew Georgia''s intentions were precisely that.


    Those three years of being ckmailed by Georgia were unbearable for ric!


    She used their past rtionship to coerce him into an engagement and even interfered with his work and personal life.


    She had barged into hispany on multiple asions, boldly using him in front of his colleagues of being a kept man, saying he rode on the coattails of the Reed family demanding he follow her whims. If he refused, she threatened to cut off the Reed family''s support! Content


    belongs to NovelDrama.Org


    The humiliation of having his dignity trampled on, the rage he had to swallow, ric couldn''t bear to go through that again!


    So, no matter how Georgia tried to manipte him now, he wouldn''t give in or show mercy.


    The child was born out of Georgia''s


    unteral decision, and she would have to face the consequences alone. If the Falconer family chose to support the child, he wouldn''t interfere, as long as it wasn''t used to ckmail him!


    S


    Watching ric''s retreating figure, hardened and unyielding, Angelina called out, ¡°ric, how could you do this? Come back here!"


    Georgia, her chest heaving with


    emotion and eyes brimming with tears, stared at ric''s departing silhouette, her fists clenched


    tension running through her body.


    Turning to see Georgia in her state of heartbreak and defiance, Angelina softly consoled, "Georgia..."


    Biting her lip, tears began to fall as Georgia fought back her emotions.


    The little boy, witnessing Georgia''s tears, voiced his concern in a timid whisper, "Mommy?"


    "Get away, don''t call me Mommy!" Georgia''s inner volcano erupted as sheshed out at the child.

 Chapter 1845

    Chapter 1845


    The child shuddered in fear, freezing in ce before his lips trembled and tears streamed down his face without a sound, sobbing in a most pitiful and humble manner.


    Angelina herself was taken aback by Georgia''s sudden outburst of anger, feeling the child stiffen in her arms. She quickly began to pat his back soothingly.


    "Why on earth would yoush out at a child like that?" she scolded Georgia gently. "He was just trying to show some concern for you. How do you expect ric toe around if you can''t keep your temper in check?"


    Georgia''s breaths came in heavy, ragged gulps, tears streaming down her face as she shot a resentful nce at the child. "You said having a child would bring him back to me," she said bitterly to Angelina. "But look at us now! He refuses to even acknowledge his own son!"


    Georgia was at her wit''s end, her anger fueled by a sense of helplessness.


    "Patience, Georgia. Didn''t you see how ric was visibly shaken just now? He''s softening up but just too stubborn to admit it. Give it some time, and he''lle around," Angelina tried to reassure her, confident that ric still had a soft spot for his son, despite his current animosity towards Georgia. They had made a breakthrough with ric; it was only a matter of time before he would ept Georgia and their child.


    But as for Hertha, they needed to stir up a little more trouble to keep her from warming up to ric.N?velDrama.Org holds this content.


    Exhausted, Hertha returned from her shopping trip, her day having turned sour.


    She had hoped to witness the bustling sess of Thssa''s exhibit but had insteade back feeling disgruntled.


    Upon entering her home, the cheerful babble of children greeted her, their innocent voices a balm to her weary heart.


    Looking into the living room, she


    ?


    spotted two adorable tots seated e


    a foam y mat, engrossed in building with blocks,pletely oblivious to her arrival.


    And there was Kimberly, lounging on the couch, absorbed in her smartphone.


    This peaceful scene immediately lifted Hertha''s spirits.


    Her face, previously clouded with worry, brightened as she eximed softly, "My darlings, mommy''s home! Come give mommy a hug!"


    Rushing to her children like a


    penguin, Hertha scooped them up in


    her arms, showering them with


    kisses that were sweet and filled with the scent of milk, utterly intoxicating.


    Ah, the simple joy of cuddling her children!


    Hertha''s gloom was dispelled entirely by their affectionate embrace.


    "Mommy, where did you go? We missed you," Helena asked, peering up at Hertha with wide, curious eyes that seemed to sparkle with stars, melting her heart all over again.


    Hertha smiled tenderly, "Mommy went shopping."


    "Back from shopping empty-handed? Did you run into ric again?" Kimberly asked, her insightful gazending on Hertha.


    Noticing Hertha''s troubled expression upon arrival, as if she had the weight of the world on her shoulders, Kimberly knew something was up.

 Chapter 1846

    Chapter 1846


    "Wait, what? You had another spat with Dad?" Helena''s big, puzzled eyes fixed on Hertha. The word "spat" sounded incredibly ambiguousing from an adult but utterly adorable from a child.


    Hertha, caught betweenughter and tears by her daughter''s question, was about to respond when Helena, in her sweet, mushy voice, added, "Mommy, what does ''spat'' mean? Does it mean you pulled his hair and he grabbed your shirt?"


    Imagining the scene her daughter described, Hertha couldn''t help but burst intoughter. She lovingly scooped Helena into her arms and chuckled, "Of course not, sweetie. Mommy isn''t that mean. Why would I pull anyone''s hair?"


    "What did grandma mean, then?" Helena asked, curiosity shining in her eyes.


    "Grandma was asking if Mommy had met up with your dad again," Hertha gently exined, making sure Kimberly could hear too.


    "Mommy, did you see Dad? Is he okay? Why hasn''t hee to see us? He promised to take us to KFC," Julian finally spoke up, his big, curious eyes eagerly looking at Hertha.


    Remembering the time ric had sneakily taken Julian and Helena for a KFC treat without telling her, causing her and her mother quite a scare, Hertha felt a mix of anger and helplessness.N?velDrama.Org holds this content.


    Despite ric''s irresponsibility, the children were still looking forward to going out with him again.


    She couldn''t bear to dash their hopes.


    \"The thing is, I did see your dad today at the mall, but we didn''t really have a pleasant chat. Next time we bump into him, I''ll ask him to take you out for a treat,\" Hertha said softly, not wanting to let her children down.


    Kimberly, who had been quietly waiting, sighed upon hearing Hertha''s words.


    She knew Hertha had run into ric again and that it hadn''t gone well.


    Only ric had the power to turn Hertha''s usually bright demeanor into one of distress upon returning home.


    Kimberly remained silent, knowing she couldn''t influence Hertha and ric''splicated situation, nor could she force her daughter to stay tied to a man who had children with another woman.


    Comforted, Julian and Helena broke into smiles, pulling Hertha into their game of building blocks.


    Sapphire Skyline.


    ric was in a foul mood today and had called up Ethan and Richard for drinks.


    §é§Ñ§Ý§Ñ


    Ever since Lysander ended up in a wheelchair, they implicitly agreed not to vite him to their club outings, to avoid making him feel left out.


    Now, only three of the once-renowned "Four Princes of Starhaven" were left to while away their evening at Sapphire Skyline.


    ric, ss in hand and a smile


    ying on his lips, raised his ss to Richard and Ethan: "Come on, guys, it''s been ages since we all got together. Let''s make it a night to remember."


    Ethan nced at the red wine in ric''s grasp, the liquid entuating his slender hands, making them appear even more graceful.


    With a yful look at ric''s face, Ethan remarked, "How times change, eh? Here''s to the good old days and those we''ve lost along the way."

 Chapter 1847

    Chapter 1847


    Ethan''s sudden exmation left Si Xiao bewildered. "What do you mean by that?" she asked.


    "The drink''s the same, but the look on Mr. Falconer''s face has changed. It used to be full of charm, alluring in every way. Now, the smile is tinged with bitterness, almost spilling into the drink. Are you sure it doesn''t taste bitter when you drink it?" Ethan watched ric with a mischievous grin. They used to enjoy gossiping about Lysander, but with Lysander out of the picture, it was ric''s turn in the hot seat. And ric''s scandals were numerous. Hearing this, ric''s forced smile quickly faded, and he sulkily ced his drink on the coffee table, deciding not to drink it.


    "Hertha''s quite the catch, you know. It''s rare to see a woman who can make a yboy like you settle down. Isn''t your family happy about it?" Richard was being serious.


    ric nced at Richard from under his eyelids, but it was Ethan who responded: "His family? They''re dead set on Georgia being the one for him. Anyone else entering ric''s life is considered a trespasser."


    "Georgia, with her fiery temper and demanding nature, really isn''t ric''s match," Richard pondered.


    Ethan replied, "His family doesn''t care about that. Georgiaes from a good family, with loving parents."


    "Alright, you two, stop making fun of me," ric finally spoke up, visibly upset.


    "How about we call somedies over?" Ethan joked, reminiscent of their previous outings.


    Ethan''s jest was met with eye rolls from both ric and Richard.


    ric''s look towards Ethan was evenced with anger: "Ethan, say that again, and I''ll cut ties with you!"


    Richard added, "Ethan, just because you don''t believe in love doesn''t mean you have to drag us down with you."


    "What? That''s odd. ric''s heart is all for Hertha, I get that, but why would I be dragging you down?" Ethan looked at Richard curiously, as if his face was stered with gossip waiting to be uncovered.


    Ethan''s question made ric also turn a questioning gaze towards Richard.This content is ? N?velDrama.Org.


    Caught by their surprised looks, Richard sheepishly lifted his ss for a sip, avoiding their stares, "Weren''t we talking about ric? Why drag me into this?"


    "Gentlemen, are you satisfied with your drinks?"Z, the manager of Sapphire Skyline, entered the room, her wordsced with a professional warmth. She was apanied by a few women, not quite the belles of the ball but charming in their own right.


    Before they could respond, Z quickly introduced them: "ric, Richard, Ethan, meet Ruby, Alice, and M Our top hostesses. They ve been yourpanions here before. They''re not only great at holding their liquor but seeing as you gentlemen seem a bit down today, perhaps they can lift your spirits."


    Z spoke with a light, breezy tone, the hostesses smiling at ric, Richard, and Ethan.


    Ethan, seizing the opportunity, chimed in: "Well then, let them stay and join us for a drink. Especially since ric feels too bitter to even touch his."


    With Ethan''s approval, the three


    women quickly took their ces


    next to them. Ruby, lifting her ss,


    coyly offered it to ric: "ric, is


    there any sorrow so deep that could make you forsake a fine drink?"

 Chapter 1848

    Chapter 1848


    ric felt a woman leaning against him, her perfume mingling with the scent of makeup, instantly filling his nostrils.


    Once upon a time, he relished the allure of such encounters, always eager to wrap his arms around any beauty that came his way, engaging in yful banter.


    But now, his tolerance for such closeness had vanished, reced with an irritable fire burning within him. Yet, Ruby, holding a wine ss, edged it towards his lips, the liquid threatening to spill over.


    Unable to bear it any longer, ric pushed the woman away forcefully, "Get lost, don''te near me!"


    A shriek followed as the wine ss crashed to the floor, its shattering sound echoing through the room. The crimson wine spread across the floor, mingling with shards of ss, bubbling in a gruesome sight.


    Ruby, shocked at first, quickly knelt down to retrieve a bracelet soaked in the spilled wine. It was her own bracelet that flew off when ric had pushed her away. The bracelet, adorned with a ruby, had lost its gem in the fall, its whereabouts unknown.


    Seeing the tinum bracelet missing its precious stone, Ruby''s face was etched with panic. "My bracelet, it''s ruined! Where''s the ruby? It was priceless."


    As Ruby frantically searched the floor, Richard and Ethan exchanged nces, taken aback by ric''s sudden outburst and the resulting chaos. ric had indeed changed from the man they once knew.


    The women apanying Richard and Ethan, noticing Ruby''s distress, expressed their concern. M, standing by Richard, inquired, "Ruby, is that the ruby bracelet Reginald gave you just the other day?"


    Ruby nodded anxiously. "Yes, yes, Reginald insisted it was extremely valuable and that I should take great care of it. I can''t believe it''s damaged now, and the gemas missing... What am I going to do..."


    Hearing Reginald''s name, ric''s displeasure was evident. He knew Reginald as a business mogul who preferred brute force over brains.


    Confronted with Ruby''s distress, ric remarked dismissively, "It''s just a ruby bracelet. What''s the big deal? I''ve got plenty, pick whichever you want!"


    He produced three ruby nes from his suit pocket,ying them on the coffee table for Ruby to choose from. It was only fair since he was responsible for the loss of her bracelet.


    Ruby nced at M for approval, who nodded slightly, prompting Ruby to examine the nes. Her focus wasn''t on the rubies, but on the logos. Each ne bore a "J" logo, not the "W" she was looking for


    UMSThis content is ? N?velDrama.Org.


    Apologizing, Ruby bravely told ric, "These nes can''tpensate for the value of mine."


    ric''s demeanor darkened instantly, his anger palpable. "What did you say?"


    Ruby shrank back, fearing his wrath.


    "My bracelet was designed by W, who''s recently be a household name. Her designs are far more valuable than those by lesser-known designers. Even these three,


    nes don''t match the value of


    my single bracelet..." Content


    belongs to


    ric''s eyes shed with fury at the slight against Hertha, a designer he held in high esteem. He couldn''t stand anyone speaking ill of her, already burdened by the troubles from Georgia and Angelina.

 Chapter 1849

    Chapter 1849


    What''s with Ruby, talking smack about Hertha?


    The woman he adored like a precious gemstone, he wouldn''t let anyone cast a shadow over her!


    Hertha''s designs were splendid. He went all out for Ethan''spany, snapping up all of Hertha''s designs. And the final products? He carried them in his pocket, always close to his heart!


    And here was this woman, Ruby, daring to say that Hertha''s three nes couldn''t hold a candle to someone else''s single piece!


    ric, boiling with rage, grabbed Ruby by the throat, all his anger and hurt rushing to his head, making him tighten his grip.


    "Hertha, a nobody? Go do your homework. She''s way more famous than that so-called W!"


    ric spat out angrily.


    Ruby, already on her knees before ric, had no chance to fight back. Her face quickly turned the color of liver as she seemed to be in immense pain.


    Ethan and Richard, sensing things getting out of hand, knew ric was seriously pissed.


    Richard rushed to pull ric away, trying to calm him down, "ric, man, don''t lose it. We can talk this out."


    Ethan chimed in, "ric, W is Thssa. Remember her work you saw? Thssa''s been in the spotlight recently after a jewelrypetition. Ruby''s not lying."


    Despite Ethan and Richard''s efforts, ric was unmoved until Ethan mentioned W was Thssa. His expression softened slightly, but he was still furious at Ruby, coldly tossing her aside.


    Unfortunately, he threw her with a bit too much force, and at a bad angle. Ruby''s head hit the corner of the coffee table, eliciting a loud scream. "Ah!" She quickly clutched her head.


    "Ruby!" M and Alice, seeing Ruby in distress, yelled out in concern.


    In an instant, M gasped, covering her mouth, "Blood, so much blood!"


    Alice was equally shocked, "Ruby, you''re bleeding!"


    Ruby, looking at her hand now covered in blood, panicked and fainted.


    "Ruby!"


    Chaos ensued.


    Meanwhile, Kimberly had brought the kids over to Hertha''s ce for a rest. Hertha had just finished tucking Julian and Helena in with a bedtime story, ready to take a shower and hit the sack herself.


    Suddenly, her phone rang with a call from the police.


    Hertha, thinking it was a scam, responded irritably, "What do you want?"


    The voice


    On the other end spoke, "Is


    this Miss Hertha? One of your


    friend ne


    is at the police station elsN?velDrama.Org holds this content.


    O your bail."


    "My friends are all ounted for, and non


    are in the Pacific waiting


    on bail. Don''t disturb my rest!" et


    Hertha retorted, about to


    Wang up.


    Then she heard a familiar voice on the line.

 Chapter 1850

    Chapter 1850


    "Hertha, it''s me." The voice on the other end of the phone was unmistakably masculine.


    A surge of heat rushed to Hertha''s head, and she was on the verge of letting out a string of expletives when it hit her - that voice belonged to ric! No way, are scammers now skilled in voice imitation?


    Knowing she and ric were acquainted, and even mimicking his voice?


    Her mind raced, but she swallowed the angry retort and asked coolly, "ric?"


    "Yeah, your buddy ric. He says you can bail him out." The voice then shifted back to that of a police officer.


    Hertha blinked, trying to make sense of the situation. So, this wasn''t a scam call but a real call from the police?


    "If you can''t make it, then forget it. We''ll just keep him locked up ording to thew," the officer said, ready to hang up as Hertha hesitated.


    "Wait, wait, I didn''t say I couldn''te. I just want to know, what did he do?" she hurriedly asked.


    "He was at a nightclub, soliciting thepany of an escort, got into a brawl, and seriously injured someone. There''s a financial dispute, not to mention the physical altercation," the officer exined sinctly.


    Hertha was gobsmacked.


    Going to nightclubs, soliciting women, getting into brawls, and financial disputes!


    Each statement was more shocking than thest, painting a clear picture of the mess.


    A deep sense of disappointment sank in Hertha''s heart.


    She managed a sarcastic smirk before hanging up.


    ric was still the same old ric, always chasing women in nightclubs, as unrestrained as ever.


    She had once naively hoped for a normal life with him.


    Looking back, her dreams were nothing but foolish fantasies.


    At the police station in the dead of night.


    When Hertha arrived, she saw ric huddled in a corner, his head buried in his hands, looking utterly wretched.N?velDrama.Org holds this content.


    He didn''t even notice her approach.


    She stood in front of him for a while before he slowly looked up and saw Hertha. ric''s tired eyes widened with surprise as he eximed, "Hertha, you came!"


    Seeing ric now, Hertha felt a wave of exhaustion. She merely nced at him and turned to leave: "Let''s go."


    ric hurried after her: "Hertha, wait for me."


    Stepping out into the chilly autumn night, the cold wind stung their faces, making their skin tingle ufortably.


    ?


    Hertha couldn''t help but wrap her arms around herself. Just as she felt the cold seep in, a jacket was draped over her shoulders, carrying the warmth and scent of a man.


    It was the faint mint fragrance that Hertha had once been madly in love with.


    The moment the jacket touched her, Hertha''s heart skipped a beat. Instinctively repulsed, she flung the jacket to the ground, turned around, and red at ric: "Stay away from me"


    With that, she strode off.


    MS


    ric, hurt by Hertha''s disdainful look, darkened in expression but didn''t follow. He called out to her retreating figure, "Hertha, what was that look about?"


    "You know exactly the kind of dirty deeds you''ve done. That I even came to bail you out is more than you deserve! ric, it''s been three years. thought you had turned over a new leaf, but you''re just the same


    O


    as you always were! I''m "same


    disappointed in you. From now on, let''s not see each other again!"

 Chapter 1851

    Chapter 1851


    Hertha turned around, pouring her heart out with a serious and stern expression. Once she was done, she didn''t even look back. She just hopped into her car and drove off, leaving ric alone in the chilly wind, fuming with frustration.


    As he watched Hertha''s car disappear into the distance, ric, in a fit of anger, kicked at the ground, his breathing uneven with irritation.


    Spotting his suit jacket discarded on the ground, ric felt a mix of anger and defeat wash over him. Bending down, he picked it up, draped it over his arm, and pulled out his phone to call Richard.


    "Calling me thiste, huh? I take it Hertha took pity on you and let you crash? Don''t bother thanking me," Richard teased as soon as he picked up the call.


    "Thank you my ass! Richard, what kind of crappy advice was that? Telling me Hertha woulde pick me up from the station and feel sorry for me! She actually thinks I''ve got something going on with Ruby and now says she never wants to see me again! You''ve just single-handedly ruined any chance I had with Hertha. How are you going to make this right?"


    True, Ruby got hurt because of him, and yes, the police had shown up, detained him, and questioned him. Richard and Ethan, being ric''s friends, could have bailed him out.


    But Richard had this brilliant idea to not interfere and instead suggested ric give the cops Hertha''s number so they would call her to bail him out. The n was supposed to bring ric and Hertha closer, maybe even spark some sympathy and break the ice.


    But Hertha, thinking ric got busted for something shady, just ended up with a bigger misunderstanding.


    "How did it end up like this? Didn''t you exin?" Richard sobered up, sounding genuinely concerned for ric.


    "She didn''t give me a chance to exin," ric retorted, clearly exasperated. "I should''ve known better than to trust a guy who''s been single for a millennium with rtionship advice!"


    "Hey, that''s a bit harsh, buddy. Don''t hit where it hurts," Richard replied, sounding wounded.


    "Am I wrong?" ric shot back, still heated.


    Richard, feigning a heartache, tried to soothe ric''s bruised ego, "Calm down, man. It''s just a


    misunderstanding with H Calm


    I''lN?velDrama.Org holds this content.


    help you exin things tomorrow."


    "You better mean it!" ric finally heard something that gave him a glimmer of hope.


    "Of course, I mean it," Richard assured.


    "Fine, I''ll wait for your exnation. If you mess this up, we''re done being friends," ric spat out before hanging up. What a day it had been.


    All he wanted was to have a few drinks with Ethan and Richard to drown his sorrows. Instead, his woes only deepened. When Hertha got home, it was already half-past two in the morning. The house was silent, her kids and her mom fast asleep.


    Taking a deep breath, she eased the tiredness from her heart.


    She tiptoed to her bedroom door, pushing it open to be greeted by a cozy warmth.


    Inside, the sweet, rhythmic breathing


    of her little ones mixed with the


    scent of warm milk filled the air.


    Just listening to them breathe was enough to mend Hertha''s heart, turning her world-weary into a smile.


    ZUN


    She walked over to their bedsides, bending down to kiss each of their cherub-like faces. They were soft and warm, like marshmallows, bringing her absolutefort.


    Now, Hertha could truly appreciate the hard times Thssa went through, the struggles she faced, yet she remained optimistic and joyful every single


    day.

 Chapter 1852

    Chapter 1852


    After spending several days at home, resting and keeping Lysanderpany, Thssa had settled into aforting routine. This morning, just as she finished her breakfast, her phone buzzed with a call from Donovan, the jovial manager at the jewelry design firm where she worked.


    Curiosity piqued, Thssa answered the call, wondering what could have prompted Donovan to reach out suddenly.


    Donovan''s cheerful voice filled the line, "Thssa, you''re officially part of our team, remember? You''ve got a contract and all. We''ve missed your spark around here. When can we expect you back?"


    Thssa paused, the reminder jolting her back to reality. She had been on leave for so long, recuperating from a car ident, that her job had nearly slipped her mind.


    Donovan was right; she was still employed by the firm, bound by a contract she had willingly signed. "Oh, I''ll head over soon," Thssa replied, a hint of surprise in her voice. "I thought the silence meant you''d let me go," she added, half-jokingly.


    Donovanughed off her concern, "Oh,e on, we''re not that heartless. We value our team. As long as you don''t quit, you''re one of us."


    Internally, Thssa couldn''t help but roll her eyes. She recalled how Donovan hadn''t been so lenient with Hertha, who had struggled to meet her targets. It was only through their coboration that Hertha had managed to stay on.


    Yet, Thssa chose to keep the conversation light, masking her criticism with a soft tone, "That''s very generous of thepany, truly."


    Donovan, sharp as ever, likely picked up on her sarcasm but chose to y along with a simple, "Of course."


    Wrapping up the call, Thssa


    promised to be in soon. As she ended the call, Lysander wheeled himself into the room. The chill in her gaze melted into warmth at the sight of him. "I''ve got to head to work today, can''t stick around," she told him, her voice softening. "But I''ll be back as soon as I can."


    Lysander, ever the stoic, simply nodded, his deep voice advising, "Just make sure to bnce work and rest."


    Their interaction, always calm and tender, seemed to freeze a perfect moment in time.


    Upon arriving at the office, Thssa


    found Hertha already at her desk, looking worn with dark circles under her eyes. Approaching her, Thssa lightly tapped Hertha''s shoulder, greeting her with a casual, "Morning, Hertha. Rough night?"


    Hertha''s energy instantly spiked at the sight of Thssa, her eyes widening in admiration. "The legendary designer graces us with her presence!" Hertha eximed, her enthusiasm palpable. "You wouldn''t believe it-your designs for Lysander sold out instantly. You''re the talk of the town!"


    Stunned, Thssa could only blink in disbelief, questioning, "Is that for real?"


    Hertha, yful and beaming, reassured her, "Would I lie to you about something this big? You''re a star now!"N?velDrama.Org holds this content.

 Chapter 1853

    Chapter 1853


    Thssa paused for a moment before quickly grabbing her phone to search for any news about herself. Lately, she had been holed up at home, keeping Lysanderpany, barely having a moment to nce at her phone. Moreover, over the past few days, Lysander had be incredibly clingy, insisting on her presence even for sleep, leaving her no chance to catch up on thetest gossip. But the moment she powered on her phone, she was bombarded with headlines about herself.


    #Famous designer W''s collection sold out instantly


    #Jewelry contest scandal: someone used of copying W''s designs in a bid for the crown, proving W''s trendsetting brilliance.


    #Dark horse in the design world, designer W emerges with unparalleled creations, defining exclusivity.


    All these headlines were about Thssa in recent days. The inte was aze with her name, and she, the person at the center of it all, had beenpletely oblivious! Upon seeing this, Thssa''s jaw nearly hit the floor in shock.


    Seeing her expression, Hertha knew right away that Thssa had just discovered her newfound fame. Hertha covered her mouth to stifle augh, saying, "Thssa, you truly live not for fame or fortune, but for your dear Lysander."


    Snapping back to reality, Thssa was about to respond to Hertha when Donovan approached them, his face split into a big grin. "Thssa, there you are. Now that you''ve got some time on your hands, why don''t you sketch up some more designs? Ourpany''s justunched a new jewelry line, and we''re all set to bring your designs to life. With your name, sales will go through the roof."


    Thssa could see right through Donovan''s overly friendly demeanor, understanding the real reason behind his sudden niceness. So, her fame was the catalyst for Donovan''s ttery, given her potential to add value to thepany. Thinking to herself how conniving Donovan could be, Thssa replied with a polite smile, "I''ll try my best. Design is all about inspiration, so I''ll create more as soon as inspiration strikes." N?velDrama.Org holds this content.


    "Alright, carry on," Donovan said, not lingering any longer. Before leaving, he turned to Hertha, "Make sure you keep up your work too. Your designs will also be turned into products for sale."


    After Donovan walked away, Hertha rolled her eyes at his retreating figure, then turned to Thssa, "Did I just hear that right? Sounds like I''m just a buy-one-get-one-free deal


    attached to you."


    Treating Hertha with a gentle touch like one would a child, Thssa ruffled her hair, saying, "Don''t overthink it. You''re incredibly talented too; you''re just missing your big break."


    Hertha''s confidence soared at Thssa''s encouragement, "You''re right. If I had a chance, I''d be famous by now. I should''ve gone with you to that jewelry contest."


    "Did you not sleep wellst night? You''ve got some serious dark circles," Thssa noted with concern.


    At the mention ofst night, Hertha deted, pulling at her eyelids, "I''m at my wit''s end with ric, that jerk."


    "What, you guys were together against night, and it was that intense?" Thssa eximed, her voice rising in surprise.

 Chapter 1854

    Chapter 1854


    When Hertha heard Thssa''s interpretation, she instantly knew a misunderstanding had unfolded. Her voice had risen too high, drawing curious nces from colleagues around.


    Feeling a wave of embarrassment, Hertha realized it was toote to cover Thssa''s mouth. She hurriedly leaned in, whispering, "Keep it down, you''ve got it all wrong."


    Thssa had never seen Hertha so flustered; it was as if she''d seen a ghost. Hertha, usually unshakable, was now dodging gazes and whispering for discretion.


    Her unusual behavior tipped Thssa off that something was up. She nodded, falling silent, and sensed the room''s attention shifting away from them. Thssa then straightened up, doodling absently on a piece of paper as the office returned to its usual quiet.


    Lunchtime came around quickly.


    Thssa and Hertha headed out together, sitting across from each other at a cozy diner. Thssa resumed their earlier conversation, genuinely concerned, "So, Hertha, what''s going on with you and ric?"


    Hertha, poking at a te of pork chops with her fork, sounded defeated, "I had to bail ric out of jailst night."


    "What did he do this time?" Thssa asked, intrigued.


    With a weary look, Hertha ryed the events, detailing ric''stest escapade that ended with a woman hospitalized.


    Thssa was stunned. "So, ric''s been out partying hard again? And got someone hospitalized?"


    Hertha nodded solemnly.


    Shaking her head, Thssamented, "That man never learns."


    "I''ve decided I''m done with him. For good," Hertha dered through gritted teeth.


    "And what about the kids wanting to see him?" Thssa probed.


    That question hit Hertha hard, leaving her both troubled and pained.


    "That darn ric, why did he have to pop back into our lives, letting the kids know he''s their dad?" Hertha fumed, clenching her fist as if she could crush ric like an antif he were there.


    "If the kids didn''t know about their dad, I could''ve kept spinning fairy tales. Now, I can''t even do that," shemented.


    "Let''s not dwell on it now. You needThis content is ? N?velDrama.Org.


    to


    Thssa advised, adde


    more to her te. "Take it one s


    at a time; worrying won''t help."


    "Ugh, men!" Hertha eximed, stabbing her fork into the pork chop as if it were ric, channeling her anger into appetite.


    Seeing Hertha finally eating lifted Thssa''s spirits, and she couldn''t help but smile.


    As they were dining, a figure approached and took a seat beside them. "I''ve been to several ces looking for you two."


    Both Thssa and Hertha turned to see a tired-looking Richard settling beside them. Hertha, putting her fork down, asked, "What do you want? nothing better to do?"


    Go


    Richard raised an eyebrow at Hertha, saying, "Someone asked me to find you."


    Hertha''s heart skipped a beat. Richard''s words hinted atplications she hadn''t anticipated.

 Chapter 1855

    Chapter 1855


    Someone, must be talking about ric!


    Hertha had finally made up her mind to stop caring about ric and didn''t want to hear anything about him anymore.


    Before Richard could continue, Hertha promptly cut him off: "Stop right there! You can leave; I don''t want to hear a single word about Mr. ric!"N?velDrama.Org holds this content.


    Richard said, "You really got it wrongst night. ric went to the Sapphire Skyline just to have drinks with us..."


    "Sapphire Skyline?" Upon hearing the name, Hertha let out a mockingugh, ¡°Ha, and let me guess, was his date named Ruby?"


    "Just listen to me..."


    "Was her name Ruby?" Hertha didn''t let him say anything more, her gaze firm.


    Richard nodded: "Yes, but..."


    "Huh..." Hertha didn''t wait for Richard to continue,ughing again, "That''s his old me, huh? So much for his so-called loyalty, it was all about her."


    "It''s not like that. ric didn''t invite anyone; it was Z who suddenly brought some girls..." Richard realized he was making things worse as he spoke and started to panic, preparing to exin everything from the beginning.


    But Hertha interrupted him again: "So among the people Z brought was Ruby. ric, as usual, invited her to join and ended up taking her home, and it got so intense that Ruby ended up in the hospital!"


    As she spoke, Hertha grew angrier.


    The mere thought of it was enough to make her seethe with rage.


    Hertha clenched her fists, trying hard to contain the anger surging within her.


    Richard, wide-eyed, found himself speechless. The story seemed to be just like that, but through Hertha''s words, it all sounded twisted.


    Richard was there to clear things up for ric, not to let Hertha''s imagination run wild and misunderstand further.


    Richard said, "It was Ruby who


    approached, trying to get ric to


    drink, but fo2


    some reason, he


    pushed her away, spilling the drink and Ruby fell down. She hit her head, bled a lot, and had to be rushed to the hospital, and the police took ric away..."


    "Richard, even you don''t believe that lie you just made up, do you?"


    Faced with Hertha''s skepticism, Richard was taken aback, a bit dazed; he was telling the truth, so why did it seem like a lie to Hertha? Richard was at a loss, not knowing what to say.


    He thought that by telling the truth, everything would be resolved, but he had never considered what if Hertha didn''t believe him. Clearly, Hertha didn''t believe a word he said.


    "Ruby approached to give ric a drink; why would he push her away?" Thssa, who had been silent until then suddenly spoke up on Hertha''s behalf.


    No wonder Hertha didn''t believe him. Richard''s exnation was full of holes.


    Richard blinked in frustration; he too wondered why ric had pushed Ruby away.


    How would he know what was going through ric''s mind?


    Richard blinked cluelessly and said, "Maybe, he didn''t want to drink?"


    "See, you can''t even find a good excuse for fooling someone." Herthaughed mockingly, telling Richard "Go back and tell ric, don''t treat me like a three-year-old. Last night was ourst encounter; from now on, we''re strangers!"

 Chapter 1856

    Chapter 1856


    "Hey, Hertha,e on, don''t be like that. Everything I said earlier was true." Richard was getting anxious seeing Hertha''s cold response. ric had threatened him, saying they''d be through if he didn''t smooth things over with Hertha.


    Richard truly valued his friendship with ric.


    "Mr. Richard, you might as well leave. You''re ruining our dinner. We were enjoying our meal until you showed up, and now we''ve lost our appetite," Hertha said, clearly not interested in prolonging the conversation.


    Richard was taken aback, "What do you mean? Do I look that off-putting to you?"


    "Take it however you want to. We''re going to eat now," Hertha picked up her fork and knife again, resuming her meal, ignoring Richardpletely. Getting the hint, Richard nodded, stood up, and walked away.


    The table fell silent again. Hertha chewed her food, but it tasted nd, and she felt a sudden weariness, as if all her energy had been drained. "Maybe you should give Richard a chance?" Thssa leaned in and whispered to Hertha.


    Hertha gave her a nce and said, "Even you caught the obvious ws in his story. How can we trust him? I''d rather trust the police." "But what if it''s true..."


    "Even if it is, there''s no going back for me and ric." Hertha cut Thssa off, her voice tinged with sadness. "ric and Georgia have a child together. That''s a barrier too high for me to ever cross."


    Thssa opened her mouth to say something more but stopped at Hertha''s clear reluctance to discuss it further.


    Richard exited the restaurant and immediately called ric.


    He had cleared his day to exin to Hertha that ric was innocent, but it had all been in vain.


    No matter what, he had to update ric on the situation.


    The moment the call connected, Richard knew ric had been anxiously waiting.


    "How did it go?" ric asked immediately.


    "ric, I''m sorry, man. I exinedN?velDrama.Org holds this content.


    everything, but Hertha wouldn''t


    believe me. She thinks I''m some


    kind of fake supporter you hired to deceive her."


    "Damn it, Richard, you''ve screwed


    me


    ric cursed, his


    fron palpable after anvil


    g for nothing. Content


    to NovelDrama.Org


    belongs


    He couldn''t bear to lose Hertha.


    "Women are so hard to please.


    Maybe I can make it up to you in et


    some other way?" Richard felt guilty, especially since his n had backfired, leading to this mess.


    "I don''t need it!" ric hung up, furious and disappointed.


    Richard sighed as he stared at the disconnected call screen, regretting how things had turned out.


    Meanwhile, at the Sinir Group''s headquarters.


    David and his team were at the main entrance, ready to wee Lysander.


    Today was the scheduled shareholders'' meeting.


    Lysander was invited to participate, marking his quickest route back into the Sinir Group fold.

 Chapter 1857

    Chapter 1857


    A sleek ck stretch limo rolled up, its door swinging open as an automatic step descended. Lysander, decked out in a crisp ck suit, maneuvered his wheelchair down the ramp.


    Despite being seated, Lysander''s aura of austere nobility and an almost chilling charisma remained undiminished,manding respect and a hint of fear from those around him.


    David hurried forward to greet him, his voiceced with reverence, "Mr. Sinir, everyone''s gathered in the boardroom. Wyatt insisted on your presence at the shareholders'' meeting."


    Wyatt, a stalwart figure in the Sinir Group''s finance department and a board director, had his fingers on the pulse of thepany''s financial health better than anyone.


    Meanwhile, the CEO''s office was in disarray.


    Payton mmed a stack of documents onto the floor, his breaths heaving in frustration, "So Lysander sells some jewelry, and that''s supposed to turn our losses into profits? These numbers must be cooked!"


    The assistant, pale and trembling, cautiously reported, "These figures were delivered by Wyatt''s team, sir. As the finance director, he oversees all the ounts. They should be urate."


    This only fueled Payton''s rage further. He swept a water ss off the table, standing up in a fury, "A bunch of ipetents! I task you with tarnishing Thssa''s reputation in the design world, and instead, you''ve made her more popr than ever! Her designs are selling out because of this botched job! If it weren''t for her sudden rise in fame, Lysander wouldn''t have been able to pull off thiseback!"


    The more Payton thought about it, the angrier he got, his eyes bloodshot with fury.


    He had colluded with the jewelrypetition organizers to discredit Thssa, only for the n to backfire spectacrly. Instead of ruining her, Thssa had be a household name in jewelry design, with people moring to get their hands on her creations. To Payton''s dismay, the public''s fervor made Lysander''s struggling project a roaring sess, filling thepany''s coffers.


    Seeing Lysander hailed as a hero for thepany, the old guard was quick to align themselves with him, inviting him to high-level meetings like the shareholders'' gathering as if he was one of their own.


    Feeling his position threatened, Payton began to panic.


    His newborn son was frail, and


    securing a legacy for h feared his child might met


    fate simr to Leopold''s.


    a


    The assistant, terrified by Payton''s outburst, backed away, too scared to utter a word.


    vel?


    At the peak of Payton''s fury, Wyatt''s secretary knocked and entered with a polite bow, "Mr. Sinir, the meeting is about to start. Everyone is waiting for you."


    Suppressing his rage, Payton demanded, "Has Lysander arrived?"


    The secretary reported, "He''s here, on his way to the boardroom."This content is ? N?velDrama.Org.


    "Let him wait. I have documents to sign first!" Payton''s tone left no room for argument.


    He intended to make it clear who was in charge.


    With a nod, albeit reluctantly, the secretary left.


    David wheeled Lysander directly into the boardroom.


    The shareholders, seated around the


    wel


    PS&Coked up eagerly as he


    entered, rising to greet him


    ¡ª


    grand wee.


    Wyatt spoke on their behalf, ¡°Lysander, you''re finally back. We''ve waited three years for this moment.¡±

 Chapter 1858

    Chapter 1858


    Wyatt made his way over to Lysander with a warmly weing smile. As he approached Lysander, Wyatt slightly bowed and said, "Right this way, Lysander." David, without a moment''s hesitation, began pushing Lysander towards the spot Wyatt had indicated - the head of the conference table, a position reserved for those who made the highest decisions. Once Lysander wasfortably seated at the very head of the rectangr table, Wyatt, satisfied, returned to his own seat.


    "It''s time to begin the meeting," he announced.


    No sooner had he spoken than a voice piped up, "Should we start without Payton, the current CEO?" The question came from a shareholder, a staunch supporter of Payton. This opened the floodgates, and others aligned with Payton chimed in, "Exactly, how can we have a shareholders'' meeting without the CEO leading us?"


    Another group, siding with Wyatt, retorted, "Lysander is also a CEO of the Sinir Group!"Belonging to N?velDrama.Org.


    "But the former CEO is just that, former. How can hepare to the current one?" a supporter of Payton shot back. "The former doesn''t hold the power that the current does. How can we proceed with such a crucial corporate meeting without the head honcho?"


    ¡°Let''s not forget, Payton was only meant to temporarily manage the Sinir Group for Lysander. Now that Lysander''s back, it''s only right he steps aside!" Wyatt countered, his face a mask of controlled fury.


    "But that was then. It''s been officially dered by Zephyr that the Sinir Group is under Payton''s control. He''s the legitimate CEO of the Sinir Group! We should wait for him for such a major meeting."


    "In the three years that Payton has been at the helm of the Sinir Group, it''s been nothing but losses every year. If it wasn''t for the solid foundation the Sinir Group had it would have been bankrupt by now! Lysanderes back,unches a single jewelry project, and turns a profit for the Sinir Group! Isn''t it clear who''s more suited for the CEO position?" Wyatt''s fists clenched on the table, his frustration and helplessness evident for all to see.


    "Wyatt, who bes CEO isn''t up to you. It''s a decision for the entire upper echelon of the Sinir Group to make, Trenton interjected, his loyalty to Payton clear. He nced asionally at the door, wondering why Payton hadn''t arrived yet. On such an important day as the shareholders'' meeting, Payton''s absence was baffling.


    What was he doing? Hiding when most needed? Though Trenton was protective of Payton, he sometimes felt exasperated with him. If only Payton had half of Lysander''s capability, Trenton wouldn''t have to worry so much.


    "Today, I want to address just that. I believe that if the Sinir Group continues under Payton''s leadership, it''s doomed. I propose we discuss bringing Lysander back as CEO," Wyatt steered the conversation back to the main issue.


    Those in Wyatt''s camp raised their hands in agreement, while Payton''s supporters were vehemently against it.


    "The CEO represents thepany''s


    image. Lysander, confined to a wheelchair now, what would people think? That the Sinir Group is so desperate, they need a disabled person as their CEO!" Trenton''s words were sharp and decisive, leveraging his seniority to say the unsayable.

 Chapter 1859

    Chapter 1859


    To give Payton a fighting chance, he naturally yed up Payton''s strengths while subtly undermining Lysander''s weaknesses.


    His words sessfully infuriated David, who was standing by. Stepping forward, his face flushed with anger, David retorted, "Trenton, just because Mr. Sinir is temporarily in a wheelchair doesn''t mean he''s down for the count!"


    "David!" Before David could continue his heated retort, he was cut off by Lysander''s chiding voice.


    Turning around, David saw Lysander''s face, taut and stern, and knew Lysander had a n. He nodded slightly and stepped aside. Lysander gazed deeply at Trenton, having heard the exchange between Wyatt and Trenton, as well as their respective champions. Despite the flurry ofments, Lysander remained silent, not forck of something to say, but because he was sizing up the situation. It was clear now. Wyatt, for his own interests, wanted him back in control.


    And Trenton, aiming to support Payton, wished for him to stay out of it, to remain an idle figure, allowing Payton to keep the CEO position. Lysander''s piercing gaze fixed on Trenton.


    Initially, Trenton could meet his gaze, but within seconds, he was subdued by Lysander''s sharp look, his confidence faltering.


    A conciliatory smile crept over his serious face as he said, "Lysander, after all, I''m practically your uncle. I''m only looking out for you. With your condition, it would be best to rest at home. Being CEO is demanding, and with your health not as it used to be, if anything were to happen to you, how could I face yourte parents?"


    Trenton''s initial disdain for Lysander''s disability was apparent, and now, despite his grandiose phrasing, his message was the same.


    He suggested that Lysander stay out of Sinir Group''s business and enjoy a leisurely life at home.


    Lysander''s lips curled into a sneer, responding, "Trenton is truly devoted to his nephew, to the point of disregarding the interests of anyone


    else in thepany. Everyone eN?velDrama.Org holds this content.


    works h


    hard all year round, and yet


    our ounts are bleeding out. If this continues, we''ll all end up broke alongside Sinir Group."


    Lysander didn''t directly counter Trenton''s words but instead built on them.


    His tone was neither loud nor soft, but his presence was intimidating, and his words resonated deeply.


    All were businessmen, each looking out for their own interests.


    Those shareholders who had been on Trenton''s side exchanged looks, their attitudes wavering.


    And Wyatt''s supporters echoed in agreement.


    "Exactly, we all work tirelessly, day in and day out, hoping to earn a decent dividend by year''s end, to provide for our families, to ensure our children and grandchildren don''t go wanting."


    "Look, Lysander hasn''t even officially returned to thepany, but just byunching a simple jewelry project he''s turned a profit. Payton, despite his diligence,cks foresight. His investments have yet to yield any returns!"


    "In summary, at this shareholder''s meeting, we strongly propose that Lysander resume his position as CEO, allowing Payton to manage the overseas branch as he did before," Wyatt concluded.


    "Bang!" The conference room door suddenly burst open!

 Chapter 1860

    Chapter 1860


    With a loud bang that turned every head in the room, Payton stormed in nked by two bodyguards, his presencemanding and fierce. It was clear the door had been kicked open by one of Payton''s men.


    Payton''s gaze was sharp as a knife, slicing through the air to fix on Wyatt with a hostility that was palpable. Wyatt, despite his bravado, couldn''t help but feel a twinge of fear under that menacing stare. He knew Payton had overheard his earlierments. That hostile re was an unmistakable threat.


    Although Wyatt was a director in the finance department, his shares were minimal, and he was wary of the Sinir family''s influence. Payton''s re sent a chill down his spine, instilling a sense of fear.N?velDrama.Org content rights.


    However, Payton only allowed his gaze to linger on Wyatt for a few seconds before shifting his focus and walking directly towards Lysander. Lysander, maintaining an air of indifference, didn''t even acknowledge Payton, his deep gaze fixed on the far end of the conference table.


    Without a seat, Payton signaled to his bodyguard with a look. Understanding immediately, the guard fetched a chair and ced it beside Lysander. Payton sat down arrogantly, positioning himself at an equal level with Lysander, his fierce gaze sweeping over everyone at the table, silencing them. In a voiceced with suppressed anger, Payton spoke, "What were you all discussing before I arrived? As if anything you say matters without me here." His tone was clearly usatory.


    "Payton, we were just catching up," Trenton chimed in with a smile, attempting to defuse the situation. "The shareholders'' meeting only holds weight with our rightful CEO presiding. It''s your presence that gives it significance."


    "Exactly," Payton concluded. "Whatever was said before I got here is irrelevant."


    "Is that so? Perhaps it''s your current words that are the least significant," Lysander countered coolly, his low, maic voice cutting through the tension.


    Lysander''s words emboldened


    Wyatt, who suddenly stood up, his


    voice firm, "After reviewing thepany''s profits and losses, we unanimously decided that Lysander should resume the position of CEO. You can continue to oversee the international branch, as before."


    ????


    Wyatt had made up his mind before the meeting, after a discussion with his wife, that Lysander must return as the CEO of the Sinir group. Under Lysander''s leadership, the dividends were enough for avish lifestyle, including luxury cars-and properties. But during Payton''s three-year tenure, Wyatt had sold several properties to cover thepany''s losses. Continuing down this path, he as a shareholder, would face bankruptcy first. Content


    belongs to NovelDrama.Org


    The wellbeing of the shareholders was directly tied to thepany''s fortunes. For the sake of thepany and his own interests, Wyatt believed reinstating Lysander was the right move.


    Payton, visibly irate, snapped at Wyatt, "If you want to sell your shares, I won''t stop you! You can settle your ounts and leave thepany right now!" Payton was furious, ming Wyatt for stirring up trouble within thepany!


    lau Pale


    He couldn''t believe a minor shareholder dared to challenge his position and proposed to rece him with Lysander! Wyatt was stunned. Selling his shares at a loss was thest thing he wanted, especially when it meant potentially losing his primary source of ie.


    Exiting the investment was far moreplicated than entering it. And his family''s livelihood depended on the Sinir group''s dividends. Without them, they might as well be left out in the cold.


    Wyatt''s voice trembled slightly as he retorted, "Payton, you have no right to dictate whether I sell my shares or not!"


    "So, you think you have the right to meddle with the CEO position?" Payton shot back.


    "Enough!" Lysander finally spoke up, his voice cutting through the escting argument.

 Chapter 1861

    Chapter 1861


    As soon as he began to speak, every eye in the room turned towards him, hanging on his next words.


    Wyatt was buzzing with anticipation and nerves as he watched Lysander. He had been all in on supporting Lysander''seback and was eager to gauge his stance.


    Payton, on the other hand, looked at Lysander with a mix of threat and panic in his eyes. Though he now sat at the helm as CEO, appearing to be the most powerful man in the room, he couldn''t help but feel a sense of unease in Lysander''s presence. After all, Lysander was no ordinary man; he wasn''t someone Payton could easily intimidate. He might have been able to bully Wyatt, but Lysander was a different story.


    Amid the varying gazes, Lysander''s lips parted slightly as he began, "The Sinir Group is a legacy built by Zephyr. He made it clear that whoever he chooses will lead it."


    Wyatt''s face fell at these words, his hope deting as he slumped back into his chair. Lysander had no interest in taking over as CEO. It was over, all over!


    Hearing Lysander''s words, Payton''s restless heart leapt with joy. Lysander was right; his position as CEO was appointed by Zephyr, and The Sinir Group was Zephyr''s creation. Unless Zephyr spoke otherwise, no one could dethrone him from his position.N?velDrama.Org content rights.


    As the room buzzed with emotion, Lysander continued, "I naturally won''t return to The Sinir Group." His decision had been made the moment Thssa crashed his


    wedding to Rosalind, choosing t


    leave with her. Zephyr had decreed that he left, he would never be allowed back to lead The Sinir Group. And he hadn''t looked back since. So, no matter what, returning to The Sinir Group was off the table. He had only attended this shareholders'' meeting to gauge the current state of The Sinir Group.


    "But for those interested, now is the perfect time to invest in my own venture-a jewelrypany."


    Just as Wyatt was sinking into despair, Lysander''s words took a sharp turn, stunning everyone present, including Payton, Wyatt, and Trenton! Payton was in disbelief, shocked by Lysander''s revtion about his ownpany. Wyatt''s despair turned to hope as he stared at Lysander, seeing a new dawn.


    ¡°Starting from scratch, the blueprint is fresh off the press. There are risks, of course, but participation is voluntary," Lysander added.


    Wyatt was the first to snap out of his daze, overwhelmed with excitement. "I''m in, I want in!" Just moments ago, Payton had pressured him to divest his shares in The Sinir Group, and he had been reluctant. But now, hearing Lysander announce his new venture, there was no hesitation. Why cling to The Sinir Group? After all, the real opportunity to make money was with Lysander, not The Sinir Group!


    Wyatt raised his hand, and soon, those aligned with Wyatt''s faction followed suit, eager to invest in Lysander''s newpany. Even those shareholders from Payton''s camp, after a moment''s hesitation, raised their hands too. In no time, a majority of the shareholders around the table had their hands up, ready to follow Lysander''s lead. Only a few, a very few, chose to stay with Payton.


    Seeing the tide turn, Payton mmed his fist on the table in fury!

 Chapter 1862

    Chapter 1862


    Payton was fuming, his voice dripping with usation as he confronted Lysander. "What''s the meaning of this, Lysander? Poaching from Sinir Enterprises, are we? How could you do this? Do you think Grandpa would approve?"


    Lysander''s gaze, cool and detached, shifted towards Payton. His voice, calm and resonant, carried a hint of nonchnce. "It was you, not me, who demanded Wyatt divest his shares just moments ago."


    With those words, Lysander nced at David standing by his side and said, "Let''s go."


    Understanding the cue, David quickly stepped forward, guiding Lysander out of the conference room.


    Payton, despite his burning desire to confront Lysander further, knew it was pointless to chase after him. There was no use.N?velDrama.Org holds this content.


    Lysander''s response had made it crystal clear. The shareholders'' rush to divest and follow Lysander was a direct result of Payton''s own actions. He had, in essence, shot himself in the foot.


    "I''m with you, Lysander," Wyatt chimed in with a cheerful grin, hurrying to leave with Lysander.


    Having the chance to stick with Lysander felt like a massive weight lifted off Wyatt''s shoulders. As for the future of Sinir Enterprises, that was no longer his concern.


    After a long day at work, Thssa and Hertha left the office together. Hertha needed to get home to her kids.


    At thepany''s entrance, they parted ways. Hertha had offered to drive Thssa home, but knowing her friend needed to get back to her children, Thssa opted for a cab instead.


    Hertha, eager to see her children, agreed and drove off, leaving Thssa waiting by the roadside. Suddenly, a red Maserati pulled up in front of her. Stepping back to make way, Thssa was taken aback when the car door opened, and avishly dressed middle-aged woman stepped out. With an air of superiority, the woman removed her sunsses, her heavily made-up eyes ring at Thssa with palpable hostility.


    Thssa, initially stepping aside, froze in ce, her nerves taut as she faced the woman before her.


    She recognized her immediately it was Amelia, Leopold''s mother, a woman who harbored deep-seated animosity towards her.


    For a long time, Thssa had


    carried guilt over Leopold''s death


    mistakenly believing Lysander had a


    hand in it out of greed. This guilt extended to how she felt about his parents.


    However, everything changed when she overheard a conversation between Amelia and Payton in the hospital, revealing the truth about Leopold''s suicide - a desperate act to frame Lysander, disregarding the lives of two workers in the process.


    This revtion erased years of guilt and resentment towards Lysander, who had silently borne the me to protect Leopold''s reputation.


    Now, facing Amelia, Thssa felt no guilt, only a calm resolve.


    Without a word, Thssa turned to leave, but Amelia, in her high heels, blocked her path, looking down at her with disdain. "Did you orchestrate Lysander''s actions?"


    Amelia''s usation was baseless,


    and Thssa had no interest in entangling herself further. With a cold retort, she said, "Don''t block my way I''ve missed several cabs


    already."

 Chapter 1863

    Chapter 1863


    After finishing her tirade, Amelia was ready to leave, but Amelia blocked her path, her eyes, exaggeratedly erged with eyeliner, ring at Thssa: ¡°So, Lysander is starting a jewelry line just for you? You really know how to y your cards!"


    Thssa furrowed her brows, her voice heavy, "I have no idea what you''re talking about!"T¨ºxt belongs to N?velDrama.Org.


    ¡°ying dumb after the fact, huh!" Amelia advanced towards Thssa, her demeanor threatening, ¡°Quite the schemer, aren''t you? Snatching your sister''s fianc¨¦ and now egging him on to stand against the Sinirs! Do you want to make Lysander the ck sheep of the Sinir family?" Amelia''s words were sharp and filled with rage, each sentence a condemnation of Thssa.


    Thssa, pushed back by her cutting presence, watched Amelia warily and responded, "What Lysander decides to do is his choice, not ours to judge! Besides, him starting a business is his business. Why the outrage?"


    "Are you really clueless, or just feigning ignorance?" Amelia''s cold voice didn''t waver as she pressed on towards Thssa.


    Thssa, left with no choice but to retreat, said, "I don''t know what you''re talking about, and I don''t care to know!"


    Seeing Thssa''s reaction, Amelia realized that Thssa might genuinely be unaware of Lysander''s actions at the Sinir group''s shareholders meeting earlier that day.


    But regardless of whether Thssa knew about Lysander''s actions today, the oue was inevitably tied to her!


    Had it not been for Thssa''s sudden rise to fame, her jewelry designs selling out, leading to profitable returns on Lysander''s investments in her projects, the shareholders'' meeting today wouldn''t have seen so many supporting Lysander.


    The root of it all stilly with Thssa!


    "Thssa, let me tell you, if you want Lysander to be seen as the ck sheep of the Sinir family, keep pushing him down this path! Sooner orter, Grandpa will have a fit!" Amelia, her breaths heavy with anger, warned.


    And she continued, "Don''t think your newfound fame means you can do whatever you want! Without the Sinir family, you and Lysander are justmoners! Tell Lysander to pull himself together and not burn all his bridges!"


    As Amelia spoke, she kept advancing on Thssa, her expression livid with rage.


    Thssa couldn''t even retreat fast enough, forced to lean back just to avoid Amelia''s domineering stance.


    Amelia''s harsh words were so forceful that Thssa felt spittle on her face.


    With a huff, Amelia turned on her


    heel, her high heels clicking as she got into her car which then sped away, leaving Thssa in a cloud of


    ust.


    ¨¦n.swnovels


    Disgusted, Thssa fanned away the foul smell of gasoline,


    bewildered and angered by Amelia''s sudden appearance and barrage of bizarre usations. Her previously calm mood was now a tangled mess of emotions.


    Just then, a taxi came by, and she hailed it down, sliding into the back seat.


    Upon returning to Royal Estates, Thssa found no sign of Lysander, only Fitch bustling about.


    With a sense of urgency, Thssa asked, "Fitch, where''s Lysander?"


    Fitch replied, "Lysander went out this morning and hasn''t returned yet."


    "He''s still not back? Alright, I''ll give him a call." Hearing this, Thssa stepped aside and dialed Lysander''s


    number. get


    The phone rang a few times before being picked up, Lysander''s deep, soothing voice on the other end, "Thssa."


    "Lysander, where are you? Why aren''t you at home?" Thssa asked impatiently.


    "I''m at the Sinirs'' residence," Lysander answered.

 Chapter 1864

    Chapter 1864


    Here''s the revised trantion:


    "It''s her again, isn''t it? You only soften up like that for her!" Zephyr''s voice came through the phone, barely concealing his annoyance.


    It was clear that Zephyr was furious and held a significant grudge against Thssa.


    Thssa, initially ready to exchange pleasantries with Lysander, felt her mood plummet upon hearing Zephyr''s words. "You seem busy, I won''t keep you," she said to Lysander, her voice tinged with disappointment.


    After ending the call, Thssa stood there, engulfed in a sense of loss.


    Meanwhile, at the Sinir mansion, Lysander sat in a wheelchair, facing Zephyr''s stern expression. "Are you telling me this was her idea?" Zephyr demanded, his face a mix of severity and frost.


    After the Sinir Corporation''s shareholder meeting, Payton had eagerly reported to Zephyr with his own dramatic twist. He used Lysander of plotting to poach major shareholders from the Sinir Corporation, aiming to lead the family business to ruin, betraying his heritage.


    Payton, fearing Zephyr''s faith in


    Lysander, squarely ced the me on Thssa. He argued that ever since Lysander got involved with Thssa, he seemed entirely


    bewitched, neglecting the careN?velDrama.Org holds this content.


    consideration he once held for the Sinir family. ording to Payton, Lysander had be cold-hearted, indifferent even if it meant seeing the Sinir family''s downfall.


    Zephyr, initially capable of analyzing Lysander''s decisions rationally, lost hisposure upon hearing Thssa''s involvement and immediately summoned Lysander to confront him directly.


    Looking up, Lysander met his grandfather''s gaze with a seriousness he''d never shown before. Despite always treating his grandfather with respect and politeness, hearing the misunderstandings about Thssa stirred a cold sternness in him.


    "Grandpa, Thssa knows nothing about this. It''s unfair to drag her into every issue," Lysander''s voice was deep, filled with restrained anger. He knew Thssa was innocent.


    "Unaware? And you think that


    justifies your ruthlessness?" Zephyr retorted. Just because she''s gained some fame, you''ve decided to start a jewelry business for her, poaching Sinir Corporation''s resources for yourdy''s benefit. When did you lose your wisdom, Lysander?"


    Lysander took a deep breath, trying to contain his rising anger. He had exined that Thssa was not involved, yet his grandfather kept targeting her, cing all the me on her shoulders.


    "In the past three years, the Sinir


    Corporation has been suffering losses, with many shareholders feeling the pinch and facing dissatisfaction. Payton, instead of appeasing them, encouraged them to divest at the shareholder meeting. Isn''t his approach tantamount to dismantling the Sinir


    Corporation?" Lysander tried to


    reason with Zephyr. Content


    belongs to NovelDrama.Org


    "Payton mayck business acumen, but pointing out his mistakes doesn''t justify poaching the Sinir Corporation''s shareholders," Zephyr argued, still unable toe to terms with Lysander''s actions.


    "Didn''t you say it yourself, Grandpa? That the Sinir Corporation''s matters no longer require my involvement?" Lysander countered, a clear challenge in his tone.

 Chapter 1865

    Chapter 1865


    "You..." Zephyr was choked up, unable to believe Lysander would throw his own words back at him like this.


    Previously, when Thssa showed up to whisk Lysander away from his own wedding, Zephyr, in a fit of rage, had told Lysander that if he dared to leave with Thssa, then he would have nothing to do with the Sinir Group ever again!


    He hadn''t expected Lysander to take it to heart.


    "After everything, the Sinir family is your own flesh and blood, and the Sinir Group is apany you once poured your heart into. How can you just stand by and watch it crumble?" Zephyr took a deep breath, his face stern.


    ¡°If I didn''t do this, the Sinir Group would be doomed," Lysander said, his eyes shining with wisdom.


    Zephyr looked incredulous. "What do you mean by that?"


    "You really think the shareholders wouldn''t pull out?" Lysander continued, "Even if they don''t pull out now, within a month, if they don''t see thepany turning a profit, they will still leave in droves. If they pull out now, they won''t take much with them. Payton can still use the remaining funds to keep things afloat. Whether he can revive it or not, that''s up to him."


    "But what''s the difference between pulling out now and a monthter?" Zephyr asked, puzzled.


    Isn''t it all the same in the end? Where''s the opportunity?


    "The difference lies in Payton," Lysander analyzed.


    Zephyr''s eyes, clouded with confusion, focused intently on Lysander, waiting for him to continue.


    Lysander had always been sharp and strategic. If it weren''t for his entanglement with a woman, Zephyr would trust him the most.


    Under Zephyr''s expectant gaze,


    Lysander said, "Why do you think


    Payton has been running thepany at a loss all these years? The root cause is his vendetta against me. He thinks if he


    el


    squanders the profits I made, it''s the ultimate revenge. As long as the shareholders from my time are still in the Sinir Group, Payton''s resentment won''t fade, and he''ll continue to make business decisions out of spite. That way, the losses will just keep mounting."


    "But, if I take away the shareholders who are loyal to me andpletely sever my ties with the Sinir Group, Payton will see me and my people as the enemy. He''ll do


    everything in his power to out


    me,


    focusing on making profitable decisions. Thepany''s current cash flow is enough for him to make a turnaround. Whether he can revive it or not, that''s on him."


    Lysanderid out his reasoning for Zephyr to hear.


    Zephyr listened, his brows furrowing then slowly rxing.N?velDrama.Org content rights.


    Lysander was right. Over the years, Zephyr had indeed been running thepany with a vengeful heart.


    He deliberately avoided profitable investments, choosing risky ones instead.


    Wasn''t it all to spite Lysander? To prevent the shareholders who had been with Lysander from reaping any benefits, dragging everyone down with him.


    By taking his people with him, Lysander could also remove Payton''s hatred, allowing him to conduct business more rationally.


    Hearing Lysander''s heartfelt words eased Zephyr''s mind, but he still had his concerns.


    ¡°Are you really doing this just for Thssa?" Zephyr asked again.


    |


    ¡°Of course, I have my own selfish reasons," Lysander didn''t hide.


    "Starting a jewelry business was initially for Thssa, to give her a tform to showcase her talent, to fulfill her dreams. Otherwise, I wouldn''t be starting from scratch, diving back into the businessworld," Lysander spoke his truth.

 Chapter 1866

    Chapter 1866


    "You know..." Zephyr was on the verge of criticizing how Lysander''s career seemed overly influenced by a woman. But then he saw him in his wheelchair and remembered the grave words Dr. Funke had shared with him. Lysander might never stand again!


    When Lysander first learned of this harsh reality, his expression froze. Zephyr could sense the turmoil within him, knowing how bitter it must be to ept his inability to stand.


    Lysander''s personal fortune was vast, ensuring he''d never worry about the essentials in life. Had it not been for someone dear to him, he wouldn''t have even considered diving back into the business world in his current state. Yet, here he was, daring to face the business world head-on, despite his paralysis, all to fulfill someone else''s dream.


    Regardless of his motives, it was clear that Lysander was not giving up on life. He was still moving forward, still fighting for a meaningful existence. Zephyr, caught in a wave of emotion, sighed deeply and said, "Alright, if you''ve made up your mind, I won''t say more."


    At the heart of it, Lysander meant well. He wasn''t out to ruin the Sinir family but to reignite Payton''s drive. If Payton couldn''t rise to the asion, the Sinir Group was doomed either way. Lysander''s actions, at the very least, could serve as a wake-up call for Payton to start taking his responsibilities seriously.


    As for Zephyr, although he worried about thepany, he felt the weight of his years. Wanting to intervene but finding himself unable, he recognized his limitations. With thepany mattersid bare, Zephyr held no grudge against Lysander. Yet, Lysander remained seated, showing no signs of leaving.


    After a pause, Zephyr, sensing something on Lysander''s mind, lifted his gaze and asked, "Out with it. You''re not one to hesitate."N?velDrama.Org holds this content.


    "This Saturday, Thssa and I are nning to visit the kids at school," Lysander said bluntly, his resolve clear.


    Zephyr peered into Lysander''s determined eyes for a moment, knowing full well his determination was unshakeable. He knew he couldn''t stop him.


    Originally, he had opposed


    Thssa''s wishes to see the


    children as a way to keep her in check. But now that Lysander had regained his spirit and had his own ns, Zephyr knew he couldn''t interfere. "I''ll have a word with the school," Zephyr conceded. Content


    belongs to NovelDrama.Org


    ¡°Thanks, Grandpa. I''ll be off then," Lysander said, finally maneuvering his wheelchair to leave, having received Zephyr''s blessing.


    Thssa was waiting for Lysander on the couch, seemingly dozed off from the long wait. Her hand propped her face as she nodded off. She remained unaware even as Lysander returned.


    Leaning against the couch, her elbow rested on a cushion, her palm supporting her head, she was the picture of tranquility.


    Fitch, noticing Lysander''s return,


    was about to wake Thssa. Just as he was about to speak,


    Lysander''s stern nce stopp


    him, signaling he wished to let her sleep Fitch understood, stepping back quietly.


    Lysander''s gaze softened as he looked at Thssa, the gentle light casting a serene glow on her already fair skin, making her look even more endearing. Her long eyshes


    rested on her lids like two real ne


    butterflies. Her lips puckered slightly, as if dreaming of some delicious treat, asionally smacking together.

 Chapter 1867

    Chapter 1867


    In that cozy, serene moment, Lysander couldn''t help but smile.


    No matter how frigid the world outside, or how brutal the cutthroat business battles,ing home to a warm soul waiting for you and a house filled with warmth could calm any storm raging within, bringing peace andfort to the heart.


    In that instant, Lysander truly grasped the essence of love.


    Love was having a pir in your heart, a reliance, through which storms could be faced with calm, and problems tackled withposure.


    Even if the world was a tempest, with you, I was always blessed.


    Lysander gazed at Thssa, his heart tender with affection. He reached for the throw nket nearby and gently draped it over Thssa, fearing she might catch a chill.


    But the moment the nket touched Thssa, she startled awake, sitting up instantly in a mix of panic and fear. "I didn''t mean to nod off. I''ll get to work right now..."


    She scrambled to her feet, but after a few steps, something dawned on her. Stopping, she turned back, her eyes meeting Lysander''s, and with that, she returned to reality, her smile warm. "Lysander, you''re back. I dreamt I was back in the factory, so exhausted I couldn''t help falling asleep, only to be caught by the boss. I was terrified, ready to jump up and get back to work. Heh, I haven''t worked there in ages, yet I dreamt of those days when we could barely eat or sleep. Silly, right?"


    Lysander''s gaze, deep and earnest, fell upon her. Seeing her sheepish smile, his heart ached withpassion.


    He knew the years Thssa spent pregnant, giving birth, and raising their children were her toughest.


    With no formal education, she could only take on menial jobs to provide for the family.


    Four kids, four mouths to feed, all on Thssa''s shoulders. Life at the bottom was far from easy; it demanded strength and endurance to ovee hardship.


    Despite the struggles, she never once thought of giving up, pouring all her tender motherly love into her children.


    No matter how hard life got, she never considered abandoning any of her kids.


    She''d rather suffer herself to give her children a sense of warmth, a safe harbor.


    Unlike Susan, who had only one child and yet left them in an orphanage, exploiting the child for her own gains.


    Compared to others, Thssa was truly one in a million, an exemry woman.


    Lysander grabbed Thssa''s wrist, pulling her close to him.


    Thssa, still in a bashful state, was suddenly drawn into Lysander''s embrace, her eyes wide in surprise.


    The next second, Lysander wrapped


    his


    e


    around her, holding hers


    his voice a low rumble


    "You''ve worked hard..."


    W


    His voice was so soft, meant for her ears alone.


    His breath tickled her ear, a warm,forting sensation.


    J


    Thssa was momentarily taken aback, realizing the depth of his words. She rxed into his embrace,


    a smile forming on her lips, "It''s okay, it wasn''t hard." Content


    belongs to Belonging to N?velDrama.Org.


    Then, something crossed her mind, "Did you start a jewelry business?"


    "Yeah, how did you know?" Lysander asked.


    "Amelia came to me today, using


    me of persuading you into it,pletely absurd. I had no idea what she was talking about,"


    Thssained with a slight


    pout.


    Lysander let her go, looking into her eyes. "I''m sorry you had to deal with that."

 Chapter 1868

    Chapter 1868


    In this moment, Lysander felt a deep pang of sympathy for Thssa. Thssa hadn''t done anything wrong, yet people always seemed eager to pin every me on her shoulders. She was made to carry all the responsibility and the brunt of their usations. Whether she was innocent or not, they never bothered to find out. Thssa didn''t deserve this burden; she hadn''t done anything to warrant such weight. She could see the tenderness in Lysander''s eyes, and knowing he understood was enough for her. She grasped Lysander''s hand, her voice soft, "Your words mean everything to me."


    She had no illusions about others understanding her; as long as Lysander did, as long as he cared, it was more than enough. The greatest misfortune in life is when those you care about don''t reciprocate, and those you wish would understand you simply don''t. But the greatest fortune is when those important to you care back; not only do they care, but they go out of their way for you. Even if the whole world fails to understand you, having that one person who deeply gets you is enough to stand against the world. In this moment, Thssa felt that fortunate sense of being understood, feeling a surge of strength within her.


    "Let''s go grab some dinner, we''ve had a long day, time to treat ourselves," Thssa said cheerfully, still holding Lysander''s hand.T¨ºxt belongs to N?velDrama.Org.


    "Yeah," Lysander agreed.


    As they sat down to eat, Lysander suddenly mentioned, "This Saturday, we could visit the kids at school."


    "Really? That would be amazing!" Thssa''s face lit up, her eyes sparkling with uncontainable joy. She missed her four children dearly; it had been three years since they were all together. Though she saw Atticus recently, she was anxious about how the other three were doing.


    ??


    "Of course, it''s true. Eat up, we need to get you a bit plumper, so the kids won''t worry about you looking too thin," Lysander said, adding more food to Thssa''s te.


    "Right, I need to bulk up a bit, gotta be in high spirits for the kids," Thssa said, her mood lifted, her appetite returning.


    Hertha returned home, opening the


    door she cheerfully announced, "Julian, Helena, mommy''s home..." She opened her arms, ready to embrace her two little bundles of joy running towards her. As her eyes adjusted, she realized the scene in front of her was different than expected. The two kids were surrounding a man on the floor, acting as their horse, taking turns to ride on his back.


    "My turn, my turn, I want to go up!" Helena eximed excitedly, hopping around the man. As Julian slid off the man''s back, Helena tried her best to climb up. Seeing her struggle, the man turned around, lending a hand to support her back, helping her onto his back. When he turned his face towards Hertha, he shed a dazzling smile, his


    charming fox-like eyes curving into


    crescents. It was a bewitchingly


    handsome look that could


    mesmerize anyone. Content belongs


    to NovelDrama.Org


    "Hertha, you''re back," ric greeted. Startled by ric''s charming smile, Hertha momentarily lost herposure. Hearing him speak, she swiftly snapped back to reality.

 Chapter 1869

    Chapter 1869


    ric was in the middle of getting an earful from Hertha when, to her surprise, he began swaying back and forth with Helena on his back, dering, "Startup sessful! Daddy''s daddy is called grandpa, daddy''s mommy is grandma, and mommy''s mommy is called granny..."


    As ric rocked back and forth, mimicking a rocking horse, he hummed along with the tune of the nursery rhyme.


    Helena clung to his shirt, her giggles ringing out lively and sweet, full of life.


    Julian, after waiting on the sidelines for a bit, realized it wasn''t his turn yet. His face flushed with impatience, he toddled over to Hertha, eximing, "Mommy, mommy, daddy is a living rocking horse, it''s so much fun. I want a turn..."


    His excitement made his cheeks as red as apples, pulling on Hertha''s pant leg, he shook her gently as he spoke.


    Hertha, led by Julian, approached ric. Julian pointed at ric, saying, "Look, mommy, daddy is really a living rocking horse!"


    Hertha forced a smile, gently caressing Julian''s cheek, but her gaze turned stern as she looked back at ric.


    That darn ric, acting as if nothing had happened,ing over to make the kidsugh and enjoy!


    But with the kids around, and seeing them so happy, she bit her tongue.


    "Hertha, you''re back. Dinner will be ready shortly; we''ll be eating soon." Kimberly emerged from the kitchen with a dish, managed to squeeze in a quick chat with Hertha, then hurried back to her cooking.


    It puzzled Hertha how her mother still let ric in! Not only that, but she was also keeping him around for dinner!


    What trick had ric used to win her mother over this time?


    Hertha was brimming with questions, but the kids were having a st with ric.


    And there he was, ric, without a trace of arrogance typical of a man of his stature, willingly ying the role of a rocking horse on the floor, all while maintaining his cheerfulness and openness.


    This was a side of ric Hertha hadn''t expected.


    Now, with the kids preupied with ric and her mother busy in the kitchen, no one paid Hertha any mind.


    She decided to sit on the couch, observing the situation, waiting to see how long ric could keep this up.


    To her surprise, Julian and Helena


    took turns ying for quite some


    time, and ric didn''t show any


    signs of tiredness or impatienc


    cheerfully hoisting the kids onto his back, singing nursery rhymesto keep them entertained.


    It was only when Kimberly announced dinner was ready, cing the food on the table, that he gently told the kids, "Alright, it''s dinner time now. Let''s eat, and then we can y some more, okay?"


    Julian and Helena, always well-behaved, hurried to the dining table, ready to eat.


    As ric tried to stand up, his legs gave way for a moment, nearly causing him to fall, but he managed to steady himself, slowly getting up from the floor. His gaze met Hertha''s scrutinizing eyes.


    ric chuckled, "Heh, I''ve been kneeling down for too long, my knees are all numb. I can barely stand up."


    Hertha coolly replied, "Tired? No one asked you toe over!"Belonging to N?velDrama.Org.


    Her tone was icy.


    ric quickly exined, "I''m not tired, I''m happy to spend time with the kids. It''s just my body not keeping up."


    "And I suppose it was your body not keeping up when you ended up at the police station too! How can anyone trust someone who can''t control themselves?" Hertha countered sharply.

 Chapter 1870

    Chapter 1870


    As soon as ric heard her tone, he knew Hertha was still holding a grudge against him.


    His expression became somber, ready to exin what happened at Sapphire Skyline the other day, but just as he was about to speak, Kimberly emerged from the kitchen, halting his words mid-breath.


    Kimberly, Hertha''s mother, was still in the dark about the whole situation. If he brought it up now, Kimberly would surely jump to the same conclusion as Hertha, assuming he was out gallivanting with other women.


    Exining himself to Hertha was already a tall order; adding her mother to the equation would onlyplicate matters further.


    ric could only offer Hertha a sheepish smile, saying, "Things aren''t always what they seem."


    "Enough dilly-dallying, you two. Come on over and eat," Kimberly called out to ric and Hertha.


    "Right on!" ric eagerly moved to the dining table, taking the initiative to sit down and enthusiastically serving Kimberly and Hertha.


    As Kimberly epted the bowl ric handed her, she said, "Sit down and join us. There''s no need to stand on ceremony. I invited you for dinner because I want to clear the air between you and Hertha."


    Kimberly had always hoped ric and Hertha would marry, given that ric was the biological father of the children.


    If ric and Hertha were to marry, it would mean the children could grow up with both their biological parents, which she believed would make them happier.


    They had even gone as far as the registry office, yet the marriage hadn''t happened.


    Kimberly had only heard Hertha''s side of the story regarding their non-marriage. The true nature of the situation, the details, remained to be scrutinized.


    At the mention of getting to the heart of the matter, ric''s expression froze momentarily before he forced a wry smile, resuming his awkward demeanor.


    Fumbling with his fork, he avoided Kimberly''s expectant look.


    The failure of their marriage was on him, and he had always felt a deep sense of guilt, making him reluctant to face Hertha''s parents.


    He had mustered the courage toe over because Hertha had said she never wanted to see him again, a prospect ric feared deeply. He didn''t want to be strangers with Hertha.


    Even if it meant facing the wrath of Hertha''s parents, he had toe.


    He had braced himself to be turned away at the door by Kimberly, yet to his surprise, she weed him, allowed him to y with the kids, and even invited him to stay for dinner.


    He knew a confrontation was inevitable, yet he couldn''t help fearing it.Belonging to N?velDrama.Org.


    "Don''t just eat the rice; have some of the side dishes," Kimberly said as she noticed ric''s focus on his te, serving him some.


    ric quickly reached out, epting the food with a sweet, "Thanks, Mom¡ª"


    Her warning re cut him off mid-sentence.


    "Thanks, Kimberly..." he quickly corrected himself, earning a slight nod of approval from Hertha.


    Hertha was not pleased with the


    situation either. It wasn''t the


    oue she had hoped for, and the disappointment was evident as she hid behind her te, pushing the food around to mask the sadness in her eyes.


    "You two are so alike, can''t even remember to eat your veggies," Kimberly chided, serving Hertha as she spoke.


    Hertha simply epted the food, remaining silent.


    "Daddy and Mommy are so alike!" Helena eximed, her chubby little hands gripping her spoon with excitement, her voice especially sweet and endearing.


    "That''s why they made us!" Julian chimed in, adding his piece.


    Hertha was taken aback; the kids were really pushing the notion of her and ric being a perfect match.

 Chapter 1871

    Chapter 1871


    Two peas in a pod, that''s why we have them, spewing out such adorable nonsense.


    ric was taken aback for a moment, marveling at how a two-year-old could utter such endearingly sweet words. It was simply too cute.N?velDrama.Org content rights.


    Then, his mood lifted instantly, his pride swelling for his two little treasures, always on his side in the quest to win Mommy''s heart. With both kids so brilliantly on board, he couldn''t be the weak link.


    ric eagerly agreed, "Absolutely, Barbie and your mommy are like two peas in a pod, a perfect match. How else could we have gotten such adorable little munchkins?"


    "I''m Daddy''s mini-me, and my brother is Mommy''s spitting image. You guys made cute little copies of yourselves, oh!" Helena''s words, soft and sweet with a child''s innocence, were spoken with a rity that belied her age.


    If Hertha hadn''t known better, she''d have thought someone coached her to say that.


    The kids'' matchmaking efforts brought joy to ric, but Hertha was less than thrilled.


    "Let''s eat up, kids. A full belly means no hungry tummies at night, and no midnight snacks," Hertha diverted the children''s attention from the previous topic.


    "I want mashed potatoes!" Helena pointed at the bowl of mashed potatoes on the table with her spoon, her little voice hopeful.


    "Alright, if you love mashed potatoes, have as much as you like." Kimberly heaped a generous spoonful of mashed potatoes into Helena''s bowl.


    She knew the kids loved mashed potatoes and had prepared them especially.


    "I want shrimp." Julian eyed the te of peeled, sulent shrimp, anticipation in his gaze.


    "Here''s your shrimp," Kimberly served Julian a spoonful of shrimp, cing it into his bowl.


    With their desired foods in front of them, the two little ones happily began to eat, the previous conversation forgotten.


    Kids will be kids, after all, not sticking to any particr topic but living in the moment.


    ric, seeing the two children


    engrossed in their meal and paying him no mind, felt a pang of istion. He remained silent, picking up his fork and knife to eat quietly.


    Hertha, too, said nothing more, focusing on her meal.


    Kimberly, however, sought to understand the situation better.


    She asked ric, "What are you really thinking?"


    This sudden question caught ric off guard, but after a moment''s thought, he realized Kimberly was asking about his intentions toward Hertha.


    He set down his cutlery and said to Kimberly, "I''ve made up my mind. It''s Hertha and her kids for me. I want a lifetime with her!"


    That was his heartfelt truth.


    Kimberly''s eyes dimmed, "Are you saying there''s really someone else out there?"


    her words carefully, but ric''s implications hinted at another woman and child in the picture, leaving her disappointed. Content


    In front of the kids, Kimbercs


    belongs to NovelDrama.Org


    Initially, Kimberly had clung to a sliver of hope, wondering if perhaps Hertha was just being stubborn or concocting excuses to avoid marrying ric. Hearing ric''s confession shattered that hope.


    ric realized toote that Kimberly had been fishing for information, and he hadid everything bare. Overwhelmed with difort and guilt, he didn''t want to miss his. chance with Hertha and hurriedly exined, "Kimberly, it was a mistake. I was drunk, didn''t know what was happening. And I''ve made it clear to her, there''s no future for us!"

 Chapter 1872

    Chapter 1872


    Before Kimberly could even say a word, Hertha set down her bowl and chopsticks, her gaze locking onto ric with a mix of seriousness and solemnity.


    "ric, some things in life aren''t just about what you want. It''s not that simple."


    ric and Georgia already had a child together, and their families were entangled in mutual interests.


    ric wasn''t keen on marrying Georgia, but the Falconers were all for it, seeing Georgia as a pir of support for ric''s career.


    If there were no child between Georgia and ric, Hertha could still deceive herself into believing that letting go of the past could open a door to a future with ric.


    But now, Georgia''s child wasn''t just a reminder of ric''s past but a tie to his entire future.


    Hertha didn''t want to spend her life tangled in suchplications.


    The thought of future disputes gave Hertha a headache.


    She made her stance clear; there was no future for her and ric. She couldn''t ept him having a child with another woman.


    ric, initially eager to exin himself to Kimberly, saw his charm fade away upon hearing Hertha''s words. His usually flirtatious eyes now carried a weight of sadness.


    His voice weakened, "Hertha, won''t you even give me a chance?"


    Kimberly, having overheard their conversation, understood the crux of their conflict.


    This time, Hertha wasn''t exaggerating, nor was she wronging ric.


    Just as Hertha couldn''t ept ric''s situation, Kimberly found herself unable to ept it too.


    Kimberly, who had been amiableT¨ºxt belongs to N?velDrama.Org.


    moments ago, lost all appetite upon hearing the discord between Hertha and ric. Dropping her utensils, she said, "If my cooking''s not to your taste, feel free to eat out."


    "Mom..." Hertha tried to protest as Kimberly stood up, dragged her from the chair, and pushed her towards the door, insisting, "Eat out. The chefs at the restaurants do @much better job."


    After pushing Hertha to the door, Kimberly turned back to push ric, "Go on, both of you, it''ll be good..."


    Before Kimberly could reach him, ric stood up, politely saying, "Alright, I''ll take Hertha out. Enjoy your meal. Don''t worry about the kids..." "The kids are my grandchildren, I''ll take care of them," Kimberly cut him off, asserting her role.


    ric said no more, headed to the door, and gestured for Hertha to follow.


    Hertha looked back at Kimberly, hoping her mother might change her mind and ask her to stay. Instead, Kimberly waved her off, signaling her to leave.


    Understanding her mother''s intention for her to have a private talk with ric, Hertha gave up any further protest and turned to leave.


    ¨¦t


    Downstairs, Hertha walked briskly, with ric quickly catching up to her, whispering, "Which restaurant should we pick? You know the area better, just lead the way."


    Hertha rolled her eyes at him, annoyed, "Why bother eating? Let''s just find a ce to sit down and talk things through."

 Chapter 1873

    Chapter 1873


    "But I didn''t really have my fill earlier," ric murmured, wishing more than anything to grab a bite alone with Hertha.


    Since they''d met, it seemed like they hadn''t once dined alone or caught a movie together-none of the typical things couples do. And ric, he really wanted to do all that with Hertha.


    "You not having enough to eat sounds like a you problem, not a me problem!" Hertha said with an air of indifference. She walked briskly, soon reaching the park across from their neighborhood. Sitting down on a bench, she flicked a nce at ric and said, "Sit."


    ric paused for a moment but didn''t press further. The fact that Hertha was calm enough to sit with him was already a win. Asking for more might mean losing even the chance to chat.


    ric sat next to Hertha, pulling out his phone to show her a video from his gallery. "That day, I was in a foul mood, so I hit up Richard and Ethan to grab some drinks at Sapphire Skyline. Out of nowhere, Z shows up with a bunch of girls. We didn''t ask forpany, but this one, Ruby, she just oversteps, trying to feed me a drink. I lost it and pushed her away, and she fell, spilling her ne and scattering the rubies everywhere. She looked so pitiful. I offered topensate with a simr ne, but she had the nerve to say mine was less valuable!"


    ric took a breath, continuing, "The craftsmanship and material were nearly identical. Guess why she imed mine was less valuable?"


    Hertha''s eyes, wide and curious, stayed on him, though she said nothing.


    Seeing her interest, ric went on, "She said the designer of my ne wasn''t as renowned as hers, so it was worth less than a third of hers! I was livid. I mean, how could she undervalue your designs, Hertha!"


    "What did you say? You tried to settle with a piece designed by me?" Hertha was taken aback, her interest piqued.


    ric nodded fervently. "Yes, one of


    your designs. had bought a few on behalf of Crawley Group, remember? I always carry a few of your pieces with me because I treasure your work. k. And then she goes and says your design''s worthless. That just set me off, and I pushed her again. She hit her head on the coffee table, got a gash, and next thing I know, I''m at the police station. That''s the whole story."


    el


    After exining, ric anxiously awaited Hertha''s reaction, worried she might not believe him. Richard. had warned him, he''did out the facts for Hertha, but she was skeptical, thinking it was some scheme they''d cooked up together. So this time, ric was extra detailed, leaving no stone unturned.


    But looking at Hertha, he saw her breathing heavily, her cheeks puffed out in anger. Her baby-fat cheeks, already plump, looked even rounder, making her appear endearingly furious.


    Yet ric was on edge, fearing she was angry or still doubted his story. Just as he was about to offer further proof, Hertha pped her thigh in outrage. "That''s outrageous, looking down on my designs! Who does she think she is? And who''s this hack of a designer she''s so proud of?"


    Hertha red at ric, still fuming.Belonging to N?velDrama.Org.


    ric replied, "Her ne was designed by someone named W."


    "W? Who the heck is that..." Hertha started to scoff, then suddenly paused, a lightbulb going off in her head.

 Chapter 1874

    Chapter 1874


    Hertha''s big, round eyes were locked on ric as she suddenly remembered something. "Wait, isn''t W Thssa? When she picked that stage name, I was her sounding board."


    ric, with a grin that was all too eager to please, said, "Right, it hit meter too. That Ruby said your designs aren''t worth as much as Thssa''s.....¡±


    "Ah, well, Thssa''s the talk of the town now, a designer in high demand. I can''tpare to her, can I? And just because of that, you went and cracked someone''s head open?" The revtion that her work was deemed less valuable than Thssa''s initially cooled Hertha''s temper and forced her to face reality.


    Thssa was her closest friend, the one she had dragged into the jewelry business. Now, Thssa''s fame was skyrocketing, her creations were like gold dust.


    Everyone wanted a piece of her magic but could hardly get it.


    That Ruby, having got her hands on one of Thssa''s phone charms, must have treasured it like a rare gem. But to have it ruined by ric in a heartbeat, no wonder she was less than thrilled.


    A simple rebuttal led to a cracked skull - talk about being unjustly wronged.


    ric nodded, "Exactly, I was so heated. In my eyes, Hertha, your designs are the best, the most valuable. When someone belittled your work, of course, I got mad. I can''t stand anyone talking down about you."


    Seizing the moment, ric made his feelings clear, showing just how much he valued Hertha.


    Her heart fluttered at his words, but just as she was about to lose herself in the moment, skepticism crept into her gaze. "Are you making up stories again to cheer me up? ric, is this your usual trick with women?"


    ric, a seasoned yer in the game of love, could easily sweep Hertha off her feet with his sweet nothings.


    She almost fell for his tall tales, but a wave of sarcasm snapped her back to reality.


    Three years ago, blinded by his good looks and her own infatuation, she had pursued him recklessly, losing herself and ending up with two kids before marriage.


    It was the biggest blunder of her otherwise proud life.


    She couldn''t fall for ric''s ways again.


    Annoyed, Hertha stood up to leave.


    In a panic, ric grabbed her hand, pleading, "Hertha, wait, don''t go. I wasn''t just trying to make you happy, I meant every word. Look at the video on my phone, I''ve been holding it up for you."


    Quickly, he brought his phone in front of Hertha.


    "Video or it didn''t happen. I wouldn''t lie," he said, ying the clip.


    The video showed a hospital room, the camera focusing on a woman''s face - Ruby.


    With her head wrapped in bandages and an IV in her arm, it was clear she was a patient.


    Looking pitiful Ruby addressed the


    camera, "I epted Mr. Falconer''s


    recement charm. The


    craftsmanship and materials are nearly identical, and so is their value. I deeply apologize for saying Mr. Falconer''s charm wasn''t as valuable as mine. I''m sorry!"


    "And?" ric''s serious voice could be heard in the video.


    Ruby, visibly shaken and reluctant, continued, "It was because I said Mr. Falconer''s charm wasn''t as valuable that he pushed me in frustration. identally hit my head on the coffee table, breaking my skuff. It was an ident, and Mr. Falconer wasn''t to me." Belonging to N?velDrama.Org.


    "Even though it was an ident, I can''t stand seeing someone hurt because of me. I''ve paid my medicat bills. In the future, it''s best if you steer clear of me, better yet if we don''t meet again." This was followed by ric''s voice in the video.


    En

 Chapter 1875

    Chapter 1875


    "I get it," Ruby said, fighting back tears.


    And just like that, the video cut off.


    ric quickly defended himself, "See, I wasn''t lying."


    Hertha looked at him skeptically, "Then exin to me why the cops said you were at the nightclub looking for some shadypany, not to mention getting into a physical altercation and a financial dispute?"


    Those were serious usations.


    ric was desperate to clear his name, "I was at Sapphire Skyline just hanging out with Richard and Ethan, drinking. Those girls, Z forced them into our booth. I was disgusted, that''s why I pushed Ruby away, and she got hurt. That''s what they meant by ''physical altercation.'' As for the financial dispute, it''s exactly what you saw in the video. I identally broke her bracelet, and when I tried topensate her for it, we couldn''te to an agreement."


    Hertha pondered his exnation. It made sense, but it was hard to believe outright.


    "Really? That''s the truth?" she pressed, eyebrows raised.


    "Absolutely," ric insisted, almost desperately. "If only there were cameras in that booth, I''d show you the footage myself."


    Seeing his earnestness, Hertha decided to give him the benefit of the doubt.


    But she wasn''t entirely convinced, "Even if you didn''t go to the nightclub to meet women, what about the child you have with Georgia? That''s a fact we can''t ignore. There''s no future for us."


    She withdrew her hand from his and looked away.


    Mentioning Georgia brought a wave of sadness over Hertha. ric was someone she had once been deeply infatuated with, and even now, a part of her couldn''t let him go.


    She would have loved nothing more than to be with him forever, but reality was often cruel and dreams seldom came true.


    She couldn''t lower her standards, nor could she ept a man who had a child with another woman.


    The mention of Georgia deted ric''s confidence too. His eyes usually so sharp, dimmed as he sighed, "About Georgia... all I can say is, I won''t be with her, nor wilDIpromise because of the child."


    He could only state his position. Changing established facts was beyond his control.


    "But the reality is what I can''t ept," Hertha told him firmly. "I''d rather be alone than with someone tainted. Someone who carries the dirt of another woman."


    "Are you calling me tainted?" ric was taken aback, hurt shing across his face.


    Hertha knew her words were harsh, but they needed to address their issues head-on.


    Taking a deep breath, she continued, "Yes, to me, you''re covered in mud, impossible to clean. Coming near me, all can sense is the stench of that mud, the presence of another woman. I can''t ept that N?velDrama.Org content rights.

 Chapter 1876

    Chapter 1876


    She just couldn''t wrap her head around it¡ªa man like ric, who''d intertwined his life with another woman''s to the extent of having a child with her. It wasn''t that she was a purist when it came to love, but the idea of sharing ric with another woman because of a child was something she found insurmountable.N?velDrama.Org holds this content.


    Perhaps it was the depth of her love, the height of her expectations, that made epting this version of him impossible.


    Even if Hertha hadn''t loved ric with such intensity before, hadn''t yearned for a simple, undiluted life of domestic bliss with him, her sense of betrayal wouldn''t cut as deep.


    But it was precisely because of her deep-seated hopes that she couldn''te to terms with a blemished version of him-a man who had a child with another woman, outside of their family.


    These were the thoughts swirling in Hertha''s mind, unspoken to ric. Yet, the words she had uttered earlier made her stance painfully clear. ric''s once sparkling, fox-like eyes had dimmed, now filled with sorrow and pain.


    He looked at her steadily for a few seconds before dropping his gaze, his breathing heavy with the weight of his predicament, "What am I supposed to do? How can I fix this?"


    Indeed, everything had been orchestrated by Georgia behind his back. He had stumbled into that hotel room drunk, believing he was with Hertha, only to wake up to Georgia.


    He had never wanted a child with Georgia, yet that conniving woman went ahead and had the baby without his consent!


    None of this was what he wanted, yet it had all unfolded without his control.


    Now, he felt powerless and without recourse.


    Seeing ric in this state of despair tore at Hertha''s heart, as if a small knife was methodically slicing through her heart.


    Yet, she forced herself to suppress the pain, pretending to be calm as she said to ric, "We can''t change what''s happened, so let''s figure out a way forward."


    ric looked up at her, confused by her words.


    el


    Hertha, maintaining herposure, continued, "Let''s just be friends, okay? If you miss the kids, you can get in touch,e and see them. I won''t stop you. But between us, let''s just be friends and live peacefully."


    Her earlier deration of wanting to cut ric out of her lifepletely had been said in anger.


    Upon reflection, she realized it wasn''t realistic.


    If it weren''t for their two adorable children, who deeply longed for their father''s affection, maybe aplete separation could work.


    But she couldn''t, in good conscience, deny her children the chance to bond with their father, despite her own feelings towards ric.


    Her mother had encouraged her to have this talk with ric, hoping they could find a resolution.


    And after much contemtion, Hertha concluded that the best oue for her and ric was to remain just friends.


    Better to find a harmonious coexistence than to continue their standoff.

 Chapter 1877

    Chapter 1877


    His heart shattered in an instant. ric knew Hertha had made up her mind to keep their rtionship strictly tonic, closing the door on any romantic entanglement between them.


    Compared to her previous deration of wanting to never see him again, this seemed like a merciful reprieve. But why did it hurt even more than the thought of a lifetime apart?


    When she spoke of never seeing each other again, at least there was emotion in it, a sign that she still cared enough to be angry. Anger meant there were still expectations. Now, her calmness, theck of any ripple in her gaze, spoke volumes.


    Her words were so measured, devoid of any trace of anger, signaling that she had moved on, indifferent to what they once had. She didn''t care about him anymore.


    Reading this in Hertha''s tranquil eyes, ric felt as if a hand was clutching his heart, squeezing it painfully, making it hard for him to breathe. Looking at Hertha, his gaze lost its usual steadiness, bing unsettled. He wanted to speak, but when he opened his mouth, only a trembling voice came out, his taste buds tinged with bitterness.N?velDrama.Org content rights.


    Taking a deep breath, he managed to suppress the difort slightly, striving forposure as he asked, "So, will you marry someone else?"


    Hertha, noticing ric''s distress despite his attempts to hide it, felt a stab of pain herself the moment she heard his shaky voice. Yet, she steadied her emotions, offering a smile as she casually and openly responded to his question, "Hard to say. If I meet someone really suitable, someone who''s great for me and the kids, maybe I will."


    ricughed, tears welling up in his eyes. He looked away, blinking back the tears, and with a forced smile, he asked, "Then, how will I get to see the kids if you''re married?"


    "That''s why you need to check in with me before youe to see them, so I can make arrangements. Don''t worry, your ce as their dad won''t be reced," Hertha reassured him, speaking as if to a good friend.


    But the bitterness in ric''s heart spread far and wide. He wanted to ask, "What about my ce in your, heart? Will that be reced?" The words reached his throat but


    d so painfully he coet


    voice them. In the end, he swallowed them back down.


    Instead, he nodded, saying, "It''s gettingte, I should head back to rest."


    Hertha smiled genuinely, "Let''s walk together, you''re staying on the same floor as me, right?"


    ric nodded, leading the way, with Hertha quickening her steps to walk beside him.


    The short walk from the park to their building felt like an eternity. After today, he and Hertha would interact as just friends, extinguishing any flicker of hope for reconciliation. His heart felt as cold and piercing as the biting wind.

 Chapter 1878

    Chapter 1878


    Hertha kept her gaze fixed firmly ahead, not daring to even nce at ric.


    She feared that seeing ric''s strikingly handsome face, with those fox-like, captivating eyes filled with profound sadness, would make her heart soften andpel her to retract the words she had just spoken to him.


    After much internal struggle, Hertha had resolved to keep ric at arm''s length, deciding their rtionship should continue merely as that of casual friends.


    It had taken some convincing, but ric had agreed. She couldn''t let his pitiful appearance sway her now, not when she had finally steeled her heart against him.


    With a heavy heart, Hertha marched on, her head held high, refusing to give in to the pain and pity gnawing at her.


    Walking beside her, ric kept his head slightly bowed, not once looking at Hertha. His demeanor was one of subdued sorrow.


    He feared Hertha seeing the redness in his eyes, the unshed tears. After all, he was a man, and men weren''t supposed to cry easily.


    He couldn''t allow Hertha to see him weep. She had made her stance clear-they were to be just friends, with no further entanglements. That was her showing mercy, her being generous.


    And he had epted her terms.


    If Hertha saw his tears now, where would that leave his pride?


    He was a man, and no matter how much pain he was in, he couldn''t show his vulnerability, especially not in front of a woman.


    Their short walk to the elevator felt like an eternity, each step heavy with unspoken words and suppressed feelings. The silence between them was palpable and awkward.


    Just moments ago, they had been desperately trying to exin themselves to each other, and now, they stood together like strangers, without a word to share.


    This unfamiliar familiarity between them was heart-wrenching.


    At the peak of the awkward silence, it was Hertha who finally spoke, attempting a small smile. "Aren''t you nning to return to the Falconer Group? How long do you intend to stay with the Crawley Group?"


    Her words were casual, the kind of question friends might ask each other-nothing more.


    ric snapped back to reality, stealing a quick nce at Hertha. Seeing her attempt at a smile felt like a sting to his already aching heart.


    He didn''t really have the heart to answer her question, merely responding, "We''ll see."


    For Hertha, maintaining a friendship was simple, but for him, it was as painful as undergoing a major surgery.N?velDrama.Org content rights.


    In his life, Ataric had been a yboy, treating women like they were disposable. Falling so deeply in love for the first time, only to have it end in despair, felt like a cruel O punishment from fate.


    Hertha, sensing ric''s indifference, felt her forced smile fade. The pain she had been trying to keep at bay pricked her heart once more.


    Just then, the elevator arrived. Hertha stepped in without another word to ric.


    It seemed she was no different from the other women in ric''s past. Once the possibility of a rtionship was off the table, they truly became strangers.


    He didn''t even seem willing to talk to her anymore.


    The more she thought about it, the angrier Hertha became.


    Standing in the elevator, the confined space magnified the tension between them.


    Soon, the elevator reached its destination. Hertha stepped out first, with ric trailing behind. As she walked away, he called out, "Hertha..."

 Chapter 1879

    Chapter 1879


    "Don''t call out to me!" Hertha snapped back furiously, not even bothering to look back as she stormed off to her front door. She swung it open, stepped inside, and mmed it shut with such force that ric was momentarily stunned.


    The already aching heart of ric tightened even more at Hertha''s cold demeanor towards him.


    Dragging his feet, ric made his way back home, feeling as if he had lost all his pirs of support, his body weak and limp.


    That night, hey in bed shivering uncontrobly, wrapping himself tightly in his nket, but still couldn''t shake off the cold.


    It was a torturous night, and by the next day, he found himself unable to get out of bed.


    Throughout the day, his phone by the bedside rang multiple times, but ric, wrapped up in his nket like a burrito, had no energy to answer, shivering from the cold.


    In thete afternoon, around five, the door to ric''s ce swung open, and Ethan stepped inside, calling out tentatively, "ric, ric..."


    No response.


    Thinking the house was empty, Ethan took out his phone to call again.


    The call connected, and the ringing echoed through the room. Following the sound, Ethan walked into the bedroom and saw the phone buzzing on the nightstand, with ric wrapped in his nket, cocooned like a caterpir.


    Who else could it be but ric?


    Ethan ended the call and quickly walked over, bending down with concern. "ric, what''s going on?" he asked.


    ric didn''t open his eyes or respond.


    Suddenly it dawned on Ethan. He had been calling all morning, the phone was working, the ringtone loud. ric had no reason not to hear it. Yet, he wasn''t answering!N?velDrama.Org holds this content.


    "Oh no!" Ethan gasped, reaching out to check if ric was still breathing. "Don''t tell me he''s..."


    Just as Ethan was about to feel


    vel


    ric''s breath, ric suddenly opened his eyes and said


    emotionlessly, "Get lost, you''re the one that''s gone!"


    n


    Ethan quickly withdrew his hand,ughing. "Good, you''re still with us. But seriously, what''s up? You''re not at work, hot calling in sick. Your boss here personally calls you, and you don''t pick up. What, are you staging a rebellion?"


    Ethan was joking around.


    ric responded, "Does the Crawley Group always exploit its workers like this? Can''t a guy call in sick without skipping work?"


    "What, you''re sick?" Ethan immediately dropped the humorous act, reaching out to touch ric''s forehead.


    "Whoa, you''re burning up! You''ve really got a fever?" Ethan eximed in shock.


    "No kidding, do people fake being sick?" ric shot back, visibly annoyed.


    "Have you been in bed since yesterday? Haven''t eaten all day?" Ethan was astonished.


    "How could I? I haven''t left this spot," ric replied weakly, managing a listless roll of his eyes.


    "Oh, we can''t have that. If you starved, someone would be heartbroken," Ethan couldn''t help but crack another joke.


    He had always been like this, irreverent from the start.


    That remark hit a nerve with ric. Just as his mood was beginning to improve, it plummeted back down to a gloomy state, and he fell silent.


    Seeing ric''s eyshes flutter


    down, his eyes a storm of sadness,


    Ethan uncharacteristically asked, "What''s wrong? You and Hertha had a fight?" Content belongs


    to


    "It''s not that. She doesn''t want me anymore. It''s over between us," ric said, sounding utterly forlorn.

 Chapter 1880

    Chapter 1880


    "What? Hertha dumped you?" Ethan eximed, feeling ric''s forehead again. "Whoa, you''re burning up. That''s one nasty fever." ric swatted Ethan''s hand away with force, visibly annoyed. "I''m lying here dying, and you''re still in the mood to make fun of me?"


    "I''m not making fun of you, man. I''m worried about you," Ethan said, struggling to keep a straight face.


    ric gave him a sidelong nce. "Since when are you so kind-hearted?"


    "You''re doing me dirty, man," Ethan protested. Then, leaning closer to ric, he whispered, "Bet you never saw thising. You, the heartbreaker, getting your heart shattered. Well, what goes aroundes around, huh?"


    Ethan couldn''t help butugh, his chest heaving with each chuckle. Only a true friend could joke about something like this.


    "You wouldn''t understand love if it hit you in the face," ric muttered, turning his head away.


    "True, I don''t get love. But I do know that if you keep this up, you''re gonna end up dead. Not from this fever, but from starvation," Ethan said with augh.


    "Just leave if you can''t help me," ric grumbled, pulling the nket over himself.


    "Fine, I''ll go talk to Hertha. She lives next door to you, right?" Ethan got up, ready to leave.


    At that, ric suddenly grabbed Ethan''s hand, his earlier humor gone, reced by a look of sincere distress. "Don''t go to her," he said, his voice tinged with a sadness that wasn''t there before. "She made it clear yesterday that she won''t stop me from seeing the kids. If I bother her now, she might not even let me do that."


    Ethan was about to crack another joke but stopped short at the sight of ric''s genuine sorrow.


    "So, I really shouldn''t go?" Ethan asked, his tone now serious.Belonging to N?velDrama.Org.


    ric shook his head. "Don''t."


    He couldn''t shake off the memory of theirst meeting, Hertha''s irritated and disdainful voice echoing in his head.


    She had made it clear,paring


    him to something dirty and


    unwee: ric knew that his


    connection to Georgia was a


    deal-breaker for Hertha. Pushi


    n


    further would only make things worse.


    For the first time, ric felt truly low.


    S


    any


    Seeing ric in this state, Ethan decided to drop the subject. "Alright then, get up. Let''s head to the hospital."


    ric stubbornly replied like a sulking child, "I don''t wanna. I don''t want to get out of bed."


    "I don''t wanna move," ric insisted.


    Ethan was speechless. He couldn''t believe that a simple girl like Hertha could bring ric to this point.


    Love, it seemed, was indeed a dangerous game.


    Understanding ric''s stubbornness, Ethan conceded, "Alright, if you won''t get up, I guess I''ll have to bring the doctor here."

 Chapter 1881

    Chapter 1881


    Watching ric in this state, Ethan''s heart skipped a beat. He had never seen ric so lifeless before. The ric who used to be the life of the party, always with a quick joke and a faster smile, never letting emotions get the better of him, had now sumbed to love''s cruel blow. How quickly fortunes change, Ethan thought to himself with a sigh, as he left ric''s ce.


    He nced towards Hertha''s house on his way out, noting the firmly shut door, wondering if anyone was inside. On one hand, ric was barely hanging on, while on the other, Hertha was probably having the time of her life with the kids, Ethan mused. He had thought about reaching out to Hertha, but remembering the sorrowful look in ric''s eyes when he asked him not to, Ethan decided against it. He didn''t want to be the reason ric ended up losing even the chance to see his kids.


    ric had been over the moon when he found out about his kids with Hertha, sharing the news with Ethan at the first opportunity and making him swear to keep it a secret from the Falconer family. Despite his love for teasing ric, Ethan knew the gravity of the situation well enough to keep his word. Seeing ric''s condition was enough to understand how important those kids were to him.N?velDrama.Org content rights.


    After onest look at Hertha''s house, Ethan turned to leave, but he wasn''t ready to give up on helping ric just yet. After all, what kind of best friend would he be if he just stood by and watched ric suffer without doing anything?


    He decided to call Thssa, Hertha''s best friend. If he shared how sick ric was with Thssa, the news would surely reach Hertha, right? Soon Thssa picked up, and Ethan didn''t hold back on describing ric''s dire state.


    "Thssa, you wouldn''t believe how bad it is. I just left ric''s, and he''s really sick. Running a fever of 104, hasn''t eaten or drunk anything for days. He''s all skin and bones; looks like he''s about to kick the bucket."


    Thssa was shocked to hear about ric''s condition, asking, "How is he now? Is he in the hospital?"


    "If only he agreed to go to the


    hospital, I wouldn''t be so worried," Ethanmented. "He''s just lying in bed, refusing to go to the hospital. What do I do? Where do I find a miracle worker who can cure both his body and soul?"


    Ethan tried to steer the conversation towards Hertha, hoping Thssa would go and talk some sense into ric. But Thssa had other ideas, suggesting, "I know a doctor. You should see her. She''s good with acupuncture and traditional


    medicine. If she looks at ric, I bet she can make a difference." Content


    belongs to NovelDrama.Org


    "Uh?" Ethan was taken aback, not getting the response he hoped for. Thssa continued, "Her name''s Lydia. You can find her on Angel Street, number 3. Tell her I sent you."


    "Hey, Thssa, don''t you have any thoughts on ric''s situation?" Ethan pushed, still hoping to nudge her towards talking to Hertha about ric. Thssa replied, "I feel for ric really do. But we''re all human, bound to fall ill now and then. Best thing is to get treated. Tell him to buck up; it''ll all feel better once he''s healed." Content belongs


    to NovelDrama.Org


    Ethan was left speechless.

 Chapter 1882

    Chapter 1882


    Ethan was at a loss for words. He had intended for Thssa to have a word with Hertha about ric''s condition, given that it was Hertha''s rejection that had left ric heartbroken and seriously ill. After all, they say a broken heart needs a touch of love to heal. But Thssa seemed to miss the hint entirely and went on to rmend a doctor instead. Ethan didn''t quite know how to respond.


    After hanging up, Ethan received a text from Thssa with the name and contact of the doctor-Lydia. Ethan had heard of her before; rumor had it that Lydia had single-handedly held off four bouncers to help Thssa crash Lysander''s wedding at a hotel. Ethan was intrigued and wondered if Lydia was as formidable as the stories suggested. Since he was looking for a doctor to treat ric at home, it seemed like a good idea to give her a try.


    Driving to the address Thssa had provided, Ethan navigated through several rooms filled with medical supplies but found no one. He continued until he heard noises from an open door. Peeking inside, he saw a tall, slim woman with short hair, wearing ab coat, mixing two test tubes containing blue and white liquids. As shebined them, they reacted with a gurgle, and the next moment, exploded with a bang.


    The woman, startled, jumped back right into Ethan''s line of sight. "Hey, hey, hey..." Ethan instinctively put his hands out to catch the flying hazard, but it was toote. The woman crashed into him, and Ethan, shocked, noted how soft she felt. Before he could react, he heard her gasp.N?velDrama.Org holds this content.


    Looking down, Lydia saw two hands around her in a very awkward position-a region no one had dared touch before. Furious, she turned and punched Ethan in the eye.


    "Ouch!" Ethan saw stars before


    another punchnded on his stomach. "Ugh!" Clutching his belly he looked up just in time to see her fisting again. He stumbled back as she advanced, her expression fierce.


    Ethan, with a throbbing eye and aching stomach, raised his hands in surrender. "Mercy, please, don''t hit me."


    "You pervert, taking advantage of ady, I''ll teach you a lesson!" Lydia''s fist aimed for Ethan''s groin.


    Ethan''s eyes widened in fear, and he quickly knelt before her. "Please, stop! It wasn''t intentional. I was just trying to catch you!"


    Lydia paused her fist at thest second, panting and ring at the man before her. "Not intentional? You think you can just show up and get fresh with me?"


    Ethan felt wronged. "I was here to see you about something important. How was I supposed to know you were going to fly out at me? bwas just trying to catch you."

 Chapter 1883

    Chapter 1883


    Ethan gingerly touched his throbbing eye, wincing at the sharp pain that greeted his fingertips. "Damn, she really packs a punch," he muttered to himself.


    "Who told you to catch me? Where did you think you were touching just now?" Lydia''s voice rose, her chest heaving with anger.


    The thought of being touched in ces no one had dared to before, especially by a man, filled her with indignation and a sense of vition. The idea alone made her blood boil, her thoughts racing with visions of retribution.


    Hearing her, Ethan''s mind raced back to the moment of contact, the unique sensation making him suddenly sheepish. "It was all so chaotic, I... I wasn''t really thinking..."


    "Not the truth, huh?"


    "Ow!" Another punchnded in Ethan''s gut, eliciting a pained yelp from him.


    Struggling to lift his gaze, he saw Lydia''s fist raised again, this time aimed at his face. Panic set in, and Ethan braced for impact, shutting his eyes tight.


    But instead of pain, the sound of a ringing phone halted Lydia''s wrathful arm mid-air.


    With a fierce re, Lydia withdrew her fist and fished her phone from her pocket.


    "Hello?" Her voice wasced with barely contained fury.


    "Lydia, I sent someone over to see you. His friend''s sick and he needs your help. Did he make it there?" Thssa''s voice came through the phone, concerned yet calm.


    Lydia paused, her eyes darting to Ethan still kneeling before her. "Was it you who was sent by someone?"


    Ethan, seizing the opportunity, quickly confirmed, "Yes, it''s me. Thssa asked me to find you."N?velDrama.Org content rights.


    "Shut up!" Lydia snapped at him, her gaze sharp.


    Even if Thssa had sent him, his earlier transgression was unforgivable to Lydia.


    "Lydia, is he there with you?" Thssa''s voice broke through Lydia''s irritation.


    "He''s here, I''ve got it from here," Lydia replied curtly, ending the call.


    With a cold stare, she turned to Ethan, "So, how do you propose we settle this?"


    Ethan looked up at her, noting the fierce determination in her stance. He knew better than to expect any leniency.


    ncing from Lydia''s formidable expression to his own vulnerable state, he instinctively shielded himself.


    "I was just at the doorstep when


    yourb experiment exploded,


    sending you flying out. There was no


    escaping or avoiding it. I meant to


    push you away, but ended up catching you in... well, a rather


    awkward manner." Content belongs


    to NovelDrama.Org


    "Enough! Another word and I''ll cut your tongue out!" Lydia''s anger red at his admission, her cheeks flushing with rage.


    Ethan immediately fell silent,


    bet


    pleading, "I''m sorry, truly. How about you hit my hands? They''re the guilty ones, after all."


    "Oh, using your hands as a scapegoat? Fine, I''ll chop them off!" Lydia seethed, grabbing Ethan''s wrist with a grip that threatened to snap bones.


    "Wait, wait, wait! My mistake, I''ll pay you, whatever amount you want, just spare me," Ethan blurted out in sheer panic.

 Chapter 1884

    Chapter 1884


    \"What did you just say? You''re giving me money?\" Lydia burst outughing as if she''d just heard the funniest joke ever.


    At first, she was just angry, but now it was a mix of anger and hrity.


    This guy must havee here just to insult her!


    With a chuckle, Lydia grabbed his arm, hoisted him up, and with a swift move reminiscent of a wrestling throw, mmed him onto the ground. \"Ouch!\" Ethan, a grown man, was yanked up by Lydia and thrown down, sprawling awkwardly on the floor.


    Hey there groaning as if he was about to fall apart, every bone in his body crying out in agony.


    \"How much do you reckon your hospital bill''s gonna be?\" Lydia stood over Ethan, looking down at him with a mix of curiosity and disdain.


    Ethan, writhing in pain, couldn''t muster a single word.


    Lydia nudged him with her foot, \"Hey, get up.\"


    Ethan gasped in pain. Just when he thought his body couldn''t hurt any more, this woman gave him another nudge, making him fear his bones were cracking.


    He hade to see if Lydia was as fierce as the legends said, and boy, did she exceed those tales.


    He truly regretteding here now.


    \"Hey, quit ying dead. Get up,\" Lydia nudged him again with her foot.


    \"Uh...\" A deep-seated fear of Lydia''s touch gripped Ethan. This time, though she didn''t kick him, just the nudge made his body convulse with pain.


    He passed out, eyes rolling back, the whole nine yards.


    Seeing this, Lydia realized something was off, quickly crouching down to check his breathing. Thankfully, he was still breathing.


    Was this guy really that fragile? Just a few hits and he''s out cold?


    Lydia pped his face lightly, \"Hey, wake up. Don''t y dead on me!\"


    But Ethan remained motionless.


    Lydia then twisted his ear, hoping the pain would wake him, yet he still didn''t stir.


    \"Could he actually be seriously ill?\" Lydia started to worry.


    After all, chronic illnesses aren''t always visible, and a hit or shock could trigger a condition. She couldn''t be that unlucky, could she? To have stumbled upon someone seriously ill? Panic set in, and Lydia quickly hoisted Ethan off the ground, carrying him to the infirmary. Laying him on the hospital bed, Lydia began to administer treatment with a needle.


    As soon as the needle pierced his


    skin, Ethan sat up like aT¨ºxt belongs to N?velDrama.Org.


    jack-in-the-box, causing Lydia


    ol


    step back in shock, needle still in hand.


    UMS


    "What are you doing, ying zombie?\" she eximed.


    Ethan''s eyes widened in fear, \"What are you doing? Are you trying to kill me?\"


    \"I''m saving you,\" Lydia retorted.


    Seeing the needle in her hand, Ethan gulped, \"You''re saving me?\"


    \"Yeah, you passed out cold, wouldn''t wake up for anything. I had to use the needle,\" Lydia exined. \"By the way, do you have some kind of underlying condition?\"


    \"Underlying condition? What kind of condition?\" Ethan asked, puzzled.


    "You tell me,\" Lydia prodded.


    \"You didn''t... check me, did you?\" Ethan quickly checked his clothing.


    Phew.


    His pants were still on, and his shirt was intact.


    Ethan looked up at Lydia in disbelief, \"Why would you say I have an underlying condition?\"


    \"You passed out from a simple


    bump. If that''s not being fragile, b don''t know what is. Got any chronic diseases or something?\" Lydia put away the needle, tucking it into its case.

 Chapter 1885

    Chapter 1885


    "You call that a few taps? You nearly killed me!" Ethan''sint was thick with both pain and an attempt to hold back tears.


    Lydia looked at him, trying to keep a straight face as he ranted with a silver acupuncture needle sticking out of his head, making him look like a character out of a quirky cartoon. The sight was just too ridiculous.


    She couldn''t help it and let out a snort ofughter.


    "What''s so funny? I''m being serious here!" Ethan''s feeling of injustice grew.


    Every move he made sent jolts of pain through his body; even speaking seemed to stretch and pull at his painful muscles. After a few words, he winced sharply, unsure of where to hold himself as it seemed like every part ached.


    "A big guy like you can''t even take a throw? And you call yourself a man?" Lydia crossed her arms and smirked at him.


    "Whether I''m a man is not for you to decide! With your fierce attitude, you wouldn''t recognize a real man if he stood right in front of you!" Ethan''s retort was borderline offensive.


    Even though Lydia was rtively inexperienced in the ways of the world, she understood the implication of his words. Her expression darkened immediately, and she took a step towards Ethan, "What did you say?"


    Ethan instantly regretted his words, shrinking back and quickly trying to backpedal, "I didn''t say anything, just forget it."


    Seeing him cower so quickly, Lydia didn''t advance further but still stood with her arms crossed, eyeing Ethan, "Can you even walk?"


    "What do you mean?" Ethan was already afraid of her; one stern look from her, and he worried she might physically reprimand him.


    "It''s nothing. Don''t you have a friend who''s really sick? Take me to him," Lydia said.


    That''s when Ethan remembered the urgent matter at hand. Right, ric was still at home, sick as a dog. If he didn''t get back soon, who knows how bad it could get.


    Trying to muster the strength to get up from the bed, Ethan moved and pain radiated through his body, forcing him to sit back down with a groan. "Ah, it hurts so much..." Ethan whimpered.


    "Are you trying to scam me now?" Lydia squinted at him.


    "I wouldn''t dare! I''m genuinely in pain here," Ethan was on the verge of tears.


    Initially, he was all about helping his sick friend ric, but now he found himself in need of care.


    Lydia remarked, "You''re acting more delicate than a damsel."


    "And you''re more aggressive than any guy I know. Don''t you understand I''m not exactly the athletic type?" Ethan was genuinely upset now.


    "Alright, I''ll help you up. Let''s go check on your friend," Lydia said, although she was visibly annoyed.T¨ºxt belongs to N?velDrama.Org.


    But she was a doctor, having studied under Dr. Funke, although not for long. The first lesson Dr. Funke taught her was the principle ofpassion in medicine.


    She didn''t quite understand why Dr. Funke chose to practice medicine merely as a hobby, but she


    remembered the lesson of


    compassion well and intended


    live by it. Since someone came seeking her help, she couldn''t turn them away.


    "Don''te any closer. I''ll walk on my own," Ethan said, panic-stricken at her approach, forcing himself to stand despite the pain.


    Lydia saw him get up, smiled slightly, and flicked her head, "Lead the way."


    Ethan obediently started walking ahead.


    He thought to himself, she''s like a bandit queen, not to be messed with. If only he had brought some


    bodyguards. But then, remembering how she single-handedly dealt alt with


    four bodyguards before, he


    realized


    it wouldn''t have made any difference.


    Walking ahead, Ethan didn''t dare to make a sound despite the pain with each step. He was too scared,


    any word from him might in th


    another punch from Lydia belongs to NovelDrama.Org


    Content

 Chapter 1886

    Chapter 1886


    Poor Ethan, injured and still stuck with driving duty. His eyes ached, his back ached, his stomach ached - heck, his whole body ached. But with a tough woman like Lydia riding shotgun,ining was thest thing he dared to do.Content (C) N?v/elDra/ma.Org.


    Ethan nced over at Lydia as he drove. She was staring straight ahead, seemingly oblivious to his gaze. Yet, after he sneaked a few looks, Lydia suddenly spoke, "Keep your eyes on the road, or else why would I need your hands intact?"


    She didn''t even nce his way as she spoke, her focus remaining fixed ahead, yet she knew precisely when Ethan had been stealing looks. Hearing her, Ethan instantly straightened up, gripping the steering wheel tightly, not daring to let his eyes wander again. Just the mere content of Lydia''s words was enough to scare him stiff. Was she implying the only reason she hadn''t harmed him was to keep him as her personal chauffeur?


    Ethan bit back his anger, choosing to quietly and obediently continue driving. The rest of the journey passed in silence, without even a nce exchanged between them. Eventually, they pulled up in the Gulfstream Community.


    Ethan got out first, respectfully opening the passenger side door for Lydia. "Please, after you, Miss Lydia."


    Lydia gave him a look that screamed, "Cut the act, or I might just lose my patience." With that, she grabbed her medical kit and stepped out.


    Ethan''s sycophantic smile froze, and as he watched Lydia''s retreating figure, he couldn''t help but grind his teeth internally, cursing her, "Stuck-up woman, acting all high and mighty. One of these days, I''ll make you bow down to me! Can''t do right by you, and you throw a fit if I don''t, what''s your deal?"


    Just as he was stewing in his thoughts, Lydia suddenly stopped and turned, her eyes narrowing, "What did you say?"


    Ethan''s inner rant came to an abrupt halt, his facade of obedience snapping back into ce, "You heard wrong, I didn''t say anything."


    Lydia gave him a skeptical look, "Better be. If I find out you''ve been badmouthing me, I''ll have you picking up your teeth off the floor!"


    With that, she turned and continued on her way Ethan was left sweating bullets, marveling at how terrifyingly intuitive Lydia seemed. The only other person he''d met who could be as intimidating was Lysander and Lydia might just surpass him.


    Wiping the sweat from his forehead, Ethan hurried to catch up. In the elevator, Ethan made sure to keep his distance, wary of getting too close to someone he clearly couldn''t handle.


    Arriving at ric''s doorstep, Ethan quickly unlocked the door, gesturing for Lydia to enter with a respectful, "After you." He was being extra polite, terrified of identally offending her.


    Lydia walked in and looked around the living room, asking, "Where is he?"


    Ethan, not wanting to risk a punch for any dissatisfaction, hurriedly said, "In his room, I''ll show you."


    "Ethan, you heartbreaker, abandoning me like this! Do you know I''m dying here?"


    Before they even reached the room, ric''s voice, full of usation and pity, filled the air. Ethan cringed at ric''s words, fearing the misunderstanding they might cause.


    Turning to Lydia apprehensively, he saw her looking at him as if he was the punchline of a joke.

 Chapter 1887

    Chapter 1887


    "Oh man, Lydia might have gotten the wrong idea. This could be a huge misunderstanding," Ethan muttered to himself, feeling the weight of the situation.


    He quickly called out to the room, "ric, man, you''re sick, and I was just trying to help by getting a doctor. And now you''re giving me grief?"


    It was his roundabout way of clearing the air, stressing that ric''s illness wasn''t his doing.


    "Ethan,e on, dude. I bust my butt every day for you, and you hit me with this cold talk. Have you got no heart for me anymore? Cough, cough..." ric, delirious from the fever, starving and miserable, had been lying in bed waiting for Ethan toe back for what felt like forever.


    His feelings of neglect were mounting.


    After years of being tight as brothers, Ethan wouldn''t just leave him in the lurch, would he?


    Thinking about their long-standing friendship only made him feel worse.


    ric''s heart was a wastnd of disappointment.


    His words couldn''t help but get a bit dramatic.


    Ethan felt a wave of embarrassment. ric''s usations were getting more outrageous by the minute.


    With no clear exnation in sight, he stepped aside to let Lydia enter the room first.


    As Lydia passed him, she shot him a look filled with amusement andughter.


    She didn''t say anything, just walked straight into the room.


    Ethan, on the other hand, felt utterly downcast. Great, first branded a troublemaker, and now caught in a misunderstanding. This was just his luck. Lydia was already by ric''s bedside, asking, "What''s making you feel so awful?"


    The moment ric opened his eyes and saw Lydia, he was shocked. "Lydia! Dr. Funke''s apprentice! Ethan, you actually got her toe!"Belonging to N?velDrama.Org.


    "Cut the chatter, what''s actually wrong with you?" Lydia wasn''t interested in anything beyond his symptoms.


    "I feel terrible all over, anxious, feverish, my stomach''s growling but I can''t eat..." After a day and a night of fever, ric felt close to death. Seeing the doctor, he felt like he had seen a lifeline and was eager to exin his condition.


    Lydia took a thermometer out of her medical bag and handed it to him, "Check your temperature first."


    That''s when Ethan walked in. He said to Lydia, "He''s just been fighting with Hertha, and then he fell sick. Sounds like lovesickness to me. A case of needing heart medicine for a heart problem, right?"


    e


    Ethan was trying to make sure Lydia understood ric''s sickness stemmed from a quarrel with a girl, not from anything Ethan had done. He was aiming to clear up the earlier misunderstanding.


    Lydia shot him a disdainful nce, "I''m talking to the patient, not you."


    Ethan mped his mouth shut, not uttering another word.


    With the thermometer tucked under his arm, ric turned to find Ethan looking all bruised up, "Ethan, what happened to you, man? You look like you''ve been in a brawl."


    Ethan replied with a mix of frustration and self-pity, "All thanks to our esteemed doctor here..."


    "Oh? You got beef with Lydia now?" ric couldn''t resist a bit of gossip.


    "It''s nothing. Just focus on taking your temperature and let me know the result," Lydia interjected before leaving the room.


    ric gave Ethan a look, signaling him toe closer.


    Ethan approached the bedside, and ric whispered, "What did you do to get on her bad side?"


    Thinking about it just irritated Ethan


    even more, and he couldn''t help but push ric lightly, saying, "It''s all because of you! You''ve got me into a whole heap of trouble!"


    "Me? Really?" ric was genuinely surprised.

 Chapter 1888

    Chapter 1888


    Ethan was just about to spill the beans to ric about the whole story when the sound of footsteps approached. Lydia walked in, "What are you two whispering about?"


    The mere sight of Lydia''s shadow was enough to scare Ethan into silence. He immediately zipped his lips, not daring to utter another word. Desperately, he used his eyes to signal ric to smooth things over, or else he''d be in trouble again.


    ric, clueless about Ethan''s desperate signaling, asked in confusion, "Ethan, what''s with your eyes? Are you having a spasm or something?" Ethan: ""


    Thanks a lot, buddy, your eyes are the ones having a spasm!


    He gave ric a look of utter despair, and upon noticing Lydia making her entrance, he immediately shrank into a corner, turned his head away, and pretended he hadn''t said a thing.


    Oblivious to the backstory, ric, genuinely concerned about his friend''s condition, saw Lydiae in and curiously asked, "Dr. Lydia, what happened to my buddy here? How did he get these injuries?"


    "Ahem, he got into a bit of a scrap," Lydia coughed lightly, answering ric''s question.Content (C) N?v/elDra/ma.Org.


    "What, someone actually did this to him!" ric was instinctively shocked, blurting out this question before suddenly realizing something and tentatively asking, "It wasn''t you who did this, was it?"


    Just before, Ethan had mentioned his injuries were somehow rted to Lydia, and ric hadn''t thought much of it, assuming Lydia was just somehow involved.


    But then he remembered this one time when he was driving Thssa to a wedding, Lydia single-handedly held her ground against four bodyguards,ing out without a scratch!


    That''s when ric realized just how formidable Lydia was.


    With that in mind, ric knew he had asked a redundant question.


    The answer was obviously yes!


    Seeing ric''s blunt question, Ethan instantly shot him a ring look.


    Lydia, however, answered quite frankly, "Yes, I did it. Once you''re better, you might want to keep your friend in check. Tell him not to mess with people he shouldn''t."


    Lydia gave ric a piece of advice.


    ric, still puzzled, asked, "Who did he mess with?"


    Ethan, panicked, quickly covered ric''s mouth with his hand,ughing and turning back to Lydia, "He''s a bit of a talker, better not to chat with him. Just focus on the treatment."


    Ethan had survived a beating, barely getting Lydia to let go of his previous insolence. Now, with ric running his mouth, if Lydia was reminded of Ethan''s inappropriate grab, who knows if she''d lose her temper and give him another beating.


    His bones were already aching; he couldn''t take another beating.


    Lydia, visibly annoyed, rolled her eyes at Ethan, hands in herb coat pockets, and said to ric, "Hand me the thermometer."


    ric shook Ethan''s hand off, pulling the thermometer from under his arm and handing it to Lydia.


    Lydia nced at it, shocked, and looked back at ric, "103 degrees Fahrenheit, and you''re still in the mood to worry about others? You''re something else."


    ric, pale-faced, replied, "Can''t help it, I''m just a warm person."


    "If you get any warmer, you''ll be gone," Lydia remarked.


    "I''ll write you a prescription, and your good friend here can go fill it," she said while pulling out paper and a pen from her medical bag.


    Ethan replied, "I''m not exactly in shape to be quick about it. If he...you know, kicks the bucket while I''m gone..."


    "Knock on wood, you''re not kicking any buckets!" ric retorted, clearly disgusted, "Can''t you say something more optimistic in front of a patient?"


    Understanding Ethan''s concerns,


    after all, the person in front of her was of great importance to him,


    Lydia said, "I''ll give him an IV first et


    you go get the medicine. Have someone prepare it and bring it back. Don''t worry, he''s not dying on my watch."


    As she spoke, Lydia took out a pack of needles from her medical bag.


    Yet, Ethan remained worried, "But his fever is over 103 degrees. What if it fries his brain..."


    "Enough, just go get the medicine like the doctor said. Stop worrying about me. A bit of positive talk is worth more than anything," ric hastily cut off Ethan''s concerns.

 Chapter 1889

    Chapter 1889


    "Scared of dying now, huh? Why didn''t you think of going to the doctor when you first got sick?" Ethan said, his voice tinged with annoyance.


    "Are you going to treat him or not? If not, I''m leaving. I don''t have time for this nonsense." Lydia, already holding her acupuncture needles, was visibly irritated and ready to put them away.Belonging to N?velDrama.Org.


    "Hey, hey, hey, let''s get on with the treatment! Don''t leave, okay?" Ethan instinctively reached out to stop Lydia from putting away her needles.


    The moment his hand touched Lydia''s, she shot him a re sharp enough to cut through steel.


    Ethan froze, the severity of the situation not quite hitting him until he realized he was actually holding her hand. He quickly let go, raising both hands in surrender. "I didn''t mean to¡ªI just... didn''t want you to leave..."


    Before he could finish, Lydia''s re intensified.


    Realizing he''d put his foot in it again, Ethan hurriedly tried to backtrack. "I mean, my buddy''s on death''s door here. If you leave, he''s a goner for sure." His words were rushed and slightly incoherent.


    ric, the patient in question, listened to this exchange, feeling like he was on the verge of a metaphorical heart attack.


    He had just asked Ethan to say something positive for once.


    But no, Ethan couldn''t seem to say anything encouraging to save his life.


    ric was speechless, slumping back onto the bed in despair.


    Ethan panicked. "This is bad. He''s really going downhill. Dr. Lydia, please, you have to check on him."


    Lydia, equally rmed, rushed over. Seeing ric staring nkly at the ceiling, life seemingly draining from him, she pushed Ethan aside and positioned herself beside the bed. She targeted a spot on ric''s neck and inserted a needle.


    "Uh..." The moment the needle pierced his skin, ric stiffened, his eyes starting to roll back.


    "Oh my God, ric, are you okay?" Ethan was horrified.


    Lydia, realizing her mistake, was also terrified. "Oh no, I got the side wrong that was supposed to be on the right!"


    Ethan was petrified.


    Now ric was truly beyond help. "Buddy, I''m so sorry. I only wanted to save you..."


    Frozen in shock, Lydia frantically


    removed the wrongly ced needle


    and quickly adjusted, inserting needles on the correct side this


    time.


    After a


    UMS


    precise insertions,


    ricdition seemed to


    el


    improve, sweat beads forming rapidly on his forehead and neck.


    Ethan, unable to assist or intervene, could only watch anxiously. Seeing ric''s condition stabilize, he finally took a breath of relief and looked <a over at Lydia, who was wiping sweat from her brow.


    Clearly, she had been scared too.


    He had thought she was tough as nails, uncaring. But it turned out, she did have a softer side.


    "How are you feeling now?" Lydia asked ric.


    "Less dizzy, and I''m thirsty," ric replied.


    He hadn''t even noticed his thirst before, which was a sign he was definitely getting better.


    "I''ll get you some water," Ethan quickly offered, just as he was about to leave the room, the doorbell rang. Strange, who could be visiting ric''s ce at this hour?

 Chapter 1890

    Chapter 1890


    Ethan was just on his way to fetch some water when he opened the front door.


    "Whoa, Ethan, what are you doing here?" Angelina, standing at the door with a little boy in her arms and Georgia trailing behind her, sounded genuinely surprised.


    Ethan, taken aback, nced over at her. "What brings you here?" he managed a strained smile, exchanging pleasantries.


    Before he could step aside, Angelina, holding the child, walked in. "We came to check on ric. What happened to your eye? Did you get into a fight?"


    As Angelina entered, she made a show of concern for Ethan.


    Ethan had no choice but to move aside, making room for them. Georgia, following behind Angelina, had a smirk stered on her face, eyeing Ethan like he was thetest gossip. "Mr. Ethan, that bruised look suits you quite well."


    Ethan was speechless.


    Georgia really had a way with words.


    No wonder ric wasn''t her biggest fan.


    Angelina at least pretended to care, while Georgia justughed at him.


    What did his bruise have to do with her?


    Ethan chuckled lightly, saying, "Life''s a journey with its share of bumps. Only those spoiled by luxury, living in a bubble of adoration, manage to stay pristine."


    With that, Ethan defended his dignity while taking a jab at Georgia.


    But Georgia seemed unfazed, even taking it as apliment.


    "Of course, my parents dote on me. Whatever I want, they make sure I get it," boasted Georgia proudly.


    "My parents also go all out for the people I love," she added, ncing smugly at Angelina, her arrogance palpable.


    Her remark was clearly meant for Angelina, letting her know that if ric wanted to be CEO, only the Reed family could make it happen.


    Ethan wanted tough; he finally understood the ordeal ric had been through these past three years, probably being overshadowed by Georgia at every turn, unable to stand tall.


    No wonder ric was so against marrying Georgia.


    However, Angelina seemed to eat up Georgia''s words, saying, "Exactly Georgia is the perfect match for our ric Speaking of which, where is ric? We''ve been here for awhile and haven''t seen him."


    Saying so, Angelina, still holding the child, looked around for ric.Content (C) N?v/elDra/ma.Org.


    Her gazended on ric''s room, noticing the light was on. She headed there with the child, calling


    "ric, are you still sleeping?"


    Georgia hurried after her.


    Knowing he couldn''t stop them, Ethan didn''t interfere and headed to the kitchen to get ric some water.


    He didn''t want ric dying of thirst, after all.


    Suddenly, a scream echoed from the room, followed by an indignant usation, "What have you done to my son, you woman?"

 Chapter 1891

    Chapter 1891


    Ethan hurriedly carried a ss of water towards the room.


    Before he could get there, he saw Angelina putting her child down and forcefully pushing Lydia out of the room, her voice sharp as she yelled, "Are you trying to murder my son? You murderer, get out of his room! Georgia, call the cops, don''t let this killer escape!"


    ric, on the verge of jumping out of bed in his agitation, snapped, "Mom, she''s the doctor I hired, she''s here to save my life, what are you doing!"


    Georgia retorted, breathless with anger, "ric, have you lost your mind over a new fling? She''s covered you in needles, it''s like some extreme sport to you, nearly costing you your life, and yet you defend her!"


    As she spoke, Georgia was frantically dialing on her phone.


    ric, propping himself up, grabbed the phone from Georgia''s hand, coughing violently, "I told you, she''s my doctor, treating me! The ones who need to leave are you!"


    Angelina, who had been pushing Lydia, stopped dead in her tracks at ric''s words, turning to him in disbelief, "What did you say! You''re actually telling me to leave?"


    Out of breath, Angelina turned, picked up her child, and walked up to ric, cing the child in front of him, "Look, we came all this way to see you, and you can''t appreciate our concern, even telling us to leave. What sort of son, what sort of father does that make you?"


    ric, drained, closed his eyes and took a deep breath, his body and spirit weary. When he opened his eyes again, they were filled with a world- weariness, ¡°Do you really want to be the death of me?"


    "What did you say?" Angelina was hurt by his words.


    Ethan stepped forward, trying to mediate, "ric''s been running a fever of over 104 degrees, he couldn''t eat or drink until Dr. Lydia administered acupuncture, and now he''s finally willing to drink some water. If it weren''t for Dr. Lydia, he might very well be gone by now."


    ric turned away, unwilling to speak.


    Angelina, holding her child tighter, felt a pang in her heart, "ric, are you really that sick? Why didn''t you call me, why didn''t you go to the hospital?" Angelina had only ever been concerned about his future, never his health.


    Now hearing about ric''s fever, something inside her broke.


    As she approached ric, trying to feel his forehead, he dodged her.


    "I don''t need your concern, staying away from me is the best thing you can do," ric said weakly.


    "What did you say?" Angelina was in disbelief, her face a picture of incredulity.


    ric slumped back onto the bed, refusing to say more.


    Seeing this, Georgia stepped forward, "ric, we really do care about you..."


    Lydia, arms crossed, standing by the door, interjected, "If you truly cared, you wouldn''t have left him alone with a fever for over a day and night. Had we been anyter, he might have died alone in this room."


    "What did you say?" Angelina turned to Lydia, incredulous.


    As she spoke, her lips trembled, holding her child even tighter.


    "If you don''t believe me, you can ask another doctor," Lydia said, then turned to leave.


    Angelina''s eyes widened, and sheN?velDrama.Org content rights.


    hurried after her, "Don''t go, we''ll


    leave so you can continue treating


    wn


    We''ll leave, we won''t disturb you..."


    Angelina, reversing her earlier


    el


    hostility towards Lydia, spoke with a hint of pleading. After addressing Lydia, she looked towards Georgia, "Let''s go."


    Georgia was reluctant, "Angelina, we came here for ric, are we just going to leave like this?"


    "Can''t you see he''s not up for visitors? Let''s go!" Angelina''s tone became authoritative.

 Chapter 1892

    Chapter 1892


    Georgia couldn''t believe her ears and stared at Angelina in disbelief, thinking she must have heard wrong. Angelina, though she had her moments of anger, had never spoken to Georgia with such a firm tone before.


    Georgia''s face was a mix of disbelief and annoyance, "Angelina, do you even realize what you just said?"


    Angelina retorted, "Of course, I do. I told you to leave; don''t dy ric''s treatment!"T¨ºxt belongs to N?velDrama.Org.


    "You..." Georgia was about to lose her temper.


    But Angelina turned back, one hand cradling a child, the other pulling Georgia, "Move it, don''t loiter around here!"


    Georgia was reluctant and didn''t really want to leave; she was practically dragged away by Angelina.


    After Angelina and Georgia left, the ce quieted down considerably. ric copsed onto the bed, feeling utterly drained.


    Ethan ced a ss of water on the bedside table and hurried to check on ric. "ric, what''s wrong? Don''t scare me, man!" Hearing this from outside the room, Lydia rushed in to check on ric.


    After checking his pulse, Lydia said, "He''s fine. The acupuncture needles were ced correctly; his condition won''t worsen." "But he looks so..." Ethan, still worried, nced at ric lying on the bed.


    "It''s his mood," Lydia exined.


    Understanding the situation, Ethan told ric, "You wanted water, right? Here it is,e on, get up and drink."


    ricy there, staring at the ceiling without moving, a sight that was chilling to the bone.


    ric, a tall and usually upbeat guy, was now a shadow of his former self, which made Ethan feel incredibly sorry for him.


    Lydia instructed, "The medicine I told you to prepare, go and get it now."


    "But what about him..." Ethan was hesitant to leave.


    Lydia shot him a fierce look, "What, you think I''m going to kill him or something?"


    Ethan was startled, quickly shaking his head. "No, of course not. I''ll go get the medicine."


    Before leaving, Ethan muttered under his breath, "Angelina pushed you around, and you didn''t snap at her. Why be so harsh with me?"


    "What are you muttering?" Lydia shot him a sharp look.


    "Nothing, nothing..." Ethan quickly made his exit, not wanting to further provoke the tigress.


    Ethan hurriedly left ric''s ce.


    Lydia found a spot to sit down,


    casually speaking to ric who was


    lying on the bed. "You''re only torturing yourself like this. You can''t


    ep your mind to contr


    family, nor can you escape those clinging to you. What you''re hoping for is nothing but a pipe dream."


    ric''s eyes moved slightly; he could hear Lydia.


    He understood what she meant.


    But he had already run away from home, having told his mother clearly that he would never marry Georgia asking her to give up on the idea. He wasn''t living with the Falconer family anymore. What more did they expect from him?


    After Lydia spoke, she didn''t get any response from ric and thus remained silent.


    After sitting quietly for a while, the doorbell suddenly rang.


    Lydia, wary, looked towards the source of the sound, her heart tightening. Could it be the two troublemakers had returned for another round?


    Not daring to open the door, Lydia looked anxiously at ric. "Someone''s here, should we answer it?"


    het


    ric weakly shook his head; the ordeal with Angelina and Georgia had left him with a psychological shadow. He dared not let either of them in again.


    Now barely hanging onto life, if Angelina or Georgia were toe again, he feared he might not survive the day.

 Chapter 1893

    Chapter 1893


    Lydia, seeing ric shake his head, decided not to get up to answer the door.


    The doorbell rang for a while and then stopped.


    Just as Lydia was about to breathe a sigh of relief, her cell phone buzzed in her pocket.


    Checking the caller ID, she saw it was Thssa calling and quickly answered.


    "Lydia, did you swing by ric''s ce to check up on him?" Thssa''s concerned voice came through the phone.


    "Yeah, I did. Gave him a shot," Lydia replied.


    "Have you left yet?" Thssa inquired.


    "No, still here," Lydia said.


    "We''re at his doorstep, rang the bell but got no answer," Thssa exined.


    "Oh, that was you ringing? Hold on, I''lle open the door."


    Lydia quickly got up and headed for the door.


    She had been a bit spooked earlier by Angelina and Georgia, instinctively fearing it might be them again at the door.T¨ºxt belongs to N?velDrama.Org.


    Turns out, it was Thssa.


    Opening the door, Lydia saw Thssa and Hertha standing there. She was briefly surprised but quickly stepped aside, saying, "Come on in."


    As Thssa and Hertha entered, Thssa asked, "How''s ric doing?"


    "He''ll survive. It''s just a nasty flu. Not like it''s the end of the world," Hertha chimed in.


    ric, overhearing Hertha''s voice, felt a jolt in his heart and excitedly sat up in bed.


    "Hertha..." His voice was hoarse, barely a whisper, too soft for those in the living room to hear.


    He was about to call out louder, but then he remembered the disdainful look Hertha had given him when theydast parted, along with her


    impatient tone.


    He opened his mouth to speak, then swallowed the words back down, a look of dejection and mncholy on his face. Even if Hertha hade, what was the point in calling out to her? It would only deepen her disdain for him. She had made it clear; she found him repulsive, believing there could never be anything between them. With that thought, ric''s briefly recovered energy faded, and he slumped back onto the bed, disheartened. "You''ve got it all wrong. ric genuinely almost kicked the bucket this time," Lydia exined to Hertha. "What? It was that serious?" Hertha was shocked. "Where is he? I want to see him."


    Hearing Hertha wanted to check on him, ric quicklyy back down and closed his eyes, pretending to be unconscious.


    Just as he did, footsteps approached closer to the room.


    Hertha walked in and saw ric with an IV in his arm, lying on the bed, hisplexion pale and lifeless.


    It was like a scene straight out of a medieval drama, where the hero is struck down by a poison dart, motionless and breathless.


    This sight made Hertha''s heart clench. She rushed over, gently pping ric''s cheek, "ric, please be okay. Don''t scare me..." "He''s currently..."


    "Cough, who''se to see me?" ric, hearing Lydia about to spill the beans, quickly coughed, feigning semi-consciousness to keep his act up.


    QUMS


    Seeing him groggily open his eyes,


    were said anxiously, "It''s me. You


    were fine just a few days ago, how u suddenly get so sick


    Her words wereden with worry.

 Chapter 1894

    Chapter 1894


    ric could clearly see the worry in Hertha''s eyes, and it instantly lifted his spirits. He wanted to sit up, to take Hertha''s hand and speak directly to her, but as he attempted to rise, he suddenly remembered how seriously ill he was. Would Hertha think he was faking his illness if he got up now?


    At that moment, ric''s first thought was of Hertha''s feelings. With that in mind, he abandoned the idea of sitting up. Instead, from his position lying in bed, he weakly reached out to Hertha. "Hertha, you came to see me... I thought I might never see you again..."


    Seeing him so weak and feeble, Hertha''s heart melted. Instinctively, she took ric''s hand,forting him, "With Dr. Lydia here, you''ll be fine. Don''t be afraid."


    ric''s hand was cold as ice, but Hertha''s hand was warm. Holding it, the coldness that had settled in ric''s heart from the recent chaos seemed to melt away. Barely holding her hand, he used the strength to sit up, leaning forward and pulling Hertha into an embrace. In that moment, ric couldn''t help himself, his voice taking on a child-like whine, "I''ve missed you so much. Can we be more than just friends? Can we be together?"


    At our most vulnerable, even the slightest bit of care can make us yearn to be close to those we cherish the most. Our heart''s truest words cannot be hidden.


    Hertha was held close, ric''s cheek against hers, feeling the heat of his face. She couldn''t tell if it was fever or his emotions running hot. Her heart skipped a beat, feeling herself ignite with him. For a moment, she wanted to say yes, to be with him.


    But as the words were about to leave her lips, she remembered ric and Georgia''s child, the unbreakable ties to his past. If she were to be with him, she''d spend a lifetime navigating troubles and resolving conflicts, not just quarreling with another woman but also dealing with his connections to other people''s children.


    With that thought, Hertha''s heated mind cooled instantly. The words she was about to say got stuck in her throat. She pulled away from ric, her voice filled with anger, "So, ric, you''re ying the sick card to win my sympathy, huh? I almost fell for it!"


    Pushed back, ric ended up lying down again, identally nudging a silver needle in his neck deeper. The sharp pain made him cry out, "Ow, ow, it hurts..."


    He curled up from the pain. Dr. Lydia, who was nearby, saw ric''s condition and quickly intervened, removing the needle that had gone in too deep and pressing down on the spot to ease the pain. "Stop yelling; it''s out now."


    Hertha was startled, blinking rapidly, "Is it really that serious?"


    Lydia looked at her and said, "Did you think this was a joke?"


    Feeling guilty, Hertha lowered her head, "I thought he was faking it."


    "As if he could fake it this


    convincingly," Lydia retorted as she


    removed all the needles from elT¨ºxt belongs to N?velDrama.Org.


    ric''s body.


    "Is that all he needs? Just some needles? Doesn''t he need more


    ~ 22" Hertha''s worry fore


    "I sent Mr. Crawley to get some medicine; he should be back soon," Lydia informed.


    "Mr. Crawley? Who''s that?" Hertha''s curiosity piqued, half-expecting another woman''s involvement.


    Thssa joined them, rifying, "Ethan. He''s the one who called me about ric being sick."


    The tension in Hertha''s eyes eased, "That Ethan is truly a good friend to ric. Taking him in when he was down on his luck, getting him a job, and now, so diligently finding him a doctor when he''s sick. If you didn''t know any better, you''d think they were a couple."


    Lydia added, "Aren''t they?"

 Chapter 1895

    Chapter 1895


    "Pfft!" Hertha nearly burst intoughter. Lydia was something else - mostly quiet, but when she spoke, she could really crack you up.


    ric quickly said, "Didn''t you see I was just confessing my feelings to Hertha? How could I possibly have something going on with a guy?"


    "The way you two were talking earlier, it was so flirty, I thought there was something real between you," Lydia said.


    "That''s just deep friendship," ric, propping himself up on the bed with his hands, made sure to sit up straight, worried Hertha might misunderstand something.


    When Ethan hade over earlier, their conversation might have been a bit too heartfelt, but that was just their usual banter. They never thought much of it.


    Lydia''sment made ric suddenly realize she might have gotten the wrong idea.


    As they were talking, there was a noise at the door, and everyone fell silent, turning to look.


    In came Ethan, carrying a bag of medicine, his eyes lighting up with joy at the sight of Thssa and Hertha.


    "Thssa, Hertha, you guys finally made it!"


    His original intention in calling Thssa was to have him bring Hertha over to visit ric. Turns out, it wasn''t a misunderstanding; it was a strategic move.


    "Mr. Ethan, what happened to your eye?" Thssa eximed in surprise.


    Lydia coughed into her fist, not waiting for Ethan to speak, she took the lead, "I did that."


    "What?"


    Lydia and Hertha were both shocked.


    Ethan, looking wronged, said, "The moment I showed up, she hit me, calling me a creep..."


    "Really? What happened?" Thssa sniffed out the scent of juicy gossip. If Ethan wasbeled a creep, there definitely was some story between them.


    "It was just me..."


    "Shut it, one more word and I''ll knock your teeth out!" Ethan barely started before Lydia''s fierce re swept over him, threateningly.


    Ethan froze, then mped his mouth shut, not daring to say more.


    Seeing this, Thssa and Hertha exchanged looks, both their eyesz sparkling with amusement. Their nces seemed to say, there''s definitely something going on between those two. Content belongs


    to NovelDrama.Org


    "Hand over the medicine, and let''s get him to take it now," Lydiamanded Ethan.


    Ethan, without dy, brought the


    Vel


    bag of medicine over to ric''s bedside, opened it, and offered it to rio, "Here, take your medicine, you''ll feel better after."


    As Ethan leaned in, ric recoiled, suddenly finding the situation awkward. Had Lydia not insinuated something about their rtionship, ric might not have noticed anything. But now, with that thought in his mind, he felt ufortable all over as Ethan got closer T¨ºxt belongs to N?velDrama.Org.


    "I''ll do it myself," ric said, taking the medicine bag from Ethan''s hand.

 Chapter 1896

    Chapter 1896


    He took a sip, and his face twisted in distaste. "Ugh, that''s bitter! I can''t drink this, take it away!"


    ric shivered from the bitterness.


    In his entire life, he had never tasted medicine this bitter.


    This bitterness was not something ordinary people could endure.


    ric pushed the medicine back into Ethan''s hands, turning his head away, not wanting to give it another nce.


    Ethan, looking troubled, said, "If you don''t take your medicine, how are you going to get better?"


    Lydia, with her arms crossed, looked at ric lying in bed and said, "I only gave you acupuncture to temporarily suppress your symptoms. To truly get better, you need to take your medicine."


    "I''d rather keep getting acupuncture than drink this," ricined.


    "This medicine might be bitter, but it works fast. With your fever so high, if you want to avoid damaging your liver, spleen, stomach, and kidneys, taking herbal medicine is the best choice," Lydia reasoned with ric.


    "I''d rather damage my liver, spleen, stomach, and kidneys..." Better than a broken heart, he thought to himself, not voicing it out loud. He sneaked a nce at Hertha standing nearby.


    "Give me that medicine," Hertha suddenly stepped forward, snatching the herbal concoction from Ethan''s hands.


    Seeing Hertha''s demeanor, Ethan knew he was outmatched and quickly stepped aside.


    Hertha stood by the bed, her presencemanding, as she said to ric, "Come here and take your medicine!"


    Her tone was very much like an adult lecturing a child.


    ric still didn''t want to take the medicine, giving Hertha a pitiful look. "Do I have to?"


    "Yes,e here!" Hertha insisted.Belonging to N?velDrama.Org.


    ric might have been able to outright refuse Ethan, but he couldn''t say no to Hertha.


    In front of Hertha, he was as meek as amb.


    Slowly, he shuffled to the edge of the bed.


    "Open up!" Herthamanded, her tone firm.


    Not wanting to upset Hertha, ric obediently opened his mouth.


    Hertha, holding the bag of herbal concoction, aimed it at ric''s mouth and squeezed.


    "Ugh..." ric tasted the bitterness and quickly closed his mouth, looking around for a trash can to spit it out.


    Hertha, with an imposing tone, said, "Don''t you dare spit it out!"


    With that, ric immediately closed his mouth, not daring to spit.


    "Swallow it!" Hertha stood in front of him, ordering.


    ric


    up at her, eyes filled


    with a plea, indicating he really didn''t O swallow this extraordinarily bitter medicine.


    want


    Hertha red at him. "Swallow! Now!"


    Reluctantly, ric swallowed the medicine, and only when Hertha saw his Adam''s apple move did she feel satisfied.


    After he swallowed all the medicine in his mouth, Herthamanded again, "Open your mouth!"


    Seeing her aggressive stance, ric


    wanted to back down, not wanting


    to go through it again. And with Hertha pouring arge amount into his mouth at once, it was almost unbearable.


    But seeing Hertha''s firm stance, he couldn''t refuse.


    Once again, he opened his mouth, and Hertha, in a bold move, poured most of the bag directly into his mouth, quickly saying, "Swallow it, swallow it all at once, and you won''t feel the bitterness as much

 Chapter 1897

    Chapter 1897


    ric paused for a moment, then obediently swallowed the medicine.


    He could tell from Hertha''sst words that she was genuinely concerned about him. Though her manner was forceful, it oddly made him feel at ease. At least her assertiveness came from a ce of care.


    This was a stark contrast to Georgia''s domineering nature. Georgia''s overbearing attitude was designed to belittle him, making him feel unworthy. She never truly cared for him.


    But Hertha, though she was pressing him to drink the bitter medicine, did so for his benefit. Realizing this, ric felt much morefortable. The once bitter medicine even seemed to have a hint of sweetness.


    Under Hertha''s assertive guidance, ric soon finished the entire dose.


    Lydia said, "Lie down and rest for an hour or two, and you''ll start to feel better. After that, you can have a normal meal."


    ¡°I feel like having buffalo wings," ric suddenly found his appetite.


    Lydia paused while packing her first aid kit and looked up, "Everyone knows that when you''re sick, you should avoid spicy and cold food." Then, she resumed her task.


    Hertha gave ric a disapproving nce, "Really, you''re acting less mature than a three-year-old. Even they know better than to eat spicy food when sick."


    ric quickly surrendered, "Alright, alright. No buffalo wings for me."


    As Lydia was about to leave with her kit, Thssa stepped forward, "Lydia, let me walk out with you."


    Seeing Lydia and Thssa leaving, Hertha hurriedly tossed the empty medicine packet into the trash, "I''lle with you guys."


    ric panicked.


    It was Ethan who voiced the concern ric dared not express, "If you go, who will take care of ric?"


    He stepped forward, blocking Hertha''s path.


    ric looked gratefully at Ethan''s back, thankful his best friend understood him so well.


    Hertha replied, ¡°Isn''t Ethan here? He can look after you. After two hours, whatever you want to eat, he can go get it for you."


    "I need to rest. You might think it''s just my eyes that are hurt, but my stomach, my whole body is in


    agony. feel like I''m falling apart et


    I


    need to sleep and recover," Ethan


    said, even clutching his stomach to emphasize his pain. Content


    belongs to NovelDrama.Org


    "Can''t you wait another two hours? Or just lie down next to him and rest together," Hertha suggested, trying to leave.


    Ethan quickly grabbed her, "That won''t do! How could I possibly lie with him? That''s just improper!"


    He even nced worriedly at Lydia, who was still standing by the door, not yet gone.


    He really wasn''t into guys.


    ¡°What''s so improper about it? You''ve been best friends for years, haven''t you ever shared a bed?" Hertha shook off Ethan''s hand.Belonging to N?velDrama.Org.


    Her words startled both Ethan and ric.


    Ethan quickly exchanged a look with ric, seeing that he too was shocked.


    Ethan hurriedly tried to clear the air, "We''ve never shared a bed, swear on my life if you don''t believe it, ask Richard or Lysander! Have Thssa call Lysander; he''ll tell you the truth, and Lysander never lies."


    Ethan was perhaps a little too eager to defend their honor.


    Thssa chimed in, "Lysander wouldn''t bother with such trivial stuff. Besides, there were times it was just the two of you, and Lysander wasn''t there. How Could he know everything?"


    Thssa''s sly remark left everyone speechless.

 Chapter 1898

    Chapter 1898


    Before anyone could even react, Thssa had already grabbed Lydia by the arm and was making a beeline for the door.


    Hertha was the first to snap out of it, scrambling to catch up. "Hey, Thssa, wait for me!"


    "You can''t go," Ethan stood firmly, blocking Hertha''s path, adamant about not letting her leave. If Hertha left, it would make exining things with ric even moreplicated.


    After ensuring Hertha stayed put in the room, Ethan dashed out and mmed the door shut behind him.


    As Hertha yanked at the door, Ethan''s fading voice reached her, "I''m off then, ric''s fate is in your hands!"


    By the time Hertha managed to get the door open, Ethan, Thssa, and Lydia were already out the door, which was now firmly shut behind them. Realizing it was toote to chase after them and struggling with the idea of abandoning ric, Hertha couldn''t bring herself to actually do it.


    With a huff, she turned around, ring at ric who was lying in bed, "Great, everyone''s gone now!"


    ric couldn''t help but smile, teasingly saying, "I don''t need everyone, just having you is enough for me."


    As he got up from the bed and moved closer to Hertha, intending to embrace her, she spun around and pushed him away, "Off you go, back to bed. Didn''t Lydia say you''d be better after another couple of hours of sleep?"


    Despite his efforts to get out of bed, Hertha pushed ric back down.


    Tucking him in, she told him, "You get some sleep, I''m stepping out."


    "Where are you going?" ric asked urgently.


    Detecting the anxiety in his voice, she reassured him, "I''ll be in the living room. Just call me when you wake up."


    With that, she left the room.


    Thankfully her mom was looking


    after the kids today, so she didn''t need to worry about them.


    Otherwise, even if ric was on his deathbed, she wouldn''t have


    bothered with him. Content belongs


    toNovelDrama.Org


    After all, he was still the father of her children. She couldn''t just stand by and watch the kids'' father die, could she?


    That''s how Herthaforted herself, reminding herself that she wasn''t staying because she cared for him; it was for the kids.


    Hearing that Hertha would be just outside, ric felt a sense of relief wash over him. He closed his eyes, settling into a peaceful sleep.


    Knowing that the one who brought him peace was right there, ric rxedpletely. With his eyes closed, he quickly fell asleep.N?velDrama.Org content rights.


    Georgia followed Angelina out of ric''s house, venting her frustrations in the car.


    "Angelina, what did you tell me


    e


    before we came here? You said you''d make sure ric would start. to ept me for the sake of the kids. But what did you do? You didn''t speakup for me at all. Instead, you were so harsh, driving me away from ric''s ce!" Georgia didn''t mince her words as she confronted Angelina.


    Angelina was still holding the two-year-old boy, who was now cuddled against her, silent and scared.


    The child was already timid and


    easily frightened, and Georgia''s rant


    only scared him more, making b¨¬m burrow further into Angelina''s embrace.


    Turning back, Angelina whispered, "Keep your voice down, can''t you see you''re scaring him?"

 Chapter 1899

    Chapter 1899


    Georgia was already fuming.


    She was grilling Angelina and not only did she not get a straight answer, but she also felt scorned by her.


    Georgia''s anger erupted, and she yanked the child from Angelina''s arms, snarling, "When I tell you to call me ''mommy,'' you ignore me. When I want you to be brave, you just hide! What good are you to me!"


    The child, hurt by the rough handling and terrified by Georgia''s fierce demeanor, burst into tears, his little body shaking with fear.


    "Stop crying, stop crying..." Angelina quickly took the child back into her arms, scolding Georgia, "What are you doing? He''s just a child. What kind of mother acts like this?"


    "Do I even care about being his mother? If it weren''t for trying to win back ric, would I even bother? Angelina, we''re in this together now. Our interests are tied. If you keep opposing me, you know what the consequences will be," Georgia retorted with a cold sneer.


    Angelina stared at Georgia in disbelief. She had never been threatened like this in her life!


    Georgia, this young upstart, dared to speak to her this way!


    If Georgia didn''t have her family''s name behind her, she would be nothing!


    Angelina couldn''t hold back her anger. Not only was she Georgia''s senior, but even among her equals, no one dared to threaten her!


    Georgia was being far too arrogant!


    Exhaling sharply, Angelina said, "ric was engaged to you, and you blew it. Now you want to me others. If you had any talent, you wouldn''t be in this mess."


    Georgia, though not the sharpest tool in the shed, got the gist of Angelina''s words.


    Angelina was ming her ipetence, using her of driving ric away. This whole predicament was her own doing!


    Back at home, Georgia''s parents always indulged her. If she was upset orined, they would coax andfort her.


    She wasn''t used to being med like this.


    Furious, her chest heaving with rage, Georgia snapped back, "It''s your son who''s the failure! He''s a lost cause He had the Vice President position at Falconer Group, and what did he do? Quit in a huff to be a nobody director at Crawley Group! If he was capable, why would our family have to bail him out?" T¨ºxt belongs to N?velDrama.Org.


    That''s how Georgia was. Anyone who demeaned her, she would trample even lower.


    When she and ric were engaged,


    el


    En


    she always tried to suppress him, to make him realize that everything he had was thanks to her family, to remember their kindness, and especially, to remember Georgia''s goodness.


    She wanted to be above him forever, to have him cower before her.


    Little did she know, the more she suppressed him, the more ric couldn''t stand it, eventually choosing to leave everything behind rather than be with her.


    Now, hearing Angelina call her ipetent, Georgia was so angry she felt physically ill, insisting ric was the useless one.


    But Angelina had only this son, and everything she did was to see him be the heir to the Falconer family.


    Georgia dared to insult ric right to her face.


    Angelina''s rage boiled over, and in a


    moment, she pped Georgia


    nes


    across the face, "You''re nothing but a shrew. No wonder ric chose a


    woman with nothing over you!"


    Angelina was seething with fury.

 Chapter 1900

    Chapter 1900


    Georgia''s cheek was pped so hard it turned sideways. Instinctively, she covered half of her face, whipped around with tears filling her eyes, shaking with rage, and spat at Angelina, "You actually hit me! My parents neverid a finger on me my whole life, and you dare to hit me!"


    She truly couldn''t ept it. Not once had her parents ever raised their hands to her.


    Who did Angelina think she was, daring to p her across the face!


    Despite shaking with fury, teeth nearly clenched to breaking point, Georgia didn''t dare fight back.


    Angelina stood there, strong and unapproachable.


    Georgia had always been wary of those too powerful.


    Angelina, equally furious, red back at Georgia and snapped, "I''m teaching you a lesson on behalf of your parents! Watch your mouth next time!"


    "You''re not qualified to teach me anything!" Georgia roared back.


    Their argument in the back seat was so intense it made the driver jittery, causing the car to swerve slightly.


    After her outburst, Georgia, tears streaming down her face, yelled at the driver, "Stop the car!"


    Startled, the driver immediately hit the brakes, halting the vehicle in the middle of the road.


    Georgia flung the car door open, not caring for the traffic behind her. A car speeding from behind nearly crashed into her due to her sudden move, but fortunately, the driver managed to m on the brakes just in time.


    Georgia mmed the car door and stormed off.N?velDrama.Org content rights.


    Angelina quickly rolled down the window, shouting after Georgia''s retreating figure, "Georgia, you''re abandoning your child!"


    Georgia, marching forward and gasping for breath, shot back, "That''s your child, not mine!"


    Fuming, Georgia hailed a taxi in the middle of the road and quickly drove away.


    Angelina, still seething, muttered, "She hasn''t even be a Falconer yet and already acts so high and mighty. What will be of us if she does?" Then, sharply to the driver, she snapped, "Drive! What are you waiting for?"


    The driver, trembling, quickly started the car and drove off.


    Back at the Royal Estates, Lysander was enjoying a cup of tea when Thssa returned. His deep gaze, shifted towards her, brightening visibly for a moment, and he said, "Thssa, have some tea, then we''re heading out." Content belongs


    to NovelDrama.Org


    Thssa paused, then catching his drift, replied, "You mean, we''re going out again?"


    "Mhm," Lysander uttered monosybically.


    "Alright, I could use a drink,"


    Thssa agreed without objection,


    walking over to pour herself a cup of


    tea from the pot on the coffee table. She gulped it down in one go without a pause.


    Fitch, taking the tea cup from Lysander, chuckled at Thssa, "This is one of Lysander''s prized teas, meant to be savored slowly to appreciate its vor..."


    Thssa, having just finished her tea, holding the cup, looked


    surprised, "Oh? Was it a fancy tea? I couldn''t taste anything. I''m like a pig who ate a peach without savoring its vor..."


    Laughing at her own analogy, Thssa grinned.


    Lysander said, "Tea is just water, nothing fancy, as long as it quenches your thirst."


    With that, he shot a reproachful nce at Fitch.


    Fitch, catching the hint of rebuke from Lysander, quickly bowed his head and stepped back silently.

 Chapter 1901

    Chapter 1901


    Thssa, still buzzing with curiosity, dered, "Let me pour another cup and really savor it this time..."


    With that, she filled her cup once more, brought it to her lips, and took a small sip, smacking her lips thoughtfully. She reflected for a moment and then said, puzzled, "It tastes the same as my first sip, I can''t quite catch any vor."


    "Is that so? Come here, I''ll show you how to truly appreciate it," Lysander''s voice, low and enticing, beckoned Thssa with a maic pull.


    A bit clumsily, Thssa, holding her cup, made her way over to him. "How should I drink it? Tell me," she said.


    "Bend down a little, and I''ll tell you..." Lysander''s voice was a siren call, sultry andpelling.


    Thssa, as if enchanted, obediently leaned in closer to Lysander, her eyes wide with eagerness, waiting for him to teach her the art of tasting.


    Lysander took the cup from her hand and ced it on the coffee table.


    "Hey, you... um..." Thssa started to protest about her cup being taken away, but before she could finish her sentence, Lysander''s hand was at the back of her neck, gently pulling her down.


    Lysander''s lips met hers unexpectedly, halting her breath in an instant.


    The warm, dominating sensation felt like an electric current passing from her lips to her heart, leaving her body tingling and weak.


    Initially caught off guard, Thssa''s eyes widened, but as she realized it was Lysander kissing her, her heart sweetened as if coated with honey, and a gentle smile curled at the edges of her lips.


    Lysander, supporting her back with his hand, drew her soft body closer into his embrace, deepening the kiss.


    He had intended only a light kiss, but upon tasting her sweet lips, he found himself wanting more, struggling to control his desire. Remembering they were in the living room, under the watchful eyes of the household staff, and considering his own physical limitations, he restrained himself. Once, he might have carried her upstairs without a second thought, but now, holding Thssa in his arms was enough.


    After a moment, Lysander released


    Thssa, his thumb gently


    soft,


    tender sensation at his f


    caressing her face, et


    His voice, nowced with a velvety allure, asked, "Did you taste it?"


    Their eyes locked, Thssa lost in the warmth of his gaze, as if drowning in a spring of tenderness.


    Her voice softened involuntarily, with a yful rebuke, "Taste what?"


    "The vor of the drink," Lysander replied.


    Thssa paused, then realized Lysander was asking if she had caught the vor she had been seeking in that fine drink. But he had only kissed her, not shown her how to savor the drink at all.


    She had tasted his essence, not the drink''s.


    Laughing, Thssa said, "But you didn''t give me any drink."


    "I had just taken a sip; the vor was still on my lips. Didn''t you taste it?" Lysander countered, his eyes warm and indulgent.


    Teasingly, Thssa lightly tapped his arm, saying, "You''re such a tease, Lysander. I never knew you were such a charmer."


    She had never realized before that


    Lysander could be such a smooth talker, able to make her cheeks flushBelonging to N?velDrama.Org.


    PA


    and heart race with just a few words and a kiss.


    "It''s never toote to find out," Lysander said, his smile captivating and seductive, "Let''s head out now, and tonight, I''ll continue to you."


    swnlighten

 Chapter 1902

    Chapter 1902


    Lysander''s words left Thssa''s ears burning a bright shade of red. What on earth had Lysander eaten today to be in such a flirtatious mood right in the middle of the hall? It was just a cup of tea, yet he managed to make even that seem suggestive. Thssa deliberately ignored Lysander''sst remark, pushing his wheelchair as she suggested, "Let''s head out."


    Once in the car, Thssa remembered to ask, "Where are we heading?"


    "To the orphanage," Lysander replied.


    It took a moment for Thssa to process this. "To see Susan''s child?"


    "To watch a spectacle," said Lysander.


    Thssa was puzzled. What kind of spectacle?


    Seeing the mysterious smile on Lysander''s lips, she didn''t inquire further. Whatever the spectacle, she would find out soon enough.


    Upon arriving at the orphanage, Thssa wheeled Lysander inside, knowing exactly where to go. She headed straight for the room where Susan''s child lived.


    Before they reached the room, they spotted two men standing in the


    hallway, facing the door. One was young and robust, his physique


    revealing his youth despite the


    beard. The other man had a slight stoop, either from age or injury, clearly not as vibrant as the younger man.


    Approaching, Thssa realized it was Reginald and Joshua! They were members of the Whitman family; Thssa''s interest was instantly piqued. Had Joshua finally found his son?


    "Susan, calm down. Put the child down, and let''s talk," Joshua said to the room, his tone tinged with tension. Reginald stood by, observing silently, not uttering a word.


    "Susan, you want two million from me, then you''ll hand over the child. Otherwise, we''re jumping out of this window together!" Susan''s voice came from inside, fraught with emotion.Content (C) N?v/elDra/ma.Org.


    Even without seeing her, Thssa could imagine Susan''s menacing demeanor as she used the child as as leverage against Joshua. Last time, Susan had threatened Thssa, a bystander. Now, she was


    threatening the child''s


    father,


    presumably to greater effect.


    Susan was heartless, willing to use her own son as a bargaining chip. The mention of two million made Joshua pause, but Reginald, far moreposed, scoffed at Susan''s demand: "Two million? Susan, don''t you think you''re being a bit greedy? Look in the mirror. Are you really worth that much?"


    Susan''s response was even more frantic: "You won''t give it to me? Fine, I''m taking him and jumping right now! Joshua, this is your own son. Think carefully!"


    Susan, holding the child and perched on the window ledge, red menacingly, her body tense with threat. The child, only two but aware of the danger, clung to Susan''s clothes, his tiny body rigid with fear, crying helplessly.


    His cries tugged at Joshua''s heart. Seeing Susan''s threatening move, he stepped forward anxiously: "Susan, let''s talk this out. You need toe down first. We can only talk if youe down."

 Chapter 1903

    Chapter 1903


    Joshua could hardly believe he was going to be a father again in his golden years.


    His life had been straightforward - one son, Reginald; one daughter, Rosalind; and one secret lovechild, Thssa. That was it. No more kids, or so he thought.


    He had hoped that once he retired, Reginald would take over the Whitman family business. But Reginald turned out to be a disappointment, a real dud. Joshua feared that if the business fell into Reginald''s hands, it wouldn''tst five years before going belly up.


    Initially, Joshua had ced his bets on Lysander, nning to marry Rosalind off to him so he could take over the Whitman legacy. But Lysander''s heart wasn''t in it - he only had eyes for Thssa, and no interest in the family business.


    Joshua had always prided himself on his robust health, thinking he could keep going for another thirty years. But ever since that car ident, his health had been on a steady decline. Managing thepany became more than he could handle, and the empire he had built over a lifetime seemed at risk of crumbling with no one reliable to pass it on to. The anxiety was eating him up, fearing all his hard work would go to waste.


    That''s when Susan dropped the bombshell ¨C he had a son! And the kid was already two years old!


    Starting now, Joshua had ns to groom this child as his sessor, to give him the best education and send him to top-notch schools. In sixteen years, the boy could take the reins and keep the Whitman legacy alive. This child was like a ray of hope for Joshua in his darkest hour.


    He naturally couldn''t let anything happen to the child.


    "You stay back One step closer and


    I swear I''ll jump!" Susan yelled as


    Joshua moved towards her,


    threatening to jump out the window with the child in her arms. She` edged closer to the ledge as she shouted, her desperation palpable.


    Joshua, seeing her dangerous move, quickly stepped back, "Calm down, I won''te any closer."


    "Why are you so scared of her, Dad?


    n¨¦t


    If she wants to jump, let her jump! It''d solve all our problems with her and that bastard child. They''re nothing but trouble, and if they''re gone, no one will be able to hold it over your head ever again," Reginald coldly advised, pulling Joshua back.


    Reginald, in his younger years, was all about living fast and loose,cking the finesse or the smarts to understand his father''s deeper concerns. To him, Susan was just another woman who had schemed her way into his father''s bed, and her child was nothing but a


    W


    leverage-seeking mistake. Content


    belongs to NovelDrama.OrgBelonging to N?velDrama.Org.


    "If they jump, it solves everything without us lifting a finger. How can you not see that?" he added, clearly missing the bigger picture.


    Joshua shot him a re, "You have no idea what you''re talking about!"


    "What''s there not to understand? Dad, don''t tell me you''re actually soft-hearted, thinking you can y the saint and save them," Reginald scoffed.


    Just then, Joshua''s gazended on Thssa and Lysander approaching. They were like a lifeline thrown to him in his moment of desperation. Hurrying over, he eximed, "Lysander, thank God you''re here. Please, help me with..."

 Chapter 1904

    Chapter 1904


    As Joshua approached Lysander, he cast a fleeting nce at Thssa, too preupied to pay her any mind, and greeted Lysander with an earnest smile. It was as though Lysander was some sort of miracle worker, capable of solving any issue that came his way.


    At that moment, Reginald turned to look their way. Ever since he found out that Joshua''s scheme to marry Lysander off to Rosalind was a ploy to hand over the Whitman Group to him, Reginald''s inner thoughts about Lysander had soured, marking him as a rival.


    Now, as Lysander approached, Reginald''s gaze was filled with barely concealed animosity.


    Lysander, however, couldn''t be bothered with Reginald''s stares. He looked straight at Joshua and simply said, "Let''s check it out."


    Pushing him forward, Thssa made her way to the doorway, only to be confronted with a harrowing sight.


    Susan was perched precariously at an unguarded window, one hand clutching her toddler tightly and the other gripping the window sill. A slip could send them both tumbling down.


    The child, terrified, clung to Susan''s dress with white-knuckled fingers, too scared to even cry, teetering on the edge of panic.


    The sight made Thssa''s heart squeeze in fear for Susan and the child, and it brought back a haunting memory from three years ago.


    Leopold had fallen from a window,nding in a pool of blood.


    She had witnessed the scene firsthand the vivid blood, Leopold''s gruesome state, all of it assaulting her senses, causing her heart to shatter from the pain.


    The current perilous state of Susan and her child reminded her of that dreadful moment, causing her grip on the wheelchair to tighten, herplexion losing color.


    Upon spotting Thssa and


    Lysander in the doorway, Susan became even more agitated than before. She had previously been seen with the child at the orphanage by Thssa and Lysander, and it wasn''t long before Joshua showed up!


    Susan was convinced that Thssa and Lysander had informed Joshua about the child, prompting him toe and take the child away.


    Hiding the child from Joshua was


    Susan''s bargaining chip in


    negotiating with him. If Joshua


    managed to take the child, she''d


    lose all leverage.


    But now, despite her efforts, Joshua had found them, and if not for her quick reaction, he would have seeded.


    She med her current predicament entirely on Thssa and Lysander.


    And Lysander was a tough nut to crack. Her actions might threaten Joshua, but they wouldn''t necessarily work on Lysander.


    So Susan grew even more desperate: "Thssa, Lysander, my issues with Joshua are none of your business. Just leave!"


    "How can it be none of our


    business? Lysander replied with a


    smirk, almost teasing. "After all,N?velDrama.Org content rights.


    Thssa is the aunt to your child.


    They''re bound by blood; you can''t just erase that connection."


    Quick to retaliate, Susan snapped, "And what does that have to do with you?"


    "Anything concerning Thssa concerns me," Lysander said, his tone firm.


    It dawned on Susan then-Thssa and Lysander were an item!


    Thssa was living the dream, not only married to someone as outstanding and wealthy as Lysander but also fiercely protected by him.

 Chapter 1905

    Chapter 1905


    Susan''s life had been a series of misfortunes, and now she was resorting to such drastic measures for some cash! The more she thought about it, the more she felt a bitter resentment growing inside her.


    Her chest heaving with emotion, she blurted out, "I don''t care if it''s you or Joshua who gives me the 200 million, I''ll put the kid down right now. You can take him away! Otherwise, forget about it!"


    Lysander knew Susan all too well. If she got what she wanted, she would only escte her demands and certainly wouldn''t release her leverage so easily. Human greed knows no bounds, and Susan was a prime example of this. Hadn''t she once held a knife to Thssa''s throat, demanding money from Callum in a simr situation?


    Lysander nced at his watch, unfazed, and said, "What do you need 200 million for? That amount wouldst you a lifetime for ordinary living, but if you''re prone to luxury, even 200 million wouldn''t suffice."


    "I have my reasons for needing the 200 million, and it''s none of your business. Just get the money ready. Once it''s ready, I''ll release the hostage," Susan said, her breaths short, eyes darting suspiciously at Lysander.


    "What about next time, Susan? Don''t you realize how insatiable your appetite is?" Lysander said calmly, adjusting his cufflinks leisurely.


    "I told you, there won''t be a next time. After I give you the child, what leverage would I have for another demand?" Susan said, desperate to prove her point.


    "And if we give you the money and you still decide to drop the child?" Lysander countered.


    "That''s absurd! That would make me a murderer. What good is money if I''m not alive to spend it?" Susan replied anxiously.


    "So, if we don''t give you the money, both you and the child would die, is that it? If you''re prepared to die, why cling to the 200 million? Wouldn''t losing your life over it be an even greater loss?" Lysander analyzed the situation for her.


    Susan was no match for Lysander. Just when she thought she knew what she wanted, Lysander''s words plunged her into self-doubt. She had gone through all this trouble, sitting on the windowsill with the child, threatening not just the child''s life but her own as well.


    If Joshua fell for it, she could get the


    200 million, but then the child would be Joshua''s, leaving her with nothing but the money. If Joshua didn''t fall for it and was persuaded by Reginald to let her jump, solving two problems at once without any liability on their part, how perfect that would be for them. And she would have lost her life for nothing, taking her only child down with her.


    As she hesitated, she noticed people below setting up an air cushion, quickly inting it and positioning it directly beneath her. Meaning, even if she jumped with the child, the cushion would catch them, preventing any fatal injury. threat to Joshua instantly turned into a farce.


    She realized then that all Lysander had been doing was buying time, waiting for rescue services to deploy the air cushion! Susan knew she had been outmaneuvered, but it was too §Öte. She looked up, ring at Lysander with fury, "Always you ruining my ns! Lysander, why didn''t you just die in that wreckage three years ago!" T¨ºxt belongs to N?velDrama.Org.


    In her anger, Susan spoke without thinking. At her words, Lysander''s eyes darkened, his voice dropping to a chilling whisper, "What did you say?"

 Chapter 1906

    Chapter 1906


    Susan could feel the icy chill radiating off Lysander, immediately realizing she had crossed a line. Even in her rage, she shouldn''t have cursed Lysander with such a dark fate. It wasn''t just about cursing him; it was about her own safety, too.


    Susan''s eyes darted around, her previously bold aura shrinking away, leaving her looking somewhat guilty. "I didn''t mean it. Everyone knows you were trapped under rubble three years ago and ended up in aa. I just lost my temper and spoke without thinking."


    As she spoke, Susan was already dragging her child back toward the room. With air mattressesid out below, even if she jumped with her child, it wouldn''t threaten Joshua anymore. With a tough guy like Lysander around, she wasn''t going to gain any advantages.


    Aftering to this realization, Susan decided toe down with her child. Truth be told, sitting at the window, staring down, had scared her too. Susan offered up an exnation, but the dark, ominous look in Lysander''s eyes didn''t soften. Yet, he didn''t move, just stood at the doorway, watching Susan''s actions.


    Thssa stood behind him, hands gripping the wheelchair''s armrests, watching Susan clumsily move back with her child in one arm. The child, terrified, had gone limp in Susan''s grasp, and she was barely holding him securely, as if he might slip and fall at any moment. Thssa''s heart was in her throat, sweating bullets for the child.


    Even with air mattresses below, such a fall could traumatize a young child for life. The bitterness between adults should never involve children. If this child were to live in the shadow of this event, how utterly unfair would that be?


    As Susan moved back into the room, nobody dared to move or speak, fearing any sudden action might set her off again. "Whoa!" Suddenly, Susan stumbled, and the child slipped from her grasp, nearly falling before she managed to grab his shirt at thest second. The child,


    terrified, let out a scream and


    started bawling. Thssa''s heart skipped a beat, and she instinctively stepped forward.


    However, a figure moved faster than her, darting to the window in a few strides and grabbing the boy''s arm, pulling him up with all his might.


    After pulling the child to safety


    Joshua held him tight. Ever since the ident, his health hadn''t been the same, and pulling the child up took all his strength, leaving him gasping for breath.


    Looking up, he saw Susan ring at him with resentment. Joshua quickly moved back with the child, his breathing uneven, and told Susan, "You shoulde down too, it''s too dangerous." Though he seemed concerned for Susan, his words were just for show. He moved back to the doorway with the little boy in his arms.


    Susan never really wanted to risk herBelonging to N?velDrama.Org.


    life; now, without the child as


    l


    leverage, continuing to sit on the window ledge was pointless. She climbed down quicker, her legs. shaky at first, taking a moment to steady herself. Now, she looked a mess, her face showing the exhaustion and hysteria from her earlier threats and demands, all for a foolish gamble on a huge sum.

 Chapter 1907

    Chapter 1907


    At that moment, without any leverage and knowing she couldn''t get the two million, her gaze turned hollow, and she seemed like a shadow of her former self, wandering aimlessly.


    She looked at Thssa and Lysander standing at the doorway with lifeless eyes, "Are you satisfied now?"


    "What is there to be satisfied about?" Lysander''s voice was cold as ice. "Letting a kidnapper use hostages to extort money for a second time is my greatest failure!"


    Susan''s pupils dted, sensing danger, "What do you mean?"


    Before her confusion could clear, two police officers appeared at the door, "We''ve received a tip-off that the fugitive Susan is here."N?velDrama.Org content rights.


    At this, Thssa quickly nudged Lysander aside, making way for the officers, dering, "She''s Susan."


    The officers moved in swiftly, apprehending Susan before she even had a chance to flee.


    The cold handcuffs sped around Susan''s wrists, her expression a mix of panic and fear, "You''ve got the wrong person, I''m not a fugitive!"


    "If you''re Susan, then we''ve got the right person!" the officer asserted authoritatively.


    As Susan was being led away, she turned towards Joshua in a desperate, hysterical plea, ¡°Joshua, save me, I don''t want to go to jail, find a way to save me, I''m the mother of your child!"


    Her voice was loud enough to echo through the entire building.


    The child, terrified, shrank further into Joshua''s embrace, his little body trembling.


    Feeling the child''s fear, Joshua wrapped his arms tighter around him, cocooning the child in his thick coat.


    As Susan passed by him, Joshua looked at her with disgust, ¡°Helping you once was my biggest mistake. You don''t deserve to be a mother!" Previously, Susan was detained, but when Joshua got the message that she imed to have given birth to his son, the possibility intrigued him. Susan had indeed drugged Joshua three years ago, leading to an indiscretion between them. A child resulting from their encounter wasn''t entirely unexpected.


    Initially, Joshua thought a two-million-dor settlement would sever all ties with Susan for good. Yet, here was a child linking them together. Faced with the reality of his child, Joshua couldn''t just walk away.


    Under the pressure of fatherhood, Joshua helped Susan out of detention and even got her back on the runway for a jewelrypetition, allowing her too


    continue her modeling career.


    e


    But, it was like releasing a tiger back into the wild. Susan hadn''t changed; she framed Thssa at the jewelrypetition!


    Moreover, she had used the life of her child as leverage to extort money from him!


    What kind of woman uses her own child''s life to threaten someone for money?


    Susan was unfit to be a mother!


    "Joshua, what are you saying! That child is mine gave birth to him! What did you do, enjoy a brief moment of pleasure? Did you suffer through the pregnancy? Were you there when I almost died giving birth? And now you want to take the child from me! I won''t let you get away with this, Joshua!"


    Susan''s hysterical screams faded as the police took her away.


    Only when her voice was no longer audible did Joshua finally rx, loosening his hold on the child slightly, gently patting the back of the child''s head, "Don''t be scared, she won''t being back.

 Chapter 1908

    Chapter 1908


    The little boy nestled into Joshua''s arms, his small frame shivering and huping silently, as if terrified of making any sound. He looked like a tiny creature about to be caught, trembling with fear yet too scared to even whimper, evoking a deep sense of pity.


    Thssa, pushing Lysander in his wheelchair, approached, and Joshua, with a tone filled with gratitude, said to Lysander, "Lysander, I really owe you one this time. Without your help, I''d still be at a loss."


    "It was nothing," Lysander replied, his voice steady.


    He had received a call from Joshua asking for assistance at the orphanage, and since Thssa was home, he decided to bring her along. After all, this was somewhat rted to Thssa''s family issues as well. And having Thssa witness Susan being taken away was, in a way, closure for her.


    Joshua, with a nod and a smile, finally made eye contact with Thssa, as if truly noticing her for the first time, his expression softening with concern, "Thssa, how have you beentely?"


    Thssa didn''t me Joshua for only noticing her now, considering she had been invisible to him for the past thirty years. She could sense the perfunctory nature of his question, a courtesy because of Lysander.


    With a cold demeanor, Thssa replied, "I''m doing just fine, thank you. Now, if you''d excuse us, he needs to rest.¡± Her voice was t, devoid of emotion, as she made way to push Lysander away. Joshua''s smile faltered as he stepped aside.


    Watching them leave, Joshua remained silent until they were out of sight. It was then that Reginald approached him,menting, "Thssa''s getting too bold."


    Joshua shot him a disdainful look, "You don''t know anything, and watch your mouth; she''s your sister.¡±


    Reginald felt stifled, as if nothing he


    did or said could ever please Joshua. In Joshua''s eyes, he was nothing. This realization was frustrating, but he remembered his mother''s advice to avoid conflicts with Joshua at all costs. His mother, after all, had always been his unwavering support, even managing to persuade Joshua to bail him out of trouble in the past.


    Swallowing his pride, Reginald followed Joshua.


    As Thssa and Lysander exited through the orphanage''s garden, Thssa''s gaze identally caught a familia figure. Her instincts on alert, she focused her attention and saw a woman carrying a toddler, heading towards the ground floor office marked "Director".


    The woman was Angelina, ric''s What was she doing here


    child? And that child... he


    looked eerily familiar. ContentN?velDrama.Org content rights.


    belongs to NovelDrama.Org


    Pausing, Thssa watched as Angelina disappeared into the office.


    "What''s wrong?" Lysander''s deep voice broke the silence.


    Snapping back to reality, Thssa responded, ¡°Oh, just spotted someone I know heading to the director''s office."

 Chapter 1909

    Chapter 1909


    "Who might that be?" Lysander inquired.


    "It''s ric''s mom," Thssa admitted truthfully.


    At that, Lysander couldn''t help but nce towards the principal''s office. They weren''t too far away, but not exactly close either. From their distance, it was impossible to see much of what was happening inside the office.Content (C) N?v/elDra/ma.Org.


    "Should we say hi?" Lysander suggested.


    Thssa hesitated for a moment, then quickly shook her head, "No need for that, let''s get going."


    Saying so, she started pushing Lysander away.


    Her acquaintance with ric''s mother was through Hertha.


    She didn''t really have much interaction with ric''s mother. Going over to greet her would just make things awkward and ufortable.


    After Thssa and Lysander left, Joshua walked into the principal''s office, carrying a child in his arms.


    He was about to speak with the principal when he noticed someone else was there. He just smiled, nodded, and took a seat on the couch.


    Angelina had just finished talking to the principal and handed over the child. Having navigated the business world, she recognized Joshua instantly. Joshua kept a low profile, mostly staying abroad, yet his Whitman Group was renowned both domestically and internationally. Georgia''s father was Joshua''s cousin.


    Georgia''s father''s sess wasrgely thanks to Joshua''s support.


    Seeing Joshua, Angelina couldn''t pretend not to know him and greeted him warmly, "Mr. Whitman, what a coincidence seeing you here."


    Joshua looked up, puzzled, "And you are...?"


    Angelina, undeterred by the


    awkwardness, introduced herself


    warmly, "I''m Angelina, the wife of the Falconer Group''s CEO. Our son was once engaged to your cousin''s daughter. You''ve heard of my son ric, haven''t you?"


    Joshua''s business was primarily overseas, and after he and his cousin split their focuses between abroad and domestic, their families didn''t interact much. Joshua wasn''t much involved in his cousin''s family affairs, but he was aware of ric and Georgia''s engagement.


    "So, you''re ric''s mother. What a coincidence indeed. What brings you here?" Joshua asked, his gaze shifting between her and another little boy sitting on a small bed in the principal''s office.


    The boy looked shy and timid, very different from the child in Joshua''s arms.


    Noticing Joshua''s gaze, the boy shyly looked up before quickly averting his eyes, seeming very ufortable with the interaction.


    Angelina''s smile stiffened


    momentarily, ncing at the boy on the bed with a hint of guilt, "Just helping out a friend. You''re here to see the principal about something important, I presume. I won''t keep you."


    QUMS


    With that brief exchange, Angelina hurried out of the principal''s office.


    She had brought the child for Georgia, which ended up being a mess. Georgia, being rather impulsive, had stormed off, leaving the child behind. The child wasn''t really Angelina''s responsibility, and facing Georgia again was not something she was willing to do. So, she had no choice but to leave the child at the orphanage.


    Running into Joshua there was unexpected.


    Odd, she thought. Why was Joshua holding a child? Didn''t he already have a son?


    With her curiosity piqued, Angelina left the orphanage.


    Back in the principal''s office.


    Joshua got straight to the point, "Principal, I need all the information you have on this child. And, I''ve noticed he seems a bit different from other kids."

 Chapter 1910

    Chapter 1910


    The head of the orphanage wore a troubled smile, twisting his head to nce at the little boy sitting on the single bed, then looking over to the child nestled in Joshua''s arms.


    After a moment of consideration, he began, "Both of these kids, they''re on the autism spectrum. They''ve been left here since they were very young, without much love and care, which has affected them psychologically."


    "What did you say? He''s autistic?" Joshua''s expression turned serious, his gaze brieflynding on the little boy trembling in his embrace.


    Struck with disbelief and shaken by the news, Joshua asked, "How old was he when he was left at the orphanage?"


    "He was found in the woods right in front of the orphanage. When we found him, he was just a little over a month old," the headmaster exined truthfully.


    A little over a month old?


    Those words hit Joshua like a freight train, his grip around the child involuntarily tightening.


    He couldn''t believe Susan could be so heartless, to abandon her child when he was just a month old!


    He thought, at the very least, she would wait until the child was a year old before leaving him at the orphanage!


    But no, she couldn''t wait to get rid of him as soon as he was born!


    Meaning, the child was over two years old now, and Susan had only looked after him for a little over a month!


    What kind of a heartless woman could abandon her own child?


    "Did Susan, the child''s mother, evere to see him? Did the orphanage ever allow her to take him back?" Joshua asked further.


    "You mean, the woman who was just taken away by the police, is the child''s biological mother?" The headmaster seemed even more surprised than Joshua.


    "You didn''t know?" Joshua pressed.


    The headmaster replied, "Every time she came to see the child, she did it under the guise of wanting to adopt. She spent time with the child, saying she wanted to build some


    el.


    connection, but she never mentioned she was the child''s


    mother. We never thought to question it. We assumed she just wanted to adopt him." Content


    belongs to NovelDrama.Org


    Adjusting his sses, the headmaster continued, "We truly had no idea that the woman, who imed to want to adopt, was actually the child''s biological mother."


    It seemed the woman wanted neither to take on the responsibility of raising her child nor topletely let go. She just wanted to see him now and then.


    The more Joshua learned, the worse his impression of Susan became.


    "When did she starting to see the child?" he inquired.


    "Only a few months ago, and she''s only been here a few times. Otherwise, we wouldn''t have thought she was just interested in adoption, without considering she might be the child''s biological mother the headmaster exined.


    A mother with even a shred of maternal instinct, forced by circumstances to leave her child in the bushes near an orphanage, would surely make her presence known in her child''s life from time to


    1.n


    time, under any pretext. Content


    belongs to NovelDrama.Org


    But it took Susan more than two years to show up, and she barely visited, which led the headmaster to believe she was indeed interested in adoption, not a family reunion.Content (C) N?v/elDra/ma.Org.


    Joshua understood then, Susan was only using the child to manipte him, to threaten him for her own gain, which is why she returned to the orphanage.


    She never really cared for the child!


    "Alright, I understand," Joshua said, his demeanor as authoritative as it was in his business, addressing the headmaster, "I''ll be taking the child with me today. Please start the paperwork as soon as you can."


    "Mr. Whitman, are you nning to adopt the child?" the headmaster asked, a hint of hope in his voice.


    As the head of the orphanage, his greatest wish was for each child to find a warm and loving home.


    "I am his biological father. My child was taken from me, and I''ve only just found him," Joshua stated.

 Chapter 1911

    Chapter 1911


    Since he was his own flesh and blood, Joshua felt it was only right to bring the child home, to raise him as a true Whitman, and not let rumors spread that the boy was merely adopted.


    "What? The child was kidnapped before ending up in the orphanage? Oh, that poor kid," the director said, her eyes brimming with sympathy as she looked at the little boy in Joshua''s arms.


    He should have had a wealthy and warm family, should have grown up healthy, cheerful, and outgoing. Instead, he was abandoned at a young age and now, due to ack of love and attention, he was diagnosed with autism.


    "And his condition..." the director still showed concern for the child.


    Joshua replied, "I''ll find the best psychiatrist for him."


    As he said this, Joshua''s gaze shifted to the single bed behind the director, where another little boy sat, huddled and looking just as vulnerable. "What about this child?" Joshua inquired.


    "Oh, he''s an orphan. Both his parents died in a car crash shortly after he was born. Not long after, his maternal grandparents also passed away, heartbroken. The child ended up all alone," the director exined.


    "I saw ady earlier who seemed quite close to him. Is she nning to adopt him?" Joshua asked, noting the shared plight between the boy and his own son, which piqued his concern.


    "Thedy came with a younger woman. They took the child from the orphanage for a while, promising him a better life, though they didn''t say anything about adoption. They mentioned giving him a bit of happiness for a time. But just earlier, they exined that due to their busy schedules, they couldn''t look after him for a bit and had to bring him back to the orphanage. They said they''de back for him after some time," the director shared.


    Joshua listened and pondered for a moment. He was unsure what Angelina was up to, borrowing a child from the orphanage and then returning him when it got inconvenient.


    What was she treating the child as?


    This kind of back-and-forth would only make the child''s mental state more fragile.


    Looking at the child''s timid gaze, Joshua felt a pang of empathy. "In a few days, I''ll arrange for him to see a psychiatrist, one-on-one therapy." Perhaps it was fate or simplypassion, but Joshua wanted to help the child.


    The director was overjoyed at his


    wonderful! On behalf of the cheet wondckly saying, "Really, t


    Set


    thank you, Mr. Whitman."


    "Sure, hand over the paperwork to this gentleman," Joshua said, standing up and handing the task over to Reginald.


    He left the orphanage with the child in his arms.


    In the car.


    Thssa''s thoughts were racing. What was Angelina doing at the orphanage?


    And more importantly, she was holding a child!


    Could it be Georgia''s child?


    She remembered Hertha mentioning that Georgia and ric''s child would be around two by now.


    And the child Angelina was holding seemed to be about that age.


    If it was indeed Georgia and ric''s child, would Angelina bring


    to the age? Was she p to leave him there? CanningBelonging to N?velDrama.Org.


    to NovelDrama.Org


    That seemed unlikely!


    belongs


    With the Falconer family''s resources, raising a toddler would be a piece of cake.


    Even if the Falconer family didn''t want the child, Angelina could easily raise him herself.


    Wasn''t Angelina incredibly fond of


    of


    Georgia? So it would stand to reason that she''d cherish her child too Why then would she leave him at the orphanage?


    Thssa''s head was spinning, trying to piece together a reason, but she couldn''te up with one.

 Chapter 1912

    Chapter 1912


    "What''s on your mind?" A deep, maic voice suddenly broke the silence beside her.


    Thssa snapped back to reality, meeting Lysander''s gaze. Quickly pushing aside her swirling thoughts, she managed a smile and said, "Nothing much."


    "Were you thinking about Leopold?" Lysander asked out of the blue.


    Thssa was taken aback, hurriedly replying, "No, not at all..."


    Lysander''s expression darkened, and Thssa, worried he might misunderstand, quickly added, "I was just wondering why ric''s mother ended up in the orphanage."


    She wasn''t lying; that was exactly what she had been thinking about.


    She couldn''t fathom why Lysander would bring up Leopold out of nowhere.


    His name hadn''te up between them in ages.


    Especially today, when nothing they did had anything to do with Leopold.


    "Really? I thought that scene earlier might have reminded you of him," Lysander remarked.


    That scene?


    Recalling the moment when Susan was sitting by the window, holding her child, it did stir painful memories within Thssa.


    The image of Leopold''s passing is something she doubted she''d ever forget.


    But her feelings towards Leopold had long since evolved from love to something else entirely.


    "The disaster at Leossa Electronics was entirely Leopold''s fault. Yet, you took all the me upon yourself to protect his reputation. You''ve kept silent all these years. Does it not weigh on you?" Thssa found herself staring into Lysander''s eyes, her voice taking on a sorrowful tone.


    They had never directly discussed this matter since the truth came to light.


    She hadn''t expressed understanding or cleared up any misunderstandings face-to-face, and Lysander had never mentioned anything about it either.


    Had he not brought up Leopold today, he might never have addressed this secret with her.Content (C) N?v/elDra/ma.Org.


    Lysander''s gaze was steady on her, not surprised by her words, but the frost in his eyes seemed to dissipate slightly.


    "I don''t feel wronged," he finally said.


    After Leopold''s death, Thssa was


    n


    furious with him for a long time ming him for what happened to Leopold, and they had their share of disagreements about it.


    When did she learn the truth?


    "Who told you?" Lysander asked.


    Thssa shook her head, "No one told me, I overheard it myself."


    "That day at the hospital, I overheard Amelia and Payton talking."


    "Which day?" Lysander insisted.


    Thssa hesitated before replying, "The day you were supposed to marry Rosalind."


    As soon as she finished speaking, Lysander''s eyes narrowed, "So, that''s why you crashed the wedding?"


    There it was, the reason for her wedding-crashing escapade, now out in the open for Lysander to scrutinize.


    Facing Lysander''s piercing gaze, Thssa felt a sudden wave of guilt and turned away, stammering, "It wasn''t just because of that..."


    Hearing about Lysander''s impending marriage to Rosalind had already upset her greatly, and she had no desire to see them united in matrimony.


    However, it wasn''t until she caught wind of that conversation that she found the resolve to intervene decisively.


    Her exnations seemed futile now,


    as Lysander with a flick of his wrist,


    turned her face towards his, his breath warm on her skin, "If it hadn''t been for overhearing Amelia and Payton at the hospital, would now be officially married to Rosalind?"


    His tone was far from casual; it wasden with usation and annoyance.


    He had believed that her crashing the wedding stemmed from a profound love for him, that it was love


    at drove her to whisk him away from the altar.

 Chapter 1913

    Chapter 1913


    She never thought she visited him out of pity or sympathy for his misfortunes.


    Thssa could feel the anger radiating off Lysander, but unlike the chilling fury from three years ago that would make one''s blood run cold, this was more like a normal man''s frustration mixed with a touch of grievance and reproach.


    It was a genuine reproach directed at Thssa''s intentions, without any other emotions involved.


    Staring at his handsome face, just inches away, Thssa nervously exined, "Hehe, I dide, didn''t I? And you''re still the father of my children, aren''t you?"


    That was a close call. If she hadn''t gone that time, her kids might have ended up with a stepmom by now.


    Seeing her own kids wouldn''t be that easy for her, their mother.


    Mentioning the kids, some of the sharpness in Lysander''s aura dissipated, and he loosened the grip on her chin, "At least you have some conscience. Saturday ising up; are you ready?"


    "Mhm, I''ve been preparing all of Elowen''s favorite foods, and I''ve bought clothes and toys that I think the kids will love." Thssa''s eyes sparkled at the thought of seeing her children on Saturday.


    "Mm," Lysander grunted, his gaze deep and focused ahead.


    Upon returning to Royal Estates, Lysander headed to his study and called David, "I need you to dig into the bombing of Thssa''s family home three years ago. Don''t miss a single detail."


    ric slept through the night, his head heavy and his nose congested.


    In those few hours, he had numerous nightmares, all of them terrifying, fighting to break free.


    The biggest nightmare was Georgia.


    In his dreams, Georgia was a demon, relentlessly haunting him. No matter how he tried to escape, he couldn''t shake off Georgia''s grasp.


    Georgia''s ws tore through him, leaving him barely alive, yet still unwilling to let him go.


    Struggling to crawl away from Georgia''s clutches, he reached out to Hertha for help.


    Just as Hertha was about to run


    him,


    released him


    gia released him a viciously pounced t


    en.


    "Hertha!" ric cried out in his


    dream, his body jerking awake toet


    find not the demonic visage of Georgia but the white ceiling of his room, bathed in aforting light.


    ric sighed, relieved it was just a nightmare.


    Sitting up, he realized his whole body was drenched in sweat.


    Sticky and ufortable, he decided to take a shower.


    Leaving his room, he saw a figure curled up on the living room sofa.


    It was Hertha, asleep in an uneasy ball, hugging herself.


    ric sighed, thinking how she intended to take care of him but couldn''t even manage herself.


    He grabbed a nket and gently covered Hertha with it.


    She could easily catch a cold, sleeping uncovered like that.


    After making sure Hertha was covered, ric went to the bathroom for a shower.T¨ºxt belongs to N?velDrama.Org.


    Deep in sleep, Hertha turned, and


    Sng slipped off her. It met


    moment for her groggy mind


    realize she was in ric''s house.


    She got up, intending to find ric.


    Just then, the bathroom door opened.


    ric stepped out, his body damp, shirtless, his lean muscles on full disy.


    Hertha''s gaze collided with his, and her blood raced, "ric!"

 Chapter 1914

    Chapter 1914


    ric snapped back to reality and turned to look at her, only to find her staring at him with wide, round eyes,pletely captivated.


    There he was, d in nothing but a towel around his waist, droplets of water trickling down from his hair, cascading over his chest and tracing the outline of his lean muscles, slowly making their way down and sketching every inch of his skin.


    Hertha''s gaze followed those droplets all the way down to the towel wrapped around his waist.


    The path those droplets took left too much to the imagination, and Hertha couldn''t help but click her tongue in awe.


    ric, catching every bit of Hertha''s expression, gave a roguish chuckle, "Looks like you''re not quite done yet. Want me to unwrap and give you a better view?"


    With that, he made a move to undo the towel around his waist.


    Hertha took a deep breath, quickly regained herposure, and raised her hand to stop him, "Enough, ric. Unless you''re aiming to be a eunuch, I suggest you stop right now."


    Hertha made a cutting gesture with her hand that startled ric enough to make him halt his actions, chuckling, "Come on, it''s not like you haven''t seen it before. Why so shy all of a sudden?"


    "If you say that one more time, I''ll make you taste the wrath of my cooking!" Hertha threatened, ring at him.


    "You''re so fierce. Besides me, I doubt anyone else would dare to take you," ric sighed in mock despair. "I''m gonna get dressed. Call us something to eat, will you? I''m starving."


    "What do you want? I''ll whip something up," Hertha volunteered as she marched towards his kitchen, only to find the fridge as barren as a desert, save for some bottled water.N?vel/Dr(a)ma.Org - Content owner.


    "ric, your kitchen doesn''t even have an egg. How can you live like this?" she called out, exasperated.


    ric, just returning to his room, shouted back before closing the door, "I hardly eat at home. Buying groceries would just be a waste."


    Hertha pondered for a moment; it made sense. ric, a man of privilege since birth, wasn''t exactly the domestic type.


    She pulled out her phone, ready to


    order takeout, but then she


    remembered how greasy and unhealthy that could be. ric had just been sick and was still recovering. Greasy food wouldn''t do


    his stomach any favors. Content


    belongs to NovelDrama.Org


    Even though they might not end up together, Hertha had promised they''d still be friends.


    And as a friend, she ought to care for his health.


    "Wait for me; I''ll be right back," she called out towards his room before leaving.


    ric, anxious, hurried to the door


    bet


    ensure Hertha''s back as she left, talk about timing. Conte


    she locked the door behind


    her


    belongs to NovelDrama.Org


    He was on edge, wanting to follow her, but then realized he was still not fully dressed.


    Quickly getting dressed, he dashed to the front door, half-expecting to have to chase after Hertha.


    But as soon as he opened the door, there she was, about to knock.


    Hertha, holding a bag of groceries in one hand,ughed, "That was quick. Got dressed in a sh."


    She eyed him up and down, "Dressed to the nines, aren''t we? Almost look the part."


    §Ö


    ric stepped aside to let her in, the smile on his lips easing, "I''ve always been about appearances. Wasn''t it my stunning good looks that caught your eye in the first ce?


    Hertha turned, giving him a stern look, "Zip it. We agreed not to bring up the past!"

 Chapter 1915

    Chapter 1915


    She couldn''t count the number of times she''d kicked herself for being so superficial, falling for ric, the ultimate yer. Her past obsession with him was a source of never-ending frustration.


    Seeing that Hertha was seriously fed up, ric raised his hands in surrender. "Okay, okay, I''ll stop. Happy now?"


    Hertha rolled her eyes at him and headed for the kitchen. ric noticed the grocery bag she was carrying and followed her, asking casually, "Do you even know how to cook?"


    "That mouth of yours isn''t just for offending people, you know," Hertha shot back without turning around.


    "Did I say something wrong?" ric followed her, only to have the ss door mmed shut in his face, nearly squashing his nose.


    ric couldn''t help butugh. "Hertha, I''m a patient here!"


    Hertha looked at him disdainfully through the ss. "If you weren''t sick, I wouldn''t bothering!"


    "Can''t you be a little nicer? Do you treat the kids at home like this too?" ric said.


    "The kids are a thousand times cuter than you. Just one look from them can melt my heart. If I were a block of ice, I''d turn into a warm puddle around them, unlike you!" Hertha rolled her eyes at him again.


    "And what''s so bad about me?" ric persisted.


    "You''re just annoying!" Hertha said bluntly.


    "Hey, you..." ric felt wounded by her ring disdain, ready to argue.


    But then he saw Hertha had turned her back on him and was already getting started with the food. ric decided to swallow his words.


    Opening the ss door, he stepped in, offering, "I''ll help out."


    "Wow, the privileged lord is offering to get his hands dirty? Impressive," Herthamented.


    ric felt a bit cheered by her rarepliment. "Of course, you''ve yet to discover all my hidden talents," ric said, moving to the stove to take some vegetables from Bertha and started to prepare them.


    "Hey, why are you throwing away the stems and keeping the leaves?" Hertha didn''t pay attention for a moment and saw ric discarding the stems of the cress into the trash while keeping the leaves.


    "Isn''t it the leaves we eat?" ric looked confused.


    "Just when I thought you were doing okay, you go and reveal your true colors as a spoiled brat. Who ever heard of eating cress leaves and not the stems?" Hertha was incredulous.


    ric was at a loss for words.Content (C) N?v/elDra/ma.Org.


    "I knew you wouldn''t be of any help. Just get out, before you waste what little food we have," Hertha pushed ric out of the kitchen.


    "Hey, why do these greens smell like


    medicine? Is this even edible?" ric


    sniffed his hands, which had a strange aroma, reminiscent of the


    bitter medicine he''d been forced to


    drink.


    "Cress is one of the finest ingredients out there. What, you''re worried I''m trying to poison you?" Hertha retorted.


    "I''m a patient, remember? Should I even be eating this?" ric was doubtful.


    "Stop ying the patient card as if you''re on your deathbed," Hertha said sharply.


    "Hertha, you''re cursing me now," ric protested, not pleased.


    "What''s the matter, upset that I''m sending you away?" Hertha scoffed.

 Chapter 1916

    Chapter 1916


    ric swallowed his anger just as it was about to burst out. Forget it, arguing with Hertha was pointless. Winning the argument meant she might leave, and he''d be left all alone. Losing meant he could at least enjoy the meals she cooked.


    "Why would I drive you away? I''m exhausted. I''m going to lie down for a bit. Call me when dinner''s ready," ric said, his tone now casual as he turned and walked out of the kitchen.


    Hertha rolled her eyes at his retreating back and got back to her tasks.T¨ºxt belongs to N?velDrama.Org.


    Sitting on the couch, ric''s stomach was growling louder than a bear. Including today, it had been two whole days since hest ate. A weaker person would have caved by now. The fact that he was still holding on was nothing short of a miracle.


    Leaning back on the couch, the sounds of pots and pans clinking in the kitchen reached his ears. ric found himself ncing towards the kitchen out of habit. There was Hertha, bustling about, flipping something in a skillet one moment and washing vegetables in the sink the next.


    A smile tugged at ric''s lips. Who knew she was capable of multitasking like that?


    As he watched, he pulled a nket over himself, feeling a chill. Whether it was from hunger or the remnants of his illness, he couldn''t tell.


    The nket fluttered, bringing with it a breeze scented with the fragrance of soap. ric stiffened for a moment, then pulled the nket closer to his nose, inhaling deeply. The scent grew clearer, richer.


    It was the scent that haunted his dreams, a reminder of three years past. Whenever he felt lost, in pain, or terribly alone in the dead of night, that scent was his sce. It was uniquely Hertha''s.


    She must have used this nket, leaving her scent behind. ric greedily inhaled, basking in the fragrance that was all Hertha.


    Time seemed to blur until the kitchen door swung open and Hertha emerged with a dish in hand, calling out to him, "ric, dinner''s ready."


    Snapping back to reality, ric''s fox-like eyeszily responded, "Oh,ing."


    As Hertha turned to head back to the kitchen, she noticed ric


    Curiosity piqued, she asked, "ric, are you alright?"


    clutching the nket to his het


    "Yeah, I''m fine. What could be wrong?" His response was absent-minded, his focus still on the nket, longing for the scent that lingered.


    Hertha stood before him, yet he seemed more attached to the nket than to her presence, longing for past moments of warmth.


    "If you''re alright, thene on over, the soup''s ready. Don''t let it get cold," Hertha said, turning back towards the kitchen.


    Worried about upsetting Hertha,


    ric reluctantly set the nket


    aside and trudged over to the dining


    table. Two dishes greeted him:. stir-fried pork with herbs and a side of saut¨¦ed kale. ric couldn''t help but frown slightly.


    During the wait, Hertha brought over the soup she had been simmering, cing one bowl in front of ric and another across the table for herself, then sitting down opposite him.


    "Eat it while it''s hot," she said offhandedly.

 Chapter 1917

    Chapter 1917


    ric stared at the dishes on the table, his voice tinged with disbelief, "We''re having in porridge for dinner?" Hertha paused mid-motion, pointing at the two dishes on the table with her chopsticks, "Isn''t this enough for you?"


    "One te of herbal greens, and another of some nutrientcking vegetables. Is this what you serve to a sick person?" ric''s appetite vanished at the sight.


    Having not eaten for two days, he was famished, his stomach practically glued to his back.


    But the sight of these dishespletely killed his hunger.


    "You really do have the appetite of a prince, so hard to please! I cooked for you out of concern for your illness, and you dare toin about my hard work!" Hertha was fuming.


    She picked up a bite of the saut¨¦ed cress with pork and brought it close to ric''s mouth, "Isn''t this meat? How is it just ''greens''?" As the chopsticks neared, ric caught a whiff of the strong herbal scent, quickly leaning back and pinching his nose, "Get that away from me, it''s making me nauseous."


    Seeing him dodge like that, Hertha was truly puzzled. She withdrew the chopsticks and popped the saut¨¦ed cress with pork into her mouth, enjoying it thoroughly, "How can you not even taste such delicious food?"


    Hertha loved the dish, considering it a delicacy.T¨ºxt belongs to N?velDrama.Org.


    There were no ingredients left at ric''s ce, so she had brought some from her own home. Her pantry wasn''t well-stocked either, just some cress, a bit of lean meat, and greens.


    She had brought everything over to cook for him, and he still wasn''t grateful!


    She really should have left him to his own devices!


    But remembering how he had called out "Hertha" in his sleep, she softened, deciding not to hold it against him.


    ric, watching Hertha enjoy what to him was an unappetizing dish, imagined the weird, bitter taste it would have and involuntarily frowned.


    "Enjoying it?" ric raised an eyebrow at her.


    Hertha nodded vigorously, "Of course, it''s delicious. Want a taste?"


    She picked up another bite and offered it to him.


    ric hastily declined, "No, no, that''s alright. You eat. I''ll stick to my porridge."


    Saying so, he bowed his head and started spooning the porridge into his mouth.


    Starved for two days, having porridge was a blessing.


    Seeing him finally eat something made Hertha feel a bit better, knowing he wouldn''t starve to death even if he avoided the dishes.


    So, she said nothing more.


    Hertha stayed at ric''s ce for


    the afternoon, skipping lunch herself, and ended up eating


    dishes and the bowl of porridge.


    After eating, she washed the dishes and left them in the sink, instructing ric, "You wash the dishes, I''m heading home."


    ric panicked a little at the thought


    of her leaving, "I, the prince who''s


    er touched dishwater, wash


    never


    dishes? Hertha, you can''t leave a job half-done."


    Hertha froze, then turned around ring at him, fuming, "Can''t you learn? You''re not disabled; can''t use your hands or what?"


    "I could learn, but I''d need you to teach me," ric stood, walking towards her.


    Hertha was livid, her anger reaching


    its peak, "Stay right there! Staying to take care of you was the worst decision ever. I should''ve let you suffer, starve to death. Serves you right! Humph!"


    With that, Hertha turned and stormed off, not looking back.


    ric thought about following her, but the door mmed shut, nearly ttening his nose.


    He stopped, touching his nose regretfully, sighing. It seemed he had again botched his attempt to spend more time with Hertha.

 Chapter 1918

    Chapter 1918


    The next day at work, Hertha couldn''t wait to vent to Thssa about ric.


    "I just can''t deal with his privileged attitude anymore! Saying he''s spoiled and clueless about real life is an understatement!"


    Thinking back to her conversation with ric yesterday still made Hertha''s blood boil. It felt like there was something stuck in her chest, making it hard to breathe. She was absolutely livid.


    Thssa, concerned, asked, "How''s ric doing now?"


    "Don''t worry, he won''t die from it," Hertha replied, still visibly fuming.


    "Come on, you''re friends, don''t be like this," Thssa tried to soothe her.


    Hertha shared her resolve to make things right with ric, telling Thssa all about it. Thssa was well aware of the current dynamics between Hertha and ric.


    "Thank goodness you''re just friends. Living with someone whose lifestyle is worlds apart from yours would be a real nightmare," Hertha said, as if she''d just uncovered some profound truth.


    She told Thssa all about the previous day''s events.


    "He woke up all bright-eyed and bushy-tailed, went to the kitchen to help me with a dish, and ended up throwing away the vegetable stems and keeping the leaves! After all my hard work, he had the nerve to say it looked like hospital food! And that''s not all; when I asked him to wash the dishes, he imed he''d never done it before and asked me to show him how. Can you believe it? He''s literally asking for a fight!"


    Hertha was so worked up, she felt like if ric were there, she might just grab him for a round of fisticuffs!


    Seeing Hertha all riled up, Thssa couldn''t help butugh, "Aren''t you just friends? You''re getting so mad, people might think you want to marry the guy."


    Hertha paused, then quickly retorted by tickling Thssa, "Are you even my friend? I''m here about to explode, and you''reughing."


    Thssaughed and squirmedBelonging to N?velDrama.Org.


    away, responding, "Well, it''s true, isn''t it? You''re angry because you had expectations, and now you''re disappointed. If he were just


    e


    much." Content belongsure


    regr friend, you wouldn''t care this


    Hertha''s tickling hands suddenly stopped. Thssa''s words hit her like a ton of bricks, sending ripples through her heart that she couldn''t calm.


    Coming back to reality, Thssa


    saw Hertha''s stunned expression her eyes wide as if she''d just had a revtion. Thssa knew she''d struck a chord.


    "It''s hard to stay just friends with someone you''ve had feelings for, isn''t it?"


    "Hey, Hertha, there''s something I''ve been meaning to tell you," Thssa said softly, nudging Hertha to snap her out of her daze.


    Hertha blinked and turned to her, "What is it? You look so serious, you''re scaring me."


    Hertha was anxious about hearing bad news.


    Thssa shared, "Yesterday, Lysander and I visited the orphanage."


    "Why''d you go there? Don''t tell me the Sinir patriarch sent your kids to an orphanage?" Hertha''s heart raced with worry for Thssa.


    Thssa chuckled, "What are you talking about? The kids are fine, they''re at the military school. I''m talking about something that concerns you."


    "The more you talk, the more


    confused get. Both my kids are with my mom, pampered and well taken care of. They wouldn''t end up in an orphanage," Hertha said, puzzled.


    "Just hear me out," Thssa urged.

 Chapter 1919

    Chapter 1919


    Talking, she continued, "I saw Angelina yesterday, holding a little boy as she went into the orphanage director''s office. If I''m not mistaken, that kid must be Georgia''s."


    "What? What did you say?" Hertha was so shocked she was speechless, her hands involuntarily clutching Thssa''s arm.


    Seeing Hertha''s agitated state, Thssa tried to soothe her, "Hey, take a deep breath. Don''t jump to conclusions. I told you this because something seems off. We should look into it."


    "What''s off?" Hertha''s eyes widened, her expression starting to spiral out of control. "Could it be that Georgia''s child was borrowed from the orphanage, and they''re pretending he''s ric''s? But ric took a paternity test with that child. Why would ric keep this from me? What''s he trying to hide?"


    Hertha was clearly panicking.


    Thssa had barely scratched the surface, and Hertha was already losing it, bombarding her with questions.


    Thssa quickly tried to stop her from spiraling.


    "Hertha, calm down. We don''t know the whole truth yet. Let''s head to the orphanage first and see what''s up. Once we have all the facts, we can figure out what''s going on."


    "When do we go?" Hertha looked up, clear panic in her eyes.


    "How about after work? We''ve still got jobs to do, right?" Thssa said, trying to calm her down.


    Hertha nodded.


    Throughout the day, though Hertha was physically at work, her mind was elsewhere,pletely off her game.


    Finally, when work was over, Hertha grabbed Thssa, and they practically sprinted out of the office.


    Hertha drove, with Thssa in the passenger seat, heading towards the orphanage.


    On the way, Thssa got a call from Lysander.


    "I''lle pick you up," Lysander said on the phone.


    Thssa nced at Hertha and told him, "I''m not at the office right now, I''m out with Hertha..."


    "Put it on speaker!" Hertha, knowing it was Lysander, said to Thssa.


    Thssa switched to speakerphone.


    Even without seeing him, Lysander''s deep, cool voice made Hertha''s heart tighten inexplicably.


    She nervously said, "Hehe, Lysander,


    I''ve


    CoDorrowed your Thssa fBelonging to N?velDrama.Org.


    of hours, don''t worry,


    elge


    her safe and sound Content


    belongs to NovelDrama.Org


    "Call me when you''re done," Lysander''s low, maic voice came through before he hung up.


    His words were directed over Hertha, straight to Thssa.


    "Your Lysander is keeping a closer eye on you, almost clingier than during the honeymoon phase," Hertha joked.


    Thssa blushed, a bit embarrassed, "Focus on driving, no gossiping."


    Hertha knew Thssa too well, seeing right through her shyness. She always was thin-skinned.


    So, Hertha dropped it, not wanting to make Thssa even more


    ufortable, especially siel neo


    had bigger fish to fry.


    Soon, they pulled up in front of the orphanage.


    W


    they


    Hertha and Thssa got out, Thssa leading the way straight to the director''s office.


    The closer they got to the director''s


    office, the faster Hertha''s heart


    raced, the thought of uncoverin.ne


    the


    truth making her grip Thssa''s arm even tighter.

 Chapter 1920

    Chapter 1920


    Thssa and Hertha arrived at the principal''s office door, which was slightly ajar. Thssa knocked on the door, but no response came. They exchanged nces, and without further patience, Hertha pushed the door open: "Principal..."


    Her face was lit with an eager smile, ready to greet whoever was inside. However, her words hung in the air as they realized the room was empty. Hertha''s smile faded as she turned to Thssa, "No one''s here."


    Just then, a staff member from the orphanage passed by. Thssa quickly stopped them and asked, "Excuse me, do you know where the principal is?"


    "The principal''s ying games with the kids in the main hall," the staff member replied.


    "Where''s that?" Hertha inquired.


    "I''m headed there myself. Follow me," the staff member offered.


    Thssa and Hertha followed the staff member to the main hall. The children were seated on little stools, listening intently to the principal, who was telling a children''s story with animated enthusiasm.


    Thssa and Hertha waited by the entrance, not wanting to interrupt. Unable to stay still, Hertha''s gaze wandered over the children sitting in rows. Her eyes suddenly fixed on a little boy seated in the middle.


    After looking intently for a few seconds, she became even more certain that the boy was Georgia''s child! Having met with Georgia holding the child several times, Hertha had taken a good look at him before. Those distinct almond-shaped eyes were the spitting image of ric''s.


    Because the boy resembled ric so closely, Hertha was unwavering in her belief that he was indeed the child of Georgia and ric. Now seeing him among the other children, she was sure she hadn''t made a mistake.


    Noticing Hertha''s fixed gaze, Thssa looked in the same direction and saw the child too. Understanding Hertha''s feelings, Thssa gently squeezed her hand, offering silentfort.


    Soon after, the principal finished the story. Hearing from the staff that someone was looking for him, he turned toward Thssa and Hertha with a friendly smile, "You were looking for me?"


    Thssa quickly responded, politely saying, "Yes, Principal. We were wondering if you might have a moment to talk privately."


    "Of course, just give me a moment," the principal replied, then turned back to the children, "Piper will y some games with you while I step out for a bit, okay?"


    The children''s innocently unanimousBelonging to N?velDrama.Org.


    response was a resounding yes. Watching the children and hearing their understanding responses, Thssa felt a pang of sorrow and empathy for them. Every child, she thought, arrives in this world as an angel, innocent and meless. Yet, some are treated harshly from birth, facing the world''s cruelties at such a tender age. How undeserving they are of such fate.


    The principal led them back to his office, courteously offering them each a cup of tea.


    "Ms. South, was there an issue with the child that was taken yesterday? Please feel free to ask me anything I''ll share everything I know," the principal said, recognizing Th from her visit with Lysander the day before to handle Susan''s case.


    Though the orphanage had seemed calm on the surface, all the adults were aware of the incident. A woman, Kamed Susan had been found sitting on a windowsill, threatening to jump with a two-year-old boy from the


    novel


    orphanage in her arms.

 Chapter 1921

    Chapter 1921


    Nobody really knew the details, but word on the street was that Joshua had roped in Lysander and Thssa to get to the bottom of things. And Susan? Yeah, she got hauled off by the cops.


    Seeing how respectfully the director was treating Thssa, Hertha nudged her arm, urging her to speak up.


    Feeling Hertha''s impatience, Thssa smiled at the director and said, "Here''s the thing, I saw Angelina with a kid yesterday, and I was curious about him."


    It took a moment for the director to realize she wasn''t talking about the boy Joshua had been carrying but the child with Angelina.


    "The question you''re asking is the same one Mr. Whitman had yesterday."


    That piqued Thssa''s interest even more: "Joshua asked about him?"


    "After finding out about the kid''s situation, he decided to arrange for a personal therapist to help with the autism."


    "He has autism?" Hertha was the first to react in surprise.


    No wonder every time Georgia was seen holding the child, Hertha thought he seemed so timid, barely speaking a word. Compared to her own kids, he seemed way more introverted.


    The director nodded, "Yes, he''s been an orphan since he was little, lost his grandparents when he was just six months old. He has no family left in this world, the orphanage is his only home. Although we try to give the children here as much attention as we can, it''s never quite the same as parental love. Over time, theck of one-on-one care can lead to psychological issues in many children."


    Herthatched onto a key point: "So, you''re saying the kid''s an orphan? Then what''s Angelina and Georgia''s rtionship to him?"


    Her big, round eyes were filled with a mix of nervousness and eagerness as she looked at the director. Her heart was racing, like a tightly wound spring suddenly let loose, bouncing wildly out of control.


    She had assumed the child was ric''s!


    But now, faced with a different reality, she was desperate to prove it.


    Knowing Thssa''s significance, and considering both Joshua and Lysander, who were not to be trifled with, were friendly towards her, the director knew better than to neglect her. Offending Thssa could mean offending either Joshua or Lysander.


    Considering Georgia''s tantrums were less of a worry than upsetting Thssa, he revealed the truth: "Georgia and Angelina hired Jayden out for some errands in exchange for a donation to the orphanage. Yesterday, Angelina brought Jayden back, saying they''de to pick him up after a while."


    "His name is Jayden, not r?" Hertha asked again, her voice trembling with excitement.


    Initially, when Hertha heard Georgia calling the child r, her heart felt torn apart. She thought, "Look how deeply Georgia feels for ric, how romantic." Even their child, she believed, was named r, a


    ?¦Í¦ÅBelonging to N?velDrama.Org.


    constant reminder of her love for


    ric.


    But it turned out, the child''s real name wasn''t r at all-it was all a show put on by Georgia!


    "His nickname''s Jayden, but his real name is Potato. Have you seen him outside the orphanage?" the director asked, curious.


    "We have," Thssa began, but Hertha cut in, "Angelina and Georgia hired Jayden out just so I would see him."


    "What''s that supposed to mean?" The director was confused.

 Chapter 1922

    Chapter 1922


    Hertha was on the verge of spilling the beans to the orphanage director when Thssa quickly intervened, preempting her with a casual exnation, "Oh, it''s nothing, really. We just happened to have seen this kid outside of the orphanage and got a bit curious, that''s all. Just asking around, no big deal. If you''ve got things to do, please, don''t let us keep you. We''ll be on our way."


    Stepping out of the orphanage, Hertha, puzzled, asked, "Why''d you stop me? It would''ve been perfect to expose Georgia and Angelina for what they really are."


    Thssa replied, "The director doesn''t know a thing, just that someone sees potential in Potato from the orphanage, sees him as valuable. If you tell him about Georgia and Angelina''s scheme to drive a wedge between you and ric, what''s he going to think? Might he feel like he''s been part of something terrible?"


    Hertha got Thssa''s point. Their personal vendettas shouldn''t drag innocent people into the fray.


    But then again, wasn''t Potato being dragged into this mess by Georgia and Angelina?


    "Georgia and Angelina sure went to great lengths just to get at me!" Hertha fumed.


    Before Thssa could respond, another thought struck Hertha, "Do you think ric knows about all this?"


    Snapping back to reality and meeting Hertha''s anxious gaze, Thssa immediately got serious.


    As Hertha''s best friend, she knew when to joke and when to be earnest.


    Right now, Hertha was deeply concerned about how ric viewed the situation. Saying the wrong thing could hurt her deeply. Thssa shook her head, "I don''t know."


    "I''m going to confront him about it! If he knew and still yed me for a fool, he''s dead meat!" Hertha dered, striding towards the car. Thssa quickly followed, hopping into the car as Hertha sped off.


    They soon arrived at Gulfstream Community.


    Hertha parked and marched towards the building.


    Thssa called out from behind, "I''ll grab a cab back. Have a good talk with ric, and try not to be too impulsive."


    It was time for Hertha and ric to have a heart-to-heart, and Thssa knew better than to intrude.


    "Text me when you get home," Hertha said, walking briskly to the building, still caring for Thssa.


    Thssa acknowledged and went to hail a cab.


    Hertha, fueled by a mix of fury and


    l


    urgency made her way up the el and marched to rics


    ready to confront him.


    W


    But as her hand hovered over the door, ready to knock, she hesitated.


    What was the point of confronting ric like this?


    vel.ne


    If he had known that the child wasn''t his and conspired with Georgia against her, wasn''t that proof enough that he didn''t want to be with her?


    After all, you can''t fake a paternity test.


    The fact that ric insisted the child was his, despite the test, meant


    one


    with Georgia, ying her de


    onlyT¨ºxt belongs to N?velDrama.Org.


    a fool!


    Caught in this web of lies, she felt adrift, tormented by sleepless nights and gnawing doubts.


    And there he was, presumably taking pleasure in her misery and pain.


    To confront him would only give him more ammunition to mock her, to show her that she cared more than she should.


    It would shatter thest remnants of her dignity in front of him.

 Chapter 1923

    Chapter 1923


    What did it matter if ric was unaware of the trick Georgia and Angelina yed by hiring a kid to deceive her? Should she confront him for an exnation? Demand he reconcile with her right away and head down to the city hall for a marriage license? Did she even want to get back together with him, let alone marry him?


    Hertha hesitated, unsure of her own heart. Did she still want to be with ric? She had believed ric and Georgia shared a child, and it shattered her heart, giving her a reason to refuse a life together with ric. It took a lot of courage to decide just to be friends with ric, and he had epted that oue. If she knocked on his door today and cleared the air, where would that leave them? She wasn''t even sure how she wanted to rte to ric, much less confront him with any sort of confidence.


    The confrontation could only go two ways. Either ric had known all along the child wasn''t his, colluding with Georgia to deceive her. That oue would only shatter her dignity even more. Or, ric was also deceived by Georgia. That would invalidate her previous reason for rejecting ric and not marrying him. Then, what kind of rtionship would she and ric return to?


    At this moment, Hertha''s mind was a mess, not knowing what to do. Blindly confronting ric for the truth would only mire her deeper in confusion. Forget it, she thought, better just to go home and sleep!


    As Hertha turned to leave, the door to ric''s house opened. Seeing Hertha about to walk away, ric called out in surprise, "Hertha, were you looking for me?" He was starving, about to head out for some food. He hadn''t expected to open the door to the very person he hoped to see, and his mood instantly lifted.


    Hertha stopped in her tracks, turned around, and saw ric. The heart she had just set down was clenched once more. Internally conflicted, she snapped, "Don''t tter yourself. Why would I be looking for you?" With that, she turned and walked towards her own home.


    ric hurried out, following her,


    chatting away cheerfully, "Ethan told me not to go to work, to take the day off at home. I''ve been so bored I''m about to mold over here, and I''m practically starving." Content


    belongs to NovelDrama.Org


    "That''s your problem, not mine!" Hertha said, stepping inside, about to shut the door.Content (C) N?v/elDra/ma.Org.


    ric braced the door she was


    trying to close, grinning cheekily through the gap, "Come on, I''m the father of your kids. You can''t just let me starve. Did you cook anything? Let me in for a bite." Content


    belongs to NovelDrama.Org


    "My cooking''s poison today, afraid it might kill you. Your precious stomach is better off at a fancy restaurant!" Hertha retorted, pushing the door harder.


    But she underestimated the strength of a grown man. Even unwell, ric was stronger and didn''t let the dook close, histoneced with guilt and apology, "I was wrong yesterday, shouldn''t have criticized your cooking. I''ve reflected on it, and I promise, whatever you make today, I''ll clean my te. Deal?"


    "No deal! Now leave!" Hertha was in turmoil and didn''t want to face ric.


    As she was about to forcefully shut the door, two little kids came toddling out from inside, "Mommy, mommy, is daddy here?"

 Chapter 1924

    Chapter 1924


    Two little munchkins barreled into Hertha, wrapping their arms around her legs, tilting their heads back, their cherubic faces beaming up at her with smiles.


    Hertha was just about to say no, that ric hadn''t arrived, and was mentally preparing to shoo them away gently. But seeing the innocence in the kids'' faces, the pure hope in their young eyes for their daddy, she just couldn''t bear to let them down.


    She had grown up in a loving home, basking in both her mother''s and father''s love, in a family where her parents adored each other. Her childhood was steeped in happiness.


    On the other hand, Thssa had lost her father''s love early on, and even as she grew, she often felt uneasy, introverted, and lonely. The pain of bing withdrawn due to the absence of a certain kind of love was all too familiar, and it hurt Hertha to think about it.


    That day, she had visited an orphanage and seen so many children abandoned,cking the love of a father or a mother. They should have been enjoying a sunny, joyful childhood, but instead, the selfishness of adults had turned them into introverted souls. So young, yet they had lost their innate joy, bing insecure, fragile, afraid of people, and sometimes mute.


    If these were Hertha''s children, she couldn''t imagine how much her heart would ache. She couldn''t stand the thought of her children feeling any bit of timidity or insecurity. Her children should always be healthy, radiant, and happy.


    In just a few seconds, Hertha went through a profound internal struggle. Soon, a warm smile spread across her face, and she said to Julian and Helena, "Yes, your daddy hase to have dinner with us. Are you happy?"


    She spoke softly, gently caressing their soft little cheeks.


    "Yeah, happy!" Helena''s bright, almond-shaped eyes sparkled with excitement.Content (C) N?v/elDra/ma.Org.


    At the door, ric, hearing Hertha relent, dared to push the door open and enter. Julian, with his keen eyes, spotted ric immediately. The little guy burst with excitement, letting go of Hertha and dashing towards him with his little legs.


    "Daddy, you really came!"


    "Ah, Daddy''s here!"


    Their excited screams filled the room, vibrant and cheerful. Julian was the first to reach ric, hugging his legs just as he had done with Hertha. Looking up, his eyes shone like stars in the night sky: "Daddy, you finally came to see us!"


    "Daddy, why did you take so long? I was about to forget you," Helena said, pulling on ric''s trouser leg, her voice filled with a hint of grievance. She rubbed her little face against his leg, pretending to wipe away tears and snot.


    Their tender, longing voices nearly melted ric''s heart. He squatted down, one child in each arm, and lovingly pressed his face against their soft, chubby cheeks.


    The softness of the kids'' cheeks was irresistible, making him long for more of their sweet cuddles.

 Chapter 1925

    Chapter 1925


    Indeed, a daughter is a father''s little sunshine, always the most caring, always the one who knows how to ease his pain.


    ric finally understood Lysander''s bliss. With two daughters, Lysander was blessed with double the warmth, double the affection.


    Gently, ric told Helena, "Daddy didn''t get a shot but took some medicine. A very skilleddy used acupuncture on me and prescribed some herbal remedies, and I started feeling better quite soon."


    "Daddy is a superhero; he gets better quickly when he''s sick. Not like us, needing shots, taking medicine, and sometimes even using an inhaler." Julian was, after all, a young boy, with a heart that harbored a hero.


    And naturally, this hero was none other than their own father.


    ric looked at Julian and smiled.


    Hertha watched the children cluster around ric, showering him with love, sticking close to him, clearly having missed him.


    She didn''t interrupt the interaction between the children and ric; instead, she walked over and sat down on a sofa nearby.


    At that moment, Kimberly, donning an apron, emerged from the kitchen. She nced at ric, surrounded by the children, and with a stern face, said to Hertha, "Hertha,e help me in the kitchen."


    With that, she led the way to the kitchen, and Hertha followed.


    Standing in the kitchen, Hertha looked around, seemingly unsure of what help was needed.


    "What do you need help with?" she asked.


    Kimberly, stirring a pot of soup with adle, vented, "Didn''t you say you were done with him? Why have you brought him back home?"


    The ''him'' Kimberly referred to was, of course, ric.Belonging to N?velDrama.Org.


    Hertha immediately understood; Kimberly''s real motive wasn''t about needing help in the kitchen but rather to confront her.


    "Mom, he''s the father of the children, after all. The kids really missed him," Hertha exined.


    "Have you considered, what if one


    day he decides to put aside


    whatever feelings he may have had for you and fights you for the children? What will you do then?" Kimberly shot her a nce Content


    belongs to NovelDrama.Org


    During this time, Kimberly had grown increasingly fond of the two children. Their sweet and sensible nature had deepened her affection for them. She adored the children.


    And since they were her grandchildren, her love for them was even more profound.


    She couldn''t bear the thought of them being taken away by their biological father.


    Hertha had employed a nanny to take care of the children before. But ever since Kimberly met Hertha and her children, Hertha had dismissed the nanny.


    The nanny, upon leaving, was visibly reluctant, sharing many details about the children''s preferences and habits.


    As she left, she kept looking back at the children, showing her attachment.


    At the time, Kimberly couldn''t understand the nanny''s feelings.


    Now, she could rtepletely.


    It''s human nature to fear losing what one is emotionally attached to.


    Kimberly''s words made Hertha realize that her mother shared her reluctance to part with the children.


    "I''ve talked to him about this issue. He promised he wouldn''t fight me for the children," Hertha said.


    "Can you really trust his word?" Kimberly still wasn''t convinced.


    "He has no reason to lie to me," Hertha countered.


    "That''s just wishful thinking on his part. What if his family finds out about the two children you have with him? Can you guarantee they won''te for them? The Falconers are a prominent family. If they decide to fight you for custody, you might end up powerless, just like Thssa," Kimberly warned Hertha, urging her to be cautious.


    Just as she finished speaking, the doorbell rang. Someone was at the door.

 Chapter 1926

    Chapter 1926


    Kimberly was about to say something else when Hertha interjected, "I''ll go get the door."


    "Isn''t he outside?" Kimberly asked, confused.


    "He''s a guest, and he''s got two kids with him," Hertha replied curtly, not wasting any more time and pulling open the kitchen door.


    As soon as she stepped out, she saw ric, about to open the door with two children in his arms.


    "Stay with the kids, I''ll get the door," Hertha told him.


    ric paused, then went back to the y mat with the kids, who were clearly overjoyed to see him. They clung to him, wanting him to join in their Lego building game. Normally, ric would find such a game childish, but ying with the kids, he found it surprisingly fun.


    Reaching the door, Hertha opened it, expecting to see Thssa, and was all smiles. However, her smile froze when she saw the two elderly figures standing there instead. The kindly looking grandmother, smiling warmly, and the grandfather, whose stern face softened into a kind expression upon smiling.


    It took Hertha a second to realize they were ric''s grandparents!


    Why were ric''s grandparents here at her ce?


    A wave of panic washed over Hertha. Just moments ago, her mother was worrying about ric''s family finding out about the children and wanting to take them away. And now, here they were!


    Hertha''s mind raced with anxiety as she instinctively stepped back, gripping the door tightly, half-tempted to m it shut and pretend she never saw them.


    Just as she was about to act on that impulse, Beatrice stepped forward, her face beaming with kindness, "Hertha, Remington and I brought you something. We weren''t sure what you liked, so we picked up a Herm¨¨s bag. It''s just a little something, please ept it."


    With that, Beatrice extended the bag towards her.


    Hertha''s eyes widened at the sight of the Herm¨¨s logo on the bag-the contents were undoubtedly expensive!


    She couldn''t possibly ept such avish gift.


    "No, no, you really shouldn''t have. Please, take it back," Hertha protested, trying to refuse the gift.


    "It''s okay, take it. It''s a wee gift from us," Beatrice insisted, pushing the gift into Hertha''s hands.T¨ºxt belongs to N?velDrama.Org.


    As they were caught in this


    back-and-forth at the door, ric hearing themotion, came out and was surprised to see his grandparents. "Grandma, Grandpa, what brings you here?"


    At the sound of his voice, Beatrice and Remington looked up, and after a brief pause, Beatrice said more warmly, "Oh, ric, we''re here! We should have called you first."


    "Daddy, who is it?"


    "Daddy, you haven''t finished building the train set with us."


    The kids were sticking close to ric, missing his presence the moment he stepped away.


    Their sweet, tender voices reached Remington and Beatrice''s ears, visibly exciting them.


    Beatrice craned her neck, trying to catch a glimpse inside, "Oh, are those the children? Such sweet voices..."


    Her expression was filled with love and warmth.


    Hertha''s heart sank. She knew all


    too well what Beatrice and Remington had hoped for-to hold. their great-grandchildren. Three years ago, Beatrice had arranged for her and ric to share a room, with the clear intention of weing a new generation. And clearly, their desire hadn''t changed.

 Chapter 1927

    Chapter 1927


    If Remington and Beatrice found out about the children, they would undoubtedly do everything in their power to take them away!


    The more Hertha thought about it, the more anxious she became. She quickly positioned herself to block Beatrice''s view and said, "Is there something you needed? If not, perhaps it''s time you head back home. ric is about to leave."


    But Beatrice, persistent as ever, leaned in and said, "Of course we''re here for a reason. Let use in and talk."


    With urgency in her voice, Beatrice, holding Remington''s hand and gently pushing Hertha aside, made her way inside. Hertha moved to stop them, but the two little ones, driven by curiosity, had already bounced into view.


    Tilting their innocent little heads, they looked from the two elderly folks at the door to ric.T¨ºxt belongs to N?velDrama.Org.


    Helena, ever the lively one, shed a big smile and asked Beatrice, "Grammy, are you my daddy''s mommy?"


    Beatrice, her heart blooming with joy at the question, chuckled and said, "Yes, dear. I''m your daddy''s grandma, and this gentleman is your daddy''s grandpa. We''re your great-grandparents."


    Standing to the side, Hertha was petrified. That was it. The kids had met Remington and Beatrice. There was no hiding them now. What awaited them next?


    Hertha dared not think further, her mind a whirlwind of confusion and panic. Remington, who had been keeping up appearances, couldn''t contain himself any longer upon seeing the children. He stepped into the house, his face breaking into a wide smile as he looked at Julian and Helena. "You two are absolutely adorable."


    "Ha-ha, thank you, great-grandpa! My brother and I grew up on a diet of charm and wit," Helena, outgoing and easily sociable, said.


    She warmed up to Remington as if they had known each other forever. Herment had Remington roaring withughter.


    "Great-grandpa, great-grandma,e inside and y Legos with us," Helena said, tugging at Beatrice and Remington''s hands, eagerly pulling them into the house.


    Hertha was in turmoil, utterly at a loss, her anxiety peaking. While she was desperately trying to find a way to get Remington and Beatrice to leave, her daughter had led them straight inside.


    Hertha, unsure of what to do next, felt ric lean in close and whisper, "Don''t worry, my grandparents knew about our kids a long time ago. They promised they''d let us handle it."


    Hertha turned sharply to ric, her gaze filled with shock and disbelief. Did ric mean that Remington and Beatrice weren''t going to fight her for the children?


    Seeing her incredulous look, ric''s lips curved into a smile. "What, you don''t believe me? Just ask my grandparentster."


    With that, ric joined the kids and started stacking Legos on the foam mat. His grandparents were far more understanding and reasonable than his mother, more supportive of him Sometimes, ric even wondered if he was truly Angelina''s child.


    Kimberly, seeing everyone settled on the floor with the Legos, approached Hertha with a worried look. "I told you, they''de for the kids right away!"

 Chapter 1928

    Chapter 1928


    Kimberly had been eavesdropping from the kitchen, not daring to step out but also not wanting to miss a word of the conversation happening outside. The visitors were none other than ric''s grandparents!


    To her surprise, they had already met Hertha''s kids and were now joyfully ying games with them! This was enough to send Kimberly into a panic.


    Hertha was equally flustered, barely managing to tell Kimberly, "I have no clue how things got to this point. Just serve them dinner and hopefully, they''ll leave soon." The very presence of the guests was making Hertha jittery.


    Kimberly wanted to express her frustration but seeing Hertha so distressed, she couldn''t bring herself to add to her worries. Reluctantly, she went back to her cooking duties.


    ¡°Great-Grandma, you got this piece wrong. It should go over here to make the house," little Helena, with a wisdom beyond her years, corrected Beatrice''s mistake and rearranged a piece of the puzzle.


    Despite being corrected, Beatrice''s face lit up with a smile, her wrinkles bunching together as she graciously epted the guidance. "Oh, bless your heart, you''re absolutely right, Great-Grandma made a boo-boo. You''re such a smart cookie," she chuckled, her eyes brimming with love and admiration for Helena as if she was the most precious thing on earth.


    Remington, usually so stern, was now all smiles, looking at the children with a gentle and loving gaze. The grandparents and the kids were sitting together on a foam mat,pletely absorbed in their game, without any hint of awkwardness.


    Hertha, standing to the side, took a deep breath to muster her courage and put on a smile to join them.


    ¡°Julian, Helena, can mommy y too?" she asked, hoping to be part of their little circle.


    "Mommy,e here, sit next to daddy,¡± Helena said, pulling Hertha by the hand towards ric.


    Hertha thought to herself how Helena always had ric''s back, always thinking of him first. If only she knew what was really going through her mom''s mind.


    .neN?vel/Dr(a)ma.Org - Content owner.


    She wanted to decline, but seeing Helena so happy, she couldn''t bear to disappoint her. Besides, with ric''s grandparents right there, it would seem odd to refuse too vehemently. So, she found herself sitting next to ric, who was giving her one of his sly, charming looks. It made Hertha uneasy, prompting her to elbow him as a warning to tone it down.


    ric, feigning innocence after the nudge, didn''t say a word. Hertha then noticed Beatrice and Remington giving them a knowing look. She quickly tried to exin, "Remington, Beatrice, actually, these kids aren''t..." ric''s.


    But before she could finish, Beatrice cut in, "We know, darling. ric has already filled us in."


    "Don''t you worry about a thing. We''re


    not here to interfere or to take the kids away on behalf of the Falconer family. It''s up to you two to sort things out. Of course, if you two coulde together and give these kids a loving home, well, that''d be the cherry on top," Beatrice shared their stance without leaving room for Hertha to respond.


    It was clear that despite knowing about the children, they had no intention of separating them from Hertha.

 Chapter 1929

    Chapter 1929


    Everything was going exactly as the younger generation had wished. Beatrice, chuckling, exchanged a nce with Remington. They had known early on that Hertha had given birth to twins, a boy and a girl, and had promised ric not to intrude. But the more the elderly couple thought about the adorable little munchkins, the more they couldn''t resist the urge to visit. If they could just clear the air face-to-face, perhaps they could visit the kids more often, right?


    Hertha was taken aback by Beatrice''s words, having not expected ric''s earlier words to be true. She nced again at ric, who shed her a conciliatory smile, only to receive an eye roll from Hertha.


    "Hertha, dinner''s ready. Call everyone to the table," Kimberly announced, emerging from the kitchen with a dish in hand.


    "Oh, right, Mom," Hertha responded.


    "Oh, this is your mom? Look at us,ing here without bringing any gifts. How rude of us," Beatrice eximed upon hearing Hertha call Kimberly ''Mom,'' quickly getting up from the sofa. She apologized to Kimberly in a courteous manner. They had heard someone cooking and had assumed it was a housekeeper, not realizing it was Hertha''s mother. How thoughtless of them not to greet her upon arrival.


    Feeling guilty, Beatrice approached Kimberly, extended her hand, and warmly shook it: "Kimberly, you look even younger than we imagined. You really take good care of yourself. And look at this meal, so talented and beautiful."


    Everyone loves apliment, and Kimberly''s mood lightened at Beatrice''s praise. Her previously stern expression softened into a smile: "You tter me. But really, you shouldn''t have troubled yourselves toe all this way."


    "Ah, it''s nothing. We just wanted to see the kids and then we''ll head back," Beatrice said cheerily. That reassured Kimberly, who had been worried the Falconers were there to take the children. Hearing Beatrice''s words put her at ease.Belonging to N?velDrama.Org.


    .ne


    "Since you''vee all this way, you must have a meal. It''s all ready. Grandpa, please, have a seat and


    my cooking," Kimberly said and


    returning the courtesy.


    try


    "Well, we won''t say no to that," Beatrice said with a grin, turning to call Remington: "Old man,e have a seat. Let''s not waste Kimberly''s kindness."


    "Of course, I haven''t even started eating and can already smell the deliciousness. It''s our good fortune to taste such wonderful cooking, Remington said, making his way over with his cane, sounding more cheerful than usual. Content belongs


    to NovelDrama.Org


    "Hehe, please, take a seat. I''ve got more dishes in the kitchen; I''ll go fetch them," Kimberly said, heading back to the kitchen.


    Beatrice and Remington, smiling at each other, took their seats at the table without further ado.


    "ric, have Hertha and the kids join


    us. Let''s have them sit down, and then they can y after we eat," Beatrice called out to ric, ensuring he arranged seats for Hertha and the children. Content


    belongs to NovelDrama.Org


    ric, ever so obedient, responded and carefully ced each child in a high chair by the table.


    Seeing this, Hertha couldn''t help but ask, "ric, did you make sure they washed their hands before sitting down for dinner?"

 Chapter 1930

    Chapter 1930


    The kids had just finished ying with their Legos, their hands likely covered in germs. "What if they get sick from eating with dirty hands?" Hertha blurted out, her motherly instincts kicking in full force. She hadn''t meant to sound harsh, but the words came out wrong, especially in front of Remington and Beatrice.


    Without realizing it, her remark could easily be taken as a slight against Remington and Beatrice, suggesting they were negligent. Thement hung in the air, making the room ufortably quiet.


    Hertha noticed the silence and the peculiar looks from Remington and Beatrice. Even ric was staring at her in disbelief, as if to say, "What are you doing criticizing in front of my grandparents?"


    She realized toote the implications of her words.


    Before she could attempt to rify, Beatrice, with a smile, gently chided ric, "Yeah, ric, why don''t you take the kids to wash up before dinner? They''re still young and more susceptible to getting sick. It''s part of being a parent, something you''re still learning."


    Beatrice''s intervention offered Hertha an out, easing the tension in the room.


    Hertha managed a slight smile, catching a glimpse of Remington''s displeased expression. Despite Beatrice smoothing things over, Hertha knew herment had caused offense.T¨ºxt belongs to N?velDrama.Org.


    She was still as blunt as ever, seldom considering the consequences before speaking, a habit that oftennded her in trouble.


    ric snapped out of it and led the two kids to the bathroom to wash their hands.


    Kimberly, carrying dishes to the


    table, noticed Hertha standing


    awkwardly, "Hertha, take a seat. Why stand there like you''re out of ce?" She couldn''t bear seeing her


    ver


    daughter ufortable in her own home, as if she were inferior.


    Kimberly urged Hertha to sit, but knowing she''d feel uneasy next to Remington and Beatrice, Hertha opted to wash her hands, excusing herself to the bathroom.


    1.n


    Kimberly''s demeanor softened as she turned to Remington and Beatrice, serving them with a polite smile. "It''s good to be cautious, keeps away a lot of unnecessary trouble," she said, echoing Beatrice''s sentiment.


    In the bathroom, Hertha reached the door just in time to see ric gently helping the kids wash up, a tender smile on his face as he noticed her. "Give us a moment, we''ll be quick," he said, his tone understanding.


    Yet, feeling irritable and out of sorts, Hertha couldn''t help but roll her eyes at him. ric, catching the gesture, quickly sobered up, turned off the faucet, and stepped aside to let Hertha through.

 Chapter 1931

    Chapter 1931


    By the time ric left with the kids, Hertha was still ring at him, fuming.


    It was all his fault for not having the sense to make the kids wash their hands before dinner! Had he taken the initiative to clean their hands, she wouldn''t have had to remind him, and they could have avoided this awkward situation altogether.


    In Hertha''s mind, the mey squarely on ric. She thought he was clueless andckedmon sense!


    Everyone was seated around the dinner table, each person quietly eating their meal, enveloped in an awkward silence. Hertha was especially focused on her food, not daring to look up at Remington and Beatrice across the table.


    She felt justified in her actions until that indirect jab she threw earlier made her feel utterly embarrassed in front of Remington and Beatrice. Just when the silence grew so profound that all you could hear was the sound of chewing, Beatrice set down her fork and, with a voice full of warmth, said, "Hertha, dear, don''t feel bad. Remington and I are just here to see the kids. Seeing them so lively and well-mannered under your care reassures us. We won''t interfere with you and ric''s decisions."


    Beatrice had guessed Hertha''s worries about the Falconer family wanting to take the kids away. Being a woman herself, Beatrice understood Hertha''s feelings perfectly.


    With Beatrice''s reassurance, Hertha felt a wave of relief wash over her. She quickly looked up and said, "Thank you for your understanding and kindness. I wasn''t expecting visitors today, so I didn''t prepare anything special. I hope you''ll forgive the simplicity of our meal."


    Hertha wasn''t one for pleasantries, so managing even this much was difficult for her. Previously, Hertha had been wary of Beatrice and Remington, thinking they were using her to have ric''s children. Her attitude towards them had been less than cordial during their few encounters.


    But hearing Beatrice say they wouldn''t interfere or try to take the kids away lessened Hertha''s prejudice towards them. She even started speaking more politely.


    "Oh, don''t worry about it! Your mom''s home cooking is delicious, much better than what we have at home," Beatrice said with a beaming smile, ncing appreciatively at Kimberly.T¨ºxt belongs to N?velDrama.Org.


    Kimberly was so pleased with thepliment she couldn''t stop smiling.


    Hertha was taken aback by


    el


    Beatrice''s overly polite words. The Falconer family''s meals were prepared by a professional chef, after all. Her mother had been making the same few dishes for years. Her cooking, though good, couldn''tpare to a chef''s.


    Beatrice''s words were clearly meant to make Kimberly happy. Hertha thought about setting the record straight


    but seeing her mother set


    joyous, she decided against it. After all, as long as her mom was happy, that''s what mattered.


    After dinner, Beatrice and Remington left, with Kimberly warmly seeing them out. Once the door closed behind them, Hertha''s gaze turned cold as she looked at ric, who was still interacting with the kids.


    "You''ve had your dinner, time to leave, don''t you think?"


    ric''s face, warm with a soft smile, paused before he responded, "What? No one kicks someone out right after dinner. Can''t I sit for a while and let the food settle?"


    "Hey, ric, stop being a nuisance!" Hertha snapped, her irritation clear.

 Chapter 1932

    Chapter 1932


    "Don''t be mad, it''s not like I was trying to weasel out of anything, I just..." ric blurted out an apology upon seeing Hertha''s mounting anger.


    "You think you haven''t been slippery?" Hertha''s breathing was heavy, her big, round eyes ring at him. "What did you promise me before? You said you wouldn''t tell anyone in the Falconer family about us having kids! How did your grandparents find out then?"Content (C) N?v/elDra/ma.Org.


    ric paused for a moment, then realization dawned on him. This was why Hertha was upset.


    Indeed, he was at fault here.


    Earlier, Angelina had been bad-mouthing Hertha in front of his grandparents, even saying Georgia had already given him children and he should marry her.


    Fearing that his grandparents would side with Georgia, pressuring him into marrying her like his mother, ric couldn''t help but reveal to his grandparents about the two children he had with Hertha.


    Once he said it, he regretted it. But what''s said is said, and there was no taking it back. All he could do was try to make amends.


    He shared Hertha''s concerns about the Falconer family trying to take the kids away with his grandparents, and they were very understanding of Hertha''s anxiety. They promised not to intervene in their affairs and agreed not to let Hertha know that they were aware she had given birth to their two grandchildren.


    But he had overlooked his grandparents'' love for their great-grandchildren.


    Eager to meet the kids, they had gone to Hertha''s ce on their own initiative to see them.


    Fortunately, they assured Hertha they wouldn''t interfere in their matters.


    In this case, ric was indeed in the wrong.


    "I just spoke without thinking. But, like I said, they promised they won''t take the kids away. You can trust them; they mean it," ric said apologetically, reassuring Hertha once more.


    "But can you ensure they won''t spill the beans to your mom and dad? If your parents find out about the kids, do you think they''ll just stand by idly?" Hertha''s breathing was still heavy, her concern for the children evident.


    The assurance from Remington and Beatrice that they wouldn''t take the kids had indeed been a relief for Hertha, but only a temporary one.


    She then realized that ric''s


    parents were still in the dark.


    Knowing Remington and Beatrice, it


    wouldn''t be long before ric''s parents would find out. What might


    happen then was anyone''s guess.


    With this thought, Hertha''s nervousness red up again, prompting her to confront ric.


    Caught off guard by her reasoning, ric was momentarily stunned.


    Looking directly into Hertha''s eyes, her fear and anxiety were clear to see. The Hertha he knew was always bold and fearless, straightforward, and carefree.


    Before, all he saw in her eyes was mischief, stubbornness, and bravery.


    But now, he could see the fear in her eyes.


    That look of panic and concern touched ric deeply.


    Previously he had been careless with women, never taking things seriously when he could avoid it. But now, facing Hertha, he put aside all his yboy tendencies, bing serious and careful.


    He carefully exined, "My grandparents won''t let my mom know, they''re good at keeping things under wraps. And my dad, he''s abroad most of the year, hardly everes back. Right now, the


    Ta


    Falconer Group is being managed by my cousin. My dad oversees the international branches, and my


    cousin handles the domestic affairs. That''s why my mom is so anxious about the CEO position possibly


    going to my cousin, constantly


    pushing me towards Georgia..."


    Mentioning Georgia, ric wisely cut himself off.


    That was a name best left unmentioned, a minefield between him and Hertha.


    Just as there seemed to be a thaw in their rtionship, bringing up that name was sure to cause a storm.


    Realizing his slip, ric hurriedly stopped himself, anxiously watching Hertha''s reaction.

 Chapter 1933

    Chapter 1933


    Hertha''s eyes flickered with irritation at the mention of Georgia. Hearing that name, she couldn''t help but feel angry.


    Who would be so cruel as to hire a child from an orphanage, pretending he was ric''s son, just to ckmail ric into marrying her? How deep were Georgia''s feelings for ric that she would resort to such desperate measures to be his wife?


    And what about ric? Was he truly oblivious to the fact that the boy wasn''t his son, or was he just ying dumb in front of her? Hertha''s mind was a whirlwind of confusion. She couldn''t see through Georgia''s actions or even begin to guess at ric''s thoughts. But she was naturallyzy when it came to overthinking. If she couldn''t figure out what ric was thinking, she wouldn''t bother trying. "Alright, I''ve got it. You go get some rest. We should all head to bed," Hertha said, avoiding ric''s gaze and moving towards the children. "Mummy, please don''t send Daddy away," Helena pleaded, tugging at ric''s sleeve with her big, doe-like eyes filled with reluctance.


    She hadn''t had enough time with her daddy yet.


    ric knew when to take his leave gracefully. Hertha''sst words to him were polite and reasonable.


    It was indeed gettingte, and the kids had their bedtime routines. He couldn''t keep them up any longer.


    ric squatted down to be eye-level with Helena, speaking gently, "Daddy wille back tomorrow to y with you. You need to be a good little angel, listen to Mummy and Grandma, take your bath, and go to bed early. When you wake up, Daddy will be here to spend time with you, okay?"


    Daughters always had a way with their fathers. Helena, who had been hesitant to let ric go, nodded obediently, "Okay, Daddy, we have a deal. You have toe tomorrow."


    Looking into her innocent, tender eyes filled with love for him, ric felt his heart soften like never before.


    He smiled warmly, gently pinching Helena''s chubby cheek, "I promise, darling."


    Helena extended her pinky finger towards him.Content (C) N?v/elDra/ma.Org.


    ric, puzzled, looked at her.


    She took hisrge hand in hers, linking their pinkies together, and then pressed their thumbs together, sealing the promise, "Pinky swear, a hundred years, no backsies."


    ric couldn''t help butugh at her childlike sincerity.


    He ruffled Helena''s hair once more, gave Julian a gentle pat on the head, then stood up, said his goodbyes to Hertha and Kimberly, and left.


    Hertha, about to lead the kids to


    ????


    their room, noticed the way their innocent, youthful eyes followed rio''s departing figure, filled with longing.


    ¨¦n.swnovels


    She had never seen them look at anyone with such intensity before.


    Indeed, the yearning for a father''s presence was strong in children.


    It looked like ric would have to be a daily visitor.


    The thought of facing ric every day made Hertha uneasy.


    She had just uncovered a truth and was unsure how to confront ric about it. Now, faced with the prospect of seeing him daily, she was worried. Known for not keeping secrets well, she feared she might lose herposure and confront ric directly.


    That would be truly embarrassing.

 Chapter 1934

    Chapter 1934


    Thssa had been counting down the days, and finally, Saturday arrived.


    She was up at the crack of dawn, 6 a.m., rifling through her wardrobe, trying on several outfits but not quite satisfied with any.


    Atst, she settled on a youthful avocado-green coat paired with off-white wide-leg pants and a matching trendy sweater.


    Standing by the mirror, she examined herself from every angle but still wasn''t pleased. Frowning, she felt at a loss over what to wear next.


    Behind her, Lysander rolled up in his wheelchair, dressed as impably as ever in a handmade ck suit and a deep blue tie, exuding an air of aristocratic sophistication without even trying.


    Thssa caught sight of him in the mirror and turned around, their eyes meeting. Suddenly, she felt a little vulnerable and walked over with a slight pout that she herself hadn''t noticed, her voice carrying a hint of coquetry.


    "Lysander, which outfit do you think looks better on me? I can''t seem to find the perfect one," she said, squatting next to his wheelchair and resting her hand on its armrest, her clear, aqua eyes gazing into his.


    Lysander smiled, his hand gently caressing her head, "You''re visiting the kids, not some secret lover. Why all the pomp and ceremony?"


    Thssa responded, "But they''re my dearest treasures! It''s been three years since Ist saw them. They must have grown so much, and I... I must have aged. I don''t want them to see an older version of me. I want to present the youngest, most beautiful image of myself."


    Lysander chuckled, "You''re still so young. Where''s this ''old''ing from? Don''t worry. No matter what, you''ll always be the best mom in their eyes." His words deeply moved Thssa, reassuring her that her children''s love for her would remain unchanged, regardless of her appearance.


    "So, what do you think about this outfit?" After pondering for a moment, Thssa stood up and twirled in front of Lysander, hoping for his opinion.


    With an indulgent smile, Lysandermented, "You look great, youthful, full of energy."


    "Hmm, it''s rare to hear youBelonging to N?velDrama.Org.


    compliment someone, and three et


    compliments in a row at that! Seems like this outfit is a winner. I''m sticking with it," Thssa decided.


    After breakfast, Thssa and Lysander set off, with a servant loading a pile of stuff into the car trunk.


    The drive was filled with anticipation and nerves for Thssa.


    It had been three years since shest saw her little darlings. Last time, she had only seen Atticus, who had grown so much she barely


    nov


    recognized him.


    If Atticus had changed that much, the others must have too.


    Thssa couldn''t even begin to imagine what they looked like now but was excited to see them.


    Half an hourter, they arrived at the parking lot.


    Thssa got out of the car and then helped Lysander out, with Fitch following, carrying a bunch of stuff. Since they had arranged their visit with the school ahead of time, they were let in immediately.


    Upon entering the school gates, Thssa spotted four children standing eagerly by the school''s sign.


    The kids were roughly the same


    size, with


    than


    the two boys slightly taller


    the two girls, all lined up


    and


    looking out for her.

 Chapter 1935

    Chapter 1935


    Thssa recognized them in an instant-her four little treasures!


    The kids had indeed grown a lot taller than they were three years ago. The boys were starting to look like young men, and the girls had blossomed into the beauty of youth. Yet, their faces remained the same as before, only shedding their former baby softness for a more youthful vigor.


    Standing tall, the two boys sported buzz cuts, and the two girls had their hair in ponytails, all of them brimming with energy. They had been eagerly scanning the entrance when they spotted Thssa. Instantly, their faces lit up with overwhelming joy.


    "Mom!" they eximed in unison.


    Breaking into a run, they all headed straight for Thssa, who felt her breath catch and tears well up in her eyes at the sight. She opened her arms wide to wee them into her embrace.


    Like little rabbits, they dashed to Thssa''s side and threw themselves into her hug. Thssa remembered a time when hugging her four little munchkins left room to spare in her arms, but now, as she wrapped her arms around them, they felt almost too short to hold them all.


    "Mom, it''s been so long, I missed you so much! Mom, you look more beautiful and younger every day. I''ve been telling my ssmates that my mom is the prettiest, youngest-looking mom in the world!" Dorian, always the chatterbox, looked up at Thssa with pride and excitement shining in his eyes, as bright as the stars in the sky, as if he was looking at the world''s most precious treasure.


    "Mom, I missed you so much. It''s been so long since I saw you. I heard from the coach that we could see you on Saturday, and I''ve been counting down the days," Elowen said, trying to hold back tears, but they wouldn''t listen.Content (C) N?v/elDra/ma.Org.


    "Mom, I missed you too," Sophia said, dabbing at her eyes.


    Despite their bravery, they were still just kids, and in such an emotional moment, tears were inevitable. Especially upon seeing their beloved mom. "Mom, I told my brother and sisters that I saw you before," Atticus said, much moreposed than the others.


    With tears in her eyes but a smile on her lips, Thssa held the children tight for a while before letting go to look at them closely. They had matured in appearance, but their expressions and demeanor unique and special as


    novel


    ever-Thssa''s forever treasures.


    With tearful eyes and a smiling face, Thssa said, "Mom missed you all so much, too. Every day for the past three years, I''ve thought about


    But studying hard is your


    responsibility, and Mom doet


    want to interrupt your education. I''lle to visit more often from now on."


    "Yeah, Mom, we understand. Studying is our duty, and we won''t ck off," Dorian nodded vigorously.


    "Mom, didn''t Dade with you?"


    Elowen asked, her thoughts turning to her beloved father. She


    remembered that before they came to school, their dad had been seriously injured and was


    hospitalized. She wondered how he was doing now.


    At the mention of Lysander, Thssa stepped aside to look towards him and said, "Your dad is here, sweetie. He''s been here all along."


    Elowen''s eyes followed Thssa''s gaze andnded on Lysander, who was sitting in a wheelchair. Immediately, Elowen''s mood turned to sorrow, and tears streamed down her face. "Dad, what happened? Can''t you walk anymore?"

 Chapter 1936

    Chapter 1936


    Elowen''s eyes were rimmed with red, tears swirling but not yet falling.


    At Elowen''s questioning, Sophia and Dorian also drew closer, looking at Lysander seated in his wheelchair. Neither of them spoke; they just quietly observed Lysander. As they did, their eyes misted over with a thin veil of tears.


    To them, their dad had always been a towering figure, authoritative andmanding, someone they looked up to with respect. The dad they remembered was like a majestic mountain, towering and imposing, an object of their admiration and reverence.


    But the Lysander before them now, seated in a wheelchair, seemed so much smaller, almost at their height, no longer the unreachable, awe-inspiring figure he once was.


    They thought back to when Zephyr had sent them to military school, their dad''s fate hanging in the bnce, fighting for his life in a hospital. And now, three yearster, they were reunited with him in a wheelchair.


    The children''s hearts ached, tears involuntarily welling up.


    Atticus had known about Lysander''s paralysis for some time. He wasn''t as shocked as his siblings, but he was still deeply troubled.


    Seeing Lysander confined to a wheelchair for the first time had been a shock to Atticus too, both heartbreaking and startling.


    He understood all too well how his siblings felt.


    Lysander saw the tears in his children''s eyes, understanding their pain. This sympathy, however, didn''tfort him; it felt more like pity.


    Having adapted to life in a


    wheelchair, Lysander had found a


    semnce of peace inside. Yet, his children''s gazes stirred a


    restlessness in him, the frustration of knowing he''d never stand again.


    He didn''t care about the stares from strangers, but the looks from his family, every nce, every moment, made him sensitive.


    Thssa, noticing the children''s heartbroken stares and Lysander''s growing coldness, quickly stepped forward. Taking Elowen and Sophia by the hands, she spoke with a.


    great, don''t worry. Although he can''t walk for now, he''s still your dad, and it doesn''t affect his everyday life or work. Look, he''s here with me to see you all."


    gentle smile, "Your dad is hi


    "But dad, he..." Elowen''s voice trailed off, her tear-filled eyes ncing at Lysander.


    "You know, your dad got hurt while saving me. He''s the bravest man I know," Thssa said, eager to shift the children''s perspective from one of pity to admiration.Belonging to N?velDrama.Org.


    She knew Lysander disliked being pitied. Before her, he''d been a man atop his world,manding respect and awe from everyone. Everyone had looked up to him.


    It was only after meeting her that he


    found himself in this new reality, confined to a wheelchair, and unjustly ousted from the Sinir group by Payton, using his disability as an excuse.


    He hade to terms with his condition. If his children looked at him with pity, it would wound his pride and make him ufortable.


    Thus, Thssa aimed to shift the children''s mindset, helping them ept the Lysander of now.

 Chapter 1937

    Chapter 1937


    Hearing Thssa say this, Elowen''s big, luminous eyes immediately locked onto Thssa. Seeing the beautiful, fashionable, and vibrant figure standing before her, the tears in Elowen''s eyes gradually faded.


    Indeed, it was because of their father''s sacrifice that they could have their lively mother with them today.


    Without their dad, they would never have had the chance to meet their mom.


    Dad had given up his ability to walk to save mom''s life; he was a true hero!


    Elowen had an epiphany, raising her hand to wipe away the tears at the corner of her eyes, and optimistically said to Thssa, "Mom, you''re right. We will always love both dad and mom!"


    "Yeah, love dad!" Sophia nodded in agreement, echoing the sentiment.


    After Thssa''s heartfelt words, she too hade to realize that it was indeed their dad who had saved their mom. Even though dad couldn''t walk now, he would always be their hero.


    "Dad,e on, let me show you our dorm. I''ve got lots of costumes for the drama club, and my roommates are always fighting over who gets to wear my outfits!" Dorian,ing to his senses, walked behind Lysander, pushing his wheelchair, his voice filled with cheer.


    Atticusughed as well, "Dad, don''t be too shocked when you see Dorian''s dorm. It''s like a barnyard in there."


    Lysander''s gloomy mood was lifted by his children''s optimistic shift, a smile spreading across his face. "Really? I''ve never seen a barnyard dorm before."


    "Keep it a secret till we get there. You''ll see," Atticus teased, ying coy.N?vel/Dr(a)ma.Org - Content owner.


    "Aww, bro, don''t spill the beans. Let dad have his grand illusions before he sees the real deal. That way, it''ll be a surprise. If you spill now, there goes the surprise," Dorian, always the lively one, made the atmosphere around him buzz with energy.


    Lysander just smiled, not saying a word.


    Elowen and Sophia smiled at Thssa, each taking one of her hands, and followed Atticus and Dorian''s lead.


    Fitch, carrying a load of stuff, trailed behind.


    When the kids had looked at


    Lysander with tears in their eyes, Fitch''s mood had plummeted to rock bottom. Even the children felt so deeply for Lysander, and he who had watched Lysander grow up, how could he not feel the same?


    Normally, he always kept a smile, treating Lysander with the utmost respect as he always had, not letting his true feelings show. Seeing the children''s heartfelt concern for Lysander, Fitch''s fondness for him overflowed.


    But soon, the children had brushed off their sorrow, Elowen swiftly pushing Lysander''s wheelchair, and Lysander''s spirits were lifted. Fitch, seeing his burgeoning tears recede, put on a smile and followed them.


    Before long, they arrived at Dorian''s dorm, and as he swung the door open, a cascade of green-themed clothes spilled out, nearly tumbling onto Lysander, who was at the forefront.


    "Whoa!" Luckily, Dorian was quick to react. Seeing the clothes falling as the door opened, he quickly pushed the wheelchair back.


    The clothesnded on the floor, previously hovering right above Lysander''s feet. Had Dorian been a second slower, they would have hit Lysander.


    "Dorian, you''re back! We were just


    doing a little experiment to see if your pile of clothes could reach higher than the door," said three heads peeking out from inside the room, all boys, grinning at Dorian.


    Dorian immediately turned around, pretending to be angry, "You guys are too much. You almost hit my dad! Couldn''t you have given me a heads up before doing your ''experiment''?"


    The three boys noticed the adult behind Dorian. Though seated in a wheelchair, the aura of authority and dignity around him was intimidating. Scratching their heads sheepishly, they apologized, "Sorry, man. We didn''t know you were bringing someone. We were just messing with Dorian."

 Chapter 1938

    Chapter 1938


    Living together, boys will sometimese up with what look like pranks but are actually games that bring joy. Especially in a ce like this military academy.


    Lysander had grown up this way, so how could he not understand their bond? Lysander''s lips twitched into a smile, "No worries, I get it."


    Seeing his dad wasn''t upset, Dorian''s previously furrowed brow rxed. He directed the three little guys, "Hurry, hurry, grab all the clothes and bring them into the dorm. I''m going to show them off to my dad one by one."


    The trio obeyed, scampering to gather the clothes scattered on the ground and piling them onto Dorian''s bed.


    Pushing Lysander inside, Dorian gazed at the mountain of clothes on his bed, scratching his head sheepishly, "Heh, seems like it''s a bit much." Lysander, usually so stoic, couldn''t help but smirk at the sight, his deep voice tinged with amusement, "Why are they all green?"


    "It''s all military costumes," Dorian exined promptly, picking up a piece to show Lysander, "See, this one''s for spring, and this one here is for winter..."


    "Dorian, how about you perform one of your ys for dad?" chimed in Atticus, stepping in with a big brother''s swagger and a teasing smile.


    Dorian, ever so earnest, agreed. "Sure, Dad, I''ll perform one for you. Just give me a sec to pick out a costume," Dorian said, grabbing a piece of clothing and dashing to the bathroom.


    As soon as he left, Thssa and the others arrived.


    Seeing the heap of green clothes on Dorian''s bed, Elowenughed, "Dorian, still treating your costumes like treasures."


    "Dorian loves acting," Sophia remarked.


    Fitch, puffing and panting, arrived with a load of stuff too.


    That''s when Thssa remembered she''d brought a bunch of things for the kids. Ever since she knew she was visiting this Saturday, Thssa had been preparing, worried they might need something.


    Thssa quickly took a few bags from Fitch''s hands.


    Just then, Dorian came out of the bathroom, dressed in a simple military uniform, cap included, looking both dashing and spirited.


    Unaware of the nned performance for Lysander, Thssa rushed over, bags in hand, starting her familiar motherly nag, "Dorian, look what Mom got you."


    ?


    Before finding a spot to set down the bags, she opened them to show Dorian, "Got you an action figure, some clothes for the season and your favorite candies."


    l.ne


    In Thssa''s memory, Dorian always liked action figures and candies. Besides, she figured clothes were a necessity; getting some for the season couldn''t be wrong.


    Dorian''s smile faltered for a moment, but then he happily took the bags from Thssa, saying, "Thanks, Mom!"


    "Mom, I''ve got a performance for you and Dad. Let''s see if you like it," Dorian was all in on performing for his beloved parents.N?vel/Dr(a)ma.Org - Content owner.


    Carrying the bags to find a spot, he saw the bed was already full, so he quickly turned around, opened his wardrobe, and stuffed all the bags inside.


    Then, turning to Thssa and Lysander, he said, "Ready? I''m starting now."

 Chapter 1939

    Chapter 1939


    As soon as he finished speaking, Dorian seamlessly slipped into his performance mode and kicked off his solo show.


    From a very young age, Dorian had a deep love for the stage, a passion paired with a talent that set him apart from his peers. Wherever he was, the moment he began to perform, the world around him transformed into his stage.


    Meanwhile, Thssa nced at the wardrobe Dorian had theatrically opened and closed as part of his act. As Dorian''s performance unfolded, everyone was drawn into the captivating world he created.


    After delivering a riveting monologue, Dorian dropped his character and, with a bright smile, asked, "Mom, Dad, what did you think?"


    Thssa, momentarily lost in the performance, burst into apuse, "Incredible, absolutely incredible!" Lysander snapped back to reality and joined in the apuse. Fitch, too, wanted to apud but realized his hands were full. Quickly setting his load down, he pped enthusiastically, a warm smile on his face.


    The adults led the apuse, with Atticus starting off, prompting the kids to join in. Soon, apuse filled the entire room. Dorian, his face beaming with joy and a brilliant smile, revealed a gap in his teeth.


    Thssa, ever observant, noticed, "Wait, Dorian, let me see."


    She hurried over and had him open his mouth wide for inspection. A canine was missing, and so was one of his front teeth!


    "Dorian, did you lose a tooth?" Thssa asked, concern painting her features.


    With a reassuring smile, Dorian replied, "Mom, I''m just shedding my baby teeth, don''t worry."


    "Yeah, Mom, we''re all losing teeth. Look at me, I''ve lost two mrs; eating has been quite the challenge," chimed in Elowen, eagerly showing Thssa the gaps in her own smile.


    "And I''ve lost three of my bottom teeth," added Sophia, sharing her own dental dilemmas.


    It was then that Thssa realized


    she had missed three years of her children''s lives. She had missed more than just their physical growth; she had missed these small yet significant, changes as well.


    Mixed feelings of sorrow for the lost time and joy for their growth welled up inside her. She hadn''t been there to watch them grow, but they were thriving, each milestone reached without her.


    Holding back tears, Thssa nodded, "Okay, my darlings are growing up. Losing baby teeth. means your permanent teeth are


    mo


    coming in, stronger and ready for all the delicious things you''ll eat."


    "Mom, I''ve lost a mr, and there are so many things I can''t eat,"mented Elowen, the little foodie, troubled by the inconvenience.


    "Don''t worry, they''ll grow back soon, and then you can enjoy even more treats," Thssaforted, patting Elowen''s head gently.


    "Mom, did you bring something back for me too?" Elowen looked up at Thssa with hopeful eyes.


    Only then did Thssa realize she hadn''t finished giving out the gifts.N?vel/Dr(a)ma.Org - Content owner.


    "Of course, I did..." she began. She looked towards Fitch, who quickly brought over the remaining presents.

 Chapter 1940

    Chapter 1940


    Thssa unzipped the bag and began pulling out the treats: "Your favorite KFC, marshmallows, Milky Ways..."


    She wasying out Elowen''s favorite snacks when she remembered something Elowen had mentioned earlier - she had lost two of her mrs, making it difficult to eat.


    Suddenly, Thssa froze, awkwardly looking at Elowen, "I''m so sorry, sweetheart. I didn''t know about your teeth before I came..."


    "It''s okay, Mom. I love anything you give me." Elowen''s bright, cheerful smile took the bag from Thssa''s hands.


    Seeing Elowen''s joy, Thssa felt a wave of relief wash over her, returning to her soft smile. "As long as you''re happy, that''s what matters." Later, Thssa and Lysander visited Atticus''s dorm, where the techie vibe was strong, with all four boys majoring inputer science. Thssa had brought a tablet for him, only to realize it was the least sophisticated among the gadgets in Atticus''s room.


    Feeling a bit embarrassed, she wasforted by Atticus, just as Dorian and Elowen had done earlier.


    Elowen''s dorm was a snack haven, filled with treats. Unlike the boys'' subdued grey tones, Elowen''s room was a burst of pink - a true girly haven.


    Thest stop was Sophia''s dorm. Sophia had always had a knack for antiques, showing a remarkable talent for appraisal from a young age. The other three girls living with her also shared an interest in antiques, with each desk adorned with a small ss cab showcasing various jade pieces and collectibles.


    Thssa hadn''t forgotten about Sophia''s passion and had brought her a piece from Lysander''s collection of jade.


    Sophia''s face lit up with a visible smile as she quickly took Thssa''s gift, her voice soft and grateful.This text is property of N?/velD/rama.Org.


    While the gifts for Atticus, Dorian, and Elowen were received with polite enthusiasm, Sophia''s genuine delight gave Thssa a real sense of aplishment.


    Finally feeling a sense of relief, Thssa realized she hadn''t let the children down.


    Time with the kids always flew by, and before they knew it, the day hade to an end.


    With the school about to close, Thssa and Lysander had to leave.


    Despite their reluctance to part with the kids, it was time to go.


    After saying their goodbyes, Thssa and Lysander got into their car for the ride home.


    Thssa gazed out the window, lost


    in thought, prompting Lysander


    ask, "What''s wrong? Weren''t


    happy to see the kids?" Contac


    W


    belongs to NovelDrama.Org


    Snapping back to reality, Thssa shook her head, "It''s not that. I just feel guilty."


    "Guilty?" Lysander was surprised. Thssa had prepared so thoroughly for the visit; why would she feel guilty?


    "I thought the kids would still like the


    same things as before. I didn''t realize they''ve changed and grown up in ways I hadn''t seen." Thssa''s mood was somber.


    The missed moments, it seemed, could never truly be reimed.


    Lysander took Thssa''s hand gently in his, his voice soft and soothing, "Have you ever heard the saying?"


    "What saying?" Thssa looked at Lysander curiously, her eyes shimmering.


    Lysander shared, "When children


    Vol


    grow up, they grow wings. As parents, we need to learn to let go, teach them how to fly, and support them as they soar into the vast sky."


    Hearing Lysander''s words, tears streamed down Thssa''s face, overwhelmed by a flood of emotions.

 Chapter 1941

    Chapter 1941


    Lysander was spot on when he said that kids grow up and carve out their own slice of the sky. They''re bound to spread their wings and fly, and they can''t live under their parents'' wings forever.


    As parents, we''ve got to learn to let go, to let them soar freely. That''s the truest form of love.


    But the thought of her kids actually growing up, not needing her constant care and attention anymore, still made Thssa''s heart ache.


    "Look at you, getting all teary," Lysander said, noticing her tears and growing even more concerned. He raised his hand, his thumb gently wiping away the tears that slid down her face.


    His rough thumb, grazing over Thssa''s soft cheeks, felt like sparks flying¡ªa tingling, numbing sensation.


    It was like a jolt of electricity for Thssa, wiping away some of the sorrow buried deep in her heart.


    Thssa reached up, holding Lysander''s hand against her face, nestling her cheek into his palm. Clutching his hand, she looked up at him with tear- filled eyes, her voice soft and tender, "So, it''s spouses who get to stay together forever, right?"


    Lysander''s eyes flickered briefly, then filled with a gentle warmth, "Yeah, let''s make it official on Monday. We''ll go get married."


    It wasn''t a question; it was him telling her, not asking.


    Thssa saw a glimpse of the old Lysander-dominant and unbeatable.


    His dominance used to make her nervous, even scared.


    But now, his assertiveness gave her an unprecedented sense of security and filled her heart with joy.


    She nodded, "Yeah."


    And then, they both smiled at each other.


    They had been through so much over three years, not officially spouses but more than that.


    It was high time they got that marriage certificate.


    In the past, misunderstandings clouded their rtionship,cking wholeheartedmitment.


    But now, things were different. With their hearts wide open, both were ready.


    Today was Saturday, tomorrow Sunday, and the registry office was closed until Monday. Lysander and Thssa agreed to get married the day after tomorrow.


    On Sunday, Hertha invited Thssa out for some retail therapy.


    Hertha was quite the chatterbox, especially around Thssa, never running out of things to say.


    As soon as they met, she was all words, catching up on their lives, then quickly shifting the focus to Thssa.


    "Did you visit the quadruplets


    yesterday? How are they doing? Have the little munchkins grown up?" Hertha had a soft spot for the kids, being their godmother and having helped Thssa care for them quite a bit. Her attachment to the kids was deep-rooted, This text is property of N?/velD/rama.Org.


    After three years, she was obviously nostalgic.


    Mentioning the kids made Thssa feel a bit guilty.


    "Yeah, they''ve shot up. Atticus and Dorian are almost as tall as me now. Not just in looks and height, but their preferences and habits have


    changed a lot," Thssa mused, pouting slightly.


    As Thssa''s best friend, Hertha knew all about her mncholy, wrapping an arm around Thssa''s shoulders infort, "No worries the more you visit, the better you''ll understand their new habits. You should focus on the joy of seeing them."


    "Yeah," Thssa nodded, feeling a bit better despite her sadness.


    Like Lysander said, the kids were growing up and inevitably needed to fly on their own.


    "Hey, that barbecue ce looks good. Let''s go have some hot pot instead!" Hertha''s eyes lit up, "A barbecue joint! Spicy and smoky!"

 Chapter 1942

    Chapter 1942


    Hertha dragged Thssa towards the barbecue joint with a gleam of excitement in her eyes.


    Truth be told, Thssa loved spicy food too, but just as they reached the entrance, a sudden thought made her halt: "Let''s skip it. Maybe we shouldn''t do hotpot tonight."


    Hertha looked at her, puzzled. "What''s up? You used to love tearing into those super spicy hotpots."


    Thssa confessed, "I''ve got the courthouse appointment with Lysander tomorrow to make it official. If I dive into that spicy hotpot tonight and end up with a pimple, it''ll ruin the photos."


    "What did you just say?" The words hit Hertha like a ton of bricks, her wide eyes shining under the mall lights like two bright stars.


    After her initial shock, Hertha squealed and hugged Thssa, jumping up and down, "Oh my god, you and Lysander are tying the knot! That''s amazing!"


    Her excitement was genuine. Thssa and Lysander had been through so much, circling back to each other after all these years, finally ready to seal the deal.


    No one knew better than Hertha the roller coaster of a journey Thssa and Lysander had been on.


    Her outburst turned a few heads.


    Feeling a tad embarrassed, Thssa whispered, "Hertha, chill with the theatrics. We''re in public, everyone''s staring."


    That calmed Hertha down, her excitement momentarily teauing.


    "Alright, alright, let''s hit up that Korean restaurant for some bibimbap, get it without the spicy sauce. When did your skin decide it''s allergic to spice anyway?" In a sh, Hertha understood Thssa''s concern.


    Linking arms with Thssa, they made their way to the Korean restaurant next door.


    A woman''s gotta look her best, especially on a day as monumental as her wedding.


    It''s a once-in-a-lifetime photo op, after all.


    Hertha totally got where Thssa wasing from. If she were in her shoes, she''d be just as worried about waking up with a face full of trouble. Settling into a booth at the restaurant, Hertha bombarded Thssa with questions about her and Lysander, bursting with happiness and curiosity about their recent sweet developments.


    "So, spill it. What made you guys decide to make it official tomorrow?" Hertha nudged Thssa, eager for the scoop.


    "Just yesterday, when we went to


    check on the kids, I felt so guilty for


    not being there more. And then, out of the blue, Lysander suggested we go get the paperwork done,"O Thssa shared sinctly


    "So, Lysander feels like he owes you, trying to make it up to you in his own way?" Hertha spected.


    "Oh, wait..." Hertha leaned in closer,N?vel/Dr(a)ma.Org - Content owner.


    lowering her voice so no one else could hear, ncing around to make sure they were in the clear.


    "Lysander''s been having trouble with his leg, right? How''s... you know... that aspect? Do you guys still, uh, have that kind of intimacy?"


    Thssa''s cheeks med up at the question, ncing around nervously as if the walls might be listening.


    Seeing that no one paid them any mind, Thssa''s ears still turned a shade that rivaled the bloom of roses in June.


    With a mix of annoyance and embarrassment, she whispered back, "Why do you have to start with such a bold question? Can''t you be a bit moredylike?"


    "Come on, since when have you


    known me to bedylike? If I were, I wouldn''t be Hertha. Spill the beans c''mon," Herthaughed, refusing to drop her tomboyish charm, her curiosity about the answer undimmed.


    Thssa knew Hertha all too well; her curiosity was like an itch that wouldn''t go away without a scratch. She needed details, or she''d be restless all day.

 Chapter 1943

    Chapter 1943


    To prevent Hertha from dropping another bombshell in public that would make everyone''s cheeks burn and hearts race, she decided not to keep her hanging this time.


    As hoped, she gave her the answer, albeit not with Hertha''s boldness and ease.


    She blushed and nodded shyly, which was her way of responding.


    But Hertha, ever the blunt one, didn''t catch on. "What does your nod mean? Are you saying he''s, you know, good to go in that department? Do you guys, uh, get busy every day?"


    With that, Hertha took a sip of her lemonade, lookingpletely at ease, leaving Thssa blushing and her heart pounding. She quickly scanned the surroundings, then leaned closer to Hertha, whispering with a flushed face, "He''s perfectly normal, and yes, we''ve, you know, but it''s not like it''s an everyday thing. Who does that every day, anyway? Okay, let''s drop it. Please, no more questions."


    Hertha, holding her lemonade, chuckled so hard she shook.


    Thssa felt utterly embarrassed, grabbed her own lemonade, and took a gulp to calm her nerves. "Thssa, howe after all these years, you still haven''t thickened your skin?" Hertha teased.


    "You think I''m like you, only growing in skin thickness?" Thssa retorted.This text is property of N?/velD/rama.Org.


    "Your knack forebacks seems to be improving, though," Herthaughed as she spoke.


    Their conversation was carefree, without any concern for taking offense.


    "Have you talked to ric about Georgia''s kid?" Thssa remembered the pressing issue and asked Hertha.


    Upon mentioning it, Hertha''s smile faded, her eyes downcast: "No, I haven''t figured out how."


    She had been ready to remain just friends with ric for life, but then she discovered the child Georgia brought wasn''t hers and ric''s but was actually hired from an orphanage to y along in their charade.


    This truth threw Hertha into turmoil, leaving her confused about how to face ric.


    Thssa understood Hertha''s dilemma.


    "Then take your time to think it through, figuring out what you truly want is what matters most," Thssa advised.


    Lysander went to his newly establishedpany today, focusing on jewelry design. Since it was just starting, many departments needed further development.


    After the meeting, which refined thepany''s hiring details, Lysander returned to his office.


    David knocked and entered,


    reporting respectfully, "Mr. Sinir,


    we''ve found out that it wasn''t a


    ne crash that destroyed Thssa''s family vi three years


    ago it was Susan who flew a ne directly into their home, detonating a bomb."


    Since that major incident, Lysander had been in aa, only waking up three yearster. Upon awakening, he was swamped with too many issues and his poor health, leaving him no time to investigate the cause of the ident from three years ago.


    It wasn''t until Susan spitefully mentioned Lysander surviving the attempt on his life three years ago that he began to seriously ponder over the incident.


    Lysander immediately ordered David to investigate.


    After several days, they finally had answers.


    Lysander paused from reviewing a contract, looking up with a chilly demeanor, "How could Susan have a ne? And how could she fly one?"


    "We''ve looked into that as well,"


    David said. "Someone deliberately destroyed evidence from that


    incident, leading the police to


    conclude it was an idental crash. Fortunately, the detective we hired was very skilled, managed to uncover the truth, and traced it back to Callum."

 Chapter 1944

    Chapter 1944


    Lysander''s gaze remained fixed on David, silently urging him to continue his tale. The mention of Callum didn''t seem to stir much surprise in Lysander; his expression barely changed.


    Clearing his throat, David resumed, "Susan went off the rails three years ago. She found Callum and convinced him to lend her a ne and some explosives. Callum even hooked her up with a flight instructor, who crash-coursed her into piloting. Susan flew straight to Hollowbrook. Thssa''s ce towers over Hollowbrook, making it quite the conspicuous target for Susan''s nned strike."


    "She bombed Thssa''s home and then fled in the ne, only to crashnd it using the emergency eject. Following the incident, Zephyr got the cops to investigate, but Callum had interfered, leading them to conclude it was an idental crash that destroyed Thssa''s home-a tragic misdirection."


    Davidid out the entire investigation''s findings to Lysander. The revtion shocked David. He hadn''t expected that Callum, the cause behind Lysander''s three-yeara and his current inability to stand, would be capable of such treachery.


    David had always seen Callum as a gentle, jovial gentleman who, despite his affections for Thssa, seemed above resorting to such lowly tactics. He believed Callum would assist Thssa in fleeing from Lysander, taking her and her child along with her mother abroad, all to free Thssa from Lysander''s clutches.


    Yet, it turned out Callum was far from the benign figure he appeared to be, harboring a darkness that rivaled Susan''s.


    Lysander closed the file, his aura as chilling as winter frost. "Notify Captain Payne. It''s time for an arrest," Lysander spoke with concise, authoritative force.


    "Right away, I''ll call Captain Payne now," David nodded, exiting the office.


    Meanwhile, at the mall, Thssa and Hertha were finishing up their meal before heading out to browse some jewelry counters. Hertha, arm in arm with Thssa, meticulously examined each counter.


    "Strange, Thssa, why aren''t they showcasing your designs anymore?" Hertha mused, having not spotted any of Thssa''s creations, which had been highly sought after in the market until recently.


    "I''m not sure," Thssa replied.


    "Hey, look over there! That''s one of my designs on sale, let''s check it out." Hertha, spotting her own work, led Thssa over.


    After a while, Thssa needed the


    restroom and excused herself,


    e2


    initially suggesting Herthae along. However, Hertha, captivated by the disy, barely nced back as she waved Thssa off, "Go ahead, I''ll wait here."


    Thssa left for the restroom, unaware that a man in casual ck attire and a baseball cap was trailing her, deliberately pulling his cap down as he followed.


    Entering the restroom, Thssa''s


    moment of vulnerability was seized as someone suddenly covered her mouth from behind, the stranger''s arm locking around her neck leaving her no chance to scream or resist.


    Despite her desperate struggles, Thssa couldn''t reach herN?vel/Dr(a)ma.Org - Content owner.


    assant or find leverage, her breath


    running short as both her mouth and nose were smothered. Still, she


    fought back with all her


    the man''s strength was


    no


    but


    overwhelming, quickly dragging her


    into an elevator.


    The mall''s elevator led directly to a hotel, where the man forcefully pulled Thssa into a room and threw her onto the bed, mming the door shut behind them.

 Chapter 1945

    Chapter 1945


    Thssa''s body hit the ground hard, too stunned to react in time. She tried to get up, but the man was quicker, pinning her hands behind her back and binding them with a leather belt.


    "Let me go! This is against thew!" Thssa struggled, her breathing heavy.


    The man ignored her protests, flipping her over to tie her legs together with a necktie.


    Thssa couldn''t struggle anymore. She widened her eyes, trying to get a good look at the man. He wore a baseball cap, pulled down low to hide his face, as he tightly knotted the tie around her legs.


    Thssa kicked at him, "Get away, don''t touch me! Help!"


    She continued to struggle and call for help.


    By then, the man had tightly secured her legs together with a knot.


    He stood up, facing Thssa with a grim expression, "Stop yelling, or I''ll have to gag you."


    Thssa finally saw his face clearly, gasping in disbelief and shock, "Callum, how could it be you?"


    She had been kidnapped several times, each instance terrifying and fraught with danger.


    Each time, her kidnappers were filled with deep hatred towards her, or were inherently evil to the core.


    She never imagined that one day, it would be Callum.


    Callum had always been there for her, treating her with kindness and gentleness.


    She thought he might have just strayed off path momentarily,mitting a few wrongs just to get closer to her.


    He wasn''t inherently bad.N?vel/Dr(a)ma.Org - Content owner.


    Thssa never expected the always gentle Callum to kidnap her!


    Callum took off his baseball cap, tossing it aside, and walked towards Thssa.


    As he approached, Thssa sensed danger, retreating backwards, "Don''te any closer!"


    Seeing her fear, Callum stopped, his once smiling eyes now filled with sorrow and pain.


    "I guess, this is how Leopold must have felt."


    "What do you mean?" Thssa didn''t understand why he brought up Leopold all of a sudden.


    "He loved you so much, yet you ignored him. The pain in his heart must have been deep, unbearable. To love and not be loved in return now understand how painful that can be." Callum murmured,


    Ov


    seemingly talking to Thssa and to himself.


    He never understood Leopold''s obsession with a woman, unable to move on even after five years, desperately clinging to a love unreturned, and ultimately, even


    el.n


    sacrificing his life.


    Callum never felt pity for his good friend.


    Until he got to know Thssa, from initial curiosity to falling for her, and then being repeatedly rejected by her.


    He finally understood Leopold''s feelings.


    Love was an obsession, a poison that once touched, bes hard to quit.


    He tried to forget Thssa, to move


    on with other women, but he could only think of Thssa. Turning


    around to find the person beside et


    him wasn''t her, filled him with a sense of profound loss, a pain as if his heart was stung by a bee, indescribable.

 Chapter 1946

    Chapter 1946


    "Callum, what on earth are you trying to do?" Thssa''s voice was filled with panic as she eyed him warily.


    Callum lifted his sorrowful gaze to meet Thssa''s panicked look, his voice a low murmur, "You don''t even flinch at the mention of Leopold anymore. It seems you''vepletely erased him from your memory."


    Thssa''s gaze was guarded, her body tense, watching Callum intently, her breath uneven. "Neither of us have any right to bring up Leopold. Besides, he''s been gone for three years. Wouldn''t it be better to let him rest? Why dredge up the past?"


    Thssa didn''t want to revisit past events, because no matter who was right or wrong, it didn''t matter anymore. Leopold was no longer of this world, and bringing up those things would do no good.


    "So, to you, Leopold is just history, not even worth mentioning?" Callum''s eyes brimmed with sadness. His words were soft, but his look was clearly usatory.


    "Callum, do you really not know what actually happened to Leopold?" Thssa initially didn''t want to bring up Leopold. The dead should be allowed to rest.


    But it seemed Callum couldn''t get past this issue, and she seriously doubted whether he knew the real cause of Leopold''s death.


    "What are you getting at?" Callum''s gaze sharpened suddenly, piercing her with his stare.


    "You once told me that Leopold was driven to his death by Lysander, who, wanting to give me freedom, didn''t hesitate to die at Lysander''s hand to induce a guilt trip, thus letting me go. I used to believe that, ming everything on Lysander. But just recently, I discovered that we''ve all misunderstood Lysander."


    Thssa was ready to reveal the truth, to prevent Callum from being trapped in the regret of Leopold''s passing.


    "Are you trying to clear Lysander''s name?" Callum''s expression turned fierce suddenly.


    He knew that Thssa was now


    with Lysander, the two of them as


    close as ever. She had fully


    epted Lysander and natural/met


    spoke well of him. But Callum wouldn''t allow her to use Leopold''s death to clear Lysander''s name!


    Seeing Callum''s fierce look, Thssa felt a twinge of fear, but she had to speak her mind. Otherwise, Callum would continue to misunderstand Lysander, which wasn''t good for his mental health.


    "I''m not trying to clear Lysander''s name. I''m just telling the real sequence of events." Thssa''s expression was serious, her defenses up.Content (C) N?v/elDra/ma.Org.


    After a pause, she continued, "If it were someone else, I wouldn''t believe it either, thinking it was an attempt to clear Lysander''s name. But these words came from Leopold''s parents themselves!"


    She set the stage, then ryed the events, "I was in the hospital that day, and I overheard Payton and Amelia saying that Leopold, in his bid to frame Lysander and take him down from the CEO position of the Sinir Group, intentionally added phosphorus to the phones, which ignites upon contact with air, leading to the death of two workers. After the explosion killed the workers, he was still plotting to pin the me on Lysander. In the end, Lysander revealed the truth. Overwhelmed by guilt, Leopold jumped from a building. And Amelia, to protect Leopold''s reputation, especially begged Lysander to keep it a secret, not to reveal what Leopold had done, letting the Sinir Group take full responsibility for the ident."


    Callum was incredulous and unwilling to believe!


    His expression was a mix of shock and pain, "You''re lying, trying to tarnish Leopold''s name so you can be with Lysander guilt-free!"


    How could Leopold possibly disregard the lives of workers just to frame Lysander? Impossible!

 Chapter 1947

    Chapter 1947


    Leopold was the epitome of sunshine, optimism, and kindness. The guy hadn''t even been able to harm a fly, let alone disregard a human life. "I don''t want to believe it either!" Thssa''s voice cracked with emotion, trying to get Callum to see reason.


    Her outburst seemed to cool his heated state a bit, but he still couldn''t bring himself to ept it, looking at Thssa with a mix of heartbreak and anger.


    Taking a deep breath, Thssa spelled it out for him, "But it''s the truth! Payton and Amelia, Leopold''s own parents, confirmed it! How could they possibly tarnish their son''s name? Even if Leopold took his own life out of guilt, they med Lysander, stripping him of his CEO title. If it weren''t true, they could''ve continued to im Leopold was driven to it by Lysander, not that he died because he was guilty!"


    Callum, driven by impulse, stepped forward, his hand gripping Thssa''s jaw tightly, his expression twisted in fury. "Thssa, how can you say such things about Leopold? He did everything with you in mind, every single action was for you. And now, you''re saying he took two lives and killed himself out of guilt?"


    Thssa winced under his grip, feeling Callum''s anger and desperation. She knew this version of Leopold was hard for him to swallow.


    But it was the stark reality.


    "Callum, I''m just stating the facts. Can''t you face reality?" Thssa implored, despite the pain.This text is property of N?/velD/rama.Org.


    "The ''reality'' I know is that Leopold loved you deeply, willing to die for you!" Callum''s voice was heavy, each word bitten off with vehemence. He was determined to make Thssa feel guilty for Leopold''s love.


    He dismissed any so-called facts, his disbelief and indifference to them clear as day.


    This aggressive, almost irrational version of Callum frightened


    Thssa. His proximity, the way his body nearly pinned hers to the bed, his breath hot against her face all of it made her skin crawl with resistance.


    Thssa feared what he might do next.


    "Callum, let go of me. Do you think Leopold would be happy with you treating me this way?" she said nervously.


    "How dare you mention Leopold!" Callum''s emotions teetered on the edge of control, his grip tightening painfully.


    His cheeks trembled from clenching his teeth. "Thssa, Leopold loved you for years without reciprocation! And as Leopold''s best friend, will fulfill the regrets he left behind!"


    Thssa''s heart raced, sensing danger in his words.


    As Callum leaned in, his lips inching closer, Thssa''s rm bells rang. She turned her head away, avoiding his touch, her voice tense and urgent, "Callum, let me go, stop it! You know this is against the daw, right?"


    Callum chuckled coldly in her ear, "The cops are already after me. What''s one more charge?"

 Chapter 1948

    Chapter 1948


    Thssa gasped, "What did you say?"


    Callum leaned closer to Thssa, so close that his lips were nearly brushing against her face!


    His breath warmed Thssa''s cheeks. "You really don''t know? Seems like Lysander doesn''t trust you much after all!"


    Thssa feared he would suddenly lean in for a kiss, her head instinctively retreating to the side.


    But his words shocked her even more. "What do the police chasing you have to do with Lysander?"


    "It appears he really hasn''t shared anything with you." Callum''s gaze darkened, his temper ring.


    He had barely caught wind of the investigation when the police reopened the case of the explosion in Hollowbrook from three years ago, intending to pursue the mastermind.


    Callum knew the investigation had turned towards him and immediately left his residence.


    But he couldn''t bear to just run away. Everything he did was for Thssa, and in the end, not only did he fail to win her over, he even became a fugitive!


    It was so unfair!


    Callum decided to confront Thssa, to settle scores that had never been settled.


    "Callum, calm down, this isn''t good for anyone," Thssa pleaded, struggling to push Callum away, but her arms and legs were tied, rendering her immobile.


    "No, it''s bad for you, but for me, it''s a chance to win!" With that, Callum''s lips moved closer to Thssa''s face.


    "Don''t!" Thssa resisted with all her might.


    Meanwhile, Hertha was browsing the jewelry disy at the counter, meticulously examining each piece. Thssa hadn''t returned, and her call to Thssa went straight to voicemail.


    Hearing that automated, impersonal voice, Hertha''s heart skipped a beat.


    Why would Thssa''s phone be off? Under normal circumstances, she would never do that.


    Worried, Hertha headed to the restroom to look for her.


    At first, she thought maybe Thssa had been in a stall for too long, which was why she hadn''te back yet.


    But after checking every stall and finding no sign of Thssa, panic set in.


    Another call to Thssa went unanswered.


    Hertha''s nerves were frayed, her


    fingers trembling as she hurried/et


    searched for Lysander''s number on


    her phone. Content bet


    Tomorrow, Thssa and Lysander were supposed to get their marriage license. Today, she had nned a day out with Thssa, expecting to bring her back safely.


    If anything happened to Thssa, Lysander would me her first!


    She could already imagine Lysander''s fury.


    Finally finding Lysander''s number, Hertha''s trembling fingers dialed.


    The phone barely rang once before Lysander answered, "What''s up?"This text is property of N?/velD/rama.Org.


    Lysander''s voice was cold, authoritative, and detached with everyone except Thssa.


    Panicking, Hertha''s voice shook, "Lysander, I was supposed to be shopping with Thssa..."


    "Get to the point!" Lysander''s voice grew tense and urgent, clearly not in the mood for chit-chat.


    Startled, Hertha blurted out,


    "Thssa''s gone. She said she was going to the restroom, but it''s been over half an hour, and she''s nowhere to be found. I can''t find her inthe restroom, and her phone''s off."

 Chapter 1949

    Chapter 1949


    "Send me your location, now!" Lysander''s voice was icy with urgency, a clearmand.


    "Okay, okay, sending it right away." After hanging up, Hertha quickly shared her location with Lysander. She must have gotten herself into a mess this time. If anything happened to Thssa, she''d never forgive herself.


    Upon receiving the location, Lysander immediately called the mall''s security office, demanding ess to all surveince footage. He was on a mission to find someone.Content (C) N?v/elDra/ma.Org.


    As the mall''s security personnel worked on pulling up the footage, Lysander didn''t waste a moment and headed straight to the mall.


    By the time Lysander arrived, the security head had already sent him the crucial footage. The surveince clearly captured Thssa being led into a hotel room within the mall by a man wearing a baseball cap.


    Inside the room, Callum paid no heed to Thssa''s pleas for help. With one foot on the ground and a knee on the bed, he lowered his body weight, trapping Thssa between him and the mattress, leaving her no room to struggle. His hands were busy unbuttoning her blouse, one, two, three buttons undone...


    Thssa was on the verge of breaking down, tears streaming uncontrobly as she tried to resist with all her might.


    "Please, Callum, let me go!" she begged, struggling against him. But Callum had lost all reason. His mind was consumed by Thssa; obtaining her was the only way toplete his life, topensate for Leopold''s lifelong regret.


    Leopold had died without winning Thssa''s heart, and despite Callum''s numerous attempts, whether through kindness or by trying to sabotage her rtionship with Lysander, he had never captured her heart nor got her to approach him willingly.


    Now, Callum was done ying nice.


    To him, extreme measures were justifiable if they meant having Thssa. Just as Callum was about to cross the final line, the door


    swung open. The person whotel.is


    entered, shock evident in their voice, eximed, "What the hell are you doing..."


    "Don''te any closer, or I''ll kill her!" Callum, in a swift motion, pulled out a switchde and pressed its sharp edge against Thssa''s delicate neck, ncing back with bloodshot eyes at the neer.


    The intruder was the hotel manager, who immediately raised his hands in surrender, not daring to make a move.


    "Easy, I''m backing off, okay? Just... just calm down," the manager said, hands raised as he took a step back As the manager retreated, Callum saw Lysander behind him, sitting in a wheelchair. The sight of Lysander''s tense face seemed to excite Callum even more


    ¦¯


    His expression twisted into something even more sinister as he said, "Get out, and close the door. Leave him here with me!" He was addressing the hotel manager, who looked towards Lysander, uncertain of what to do.


    Lysander clenched his jaw, veins throbbing on his hands resting on the wheelchair, his gaze fixed on Callum as he said, "Do as he says."


    Following Lysander''s instruction, the manager quickly left the room and closed the door behind him.


    Lysander''s gaze fell on Thssa. Seeing her in such a pitiful state made the veins on his hands stand out more prominently, his entire being radiating a cold fury.


    Hearing Lysander''s name, Thssa felt her humiliation and distress peak. Tears flowed freely, but she bit her lip, refusing to let her sobs be heard.


    Callum, de still pressed against


    Thssa''s neck, taunted Lysander, "Heard your legs are good for


    nothing now, can''t move, can yout


    With that, he moved behind


    Lysander''s wheelchair, securing it to a nearby cab with a chain, effectively immobilizing Lysander.

 Chapter 1950

    Chapter 1950


    Callum had stripped off his jacket, using it to tie Lysander''s wheelchair to a cab handle. With this setup, Lysander couldn''t possibly push himself away, nor could he untie the knotted garment with his own strength.


    Seeing Callum getting closer to Lysander, Thssa struggled to sit up from the bed, ready to confront Callum. A few buttons of her blouse hade undone in the process, making her situation all the more revealing.


    Facing Thssa, Lysander saw her state and his eyes widened, his handsome face tense with concern. "Thssa!" He wanted to rush over, wrap her in his arms, and shield her with his body, keeping her safe in his embrace. He tried to move, to muster any strength in his legs, but he was powerless. He could only watch helplessly as Callum returned to Thssa''s side, his gaze wandering over her, standing so close yet so far from her reach!


    Lysander was furious at Callum! But he felt utterly helpless, forced to watch as Callum harassed Thssa, a truly terrible feeling. Callum approached Thssa, his hand supporting her neck, lifting her from the bed and leading her in front of Lysander, standing at a distance just out of Lysander''s reach.


    With one hand gripping Thssa''s arm and the other supporting her neck, Callum hadplete control over her, making her stand awkwardly before Lysander. Callum let out a coldugh and taunted Lysander, "Want to save her?"


    Lysander was seething, his facial muscles twitching with rage, his angry words squeezed through clenched teeth, "Let her go!"Content (C) N?v/elDra/ma.Org.


    "Just like that?" Callum''s gaze darkened, the normally gentle smile gone from his face, reced by hatred and the desire for revenge. "Remember how you reacted when someone asked you to let her go!" Callum''s expression turned increasingly fierce.


    The mention of Leopold was a


    painful memory Callum couldn''t bear to confront, a reminder that twisted his heart like a knife. Lysander saw Thssa standing before him, her clothes disheveled, with Callum so close to her challenging every boundary of decency!


    Lysander extended his arm, trying to pull Thssa towards him, but Callum had deliberately chosen a spot out of Lysander''s reach. No matter how desperately he reached out, his arms weren''t long enough to grasp Thssa. Missing herpletely, Lysander was filled with frustration and defeat. Content


    belongs to NovelDrama.Org


    But Callum felt a rush of satisfaction, enjoying the sight of Lysander so powerless. He relished the feeling of achievement.


    "Lysander, today you''ll watch your woman be someone else''s right in front of you!" Callum gritted his teeth, grabbed Thssa by the neck, and leaned in to kiss her.


    "Callum!" Lysander roared, trying to


    stand up, to punch Callum down. But his legs wouldn''t cooperate, his hands gripping the wheelchair tilk the veins stood out on the back of his hands. Yet, he was truly powerless, unable to stand or move the Wheelchair.


    Callum, however, was only more excited by this, loving the sight of Lysander''s helplessness. He always seemed so untouchable,manding respect from everyone. Now, unable to even save his own woman, what could he possibly boast about?


    Callum, undeterred by Thssa turning her head away, was even more thrilled. He pushed her down on the bed with such force, his hands tearing at her clothes.


    "Ah, let me go, Callum, please!" Thssa screamed in terror and pain.

 Chapter 1951

    Chapter 1951


    Lysander growled, his voice thick with fury, "Callum, I swear I''m going to end you!"


    "Try me," Callum shot back, his voice now rough and husky, a clear sign he was serious, especially about forcing himself on Thssa.


    As Callum proceeded to tear at Thssa''s clothes, Lysander watched in horror and rage. It was like a volcano inside him was erupting, spewing moltenva, threatening to consume him whole with anger.


    Seeing Callum''s reckless behavior and Thssa''s increasing distress only fueled Lysander''s rage.


    Suddenly, a surge of unprecedented strength coursed through him. Grasping the arms of his wheelchair with both hands and pushing off with his legs, Lysander managed to stand, stumbling at first but quickly steadying himself. He lunged at Callum, yanking him back andnding a punch square on Callum''s face, sending him staggering backward.


    Callum looked up in disbelief, "You... How?"


    Lysander had stood up. How was that even possible when everyone said he would never walk again?


    Before Callum could process it further, Lysander charged again, fueled by pure fury, andnded another punch, this time to Callum''s chest, sending him flying into a wall with a dull thud before copsing in pain.


    As Lysander, consumed by anger, moved to continue his assault, Thssa''s crying voice pierced the air, "Lysander..."


    Her voice,den with sorrow, yanked Lysander back to his senses. He stopped in his tracks, turned, and saw Thssa in a disheveled state on the bed, tears streaming down her face.


    The sight pierced Lysander''s heart like a dagger. He changed direction, shedding his jacket as he walked over to her, wrapping it around her. He then freed her wrists from the leather straps and her ankles from the ties.Content (C) N?v/elDra/ma.Org.


    Liberated, Thssa''s emotions overwhelmed her. Terrified, she clung to Lysander with all her might.


    "Ssh, it''s okay... I''ve got you," Lysander, his voice rough but tender,forted her, holding her close and stroking her back.


    Thssa sobbed in response, nodding, relieved and overjoyed at once.


    She had seen him stand and walk to her side.


    Thankfully, Lysander could walk. He wasn''t bound to a wheelchair forever.


    Just then, as Callum attempted to flee, the room''s door swung open, revealing the hotel manager, who had returned with a few police officers, catching Callum in the act.


    Startled, the hotel manager quickly back, seeking refuge b and pointed at Calfum,


    as flors, and pointed at


    s him! He''s the kidnapper!"


    1


    As Callum clutching his aching abdomen, turned to escape, an officer swiftly apprehended him, handcuffing his hands behind his back.


    "Stay put, where do you think you''re going?" the officer barked.


    Callum''s body slumped, realizing any struggle was futile given the circumstances.


    Already a fugitive, he was merely disgruntled that his incarceration was imminent without having won over Thssa.


    Hemented his unfulfilled pursuit and the unmet aspirations of Leopold.

 Chapter 1952

    Chapter 1952


    To Callum''s utter disbelief, Lysander rose to the asion when it mattered most!


    His entire scheme dissolved into thin air the moment Lysander stood up, as if even the heavens had turned against him!


    By the time the police had him in cuffs, Callum''s heart had sunk into despair, all fight drained from him. Now, he could truly empathize with how Leopold must have felt, making his heart heavier with each passing moment. He realized the extent of agony Leopold had endured. And yet, he was powerless to ease any of Leopold''s pain, left only to await the news of his passing.


    As the police led Callum away, Thssa''s heart, which had been tight with anxiety, finally began to rx a bit. She let go of Lysander, her gaze shifting towards the door. Watching Callum, handcuffed and escorted by two officers, his silhouette a blend of loneliness and agony, tightened her chest once again. For a moment, she found it hard to breathe, her heart constricted as if by ropes.


    How had someone so kind and joyful turned into this? If only they could return to how things were when they first met.


    Lost in thought, Thssa''s face tingled under the rough caress of a hand, pulling her back to reality. She looked up to see Lysander wiping away her tears, his handsome face etched with concern. His deep, soothing voice reassured her, "It''s over now..."


    He adjusted the jacket he had draped over her shoulders, wrapping her slender frame a bit more securely. The memory of Callum tearing at her clothes sent a surge of rage through Lysander. Had Callum still been there, no amount of punches would have sufficed to quell his fury.


    Realizing her clothes were torn, Thssa felt utterly mortified. Without Lysander''s jacket, she couldn''t imagine how pitiful she''d look. She pulled the jacket closer, her tear-filled eyes meeting


    Lysander''s. In that momet


    e


    he was


    her pir of strength, enveloping her in a sense of security that steadied her trembling body. She tried to smile, to show him she was alright.


    But the words of reassurance died on her lips. She wanted tofort Lysander, to tell him she was fine, but the truth was she wasn''t. The fear and sorrow were real, especially after Callum''s mention of Leopold. Everything Callum had done was to make up for Leopold''s regrets. Thinking of Leopold, of the joyful times they had shared, and how that bright, optimistic young man met such a tragic end, Thssa felt a pang of sorrow. Content is ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org.


    "Let''s go. Can you stand?" Lysander asked, offering his hands to help her up.


    Snapping back to the present, Thssa quickly stood, insisting on supporting Lysander instead. "I''ve got you, how''s your leg...?"


    Her eyes darted to his legs, concerned. But there he was, standing firm, his legs strong and supportive as ever. Beside her, his towering presence seemed to shield her from the world.


    The Lysander she knew, strong and


    imposing, was back! In the chaos earlier, Thssa had noticed


    Lysanderstanding, but hadn''t fullet


    registered it. Now, seeing him standing strong before her, her sorrow turned to overwhelming gratitude, tears brimming in her eyes.


    "Lysander, you''re really standing!" Her words were a mix of excitement and astonishment.

 Chapter 1953

    Chapter 1953


    After a tidal wave of sorrow, joy came crashing in so unexpectedly that Thssa couldn''t stop the tears from pouring down her cheeks. Seeing her cry, Lysander quickly reached out to wipe away her tears, chiding her gently, "Silly, why the tears?"


    "I''m just... I''m so happy," Thssa managed to say through her tears. Lysander was on his feet again, no longer bound to a wheelchair for the rest of his life. He wouldn''t have to endure those pitying looks anymore.


    "Thssa!"


    Just as Thssa was overwhelmed with joy, a loud and clumsy voice broke the silence from the doorway. The voice was grating, pulling both Thssa and Lysander''s attention towards the entrance.


    Hertha stumbled in, initially panicked and fearful. Upon seeing Thssa standing there, safe and sound, her panic instantly dissipated. She rushed over, grabbing Thssa''s arms, examining her from head to toe.


    Tears welled up in her big, round eyes. "Thssa, I''m so relieved you''re okay! I was terrified, thinking something might have happened to you. I could never forgive myself!"


    And Lysander, he wouldn''t forgive her either, if anything had happened to Thssa. But thankfully, Thssa was standing there, unharmed. After pouring her heart out, Hertha sneaked a wary nce at Lysander.


    Even though Thssa was safe, the fact that she had been taken away and suffered was reason enough for Lysander to me someone. Hertha feared Lysander would hold her ountable. As she stealthily peeked at Lysander, his expression was stern and cold. His lips parted as if he was about to speak, which sent Hertha scurrying behind Thssa, pleading, "I know I was wrong, please, don''t be mad at me. I promise, I''ll never leave Thssa alone again. I''ll even apany her to the bathroom, wherever she needs to go...''


    Thssa could feel how genuinely scared Hertha was of Lysander reprimanding her. Hertha was her best friend, and she couldn''t bear to see her so frightened.


    Besides, it wasn''t Hertha''s fault. It''s unrealistic to expect someone to be by another''s side every second of the day. Moreover, it wasn''t like Hertha being there would have stopped Callum from harming her.


    Gently, Thssa tugged at Lysander''s arm, defending Hertha, "Lysander, please don''t me


    Hertha. This isn''t her fault. No oneet


    could have anticipated Callum''s actions. And honestly, if Callum was determined, having Hertha with me would only put her in danger,


    without changing the oue."


    Hertha listened from behind Thssa, grateful for her defense. Thssa knew Lysander well. Her words not only pleaded on Hertha''s behalf but alsoid out the situation logically.


    She was right if Callum wasContent (C) N?v/elDra/ma.Org.


    determined, Hertha''s presence


    wouldn''t have made a difference. I


    anything, she might have ended up incapacitated, unable to alert Lysander immediately, which would


    only worsen the situation. Content


    belongs to NovelDrama.Org


    Lysander looked at Thssa with a gentle gaze, as if even raising his voice might startle her. "Don''t worry, I wasn''t ming her."


    "Then why were you looking at me like you were about to throw me out..." Hertha mumbled from behind Thssa.


    "We should get going. Or would you prefer to stay here and explore the room a bit more?" Lysander teased Hertha before taking Thssa''s hand and heading towards the door.


    "Yikes!" Hertha eximed, her eyes wide as saucers as if she''d just discovered a new continent, staring at Lysander.


    Thssa and Lysander paused, turning towards her in surprise.


    Hertha tiptoed closer to Lysander, examining him curiously. "Weren''t you supposed to be in a wheelchair? How can you walk now?"

 Chapter 1954

    Chapter 1954


    Hertha had been so fixated on Thssa, watching her every move to ensure she was safe. Once she saw Thssa was indeed unharmed, a weight lifted off her chest, and she could finally breathe a sigh of relief.This text is property of N?/velD/rama.Org.


    Now that things had calmed down, Hertha started to notice something different about Lysander. Lysander, who had been confined to a wheelchair for so long, was not only standing but also walking, guiding Thssa along with him!


    Had his legs really healed?


    Seeing Hertha''s wide-eyed, astonished expression, Thssa understood her shock. With aforting smile, Thssa responded to Hertha''s silent question: "Yes, Lysander''s legs are better now; he can walk."


    After saying this, Lysander took Thssa and left the room, leaving Hertha in a state of shock and joy. She couldn''t believe it. Lysander, who was once told he''d never stand again, was walking! This meant Thssa''s days ahead would be filled with even more happiness!


    Hertha was genuinely happy for Thssa. As she was pondering this joyous development, she realized Lysander and Thssa were leaving and quickly followed after them, calling out, "Hey, wait up!"


    The trio walked out of the mall, and Lysander opened the car door for Thssa.


    Thssa, concerned for Hertha, looked back: "Hertha,e with us, we''ll drop you off."


    "No need, I drove here; I can drive back. You''ve had a scare today; go home and rest," Hertha waved off, reminding them she had driven Thssa to the mall earlier that day. Besides, she felt like a third wheel around Thssa and Lysander. Being around Lysander made her tense and ufortable. Driving back alone seemed more appealing.


    "But..." Thssa still looked worried.


    "Don''t worry about me. Callum''s been arrested, and I''m pretty confident in my driving. I''ll be fine," Hertha reassured her, cutting off any protests.


    After a bit more persuasion, Thssa agreed: "Alright then, just drive safely."


    "I will, you guys head back," Hertha replied.


    Lysander got into the car, and they drove off Thssa waved goodbye through the car window, unsure if Hertha could see her. As the car drove away, Hertha''s figure O disappeared from view.


    Thssa then turned to Lysander, his face stern yet exuding a calm andmanding presence ¨C a testament to his unique character She nced at his legs again; his walking had seemed so natural earlier, yet she couldn''t help but worry.


    "I''ll call Lydia to check on your legs," she said, reaching for her phone only to find her pocket empty. That''s when she remembered. During the ordeat in the hotel room, Callum had taken her phone, turned it off, and put it in his pocket. Content belongs


    to NovelDrama.Org


    S


    "My phone is still with Callum," she realized aloud.


    Without hesitation, Lysander took out his phone and called Captain Payne, asking him to retrieve Thssa''s phone.

 Chapter 1955

    Chapter 1955


    After hanging up the phone, Lysanderforted her, "Don''t worry, we''ll get it back soon enough."Content is ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org.


    "But your leg..." Thssa was still concerned. She wanted her phone back primarily because it contained Lydia''s number: "Do you have Lydia''s number saved in your phone?"


    "No, I don''t. But it''s not a big deal. My leg''s fine, no need to have it checked again," Lysander said, wrapping an arm around Thssa''s shoulders and pulling her close. "Just take a moment to rest; there''s no need to worry so much."


    "I just wanted her to check if your leg is truly healed. In case it''s only temporary, or maybe if it''s better now, getting some treatment could solidify its current state," Thssa said, worried about potential futureplications.


    If Lysander''s leg was fully healed, that would be great. But if there were any lingering issues, getting a doctor to check it out sooner rather thanter could prevent unnecessary consequences.


    "I know my own body. I''m fine, really. You don''t need to worry so much. Just close your eyes and rest for a bit," Lysander said, pulling Thssa closer into his embrace.


    He didn''t want to talk about seeing a doctor for his leg anymore.


    Thssa could sense his reluctance to discuss medical consultations, so she decided not to push further.


    Obediently, Thssa leaned on Lysander''s shoulder, closing her eyes to let her nerves rx.


    Earlier, when Callum had trapped her in the hotel room,ing dangerously close to assaulting her, she had been truly frightened, every nerve in her body taut with tension.


    Even though Callum had been taken away by the police, her muscles remained tight from the stress.


    Now, resting against Lysander, feeling his warmth and the strong sense of security he provided, her body and mind gradually began to rx.


    By the time they returned to Royal Estates, Thssa had fallen asleep.


    Lysander, holding Thssa in his arms, walked into the foyer.


    Fitch, hearing the noise, came out to greet them and was stunned to see Lysander, not only walking but also carrying Thssa, heading straight upstairs.


    This...


    §Ö


    Seeing Lysander''s ability to walk and even carry Thssa upstairs, Fitch was so ecstatic he stood frozen, his cheeks twitching slightly with overwhelming joy.


    "Good heavens, Lysander''s up and walking. This is fantastic!"


    Rushing back to his room, Fitch eagerly phoned Zephyr to share the incredible news.


    Over the phone, Fitch could hardly contain his excitement: "Sir, Lysander''s leg is healed; he''s walking like nothing was ever wrong!"


    "What did you say?" Zephyr, obviously surprised, stood up from his couch abruptly. "Say that again!"


    Fitch could sense Zephyr''s


    happiness and repeated, "Lysander''s


    on his feet. I saw it with my own eyes he carried Thssa up the stairs."


    "He''s not only standing but carrying someone as well?" Zephyr was even more astonished.


    He remembered Dr. Funke''s words after diagnosing Lysander, preparing him for the worst - that Lysander might never stand again.


    The news had hit Zephyr hard; his grandson, once so proud and untouchable, reduced to this?


    For a while, Zephyr had been despondent, even ignoring the corporate battles for control of the Sinir group.


    But now, this unbelievable news hade - Lysander was standing, walking normally!


    "Yes, Lysander''s recovered, moving freely, even carrying weight," Fitch answered excitedly.


    "They''re at home, right? I''ming over immediately," Zephyr said.

 Chapter 1956

    Chapter 1956


    Lysander gentlyid Thssa on the bed; she must have been truly exhausted, as she fell into a deep slumber immediately. He cradled her to the bed, and she didn''t even stir. Bending over, Lysander admired her peaceful face. Her eyes were closed, longshes resting on her eyelids like two serene butterflies. They were thick and beautiful.


    Her face remained as delicate and lovely as ever, with a perfectly sculpted nose that was neither too prominent nor too subtle, and lips a vibrant shade of red. Herplexion was so pale, it was almost heartbreaking.


    Lysander''s hand brushed against her cool cheek, causing a twinge of pain in his heart at theck of warmth. Thinking about what Callum had done to her earlier sent Lysander''s heart racing with anger, wishing he could get his hands on Callum!


    Callum had been taken away by the police, and Lysander knew he would settle both old and new scores; he wouldn''t let him off easily!


    Worried about waking Thssa, Lysander gently covered her with a nket, stood up, and prepared to leave the room. But, as he tried to stand, his legs cramped up due to the sudden movement, and the pain was so intense he couldn''t stand up straight.


    Lysander''s brows furrowed in pain, his hands gripping the edge of the bed for support as he slowly tried to straighten up, trying to ease the difort in his legs. The muscles on the outside of his legs felt as if they were being pulled, and the more he tried to stand, the more it hurt. Lysander, head bowed and teeth clenched, endured the pain.


    After a few minutes, the pain gradually subsided, and using his arms for support, he slowly stood up. This time, he managed to stand properly and even took a few steps to test his legs. Thankfully, he could still walk.


    At the height of the pain, Lysander had feared the worst - that his temporary recovery was over and his legs had be paralyzed again. Fortunately, after the pain passed, he was able to stand up safely. Having experienced disability before, Lysander knew the frustration and pain all too well. Now that he could stand and walk, he certainly didn''t want to go back to using a wheelchair.


    Quietly, Lysander left the room and closed the door behind him. As he was descending the stairs, Zephyr entered, wearing a thick coat.


    Zephyr noticed him immediately, his


    sharp gaze quickly flicking behind Lysander before settling back on him. Thssa didn''te down with you?" he asked.


    "She''s asleep," Lysander replied calmly, making his way to the couch to pour some tea.


    Zephyr sat down opposite him, ncing at Lysander''s legs before getting to the point. "Heard from Fitch your legs are better. I was shocked at first, but it seems it''s true."


    Lysander wasn''t surprised by Zephyr''s calm reaction to his recovery. He must have known beforehand about the improvement in Lysander''s condition.This text is property of N?/velD/rama.Org.


    "Just got lucky today," Lysander said, cing a cup of tea in front of Zephyr He kept his answers short


    and to the point, avoiding


    Lov


    unnecessary conversation Content


    belongs to


    Zephyr took a sip of the tea handed to him, and for a moment, it was like they were back to their old, easygoing selves, trusting and open with each other.


    "How''s the new business doing?" Zephyr inquired.

 Chapter 1957

    Chapter 1957


    "Business as usual, no profits yet," Lysander didn''t try to hide anything.


    Zephyr was among the first to know when he started his new venture and had even confronted him about it. It wasn''t a secret anymore.


    "Aren''t the shareholders you brought over from Sinir Group getting antsy, seeing no profits yet?" Zephyr''s tone was casual, as if they were just making small talk.


    But Lysander could tell Zephyr was fishing for information.


    "They''ve been with me for years. They know how I operate. If they couldn''t wait, they wouldn''t have joined me," Lysander replied, taking a sip of his tea.


    "You''re definitely more capable than Payton," Zephyr suddenly said.


    Lysander''s hand paused ever so slightly, holding his teacup. It was almost imperceptible before he returned to his usual demeanor as if nothing had happened.


    Receiving such direct praise from Zephyr wasn''t something Lysander had anticipated, leaving him slightly taken aback.


    "Payton''s not bad, either. Since those shareholders left, he''s started to really focus on Sinir Group," Lysander said, pouring more tea into Zephyr''s cup.


    "What''s the use of focusing? Without the right investment insight and matching capabilities, no amount of effort can revive Sinir Group," Zephyr mused, his tone serious.


    Those three years, Payton had been too reckless, causing significant losses and weakening Sinir Group from within. Now, as he tried to turn things around and make it profitable, it wasn''t as simple as it seemed. Maybe for Lysander, it would be an easy task, but for Payton, reviving a deeply troubled Sinir Group seemed almost impossible.


    "It''s okay, it''s still early days. You should have faith in him, give him some time," Lysander said lightly.


    "Three more years? If we give him any more time, Sinir Group will be history," Zephyr retorted, clearly frustrated.


    Sinir Group was his life''s work, precious like a child to him. He couldn''t stand by and watch it fall apart. If only age hadn''t caught up with him, he would have taken the reins himself.


    "Then, Grandfather, you''ll have to figure something out," Lysander said.


    Zephyr''s eyes, cloudy with age,


    suddenly looked intently and earnestly at Lysander. "Lysander,


    your leg''s better now. I''m formallet


    inviting you back to Sinir Group to take the position of CEO. As for your newpany, you can continue to run it. Managing both won''t be a problem for you."


    Holding his teacup, Lysander showed no significant reaction to Zephyr''s words. He calmly took a sip, then ced the cup down, lifting his deep gaze towards Zephyr. His lips parted slightly as he finally spoke, Grandfather, Payton is more suited to be the CEO of Sinir Group." Lysander hadn''t forgotten the threat Zephyr made to keep him from leaving with Thssa from his and Rosalind''s wedding. He had said if Lysander dared to leave with Thssa that day, he should never dream of holding any position at Sinir Group again!


    His decision was clear. Between Sinir Group and Thssa, he chose Thssa!


    It was his promise to Thssa, his stance.


    Having made his stance clear, he wouldn''t go back on his word.


    "Lysander, are you ming me?" Zephyr didn''t need to finish his sentence; he could guess what was on Lysander''s mind. Lysander was indeed ming him for not standing firmly by his side when he was unable to stand on his own two feet.Content (C) N?v/elDra/ma.Org.

 Chapter 1958

    Chapter 1958


    Lysander calmly poured another cup of tea for Zephyr, lifting his gaze with a low, maic voice, he said, "Grandpa, between us, there''s no right or wrong. Just different points of view."


    True to his word, Lysander had never med his grandfather. Having lost his parents at a young age, it was his grandparents who raised him, sparing no effort to mold him into a top-notch individual.


    How could he possibly me his grandfather?


    Now, as he and his grandfather went their separate ways, it wasn''t out of any resentment towards him, but truly because of differing viewpoints. "Differences can be worked out, but won''t you even give me a chance to try?" Zephyr asked Lysander, his face etched with concern.


    He hade all this way, sincerely hoping to convince Lysander to return and manage the Sinir Group.


    "Grandpa, just like you disapprove of me and Thssa, you didn''t give us a chance to work things out either. Could you tell me what you think?" Lysander put down the teapot, his deep eyes earnestly fixed on Zephyr.


    Compared to before, his grandfather seemed to have aged more, his face lined with wrinkles and his hair much whiter.


    Since his grandmother''s passing, his grandfather aged visibly, driven by grief.


    Lysander understood his grandfather missed his grandmother deeply. When she was alive, every day he lived with purpose and vitality.


    But after her death, his grandfather''s spirit seemed to waver, his approach to matters losing the rational edge it once had, bing extreme and impulsive.


    Especially concerning Thssa.


    "I''ve made myself clear before, Thssa''s background doesn''t match yours, and she''s quite scheming. I fear you''ll end up like your father," Zephyr mused.


    "But the truth proves she''s nothing like Belinda. If she were, she could have taken the money and left during those three years. Instead, she chose to stay by my side without asking for anything," Lysander was determined to clear his grandfather''s misunderstanding about Thssa.


    He wanted his grandfather to shed his prejudice against her.


    But he had yet to find the right opportunity, and now, finally, he could exin Thssa''s character to his grandfather.


    "She did take care of you for those three years, but that was her seeking redemption," Zephyr said, slightly angered.


    Taking a deep breath, as if to quell his inner annoyance, he continued, "You ended up in aa trying to save her even became a vegetable. It''s good she had the conscience to know she owed you, so she stayed to take care of you for three years. But guilt doesn''t equate to being upright and kind."


    "Grandpa, saving her was my choice, and it was what I owed her. I''veN?vel/Dr(a)ma.Org - Content owner.


    made it clear to her that we owe nothing to each other now. She


    could have ignored me, but she


    didn''t No matter how hard it was, she stayed by my side, taking of me meticulously. Doesn''t that prove something?" Content belongs


    to NovelDrama.Org


    Lysander was convinced of Thssa''s character, clearly understanding her nature. She wasn''t fickle like Belinda, nor did she have the cunning some women possess.


    She was simply a woman who wanted to live a good life, loving her children more than herself.


    Her past actions, all the secrets she kept, were merely to keep her children close, fearing they might be taken from her.


    "Lysander we''re talking about the


    company and you''re bringing Thssa into this?" Zephyr picked up the teacup from the table, then ced it down heavily to show his displeasure.


    He''d rather not talk about Thssa.


    Once someone forms a bias against another, it''s hard to feel any affection towards them.


    In Zephyr''s eyes, everything that had gone wrong with Lysander was Thssa''s fault.


    How obedient and respectful Lysander used to be towards him.


    Lysander would have followed his life n perfectly, but since Thssa''s arrival, Lysander had resisted his decisions time and again.


    He even gave up the Sinir Group, preferring to leave with Thssa for an ordinary life, rather than listen to him any longer.

 Chapter 1959

    Chapter 1959


    To Zephyr, such defiance was a fatal blow, a wound that ran deep. And the source of all this sin? Thssa. How could Zephyr possibly wee her with open arms?


    "Grandpa, don''t you see? Whether it''s Thssa or thepany, it''s my choice." Lysander could tell that Zephyr didn''t want to talk about Thssa anymore.


    In Zephyr''s heart, Thssa would always be an enigma, much like Belinda. He could never truly ept her from the bottom of his heart. On one hand, there was his grandfather, who had nurtured and raised him, and on the other, the mother of his child, the woman he would spend his life with. No matter what Lysander chose, he would hurt one of them.


    Achieving a perfect bnce was impossible; his grandfather was steadfast in his prejudice against Thssa, and there was no changing his mind. Lysander had no choice but to confront the current, unchangeable situation.


    "Do you really not want to take over the Sinir Group?" Zephyr asked. His choice was the newpany, specializing in jewelry, mainly promoting the brand designed by Thssa. Lysander had started apany for Thssa and was determined to see it through. He was ready to neglect the Sinir Group for that insignificant startup!


    When Zephyr asked this, he was filled with anger. "My cousin is handling it well; I believe it won''t be long before he turns a profit," Lysander said, not just to decline Zephyr''s offer but to reassure him.


    Payton was now the CEO of the Sinir Group, finally on the right track, striving to revive the business with legitimate ventures. Though he was still green, everyone needs to weather storms to grow. Given time, Payton would undoubtedly stand on his own.


    Zephyr clenched his teeth, stood up in a fit of rage, and cast a furious nce at Lysander before turning to leave. He hade to Royal Estate''s hoping to persuade Lysander to return and lead the Sinir Group. Since Lysander had no interest and his refusal was so blunt, staying on seemed pointless.


    But he was furious that Lysander had so decisively disregarded their familial bonds and the fate of the Sinir Group!This text is property of N?/velD/rama.Org.


    Lysander got up and quickly went to


    Zephyr''s side to see him off.


    "Grandpa, you''re getting on in years. Spend your days enjoying tea, taking walks, and perhaps traveling when you''re bored. Leave the rest of the worries behind," Lysander tried tofort Zephyr.


    After all, he was his grandfather; he couldn''t just stand by and watch him overexert himself. If something happened to his grandfather, he would be deeply concerned.


    "Alright, go back. I don''t need you to see me off," Zephyr said, clearly still upset, and walked away without looking back.

 Chapter 1960

    Chapter 1960


    The following Monday, Thssa woke up from a deep sleep that hadsted from the previous afternoon all the way into the morning.N?vel/Dr(a)ma.Org - Content owner.


    As soon as her eyes fluttered open, she instinctively reached out for her phone, only to grasp at the empty air beside her bed. It took her a moment to remember that Callum had taken her phone and she hadn''t retrieved it yet.


    But something felt off as her hand searched the empty space-there was warmth, and the faint sensation of breath against her skin.


    Startled, Thssa''s eyes shot open, and as she lifted her head to look toward where her hand hadnded, she found it resting on Lysander''s face. Her entire palm enveloped the side of his face, her fingertips brushing against his breath.


    That''s when she realized why she could feel the warmth of his exhales.


    "Oh, shoot," she thought, realizing she had been touching Lysander''s face all this while!


    Thssa couldn''t help but chuckle at her own predicament. Just as she was about to pull her hand away, arger hand covered hers, pressing it gently against his cheek. He even rubbed his face against her palm a little.


    The warmth and the softness of the gesture sent a cozy thrill straight to her heart, a ticklish sensation spreading through her.


    Thssaughed, "What are you doing? Time to get up."


    It was such a kittenish gesture, Lysander holding her hand against his face, seeking affection in such a tender way.


    Thssa would have never imagined the strong, assertive Lysander, who always seemed to stand tall and untouchable, would show such a yful side in front of her.


    "Let''s sleep in a bit more. Why rush?" Lysander''s voice, husky with sleep, filled the room, sounding barely awake.


    "Huh?" Thssa sounded puzzled. "Weren''t we supposed to go get our marriage license today? It''s Monday."


    She had even dreamt of missing their appointment.


    "Oh no, what time is it? I hope the town hall isn''t closed yet!" Thssa quickly sat up, looking around for a way to tell the time.


    Lysander let go of her hand and reached for his phone on the bedside table, lighting up the screen. "It''s just after eight."


    "There''s still time then. Let''s get going," Thssa said, relieved hadn''t


    Coverslept. She threw t


    S off and got up, onget


    sharp pain in her ankle.


    "Ouch!" she eximed instinctively.


    a


    "What happened?" Lysander immediately sat up, his concern evident in his voice.


    Thssa looked down at her ankles, both red and swollen, with a clear mark circling them.


    It was from the day before when Callum had tied her up with a scarf, pulling it too tight, leaving her with these painful reminders.


    ?


    Lysander was already by her side, gently cradling her foot in his hands, his brows furrowed with a mix of concern and anger as he saw the extent of the swelling.


    Every time he saw a new injury on Thssa, Lysander mentally cursed Callum, promising retribution.


    But in front of Thssa, he was all tenderness and care.


    "Just sit tight. I''ll grab some ice for that," he said, helping her sit on the bed before heading out.


    He returned shortly, a bundle of ice wrapped in a towel in his hand,


    the


    gentleness in the world ready to tend to her ankle withel


    belongs to NovelDrama.Org

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    Chapter 1961


    ?


    Thssa saw him struggling and immediately went to take the object from his hands. "Let me handle this. You should sit down and take a break," she said.


    She hadn''t forgotten that Lysander''s leg had only recently healed. The frequent bending and standing could overburden it. If his leg suffered any more issues, she would never forgive herself.


    Thssa reached for the ice pack that Lysander was holding, but he dodged and said firmly, "Don''t move. You can''t apply it properly yourself; let me do it."


    With that, he gently lifted her foot and ced it on his thigh, carefully positioning the cloth-wrapped ice pack on her ankle. He was cautious, worrying the cold might be too much for her.N?vel/Dr(a)ma.Org - Content owner.


    As soon as it touched her skin, Lysander asked with concern, "How does it feel? Too cold?"


    Looking into Lysander''s tender, caring eyes, Thssa felt her throat tighten. She shook her head, "No, it''s actually quite soothing."


    No man had ever been so gentle with her. Her mother, though loving, was always preupied with her own interests, often engrossed in poker games rather than providing the care Thssa longed for.


    Now, as Lysander resumed his task, applying the ice pack with such care, Thssa felt a warmth she seldom knew. Even though she assured him it felt fine, Lysander remained cautious, not pressing the ice pack too hard against her skin, ensuring the cold was bearable.


    After alternating the ice pack between her feet, Lysander released Thssa''s foot. "There, take a rest now."


    He attempted to stand, but a spasm


    in his thigh muscle seized him, echoing the pain from the day before. The ice pack fell to the floor as he struggled to maintain his bnce, hands pressing against the ground.


    "Lysander!" Thssa noticed his difort and quickly got out of bed, rushing to his aid. Seeing him wince in pain, she was on the verge of tears, "Lysander, what''s wrong? Can''t you walk again? What


    do Content belongs to


    ???


    UMS


    we


    Panic-stricken and without her phone nearby to call for help, Thssa dared not move him, fearing any wrong move could worsen his condition.


    In the midst of her turmoil, Lysander''s pained yet steady voice cut through, "Don''t worry, it''ll pass in a bit. Go back to bed and rest; just leave me be."


    Biting back his pain, Lysander


    focused on the sensations coursing


    ???


    through his body, unwilling to distract himself withforting. Thssa. He had experienced a simr pain the day before but had recovered quickly. He hoped today would be no different.


    Reluctantly, Thssa loosened her grip on Lysander, heart aching as she felt utterly helpless. She covered her mouth to stifle her sobs and obediently returned to the bed.


    Lysander''s words had been calm yet authoritative, leaving Thssa no choice but toply. Lysander was alwaysposed and wise; if he said he didn''t need help, it meant he truly didn''t want it.


    And with her worry clouding her judgment, Thssa knew she couldn''t be of any real assistance. All she could do was watch Lysander endure the pain silently, careful not to disturb him, her tears falling freely.


    She feared that Lysander''s leg might have only temporarily improved, only to deteriorate again, possibly leaving him unable to walk.

 Chapter 1962

    Chapter 1962


    ?


    Thssa was gripped by fear, yet she dared not make any rash moves. After all, Lysander had made it clear: this was not her battle to fight. Moreover, she was at a loss on how to aid Lysander, leaving her no choice but to step back.


    As seconds ticked by, Thssa watched Lysander crouched on the ground, his face twisted in pain, unable to move. Her heart tightened with each passing moment.Content is ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org.


    Unable to stand by any longer, she was about to step forward to help Lysander when she saw him push against the ground, slowly rising to his feet.


    Lysander''s leg, just like the day before, was temporarily in pain, preventing him from standing. But as the sharp pain subsided, he was back to normal.


    Lysander walked over to Thssa, who was looking up at him with tears in her eyes, those bright, clear eyes full of sorrow and worry.


    Lysander reached out, gently ruffling her hair with a deep, soothing voice, still hoarse from the pain, "It''s okay, don''t worry."


    "Are you sure? Maybe we should call Lydia or Dr. Funke. He''s got a lot of experience."


    Thssa couldn''t shake her concern. Yesterday''s worries were now magnified by seeing Lysander in such agony, her heart was in knots.


    "It''s fine, I know my own body." Lysander continued to reassure Thssa.


    He believed that even if Lydia or Dr. Funke were toe, it wouldn''t make a difference. His leg''s paralysis wasn''t due to any physiological issue but a psychological one.


    His sudden recovery was spurred by Callum''s provocation, the emotional and physical pain somehow triggering his nerves to function, allowing him to stand.


    Hence, he reasoned, full recovery would ultimately depend on himself.


    "But..." Thssa was still worried.


    "Hey, it''s all good. Can you walk? If we don''t head to the registry office soon, they''ll be closed." Lysander changed the subject, not wanting Thssa to fret.


    "Okay, let''s go to the registry office." Thssa stood up, wiping away her tears, feeling a twinge in her foot as she walked.


    She went to the wardrobe to pick out a set of clothes she liked and was about to head to the dressing room to change when a thought suddenly struck her.


    Turning back to Lysander, she asked, "My household register is in Hollowbrook. Do we have time to fetch it?"


    Lysander nced at her limping foot, then tenderly met her gaze, "Going to Hollowbrook and back, we''d miss the registry office''s closing time. How about we wait? Once your foot is better, there''s no rush." Content belongs to


    Thssa felt a pang of disappointment. They had been so close to officially bing husband and wife today.


    But considering Lysander''s difficulty in standing just moments ago, she was more concerned about his health.


    She agreed to his suggestion, "Alright, we''ll go get marriedter. But you really should have a doctor check your leg." "Let''s see how it goes in a few days." Lysander suggested.


    "Okay." Thssa agreed.


    "Then I''m off to the office. Can you manage on your own at home?" Lysander nced at his watch. There was still time to make it to a meeting.


    "Of course, I be fine. Just make


    sure you get some rest too, bnce work with rxation." Thssa was worried about leaving Lysander, wishing she could stay by his side but knowing she''d only be a burden.


    His focus would be split between work and caring for her.


    Without her there, he could concentrate on his work.


    "Got it." Lysander ruffled Thssa''s hair again, helped her back to the bed, and instructed, "You need to rest that foot, no wandering around. I''ll have the housekeeper bring you something to eat."


    Nodding obediently, Thssa watched as Lysander finally left the room.

 Chapter 1963

    Chapter 1963


    ?


    Hertha''s workday was dragging, unusually dull without a spark of design inspiration. Even worse, her gossip buddy Thssa wasn''t around to lighten the mood.


    But then she remembered what Thssa had mentioned yesterday - she was going to the city hall with Lysander to get their marriage license today. That thought alone sent Hertha''s curiosity into overdrive. She was dying to know how things were going, whether Thssa and Lysander had made it official yet.


    All morning, Hertha kept ncing at the clock, itching to reach out to Thssa but worried about interrupting her big day with Lysander. What if they were in the middle of their appointment? A call from her could be a real hassle for them.


    After what felt like an eternity, noon finally rolled around - lunchtime and, more importantly, a safe time to call without risking any interruption to Thssa and Lysander''s ns. The moment the clock struck twelve, Hertha was on her phone, dialing Thssa''s number with barely contained excitement.This text is property of N?/velD/rama.Org.


    "Sorry, the number you have dialed is switched off." The impersonal voice on the other end was quick to respond.


    "What the heck?" Hertha muttered, pulling the phone away to stare at the screen in disbelief. The call had ended. This threw Hertha into a state of chaos - this was exactly what happened yesterday when she tried calling Thssa, leading to the shocking discovery that Thssa had been kidnapped!


    And now, the same scenario was ying out again? Could Thssa have gotten into trouble once more? Anxiety and worry took over, making Hertha feel like a thousand ants were crawling under her skin.


    She had to inform Lysander. Without hesitation, Hertha dialed Lysander''s number.


    The phone rang for what seemed like ages until Lysander''s voice, cold and detached as ever, finally answered. His tone never warmed up for anyone, except maybe Thssa.


    Hertha, driven by her concern, blurted out, "Thssa''s phone is off again. Is she in trouble?"


    "Why the panic?" Lysander retorted.


    "Are you kidding me? She''s my best friend, and her phone''s off. Shouldn''t you be worried too? Why do you sound like my concern is unwarranted?"


    Hertha''s frustration got the better of


    her, and she snapped at Lysander


    before she could stop herself.


    Realizing she might have


    overstepped, she quickly tried


    l


    backpedal, apologizing and trying to


    exin her worries. Content belongs


    to NovelDrama.Org


    "Her phone hasn''t been recovered yet; it being off is normal. She''s resting at home, no need to worry," Lysander interjected with his usual calm.


    As Hertha was apologizing, Lysander''s smooth voice cut through her panic.


    "Oh, good. But did you two manage to...?" She trailed off, trying to dig for some gossip.


    "Hello? Hello?"


    Relieved that Thssa was safe but


    Ine


    her curiosity about the marriage license still burning, Hertha was about to press for more details when the call abruptly ended.


    With her curiosity now raging like an unquenchable fire, Hertha realized there was


    more only one way to find out


    more- she had to visit Thssa herself.

 Chapter 1964

    Chapter 1964


    ?


    Hertha quickly slung her bag over her shoulder, shoved her phone inside, and prepared to head out to Royal Estates to find Thssa! She wanted to see if Thssa had gone through with the marriage. If so, she was dying to get a glimpse of what their marriage certificate looked like.


    Hertha, full of energy, had just left her office when she spotted a hunk walking towards her from across the street! The guy was dressed in a beige suit, his face so enchantingly beautiful it could put women to shame. Especially those mesmerizing, fox-like eyes of his-they seemed to captivate souls with just one nce. With his hands casually tucked in his pockets, he had that bad-boy charm about him. Smiling, he approached Hertha, "Hey Hertha, fancy bumping into you here. Just got off work? How about we grab some dinner together?"


    Hearing the man''s cheeky voice snapped Hertha back to reality, and she rolled her eyes at him, "Move it, I don''t have time for your games." She brushed past him and kept walking.


    ric followed closely behind: "Where are you headed? Let me give you a lift."


    "I''ve got my own ride, thanks." Hertha didn''t even turn back to reply.


    "Come on, driving alone is so boring. It''s the conversations that make the journey. That''s what life''s all about," ric kept up with Hertha, smiling, refusing to leave her side.


    Stopping in her tracks, Hertha turned around to confront him, "You think you know what life is about? The party scene is always waiting for you with open arms. That''s where you belong, not in the doorway of a mundane life!" With that, Hertha turned and walked away.


    "Hey, Hertha, wait up!" ric hurried to keep pace with her. "I''ve changed, really. I want to be part of that mundane life now," ric pleaded, trying to show his determination.


    Back when Hertha was chasing after him, he used to give her the cold shoulder, always mocking her. But now, the tables had turned. He was the one following Hertha around, and she couldn''t care less. ric never believed in karma, but now he was a firm believer.


    Hertha


    the dached her car, opened Ched her car, opened


    I got in. The passenger


    door opened, and ric hopped in.


    Hertha red at ric, "Didn''t I tell you to leave? How thick is your skin?"


    "Got to have a thick skin to survive the party scene, right?" ric kept his signature smirk.


    Hertha exhaled a frustrated breath, at a loss for words with ric.N?velDrama.Org copyrighted ? content.


    "Fine, where to?" She didn''t want to waste her breath arguing and decided to just drive him.


    "Wherever you''re going, I''m going," ric replied, buckling up.


    Hertha realized he was dead set on sticking around.


    "I''m headed to Royal Estates. You in?" Hertha said, obviously annoyed.


    "Perfect. I was nning to visit my buddy Lysander there anyway," ric replied, giving Hertha a grin. His smile was so fake and s? irritating.


    If it weren''t for the fact that she was sitting in the car, buckled in, she would have punched him. Punched that ridiculously handsome face into oblivion, made him unrecognizable even to his own parents! How did she ever fall for that face, foolishly handing over her heart,pletely ensnared?

 Chapter 1965

    Chapter 1965


    ?


    Being obsessed with looks and crushes is a killer, man.


    Hertha bit her tongue, reminding herself that this was just the price she had to pay for her youthful follies.


    "Alright then, I''m a quick driver," Hertha informed with a brief nod before starting the car and elerating away. "Whoa!" ric was jolted by the sudden movement, hastily grabbing the seatbelt as he let out a sound of surprise.


    "Hertha, it''s a real shame you''re not a race car driver," ric teased her.


    "What''s it to you whether I be a race car driver or not!" Hertha was full ofints and didn''t want to engage in a proper conversation with him.


    "I was just joking, why so serious?" ric chuckled mischievously.


    "ric, spit it out, what do you really want?" Hertha questioned him while she drove.


    She was done beating around the bush with him.


    He was clearly there with a purpose today, yet all he did was joke around without getting to the point.


    "I''m here to propose marriage, what do you say?" ric turned to look at Hertha''s profile, a yful smile on his lips, but his eyes were intense and serious.


    A lot of true feelings are often expressed in jest.


    "Marry your foot! ric, have you lost your mind? Forgot what I told you before?" Hertha couldn''t help but curse.


    Just hearing ric mention marriage made her heart race, filling her with a bizarre urge tosh out.


    She couldn''t tell if it was out of sheer rejection or curiosity to see what a marriage certificate looked like.


    "What you told me, I really don''t remember," ric winked at Hertha, ying dumb.


    Just then, Hertha turned her head and caught ric winking at her, those fox-like eyes attempting to charm.


    He was handsome enough without trying, his smile naturally captivating. But now, he was deliberately trying to electrify her!


    Hertha''s heart instantly raced at a hundred and eighty miles per hour, flustered and tingling with a shocking sensation.


    Which made her foot press down harder on the gas pedal!


    The car suddenly shot forward.


    "Hertha, brake!" ric gripped the seatbelt tighter, shouting in rm.


    But it was toote, the car surged forward and crashed into the rear of the car in front.


    "Ah!" Hertha was petrified, her other


    foot frantically hitting the brake,


    Luckily before things got worse, the brake took effect, and the cancame to a ha Content belongs to


    Everything stood still.


    Hertha breathed rapidly, clutching the steering wheel tightly.


    The driver''s door of the car in front opened, and the driver, a burly man, stormed over to Hertha''s side, banging on the window, furiously demanding, "Get out! How the Kell do you drive? You nearly knocked my soul out of me! Get out, now!"


    The guy was huge and intimidating.


    It was clearly Hertha''s fault. She turned to ric, panic-stricken, "What do we do, what do we do? If I go out, is he going to tear me limb from limb?"


    ric stroked his chin,


    contemting her with a thoughtful


    look, "Hmm, it''s very likely,


    considering you just wrecked his


    BMW''s rear end into a mess. Getting you limbs torn off would be getting off lightly."


    "What do we do then?" Hertha panicked.N?vel/Dr(a)ma.Org - Content owner.

 Chapter 1966

    Chapter 1966


    ?


    ric rubbed his chin, looking mischievously at ease, "Beg me,e on, beg me, and I''ll tell you what to do."


    Hertha, who had been frantic just a moment ago, puffed up her cheeks in anger at his words, "ric!"


    "Alright, alright, I''ll stop teasing. You just sit tight in the car, I''ll handle this." Seeing Hertha truly about to lose her temper, ric quickly admitted his mistake.


    With that, he opened the car door and stepped out, moving around to the driver''s side with the swagger of a well-to-do young man. He addressed the burly man, "Enough with the fuss, so I bumped your car, so what?"


    "What kind of attitude is that? Look what you''ve done to my car!" The man was menacing, pointing at the rear of his battered car and ring angrily. ric calmly pulled out a tinum card from his pocket, pinching it between two fingers and handing it to the irate man, "Here, a BMW service center tinum card. Don''t worry about fixing your car. Heck, you could give it a full makeover and it wouldn''t be a problem."


    The man''s eyes lit up at the sight of the card in ric''s hand, his demeanor instantly bing friendly, "Oh, a regr at the BMW shop, I see. Sorry, I was too harsh just now."


    As the man apologized, he eagerly took the tinum card from ric.


    "Alright, your car still runs. Just drive it straight to the service center," ric told him.


    "Okay, okay, we''ll settle it like this then." The man, now holding the tinum card, happily walked away.


    He climbed into the battered BMW and drove off.


    Hertha, sitting in the car, witnessed the entire scene, her eyes wide with astonishment. It was incredible.


    ric had managed to resolve such a major traffic ident in just a few words.


    If it had been up to her, that burly man would have given her an earful, not to mention the money she''d have had to pay!


    A BMW, no less. That would have cost a pretty penny!


    Yet, ric had resolved the situation


    in just a few sentences, and she


    noticed the man leaving with


    n


    attitude, chatting andughing with


    ric. Content belongs to good


    ¨¦n.swnovels


    e


    .n


    Just as Hertha was lost in thought, someone tapped on the window. She turned her head to see ric''s handsome face almost pressed against the ss, smiling and gesturing for her to roll down the window.


    Realizing what he meant, Hertha rolled down the window.


    "Can you


    drive your car?" ric asked.


    "I''ll try." Hertha, a bit slow on the uptake, remembered that her car was blocking traffic.


    She started the engine, intending to


    drive away. The engine roared to dife,Content is ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org.


    but


    n she pressed the dife,


    clutch, the


    move. Content belongs to


    Hertha looked out at ric in a panic, "It''s broken, the car won''t start, what do we do?"


    "Then get out," ric said, unfazed.


    With no other choice, Hertha turned off the engine, unbuckled her seatbelt, and got out of the car.


    Only then did she notice the long line of traffic that had built up behind them.


    Many drivers, growing impatient, were honking incessantly.


    The sound of the horns seemed to echo in Hertha''s heart, amplifying her panic.


    She quickly took out her phone to call a tow truck service.


    Before she could dial, ric snatched the phone from her hand.


    Hertha instinctively reached for her phone, "Hey, what are you doing!"

 Chapter 1967

    Chapter 1967


    ?


    ric held the phone high above his head, just out of Hertha''s reach. Seeing the frustration on her face, ric remained cool as a cucumber, a mischievous grin ying on his lips. "Chill out, will you? Just stand back and let me handle this."


    "Stand back? ric, have you lost your mind?" Hertha couldn''t believe her ears. It was her car and her mess to deal with. What did he mean by telling her to stand back?


    ric ignored her for a moment, pulling out his own phone to make a call. "Yeah, it''s down by Dream Street. Hurry up, we need this car towed." Once the call ended, Hertha scoffed, "Wow, I thought you had some master n. But you just called a tow truck, didn''t you?"


    ric''s smile widened, "Well, the tow service I called is not quite the same as the one you''d call."


    Hertha''s curiosity was piqued. "How so?"


    "You''d have to pay out of your pocket for a tow service. The one I called? They''ll be paying us." With that, ric tossed Hertha''s phone back to her.


    Hertha, caught off guard, managed to catch her phone just in time. That could have ended in a costly disaster.


    Her curiosity turned to skepticism as she eyed ric, "What kind of service did you call that they''d actually pay us instead?"


    "If only it were that easy!" she quipped.N?velDrama.Org copyrighted ? content.


    "Let''s not worry about that. We''re hailing a cab to Royal Estates," ric said with a yful smirk, gesturing for her to follow him to the roadside. Hertha was utterly baffled but followed, calling out, "Hey, ric, aren''t you going to wait for the tow truck?"


    "No need. They know what to do," came ric''s voice, floating back to her.


    Hertha quickened her pace to catch up, peering up at him, "Seriously, what service did you call? I''ve never heard of such a thing where they tow your car, don''t charge you, and then pay you on top of it."


    "The less you worry, the better. Just wait for the money," ric teased, clearly enjoying holding back the information.


    The more he withheld details, the more Hertha''s curiosity grew. "No way, you have to tell me. It''s like there''s an itch I can''t scratch."


    "I said no," ric responded, his own amusement growing with her frustration.


    Seeing her so eager and curious brought a genuine smile to ric''s face. It had been a while since he''d seen Hertha this animated and adorable.


    "Oh, you won''t tell? Fine, I''ll find out myself!" Hertha huffed, and in a bold move, she reached into ric''s pocket, where he had just stashed his phone.


    As her hand made contact, a warm


    rush spread from the back of her


    hand to her palm, creating a tingling


    ?


    sensation that seemed to spark something between them.


    Her hand froze.


    And Hertha''s cool touch, through the thin fabric of ric''s jeans, ignited a primitive urge within him. His body reacted instinctively...


    Initially, Hertha thought she had


    e2


    grabbed a second phone, but as the


    realization dawned on her, shee


    gasped, her eyes widening as she


    looked up at ric in shock.

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    Chapter 1968


    ?


    At that moment, ric''s gaze was fixed on her, and in an instant, their eyes met.


    An invisible current seemed to spark between their gazes, igniting a palpable tension in the air.


    Hertha''s heart, once brimming with curiosity, now throbbed wildly with a scorching heat.


    And ric, gazing into Hertha''s big, luminous eyes, felt a strange flutter in his heart.


    Most crucially, Hertha''s hand rested in his pocket, its cool touch against his thigh through the thin fabric, stirring a response he was struggling to control.


    Looking at Hertha before him, he felt intoxicated by her presence, his gaze slightly dazed, his mouth dry, his lips inching closer to hers. Frozen in ce, Hertha stood there, forgetting to withdraw her hand from his pocket.


    With wide eyes, she watched as ric''s face drew closer, his handsome features illuminated, his soft stubble glinting in the sunlight. His breath, tinged with a familiar, mild mint scent, brushed against her face.


    Hertha''s heartbeat quickened, her breathing shallow, her body''s reaction prompting her to close her eyes in anticipation of his kiss...


    She felt the warmth of his lips, his breath hot upon hers, just a second away from a kiss...


    "Beep beep!"


    "Who''s car is that, blocking the road? Move it!"


    The impatient honking and cursing from the road snapped Hertha back to reality.


    She opened her eyes to find ric''s face inches away, his lips about to meet hers.


    Quickly turning her head, she grabbed his phone and made a swift escape.


    ric, left


    see


    runniha with his phone in hande


    runni ssing the air, turned to


    away like a rabbit, frantically


    trying to unlock it. Content belongs


    to


    SWI


    Seeing her sly escape, a tender smile crept across ric''s lips.


    Hertha was determined to find out whom ric had been calling.


    She tried unlocking his phone with a random guess, 123456, but no luck.


    Surprised, she realized ric had seriously set a password.


    Could it be his birthday?


    About to try his birthdate, she paused, realizing she didn''t know ric''s birthday.


    Embarrassingly, despite her long


    crush, she had focused solely on his


    swno?


    out learning much about


    him. Content is ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org.


    Not even his birthday.


    vel


    Deciding to try her own birthday, since any random guess was as good as the next, she quickly entered it, and to her astonishment, the phone unlocked!


    Hertha was shocked. "Holy cow, it actually worked!"


    ric''s phone password was her birthday!


    When had she ever mentioned her birthday to ric?

 Chapter 1969

    Chapter 1969


    ?


    She never told ric her birthday, did she? And ric never celebrated it with her either.


    So, how on earth did he know her birthday?


    Wait, that''s not even the main issue. The real question is, why would he use her birthday as his phone''s passcode?


    This guy must be nuts!


    Hertha was bbergasted as she scrolled through the call log, her eyes nearly popping out when she saw the top entry-a junkyard!


    No way!


    The number ric had called was for a junkyard!


    Was he nning to sell her car as scrap?


    "What''s with the bug eyes? You''d think you stumbled upon some earth-shattering news," ric quipped as he leaned in closer, just as Hertha was reeling from her discovery.


    Snapping back to reality, Hertha lifted her phone to chuck it at him, each word seething through clenched teeth, "ric, are you freaking out of your mind?!"


    Quick as a sh, ric caught the iing phone, thankful it smashed into his palm and not his face. Had he not anticipated her throw, he''d be nursing a facial injury by now.


    ric couldn''t help but chuckle, "Could you maybe aim somewhere other than the face next time? I mean,e on, this handsome mug of mine isn''t easily receable."


    "It''s exactly your face I was aiming for! ric, don''t think just because you''re good-looking, you can do whatever you please! Not only do you bail after hooking up, now you''re trying to sell my car! What does my car have to do with you, huh?"


    Hertha was fuming, her chest heaving with anger as she confronted him.


    "I never said I wouldn''t take responsibility. But you''re the one pushing me away," ric retorted with an innocent shrug.


    Hertha was livid, steam practicallying out of her ears, "Can you not be such a jerk for once? I''m talking about my car here!"Content is ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org.


    "But you brought up the hookup," ric pointed out, touching his nose as if he was making a valid point.


    Hertha felt a surge of frustration, stuck in her throat, unable to vent or swallow. She was on the verge of exploding!


    This guy, discussing such matters in public without a shred of shame!


    He might not care about his reputation, but she did.


    Cautiously ncing around to make sure no one was paying attention to them, Hertha''s anger subsided a bit. She moved closer to ric, teeth gritted, "Shut up! Call them back and tell them not toe for the scrap!"


    "Why? They''re probably halfway here by now," ric replied, puzzled, indicating it was toote to call them off now.


    "That''s my car, what right do you have to sell it?" Hertha spat out angrily.


    "Look, your car was due for a


    change. Three years ago, I


    rear-ended you, and it got a major overhaul Then, you had that


    ident, smashing it up pretty


    good And now, you''ve rear-ended someone else, the front''s all Banged up, and it won''t even start. Is it even worth fixing?"


    ric tried to reason with her.


    "I don''t care, I love fixing it up, it''s none of your business!" Hertha snapped, her breathsing in hot.


    "Okay, okay, calm down. If there''s nothing pressing at Royal Estates, how about we go car shopping?" ric said, wrapping his arm around Hertha''s shoulder, steering her away.


    "Car shopping for what?" Hertha was still not over it, and ric, unapologetically acting as if it were all settled, was not making it any better.


    She tried to shrug off ric''s arm, but he clung to her, refusing to let go.


    "Let''s pick out a new car for you. Whatever catches your eye, I''ll buy it for your Consider it making up for selling your old one," ric exined, nning to surprise Hertha with a new car today.

 Chapter 1970

    Chapter 1970


    ?


    Hertha thought she must have misheard. She couldn''t even be bothered to shrug off ric''s hand resting on her shoulder, her eyes wide with curiosity as she stared at his strikingly handsome profile. "What did you just say?"


    "I said, pick any car you like, and I''ll pay for it. Don''t be shy!" Noticing Hertha''s excitement, ric proudly ran his index finger lightly across her cheek.


    Hertha swatted his hand away, annoyed. "Stop that, acting like you''re rolling in cash all of a sudden. Come on, how much money do you even have in your ount? You say I can have any car I want, but can you actually afford a Ferrari?"


    In Hertha''s eyes, ric was nothing but a down-and-out rich boy, kicked out and cut off by his family!


    She couldn''t believe that Angelina, after kicking ric out, wouldn''t freeze his bank ounts!


    From what Hertha knew about Angelina, to force ric into submission, she would surely cut off all his financial resources. That way, ric would have no choice but to crawl back and marry Georgia as nned.


    "Hey, Hertha, do I really seem that pathetic to you? I can afford a car," ric said, pinching Hertha''s cheek gently.


    There was a domineering yet doting quality to his action.


    To anyone looking on, it would seem incredibly sweet.


    Remembering how close they had been to a kiss just moments earlier, and now with his affectionate gesture, Hertha''s heart skipped a beat uncontrobly.


    Her cheeks flushed with a slight red hue.


    Perhaps it was fear, the fear of her own heart getting flustered, that made Hertha hastily push ric''s hand away.


    "Stop touching me, who said you could pinch my cheeks?" As soon as she finished speaking and realized ric''s arm was still around her shoulder, Hertha pushed his arm away, visibly frustrated.


    "Just go buy the car yourself. I''m not going," Hertha said, turning away and walking in the opposite direction.


    She hadn''t taken more than a few steps before ric pulled her back. "Why should I go buy a car by myself if it''s for you?"


    Hertha shook him off, not daring to look back. "That''s your problem, not mine."


    She had finally made up her mind that she would no longer have anything to do with ric.


    She couldn''t let ric''s flirtations confuse her.


    "Hertha, you said it yourself, I''m the father of our kids, I can see them whenever I want. Why are you going back on your word now?" belongs to NovelDrama.Org


    wontent


    ric grabbed hold of Hertha''s sleeve, refusing to let her go.


    He was getting anxious now.N?velDrama.Org copyrighted ? content.


    bil?


    He had thought buying her a car was a simple thing, but Hertha''s attitude was tougher than a rock in a cesspool; she waspletely indifferent to his offer. Content


    belongs to NovelDrama.Org


    "I never said you weren''t the kids'' father," Hertha responded as she continued to walk away from him.


    "Why don''t you want my car, then?" ric was genuinely puzzled.


    He followed Hertha, his face shifting from a mischievous smile to a frown.


    In the past, whenever he mentioned buying a car for a woman, they would be over the moon, grinning from ear to ear.


    He had assumed Hertha would react the same way.


    After all, didn''t Hertha immediately ept the two million Angelina offered her without a second thought?


    Hertha suddenly stopped and turned around, ring at him irritably. "What does you being the kids'' father have to do with me not wanting your car? It''s the same


    you being the father has al


    to


    do with whether I want you or not!"


    She couldn''t understand ric''s logic at all.


    Hertha''s blunt words hit ric hard, causing a pang of pain in his heart.


    Hertha didn''t want him, so naturally, she didn''t want his car either.

 Chapter 1971

    Chapter 1971


    ?


    Watching Hertha with those clear, unadulterated eyes full of straightforward honesty, ric found himself reconsidering the value of wealth for the first time in his life. He had always operated under the belief that there was no problem money couldn''t solve; if there was, it simply meant not enough money had been offered. But Hertha''s attitude shattered that notion.


    "Whether or not you want me has nothing to do with whether or not you want a car. Don''t mix the two," ric said, his tone now sincere and devoid of any previous air of superiority.


    He genuinely wanted to gift Hertha a new car. The one she had been driving for years was an old stick shift, its performance deteriorating to the point of being nearly scrap-worthy. Considering Hertha''s safety, ric wished to offer her a modern, reliable vehicle, one less prone to causing idents. After several scary incidents on the road involving Hertha, ric was genuinely afraid.


    Hertha studied ric''s expression closely. His eyes, narrow and earnest, seemed to plead with her to ept his offer. His helpless yet honest look didn''t seem fake.


    "Do you really want to give me a car?" Hertha asked, still slightly skeptical.


    "Absolutely," ric quickly responded. "You''re the mother of my children. I can''t bear the thought of them losing you to some car ident because of that old clunker."


    His confession revealed his trueThis text is property of N?/velD/rama.Org.


    concerns. He could only justify his offer by invoking concern for their children, not daring to admit his fear of losing her himself. Despite her initial resistance, Hertha''s heart softened at his words. Her round eyes twinkled mischievously as she grinned and asked, "So, are you taking me to the dealership?"


    "I..." ric, ready to persuade her further, stopped mid-sentence, realizing she had already changed her mind. His dejected expression instantly brightened, and he said, "Let''s head to the Maserati dealership!"


    With that, he grabbed Hertha by the hand, changing their course.


    "I was just kidding. How could I actually ask for a Maserati?" Herthaughed. A Maserati, with its steep price tag, was far beyond a simple request. But she had a point. If Afaric was concerned enough about Ker safety to offer her a car, she saw no reason to refuse. "He''s right. I am Julian and Helena''s mother. What would happen to them if something happened to me?"


    The thought of her children being left motherless, like driftwood in the ocean, was unbearable. As their father, ric had a duty to ensure her safety. "If he wants to gift me a car, I have no reason to refuse," she thought.


    "But I do want to gift you a Maserati," ric insisted, holding her hand firmly, his tone serious. Lost in thought about what car she might


    want, Hertha barely noticed the ghet


    intimate gesture between them. ric''s grip was tight, as if afraid of losing her, yet she didn''t pull away.


    After a moment of contemtion, she lit up, "Actually, let''s check out the BMW dealership. I''ve always had a soft spot for BMWs."

 Chapter 1972

    Chapter 1972


    ?


    "Do you actually like BMWs?" ric asked seriously. He was buying a car for Hertha; it had to be something she liked.Content is ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org.


    "Yeah, of course, I do. Let''s go check some out," Hertha said, taking the initiative and grabbing ric''s hand as they moved forward. There was a BMW dealership nearby that Hertha often passed by, so she knew exactly where it was.


    It wasn''t that she was head-over-heels for BMWs; it was just that they offered good value for money, with prices starting in the tens of thousands, and they performed well too. Even if Hertha wanted to make ric pay through the nose, she wouldn''t bleed him dry all at once, making him shell out millions. After all, she did have a conscience. ric had recently cut ties with the Falconer family, and who knew how much money he had in his pocket?


    Upon arriving at the dealership, a salesperson greeted them enthusiastically. "Sir, ma''am, what kind of car are you interested in? I can help you find what you''re looking for," the salesperson said, wanting to know their budget and the type of car they had in mind to make rmendations easier. ric, with his bold demeanor, said, "Show us the best car you''ve got."


    "Right this way, please..." the salesperson quickly found direction, gesturing for Hertha and ric to follow. Hertha gave the salesperson an apologetic smile and said, "Sorry, we need a moment to discuss."


    She pulled ric aside, lowering her voice, "You do know BMWs can be super expensive, right? The top models cost millions."


    ric matter-of-factly replied, "Of course, buying a car means spending millions. What''s the point otherwise?"


    Hertha frowned, smacking ric


    lightly on the head, "You think you''re still thatvish rich kid? Real life isn''t about showing off or luxury. Don''t you get it?" ric rubbed the spot where she''d hit him, which was actually quite sore.


    Truth be told, he didn''t quite grasp what Hertha meant. Was there a necessary connection between life andpetition? In his view, buying a car meant going for something expensive; otherwise, it wasn''t worth driving. Content belongs to


    Before ric could share his thoughts, Hertha had already returned to the salesperson, politely saying, "We''re looking at something around $30,000. Can you show us cars in that price range?"


    "Of course, ma''am, right this way," the salesperson remained as enthusiastic and polite as before.


    Following the salesperson, Hertha


    made her choice after half an hour, settling on a red BMW. Without insurance and extras, it came to


    pleased, not just with the c


    exactly $30,000. Hertha was


    but


    also with the model. Being a BMW, it had plenty of space, making it feel less ustrophobic.


    "This is the one. Let''s make the payment!" Hertha decided.


    Seeing the price, ric thought it was a bit harsh on Hertha to only spend $30,000.

 Chapter 1973

    Chapter 1973


    ?


    "Really? This one?" ric hesitated, eyeing the sleek car in front of him.


    "Absolutely, I told you, this is the one. Are you buying or what?" Hertha snapped, mistaking his hesitation for reluctance to pay.


    "Buying, buying, I''m on it," ric hurried, pulling out his credit card and following the salesperson to the cashier.


    He had nned to splurge on something more expensive, but he almost upset her with his indecision. This was not the moment to waver.


    ric paid in full without a second thought.


    Turning to Hertha with a grin, he teased, "I heard that when a woman tries to save a man money, it''s because she sees a future with him. Hertha, are you...?"


    "Cut that smug smile. I''m just avoiding future debts," Hertha rolled her eyes at him.N?velDrama.Org copyrighted ? content.


    "Sir, ma''am, your car is ready to be taken home now," the salesperson, beaming with professional joy, handed Hertha the receipt.


    This was perhaps the quickest sale the salesperson had ever made a whopping $40,000 in one go, marking a sessful day''s work. Taking the receipt from the salesperson, Hertha walked towards the shining red Mustang, ready to slide into the driver''s seat.


    Not far off, a mocking voice broke the air, "Well, if it isn''t Hertha? A middle-ss girl dreaming of a Mustang. I bet the salesperson thought they''d wasted their time."


    The voice was unmistakably snide. Hertha turned to see Georgia, her face gaunt as if sculpted from bone, her borate makeup doing little to hide her disdain.


    Georgia was arm-in-arm with another woman, evidently from a wealthy background, judging by her haughty gaze.


    As Hertha reached for the car door,


    Georgia''s words made her pause. Instead, she brandished the sales receipt in Georgia''s face, a cold smile ying on her lips. "See this? I bought it. The middle-ss girl you look down on just bought what you consider a luxury. Looks like I''ve taken the salesperson''s quota for the day. How does that feel?"


    The salesperson, quick to catch the awkward moment, approached with a restrained smile, addressing Georgia, "This customer just purchased a car from us."


    Georgia, caught off guard by


    Hertha''s actual purchase of a Mustang, retorted, "A Mustang, really? It''s just about $40,000. That''s barely more than my daily allowance. Still a pauper''s choice, I see"


    Hertha couldn''t help butugh at the absurdity.


    Herughter grew louder, hands on hips, as she couldn''t contain her amusement any longer.


    "What''s so funny?" Georgia snapped, visibly irked.


    "I''mughing at your ignorance," Hertha managed between chuckles. Just then, ric joined them.


    Catching his eye, Hertha pulled him


    close, standing united in front of Georgia. She yfully tapped his chest, "This car, bought with $40,000, she''s calling you a pauper for it. Makes me wonder why she''s so desperate to marry a ''pauper'' like you."


    ric''s gaze turned icy as he looked at Georgia.


    Georgia''s face fell, hastily correcting, "I was talking about Hertha, not you, ric. Don''t listen to her nonsense."


    Hertha, barely hiding her mockery, countered, "So, who was it again saying $40,000 was just daily pocket change, and only paupers buy cars worth that much?"

 Chapter 1974

    Chapter 1974


    ?


    Georgia looked up at the sky, feigning innocence, "Who said that? Certainly wasn''t me."


    Hertha scoffed, unimpressed by Georgia''s sudden transformation into the picture of obedience now that ric had arrived. Just moments ago, she was all high and mighty, but now, she was as meek as amb.


    Hertha''s gaze shifted to the woman next to Georgia, "Hey, beautiful, care to enlighten us on who was the jerk saying spending thirty grand on a car is a peasant move?"


    Georgia''s face turned a shade of green at Hertha''s insult, but with ric standing by Hertha''s side, she restrained herself from snapping back.


    Thest time ric was sick, and she, along with Angelina, visited him, it only ended up annoying ric.


    That visit even drove a wedge between her and Angelina.


    Till now, she was still figuring out how to get back into ric''s or Angelina''s good graces.


    Another embarrassment in front of ric, and she could kiss her image goodbye in his eyes.


    So, even with Hertha''s snide remarks, Georgia bit her tongue.


    "And how would I know who the jerk was?" The woman next to Georgia yed dumb too, deliberately avoiding eye contact with Hertha and ric.


    "Figures, birds of a feather flock together. A jerk always hangs out with jerks," Hertha muttered disdainfully.


    Deciding she had wasted enough time, Hertha let go of ric, intending to open her car door and leave the scene behind. Just as her hand touched the door handle, someone yanked it away, and a hand flew towards her face, aiming for a p. But Hertha wasn''t one to take hits lying down. Swiftly, she caught the iing hand and retaliated with a p of her own. "Georgia, you think you can hit me? In your dreams!" Hertha, realizing who had attempted to strike her, eximed in annoyance.


    Georgia, already at her limit after being insulted, had impulsively rushed at Hertha, hoping to teach her a lesson. Instead of hitting Hertha, she found herself on the receiving end of a p.


    Fuming and with bared teeth, Georgia looked ferocious as she lunged at Hertha, "Ah! You''re dead, I''ll kill you!" she screamed, like a mad lioness, ws outstretched towards Hertha.


    Hertha, caught off guard, braced for the imminent scratch, Georgia''s manicured nails sharp and ready.


    But just as her ws were inches from Hertha''s face, Georgia was suddenly yanked backward by the cor, her nails retracting as she stumbled.


    Furious and contorted with rage, Georgia turned, ready to unleash a torrent of insults on whoever had pulled her back.


    The sight of Ataric immediately


    halted her tirade. Her angry facade melted into one of grievance, tears welling up as she looked at ric, "ric, did you see that? She


    vel


    insulted me and hit me. My face, it


    must be ruined..." Content belongs


    to NovelDrama.Org


    At home, a simple cry, a few tears, and her parents would rush to console her, granting her every wish like she was their precious gem.This text is property of N?/velD/rama.Org.

 Chapter 1975

    Chapter 1975


    ?


    Georgia thought that tears were her ultimate weapon. In her mind, a few drops could manipte any situation to her favor.


    As soon as the words left her mouth, ric, visibly disgusted, pushed her away. His face hardened as he snapped, "Georgia, that''s rich, ying the victim now, are we? I saw you charging at Hertha, fists ready. She was just defending herself. A p was the least you deserved."


    ric, showing his distaste, shook his hands as if he had touched something filthy just by grabbing Georgia''s cor.


    Seeing his repulsed expression, Georgia''s suppressed anger bubbled up likeva, threatening to engulf her.


    Not only did ric push her away, but he also looked at her as if she was something he needed to wipe off his hands. How much more could he possibly despise her?


    Georgia was devastated. Yet, in front of ric, she couldn''t afford to be her usual haughty self. Her mother had warned her that if she didn''t tame her temper, she could kiss her dreams of being with ric goodbye.


    She needed to appear vulnerable in front of ric, to cry and make him feel sorry for her.N?velDrama.Org copyrighted ? content.


    Holding back her fury, Georgia let the tears fall freely, giving ric a pitiful look. "ric, I''m sorry. I was too impulsive. It''s okay if she insults me, but when she insulted my friend, I almost lost it. Can you forgive me just this once?"


    Her friends quickly rallied around her, offering their support.


    ric was taken aback by Georgia''s apology, her sudden show of submission.


    But no matter how she presented herself now, she couldn''t evoke even a shred of sympathy from him.


    ric nced at her coldly. "You realize your mistake, yet you''re still here? Get lost."


    Georgia''s pride was shattered. She trembled with silent rage, wanting to scream at ric for siding with Hertha over her.


    But her mother''s words echoed in her ears, keeping her anger at bay, even as she struggled to contain it.


    Continuing her charade, Georgia


    sobbed, "ric, why are you being so harsh? Remember, there''s a child between us. You''re his father.


    Imagine how scared he''d be seeing you treat me like this." Content


    belongs to NovelDrama.Org


    Hertha couldn''t stand it anymore. So Georgia was still ying her games.


    "Georgia, you dare bring up the child?" Hertha interjected.


    The child wasn''t even Georgia''s. She had hired an orphan from the local orphanage to y the part.


    ric, worried that Hertha would


    distance herself over the mention of the child-a ticking time bomb in their rtionship-quickly stepped between the two women.


    He sternly told Georgia, "I already told you to leave the kid with the Falconer family. I''m done with the Falconers."


    "Hey, ric, are you being serious right now?" Hertha tugged at his sleeve, incredulous at his implication that Georgia''s child was indeed his.


    ric, feeling guilty for hurting Hertha, nced at her sheepishly, "Hertha, let me exinter."


    Seeing ric soften slightly at the


    mention of the child, Georgia continued her act, "The child is sick,


    running a high fever. He''s been calling for his daddy in his sleep. Please, go see him..."

 Chapter 1976

    Chapter 1976


    ?


    The moment Hertha heard that Georgia was still using the kid card to reel ric in, she instantly bristled with irritation.


    Before ric could utter a word, Hertha marched right up to him, positioning herself squarely in front of him, arms crossed over her chest, and smirked at Georgia. "How do you manage to lie through your teeth without blinking an eye?"


    "What are you talking about? When have I ever lied?" Georgia feigned innocence, unaware that Hertha had already seen through her charade of hiring a child to y her son.


    She stood her ground against Hertha, seemingly confident.


    "You know exactly what I''m talking about. Is the kid even living with you? Is he sick, suffering from a fever, or some mental health issue? Do you even have a clue?" Hertha didn''t directly expose Georgia''s lies but watched her with a dismissive look, curious to see how far she would go.


    "My child? Of course, I know what''s wrong with him. He''s just got amon cold and a fever, tossing and turning in his sleep, calling out for his dad in his dreams. He''s so young and has never lived with his father; of course, he yearns for paternal love," Georgia retorted arrogantly, standing her ground.


    "That''s really something, isn''t it? The kid is sick, and you, the mother, instead of staying home and taking care of him, choose to gallivant around town with your fair-weather friends. It seems to me you don''t really care much about your child after all," Hertha chuckled.


    Georgia''s skin must be thick as a brick, still putting on an act.


    Did she really think she could fool everyone with her seamless lies?


    Georgia quickly nced at ric, worried his opinion of her might be swayed by Hertha''s words to think she didn''t care for her child.


    "I was at home with the child initially, but then a friend called me out to look at a car. Besides, the child has several nannies looking after him; there''s no way anything would be amiss. My presence at home doesn''t really make a difference," she hastily tried to prove her maternal concern, not wanting to appear as an irresponsible mother.


    After saying her piece, she anxiously checked ric''s reaction, dreading he might think less of her as a mother.


    "Whether you''re home or not doesn''t seem to matter to the kid, so my presence is equally unnecessary," ric said, his hand resting on Hertha''s shoulder, gently moving her behind him. His piercing gaze fixed on Georgia.


    Thest time he had a fever, lying on his deathbed, Georgia had the nerve to drag his mother to his ce, causing a scene and even attempting to dismiss the doctor treating him.


    Such a ruthless woman, with eyes only for herself, had long been abhorrent to ric.


    From the beginning, when his family tried to set him up with Georgia, he was utterly repulsed by her.


    The more he discovered about Georgia, the deeper his disdain grew.


    "ric, the child misses you..." Georgia looked at ric with tear-filled eyes, hoping her vulnerable side would sway him.


    Angelina had said ric had a soft heart; a little crying, a little coquettishness, could make him turn around.


    Georgia had always been too proud


    to y the damsel in distress before ric, thinking her family had offered him enough benefits. Were all those not enough to make ric seek reconciliation on his own?


    el


    §Ö


    Only after falling out with Angelina did Georgia truly panic, realizing no one from the Falconer family epted her, making it even harder for her to enter ric''s inner circle.


    After the fight with Angelina, Georgia regretted it immediately. She had tried to apologize and admit her faults.


    But Angelina remained indifferent.


    Georgia had her pride too. She thought she had taken the initiative to apologize, so why couldn''t Angelina give her another chance?


    Who did Angelina think she was, anyway? Just an ex-daughter-inw of the Falconer family, and yet she had the audacity to snub Georgia. She had extended an olive branch, and yet it was rejected! This text is property of N?/velD/rama.Org.


    Frustrated, Georgia stewed at home for days. Today, her friends hade over, suggesting they go out to clear her mind and lift her spirits.

 Chapter 1977

    Chapter 1977


    ?


    Content is ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org.


    She had just stepped out with her friends for a bit of window shopping.


    Little did she expect that the moment they strolled into the luxury car dealership, she''d bump into ric and Hertha! What really set Georgia off was seeing ric buying Hertha a car! Why the hell was he buying Hertha a car?


    His money had her family''s fingerprints all over it. Why was he spending it on Hertha?


    The rage within Georgia was a wildfire, simmering at her core, constantly suppressed by her own efforts.


    Without Angelina''s support, Georgia resorted to ying the damsel in distress¡ªa tactic she had previously scorned. But harsh reality forced her hand.


    "Georgia, ying the innocent flower doesn''t suit you. Just be your usual self. Your attempt at squeezing out tears is giving me the creeps," ric called her out directly.


    The anger Georgia had been suppressing red up, impossible to hold back any longer.


    The pitiful facade vanished in an instant, reced by a snarling visage as she pointed at ric, "ric, what the hell gives you the right to buy that tramp Hertha a car! Every penny you spendes from my family''s generosity. How dare you take our money and spend it on some floozy without even consulting us?"


    Georgia was used to getting her way, and bottling up her frustration was driving her mad.


    Having barely contained her anger for a few minutes, she was on the verge of losing it.


    Now exposed by ric, she dropped the act andunched into a tirade, spitting venom and baring her teeth like a fishwife at a street brawl.


    ric was taken aback, not expecting Georgia to flip so quickly.


    He was well-acquainted with Georgia''s unreasonable behavior, herck of respect for him in any situation.


    However, Georgia had always


    maintained a certain decorum, even in her most spoiled moments, never quite descending to the level of a shrew.


    Her rapid transformation, once again,pletely shifted ric''s perception of her.


    He had underestimated Georgia, thinking her merely a spoiled brat.


    Now, he saw her for what she truly was: a vicious woman with no ss at all.


    ric''s expression darkened, no longer concerned with maintaining appearances in front of Georgia''s fury.


    "Your family''s affairs are with the


    cily. If you have i y dime I spend is ea


    family. If you have issue


    up


    with the Falconer family!


    I


    by me!"


    "Earned? What have you ever aplished? In all these years, have you ever made a single penny on your own? You''re nothing but a deadbeat, utterly ipetent! No wonder your cousin''s got you under his thumb!" Georgia spat out, breathless with fury.


    In her eyes, ric was beneath her, a wastrel with no real talent or substance.


    If not for his handsome face that had initially bewitched her, Georgia wouldn''t have given him the time of day.


    Her words were so harsh that even Hertha couldn''t stand to listen.


    "Hey, you..." She stepped forward, intending to defend ric.


    But with one step, ric pulled her behind him. Hertha looked up to see his face grim, his aura more menacing than ever before.

 Chapter 1978

    Chapter 1978


    ?


    ric locked eyes with Georgia, the weight of their shared history pressing down between them. He did not want Hertha caught in the crossfire of their feud.


    His face turned stormy, his gaze fierce and red-rimmed as he stared at Georgia. "So, what''s the big n, Georgia? Marrying me despite thinking I''m the bottom of the barrel. Seems like a raw deal to me. And since you''re so smitten with my cousin, well, he and Ms. Suttner haven''t tied the knot yet. You could still make a y for him!"


    Even in his anger, ric''s voice was steady, almost pleading for Georgia to back off.


    He was at his wit''s end with Georgia.


    As long as she left him alone, he was willing to swallow his pride.


    Hertha, standing beside ric, heard everything. Was he really pushing his cousin into the line of fire?


    Georgia was taken aback, struggling to process ric''s words.


    She had braced for a tempest, for ric tosh out with venomous words.


    Instead, he coolly suggested she chase after his cousin.


    Georgia was left speechless, all her prepared retorts suddenly irrelevant.


    "ric, you know full well your cousin and Ms. Suttner are engaged. Why would you suggest I go after him? What''s your angle?" Georgia demanded.


    "And I should ask you the same! You know my heart belongs to Hertha, yet you persist. Have you no pride?" ric''s tone grew harsher.N?vel/Dr(a)ma.Org - Content owner.


    He had once cared about maintaining a good rtionship between their families, but now, seen as nothing more than a leech in their eyes, what did he have to lose?


    "ric, I was engaged to you first!" Georgia cried, tears streaming down her face.


    "I never agreed to be with you. It was all our parents'' doing," ric rified the situation bluntly.


    "Why do you say you like her?" Georgia pointed at Hertha, her voice trembling.


    For the first time, ric openly admitted in front of both Hertha and Georgia that he liked Hertha.


    It was as if they were in a beauty contest, and ric, the judge, had chosen Hertha over Georgia without hesitation, dering Hertha the most beautiful and Georgia the runner-up.


    How could Georgia, pampered all her life, ept such a blow?


    Although Hertha''s focus was on the argument between ric and Georgia, hearing ric confess his feelings sparked her curiosity. She turned to look at ric, eager for his answer. Content belongs to


    ric said, "Liking someone doesn''t need a reason. Out of all the women I''ve dated, she''s the one I truly care about."


    He then pulled Hertha close, wrapping his arm around her shoulder, a possessive and intimate gesture.


    It was like publicly dering their rtionship in front of an audience.


    Georgia felt the impact of this


    disy, stumbling backward, tears flooding her face. Her earlier


    l


    attempts at seeming fragile, squeezing out sympathetic tears, couldn''tpare to the genuine heartbreak she felt now.


    Because these tears stemmed from genuine despair.


    ric''s words had never hurt her before, as she knew his rtionships with other women were just for show.


    But today, he openly admitted his true feelings for Hertha among all the women he''d been with.


    Against genuine affection, all other considerations seemed worthless.

 Chapter 1979

    Chapter 1979


    ?


    Georgia had never felt such crushing disappointment before.


    She wasn''t some spoiled heiress without a shred of dignity!


    The reason she had been so persistent with ric, wanting to marry him, was simply because he was the first man to ever spark that flutter in her heart.


    Some people, once you fall for them, letting go seems impossible.


    Since she was little, whatever she wanted, she would go to great lengths to get it. Toys were one thing, but people? How could she possibly let them go?


    The thought of not obtaining something ate at her¡ªit was her obsession, her stubbornness.


    She thought ric, just like any toy she had set her sights on before, would be hers if she just threw a tantrum; her parents would somehow make it happen.


    But now, she realized she was wrong.N?velDrama.Org copyrighted ? content.


    ric wasn''t like the toys she used to covet. He wasn''t something money could buy.


    The biggest difference between toys and people, she realized, was that people have hearts and can make their own choices, whereas toys can only be chosen by others.


    In that moment, Georgia faced the harsh reality, experiencing a setback like never before.


    Tears in her eyes, she stared at the two people sharing an intimate moment: "ric, you''ll regret this!"


    With gritted teeth, she spat out the words, turned, and quickly walked away.


    Her bewildered friend finally snapped out of it and hurried after her.


    Watching Georgia flee in defeat was incredibly satisfying for Hertha.


    Georgia had iting, and she deserved every bit of it.


    With a smirk ying on her lips, Hertha watched Georgia leave until she disappeared from sight. Her focus then snapped back to the present, realizing ric was still holding her in a hug, the kind only the closest couples share.


    Hertha spun around, breaking free from ric''s arms, and blinked rapidly, pointing at him, "Hey, back off. She''s gone. No need to keep up the act." ric frowned, "Who said I was acting?"


    "Weren''t you? Driving Georgia away was your real goal, wasn''t it?" Hertha said, looking away.


    "I actually like..."


    "Wait, you''re saying you''ve been using her family''s money?" Hertha cut him off before he could finish his confession, eyeing him suspiciously.


    "How could you think that? Ever


    since I left the Falconer household, I


    haven''t taken a dime with me. Every penny in my ount is from my own hard work," ric quickly


    rified, eager to prove his integrity.


    ¡°And you''ve been with the Crawley Group for how long? And yet you''re this rich?" Hertha looked him up and down skeptically.


    "That''s where you''re wrong. When I signed with the Crawley Group, they gave me a sign-on bonus of three million, plus a monthly sry," ric exined.


    "You signed a deal with the devil?" Hertha was stunned, as if she''d stumbled upon some major revtion.


    "It''s a standard executive package. The upfront cash is basically to ensure loyalty andmitment."


    "And you need that kind of assurance?" Hertha shot back.


    "It''s just how it works. But don''t worry, the car I bought for you was with my own money. It has nothing to do with them," ric reassured her.


    "Ugh, that''s actually disappointing.


    was hoping you were splurging their money. It would''ve been so sweet to see Georgia fuming over that Hertha sighed.


    ric: "......"

 Chapter 1980

    Chapter 1980


    ?


    By the time ric snapped out of it, Hertha had already reached the BMW, opening the door and preparing to get in.


    ric, with swift steps, hurried to the passenger side, flinging the door open and sliding in.


    Hertha froze, staring at him in disbelief. "ric, I''ve never seen you this eager about anything. What, rushing home for a blind date or something?" "Didn''t I just finish a blind date?" ric''s lips curved into a mischievous smile, his eyes twinkling as he looked at Hertha.


    ying dumb, Hertha looked around exaggeratedly. "With whom, exactly? There''s no eligible bachelor or bachelorette in sight. Surely not the salesperson? Have we stopped caring about gender in the dating game now?"


    ric''s smile faded, his tone slightly annoyed. "Who said anything about not caring about gender?"


    "So, who then? Was it Georgia who you managed to drive away earlier?" Hertha continued with her feigned ignorance.


    ric''s briefly kindled enthusiasm dimmed. "Let''s just drive, okay? Weren''t you heading to Royal Estates? It''ll be dark soon."


    With his serious tone, Hertha decided not to beat around the bush anymore. She got into the car, buckled her seatbelt but didn''t start the car immediately. Instead, she shifted around in the seat, testing itsfort.


    "Genuine leather, huh? Feels different; sofy," Hertha mused.


    ric''s lips twitched. "A three hundred grand car and you''re talking about genuine leather? That''s a luxury for million-dor rides."


    "What a buzzkill," Hertha shot him a look. "To me, this is genuine leather. If I say it''s genuine, then it is. Can''t you let me boast for once about driving such a fancy car?"


    "Oh, right, right, it''s genuine leather. Whatever you say," ric quickly conceded.


    Almost forgot, Hertha is not someone you want to tick off.


    Especially when he was still holding out hope of winning her over. Offending her could make things extremely difficult.


    Hertha rolled her eyes so hard, she almost wished she could do it to death, toozy to entertain further conversation. She started the engine and drove off.


    ric wisely chose to keep quiet. Midway through the drive, he realized something was off. "Hertha, where are we headed?"


    This wasn''t the way to Royal Estates.


    "It''ste, and Thssa is probably getting ready to rest. We shouldn''t disturb her, Besides, Lysander''s leg is healed, they probably have a lot of catching up to do. Let''s not be a third wheel," Hertha exined while driving. Content belongs to


    "What? Lysander''s leg is healed?" ric was out of the loop, having been caught up with work at the Crawley Group, with no time to keep tabs on Lysander.


    Hertha''s remark hit him like a revtion, shocking him.


    Hertha sneaked a nce at him. "Surprised, are you? Didn''t expect Lysander to get back on his feet?"


    "He really can walk again, that''s great!" ric eximed, thrilled with the confirmation.


    With Lysander''s injury, their group


    had drifted apart, losing the vibrant interactions and gatherings of the past Could Lysander''s recovery mean a return to those days?


    Hertha chuckled. "I''d advise you to focus more on yourself rather than others Pay more attention to your own dife, or you might end up being sold without even realizing it."


    "What''s that supposed to mean? As if I''d ever be as clueless as you," ric retorted without thinking.N?vel/Dr(a)ma.Org - Content owner.

 Chapter 1981

    Chapter 1981


    ?


    "You..." His words almost had Hertha cursing him out loud. She shot him an irritated nce before swallowing her anger.


    Forget it, she thought. She was driving, and it was her brand new car. Thest thing she needed was another fender bender marring its perfection.


    "Are you under some kind of misunderstanding about me? How could I possibly be the foolish one? You take the cake, falling over yourself to y the hero for others." Hertha couldn''t help but feel a lump in her throat when she thought of Georgia using the threat of a child against ric.


    Her child, however, was indeed ric''s, but she would never use their child to manipte ric.


    Georgia, on the other hand, had stooped to hiring a child to manipte ric. It was beyond ridiculous.


    "Hertha, what are you implying? Could it be that Julian and Helena are yours and Spencer''s?" ric''s face darkened.


    "You''re not foolish, you''re downright dumb!" Hertha was so furious she nearly choked.


    Damn ric, she thought. Even after she had spelled it out for him, he still doubted her instead of Georgia!


    This man was truly hopeless!


    "Hey, Hertha, be honest with me, are they?" ric was trapped in a maze of his own thoughts, genuinely believing Hertha''sment about being happy for others was about her own children.


    He asked, his anxiety evident.


    Hertha couldn''t even bother to entertain his questions, her hands gripping the steering wheel tightly. In the past, she would have vented her anger by speeding.


    But she cherished her new car, and no matter how angry she was, she refrained from speeding now.


    Clutching the steering wheel, her inner turmoil was like a tempest, yet she remained outwardly calm, driving steadily.


    Throughout the ride, ric was sullen, his mood far from bright.


    Upon reaching Gulfstream Community, Hertha parked the car with precision, storming out and heading towards the building. ric followed suit, quickening his pace to keep up with Hertha.


    Neither


    the, each enveloped in


    in


    rown chilly aura as they entere elevator, the tension palpable in the confined space.


    Silence reigned until they reached their floor Hertha stepped out first, with ric close behind. He knew if she entered the apartment, any chance of conversation would be lost.


    UMS


    Quickening his pace, ric reached for Hertha''s sleeve. "Hertha, just tell me, are the kids..."


    He was cut off as the door ahead opened, revealing Kimberly and two little bundles of joy. Wrapped up for the winter chill, they resembled adorable puffballs, their rosy cheeks and bright eyes peeking out.


    Looking up, Helena greeted them with a soft, innocent smile. "Mommy, Daddy, you''re back!"Content is ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org.


    "Mommy, Daddy!" Julian echoed, his voice filled with joy.


    Their innocent, endearing voices instantly melted ric''s heart, his stern face breaking into a smile.


    "Hey, Julian, Helena, Daddy''s back." He let go of Hertha''s hand, moving forward to scoop Helena into his arms.

 Chapter 1982

    Chapter 1982


    ?


    "Daddy, I love you the most," Helena said, her tiny hands cupping ric''s face as she nted a soft, mushy kiss on his cheek.


    Her voice was so tender and sweet that it could melt anyone''s heart. ric was over the moon, his heart turning into a puddle. His smile, as warm as the spring sunshine, gently brushed his cheek against Helena''s soft face as he said, "Daddy loves you the most too."


    "Daddy, me too," Julian said, taking small steps over to ric, clutching at his jeans and looking up for attention. ric looked down and met Julian''s hopeful eyes, freeing one hand to embrace Helena while using the other to gently pat Julian''s head. "Daddy loves you a lot too," he said softly.


    "Giggle... I love Daddy too," Julianughed joyfully, expressing his love for his father.


    Kimberly watched from the side, feeling a mix of annoyance and amusement. She was annoyed because ric, as their father, seemed tock discretion in his actions, having another child with a different woman. She thought he hardly deserved the children''s unconditional love! But the amusing part was that the children knew nothing of this. They only knew that ric was their dad, and they offered all their love without any reservation, never hiding their affection for him. Children truly are the most innocent beings.


    "Alright, alright, weren''t we going to go y on the slide? Let''s go. It''s almost time to head back home; it''s getting dark," Kimberly said as she stepped forward and took Julian''s hand. She could tell ric and Hertha had things to discuss, so it was best not to interrupt their conversation.


    Hearing about the slide, Helena


    instantly forgot her deration of love for Daddy and twisted out of ric''s embrace. ric,


    understanding her, let her down


    Helena willingly went to Kimberly''s side, taking her hand, and turned back to wave at ric. "Bye Daddy, I''m off to y on the slide. We''ll y moreter."


    "Sure, focus on having fun on the slide, and don''t miss Daddy too much," ric said, raising his hand to wave back. Kimberly led the two children away.


    Only then did Hertha, who had been watching with a cold eye, sneer at ric. "What were you trying to do just now? Holding onto my hand, you weren''t thinking of doing something, were you?" ric


    remembered his suspicion that Hertha''sment about him being eager to y the doting dad might imply Julian and Helena weren''t his children. This had stirred a tempest in his heart. But all those doubts vanished with the children''s interactions with him. Helena''s eyes looked so much like his, and Julian''s demeanor was so simr to his own-how could they not be his children? Hertha''sment was clearly just to provoke him, knowing she would do anything to get a rise out of him. Content belongs to


    ric touched his nose, trying to cover his awkwardness. "Oh, you got me wrong. I was just checking if your hands were cold."N?velDrama.Org copyrighted ? content.


    "So, cold or hot, would you be able to feel the warmth if this fistnded on your face?" Hertha said, gritting her teeth and clenching her fist, rubbing it in her other hand.


    ric quickly stepped back. "You''re quite warm. No need for me now. I''ll head back home." He turned briskly, reached his front door, punched in the code and before stepping in, turned back to catch Hertha''s gaze. He grinned wide, showing a mouthful of white teeth, which only made Hertha clench her fist tighter and march towards him. ric''s smile vanished as he quickly slipped inside, closing the door behind him.


    "Phew," he sighed, "Hertha can be quite the tiger sometimes."

 Chapter 1983

    Chapter 1983


    ?


    Among all the women he had encountered - the tender and beautiful, the intellectual and elegant, the sexy and fiery - ric had seen them all, and they had all, in their turns, entangled him in their affairs. But why on earth did his heart beat for Hertha, the fiery lioness?N?vel/Dr(a)ma.Org - Content owner.


    Ah, love, that enigma, was truly hard to pin down. Shaking his head, ric walked over to the couch, sat down, and turned on the TV to pass the time.


    Locked out, Hertha exhaled angrily, gritting her teeth as she muttered, "I''ve never seen such a blockhead! How could I have been so blindly devoted to him?"


    She had made it tantly obvious, yet ric still hadn''t started to doubt Georgia''s child. Worse, he had started to question if Hertha''s child was his own!


    Hertha was truly on the verge of exploding in anger! She really wanted to give ric a good thrashing, but even that seemed insufficient to vent her frustration. Returning home, Hertha took a shower, which only slightly eased her annoyance.


    ric, meanwhile, watched TV aimlessly. Although his eyes were on the screen, his thoughts were elsewhere. He hadn''t been thinking of anything in particr, just letting his mind wander.


    Suddenly, as if struck by a revtion, a thought crossed his mind! He had been lounging on the couch, but after a sh of insight, he quickly sat upright. Damn, could it be? Hertha''s mocking remark about him eagerly ying daddy... Could it really be referring to Georgia''s child?


    Was Georgia''s child not his? It took ric a moment to connect the dots. He began to question the paternity of Georgia''s child. But he had taken a paternity test with the child, which shouldn''t have been wrong.


    el


    ric recalled the altercation between Hertha and Georgia, where Georgia mentioned the child and Hertha had a mocking expression, even saying Georgia was quite the actress. Hertha seemed to know something about Georgia''s child.


    Damn, could it really be that the child wasn''t his? And what about that paternity test?


    Once suspicion crept in, it was hard to shake off. ric felt restless, as if thousands of ants were crawling inside his heart. He quickly grabbed his phone and called Ethan.


    "Can you do me a favor? Do you know anyone at Preston Hospital?" That was the hospital where he and Georgia Kad taken the paternity test. If Hertha wasn''t lying, then the


    hospital was likely where the


    the


    problemy. Something was off with the paternity test! Content belongs


    to NovelDrama.Org


    "I know the deputy director there; we''ve coborated before. What''s up?" Ethan was the kind of friend who would go through fire and water for his pals, truly sincere and reliable.


    "Help me check something. Hold on, let me see the exact date." ric wanted Ethan''s help to investigate whether there had been any issues with the procedure or the results of the paternity test on the day he and Georgia had gone. He scrolled through his phone, looking for the appointment date.

 Chapter 1984

    Chapter 1984


    ?


    Thank goodness for digital registrations these days; everything''s recorded.


    ric quickly found the date of the paternity test appointment. He shared the date with Ethan, adding, "Can you ask the deputy director to check if there was an issue with the paternity test results that day?"


    "What''s up, you suspect something?" Ethan, sensing some juicy gossip, asked with a smirk. Ethan loved digging into the personal dramas of his friends. He wasn''t much for gossip about strangers, but when it came to his friends, he couldn''t resist.


    "I suspect Georgia''s child isn''t mine!" ric didn''t hold back, sharing his suspicion with Ethan directly. He still firmly believed that the child was Georgia''s.


    Ethan understood immediately and promised, "Alright, I''ll get on it right away."


    ric worked at the Crawley Group, and Ethan was well-versed in ric''s affairs. Georgia was ric''s ex-fianc¨¦e, who had be too arrogant and disrespectful toward him, leading ric to break off their engagement decisively. This decision also made him leave the Falconer family behind and start anew at the Crawley Group.


    He had ns to marry Hertha, but then Georgia showed up with a child, iming it was ric''s, which prevented ric and Hertha from tying the knot. ric had doubts about the child''s paternity from the start, so he went ahead with a DNA test. The results confirmed the child was his! This revtion only strained his rtionship with Hertha further. Everything wasplicated because of that child.


    Now that ric doubted the child''s paternity, Ethan naturally wanted to help rify things.


    After hanging up with Ethan, ric couldn''t calm his thoughts. He was investigating blindly; what if Hertha meant something else, and all his efforts were in vain? The simplest and most effective way was to ask Hertha directly about the situation. But he had already asked, and Hertha wouldn''t tell him anything. Asking again would only annoy her. Better to just wait for the results.


    ric turned off the TV and went to take a shower, hoping to uncover the truth tomorrow.


    Hertha was sleeping soundly when


    her phone''s ringtone disrupted her slumber. She reached out from under the covers, fumbling on the nightstand for her phone. Finding it, she pressed the answer button by feet, her voice groggy and annoyed, "What''s up?"


    "Wow, still in bed? The sun''s about to tan your behind," came a refined male voice on the other end, cultured and gentle, with a hint of schrly charm.


    Hertha, known for her short temper,


    el.n


    was about tosh out for disturbing her sleep and mocking her for. sleeping in. But as the wordsContent is ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org.


    reached her lips, she recognized the


    votee. Content belongs to


    Pulling the phone away, she checked the screen, and sure enough, it was Spencer. It was him. Luckily, she hadn''t snapped at him; that would have been awkward.


    "Morning, Spencer. It''s been a while since you called. What''s got you reaching out today?" Hertha''s mood lightened, her voice bing friendly.

 Chapter 1985

    Chapter 1985


    ?


    Spencer was her rock, her unwavering support system who had helped her care for her kids for two solid years without a singleint. She could blow her top at anyone, but when it came to Spencer, she couldn''t find it within herself to raise her voice.


    It was peculiar, though. Ever since Spencer started dating Emmeline, initially, their friendship remained as solid as ever. But after that one dinner at her ce with Emmeline,munications had just... ceased.


    Even though they lived in the same apartment building, their paths rarely crossed anymore.


    "Too busy ying lovebirds to remember little old me, huh?" Spencer''s voice,ced withughter and the unmistakable tint of happiness, reached her through the phone.


    "Oh, head over heels with Emmeline, got it," Hertha joked back. After her response, an ufortable silence took hold. Back in the day, Hertha and Spencer were inseparable, sharing every little detail of their lives with ease, hardly ever encountering awkward pauses. Now, despite the yful banter, their conversations seemed to run dry after a few exchanges, a familiar closeness now reced with an unfamiliar distance. Just as the silence started to be unbearable, Hertha, trying to keep the mood light, was about to change the subject.


    Then, Spencer''s calm voice came through: "I''m getting married tomorrow. I really want you to be there."


    Hertha was speechless, all potential topics of conversation suddenly seeming insignificant.


    She shot up in bed, pping her thigh. "You''re what now? Getting married? This is so sudden!"


    "Sounds like you''re not thrilled?" Spencer remarked.N?vel/Dr(a)ma.Org - Content owner.


    "Thrilled? Of course, I''m thrilled! My best friend is getting hitched; I couldn''t be happier!" In her excitement, Hertha blurted out with the kind of enthusiasm one might expect from a doting mother finally seeing her child settle down.


    "What did you say? You think of me as your son?" Spencer didn''t sound too pleased.


    Hertha burst intoughter. "No, no, just kidding. As your best friend, I just want you to find happiness and settle down. I''ve been feeling guilty for hogging your time for years and now that you''re getting married, I can finally stop feeling so selfish. How could I not be over the moon?"


    "Are youing tomorrow, then?" Spencer knew all along about Hertha''s sentiments; she had been rooting for him to tie the knot.


    "Of course, I''ming! I''d miss


    ?????


    anyone else''s wedding but yours? I wouldn''t dream of it! Even if it rains knives, I''ll be there." Hisughter echoed softly on the other end. Just make sure to show up, and don''te empty-handed. You know, because of how close we are, I can say this without hard feelings."


    "Oh,e on, you know me. Would I ever skimp out? The gift will be hefty, don''t you worry!" Hertha, ever the vibrant and candid soul, took the jest in stride.


    "Guess my future riches are in your hands, then," Spencer quipped.


    "Want me to take care of your entire future, too?" Hertha teased, raising an eyebrow.


    Spencer immediately went on the defensive, "No need for that, we''ll manage. You better get some sleep, goodnight."


    Knowing Hertha''s capacity for mischief, Spencer was wary. She had the audacity to pull pranks no one else would dream of-like the time she snuck into their room in the middle of the night, pretending to be a ghost just to scare them. Who else but Hertha could get away with such antics?

 Chapter 1986

    Chapter 1986


    ?


    ric headed straight for Ethan''s office as soon as he got to work.


    Ethan was sipping on his morning coffee when he looked up to see ricing in, promptly standing up as ric mysteriously closed the office door behind him.


    Seeing ric''s serious demeanor, Ethan took a couple of steps back, a teasing smirk on his face, "What''s up, man? It''s broad daylight, and for the record, I''m straight as an arrow."


    ric rolled his eyes, "For all the years I''ve known you, I''ve never seen you date anyone. How''s that for proving you''re straight?"


    Ethan crossed his arms defensively, "Saying I''m into women is proof enough. What more do you want?"


    "I''m not here to joke around, buddy," ric flopped onto the couch, rubbing his temples with a weary sigh.


    "You''ve been hanging out with Hertha too much. Even your eye rolls and the way you talk are starting to mimic hers. Man, you''ve really gone native," Ethan joked before getting serious and taking a seat next to him.


    "Cut the crap, Ethan. Just tell me what you found out," ric said, the tiredness evident in his voice.


    "Rough night waiting for the results, huh?" Ethan noted his friend''s dark circles and knew he must''ve been anxious.


    "Just spill it already," ric pressed, clearly out of patience.Content is ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org.


    "Alright, alright, chill," Ethan replied. "The deputy dean looked into it. It turns out the Falconer family had a doctor fake the paternity test. So, the report you got was bogus."


    ric shot straight up, a mix of shock and relief on his face, "What do you mean, fake?!"


    "The deputy dean told me himself. He has no reason to lie. Plus, he mentioned the Falconer family specifically asked for a fake paternity test," Ethan said earnestly.


    ric''s relief was palpable, his breathing quickened, and his eyes widened as he stared at Ethan.


    Ethan, feeling a bit uneasy under his gaze, leaned back, "Hey, don''t look at me like that. It''s freaking me out."


    "I got it. Thanks, man. I gotta go," ric said, getting up abruptly and heading for the door, moving as if he''d miss out on a life-altering moment if he didn''t hurry.


    Georgia had lied to him. That child wasn''t his!


    And to think his own mother conspired with Georgia against him!


    The deputy dean said the Falconer family was behind the fake paternity test, which could only mean Angelina was involved. Apart from her, noone else in the Falcone family would do something like this to him.


    He couldn''t fathom it. Was he really Angelina''s son? How could a birth mother do such a thing?


    To conspire with another woman, using someone else''s child to deceive him into ying dad!


    The thought of being manipted by his own mother was both infuriating and saddening.


    As ric stormed out of the Crawley Group building, he dialed Hertha''s number. The phone rang for what seemed like an eternity, but no one


    Scontent belongs to


    Panic started to set in ric''s heart. Hertha must have found out the child wasn''t his.


    But why hadn''t she confronted him about it? Did she suspect he was in on it with Georgia, trying to deceive her?


    Could she think he''d conspire with Georgia just to avoid marrying Hertha?

 Chapter 1987

    Chapter 1987


    ?


    The misunderstanding couldn''t have been bigger. How could Hertha ever think that?


    Right now, ric was a bundle of emotions thrilled yet anxious.


    The thrill came from the fact that there were no children between him and Georgia; the whole drama was a solo act by Georgia.


    The anxiety stemmed from Hertha believing he conspired with Georgia to deceive her-all to avoid marrying her!


    To be with Hertha, he didn''t hesitate to leave the prestigious Falconer family behind, opting for a life as an average Joe. How could she think he''d join forces with Georgia just to dodge responsibility?


    Right then, he wished he could sprout wings and fly straight to Hertha, to show her his heart and tell her he was duped by Georgia too.


    The phone rang for a long time until it went to voicemail.


    ric hurriedly drove to Hertha''s office, only to be told she hadn''te in that day.


    Next, he rushed to Hertha''s house. This time, he didn''t hold back, marching right up to her doorstep and knocking.


    The door was opened by Kimberly.N?velDrama.Org copyrighted ? content.


    Seeing Hertha''s mom, ric was about to greet her with his usual cheeky "Hey, Mom," but the look in Kimberly''s eyes made him switch gears mid- greeting. He awkwardlyughed off his initial approach, correcting himself, "Kimberly, is Hertha home?"


    "Daddy, daddy''s here!" a chorus of little voices came from inside.


    Then, ric saw two little heads peeking around Kimberly''s legs, both eagerly looking up at him.


    Helena, with her pigtails and bright, innocent eyes, beamed at ric, her voice full of childish excitement, "Daddy!"


    Julian, with his round, sparkling eyes, was equally thrilled, eximing, "Daddy!"


    "Hey, Julian, Helena, where''s mommy?" ric squatted down, a warm smile on his face as he asked the kids.


    Their calling him made him happy, but he was more anxious to find Hertha.


    "Are you here to see mommy and not us?" Helena tilted her head, her question loaded with a child''s jealousy.


    ric couldn''t help butugh, surprised by their possessiveness at such a young age.


    Feeling a bit more at ease, he gently


    patted Helena''s head, softly exining, Of course, I love seeing you guys the most. But today, I have something important to discuss with your mommy. I''ve just found out that the child that woman talked about isn''t mine. I need to clear


    things up with your mom." Content


    belongs to NovelDrama.Org


    In essence, ric was clearing the air with Hertha''s mother through his conversation with the kids.


    It was all a big misunderstanding; that child wasn''t his, which meant there was no barrier between him and Hertha anymore.


    Kimberly had been quite cold to him recently, all because of this issue.


    As expected, upon hearing this, Kimberly''s stern expression softened. She patted ric on the shoulder.


    Looking up at Kimberly, ric waited for her direction.


    Kimberly pointed towards the street, informing, "Hertha went out to Spencer''s wedding."


    "Spencer''s wedding?" ric was taken aback. He knew Spencer had a girlfriend but hadn''t realized they were tying the knot.


    "Yes, Spencer is getting married to


    Emmeline today. I think it''s at some hotel... Kimberly trailed off, only vaguely remembering Hertha mentioning Spencer''s wedding.


    She was a bit down knowing Spencer was getting hitched while her daughter was still single, so she hadn''t paid much attention to the details.


    As Kimberly was trying to recall the


    venue, ric couldn''t wait any


    longer. He immediately called Ethan, "Can you find out where Spencer''s wedding is happening today?"

 Chapter 1988

    Chapter 1988


    ?


    Hertha wasn''t just at Spencer and Emmeline''s wedding to celebrate; she was also unexpectedly thrust into the role of a bridesmaid. Ast-minute bridesmaid, roped in by Spencer himself. Emmeline, it turned out, didn''t have many female friends-only one close friend. But tradition demanded at least two bridesmaids. So, Hertha made the cut, barely.


    "But I don''t have a bridesmaid dress," Hertha protested to Spencer, her face a mix of confusion and concern as he dragged her into the dressingN?velDrama.Org copyrighted ? content.


    room.


    Jokingly, she had always told Thssa she''d love to be her bridesmaid, but Thssa had yet to tie the knot. And now, at thirty, Hertha''s first time as a bridesmaid wasn''t for Thssa but for Spencer''s bride.


    "I''ve got you covered. Here''s your dress. Get changed quickly; the ceremony will start soon," Spencer hurried, thrusting a bag into her hands before he rushed off.


    Hertha pulled out a light grey bridesmaid dress from the bag. What now? She had no clue how to be a bridesmaid, what to do, or what was expected. With no experience and no guidance, how could she possibly manage? Yet, Spencer had entrusted her with this responsibility. She couldn''t just back out, especially not after all the support Spencer had given her over the years, even when she hadn''t exactly been the most thoughtful friend. She owed him, big time. Spencer was asking for a small favor, really. How could she let him down?


    With a mix of determination and resignation, Hertha changed into the dress.


    No sooner had Hertha stepped out


    of the changing room than a young woman entered the makeup room. She looked to be in her early twenties, with a slim figure, minimal makeup, and an aura of youthful energy. Wearing a simr light grey dress, she tiptoed in, spotted Hertha, and approached with a smile. "Hey, looks like you''re a bridesmaid too?"


    Hertha smiled back and nodded. "Yes, and you are? How do you know the bride?"


    The girl seemed much younger than Emmeline, certainly not her best friend.


    "Ha, I''m her cousin, I. My brother-inw asked me to guide you through the bridesmaid duties," the girl exined cheerfully.


    So Spencer had sent her. Hertha began to ask about what she needed to know, what to watch out for. They were just getting into the details when someone urged them to hurry. "The wedding''s starting, bridesmaids,e out!"


    Hertha and the girl quickly made their way to the hotel''s grand hall. The ceremony was about to begin. The officiant was warming up the crowd with a flourish of words before introducing Spencer, who appeared in a sharp ck suit, a red boutonniere pinned to his chest. Then, the officiant posed a question, a setup for a romantic anecdote: "How did the groom and bride meet? Was it a romantic encounter straight out of a TV show?"


    ???


    Handing the mic to Spencer, he recounted, "We met at a noodle shop. She grabbed my order by mistake, ending up with my beef noodles instead of her in soup. And then, she insisted I owed her a bowl of in soup. I had to exin that mine was beef noodles."

 Chapter 1989

    Chapter 1989


    ?


    "So, let me get this straight," the host began, "She devoured your beef noodles and expects you topensate with a bowl of in noodle soup?" Spencer confirmed with a simple, "Yes."


    "That''s hardly a fair exchange," the host quipped, promptingughter from the audience.


    Hertha, who was among the audience, listened to the exchange between the host and Spencer, realizing for the first time that Spencer and Emmeline didn''t meet through a blind date. Their encounter had its own story.


    She had always assumed that Spencer and Emmeline were introduced through mutual acquaintances. Clearly, she had much more to learn about Spencer.


    "So, tell me, is it true love you feel for the bride?" the host prodded further with a challenging question.


    After asking, he ced the microphone near Spencer''s mouth. At that moment, Spencer caught sight of Hertha approaching the stage, and by chance, Hertha was also looking his way.


    Their eyes met.


    With the host''s question hanging in the air, everyone awaited Spencer''s response, especially Emmeline, who stood at the hotel entrance in her pristine white wedding gown, anticipating her entrance.


    Time was of the essence, and Spencer, unable to break his gaze from Hertha, responded, "For the bride, my love is true."


    His words were met with apuse from the audience.


    The host, satisfied, announced the bride''s entrance.


    Emmeline, escorted by her father, walked down the aisle, moving towards Spencer on the stage.


    Midway, two bridesmaids approached from the side, each carrying a basket, scattering vibrant red rose petals along the trail of Emmeline''s gown. The wedding was nothing short of romantic.


    Emmeline, eyes fixed forward, saw only Spencer on the stage, and Spencer''s gaze remained intently on Emmeline.


    Upon reaching the stage, Emmeline''s father ced her hand in Spencer''s, prompting the host to extend the microphone towards him.


    Emmeline''s father looked at Spencer and said, "She''s my only daughter. I''ve cherished her all her life, and now, it''s your turn to cherish her." Spencer responded, "Dad, rest assured, I will cherish her with all my heart."


    The music was elegant, the atmosphere romantic and touching.


    Hertha, standing aside, was moved by their words, her nose tingling with emotion.


    The joy of a girl cherished by her father is immeasurable, providing a foundation of confidence, even in marriage.


    Hertha''s thoughts drifted to


    Thssa, pitying her for not having


    a father''s love growing up, andeven after finding her biological father, facing his partiality.


    She wondered if Thssa would ever experience being walked down the aisle by her father.


    As Hertha reflected, Emmeline''s father contentedly passed his daughter''s hand to Spencer and stepped down from the stage.


    At this point, Hertha and I, each holding a side of the bride''s gown, followed behind Emmeline.


    The host remarked, "It''s clear theThis text is property of N?/velD/rama.Org.


    bride and groom are in love. The groom just dered his true love for the bride and promised her father a lifetime of cherishment. You''re very fortunate, bride."


    No sooner had the host finished speaking than someone from the audience stood up, loudly objecting, "Nonsense! The groom''s heart.


    doesn''t truly belong to Emmeline! His true love is Hertha, the


    e


    bridesmaid standing right behind the bride. She is the one the groom truly loves!"


    The room fell into a hushed silence.

 Chapter 1990

    Chapter 1990


    ?


    Hertha, in her role as a bridesmaid, was utterly dumbfounded when she overheard someone im that Spencer''s favorite was her, not Emmeline. This was Spencer and Emmeline''s wedding, for crying out loud. How could someone stir up trouble by saying Spencer preferred her over his bride, Emmeline?


    No sooner had those words dropped than Emmeline''s father, who had just stepped off the stage, turned around sharply. His previously contented expression morphed into one of stern questioning as he marched back up to confront Spencer.


    The wedding was on the verge of turning into a fiasco. Spencer''s mother shot up from her seat among the guests, her eyes zing as she fixed a furious stare on the woman who''d spoken out of turn. "What nonsense are you spouting? My son''s heart belongs to Emmeline, in and simple. He just dered his undying love for her. Who are you to question his feelings?"


    "But he was looking right at Hertha when he answered the officiant''s question. Clearly, he can''t get her out of his mind. It''s as in as day," the woman insisted, adamant that Spencer''s affectionsy elsewhere.


    Thisdy, in her forties with a knack for stirring the pot, had the look of someone who thrived on gossip and meddling in others'' business.


    Her words sent a wave of sadness and anxiety through Emmeline, who looked desperately at Spencer for reassurance. Clutching her bouquet, the scent of flowers that once symbolized happiness now seemed to mock her. The beautiful, romantic wedding dress she wore felt like a garment made of thorns, pricking her with every moment of doubt about her fianc¨¦''s fidelity.


    Hertha, standing close by, could see the heartbreak in Emmeline''s eyes. She felt a pang of guilt and was


    about to step forward to rify


    things when Spencer locked eye


    with Emmeline and said, "My love for you is real. Who will you believe, some outsider or me?" This text is property of N?/velD/rama.Org.


    Emmeline, her lips quivering, looked torn. She adored Spencer and didn''t want their rtionship to be marred by suspicion. Yet, the usation had hit too close to home, especially since she''d noticed Spencer''s nce towards Hertha during the


    no


    ceremony, initially dismissing it as him merely looking for her in the crowd.


    But now, doubt crept in, fueled by the insinuations of the gossipmonger.


    Emmeline''s father, visibly agitated, believed his daughter deserved better. "Lily, we''re calling off this wedding. Let''s go home," he dered, ready to whisk his daughter away from what he perceived as a doomed marriage.


    Spencer stepped forward, blocking their path, his sincerity unmistakable. "Dad, please don''t jump to conclusions based on hearsay. Lily is the one I love, and I will make her happy."


    "Really? Then why is Hertha here as


    a bridesmaid, especially given your history? Everyone knows you two were an item once upon a time. And with her living in the same neighborhood, raising two kids


    whose father remains a mystery... Don''t tell me those kids are yours?" The woman smirked, her


    gossipden words hanging heavily in the air. Content belongs to


    She was an old neighbor of Spencer''s, always eager top up and spread rumors, much to the dismay of everyone involved.

 Chapter 1991

    Chapter 1991


    ?


    In the neighborhood, there was hardly a secret or a strange urrence that Mrs. Thompson couldn''t sniff out with ease. And more often than not, she had a knack for spinning tales out of thin air, based on little more than idle observations.


    Coincidentally, Mrs. Thompson''s daughter lived in the same block as Hertha and Spencer, which meant she often bumped into them. Once, she saw Spencer lugging a bunch of grocery bags, heading to the same floor with Hertha. If they weren''t living together, what was their deal?


    Plus, Mrs. Thompson had seen Hertha at the yground with a child more times than she could count. Digging around, she discovered Hertha wasn''t married. A single woman with a child? The gears in Mrs. Thompson''s mind started turning, and she came to a bold conclusion: That child had to be Spencer''s! The thought process of the youth these days, wanting kids without the bonds of marriage, baffled her!


    Mrs. Thompson was the first to bring this gossip to someone else''s wedding, voicing it out loud and without a shred of doubt. She was the first in history to do so. Emmeline and her father were on the brink of giving Spencer the benefit of the doubt, but Mrs. Thompson''s words reignited their fury. Emmeline''s father gave Spencer a withering look, grabbing Emmeline to leave.


    That''s when Hertha couldn''t stand by silently any longer. She stepped forward, calling out to Emmeline, "Don''t go! Don''t listen to that woman''s nonsense! Spencer and I have nothing going on!"


    "Oh really? But wasn''t it a fact that you two were nearly engaged three years ago?" Mrs. Thompson was convinced her deductions were urate.


    "It was me who refused to marry Spencer because I didn''t have feelings for him. I didn''t want to hold him back." Hertha responded sincerely to Mrs. Thompson''s skepticism.


    "And yet, you both end up in the same neighborhood?" Mrs. Thompson refused to believe her calctions were off.


    "That was purely coincidental. I had no idea Spencer lived there when I bought my ce," Hertha countered smoothly. Spencer had finally found someone he wanted to marry, and Hertha didn''t want to be the reason his happiness was ruined, Content from N?velDr(a)ma.Org.


    Chapter 1991 2


    1398


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    "Well, let me tell you, the children''s father is not Spencer," Hertha said earnestly.


    Verify


    "Still lying, huh? Then tell us, who is their father? If you can name a man today, I''ll go ahead with that livestream challenge!" Mrs. Thompson challenged her.


    "Let''s see who''s trying to pin a father


    on my children," a man''s voice, yful and slightly mocking, said as he entered through the hotel''s main door, instantly grabbing everyone''s attention.

 Chapter 1992

    Chapter 1992


    ?


    Hertha''s eyes widened in disbelief as she blurted out, "ric!"


    What was he doing here?


    The woman who had just falsely used Hertha of having children with Spencer sneered at ric''s arrival. "What, did Hertha hire you as some sort of handsome distraction? How much is she paying you for this act?"


    Confident in the gossip she had gathered over the years, the woman was certain of her usations. She couldn''t fathom any other truth. After all, her knack for sifting through rumors and uncovering ''facts'' had never led her astray before.


    In her mind, there was no question about the paternity of Hertha''s children-they were Spencer''s.


    As ric walked forward, he raised an eyebrow at the woman. "And who exactly are you? Why should I exin myself to someone like you?"


    "You..." The woman was taken aback, wanting tosh out but aware of the many eyes watching the scene unfold. She swallowed her anger and scoffed, "What did you say? That I''m randomly assigning fathers to her children? No amount of your acting fee will change the fact that Hertha''s kids are Spencer''s. If you don''t believe it, why don''t you suggest a paternity test?"


    ric stepped closer, his tone sharp. "How presumptuous of you. How could you possibly know more about my children than I do? Were you there when Hertha and I were together? You have no right to make such definitive statements about matters that are clearly none of your business."


    Taken aback by his boldness, the woman''s confidence waned. It was true-matters of such a personal nature were known only to those directly involved.


    This text is property of N?/velD/rama.Org.


    Seeing his daughter Emmeline caught in the middle of this drama, her father decided it was time to leave. But Hertha stopped him. "Please, don''t go. Spencer trulydoves Emmeline. You can''t let baseless gossip ruin your daughter''s happiness."


    "And how can you prove Spencer loves Emmeline and not you?" Emmeline''s father asked sternly.


    Being at the center of the gossip yet ying a role in the wedding was a p in the face to Emmeline.


    "If Spencer is marrying Emmeline today and not me, isn''t that proof enough?" Hertha tried to reason with him.


    5533


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    "But what if he''s only settling for Emmeline because you rejected him?" Emmeline''s father countered, his heart aching at the thought.


    Hearing this, Emmeline felt a pang of hurt. Was she merely a second choice, a backup n because Hertha didn''t reciprocate Spencer''s feelings?


    She had never considered this


    possibility, given Spencer''s


    el


    attentiveness and care. He always made sure she was warm, holding her hands in his to keep herfortable. He paid attention to the little details, always putting her first in every aspect of their dates.

 Chapter 1993

    Chapter 1993


    ?


    His warmth was always like a gentle spring breeze, caressing her heart and bringing herfort and joy.This text is property of N?/velD/rama.Org.


    She thought she had found the man who loved her the most in the world. After all, if a man doesn''t love you, why would he always put you first?


    But now, a singlement from her father had awakened a dormant seed buried deep within her soul. That seed, if left unmentioned, was meant to slumber forever, never to sprout. Yet, once watered and nourished, it grew robustly, discing all the warmth in her heart, leaving behind only the piercing pain of reality, a


    chilling disillusionment.


    Sometimes, someone''s kindness isn''t born of love for you, but simply because they are inherently kind.


    Spencer had always been a warm-hearted soul; she knew this from the start. His kindness misled her into mistaking it for love, rather than his natural disposition. Emmeline suddenly realized the truth, and with rity came pain-deep and wounding. Chapter 1993 1


    Chapter 1993 2


    Seeing the situation, Hertha couldn''t stand idly by. "Emmeline, Spencer and I are just friends. The father of my child is someone else. You''ve known this all along, haven''t you?"


    "Right, the father of her child is me." ric''s entrance silenced the naysayers as he strode onto the stage. The misconception that he and Georgia had a child together had been the barrier between him and Hertha. But now, armed with the trath that the child wasn''t his, what reason did he have to hesitate? There was nothing standing between him and Hertha anymore!  1863


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    "Yes, he''s the father of my child!" Hertha, seeing ric approach, eagerly supported his im. Never had she been so relieved to see him. In the past, she barely tolerated ric, but now, he was her knight in shining armor.


    Emmeline, her father, and Spencer all turned their gaze towards ric as he took the stage. Dressed in a crisp white suit, looking every bit the charming prince, he walked up to Hertha, suddenly dropping to one knee and presenting a red box. With a tender look, he said, "Hertha, marry me..."

 Chapter 1994

    Chapter 1994


    The moment ric dropped to one knee, the room went dead silent, including Hertha, who was so


    caught off guard that her eyes widened in sheer disbelief. There ric was, on one knee, with a ring


    in hand, proposing to her right in the middle of what was supposed to be a joyful and straightforward


    event.


    This whole scenario was far beyond anything Hertha had anticipated. She was already taken aback


    by ric''s sudden appearance, never mind his dramatic gesture of proposing to her then and there!


    Hertha was momentarily at a loss for words. Just moments before, she had openly admitted that


    ric was the father of her two kids, aiming to smooth over the tensions between Spencer and


    Emmeline. Thest thing she wanted was for their beautiful wedding to end on a sour note because


    of her. Nor did she wish for Spencer to lose Emmeline, given how hard it was for him to find


    someone he truly loved and wanted to marry, especially with Spencer''s parents watching from the


    audience. They had waited three long years to see their son get married. The thought of


    disappointing them again was unbearable; after all, how many "three years" could they possibly


    have left?


    As Hertha''s gaze met ric''s earnest and deep eyes, her heart skipped a beat. For a brief moment,


    she felt overwhelmed by his intense look, knowing that if she stared too long, her heart might just


    give in to the chaos and panic those feelings stirred within her. It scared her, the thought of falling


    back into the tumultuous pit of love from which it had taken her three years to crawl out of. The idea


    of going through that pain again made her want to run away more than anything else in that


    moment.


    This text is property of N?/velD/rama.Org.


    Her instinct wasn''t to run away from problems, but the situation she found herself in wasn''t


    something she could handle with her usual resolve. If she were tosh out at ric, telling him to


    get lost, everyone in attendance, watching and waiting for her reaction, would take it as confirmation


    that the rumors about her and Spencer were true. That would inevitably ruin Spencer and


    Emmeline''s wedding.


    Yet, epting ric''s proposal was beyond her emotional capacity. The unresolved issues


    between ric and Georgia were a chasm too wide for Hertha to cross.


    Hertha''s eyes darted around the room, desperately looking for an escape as she felt the weight of


    everyone''s expectations on her. Emmeline''s anxious and tearful eyes were particrly piercing,


    reflecting the tension and turmoil of the moment. Emmeline''s father, gripping her arm tightly,


    seemed ready to whisk his daughter away at the slightest hint of rejection from Hertha.


    No father who loved his daughter would let her marry a man whose heart belonged to another


    woman. That would be like throwing her into the fire.


    From the nervous look in Emmeline''s eyes and her father''s protective stance, Hertha realized the


    gravity of the decision before her.

 Chapter 1995

    Chapter 1995


    ?


    At thirty years old, she knew she couldn''t just think about herself.


    Her racing heart calmed, and her gaze slowly shifted towards ric. He was on one knee, a gesture of pure devotion, holding a small, red velvet box in his hands. Inside, a diamond ring sparkled, catching the colorful lights around them, shining like a beacon of love at its brightest. Yet, the sight pricked at Hertha''s heart. She held her breath, mustering a smile, and extended her hand towards ric, her voice clear for all to hear, "I ept..."


    With those words, a collective sigh of relief washed over the crowd. ric was over the moon, the glint in his charming eyes unmistakable with joy. His earlier nervousness transformed into pure tion as he quickly took the ring from the box, slipping it onto Hertha''s finger with earnest care. Seeing the ring, a symbol of their soon-to-be union, on Hertha''s delicate hand, ric was moved. He gently lifted her hand, pressing a tender kiss to it. This moment, framed by a backdrop of lush roses, was captured by the event photographer, a perfect picture of happiness and romance. The warmth of ric''s lips on her hand sent a shiver through Hertha, a jolt that ran straight to her heart. Despite her attempts to keep her distance, her body couldn''t lie; she hadn''t forgotten ric in these three years.


    The engagement sealed with a kiss, apuse erupted, louder even than the music ying. Hertha, brought back from her turmoil, noticed everyone''s eyes on them. She yfully tugged ric to his feet, teasing. "Get up, don''t steal the limelight." ¡°Anything for you, my dear," ric quipped back, with that mischievous tone of his, whispering in Hertha''s ear. Hertha blushed, and before she could retort, ric positioned himself behind her, a silent statement of his support.Content from N?velDr(a)ma.Org.


    Ignoring his antics, Hertha turned to Emmeline and her father, saying, "There, now you believe me, right? ric really is the father of my children. My being a bridesmaid today is just a favor due to a


    vel


    last-minute need. After this, ric


    and I will head home." Content


    belongs to NovelDrama.Org


    Her words pleased ric, who was standing behind her. His intense gazended on Hertha, his grip on her hand tightening. Emmeline''s father seemed much more at ease, though he looked to Emmeline for her reaction, leaving the decision in her hands.


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    Hertha watched Emmeline


    el


    nervously, afraid she might reject Spencer out of anger. But when Emmeline Tooked at Spencer, meeting his earnest, anxious gaze filled with fear of losing her her heart softened. She had been furious, considering ending things with Spencer.


    But seeing his worry, she couldn''t bear to let him go. After all, she had loved him deeply. Under the watchfuKeyes of everyone, Emmeline finally spoke, ¡°Spencer, can you look into my eyes and answer the question the officiant asked earlier, one more time?¡±

 Chapter 1996

    Chapter 1996


    ?


    The host had just thrown a curveball at Spencer, asking if his decision to marry Emmeline was truly a matter of the heart.


    There was a momentary pause, a beat too long, as Spencer''s gaze swept over the crowd before settling back on the host to deliver his answer.


    Prompted by a remark from ady in the crowd, Spencer had locked eyes with Hertha as he spoke, and that was the moment Emmeline''s heart sank with realization. It dawned on her that Spencer''s affections were truly for Hertha; he had never let her go.


    This realization pierced Emmeline like a thorn, refusing to leave her in peace. All she wanted now was rity: Did Spencer truly love her, or was it Hertha all along?


    Hertha, for her part, seemed even more anxious than Spencer, her eyes darting nervously towards him, fearing he might slip up and give the wrong answer again. Hertha understood the gravity of the situation for Emmeline. She knew that just one wrong move, one slip, could lead Emmeline to turn her back and walk away with her father. After all, a woman''s intuition in matters of the heart is often sharper and more profound than a man''s.This text is property of N?/velD/rama.Org.


    If Spencer revealed anything, even a small detail that hinted at his true feelings, Emmeline would have her answer.


    "I love you. It''s you I want to marry," Spencer finally said, his voice breaking through Hertha''s nervous anticipation.


    Hertha watched as Spencer''s gaze, eamest and gentle, was fixed solely on Emmeline, his demeanor radiating focus and sincerity. In that moment, it was as if they were the only two people in the world, everyone else fading into the background.


    Chapter 1996 1


    Chapter 1996 2


    Spencer, smiling, took Emmeline''s hand in his, his voice as soothing as a luby, "Alright, no vows, but my heart is true..."


    Chapter 1996 3


    In that moment, looking into Spencer''s eyes, feeling the rhythm of his heartbeat, Emmeline''s breath caught in her throat as she realized her profound love for this man. Walking away now would leave her with a lifetime of regret, even if his love wasn''t as strong as hers.


    "Do you feel it? This heart beats for you," Spencer whispered, his voice tinged with an unmatched tenderness. He wanted nothing more than for Emmeline to understand that his love was real, that it was her he truly wished to marry.

 Chapter 1997

    Chapter 1997


    ?


    If their wedding were ruined today because of an outsider, it would have devastated him.


    Tears brimmed in Emmeline''s eyes, overwhelmed by emotion. At this moment, she truly felt bliss.


    "I know, Spencer, I''m sorry. I should have trusted you," Emmeline sobbed to Spencer, her tears flowing. She turned to her father, saying, "Dad, I trust him. I don''t want to leave. I want to marry him."N?velDrama.Org copyrighted ? content.


    Emmeline''s father had witnessed the depth of affection between Spencer and Emmeline. Having been through more seasons and tasted more varieties of life''s salt than Emmeline had bread, how could he not see the love Emmeline had for Spencer? And Spencer''s words to Emmeline were sincerely heartfelt.


    As a father, he naturally wished for his daughter''s happiness.


    His initial desire to pull Emmeline away was out of a moment of fury, blindly believing the words of a stranger.


    Seeing the pleading look in Emmeline''s eyes softened her father''s features. A gentle smile graced his lips as he told Emmeline, "Follow your heart, my dear. Your dad supports you."


    With her father''s blessings, Emmeline''s tears fell like pearls snapped from a string, unable to articte the joy and excitement bubbling within her. "Thank you, Dad." Emmeline''s tears fell as she took Spencer''s hand in front of her father.


    Hertha, witnessing this scene, felt a weight lift off her shoulders. She had been terrified of ruining Spencer''s wedding because of her.


    Seeing the couple reconcile, she finally rxed, her previously tense shoulders easing.


    ric, standing by her side, had observed her shift from anxiety to relief, silently wrapping her in his embrace.


    Hertha felt the warmth of a chest against her back and, turning with a start, saw ric''s devilishly handsome face. Realizing it was ric who had pulled her close, she shot him an annoyed re, shrugging her shoulders in an attempt to shake him off. But ric''s grip was firm.


    After a futile attempt to shrug him off, she ceased her struggle.


    Noticing her surrender, a satisfied smile spread across ric''s face.


    The ceremony officiant, who had


    been worried about bearing the


    me for any mishaps, saw the situation improve as the bride and groom reunited more in love than ever He quickly stepped forward, eager to proceed with the wedding.


    As an officiant, knowing when to steer clear of trouble and never neglecting any ceremony was his survival instinct. Chapter 1997 2


    At this point, he was rushing, not daring to ask any more provocative questions. He couldn''t wait for the bride and groom to officially tie the knot. Following the officiant''s cue, Spencer and Emmeline quickly exchanged rings.


    Both were more anxious than the officiant, fearing another unforeseen incident could ruin their wedding.


    The couple, eager to unite, were genuinely afraid something baseless would spoil their ceremony.


    And the woman who had been so


    certain, iming Spencer loved Hertha and was marrying Emmeline out of obligation, was promptly "escorted" out of the wedding by Spencer''s mother after ric''s sudden proposal to Hertha and Emmeline and Spencer''s heartfelt reconciliation.


    With order restored, Spencer and Emmeline''s wedding concluded.


    Hertha watched Spencer and Emmeline, hand in hand, her lips curling into a smile of blessings.


    Suddenly, a whisper tickled her ear, a warm breath teasing her sensitive earlobe in a low, seductive tone, "How will you thank me tonight?"

 Chapter 1998

    Chapter 1998


    ?


    The warmth tickled Hertha''s neck, making her instinctively shrink back. The breeze that brushed against her skin left a tingling sensation, like an electric current zipping straight through her heart.


    Without thinking, she stepped forward, only to realize that while her legs had moved, her upper body hadn''t budged. She found herself wrapped in a firm embrace, leaning against a solid chest.


    The arms around her shoulders were strong and reassuring.


    Hertha turned her head sharply, locking eyes with ric''s amused and captivating gaze. She had been furious, but the sight of his devilishly handsome face and that irresistible charm sent a shiver down her spine.


    Damn it, why did ric have to be so infuriatingly attractive? Anger had fueled her moments ago, but now, it had vanished, almost ensnared by his allure.


    And then there were his words, soden with innuendo they were begging for a retort.


    What did he mean by "how she would thank him tonight"?


    The implication was unsettling.


    But that wasn''t the point. Why should she thank him in the first ce?


    Hertha fought back the flutter in her heart, gritted her teeth, and retracted her foot, only to stomp down hard on his: "Thank you for nothing!"


    "Ouch!" ric winced, pain shooting up even to his heart. Lifting his foot, he tried to assess the damage to his big toe, but his dress shoe concealed any injury.


    Taking advantage of his distraction, Hertha turned and quickly walked away.


    Spencer and Emmeline''s wedding was over. Staying further would only cause difort; leaving was the best choice for everyone''s sake. ric, ignoring his pain, hurried after her.


    Meanwhile, Spencer and Emmeline


    fheir quests, blissfully u from asking in the congrattions


    of Hertha and ric''s departure.


    Hertha stepped out of the hotel, looking for a taxi.


    She had opted for a cab to the


    wedding, knowing parking w


    set


    be


    a nightmare with the guest list Spotting an approaching taxi she waved it down. Content belongs to


    As the taxi pulled up and she reached for the door, someone grabbed her wrist, pulling her back as the door mmed shut. Turning, she red at ric.


    The taxi driver, annoyed, asked, "Are you getting in or what?"


    ric apologized with a gesture, "Sorry, we won''t be needing the cab. We''ve got our own ride. Just a little spat here."


    The driver, unfazed, drove off.


    "Hey, I didn''t say I wasn''t taking the cab!" Hertha protested, but the taxi was already gone, and ric was still holding onto her, making escape impossible.


    Fuming, Hertha yanked her hand away, "ric, are you out of your mind?"


    ric nced at the ring on her finger, stating matter-of-factly, "Chasing my fianc¨¦e, how''s that crazy?"N?velDrama.Org copyrighted ? content.


    The word ''fianc¨¦e'' made Hertha bristle like a threatened cat, immediately retorting, "Who''s your fianc¨¦e? What are you talking about?"


    "With everyone watching, you epted my proposal. No backing out now," ric confidently dered.

 Chapter 1999

    Chapter 1999


    ?


    "Don''t get ahead of yourself! Hertha snapped, her gaze darting away, refusing to acknowledge the im.


    ric grabbed her hand, lifting it up, "Look at this, what''s shining on your finger? A ring, an engagement ring! You''ve already put it on, and now you wanna back out?"


    "Fine, I''ll give it back to you, happy now?" Hertha reached for the ring, determined to remove it.


    She had only epted ric''s proposal to prevent a certain woman from causing a scene and ruining Spencer''s wedding.


    It was a desperate move. Did ric really think there was anything more to it?


    Seeing Hertha actually trying to remove the ring, ric quickly sped her other hand to stop her.Content from N?velDr(a)ma.Org.


    "Who backs out of an engagement just like that? Hertha, we haven''t even left this hotel. Aren''t you worried that woman might be lurking around, ready to film this and cause drama at Spencer''s wedding?"


    ric held onto Hertha''s struggling hand, his words also a plea for her to reconsider.


    Of course, he knew Hertha had epted his proposal to protect Spencer''s wedding.


    He wasn''t exactly threatening her; he just didn''t want her to make a rash decision that could hurt them both.


    Sure enough, his words hit home. Hertha stopped struggling, her breaths heavy. "Let go of me, I won''t take the ring off."


    ric obediently released her hand.


    The moment she was free, Hertha stormed off, wanting nothing to do with ric.


    ric followed, "My car''s over there. Let me give you a ride home."


    "I don''t want to go anywhere with you!" Hertha retorted.


    "Why not?" ric asked.


    "Why should I? To thank you? ric, don''t think I don''t know what you''re up to. Forget about it; I''m not falling for your tricks again!" Hertha snapped, her gaze fierce.


    ric was like a predator, as if he couldn''t survive without a woman by his side.


    She wasn''t going to be fooled again!


    Hearing her mention "tricks," ric paused, then chuckled. "So, that''s what you think. Don''t worry, whenever you''re ready, I''m here."


    "ric!" Hertha was seething with anger.


    How could he remain so nonchnt when she was this close to blowing a gasket?


    "Alright, alright, I''ll stop. Don''t be mad," ric said, trying to soothe the tension.


    "My point was, I was hoping you''d treat me to dinner tonight, you misunderstood," ric rified.


    Hertha, taking things more seriously now, was not in the mood for jokes, so ric didn''t push further.


    "Why should I treat you to dinner?" Hertha was perplexed.


    Chapter 1999 2


    ric exined, his tone light but his words hitting close to home.


    He knew exactly what Hertha was thinking, reaching right into her heart.


    As long as he yed on her guilt, she wouldn''t be able to refuse a simple dinner with him.


    "What does it matter to me if he


    misses out on love? You should be


    the one he''s thanking, not me," Hertha said, rolling her eyes, clearly done with the conversation.

 Chapter 2000

    Chapter 2000


    ?


    ric stood rooted to the spot, digesting Hertha''s words before the penny dropped. He hurried after her, "Hertha, they''re newlyweds, basking in their honeymoon bliss. Is it really right for me to intrude and expect thanks?"


    "There''s nothing wrong with it," Hertha said.


    "Every moment of a honeymoon is precious, don''t you know?" ric said.


    "I wouldn''t know; I''ve never had one," Hertha replied nonchntly, not slowing her pace.


    "How can you say you''ve never had one? Three years ago, we had our moment, and that night gave us two beautiful kids," ric whispered, edging closer to Hertha with a mischievous grin, his wordsced with an intimacy only they could understand.


    Just thinking about that night made ric''s throat tighten and warmth spread through his abdomen.


    In all these years, only Hertha could make him feel this way. Just the thought of her was enough to stir him.


    Other women were fleeting affairs, strangers passing by, with whom he never wanted a second encounter, let alone to reminisce.


    But Hertha was different. Though they''d been together just once, she had lingered in his heart, impossible to shake off.


    Even the mere memory of that night, its sweet intoxication, would swirl in his heart, impossible to dismiss.


    The more he thought of Hertha, the more his heart yearned for her, craving even a glimpse to soothe his restless spirit.


    After years of flitting from flower to flower, ric realized, this must be love.


    Yes, he had fallen into the quagmire of love, unable to extricate himself.


    ric''s heartfelt words, coupled with his roguishly charming demeanor, seemed somewhat frivolous.


    The heat of his breath on Hertha''s ear made her skin tingle, and she instinctively recoiled, stopping in her tracks to turn and re at fic, her wide eyes shimmering with @mix of rm and irritation.


    "ric, are you mocking me?" Hertha hissed, bristling like a cornered cat.


    ric was taken aback, "How could I be mocking you? I was just..."


    "Three years ago, it was your grandmother who served us that spiked punch and locked us up together, leading to what happened. We never got married, so what` honeymoon are we talking about? ric, if this isn''t mockery, what is?"


    Hertha was straightforward, always speaking her mind unless bound by secrets. If something bothered her, she wouldn''t wait till the next day to say it.


    Understanding her anger, ricN?velDrama.Org copyrighted ? content.


    quickly tried to make amends, "That wasn''t my intention... If you want to get married, let''s do it. We can go get the license now, and I''ll throw you a grand wedding tomorrow, how about that?"


    ric leaned in, gently holding Hertha''s shoulders, his eyes earnest and anxious, the deep affection and regard he had for Hertha brimming in his gaze.


    His feelings for Hertha were overflowing, beyond concealment, and indeed, he had no intention of hiding them.

 Chapter 2001

    Chapter 2001


    ?


    Hertha briskly pushed ric''s arm away, her nostrils ring with heated anger. Her chest heaved, her eyes wide with fury as she confronted ric, "I''ve made myself crystal clear before, ric. I have no intention of marrying you, nor do I desire any romantic entanglement with you! You''re merely the father of the children, nothing more. Let''s keep it friendly, okay? ric, please, don''t blur these lines."


    With that, Hertha turned and walked away quickly, her pace elerating as if trying to escape an impending storm or a beast on her heels, eager to shake off something unwanted.


    ric, filled with deep emotions, felt a sudden chill rece the warmth in his heart as Hertha''s angry words hit him. It was as if a bucket of cold water had been poured over him, cooling his ardor from head to toe.


    He stood still, watching Hertha''s retreating figure. The joy of a once-hoped-for proposal sess was now reced by profound sadness.


    As Hertha''s silhouette became smaller in the distance, it felt like unraveling a tightly wound cocoon, forcefully stripping away something from the very depths of his being.


    The stripping was painful, tied to his flesh, making it hard for him to breathe.


    Just as Hertha was about to turn the corner and vanish from his sight, ric couldn''t hold back any longer. He started running after her, catching up at the corner to see Hertha again. His heart''s gates burst open with impulse.


    He shouted towards her back, "Hertha, I''ve looked into it, and I''m not r''s father by blood. It was Georgia who bribed the hospital staff to fabricate those test results to deceive me! r is not my child!"


    If he didn''t take this step, what was being forcefully removed from his heart was his future with Hertha, hence the unbearable pain, as if a heavy stone pressed against his chest, suffocating him.


    Yet, he couldn''t bear the thought of having no future with Hertha or seeing her with another man.


    The mere thought of her being with someone else twisted his heart in agony.


    Previously disdainful of exnations and cajoling women, he now set aside his pride to catch up and exin to Hertha.


    Love is the strongest weapon when a manys down his ego.


    If a man isn''t willing to put aside his ego, how can he talk about love?


    Hearing ric''s voice, Hertha stiffened, a pang of pain striking her heart.


    Was ric only now finding out that Georgia''s child wasn''t his?


    Did that mean he hadn''t conspired with Georgia to deceive her, and he too was a victim of Georgia''s deceit?


    For a moment, Hertha''s heart


    softened, but then she remembered


    all the suffering she had endured over the past three years,


    remembering ric''s past romantic escapades. He was a notorious


    yboy, utterly unreliable. Content


    belongs to NovelDrama.Org


    Taking a deep breath, Hertha tried to dispel that fleeting softness, continuing forward without looking back.Content from N?velDr(a)ma.Org.


    Falling into the same trap once


    could be chalked up to you


    na and inexperience, but t d be sheer folly. Contero


    belongs to NovelDrama.Org


    twice


    "True feelings? That would be the day when the sun rises from the west," Hertha scoffed through her nose.


    A man known for changing women like clothes, what true feelings could he possibly have?

 Chapter 2002

    Chapter 2002


    ?


    Hertha rolled her eyes at ric, clearly unimpressed.


    Undeterred, ric kept babbling as he followed her, "This time, it''s really like the sun rising in the west."


    No sooner had he finished his sentence than Hertha shot him another eye roll. Everyone knew the sun could never rise in the west. He was still trying to deceive her with such nonsense.


    "Oops, I misspoke again. What I meant to say was, this time, you can trust that I''m sincere. The moment I found out that r isn''t my son, you were the first person I thought of. I''m scared of losing you. Please, give me another chance."


    ric''s words came straight from the heart. He had already lost three years, and life, whether long or short, seemed to sh by in an instant. If he and Hertha didn''t spend their youth together, they would miss out on countless joyous moments in their old age. So, ric didn''t want to waste any more precious time.


    "What does r not being your son have to do with me? Stop bugging me!" Hertha snapped, pushing ric away. ric staggered backward from the force of her push. Clearly, she really didn''t want him following her.Content is ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org.


    ric''s breathing became erratic. He could handle Hertha being mad at him, but he couldn''t stand her saying he was of no concern to her and telling him to stop bothering her.


    The city''s hustle and bustle, with its constant flow of cars and honking, normally wouldn''t bother him, but at that moment, it felt particrly grating. Everything seemed to irritate him when he was out of sorts.


    His gaze found its way back to Hertha, who looked so frailpared to three years ago when she had a fuller, more endearing figure. Now, she seemed so thin, her silhouette so delicate it was heartbreaking.


    Chapter 2002 1


    But now, Hertha''s demeanor had taken on a touch of mncholy and maturity. For some, maturity was an appealing trait, but for others, it only added to their allure while also evoking a sense of poignancy.


    Chapter 2002 2


    She took the elevator to her floor, and as the doors opened and she stepped out, she was startled by the figure waiting outside. Upon recognizing the person, with his charming, fox-like features and beguiling eyes, Hertha''s heart skipped a beat. But she quickly regained herposure and red at him, exasperated, "ric, are you out of your mind?"


    "Yes, I am, and only you can cure me. Would you be my remedy?" ric replied, his voice a blend of mischief and tenderness.


    Hertha shuddered, goosebumps forming, "Are you trying to be sleazy? That''s not how you win a woman''s heart, you know. Women can''t stand greasy men."

 Chapter 2003

    Chapter 2003


    ?


    "Do you even have to ask?" ric said.


    "Please, who knows women better than another woman?" Hertha rolled her eyes at him and strutted ahead.


    "Guess it''s back to the clean-cut look for me then. Can''t have you disliking it," ric followed her.


    "ric, how many more times do I have to tell you, we''re just frien-!" Hertha turned around, annoyance creasing her forehead, about to remind him they were just friends.


    Before she could finish, ric cupped her face, pulling her closer, and her lips were suddenly captured in a kiss.


    Her breath hitched, eyes widening. Up close, ric''s face was magnified, his eyes like shimmering orbs of crystal, so pure they seemed to pull her in.


    And his eyshes, long and curled, were a sight to behold.


    How could a man''s eyes be so beautiful?


    Lost in thought, Hertha felt the kiss deepen, stealing her breath, conquering and iming.


    The stirring sensation was like the warmth of spring, intoxicating.


    Her body temperature rose along with it.


    Her heartbeat quickened, feeling ric''s breath on her face, strong and scorching.


    It was like that night three years ago, almost merging into one.


    Her body, betraying her outward disdain for ric, heated up uncontrobly at his proximity, craving more.


    It was a helpless yet irresistible feeling.


    Hertha''s grip on the hem of ric''s shirt tightened as the kiss deepened, her whole body tensing up.


    Feeling her tension, ric deepened the kiss further.Content from N?velDr(a)ma.Org.


    Initially, his face,


    wander back, igniting1.et dands had cradled her


    as the kiss intensified,


    to


    with every touch.


    He had only meant to stop her from saying those heartless words, but now, he was losing control, his body moring for more. Hertha, in his arms, softened into him.


    If only this wasn''t the hallway, he thought, yearning for more.


    Driving back, he wasn''t sure if Hertha had arrived before him. Hoping against hope, he waited by the elevator, just in case.


    Fate smiled on him, and there she was inside the elevator as the doors slid open.


    At first, Hertha thought to push ric away, but as his kiss deepened, the rising heat fogged her mind, melting her resolve. Gradually, she drowned in ric''s kiss.


    The only man she ever loved, his slightest effort made her utterly defenseless.


    Just one kiss was enough to strip away all her defenses, leaving her intoxicated in his embrace.


    Their kiss was intense, difficult to break away from, with ric barely holding on.


    Holding Hertha, he kissed her while moving towards his room, his sense of direction telling him the door was just behind. He reached out,


    intending to unlock the door bol no


    instead, his handnded on O something warm.


    A wall of flesh?


    Who was standing at his door?


    S


    Irritated, ric was about to express his displeasure when a voice from behind chimed in, "Wow, talk. about


    being in a hurry." Content belongs to nt belongs to NovelDrama.Org

 Chapter 2004

    Chapter 2004


    ?


    "Damn it," ric muttered under his breath, utterly annoyed by the interruption at the most crucial moment. He had just let go of Hertha, ready tosh out, when he turned and saw a familiar face.


    His irritation instantly turned into embarrassment and guilt.


    There, standing before him, was none other than his mother-inw, Kimberly!


    He was caught red-handed kissing her daughter, about to lead her into temptation, and now he was about to snap at Kimberly. He felt like he was seriously asking for trouble.


    The harsh words that were about to escape ric''s lips were forcefully swallowed back down.


    With a guilty conscience, he muttered a low, "Kimberly."


    He had wanted to call her "Mom" but feared being rejected, so he reverted to using her first name instead.


    Hertha, still dazed from the kiss,y limp in ric''s arms, oblivious to the unfolding situation.


    "Don''t you dare," Kimberly said with a look of disdain.


    "Daddy, Mommy, are you ying the kissing game? I wanna y too!" a soft, adorable voice chimed in.


    "Me too, me too!" another equally cute voice added, bubbling with excitement.


    Hertha, startled from her daze, felt a jolt of shock run from the depths of her heart to the top of her head.


    She lifted her head and saw her mother frowning at her with utter disdain. The sight was shocking enough, but then she nced down to see two angelic little faces looking up at her with innocence and excitement, as if waiting to join in the kissing game.


    Chapter 2004 1


    She tried to sound casual, her face burning with embarrassment.


    Even without looking at her mother, she could imagine the look of contempt on her face.


    The children might not have understood the implications of the scene they just witnessed, but her mother certainly did. After all, she had been through it all.


    How could she not feel shy in front of someone so wise, especially when that person was her own mother?


    "Me too, me too!" Helena, seeing her


    brother receiving a kiss and notThis text is property of N?/velD/rama.Org.


    vel.ne


    wanting to be left out, tugged Hertha''s pants, looking up with


    those big eyes, begging to be held.


    Her cheeks were flushed with urgency, almost as if she was about to climb up Hertha''s leg to get her attention.


    Just as Hertha was about to put


    Julian down to pick up Helena, ric


    beat her to it. He knelt down,


    scooped Helena into his arms, and


    gently kissed her cheek, saying,


    "There, game over."


    His voice was tender, the epitome of a gentle father.


    Helena, now content with her father''s kiss, calmed down and smiled brightly, her dimples making her irresistibly cute.


    "Daddy''s the best, I love Daddy," Helena''s soft, melodious voice rang out, her little hands cupping ric''s face and nting a kiss on his cheek.


    That kiss melted ric''s heart.


    "Daddy loves you too," ric couldn''t help but respond.


    "Alright, enough with the doorway drama, let''s go inside," Kimberly said coolly, keys in hand, unlocking the door to let them in.

 Chapter 2005

    Chapter 2005


    ?


    Hertha shot ric a quick nce, her cheeks ming at the memory of that dizzying kiss that had left her in a whirl. Hurriedly, she turned away, scooping up Julian and heading inside.


    She felt a flush of embarrassment. Just moments before, she had been firmly rejecting ric''s advances, and the next, she was lost in his passionate kiss.


    To an outsider, it might look like she was ying hard to get with ric.


    But heaven knows, she had no interest in ying any sort of love games with ric.


    Deciding to give up on a man she deeply loved was hard enough. Having made that decision, she didn''t want to backslide so easily.


    Yet, ric''s unexpected kiss had broken down her defenses, making it all the more difficult to keep him at arm''s length.


    Though Hertha quickly turned away, ric still caught the blush spreading across her cheeks, as striking as the glow of a sunset, stirring something deep inside him.


    The reaction from that kiss hadn''t fully subsided yet, and seeing Hertha''s embarrassed, flushed face made ric''s throat tighten. But with his adorable daughter in his arms, he couldn''t just lose hisposure. He swallowed hard, trying to tamp down his strong reaction, and followed Hertha inside with Helena in tow.


    As soon as they entered, Kimberly pulled out chairs at the dining table, shooting Hertha a stern look before turning her gaze to ric with a huff, "You two, put down the kids ande sit. We need to have a talk."


    Hearing the words "we need to have a talk," Hertha''s nerves tensed, and she instinctively looked at ric for some support.


    At that moment, ric was also looking her way, even more nervous than she was. After all, Kimberly was Hertha''s mother, his potential mother-in-w. Offending her could make marrying Hertha even more challenging.


    So, ric was extra cautious, not wanting to upset the mother-inw.


    He looked at Hertha, hoping she could back him up.


    Seeing the helpless look in Hertha''s eyes, ric realized she was just as afraid of her mother.


    It dawned on ric that he didn''t just need backing; he had to be the one to support Hertha.


    With this realization, ric


    straightened up, his lips curving into


    a polite smile, ready to face Kimberly with the perfect son-inw


    content belongs to


    He cheerfully said to Kimberly, "Your wish is mymand. We''ll take Helena and Julian to the yroom to enjoy some toys, and then we''ll join you for the meeting."


    Hertha couldn''t help but roll her eyes at ric''s tant ttery.


    Before she could finish her silent critique, ric was already leading the way to the yroom, winking at Hertha to follow.Content from N?velDr(a)ma.Org.


    Understanding his intent, Hertha quickly caught up, carrying Julian.


    Once in the yroom, ric gently set down Helena, tenderly ruffling her hair, "Helena, sweetheart, y with your brother for a bit with the toys. Mommy and Daddy wille y with you after the meeting,


    okay?"


    S


    "Okay, Daddy. Mommy, you too. Finish the meeting soon. We''ll wait in the yroom," Helena replied, always obedient and understanding. By then, Hertha had also let Julian down.


    The two kids busied themselves with the toy trains, and ric sidled up to Hertha, whispering, "We need to get our story straight for Kimberly." "What story?" Hertha asked, somewhat exasperated.


    "About us," ric said, as if it were the most obvious thing in the world.

 Chapter 2006

    Chapter 2006


    ?


    "What kind of rtionship do we have?" Hertha''s heart was racing, her mind a whirlwind of emotions. The memory of ric''s passionate kiss was still fresh, and despite her willing participation, she now felt a wave of embarrassment, wishing she could vanish into thin air.


    Just when the awkwardness was at its peak, ric brought up the nature of their rtionship. How on earth was she supposed to have a straight talk about this now?


    "We''re getting engaged," ric blurted out, urgency evident in his voice as he attempted to discuss the day''s events.


    He was cut short by Kimberly''s voice from outside the room, "Are you two done yet? Hurry up, don''t keep us waiting."


    At Kimberly''s words, Hertha felt a jolt of nervousness and hastily made her way around ric to leave the room. "Coming!" Hertha called out.Content from N?velDr(a)ma.Org.


    ric, not wanting to offend his future mother-inw, quickly added, "Yeah, on our way!"


    His tone was gentler, more considerate than Hertha''s.


    As Hertha and ric emerged, Kimberly faced them with a stern look, "What were you two plotting in there?"


    ric raised an eyebrow, thinking to himself how sharp Kimberly was, almost as if she had a sixth sense about these things.


    Fortunately, they hadn''t gotten far with their ''plotting'', or else Kimberly would never believe whatever they said next, convinced they were trying to pull one over on her.


    "Mom, you''re overthinking it. How could I possibly be plotting anything with him?" Hertha shot ric a sideways nce, clearly annoyed.


    "I hope so. I''m telling you, things are what they are, and there''s no escaping or deceiving me. It''s not going to end well for you," Kimberly retorted with a cold huff.


    "Look, how could we ever think of deceiving you? Even if we had the guts, we wouldn''t dare," ric said,ying it on thick.


    "Don''t sweet-talk me. It''s not like you haven''t tried to pull one over on me before," Kimberly rolled her eyes at ric.


    Caught off guard by the gesture, ric touched his nose awkwardly, realizing where Hertha got her habit of rolling her eyes from.


    Soon, the three of them were seated at the dining table, Hertha and ric on one side, facing Kimberly.


    Sitting across from her mother, Hertha felt like she was on trial, waiting for a verdict with bated breath. Sweat started to form in her palms as she nervously swallowed.


    Chapter 2006 1


    The embarrassment was unbearable. What if Thssa found out? She''d never hear the end of it.


    Chapter 2006 2


    Chapter 2006 3


    Kimberly''s eyes were piercing, as if she could see right through them, picking up on the slightest detail that might reveal the true nature of their rtionship.

 Chapter 2007

    Chapter 2007


    ?


    Under the sharp gaze of her mother, Hertha wilted, immediately retracting the fierce look in her eyes and offering her mother an awkward smile, without shrugging off ric''s hand resting on her shoulder.


    "Hertha and I have cleared up the misunderstandings that have long stood between us, and we''ve decided to be together. Please give us your blessing." Seeing Hertha hadn''t pushed him away, ric grew bolder, feeling confident enough toy it all out to Hertha''s parents.


    Hertha not pushing his hand off her shoulder in front of her mother was an indication; she was giving him a chance.


    A chance to show his true feelings in front of her mother. If Kimberly epted him, he could truly be with Hertha.


    This was an opportunity too good to miss. And he''d be a fool to let it slip through his fingers.


    So, despite the nerves wing at his insides, he steeled himself andid it all out.


    No sooner had he finished speaking than Hertha pushed his hand away, countering, "Who says I want to be with you? Don''t get ahead of yourself." Kimberly hadn''t even had the chance to react before she heard her daughter''s dismissive words, causing her brows to knit together instantly. Panic seized ric, and in his desperation, his eyes locked onto the ring on Hertha''s finger, "You epted my proposal. Are you going back on your word now?"


    "What kind of fool would ept your proposal?" Hertha retorted, her pride not allowing her to admit anything, despite the awkwardness of being caught kissing ric by her mother.


    ric grabbed her hand, lifting it for Kimberly to see the ring clearly: "If you didn''t ept my proposal, then how do you exin this ring?" Hertha paused, suddenly remembering the engagement ring ric had given her.


    She tried to remove it in front of Kimberly, leading to a scuffle between the two, and the situation quickly turned chaotic.


    "Enough, both of you calm down right now!" Kimberlymanded with a stern voice.Content from N?velDr(a)ma.Org.


    Hearing Kimberly''s stern tone,


    Hertha and ric stopped and


    e


    1


    at her, seeing her serious ression and understanding gaze.


    Hertha knew her mother well enough to realize that this was not the time for jokes; she was taking this seriously.


    She then stopped resisting, no longer trying to remove the ring, and pushed ric''s hand away to sit quietly.


    And for ric, as long as Hertha wasn''t trying to remove the ring, it was a win.


    "ric, exin what''s going on," Kimberly said, giving ric the floor.


    Seizing the opportunity, ric


    immediately said, "Today, at


    Spencer''s wedding, I publicly proposed to Hertha, and she epted in front of everyone. But as soon as we left the venue, she


    started denying it." Content belongs


    to NovelDrama.Org


    ric kept his exnation short, throwing a pitiful nce at Hertha, as if he was the wronged party.


    "It''s not like that, Mom, don''t listen to him twisting the story. The truth is..." Hertha started, desperate to exin.


    "Stop! Don''t give me any excuses. Just tell me, did you ept ric''s


    ring? Kimberly cut in, gettinariet t to the point. Cont


    belongs to NovelDrama.Org


    "Yes," Hertha muttered, her reply tinged with reluctance.

 Chapter 2008

    Chapter 2008


    ?


    "Did you or did you not say ''yes'' to ric''s proposal at Spencer''s wedding, in front of everyone?" Kimberly pressed.


    Hertha lifted her gaze, a whirlwind of grievances swirling in her heart that she longed to share with her mother. Yet, meeting her mother''s stern look, she wilted, pursed her lips, and with a brave face, nodded, "Yes."


    "Well, what''s there to debate? Isn''t it just as ric said, that you two n to be together?" Kimberly threw her hands up, making her point clear.


    "But Mom, you don''t understand what happened back there," Hertha attempted to convey her dilemma.This text is property of N?/velD/rama.Org.


    "No matter the situation, you chose to ept him. With so many eyes on you, going back on your word now, how do you think that makes you look?" Kimberly knew her daughter all too well, alwaysing up with one excuse or another to dodge the happiness that was seemingly within reach.


    Three years ago, she had done the same with Spencer, a perfectly good man.


    And now, her baby''s father was eagerly waiting to be with her. If she sabotaged this, there really was no hope for her.


    ric, catching the drift, realized Kimberly was on his side.


    The turmoil inside him vanished in an instant, even giving way to a bit of joy.


    Having his mother-inw in his corner meant he was halfway to sess.


    "I only epted to ensure Spencer''s wedding went off without a hitch," Hertha finally let out her frustration.


    Kimberly was at a loss for words. Wanting to scold her but holding back because of ric''s presence, she didn''t want to give him a reason tough at them.


    Did she really think life''s significant moments were child''s y, epting a proposal on a whim only to backtrackter?


    And did Spencer really need her to make such a sacrifice for his wedding?


    He had moved on, walking down the aisle with another woman. Why would he care about her actions?


    Kimberly swallowed her anger, turning instead to ric, "ric, tell me, what made you propose to Hertha?"


    "Kimberly, you know I''ve always


    I


    wanted to marry Hertha. There were just some misunderstandings that kept us apart. Only today did I learn the truth, which is why I rushed to propose to Hertha at Spencer''s wedding."


    ric sounded like the most agreeable son-inw.


    Obedient and earnest.


    "What misunderstanding?" Kimberly, already having an inkling, waited eagerly for ric to spill the beans. Chapter 2008 2


    After revealing the truth, ric


    paused, his eyes, filled with a mncholic sincerity, looked at Hertha, his gazeden with emotion and a hint of sorrow, "I can''t afford to lose her again."


    No exnation could hold a candle to these words.


    Perhaps it was ric''s heartfelt deration.


    Hertha''s heart skipped a beat, and for the first time, she looked directly at ric, her clear eyes meeting his charged gaze, her heartbeat missing half a beat.


    Her previously resistant gaze softened.


    Kimberly, witnessing their exchange, saw clear as day that these two were deeply in love, their eyes practically weaving threads of affection.


    If they missed out on each other because of Hertha''s stubbornness, they''d both be miserable for life.

 Chapter 2009

    Chapter 2009


    ?


    And there it was, the piece of news ric had shared confirmed Kimberly''s suspicion - the child wasn''t his!


    As long as ric didn''t have other kids out there, there was nothing standing in the way between him and Hertha. Weren''t they meant to be together?


    A child needs both their biological mom and dad, especially when the parents are in love with each other.


    What was there to refuse?


    "Alright, that settles it. Tomorrow, you two are going to get your marriage license," Kimberly dered decisively.


    "Really? That''s amazing!" ric couldn''t hide his jubtion. His perseverance had paid off in the most unexpected way.


    "Mom!" Hertha stared at her mother in disbelief.


    "I know you''re anxious, dear. Don''t worry, I''ll get the marriage license paperwork ready for you," Kimberly deliberately misinterpreted Hertha''s shock.


    She stood up, pushing her chair back, and told Hertha, "Come with me. Let''s get the paperwork."


    With that, she headed to the room first.


    Hertha red at ric, annoyed.


    With a cheeky grin, ric said, "Let''s go get those papers. We''re setting off tomorrow."


    Hertha gritted her teeth in frustration, reluctantly following her mother to the room.


    Once inside, Kimberly closed the door, pulled Hertha aside, and asked in a serious tone, "Now that you know the child isn''t ric''s, what''s holding you back?"


    Kimberly was eager to know Hertha''s true feelings, not interested in any excuses.


    "Mom, you have no idea how he hurt me three years ago. Should I just forgive him that easily?" Hertha pouted, voicing her grievances.


    She knew her mother still loved her and wouldn''t rush her into marriage.


    "The past is the past. Your child is growing up. You still love him, don''t you?" Kimberly spoke rationally.


    "That''s exactly what bothers me the


    most. How can I still not let go of someone so irresponsible? If only feelings could be switched off that easily Herthamented. If it was possible, she would have wanted to leave ric miles behind long ago.


    But her heart refused to listen.


    Telling it to forget him was futile.


    The slightest attention from him, and she was all over the ce.


    It was truly frustrating.Content from N?velDr(a)ma.Org.


    "You''re thirty now, not a child anymore. You can''t be capricious. In the adult world, nothing''s perfect. We endure and ept. Learning to be tolerant is the key to a happy life. Listen to me, don''t make decisions you''ll regret," Kimberly advised Hertha.


    "But what if I regret marrying him?" The thought of falling into the same trap twice was depressing for Hertha. Chapter 2009 3


    Kimberly rarely lectured Hertha, but when she did, it came from her own experiences.

 Chapter 2010

    Chapter 2010


    ?


    "Mom, do you really think I should marry ric?" Hertha was still unsure. The thought of ric being with another woman made her heart ache, but she couldn''t get over the hurdle in her heart.


    Even if the child wasn''t ric''s, how did Georgia manage to convince him otherwise? It was because ric had indeed been intimate with Georgia. The thought made Hertha''s stomach churn, and she couldn''t persuade herself to ept it.


    "I know what''s bothering you, honey," Kimberly said, understanding her daughter''s concerns. "Which woman wouldn''t mind such a thing? But can you guarantee the next man you meet will be pure in body and heart? At least ric''s heart is in the right ce; he only has eyes for you."


    Kimberly knew her daughter well enough to understand her reservations. Life''s not perfect, and who''s to say the next man Hertha meets hasn''t had his past rtionships? Hertha, already a mother and in her thirties, couldn''t possibly expect to meet a man without his own history.


    "How do you know ric only likes me? He''s never said as much," Hertha asked, curious.


    "Hasn''t he? Maybe you just don''t believe him," Kimberly teased.


    ric might as well have been glued to Hertha''s side; it was clear he had feelings for her. Kimberly had done her homework on ric. Born into the Falconer family, a lineage of privilege, he was their only child and prized possession. Raised in luxury, untouched by hardship, that''s what ric epitomized.


    Despite being spoiled, ric had a strong sense of pride and never admitted fault or showed weakness. He''d rather miss out than apologize. Yet, for Hertha, he had set aside his pride, doing everything he could to win her over, even charming her mother. If that wasn''t love what was?


    Hertha might not realize it, but she had already captured the heart of ric, a man previously unattainable to anyone. Chapter 2010 2


    "So what if he said it? Does it make it true? With his reputation, can he really be sincere?" Hertha scoffed.


    "I''ve been talking to you for ages, and you''re still indifferent," Kimberly said, frustrated, resorting to a threat. "You''ve made up your mind against ric haven''t you? Fine, I''ll go and drive him away myself, and I keep doing it every time he shows up!"


    Kimberly, impulsively moving towards the door, was stopped by a panicked Hertha grabbing her sleeve: "Mom, mom, calm down, please don''t be rash."


    Kimberly turned, ring at her: "Do you even care about your future anymore?"Content is ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org.

 Chapter 2011

    Chapter 2011


    ?


    Hertha knew if she kept up her stubbornness, her mom was really going to lose it this time. With her head hanging low, she nodded in agreement. Seeing her daughter finally facing her true feelings, Kimberly couldn''t help but smile. "Exactly! Why stress over it? Some people, some things, you lose them if you overthink it."


    "ric isn''t going anywhere after today," Hertha muttered under her breath. How could anything be lost?


    "You cheeky girl, still talking back to me?" Kimberly''s scolding now came with a hint of affection, the kind only a mother has for her daughter. Hertha quickly pursed her lips, choosing to remain silent.Content from N?velDr(a)ma.Org.


    Kimberly pulled out a significant document from the drawer and handed it to Hertha. "Go on then, he must be getting anxious waiting outside." ric, who had been eagerly watching the door the whole time, sprang to his feet the moment it opened.


    Noticing the document in Hertha''s hand, a smile spread across his face uncontrobly.


    Hertha holding that document meant she had, from the bottom of her heart, agreed to marry him.


    At this moment, ric was beaming like a kid in a candy store.


    Kimberly, observing ric''s reaction, knew he was genuinely thrilled about marrying Hertha.


    She was d. Thest thing she wanted was for him to be indifferent; that would be like throwing her daughter into a pit of despair.


    "Tonight, I''m not cooking dinner for you two. You''ll have to figure something out," Kimberly stated coolly.


    "You might not cook for him, but you have to cook for me!" Hertha retorted instinctively.


    ric quickly tried to smooth things over. "Kimberly''s been busy with the kids all day; she''s tired. And cooking for so many people is exhausting. Be a little understanding towards your mom. I''ll take you out, we can eat whatever you want."


    With that, he moved closer to Hertha, gently shaking her arm in a mix of a reminder and an attempt to appease her.


    He really didn''t want Hertha to feel embarrassed.


    "Right, you two go out. Don''t wait up


    for me tonight," Kimberly said,


    ve


    .ne


    pleased with ric''s reaction. The


    young man was quick on the uptake, which impressed her. Content


    belongs to NovelDrama.Org


    Saying so, Kimberly headed to the kitchen to prepare dinner for herself and the kids.


    "What?" Hertha looked at her mother in disbelief.


    Since when did a mom push her daughter towards a man and support a night out withouting home?


    Was this really her mother?


    "Mom, we''ll be off then," ric said, barely able to contain his excitement. He eagerly took Hertha''s hand, ready to lead her out.


    In the car, ric carefully took the


    document from Hertha and ced it in the glovepartment. He nned to drive to the registry office the next day, so it was convenient to have it in his car.


    After buckling up, he started the car, his smile nearly permanent. ¡°So, what do you feel like eating?"


    Hertha pouted, staring straight


    ahead. Her mom had always been


    strict about hering home at night. If she couldn''t make it for some reason, she had to report to her mom.


    And now, her mom was practically handing her over to ric and telling her not toe home tonight.


    Hertha couldn''t help but feel a bit abandoned.


    It was as if she was no longer the precious daughter in her mother''s eyes.


    ¡°Hertha, what''s wrong? Why aren''t you saying anything?" ric asked, concerned by her silence.

 Chapter 2012

    Chapter 2012


    ?


    "I don''t feel like talking," Hertha said, her voice t and devoid of emotion.


    "Then just tell me what you want to eat. That''s thest thing you''ll have to say," ric nudged.


    "Whatever," Hertha replied, clearly not interested.


    "Alright, ''Whatever'' it is then," ric yed along.


    Hertha was too absorbed in the passing scenery outside the window to pay attention to ric''s words.


    Soon, the car stopped, and ric got out, walked around to the passenger side, and opened the door for Hertha, his hand guarding her head to prevent any idental bumps a perfect gentleman.


    "We''re here, so what''s it gonna be?" Hertha asked, curious.


    ric pointed behind her.


    Turning around, Hertha saw a restaurant sign that read "Whatever." The name gave no clue about the type of ce it was, though a menu board by the entrance listed various dishes.


    A restaurant named "Whatever"?!


    Hertha looked back and forth between ric and the restaurant, her astonishment growing. "What the heck is this?"


    She had lived in Starhaven for many years and had no idea there was a restaurant called "Whatever"!


    "Didn''t you say you wanted ''Whatever''?" ric replied, hands in his pockets and a mischievous smile ying on his lips. Even this simple gesture was enough to send hearts racing.


    Hertha swallowed hard, her heart skipping a beat at the sight of ric''s devilishly handsome smile.This text is property of N?/velD/rama.Org.


    It was as if he didn''t know the effect his good looks had on her.


    Trying to maintain herposure, Hertha quickly turned her head away, refusing to let him charm her any further.


    "I meant I didn''t care what we ate, but you knew that. Anyway, since we''re here, let''s go in," Hertha said, trying to save face.


    The restaurant''s menu surprisingly catered to Hertha''s tastes.


    As they ate, ric took out his phone and asked Hertha what kind of movies she liked.


    Lifting her gaze to meet his, Hertha asked with a hint of yfulness, "Is this your way of asking me on a date?"


    "Only just realized? After all this time


    of beating around the bush, we''ve never had a proper date. Tonight''s ourst night of being single, so why not make it a night to remember?" ric leaned in closer, infusing the moment with romance.


    "Have you been this romantic with lot of women?" Instead of being ttered by his words, Hertha was guard, inadvertently voicing her concern.


    Thinking about ric''s past rtionships, especially the one with Georgia, made Hertha uneasy.


    The image of ric and Georgia


    together on the same bed-a sight she had unfortunately


    witnessed-was something she couldn''t shake off. epting his past was one thing, but seeing him with another woman was entirely different.


    ric''s smile froze, caught off guard by Hertha''s probing eyes. The flirtation in his gaze suddenly seemed out of ce.


    He looked away, straightening up and changing the subject, "Let''s focus on the food before it gets cold."


    As he ate, his actions were casual, but underneath, there was an unmistakable sense of difort.


    Being the sharp person he was, ric realized that Hertha''sment was her way of expressing concern over his past rtionships.


    Indeed, he had been quite the yboy, involved with many women before.

 Chapter 2013

    Chapter 2013


    ?


    It was a past he couldn''t scrub clean, no matter how hard he tried.


    All because, like Ethan, he once didn''t believe in love, thinking a good time was all that mattered.


    Youthful folly, pure and simple.


    Now, wanting a home of his own, those histories became the stains he couldn''t wash away.Content is ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org.


    Hertha cared, and there was no way he could exin it to her.


    Fearing he''d only make things worse, he simply avoided the topic.


    Hertha looked away, focusing on her meal instead, not dwelling on the matter.


    She realized her own issues too. Having decided to ovee her mental barriers and ept everything about ric, she shouldn''t be so sensitive. She ought to interact with ric normally.


    But understanding something in theory and oveing the emotional distance were two different things.


    After finishing their meal in silence, ric paid the bill. As they were leaving, Hertha suddenly suggested, ¡°Let''s catch ''Sizzling Secrets'', it''s all the rage right now."


    She knew she was the one who had turned the atmosphere awkward and felt it was on her to lighten the mood.


    If she couldn''t let go of ric, she had to gradually let go of her reservations and truly ept him, ws and all.


    Hearing her, ric turned around in disbelief, a look of surprise and happiness lighting up his face once he realized she was serious.


    "Great idea, there''s a mall nearby with a cinema," he said, visibly cheered up.


    "Okay," Hertha replied.


    "Let''s go then." ric came back to her, hisrge hand enveloping hers. The sunshine in him seemed restored.


    His hand was warm and dry,


    comforting against Hertha''s. The


    warmth and the gentle palpitations it


    sparked felt like a unique kind of


    happiness, different from the


    e


    warmth of family. Love, she realized, had its own sweet vor.


    This sweetness temporarily overpowered the defenses around her heart.


    Hertha wanted to let go of her


    reservations, to not overthink andet enjoy a date will l


    bathed in the rosy hue of


    love.


    A smile crept on her face as she snuggled closer to him, resting her head on his shoulder in a typical lovers'' gesture.


    Feeling her closeness, ric was even more moved, tilting his head to touch hers, sharing a moment of affection.


    The moviested for over two hours, and by the time they left, it was around eleven at night.


    Walking down the street, the night air was cool against their faces.


    Hertha leaned on ric for warmth, asking, ¡°Where to now?"


    "Are you tired? Should we head back to rest?" ric was concerned, noting her yawns during the movie; she was clearly exhausted. While romance was important, her well-being mattered more.


    "My mom said I shouldn''te back tonight," Hertha pouted, feeling a bit like a wanderer.


    ¡°So, how about we check into a hotel?" ric suggested.


    "That sounds perfect. I just want to lie down on a big,fy bed and sleep," Hertha admitted. She was worn out from waking up early for Spencer''s wedding and the day''s events had taken their toll.


    No sooner had she spoken than ric stopped in front of a hotel, "Look, there''s one right here. Let''s stay the night."

 Chapter 2014

    Chapter 2014


    ?


    "Alright, let''s crash here," Hertha mumbled, barely able to keep her eyes open at the mention of a hotel, longing for rest. Without even ncing at which hotel it was, she trudged toward the entrance.Content from N?velDr(a)ma.Org.


    Reaching the front desk, ric pulled out his ID and handed it to the receptionist, "We need a room."


    As the receptionist took ric''s ID, her gaze lingered on his face, a shy, girlish smile ying on her lips, bashful yet full of longing.


    Hertha, though exhausted, couldn''t help but notice the receptionist''s smitten demeanor. It was as if she saw pink, heart-shaped bubbles popping in the air around her, her adoration almost tangible.


    Hertha knew that look all too well, having been in those shoes herself. The first time sheid eyes on ric, she was head over heels, caught up in a whirlwind of infatuation.


    Now, seeing her past self in the eyes of another, Hertha''s fatigue seemed to fade away, reced by amusement. Smiling, she warned the receptionist, "Miss, don''t let his looks deceive you. I was like you once,pletely dazzled at first sight. But trust me, the more you get to know him, the more you realize he''s not all that."


    Her intention was clear: to caution her against falling too hard for ric''s charm.


    Catching ric''s eye, Hertha saw a hint of hurt in his gaze. Ever since dinner, she sensed his concern over her apparent disapproval, likely due to his past rtionships.


    But what could he do? His past was his past, and he couldn''t change it.


    The receptionist, finally shifting her gaze from ric, replied innocently to Hertha, "Oh, it''s not the first time I''ve seen Mr. Falconer."


    Hertha''s brows furrowed in confusion, "What do you mean?"


    Her tone was tense, her re shifting towards ric, "Really? Getting around much, aren''t you? Is there anyone you haven''t charmed?" Her anger was palpable.


    The receptionist hurriedly rified, "No, no, you''ve got it all wrong. I saw Mr. Falconer for the second time today. The first was three years ago." Her cheeks flushed red in her haste to exin.


    "Three years ago?" That term struck a chord with Hertha, a sensitive timeline for them both.


    Hertha''s eyes, wide and questioning, awaited further exnation.


    The receptionist nced shyly at ric before he interjected


    impatiently, "Just spit it out. We


    don''t remember you."


    Hertha, already uneasy about his past rtionships, found this situation aggravating, especially with another woman expressing fondness for ric at such a critical


    moment. Content belongs to


    ric''s frustration grew. One unresolved issue after another, how could he not be irritated?


    Pressured by their urgency, the receptionist exined, "Three years ago, Mr. Falconer, you were here with her at our hotel. Don''t you remember?"


    Hertha, puzzled, pointed to herself, "Us? Together? Are you sure you''re not mistaking us for someone else?"


    The receptionist looked closely at


    Hertha, nodding confidently, " mistake, it was definitely you. You


    that''s why you don''t recall


    med quite drunk; maybe

 Chapter 2015

    Chapter 2015


    ?


    Hertha furrowed her brows, deep in thought. Three years ago, after a night of too many shots with ric, they ended up at a hotel. It was a one-time thing.


    Could it really have been that night?


    Before Hertha could voice her doubts, the receptionist continued, "At that time, Mr. Falconer and you didn''t have any ID on you but still wanted to check into the hotel. Normally, we can''t allow guests without ID, but I must admit, Mr. Falconer''s looks were quite persuasive, and I, maybe a bit too charmed, bent the rules for you two."


    "Since you were a man and a woman together, I assigned you a twin room," the receptionist said, stealing a nce at ric with a hint of concern. A twin room means there are two separate beds in it.Content is ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org.


    The receptionist had her own little crush. She was so taken by ric''s good looks and thought, if she gave them a double bed, would something happen between them?


    She didn''t want such a handsome guy to end up with another woman, especially not on her watch.


    So, with a bit of personal bias, she decided on a twin room for them.


    ric caught the receptionist''s shy, admiring gaze and shot her an annoyed look.


    That look was a clear warning-keep those wishful thoughts to yourself.


    With the receptionist''s story, Hertha was certain-it had to be that drunken night at the hotel with ric. The next morning, with her hangover barely faded, she woke up to find ric and Georgia in the same bed. That painful, shocking scene was etched in her memory.


    It became an insurmountable barrier in her heart, making it impossible for her to forgive ric.


    And now, here they were, back at the same hotel that harbored such bitter memories for Hertha!


    Her breathing became erratic, her jaws clenched tight.


    A cold, sharp aura enveloped her.


    Chapter 2015 1


    "Was that woman named Georgia?" Hertha asked, her voice stern.


    Back when everything happened, Hertha was too overwhelmed with grief to piece everything together.


    So, it was Georgia who hade to the hotel.


    The receptionist nodded, "Yes, she''s the heiress of the Reed family. She made sure the police knew that."


    Georgia''s arrogant and haughty


    dor, constantly unting her


    vel?


    family''s status, left asting impression on the receptionist.


    That''s why she remembered her clearly-her name was Georgia.


    "Did she go back to the room soon after registering?" Hertha asked, radiating hostility.


    The vivid memory of finding ric and Georgia together in bed felt like a fresh wound, causing Hertha immense pain.


    ric, sensing Hertha''s growing


    anger, was terrified. He feared that


    the


    more the receptionist rified,


    the angrier Hertha would be.


    "Cough!" ric, his fist to his mouth, coughed loudly, signaling the receptionist to tread carefully with her words.

 Chapter 2016

    Chapter 2016


    ?


    Hertha had always had reservations about his past rtionships, especially the chapter with Georgia.


    Three years ago, Hertha caught him and Georgia in bed together, a thorn in her heart that she could never quite pull out. Today was supposed to be a joyous day for Hertha and him, a date filled withughter and happiness. Tomorrow, they were even nning to go to the city hall to get their marriage license.


    Thest thing he needed was for the receptionist to mess things up. He was so frustrated, he could strangle her!


    "What are you coughing for?" ric had barely finished coughing when Hertha jabbed him with her elbow, her eyes sparkling with anger as she red at him.


    ric, that scoundrel, was actually using this tactic to intimidate the receptionist into silence! Did he think she was some kind of pushover he could just manipte?


    ric''s mouth twitched, and he sheepishly said, "Nothing, just a sudden scratch in my throat."


    "Well, suck it up and keep quiet," Hertha snapped, rolling her eyes at him.


    Then, she turned back to the receptionist, her tone softening, "Please, go on. Don''t mind him."


    The receptionist was visibly nervous, ncing at ric and seeing how tightly Hertha had him under control. A stern look from Hertha, and he wouldn''t dare to make a peep. Perhaps it was the effect of seeing the man she admired so afraid of Hertha, the receptionist began to feel a bit wary of her too.


    But she answered Hertha''s questions dutifully, "She didn''t leave immediately; she stayed downstairs for over two hours beforeing up." "Over two hours?" Hertha was surprised.


    The receptionist nodded, "Yes, I remember it clearly. It should have been a matter of minutes, but she kept repeating that she was the heiress to the Reed Group, as if that would make the police treat her with kid gloves. But her attitude only made them ask more questions until she finally cooperated, and they let her go."


    As the receptionist recounted the events, she couldn''t help but be drawn to ric''s stunning looks, all the while Georgia''s domineering attitude, daring to talk back to the police yed in her mind. Moreover, it was the first time she had decided to give a guest a room without an ID, a move that could have gotten her into trouble, which is why she remembered the incident so clearly.


    After listening to the receptionist, a shadow of doubt crossed Hertha''s mind, her brows knitting together as she pondered. Seeing Hertha deep in thought, ric worried that if the receptionist said anything more, the fragile peace between him and Hertha mighte to an end.


    He quickly took Hertha''s hand, saying, "Let''s not stay here. We''ll find another ce."


    Hertha didn''t protest, allowing ric to lead her away.


    "Hey," the receptionist called out softly after them, but ric


    quickened his pace. The receptionist watched them leave the hotel, disappointment sinking in. She had waited three years for him to return, and just when she had another chance to see him, her indiscretion drove him away again. Her heart was filled with regret.


    ric quickly found another hotel nearby and checked them in. Throughout, Hertha remained silent, letting ric make all the arrangements.


    Once in their room, ric saw that Hertha was out of sorts. He gently pushed her to sit on the bed, then positioned himself with his hands on the bed edge, enveloping her in a protective stance, his chest close to hers in a tender and intimate gesture.This text is property of N?/velD/rama.Org.

 Chapter 2017

    Chapter 2017


    ?


    A charming smile spread across his handsome face. "Feeling tired, huh? Better hit the hay early and stop fretting about all that mess."


    His warm, suggestive breath caressed Hertha''s face, a robust aura seeping through her skin into her pores, making her blood simmer with a faint heat.


    Hertha snapped back to reality, her gaze locking with ric, meeting his seductive, fox-like eyes.


    Amber pupils shimmered like water under moonlight, casting a bewitching glow.


    Just one nce was enough to unsettle the heart and disrupt one''s breathing.


    Hertha thought to herself, she was done for. From the moment she was dazzled by ric, she had fallen into a trap of her own making, not oneid out by ric.


    The traps set by others weren''t the scariest; the ones we set for ourselves were, like a maze with no exit in sight.


    But then again, who could resist being a hopeless romantic?


    With a smile that bloomed like the brightest of dawns, Hertha replied to ric, "You''re right, time to sleep. Goodnight."


    With that, she kicked off her shoes, swung her legs up and through ric''s arms, and hoisted herself onto the bed. With a roll, she nestled into the center, pulling the covers over her and closing her eyes-all within a matter of seconds.


    ric was taken aback. He thought Hertha would throw a tantrum, engage in a little back-and-forth, but sheplied so easily?


    The shoes she kicked off hit him square in the buttocks, a surprisingly painful reminder of her presence.


    Straightening up, ric looked down at Hertha, who seemed to be sleeping peacefully, sensing something amiss.


    Hadn''t thements from the receptionist been enough to rile Hertha up?


    Why was she acting as if nothing had happened?


    Could she truly be over that incident from three years ago?


    I


    No, that wasn''t like Hertha. The more would typically mp down and confront him, the more it indicated everything was normal.


    The quieter she was, especially with that smile, the more troubling it became.Content is ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org.


    Kneeling on the bed, ric leaned over Hertha, his face close to hers, his voice a maic whisper, "We finally get a date night, how about we spice things up a bit?"


    That kiss at the doorstep had stirred something in ric, a fervor that hadn''t fully subsided yet.


    Alone in a room with Hertha, and possibly in a sulky mood.


    If ric didn''t use this tactic to cheer her up, when would he?


    The heat from his breath made Hertha''s skin flush, prompting her to snap her eyes open.


    The first thing she saw was ric''s devastatingly alluring face, sending her heart into a fric dance.


    Despite usually being so bold, Hertha found herself stuttering.


    "What do you mean, spice things up? ric, what are you suggesting?"


    ric leaned in, stealing a quick kiss from Hertha''s lips, and when he pulled back, a dangerously charming smile yed on his lips. "Let''s finish what we started."


    "ric, I didn''t say we could-mmph!" Hertha''s protest was cut short as ric silenced her with another kiss.

 Chapter 2018

    Chapter 2018


    ?


    This text is property of N?/velD/rama.Org.


    ric kissed her with such fervor that it nearly took Hertha''s breath away. Yet, Hertha could tell that this kiss, contrary to his passionate derations,cked the sweetness of genuine desire. It felt more forced than spontaneous.


    Hertha felt like she was suffocating under his intense kiss. She quickly raised her hands, her fingers entwining in ric''s hair, gripping his head, and pushed him away forcefully. Free from the kiss, Hertha gasped for air and red at ric above her. "Have you lost your mind?"


    ric, too, was breathing heavily, his seductive eyes shimmering, locked onto Hertha below him. "If you keep ignoring me, I might actually lose it. Tell me, are you mad at me?"


    He wasn''t afraid of Hertha confronting him; he was terrified of her indifference. Looking at ric''s earnest and somewhat innocent expression, Hertha felt a tug at her heartstrings. His good looks had always been her weakness; a single innocent nce from him, and she''d melt. She couldn''t bring herself to leave him. The only option was to confront the issues head-on.


    Taking a deep breath to steady her racing heart, Hertha asked, "How many times have you been with Georgia?"


    ric tensed up, his gaze growing anxious. "Why would you ask that?"


    It was a sensitive topic between them. Mentioning Georgia now could only hurt their rtionship, ric feared.


    "Just tell me. Why question it?" Hertha wasn''t pleased. Her hands still cradled ric''s head, fingers woven through his hair - a gesture intimate and tender.


    "Alright, but you have to promise not to get mad," ric pleaded, his pursuit of Hertha fueled by a mix of passion and fear of her anger He knew he had to face this delicate issue head-on.


    "Fine, I won''t get mad. Just tell me," Hertha''s heart raced, the moment of truth making her increasingly nervous. How many times would be eptable to her? She didn''t have an answer. All she knew was the higher the number, the more it would hurt.


    After a pause, ric finally spoke, "Just once, three years ago, at a hotel. That''s it."


    Hertha''s heart skipped a beat, her breathing halted. She pressed, barely whispering, "Are you sure? You''re not lying?"


    "If I''m lying, I''m a scoundrel!" ric was desperate to prove his innocence.


    "And in three years of being engaged to Georgia, nothing happened? She never tempted you?" Hertha asked, disbelief coloring her tone.


    Truth be told, one time was beyond her expectations; she had braced herself for a number too numerous to count. In three years, for a couple engaged to be married, wasn''t once almost too hard to believe?

 Chapter 2019

    Chapter 2019


    ?


    ric was one of those guys who seemed to believe life without a woman by his side wasn''t worth living.


    Hertha could have sworn he and Georgia had hooked up countless times. Over the three years, with 365 days each, she wouldn''t have been surprised if they''d been together over a thousand times.


    But she was floored when ric admitted it was only once.


    "She tried to seduce me, but I turned her down every time," ric said, propping himself up on his arms beside Hertha, his chest hovering above her as he tried to keep his bnce, answering her question earnestly.


    "Turned her down? You? How could you possibly resist?" Hertha chuckled.


    "Me? What kind of person do you think I am?" ric bristled. "Oh, Hertha, in your eyes, am I just some kind of guy who can''t control himself around women?"Content from N?velDr(a)ma.Org.


    "Well, aren''t you?" Hertha countered.


    ric was nearly beside himself with irritation. "Hertha, let''s not forget, you were the one chasing after me three years ago. Even when I wasn''t into you, I never did anything, right?"


    Hertha''s smile faded. ric had hit a nerve, and it stung. She was about to snap back but remembered she''d promised ric she wouldn''t get angry. Besides, he was right. Back then, she had been the one desperately pursuing ric, practically throwing herself at him while he couldn''t have seemed less interested.


    "I was talking about Georgia. Why are you bringing up the past?" Hertha said, dissatisfaction clear in her voice.


    "I''m just trying to make a point. Even if a woman I''m not interested in were to throw herself at me, I wouldn''t give her a second nce."


    "But you did sleep with Georgia three years ago," Hertha pointed out with a sour tone.


    "That was because I was drunk. I thought she was you," ric exined. "We had checked into the hotel together, how was I supposed to know Georgia would sneak in?"


    "And I''ve told you before, don''t just


    throw around that ''I thought she was you'' excuse-lightly. Look at what happened to Leopold when he thought Isabe Everhart was Thssa and ended up sleeping


    with Isabe. How did thatel


    W


    out?"


    Hertha especially hated that excuse. To her, it was synonymous with tragedy.


    "Alright, you don''t like it, I won''t say it," ric conceded, remembering Hertha had warned him against using that line. "But that one time, it really was an ident. If I hadn''t been drunk, nothing would have happened between us. You know she was someone my mother tried to set me up with. I never had any interest in her from the start, in fact, I couldn''t stand her." Content


    belongs to NovelDrama.Org


    "Is it because she was chosen by your mother that you didn''t like her, or was there another reason?" Hertha decided to get to the bottom of ric and Georgia''s rtionship today.


    "It wasn''t just because my mother chose her. It was her entitled, bossy attitude I couldn''t stand, and more importantly, I just didn''t like her."


    "But you didn''t like me back then either," Hertha huffed.


    "I was blind back then, wasn''t I? But then I fell for you, and for three years, I haven''t looked at another woman," ric said, slipping into sweet talk as naturally as breathing.


    Hertha''s heart skipped a beat at his words. What woman wouldn''t be moved by her beloved''s derations of love? But she quickly reined in her emotions, reminding herself to stay rational.


    "Oh, please, don''t say it was all for


    me. I can''t bear that weight. You''re just worried about getting entangled with another woman and having Georgia make trouble for you,"


    Hertha retorted.


    After three years of hard lessons, Hertha had learned not to overestimate her importance in someone else''s life. Otherwise, the loss would be devastating.

 Chapter 2020

    Chapter 2020


    ?


    ric freed one hand, gently cupping Hertha''s chin with the pad of his thumb, drawing his face close to hers. His warm breath brushed against her lips, a teasing whisper of intimacy.


    He was already enveloping her from above, and this close proximity made it feel as though she was pinned under him, yet there was a tantalizing gap of mere inches between them. It was more suggestive than any direct contact could be.


    The roughness of calluses on his hands, a testament to hard work, contrasted with the gentle way he caressed Hertha''s tender skin, sending shivers down her spine.


    "Hertha, my feisty little rebel, I''ve pined for you for three long years, forsaken all others in your name, and yet you doubt my sincerity? using me of dalliances, worried it might upset Georgia? You wound me deeply," ric''s voice, rich and velvety, carried a yful whine, seducing her with every word.


    Hertha was already a bundle of nerves, his flirtatious grievance only served to melt her further.


    ric, with his infuriatingly handsome looks, was a master at the art of seduction. With just a few words,ced with a vulnerable charm, he seemed to captivate Hertha entirely.


    Understanding dawned on Hertha why Georgia was so obsessed, so madly in love with ric. After experiencing his allure, how could anyone elsepare?


    Her heart raced, her breathing unsteady, as she gazed at him with eyes brimming with emotion, unaware of the depth of her own feelings.


    "All I hear are your words," she breathed, "I haven''t felt missed."


    ric''s eyes sparkled mischievously, "Oh? Have you not felt it? This longing isn''t just about me, you know."


    Before Hertha could question him further, ric closed the distance between them, sealing her lips with a passionate kiss.


    The kiss was fervent, full of desire. Hertha felt enveloped by warmth, a tingling sensation spreading through her body, leaving her weak.


    Initially, she managed a muffled protest, but ric, seizing the moment, deepened the kiss, inviting her into the dance.


    Lost in the haze of ric''s expert touch, Hertha let go of her reservations, immersing herself in the moment.


    If she had decided to ept him, why resist? Why cling to doubts when surrendering brought such bliss?


    After all, ric''s past indiscretion,


    that one time with Georgia, was just a mistake. Dwelling on it would only bring pain, letting go was the path to happiness.


    Feeling Hertha''s response, ric''s desire surged, almost overwhelming him. He had intended only to demonstrate his longing, but now, control was slipping.


    In the presence of the one you love, the body doesn''t lie.


    That night, ric and Hertha cast aside their past grievances, indulging in their happiness.


    The next morning, the first rays of


    sunlight crept through the blinds, warming Hertha''s face. Her internal clock nudged her awake. Shielding her eyes from the re, she


    §Õ§Ñ§Ý§Ñ


    gradually adjusted to the light, fully opening her eyes.


    vel.ne


    As consciousness returned, she felt. an unexpected weight on her, ric''s arm draped over her, constricting almost. Had he been holding her like this all night? N?velDrama.Org copyrighted ? content.


    They weren''t even married, and he was already this possessive?


    No way, she thought, that''s not happening!

 Chapter 2021

    Chapter 2021


    ?


    From day one, it was crystal clear: you''ve got to establish where you stand in the family pecking order.


    Hertha wasn''t having any of it, forcefully shrugging off ric''s arm: "Back off! You''ve got some nerve, thinking you can just pin me down?"


    ric, who was deep in slumber, was jolted awake by Hertha''s forceful shove. Groggy and disoriented, he barely opened his eyes to see Hertha ring at him, visibly annoyed.


    Rubbing his eyes, he asked with concern, "What''s wrong?"


    "What''s wrong?" Hertha replied, her brows furrowed in anger. "Why on earth are you sleeping with your entire arm over me?"


    ric was puzzled and exined, "I''ve got to hold you."


    "And why is that?" Hertha shot back.


    "Sleeping next to the person you love means you gotta hold them close, keep warm, and feel blissful," ric reasoned as if it was the most obvious thing in the world.


    Isn''t that the unspoken understanding between couples? Even without saying it, the other person should just get it. But with Hertha, it was as if she was clueless about affection, asking such a childish question.


    His words struck a chord with Hertha; ric actually called her his beloved. That sentiment warmed the depths of her heart. Just yesterday, she had denied to her mother that ric had feelings for her. Today, she heard him dere his love. It dissolved any lingering doubts in Hertha''s heart, clearing the skies.


    Waking up to ric''s presence was


    genuinely delightful. She felt so


    happy she almostughed, but


    el


    ric was still there, and she couldn''t let him see her amusement. Otherwise, he''d have a field day.


    Sheposed herself, feigning seriousness, "You can hold me all you want, but why dump the weight of your entire arm on me? I was almost crushed, did you know?"


    ric, still bleary-eyed, scratched the back of his head, "Got it, Ick experience; it won''t happen again."


    Saying that, he pulled the covers


    bet


    over andy down again. Just as he settled, Hertha yanked the nkets away, and a cool morning breeze swept in, making ric shiver.


    ¡°Come on, let''s not fuss, let''s sleep a bit more," ric coaxed her with a good-natured tone.


    "What time do you think it is? Still sleep?" Hertha questioned.


    ric yawned, "I put in some effortst night, was up half the night. I''m almost running on empty here, need to rest up."


    Hertha had almost forgotten about


    last night but ric''s words brought


    back a flood of memories of his tireless efforts and how much she had clung to him. Just the thought


    made her cheeks flush with warmth.


    Content from N?velDr(a)ma.Org.


    In a yful huff, Hertha gave him a light smack, "Looks like you''re getting old, not as spry as you used to be."


    ric''s tired nerves were suddenly sparked by herment. "Old and not spry, eh?"


    He flipped over, pinning her beneath him, and said with a mischievous grin, "Let me show you just how ''not spry'' I really am."

 Chapter 2022

    Chapter 2022


    ?


    ric was bouncing off the walls, full of energy once again.


    Hertha, taken aback, leaned back to dodge his mischievous advance. "Hey, cut it out, will you? Have you forgotten what we''re supposed to do today?"


    ric''s eyes darted, remembering the important task at hand. He sprang out of bed, grabbed his clothes off the floor, and headed for the bathroom. "Hurry, hurry, get up! The city hall''s going to close soon."


    He had almost forgotten that today was the day he and Hertha were supposed to get their marriage license.


    Watching ric disappear into the bathroom, Hertha couldn''t help but feel a pang of disappointment.


    She muttered under her breath, "I should have never reminded him. He actually forgot we were getting our license today."


    Could it be that he wasn''t taking their marriage seriously if he forgot about something as significant as their license day?


    It seemed like he didn''t value getting married to her after all!


    Despite Hertha''s easy-going nature, she wasn''t immune to the asional overthinking and sensitivitymon to many women.


    ric''s near-forgetfulness about their license day had definitely ruffled her feathers.


    Taking her time, she got out of bed, dressed, and sat in front of the vanity, slowly brushing her hair.


    After a quick five-minute shower, ric emerged to find Hertha in front of the mirror, leisurely attending to her hair.


    Impatient, ric urged her, "Hertha, could you please hurry up? It''s already past nine, and we still have to drive there. We might get held up in traffic, and if city hall closes, we''ll have to wait till tomorrow."


    "What''s the rush? If we don''t get it today, so be it," Hertha responded nonchntly.


    ric, puzzled, asked, "What did you say?"


    Though he asked, his excitement and anticipation had visibly dimmed.


    Was Hertha getting cold feet about the license?


    This possibility made ric feel both anxious and disheartened.


    "Hertha, didn''t we agree on thisst night?" He approached her, leaning on the vanity with one hand and cing the other on his hip, bending slightly forward with a serious and tense look. Content belongs toThis text is ? N?velDrama/.Org.


    Just minutes ago, she was the one reminding him about the license. How could she change her mind so quickly?


    Women, he thought, are truly fickle.


    ric was at a loss trying to decipher her thoughts.


    "What did we sayst night? It seems like we didn''t talk at all," Hertha countered, continuing to brush her hair slowly, showing no sign of hurrying.


    Now truly worried, ric''s


    handsome brows furrowed. "This is


    no time for jokes, Hertha. If there''s an issue, let''s get the license and


    talk


    about it afterward, okay?"


    ric tried to coax her, even though he was frantic, wishing he could just drag Hertha to city hall.


    But he knew Hertha well; the more he pushed, the more she resisted. Being forceful wasn''t an option; he had to be gentle.


    Maybe if he could brighten her mood, she might agree to head to the city hall with him.


    "Do you even realize what you did wrong?" Hertha, frustrated, nced sideways at ric with a mix of anger and annoyance.


    ric was clueless. Since waking up, he hadn''t said much to upset Hertha. How was he supposed to know what he did wrong?


    "Hertha, why don''t you just tell me?


    Given my brainpower, I''ll never figure it out on my own. What did I do wrong?" ric leaned in closer to Hertha, trying to lighten the mood with a grin.

 Chapter 2023

    Chapter 2023


    ?


    The moment Hertha''s eyes met his long, handsomeshes, her heart skipped a beat.


    Damn, ric knew exactly how irresistible his looks were to her, and he shamelessly used his stunning appearance to lure her in. And she, predictably, fell for it every single time.


    It seemed her life was destined to be firmly in his grasp.


    "Do you really want to marry me, or is this all some game to you?" Hertha, irritation in her voice, poked ric''s chest with her index finger, demanding honesty.


    She was never one to let conflicts linger; if something bothered her, she''d have it out within two hours, tops!


    But when she poked him, ric caught her hand and ced it over his heart, gazing into her eyes with a mischievous glint. His voice, deep and captivating, teased, "Can you feel it? This heart beats for you."


    The steady, strong beats of his heart pulsed against Hertha''s palm. Thump, thump, thump - each beat seemed to echo her own heart''s rhythm, a symphony of attraction.


    Overwhelmed, Hertha''s breath caught in her throat, and she tried to withdraw her hand, only for ric to insist on keeping it there, making her feel his heartbeat.


    "This heart is full of you. If you doubt its sincerity, I''d let your doctor friend open it up with a scalpel to prove it''s true," he dered, half-joking yet intensely serious.


    His words, meant to reassure, instead startled Hertha, prompting her to yank her hand back. "Are you crazy? Why would you let someone do that?" "Don''t you trust me?" ric countered, a hint of annoyance in his yful tone.


    "I''m dying to marry you, and here you are, doubting my intentions," he grumbled, revealing a rare glimpse of his temper. He usually had the patience of a saint with Hertha, unlike with anyone else.


    "Please, you were so ''eager'' that you overslept this morning and almost forgot about getting our marriage license," Hertha retorted with disdain.


    Realization dawned on ric; his oversight had upset her.


    "Look, I was just exhausted. My brain was offline. Let''s not fight over a silly mistake, okay?" he coaxed, enveloping her in a warm embrace. Hertha couldn''t help butugh. "Temporary idiot? Nice term."


    "Come on, no more sulking. Let''s get ready and head out," ric suggested, his tone light.


    With a smile still ying on her lips and her mood significantly lifted, Hertha headed to the bathroom to freshen up.


    Half an hourter, they were on their way to the city hall when Hertha suddenly gasped, "Oh no, I forgot something important!"


    "What''s wrong?" ric asked, ncing at her while maneuvering the car. Her sudden exmation had him worried.


    With her hands cradling her face,


    Hertha eximed in panic, "We have


    to take a photo for the marriage


    license, and I didn''t put on any makeup!" This belongs ? N?velDra/ma.Org.

 Chapter 2024

    Chapter 2024


    ?


    ric let out a sigh of relief. "Don''t worry, you''re beautiful no matter what."


    He had thought it was something serious. It turned out she was fretting over not having makeup on, which scared him half to death. For a moment, he thought their n to get their marriage license today was going to fall through.


    "Makeup or no makeup, there''s definitely a difference. We only get to take wedding photos once in our lifetime, and I can''t do it bare-faced. That''s just not right. No, you need to find a makeup salon. I''ll get my makeup done before we head to the city hall."


    Hertha was adamant.


    Nothing worries a woman more than looking less than perfect in photos, especially on such an important day as her wedding.


    Looking at his watch, ric noted it was just past ten. If the makeup artist was quick, they still had time.


    "There''s a beauty salon just up ahead. Let''s go there," ric suggested.


    Hertha remained silent.


    Two minutester, their car pulled up in front of a posh beauty salon. Hertha looked up at the luxurious facade and blinked, "Isn''t this ce a bit too extravagant?"


    This salon was clearly catered to the wealthy, celebrities, or those used to a life of luxury.


    She had never been to such a ce before.


    She was well aware of her financial limits, and splurging like this was not in her books.


    "Don''t worry, I''ve got you," ric said, taking her hand and leading her inside.


    Hertha let herself be dragged along.


    As they approached, the automatic ss doors sensed their presence and swung open, revealing a stylishly dressed man who greeted them warmly, "Wee! How can we help you today?" Content


    belongs to NovelDrama.Org


    Upon recognizing ric, the man''s smile widened, his enthusiasm noticeably increasing, "ric, it''s been a while. What an honor to have you back." Hertha realized ric was a regr here, which exined his familiarity with the ce.


    With a nce towards Hertha, ric stated, "We need makeup for her and pick out a beautiful outfit. We''re short on time, so make her stunning, fast." "You got it! Give me twenty minutes, and she''ll be ready," the stylish man confidently assured.


    "Miss, please follow me," he gestured for Hertha toe inside.


    Just as Hertha was about to follow, a woman''s voice called out from the entrance, "Danny, I''m here for your magic touch. I need a wless makeup look today."


    At the sound of her voice, Danny immediately halted.


    Hertha stopped too and turned around to see a fashionably dressed woman making her way in, her frame slim to the point of being skeletal, exuding an air of arrogance that made her instantly recognizable as Georgia.


    Running into her here was thest thing Hertha needed.


    Her mood soured at the sight of Georgia.


    "Georgia, wee. I''ll make sure your makeup is top-notch. But, you''ll have to wait about twenty minutes Why don''t you rx in the caf¨¦ area? It''ll fly by," Danny said, trying to


    smooth things over with a ttering tone. Content belongs toContent from N?velDr(a)ma.Org.


    UMS


    Georgia gave ric a quick nce, then turned her gaze to Hertha, her tone dripping with disdain, "I''m a customer here. Making me wait? Isn''t that a bit too much?"


    ric was the man Georgia coveted, yet she could never win him over, a source of frustration and helplessness for her.


    Seeing Hertha, her rival in love, infuriated her to the core.

 Chapter 2025

    Chapter 2025


    ?


    Danny clearly wanted to do Hertha''s makeup first before getting to her.


    Why should Hertha get to go before her?


    Danny''s confident,plimenting smile froze in an instant.


    "Georgia, are you looking for trouble?" Before Hertha could lose her temper, ric angrily said to Georgia.


    "I''m just exercising my rights, how is that looking for trouble?" Georgia red back at ric, her dissatisfaction evident.


    Her breathing quickened as she pointed at Hertha and angrily said, "ric, don''t forget who your fianc¨¦e is. You''re actually out here spending money with another woman. Do I even matter to you?"


    ric was really annoyed. When would Georgia, this persistent woman, finally leave him alone?This text is ? N?velDrama/.Org.


    ric said with an irritated expression, "I haven''t been your fianc¨¦ for a long time. Are you really so shameless that you have to cling to me like this?" "What did you say?" Georgia, provoked, grew even angrier.


    "I said you''re shameless! And you''re just a step away from being utterly disgraceful!" ric repeated, not afraid to anger Georgia further.


    Georgia started to cry out of anger: "Oh, so this is how you repay me, ric? After all the hard work I''ve done for you, giving birth to a son, and this is how you treat me?"


    "Heh," ric scoffed at the mention of the child, "Georgia, your acting skills are wasted. Not bing an actress is truly a pity. Are you still trying to deceive me that the child is mine?"


    Georgia''s heart skipped a beat, and she looked at ric in shock: "You''re saying I''m deceiving you?"


    Although she appeared innocently shocked, her heart was filled with fear, and her legs began to tremble with panic.


    Her mind raced, trying to figure out how to respond to ric''s usations.


    All this time, ric had believed the child was his, as the evidence seemed irrefutable. There was no reason for him not to believe the child was his!


    Even though ric wasn''t particrly fond of the child, he had never denied paternity.


    Why was he suddenly using her of deception today?


    "Still pretending! Georgia, that


    deputy director at the hospital, what is he to you? He was willing to forge a paternity test result to deceive me for you? If the higher-ups find out about this, I doubt he''ll be able to keep his position."


    ric''s gaze was sharp as he scrutinized Georgia.


    After discovering the child wasn''t his, he first went to find Hertha, not having confronted Georgia yet.


    Now, encountering Georgia, she was still trying to morally ckmail him with the child.


    ric''s disdain and hatred for Georgia increased even more.


    "You, you," Georgia stumbled backward, terrified by ric''s words.


    Just a moment ago, she was wondering if ric was bluffing, but the next second, he presented the evidence.


    Proof that her "concrete evidence" was fake!


    Now, Georgia was truly panicked; she didn''t know how to face ric or what to say.


    "You what? Just get lost and don''t interfere with my business!" ric approached Georgia, his presence overwhelming. He didn''t want to waste any more time on Georgia, not wanting to dy things further.


    He would settle his scores with Georgiater!


    Right now, he was eager to get the paperwork done with Hertha. Nothing and no one could stop him from making it official with Hertha!


    Fuming, Georgia wanted tosh out


    but had no grounds to. Biting herdip,


    she was about to leave, nning to go home and seek advice from her mother.


    Just as she was about to walk away, Hertha said, "Georgia, wait a minute!"

 Chapter 2026

    Chapter 2026


    ?


    Georgia was already boiling with rage, and the moment she heard Hertha''s voice, she exploded. Whirling around, she screamed at Hertha, "You witch, what right do you have to speak to me!"


    She had restrained herself with ric, not daring to be too brazen.


    After all, ric had evidence of her deception. If ric really lost his temper, the deputy director of the hospital, a rtive of hers, would be in trouble. She didn''t want to bring disgrace upon her family and that rtive.


    After all, it was to help her that they had falsified a report.


    If because of this, the deputy director lost his job and was disciplined, her family would never be able to face him again.


    So, she held back with ric but felt bold enough tosh out at Hertha.


    After all, Hertha was powerless. What could she possibly do to Georgia?


    Just after Georgia had finished her tirade, ric stepped forward, shielding Hertha from Georgia''s view, as if afraid Hertha would suffer the slightest insult.


    "Georgia, can''t you speak nicely for once?" ric red at Georgia.


    Georgia felt even more wronged. She had only yelled at Hertha, and ric was already protecting her like a mother hen with her chick.


    And his disgust for Georgia couldn''t have been more evident.


    The stark difference in ric''s treatment of her and Hertha deepened the chasm in Georgia''s heart.


    The feelings of injustice and anger churned inside her like a rising tide and an erupting volcano!


    "I just said one thing to her, and you''re all heartbroken?" Georgia retorted, her voice heavy with emotion.


    "Is she someone you can talk about?" ric shot back, anger evident in his tone.


    Just then, Hertha stepped forward, her face cold as she addressed Georgia, "I wanted to ask you something."This belongs ? N?velDra/ma.Org.


    "Whatever you ask, I won''t say a word," Georgia red at Hertha, wishing she could bore holes through her with her gaze.


    "Three years ago, did you crawl into ric''s bed on your own?" Hertha''s question was blunt.


    Her question not only shocked Georgia but also made ric turn to Hertha with a look of astonishment.


    What was she doing, bringing up such a private matter here?


    He knew she hadn''t gotten over that incident, but there was no need to air their dirtyundry in public!


    Georgia''s eyebrows shot up, her irritation momentarily quelled by Hertha''s question, even feeling a bit smug.


    Three years ago, she and ric had been in bed together, and Hertha had seen it with her own eyes. That was an undeniable fact.


    No matter how favored Hertha was by ric now, that incident was enough to haunt her for a lifetime.


    As long as it made Hertha ufortable, Georgia was pleased.


    "Who said crawled in? I saw ric was drunk that night, and I was just trying to be caring, wiping the sweat from his face, and then he pinned me down," Georgia said with a smirk to Hertha.


    Danny, the makeup artist standing, by, hoping to defuse the tension between the two, was shocked by Georgia''s words. He gaped, silently stepping back.


    Though he was used to dealing with love gossip at work, this topic was too private, all about intimate rtionships. Normally, the best course of action for staff like him was to stay out of it, not gossip, not stir trouble.


    ric, shocked by Hertha''s question and


    us at Georgia''s response,


    with


    at Georgia with eyes red anger, "Shut your mouth!"

 Chapter 2027

    Chapter 2027


    ?


    "I just can''t keep my mouth shut." Georgia had finally found a topic that would equally torment both Hertha and ric. How could she possibly let this moment slip away?


    "You were all over me back then, I couldn''t even push you away. You whispered my name, Georgia, in bed, promising me the world," Georgia spun her tale right there, aiming to infuriate Hertha.


    Before she could finish, ric had grabbed her arm and dragged her outside.


    Once outside, ric released her arm as if touching her any longer would somehow taint him.


    ric red at Georgia, his warning clear and sharp, "Georgia, I''m warning you, stop spreading lies or you''ll regret it!"


    Georgia looked up to see his eyes, zing red with anger, and beneath that, a hint of anxiety.


    Where was that anxietying from?


    Was he nervous about losing Hertha?


    Reading the message in ric''s eyes was like a stab to Georgia''s heart.


    For years, she had been trailing behind ric, hoping for just a nce from him.


    But despite the years, she never caught his eye.Content from N?velDr(a)ma.Org.


    Hertha had only been in the picture for a short while, yet she seemed to be all ric could see.


    The realization was unbearable for Georgia, not just because ric cared for someone else, but because she felt powerless in changing that fact.


    The slight peace Georgia felt shatteredpletely at the sight of ric''s anxious gaze towards Hertha.


    Tears streamed down her face.


    "ric, you''re threatening me? I''m a person too, with feelings. Does it not bother you that you''re hurting me?" Georgia''s voice trembled with emotion. This time, her heart truly ached.


    ric''s response was cold, "Oh, Georgia, now you remember you''re human, with flesh and blood? When you were humiliating me in front of the shareholders, acting all high and mighty, did you forget I was human too a man with pride? Didn''t you think about how I felt?"


    Georgia''s tears fell even harder, "I''m sorry, I apologize for my past mistakes. ric, can you forgive me?"


    She reached for ric''s arm, pleading for his forgiveness.


    Now that ric had exposed herst deception, she had no cards left to y.


    If she continued with her arrogance, she would truly lose ric.


    Despite hisck of patience for her she couldn''t help loving him.


    her


    Everything she had ever without


    parents had secured for her dy.


    Swn


    She had never failed to obtain what she desired.


    Except for ric. Despite her long-standing affection, he remained out of reach. She couldn''t ept it, nor was she ready to let go.


    ric, repulsed, shook off her hand. Just touching him filled him with disgust.


    "Get your hands off me! Georgia, you know exactly what you''ve done. K never forgive you in this lifetime!"


    rio''s voice was filled with loathing.


    "Then hate me for a lifetime, but at least I''m in your heart," Georgia retorted through her tears.


    Suddenly, apuse broke the tense atmosphere.


    Georgia, surprised, turned to see Hertha, a rxed smile ying on her lips as she pped leisurely.


    "Georgia, I would hardly believe you didn''t have a director scripting this drama for you," Hertha said with a smirk. Georgia''s brows furrowed, "What do you mean?"

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    "I mean, no need for me to spell it out, right?" Hertha said with a smirk to Georgia.


    Georgia was already feeling down, trying her best to win back ric, and now seeing Hertha not only unaffected by her earlier provocation but also confidently mocking her.This text is ? N?velDrama/.Org.


    It made Georgia feel insecure and incredibly angry.


    "Hertha, cut the cryptic crap!" Georgia snapped, her teeth practically grinding together in hatred.


    "Is it me who''s being cryptic, or are you just feeling guilty?" Hertha chuckled, her arms crossed as she watched Georgia like she was watching a drama unfold.


    "You said ric was the one who pinned you down, so you must know how long he sted''. Tell me, how long did he go for?" Hertha wasn''t the type to shy away from saying what''s on her mind.


    Since Georgia was so blunt earlier, she saw no reason to hold back.


    No matter the setting, she spoke her mind, unstoppable by anyone.


    Georgia blushed a deep red at the question, stealing a nce at ric to see his expression darken, his face stern.


    Georgia stammered, "It''s been so long, how could I remember?"


    "Weren''t you all about ric? Forget the details, but you don''t remember even the duration?" Hertha''s smile was persistent.


    Her piercing gaze seemed to cut right through Georgia, as if seeing through all of her.


    Georgia, flushed with embarrassment and annoyance, red at Hertha and then instinctively looked at ric again.


    ric, his face taut with tension, was clearly struggling internally. Why would Hertha bring up such a


    private matter in front of ano!!!


    woman?


    Was she just thick-skinned, or deliberately making him ufortable?


    To vent her frustration and anger, she brought up his and Georgia''s encounter in front of Georgia.


    Making both him and Georgia ufortable.


    Amidst his turmoil, ric felt deeply troubled.


    "Hested an hour each time, really wore me out!" Georgia''s face went from pale to flushed as she boldly replied to Hertha''s question.


    Hertha chuckled lightly: "An hour


    each time? You''ve got quite the imagination. What mansts an hour each time? He''s not a superhero! Besides, you didn''t get back to your hotel room until nearly dawn that day, right? With ric ''wearing you out'', forey for an hour, the act for another hour, and then cuddling for at least half an hour afterwards. By that timeline, you guys wouldn''t have fallen asleep until at least ten in the morning, but when I woke up, it was eight, and you were already fast asleep. The timing doesn''t add up."


    "Who said I went to the room just before dawn?" Georgia retorted, neck bristling.


    "Still trying to argue? ric and I


    checked out that hotelst night. The receptionist mentioned you were called down minutes after going to the room, dealing with the


    Moreover, the receptionist


    police for hours before vol.


    remembered the time you went to your room, which was just before dawn. You said ricsted an hour each time; how does that time add up?"

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    Hertha''s eyes sparkled with a mocking glee, piercing through the silence of the room.


    "You''re lying. After three years, who would remember such trivial details about someone irrelevant?" Georgia retorted, her face a shade of stormy gray as she tried to counter Hertha''s remarks.


    ric felt a heavy sadness within him, unsure of Hertha''s intentions. His eyes, sharp and probing, looked at Hertha with a mix of scrutiny and sorrow. "Interestingly, the receptionist is head over heels for ric. She was so enchanted by him that she remembered everything about their first encounter three years ago, afraid she''d forget him. If you don''t believe me, ask him yourself," Hertha sneered, tilting her chin towards ric, prompting Georgia to question him.


    "ric, is this true?" Georgia, caught up in the moment, actually turned to ric.


    "She''s not wrong," ric replied solemnly.


    Even though Hertha''s words were a blend of truth and lies, he couldn''t bring himself to expose her.


    Georgia, now even more disillusioned, gazed at Hertha, her face pale and brows furrowed.


    Her mind was a battlefield, strategizing her next move.


    Then, Hertha added, "Georgia, you im to adore ric, yet you can''t even recall the details of your only encounter? Even a woman who fell for ric at first sight remembers every detail about him. But you? You''ve forgotten everything about such an important moment."


    "I have a bad memory, okay?" Georgia retorted stubbornly.


    "You say you have a bad memory,


    yet you recall spending an hour with


    ric? Isn''t that contradictory?


    There''s only one exnation that makes sense," Hertha smoothly pivoted, seemingly ready to defend Georgia. Content belongs to


    S


    Before Georgia could formte a rebuttal, curious about Hertha''s defense, she asked, "What exnation?"


    "Either your proimed affection for


    ric is a facade. You don''t truly like him; you''re only interested in his family background. Otherwise, how could you be less memorable than someone who fell for him at first sight? Or, you never had any real interaction with ric. It''s normal not to know much if nothing happened," Hertha exined, as if granting Georgia a way out. ContentContent from N?velDr(a)ma.Org.


    belongs to NovelDrama.Org


    At that, Georgia''s demeanor shifted abruptly, hastily asserting, "Who says nothing happened between us?"


    "Oh, please, He''s all about the slow burn, spending twenty minutes just setting the mood. You don''t even know that and you''re still trying to argue?" Hertha scoffed.


    "I¡ªI told you, I forgot," Georgia stammered.


    "Then you either don''t truly care for ric, or you''re mixing him up with some other man," Hertha said nonchntly, pretending to clean her ear. "That''s absurd! How dare you nder me like that!" Georgia exploded, her anger making her chest heave. She couldn''t stand being maligned. Her outburst caught ric''s attention.


    Hertha couldn''t help butugh, "What was that? You''re still iming to be pure and untouched?"

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    Chapter 2030


    ?


    Georgia found herself on the receiving end of ric and Hertha''s bewildered and shocked stares. She immediately realized she''d put her foot in it. As Hertha''s interrogation bore down on her, Georgia felt a knot of anxiety in her stomach, her feet inching backward in retreat.


    "I, I didn''t say anything," Georgia stammered, wishing she could take back her words. But once words are out, they''re like spilled milk-impossible to gather up again. Didn''t she understand such a simple truth?Content from N?velDr(a)ma.Org.


    "Really, Georgia? You should know, it''s easy for us to take you to the hospital for checks to see if you''ve been pregnant before or if you''re still pure," Hertha said, arms crossed as she advanced step by step towards Georgia.


    Hertha''s imposing approach made Georgia step back further; she''d never seen Hertha wield such authority. It was as if Hertha was the untouchable heiress, backed by unshakeable confidence and powerful support. And Georgia? She felt like amoner, ignorant and insignificant.


    Backed into a corner, Georgia spat out defiantly, "You wouldn''t dare! If youy a finger on me, I''ll call the cops on you in a heartbeat!"


    "Go ahead, call them. It''s about time we talk to the cops about your so-called doctor rtive who''s been fabricating medical reports. That''s a crime, you know," Hertha retorted, unfazed by Georgia''s threat.


    Georgia looked desperately at ric, "ric, our families have business ties. Are you really going to let her bully me like this? If our families cut ties, yours stands to lose a lot!"


    Her eyes pleaded for help, but her words wereced with arrogance. She had used this tactic before, pressuring ric into submission. She thought it would work again.


    But what she didn''t realize was


    ric had had enough of her


    threats. He had once thought Hertha was out of reach, married to Spencer and that he and Georgia, having been intimate and pushed together by their families, should give their arranged engagement a chance. Maybe they could make it work.


    But Georgia''s escting demands had pushed him to his limit. Fed up, ric cut ties with the Falconer family to free himself from the engagement.


    "I have no ties with the Falconer


    family anymore. Their losses are none of my concern. I''m Hertha''s fianc¨¦ now, and I only listen to her. If she wants me to drive you to the hospital for a check-up, I won''t hesitate," ric said, his resolve crystal clear.


    Georgia''s arrogance crumbled at his words.


    ric added, "You bettere clean about what happened three years ago. You have five minutes to gather your thoughts. After that, we''re taking action and you''re off to the hospital for a check-up."


    He cracked his knuckles, signaling he was ready to act on his word. Understanding Hertha''s motives fully now ric realized she was seeking the truth about that night three years ago. Despite his difort with Hertha''s blunt approach, ric knew


    t was necessary.

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    Chapter 2031


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    But when Hertha forced Georgia to reveal the truth, his tense nervespletely rxed.


    "You, you all teamed up to bully me! I''m going to tell my parents, and you''re going to regret it!" Georgia fumed, tears brimming in her eyes.N?velDrama.Org copyrighted ? content.


    Hertha grabbed her by the throat, pinning her against the wall, a look of furious rage on her face: "What else can you do besides tattling? Speak up or I swear, I''ll choke the life out of you right now!"


    Georgia was just a stereotypical airhead - all looks and no brains, not to mention physically weak. As frail as a leaf in the wind, who could she possibly stand up to? If it weren''t for her family''s status, her arrogant and disdainful nature would have probably gotten her a good thrashing long ago. Hertha used to be overweight, but her weight loss wasn''t just through dieting; it was paired with exercise. Even after slimming down, her frame was strong, muscles coiled and ready, clearly powerful. She held Georgia''s neck like she was wringing a chicken, effortlessly.


    Seeing the ruthlessness in Hertha''s eyes, Georgia''s heart panicked, beating wildly. She was genuinely scared. Her usual threats only worked in the circles of the rich and clueless. Against someone like Hertha, who didn''t fear their power, they were utterly useless. Hertha, this fierce woman, if she decided to get physical, Georgia''s life was genuinely at risk.


    Georgia, trembling all over, said, "I''ll talk, I''ll talk, just let me go, and I''ll tell you everything about what happened three years ago."


    Seeing Georgiae to her senses, Hertha let go, snorting coldly, "Spit it out!"


    The once haughty Georgia now looked as meek as a dewed kitten, rubbing her sore neck, head bowed, saying, "Three years ago, le did intend to get intimate with ric, but just as I was about to start the front desk called me to check in, so that no one woulde up to inspect the room. I went down, not expecting to be dyed by police questioning."


    She looked at ric with frustration and a hint of grievance. Had it not been for the police''s unexpected inspection of the hotel that night, she wouldn''t have missed her chance to truly be with ric.


    "And then?" Hertha pressed on.


    Georgia snapped back to reality. This secret should have stayed buried in her forever, never to be voiced. But she couldn''t stand against this wild woman, Hertha. Her life was at stake.


    Georgia continued, "When I returned to the room found that you and ric had already finished. I was so angry, shaking all over, but I couldn''t just give up, so I had no choice but to lie down next to ric, pretending that it was me who had been with him."


    Not only was Hertha taken aback by Georgia''s words, but ric was stunned too.


    What did Georgia say? That night


    three years ago, he was actually with Hertha after a drunken mistake? And not Georgia? Georgia had justin next to him afterward, pretending to have been with him? So, it had all been a misunderstanding from the start, and he had always been with Hertha?


    This revtion was too surprising, too sudden. ric''s heart was racing with excitement.

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    ric''s narrow, hawk-like eyes widened as he stared at Georgia. The news she delivered left him in a state of shock and delight, his breathing erratic with the overwhelming surprise. Hertha was equally taken aback, having never anticipated the truth to unfold in such a manner.


    That night, ric had indeed been with a woman, so when Georgia confessed it was her, he harbored no doubt. He couldn''t dismiss what had happened to him. But in reality, the woman ric had been with was Hertha, not Georgia! She had been too drunk to realize, mistaking her sticky skin for sweat, never considering the actual reason.


    The truth was that she and ric... The misunderstanding that had been a thorn in her side was just that¡ªa misunderstanding. Her issue with ric''s night of indiscretion was, in fact, with herself.


    After revealing the truth, Georgia, feeling both angry and wronged, bit her lower lip, breathing heavily in frustration. Despite her anger, she couldn''t unleash it in front of Hertha, forcing her voice to soften as she asked, "I''ve told you everything. Can I go now?"


    Georgia had always been bold and brash, relying on her family''s influence. She was naturally timid when confronted with real strength. Hertha had shown a wild, almost lethal side that genuinely frightened Georgia. Even after revealing the truth, Georgia dared not raise her voice to Hertha. She was backed by ric now, her confidence and support stemming entirely from him. In contrast, Georgia stood alone, no match for them.


    Knowing when to retreat, she prioritized her escape. Snapping back to reality, Hertha fixed Georgia with a piercing gaze. "Swear to God that everything you''ve said is the truth, without a shred of deceit!"


    Georgia, intimidated by Hertha''s intense stare, felt her heart pounding, hoping Hertha would just let her go. Every second she stayed was a second closer to danger.


    Georgia, thinking back to a ren


    news story about a desperate individual pushed too far, feared for her life under Hertha''s oppression. Even a cornered rabbit will bite in desperation.


    With her heart racing, Georgia raised two fingers and solemnly swore, "I swear, every word I''ve spoken is true. If I''m lying, may lightning strike me down."N?velDrama.Org copyrighted ? content.


    Hertha''s frown deepened, but her tense heart finally rxed. Stepping back, she told Georgia, "You can go."


    This was Hertha''s way of fully releasing Georgia from her grasp. The oppressive aura around Georgia lifted, and she felt a sense of relief yet she couldn''t leave without casting onest longing look at ric, who regarded her with disdain. Her heart ached, but swallowing her pride, she quickly walked away. In this game, she had lost miserably.


    With Georgia gone, the tension in the air eased.

 Chapter 2033

    Chapter 2033


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    ric stepped forward, slinging an arm around Hertha''s shoulders with a smirk ying at the corners of his mouth. "I gotta say, I didn''t expect you to be such a sly fox, coaxing the truth out of Georgia with just a few words."


    The scene that had just unfolded was a real eye-opener for ric, showcasing Hertha''s cunning.


    On the surface, she appeared easy-going and unbothered, the type who could speak her mind in front of a crowd. Yet, every word she uttered wasced with her shrewdness.


    He thought about it - the receptionist at the hotel hadn''t detailed Georgia''s visit to the room as precisely as Hertha had. In Hertha''s recount, she remembered every specific moment.


    It was all to expose Georgia.


    Hertha shot him a nce. "Spending too much time with Georgia has dulled your brains, hasn''t it?" she quipped, turning to head into the boutique. ric was about to defend his intelligence when he suddenly caught the deeper meaning in Hertha''s words.


    He hurried after her, rifying, "What''s this about spending too much time with Georgia?"


    He could handle being called foolish, but he couldn''t stand the thought that Hertha believed he was too close to Georgia.


    It sounded suspiciously like jealousy.


    ric couldn''t let Hertha continue believing there was something between him and Georgia.


    "You and she were engaged for three years, isn''t that long enough?" Hertha retorted without breaking stride.


    "That engagement was something my family pushed on me. I never epted it, and Georgia and I barely spent time together," ric exined, almost pleadingly, as he matched her pace.


    "But that doesn''t change the fact you were engaged to Georgia for three years. Do you know what people say?" Hertha didn''t even turn to look at him, quickening her pace. "They say you and Georgia are a match made in heaven, a perfect pair."


    "That''s people talking, not me," ric''s tone was tinged with fear, the biggest barrier between him and Hertha now seemingly removed.This text is ? N?velDrama/.Org.


    Having aired out the misunderstanding, he''d thought Hertha would be overjoyed, ready to fully open her heart to him.


    But she still held a grudge.


    He had indeed missed out on being there for Hertha during those three years.


    How could he make up for lost time?


    "But I took it to heart," Hertha said.


    Now ric was even more anxious, stepping in front of her to exin, "Please don''t¡ª"


    Expecting to see anger, he was surprised to find her struggling to hold backughter. Upon making eye contact, she couldn''t contain it any longer and burst outughing, finding ric''s worried expression hrious.


    Herughter was infectious, and ric, momentarily dumbfounded, soon realized Hertha had been messing with him.


    His tension melted away, reced


    by a mix of relief and yfulnesszas he grasped Hertha''s shoulders, shaking her gently. "Oh, you got me, Hertha. You''re getting naughtier by the day."


    Though he feignedint, his smile was genuine.


    It had been a while since he''d seen Herthaugh so freely and joyously.


    It felt like they were back to their carefree days, where love was all that mattered.


    Unbeknownst to ric, the man who


    once prided himself on his


    the


    indifference towards women, he had be utterly smitten. The idea of him, a man who once scoffed at t notion of falling for a woman, nowpletely head over heels, was something he would have never imagined.

 Chapter 2034

    Chapter 2034


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    Hertha tried her best topose herself, swallowing hard before gently pushing away ric''s hand from her shoulder.


    "What''s the matter? You''ve made me miserable for three years, and I can''t make you squirm for a few minutes?"


    ric''s sharp, beautifully captivating eyes looked at her. He intended to respond to her words, but upon reflecting on their deeper meaning, he was momentarily stunned, then overwhelmed with joy.


    In a rush of excitement, he pulled Hertha into a tight embrace, holding her as if she were his most treasured possession.


    "I''m sorry, Hertha, so sorry. It''s my fault you''ve been hurting these three years," he murmured, his chin resting on Hertha''s shoulder. His voice was slightly rough, his warm breath tickling her delicate neck.


    Every detail reflected a man''s profound love for a woman.


    A man only shows such vulnerability in front of the woman he loves most, revealing a rawness in his voice uncontrobly.


    Caught off guard by his embrace, Hertha felt the warmth from his chest seep through the thin fabric onto her skin, warming her heart.


    And his words warmed her ears even more.


    She could feel the depth of ric''s love for her.


    And in this moment, she opened her heart fully, loving him without any reservations.


    Before today''s encounter with Georgia, Hertha loved ric but always felt there was a hurdle she couldn''t ovee. It was like being about to enjoy her favorite dish, only to find a fly in it.


    Even after removing the fly, the dish seemed tainted.


    She couldn''t bring herself to discard the meal, nor could she stomach the thought of eating it.


    The dilemma was truly unbearable.


    But meeting Georgia today and learning the truth allowed Hertha to finally get over that hurdle.


    Because she realized that the fly was actually a stic one, not real, posing no real contamination.


    With that, she could enjoy her favorite dish without any concerns, heartily and openly.


    Hertha, smiling, hugged ric back, just as tightly.


    Feeling his heart beating solely for her in that moment was sheer bliss.


    She had never felt as happy as she did right now.


    In fact, doubts had started creeping into her mind the night before, after hearing from the hotel receptionist ording to the receptionist, ric should have been fast asleep when Georgia returned to her room making it impossible for anything to have happened between them.


    He was just drunk, not drugged.


    There were only two possibilities: either Georgia made a move on ric, or nothing happened between them at all. Hertha was hoping for thetter.


    Today, upon encountering Georgia, Hertha devised a n to make Georgia reveal the truth herself.


    Having shed with Georgia several times before, Hertha knew her well - a woman more brawn than brains.


    Knowing your enemy as well as yourself ensures victory.


    Hertha was prepared for either possibility, ready to ept the truth with open arms.


    To her relief, the truth was exactly what she hoped for.


    After embracing for a while, the


    makeup artist Danny approached et


    with a polite smile, asking, "Mr. Falconer, miss, are you


    Content


    continue with the make ready toThis text is ? N?velDrama/.Org.


    belongs to NovelDrama.Org


    ric''s expression changed, reminded of something even more important. He quickly let go of


    Hertha, excited yet anxious, "Let''s get the makeup done quickly, so we can still make it in time for the registry office."


    He was so ted, he had almost forgotten about the vital matter of officially registering their union.

 Chapter 2035

    Chapter 2035


    ?


    Hertha had already let go of all her grievances and was feeling cheerful. Her mood was further lifted when Danny called her a beautifuldy.


    Feeling good, she was more than willing to cooperate. With a smile, she nodded and followed Danny into the makeup room. Danny''s makeup skills were nothing short of miraculous, finishing up in just ten minutes and leaving her looking naturally elegant and perfect. Hertha''s tired, bare face was transformed under Danny''s expert hands, instantly revitalizing her into a bright-eyed, yful beauty.


    When ric saw her after the makeup, his eyes lit up, and he eximed from the bottom of his heart, "You''re absolutely stunning, the most beautiful bride today." Saying so, he crooked his arm, smiling in anticipation for Hertha.


    Understanding his gesture, she stepped forward and hooked her arm through his, and they left the beauty salon close and joyful. ric drove quickly, and soon they arrived at the city hall. Even though ric had saved as much time as possible, it was already half-past eleven when they got to the city hall.


    Several couples were already in line ahead of them. ric, holding Hertha''s hand, quickly walked to join the queue behind them, as if afraid that even a second''s dy would set them back. Now standing in line, ric looked ahead worriedly at the three couples in front of them, with only half an hour left before the civil servants were due to finish for the day. He was anxious, but there was nothing to do but wait.


    Hertha could feel his palm sweating, making both their hands sticky. Looking up at ric, she saw his face was tense. She couldn''t help but smile. "Don''t worry so much. If we don''t make it this morning, there''s always the afternoon, right?"


    "Getting the license sooner rather thanter is always better. What if something elsees up?" ric didn''t hide his genuine concern.


    Hertha didn''t pursue the topic further but nced at the two registration books in his hand. "You''ve been keeping your registration book in the car?"


    After leaving her ce yesterday,


    they had gone straight downstairs to find a restaurant, without ric returning home. Yet this morning, be had promptly shown up at the city hall with both registration books in hand. Her mother had given her the registration book yesterday afternoon, and ric had insisted on keeping it in his car. And ric''s registration book must have always been in his vehicle.


    "Of course. Ever since we missed our chance to register that one time, I''ve kept the registration book in the car. Always ready for the next time we''de together to register." ric leaned closer to Hertha, hi? voice filled with a mix of pride and a hint of sorrow. It was a hassle to get his registration book out of his house, and if he returned it, he might not be able to get it out again. Moreover, he was always prepared toe with Hertha to register at any moment. Keeping the registration book handy meant they could head to the city hall whenever they wanted. Content from N?velDr(a)ma.Org.


    Despite the distance and hurdles between him and Hertha, ric never gave up on the idea of being together with her. Listening to ric''s words, Hertha felt a tug at her heart, a bittersweet sensation.


    "Don''t worry, this time, we''ll definitely make it," Hertha reassured him.

 Chapter 2036

    Chapter 2036


    ?


    Hearing Hertha''s words, ric''s smile widened, the tension easing from his eyes. No matter what twists life might throw their way, as long as their hearts beat as one, nothing could stop them from saying "I do." The foundation of marriage is two hearts united in eager anticipation of joining lives. Leaning in, ric''s forehead touched hers, his voice soft and tender, "Okay, I''m not worried. There''s still the afternoon. And if not today, there''s always tomorrow."Content from N?velDr(a)ma.Org.


    As long as Hertha was by his side, eager to make their union official, a dy of a mere half-hour meant nothing. His warm breath brushed against Hertha''s face, intensifying the tender affection that enveloped ric.


    Hertha''s face bloomed with a deeper joy as she nodded, "Exactly, no worries." Opening their hearts to each other, acknowledging the deep bond they shared, brought them both immense peace. Together, their hearts could weather any storm.


    Hertha and ric intertwined their fingers, leaning into each other, waiting patiently. After three couples ahead of them had their marriages certified, it was finally their turn. Despite their mutual pledge to stay calm, ric couldn''t help the flutter of excitement in his heart.


    Hisst attempt to marry Hertha had been thwarted by an unexpected appearance from Georgia, plunging him into a lengthy period of dismay. Now, reflecting back, ric realized Georgia''s intrusion had been deliberate, all to prevent his and Hertha''s union. Worse yet, Georgia had concocted a story involving a child who bore a slight resemnce to him! Georgia was a woman of terrifying determination, stopping at nothing to achieve her ends.


    As ric handed over their documents, the clerk, busy tidying up, didn''t even nce up, saying, "We''re closed. Come back in the afternoon."


    Desperate, ric pleaded, "Could you possibly stay just ten more minutes? We''d be so grateful, we''d even treat you to lunch as a thank you."


    The urgency in his voice was


    palpable. Just as it was their turn, to


    be told toe backter was


    disheartening. Yet, Hertha, seeing ric''s nervousness, felt an


    overwhelming surge of happin


    Even though they''d agreed waiting until the afternoon was fine, ric''s immediate forgetfulness of their calm resolve showed just how much he cared. His eagerness was a testament to his love.


    The clerk, pausing in her tidying to look over, was taken aback. ric was not just handsome; he was breathtaking, in an almost ethereal way. AndHertha, so ordinary inparison. That such a striking mam exuding an air of nobility, was so anxious to be joined in marriage to this woman spoke volumes of his love. The clerk, a self-confessed beauty aficionado, couldn''t help but envy Hertha.


    "Ha, alright, I''ll stay a bit longer for you two. 4t''s clear you''re in love. Cherish it, and may you always walk together in happiness," the clerk said with a smile, taking the documents from ric.


    Their job was to witness the myriad ways couples entered into marriage, a daily front-row seat to the joy andplexity of human rtionships. They had seen it all.

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    Chapter 2037


    ?


    Content from N?velDr(a)ma.Org.


    It was indeed a rare gem when two people, driven by love, hurried into marriage. The clerk, processing their marriage license, hoped every couple she assisted would find evesting happiness. Seeing their eagerness, why make them wait any longer?


    ric, upon seeing the clerk''s approval, must have thanked her a dozen times over. Hertha couldn''t help but smile, seeing ric''s boyish, goofy grin. From filling out the forms to taking photos, and finally receiving their marriage certificate, the whole process took just ten minutes.


    When ric held the freshly printed certificate, still warm from the printer, it felt almost sacred in his hands. He was married. He was truly married to Hertha! Never in his thirty-something years had he felt this ted, this blissful. After admiring the certificate for a moment, ric carefully tucked it into his pocket. Overwhelmed with joy, he couldn''t resist cupping Hertha''s face, puckering her lips into a kiss.


    "Hey, wifey, what do you fancy for lunch?" he asked, still buzzing from the excitement.


    Hertha, taken aback by the sudden kiss but understanding his exhration, turned to the clerk and said, "Shouldn''t we be asking our guest what she''d like to eat? We were going to treat this lovelydy to lunch, weren''t we?"


    Realizing his oversight, ric quickly said to the clerk, "What would you like to eat? It''s all up to your taste."


    He had promised her a meal for helping them out with the marriage certificate and nearly forgot in his excitement. The clerk, smiling, responded, "No need, I''ll be heading home for lunch. You''ve just got married; I wouldn''t want to third-wheel."


    With that, she packed up her things


    and left. ric and Hertha didn''t


    insist further. They shared a look, eyes twinkling with shared sweetness. "C''mon, what do you wanna eat? Think carefully, this is our first meal as a married couple," ric said, his voice dripping with affection.


    Before, they were just friends, no matter how many meals they shared. But now, with that certificate in hand, every meal was a family meal. Hertha''s eyes widened in realization, "Oh, that''s right, we''re married now. And we didn''t sign a prenup, so your vast fortune is half mine now, isn''t it?" ric yfully flicked her nose, "I''m all yours, and so is everything else."


    Hertha giggled, herughter resembling the tinkling of bells, "You''re really not guarding yourself at all, and you''re ric, you know."


    "I''m ric, but not just any ric.


    When we get home, I''ll hand over all my bank cards to you. Let''s go have lunch," he said, intertwining his fingers with hers as they left the registry office. With the marriage certificate in his pocket, it was like a charm, ensuring he''d never lose Hertha.


    After lunch, ric insisted on taking Hertha to his ce first. True to his word, he presented her with all his bank eards. "This is everything to my name now, take good care of it," ric said. Content belongs to

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    ric gently took Hertha''s hand, sliding three credit cards into her palm with a charming smile, his eyes twinkling with a mischievous glint and lips curved into a crescent moon. It was a gesture of pure affection and trust.


    Hertha, caught off guard, blinked herrge eyes in disbelief. She thought ric was joking at first, but there he was, seriously handing over his financial lifelines to her.


    ¡°ric, you really shouldn''t have,¡± Hertha started, feeling a mix of embarrassment and astonishment.


    Before she could finish, ric cut her off, "This card right here, it''s the one I get my sry on. You know I''ve been working with the Crawley Group, and they''re pretty solid about dropping the paycheck on the fifteenth every month. Feel free to check the bnce then."


    He pointed to the first card he gave her and then moved to the next, "This one''s from when I was dabbling with some investments during my stint with the Falconer family. Got lucky with a startup that pays out dividends annually. You can take a look at the start of each year, see what''se in."


    ric exined with such earnestness that Hertha didn''t want to interrupt, instead listening intently.


    She had pegged ric as a yboy, never suspecting he had a knack for investments and financial nning.


    ¡°And thisst one," ric continued, ¡°is sort of an allowance card from the Falconer family. Used to be my mom would deposit some spending money every month. Haven''t touched it in ages, though. If you''re curious, go ahead and take a peek at what''s in there."


    Through ric''s exnations, it was clear that this card was meant to be used more cautiously.


    He had effectively entrusted her with his entire fortune.


    Hertha chuckled, "We''ve barely tied the knot, and here you are, handing over your entire wealth to me. Aren''t you scared I''ll just run off with your money?"


    It was a light-hearted jest.


    ric''sughter was soft, yet filled with warmth, "To be deemed worthy of your trust with my assets is an honor."


    Hertha was speechless, her eyes brimming with unshed tears. ric''s words had moved her deeply, a sentiment she wasn''t ustomed to. Realizing she was about to cry, she yfully flicked ric on the forehead, "Who in their right mind would be happy about their fortune being eyed?" "Because it''s you, I don''t mind being this kind of fool," ric confessed sincerely.


    Those words sent Hertha''s heart fluttering, stirring emotions she hadn''t fully processed yet.


    Trying to fend off the overwhelming


    feelings, she turned away, blinking back tears, "You''ve got quite the silver tongue. I wonder how many have fallen for those sweet nothings of yours."


    "It''s not sweet nothings when I say them to you, ric hurried to rify, desperate to convince her of his genuine feelings, now that they were husband and wife. There should be no room for doubt about hiso sincerity.


    As he spoke, he took her by the shoulders, turning her to face him. Seeing her eyes, red and watery,


    stirred something in ric.


    Ovee by a sudden rush oo


    emotion, he leaned in and kissed her passionately.


    S


    The kiss, fervent and filled with longing, overwhelmed Hertha. It was as if ric''s earnest words and his undeniable allure were a potent brew she could hardly resist.This text is ? N?velDrama/.Org.


    This was just the beginning of their marriage, and already, Hertha felt out of her depth. If she was this swayed by ric now, what would her standing be in their future together?

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    Hertha was determined to be the one in charge at home, vowing never to let ric dominate her. However, in her current state, she feared she would soon bepletely under his control.


    Panicking, Hertha awkwardly cupped ric''s face and pushed him away, her cheeks burning with embarrassment. "You''re not just talk, you''re all action. I get it. I¡ªI need to go home," she stammered, her eyes darting around nervously before she bolted out of ric''s house.


    ric, still lost in the afterglow of their passionate kiss, watched Hertha''s hurried retreat with a mix of longing and amusement, especially noting how tightly she clutched the three credit cards he had given her.


    Her hasty escape, with those cards firmly in hand, made her even more endearing to him. No matter how she ran now, she couldn''t escape the reality that she was legally his wife.


    Back at her ce, the living room was empty. Hertha sank into the couch, her heart pounding and her cheeks burning as if she''d been out in the sun. She ced one hand over her racing heart and touched her flushed face with the other, trying to calm herself down.


    Just then, the door to the room opened, and Kimberly walked out. She saw Hertha sitting on the couch with a lovestruck expression. "What''s up with you? Had a bit too much to drink?" Kimberly asked, moving closer.


    Startled, Hertha looked up to see her mother and broke into a shy, blissful smile. "No, Mom. Where are the kids?"


    Despite her flustered state, her first thought was of her children.


    "They''ve just fallen asleep," Kimberly replied, noting Hertha''s rosy cheeks and sensing something was amiss. She sat down beside her and probed further, "So, did you and ric get married or what?"This belongs ? N?velDra/ma.Org.


    Hertha, beaming, raised her hand.


    Kimberly noticed the trio of credit cards in her grasp and frowned. "Did you rob a bank or something?"


    Caught off guard, Hertha yfully, swatted her mother. "Stop it, what kind of mother says that abouther daughter? ric gave me all his assets."


    "All his credit cards?" Kimberly was astonished, snatching the cards to inspect them closely, confirming they were real.


    Nodding proudly, Hertha dered, "He said he''s putting me in charge of our finances from now on."


    "Give it here," Kimberly''s voice was unexpectedly serious as she reached out, not for the cards, but with a stern expression.


    Confused, Hertha asked, "What do you want?"


    "Your marriage certificate!" Kimberly demanded.


    Blinking in realization, Hertha dug out the certificate from her pocket and handed it over.


    Kimberly quickly snatched it,


    examining the document that indeed


    confirmed her marriage to rin


    their photo showing them close together, a picture of domestic bliss.


    Only after scrutinizing the certificate did Kimberly''s tense expression soften.


    Handing back the cards and the marriage certificate, she instructed, "Have ric over for dinner tonight."


    "Mom, aren''t you going to say


    anything about me and ric getting married?" Hertha couldn''t hidecher disappointment at her mother''s calm demeanor.


    Shouldn''t her mother be over the moon, just like her?

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    "What can I say? You guys are married now. Just focus on making a great life together," Kimberly said, turning back to give her aposed look. Hertha asked, "Aren''t you curious about what''s been happening with us these past few days?"


    "Ohe on, your marriage is your business. I wouldn''t dream of prying too much. As long as you''re happy, that''s what matters," Kimberly replied with an air of someone who''s been there and done that, a hint of sheepishness on her face.


    Hertha was puzzled. She thought, "Mom is definitely overthinking this."


    "I didn''t mean it that way. Remember, ric and I still had unresolved issues before we got our marriage license. Aren''t you curious about how things are now?"


    Hertha set her things on the couch and walked over to her mother, a reminder in her steps.


    She and ric had resolved their differences. She felt a weight lifted off her shoulders and wanted to share the good news with her mother, to make her happy too.


    "Once you''ve decided on marriage, let bygones be bygones. What matters is building a good life together moving forward," Kimberly said, thinking Hertha was still hung up on ric''s past escapades.


    Her words were meant asfort.


    Hertha said, "Mom, you''re really the best. Starting to teach your daughter to be all muddled up, huh?"


    "What else am I supposed to do, let your child''s father get away?" Kimberly shot back with a side nce.


    Hertha chuckled, looping her arm through her mother''s, cooing like a little girl, "Not only will I not let my child''s dad get away, but I''m also going to live a happy and joyful life with him. You know why?"


    "Isn''t that just how it should be?" Kimberly remarked.


    Hertha corrected her, "It''s not just how it should be. It''s because ric and I have cleared up all our misunderstandings."


    She continued, "Before we got our marriage license, we ran into Georgia. It turns out, three years ago, ric never had an affair with Georgia. It was a total misunderstanding. Georgia is still pure as the driven snow."


    Kimberly, having been around the block, immediately understood what she meant.


    Sheughed, augh that came from deep within, devoid of any reservations or bitterness,pletely rxed and carefree.


    "Heh, really? That''s wonderful!" Kimberly beamed at Hertha.


    "So, you mean to say, you and ric can really put all your past grievances behind and be together wholeheartedly?" Kimberly seemed even happier than Hertha.


    Even before Hertha and ric''s marriage, she hade to ept whatever past ric had. As long as ric and Hertha could lead a good life together and provide aplete family for their children, that was enough. Content belongs to


    To ept, but deep down, there would always be a hint of regret, as no woman can easily tolerate her husband having been involved with another


    woman.


    But Hertha had brought back good news. ric and that Georgia hadn''t had any real rtionship.


    The only blemish in her heart was now healed.


    It felt like a perfect life.


    "Yes, Mom. Julian and Helena will have a father''s love from now on," Hertha said with a smile, gently shaking Kimberly''s arm.


    "Hehe, alright, I''ll go make some lunch," Kimberly said, smiling ear to ear.


    "Mom, I''ve already eaten. Just make something for yourself," Hertha said.


    "Oh, you''ve eaten? Me and the kids had something a bit ago. Then, I''ll head back to my room for a nap," Kimberly said, smiling as she turned back to her room.


    Seeing her mother so happy made Hertha''s heart swell with joy.


    At three in the afternoon, Kimberly got up, walked into the living room,


    and saw Hertha curled up of chal.


    couch, holding the marriage license, staring at it with a silly grin


    Kimberly was puzzled. The girl must be over the moon.


    She walked over and gently tapped Hertha on the back, "Have you lost your marbles, staring and grinning at that marriage license for who knows how long?"


    Hertha snapped back to reality, her smile seemingly welded to her face, radiating happiness.N?velDrama.Org copyrighted ? content.


    "Mom, the more I look at it, the prettier I feel," Hertha said.

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    "ric is leagues ahead of you in the looks department, and don''t you forget it," Kimberly dered.


    Hertha bristled at thement. "Mom, whose side are you on anyway?"


    "What do you mean ''whose side''? He''s family, isn''t he?" Kimberly retorted.


    Hertha was momentarily lost for words. Well, she and ric were married now, officially a family. But they had only just tied the knot, and here was her mother, already taking ric''s side and criticizing her own daughter. No doubt about it, she was a true mom.


    "Stop daydreaming ande help me with dinner," Kimberly said.


    With a sigh, Hertha went to put away her credit card and marriage certificate before heading to the kitchen.


    After a couple of days of rest, Thssa''s injuries had significantly improved. It was only when she called the police station that she found out Callum was being held on kidnapping charges, awaiting trial. That meant since his arrest, Callum had been in custody.


    The thought of Callum facing trial stirred a mix of emotions in Thssa. Callum had done wrong and deserved to face the


    consequences of his actions. Yet, the thought that she yed a part in his downfall weighed heavily on her conscience. If Callum hadn''t been somitted to fulfilling Leopold''sst wish, he wouldn''t have fixated on undermining Lysander. He could have remained the charming and elegant scion of the Gordon family, with a bright future ahead of him. But that was not to be. Kidnapping was a serious charge, and prison was inevitable. All Thssa could hope for was that, upon his release, Callum would turn over a new leaf, let go of his grudges, and seek his own happiness.


    Meanwhile, Thssa had also inquired about Susan''s case. Susan had been tried and convicted, having confessed to a litany of crimes. Given the severity of her offenses, Susan was sentenced to life imprisonment. This meant she would spend the rest of her days behind bars. Thssa found some sotace in this oue. Susan deserved to be locked away forever. She was inherently malicious, and incarceration meant she could no longer harm others. A woman who could abandon, exploit, and even endanger her own child for personal gain was devoid of conscience. Everything she did was for her own benefit. Life imprisonment was the most fitting punishment for her.


    Today, Lysander was at his


    company. His new venture was thriving, and as it was still in its early days, it demanded much of his attention. Thus, Lysander had been quite busytely. Thssa


    remembered intending to registoN?velDrama.Org copyrighted ? content.


    their marriage with Lysander, only to realize she had left her official documents back in Hollowbrook. She had nned to retrieve them, but after being kidnapped by Callum and sustaining injuries, she couldn''t make the trip. Now that she was nearly healed, Thssa decided to go back to Hollowbrook herself to get the documents. She wanted to marry Lysander as soon as possible.

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    When Thssa announced she was heading out, the butler Fitch didn''t hesitate to instruct the chauffeur ke to drive her. Having been a fixture in the Royal Estates for years, Fitch had developed a keen sense of judgment and was under strict orders from Lysander to ensure Thssa was well taken care of.


    Given that Thssa was still recovering and not quite back to full strength, driving herself wasn''t exactly practical. epting her temporary limitations, Thssa agreed without protest and asked ke to take her to Hollowbrook.


    No sooner had they hit the road than her phone rang, and Hertha''s voice bubbled through with excitement.


    "Thssa, guess what monumental thing I''ve done these past few days?" Even through the phone, Thssa could sense Hertha''s joy nearly spilling over.


    "What''s got you so bubbly?" Thssa chuckled.


    Lately, Hertha had been feeling down due to some issues with ric and Georgia, her usually sunny disposition overshadowed by gloom. It was a rare delight to hear her so light and cheerful.


    "ric and I got our marriage license!" Hertha blurted out, unable to contain her excitement.


    The day they got their marriage license, she was so engulfed in bliss that shepletely forgot to call Thssa. It was only aftering down from her high that she remembered to share the news.


    "Really! Congrattions!" Thssa was genuinely taken aback and offered her heartfelt congrattions.


    Hertha and ric''s journey had been anything but smooth, filled with setbacks and hardships. Now that they had finally made it, Thssa couldn''t help but feel overjoyed for her dear friend.


    "Haha, thanks!" Hertha''sughter was hearty and sincere.


    "And that''s not even the best part," she added.


    "Oh? Spit it out then, let me share in your joy," Thssa encouraged her.


    Hertha, ever the chatterbox when excited, held nothing back from Thssa. She recounted everything - from the encounter with the receptionist at the hotel to the


    confrontation with Georgia, anel


    howThis text is ? N?velDrama/.Org.


    she managed to coax the truth about that night three years ago out of her all without pausing for breath.


    From her rapid-fire delivery alone, Thssa could gauge the extent of Hertha''s happiness and couldn''t help but feel ted on her behalf.


    "So, it was all just a big


    misunderstanding. You and ric better make the most of your lives together and be happy," Thssa said, her wordsden with emotion and sincerity. She truly wished her best friend all the happiness in the world.


    These past three years hadn''t been easy for Hertha. But, as they say, what doesn''t kill you makes you stronger.


    Thankfully, Hertha''s decision to keep


    her pregnancy and face the challenges of single motherhood head-on had paid off. Now, not only did she have two beautiful children, but she was also blissfully reunited with ric.


    Touched by Thssa''s blessing, Hertha was moved to tears. Only they could truly understand the hardships and struggles of choosing to raise children on their own a testament to their strength and perseverance.


    "You too," Hertha said sentimentally, "May you find your bliss with Lysander, and never let it go."

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    "Mmm, I''m heading back to Hollowbrook to grab my birth certificate. In a couple of days, Lysander and I are going to tie the knot," Thssa said. As she spoke, she nced out the car window. During the half-hour chat with Hertha, they had hit the highway.


    "Right, right. Get that birth certificate and make it official with Lysander soon. Drive safe, huh? Tell the driver to take it easy. No rush; safety first," Hertha advised.


    "Got it."


    After exchanging a few more pleasantries, they ended the call.


    Thssa returned to Hollowbrook, now in the full bloom of spring. The fields were a golden sea of can flowers, stretching as far as the eye could see. A breeze carried the sweet fragrance, intoxicating and delightful.


    Living in the city had its perks, but returning to her hometown was truly refreshing. Surrounded by nature''s beauty and engulfed in fresh air, even her fatigue seemed to be swept away by the spring breeze.


    Thssa arrived at her small cottage. Ever since Lysander had their vi rebuilt after it was destroyed, Thssa had made sure her aunt had a ce to stay by constructing a small bungalow on the original site.


    For the past three years, her aunt had been living in this modest bungalow, where Thssa''s birth certificate was also kept.


    Thssa took out her keys, opened the door, and was greeted by a musty smell. The house felt neglected, a clear sign it needed a resident''s touch to fend off the mold.


    She headed straight for her aunt''s room.


    Finding the birth certificate in a drawer, she was about to leave when she heard a familiar, surprised voice at the door: "Thssa, is it really you?" Turning around, Thssa saw a tall, slender woman at the doorway-Lydia.This text is ? N?velDrama/.Org.


    A smile broke on Thssa''s face as she held the birth certificate, "Lydia, weren''t you in Starhaven?"


    "My grandma''s knee was giving her hell, so I came back yesterday to give her acupuncture," Lydia exined.


    She had promised Thssa she


    would learn medicine from Dr. Funke to treat her grandma''s condition. Now that her grandma was suffering again, Lydia didn''t hesitate toe back and offer treatment. Content


    belongs to NovelDrama.Org


    "I saw your door was open and got curious. Thought I might catch a burr and give them a good whooping, but it turns out it''s you," Lydia exined her presence.


    Thssa expressed her gratitude, "Thanks for looking out for us. Though, there''s hardly anything worth stealing here."


    After a brief catch-up, Thssa asked, "When are you heading back to Starhaven?"


    "Probably in a half-month. Acupuncture isn''t a one-time fix. A full course takes about a week," Lydia responded.


    Noticing Thssa''s gaze drifting to the birth certificate in her hand, Lydia quickly understood, "Oh, I see You''ve got some big ns. Well, won''t keep you. You and Mr. Sinir better hurry up and get married. I expect an invite to the wedding."


    Lydia pped Thssa on the shoulder with her typical hearty demeanor, causing Thssa to blush slightly, "The wedding can wait till after Lysander and I have made it official." Content belongs to


    Hertha and ric had already eloped, and she and Lysander couldn''tg behind.


    "Ha, what a joke. Dreaming of tying the knot with Lysander? Seems like you haven''t woken up from your fantasy," a mocking, sharp voice suddenly interrupted from the doorway.


    Thssa and Lydia turned to see a fashionably dressed woman with heavy makeup swaggering in.


    Seeing the neer, Thssa''s brows furrowed instantly, "Isabe, long time no see. Still as shy as ever."

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    Once upon a time, Thssa''s disdain for Isabe was as bitter as the coldest winter. Seeing her again, those old wounds bubbled up inside her mind like a tempest, the pain as sharp as a knife''s edge, a thorn lodged deep in her heart that refused to be removed, aching softly.


    Isabe had turned what should have been a beautiful life with Leopold into a tragedy. Worse, Leopold had paid the ultimate price. And yet, the instigator of all this misery, Isabe, seemed to float through life unscathed, decked out like she was heading to a g every day, without a trace of remorse for the damage she''d caused.


    Upon seeing Isabe again, waves of hatred surged in Thssa.


    Isabe smirked, her lips curling in scorn. "Still the same old country mouse, huh? Can''t even put on a bit of makeup properly. You''re like a in Jane next to me."


    Isabe took perverse pride in her appearance, not sensing Thssa''s sarcasm at all. As she approached, Thssa''s gentle demeanor was evident, the kindness in her face making her seem vulnerable to the world.


    Lydia stepped forward, positioning herself between Thssa and Isabe, looking down on her with disdain. Taller by a head, Lydia''s posture as she stared down Isabe was reminiscent of a bouncer facing down an unwee troublemaker.


    "Isabe, weren''t you also a country girl? Mocking her for being ''country'' is like mocking yourself," Lydia said, her face set in stone.


    Isabe brushed her off. "Move aside. I wasn''t talking to you. Why butt in?"


    Isabe''s arrogance was palpable, but Lydia, feeling disrespected, tensed up, ready to throw a punch at any moment.


    "Try saying that again to my face!" Lydia growled, fists clenched, the threat in her tone clear.N?velDrama.Org copyrighted ? content.


    Isabe, unfazed by the threat, had seen it all in her years of high-stakes business dealings and rtionships. "Lydia, I''ve done nothing to you. Lay a finger on me, and I''ll call the cops!" she retorted, brandishing he smartphone.


    Lydia was speechless, her anger boiling over with nowhere to go.


    Thssa quickly pulled Lydia back, facing Isabe herself. "What do you want, Isabe? Just say it."


    She knew all too well how dangerous Isabe could be. She and Leopold had been victims of her scheming before, and she had even teamed up with Faye Brennan in an attempt to ensnare both her and Lysander. Thankfully, Lysander was no easy target, and they managed to avoid Isabe and Faye''s trap.


    Thssa didn''t want Lydia to get into trouble on her ount. Isabe was like a bad penny, always turning up.


    Isabe eyed Thssa, a cold smile


    ying on her lips. "Heard you moved in with Lysander? nning to marry him? Seeing how in you''re dressed, no designer brands, what, he can''t spare the cash for you? At the end of the day, you''re just a means to an end for Lysander, aren''t you?" Content belongs to


    Isabe had overheard Thssa and Lydia discussing the marriage certificate when she walked in. The sight of the document in Thssa''s hand was like a thorn in her side.

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    She''d been sucking up to rk for a good seven or eight years, only to be dumped by him justst week!


    She was drop-dead gorgeous, a fashionista decked out in international brands, while rk was nothing but a nobody, living it up on his family''s dime!


    Isabe couldn''t get a foot in the door with the Sinirs, so she thought she''d y nice with rk, marry into hisvish lifestyle, and live the life of a wealthy housewife. Not a bad n.


    But to think, even someone like rk didn''t want her!Content from N?velDr(a)ma.Org.


    And then there''s Thssa, what''s so special about her? in Jane, not into dressing up, yet she managed to snag Lysander, a true catch! Jealousy was eating Isabe up from the inside.


    If she could, she''d love to kick Thssa to the curb and run off to city hall with Lysander herself!


    "Watch your mouth!" Lydia couldn''t take it anymore, ready to give Isabe a piece of her mind.


    Thssa stopped her, blocking Lydia with one hand to keep her from acting rashly, and with the other hand casually tucked in her coat pocket, she looked Isabe straight in the eye, "You probably can''t even have kids anymore, can you? After how many times you''ve had abortions for rk? Can you even get pregnant?"


    Thssa''s voice was soft, but her words cut deep.


    Isabe felt like she''d been stabbed in the heart, furious and pained.


    Her face twisted in anger, she rolled up her sleeves, "Thssa, are you asking for it?"


    She took a step forward, but Lydia was already there, shielding Thssa, her presence fierce, "Go ahead, make my day!"


    Isabe''s bravado deted in an instant.


    She had been all talk about calling the cops on Lydia for notying a hand on her. But now, if she threw the first punch, Lydia would be in the right for defending.


    She wouldn''t gain anything from it.


    After a tense stare-down with Lydia, whose gaze was full of strength, Isabe backed down, her raised hand falling to her side.


    She snorted disdainfully, "Thssa, you''re just someone else''s recement. What''s there to be proud of?"


    Thssa unfazed, "You should


    worry about yourself. Lydia''s a


    doctor, if you ever want kids, maybe she can help you get your health in can


    order. I''d advise you not to make an


    enemy out of everyone." Content


    belongs to NovelDrama.Org


    With those words, Thssa walked away, unwilling to waste more breath on Isabe.


    Isabe''s heart was pierced once again, a mix of pain and anger.


    After almost a decade with rk,


    for himinated five pregnanciest


    having terminated five


    for him, doctors had told her ite


    would be hard to conceive again.


    She was left with a broken body and nothing but her looks, how could she ever find someone decent?


    This was her most helpless and powerless moment.


    Thssa''s every word struck her where it hurt most, driving her mad with rage.


    If Lydia weren''t there, she''d have pped Thssa hard to vent her anger.


    But Lydia was Thssa''s childhood friend, fiercely protective of her. And with Lydia''s strength, Isabe didn''t stand a chance.


    Even filled with rage, she had to swallow it.


    Thssa made her miserable, but she wouldn''t let Thssa have thestugh!


    Staring at Thssa''s retreating


    figure, she sneered, "You think I''m


    lying? Go ask around. Joshua had a daughter Harper, who was Lysander''s childhood sweetheart, his true love. Harper died in an ident. And you, my dear bear a striking resemnce to ber."


    Thssa, on her way out, suddenly stopped in her tracks.

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    Thssa didn''t nce back; she merely hesitated for a moment before continuing on her way. She knew better than to trust Isabe''s words. Falling for her tricks only brought trouble.


    Seeing Thssa ignore herpletely, Isabe''s frustration boiled over. "Thssa, I know you don''t believe me, but why don''t you do a little digging? Ask Lysander himself if there''s a Harper in his life!" Isabe yelled after her, but the only response was Thssa''s retreating figure bing smaller in the distance.


    Lydia, having had enough, approached with a scowl. "Get out of here, will you? I''m about to lock up!"


    Isabe shot Lydia a venomous look before storming off, her heels clicking angrily against the pavement.


    By the time Thssa returned to Starhaven, the sun was already beginning to set. She didn''t rush back to Royal Estates; knowing Lysander, he wasn''t home yet anyway. Sitting in her car with the window rolled down, a breeze carried the scent of spring and an unexpected wave of mncholy. Passing a flower shop, Thssa had the driver stop. She picked out a bouquet and then instructed him to drive to the cemetery. Seeing Isabe had dredged up a tsunami of memories, leaving her feeling blocked and heavy-hearted. She needed to visit Leopold.


    At Leopold''s grave, she ced the bright yellow daisies by his headstone, staring at the photo that captured his youthful essence. Thssa couldn''t help but feel a pang of sorrow. She had always hoped, against all odds, for Leopold''s happiness, even knowing their future together was nonexistent.Content rights belong to N?velDrama.Org.


    "Leopold, do you bless me?" Thssa whispered, her voice tinged with pain, addressing the picture on the headstone.


    "Sorry, sis, I missed my chance with Lysander," a voice suddenly broke the silence of the cemetery.


    Thssa turned towards the sound


    and saw a slender woman, kneeling in front of a grave, her demeanor schrly and elegant. It was Rosalind! Rosalind was at a grave two plots away from Leopold''s. Thssa had been so focused on her own grief she hadn''t noticed her earlier. Content belongs to


    As their eyes met, Rosalind''s sorrowful expression quickly hardened into hostility.


    "You here to stir up old memories?"


    Rosalind stood, confronting


    Thssa with a cold tone. Then, catching sight of the photo on Leopold''s headstone, she let out a


    laugh. "Came to visit an old


    me, did you? Does Lysander know about your little secret rendezvous?"


    Rumors of Thssa''s past rtionships were no secret to Rosalind, who had hoped to use this knowledge to her advantage. Yet, in the end, she realized she hadn''ost to Thssa; she had lost to


    Lysander''s love for her. Content


    belongs to NovelDrama.Org


    Ignoring Rosalind''s barbed words, Thssa remembered that despite their differences, they shared the same father, making them sisters, not enemies. She had never intended to make an enemy of Rosalind.

 Chapter 2047

    Chapter 2047


    ?


    Thssa had never once regretted her bold move of crashing Rosalind''s wedding to im Lysander for herself. It was all in the name of love and ensuring aplete family for her children.


    Besides, Lysander had never really been into Rosalind. Even if they had tied the knot, happiness would''ve been a far-fetched dream.


    "I don''t have to report every little thing to Lysander," Thssa retorted when Rosalind confronted her. "We trust each other. He''d understand why I came to see Leopold."


    "Really? You''re that confident about your rtionship with him? Thssa, in Lysander''s eyes, you''re just a stand-in for my sister. Where do you get the nerve to think he genuinely likes you, that he''d tolerate everything you do?"


    Rosalind had always carried herself with grace and intelligence, but that fa?ade crumbled the moment Thssa made off with Lysander at her wedding. The rage never left Rosalind. She had been warned by her parents that Lysander, now wheelchair-bound, would be a challenging partner for life. The thought of marrying someone seen as ''less-than'' shook Rosalind to her core.


    For a long time, she retreated, focusing on self-improvement and letting go of her pursuit of Lysander. She had almost prepared herself to give up on him entirely. But then, news broke. Lysander was on his feet again, not just physically but also professionally, having built his own business empire from scratch. Hispany quickly became a force to be reckoned with, destined for national acim ording to her father.


    Lysander was once again the man every woman dreamed of: sessful, handsome, and charismatic.


    This revtion stirred something


    within Rosalind. She regretted not holding Thssa ountable for her actions and even more so, her fleeting thoughts of giving up on Lysander. Mired in regret, she visited her sister''s grave to seek sce but encountered Thssa instead. Content rights belong to N?velDrama.Org.


    Curiosity piqued, Thssa''s gaze drifted towards the tombstone Rosalind stood before, bearing the photo of a woman with a radiant smile and eyes clear as spring water, enchanting like a fairy descended to earth.


    The name ''Harper'' echoed in Thssa''s mind, unearthing memories of discovering she wasn''t Bruce''s biological daughter and


    rushing to inform Lysander, on ne


    overhear his conversation with Charlotte Ravensong.


    to


    Charlotte, breathless, questioned why he was so enamored with Thssa, to the extent of keeping her close against her will.


    Lysander''s response was chilling: "You want to know why? Because she reminds me of Harper, especially those eyes. They''re exactly like Harper''s."


    That revtion pierced Thssa''s heart, leaving her breathless.

 Chapter 2048

    Chapter 2048


    It wasn''t just because Rosalind had said she was nothing but a substitute in Lysander''s eyes.


    It was more because Thssa remembered, three years ago, overhearing Lysander mention how


    much she resembled a woman named Harper, especially the eyes, almost identical to Harper''s. And


    now, Rosalind was saying the same thing - she was just a stand-in for Harper in Lysander''s heart.


    Hearing that alone wouldn''t have hurt so much.


    The sting in her heart came when she saw a photo of Harper, with her clear, vibrant spirit, her bright


    smile, and those unblemished eyes that looked so much like her own. Thssa found herself


    frozen, staring at Harper''s name engraved on the tombstone. Rosalind, seeing the impact of her


    words, let out a slight chuckle before continuing, ¡°You probably don¡¯t know that Lysander lost his


    parents when he was young. Grandpa Zephyr took him under his wing, handing him over to my dad


    to mentor in business. Harper and Lysander were about the same age, and she too had a knack for


    business. They grew up together, learning and sharing ideas. My dad was Lysander¡¯s mentor, and


    Harper was his childhoodpanion. You can¡¯t understand the bond Lysander had with my sister.¡±


    Content rights belong to N?velDrama.Org.


    How could she not understand? Childhood friends, confidants, and thepanionship thates


    with growing up together ¨C it was a special kind of bond. Such a rtionship seemed irreceable.


    Listening to Rosalind, a part of Thssa¡¯s heart felt hollow, as if a piece of it had been carved out.


    She had always believed her rtionship with Lysander was pure love. Her heart was full of love,


    warm and fulfilling. But now, that love wasbeled as a mere substitute, and the fervent affection


    she felt was scooped out, leaving a painful void. Breathing became difficult for Thssa, weighed


    down by the heaviness in her heart.


    Rosalind, noticing the deep sadness in Thssa''s eyes, knew her words had hit their mark. If she


    couldn''t have Lysander, making Thssa miserable was a small victory. ¡°Originally, my sister and


    Lysander were to be married. But as fate would have it, Harper died in a boating ident while out


    at sea. Lysander was devastated for a long time. He had left the military to focus on business, but


    after Harper¡¯s death, he reenlisted, taking on incredibly dangerous missions, one of which led him to


    be ambushed and fall into a vige.¡±


    Rosalind detailed not just the story of Harper''s death and Lysander''s response but also the reason


    Lysander had met Thssa. Eight years ago, injured Lysander had fallen into their vige of


    Hollowbrook. By sheer coincidence, hended in the very barn where she was locked up. That was


    the beginning of her and Lysander''s story. She was trapped by Isabe''s schemes, and Lysander,


    grieving Harper''s loss, sought distraction in high-risk missions until he was injured and met her.


    Their four children were conceived from this series of coincidences. Their children, as Thssa


    painfully realized, were born from Lysander''s heartache over Harper''s death. With this thought,


    Thssa felt a sharp pain in her heart. She took several deep breaths, trying to steady herself, and


    then looked up at Rosalind, saying, ¡°Everyone has a past.¡± With those words, she turned and


    walked away.


    Rosalind called out from behind her, ¡°The day after tomorrow is the anniversary of my sister¡¯s


    death.¡± Thssa stiffened but kept walking, not looking back.

 Chapter 2049

    Chapter 2049


    ?


    Lysander hadn''t made it home yet by the time Thssa got back at half-past four in the afternoon. She lounged on the couch, aimlessly flipping through channels on the TV until around six when Lysander finally walked in.


    Dressed in a bespoke ck suit that screamed sophistication, he strode in with an air of nobility, his tie knotted to perfection. To Thssa, he seemed every bit the epitome of a high-flying executive.


    For a brief moment, as she watched him enter, Thssa found herself momentarily dazed.


    "What''s on your mind?" Lysander''s voice, rich and velvety, broke the silence.


    Snapped back to reality, Thssa quickly stood up and went over to help him out of his suit jacket, following him around and striking up a conversation. "What kept you at work sote today?"


    "The firm''s just getting off the ground, and we''ve got a couple of big projects to tackle. By the way," Lysander''s gaze, sharp and probing, fixed on Thssa, "if you''ve got any good designs, you should sell them to us. We''re in dire need of some fresh jewelry designs."


    Lysander had founded hispany with Thssa in mind, having groomed her into a well-known jewelry designer domestically.


    No designer had ever achieved such fame so soon after graduation, with their creations in high demand.This text is ? N?velDrama/.Org.


    Only Thssa.


    And only Lysander had the means to make Thssa''s first creation a nationwide sensation.


    "Ah, I''ve been a bitzytely, haven''t really spent much time on designing," Thssa apologized, her eyes downcast.


    After hanging Lysander''s jacket, her hand brushed the household register in her pocket, her gaze lowered to hide the heaviness in her heart.


    "It''s alright wasn''t rushing you, just


    letting you know to keep me posted


    "1


    if youe up with anything," Lysander said, mistaking her. dejection as disappointment in herself.


    Thssa bit her lip, took a deep breath, and mustered up her courage. Turning to face Lysander, who had since taken a seat on the couch, she blurted out, "I went back to Hollowbrook today to get out household register. Tomorrow''s a workday, and the city hall will be open. Can you spare a couple of hours to go get the marriage certificate?"


    During the hours waiting for Lysander, Thssa had pondered deeply, not that she wasn''t bothered by Rosalind''s words earlier.


    But having been through so much, she had learned to cherish what mattered most.


    Now in her thirties, she was no longer the impulsive, naive twenty-year-old.


    She had grown capable of understanding her own heart and what she truly desired.


    Their love, having survived trials and tribtions, was worth more than dwelling on the past.


    As she had said to Rosalind, everyone has a history.


    Lysander''s eyes lit up with a surprising joy, his gaze softening, though his voice remained calm, "Hmm."


    Thssa felt a pang of disappointment at hisckluster response. Wasn''t he as thrilled as she was about making their union official?


    "If you''re too busy, we don''t have to go,¡± she said, her difort quickly turning into irritation.


    With that, she turned and headed


    upstairs, leaving Lysander


    bewildered, wondering how the


    conversation had taken such a sudden downturn.

 Chapter 2050

    Chapter 2050


    ?


    Lysander was stumped. It seemed like everything was going smoothly. He had reassured her when she mentioned not having enough time for design work, agreed without hesitation when she brought up getting a marriage license, yet, for some reason, Thssa was upset.


    He had heard the saying that women wereplex, but he''d never had the time or the need to dwell on such matters. His life was straightforward - people did as he asked, always keen to keep him in good spirits. He wasn''t used to catering to anyone else''s feelings. This was his first real taste of the puzzling nature of women.Content from N?velDr(a)ma.Org.


    Thssa headed back to her room, pausing at the door to see if Lysander was following her. But when she looked back, she found no sign of him. He hadn''te after her to make things right, amplifying her disappointment. Huffing out a breath of frustration, she shut her door with a bit more force than necessary. Sitting on the bed, she felt an overwhelming sense of emptiness and difort growing inside her. Thssa flopped onto the bed, pulling the nket over her, and decided to sulk in silence.


    Downstairs, Lysander was at a loss. He figured that even if he went after her, he wouldn''t know the right things to say. Everything in life required a specific approach to be effective, and he believed the same was true when it came to women. You had to hit the right note when trying to cheer them up; otherwise, it was just a waste of time. But he waspletely clueless about why Thssa was mad in the first ce. How was he supposed to make it right?


    Feeling helpless, he decided to call ric for advice.


    "Lysander, what a surprise! What''s got you calling me out of the blue?" ric''s voice was filled with excitement and disbelief.


    "I''ve been meaning to call, but I figured you might be too busy," Lysander started, but ric cut him off, bubbling over with news.


    "Hey, did you know? Hertha and I got our marriage license. We''re officially husband and wife now! I can proudly call her my wife without anyone batting an eye, hahaha!"


    el.n


    ric''sughter was infectious, even through the phone, and Lysander couldn''t help but pull the phone away from his ear a bit. Although he could understand ric''s happiness, it was a bit too loud for his taste.


    "Doneughing?" Lysander''s calm and authoritative voice cut through, reminding ric of his friend''s no-nonsense demeanor. Oops, he might have gotten carried away with his excitement. Quicklyposing himself, ric replied, "So, what''s up? You calling me must mean there''s something big. Whatever it is, I''m here for you, man. Not a second''s hesitation on my part!"

 Chapter 2051

    Chapter 2051


    ?


    "When did you and Hertha tie the knot?" Lysander asked.


    ric was momentarily taken aback. "Huh?"


    He thought Lysander had some major issue to discuss with him, and he was all geared up for it. But then, the conversation suddenly swung back to him and Hertha getting hitched? Wasn''t that the topic Lysander was just scoffing at?


    Now, ric felt almost ttered. Just thinking about being legally married to Hertha sent a wave of joy through him he couldn''t quell. "We got our marriage license the morning beforest. Guess I''m officially off the market, buddy. Just a heads up, you can count me out for those bar hops and club nights from now on. My wife runs a tight ship." ric started to boast, unable to hide his glee.


    His grin was practically ear-to-ear.


    It wasn''t that he wanted to show off, really. He had already moved past the topic, but Lysander was the one who brought it up again. "How did you manage to win her over?" Lysander''s smooth, maic voice suddenly inquired.


    "What?" ric momentarily lost track of his thoughts.


    "Weren''t you two just back to being friends? How did you end up getting married so quickly?" Lysander didn''t skimp on the details.


    "Heh, guess I''m just irresistible," ric said,ughing foolishly with excitement.


    "Not talking, hanging up now," Lysander had little patience for this.


    "Hey, wait, wait, wait." ric quickly interjected, preventing him from ending the call.


    "I won''t rub my happiness in your face, ok? Let''s get down to brass tacks," ric got back on track.


    Lysander typically wouldn''t call someone unless it was for something important.


    "What generally makes a woman angry?" Lysander picked up the phone again, pressing it to his ear, initially intent on seeking ric''s advice on how


    to appease a woman. Without getting ric''s wisdom, the call would have been for naught.


    ric paused for a few seconds, surprised that Lysander would ask such a basic question.


    He had braced himself, expecting Lysander to ask for a major favor, something so challenging it could be akin to going into battle.


    But instead, he was just asking for advice on such a simple matter.


    This left ric feeling somewhat anticlimactic.


    "Forget it then!" Lysander was about to hang up, not having received an answer.


    ric snapped back to reality, quickly saying, "Of course, women want to feel cherished by their man Show ack of interest in even the smallest detail, and she might take offense, giving you the cold shoulder."


    Without further ado, ric conveyed the reason to Lysander.


    He had to speak up, or Lysander might actually end the call.


    "Get some rest," Lysander said, his brows furrowing slightly as he reyed his interactions with Thssa, beginning to see a pattern. After ending the call with ric Fitch approached respectfully, "Lysander, dinner is served. Shall I send someone to call Ms. Everhart?"


    "No need," Lysander replied, striding towards the staircase. After a couple of steps, he turned back to correct Fitch: "Don''t call her Ms. Everhart." Fitch, breaking out in a cold sweat, was taken aback.


    Before he could respond, Lysander added, "Call her ''thedy of the house.""


    Fitch''s tense nerves immediately rxed, his eyes widening in surprise. Before he could utter a word, Lysander had already ascended the stairs.


    In just a few seconds, Fitch went


    from nervous to shocked, then to ted. His cold sweat hadn''t even had a chance to break before it was reced by a smile. Content


    belongs to NovelDrama.OrgThis belongs ? N?velDra/ma.Org.


    He had thought Lysander and Thssa were on the verge of a split, but now, he was instructing the staff to refer to Thssa as ''thedy of the house.''


    It seemed they were indeed bing a united front.


    Fitch, the butler, was happy for Lysander and Thssa alike.


    Lysander reached the bedroom door and knocked gently.

 Chapter 2052

    Chapter 2052


    ?


    Thssa was wrapped up in nkets, stewing in her own frustration. The words Rosalind had said, coupled with the memory of Lysander mentioning how much she resembled Harper three years ago, clogged her heart with irritation. The more she thought about it, the angrier she got.


    So caught up in her own thoughts, she didn''t hear the knocking at first. Lysander stood at the door, knocking a few times without any response, not waiting for Thssa to let him in. He turned the knob and entered the room, his eyes scanning for her. Not seeing her immediately, he felt a wave of worry. His gaze finally settled on a bulky shape under the covers on the bed. Spotting the legs sticking out, his worry eased.


    He walked over, standing by the bed with a low, maic voice, "Still upset?"


    His voice breaking the silence startled Thssa, who quickly threw the nkets off and turned to face the tall figure standing before her bed. His presence was noble, exuding a natural authority. Recognizing Lysander, her initial shock eased. Seeing him brought an involuntary smile to her face, but then the troubling thoughts returned, and her joy was quickly reced by gloom. She sulkily lowered her gaze, murmuring, "Who would dare to stay mad at you?"


    Turning away, shey back down in a show of disinterest. No sooner had she settled than she felt his broad chest cover her, his warm breath tickling her cheek.


    "I was wrong earlier. Hearing about


    us getting the license, I was actually thrilled, but came off too


    indifferent, disappointing you,"


    I


    Lysander quickly realized his mistake. ric had only needed to say that women hate feeling neglected, especially by someone they care about, to make them even angrier.


    Reflecting on his behavior, Lysander concluded he had been too nonchnt after Thssa


    suggested getting their license, making her upset. Despite his


    excitement, years in the bus,


    world had trained him to keep his emotions hidden, a habit that proved detrimental in his personal life, leading to misunderstandings with Thssa. Realizing his error, Lysander promptly apologized.


    His voice, deep and soothing, made Thssa shrink back a little, but also eased her frustration slightly. She was easily softened, especially by Lysander, whom she deeply cared about. His few words were enough to pacify her.


    "Are you really happy, or just saying it?" Thssa asked, looking up at him with big, expectant eyes, still in his embrace. Their closeness allowed them to see every detail on each other''s faces. She scrutinized his eyes, not wanting to miss any subtle emotion.


    "Of course, I''m genuinely happy.


    When you mentioned getting the license, my heart warmed instantly, and I almostughed out loud with ? joy. I guess I''m just not very good at showing how I feel," Lysander admitted, gently kissing her hand. His words reflected his true feelings at the moment, but his coolThis text is ? N?velDrama/.Org.


    demeanor andck of


    S


    el.n


    expressiveness had misled Thssa into thinking he didn''t care. It


    seemed he had some habits to work on changing.

 Chapter 2053

    Chapter 2053


    ?


    "You are anything but boring. If you were, would so many women be practically tripping over themselves to marry you?" Thssa pouted, visibly upset.


    Lysander nced at her with his deep-set eyes, pulling her slender body closer into his embrace while his other hand affectionately ruffled her hair. "Oh? Someone''s jealous?"


    Thssa attempted to dodge his hand, still sulking. "Jealous? Who''s jealous?"


    She wouldn''t admit it.


    "Why do I sense a whiff of sour grapes?" Lysander teased her with his rich, indulgent voice.


    Thssa, a bit miffed, lightly punched Lysander''s chest. "But I''m speaking the truth! If I hadn''t shown up at that wedding, you''d be married to Rosalind by now, and I''d be out of the picture."


    "Still hung up on Rosalind, huh?" Lysander''s voice was silky smooth as he caught her hand and kissed it again, his lips warm and soothing. Thssa wasn''t truly mad at Lysander. His hugs, kisses, andforting words quickly turned her insides to mush.


    She looked up at Lysander, letting him hold her hand, and murmured with a slight pout, "Shouldn''t I be bothered?"


    She didn''t realize how much she resembled a petnt child in front of Lysander at that moment.


    Over the years, she had been strong and independent, always calm and collected. Once someone gets used to being independent, they often forget how to be affectionate.


    But with Lysander, she naturally found herself being coquettish.


    And Lysander, he was utterly devoted to her. No matter how fierce and cold he might appear to the outside world, in front of Thssa, he was as warm as the sun, melting all the cold inside her.


    "Of course, you can be bothered. The more you are, the happier I get," Lysander said with a rare smile.


    "You''re happy about this?" Thssa frowned.


    "It means you care about me," Lysander exined.


    Thssa''s heart skipped a beat, her pulse racing with emotion.


    So Lysander cared about whether she cared for him too.


    Knowing she cared made him happy.


    In that moment, all the bitterness and frustration inside Thssa vanished.


    Why worry about the past?


    As long as Lysander cared about her now, that was all that mattered.


    Who didn''t have a first love in their youth? She herself had a deeply etched romance with Leopold.


    And now, Lysander wasn''t dwelling on it either.


    So why should she?


    With her heart unburdened,


    chest, nuzzling closer to him. affectionately. Content NovelDrama.Org


    Thssa leaned into


    to


    Her action, much like a kitten snuggling into his arms, was both warm and sweet.


    Lysander couldn''t help but pull herContent rights belong to N?velDrama.Org.


    closer, his voice soft as honey, "Let''s


    go haves


    dinner, eat early and get


    some rest, we''ve got an early start tomorrow."


    "Sounds good, I''m starving,"


    Thssa said as she stepped


    Lysander''s embrace, her smile of


    returning.


    She tactfully avoided any mention of Harper.


    After all, some things are better left unsaid, lest they truly can''t be undone.

 Chapter 2054

    Chapter 2054


    ?


    The next day, Thssa woke up before six in the morning. She hadn''t set an rm; she woke up naturally. The moment she opened her eyes, she was fully alert. She nced at her phone and saw it was just past 5:40. She thought about going back to sleep but found it impossible, so she decided to get up, head to the bathroom, and start her morning routine.Content rights belong to N?velDrama.Org.


    After about an hour of bustling around, Lysander woke up. His sleepy eyes squinted at her in surprise. "Up so early today?" he asked, still groggy.


    Usually, Lysander was the one to rise first, heading off to work while Thssa was still sound asleep. Today, she was already nearly finished with her makeup. "Didn''t you say we should get an early start? And today is special, so I thought I''d dress up a bit. I don''t want to embarrass you by looking unkempt," she replied, focusing on her eyebrows.


    Over the past three years of caring for Lysander, Thssa had grownfortable around him. Their conversations were casual, unlike before when she would carefully consider her words to avoid upsetting him.


    "Who said you look unkempt?" Lysander snapped, his deep-set eyes shing with irritation as he pulled on his trousers. The idea that anyone would think less of Thssa angered him, as if he would tear them apart if he knew who it was.


    His stern tone startled Thssa, causing her hand to slip and draw her eyebrow pencil outside the line. She turned to look at him. "What''s wrong?" Though she wasn''t worried about angering him, Lysander''s natural authoritative presence could still unnerve her at times. Realizing he had scared her, Lysander softened his expression. ¡°If anyone ever gives you trouble, tell me. I''ll handle it.¡±


    Thssa was warmed by his words and smiled. ¡°No one''s bothering me. Don''t worry."


    Thssa was no longer the person she used to be, who let others walk all over her. She could stand up for


    Lysander with minor issues.


    already had enough on his te managing hispany.


    herself now and would get


    As Thssa corrected her makeup, Lysander walked up behind her, bent down, and wrapped his arms around her. "We''re getting married soon.


    Once we''re married, we''re famine


    Don''t hesitate toe to me with anything. Husbands are meant to be leaned on. If you don''t ask me, someone else will take up my time.¡±


    Although she hadn''t said it, Lysander knew Thssa didn''t want to burden him. She was always so considerate, but overly considerate women often sacrificed their own needs.


    Lysander''s unshaven chin tickled her cheek, but his words warmed her heart. His affectionate touch made this the happiest morning Thssa had ever experienced.


    "Alright, I''lle to you with everything, as long as you don''t get tired of me," Thssa said with a smile, holding his hand.


    Feeling cared for and protected was


    like being surrounded by the


    blooming beauty of spring, with warm sunlight and fragrant flowers. It was a perfect sensory and emotional experience.


    "How could I ever get tired of you? I''m more worried you won''te to me," Lysander said, gently touching her face before heading to the bathroom.


    Their love was a testament to partnership and understanding, a reminder that even in the quiet moments of the early morning, they had each other to lean on.

 Chapter 2055

    Chapter 2055


    ?


    Thssa''s lips curved into a smile as she watched Lysander head into the bathroom, deciding not to continue their conversation.


    It was a beautiful, sunny day, with a warmth in the air that made everything feel just right. After breakfast, Thssa and Lysander set out. They thought leaving early would mean a smooth drive, with no traffic at all. Thssa was feeling lucky they could get their marriage license done early, but when they arrived at the town hall, they found out it wasn''t even open yet! It was too early; the staff hadn''t arrived for work!


    Thssa''s anticipation turned into a bit of disappointment, feeling slightly guilty for making Lysander wait with her. Just as she was about to say something to Lysander, he took her hand in his, leading her to the front door of the town hall.


    Curious, Thssa asked, "What are we doing standing here?"


    Lysander replied as if it was the most obvious thing, "Queuing. We''re the first in line, so we''ll be the first to get served."


    "Do we really need to queue?" Thssa wondered.


    Lysander nced at her and exined, "People looking to get their marriage license line up out the door every day. If youete, you might not even get served. Lucky for us, we''re early, so we''ll be first."


    Thssa''s guilt washed away with his words, and she even felt a bit of joy. Her frown smoothed out, and a smile crept onto her face. Her hand was warmly enveloped in Lysander''s; his palm was both warm and dry,forting and heartwarming. Thssa leaned on Lysander''s shoulder as they stood in front of the town hall, waiting for it to open.This belongs ? N?velDra/ma.Org.


    A few minutester, another couple arrived, hand in hand, looking very much in love. Seeing the closed door, the woman, bubbly and friendly, asked with bright eyes, "Are you guys here to get your marriage license too?"


    She was talking to Thssa, who had turned around, curious at the


    Uned


    sound, while Lysander kept his gaze on the town hall, seemingly uninterested in anything else. Thssa returned the smile politely, answering, "Yes, but the staff haven''t arrived yet, so we have to wait a bit."


    "Are you guys queuing then?" the woman asked again.


    Thssa nodded, "Yes."


    "Then we''ll queue behind you," the woman said, smiling as she took her boyfriend''s hand, standing behind Thssa and Lysander.


    Lysander then turned, gently tucking a stray hair behind Thssa''s ear, his face filled with affection. The woman caught a glimpse of Lysander''s profile and couldn''t help but exim, "Oh my, he''s so handsome!"


    Her outburst, uncontroble and admiring, drew Thssa''s gaze and her boyfriend''s displeasure. "Isn''t your fianc¨¦ handsome? Whypliment another man?" the boyfriend grumbled jealously.


    "Oh,e on, I was just making an observation. Don''t be mad. After all, we''re getting married, and you''re the only one for me," the woman quickly tried to soothe him, realizing herment was a bit inappropriate. She then apologetically smiled at Thssa, adding, "Sorry about that, couldn''t help myself. Best wishes to you both. You''re such a stunning couple, truly meant for each other. Both of you are just so easy on the eyes."


    Thssa wasn''t offended; after all, Lysander was indeed handsome, and who wouldn''tment on that? Her smile brightened, epting the woman''s good wishes, "Thank you, and the same to you. May you have a lifetime of happiness together."

 Chapter 2056

    Chapter 2056


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    Standing there for a while longer, more and more couples began to line up behind them.


    Soon, the line started to stretch almost into the street, yet the doors of the registry office remained shut.


    Thssa pulled out her phone to check the time; it was already nine o''clock. Why hadn''t the registry office staff arrived yet?


    Her heart, which had been calmed by Lysander''s soothing presence, began to flutter with anxiety as time ticked by. She couldn''t shake off a sense of unease, especially after her conversation with Rosalind yesterday.


    Thoughts of Rosalind''s words made her stomach churn with worry. What if something prevented them from getting their marriage license today, and they never got another chance?


    Despite mentally preparing herself for this moment, Thssa couldn''t help but feel nervous about any unexpected twists that might arise.


    Lysander, noticing her anxious nce at her phone and her overall restless demeanor, gently rubbed the top of her head. His deep, soothing voice had a calming effect, "The registry office usually opens at 9:30; we still have half an hour. No worries."


    Turning to face him, Thssa looked into his deep eyes. Once, those eyes seemed imprable, making her heart race with fear. Now, they brought her peace.Content rights belong to N?velDrama.Org.


    She pocketed her phone and snuggled closer into Lysander''s embrace, choosing silence over words, and sighed softly, a gesture hidden from his view.


    Why was she worrying so much? As long as their hearts were in sync, and they both wanted this marriage, nothing could stand in their way-unless Lysander didn''t really want to marry her. That was the crux of her anxiety.


    Realizing this, a bitter smile touched Thssa''s lips. She could control her emotions but not Lysander''s intentions.


    "The staff are here!"


    At that moment, someone announced the arrival of the registry office staff. Thssa lifted her head to see the doors finally opening.


    Without a moment''s dy, Lysander


    took her hand, leading her straight to the registration desk with urgency, as if fearing they might lose their chance.


    The staff member greeted them with a smile, "Early birds, huh?"


    Thssa, feeling a bit awkward, managed a smile, "It''s our first time; we weren''t sure about the opening hours."


    The staffer chuckled, "We understand the eagerness of young couples. Don''t worry, you''ll be done in no time," handing them the registration form.


    They quickly filled it out. During the


    photo shoot, Thssa was so


    nervous that she sat too far from


    Lysander, creating an awkward gap between them.


    "The bride should move a bit closer to the groom. It''s a wedding photo, not a passport picture," the photographer joked.


    Turning, Thssa realized the distance between them and moved to close it, but Lysander''s arm was already around her, pulling her in close.


    Now sitting side by side, Thssa


    was taken aback but then smiled, realizing Lysander wanted her closer. The photographer captured this moment perfectly, and soon, their wedding photo was printed, showcasing their happiness.

 Chapter 2057

    Chapter 2057


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    Thssa gazed at the freshly printed photo of herself and Lysander, her smile shy yet radiant, while Lysander''s lips curved into a gentle smile. They stood close together, both looking at the camera, radiating joy from every pixel. The photo was just perfect. It was the kind of image that made you feel good just by looking at it, a testament to their sweet happiness.


    Thssa turned to the photographer with a grateful, "Thank you."


    The photographer waved her off, "No worries. You should head on to tie the knot; there''s quite the line forming behind you."


    "Right, right." Thssa nodded, acknowledging the queue of eager couples waiting their turn. Their eagerness to wed mirrored her own.


    Holding their wedding photo, Thssa and Lysander proceeded to the registry office. After a few clicks and taps on theputer, the clerk printed out their marriage certificates.


    "One for each of you, take good care of them," the clerk said, handing over the certificates to Thssa and Lysander.


    Thssa held the still-warm


    certificates in her hands, her eyes


    scanning the words "Marriage


    Certificate," feeling a rush of


    excitement, and disbelief. She and Lysander were officially married! After eight long years, she was finally married to the father of her child! It was surreal. The happiness was so sudden, so real, she almost couldn''t believe it, and tears welled up in her eyes. She knew weddings were supposed to be joyful, tearless asions, but she couldn''t help herself.


    Lysander was momentarily preupied, feeling the warmth of the marriage certificate in his hands-a warmth that symbolized their future: Even his usually cool,posed heart felt a stir of


    emotion. He was really marrilet


    to


    Thssa! He had never imagined he''d get married, let alone to Thssa. It was both anticipated and utterly surprising. The feeling was incredible, like his life had been adrift and now, holding that certificate, he had found a home. This belongs ? N?velDra/ma.Org.


    Lysander wasn''t the type to get easily overwhelmed by emotions. He was human, after all, capable of feeling, of being moved by simple happiness. But he quicklyposed himself, only for his attention to be drawn to a single, sparkling tear dropping onto Thssa''s certificate. Thssa was crying! A twinge of pain squeezed Lysander''s heart as he wrapped one arm around Thssa''s shoulder, pulling her close, and took the certificate from her hand with the other, looking down into her face with concern.


    "Why are you crying?" His voice was low and worried. Her tear felt like it had fallen directly on his heart, causing him anxiety and distress.


    Thssa snapped back to reality and hurriedly wiped her tears, smiling at Lysander, "It''s nothing, I''m just so happy."


    "My silly girl," Lysander chuckled, affectionately ruffling her hair, his lips curling into a smile. Seeing her cry tears of joy reassured him that marrying him was a source of profound happiness for her. That was all he needed to know.

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    Chapter 2058


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    "I''ll keep our marriage license safe until we get back home," Lysander said as he slipped Thssa''s marriage certificate into his suit pocket. Thssa''s tears turned intoughter. "Are you really worried I might lose it?"


    "Of course, it''d be quite the joke if we lost our marriage license right after getting hitched," Lysander replied, his tone full of indulgence. Whenever he spoke to Thssa, his voice softened, a tenderness unmistakable.


    Thssa felt cherished and recognized how much Lysander valued their union. The slight unease in her heart vanished.


    Hand in hand, they stepped out of the city hall into the bright morning sunshine, which enveloped them with its warmth.


    Clutching Lysander''s arm, Thssa didn''t even realize she was speaking with a hint of coquettishness. "So, where are we off to now?" "Let''s catch a movie, I''ll check the showtimes," Lysander responded, pulling out his phone, ready to browse through the listings.


    He had spent the previous day not only asking his friend ric for advice on what typically annoys women but also on activities for dates. He''d never been one for movies, dismissing them as frivolous. Yet, for a date with Thssa, he was willing to try something new, something he''d previously scoffed at.


    Thssa stayed silent, watching him navigate his phone. Just the idea of watching a movie together thrilled her.


    Who said Lysander wasn''t romantic? Here he was, nning a movie date.


    Lysander picked out a film and handed his phone to Thssa. "How about this one?"


    Before Thssa could take a closer look, Lysander''s phone rang, interrupting with an iing call alert.


    "It''s David calling," Thssa quickly said.


    Lysander''s brows furrowed slightly, clearly annoyed, as he answered the call with a tone that barely hid his irritation. "What''s up?"


    Whatever was said on the other side made Lysander''s expression darken further, ending the call with a terse, "Got it."


    About to speak to Thssa, he paused when she beat him to it. "Go ahead, you can take care of it. We can always watch the movie tonight."


    She knew his startup was in its


    crucial phase, and being a weekday, it was likely swamped with work Her understanding and selflessness were bothforting and


    heart-wrenching. Content belongs to


    "Are you sure?" Lysander asked, ready to prioritize her wishes over work. "If you insist on the movie, I''ll postpone my meetings."


    "Of course I''m sure. I could useThis belongs ? N?velDra/ma.Org.


    some rest anyway; woke up too early today and I''m actually feeling sleepy," Thssa said, punctuating her statement with a yawn to prove her point.


    Kind-hearted people often take the burden upon themselves, allowing others to proceed guilt-free with their responsibilities.


    Lysander saw through it but chose not to call it out, not wanting to waste Thssa''s goodwill.


    He walked her to the car. "Let me drop you off."


    Having previously misunderstood Thssa, leading to unintentional hurt, Lysander now made efforts to understand and amodate her actions and intentions.


    After dropping Thssa off at Royal Estates, he headed to the office.


    It was only after the car had left that Thssa realized the marriage license was still in Lysander''s pocket - he had forgotten to leave it at home!

 Chapter 2059

    Chapter 2059


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    Thssa toyed with the idea of calling Lysander to tell him the news but then thought better of it. She didn''t want to interrupt his day with something that could easily wait until he got home. After all, the marriage license wasn''t going anywhere as long as she kept it safe.


    Instead of bothering Lysander, she dialed Hertha''s number.


    The phone was picked up almost immediately, but Hertha''s voice was thick with sleep, unmistakably groggy.


    Thssa couldn''t help but chuckle, "Had a wild night with your hubby, huh? Sleeping in till the sun''s high in the sky?"


    Hertha shot up in bed, surprised, and asked, "How did you know?"


    Then, realizing her mistake, her face flushed with embarrassment, she used, "Thssa, you''re terrible! What are you thinking about?" "It''s not like she''s wrong," mumbled ric from beside her, stretching his long legs over hers, still half-asleep as he joined in their conversation. Hearing their banter, Thssa burst intoughter.


    Embarrassed yet amused, Hertha tried to push ric away, saying, "Shoo, stop making a fuss!"


    "Thssa, listen, it''s not what you think," Hertha hurriedly tried to exin while pushing ric to the side.


    Before marriage, Hertha could take any joke thrown her way without batting an eye. But now, she found herself blushing over the smallest things. "Alright, alright, I''ll stop teasing," Thssa said, trying to contain herughter to spare Hertha further embarrassment.


    "I''ve got something to tell you," Thssa finally got to the point.This text is ? N?velDrama/.Org.


    "Don''t scare me with bad news first thing in the morning," Hertha said, her nerves on edge, hoping for something positive during this happy phase of her life.


    Unable to hold back, Thssa blurted out, "Lysander and I got our marriage license."


    Knowing Hertha was her closest confidant, Thssa always shared her news with her first.


    "Really?!" Hertha eximed, shocked.


    "Yes, really," confirmed Thssa.


    After a moment of stunned silence, Hertha let out a shriek so loud it could''ve pierced eardrums, hergoy and Surprise vibrating through the phone line.


    Thssa could feel Hertha''s genuine happiness for her.


    "Finally, you and Lysander made it official! So, when''s the celebration dinner?" Hertha asked, buzzing with excitement.


    "A celebration dinner?" Thssa repeated.


    "Of course! You can''t just get married and not celebrate. A big feast is in order," Hertha insisted, as if it were the most obvious thing in the world.


    At that moment, ric, too, perked up, having caught on to the news. He was thrilled for Lysander, his buddy finally settling down.


    ric, unable to contain his


    excitement, snatched the phone


    from Hertha, "Let Lysander treat us to dinner. He''s got deets; a fancy meal is nothing to him.''"


    His words echoed through the speakerphone.


    "Shouldn''t you guys be treating us, being the first ones married and all? Don''t be so tight-fisted, ric," Thssa teased.


    "Look at you, already saving for Lysander ying the role of the devoted wife perfectly, huh?" Hertha chimed in,ughter spilling from her lips, ribbing Thssa for heroment.

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    Hertha was over the moon, and even in her joy, she couldn''t resist teasing Thssa.


    It was one of those blissful moments that made everything seem brighter and more fun.


    With augh, Thssa said, "Why should I save money for Lysander? He can definitely afford dinner, but we''ve got movie ns tonight. Let''s raincheck?"


    "Tsk, tsk, tsk, aiming for some alone time, huh? Afraid we''ll crash your romantic date?" Hertha teased her with a grin.


    Her smile was unshakeable ever since she found out Thssa and Lysander had made it official. It was as if Thssa''s happiness brought her even more joy than her own milestones.


    "You didn''t exactly throw us a dinner party when you two eloped, did you? Kept it all hush-hush, only to spill the beans after enjoying your little love bubble for days," Thssa shot back, poking fun at Hertha and ric''s own secretive celebration.


    Her words were an admission of wanting that same kind of intimate world with Lysander, away from any potential third wheels.


    They hadn''t even been to the movies together yet, a ssic couple''s activity that Thssa didn''t want spoiled by Hertha and ric''s ring presence.


    "Ha, Thssa, since when did you get so eager to foster a deeper bond with Lysander? What''s up, worried that your connection isn''t solid as a rock yet?" Hertha noticed Thssa''s unabashed longing to strengthen her rtionship, teasing her further.


    Herment made Thssa''s heart skip a beat, gripping her phone a tad tighter.


    For some reason, Hertha''s words struck a nerve, poking at a tender spot deep within.


    Was she really worried about the strength of her rtionship with Lysander?


    Suddenly, Thssa lost any appetite for jesting, saying, "Keep cuddling in bed, I''m hanging up."


    Without waiting for Hertha''s response, Thssa ended the call, let out a sigh, and tried to rx as shey down, finding sleep elusive.


    On the other end, Hertha, holding the now silent phone, blinked herrge, curious eyes at ric, "Do you feel like Thssa seemed a bit off?"


    ric ruffled Hertha''s hair into a wild


    mess, "You''re overthinking it.


    Thssa just got officially together with Lysander; she should be on cloud nine. Why would she be upset?"


    Hertha pondered for a moment, realizing the truth in his words. Today was supposed to be one of Thssa''s happiest days, basking in her newfound happiness. How could she feel anything but joy?


    ric had barely settled back when Hertha yanked him upright, "Get up, sleepyhead! No morezing around!"


    With a groan, ric mumbled, "Mr. Ethan gave me the day off, why shouldn''t I enjoy azy morning?"Content from N?velDr(a)ma.Org.


    "Because, my dear, I''m starving! Let''s whip up some breakfast," Hertha pushed him towards getting out of bed.


    Having stayed at ric''s ce the night before, they had the luxury of sleeping in without any interruptions for breakfast. "Ugh, let''s just order something," ric suggestedzily.


    "And wait two hours? I''m so hungry I could eat my own stomach. Do you really think I can wait that long? Hertha was genuinely famished; the hunger only bing real once she woke up. Content belongs to


    Knowing ric''s fridge was usually empty, Hertha had taken the initiative to stock it with fresh ingredients the night before.

 Chapter 2061

    Chapter 2061


    ?


    Yesterday, they spent the whole afternoon at the supermarket.Content rights belong to N?velDrama.Org.


    "How about you cook, and I catch some more Z''s?" ric shed his charming eyes at Hertha, his gaze a mix of flirtation andziness, as if he was casting a spell or yfully whining.


    Just one look from him turned Hertha''s insides to mush.


    Good Lord, ric was too good at this flirtation game. Using his good looks to tempt her first thing in the morning.


    Hertha was head over heels, about to agree, when her inner voice of reason awakened, stopping her love-struck brain dead in its tracks.


    No way, she couldn''t just cave every time ric turned on his charm; otherwise, she''d end up waiting on him hand and foot in the future. Wasn''t raising two kids enough without adding a grown-up child to the mix?


    She absolutely couldn''t let him get away with it.


    Hertha shook off her dazed expression and firmly told ric, "You''ve got to learn. There are tons of cooking tutorials online; just look one up and give it a try."


    "But if I mess it up, that''s just a waste of time, right? How about I just go out and grab some breakfast instead?" ric was up now, but he still wasn''t keen on cooking.


    Hertha stood her ground, "That won''t do. If we keep buying food, what about all the groceries in the fridge? They''ll go bad. You''re a father of two now; you need to learn to cook for the kids."


    "The kids have their grandma, don''t they?" ric scratched his head.


    "Do you want their grandma to spend her whole life here looking after our kids? Don''t you think she and my dad deserve some privacy?" Hertha red at him.


    "I''ve already taken up so much of my


    mom''s time. It''s embarrassing enough without expecting her to keep looking after two kids." Hertha reasoned with ric, trying to make him see sense.


    "Our parents aren''t getting any younger, do they really need to be here all the time?" ric mumbled.


    "What, old folks don''t deserve a bit


    of time for themselves? Their desire for love and romance is probably stronger than ours." As she spoke, Hertha got out of bed and started making it.


    ric was finally persuaded, "Alright, I''ll cook."


    This time, he sounded determined, thinking of the future meals he''d prepare for the kids. Imagining the kids eating his cooking, looking all cute and cuddly, suddenly filled him with a sense of achievement.


    Yeah, he was going to master cooking!


    ric headed to the kitchen, full of confidence.


    Hertha came out of the room to see ric, apron on, bustling about the kitchen like a pro. She couldn''t help but smile, relieved.


    Good thing she stood her ground, or she might have missed the chance to get ric into cooking. Getting him to learn now would have been even harder.


    Thinking about ric, a man of privilege, humbling himself to cook for her was incredibly satisfying.


    Hertha cheerfully headed to the bathroom, feeling like everything was more interesting when in a good mood. Even brushing her teeth felt sweeter than usual.

 Chapter 2062

    Chapter 2062


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    Lysander arrived at the office, and David was already waiting by the entrance, eager to greet him as soon as he saw him approaching.


    Walking briskly behind Lysander, David briefed him, "Mr. and Ms. Whitman are in the conference room, eager to discuss a potential investment in ourpany."


    The reason David had urgently called Lysander back to the office was that Joshua and Rosalind had posed a challenge that the rest of the staff couldn''t handle without him. Because only Lysander could deal with it, and since Joshua and Rosalind insisted they couldn''t wait, David had taken the risk of interrupting Lysander''s day to summon him back to the office to address the situation.


    Without a word, Lysander headed straight for the conference room. The door to the conference room was ajar, and as Lysander entered, Joshua and Rosalind, seated at the far end of the table, turned their heads towards him. Spotting him, they immediately rose to their feet.


    Joshua, ever the gentleman and polished in the art of business etiquette, approached Lysander with a courteous demeanor, extending his hand for a handshake, ¡°Lysander, d you could make it. I''vee today with a proposal of great importance to discuss with you."


    Lysander, maintaining the formal politeness customary in business settings, briefly shook Joshua''s hand, "Please, take a seat. No need for formalities."Content rights belong to N?velDrama.Org.


    Saying so, he took a seat across from them. Rosalind''s gaze was fixed on Lysander from the moment he entered. He seemed leaner but carried an air of maturity and approachability, a marked change from his previously more reserved demeanor. Yet, his innate authority stillmanded respect and a sense of distance.


    Previously, confined to a wheelchair, Lysander had an air of noble resilience. Now, standing tall, he remained the influential figure at the pinnacle of power. Rosalind watched him, unable to tear her gaze away, pondering on the reality that he could have been her husband. Now, all she could do was watch him from afar.


    Joshua, noticing Rosalind''s mesmerized gaze still fixed on Lysander, sighed internally and gently nudged her arm, signaling her to sit, "Let''s discuss sitting down."


    Rosalind then reluctantly shifted her attention and took her seat.


    Lysander instructed David, "Please bring our guests some tea."


    "Right away," David nodded, going to fetch the tea pot.


    Joshua interjected, ¡°No need for the fuss, our cups are still full. Let''s get down to business.¡±


    Joshua was aware of Lysander''s


    valuable time and didn''t want to


    waste it. "I''m here to discuss a potential investment in yourpany, I''ve heard that you''ve sessfully attracted several


    shareholders from the Sinire


    group. However, given the limited number of shareholders that could leave the Sinir group, presume yourpany could still use more. I''m interested in bing a shareholder," Joshua opened the discussion.


    For the Whitman Group, investing in a newpany was a breeze, but this represented a promising opportunity: Given Lysander''s capabilities, there was no doubt that within five years, hispany would be among the top five domestically. By investing, Joshua was,


    positioning himself to be at the helm of one of the country''s leadingpanies.


    Just then, David arrived with the tea pot, refilling Joshua and Rosalind''s cups. However, Joshua didn''t pause to drink; his focus remained on Lysander, awaiting his response.


    Lysander, exuding a calm yet


    authoritative aura, finally spoke, "Mr.


    Whitman, ourpany''s


    shareholder slots are currently filled.


    We''re not looking to add any at the moment."


    Upon hearing this, Joshua felt a twinge of disappointment, a mix of surprise and setback.

 Chapter 2063

    Chapter 2063


    ?


    But Joshua didn''t let it get him down. He quickly countered, "Even if it''s full, there''s always room for one more, right? Who ever said no to more money?"


    "It''s not about saying no to money; it''s that you''re toote, Mr. Whitman," Lysander replied, firm and unyielding.


    There was no way he was letting Joshua buy into thepany.


    Joshua''s hand clenched slightly where it rested on the table edge. Lysander''s statement was a double-edged sword, hitting him right in the pride.


    And Joshua felt it, deeply ashamed. But some opportunities, once missed, are gone forever.


    When Lysander first started hispany, pulling in investors while still confined to a wheelchair, deemed permanently disabled, Rosalind hadn''t fought for Lysander''s attention, and Joshua had shown no interest in investing in his business.


    Now, with Lysander''s miraculous recovery and thepany rapidly gaining traction, Joshua came knocking with Rosalind in tow, eager to buy in. Back when Lysander was at his lowest, Joshua and Rosalind had kept their distance.


    But now, seeing his sess and his return to health, they were all too eager to rekindle their connection.This text is ? N?velDrama/.Org.


    Lysander was no fool; he knew exactly what this was about.


    Joshua, caught in Lysander''s discerning gaze, felt a twinge of shame.


    He knew he was shamelessly seeking Lysander out now,


    And Lysander could easily call out his true intentions.


    Yet, Joshua couldn''t give up. With a slight smile, he said, "It''s never toote when the heart is in it, right? By the way, how''s Thssa doingtely?"


    Joshua attempted to shift the conversation to Thssa, their most direct link at the moment.


    After all, she was his daughter, and Mr. Sinir might afford him some courtesy for Thssa''s sake. But upon hearing Thssa''s name, Lysander''s previously amiable demeanor sharpened instantly, his gaze turning icy. "She''s at Royal Estates, doing well, of course. Mr. Whitman, it''s interesting that you haven''t called her once, yet inquire about her through others." His eyes narrowed at Joshua, his lips barely moving in a sardonic smile, "And you call yourself her father?" Content


    belongs to NovelDrama.Org


    He was clearly mocking Joshua, a father who couldn''t bother to keep in touch with his own daughter.


    Now suddenly showing interest, likely hoping to leverage her name for his own gain.


    Such is the way of businessmen!


    Lysander had seen through them long ago.


    Every word Joshua said, Lysander understood its underlying meaning all too well.


    Joshua was savvy, too. Lysander was his own creation, after all. How could he not understand his tactics?


    Lysander was reproaching him, a father, for hisck of care for Thssa.


    ???


    "I''ve been swampedtely," Joshua exined, "Susan and I just had a little boy, and he''s been sick. I''ve been running around, consulting doctors, Barely had a moment to myself, let alone anything else. His exnation implied it wasn''t that he didn''t care for Thssa, but that he was too caught up to show it. Lysander cracked a mocking smile, "Too busy, yet here you are today in person?"

 Chapter 2064

    Chapter 2064


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    This text is ? N?velDrama/.Org.


    Lysander, with a casual grace, lifted the teacup before him and took a sip, his lips curling into a half-smile that wasn''t quite friendly.


    Joshua''s face turned a shade paler. He had hoped to wriggle out of the situation with a quick excuse, but Lysander wasn''t ying along, cutting right through his pretense.


    "I admit, I''ve been neglecting Thssately. Now that I''ve got some free time, I''ll make sure to pay her a visit soon," Joshua said, maintaining his smile, attempting to smooth over the tension with Lysander.


    Rosalind had been silent up to this point, initially struck by Lysander''s inherent nobility and the impressive presence hemanded, just like the old days. But as the conversation between Joshua and Lysander unfolded, she found herself unable to find an opening.


    However, once Thssa''s name started to dominate the conversation, a bitter feeling began to well up inside Rosalind.


    As soon as Joshua finished speaking, Rosalind, fueled by frustration, blurted out, "I saw Thssa at the cemetery yesterday!"


    Her sudden interjection was directly rted to the topic at hand, capturing Lysander and Joshua''s attention.


    Meeting Lysander''s gaze, Rosalind felt a flutter in her heart. He was finally looking at her, all because she mentioned Thssa.


    It irked Rosalind that mentioning Thssa was the only way to get Lysander''s attention.


    Under Lysander''s intense gaze, she continued, "I was visiting my sister Harper''s grave when I bumped into Thssa, who was there to see Leopold."


    She emphasized the names Harper and Leopold, both of whom were significant to Lysander, aiming to draw his attention even more.


    As expected, Lysander''s expression shifted slightly at the mention, but Rosalind couldn''t be sure which name had struck a chord with him.


    She pressed on, "Lysander, Harper


    grew up with you, shared in your business ventures. She once said she''d marry you. If it hadn''t been for that ident, you two might have been married with kids by now All these yearster, you haven''t forgotten her, have you? Thssa, though now with you, stilbholds a me for Leopold, visiting his grave now and then."


    Rosalind''s face bore a sophisticated smile, each word designed to poke at Lysander''s heart.


    She reminded him of his childhood bond with her sister, their ns and promises, a profound regret he could never amend.


    While Thssa had moved on with Lysander, she still couldn''t let go of Leopold, sneaking visits to his grave.


    Joshua, watching his daughter, felt a pang of sorrow. His eldest daughter had died in her prime, a pain he could hardly express. He had once hoped Harper and Lysander would marry joining forces to lead the Whitman and Sinir empires to greater heights, allowing the older generation to retire in peace. But an ident took Harper away, along with his dreams.


    Mentioning Harper again stirred deep emotions in Joshua.


    "Those we''ve lost remain in our hearts, even if only in memory. I visited Harper and Leopold''s graves recently too," Lysander said, setting his teacup down and shifting his gaze from Rosalind to Joshua with a detached air.


    "Mr. Whitman, when do you think would be a good time? Thssa and I would like to join you for dinner," Lysande said, smoothly steering the conversation away from the difort Rosalind had provoked and back to Joshua''s previous statement.


    Rosalind, seeing Lysander''s indifferent demeanor, felt a sting of difort, her smile fading away.

 Chapter 2065

    Chapter 2065


    ?


    She had made it so clear, yet even though Thssa was with him now, her heart seemed to always be with Leopold. Did it not bother him at all? "Oh? You and Thssa want to have dinner with me?" Joshua asked, pleasantly surprised, pulling himself out of his slump to respond to Lysander''s suggestion. "I''m free these days, anytime works for me."


    "Let''s make it this afternoon then," Lysander suggested.


    "Lysander, setting this up sost minute, does this mean you''re agreeing to my dad''s investment?" Rosalind chimed in.


    It was rare to see Lysander initiating a meeting, especially in such a hurry to have lunch with Joshua that very afternoon. Was it because Joshua had leveraged his connection with Thssa, and it had worked?Content from N?velDr(a)ma.Org.


    Joshua looked at Lysander with anticipation, hoping what Rosalind said was true.


    Lysander, with a faint smile on his lips, pulled out a marriage certificate from his suit pocket and ced it on the conference table, his voice low and maic, "Thssa and I are officially married. Of course, we have to invite her biological father for a meal, to exin things properly."


    Rosalind''s heart skipped a beat, the golden lettering on the marriage certificate on the table seemed to glow, stinging her eyes with its brightness.


    What?


    Lysander and Thssa were married?


    How could this be possible?


    Joshua was incredulous, quickly grabbing the marriage certificate to examine it, and Rosalind couldn''t help but lean in for a closer look.


    On the certificate were Lysander and Thssa, both wearing white shirts, sitting closely together, their faces beaming with happiness, and a metallic seal stamped over their photo, with Lysander listed as the certificate holder!


    The date of registration was March 15th, which was today!


    There was no faking the official seal!


    Lysander and Thssa were truly married!


    This fact ran over Rosalind''s heart like the wheels of a massive truck, leaving her breathless with pain.


    At the sight of the marriage certificate, her breathing seemed to stop, and it took her a moment to recover.


    Joshua, after examining the


    marriage certificates, handed them


    back to Lysander with a smile,


    saying, "You and Thssa are finally


    married, it wasn''t easy.


    Congrattions, I wish you both happiness."


    Joshua''s blessing was sincere.


    Before, he had tried to set up Rosalind with Lysander, because Rosalind was his beloved youngest daughter.


    But it had led to Lysander''s opposition and strained their rtionship.


    Now, Lysander used him of not. caring


    enough for Thssa, citing


    his bias as the cause of Lysander''s


    nces. Content belongs to


    As a father, Joshua felt guilty, knowing he had let Thssa down.


    But seeing that Lysander and Thssa truly loved each other, he could never stand in the way of their happiness.


    Seeing them married, he could only offer his sincere blessings.


    Rosalind, bearing Joshua actually


    blessing Lysander and Thssa, et


    couldn''t take it anymore. She


    abruptly stood up and stormed out of the conference room.

 Chapter 2066

    Chapter 2066


    ?


    "Rosalind!" Joshua stood up, calling after Rosalind''s retreating figure.


    But Rosalind didn''t so much as nce back as she walked away.


    Unable to stop her, Joshua turned back, his expression filled with apology, and said to Lysander, "This kid, she''s just too headstrong. Lysander, you go ahead with your work. I need to have a talk with Rosalind. You know how it is; she''s been carrying a torch for you for the longest time. Telling her to let go is easier said than done. Don''t worry, I''ll make sure to be on time for our meetingter this afternoon. Just text me the details of the restaurant."


    With that, Joshua left the meeting room.


    Lysander''s deep gaze followed Joshua''s departure in silence.


    He was well aware of Rosalind''s feelings for him. In the past, with his grandfather''s help, Rosalind had managed to take all the credit for Thssa''s three years of dedication to him, winning his trust and gratitude. Wasn''t that all to stay close to him?


    That was the main reason he had agreed to marry Rosalind in the first ce.


    However, Rosalind''s schemes couldn''tpete with his feelings for Thssa.


    Even if he was prepared to marry Rosalind, the moment Thssa asked him toe back to her, he would choose Thssa without hesitation. Thssa''s love was pure, never resorting to any tricks to gain his trust.


    She had only ever offered him her sincere heart.


    As for Rosalind, although she imed to love him, she had chosen the wrong tactics. She shouldn''t have tried to y games with him. Moreover, when she learned that he might never walk again, her first instinct was to give up, to no longer insist on bing his bride. Thssa was different. Knowing he might be bound to a wheelchair forever, she still chose to stand by him.


    True love means being there for each other through thick and thin.


    In times of happiness, they cuddle close; in times of adversity, they never abandon one another.


    Lysander''s gaze lingered on the door of the meeting room, long after everyone had left, his thoughts drifting.This text is ? N?velDrama/.Org.


    "David, let''s tidy up," Lysander said, snapping back to reality, only to realize that David had left the room at some unknown point.


    Fuming, Rosalind stormed out of the


    company, her mind a tornado of


    emotions upon realizing that


    Lysander and Thssa were nomet


    legally married. A fire seemed to rage in her chest, making he restless and irrational.


    She walked briskly, oblivious to a speeding car approaching as she stepped onto the road.


    Her pace was too fast, and the car too swift; just as she reached the middle of the road, the car zoomed past, narrowly missing her.


    At that critical moment, a hand reached out, grabbing her arm and pulling her back to safety.


    "Watch out!" the person said, concerncing his voice.


    Rosalind, ready to unleash her fury, turned around only to see David, Lysander''s assistant. Swallowing her anger, a flicker of hope ignited within her as she asked, "Why are you here? Is it Lysander?"


    "I came to tell you that Mr. Sinir and Ms. Everhart are deeply in love. They''re married now. As Ms. Everhart''s sister, you should wish them well. It''s time to let go of those thoughts," David said, releasing her arm, his voice calm and steady.


    Seeing Rosalind''s emotional exit from the meeting room, David had instinctively followed her out.


    Fortunately, he did, for given the speed of the car, Rosalind''s slender frame would have been sent flying.


    David didn''t want to witness another tragedy.


    Rosalind had thought Lysander sent David to console her, a smallfort at first, but upon hearing David''s message - a plea to give up - the fire within her red angrily.


    "What right do you have to tell me to let go?" she snapped.

 Chapter 2067

    Chapter 2067


    ?


    "Because you deserve to be loved," David blurted out unexpectedly.


    Not only did Rosalind freeze in surprise, but David himself was taken aback by his own words. He had only meant to think it, not say it aloud. Was this something he could actually say in front of Rosalind?


    Rosalind was stunned, looking at David with a mix of astonishment and disbelief. The words he had just let slip seemed too intimate, as if hinting at something more, throwing her already flustered heart into further disarray.


    David, equally shocked, found himself at a loss for words, unsure how to retract his sudden deration. On the bustling city street, amidst the cacophony of honking cars and passing crowds, there was a moment of silence between them, as if they were the only two people in the world.


    Time seemed to stand still until the surrounding noises slowly crept back into David''s awareness. He awkwardly attempted to smile, ready to offer some exnation.Content from N?velDr(a)ma.Org.


    Just then, Joshua''s anxious voice called from behind, "Rosalind, dear, why did you rush off like that?"


    Hearing Joshua, David quickly turned, a bit flustered, and said, "Mr. Whitman, I''ve made sure Rosalind is safe. Please remind her not to jaywalk. It''s dangerous. I''ve got to run, got things to take care of."


    With that, David hurried off towards his office. Out of Rosalind and Joshua''s sight, he wiped the sweat from his brow and exhaled a sigh of relief. That was close! What was he thinking, getting so involved in a woman''s business?


    Rosalind, still puzzled, watched David''s retreating figure, seemingly lost in thought.


    "Rosalind, what''s wrong?" Joshua nudged her arm, concern in his voice.


    Rosalind''s gaze lingered on the entrance to David''s office as she murmured, more to herself than to Joshua, "What did he mean by that?"


    "Ah, Rosalind, I''ve told you before,


    Lysander and Thssa are deeply in love, already blessed with two kids Their marriage is a joyful union. It''s time to let go of Lysander. There are plenty of fish in the sea, you''ll find someone right for you."


    I.ne


    Joshua thought Rosalind was daydreaming about Lysander''spany because she couldn''t let him go, as if even looking at his office was a way to be close to him. He tried to console her with a heavy


    UMS


    heart. Content belongs to.


    Only then did Rosalind turn her attention back from David to Joshua, "Dad, what did you just say?"


    "I said you should wish Lysander and Thssa well," Joshua replied.


    "No, the part after that," Rosalind prompted.


    "Let go of Lysander. There are plenty of men out there, one of them is meant for you," Joshua repeated.


    "Howe you''re saying the same thing he did?" Rosalind frowned.


    "Who, who else said that?" Joshua looked around, realizing there was no one else but David who had just left.


    "David gave you advice too?" Joshua


    asked, suddenly recalling David''s words. Joshua grew anxious, "You were jaywalking earlier? That''s very dangerous, Rosalind. Don''t act recklessly without thinking of your safety. Nothing is more important than your own life!"


    Joshua became stern, emphasizing the lesson.

 Chapter 2068

    Chapter 2068


    ?


    Rosalind could tell Joshua was still uneasy, probably because she had brought up Harper''s passing. Harper was the apple of Joshua''s eye, his pride and joy for so many years. She was an exceptional daughter, deeply in love with Lysander. She was supposed to marry Lysander, Joshua''s favorite, the man he had handpicked to inherit his business empire. Joshua had dreamed of retiring early, leaving his legacy in the capable hands of Lysander and Harper. But Harper''s untimely death shattered that dream, leaving a void in Joshua''s heart.


    "I understand. I''ll be more careful in the future," Rosalind said, her voice level as she prepared to leave. Then, something urred to her, and she paused. "Are you really nning to have lunch with Lysander and Thssater today?"


    "Of course," Joshua replied.


    "Send me the location. I''ll join you," Rosalind stated firmly.


    "You''reing too?" Joshua asked, surprised. Before Rosalind could respond, he sighed, "Alright, I''ll text you the address once Lysander sends it to me."


    Deep down, Rosalind hadn''t let go of Lysander. Perhaps seeing him with Thssa, happy and in love, would help her move on.


    Thssa overslept, waking up at four in the afternoon. She quickly got out of bed, showered, did her makeup, and picked out a chic outfit. She was going to the movies with Lysander and wanted to look her best to lift her spirits.


    By the time she was ready, it was half-past five. She was about to text Lysander when she heard a car pulling into the driveway. It was Lysander!


    Eager and excited like a girl newly in love, Thssa grabbed her phone and rushed downstairs to greet him. She reached the yard, saw the sleek ck car''s door open, and with a bright smile, called out, "Lysander!"


    But the person who stepped out wasn''t Lysander; it was his assistant, David. Her greeting hung unfinished in the air. Peering into the car, hoping to see Lysander, she found it empty. Her heart sank a little as she nervously asked, "Where''s Mr. Sinir?"


    Seeing the visible disappointment on Thssa''s face, David quickly exined, "Mrs. Sinir, Mr. Sinir had to head to the restaurant and sent me to pick you up."


    David''s sudden use of "Mrs. Sinir" took Thssa by surprise. She was ustomed to being called Ms. Everhart, and this new title felt both ttering and awkward.


    "Going out for dinner?" she managed to ask.


    "Yes," David confirmed.


    Thssa couldn''t help butugh at David''s solemn demeanor. "Why so formal? Just because Lysander and I tied the knot doesn''t mean I''m not same Thssa. Lighten up a bit."


    the


    This belongs ? N?velDra/ma.Org.


    Knowing she was on her way to join Lysander for dinner made her cheerful again. Dinner before a movie-when had Lysander be such a romantic?


    Herment made David sheepishly smile as he opened the car door for her, "Please, Mrs. Sinir, after you."

 Chapter 2069

    Chapter 2069


    ?


    Thssa''s head spun a little as she was called "madam" again, a reminder of how easily one could get lost in a sea of ttery. It was indeed dizzying to hear such sweet nothings.


    Without any objection, she got into the car.


    Soon, David had driven Thssa to their destination.This belongs ? N?velDra/ma.Org.


    It was an upscale Chinese restaurant, designed with traditional architectural elements that instantly transported you back in time. Stepping into the restaurant felt like walking into a ce where history and culture were deeply intertwined, calming the soul.


    In a private dining room named "Breeze Pavilion," Thssa found Lysander sitting by the window, dressed in a bespoke ck suit that spoke volumes of his elegance and authority. The natural light filtering through the ornate windows bathed Lysander in a warm glow, casting a mix of light and shadow that entuated his dignified posture.


    The moment Thssa saw Lysander, her heart skipped a beat.


    Even after all these years together, seeing him still set her heart aflutter a testament to the enduring beauty of love.


    The moment Lysander''s deep gaze met Thssa''s, a faint smile graced his lips. "Thssa,e sit here," he beckoned her to join him.


    Without hesitation, Thssa moved to sit by his side, immediately catching the subtle scent of sandalwood that was uniquely Lysander''s¡ªa fragrance that halted her breath for a moment.


    The body never lies. In the presence of the one you love, even the smallest detail can send your heart racing.


    "Why book such arge dining room for just the two of us? Isn''t this a bit much?" Thssa remarked, ncing around therge round table clearly meant for ten.


    It seemed rather extravagant for just them.


    Before Lysander could reply, two more guests entered the room.


    "Lysander Thssa, you''re already here. Sorry, we got caught in a bit of traffic, apologized Joshua, his schrly charm evident, with a woman by his side. Content belongs


    to NovelDrama.Org


    The woman, dressed in a manner that radiated intellect and grace, was none other than Rosalind.


    Joshua and Rosalind? Thssa was still piecing things together, unaware of why they were dining with Joshua and Rosalind.


    She offered a polite smile in greeting, then looked questioningly at Lysander.


    "I invited Mr. Whitman for dinner.


    We''re getting married, so naturally, we had to invite Mr. Whitman to celebrate," Lysander exined, catching Thssa''s questioning gaze.


    He was referring to a celebratory dinner with Joshua and Rosalind.


    Thssa was momentarily taken aback, surprised that Lysander had


    already shared the news of their


    marriage certificate with Joshua


    without consulting her first. Content


    belongs to NovelDrama.Org


    Though caught off guard, Thssa''s ability to handle unexpected situations shone through.


    She returned Joshua''s greeting with a polite nod, saying, "No worries, we''ve only just arrived," acknowledging his earlier apology.


    "What I''d really love to hear," Joshua said, a hint of mncholy in his voice, "is for you to call me ''Dad''."

 Chapter 2070

    Chapter 2070


    Lysander kept addressing him as Mr. Whitman, and deep down, Joshua felt a sting. It was a clear


    sign that Lysander and Thssa hadn''t forgiven him yet. Back in the day, ignoring Thssa and


    Lysander''s feelings, he had insisted on giving Rosalind the credit for taking care of Lysander¡ªa role


    rightfully Thssa''s. Forcing Rosalind and Lysander together was his mistake.


    He had to admit, his affection for Rosalind outweighed his feelings for Thssa. His bias, driven by


    affection, had blinded him to Thssa''s emotions in moments that mattered most. Now, Thssa


    and Lysander had ovee their trials and were finally together. But the knot in their hearts


    towards him wasn''t so easily untangled. Lysander used to call him Joshua, but now it was the


    distant Mr. Whitman. Even though he was his father-inw, a simple "Dad" from Lysander wouldn''t


    have been too much. Yet, Lysander''s consistent and distant Mr. Whitman made Joshua''s heart


    heavy with sorrow.


    But he could only express this wish to Lysander, never daring to ask Thssa. At Joshua''s words,


    Thssa''s heart skipped a beat. His wish to hear her call him "Dad" felt like a heavy weight


    suddenly dropped into her heart, making it sink with difort. Her hand, gripped tightly around the


    fabric of her dress, was suddenly enveloped by a warm, dry embrace, the warmth spreading from


    her hand to her heart.


    This gesture from Lysander eased the chill in her heart and steadied her nerves. With a sideways


    nce at Lysander, his silentfort made her feel significantly better. In the short seconds after


    Joshua spoke those words, Thssa''s heart was a stormy sea, yet her exterior remained calm, as if


    undisturbed. Maintaining a polite smile, Thssa responded, "Three years ago, you promised to


    persuade Zephyr to let me take care of Lysander, and I agreed to ept you as my father. That


    settled our father-daughter rtionship."


    Content rights belong to N?velDrama.Org.


    Her answer was clever and soothing, yet devoid of emotion. She never denied their father-daughter


    rtionship. But did the title of "Dad" really matter? Joshua felt a slight constion, yet the


    bitterness was overwhelming. He could only offer a smile, unable to say more. Thssa''s words,


    though acknowledging their rtionship, reminded him that their bond was merely a transaction.


    It was just that¡ªa transaction, devoid of familial love. When he agreed to help her with Zephyr in


    exchange for her calling him "Dad," their rtionship was recognized. But their father-daughter


    bond was born out of a deal. As for seeing him as a beloved father, she couldn''t.


    Joshua remained silent, pulling out a chair to sit. Rosalind approached the table, not sitting down,


    but facing Thssa as if defending her father from an injustice, saying, "Dad has always cared for


    you, yet you''re so ungrateful. I''ve never seen anyone as cold and heartless as you!"


    Rosalind''s words were direct and pointed. After speaking, she nced at Lysander, aiming to show


    him that Thssa was cold and heartless, unworthy of his deep affection.

 Chapter 2071

    Chapter 2071


    ?


    Otherwise, one day, Thssa would turn her back on him with the same cold indifference!


    Burdened with bias and bitterness, Rosalind aimed to smear Thssa''s name in front of Lysander, hoping to tarnish Thssa''s image in his eyes. But she was clueless about how childish andughable her attempts appeared to Lysander. Lysander and Thssa had weathered storms together to find their slice of happiness. He knew Thssa inside out; how could he doubt her over Rosalind''s petty words? Instead, Rosalind''s desperate tries to discredit Thssa only fueled his disdain.


    "Ms. Whitman, you think you can nder my wife and get away with it? Apologize to her now!" Lysander''s eyes were sharp as daggers, cutting right through Rosalind''s heart. His tone was firm and icy, leaving no room for negotiation but demandingpliance.


    Rosalind paled, ¡°I.....¡±


    His gaze frightened her, making her step back, but Lysander''s presence was too overpowering, filling the room with an inescapable pressure. Seeking help, Rosalind nced towards Joshua.


    Catching the signal, Joshua chuckled, "Rosalind was just speaking out of turn, she didn''t mean it."


    He was trying to cover for Rosalind. But his words were like pouring salt on Thssa''s already wounded heart. See, no matter what happens, Joshua''s first instinct was to shield his darling daughter. Even though Rosalind was the one who disrespected Thssa first, Joshua wasn''t looking to defend Thssa but to make excuses for Rosalind! One second he felt guilty for failing Thssa, and the next, he instinctively smothered Rosalind with all his love, sidelining Thssa.


    Thssa''s brows furrowed, suppressing the difort rising inside her. Noticing Thssa''s unease, Lysander grasped her hand in his, his voice cold as he continued.


    ¡°We''re all adults here. You should know better than to let your mouth run wild. You''ll face the consequences one way or another! Apologize, or crawl out of here, your choice!"


    As Lysander finished, his piercing


    gaze shifted toward the door.


    Rosalind''s eyes followed, only to see


    I


    two imposing bouncers already positioned at the entrance, their stares menacing. Clearly, they were ready to enforce her departure. And there, beside one bouncer, stood Lysander''s right-hand man, David, awaiting her decision with an expectant look.


    The moment Rosalind''s eyes met David''s, she felt utterly humiliated, her face a canvas of awkwardness and shame, Had David not been there, her embarrassment might have been somewhat bearable In those few seconds, Rosalind''s emotions churned, her face flushing with embarrassment. She knew even her father couldn''t save her now.


    After a couple of deep breaths, she lowered her head, murmuring, "I''m sorry."


    "What was that? Louder, I didn''t catch that!" Lysander barked.Content from N?velDr(a)ma.Org.


    Startled, Rosalind shivered, lifted her head to face Thssa, took a deep breath, and continued, "I''m sorry, I shouldn''t have said what I did. It was stupid of me. Please don''t stoop to my level of foolishness."

 Chapter 2072

    Chapter 2072


    Thssa and Rosalind locked eyes, neither speaking immediately. They just looked at each other.


    Clearly, Rosalind''s eyes shimmered with defiance, slowly melting into a plea. She was silently


    begging Thssa to speak, to forgive her.


    Rosalind was a woman of great pride, making her apology a rare sight. Only someone as imposing


    as Lysander could make her swallow her pride and apologize to Thssa. If Thssa didn''t extend


    an olive branch, today''s standoff would be hard to resolve.


    Rosalind''s apology was meek, her eyes anxiously searching Thssa''s for a sign of forgiveness,


    but Thssa just looked back at her with clear, unspoken eyes. Rosalind was on pins and needles,


    fearing Lysander''s wrath again. Just as she was about to panic, Thssa finally spoke, ¡°It''s okay, I


    forgive you this time. But let''s not have a next time.¡±


    ¡°You have my word, there won''t be a next time,¡± Rosalind breathed a sigh of relief, quickly ncing


    at Lysander for his reaction. If not for Lysander''s outburst, she would never have apologized to


    Thssa. And now, her bowing before Thssa was solely due to Lysander''s intimidating


    presence.


    Content from N?velDr(a)ma.Org.


    Lysander''s icy gaze softened as he said in a cool tone, ¡°Sit down.¡± His words were directed at


    Rosalind, who quickly took her seat, her tension easing. She instinctively looked towards the door,


    spotting David ushering two bodyguards out. For some reason, seeing David stirred a deep


    sadness in Rosalind, making her heart sink. She wondered if her earlier disgrace had made him


    think less of her.


    Then, the waiter began serving dishes, filling the table rapidly. Joshua broke the silence with a


    smile, ¡°Come on, let¡¯s eat. Let''s leave the unhappiness behind. Today we''re celebrating Lysander


    and Thssa''s marriage, a joyous asion. No gloomy faces.¡± Thssa, ying the gracious part,


    started serving herself, giving Joshua and Rosalind a way to move past the awkwardness.


    A dish was far from Thssa, but Lysander knew it was her favorite. He spun thezy Susan,


    bringing the dish to her, his voice softening, ¡°Have some more.¡± ¡°Yeah, you too,¡± Thssa replied


    with a smile.


    Rosalind saw the intimacy between Thssa and Lysander, especially the change in him. With her,


    Lysander was cold and sharp. But with Thssa, his voice turned tender, almost melting. This


    drastic change was like a knife to Rosalind''s heart, a suffocating sadness. See, that was the


    difference between Lysander''s treatment of Thssa and her. He defended Thssa with icy


    rebukes towards her, even suggesting she leave the restaurant in disgrace. Having seen his cold


    demeanor towards her and then his tenderness towards Thssa, Rosalind felt her heart might as


    well have stopped.


    In her moment of despair, a piece of sweet and sour fish appeared in her bowl, apanied by


    Joshua''s kind voice, ¡°Rosalind, eat up, you¡¯ve lost weight.¡± Seeing her distress, Joshua felt pity but


    chose silence, letting Rosalind see Lysander''s affection for Thssa, hoping she would move on.

 Chapter 2073

    Chapter 2073


    ?


    She knew she had to let go of Lysander to truly start living her own life.


    Snapping back to reality, Rosalind nced at the sweet and sour fish that had mysteriously appeared in her bowl, feeling a wave of emotions threatening to break through her resolve. She bit her lip hard, fighting back tears, refusing to let them fall in front of Lysander and Thssa. Showing weakness now would mean losing herst shred of dignity.


    With a forced smile, she turned to Joshua, picking up another dish closest to her and cing it in Joshua''s bowl. Her eyes shimmered with unshed tears as she pretended to be strong, "Here you go, Dad. Make sure you eat too."


    After serving Joshua, she picked up a piece of the sweet and sour fish, chewing it with difficulty but pretending it was effortless.


    Joshua saw the tears pooling in Rosalind''s eyes, watching as she swallowed all her sorrow and bitterness, acting as if nothing was wrong.


    His heart ached for her, but like Rosalind, he pretended everything was normal.


    He smiled across at Lysander and Thssa, saying, "As the elder here, I want to congratte you two on tying the knot. I know the journey here wasn''t easy. Now that you''ve made it, it''s truly an aplishment. Here''s to a lifetime of holding hands and growing old together."


    As he spoke, Joshua poured wine into Lysander and Thssa''s sses and raised his own in a toast.


    Thssa and Lysander exchanged nces before lifting their sses towards Joshua, acknowledging his toast.


    Lysander followed suit, his actions heavily influenced by Thssa''s eptance of Joshua''s gesture. If Thssa had shown any reluctance to forgive Joshua''s partiality, Lysander wouldn''t have bothered to hide his disdain.


    Seeing both Lysander and Thssa raising their sses, a genuine smile spread across Joshua''s face.


    As he was about to drink, Rosalind stood up, raising her ss towards Lysander and Thssa, "Here''s to a hundred years of happiness and love, just like the very beginning."


    Without waiting for a response, she emptied her ss in one gulp.


    She had poured the wine for herself while Joshua was making his toast, intending to offer her own blessing to Lysander and Thssa.


    After witnessing Lysander''s coldness towards her and his warmth towards Thssa, Rosalind''s heart had finally given up.


    Seeing how Lysander loved


    Thssa made it clear to her that he


    had no love left for Rosalind.Content from N?velDr(a)ma.Org.


    Continuing to cling to him was futile, even ridiculous.


    Stepping back was clearly the best choice.


    Thssa and Lysander hadn''t expected Rosalind to suddenly make a toast They were still holding their sses from Joshua''s toast, not yet having taken a sip, when Rosalind added her own blessings.


    Now, a single drink carried the weight of two blessings.


    Having epted the first, they feltpelled to honor the second.


    Thssa, noticing Rosalind''s swift action and how she downed her drink in one go, felt pressured to drink so as not to appear petty.


    After Rosalind finished her drink, Thssa brought the ss to her lips and took a sip.


    Lysander followed, finishing his drink as well.


    Joshua, who had been watching


    both of them drink the toastet


    them closely, was relieved to


    blessing. He followed Rosalind''s


    lead and finished his drink in one go.


    A full ss of wine symbolized his full-hearted blessing for Lysander and Thssa.


    With Lysander and Thssa''s union officially recognized, and Rosalind finding her peace, things were finally looking up.

 Chapter 2074

    Chapter 2074


    ?


    After dinner, Joshua and Rosalind took their leave. David went to settle the bill, and the bodyguards dispersed. In the private room, only Thssa and Lysander were left.


    Thssa didn''t rush off; instead, she sat back down and extended her hand toward Lysander.


    Lysander nced at her outstretched hand, his voice low and resonant with a hint of curiosity, "Hmm?"


    It was a tone of inquiry.


    "Let me keep our marriage certificate," Thssa said. "So no one can unt it in front of others again."


    There was a hint of teasing in herst remark.


    During the meal with Joshua, Thssa had resisted asking Lysander why, having only gotten their marriage license that morning, Joshua and Rosalind already knew about their marriage by the afternoon. And why had Lysander even invited them over for a celebratory drink?


    It must be because Lysander hadn''t kept the marriage certificate at home and ended up showing it to Joshua and Rosalind.


    ric and Hertha had waited a couple of days after getting their license to tell her, their best friend.


    Yet Lysander, more impatient than Hertha, had informed Joshua on the very first day and even hosted a celebration!


    This was something Thssa hadn''t anticipated at all.This belongs ? N?velDra/ma.Org.


    Lysander''s handsome face broke into a slight smile as he pulled out the marriage certificate from his suit pocket, cing it into Thssa''s palm. "Handing it over to the wife for safekeeping," he said.


    His sudden use of "wife" made Thssa''s heart flutter.


    The certificate was now in her hand, but she didn''t immediately put it away. Instead, she gazed at Lysander, still immersed in the warmth of being called "wife."


    The term hade so unexpectedly; she wasn''t prepared.


    It was a mix of surprise and blissful happiness.


    So, being called "wife" by Lysander felt this dizzyingly exciting.


    But it made sense for Lysander to call her "wife," as they were married now, officially husband and wife.


    "Is the marriage certificate too heavy for you to hold?" Lysander teased, seeing her dazed expression.


    Coming back to reality, Thssa


    realized she was still holding onto


    the certificate and quickly secured it. "You''ve always called me Thssa. Suddenly changing it, I thought you were calling someone else


    "There''s only one wife for me, and that''s you. Who else could it be?" Lysander retorted.


    His deep gaze made Thssa''s


    cheeks flush red; she averted heret


    eyes, unable to meet his, fearing her blushing and fluttering heart would be too apparent.


    "Should I also start calling you something else?" Thssa asked shyly, twiddling her fingers to ease the awkwardness.


    Suddenly, Lysander caught her hand in his, holding it firmly.


    "If you''re not used to it yet, you can keep calling me Lysander. Take your time until you''refortable," he said, not rushing her to call him "husband."


    Thssa''s hand, enveloped in his firm grip, was filled with a sense of security that spread throughout her body.


    Easily moved, Thssa''s voice was thick with emotion as she acknowledged, "Mhm."


    Lysander, sensing her touched response, gently brushed her nose with his finger, his eyes full of affection. "Silly, let''s go watch a movie."


    Taking her hand, he led her up.


    The movie was Thssa''s choice-a romanticedy, as she disliked action and horror films.


    In the film''s climax, the male and female leads ovee all obstacles to be together. At their wedding, the groom embraces the bride, kissing her passionately. Fireworks fall from the sky, showering them, enveloping the couple in a beautiful and


    romantic scene.


    That passionate kiss heated up the atmosphere in the cinema, especially among the couples watching.

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    Thssa was munching on popcorn, eyes glued to the movie screen,pletely absorbed in the cinematic world unfolding before her. Suddenly, arge hand cupped her face, turning it gently, and without any warning, her lips were seized in a kiss.


    The warm pressure of the kiss spread a tingling, fiery sensation from her lips down to her limbs, making her heart pump vigorously as if infused with fresh lifeblood.


    Thssa''s eyes widened, her body freezing in shock.


    Lysander had just kissed her out of the blue!


    Was it the movie''s romantic scene that spurred him on?


    Lysander kissed with a passion that matched the intensity of the movie''s lead actor.


    As the kiss deepened, he explored further, iming Thssa''s mouth entirely, inviting her into a warm embrace.


    From the initial shock, Thssa found herself melting into his arms, her body going limp like a soft, plush nket, cradled in Lysander''s embrace. Lysander''s chest, radiating heat, pressed against her as his hand gently stroked her back, lost in the kiss as if they were the only two people in the world. The temperature in the cinema seemed to spike, making everyone''s skin glisten with sweat.


    The kiss grew more intense, more heartfelt. Thssa could feel the heat emanating from Lysander''s body.


    His powerful breaths mingled with hers, stealing away her ability to breathe, making her breaths shallow until she could breathe no more.


    Lysander immediately released her, holding her limp body close to his chest.


    As she gasped for air, the overwhelming sensation eased, and Thssa, nestled in Lysander''s arms, began to breathe deeply again.


    Lysander''s own breathing was


    ragged, his voice husky as he


    nibbled on her ear, "Silly girl tw


    haven''t learned how to breathe


    during a kiss?"


    They had kissed hundreds, if not thousands of times, and yet she still hadn''t mastered it.


    As the movie ended and the


    audience gradually left, Lysandene


    continued to hold Thssa, who, like a little kitten, was still catching her breath, not quite back to reality yet.


    He held her securely, providing a sense of safety.T¨ºxt ? N?velDrama.Org.


    It took several minutes for Thssa to calm her breathing, her chest finally rising and falling steadily.


    Lifting herself from Lysander''s embrace, she realized they were thest two people in the cinema.


    Thssa quickly stood up, grabbing Lysander''s hand, urging him, "Let''s go, they''re going to turn off the lights soon." Pulled by her, Lysander followed as she led the way for the first time, her face beaming with youthful joy.


    Lysander felt a profound sense of happiness, realizing Thssa actively engaging in their


    ationship, lively and initio vel et


    W


    As they stepped out of the cinema, the lights inside went out, plunging it into darkness.


    Lysander looked back and asked, "How did you know they were about to turn off the lights?"


    "I''ve been to movies before," Thssa replied casually.


    "Oh? And who were you with that you stayed until the lights went off, unwilling to leave?" Lysander''s voice was low and maic.


    Thssa''s smile stiffened slightly, she didn''t respond.


    "Was it with Leopold?" Lysander pressed.

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    Chapter 2076


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    Hearing the name Leopold made Thssa''s steps falter, her body tensing almost imperceptibly.


    After a brief pause, she managed topose herself, turned back to Lysander with a smile, and said, "The movie today was really good, wasn''t it?" As she spoke, she unconsciously tightened her grip on Lysander''s hand.


    Her attempt to change the subject didn''t go unnoticed by Lysander. Her lips, still flushed from their recent passionate kiss, and her eyes, shimmering like the crisp autumnkes, refused to meet his gaze, darting around instead.


    Lysander affectionately tousled her hair, saying in a soothing tone, "Don''t be so nervous, I was just asking; no hidden meanings."


    Indeed, Thssa was nervous because the name Leopold was a taboo between them.


    From past experience, mentioning it always seemed to stir up a storm.


    So, when Lysander had brought up Leopold''s name, Thssa''s heart had instinctively clenched.T¨ºxt ? N?velDrama.Org.


    Yet, Lysander''s calming words allowed her heart to rx slightly.


    Looking into Lysander''s eyes, Thssa opened her mouth, intending to bring up Leopold, but Lysander''s gaze was so intense, so focused, it felt overwhelmingly oppressive.


    The words she had wanted to say were swallowed back down, crushed by the weight of Lysander''s presence.


    But Lysander''s prating, intense stare remained fixed on her.


    Thssa knew that once this conversation had started, Lysander wouldn''t allow it to end ambiguously.


    He was waiting for her to speak.


    Taking a deep breath and summoning all her courage, Thssa finally spoke under Lysander''s expectant gaze, "Yes, I once watched a movie with Leopold, and we even stayed till the theater closed. But don''t worry, nothing happened between us."


    No sooner had she finished


    speaking than Thssa hurried to rify, anxious that Lysander might misunderstand. She insisted that her rtionship with Leopold was purely tonic; nothing physical had ever urred.  S


    Her exnation was so rushed and nervous it actually made Lysanderugh. He smiled, gently cing his hand on her head, his thumb softly brushing her hair.


    "I believe you," Lysander said.


    Thssa''s heart skipped a beat. His simple statement of trust filled her with confidence and self-assurance.


    Her gaze towards him softened, bing more affectionate.


    Lysander''s unconditional trust meant more to her than any sweet nothings.


    "The day before yesterday, I visited Leopold''s grave," she confessed, bolstered by Lysander''s trust. She had previouslycked the courage to tell Lysander about her solitary visit to the grave.


    She had always thought of Leopold as a minefield between them, one wrong step away from explosion.


    She had neither the courage nor the audacity to tell Lysander she had visited Leopold alone.


    But now, she had found her bravery.


    "Did you go to tell him about our wedding?" Lysander asked, removing his hand from her head to intertwine their fingers, walking side by side with her.


    He didn''t question why Thssa had kept her visit a secret; instead, he gently inquired about her reasons for seeing him.


    This understanding and gentle version of Lysander made Thssa feel at ease.


    Ever since Lysander had recovered from hisa, ever since he had learned the whole truth, he had never again resorted to harsh or extreme measures with her.


    Before, any mention of Leopold would inevitably lead to Lysander''s anger, a cold, frostbitten rage awaiting her.

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    Chapter 2077


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    Between them, the name Leopold had never been mentioned so calmly before. Perhaps it was the rxed vibe of the conversation that made Thssa open up to Lysander.T¨ºxt ? N?velDrama.Org.


    "Yeah, I went to tell him that you and I are getting married, hoping he''d bless us," Thssa said sincerely, a tight pain gripping her heart at the thought of Leopold.


    It had been three years since Leopold passed away. If reincarnation were real, could it be that he had already been reborn?


    If reincarnation exists, she hoped Leopold would be forever happy, safe, and joyful.


    Without reincarnation, then Leopold had truly be one with the earth, his essence dissolved, along with the past, into thin air.


    Lysander''s grip on Thssa''s hand tightened, a silent strength meant tofort her. He knew Thssa harbored guilt when it came to Leopold. This guilt wouldn''t fade with time; instead, it deepened as the days passed.


    Only care and love could help her ovee this burden.


    "What''s Leopold''s brother''s name? Do you know?" Lysander suddenly asked Thssa.


    Curiously, Thssa nced at Lysander''s profile. "I don''t even know his full name."


    "His name is Derek Sinir, just a letter short of Leopold," Lysander revealed the name of Leopold''s brother to Thssa.


    "Oh right, Derek, Amelia mentioned


    him," Thssa recalled after


    Lysander''s prompt, suddenly


    remembering the conversation. They had talked about the baby at


    the hospital when they bumped into Amelia and Payton, but it had


    stipped her mind. Content belongs to


    "That child was conceived two years after Leopold passed. Do you think it''s possible he was born under Leopold''s blessing?" Lysander turned to Thssa, his voice tender.


    His words softened Thssa''s


    heart, as if light had prated a dark corner, illuminating a previously shadowed part of her heart. That corner once touched, would ache, but now it seemed the sunlight had eased the pain.


    Thssa, moved and regarding Lysander with reverence, pondered if Derek was indeed born under Leopold''s blessing. She wished for Derek''s lifelong health and happiness.


    Lysander noticed the light in Thssa''s eyes brighten, and his mood lifted with her newfound rity. Linking his arm around her shoulder, he brought her closer and led her out of the movie theater.


    Today, when Rosalind intentionally


    spoke in his presence of Thssa visiting Leopold''s grave, Lysander chose to trust Thssa


    immediately, unlike before when he would react with rage. Mentioning Leopold was a deliberate attempt by Lysander to open Thssa''s heart, to engage her in a deeper


    conversation. There was no need for her to feel so tense about Leopold.


    That night, having opened up and being understood by Lysander, Thssa slept soundly.


    Three dayster, Thssa woke up to find Lysander adjusting his tie in the mirror.


    Curious, she asked, "Hey, why haven''t you gone to work yet?"


    It was Monday, the start of the workweek.


    "I''ve got something nned today, and you need to get up too. I''m taking you somewhere," Lysander said.

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    Chapter 2078


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    Thssa rubbed her bleary eyes and asked, "Where are we headed?"


    "Juste with me, and you''ll see," Lysander teased, a mysterious twinkle in his eye.


    "Alright, I''m up!" Thssa didn''t press further, quickly getting out of bed. It was unusual for Lysander to act so mysteriously, and she was eager to go along with it.


    Without bothering to change, Thssa went straight to the bathroom to brush her teeth and wash her face. By the time she was done, Lysander had already picked out an outfit for her. It was a sleek ck dress, a bit on the conservative side but still stunning.


    "Why ck?" Thssa asked, curious about Lysander''s choice.


    Lysander, as usual, was dressed in his custom-made ck suit, looking no different from any other day except for the ck tie that added a new touch. He just smiled and didn''t answer Thssa''s question.


    After breakfast, Lysander drove them away personally. The journey felt familiar to Thssa, and sure enough, about an hourter, they pulled up at a cemetery.


    Lysander got out and retrieved a bouquet of flowers from the trunk. He was here to pay his respects. Was it for Leopold, given their previous conversation about visiting his grave?


    Thssa didn''t voice her question, simply following Lysander. They headed towards Leopold''s grave, but Thssa''s certainty wavered when she saw a group of people standing solemnly in front of a different grave, alldressed in ck, a clear sign of mourning.


    Approaching closer, Thssa recognized the faces - Joshua, Rosalind, Reginald, Matilda, and even Georgia, standing next to an older couple she didn''t recognize but assumed to be Georgia''s parents.


    Lost in thought, Thssa was brought back to the moment as Lysander took her hand, leading her towards the Whitman family group. Nerves began to bubble up in Thssa as she realized why Lysander had brought her here.Content rights belong to N?velDrama.Org.


    Before they even reached the grave, the Whitman family turned to greet them. Joshua was the first to approach, "Lysander, you''vee."


    "Yes," Lysander replied softly. With Thssa in tow, he approached the grave, cing the flowers beside the already flowerden tombstone and bowed deeply in a gesture of


    respect. Thssa, following ele


    Lysander''s lead, bowed solemnly too. Content belongs to


    Holding her hand tightly, Lysander introduced Thssa to the grave''s upant, "Harper, I''d like to introduce you to my wife, Thssa, your half- sister."


    Thssa''s heart skipped a beat at Lysander''s introduction, the weight of the moment hitting her unexpectedly. She thought this was just a visit to pay respects to Harper, but Lysander''s introduction of her as his wife, and the revtion of their familial connection to Harper, took her byplete surprise.

 Chapter 2079

    Chapter 2079


    ?


    Thssa was both ttered and a bit embarrassed by the attention.


    She instinctively tried to pull her hand away from Lysander''s, but he held it firmly.


    Facing Harper''s memorial, it seemed Lysander wanted Thssa to stand by his side through it all.


    Lysander, hand in hand with Thssa, continued to address Harper, "You were my confidant, we knew each other inside out, the best of business partners. Now that I''m married, you''d bless me, wouldn''t you?"


    Matilda, upon hearing this, impulsively wanted to confront Lysander but was pulled back by Joshua.


    Fuming, she red silently at Joshua in protest. Everyone knew Lysander and Harper were childhood sweethearts, destined for each other. If Harper hadn''t passed away, she undoubtedly would have been the one marrying Lysander.


    And there was Lysander, introducing Thssa as his wife right in front of Harper''s memorial on her anniversary. Was he trying to disturb Harper''s peace even in death?


    Besides, even with Harper gone, there was Rosalind, who expected to be Lysander''s bride. How did Thssae into the picture? Feeling Matilda''s angry gaze, Joshua shook his head calmly, signaling her to keep her cool.


    Matilda was seething inside, her heart going out to Rosalind, expecting her to be green with envy, ring at Lysander and Thssa. But to her surprise, Rosalind''s face was calm, not showing the anger Matilda expected.


    What was going on?


    Had Rosalind learned to mask her feelings so quickly?


    Or did she no longer care about Lysander?


    Matilda had always thought she understood her daughter well, but today she realized she might not know her as well as she thought. Seeing Rosalind''sck of reaction, Matilda dropped the matter but shot Joshua a fierce look to vent her frustration.


    "Mr. Sinir, thank you for taking the


    time to visit my niece. Today was meant for the Whitman family tomemorate Harper, but it seems you hold our niece in high regard," said Georgia''s father with a ttering tone.


    UMSContent rights belong to N?velDrama.Org.


    Lucas, Joshua''s brother, hadn''t been as sessful in business as Joshua and wasn''t as wealthy.


    He was fully aware of Lysander''s influence and status, and his words dripped with sycophancy.


    Lysander, ignoring him, continued with thememoration, holding Thssa by his side.


    Then Joshua came over with a little boy about two or three years old, standing next to Lysander and looking at Harper''s photograph, he said, "Harper, let me introduce the newest member of the Whitman family to you. This is yton, my son, your brother. You''ve got to recognize all of us." Content belongs


    to NovelDrama.Org


    Joshua was talking about the little boy Susan had for him. The child had been well-cared for recently, looking healthier and more vibrant.


    As soon as


    Joshua finished


    speaking, Lysander''s authoritative


    voice filled the air, "Then you must


    also recognize Thssa as your


    sister She''s part of the Whitman


    family, too. Make sure you


    remember her."


    With that statement, Joshua''s face turned pale, his gaze shifting between Lysander and Thssa.


    At that moment, Thssa also looked towards him.


    Their eyes met, her gaze filled with a mix of vulnerability and innocence.


    It felt like a punch to Joshua''s gut, filled with shame and embarrassment.


    He quickly added, "Yes, Harper, Thssa is also dad''s daughter, your sister. She''s part of the Whitman family, too. You''ve got to remember her." Sweat formed in Joshua''s palms. Lysander was there to im Thssa''s ce in the family.


    He was there to set the record straight for Thssa.

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    Chapter 2080


    ?


    Joshua''s oversight was peculiar, to say the least. In the midst of introducing his youngest son, he somehow forgot to mention Thssa. It seemed like Thssa was also making her first visit to pay respects at Harper''s grave.


    He had introduced every member of his family to Harper, except for Thssa.


    No wonder Lysander had raised an eyebrow.


    After Joshua''s admission, Lysander shot him a look that was neither here nor there, devoid of reproach yet not entirely forgiving either.


    Lucas, ever the peacemaker, chimed in with a grin, "Yeah, Thssa''s part of the Whitman family too. We''ve known that for the past three years. And hey, my brother went public about Thssa being his daughter in front of the whole world."


    Lucas might not have been in close contact with Joshua''s family on a daily basis, but he was well-informed about the significant events in their lives. He also kept an eye on the news about Joshua''s family.


    He had seen the live broadcast of the jewelrypetition, where Joshua had defended Thssa against usations of fraud, denying she used fake materials in her designs, and publicly acknowledged her as his daughter.


    Hearing Lucas''s words, Thssa nced at Joshua.


    In that moment, some of the hurt inside her melted away, warming a cold corner of her heart.


    Though Joshua had hurt her in many ways, especially when it came to matters involving her and Rosalind''s interests, his bias was unconsciously towards Rosalind.


    But whenever Rosalind wasn''t involved, Joshua showed his care for Thssa.


    It wasn''t much, but it was there¡ªhis love for Thssa paled inparison to his affection for Rosalind.This belongs ? N?velDra/ma.Org.


    Yet Thssa wasn''t greedy or petty.


    Lucas mentioning this incident of Joshua''s unequivocal support softened her heart.


    "Thank you for acknowledging me as part of the Whitman family. You don''t have to me yourself; I''ve never held it against you," Thssa told Joshua, her sincerity shining through.


    Joshua, visibly moved by her forgiveness, his emotions so intense that his nose turned a shade redder,


    struggled to find the words, der,


    managing only a choked, "Thssa."


    Her understanding and empathy were almost heart-wrenching.


    "It''s okay, it''s okay," Thssa said with a slight smile, calming not just her own emotions but Joshua''s as well.


    "Dad,


    sildid our respects. Let''s


    head back," Rosalind, who had


    then, said as she


    Joshua''s arm. Content been


    to


    For some reason, seeing the depth of Joshua''s affection for Thssa made Rosalind feel a twinge of jealousy.


    She had lost Lysander''s love to Thssa; was she going to lose her father''s affection as well?


    She needed to win at something.


    Joshua was about to agree that it was time to leave when a sudden vision stopped him in his tracks.

 Chapter 2081

    Chapter 2081


    ?


    Lysander dropped to one knee before Thssa, holding a diamond ring, gently raised in front of her.


    His sudden gesture not only stunned Joshua but left everyone in the room dumbfounded. Eyes widened in disbelief at Lysander''s actions. Georgia''s mouth formed a perfect "O" in shock. The high and mighty Lysander, who always stood at the pinnacle, regarded by all with awe, was now kneeling before someone, and that someone was a woman! This was monumental news!


    Joshua and Lucas were equally frozen in shock. But the most surprised and bewildered of all was Thssa herself, the woman before whom Lysander knelt. She could hardly believe that Lysander would kneel before her!


    Her first instinct was to hastily help Lysander up: "Lysander, what are you doing? Please, get up."


    Her voice trembled with panic as she reached out to help Lysander, but hisrger hand grasped hers. Instead of rising, he looked deep into her eyes, his voice resonating with sincerity, "Thssa, I need to tell you everything about me."


    Thssa paused, her hand still in his, and met his gaze, listening intently to what he was about to say.


    "When I was eight, my parents were


    always fighting and eventually, a car ident took them from me. That''s when I lost my parents. My grandparents, out of love for me, took on the responsibility of raising me. My grandfather entrusted me to Joshua, his most trusted friend, to groom me. Joshua''s daughter, Harper, looked after me. Knowing how difficult I had be after losing my parents, she sought my friendship when everyone else kept their distance due to my foul temper."


    Lysander recounted his life before meeting Thssa. Indeed, his character had be


    unpredictable. Most of the time, he was a loner, exuding an aura that kept others at bay. No one dared to approach him, much less befriend him. Thus, he became the isted one. Except for Harper, who didn''t mind his temper. Regardless of how cold or indifferent he was, she was willing tomunicate with him, eventually bing his friend.This text is ? N?velDrama/.Org.


    "As we grew older, we both entered the business world. She, like me, was hailed as a prodigy. People said we were a powerful duo, a match made in heaven. But only we knew that our rtionship was beyond romance; we were the closest of friends who understood each otherpletely."


    Lysander rified his rtionship with Harper. Outsiders thought they were childhood sweethearts, a perfect match. But what outsiders didn''t know was that childhood friendships aren''t always romantic; they can also be about kinship, about knowing each other too well. And because they understood each other so well, they could never be together romantically.


    Listening to Lysander''s story,


    Thssa felt warmth spread through a corner of her heart, dissolving the fragile doubts that had been lingering. Since hearing from Rosalind at the graveyard that she was just a substitute for Harper in Lysander''s eyes, Thssa had been uneasy. The feeling of being unloved haunted her constantly, no matter how much she told herself not to think about it. She even hesitated to mention Harper''s name in front of Lysander, let alone ask about their past. She feared the truth might be something she couldn''t bear-that in Lysander''s eyes, she was indeed just a stand-in for Harper. Fear kept her from asking.


    "Today, in front of my best friend, I am proposing to the woman I love the most. Harper would be overjoyed to see me find true love. Thssa, wear this ring, and you will be my wife, for life." Lysander looked up at her, his eyes brimming with love, his voice filled with the most romantic words imaginable.


    Tears welled up in Thssa''s eyes, touched by his heartfelt deration.

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    Chapter 2082


    ?


    That bittersweet, burning sensation spread from Thssa''s heart to the tip of her nose and the corners of her eyes, threatening to break herposure. Fearing she might burst into audible tears, she hastily covered her mouth with her hands, but the tears streaming down her face refused to be contained.


    Lysander, dropping to one knee before Harper''s gravestone to propose to Thssa, was a gesture of utter devotion! How deeply must he love Thssa to defy convention and propose at Harper''s grave?


    Georgia and Rosalind were stunned and green with envy, exchanging looks that clearlymunicated their indignation and jealousy. What made Thssa so special that a man of Lysander''s stature would kneel before her, exining away rumors of a past lover with such earnestness? It seemed as if Thssa had captured all the world''s wonders, relegating them to mere spectators. Thus, Georgia and Rosalind were a mix of envy, jealousy, and resentment.


    Joshua was astounded by the level of Lysander''s honesty, sharing every detail of his past life with Thssa. His love for her was indeed profound.


    Seeing Thssa cover her mouth, crying without responding, Lysander showed a rare glimpse of nervousness, "Thssa, do you not want to¡ª"


    Before he could finish, Thssa


    quickly removed her hand from her mouth, slipping her ring finger through the diamond ring Lysander held. She didn''t mind the tears on her fingers as she choked out, 4 do, I will marry you, be your wife for life." Her voice was trembling, barely able to string a coherent sentence


    together.


    Excited and nervous, she put on the ring, and the anxiety in Lysander''s eyes vanished. He stood up, pulling Thssa into a tight embrace. He held her as if she was the world''s most precious treasure. For the first time, he smiled freely, a childlike grin without any burden.


    Rosalind was taken aback to see


    Lysander''s toothy smile, rubbing her


    eyes in disbelief. Lysander, who had always been so reserved and cold since she knew him, was now beaming in Thssa''s presence! It turned out he could smile; he just chose not to do so around others, at least not around her. At that moment, seeing the rxed, joyous smile on Lysander''s face, Rosalind felt utterly defeated. She had lost, and it wasn''t even close. Content rights belong to N?velDrama.Org.


    Wrapped in Lysander''s arms, Thssa breathed in his familiar scent, the subtle hint of sandalwood enveloping her, warming her soul. Nothing could make her feel more blissful and warm than being in Lysander''s embrace. She hugged him back, tears of joy streaming down her face.


    In the otherwise somber cemetery, Thssa and Lysander''s embrace filled the space with warmth. The onlookers, initially shocked, gradually epted the reality. Joshua even felt reassured.


    ovel


    Knowing Lysander''s deep love for Thssa, he wasforted that she would never be wronged.

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    Chapter 2083


    ?


    He ushered everyone out, leaving Lysander and Thssa some privacy in the solemnity of the old churchyard, ensuring they wouldn''t be disturbed. It wasn''t until they were well out of earshot, walking down the leaf-strewn path, that Rosalind felt safe enough to air her grievances.


    "I just can''t believe Lysander, going on about showing his true feelings for Thssa, iming he and my sister were just friends! Everyone knows they were inseparable, like two peas in a pod. It was obvious they were much more than friends!" she eximed.


    "Don''t jump to conclusions, Rosalind. Lysander knows his own heart better than anyone," Joshua chided, trying to silence Rosalind''s rant.


    His words made it clear whose side he was on. If Lysander exined it that way to Thssa, then Joshua was inclined to believe him. It was just unfortunate that his eldest daughter, Harper, had met such a tragic fate in the prime of her life, leaving all these unresolved feelings behind.


    "Dad, how can you say I''m making things up? Even Mom said that Harper and Lysander loved each other deeply. Why else would she always be by his side? That''s something lovers do, isn''t it?" Rosalind couldn''t hide her frustration with Joshua''s dismissal.


    "And Thssa, she must really have something, capturing Lysander''s heart in just a few years, to the point where he''d deny his rtionship with Harper for her," Rosalind continued to grumble about Thssa''s perceived faults.


    Just as she finished, her eyesnded on David, who was leaning against a shiny ck car parked under the dim streetlights. He seemed to be watching them, his gaze particrly fixed on her.Content rights belong to N?velDrama.Org.


    The moment Rosalind caught sight of David, her heart skipped a beat, and she instinctively fell silent, avoiding his gaze as if afraid of finding disdain in his eyes for speaking ill of others behind their backs. Indeed, she was talking about Thssa negatively. She wouldn''t care if others found out, but being caught by David seemed intolerably embarrassing.


    Why did his opinion matter so much? Was it because he had once told her she deserved to be loved?


    "Exactly, I might not have been close


    with Harper, but her friends told me


    she and Lysander were an item, deeply indove. If it weren''t for that tragic ident, Harper would''ve been the one marrying Lysander,¡± Georgia chimed in, seeing Rosalind fall silent and eager to continue the tirade against Thssa.


    Thssa was a friend of Hertha, whom Georgia couldn''t stand, making her dislike Thssa by association. Seeing someone she disliked finding happiness was a bitter pill for Georgia to swallow.


    "Georgia, cut it out!" Rosalind


    snapped, suddenly changing her


    tone and silencing Georgia, who was taken aback by the sudden rebuke. Confused, Georgia wondered why Rosalind was scolding her for saying what Rosalind herself had initiated.


    Ignoring Georgia''s puzzled look, Rosalind turned to David, forcing a casual tone. "David, are you here on duty?"


    David nodded politely. "I''m here to pick up Mr. Sinir and his wife."


    Lysander hade by himself, but David had received a message to drive for them, so he had taken a taxi over.


    David''s reference to Thssa as "his


    wife" would have once stirred


    jealousy in Rosalind, but not


    anymore The dramatic proposal scene Lysander had orchestrated for Thssa had numbed her to any further details, leaving her,


    indifferent.


    ¡°David, you''re always so dedicated, not just handling Mr. Sinir''s business affairs but his personal errands too," Rosalind said with augh, her wordsced with a hint of sarcasm.

 Chapter 2084

    Chapter 2084


    ?


    David said, "It''s my duty."


    "Well, David''s got his hands full, so we''ll head out," Joshua nodded towards David, holding the little boy''s hand while opening the car door for Rosalind, motioning her to hurry up.


    To avoid any awkwardness from Rosalind possiblyining about Thssa again.


    Without another word, Rosalind climbed into the car, following Joshua''s lead. If David hadn''t been there, she probably wouldn''t have let it go so easily, continuing to badmouth Thssa.


    But now, with David present, it seemed like talking behind someone''s back would paint her as a gossip.


    Not a good look.


    She didn''t realize the weight her words carried about deserving love.


    David stood still, watching as the Whitman family''s cars drove off one by one, returning the scene to silence. Only then did he look towards the graveyard again.


    Lysander and Thssa hadn''t arrived yet, so he had no choice but to wait.


    At Harper''s grave, Lysander and Thssa embraced for a long time, calming their stirred emotions before letting go.


    Lysander, holding Thssa''s face, wiped her tears away with the pad of his thumb, his voice as warm and gentle as a spring breeze.


    "Don''t cry, this is supposed to be a happy asion, isn''t it?" Lysander said softly.


    "Can''t I cry tears of joy?" Thssa blinked back her tears, smiling.


    Then, she turned back to the tombstone. Harper''s photo was bright and sunny, her smile radiant.


    It was clear that the Whitman family had chosen this photo carefully, capturing Harper in her prime.


    Harper remained forever young, captured in her most beautiful moments.


    Seeing Harper''s radiant smile made Thssa incredibly sad.


    Such a beautiful, wonderful woman, gone too soon.


    "Harper, no, sister, I believe in Lysander and I believe you would bless us too." She trusted Lysander''s words he and Harper were not lovers but confidantes, practically siblings. Content belongs to


    Lysander had chosen to exin at Harper''s grave, speaking heartfelt truths.


    After all the doubts and hurts, finally resolving misunderstandings to fullymit to one another, only trust could carry them forward.


    Having weathered adversity together made their rtionship all the more precious.


    "She would, let''s go." Lysander, holding Thssa''s hand, led her away.


    That day, when Rosalind had


    specifically mentioned her visit to Harper''s grave and encountering


    Thssa visiting Leopold''s,


    lT¨ºxt ? N?velDrama.Org.


    Lysander knew Rosalind must have shared his and Harper''s history with Thssa.


    And surely, she had only shared from her perspective.


    Likely stirring Thssa''s emotions.


    That exined why Thssa seemed so down that afternoon, her mood dipping even after agreeing to get their marriage license. Clearly, she was hurt.


    He hadn''t immediately rified his


    rtionship with Harper to Thssa. Verbal assurances, even if Thssa chose to believe him, wouldn''t erase the images of his past closeness with Harper from her mind


    Only in front of Harper''s grave, openly and firmly, could he tell Thssa that there was no romantic involvement between him and Harper. Instead, they were close, akin to siblings.

 Chapter 2085

    Chapter 2085


    ?


    Proposing to Thssa in front of Harper was the most effective way to show his true sincerity.


    To untangle the knots in Thssa''s heart, he had to bepletely honest.


    Otherwise, Thssa would continue living in insecurity, only increasing her anxiety.


    David had been waiting for thirty minutes when he saw Lysander and Thssa approaching hand in hand. He quickly opened the car door and respectfully said, "Mr. Sinir, ma''am, please get in."


    Lysander and Thssa took their seats in the back.


    David drove off.


    Throughout the ride, Lysander and Thssa''s hands remained intertwined, with Lysander''s hand resting against the seat and Thssa''s palm pressed against his. The diamond ring on her finger sparkled intermittently under the dappled shadows of the passing trees.


    A constant smile yed on Thssa''s lips, a smile of pure happiness.


    After a while, Lysander broke the silence, "Did Rosalind mention Harper to you?"


    Thssa turned, meeting Lysander''s deep gaze. The question caught her off guard, leaving her momentarily confused.


    But upon reflection, it made sense.


    After a pause, Thssa calmly nodded, "Yes, she mentioned Harper. She even said that to you, I''m just a stand-in for Harper. Because my eyes resemble Harper''s, and your special treatment towards me is merely because of this resemnce."


    Thssa finished, inadvertently biting her lower lip, the words still stinging her heart like a needle. It was suffocatingly painful.


    No woman wants to be a stand-in, especially not in the heart of the man she loves most.


    Seeing her look so wronged, Lysander suddenlyughed, hisughter bright and his eyes sparkling.


    Confused, Thssa asked, "What''s so funny?"


    Lysander lifted their intertwined hands, saying, "So, you''ve been upset about this for days?"


    "You knew I was upset, why didn''t youfort me?" Thssained.


    It turned out he knew all along she was unhappy, yet he chose not tofort her, which made her even more irritated. "Comforting you wouldn''t solve the root problem. Even if I did, you wouldn''t be truly happy," Lysander reasoned.


    "You never tried, how would you know it wouldn''t work?" Thssa retorted, still upset.


    Lysander was indeed clueless about how simple it could be to cheer up a woman¡ªa littleforting could go a long way.


    "So, a little cheering up, and you''d be happy forever?" Lysander asked.


    Thssa got his point. Harper was like a thom in her heart, causing ber pain from time to time. Even if she felt better momentarily, she would eventually dwell on it again, leading to unrest and difort.


    "It''s not just me overthinking or being easily influenced. Three years ago, I heard you tell Charlotte that you were holding onto me because my eyes reminded you of Harper."


    Thssa finally opened up to Lysander about her feelings.


    So much time had passed, so many things had happened, a single sentence should have been forgotten long ago.


    Yet, that sentence had left a significant impact on Thssa, reviving the same pain whenever the topic arose.


    Lysander looked into her eyes, not t


    responding immediately. Her


    ree years ago caught him off


    guard. Content belongs toThis belongs ? N?velDra/ma.Org.


    He had forgotten what he said all those years ago.


    Little did he know, Thssa had held onto those words for three years.

 Chapter 2086

    Chapter 2086


    ?


    Lysander was straining his brain, trying to pinpoint the exact moment he had made that statement, and how on earth Thssa had overheard it. But no matter how hard he tried, he couldn''t recall. After an ident that left him with a severe head injury and in aa for three years, it wasn''t surprising that some memories had simply faded away.


    "Hey, if you can''t remember, don''t sweat it. Let bygones be bygones. I trust you, and I won''t jump to conclusions anymore," Thssa said, noticing the effort Lysander was putting into recalling the past. He looked frustrated, a clear sign he hadn''t remembered anything.


    Quickly, she looped her arm through his, offering him a reassuring smile, which Lydia mirrored. Recalling Lysander''s ordeal the ident, thea, and his miraculous recovery-Thssa couldn''t help but feel worried. Even though he seemed to have recovered physically, there had been moments when he struggled to rise after kneeling.


    "Let''s visit Dr. Funke''s clinic," she suggested, masking her concerns with a pretense of visiting her aunt who worked there. "Why don''t we stop by Dr. Funke''s clinic? It''s been a while since I''ve seen my aunt, and we should share our good news with her," she said, referring to their marriage without directly mentioning her wish to have Lysander checked once more.


    "Why go to the clinic?" Lysander asked.


    "It''s been so long since I''ve seen my aunt. Can''t we just visit her? Plus, we''re married now, and we should definitely share the happy news with her," Thssa replied, sessfully convincing Lysander.


    "Yes, we should visit your aunt and tell her the news," Lysander agreed, his voice warm.Content rights belong to N?velDrama.Org.


    Thssa smiled and leaned on his


    shoulder, their closeness natural and intimate, with no trace of


    awkwardness. David, their long-time driver, caught a glimpse of them, through the rearview mirror. Their affection and deep bond brought a smile to his face. He had driven Lysander for many years and had witnessed the evolution of their rtionship. Seeing them this happy and in love was a joy, even for him as an outsider.


    Soon, the car pulled into the clinic''s parking lot. Thssa, still holding Lysander''s arm, led the way inside They didn''t see Dr. Funke or Astrid Pendleton immediately, but instead heard the dramatic cries of a man in pain, mixed with oddly suggestive tones.


    "Ow, ow, be gentle, please!" the man wailed from one of the private rooms. The voice was oddly familiar.


    Thssa and Lysander exchanged curious nces. Who would make such a fuss over a medical examination? Could Dr. Funke''s treatment methods have be unbearably painful?


    As they walked towards the source of the noise, they heard a woman''s stern voice. "Shut up! I''m not even hurting you that much. What are you screaming about?" The voice was unmistakably Lydia''s.


    Recognizing Lydia''s voice, Thssa


    quickened her pace, eager to see what was happening. The scene unfolding before them was far from a typical day at the clinic, sparking mix of concern and curiosity in both their hearts.

 Chapter 2087

    Chapter 2087


    ?


    Thssa and Lysander stepped into the room, only to find a scene that left Thssa both shocked and amused.


    A man, shirtless, revealing his entire upper body,y face-down on a single bed, his back a patchwork of blues and purples, dotted with a myriad of acupuncture needles. The man''s face was turned to the side, his handsome features twisted in pain like a sour lemon, tears streaming down from the corners of his eyes, making him look both pitiful andughable.


    Meanwhile, Lydia, d in a crisp whiteb coat, held a silver needle in her hand, poised to insert another into the man''s lower back. With precision and decisiveness, she swiftly inserted the needle. The man''s back twitched, and he let out a howl of agony: "Ahh!"


    As he attempted to bolt up from the bed, Lydia, anticipating his movement, quickly pressed down on an area free of needles to keep him from rising, eximing, "Lie down, will you? Stop fidgeting! I''m targeting your ''dead kidney'' zone. Do you want to lose your kidneys or what?"


    Subdued by Lydia''s firm hands and her authoritative words, the many back down, whimpering pitifully. From the moment Thssa had entered, she recognized the man on the bed under Lydia''s ministrations as Ethan, the CEO of the Crawley Group!


    Ethan used to be Thssa''s boss, always impably dressed, suave and dashing. She had never seen him in such aical state before. Unable to hold it in, Thssa burst intoughter.


    Herughter caught the attention of Lydia and Lysander. Lydia turned around, her face lighting up with joy upon seeing Thssa, but then tensed up when she noticed Lysander, standing tall and alert. "Oh... Mr. Sinir!"


    She had almost slipped into a more formal title, recalling Lysander''s previous reminder to avoid military or official titles, quickly correcting herself to call him Mr. Sinir.


    Ethan, too, quickly sat up, embarrassed to be seen in such a disheveled state by old friends. He reached for his shirt at his feet but, with his back full of needles like a porcupine, found he couldn''t possibly put it on. He let out a sigh, abandoning the attempt, and his usual confident demeanor was reced with awkwardness.


    "Lysander, Thssa, what brings you here?" Ethan greeted them, covering his face with his hand, mortified by his earlier disy of distress. He wished for a hole to swallow him up.T¨ºxt ? N?velDrama.Org.


    "Hmm," was all Lysander uttered, a man of few words, never one to mock his friends.


    Thssa picked up on Ethan''s difort and, trying to ease the situation, took Lydia aside to ask, "We came looking for Dr. Funke and my aunt. Haven''t seen them around, have you?"


    "Dr. Funke and your aunt stepped out," Lydia replied.


    "To do what?" Thssa asked, curious.


    Lydia suddenly realized her words might have led to a


    velet


    misunderstanding and quickly rified, An olddy from their dancing group had a stroke


    suddenly. Dr. Funke and younaunt went to treat her at her home."


    "My aunt''s line dancing now?" Thssa''s eyes sparkled with joy. Her aunt had been suffering from rheumatism, her mobility severely limited. Walking too much was a challenge, let alone dancing, which demands so much legwork.


    But


    now


    her aunt was dancing? This was a


    delightful surprise for Thssa.


    "Yes, Dr. Funke has been treating her personally. Your aunt''s quite nimble on her feet now," Lydia shared the good news.


    As they walked out, Lydia, curious, whispered to Thssa, "So, are you and Mr. Sinir married now?" Thest time Thssa had been in town to pick up some documents, Lydia had run into her and learned about her ns to marry Lysander Naturally, she was very curious.


    "Never mind about me for now. What''s going on with you and Mr. Ethan?" Thssa was even more curious about Lydia and Ethan''s rtionship.

 Chapter 2088

    Chapter 2088


    ?


    Last time ric fell ill, Thssa couldn''t help but notice something unusual between Lydia and Mr. Ethan.


    At first, she didn''t think much of it. Ethan and ric were close friends, and it was only natural for Ethan to be concerned. Besides, it was Thssa who had suggested Ethan consult Lydia for ric''s medical issues. Having Ethan and Lydia at ric''s house seemed perfectly normal.


    But now, what was going on?


    Ethan and Lydia were together in the acupuncture room, Ethan shirtless, allowing Lydia to insert acupuncture needles into his back. Lydia, with professional ease, wielded the needles without any sign of difort.


    Their rtionship appeared to be anything but ordinary.


    Lydia, embarrassed by Thssa''s probing, blushed and awkwardly said, "What could possibly be going on between us? He wasn''t feeling well and came to me for treatment."


    Thssa noticed the blush on Lydia''s face and the meaningful smile that followed, but she didn''t push further.


    Perhaps Lydia wasn''t ready to talk, and Thssa respected that.


    "Come on, spill the beans. Have you and Mr. Sinir made it official?" Lydia inquired, genuinely concerned.


    "We''ve signed the papers. I came here today to share the good news with my aunt," Thssa replied openly. "Really? That''s wonderful, congrattions!" Lydia eximed, sincerely happy for her friend.


    Her eyes then caught the sparkle of the diamond ring on Thssa''s finger,rge and luminous, impossible to miss.


    Even without being told, Lydia knew the ring was a gift from Lysander.


    The normally reserved Lydia couldn''t resist teasing, "That diamond is nearly blinding me. Lysander''s choice, I presume?" With that, she yfully nudged Thssa''s shoulder.


    Thssa, slightly embarrassed by the tease, replied, "You know it is."


    Happiness radiated from her smile.


    Meanwhile, Ethan, standing shirtless and covered in acupuncture needles, felt awkward in front of Lysander. "L got sick and came here for a doctor, only to find a quack. Look at what she''s done to me," he said, attempting to salvage some dignity by ming Lydia for the


    ????


    ufortable situation. Content


    belongs to NovelDrama.Org


    Hearing Ethan''s remark, the usually calm Lydia stormed into the room, demanding, "What did you just say? Who are you calling a quack?"


    Ethan, faced with Lydia''s fury, sheepishly looked away.


    Lysander, sensing the tension, suggested they leave, "Let''s not disturb them further." He guided Thssa out of Dr. Funke''s office, hinting it was time to leave to avoid bing unwanted intruders in Lydia and Ethan''s affair.


    Thssa hesitated for a moment; her original n was to have Lysander''s leg checked for any lingering issues. But with Dr. Funke absent and her aunt not around staying would only make them third wheels to whatever was unfolding between Lydia and Ethan, This text is ? N?velDrama/.Org.


    With that thought, Thssa got into the car.


    Left alone with Lydia, Ethan initially cowered but then, bolstering his courage, defiantly dered, "I called you a quack, so what? If the shoe fits! Are you going to deny it?"


    Lydia, infuriated, clenched her fist, ready to strike.

 Chapter 2089

    Chapter 2089


    ?


    Ethan tilted his chin up even higher, a defiant gleam in his eye. "Go on, hit me. Then I''ll go straight to Dr. Funke and tell him you''re violent. See how quick he''ll drop you as an apprentice!"


    Lydia huffed angrily, her fists clenched at her sides before she finally let them fall. "If you think I''m such a quack, why on earth do you keeping back here?"


    "These injuries? You gave them to me! No other clinic can deal with them. Who else am I supposed to turn to?" Ethan tried to nce over his shoulder at the wounds on his back, but couldn''t quite see them. At home, however, he''d seen the bruises and cuts in the mirror - all Lydia''s handiwork.


    "If you''re here for treatment, then act like it and stop your whining," Lydia snapped back. "I''ve never seen a man moan as much as you."


    Turning on her heel, Lydia strode out, momentarily forgetting about Thssa and Lysander''s presence. Remembering her guests, she quickened her pace to catch up to them, just in time to see their car pulling away.


    Ethan was quick to follow, still arguing. "Who''s the realiner here? Or are you trying to out-man a man? What''s with all these acupuncture needles anyway if it''s just a superficial wound?"


    Lydia spun around, her stare fierce enough to make Ethan visibly shrink back.


    "I know it''s a superficial wound, Ethan. Youined about the smell of the herbs, said the ointment was too painful to peel off. You didn''t want to drink the bitter herbal teas either! So, acupuncture ¡ª the quickest, simplest solution. But no, that''s too much for you as well. You''re too sensitive and yet it''s my medical skills you question? Unbelievable."


    If it weren''t for the fact that she was responsible for his injuries, Lydia wouldn''t have bothered with him at all.


    "Sure, I don''t like the herbs, the ointment, or the teas," Ethan admitted, albeit grudgingly.


    "Then stick with the acupuncture. You chose this," Lydia said, her patience wearing thin. "Why me me?"


    She couldn''t believe she was arguing over such trivial matters with a grown man.


    "I''m not ming you, it''s just-"


    "Just what?" Lydia pressed.


    Ethan faltered, then abruptly changed the subject. "When do you get off work?"


    "None of your business!" Lydia shot back, not in the mood to entertain him any further.


    She turned and headed back to her


    clinic with Ethan trailing behind.This belongs ? N?velDra/ma.Org.


    "How did any of your exes put


    .ne


    with you? They must''ve left because they couldn''t stand it, right? Content


    belongs to NovelDrama.Org


    Lydia spun around, her gaze fierce. "Say one more word, and I swear I''ll sew your mouth shut!"


    Ethan mped his mouth shut immediately.


    Lydia huffed and continued walking,


    l


    then paused to throw over her shoulder, "What are you still doing here? Go on, get lost!"


    It was only then Ethan yed hisst


    all


    like


    "Hey, you can''t just leaveet


    needles in my back. ¡ý fook


    a porcupine here!" Content


    belongs to NovelDrama.Org


    Only then did Lydia remember the acupuncture needles still sticking out of his back. "Fine, get on the bed and lie down!"


    "Right away!" Ethan''s tone suddenly shifted, eager andpliant as a puppy.

 Chapter 2090

    Chapter 2090


    ?


    Ethan was sprawled out on the bed, his body a canvas of difort. Lydia, despite her frequent irritation with him, had a duty to perform. She approached, bending over in front of him to carefully remove the acupuncture needles one by one.


    It seemed Ethan could feel her breath on his back, gentle and shallow, a stark contrast to her normally fierce demeanor.


    As she leaned in, a faint, pleasant fragrance emanated from her, enveloping Ethan in its subtlety.


    Ethan''s heartbeat rhythmically altered, captivated by her presence.


    With his hands sped under his chin, a smirk adorned his lips. "So, Lydia, what do you think of this bod? Muscr and fit, right?"


    The moment the words left his mouth, Lydia''s movements halted, fully aware of the yful challenge in his tone. With deliberate precision, she twisted the needles slightly deeper into his skin, her teeth clenched. "Oh, it''s sturdy alright. Typically, sturdy muscles don''t mind a bit of pain!"


    "Ouch, ouch, OUCH! Easy, easy!" Ethan winced, his face contorting in pain.


    "Aren''t those muscles of yours supposed to be tough? Why theints then?" Lydia chuckled.


    She was determined not to let Ethan''s flirtatiousness get the better of her. After years of military service and rigorous training, she had seen her fair share of muscr men and was hardly impressed. Ethan''s physique, in her eyes, was average at best, his muscles less defined than her own.


    "My muscles aren''t made of stone, you know? How could it not hurt?" Ethan gasped, still reeling from her firm touch.


    "Proper muscles are almost as hard as stone, didn''t you know?" Lydia replied, swiftly removing the remaining needles.


    "Alright, you''re all set. You can head home now," she said, packing away the needles.


    Ethan rolled over and sat up, rubbing his back where the needles had been. "You really don''t have a romantic bone in your body, do you?" heined.


    "Romantic? What are you talking about?" Lydia snapped back, her gaze sharp enough to silence him. Hastily, Ethan grabbed his shift and dressed, muttering as he left "I''m nevering back to this clinic!"


    "Good riddance. Don''t bother returning!" Lydia replied lightly, secretly pleased at the prospect.


    Ethan stormed out, frustrated yet


    also feeling a sense of loss. Lydia''s indifference to his charms was both baffling and intriguing. ustomed to attention, especially from women, he found herck of interesta novel experience. T¨ºxt ? N?velDrama.Org.


    Determined not to let it go, Ethan dialed Thssa as soon as he left the clinic.


    At that moment, Thssa was still


    in her car, not yet home. She didn''t hesitate to answer Ethan''s call, aware of their past professional rtionship when she worked at hispany, where having the boss''s


    number was standard. Content


    belongs to NovelDrama.Org


    "Hello, Mr. Ethan," Thssa began, immediately feeling Lysander''s icy stare from the driver''s seat.


    Ethan calling his wife raised more than a few eyebrows.


    Sensing Lysander''s growing tension, Thssa nced at him worriedly.


    On the other end, Ethan didn''t waste time. "Thssa, I''ve got to ask - are you and Lydia close friends?"

 Chapter 2091

    Chapter 2091


    Ethan''s "Thssa" echoed through the phone speaker, and only then did Lysander''s expression slightly improve.


    Lucky for Ethan, he knew to use the name "Thssa" - it was like a magic word for Lysander. Otherwise, Lysander''s icy demeanor might have traveled through the phone and given Ethan a virtual frostbite.


    Feeling Lysander''s chilly vibe dissipate a bit, Ethan shifted the conversation to Lydia, easing Thssa''s nervousness somewhat. She replied to Ethan''s query, "Yeah, we''ve known each other since we were kids, grew up in the same small town."


    "So, you must know Lydia pretty well. How many times has she been in love? What happened with her exes?" Ethan bombarded her with questions. Thssa sensed Ethan''s subtle interest in Lydia, now digging into her love history.


    It seemed Ethan was genuinely curious about Lydia.


    Ethan was fishing for insights, trying to understand Lydia better.


    As Lydia''s close friend, Thssa couldn''t just make stuff up in front of her admirer.


    She honestly said, "Well, I''m not quite sure. We used to hang out as kids, but after growing up, I went off to college, and she joined the army. We''ve lived separate lives as adults and haven''t kept in touch much. I don''t really know if she''s dated anyone."T¨ºxt ? N?velDrama.Org.


    "Ah, I see," Ethan stumbled, his n to learn about Lydia''s romantic past hitting a snag. The person who knew Lydia best had no clue about her dating history.


    Now, Ethan was back to square one, wondering whom to ask next.


    Just then, Thssa''s voice came through again: "Lydia served under Lysander in the army. He might know about her dating life."


    "Oh, Lysander knows?" Ethan perked up, seeing a glimmer of hope.


    On the other end, Thssa handed the phone to Lysander.


    Lysander shot her a look that screamed he wasn''t thrilled about meddling in others'' affairs.


    But, since Thssa passed him the phone, he reluctantly took it and grunted a monosybic greeting.


    Knowing Lysander was on the line,


    Ethan eagerly went straight to the point: "Lysander, Lydia was under yourmand. Did she date anyone while in the service? How did it end?" Content belongs to


    IMS


    Lysander, his good friend, would surely give him the scoop!


    Ethan listened intently, ready for the details.


    "Who told you it ended?" Lysander retorted.


    Ethan was bbergasted, taking a moment to process.


    What? Was Lydia not single?


    Ethan, now smitten with Lydia, felt as if Lysander''s words were a bucket of ice water dumped over his head, leaving him chilled to the core.


    swne


    Even Thssa, listening in, was taken aback, her face full of confusion.


    Did Lydia have a boyfriend? Howe she didn''t know?


    "What, can''t handle it?" Lysander threw another question before Ethan could respond.


    Snapping back to reality, Ethan said, "My apologies, seems I set my sights on the wrong target."


    Just as he was about to hang up, Lysander''s voice stopped him.


    "Ethan, not caring about women, feeling down? That''s rare. From what I know, Lydia didn''t date


    anyone while she was underm


    command. As for other times, can''t say, Lysander finally spilled the beans.


    Thssa realized Lysander''s initial remark was just to tease Ethan.


    Lysander''s ability to deadpan while being mischievously underhanded was indeed something else.

 Chapter 2092

    Chapter 2092


    However, when Lysander teased Ethan, Thssa didn''t dare to interrupt; she just silently listened.


    On the other end of the line, Ethan, who was initially feeling down, truly believed Lydia was not single, which made his heart ache as if a piece was carved out of it.


    Then, hearing Lysander shift his tone to reveal Lydia had never been in a rtionship, although he emphasized this was only during the time Lydia was under hismand in the military, Thssa''s earlier words added weight to this revtion. She and Lydia had known each other for so long, yet she had never seen Lydia with a boyfriend. Lydia''s life seemed straightforward, either stationed at Hollowbrook or with the military. In Hollowbrook, she inevitably spent time with Thssa, and in the military, Lysander knew everything that happened. Piecing it all together, it was clear Lydia had never been in a rtionship.


    In this day and age, finding a woman who hadn''t been in a rtionship by the age of thirty was indeed rare. Yet Ethan had found her, talk about fate! A burst of energy suddenly revitalized Ethan.


    "I got it, thanks, Lysander, and please thank Thssa for me. I wish you both a lifetime of happiness together! Love you the most, Lysander!" Ethan said excitedly, even blowing a kiss to Lysander through the phone before abruptly hanging up, not waiting for a response, knowing full well it would make Lysander cringe.


    Energized, Ethan clenched his fist and pumped it in the air with a triumphant "Yes!" For some reason, the news of Lydia never having been in a rtionship made his heart surge with life, beating vigorously once again after feeling dormant. Even the weather seemed to brighten, clearing up to a cloudless sky, and the air around him felt fresher.


    On the other side, Lysander, upon hearing Ethan''s kiss sound, instinctively furrowed his brows, but before he could react, Ethan had already hung up. Thus, the cold aura Lysander had momentarily adopted was forcibly suppressed.


    Thssa, noticing Lysander''s grim expression, asked with concern, "What happened? What did Ethan say?"


    Handing the phone back to Thssa, Lysander''s lips parted to say, "Nothing, he''s just crazy."T¨ºxt ? N?velDrama.Org.


    Thssa was stunned. Did she hear


    that right? Lysander called Ethan crazy? But weren''t they best friends? Birds of a feather flock together,. what did that make him? The thought made Thssa want


    laugh, but seeing Lysand an


    serious


    face, she dared notugh openly, chuckling inwardly instead.


    "We should visit my aunt''s ce soon, let her know about our marriage," Lysander changed the subject to them.


    Thssa hade over


    enthusiastically to share their


    marriage news with Astrid, only to


    find Astrid wasn''t in her clinic. Thssa must have felt


    disappointed. It''s natural to want to share your happiest moments with those closest to you. Previously, Thssa''s closest person was her mother, Evelyn, but unfortunately, Evelyn had passed away. Now, in this world, Thssa''s family consisted of Astrid and her four children, who were away at a military academy, their strict schedule rarely allowing for calls outside designated times.


    It was only natural for Thssa to want to share her joy with her aunt first, only to be met with


    disappointment. Lifting her gaze to meet Lysander''s deep eyes, which had shifted from cold to tenderly warm as he looked at her, wrapped her in a nket of soft affection. Content belongs to

 Chapter 2093

    Chapter 2093


    Watching Thssa''s emotions ripple was like witnessing the warm turbulence of spring waters. With just one look, he had herpletely enraptured. Thssa felt a warmth in her eyes as she nodded at Lysander, "Sure, next time we''ll visit Aunt Mary."


    What moved her was Lysander''s immediate reference to her aunt as "Aunt Mary," not "your aunt." He had integrated himself into her family, embracing her rtives as his own. It was a small designation, but it''s often in the details where the deepest impact is made.


    "Are you tired? Let''s rest for a bit," Lysander suggested, noticing the glistening in Thssa''s eyes and mistaking it for sadness. He wrapped her in his embrace,forting her with a gentle voice.


    That morning, he had woken her up early for a visit to the Harper cemetery for a memorial service. Up until now, she hadn''t rested, and Lysander thought she was just tired. Nestled in Lysander''s broad, warm embrace, Thssa smiled, closed her eyes, and drifted to sleep. With him by her side, her heart felt warm.


    David, driving in front, caught glimpses of Lysander and Thssa''s tender moments in the rearview mirror, finding it impossible to look away. Man, their sweetness was more intoxicating than honey. Originally there to drive, David found himself unintentionally indulging in their disys of affection. But this was one serving of "dog food" he happily consumed.


    He was eager to see Lysander and Thssa together, delighted by their love for each other. Having witnessed the trials and tribtions of their love story, David felt more joy for their union than even their parents might.


    The next day, Lydia was back at the clinic, attending to patients as usual. In walked a man dressed in a crisp white suit, his charm and wit as apparent as his dashing appearance: "Ah, tackling another challenging case, I see." His tone immediately rubbed Lydia the wrong way.


    Her gaze, sharp enough to cut,


    landed on Ethan, who was grinning mischievously. d in a pristine white suit thatplemented his handsome, aristocratic, and yful demeanor, he was indeed a sight for sore eyes. But Lydia couldn''t stand him!


    C


    Especially since he didn''te empty-handed today, holding a bouquet of fiery red roses! The roses partially obscured his face, revealing a smug smile and bright, squinting eyes filled with mirth as he looked at her What was he up to now? Content belongs to


    Lydia rolled her eyes, clearly annoyed, "Back off, don''t disturb me!" Couldn''t he see she was in the middle of a consultation? If his interruption led to a misdiagnosis, could he bear the consequences?


    "Don''t be so fierce. A little gentleness is more bing of a woman. Too harsh, and you''ll age prematurely," Ethan teased innocently. Lydia red at him.


    The patient Lydia was attending to was a kindly olddy in her seventies. She looked at Ethan with a warm smile, "Young man, those flowers you''re holding are beautiful. Are they for our dear Dr. Lydia?"


    known


    Lydia was known for her kind heart, often providing free consultations to the elderly and patiently educating them on chronic illness prevention and care. Everyone adored her affectionately calling her "Lydia."


    UMS


    Hearing this nickname made Lydia inwardly cringe. It was one thing for the elderly patients to call her that in private, but in front of Ethan, it was utterly embarrassing.


    "With her being so fierce, calling her Lydia? From what I see, there''s nothing sweet about her," Ethan remarked, scrutinizing Lydia with a yful tone.Content rights belong to N?velDrama.Org.

 Chapter 2094

    Chapter 2094


    The moment Ethan threw his teasingment in the air, Lydia felt her cheeks burning up with embarrassment and annoyance, ring at him, "Zip it, will you?"


    "Grandma, look at her, all fierce and fiery. I''m too scared to even offer these flowers now," Ethanmented with a look of injured innocence to the elderlydy sitting nearby.


    His tone, coupled with that puppy-dog expression, was dangerously close to being too cute to handle.


    Grandma Sybil couldn''t help but burst intoughter, charmed by Ethan''s boyish antics. She had a grandson about Ethan''s age who never acted so yfully around her.


    Who could resist a handsome man''s charm, especially when it''s wrapped in a yfulint?


    Grandma Sybil, still chuckling, gently tried to make peace. "Lydia, dear, you''re always so kind and gentle with us. Why so harsh on him? Loosen up a bit, my dear. You''re not getting any younger; it might be time to think about love."


    Lydia''s face turned a shade redder, if possible, as she quickly interjected, "Grandma Sybil, you''ve got it all wrong. He''s not courting me; he''s my patient."


    The thought of dating Ethan seemed utterly absurd to her.


    "Oh, my dear, don''t be so rigid about these things. A doctor and a patient can very well end up falling for each other," Grandma Sybil said with a twinkle in her eye.


    "Grandma Sybil, you''re really mistaken," Lydia tried to rify.


    Ethan couldn''t resist jumping back into the conversation. "See, Grandma Sybil is more open-minded than you. I think you''ve spent too much time in the military; it''s made your thinking a bit old-fashioned."


    Lydia shot Ethan a re that could have curdled milk, her annoyance with him reaching new heights.


    If it weren''t for the presence of other patients in the clinic, some of whom were elderly and might get startled, she might have actually taken a swing at him.


    Feeling the weight of Lydia''s re, Ethan momentarily considered backing down but quickly remembered he was quite adept at navigating tricky situations, especially with an audience of supportive seniors on his side.


    He persisted, "Come on, ept these vibrant roses. Embrace a bit of romance, open your mind to new possibilities."


    Holding out the roses with a teasing


    smile, his eyes flickered with both mischief and hope. It was the first time he was offering Lydia roses, and given her strong, no-nonsense demeanor, he knew the direct approach wouldn''t work. Content


    belongs to noveldrama.org


    But perhaps this unconventional method might just break through her defenses.


    Lydia was tempted to smash the


    UT?


    bouquet right into his smug face, but she was in the middle of checking Grandma Sybil''s pulse. Given Grandma Sybil''s advanced age and heart condition, any sudden shock might be detrimental.


    However, Lydia didn''t ept the roses either, instead shooting Ethan a warning look, silently telling him to back off and stop making a scene.


    But Ethan, unfazed, kept the flowers extended towards her, his grin freezing in ce as he refused to retract his offer.


    Grandma Sybil, unable to stand the


    awkward standoff any longer, spoke earnestly, "Lydia, just take the


    flowers, dear. Look at this young et


    man, all dressed up and handsome, just to bring you these flowers. He wouldn''t have gone through all this effort if he wasn''t sincere


    He dressed up for her?


    As if she could forget how Ethan had stripped off his shirt upon arriving at the clinic yesterday, unting his muscles and physique!


    Before Lydia could expose Ethan''s true colors, another elderlydy chimed in, "Yes, Lydia, the clinic is always filled with the smell of medicine. The fresh flowers could help mask that with their fragrance."


    "Lydia, please ept them."


    "Yes, yes, take them."Content rights belong to N?velDrama.Org.

 Chapter 2095

    Chapter 2095


    In the clinic, the seniors were all gently nudging Lydia to ept the flowers. Ethan was so touched he was almost in tears. It was these lovely folks, always unconditionally on his side, speaking up for him. Under the collective persuasion of the elderly, Lydia felt cornered. Rejecting the roses would be like breaking the hearts of everyone present. She just couldn''t bring herself to let them down.


    Lydia was raised by her grandparents, sharing a special bond with them. Her grandmother also suffered from a chronic illness, so Lydia had always held a soft spot for the elderly. Now, with all these grandfathers and grandmothers persuading her to ept Ethan''s roses, turning them down would seem like rejecting the kindness of all these sweet old folks.


    With no way out, Lydia snatched the bouquet from Ethan, forcing a chilly smile, and said, "Mr. Ethan, we appreciate the love you''ve shown to the clinic. Rest assured, these roses will be ced in the lobby for all our patients to enjoy. Thank you for your contribution." Though she epted the flowers, it was on behalf of the clinic, not personally.


    Ethan wasn''t upset; in fact, he was thrilled. As long as she epted them, no matter on whose behalf, he was happy. Ethan didn''t leave; instead, he found a chair and sat down. Lydia put the roses aside and continued her consultation with Emily, noticing from the corner of her eye that Ethan hadn''t left. What was he up to? But she was in the middle of a consultation and didn''t want to be distracted by a man.T¨ºxt ? N?velDrama.Org.


    She focused on Emily, advising her on what to watch out for health-wise and telling her medication wasn''t necessary this time. Emily thanked Lydia warmly. As she left, she whispered to Ethan, "Keep it up, young man. We''re rooting for you."


    Ethan smiled back at Emily, whispering, "Kwill, don''t worry." After watching Emily leave, Ethan''s view was suddenly blocked. He looked up to see Lydia standing beside him. His heart skipped a beat, and he stood up, excitedly saying, "You were looking for me."


    He couldn''t believe she had approached him first. Lydia, looking rather stern, said, "Why are you still here? What are you doing?"


    Ethan''s spirits dampened, realizing


    she wasn''t there to see him but to send him away. But Ethan wouldn''t just leave. He said, "I''m waiting in line."


    "For what?" Lydia frowned.


    BAUMS


    "To see a doctor. You said it yourself, I''m a patient here," Ethan replied matter-of-factly.


    Lydia remembered how he had


    unted his physique in front of her


    e


    the day before, and it gave her the creeps. With a tone of annoyance she said, "I can''t treat your issue. Dr. Funke is avable today; he''s in his office. You should see him instead." Content belongs to

 Chapter 2096

    Chapter 2096


    After finishing her statement, Lydia turned on her heel and walked away.


    Ethan was momentarily stunned. Was Lydia really nning to leave him to fend for himself with Dr. Funke?


    How could she do that?


    Ethan quickly followed after Lydia, like a loyal sidekick. "Lydia, where are you going? There are so many patients waiting for you, aren''t you going to see them?"


    "I''m going to get a drink. I''m a doctor, not a machine. Don''t I need to hydrate?" Lydia didn''t stop walking as she replied with a hint of impatience in her voice.


    Ethan, however, didn''t pick up on her irritation and cheerfully ran ahead. ¡°Why don''t you take a seat and rx for a bit? I''ll get you some water."


    Without waiting for Lydia''s approval, he made a beeline for the water dispenser, eager to be of service.


    Lydia frowned slightly but didn''t stop him.


    She couldn''t understand it. He was a big-shot businessman, not someone who ran errands in a small clinic. What was he really after?


    Lydia returned to her desk and continued consulting with her patients.


    Soon enough, Ethan arrived with a ss of water, carefully cing it to Lydia''s right. "It''s a bit hot, be careful."


    Lydia paid him no mind.


    Seeing her so focused, Ethan decided not to disturb her further.


    Indeed, focusing on the task at hand paid off. Lydia soon finished consulting with all the elderly patients, who thanked her profusely before leaving the clinic with smiles on their faces.


    Feeling appreciated, Lydia responded to their thanks and took a deep breath, preparing to wrap up for the day.


    However, a new hand appeared on her consultation table-a hand that was slender, fair-skinned, and unmistakably male.


    Lydia paused.


    Ethan''s teasing voice came from the front. "Dr. Lydia, I guess it''s my turn now."


    Lydia''s smile faded, and she shot


    Ethan a disapproving look. "Iobet


    you, go see


    Dr. Funke. He hasn''t left yet. If you''re lost, I can show you the Content belongs toThis belongs ? N?velDra/ma.Org.


    way."


    "No, no, no My condition can only be treated by Dr. Lydia, just like Aunt Thssa''s could only be treated by Dr. Funke. It''s the same principle," Ethan quickly stopped Lydia from leading the way.


    Lydia shot Ethan a shocked look.


    Did he realize what he was implying?


    Dr. Funke treated Aunt Thssa personally because he was pursuing her.


    And now, Dr. Funke and Aunt Thssa were an item!


    ?


    Ethan''s words made Lydia''s heart skip a beat, more so than when she was pressured into epting roses from the elderly gentlemen anddies earlier.


    Lydia''s eyes widened with fury, and through gritted teeth, she warned Ethan, ¡°Don''t talk nonsense!"


    "I''m only speaking the truth. How is that nonsense?" Ethan replied earnestly.


    Lydia raised her voice in warning, "Don''t make me hit you!"


    Ethan stood tall, unafraid. ¡°Go ahead. Wherever you strike, you''ll be the one to patch me up anyway."


    Before Lydia could explode, Dr. Funke''s voice came from behind, ¡°Lydia, what''s going on? Why all themotion?"

 Chapter 2097

    Chapter 2097


    Lydia spun around to see Dr. Funke and Astrid walking towards her.This text is ? N?velDrama/.Org.


    Dr. Funke''s face was grave, while Astrid wore a gentle smile that exuded warmth and kindness, putting anyone at ease.


    Lydia quickly dropped her fierce demeanor and respectfully replied to Dr. Funke, "Master, it''s nothing."


    Ethan stepped forward and addressed Dr. Funke, "Dr. Funke, I came here seeking treatment from your apprentice, but she tried to kick me out. Not only that, she threatened to hit me. Is this how your clinic treats its patients?"


    Lydia shot Ethan a look of astonishment. How dare he y the victim?


    Dr. Funke turned to Lydia with a stern expression, "I taught you from day one to treat all patients equally. How could you refuse a patient and even threaten them?"


    Lydia felt wronged, but before she could exin, Dr. Funke continued, "It looks like he''s the only patient left. Go ahead and see to him. Your Aunt Astrid and I are going for a walk."


    Lydia had grown close to Thssa and, by extension, also referred to Astrid affectionately as "Aunt."


    Without waiting for a response, Dr. Funke left the clinic with Astrid in tow.


    Lydia didn''t even get the chance to object.


    Ethan smirked, "So, Dr. Lydia, Dr. Funke has spoken. What do you say?"


    As if Lydia would let him off so easily and stay out of the fray herself. Over her dead body.


    "Ethan, you''re such a snake! No wonder Thssa calls you the slyest businessman around; it''s so fitting!" Lydia was fuming. If only Dr. Funke and Astrid hadn''t just stepped out, she''d have punched him right then and there.


    This man was beyond infuriating!


    "Oh, Thssa said that about me? I''m ttered, really. For a businessman, that''s quite thepliment." Ethan wasn''t upset in the slightest; instead, his smile grew warmer.


    Lydia was at her wit''s end. How could someone be so shameless?


    Dealing with someone as brazen as Ethan was proving impossible. She couldn''t kick him out, nor could she get under his skin.


    Lydia wasn''t one to curse, but facing Ethan, a shameless man with a perpetual grin, left her utterly helpless.


    Finally, adhering to her professional


    duty, she


    gritted her teeth and asked,


    "So, you''re here for


    seems to be the problem?


    "My heart," Ethan replied.


    "What exactly is the issue with your heart?" Lydia asked, reluctantly taking her seat across from him.


    e


    Ethan sat down opposite her, one hand on his chest and the other extended towards her, his gaze fixed on Lydia I''m not sure, but ever since you gave me a good thrashing, I''ve felt empty inside. I can''t focus on anything, and I find myself talking a lot more whenever I see you."


    This man was hopeless!


    Lydia red at him, her frustration boiling over, "You''ve got a case of needing a good punch!"


    Who ever heard of someone wanting to be around the person who hit them?


    Absolutely bizarre!


    No wonder he was friends with Lysander; they were both oddballs!


    "What, there''s a condition called needing a good punch? Dr. Lydia, maybe you should check my pulse to be sure. Somehow, that diagnosis doesn''t sound quite right to me Ethan Said, feigning innocence with


    an


    ''I''m-the-patient-you-need-to-take-care look.


    Grinding her teeth, Lydia reluctantly grabbed his wrist to take his pulse.


    The moment her cool hand touched Ethan''s, he reflexively shuddered, as if shocked by the contact.

 Chapter 2098

    Chapter 2098


    Ethan''s subtle movement didn''t escape Lydia''s notice.


    With a piercing gaze, Lydia checked his pulse and said, "What''s this, another case of cramps?"


    "It''s not cramps, I was just..." Ethan began to exin.


    "And what would that be?" Lydia cut in.


    Meeting Lydia''s innocently clueless eyes, Ethan swallowed his words. She was a woman who had clearly never dabbled in romance, blissfully unaware of the subtleties of male-female interactions. Even the natural reactions of physical contact seemed foreign to her. Locking eyes with her genuine gaze, Ethan cracked a smile and said, "You''re right, I''ve developed another ''cramping'' issue. I''m counting on Dr. Lydia to take a closer look." "A grown man and yet so full of issues," Lydia retorted, rolling her eyes in annoyance.


    Ethan kept his smile, responding, "Yeah, how does a big guy like me end up with so many issues? Lucky for me, I found Dr. Lydia, the gentle, kind- hearted, and skilled physician."


    Ugh.


    Lydia nearly gagged at his words. How could he manage a fakeugh while simultaneously buttering her up? He didn''t believe his own words, did he?


    "And to think, someone called me a quack doctor yesterday," Lydia said with a lightugh.


    "Whoever that jerk is, I''ll sort him out for you!" Ethan dered, refusing to admit that under the intense pain he had disparaged Lydia just the day before, now puffing up in a mock disy of chivalry to defend her honor.


    "If you''re willing to deal with yourself, I might just spend an extra half minute on your case," Lydia shot back, piercing through his facade.


    Ethan''s grin widened as he leaned in closer, "You scolding me means I''m notpletely hopeless in your eyes."


    No sooner had he spoken than Lydia grabbed his wrist, getting serious, "I''m warning you, Ethan, cut out the sleaziness or I''ll make sure you regret it!"


    Lydia had attributed Ethan''s


    frequent ''harassments''¡ªwhether it


    was seeking her acupuncture services, sending roses out of the


    blue, or now, making ne


    comments-to him being a


    §Ö


    downright sleaze. From their very first encounter, he had crossed a line with her. This man was no good!


    With her grip on his pulse, it was as though she held his life in her hands. He yelped in pain, "I''m sorry, I''m sorry, please spare me this once, ma''am." Considering his sincere apology, Lydia finally released his hand, saying irritably, "Your heart''s fine, and so are your organs. You don''t need to see a doctor."


    "But my whole body hurts," Ethanined, clutching his back to indicate his difort.


    "Young man, better to keep it in your pants. Sleeping around too much is bad for your health," Lydia remarked while jotting something down in the medical record.


    Ethan immediately grew anxious at her words, hastily exining, "You''ve got it all wrong; I haven''t been with many women. In fact, I don''t have anyone..."


    Before he could finish, Lydia tore off the page she was writing on and pped it in front of Ethan, "Take left when you exit. The pharmacy there can hook you up with some herbs for your vitality. Now, if you''ll excuse me!"


    With that, Lydia stood up and headed to theb, leaving Ethan behind.


    Ethan looked at the prescription in dismay, calling after Lydia''s retreating figure, "I''m not suffering from that kind of issue, I really don''t have anyone, and I told you, I don''t like taking herbal concoctions!" Content belongs to


    QUMSThis text is ? N?velDrama/.Org.


    Lydia didn''t respond, simply entering theb. Her attitude was clear: she was done entertaining him.

 Chapter 2099

    Chapter 2099


    If Ethan kept pressing his luck, he might just end up getting a taste of his own medicine. With Dr. Funke out of the clinic and no other patients around, Lydia had no reservations. Beating him up would be as easy as taking candy from a baby, right? Ethan sighed, knowing better than to provoke her further. He could only grab his prescription and sulk away from the clinic.


    Back at the office, as he passed by ric''s office, he heard ric humming a tune, as cheerful as if he had just won the lottery. Ethan initially walked past but then doubled back, leaning casually against the doorway, arms crossed, eyeing ric who was bobbing his head to the music. "What''s got into you, conquered an army of womenst night?" Ethan joked.


    ric looked up to see Ethan, a yful smirk on his lips, tossing around a bawdy joke. In the past, he would''ve shot back with a quip of his own. But now, hearing such a risqu¨¦ joke felt almost like an insult. He hurriedly said, "Dude, I''m a married man now, can''t be chasing women like you. Can''t afford those kinds of jokes anymore. If Hertha hears about it, I''m a dead man."


    Ethan felt a twinge of difort at ric''s words. Especially the part about "chasing women like you" felt like a jab at him. "And since tying the knot with Hertha, your happiness meter''s off the charts. Is marital bliss really that great?" Ethan asked ric.


    ric, brimming with enthusiasm, walked up to Ethan, ready to preach about the joys of marriage. How could he exin it in a way that Ethan would get it? He tried to find the right words several times but realized it wasn''t going to work. Everyone''s definition of happiness is different. What he felt, Ethan might not understand. After a few failed attempts, he finally gave up.


    "Forget it, talking to a bachelor and skeptic like you about love is like casting pearls before swine." ric returned to his desk, clicking away at his mouse while humming a tune.


    Ethan approached, leaning over the desk, eyes slightly narrowed, "How am I supposed to understand if you don''t exin?"T¨ºxt ? N?velDrama.Org.


    "Ever watched any of those romanticedies?" ric suddenly asked him.


    "No, why?" Ethan responded.


    "If you haven''t even seen those, why waste my breath? You don''t know the first thing about love, let alone the sweetness of being with


    someone you cherish.


    to you would be like talking wall," ric said bluntly.


    Ethan replied, ¡°Are you discriminating against me?"


    it


    "That''s not discrimination, it''s the truth, and you need to ept it. If you disagree then tell me, have you ever pursued a woman? Have you


    ever been moved by one? Do you et


    even know what that feels like ric shot back, knowing full well Ethan wouldn''t have the answers. He knew Ethan inside out, his friend never dated, never pursued women. All he cared about was work and making money, missing out on the joys of being a man.


    "Isn''t it just like feeling you''ve lost something when you don''t see her for a day, and getting electric shocks when you touch her?" Ethan suddenly said.


    "Damn, you''re in love?" ric was stunned. It was as if the sun had risen from the west.

 Chapter 2100

    Chapter 2100


    Ethan quickly waved his hands, "No, no, don''t get so worked up."


    But ric wasn''t about to let it go. They used to devour gossip about Lysander because, among them, Lysander was the least interested in the opposite sex, showing no interest in any woman.


    Who would have thought that Lysander would be the first among them to find true love?Content rights belong to N?velDrama.Org.


    Now, ric''s interest had shifted to Ethan, who didn''t believe in love and had never been in a rtionship. Although he''d had his share of flings, they never meant anything to him.


    He was even less interested in women.


    It was rare for Ethan to even mention the word ''love.''


    A rare chance to gossip about Ethan? ric wouldn''t miss it for the world.


    He had been aimlessly clicking on hisputer screen, but now he stood up excitedly, walked over to Ethan with one hand on his hip and the other leaning on the desk. His right foot in front of the left, he faced Ethan with a look of eagerness, "Spill the beans, no beating around the bush."


    ric had caught the scent of juicy gossip, and there was no way he''d let Ethan off the hook easily.


    Ethan knew all too well that look in ric''s eyes, aze with the thirst for gossip. It was terrifying. Before, he had enjoyed Lysander''s stories with the same zeal.


    Now, he was the subject of interest.


    Frightened, Ethan quickly backed away, "Excuse me, I''ll leave you to your music."


    But before he could make his escape, ric quickly stepped in front of him, "Ethan, don''t tell me our friendship means nothing to you. What''s going on? Spill it, maybe I can offer some advice. Remember when Lysander couldn''t win over Thssa? It was my advice that helped him marry her." That caught Ethan''s interest, his eyes lighting up, "Really?"


    "Of course, it''s true. When have I ever lied to you?" ric said earnestly.


    Ethan was indeed in a pickle and needed advice. With ric volunteering, how could he refuse?


    "So, tell me, how can I get Dr. Lydia to notice me?" Ethan asked seriously.


    "Dr. Lydia?" ric was puzzled.


    "Yeah, Dr. Lydia, the one who treated youst time," Ethan exined without thinking.


    Realization dawned on ric, "Whoa, you''re into that tomboy?"


    ric was genuinely shocked. He never imagined Ethan''s type would be someone more formidable than most men.


    Ethan''s expression fell, annoyed, "Do you even know how to speak properly?"


    Realizing he had gone too far, ric quickly apologized, "Sorry, my bad, my bad. Lydia''s great, actually. She''s from Hollowbrook too, and she''s even rted to Thssa. If you end up together, you and Lysander would be rtives." Content belongs


    to noveldrama.org


    Eager to move on, ric added, "Cut the crap, tell me, how can I make her warm up to me?" Ethan urged.


    After getting the details about


    Ethan''s current situation with Lydia and his attempts at pursuing her, ricughed, "You seem so sharp when ites to business, howe you''re so timid when ites to women?"


    Ethan was offended, "How am I being timid?"


    "Pretending to be sick just to see her? You''re lucky she didn''t kick vo


    swnovoet


    on your first attempt," rie said.

 Chapter 2101

    Chapter 2101


    "What''s the n then?" Ethan was stumped.


    He had always thought his strategy was rather clever, but if ric said it wouldn''t work, it must really be wed.


    ric shed a mischievous smile, a scheme twinkling in his striking, fox-like eyes.


    Ethan hurried over, eager to hear his master n.


    In the afternoon.


    Lydia had been swamped at the clinic all day, either diagnosing patients or engrossed in research. She hadn''t had a moment''s rest and was now feeling every ache in her back and stiffness in her neck.


    She massaged her sore muscles as she made her way back to her apartment.


    Suddenly, she heard the sounds of a fighting from an alleyway, apanied by cries of pain.


    Years of trained alertness kicked in, and Lydia quickened her pace toward the source of themotion. Ahead, several men were beating up a man who was in agonizing pain, his face twisted in anguish.


    "Still thinking of stealing Noah''s customers, huh?" A burly man with a menacing look was punching and kicking the man while angrily shouting.


    "In business, it''s all about fair y, and I''ve always been fair," Ethan managed to say, even as he was pinned against the wall. Despite the beating, he stood by his principles. He believed in the survival of the fittest in business and insisted that he had followed the rules and didn''t deserve this just because hispetition couldn''t handle losing.


    "Still got a smart mouth, I see. You''re just asking for it!" Anothernky man snarled at Ethan as he joined in the assault.


    Ethan raised his hands to protect his face, trying to shield himself from the worst of the blows.T¨ºxt ? N?velDrama.Org.


    As the punches and kicks rained down on him, Ethan let out pained groans, looking like he was about to pass out.


    The moment Lydia saw it was Ethan getting beaten, she was inclined to walk away. But the brutality of the attack made her reconsider; if she didn''t intervene, Ethan might not make it.


    Driven by a sense ofpassion, she couldn''t just stand by and watch.


    "Let him go!" Lydia stepped forward and shouted.


    The five men stopped and turned their menacing gaze toward Lydia.


    Seeing she was just a woman, they weren''t the least bit intimidated.


    One of the burly men, wiping his mouth with the back of his hand, sneered, "Look who''s here. You looking to meddle?"


    "Ha, we''re reasonable guys," another skinny man said, his eyes leeringzat Lydia as she approached. "Just strip off a piece of clothing, and we''ll back off one by one until there''s none of us left to beat him." Content belongs tonoveldrama.org


    Ethan looked up, urgently saying, "Dr. Lydia, just go! Don''t worry about me!"


    But Lydia ignored him. With a steely gaze, she stopped a meter away from them and clenched her fists, coolly saying, "If it''s a strip-down you want, I''m game, but it''s you who''ll be


    undressing after I''m done with you." Content belongs to


    UMS


    "Oh, feisty, aren''t we?" chuckled the burly man, signaling his skinnyrade with a nod. "Go on, show her what''s what!"


    "Eager to!" The man called Skinny charged at Lydia, ready to teach her a lesson.


    But before he could get close,


    Lydia''s foot flew up, connecting with


    his chest and sending him


    l


    sprawling. As he tried to get up, Lydia was already on him, pressing her foot against his neck and stripping off his jacket.


    With an icy edge to her voice, shemanded, "Call me ''ma''am'', and I might just let you off easy!"

 Chapter 2102

    Chapter 2102


    Struggling with every ounce of his strength, Yitiao tried desperately to shake off Lydia, attempting to turn over and stand up. His forehead veins bulged with the effort, yet he couldn''t move Lydia in the slightest. Moreover, Lydia''s foot pressed down harder on his neck with each attempt he made to move. With every twitch, the pressure on his neck increased, nearing suffocation. The fear of death swept over Yitiao in an instant, sending him into a panic. He looked towards Jesse, pleading for help, "Jesse, help me out, man! She''s got the strength of a bear!"


    "Ha!" Jesse, with his chubby cheeks, spat on the ground and contemptuously said to Yitiao, "Can''t even handle a woman, and I told you to eat more, didn''t I? Let me handle this."


    Saying so, Jesse, with his bulky frame, charged towards Lydia with a menacing aura. He swung his fist, aiming for Lydia, but before he knew it, Lydia had grabbed his wrist in a swift motion, twisting it backward.


    "Ah!" Jesse screamed in agony, his wrist twisted and held in a vice-like grip, leaving himpletely powerless. His body even began to tremble from the pain. He had been the tough guy for years and had never been so utterly defeated.


    "Mercy,dy, mercy!" Jesse shouted, begging for his life.


    Yitiao, who had been waiting to be rescued, was terrified to hear Jesse quickly begging and turned his eyes frantically, his previous defiance reced by pleas for mercy. "Lady, please, we beg you, we won''t mess with you again."


    They had thought Lydia was an easy target, a mere damsel, but she turned out to be a formidable opponent, easily handling two grown men. She was clearly not someone to be trifled with.


    Lydia, knowing when to stop, let go of Jesse''s wrist and stepped off Yitiao''s neck, her voice sharp andmanding, "You have one minute to get out of my sight!"


    Yitiao scrambled up from the ground and ran off in a hurry, while Jesse, stumbling, gestured to the other three guys who were still hassling Ethan to follow him and leave quickly. True to her word, within a minute, they had all vanished from Lydia''s sight.


    Lydia dusted her hands off, not even ncing at Ethan as she prepared to leave. Just as she took a few steps, Ethan caught up to her, his face a mix of sycophancy and gratitude, "Dr. Lydia, I''m utterly in awe of you. That was incredible!"


    Only then did Lydia spare him a


    nce. His lip was bruised, and he limped as he walked, his posture far from the confident demeanor he usually disyed. As a doctor, Lydia knew all too well what his condition implied. Though his face bore only a minor wound, his body was likely covered in bruises.


    "You''d do better to get those injuries checked at a hospital than waste your time ttering me," Lydia told him before turning to leave.


    Ethan persisted, following her closely, "Why would I need to go anywhere when I have a doctor right here?"


    Lydia stopped abruptly, turning to


    look at him with a re that was anything but friendly. Ethan


    attempted a smile, but the pain


    caused him to wince, covering b


    mouth with his hand in an awkward gesture, "Dr. Lydia, thanks


    stepping in earlier. Those guys would have beaten me to a pulp over a business dispute."


    From their conversation, Lydia gathered that Ethan had been targeted by Vitiao and his friends as a form of revenge for a business deal gone wrong. Yitiao, feeling slighted by a loss to Ethan, had resorted to violence inT¨ºxt ? N?velDrama.Org.


    ret


    Such premeditated violence could indeed have been fatal. At the very least, in this scenario, Ethan was not at fault.

 Chapter 2103

    Chapter 2103


    \"Come on, you''re a big-shot CEO, and you just roam around without any bodyguards?\" Lydia asked, her toneced with disbelief. "Lysander always rolls deep with his entourage. And here you are, Ethan, not a single martial arts move up your sleeve, walking around unprotected."


    "I came here for you, so I didn''t bring any bodyguards," Ethan exined. "I was worried bringing too many would make you think I''m just showing off." Lydia chuckled, shaking her head. "Why would I care whether you bring bodyguards or not? Why would I think you''re showing off?"


    "See? I''m just too worried about what you think of me," Ethan said, a hint of frustration in his voice.


    "You... I..." Lydia found herself at a loss for words. She was both annoyed and embarrassed.


    She was trying to have a serious conversation, and here he was, diverting the topic to her.


    Does this guy ever stop flirting, no matter the time or ce?


    "Alright, alright, let''s just drop it. My bad, okay?" Ethan quickly apologized upon seeing Lydia''s flustered expression. He realized she was a woman who had never been in a rtionship before; even the slightest hint of romance and she was out of her depth.


    He knew he had to tread lightly. Lydia was sensitive and inexperienced. Thest thing he wanted was to genuinely upset her.


    "You should just go to the hospital. I can''t be bothered to argue with you anymore." Lydia had just finished dealing with a few troublemakers with such elegance and precision, yet now she found herself blushing over Ethan''s words.


    She really didn''t want to continue this conversation with Ethan.


    This man, never serious for a moment.


    Ethan continued to follow her. "Dr. Lydia, you must have some antiseptic at your ce, right? How about Ie with you?"


    "Why on Earth would I take you home with me?" Lydia red at him.


    "They smashed up my car, I can''t exactly drive back," Ethan said, looking pitiful and innocent.


    "Take a taxi!" Lydia was firm, and without another word, she walked away.


    "Oh, my stomach... it hurts so bad," Ethan suddenly cried out in pain.


    Lydia kept walking, paying him no mind.


    "The pain... it''s not my stomach, it''s my spleen. Did they rupture my spleen?" Ethan''s agonized voice continued from behind.


    Lydia felt a tug at her heart but didn''t stop walking.All content ? N/.?vel/Dr/ama.Org.


    "Oh, this is it... I''m dying..." Ethan''s voice grew even more pained, almost unbearable.


    Lydia''s resolve melted, and she quickly turned around, walking back to Ethan.


    He was bent over, clutching his stomach, unable to straighten up and looking genuinely in difort.


    Lydia approached and supported him, asking worriedly, "What''s wrong? Can you hold on?"


    Ethan seized the opportunity to grab


    her hand, feigning weakness. "I don''t think I I can make it, Dr. Lydia. Ifd die,


    could you let my family know die,


    swne


    "Shut up, you''re not going to die," Lydia scolded sharply, refusing to let him speak negatively. "Just save your breath. I''ll get you to the medical center."


    She helped him up, his arm around her shoulders, bearing his weight as they moved forward together.


    Ethan nestled against Lydia, his face


    close to hers, close enough to catch que scent - like lemon, sweet


    her


    yet


    It was intoxicatingo


    AQUAS


    As his face identally brushed against hers, sparks flew, setting off fireworks inside him.

 Chapter 2104

    Chapter 2104


    Ethan had never felt anything like it before this tingling, electrifying sensation that coursed through his entire being. He''d been with many women, but none had made his blood ignite with just a simple touch the way Lydia did. He couldn''t help but steal nces at her.


    Tall and lean, her physique was the result of consistent workouts, with muscles toned and far from fragile. Her face had the ssic beauty reminiscent of runway models if she ever chose to m up, which she seldom did. Preferring a natural look, her skin bore a healthy tan from the sun''s embrace. Up close, Ethan admired her smooth, supple skin. identally brushing his cheek against hers felt like silk, igniting a fire within him. Her nose was petite and perky, and though her eyes were notrge, they were beautifully framed by dense, curledshes. She was the kind of beauty that grew on you.


    But Lydia didn''t y up her looks; she was a tomboy through and through, both in spirit and strength, outmatching anyone who dared challenge her. Yet, this unassuming woman stirred something different in Ethan.


    "Do I have something on my face?" Lydia suddenly asked, disrupting his thoughts.


    Caught off guard, Ethan quickly looked away, replying, "No, nothing."


    "And why were you staring?" Lydia''s acuity wasn''t something Ethan could easily contend with.


    Busted, Ethan didn''t show any embarrassment. Instead, he joked with augh, "Because you''re beautiful."


    Lydia''s mood darkened, her heart skipping a beat as she sternly said, "Keep it up, and I''ll leave you on the roadside to fend for yourself!"


    Hearing the serious tone in her voice, Ethan dared not push further, quickly conceding, "Alright, alright, I''ll zip it. Don''t be mad."


    Despite her threats, Lydia ended up carrying Ethan back to the clinic. It was after hours, and Dr. Funke had already left, leaving them the only ones there. She had him lie down on the examination bed, taking his pulse with a focused expression, making her seem even more


    attractive in Ethan''s eyes. Content


    belongs to noveldrama.org


    Soon, Lydia let go of his wrist, standing up in anger, "You lied to me! There''s nothing wrong with your organs!"N?velDrama.Org holds this content.


    She had been genuinely concerned


    about him, thinking he had a severe


    internal injury. The mix of being deceived and her prior worry made


    Lydia furious, her breaths heavy with


    anger. Content belongs to


    Seeing her upset, Ethan quickly sat up, trying to exin, "I was really in pain, probably from a bruise, not an organ issue. Look, I''m really hurt!"


    As he spoke, he lifted his shirt to


    reveal arge swollen bruise on his abdomen. It was toote for Lydia to look away, she saw the extent of his injury, confirming he was indeed hurt. It seemed his pain was indeed from the bruise, not an internal issue. He hadn''t meant to deceive her; he simply hadn''t distinguished between the types of injuries.

 Chapter 2105

    Chapter 2105


    Seeing Ethan''s abdomen so severely injured, Lydia couldn''t hold onto her anger any longer. She''d always been a soft-hearted person, especially towards those who were suffering. The re of anger that had sparked within her extinguished immediately upon seeing the extent of Ethan''s injuries. "You lie still, I''ll go grab some ice packs for you," she said. These were fresh wounds; they weren''t there when she had administered acupuncture treatment to him yesterday.


    "Okay, thank you, Dr. Lydia," Ethan grinned, obediently lying back down on the hospital bed. As long as Lydia wasn''t mad at him, he felt joy despite the pain.


    Lydia returned with the ice packs wrapped in a towel, gently cing them on Ethan''s wounded area. The cold from the ice packs made Ethan''s body jolt, his face contorting in difort.All content ? N/.?vel/Dr/ama.Org.


    "It''s going to feel quite cold at first, but you''ll get used to it in a bit," Lydia soothed him.


    Gradually, Ethan''s furrowed brow rxed. He took a deep breath to limate to the stinging cold sensation. Looking up at Lydia with a smile, he said, "I really can''t thank you enough for today. If it weren''t for you, those guys would have turned me into a punching bag."


    "You''ve already thanked me plenty. Do you want me to say ''you''re wee'' or something?" Lydia''s face still showed a hint of irritation.


    "Of course not. I mean, to show my gratitude, how about I treat you to dinnerter?" Ethan proposed.


    "No, thanks," Lydia tly refused.


    "How can I not offer something in return? You saved me, and now, without any gesture of gratitude, people might think I''m ungrateful," Ethan persisted.


    As Lydia continued to apply the ice gently to the swollen areas, she said, "Don''t feel obligated. Even if it wasn''t you, if it were someone else in trouble, I would have helped just the same."


    "I know Dr. Lydia is kind-hearted. But the fact remains you saved me, and not only that, you brought me here for treatment. All these favorsbined, I''d be indebted to you for life, yet all I''m asking is to take you out for a meal. Is that too much to ask?" Ethan said, looking hurt.


    He''s at it again! Lydia rolled her eyes at him, "I don''t want to have dinner!"


    "Fine, how about I dedicate myself to you then?" Ethan joked.


    "Getting carried away, are we?" Lydia was


    an annoyed, unintentionally


    g more pressure with t


    swnoel.ne


    "Ouch!" Ethan winced in pain, curling up like a shrimp.


    Seeing him in pain, Lydia''s heart softened, and she immediately eased the pressure.


    As the pain subsided, Ethany back down,


    own husband, huh?


    osong deep breaths. "Trying


    swnove


    "Keep talking, and you really won''t survive!" Lydia threatened jokingly.


    "So, are you going to have dinner with me or not?" Ethan persisted. Lydia gave him a look, "No!"


    Ethan: "..."


    He had never met a woman who was so impervious to persuasion.


    Twenty minutester, Lydia finished up with the ice treatment, visibly reducing the swelling. She removed the ice pack, saying, "You can get up now; it''s time for you to go."


    Ethan remained silent.


    As Lydia locked the door and left the infirmary, Ethan followed her like a shadow.


    Finally, Lydia turned around, exasperated, "What on earth do you want?"

 Chapter 2106

    Chapter 2106


    ?


    Ethan''s reply was straightforward: "I''m going home with you."


    Lydia frowned, staring at him in disbelief. What was he even talking about?


    "Are you short on cab fare?" Lydia asked, pulling out a wad of cash from her pocket. She plucked a bill from the stack and shoved it into Ethan''s hand. "Here, take this for the cab. Don''t worry about paying me back!"


    Lydia''s actions were smooth and swift. After stuffing the money into Ethan''s hand and pocketing the rest, she continued walking.


    Ethan, holding the $20 bill she had given him, didn''t even nce at it and kept pace beside her. "I''ve already told you, I''m with you now. If you''re going home, of course, I''ming with you."


    Lydia was so exasperated she couldn''t even muster the energy to argue. She just kept walking.


    Before long, they reached her apartmentplex, and the man behind her was still following.


    At this rate, he was really going to end up going home with her. This was utterly ridiculous!


    Lydia didn''t want Ethan to know where she lived. Otherwise, if he started showing up unannounced, she''d never have a moment''s peace. She wasn''t a fan of being harassed.


    Reluctantly, she stopped and turned to re at him. "So, you''ll stop following me if we grab a bite, is that it?"


    "You could say that," Ethan replied.


    Lydia struggled to keep her anger in check and said calmly, "Where should we go?"


    "We''ll need to take a cab. The restaurant''s a bit of a ride away," Ethan said with a smile.


    Lydia nced down at the crumpled $20 bill in his hand, snatched it back, and stuffed it into her pocket. "Let''s go then."


    Ethan''s hand was left empty, but his face lit up with joy as he hurried to keep up with Lydia.


    They hailed a cab to the city center,


    the most bustling area. A circr building, constructed entirely of ck ss and gleaming with


    name The Gourmet''s Delight theAll content ? N/.?vel/Dr/ama.Org.


    etched above the entrance, stood before them.


    S


    This was a high-end restaurant, catering exclusively to the affluent. The luxurious exterior of the restaurant was a clear indicator of its opulence. "Let''s go. I''ve booked the best table," Ethan said.


    Lydia nced at him. His lips still


    bore a bruise and his white suit was stained with blood. Hardly the


    ???


    picture of elegance. She couldn''t fathom why he insisted on having dinner tonight! Showing up for dinner with a face full of bruises didn''t seem like a badge of honor to her.


    But then, she had never understood this man''s actions. From getting punched on their first encounter to his persistent pursuit, it was as if he had a masochistic streak!


    Lydia didn''t say anything more and walked straight in. Ethan quickly followed.


    At the entrance stood two young hosts, who greeted them with respect. "Wee, sir, ma''am, right this way, please."


    One of the hosts led Lydia and Ethan inside. The restaurant''s ambiance was elegant and upscale, with warm lighting that created afortable atmosphere.


    The host asked routinely, "Do you have a reservation?"


    Lydia walked ahead without a word, disinterested in making small talk.


    Ethan said, "Yes, it''s under the name of the ''Rose Garden'' room."


    "Ah, Mr. Crawley, right this way, please," the host said with increased politeness, bowing slightly and gesturing for Lydia and Ethan to follow.


    As they neared the room, someone familiar approached them.


    "Hello, David," Lydia greeted the maning toward them with politeness.


    David was an aide to Lysander, and out of respect for Lysander, Lydia naturally extended her courtesy to those in his circle.

 Chapter 2107

    Chapter 2107


    ?


    David caught sight of Lydia and Ethan, pausing mid-stride with a raised brow. "Dr. Lydia, what a coincidence! Mr. Ethan, taking Dr. Lydia out for dinner?"


    Previously, Lydia had been Lysander''s primary physician, often summoned by David to the Royal Estates for consultations. Over time, David and Lydia had grown quite acquainted due to these visits.


    And Ethan? Well, David knew him just as well, if not better, given their frequent run-ins around town.


    Yet, the sight of these two together, seemingly without anymon ground, dining out? That was unexpected.


    Hearing David''sment, Lydia shot Ethan a look of disdain. She''d been practically dragged here by Ethan, and now, faced with an acquaintance, found herself at a loss for words.


    Ethan, however, seemed unbothered, chuckling as he replied, "Yeah, Dr. Lydia''s been helping me out with a nasty cut these past few days. I figured the least I could do was treat her to a meal as a thank you."All content ? N/.?vel/Dr/ama.Org.


    Then, turning to David, he inquired, "Is Lysander around too?"


    Where Lysander went, David was sure to follow, their camaraderie well-known. Spotting David here, Ethan couldn''t help but wonder if Lysander might be nearby.


    Lydia''s gaze darted around, the possibility of Lysander''s presence prompting a quick scan of the room. Respecting Lysander greatly, she''d definitely want to greet him if he were here.


    David answered, "Mr. Sinir''s at home with his wife today. I''m here on my own business."


    This meant Lysander wasn''t present; it was just David dining alone.


    Easing up, Ethan said, "Alright then, we''ll head on in for our meal."


    Without thinking, he reached for Lydia''s hand, leading her forward. Lydia, unustomed to such contact, instinctively jerked her hand away. Ethan, puzzled, looked back at her.


    Lydia, visibly irritated, snapped, "I can walk on my own!"


    With that, she strode ahead of Ethan, who couldn''t help but smile at her reaction. Her difort, rather than discouraging him, seemed to amuse him.


    They were led into what was called the "Rose Garden Room," which, upon entry, felt like stepping into a fairytale. The description of a dining space fell short; it felt more like an enchanted retreat.


    l


    Centered in the room was a vintage gazebo, housing a table set for two. Surrounding it, a charming little stream meandered through, its. banks adorned with pebbles and nked by vibrant roses in full bloom.


    The air was filled with the natural symphony of flowing water,plemented by the subtle


    el


    fragrance of roses. It was a scene designed to intoxicate the senses


    with its romantic ambiance Content


    belongs to NovelDrama.Org


    Lydia halted, unsure whether this was truly meant for dining. Her guard was up.


    Ethan, catching up, encouraged, "Let''s take a seat."


    Yet Lydia remained stationary.


    Ethan, puzzled, turned to her, "What''s wrong?"


    Lydia frowned, "Let''s go somewhere else."


    Ethan, confused, asked, "What do you mean?"


    Lydia replied, "The tables outside in the main hall looked nice. Let''s eat there."


    With that, she turned to leave.


    Ethan quickly reached for her hand, "We''re already here, why go to the main hall?"


    Lydia''s gaze cut sharply to his hand. Without a word, her stern look was enough to make Ethan hastily release his grip.

 Chapter 2108

    Chapter 2108


    ?


    Ethan knew Lydia was strong-willed; trying to talk her into something usually backfired. So, he pinned his hopes on the waitress, signaling her with a look.


    The waitress, a veteran in the ce, knew how to read the room. Catching Ethan''s cue, she quickly told Lydia, "Ma''am, I''m sorry, but our dining room is fully booked."


    Lydia frowned, "When I walked in, I saw plenty of empty tables."Content rights belong to N?velDrama.Org.


    "Those tables were reserved for guests who haven''t arrived yet. They''ll be here shortly," the waitress exined with a calm that belied her fib.


    Lydia, who had grown up in a small farmingmunity, understood hardship. Why make life difficult for a waitress?


    "Fine, we''ll eat here," Lydia finally conceded.


    It was just a meal. As long as she didn''t dwell on Ethan''s intentions, the setting was no big deal.


    Just a stream and some roses-hardly intimidating.


    Lydia walked back, her steps firm on the cobblestone path, and took a seat at the table under the gazebo. Ethan, seeing Lydia settle down, gave the waitress a grateful look and joined Lydia at the table.


    The waitress, pleased with Ethan''s approval, approached with the menu, "Miss, please, your order."


    Lydia quickly picked a couple of dishes and handed back the menu.


    As the waitress turned to leave, Ethan called, "Wait, let me see that."


    After adding four more dishes, he handed back the menu, "All set."


    "Hold on!" Lydia called out, clearly upset. "There are only two of us. Can we finish six dishes?"


    ¡°We can leave what we don''t eat. Two dishes seem too in," Ethan exined.


    Lydia frowned. She didn''t want to lecture him, but his behavior was irksome.


    "What do you mean leave what we don''t eat? That''s wasteful! ''Every morsel is hard-earned,'' don''t you know?" Lydia said, irritated.


    Having been raised by her grandparents who were farmers, Lydia knew the value of every grain.


    To waste food was to disregard the farmers'' hard work. Ethan, used to his ways, felt guilty after Lydia''s rebuke, especially knowing her rural background.


    "Right, right, my mistake," Ethan admitted, symbolically tapping his head, and quickly told the waitress, "Cancel those four dishes I ordered."


    The waitress nodded, "Sure thing."


    Once the waitress left, Ethan apologized in a softer tone, "Lydia, I''m sorry. wasn''t thinking. I''m not usually this wasteful; I was just nervous about making sure everything was perfect for Content belongs to


    swneveln


    "Nervous about what?" Lydia responded, clearly not in the mood.

 Chapter 2109

    Chapter 2109


    ?


    In her eyes, Ethan was just making excuses. Born with a silver spoon in his mouth, he''d seen it all and rubbed shoulders with the high and mighty. And here he was, iming to be nervous in front of her, a nobody? Yeah, right! To her, these silver-spoon types had no clue about the value of hard work. To them, wasting was just part of the daily routine. And Lydia? She couldn''t stand that kind of attitude. It was clear as day; she and Ethan were like oil and water.


    "Come on, I''m human too, of course, I get nervous," Ethan said, rubbing his hands together like he was about to make some monumental mistake in front of Lydia.


    Lydia eyed him skeptically. "Never got grounded as a kid, huh?"


    Ethan, without thinking, responded, "No."


    A smirk yed on Lydia''s lips. "Figures."


    "Figures what?" Ethan was puzzled.


    Lydia just sipped her water, shaking her head, "Nothing."


    It was obvious she was holding back augh which only piqued Ethan''s curiosity even more.


    He leaned in closer, a yful eagerness on his face, "Come on, what is it? If you don''t tell me, I might not be able to enjoy my dinner."


    "What''s your dinner got to do with me!" Lydia shot back, putting down her ss with a nce that screamed indifference.


    "Hey, at the very least, I''m your patient. If a patient can''t eat, that''s not good for their health. You can''t just ignore that," Ethan replied, trying to sound hurt.


    Lydia looked up to see Ethan''s handsome face painted with a look of mock distress. It was so unexpectedly charming that Lydia felt her heart skip a beat. What was he doing? ying with fire?


    "Your health is your mom''s problem! I''m just here to do my job!" Lydia averted her gaze, her voice full of feigned confidence as she picked up her ss again to hide her flustered expression.


    "I wish my mom could take care of me, but unfortunately, she passed away when I was very young," Ethan''s voice softened. "Oh?" Lydia was taken aback.


    "Died of illness. All the money in the world couldn''t save her," Ethan exined.


    Lydia felt a pang of sympathy, advising him, "You should maintain a healthy lifestyle, you know, early to bed, early to rise."


    "Yeah, health is vital. And if you don''t


    tell me what you wereughing about, I might really lose my


    appetite. You know, skipping meals is bad for the stomach. For the sake of health, you might as well spill it."


    UMSN?velDrama.Org holds this content.


    Lydia rolled her eyes. After all this back and forth, he was still on this.


    el.ne


    "You were pampered as a child, the precious little boy who never got spanked. The fact you can''t forget the one time you did get a metaphorical ''spanking'' shows you''ve got a ssic case of being too spoiled."


    She finally let him in on why she wasughing. Because, in all honesty Ethan did seem like the type who needed a good reality check. The more she tried to push him away, the more he clung to her.


    Hearing her reason, Ethan was speechless.


    "I''m attracted to you, not asking to be punished," Ethan rified.


    At those words, Lydia''s grip on her ss tightened, her whole body freezing for a moment.

 Chapter 2110

    Chapter 2110


    ?


    Ethan, determined to prove he wasn''t a pushover, went out of his way to exin to Lydia, "Look at me, I just got roughed up by those guys, and did you see me chasing after them? No way. It''s because I''m drawn to you that I want to see you all the time."


    Before he knew it, he had spilled his guts.


    Lydia looked up, meeting Ethan''s handsome and bright eyes. He was dead serious as he spoke, even his gaze was intense, clearly showing how much he was trying to convey his feelings.


    His earnestness made Lydia''s usually calm heart start to race.


    Even her blood seemed to warm up.


    In that moment, as their eyes locked, the gentle murmur of the nearby creek and the soft whisper of the wind seemed to envelop them.


    The warm glow of the lights cast a cozy light on their faces, adding an intimate touch to the atmosphere, with the scent of roses lingering in the air. Everything about that moment was heart-fluttering.


    Even the air was filled with a sense of romance.


    Just as the tension peaked, a waiter''s voice suddenly broke the spell, "Sir, miss, your dinner is served."


    With that, he ced two tes on the table, shattering the intimate atmosphere.All content ? N/.?vel/Dr/ama.Org.


    Lydia snapped back to reality, nced at the waiter to mask her embarrassment, and managed a smile, "Thank you."


    "You''re wee. Enjoy your meal," the waiter responded, but didn''t leave right away, instead looking expectantly at Ethan.


    She had rushed the kitchen to serve their meal promptly, hoping to impress Ethan.


    Awaiting his praise, she caught Ethan''s gaze, only to find a stern look on his face.


    His intimidating expression took her aback, and she quickly looked away and left with her tray, puzzled by her misinterpretation of his reaction. Content belongs to


    UMS


    Ethan''s mood had visibly darkened. He had been so close to making a move on Lydia, possibly even a kiss that could have sealed the deal.


    But the waiter had unwittingly ruined the perfect moment.


    How could Ethan not be irritated?


    e


    He had been working towards this moment for so long, only for it ruined by a mere interruption,


    vel.be


    leaving him frustrated yet unable to vent.


    "Let''s eat before the food gets cold," Lydia suggested, picking up her fork and knife.


    Snapping out of his irritation, Ethan coughed into his fist, "I''m not that hungry yet, but you go ahead."


    "Just a moment ago, you were all about eating healthy and having me keep an eye on you. What happened to listening to the doctor''s advice?" Lydia said with a hint of annoyance. Content belongs to


    UMS


    Quick to make amends, Ethan picked up his utensil like a chastised child, "Alright, I''ll listen to the doctor."


    As he took a bite, he managed a smile towards Lydia.


    Seeing him trying to appease her, Lydia was somewhat puzzled, "Do you do this when you''re dining with clients too?"


    "Do what?" Ethan was clueless.


    "Smiling while eating," Lydia gestured to her mouth, indicating his overly apparent grin.


    Ethan immediately dropped the smile, adopting a serious demeanor, "Of course not. Usually, they''re the ones trying to make me smile."


    It was a rare asion for him to try and win someone over; typically, it was the other way around with clients and partners.

 Chapter 2111

    Chapter 2111


    ?


    In the cutthroat world of business, it''s your skills that count. Trying to cozy up to others only cheapens your worth.


    Lydia was about to retort, "Then why, when you dine with me, do you sh that smug grin, Ethan?"


    But the words caught in her throat before they could escape.


    She could already foresee Ethan''s response, iming his demeanor shifted solely because it was her he was with. Such spontaneous derations of affection were her kryptonite.


    Lydia fell silent, opting instead to dive into her meal with gusto.


    Noticing her fervent focus on the food, Ethan presumed she was genuinely famished and chose not to disturb her further, leaving only the sound of their chewing to fill the charged atmosphere.


    Meanwhile, in another booth...


    David and Rosalind sat opposite each other, enveloped in a simrly romantic ambiance.N?velDrama.Org holds this content.


    Rosalind idly pushed around the food on her te, voicing her mncholy thoughts, "Do you think I''m truly off-putting?"


    David, leisurely enjoying his meal, responded, "Why would you think that?"


    He was puzzled. Rosalind''s sudden invitation to dinner had caught him off guard; only upon arrival did he realize she sought a confidante.


    Having missed her chance with Lysander, Rosalind was understandably downcast, eager to vent her frustrations.


    "I''ve pined for Lysander for years, always tagging along like a loyal puppy, and yet, he''s dismissed me outright. To be with Thssa, he even denied any romantic involvement with my sister Harper right in front of her. It''s myck of spine that''s dragged her into this mess too."


    Rosalind pouted, a mix of self-pity and annoyance coloring her tone.


    "If only I had been more assertive, perhaps won Lysander''s affection, then Harper wouldn''t have suffered alongside me," she continued.


    David set down his fork, fixing her with a serious gaze, "Don''t think like that. Love can''t be forced. Lysander probably sees you more as a sister, which is why romance hasn''t blossomed. It''s not a matter of your worth but rather the absence of a romantic destiny between you. You''ll find someone who loves you deeply, in time."


    David''s words wereforting, and Rosalind liked hearing them.


    Her mood visibly lifted, she leaned in, a yful smile dancing on her lips, "And when do you suppose this person will show up?"


    Caught by her lively yet intelligent gaze, David''s heart skipped a beat, prompting him to avert his eyes.


    In that moment, he felt an unexpected shyness, unable to meet her gaze.


    Her eyes, brimming with a lively intelligence, seemed to hook his very soul.


    David, still avoiding eye contact,


    fumbled with his food, nervouslet


    responding, "I don''t know. I''m not a


    one


    fortune teller, but they ar


    da


    UMS


    "And when is ''one day''?" Rosalind pressed.


    David, still unable to meet her gaze, shook his head, "I can''t say."


    "I hope it''s not when I''m all old and gray. That would be tragic," Rosalindmented.


    "It shouldn''t be," David replied.


    "Do you think... it could be you?" With a slight lean forward, hands braced against the table to close the gap between them, Rosalind ventured the question.


    David caught the hint of her perfume as it wafted over, her words striking him like Cupid''s arrow right in the heart.


    His heart stalled, then thumped wildly in response.

 Chapter 2112

    Chapter 2112


    ?


    David quickly nced up at her, and for once, the usuallyposed man had a storm brewing in his eyes. He hadn''t even finished chewing his food when he forcefully swallowed it down to meet Rosalind''s bright eyes. "Ms. Whitman, are you pulling my leg here?"T¨ºxt ? N?velDrama.Org.


    His heart raced as he blurted out the question. At his words, the sparkle in Rosalind''s eyes seemed to dim instantly. "Forget it, you''re really no fun," she sighed, picking up her chopsticks again and idly poking at the food on her te, clearly out of sorts.


    David could tell she was genuinely upset and ventured cautiously, "Ms. Whitman, don''t you have any suitors?"


    "What do you mean by that?" Rosalind snapped, a hint of anger in her voice.


    David hurried to rify, "Don''t get me wrong. I mean, with someone as aplished and beautiful as you, Ms. Whitman, not to mention your family background, I''d think you''d have plenty of admirers."


    "I''ve been so focused on Lysander all these years, I haven''t had the chance to nce at another man. And whether other men have taken an interest in me, I''ve beenpletely oblivious," Rosalind admitted. It felt odd to say it out loud, but it was the truth.


    With her heart set on Lysander, she truly had no room for anyone else. Somehow, hearing Rosalind say this made David feel as if a weight had been lifted from his chest.


    "Maybe now you''ll start noticing the men around you," David said, eyes downcast as he picked up another piece of food, trying to seem as calm as possible, as if to say, I don''t need to put all my hopes on one oue, and besides, I deserve to be loved too.


    Rosalind seemed to brighten up at that, smiling as she began to eat normally again. David forced a half-smile but said nothing more.


    He was annoyed with himself. Why


    had he dismissed her question as a joke? What if she had been serious? He had quickly dismissed any possibility between them with his


    words, and immediately rehimet"


    But once words are spoken, they can''t be taken back, and he didn''t have the courage to bring up the subject again, to give it another answer.


    it.


    "David,e on, eat up. If you don''t like it, we can order something else. This one''s on me, don''t be shy," Rosalind said, noticing David''s slow pace and assuming he didn''t like the food, trying to sound generous.


    David could tell that ever since he asked her not to joke, Rosalind''s demeanor had be more formal and polite. Gone was the casual ease, reced with a hint of a woman''s caprice. This shift made David''s heart ache, but he knew it was his own doing. Content belongs


    to NovelDrama.Org


    After years of conducting business with Lysander, he had mastered the art of negotiation and poise but never learned how to interact with women, let alone make them happy. It was truly challenging!


    "These dishes are fine, thank you for your consideration, Ms. Whitman." Even though David deeply regretted pushing Rosalind away, his words still came out cold and distant. He wished he could kick himself!


    Normally, he treated business clients with courteous respect, maintaining a safe distance. But with Rosalind, why did he keep doing the same? Rosalind, ever understanding, simply replied, "No worries."


    In just a few exchanges, they had grown distant, as if they were strangers meeting for the first time. David was internally panicking but managed to maintain his cool


    el.


    exterior, pretending he didn''t care about the growing gap between him and Rosalind.


    He dared not speak again, fearing he''d only make things worse.

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    ?


    David fidgeted with the chopsticks, continuously loading his te to avoid the awkward silence that had settled between them. Soon, the dishes on the table were almost gone.


    Rosalind asked, "David, are you full, or should we order some more?"


    David reached for a napkin to dab at his mouth, declining, "No, thanks. I''m quite satisfied."


    These phrases were usually exchanged with clients.


    Whenever a client would ask if he''d like to order more, he''d generally decline.


    He didn''t expect Rosalind to ask, and he reflexively refused.


    Right after speaking, David regretted it.


    Why did he say no? Couldn''t he have shown some concern, asking if she was full or inviting her to pick something she liked?


    His refusal inadvertently cut off any chance for Rosalind to order more.Content rights belong to N?velDrama.Org.


    The dinner was filled with regret for David, not for dining with Rosalind, but for his tactless words.


    Before he could attempt to salvage the situation, Rosalind stood up, "Alright then, let''s head out."


    She grabbed her purse and headed for the door, leaving David to sigh inwardly, criticizing himself for not being considerate enough.


    As Rosalind left, David had no choice but to follow suit.


    Just as they stepped out, Lydia and Ethan emerged from another room.


    The four of them met face to face.


    Ethan, always the most outgoing, saw David and Rosalind leaving together, and teased, "David, fancy seeing you here. So, the business you had was with Ms. Whitman." Content belongs to


    UMS


    David froze, mortified, wishing he could''ve silenced Ethan before he spoke.


    Sure enough, Rosalind was upset.


    She shot David a cold look, then


    sarcasticallys. Unfortunately,


    said, "So, David was


    here on


    don''t have any projects to


    ve


    coborate on with you. Today''s


    meal was a failure."


    With that, Rosalind stormed off in her heels, leaving a strong impression.


    "Hey," David tried to follow and exin but realized he had no grounds to do so.


    He gave Ethan a look of resignation, "Quite the coincidence, Mr. Ethaning to a restaurant for


    treatment. Let Dr. Lydia take care of your mouth."


    With that, he quickly walked away.


    Ethan looked innocently at Lydia, asking, ¡°What''s with their sour faces all of a sudden? Did I say something wrong?" Lydia rolled her eyes, "You need more than just your mouth fixed; your brain needs attention too."


    She left him with those words, hurrying away.


    Ethan, still confused, followed Lydia, "Can you tell me what''s going on with them? Help me understand where I went wrong?" Lydia didn''t respond.


    Reaching the lobby, Ethan saw Rosalind paying at the front desk, while David was already waiting by the car outside.


    The scene suddenly made sense to him!


    There was something between those two!


    And it seemed like Rosalind was the one pursuing David!

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    Chapter 2114


    ?


    Rosalind paid the bill without even ncing at Ethan and Lydia, then strode out of the restaurant.


    Outside, David was already waiting by his car, but Rosalindpletely ignored him. She got into her own car, reversed, turned, and drove off smoothly without hesitation.


    David didn''t even get a chance to say a word to her and could only drive away in frustration.


    Ethan and Lydia watched from inside the restaurant as Rosalind and David left one after the other.


    Ethan grumbled, "Can you believe David? How could he let a woman pick up the check?"


    Lydia shot him a look full of disdain and walked off without saying a word.


    "Dr. Lydia, wait up!" Ethan called after her.


    In a gentlemanly manner, he opened the back door of his car and gestured, "Your chariot awaits, mydy."


    Lydia almost cringed at being called ''mydy.'' What was he thinking, saying something so cheesy in public? Didn''t he care about embarrassment?


    Looking around nervously to ensure no one had overheard, Lydia realized she had never been called ''mydy'' before. The title felt so alien to her. How on earth did Ethan manage to say it out loud?


    Despite feeling awkward, Lydia got into the car. After all, she had arrived with Ethan, and it was only right that he took her back.


    As they reached the entrance to her apartmentplex, Lydia asked Ethan to stop.


    "I can walk from here," she said, her voice devoid of emotion.T¨ºxt ? N?velDrama.Org.


    Ethan offered, "Let me walk you to your door."


    Lydia''s face remained impassive. "No need. I''ll get out here."


    Ethan could see right through her. "What, afraid I''ll find out where you live ande knocking at night?"


    "You seem to know yourself pretty well," Lydia didn''t deny it.


    "Come on, I''m not some creep!" Ethan defended himself but still parked the car.


    "That''s for you to know," Lydia retorted before stepping out of the car.


    Her impression of Ethan was far


    from favorable. At their first meeting,


    Ethan had been too forward, earning him a solid punch from Lydia Content belongs to


    QUMS


    Surprisingly, Ethan seemed immune to rejection, constantly bothering her with his unseemly remarks.


    In Lydia''s eyes, wasn''t that just creepy?


    She didn''t even want to have dinner with him, but he insisted it was to repay a life-saving favor.


    Owing someone made Lydia


    ufortable, but she figured


    meal could clear the debt and


    hopefully give her some peelet


    swnovel


    Back in his car, Ethan watched Lydia disappear into theplex, feeling even gloomier than before the meal. Only when she was out of sight did he call ric, unloading his frustrations the moment the call connected.


    "ric, what was that all about? I end up getting decked, and still, Lydia won''t give me the time of day!"


    ric replied calmly, "Hold your


    horses. Lydia never had any interest to begin with. How could she have a change of heart? Do you even listen to yourself?"

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    Ethan was seriously ticked off, not in the mood for wordy. "I don''t give a damn how I phrase it! All I''m saying is, your advice sucks, man. It''s not practical at all!"


    "All I wanna know is, did you guys go grab a bite or not?" ric was unfazed by Ethan''s bad mood.


    After all, he and Hertha had cleared up their misunderstandings, tied the knot, and were blissfully together now.


    He was on cloud nine every day, nothing and no one could dampen his spirits.


    "We did, but she was still all guarded around me, didn''t even crack a smile," Ethanmented.


    "Did you guys hit up the Rose Garden booth?" ric probed further.


    "Yeah!" Ethan couldn''t deny it.Content rights belong to N?velDrama.Org.


    "And was there a moment, just a moment, when you locked eyes and felt the temperature in the room go up?" ric pressed on.


    Ethan fell silent, reying the scene in his head.


    Suddenly, he remembered that fleeting moment when he and Lydia locked eyes, the air thick with tension, his blood boiling with the urge to kiss her.


    But then, the moment was shattered by the waitering to serve their food.


    Thinking back, Ethan was both thrilled and furious!


    If it wasn''t for the waiter interrupting that warm atmosphere, he and Lydia might have held hands, lingered over dinner a bit longer, and wouldn''t have bumped into David and Rosalind as they were leaving. That encounter had set him and Lydia back to square one.


    With that thought, Ethan med everything on that waiter!


    "So, got nothing to say? That means there''s hope, buddy. Don''t worry, you still have a shot!" ric said confidently, without waiting for Ethan''s reply. He was a pro at this game, a champ in the field of flirtation.


    Understanding women was his forte, and he knew once a woman had felt a spark for a man, if the guy kept at it, she was almost definitely his. Encouraged by ric''s words, Ethan''s frown finally eased. "I''ll take your word for it. Gotta


    go now."


    "Hold up, pick up Dr. Lydia tomorrow morning, will ya? Walk her to work," ric added just before Ethan could hang up.


    "She lives a stone''s throw from the clinic. It''s just a few minutes'' walk," Ethan felt it was unnecessary.


    "Are you dense? You think I''m telling


    you to walk her just for the sake of it? Walking her to work is even better. It''s perfect for chatting. How do you not get this?" ric would have facepalmed if Ethan was in front of him.


    Ethan had an epiphany. "Got it, I know what to do."


    The next day, Lydia was up early.


    She usually got to the clinic before eight, leaving her house at half-past seven.


    Walking through the alleyway she took every day, she noticed two guys arguing.


    They looked familiar.


    "Jesse, did you mess up? We agreed on five grand each, but why did you only transfer two thousand to me yesterday?" one of the guys demanded.


    Jesse, nursing a hand wrapped up


    like a mummy, retorted, "Dude, that woman nearly twisted my wrist off Spent two grand at the hospital! got injured on the job, gotta take out some for medical expenses, right?"


    swne


    "Jesse, that''s not how you do the math. We agreed on cornering Mr. Ethan for five grand each. We all took part can''t shortchange us now. You and Henry got hurt, go ask Mr. Ethan for the medical bills, not from our cut," the other guy reasoned with Jesse.


    Lydia froze in her tracks, recognizing them as the thugs who had ambushed Ethan the day before.


    Their conversation was a bombshell.


    Ethan was their employer?

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    Chapter 2116


    ?


    Lydia realized something was wrong and hurried towards the two men.


    The two men had been arguing about money, but they suddenly felt a chilling presence and fell silent, turning to see what was causing it.


    When Jesse saw Lydia, the pain from having his wrist twisted the day before resurfaced instantly. Just seeing her made his wrist throb with pain. Terrified, he eximed, "Please, have mercy, ma''am! We''ll disappear right away!"


    He turned to run but was caught by Lydia, who forcefully spun him back around. With an icy demeanor, she said, "I haven''t even asked you anything yet. Where do you think you''re going?"


    Held by the scruff of his neck, Jesse felt as if his very lifeline was being twisted. Trembling, he quickly pleaded, "Ma''am, whatever you want to know, I''ll tell you."


    "Yes, yes, we''ll tell you everything," added the man who had been arguing with Jesse. Having witnessed Lydia''s formidable skills firsthand the previous day, he was terrified of her. Even though Lydia hadn''t nced his way, he didn''t dare to run and stood there, quaking in fear.


    "Did I hear you correctly, saying you were going to ask Mr. Ethan for money? Is this Mr. Ethan the same Ethan you attacked yesterday?" Lydia demanded in a grave tone.


    She had only caught snippets of their conversation and guessed Ethan might be their financier. But she didn''t want to jump to conclusions without getting the full story.


    At her question, Jesse visibly hesitated, his gaze filled with nervousness. He and his aplice exchanged a look involuntarily.


    "Spit it out!" Lydia''s patience was wearing thin, her grip on Jesse''s neck tightening.


    Hermanding presence was undeniable and filled with an imposing aura.


    Frightened, Jesse shuddered, not daring to withhold any information. "Please, don''t be angry, ma''am. I''ll tell you everything."


    "Quickly, then!" Lydia was running out of patience.


    "Yes, yes, it was the same Mr. Ethan we confronted yesterday. He paid us to attack him and even told us not to hold back," Jesse confessed.


    The other man hurriedly chimed in,


    "Exactly, we''re both family men, you know, not usually into this kind of business. But life''s pressures. we needed the money, so we took on this difficult job." N?velDrama.Org holds this content.


    "We also found it odd, why someone would pay to have themselves beaten up. But hey, if someone''s willing to pay for such a thing, and we need the money, it works out for everyone," Jesse added in exnation. Content belongs to


    So, it was all as Lydia had suspected, a charade orchestrated by Ethan himself! What an utterly pointless act!


    Hearing the truth confirmed her suspicions, and Lydia''s anger rose like steam, unable to be contained.


    Disappointed beyond words with Ethan, she let go of Jesse, barking, "Get lost!"


    Jesse and hispanion scrambled away, but as they reached the mouth of the alley, they hesitated, looking back in panic. "Mr. Ethan?"


    Mr. Ethan?


    Hearing the name made Lydia''s


    heart skip a beat. She turned around to see a man in a sleek silver-grey suit, standing tall and handsome in the morning light, a conspicuous bruise marking his cheek.


    Jesse nced back, and seeing Lydia watching, panicked even more. Without another word to Ethan, he hurried away with his partner.


    The truth was out, and what happened next was between Lydia and Ethan alone, no longer their concern.


    Lydia fixed her gaze on Ethan, her eyes aze with the fury of betrayal and anger.

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    Chapter 2117


    ?


    Ethan locked eyes with her, the fury in her gaze making him shrink back a little.


    He had heeded ric''s advice and arrived early at Lydia''s apartmentplex, hoping to offer her a ride to work. But he had no clue which apartment was Lydia''s, nor whether she had already left, so he ended up asking the security guard at the gate. The guard mentioned that Lydia had just left a short while ago, so Ethan hurried after her.


    Little did he know, he''d catch up just in time to see Lydia confronting Jesse about a fight from the day before! At that moment, Ethan felt a sense of dread creeping up on him. But it was toote to stop Jesse from spilling the beans.


    "Hey, Dr. Lydia," Ethan managed to find his voice amidst the thick tension, greeting her first.


    Lydia shot him a fierce look, filled with disappointment and anger, then turned and walked away without a word. Her silence scared Ethan more than any scolding could.


    As soon as Lydia stepped away, Ethan quickly caught up, exining anxiously, "Dr. Lydia, it''s all ric''s fault for giving me this terrible advice. He suggested I y the damsel in distress so you''d y the hero, creating a reason for us to connect. I already gave ric an earful yesterday!" Ethan was so frustrated. His good days hadn''t even properly started, and everything had already gone south. Why was it so easy for ric to chase after women, but so hard for him?


    "Stop following me!" Lydia didn''t even turn her head, her words as cold as ice, quickening her pace.


    "Dr. Lydia, I''m sorry for deceiving


    you, but I genuinely wanted to create


    ???


    a chance for us. Look at all these bruises on me; I wouldn''t harm. myself like this if I weren''t serious," Ethan pleaded, not wanting to ruin things with Lydia. N?velDrama.Org holds this content.


    For the first time in over thirty years, he had met a woman who stirred both his body and soul. He had never believed in love before


    Get


    because he hadn''t met a womandike her. And now that he had, he didn''t want to let her slip away. Missing out on her meant he might have to wait another thirty years or more for someone like her toe along. By then, would he even have the passion to pursue love?


    "Didn''t you hear me say not to follow me?" Lydia suddenly stopped, turning around to re at Ethan, her suppressed anger bursting forth. Her chest heaved, and through gritted teeth, she yelled.


    Ethan froze, Lydia''s outburst startling him into immobility, his neck shrinking back. Facing Lydia''s fury, Ethan looked timid, like a big boy who had messed up and was desperately seeking forgiveness.


    "I''m sorry, I swear I won''t do it again. Please, forgive me this once?" he said, neck still retracted.


    But his apology did nothing to quench Lydia''s anger. On the contrary, it fanned the mes even higher. She detested being deceived more than anything. Especially by someone exploiting herpassion.


    Because when she saw Ethan


    getting beaten up the day before, she genuinely felt sorry for him. She was genuinely scared and worried when he cried out in pain, fearing his injuries were severe. He hadn''t just betrayed her trust; he had also betrayed her kindness! Making her feel like her heartfelt concern and efforts to save him the day before were trampled on! Making her feel like a fool!

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    Chapter 2118


    ?


    "I have no right to forgive or not forgive you, Mr. Ethan. You''ve got your games, and I was a fool yesterday for meddling!" Lydia spat out the words with fury before turning on her heel and storming off.


    Her face was set in a determined scowl, anger simmering in her eyes. She was practically vibrating with the effort to contain her irritation. Ethan stood rooted to the spot, not daring to follow. He could see the anger in Lydia''s eyes clear as day.


    If he kept pestering her, he might actually end up getting punched again, and this time, it wouldn''t be a misunderstanding but a well-deserved thump. Ethan was no masochist, and he certainly wasn''t fond of taking hits.


    He watched Lydia''s retreating figure, feeling a mix of guilt and vulnerability turn into heartache.


    As Lydia''s steps took her further away, the gap between them widened, much like the rtionship they never started - growing more distant by the moment.


    The drama from yesterday was his doing, an attempt to bridge the gap between them, which had backfired spectacrly.


    Pursuing Lydia now would just be shameless.


    Watching Lydia turn the corner and disappear from his sight, Ethan sighed in frustration and trudged back the way he came.


    Today, he didn''t even feel worthy of asking Lydia for help, let alone seeing her.


    Back at the office, Ethan slumped in his chair, his mind a nk. He couldn''t muster the enthusiasm for anything, haunted by Lydia''s words. What did she mean by saying she was foolish for meddling yesterday? Did she regret saving him from those thugs?


    Dayster, Thssa reached out to Hertha.


    Ever since Lysanderunched his jewelry business, Thssa''s visits to thepany where Hertha worked had be rare.


    She was practically semi-retired now.All content ? N/.?vel/Dr/ama.Org.


    Lysander had assured her that her


    designs would be exclusively


    produced and distributed by his


    e


    company, removing any worry about finding a market for her creations.


    Hertha''s situation was different. As a jewelry designer still employed at the firm, she had been supporting herself and her kids on her sry for


    years. Content belongs ne


    Now with a family, and ric not being a scion of the affluent Falconer family but rather a regr working guy, their circumstances were modest.


    Although ric had handed over his


    bank cards to Hertha, allowing her to manage their finances, which were more than sufficient for their family of four, Hertha wasn''t one to rest on herurels.


    S


    She believed in earning while one could, preparing for her children''s future.


    During this busy period, Hertha was at work when Thssa called, just after finishing a jewelry sketch.


    "The sun''s rising from the west today, huh? Decided to remember me now that your honeymoon phase with Lysander is over, I suppose," Hertha teased.


    Thssa got straight to the point: "Lunch together this afternoon, you free?"


    "Just the two of us, or are we bringing the husbands?" Hertha asked. Their lives weren''t the same anymore; both were married, not single anymore. "Just us," Thssa replied.


    "Perfect, we haven''t had our girl time in ages. Let''s meet at my ce, send me your location," Hertha was pleased with the n.


    Being with ric was fun at first, but she was starting to miss her best friend. A break was much needed.

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    Chapter 2119


    ?


    Hanging out with my best friend is always the most chill andfy time.


    Thssa just hummed in agreement before hanging up the phone.


    At 5:30 PM, the two met up at the mall.


    From a distance, Hertha spotted Thssa standing at the mall entrance, rocking a peach-pink vintage dress that made her look like a fairy straight out of a storybook.


    The moment Hertha saw her, she was over the moon, bouncing over and hugging her tight, "Oh my gosh, Thssa, you''re getting more and more gorgeous and elegant by the day!"


    Thssa was all smiles, pinching Hertha''s cheek, "And you seem to be getting younger! So, how''s it going? Happy with ric?"


    "Super happy! Ever since I found out there was nothing between ric and Georgia, I''ve been overjoyed. Getting to wake up to his heartthrob face every day? Of course, I''m thrilled. Anyints just melt away when I see him."


    Around Thssa, Hertha never held back the truth.


    With a teasing nudge on her forehead, Thssa chided, "You and your obsession with looks." "What can I say? I''m a sucker for a pretty face, and that''s not changing," Hertha yfully whined. Only in the presence of someone truly trusted and cherished do women show such vulnerability.


    Having shared a friendship that spanned nearly a decade, Thssa and Hertha always had each other''s backs, offering a shoulder to lean on or a helping hand when needed.


    Their bond was a mix of mentorship and sisterhood, stronger than family ties, where secrets and thoughts flowed freely, unlike with their parents. "Then don''t change. You''ve already snagged ric," Thssa said with augh.


    "And what about you? Lysander''s quite the catch, way more handsome than ric, not to mention smart and capable. ric''s just a big goofballpared to him."


    Hertha praised Thssa''s husband while yfully mocking her own.


    "Oh, please. You don''t know how lucky you are. So many women dream of marrying ric, and yet, you''re the one he chose. Be grateful," Thssa retorted.


    "True that," Herthaughed heartily.


    Arm in arm, they headed to the restaurant.


    Thssa had made reservations, so they went straight to their table by the window.


    While waiting for their food, Hertha ordered, Thssa suddenly spoke up: "Hertha..."


    "Thssa..." Hertha said at the same time.T¨ºxt ? N?velDrama.Org.


    Their simultaneous start made them pause and share augh.


    "You first," Thssa insisted.


    "We''re just too in sync, aren''t we? No, you go ahead," Hertha said, taking a sip of her lemon water.


    Seeing Hertha so insistent, Thssa


    didn''t argue further. "I''ve set a date


    for my wedding with Lysander.d want you to be my maid of honor." Content belongs to


    UMS


    Hertha quickly swallowed her drink, thrilled, "Really? You and Lysander


    are


    the knot? What a


    I


    ric and I have set


    our date too!" Content belongs to


    Eagerly, she added, "I was about to ask you to be my maid of honor! It''s fate. We''ll be each other''s maid of honor. When''s your big day?" "In a week," Thssa replied.


    "What, the same day as me and ric? Talk about serendipity!" Hertha eximed, a mix of shock and delight.

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    Chapter 2120


    ?


    Thssa was utterly taken aback, her eyes wide as she stared at Hertha in disbelief. "Seriously, our big day is next Wednesday too? You guys as well?"


    "Yeah, yeah, next Wednesday for us too. Can you believe it? Same day!" Hertha nodded vigorously, as if fearing Thssa might have misunderstood.


    "By the way, which venue have you guys booked? We''re nning on having it at the Starhaven International Hotel," Hertha asked, barely containing her excitement.


    "Lysander picked out this rustic barn in the countryside, but I''ll talk to him about maybe switching to the Starhaven International Hotel. It would be amazing to have our weddings together," Thssa mused, liking the idea of sharing her special day with her best friend, Hertha.


    "That would be awesome! Go talk to Lysander, and then we could both walk down the aisle, you towards Lysander and me towards ric. Just imagining that beautiful and sacred moment makes me so happy," Hertha was already daydreaming.


    Having their weddings together would be a dreame true for her.


    "I''ll also talk to ric. If Lysander isn''t keen on changing venues, I might just go ahead and set ours to be the same as yours," Hertha added. She knew Lysander well enough to know his domineering nature; he was used to calling the shots and not so much listening to others.


    Getting him topromise on their chosen venue might not sit well with him.


    To avoid any potential conflict between Thssa and Lysander, Hertha was willing to be more flexible since ric tended to go along with her wishes. Thssa, understanding Hertha''s concerns, smiled. "You''re always so thoughtful."


    "Of course! What kind of best friend would I be if I weren''t?" Hertha boasted with pride.


    Soon, the waiter brought over their meal. Thssa handed Hertha a fork, saying, "Let''s eat."


    "Did you want to meet today just to talk about this?" Hertha asked as she started to dig in.T¨ºxt ? N?velDrama.Org.


    "Yeah, I originally wanted to ask you to be my bridesmaid. But it looks like that''s off the table now," Thssa said with a teasing tone.


    "Ha, that''s hrious. But honestly,


    after being part of Spencer''s wedding, think it''s better not to have bridesmaids. We both have our little ones, right? Let''s have them be the flower kids; it''ll be much better than having bridesmaids," Hertha suggested.


    "That''s actually a brilliant idea! I have four little ones, two boys and two girls. They''ll steal the show for sure," Thssa realized, excited by the idea.


    "It won''t just be stealing the show; it


    will be a global sensation!" Hertha corrected "Given Lysander''s


    influence, there''s bound to be a ton of press a


    of press at your wedding, maybe even live coverage. Your wedding will definitely be watched by the Whole world."


    "That sounds terrifying," Thssa admitted, feeling overwhelmed just thinking about that level of attention.


    Was all that media frenzy really necessary for a wedding?


    "You''ll see, I''m right," Hertha said confidently, continuing her meal.


    "I need to talk to Lysander about this, make sure we don''t have the press intruding." Thssa was grateful for the heads-up, realizing she didn''t want their intimate celebration to turn into a public spectacle. Content belongs to


    "If you don''t want the world''s eyes on you, better talk to him sooner rather thanter," Hertha advised, unfazed by the prospect of media attention. "We can sit over here," suddenly, a man''s voice chimed in from a nearby table.


    The voice sounded familiar.


    Without thinking, Thssa and Hertha nced over.


    They saw a man in casual attire, strikingly handsome, settling down at the table across from them, with a woman joining him.

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    Chapter 2121


    ?


    The woman had the quintessential influencer look.


    Both of their faces seemed oddly familiar to Thssa.


    After a moment, it clicked, "Richard, Charlotte!"Content rights belong to N?velDrama.Org.


    She blurted out their names without thinking.


    Richard, initially puzzled, lit up with recognition upon hearing Thssa call him, "Thssa, is that really you? What a coincidence!" Thssa was momentarily taken aback that he referred to her as Thssa, but on second thought, it wasn''t surprising at all.


    Richard and Lysander were close friends, and just because she hadn''t seen Richard in a long while didn''t mean Lysander hadn''t kept in touch.


    He probably knew about her marriage to Lysander, which made his greeting sound so natural.


    "Yeah, such a small world. You and Ms. Ravensong are here for dinner too?" Thssa made small talk.


    It had been a long time since Thssast saw Charlotte, especially after she was forced to break off her engagement with Lysander.


    This was their first encounter in three years.


    Charlotte wasn''t surprised Thssa still recognized her; after all, she had been Thssa''s fiercest rival for Lysander''s affection.


    She must have loathed her back then.


    No one forgets a nemesis, just as she hadn''t forgotten Thssa.


    Charlotte''s lips curled into a mocking smile, "I thought you''d abandon Lysander after he became bedridden, but kudos to you for having a shred of decency, silently taking care of him for three years."


    That, Charlotte had to admit, was admirable.


    If it were her, she wasn''t sure she could have persevered.


    After the forced breakup, Charlotte was devastated. Under her family''s arrangements, she went abroad to study.


    Overseas, she learned about Lysander''s condition.


    Such a bright and perfect man reduced to such a state; it was a pity.


    During those three years, Richard


    was also abroad on business,


    keeping herpany. They had only recently returned to their home country together.


    "Only someone heartless like you would assume others are the same!" Hertha immediately snapped back, defending Thssa against o Charlotte''s harsh words.


    Who did she think she was, talking about Thssa like that?


    "You" Miss Charlotte was about to lose her temper.


    "Hey, hey, no need for anger. We''re all here to enjoy a meal; let''s not spoil the mood," Richard quickly intervened, trying to calm Charlotte.


    "And you promised me you wouldn''t lose your temper so easily," he reminded her.


    Charlotte shot Richard a look, huffed, and withdrew her gaze from Hertha, "Fine, for your sake, I''ll let it go this time."


    "What! You two are together now?" Hertha was so shocked she nearly spit out her drink.


    When did Richard and Charlotte be a thing? There hadn''t been any signs.


    While Hertha was visibly shocked, Thssa appeared much moreposed.


    .ne


    She had sensed something between Richard and Charlotte before, especially the way Richard treated Charlotte. It was clear he had feelings for her.

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    "Come on, you can''t be serious," Charlotte shot Hertha a look that could freeze boiling water.


    Even though she had moved on from Lysander and rified her feelings¡ªshe was head over heels for Richard and wanted to be with him¡ªthat didn''t mean she had to y nice with Thssa and her bestie.


    She couldn''t stand Thssa. Not one bit! Thssa''s mere presence was a constant reminder of her own failures. She was supposed to be engaged to Lysander, yet she lost to a woman who couldn''t even get through the Sinir family''s front door!


    Every time she saw Thssa, it felt like a p in the face, telling her she wasn''t good enough.


    "Sure, sure, you two are just perfect for each other," Hertha said with augh, eager to change the subject. In her mind, she was thinking, ''Now that you''re taken, hopefully, you''ll leave Thssa''s man alone. Marry Richard quickly, so no one else sets their eyes on Thssa''s husband.''


    "Take your time on your date; we won''t disturb you," Hertha suddenly became the epitome of kindness and understanding, leaving them to their privacy. She then turned to Thssa, urging her to enjoy her meal and not bother the lovebirds.


    Charlotte could tell Hertha was poking fun at her, but without proof, she felt ufortable voicing her discontent. Richard, ever so perceptive, got the hint from Hertha and Thssa''s exchange and knew Charlotte well enough. He quickly poured her a cup of tea, trying to soothe the tension. "Here, have some tea, it''ll calm you down."


    Charlotte just red at him, staying silent.


    A weekter.


    Thssa and Lysander, along with Hertha and ric, celebrated their wedding at a picturesque


    farmhouse. Lysander was dressed in a bespoke ck tuxedo, fitting his mode like physique perfectly making him look like a deity among men, exuding an aura of quality. He greeted the guests with a grace and poise that was all his own.


    ric, on the other hand, was the pr opposite in a pristine white suit, his yful and slightly rogue charm making him stand out. He greeted the guests with a wide smile and open arms.Content rights belong to N?velDrama.Org.


    While the grooms were busy


    entertaining, backstage in the dressing room, the brides were far from ready. Thssa had just slipped into her wedding gown when Hertha''s cry from the other dressing room pierced the air, "Ah! It won''t zip up! Did I gain weight? No way!" Content belongs to


    Hertha''s frantic voice caught Thssa''s attention. Before she


    even had a chance to sit down at the makeup table, she hurried to the dressing room door, concerned.


    "What''s wrong, Hertha, do you need help?"


    UMS


    "Thssa,e here and help me," Hertha pleaded, sounding like she had just seen a lifeline. As soon as she finished speaking, the door unlocked. Thssa pushed the door open to find Hertha turning her back to her. "Quick, help me zip this up. I can''t seem to do it myself. It was fine when Ist tried it on, and now it''s just not happening."


    "Did you manage to zip it up by yourselfst time?" Thssa asked as she searched for the zipper.


    "Yeah,st time ric was in the restroom, and I did it myself," Hertha responded. "I absolutely love this dress; it just has to work today."

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    Chapter 2123


    ?


    "Don''t worry, I''ve got this," Thssa said, straining to help her pull up the zipper, which was proving to be quite the challenge.


    "Have you been indulging a bit too muchtely?" Thssa asked as she gave it her all.


    The zipper got stuck halfway up her back, refusing to budge any further.


    Clearly, Hertha had put on a bit of weight.


    "Ah, well, I might have let myself go a bit after marrying ric," Hertha admitted sheepishly.


    "It''s alright, it still fits," Thssa reassured her, gripping the fabric on either side of the zipper and with a final yank, the zipper slid into ce. "There we go."


    "Phew, finally done. d it still fits," Hertha sighed in relief, her anxiety melting away.


    "Mom, Hertha, what''s taking you guys so long?" a youthful voice called from outside the door.


    Thssa instantly recognized it as her third daughter Elowen''s voice. Her nerves sparked to life as she quickly pulled the door open. The moment the door swung open, she saw her four children standing in the dressing room.


    Two boys and two girls, each standing tall and imposing.


    The boys were already reaching five feet, while the girls weren''t far behind at around four feet three!


    These were her four seven-year-olds!


    "Atticus, Dorian, Elowen, Sophia, you made it!" Thssa eximed with tears brimming in her eyes, calling out each of their names and rushing forward to embrace her little treasures.


    Her little ones had grown so much, almost looking like young adults now.


    Thssa went from one to the next, each hug brief but filled with all the strength of her love, wishing she could pour all of it into them.


    It had been a while since shest saw her children, and the longer she went without seeing them, the more Thssa found herself longing for them.


    "Mom, today''s your and dad''s wedding anniversary. You should be happy, no tears," Elowen consoled her as she was embraced, noticing her mother''s eyes glistening. Her tender voice offeredfort.


    Elowen used to be the crybaby of the family, but now, she had grown up, not just holding back her own tears but offering sce to others. "Mom, we''lle visit you more often," Sophia added,forting her as well.


    They had grown up, understanding their mother''s love for them, just as they loved her in return.


    During their three years at military school, the children often found themselves missing Thssa.


    At first, they would cry missing their mother, but over time, they learned to bury those feelings, focusing on their studies and training hard knowing that excelling would earn them the chance to see her


    Tears streamed down Thssa''s face as she looked at her children growing up, bing more understanding, feeling both proud and heartache. She nodded through her tears, "Okay, mom won''t gry. I''ll make sure to visit you more often." Content belongs to


    "The kids are right, it''s a day of joy, no need for tears. Let''s finish getting ready, it''s almost time," Hertha emerged from the dressing room, smiling.


    "Right, mom, Hertha, you better


    hurry up with your makeup, or else


    your grooms will be sweating bullets waiting for you toe out," Dorian said, his dimples deepening with his smile, both cute and handsome.


    swne


    "Dorian, you always know just what to say," Hertha lightly tapped his head in a yful scold.


    "That''s because I learned from the best, Hertha," Dorian replied sweetly, making Hertha beam with joy.


    As they chatted, Thssa and Hertha had already taken their seats in front of the makeup mirrors. Two makeup artists, already waiting, immediately started to work on them.T¨ºxt ? N?velDrama.Org.


    "Mom, Hertha, you go ahead with your makeup. We need to get changed too," Atticus chimed in.

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    ?


    Lysander had pulled out all the stops, hiring two internationally renowned makeup artists to work their magic for the big day. Their reputation for efficiency and skill was well-deserved; in just about ten minutes, both Thssa and Hertha were transformed, their bridal makeupplete.


    The makeup styles couldn''t have been more different. Thssa''s makeup was soft and ethereal, reminiscent of the subtle elegance often seen in Korean beauty trends, while Hertha rocked a bold, dimensional makeup look that was all the rage in Western fashion circles. Each styleplemented their bridal gowns perfectly, creating a stunning harmony of beauty.


    Upon seeing each other, both brides were visibly awestruck.


    "Wow, Thssa, you look absolutely stunning!" Hertha gasped, genuinely amazed.


    Thssa was equally impressed. "And you, Hertha, you''re radiating such charm today. You look incredible."


    It''s fascinating how different makeup and styling can utterly transform someone, making them look like apletely new person.


    "If I were a guy, I''d fall for you in a heartbeat," Hertha chuckled, teasing.


    "Right back at you," Thssa quipped in response.


    Sharing augh, they linked arms and made their way out of the makeup room, ready to face the next part of their special day.


    Outside, a stage adorned with roses and filled with the scent of romance awaited them. The officiant had just finished speaking, and their grooms stood there, awaiting their brides with anticipation.


    As they stepped out, Hertha''s father was already there, ready to escort his daughter. "There you are! The groom''s getting anxious," he joked as he took Hertha''s hand.


    Hertha, ever so casual, let her father lead. "Let him wait a little; it''s good for him. By the way, have you seen Julian and Helena? They''re supposed to be our flower children. They better not mess up."


    "Don''t worry, your mom''s getting them ready. They''ll be right there, holding your train and scattering rose petals as you walk down the aisle," her father assured her.


    "That''s a relief!" Herthaughed, her joy infectious.


    After their brief exchange, Hertha noticed Thssa standing alone, without anyone to escort her.


    Traditionally, the bride would walk


    down the aisle, her father by her


    side, with children ahead, scattering petals¡ªa beautiful procession


    toward her awaiting groom, Content


    belongs to NovelDrama.Org


    Realizing Thssa''s predicament, Hertha looked at her with concern. "Thssa, how about my dad walks us both down the aisle?"


    Even her father, catching on to the situation, offered, "Yes, I can escort you both. It would be my honor."All content ? N/.?vel/Dr/ama.Org.


    Thssa smiled gratefully but declined. "No, really, you walk with Hertha. I''ll be fine."


    Despite their insistence, Thssa wanted to respect the familial bond on such an important day. It wouldn''t feel right to impose on Hertha''s father.


    Hertha tried to convince her, "Thssa, don''t be silly. Dad walking both of us down would make him the happiest."


    Right at that moment of indecision, a calm, confident voice called out, "Thank you, but I believe I should be the one to walk my daughter down the aisle."


    el.n


    Turning toward the voice, they saw Joshua, dressed sharply in a tailored suit, approaching with a gentle yet authoritative air. His presencemanded attention, yet his smile was soft, filled with warmth and pride.


    UMS


    Thssa was speechless. Joshua, her father? He had never been invited; how did he know toe today, of all days, to her wedding with Lysander?


    As Joshua reached them, he extended his hand to Thssa. "Let me have this honor," he said, his voice filled with emotion.


    Joshua had already publicly


    acknowledged Thssa as his


    daughter, making this moment not


    just appropriate but deeply


    meaningful. Yet, Thssa was


    frozen overwhelmed by his


    el


    unexpected gesture to personally ensure she made it to her new chapter in life with Lysander. Content belongs to

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    ?


    Just as she was zoning out, Hertha gave her a gentle nudge on the arm. "Thssa,e on, reach out your hand." Having Thssa''s father there to personally walk her down the aisle was the best thing anyone could ask for.


    Snapping back to reality, though somewhat hesitantly, Thssa finally extended her hand to Joshua.


    When Joshua took Thssa''s hand, her fingertips were icy cold, making him feel as though he was touching all the hardships and struggles she had faced over the past thirty years.


    His heart clenched painfully. This was the first time he, as a father, had held his daughter''s hand, the first time he truly felt the weight of her difficult journey.


    In that moment, he was filled with regret for favoring Rosalind over her. Knowing that Thssa had no one to back her up, he had still chosen to sideline his own daughter to fulfill the needs of his younger one.


    Looking back, he realized how unfair he had been.


    Thssa, led by Joshua, and Hertha, guided by her father, made their way to the aisle.


    The flower children, already waiting at the entrance, took their positions. Holding onto their mothers'' dresses, they gracefully walked down the aisle to the sound of beautiful music.


    Hertha had two flower children, while Thssa had four. Two to hold her dress and two to scatter rose petals, which meant Thssa''s white wedding dress was especially adorned with red petals, spreading a romantic and joyful fragrance into the air.


    Thssa''s procession was double the romance.


    Hertha''s, however, was full of adorable mishaps.


    Two-year-olds Helena and Julian, still new to the role of flower children, were confused. Unable to scatter petals and hold the dress at the same time, Julian ended up holding the dress while Helena focused on the petals, though not many were scattered.


    Helena, in her miniature wedding dress and holding a flower basket, wobbled unsteadily and identally stepped on Hertha''s dress, tumbling down. Her chubby, adorable mishap caused a burst ofughter from the crowd.


    Ashton quickly helped Helena back to her feet.


    The ceremony resumed normally, but this little incident meant Thssa reached Lysander before Hertha did.


    Joshua solemnly handed Thssa''s


    hand "I


    her


    , far better than I ever t


    a father." Content belongs- to NovelDrama.Org


    er: "I trust you''ll t


    SWO


    as


    Lysander, taking Thssa''s hand, responded with a deep, reassuring voice: "Of course."


    His woman, his to cherish.


    As Lysander was about to slip the ring onto Thssa''s finger, amanding voice suddenly halted him.


    Everyone turned toward the source


    and saw an elderly man, dressed


    formally and leaning on a cane,


    making his way forward. His


    expression was stern, his demeanor formidable.


    Thssa''s heart skipped a beat at the sight of him.


    Zephyr!


    Could he be here to stop her from marrying Lysander?


    Nervously looking at Lysander, she found reassurance in his calm, steady gaze, giving her strength and courage not to panic.


    With Lysander''sforting presence, Thssa managed to steady herself, though her palms remained sweaty from the tension.


    Zephyr approached closer and


    stopped at the front row, sternly


    addressing Lysander from the stage: "Lysander, you''re getting marriedAll content ? N/.?vel/Dr/ama.Org.


    and you didn''t think to tell me?You really don''t think much of me do you?"


    QUMS


    "Grandpa, I was going to tell you after the wedding," Lysander exined.


    "What, you didn''t dare tell me? Afraid I''d ruin your big day?" Zephyr cut straight to his grandson''s fears.


    Lysander frowned, tightening his grip on Thssa''s hand.


    Joshua tried to mediate: "Young people make their own choices, we should respect that."


    "Oh, so you think I''m unreasonable too?" Zephyr shot back, leaving Joshua at a loss for words.


    Zephyr''s formidable presence only added to the tension felt by Lysander and Thssa.

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    ?


    Just as Lysander was about to speak, Zephyr, lost in thought for a moment, suddenly said, ¡°Look, I''m not the stick in the mud you think I am. You two getting hitched? I''ve got no beef with that. Bute on, I''m the old man around here, your granddad for crying out loud. You getting married and not inviting me? That''s cold."


    Zephyr''s sudden change of tone took both Lysander and Thssa by delightful surprise.


    Lysander instructed David, "Get grandpa a seat, a front-row seat!"


    David nodded eagerly and scurried off to arrange a premium spot for Zephyr.


    As he rushed off, David identally tripped over a guest''s leg, immediately apologizing, "Oh, my bad, didn''t mean to."


    Turning around, he saw it was Rosalind!


    Her leg was stretched out, clearly on purpose.


    Rosalind''s lips curled into a smirk, "Just a sorry, that''s your way of making it up?"


    Seeing that yful look on Rosalind''s face, remembering how he had missed his chance at the dinerst time, David grew bold, took the seat next to her, leaned in, and quipped, "How about I make it up to you by dedicating myself? Is thatmitment enough for you?"


    "That''s my dad''s seat," Rosalind replied with a meaningful nce.


    Undeterred, David slung his arm over the back of her chair, his posture suggestive, "Someday, your dad will walk you down the aisle to me anyway. I''m destined for this seat."


    "Big dreams, I like it," Rosalindughed, clearly entertained.


    Meanwhile, on stage, Lysander had just slipped the ring on Thssa''s finger.


    Hertha was brought forward and handed over to ric.


    Taking Hertha''s hand, ric turned to Ashton and said, "Thank you, sir."


    Ashton frowned, "Sir?"


    "Thank you, dad!" ric quickly corrected himself.


    Ashton finally looked satisfied, leaving ric with a warning, "I''m trusting you with my daughter. If you ever let her down, know that I''be the first to bring her back home." Content belongs toAll content ? N/.?vel/Dr/ama.Org.


    "Don''t worry, dad. I''ll treat her better than I treat myself. I''ve worked hard to win her heart, no way I''m letting her down," ric assured Ashton.


    "That''s my boy," Ashton said contentedly, then turned and walked off the stage with Julian and Helena.


    ric, holding Hertha''s hand, gazed at her lovingly, "Made me wait so long, I was about to lose my mind."


    Hertha, forgetting they were in the middle of their wedding ceremony, yfully smacked him on the head, "What, getting cold feet already?"


    ric didn''t dodge in time and got a solid thump, but he didn''t mind the pain; he felt blissful instead.


    "Not at all, just can''t wait to officially call you my wife," he said, half-joking, halfining.


    Their yful banter elicitedughter from the guests.


    Just then, ric''s mother, Angelina, stood up from the crowd and loudly addressed Hertha, "What''s with this bride, domestic violence on the wedding day?"


    Her booming voice instantly drew everyone''s attention.


    Hertha and ric turned toward the voice, spotting Angelina.


    Hertha''s eyes widened in shock. Oh no, Angelina''s here, she thought, surely she''se to ruin our wedding.


    ric''s expression hardened as he tightened his grip on Hertha''s hand.


    A nosy guest from the crowd called out, "Ma''am, who are you to judge? The young couple is just having a yful moment. You''re blowing things out of proportion."

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    ?


    "Am I being too dramatic? I am the mother of the groom, for heaven''s sake! Seeing my own son getting pushed around, how can I not be upset?" Angelina''s tone was as haughty as ever.


    Hertha was about to respond when ric stepped forward, shielding her with his body, and confronted Angelina, "Hertha and I are already legally married. The wedding ceremony is just a formality."


    He wanted to make it clear to Angelina that he and Hertha were husband and wife in the eyes of thew.


    No matter how much she fussed, she couldn''t change that fact.


    "So what if you''re married? People get divorced all the time!" Angelina retorted, stunning everyone around.


    It was clear Angelina was intent on causing a scene at the wedding.


    Ethan, being ric''s best man and boss, couldn''t just stand by and watch ric''s big day get ruined.


    He stood up to negotiate with Angelina.


    "There''s a lounge over there. Can we talk this out?" Ethan suggested politely to Angelina.


    But Angelina, in a fit of rage, shoved him away, "This is all your fault! If it weren''t for you hiring ric at yourpany, he would never have dared to stay away from the Falconer family for so long!"


    Ethan staggered back from the force of her shove, still weak from his recent injuries, bracing for a fall.


    Unexpectedly, someone caught him from behind.


    Turning around, Ethan''s face lit up with relief when he saw Lydia.


    "Stand firm," Lydia instructed before turning to Angelina with a cool demeanor, "If you''re here to celebrate, then please take a seat. If you''re here to cause trouble, I''ll have to ask you to leave."


    "And who do you think you are? Hey, what are you doing!" Angelina was about to retort when Lydia grabbed her wrist and pulled her away forcefully. Despite being a woman, Lydia was surprisingly strong, leaving Angelina unable to resist.T¨ºxt ? N?velDrama.Org.


    From the stage, Hertha watched as


    a rush of gratitude feeling Swnoch a


    Lydia escorted Angelina out, feeling


    friend. Content belongs NovelDrama.Org


    Ethan hurried after them, "Dr. Lydia, do you need help?"


    "Better stay behind me. With your frail state, you might end up worse," Lydia quipped.


    "Oh, I''d happily stay behind you for a lifetime, if only you''d let me," Ethan joked, delighted.


    Lydia ignored him.


    Meanwhile, ric and Hertha''s wedding ceremony resumed.


    The disruption had left ric flustered and nervous.


    As he went to put the ring on Hertha''s finger, his hand shook, and the ring dropped to the floor.


    "Really, you dropped the ring!" Hertha eximed, bending down to pick it up.


    As she bent over, the zipper on the back of her dress suddenly split open, eliciting a scream from her, "Ah!"


    ric, quick as ever, wrapped his arms around Hertha to shield her from prying eyes.


    The guests burst intoughter at theirical mishap on stage.


    What a pair of jokers, truly made for each other.


    "Stopughing, will you? Hertha,


    come on, I''ll take you backstage et


    ric said, flustered, scoopinge Hertha into his arms and dashing towards the backstage.


    Lysander and Thssa, hand in hand,


    watched ric and Herthaet retreat, sharinget


    hurried knowing smile between them.


    We


    Their intertwined fingers, adorned with twinkling rings, reflected the glowing happiness of the day.


    The Novel will be updated first on this website. Come back and


    continue reading tomorrow, everyone!